||ip|ii|iiiiiiii^^
'
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2008 with funding from
IVIicrosoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/americandictiona01websrich
W(0).A\TBT -^flETBg^IEIE ILlLoBo
AN
AMERICAN DICTIONARY '
OF THE * ^ *
ENGLISH LANGUAGES
INTENDED TO EXHIBIT,
I. The origin, affinities and primary signification of English words, as far as they have been ascertained.
11. The genuine orthography and pronunciation of words, according to general usage, or to just principles of ANAL80V.
III. Accurate and discriminating definitions, with numerous authorities and illustrations.
TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED,
AN INTRODUCTORY DISSERTATION
ON THE
ORIGIN, HISTORY AND CONNECTION OF THE
LANGUAGES OF WESTERN ASIA AND OF EUROPE,
AND A CONCISE ^JtAMMAR
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
BY NOAH WEBSTER, LL. D.
IN TWO VOIiUMES.
VOL. 1.
He that wishes to be counted among the benefactors of posterity, must add, by his own toil, to the acquisitioDs of his ancestors Rambler.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY S. CONVERSE.
printed by HEZEKIAH HOWE — NEW HAVEN.
1838.
DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT, ss.
I" ^ Beit remembered, That on the fourteenth day of April, in the fifty-second year of tlie Independence of the United States of America,
Mu» (S» Noah Webster, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as Author, in the words
following, to wit :
** An American Dictionary of the English Language ; intended to exhibit, I. The origin, affinities, and primary signification of English words, as far
as they have been ascertained. II. The genuine orthography and pronunciation of words, according to general usage, or to just principles of analogy.
III. Accurate and discriminating definitions, with numerous authorities and illustrations. To which are prefixed, an inti'oductory dissertation on the ori-
gin, history and connection of the languages of Western Asia and of Europe, and a concise grammar of the English language. By Noah Webster, LL. D.
In two volumes."
In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled, " An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts
and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned." — And also to the act, entitled, "An act supplementary to
an act, entitled ' An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies
during the times therein mentioned,' and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."
CHAS. A. INGERSOLL, Clerk of the District of Connecticut.
A true copy of Record, examined and sealed by me,
CHAS. A. INGERSOLL, Clerk of the District of Connecticut.
April 14th, 1828.
^60^
PREFACE.
In the year 1783, just at the close of the revolution, I published an elementary book for facilitating the acquisition
of our vernacular tongue, and for correcting a vicious pronunciation, which prevailed extensively among the common
people of this country. Soon after the publication of that work, I believe in the following year, that learned and
respectable scholar, the Rev. Dr. Goodrich of Durham, one of the trustees of Yale College, suggested to me, the
propriety and expediency of my compiling a dictionary, which should complete a system for the instruction of the
citizens of this country in the language. At that time, I could not indulge the thought, much less the hope, of
undertaking such a work ; as I was neither qualified by research, nor had I the means of support, during the execution
of the work, had I been disposed to undertake it. For many years therefore, though I considered such a work as
very desirable, yet it appeared to me impracticable ; as I was under the necessity of devoting my time to other
occupations for obtaining subsistence.
About twenty seven years ago, I began to think of attempting the compilation of a Dictionary. I was induced to
this undertaking, not more by the suggestion of friends, than by my own experience of the want of such a work, while
reading modern books of science. In this pursuit, I found almost insuperable difficulties, from the want of a
dictionary, for explaining many new words, which recent discoveries in the physical sciences had introduced into use.
To remedy this defect in part, I published my Compendious Dictionary in 1806; and soon after made preparations
for undertaking a larger work.
My original design did not extend to an investigation of the origin and progress of our language ; much less of
other languages. I limited my views to the correcting of certain errors in the best English Dictionaries, and to the
supplying of words in which they are deficient. But after writing through two letters of the alphabet, I determined
to change my plan. I found myself embarrassed, at every step, for want of a knowledge of the origin of words,
which Johnson, Bailey, .Tnnius, Skinner and some other authors do not afford the means of obtaining. Then laying
aside my manuscripts, and all books treating of language, except lexicons and dictionaries, I endeavored, by a diligent
comparison of words, having the same or cognate radical letters, in about twenty languages, to obtain a more correct
knowledge of the primary sense of original words, of the affinities between the English and many other languages,
and thus to enable myself to trace words to their source.
I had not pursued this course more than three or four years, before I discovered that I had to unlearn a great deal
that I had spent years in learning, and that it was necessary for me to go back to the first rudiments of a branch of
erudition, which I had before cultivated, as I had supposed, with success.
I spent ten years in this comparison of radical words, and in forming a synopsis of the principal words in twenty
languages, arranged in classes, under their primary elements or letters. The result has been to open what are to
me new views of language, and to unfold what appear to be the genuine principles on which these languages are
constructed.
After completing this synopsis, I proceeded to correct what 1 had written of the Dictionary, and to complete the
remaining part of the work. But before I had finished it, I determined on a voyage to Europe, with the view of
obtaining some books and some assistance which I wanted ; of learning the real state of the pronunciation of our
language in England, as well as the general state of philology in that country ; and of attempting to bring about some
agreement or coincidence of opinions, in regard to unsettled points in pronunciation and grammatical construction.
In some of these objects I failed ; in others, my designs were answered.
It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American
Dictionary of the English Language ; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is
desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas ; and if
the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. Now an
PREFACE.
identity of ideas depends materially updn a sameness of things or objects witii which the people of the two count) ies
are conversant. But in no two portions of the earth, remote from each other, can such identity be found. Even
physical objects must be different. But the principal differences between the people of this country and of all others,
arise from different forms of government, different laws, institutions and customs. Thus the practice of hawking and
hunting, the institution of heraldry, and the feudal system of England originated terms which formed, and some of
which now form, a necessary part of the language of that country ; but, in the United States, many of these terms are
no part of our present language, — and they cannot be, for the things which they express do not exist in this country.
They can be known to us only as obsolete or as foreign words. On the other hand, the institutions in this country
which are new and peculiar, give rise to new terms or to new applications of old terms, unknown to the people of
England ; which cannot be explained by them and which will not be inserted in their dictionaries, unless copied from
ours. Thus the terms, laiid-office; land-warrant; locution of land; consociation of churches ; regent of a university;
intendant of a city ; plantation, selectmen, senate, congress, court, assembly, escheat, &c. are either words not
belonging to the language of England, or they are applied to things in this country which do not exist in that. No
person in this country will be satisfied with the English definitions of the words congress, senate and assembly, court,
&c. for although these are words used in England, yet they are applied in this country to express ideas which they
do not express in that country. With our present constitutions of government, escheat can never have its feudal
sense in the United States.
But this is not all. In many cases, the nature of our governments, and of our civil institutions, requires an
appropriate language in the definition of words, even when the words express the same thing, as in England. Thus
the English Dictionaries inform us that a Justice is one deputed by the King to do right by way of judgment — he is a
Lord by his office — Justices of the peace are appointed by the King's commission — language which is inaccurate in
respect to this officer in the United States. So constitutionally is defined by Todd or Chalmers, legally, but in this
country the distinction between constitution and law requires a different definition. In the United States, a plantation
is a very different thing from what it is in England. The word marshal, in this country, has one important application
unknown in England or in Europe.
A great number of words in our language require to be defined in a phraseology accommodated to the condition
and institutions of the people in these states, and the people of England must look to an American Dictionary for a
correct understanding of such terms.
The necessity therefore of a Dictionary suited to the people of the United States is obvious ; and I should suppose
that this fact being admitted, there could be no difference of opinion as to the time, when such a work ought to be
substituted for English Dictionaries.
There are many other considerations of a public nature, which serve to justify this attempt to furnish an Americani
Work which shall be a guide to the youth of the United States. Most of these are too obvious to require illustration.
One consideration however which is dictated by my own feelings, but which I tiust will meet with approbation in
correspondent feelings in my fellow citizens, ought not to be passed in silence. It is this. " The chief glory of a
nation," says Dr. Johnson, " arises from its authors." With this opmion deeply impressed on my mind, I have the
same ambition which actuated that great man when he expressed a wish to give celebrity to Bacon, to Hooker, to
Milton and to Boyle.
I do not indeed expect to add celebrity to the names of Franklin, Washington, Adams, Jay, Madison, Marshall,
Ramsay, Dwight, Smith, Trumbull, Hamilton, Belknap, Ames, Mason, Kent, Hare, SilUman, Cleaveland, Walsh,
Irving, and many other Americans distinguished by their writings or by their science ; but it is with pride and
satisfaction, that I can place them, as authorities, on the same page with those of Boyle, Hooker, Milton, Dryden,
iddison, Ray, Milner, Cowpcr, Davy, Thomson and Jameson.
A life devoted to reading and to an investigation of the origin and principles of our vernacular language, and
especially a particular examination of the best English writers, with a view to a comparison of their style and
phraseology, with those of the best American writers, and with our colloquial usage, enables me to affirm with
confidence, that the genuine English idiom is as well preserved by the unmixed English of this country, as it is by
the best English writers. Examples to prove this fact will be found in the Introduction to this work. It is true, that
many of our writers have neglected to cultivate taste, and the embellishments of style ; but even these have written
the language in its genuine idiom. In this respect, Franklin and Washington, whose language is their hereditary
mother tongue, unsophisticated by modern grammar, present as pure models of genuine English, as Addison or
PREFACE.
Swift. But I may go farther, and affirm, with truth, that our country lias produced some of the best models of
composition. The style of President Smith ; of the authors of the Federalist ; of Mr. Ames; of Dr. Mason ; of Mr.
Harper; of Chancellor Kent; [ihe prose] of Mr. Barlow; of the legal decisions of the Supreme Court of the United
States ; of the reports of legal decisions in some of the particular states ; and many other writings ; in purity, in
elegance and in technical precision, is equaled only by that of the best British authors, and surpassed by that of no
English compositions of a similar kind.
The United States commenced their existence under circumstances wholly novel and unexampled in the history of
nations. They commenced with civilization, with learning, with science, with constitutions of free government, and
with that best gift of God to man, the christian religion. Their population is now equal to that of England; in arts
and sciences, our citizens are very little behind the most enlightened people on earth ; in some respects, they have no
superiors ; and our language, within two centuries, will be spoken by more people in this country, than any other
language on eartii, except the Chinese, in Asia, and even that may not be an exception.
It has been my aim in this work, now offered to my fellow citizens, to ascertain the true principles of the language,
in its orthography and structure ; to piuify it from some palpable errors, and reduce the number of its anomalies, thus
giving it more regularity and consistency in its forms, both of words and sentences ; and in this manner, to fuftiish a
standard of our vernacular tongue, which we shall not be ashamed to bequeath to three hiindrccl miUions of people,
who are destined to occupy, and I hope, to adorn the vast territory within our jurisdiction.
If the language can be improved in regularity, so as to be more easily acquired by our own citizens, and by foreigners,
and thus be rendered a more useful instrument for the propagation of science, arts, civilization and Christianity ; if it
can be rescued from the mischievous influence of sciolists and that dabbling spirit of innovation which is perpetually
disturbing its settled usages and filling it with anomalies ; if, in short, our vernacular language can be redeemed from
corruptions, and our philology and literature from degradation ; it would be a source of great satisfaction to me to
be one among the instruments of promoting these valuable objects. If this object cannot be effected, and my wishes
and hopes are to be frustrated, my labor will be lost, and this work must sink into oblivion.
This Dictionary, like all others of the kind, must be left, in some degree, imperfect ; for what individual is competent
to trace to their source, and define in all their various applications, popular, scientific and technical, sixty or seventy
thousand words ! It satisfies my mind that I have done all that my health, my talents and my pecuniary means would
enable me to accomplish. I present it to my fellow citizens, not with frigid indifference, but with my ardent wishes
for their improvement and their happiness ; and for the continued increase of the wealth, the learning, the moral and
religious elevation of character, and the glory of my country.
To that great and benevolent Being, who, during the preparation of this work, has sustained a feeble constitution,
amidst obstacles and toils, disappointments, infirmities and depression; who has twice borne me and my manuscripts
in safety across the Atlantic, and given me strength and resolution to bring the work to a close, I would present the
tribute of my most grateful acknowledgments. And if the talent which he entrusted to my care, has not been put to
the most profitable use in his service, I hope it has not been " kept laid up in a napkin," and that any misapplication
of it may be graciously forgiven.
New Haven, n2Z. - N.WEBSTER.
INTRODUCTION.
DEFINITION OF LANGUAGE.
Language or Speech is the utterance of jrticulate sounds or
(leied signitic
thoughts.
According I
by
for tlie expression and communication of
this definition, language belongs exchisively to intellectual
and intelligent beings, and among terrestrial beings, to man only ; for no
animal on earth, except man, can pronounce words. Thci word /angua^e
is sometimes usic I in ,i luon icmjiihi hiii-i\c ^in-,-, .m.l .i|.|)li. il in ili.- sounds
by which irr.ilioii.il ;Miiin.)N rvpir^- iL. n i. clin^. u, ,iii,riini,^, ,1^ (o the
neighing of tin- Ihm ^r. Ihr !..» iri^; III til,- .i\ , llir I. ,11 klliu C.I llir ih.u, .Hid to
the cackling and rlriiiMui; lil i.iw I . , Im ih.- s,,un.l- nil. i. .1 \'\ iln -. ;iiiinials
are perfectly understood by the respective species, So also language is
figuratively applied to the signs by which deaf and dumb persons manifest
their ideas ; for these are instruments of communicating thoughts.
But language, in its proper sense, as the medium of intercourse between
men, or rational beings, endowed with the faculty of uttering articulate
sounds, is the subject now to be considered.
Written language is the representation of signiticant sounds by letters,
or characters, single or combined in words, arranged in due order, accord-
ing to usage.
ORIGIN OF LANGUAGE.
We read, in the Scriptures, that God, when he had created man, "Bles-
sed them and said to them. Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth
and subdue it ; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, &c." God after-
wards planted a garden, and placed in it the man he had made, with a com-
mand to keep it, and to dress it ; and he gave him a rule of moral conduct,
in permitting him to eat the fruit of every tree in the garden, except one,
the eating of which was prohibited. We further read, that God brought
Adam the fowls and beasts he had made, and that Adam gave them names;
and that when his female companion was made, he gave her a name. Af-
ter the eating of the forbidden fruit, it is stated that God addressed Adam
and Eve, reproving them for their disobedience, and pronouncing the penal
ties, which they had incurred. In the account of these transactions, it i
further related that Adam and Eve both replied to their Maker, and excused
their disobedience.
If we admit what is the literal and obvious interpretation of this narrative,
that vocal sounds or words were used in these communications betiveen God
and the progenitors of the human race, it results that Adam was not only
dowed with intellect for understanding his Maker, or the signification of
words, but was furnished both with the faculty of speech, and with speech
itself, or the knowledge and use of words, as signs of ideas, and this hefor<
the formation of the woman. Hence we may infer that language was be
stowed on Adam, in the same manner as all his other faculties and knowl
edge, by supernatural power; or in other words, was of divine origin ; for
supposing Adam to have had all the intellectual powers of any adult individ
ual of the species, who has since lived, wc cannot admit as probable, or evei
possible, that he should have invented and constructed even a barren Ian
guage, as soon as he was created, without supernatural aid. It may even
be doubted, whether without such aid, men would ever have learnt the
of the organs of speech, so far as to form a language. At any rate, the
vention of words, and the- construction of a language must have been by a
slow process, and niu^t have required a much longer time, than that which
passed betK'een the creation of Adam and of Eve. It is therefore probable
that language as well as the faculty of speech, was the immediate gift of
God. We are not however to suppose tl>e language of our first parents
paradise to have been copious, like most modern languages; or the identical
language they used, to be now in existence. Many of the primitive radical
words may and probably do exist in various languages ; but observation
teaches that languages must improve and undergo great changes as knowl-
and be subject to continual alterations, from other causes^-
aeni lo men m society.
A brief account of the origin and progress of the principal languages,
ancient and modern, that have been spoken by nations between the Ganges
and the Atlantic ocean.
We learn from the Scriptures that Noah, who, with his family, was pre-
served from destruction by the deluge, for the purpose of re-peopling
the earth, had three .sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. This fact, a little ob-
scured by tradition, was retained by our rude German ancestors, to the age
of Tacitus.*
Japheth was the eldestson ; but Shem, the ancestor of the Israehtcs, and
the writers of the Scriptures, is named first in order.
The descendants of Shem and Hani peopled all the great plain, situated
north and west of the Persian Gull, between that Gulf and the Indian ocean
1 the east and the Arabic Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea on the west,
ith the northern coast of Africa ; comprehending Assyria, Babylonia or
Chaldea, Syria, Palestine, Arabia, Egypt, and Lybia. The principal lan-
guages or dialects used by these descendants, are known to us under the
names of Chaldee, or Chaldaic, which is called also Aramean, Syriac, He-
brew, Arabic, Ethiopic, Samaritan and Coptic. Of these, the Chaldee, and
Hebrew are no longer living languages, but they have come down to us in
books ; the Samaritan is probably extinct or lost in the modern languages of
the country, but the language survives in a copy of the Pentateuch ; the
Coptic is nearly or quite extinct, and little of it remains ; the Syriac, Arabic
and Ethiopic are yet living languages, but they have suffered and are con-
tinually suffering alterations, from which no living language is exempt.
These languages, except the Coptic, being used by the descendants of
Shem, I call Shemitie, or Assyrian, in distinction from the Japhetic. As
the descendants of Japheth peopled Asia Minor, the northern parts of Asia,
about the Euxine and Caspian, and all Europe, their languages, have, in the
long period that has elapsed since their dispersion, become very numerous.
All languages having sprung from one source, the original words from
which they have been formed, must have been of equal antiquity. That
the Celtic and Teutonic languages in Europe are, in this sense, as old as the
Chaldee and Hebrew, is a fact not only warranted by history and the com-
mon origin of Japheth and Shem, but susceptible of proof from the identity
of many words yet existing, in both stocks. But there is a marked differ-
ence between the Shemitie and Japhetic languages ; for even when the ra-
dical words are unquestionably the same, the modifications, or inilections
nd combinations which form the compounds are, for the most part, different.
As it has been made a question which of the Shemitie languages is the
most ancient, and much has been written to prove it to be the Hebrew, I
will state briefly my opinion on what appears to me to be one of the plainest
questions in the history of nations. We have for our certain guides, in de-
termining this question — 1st. The historical narrative of facts in the book of
Genesis, and 2d. The known and uniform progress of languages, within the
iod of authentic profane history.
.. The Scripture informs us that, before the dispersion, the whole earth
s of one language and of one oi- the same speech ; and that the descend-
ants of Noah journeyed from the east, and settled on the plain of Shinar,
Chahlea. The language used at that time, by the inhabitants of that
* Celebrant, carminibus antiquis, Tuistonem deum terr4 editum, et filium
Mannum,originem gentis conditoresque. Manno tres filios assignant. — De
Mor. Germ. 2.
In ancient songs they celebrate Tuisto, a god sprung from the earth, and
his son Mannus [Man], the origin and founders of their nation. To Man-
nus they assign three sons.
Noah is here called Man.
INTRODUCTION.
iisf-qucnce of tlie impious attempts
\\ liose top might reach to heaven,
.ind prevent their dispersion, God
- 1 that they could not understand
icy were dispersed '■ from thence
plain, must then have been the oldsst or tl
This must have been tlie original CI
2. The Scriptxire inform- ns ilm
of the people to build ;i i ^
with a view to make tin i, . >
interposed and confoundc 'I i!.. r (■■lu
each other; in conseq-ie.ice .,1 \v li
over the vace of a'l tin; an.tli."
3. If the confusion of languages at Babel originated the differences which
gave rise to the various languages of the families which separated at the
dispersion, then those several languages are all of equal antiquity. Of these
the Hebrew, as a distinct language, was not one; for the Hebrew nation
was of posterior origin.
4. All the words of the several great races of men, both in Asia and Eu-
rope, which are vernacular in their several languages, and unequivocally
the same, are of equal antiquity, as they must have been derived from the
common Chaldee stock which existed before the dispersion. The words
common to the Syrians and Hebrews, could not have been borrowed from
the Hebrew, for the Hebrews originated from Heber and Abram, several
centuries after Syria and Egypt were populous countries. This fact is at-
tested by the Scripture history, which declares that when Abram migrated
from Chaldea, and came into Canaan or Palestine, "The Canaanite
then in the land ;" and when he returned from Egypt, " the Perizzite dwelt
in the land." These declarations, and the history of Abimelceh, and of thi
war of four kings or chieftains with five ; as also of the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah, prove Syria to have been, at that time, well-peopled. The Ian
guage of the inhabitants then must have been coeval with the nation, and
long anterior to the Hebrew as a distinct dialect. It may be added that in
the early periods of the woi-ld, when no books existed, nations, living
mote or distinct, never borrowed words from each other. One nation, living
in the midst of another, as the Hebrews did among the Egyptians, may adopt
a single word, or a few words; but a family of words thus adopted is
occurrence rarely or never known. The borrowing of words, in modern
times, is almost wholly from the use of books.
5. It is probable that some dift'erenccs of language were produced by the
confusion; but neither that event nor any supernatural event is necessary
to account for the differences of dialect or of languages, now existing. The
different modern languages of the Gothic or Teutonic stock, all originated
in the natural course of events; and the differences are as great between
them as they are between the languages of the Shemitic stock
6. Soon after two races of men of a common stock have separated and
placed themselves in distant countries, the language of each begins to di
Terge from that of the other, by various means. — 1. One tribe or nation
will suffer one word to become obsolete and be forgotten ; another, will suffe
the loss of another ; sometimes a whole family of words will be lost ; at other
times, a part only ; at other times, a single word only of a numerous family
will be retained by one nation, while another nation will retain the whole
2. The same word will be differently applied by two distant races of men
and the difterence will be so great as to obscure the original afiBnity. 3
Words will be compounded by two nations in a different manner, the same
radical words taking a different prefix or suffix, in different languages. Th
wisdom in English is in German weisheit, [wisehead, wisehood] from wit
wets. In EngMsh misi ead is in Banish fbrleder, (mm lead, leder. 4. The
pronunciation and orthography of words will often be so much changed,
that the same word in two languages, cannot without difficulty, be recogniz
ed as identical. No person, without a considerable attention to the changes
which letters have suffered, would at once suspect or believe the English
let and the French laisser to be the same word.
7. As Abram migrated from Chaldea, he must have spoken the Chaldee
language, and probably, at that time, the Syriac, Arabic and Egyptian, had
not become so different, as to render it impracticable for him to converse with
the inhabitants of Palestine and Egypt. But the language of Abram's
scendants, and that of the land of Stiinar or the Chaldee must, in the natural
course of things, have begun to diverge, soon after the separation ; and th
changes in each language being different, would, in the course of a few
centuries, form somewhat different languages. So in the days of Hezekiah
the Syriac and Hebrew had become, in a degree, distinct languagei
Kings xviii. In which of these languages, the greatest number of alterations
were produced, we do not know ; but from the general observations I have
made, in my researches, it appears that the Chaldee dialect, in the use of
dental letters instead of sibilants, is much the most general in the Celtic and
Teutonic languages of Europe. Thus the German only has a sibilant in
wasser, when the other Teutonic languages have a dental, water. I think
also that there are far more words in the European languages which accord
with the Chaldee or Arabic, than there are words which accord with the He-
brew. If this observation is well-founded, the Hebrew must have suffered
the loss of more primitive words than the other languages of the Shemitic
family. This however is tiue, that all of them have lost some words, and
in some cases, the Hebrew retains what the others have lost,
8. The Hebrew Scriptures are, by many centuries, the most ancient
writings extant. Hence probably the strange inference, that the Hebrew
is the oldest language; as if the inhabitants of Chaldea and Syria had had
no language, for ages before the progenitor of the Hebrews was bor
9. The vernacular words in the Celtic and Teutonic languages of modern
Europe, which are evidently the same words as still exist in the Shemitic
languages, are of the same antiquity ; being a part of the common language
which was used on the plain of Shinar, before the dispersion.
The descendants of Japheth peopled the northern part of Asia, and all Eu-
pe ; or if some colonies from Egypt planted themselves in Greece, at an ear-
ly period, they or their descendants must have been merged in the mass of
Japhetic population. Certain it is that the Greek language is chieHy form-
ed on the same radical words, as the Celtic and Teutonic languages.
The Japhetic tribes of men, whose descendants peopled the south and
west of Europe, were first established in the country now called Persia, or
by the natives themselves, Iran. Of this fact, the evidence now existing is
decisive. The numerous words found in the Greek, Latin, Gaelic, English
and the kindred tongues, which are still used in Persia, prove, beyond all
question, that Persia must have been the residence of the people whose de-
scendants introduced into Europe the languages from which the modern
languages are derived. The fact proves further that a great body of the
original Persians remained in their own country, and their descendants con-
stitute the mass of the population at this day.
In the early stages of society, men dwelt or migrated in families, tribes or
clans. The family of Abraham and Jacob in Asia, and the clans of the Gaels
Scotland, exhibit to us the manner in which societies and nations were
originally formed. The descendants of a man settled around him, and form-
ed a elan, or tribe, of which the government was patriarchal. Such families
often migrated in a body, and often the personal characteristics of the pro-
genitor might be distinctly traced in his descendants for- many generations.
In process of time, some of these families became nations ; more generally,
by means of wars and migrations, different tribes became blended, and the
distinction of families was lost.
In rude ages, the families or tribes of men are named from some character-
tic of the people ; or more generally, from the place of their residence.
The Greeks gave the name of Seythia to the north of Europe and Asia, but
the primitive inhabitants of the west of Europe, they called KtXroi, Kelts,
Celts, a word signifying woods men* These were descendants from the
same ancestors as the Greeks and Romans themselves, but they had pushed
their migrations into Gaul, Spain .ind Britain. The first settlers or occupi-
ers of these countries were driven forward by successive hords, until they
were checked by the ocean ; there they made their stand, and there we
find their descendants at this day. These may be considered as the de-
scendants of the earliest settlers, or first inhabitants of the countries where
they are found. Among these are the inhabitants of France, south of the
Garonne, and those of me north of Spain, called by the Romans Aquitani
and Cantabri, in more modern times Gascoigns, Basques, and Cantabrians,
who still retain their native language ; and in Great Britain, the Gaels in
Scotland, and the natives of the north and west of Ireland, who also retain
their primitive language.!
The first inhabitants of the north and west of Europe, known to the Greeks
and Romans, to whom we are indebted for our earliest accounts of that re-
gion, were the Cimbri, who inhabited the peninsula of Denmark, now called
Jutland, and the tribes which belonged to the Teutonic and Gothic races,
which were established in Germany and on both sides of the Baltic. Wheth-
er tribes of Celtic origin had overspread the latter countries, before the arri-
val of the Gothic and" Teutonic races, and all Europe had been inhabited by
* Welsh celt, a cover, or shelter, a Celt; celtiad, an inhabitant of the co-
ert or wood ; celu, to conceal, Lat. eelo. In Gaelic the word is coilt or
eeilt. The Celts were originally a tribe or nation inhabiting the north of
Italy, or the still more northern territory.
t I purposely omit all consideration of the different families, tribes or na-
tions which first peopled Greece and Italy. In Greece, we read of the
rpawc. or rpoi*o(, the Hellenes, the Acha;ans, the Dorians, the ./Eolians,
the lonians, the Pelasgi, &c. In Italy, of the Illyrians, the Liburni, the
SicuU, the Veneti or Heneti, the Iberi, Ligures, Sicani, Etrusci, Insubres,
Sabini, Latini, Samnites, and many others. "But as these nations or their de-
scendants gave the name of Celts to the Umbri, or nations that dwelt in
the north, in the less cutivated parts of Europe, and to the inhabitants of
Gaul ; and as all the tiibes, under whatever denomination they were known,
branches of the great Japhetic stock, I shall call them by that gene-
ral name, Celts ; and under the general name of Goths or Teutons, shall
comprehend the various tribes that inhabited the north of Germany, and the
country north of the Baltic or Scandinavia.
A late writer seems to consider the Teutonic races, as the only ancestors
of the Greeks and Romans. But from Celtic words, still found in the Greek
and Latin ; words not belonging to any of the Gothic or Teutonic languages ;
demonstrably certain that the primitive settlers in Greece and Italy,
belonged to the Celtic races. Thus the Greek iifxixtav, Lat. Irachium, the
arm, is formed on the Gaelic braigh, raigh, W. brau;, a word not found
among the Teutonic nations. So the Welsh mociaw, to mock, is found in the
Greek fiaxiM, and French moquer, to mock, and Ir. mogadh, a mocking ; but
not in any of the Gothic or Teutonic languages. Many similar facts prove
that the Celtic races were among the earliest inhabitants of Greece.
INTRODUCTION.
the Celts, even to the horders of Savmalia, has been a question much disputed
by historians and antiquaries. The German and French writers generally
contend that the Celts inhabited all the north of Europe, as far at least as
Sarmalia; but some respectable English writers are ot a different opinion.
Now it is agreed that the Welsh are descendants of the Cimbri, inhabitants
of Jutland, and their language bears a strong affinity to the Celtic languages,
which still exist; a fact that countenances the opinion of the German and
Trench writers. But the dispute is of little moment ; the Celtic, Teutonic
and Gothic races being all of the Japhetic stock, migrating from Asia
through Asia Minor at different times, and pursuing different courses west-
ward. The first tribes probably .sought the warm climates along the north
coast of the Mediterranean, and established themselves in Greece and Italy.
Others followed the course of the Danube and its subsidiary streams, till
they fell upon the rivers that conducted them to the Baltic. The first in-
habitants of Greece and Italy were probably of the Celtic race ; but if they
were, it is very evident that tribes of the teutonic or Gothic races invaded
those countries before they were civilized, and intermingled witli the ori-
ginal inhabitants. The Pelasgi may have been among the number. This
is an inference which I draw from the affinities of the Greek and Latin Ian
guages, with those of Teutonic origin. The Teutonic and Gothic races im-
pressed their language upon all the continent of Europe west of the Vistula
and from that river to the Rhine, or rather to the Seine, anterior to the con-
quest of Gaul by Julius Cesar. The same races invading and conquering
the south of Europe, in the fourth and fifth century, on the downfall of the
Uoman eriipiri-, iiilu-iml a portion of their language into the Italian and Span
ish, ul.i.li ,s ,,11,1, -„,.4-„ishal)le.
Tin- Mir . ,,, ■- I . .1 ,. including Poland and Russiia, was probably peo-
pled m in "I nicn who passed into Europe by the country north
of till- i:,,\ ,1 I J 1, (iiiginal residence was along the rivers Kur and
Araxes. oi- on llie mountains between the Euxine and Caspian. The name
of the Rtiss or Russians is clearly recognized in the Roxolani of Pliny and
Ptolemy, and possibly the ancestors of this race may have entered Europe by
Asia Minor. That the Teutonic races, originally from Persia, inhabited Asia
Minor, and migrated westward by that course, is evident from the names
which they impressed on mountains, rivers and places — Such are the Cra-
friis of Pliny, the Welsh and English crag ;* Perga in Pamphylia, now
hurg or bergen ; Thymbreck, the name of a small stream, near the site of
Troy ; a word in which we recognize the English brook. It was contract
ed by the Greeks into ThymbriusA
It is admitted by all gentlemen, acquainted with oriental literature, that
the Sanscrit, or ancient language of India, the parent of all the dialects of
that great peninsula, is radically the same language or from the same stock
as the Greek and Latin ; the affinities between them being remarkably
clear and decisive. If so, the inhabitants of India and the descendants of the
Celtic and Teutonic nations are all of one family, and must have all migrated
from one country, after the separation of the nations of the Shemitic stock
from those of the Japhetic race.t
Whether that country was Persia, or Cashmir, or a country farther east,
is a point not easily determined. One important inference results from this
fact, that the white men of Europe and the black or tawny men of India, are
direct descendants from a common ancestor.
Of the languages of Europe, the Greek was first improved and refined
and next to that the Latin. The affinity between these languages, and
those of the west and north of Europe is very striking, and demonstrates thei
common origin. It is probable however that there are some words in th(
Greek derived from Africa, if Egyptian colonies were established in Greece,
as historians inform us.
The modern Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese, are composed chief-
ly of Latin words, much altered however both in orthography and inflec-
tions. Perhaps nine tenths of all the words now found in those languages
are of Latin origin ; being introduced by the Romans, who held Gau"
subjection, five or six centuries, and Spain much longer ; or being born
cd from Latin authors, since the revival of letters. All these iaiigu;i
however retain many words of Celtic origin ; the primitive language not 1,
ing been entirely extirpated. In some instances, the same word has b
transmitted through both channels, the Celtic and the Latin, and is yet
tajncd. Thus in French cider, and in Italian Cfdere, is directly from the
Latin cedo ,- while the French, congedier, and Italian, congedare, are com-
posed of the same word, with a prefix, derived from the Celtic, and retained
in the Welsh gadaw, to quit, to leave. [L. concedo.] And this same verb
probably appeal's also in quit, a word common to the Teutonic and to the Cel-
tic languages. See Conge, in the Dictionary.
It must be observed further, that the Spanish language contains some
words of African origin, introduced by the Carthaginians, before the Roman
conquest of Spain, or afterwards by the Moors, who, for several centuries,
were masters of thatcounlry. It contains also some words of Gothic oiigiii.
introduced by the Goths who conquered that country, at the downfall of the
Roman Empire. The French also contains some words of Teutonic origin,
either from the Belgic tribes wlio occupied the country to the Seine, at the
time of Cesar's invasion, or from the Franks who estabUshed the dynasty of
the Merovingian Kings in the fifth century, or from the Normans who ob-
tained possession of the northern part of that kingdom in the tenth century,
or from all these sources.
The German, Dutch or Belgic, Anglo-Saxon, Danish and Swedish lan-
guages are of Teutonic or Gothic origin.* They are all closely allied ; a
great part of the words in them all being the same or from the same roots,
with different prefixes or affixes. There is however a greater difference
between the Danish and Swedish, which are of the Gothic stock, and the
German and Dutch, which are of Teutonic origin, than between two lan-
guages of the same stock, as between the Danish and Swedish. The Nor-
wegian, Icelandic, and some of the languages or dialects of Switzerland, be-
long to the same stock ; but of these I have no particular knowledge.
The Basque or Cantabrian in Spain ; the Gaelic in the north of Scotland,
and the Hiberno-Celtic, or native language of Ireland, arc the purest re-
mains of the ancient Celtic. From a comparison of a vocabulary of the Gae-
lic and Hiberno-Celtic, I find little or no difterence between them ; and from
a long and attentive examination of this language, and of the languages *f
Teutonic origin, I find less difference between them, than most autliors Iiave
supposed to exist.
The Armoric or language of Brittany in the northwest angle of France,
and the Cornish, in the southwest of England, are also of Celtic origin. The
Cornish is now extinct ; but the Armoric is a living language.
The English as now spoken, is a language composed of words from
several others. The basis of the language is Anglo-Saxon, or, as I
shall, for the sake of brevity, call it, Saxon, by which it is closely allied to
the languages of Teutonic and Gothic origin on the continent. But it re-
tains a great number of words from the ancient languages of Britain, the
Belgic, or Lloegrian, and the Cymraeg, or Welsh ; particularly from tlie lat-
ter, and some from the Cornish. Cesar informs us, that before he invaded
Britain, Belgic colonics had occupied the southern coast of England ; and
the inhabitants of the interior, northern and western parts, were the ances-
tors of the present Welsh, who call themselves Cymry, and their country
Cymru, a name which indicates their origin from the <?imbri, inhabitants of
the modern Denmark, or Cimbric Chersonese, now Jutland.
The modern Welsh contains many Latin words introduced by the Romans,
who had possession of Britain for five hundred years. But the body of the
language is probably their vemaculai- tongue. It is more nearly allied to
the languages of Celtic origin, than to those of the Teutonic and Gothic
stock ; and of this British language, the Cornish and Armoric are dialects.
It has been commonly supposed that the Britons were nearly extermina-
ted by the Saxons, and that the few that survived, escaped into the west of
England, now Wales. It is true that many took refuge in Wales, which
their descendants still retain ; but it cannot be true that the other parts of
England were entirely depopulated. On the other hand, great numbers
must have escaped slaughter, and been intermixed with their Saxon con-
querors. The Welsh words, which now form no unimportant part of the
English language, aflbrd decisive evidence of this fact. It is probable how-
ever that these words were for a long time used only by the common peo-
ple, for few of them appear in the early Saxon writers.
The English contains also many words, introduced by the Danes, who
were, for some time, masters of England ; which words are not found in the
Saxon. These words prevail most in the northern counties of England ; but
many of them are incorporated into the body of the language, and are used in
the United States.
After the conquest, the Norman Kings endeavored to extirpate the Eng-
lish language, and substitute the Norman. For this purpose, it was ordain-
(ed that all law proceedings and records should be in the Norman language ;
and hence the early records and reports of law cases came to be written in
j Norman. But neither royal authority, nor the influence of courts, could
change the vernacular language. After an experiment of three hundred
years, the law was repealed; and .since that period, the English has been,
;for the most part, the official, as well as the common language of the nation.
A few Norman words however remain in the English ; most of them in law
language.
Since the conquest, the English has not suffered any shock from the in-
termixture of conquerors with the natives of England ; but the language has
undergone great alterations, by the disuse of a large portion of Saxon words,
and tlie introduction of words from the Latin and Greek languages, with
some French, Italian, and Spanish words. These words have, in some in-
stances, been borrowed by authors, directly from the Latin and Greek ; but
most of the Latin words have been received through the medium of the
— ^ jiFrench and Italian. For terms in the sciences, authors have generally re-
am- ivT II I -1- B o.., c^ , I .t - ^ • i- .u 1 .1. r> 1 sorted to the Greek ; and from this source, as discoveries in science demand
^,I^^X-I^^;^:L^r:;^.1^^^^ ^^ vocabulary of the English language is receiving continual
eighth year. Hence perhaps the name from deal, and»ia</( or madh, coun-
try.
t Clarke's Travels. I * In strictness, the Swedish and Danish are of Gothic origin, and the Gei-
J See the word chuk in the Dictionary. liman and Saxon, of Teutonic origin.
Vol. I. B.
INTRODUCTION.
auglnentation. We have also a few words from the German and Swedish,
mostly terms in mineralogy, and commerce has introduced new commodi-
ties of foreign growth or manufacture, with their foreign names, which now
make a part of our language. — Such are camphor, amber, arsenic, and many
others.
The English then is composed of,
1st, Sason and Danish words of Teutonic and Gothic origin.
2d, British or Welsh, Cornish and Armoric, which may be considered as
of Celtic origin.
3d, Norman, a mixture of French and Gothic.
4th, Latin, a language formed on the Celtic and Teutonic.
5th, French, chiefly Latin corrupted, but with a mixture of Celtic.
6th, Greek, formed on the Celtic and Teutonic, with some Coptic.
7th, A few words directly from the Italian, Spanish, German, and other
languages of the continent.
8th, A few foreign words, introduced by commerce, or by political an
Of these, the Saxon words constitute our mother tongue ; being wordi
which our ancestors brought with them from Asia. The Danish and Welsh
also are primitive words, and may be considered as a part of our vernacular
language. They are of equal antiquity with the Chaldee and Syriac
AFFINITY OF LANGUAGES.
On comparing the structure of the different languages of the Shemitic and
Japhetic stocks, we cannot but be struck with the fact, that although a great
number of words, consisting of the same or of cognate letters, and convey-
ing the same ideas, are found in them all ; yet in the inflections, and in the
manner of forming compounds and derivatives, there are remarkable differ-
ences between the two great families. In the modifications of the verb, for
expressing person, time, and mode, very little resemblance is observable be
tween the'm. If we could prove that the personal terminations of the verb,
in the Japhetic languages, were originally pronouns, expressive of the pe
sons, we should prove an affinity between the words of the two races, in
most important particular. Some attempts of this kind have been made ; but
not with very satisfactory results.*
In the formation of nouns, we recognize a resemblance between
the English termination th, in birth, truth, drouth, [Saxon drugothe]
warmth, &c., and the Shemitic terminations n' and ni; and the
plural termination en, retained in oxen, and the Welsh plural ending
coincide nearly with the Arabic termination of the dual number /, )
and the regular masculine plural termination ^^ ^ as well as with the
Chaldee, Hebrew, and Syriac p . And it is justly remarked by Mitford, that
in the variety of plural terminations of nouns, there is a striking resemblance
between the Arabic and the Welsh. There is one instance, in the modem
languages of Teutonic origin, in which we find the Arabic nunnation : — this
is the German and Dutch binnen, the Saxon binnan or binnon, signifying
within, Hebrew and Chaldee pa, Ar. ,,-aj without the mark of nunna-
tion, when it signifies within ; but when it signifies separation, space, inter-
val, the original sense, it is written ... a j > and pronounced, with the nun-
nation, like the Teutonic word.
One mode of forming nouns from verbs in the Shemitic languages is by
prefixing m. I know of no instance of this manner of formation, in the Ja-
phetic languages, except in some names which are of oriental origin. Mars
is said to be fro
I afrii,
but if ;
the word
1 undoubtedly formed in the
cast. So we find Morpheus, the god of sleep, to be probably formed with
the prefix m, from the Ethiopic ^04<J^ '" ''®''' '" '^" asleep; whence we
infer that Morpheus is sleep deified. t
But as many words in all the languages of Europe and Asia, are formed
with prepositions, perhaps it may be found on examination, that some of
these prefixes may be common to the families of both stocks, the Japhetic
and the Shemitic. We find in German, gemnth, in Dutch, gemoed, from
muth,moed, mind, mood. We find mad in Saxon is gemaad; polish, the
h^tin polio, is in Welsh caboli; mail in Italian is both maglia and camag-
lia; belief in Saxon is geleaf, and in German, glaube. We find that in the
Shemitic languages nbo signifies to fill or be full, and we find in the Arabic
y^T has the same signification. In Syriac Jl vN, signifies to remove ;
• According to Dr. Edwards, there is a remarkable resemblance between
the bhemitjc languages, and the Muhhekaneew, or Mohegan, one of the na-
tive languages of New England, in the use of the pronouns as prefixes and
affixes to verbs.— Observations, Sfc.p. 13.
f Ludolf, Col. 446, 447.
and ^^o signifies to wander in mind, to be delirious. In Chaldee and
Syriac, im is to wonder, precisely the Latin demiror, which is a compound
of de and miror.
We find also that nations differ in the orthography of some initial sounds,
where the words are the same. Thus the Spanish has llnmar, llorar, for
the Latin clamo, ploro, and the Welsh has llawr, for the English floor,
llabi, a tall, lank person, coinciding with /aftft?/, llac for slack, and the like.
As the prepositions and prefixes, in all languages, constitute an important
class of words, being used in composition to vary the sense of other parts of
speech, to an almost unUmited extent, it may be useful to give them a par-
ticular consideration.
The simple prepositions are, for the most part, verbs or participles, or de-
rived from them ; when verbs, they are the radical or primary word, some-
times varied in orthography by the addition or alteration of a single vowel,
or perhaps, in some cases, by the loss of the initial consonant, or aspirate.
Such are the Greek ?tapa, ?t£pt, xata ; the Latin con and per ; the English
for, which retain their original consonants. The following, of, by, in, on,
un; the Latin ab, ad, pro, pr<B, re; the Greek ano, trtt, rtpo, may have
lost the initial or final consonants; of [or hof; in (or hin; ab for hab ; pro
for prod. In some words, this loss can only be conjectured ; in others, it
s known or obvious. Thus the English by and be was originally big, as it is
n the Saxon ; and the Latin re, is written also red, evidently a derivative of
an Arabic verb still existing ; the Latin sub and super are foi med probably
from the Greek ii?fo, vrttp, by the change of an aspirate into s, or the
Greek words have lost that letter. The English but in the phrase " They
are all here but one," is a participle ; the Sax. butah, or buton ,- Dutch
buiten, from buiten, to rove. Among is the Saxon gemang, the verb, or the
participle of gemengan, to mingle.
In general, the primary sense of the preposition is moving, or moved.
Thus to in English and ad in Latin, primarily denote advancmg towards a
place or object; as in the sentence, " We are going to town." From, of,
' It. ab, Gr. a?ro, denote motion from a place or object. The French prts,
from the Italian ^resso, and tiiis is the Latin participle pressus, pressed;
hence it denotes near, close.
In some instances prepositions are compounds, as the English before ; that
be or by fore, by the front, and the Fr. aupres, at or at near.
Prepositions, from their frequent use, and from the ease with which their
primary signification is modified to express differences of position, motion or
lation, as occasions demand, have, in many instances, a great variety of
applications ; not indeed as many as lexicogi apheis sometimes assign to
them, butseveral different, and sometimes opposite significations ; as for ex-
amples, the Enghsh /or, with ; tiie Latin con, and the Greek rtopa. For,
which is from the root of Saxon faran, Gr. 7topfuO|Uat, to pass, denotes to-
wards, as in the phrase " A ship bound /or Jamaica ;" or it denotes in /a»or
of, as " This measure is/or the public benefit ;" or " The present is /or a
But it denotes also opposition or negation, as \n forbear, forgive,
forbid.
With is a verb, but has rather the sense of a participle. It is found in the
Gothic with a prefix, ga-withan, to join or unite. Its primary sense then is
joined, close ; hence, in company ; as in the sentences — " go with him,"
" come with me." It has the sense also of from, against, contrariety, op-
position, as in withdraw, withstand, without. In Saxon it had also the
sense of towards, as "with eorthan," towards the earth; also of for, de-
noting substitution or equivalent in exchange, as " sylan with dieges
weorce," to give for a day's work ; also of opposite, over against, as
'* with tha s£e," opposite the sea.
Con in Latin generally signifies with, towards or to, denoting closeness
or union, approach, joint operation and the like, as in concurro, conjungo,
congredior ; but it has also the sense of against or opposition, as in con-
tendo.
The Greek rrapa, is doubtless from the root of the English fare, Saxon
faran, to go, to pass. It signifies from, that is, departure — also at, to, Lat.
ad ; near, with, beyond, and against.
To understand the cause of the different and apparentiy contrary signifi-
cations, we are to attend to the primary sense. The effect of passing to a
place is nearness, at, presso, pres, and this may be expressed by the parti-
ciple, or in a contracted form, by the verb. The act of passing or moving
towards a place readily gives the sense of such prepositions as to, and the
Latin ad, and this advance may be in favor or for tiie benefit of a person or
thing, the primary sense of which may perhaps be best expressed by to-
wards ; " a presentor a measure is towards him," — But when the advance of
one thing towards another, is in enmity or opposition, we express the sense by
against, and this sense is especially expressed when the motion or approach
is in front of a person, or intended to meet or counteract another motion.
Hence the same word is often used to express both senses ; the context de-
termining which signification is intended. Thus/or in English, in the sen-
tence, " He that is not /or us is against us," denotes in favor of. But in the
phrase "for all that," it denotes opposition. " It rains, but/or all that, we
will take a ride,"that is, in opposition to that, or notwithstanding the rain,
we will ride.
The Greek irapa, among other senses, signifies beyond, that is, past, and
otier, Hebrew 13j\
INTRODUCTION.
The prepositions wliicli are used, as distinct words, are called separable
prepositions, or more generally prepositiom : — those which are used only
in composition are called inseparable prepositions. Kor the sake of brevity,
I give to all words or single letters, prefixed to other words in composition,
the general name of prf^xfs.
One of the best mo<lcs of ascertaining the true sense of a preposiUon, is, to
examine its various uses in composition, and discover what effect it has in
modifying the signitication of the word to which it is prefixed.
Prepositions, useil in compounds, often suffer the loss or change of a let-
ter, for the sake of euphony, or the ease of pronunciation. Thus ad in Latin
becomes/ in affero ; con becomes col in colligo ; the Gr. jtapo loses a letter
in Ttapniit,, as does am, in many words.
The following sketch of the principal prepositions and prefixes in several
limguages of Europe will exhibit some of the affinities of these languages,
and in a degree, illustrate the uses of this class of words.
SAXON AND GOTHIC.
^nd. Sax. and Goth, signifies agaitist, opposite. This is the Gr. a»Ti.
and Latin ante, not borrowed from the Greek or Latin, but a native word
Examples, andstandan, to stand against, to resist. Andswarian, answari-
an, to answer ; that is, to speak again, against or in return.
Amb, emb, ym*, usually emb, Saxon, signifying about, around; coincid
ing with the Latin ainb, and Gr. a/i^i.. Example, emb-faran, to go around,
to walk about; emiutan, about; em6, about, and 6utnn, without. See But
Jlmbeht, cmbeht, ymbeht, office, duty, whence we have embassador. Thii
in Gothic is andbahtei, and a bailiif, minister or servant is andbahts. The
Germans have the word contracted in amt, charge, office, Dutch ampt
Dan. ambt. The Gothic ortliography gives rise to the question whether
amb, emb, aniavti, Sax. and Goth, ojid, are not radically the same word;
and it is very certain that the Gothic and Saxon and, is radically the same
word as the Latin in, Dan. ind. So in Gothic, " and wigans," in the ways,
into the highways. Luke, xiv. 23. " and haimos" per vicos, through the
towns. Luke, ix. 6.
This preposition, amb, is in Dutch om ; in German urn ; in Swedish and
Danish om.
At, is a Gothic preposition and prefix, comciding with Eng. at, Lat. ad
Be, in Saxon, as a preposition and prefix, is always written be, or big, an-
swering to the English by, a preposition, and be in beset. In Gothic, it is
written 6i, by and be, being contractions of big. The primary and principal
signification is near, close ; as " stand or sit 6^ me." So in the word by-
stander. It is a prefix of extensive use in the Saxon, German, Dutch
Danish and Swedish. Its use in denoting instrumentality, may be from the
sense of nearness, but more probably it is from passing, like per, through
or it denotes proceedin^from, like of, as salvation is of the Lord.
For, in Saxon, as in English, is a preposition and prefix of extensive use
In Saxon /or signifies a going, from /aran, to go, to fare. It is radically thi
same word as /ore, in the sense of in front, before. Its primary sense i:
advancing ; hence moving towards ; hence the sense of in favor of, and
that of oppo.sition, or negation. See the preceding remarks.
This word in German is/«r, but, with this orthography, the word is little
used in composition. Yet the German has/urfti'He, intercession or praying
for; fllrwort, intercession, recommendation, and a pronoun [for-word;]
andfur-wahr, forsooth.
In the sense of fore, the German has vor, a word of extensive
prefix. Thus in Saxon /oreseoi, to foresee, is in German vorsehen. The
identity of tliese words will not be questioned. But in German as in Dutch
the preposition ver, which is the English far, and Saxon fyr, is used in
composition, in words in which the Saxon and English have/or. Thus for-
gifan,toforgive, is in German, vergeben, and in Dutch, vergeeven — Saxon,
forgitan, to forget; German vergessen; Dutch vergectejt. Hence we see
that the Saxon for, fore, fyr, the English for, fore, far, and tlie German
fur, vor and ver, are from Uie same radix.
In Dutch, /or and fore are represented by voor, and ver represents /or
The Danish also unites/or and fore, as does the Swedish.
The French has this word in pour, and the Spanish and Portuguese in
por. The latter signifies not only /or, but through, as in Portuguese, " Eu
passarei por Fran(;a." " I will pass through France. Here we see the
sense of moving. In Spanish and Portuguese this word is written also para,
as if from the Greek. It is evidently the same word, probably received
through a different channel from that of poi: Now through is the exact
sense of the Latin per ; and per is the Italian preposition answering to for
and pm: But what is more to the purpose, the Spanish, Italian and Portu-
fuese word, equivalent to the English /or^ire, is in Spanish perdonar ; in
talian, perdon<ire, and in Portuguese, periioar ; and the French is ^ardon-
Jier. Here tlien we have strong, if not conclusive evidence, that /or, pour,
por, per, par, and para, in different languages, are all from one stock, the
word being varied in dialect, or by the different families ; just as we have
far, farther, as well as the Saxon^r, and the English /or(A, further, from
the same primitive word. We have the same word in. pursue and pur-
chase, from the French ^o«r.
The Greek has rtcpai; and jtopo, probably from the same root, as well a-
rtOfifvofiai, ;fopo^
Ga, in Gothic, and ge in Saxon, is a prefix of very extensive use. In
Saxon, it is prefixe<l to a large portion of all tlie verbs in the language.
According to Lye, it has sometimes tlie sense of the Latin cum ; but ui most
words I cannot discern any effect of tliis prefix on the signification of the
pie verb. It is retained in the Danish and in some German and Dutch
words, especially in the participles of verbs, and in nouns formed from them.
But it is remarkable that although the Saxon isourmottier tongue, we have
not remaining in the language a single instance of this prefix, with the ori-
ginal orthography. The only remains of it are in the contraction, a, as in
looAre, adrift, ashamed, iic. from gewacan, aweecan ; gedrifan, adrif-
an; gesceamian, ascamian. The letter y prefixed to verbs and participles
used by Chaucer, as yberied, yblent, ybore, ydight, and a few others, is the
remnant of the ge. The words yclad, and ycleped, are the last English
words used, in wliich this letter appears.
It is possible that the first syllable oi govern, from Lat. gubemo, Gr.
xvSi(iva.a, may be the same prefix ; or it may be the Welsh prefix go,
which occurs in goberu, to work, which the Romans wrote operor. But I
know not whether the first syllable of govern is a prefix or not.
There is another word which retains this prefix corrupted, or its equiva-'
lent ; this is common, which we have received from the Latin communis.
This word in the Teutonic dialects is. Sax. getnane; Ger. gemein ; Dutch,
gemeen ; Dan. gemeen ; Sw. gemen. Now if this is the Latin communis,
and of the identity of the last component part of the word, there can, I think,
be no doubt ; then the first part of the word is the Teutonic ge altered to
com, or what is more probable, com is tlie equivalent oi ge, or ge may be a
contracted and corrupted form oi cum, com. In either case, we arrive at
the conclusion that the Teutonic ge, and the Latin cum, are equivalent in
signification.
In, is used in the Saxon and Gothic, as in modern English. It is in Ger-
man ein, Dutch and Swedish in, Danish ind, Greek iv, Lat. in, Fr. en.
This is radically the same word as on and un, the German an, Dutch aan,
and Welsh an. In its original sense, it implies moving, advancing towards,
and hence its use as a particle of negation or contrariety. " Eunt in urbem,"
they are going to the city. " Hebc audio in te dici," I hear these thing.'!
said against you. In mcilern military usage, on is used in the same sense of
advancing. " The army is marching on Liege."
Mid, in Saxon, signifies with. It is the Gothic mith, German mil,
Dutch mede or met, and tlie Gr. jutro; but not retained in English. It
seems to have the same origin as mid, middle, amidst. In the Gothic it is
used as a prefix.
Mis, a prefix, is the verb miss, to deviate. It is used in Saxon, German,
Dutch, Swedish and Danish, in nearly the same sense, as in EngUsh. Its
radical sense is to depart or wander.
Of, is a preposition and prefix of extensive use in the Saxon, as in English.
It denotes primarily issuing, or proceeding from; hence separation, departure,
and distance ; in the latter sense, it is written off. It is the Latin ab, writ-
ten by the early Romans af; the Greek orto, the German ab, the Dutch af;
Dan. and Sw. of. The Saxons often prefixed this word, in cases where we
use it after the verb as a modifier ; as of-drifan, to drive off; as it is still used
by the Germans, Dutch, Swedes and Danes. We retain it as a prefix, in
ffset and offspring. Sax. of-spring. As it denotes proceeding from, it is
the proper sign of the genitive case ; the case expressing production.
qfer, Eng. over, Goth, ufar, G. ttber, D. ot-er, Dan. over, Sw. ofver, is
a preposition and prefix, in all the Teutonic and Gothic languages, which I
have examined ; and in the same or similar senses. This seems to be the
Greek urttp, from which the Latins formed super, by converting the aspirate
of the Greek vowel into s. This is probably the Heb. Ch. Syr. Ar. 13;r, to
ss, a passing, beyond.
On, is a Saxon preposition and prefix of very extensive use. It is obvi-
ously a different orthography of in, and it is used for in, in the Saxon, as " on
onginn," in the beginning. It has also the sense we now give to on and
upon, with other modifications of signification.
In composition, it signifies into, or towards, as on-blawan, to blow in ;
onclifian, to adhere, to cleave to; and it is also a particle of negation, like
un, as onbindan, to unbind. This on is only a different spelling of un, in
Dutch 071, German un, used as a word of negation. The Gothic has un and
«»d, in the like sense, as the Danish has un ; the D. ont. In this sense,
un answers precisely to the Greek avti, and as this is sometimes written
und in Gothic, as in is written ind, in Danish, there can be little doubt,
that in, on, un, avti, are all from one stock. The original word may have
been han, bin, or hon ; such loss of the first letter is very common ; and
inn, from the Ch. and Heb. rUD, presents us with an example. See in and
inn.
The German has an, and the Dutch aan, in the sense of in and on.
0th, is a Saxon preposition and prefix, sometimes written ath and erf, and
answering nearly to the Latin ad and re; as in oth-witan, to twit, to throw
in the teeth. It has also the sense of from, or away, or against, as in oth-
swerian, to abjure. This preposition is obsolete, but we have the remains
of it in tunt, and perhaps in a few other words.
Sam, samod, a prefix. See the Danish and Swedish infra.
INTRODUCTION.
To, is a preposition and prefix of extensive use in our mother tongue. It
occurs as a prefix, in such words as, to-brtBCan, to break ; to-beran, to bring
or bear, [ad-ferre.^ We retain it in together. Sax. togcedere; and in to-
wards. Sax. toward, towardes ; and in to-morrow, to-day, to-night. The
Dutch write it toe, and the Germans zu, and both nations use it extensively
as a prefix. In Gothic it is written du, as in du-gimtan, to gin, that is,
begin. It would be gratifying to learn whether the Ethiopic 'f' , which is
prefixed to many verbs, is not the remains of the same preposition.
f/ra, isa Saxon prefix of extensive use, as a privative or particle of nega-
tion. See on and m.
Under, is a Saxon preposition and prefix of considerable use, in the pres-
ent English sense. The Germans write it unter, and the Dutch onder, and
use it in like manner. The Danes and Swedes write it under, and use i
in the same sense.
Up, ujipe, is a Saxon preposition and prefix of considerable use, in the pre
sent English sense. The Gothic has uf, in the sense of the Latin sub. The
Germans write it ajtfand the Dutch op, the Danes op and tlie Swedes up
and all use it as a prefix.
Us, in Gothic, is a preposition and prefix. This is the German aus, anc
equivalent to the Latin ex. It is the Saxon ut, the English out, Dutch tiit
Swedish ut, and Danish ud, dialectically varied. To this answers the Welsh
ys, used in composition, but ys seems rather to be a change of the Latin ex
tor the Latin expello is written in Welsh yspeliaw, and extendo is estyn.
Wither, in Saxon, from the root of with, denotes against, or opposition.
It is a prefix in Saxon, written in German wider, in Dutch, weder ; Dan. and
Swedish veder. It is obsolete, but retained in the old law term withernam,
a counter-taking or distress.
In the German language, there are some prepositions and prefixes not
found in the Saxon ; as,
Ent, denoting from, out, away.
Er, without, out or to. Dan. er.
JVach, properly nigh, as in nachbar, neighbor ; but its n
.signification in composition is after; as ia nachgehen, to go after. Thi
sense is easily deducible from its primary sense, which is close, near, from
urging, pressing, or following. In Dutch, this word is contracted to »a,
in nabuur, neighbor ; nagaan, to follow. The Russ has no also, a prefix of
extensive use, and probably the same word. This fact suggests the question,
whether the ancestors of these great families of men had not their residence
in the same or an adjoining territory. It deserves also to be considered wheth-
er this no, is not the Shemitic i, occurring as a prefix to verbs.
Weg, is a prefix used in the German and Dutch. It is the Saxon, Ger-
man, and Dutch weg, way ; in tlie sense of away, or passing from, from the
verb, in Saxon, wtegan, wegan, to carry, to weigh, Eng. to wag, the sense
f which is to move or pass ; as Ger. t ' " " ■• -
Zer, in German, denotes separation
5 Ger. wegf alien, to fall offer away.
In the Gothic dialects, Danish and Swedish, /»a is used as a prefix. This
is the Scottish/ra, Eng. frorti, of which it may be a contraction.
Fram in Swedish, and frem in Danish, is also a prefix. The primary
sense is to go, or proceed, and hence it denotes moving to or towards, forth,
&c., as in Danish /rem/aj-er, to bring forth ; fremkalder, to call for. But in
Danish, /rcmjned is strange, foreign, and it is probable that the English /j-om
is from the same root, with a dilferent application. It may be from the same
stock as the Gothic frum, origin, beginning, Latin primus, signifying to
shoot forth, to extend, to pass along.
Oien, igien, in Danish, and igen, in Swedish, is the English gain in again,
against. This is a prefix in both these Gothic languages. It has the sense
of the Latin re, as inigienkommer, to come back, to return; o{ against, as
migienkalder, to countermand, or recall ; of again, as gienbinder, to bind
again. This may be the Latin con.
Mod, in Danish, and mot, emot, in Swedish, is a preposition, signifying to,
towards, against, contrary, for, by, upon, out, &c. ; as " mod staden," to-
wards the city ; modstrider, to resist ; modgift, an antidote ; modbor, a con-
trary wind ; modmnd, the same. This is the Enghsh meet, in the Gothic
orthography, moiyan, to meet, whence to moot.
O, in Swedish, is a negative or privative prefix, as in o/idig, immature, in
English, not tidy. It is probably a contracted word.
Paa, in Danish, p& in Swedish, is a preposition and prefix, signifying on,
in, upon. Whether this is allied to be, by, and the Russ. po, I shall not un-
dertake to determine, with confidence ; but it probably is the same, or from
the same source.
Samman, signifying together, and from the root of assemble, is a prefix of
considerable use in both languages. It answers to the Saxon sam, samod,
equivalent to the Latin con or cum. It seems to be allied to same and the La-
Ti/, both in Danish and Swedish, is a prefix, and in Danish, of very ex-
tensive use. It is equivalent to the EngUsh to or towards, and signifies also
at, in, on, by, and about, and in composition often has the sense of back or
re, as in tilbage, backwards, that is, to back ; but generally it retains the
sense of to or onward ; as in tilbyder, to offer, that is, to speak or order to ;
tildriver, to drive on ; tilgiver, ito allow, to pardon, that is, to give to, and
hence to give back, to remit. This is the English till, which we use in the
same sense as the Danes, but in English it always refers to time, whereas in
Danish and Swedish, it refers to place. Thus we cannot say, " We are going
till town :" but we say, " wait till I come, fill ray arrival ;" literally, " wait
to I come," to my arrival ; that is, to the time of arrival. The difference is not
in the sense of the preposition, but in its application.
The Scotch retain the Danish and Swedish use of this word ; no slight evi-
dence of their origin.
U, in Danish, the Swedish O, is a prefix, equivalent to in, and is used as a
privative or negative ; as in uaar, an unseasonable year ; uartig, uncivil.
RUSSIAN.
by.
may possibly be from the :
: root i
account of, by reason of, after, as in za-
viju, to see, Lat. video ; zadirayu, from
fo or ve, signifies ir
the Eng. be, by. But t
Za, is a prefix signifying/oj
viduyu, to envy, from md, visaj^
deru, to tear ; zamirayu, to be astonished or stupified, from the root of Lat.
miror, and Russ. mir, peace ; miryu, to pacify, to reconcile ; mirnie, pacif-
ic; zamirenie, peace, pacification; zaniirioi/M, to make peace; Arm. mi-
ret, to hold, to stop ; the radical sense of wonder, astonishment, and of
peace.
Ko, a preposition signifying to, towards, for.
J\ra, a preposition and prefix, signifying on, upon, at, for, to, seems to be
the Germ, nach, Dutch na, as in nagrada, reconjpense ; na, and the root of
Lat. gratia ; nasidayu, to sit down, &c.
JVad, a preposition, signifying above or upon.
O, a preposition, signifying of or from, and /or.
Ob, a preposition and prefix, signifying to, on, against, about, as obne-
mayu, to surround, to embrace ; ob and Sax. neman, to take.
Ot, is a preposition, signifying /rom, and it may be the Eng. out.
Po, is a preposition and prefix of extensive use, signifying in, by, after,
from, &c. as podayu, to give to ; polagayu, to lay, to expend, employ, lay
out ; to tax or assess ; to establish or fix ; to believe or suppose ; po and lay.
This corresponds with Eng. by, and the Latin has it in possideo, and a few
other words. [Sax. besittan.] Pomen, remembrzince, po And mens, mind.
Rad, a preposition signifying/or, or for the love of.
So, a preposition and prefixof extensive use, signifying tcirt, o/,/ro?»;
and as a mark of comparison, it answers nearly to the Eng. so or as.
V, with the sound of m, is a preposition and prefix of extensive use. It sig-
nifies near, by, at, with, as uberayu, to put in order, to adjust, to cut, to
reap, to mow, to dress, Fr. parer, Lat. paro ; ugoda, satisfaction ; vgodnd,
good, useful, Eng. good; udol, a dale, from dol.
WELSH.
The prefixes in the Welsh Language are numerous. The following are
the principal.
Am, about, encompassing, Sax. amb, Gr. a/ift.
An. See Sax. in.
Cy, cyd, cyv, cym, implying union, and answering to cum, con and co in
Latin. Indeed cym, written also cyv, seems to be the Latin cum, and cy
may be a contraction of it, like co in Latin. Ca seems also to be a prefix,
as in caboli, to polish, Lat. polio.
Cyn, cynt, former, first, as if allied to begin.
Di, negative and privative.
Di^, negative and precise.
Dy, iterarive.
E and ec, adversative.
Ed and eit, denoting repetition, Uke re. Sax, ed, oth.
Es, separating, like Lat. ex. See ys.
Go, extenuating, inchoative, approaching, going, denotes diminution or a
less degree, like the Latin sub ; as in gobrid, somewhat dear. This seems
to be from the root of English go.
Han, expressive of origination.
Lied, partly, half.
Oil, all.
Rhag, before.
Rhy, over, excessive.
Tra, over, beyond. Lat. trans.
Try, through.
Vm, mutual, reflective.
Ys, denoting from, out of, separation, proceeding from, answering to the
Latin ex; as yspeliaw, to expel. So es, Welsh estyn, to extend.
Most of these prepositions, when used as prefixes, are so distinct as to be
known to be prefixes.
But in some instances, the original preposition is so obscured by a loss or
change of letters, as not to be obvious, nor indeed discoverable, without re-
sorting to an ancient orthography. Thus without the aid of the Saxon or-
thography, we should probably not be able to detect the component parts of
the English twit. But in Saxon it is written edwitan and otkwitan ; the prep-
osition or prefix oth, with witan, to disallow, reproach or cast in the teeth.
It has been above suggested to be possible, that in the Shemitic langua-
ges, the J in triliteral roots, may be the same prefix as the Russian na, the
Dutch na, and German nach. Let the reader attend to the following words.
INTRODUCTION.
video ;
Heb. B3J To look, to behold, to reganl. The primary sense of look, is,
(i) reach, extend or throw.
Ch. To look ; also to bud or sprout.
Ar. tix J To spring, or issue as water ; to flow out ; to devise or strike
°"lf the first letter is a prefix, the Hebrew word would accord with Lat.
ideo ■ the Chaldee, willi video and with butl, Sp. botar, Fr. bouton, boiiter,
>ptU, and Eng. iopout, and Fr. bout, end, from shooting, extending.
Ar. Ckxi To J»rf ,• to germinate. See Ch. supra.
Heb. S3J To fall; to sink down; to wither; to fall off, as leaves and
flowers; to act foolishly; to disgrace. Derivative, foolish; a fool ; SiJJ
Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. to Jail.
Ch. h2i To make foul; to defile ; that is, to throw or put on.
Ar. V A J '^° shoot, as an arrow ; to drive as camels ; to excel ; also to
die, that is prot)^'''y ">/""• . , „ ^ . , , .
Can there be any question, that fall, foul and fool are this very word
without the first consonant ? The Arabic without the first consonant agrees
with Gr. eaTOM, and the sense of falling then, is to throw one's self down.
Heb. IQJ To keep, guard, preserve, retain, observe.
Ch. To observe ; to keep ; to lay up.
Syr. and Sam. id.
Eth. h(r\i To shine.
Ar. lai To keep ; to see ; to look ; to attend.
Remove the first letter, and this coincides with the Greek f jjpjw.
No person will doubt whether hoi to circumcise, is formed on*?!?;.
Ch. ^D3 to cut; tos
Syr. id.
Lat. scrra, serrc
Ar. j^ij To fade, to vanish, to perish, to be empty, to fail.
Heb. nSJ to blow, to breathe. Ch. Syr. Eth. Ar. id. from HB , to blow ,
If the Shemitic J in these and similar words is a prefix or the remains of
a preposition, it coincides very closely with the Russ. and Dutch na, and the
latter we know to be a contraction of the German nach. Now the German
nach is the English nigh ; for no person can doubt the identity of the Ger-
man nachbar and the English neighbor.
In the course of my investigations, I very early began to suspect that b,J,
J), c, g and k before I and r, are either casual letters, introduced by peculiar
modes ofpronunciation, or the remains of prepositions ; mostprobably the lat-
ter. I had advanced far in my dictionary, with increasing evidence of the
truth of this conjecture, before I had received Owen's Dictionary of the
Welsh language. An examination of this work has confirmed my suspi-
cions, or rather changed them into certainty.
If we attend to the manner of articulating the letters, and the ease with
which bl, br,fl,fr, pl,pr, cl, cr, gl, gr are pronounced, without an interven-
ing vowel, even without a slieva, we .shall not be surprised that a preposi
lion or prefix, like fie, i>e, pa, po, or ge should, in a rapid pronunciation, lose
its vowel, and the consonant coalesce closely with the first letter of the prin-
cipal word. Thus blank, prank, might naturally be formed from belank,
perank. That these words are thus formed, I do not know ; but there is
nothing in the composition of the words to render it improbable. Certain it
is, that a vast number of words are formed with these prefixes, on othe-
words, or the first consonant is a mere adventitious addition ; for they an
used with or without the first consonant. Take the following examples.
Hiberno-Celtic, or Irish, brae or brach, the arm, is written also raigh,
Welsh fiiaif, whence ^pa;^iur, brachium. Braigh, the neck, Sax. hraca,
Eng. rack, Gr. po;t'5- Praoch, heath, ling, brake, L. erica.
Welsh, llawr, Basque, lurra, Eng. floor.
haUfloccus, Eng. flock or lock.
Sax. hraccan, Eng. to reach, in vomiting.*
Sax. hracod, Eng. ragged.
Ger. rock, Eng. frock.
Dutch, geluk, Ger. ghtck, Eng. luck.
Greek, Folic Dialect, (Spoioi/, for poSor, a rose.
Latin, clunis, Eng. loin, G. lende, W. dun, from Hun.
Eng. cream, Ger. rahm, Dutch, room.
Sax. hlaf, Polish chlieb, G. leib, Eng. loaf.
Sax. hladan, Eng. to lade or load, Russ. kladu, to lay.
Greek. xAtru, Lat. clino. Sax. hlinian, hleonan, Russ. klonyu, Eng
to lean.
Greek, Xoyjji/of, Lat. Za,^ena, Eng. ^ngon.
Sax. hrysan, Eng. to rush.
Trench, frapper, Eng. to rop.
Sax. gercBdian, to make ready ; in Chaucer, grcilh, to make ready. Sas.
hr(Bd, quick ; hradian, to hasten ; hradties, Eng. leadiiuss.
Spanish, frisar, to curl or frizzle ; rizar, the same.
Sax. gerefa, Eng. reeve, G. graf D. graaf.
Lat. glycyrrhiza, from the Greek ; Eng. liquorice.
But in no language, have we such decisive evidence of the formation of
words, by prefixes, as in the Welsh.
Take the following instances, from a much greater number that might be
produced, from Owen's Welsh Dictionary.
Blanc, a colt, from llanc.
Blith, milk, from lith.
Bliant, fine linen, from lliant.
Plad, a flat piece or plate, from Uad.
Pled, a principle of extension, from lied.
Pledren, a bladder, from pledyr, that distends, from lied.
Pleth, a braid, from lleth, Eng. plait.
Plicciaw, to pluck, from llig.
Ploc, a block, from Hoc ; plociaw, to block, to plug.
Plwng, a plunge, from llwng, our vulgar lunge.
Glwth, a glutton, from llwth. '
Glas, a blue color, verdancy, a green plat, whence Eng. glass, from lla$.
Glyd, gluten, glue, from llyd.
Claer, clear, from llaer.
Clav, sick, from llav.
Clwpa, a club, a knob, from llwb.
Clwt, apiece, a clout, {romllwd, llwt.
Clamp, a mass, a lump.
Clawd, a thin board, from llawd.
Cledyr, a board or shingle, whence cledrwy, lattice, from Ued.
Bran, Eng. bran, from rhan ; rhanu, to rend.
Brid, a breaking out, from rhid.
Bro^, noise, tumult, a brock; from rhoi;.
Bror, froth, foam, anger, brofi, to chafe or fret, from brwc, a boiling or
ferment, from rhwc, something rough, a grunt, Gr. (Jpvj;u.
Bryd, what moves, impulse, mind, thought, from rhyd.
Brys, quickness, brisiaw, to hasten, to shoot along, from rhys, Eng. to
rush, and crysiaw, to hasten, from rhys, to rush. [Here is the same word
rhys, with tlifferent prefixes, forming brysiaw and crysiaw. Hence W.
brysg, Eng. brisk.]
Giaz, [pronounced grath^ a step, a degree, from rhnz, Lat. gradus,
gradior.
Greg, a cackling, from rheg.
Grem, a crashing, gnash, a murmur, gremiaw, to crash or gnash, from
rhem. Hence Lat. fremo, Gr. /3pf^u.*
We have some instances of similar words in our own language ; such flag
and lag ; flap and lap ; clump and lump.
There is another class of words which are probably formed with a prefix
of a different kind. I refer to words in which s precedes another consonant,
calp, skull, slip, slide, sluggish, smoke, smooth, speed, spire, spin,
stage, steep, stem, swell, spout. We find that tego, to cover, in Latin, is in
Greek ftyu ; the Latin fallo, is in Greek c^aM.a. We find ftopa^Joj
* I do not follow Owen to the last step of his analysis, as I am of opinion
that, in making monosyllabic words to he compound, he often errs. For
example, he supposes 6109 a tumult, to be from rlioi;, a broken or rough ut-
terance ; a grunt or groan ; and this, to be a compound of rhy, excess, what
is over or beyond, and of, a forcible utterance, a groan. I believe rAof to be
primitive uncompounded word, coinciding with the English rough.
Owen supposes plad, a flat thing, a plate, to be from Had, with py. Llad
he explains, what is given, a gift, good tilings, and py, what is inward or
involved. I have no doubt that the first letter is a prefix in plad, but beyond
all question, llad is from the same root as lied, breadth, coinciding with Lat.
lotus ; both from a common root signifying to extend. But I do not believe
llad or lied to be compound words.
Dug, a duke, Owen supposes to be formed on ug, over ; which cannot be
true, unless the Latin dux, duco, are compounds. Dur, steel, he derives
from ur, extreme, over, but doubtless it is from the root of the Latin durus.
So par, signifying what is contiguous, a state of readiness or preparation,
Apair, fellow, or match, Owen makes a compound oi py, and ar ; py, as
above explained, and ar, a word of various significations, 911, upon, surface,
&c. But there can be no doubt that^ja)- is from the root of the Latin paro,
to prepare, being the Latin par, equal ; the root of a numerous family of
words not only in the Japhetic languages of Europe, but in the Shemitic lan-
guages of Asia. It certainly is not a Welsh compound, nor is there the
least evidence to induce a belief that it is not an uncompounded word. Had
the learned author of the Welsh Dictionary extended his researches to a va-
riety of other languages, and compared the monosyllabic roots in them with
each otlier, I think he would have formed a very different opinion as to their
origin. I am very well convinced that many of the n ords which he sup-
poses to be primitive or radical, are contractions, such as rhy, lie, lly, the
last consonant being lost.
INTRODUCTION.
is written also ff/iopaySof ; ami it may be inquireJ whether the English
s^j>in, is not from the same root as «>;>'>?, web or woof, rtrtviov, a spindle
rtijufu, to spin. Sprout in English is in Spanish brota.
We find the Welsh ysbrig, the EngUsh sprig, is a compound of ys, i
prefix denoting issuing or proceeding from, like the Lat. ex, and ir/g, top,
summit.
Ysgar, a separate part, a share ; ysgar, ysgarii, to divide ; ysganaw, to
separate, is composed of ys and car, according to Owen ; but the real root
appears distinctly in the Gr. x£tpo. This is the English shear, shire.
Vsgegiaw, to shake by laying hold of the throat, to shake roughly, is
compound o(ys and cegiaw, to choke, from ceg, the mouth, an entrance,
choking. This may be the English shake ; Sax. sceacan.
Ysgin, a robe made of skin; ys and cin, a spread or covering.
Vsgodi, to shade; ysgawd, a'shade ; ys and caied.
Ysgrab, what is drawn up or puckered, a scrip ; ys and crab, what
shrinks. See Eng. crab, crabbed.
Vygravu, to scrape ; ys and crav, claws, from rhav.
Ysgreg, a scream, a shriek, ysgre^iaw, to shriek, from crei;, a shriek
ere(;ian, to shriek, from creg, cryg, hoarse, rough, from rhyg, vye, that ii
rough ; the grain so named from its roughness. This is the English rough
Lat. raucus. Here we have the whole process of formation, from the root
of rough. We retain the Welsh cre(;ia.n, to shriek, in our common word,
to creak, and with a formative prefix, we have shriek, and our vulgar screak
The Latin ruga, a wrinkle, Eng. rug, shrug, are probably from the same
Ysgrivenu, to write, Lat. scriho, from ysgriv, a writing, from criv, a mark
cut, a row of notches ; criviaw, to cut, to grave ; from rhiv, something that
divides. Hence scrivener.
Ysgub, a sheaf or besom, ysgubaw, to sweep, Lat. scojxe, from cub.
collection, a heap, a cube.
Ysgud, something that whirls ; ysgudaw, to whisk or scud
Xerity, Right; ysguth,ysguthaw, the same.
Ysgwth, a push ; ysgwthiaw, to push or thrust ; from gwth, gwthiaw,
the same ; probably allied to Eng. shoot. The Welsh has ysgythu, to jet
or spout, from the same root. , , „ •
Yslac, slack, loose ; yslaciatv, to slacken ; from llac, loose, slack, Uaciaw,
to slacken, from Uag, slack, sluggish ; allied to Eng. lag and slow
Yslapiaw, to slap, to flap, from yslab, what is lengthened or distended,
from «o6,a flag, a strip, a stroke. Llabi, a tall, lank person, a striphng -
looby, a lubber, is from the same root ; llabiaw, to slap.
Ysled, a sled, from (fed, says Owen, which denotes breadth, but it is pro-
bably from the root of slide, a word probably from the same root as lied, thai
is, to extend, to stretch along.
Ysmot, a patch, a spot; ysmotiaw, to spot, to dapple, from mod, Eng
Ysmwciaw, ysmygtt, to dim with smoke, from mwg, smoke. So smooth
from Welsh mwyth
denial ; gwadu, to deny, or disown. If this deduction is correct, the seHse
of denial is a throwing or thrusting back, a repelling. It is so in other
words.
Yswitiaw, to chirp, twitter, from yswid, that makes a quick turn. Qu,
twitter.
In some of the foregoing words, it appears evident that the Welsh prefix,
I alteration of the Latin ex, and the words, in which this is the case.
vere probably borrowed from the Latin, while the Roman ;
i had pos-
fiom cud, ce
Yspail, spoil, from pail, farina, says Owen. I should say from the root of
alea, straw, refuse, that is, from the root of peel, to strip. Yspeilwta, to be
I ball, says Owen : but this is the Latin ex
=f, foremost. The
pah
pilfering.
Yspeliaw, to expel, from pel.
pello, from pello. Ball may be from the same root.
Yspig, a spike, a spine ; yspigaw, to spike ; frompig, a sharp point, zpike.
Hence Eng. spigot.
Yspin, a spine, from pin, pen.
Ysgynu, to ascend, Lat. ascendo, fiom cyn, first, chi(
radical sense is to shoot up.
Yslw?, a slough, from llwc, a collection of water, a lake
Yspar, a spear, from pdr, a cause or principle of producing, the germ or
seed of a thing, a spear. This consists of the same elements as ber, a spit,
and Eng.-*a»-, and in Italian bar is sbarra. The primary sense is to shoot
thrust, drive. . ^ i
Yspinc, a finch, frompinc, gay, fine brisk ; a sprig, A finch.
Ysplan, clear, bright ; ysplana, to explain ; ftomplan, that is parted off,
ray, a shoot, a planting, a plane; -whence plant , a child; Eng
planu, to shoot, as a plant. Hence splendor, W. ysplander.
Ysporthi, to support, from porth, a bearing, a port, passage,
j^orta, porta.
Ystac, a stack, a heap ; ysl
stuffed or clogged. . .^ rru
Ystad, a state ; ystadu, to stay ; from tad, that spreads, a continuity. J he
primary sense is to set.
Fston, that is spread; a stain; tin, 'Lat. stannum; ystaeniaw, to spread
over, to stain ; ystaenu, to tin, or cover with tin ; from taen, a spread, a laye
Qu. is tin from spreading ?
Ystawl, a stool, from tawl, a cast or throw. The sense is to set, to throw
down. TaiBl is the root of deal.
Ystor, a store, that forms a bulk, from tor, a swell, a prominence.
Ystorm, a storm, from torm, that is stretched, but the sense is a rushing.
Ystrym, a stream, from trym, compact, trim, that is, stretched, straight,
from extending.
Ystwmp, a stump, from twmp, a round mass, a tump.
ysmafiOM', to s?uat, from jswarf, a throw, or falling down, from gtvad, a
session of England. But there is a vast number of words, with this prefix,
which are not of Latin origin ; and whether ys is a native prefix in the
Welsh, may be a question. One thing is certain, that s before another con-
sonant, and coalescing with it, is, in a great number of words, a prefix.
The modern Italian affords abundant proof of the extensive use of s, as
the remains or representative of ex ; as sballare, to unpack, itnbale ; sbar-
6ato, beardless ; sfta^iere, to abate ; sftrancare, to pluck off branches; scar-
icare, to discharge ; scommodare, to inconmiode ; sconcordia, discord ; scor-
breakthe horns; scrostare, to pull off the crust; and a great num-
ber of others.
Now if the same manner of forming words with this prefix has actually
prevailed among the northern nations of Europe, we may rationally suppose
that many English words, and perhaps all of this class, are thus formed.
Thus scatter may be formed from a root in Cd; shape, from C'b, Cf or
Cp; skill, from the root of Lat. calleo ; slip, from the root of Lat. labor ;
smart, from the root of Lat. amarus, bitter, Heb. ">n ; smite, from the root
of Latin mitto ; span, from the root of pan, to stretch ; spar, from the root
of bar ; speak, from the root of Lat. voco : speed, from a root in Pd, perhaps
Lat. peto ; steal, from the root of Lat. tollo ; steep, from the root of deep ;
stretch, from the root of reach ; sweep, from the root of wipe ; swan, from
wan, white ; swell, from the root of to well. Sax. wellan, to boil, &c. That
many English and other Teutonic and Gothic words are thus formed, appears
to be certain.
These facts being admitted, let us examine a little further. In Russ.
svadiba is a wedding. Is not this formed on the root of wed, with s for a
prefix ? Svara is a quarrel. Is not this formed on the root of vary, variance,
oTofspar? Sverlo is a horer; qu. bore anti veru ; svertivayu, toroU; qu.
Lat. verto ; skora, furs, peltry ; qu. Fr. cuir ; skot, a beast ; qu. cattle;
skupayu, to purchase in gross ; qu. cheap, Dan. kioben, and its root ; slabei,
weak; qu. Lat. labor, lapsus ; slagaytt, to foW; qu. lay, and plico; slivayu,
to pour out liquors ; qu. Lat. libo ; slvpayu, to peel off bark or skin ; qu.
Lat. liber ; snimayu, to take away ; qu. Sax. neman, to take ; snova, new ;
qu. Lat. novus ; snig, sneig, snow, Fr. neige. The Lat. nivis is from this
root, with g opened to v. Russ. spletayu, to plait, &c.
The Russ. prefix so occurs in a great number of words ; sobirayu, to col-
lector assemble, precisely the Heb. and Ch. 13X.
It now becomes an interesting question, to determine how far any analogy
exists, between the languages of the Japhetic and Shemitic families, in regard
to prefixes. For example, in the Shemitic languages, 3 is a prefix of exten-
sive use, corresponding almost exactly with the English and Dlitch by, the
Saxon be, and German bei. This preposition and prefix has several senses
in the Saxon which are now obsolete ; but its present prevaiUng sense oc-
curs in all the Shemitic languages. r\iy Dnj5 nn3, by a strong east wind.
Ex. xiv. 21. Compare the following definitions of this preposition ; the Sax.
from Lye. and the Shemitic from Castle.
Sax. de, e, ex, in, secus, ad, juxta, secundum, pro, per, super, propter,
circa. , , ,
Heb. Ch. Syr. in, e, ex, cum, propter, usque ad, adeo ut, ad, super, per,
contra, ante.
1. in, per, pro, propter, cum, secundum, apud.
in, cum, propter, per, ad, erga.
... Numbers, xiv. 34, it signifies according to, or after ; D'DTI 13003, ac-
cording to the number of days. This signification is now perhaps obsolete in
English, but was common in the Saxon ; as, " be his majgnum," -"""--ii"" '"
plant ,
Lat,
standard ; from tag, a state of being
' be tham mEstan ;"
ccording to
y the most, is now
his strength ; pro viribis suis,
expressed by, at the most. ,„...,
Now it is remarkable that this word in Hebrew, Arabic and Persic, is the
preposition used in oaths, precisely as it is in English. Gen. xxii. 16, '3, By
myself have I sworn. Arabic, ballah or by Allah; Persic, <Jv-ij be-
choda, or begoda, by God, the very words now used in English. The evi-
dence then Is decisive that the Shemitic prefix a is the Teutonic be, by, bei
contracted, and this Teutonic word is certainly a contraction of big, which
is used in the Saxon, especially in compound words, as in bigspell, [by-spell]
a fable ; bigstandan, to stand by. This prefix then was in universal use by
the original stock of mankind, before the dispersion; and this word alone is
demonstrative proof of the common origin of the Sheraiuc and Teutonic lan-
guages. Now it is equally certain that this is the prefix b, and probably p,
before I and r, in block, braigh, and a multitude of words m all the modern
languages; and probably, the same letter is a prefix in many Shemitic
"" We'know that be in the Saxon bedalan, and Dutch bedeelen, is a prefix,
as the simple verb is found in all the Teutonic and Gothic languages. The
Hebrew and Chaldee '713 corresponds exactly in elements and m sigmtica-
INTRODUCTION.
lion, with the Saxon ;inil Dutch. Whether the fust letter is a prefix in the
latter languages, let the reader judge. See the word deal, which when
ced, terminates in t)ie Welsh tawl, a cast off, a throw ; separation; tawlu,
to cast or throw off, to separate.
In Chaldee, y}2 signifies to scatter, to disperse. The word has the s
signification in the Syriac and Samaritan.
In Ethiopic, the word with ^ prefixed, signifies to wish, love, desire,
and with "t" prefixed, to strive, to endeavor, and without a prefix, strife,
course, race. Both these significations are from stretching, straining.
In Arabic j^j signifies generally to hasten, to run to; but , J^j
signifies to disperse, to sow or scatter seed.
This verb is written in Hebrew IfJ with precisely the .same signification.
The Arabic also hajs the verb with this orthography, signifying to sow, and
also to beat or strike with a stick.
Now in Syriac ; , dar, signifies to strive, or struggle. Here we have
the simple verb, withotit the prefix, with the sense of the Ethiopic, with
a prefix. Supra.
We find also the Arabic , i tharra, the simple verb, signifies to sprinkle
We find in Chaldee Nm, mT and n\the simple verb, signifies todis
perse ; in Syriac, the same. In Arabic ) , ^ signifies to sow, like the
foregoing verb, and hence to procreate. Both this and the former verb sig-
nify also to whiten, a^ the hair of the head, as we say, to sprinkle wjth gray
hairs. The Arabic ^ ^ signifies to drive, to impel, to repel, to contend,
to strive ; to shine, to sparkle. And here we have the literal signification
of this whole class of verbs; to drive, urge, throw, send; hence to scat
ter, to strive, to shoot as rays of Ught, procreate, &.c.
The Hebrew corresponding verb is mt or J?ll to scatter, to sow ; and
the word witli tlie like orthography occurs in Ch. Syr. and Ar. This is
the Latin sero. And who can doubt that 3 is a prefix in tlie verb ir\2
above mentioned .'
In Welsh, goberu signifies to work, to operate; gober, work, operation ;
formed by the prefix go and per ; go denoting progress towards, approach,
and per rendered by Owen, that pervades, a fruit, a pear ; but tlie real
eense is to strain, to bring forth, to drive, thrust, urge, &c.
This word, in the Arnioric dialect, is written either gofter or ober
Latin operor, whence Eng. operate. The same word is in the Ethiopic,
I'Oi gaber, to make, to do. l\1(\i agabar, to cause to be made ;
•^J^ "] Q 4 tagabar, to work, operate, negotiate ; 1 Q ^ gabar, a make
This is the Heb. and Ch. laj to be strong, to prevail, to establish, and as
a noun, a man; Ar. »*.:? jabara, to make strong, to heal, as a broken
bone ; to strengthen.
That this Shemitic word and the Welsh and Ethiopic are all radically one,
there cannot be a question ; and the Welsh proves indisputably that go is a
prefix. This then is a word formed on 13 or N-13. The Heb. T3N,
strong, that is, strained, and T3N, a wing, that is, a shoot, are from the same
root, and in Arabic j. j ? abara, signifies to prick, to sting, and its deriv
pike, a
pear, and per, a
lance, a spit, a spear, Lat. verii ; in Welsh also
spit, ai-e all doubtless of the same origin.
In Syriac, ^o. ,tsabar, signifies to make, to work or operate. Is tliis
the same root with a different prefix ?
The same word in Arabic »aa» signifies to be patient, to bear, to sus-
tain.
W e observe, that in the Teutonic and Gothic languages, the same word
is used with different prefixes. Thus in our mother tongue, begin is writ-
ten gynnan, tlie simple radical word, and aginnan, beginnan, and ongyn-
nan ; and in the Gothic, duginnan, which, in English, would be, login.
Should it appear upon investigation, that verbs in the Assyrian languages
have the same prefixes which occur in the European languages, the fact
will evidence more affinity between the languages of these two stocks than
has yet been known to exist.
Let us now attend to the natural causes which may be supposed to have
obscured or desUoyed the identity or resemblance of languages which had
a common origin.
The afhnity of words, in two or more different languages, is known by
identity of letters and identity of significaUon ; or by letters of the same
organ, and a signification obviously deducible from the same sense. Letters
of the same organ, as for example, b, /,;) and j) are so easily converted, the
one into the other, and the change is so frequent, tliat this circumstance
seldom occasions much obscurity. The changes of signification occasion
more difficulty, not so much by necessity, as because this branch of philolo-
gy is less understood.
1. CHANGE OF ARTICULATIONS, OR CONSONANTS.
The articulations, letters which represent the junctions or joinings of the
organs, usually called consonants, are the stamina of words. All these are
convertible and frequently converted into their cognates. The English word
bear represents the Latin fero and pario, and fero is the Greek fifu.
The Latin vcntus is wind in English ; and habeo is hare. The Latin dens,
in Dutch, Danish and Swedish is land; and darue in English is in German
tanz.
These changes are too familiar to require a multiplication of examples.
But there are others less common and obvious, which are yet equally cer-
tain. Thus in the Gaelic or Hiberno-Celtic,™ and mb are convertible with
V ; and in Welsh m and v are changed, even in different cases of the same
word. Thus in Irish the name of the hand in written either ZaniA or lav,
and in Welsh maen, a stone, is written also vaen. The Greek 0 is always^
pronounced as the English v, as PouXonai, Lat. volo, EngUsh will, German*
wollen ; and the sound of b tlic Greeks express by m(3.
In the Chaldee and Hebrew, one remarkable distinction is the use of a
dental letter in tlie former, where the latter has a sibilant. As ni3 cuth
in Chaldee is tyij cush in Hebrew ; 3rn, gold, in Chaldaic, is 3ni in He-
brew. The like change appears in the modern languages ; for water which,
in most of the northern languages, is written with a dental, is, in German,
written wasser, and the Latin dens, W. dant, Dutch tand, Swedish and
Danish tand, is, in German, zahn. The like change is frequent in the
Greek and Latin. "PpaTiu, in one dialect, is (ppaircrw, in another; and the
Latins often changed t of the indicative present, or infinitive, into a in the
preterit and participle, as initio, mittcre, i/tisi, missus.
L and R, though not considered as letters of the same organ, are really
such and changed the one into the other. Thus the Spaniards write blandir
for brandish, and escolta for escort. The Portuguese write brando for bland,
and branquear, to whiten, for blanch. The Greek has tffayiWm for the
Latin flagellum. In Europe however this change seems to be limited
chiefly to two or three nations on the coast of the Mediterranean. L is
sometimes commutable with D.
We have a few instances of the change of g- or gh into/. Thus rough is
pronounced j«/,and trough, traiif.
The Russians often change the d of a noun into the sound of j, or the
compound g, in the verb formed from that noun ; as lad, accord, harmony,
laju, to accord, or agree ; bred, damage, loss ; breju, to injure.
The Italians and French have also changed a dental into a palatal letter.
ragxone.
any words ; as Italian raggio, a ray, from Lat. radius ;
reason, from ratio ; Fr. manger, to eat, from Lat. mando, or manduco.
In the south of Europe, the Greek % has been changed, in some instan-
ces, into the Italian or Spanish z, and then by the French into s. It seems
that the Spanish z has, at some former period, been pronounced as a guttu-
ral. Thus the Gr. pf axcMi, Lat. brachium, the arm, is in Spanish brazo,
and the Spaniards have the word from the Latin, or from the same source
as the Latin and Greek, the Celtic braic. This word, brazo, the French
changed into bras, and from that we have brace and embrace. A similar
change occurs in Dnrazzo, from Dyrrachium, and in the Spanish luz, light.
The Teutonic nations often used ft to express the power of the Greek «,
and the Latin c, as heart for xapSia, horn for comu. Hence we find that
the Saxon hlinian, hleonian or hlynian, to lean, is the Greek kAho), Latin
clino. The letter h is now dropped and we wiite the word lean.
In like manner, the Saxon hlid, which we no
root as tlie Latin claudo, cludo, Ihp liirfk .'■■
hAhm. And in this word we may ■ ■!
not only to shut, but to praise oi
Latin plaudo, are the same, with
that the primary sense is to strai.
write lid, is from the same
•. wliich is contracted into
' t, that the word signifies
1^ that this word and tlio
, the same as laudo, and
.uii appears in hlud, loud.
Latin, /and h have been converted, as hordeum for fordeum ; and the
Spaniards now write A for/, as Aacer for the Latin facere ; hilo for Jilum ;
herir {orferire, Uc.
3. CHANGE OF VOWELS.
The change of vowels is so common, as to occasion no difficulty in deter-
mining the sameness of words ; indeed little or no regard is to be had to
them, in ascertaining the origin and affinity of languages. In this opinion I
accord with almost a^l writers on this subject ; but! have to combat the opin-
ion of that elegant scholar, Sir William Jones, who protests against the licen-
tiousness of etymologists, not only in transposing letters, but in totally disre-
garding the voicels, and seems to admit the common origin of words only
"'hen written with the same letters, and used in a sense precisely the same.*
* Asiatic Researches, vol. 3, p. 4S9.
INTRODUCTION.
I am not at all surprised at the common prejuJice existing against etymol-
ogy. As the subject has been treated, it is justly liable to all the olyeclions
urged against it. But it is obvious that Sir W. Jones had given very little
attention to the subject, and that some of its most common and obvious prin-
ciples had escaped his obseiTation. His opinion with regard to both articu-
lations and vowels is unequivocally erroneous, as will appear from the fol-
lowing list of words, taken from modern languages, and respecting the
identity of which, that gentleman himself, if living, could not have the
slightest doubt.
English. Saxon. Dutch. German. Swedish. Latin.
draw, I Jiagau, trekken, tragen, draga, tralio.
give, gifan, geeven, geben, gifva,
feet, j
fot, fet, voet,
hook, hoc, haak,
day, dag, dajg, daag,
have, habban, hebben,
[Fr. avoir, ai, as
leap, hleapan, loopen.
fuss,
haken,
fot.
pes.
hake,
tag, dag,
haben, hafva,
, avons, avez, ont.]
laufen, lopa.
hranden, brennen,
willcn, woUen,
, vclle.
sten,
bred,
jord, Dan. iord.
burn, byr
will, willan,
stone, Stan,
broad, bred,
earth, eorth,
who, hwa, wie, ho, Dan. hvo.
seek, secan, zoeken, suchen, s5kia, sequor.
bean, bean, boon, bohne, bona, Dan. bonne.
Here are scarcely two words written with the same letters in two lan-
guages; and yet no man ever called in question their identity, on account
of the difference of orthography. The diversity is equally great in almost
all other words of the same original. So in the same words we often find
the vowel changed, as in the Lat. facio, feci ; ago, egi ; sto, steti ; vello,
vulsi. Nothing is more certain than that the Welsh gwyz, and the English
wood, are the same word, although there is one letter only common to them
both. It is pronounced gooyth, that is, g, and wyth ; as guard for ward.
3. CHANGE OR LOSS OF RADICAL LETTERS.
There are some words, which, in certain languages, have suffered a
change of a radical letter ; while in others it is wholly lost. For example,
word, in Danish and Swedish is ord; wort, a plant, is urt ; the Saxon gear,
orger, English year, in Danish is aar, in Swedish is &r, in Dutch jaar, and
in German jaAr.
In the word, yoke, and its affinities, we have a clear and decisive example
of changes in orthography. Yoke, the Latin jugvm, is from the Chaldee,
Syriac, and Arabic JU. zug, 'o join, to couple ; a word not found in the He-
brew. The Greeks retained the original letters in {u7o!, ?u7ou ; the Latins
changed the first letter to J m jugum, and inserted a casual n in j'ungo.
From the Latin, the Italians formed giogo, a yoke, and giugnere, to join ;
the Spaniards, yugo, a yoke, and junior, to join ; the French, ^'oMg, a yoke,
and ^omdre, to join. In Saxon, yoke is geoc or ioc ; in Dutch, juk; G.
joch; Sw. ok.
One of the most general chaqges that words have undergone is the entire
loss of the palatal letter g, when it is radical and final in verbs; or the open-
ing of that articulation to a vowel or diphthong. We have examples in the
English bow, from Saxon bugan, to bend ; buy, from bycgan; brow, from
Ircg ; lay, I'rom IcBgan, or lecgan ; say, from siegan ;fair, from fceger ; flail,
from the' German /eg-c/, Lat. flagellum; French nier, from Lat. nego, ne-
gare.
The same or similar changes have taken place in all the modern langua-
ges of which I have any knowledge.
The loss and changes of radical letters in many Greek verbs deserve par-
ticular notice. We find in the Lexicons, irpayiia, 7rpa7o!, Trpaxuxoi, are refer-
red to Trpao-cru, wpatTO, as the theme or root ; Toyua, to laaau ; purup, to pra ; and
cpfaytia, to (ppcio-o-o). This reference, so far as it operates as a direction to the
student where to find the verb to which the word belongs, and its explana-
tion, is useful and necessary. But if the student supposes that these words
are formed from the theme, so called, or the first person of the indicative
mode, present tense, he is deceived. I am confident no example can be
found, in any language, of the palatals 7 and «, formed from the dentals and
sibilants, 1 and a, nor is piittop,or any similar word formed by the addition of
the dental to a verb ending in a vowel. The truth is, the last radical in pro
is lost, in the indicative mode, and inirpaaaiji, nptmu, it is changed. The ra-
dical lost in pro is 5 or 9 ; the original word was ptSu or piSoi, and the deriva-
tives pnTup, pniopiKn, were formed before the radical letter was dropped in the
verb. No sooner is the verb restored to its primitive form, than we recog-
nize its connection with the Irish raidham, to speak ; Saxon rad, speech ;
7tedan, to read ; German rath, Dutch raad. Sac.
The original root of irpao-trm, was irpa7M, irpaxu, or irpctKU, and from this were
formed irpa7iia, irpaHTixot, before the last radical was changed. No sooner is
the original orthography restored, than we see this to be the Teutonic verb.
German brauclien, Dutch gebruiken, Danish hruger, Sw. briilia. Sax. bru-
can, to use, io practice, and hence the English broka:
The same remarks are api)licable to ia7na and rao-o-oj ; (ppa7Mo and (ppao-o-to ;
alkay-n and aUac-uu ; xapcuTnp and xafaccra, and many other words of like for-
mation. In all these cases, the last radical letter is to be sought in the deri-
vatives of the verb, and in one of the past tenses, particularly in an aorist.
This fact affords no feeble evidence that in Greek, as in the Shemitic langua-
ges, the preterit tense or an aorist, was the radix of the verb.*
But it is not in the Greek language only that we are to seek for the primi-
tive radical letters, not in what is now called the root of the verb, but in the
derivatives. The fact is the same in the Latin, and in the English. The
Latin fluctus and fluxi, cannot be deduced (rom fluo ; but the orthography
of these words proves demonstrably that the original root wasflugo, or fluco.
So in English sight cannot be deduced from see, for no example can be found
of the letter g introduced to form the participles of verbs. Sight, in Saxon
gesicht, D. zigt, G. sicht, Dan. sigt, Sw. sickt, is a participle ; but the
verb in the infinitive, in Saxon is seon, geseon, Ger. sehen, D. zicn, Dan.
seer, Sw. se ; in which no palatal letter is found, from which g or ch can be
deduced. The truth then is that the original verb was segan, or in Dutch
zegen ; the g being lost as it is in the French nier, from the Lat. nego.
In the change ol letters in the Greek verbs before mentioned, the process
seems to have been from 7 or » to J, and then to o- and t ; Trfaym, jrpnju, nfac-
aa, FpciTTW. This is certainly a process which is natural and common. The
Latin brachiuni thus became in Spanish brazo, and then in French bras :
and thus in the ItaUan, Alexandria has become Alessandria.
When the last radical of a Greek verb is a dental, it may not be certain
whether the original letter was d, or th or t. ' We find the Greek verb oTraK,
to draw, forms its derivatives with <r, airaaiia, araais ■ and this is probably the
Armoric spaza, from which we have spay. So <ppa{u, tpfaun, and (ppaln, are
evidently of the same family. It is not improbable that the original letter
might have a compound sound, or it might correspond neaily to the Arabic
I3 or (^ J or the English dh or th, or ds, so as easily to pass into d oi
It is equally clear that many Greek words have lost an initial consonant.
The letter most generally lost is probably the oriental n, but obviously the
palatals, 7 and «, have, in many instances, been dropped. There seems to
be no question that the Greek o\oi is the English whole and perhaps all.
This in Welsh is oil or holl, in Saxon al or geall ; and this is undoubtedly
the Shemitic '73. So the Gr. o>,Auni is the Welsh colli, to lose ; and £iAro may
be the EngUsh coi7, Fr. cueillir.
In like manner, the Greek has, in many words, lost a labial initial, answer-
ing to the English 6,/or v. The Greek ii5w is undoubtedly the Latin video ;
ifyot is from the same root as work ; lim is from the root olvid, in the Latin
divide, and individuus, that is, separate, and from the Arabic, Jv j badda,
to separate.
In many instances, the Latin retained or restored the lost letter ; thus ha-
maxa, for ojiaja ; harpago for a^ira.-y-n ; harmonia for opuona ; video for £i5w.
If the marks of breathing, called spiritus asper and spiritus lenis, now pre-
fixed to Greek words, were intended to represent the letters lost, or to stand
in the place of them, they answer this purpose very imperfectly. The spir-
itus asper may stand for a palatal or guttural letter, but it does not designate
which letter, the n, or the 3 ; much less does this or the other spiritus just-
ly represent the labials, 6,/, d or «). Whenever the Latins wrote A in the
place of the Greek spiritus, we may conclude that the original letter was n or
a cognate letter ; and we may conclude also that the » in video, and in diiyido,
viduus, individuus, stands for the original labial lost in iidu, and iJus. But
there are many words, I apprehend, in which the lost letter is unknown, and
in which the loss cannot be recovered, by any marks prefixed to the words.
We may well suppose that hymnus exhibits the correct written form of
uuio! ; but what is there in the Greek uipi, to lead us to consider this word as
the English woof, and ucpau, to be the same as weave ? Both the Greek
words have the spiritus asper.
What proportion of Greek words have been contracted by the loss of an in-
itial or final consonant, cannot, I apprehend, be determined with any pre-
cision ; at least, not in the present state of philological knowledge. It is pro-
bable the number of contracted words amounts to one fourth of all the verbs,
and it may be more.
Similar contractions have taken place in all other languages ; a circum-
stance that embarrasses the philologist and lexicographer at every step of his
researches; and which has led to innumerable mistakes in Etymology. We
know that the Swedish &r, and Danish aar, a year, have lost the articulation
g, and that the English y in year, is the representative of g, asj
" * ' ' " jahr : for the g is found in our mother lougue
and in a multitude of words, one language will supply the means of deter
Dutch jaar, and German
* KptUfu, in Greek, is to cry like a crow or rook ; but the last radical is
changed fiom 7, as in the second aorist, it forms «pa7iii. Now in Danish, crow
is krage, in Ger. krahe, in D. kraai, in Sw. kr&ka; a fact that demonstrates
the last radical letter to be a palatal, which in English is opened too, in crow.
INTRODUCTION.
mining the real origin or true orthography which cnnn.i I ■ i. 1 1 iruHl by
anotlier. But doubtless many changes have taken pi i i I ' i. ■ evi-
dence is uncertain ; the chain which might conduct \ I ^ ' ii . I.iithog-
raphy being broken, andno meansnow remaining ol II I n 11 _ ■'■.
In no language, has the rejection or change of consonants s n ft
ually to obscure the original words as in the French. So t-M ■ I
been the changes of orthography in that language, that hii<l n
lexicographers indicated the loss of letters by a mark, it would I ir i : , 1 1 » i I
now to discover the original orthography, or to trace tlic connection oi w .1
with other languages, in a large portion of them. And it is with r.'in
we observe the influence of the French practice of suppressing consoii n;
extending itself to other countries. It is owing to the most servile obsicin,
ousness of nations, that Basil or Basilea, the elegant name of a town m
Switzerland, has been corrupted to Basle, and pronounced most barbarously
bale. The Germans are pursuing a like course in suppressing the palatal
letters; a most unfortunate circumstance for the strength of the language.
The Italians also have a disposition to reject letters when they interfere
with their habits ofpronunciation, and hence we see, in their language, ^ia-
no, written (or piano ; fiore (or flore ; fiocco (or flocco; a change that has
removed a radical consonant, and thus obscured or ratlier destroyed the affin-
ity between the Italian and the Latin words.
Another dilTerence of writing and pronouncing, has been produced by the
change of a sibilant letter into an aspirate : or e converso, by the change of
an a.spirate into a sibilant. No person doubts whether the Latin super is
the Greek uirip ; or o|ia\M is similh ; or a\! is sal, salt. The latter in
Welsh is halen, hal. So helyg, a willow, in Welsh, is in Latin salix. Thq
(Jreek ma is the Latin septem, English seven. This in Persic is C>.x&
heft or haft, which approaches the Greek itna. It has been commonly sup-
posed, that in this case, the aspirate in Greek has been converted into an s.
There are however strong reasons for believing that the change has been
the reverse, and that s has been dropped, and its place supplied by an
aspirate. The word seven is, beyond a question, the Sheniitic ^ j^^
i,'2e>, whence nat?, Eng. sabbath ; and the Gaelic sean, old, whence Latin
senex, in Welsh hen, seems clearly to be the Ar. ^ sanna, to be old.
It is then clear that in these words .s is radical. It is probable however
that the aspirate, in some cases, has been changed into s.
It deserves to be noticed that the radix of a word is sometimes obscured,
in Greek and Latin, by the loss or change of a radical letter in the nomina-
tive case. We find in Latin nepos, in the nominative, is nepotis in the gen-
itive ; honos, honoris, &.c. In these changes, I suppose the letter restored
in the oblique cases to be the true radical letter. Thus adamant has been
deduced by our etymologists from the Greek a negative and ianau, to sub-
due, on the supposition that the stone was named from its hardness. This
is a good example of a great part of all etymological deductions ; they arc
mere conjectures. It did not occur to the inquirer that adamas, in the
nommative, becomes in the gentive adamantis ; that n is radical, and that
this word cannot be regularly deduced from the Greek verb. Any person^
by looking into a Welsh dictionary, may see the original word.
In some words it is not easy to determine whether n before d is casual or
radical. In such words as the Latin fundo, to pour, and tundo, to beat
there is rea.son to think the n is casual, for the preterit is formed without it,
fudt, tutuJt. But ni other words n before d seems to be radical, and the
d casual ; as in fundo, fundare, to found. For this word coincides with the
Irish bun, foundation, and with the Shemitic nj3, banah, to build. So the
English yt«(Z is in Swedish ^inna, and in is in Danish ind.
Another fact of considerable consequence, is, the casual sound of n .-ivcn
tog, which produced the elTect of doubling the 7 in Gi-cek, an. I ..I .1, , 7 , u
mg the insertion of n before g in the Latin, as also in the '
Gothic languages. Thus we see the 7 is doubled in the Greik
we know, m this case, how the change originated; for the oii.Mi> ,1 v. \,' 1
m the Gaelic and Irish, agalla. So 7 is prefixed to another palatal or -ut-
tural letter in wyx'-', 07x01, £771^10.
A similar nasal sound of g probably introduced the n before s in lin-'o. to
hck ,• hnquo, to leave.
We may be confident, in all cases, that n is not radical, when it is dropped
in the supine and participle, as in Kctvm, Hctus, from linguo. When n is
retained in t.ie supine and participle, there may be more reason for doubt;
but m this case, the question may often be determined by the coriespondin<r
word m aiKither language, or by some other word evidently of the sami
lick are the
family.
word.
little doubt that lingo and the English
"* the Lat. lingua and ligula arc of
This casua insertion of n in words of this class must be carefully noticed
by the etymologist, or he will overlook the affinity of words, which are evi-
dent y the same. We have many words in English which are written with
n belore a g or a k, when the ancient words in the Gothic and Teutonic lan-
guages and some of them in the modern Danish and Swedish, are written
without n. Thus sink, in Gothic is sigcwan; to think, is thagkyan. It is
not improbable that the (Jothic word was pronounced with the sound of n
Vol. I. C
■ ng- as in English. So i
- ^stances, we find the Sw .
jways, as tlinka, ttenker and tycka, tykker, to thinks But in general the Ger-
ans, Danes, Swedes and Dutch write words of this sort with ng.
To show how important it is to know the true original orthography, I will
iition one instance. In our mother tongue, the word to dye, or color, is
nw-ndeagan; the elements or radical letters are dg. To determine
il'.cr Ibis and the Latin tingo arc the same words, we must first know
il]r ■ 11 in tingo is radical or casual. This we cannot know with cer-
. ! ■ t'li- form of the word itself, for the n is carried through all the
' I iiMiiis of the verb. But by looking into the Greek, we find the
-, i vM,,Hii with 7, Tiv'/y; and this clearly proves the alliance of the
tiiil «iiii deagan. .'^rr- /(i,r in tin Hirtionary.
j We have many Enjili ' lib a rf ha? been inserted before ;?,
3.% ia badge, budge, Iml'. , -,. In all words, I believe, of this
class, the dis casual, tn,.i . .; , > ,„ ,„^ is the radical letter, as pledge from
the French pleige ; UK^t 1 1 um tin- .s^xon wecg. The practice of inserUng
d in words of this sort seems to have originated in the necessity of some
mode of preserving the English sound of g, which might otherwise be
sounded as the French g before e. And it is for this reason we still retain,
and ought to retain d in alledge, abridge. In like manner the Teutonic c
has been changed into the sound of ch, as Sax. wacian, wacian, to wake,
to watch; Sax. thac, thatch.
There are some nations which, in many words, pronounce and write g
before u or w ; as in the French guerre, for war; guede, for woad ; guet-
ter. for wait : in Welsh, gwal, for wall; gwain, for wain ; gwared, for
guard, which in EngHsh is ward, Sp. guarda. In some instances, the u
or u) is dropped in modern writing, as in the French garcniu, a warren :
garde, for guard. ThisditTerence of orthography makes it difficult, in some
cases, to ascertain the true radical letters.
CHANGE OF SIGNIFICATION.
Another cause of obscurity in the affinity of languages, and one thai
seems to have been mostly overlooked, is, the change of the primary sense
of the radical verb. In most cases, this change consists in a slight deflec-
tion, or difference of application, which has obtained among diflerent fam-
ilies of the same stock. In some cases, the literal sense is lost or obscured
and the figurative only is retained. The first object, in such cases, is to
find the primary or literal sense, from which the various particular applica-
tions may be easily deduced. Thus, we find in Latin, libeo, libet, or lubeo,
lubet, IS rendered, to please, to like ; lubens, willing, glad, cheerful, pleas-
ed; hbenter, lubenter, willingly, gladly, readily. What is the primary
sense, the visible or physical action, from which the iie&ot willing is taken?
I find, either by knowing the radical sense of willing, ready, in other
cases, or by the predominant sense of the elements lb, as in Lat. labor, to
slide, liber, free, &c. that the primary sense is to move, incline or advance
towards an object, and hence the sense of willing, ready, prompt. Now
this Latin word is the English love, German lieben, Hebe. " Lubet me ire."
I love to go ; I am inclined to go ; I go with cheerfulness ; but the affinity
between love and lubeo has been obscured by a slight ditTerence of applica-
tion, among the Romans and the Teutonic nations.
Perhaps no person has suspected that the English words heat, hate and
hest, in behest, are all radically the same word. But this is the fact. Sax.
hattan, to heat, or be hot, and to hate ; haitan, to heat and to call ; hatan,
to call, to order, to command ; ge-haitan or gehatan, to grow warm, to
promise, to vow ; Gothic, gahaitan, to call, to promise ; Dutch, heeten, to
heat, to name, to call, bid or command ; German, heitzen. to heat ; heissen,
to call; hitzen, to heat, to hoist; Swedish, hetsa, to inflame, to provoke :
Dt.viivl, hnlrr. Inlie;ii, to be culled. Behest, we have from the German or
~>''''| >| I'i'I'i Hull loiiuides with the Latin astus torhtnstus, which
' ' I'l' ". ' '" III' <.irnian. //a<e coincides with the Latin otZi,
■' • • > :>'• I' '"1 h.'di. luimti, and as the Teutonic h often represents the
Ljiiti J, ,u m Ian a, cuuui, tlic Danish orthography heder, coincides with the
Latin cito, to call. Now what is the radical sense .' Most obviously to stir,
agitate, rouse, raise, implying a driving or impulse ; and hence in Latin
iBstuo, to be hot, and to rage or storm ; hence to excite, and hence the sense
of the Latin cito, quickly, from stirring, rousing to action. In this case hatred,
as well as heat, is violent excitement. We find also in the Saxon and
Gothic the sense of vowing, that is, of driving out the voice, uttering, de-
claring, a sense allied to calling and commanding, and to this is allied the
sense of the Latin recito, to recite.
In English befall signifies to fall on, to happen to ; in German the same
word, befallen, has the like signification. But in Saxon gefeallan signifies
to fall, to rush on, while in German gefallen signifies to please, that is, to
suit, to come to one's mind, to be agreeable. The Danish gefalder has the
same signification as the German.
We find by the Saxon, that tlie English reck, to care, and reckon, and
the Latin rego, to rule, are all the same word, varied in orthography and appU-
cation. To hnd the primary sense of reck, to care, we are then to examine the
various derivative senses. And we need go no farther than to the Latin rec-
tus and English right, the sense of which is straight, for tliis sense is de-
rived from straining, stretching. Care then is a straining of the mind.
INTRODUCTION.
a sUetcliing towards an object, coinciding with the primary sense of atten-
tion. The primary sense of reckon is to strain out sounds, to speak, tell,
relate ; a sense now disused.
The Saxon care, care, ctcrcian, to care, to cark, is connected in origin
with the Latin career, a prison ; Ijoth from the sense of straining, whence
holding or restraint.
To prove how the jirimary general sense of a word may ramify into differ-
ent senses, by special appropriation of the word among separate families of
men proceeding from the same stock, let us observe the different senses in
wliich leap is used by the English, and by the nations on the continent. In
English, to leap is simply to spring; as, to leap a yard ; to leap over a fence.
But on the continent it signifies to run. Now it will be seen that this
word as used by the Germans cannot always be translated by itself, that is,
by the same word, into English. Take for illustration the following pas-
.sage from Luther's Version of the Scriptures. 1. Sam. xvii. 17. " Nimm
fUr deine bruder diese epha sangen, und diese zehen brod, und lai^'ms heer
zu deinen brudern." " Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched
corn, and these ten loaves, and leap to the camp to thy brethren." Leap,
instead of run, is good German, but bad English.* There are two other
words in this passage, of which a like remark may be made. The German
brod, loaves, is our bread, which admits of no plural ; and sangan is our
singed, which we cannot apply to parched corn.
So in some of the Teutonic languages, to warp kittens or puppies, to ivarp
eggs, is correct language, though to our cars very odd ; but this is only
a particular application of the primary sense, to throw. We say to lay eggs,
but to lay is to throtv down.
By this comparison of the different uses and applications of a word, we
are able, in most cases, to detect its original signification. And it is by this
means, I apprehend, that we may arrive at a satisfactory explanation of the
manner in which the same word came to have different and even opposite
significations.
It is well known, for example, that the Hebrew word p3, is rendered, in
our version of the Scriptures, both to bless and to curse. The propriety of
the latter rendering is controverted by Parkhurst, who labors to prove, that
in Kings and in Job, where it is rendered, to curse, it ought to be rendered,
to bless; and he cites, as authorities, the ancient versions. It is true that
in 1 Kings xxi. 10. 13 ; and in Job i. 11, and ii. 5, the seventy have rendered
the word by euAo^iu), to bless ; and other ancient versions agree with the
Septuagint. But let the word be rendered by bless in the following passa-
ges. " Put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone, and his flesh, and he
will Wess thee to thy face." " J5tos God and die." How very absurd does
such a translation appear. It shows the immense importance of understand-
ing the true theory of language, and the primary sense of radical words.
Let us then endeavor to discover, if possible, the source of the difficulty in
the case here mentioned. To be enabled to arrive at the primary sense, let
us examine the word in the several languages, first, of the Shemitic, and
then of the Japhetic stock.
Heb. "jia To bless ; to salute, or wish a blessing to.
2. To curse ; to blaspheme.
3. To couch or bend the knee, to kneel.
Deriv. A blessing, and the knee.
Chaldee, ■]"13 To bless ; to salute at meeting, and to bid farewell at
partin^^
2. To bend the knee.
3. To dig ; to plow ; to set si
The
'.e ; a blei
To fall
Deriv.
Syriac,
V. 27.
2. To issue or proceed from. Math.
3. To bless.
plant for propagation.
Talm. and Rabbin.
a cion ; the young of fowls.
0 fall or bow down. Judg,
Samaritan, ii'\Si To bless.
Ethiopic, fl/!tl To bless. Deriv. the knee.
Arabic, ,^j.j To bend the knee ; to fall on the breast, as a camel.
2. To be firm,' or fixed.
3. To rain violently ; to pour forth r;iin, as the clouds. Gr. Ppix".
4. To detract from ; to traduce ; to reproach or pursue with reproaches
to revile.
5. To bless; to pray for a blessing on ; to prosper; to be blessed.
6. To hasten ; to rush, as on an enemy ; to assail.
Deriv. The breast ; the bason of a fountain ; a fish pond, or receptacle of
water, as in Heb. and Ch, : also increase ; abundance ; constancy ; splendor;
a flash of light.
In the latter sense, usually from Oj. j Heb. and Ch. pi3.
The Arabic word supplies us with thecertain means of determining th^
radical sense ; for among other significations, it has the sense of pouring
forth rain ; and this is precisely the Greek ppix". The primary sense then
send, throw, or drive, in a transitive sense ; or in an intransitive sense,
to rush, to break forth.
To bless and to curse have the same radical sense, which is, to send or
pour out words, to drive or to strain out the voice, precisely a< in the Latin
ippello, from pello, whence peal, as of thunder or of a bell. The two penses
pring from the appropriation of loud words to express pa: iiciilar acts. This
depends on usage, like all other particular applications of one general .^iini-
fication. The sense in Scripture is to utter words cithir in a good or bad
sense ; to bless, to salute, or to rail, to scold, to rrproaeh ; and this very
1 is probably the root of repj-oacA, as it certainly iinftlie LM'mprecor,
used, like the Shemitic word, in both senses, pnnjinfr ;iTni cursing, or de-
ecating." It is also the same word as the Enj;li-,li ;))<n/, II. pregare, L.
precor, the same aspreach, D.preeken, W. pregethv. To the same family be-
long the Gr. Ppax^^, PpiTCM, Ppuxaojiai, to bray, to roaj-, to low, Lat. rugio.
Here we see that bray is the same word, applied to the voice of the ass and
to breaking in a mortar, and both are radically the same word as break.
The sen.se of kneeling, if radical, is to throw, and if from the noun, the
sense of the noun is a throwing, a bending.
The Chaldee sense of digging, if radical, is from thrusting in an instrument,
breaking the ground ; but perhaps it is a sense derived from the name of
ihoot or cion, and in reality, to set a shoot, to plant.
The Syriac use of this word in Matthew xv. 19, is intransitive, to issue,
shoot or break forth. So in Arabic, to rush on, to assault. The sense of
firmness in Arabic is from setting, throwing down, as in kneeling ; and
hence the sense of breast, the fixed, firm part.
That this word has the sense both of blessing and of cursing or reproach-
ing, we have demonstrative evidence in the Welsh language. Hheg, in
Welsh, is "[13, without the prefix. It signifies a sending out; utterance;
a gift or present ; a consigning ; a ban, a curse or imprecation. Rhegu, to
give ; to consign ; to curse. From rhtg is formed preg, a greeting, or salu-
tation, [the very Hebrew and Chaldee word,] pregeth, a sermon, and pre-
gethu, to preach. Here we have not only the origin oi preach, but another
important fact, that preg, and of course y^l, is a compound word, composed
of a prefix, p or b, and rheg. But this is not all ; the Welsh greg, a cack-
ling, gregar, to cackle, is formed with the prefix g on this same rheg. [Dan.
krage, a crow.]
In Welsh, bregu signifies to break ; breg, a breach, a rupture. This
Owen deduces from bar, but no doubt erroneously. It is from rhegu, and
there is some reason to think that break is from p3, rather than from pnS,
but probably both are from one radix, with different prefixes.
We observe one prominent sense of the Arabic i»J\j baraka, is to rain
violently ; to pour forth water, as clouds. This is precisely the Greek (3pixM ;
word found in all the Teutonic and Gothic languages, but written cither
with or without its prefix.
Saxon, riBgn or regn, rain ; regnan, to rain.
Dutch, regen, rain ; regenen, beregenen, to rain upon.
German, regen, rain ; regnen, to rain ; beregnen, to rain on.
Swedish, regna, to rain.
Danish, regn, rain ; regner, to rain.
Saxon, racu, rain ; Cimbric, riekia, id.
Here we find that the English rain, is from the same root as the Welsh
rhig, rhegu, and the Shemitic "jlj.
Pursuing the inquiry further, we find that the Saxon recan, or reccan,
[W. rhegu,'] signifies to speak, to tell, to relate, to reckon, the primary sense
of which last is to speak or tell ; also, to rule, which shows this to be the La-
tin rego ; also to care, which is the English reck. That this is the same
word as rain, we know fiom the Danish, in which language, regner signi-
fies both to rain and to reckon, to tell, to count or compute. In the German,
the words are written a little differently ; rechnen, to reckon, and regnen, to
rain. So in Dutch, reekenen and regenen; but this is a fact by no means
uncommon.
Here we find that the English reckon and reck, and the Latin rego, arc
the same word. The pi imary sense is to strain, to reach, to stretch. Care
is a stretching of the mind, like attention, from the Latin tendo, and re-
straint is the radical sense of governing. Hence rectus, right, that is,
straight, stretched.
Hence we find that rain and the Latin regnum, reign, are radically the
same word.
Now in Saxon racan, or racan, is the English reach, to stretch or extend,
from the same root, and probably reek, Saxon recan, reocan, to fume or
smoke ; for this is, to send off.
I might have mentioned before, that the Chaldee n0">3, a cion or branch,
is precisely the Celtic word for arm; Irish icoic, or raio:/) ; AVelsh Araif ;
whence the Greek (3?axi"i, the Latin brachium, whence the Spanish braio,
whence the French bras, whence the English brace. The arm is a shoot,
a branch, and branch is from this root oi- one of the family, n being casual ;
branch for brach.
He walks, he leaps, he i
In^robusurget iratis precibus." — Horace.
INTRODUCTION.
On this word, let it be further obser\-cd, or on p-a or p-i3, if radically
different, are formed, with the prefix s, the German sprechen, to speak,
spracAe, speech ; Dutch spreeken, spraak ; Swedish spr&ka, syroA; Da-
nish sprog, speech ; and Swedish spricka, to break; Danish sprekker. The
same word with n casual is seen in spring, the breaking or opening of the
winter; and here we see the origin of the marine phrase, to spring a mast,
Danish springer, to burst, crack or spring. This in Swedish is written
without n, spricka, to break, burst, split ; but a noun of this family has n,
fpringa, a crack, and spring, a spring, a running.
Now let us attend to other Shemitic words consisting of cognate elements.
Chaldee, -tlil To rub or scrape ; to rub out or tread out, as grain from the
car or sheaf; Latin/rico,/rio.
2. To collect and bind, as sheaves; perhaps English, lo rake.
3. To break or break down.
4. To question; to doubt. In Saxon and Gothic fragnan, fragan, signi-
fies to ask.
Deriv. Froward ; perverse. Prov. ii. 12. So in English refractory.
This verb is not in the Hebrew; but there are two derivatives, one signi-
fying tlie inner vail of the temple ;'so called probably from its use in break-
i'ng^Wvit is, interrupting access, or separation, like diaphragm in Engli.sh.
The other derivative is rendered rigor, or cruelty ; that which strains, op-
presses, breaks down, or rakes, harasses.
With this verb coincides the Irish bracaim, to break, to harrow, that is, to
rake.
Syr. 3;.3 To rub, so rendered, Lukevi. 1. Lat. /;ico. A d(
sijnities to comminute.
'Deriv. Distortion ; winding ; twisting. Let this be noted.
Ar. ^j.3 To rub, Lat. /ric«.
2. To hate, as a husband or wife ; to be languid, or relaxed.
Deriv. Laxity ; franeibility ; friability.
Heb. p-13 To 6reafr,burst, or rend; to break off; to separate.
Deri\! A breaking or parting of a road.
Ch. p13 To break.
2. Tb redeem, that is, to free, separate or deliver.
3. To explain, a-s a doubtful question.
Deriv. One who ransoms or delivers ; a rupture ; the neck or
breaking connected in tliis
joint of a reed ; a chapter,
pni)> a rupture, coinciding
ture ; a joint of the fingers, &c. ; the ankle
or section of a book ; explanation ; expositic
with the English broke.
Syr. ,0\.S> To redeem.
2. To depart ; to remove ; to separate.
Deriv. A recess, or withdrawing ; separaUon ; liberation ; redemption ;
safely ; vertebra.
Sam. The same as tlie Syriac verb.
Ar. o.i to separate ; to divide; to withdraw; to disperse, [qu. Lat
spargo\] to lay open; to disclose ; to cast out ; to immerse.
Deriv. Separation ; distinction ; distance ; inter\'al ; dispersion ; aurora,
as we say, the break of day; also, a garment reaching to the middle of the
thigh, qu. frock; also bre'ech.
I have placed these two words together, because I am convinced they are
both of one family, or formed on the same radical word. The latter coincides
exactly with the Latin frango,fregi,fractum, for n in frango, is undoubt-
edly casual. Now in Welsh bregu, to break, would seem to be directly con-
nected with "113, yet doubtless bregii is the English break, the German
brechen, the Dutch breeken, &c. In truth, the three words -p^, pg and
pi3 are probably all from one primitive root, formed with different prefixes,
or rather with the same prefix differently written ; the different words
bearing appropriate senses, among different tribes of men.
We observe in the Chaldee word the sense of questioning. Perhaps this
may be the Gothic /roo^an, to ask, and if so, it coincides with the Latin rogo.
the latter without the prefix. In tlie sense of break, we find, in the Greek,
pT\7vuM, without a prefix. j
Most of the significations of these verbs are too obvious to need illustra
tion. But we find in the Syriac the sense of distortion, a sense which a
first appears to be remote from that of breaking or bursting asunder. Bu
this is probably the primary sense, to strain, to stretch, a sense we retain in
the phrase, to break upon the wheel, and by dropping the prefix, we have
the precise word in the verb, to racfr.
Now if this is the genuine sense, we find it gives the English wreck and
wrack, the Danish vrag, Sw. vrak, a wreck. In Saxon, wracan, wrecan
is the English wreak, that is, to drive, or throw on ; wrace, is an exile, a
uretch. In D.in. vrnger signifies to reject; Sw.vraka, to throw away;
all implying a driving force, and that wreck is connected with breakis prob-
able for another reason, that the Latin fractus, frango, forms a constituent
part of naufiagium, the English shipwreck, which in Danish is simply wag-.
Now if straining, distortion, is one of the senses of this root, the English
wring, tcTong, Danish crang, Sw. vr&ng, may be deduced from it, for un-
doubtedly n is not radical in these words. The Dutch have wringen, but
the German drops the first letter and has ringen, both to twist or wind and
to ring or sound ; the l.itlcr sense from stiainiiig or throwing, as in other
cases. Without n, wring would be wrig, and wrong, wrog ; wrung, vorag,
Dan. vrag.
In Greek, p<i7oi is a blanket or coverlet, and connected with pnyiuiii; that
is, a spread, from stretching, or throwing over.
We find also among the Chaldee derivatives the sense of a neck, and a
joint. Now we find this word in Irish, braigh, the neck ; in Greek, with-
out the prefix, faxn, the spine of the back, Saxon, hraeca, English, the
rack, and from the Greek, the rickets, from distortion.
Coinciding with the Greek priyiuw, to break, we find in Welsh rhwgaw, to
rend, and coinciding with paxm, a rock, a crag, Welsh, eraig, and connect-
ed with these, the Saxon hracod, English ragged, that is, broken ; evidently
the participle of a verb of this family.
Hence we find the senses of distortion and
root, in a great variety of instances.
The Shemitic p^3, to lighten, to shine or flash, is one of this family. The
sense is to shoot' or dart, to throw, as in all like cases. And under this
;, the Arabic has the sense, to adorn, as a female ; to make bright or
shining ; which gives the English prank and prink, D. pragt, 0. pracht.
Prance is of the same family, from leaping, starting, darting up.
In Greek Ppayu:, short, stands in the Lexicons as a primary word or root.
But this is from the root of break, which is lost in Greek, unless in fnym,
without the prefix. From ppax"!, or the root of this word, the French lan-
guage has abreger, to abridge, and what is less obvious, but equally certain,
that from the same root the Latin has brevis, by sinking the palatal let-
ter, as we do in bow, from bugan, and in lay, from lecgan ; so thai abridge
and abbremate, brief, are from one root.
It should have been before mentioned that the Latin refragor, signifies
to resist, to strive against, to deny, whence refractory ; a sense that demon-
strates the primary sense to be to strain, urge, press ; and refraction, in
optics, is a breaking of the direct course of rays of light by turning them ;
sense coinciding witli that of distortion.
We see then that one predominant sense of break, is, to strain, to distort.
Let us now examine some of the bilitcrai roots in rg and rk, wliich, if b
a prefix, must be the primary elements of all the words above mentioned.
Ch. in To desire, to long for. This is the Greek op<7w, and English to
reach; for desire is expressed by reaching forward, stretcliing the mind to-
ards the object. So in Latin appeto, and expeto, from peto, to move to-
ards. This coincides nearly with the Latin rogo, to ask, and the Goth.
fragnan. Sax. frcegnan.
Syr.^ ; To desire ; and with olaph prefixed,.,^ ] to desire, or long ; also
to wet or moisten; also J^ to moisten — Latin rigo, irrigo, to irrigate.
Deriv. Tender, soft, fresh, from moisture or greenness. Qu. Lat recent,
derivative.
Here desire and irrigation are both from one root; desire is a reaching
forward, and irrigation is a spreading of water.
This root, in Hebrew JIN, signifies to weave, or connect as in texture and
net work ; but tlie primary sense js to stretch or strain.
In Arabic, the same verb _ , \ signifies to emit an agreeable smell; to
breathe fragrance ; radically to throw or send out ; to eject ; a mere modifica-
tion of the same sense. This is the Latin fragro, whence fragrant, with a
prefix; but according exactly with the English reek.
"IIN in Ch. Heb. Syr. and Sam., signifies to prolong, to extend. In .\r. as
in Heb. in Hiph. to delay, or retard; that is, to draw out in time.
JH'y in Heb. has been differently interpreted; indeed, it has been rendered
by words of directly contrary signification. The more modern interpre-
ters, says Castle, render it, to sptit, divide, separate, or break; the ancient
interpreters rendered it, to stiffen, to make rigid or rough, to wrinkle or .
corrugate. Castle and Parkhurst, however, agree in rendering it, in some
passages, to quiet, still, allay. Jer. xlvii. 6. 1.34. In Job vii. 6. our trans-
lators have rendered it broken, my skin is broken, [rough, or rigid.] In
Job. xxvi. 12. it is rendered by divide. " He divideth the sea by his power."
In Vanderhooght's Bible it is in this place rendered by commovet — He agit-
ates the sea. The Seventy render it by varrrauo-i, he stilled; and this is tho
sense which Parkhurst gives it.
In Isaiah li. 15, and Jer. xxxi. 35, it is rendered in our version hy divide.
" But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared."
In Vanderhooght's Bible it is rendered in Isaiah Ii. 15, " I am Jehovah
thy God, qui commovens mare, ut perstrepant fluctus ejus." In Jer. xxxi.
35, commovens mare, ut tumultuenter fluctus — agitating or moving the sea,
that the waves roar, or may roar. The passage in Isaiah is rendered by the
seventy, on a 0;ci a:'Vf c tapacrtrwi rtiv 6a\acT(7aVy xai nxwv Ta yviiaia avi-ns, agita-
ting the sea and causing its waves to roar and resound. In the French trans-
lation, the passage in Isai:ih is " qui fend la mer, et ses flots bruient." [I]
who divide the sea and the waves roar. In Jeremiah the passage is " qui
agite la mer et les flots en bruient." Who agitates the sea and therefore
the waves roar. In ItaUan, the passage in Isaiah is rendered " che muovo
il mare, e le sue onde romoreggiano." In Jeremiah, " che commuove il
mare, onde le sue onde romoreggiano." WTio moveth the sea, wherefore
its waves roar, or become tumultuous.
INTRODUCTION.
These dilleient rejideiings show the importance of understanding the lit-]
cral or primary sense of words ; for whatever may be the real sense m the
passages above mentioned, it cannot be to divide I we are give to vau in
the following word, its usual sense of and, it is diflicult to make sense of the
word rJI, by translating it, he stUleth: hestilleth the sea audits waves are
tumultuous, or he stiUeth the sea that the waves may roar or be agitated !
This will not answer. The more rational version would be, he roughens
the sea, and its waters roar, or he drives, impels it into agitaUon. In Lthi-
opic the same word signifies to coagulate, to freeze, to become rigid ; and
this is undoubtedly the Latin riseo, and with a prefix, /ngeo, and this sig-
nification is perhaps allied to Lat. rugo, lo wrinkle ; for as a general rule,
the radical sense of wrinkle is to draw, as in contract, cmitraho, and thu
seems to be the sense of rigeo. Both these words are allied to rough
which is from breaking or wrinkling. This sense would perhaps well suii
the context in these two passages, as it would also that in Job vu. 5 . My
skin is rough.
Now in Arabic, the general signification of ;?JT is to return, to repeat,
to withdraw, which may be from drawing back ; a dififerent application ol
the original sense, to strain, stretch, or extend.
The root pn in Chaldee signifies to spit, and this is probably the Latin j
ructo, somewhat varied in application. The
signifies to diive off, to reject, to shoot or grov
rify or make clear as wine ; precisely the English to rack ; also
1 to pour out. Hebrew p^, to empty, to draw
ame verb in Arabic
long as teeth, to stra
a, spittle ; Syriac, to spit, to di
attenuate or make
out, to attenuate ; Sa-
Ethiopic, to be fine, slender,
Pi. j^3, the verb differently pointed, to hew, to out down. Josh. xvii.
.5. IS.
2. To cut down with the sword ; to kill. Ez. xxiii. 47.
3. To make fat. 1 Sam. ii. 29.
Thus far the Hebrew.
Chal. Sia To create. Gen. i. \.
2. To cut off. Is. xl. 20.
3. To make fat ; to grow sound or strong. Talm.
Deriv. Fat ; whole ; sound ; strong. Castle.
Syr. ] "^O To create. Gen. i. 1. JVIark xiii. 19.
2. To remove to a distance, and Deriv. distance, distant Castle.
Sam. /fSa To create. Gen. i. 22. Deut. iv. 32. Castle
Ar. ^j.j To create. Job xxxviii. 7. [qu. 4 and 6.]
2. To be' free, or guiltless, not obnoxious to punishment. Num. v. 28.
31, and xxxii. 22. Rom. vii. 6.
3. To free ; to absolve, from i
Ex. XX. 7. Num. xiv. 18.
4. To escape ; to forsake.
5. To recover from disease ; to be healed ; to restore to health. Lev. xii
18. Josh. v. 8. Math. iv. 23.
6. To cleanse ; to free from impurities
7. To abstain from.
Deriv. Creator ; free ; unobnoxious ; clean ; empty.
to liberate; to dismiss; to justify.
thin, and i
maritan, to pour out, to draw out, to extend ,
or thin ; Arabic, to be soft, tender, thin. The verb p has a like signifi'
tion, and is perhaps from the same original root. yTTt Hebrew, to spread
stretch, extend. But, says CasUe, all the ancient' interpreters rcnderec
the word, to ordain, establish, make firm ; to strike, to beat, as plates ot
metal. But tlie sense is to stretch, to spread, and the beating is only the
means of extending. Hence y^rrs the firmament, which agrees well with
Lat. regio, an extent ; in Hebrew, properly an expanse. And to reconcile
the ancient and modern interpretations of this word, let it be remembered
HiZi strength znA firmness are usually or always from stretching, tension.
Now let us hear Ainsworth on the word regio. " Regio a rego quod
priusquam provincise fierent, regiones sub regibus erant atque ab his re
•rebantur." How much more natural is it to deduce regio from the prima
ry sense ofrego, which is to stretch, to strain, to extend ! Regio is an ex
tent, a word of indefinite signification.
In Chaldee and Arabic this verb signifies to mend, to repair, to make
whole, from extending spreading over or making strong. See the root
"70 infra. .
We observe that JJT and j;rri agree in original signification, with th'
English reach, on the root of which or some of its derivatives was formed
stretch. That "pZ, p3 and piS were formed on any of the foregoing bilite
ral roots we may not be able to affirm ; but it is certain from the Welsh that
the first consonant of the triliteral root is a prefix, and it is certain from the
Shemitic languages that the primary sense is the same in the biliteral and
triliteral roots, or that all the applications or particular significations may
readily be deduced from one general signification
, to separate, to free, to i
To illustrate this subject more full;
: Other Shemitic words oi
attend to the various applic
produce into being.
2. To form, by accretion or concretion of matter. Gen. i
3. In Hiph. To make fat ; to fatte
t03.
Heb. t03 To create. This, by most lexicographers, is given as the first
signification, in all the Shemitic languages. Parkhurst says, to create ;
Droduce into being. Gen. i. 1.
21.
batten. 1 Sam. ii
To do' or perform something wonderful. Num. xvi. 30.
5. In Niph. To be renewed. In Ka!, to renew, in a spiritual sense
Ps. Ii. 12.
Castle says,
1. To create from nothing, or to produce something new or excellent
from another thing. Gen. i. Is. xlii. 5.
2. In Niph. To be renewed or re-created. Is. xlviii. 7. Ps. cii. 19.
3. To cut off; to take away ; to bear away, or remove ; also to select ; to
prepare. Josh. xvii. 15. 18. Ezek. xxiii. 47.
Gesenius says,
1. Strictly, to hew, to hew out. [Ar. to cut, to cut out, to plane.]
2. To form; to make ; to produce. Ar. lj.j The order of significa-
tions is, as in the Ar. uii.^^ galaka, to be smooth, to make smooth. 2.
To plane. 3. To form, make. Gen. i. 1. 21. 27.
1. Niph. passive of Kal. No. 2. Gen. ii. 4.
8. To be born. Ezek. xxi. 30. Ps cii. 18.
Ar. \j.j To create.
2. To cut off; to hew or pare.
3. To separate ; to distinguish.
4. To make thin.
5. To oppose ; to strive ; to resist.
6. To provoke; to boast, or make a parade.
7. To distribute ; to disperse. Castle.
According to Gesenius, the primary sense of this verb is to hew, to cut out,
and thus to make smooth, and thus to create ; and he deduces these senses
in the same order, as he does those of the Arabic verb, which gives the word
like. But there is no ground for this opinion ; and doubtless the verb ori-
ginated before the use of edge tools.
The predominant senses of this word, ;
we see by the Arabic and Syriac.
Now hewing is indeed separating, and we have the English word pare
from this root ; but we must seek for a signification which is more general
than that o{ paring, or we shall not be able to account for the sense of mak-
ing fat, sound, entire, and strong, nor for that of being born.
The truth undoubtedly is, this word is of the same family with the Eng-
lish bear, the Latin pario, and the radical sense is to throw, to thrust, to
send, to drive, to extend ; hence to throw out, to produce, as applied to the
th of children or of the world. To throw or drive, is the primary sense of
separation and division, that is, to drive off. The English word deal, when
traced to its root, presents the same fact. See Deal. To create, is to pro-
duce or bring forth, the same sense as that o( birth, applied lo a different
object. The sense of hewing and paring is from driving off, separation. In
Syriac, we observe the general application, in removal, or departure to a
distance. The sense of fattening is derivative, and allied to that of healing
making whole, sound, strong, in the Arabic, that is, preparing, bringing
1 good state, or from tension, the usual primary sense of strength and
To obtain a more full and satisfactory view of this subject, let us attend to
the same word in the modern languages of Europe.
LATIN.
Paro, to prepare, make ready, procure, design, &c. The radical sense of
paro is probably the same as in the Shemitic languages ; to produce, to bring
Ibrward. So also ready implies an advancing, and so docsprompt/iess. But
the various ways of preparing a thing for use naturally give to the word, in
process of time, a variety of particular significations ; each of which results
in bringing the thing to the state desired. The compounds oiparo, are ap-
pnro, to prepare, to furnish, accouler or set out ; comparo, to prepare or
procure, to make equal, to compare, to join, to dress or make ready ;
prceparo, to prep-ire; reparo, to repair, to create anew, to regain, to com-
pensate ; separo, to separate. Let the Latin uses of this word be compared
th the same Hebrew word in Joshua xvii. 15, where it is rendered cut
down. "Ascend to the wood country and cut down for thyself;" Septua-
gint, iHxaea? I (TiauM, clear for thyself This is one mode of preparation for
In Ezek. xxi. 19, it is rendered choose. Septuagint, iittiajiii, ap-
Parare, to prepare ; to garnish ; to adorn ; to propose an occasion ;
parry, or ward off, as a blow ; to defend; to cover from or shelter ; to repo
INTRODUCTION.
(o leach a horse to stop, and in horsemanship, lo stop ; parata, a wanling off,
a garnishing ; parato, prepared, ready, prompt, warded ofl or parried, shield-
ed, defended.
Apparare, to learn ; apparato, learned, prepared ; apparato, preparation,
garnishment.
Parecchio, a preparation; also equal, even, [L. par;] parecchiare, to
prepare ; pareggiare, to make equal, to compare ; apparecchiare, to pre
pare, to ornament or garnish, to set in order ; appareggiare, to put in com-
petition, to match, to equal.
Comparare, to compare.
Disparate, to forget; disparare, sparare, to unfurnish, to disgarnish
to make unready, to disbowel, to separate, di'-join, unpair; to discbarge, ai
artillery.
/m;)arare, to learn.
Riparare, to repair, to restore to the first state ; to repair, or resort to, or
have access to ; to parry, or ward otf ; riparo, reparation, a fort, a bank,
fence, mound, remedy, shelter.
SPANISH.
Parar, to prepare ; to stop, detain, prevent ; to end ; to treat or use ill ; to
stoke at cards ; to point out the game, as pointers.
Parada, a halt or stopping, end, pause ; a fold for cattle ; a relay, as
horses ; a dam or bank ; a stake or bet ; a parade, or a place where troops
are assembled to exercise ; parado, remiss, careless, unemployed.
Par, a pair; a peer ; after-birth ; the handle of a bell.
Apnrar, to stretch out the hands or skirts of a garment for receiving any
thing ; to dig and heap earth round plants ; to close the upper and hind quar-
ter of a shoe to the sole ; to couple male and female animals ; to dub as a ship.
AparadoT, a sideboard, a dresser in a kitchen, a workshop, a wardrobe;
aparato, preparation, pomp, show.
Aparear, to match ; to suit one thing to another, [pair.]
Aparejo, preparation, harness, sizing of a piece of linen or board on which
something is to be painted, tackle, rigging employed on board of a ship.
[Apparel, parrel.]
Comparar, to compare.
Vesparejar, to make unequal.
Disparar, to dischaige, as tire arms.
Amparar, to shelter'; lo protect. [Aragon, to sequester, as goods.]
JEmparedar, to confine or shut up.
Reparar, to repair ; to observe carefully, to consider ; to mend or correct :
to suspend or detain ; to guard, defend, protect ; to regain strength or recov-
er from sickness ; to right tlie helm.
Separar, to separate.
PORTUGUESE.
Parar, v. i. to stop, to cease to go forward ; to confine upou, to meet ai
the end, to touch, to be bounded ; to end, to drive at something, to aim at
to come to; to imply, involve, or comprise : " Nao posso parar com feme,'
I cannot bear hunger. " Ninguem pode aqui parar," nobody can live oi
stay here. [Kng. bear.]
Parar, v. t. to stop, to hinder from proceeding ; to parry or ward off; to
turn or change with regard to inclination or morals ; to lay or stake as a wa-
ger. Parada, a stopping or place of stopping ; a bet or wager.
Amparar, to protect, shelter, defend, abet.
Comparar, to compare ; comprar, to buy, to procure.
Aparar, to pare, as an apple ; to mend or make a pen ; to parry a blow.
Aparelhar, to prepare, to tit, to cut out or rough hew ; aparelho, tackle ir
a ship for hoisting things, Eng. a parrel.
Disparar, to shoot, to discharge, as fire-arms.
J?f/)arar, to repair ; to;jarry in fencing; to advert; to observe ; to mak(
amends; to retrieve; to recover ; to recruit; to shelter; reparo, in fortiti
cation, defense.
FRENCn.
Pnrtr, to deck, adorn, trim, set off, embellish ; to parry or ward off. " Pa
rer de j cuirs," to dress lether ; "TJarerlepiodd'uncheval," to pare ahorse'i
hoof.
Parer, v. i. to stop ; paresse, idleness.
Pari, a lay, bet or wager ; parier, to bet or lay a wager.
Appareil, preparation, furniture, train, retinue, [Eng. apparel.] Appa
raux, tackle, sails and rigging, [Eng. parrel.]
Pair, a peer, an equal ; pdire, a pair ; apparier, to pair, to match.
S'emparer, to seize, to invade.
Repnrer, to repair.
Sqiarer, to separate.
ARMORIC.
Uberayu, to put in order, to adjust, to mow or reap,
air. This word has the common prefix u.
poridan, to cut off.
: to dress as the
Para, to dress, to trim, to stop, to parry, lo prepare
WELSH.
Par, .something contiguous, or that is in continuity; a state of readiness
or preparedness ; a pair or couple ; a fellow, match.
/•or, a cause ; the essence, germ or seed of a thing; n spear.
Para, to continue, to endure, to persevere.
Parad, a causing ; parai, that causes to be.
Parawd, prepared, ready ; parodi, to prepare.
That all the foregoing words in the present European languages, [and sev-«
eral others might have been added,] are formed from one stock or radix, co-
inciding with the l.,atin paro, is a fact that admits of no question. The only
doubt respecting the correctness of the wliolc preceding statement, is, wheth-
er the Latin paro is radically the same as the oriental ^Oa ; and with regard
to this point, 1 should suppose the evidence to be convincing. Indeed there
is good reason to believe that the oriental verbs ^n3, 113, 1311, anil 13;r,
are all formed from one primitive radix. Certain it is that the English bear
comprehends both the Latin/ero and /)orio, and the latter corresponds nearly
with ma and Eth. <^l^ to bear.
But admitting only rhat is certain, that all the foregoing European words
are from one radix, we are then to seek for a primary meaning from which
may be deduced the following significations ; Lat. to prepare ; Ital. to adorn,
toparry, to stop, to defend, to repair, to learn ; Span, to prepare, to stop, to
lay or stake as a wager, a pair or couple ; Port, to stop, to confine upon or
be contiguous, to drive or aim at, to parry, to pare ; Fr. to deck, toparry, to
stop, to pare ; Arm. to dress, to prepare, to parry ; Russ. to adjust, to dress,
to mow or reap ; Welsh, preparedness, contiguity, a pair, a cause, to con-
tinue or endure; and several other significations.
The various significations result from throwing, sending, driving. To
separate or remove is to drive or force apart ; hence to parry, and hence to
defend. Separation implies extension, a drawing out in length or time ;
hence the Portuguese senses of confining upon, reaching to the limit. This
gives the sense of par, equal, that is, of the same extent, and hence coming
to, and suiting, as in Latin convenio.
Here let it be observed that admitting the word par, equal, to belong to
this family, as in the Welsh, we have strong reason to believe that the Shcm-
itic T3n, to join, or fit together, to associate, whence as a noun, an associate,
is formed from the same root, or }n3 ; for in the Saxon, we find not only
/era, but gefera, a companion, fellow ov peer; gefera, answering precisely
to the oriental word.
The sense of betting is from throwing down, as we say, to lay a wager.
The sense of stopping is from setting, fixing, or from parrying. The sense
of adorning is from putting on, which is from sending, or from extension, en-
largement, as we say, to set off, and hence it is allied to the sense of show,
display, parade. Preparation is from producing, bringing forward, or ad-
justing, making right ; and often implies advancing, like ready, prompt, and
the latter word, prompt, from promo, to bring forth, affords a good illustra-
tion of the words derived from paro.
The senses of cutting oft', paring, and the like, require no explanation.
The Italian, disparare, and the Spanish and Portuguese, disparar, todis.
charge fire arms, present the original sense of the root, to send or drive. This
sense gives that of the Welsh pdr, a spear, as well as a cause, or that which
impels. A spear is a shoot, from the sense of thrusting ; and our word .ipear
is probably formed from the rootof Jar and Welsh *«, a spit, a pike, a lance,
a spear, Lat. verti. Now in Chaldee, a bar is jn31' from 13;;, to pass, a verb
which is probably of the same family with t03. It is further to be observ-
ed that in Italian, bar is written both baira and sbarra.
It is observed above that N13 is the English ftearand the Latin pario ; but
pario would seem to be the Hebrew mS. parah, to be fruitful, to bear fruit,
applied to plants and animals. But this word seems to denote producing in
general, rather than the production of children. However this may be, it is
certain that bear in English, as well as in Saxon, expresses the sense of both
pario and /(TO in Latin. The Latin fero, and the Greek ipipw, signify both
to carry and to produce, as young or fruit. Pario, does not. So in the Go-
jthic, bairan is to carry, gabairan is to carry and to produce young. In
German, fiihren is to carry, and gebaren, to bring fortli, to bear a child. In
Dutch, beuren is to lift ; voeren, to carry ; and baaren, to bring forth, as
children, to bear, to beget, to cause. Danish, barer, to carry, to support,
and to yield or produce. Sw. biira, to carry ; 6arn, a son. Irish, beirim, to
bear or bring forth, and to tell or relate, like the Latin /cro, whence Fr. par-
ier, to speak.
INTRODUCTION.
Ft appears llicn (hat the English bear and the Saxon from which we have
leceivcd it. and the Gothic and the Danish corresponding words unite, in the
same orthography, the senses of t>vo words of different ortliography in other
languages. I have found other examples of a similar kind. There is there-
fore solid ground to believe that all those words arc from one primitive root ;
the different modes of writing the word, and the several appropriations hav-
ing originated in different families of the great races of men, before langua-
ges were reduced to writing ; and when they come to be written, each word
was written according to its usual pronunciation, and defined according to
its use in each family. And by the intermixture of tribes, two or three
derivatives of the same stock might have become a part of the same na-
tional language. Unquestionably the Greek cptpto, and tpopico, are branches
of the same stock.
We have, in the modern languages, decisive evidence that different verbs
may have, and in fact have a common radix. Thus in English list and lust.
Teutonic dialects,
found in almost every language which I have examined.
The Latin pareo, to appear, to come to light, if not a compound word, may
be of this family. Paries, a wall, if primarily a partition wall, is of tlie same
stock. Per, belongs to this family, as its signification is passing. The Sax.
faran, to fare, Gr. Tropiuo^^', seems to be from one branch of this stock, proba-
bly ^^iT. Seethe wordyiass in the Dictionary, in the derivative senses of
which there are some resemblances to those of S13.
133.
This verb, says Lowth, means to cover, to cover sin, and so to expiate ;
and it is never used in the sense of breaking or dissolving a covenant,
though that notion occurs so often in the Scriptures ; nor can it be forced into
this sense, but by a great deal of far fetched reasoning. See Isaiah xxviii
18. Lowth on Isaiah. Prelim. Diss.
133, says Castle, "texuit, operuit, Anglice, to couer; per metathesin, «pijTr-
Tco, xfujm, pecuUariter bitumine, sive glulinosa aliqua materia ohduxit; pica-
vit." Gen. vi. 14.
Parkhurst gives to this verb the sense of covering or overspreading, as
primary ; and deduces from it the Greek «pu?rTO, and English cover and coffer.
He however admits that in Isaiah xxviii. 18, it signifies, to annul, as a cov-
enant. He also considers the sense of atonement or expiation to be radical-
ly that of cova'ing.
Gesenius agrees with the English Lexicographers, in assigning to this verb
the primary sense oi covering or overlaying, as in Gen. vi. 14. He admits
that this word has the sense, in Isaiah xxviii. 18, oiblotting out, obliterating
But he gives to it the sense of forgiving, in some passages, in which oui
version has that of purging away. Ps. Ixv. 3, and Ixxix. 9. In these pas-
sages, Castle renders the word, to be merciful or propitious.
In all these authors, there is, I conceive, a radical mistake, in supposing
the primary sense to be to cover, and in the opinion that this Hebrew word
is the English verb to cover. A still greater mistake is in the supposition of
Castle and Parkhurst, that this, by a metathesis, gives the Greek npuirrw.
The English word cover comes to us through the French couvrir, from
the Italian coprire, a contiaction of the Latin co-operio, whence co-opcrtus,
ItaUan coperto, covered, Eng. covert.* The Latin aperio, is to open, and
operio, is to cover, both from pario, or one of the roots in Br, which has just
been explained. The root in these words is per or par, and the sense is vari-
ed by prefixes ; perhaps ad-pario or ab-pario and ob-pario. Now cover
can have no connection with 133, unless this latter word is a compound,
with 3 for a prefix. This may be the fact, but the connection, even in that
case, is very remote.
Let us see if we can gain any light upon the subject of the primary sense
of 133 from the cognate languages.
CftaMee, 133 To deny, to reject. Prov. xxx.9.
2. To wipe ; " She eateth and wipeth her mouth." Prov. xxx. 20.
3. To wash or cleanse. Matt, xxvii. 24. Castle.
Syriac, ^2iO To deny. Gen. xviii. 1.5. Luke xii. 9.
2." To wipe, to wipe away, to disannul, to aboHsh. Prov. xxx. 20. I.-;, xxviii.
18. Castle.
.Arabic, . i <:=-, To deny; to disbelieve ; to be an infidel ; to be impious;
to blaspheme. Acts iii. 13, 14. 2Pet. ii. 1-5. Jude 1.5.
2. To cover ; to conceal.
3. To expiate ; to make expiation for one, and free him from crime.
Castle.
Now the senses of the Chaldee, Syriac and Arabic, to deny, to reject, to
disannul, to wipe, wash , or to cleanse by these acts, cannot be deduced from
covering.
In Hebrew, the word has the sense of covering, as the ark, with bitumen
or pitch, in Gen. vi. 14; that is, to smear, or pay over, as our seamen now
* In tliis deduction of cotici- from the Latin, I am supported by Lunier, the
ablest French etymologist, whose works I have seen.
express it. But it should be considered that the sense of covering is rareiy
or never;)rimory ,• it is usually, from the sense of putting on, which is from
the sense of throwing or pressing, or it is from overspreading, which is a
spreading, stretching or throwing aver; hence the derivative senses of
covering and hiding. These latter senses are sometimes derived from others ;
but these are the most general. And in this passage of Genesis, the literal
sense is probably to put on, or to rub or spread over, a sense which coin-
cides with that of tlie Chaldee and Syriac, Prov. xxx. 20, though different-
ly applied.
The real original sense of this Shemitic verb is to remove, to separate, by
thrusting away or driving off. Hence its application, in the Chaldee, Syr-
iac and Arabic, to denial, the rejection of God or truth. To deny or reject,
is to thrust away. Hence from the Arabic, caffer, an infidel, oiie who de-
nies and rejects the Mohammedan religion; hence Caffraria, the southern
part of Africa, the country of infidels ; so called by the'followers of Moham-
med, just as the christians gave the name of pagans, to the inhabitants of
villages, [pagus,^ who rejected the christian religion.
This signification explains the Hebrew uses of this word. Its literal sense
is applied to the cleansing or purification of sacred things, a^i the altar. Lev.
xvi. 18. In a spiritual sense, to the purification of the soul, a typo of the pu-
rification by the blood of Christ; hence it is rendered atnnennitl. oi expia-
tion. Hence probably the sense of appeasing, Gen. xxxii. 21. Prov. xvi.
14, though this may be from removing, or smoothing.
The sense of forgiveness is from thrusting away or giving back, pre-
cisely as in the modern languages ; Lat. remitto, to send back or away ; for-
give, to give back or away: pardon, in French, Spanish, and Italian, has a
like sense, which is more clearly exbitiited by the Dutch vergeeven, Ger-
man vergeben; ver being the English /ar, to give fur, to give away, hence,
to reject, and remember no more. The sense of give and of the French dmi-
ner, is nearly the same as that of 133. To give, is to send, to cause to pass ;
and so of donner.
Now it is a question of some moment whether the opinion that 133 is the
same as the English cover, has not inclined lexicographers and commenta-
tors to render it by this word, in several passages^ where the true sense is
to forgive, or to purify by cleansing from sin.
However this may be, the interpretation given above will fully disprove
Lowth's assertion, that this word is never used in the sense of breaking or
disannulling a covenant. So confident is the learned Bishop on this point
that he ventures to call in question the reading, Isaiah xxviii. 18 ; and to
suppose the true word to be 13n from 113 to break. With respect to the
reading I shall offer no opinion ; but if the present reading is correct, I am
confident that no word in the Hebrew language is better fitted to express
the sense. Your covenant with death shall be wiped away, abolished, or
as in the version, disannulled. And so is the rendering in the Syriac.
If 133 is a compound word and the first letter a prefix, it may be from the
same root as the Arabic j-*-^ gafara, whose signification is to cover.
But the primary sense is to throw or put on. It signifies also to forgive,
but to forgive is to send back or away, remitto, and not to cover. And I
apprehend that for want of knowing the primary sense of such verbs, the
word cover has been often substituted for forgive, in the translating of this
verb.
'73
No. 1. Heb ^13, S3 To hold, to contain ; Sw. ftSHa. '73S3 To hold,
to sustain, to maintain, to comprehend.
Ch. So To measure, that is, to ascertain the contents, or to stretch, and
comprehend the whole.
Pah. To feed, to nourish. See '53S.
Deriv. A measure ; also, custom, rite, manner, probably from holding or
continued practice.
Syr. In Aph. To measure. Deriv. A measure.
Eth. In (DA To follow; to go behind; Gr. a»,^\oo8(w; that is, to hold
to, or to press after.
Deriv. The hinder part; the poop of a ship ; behind. French, cui.
No. 2. Heb. 773 To finish ; to complete ; to make perfect. Gr. Haioi.
S3 all ; the whole ; Gr. o^os, Eng. all, by the loss of the first letter ;
but in Welsh, holl, or oil ; and in Saxon al, eel and geall.
Ch. SS3 To crown ; to adorn
Pih. To perfect; to complete ; to comprehend ; to embrace.
Deriv. Comprehending ; universality ; a general rule, &c.
Syr. ^Xa To crown. Deriv. a crown ; all ; every one.
Sam. IZa As the Chaldee.
Eth. Tl A A The same ; also, to cover.
Ar. y. ^ To be weary or dull ; to be languid ; to tire : also, to crown ;
to shine.
Deriv. All ; dullness ; heaviness.
No. 3. Heb. nS3 To hold ; to restrain ; to shut or confine ; to cheek ;
Gr. «M\i-aj ; Sw. hl^dla.
INTRODUCTION.
,'.ro ; Lat. calo \ Vi'
) deny.
Ucriv. A place of confinement ; Lat. cmda.
Ch. nSd, nSo, ''73 To hold; lo restrain ; also, to trust ;
rely on ; to hope. (See No. 6.) Also, to finish ; to perfd
sumc ; to cause (0 fail.
In Aph. To call ; to cry out ; to thunder
gnhc; Eng.to call ; Lat. gullus, from crowing.
Syr. ^>, 3 To hold ; to restrain ; to forbid ;
Deriv. all ; a cork, bar or bolt.
Sam. /f Z ii To hold, or restrain.
Kth. tlAA To hold, restrain, or prohibit.
Deriv. Lat. alius ; a fellow, or companion.
Ar. ik.^> To keep; to preserve; to turn the face toward.s a thing
and look repeatedly. So in English, to behold. Also, to come to the end, as
of life; also, to feed, to devour food ; also, to abound in pasture ; also, to
hinder, or detain ; also, to look attentively; also, to sprout ; also, to take up-
on a pledge, or upon trust ; supra, Chaldee. (See No. 6.)
No. 4. Heb. th^ To finish; to consume ; to bring to naught; to waste ;
to fail. (See No. 8.)
No. 5. Ch. Sas To eat ; to consume ; also, to take ; to hold ; to con-
tain. In Aph. to fcerl; to give food ; also, to cull; lo thunder; to roar, or
bellow; also, to piibli-li ; lo accuse ; to delame.
Heb. to eat; lo consume.
Sam. tHA- To eat.
Syr. ^O I To publish ; to divulge, as a crime ; to accuse.
Eth. A In A To sufTice, as we say, it is well, Lat. valeo ; also, to be
or exist ; that is, to be hclil, or to be fixed or permanent
Ar. to eat ; to devour ; to corrode ; Lat. hclluu.
or distinguish; also to
othe
nfidence,
edge, wisdom, ignorance. These different significations may result from
the different effects of the prefi.x on the original verb.
In Syr. ^3x0 t)>e same word, signifies to be foolish, or mad ; to cause
lo know, or to give understanding ; to obsei-ve ; to search or know tho-
roughly ; to ask or seek to undci-stand ; to disccr
err, to sin, to be foolish, or perverse.
In Sam. the same word signifies to look, and to be accustomed. Sec
Ca.stelh col. 2.523.
That 73E' is formed on the same root with a different prefix, is obvious
and certain, from the correspondence of significations. This word in He-
brew signifies to understand, or know ; to cause to understand ; to be wise,
or to act wisely ; corresponding with the Ch. SjO above ; and being a mere
dialectical orthography of the word. It signifies also to deprive, strip, be-
reave ; and lo waste, scatter and destroy ; also, to cast, as fruit or offspring ;
also, lo prosper.
Ch. to understand^ and Ch. 773!y to com])lcte, to finish ; also, lo found,
to lay the foundation. This isS'?^ with V prefixed.
Syr. to found, to finish, to adorn.
Ar. y^^ iii shakala, to bind under the belly; to gird; to bind the*
feet ; to fetter ; lo shackle ; to form, or fashion ; to be dubious, obscure,
and intricate; to agree, suit or answer to ; to be like ; to have a beautiful
tbiin ; to know, perceive, or comprehend ; lo hesitate ; lo be ignorant. De-
rivative, a shackle. See Caslell. Col. 3750.
To this root Castle refers the English skill ; and it is certain the words
correspond both in elements and in sense. Now in the Gothic and Teu-
tonic languages, the verbs corresponding to these Shemitic verbs, signify in
Saxon, scylan, to separate, to distinguish ; Icelandic and Swedish, skilid,
lo divide, separate, sever; whence shield, that which separates, and
hence defends ; D. scheelen, to differ; schillen, lo peel, or pare ; whence
scale and shell. To this root our lexicographers refer skill. The prefix in
this word would seem to have the force of a negative, Uke L. ex. Now is
it possible to suppose that these words can be formed from a common root ?
The sense of sin and folly is probably from wandering, deviating, as in
delirium ; and this is only a modification of the primary sense of hj, to
stieleh or extend ; that is, departure, separation. Or the t? has, in these
senses, the force of a negative.
The sense of knowing, understanding, is usually or always from taking,
holding, or extending to; as we say, I take your meaning. In this appli-
cation these words would seem to be directly from the Eth. and Ch. 'jDJ
lo be able ; the Latin calico, lo be haid, and lo know or be well skilled.
That this word SfU is from the same root as h'tJ, nhz, vhs, we know by
the Samaritan 2, 3 iJ wliich signifies all, and which is a mere dialectical
spelling of the Heb. and Ch. hZ-
The sense of depriving and wasting, in the Hebrew, is from separation,
the sense of the Gothic and Teutonic words ; but it is to be noticed that
this sense seems to imply throwing, as one mode of parting, and this is also
the direct act of founding, lajing the foundation.
When we turn our attention to the Arabic, new affinities are disclosed.
The first definition is to bind, to gird, to shackle, and hence the English
word. The radical sense of bind is to sUain, the sense of hold. And here
we arrive at the origin and primary sense of shall, should ; Saxon
scealan, to be obliged ; that is, to be bound or constrained. Hence we see
why the words scale, shell and shall are all written alike in Saxon, sceal ; for
scale and shell are from peeling, or covering, binding.
From this verb the Saxon has scyld, a crime, or guilt, Lat scelus, and
scyld, a sliield. The German has the same word in scliuld, guilt, culpabili-
ty, debt ; Dutch, schuld ; Danish skulde, should, and scyld, a debt, a
ifault, a crime ; Sw. skuld, the same. This word sculd, skuld, and schuld,
is tlie English should, the preterit of the verb <hall; and it is the word
used in the Saxon, German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian,
ilcelandic, and Swiss Lord's prayer, to express what is rendered in English
\debts ; forgive us our debts. Here we see the primary sense of the word
is lo be held, or bound ; hence, liable. The EngUsh word guilt may be
from the same root, without a prefix ; but whether it is or not, we observe
|the word expresses more than the English word debt, trespass or offense ;
it comprehends the sense of /au/f, or sin, with that of being held, or liable
Ito answer or lo punishment. Debt, in the modern use of the word, impliee
|the latter, but not the former; trespass and offense imply the sin, but not
Heuce'the sense of' publishing, accusing and defam-!|the Uability to answer. We have no English word that includes both sen-
|ses, except guilt, and this seems to be hardly adequate to express the full
- he sense of sprouting, in the Arabic, is a shooting or pushing out, as inijsense of scyld.
other cases ; Lat. caidis. To account for the various significations of the same word, in different
The sense of ability, power, strength, in No. 7, is from straining, stretch- ^languages, and often in the same language, it is necessary lo find the ptima-
ing, or holding, as in other words of the hke sense. Hence Lat. calleo, to 'ry action expressed by the root; and in compound words it is necessary to
be skilled, and lo be hard, callus. lobserve or ascertain the different effects produced on the original word by
On this rootSj is probably formed ^30, a word differently pointed in the the prefixes. Thus the verb inculpo in Low LaUn signifies lo excuse ; but
Hebrew and Chaldee. This word signifies in Hebrew to pervert, to err, some modern writers use inculpate m a directly different sense ; that is, to
to be foolish or infatuated, to act foolishly. I' Stone. ....
In Chaldee, to understand, know, or consider: to look or behold; to cause'; In like manner im7)art!6ie has two different significations; that may be
to understand; Rabbinic, to be ignorant ; whence its derivatives, knowI-''tm/)arterf,- and in law, not i)ar<!6/e, or divisible. Such is the fact also with
this
hat is held
hole that is compre-
No. 6. Ar. y^S} To trust ;
(See No. 3.)
Eth. ® n A with a prefix ; to trust, as above.
No. 7. Heb. hy To be able ; to prevail ; Lat. calico ; W. gallu ; Eng.
could.
No. 8. Ch.bo;' To digest ; to consume. (No. .5.)
Ar. J. Ji c To collect ; to tie ; to bind ; to unite ; also, to divide, im-
pel, or compel. This is the primary sense of the word, or rather of this
root; topless; to strain ; to urge, or impel ; also, to extend. These verbs
are different modifications of one radix ; and hence the English hold, call,
hollow, heal, hale ; the Latin calo, caulis, calleo, callus ; Greek, KKKa,
KnX s or tiak>.os ; and a multitude of words in all the modern languages of
Europe.
The sense of holding, restraining, forbidding, hindering, and keeping, are
too obvious to need any explanation. They arc from
sense is nearly allied the sense of measuring, or ascertaining
or contained. That which is contained is all, thi
hended, from the sense of extension.
The signification of finishing or perfecting, seems, in a good sense, to be
from that of soundness ; a sense which is from stretching or strength. Or
it maybe from coming lo the end, UVe finish and achieve, or from shutting,
closing. And the sense of consuming, wasting, failing, may be from bring-
ing to an end. In Latin, to consume is to take all ; and possibly this may
be the sense of this verb. But the Arabic sense of failure would seem rath-
er lo be from holding, slopping, or coming to an end.
The sense of eating may be from consuming, or taking apart, but from
some of the derivatives of No. 5, I am inclined to tliink the primary sense
is to feed, to crowd, lo stuff; tlie primary sense of the root applied to this
particular act ; for under Ihe Chaldee root we find words which signify the
nutof aspeciesof oak, the Gr. axuA.01, anda collection or crowd of people,
[Gr. oxXo!,] both of wliicli aje from collecting or pressing together.
The sense ot s. , ,1- umI l.,>>l,ing is (toiu reaching or casting and stri-
king, orfrom !:■''' . . .ii.- eyes on.
The sense 01/ l-o to be that of holding to or resting on.
The English ii.H^i m .,'(/,/ 1 imiu this root.
The sense of calling, >.,iiriiig, and thunder, is from impelling the voice
or sound ; a pressing, driving, or straining, applied to sound ; like the Latin
appello, from pelli
ing.
INTRODUCTION.
impassionate. I am persuaded a vast number of instances of similar diver-
sities in the application of prefixes may be found in the Shemitic languages ;
and this will account for differences which otherwise seem utterly irre-
concilable.
We find in our mother tongue, that the same word signifies to heal, and
to conceal, Lat. celo ; Saxon IkbI, health ; htslan, helan, to heal, to con-
ceal ; ge-hailan and ge-helan, to heal and to conceal ; Old English hele.
Hence we see that the English heal and the Latin celo are the same word
differently applied, but from a common signification, which is to make
strong or fast, or to hold, from the sense of pressing. Or perhaps the Latin
ceh may have this sense of holding, restraining ; and heal may rather be
from making perfect. No. 2. Supra.
We may now also see the radical sense of holy ,• Saxon hal and ge-hal,
whole, sound, safe ; halig, holy ; halgian, to hallow. If this word contains
the sense of separation, or driving off, like Latin sacer, as it may, it is from
shutting, confining, or restraining intercourse. But I am inclined to be-
lieve the primary sense of holy is sound, entire, coinciding with the radical
sense of heal.
Clod, Laudo, Claudo.
In Welsh clod is praise, from llod, a forcible utterance. This is the Eng-
lish lottd, and Lat. laudo, which with a prefix becomes plaudo. In Welsh,
llodi signifies to reach out, to crave, from the radical sense of llod, to thrust
out or extend ; but according to Owen, llodi is from llawd, which signi-
fies a shooting out, or a going onward, pi-oductiveness, a lad, and as an
^idjective, tending forward, craving, lewd; llodig, craving, brimming;
llodineb, lewdness. Now, beyond all question, these words are tlie Chal.
dee, Syriac, Hebrew, and Samaritan nV to beget; to bring forth ; to cause
to be be born ; and as a noun, a child of either sex, a lad. The Arabians
and Ethiopians use vau or waw, where the Hebrews use yod. The Arabic
corresponding word is »>,!• the Ethiopic ®A,? to beget, to bring
forth.
But this is not all. In Greek, the verb hAmu, a conti-action of Auiaa,
signifies to praise, to celebrate. Here we have precisely the Welsh llod,
above, corresponding with the Latin laudo and plaudo. But the same
Greek word xAhio, nKtioa, signifies to shut or make fast. This is the Latin
cludo, claudo. The Saxons used h for the Greek x and the Latin c ; and
with these words accords the Saxon hlid, a cover ; English a lid ; that
which shuts or makes fast. That these words are all from one root, is
a fact, apparent beyond any reasonable doubt ; nor is there the least diffi-
culty in ascertaining the atfinity, for the radical sense, to reach forward, to
thrust, to strain, solves the whole mystery. To thrust, gives the sense of
begetting and producing ; to strain or throw out the voice, gives the sense
of praise ; and to thrust or press together, gives tlie sense of closing and
making fast. In this manner, words, which, at first view, appear to have
no connection, will, when pursued through different languages, assimilate
and unite, not only without forced analogies, but in defiance of all precon-
ceived opinions ; and the reluctant mind is at last compelled to admit their
identity.
There is another set of words whose derivation from the same root is very
certain, though perhaps less obvious. These are the Danish slutter, to
shut, close, conclude, finish, determine ; slutter, a key-keeper, a jailor ;
Swedish, sluta, ctaudere,obserare,to shut, or shut up, or end; sZo», a castle ;
D. sleutel, a key ; slot, a lock, a castle, a conclusion ; sluiten, to shut, lock,
close, stop, conclude ; G. schloss, a lock ; schliessen, to close, conclude, fin-
ish, fetter, shackle; schleuse, a sluice; D. sluis, id. Eug. sluice, that is,
which shuts or fastens ; Low Latin, exclusa. See Spelman's Glossary.
These words are unequivocally formed from the root of claudo, clausi, by
the prefix s, just as the Welsh yslac, slack, loose, is formed on llac, and
yspeiliaw, on yspail, spoil, and this on the root olpeel. We observe all the
Teutonic dialects use the dental t, as the final radical, except the German
The Latins use both the dental and a sibilant, claudo, clausi, clausus.
If the Danish lyd, sound, Sw. lyda, to sound, is the same word as Eng-
lish loud, these words belong to this family.
Cradle.
Another example. The English word cradle, Saxon cradel, is in Welsh
cryd, a rocking, a shaking, a cradle. In Welsh, the verbs crydu, cry
diaw, crydian, signify to shake, to tremble. These correspond to the Irish
creatham, to shake ; Greek xpaSow, to shake, to swing. The Welsh verb:
are by Owen, deduced from rhyd, which signifies a moving. Now TJ?T in
Hebrew, Chaldee, and Ethiopic, signifies to shake or tremble. The same
word in Arabic ^Cj signifies to thunder ; to impress terror ; to trem-
ble ; to shake. This coincides with the Latin rudo, to roar, to bray ; and
we know from the voice of the ass, that roughness or shaking is an ingre-
dient in the sense of this word. We know it also from rudis, one of the af-
finities of rudo. There is also in Arabic i Sj which is rendered to
run hither and thither ; to move one way and the other ; to tremble ; to
shake. In Hebrew fyn signifies to tremble or shake, and to palpitate
Syriac and Eth. to rub or scrape. This connects the word directly with
cradle, through the Hebrew ; and through the Syriac, with the Latin rado.
Here again we find the sense of roughness or yvstintr. Then turning tcf
the Welsh, we find grydiau
hout, hoop or scream ; grydwst.
"r hoop, and
this from »%(£, the word above mentioned ; so 1 1 :
crarfZe, is from the same root as gn/'i/ni''. '<« -' i!r ;, ;iie Italian
gridare; Sp. and Port. gi-iZar ; Sa-con .;. r.-'r,, , , -riitir, I). m. grader ;
Dutch kryten ; German greiten. i I - iicb is contracted, by
the omission of the last radical, into <■. ' . .. lance, probably, we
have cry, W. cri. Hence we find ih : • : < . i rry is to utter a rough
sound ; and this is connected with the braying of the ass, with shaking,
trembling, and with roaring, murmuring, and thunder. The connection in
this example, is so marked as to preclude all hesitation as to the identity of
the words.
The Shemitic roots mj, Oin, mn, and Tip, all, in some of the languages
of that stock, coincide in sense and elements with the English grate, French
grafter; and if the first letter is a prefix, they would seem to unite with
the Latin rado. But this is a point I would not undertake to determine.
One fact more. The Welsh cri, above mentioned, signifies a cry ; and
an adjective, rough, raw. Now this coincides with the Latin criidiis, in
sense ; and crudus with the WeL^h cryd, above mentioned.
The Dan. brygger, English to hrew, are probably connected with break,
with freckle, and with rough. So under this root, the Welsh grediatv, sig-
nifies to hciit, scorch, parch, whence grcidyll, ;i prriddle. from graid, thai
shoots in lays, heat, ardency, from gra, that shoots, or lises, as the nap or
frieze of cloth. The latter is probably a contracted word, of the same fam-
ly, but not the root, as Owen supposes. But the radical sense implies a
shaking, agitation and roughness.
Meet, mete, measure.
Saxon. — W{etan,to put, to place; Fr. meitre. It. mettere, Sp. Port, me-
ter, Lat. mitto.
Mtstan, metan, to find, to meet, or meet with ; to paint ; to dream ; to
measure, to mete, Lat. metior, metor, Gr. nEipiw, (nrpov, Lat. mensus, with a
casual n, that is, mesas. Ft. mesure.
Ametan, gemetan, to meet, to find, to measure.
Gemeting, gemetung, a meeting.
Gemet, gemete, fit, suitable, Eng. meet ; also, painted or portrayed
Gemetegan, gemetian, to moderate; gemetlic, moderate, modest.
Mete, measure, mode, Lat. modius, modus.
Meter, measure in verse, meter. [Not metre.]
Metere, an inventor, a painter.
Mcete, middling, [mediocris,] modest, moderate.
Mot, gemot, a meeting, a council.
Witena-gemot, a council of wise men.
Motian, to meet, especially for debate. Eng. to moot.
Gothic. — Motyan, gamotyan,to meet, to find.
Mota, a place for the receipt of toll or customs.
Dutch. — Ontmoeten, to m^et, to encounler.
Meet en, and ioemeeten, to measure.
Meeter, a measurer.
Gemoeten, to meet; gemoet, a meeting.
German. — Mass, measure, meter ; masse, moderation.
Messen, vermessen, to measure ; messer, a measurer.
Gemass, measure ; also conformable, suitable ; Eng. meet, suitable ; Ger-
man gemassigt, temperate, moderate.
Swedish. — M'ota, to meet, to fall on, to come to, to happen. [This is
the sense oi finding.']
Mote, a meeting.
Mot, and emot, towards, against; as in motsfS, to stand against, to
resist.
Mata, to measure ; mhtt, measure, meter, mode.
Matielig, moderate, middling, frugal, temperate.
Malta, to be sufficient, to satisfy, to cloy.
Vanish.— Mader,tomeet, to convene; made or mode, a meeting ; mod,
contrary, opposite, against, to, towards, for, on, by, aside, abreast, as in
modsetter, to set against, to oppose ; modsiger, to say against, to contradict ;
mod-vind, a contrary wind.
Moed, moden, ripe, mellow, mature. [Qu. Lat. mitis.]
Mode, manner, fashion. [Probably from the Latin.]
Maade, measure, form, style of writing, way, mode, manner, fashion.
[This is the native Danish word corresponding to the Lat. modu^.]
Maadelig, moderate, temperate.
MiBt, enough, sufficient ; mietter, to satisfy, or sate, to glut.
From the same root are the G. mit, D. 7net, mede, Sw. and Dan. med, Gr.
iiiTa, signifying imtti.
By the first significa
word, which is the En
word, which is the English meet, is also the French mettre and Lat. mitto,
tlie sense of which is to throw or send, to put, to lay. Meet is only a modi-
jfication of the same sense, to come to, to fall, to reach, hence to find ; as we
say, to /a;/ on.
The sense of painting or portraying is peculiar to the Saxon. I am not
[confident that this sense" is from finding ; but we observe that metere is reii-
INTRODUCTION.
The sense oi paint then may I
1 find
dered an inventor anil a pa
out, to devise or contrive.
The sense of dreamins; is also peculiar to the Saxon. The sense may he
todevise or imagine, or it may be to roue, as in some other words of like sig-
nification. If so, this sense will accord with the .Syriac j.lc infra.
The other si2;nifications present no difliculty. To meet, is to come to, to
reach in proreeiling or in extending; hence to find. The primary seni-e of
measure is to (-xteml, to stietch to the full length or size of a thing.
Meet, fit, suitable, Wke par, peer, pair, is from extending or reaching to.
So suit is from the Latin sejuor, through the French, to follow, to press or
reach toward. See par, under X13. supra.
The English meet and mete appear to be from the Saxon dialect, but moot
from the Gothic.
Let it be remarked that in the Saxon, meet and mete, are united in the
same orthography ; and in the Dutch the orthography is not very different ;
ontmoeten,gemoeten, to meet, and mecten, to measure. Not so in the other
languages.
In German, mafis is measure, and tnessen, to measure ; but the scn.se of
meet, does not occur. Yet that mass is the same word as meet, fit, varied
only in dialect, appears from this, that gemass, with a prefix, is suitable, an-
swering to the English meet.
The Swedish and Danish words follow the Gothic orthography ; Swedish
mita, to meet, to fall on, to come to, to happen. These significations give
the sense of finding, and are closely allied to the senses of the Arabic verb
.\^ infra.
The Danish verb is mader, to meet, but in both tlie Swedish and Danish,
the sense of measure is expressed by a different orthography. Sw. 7nhta,
to measure ; matt, measure ; Dan. maadc, measure, mode. In these two
languages we find also the sense of sufficiency, and to satisfy. See infra, the
Ar. J^ ^ and Heb. and Ch. XYa.
But in these Gothic dialects, there is one application o( meeting, which
deserves more particular notice. In Swedish, mot and emot is a preposition of
the same signification as the English against. It is rendered toward,
against. So in Danish, mod is contrary, opposite, against, to, toward, by,
aside, abreast. This preposition is the simple verb, without any addition of
letters, prefix or suffix. We hence learn that the sense of such prepositions
is a meeting or coming to, which gives the sense of to or toward ; but when
one meets another in Front, it gives the sense of opposition, or contrary direc-
tion. This coming to or meeting, may be for a friendly purpose, and hence
in one's favor, like /or in English. Thus in Danish, " Guds godhed mod os,"
God's goodness or mercy towards us. In other cases, mod signifies against
and implies counteraction or opposition ; as modgift, an antidote ; modgang,
adversity. So for in English signifies towards, or in favor of; and also op-
position and negation, as m forbid.
In the Danish we find moed, moden, ripe, mature. We shall see this
sense in the Chaldee NOD. The sense is to reach, extend, or come to.
The Latin modus is from this root, and by its orthography, it seems to
have been received from the Gothic race. The sense is measure, limit, from
extending, or comprel)ending. This then becomes the radix of many words
which express limitation or restraint, as moderate, modest , modify ; a sense
directly contiary to that of the radical verb.
This leads us a step further. In Saxon, Gothic, and other northern lan-
guages, mod, moed, signifies mind, courage, spirit, anger, whence English
moody. The primary sense is an advancing or rushing forward, which
expresses mind or intention, that is, a setting or stretching forward, and
also spirit, animation, heat, and lastly, anger. So the Latin animus,
fives rise to animosity ; and the Greek iiivoi, mind, signifies also, strength,
irce, vehemence, and anger. Mania is from the same radical sense.
Let us now connect this root or these roots, with the Shemitic languages.
In Hebrew and Chaldee, HID signifies to measure ; no, a measure.
This coincides with the Latin metior, and Gr. (iirpii:, as well as with the
Saxon, Dutch, Danish, and Swedish, which all write the word with a den-
tal, but the German is mass.
In Syriac ^io signifies to escape, to get free, that is, to depart, a modifi-
cation of the sense of extending in the Arabic. A derivative in Syriac sig-
nifies a dutj-, toll or tribute ; and we have seen in the Gothic, that mota is a
toll-house. It may be from measuring, that is, a portion, or perhaps income.
This word in Arabic A^ madda, signifies,
1. To stretch or extend, to draw out, to make or be long, to delay or give
time, to forbear, to bring forth. To extend is the radical sense of measure.
2. To separate, or throw offer out; to secern, secrete or discharge. Hence
to become matter or sanies, to produce pus, to maturate. Here we have
the origin of the word matter, in the sense of pi;,'!. It is an excretion, from
throwing out, separating, freeing, discharging. Here we have the sense of
the Latin mitto, emitto.
3. To assist, to supply. This sense is probably from coming to, that is, to
approach or visit. " I was sick and ye visited me. I was in prison and ye
came tome." Math. xxv.
You I. D.
This application coincides witJi the English meet, but particularly with
the Swedish and Danish sense of the word.
4. To make thin, to attenuate ; probably from stretching.
Among the Arabic nouns formed under this root, we hnd a measure, or
modius, showing that this verb is the same as the Chaldee and Hebrew ; we
find also matter or pus, and lenity. Qu. Lat. mitis.
In Chaldee, NBD or DBB; signifies to come to, to happen, to reach, [to
meet,] to be ripe or mature, to cause to come, to bring or produce. The
first sense gives that of finding, and tlie latter gives that of maturing, and
we observe tliat matter, or pus, is from the Arabic Jv^ madda, and the
sense oi mature from the Chaldee WJD mita. Yet in the use o( maturate
from the Latin maturo, we connect the words, for to maturate, is to ripen,
and to generate matter.
In Syriac, this verb signifies the same as the Chaldee, to come to; and
also to be strong, to prevail, that is, to strain or stretch, the rtidical sense of
power.
In Hebrew, NXD has the sense of the foregoing verb in the Chaldee, to
find, to come to, to happen. .
In Chaldee, this verb signifies to find, and to be strong, to prevail ; hencr
both in Hebrew and Chaldee, to be sufficient. Here we see the Danish
and Swedish, matter, and mhtta, to be sufficient. This is also meet, dialec-
fically varied.
In Syriac also this verb signifies to be strong or powerful ; also in Pah. to
bring or press out, to defecate, which sense unites this word with the Heb.
nSD, to press, to squeeze. In Ethiopic, this verb signifies to come, to hap-
!ause to come, to bring in, to bring fortli. Now it is evident that
NSO, and the Chaldee NBD, are dialectical forms of the same word ; tiie
former coinciding with the German mass, in orthography, but with the
oUier languages, in signification.
In Chaldee, ySD signifies the middle, and as a verb, to set in tlie middle,
to pass the middle, in Syriac, to be divided in the middle. Qu. Is not this a
branch of the family of meet?
The Chaldee nox, amad, to measure, is evidently frtmi "TO, with a pre-
fix or formative X. This word, in Syriac, signifies like the simple verb, to
escape, to be liberated. In Pael, to liberate.
- t
In Arabic, this verb y,^\ amida, signifies, to be tcriiiinated, to end.
whence the noun, an end, limit, termination, Latin niefa, which, Ainsworth
informs us, signifies, in a nietaphorical sense, a limit. The fact is the re-
verse ; tliis is its primary and literal sense, and that of a pillar and goal are
particular appropriations of that sense.
In Hebrew, HOJ signifies a cubit, a measure of length.
The same in the Rabbinic, from no, with a prefix.
In Chaldee, this verb signifies to be contracted, to shrink.
Is not this sense from 10, measure, modus, a limit, or a drawing.
That the Shemitic wortls, nno, twn, NXD and nOK, are words of tin-
same stock with meet, mete, Lat. metior, there can be no doubt, but it is
not easy to understand why the different significations of meeting and meas-
uring, should be uruted in one word, in the Saxon language, when they arc
expressed by very different words in the Shemitic, and in most of the Teu-
tonic languages. We know indeed that in German a sibilant letter is often
used, in words which are written with a dental in all the other kindred langua-
ges. But in this case the German mass, measure, mu.st coincide with itj, as
must the Swedish mhta, and Dan. maade, and the Saxon metan, Dutch g€-
moeten, Goth, motyan, Sw. mbta, Dan. mlder, with the Chaldee XOD, but
not with the word SVD.
It may not be impossible nor improbable that all these words are fi-omone
stock or radix, and that the different orthographies and applications are dia-
lectical changes of that root, introduced among different families or races of
men. before languages were reduced to writing.
In th.> I.iitin /»<iis»s. from metior. the n is probably casual, the original
bcliiij /.i-:(s, .,. Ill 111,. French nifxiire. I have reason to think there are
niaii\ I 1,1- iiiscilion of )i I'cfore rf and s.
1,, :., ,,1 ,, I, ,,11 of words .inil tlicir significations, we may fairly in-
fer tin Luiiiiiun ' ii;;iii otlb'^ following words. Lat. mitto. French mettre,
English mtci, to come to, meet, fit, and niftc, to measure, Lat metior, metor,
Gr. nnpci,iuTf'm, Lat. mensvra, Fr. mesure, Eng. measure, Lat. modus, mode.
Sax. and Goth, mod, mind, anger, whence moody, Eng. moot, Lat. maturus,
mature, and Eng. tnatter.
In Welsh, niarfu signifies, to cause to proceed; to send, [Lat mitto;] to
suffer to go off; to render productive ; to become beneficial ; and mad sig-
nifies, what proceeds or goes forward, hence what is good; and mad, the
adjective, signifies, proceeding, advancing, progressive, good or beneficial.
This word then affords a clear proof of the radical sense of good. We have
like evidence in the English better, best, and in prosperity, which is from
the Greek irp.'(7?ip", to advance.
In Welsh also we find madrez, matter, pus ; madru, to dissolve, to putre-
fy, to become pus. That these words are from the same root as the Arabic
INTRODUCTION.
Jv^ supra, I think to be very obvious; and here we observe that the
Welsh have one important sense derived from the root, that of good, which
occurs in none of the other languages. But the primary sense is the same as
that of the other significations, to go forward, to advance; hence to pro
mote interest or happiness. Here we have undeniable evidence that thi
sense of good, Welsh mad, and the sense of matter, pus, proceed from the
same radix.
LEGO.
The Greek Aiyu is rendered, to speak or say ; to tell, count, or number
to gather, collect, or choose ; to discourse ; and to lie down. This last defi
nition shows that this word is the English lie and lay ; and from this appli
cation, doubtless, the Latins had their lectus, a bed, that is, a spread, a lay
The Latin lego, the same verb, is rendered, to gather ; to choose ; to
read ; to steal, or collect by stealing ; and the phrase, legere oram, signifies
to coast, to sail along a coast ; legere vela, is to furl the sails ; legere hali-
turn, to take breath C legere littus, to sail close to the shore ; legere mililes.
to enlist or muster soldiers; legere pugno, to strike, perhaps to lay on with
the fist.
It would seem, at first view, that such various significations cannot pro
ceed from one radix. But the fact that they do is indubitable. The prima-
ry sense of the root must be to throw, stiain or extend, which in this, as ii
almost all cases, gives the sense of speaking. The sense of collecting,
choosing, gathering, is from throwing, or drawing out, or separating by
some such act ; or from throwing together. The sense of lying down is,
probably, from throwing one's self down. The sense of reading, in Latin,
is the same as that of speaking in the Greek, unless it may be from collect-
ing , that is, separating the letters, and uniting them in syllables and
words ; for in the primitive mode of writing, diacritical points were not used
But probably the sense of reading is the same as in speaking.
The phrases legere ora?n, legere littus, in Latin, may coincide with that of
our seamen, to .stretch or lay along the shore or coast, or to hug the land ;
especially if this word lay in Sanscrit signifies to cling, as I have seen it
stated in some author, but for which I cannot vouch. If this sense is at-
tached to the word, it proves it closely allied to the L. ligo, to bind.
That the sense of throwing, or driving, is contained in this word, is cer-
tain from its derivatives. Thus, in Greek, cnoUytj signifies to select, to collect ;
and also to reject, to repudiate, and to forbid ; which imply throwing,
thrusting away.
Now, if throwing, sending, or driving, is the primary sense, then the Lat-
in lego, to read, and lego, legare, to send, are radically the same word ; the
inflections of the verb being varied, arbitrarily, to designate the distinct ap-
plications, just as iopello, appello, appellere, to drive, and appello, appel-
lare, to call.
And here it may be worth a moment's consideration, whether several
that of light. So the river Aar, in Europe, is doubtless iVonj
the same source as the Orienntal niN, to shine, whence air. And nriJ.
which, in Hebrew, signifies to flow as water, as well as to shine, chiefly signi-
fies in Chaldee and Syiiac, to shine.
To show the great importance, or rather the absolute necessity, of ascer-
taining the primary sense of words, in order to obtain clear ideas of the
sense of ancient authors, more particularly of difficult passages in dead
languages, let the reader attend to the following remarks.
In commenting on certain parts of Isaiah xxviii, Lowth observes in his
Preliminary Dissertation, the difficulty of determining the meaning of niH,
in verse loth. In our version, as in others, it is rendered agreement ; but,
says Lowth, " the word means no such thing in any pait of the Bible, ex-
cept in the -ISth verse following ; nor can the lexicographers give any satis-
factory account of the word in this sense." Yet he agrees with Vitringa,
that in these passages it must have this signification. The difficulty, it
seems, has arisen from not understanding the primary sense of seeing, for
the verb generally signifies to see ; and as a noun the word signifies sight,
vision ; and so it is rendered in the Latin version annexed to Vanderhooght's
Bible. The seventy render it by <rvt,iw,, a covenant or league ; and they are
followed by the moderns. " Nous avons intelligence avec le sepulchre."
French. " Noi habbiam fatta lega col sepulcro." Italian of Diodati.
Parkhurst understands the word to signify, to fasten, to settle, and he cites
2 Sam. XX, 9, inn, " Joab took Amasa by the beard." Here the sense is
obvious ; and from this and other passages, we may infer with certainty,
that the radical sense is to reach to, or to seize, hold, or fix. If the sense is
to reach to, then it accords with covenant, conveniens, coming to ; if the
sense is to fix, or fasten, then it agrees with league, Lat. ligo, and with pact,
pactum, from pango, to make fast; all from the sense of extension, stretch-
ing, straining. Hence the meaning of niH, the breast; that is, the firm,
fixed, strong part. And if the English gaze is the same word, which is not
improbable, this determines the appropriate sense of seeing in this word, to
be to fix, or to look or reach with the eye fixed.
But we have other and decisive evidence of the primary signification of
this word in the obvious, undisputed meaning of triN, the same word with
a prefix, which signifies to catch, or lay hold on ; to seize ; hence, behind,
following, as if attached to ; and hence drawing out in time, to delay.
Now it is not improbable that the Arabic jL=» hauz, may be a word
of the same stock ; and this signifies among other senses, to collect, contract
or draw together, to accumulate, to have intercourse or commerce with
another. The latter sense would give nearly the signification of the He-
brew word.
Lexicographers are often embarrassed to account for the different signifi-
cation of words that are evidently derived fioni the same root. Thus,
in Hebrew, "W is rendered to sing ; to look, behold, or observe ; and to
|ru!e ; and its derivatives, a ruler, a wall, the navel-string, a chain or
words with prefixes, such as slay, flog, and the Latin pz/co, W. plygu, are iSfl'*'^' ^\ """' '='° " """'t ^T%u ■■"''' ?°^ u T^' """^ '° '""''u'
not formed on the ro^t of la„. ihlt. In. or Ink Th/LL .f^/^f, 'sfv !|N<"h'n.g "n be more easy or natural. The sense is m both cases to stretch
not formed on the root of lay, that is, lag or lak. The
of slay. Sax
imen ; and to !
In Latin sei
ach. To sing is to strain the voice ; to rule is to restrain
gon heora wedd," they slew their league, or contract ; that is, they struckl;™''" ' '■"'" '° ^"^ '' '° '?^'=''' '"' "> ''""'' '" ''''"'•
a bargain. It signifies also to throw, as to slag one into prison ; also toll '" ^'''"^ *"""' sigmfies to sow, to plant, to beget, to spread ; consero,
fall ; to set or lay. The sense of killing is derivative from that of stiiking,!!'" *°"'' ^"<' '" "^'"'^ or join ; desero, to leave off, to desert ; assero, to plant
a striking down. jiby or near, and to assert, affirm, and pronounce; dissero, to discourse ;
Flog, Lat. fligo, signifies prim-irWy to rush, drive, strike, Eng. to «cft /li*"*^™' '° '"**'''• '"'"P'""' 5 resero, to unlock, to open, to disclose. Desero,
and if formed on the root of lay. is precisely the popular phrase, to lay on. |l*° desert, Amsworth says, is a compound of de and sero, '• ut sit desertum
If plico is formed with a prefix on lay or its root, it must have been ori-i|l"°'* "°" seritur nee colitur." And dissero he supposes must be a meta-
ginally pelico, that is, belico. belay. Then to fold, would be to lay on orlP'^'"'''^*' ^^^ °f ** ^*°''''- ^o""' "" *« principles I have unfolded, nothing
dosf; to lay one part to another. Now this word is the Welsh pfygu,!'"**^^'^'' *""'"' ^"P'^"*''"'"''^ *'^'*^ ^*'"'''^'- Thesenseofi
fold, which Owen makes to be a compound of nu and ««. The'^iatterii'"*™'* 5 ''*'''''™' • -- ., .
word must be a contraction of %g. ' thrust or drive together; desero is to throw from ; assero is to throw, in
We know that the word reply is from the French repliquer, the Latin """"ds> or to 'lirow out, as in appeMo ; rfmero is to throw words or arguments,
replico. Now, to reply, is not to fold back, but to send back to throw i^'* •'''^ '*"^^ of spreading, expatiating; f«.sero is to throw orthrustin;
back, as words, or an answer ; and this gives the precise sense of %, tojj''««"''''*'o throw or drive from, hence to unlock or open.
throw, to send, which must be the sense of the radical word. It is by resorting to the primary idea of words that we are able to ex-
It is no inconsiderable evidence of the truth of my conjecture, that wel|plain applications, apparently, or in fact, diverse and even contrary. A ve-
constantly use the phrase to lay on, or lay to, as synonymous with ply, ajiry common example of this contiaiiety occurs in words which signify to
word belonging to this family. To pledge, another of this family, is to ioyj,guard or defend. For instance, the Latin mceo signifies to drive ofT, and to pro-
In Welsh, llugiaw signifies to throw, fling, east, or dart ; to pelt ; to drift ;
from llui;, a darting, a flash, glance, or sudden throw ; hence llu(;ed, light-
ning. Llug signifies also, that breaks, or begins to open, a gleam, a break-
ing out in blotches ; the plague. Llwg signifies also, that' is apt to break
out, that is bright, a tumor, eruption. These words coincide with Eng-
lish light, Lat. luceo ; the primary sense of which is to throw, shoot, or dart ;
and these words all contain the elements of ^o.? and fling.
In Welsh, lly(;u signifies to fall flat, to lie extended, or to squat. This
is evidently allied to lay and lie.
These senses agree also with that of luck, to fall, or come suddenly ; that
js, to rush or drive along.
In Russ. vlagayu is to lay, or put in ; equivalent to the German einlegen.
The Latin ^uo is contracted from flugo; and the radical sense of flotv is
tect, secure, hold, restrain, or keep from dep
5ore.scapm^; twos
partmgo
rectly opposite. This is extremely natural ; fororceo signifies to thrust ofT,
repel, drive back ; and this act defends the person or object attacked. Or if
we suppose the sense of straining to be anterior to that of repulsion, which
is not improbable, then the act of straining or holding produces both effects;
to repel or stop what advances to assault, and protect what is inclosed or as-
saulted. The woi df guard and warren present a similar application of the
primary idea; and all languages which I have examined, furnish a multi-
tude of similar examples.
These examples illustrate the utility of extensive researches in language ;
as all cognate languages throw light on each other ; one language often re-
taining tlie radical meaning of a word which the others have lost. Who,
for instance, thai is ac(|uainted only with the English use of the verb to
have, would suspect thai (his woid and happen arc radically one, and that
the primary scn-e is to fall or rush, hence to fall on and seize ? Yet nothing
INTliODUCTlOxX.
is more certain. In the Spanisli lanp;uage the senses of both verbs are re-
tained in /laier,- and the VieUh hap iaw gives us the true original signifi-
cation.
In Uke manner the primary sense of venio in Latin, cannot be certainly
determined without resorting to other words, and to kindred languages. In
Latin, the word signifies to come or arrive; but in Spanish, venida,(rom
venir, the Latin venio, signifies not only a coming or arrival, but an attack
in fencing. Venio coincides in origin with the English /ind ; Saxon find-
an ; German and Dutch finden, to find, to fall or light on ; Danish/nder ;
Swedish finna, to find, to discover, to meet, to strike against [ofTendere.j
The primary sense of tienio then is not merely to come or arrive, but to rush or
move with a driving force ; and this sen.se is applicable to coming or goin^.
That the primary sense is to fall or rush, we have evidence in the Latin
ventus, and English wind, both from the root of this verb. We have still
further evidence in the word venom, which in Welsh is gwcnwyn ; gwen,
white, and gwyn, rage, smart, whence gtoynt, wind. Venom is that
which frets or excites a raging pain. Hence we may infer that L. venor, to
hunt, to chase, is of the same family : and »n i^ rniia, leave, or leave to de-
part, or a departure, a leaving, coinriilini; in >iL'ii'rhMtion with/ea»e.
The latter word,«e7ita, proves aiiuih. i l..< i, ih t ihe primary sense of tie-
nio is, in general, to move in any ilijt < tion. nil 1I1..1 Ihe Latin sense, to come,
is a particular appropriation of that sense.
In ascertaining the primary sense of word*, it is often useful or necessa-
ry to recur to the derivatives. Thus the Latin Icedo is rendered to hurt ;
but, by adverting to allido, elido, and collido, we find that the original sig-
nification is to strike, hit, or dash against. Hurt then is the secondary
sense ; the effect of the primary action expressed by the verb.
So the Latin rapio, to seize, does not give the sense of rapidus, rapid,
but the sense of the latter proves the primary .sense of rapio to be to rush,
and in its application, to rush on and seize.
These examples will be sufficient to show how little the affinities of
language have been understood. Men have been generally satisfied with
a knowledge of the appropriate sense of words, without examining from
what visible or physical action, or ^jnmai!/ sense, that particular application
has been derived. Hence the obscurity that still rests on the theory of lan-
guage. It has been supposed that each word, particularly each verb, has
an original specific sense, or application, distinct from every other verb.
We find, however, on a close examination and comparison of the same
word in different language;;, that the fact is directly the reverse ; that a
verb expressing some action, in a general sense, gives rise to various ap-
propriate senses, or particular applications. And in the course of my re-
searches, I have been struck with the similarity of manner in which differ-
ent nations have appropriated derivative and figurative senses. For exam-
ple, all nations, as far as my researches extend, agree in expressing the
sense o( justice and right, by straightness, and sin, iniquity, wrong, by a
deviation from a 5traight line or course. Equally remarkable is the simpli-
city of the analogies in language, and the small number of radical signifi-
cations ; so small indeed, that 1 am persuaded the primary sense of all the
verbs in any languas;e, may be expressed by thirty or forty words.
We cannot, at tliis period of the world, determine, in all cases, which
words are primitive, and which are derivative ; nor whether the verb or
the noun is the original word. Mon. Gebelin, in his Monde Primitif,
maintains that the noun is the root of all other words. Never was a great-
er mistake. That some nouns may have been formed before the verbs
with which they are connected, is possible ; but as languages are now con-
structed, it is demonstrably certain, that the verb is the radix or stock fron
which have sprung most of the nouns, adjectives, and other parts of speed
belonging to each family. This is the result of all my researches into th<
origin of languages. We find, indeed, that many modem verbs are form-
ed on nouns ; as to practice from practice; but the noun is derived from i
Greek verb. So we use wrong as a verb from the adjective wrong ,
but the latter is primarily a participle of the verb to wring. Indeed
a large part of all nouns were originally participles or adjectives, and
the things which they denote were named from their qualities. So pard,
pardus, is from T13 barad, hail ; and the animal so named from his spots
as if sprinkled with hail, or rather from the sense of separation. Crape,
the Fr. cr^pe, is from crSper, to crisp. Sight signifies, primarily, seen ; it
being the participle of seon contracted from sigan. Draught is the parti-
ciple of draw, that which is drawn, or the act of drawing ; thought is the
participle of think.
As the verb is the principal radix of other words, and as the proper pro-
vince of this part of speech is to express action, ahnost all the modifica-
tions of tlie primary sense of the verb may be comprehended in one word,
to move.
The principal varieties of motion or action may be expressed by the fol-
lowing verbs.
1. To drive, throw, thrust, send, urge, press.
2. To set, fix, lay. Buttheseareusually from thrusting, or throwingdown.
3. To strain, stretch, draw, whence holding, binding, strength, power, and
often health.
4. To turn, wind, roll, wander.
5. To flow, to blow, to rush.
6. To open, part, spht, separate, remove, scatter. See No. 16.
7. To swell, distend, expand, spread.
8. To stir, shake, agitate, rouse, excil
agitate, rouse, excite.
To shoot as a plant; to grow ; allied to No. 1.
10. To break, or burst; allied sometimes to No. 3.
11. To lift, raise, elevate ; allied to No. 9.
12. To flee, withdraw, escape ; to fly; often allied to No. 1.
13. To rage ; to burn ; allied to No. 7 and 8.
11. To fall ; to fail ; whence fading, dying, &c.
15. To approach, come, arrive, extend, reach. This is usually the sense
of gaining. No. 34.
16. To go, walk, pass, advance ; allied to No. 6.
17. To seize, take, hold; sometimes alUed to No. 31.
18. To strike; to beat; alhed to No. 1.
19. To swing ; to vibrate. No. 29.
20. To lean; to incline ; allied to the sense of wandering, or departing.
21. To rub, scratch, scrape; often connected with driving, and with
roughness.
22. To swim ; to float.
23. To stop, cease, rest; sometimes at least from straining, holding, fas-
tening. *
24. To creep ; to crawl ; sometimes connected with scraping.
215. To peel, to strip, whence spoiling.
26. To leap, to spring; allied to No. 9 and 1.
27. To bring, bear, carry; in some instances connected with producing,
throwing out.
28. To sweep.
29. To hang. No. 19.
30. To shrink, or contract; that is, to draw. See No. 3.
31. To run ; to rush forward ; allied to No. 1.
32. To put on or together; to unite ; allied to No. 1 and 3.
33. To knit, to weave.
34. To gain, to win, to get. See No. 15.
These and a few more verbs express the literal sense of all the primary
roots. But it must be remarked that all the foregoing significations are not
distinct. So far from it, that the whole may be brought under the significa-
tion of a very few words. The Enghsh words to seiid, throw, thrust, strain,
stretch, draw, drive, urge, press, embrace the primary sense of a great part
of all the verbs in every language which I have examined. Indeed it must
be so, for the verb is certainly the root of most words ; and the verb expres-
3 moJion, which always imphes the application of force.
Even the verbs which signify to hold or stop, in most instances at least, if
tin all, denote primarily to strain or restrain by exertion offeree ; and to
lie is primarily to throw down, to lay one's self down. So that intransitive
verbs are rarely exceptions to the general remark above made, that all
verbs primarily express motion or exertion of force. The substantive verb
has more claims to be an exception, than any other ; for this usually denotes,
I think, permanence or continued being ; but the primary sense of this verb
may perhaps be to set or fix ; and verbs having this sense often express ex-
tension in time or duration. So mvu in Greek is to stretch, but the same
word teneo in Latin, is to hold ; hence continuance.
Let us now attend to the radical sense of some of the most common verbs.
Speaking, calling, crying, praying, utterance of sounds, is usually from
the sense of driving or straining. Thus in Latin, appello and compello,
though of a different conjugation from pello, depello, impello, are from the
same root ; and although the Latin repello does not signify to recall, yet the
corresponding word in Italian rappellare, and the French rappeler, signify
to recall, and hence the English repeal. Hence also peal, either of a bell
or of thunder. This is the Greek i3aUw, and probably TraUu is from the
same root. The sense oi striking is found in the Greek verb, and so it is in
the Lat. loquor, Eng. clock. But in general, speaking, in all its modifica-
tions, is the straining, driving, or impulse of sounds. Sometimes the sense
coincides more exactly with tiidAoi breaking or tmrsting.
Singing is a driving or straining of the voice ; and we apply strain to a
passage of music, and to a course of speaking.
■ I am not confident that I can refer the sensation ot hearing to any visible
action. Possibly it may sometimes be from striking, hitting, touching. But
we observe that hear is connected in origin with ear, as the Latin audio is
with the Greek on, "roi, the ear ; whence it appears probable that the verb
to hear, is formed from the name of the ear, and the ear is from some verb
which signifies to shoot or extend, for it signifies a limb.
The primary sense of seeing, is commonly to extend to, to reach ; as it
were, to reach with the eye. Hence the use of behold, for the radical sense
of hold is to strain ; and hence its signification in beholden, held, bound, ob-
ligated. See the verb See in the Dictionary.
The sense of look may be somewhat different from that of see. It appear*
in some instances to have for its primary signification to setid, throw, cast ;
that is, to send or cast the eye or sight.
Wonder and astonishment are usually expressed by some word that sig-
nifies to stop or hold. Hence the Latin miror, to wonder, is the Armoric
tniret, to stop, hold, hinder ; coinciding with the EngUsh moor, and Spanish
amarrar, to moor, as a ship.
INTRODUCTION.
3 primarily to fall or rush
1 in Latin tento. See As-
sually ex-
To begin is to come, or fall on ; to thrust on. We have a familiar exam
pie in the Latin incipio, in and capio ; for Capio
on and seize. See Begin in the Dictionary.
Attempt is expressed by straining, stretching, ;
say and Essay.
/"oi/jer, sfrengtA, and the corresponding verb,
pressed by straining, stretching, and this is the radical sense ol ruling or
governing. Of this the Latin rego is an example, which gives rectus, right
that is, stretched, straight.
Care, as has been stated, is usually from straining, Aat is, a tension of
the mind. . , . ■
Thinking is expressed by setting. To think is to set or fix or hold in thi
mind. It approaches to the sense of suppose, Lat. suppono.
And under this word, let us consider the various applications of the Latin
puto. The simple verb puto is rendered to prune, lop or dress, as vines,
that is, according to Ainsworth, putum, i. e. purum reddo, purgo, by vphicli
I understand him to mean, thatputum is either a change of purum, or used
for it ; a most improbable supposition, for the radical letters t and r are
coramutable. Puto is rendered also, to make even, clear, adjust, or cast up
accounts ; ;Jso to think or consider; to suppose ; to debate. Its compounds
are amputo, to cut off, prune, amputate, to remove ; computo, to compute
to reckon, to think or deem ; disputo, to make clear, to adjust or settle, tc
dispute or debate, to reason ; imputo, to impute, to ascribe or lay to, tc
place to account ; reputo, to consider, to revolve, to reckon up, to impute
The Latin deputo signifies to think, judge or esteem, to account or reckon
and to prune ; but the Italian deputare, Spanish diputar, and French depu-
ter, from the Latin word, all signify, to send. How can the sense of think
and that of lop or prune, be deduced from a common root or radical sense :
We find the solution of this question in the verb to depute. The primary
sense is to throw, thrust or send, or to set or lay, which is from throwing,
driving. To prune is to separate, remove, or drive oiT; to force off; to
think is a setting in the mind ; to compute is to throw or put together, either
the mind or in numbers; to dispute is to throw against ' '•''" ■^'
bate, to beat from; to impute, is to throw or put to or on; and
to think or throw in the mind, repeatedly. To amputate
apart, like de
I repute, is
to separate by
probably, as the
also the Dutch
cutting round. Puto then in Latin is from the same
English put, or the same word ditferently applied ;
pooten, to plant ; pool, a paw, a twig or shoot, Gr. (furov, sic.
In attempting to discover the primary sense of words, we are to carry
reflections back to the primitive state of mankind, and consider how rude
men would effect their purposes, before the invention or use of the instru-
ments which the moderns employ. The English verb to cut, signifies or-
dinarily to separate with an edged tool ; and we are apt to consider tins ai
the chief and original sense. But if so, how can cut, the stroke of a whip
which is a legitimate sense of the word, be deduced from the act of severing
by an edged tool ? We have, in this popular use of the word, a clew to guide
us to the primary sense, which is, to drive, urge, press, and applied to the
arm, to strike. But we have better evidence. In the popular practice of
speaking in New England, it is not uncommon to hear one person call to ar
other when running, and say, cut on, cut on ; that is, hurry, run faste
drive, press on ; probably from striking a beast which one rides on. This is
the original sense of the word. Hence we see, that this verb is the Latin
cado, to strike, to cut down, somewhat differently applied, and cado, to fall
is only a modified sense of the same root, and the compounds incido, to cut
and incido, to fall on, are of one family. To cut, is therefore primarily to
strike, or drive, and to cut off, if applied to the severing of bodies, before
edged tools were used, was to force off, or to strike off; hence the
separating in the phrase to cut off 2. retreat or communication.
So the Latin carpo is the English ca/rve, originally to separate by plucking,
pulling, seizing and tearing, afterwards, by cutting.
Asking is usually expressed by the sense of pressing, urging. We have
a clear proof of this in the Latin pete and its compounds. This verb signi-
fies primarily to rush, to drive at, to assault, and this sense, in Dictionaries,
ought to stand first in the order of definitions. We have the force of the ori-
ginal in the words impetus and impetuous. So the Latin rogo, coincides
in elements with reach.
The act of understanding is expressed by reaching or taking, holding,
sustaining ; the sense of comprehend, and of understand. We have a pop-
ular phrase which well expresses this sense, " I take your meaning or your
idea." So in German, begreifen, to begripe, to apprehend.
.Knowing seems to have the same radical sense as understanding.
Pain, grief, distress, and the like affections, are usually expressed by
pressure or straining. Affliction is from striking.
Joy, mirth, and the like affections, are from the sense of rousing, excit-
ing, lively action.
Covering, and the like actions aie from spreading over or cutting off, in-
terruption.
Hiding, is from covering or from withdrawing, departure ; or concealment
may be from withholding, restraining, suppressing, or making fast --=-"--
Latin celo.
Heat usually implies excitement; but as the effect of heat as well as of
cfdd is sometimes to contract, I think both are sometimes from the same ra-
4ix. Thusco^d and the Lat. caleo, to be warm, and calhts and catleo, to be
hard, have all the same elementary letters, and I suppose them all to be
from one root, the sense of which is, to draw, strain, shrink, contract. I am
the more inclined to this opinion, for these words coincide with callta, to be
strong or able, to know ; a sense that imples straining and holding.
Hope is probably from reaching forward. We express strong desire by
longing, reaching towards.
Earnestness, boldness, daring, peril, promptness, readiness, willingness,
love and favor, are expressed by advancing or inclining.
Light is often expressed by opening, or the shooting of rays, radiation ;
and probably in many cases, the original word was applied to the dawn of
day in the morning. fVhiteness is often connected in origin with light.
We have an instance of this in the Latin caneo, to shine and to be white.
And that the primary sense of this word, is to shoot, to radiate, that is, to
throw out or off, we have evidence in the verb cano, to sing, whence canto,
the sense of which is retained in our popular use of cant ; to cant a stone ;
to cant over a cask ; give the thing a cant ; for all these words are from one
The Latin virtus, the English worth, is from the root of vireo, to grow,
that is, to stretch forward, to shoot; hence the original sense is strength, a
sense we retain in its application to the qualities of plants. Hence the La-
tin sense of virtus, is bravery, coinciding with the sense of boldness, a pro-
jecting forward.
Pride is from swelling or elevation, the primary sense of some other words
nearly allied to it.
Fear is usually from shrinking or from shaking, trembling; or some-
les perhaps from striking, a being struck, as with surprise.
Holiness and sacredness are sometimes expressed by separation, as from
common things. The Teutonic word holy however seems to be from the
nse of soundness, entireness.
Faith and belief seem to imply a resting on, or a leaving. It is certain
that the English belief is a compound of the prefix be and leaf, leave, per-
mission. To believe one then is to leave with him, to rest or suffer to rest
ith him, and hence not to dispute, contend or deny.
Color may by from spreading over or putiing on ; but in some instances,
the primary sense is to dip. See Dye and Tinge.
Spots are from the sense of separating or from sprinkling, dispersion.
The radical sense of making is to press, drive, or force. We use make in
i true literal sense, in the phrases, make your horse draw, mafce your ser-
vant do what you wish.
Feeding is from the sense of pressing, crowding, stuffing, that is, from
driving or thrusting. Eating seems to have a somewhat different sense.
Drinking is from drawing, or from wetting, plunging. Drench and
drink are radically one word.
Anger, and the like violent passions imply excitement, or violent action.
Hence their connection with burning or inflamnuttion, the usual sense of
hich is raging or violent commotion.
Agreement, harmony, are usually from meeting, or union, or from ex-
tending, reaching to.
Dwelling, abiding, are from the sense of throwing or setting down, or
from stretching; as we see by the Latin continuo, from teneo,
extend.
Guarding and defending, are fiom roots that signify to stop, or to cut off;
or more generally, from the sense of driving off, a repelling or striking
back. In some cases perhaps from holding.
Opposition is usually expressed by meeting, and hence the prepositions
wliich express opposition. Thus the Danish preposition mod, Swedish mot
or emot, against, contrary, is the English word to m^et.
Words which express spirit denote primarily breath, air, wind, the radi-
cal sense of which is to flow, move or rush. Hence the connection between
spirit and courage, animus, animosus ; henc^ pa.ssion, animosity. So in
Greek ippiviTii, frenzy, is from ippiv, the mind, or rather from its primary sense,
a moving or rushing.
So in our mother-tongue, mod is mind or spirit ; whence mood, in Eng-
Ush, and Sax. modig, moody, angry. Hence mind in the sense ofjampose,
its primary signification, is a setting forward, as intention is from intendo,
to stretch, to strain, the sense that ought to stand first in a Dictionary.
Reproach, chiding, rebuke, are from the sense of scolding, or throwing
out words with violence.
Sin, is generally from the sense of deviating, wandering, as is the prac-
tice of lewdness.
Right, justice, equity, are from the sense of stretching, making straight,
from laying, making smooth.
resting.
Falsehood is from falling, failing, or from deviation, wandering, draw-
ing aside.
The primary sense of strange a.ni foreign, is distant, and from some verb
signifying to depart. Wild and fierce are from a like sense.
Vain, vanity, wane, and kindred words, are from exhamtmg, drawing
out, or from departing, withdrawing, falling away.
Paleness is usually from failure, a departure of color.
Glory is from opening, expanding, display, or making clear.
Binding, making fast or close, is from pressure, or straining.
Writing is from scratching, engraving, the sense of all primitive words
which express this act.
INTRODUCTION.
A aowd, a mass, a wood, Sic, are from collecting or pressing, or soj
allied signification.
Vapor, steam, smoke, are visually from verbs which signify to exhale
throw off.
Stepping seems to be from opening, expanding, stretching. Thus passus
in Latin is from pando, to open, -but this agrees in origin with pateo, and
with tlic Greek irartw. Gradus in Latin coincides witli the Welsh rhawd,
a way, andthi*, when traced to its root, terminates in the oriental T1, TXT),
Chaldee, to open, stretch or expand: in Syriac (»j radah, to go, to pass.
Walking may be sometimes from a like source ; but the word walk signifies
primarily to roll, pre.'*.'?, work and full, as a hat, whence walker signifies a
fuller.
Softness and weakness are usually named from yielding, bending, with-
drawing, as is relaxation. Softness however is sometimes connected with
smoothness, and perhaps with moisture.
Sweetness seems to have for its primary sense, either softness or smooth-
Roughness is from sharp points, wrinkling or breaking ; and acidity is from
sharpness or pungency, and nearly allied to roughness.
Death is expressed by falling or departure ; life by fixedness or continu-
ance, or from animation, excitement.
Selling is primarily, a passing or transfer. Sellan, in Saxon, signifies to
give as well as to sell.
A coast or border, is usually the extreme point, from extending.
Law is from setting, establishing.
The primary sense of son, daughter, offspring, is usually a shoot, or as we
say, issue. Hence in Hebrew :3 ben, signifies both a son, a cion, a branch,
and the youn» of other animals. A son, says Parkhurst, is from nJ3 banah,
to,build, and hence he infers that a son is so called, because he builds up or
continues his father's house or family. But if so, how does the word apply
to a branch, or an arrow .' What do these build up .' The mistake of this
author, and of others, proceeds from their not understanding the origiM;il
meaning of the verb, which is not to erect, or elevate, but to" throw, to set,
to found; and this verb is probably ictainnl in niir word found. .\ son is
that which is thrown or .shot out, a cion nv l.rnuli h llie same, an offset, one
an offset of the human body, the olliir ni , |,l,ini, jn.l .in arrow is that which
is shot or thrown. Hence probably iln HiIm i u J3vS' oben or even, a stone,
W. maen, or vaen, that which is set, so uaiued liuin its compactness or hard-
Qess. And in Arabic j t abana, signifies to think, Lat. opinor, that is,
to set in the mind.
Few and small are senses often expressed by the same word. Thus, al-
though/eM> in English expresses merely a small number, yet the same word
in French, peu, and in the Italian, poco, signifies little in quantity, as well as
few in number.
Cause is from the sense of urging, pressing, impelling. Hence it well
expresses that which produces an effect ; and hence it is peculiarly expres-
sive of that by which a man seeks to obtain a claim in law. A cause ii:
court is properly a pressing for right, like action from ago ; and prosecu-
tion from the Latin seqiurr, which is our word seek. Hence the Latin ac-
cuso, to accuse, to throw ui)on, to press or load with a charge. The Saxon
saca, contention, suit in law, is synonymous with cause, and from the root
of seek, sequor. It is the English sake.
The word thingis nearly synonymous with cause and sake. See Thing
in the Dictionary.
The primary sense of time, heck, chance, fortune, is to fall, to ^„...,., „
arrive, to happen. Tide, time and season, have a like original sense. Tide
in Saxon is time, not a flow of the sea, the latter being a secondary and mod
em application of the word. This primary signification of time will unfold
to us what I formerly could not understand, and what I could find no pei-soi
to explain, that is, why the Latin tempora should signify times and the tern
pies. It seems that tempora are the falls of the head. Hence also we un
derstand why tempest is naturally deducible from tempus, as the primary
sense is to fiill, to rush. Hence te7tipestivus, seasonable, that c
good time. Season has a like sense.
Hence also we are ted to understand, what has seemed inexpUcable, how
the French heureux, lucky, happy, can be regularly deduced from heure, an
hour. W e hnd that in Greek and Latin, the primary sense of hour is time.
anil time is a coming, a falling, a happening, like the English luck, and
hence the sense of lucky ; hence fortunate and happy. The word fortunate
IS precisely of the same character.
The primary sense of the Shemitic 13n davar, or thavar, corresponds al-
most precisely with that of cause and thing in EngUsh, that is, to stiain,
urge, drive, fall or rusli. Hence it signifies, to .speak, and in Ch. and Syr.
to lead, to direct, to go\ern. As a noun, it signifies a word, that which is
uttered ; a thing, cause or matter, that is, that which happens or falls, like
event from evenio ; also a plague, or great calamity, that is, that which
tails, or comes on manor beast, like plague, a stroke or affliction, from
striking. And it may be observed, that if the first letter is a prefix answer-
ing to the Gothic du, Saxon and English to, in the Saxon to-drifan, to drive,
then the iw. 13 coincides exactly with the Welsh peri, to command, which
(s retained lu composiUon in Uie Lat. impero. Indeed if the first syUable of
Igufteriio is a prefix, the root of this word may be the same. The object
however for which this word is here mentioned, is chiefly to show the uni-
formity which men have observed in expressing their ideas ; making use of
the same visible physical action to represent the operations of the mind and
moral ideas.
Silence, deafness, dumbness, are from stopping, holding, or making
fast.
War is from the sense of striving, driving, struggling.
Good is generally from enlarging, or advancing, like prosperotts.
Evil is from wandering, departing, or sometimes from softness, weakness,
ni,from the Welsh
flowing or fluxibility, as is tlie case with the L,
mall.
The primary sense of the names of natural and material objects cannot
always be ascertained. The reasons are obvious. Some of these names are
detached branches of a family of words, which no longer form a part of our
language, the verb and all the derivatives, except a single name, being ex-
tinct or found only in some remote country. Others of these names tiave
suffered such changes of orthography, that it is dilBcult or impossible to as-
certain the primary or radical letters, and of course the family to which they
belong. Numerous examples of such words occur in EngUsh, as in every
'other language. «
I But from such facts as have occurred to me, in my researches, I may ven-
ture to affirm with confulcnce, that most names of natural objects are taken
from some obvious (ju.iiityor action, or some supposed quality of the thing;
]or from the particular action or operation by which it is produced. Thus tu~
\mors are named from jiushing, or swelling ; and redness, or red, seems, in
some instances at least, to be named from eruptions on the body. The human
body is named from shaping, that is, setting, fixing, or extending, and hence
.sometimes, the general name of the human race. The arm is a shoot, a
push, as is the branch of a tree. A board, a table, a floor, is from spreading,
or expanding, extending. Skin, and hark are from peeling, stripping, &c.
The names of particular animals and plants cannot always be traced to
Ibiir source ; but as far as I have been able to discover their origin, I find
animals to be generally named from some striking characteristic of external
appearance, from the voice, from habits of life, or from their office. There
is reason for believing that the Greek spouSoj and Latin slruthio, or ostrich, is
from the same root as the English strut, the strutter ; the primary sense of
which root is, to stretch, wliich explains all the senses of the Greek and
Latin words of this family. It is certain that the crow is named from its cry,
] and the leopard from his spots.
I Thus planLs were named from their qualities: some from their form, oth-
ers from their color, others from their effects, others from the place of their
I growth. The English root, Lat. radix, is only a particular application of rod
jand ray, radius; that is, a shoot. Spurge is undoubtedly from the root of
I the Latin pur go.
j There is reason to think that many names of plants were originally adjec-
tives, expressing their qualities, or the name was a compound used for the
same purpose, one part of which has been dropped, and the other remaining
as the name of the plant. Thus pine, pinus, is from pin, pinna, penna ; tor
in Welsh pin is a pin and a pen or style for writing, and pinbren is a pine-
tree. The tree then was named from its leaf.
Pir has a similar origin and signification.
It is probable or rather certain that some natural objects, as plants and
minerals, received their names from their supposed qualities; as in ages of
ignorance End superstition, men might ascribe effects to them, by mistake.
The whole history of magic and enchantment leads us to this conclusion.
Minerals are, in many instances, named from their obvious qualities, as
\gold from its yellowness, and iron from its hardness. The names can, in
[some cases, be traced to their original, as that of gold and of the Latin /«■-
\ru.m ; but many of them, are not easily ascertained. Indeed tlie greatest
part of the specific names of animals, plants and minerals appear to be ob-
scure. Some of them appear to have no connection with any family of words
in our language, and many of them are derived to us from Asia, and from
roots which can be found only, if found at all, in the Asiatic languages.
These observations and explanations will be sufficient to show the impor-
jtance of developing, as far as possible, tlie origin of words, and of comparing
tlie different uses of the same word in different languages, in order to under-
stand either the philosophy of speech, or the real force and signification of
words in their practical application.
If it should be found to be true, that many of the Shemitic verbs are form-
ed with prefixes, Uke those of the European languages, this may lead to new
illustrations of the original languages of the scriptures. In order to deter-
mine this fact, it will be useful to examine whether the Chaldee and Hebrew
3 is not often a prefix answering to ic in tlie Teutonic languages ; whether
J and 3 are not prefixes answering to the ga and ge of the Gothic and Teu-
tonic ; whether T, 0 and n, and I, a dialectical form of £3, do not coincide
with the Gothic du, the Saxon <o, the Dutch <oe, and the German zu;
whether J does not answer to the Russ. and Dutch na, tlie German nach;
and whether D and \t/ do not answer to s, sh, and sch in tlie modern English
and German.
If many of the Shemitic triliteral verbs are compound, it follows that the
imary radix has not been detected. At any rate, I have no hesitation in
atfirming that the primary sense of many of the roots in the Shemitic Ian-
INTRODUCTION.
guages, that sense which is almost indispensable to an understanding of
many obscure passages in the scriptures, has been hitherto overlooked or
mistaken. In order fully to comprehend many uses of the words, it will be
necessary to compare them with the uses of the words of the same family
in the modern languages, and this comparison must be far more extensive
than any hitherto made, and conducted on principles which have not been
before duly appreciated and applied.
I have introduced the foregoing comparative view of the several signifi-
cations of the same word indifferent languages, not merely to illustrate the
general principles of language, but with a special reference to an explana-
tion of the etymologies which occur in this work. Should my synopsis ever
he pubUsbed, the learned enquirer might pursue the subject at his pleasure.
The results of the foregoing remarks and illustrations may be thus reca-
pitulated.
1. The nations which now constitute the distinct families or races of Ja-
phet and Shem, are descendants of the common family which inhabited the
plain of Shinar, before the dispersion.
2. The families at the dispersion retained a large proportion of the words
which were in common use, before that event, and the same were conveyed
to their posterity. In the course of time, some of these words were drop-
ped by one family or tribe, and some by another, till very few of them are
retained in their original form and signification by all the nations which
have sprung from the main stock. A few of them however are still found
in all or nearly all the languages which I have examined, bearing nearly the
same signiiication and easily recognized as identical.
3. Although few of the primitive words can now be recognized, as exist-
ing in all the languages, yet as we better understand the changes which
have been made in the orthography and signitication of the same radical
words, the more affinities are discovered ; and particularly, when we un-
derstand the primary sense, we find this to unite words whose appropriate
or customary significations appear to have no connection.
4. A great number of the primitive radical words are found in compounds,
formed in different languages, with different affixes and prefixes, which ob-
scure the affinity. Thus Veritas in Latin is wahrheit in German ; the first
syllable in each is the same word, the last, different. In other instances,
both difference of orthography, of formation and of application concur to ob-
scure the affinity of words. Thus, the English word strong is in Danish
streng, signifying stern, severe, rigid, strict; and strenghed [stronghood] is
severity, rigor, strictness. Now, n in these words is not radical ; remove
this letter and we have strog, streg, which coincide with the Latin stringo,
stricttis ; and these words are found to be from the same radix, which signi-
fies to draw, to strain, to stretch.
5. It appears that 6, p and/ are often prefixes, either the remains of pre-
positions, or casual additions to words, introduced by peculiar modes of pro-
nunciation, which prefixes now precede consonants with which they readily
coalesce in pronunciation, as I and r, forming triliteral words on biliteral
roots ; as in block from Hoc, or lock; play, Saxon jj/egara, from leg or lek,
Swedish /efta, Dan. leger ; flow, Lat. fluo, bom lug, or luc, which appears
in light, lux, luceo, and in lug, a river, retained in Lugdunum.
6. It appears also that c or k and g, are often prefixes before the same
consonants, I and )•, as in Lat. clunis, Eng. loin ; W. clod, praise, from Hod.
Latin, laus, laudo ; German gluck, English luck ; Lat. gratia, W. rhad.
7. It appears also that s is a prefix in a vast number of words, as in speed,
spoil, swell, sweep ; and it is very evident that st are prefixed to many words
whose original, radical, initial consonant was r, as in straight, strict, strong,
stretch, from the root of right, rectus, reach, and in stride, from the root of
the Latin gtadior, W.rhaz.
If these inferences are just, as I am persuaded they are, it follows tha
there is a more near resemblance and a much closer affinity between thi
languages of Europe and of Western Asia, than has hitherto been supposed
to exist. It follows also that some of the most important principles or rudi
ments of language have hitherto escaped observation, and that pliilology i:
yet in its infancy. Should this prove, on further examination, to be the stat(
of philology, it is reserved for future investigators to examine the original
languages of the scriptures on new principles, which may sei-ve to illustrate
some obscure and difficult passages, not hitherto explained to the general
satisfaction of critics and commentators.
If any persons should be disposed to doubt or contradict these facts, let
them first consider that my conclusions are not hasty opinions, formed on
isolated facts ; but that they have been forced upon me, in opposition to all
my former habits of thinking, by a series of successive proofs and ace
lating evidence, during a long course of investigation, in which I have
pared most of the radical words, in more than twenty languages, twice and
some of them three times.
No part of my researches has given me more trouble or solicitude, than
that of arriving at tlie precise radical sigrufication of moral ideas ; such for
example, as hope, love,favor, faith. Nor has it been with much less labor
that I have obtained a clear knowledge of some of our physical actions. _.
is literally true that I have sometimes had a word under consideration for
two or three years, before I could satisfy my own mind, as to the primary
signification. That I have succeeded at last, in every instance, can hardly
-yet, in most cases, I am perfectly satisfied with the results of
esearches.
Progress and Changes of the English Language.
lias been already observed that the mother tongue of the EngUsh i»
the Anglo-Saxon. The following are specimens of that language as it was
spoken or written in England before the Norman conquest. The first is
from the Sa.xon Chronicle. The original is in one column, and the literal
translation in the other. The English words in italics are Saxon words.
The number of these will show how large a proportion of the words is re-
tained in the present English.
An. DCCCXCI. Her for se here
east, and Earnulf cyning gefeaht with
thKm raede-here asr tha scipu co-
mon, mid East-Francum, and Seaxum,
and Bfcgerum, and hine geflymde.
And thry Scottas cwomon to iElfrede
cyninge on anum bate, butan aelcum
gerethum, of Hibernia; and thonon
hi hi bestaelon, forthon the hi woldon
forGodes lufan on eltheodinesse bion,
by ne rohton hwar.
Se bat wss geworht of thriddan
healfre hyde, the hie on foron, and hi
namon mid him that hie hsefdon to
seofon nihtum mete, and tha comon
hie ymb seofon niht, to londe on
Corawealum, and foran tha sona to
filfrede cyninge.
rray east and Earnulf, the king,
fought with the cavalry [ride army]
ere the ships come, with the East-
Francs, and Saxons and Bavarian*,
anrf put them to flight. Jliul thru
Scots come to Alfred, the kli'^. in n
[an] boat, without any rower.-., liom
Hibernia, and thence they privately
withdrew [bestole] because that the\
would, for God's love be [or livej
where they should not be anxious —
[reck, care.]
The boat teas wrought of ttfo
hides and a half [third half hide,] in
which they fared [came] and they
took with them that they had for sr-
ven nights meat, and they come
about the seventh night, to land in
Cornwall, and fared [went] soon to
iElfred, the king.
The following specimen is from the Anglo-Saxon version of Orosius, suppo-
' ■ be made by King Alfred.
Ohthere sasdc his hiaforde, M\-
frede kyninge, tha-t he ealra North-
manna north mest bude. He cwaeth
that he bude on thsm lande northe-
weardum with tha west ss. He
sa!de theah thaet that land sy
swythe north thanon ; ac hit is eall
west buton on feawum stowum sticce
jm wiciath Fionas, on huntathe
■intra, and on sumera on fiscothe
be there sae. He saede tha;t he a;t
sumum cyrre wolde fandiam hu
lange thst land north right tege.
Octhere told [said] his lord, king
Alfred, that he lived north most ol
all the north men. He quoth that
he dwelt in the [them] land north-
ward, opposite [with] the west sea.
He said though, that that land is due
north from thence, and that it is all
waste except [but] in a few places
[stows] where the Fijifis for the most
part dwell, for hunting in winter,
and in summer (or fishing iu that sea,
[by the sea.] He said that he, at
some time, would find how long that
land lay right north.
Laws of King iEthelbert.
Gif Cyning his Icode to him geha-
;h, and heom mon thsr yfel gedo,
II bote and cyning L. scillinga.
Gif in Cyninges tune man mannan I
fsleah, L. scill. gebete.
Gif on Eorles tune man
ofsleath, XII Scil. gebete.
Gif man
scil. gebete
: man ofslsehth, XX |
Gif thuman (of astehth) XX scil.
Gif "thuman nsgl of wcordeth III
scil. gebete. Gif man scytefinger (of
a slahth,) VIII scil. gebete. Gif man
middle finger (of a slaehth,) IV. scil.
gebete. Gif man gold-finger (of a
slaehth,) VI scil. gebete. Gif man
then litlan finger (of a sloehth) XI
scil. gebete.
If the King shall call [cite] his
people to him, and any one [man]
shall there do evil, let double com-
pensation be made, and Mty shillings
to the King.
If in the King's town a man slay
la man, let him compensate [boot]
I with fifty shillings.
j If in an Earl's town one man
slayeth another tnan, let him pay
[ twelve shilli7igs for reparation.
I If man, [any one] slayelh any
man, let him compensate with twen-
I ly shillings.
If the thumb shall be cutoff, twen-
ty shillings. If the thumb naii shall
be cut off, three shillings shall be the
compensation. If any one [off slay-
eth, striketh off,] cutteth off the fore
finger [shoot finger,] let him com-
pensate with eight shillings. If one
cutteth off the middle finger, let him
pay four shillings. If any one cut-
teth off the gold finger [ring finger,]
let him pay six shillings. If any
one cutteth off the little finger, let
pay eleven shiHings.
INTRODUCTION.
Laws of king Eadgar.
We lasrath that a;lc cristen man
Ms licarn to cristendome geornlUe
wffinige and him pater noster and
ciedon taece.
We order or instruct that each
christian iium earnestly accustom
[wean] his children to Christianity
[Christendom] and teach him the
Pater Noster and Creed.
We larath that preost ne beo hun- 1 We direct that a priest be not :
ta ne hafecere ne tsflere ; ac plegge hunter, nor hawker, nor a gamester
on his bocum swa his hade gebirath. but that he apply to his books, as i
I becomes his order.
We observe by these extracts that rather more than half the Saxon words
have been lost, and now form no part of our language.
This language, with some words iulroduced by the Danes, continued
be used by the English, till the Norman confjuest. After that event, great
numbers of Saxon words went into disuse, not suddenly, but gradually, and
French and Latin words, were continually added to the language, till it be-
gan to assume its present form, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
Vet the writings of Gower and Chaucer cannot now be fully understood
without a glossary.
But it was not in the loss of nati\e Saxon words and the accession of French
and Latin words alone that the change of our language consisted. Most
portant alterations were made in the sounds of the vowels. It is probable,
if not certain, that our first vowel a had usually or always the broad sound
as we now pronounce it in fall, or in some words perhaps the Italian sound
as it is now called, and as we pronounce it in ask. The sound of e was pro-
bably nearly the same as it is in French and Italian, and in the northern
languages on the continent ol Kmnpo ; which is nearly that of a in favor.
The Saxon sound of t wi- pMluii- dr ^;iine as it is still on the continent
the sound of ee or long I. II > l i " was that of our present oo, French
ou, the sound it still li,i>- n. li.li.i] u m most countries on the Europeai
continent. It is probable lli.ii the ihaii-c of the sound of u happened in con
sequence of the prevalence of the French pronunciation after the conquest
for the present sound of u may be considered as intermediate, between the
full sound of 00, or French ou, and the French sound of
These changes, and the various sounds given to the same character, now
serve to perplex foreigners, when learning English ; and tend, in no small
degree, to retard or limit the extension of our language. This is an unfor-
tunate circumstance, not only in obstructing the progress of science, but of
Christianity.
The principal changes in the articulations are the use of A for c, as in look
for locian ,• the loss of A before I, as in loaf from hlaf, lot (or hlot, lean for
hlinian ; and the entire loss of the prefix ee or ga. as in deal for ge-dalan,
deem for ge-deman; and of <o as ;i piftr\, ii^ in tn-hiJjmv. In help ; to-dai-
/on, *odeal. In no instance do we I.. I tihih -,.n-ilil\ ihr ili.di^r of sounds
in the vowels, than in that of i, w Iim li m i i. n. Ii. S|i.iiu-li .mm I Ii.iImei, is e
long; for in consequence of this. priMJii,, « hu ,iu ruii jc ;|u.,i]iiril vmiIi these
foreign languages, mispronounct, tuth u ur^l^ ,i^ wu/uiu, .1/i3inn(, iima,
giving to i its English sound, when in fact the words arc to be pronounced
mareeno, Messeena, Leema.
In grammatical structure, the language hassufifered considerable altera-
tions. !n our mother tongue, nouns were varied to form ca-ses, somewhat
as in Latin. This declension of nouns has entirely ceased, except in the
possessive or genitive case, in which an apostrophe before s has been sub-
stituted for the regular Saxon termination es. Some of our pronouns retain
their declensions, somewhat varied. The plural termination in en has been
dropped, in a number of words, and the regular plural termination been sub-
stituted, as houses for housen.
In most cases, the Saxon termination of the infinitive mode of verbs, has
been dropped, and for gifan, we now write, to give. The variations of the
verb, in the several persons, have been materially changed. Thus for the
.Saxon—
rite-
Ic lufige,
Thu lufast.
He lufath.
I love,
We lufiath,
Ge lufiath.
Hi lufiath.
Ye love,'
They love.
Thou lovest.
He loveth or
loves.
In the Saxon plural however we see the origin of the vulgar practi
still retained in some parts of England and of this country. We loves, they
loves, which aie contractions of lufiath.
In the substantive verb, our common people universally, and most persons
of better education, unless they have rejected their traditionary language
retain the Gothic dialect, in the past tense.
I was, I We was.
Thou wast, Ye was.
He was. J They was.
However people may be ridiculed for this language, it isof genuine origin,
38 old as the Saxon word were. In Gothic, tlie past tense runs thus —
Ik was, I Weis wesum,
Thu wast, Yus wesuth.
Is was. I Eis wesun.'
n the present tense of the substantive verb, our common people use d'7it
as in this phrase : " he a'n< present." This is evidently a contraction of the
Swedish and Danish, fir, er, present, indicative, singular, of the substantive
verb, vara or veerer, to be, which we retain in are and were.
In Swedish, ban hr, and in Danish, han er, he is. Hence he er not or ar
not, contracted into he a'nt or e'nt.
These facts serve to show how far the Gothic dialect has been infused into
the English language.
It would be tedious and to most readers uninteresting, to recite all the
changes in the forms of words or the structure of sentences which have ta-
ken place, since the Norman conquest. Since the invention of printing,
changes in the language have been less rapid, than before ; but no art nor
effort can completely arrest alterations in a living language. The distin-
guished writers in the age of Queen EUzabeth, improved the language, but
could not give it stability. Many words then in common use arc now obso-
lete or have suffered a change of signification. In the period between
Queen Elizabeth, and the beginning of the eighteenth century, the lan-
guage was improved in grammar, orthography, and style. The writers in
gnof Queen Ann and of George I, brought the language nearly to
perfection; and if any improvement has since been made, it is in the style
or diction, by a better selection of words, and the use of terms in science
and philosophy with more precision.
In regard to grammatical construction, the language, for half a century
last, has, in my apprehension, been suffering deterioration, at least as far as
egards its written form. This change may be attributed chiefly to the in-
luence of the learned Bishop Lowth, whose grammar made its appearance
nearly sixty years ago. I refer particularly to his form of the verb, which
was a'djusted to the practice of writers in the age of Queen Elizabeth, instead
of the practice of authors in the age of WiUiam and Mary, Queen Ann, and
George I. Hence he gives for the form of the verb in the subjunctive
mode, after the words which express a condition, if, though, &.C. I love,
thou love, he love, observing in a note, that in the subjunctive mode, the
event being spoken of under a condition or supposition, or in the form of a
wish, and therefore doubtful and contingent, the verb itself in the present,
and the auxiliary both of the present and past imperfect times, often carry
with them somewhat of a future sense ; as " if he come to-morrow, I may
speak to him" — " If he should come, I should speak to him." This is true ;
but for that very reason, tliis form of the verb belongs to the future tense, or
should be arranged as such in Grammars. If he come, would be in Latin
si venerit, in the subjunctive future.
But the learned author has entirely overlooked the important distinction
between an event or fact, of uncertain existence in the yreaent time, and
which is mentioned under the condition of present existence, and a future
contingent event. " If the mail that has arrived contains a letter for me, I
shall soon receive it," is a phrase that refers to the present time, and ex-
presses an uncertainty in my mind, respecting the fact. ** If the mail con-
tain a letter for me," refers to a future time, that is, " if the mail of to-mor-
row contain [shall or should contain] a letter for me." The first event,
conditional or hypothetical, should be expressed by the indicative mode, and
the latter by the subjunctive future. The Saxon form of the verb, if he
ly, if he go, is evidently a contingent future, and is so used in the laws.
This distinction, one of the most important in the language, has been so
totally overlooked, that no provision has been made for it in British Gram-
mars; nor is the distinction expressed by the form of the verb, as used by a
at part of the best writers. On the other hand, they continually use one
n of the verb to express both senses. The fact is the same in the com-
mon version of the scriptures. Jfhe go, if he speak, sometimes express a
present conditional tense, and sometimes a contingent future. In general
this subjunctive form of the verb in scripture, expresses future time. " If
he thus say, I have no delight in thee," expresses a future contingent
event. 2 Sam. xv. 26. " If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away," ex-
presses a fact, under a condition, in the present time. Job xi. 14.
In many iastances, the translators have deviated from the original, in us-
ing the subjunctive form of the Enghsh verb to express what in Greek, is
expressed in the indicative. Thus Matthew iv. 6. Ei tito; ti rov ©tot, if
thou be [art] the son of God.
Ch. V. 29 and 30. Et it o 04)80X^05 aov 0 «f?io5 sxaviaXiifi ae ; if thy
right eye offend, [offendeth] thee ; ti >; if|io am j;£ip axaiia^i^ii Bty if thy
right hand offend, [offendeth] thee.
So also in Chapter xviii. 8 and 9.
* This is probably the Latin esse. The Latins dropped the first articula-
tion V, which answers to our w.
The present tense indicative mode of the Latin verb, with the V restored,
would lie written thus.
Ego vesum, I nos vesumus, [was,]
tu ves, vos vestis, [was,]
ille vest. I illi vesunt, [was.]
INTRODUCTION.
C'h. xii. 26. El o fforai'o; foe eatavav (xSaXKii, if Satan cast [casteth] out
Satan.
Ch. xix. 10. Et ouftdj fftr fj atfta tov avSpuTtOfv fiita tri^ yvvaixo^, if the
case of the man be [is] so with his wife.
Ch. xxii. 45. Et mv AofSiS xoXtt a-vtov Kvpior, if David then caH [calleth]
him Lord.
2 Coi-. iv. 16. Ec 0 (|u s^fiuf avBfiaHoi Sia^^ufitai, though our outward
man perish, [perishes or is perishing.]
In all these passages, the Enghsh verb, in the subjunctive, properly ex-
presses a conditional, contingent or hypothetical future tense, contrary to
the sense of the original, except in the last passage cited, where the apostle
evidently speaks of the perishing of the outward man as a fact admitted,
which renders the translation still more improper.
Let us now attend to the following passages.
Matthew vii. 9. H m i;i,v i% v/tap ai'SfUTio;, ov £cw atfijSJj o vioj cwfov
aptoti, or what man is there of you, whom if his eon ask [shall ask] bread,
will he give him a stone.
Koi cav ixSw aifTjeti, if he ask [shall ask] a fish, will he give him a ser-
pent.
Here the original tense is varied to express a future or hypothetical
event, yet the verb in English is in the same tense as in the first class of ex-
amples ; and what renders the version more objectionable, is, that the verb
in the first clause, does not correspond with that in the second clause.
There is no possible way of making good English of the translation, but by
supposing the verb in the first clause ask, to be in the future tense. So it
would be in Latin, and so it is, " si petierit." If thy son shall ask (or should
ask) a fish, will he give, (or would he give) him a serpent?
This fault runs through the whole English version of the scriptures, and
a distinction of tenses clearly marked in the original languages, is generally
neglected in the translation.
Now the most unlettered man in this country, would express the sense in
English, with the same marked distinction of tenses, which appears in the
Greek. If thou ajf the son of God; if thy right eye offends thfee ; if the
case of the man is such ; if David calls him Lord ; or if the sense is under-
stood to be future and contingent, if thy son shall ask bread, or if he should
ask bread, would be the uniform language of any of the common people of
our country. There would not probably be a single exception, unless in
the use of the substantive verb, which is often used in the subjunctive form.
And the most unlettered man would use the corresponding verbs in the two
clauses, if he shall ask, will he give; or if he should ask, would he give.
The use of the verb in all similar phrases, is perfectly well settled in this
country, and perfectly uniform among the higher and lower classes of men ;
unless when the practice has been varied by the influence of Grammars, in
which the conjugation of the verb is according to the antiquated practice
«f the age of Elizabeth.
1 Tim. v. 4. E( St ti,; XVP"' i'""'" V ixyova txn, if any widow, have [has]
children or nephews.
Verse 8. Et fit rtj ruv tStwr xat fxa'Kt^a t'wi' otXftcoi- ov rtpwoft, if any
provide [provideth] not for his own, and especially for those of his own
house.
This subjunctive form of the verb, if he be ; if he have ; if he go ; if he
say ; if thmi write ; whether thou see ; though he fall, which was gene-
rally used by the writers of the sixteenth century, was, in a great measure,
discarded before the time of Addison. Whether this change was in conse-
quence of the prevalence of colloquial usage over grammar rules, or be-
cause discerning men perceived the impropriety and inconsistency of the
language of books, I pretend not to determine. Certain it is, that Locke,
Watts, Addison, Pope, and other authors of the first disUnction, who adorn-
ed the close of the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth century,
generally used the indicative mode to express condition, uncertainty, and
hypothesis in the present and past tenses. Thus Locke writes — " If these
two propositions are by nature imprinted." " If principles are innate."
" If any person hath never examined this notion." " Whether that sub-
stance thinks or no." " If the soul doth think in sleep." " If one con-
siders well these men's way of speaking." " If he does not reflect."
" Unless that notion produces a constant train of successive ideas." " If
your Lordship means." Such is the language of Locke.
Now what is remarkable, the learned Dr. Lowth, the very author who
has, by his grammar, done much to sanction the subjunctive form of the
verb, in such cases, often uses the indicative in his own writings. " If he
does not carefully attend to this— if this pleasure aiises from the shape of
the composition — if this is not firmly and well established." These verbs are
in contradiction of his own principles. On Isaiah. Prelim. Diss.
Addison. " If the reader has a mind to see a father of the same stamp."
" If exercise throws off all superfluities — if it clears the vessels — if it dis-
sipates a growing distemper." Such is the language of Addison, the most
elegant writer of the genuine English idiom in the nation.
" If the thief is poor — if it obliges me to be conversant with scenes of
wretchedness." Wilberforcc.
" If America is not to be conquered. Lord Chatham.
" If we are to be satisfied with assertions." " If it gives blind confi-
dence to any executive government." " If such an opinion /las gone forth."
" If our conduct has been marked with vigor and wisdom." Fox.
" If my bodily strength is equal to the task." •• A negro, if he works
for himself and not a for master, will do double the work." " If there i*
any aggravation of our guilt." If their conduct displays no true wisdom."
" The honorable gentleman may, if he chooses, have the journals read
again." " Whether this is a sufficient tie to unite them." " If this meas-
ure comes recommended." " If there exists a country which contaiai! the
means of protection." Pitt.
" If the prudence of reserve and decorum dictates silence." " If an as-
sembly ).s viciously or feebly composed." If any persons are to make good
deficiences." " If the King of the French has really deserved these mur-
derous attempts." " If this representation of M. Neckar was false."
" Whether the system, if it deserves the name." " The politician looks
for a power that our workmen call a purchase, and if he finds the power."
" If he feels as men commonly feel." Burke.
" If climate ftos such an effect on mankind." " If the effects of climate
ore casual.
" If he finds his coUeclic
sufficiently enlightened."
I too small.'
Whether it leads to
Coxe's Ru^s.
If he thinks his judgment not
others against his own failings." This is generally the language of John-
son.
In regard to this distinguished author, I would observe that, except the
substantive verb, there is in his Rambler but a single instance of the sub-
junctive form of the verb in conditional sentences. In all other cases the
use of the indicative is uniform.
Such also is the language of the most distinguished men in the United
States, particularly of those who wrote their native language as they recei-
ved it from tradition, and before grammars had made any impression on its
genuine construction.
"The prince that acquires new territory, if he finds it vacant." "If
we are industrious we shall never starve." " If one has more corn than
he can consume, and another has less." Such is the languag-e of Franklin.
" If any persons thus qualified are to be found." " If it is thought pro-
per." " If the congress does not choose to point out the particular regi-
ment." " If I am rightly informed." " If the army has not removed."
" If a proposition has not been made." Such is the language of Wash-
ington.
" If any phWosopher pretends." " If he has food for the present day."
" If a revelation is not impossible." " If the Christian system contains a
real communication to mankind." " If the former of these facts opposes
our reception of the miraculous history of the gospel." "If the preceding
reflections are just." Such is the language of the late President Smith.*
" ij^any government deems the introduction of foreigners or their mer-
chandize injurious." " Unless he violates the law of nations." " If a per-
son has a settlement in a hostile country." " If he resides in a belligerent
country." " If a foreign Consul carries on trade as a merchant." Such
is the language of the ex-Chancellor Kent.
But neither the authors here mentioned, nor most others, even the most
distinguished for erudition, are uniform and consistent with themselves in
the use of the tenses. In one sentence we find the indicative used, " If it is
to be discovered only by the experiment." "If other indications are to be
found." In the next sentence, " If to miscarry in an attempt he a proof
of having mistaken the direction of genius." Johnson.
'■ If the former be refined — if those virtues are accompanied with equal
abilities." Gibbon.
" If love rewardhim, or if vengeance strike." Cowper.
" Or if it does not brand him to the last." Cowper.
" If he is a pagan — if endeavors are used — if the person hath a liberal
education — if man be subject to these miseries. Milner.
The following expressions occur in Pope's Preface to Homer's Iliad, in
the compass of thirteen lines.
" If heAas given a regular catalogue of an army."
" If he hcts funeral games for Patroclus."
" If UlyssesjJiSJ* the shades."
" If he be detained from his return."
" If Achilles be absent."
" If he gives his hero a suit of celestial armor."
I recollect one English author only, who has been careful to avoid this in-
consistency ; this is Gregory, who, in his Economy of JVature, has uni-
formly used the indicative form of the verb in conditional sentences of this
kind.
The like inconsistency occurs in almost .ill American writings. " If
moral disposition lie here." " If preference necessarily involves the
knowledge of obligation." " If the proposition is true." " If the propo-
sition be confirmed." " If he refutes any thing."
In a pamphlet now before me, there are no less ^an fifty of these incon-
sistencies in the compass of ninety pages ; and three of them in one sen-
tence.
*The substantive verb is often used in the subjunctive form by writers
who never use that form in any other verb. The reason doubtless is that
be is primarily the indicative as well as the subjunctive mode of that verb.
/ be, we be, as used in Scripture. So in German Ich bin.
INTRODUCTION.
Mow, In this case, is a foreigner to understand the author ? and how can
such sentences be translated into another language without a deviation from
(he original .'
The propriety of using the indicative form of the verb to express a pre
sent or past event conditionally, does not rest solely on usage ; it is most
correct upon principle. It is well known, that most of the words which
are used to introduce a condition or hypothesis, and called most improperly
conjunctions, arc verbs, having not the least affinity to the class of wordi
»ised to connect sentences. If is the Saxon gif, give, having lost its first
letter ; if for the ancient gif. Though is also a verb now obsolete, except in
the iniiieralive mode. Now let us analyze this conditional tense of tlie
verb. " If the man knows his true interest, he will avoid a quarrel."
Here is an omission of the word that after if. The true original phrase
was " //■ that the man knows his true interest, he will avoid a quarrel" —
that is, give that [admit the fact which is expressed in the following clause]
the man knows his true interest, then the consequence follows, he will
avoid a quarrel. That in this sentence is a relative or demonstrative sub-
stitute lor the following clause. This will more plainly appear by transpo-
sing the clauses. " The man knows his true interest ; give that [admit
that ;] lie will then avoid a quarrel. Now let the subjunctive form be used
" The man knowhis true interest ; give that; he will avoid a quarrel."
Here the impropriety of this form of the verb appears in a strong light.
It will appear more clearly by the use of other words of equivalent signifi
cation. Grant the man know his true interest, he will avoid a quarrel
Allow the man know his true interest. Suppose the man know his true
interest. We never use the subjunctive form after the three last" verbi-
which introduce the condition. Though is sometimes followed by the in-
<Iicative ; sometimes by tlie subjunctive ; but it ought always to be follow-
ed by the indicative, for it supposes the fact to be given ; and so does admit,
when used in hypothetical sentences. Admit that the man knows his in-
terest. We have then decisive proof that the use of the indicative form of
the verb after if when it expresses a conditional event in present time, is
most correct ; indeed it is the only correct form. This remark is equally
applicable to the past tense, conditional.
The language of Addison, Johnson, and other distinguished writers of the
last century, in the use of the indicative, is therefore, more correct than
the language of the writers in the age of Elizabeth ; and their practice is
principally the common usage of our country at this day.
I have, therefore, constructed a grammar on this usage; bringing down
the standard of writing a century and a half later than 'Bishop Lowth. I
have done this,_^rs<,onthe authority of strict analogical principles, as above
stated ; secondly, on the authority of the best usage of that cluster of dis-
tinguished writers who adorned the beginning of the last century ; and
thirdly, on the authority of universal colloquial practice, which I consider
as the real and only genuine language. I repeat this remark, that general
and respectable usage in speaking is the genuine or legitimate language
of a country to which the written language ought to be conformed. Lan-
guage is that which is uttered by the tongue, and if men do not write the
language as it is spoken by the great body of respectable people, they do
not write the real language. Now, in colloquial usage, the subjunctive
form of the verb, in conditional sentences, is rarely used, and perhaps ne-
ver, except when the substantive verb is employed. Our students are
taught in school the subjunctive form, if thou have, if he come, &c. and
some of them continue, in after life, to write in that manner ; but in the
<ourse of more than forty years, I have not known three men who have
ventured to use that form of the verb in conversation. We toil in school
to learn a language which we dare not introduce into conversation, but
which the force of custom compels us to abandon. In this respect, the
present study of grammar is worse than useless.
This colloquial custom accords with other languages. The French
say and write s' il est, if he is. The Latins often used the same form,
■' si quid est in me ingenii, judices ;" but the use of the Latin subjunctive
depends on certain other words which precede ; as " cum sit civis," as he is
a citizen, or, since he is a citizen ; and the present tense is often used to ex-
press what we express by an auxiliary. That the Greeks used the indica-
tive to express a conditional present tense, we have seen by citations above.
By this arrangement of the verb, the indicative form after ]/ and other
verbs inhoducing a condition or hypothesis, may be used uniformly to ex-
press a fact or event under a condition or supposition, either in the present
or past tenses ; the speaker being uncertain respecting tlie fact, or represent-
ing it as doubtful.
If the man is honest, he will return what he has borrowed. If the ship
A a« arrived, we shall be informed of it tomorrow. If the bill was present-
ed, it was doubtless paid. If the law has been passed, we are precluded
from further opposition.
On the other hand, when it is intended to speak of a future contingent
event, 1 would always use the auxiliaries that are proper for the purpose.
" If it shall or should rain tomorrow, we shall not ride to town." I would
never use the subjunctive form if it rain in prose ; and in poetry, only from
necessity, as an abridged phrase for if it shall or should rain. In thi"
ijer, the distinction between the tenses,
founded, may be preserved and made obv
vhich are now constantly con-
s, both to natives and foreigners,
tended by the ]
lily of Murr.i'^-'s giaiij
cstablisli a form of the verb in writing,
guage ; to fill our books with a conluV;
language unsettled. Nothing can be m
every where to meet with disci epancics
There is another erroneous manner i
thors in the language, which seems t
ins been to introduce, or
I 'rii- in colloquial lan-
11' I thus to keep the
I : iij the student than
111' ,ind practice,
common to the best au-
aped notice. This is, to
connect a verb in the past tense with a preceding one in the same tense,
when the latter verb is intended to express a very different time from the ^/^
former. Thus, " Then Manasseh knew that the Lord, he was God." 2
Chron. xxxiii. 13.
The Latins, in this case, would probably have used the infinitive ; Ma-
nasseh novit Jehovam deum esse. In Engli.sh we ought to write and say,
" Manasseh knew Jehovah to be God," or, Manasseh A)i«o that Jehovah
he is God. In most similar cases, the use of the infinitive in English is as
elegant as in Latin. But there are many cases where the infinitive cannot
be used. We cannot use it after say ; " he said him to be a good man," is
not English ; though he declared, or affirmed, or believed him to be a good
man, is elegant.
In order to understand the impropriety of the common mode of using the
latter verb, as in the example above cited, it may be remarked, that the pres-
ent tense is that which is used to express what exists at all times. Thus we
say, God is or exists, whenever we speak of his permanent existence ; we
say, gold is yellow or ductile ; iron is a most valuable metal ; it is not <*n-
vertible into silver ; plants and animals are very distinct living beings. We
do not say, gold was yellow ; iron was a valuable metal ; for we mean ta
express permanent qualities. Hence, in the passage cited from Chronicles,
the first verb Imeio, referring to a fact past, is correct ; but the last, which
is intended to express the permanent being or character of God, should be
in the infinitive or the indicative present tense. The following are examples
of correct language : " His master had taught him that happiness consists
in virtue." Anacharsis, ii. 120.
" Sabellius, who openly taught that there is but one person in the God-
head." Encyclopedia.
" Our Savior taught that eternal death is the proper punishment of sin."
Emmo7is.
But very different is the following : " Having believed for many years,
that water was [is] an elastic fluid." The following would be still better •:
" Having believed water to be an elastic fluid."
So the following : " We know not the use of the epidermis of shells.
Some authors have supposed that it secured [secures] the shells from being
covered with vermes." Edin. Encyc.
It was jnstyemarked, that marine fossils did not [do not] comprise ve-
getable remains." lb.
If my readers will turn their thoughts back on their old friends, they
will find it diflicult to call a single man to remembrance who appeared to
know that life was short [is short,] till he was about to lose it."
jRambler, jVo. 71.
" They considered the body as a hydraulic machine, and the fluids as pass-
g through a series of chimical changes ; forgetting that imimation was
[is] its essential characteristic." Darwin.
It was declared by Pompey, lliat if the Commonwealth was [should be]
violated, he could stamp with his foot and raise an arniy out of the ground."
Rambler, JVo. 10.
the foregoing sentence, the past tense is used for the future contingent.
It was affirmed in the last discourse, that much of the honorable practice
of the world rested [rests] on the substratum of selfishness ; that society
was [is] held together, in the exercise of its relative virtues, mainly by
the tie of reciprocal advantage ; that a man's own interest bound [binds]
him to all those average equities which obtained [obtain] in the neighbor-
hood around him ; and in which if he proved [should prove] himself glaringly
deficient, he would be abandoned by the respect, and the confidence, and
the good will of the people with whom he had [might have, or should have]
to do." Chalmer's Com. Dis. 4.
In the last discourse, I observed that love constituted [constitutes] the
whole moral character of God," Dwight's Tlieology.
' And he said, nay, father Abraham ; but if one u-ent [shall or should go]
to them from the dead, they will repent. And he said to him, if they hear
not Moses and the prophets, neither will tliey be persuaded though one
[shall or should rise] from the dead." Luke, xvi. 30, 31.
Independent of parties in the national legislature itself, as often as the
period of discussion arrived, the state legislatures, who will always be not
* Lindley Murray, in the introduction to his grammar, "acknowledges, in
general terras, that the authors to whom the grammatical part of this com-
pilation is principally indebted for its materials are, Harris, Johnson,
Lowfh, Priestley, Beatiie, Sheridan, Walker, and Coote." But on examina-
tion, it appears that the greatest portion of the grammatical part is from
Lowth, whose principles form the main structure of Murray's compilation.
Some valuable notes and remarks are taken from Pritstley's grammar. I
The effect of the study of Lowth's principles, which has been greatly ex- and, in citing authorities, deem it proper to cite the original!
A'^OL. I. E.
INTRODUCTION.
only vigilant, but suspicious and jealous guardians of the rights of the citi-
zens, against encroachments from the federal government, will constantly
have their attention awake to the conduct of the national rulers, and will be
ready enough, if any thing improper appears, to sound the alarm to the
people."
Let any man attempt to resolve the foregoing sentence, if he can, or ren-
der it into another language.
"Cicero vindicated the truth, and inculcated the value of the precept,
that nothing was [is] truly useful which ivas [is] not honest."
" He undertook to show that justice was [is] of perpetual obligation."
" The author concedes much of his argument, and admits that the sea was
[is] susceptible of dominion." [Better still ; he admits the sea to be suscept-
ible of dominion.]
"A nation would be condemned by the impartial voice of mankind, if it
voluntarily U'en* [should go] to war, on a claim of which it doubted [should
doubt] the legality."
" The Supreme Court observed that they were not at liberty to depart from
the rule, whatever doubt might have been entertained, if the case was [had
been] entirely new."
'■ He held that the law of nations prohibited [prohibits] the use of pois-
" He iusisted that the laws of war gave [give] no other power over a cap-
tive ihan to keep him safely."
" The general principle on the subject is, that, if a commander makes a
compact with the enemy, and it be of such a nature that the power to make
it could be reasonably imphed from the nature of the trust, it would be valid
and iiincliiig, though he abused his trust." Let any man translate this sen-
tence into another language, if he can, without reducing the verbs to some
coinistency.
•• Congress have declared by law, that the United States were [are] enti-
tled to priority of payment over private creditors, in cases of insolvency."
"The Supreme Court decided, that the acts of Congress, giving that gen-
eral priority to the United Siates, were [are] constitutional.
" It was admitted that the government of the United States was [is] one
of enumerated powers."
" From his p,ist ilesigns and administrations we could never argue at all to
those which were future." [This is an odd combination of words.]
" Jesus knowing that the father had given all things into his hands, and that
he was come from God and went to God." John xiii. 3.
" Alexander dispatched Eumenes with three hundred horse to two free
cities — with assurance that if they submitted and received him, [should or
would submit and receive,] as a friend, no evil should befall them."
" The apostle knew that the present season was [is] the only time allowed
for this preparation."
" What would be the real effect of that overpowering evidence, which
our adversaries required, [should require,] in a revelation, it is difficult to
foretell"
" It could not otherwise have been known that the word had [has] this
meaning."
I told him if he went [should go] to-morrow, I would go with him.
This fault occurs in our hearing every hour in the day.
A like fault prevails in other languages; indeed the English may have
been led into it by reading foreign authors. " Mais on a remarque avec rai-
son, que I'espace conchoidal etait infini." Lunier. It has been remarked
with reason that the conchoidal space was [is] infinite.
But whatever may be the practice of other nations, there would be no dif-
ficulty in correcting such improprieties in our own language, if as much at-
tention were given to the study of its true principles, as is given to other
subjects of literature and science. But if in this particular, there is a Brit-
ish or American author who writes his vernacular language correctly, his
writings have not fallen under my inspection.
There is another fault very common among English writers, though it is
less frequent in the United States ; this is the conversion of an intransitive
verb into a passive one. It is surprising that an error of this kind should
have gained such an established use, in some foreign languages, as to be incu-
rable. Barbarous nations may indeed form languages ; but it should be the
business of civilized men to purify their language from barbarisms.
In the transitive verb, there is an agent that performs some action on an
object, or in some way affects it. When this verb becomes passive, the
.igent and the object change places in the sentence. Thus, John loves Peter,
is transitive, but Peter is loved by John, is passive. In the intransitive verb,
Ihe case is different; for the action is limited to the agent; and when it is
stated that a thing is done, there is no agent by which it is done. I perish
is intransitive ; I am perished is the passive form ; but the latter neither ex
presses nor implies an agent by which I perish.
This fault occurs frequently in the common version of the Scriptures.
" Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old
age was [had] perished." Job xxx. 2.
" Their memorial is [has] perished with them." Ps. ix. 6.
" The heathen are [have] perished out of this land." Ps. x. 16-
^' Israel is [has] fled before the Phihstines." 1 Sam. iv. 17.
■' David is [has] fled." 2 Sam. xix. 9.
" The days ivere [had] not expired." 1 Sam. xviii. 26.
" And when the year was [had] expired." 2 Chron. xxxvi. 10.
" I only am [have] escaped alone to tell thee." Job i. 15.
" And it came to pass, when he was [had] returned." Luke xix. 15.
Return is sometimes a transitive verb, and sometimes intransitive. When
a sum of borrowed money is returned, the phrase is correct, for this is the
passive form of a transitive verb. But when a man is returned, we may
ask, who has returned him .' In this case, the man returns by his own act,
and he cannot be said to be returned.
" He found the Empress was [had] departed." Coxe.
" They were [had] arrived within three days journey of the spice country."
Gibbon, Ch. i. Note.
" Neither Charles nor Diocletian were [liad] arrived at a very advanced
period of life." lb. Ch. xiii.
" The posterity of so many gods and heroes was [had] fallen into the
most abject state." lb. Ch. ii.
" Silver was [had] grown more common." lb.
" He was [had] risen from the dead, and was [had] just ascended to
heaven." Milner, i. 20.
" Hearing that they ti'erf [had] nmccd." /J. 211.
" Claudius — vexed because his wife was [had] become a christian." lb,
274.
" Does not the reader see how much we are [have] already departed
from christian simplicity ?" lb. 299.
" My age is [has] departed." Isaiah xxxviii. 12.
" The man out of whom the demons were [had] departed." Luke viii.
35.
" Workmen were [had] arrived to assist them." Milford.
" A body of Athenian horse was [had] just arrived." lb.
This fault is common in Mitford's History of Greece. In the writings of
Roscoe, which are more elegant, it occurs, but less frequently.
" The time limited for the reception of the cardinal was expired." Ros-
coe, Leo. X.
" He inquired whether the report was true, that a legate was arrived.'^
lb. L. Med.
"Tho nation being [having] once more got into a course of borrowing."
Price on Liberty.
" When he was [had] retired to his tent." Coxe's Russ.
" He was [had] not yet arrived."* lb.
The intransitive verb grow is constantly used by the English as a transi-
tive verb, as to grow wheat. This is never used in the northern states, un-
less by persons who have adopted it recently from the English.
It seems almost incredible that such errors should continue, to this time,
to disfigure the language of the most distinguished writers, and that they
should escape animadversion. The practice has evidently been borrowed
from the French or Italian ; but surely no lover of correctness can excuse
such violation of the best established principles in our language.
This fault occurs in a few instances, in the writings of the best American
authors, as in the writings of Ames and Hamilton. It is however very rare,
either in books or in colloquial usage. Even our common people are re-
markably accurate in using the auxiliary have with the participles of intran-
sitive verbs. They always, I believe, say, a ship has ariived, a plant has
perished, the enemy had fled, the price had fallen, the corn has or had
grown, the time has expired, the man has returned, the vessel had depart-
ed. Such also is the language of our most eminent writers.
" The Generals Gates and Sullivan have both arrived."
Washington's Letters.
" The Indians of the village had fled." B. Trumbull.
" Our Tom has grown a sturdy boy." Progress of Dullness.
" Our patriots have fallen." Discourse of D. Webster, Aug. 182C.
"Our commissary had not arrived." Ellicott,
The exceptions to this correct practice are chiefly in the use of the parti-
ciples of come and go. It is very common to hear the expressions he is
come or is gone, in which case, the participle seems to take the character of
an adjective ; although in most instances, the regular form of expression, he
has come or has gone, is to be preferred. So dead, originally a participle,
is used only as an adjective ; and deceased and departed are often used in
the like manner. We say, a deceased, or departed friend ; but it should be
remarked that the original expression was, our fiiend has deceased, or has
departed this life ; and this phraseology, by an easy but heedless transition,
became is deceased or is departed. In general, however, the conversion of
an intransitive verb or form of expression into the passive form, is very rare
among the people of New England.
There is a grammatical error running through the writings of so respecta-
ble a writer as Mitford, which ought not to be passed unnoticed ; as it seems
to be borrowed from the French language, whose idioms are different from
the English, but which the English are too apt to follow. This fault is, in
using the preterit or perfect tense, instead of the past tense indefinite, usu-
* On this use of intransitive verbs, as the ship was departed, it may I
who departed it ? The mail is arrived, who has arrived it .' Th
be asked,
departed it ? The mail is arrived, who has arrived it ! The tree if
perished, who has perished it ? The enemy was fled, who fled them ? Th^
time iras erpired, who expired it .'
[NTRODUCTION.
ally called raosl improperly, the imperfect. Take the following sentences forj
examples. " The conduct of Pelopidas towards Arcadia and its minister a
the Persian court — has scarcely been the result of mere caprice or resent
ment." The verb here ought to be was.
" The oration [of Isocrates] has been [was] a favorite of Dionysius o
Halicarnassus."
This form of expressing the time would be good in French, but is very
bad in English. And it may be here remarked, that the tense he was, he ar-
rived, he ii'rote, is not properly named imperfect. These verbs, and all
verbs of tliis form denote actions finished or perfect, as "in six days God
created the he,i\ en and the earth." Imperfect or unfinished action i:
pressed in English in this manner, he was reading, they were writing. The
error of calling the former tense imperfect has probably proceeded from a
servile adoption of the Latin names of the tenses, without considering the
difTerence of application.
There are some errors in all the English Grammars, that have been de
rived to us from antiquity. Such is the arrangement of that among the con
junctioas, like the Greek on, and the Latin ut. Kai ^xopia rj rtiffuBoao
OT't £5'at t'fXf twfftj rot5 ^^aT^Tjfievot^ avtij rtapa Kuptou. And blessed is she
w ho believed tliat there shall be a performance of the things which
told her from the Lord. Luke i. 45. In our version, or, is rendered /or, but
most erroneously. The true meaning and character of 071 will best appear,
by a transposition of the clauses of the verse. " There shall be a perfor-
mance of the things told her from the Lord ; blessed or happy is she who be-
lieved that." Here oti, that, appears to be what it really is, a relative 01
substitute for the whole clause in Greek .succeeiiing it. So in Luke xxii. 18,
Afyo yap v^uv on. ov fir) Hiu, &c. I say to you that I will not drink. I will
not drink, I say to you that. It is the same in Latin, " Dico enim vobis
quod non bibam." (itwd is here a relative governed by dico, and referring
to the following clause of the sentence.
So also Matthew ix. 28. JXi^tvirt oft hwafjuu rouro jtoMjuai ; Do ye be
lieve that I am able to do this ? [I am able to do this, do ye believe that?]
This error runs through all Grammars, Greek, Latin, French, English, i
But how such an obvious fact, that the word that and its correspond!
words in other languages, refer to the clause of a sentence, should escape
observation, age after age, it is not easy to explain. How could it be suppos-
ed that a word is a conjunction which does not join words or sentences
That is used, in the passages cited, not to unite two sentences, but to con-
tinue the .fome semoiice, by an additional clause.
The relative, when referring to a sentence or the clause of a sentence, is
not varied, for a variation of case is not wanted.
So notwithstanding imd provided in English, and poui-pjt que in French, are
called conjunctions : but most improperly ; as they are participles, and when
called conjunolions, they always form, with a word, clause or sentence, tht
rase absolute or independent. Thus, " it rains, but notwithstanding that
[it rains,] I must go to town." That fact, (it rains,) not opposing or pre-
venting me, that is, in opposition to that, I must go to town ; hoc non ob-
stante.
Thati
■ill ride.
" I will ride, provided you will accompany me
the fact, you will accompany me, being provided.
Such is !he structure of these sentences. See my Philosophical and
PracUcal Grammar. It is the same in French, pourvu que, that being
vided, que referring to the following clause.
There are other points in grammar equally faulty. Not only in English
grammar, but in the grammars of other languages, men stumble at the thresh-
old, and teach their children to stumble. In no language whatever can
there be a part of speech properly called an article. There is no word or
class of words that falls within the signification of article, a joint, or that can
otherwise than arbitrarily be brought under that denomination. The defin-
itive words called articles, are all adjectives or pronouns. When they are
used with nouns, they are adjectives, modifying the signification of the
nouns, like other adjectives ; for this is their proper olfice. When they
stand alone, they are pronouns, or substitutes for nouns. Thus hie, ille,
ipse in Latin, when used with nouns expressed, are adjectives; hie homo,
this man; ille homo, that man: When they stand alone, hie, ille, they
*'"•?!! '"r P '"'""^- '^^^ ^^'^^ '* *^ ^^"^ '" ""•fi"" languages.
The Enghsh the is an adjective, which, for distinction, I call a df.
adjective, and for brevity, a definitivf. as it dofinps tho ,,0,.=^^ r,,. .1
definitive
which it refers, or rathe
three, four, and every other number in tlie language. Take the followin»
examples. °
Bring me an orange from the basket ; that is, any one of the number.
Bring me two oranges from the ba.sket; that is, any two of the number.
Bring me three oranges fiom the basket ; that is, any three of the num-
ber ; and so on to any number ad infinitum.
VVhen thus used, an, two, three, are all indefinite ; that is, they are used
with nouns which are indefinite, or expressing things not particularly desig-
nated. But this is not owing to the essential character of the adjectives, an,
one, two, three; for any of them may be used with definite nouns ; and an
IS continually thus used.
" I will be an adversary to thine adversaries."
" The angel stood for an adversary against Balaam."
" Make this fellow return, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us."
" Rezon — was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon."
" And he spake a parable to them to this end."
" And there was a widow in that city."
" And seeing the multitude, he went up into a mountain."
" I will be a God to thee and thy seed after thee."
"Thou art a God ready to pardon."
Now let any of these phrases be tested by the common definition of on op
a, " that It IS used in a vague sense, to point out one single thing of the kind ;
in other respects indeterminate." Lowth.
" I will be an adversary to tliine adversaries;" that is, " I will be any ad-
versary, one of the kind, but vague or indeterminate."
" Rezon was an adversary to Israel ;" that is, in a vague sense any adversa-
ry, indeterminate.
"And he spake a parable to them ;" that is, any parable, indeterminate.
"Thou art a God, ready to pardon;" that is, any God, one of the kind, in a
ague sense, indeterminate !
If it should be said, the noun is rendered determinate, by other words in
the sentence, and not by an or a, this may be and generally is tnle ; but
this .shows that an does not give to the noun its character of definiteness or
indefiniteness ; it always retains its proper signification, which is one, and
nothing more ; and it is used indifferently before nouns definite or indefi-
This mistake of the character of an is found in other languages; but I
was gratified to find a French Grammar in Paris, recommended by the In-
stitute, the author of which had discarded the indefinite article.
In English, an or a is, for the most part, entirely useless. Used with a
nouii in the singular number, it serves no purpose, except that which the
form of the word, in the singular number, is intended to answer. It expres-
ses unity only, and this is the province of the singular number. Were it
not for habit, " give me orange," would express the sense of " give me an
orange," with precision and certainty. In this respect the Latin language
has the advantage over the English. But the use of such a short word is
not very inconvenient, and the usage cannot be changed. Other languages
are subject to the same inconvenience ; even the definite articles, or defini-
tives, in Greek and in French, are very often useless, and were it not for
usage, would be improper.
which It refers, or rather designates a particular person or thing. But why
this should be selected as the only definitive in our language, is very
strange ; when obviously this and that are more exactly definitive, desig-
nating more precisely a particular person or thing than the. These words
answer to the Latin hie and ille, which were always used by the Ro-
mans, when they had occasion to specify definite persons or things.
As to the English an or a, which is called in grammars, the indefinite ar-\
ttcle, there are two great mistakes. ^ being considered as the original'
word. It IS said to become an before a vowel. The fact is directly the re-j
verse, ^n is the original word, and this is contracted to a by droppins the
n before a consonant. j fi o
But an is merely the Saxon orthography o( one, un, unus, an adjective
found m nearly all the languages of Europe, and expressing a single person!,
or thing. It is merely a word of number, and no more an article than twoji
ORTHOGR.lPirV".
From the period of the first Saxon writings, our language has been suffer-
ng changes in orthography. The first writers, having no guide but the ear,
followed each his own judgment or fancy; and hence a great portion of
Saxon words are written with different letters, by different authors ; most of
them are written two or three different ways, and some of them, fifteen or
twenty. To this day, the orthography of some classes of words is not en-
tirely settled ; and in others, it is settied in a manner to confound the learner
and mislead him into a false pronunciation. Nothing can be more disrepu-
table to the literary characterof a nation, than the history of English orthog-
raphy, unless it is that of orthoepy.
1. The Saxon dipthong «, which probably had a specific and uniform
sound or combination of sounds, has been discardeii and ea generally substi-
tuted in its place, as brieth, breath. Now ea thus united have not a uni-
form sound, and of course diey are no certain guide to pronunciation. In
some instances, where tiie Saxon spelling was not uniform, the modern or-
Uiography follows the most anomalous and difficult, instead of that which is
regular. Thus the Saxons wrote f<ether and fether, more generally the lat-
ter, and the moderns w site feather.
2. The letter g in Saxon words, has, in many English words, been sunk
..1 pronunciation, and eitiier wholly lost, or it is now represented by y or w
Thus dffl^, or dag, has become day ,- gear is year, bugan is bow, and
fteger is/air.
3. The Saxons who adopted the Roman alphabet, with a few alterations
used c with its hard sound Uke that of ft. Thus lie, like ; locian, to look.
But after the Norman conquest, c before e, i, and y, took the sound of s ■
hence arose the necessity of changing this letter in words and syllables',
where it was necessary to retain the sound of ft before these vowels. Thus
the Saxon licean, pronounced originally likean, becomes, with our present
sound of c before e, lisean; and locian becomes losian. To remedy this
INTRODUCTION.
pvii, our ancestors iutioduced k from the Greek, writing it generally after e,
:H in lick, stick, though in some instances, omitting c, as in like and look.
Hence in all monosyllables in which a syllable beginning with e or i is ad-
ded to the word, as in the past time and participles of verbs, we use k in
the place of the Saxon c, as in licked, licking.
Our early writers attempted to extend this addition to words introduced
from the Latin and Greek, in which no such reason exists for the use of k
Thus they wrote publick, timsick, rhetorick. In these and similar words
the Latins used c for the Greek «, as musicus, for noutriHot, and the early En
glish writers took both letters, the Roman c and Greek «. This was absurd
enough ; but they never proceeded so far as to carry the absurdity Uirough
the derivatives ; never writing publickation, musickal, rhetorickal. After
long struggle with the force of authority, good sense has nearly banished
this pedantic orthography from use; and all words of this kind now appear
in most of oar public acts and elegant writings, in their proper sunplicity ;
public, publication, music, musical.
In many words, formerly ending in ie, these letters have been discarded
from the singular number, and y substituted. Thus remedie, memorie, are
now written remedy, memory. But what is very singular, the plural of
these words retains the in, with the addition of s, as in remedies. This anom
aly however creates no great inconvenience, except that it has been ex
words ending m ey, as m attomies
.J, y ^.„j,^ . .J „.„„e the plural by simply
attorneys. The same rule applies to verbs when an s is added, as in conveys.
1 surveys.
; inserted in
, chlorine, chloride, oxyde,Si.c. with-
tended by negligent
words ending in ey properly make the plural by simply taking
e same rule applies to verbs when an s is addei
t number of words, the vowel e has been discarded as useless ;
as in eggs for egges ; certain for certaine ; empress for empresse ; goodnes.
lor goodnesse. This is an improvement, as the e has no sound in modern
pronunciation. But here again we meet with a surprising inconsistency
for the same reason which justifies this omission, would justify and require
the omission of e final in motive, jiensive, juvenile, genuine, sanguine, do
trine, examine, determine, and a multitude of others. The introduction of
in most words of these classes, was at first wrong, as it could not plead any
authority in the originals ; but tlie retaining of it is unjustifiable, as the let-
ter is not merely useless, but, in very numerous classes of words, it leads to
a false pronunciation. Many of the most respectable English authors, a
century ago or more, omitted e in such words as examin, determin, famin,
ductil, fertil, definit, &c. but these improvements were afterwards rejected
to the great injury of orthography. In like manner, a final e '
words of modern coinage, as in alumine,
out the least necessity or propriety.
6. A similar fate has attended the attempt to anglicize the orthography of|
another class of words, which we have received from the French. At a
very early period, the words chambre, desastre, desordre, chartre, monstre,
tendre, tigre, entre,fievre, diametre, arbitre, nombre, and others were redu-
ced to the English form of spelling ; chamber, disaster, disorder, charter,
monster, tender, tiger, enter, fever, diameter, arbiter, number. At a later
period. Sir Isaac Newton, Camden, Selden, Milton, Whitaker, Prideaux,
Hook, Whiston, Bryant, and other authors of the first character, attempted
to carry through this reformation, writing scepter, center, sepulcher. But
this improvement was arrested, and a few words of this class retain their
French orthography; such are metre, mitre, nitre, spectre, sceptre, theatre,
sepulchre, and sometimes centre. It is remarkable that a nation distinguish-
ed for erudition, should thus reject improvements, and retain anomalies, in
opposition to all the convenience of uniformity. I am glad that so respecta-
ble a writer as Mitford has discarded this innovation, and uniformly written
center, scepter, theater, sepulcher. In the present instance, want of uni-
formity is not the only evil. The present orthography has introduced an
awkward mode of writing the derivatives, for example, centred, sceptred,
sepulchred ; whereas Milton and Pope wrote these words as regular deriva-
tions of fe«<er, scepter, sepulcher: thus, " Sceptered King." SoCoxe, in
his travels, " The principal wealth of the church is centered in the
teries." This is correct.
7. Soon after the revival of letters in Europe, English writers began to
borrow words from the French and Italian ; and usually with some little al-
teration of the orthography. Thus they wrote authour, embassadour, pre-
decessour, ancestour, successour ; using our for the Latin termination or
and the French eur, and writing similar words, in like manner, though not
of Latin or French original. What motive could induce them to write
these words, and errour, honour, favour, inferiour, &c. in this manner,
following neither the Latin nor tlie French, I cannot conceive. But this
orthography continued down to the seventeenth century, when the u began
lo be rejected from certain words of this class, and at the beginning of the
last century, many of these words were written, ancestor, author, error,
Ike. as they are now written. But favor, honor, labor, candor, ardor, ter-
ror, vigor, inferior, superior, and a few others, were written with «, and
.Fohnson introduced this orthography into his dictionary. Nothing in lan-
guage is more mischievous than the mistakes of a great man. It is not
easy to understand why a man, whose professed object was to reduce the
language to some regularity, should write author without u and errour and
honour with it ! That he should write labour with u and laborious with-
out it! Vigour, with u, and vigorous, invigorate, without it! Inferiour,
superiour, with u, but inferiority, and superiority, without it ! Strange as
it is, this inconsistency runs through his work, and his authority has been
the means of continuing it, among his admirers, to this
In this country, many of our best writers have rejected the u from all
words of this class, and reduced the whole to uniformity.' This is a desirable
event; every rejection of an anomaly being a valuable improvement,
which sound judgment approves, and the love of regularity will vindicate
and maintain. I have therefore followed the orthography of General Wash-
ington, and the Congress of the United States, of Ash in his Dictionary, of
Mitford in his History of Greece, &c.
S. There is another class of words the orthography of which is not uni-
form, nor fully settled, such as take the termination able to form an adjec-
tive. Thus Johnson writes proveable with e, but approvable and reprova-
ble, without it. So moveable, but immovable and removable ; tameable,
but blamable, censurable, desirable, excusable; saleable, but ratable.
With like inconsistency Walker and Todd write daub with « and bedawb
th 10, deviating in this instance, from Johnson. Todd writes abridge-
ment and judgement with e, but acknowledgment without it. Walker
writes these words without e, but adds it to lodgement. I have reduced all
words of this kind to uniformity.
Johnson writes octoedrical ; Todd octoedral ; Sheridan, Walker and
Jones follow Johnson ; but Jones has octahedron, which is not in the other
Dictionaries. The Greek, in words of this kind, is inconsistent, for oxiui is
changed, in compound words, to oktci. I have followed the Greek com-
pounds, and have inserted h which I consider as almost indispensable in the
English orthography, as octahedron.
10. Johnson introduced instructer, in the place of instructor, in opposi-
n to every authority which he has himself adduced to exemplify his defi-
ions; Denham, Milton, Roscommon, Locke, Addison, Rogers, and the
common version of the Scriptures. But what is more singular, this orthog-
raphy, instructer, is contrary to his own practice ; at least, in four editions
of his Rambler which I have examined, the word is uniformly written in-
structor. The fact is the same with visitor.
This is a point of little importance in itself; but when instructor had
been from time immemorial, the established orthography, why unsettle the
practice ? I have in this word and in visitor adhered to the old orthography.
There is not a particle of reason for altering instructor and visitor, which
would not apply to collector, cultivator, objector, projector, and a hundred
other %vords of similar termination.
H. Most of these and some other inconsistencies have been of long con-
tinuance. But there are others of more recent date, which admit of no
apology, as they are changes from right to wrong. Such Is the change of
the old and correct orthography of defense, expense, offense, pretense, and
recompense, by substituting c for s as in defence. This change was probably
made or encouraged by printers, for the sake of avoiding the use of the old
long s ; but since this has been discarded, that reason no longer exists. The
old orthography, defense, &.c. is justified, not only by the Latin originals,
but by the rule of uniformity ; for the derivatives are always written with
defensive, extensive, offensive, pretension, recompensing.
12. No less improper was the change of sceptic into skeptic. In favor
of this innovation, it is alledged that the word is from the Greek owtikos.
True ; but is not scene derived from the Greek ctkiivti, and scepter from
o-xTiTTTpov, and ascetic from oo-htitiiio!, and ocean from msaioi ! Are not all
these words in exact analogy with each other, in their original orthography ?
Were they not formerly analogous in the English orthography > Why vio-
late this analogy ? Why intioduce an anomaly .' Such innovations, by divid-
ing opinions and introducing discrepancies in practice, in classes of words of
like formation, have a mischievous effect, by keeping the language in per-
petual fluctuation.
13. In like manner, dispatch, which had, from time immemorial, been
written with i, was changed into despatch, on the wonderful discovery, that
the word is derived from the French depecher. But why change one vowel
not the other ? If we must follow the French, why not write despech,
or depech ? And why was this innovation limited to a single word ? Why
not carry the change through this whole class of words, and give us the
benefit of uniformity ? Is not disaster from the French desastre ? Is not
discharge from decharger ? Is not disarm from desarmer ? Is not disobey
from desobeir ? Is not disoblige from desohliger ? Is not disorder from des-
ordre? The prefix dis is more properly EngUsh than de, though both are
used with propriety. But dispatch was the established orthography ; why
then disturb the practice ? Why select a single word from the whole class,
and introduce a change which creates uncertainty where none had existed
" ages, without the smallest benefit to indemnify us for the perplexity and
discordance occasioned by the innovation ?
It is gratifying to observe the stern good sense of the English nation, pre-
senting a firm resistance to such innovations. Blackstone, Paley, Coxe,
Milner, Scott and Mitford, uniformly use the old and genuine orthography
of instructor, visitor, sceptic and dispatch.
14. The omission of one I in befall, imtall, installment, recall, enthrall,
&c., is by no means to be vindicated; as by custom, the two letters //,
serve as a guide to the true pronunciation, that of broad a or aw. Accord-
ing to the established rules of English pronunciation, the letter a in instal-
* The reformation commenced or received ifc
authority at the revolution. See Washington' f
8vo, 179.5.
most decided support and
Letters, in two volumes,
INTRODUCTION.
ment would have the souiul it h:is in balance ; it is therefore expedient to
retain both letters in all words of this chiss.
15. It is an established rule, in the English language, that monosyllabic
verbs, ending in a single consonant, not preceded by a long vowel, and
other verbs ending ill a siiiKlc acrcnted consonant, and of course not pre-
ceded by a loii'j; v"V, .■] (! MiM, il,r III, ■! roi--..n.iiif, in :,M '!h> .<, : ii ili. r -,
which arc for ' ' •. * ■ 1 1 , ' ■ . _■■:■'".'■■ . < 1 i ,,,■.■'' ■
bar, when tlic\ ' •' ■ ■ i ■ , .n. :.- ' ■ '' n ■ . : '"i ■- -, " •' -
teth,fiiting; il .! :■!■!'. :n -'. //-,., ;,m,./, :^,,:< . , i, /
compel, form tlic iikc iierivatives; iibcliul, (ibtlhlh. .linlun^ , r.,iii)<i iiril
fonipelleth, compelling. The reason of this rule is, tli.ii \iiilinut ihis .lupli-
cation of the !.>.st consonant, the vowel of the priinilivr word wmiM, in the
derivative, be naturally pronounced wrong, that is, with ils i.iii'4 >m\\v\ ; fil-
ed, bloting, bared, compeled. Hence we see the reason w hy verbs, hav-
ing the long sound of a vowel, do not double the last consonant, as feared,
repealed, repeated.
The converse of this rule is, that verbs, ending in a single consonant, but
having the accent on the first syllable, or on a syllable preceding the last,
o\ight not to double the final consonant in the derivatives. Thus limit, la-
bor, charter, clatter, pardon, deliver, hinder, have for their derivatives,
limited, laboreth, chartered, pardoning, delivering, hinderest. But
strange as it may seem, the rule is wholly neglected and violated, in most
of the words of this class in the language. Thus we observe, in all authors,
ballotting, beoelling, levelled, travelled, cancelled, revelling, rivalling, wor-
shipped, worshipper, uiipartlhil, inihoircUid, //icWmg, and many others,
;i , iii^ii to one of the oldest and
'lis Dictionary, lays down
I ' III all cases, to observe it.
. I \ Ml- to aregularand uniform
.•■■I Mom such verbs are written
Ur, worshiper, for the purpose of
re may be no exception. What
"iidittor, alterrer, barterrer, ban-
■ I reason can be assigned why the
lit'se words as well as in jeweller,
ll.ible to be added is the usual ter-
vhich the last consoii.iii( i- -' ■
best established rules in r
the rule for guidance, Im; ' i
I have endeavored to ri'ili
orthography. In like m i i
with a single consonant,
establishing a general i i;l'
should we say to a man ^^ i
terrer, gardenner, lahui ,
final consonant .should \i I '
traveller, enameller. Tin i
minalion er or or, and noilnn- nn n
Not less remarkable is the |)rac!ice oi <loubling the last consonant in equal-
led, equalling, but not in the verb equalize. And to add to the inconsisten-
cy, the last consonant is sometimes doubled in tranquillize, a word in exact
analogy with equalize.
With regard to words which recent discoveries have introduced into the
sciences, there may be some apology for differences of orthography, as
writers have not established usage for a guide. Hence we find oxyd is writ-
ten also oxide and oxyde ; oxygen and hydrogen, are written also oxigene.
oxygene and hydrogene. Sulphate, nitrate, &.C., are written also sulphat,
nitrat.
In this case, what course is the Lexicographer to pursue .' Shall he
adopt tlie method by which Walker attempts to settle pronunciation, and
cite authorities in favor of each mode of spelling i' Then the result is, so
many names appear on one side, and so many on the other. But who, it
may be asked, will undertake to graduate the scale by which the weight of
authorities is to be determined .' Numbers will not always decide questions
of this sort to the satisfaction of the public.
In this case, I have determined to conform the orthography to established
English analogies ; the only authority from which there can be no legitimate
appeal. Now, no rule in orthography is better established, than that which
we have adopted from the Latin language, of representing the fireek ^lpsi-
lojiby the letter y. In the orthography of o,ri/gen and hydrogen, from ojti
and uiuf, this rule has been observed; and why should oxyd he an excep-
tion ?
With regard to sulphate, nitrate, and other names of that class of com-
pounds, I consider the final e as essential to the words, to prevent a false
pronunciation ; the vowel a having its first sound as in/ate, though slightly
pronounced.
The word chimistry has undergone two or three changes, according to
fancy or to conjectural etymology. Men have blundered about the plainest
thing imaginable ; lor to detcrniine its true orthography, nothing was neces-
sary but to open an Arabic Lexicon. The inhabitants of the South of Eu-
rope, who introduced the word, doubtless knew its origin, and wrote it cor-
rectly with i, not with y or e ; and had the English been contented to take
it as they found it, the orthography would have been correct and uniform.
In introducing words from other languages, it is desirable that the orthog-
raphy should be conformed, as nearly as maybe, to established English anal-
ogies. For this reason I must approve of tlie practice of Darwin who drops
the Latin termination of pyrites, wvitin^ pyrite, witli the accent on the first
syllable. Botanic Garden, Canto 2. 350.
Stalactite has in like manner, been anglicized ; and barytes, it is hoped,
may suffer the like change. In this manner, the words, in the English
form, become susceptible of a regular plural ; barytes and pyrites in two
syllables, and stalactites in three : and further they admit of regularlv form-,
ed adjectives, pjrific, 6an/(tc, stalactitic, which cannot be regularly form-
ed from the Greek terminations.
he wnnl tnlr is nlso ill-fiinricd. The original word on the continent of
i|i i /,('/, ni 'I,'- . Ill I liii , i, II,:;,- of k into c is not merely needless,
V. : t : , i I - 'i ' - ■ II , : ilui regular adjective, talcy. Hence
' ■ i' 1,1,1, 1,1 .iwkward compound of a Teutonic
I . ii : ,111, 1, I III, , I I, ) MI- uiird should be written fa/Ar or fa/cfc,
will, ii '■ ,11 linii n ■;iii ir ,!.iiv;iiivcs. /a/cfey, (a/ffci?iess. In like manner,
:■• u :iii,',. u,iii!.l ,,,liuit the regular adjective zinky, as written
i I ;> . IS (111- siMiil -vstem of the celebrated Swedish naturalist i.s
iiuw ifciiiiiily received, it seems proper to make the new terms, by which
the cliisses and orders of plants are designated, a part of our language. Hith-
erto these names have not been anglicized ; but from the technical terms,
English and American writers have begun to form adjectives which are at
variance with the analo<;i, - of ,iin InniiMgr. \Vi- -, c in books such words
as hexandrous, monos'ii'"'!!-^- i"'!tii:iuiiuii-<. ,,iii| .:/iil:, ,i, sinus. The writ-
ers who use these word-. -, . m ni,i i,i I,.- ,,\s 1 ih. ni!|iort.mce of pursu-
ing settled rules in the cniniiii; nl wnni-, ;i^ iniu,)i nnty ..uls both in learning
and in recollecting new names. The regular mode ot forming adjectives
from nouns ending in a or ia, is to add n to the noun, not ous. So we form
Italian from Italia ; .American from America. In some cases, the termin-
ation ic is used, but rarely or never ous ; or if it is, it is an anomaly.
To arrest, if possible, the progress of these irregularities, and at the same
time, to make the more important botanical terms really English, by giving ^
them appropriate English terminations, and further to abridge the language
of description, I have ventured to anglicize the names of all the classes anil
orders, and insert them in this work.
Thus from monandria, the name of the class containing plants with flow-
ers having one stamen, I form monander, the name of an individual plant of
that character. From monogynia, the name of the order containing plants
with flowers which have one pistil, I form monogyn, [pronounced monojyn]
to express an individual plant of that order. The adjectives are formed from
the nouns with regular English terminations ; monandrian, monogynian,
syngetiesian, diecian, monecian,&Lc.
In describing a plant technically, according to this nomenclature, instead
of saying, it is of the class monondria and order monogynia, the botanist will
call it a monogynian monander, a digynian pentanaer, a trigynian octan-
der, a pentandrian diadelph. These terms designate the class and order,
as perfectly as the use of the Latin technical names : and in this manner we
unite, in our botanical language, technical precision, with brevity, correct-
ness and elegance.
It is with no small regret, that I see new terms formed, without a due re-
gard to regular English analogies. New terms are often necessary, or at
least very useful ; but they ought to be coined according to the settled prin-
ciples of the language. A neglect of these principles is observable in the
word systematize, which, not being borrowed from the Greek, ought to fol-
low the general rule of English formation, in agreement with legalize, mod-
ernize, civilize, animalize, and others, and be written systemize. This is
the more important, as the derivatives systemizing, systemization, are of
more easy utterance, than those of systematize, and particularly the noun
systematization.
I obser\'e in modern works on Natural History, the words crustaceology,
and testaceology ; terms that are intended to designate the science of differ-
ent kinds of shells, from Crustacea, testacea. But who can countenance the
use of such words? Where do we find another instance of similar terms
formed from adjectives .> Why should we violate an established principle
in coining words of this family ? Besides, who can endure the derivatives,
ci-ustaceological, testaceological, and much less tlie adverbs, if they should
ever be wanted ? I have not admitted these anomalous words into this vo-
cabulary ; but have inserted the proper words, austalogy, testalogy, which
are regularly formed, like mineralogy.
On this head I would subjoin a remark or two on the mode of writing In-
dian names of rivers, mountains and places in America, which we have
adopted.
The French were the first Europeans who explored the country between
the great lakes and the gulf of Mexico, and of course, the first to commit to
writing the Indian names which occurred to them in their travels. In do-
ing this, they attempte<l to express the sounds in letters, according to the
French manner of pronunciation. Hence it happened that they wrote ch,
where we should have written sh, had we first reduced those names to
writing. Thus we have Chenango, Michigan and Michillimackinac,*
in the French orthography. And as the French have no ir in their lan-
guage, they could not express the proper sound of the first syllable of Wa-
bash, Wisconsin, Wachita, otherwise than by writing them Ouabache,
Ouisconsin, Ouachita, and Missoori in French is Missouri. All this is
very proper for Frenchmen, for the letters used express the true sounds of
the words. But in English, the letters used lead to a false pronunciation,
and for this reason, should not be used in English compositions. It is to be
deeply regretted that our language is thus doomed to be a heterogeneous
medley of English and foreign languages ; as the same letters representing
' This word is, I believe, customarily pronounced Mackinaw, and the
riginal may well be sutiered to fall into disuse.
INTRODUCTION.
<5ift'erent sounds, in dillerent languages, sGi\e to cmLanass the reader who
understands only his own.
The irregularities in the English orthography have always been a subject
of deep regret, and several attempts have been made to banish them from
the language. The first attempt of this kind was made by Sir Thomas Smith,
Secretary of State, to Queen Elizabeth ; another was made by Dr. Gill, a
celebrated master of St. Paul's School in London; another by Charles But-
ler ; several attempts were made in the reign of Charles I. ; an attempt was
made by Elphinstone, in the last century; and lastly, another effort was
made by Dr. Franklin. The latter gentleman compiled a dictionary on his
scheme of reform, and procured types to be east, which he offered to me,
with a view to engage me to prosecute his design. This offer I declined to
accept ; for I was then, and am still convinced, that the scheme of introdu-
cing new characters into the language, is neither practicable nor expedient.
Any attempt of this kind must certainly fail of success.
But that some scheme for expressing the distinct sounds of our letters by
visible marks, ought to be adopted, is a point about which there ought to be,
and I trust there can be, but one opinion. That such a scheme is practica-
ble as well as expedient, I should presume to be equally evident. Such is
tlie state of our written language, that our own citizens never become mas-
ters of orthography, without great dilBculty and labor; and a great part of
them never learn to spell words with correctness. In addition to this, the
present orthography of some classes of words leads to a false pronunciation.
In regard to the acquisition of our language by foreigners, the evil of our
irregular orthography is extensive, beyond what is generally known or con-
ceived. While the French and Italians have had the wisdom and the policy
to refine and improve their respective languages, and render them almost
the common languages of all well-bred people in Europe ; the English Ian
guage, clothed in a barbarous orthography, is never learned by a foreignei
but from necessity ; and the most copious language in Europe, embodying
an uncommon mass of science and erudition, is thus very limited in its
fulness. And to complete the mischief, the progress of arts, science and
Christianity among the heathen, and other rude or unevangelized nations,
is most sensibly retarded by the difficulties of mastering an irregular or-
thography.
The mode of ascertaining the proper pronunciation of words by marks,
points and trifling alterations of the present characters, seems to be the only
one which can be reduced to practice. This mode resembling the use of
points in the Hebrew, has been adopted by some of the nations on th
tinent ; and I have pursued it, to a certain extent, in designating distinctions
in the sounds of letters, in this work. The scheme I have invented is not
considered as perfect ; Ijut it will accomplish some important purposes, by
removing the most numerous classes of anomalies. With this scheme, the
visible characters of the language will present to the eye of a reader the true
sounds of words ; and the scheme itself is so simple, that it may be learned
in a few moments. To complete a scheme of this kind, a few other altera
tions would be necessary, but such as would not materially change the or
thography, or occasion the least difficulty to the learner or reader.
After these alterations, there would remain a few words whose anomaliei
may be considered as incorrigible, such as know, gnaw, rough, &c., which
may be collected into tables and easily learned, and all the other irregul
ties may be so classed under general rules, as to be learned with very little
labor.
The adoption of this or any other scheme for removing the obstacles
which the English orthography presents to learners of the language, must
depend on public opinion. The plan I have adopted for representing the
sounds of letters by marks and points, in this work, is intended to answer two
purposes. First, to supersede the necessity of writing and printing the
words a second time in an orthography adapted to express their pronuncia-
tion. The latter method pursued by the English orthoepists, as applicable t(
most words, is I think not only unnecessary but very inexpedient. The se.
cond purpose is, to exhibit to my fellow citizens the outline of a scheme for
removing the difficulties of our irregular orthography, without the use of
new characters ; a scheme simple, easy of acquisition, and sufficient to an
swer all the more important purposes of a regular orthography.
PROMTNCIATIOX.
As our language has been derived from various sources, and little or n(
systematic elibrt has been made to reduce the orthography to any regularity
tjie pronunciation of the language is subject to numerous anomalies. Each
of our vowels has several different sounds; and some of the consonants re-
present very different articulations of the organs. That part of the lan-
guage which we have received from the Latin, is easily subjected to a few
general rules of pronunciation. The same is tlie fact with most of the de
rivatives from the Greek. Many words of French origin retain their French
orthography, which leads to a very erroneous pronunciation in English; and
a large portion of our monosyllabic words of Saxon origin are extremely ir
regular both in orthography and pronunciation.
If we can judge, with tolerable certainty, from the versification of Chau
cer, the pronunciation of words must have been, in many respects, dilferent
. in his age, from that of the present day: particubirly in making a distinct
syllable of e final, and of the termination ed. But no efibrt was probablj
ever made to settle the pronunciation of words, till the last century. Ii.
England, which was settled by various nations, there are numerous dialect.-
diversities of language, still retained by the great mass of the population.
The first settlers of New England, were almost all of English origin, and
ming from different parts of England, they brought with them sonje di-
versities of language. But in the infancy of the settlements, the people
lived in towns adjacent or near to each other, for mutual aid and protectiou.
from the natives : and the male inhabitants of the first generation frequently
assembled for the purpose of worship or for government. By the influence
of these and other causes, particularly by that of common schools, the differ-
ences of language among our citizens have been gradually lost ; so that in
this part of the United States, there can hardly be said to exist a difference
of dialect.
It is to be remarked further, that the first ministers of the gospel, who
migrated to this country, had been educated at the English universities, and
brought with them all the learning usually acquired in those institutions,
and the English language as it was then spoken. The influence of these
men, who were greatly venerated, probably had no small effect in extin-
guishing differences of speech.
Hence it has happened that the traditional pronunciation of the language
of well-educated people has been nearly the same in both countries, to this
day. Among the common people, whose pronunciation in all countries is
more or less corrupt, the diversities in this country are far less numerous
than in England.
About fifty or sixty years ago, Thomas Sheridan, an Irish gentleman, who
had been the pupil of an intimate friend of Dean Swift, attempted to reduce
the pronunciation of English words to some system, and to introduce it into
popular use. His analysis of the English vowels is very critical, and in this
respect, there has been little improvement by later writers, though I
think none of them are perfectly correct. But in the application of his prin-
ciples, he failed of his object. Either he was not well acquainted with the
best English pronunciation, or he had a disposition to introduce into use some
peculiarities, which the English did not relish. The principal objection
made to his scheme is that he gives to s the sound oi sh, in sudorific, superb,
and other words where .1 is followed by u long. These he pronounces
shooderific, shonperb, shooperjluity, &c. This pronunciation of s corres-
ponding to the Shcmitic W, he probably learnt in Ireland, for in the Irish
branch of the Celtic, s has often the sound of sh. Thus sean, old, is pro-
nounced shean. This pronunciation was no sooner published, than con-
demned and rejected by the English.
Another most extraordinary innovation of Sheridan was, his rejection of
the ItaUan sound of a, as in father, calm, ask, from every word in the lan-
uage. Thus his notation gives to a in bar, the same sound as in barren,
arrel, bat ; to a in father, pass, mass, pant, the same sound as in/of, pas-
sion, massacre, pan, fancy. Such a gross deviation from established Eng-
lish usage was of course condemned and rejected.
In his pronunciation of ti and ci, before a vowel, as in partiality, omni-
science, Sheridan is more correct than Walker, as he is in some other words;
uch for example as bench, tench, book, took, and others of the same classes.
Sheridan also contributed very much to propagate the change of tu into
chu, or tshu ; as in natshur, cultshur, virtshue. This innovation was vin-
dicated on the supposed fact, that the letter u has the sound of yu; and
natyur, cultyur, virtyue, in a rapid enunciation, become natshur, &c. And
to this day, this error respecting the sound of u is received in England as
truth. But the fact is otherwise, and if not, it does not justify the practice ;
for in usage, u is short in nature, culture, as in tun; so that on the princi-
"es of Sheridan himself, this letter can have no effect on the preceding
articulation.
This innovation however has prevailed to a considerable extent, although
Sheridan subjected the change of tu to no rules. He is consistent in apply-
ing this change equally to tu, whether the accent follows the t or not. If
fu is to be changed to (s7ju, in /«(u;'e, and perpetual, it ought to undergo
the same change in futurity, and perpetuity ; and Sheridan, in pronoun-
cing tutor, tutelage, tumult, as if written txhootor, tshootelage, tshoomult,
is certainly consistent, though wrong in fact. In other words, however,
Sheridan is inconsistent with himself; for he pronounces multitshood, recti-
tshood, servitshood, while habitude, beatitude, certitude, decrepitude,
gratitude, Stc. retain the proper sound of (.
Walker's rule for changing tti to chu, only when the accent precedes, is
entirely arbitrary, and evidently made by him to suit his own practice. It
has however the good effect of reducing the chus, and removing the outra-
geous anomalies of tshootor, tshoomult, &c.
There are many other words which Sheridan has marked for a pronuncia-
tion, which is not according to good usage, and which the later orthoepists
have corrected. In general, however, it may be asserted that his notation
does not warrant a tenth part as many deviations, from the present respectable
usage in England, as Walker's ; yet as his Dictionary was republished in this
country, it had no small effect in corrupting the pronunciation of some class-
es of words, and the effects of its influence are not yet extinct. What the
precise effect of Sheridan's scheme of pronunciation was in England, I am
not able to determine. But I have had information from the late venerable
Dr. Johnson of Stratford, and from the late Dr. Hubbard of New Haven,
INTRODUCTION.
ulio were in Eno-Ianil between the year 17G5 and the revolution, that about 1 classes of words, he entirely rejects. He condemns, as a slovenly enuncia-
that period, the change of ( into cliii had not taken place, to anv cMont. It tion, the sound given to d, which, before t and u. Walker directs, in certain
began to prevail on the stage and among the younger I.mh inv ,,,1 in, m- [words, to be pronounced like j. He rejects also his notation of ch, or tsh,
bers^of parliament, before Dr. Johnson left England,
Ame'rica, and Sheridan's Dictionary, published soon
tributed to extend the i
the acquisition of a lanj
dable and perplexing,
immense inconvcnicnc.
and the i m. m-', . i
d.^nirc pi.
(h lin congratulation, flatulent, natural, and all similar words. He rejects
I also the affected pronunciation of Sheridan and Walker, in such words as
Sttidi. mil l.iiul. Most of the other errors of Walker, he copies, as he does
or changes the est.il
<iit, does an injury u
ty men of the same
n a few years after the publication of Sheridan's Dictionary, appeared
Walker's, the author of which introduces the work to the public, with the
following remarks, on the labors of his predecessciis.
" Among those writers who deserve the In^i n .1 - .1. il ,^ -iihject, isMr.
Elphinstone; who, in his principles of the 1 I 1 _. has reduced
the chaos to a system, and laid the foundation : " j u I, ir pronunci-
ation. But this ■.ciTitleni:m. liv treating his sul.; 1 v i:ii n /llreted obscuri-
ty, and by absni.iU . n: :. " ii: : in niter the w'holc orttiogruphy of the lan-
guage, has unlui'i I credit with the public, for the part of his
labors which ciri 1 m : , ■ iiuhest praise."
"After him Lh. 1- nuck rLutiibuted a portion of improvement, by his
Rhetorical Uictionaiy, but he has rendered his Dictionary extremely im-
perfect, by entirely omitting a great number of words of doubtful and diffi-
cult pronunciation ; those very words for which a Dictionary of this kind
would naturally be consulted." [Let it be noted, that tlie same objection
lies in full force against Sheridan, Walker, and .lones.]
" To him succeeded Mr. Sheridan, who not only divided the words into
syllables, and placed figures over the vowels, as Dr. Kenrick had done, but
by spelling these syllables os they are pronounced, seemed to complete the
idea of a Pronouneinu DiitiDu^iry. and to leave but little expectation of im-
provement. It iiiiivi he (i.nl. -^ed that his Dictionary is generally superior
to every thing lli;it pn < i.li .1 li, nid his method of conveying the sound of
of words bv ■ip.llin lb, II] 1. lb, V are pronounced, is highly rational and use
ful. lint ill 1 1 - 1 in . - lie to stop. The numerous instances I have
given nt I I. r \ . and want of acquaintance with the anal
ogies oi il ! 11, . - II 1\ show how imperfect I think his Dictiona-
ry is, upuii iliL i\ liule, .Mii; u liji ample room was left for attempting another
that might better answer the purpose of a guide to pronunciation."
" The last writer on this subject is Mr. Nares, who, in his elements of or-
thoepy, has shown a clearness of method, and an extent of observation, which
deserve the highest encomiums. But he seems, on many occasions,* to'
have mistaken the best usage, and to have paid too little attention to the first
principles of pronunciation."
Soon after the publication of Walker's Dictionary, appeared the Dictiona-
ry of Stephen Jones, w^ho undertakes to correct the errors of Sheridan and
Walker. This author objects to Sheridan, that he has not introduced the
Italian .sound of a, [as in fath'er,'] in asingle instance, and that Walker has
been too sparing in the use of it. He objects that Sheridan has not, by any
peculiar marks, pointed out the sound of oi or oy, as in noise and cloy; and
that Walker has given distinctive marks of pronunciation to the diphthong
mi, which are terrific to the learner, and not well calculated to express the
exact soimd. He considers it as no trivial error in Walker's system, that he
uses the long e in place of the short y, which gives to asperity, for example,
the ludicrous sound of aspereetee. He notices also as a fault in W^alker's
scheme, that he makes no difference in the sound of 00 in tool, tooth, and in
look, took.
In all these particulars, except that of oi and oy, I think every man who
understands genuine English, will accord with Jones. From careful obser-
vation, while in England, I know that Jones's notation is far more correct
than that of Sheridan or Walker, and except in two or three classes of words,
his pronunciation is exactly that which I uniformly heard in England, and
nearly the same as that of well-educated gentlemen in New England.
A few years after the appearance of Jones's Dictionary, William Perry
published a pronouncing dictionary, in which an attempt is made to indicate
the sounds of the letters by certain arbitrary marks. In this work, the au-
thor has rejected most of the pecuharities of Sheridan, Walker and Jones,
and given the language nearly as it was spoken, before those authors under-
took to regulate the pronunciation. This author's manner of designating
the soimds of the letters is too complex for convenience, but his pronuncia-
tion is nearer to the actual usage in England, than that of either of his pre-
decessors before mentioned. His orthography also is more correct, accord-
ing to present usage, than that of his predecessoi-s.
During the year past, appeared the dictionary of R. S. Jameson, of Lin-
coln's Inn, intended to combine the merits of the most popular dictionaries,
and to correct the false pronunciation of Walker, whose notation in some
' In many instances, I suppose the writer means.
Ill- /,i;i.'r I ,1 ..I ib.i-i,,|iliy.
1m ; : ii |ii-ts have analyzed, and in general, have well defined
- 1^ and appropriate uses of the letters of the alphabet.
--Ill hi III - III !\ ■ v. bich appeared a few years before Walker's, is for the
most part, correct ; but in describing the sounds of what may be called the
diphthongal vowel i, I think he has erred, in making it to consist of the broad
ate and e. He admits indeed that the voice does not rest on the sound
but he contends that the mouth is opened to the same degree of aperture,
is in the same position, as if it were going to sound aw; hut before the
voice can get a passage to the lips, the under jaw is drawn up to the position,
for sounding e. On this it is justly remarked by Walker, that atv and e are
precisely the component elements of the diphthong oi and oy. If the aw is
pronounced, I would add, then t and oy must he pronounced exactly alike ;
and if aw is not pronounced, then it is not a component part of the diph-
thongal vowal i.
Walker contends that this diphthong i, is composed of the sound of the
Italian a, as hi fathtr, and the sound ol e. If so, he must have given to a, a
very different sound from that which we are accustomed to give it. But*
this is a mistake; that sound of a is no more heard in t, than the sound of
aw. The sound of i in fight, mind, time, idle, i^ not faweght, mawend,
tawem, awedle ; nor is it fdeght, maend, them, aedle. Let any man utter
the aw or the Italian a before the e, and he will instantly perceive the
error, and reject both definitions, as leading to a false pronunciation. The
truth is, the mouth, in uttering i, is not opened so wide as in uttering aw or
a; the initial sound is not that of ajo or a ; nor is it possible, by any char-
acters we possess, to express the true sound on paper. The initial sound is
not formed so deep in the throat as aw or o ; the position of the organs is
nearlj', yet not exactly the same. The true sound can be learned only by
the ear.
Equally inaccurate is the definition of the diphthongal «, or long u;
which these writers alledge to consist of the sounds of e and 00 or yu. It
has this sound indeed in certain words, as in unite, union, and others ; but
this is a departure from the proper sound of this character, as heard in cube,
abuse, durable, human, jury. These words are not pronounced, keoob,
abeoose, deoorable, heooman,jeoory. The effort to introduce this affected
pronunciation is of most mischievous tendency. The sound of e is not
heard in the proper enunciation of the English u, and for that reason, it
should not be so stated on paper, nor named yu ; as the error naturally leads
to a corrupt pronunciation. Dr. Kenrick remarks that we might as well
prefix y to the other vowels, as to «, and pronounce them ya, ye, yi, yo.
But this is not the whole evil ; this analysis of u has led orthoepists to give
to our first or long «, two distinct sounds, or rather to make a diphthong and
a vowel of this single letter. Thus they make it a diphthong in almost all
situations, except after r, where they make it a vowel equivalent to 00 or
the French ou. They represent u as being equivalent to ew, that is, e and
00, in cube, tube, duty, confusion, endure, pronounced, kewbe, tewbe, dewty,
confewsion, endewre, but in brute, fruit, rude, intrude, ruby, they make u
equivalent to 00 ; thus, broote,froot, roode, introode, rooby.
I know not where this affectation originated; it first appeared in Sheri-
dan's Dictionary, but it is a most unfounded distinction, and a most mischiev-
ous error. No such distinction was known to Dr. Johnson ; he gives the
long u but one sound, as in confusion; and no such distinction is observed
among good speakers generally, either in this country or in England. I was
particularly attentive to the public speakers in England, in regard to this
point, and was happy to find, that very few of them made the distinction
here mentioned. In that country as in this, the long u has a uniform sound
after all the consonants.
The source of the error in this as in another case to be mentioned here-
after, may be an inattention to the manner in which the articulations affect
the vowels which follow them. To understand this, it will be necessary or
useful to examine the anatomical formation of articulate sounds.
" An articulate sound," says Lowth, " is the sound of the human voice,
formed by the organs of speech. A vowel is a simple articulate sound."
These definitions seem not to be sufficiently accurate. Articulation, in
human speech, is the jointing, juncture or closing of the organs, which pre-
cedes and follows the vowels or open sounds, and which partially or totally
intercepts the voice. A vowel or vocal sound is formed simply by opening
the mouth. Thus in sounding a or 0, the mouth is opened in a particular
manner, but without any articulation or closing of the organs. In strictness
therefore, a simple vowel is not an articulate sound, as Lowth supposes ;
and it is certain that many irrational animals, without the power of articula-
tion, do utter vowel sounds with great distinctness.
An articulate sound then is properly a sound preceded or followed or both,
by an articulation or junction of the organs. 'Thus ba, ab, and bad, are ar-
ticulate sounds ; the vowel being begun or closed, with a junction of the
lips, interrupting the voice, in ba and ab ; and in bad the vocal sound being
preceded by one articulation and followed by another. The power of arti-
INTRODUCTION.
(•Illation constilutcs Ihc great difference between men and brute? ; the latter
being unable to articulate, can utter only vocal sounds. The imperfect ar-
ticulations of the parrot and some other animals form no exception that de-
serves notice.
I give the name articulation, to the act of joining the organs, and to the
character or letter which represents the junction. In the latter sense, the
word is equivalent to consonant ; and articulation may be considered the
preferable term, as it expresses the fact of closing the organs.
Human speech then consists of vocal sounds separated and modified by
articulations of the organs. We open the moutli, in a particular manner, to
utter a vowel ; we then close the organs, interrupt that sound, and open the
organs to utter a second vowel, and continue this opening and closing, to the
end of the word. This process is carried on with surprising rapidity.
Now in passing from an articulation or close position, to an open position
for uttering a vowel, it happens often that a very slight sound of e is uttered
so as to be perceptible to the ear, eitlier before or after the utterance of the
proper vowel. This is remarkably the case with the long vowels preceding
r, for such is the nature of that letter, that bare, mire, more, parent, appar-
ent, &c., cannot well be pronounced without a slight sound of e, between
the long vowel and the consonant. Thus the words above named are pro-
nounced nearly baer ,mier ,moer , paerent,appaerent, and bare, mire, really
form two syllables, though they are considered to be monosyllables.
A like case, though less obvious, occurs in uttering u, particularly after
the labial and palatal articulations. In passing from the articulations, eb,
eg, em, ep, or pe, to the sound of le, as in nnite anApure, we are apt insen-
sibly to utter a slight sound of e ; and this utterance, which proceeds from
the particular situation of the organs, has been mistaken for the first compo-
nent sound of the diphthongal «. The same cause has given rise to the
pronunciation of e before the vowel in such words as guide, guard, kind,
guise. This is precisely similar to the vulgar pronunciation of cow, gown,
county, town, &c., that is, keow, geown, keounty, teoum ; a pronunciation
formerly common in New England, and not yet wholly extinct. This vi-
cious pronunciation, in all words of this kind, whether countenanced by men
of low life or of fashionable life, ought to be carefully avoided ; as the slen-
der sound of e, in such cases, gives a feebleness to the words utterly incon-
sistent with that full, open and manly enunciation which is essential to elo-
quence.
The genuine sound of u long, detached from the influence of consonants,
is the same in all the words above specified ; and the reason why it has been
made a distinct vowel after r, as in rude [rood,] is, that the organs are open,
before the sound commences; whereas when it follows most of our conson-
ants, the sound is commenced immediately after an articulation, or close posi-
tion of the organs, as in mutable and infusion. For this reason, u has more
distinctly its diphthongal sound after labials and palatals, than after r; but
this accidental circumstance should not be the ground of radical distinctions,
equivalent to the sounds of different letters.
There is, in Walker's analysis of the alphabet, an error peculiar to himself-
This is, in making a distinction between the short i when it is followed by a
consonant, and when it is not ; as in ability. In this case, he calls the first
(, in abil, short ; but the second he calls open, and equivalent to e in equal.
See principles 107, 544. He also makes the unaccented y at the end of a syl-
lable precisely like the first sound of e, in me, meter. Ability then written
according to his principles would be abileetee. Never was a grosser mis-
take. The sound of i and y in unaccented syllables, whether followed by
an articulation or not, is always the short sound of e long, that is, e shorten-
ed ; the same sound in quality or kind, but not in quantity. To prove this
fact, nothing is necessary but an attention to the manner in which the words
little and tiny, are pronounced, when they are made emphatical by utter-
ance. They are then pronounced leetle, teeny — and this we hear every
day, not only among children, but often among adults. In this change of
pronunciation, there is nothing more than a prolongation of the sound of i,
which, in the syllables, lit, tin, is short, in leetle, teeny, is long.
In consequence of this mistake. Walker has uniformly made a different
notation of i when accented, and followed by a consonant in the same sylla-
ble, and when it stands alone in the syllable and unaccented. Thus to the
first i in ability he assigns a different sound from that of the second ; and in
article, he gives to i the sound of e long, arteecle ; but in articular, articu-
late, he gives it the short sound, tik. It is in consequence of this mistake,
that he has throughout his Dictionary assigned to i and y unaccented and to
y unaccented terminating words, the sound of e long ; an error, which it is
ascertained by actual enumeration, extends to more than eleven thousand
vowels or syllables ; an error, which, if carried to the full extent of his prin-
ciples, would subvert all the rules of English versification. Jones and Perry
have corrected this error in their notations, throughout the language.
If it should be said, that Walker did not intend to direct y in this case, to
be pronounced as e long, but that his notation is intended only to mark the
quality of the sound ; it may be replied, he either intended the sound to be
that of c long, according to his express direction, or he did not. If he did
his notation is not according to any good practice, either in England or the
U. States, and by changing a short vowel into a long one, his notation would
subvert the rules of metrical composition. If he did not, his notation is
adapted to mislead the learner, and it does mislead learners, wherever his
book is strictly followed. In truth, this notaliun is generally condemned ij
England, and universally rejected in practice.''
In the notation of sounds, there is a mistake and inconsistency in all the or-
thoepists, which deserves notice, not on account of its practical importance
o much, as to expose an error in syllabication or the division of words into
yllables, which has been maintained by all writers in Great Britain, fron:
time immemorial. The rule is that " a single consonant between two vow-
must be joined to the latter syllable." According to this rule, habit,
baron, tenet, are to be divided thus, ha-bit, ba-rou, te-net.
This rule is wholly arbitrary, and has for ages, retarded and rendered dif-
ficult, the acquisition of the language by children. How is it possible that
of discernment should support a rule that, in thousands of words,
makes it necessary, to break a syllable, detaching one of the letters essen-
tial to it, and giving it a place in the next .' In the words above mentioned^
" , bar, ten, are distinct syllables, which cannot be divided without vio-
lence. In many words, as in these, this syllable is the radix of the word ;
the other syllable being formative or adventitious. But where this is not the
case, convenience requires that syllables should, if possible, be kept entire ;
and in all cases, the division of syllables should, as far- as possible, be SHch
to lead the learner to a just pronunciation.
As in our language the long and short vowels are not distinguished by
differences of character, when we see a single consonant bet^veen vowels,
we cannot determine, from the preceding vowel character, whether the
sound is long or short. A stranger to the language knows not whether to
pronounce habit, ha-bit or hab-it, Ull he is instructed in the customary pro-
•iation. It was probably to avoid this inconvenience that our ancestors
wrote two consonants instead of one in a great number of words, as in ban-
ner, dinner. In this respect however there is no uniformity in English ; as
we have generally retained the orthography of the languages from which
we have received the words, as in tutor, rigor, silent, and the like.
Now it should be observed that although we often see the consonant
doubled, as in banner, yet no more than one articulation in these cases is
ever used in speaking. We close the organs but once between the first and
second syllable, nor is it possible to use both the letters n, without pronoun-
cing ban, then intermitting the voice entirely, opening the organs and clos-
ng them a second time. Hence in all cases, when the same consonant is
written twice between vowels, as in banner, dinner, better, one of them only
is represented by an articulation of the organs, the other is useless, except
that it prevents any mistake, as to the sound of the preceding vowel.
In the notation of all the orthoepists, there is inconsistency, at least, if not
ror. If they intend to express the true pronunciation by using the precise
letters necessary for the purpose, they all err. For instance, they write
bar'run for bar'on, when one articulation only is, or possibly can be, used ;
also ballance, biggot, biggamy, mellon, mettaphor, mellody. This is
not only useless, for the use of the accent after the consonant, as bar'on,
bal'ance, big'ot, mel'on, &c. completely answers the purpose of determining
the pronunciation ; but it is contradictory to their own practice in a vast
ber of cases. Thus they write one consonant only in civil, civic, rivet ;
and Walker writes kullonade, doubling /, but kalony, kolonise, with a single
This want of system is observable in all the books which are offered to
to the pubHc as standards of orthoepy.
A still greater fault, because it may lead to innumerable practical errors,
consists in the notation of unaccented syllables. In this particular, there is
■ and discrepancy in the schemes of the orthoepists, which shows the
utter impossibility of carrying them into effect. The final y unaccented.
Walker makes to be e long, as I have before observed ; while Sheridan,
Jones, and Perry, make it equivalent to short i, or at least, give it a short
sound, according to universal practice. Walker pronounces the last vowel
in natural and national, as a short ; Sheridan, as e short, naturel ; Jones,
as u short, naturul. Sheridan's notation may be a mistake, for he gives
to al in national, the sound of ul. In the adjective deliberate. Walker and
Jones give a in the last syllable its proper long sound ; and Sheridan, the
sound of e short, deliberet. Dignitary is pronounced by Sheridan dignite-
ry, and Walker and Jones give to a its short sound, as in at. The termina-
ting syllable ness is pronounced by Walker and Jones nes, by Sheridan nis,
blessednes, blessednis. The same difference exists in their notation of
less ; Sheridan, pronouncing it lis, as in blatnelis, and Walker and Jones,
* From the fact, which Walker relates of himself, Prin. 246, that he made
a distinction between the sound of ee in flee and in meet, until he had con-
sulted good speakers and particularly Mr. Garrick, who could find no differ-
ence in the sound, it might be inferred that his ear was not very accurate.
But his mistake evidently arose from not attending to the effect of the artic-
ulation in the latter word, which stops the sound suddenly, but does not vary
it. It is the same mistake which he made in the sound of i in the second
syllable of ability, which he calls short, while the sound of the second i and
of y is that of long e. The celebrity of Walker as a teacher of elocution,
and his key to tlie pronunciation of ancient names, which, with a few excep-
tions, is a good standard work, have led many persons to put more confidence
in his English Orthoepy than a close examination of its principles' will
support.
INTRODUCTIOIN.
giving e its proper sound. These differences, and many others, run through
their worlcs, and appear in a large portion of all the words in tlie language.
Now it is prohahle that all these gentlemen pronounced these words alike,
or so nearly alike that no difference would be noticed by a bystander. The
mischief of these notations is, that attempts are made to express minute
distinctions or shades of sounds, so to speak, which cannot be represented
to the eye by characters. A great part of the notations must, necessarily,
be inaccurate, and for this reason, the notation of the vowels in unaccented
syllables should not be attempted. From a careful attention to this subject,
1 am persuaded that all such notations are useless, and many of them
mischievous, as they lead to a wrong pronunciation. In no case can the
true pronunciation of words in a language be accurately and completely ex-
pressed on paper ; it can be caught only by the ear, and by practice. No
attempt has ever been made to mark the pronunciation of all the vowels, in
any other language ; and in our language it is worse than useless.
As Walker's pronunciation has been represented to the people of this
country as the standard, I sliall confine my remarks chiefly to his work,
with a view to ascertain its merits, and correct any erroneous impressions
which have been received from such representations.
1. The first class of words which I shall mention, is that in which a has
what is called, its Italian sound, as we pronounce it io father, psalm, calm.
From a hasty enumeration of words of this class, I find there are two or
three hundred in number, in which Walker gives to a its short sound, a
fat, bat, fancy, when, in fact, the most respectable usage in England
well as in the United States, gives that letter its Italian sound. This error
Jones and Perry have corrected. To he correct in this class of words, we
have only to retain the customary pronunciation of the northern States.
2. The notation of the sound of oo by Walker is wrong in most or al
the words in which oo arc followed by k, and in some others. Notwith
standing the distinction between the long and short sound of oo is clear and
well established in a great number of words, yet he assigns the short sound
to eight words only, viz. wool, wood, good, hood, foot, stood, under-
stood, and withstood. Principles 307. It seems inconceivable that a man,
bred or i-csident in London, should assign to oo in book, cook, took, and oth
erlike words, the same sound as in cool, boom, boot, food. Jones and Per
ry have corrected this notation, and given the pronunciation according to
good usage, and just according to our customary pronunciation. While in
England, I did not hear a single word of this class pronounced according to
Walker's notation.
3. To the letters ch in bench, bttnch, clinch, drench, inch, tench, wrench,
and many other words. Walker gives the French sound, that is, the sound
of sh, instead of ch, as bensh, insh, &c. It would seem by this and other
examples of wrong notation, that the author had been accustomed to some 1
cal peculiarities, either inLondon where all kinds of dialects are heard, or
some other place. In this instance, he gives to these words a pronunciation
different from that of other orthoepists, and one which I have never heard
either in England or in this country. His notation is palpably wrong.
our customary pronunciation is universally correct.
4. It has been already remarked, that Walker's notation of the sound of
; and y short, in unaccented syllables, which he directs to he pronounced
every other orthoepist, except Jameson. W'alker admits i to be short when
followed by a consonant in the same syllable. Thus the first i in ability is
short, but the second i and the y are long e, abileetee. Now observe the
consequence. In the plural, abilities, according to his rule, must be pro-
nounced abileeteez ; but tlie word is never thus pronounced ; universally
it is pronounced abilitiz ; the last vowel sound is in practice immediately
followed by a consonant, and by his own rule must be short. Then the re-
sult is, y in ability is long e, but ie in the pluralis short i. And for this
change of sound no provision is made in Walker's scheme, nor in any other
that I have ever seen.
5. In the analysis of the sounds of our letters. Walker alledges the diphthong
mi; ow, to consist of the broad a, or aw, and the Italian sound of u. Ac
cording to his scheme, about, abound, round, now, vow, are to be pronoun
red, abawut, abuwund, rawund, nawu, vawu. But whoever heard this
pronunciation ? The fact is not so ; the broad sound of a is not the initial
sound of this diphthong ; it is not commenced as deep in the throat, or with
the same aperture as aw ; it is a sound that can be learned only by the ear:
The pronunciation of tliis diphthong is uniform in both countries.
6. In noting the sound of the unaccented vowels, and those which have
tlie secondary accent, there are mistakes without number, in all the schemes
which I have seen, and one continued series of differences between the
ortlioepists. The following is a specimen
Sheridan.
Walker.
Jcmes,
Deliverense.
Dcliveranse.
Deliveranse.
Dignytery.
Uignetare.
Dignytary.
Anser.
Ansur.
Ansur,
Assembledzh.
Assembladje.
Assembladzhe
Averaje.
Averaje.
Averedzh.
Barrin.
Barren.
Barren.
Penal.
Penal.
Penul.
Pennens.
Pennanse.
Penaunse.
Vol. I.
F.
Sheridan.
Pennytenshel.
Pennytensherry.
Persunidzh.
Proksymet.
Proflyget.
Pennetrent.
Akkrymunny.
Allymunny.
Sercmunny.
Walker.
Pennetenshal.
Pennetenshare.
Persunidje.
Proksemat.
Proflegat.
Pennetrant.
Akkuzatore.
Akkremone.
Allemunnc.
Seremone.
Jones.
Pennylenshul.
Pennytenshary.
Persunedje.
Proksymet.
Proflyget.
Pennetrant.
Akkuzatury.
Akkrymunny.
Allymunny.'
Serymony.
I take no notice of the different letters by wliich these writers express the
same sound, one using e where another uses y, hut of the different sounds
which they give to the vowels in the secondj third, or last syUable. Now,
I appeal to any person who has a tolerably correct ear, whether it is the
sound of a that is uttered by good speakers, or any speakers in deliverance
and dignitary ? Is it tlie sound of a that we hear in the last syllabic of
penance, penetrant, and assemblage ? Do we hear in the last syllable of
profligate, the short a, as in fat > So far fiom it, that a public speaker, who
should utter the sound of a so that it should be distinctly recognized in any
polite audience, would expose himself to ridicule. The sound of the last
vowel approaches to tliat of e or u, and the notation of Sheridan is nearest
the truth. But any notation is worse than useless ; for without it, there
would be no difference in customary pronunciation.
To show the utter impracticability of expressing the unaccented vowels,
in all cases, with precision, let the reader observe Walker's notation of a,
in the word moderate and its derivatives. In the adjective and verb, the
a is long, as in/a<e ,• in moderately and moderateness, it is short, as in fat.
This is certainly incorrect notation ; no good speaker ever pronounces these
words moderally, moderatness. In addition to this, the a in the verb to
moderate is more distinctly pronounced than it is in the adjective, in which
it has rather the sound of e short, moderet ; at least the sound is more near-
ly that of ethan of a. And this distinction of sound, between letters in the
same word, when an adjective, and when a verb, occurs in a multitude of
cases; a distinction for which no provision is made in any system of orthoe-
py that I have seen, and one which must be left to the cognizance of the ear
alone.
There is another class of vowel sounds that comprises too many inaccu-
racies to be overlooked. This is the class in which the first syllable has
an unaccented e, as in debate. In all words of this kind, Walker directs
the letter e to have its long sound, as in me, mete. Then, become, bedeck,
begin, debate, debar, declare, elect, legitimate, mechanic, medicinal, me-
morial, necessity, peculiar, petition, rebuke, recant, relate, secure, select,
velocity, &.c. are to be pronounced beecomc, beedeck, beegin, deebate,
deebar, deeclare, eelect, leegitimate, meechanic, meedicinal, meemorial,
neecessity, peeculiar, peetition, reebuke, reecant, reelate, seecure, seelect,
veelocity, &c.
According to this notation, the first vowel e in evil, even, and in event, is
to have the same sound, being all marked with the same figure. Now, let
me ask, where a speaker can be found who pronounces these words in this
manner .' Who ever heard of such a pronunciation ? This notation is er-
roneous and mischievous, as it is inconsistent with the regular accent, which
carries the stress of voice forward to the next syllable, and must, necessa-
rily, leave the first vowel with the feeble sound of short i or y. 'This short
sound is that which we always hear in such words.
The like error occurs in Walker's notation of i in direct, diminish, and
many other words. Walker himself, under despatch, calls the sound of e
the short i, but under rule 107, says this sound of t cannot be properly said
to be short, as it is not closed by a consonant ; yet it has half its diphthongal
■ ■ ~" ■ " ■ the
sound, Oie sound of e .' .' This reason that i or t
not short, because I
sound is not closed by a consonant, is entirely groundless, and contradicted
by the universal pronunciation of thousands of English words. To direct
such words to be pronounced decreet, deeminish, is inexcusable. This er-
ror corresponds with that specified under No. 4, supra.
Thus, there is neither uniformity nor consistency among the orthoepists
in the notation of the unaccented vowels ; and it is hardly possible there
should be, for many of the sounds are so slight, in ordinary pronunciation,
that it is almost impossible for the ear to recognize the distinctions, and ab-
solutely impossible to express them on paper. In truth, as Dr. Ash remarks,
in a dissertation prefixed to his Dictionary, the sounds of the five vowels,
in unaccented, short, and insignificant syllables, arc nearly coincident ; and
it must be a nice ear that can distinguish the difference of sound in the con-
cluding syllable of altar, alter, manor, murmur, .latyr. It is for this reason
that the notation of such vowels at all savors of hypercritical fastidiousness,
and by aiming at too much nicely and exactness, tends only to generate
doubts and multiply differences of opinion. If the accent is laid on the prop-
er syllable, and the vowel of that syllable correctly pronounced, the true
pronunciation of the word will follow of course ; at least, the pronunciation
is more likely to be right than wrong, and no mistake will occur, which shall
be an object of notice.
Nor can I approve the practice of writing all words, in different charac-
ters, to express their pronunciation, as if their proper letters were so many
INTRODUCTION.
liieroglyphics, requiring interpretation. A great part of English words have
an orthography suliiciently regular, and so well adapted to express the true
pronunciation, that a few general rules only are wanted as a guide to the
7. Another error of notation, in most of the English hooks, is that of the
vowel in the first syllable of circle, circumstance, and many other words,
the tii'st syllable of which Sheridan first and afterwards Walker and Jones
directed to be pronounced ser. This pronunciation 1 liavc never heard ei-
ther in England or in this country. Perry's notation makes the syllable sur,
according to all the usage with which I am acquainted.
8. Another objection to the books offered as standards of pronunciation,
particularly to the dictionaries of Sheridan and Walker, is that the rules are
inconsistent, or the execution of the work is inconsistent with the rules.
Thus Walker lays it down as a rule. No. 357, that c after the accent and fol-
lowed by ea, ia, ie, io, or eous, takes the sound of sh, as in ocean, social,
Phocion, saponaceous, which are pronounced as if written oshean, sosheal,
Phosheon, saponaslieous. But in the Dictionary, the author departs from
the rule, and directs these words to be pronounced as if written oshun, so-
shnl, saponashus. So also in gracious, ancient, especial, provincial, tena-
cious, rapacious, and I know not how many others, the author depaits from
his own rule ; so that either his rule or his practice must be wrong.
And here it may be proper to notice a mistake of the author which has led
to an erroneous notation in a great number of words. The mistake is, that
he assigns to c and t before the vowels ea, ia, ie, eo, and io, the sound of sA
Thus in ocean, he considers c as pronounced like sh ; and in partial he con-
siders the sound of sh as proceeding from t only. Now the ti-uth is, that the
sound of sft in these and in all similar cases, results from the combination of
e, t, or s with the following vowel ; that is, from the rapid enunciation and
blending of the two letters. Then the sound of the first vowel being blend-
ed with c or t, it ought not to be repeated and form a distinct syllable. To
make three syllables of ocean, is to use the vowel e twice. In most cases
all the orthoepists agree in pronouncing these combinations correctly in dis-
syllables, and primitive words; as oshun, grashus, tenashus, parshal, sub-
stanshal, nashun, relashun, preshus, and the Uke. But in a number of
words that are primitive in our language. Walker and Jones depart from this
rule ; for although they pronounce conscience in two syllables, conshense,
yet they pronounce nescience ani prescience, in three, neshyense, preshy-
ense. So also when they make tial one syllable in the primitive word, they
make two syllables of these letters in the derivatives ; partial is parshal,
but partiality is parsheality. Thus one error has led to another, and a large
part of all words of this kind are mispronounced. Sheridan and Perry, in
this respect, are consistent and correct ; making one syllable only of cia, cie,
f 10, tia, tio, both in primitives and derivatives, throughout the language. A
single line of poetry ought to settle this point forever.
Expatiate free o'er all this scene of man. Pope.
9. A remarkable instance of inconsistency occurs in the following words.
Armature, aperture, breviature, feature, &c., Walker pronounces arina-
ishure, apertshure, breviatshure, overtshure; hut forfeeture is forfeetyure,
zni Judicature, ligature, literature, miniature, nunciature, portraiture,
preficture, quadrature, signature, are pronounced as here written. Car
any reason be possibly assigned for such inconsistency .'
10. Obedience and its family of words, Walker pronounces obejeence, obe-
jeent, obejeently, but disobedience, disobedient, as here written. Expedi-
ent is either as here written, or expejeent ; but expedience without the alter-
native. Why this inconsistency ?
11. Obdurate, obduracy, are marked to be pronounced obdurate or obju-
rate, obduracy or objuracy ; but objurately, objurateness, without an alter-
native. In these last words occurs another error, the a in the third syllable
is made short, as if pronounced rat ; a deviation from all good usage.
This notation of obdurate is inconsistent also with that of indurate, and
with that of obdvre ; an inconsistency which appears to have no plausible
pretext.
The conversion of d intoj before )', is rejected, I believe, in all words, by
Jones, Perry and Jameson, and before u is rejected by Perry and Jameson,
and in many words by Jones. It is a departure from orthography wholly in-
excusable.
12. Walker, Principles No. 92, lays it down as a rule, that when a is pre
reded by the gutturals hard g or c, [he should have said palatals,] it is, in
polite pronunciation, softened by the intervention of a sound like e, so that
card, cart, guard, regard, are pronounced like heard, heart, gheard, re
gheard. Now it is remarkable that in the vocabulary or dictionary, the au
regoing
guard, DOT in a multitude of other words which fall within the rule, has he
thor has departed from his rule, for in not one of the foregoing words, except
guard, DOT in a multitude of other words which fall within the rule, has he
directed this sound of e before the following vowel. Had he conformed to
his own rule, he must have perverted the pronunciation of car, carbuncle
care, carcass, cardinal, cargo, garden, garter, discard, and a long list of
other words, too long to be here enumerated. The English orthoepists now
confine this prepositive sound of e to guard, guaranty, guardian, guil
kind, and a few others. The probable origin of this fault, has been already
assigned, in treating of the letter k. It is an affected pronunciation, which
Nares calls " a monster, pecuUar to the stage." Indeed this slender sound
of e before another vowel, is wholly incompatible with that manly enuncia
Pion which is peculiarly suited to the genius of the language. Perry and
,l<imeson have rejected i(
13. In the first edition of Walker's Dictionary, the author, under the word
tripod, observes, that " all words of two syllables, with the accent on the
first, and having one consonant between two vowels, ought to have the vow-
"' in the first syllable long." But this was too rash, for such words as cem'-
ent,des'ert,prej'ace,pres'ent,profit,reb'el,trop'ic,andaniuhitudc of others,
tand, in the author's book, in direct opposition to his own rule. In a sub-
sequent edition, the author, or some otiier person, has qualified the rule by
an exception in favor of settled usage. This exception destroys the ^ alue
of the rule ; and indeed there is, and there can be no rule applicable to
ords of this class. The pronunciation of the first vowel can be known
only by the usage.
14. The derivatives of nation and ratio. Walker and Jones pronounce
nash'onal, rash'onal. If this should be defended on the ground of the shor-
tening power of the antepenultimate accent, then let me ask why we have
' nosh'onal from notion, deuosh'onal from devotion, probash'oner from
probation, stash'onary from station ? Why make rules and not apply
them ? Why indulge such palpable inconsistences and multiply anomalies ?
15. Possess is, by the English orthoepists, pronounced ^ozzess; but why
not then pronounce assess, assist, assassin, conscssion, obsession, with the
sound of z? Can any good reason be assigned for makingyossess an excep-
tion to the pronunciation of this class of words .' This utterance of sounds
through the nose is always disagreeable to the ear, and should be restricted
to words in which usage is established. Good taste should rather induce a
limitation, than an extension of this piactice. This remark applies also to
some words beginning with dis, in which Walker goes beyond other orthoe-
pists in giving to s this nasal sound.
16. Walker lays it down as a fact, that u has the sound of e and oo or yu- '
This is true in many words, as in union, unite, unanimity, &c. Hence
according to his principle, u in these words is to be pronounced yunion,
yunite, without the letter y prefixed. Yet he writes these and similar
ords with y, yunion, whicli upon his principles, would prefix yu to the
sound ofyu, and the pronunciation would be yuyunite, '" "
his notation of this sound of u is not uniform ; for i
unite without y, though it must be as proper in the compound as in the
Ie word. The same inconsistency occurs between use, written yuse,
yuze, and disuse, disuze.
17. There is a fault in Walker's notation of o, when it has the sound of oo,
the French ou. In the Key, he marks o when it has this sound with the
figure 2, and gives niove as an example. Then according to his Key, o
alone when thus marked, sounds as oo- But in the vocabulary, he thus
IS both vowels in booh, look, boot, and all similar words. Then accor-
ding to his notation, each of the vowels has the sound of oo, and book, look,
are to be pronounced boo-ooh, loo-ook. He certainly did not intend this ;
but such is precisely his direction, or the result of his notation ; and a for-
gner, without counter-direction, must be led into this pronunciation.
The same fault occurs in his notation of ee, as in meet and seek.
18. Volume, Walker and Jones pronounce volyiwie ; why not then change
column into colyum ? Will it be said that in volume the u is long ! This is
not the fact; at least I never heard it thus pronounced either in England or
America ; it is always short in common usage, and so marked by Perry.
19. Ink, uncle, concord, concourse, concubine, are pronounced by Wal-
ker, ingk, ungkl, kongkord, honghorse, kongkubine ; and these odious
vulgarisms are offered for our adoption. There can be no apology for such
attempts to corrupt our language.
20. The words bravery, finery, knavery, nicety, scenery, slavery, are,
by Walker and the other orthoepists, pronounced in tliree syllables, and im-
agery, in four ; the final e of the primitive word being detached from it, and
uttered with »■ as a distinct syllable. Why savagery has escaped the same
fate, I do not know. It is obvious that in negligent practice, these words
have often been thus pronounced. But the most correct pronunciation re-
tains the original word entire in the derivative, the slight sound of e before r
no more constituting a syllable, than it does in /noce and mire. Take the
following examples.
Of marble stone was cut
An altar carv'd with cunning imagery. Spenser.
When in those oratories might you see
Rich carvings, portraitures, and imagery. Dryden.
Your gift shall two large goblets be
Of silver, wrought with curious imagery. Dryden.
What can thy imagery of sorrow mean ; Prior.
Pronounced in four syllables, imagery, in these lines, makes a syllable too
much, and injures the measure, and in the last example, utterly destroys it.
The true pronunciation of Spenser, Dryden and Prior is the same as it al-
ways has been in my elementary books.
21. Formerly, the viotis puissance , puissant , had the accent on the sec-
ond syllable ; although the poets seem, in some instances, to have blended
the four first letters'into one syllable. But the modern change of the ac-
cent to the first syllable is not in accordance with English analogies, and it
impairs the measure of many lines of poetry in which these words occur.
In the adverb puissantly it has a very bad effect.
The foregoing observations extend to whole classes of words, in which the
genuine pronunciation has been changed, unsettled and perverted. It
would be inconsistent with the limited nature of this Introduction, to enter
into an examination of every particular word of disputable pronunciation. It
Ii\TRODUCTIOi\.
seems to be inexpedient and useless to bestow, as Walker has d
page or a page, on a single word, in attempting to settle some tn
or, in many cases, to settle a point tiiat, in tliis country, has
disputed.
2, half a
To give a brief statement of the errors, diversities and contradictions of 1 the orthography
I The following lists are not complete, but they comprehend the greatest
j number of words in their respective classes. The dates at the head of the
columns designate the year when the dictionaries in my possession were
Ipublished, indicating nearly, but not exactly, the origin of each scheme. In
the principal schemes of orthoepy, which have been oliered to the publi
within the last half century, two classes of words only will be sufficient, as]lfollowed the common orthograph
specimens.
e given the letters used by each author, in the sylla-
the difference of pronunciation ; in the others, I have
jShet'idati,
1784.
Abbrevyature,
Accentuate,
Accentuation,
Actual,
Actuate, &c.
Admikstshur,
Adventual,
Adventshur,
Agriculture,
Aperture,
Arkitektshur,
Armature,
Artuate,
Attaintshur,
Aventshur,
Bcfortune.
Bountyus,
Calenture,
Capitulate,
Capsular,
Captshur,
Cartulary,
Celature,
Cinctshur,
Claushur,
Commensurate,
Commutual,
Compactshur,
Compostshur,
Concretshur,
Congratulate,
Conjectshur,
Conjunctshur,
Connatural,
Constituent,
Constructshur,
Contextshur,
Conventual,
Counternatural,
Courtshus,
Creatshur,
Cultshur,
Debentshur,
Decoctshur,
Dcfcatshur,
Dejectshur,
Departshur,
Dictatshur,
Discomfitshur,
Discourtshus,
Disnaturalize,
Disnat'ihured,
Divestshur,
Dutyus,
Effectual,
Enraptshur,
Estuary,
Estuate,
Eventual,
Expostulate,
Factshur,
Fastuous,
Featshur,
Fistula,
Flatulence,
Flatuous,
Fluctuate,
Fortune,
Fractshur,
Fructuous,
Futshur,
Uarnitshur,
Walker,
1794.
Abbreveatshurc,
Accentshuate,
Accentshuatiou,
Acljhual,
Actshuate,
Admikstshure,
Adventshual,
Adventshure,
Agricultshure,
Architectshuro.
Armatshur.-,
Artshuate,
jVttaintshurc.
Aventshure,
Befortshune,
Bountcheous,
Calentshurc,
Capitulate,
Capshular,
Captshure,
Cartshulary,
Celatshure,
Cinctshurc,
Clauzhure,
Commenshuratc,
Comniutshual,
Compactshure,
Compostshure,
Concretshure,
Congratshulate,
Conjectshuic,
Conjunctshure,
Connatshural,
Constitshuent,
Constructshure,
Contextshure,
Conventshual,
Counternatshural,
Courtsheous,
Cretshure,
Cultshurc,
Debentshure,
Decoctshure,
Defeatshure,
Dejectshure,
Departshure,
Dictatshure,
Discomfityure,
Discourtshus,
Disnatshuralizc,
Di.snatshurcd,
Dive^tshure,
Duteous or Dutsheous,
Efl'ectshual,
Enraptshure,
Estshuary,
Estshuate,
Eventshual,
Expostshulate,
Factshure,
Fastshuous,
Featshure,
Fistshula,
Flatshulence,
Flatshuous,
Fluctshuate,
Fortshune,
Fractshure,
Fructshuous,
Futshure,
Garnitshure,
Jont-s,
1798.
Abbreviature,
Accentuate,
Actual,
Actuate,
Admixture,
Adventual,
Adventure,
Agriculture,
Aperture,
Architectshure,
Armature,
Artuate,
Attainture,
Aventure,
Befortune,
Bounteous,
Calenture,
Capitulate,
Capshular,
Captshur,
Cartulary,
Celatshure,
Cincture,
Clauzhure,
Commenshurate.
Commutshual,
Compacture,
Compostshure,
Concretshure,
Congratulate,
Conjectur,
Conjunctur,
Connatshural,
Constituent,
Constructure,
Contextshure,
Conventual,
Counternatural,
Courteous,
Creatshure,
Culture,
Debenture,
Decocture,
Defeature,
Dejecture,
Departshure,
Dictature,
Discomtityure,
Discourteous,
Disnaturalize,
Disnatshured,
Divestshure,
Duteous,
Effectual,
Enraptshure,
Estuary,
Estuate,
Eventual,
Expostulate,
Facture,
Fastshuous,
Featshure,
Fistshula,
Flatulence,
Flatuous,
Fluctuate,
Fortshune,
Fractshure,
Fructuous,
Futshur,
G;uniturc,
Pet-ry,
1805.
Abbrev'iaturc,
Accentuate,
Accentuation,
Actual,
Actuate,
Admixture,
Adventual,
Adventure,
Agriculture,
Aperture,
Architecture,
Armature,
Attainture.
Befortune,
Bounteous,
Calenture,
Capitulate,
Capsular,
Capture,
Cartulary,
Celature,
Cincture,
Clauzhure,
Commensurate,
Commutual,
Compacture,
Compos ture,
Concreture,
Congratulate,
Conjecture,
Conjuncture,
Connatural,
Constituent,
Constructure,
Contexture,
Conventual,
Counternatural,
Curtcheous,
Creature,
Culture,
Debenture,
Decocture,
Defeature,
Dejecture,
Departure,
Discomfiture,
Discurcheous,
Disnaturalize,
Disnatin-ed.
Divesture,
Duteous,
Effectual,
Enrapture,
Estuary,
Estuate,
Eventual.
Expostulate,
Facture,
Fastuous,
Feature,
Fistula,
Flatulence,
Flatuous.
Fluctuate,
Fortune,
Fracture,
Fractuous,
Future.
Garniture,
Jameson,
1827.
Abbrfeveature.
Accentuate.
Accentuation.
Actual.
Actuate.
Admixture.
Adventual.
Adventure.
Agriculture.
Aperture.
Architecture.
Aventure.
Befortune.
Bounteous.
Calenture.
Capitulate.
Capsular.
Capture.
Cartulary.
Celature.
Cingkture.
Clauzhur.
Commensurate.
Commutual.
Compacture.
Concreture.
Congratulate.
Conjecture.
Conjunkture.
Connatural.
Constituent.
Constructure.
Contexture.
Conventual.
Courteous.
Creture.
Culture.
Debenture.
Decocture.
Dejecture.
Departure.
Dictature.
Discomfiture.
Discourteous.
Disnaturalize.
Divesture.
Duteous.
Effectual.
Enrapture.
Estuary.
Estuate.
Eventual.
Expostulate.
Facture,
Feteyer.
Fistula.
Flatulence.
Fluctuate.
Fortune.
Fracture.
Fructuous.
Futyure.
Garniture,
INTRODUCTION.
Sheridan.
tValker,
Jmies,
Perry,
Jameson ,
1784.
1794.
1798.
1806:
1827.
Gestshur,
Gestshure,
Gestshure,
Gesture,
Gesture.
Gratulate,
Gratshulate,
Gratulate,
Gratulate,
Gratulate.
Guttural,
Guttshural,
Guttural,
Guttural,
Guttural.
Habitual,
Habitshual,
Habitual,
Habitual,
Habitual.
HorUcultshur,
Horticultshure.
Horticulture,
Horticulture,
Horticulture.
Hortulan,
Hortshulan,
Hortulan,
Hortulan,
Hortulan.
Illnatshur,
Illnatshure,
Illnatshure,
Ulnature,
lUnatyur.
Immenshurable,
Immenshurable.
Immenshurable,
Immenshurable.
Immensurable.
Impetuous,
Impetehuous,
Impetshuous,
Impetuous,
Impetjous.
Importunate,
Importshunate,
Importshunate.
Importunate,
Importunate.
Impostshur,
Impostshure,
Impostshure,
Imposture,
Impostyur.
Incestuous,
Incestshuous,
Incestshuous,
Incestuous,
Incestuous.
Indentshur,
Indentshure,
Indentshure,
Indenture.
Indrntyur.
Ineffectual,
Ineffectshual,
Inetfectshual,
Ineffectual,
Ineffectual.
Infatuate,
Infatshuate,
Infatuate,
Infatuate,
Infatuate.
Insculptshur.
Insculptshure.
Insculptshure,
Insculpture,
Insculptyur.
Insular,
Inshular,
Insular,
Insular,
Insular.
Insulated,
Inshulated,
Insulated,
Insulated,
Insulated.
Intellectual.
Intellectshual.
Intellectshual.
Intellectual,
Intellectual.
Jointshur,
Jointshure,
Jointure,
Jointure,
Jointyur.
Junctshur.
Junktshure,
Junctshure,
Juncture,
Junctyur.
Lectshur,
Lectshure,
Lectshure,
Lecture,
Lectyur.
Legislatshur,
Legislatshure,
Legislature,
Legislature,
Lcgislatyur.
Mantua,
Mantshua.
Mantua,
Mantua,
Mantua.
Manufactshur.
Manufactshurc,
Manufactshure,
Manufacture,
Manufactyur.
Maturate,
Matshurate,
Matshurate,
Maturate,
Maturate.
Menshurable,
Menshurable,
Menshurable,
Mensurable,
Mensurable.
Meteor,
Meteor or Metsheor,
Meteor,
Meteor,
Meteor.
Misfortshun,
Misfortshune,
Misfortshune,
Misfortune,
Misfortune.
Mixtshur,
Mixtshure,
Mixtshure,
Mixture,
Mixtyur.
Moistshur,
Moistshure,
Moistshure,
Moisture,
Moistyur.
Morshur,
Morshure,
Morshure,
Morshure.
Mutshual,
Mutshual,
Mutshual,
Mutual,
Mutual.
Natshur,
Natshure,
Natshur,
Natchure,
Nateyur.
Natshural,
Natshural,
Nattshural,
Natural,
Natural.
Noctshuary,
Noctshuary,
Noctuary,
Noctuary,
Noctuary.
Nurtshur,
Nurtshurc,
Nurtshure,
Nurture,
Nurtyur.
Overtshur,
Overtshure,
Overture,
Overture,
Overture.
Paintshur,
Paintshure,
Paintshure,
Painture,
Pastshur,
Pastshure,
Pastshure,
Pasture,
Pastyur.
Peninshula.
Peninshula,
Peninshula,
Peninsula,
Peninsula.
Periostshum,
Periostshum,
Periosteum,
Periosteum,
Periosteum.
Perpetshual,
Perpetshual,
Perpetshual,
Perpetual,
Perpetual.
Perpetshuity,
Perpetuity,
Perpetuity,
Perpetuity,
Perpetuity.
Pictshur,
Pictshure,
Pictshur,
Picture,
Pictyur.
Piteous,
Pitcheous,
Piteous,
Piteous,
Piteous.
I'lentshus,
Plentshus,
Plenteous,
Plenteous,
Plenteous.
Postshur,
Postshure.
Postshure,
Posture,
Postyur.
Postshulate,
Postshulate,
Postshulate,
Postulate,
Postulate.
Presumptuous,
Prezumtshuous,
Prezumtshuous,
Presumptuous,
Presumptuous.
Projectshur,
Projectshure,
Projectshure,
Projecture,
Projecture.
Promptshur,
Promptshure,
Promptshure,
Prompture,
Promptyur.
PuncUhual,
Punctshual,
Punctual,
Punctual,
Pungtual.
Punctshur,
Punctshure,
Punctshure,
Puncture,
Pungktyur.
Pustshul,
Pustshule,
Pustshule,
Pustule,
Pustule.
Raptshur,
Raptshure,
Raptshur,
Rapture,
Raptyur.
Recapittshulatc,
Recapittshulate,
Recapittshulate,
Recapitulate,
Recapitulate.
Ritshual,
Ritshual,
Ritshual,
Ritual,
Ritual.
Ruptshur,
Ruptshure,
Ruptshure,
Rupture,
Ruptyur.
Sanctshuary,
Sanctshuary,
Sanctuary,
Sanctuary,
Sangktuary.
Satshurate,
Satsliurate,
Satshurate,
Saturate,
Saturate.
Scriptshur,
Sculptshur,
Scriptshure,
Sculptshure,
Scriptshure,
Scripture,
Scriptyur.
Sculptshure,
Sculpture,
Sculptyur.
Septshuagint,
Septshuagint.
Septuagint,
Septuagittt,
Septuagint.
Sittshuate,
Sittshuate,
Situate,
Situate,
Situate.
Spirittshual,
Spirittshual,
Spirittshual,
Spiritual,
Spiritual.
Sportshul,
Sportshule,
Sportshule.
Stattshuary,
Stattshuary,
Stattshuary,
Statuary,
Statuary.
Stattshu,
Stattshu,
Stattshu,
Statu,
Statu.
Stattshur,
Stattshure,
Stattshure,
Stature,
Statyur.
Stattshut,
Stattshute,
Stattshute,
Statute,
Statute.
Strictshur,
Strictshure,
Strictshure,
Stricture,
Stiictyur.
Structshur,
Struetshure,
Struetshure,
Structure,
Structyur.
Sumptshuous,
Sumptshuous,
Sumtshuous,
Sumptuous,
Sumptuous.
Shootshur,
Sutshure,
Sutshure,
Suture,
Suteyur.
Tarantshula,
Tarantshula,
Tarantshula,
Tarantula,
Tarantula.
Tempestuous,
Tenshur,
Tempestshuous,
Tenshure,
Tempestshuous,
Tempestuous,
Tenshur,
Tempestuous.
Tenshur.
Tenshure,
Textshuary,
Textshuary,
Textshuary,
Textuary,
Textuary.
Textshur,
TexLshure,
Textshure,
Texture,
Textvur.
Tinctshur,
Tinctshure,
Tinctshure,
Tincture,
Tingklyur.
INTRODUCTION.
Sheridan.
1784.
Titshular,
Tortshur,
Tortshuou",
Tiitshuralion,
TshooinultshuoHS.
Unctshuous,
Unstatuhutable,
Vestshur,
Ventshur,
Veolentrhelo,
Vertshu,
Vilshuline,
Voluptshuous,
Vultshur,
Waftshur,
Walker,
1794.
Tittshular,
Tortsliure,
Tortsliuous,
Tritshuratioil,
Tumultsliuous,
Ungktshuous,
Unstattshutable,
Vestshure,
Ventshure,
Veolentshelo,
Vertshu,
Vitshuline,
Voluptshuous,
Vultshure,
Waftshure,
179S.
Titshular,
Tortshure,
Tortshuou.s,
Tritshuration,
Tumultshuous,
Unctuous,
Unstattshutable,
Vestshure,
Ventshure,
Veolonchelo,
Vertshu,
Vitshuline,
Voluptshuous,
Vultshure,
Waftshure,
Perry,
1805.
Titular,
Torture,
Tortuous,
Triturate,
Tumultuous,
Unctuous,
Unstatutable.
Vesture,
Venture,
Violoncello,
Virtue,
Vituline.
Voluptuous,
Vulture,
Wafture.
Jameson,
1827.
Titular.
Tortyur.
Tortuous.
Trituration.
Tumultuous.
Ungktuou.*.
Vestyur.
Ventyur.
Veolontsello.
Virtu.
Voluptuous.
VultjTir.
This table of words may perhaps be thought a burlesque on English or-
thoepy. It certainly presents a phenomenon altogether novel in the history
of language.
Of these live authorities, the notation of Perry, with the exception of a
few words ending in ure, is most nearly accordant to the present usage in
England, as far as my observations, while in that country, extended. That
of Walker is by far the most remote from that usage. From an actual enu-
meration of the syllables In certain classes of words in which the vowel
is erroneously pronounced. In Walker's scheme, 1 have ascertained that the
number amounts to more than twelve thousand, without Including several
classes of unaccented syllables, which would swell the number by some
thousands. Of this whole number, I did not, while in England, hear one
vowel pronounced according to Walker's notation. The zeal manifested In
this country, to make his pronunciation a standard, is absolute infatuation,
as if adopted in its full extent, it would introduce many differences In the
pronunciation of words in the two countries, where sameness now exists ;
and even the attempt, should it not be successful, must multiply discordan-
cies and distract opinions, and thus place the desired uniformity at a greater
distance than ever. Fortunately, Walker's pronunciation has never been
generally received in England, and where it has been received, we see, by
Jameson's Dictionary, that It Is becoming unpopular and obsolete.
We observe in the following list, that the three first of these orthoepists
have no rule by which their pronunciation Is regulated. Hence the want
of uniformity in words of like orthography. See bounteous, courteous, du-
teous and plenteous. Why should plenteous be reduced to two syllables,
when bounteous is pronounced in three ? And what reason can be assigned
for the different notation of capitulate and recapitulate?
A remarkable instance of inconsistency In Walker's notation
words of more syllables than two, ending i
verted into chure [tshure] i
Thus we find ture con-
Abbreviatshure.
Celatshure.
Contextshure
Admixtshure.
Calentshure.
Debentshure.
Adventshure.
Compactshure.
Decoctshure.
Agricultshure.
Compostshure.
Defeatshure.
Apertshure.
Concretshure.
Dejectshure.
Attaintshure.
Conjectshure.
Departshure.
Aventshure.
Conjunctshure.
DIctatshure.
Impostshure.
Overtshure.
Divestshure.
Indentshure.
Projectshure.
ut in the following
words the terminating syllable
remains unaltered
Illiterature.
Literature.
Prelature.
Intemperature.
Miniature.
Quadriture.
Investiture.
Nunciature.
Serrature.
Judicature.
Nutriture.
Signature.
Ligature.
Prefecture.
Temperature.
In this class of words, Sheridan and Jones are also inconsistent with them-
selves, though not to the same extent as Walker. Perry and Jameson re-
tain, in all these words, the true orthrography and pronunciation. In these
words also. Walker gives to u, in the last syllable, its first or long sound ; but
this is an inaccurate notation ; the sound, in actual usage, is that of short u,
at least so far as my observation extends, either in England or the United States.
In the following classes of words, as pronounced by Walker, there is either
error or inconsistency, or both.
Assidjuou
Commodious or commojcus
Credjulous,
Dividual or dividjual,
Fastidious or fastidjeous.
Gradient or grajeent.
Gradual or gradjual.
Guardian or guarjean,
HIdeus or hidjeus.
Immediacy or immejeasy,
Incendiary or incenjeary.
i.ljual.
Mediocrity or mejeocrity.
Medium or mejeum.
Melodious or melojeus.
Meridian or merldjean.
Modulate or modjulate,
Nidjulation,
Prelujcus,
Presidjeal,
Procejure,
Quotljean,
Radiate or rajeate.
Radiant or rajeant,
Radius or rajeus,
Rezidjual,
Sardius or sarjeus.
Sedulous or sedjiilous,
Studious or stujeus.
Tedious or tejeus.
Nodjule,
Noctidyal or noctidjeal,
Obejeence,
Obejeeut,
Obduracy or objuracy,
Obdurate or objurate,
Occidjuus,
Odium or ojeum,
Ojus or ojeus.
Ordeal or orjeal,
Penjulous,
Penjulum,
Predial or prejeal.
It would seem that, in a large part of these words, we may take our choice,
either to retain the proper sound of d, or to convert it into that of j. This
choice certainly makes an odd kind of standard. But why mediate should
retain the sound of d, while itntnediacy and medium suffer a change ; or
why radiate should be given in the alternative, radiate or rajeate, while
irradiate and irradiance are not subjected to any change ; or why obedi-
ence should be changed into obejeence, and diiobedience remain unchanged,
I am not able to conjecture.
These classes of words exhibit a specimen of the modern orthoepv, so
called, of our language ; it is indeed a brief and imperfect specimen, for I
have ascertained by actual enumeration, that a catalogue of all the differen-
ces of notation in these authors, would comprehend about one <Ai>dof all the
Is in their vocabularies. Amidst this mass of errors and contradictions,
our consolation is that the good sense of the English nation, a learned and re-
spectable people, is triumphing over the follies and caprices of fashion, and
frowning on this most mischievous spirit of innovation.
In proportion as the importance of settled usages and of preserving invio-
late the proper sounds of letters, as the true and only safe landmarks of pro-
nunciation, shall be appreciated by an enlightened people, just in that pro-
portion will all attempts of affected speakers to innovate upon such estab-
lished usages be reprobated and resisted.
The Intentions of the men who have undertaken to give a standard of pro-
nunciation, have unquestionably been upright and sincere ; but facts have
proved that instead of g"ood they have, on the wliole,done harm; for instead
of reducing the pronunciation of words to uniformity, they have, to a consid-
erable extent, unsettled It, and multiplied differences. The whole process
of these attempts, from Sheridan's first publication, is within my memory,
and I am confident, that whatever has been the effect of these attempts in
Great Britain, the result of them in the United States, has been to multiply
greatly the diversities of pronunciation. And such is the present state of the
authorities, offered as standards, that it is impossible from books to gain a
correct knowledge of what Is the general usage. If I had no other means of
knowing this general usage, than the English books, I should be utterly un-
able to ascertain it and should give up the attempt as hopeless.*
Some of the differences of notation. In the several books, may be rather ap-
parent thitn real ; but with all due allowance for this imperfection of the
schemes, I am persuaded that there are ten dllTerences among these orthoe-
pists, where there is one in the actual pronunciation of respectable people in
England and the United States ; and In most of them, the notation, if strictly
followoil. u ill I.- Ill t.i /<;i differences of pronunciation, where one only now
exists 111 ilii Mill;] 1. 1. unice of the two countries.
Tlii- . II, t oi iiuiliiplying doubts and diversities, has resulted from very
1. The limited acquaintance of orthoepists with the general usage, and
* The multiplicity of books for Instructing us in our vernacular language
is an evil of no small magnitude. Every man has some peculiar notions
which he wishes to propagate, and there is scarcely any peculiarity or ab-
surdity for which some authority may not be found. The facility of book-
making favors this disposition, and while a chief qualification for authorship
Is a dextrous use of an inverted pen, and a pair of scissors, we are not to ex-
pect relief from the evil.
IiXTRODUCTION.
tlieii- taking tlie pronunciation of Lomlon, (
t city, for the best usage. Tlie propagation of such a dialectical or pec
! dialect or local practice in
liar practice would of course disturb the uniformity of any other practice, in
other parts of England or in tliis country.
2. The difficulty or rather impracticability of representing sounds, and
nice distinctions of sound, on paper; especially in unaccented syllables.
3. The partiality of authors for the practice of particular speakers, either
stage players or others, which would lead them to denominate that the best
practice, which had been adopted by their favorites.
4. A spirit of fastidious hypercriticism, which has led writers to make mi-
nute distinctions, that are liable to be disputed, and which tend only to per-
plex the inquirer, and generate uncertainty or diversity, where no essential
difference had previously existed in practice. This spirit is continually pro-
ducing new books and new schemes of orthoepy, and every additional book
serves only to increase the difficulty of uniting opinions and establishing
uniformity.
This view of the subject is probably the most favorable that can be pre-
sented. The real fact seems to be this; these men have taken for the stand-
ard, what they were pleased to call the best usage, which , in many cases, is a
local usage or some favorite peculiarity of particular speakers, at least if they
have had any authority at all ; or they have given the pronunciation which
happened to please their fancy, though not authorised by usage. In this
manner, they have attempted to bend the common usage to their particular
fancies.
It has been in this manner, by presenting to the public local or particular
practice, or mere innovation, for a standard, instead of general or national
usage, that the authors above mentioned have unsettled the pronunciation of
many words and multiplied diversities of practice. These attempts to ob-
trude local usage on the public, and bend to it the general or national usage,
are the boldest assumptions of authority in language that the history of lite-
rature has ever exhibited. In England however these pretensions to direct
the pronunciation of the nation have less effect than they have in the United
States, for this obvious reason, that in England pronunciation is regulated
almost exclusively by the practice of the higher classes of society, and not
by books; hence if books do not exhibit the customary pronunciation, the
falsity of notation is easily detected, and the work which offers it is neglected.
But in this country, where the people resort chiefly to books for rules of pro-
nunciation, a false notation of sounds operates as a deception and misleads the
inquirer. How long the citizens of this country will submit to these imposi-
tions, time only can determine.
The Englisli language, when pronounced according to the genuine com-
position of its words, is a nervous, masculine language, well adapted to popu-
lar eloquence; and it is not improbable that there may be some connection
between this manly character of the language and the freedom of the British
and American constitutions. They may perhaps act and react upon each
other mutually, as cause and effect, and each contribute to the preservation
of the other. At the same time, the language is, by no means, incapable of
poetical sweetness and melody. The attempts to refine upon the pronuncia-
tion, within the last half century, have, in my opinion, added nothing to its
smoothness and sweetness, but have very much impaired its strength of ex-
pression as well as its regularity. The attempts to banish the Italian sound
of a and to introduce the sound of e before i and «, as in kind, guard, duty,
&c. ought to be resisted, as injurious to the manly chaiacter of the genuine
English pronunciation.*
In order to produce and preserve a tolerable degree of uniformity, and the
genuine purity of our language, two things appear to be indispensable, viz.
1. To reject the practice of noting the sounds of the vowels in the unac-
cented syllables. Let any man, in genteel society or in public, pronounce
the distinct sound of a in the last syllable of important, or the distinct sound
of e in the terminations less and ness, as in hopeless, happiness, and he would
pass for a most inelegant speaker. Indeed so different is the slight sound of a
great part of the unaccented vowels, in elegant pronunciation, from that
which is directed in books of orthoepy, that no man can possibly acquire the
nicer distinction of sounds, by means of books ; distinctions which no charac-
ters yet invented can express. Elegant pronunciation can be learned only
by the ear. The French and Italians, whose languages are so popular in
Europe, have never attempted to teach the sounds of their letters by a system
of notation, embracing the finer sounds of the vowels.
2. To preserve purity and uniformity in pronunciation, it is necessary to
banish from use all books which change the orthography of words to adapt
the pronunciation to the fashion of the day. The scheme now pursued is
rendered easy in utterance, has become so feeble in sound as to be unfit for
bold, impressive eloquence. From the specimens which I witnessed in the
Chamber of Deputies in Paris, I should suppose the orator must depend al-
most entirely on his own animation and action for success in popular speak-
ing, with little or no aid from the strength and beauty of language. The lan-
guage of popular eloquence should be neither the mouthing cantof the stage,
nor the mincing affectation of dandies, nor the baby talk of the nursery.
Such was not the language of Demosthenes nor of Cicero; and such may
never be the language of the British Chatham, and of the .\merican .\ines.
the most mischievous project for corrupting the language, that humau iii'ii
nuity ever devised. By removing the landmarks of language, all the feulc
which can secure the purity and regularity of the language from unlicensin
depredations without end are demolished, the chief use and value of alphii-
writing are destroyed, and every thing is given to chance and ti
caprice.
In determining the pronunciation of words in this work, I have availed
myself of the most respectable English authorities, as well as of my owu
personal observations in both countries, and of the observations of Americin
gentlemen of erudition who have visited England. In selecting from ..
mass of contradictory authorities, I may not, in all cases, have adopted the
best pronunciation ; but I have spared no pains to execute this part of th.
work with fidelity.
In general, the rules I have prescribed to myself are these. 1. Th.
usage of respectable people in England and the United States, when idem
ical in the two countries, settled and undisputed. This rule comprehend-
most of the words in the language. 2. When usage is unsettled or uncer
tain, I have adjusted the pronunciation to the regular, established analogie^
of the language, as for as these can be definitely ascertained ; having how-
ever, in accentuation, some regard to euphony, or the prosaic melody which
proceeds from a due succession of accented and unaccented syllables.
There are some words, differently pronounced by respectable people, in
which no decisive reasons appear for preferring one mode of pronouncing
them to another; either might be adopted, without any injury to melody or
analogy. I see no particular reason, why pat'ent should have its first vowel
short, and ma'tron, pa'tron, and pa'triot, the first vowel long. Much less
do- 1 approve the reasons assigned for making the a short in mat'ronal, and
not in ma'tronly, or short in pat'ronal, and not in pa'troness. The reasons
assigned by Walker appear to me to be absolute trifling. The rule of uni-
formity is paramount to every other, excepting that of general undisputed
custom ; and when the practice is unsettled, it seems to be tiie duty of the
lexicographer to be guided by that rule, for his authority may lead to the
uniformity desired.
In a few instances, the common usage of a great and respectable portion
of the people of this country accords with the analogies of the language, but
not with the modern notation of English orthoepists. In such cases, it
seems expedient and proper, to retain our own usage. To renounce a prac-
tice confessedly regular for one confessedly anomalous, out of respect to for-
eign usage, would hardly be consistent with the dignity of lexicography. ■
When we have principle on our side, let us adhere to it. The tinifi cannot
be distant, when the population of this vast country will throw off their
leading strings, and walk in their own strength ; and the more we can raise
|the credit and authority of principle over the caprices of fashion and innova-
tion, the nearer we approach to uniformity and stability in practice.
It is difficult, if not impracticable, to reconcile the opinions of a nation, in
regard to every point, either of orthography or pronunciation. Every at-
tempt that has yet been made, in regard to the English language, has served
only to increase the difficulty ; and as a gentleman remarked to me in Lon-
don, a convention of learned men could not effect the object, for no two men
would think alike on the subject.
The language of a nation is the common property of the people, and no
individual has a right to make inroads upon its principles. As it is the me-
dium of communication between men, it is important that the same written
words and the same oral sounds to express the same ideas, should be used
by the whole nation. When any man therefore attempts to change the es-
tablished orthography or pronunciation, except to correct palpable errors
and produce uniformity, by recalling wanderers into the pale of regular
analogies, he offers an indignity to the nation. No local practice, however
respectable, will justify the attempt. There is great dignity, as well as pro-
priety, in respecting the universal and long established usages of a nation.
With these views of the subject, I feel myself bound to reject all modern
innovations, which violate the established principles and analogies of the
language, and destroy or impair the value of alphabetical writing. 1 have
therefore endeavored to present to my fellow citizens the English language,
in its genuine purity, as we have received the inheritance from our ances-
tors, without removing a landmark. If the language is fatally destined to
be corrupted, I will not be an instrument of the mischief.
ETYJIOLOGY.
Irregular as is the orthography of the En^li n 1 .,,;,. .Jiid unsettled
or corrupt as is the pronunciation, there is i, - i _ . , , h i:nglish or iu
any other language of which I have any kn;.\-. ,•
kingly the low state of philology as the etyin .
or the history of their origin, affinities and prima
the young inquirer to estimate the erudition, correctness, or negligence of
writers on this subject, and to awaken more attention to this branch of learn-
ing, I will state briefly the results of my reseaiches and the opinions which
I have been compelled to form on the merits of the principal treatises on this
subject. And if these opinions or this statement should be charged to ego-
tism, or my over-weening confidence in the success of my own investiga-
tions, my apology is, that I have suffered so much myself by a misplaced
confidence in the erudition of writers ; I have so often embraced errors
INTRODUCTION.
which it has cost me more labor to unlearn than to learn; that if I can pre-
vent my fellow-citizens, wlio li^ve a taste for this study, from being subject-
ed to the same evils, J shall think the advantage obtained more than a bal-
ance for any unmerited imputation.
The lirst example of etymology which I-shall mention, is that of Josephus,
the historian of the Jews, who informs his readers, that the first man " was
called Adam, which in the Hebrew tongue signifies one that is red, because'
he was formed out of red earth compounded together ; for of that kind is
virgin and true earth." Here is a mistake proceeding from a mere resem-
blance of words ; it being certain that Adam no more signifies red earth,
than it does red cedar, this mistake is connected with another, that Adam
was the proper name of the first man, an individual ; whereas the word is
tlie generic name of the human species, and like man in English, signifies
form, shape, image, expressing distinctively the characteristic eminence or
distinction of form of the human race. This fact explains the use of the
plural pronoun, in the account of the creation of the species. " And Godi
said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ; and let them havei
dominion over the fish of the seaj &c." Gen. i. 26. It is evident also that
the words used in relation to the species, the image, the likeness of God,j
have reference, not only to their intellectual and n\oral faculties, but also to:
their external form; and so the Apostle interprets the words, 1 Cor. xi. 7.!
Not that God has any bodily shape of which man can be the image, but that
man has a superior or super-excellent form, corresponding to his inn II, mi ,1
powers, and distinguishing him from all other animals. Now ih. i
Josephus has infected the christian world for eighteen hundn il v
tlie mistake, with erroneous inferences from it, enters into the m -i i, , , ills
published systems of theology. i
Among the most celebrated authors of antiquity, who have written on the
subject of language, is Varro, who has left a treatise De Lingua Latina.\
On this author's learning, Cicero, Quinctilian and Aii(riistii\p have bestowcil
the most unbounded praises. He ispronounri-.l i.. I. \i Im.h nr i u'f ^m^ ■
eruditissimus Romanorum; peritiasimus lin^n i I n, .: m m- . : i; i,
tatis, sine uUa dubitatione, doctissimus." 11. \\ . ...n :,— i m n . i nii
common erudition for the age in which he livcil ; .m-i I,:- 1 1\ :iijlu;;ir,il ul.i-
tise may be consulted with advantage by per^uns who have knowledge
enough of this subject to separate the certain or probable from the improb-
able and conjectural. But it is certain from wliut remains of his treatise,
that his knowledge of the origin of words did not extend beyond the most
obvious facts and principles. Thus he deduces iniViMm from irteo; exitus
from exeo ; victoria from vinco. All this is well ; and we have reason to
think him correct, in deducing vellus, fleece, from vellere, to pluck, a.sdoubt-|
less fleeces were plucked from sheep, before the use of shears. And wej
have reason to believe him when he informs us that imber was originally
written kimber ; that hircus was written by the Sabines fircus, and tuedus,
fedus.
Very different must be our opinion of the following et\ molosrie':.
Pater, says Varro, is from patefacio; ager cultus is -o . illi.l lu < ;mse in
it seeds coalesce or unite with the earth; referrin.; f^n |m ; li jp, t.i the
root of 0|:g-ej-, or the Greek a7£ipro. Campus, he says, w ,is -o n.iiiiL.I be-
cause fruits were first gathered from the open field, dcduLiiij; iliu uoiJ liom
capio. Next to this, were the hills, colles, so named colendo, from cola,
because these were cultivated next to the open plain. That land or field
which appeared to be ihe foundation of cattle and money was called fundus,
or it was so called because it pours forth [fundat] niwn ii r,,,n< II,. de-
duces cogitare from cogendo; concilium from ro- liom
burning cor, the heart; volo from voluntas, and a vri >ii>e
the mind flies instantly whither it will. Howlowmu-i; n of
philology, when such improbable conjectures as these l„i.. . ,.;..,_; ..i.: en-
comiums before mentioned from Cicero and Quinctilian I
The reader will find many things in Isidore and Priscian, worthy of his
attention, though much of what their woiks contain is now so familiar to
scholars of moderate attainments, as scarcely to repay the labor of perusil
But he who learns that Isidore makes orotic, a compound of oris ratio , « .
men, a contraction of nota7nen ; and that he derives rerbum, from verbi r ' <
acre, will hardly think it worth his labor to pursue his researches into ili
author's works. Nor will he be disposed to relish Priscian's deduction u.
lilera from legilitera, because a letter aftbrds the means of reading, or from,
liluro, to obliterate, because the ancients used to write on wax tables, and!
afterwards to oblitci ate what they had written.
Vossius wrote a folio on the etymology of Latin words ; but from repeat-
ed examinations of his book, I am persuaded that most of his deductions are
far-fetched, conjectural and fanciful; many of them are certainly erroneous.
Menage and Minshuw I have not consulted ; chiefly because from such
extracts as 1 have seen, from their writings, I am certain that little reliance
can be placed on their opinions, except in cases too plain to be mistaken
Junius and Skinner, the authorities for most of the etymologies of Bailey
and Johnson, are sulficiently correct in referring English words to the Ian
guage from which they are immediately derived, especially when the or-
thography is too plain to be mistaken. They inform us that father is from
the Saxon feeder, that drop is from Sax. droppan, that picket is from the
French piquet, and the like. So Johnson informs us that accent is from the
Latin accentus, and accept from the French accepter, Latin accipio. All
this is well, but it can hardly be called etymology, or the deduction of words
from their originals.
Whiter, in his Etvmologicoiv Magnum, the first volume only of
which I have perused, began his work on a good plan, that of bringing to-
gether words of the same or of cognate radical letters, and in pursuance of
his plan, he has collected many real affinities. But he has destroyed the
value of his work by mistaking the radical sense of many words, and by
confounding words of different elements.
Jamieson, in his Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, has
collected the affinities of words in that language, particularly words of
Gothic and Teutonic origin, with industry and probably with judgment and a
good degree of accuracy. In some instances, I think he has departed from
correct principles of etymology, and mistaken lads, nrid he, as well as Whi-
ter, falls very short of truth in a most ii]i|M,i',ii,i [,,iii,i, I. ir. :i clear under-
standing of the primary sense of words. I I* !!,,iiary however
contaius a valuable addition to our stock ot , i,)ials."
To Home Tooke are we indebted for tin- li i , \i 1 , :, n of certain inde-
, liu.il.le words, called conjunctions and propo^iiioiis; and for this let him
! \ -■ ,dl merited praise. But his researches were very limited, and he hag
I ri into most material errors, particularly in his second volume. 1 have
, ill no use of his writings, in this work.
* Of the full value of these (
Varro's writings have perished, and some of t
a mutilated forin. But tlie greater his enidilii
pear his ignorance of this subject.
1 hardly judge, as most of
ie which survive appear in
the more striking will ap-
* Thus far had I written, before I had seen this author's Hermes Scvth-
icus. By this work I find the author agrees with me in regard to the
lie niity and common origin of many of the Gothic and Greek prepositions,
i 1 1, k cd I had supposed that proof of such an obvious fact could hardly be ne-
, '-JI y, in the present state of philological knowledge. Some of these pre-
1 ,-i:ioii3 he has illustrated wilha good degree of accuracy ; although should
Ibis H ork ever fall into liis hands, 1 think he will be convinced that in one or
two important points, his explanations are defective. In regard to other
prepositions, I am satisfied the author has ventured upon unsafe ground, at
least his opiiiiotis appear to me not to be well supported.
In respect to his explanations of the names of the mythological deities, it
appears to me the author, like all other authors whose works I have seen,
wanders in darkness. From all my researches into the origin of words, I
have drawn this conclusion, that the pagan deities are mostly the powers or
supposed powers of nature, or imaginary beings supposed to preside over the
various parts of creation, or the qualities of men, deified, that is, exalted and
celebrated as supernatural agents. There are few of the namesof these de-
ities which I piftoiul to uiiiloi>laiid: Ijiit there are a few of them that seem
to be too obvioii i,. !,, m: t,,,;, \ , prrson, I think, can doubt that the
DiT/ads are 11,111 •'-■■>-. Hence I infer that this name
was appUed to , , I : ! ' _;i , ,,- niliabiting the forests.
Nopersouci: ,!,,ii'i, ili i ,\,,,".. 1 1 1, deity of the sea, and the nereids,
nymphs of the sea, are named from the oriental inj, J- ^ ■' a river, from
the corresponding verb, to flow. No person doubts that Flora, the goddess of
flowers, is merely a flower deified.
Hence I infer that the true method of discovering the origin of the pagan
deities, is to find the meaning of their names.
Now Diana is Ihc goddess of hunting. Wiat (|ualily then is most neces-
sary I'll ,1 liuil, 1 ■ \\ hat quality would ni ',■ m, ;i, I, -fiinli- of the weapon.s
wli'ioli >, 1 -, I -I value as useful ill, il, ; I , ;' , .nro? Doubtless
coui;i;:, ui .;!; Thus we have sill, ^i Ii i - iir Iielieving that
Dim,"'. ,',, i . 1;. ,l<i, I it\- diaii. wliirli -I :i ,'i - I ,i.'. -I long, vehement,
in:;,,'!!,.. .'! I,, ',! /»,>,/,,,',./"',,-■/. ,,i,ii ,,:!., : ,', iiiifs 01 large rivers.
; I ,•, , , I, I ,','•■ ' I mid that the first syllable
, , , 1 :, I, '.nnd; and the last constit-
II, !,; P II ,1 II,,- w ,1,: r,,i I. .|„iii .- s> i :i •.'.nil, i.t-rman arbeit, D. arbeid,
l.itior, v.ork. ine List consonant beins iosi. W oil. what are the characteristics
of Minerva ; Why, she is the goddess of wisdom and of the arts. The sense
of-wivos, would give one of her characteristics, and thatof;;iamts and arbeit,
the other; but which is the tnif word, I do not know.
Tlif iv. ,, rii , iiiii-;,in, ,'- \\I:I, Ii ili^-flv ,Ii-tir!,;-;isli Hercules are his labors
and li: ' ''', , ,1 I, , ,:ll ', ' , i ,- ih these accompaniments.
Now II , I, I '. i , , ' I, - I I ,, loot of the Greek *P7ov,
tp-/ci,,, I;, I I- . ,'i,, , w 1,1, li ni,iii I _i , , '0, -, i;~r of work, labor. Whether
the last coiisui'iLiu ol ilie name isx\fi-i or Iroiii ih.il root, I shall not pretend to
affirm. Indeed, 1 offer tliese explanations rather asprobable, than as clearly
proved ; but they do appear to be probably well founded. Hercules then
was a name given to any bold, heroic leader of a tribe of rude men, who was
distinguished for his achievements as a warrior ; and this name must have
originated in very early ages, when clubs were the principal weapons of war,
and instruments of defense. And hence probably the origin of the scepter,
as a badge of royalty. Now it is worthy of remark that the war club of rude
nations, at this day, especially of the savage nations of the south sea isles, is of
the same shape as tlic ancient scepter.
INTRODUCTION.
The Hermes of Harris, according to Dr. Lowth, "is the most beautiful
and perfect example of analysis, that has been exhibited since the days of
Aristotle." This, in my opinion, is not the character of the work, which,
for tlie most part, consists of passages from the works of Aristotle, Ammonius,
Apollonius, Priscian, and other grammarians. It is little more than a col-
lection of the opinions of the ancient writers on philology, whose meta-
physical subtilties rather obscure than illustrate the subject. To show how
easily men may be misled liy metaphysics, when applied to the plainest sub-
ject imaginable, take the following example from the Hermes.
"Jt respects our primary perception, and denotes individuals as un-
known ; the respects our secondary perception, and denotes individuals as
known." [This is nearly a literal translation of a passage in Priscian, Lib. 17.]
To illustrate the truth of this observation, the author gives the following
example. "There goes a beggar with a long beard" — indicating that the
man had not been seen before ; and therefore a denotes the primary percep-
tion. A week after the man returns and I say, " There goes the beggar
with the long beard ;" the article the here indicating the secondary percep-
tion, that is, that the man had been seen before. All this is very well.
But let us try the rule by other examples, and see whether it is universal,
or whether it is the peculiar and proper office of an or a to denote primary
perception.
" The ai tide a, says Harris, leaves the individual unascertained:' Let
us examine this position.
" But Peter took him, saying, stand up; I myself also am a man." Now,
according to Harris, a here denotes the primary perception, and the individ-
ual is unascertained. That is, this man is one, I have never seen before.
" He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a reward -
er of them that diligently seek him." Whether a, in this sentence, denotes
first perception, I cannot determine ; but sure I am the individual is not left
unascertained.
A B says to me, " I have lately dismissed an old servant, who has lived
with me for thirty years." Here an may present a primary perception to
the hearer, but not so to the speaker. To both, the individual must be well
ascertained.
It appears then that this definition of an or a is incorrect, and the pains of
these metaphysical writers who form such perfect analyses of language, is
little better than learned trifling. On testing the real character of an or a
by usage and facts, we find it is merely the adjective one, in its Saxon or-
thography, and that its sole use is to denote one, whether the individual is
known or unknown, definite or indefinite.
Again Harris translates, and adopts the definition which Aristotle has
given of a conjunction. " An articulate sound or part of speech devoid of
signification by itself, but so formed as to help signification, by making two
or more significant sentences to be one significant sentence."
This is so far from being true, that some of the conjunctions are verbs,
equivalent to join, unite or add, in the imperative mode. In like manner,
the prepositions called inseparable, and used as prefixes, are all si
per se, although by custom, they sometimes lose their appropriate use. For
example, re, which denotes repetition, has lost its use in recommend, which
is equivalent to commend, without the sense of repetition. But still it has
ordinarily an appropriate sense, which is perfectly understood, even when
first prefixed to a word. Let any person prefix this word to pronounce for
the first time, and direct a boy of fourteen years old to repronounce his ora-
tion, and he would perfectly well understand the direction.
Bryant, the author of " An Analysis of Ancient Mythology," whose works
I should love to read, if I could have confidence in his opinions, has giver
to the public a history of the Cuthites or descendants of Ham, a race oi bold
adventurers, who, as he supposes, made expeditions by sea and land, intro-
ducing arts, founding cities, and corrupting reUgion by the propagation of
Sabianism. For proof of his opinions, he relies very much on etymology
and the signification of names. Two or three examples of his deductions
will be sufficient to show his manner of proof Ham or Cham, signifying
heat and the sun, he deduces from DDH to be hot, to heat. So far he may
be correct. But he goes on to deduce from this root, also, as Castle had
done before him, the Greek xauna, heat, not considering that this is from
naiu, to burn, in which m is not radical, but probably s is (he radical conso-
nant, as this occurs in the derivafives. Kavfia has no connection with Ham
From Cam or Cham he then deduces the Latin Camera, Gr. xouapa, an
arched roof or vault, whence our chamber, though it is not easy to discovei
the connection between this word and heat, and from the same root, he de
duces Camillus, Camilla, and many other words, without any support foi
his opinions, but a mere similarity of orthography in the first syllable. Ir
all this, he is certainly wrong.
The Greek ©los, God, he supposes most unwarrantably to be formed from
the Egyptian Theuth or Thoth, Mercury.
The sun he supposes to have been styled El-uc ; El [nXips] and uc or
oc/i, a title of honor among the Babylonians. This word, says Bryant, tlie
Greeks changed into Xonoi', [a wolf,'] and hence the Latin iitx, luceo
strange conjecture this, not to call it by a harsher name. Now if Bryant
had examined the Teutonic dialects, and the Welsh, he would have seen hii
mistake; for the Saxon leoht, liht, Dutch and German licht, are from
the common root of the Welsh Hug, a shooting or gleaming, lluciaw, to
throw, llM, a darting or flashing, the root of luceo ; a simple root, that can
have no connection with El-uc.
Excepting Faber's work on the Cabiri, I have seen scarcely a book in
any language, which exhibits so little etymological knowledge, with such
a series of erroneous or fanciful deductions, as Bryant's Analysis. Drum-
mond's Origines abounds with etymological deductions of a similar char-
acter.
Gebelin, a French writer, in his Monde Primitif, has bestowed much la-
bor in developing the origin and signification of words ; but a large part of
his labor has produced no valuable effect. His whole system is tounded on
a mistake, that the noun is the root of all other words.
Of all the writers on etymology, whose works 1 have read or consulted,
Spelman and Lluyd are almost the only ones, in whose deductions much con-
fidence can be placed. I do not name Camden, Hicks, Selden and Gibson,
as their etymological inquiries, though generally judiciously conducted,
were very limited. This is true also in some degree of Spelman and Lluyd ;
but the researches of Spelman into the origin of law terms, and words of the
middle ages, have generally produced very satisfactory results. From the
limited nature of the designs of Spelman and Lluyd, errors may have occa-
sionally escaped them ; but they are few, and very pardonable.
I know of no work in any language in which words have been generally
traced to their original signification, with even tolerable correctness. In a
few instances, this signification is too obvious to be mistaken, but in most in-
stances, the ablest etymologist is liable to be misled by first appearances,
and the want of extensive investigation. I have been often misled myself,
by these means, and have been obliged to change my opinions, as I have
advanced in my inquiries. Hence the tendency of my researches has been
very much to increase my caution in referring words to their originals ; and
such, I am persuaded, will be the lesult of all critical and judicious investi-
gations into the history and affinities of language.
A principal source of mistakes on this subject, is a disregard of the identi-
ty of the radical consonants, and a licentious blending and confounding of
words, whose elementary letters are not commutable. Another source of
error is an unwarrantable license in prefixing or inserting letters, for the
purpose of producing an identity or resemblance of orthography ; a fault
very justly opposed by Sir William Jones.
The learned Dr. Good, in his Book of J^ature, Lecture IX, of the se-
cond series, suggests it to be probable that both papa and father, issued
from the Hebrew source 2N, N3N, n3N. He then fearlessly ventures to
affirm, that there is scarcely a language or dialect in the world, polished or
barbarous, in which the same idea is not expressed by the radical of one or
the other of these terms. True ; the letter S is found in most words of this
signification ; although our knowledge of languages is too limited to war-
rant such a broad assertion. But the attempt to deduce all words signifying
father from the Hebrew must certainly fail ; for we know from history that
a great part of Asia and of Europe was inhabited before the existence of the
Hebrew nation. Besides, a large portion of the European population have
no word (or father which can be rationally deduced from 3X. The Welsh
tdd, whence our daddy, the Gothic atta, Irish aithair, Basque aita, and
Laponnic atki, cannot be formed from the Hebrew word, the letter D and
T not being commutable with B. One would suppose that a leained physi-
ologist could not fail to assign the true cause of the similarity of words, bear-
ing the sense oi father and mother, among the nations of the earth. The
truth is, the sound of a is very easy and probably the easiest for children,
being formed by simply opening the mouth, without any exertion of the or-
gans to modulate the sound. So also the articulations b, m, and d or t, be-
■ ig natural and easy, will generally enter into the first words formed by
children. The labials are formed by simply closing the lips, and the den-
tals, by placing the tongue against the root of the upper teeth ; the position
which it naturally occupies in a healthy child. From these circumstances,
we may fairly infer, a priori, that such words as ab, aba, papa, tad, mam-
ma, must be the first words uttered by children. Indeed, were the whole
human race to lose their present names (or father, mother, and nurse, sim-
ilar names would be formed by a great portion of mankind, without any
communication between different nations.
The author further observes, that the generic terms for the Deity are
chiefly the three following, Al or Allah, Theus or Deus, and God. " Be-
sides these, there is scarcely a term of any kind, by which the Deity is de-
signated, in any part of the world, whether among civilized or savage man.
Yet these proceed from the same common quarter of the globe." True :
men, and of course words, all came from a common quarter of the globe.
But it so happens, that these three terms must have originated among dif-
ferent families, or from different sources, for they are all formed with differ-
ent radicals, and can have had no connection with a common radix. But it
happens also, that not one of these terms, as far as I can learn, exists among
the Slavonic nations, who compose a large portion of all the population of
Europe, and whose name of God is Bog, a word radically distinct from all
which the author has mentioned.
The author proceeds to say, " that the more common etymon for death.
among all nations, is mor, mart or mut." But if either of these terms for
death, is a native woid among the great GoUiic, Teutonic, and Slavonic fam-
ilies, which constitute the half or two thirds of all the inhabitants of Europe,
INTRODUCTION.
ilically
1 have not been able to find it. Besides, wioi- and rrnit are words
distinct, and thus originated in different families.
" Sir," says the author, " is, in our lanffuage, the common title of respect ;
and the same term is employed in the name sense throughout every quarter
of the globe. In the Sanscrit and Persian, it means the organ of the head
itself." He finds the word in Arabia, Turkey, in Greek, among the Peru-
vians in South America, in Germany, Holland, and the contiguous coi
tries. In some of the languages of these countries, I have found no su
word; but if it exists, the author's inference, that the name of the head
gave r'fe i" llii- !■ im nf respect, (for this is what! understand him to mean,)
is totailv i",! I. lid equally fanciful and unfounded is his supposition,
that. li\ , , Mil sAei, the pronoun her, and the German herr, lord,
are lo I" i.i i i i sir. In all this, it is demonstrably certain there is
no trulli u. 1. i L ji .-.( iiiiil.ince of reality.
Man, the author deduces from the Hebiew rUO to discern or discrimi-
nate, [a sense I do not find in the Lexicons,] and hence he infers that the rad-
ical idea of man is that of a thinking or reasonable being. With this word
he connects Menu, .Menes, Minos, and )ii»o', mens, mind ; a sweeping in-
ference made at random from a similarity of orthography, without a distant
conception of the true primai-y meaning of either of these words. But what
is worse, he appears, if I do not mistake his meaning, to connect with these
words, the tane, tanato, or tangi, of the Sandwich isles ; words, which are
formed with a radical initial consonant not convertible with m, and most
certainly unconnected with man. See the words father, r,
the Dictionary.
The author offers some other etymologies and affinities equally remote
from truth, and even from probability.
The governing principles of etymology arc, first, the identity of radical
letters, or a coincidence of cognates, in difterent languages ; no affinity be-
ing admissible, except among words whose primary consonants are articu-
lations of the same organs, as B, F, M, P, V and W ; or as D, T, Th and S ;
or as G, C hard, K and Q ; R, L and D. Some exceptions to this rule must
be admitted, but not without collateral evidence of the change, or some evi-
dence that is too clear to be reasonably rejected.
Second. Words in diflerent languages are not to be considered as proceed-
ing from the same radix, unless they have the same signification, or one
closely allied to it, or naturally deducible from it. And on this point, much
knowledge of the primary sense of words, and of the manner in which col
lateral senses have sprung from one radical idea, is necessary to secure the
inquirer from mistakes. A competent knowledge of this branch of etymolo-
gy cannot be obtained from any one, or from two or three languages. It is
almost literally true, that in examining more than twenty languages, I have
found each language to throw some light on every other.
That the reader may have more clear and distinct ideas of what is intend-
ed by commutabte letters, and the principles by which etymological deduc-
tions are to be regulated, it may be remarked that commutabte or inter-
changeable letters are letters of the same organs ; that is, letters or articu-
lations formed by the same parts of the mouth. Thus 6, m and p, are form-
ed immediately by the lips, the position of which is slightly varied to make
the distinction between these letters. F and v are formed by the lips, but
with the aid of the upper teeth. Now the difference of the jointings of the
organs to utter these letters is so small, that it is easy for men in utterance
to shde from one form into another.
The following examples will illustrate this subject.
Labial letters commuted for other labials.
English bear, Lat.fero,pario, G. ipipu, (popeu, D. voeren, G.fuhren.
Here is the same word written in different languages, with five differ-
ent initial letters.
German wahr, true, L. verus.
Celtic lamh, lav, the hand, Goth. lofa.
L. guberno, Fr. gouverner, Eng. govern.
Dental letters commuted for other dentals.
Eng. deu\ G. thau.
Eng. good, G. gut.
Eng. dare, Gr. eappsw.
Eng. day, G. tag.
Eng. thank, D. danken.
Eng. brother, D. broeder.
Palatal letters commuted for other palatals.
Eng. call, W . galw, Gr. »o\iw.
Eng. get. It. cattare.
Greek \iina, L. hiems, winter.
Dentals converted into sibilants.
Eng. water, G. wa^ser.
Lat. dens, a tooth, G. zahn.
Eng. let, Fr. laisser.
Ch. nD, Heb. »13.
Sax. tid, time, G. zeit.
Vol. I. G.
Change of Unguals.
Eng. escort, Sp. Port, escolta.
Fr. blanc, white. Port, branco.
Letters formed by different organs are not oommutable ; hence we are not
to admit a radical word beginning or ending with 4, /or v, to be the same as
a word beginning or ending with g, d, t, ror s; nor a word whose radical
letters are m, n, to be the same as one whose elements are r, d, or s, t. If
such words are in any case the same, they must have suffered some anom-
alous changes ; changes which are very unusual and which are never to
be admitted without the clearest evidence.
When this work was in the press, I first obtained a .sight of a " History of
the European Languages," by the late Dr. Alexander Murray, Professor of
Oriental languages in the University of Edinburgh.
From a hasty perusal of the first volume, I find this learned professor stud-
ied the European languages with much attention and profit. He has gone
further into the origin and formation of languages, than any author whose
works I have read; and his writings unfold many valuable principles and
facte. But he formed a theory which he attempted to support, in my opin-
ion with little success : at least, on his principles, all the usual rules of ety-
mology are transgressed, and all distinction between words of different radi-
cal letters is abandoned. According to his theory, nine words are the foun-
dations of language, viz. ag, wag, hwag, bag or bwag, [of which/ag and
pag are softer varieties,] dwag, thwag or twag, gwag or cwag, lag and
Mag, mag, nag, and hnag, rag and hrag, swag. " By the help of these
nine words and their compounds all the European languages have been
formed." These are the author's words.
To make out his scheme, he joins ag, having, to wag, move, and forms a
diminutive, wagag, to move a little or often. With ba, bear or bring, and
la, hold, wagaba signifies literally move-bearing, and wagla is move-having.
Then wagaba contracted into wabba, to wave, to weave, and wagla into
wala, to turn. From dag, to wet, bedew, comes damp ; from ceag, to
chew, comes champ ; fal, joined, wrought together, fiom fag, to work, to
join; hwal and hal, to hold, and turn, from hwag ; bat from bagd or bagt ;
bigt, abite, from bigt; bladder from blag; modera, mother, the producer,
from magd, produced ; bottom from bogd, a stump, root or foundation ; field
(vomfagd, -dearth from airtha,acertha, from acer, aker, ager ; field, an un-
cultivated plain, from fag, to make to fall.
It seems that in order to maintain his theory, it was necessary to make it
appear that g formed a part of all original words, and that this letter has, in
modern words, been dropped. The author then introduces this letter into
words where it never had any place, such as field, earth, bat, &c. The au-
thor's work presents one of the most singular medleys of truth and error, of
sound observation and visionary opinions, that has ever fallen under my
notice.
On the same principles, he must have inserted the letter g in bear, fero.
pario, 803 ; in bend, found, tame, Saiiau, domo ; in dream, wander, turn ,
&c. ; and supposed them to have been originally beager,fegro, pagrio, JOJ2.
bcgnd, fougnd, tagme, idniiam, dogma, dreagm,wagnder, tugrn, &,c.
Now on such a principle as this we might deduce any word in the lan-
guage from any other word, or from any root that could be imagined. In
short, all such theories are the produce of wild conjecture, and they serve no
purpose but to confound the student and bring the study of etymology into
contempt.
ACCENTUATIOx\.
Ac c ENT is the more forcible utterance of a particular syllable of a word,
by which it is distinguished from the others. The accented syllable of a
word serves therefore as a kind of resting place or support of the voice,
which passes over the unaccented syllables with more rapidity and a less
distinct utterance.
Accent is of two kinds, or rather of two degrees of force, primary and
secondary. Words of one syllable can have no accent. Words of two syl-
lables have the primary accent only. Words of three and four syllables may
have the primary and secondary accent; but many of them have nosecond-
ary accent that deserves notice ; such are dignity, enemy, annuity, fidelity.
In words of four, five or more syllables, a secondary accent is often essential
to a clear distinct articulation of the several syllables. Thus heterogeneous
cannot be well uttered without two accented syllables ; the fourth syllable
receiving the principal stress of the voice, and the first clearly distinguished
by more forcible utterance, than the second, third, fifth, and sixth.
The accent of most English words has been long established ; and evi-
dently, it has been determined by the natural ease of speaking, without the
aid of rules or instruction. If any man should ask, why we lay the accent
of such words aa elocution, meditation, relation, congratulation, on the last
syllable, except one ; the answer is, tliat such accentuation renders the pro-
nunciation more easy to the organs of .speech and more agreeable to the ear,
than the accentuation of any other syllable. The ease of speaking, and a
kind of prosaic melody, resulting from a due proportion of accented and un-
accented syllable^, which enables the speaker to bound with ease from one
accented syllable to another, without omitting those which are unaccented,
are the two great principles by which the accentuation of words has been
INTRODUCTION.
regulated. And it is to be extremely regretted that these principles should,
in any instances, be neglected, or forced to yield to arbitrary reasons of deri-
vation, or to a pedantic affectation of foreign pronunciation. When we know
that the great mass of a nation naturally lall into a particular manner of pro-
nouncing a word, without any rule or instruction, we may rely upon this
tendency as a pretty certain indication that their accentuation is according to
the analogies of the language, by which their habits of speaking have been
formed ; and this tendency cannot be opposed without doing violence to those
analogies and to national habits.
Thus formerly, the word horizon was universally accented on the first
syllable, and this accentuation was according to the settled analogy of the
language. But the early poets had a fancy for conlbrniing the English to
the Greek pronunciation, and accented the second syllable ; the orthoepists
followed them ; and now we have this forced, unnatural pronunciation of the
learned in colUsion with the regular, analogous popular pronunciation. By
this affectation of the Greek accent, the flowing smoothness of the word is
entirely lost.
In like manner, an imitation of the French pronunciation of confesseur,
■jnd sticcessetir, led the early poets to accent the English words on the first
syllable, in violation of analogy and euphony; and some orthoepists affect to
follow them; but public usage frowns on this affectation, and rejects their
authority.
There are many words in the English language, indeed a large part of the
whole number, which cannot be reduced under any general rule of accentu-
ation, as the exceptions to any rule formed will be nearly as numerous as the
words which the rule embraces. And in most instances, we shall find, in the
structure of the words, satisfactory reasons for the difference of pronunciation.
DISSYLLABLES.
No general rule can be given for the accentuation of words of two sylb
bles. It is however, worth observing that when the same word is both
noun or an adjective and a verb, it happens, in many instances, that the noun
or adjective has the accent on the first syllable, and the verb on the last
Instances of which we have in ab'sent, to absent' ; con'cert, to concert' .
cx'port, to expdrt. The reason is, the preterit and participles of the verbs
require to have the same syllable accented, as the verb; but if the first syl-
lable of the preterit and participles were to be accented, it would be difficult
(o pronounce the words, as may be perceived by attempting to pronounce
ub'scnting, con'certed, con'ducted, with the accent on the first syllable.
In a few instances, the word has a different accent when a noun, from that
which it has when an adjective ; as Au'gust, august' ; gallant', gaVlant.
TRISSYLLABLES.
Words of three syllables, derived from dissyllables, usually retain the ac-
cent of their primitives. Thus
Pdet, pdetess; pleas'ant, pleas' antly ; gra'cious, gr&ciously; reldte, re-
lated; poU'te,poli'test.
In Uke manner, words of four syllables, formed from dissyllables, gene-
rally retain the accent of the primitives ; as in collect'ible from collect', ser'-
I'iceable from ser'vice.
In all cases, the preterit and participles of verbs retain the accent of the
verbs.
Words ending in tion, sion, tian, cious, tious, cial, cian, tial, tiate, tient,
cient, have the accent on the syllable preceding that termination ; as motion,
christian, precious, erudition, patient, &c.
Words of more than two syllables, ending in ly, have, for the most part, the
.iccent on the antepenult; as gratuity, propriety, prosperity, insensibility.
Trissyllables ending in mcnt, for the most part have the accent on the f^rst
syllable, as compliment, detriment; but to this rule there are many excep-
tions, and particularly nouns formed from verbs, as amendment, command-
ment.
Words with the following terminations have th
ble except two, or antepenult.
fluous, as super'fluous, mellifluous.
ferous, as bacciferous, argentifero,
-fluent, as circum'fluent.
cracy, as democracy, theoc'racy.
gonal, as diag'onal, sexag'onal.
gony, as cosmog'ony, theog'ony.
chy, as logom'achy, theom'aci
: accent on the last sylla-
'.ogom'actiy, tlieom'achy.
-loquy, as ob'loquy, ventril'oquy.
-mathy, as polym'athy.
-meter, as barom'eter, hygrom'eter.
-nomy, as econ'omy, astron'omy.
-pathy, as ap'athy, antip'athy.
-phony, as eu'phony, sym'phony.
—parous, as ovip'arous, vivip'arous.
-scopy, as deuteros'copy, aeros'copy.
-strophe, as apos'trophe, catas'trophe
--: igniv'omous.
voroiis, as carnivorous, graminivorous.
tomy, as anat'omy, lithot'omy.
raphy, as geog'raphy, orthog'raphy.
Compound words, as book-case, ink-stand, pen-knife, note-book, usually
have asUght accent, that is, one syllable is distinguished by some stress of
voice ; but as the other syllable is significant by itself, it is uttered with
more distinctness than the syllables of other words which are wholly unac-
cented. And in some words, there are two accents, one on each component
part of the word, which are barely distinguishable. Thus in legislative, le-
gislator, legislature, the accent on the first syllable can hardly be distin-
guished from that on the third ; and if a .speaker were to lay the primary
accent on the third syllable, his pronunciation would hardly be noticed as a
singularity. Indeed there are some compound words, in which there is so
little distinction of accent, that it is deemed unnecessary to mark either syl-
lable or part of the word as accented.
As to a great part of English words, their accent must be learned from
dictionaries, elementary books, or practice. There is no method of classifi-
cation, by which they can be brought under a few simple general rules, to
be easily retained by the memory ; and attempts to effect this object must
only burden the memory, and perplex the learner.
The differences in the accentuation of words, either in books or in usage,
are not very numerous. In this respect, the language is tolerably well set-
tled, except in a few words. Among these are acceptable, commendable,
confessor, successor, receptacle, recepiory, deceptory, refragable, dyspepsy,
which the orthoepists incline to accent on the first syllable. But with re-
gard to most of these words, their accentuation is contrary to common usage,
and with regard to all of them, it ought to be rejected. The ease of pronun-
ciation requires the accent to be on the second syllable, and no effort to re-
move it can ever succeed.
The words accessory, desultory, exemplary and peremptory would all
have the accent on the second syllable, were it not very difficult, with this
accent, to articulate the three last syllables of the derivatives, aceessorily,
desultorily, exemplarily, peremptorily. It is for this reason, that the pri-
mary accent is laid on the first syllable, and then a secondary accent on the
third enables the speaker to articulate distinctly and with tolerable ease the
last syllables. If the primary accent is laid on the second syllable, there can
be no secondary accent. Yet the natural accent of the primitives being on
the second syllable of the three first, and the derivatives little used, we find
good speakers often lay the accent on the second syllable ; nor is it easy to
change the practice.
This circumstance of regarding the pronunciation of derivative words, in
settUng the accent, has been either wholly overlooked, or not sufficiently
jobserved in practice. Hence the orthoepists accent the second syllable of
khe verbs alternate, demonstrate, contemplate, compensate, extirpate, con-
\fiscate, expurgate. Notwithstanding all authorities however, such is the
j tendency to consult ease and melody in utterance, that many respectable
speakers lay the accent of these and similar words on the first syllable. The
reason of this is obvious, although perhaps it never occurs to the speakers
themselves. It is, that when the accent is laid on the second syllable, the
two last syllables of the participles, altern'ating, demon'strating, compen'-
sated, &c. are either pronunced with difficulty, being wholly unaccented,
or they are disgustingly feeble. How very difficult it is to utter distinctly
the words alternating, demonstrating, &c. with the accent on the second
syllable ; the organs being compelled to change their position and form three,
four, five, or six articulations in an instant, to utter the two last syllables!
But place the primary accent on the first syllable, and a secondary one on the
Ithird, and the voice resting on these, the speaker is enabled to bound with
.ease from syllable to syllable and utter the whole word distinctly without
I effort, al'ternating, dem'onstruting.
In extirpate, compensate and confiscate, the accent on the second sylla-
ble leaves the last syllables of the participle most miserably weak. What a
feeble line is this of Pope :
Each seeming ill compen'sated of course.
This evil is remedied by placing the primary accent on the first syllable,
and a secondary one on the third ; com'pensated ; com'pensating ; ex'tirpa-
ting; ex'tirpated; confiscating; con'fiscated; the full sound of a giving
due strength to the last syllables.
It is further to be observed that there are some words which, in poetry
and prose, must be differently accented, as the accent has been transferred
by usage from one syllable to another within the two last centuries. Nares
enumerates more than a hundred words, whose accent has been thus chang-
ed since the age of Shakspeare. Of this class of words are aspect, process,
sojourn, convex, contest, retinue, converse, the noun horizon, which Mil-
ton accents on the second syllable, and acceptable, which he accents on the
first, as he does attribute and contribute. But the accent of all these
words has been changed ; the seven first have the accent indisputably on the
first syllable ; the two last, on the second syllable ; and although some differ-
ence of opinion may exist, as to the accentuation oi horizon and acceptable,
yet the common popular practice of accenting horizon on the first and ac-
ceptable on the second, is according to regular analogies and cannot well be
altered. Nor ought it to be; the poetic accent, in both, is harsh and un-
natural. This difference of accent is a slight inconvenience ; but custom is
the arbiter in language; and when well settled and general, there is no ap»
peal from its decisions, the inconvenience admits of no remedy.
INTRODUCTION.
in which the following work
Dr. Johnson was one of the greatest men that the English nation has ever
produced ; and when the exhibition of truth depended on his own gigantic
powers of intellect, he seldom erred. But in the compilation of his diction-
ary, he manifested a great defect of research, by means of which he often
(ell into mistakes ; and no errors are so dangerous as those of great men.
The authority created by the general excellence of their works gives a
sanction to their very mistakes, and represses that spirit of inquiry which
would investigate the truth, and subvert the errors of inferior men. It
seems to be owing to this cause chiefly that the most obvious mistakes of
Johnson's Dictionary have remained to this day uncorrected, and still con
tinue to disfigure the improved editions of the work recently published.
In like manner, the opinions of this author, when wrong, have a weight of
authority that renders them extremely mischievous. The sentiment con-
tained in this single line
Quid te excmptajuvat spinis de pluribus una?
is of this kind; that we are to make no corrections, because we cannot com-
plete the reformation; a sentiment that sets itself in direct opposition to all
improvement in science, literature and morals; a sentiment, which, if it had
been always an efficacious principle of human conduct, would have condem-
ned not only our language, but our manners and our knowledge to everlast-
ing rudeness. And hence whenever a proposition is made to correct the
orthography of our language, it is instantly repelled with the opinion and
ipse dixit of Johnson. Thus while the nations on the European continent
have purified their languages and reduced the orthography to a good de-
gree of regularity, our enemies of reform contend most strenuously for re-
taining the anomalies of the language, even to the very rags and tatters of
barbarism. But what is more extraordinary, the very persons who thus
struggle against the smallest improvement of the orthography are the most
ready to innovate in the pronunciation, and will, at any time, adopt a
change that fashion may introduce, though it may infringe the regularity of
the language, multiply anomalies, and increase the difficulty of learning it.
Nay, they will not only innovate themselves, but will use their influence to
propagate the change, by deriding those who resist it, and who strive to re-
tain the resemblance between the written and spoken language.
A considerable part of Johnson's Dictionary is however well executed ;
and when his definitions are correct and his arrangement judicious, it seems
to be expedient to follow him. It would be mere affectation or folly to alter
what cannot be improved.
The principal faults in Johnson's Dictionary are
1. The want of a great number of well authorized words belonging to the
language. This delect has been in part suppUed by Mason and Todd; but
their supplemental Ust is still imperfect even in common words, and still
more defective from the omission of terms of science.
2. Another great fault, that remains uncorrected, is the manner of noting
the accented syllable ; the accent being laid uniformly on the vowel, wheth-
er it closes the syllable or not. Thus the accent is laid on e in te'nant as
well as in te'acher, and the inquirer cannot know from the accent whether
the vowel is long or short. It is surprising that such a notation should still
be retained in that work.
3. It is considered as a material fault, that in some classesof words, John-
son's orthography is either not correct upon principle or not uniform in the
class. Thus he writes heedlessly, with ss, but carelesly, with one s ; de-
fence, with c, but defensible, defensive, with s; rigour, inferiour, with u,
but rigorous, inferiority, without it; publick, authentick with k, but pub-
Hcation, authenticate, without it; and so of many other words of the same
classes.
4. The omission of the participles or most of them, is no small defect, as
many of them by use have become proper adjectives, and require distinct
definitions. The additions of this kind in this work are very numerous. It
is also useful both to natives and foreigners, to be able, by opening a diction-
ary, to know when the final consonant of a verb is doubled in the participle.
5. The want of due discrimination in the definitions of words that arp
nearly synonymous, or sometimes really synonymous, at other times not, is
a fault in all the dictionaries of our language, which I have seen. Permeate,
says Johnson, signifies, to pass through, and permeable, such as matj be
passed through. But we pass through a door or gate; although we do not
permeate it, or say that it is permeable. Obedience, says Johnson, is obse-
quiousness, but this is rarely the present sense of the word ; so far from it
that obedience is always honorable, and obsequiousness usually implies
meanness. \Peculation, says Johnson, is robbery of the public, thefl of
pubUc money. But as robbery and theft are now understood, it is neither.
Inaccuracies of this kind are very numerous.
6. There are in Johnson's Dictionary, some palpable mistakes in orthog-
raphy, such as comptroller, bridegroom, redoubt, and some others, there
being no such legitimate words in the language. In other instances, the
author mistook the true origin of words, andhas c;
> erred in the orthography, a
7. The mistakes in etymology are numerous; and the whole scheme of
deducing words from their original is extremely imperfect.
8. The manner of defining words in Johnson, as in all other dictionaries,
is susceptible of improvement. In a great part of the more important words,
.and particularly verbs, lexicographers, either from negligence or want of
knowledge, have inverted the true order, or have disregarded all order in
the definitions. There is a primary sense of every word, from which all the
other have proceeded; and whenever this can be discovered, this sense
should stand first in order. Thus the primary sense of make is to force or
conijiel; but this in Johnson's Dictionary is the fifteenth definition; and
this sense ot facto in Ainsworth, the nineteenth.
9. One of the most objectionable parts of Johnson's Dictionary, in my opin-
ion, is the great number of passages cited from authors, to exemplify his
definitions. Most English words are so familiarly and perfectly understood,
and the sense of them so little liable to be called in question, that they may
be safely left to rest on the authority of the lexicographer, without exam-
ples. Who needs extracts from three authors, KnoUes, Milton and Berkeley,
rove or illustiate the literal meaning of hand ? Who needs extracts from
Shakspearc, Bacon, South and Dryden, to prove hammer to be a legitimate
English word, and to signify an instrument for driving nails? So under
household, we find seven passages and nearly thirty lines employed to ex-
plify the plain interpretation, a family living together,
n. most cases, one example is sufficient to illustrate the meaning of a
word ; and this is not absolutely necessary, except in cases where the sig-
nification is a deviation from the plain literal sense, a particular application
f the term ; or in a case, where the sense of the word may be doubtful,
and of questionable authority. Numerous citations serve to swell the size
Dictionary, without any adequate advantage. But this is not the only
objection to Johnson's exemplifications. Many of the passages are taken
from authors now little read, or not at all ; whose style is now antiquated,
and by no means furnishing proper models for students of the present age.
In the execution of this work, I have pursued a course somewhat difl'er-
t; not however without fortifying my own opinion with that of other gen-
tlemen, in whose judgment I have confidence. In many cases, where the
sense of a word is plam and indisputable, I have omitted to cite any authori-
ty. I have done the same in many instances, where the sense of a word is
wholly ob%)lete, and the definition useful only to the antiquary. In some
nstances, definitions are given without authority, merely because I hail
neglected to note the author, or had lost the reference. In such cases, I
must stand responsible for the correctness of the definition. In all such
cases, however, I have endeavored to be faithful to the duly of a lexico-
grapher ; and if in any instance, a mistake has escaped me, I .shall be happy
to have it suggested, that it may be corrected.
In general, I have illustrated the significations of words, and proved them
to be legitimate, by a short passage from some respectable author, often
abridged from the whole passage cited by Johnson. In many cases, I have
given brief sentences of my own; using the phrases or sentences in which
the word most frequently occurs, and often presenting some important
maxim or sentiment in religion, morality, law or civil policy. Under words
which occur in the scriptures, I have often cited passages from our common
version, not only to illustrate the scriptural or theological sense, but even
the ordinary significations of the words. These passages are short, plain,
appropriate, and familiar to most readers. In a few cases, where the sense
of a word is disputed, I have departed from the general plan, and cited a
number of autliorities.
In the admission of words of recent origin, into a Dictionary, a lexico-
grapher has to encounter many difficulties; as it is not easy, in all cases, to
determine whether a word is so far authorized as to be considered legitimate.
Some writers indulge a licentiousness in coining words, which good sense
would wish to repress. At the same time, it would not be judicious to re-
ject all new terras ; as these are often necessary to express new ideas ; and
the progress of improvement in arts and science would be retarded, by de-
nying a place in dictionaries, to terms given to things newly discovered.
But the lexicographer is not answerable for the bad use of the privilege of
coining new words. It seems to be his duty to insert and explain all words
hich are used by respectable writers or speakers, whether the words are
destined to be received into general and permanent use or not. The future
use must depend on public taste or the utility of the words; circumstances
hich are not within the lexicographer's control.
Lexicographers are sometimes censured for inserting in their vocabularies,
vulgar words, and terms of art known only to particular artisans. That this
practice may be carried too far, is admitted ; but it is to be remarked that, in
general, vulgar words are the oldest and best authorized words in language;
and their use ij as necessary to the classes of people who use them, as ele-
gant words are to the statesman and the poet. It may be added that such
words are often particularly useful to the lexicographer, in furnishing him
th the primary sense, which is no where to be found, but in popular use.
In this work, I have not gone quite so far as John.son and Todd have done, in
admitting vulgar words. Some of them are too low to deserve notice.
The catalogue of obsolete words in Johnson has been considerably aug-
mented by Mason and Todd. I have, though somewhat reluctantly, insert-
' nearly the whole catalogue, which, I presume, amounts to seven or eight.
INTRODUCTION.
and perhaps, to ten thousand words. Most of these may be useful to the
antiquary ; but to the great mass of readers, they are useless.*
I have also inserted many words which are local in England ; being re-
tained from the diftercnt languages that have been spoken in that country,
but which are no more a part of our present language in the United States,
than so many Lapland words. These however occur in books which treat of
agriculture and the arts ; books which are occasionally read in this country.
Law-terms, which are no part of the proper language of the U. States,
and never can be, as the things they express do not exist in this country, are
however retained, as it is necessary that the gentlemen of the bar should
understand them ; and it will be time to dismiss them from books, when
they are obsolete in practice.
As to Americanisms, so called, I have not been able to find many words,
in respectable use, which can be so denominated. These I have admitted
and noted as peculiar to this country. I have fully ascertained that most of the
new words charged to the coinage of this country, were first used in England.
In exhibiting the origin and affinities of English words, I have usually
placed first in order the corresponding word, in the language from or
through which we have received it ; then the corresponding words in the
languages of the same family or race ; then the corresponding word in the
languages of other families. Thus, for example, the word break we have
from our Saxon ancestors ; I therefore give the Saxon word first ; then the
same word in the other Teutonic and Gothic languages ; then the Celtic
words ; then the Latin ; and lastly the Hebrew, Chaldaic and Arabic. This
order is not followed in every instance, even of vernacular words, but it is
the more general course I have pursued. When there can be no rational
doubt respecting the radical identity of words, I have inserted them without
any expression of uncertainty. When there appears to be any reason to
question that identity, I have mentioned the probability only of an affinity
or inserted a query, to invite further investigation. Yet I am aware that
many things, which, in my view, arc not doubtful, will appear so to per
not versedin this subject, and who do not at once see the chain of evidence
which has led me to my inferences. For tliis there is no remedy but fur-
ther investigation.
In regard to words, which have been introduced into the language in
modern days, I have generally referred them to the language, from which
the English immediately received them. A great part of these are from the
Latin through the French; sometimes probably through the Italian or Span-
ish. In some instances however the order is reversed ; indeed it cannot al-
ways be known from which language the words have been received, nor is
it a matter of any consequence.
One circumstance however deserves to be particularly noticed; that when
1 refer a vernacular word to the corresponding word in one of the Shemitic
languages, 1 would not have it understood that the English word was rfi
ed or borrowed from that oriental word. For example, I have giver
Shemitic TnS as the verb corresponding with the English break, that is, the
same word in those languages; not intending by this that our ancestors bor
rowed or received that word from the Chaldeans, Hebrews or other Shemi
tic nation. This is not the fact. It would be just as correct for the com
piler of a Chaldee or Hebrew lexicon to derive pIB from the English break]
or German brechen. So when I deduce coin, through the French, Spanish
or Italian, from the Arabic ^LS , I do not consider the word as borrowed
from the Arabic but as proceeding from a common radix. With regard to
vernacular words, in any European language, such deduction is always in-
correct. Yet errors of this kind abound in every book I have seen, which
treats of this subject. The truth is, all vernacular words in the languages
of Europe, are as old as the same words in Asia ; and when the same words
are found in the Shemitic and Japhetic languages, it is almost demonstiably
certain that these words were in use before the dispersion; the nations of
both families have them from the common stock, and the words, like the fami
lies of men, which use them, are to be considered as of the same antiquity
When therefore I state the words of another language as corresponding
with vernacular words in the English, they are offered as affinities, or the
same word, varied dialectically perhaps, in orthography or signification, but
words from the same root as the EngUsh. Thus under the word bright, I
state the Saxon word, and then the corresponding word in the Ethiopic, the
participle of a verb ; not that our ancestors borrowed the word from the
Ethiopians, but that the verb, from which bright was derived, though lost
in the Saxon, is still retained in the Ethiopic. This fact proves that the an-
cestors of the Saxons once used the verb, but suffered it to go into disuse,
aubstituling shine, scinan, in its place.
It is much to be regretted that British authors and travelers admit into
Iheir writings foreign "words without conforming them, in orthography, to
regular English analogies. It is owing to this disregard of the purity and
■gular form of orthography in English, that we are perplexed with such
ords as burlesque, soup, group, tour, corps, depot, suite, pacha, ennui, and
many others. In this respect, modern writers manifest less taste than the
writers of former centuries, who, when they borrowed foreign words, wrote
them in conformity to English analogies. This practice of blending with the
EngUsh many words of an orthography, which in our language is anomalous,
is very embarrassing to readers who know only their vernacular tongue, and
often introduces an odious difference between the pronunciation of different
classes of people ; an evil more sensibly felt in this country, than in Great
Britain, where differences of rank exist : in short, it multiplies the irregu-
larities of a language, already so deformed by them as to render it nearly
impracticable for our own citizens ever to overcome the difficulties of its
orthography ; irregularities which foreigners deem a reproach to the taste
of a literary nation.
Where is the good sense which should dictate a manly firmness in pre-
serving the regular analogies and purity of the language ? Where is there a
due attachment to uniformity which constitutes the principal beauty and
excellence of a language, and beyond all other means facilitates its acquisi-
tion ? I would not refuse to admit foreign words into the language, if neces-
sary or useful ; but I would treat them as our laws treat aliens ; I would
compel them to submit to the formalities of naturalization, before they should
be admitted to the rights of citizenship ; I would convert them into English
words, or reject them. Nor would I permit the same word to be written
and pronounced in two different ways, one English, the other French. The
French suite in English is suit, whether it signifies a set of clothes, or of
apartments, or of armor, or of attendants.
In the orthography of certain classes of words, I have aimed at uniform-
ity ; but I have not proceeded so far in this desirable reformation of the com-
mon spelling, as my own wishes, and strict propriety might dictate. Thus
if vicious, from the Latin vitiuni, is written with c, the verb vitiate should
regularly be written with the same letter, and we have precedents in the
words appreciate and depreciate, from the Latin pretium. In like manner,
expatiate should be conformed to the orthography o( spacious ; exceed, pro-
ceed, and succeed, should follow the analogy of concede, intercede, and re-
cede. These are points of minor importance, but far from being unimportant.
In writing the termination of such verbs as civilize, legalize, modernize,
there is a diversity which may be corrected without inconvenience. We
indeed have some of the verbs of this class from the French in which lan-
* There is, among some poets of the present day, an affectation of reviv-
ing the use of obsolete words. Some of these may perhaps be revived to
advantage ; but when this practice proceeds so far as to make a glossary ne-
cessary to the understanding of a poem, it seems to be a violation of good
taste. How different is the'simple elegance of nrvdcn, Pope, Gray, Gold-
smith and Cowper !
uagei
1 ; but most of them we have borrowed directly
from the Latin or Greek, or perhaps from the Spanish or Italian, or they i
of our own coinage. As the termination ize is conformable to the Greek
original, and as it expresses the true pronunciation in English, it seems expe-
dient to reduce the whole class to a uniformity of orthography.
Enterprise, devise, comprise, revise, compromise, and surprise, belong to
a different class and retain the orthography of their originals.
There is a fact respecting the pronunciation o{ gn, in cognizance, and re-
cognizance, which seems to have escaped observation ; this is, that g was
introduced to express a nasal sound, as in the French gn, or Spanish n, but
not for the purpose of being pronounced as g. It is probable that the Latins
changed con before nosco into co^ for this reason; and it may be inferred
from the modern pronunciation ot these words, that the Greeks omitted or
softened the sound of 7 in yi^vwo-xcj and yiyv^iiai. However this may be, the
old pronunciation of the words was undoubtedly conusance, or conizance,
reconizance, and hence in the old writers on law, the letter g was omitted.
Indeed there is a harshness in the pronunciation of g in these words, that
offends the organs both of the speaker and hearer, and which well justifies
the pronunciation of the old lawyers; a pronunciation which we frequently
hear, at this day, among gentlemen of the bar.
Whether the Latins pronounced the letter g in such words as benignus,
condignus, malignus, it is of no moment for us to determine. In our mode
of writing benign, condign, malign, the sound of g must be dropped ; but it
is resumed in the derivatives benignity, condignity, malignity : so in de-
sign, designate ; resign, resignation*
In noting the obsolete words which amount to some thousands, I may have
committed mistakes ; for words obsolete in one part of the Briti.sh dominions,
or in some part of the United Stales, may be words in common use, in some
other part of such dominions, not within my knowledge. The rule I have
generally observed has been to note as obsolete such words as I have not
heard in colloquial practice, and which I have not found in any writer of the
last century. The notation of such words as are disused may be of use to
our own youth, and still more to foreigners, who learn our language.
Under the head of etymology, in hooks, the reader will observe referen-
ces to another work, for a more full explanation or view of the affinities of
the words under which these references occur. These are references to a
Synopsis of the principal uncompounded words in twenty languages ; a work
that is not published, and it is uncertain whether it will ever be published.
But if It should be, these references will be useful to the philologist, and I
thought it expedient to insert them.
* The Spanish puno is the Latin pugnus ; and our word pawn, the Tl.pand,
is the Latin pignus. So we pronounce impune, for impugn, French im-
pugner, from the Latin pugno, pugna. How far these facts tend to show
the Latin pronunciation, let the reader judge.
PHILOSOPHICAL AND PRACTICAL GRAMMAR
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
ADVERTISEMENT.
In the year 1803, I received a Letter from Lindley Murray, with a copy of his Grammar. The following is a copy
of the Letter.
" I take the liberty of requesting that the author of ' Dissertations on the Enghsh Language,' will do me the favor
to accept a copy of the new edition of my grammar, as a small testimony of my respect for his talents and character.
At the same time, I hope he will permit me to thank him for the pleasure and improvement, wliich I have derived
from perusing his ingenious and sensible writings.
" If, on looking over the Grammar, any thing should occur to him, by which he thinks the work may be further im-
proved, I will take\he communication of it, as a particular favor ; and will give it an attentive and respectful con-
sideration. Should he prepare any remarks, he will be so good as to send his letter to my brother John Murray, jun.,
Pearl Street, New York, who will carefully forward them to me. I am very respectfully, &c.
LINDLEY MURRAY."
Holdgate, near York, 1803."
Twenty years before the date of this letter, 1 had prepared and published a Grammar, on the model of Lowth's, with
some variations, and on the same principles, as Murray has constructed his. This work passed through many edi-
tions, before Murray's book appeared in this country. But before this period, my researches into the structure of
language had convinced me that some of Lowth's principles are erroneous, and that my own Grammar wanted ma-
terial corrections. In consequence of this conviction, believing it to be immoral to publish what appeared to be false
rules and principles,' I determined to suppress my Grammar, and actually did so; although the public continued to
call for it, and my bookseller urged for permission to continue the publication of it. As I had the same objections to
Murray's Grammar, as I had to my own, I determined on the publication of anew work, which was executed in 1807 ;
and with a view to answer Lindley Murray's request, but in a different manner, I sent him a polite letter^ with a copy
of my Grammar. I have understood from his friends in New York, that these never reached him ; but he received a
copy of my Grammar from his friends, and soon afterward prepared for publication a new edition of his own Gram-
mar, in the octavo form. In the preface to this edition, dated in 1808, he informs his readers, that, " in preparing for
the octavo edition, the author examined the most respectable publications on the subject of grammar, that had re-
ceiithj appeared; and he has, in consequence, been the better enabled to extend and improve his work." On care-
fully comparing this work with my own Grammar, I found most of his improvements were selected from my book.
ADVERTISEMENT.
In the first edition of this work, the compiler gave me credit for one passage only, (being nearly three pages of my
Grammar,) which he acknowledged to be chiefly taken from my work. In the later editions, he says, this is in part
taken from my book, and he further acknowledges that Tifew positions and illustrations, among the syntactical notes
and observations, were selected from my Grammar. Now the fact is, the passages borrowed amount to tliirti/ or more,
and they are so incorporated into his work, that no person except myself would detect tlie plagiarisms, without a
particular view to this object. It may be further observed that these passages are original remarks, some of them
illustrating principles overlooked by all British writers on the subject.
This octavo edition of Murray's Grammar, has been repeatedly published in this country, and constantly used in
our higher seminaries of learning; while the student probably has no suspicion that he is learning my principles in
Murray's Grammar.
For the injustice done to me, by this publication, in violation of the spirit, if not of the letter of the law, for secur-
ing to authors the copy-right of their works, I have sought no redress ; but while I submit to the injury, it seems to be
my duty to bear testimony against this species of immorality. A man's reputation, and character, and writings, are
as much his property, as his land, and it is to be hoped that correct morality will, in due time, place the protection of
the former on as high ground as that of the latter.
Being perfectly satisfied that some principles of Lowth's Grammar, which constitutes the body of Murray's, are
entirely erroneous, I have prefixed a brief Grammar to this Dictionary ; which is committed to my fellow citizens, as
the mature result of all my investigations. It is the last effort I shall make to arrest the progress of error, on this
subject. It needs the club of Hercules, wielded by the arm of a giant, to destroy the hydra of educational prejudice.
The club and the arm, I pretend not to possess, and my efforts may be fruitless ; but it will ever be a satisfaction to
reflect that I have discharged a duty demanded by a deep sense of the importance of truth. It is not possible for
me to think with indifference, that half a million of youth in our schools are daily toiling to learn that which is not
true. It has been justly observed that ignorance is preferable to error.
Some of the more prominent errors of the English Grammars, are,
1. The admission oiihe article, as a distinct part of speech, and an entire mistake respecting what is called the
indefinite article. The word article signifies, if any thing, a. joint ; but there is no class of words, unless it may be
the conjunctions, which can, with a shadow of propriety, be brought under that denomination. The words called
articles, are, in all \ang\iages, adjectives ; words limiting or in some way qualifying the sense of names or nouns. In
most languages, they are varied like the nouns which they qualify, and attached to them like other adjectives.
2. The arrangement of words in a class to which they do not belong. Thus, that is called sometimes a pronoun,
and sometimes a conjunction, when in fact it is always a pronoun or substitute, and never a conjunction. So also if,
though, unless, notwithstanding, are called conjunctions ; which is a most palpable mistake. Notwithstanding,
is placed by Murray among the conjunctions. But after he procured my Grammar, he inserted, under his twenty-first
rule of Syntax, the following remark. " It is very frequent, when the word notwithstanding agrees with a number
of words, or with an entire clause, to omit the whole, except this word ; and in this use oi notwithstanding, we have
a striking proof of the value of abbreviations in language," &c. The whole passage, taken from my Grammar, and
the two subsequent passages, are too long to be here recited. The remark to be made here is, that the author, by
attempting to patch a defective system, falls into the absurdity of making notwithstanding a conjunction, in one part
of his book, and in another, he makes it a word agreeing ivith a number of words, or with an entire clause !
3. There is no correct and complete exhibition of the English verb in any British Grammar which I have seen.
The definite tenses, which are as important as the indefinite, are wholly wanting ; and the second future in Murray
is imperfect. It seems that he had in his first editions inserted this form, thou shall, or ye shall have loved, but in his
octavo edition, he informs us that shall in the second and third persons is incorrectly applied. To prove this, he
gives the following examples. " Thou shalt have served thy apprenticeship, before the end of the year." " He
shall have completed his business, when the messenger arrives." Very true ; but the author forgot that by placing
when or after, as an introduction to the sentence, the use o{ shall is not only correct, but in many cases, necessary.
When thou shalt or you shall have served an apprenticeship, after he shall have completed his business, are perfectly
correct expressions. But in consequence of this oversight, Murray's second future ia defective throughout the whole
paradigm.
ADVERTISEMENT.
4. The Syntax of every British Grammar that I have seen, is extremely imperfect. There are many English
phrases which are perfectly well established and correct, which are not brought within the rules ; and of course they
cannot be parsed or resolved by the student.
5. There are several false rules of construction which mislead the learner ; rules which are in direct opposition to
the practice of the best writers.
6. There are some phrases or modes of expression, frequently used by authors, which are not good English, and
which it is the business of the Grammarian to correct, but which are not noticed in any British Grammar. Some
of these have been considered in the preceding Introduction.
There is a great difficulty in devising a correct classification of the several sorts of words ; and probably no classi-
fication that shall be simple and at the same time philosophically correct, can be invented. There are some words
that do not strictly fall under the description of any class yet devised. Many attempts have been made and are still
making to remedy this evil ; but such schemes as I have seen, do not, in my apprehension, correct the defects of the
old schemes, nor simplify the subject. On the other hand, all that I have seen, serve only to obscure and embarrass
the subject, by substituting new arrangements and new terms, which are as incorrect as the old ones, and less intel-
ligible.
On the subject of the tenses of the verbs, for example, we may attempt philosophical accuracy, and say that there
are, and there can be three tenses only, to express the natural division of time \nio past, present, and future. But a
language which should have words to express these three divisions only, would be miserably imperfect. We want to
express not only the past, the preseiit, and the future, with respect to ourselves or the time of speaking and writing,
but the past with respect to other times or events. When we say, the mail will have arrived before sun-set, we ex-
press not only a. future event, at the time of speaking, but an event to be past before another event, the setting of the
sun. Hence I have given to that form of words, the denomination of the prior future. So of the past time. He
had delivered the letter, before I arrived, denotes an event not only jjast, as to the time of speaking, but past before
another event, my arrival. This tense I call the prior-past. These denominations, like the terms of the new chim-
istry, define themselves. The old names of the latter tense, i)luperfect ox preterphiperfcct, more than finished or past,
or beyond more than finished or past, I have discarded. These small alterations of the old system will, I hope, be
well received.
If it should be said, that our verbs have not tenses, because they have not variations of termination to express them ;
I would reply, that this may be considered as a mistake, proceeding from an early bias, impressed upon us by the
Greek and Latin forms of the tenses. A tense is a term intended to denote a form of verbs used for expressing time
or some division of it, and it is just as properly applied to a combination of words for that purpose, as to a modifica-
tion of the simple verb. The use of it is entirely arbitrary. Locutus sum are not the less a tense, because two words
are employed. It is the time and not the form of words used to express it, which stamps propriety on the denom-
ination.
If we attempt to dispense with some of the English tenses, by analyzing them, and resolving them into their prima-
ry elements, that is, parsing the words composing them, each distinctly, we shall meet with insuperable difficulties.
Let a man attempt to make out the sense of this phrase, he hud been writing, by analysing it. Had alone denotes
field, jiossessed, as in the phrase, " he had an estate in New York." Then in the phrase above, it will signify, he held
or possessed been writing.
It is alledged that the auxiliary verbs are not secondary, but the most important verbs in the language. The point
of importance must be determined by this fact, that by themselves they do not make complete sense ; they leave the
sense or affirmation imperfect. He may, he can, he will, he shall, are incomplete sentences, without another verb
expressed or understood. They express nothing definite which is intended to be affirmed. When I ask, whether
you can lend me a sum of money, and you reply, / can, the verb lend is understood. Not so with the verbs consid-
ered as principal. When I say, / ivrite, Itcalk, the sense or affirmation is complete without the use of another verb.
Hence it is with perfect propriety, that such verbs as can be used only in connection with others, should be considered
as of a secondary character, and being used to aid in forming the tenses, they may very justly be denominated aux-
iliars or auxiliaries.
Some of our verbs are used eitiier as principal or as auxiliary, as have and will ; and will takes a diflTerent and reg-
ular form when principal ; I will, thou wiliest, he tvilleth or wills an estate or a legacy ; but when auxiliary, thou wilt,
he will bequeath his estate.
ADVERTISEMENT.
Will, indeed, in its primary use, expresses volition, as when we say, " I ivill walk or ride ; but as an auxiliary, it
often loses this signification. When it is said, " it will rain to-morrow," what relation has will to volition 1
To show the utter futility of attempting to explain phrases by the primary signification of the auxiliaries, take the
following example. May and might express power, liberty or possibility ; have and had express holding or possession.
On this plan of explanation, resolve the following sentence. " He miffht have had more prudence than to engage in
speculation ;" that is, he was able, or had power, to hold or possess, held or possessed more prudence than to engage
in speculation.
So the following. " It maij have rained on the land." That is, it has power or is possible, to hold or possess, rained
on the land.
All attempts to simplify our forms of the tenses by such resolution, must not only fail, but prove to be perfectly ridic-
ulous. It is the combination of icords only that admits of definition ; and these must be exhibited as tenses ; forms
of expression presenting to the hearer or reader the precise time of action. This is necessary for our own citizens ;
but for foreigners, indispensable, as they want to know the tenses in Enghsh which correspond with the tenses in
their own languages.
Nor shall we succeed much better in attempting to detect the primary elements of the terminations which form the
variations of the simple verb. We may conjecture any thing ; we may suppose loved to be a contraction of love-did;
but in opposition to this, we find in our mother tongue, this termination ed, was od, or ode. Ic liifode, I loved ;
we lufodon, we loved. Besides, if I mistake not, this termination is the same as that in the early Roman laws,
in which esto was written estod ; and I believe we have no evidence that do and did ever belonged to the Latin lan-
guage. But what settles this question, is, that did itself is formed of do and this same termination, do-ed. Here
the question may rest.
We may conjecture that the personal terminations of the verbs were originally pronouns, and this conjecture is
certainly better founded than many others ; but we find in our mother tongue, the verb love, in the plural number, is
written, we hifiath, ge liifath, thi hifiath, all the persons having the same termination ; but certainly the same word
was never used to express %ve, you or ye, and they.
I have attentively viewed these subjects, in all the lights which my opportunities have afforded, and I am convinced
that the distribution of words, most generally received, is the best that can be formed, with some slight alterations
adapted to the particular construction of the English language. Our language is rich in tenses, beyond any language
in Europe ; and I have endeavored to exhibit all the combinations of words forming them, in such a manner that
students, natives or foreigners, may readily understand them.
I close with this single remark, that from all the observations I have been able to make, I am convinced the dic-
tionaries and grammars which have been used in our seminaries of learning, for the last forty or fifty years, are so
incorrect and imperfect, that they have introduced or sanctioned more errors than they have amended ; in other
words, had the people of England and of these States been left to learn the pronunciation and construction of their
vernacular language solely by tradition, and the reading of good authors, the language would have been spoken and
written with more purity than it has been and now is, by those who have learned to adjust their language by the rules
which dictionaries and grammars prescribe.
PHILOSOPHICAL AND PRACTICAL. GRAMMAR, «Stc.
The Grammar of a language is a collecdon of principles and rules, taken
from the established usages of the nationusing that language ; in other words,
an exhibition of the genuine structure of the language. These principles
and rules iie il. ri\e.l tiom the natural distinctions of words, or they are ar-
bitrary, iiml ill [H !i(i lui Ibcir authority wholly on custom.
A riih \- .ui r.,|jlilished form of construction in a particular class of words
Thus it is J rule iu Kiiglish that the plural number of nouns is formed by
adding » or cs to the singular, as hand, hands, cage, cages, fish, fishes.
An exception to a rule is, the deviation of a word from the common con-
struction. Thus the regular plural of tnan would be mans,- but the actua
plural is men. This word then is an exception to the general rule of form-
ing plural nouns.
Grammar is usually divided into four parts — orthography, etymology, syn-
tax, and prosody.
Orthography treats of the letters of a language, their sounds and use
whether simple or in combination; and teaches the true mode of writing
words, according to established usage-
Etymology treats of the derivation of words from their radicals or pi
fives, and of their various inflections and modifications to express person,
number, case, sex, time and mode.
Syntax is a system of rules for constructing sentences.
Prosody treats of the quantity or rather of the accent of syllables, of poetic
feet, and the laws of versification.
The elements of language are articulate sounds. These are represented on
paper by letters or characters, which are the elements of written language
A syllable is a simple sound, or a combination or succession of sounds ut
Icred at one breath or impulse of the voice.
A word consists of one syllable or of a combination of syllables.
A sentence consists of a number of words, at the pleasure of the speakei
or writer ; but forming complete sense.
ENGLISH ALPHABET.
The English Alphabet consists of twenty six letters or characters, viz.
A a— B b— C c— D d— E e— F f— G g— H h— I i— J j— K k— L 1 — M m—
N n— 0 o— P p— Q q— R r— S s— T t— U u— V v— W w— X x— Y y— Z z
Of these, three, a, e, and o, are always vowels ; i and u arc either vowels
or diphthongs ; and yisa vowel, diphthong, or consonant. To these may be
added to, which is actually a vowel. H is an aspirate or mark of breathing,
and the rest are consonants, or articulations.
A vowel is a simple sound formed by opening the mouth, in a particular
manner. This may be known by the power we have of prolonging the
sound, without changing the position of the organs, as in uttering a, e,and o.
When the position of the organs is necessarily varied, during the utterance,
the sound is not simple, but diphthongal; as in uttering i and u.
The vowel characters in English have each several different sounds.
A has four souiiil^ ; First or long, as in /ate, ale.
2. Shiirt, .1- :ii nt. I), it. ban. This is nearly the fourth sound shortened.
3. 1)1.1, 111, -i II. I///. /(i,7, and shortened, as in toAot.
4. ll.ili.iii, lis [II Jiilfur, calm, ask.
E has two sounds; First or long, as in mete, me, meter.
2. Short, as in met, bet, pen. This is nearly the first sound of a shortened.
E has also the sound of a long, as in prey, vein ; but this is an anomaly.
/has two sounds; First or long, and diphthongal, as in fine, wine, mind.
2. Short, as inpit, ability. This is the short sound of e long.
O has three sounds ; Fir.st or long, as in note, roll.
2. Short, as in not, nominal. This is the short sound of broad aie, as in
what, warrant.
3. The sound of oo, or French ou, as in move, tomb, lose.
J/has three sounds; First or long, as in cube, rude, enumerate; a diph-
thongal sound.
2. Short, as in cub, but, number.
5. The Italian M, as in bush, bullet; the short sound of oo.
¥ has two sounds ; the first and long is the same as tliat of ?' long, as in
defy, rely, try, chyle.
2. Short, as in sym^Hom, pity ; the same as the short sound off.
Vol. I. H.
At the beginning of words, y may be considered a consonant, as in year.
Wis properly avowel, having the same sound as oo, in Kjoo^the French
ou, the Italian, German, and Spanish u. It is the same in English as iu
the Welsh. Thus dwell is pronounced dooell. When initial, it has been
considered to be a consonant, as in well, will, ooell, ooill; but although the
position of the organs in uttering this letter at the beginning of words may
be a little closer, it can hardly be called an articulation. In this combina-
tion, the two vowels arc rather diphthongal.
Consonants or articulations are characters that represent the junctions,
jointings, or closings of the organs, which precede or follow the vocal sounds.
Some of them are close articulnliens whieh wbr.lly infereept the voice.
Such arefe,p, and <, as in the syll '''.-.' '/ '' I ': . ir ii^nnlly railed
mutes, OT pure mutes. Others';.. .. !.• | . I. , _ n ..i -.mnil, as b.
rf, and g, in the syllables cd, e(<, I i; 1! ii, : .i.,//!,, muhs.
Others are imperfect articulatiuu.-, aui > niii. Ij imciiu(jiuiii, ilie \oice, but
admitting a kind of hum, a hiss, or a breatliiug; and for lliis reason, they
are sometimes called semi-vowels. Such are/, /, m, n, r, $, v, and z,as in
the syllables eX, el, em, en, er, es, ev, ez.
J and the soft g represent a compound sound, or rather a union of sounds,
which may be expressed by edge, or t^e, as in join, general.
X represents the sounds of ks, or gz.
Th have an aspirated sound, as in thing, wreath ; or a vocal sound, as in
thus, thou, breathe.
Sh maybe considered as representing a simple sound, asm esh,she,shall.
This sound, rendered vocal, becomes ezh, for which we have no character.
It is heard infusion, pronounced fuzhun.
The letters ng in combination have two sounds ; one as in sing, singer ;
the other as in finger, longer. The latter requires a closer articulation of
the palatal organs, than the former ; but the distinction can be communica-
ted only by the ear. The orthoepists attempt to express it by writing g
after the ng, &sfing-ger. But the peculiar sound of ng- is expressed, if ex-
pressed at all, solely by the first syllable, as will be obvious to any per.son,
who will write sing-ger for singer ; for let sing in this word be pronoun-
ced as it is by itself, sing, and the additional letter makes no difference,
iless the speaker pauses at sing, and pronounces ger by itself.
The articulations in English may all be thus expressed : eb, ed, ef, eg, ek,
el, em, en, ep, er, es, et, ev, ez, eth, aspirate and vocal, esh, ezh, ing.
These articulations may be named from the organs whose junctions they
represent — Thus
Labials, or letters of the lips, eb, ef, ev, ep, em.
Dentals, ed, et, eth, es, esh, ez, ezh, en.
Palatals, eg, ek, el, er.
Nasals, em, en, ing.
The letters « and z, are also called sibilants, or hissing letters — to which
may be added, esh, and ezh.
Q is precisely equivalent to k; but it differs from it in being always follow-
by M. It is a useless letter; for quest might as well be written kuest or
kwesi, in the Dutch manner.
A diphthong is a union of two vowels or simple sounds uttered so rapidly
and closely, as to form one syllable only, or what is considered as one sylla-
' le ; as oi and oy in voice and joy, ou in sound, and ow in vow.
A triphthong is a union of three vowels in one syllable ; as in adieu.
There are many combinations of vowels in English words, in which one
owel only is sounded: as ai, ea, ie, ei, oa, ui, ay, ey,&ic. These may be
called digraphs. They can be reduced to no rule of pronunciation.
The combinations au and aw have generally the sound of the broad a, as in
fraud, and law. The combination ew has the sound of u long, as in pew,
new, crew; and sometimes at the beginning of words the sound of ^u, as in
eucharist, euphony.
The letters cl, kl, at the beginning of a word, are pronounced as tl, as in
clear. Gl at the beginning of words are pronounced as d/, as in glory.
DIVISION OF SYLLABLES.
The first and principal rule in dividing syllables, is not to separate letters
that belong to the same syllable, except in cases of anomalous pronunciation.
GRAMMAR OF THE
The best division of syllables is that which leads the learner most easily to a^
just pronunciation. Thus, hab-it, ham-let, bat-ter, ho-ly, lo-cal, en-gage,
an-i-mal, al-i-ment, pol-i-cy, eb-o-ny, des-ig-nate, lam-ent-a-ble, pref-
er-a-b!e.
An exception to this rule occurs in such words as vicious, ambition, in
which the ci and fi are pioiiouuccil like sh. In this case, it seems prefera-
ble todiride tlie wok!- 'r.,~ r,-,,, i;v, nm-bi-tion.
Individiu;; the syii ■ \ mi e words it seems advisable to keep the
original eniire, uu!.' - i ■ i' oi\ i ion may lead to a wrong pronunciation.
Thus aet-or, help-cr. ^7 , . >-"/ . lu.y he considered as a better division than
ac-tor, hel-per, op-pres-^or. But it may be eligible in many cases, to devi-
ate from this rule. Thus op-pres-sion seems to be more convenient both
lor children in learning and for printers, than op-press-ion.
RULES FOR SPEtlilNG.
1. Verbsof one syllable, ending with a single consonant preceded by a
short vowel, and verbsof more syllables than one, ending with an accented
consonant preceded by a short vowel, double tiie final consonant in the par-
ticiple, and when any syllable is added beginning witli a vowel. Thus,
Abet, Sin, Permit,
Abetted, Sinned, Permitted,
Abetting, Sinning, Permitting,
Abettor. Sinner. Permitter.
2. When the final consonant is preceded by a long vowel, the consonant
is usually not doubled. Thus,
Seal, Repeal, Defeat,
Sealed, Repealed, Defeated,
Sealing, Repealing, Defeating,
Sealer. Repealer. Defeater.
3. When the accent falls on any syllable except the last, the final conso-
nant of the verb is not to be doubled in the derivatives. Thus,
Bias, Quarrel, Worship, Equal,
Biased, Quarreled, Worshiped, Equaled,
Biasing, Quarreling, Worshiping, Equaling,
Biaser. Quarrelei'. Worshiper. Equaler.
The same rule is generally to be observed in nouns, as in jeweler, from
jewel.
These are general rules ; though possibly special reasons may, in some
instances, justify exceptions.
CLASSIFICATIOX OF WORDS.
Words are classified according to their uses. Writers on grammar are not
perfectly agreed in the distribution of words into classes. But I shall, with
one exception, follow the common distribution. Words then may be distrib-
uted into cisht classes or parts of speech. 1. The name ornoun. 2. The
pronoun orsubsliliite. 3. the adjective, attribute or attributive. 4. The
verb. 5. Tlie adverb. 6. The preposition. 7. The connective or cmi-
junction. 8. The exclamation or interjection.
The participle is sometimes treated as a distinct part of speech; it Is a de-
rivative from the verb, and partakes of its nature, expressing motion or ac-
tion. But it sometimes loses its verbal character, and becomes a mere ad-
jective, expressing quality or habit, rather than action.
Sames or
JVO'
A name or noun is that by which a tiling is calletl; and it expresses the
idea of that which exists, material or immaterial. Of material substances,
as man, horse, tree, table — of immaterial things, as faith, hope, love. These
and similar words are, by customary use, made the names of things which
exist, or the symbols of ideas, which they express without the help of any
other word.
Division of Names.
Names are of two kinds; common, or those which represent the idea of
a whole kind or .species ; and proper or appropriate, which denote individu
hIs. Thus animal is a name common to all beings, having organized bodie:
and endowed with life, digestion, and spontaneous motion. Plant and reg
rtable are names of all beings which have organized bodies and life, with
out the power of spontaneous motion. Fori'l is the common name of all
iethereil animals which fly— ^s7i, of animals which live wholly in water.
On the other hand, Thomas, John, William, arc proper or appropriate
names, each denoting an individual of which there is no species or kind
London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rhine, Po, Danube, Massachusetts, Hudson,
Potomac, are also proper names, being appropriate toimUvidual things.
Propel names however become common when they comprehend two
more individuals ; as, the Capets, the Smiths, the Fletchers.
" TiPo Hoberts there the pagan force defy'd." Hook's Tasso, b. 5
Limitation of Names.
Proper names are sufficiently definite without the aid of another word
to Umit their meaning, as Boston, Baltimore. Savamrjh. \vi when cc
individuals have a common character, or predominant qualities which create
a simiUtude between them, this common character becomes in the mind a
species, and the proper name of an individual possessing this character, ad-
ndts of (he definitives and of plural number, like a common name. Thus a
conspirator is called a Cataline ; and numbers of them Catalines or the Cata-
lines of their country. A distinguished general is called a Cesar — an emin-
ent orator the Cicero of his age.
But names, which are common to a whole kind or species, require often
to be limited to an individual or a certain number of individuals of the kind
or species. For this purpose the English language is furnished with a num-
ber of words, as an, or a, the, this, that, these, those, and a few others,
which define the extent of the signification of common names, or point to
the particular things mentioned. These are all adjectives or attributes,
having a dependence on some noun expressed or implied.
Rule I. — A noun or name, without a preceding definitive, is used either
in an unUmited sense, extending to the whole species, or in an indefinite
sense, denoting a number or quantity, but not the whole.
" The proper study of mankind is man." Pope-
Here man comprehends the whole species.
" In the first place, woman has, in general, much stronger propensity than
man to the perfect discharge of parental duties." LiJ'e of Cowper.
Here woman and 7nan comprehend each the whole species of its sex.
Note. — The rule laid down by Lowth, and transcribed implicitly by his
followers, is general. " A substantive without any article to limit it, is taken
in its widest sense ; thus man means all mankind." The examples al-
ready given prove the inaccuracy of the rule. But let it be tried by other
examples.
"There are fishes that have wings, and are not strangers to the airy re-
gions."— Locke, b. 3. ch.6. 12. If the rule is just, timt fishes is to be
■"' taken in its widest sense," then all fishes have wings I
Rule II.— The definitive an or a, being merely one, in its English or-
thography, and precisely synonymous with it, limits a common name to an
individual of the species. Its sole use is to express unity, and with respect
to number, it is the most definite word imaginable; as an ounce, a church, n
hip, that is, 07ie ship, one church. It is used before a name which is indefi-
lite, or applicable to any one of a species ; as
" He bore him in the thickest troop.
As doth a lion in a herd of neat." Shakspearc.
Here a limits the sense of the word lion, and that of herd to one — but
does not specify the particular one — " As any lion does or would do in
herd."
his definitive is used also before names which are definite and as specific
as possible : as, "Solomon built a temple." "The Lord God planted a gar-
den eastward in Eden." London is a great commercial city. A decisive
battle was fought at Marengo. The English obtained a signal naval vic-
tory at the mouth of the Nile.
Note. — When the sense of words is sufficiently certain, by the construc-
tion, the definitive may be omitted ; as, " Duty to your majesty, and regard
for the preservation of ourselves and our posterity, require us to entreat
your royal attention."
It is also omitted before names whose signification is general, and requires
no limitation — as '^wisdom is justified of her children" — "anger resteth in
the bosom of fools."
The definitive a is used before plural names preceded by few or many —
as a few days, a great many persons. It is also used before any collective
word, as a dozen, a hundred, even when such words are attached to plural
nouns ; as a hundred years.
It is remarkable that a never precedes many without the intervenUon of
great between them — but follows many, standing between this word and a
name — and what is equally singular, many, the very essence of which is
to mark plurality, will, with a intervening, agree with a name in the singu-
' • number ; as
" Full many a gem of purest ray serene." Gray.
" Where matiy a rose bud rears its blushing head." Beattie.
Rule. III. — The definitive the is employed before names, to limit their
signification to one or more specific things of the kind, discriminated from
[hers of the same kind. Hence the person or thing is understood by the
reader or hearer, as the twelve Apostles, the laws of morality, the rules of
good breeding.
This definitive is also used with names of things which exist alone, or
which we consider as single, as the Jews, the Surt, the Globe, the Ocean ;
and also before words when used by way of distinction, as the Church,
the Temple.
Rule IN .— The is used rhetorically before a name in the singular num-
ber, to denote the whole species, or an indefinite number; as, ''the fig-tree
pulteth forth her green figs." Sol. Song.
" The almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden.
" Or ever the silver cord shall be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken," &.c.
I Ecclcsiastes.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
■ Tlie Christian, who, with pious horror, avoided the abominations of the
•us or the theater, found himself encompassed with infernal snares," &c.
G-ib. Rom. Emp. ch. 15.
■ The heart likes naturally to bo moved and affected."
CampbelVs JRhet. ch. 2.
; is also used before i
i employed figuratively
Note 1.— Thisdcfii
in a general sense; as, • , .,
" His mates their safety to the waves consign. Lusiad, 2.
Here waves cannot be understood of any particular waves ; but the word
is a metaphor for a particular thing, the ocean.
Note 2. The definitive the is used before an attribute, which is selected
from others belonging to the same object ; as, " The very frame of spirit;
proper for being diverted with the laughable in objects, is so different from!
- - "■ philosophizing on them." Campbell's Rhet. 1.2.
that which is necessary for ]
A«m6e
As men have occasion to .speak of a single object, or of two or more indi-
viduals of the same kind, it has been found necessary to vary the noun or
name, and usually the termination, to distinguish plurality from unity. The
different forms of words to express one or more are called in Grammar, num-
bers; of which there are in English, two, the singular and the plural.
The singular denotes an individual, or a collection of individuals united in a
body ; as, a man, a ship, an office, a company, a society, a dozen. The plu-
ral denotes two or more individuals, not considered as a collective body ; as,
men, ships, offices, companies, societies. The plural number is formed by
the addition of s or es to the singular.
Rule 1. When the terminating letter of a noun will admit the .sound of
I coalesce with the i
the plural ; as sea,
vales ; vow, vows.
2. Whentbr Im.
lable of it, tlw .< •
houses; grace. i;i i ,
3. When the i, u,
ral is formed by add
cannot be pronounced ;
I or the last syllable of it, s only is added to for
hand, hands ; pen, pens ; grape, grapes ; vale,
. . I ; combine insound with the word orlastsyl-
I i.-.i«es the number of syllables; as, house
[' J.'*; rose, roses; voice, voices; maze, mazes,
- II, . ss. sft, or eft with its English sound, the plu-
5 to the singular; for a single s after those letters
as, fox, foxes; glass, glasses; brush, brushes;
church, chtirches. But after eft with its Greek sound, like *, the plural is
formed by « only ; as monarch, monarchs.
4. When a name ends with y after a consonant, the plural is formed by
dropping y and adding tes ,■ as vanity, vanities. Alkali has a regular plu
ral, alkalies.
But after ay, ey, and oy, s only is added ; as, delay, delays; valley, val
leys; joy, joys; money, moneys.
Note. — A few English nouns deviate from the foregoing rules in the
formation of the plural number
Class 1. — In some names, / in the singular, is for the convenience of
utterance, changed into
knife,
wife,
leaf,
calf.
knives,
wives,
leaves,
calves.
self,
half,
beef,
staff,
loaf.
selves,
halves,
beeves.
sheaf,
shelf,
wolf,
whaif,
tliief.
CL.4.SS 2. — The second class consists of words which
numbers, with plurals irregularly formed; as.
sheaves.
shelves.
wolves.
wharves.
thieves.
used in both
chad,
foot,
tooth,
louse,
goose,
beau,
thesis,
emphasi
antithesi
peas or pease,
criterioiis or criteria,
focuses or foci,
radiuses or radii,
indexes or indices,
calxes or calces,
phenomena.
children. hypothe
feet. brother,
teeth. penny,
men. die,
women. pea,
oxen. criterion,
lice. focus,
geese. radius,
beaux. index,
theses. calx,
emphases. phenomenon,
antitheses.
Pennies is used for real coins; pence for their value in computati
Dies denotes stamps for coining; dice, pieces used in games. — Peas denotes
the seeds as distinct objects ; pease the seeds in a mass. — Brothers is the
plural used in common discourse; brethren, in the scripture style, but is not
restricted to it.
Cherubim and Seraphim are real Hebrew plurals; but such is the pro-
pensity in men to form regular inflections in language, that these words are
used as in the singular, with regular plurals, cherubims, seraphims. In like
manner, the Hebrew singulars, cherub and seraph, have obtained regular
plurals.
The influence of this principle is very obvious in other foreign words,
which the sciences have enlisted into our service; as may be observed in
the words radius, focus, index, &c. which now begin to bo U5ed with regu-
lar English plural terminations. This tendency to regularity is, by all means,
to be encouraged ; for a prime excellence in language is the uniformity of
its inflections. The facts here stated will be evinced by a few authorities.
" Vesiculated corallines are found adhering to rocks, shells and /ucuscs."
Encyc. art. Corallines.
" Many /etiwes are deficient at the extremities."
Var. Zoon. Sect. 1, 3, 9.
"Five hundred denariiises." Baker's Livy, 4. 491.
"The radiations of that tree and its fruit, the principal /oeitsfs of which
are in the Maldivia islands." Hunter's St. Pierre, vol. S.
"Tlie reduction of metallic calxes into metals."
Ency. art. Metallurgy.
See also Jl/ediunw, Campbell's Rhetoric, 1, 150 — Ca/jxcs, Darwin's Zoon.
1, 74 — Caudexes, Phytologia, 2, 3 — Irises, Zoon. 1. 444. Reguluses and
residuums. Ency. art. Metal.
In authorities equally respectable, we find stamens, stratums, funguses ;
and in pursuance of the principle, we may expect to see lamens for lamina ;
lamels for lamella; barytc for barytes; pyrite for pyrites; strontite for
strontites ; stalactite for the plural stalactites. These reforms are necessa-
ry to enable us to distinguish the singular from the plural number.
Class 3. — The third class of irregulars consists of such as have no plural
termination ; some of which represent ideas of things which do not admit of
plurality ; as rye, barley, flax, hemp, flour, sloth, pride, pitch, and the names
of metals, gold, silver, tin, zink, antimony, lead, bismuth, quicksilver. When,
in the progress of improvement, any thing, considered as not susceptible of
plurality, is found to have varieties, which are distinguishable, this distinc-
tion gives rise to a plural of the term. Thus in early ages our ancestors
took no notice of different varieties of wheat, and the term had no plural.
But modern improvements in agriculture have recognized varieties of this
grain, which have given the name a plural form. The same remark is ap-
plicable to fern, clay, marl, sugar, cotton, &c. which have plurals, formerly
unknown. Other words may hereafter undergo a similar change.
Other words of this class denote pluraMty, without a plural termination ; as
cattle, sheep, swine, kine, deer, ho.se ; trout, salmon, carp, perch, and many
other names of fish. Fish has a plural, but it is used in the plural sense
without the termination ; as,
"We are to blame for eating these fish." Anacharsis 6. 272.
"The^sft reposed in seas and crystal floods,
" The beasts retired in covert of the woods." Hoole T. 2. 726.
Cannon, shot and sail, are used in a plural sense ; as,
" One hundred cannon were landed from the fleet."
Burchctt, A'aval Hist. 732.
" Several shot being fired." Ibm. 455.
" Several sail of ships." " TZim. 426.
In the sense in which sail is here used, it does not admit of a plural
ending.
Under this class may be noticed a number of words, expressing time, dis-
tance, measure, weight, and number, which, though admitting a plural ter-
mination, are often, not to say generally, used without that termination, even
when used with attributes of plurality ; such are the names in these expres-
ions, two year, five mile, ten foot, seven pound, three tun, hundred, thou-
and, or million, five bushel, twenty weight, &c. Yet the most unlettered
people never say, two minute, three hour, five day, or week, or month ; nor
inch, yard or league ; nor three ounce, grain, dram, or peck,
like singularity is observable in the Latin language. " Tritici quadra-
gintamilUa modium." Liv. lib. 26. 47. Forty thousand modiura of wheat.
Quatuor milliapondo auri," four thousand pound of gold. Ibm. 27. 10.
Here we see the origin of our pound. Originally it was merely weight —
four thousand of gold by weight. From denoting weight generally, pondo
became the term for a certain division or quantity ; retaining however its
lignification of unity, and becoming an indeclinable in Latin. Twenty
pound then, in strictness, is twenty divisions by weight ; or as we say, with
a like abbreviation, twenty weight.
The words horse, foot and irtfantry, comprehending bodies of soldiers, are
used as plural nouns and followed by verbs in the plural. Cavalry is some-
times used in like manner.
Class 4. — The fourth class of irregular nouns consists of words which
have the plural termination only. .Some of these denoting plurality, are al-
ways joined with verbs in the plural ; as the following :
Annals, drawers, lees, customs,
archives, downs, lungs, shears,
ashes, dregs, matins, scissors,
assets, embers, mallows, shambles,
betters, entrails, orgies, tidings,
bowels, fetters, nippers, tongs,
compasses, filings, pincers, or thanks,
clothes, goods, pinchei-s, vespers,
calends, hatches, pleiads, vitals,
breeches, ides, snuffi -?, victuals.
Letters, in the sense of literature, may be aJded to the foregoing list.
Manners, in the sense oi behavior, is also plural.
GRAMMAR OF THE
Other words of tliis class, though ending in s, are used either wholly ir
the singular number, or in the one or tlie other, atthe pleasure of the writer
Amends, wages, conies, economies,
alms, billiards, catoprics, mathematics,
bellows, fives, dioptrics, mechanics,
gallows, sessions, acoustics, hydraulics,
odds, measles, pneumatics, hydrostatics,
means, hysterics, statics, analytics,
pains, physics, statistics, politics,
news, ethics, spherics,
riches, optics, tactics.
Of these, jja/rts, riches, and wages* are more usually considered as plu-
ral— netvs is always singular — odds and /neons are either singular or plu
ral — the others are more strictly singular; for measles is the name of adis.
ease, and in strictness, no more plural than gout or fever. Small pox, for
pocks, is sometimes considered as a plural, but it ought to be used as sin]
lar. Billiards has the sense of game, containing unity of idea; and eth
physics and other similar names, comprehending each the whole system of
a particular science, do not convey the ideas of parts or particular branches,
but of a whole collectively, a unity, and hence seem to be treated as words
belonging to the singular number.
AUTHORITIES.
Pre-eminent by so mttch odds.
With every odds thy prowess I defy.
Where the odds is considerable.
The wages of sin is death.
Much pains has been taken.
Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high. Bible
Here he erected a fort and a gallows. Lusiad 1. 134
The riches we had in England was the slow result of long industry and
wisdom, and is to be regained, &c. Davenant, 2. 12.
Mathematics informs us. Encyc. art. strength of Materials.
Politics is the art of producing individual good by geneial measures.
Beddoes' Hygeia. 2. 79.
Politics contains two parts. Locke, vol. 2. 408.
Locke however uses a plural verb with ethics. "The ideas that ethics
are conversant about." — B. 4. 12. 8.
Pains, when preceded by much, should always have a singular verb.
Means is so generally used in either number, every means, all means,
this means, and these means, that authorities in support of the usage are
deemed superfluous.
Gender.
Milt. P. L. 4. 474.
Hoole Tas. 6. 19. 40.
Camp. Rhet, ch. 5.
Bible.
Enfield Hist. Phil. ch. 2.
Gender, in grammar, is a difference of termination, to express distinc-
tion of sex.
There being two sexes, tnale und female, words which denote males are
said to be of the masculine gender ; those which denote females, of the fem-
inine gender. Words expressing things without sex, are said to be of neuter
gender. There are therefore but two genders; yet for convenience the
neuter is classed with the genders ; and we say there are three, the mascu-
line, feminine and neuter. The English modes of distinguishing sex are these :
1. The regular termination of the feminine gender, is ess; which is ad-
ded to the name of the masculine ; as lion, lioness. But when the word
ends in or, the feminine is formed by retrenching a vowel, and blending
two syllables into one; as actor, actress. In a few words, the feminine gen-
der is represented by ix, as testatrix, from testator ; and a few others are ir-
regular. The following are most of the words which have a distinct termi-
nation for the feminine gender :
Actor,
abbot,
adulterer,
baron,
benefactor,
governor.
priest,
poet.
actress.
deacon.
deaconess.
abbess.
duke.
duchess.
adultress.
embassador,
embassadress.
baroness.
emperor.
empress.
benefactress.
tiger.
tigress.
governess.
songster,
songstress.
heroine.
seamster.
seamstress.
heiress.
viscount.
viscountess.
peeress.
jew.
Jewess.
priestess.
lion.
Uoness.
poetess.
master.
mistress.
princess.
marquis.
marchioness.
prophetess.
patron.
patroness.
shepherdess.
protector.
protectress.
.sorceress.
executor.
executrix.
tutoress.
testator.
testatrix.
instructress.
elector.
electrcss.
traitress.
administrator.
administratrix
countess.
widower.
widow.
prmce,
prophet,
shepherd,
sorcerer,
tutor,
instructor,
traitor.
2. In many instances, animals, with which we have most frequent occa-
sions to be conversant, have different words to express the dilTerent sexes ;
'Originally wagis, and really singular.
as man and woman; brother and sister ; uncle and aunt ; .son and daughter;
boy and girl ; father and mother ; horse and mare ; bull and cow.
Man however is a general term for the whole race of mankind ; so also,
horse comprehends the whole species. A law to restrain every man from
an offence would comprehend women and boys ; and a law to punish a tres-
pass committed by any horse, would comprehend all marcs and colts.
3. When words have no distinct termination for the female sex, the sexes
are distinguished by prefixing some word indicating sex ; as a male rabbit,
a female opossum ; a he goat, a she goat; a man servant, a maid servant ; a
male coquet, a female warrior ; a cock-sparrow, a hen-sparrow.
4. In all cases, when the sex is sufficiently indicated by a separate word,
names may be used to denote females without a distinct termination. Thus,
although females are rarely soldiers, sailors, philosophers, or mathematicians,
and we seldom have occasion to say, she is a soldier, or an astronomer, yet
there is not the least impropriety in the application of these names to females,
when they possess the requisite qualifications; for the sex is clearly marked
by the word she or female, or the appropriate name of the woman ; as *' Joan
of Arc was a warrior." " The Amazons, were a nation of female warriors."*
Encyc. art. Amazons.
5. Although the Englisli language is philosophically correct in consider-
ing things without life as of neither gender, yet by an easy analogy, the
imagination conceives of inanimate things a.s animated and di^tingnished by
sex. On this fiction, called ;)£/-soni^cation, depends much of the descrip-
tive force and beauty of poetry. In general, those objects which are re-
markable for their strength, influence, and the attribute of imparting, take
the masculine gender ; those which are remarkable for the more mild and
delicate qualities, for beauty and the attribute of producing, become femin-
ine ; the sun darts his scorching rays ; the moon sheds her paler light.
" Indus or Ganges rolling /us broad wave." Akenside.
" There does the soul
Consent her soaring fancy to restrain." Ibm.
" Now morn he>' rosy steps in th' eastern clime
Advancina— "
' The north east spends his rage."
Case.
Case in Grammar denotes a variation of words to express the relation of
things to each other. In English, most of the relations are expressed by
separate words ; but the relation of property, ownership or possession, is ex-
pressed by adding s to a name, with an apostrophy ; thus, John's book ;
which words are equivalent to " the book of John." This is called the Pos-
sessive Case. In English therefore names have two cases only, the nomi-
native or simple name, and the possessive. The nominative before a verb
and the objective after a verb are not distinguished by inflections, and are to
be known only by position or the sense of the passage.
When the letter s, added as the sign of the possessive, will coalesce with
the name, it is pronounced in the same syllable ; as John's. But if it will
coalesce, it adds a syllable to the word ; as Thomas's bravery, pronoun-
ced as if written Thomasis ; the Church's piosperity, Churchis prosperity.
These examples show the impropriety of retrenching the vowel; but it oc-
casions no inconvenience to natives.
When words end in es or ss, the apostrophy is added without e; as on
eagles' wings ; foi- righteousness' sake.
Pronouns or Substitutes.
Pronouns or substitutes are of two kinds ; those which are used in the
place of the names of persons only, and may be called personal ; and those
hich represent names, attributes, a sentence or part of a sentence, or a se-
BS of propositions.
The pronouns which are appropriate to persons, are, I, thou, you, he, she,
e, ye, and who.
/is used by a speaker to denote himself, and is called the first person of
the singular number.
When a speaker includes others with himself, he uses we. This is the
first person of the plural number.
Thou and you represent the person addressed — thou, in solemn discourse,
and you, in common language. These are the second person. In the plu-
al, ye is used in solemn style, and you in familiar language.
He represents the name of a male, and she, that of a female, who is the
subject of discourse, but not directly addressed. These are called the third
person.
It is a substitute for the name of any tlung of the neuter gender in the
third person, and for a sentence.
They is a substitute for the names of persons or things, and forms the
third person of the plural number.
• The termination or in Latin, is a contraction of vir, a man ; as o" in Eng-
lish is of iver, the same word in Saxon. But in common understanding, the
idea of gender is hardly attached to these terminations ; for we add er to
words to denote an agent, without life, as grater, heater.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
iriio U a rela(ive or personal pronoun, used to introduce a new clause or
affirmation into a sentence, which clause has an immediate dependence on
the pieciding one. IVho is also used to ask questions, and hence it is called
an inlorrOi£;>tive. ; . , .
Ulikh is also a relative, but is of neuter gender. It is also mterrogative.
These pronouns have two cases; the nominative which precedes a verb,
and the objective which follows it. They are inflected in the following
manner
Sing.
Plu.
Si71g. Plu.
Nominative
we
Nom.
she they
Objective
me
us
Obj. -
- her them
Norn. -
- thou
ye
Nom.
it they
Obj.
thee
you
Obj. -
- it them
Nom. -
you
you
Nom. -
who who
Ol.j.
you
you
Obj. -
- whom whom
Nom. -
- he
they
Obj.
him
them
Note. — Mine, thine, his, hers, yours and theirs, are usually considered
as the possessive case. But the three first are either attributes, and used
with nouns, or they are substitutes. The three last arc always substitutes,
used in the place of names which are understood, as may be seen in the note
below.*
Its and whose have a better claim to he considered as a possessive case;
but as they equally well fall under the denomination of attributes, I have,
for the sake of uniformity, assigned them a place with that part of speech.
* That 7ni7ie, thine, his, yours, hers and theirs, do not constitute a poss
ive case, is demonstrable ; for they are constantly used as the nominatives to
verbs and as the objectives after verbs and prepositions, as in the following
passages. " Whether it could perform its operations of thinking and memo-
ry out of a body organized as ours is," — Locke, b. 2. 27. " In referring our
ideas to those of other men called by the same name, ours may hefalse."—" It
is lor no other reason but that his agrees not with our ideas." — ibm. ch. 32
9 and 10.
'• You may imagine what kind of faith theirs was."
Bacon, Unity in Religion
"He ran headlong into his own ruin whilst he endeavoured to precipitate
ours." Bolingbroke, Let. to Windham.
" The reason is that his subject is generally things ; theirs, on the contra-
ry, is persons." Camp. Rhet. b. 1. ch. 10.
" Yours of the 26th Oct. I have received, as I have always done yours,
with no little satisfaction." Wyeherley to Pope
"Therefore leave your forest of beasts for oitrs of brutes, called men." Ibm
" These return so much better outof your hands than they went from mine.'
Ibm
Your letter of the 20th of this month, like the rest of
with
much more wit, sense and kindness than mine can
yours-
expres
-tells me
s," &c.
/6m.
" Having good works enough of your own besides to ensure yoxirs and
tlieir immortality."
" The omission of repetitions is but one, and the easiest part oC yours and
of my design." Pope to Wyeherley.
" iVIy sword and yours are kin." Shakspeare,
It is needless to multiply proofs. We observe these pretended possessives
uniformly used as nominatives or objectives. To say that, in these passagi
ours, yours, theirs, and mine form a possessive case, is to make the possessive \
perform the office of a nominative case to verbs, and an objective ease after
verbs and prepositions — a manifest solecism.
Should it be said that a noun is understood ; I reply, this cannot be true,
in regard to the grammatical construction ; for supply the noun for which
the word is a substitute, and the pronoun must be changed into an adjective.
" Vours of the 26th of October," becomes your letter — "he endeavoured to
precipitate ours," becomes our ruin." This shows that the words are real
substitutes, like others, where it stands for other men or thi7igs.
Besides in three passages, just quoted, the word yaurs is joined by a con-
nective to a name in the same case ; " to ensure yours and their immortali-
ty." " The easiest part of yours and of my design." " My sword and'
yours are kin." Will any person pretend that the connective here joins dif-
ferent cases ?
Another consideration is equally decisive of this question. 1( yours, ours,
&c. are real possessives, then the same word admits of two different signs of
the case ; tor we say correctly, " an acquaintance o( yours, ours, or theirs"
— o/ being tlte sign of the possessive ; but if the words in themselves are
possessives, then there must be two signs of the same case, which is absurd. t
Compare these words with a name in the possessive case — " My house is
on a hill ; my father's is on a plain." Here father's is a real possessive case ;
the word /loiMe being understood ; and the addition of the noun makes no
alteration in the word/a(Aer's ,• " my father's is, or my father's house is."
1 This case does not compare with that of names. We say, a " soldier of
the king's," or a soldier of the king's soldieis ; but we cannot say, " an ac-
•luaintance of yours acquaintance."
But it must be ob.servcd, that although it and who are real substitutes,
never united to names, like attributes — it day — who man ; yet its and whose
cannot be detached from a name expressed or implied — as, Hs shape, its
figure — whose face — whose \forks— whose are they ? that is, 'whose works.
These are therefore real adjectives.
n the use of substitutes, it is to be remarked, that /, thou, you, ye and
we are generally employed without an antecedent name. When /, and the
name of the person are both employed, as they are in formal writings, oaths
and the like, the pronouns precede the name ; as, " I, Richard Roe, of Bos-
ton." In similar language, you and we also precede the name ; as, "" You,
John Doc, of New- York." "We, Richard Roe and John Doe, of Phila-
delphia."
Vou is used by writers very indefinitely, as a substitute for any person
who may read the work — the mind of the writer imagining a person ad-
dressed.
He and they are used in the same indefinite manner; as, " He seldom lives
frugally, who lives by chance." " Blessed are they that mourn, for they
shall be comforted."
He and they, in such sentences, represent any persons who fall within the
subsequent description.
PVho and whom are always substitutes for persons, and never for things
or brutes. Whose is equally applicable to persons as to things.
Whoever is often employed as the nominative to two verbs ; as, " Whoever
expects to find in the scriptures a specific direction for every moral doubt
that arises, looks for more than he will meet with." Paley, Phil. ch. 4.
Mine, thine and his are equally well used as substitutes, or as attributes.
" The silver is mine, and the gold is mine." Hag. ii. 8. " The day is thine,
the night also is thine." Ps. Ixxiv, 16. " The lord knoweth them that are
his." 2 Tim. ii. 19. In these examples the words, mine, thine, his, may
be considered as substitutes — " The silver is mine," that is, my silver.
In this character the words usually follow the verb; but when emphati-
cal, they may precede it ; as " His will I be." 2. Sam. xvi. 18. " Thine,
0 Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory." " TTiine is the king-
dom." 1. Ch. xxix. 11.
These words are also used as attributes of possession ; as, " Let not mine
enemies triumph." " So let thine enemies perish." " And Abram remov-
ed his tent.»' Mine and thine arc however not used in familiar language ;
but in solemn and elevated style, they are still used as attributes.
" Mine eyes beheld the messenger divine." Lusiad. B. 2.
There is another class of substitutes, which supply the place of names,
attributes, sentences or parts of a sentence.
It.
In the following sentence, it is the substitute for a name. " The sun rules
the day ; it illumines the earth." Here it is used for sun, to prevent a re-
petition of the word.
In the following passage, it has a difTerent use. " The Jews, it is well
known, were at this time under the dominion of the Romans." Porteus,
Led. S. Here it represents the whole of the sentence, except the clause in
which it stands. To understand this, let the order of the words be varied.
" The Jews were at this time under the dominion of the Romans, it [all
that] is well known.
" It is a testimony as glorious to his memory, as it is singular, and almost
unexampled in his circumstances, that he loved the Jewish nation, and that
he gave a very decisive proof of it, by building them a sjTiagogue." ibm.
To discover what is represented by the first it, we must inquire, what is a
glorious testimony ? Why, clearly that he loved the Jewish nation, and gave
them a decisive proof of it, by building them a synagogue. It then is a
substitute for those clauses of the sentence. The second it refers to the
same clauses. In the latter part of the sentence, he gave a magnificent
proof of it — of what ? of what is related in a preceding clause — He loved the
Jewish nation — of that he gave a decisive and magnificent proof. Here it
represents that member of the sentence.
As for the pulling of them down, if the affairs require it." Bacon on
Ambition. Require what ? " The pulling of them down" — for which part
of the sentence, it is a substitute.
" And how could he do this so effectually, as by performing works, which
it utterly exceeded all the strength and ability of men to accomplish." Por-
teus,'Led. 5.
What utterly exceeded ? To what does it refer ? Let us invert the or-
der of the words — " as by performing works to accomplish which exceeded
all the strength of men." Here we find to accomplish, a verb in the infin-
itive, is the nominative to exceeded, and for that verb, it is a substitute.
This inceptive use of t< forms a remarkable idiom of our language, and
deserves more particular illustration. It stands as the substitute for a sub-
sequent member or clause of a sentence ; and is a sort of pioneer to smooth
the way for the verb. Thus, " It is lemarkable, that the philosopher Seneca
makes use of the same argument." Partem Led. 6. If we ask, what is
remarkable.' The answer must be, the fact stated in the last clause of the
sentence. That this is the real construction, appears from a transposition
of the clauses. "The philosopher Seneca makes use of the same argument.
that is remarkable." In this order we observe the true use of that, which
GRAMMAR OF THE
is also a subsUtule for the preceding clause of the sentence, and it becomes
redundant. The use then of the inceptive it appears to be to enable us to
begin a sentence, wi(lir.:it y>].:' iir; r, v,-:b as the introductory word ; and by
the use of ii and Wio' ' : i- iibsequent members of the sentence,
the order is inverted \' ■ nut; obscurity.
It is to be noticed i,i j.uU'r substitute, iJ, is equally proper to
begin sentcnr;. V.I: ,, in.-ol a ;>ereo« is afterwards used; as, " It
was John H I,. ' i powers of eloquence." But if we transpose
the words, .1 , , ' ' ihat, the substitute which begins anew clause,
next after iIj ■ , ,i >■ ';.l, we must use /leforthe inceptive — "He, who
or that exliiliur.l Muh pdvicrs of eloquence, was ,Iohn."
In interros^ilive scutences, the order of words is changed, and it follows
the verb. Wlio is it that has been thus eloquent?
Tlicre is a sentence in Locke, in which the inceptive it is omitted.
" Whereby comes to pass, that, as long as any uneasiness remains in the
mind. £. ch. 21. In strictness, this is not a defective sentence, for that
may be considered as the nominative to comes. Whereby that comes to
pass which follows. Or the whole subsequent sentence may be considered
as the nominative — for all that comes to pass. But the use of the inceptive
it is so fully established as the true idiom of the language, that its omission
is not to be vindicated.
This and that., these and those.
This and that are either definite attributes or substitutes. As attributes,
they are used to specify individuals, and distinguish them from others ; as,
" This my son was dead and is alive again." '■ Certuiidy Wi/.s was a right-
eous man." " The end of (Aaf man is peace." ■■ \\ /',< / iiim liy whom
the son of man is betrayed." This and that hay j' ' .\.\ those.
The general distinction between this and tliu>. 1 ' - , :i object
to be presenter near in time or place ; that, to if .,'< ni. ;'..i' ;Ih ; distinc-
tion is not always observed. In correspondence bowt.'\t-'r with this distinc-
tion, when, in discourse, two things are mentioned, this and these refer to
the last named, or nearest in the order of construction ; that and those to
the most distant ; as,
" Self love and reason to one end aspire,
Pain their aversion, pleasure their desire ;
But greedy that [self love] its object would devour.
This [reason] taste the honey and not wound tlie flower." Pope.
" Some place the bliss in action, some in ease.
Those call it pleasure, and contentment these." Ibm.
The poets sometimes contrast these substitutes in a similar manner, to de-
note individuals acting or existing in detached parties, or to denote the
whole acting in various capacities ; as,
" 'Twas war no more, but carnage through the field.
Those lift their sword, and these their bosoms yield."
Hoole's Tasso. b. 20.
" Nor less the rest, the intrepid chief retain'd ;
n>ese urged by threats, and those by force constraiu'd." Ibtn.
There is a peculiarity in the use oi that ; for when it is an attribute, it is
always in the singular number; but as a substitute for per.sons or things,
it is plural as well as singular, and is used for persons as well as things
more frequently than any word in the language ; as, |
" I knew a man that had it for a by-word, when he saw men hasten to
a conclusion, ' Stay a little that we may make an end the sooner.' "
Bacon on Dispatch.
Here that is the representative of man, and (( stands for the last clause
of the sentence or by- word.
" Let states that aim at greatness take heed how their nobility and gen-
tlemen multiply too fast." Bacon.
Here that is a substitute for a plural name. So also in the following.
" They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."
" They that had eaten were about four thousand" — "they that are in the
flesh" — " they that weep"- — '* bless them that curse you."
Another very common use of this and that, is to represent a sentence or
part of a sentence ; as,
" It is seldom known that, authority thus acquired is possessed without
insolence, or that, the master is not forced to confess that, he has enslaved
himself by some foolish confidence." Rambler, JVo. 68.
In this sentence, the first that represents the next member — " Authority
thus acquired is possessed without insolence, that is seldom known." It rep-
resents the same clause. The second that represents all which follows, in-
cluding two clauses or members. The third that is the substitute for the last
clause. In strictness the comma ought always to be placed after that ;
which punctuation would elucidate the use of the substitute and the true
construction ; but the practice is otherwise, for that, in this and like sen-
tences, is either a nominative or an objective. The first that in the fore-
going sentence is the nominative, coinciding with it, or in apposition to it ;
and when the clauses are transposed, the inceptive it, being redundant, is
dropped, and that becomes the nominative. The same remark is applicable
to the second that ; the verb and first clause, it is seldom known, being
understood. The third that is the objective after confess. " The master
has enslaved himself by some foolish confidence— he is forced to confess that
— all that is seldom known."
Such is the true construction of sentences— the definitive that, fnstead of
being a conjunction, is the representative of a sentence or distinct clause,
preceding that clause, and pointing the mind to it, as the subject which fol-
lows. And it is'as definite or demonstrative in this application to sentences,
as when it is applied to a name or noun.
The following sentence will exhibit the true use of that as a substitute —
" He recited his former calamities ; to which was now to be added that he
was the destroyer of the man who had expiated him.
Beloe's Herodotus, Clio, 4.5.
AccorJiiiu- to our present "ranmiars, that is a conjunction ; if so, the pre-
ceding vcri, //,,.. Iii u, 1 [.<.•.].•■ word. But the sense is, " to which
was to be > ■ .; '1 I'od in the following words.
The II -^r , - ''stitute are more clearly manifest, when
it denotes \<f,\' r mi , 1:, , , . , i-, I'.l- |,,,ssa;;e, "And he came and dwelt in
a city called ISazareth ; thni , _ ; , iiliillcd which was spoken by the
prophets, 'He shall be c;ill. > ,. Matt. ii. 23. Here that If.
equWiilent to that purpost , i 'il- and dwelt in Nazareth, /or
the jmrpose expressed in ir'i.ii / / ,/ // and jffticA represent the last
clause in the sentence — " He shall be called a Nazarene." The excellence
and utility of substitutes and abbreviations are strikingly illustrated by this
use of that.
This substitute has a similar use in thi^ Introihietory sentence. That we
may proceed — </ia< here refers to the inliAir' '.>,:,!-. The true construc-
tion is, jBm( Wiaiu'e 7«o^ proceed — hill .> I ; I lie shown, denoting
supply or something more or further— - .\ .lintepretation of the
expression is — More that — or fiirthei Ih-i ir, i.i f<, /.i.icted. It is the sim-
ple mode our ancestors used to express addition lo \vhat has preceded, equiv-
alent io the modern phrase, let us add, or we may add wh-at follows, by
way of illustrating or modifying the sense of what has been related.
That, like who and which, has a connecting power, which has given to
these words the name of »-cZa«(»e ,■ in which character, it involves one mem-
ber of a sentence within another, by introducing a new verb ; as, " He.
that keepethhis mouth, keepeth his'life." Prov. xiii. In this passage, that
keepeth his mouth, is a new atfirmation, interposed between the first nom-
inative and its verb, but dependant on the antecedent nominative.
" The poor of the Hock, that waited upon me, knew that, it was the word
of the Lord." Zech. xi. 11. In this passage we have that in both its char-
acters— the first that is a substitute for poor of the flock ; the second, for the
last clause of the sentence, it was the word of the Lord.
This exposition of the uses of that enables us to understand the propriety
of that that joined in construction.
" Let me also tell you that, that faith, which proceeds from insufficient or
bad principles, is but little better than infideUty." In this passage, the first
that is a substitute for the whole subsequent part of the sentence ; the se-
cond that is an attribute agreeing with faith— "That faith which proceeds
from bad principles is little better than infidelity — let me tell you that."
Hence it might be well always to separate the two words by a comma. We
now distinguish these words by a stronger emphasis on the last.
"He, whom thou now hast, is not thy husband ; in that saidst thou truly."
John iv. 18. That is, in that whole declaration.
From these passages and the explanation, we learn that that is a substi-
tute, either for a single word or a sentence ; nor has it any other character,
except when an attribute.
This is much less frequently a substitute for sentences than that, but is
used in this character, as well as in that of an attribute ; as, " Let no prince
measure the danger of discontents by this, whether they be just or unjust ;
for that were to imagine people to be reasonable, who do often spurn at their
own good ; nor yet by this, whether the griefs whereupon they rise be in
fact great or small." Bacon on Kingdoms.
Here this, in each part of the sentence, is the representative of the clause
in Italics succeeding.
" Can we suppose that all the united powers of hell are able to work such
astonishing miracles, as were wrought for the confirmation of the christian
religion ? Can we suppose that they can control the laws of nature at pleas-
ure, and that with an air of sovereignty, and professing themselves the lords
of the universe, as we know Christ did .' If we can believe this, then we
deny," &c. We observe here, this represents a series of sentences.
In some cases, this represents a few words only in a preceding sentence,
as in the following — " The rule laid down is in general certain, that the
king only can convoke a parliament. And this, by the ancient statutes of
the realm, he is bound to do, every year or oftener, if need be."
Blacks. Comment. B. 1. ch. 2.
If we ask, what is the king bound to do ? The answer must be, convoke a
parliament ; for which words alone this is the substitute, and governed
by do.
The plurals, these and those, are rarely or never used as substitutes for
MHiich.
7-fTiicA is also a substitute for a sentence, or part of a sentence, as well as
for a single word ; as, "if there can be any other way shown, how men may
come to that universal agreement, in the things they do consent in,
which I presume may be ilone." Locke oti Viid. B. 1. 2.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
Wliich, in this passage, represents all which precedes — u-hich or all that
is above related, maybe done.
" Anolh>r reason that makes me doubt of any inn', pi m li- I ; : ];., •■■]■ -.
is, that I think there cannot any one moral rule l" I I ,
may not justly demand a reason; tf/u'cA would li.
absurd, if they were innate, or so much as self-ci-i'l" : .' i . .;
principle must needs be." /■'"' * 'r<ii>- '■'<
In this passage, the first v;hich represents the next prerclm^ |.,.ri oi ihr
sentence, aman may jui^tly demand a reason — which jiuinr <;/ ./. 'nint.lnia
« reason would be 'ridiculous — The second «'/iic/i is a sllll^lllnll• lor v//-
evident ; which, that is, self-evident, every principle must be.
" Judas declared him innocent, which he could not be, had he, in any re-
spect, dccei\ ed the disciples." Porteus, Led. 2. Here which represents
tlie aitiibuto innocent.
That would c([ually well represent the same word, with a connective.
" Judas declared him innocent, and that he could not be," &.c.
" We shall fiml the reason of it to be the end of language, which being to
communicate thou;;hts" — that is, end of language, and for those words, is
uhich the substitute.
What.
This substitute has several uses. First, it has the sense of that which ; as,
" I have heard what has been alledgcd."
Secondly — VVTiat stands for any indefinite idea; as, " He cares not what
lie says or' does." " We shall the better know what to undertake."
Locke on Und. 1. 6.
Tliirdly — M'hat is an attribute, either in the singular or plural number,
and denotes somethins uncertain or indeterminate ; as, " In what character,
Kutler was admitted into that lady's service, is unknown."
Johnstin's Life of Butler.
" It is not material what names are assigned to them."
Camp. Rhet. 1.1.
•' I know not what impressions time may have made upon your person."
Life of Cowp. Let. 27.
" To see what are the causes of wrong judgment." Locke 2. 21.
Fdurlhly — IVhat is used by the poets preceding a name, for the or that
which, but its place cannot be supplied by these words, without a name be-
tween them ; as,
" What time the sun withdrew his cheerful light.
And sought the sable caverns of the night." Hoole's Tasso. b. 7.
That is, at the time when or in which.
Fifthly — A principal use otichat is to ask questions ; as, " What will be
the consequence of the revolution in France ?"
This word has the singular property of containing ttvo ca.'ies ; that is, it
performs the office of a word in the nominative, and of another in the objec-
tive case ; as, •' I have, in ii-hat goes before, been engaged in physical in-
quiries fartlu 1 111. HI I i iplr.I." Locke 2. 8. Here what contains the ob-
ject after (n .m ' ■ 1 r tog-oes.
H'AaMs n 1 ' i n ,h an attribute and a substitute ; as, " It was
agreed that //■''' - ~ v\ . i r alioard his vessels, should be landed." Mick-
le's Discovery «/ Jiidia. fi'J. Mere what goods, are equivalent to the goods
U'hich ; for what goods include the nominative to two verbs, were and
should be landed. This use of tlie word is not deemed elegant.
As.
.3s, primarily signifies like, similar ; the primary sense of which is even,
equal. It is used adverbially in the phrases, as good, as great, as probable ;
the sense of which is tike or equally good, great or probable. Hence it fre-
quently follows si/f/i . •• Send him such books as will please him." But in
tills and similar phrases, as must be considered as the nominative to will
please ; or we mn^t su|)|jii^e iin ellipsis of several words. "Send him such
books as(/u b.','', . n Ij', ', w ;i| pi, ase liim,or as </iose which will please him."
So in the foil.. V-
" We havr ' i ■ . I to repose on its veracity with such humble
confidonci- ..~ - Illy." Johnson's Life of Cowley.
■' MI I'l. ji \ . Ii Cod is concerned to see inflicted on sin is on-
ly -:. ' .1 irovernment."
• ' 'ill themselves with such probable conclu3ioi\s
ii,v\\.i. -ii:.,. , i;' i..i i(,, |.i i Ileal purposes of life."
■ The malcontents made such demands as non.-
In the last example, if as is to be considered as . I .. .; i -u .:
it is in the objeclive case.
These and similar phrases are anomalous; and we can resolve them only
by supplying the ellipsis, or by considering as in the nature of a pronoun,'
and the nominative to the verb. j
In the following form of expression, we may supply it for the nominative.
Doevery thing fls was said about mercury and sulphur." Encyc.l
•• As it was said."
In poetry, as supplies the place of st*c7i.
"From whence might contest spring and mutual rage,
.is would the camp in civil broils engage." ' Hoole's Tasso.'
In prose we would say, " such contest and rage as."
.7.5 sonictinic! refers to a sentence or member of a sentence, and some-
ii . - i* 1 ' ' ' 1 y be supplied by which. "On his return to Egypt, os I
i ' lie authority, he levied a mighty army." Beloe, Herod.
''I .! "On his return to Egypt, he levied a mighty army,
" ' .' li'ij I 'iiM'd from the same authority.
./s niun (II ;;ins a sentence. " Jls to the three orders of pronouns already
mentioned, they may be called prepositive, as may indeed all sub.stantives."
Harris. That is, concerning, respecting the three orders, or to explain that
\\ liich respects the three orders, &c.
Both.
Both is an adjective of number, but it is a substitute also for names, sen-
tences, parts of sentences, and for attributes.
\braliam took sheep and o.ten, and gave them unto Abimelech, anil
both of them made a covenant."- Genesis xxi. 27.
Here both is the representative of Abraham and Abimelech.
'• He will not bear the loss of his rank, because he can bmr the loss of
his estate; but he will bear both, because he is prepared for both."
Baling, on Exile.
In the last example, both represents the parts of the sentences in italics.
nious." Mickle,p. 159.
As an attribute, it has a like position before names ; as, " Tousa confessed
he had saved both his life and his honor." Viro. IfiO.
" It is both more accurate, and proves no inconsiderable aid to iIk- liibt
understanding of things, to discriminate by ditTerent signs such as arc liniy
different." Campbell's Rhet . \.:a.
In this passage, both represents more accurate, and the following member
of the sentence ; but tlie construction is harsh.
The necessity which a speaker is unilcr, of suiting himself to his audi-
ence, both that he may be understood by them, and that liis words may
lave an influence upon them." Camp. Rhet. ch. 10.
Here both represents the two following clauses of the sentence. The
definitive the is placed between both and its noun ; as, " To both the pre-
ceding kimis, the term burlesque is applied." Camp. Rhet. 1. 2.
Same.
The attribute same is often used as a substitute for persons and sentences
or parts of a sentence ; as, " Nothing appears so clearly an object of the mind
or intellect only, as the future does, since we can find no place for its exis-
tence any where else. Not but the same, if we consider, is equally true of
the ^josf." Hermes,p. \V2.
In this ill constructed sentence, same has reference to all which is pre-
dicated of the future tense — that is, that it is an object of intellect only,
since we can find no place for its existence any where else — The same, all
this, is true of the past also.
" For iraeeaud generous ever are the same." Lusiad, 1.
Many,fex!;, all, any.
These words we often find used as substitutes for names. " For many shall
come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many." 'Matt.
xxiv. 5. " Many are called, but few chosen." xx. 16. " All that come
into the tent, and all that is in the tent shall be unclean .seven days." .V«»i.
xix. 14. " If a soul shall sin against any of the. commandments." Lev. iv. 2.
" Neither is there any, that can deliver out of my hand." Deut. xxxii. 3?.
First, last, former, latter, less, least, more, most,
are often used as substitutes.
" The victor's laurel^ as the martyr's crown.
The first I hope, nor less the last I prize." Hoole's Tasso. 6. S.
'• The last shall be first, and the^rsf last." Matt. xx. 16.
" It will not be amiss to inquire into the cause of this strange phenome-
non ; that, even a man of diseernnienl should write without meaning, and
not be sensible that be hath no meaning; and that judicious people sliould
I . . ; \, ■ I I ii'i ' ... : •! u in this way, and not discover (he defect. Both
; 1 ' much more than the last." Camp. Rhet. 2. 7.
I i ,11 \\o clauses of the sentence, preceded by that —
. re surprising. First a.Tii last st:>.ni in the placj
lehemence are often confounded, the /aHer being con-
-i ! - I'i Ihe former. Camp. Rhet. 1.1.
I . . !. 111. I to go thither with less than the appointed equipment."
M.ckle. I. i.M. Heie/e.>.s supplies the place of e?u!/)me«^ and prevents
the necessity of its repetition.
"To the relief of these, Noronha sent some supplies, but while he was
preparing to send more, an order from Portugal arrived." Mickle, 1. 180.
Here more is sufficiently intelligible without a repetition of the name —
supplies.
GRAMMAR OF THE
•' And the diildicn ol' Israel did so, and gathered some more, some less.'
Exod. xvi. 17
"I cannot go beyond the word of tlie Lord, my God, to do less or more.'
JVunib. xxii. 18
"Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty work;
were done." JV/a«.xi. 20
" Was not tliis love indeed ?
We men say more, swear more, but indeed
Our shews are more than will." Shahs. Twelfth JVight
Such.
" Jabal was the father o( such as dwell in tents." Gen. iv,
'•Thou shalt provide able men such as fear God." iJ.c. xviii,
"Objects of importance must be portrayed byolyectsof importance; such
as have grace, by things graceful." Ca7np. Rhet. 1. 2
Such here supplies the place of a name or noun, but it retains its attribu
tivc sense and the name may be added.
Self and o-mn.
Self is said to have been originally an attribute, but is now used as an in
tensive word to give emphasis to substitutes and attributes. Sometimes it is
used as a noun. In the plural, it forms selves. It is added to the attributes
my, your, own, as myself, yourself,* ourselves; and to him, her, them, as
himself, herself, themselves. And though annexed to substitutes in the ob-
jective case, these words are indifferently in the nominative or objective.
Self is never added to his, their, mine, or thine.
the compounds himself, herself, thyself, ourselves, themselves, may be
placed immediately after the personal substitute, as he himself wrote a let-
ter to the minister, or immediately after the following verb or its object, as
" He wrote a letter himself," — "he went himself to the admiralty." In
such phrases himself not only gives emphasis to the affirmation ; but gives
to an implied negative, the force of one expressed. " He went himself to
the minister," carries with it a direct negation that another person went. In
negative sentences, it has a different effect. " He did not write the letter
himself," implies strongly that he wrote it by an agent, or had an agency in
procuring it to be written.
These compound substitutes are used after verbs when reciprocal action
is expressed ; as, " They injure themselves."
Itself is added to names for emphasis ; as, " this is the book itself."
Own is an attribute denoting property, used with names to render the
sense emphatical ; as, " this book is my owti."
Otvn is sometunes a substitute; as, " He came unto his own and his own
received him not." Johni. 11.
" This is an invention of his own."
One, other, another, none.
The attribute one is very often a substitute ; other is used in the same
manner, and often opposed to 072e. "All rational or deductive evidence is
derived from one or the other of these two sources." Camp. Rhet. ch. 5.
To render these words more definite, and the specification of the alternative
more explicit, the definitive rte is placed before them; as, "either he will
hate the one and love the other."
,3nother has sometimes a possessive case ; as, " the horse is another's "
but this form of speech is but little used. '
Another is the Saxon an, one, and other — one other. It is an attribute
but often used as a substitute. " Let another praise thee and not thine own
mouth." prov. xxvii. 2.
JVone [no one] is often a substitute ; as, "Ye shall he down and none
shall make you afraid." Lev. xxvi. 6. It is used in the plural as well as the
singular number.
The cardinal numbers are all used as substitutes, when the thino-s to
which they refer are understood by the train of discourse, and no ambiguity
is created by the onussion of the name ; as, " The rest of the people also cast
lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem." j\-eh. xi. 1.
One has sometimes the possessive form ; as, " One's person is to be protected
bylaw;" and frequently the plural number; as, "I have commanded my
sanctified ones, and I have called my mighty ones." /so. xiii. 3.
* In this compound, we have a strong confirmation of what I have ailed,
ed respectmg the arrangement of you in the singular number, when used of
a smgle person. Self is invariably In the singular— setoes in the plural.
^ow ityov. is to be classed with plurals in all cases, we must, to be consist-
ent, apply yourselves to a single person. Yet we make the proper disUnc-
tion— yourself is applied to one person— yourselves to more. But upon the
principle of our grammars, that you must always be joined to a verb in the
plural, we are under the necessity of saying " Vou yourself were," when
we address a single person— which is false construction. Whatever verb
therefore IS used with you when applied to an individual, must be considered
as a verb in the singular number.
One, when contrasted with other, sometimes represents plural names, and
is joined with a plural verb, as in this passage, "The reason why the one
are ordinarily taken for real quahties, and the other, only for bare powers,
seems to be," &,c. Locke, b. 2. ch. 8. 25.
One and another, have a peculiar distributive use in the following and the
like expressions; "Brethren, let us love one another." The effect of these
words seems to be, to separate an act affirmed of a number collectively, and
distribute it among the several individuals — " Let us love — let each one love
the other." " If ye have love one to another" — " by love serve one anoth-
er." One another, in this phraseology, have the comprehensive sense of
every one. " By love serve" — every one serve the otlier. Each is used in
a like sense — They loved each other — that is — they loved— each loved the
other.
Several.
Several is an attribute, denoting originally one thing severed from others.
But this sense seems to be now confined to technical law language ; as a
"joint and several estate." In common use, it is always plural, expressive
of an indefinite number, not very large. It is frequently a substitute ; as,
" Several of my unknown correspondents." Spectator, 281.
Some.
The attribute some is often used as a substitute ; as, " Some talk of sub-
jects they do not understand ; others praise virtue who do not practice it."
Johnson.
Each, every, either, neither.
Each is a distributive attribute, used to denote every individual of a num-
ber, separately considered ; as, " The king of Israel and the kingof Judahsat
each on his throne." " Thou also and Aaron, take each of you his censer."
The /our beasts had each of them six wings."
In these passages, each is a substitute for the name of the persons or ob-
jects, one separate from the other.*
Eveiy denotes all the individuals of a number considered separately. It is
therefore a distributive attribute, but sometimes a substitute, chiefly in the
law style ; as, " every of the clauses and condiUons." It is generally follow-
ed by the name to which it belongs, or by the cardinal number one.
We sometimes see every separated from its name by the definitive the and
an attribute of the superlative degree ; as, " every the least variation."
Locke.
Either and neither are usually classed with the conjunctions; but in
strictness, they are always attributes or substitutes. Their correlatives or
and 7ior, though considered as conjunctions, belong to the latter class of words ;
or being merely an abbreviation of other, and nor being the same word
with the Saxon negative prefixed, as will be hereafter shown.
Either and or denote an alternative ; as, " I will take either road at your
pleasure." That is, I will take one road or the other. In this use, either is
an attribute.
Either is also a substitute for a name ; as, " Either of the roads is good."
It also represents a sentence or a clause of a sentence ; as, " No man can
serve two masters, for either, he will hate the one and love the otlier, or
else," &c. Matt. vi. 24. To understand the true import of either, let or be
also reduced back to its original orthography, " for either, he will hate the
one and love the other ; other else he will hold to the one and despise the
other." Here we are presented with the sentence as it would have stood
in the Saxon ; and we see two distinct affirmations, to the first of which is
prefixed either, and to the last other. These words then are substitutes for
the following sentences when they are intended to be alternative. Either
and or are therefore signs of an alternative, and may be called alternatives.
Either is used also for each ; as, " Two thieves were crucified — on either
side one." This use of the word is constantly condemned by critics, and as
constantly repeated by good writers ; but it was the true original sense of
the word, as appears by every Saxon author.
Either is used also to represent an alternative of attributes ; as, " the emo-
tion must be either not violent or not durable." Camp. Rhet. 1. 2.
JYcither is not either, from the Saxon ne-either; and nor is ne-other, not
other. As either and or present an alternative or a choice of two things, so
neither and nor deny both or the whole of any number of particulars ; as,
" Fight neither with small nor great." 1 Kings, xxii. 31. Which sentence
when resolved stands thus ; " Fight not either with small, not other with
great." Such is the curious machinery of language !
JVeither is also used as an attribute and as a substitute for a name ; as,
" JVeither office is filled, but neither of the offices will suit the candidate."
Note. — Or, either, nor and neither are here explained in their true origi-
nal character ; but when they stand for sentences, it is more natural to con-
sider them as connectives, under which head I have arranged them.
In general, any attribute [adjective] which describes persons or things
with sufficient clearness, without the name to which it strictly belongs, may
* Each is as applicable to a hundred or thousand as to two. " The prince
had a body guard of a thousand men, each of whom was six feet high."
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
)>(• used as a substitute ; as, " The rich have many fi lends ' — " Assocuiti
with the uitseand good"—" The future will resemble the pa.it"—'' Such i
(he opinion of the learned."
Attributes or Adjectives.
Attributes or Adjectives, in grammar, are words wliich denote flic quali
ties inherent in, or ascribed to things ; as, a bright sun ; a splendid equip
age; & miserable hut; a niusmficcnt hon^i- : ai. hmiest man; an amiable
woman; liberal chdrity ; /ii!sr\ h , ,i >," " ''ii~<ience.
As qualiUes may exist ii. liiil. I' i may be compared with
each other, suitable iiiodo^ ..i -]» . ', - i -spress these compara-
tive degrees. In English, rmiM all iihh,- .>n i /7„<<; degrees of compar-
ison, and a few admit of fum: There are thcretore four degrees of com-
parison.
The/)-s< denotes a slight degree of the quality, and is expressed by Uie
termination ish ; as reddish, brownish, yellowish. This may be denomina-
ted the imperfect degree of the attribute.
The second denotes such a degree of the attribute as to constitute an abso-
lute or distinct quality ; as red, brown, great, small, brave, tvise. This is
called the positive degree.
The third denotes a greater or less degree of a quality than e.\ists in
another object, with which it is compared ; as greater, smaller, braver,
tmser. This is called the comparative degree.
The fottrth denotes the utmost or least degree of a quality ; as bravest,
zmsest, poorest, smallest. This is called the superlative degree.
The imperfect degree is formed by adding ish to an attribute ; as yellow,
yellowish. If the attribute ends in e, this vowel is omitted ; as white, whitish.
The comparative degree is formed by addina r to adjectives ending with e,
as wise, wiser; and by adding cr to words cij.linu uuli an articulation, as
cold, colder ; or by prefixing more or less, w- /.i i. /»>/, /. ^ luihle.
The superlative degree is^formed by addin- / lo ilnu^.nding withe,
as wise, wisest; and es< to those which end uilli mi niiLciihuion, as coW,
coldest ; or by prefixing tnost and least, as?mist brave, teasi charitable.
Every attribute, susceptible of comparison, may be compared by more and
most, less and least.
All monysyllables admit of er and est, and dissyllables when the addition
maybe easily pronounced ; as happy, happier, happiest; lofty, loftier, loftiest.
But few words of more syllables than one will admit of er and est. Hence
most attributes of more syllables than one are compared by more and ntost,
less and least ; as more fallible, most upright, less generous, least splendid.
When attributes end in y after a consonant, this letter is dropped, and i
substituted before er and est ; as lofty, loftier, loftiest.
A few attributes have different words or irregular terminations for-expres-
sing the degrees of comparison ; as good, better, best ; had or evril, worse,
worst ; fore, former, first ; less or lesser, least; much, more, most; near,
nearer, nearest or next ; old, older, oldest or eldest ; late, later, latest or la^t.
When qualities are incapable of increase or diminution, the words which
express them do not admit of comparison. Such are the numerals, first,
second, third,&t.c., and attributes of mathematical figures, as square, spher-
ical, rectangular ; for it will readily appear, that if a thing is/rs( or square,
it cannot be more or less so.
The sense of attributes however is not restricted to the modification, ex-
pressed by the common signs of comparison, but may be varied in an indefi-
nite number of ways, by other words. Thus the attiibute very, which is
the French tirai, true, formerly written veray, is much used intensively to
express a great degree of a quality, but not the greatest; as very wise or
learned. In like manner are used much, far, extremely, exceedingly, and
most of the modifiers in ly.
Some attributes, from partitular appropriate uses, have received names,
by which they are distinguished. But the usual classification is by no means
correct. The following distribution seems to result from the uses of the
words named.
An or a, the, this, that, these, those, other, another, one, none, some, may
he called definitives, from their office, which is to limit or define the extent
of the name to which they are prefixed, or to specify particulars.
My, thy, her, our, your, their, and tnine, thine, his, when used as attri-
butes, with names, are possessive attributes, as they denote possession or
ownership. /«sandi»Aose, if ranked with attributes, belong to the same class.
Each and every are distributives, but they may be classed with the de-
finitives.
Either is an alternative, as is or, which is now considered merely as a
connective.
Own is an intensive adjective. The words to which self is affixed, him-
self, myself, themselves, yourself, yourselves, ourselves, thyself, itself, may
be denominated intensive substitutes, or for brevity, intensivcs. Or they
may be called compound substitutes.
Verb.
The verb is a primary part of speech, and next to the name or noun, is of
the most importance. The uses of the verb are,
1st. To affirm, assert, or declare ; as, the sun shines ; John loves study ;
God is just ; and negatively, avarice is not commendabU'.
Vol. I. ■ I.
2(1. To comiTK
3d. Toprav. 1
4th. Toiiiqiiii
From the vai.
attend, let us observe.
' ' ; as, 0 may the spirit of grace dwell iu us.
K. docs it rain .' Will he come ?
iiiiitications of verbs, have originated several
divisions or t-l ! i , nne in English which seems to be correct
and Mill, n iiiU i ,;r, i , ,,, is, into transitive and intransitive. To
th(<< I I I ' lion of the verb be, with certain auxiliaries
and \> : .' ' ^ ;- I . ! :t pas.sive verb.*
1. \ ' . , ' ir , uiinii or < lit rgy, which is exerted upon
soiiir (i!.j, (I, ..! in I in. iirj ■■:'!•.•■ r'liri In Miiiiral construction, the word
cx|)jc- in; i!i: MiM ■'■;. Inll'iiv- 1; li.- intei-vcntion of any other
wo:.l, i!ni:i:ii 111 I, I iua\ I . :,. . . I'hus, " ridicule provokes
angiT," i; a cniiii.l. I, i-iniiiiviii.a, , .',,"'. i 'I l^l lit or uominative wofd,
which causes l!i. a.ti ai ; /.rmv-/.. i^ilir mi l. .a ailiniiatioii of an act ; a?i-
g-er is the objcti ^i.lii.'t iiK.iiii.'.al, Inllnim- ihr !i.in-iiiM_- vcrbprotJ»/ce.
The wind III -pi- a>]iiii." i- ilir iHiriiiaii"n ni an ad nf the wind exerted
onaship. rfidi/ is llu- a;;.;nl ; ;i,v)^,r/,s, tin- veil, ; anil ■./(/;(, the object.
2. An intransitive verb denotes simple being or existence in a certain
state, as to be, to rest ; or it denotes action, which is limited to the subject.
Thus, "John sleeps," is an affirmation, in which John, the nominative to
sleeps, is the subject of the affirmation ; sleeps is a verb intransitive, affirming
a particular thing of John, which extends to no other object.
3. The 7)assi»c verb in English is formed by adding certain auxiliaries and
participles to the verb be. It denotes p.assion orsuflering; that is, that the
subject of the affirmation or nominalive i< alledril Ijy the action affirmed; as,
John is convinced ;" "Laura i^ li. < i m I . ii in-d."
In this form of the verb, the a- 1 I iimge places. Inthetran-
sitive form the agent precedes ili iliject follows; as, "John
has convinced Moses." In the jia- i, r i .i .a Hi. order is changed, and the
agent follows the verb preceded by a preposition ; as, " Mosea is convinced
by John."
To correspond with their nominatives, verbs are used in both numbers,
and with the three persons in each.
As action and being may be meiiinin. i a< pn -ipul, past and future, verbs
have modifications toexpress time. ^^llH h an . ilkil tenses. And as action
and being mai^be represented in \ i- \\ a\-, ii iljs have various modifica-
tions to answer these purposes, calli. il iihuli s m muuds. Hence to verbs be-
long person, number, tense and mode.
The persons, which have been already explained, are I, thou or you, he.
he, it, in the singular number; in the plural, we, ye or you, they. The
numbers have been before explained.
Tenses.
There are .six tenses or modifications of the verb to express time. Each
of these is divided into two forms, for the purpose of distinguishing the defi-
nite or precise time from the indefinite. These may be thus explained and
lemplified.
Present Tense, indefinite.
This form of the present tense affirms or denies action or being, in present
time, without limiting it with exactness to a given point. It expresses also
facts which exist generally, at all times, general truths, attributes which are
1 permanent, habits, customary actions, and the like, without reference to a
specific time ; as, God is infinitely great and just; man is imperfect and de-
pendent ; plants spring from the earth ; Vudsfly ; fishes swim.
Present Tense, definite.
This form expresses the present time with precision ; usually denoting ac-
tion or being which corresponds in time with another action; as, lam wri-
ting, while you are waiting.
Past Tense, indefinite.
This form of the past tense represents action which took place at a given
time past, however distant and completely past ; as, " In six days, God crea-
ted the heavens and the earth." "Alexander conquered the Persians."
" Scipio was as virtuous as brave." " The Earl of Chatham was an elo-
quent statesman."
Past Tense, definite, [imperfect.]
This form represents an action as taking place and unfinished in some spe-
cified period of past time ; as, " I was standing at the door when the proces-
sion passed."
*The common distribution into ac^iue, neuter and passive, is very objec-
tionable. Many of our neuter verbs imply action in a pre-eminent degree,
as to run, to umlk, to/y ; and the young learner cannot easily cbnceive why
such verbs are not called active.
GRAMMAR OF THE
Perfect Tense, indefinite.
This form of the perfect tense represents an action completely past, and
often at no great distance, but the time not specified ; as, " I have accom-
plished my design." But if a particular time is named, the tense must be
the past ,■ as, " I accomplished my design last week." " I have seen
my friend last week," is not correct Enghsh. In this respect, the French
idiom is different from the English, for "J'ai vu mon ami hier" is good
French, but "I have seen my friend yesterday" is not good English. The
words must be translated, " I saw my friend yesterday." No fault is more
common than a mistranslation of this tense.
It is to be noted however that this perfect indefinite tense is that in which
we express continued or repeated action; as, "My father has lived about
eighty years." " The king has reigned more than forty years. " He has
been frequently heard to lament." Life of Cowper. We use it also when a
specified past time is represented, if that time is expressed as apart of the
present period. Thus, although we cannot say, " We have been together
yesterday," we usually say, " We have been together this morning, or this
evening." We even use this tense in mentioning events which happened
at a greater distance of time, if we connect that time with the present ; as,
" His brother has visited him once within two years." " He has not seen
his sister, since the year 1800."
Perfect Tense, definite.
This form represents an action as just finished; as, '
a history of the revolution in France."
Prior-past Tense, indefinite, [pluperfect.]
This form of the prior past tense expresses an action which was past at or
before some other past time specified; as, " he had received the news before
the messenger arrived."
Prior-past, definite.
This form denotes an action to be just past, at or before another time spe
cified ; as, " I had been reading your letter when the messenger arrived,"
have been reading
Future Tense, indefinite.
This form of the future tense gives notice of an event to happen hereafter
as, " Your son will obtain a commission in the navy." " We shall have
fine season."
Future Tense, definite.
This form expresses an action which is to take place and be unfinished at
a specified future time ; as, " He tcill be preparing for a visit, at the time
This form of the futu
ture time specified ; as
Prior-Future, indefinite.
re tense denotes an action which will be past at a fu-
, " They will have performed their task, by the ap
puiuieu Hour.
Prior-Future, definite.
This form represents an action which will be just past at a future speci
fied time ; as, " We shall have been making preparations, a week before our
friends arrive."*
In the use of the present tense, the following things are to be noticed,
1. The present tense is customarily used to express future time, when by
any mode of expression, the mind is transported forward to the time, so as to
conceive it present; as, "I cannot determine, till the mail arrives
soon as it is light, we shall depart." " When he has an opportunity, he will
write." The words tilt, when, as soon as, carry the mind to the time of an
event to happen, and we speak of it as present.
2. By an easy transition, the imagination passes from an author to his writ-
ings ; these being in existence and present, though long after his decease
we substitute the writer's name for his works, and speak of him as living,
or in the present tense ; thus, Milton resetnbles Homer in sublimity and in-
vention, as Pope resenift/es Virgil, in smoothness of versification. Plato is
fanciful ; Aristotle is profound.
*The common names and distribution of the tenses, are so utterly incor-
rect and incompetent to give a just idea of their uses, that I have ventured
to offer a new division, retaining the old names, as far .as truth will warrant.
The terms prior-past, and prior-future, are so perfectly descriptive of the
tenses arranged under them, that I cannot but think they will be well re-
ceived. The distincUon of indefinite and definite is not wholly new ; but I
have never seen the definite forms displayed, though they are as necessary
as the indefinite forms. Indeed, I see not how a foreigner can learn our lan-
guage, as the tenses are commonly distributed and defined.
3. It gives great life and effect to description, in prose or verse, to repre-
sent past events as present ; to introduce them to the view of the reader or
hearer, as having a present existence. Hence the frequent use of the pres-
ent tense for the future, by the historian, the poet and the orator :
" She spoke ; Minerva burns to meet the war ;
And now heaven's empres.'s calls the blazing car ;
At her command rush forth the steeds divine.
Rich with immortal gold, the trappings shine." Iliad, 5.
The definite tenses, it will be observed, are formed by the participle of the
present tense, and the substantive verb, be. This participle always ex-
presses present time, even when annexed to a past or future tense ; for, /
was writing, denotes that, at the past time mentioned, the action was pres-
ent; I shall be writing, denotes future time, but an action then to be present.
The past tense of every regular verb ends in ed; d being added to a verb
ending in e, and erf to a verb with other terminations; as hate, hated ; look,
looked.
The future tense is formed by the present tense of shall and will; for, I
shall go, he will go, are merely an appropriate use of / shall to go, I will to
go. See an explanation of these words under the head of auxiliaries.
There are other modes of expressing future time ; as, " 1 am going to
write" ; " I am about to write." These have been called the inceptive fu-
ture, as they note the commencement of an action, or an intention to com-
mence an action without delay.
We have another mode of expression, which does not strictly and posi-
tively foretell an action, yet it implies a necessity of performing an act, and
learly indicates that it will take place. For example, " I have to pay a
um of money to morrow." That is, I am under a present necessity or obli-
gation to do a future act.
The substantive verb followed by a radical verb, forms another idiomatic
expression of future time ; as, " John is to command a regiment." " Eneas
went in search of the seat of an empire which was, one day, to command
the world." The latter expression is a future past ; that 'i»,past to the nar-
rator, but future as to the event, at the time specified.
Modes.
Mode, in grammar, is the manner of representing action and being, or the
wishes and determinations of the mind. This is performed by inflections of
the verb, or by combinations of verbs with auxiliaries and participles, and
by their various positions.
As there are scarcely two authors who are agreed in the number and de-
nominations of the modes in English, I shall ofler a distribution of the verbs,
and a display of their inflections and combinations, somewhat different from
any which I have seen.
1. The first and most simple form of the verb, is the verb without inflec-
tions, and unconnected with persons. This form usually has the prefix to;
as to love.
This form of the verb, not being restricted to person or number, is usually
called the Infinitive Mode.
2. Another use of the verb is to affirm, assert or declare some action or
existence, either positively, as he runs, or negatively, as you are not in
'health. This form is called the Indicative Mode.
3. Another office of the verb is to command, direct, ask, or exhort ; as
arise, make haste, let us be content. This is called the Imperative Mode.
4. Another form of the verb is used to declare the power, liberty, possi-
bility or necessity of acting or being, by means of certain words called aux-
iliaries, as may, can, must, &c. This form is called the Potential Mode; as,
/ may or can write ; he tnust wait.*
5. Another use of verbs is to represent actions or events which are un-
certain, conditional or contingent; as, if he shall go; if they would attend.
' ■ Mode, but would better be denominated the
and Potential become conditional, by means
jof words used to express condition; as if, though, unless, whether.
I The Modes then are five ; the Infinitive, the Indicative, the Impera-
tive, the Potential, and the Subjunctive.
It may also be observed that the combinations and arrangements of our
verbs and auxiliaries to express negative and interrogative propositions, are
really 7nodes of the verb, and a place might be assigned to the verb for each
purpose, were it not for the inconvenience of having modes of modes. For
the sake of distinction, I denominate these verbs interrogative and negative,
and have exhibited the conjugation of each.
Participles.
Participles are derivatives from verbs, formed by particular terminations,
and having the sense of verbs, attributes or names.
There are two species of participles; one denoting present lime, and
formed by adding ing to the verb, as turn, turning, or when the verb ends
with e, by dropping that letter and adding ing, as place, placing. But e is
* This mode is inserted in compliance with the opinions of many Gram-
marians, but in opposition to my own. It is in fact the indicative mode, af-
firming the power, &c. of acting, instead of the act itself.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
retainpil in ilyeing from dye, to color, to distinguisti it from ilying, the parti-
ciple of die; in which word, yis used to prevent the duplication of i. In
singeing from singe, e is retained to soften g, and to distinguish the word
from singing; so also in twingeing.
This participle of the present tense is used, as before observed, to form
the definite tenses. But it often loses the sense of the verb, and becomes
an attribute ; as a loving friend, lasting friendship. In this use, it admits of
comparison by more or less, most and least ; as more lasting, less saving
most promising.
This participle also becomes an adverb or modifier by receiving the ter-
mination ly, as lovingly, laughingly; and this species of modifiers admits of
comparison, as more lovingly, most charmingly.
This participle also becomes a name and admits of tlie definitive; as, "the
burning of London in 1666." In this capacity, it takes the plural form ; as,
"the mier^ouJiHgs of the Nile ;" "he seeth all his goings." And some-
times the plural is used when a modifier is attached to the participle ; as,
" the goings out, the comings in." Ezek. xliii. II. But this use of the par-
ticiple is not esteemed elegant, nor is it common.
In a few instances, the participle in ing becomes a name by receiving the
termination ness; as willingness, from willing.
The other species of participle is formed from the verb, by adding d or erf,
and in regular verbs, it corresponds exactly with the past time ; as loved,
preceded. This may be called the participle of the perfect tense.
This participle, when its verb is transitive, may be joined with the verb
be, in all its inflections, to form a passive verb, and the participle, in such
combination, is called pctssive.
But this participle, when formed from an intransit ive verb, cannot, except
in a few instances, be joined to the substantive verb, or used in a passive
sense; but it unites with the other auxiliaries.
This participle often loses its verbal character, and becomes an attribute ;
as a concealed plot, a painted house. In this character it admits of compari-
son, as " a more admired artist," " a most respected magistrate ;" and a fc
these verbal attributes rec
pointedly, more conccitnlh/
Those verbs, whose pi-i
lar. All which deviate li"
ticiples of the perfect tcn-r
found in the sequel.
ation ly, and become modifiers, as
>/■
iple end in ed, are deemed regu-
deemed irregular, and their par-
n and g. A list of them will be
Auxiliaries.
In English, a few monosyllabic verbs are chiefly employed to form the
modes and tenses of other verbs, and from this use, are denominated auxilia-
ries or helping verbs. These are followed by other verbs, without the prefix
to, as " he may go ;" though they were originally principal verbs, and some
of' them still retain that character, as well as that of auxiliaries.
The verbs which are always auxiliary to others, are nmy, can, shall, must;
those which are sometimes auxiliaries, and sometimes principal verbs, are
will, have, do and be. To these may be added need and dare.
May conveys the idea of «&«% or permission; as, "he may go, if he will."
Or it denotes possibility ; as, " he may have written or not."*
Can has the sense of to be able.
Shalt, in its primitive sense, denotes to be obliged, coinciding nearly with
Might ; which sense it retains in the German. But this signification, though
evidently the root of the present uses of this word, is much obscured. Th(
following remarks will illustrate the several usesof «'iH and shall.
Will h.is a common origin with the Latin volo. Hence the German wol
len, the old English woH, and the present contraction won'*, that \s,woll-not.\
This was originally a principal verb, and is still used as such ii
guage. It denotes the act of the mind in determining, or a deter
for he teills to go, and he will go, are radically of the same import.
* The primitive idea expressed by inay was power ; Sax. magan, to
be able,
f It is supposed that the Roman ti was pronounced as our w, wolo.
When a man exprcs-^cs his own detcrminalion of inind, I will, we are ac-
customed to consider tlie event, or act willed as certain ; for we naturally
connect the power to act, with the intention; hence we make the declara-
tion of will a ground of confidence, and by an easy association of ideas, we
connect the declaration, with an obligation to carry the determination into
efTect. Hence will expressed by a person himself, came to denote a promise.
But when a person declares the will of another, he is not supposed to pos-
sess the power to decide for him, and to carry his will into effect. He merely
offers an opinion, grounded on infoi-mation or probable circumstances, which
give him more or less confidence of an event depending on another's will.
Hence will in the second and third person simply foretells, or expresses an
opinion of what will take place.
Sliall, in some of its inflections, retains its primitive sense — to be obliged
or bound in duty ; but in many of its uses, its sense is much varied. In the
first person, it merely foretells ; as, " I shall go to New- York to-morrow."
In this phrase, the word seems to have no reference to obligation ; nor is it
)nsidercd by a second person as imposing an obligation on the person utter-
ig it. But when shall is used in the second and third persons, it resumes
3 primitive sense, or one nearly allied to it, implying obligation; as when
superior commands with authority, you shcUl go ; or implying a right in the
second and third person to expect, and hence denoting a promise in the
speaker ; as, " you shall receive your wages." This is radically saying,
' you ought to receive your wages ;" but this right in the second person to
•eceivc, implies an obligation in the person speaking to pay. Hence shall
n the first [lerson foretells ; in the second, /(romise.s, commands, or expresses
determination. When shall in the second and third persons, is uttered with
iphasis, it expresses determination in the speaker, and implies an authority
enforce the act. " You shall go."
Must expresses necessity, and has no variation for person, number or
tense.
Bo is a principal and a transitive verb, sisiTiifying to act or make; but i<
used in the present or past tenses as an auxiliary to give emphasis to a dec-
laration, to denote contrast, or to supply the place of the principal verb.
)uld have been impossible for Cicero to inflame the minds of the
people to so high a pitch against oppression, considered in the abstract, as he
II y did inflame them against Verres the opjnessor
10. Here did expresses emphasis.
t was hardly possible that he should not distinguish you as he has done."
Coup. Let. 40. Here done stands in the place oi distinguished you. For
it must be oliserved that when do is the substitute for another verb, it sup-
plies the place not only of the verb, but of the object of the verb.
" He loves not plays
As thou dost, Anthony."
That is, as thou lovest plays.
Do is also used in negative and interrogative sentences ; the present and
past tenses of the Indicative Mode being chiefly formed tiy this auxiliary :
, " I do not reside in Boston." " Does John hold a commission ?"
Have is also a principal and transitive verb, denoting to possess ; but much
used as an auxiliary, as " He has lately been to Hamburg." It is often used
to supply the place of a principal verb, or participle, preventing a repetition
of it, and the object after it ; as, " I have not seen Paris, but my brother has,"
that is, has seen Paris.
Equally common and extensive is the use of be, denoting existence, and
nee called the substantive verb. Either in the character of a principal
rb, or an auxiliary, it is found in almost every sentence of the language.
The inflection of a verb, in all the modes, tenses, numbers and persons, is
termed Conjugation. The English verbs have few inflections, or changes
of termination ; most of the tenses and modes being formed by means of the
auxiliaries.
Note. — In the following conjugations, a small n in an Italic character, is
inserted in the place where not should stand in negative sentences. The
place is generally occupied by never, but not in every case. It is be-
jlieved this letter will be very useful, especially to foreigners. The learner
[may conjugate the verb with or without tiot, at pleasure.
Camp. met. 1.
2d. Person,
May. — Present Tense .
Singular. Plural.
1st. Person, I may n We may n
C Thou mayest n C Ye niay n
( You may n* ( You may n
*" It may be remarked once for all, that thou and
ye are the second person used in the sacred style,
and sometimes in other grave discourses. In all
other cases, you is the second person of the singu-
lar number, as well as of the plural. It is not one of
the most trivial absurdities which the student must
now encounter at every step, in the study of En-
CONJITGATION OF XtlE AUXILIARIES.
Singular. Plural.
C mas. He may re They may n
3d. Persoti,2fem. She may n
( neut. It may n
glish grammar, that he meets with you in the plu-
ral number only, though he finds it the represen-
tative of an individual. Now if you is always plu-
ral, then you yourself is not grammatical, but ab-
surd; the true expression then must be, you your-
selves, applied to an individual. Then I must say
to a friend, who visits me, please to seat yourselves,
Sir. This Is equal to the royal style, tee Ourself'
Singular.
I might n
( Thou mightest n
\ You might ;i
He might n
Past Tense.
'•• Plural.
We might re
J Ye might n
( You might 7i
They might n
Can.— Present Tense.
I can re
{ Thou canst
[ You can re
He can n
J Ye can n
{ V ou can n
They can ti
Singular.
1 could n
Plural.
We couUl n
J Ye couM n
C Thou couldst n
I You could u i You could
He could n They could re
Shall.— Present Tense.
I shall n We shall n
i Thou Shalt re ( Ye shall n
I You shall n { You shall u
He shall n They shall re
Past Tense.
I should n We should n
C Thou shouldst n < Ye should ti
I You should II ( You should n
He should » They should re
Will .—Present Tense.
I will re We will n
C Thou wilt re C Ye will n
I You will n I You will n
He will re They will re
Past Tense.
I would n We would re
( Thou wouldst re ( Ye would re
I You would re \ You would re
He would n They would re
Note. — Will, when a principal verb, is regu-
larly conjugated ; I will, thou wiliest, he wills
Pa-st tetxse, I willed.
Must.
Must has no change of termination, and is join-
ed with verbs only in the following tenses.
Present Tense.
I must re love We must re love
( Thou must re love { Ye must re love
\ You must re love ( You must re love
He must re love They must re love
Perfect Tense.
I must re have loved We must re have loved
r Thou just re have Jy^^^^j^j^^^^I^^^^j
l^bveT'' " ''^"M You must re have loved
He mustnhave loved They must re have loved
Do. — Indicative jl/ode— Present Tense.
I do re love We do n love
C Thou dost re love C Ye do n love
( You do n love ( You do re love
He does or doth re love They do re love
Past Tense.
I did re love We did re love
C Thou didst re love ( Ye did n love
\ You did re love I You did re love
He did n love They did n love
Infinitive Mode. Participles.
To do. Doing, done, having done.
Note. — In the third person singular of the pre-
sent tense, doth is used in sacred and solemn lan-
guage; does in common and familiar languagi
This verb, when principal and transitive, has all
the tenses and modes, 1 have done, I had done, 1
will do, &c.
HAVE.-Infinitive Mode, Present Tense.- To have.
Perfect Tense. — To have had.
Participle of the Present Tense. — Having.
Of the Perfect Tense.— Had.
Compound. — Having had.
Indicative Mode. — Present Tense.
GRAMMAR OF THE
Perfect Tense.
Singular. Plural.
I have re had We have n had
C Thou hast re had ( Ye have re had
I You have re had ( Y'ou have re had
He has or hath re had They have re had
Prior-past Tense.
I had re had We had re had
C Thou hadstre had C Ye had re had
I You had n Iiad { You had re had
He had re had They had re had
Note. — In these tenses, the perfect and prior-
past, this verb is always principal and transitive.
Future Tense.
In this tense the verb is principal or auxiliary
with the same form of conjugation.
The following form foretells.
I shall re have We shall re have
C Thou wilt re have CYcwillrehave
) You will re have { You will re have
He will re have They will n have
The following form promises, commands or de-
termines.
I will re have We will re h,ave
C Thou Shalt re have ( Ye shall re have
I You shall re have ( You shall re have
He shall re have They shall re have
Prior-Future
This tense foretells, and is used only when the
verb is principal.
hall 7t have had
fThou Shalt or wilt re
J have had
1 You shall or will re 1 You shall or will re have
|_ have had
He shall or will re 'They shall or will re
have had have had
Note. — Will is not used in the iirst person of
is tense ; it being incompatible with the
of a promise. We cannot say, " I will have had
possession a year, on the first of October next;
but I shall have had, is a common expression.
Imperative Mode.
I have n
^ Thou hast re
t You haven
He has or hath re*
Past Tense.
I had re
i Thou hadstre
(You had re
He had re
Note. — In the foregoing te
used either as a principal verb <
We have re
; Ye have re
■ They have
C Ye had re
I You had re
They had re
ises, this verb is
r an auxiliary
Have you n or do re you
Let me re have
Let him n have
No
Thou mightestre have
Thou shouldst re have
Thou couldst re have
Thou wouldst re have
You might re have
You should re have
You could re have
You would re have
He might re have
He should re have
He could n have
He would re have
Ye might >i havi?
Ye should n have
Ye could re have
Yc would II have
You might re have
You should re have
You could re have
You would n have
They might re have
They should re have
They could n hai?e
They would n have
Perfect Tense.
In this tense, have is a principal verb only.
Imaynhavehad We mayn have had
; Thou mayest re have had C Ye may re have had
> You may re have had { You may 7i have had
" He may re have had They may re have had
Prior-past Tense — the principal verb only.
" might re ha ' " -^r ^
might re have
had
' Thou mightest re have
had
' You might re have had You |
" He might re have had
In the same manner
would.
There is no future tense, distinct from that of
the indicative mode.
Conditional or Subjunctive Mode.
The Conditional or Subjunctive Mode is the
me as the Indicative, with some preceding word
expressing condition, supposition or contingency.
These words are, if, though or although, unless,
except, whether, lest, albeit.
If is a. corruption of gif, the imperative of gifaii,
the Saxon orthography of give.
Plural.
Have ye re, have you re
Do re you have
request or exhortation,
the solemn style ; ha
ust, in the nature of things, be addressed to the
second person ; nor can these phrases, let me have,
let xis have, be considered, in strictness, as the first
person of this mode, uorlet him have, astheihini;
but they answer to the first and third persons of
this mode in other languages, and the mere nam-
ing of them is wholly immaterial.
The true force and effect of the verb, in this
mode, depend on its application to characters, and
the manner of utterance. Come, go, let him go,
if uttered with a respectful address, or in a civil
manner, may express entreaty, request or exhort-
ation. On the other hand, such words uttered
with a tone of authority, and addressed to inferiors,
express command.
Potential Mode. — Present Tense.
I In the following tense, this verb is either auxil-
iary or principal.
I may or can n have We may or can re have
C Thou mayest or canstre ( Ye may or can re have
] have ]
( You mayor canre have ( Youmayorcanrehave
He may or can re have They may or can n
have
Must is used in the foregoing tense, and in the
perfect also.
Past Tense.
In this tense, the verb is principal or auxiliary.
I might re have We might re have
I should re have We should re have
I could re have We could re have
I would n have Wc would n have
ixon theah, signifie
Though, the
permit, allow. Mthough
compound of all and though, give or allow all.
The old word thof, still used in some parts of Eng-
land, is the imperative of the Saxon thajian, to al-
low. Unless is the imperative of the Saxon on-
lysan, to loose or dissolve. Except is the impera-
tive of that verb. Lest is from lesan, to lease or
dissolve. Albeit is a compound of all, be and if,
let it be so.
These words, if, though, answer in signification
and use, to the following : admit, grant, allow,
suppose, as signs of a condition or hypothesis. " If
you shall go," is simply, "give, you shall go;"
that is, give that condition or fact ; allow or sup-
pose it to be so.
It has been, and is still customary for authors
to omit the personal terminations of the second
d third persons of the verb in the present tense,
form the subjunctive mode; if thou go, if he
write.
The correct construction of the subjunctive
mode is precisely the same as that of the indica-
tive ; as it is used in popular practice, which has
preserved the true idiom of the language; if thou
tiast, if he has or hath ; to denote present uncer-
tainty. But a future contingency may be ex-
pressed by the omission of tlie personal termina-
tions ; if he go, that is, if he shall go.
Be.
Be is a verb denoting existence, and therefore
called the substantive verb. It is very irregular,
being derived from different radicals, and having
undergone many dialectical changes.
Infinitive Mode, Present Tense.— To ie.
Perfect Tense.— To have been.
Participle of the Present Tense. — Being.
Of the Perfect.— Seen.
Compound. — Having been.
Indicative Mode.— Present Tense.
I am re We are re
C Thou art re (Ye are re
> You arc re ( You are re
fit is re
The foregoing form of the pre
enerally used by good wrilcrs.
They :
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
ing form is the most ancient, anJ if still veiy gen-
eral in popular practice.
I be n Wc lie )i
Vou be n Ve or you be n
Heisn They ben
Tlwu beest, in the second person, is not in use.
Past Tense.
I was « We were n
C Thou wast n C Ye were re
\ Vou was or were n { You were Ji
He was ft They were n
Perfect Tense.
I have n been We have been
{ Thou hastn been ( Ye have been
) You have n been { You have n been
He hath or has n been They have n been
Prior-past Tense.
I had n been We had n been
( Thou hadstJt been ( Ye had n been
) Vou had n been ( You hadn been
He had « been They had n been
Future Tense.
I shall or will n be We shall or will n be
i Thou Shalt or wiltJi be ( Ye shall or will n be
) Vou shall or will n be ( You shall or will n be
He shall or will n be They shall or will n be
Prior-future Tense.
I shall n have been We shall n have been
("Thou .shall or wilt n f Ye shall or will »i have
I have been J been
] You shall or will n] You shall or will n
I have been I. have been
He shall or will n have They shall or will »
been have been
Imperative Mode.
C Be n ; be thou n ; do n thou be, or
Command < do n be ; be ye n ,• do n you be, or
( do you n be, or do n be.
Exhortation C Let me n be, let him n be, let us n
Entreaty ( be, let them n be.
Potential Mode.
I may or can n be We may or can n be
^ Tljou mayst or canst n ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^„ ^ ^^
You may or can n I
be
^ You may or can n be
He may or can n be They may or can n be
Must is used in this tense, and in tlie perfect
also.
Past Tense.
I might n be We might n be
(, Thou mightest n be ( Ye might n be
I You might n be \ You might n be
He might n be They might n be
In the same manner witli could, should and
■would.
Perfect Tense.
I may or can have « We may or can n have
been been
Ye may or can n have
Past Tense.
// I was We were
i Thou wast ( Ye were
) Vou was or were \ You were
He was They were
The foregoing tenses express uncertainty,
wliether a fact exists or existed ; or they admit
the fact. The following form is used for tlic like
purposes :
Ifl be We be
C Thou be ( Ye be
I You be \ You be
He be They be
But this is more properly the form of the condi-
tional future ; that is, the verb without the sign of
the future— i/Ae be, for if he shall be.
The following is the form of expressing sujiposi-
m or hypothesis, and may be called the
Hypothetical Tense.
Ifl were We were
j Thou wert ( Ye were
I Vou was or were I Vou were
He were They were
" Ifl were," supposes I am not; "if I were
noV' supposes I am.
other tenses are the same as in the indica-
tive mode.
The Conjugation of a Regular Verb.
Love. — Infinitive Mode, Present Tense.
To love.
Perfect Tense.— To have loved.
Participle of the Present Tense. — Laving.
Of the Perfect.— toBcd.
Compound. — Having loved.
Indicative Mode. — Present Tense, indefinite.
I love n We love n
C Thou lovest re (Ye love rt
I You love 71 ( You love re
He loveth or loves n They love n
With the auxiliary do.
I do n love We do n love
C Thou dost n love ( Ye do n love
( You do n love ( Vou do re love
He doth or docs re love They do n love
Definite.
I am re loving We are re laving
iiig
rThou mayest or canst ("l
1 n have been J
I Vou may or can n have | 1
[ been (^
You may or can re have
been
He may or can n have They may or can 7i
been have been
Prior-past Tense.
I might n have been We might re have been
C Thou mightest re have C Ye might nhave been
< been J Vou might n have
^ You might n have been ( been
He might n have been They might re have
been
In the same manner with could, would and
fhould. There is no future tense in this mode.
Subjunctive Mode.
This Mode is formed by prefixing any sign of
condition, hypothesis or contingency, to the indie
ative mode in its various tenses.
Present Tense.
If I am We are
( Thou art ^ Ye are
I Vou are ( V'ou are
He is They are
I loving
C Ve are n
\ V ou are n loving ( You are re loving
He is n loving They are n loving
Past Tense, indefinite.
I loved n We loved n
C Thou lovedst n J Ye loved re
I You loved re ( Vou loved n
He loved re They loved n
With the auxiliary did.
I did re love We did n love
C Thou didst re love C Ve did re love
( You did re love I Vou did n love
He did re love They did n love
Definite.
I was n loving We were re loving
( Thou wast re loving C Ye were n loving
( You was re loving ( You were re loving
He was re loving They were re loving
Perfect Tense, indefinite.
I have n loved We have n loved
Thou hast n loved C Ye have re loved
You have re loved ' \ You have n loved
He has or hath n loved They have re loved
Definite.
I have n been loving We have re been lov-
ing
re been lov
He has
hath
lov
rVehavei
■ing I ing
.•mg j Vou havi
t loving
been They have n been
mg
lov
ing
Prior-past, indefinite.
I had n loved We had re loved
: Thou hadst re loved C Ye had re loved
Vou had 71 loved I Vou had n loved
' He had rt loved They had re loved
{Ye had re been lov-
ing
You had n been lov-
ing
He had re been loving They had ;ibeenlov-
ing
Future Tense, indefinite.
The form of predicting.
I shall re love We shall n love
C Thou wilt n love ( Ve will 7i love
I You will « love ( You will n love
He will n love They will re love
The form of promising, commanding and deter-
mining.
1 will re love We will n love
C Thou shalt re love C Ve shall re love
( You shall re love ( You shall n love
He shall re love They shall n love
Definite.
I shall or will n be lov- We shall or will re be
ing loving
(Thou shalt or wilt re be ("Ye shall or will n be
loving J loving
You shall or will re be] You shall or will n
loving (^ be loving
He shall or will re be lov- They shall or will n
ing be loving
Prior-future, indefinite.
I shall n have loved We shall n have loved
{Thou shalt or wilt re have [" Ye shall or will n
loved J loved
You shall or willTi have) Vou shall or will n
loved (^ have loved
He shall or will re have They shall or will n
loved have loved
Definite.
I shall n have been lov- We shall »ihave been
ing loving
iThou shalt or wilt re have f Ye shall or will n
been loving J have been loving
You shall or will re have | You shall or will n
been loving l^ have been loving
He shall or will re have They shall or will re
been loving have been loving
Imperative Mode.
Let me n love Let us n love
Love re Love 7i
Do re love Do 7i love
Do thou re love Do ye or you n love
Do you n love Let them 7i love
Let him 71 love
In the place of let, the poets employ the verb
without the auxiliary.
" Perish the lore that deadens young desire."
Beat. Minst.
That is, let the lore perish.
" £e ignorance thy choice, where knowledge
leads to woe." Ibm.
Potential Mode. — Present Tense, indefinite.
I may or can n love We may or can 77 love
C Thou mayst or canst 77 C Ve may or can n love
? love 2 Vou may or can 7»
( You may or can re love ( love
He may or can 71 love They may or can n
love
Must is used in this tense and in the perfect.
Definite.
I may or can re be loving We may or can n be
loving
iThou mayst or canst re be fYe may or can n be
loving J loving
Vou may or can re be lov- i You may or can 71 be
ing t loving
He may or can re be lov- They may or can 71
ing be loving
Past Tense, indefinite.
I might re love We might n love
C Thou mightest re love C Ye might re love
( You might n love I You might n love
He might 11 love They might re love
GRAMMAR OF THE
With couhl, would and should in tliesame man
Definite.
I might n he loving We might n be lovinf^
' Thou mightest n be lov- f Ye might n be loving
ing < You might n be lov
' You might n be loving ( ing [ing
He might n be loving They might n be lov-
With could, would and should in the same man
1 iii<ty ui c
fThou maj
< canst n
( You may i
Perfect Tense, indefinite.
We
;Ye
' You
■ They
f have
> loved
1 may can n \
He may or can n J
Defi
I may or can ii have
been loving
f Thou mayest or canst
1 n have been loving
, have
r
We may or can
been loving
' Ye may or can n have
) been loving
Du may or can ra S Youmayorcannha
have been loving ( been loving
He may or can n have They may or can
been loving have been loving
Prior-past Tense, indefinite.
I might n have loved We might n have loved
Thou mightest n have C Ye might n have
loved 1 loved
You might n have \ You might n hav
loved ( loved [loved
He might « have loved They might n h:
Definite.
I might n have been
loving
Thou mightest n have
We might 71 have been
loving
Ye might nhave been
loving
You might n have
been loving
They might n have
been loving
been loving
J You might n have
f been loving
He might n have been
been loving
With could, would and should in tlie same man
ner, in the two last forms.
The potential mode becomes conditional by mean
of the modifiers, if, though, unless, &c. prefixed to
its tenses, without any variation from the foregoing
inflections. This may, for distinction, be called
the Conditional Potential.
Subjunctive Mode. — Present Tense.
If, though, unless, whether, suppose, admit, fyc.
I love n We love 7i
< Thou lovest n i Ye love n
I You love n { You love n
He lovethorlovesji They love «
Some authors omit the personal terminations in
the second and third persons — if thou love, if he
love. With this single variation, which I deem
contrary to the principles of our language, the
subjunctive mode differs not in the least from the
indicative, and to form it the learner has only to
prefix a sign of condition, as if, though, unless, &c.
to the indicative, in its several tenses. With this
exception, however, that in the future tense, the
auxiliary may be and often is suppressed. Thus
instead of
If I shall or will love We shall or will love
S Thou Shalt or will love J Ye shall or will love
l You shall or will love ( You shall or will love
He shall or will love They shall or will love
Authors write,
//; «■<•. I love
We love
S Thou love
< Ye love
) You love
I You love
He love
They love
This form is properly used, when shall or will
may precede the verb, and when the verb is pre-
ceded by a command or admonition ; as, " See that
none render e\i\ for evil to any man."
1 Thess. V. 15.
In the subjunctive mode, there is a peculiarity
in the tenses which should be noticed. When I
say, if it rains, it is understood that I am icncer-
tai/i of the fact, at the time of speaking. But
when I say, '' If it rained, we shouM be obliged
to seek shelter," it is not understood that I am un-
certain of the fact; on the contrary, it is under-
stood that I am certain, it does not rain at the time
of speaking. Or if I say, " if it did not rain, I
would take a walk," I convey the idea that it does
rain at the moment of speaking. This form of ourj
tenses in the subjunctive mode has never been the
subject of much notice, nor ever received its due
explanation and arrangement. For this hypothet-
ical verb is actually a present tense, or at least in-i
definite — it certainly does not belong to past time. I
It is further to be remarked, that a negative sen-
tence always implies an affirmative — " if it did not
rain," implies that it does rain. On the contrary,
an affirmative sentence implies a negative — " if it
did rain," implies that it does not.
n the past time, a similar distinction exists ; for
" if it rained yesterday," denotes uncertainty in
the speaker's mind — but " if it had not rained yes-
terday," implies a certainty, that it did rain.
Passive form of the Verb.
Indicative Mode. — Present Tense.
I am Ji loved We are n loved
SThou art n loved ( Ye are n loved
You are n loved ( You are n loved
He is n loved They are n loved
Past Tense.
I was n loved We were « loved
^ Thou wast n loved C Ye were )i loved
( You was or were n loved ( You were n loved
He was n loved They were n loved
Perfect Tense.
I have n been loved
( Thou hast n been loved
( You have n been loved
We have » been
Ye have n been
loved
You have n been
loved
He has or hath n been They have n been
loved loved
Prior-past Tense.
I had n been loved We had n been loved
Thou hadst n been loved ( Ye had n been loved
Y'ou had n been loved I You had n been loved
He had n been loved They had n been
loved
Future Tense.
I shall or will ti be loved We shall or will n be
Thou shalt or wilt n be
loved
( Ye shall or will n be
loved
> loved
You shall
or will n be
\ You shall or will n
loved
( be loved
He shall
)r will n be
They shall or will n
loved
be loved
Prior-future
Tense.
I shall n
have been
We shall nhave been
loved
loved
: Thou shalt or wilt w T Ye shall or will n
) have been loved 1 have been loved
\ Y'ou shall or will n S You shall or will n
f have been loved f have been loved
He shall or will n have They shall or will n
been loved
Imperath
Let me n be loved
Be thou or you n loved
Do you n be loved'
Let him n be loved
have been loved
• Mode.
Let us n be loved
Be n loved
Be ye or you n loved
Do you n be loved
Let them n be loved
Potential Mode. — Present Tense,
may, can or must n be We may, can or must
loved
■ Thou mayest, canst or
I must n be loved
I You may, can or must
n be loved
He may, can or must n
be loved
n be loved
Ye may, can or musti
n be loved
You may, can or must
n be loved
They may, can or
must n be loved
Past Tense.
I might n be loved We might Jt be loved
( Thou n\ightest nhe loved C Ye might n be loved
( You might n be loved ( You might n be loved
He might n be loved They might n be
loved
With could, should and would in the same manner.
Perfect Tense.
We may, can or must
n have been loved
Ye may, can or must
71 have been loved
You may, can or must
71 have been lov-
been
CYe
J You
They
might n
■ith could, would and
I may, can or must n
have been loved
Thou mayest, canst or
must n have been
loved
You may, can or must n
have been loved
He may, can or must »s They may, can
have been loved must n have been
loved
Prior-past Tense.
I might n
( Thou mightest
( You might n
He might n
In the same manne
should.
Subjunctive Mode. — Present Tense.
If, Src. I am n loved We are n loved
C Thou art n loved ^ Ye are n loved
( You are n loved ( You are » loved
He is 71 loved They are n loved
Or thus :
If, iV<". I be n loved We be »i loved
{ Thou be )i loved C Ye he n loved
I You be n loved ( Y'ou be n loved
He be n loved They be n loved
Past Tense.
If, Src. 1 was n loved We were n loved
f Thou wastn loved C Ye were n loved
< You wasor were n }
( loved ( You were n loved
He was ?i loved They were n loved
Or thus :
If, Sfc. I were n loved We were n loved
( Thou wert »( loved ( Ye were n loved
\ You were n loved ( You were « loved
He were n loved They were n loved
Perfect Tense.
If, Src. I have ra been loved We haven been loved
C Thou hast n been C Ye have n been lov-
1 loved * ed
j You have 7i been J You have n been
f loved ( loved
He has or hath n They have ?i been
loved loved
Prior-past Tense.
If, ^c. I had n been loved We had n been loved
C Thou hadst n been C Ye had n been loved
5 loved )
J You had n been j You had n been lov-
f loved ( ed
He had n been They had n been lov-
loved ed
Future Tense.
If, Src. I shall, will or We shall, will or
should 7ibe loved should n be loved
fThou Shalt, wilt or C Ye shall, will or
shouldst n be lov- should n be loved
< ed J
I You shall, will or You shall, will or
t should n be loved [^ should n be loved
He shall, will or They shall, will or
should n be loved should « be loved
Prior-future Tense.
If, Src. I shall or should n We shall or should n
have been loved have been loved
TThou shalt or shouldst fYe shall or should n
J n have been loved J have been loved
I You shall or should »J ] You shall or should
1^ have been loved (^ n have been loved
He shall or should n They shall or should
have been loved n have been loved
The future is often elliptical, the auxiliary being
omitted. Thus instead of <// shall be loved, &c.
used the following forms :
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
If, SfC. I be 11 loved We be n loved
( Thou be n loved ( Ye be n loved
\ You be n loved \ You be n loved
He be n loved They be n loved
An exhibition of the verb in the interrogative
form, with the sign of the negative.
Indicative Mode. — Present Tense, indefinite.
Love In? Love we n ?
^ Lovest thou it ? < Love ye n ?
( Love you n 7 \ Love you n ?
Loveth or loves he n ? Love tliey n ?
The foregoing form is but little used. The fol-
lowing is the usual mode of asking questions.
Do I n love > Do we n love ?
( Dost thou n love ? < Doye n love ?
\ Do you n love ? \ Do you n love ?
Does or doth he n love ? Do they « love ?
Definite .
Am I « loving .' Are we n loving ?
J Art thou 71 loving ? J Are ye n loving ?
^ Are you n lo\ ing .' ^ Are you n loving ?
Is he n loving ? Are they n loving .'
Past Tense, indefinite.
Did I n love .' Did we n love .'
( Didst thou n love >. < Did ye n love ?
^ Did you n love .' < Did you n love ?
Did he n love ? Did they n love .'
The otlier form of this tense, loved he ? is sel-
dom used. Definite.
Was I n loving .' Were we n loving ?
( Wast thou n loving ? t Were ye n loving ?
? Was or were you ?i <
I loving ? ( Were you n loving ?
Was he n loving? Were they n loving?
Perfect Tense, indefinite.
Have I n loved? Have we n loved ?
< Hast thou n loved ? < Have ye n loved ?
I Have you »i loved ? ( Have you n loved ?
Has or hath he n loved ? Have they n loved ?
Definite.
Have I n been loving? Have we n been lov-
[ing ? ing ?
■ Hast thou n been lov- C Have ye nbeenloving!
' Have you n been lov- < Have you n been lov-
' ing i ing?
Has or hath he n been Have they n been lov-
loving ? ing ?
Prior-past, indefinite.
Had I n loved ? Had we ?i loved ?
Hadst thou n loved ? < Had ye n loved ?
Had you n loved ? ( Had you n loved ?
Had he n loved ? Had they n loved
Definite.
Had I n been loving ? Had we n been loving ;
'Hadst thou Jt been < Had ye Ji been loving?
loving ? \ Had you n been loving;
' Had you n been loving? Had they n been lov.
Had he n been loving ? ing?
Future Tense, indefinite.
Shall I n love ?
, Shalt or wilt thou
S love ?
> Shall or will you
V. l,,ve ?
Shall we n love ?
■ Shall or will ye n love
Shall or will you »
' love ?
Sh.)ll
he
Shall r n be loving ?
r Shalt or wilt thou n be
) loving ?
\ Shall or will you n be
' loving ?
Shall or will he n he
loving ?
Shall we n be loving ?
Shall or will ye n be
loving?
Shall or will you n be
Shall or will they n be
loving ?
Prior-future, indefinite.
Shall I re have loved:
Shalt or wilt thou n
have loved ?
Shall or will you n
have loved ?
Shall or will he t
have loved ?
Shall we n have loved ?
Shall or will ye n have
loved ?
Shall or will you n
have loved ?
Shall or will they n
have loved ?
The definite form of this tense is little used.
Will, in this tense, is not elegantly used in the
first person.
The interrogative form is not used in the imper-
ative mode ; a command and a question being in-
compatible.
It is not necessary to exhibit this form of the
verb in the potential mode. Let the learner be
only instructed that in interrogative sentences, the
nominative follows the verb when alone, or the
first auxiliary when one or more aroused; and
the sign of negation not, (and generally never,)
immediately follows the nominative.
IRREGULAR VERBS.
All verbs whose past tense and perfect participle do not end in ed
Bemed irregular. The number of tliese i
I about one hundred and seventy
seven. They aie of three kinds.
1. Those whose past tense, and participle of the perfect are the same as
the present ; as, beat, burst, cast, cost, cut, hit, hurt, let, put, read, rent,
rid, set, shed, shred, shut, slit, split, sjnead, thrust, sweat, wet. Wet has
sometimes wetted; heat sometimes het ; but the practice is not respectable.
Light and qidt have lit and quit in the past time and participle, but they
are also regular.
2. Verbs whose past time and participle are alike, but different from the
present; 3iS, meet, met ; sell, sold.
3. Verbs whose present and past tense and participle are all different ; as,
hnow, knetp, known.
A few ending with ch, ck, x,p, II, ess, though regular, suffer a contraction
of ed into t ; as, snatcht for snatched, checkt for checked, snapt for snapped,
mixt for mixed, dwelt for dwelled, past for passed. Others have a digraph
shortened ; as, drearn, dreamt ; feel, felt; mean, meant ; sleep, slept ; deal,
dealt. In a few, v is changed into/,- as bereave, bereft ; leave, left.
As some of the past tenses and participles are obsolete or obsolescent, it
deemed proper to set these in separate columns for the information of the
IRREGULAR VERBS.
Infin.
Past tense.
Participle.
Past tense obs. Part, o
Abide
abode
abode
Am
was
been
Arise, rise
arose, rose
arisen, risen
Awake
awoke, awaked
awaked
Bear
bore
borne
bare
Beat
beat
beat, beaten
Begin
begun, began
begun
Bend
bended, bent
bended, bent
Bereave
bereaved, bereft bereaved, bereft
Beseech
besought
besought
Bid
hid
bid
bade bidden
Bind
bound
bound
bounden
Bite
bit
bit, bitten
Bleed
bled
bled
Blow
blew
blown
Break
broke
broke, broken
brake
Breed
bred
bred
Bring
Build
brought
brought
builded, built
built
Burst
burst
burst
Buy
bought
bought
Cast
cast
Catch
catched, caught catched, caught
Chide
chid
chid
chidden
Chuse.choose
chose
chose, chosen
1 Ir>fin.
" Past tense.
Participle. Past tense obs. Part. obs.
Cleave, to stick cleaved
cleaved clave
Cleave, to
Cling
spUt cleft
cleft clove cloven
clung
clung
Clothe
clothed
clothed clad
Come
came, come
come
Cost
cost
cost
Crow
crowed
crowed crew
|Creep
crept
crept
jCut
rut
cut
Dare
durst, dared*
dared
Deal
dealt, dealed
dealt, dealed
Dig
dug, digged
dug, digged
Do
did
done
Draw
drew
drawn
Diive
drove
driven, drove drave [drunk
Drink
drank
drank drunken,
Dwell
dwelt, dwelled
dwelt, dwelled
Eat
cat, ate
eat, eaten [ved
Engrave
engraved
engraven, engia-
fell
fallcn
Feel
felt
felt
Fight
fought
fought
Find
found
found
Flee
fled
fled
Fling
flung
flung
Fly^
flew?
flown
Forget
forgot
forgot, forgotten forgat
forsaken, forsook
Forsake
forsook
Freeze
froze
frozen, froze
Get
got
got, gotten gat
Gild
gUded, gilt
gilded, gilt
Gird
iirded, girt
girded, girt
Give
gave
given
Go
went
gone
Grave
graved
graved, graven
Grind
ground
ground
Grow
ia7
grown
Have
had
Hang
hanged, hung
hanged, hung
Hear
heard
heard
Hew
hewed
hewed, hewn
Hide
hid
hid, hidden
Hit
hit
hit
Hold
held
held holden
* When transitive, this verb
is always regular; as, "he dared him."
GRAM3IAR OF THE
Infill.
Hurt
Keep
Knit
Know
Lade
Lay
Lead
Leave
Lend
Let
Lie (down)
Lose
Make
Meet
Mow
Read
Rend
Rid
Ride
Ring
Past tense ubs. Part, ubs
Run
Saw
Say
See
Seek
Sell
Send
Set
Shake
Shape
Shave
Shear
Shed
Shine
Shew
Show
Shoot
Shrink
Shred
Shut
Sing
Sink
Sit
Slay
Sleep
Slide
Sling
Slink
Slit
Smite
Sow
Speak
Speed
Spend
Spill
Spin
Spit
Spread
Spring
Stand
Steal
Sting
Stink
Stride
Strike
String
Strive
Strow
Strew
Swear
Sweat
Swell
Swim
Swing
Take
Teach
Tear
Tell
kept
knit
knew
lent
let
lay
lost
made
met
mowed
paid
rid
rode, 1
rung
saw
sought
shook
shaped
shaved
sheared
shed
shone, shined
shewed
showed
shod
shot
shrunk
shred
shut
sung
sat
slung
slunk
slit, slitted
sowed
sped
spent
spilled, spilt
spit
sprung
stood
stride, strode
struck
strove
showed
strewed
swore
sweat
swelled
swum, swam
swung
took
taught
told
kept
knit
known
laden
met
mowed, mown
paid
set
shaken, shook
shaped
shaved
sheared
shed
shone, shined
shewn
shown, showed
shod
shot
shrunk
shred
shut
sunk
sat
slain
slept
slid
slung
slunk
slit, slitted
smitten, smit
sowed, sown
spoke, spoken
sped
spent
spilled, spilt
spun
spit
spread
sprung
stood
stole, stolen
stung
stunk
strid
struck
strung
striven
strowed, shown
strewed
swung
taken, took
taught
torn, tore
told
ipake
Infin.
Think
Thrive
iThrow
Thrust
Tread
Wax
Wear
Weave
Weep
Pa,<it tense.
thought
thrived
threw
thrust
trod
waxed
ept
on
ound
Participle.
thought
thrived
thrown
trod, trodden
waxed
worn, wore
woven, wove
wept
Past tense obs. Part.
wound
Work worked,wrought worked, wrought
Wring wrung, wringed wrung, wiinged
Write wrote, writ writ, written
Note 1. — The old forms of the past tense, sang, spake, sprang, forgat,
&c. are here placed among the obsolete ivonls. They are entirely obsolete,
in ordinary practice, wheth. r |">]' H -i ■ i ;- liilo ; and it seems advisable not
to attempt to revive them. I: : i I'l; reason for omitting them,
there is one which is not i ■ . '.. ii,l. The sound of a in these
and all other like cases, w.i- u;] mm!I\ h- lunada or aw ; which sound, in
the Gothic and Saxon, as in the niodeir! Scotch, corresponded nearly with
0 in spoke, swore. Spoke is therefore nearer to the original than spake, as
we now pronounce the vowel a with its first or long sound, as in sake.
Note 2. — In the use of the past tense and participle of some of these
verhs, there is a diversity of practice ; some authors retaining those which
others have rejected as obsolete. Many words which were in use in the
days of Shakspeare and Lord Bacon are now wholly laid aside ; others are
used only in books; while others are obsolescent, being occasionally used ;
and a few of the old participles, having lost the verbal character, are used
only as adjectives. Of the last mentioned species, are fraught, drunken,
[molten, beholden, shorn, clad, bounden, cloven. Holpen is entirely obso-
lete. Holden, swollen, gotten and forgotten, are nearly obsolete in com-
mon parlance. Wrought is evidently obsolescent. Stricken is used only
in one phrase, stricken in age or years, which we learn from the bible ; but
in every other case, is inelegant and pedantic.
Bishop Lowth has attempted to revive the use of many of the obsolescent
past tenses and participles, for which he has, and I think deservedly, incur-
red the severe animadversions of eminent critics. " Is it not su.-jjrising,"
says Campbell on Rhetoric, b. 2, ch.2, "that one of Lowth's penetration
should think a single person entitled to revive a form of inflection in a par-
ticular word, which had been rejected by all good writers of every denom-
ination, for more than a hundred and fifty years." This writer declares
what Lowth has advanced on the use of the past tense and participle, to be
inconsistent with the very first principles of grammar. He observes justly
that authority is every thing in language, and that this authority consists in
reputable, national, present usage.
Independent of authority however, there are substantial reasons in the
language itself for laying aside the participles ending with en, and for re-
moving the difTerences between the past time and participle. In opposition
to the opinion of Lowth, who regrets that our language has so few inflec-
tions, and maintains that we should preserve all we have, I think it capable
■of demonstration that the differences between the past time and participle of
the past tense of our irregular verbs, is one of the greatest inconveniences
in the language. If we used personal terminations to form our modes and
tenses like the Greeks, it would be desirable that they should be carefully
tained. But as we have no more than about half a dozen different termi-
nations, and are therefore obliged to form our modes and tenses by means of
auxiliaries, the combination of these forms a part of the business of learn-
ing the language, which is extremely difficult and perplexing to foreigners.
Even the natives of Scotland and Ireland do not always surmount the diffi-
culty. This diflBculty is very much augmented by the difference between
the past tense and the participle. To remove this difference, in words in
which popular usage has given a lead, is to obviate, in a degree, this incon-
venience. This is recommended by another circumstance — it will so far
reduce our irregular verbs to an analogy with the regular, whose past tense
and participle of the perfect are alike.
number of words, the dropping of n in the participle, will make a
convenient distinction between the participle and the adjective ; for in the
llatter, we always retain en — we always say, a written treatise, a spoken lan-
guage, a hidden mystery — though the best authors write, a " mystery hid
from ages ;" " the language spoke in Bengal."
Besides, whenever we observe a tendency in a nation to conti act words,
we may be assured that the contraction is found to be convenient, and is
therefore to be countenanced. Indeed if I mistake not, we are indebted to
such contractions for many real improvements; as write from gewrite;
slain from ofslegen ; fastened from gefastnode ; men from mannan ; holy
from haligan, &c. And as a general remark, we may be assured that no
language ever suffas the loss of a useful word or syllable. If a word or
syllable is ever laid aside in national practice, it must be because it is not
wanted, or because it is harsh and inconvenient in use, and a word or sylla-
ble more consonant to the general taste of a nation or state of society, is
substituted.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
Such is the fact with our participles in en ; the e being suppressed m pro-
nunciation, we have the words spokn, icrittn, holdn, in actual practice.
Nothing can be more weak, inefficient and disagreeable than this nasal
sound of the half vowel n ; it is disagreeable in prose, feeble inverse, and
in music, intolerable. Were it possible to banish every sound of this kind
from ihe language,
rable. At any rate, when
people in generat have laid a.side any of these sounds, writers, who value
the beauties of language, should be the last to revive them.
Defective Verbs.
Verbs which want the past time or participle, are deemed defective. Of
these we have very few. The auxiliaries may, can, will, shall, nntst,
having no participle, belong to this cla.ss. Ought is used in the present and
past tenses only, with the regular inflection of the second person only — /
ought, thou oughlest, he ought. We, you, they ought, quoth is wholly ob-
solete, except iii poetry and burlesque. It has no inflection, and is used
chiefly in the third person, with the nominative following it, quoth he.
Wit, to know, is obsolete, except in the infinitive, to introduce an expla-
nation or enumeration of particulars ; as, " There are seven persons, to wit,
four men and three women." Wot and leiat are entirely obsolete.
Adverbs or Modifiers.
Adverbs arc a secondary part of speech. Their uses are to enlarge, re-
strain, limit, define, and in short, to modifi/ the sense of other words.
Adverbs may l)e classed according to their several uses.
1. Those which qualify the actions expressed by verbs and participles;
as, "a good man lives ^ioit.s(y ;" " a room is c?C|£fan% furnished." Here
piously denotes the manner oj living ; elegantly denotes the mannerof be-
ing furnished.
In this class may be ranked a number of other words, as when, soon, then,
where, whence, hence, and many others, whose use is to modify verbs.
2. Another class of adverbs are words usually called prepositions, used
with verbs to vaiy their signification; for which purpose they generally
follow them in construction, as to fall on, give out, bear with, cast up; or
they are prefixed and become a part of the word, as overcome, underlay.
In these uses, these words modify or change the sense of the verb, and
when prefixed, are united with the verb in orthography.
A few modifiers admit the terminations of comparison; as soon, sooner,
soonest ; often, oftcner, oftenest. Most of those which end in ly, may be
compared by more and most, less and least ; as more justly, more excellent
ly ; less honestly, least criminally.
Prepositions.
Prepositions, so called from their being put before other words, serve
to connect words and show the relation between them, or to show the
Thus a man of benevolence, denotes a man who pos
( liii^i was crucified between two thieves. Receive
i\f\ mvi- ii to Thomas.
Hisi (MihiTion, are to, for, by, of, in, into, on, upon,
ir<jt. iiji. over, under, beneath, against, fri
iriirilx, before, behind, after, without, across.
r of particles, which serve to vary or modify the words
K'fixed, and which are sometimes called inseparable
■ they are never used, but as parts of other words.
mis, pre, re, sub, in abide, become, conjoin, mistake..
as connectives. Their use is to express ni
alternatives. Thus, " Either John or Ii .
an alternative sentence ; the verb or pre li
but not to both ; and whatever may br ti
thus joined by or, the verb and predioriI( 1
' One very common use of ur, is to jo'
vord
iidlshallcallthcm
the Exchange," is
■ . i.ne or the other,
r :,i.3or propositions
,1;,.
condition of thing'
sesses benevoI«-nc
the book /ro»i .l"i
The prepositiHi!
(imoHff, belli; , „
with, tlinnmli. ol
a, be
prefix, return, subjoin, ^c. These may be called prefixes.
Connectives or Conjunctions.
Connectives are words which unite words and sentences in construction
joining two or more simple sentences into one compound one, and continu-
ing the sentence at the pleasure of the writer or speaker. They also begin
sentences after a full period, manifesting some relation between sentences
in the general tenor of discourse.
The connectives of most general use, are and, or, either, nor, neither,
hut, than. To which may be added because.
And is supposed to denote an addition; as, " The book is worth four shil
lings and sixpence." That is, it is worth four shillings, add sixpence, oi
with sixpence added. " John resides at New York, and Thomas, at Bos
ton." That is, John resides at New York, add, [add this which follows,]
Thomas resides at Boston. From the great use of this connective in join-
ing words of which the same thing is affirmed or predicated, it may be just-
ly called the copulative by way of eminence.
The distinguishing use of the connective is to save the repetition of
words ; for this sentence, " John, Thomas and Peter reside at York," con-
tains three simple sentences ; '■ John resides at York," — " Thomas resides
at York," — "Peter resides at York;" which are all combined into one,]
with a single verb and predicate, by means of the copul
added by way of explanation or definition. Thus, " No di •
can more fatally disable it from benevolence, than ill-him
ness." Rambler, J\i~o. 74. Here peevishness is not inteml.
thing from ill-humor, but as another term for the same idea. In lhi> o.i-j,
m- expresses only an alternative of words, and not of signification.
Iher andur are affirmative of one or other of the particulars named,
so neither and nor are negative of all the paniculars. Thus, " For 1 am
persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor highth, 7ior depth, nor
any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God." Rom.
39. Here neither is in fact a substitute for each of the following
particulars, all of which it denies to be able to effect a certain purpose — not
either of these which follow shall separate us from the love of God. It is
laid down as a rule in our grammars, that nor must always answer to nei-
ther; but this is a great mistake, for the negation o{ neither, not either, ex-
tends to every one of the following alternatives. But nor is more general-
ly used, and in many cases, as in the passage just recited, is far the most
mphatical.
But is used for two Saxon words, originally by mistake, but now by es-
tablished custom ; bet or bote, the radical of our modern words better, boot,
and denoting sufficiency, compensation, more, further, or something addi-
tional, by way of amendment ; and buton or butan, equivalent to without
or except.
In the former sense, we have the word in this sentence ; " John resides
at York, but Thomas resides at Bristol." The primitive sense here is, John
resides at York ; more, add or supply, Thomas resides at Bristol. It does
not signify opposition, as is usually supposed, but some addition to the sense
of what goes before.
In the latter sense, or that of butan, it is used in this passage, " He hatli
not grieved me, but in part." 2 Cor. ii. 5. That is, " He hath not grieved
me, except fn part." The first assertion is a complete negation ; the word
but, (butan,) introduces an exception. " Nothing, but true religion, can
give us peace in death." Here also is a complete negation, with a saving
introduced by but. Nothing, except true religion.
These were the only primitive uses of 6ut, until by means of a mistake,
a third sense was added, which is that of only. Not knowing the origin
and true meaning of but, authors omitted the negation in certain phrases
where it was essential to a true construction ; as in the following passages,
" Our light affliction, which is but for a moment." 2 Cor. iv. " If they
kill us, we shall 6uf die." 2 Kings, vii.
The but, in these passages, is buton, be o>it, except; and according to
the true original sense, 7iot should precede, to give the sentence a negative
turn. " Our Ught affliction is not, but (except) for a moment." " We shall
not, but die." As they now stand, they would in strictness signify. Our
light affliction is except for a moment — We can except die, which would not
be sense. To correct the sense, and repair the breach made in the true
English idiom, by this mistake, we must give but a new sense, equivalent
to only. Thus we are obliged to patch and mend, to prevent the mischiefs
of innovation.
The liistory of this word but should be, as Johnson expresses the idea, " a
guide to reformers, and a terror to innovators." The first blunder or inno-
ation blended two words of distinct meanings into one, in orthography and
pronunciation. Then the sense and etymology being obscured, authors
proceeded to a further change, and suppressed the negation, which was es-
sential to the buton. We have now therefore one word with three different
and unallied meanings ; and to these may be reduced the whole of John-
son's eighteen definitions ofbut.
Let us however ti'ace the mischief of this change a little further. As the
word but is now used, a sentence may have the same meaning with or with-
out the negation. For example : " he hath ?wt grieved me, but in part,"
and " he hath grieved me, but in part," have, according to our present use
of but, precisely the same meaning. Or compare different passages of
scripture, as they now stand in our bibles.
He hath not grieved me, but in part.
Our light affliction is but for a moment.
This however is not all ; for the innovation being directed neither by
knowledge nor judgment, is not extended to all cases, and in a large pro-
iporlion of phrases to which but belongs, it is used in its original sense with
a preceding negation, especially with nothing and none. " There is none
good, but one, 3iat is God." Matt. xix. 17. This is correct — there is none
good, except one, that is God. " He saw a fig-tree in the way, and found
nothing tliereon but leaves only." Matt. xxi. 19. This is also correct —
" he found nothing, except leave* ;" the only is redundant. " It amounts
to no more but tliis." Locke, Und. b. 1. 2. This is a correct English
Eitherlni or have been already explained under'the head of substitutes,! Phrase; "it amounts to no more, except this;" but it is nearly obsolete,
for in strictness they are the representatives of sentences or words; but as j Hence the propriety of these phrases. "They could not, hut be known
or has totally lost that character, both these words will be here considered I be fore." Locke, 1. 2. " The reader may be, nay cannot choose but be
Vol. I. J.
GRAMMAR OF THE
very fallible in the understanding of it." Locke, 3. 9. Here but is used inll
its true -onse. They eould not, except this, be known before. That is, thei'n
fontrary was not possible. The other phrase is frequently found in Shaks-|;i,
peare and other old writers, but is now obsolete. They cannot choose butj >
that is, they have no choice, power or alternative, except to be very fal-
lible.
But is called in our grammars, a disjunctive conjunction, connecting
sentences, but expressing opposition in tne sense. To illustrate the use of
this word which joms and diyoins at the same time, Lowth u;ives this ex-
ample ; " You and I rode to London, but Peter staid at home. ' — Here the
Bishop supposed the but to express an opposition in the sense. But let 6wi
be omitted, and what diflerence will the omission make in the sense .' "Youj
and I rode to London, Peter staid at home." Is the opposition in the sense!
les? clearly marked than when the conjunciion is used ? By no means.
And the truth is, that the opposition in the sense, when there is any, is never
expressed by the connective at all, but always by the following sentence or
phrase. " They have mouths, but they speak not ; eyes have they, but see
not." Psalm cxv. 5. Let 4t«< be omitted. " They have mouths, they speak
not ; eyes have they, they see not." The omission of the connectives makes
not the smallest alteration in the sense, so far as opposition or difference of
idea in the members of the sentence is concerned. Indeed the Bishop is
mo.=t linfiirtunntr in the examplr Jr 1. rtrl in il!n«trate his rule ; for the cop-
ulativi ami ihay !"■ \i-r,\ lor / ;;/ ;'.,.'', ' ■ ,.t alteration in the sense —
" Voii and ( loilf tn Loiiilnii. ■• ; . : , i ' ■: home." In this sentence
the iipijj uliju is as cuiiiplclrl-, . >, . .J ,, .! ..,/.' was Used; which proves
that the opposition in Ihe senst- lus nu iiepc-mlL-nce on the connective.
Nor is it true that an oppo-ition in the seuse always follows 6ut. "Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceedeth out of
the mouth of God." Matt. iv. 4. Here the la-t clause expresses no oppo-
sition, but merely an additional fvf Tlr <:■; • ■ i^ ■:■ r.f hut when used for
bote,is supply, more, further, s' ''' ' anplete the sense ;
it may be in opposition to wli.:' '■ ; ' : Liuation only. In
general, hoxvcvcr. the word //;(/ i. ■■<•• ,.,• , , > ', n . ; I , ,:,re a clause of a
senlrn". . i'.'r- '■■■' 'o in'ri 'i'. ■;■ .1 new ami -Mine w ii.ii ilnirrunt idea, by way
of '',1 ■■' :'. pieceding clause. This use is very naturally
drilii' 'I I ^i " ' i~r of the word, something further which is toi
mak. ■11 ',:>:>■':■ " ',|'''|'' a ^lai has preceded.
ThiDi i< a coiinicuie oi luiuparison ; "John is taller than Peter."
Because is a mere compound of by and cause — by cause. " It is the] 21. Now
case of some to contrive some filse periods of business, ftecawse they mayiadjective
seem men of dispatch." Bacon on Dispatch. See also j?po(7i. 7. 6. Thisljtile ; prol
from nouns ami adjectives by the termination izi
: system, systemize; moral, moralize. When the p
. u'.vel, the consonant ( is pretixed to the terminatioc
I goodness, from good ; gror
. ; - i ,.■'', l.om nouns and adjectives by the addition of en orn;
;;uH-ii. uiJ..'ii, from length, wide.
Verbs ior:/ied by fy; asbrutify, stratify, from bi'ute, stratum.
Nouns foi-nied from adjectives by ness ; ;
from gracious.
8. Nouns formed by dom and ric, denoting jurisdiction; as kingdom,
bishopric, from king and bishop. Dom and ric, are nouns denoting jurisdic-
tion or territory.
9. Nouns formed by hood and ship, denoting state or condition ; as man-
hood, lordship, from man, lord.
10. Nouns ending in ment and age, from the French, denoting state or
act ; as commandment, parentage, from command, pai"ent.
11. Nouns in er,o»- and ee, used byway of opposition, the former denoting
the agent, the latter the receiver or person to whom an act is performed ; as
assignor, assignee; indorser, indorsee.
12. Adjectives formed IVom nouns by the addition of y; as healthy, from
health ; pithy, from pith : or ly added to the noun ; as stately, from state-
Ly is a contraction of like.
13. Adjectives formed from nouns by the addition of/uJ ,• as hopeful, from
hope.
11. Adjectives formed from nouns or verbs by ible or able ; as payable,
from pay ; creditable, from credit ; compressible, from compress. Jible de-
notes power or capacity.
15. Adjectives formed from nouns or adjectives by ish; as whitish, from
white; blackish, from black; waggish, fom wag.
16. Adjectives formed from nouns by less, noting destitution ; as father-
less, fi'om father.
17. Adjectives formed from nouns by ous ; as famous, from fame ; gra-
cious, from grace.
18. Adjectives formed by adding some to nouns ; as delightsome, from
delight.
li). Adverbs formed from adjectives by ly ; as sweetly, from sweet.
20. Nouns to eTpipis f males formed by adding ess to the masculine gen-
der; ash.'i:, - f:r„>ii'
! ' ■ sirne directly from the Latin, others formed from
■ , from responsible ; contractility, from contrac-
Englisb
riticism to the contrary notwith-
orriKu hy adding a/ to nouns; as national, from nation,
standing; but it is now obsolete. 23. Adjectives ending in jc, mostly from the Latin or French, but some
of them by the addition of ic to a noun ; as balsamic, from balsam ; sul-
Exclamations. phuric, from sulphur.
24. Nouns formed by ate, to denote the union of substances in salts ; as
Exclamations are sounds uttered to express passions and emotions ; usu- jcarbonate, in the chimical nomenclature, denotes carbonic acid combined
ally those which are violent or sudden. They are called interjections, ,y,\f]^ another body.
words throum in between the parts of a sentence. But this is not alwaysj' 25. Nouns ending in ite, from other nouns, and denoting salts formed by
the fact, and the name is insignificant. The more appropriate name is, ex- j the union of acids with other bodies; as sulphite, from sulphur.
clamaiions; as they are mere irregular sounds, uttered as passion dictates i 26. Nouns ending in ret, formed from other nouns, and denoting a sub-
and not subject to rules. ||stance combined with an alkaline, earthy or metallic base; as sulphuret,
A few of these sounds however become the customary modes of expres-lcarburet, from sulphur and carbon.
sintr particular passions and feelings in every nation. Thus in English, joy,-' 27. Nouns formed fiom other nouns by adding cy; as ensigncy, eaptain-
surpiisc and tiriitare expressed by oh, uttered with a different tone andj,(.y^ from ensign, captain.
counlenauce. .'lias expresses grief or great sorrow— pisA, i)sAa«', express i ^-ords are also formed by prefixing certain syllables and words, some of
iitempt. Sometimes jerbs, names, and^ attributes aj-e uttered by wa^ o{,^]^^^ siiinificanf by themselves, others never "used but in composition; as
xi„.ii Tir.i— „i Tji„„- .„„r /-!„„ - ^ pre, con, mis, sub, super : and great numbers are formed by the union
two words ; as bed-room, ink-stand, pen-knife.
1 and sub-
detached manner ; as. Hail ! Welcome ! Bless me ! Gr
cious heavens !
In two or three instances, exclamations are followed by
stilulcs in the nominative and objective; as, O «/io?/, in t1
ah me, in the objective. Sometimes that follows O, expressing a wish ; " '
that the Lord would guide my ways." But in such cases, we may conside
ivish or some other verb to be understood.
Derivation.
However numerous may be the words in a language, the number of rad
tal words is small. Most words are formed from others by addition of ce
Syntax.
Syntax teaches the rules to be observed in the construction of sentences.
A sentence is a number of words arranged in due order, and forming a
complete atfirmation or proposition. In philosophical language, a sentence
consists of a subject and a predicate, connected by an affirmation. Thus,
" God is omnipotent," a complete propodtion oi- sentence, composed of God,
_^^ „,..^... „ „„ „.. „. ^^. ,'lie subject, omnipotent, the predicate or thing affirmed, cormected by the
tain words or syllables, which were oHeinalTy 'distinct words,""but "wWc'h !verb is, which forms the affirmaUon. , . „
have lost their distinct character, and are now used only in combinalionij The predicate is often included m the veto ; as, " the sun shines,
with other words. Thus er in lover, is a contraction of wcr, a Saxon word;! A simple sentence then contams one subject and one personal verb, that
denoUng man, [the Latin vir ,-] ness denotes state or condition ; ly is an ab-jlis, the noun and the verb ; and without these, no proposition can be tormed.
breviation of like or liche ; fy is from facio, to make, &c. A compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences, joined by
Most of the English derivatives fall under the following heads :— | connectives. The divisions of a compound sentence may be called inem-
1. Nouns formed from nouns, or more generally from verbs, by the addi-l|bers or clauses.
tion of r, er or or, denoting an agent; as lover, hater, assignor, flatterer,!; Sentences are declaratory, as, I am writing, the wind h\ov/s— imperative,
from love, hate, assign, flatter. In a few instances, words thus formed arenas, go, retire, be quiet— inten-ogative, as, where am I ? who art thou .—or
less regular; as glazier, from glass; courtier, from court; parishioner, fromjicondifionoj, as, if he should arrive,
parish. I The rules for the due construction of sentences fall under three heads :
2. Nouns converted into verbs by the prefix to ,• as from water, cloud, tojFJrsi, concord or agreement-Second, government— r/iird, arrangement
water, to cloud. ijand punctuation.
3. Adjectives converted into verbs in the same manner ; as to lame, tOj| In agreement, the name or noun is the controlling '
. ool, to warm, from lame, cool, warm.
ojl in agreemeni, me nattte or iiuuu is mt. v.winiv.iii.^ „v.iu, »J it carries wit/i
(lit the verb, the substitute and the attribute. In government, the verb is
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
id ; but name? and prcposilions have their share of ioflu-
■ h
It or Concord.
Rule I.-
The .
Note S. — We sometime': see a nominative introducing a sentence, the
sense suddenly interiupted, and the noininalive left without its intended
verb ; as, " Tlie name of a procession ; what a great mixture of indepen-
dent ideas of persons, habits, tapers, orders, motions, sounds, docs it con-
tain," he. Lnrke, 3.5.13. This form of expression is often very striking in
;iiv -I 'i-^ '-o. The first words being the subject of the discourse and
ii r to usher in the sontence, to invite attention ; and the
. in the fei-vor of aniniaUon, quitting the trammels of a
1m , I. rushc~ forward to a description of the thing mentioned.
iiiiii 1.1L-. .1.1 i..i liioie striking idea; in the form of exclamation.
Rule 11. — A name, a nominative case, or a sentence, joined with a par
iimiple of the present tense, may sl.uid in construction witho
Ijing i\\<i case absolute, ov clause independent ; as, "Jesus had couveycil
young learners, by askingi kj^jseif away, a multitude being in that place." John v. 13. Here mul-
s, a young man of greatlljj^„^g^ the noun, joined with being, stands without a verb.
His father harassed with I <i gy memory we conceive heat or light, yellow or sweet, <A« object be-
I business, recommendedjL^^g. removed." Loclie, 2. 10.
be asked, who inherited! " I have, notwithstanding this discouragement, attempted a dictionary
verb must agree with its nominative in number and person
Examples.
In solemn style. " Thou hast loved righteousness." Heb. i. 9
" Thou Shalt not steal." Commandment
"Art thou called, being a servant ?" 1 Cor. vii. 21
" But j/e are washed, but i/« <""e sanctified." 1 Cor.vi.ll .^^^,, ..._.. ..„...^, „ ..„ ^ .„o^, „. ,j - r-
In familiar language. I v-'rite; John reads; JVetoton was the first ofjltjcipie of the present tense, may stand in construction without a verb, form
astionomers. ' ' -»--7..j. ... . *_ __ « „ „,
vh ' ' ' '' ''
is £«meufs, which is the nominative to thellofthe English I
verb "m/ien/«/. Who recommended the quiet of a private station ? •W'*il " Whatever .substance begins to exist, it must, during its eristencc
/a<fter, which is therefore the nominative to the verb recommenrferf ■ • " r-->-- « «-
"I " What
J cessarily I
of| "Ther
Johnson's Preface.
ts existence, nc-
Locke, 2. 27. 28.
custom to the
be the same
Note 2.— Let the following rules be observed respecting the position ofll " xhe penalty shall be fine and imprisonment, any law (
the nominative. \\contrary notwithstanding."
I. The nominative usually precedes the verb in declaratory phrases ; as,. The latter phraseology is peculiar to the technical law style. In no other
" God created the world ;" " the law is a rule of right." But the nomina- L^jg^ joes notwithstanding follow the sentence. But this position makes
tivc maybe separated from its verb, by a member of a period; as, "ii6(!7"'.!/,|| no difference in the true construction, which is, "any law or custom to the
say the fanatic favorers of popular power, can only be found inadcmocra- Lontrary not opposing" — the real clause independent,
cy." Anarcharsis, ch. 62. L n \g very common, when this participle agrees with a number of words,
n. Tlie nominative often follows an intransitive verb, for such a verb|Lr a whole clause, to omit the whole except the participle ; and in tliis use
can have no object after it, and that position of the nominative creates no jof noteitAstanding-, we have astriking proof of the value of abbreviations
ambiguity; thus, " .\bove it stood the Seraphim." /». vi. "Gradual sinks !;„ language. For example: "Moses said, let nc
the breeze." Thomson. , . I morning. JVotwithstanding, they hearkened i
III. When the verb is preceded by Acre, there, hence, thence, then, thus
yet, so, nor, neither, such, the same, herein, therein, wherein, and perhaps.
But after a single veil
by some other words, the nominative may follow the verb, especially be;
as, " here are five men ;" " there was a man sent from God ;" " hence
arise wars ;" " thence proceed our vicious habits ;" " then came the scribes
and Pharisees ;" " thus saith the Lord." " Yet required not I bread of the
governor." JVcA. v. 18. " So panteth my soul after thee, O Lord." Psalm
xlii. " Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents." John ix. " Such
were the facts ;" " the same was the fact." " Herein consists the excel-
lency of the English government." Blackstone's Comm. b. 1.
IV. When an cmphatical attribute introduces a sentence, the nominative
may follow the verb ; as, " Great is the Lord, glorious are his works, and
happy is the man who has an interest in his favor."
V. In certain phrases, which are conditional or hypothetical, the sign of
the condition may be omitted, and the nominative placed after the auxili:
ry ; as, " Did he but know my anxiety," for if he did but know—" Had
known the fact," for if I had known—" Would they consent," for if they
would, &c.
VI. When the words whose, his, their, her, mine, your, he. precede the
verb with a governing word, the nominative may follow the verb; as, " Out
ofivhose modifications have been made most complex modes."
Locke, 2. 22. 10.
VII. In interrogaUve sentences, the nominative follows the verb wh
alone, or the first auxiliary ; as, Believest thou ? Will he consent ? Has
been promoted ? The nominative also follows the verb in the imperative
mode ; as, go thou ; " be ye warmed and filled." "■■* "*■•"■■ " '
the nominative is commonly omitted ; as, arise, flee
Note 3. — In poetry, the nominative is often omitted in interrogative sen
tences, in cases where in prose the omission would be improper; as, "Live
there who loves his pain." Milton. That is, lives there a man or person.
Note 4. — In the answer to a question, the whole sentence is usually |
omitted, except the name, which is the principal subject of the interroga
tion; as, " who made the chief discoveries concerning vapor? Black."
Note 5. — In poetry, the verb in certain phrases is omitted, chiefly such
verbs as express an address or answer ; as, " To whom the monarch" — that
is, said or replied.
Note 6. — When a verb is placed between two nominatives in different
numbers, it may agree with either, but generally is made to agree with the
first, and this may be considered as preferable ; as, " His meat was locusts lindependent.
and wild honey." " /( [piracy] is the remains of the manners of ancient This omission
Greece." Anarch, ch. 36.]!in ar.y other ca^
Note 7. — Verbs follow the connective ttan, without a nominative ex- ;' ur'h I',, -."i
pressed: as, " Not that any thing occurs in consequence of our late los-, r
more afflictive than jca.'; to be expected." Lifeof Cowper, Let.iVl ■
" He felt himself addicted to philosophical speculations, with more ardor m i, . ; v ,i .
than consisted with the duties of a Roman and a senator."
Murphy's Tacitus, 4. 57.
"All words that lead the mind to any other ideas, than are supposed really
to exist in that thing." Locke, 2. 25.
These forms of expression seem to be elliptical ; " more afflictive than
that which was to be expected." That which or those which will gener-
ally supply the ellipsis.
leave of it till the
unto Moses." Ex. xvi.
19. 20. Here notwithstanding s'tands without the clause to which it be-
longs; to complete the sense in words, it would be necessary to repeat the
whole preceding clause or the substance of it — " Moses said, let no man
leave of it until the morning. JVotwithstanding this command of Moses ,
or notwitjistanding Moses said that which has been recited, they hear-
kened not unto Mo.ses."
Folly meets w ith success in this world ; but it is true, notwithstanding.
that it labors under disadvantages." Porteus, Lecture 13. This passage at
length would read thus — " Folly meets with success in the world ; but it is
true, notwithstanding folly meets with success in the virl-l. ibt •! Ichors
under disadvantages." By supplying what is really m]!-' ■ . •; rily
well understood, we learn the true construction; so lii.ii . ' /i?
is a participle always agreeing with a word or clause, i .i.i - I ... i..!.!-
stood, and forming the independent clause, and by a cu^.on.uij c;ii(<-i=, it
stands alone in the place of that clause.
Such is its general use in the translation of the Scriptures. In the fol-
lowing passage, the sentence is expressed — " Notwithstanding I have spo-
!ken unto you." Jer. xxxv. That is, "This fact, I hare spoken unto
you, not opposing or preventing." Or in other words, "In opposition to
this fact."
It is also very common to use a substitute, this, that, which or what, for
the whole sentence; as, " Bodies which have no taste, and no power of af-
fecting the skin, may, notwithstanding this, [notwithstanding they have no
taste, and no power to aflect the skin,] act upon organs which are more
delicate." Fourcroy, Translation.
I have included in hooks, the words for which this is a substitute.
"To account for the misery that men bring on themselves, notwithstand-
ing that, they do all in earnest pursue happiness, we must consi.ler how
things come to be represented to our desires under deceitful appearances."
* iocAe, 2. 21.61.
Here that, a substitute, is used, and the sentence also for which it is a
substitute. This is correct English, but it is usual to omit the substitute,
when the sentence is expressed—" JVotwithstanding they do all in earnest
pursue happiness."
It is not uncommon to omit the participle of the present tense, when a
participle of the perfect tense is employed. " The son of God, while cloth-
ed in flesh, was :
biect to all the frailties and inconveniences of human na-
, Dje
sin excepted." Locke, 3. 9. That is, sin being excepted — the clause
more frequent when the participle provided is used, than
" In the one case, provided the facts on which it is
f. Nil''!- I '<> -riru-iently numerous, the conclusion is said to be morally cer-
r !l (III lihet. I. m. Here being is omitted, and the whole
, i^ independent — " The facts on which it is founded are
..,< ,, , ; ;/ ,, :;i,-rous, that 6e!Hg prodded, the conclusion is morally cer-
tain. Provuled, in such cases, is equivalent to giren, admitted or sup-
posed.
" In mathematical rea-^oning, provided you are ascertained of the regu-
lar procedure of the mind, to aSrm thai the conclusion is false, implies a
contradiction." Ibm. 134.
In this phrase, that may follow provided — provided that, you ai-e ascer-
tained, &c., as in the case oi notwithstanding, before meationed; that be-
GRAMMAR OF THE
ia^ a definitive substitute, pointing to the following sentence — that which
follows being provided.*
It is not uncommon for autliors to carry the practice of abridging discourse
so far as to obscure the common regular construction. An instance fre-
quently occurs in the omi-!sion both of the nominative and the participle in
the case independent. For example : " Conscious of his own weight and
importance, his conduct in parliament would be directed by nothing but the
constitutional duty of a peer." Junius, Let. 19. Here is no noun expressedj
to which conscious can be referred. We are therefore to supply the neces-,
sary words, to complete the construction — " He being conscious" — forming!
the clause independent. [
Rule III. — A sentence, a number of words, or a clause of a sentenccj
may be the nominative to a verb, in which case the verb is always in the
third person of the singular number; as, "All that is in a man's power in
this case, is, only to observe what the ideas are which take their turns in
the understanding." Loeke 2. 14. Here the whole clause in italics is the
nominative to is.
■' To attack vices in the abstract, without touching persons, may be safe
I'ighling indeed, but it is fighting with shadows." Pope, Let. 48.
•' I deny that men's coming to the use of reason, is the time of their dis-
covery." Locke, 1. 2.
" TTiat any thing can exist without existing in space, is to my mind in-
comprehensible." Darwin, Zoon. sect. 14. Here the definitive substitute
mav be transferred to a place next before the verb — " Any thing can exist, \bler, JVo. 58,
- - -.-.-■' ■? .. . j^^j^ ^.
may „^ ..^..„ ^ — -—j r, —
without existing in space," that [whole proposition] is incomprehensible.
Rule IV. — The infinitive mode may be the nominative to a personal
verb ; as, " to see is desii-able ;" " to die is the inevitable lot of men." Some-
times an attribute is joined with the infinitive ; as, " to be blind is calami-
tous." In this case the attribute has no name expressed to which it refers
The proposition is abstract, and applicable to any human being, but not ap-
plied to any.
Rule V. — In some cases the imperative verb is used without a definite
nominative ; as, " I will not take any thing that is thine — save only that
which the young men have eaten." Gen. xiv. 23. 24.
" Israel burned none, save Hazor only." Josh. xi. 13.
" I would that all were such as I am, except these bonds. Jlcts xxvi. 29.
" Our ideas are movements of the nerves of sense, as of the optic nerve in
recollecting visible ideas, suppose of a triangular piece of ivory.
Darwin, Zoon. sect. 39.
This use of certain verbs in the imperative is very frequent, and there is a
peculiar felicity in being thus able to use a verb in its true sense and with
its proper object, without specifying a nominative ; for the verb is thus left
applicable to the first, second or third person. I may save or except, or you
may except, or we may suppose. If we examine these sentences, we shall
be convinced of the propriety of the idiom ; for the ideas require no appli-
cation to any person whatever.
Rule VI. — When the same thing is affirmed or predicated of two or
more subjects, in the singular number, the nominatives are joined by the
I this sentence, resi-\
dence at Oxford is a predicate common to three persons ; and instead of
three affirmations — John resides at Oxford, Thomas resides at Oxford, Peter
resides at Oxfoid, the three names are joined by and, and one verb in the
plural applied to the whole number.
" Reason and truth constitute intellectual gold, which defies destruc-
tion." Johnson. "Whyaie whiteness Ani coldness in snow?" Locke.
'• Your lot and mine, in this respect, have been very different." ' Cowp.
Let. 38.t
Note 1. — The rule for the use of a plural verb with two or more names
in the singular number, connected by and, is laid down by critics with too
much positiveness and universality. On original principles, all the names,
except the first, are in the objective case ; for it is probable that and contains
in it the verb add. " John and Thomas and Peter reside at York," on prim-
itive principles must be thus resolved — "John, add Thomas, add Peter re-
side at York." But without resorting to first principles, which are now los
or obscured, the use of the singular verb may be justified by considering the
verb to be understood after each name, and that which is expressed, agree-
ing only with the last ; as, " Nor were the young fellows so wholly lost to a
.<ense of right, as pride and conce?? Tins since made them affect to be." Ram
hler, JVo. 97. That is, as pride has and as conceit has. " Their safety and
welfare is most concerned." Spectator, JVo. 121. In our best authors the
singular verb is frequent in such sentences.}
What will the hypercritic say to this sentence, " Either sex and every age
ii^as engaged in the pursuits of industry." Gibbon, Ro?n. Emp. ch. 10
[s not the distributive effect of either and every, such as to demand a siugu-
ar verb? So in the following: " The judicial and every other power is ac-
countable to the legislative." Paley, Phil. 6. 8.
Note 2. — When names and substitutes belonging to ilifferent persons,
are thus joined, the plural substitute must be of the first person in prefer-
to the second and third, and of the second in preference to the third.
/, you and he are represented by we ; you and he, by you. Pope in one of
his letters makes you or / to be represented by we or you. " Either you or
■ are not in love with the other." The sentence is an awkward one, and
ot to be imitated.
Rule VII. — When an affirmation or predicate refers to one subject only
mong a number, which are separately named in the singular number, the
subjects are joined by the alternative or, or nor, with a verb, substitute and
name in the singular number; as, " Either John or Peter was at the Ex-
change yesterday; but neither John nor Peter is there to day."
Errors. — " A circle or square are the same in idea." Locke, 2. 8.
" But whiteness or redness are not in the porphyry." Ibm.
" Neither of them [Tillotson and Temple,] are remarkable for precision."
Blair.
Substitutes for sentences, whether they represent a single clause, or the
parts of a compound sentence, are always in the singular number ; as, " It is
true indeed that many have neglected opportunities of raising themselves
to honor and to wealth, and rejected the kindest offers of fortune." Ram-
nd that rcl'er to the clauses which follow — " /* is
cted tlie kindest offers," &c.
y have i
Rule VI H. — Collective or aggregate names, comprehending two or
more individuals under a term in I lie singular number, have a verb or sub-
stitute to agree with them in the singular or plural ; as, the council is or
are unanimous ; the company was or were collected ; this people, or these
people.
No precise rule can be given to direct, in every case, which number is to
used. Much regard is to be had to usage, and to the unity or plurality
of idea. In general, modern practice inclines to the use of the plural verb
" substitute ; as may be seen in the daily use of clergy, nobility, court,
council, commonalty, audience, enemy and the like.
The clergy began to withdraw themselves from the temporal courts."
Blackstoae's Coram. Introduction.
Let us take a view of the principal incidents, attending the nobiUty, ex-
clusive of their capacity as hereditary counselors of the crown."
Blackstone's Comm. 1. 12.
" The commonalty are divided into several degrees." Ibm.
" The enemy were driven from their works."
Portuguese .Ssia. Mickle. 163.
"The chorus 7)re/?a7"e resistance at his first approach — the chorus sings
of the battle^thc chorus entertains the stage." Johnson's Life of Jttilton.
The nobility are the pillars to support the throne."
Blackstone's Comm. 1. 2.
Party and army.
language.
oined with a verb in the
' Provided that, says Johnson, is an adverbial expression, and we
times see provided numbered among the conjunctions, as its
word is in French. What strange work has been made with Urammar
t Is this last example an evidence that mine is in the possessive case !
t This was also a very common practice with the best Greek and Roi
writers. JiTens cnim, et ratio, et consilium, in senibi's dsf. Cicero, de
Senec. ca. IM. "!?ed etiani insius terra; vis ae natura dclectat. Ibm. 15,
singular number. Constitution cannot be plural. Church may be singu-
lar or plural. J\Iankind is almost always plural.
The most common and palpable mistakes in the application of this rule, oc-
Lr in the use of sort and kind, with a plural attribute — these sort, those
kind. This fault infects the works of our best writers ; but these words are
trictly singular, and ought so to be used.
When a collective name is preceded by a definitive which clearly limits
he sense of the word to an aggregate with an idea of unity, it requires a verb
and substitute to agree with it in the singular number; as, a company of
detached ; a troop of cavalry was raised ; this people is become
a great nation ; that assembly teas numerous ; " a government established
by that people." Blackstone's Comm. 1. 2.
Yet our language seems to be averse to the use of it, as the substitute for
names, even thus limited by a, this or that. " How long will this people
provoke me, and how long will it be ere they will believe me for all the
signs that I have shewed among them 7" JVum. xiv. 11. " Liberty should
leach every individual of a yeopie ; as they all share one common nature."
Spectator, JVo. 287. In these passages, it in the place of they, would not be
relished by an English ear ; nor is it ever used in similar cases.*
Rule IX. — When the nominative consists of several words, and the last
of the names is in the plural number, the verb is commonly in the plural
also ; as, " A part of the exports consist of raw silk." '• The number of
oysters increase." Golds. Anim. JVat. vol. i, ch. S. " Of which seeming
equality we have no other measure, but such as the train of our ideas
have lodged in our memories." Locke, 2. 14. 21. " The greater part of
philosophers have acknowledged the excellence of this government."
Anarch, vol. 5. 2T2.
Rule X. — Pronouns or substitutes must agree with the names they rep-
resent, in number, gender and person ; as.
* The Romans used a greater latitude in joining plurals with collective
names, than we can. " Magna pars in villis rcpleti cibo vinoque." Liv. 2.
26. Here is an attribute plural of the masculine gender, agreeing with a,
noun in the singular, of the feminine gender.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
'• Mine answer to them that do examine me is this." 1 Cor. ix. )3.
•' T%ese are not the children of God." Horn. ix. 8.
" Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, when ye come into the
land whither I bring you." JVumb. xv. 18.
"This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inherit-
ance." Matt. xxi. .38.
" Esther put on her royal apparel— sAe obtained favor in his sight — then
the king said unto her." Esth. v.
"A river went out of Eden to vpater the garden, and it
I parted — '
Gen. ii. 10.
6?e«. iii. 12.
" The woman whom thou gavest to be with me. ■
"Ignatius, who was bishop of Antioch, conversed with the apostles."
Paley, Evid. sect.
-A letter, which is just received, gives us the news."
•'O thou who rulest in the heavens."
IVIio and whom are exclusively the substitutes for persons ; u-hose is of
«ll genders, and as correctly applied to things as to persons
" The question whose solution I require."
" That forbidden fruit whose mortal taste."
''A system whose imagined st'.ms."
" these are the charnun;; agonies of love.
Whose miseries deligh ."
It, though neuter, is used as the substitute for infant i
tinction of sex in the lirst period of life ijcing disregarded.
Formerly which na-i used as a subslitiue (or persons ; ,i-
authors. III. I , |. m:1'., in fhe vulgar version of the -,:i, .;.!>■ ' i,i:_li'\
men ii !' ' .- i ' ' But this use of the won! i- : : ! I I
iVli.iii I:- ' hi- persons, when a question i- .: ii :
tioii ;m • II ' '■ : .1 ..■'■,,",'; lit' the men was it; I know nm »■,/,,, p, i ;\-,i-
IVho i-' soujftiiius ii^od in the substitute for things, bui most unwarr;im-
ably. "The countries wno—." Vavenant on Rev. 2. Vi. "Tlie towns
who—." Hume Cnntin. 11. ch. 10. "Thi- lat-tion or party who — ." Equally
faulty is the use of who and whom for brutes ; " the birds who — ."
The use of it for a sentence, seems to have given rise to a very vague ap-
plication of the word in phrases like this : How sliall 1 contrive it to attend
conn? How fares if with you? But such phrases, whatever may have
given rise to them, are used chiefly in familiar colloquial language, and are
Seemed inelegant in any other style.
A more justifiable use of it is seen in this sentence: "But it is not this
nryden.
Milton.
Goldsmith.
rs fiv,
to the verb, and the other is governed by the verb or a preposition in the
objective ease, or by a noun in the possessive ; as, " Locke, whom there is
no reason to suspect of favoring idleness, has advanced." Ramb. 89. Here
reason is the nominative to is, and whom is governed by suspect.
" Take thy only son Isaar, whom thou lovest." Gen. xxii. Here are
two substitutes, one the nominative to the verb, and the other governed by
it in the objective.
" God is the sovereign of the universe, whose majesty ought to (ill us
with awe, to whom we owe all possible reverence, and whom we arc
bound to obey."
It is not unusual to see in periods, a third clause introduced within a se-
Icond, as a second is within the fust, each with a distinct substitute for a
Inorainativc; as, " Those modifications of any simple idea, which, as has
been said, I call simple modes, arc distinct ideas." Locke, 2. 13.
Involution to this extent may be used with caution, without embarrassing
a period ; but beyond this, if ever used, it can hardly fail to occasion obscu-
rity. Indeed the third member included in a second, must be very short,
or it will perplex the reader.
Substitutes are sometimes made to precede their principals : thus, " When
a man declares in autunm, when he is eating them, or in spring when there
arc none, that he loves grapes — ." Locke, 2. 20. But this arrangement is
usually awkward and seldom allowable.
Kui.E XIII.— When there are antecedents in different persons, to which
a nominative substitute refers, the substitute and verb following may agree
with either, though usage may sometimes offer a preference ; as, "lam
I'; I..mI (lilt make all things; that stretch forth the heavens alone; that
; . I ; I 1 (he earth," &c. Isa. xliv. Here /and Lord are ofdiUercnt
; 1 I hut may agree with either. If it agrees with /, the verbs
.1 1 ii II (he first person : " I am the Lord that make." If Mat agrees
uilh Lord in llie third person, the verb must be in the third person : " I
am the Lord that maketh." But in all cases, the following verbs should all
be of the same person.
Rule XIV. — The definitive adjectives, this and /ftoi, the only attributes
which are varied to express number, must agree in number with the names
to which they refer ; as, this city, that church ; these cities, those
churches.
This and <AaJ are often used as substitutes for a name in the singular
number, which is omitted, but the same name in the plural iimnediately
follows after a connective ; as in this example, " The mortality produced
connective ; as in tl
sence that distinguishes them into species; it is men who rangcj by (Ais and other diseases." Life of Washington, Z. S. That is, by this
Locke, 3. 6. ."(i.rdisease and other diseases. The sentence may be varied thus, by this dis
Here it is in the singular, though referring to men in the plural. The
cause or origin of this, in our language as in others, may perhaps be found
in the disposition of the mind to combine the particular agents employed in
performing an act, into a single agent. The unity of the act or effect
seems to predominate in idea, and control the grammatical construction of
the substitute.
Rule XI. — In compound sentences, a single substitute or relative, who,
which or that, employed to inlroducf a new clause, is the noiniiKitive to the
verb or verbs belonging (■» (I: i' » l.ui -i', . trl i" nilhi .. rniiiin ;. J w iin ii ;
iise and others ; but the first form is the most common, and it occasions i
obscurity.
Other adjectives and participles, used as adjectives, are joined to the
names wlii.-b tbi-y qualify without inflection ; as, a wise man, wise men ; an
amiiiM. iliill."! i.iii.ril,. I'niMnn. ,1 irii-ived truth, or received truths ; a
Shblill- ii . I '■• III li:i,M.. I ;: • I •!, I.
iwin:,';
■s r,:
nes of men and things
/eio were present; the wise are
" The thirst after cuiiosili
83. "He who suffers nt
good." Ibm. "Theyt/ii
flesh." Rom. viii. 5. "
' I I I ,1 .', ' I . , • , i L, I ir plural form, and are qualified by
! i i; i I , :.; ,,1 I, ,11, , iwo jinites or infinites, unirer-
■■ I ;!h' iii-h, iiii iiiii,! till- K'liiu- i.i ;li. . I,'.. '4, ,./,;;,. I'll. .■.'■..,,' -,r,i,,', , ': iri'ii I, n: "The extraordinary great."
those irho urr the most nchly endnwed' Bin ke on the . ■Sublime, -.ifH. - Thr blue profound." Akenside.
by nature, and [are] accomplished by their own industry, how few arell When nouns are joined by a copulative, an adjective preceding the first is
there whose virtues are not obscured by the ignorance, prejudice or envy (applied to the others without being repeated ; as, " From ^reat luxury and
of their beholders." Spiel. .Va. 2.5j.| licintiousness, converted to sfricf sobriety and frugality of manners." En-
In a few instances, the substitute for a sentn . II rii i-i i, mi < 'n I '. / ' :( n c'/eaf belongs to licentiousness as well as to luxury,
as the nominative to a verb, before the senlei . i , , < '; i i \ ', — Adjectives are usually placed before the nouns to which
sents; as, "There was therefore, ji'Aicfe is 1 1 1 > :; as, a tctse prince ; an ofte(/ie»^ subject; a pious clergyman;
life pursued by them, different from that wliic ii 'ii\ I i.n I .i' r.,:. >,\ ,,;,.,, -oMin-.
Evid. ch. 1. Here which is the representative of the \^hole of the last part' Kx-ccplion 1. When some word or words are dependent on an adjective,
of the sentence, and its natural position is after that clause.
The substitute what combines in itself the offices of two substitutes,
which, if expressed, would be the nominatives to two verbs, each in distinct
subsequent clauses ; as, " Add to this, tvhat, from its antiquity is but little
known, has the recommendation of novelty." Hermes, pref. 19. Here
what stands for that, which; and the two following verbs have no other
nominative.
This use of what is not very common. But what is very frequently used
as the representative of two cases ; one, the objective after a verb or prepo-
sition, and the other, the nominative to a subsequent verb. Examples :
" I heard what was said." " He related rckat was seen."
" We do not so constantly love what has done us good."
Locke, 2. 20, 14.
" Agreeable to what was afterwards directed." Black. Com. b. 2. ch. S.
" Agreeable to what hath been mentioned." Prideaur, p. 2, 6, 3.
" There is something so overruling in whatever inspires us with awe."
Burke on the Sui)lime, 304. In these sentences what includes an object
after a verb or preposition, and a nominative to the following verb. " I have
heard that, which was said."
Rule XII. — When a new clause is introduced into a sentence, with two
pronouns, or with one pronoun and a noun, one of them is the nominative
it follows the noun; as, knowledge requisite for a statesman; furniture
convenient for a family.
Exception 2. When an adjective becomes a title, or is emphatically ap-
plied to a noun, it follows it ; as Charles the Great ; Henry the First ; Lewis
the Gross ; Wisdom incomprehensible.
Exception 3. Several adjectives belonging to the same noun, may pre-
cede or follow the noun to which they belong ; as a learned, wise and raar-
■tial prince, ora prince Uai ill' ' vx ) n' m.irtial.
' Exception 4. The v, r n i .tcs the noun from its adjective :
as, war is e.vpensive ; -mi i ,-
Exceptions. An einpl : is n!(en used to introduce a sen-
tence,in which case it |ii I ' I ii || i|ii ill!;. -. Ill ! iMiii'limes
at a considerable distance , , , • , ; de thai
event ; /octunafc is thai v ,, -i ,
Exceptiond. Theailjriin, .■, ■, , :. i i n - i„"ir. I.y Mp.
which never precedes it in constniciion ; as. ■•,-,11 the nations of Europe."
Such and many are separated from nouns by a ; as, " such a character is
rare;" "many a time."
All adjectives are separated from nouns by a, when preceded by so and
las, as ".10 rich a dress," "as splendid a retinue;" and they are separated
by a or the, when preceded by hotc and however, as " how distingubhed an
GRAMMAR OF THE
just the com-
; and the noun
get of bravery," --liow brilliant the prize," "how
plaint."
The v/ori soever may be interposed between the adje
as, " how clear soever this idea of infinity ;" "how remote soever it may
seem." Locke.
Double is separated from its noun by the ; as " double the distance" —
the in such cases, never preceding double. But a precedes double, as well
as other adjectives.
^11 and singular or every precede the before the noun in these phrases —
" All and singular tlie articles, clauses and conditions" — " All and every of
the articles" — phrases of the law style.
Rule XVI. — Adjectives belong to verbs in the inlinitive mode ; as, " to
see is pleasant ;" " to ride is more agreeable than to walk ;" " to calumniate
is detestable." ~
Sometimes the adjective belongs to the infinitive in union with another
adjective or a noun; as, *'to be blind is unfortunate ;" " to be a coward is
disgraceful." Here the attribute unfortunate is the attributive of the first
clause, to be blind, ^c.
RuLK XVII. — Adjectives belong to sentences, or whole propositions.
Examples :
" Agreeable io this, we read of names being blotted out of God's Book.'''
Burder's Oriental Customs, 375.
What is agreeable to this ? The answer is found in the whole of the last
clause of the sentence.
" Antiochus — to verify the character prophetically given of him by Dan-
iel, acted the part of a vile and most detestable person, agreeable to what
hath been aforementioned of him." Prideaux, part 2. b. 3.
" Her majesty signified her pleasure to the admiral, that as soon as he had
left a squadron for Dunkirk, agreeable to what he had proposed, he .should
proceed with the fleet." Burchei's JYav. Hist. 439.
" Independent of his person, his nobility, his dignity, his relations and
friends may be urged," &c. Guthrie's Quintilian.
" No body can doubt but that these ideas of 7ni.xed modes are made by a
voluntary collection of ideas put together in the mind, independent from
any original patterns in nature." Locke, 3. 5.
" Whereupon God was provoked to anger, and put them in mind how,
contrary to his directions, they had spared the Canaanites."
Wliiston's Josephus, b. 5. eh. 2.
" Greece, which had submitted to the arms, in her turn, subdued the un-
derstandings of the Romans, and contrary to that which in these cases com-
monly happens, t'ne conquerors adopted the opinions and manners of the
conquered." Enfield, Hist. Phil. b. 3. 1.
"This letter of Pope Innocent enjoined the payment of tithes to the par-
sons of the respective parishes, where any man inhabited, agreeable to
what was afterwards directed by the same Pope in other countries."
Blackstone's Comm. b. 2. ch. 3.
"Agreeable to this, wc find some of the Anglo-Saxon ladies were ad-
mitted into their most august assemblies."
Henry, Hist. Brit. b. 2. eft. 7. and 6. 4. ch. I. sect. 4.
" As all language is composed of significant words variously combined, a
knowledge of them is necessary, previous to our acquiring an adequate
idea of language." Encyc. art. Grammar.
" His empire could not be established, previous to the institution of pret-
ty numerous societies." Smellie, Phil. JVat. Hist. 339.
" Suitable to this, we find that men, speaking of mixed modes, seldom
imagine, &c. Locke, 3. 5. 11.
"JVo such original convention of the people was ever actually held, an-
tecedent to (he existence of civil government in that country."
Paley, Phil. b. 6. ch. 3.
Note. — Writers and critics, misapprehending the true construction ofj
these and similar sentences, have supposed the attribute to belong to the
verb, denoting the manner of action. But a little attention to the sense of
such passages will be sufficient to detect the mistake. For instance, in the
example from Enfield, the attribute contrary cannot qualify the verb adopt-
ed ; for the conquerors did not adopt the opinions of the conquered in a man-
ner contrary to what usually happens — the manner of the act is not the
thing affirmed, nor does it come into consideration. The sense is this, the
fact, that tfte conquerors adopted the opinions and manners of the con-
quered, was contrary to what commonly happens in like cases. The at-
tribute belongs to the whole sentence or proposition. The same explana-
tion is applicable to every similar sentence.
In consequence of not attending to this construction, our hypercritics,
who are very apt to distrust popular practice, and substitute their own rules
for customary idioms founded on common sense, have condemned this use
of the attribute ; and authors, suffering themselves to be led astray by these
rules, often use an adverb in the place of an adjective.
" The greater part of philosophers have acknowledged the excellence of
this government, which they have considered, some relatively to society,
and others as it has relation to the general system of nature."
Anarch, ch. 62.
"The perceptions are exalted info a source of exquisite pleasure inde-
pendently of every particular relation of interest."
Studies ofJVature, 12.
In the first of these examples, relatively is used very awkwardly for u.i
relative, or as rekitiiig, oi a? it relates, or in relation ; lor the word has a
direct reference ii. _■ , , / 1///.- / /
In the second . \ . ; i ; •■ i.hntly is used as if it had been intended
to modify the vii !'■ , , ••'■pWoxis are independently exalted. But
the manner of f i!: i:: 'm liiino- described. It is not that the per-
ceptions are exalted in ;iri m : |. i, ■ ...
of a relation to interest ; Inn i.
a source of exquisite plio.-, m .
Equally faulty is the follo\..'i, i
'^ Agreeably to this law, chiUrc
nor in a manner independent
perceptions are exalted into
of every relation of interest.
ind to support their parents."
Paley, Phil.
lodify the action of verbs, and to
with the action by which they
Deut. XV.
Rule XVIII.— Adjectives :
express the qualities of things i
are produced. Examples :
" Open thine hand wide."
We observe in this passage, that wide, the attribute of hand, has a con-
nection with the verb open ; for it is not " open thy wide hand," but the at-
tribute is supposed to be the effect of the act of opening. Nor can the mod-
ifier, widely, be used ; for it is not simply the manner of the act which is
intended, but the effect.
" Let us wiilc slow and txncl." Guthrie's Quintilian, 2. 375.
Wc II. 1.:. |M il;,,,.^ - i' :;,, I. ./.,/(•/(/ for s/ozi', as describing only the man-
ner of iv . - .; ,' I : lie substituted for ™«f/. for tills word is
intendi.l '■'■ i . H ' - . mng, in the correctnc^s of what is writ-
ten. 'I'll. ."li. , ui . , \|i;, ■,. i;i,' idea with a happy jirecision nnii brevity.
As this is one of the most common, as well as most beautiful idioms of
our language, which has hitherto escaped due oliscrvation, the following au-
thorities are subjoined to illustrate and justify the rule.
" We could hear distinctly the bells^which sounded sweetly soft and
pensive." Chandler's Travels, ch. 2.
" A southernly wind succeeded blowing/;esft." Ibm. vol. 2. 3.
" His provisions were grown very short." Burchet's JVav. Hist. 357.
" When the caloric exists ready combined with the water of solution."
Lavoisier, Trans, ch. 5.
" The purest clay is that which burns white." Encyc. art. Chimistry.
" Bray, to pound or grind small." Johnson's Diet.
" When death lays «ias(e thy house." Beattie's Minst.
" All which looks very little like the steady hand of nature."
Paley, Phil. ch. 5.
" Magnesia feels smooth; calcarious earths feel dry; lithomarga feels
very greasy or at least smooth, yet some feels dry and dusty."
Kirwan, vol. 1.12.180.
" By this substance, crystals and glasses are colored blue."
Chaptal, TVam. 299.
" There is an apple described in Bradley's work, which is said to have
one side of it a sweet fruit, which boils soft, and the other side a sour fruit,
which boils hard." Darwin, Phytol. 105.
" Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring." Pope.
" Heaven opened wide her ever during gates." .Milton, P. L. 7.
" The victory of the ministry cost them dear." Hume, Contin. 11. 9.
" Ani just as short of reason he must fall." Pope.
" Thick and more thick the steely circle grows." Hoole's Tasso. b. 8.
" Ancus marched strait toFidens." Hooke, Bom. Hist. 1. 6.
" The cakes eat short and crisp." Vicar of Wakefield.
" A steep ascent of steps which were cut close and deep into the rock."
Hampton's Polybius, 2. 265.
" It makes the plow go deep or shallow."
" The king's ships were getting jeodi/."
" After growing old in attendance."
" The sun shineth watery."
" Soft sighed the flute."
" I made him just and right."
" He drew not iiigh unheard." —
" When the vowel of the preceding syllable is pronounced short."
Murray's
" Here grass is cut close and gravel rolled smooth. Is not that trim r
Boswell, Johnson, 3. I
" Slow tolls the village clock — deep mourns the turtle."
Beattie's JWinstrel.
" If you would try to live independent." Pope, Let.
" He obUged the Nile to run bloody for your sakes.""
fVhiston's Josephus, 3. 5.
" Correct the heart and all will go right." Porteus, Lect. 3.
The poets sometimes use adjectives in this manner, when modifui--
would express the idea. Sometimes they are induced to it by the measmr
and not unfrequently by the obvious superiority of the adjective in expii -
sing the idea with force and precision.
* " Cruentam etiam fluxisse aquam Albanani, quidam auctores erai
Liv. lib. 27. 11. Some authors related that the Albaii river ran bloody.
Encyc. art. Agriculture.
Lusiad, 1. 91.
Sped. JVo. 282.
Bacon. Apoph.
Thomson, Spring.
Milton, 3. 98.
Ibm. 645.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
When two qualifying word:
though appUed to a verb ; as,
It !■,
Ihe i(j]i
imil lea
ire wanted, tlie latter rnay be
He beat time tuleiahly exact."
Goldsmith, An. JVat. ch. 12.
found diminished in weight exactly equal to what the
Lavoisier, ch. 3.
I'r, ,••"•'■,■ r!riir." Goldsmith.
' /■ ■■: .1." Tlwmaon. Spring.
I 111. |)lc very til " Vatlel, Trans. 2. 7.
! u( no idvnbial foim of the adjective in
II t •' < <it more and most, less
' h the regular
Boole's Tasso. 7.
sons of the l)e?t sense — do not a little encourage me." Spectator, 124. " It
great deal better ;*' a trijle stronger ; the last of which expressions is
colloquial.
Rule XXI. — The adjectives each, every, either and neither, have verbs
and substitutes agreeing with them in the singular number ; as,
" Each one was a head of the bouse of his fathers." Josh. xxii. 1-t.
" Kvery one that Jindeth me, shall slay me." Geii. iv. 14.
" And lake every man his censer." A'um. xvi. 17.
" Nadab and Abihu took either of them his censer." Lev. x. 1.
" AVther of the ways of separation, real or mental, is compatible to pure
pace." Locke, 2. 13.
Jirrors. " Let each esteem others better than themselves." It ought to
be himself.
1 1,, n III, |... : '..^ "There are bodies, eac/i of which arc so small." lMclte,2.8. It ought
Of nature and lieiAiudijartiitJ c„i„, to be is.
Worthier I'd sing." Jikenside, Pleas, of Imag. 1. 323. Note. — .\ plural verb, which affirms something of a number of particu-
' So while we taste the fragrance of the rose, lars, is often followed by a distributive which nssigns the affirmation to the
Glows not her blush the/airer.'" TJm. 2. 77. particular objects or individuals. Thn^ " If im •'d'! have, each a peculiar
" When we know our strength, we shall the better know what to under-jiearth." Hence we may considc; , .. /, .. i! , i n^vtivc to has understood
take with hopes of success." Locke, I. 6.^}, — " If metals have, if each met. il I ;> .ith." There is no other
" And he that can most inform or best understand him, will certainly be j way of resolving the phrase. Tin . i \ ... -^ion is common, though
Aielcoiiied." Rambler, JVo. 99. j quite useless; as Ihe last clause, ■ ii i ..lii i... i..l li.is," is sufficient. It has
" How much nearer he approaches to his end." not the merit of an abbreviation. Thi-, phrase, •' Let us love one another,"
" I have dwelt the longer on the discussion of this point." lis of a similar construction, but it is not easy to find a substitute of equal
Junius, Let. 17.||brevity.
"The next contains a spirited command and should be pronounced muchij Rule XXII. — Nouns of measure or dimension stand without a govcrn-
his,her." Murray's Grammar.* Ang word, followed by an adjective ; as, "a wall seven feet high and two
"Leviathan, which God of all his works ijfeet thick ;" "a carpet six yards wide ;" "a line sixty fathoms long;" " a
Created htigest that swim th' ocean's stream." Milton, 1. 201. kingdom five hundred miles square ;" " water ten feet deep."
" But mercy tii-st and last shall brightest ^iliine." Ibm. 3. 134. I " An army forty thon^^nn.' ttnnr" i ; n -imilTv phra.se.
•■ Such opinions as seemed to approach nearest [to] the truth." Note. — Double coni|> . " . .. ';. ^'t ■ most straitest, most high-
Enfield, Hist. Phil. 2. 59.1'est, being improper an.l n I . . . . I The few which were
" Her smiles, amid the blushes, lovelier show ; [formerly used are obsol. i. (I . . , . ,. im-i !>■ in spelling wyrsa, is obso-
Amid her smiles, her blushes lovelier glow." Hoole's Tasso. 6. 15.. lete ; but lesser, a mistake lo. Us^-a, i, sull ux^\, as well as its abbreviation.
Authors, misguided by Latin rules, and conceiving that every wordj /ts.«.
■which is used to qualify a verb, must be an adverb, have pionounced many The superlative form of certain attributes, which in the positive degree,
of the passages here recited and similar ones to be incorrect ; and in such|;contain the utmost degree of the quality, as extremest, chiefest, is improper
as are too well established to bear censure, they call the adjective an arf-'^and obsolete. But authors indulge in a most unwarrantable license of an-
verb. Were it not for this influence in early education, which impresses aljncxing comparison to attributes whose negative sense precludes increase or
notion that all languages must be formed with the like idioms, we should jdiminution ; as in these sentences, "These are more formidable and more
never have received an idea that the same woi-d may not modify a noun, zniimpassable than the mountains." Goldsmith, An. J\'at. ch. 2. "This dif-
adjeclive and a verb. Ificulty was rendered still more insurmountable by the licentious spirit of
So far are the words here used from being adverbs, that they cannot be our young men." .Murphy, Tacit. Oral. 35. "The contradictions of im-
changed into adverbs, without impairing the beauty, weakening the force, piety are still more incomprehensible." Massillcm, Serm. to the Great.
or destroying the meaning of the passages. Let the sentences be put to the Similar to these are numerous expressions found in good authors — more
test — Magnesia feels smoothly — the cakes eat shortly and ciispV — t'..- p ;t pnssible, more indispensable, le.ss universal, more uncontrollable; and
pies boil softly or hardly — glows not her blush
English ear rejects Ibis alteration at once ; the sci
Nor can the adjective be separated from the verli — " Amid li.i " li ■ , 1. ■ . .
blushes, being lovelier, glow" — this is not the sense ; nor will ii miswer m wil
say, " Her lovelier blushes glow" — this is not the idea. The sense is, thatjj I
the attribute expressed by lovelier, is not only a quality of blushes, but a! ten
quality derived, in a degree, from the action of the verb, glow. llln i
Thus, clay burns white — objects may be seen double — may rise high — lUt;
, in which the sign of comparison i
! the epithet ; for the word itself cxpres.
iisht to boar some emphasi--, which, if a qualifying word is prefixed,
.n.,,-.!lv '.. )i:,i-i fiv, ,! t.i that word.*
I ! , I . ■ -.■ seems to be too well established to be al-
a of more ani moat, less 3.ui least perfect.
. K I w" :.' Ill ,. i.i.jie precision of thought to apply a term of
ribute less possible, less surmountable, less
1 low — grow strait, or thick, ot thin, or fat, or lean — one may speak louddcontrollable, rather than a term of increase to a negative attribute,
1 shines clear — the.^ner a substance is pulverized — to grow wiser,
to plunge deeper, spread rvider — and similar expressions without number,
constitute a well established idiom, as common as it is elegant.
Rule XIX —Some adjectives are used to modify the sense of others and
of participles ; as, a very clear day ; red hot iron ; a more or most excellent
character ; more prcssiug necessity ; most grating sound. " Without com-
ing any nearer." Locke. " A closer grained wood." Lavoisier, TVans.
" Full many a gem of purest ray serene." Gray.
" Some deem'd him wondrous wise." Bcaltic's .Minstrel.
In these expressions the last attribute belongs more immediately to the
noun i'\p .^-iii- iiv ,1.1 ilily ; and the first attribute qualifies the second.
Ni.' I' , .1 'V .'.' aitributes are used to modify a third, or the princi-
pal on, i i iiiierin which external force acts upon the body is
veryhr . . .will." Rambler, A'o. 7S
Kr 1 . . \ . , I'. .'.^ are used to qualify the sense of adverbs ; as, a
city «..- ' I. llnded; the soldiers were most amply rewarded; a
donati.ii ... I ! lly bestowed; a house less elegantly furnished; a
man lli.- /../v' |...i. . .: i\ .lisposed.
We have a lew otii. r words which are often used to modify adjectives as
well as verbs ; as, a little ; a great deal ; a trifle. " Many letters from pe
deeyt :
deejilii .
■ The vices which enter deeper or
■/ /■ and deepest, should be more
t.- in the two passages 1 have ci-
.1.- is pronounced s/iuitij" — " Ihe
liighU/!" This alteration will put
Note 2. — In English, two nouns are frequently united to form a new
noun; as earth-woini, drill-plow, ink-stand, book-case. In some cases,
these compouii.; i. ' \ . 'i !i...i cirectually blended into one term ; in other
cases, they ai.' ' i i I'ir component parts by a hyphen. In other
cases, words ... . ' Iv lirst term forms a sort of occasional adjec-
tive to the sc(..i, . : I ' // ',,' Kst, or family-consumption.
Note 3. — Kiom a disposition to abridge the number of words in discourse,
we find many expressions which are not reducible to any precise rule,
formed at first by accident or ellipsis. Such are, at first, at last, at best, at
worst, at most, at least, at farthest, at the utmost. In these expressions
there may have been an ellipsis of some noun ; but they arc well establish-
ed, brief and significant, and may be numbered among the /)m(0«s of Mer-
Note 4.— Wcbave c.-ilain ;
djectives which follow a verb and a noun to
which Ihey bi-I..i : m i. ^ . i |.ncede Ihe noun. Such are, adry, afeared.
afraid, alone, ii' . ' n. alive, asleep, mvake,athirst, aloft, aghast,
afloat, askeu. ,1 ■ /it, plenty, worth; lo which may be added,
amiss, agrouniK ... .. - . .nid a few others which may be used as at-
tributes or moiMiii is. \\ e .say, one is adry, ashamed, alive or awake; but
never an a/iry person, an ashamed child, &.c. We say, "A proclamation
was issued pursuant to advice of council." But we can in no case place
pursuant before a noun.
* This clTect may proceed also from another consirleration. If the adjec-
tive alone is used, its sense precludes the idea of increa.se or diminution — it
expresses all that can be expressed. But admit comparison, and it ceases
to express the utmost extent of the quality.
GRAMMAR OF THE
Worth not only follows the noun which it qualifies, but is followed by ajiguage by grammar, and neglect usages which are much better authority,
I denoting price or value ; as, a book worth a dollar or a guinea ; it is land the basis of correct grammar. " Pieces of iron arranged in such a way
well worth
'It
worth observation." Beloe's Herodotus,
Erato. 98. If a substitute is used after worth, it must be in the objective
case. It is worth them or it.
But worthy, the derivative oi worth, follows the usual construction of ad-
jectives, and may precede the noun it qualifies ; as, a worthy man.
Regimen or Government.
Rule XXIII.— One noun signifying the same thing with another, or de-
scriptive of it, may be in apposition to it ; that is, may stand in a like charac-
ter or case, without an intervening verb; as, Paul, the apostle; John, the
baptist ; Newton, the philosopher ; Chatham, the orator and statesman.
Note I. — In the following sentence, a noun in the plural stands in appo-
sition to two nouns in the singular, joined by an alternative. "The terms
of our law will hardly find words that answer them in the Spanish or Ital-
ian, no scanty languages." Locke, 3. 5. 8.
Note 2. — Nouns are not unfrequently set in apposition to sentences ; as,
" Whereby if a manhad a positive idea of infinite, either duration or space,
he could add two infinites together ; nay, make one infinite infinitely big-
ger than another: absurdities too gross to be confuted." Locke, 2. 17. 20.
Here the absurdities are the whole preceding propositions.
" You are too humane and considerate ; things few people can be charged
with." Pope Let. Here things is in opposition to temane and considerate.
Such a construction may be justified, when the ideas are correct, but it is
not very common.
" The Dutch were formerly in possession of the coasting trade and freight
of almost all other trading nations; they were also the bankers for all Eu-
rope : advantages by which they have gained immense sums." Zimmer-
man's Survey, 170. Here advantages is put in apposition to the two first
members of the sentence.
Rule XXJV. — When two nouns are used, one denoting the possessor,
the other the thing possessed, the name of the possessor precedes the other
in the possessive case ; as, " In my Father's house are many mansions."
Men's bravery ; England's fleet ; a Christian's hope ; Washington's pru-
dence.
Note 1. — When the thing possessed is obvious, it is usual to omit the
noun ; as, " Let us go to St. Paul's," that is, church ; " He is at the Presi-
dent's," that is, house.
" Nor think a lover's are but fancied woes." Coioper.
That is, a lover's woes. " Whose book i"; this ? William's."
Note 2. — When the possessor is described by two or more nouns, the
sign of the possessive is generally annexed to tlie last; as, " Edward, the
se'cond of England's Queen." Bacon on Empire.
" In Edward the third's time." Blackstone's Comm. b. 1, ch. 2.
" John the Baptist's head." Matt. xiv.
" jj member of parliament's paying court to his constituents." Burke.
But if the thing possessed is represented as belonging to a number sever-
ally specified, the sign of the possessive is repeated with each ; as, " He
has the surgeon's and the physician's advice." " It was my father's, moth-
er's, and uncle's opinion."*
Note 3. — When of is used before the possessive case of nouns, there is
a double possessive, the thing possessed not being repeated ; as, " Vital air
was a discovery o/Pitesf/e^'s." "Combustion, as now understood, was a
discovery of Lavoisier's." The sense of which is, that vital air was one of
the discoveries of Priestley. This idiom prevents the repetition of the
same word.
Note 4. — The possessive may be supplied by of, before the name of the
possessor; as, "the hope of a christian." But <)/' does not always denote
possession ; it denotes also consisting of, or in, concerning, &c. and in these
cases, its place cannot he supplied by the possessive case. Thus cloth of
wool, cannot be converted into wool's cloth ; nor a cup of water, into water's
cup ; nor an idea of an angel, into an angel's idea ; nor the house of Lards,
into the Lord's house.
Rule XXV. — Participles are often used for nouns, and have the like
effect in governing them in the possessive case; as, "A courier arrived
from Madrid, with an account of his Catholic majesty's having agreed to
the neutrality." " In case of his Catholic majesty's dying without issue."
" Averse to the nation's involving itself in another war." Hume, Contin
vol. 7, 6. 2, ch. 1. " Who can have no notion of the same person's possess-
ing Aifkreui accomplishments." Spectator, J\'o. 150
This is the true idiom of the language ; yet the omission of the sign of
the possessive is a common fault among modern writers, who learn the Ian
part.
1 seemed most favorable for tlie combustion being communicated to every
Lavoisier, Trans.
exception." Ibm. These
* The contrary rule in Murray is egregiously wrong ; as exemplified in
this phrase, " This was my father, mother and imcle's advice." This is not
English. When we say, " the king of England's throne," the three words,
king of England, are one noun in ctlect, and can have but one sign of the
possessive. But when two or three distinct nouns are used, the article pos-
sessed is described as belonging to each. " It was my father's advice, my
mother's advice, and my uncle's advice." We can omit advice after the
two first, but by no means, the sign of the possessive.
There is no reason for hydrogen being
expressions are not English.
Rule XXVI. — Transitive verbs and their participles require the object-
ive case or the object of action to follow them : as, '• In the beginuiug, God
created the leaven and the earth."
" If ye love jne, keep my commandments." "0 righteous fatlier, the
world hath not known thee."
Sometimes the object and often the objective case of substitutes precedes
the governing verb ; as, " The spirit of truth, whoyn the world cannot re-
ceiue." " Whom ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you."
Whom and which, when in the objective ca.se, always precede the verb.
In verse, a greater license of transposition is used, than in prose, and
uns are often placed before the governing verb.
" But through the heart
Should jealousy its venom once diffuse." Thomson.
" She with extended arms his aid implores." Ibm.
A noun with whatever, whatsoever or whichever, preceding, is placed be-
e the governing verb ; as, "whatsoever positive ideas we have."
Locke, 2. 17.
-We have some verbs which govern two words in the objective
Not
case ; as.
Miltm, 10. 744.
Life of Cmtyper.
Did I request thee, maker, from my clay
To mould me man?"
" God seems to have made hitn what he was."
"Ask Aim his opinion." " You have asked me the news'
Will it be said that the latter phrases are elliptical, for " ask oj him his
opinion .'" I apprehend this to be a mistake. According to the true idea of
the government of a transitive verb, him must be the object in the phrase
under consideration, as much as in this, " Ask him for a guinea ;" or in this,
" ask him to go."
This idiom is very ancient, as we often see it in the Latin. " Intcrroga-
tus sententiam." Liv. 26. 33. "Se id Scipioncm orare." Ibm. 27. 17.
"Auxilia regem orabant." Ibm. lib. 2S. 5. The idiom in both languages
had a common origin.
Note 2. — Some verbs were formerly used as transitive, which are no
longer considered as such ; as, " he repented him" — " flee thee away" —
" he was swerved" — " the sum was amounted," &c. which are held im-
proper.
Cease, however, is used as a transitive verb by our best writers. " Cease
this impious rage." Milton. " Her lips their music cease." Hoole's Tasso.
Rule XXVII. — Intransitive verbs are followed by the name of the act
or effect, which the verb expresses in action ; as, " to live a life of virtue ;"
"to die the deathoi i\ie righteous;" "to dream dreams;" " to run sl race ;"
" to sleep the sleep of death."
We observe, in these examples, life is the 7iame of living supposed to be
complete, as race is the name of the act of running when accomplished.
Note. — Nearly allied to this idiom is that of using, after verbs transitive
or intransitive, certain nouns which are not the objects of the verb, nor oi
precisely the same sense, but which are either the names of the result of
the verb's action, or closely connected with it. Examples : " A guinea
weighs five penny weight, six grains ;" " a crown weighs nineteen penny
weight;"* " a piece of cloth measures ten yards."
" And on their hinges grate har.sh thunder." "And rivers run potable
gold." " The crispid brook ran nectar." "Groves whose rich trees wept
odorous gums and balm." " Grin a ghastly smile." Milton.
" Her lips blush deeper sweets." Thomson.
" To ascend or descend a flight of stairs, a ladder, or a mountain."
" To cost a guinea."
Under this rule or the following may be arranged these expressions.
" Let them go their way." " When matters have been brought this
length." Lavoisier, Translation. " We turn our eyes this way or that
way." " Reckoning any way from ourselves, a yard, a mile, &c."
Locke, 2. 17.
Similar to this idiom are the phrases, to go west or east — pointing north
or south, north-west or south-east, and the like, which I find to be Saxon
phrases and very ancient.
In some instances verbs of this sort are followed by two objects; as, " a
ring cost the purchaser an eagle."
Rule XXVIII. — Names of certain portions of time and space, and espe-
cially words denoting continuance of time or progression, are used without a
governing word ; as, " Jacob said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel."
" And dust shalt thou cat all the days of thy life." " And he abode with
* The radical idea of teeight is carry, bear or sustain, from the Saxon
wteg, a balance. The idiom in question has its originial in that idea — a
guinea weighs five penny weights, six grains — that is, carries or sustains
that weight in the scales. How much of the propriety, and even of the
beauty of language is lost, by neglecting to study its primitive state and
(principles '.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
him the space of a mmith." " The teee of hie yielded her
month." " In those days F Daniel was mourning three full weeks'
" Whosoever shall urge thee to go a mile, go with him twain." " To walk
Amile, or a league."
" EtTects occurring every moment to ourselves."
. " You have asked me news a hundred times." Pope.
Words expressing particular or precise points of time, are usually prece-
ded hy a preposition ; as, " at that hour ;" " ou that day." But to both these
rules there are exceptions.
Rule XXIX. — The verb he has the same ca.se after it as before it; or
two substitutes connected with be in construction are in the same case. " Jt
is/, be not afraid." "Thou art she." "It is Ac." " Who was he?"
" Who do men say that / am .'" " JVhom do they represent me to be.'
But " Whom do men say that I am," is incorrect.
Ru L E X X X . — Transitive verbs and their participles admit of a sentence,
a clause or number of words as their object; as, "He is not alarmed so far
as to consider how much nearer he approaches to his end."
Rambler, JVo. 78.
Consider what ? The whole following clause, which is the object of the
verb.
" If he escapes being banished by others, I fear lie will banish himself."
Pope, Let. to Swift.
Here being banished stands in the place of a noun, as the object after
«»capes.
wrvH Rule XXXI.— T
"" ciple ; a.s, " he love:
abandon a vicious lit
•Add to this, whal./i
very drcumstance, tin
In this sentence tlie i\lv
and is the actual objcci .
■' Suppose then (Ac
s but little known, has from that
nf novelty." Hermes, Preface.
■■ in italics, is what is to be added,
irb add.
to have had a creator" — " Suppose
Paley, Ev. 1.
the disposition which dictated this council to continue
" For that mortal dint,
Save tie who reigns above, none can resist." Milton, 2. 815.
" I wish I could give you any good reasons for your coming hither, ex-
cept that, /earnestly invite you." Pope, Let.
" Lord Bathurst is too great a husbandman to like barren hills, except
they are his own to improve." Pope, Let. Sept. 3, 1726.;
In these and similar passages, the object of the verb is a whole proposi-
tion or statement, in a sentence or clause of a sentence. In this passage,
"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish," the fact excepted is af-
firmed in a single verb. Take away this fact " that you shall repent," and
the consequence must be, you will perish. This is one of the modes of ab-
breviation in language which I have so frequently mentioned, and which
constitutes a principal excellence of the English.
We observe, in some of the passages here cited, the pronoun that, after
the verb. This is probably the true original construction ; the substitute,
that, pointing to the whole following clause. " He cou Id do no mighty works
there, save that, [except that single fact which follows,] he laid his hand
on a few sick and healed them."
Note.— It may be here observed that in some of the passages cited the
verb has no definitive nominative; the verbs save, except, suppose, add, !fc.
are in the imperative mode, but the address is not made to any particular
person or persons. Ani this probably has led authors to class save and ex-
cept among conjunctions, prepositions or adverbs, or to consider them as
used adverbially ; for it has been already observed that the class of adverbs
has been a sort of common sink to receive all words which authors have not
been able to comprehend. I
Is it not strange that suppose, add, admit, allow, and other verb.s, which
are constantly used in the same manner, should have hitherto escaped the
same doom .' In the passages above cited from Paley, suppose is used pre-
cisely in the same manner, as except and save in others. Indeed nothing
but the most inexcusable negligence could have led critics to this classifica-
tion of sane and except— (or in many passagesof scripture, these very words,
in the sense in which they are called conjunctions or adverbs, have an ob-
ject lolloHinii them, lik« other transitive verbs; as, " Israel burned none of
them, sar, Hazor only." Josh. xi. l.S. " Ye shall not come into the land,
.save I „l, I: iiiul .1, shun." JVum. xiv. 30. " I would that all were as I am,
except tli,s, l,,.,iih:- jtcts, xxri.
This u-i- 1.1 Mrli< without a definite nominative occasions no inconven-
ience; for the address is not made to any p,irticular person, but is equally
'•" apply it. See the subject further expL ' "
applicable to any
unde '
rule
ifiiiilive mode follows, first, anotlier verb or parti-
lurish the social alfections ;" " be persuaded to
'he is willing to encounter danger;" "he was
[proceeding to relatehis adventures."
2dly. The infiniUve follows a noun ; as, " The next thin-r natural for the
[mind to do." Locke. " He has a task to perform."
I 3dly. It follows an adjective or verbal attribute; as, " a question difficult
to be solved." " it is delightful to contemplate the goodness of Providence."
"God is viorihy to be loved and trusted." "Be prepared to receive your
fiiend."
4thly. It follows as ; thus, " an object so high as to be invisible ;" " a
question so obscure as to perplex the understanding."
5thly. It follows than after a comparison; as, " Nothing makes a man sus-
pect much, more than to know little." Bacon on Suspicion.
6thly. It follows the preposition/oj-, noting cause or motive ; as, " What
went ye out /or to see?" Matt. xi.
Tills is the true original idiom, but it is usual now to omit /or; as, " he
went to see a reed shaken with the wind." In every phrase of this sort,/n/-
is implied in the sense ; but the use of the word is vulg.ir.
The infinitive mode is independent, standing as a substitute for a whole;
phrase ; as, " It is not once in ten attempts that you can find the case you
seek, in any law book ; to say nothing of those numerous points of conduct
concerning which the law professes not to prescribe." Paley, Phil. ch. -1.
Rule XXXII. — The verbs, bid, make, see, hear, feel, let, with the auxil-
aries, may, can, must, shall and will, and dare and need, when used as aux-
iliaries, are followed by the infinitive without the prefix to ; as, " he bids
me come;" " we cannot make them understand;" " let me see youwrite;"
"we heard liim relate the story;" " we felt the earth Uemble." " Which
(hey \e\.pass." Locke. " He may go, can go, must go, shall go, will go."
" I dare engage; 1 dare say." " He need not be anxious."
Note 1.— In the uses of dare and need, there are some pecuharities which
deserve remark.
When dare signifies to defy or challenge, it is regular in the tenses and
persons, is a transitive verb, and is followed by the infinitive with the usual
prefix ; as, " he dares me to enter the list." But when it is intransitive,
denoting to Aare courage, it more generally drops the personal terminations,
has an anomalpus past tense, and is followed by the infinitive without to; in
short it has the form of an auxiliary, and in the German, it is classed with
the auxiliaries. Examples: " I dare engage." Pope's Works, Letter to
Gay. " I dare not confess." Swift to Gay. " I dare say." Locke. "But
my Lord, you dare not do either." Junius, Let. 28. '■• Dursil venture to
deliver my own sentiments." Hume, Es. 7.
The past tense, when regular, is followed by the infinitive with the usual
prefix. " You have dared to throw more than a suspicion upon mine."
Junius, Let. 20. The same remark may be extended to the future tense.
He will not rfaie to attack his adversary."
In like manner, need, when a transitive verb, is regular in its inflections;
, " A man needs more prudence" — " The army needed provisions." But
hen intransitive, it drops the personal terminations in the present tense, is
formed like an auxiliary, and is followed by a verb, without the prefix to ;
as, " Nobody need 6e afraid he shall not have scope enough." Locke, 2.22.9.
i" I need not j?o any farther." Ibtn. "Nor need we wonder." Ibm. "The
lender need be under no fear." Anarch, ch. 69. " There need be no diffi-
culty." Heddoes, Hygeia, I. 27. " She need dig no more." Spectator,
.Vo. 121. " A man need not be uneasy on these grounds." Boswell, 3. 41.
" He need not urge to this honorable court." Judge Chase.
lu the use of this verb, there is another irregularity, which is pecuUar,
the verb being without a nominative, expressed or implied. " Whereof here
needs no account." Milton, P. L. 4. 235. "There is no evidence of the
fact, and there needs none." This is an established use of need.
Note 2.— The infinitive mode has, in its sense and use, a near affinity to
a noun and often has the construction of one. It is much employed to intro-
duce sentences which are the nominatives to verbs, as well as the objects
following them ; as, " To will is present with me, but to perform that which
is good I find not." Here the first infinitive is the nominative to is, and the
second begins the sentence which is the object afler^nd.
Note 3. — A common mistake in the use of the infinitive is, to use the
perfect tense after another verb in the past time, when in fact one of the
verbs in the past time would correctly express the sense ; thus, " It would
have been no difficult matter to have compiled a volume of such amusing pre-
' ■ " Cowper to Hill, Let. 29. Here the first verb states the time
The following passage in Locke, 2. 27. 2. contains another iP^!' ^''^" " "'*'* ""' difficult to compile a volume ; at that time the compi-
verb used in the same manner : " Coiild two bodies he in the same place at
the same time, then those two parcels of matter must be one and the same,
take them great or little."
The error of considering sore as an adverb or conjunction, has however
produced a mulfitude of mistakes in construction, as in tb.>..- i,nc^:,._r.>.. •
" Save Ae who reigns above." Milton. "Which no man kii.v\ i . t
Ae that receiveth it." iieti. ii. 17. The nominative Ae cannot lu
any principle of true construction. We ought to he Aim, the .^
verb. Except might have been used, andthis word beins cull. I .. i^.i ,ju^:
tion, would have required after it the objective else. Biit both -"..i= -r„i
verbs, and ought to have the same construction.
Vol. I. K.
lation couM not be past ; the verb therefore should have been to compile,
which is present and always indefinite.
In the following passage, we have a like use of verbs which is correct.
" A free pardon was granted to the son, who teas known to have offered in-
ilignities to the body of Varus." Murphy's Tacitus, fi. I. Here 'the offer-
'::s of indignities was a fact precedent to the time stated in the verb icas
'niiwn; and therefore the verb, to have offered, is well employed.
Rule XXXIII. — The infinitive signifying motive or purpose, often in-
ioiluces a clause or sentence which is not ihenoininative orobjecli'
I verb; as, " To see how far this reaches, and what are the causes of
)any
j|VtiL,, a=., J. u Oct: nitw lai iiii> readies, auQ wnai are me causes Of wrong
lijudgment, we must remember that things are judged good or bad in a double
GRA3IMAR OF THE
.»eiise." Lode, 2. 21. 61 . " To present property from being too unequally
distributed, no pei-son should be allowed to dispose of his possessions to the
])rpiudice of his lawful heirs." Anarch, ch. 62.
Note. — This form of sentence -seems to be derived from the use o{ for
before the verb,/oi- to see. The modern practice is to prefix some noun, as
ill order to see, or " With a view to prevent."
Rule XXXIV. — In the use of the passive form, there is often an inver-
sion of the order of the subject and object ; thus, " The bishops and abbots
were allowed their seats in the house of Lords."
Blackstone, Comm. b. 1, ch. 2.
Here the true construction would be, " Seats in the house of Lords were
allowed to the bishops and abbots."
"Theresa was forbid the presence of the emperor." Murphy's Tacitus,
2. .540. Note. — This is a common phrase. It may be resolved thus : The
presence of the emperor wa* forbid to Theresa — or, Theresa was forbid to
approach the presence of the emperor.
KuLE XXXV. — The participle of the present tense without a definitive
a or the, or with any possessive attribute, usually retains the sense of its
verb, and has the objective case after it; as, "The clerk is engrossing the
bill." "The love we bear our friends is generally caused by our finding
the same dispositions in them, which we ieel in ourselves."
Pope's Letters.
" In return to your inviting me to your forest." Ibm.
But when the participle is preceded by a or the, it takes the character and
government of a noun, and in most cases, must be followed by of; as, "The
middle station of life seems to be most advantas:eously situated for the gain-
ing of wisdom. Poverty turns our thoughts too much upon the supplying of
our wants, and riches, upon enjoying our superfluities."
Spectator, JVo. 464,
In many cases this participle becomes a noun, without a or the ; as, " It
is more properly talking upon paper, than u^ting." Pope, Let
Note. — The foregoing rule is often violated by our best writers, and to
make it universal is (o assume an authority much too dictatorial. " Some
were employed in bloiving of glass ; others in weaving of linen."
Gibbon, Rom. Emp. ch. 10.
Rule XXXVI. — Participles of the present tense, either single or in un-
ion with the participle of the perfect tense, often perform, at once, the office
of a verb and a noun ; as, " The taking from another what is his, without his
knowledge or allowance, is called stealing." Locke, 2. 28. 16.
" By the mind's changing the object to which it compares any thing."
Locke, 2. 25.
" To save them from other people's damning them." Wycherley to Pope.
" Such a plan is not capable of being carried into execution."
Anarch, ch. 62.
" They could not avoid submitting to this influence."
Baling, on Hist. Let. 8.
Note 1. — The participle in ing, though strictly active in its signification,
is not unfrequently used by modern authors in a passive sense ; as, " More
living particles are produced — than are necessary foi- nutrition or for the
restoration of decomposing organs," that is, organs suffering decomposition.
Darwin, Zoon. sect. 39. 9. " From which caloric is disengaging," that is,
undergoing the process of separation. Lavoisier, Translation. " The num-
ber is augmenting daily." Ibm. " They seemed to think Cesar was slay-
ing before their eyes rather than that he was slain." Guth. Quin. 2. 18.
" The nation had cried out loudly against the crime while it was commit-
ting." Boling. on Hist. Let. 8. " My lives are re-printing." Johnson
to Boswell, 1782.
Many of this kind of participles have become mere attributes ; as writing
paper ; looking glass ; spelling or pronouncing dictionary. Wanting and
owing have long had the character of passive participles, with the sense of
wanted, iiwed.
Note 2. — The use of two participles in the place of a noun is one of the
most frequent practices of our best writers ; as, " This did not prevent John's
being acknowledged and solemnly inaugurated Duke of Normandy." Hen-
ry, Hist. Brit. b. 3. The participle being with an attribute, supplies the
place of a noun also. " As to the difference of being more general, that
makes this maxim more remote from being innate." Locke, 1. 2. 20.
Rule XXXVII. — Participles, like attributes, agree with a sentence, a
part of a sentence, or a substitute for a sentence ; as, " Concerning relation
in general, these things may be considered." Locke, 2. 25.
Here concerning relates to the whole of the last clause of the sentence —
■' These things may be considered" — all which is concerning relation in
general.
" This criterion will be different, according to the nature of the object
which the mind contemplates." Enfield, Hist. Phil. 2. 15.
That is, the dilTerence of criterion will accord with the nature of the ob-
ject.
" According to Hierocles, Ammonius was induced to execute the plan ol
a distinct eclectic school," &.c. Ibm. p. 63.
Here the whole statement of facts in the last clause was according to Hie-
rocles; that is, it accorded with his testimony.
" I have accepted thee, concerning this thing also." Gen. 19.
" I speak concAning Christ and the church." Eph. v. 32,
" Thus shalt thou do unto thcLcvitcs, touching their charge."
Aum. viii. 26.
Rule XXXVIII. — Participles often stand without a noun, sentence or
substitute, on which they immediately depend, being referable to either of
the persons indefinitely ; as, " It is not possible to act otherwise, considering
the weakness of our nature." Spectator.
Note — Johnson, in his Dictionary, calls this a kind of conjunction,
and adds — " It had been more grammatically written considered; vu,
French ; but considering is ahvays used."
This criticism indicates an incorrect view of tlie subject. Considered,
cannot be used without a change in the structure of the sentence — "The
weakness of our nature being considered." But to make this form of ex-
pression correspondent to the other clause, that ought also to be varied, and
definite person introduced ; thus, " It does not appear (to us) possible to act
otherwise, the weakness of our nature being considered." But this amend-
ment would be of no advantage.
To comprehend the use of such expressions, we should consider that men
find it useful to deal in abstract propositions and lay down truths without re-
ference to persons. This manner of discoursing is often less invidious than
to apply propositions or opinions to persons. To accomplish this purpose,
have devised words and modes of speech which enable them thus to
communicate their ideas. In the passage cited, the first clause contains a
general abstract proposition, equally applicable to any person—" It is not
possible to act otherwise." That is, it is not possible for me, for you, for
,, or for her ; but it might be invidious to specify persons. It is not pos-
e for John or Thomas to act otherwise, he considering the weakness of
nature. Hence the proposition is left without application ; and it fol-
lows naturally that the persons who are to consider the cause, the weakness
of our nature, should be left indefinite, or unascertained. Hence co?i-
sidering is left without a direct application to any person.
Whatever foundation there may be for this explanation, the idiom is com-
mon and well authorized.
" Generally speaking, the heir at law is not bound by the intention of the
testator." Paley, Phil. 23.
" Supposing that electricity is actually a substance, and taking if for
granted that it is different from caloric, does it not in all probability contain
caloric, as well as all other bodies ?" Thomson, Chim. art! Calnrir.
Here is no noun expressed or implied, to which supposing and taking
can be referred ; we would be most naturally understood.
" Supposing the first stratum of particles to remain in their place, after
their union with caloric, we can conceive an affinity, &.c." Am. Here
supposing may be refened to tve, but is tliis the real construction ?
" For supposing parliament had a right to meet spontaneously, withoui
being called together, it would be impossible to conceive that all the mem-
bers would agree," &c. Blackstone, Comm. B. 1. 2.
" The articles of this charge, considering by whom it was brought, were
not of so high a nature as might have been expected."
Henry, Brit. B. 4. ch. 1.
" It is most reasonable to conclude that, excepting the assistance he may
be supposed to have derived from his countrymen, his plan of civilization
was the product of his own abilities." Enfield, Hist. Phil. 1. ch. 9.
" None of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for
washing." JVeh. iv. 23.
" And he said unto them, hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered
my way." Gen. xxiv. 56.
" Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his
deeds." Col. iii. 9.
" Comparing two men, in reference to a common parent, it is easy to
frame th^ ideas of brothers." Locke, 2. 25.
" Granting this to be true, it would help us in the species of things no
farther than the tribes of animals and vegetables." Locke, 3. 6. 23.
Rule XXXIX. — Adverbs or Modifiers are usually placed near the
words whose signification they are intended to affect.
First. They are placed before adjectives : as, truly wise ; sincerely up-
right ; unaffectedly polite.
Secondly. They usually follow a verb when single ; as, he spoke elo-
quently : and if a verb is transitive with an object following, the adverb
follows the object ; as, " John received the present gratefully."
To this rule, the exceptions are very numerous, and not to be classed
under general heads. " So it frequently happens." " Men often deceive
themselves." Indeed, in many eases the position of the modifier makes no
difference in the sense, and may be regulated entirely by the preference of
sound, in the general structure of the period, provided it is not such as to
mislead the reader, in the application of the word.
Thirdly. When one auxiliary and a participle are used, the modifier is
usually placed between them or it follows the participle ; as, " he was gra-
ciously received," or " lie was received graciously." The first is the most
elegant.
Fourthly. When two auxiliaries are used, the adverb is usually placed
after the second ; as, " We have been kindly treated." But it may follow
the participle, as " We have been treated kindly ;" and in some cases it
may precede the auxiliaries, as " -Vnd certainly you must have known."
.hmiun. Letter 8.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
Fifililv. Wlien ailverbs are emphatical, they may introduce a sentence,
anil l» - |. 1 h 1 n ,111 the word to ivhieh they belong ; as, " Haw complete-
ly t\,\ I liviman virtues Aarf taA-CTi possession of his soul!"
po,i ;. - I |,fi-itiou of the nioditicr is most frequent iu interroga-
tive .uhI r-,, ■!,.-, I. 3 jihrases.
The adverb alirays is usually placed before a verb.
JVever commonly precedes a single verb, except be, which it follows ; as,
" We are never absent from Church on Sunday." It is sometimes placed
before an auxiliary, as " He never has been at court;" but it is more cor-
rectly and elegantly placed after the first auxiliary, as " He has never been
at court," "he has never been intoxicated."
This word ha-s a peculiar use in the phrase ; " Ask me never so much
dowry." Gen. xxxiv. " The voice of charmers, charming never so wise-
ly." Ps. Iviii. The sense i-j, '• Ask me so much dowry as never was asked
brfore ;" an abbreviation siri<!;ularly expressive of the idea of asking to any
amount or extent. Authors not imderstanding it, have substituted ever for
never, which impairs the force, if it does not destroy the sense, of the
phrase) The use of both is now common, but never is preferable. " Some
agreements indeed, though never so expressly made, are deemed of so im-
portant a nature, that they ought not to rest in verbal promise only."
Blackstone, Comm. B. 3. eh. 9.
The use of here and there, in the introduction of sentences before verbs,
forms an authori/cd idiom of the language ; though the words may be con-
sidered as redundant. The practice may have originated in the use of the
liand in pointing, in the early stage of society.
Here, there, and where, originally denoting plaee, are now used in re-
ference to words, subjects and various ideas of which place is not predica-
blc. " It is not so with respect to volitions and actions ; here the coalesence
is intimate." Hermes, ch. 8. " We feel pain, in the sensations, where we
expected pleasure." Locke, 2. 7. 4.
Hence, whence, and thence, denoting the place from which a departure is
stated, are used either teith or without the preposition/ram. In strictness,
the idea of /inm is inclculcil in the words, and it ought not to be u.sed.
These word* .il- i i i "iily in reference to jdace, but to any argu-
ment, subjccl. . • ! - nirse.
Hither, thitir . i ■ - - . ^'enoting to a place, are obsolete in popular
practice, and ul-ul,-. .m u< writing; being superseded by here, there,
■where. This change is evidently the effect of the all-controlling disposi-
tion of men to abridge speech, by dismissing useless syllables, or by substi-
tuting short words of easy pronunciation for those which are more difficult.
Against this disposition and its effects, the critic remonstrates in vain ; and
we may rest assured that common convenience and utility are better guides
in whatever respects the use of words, than the opinions of men in their
closets. No word or syllable in a language, which is essential, or very use
ful, is ever lost.
While Is a noun denoting time, and not a modifier. In this phrase, "
will go while you stay," the word is used in its primitive manner, without
government, like many other names of portions of time — a month, a week
We are accustomed to use, as modifiers, a little and a great ileal. " The
many letters I receive, do not a little encourage me." Spectator, JVo. 124
Many names are used in like manner, as modifiers of the sense of verbs
" You don't care six-pence whether he was wet or dry." Johnson
Rule XL. — In polite and classical language, two negatives destroy the
negation and express an affirmative ; as, " JVor did he not perceive them,'"
that is, he did perceive them. This phraseology is not common nor agreea-
ble to the genius of our tongue.
The following is a common and well authorized use of negatives. " Hii
manners are not inelegant," that is, are elegant. This manner of expres-
sion, however, when not accompanied with particular emphasis, denotes i
moderate degree of the quality.
Note. — In popular language, two negatives are used for a negation, ac-
cording to the practice of the ancient Greeks and the modern French. This
idiom was primitive, and was retained in the Saxon ; as, " Oc se kining
Peada ne risadc nane while." Sax. Chron. p. 33. And the king Peada did
not reign none while, that is, not a long time. The learned, with a view
to philosophical correctness, have rejected the use of two negatives for one
negation. The consequence is, we have two modes of speaking directly op
posile to each other, but expressing the same thing. " He did not owe
nothing," in vulgar language, " and he owed nothing," in the style of the
learned, mean precisely the same thing.
Rule XLI. — Prepositions are followed by the names of objects and the
objective case ; as, /rum New York to Philadelphia ; across the Delaware ;
ouer land; 6^ water; </iro«gA the air; with us ; for me ; (othem; in you
among the people ; toward us.
The preposition to is supposed to be omitted after verbs of giving, yield
ing, affording, and the like ; as, " give them bread," instead of give bread
M them. " Afford him protection ;" " furnish her with books." But tliis
idiom seems to be primitive, and not elliptical.
From is sometimes suppressed ; as in this phrase, " He was banished the
kingdom."
Home, after a verb denoting motion to, is always used without to ; as,
" We are going home."
Afler the attribute near, to is often omitted ; as, " To bring them nearer tlic
truth." Massillon. Also after adjoining ; as, " a garden adjoining a river."
The preposition is sometimes separated from the word which governs ; as,
' With a longing for that state which he is charmed with," instead of with
which he is charmed.
n many cases, the relative pronoun may be suppressed, as " I did not
see the person he came with," that is, «'iWt M.)/io»rt he came ; and in other
cases, what is employed for the word governed, as " I know not what per-
son he gave the present to."
This separation of the preposition from the word governed by it, and the
ppression of the substitute, are most common and most allowable in collo-
quial and epistolary language. In the grave and elevated style, they arc
elegant, and never to be admitted to the prejudice of perspicuity ; a.i
in the following passage, "Of a space or number, which, in a constant and
endless enlarging progression, it can in thought never attain to."
Locke, 2. 17. 8.
A separation of the preposition to such a distance from the word with
which it is connected in construction, is perplexing and inelegant.
Note. — In the use of who as an interrogative, there is an apparent devi-
ation from a regular construction — it being used without distinction of case ;
Who do you speak to ?" " Who is she married to ':" " Who is this re-
served for ;" " Who was it made by .'" This idiom is not merely colloquial;
is found in the writings of our best authors. It is the Latin cui and quo.
Rule XLU. — Prepositions govern sentences and clauses or members of
, " Without seeking any morejustitiable reasons of hostility."
Hume, 1. 3.
' Besides making an expedition into Kent." Hume, 1. 36.
' From what has been said." Blair, Serm.
' To the general history of these periods will be added, &c."
Enfield, Prelim.
' .^bout the beginning of the eleventh century." Ibm.
' By observing these rules and precautions." Ibm.
' In comparing the proofs of questionable facts." Ibm.
' For want of carefully attending to tlic preceding distinction."
Jinfield, Hist. Phil. b. 2.
' -ifter men became christians." Paley, Evid. ch. 1.
' Before you were placed at the head of affairs." Junius. Let. 8.
' Personal bravery is not enough to constitute the general, without he
animates the •vhole army with courage." Fielding's Socrates, p. 18S.
Pray, get these verses by heart against I see you." Chesterfield, Let.
After having made me believe that I possessed a share in your affec-
tion." Pope, Let.
" Ambition, envy, — will take up our minds, without we can possess our-
Ives with sobriety." Spectator, jXo. 143.
Note. — We obsei-ve, in the foregoing passages, the preposition has two
uses. One is to precede a word to which other words are annexed as ne-
cessary to complete the sense — " about the beginning." Here the sense is
complete ; the time is not designated. To define the time wiiich is the
object of the preposition about, it is necessary to add the words — " of the
eleventh century"— «6o«f that time. So that the whole clause is really
the object after the preposition.
The other use of the preposition is to precede nouns, verbs or other words
which are not the object of the preposition, but which have a construction
independent of it ; as, " after men became christians." Here men is the
nominative to became ; yet the whole proposition is as really the object gov-
erned by after, as the word hour, in the phrase, after that hour. " Against
I see you," is a phrase of like construction. No single word is an object or
in the objective case after against ; but the whole affirmation is the object.
" Without we can possess ourselves," has a like construction, and though
superseded, in a degree, by unless, a word of similar import, is a true En-
glish phrase. After [this fact] men became christians — Against [that time
when] I see you — Without [this fact] we can possess ourselves.
Rule XLIII. — The modifiers of sentences, if, though, unless, and lest,
may be followed by verbs in the future tense, without the usual auxiliaries,
shall, will or should; as, "If his son ask bread, will he give him a
stone ?" " If he asft a fish, will he give him a serpent ?" " Though he slay
me, yet will I trust in him." " He shall not eat of the holy things, unless
he wash his flesh with water." " Lest thou say I have made Abram rich."
Except has a like effect upon the following verb ; as, " I will not let thee
go, except thou bless me." Wluther ha.s been numbered also among the
conjunctions, which require the conditional mode, but by an egregious mis-
take. It is not a connective, nor does it imply a condition or hypothesis, but
in alternative.
Rule XLIV. — Connectives join two or more clauses or members in a
compound sentence; as, "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from
.speaking guile."
Here are two clauses united by and, which continues the sense and pre-
vents the repetition of the verb keep.
"I sought the Lord, antZ he heard me, and delivered me from all my
fears." Here are three clauses combined into a sentence or period by the
help of and ; but a new verb is introduced in each, and the second connec-
tive prevents the repetition of the substitute he only.
" A wise son heareth his father's instruction ; but a scorner heareth not
rebuke." Here but joins tlie t(vo clauses, but a new character i.i the nomi-
native to a distinct verb, in the second clause, which exhibits a contrast to
the first, and no word is omitted.
GRAMMAR OF THE
Rule XLV.— Connectiv
10 the same verb, expi-essed
live verb or a preposition in the same case. Connectives also join verbs,
-tdjectives, and adveri)S. Kxample:
" Peter and John went up into the Temple."
Connectives join attributes and modifiers; as, "He is wise and virtuous,
*' An orator pleads eloquently and plausibly."
The connectives perform a very important office in abridging language,
by enabling us to omit words which must otherwise be repeated. Thus
when I say, " I esteem religion and virtue," two affirmations, •' I esteem re-
ligion, I esteem virtue," are actually included in the sentence.
When several words or clauses succeed each other, it is not uncommon to
omit the connective ; as, " We hear nothing of causing the blind to see, the
lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the lepers to be cleansed." Paley, Evid.
After the connective than, there may be and usually is an ellipsis of a
verb, a noun, or other words ; as, " There is none greater in this house than
I." Gen. xxxix. 9. That is, than I am.
"Only in the throne will I be greater than thou." Gen. \\\. That is,
than thou shalt be.
" He loves his money more than his honoi," that is, more than he loves
his honor.
" The king of the north shall return and set forth a multitude greater
than the former." Dan. xi. 13. That is, than the former multitude.
" I will pull down ray barns and build greater." Luke xii. That is,
greater barns.
Sometimes other words may be suppressed without obscuring the sense ;
as, " It is better for me to die than to live." Jonah iv. That is, better than
for me to live.
Precise rules for the ellipsis of words, in all cases, cannot be given. In
general, a writer will be governed by a regard to perspicuity, and omit no
word, when the want of it leaves the sense obscure or ambiguous, nor
when it weakens the strength of expression. But the following remarks
and examples may be of use to the student.
1. When a number of words are joined in consti'uction, the definitive
ifiay be omitted, except before the first ; as the sun, moon and stars ; a house
and garden. So also when two or more attributes agree with the samel
name ; as a great, wise and good prince. But when attributes or names are
particularly emphatical, the definitive should be expressed before each ; as
the sun, the moon and the stars.
2. The repetition of names adds emphasis to ideas ; as, " Christ, the pow-
er of God and the wisdom of God," is more emphatical than " Christ, the
power and the wisdom of God."
3. An adjective belonging to two or more nouns joined by a connective,
may be omitted except before the first ; as my house and garden ; good
qualities and actions. " rAejr interest and solicitation— " Ratnbler,5Q. Nor
does it make any difference that the nouns are in different numbei
adjectives have no distinction of number, the same word may be applied to
the singular number and the plural ; as a magnificent house and gardens ;
his bouse and lands. But when a precedes the first adjective, this construc-
tion is not elegant.
4. In compound sentences, a nominative pronoun or noun may be omitted
before all the verbs except the first ; as, I love, fear and respect the magis-
trate— instead of, I love, I fear and I respect. The substitute may some-
times be suppressed ; as the man I saw, for the man ivhom i saw.
5. An adverb need not be repeated with every word which it qualifies,
the connective and rendering it unnecessary ; as, he spoke and acted grace-
fidli/. Here gracefully belongs to speaking as well as to acting.
A preposition may be omitted after a connective ; as, he walked over the
hills and the valleys, that is, over the valleys.
After like and near, to is usually omitted ; as, " Like three distinct powers
in mechanics." Blackstone's Comm. 1. 2. That is, like to three. " Such
opinions as seemed to approach nearest the truth." Enfield, 2. 59. That is,
nearest to the truth.
Likewise* after join and adjoin, to is sometimes omitted ; as, " a garden
adjoining the river."
For is omitted by the poets after mourn.
" He mourn'd no recreant friend, no mistress coy." Beatlie.
PUNCTUATION.
Punctuation is the marking of the several pauses which are to be ob-
served, in reading or speaking a sentence or continued discourse. By
means of pauses, a discourse is divided into periods or complete sentences,
.md periods into clauses or simple sentences, and these, into phrases.
A period is a sentence complete, making perfect sense, and not connect-
ed in constniction with what follows. The pause after the period is mark-
ed by a point [.] and in speaking, is distinguished by a cadence or fall of the
The members of a period, or clauses and phrases, are all more or less con-
nected in sense, and according to the nearness of the connection, are mark-
ed by a comma [,] a semicolon [ ;] or a colon [:]
The comma is the shortest pause, and is often used to mark the construc-
tion, where very little interruption of voice is allowphle
I A simple sentence or clause contains an affirmation, a command or a
iquesuou, that is, one personal verb, with its nominaiive and adjuncts. By
adjunct^ is meant any phrase or number of words added by way of modify-
ing or qualifying the primary words. Thus when it is said, " Cicero was
an orator of a diffuse style," the latter words, of a diffuse style, are the ad-
jmict of orator, and the whole forms a complete simple sentence, with one
verb or affirmation.
A phrase contains no assertion, or does not amount to a proposition.
Comma.
Rule I. In general the parts of a simple sentence or clause are not to
be separated by any point whatever ;
dition of life." But when a simple
phrase or phrases, modifying the affir
, " To be very active in laudable p
istic of a man of merit ""
Hope is necessary in every con-
is long, or contains a distinct
it may be divided by a comma;
is the distinguishing character-
. revengmg an injury, a man is but even with
his enemy." In most cases, where a short pause will give distinctness to
ideas, a comma is well placed after an important word ; as, " To mourn with-
out measure, is folly; not to mourn at all, insensibility." The pause
after measure, in this sentence, is essential to the sti engtli of the expression.
" The idea of beauty is vague and undefined, different in different minds,
and diversified by time or place." Rambler.
Rule II. When a connective is omitted between two or more words,
hether names, adjectives, pronouns, verbs or modifiers, the place is sup-
plied by a comma ; as, " Love, joy, peace and blessedness are reserved for
the good." " The miseries of poverty, of sickness, of captivity, would,
without hope, be insupportable." Rambler. " We hear nothing of caus-
ing the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the lepers to be
cleansed." Paley. " He who loves, serves and obeys his maker, is a pi-
ous man." " Industry steadily, prudently and vigorously pursued, leads
to wealth." " David was a brave, martial, enterpiising prince." " The
most innocent pleasures are the most rational, the most delightful and the
most durable."
Rule HI. Two or nvore simple sentences closely connected in sense,
or dependent on each other, are separated by a comma only ; as, " When
our vices leave us, we flatter ourselves we leave them." " The temperate
man's pleasures are durable, because they are regular." " That all the
duties of morality ought to be practised, is without difficulty discoverable,
because ignorance or uncertainty would immediately involve the world in
confusion and distress." Rambler.
Rule IV. The sentence independent or case absolute, detached affir-
mations or phrases involved in sentences, and other important clauses, must
be separated from the other parts of a sentence, by a comma; as, "The
envoy has returned, his business being accomplished." The envoy, hav-
ing accomplished his business, has returned." " Providence has, I think,
displayed a tendeiness for mankind." Rambler. " The decision of patron-
age, who was but half a goddess, has been sometimes erroneous." Ibm.
" The sciences, after a thousand indignities, retired from the palace of pat-
ronage." Ibm. " It is, in many cases, apparent." Ibm.
Rule V. A comma is often required to mark contrast, anfithesis, or re-
markable points in a sentence, and sometimes very properly separates words
closely dependent in construction ; as, " a good man will 'love himself too
well to lose, and his neighbor too well to win, an estate by gaming."
" Prosperity gains friends, and adversity tries them." " It is harder to
avoid censure, than to gain applause."
" Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull."
Rule VI. A single name in apposition is not separated by a comma ;
as, " the Apostle Peter:" but when such name is accompanied with an ad-
junct, it should be separated ; as, " Parmenio, a friend of Alexander's, hear-
ing the great offers that Darius had made, said, " Were 1 Alexander, I
would accept them." " So would I," replied Alexander, " were I Par-
menio."
Rule VII. Terms of address, and words of others repeated, but not in-
troduced as a quotation, are separated by a comma ; as, " Wherefore, Sirs,
be of good cheer." " My son, hear the counsel of thy father." "Thus
halt tliou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
Exodus.
Rule VIII. Modifying words and phrases, as however, nay, hence, be-
ides, in short, finally, formerly, &c. are usually separated by a comma ; as,
' It is, however, the task of criticism to establish principles." Rambler.
Semicolon.
The semicolon is placed between the clauses of a period, which are less
losely connected than such as are separated by a cojnma.
First. When the first division of a sentence completes a proposition, so
as to have no dependence on what follows ; but the following clause has a
dependence on the preceding, the two parts are separated generally by a
semicolon ; as, " It may he laid down as a maxim, that it is more easy to
take away superfluities than to supply defects ; and therefore he that is cul-
pable, because he has passed the middle point of virtue, is always accounted
a fairer object of hope, than he who fails by falling short." Rambler. In
this sentence the part of the sentence preceding the semicolon is a perfect
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
period in itself, and miglit have beeu closed with a full point ; but the au- (voice, and the longest pause used between sentences. It closes a discourse
5ior has added' another division, by way of inference, and this is dependent :also, or marks a completion of a subject, chapter or section,
on the first division. The author proceeds— " The one has all that perfec- ; The full point is used also after initials when used alone, as after N. S.
tion requires, and more, but the excess may be easily retrenched ; the other\for New Style ; and after abbreviations, as Croc. Anglic, for Crocus All-
wants the qualities requisite to excellence." Here the first division makes l[glicanus.
t complete proposition ; but the antithesis begun by the numeral one, is not
complete, without tlie last division.
" Economy is no disgrace ; for it is better to live on a little, than to out-
live a great deal." , , , v . . <•
" Be in peace with many ; nevertheless, have but one counselor of a
thousand."
" A friend cannot be known in prosperity ; an enemy cannot be hid in ad-
versity."
In general then, the semicolon separates the divisions of a sentence,
when the latter division has a dependence on the former, whether the for-
1 the sentence or an abrupt turn; as.
To these may be added.
The dash [ — ] which marks a break i
** If thou art he — but O how fallen !"
The interrogation point [.'] that closes a sentence which asks a question ;
as, " How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity .'"
The exclamation point [!] which is used after sudden expressions of sur-
prise, or other emotions; as, "O happiness ! Our being's end and aim I"
The parenthesis ( ) and hooks [ ] include a remark or clause not essential
to the sentence in consti-uction, but useful in explaining it or introducing an
mportant idea. They mark a moderate pause, and the clause included is
iner has a dependence on the latter or not. j.read with a depressed tone of voice ; ;
Secondly. When several members of a sentence have a dependence on^ "Know then this truth (enough I
each other, by means of a substitute for the same principal word, and the | Virtue alone is happiness below." Pope.
clauses, in other respects, constitute distinct propositions, the semicolon ,! n ^jn be readily seen that the sentence is not at all dependent on the
may be used ; as, " Wisdom hath builded her house ; she hath hewn out ' parenthetical clause ; but the converse is not true, for that clause has a de-
her seven pillars ; she hath killed her beasts
£he hath also furnished her table." Prov. ix
Colon.
The Colon is used when the sense of the division of i
tigled her wine ;
■ man to know)
pendence more or less remote on the sentence. Thus, enough for 7nan to
know, is not intelligible without connecting it with the parts of the sentence
preceding and following. So in this passage ; " If any one pretends to be so
sceptical, as to deny his own existence (for really to doubt of it, is manifest-
ly impossible) let him enjoy his beloved happiness." Locke, 4. 10. 2. The
, as to admit of a full point, but something is ^dded by way of illustration .^^^ .^ .^ ^ substitute for existence. V ^V
as, " A brute arrives at a point of perfection that he can never pass m a ^,.^^ ^ ^^ j,^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^
few years he has all the endowments he is capable of and were he tohve ;^^^ seliicolon, colon and full pointfmay bear to each other the propor-
.„„ ...„„.,„. ,„„.„ „.„„M h„ .h, same thmg he is at P'^^e" -^^^^ ^^^ | tion of one, two, four and six ; and the interrogation point and exclamation
'^ >- • 'jpoint may be considered each as equal in time to the colon or period. But
Period. "° precise rule can be given, which shall extend to every case ; the length
ten thousand i
The Period or full point marks c
nplctic
of the pauses must depend much on the nature of the discourse, and their re-
1 of the sense, a cadence of the Ispective proportions may be often varied to advantage by a judicious speaker,
DIRECTIONS
PRONUNCIATION OF WOMO^.
els are the first or long, and the second
Examples of the first or long
sound.
a in make, fate, grace.
c in me, mete, meter.
i in pine, bind, strife.
o in note, hold, port.
u in true, duty, rude.
y in dry, defy, imply.
The principal things to be regardec
Examples of the second or short
sound.
a in mat, ban, grand,
e in bet, men, send.
i in bit, pin, miss,
o in not, boss, bond,
u in dun, must, refund,
y in pity, cycle, synonym
in learning the pronunciation of Eng-
lish words, are the accent and the sound of the vowel of the accented syl-
lable.
Rule I. This mark ' called an accent, designates the accented syllable.
II. The accent placed immediately after a vowel indicates the vowel to
have its first or long sound, either at the end or in the middle of a
syllable ; as in sa'cred, prc'cept, ri'ot, po'et, mu'sic, cy'press ; de-
gra'de, reple'te, divi'de, explo'de, intru'de.
HI. A horizontal mark or point over a vowel shows it to be long, and
when no accent is found in the word, this mark designates the ac-
cented syllable; as in discourse, encroach, bestow, enroll,
suitable.
IV. An accent placed immediately after a consonant, or combination of
consonants in the same syllable, indicates that the vowel of that syl-
lable, if unpointed, is short; as in hab'it, ten'et, con'duct, ul'cer,
sym'bol ; adapt', intend', predict', despond', abrupt'.
Exceptions.
1. A pointed vowel has the sound designated by the point or
points ; as in full'ness, al'terable, book'ish, convey'.
2. a before II, Id and Ik, in monosyllables or accented syllables,
has its broad sound like aw; as in befall', bald'ness, walk'ing.
3. 0 before II is long ; as in enroll'.
V. An accent immediately after a diphthong, or after a syllable con-
taining one, designates the accented syllable, but the diphthong has
its proper sound; as in renew', devour', avow', appoint', annoy'.
\'I. This mark ' called in Greek the grave accent, placed before a vowel,
indicates that vowel to have its ItaUan sound, as in >ask, b'ar, fa-
ther, m'ask. In words of two or more syllables, when no other ac-
cent is used, this designates the accented syllable ; as in ^answera-
ble, b'argain.
VII. Two accents immediately before c, / or s, indicate that c, t or s, in
pronunciation, coalesces with the following vowel, and form the
sound of sA or zh, which closes the syllable, and of course the pre-
ceding vowel is short. Thus, vi"cious, ambi"tion, are pronounced
vish'us, ambish'on ; vi'sion is pronounced vizh'un.
VIII. C before a, o and m, and in some other situations, is a close articula-
tion, like k, and in the vocabulary of this work, whenever it is equiv-
alent to A:, it is marked thus C
Before e, i and y, c is precisely equivalent to s, in some, this ; as
in cedar, civil, cypress, capacity.
IX. E tinal answers the following purposes.
1. It indicates that the preceding vowel is long ; as in hate, mete,
sire, robe, lyre ; abate, recede, invite, remote, intrude.
2. It indicates that c preceding has the sound of s, as in lace,
lance, and that g preceding has the sound of j, as in charge,
page, challenge.
3. In proper English words, e final never forms a syllable, and
in most words, in the terminating unaccented syllable, it is si-
lent and useless. Thus, motive, genuine, examine, juvenile,
reptile, granite, are pronounced motiv, genuin, examin, juve-
nil,reptil, grauil.
In a few words of foreign origin, e final forms a syllable ; a?
in syncope, simile. These are noted in their place.
X. E final is silent after I in the following terminations, ble, cle, die, fle,
gle, kle, pie, tie, zle; as in able, manacle, cradle, ruffle, mangle,
wrinkle, supple, rattle, puzzle, which are pronounced a'bl, man'aci,
cra'dl, ruPfl, man'gl, wrin'kl, sup'pl, puz'zl.
XI. In the termination en, e is usually silent ; as in token, broken, pro-
nounced tokn,brokn.
XII. The termination ous in adjectives and their derivatives is pronounced
us ; as in gracious, pious, pompously.
XIII. The combinations ce, ci, ti, before a vowel, have the sound of sh ; as
in cetaceous, gracious, motion, partial, ingratiate, pronounced ceta-
shus, grashus, moshon, parshal, ingrashate.
But ti after a consonant have the sound of ch ; as in christian, bas-
tion, mixtion, pronounced chrischan, baschan, mixchun. So in
combustion, digestion.
St after an accented vowel are pronounced like zh ; as in Ephe-
sian, confusion, pronounced Ephezhan, confuzhon.
When cior ti precede similar combinations, as in pronunciation,
negotiation, they may be pronounced ce, instead of she, to prevent
a repetition of the latter syllable ; as pronunciashon, instead of pro-
nunshashon.
XIV. Gh, both in the middle and at the end of words, are silent ; as in
caught, bought, fright, nigh, sigh ; pronounced caut, baut, frite.
Exceptions. In the following words gh are pronounced as/ —
cough, chough, clough, enough, hough, laugh, rough, slough,
tough, trough.
XV. When wh begin a word, the aspirate A precedes M> in pronunciation,
as in what, whiff, whale, pronounced hwat, hwif, hwale ; id having
precisely the sound of oo, French mi.
In the following words, iv is silent — who, whom, whose, whoop,
whole, whore.
XVI. H after r has no sound nor use ; as in rheum, rhyme, pronounced
reum, ryme.
XVII. K and g before n arc silent ; as in know, gnaw, pronounced no, naw.
XVIII. W^ before ris silent; as in wring, wreath, pronounced ring, reath.
XIX. £ after m is silent ; as in dumb, numb, pronounced dum, num.
XX. L before k is silent ; as in baulk, walk, talk, pronounced bank, wauk,
tank.
XXI. Ph have the sound of/; as in philosophy.
XXII. The combination no- has two sounds; one, as in sing, singer; the
other, as in finger, linger, longer. The latter is the more close pal-
atal sound; but the distinction can only be learned by the ear.
XXIII. The letters c/, answering to kl, are pronounced as if written tl ;
clear, clean, arc pronounced tlear, tlean.
Gl are pronounced as dl; glory is pronounced dlory.
XXIV. ,/V after m, and closing a syllable, is silent ; as m hymn, condemn.
XXV. P before s and t is mute ; as in psalm, pseudology, ptarmigan, pro-
nounced s;\m, sudology, tarmigan.
The letter y unaccented and terminating words of more syllables than one
is short, like I in pity and ability. This letter, in the plural number of nouns
and in the third person singular of the present tense of verbs, is dropped, and
ie substituted and followed by s. The termination thus formed is pronoun-
ced iz ; as from vanity, is formed vanities, pronounced vanitiz ; from the verb
to pity is formed pities, pronounced piUz.
But when y in monosyllabic verbs, and accented y in other verbs ends the
word, the termination ies in the third person is pronounced izc; as in flies
from fly, defies from defy. So cries, both the verb iuid noun, is pronounced
crizp.
<V has two sounds : its proper souiul as in see, and that of z as in his. It
PRONUNCIATION OF WORDS.
has its proper sound after the following consonants/, p, t, k, €, and //; as-
pirate, whether they end the word or are followed bj' c final ; as in rhiefs
caps, streets, franks, hates, hopes, fates, flakes, breaths, wreaths. It has
(he sound of z, after 6, c followed by e final, rf, g, g!i, I, m, n,n, r,s and ss
z, V, aw, ay, ew, ey, ow, oy, sh, ng, th vocal, eh, oe, ie, both in nouns anil
verbs, and whether these letters end the word or are followed by e final ; a-
in robs, robes, races, rods, rides, rags, rages, toils, dreams, sighs, rains, bars
waves, roses, passes, mazes, laws, days, newt, preys, vows, joys, brushes,
ftngs, breathes, churches, foes, goes, ijies.
Sc before e, i and y, have only the sotnid of the single letter s or e. Thus
scene is pronounced sene; sciolist, siolist.
S before m, in the terminations, asm, earn, ism, has the sound of z; as ii
fpasra, telesm, baptism.
The pronunciation of the word which is radical or primitive in English ii
lo be observed in the derivatives. Thus the letter s is directed to be pro
Bounced as z in bruise, and this direction is to be observed in all its deriva
lives. Earth being directed lo he pronounced erth, all its derivatives and
compounds are to follow the same direction. So freight is pronounced yra^e.
POINTED LETTERS.
A has the short sound of aw; as in alter, what.
€ [ke] is the sairie as k ; as in cape, access.
E whether by itself or followed by i or y, has the sound of c
long ; as in lohere, there, vein, survey,
i has the sound of e long, or ee ; as in machine.
O has the sound of oo, or French ou; as in move.
0 lias the sound of sliort it ; as in come, wonder.
QQ have the short sound of oo ; as in book, look.
__ y has the .sound of oo ; as above, as in full, pull.
CH have tlie French sound, like sh; as in chaise.
G has the sound of ^■.
TH have their vocal sound ; as in thou, this.
V has the sound otyu; as in unite, use, pronounced yunite,yuse
In digraphs or combinations of vowels, of which one only is pronounced,
the mark over one vowel designates the sound, and the other vowel is qui
escent ; a.s in bear, boat, course, soul, blood, bilw, low, crow, bestow.
The digraphs ea, ee, ei, ie have uniformly the sound of long e ; as in meat,
feet, seize, siege.
Before the letter r. there is a slight sound of e between the vowel and the
consonant. Thus bare, parent, apparent, mere, mire, more, pure, pyre, are
pronounced nearly baer, paerent, appaerent, me-er, mier, moer, puer, pyer.
This pronunciation proceeds from the peculiar articulation r, and it occa-
sions a slight change of the sound of a, which can be learned only by the ear.
The vowels in unaccented syllables are either short, or they have thcirl
first sound slightly pronounced. Thus in the words produce, domestic, a
has its first sound, but pronounced rapidly and without force. In syllables
which have a secondary accent, the vowel is often long, and little distin-j
guishable from that in syllables having the primary accent ; as in legislature,'
in which a in the third syllable has its long sound. I
In syllables wholly unaccented, the sounds of the vowels are so rapidly
uttered, that they cannot be designated by written characters ; they are all
sounded nearly alike, and any attempt at a proper notation of such evanes
cent sounds serves only to perplex or mislead the learner.
Words of anomalous pronunciation, not falling under the foregoing rules,
jre printed in an orthography which expresses their true pronunciation,
The Welsh z has the sound of the vocal tk, in thou.
In the expression of the sounds of foreign words in English characters,
iheio IS often an insurmountable difficulty, as there are sounds, in some Ian
guages, which English characters, according to our use of them, will not
express with precision. But in regard to etymology, such exact expression
of .sounds is not necessary. For example, in regard to the affinity of words,
it is wholly immaterial whether the Hebrew 3 is expressed by b, v, or bh;
whether 1 is expressed by d, th, or dh ; whether D is expressed by h or
ch ; and whether p is expressed by k, q, or qu. So in Arabic it is immate-
rial whether j^ is expressed by th or ds, and ri by g or kh.
The Arabic vowel ^arta, I am informed, is differently pronounced by the
Persians and Arabians; the one nation pronouncing it as the English a in
mate; the other, generally, as a in fall. I have expressed it by a or aw.
It was desirable that the Russ, Saxon, Swedish, and German words should
be printed with the appropriate types ; but the utility would have liardly
compensated for the expense of suitable fonts, and no essential incoHveni-
ence can result from the want of them; the English characters being suffi-
cient to express the sounds of the letters, with all the exactness which et)'-
mology requires.
ABBREVIATIONS EXPLAINED.
a. stands for adjective.
adv. „ for adverb.
con. ,, for connective or conjunction.
exclam. „ for exclamation, or interjection.
n. ,, for name or noun.
Obs. „ for obsolete.
prep. „ for preposition.
pp. „ for participle passive.
ppr. „ for participle of the present tense,
pret. ,, for preterit tense.
pron. „ for pronoun.
". J. „ for verb intransitive.
'•. '. ,, for verb transitive.
./Ir. „ for Arabic.
yirm. m „ for Armoric.
Ch. „ for Chaldee.
Corn. „ for Cornish.
Dan. „ for Danish.
D. „ for Dutch or Belgic.
Eng. „ for England or English.
Eth. „ for Ethiopic.
Fr. „ for French.
G. or Ger. „ for German.
Gr. „ for Greek.
Goth. „ for Gothic.
Heb. „ for Hebrew.
Ice. „ for Icelandic.
.''■• „ for Irish, Hiberno-Celtic, and Gaelic.
11. „ for Italian.
Lat. or L. „ for Latin.
Per. „ for Persic or Persian.
Port. „ for Portuguese.
Ptiss. „ for the Russ language, or Russian.
Sam. „ for Samaritan.
Sans. „ for Sanscrit.
Sax. „ for Saxon, or
Sp. „ for Spanish.
Sw. „ for Swedish.
Syr. „ for Syriac.
TV. „ for Welsh.
Anglo-Saxon.
ALPHABETS.
Hebrew and
Chaldee.
Aleph N
Samaii
Beth
3
a
Gimel
J
1
Daleth
T
^
He
n
^
Vau
1
■K
Zain
I
^
Clieth
n
^
Yod
'
m
Caph
13
a
Lamed
h
I
Mem
D D
a
Nun
1 J
i
Samech
0
^
Ain
}f
V
Phe
r\S
3
Tzaddi
Y^
•m
Koph
P
p
Resch
1
^
Sin
Shin
l\
Mi
-J >
j >
fcli
Names.
Elif
Be
Jim
Dal
Dhal
He
Wau
Ze
Ha
Kha
Ta
Tha
Ye
Kef
Lam
Mim
Nmi
■tjtanting
Ain
Gain
Fe
Tsad
Dhad
Kaf
Re
Sin
Shin
Te
The
The Arabic vowels are only three, viz. Fatha ^ a, e. Kesra ~ e, i. Dhamina J
The diacritical signs are Jesm Jj_ or quiescent Slieva. Teshdid _^ or Dagesh forte.
Nunnation or double final vowels, j^~ ^, showing that they are to be pronounced
The Persians use the Ar
Short.
it
o iJi
J J'
%
Names.
Olaph
Beth
Gomal
Dolath
He
\'au
Zain
Heth
i \
medial.
\
^i^-
Yud
^^
Coph
—
Lomad
^'^,
Mim
Nun
Semcath
V-
Ee
V\'\
Fe
^3.^
Tsode
vi-
Kuph
^^
Rish
i I
— i
ibic alphabet with the addition of Pe J ; Che ^ ; Ghaf ■
Long. Ethiopic.
, en or in, i
and Zhe
Long.
Alph
Bet
Gemel
Den
Hoi
Waw
Zai
Haut
^a
nba
Ogd
yha
f\ c Ay l\o
a be HI by pbo
Ige Tgy -^go
£de jrdy ^do
yhe yhv 1/ho
Aa (Vu A.1
nba fVbu n,bi
T ga ^ gu 1 gi
S da J?, dii j^ di
Uha l>hu yhi
0 wa (D, \vu "^ wi T wa T we (D' vvy p wo
H za I+. zii H, zi H za H, ze Th zy h zo
rhha d>hu dxbi rhba rh,be ^hy rbho
Hharm '*7ha -V hn "^hi -^ha -^ be -^hy <ho
Tait mtba f[vthu fj^thi rfitha n\tbe ^tby fptho
Yaman pya pyu aj' ^J^- ^Y^ ^JJ P'jo
duaf nka rbku n.ki nka n,ke ^ky ^ko
Lawi A la A^ lu A, h A la A, le A ly A" lu
Mai
Nahas
Saut
Ain
Af
Pait
Psa
Zadai
Zappi
Kaf
JRees
Saat
Tawi
<wma <?>niu ''^mi t^ma '^me /^niy <prao
^na Vnu ^ni 'I'na ^ne ^ny S°no
U] sa U> su 111, si m sa IH, se ^ sy MJ so
Oa Ou <\i 0,0. o^e 6y Po
d!:fa .<fu <i;fi <tfa ^fe <i:fy tf^fo
f\ pa ^ pu ?i, pi ;^ pa /^ pe ?i py {Kpo
T pa T pu X P' J pa T pe T py T po
8za ft,zii a,zi 8za f^ze 8'zy 8zo
9 zza 9- zzu (^ zzi q zza q, zze e zzy ^zzo
«t>ka <fekii "^ki fka <feko ^ ky 'Pko
d.ra 4.111 (^ri ^ra 4 re £;ry Cro
rtsa iVsu i\si i^sa i^se ?isy ^so
i- ta i^tu 'titi ^ta -tie '=hty i^to
Note. — In the foregoing alphabets, the order of the Arabic and Ethiopic letters is conformed to that of the Chaldee and Hebrew. The reader will
observe two or three defects, which are owing to the imperfection of the fonts of type.
AN
AMERICAN DICTIONARY
OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
i/a is the first letter of the Alphabet in
of the known languages of the eartli ; in
the Ethiopic however it is the thirteenth,
and in the Runic the tenth. It is naturall;
the first letter, because it represents the
first vocal sound naturally formed by the
human organs : being the sound uttered
with a mere opening of the mouth without
constraint, and without any effort to alter
the natural position or configuration of the
bps. Hence this letter is Ibund in many
words first uttered bv infants ; which
words are the names of the objects with
which infants are first concerned, as the
breast, and the parents. Hence in He-
brew DK am, is mother, and ax ah, is father.
In Chaldee and Syriac ahba is father ; k
Arabic, aba ; in Ethiopic, abi ; in Mala-
yan and Bengalese, lappa ; in Welsh, tad,
whence we retain daddy ; in Old Greek and
in Gothic atta ; in Irish, aithair ; in Can
tabrian, aita ; in Lapponic, atki ; in Abys
sinian, abba ; in Amharic, aba ; in Shilhit
and Melindane, Afi-ican dialects, baba
and papa is found in many nations. Hence
the Latin mamma, the breast, which is, ii
popular use, the name of mother ; in Swe
dish, amma, is a nurse. This list might be
greatly extended ; but these examples
prove A to be the first natural vocal sound,
and entitled to the first place in alphabets.
The Hebrew name of this letter, aleph
signifies an ox or a leader.
A has in English, tliree sounds ; tlie long or
slender, as in place, fate ; the broad, as in
wall, fall, which is shortened in salt, what ;
and the open, as in father, glass, which is
shortened in rather, fancy. Its primitive
.sound was probablv aw. A is also an
abbreviation of the Saxon an or ane, one,
used before words beginning with an ar-
ticulation ; as a table, instead of an table,
or one table. This is a modern change;
for m Saxon an was used before articula-
tions, as well as vowels, as, an tid, a tune
an gear, a year [See An.]
This letter serves as a prefix to many Eng
lish words, as in asleep ; awake ; afoot
aground ; agoing. In some cases, this is a
contraction of the Teutonic ge, as in asleep,
aware, from the Sa.xon geslapan, to sleep ;
gewarian, to beware ; the Dutch gewaar.
Sometimes it is a corruption of the Saxon
on, as again fi-om ongean, awake from on-
wacian, to watch or wake. Before parti-
ciples, it may be a contraction of the Celtic
ag, the sign of the participle of the present
tense ; as, ag-radh, saying ; a saying, ago
mg. Or this may be a contraction of on,
or what is equally probable, it may have
proceeded from a mere accidental sound
produced by neghgent utterance. In
some words, a may be a contraction of
at, of, in, to, or an. In some words of Greek
original, a is privative, giving to them a
negative sense, as in anonymous, from a
and ovo/ia name.
Among the ancients, A was a numeral .ieno
tmg 500 ; and with a dash A 5000. In the
Hebrew, Syr. Ch. Sam. and Ar. it denotes
one or unity. In the Julian Calendar, A
is the first of the seven dominical letters.
Among logicians. A, as an abbreviation,
stands for a universal aflirmative proposi-
tion. A asserts ; E denies. Thus in bar-
hara,a tlu-ice repeated denotes so many of]
the propositions to be universal.
The Romans used A to signify a negative orj
dissent in giving their votes ; A standing
for antiquo, I o])pose or object to the pro-
posed law. Opposed to tliis letter were
U R, uti rogas, be it as you desire — the
words used to express assent to a proposi-
tion. These letters were marked on
wooden ballots, and each voter had an
aflirmative and a negative put into liis!
hands, one of which at pleasure he gavel
as his vote.— In criminal trials, A stood for
absolvo, I acquit : C for condemno, I con-|
denm ; and AT L for non liquet, it is not
evident ; and the judges voted by ballots
thus marked.— In inscriptions, A stands for
Augustus ; or for ager, aiunt, aurum, ar-
gentum, &c.
A is also used for anno, or ante ; as in An-
no Domini, the year of our Lord ; anno
mundi, the year of the world ; ante merid-
iem, before noon ; and for arts, in artium
magister, master of arts. Among the Ro-
mans, A U C stood for anno ab urbe condi-
ta, from the building of the city or Rome.
In algebra, a and the first letters of the al-
phabet represent known quantities— the
last letters are sometimes used to repre-
sent unknown quantities.
In music, A is the nominal of the sixth note
in the natural diatonic scale — called by
Guido la. It is also the name of one of
the two natural moods ; and it is the open
note of the 2d string of the violin, by which
the other strings are tuned and regulated.
In pharmacy, a or aa, abbreviations of the
Greek ana, signify of each separately, or
that the things mentioned should be taken
in quantities of the same weight or meas-
ure.
In chimistry, AAA stand for amalgama, or
amalgamation.
In commerce, A stands for accepted, as in case
of a bill of exchange. Mercliants also
number their books by the letters — ^A, B, C,
instead of figures. PubUc ofiicers number
their exhibits in the same manner ; as the
document A, or B.
Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters
of the Greek Alphabet, are used in Scrip-
ture for the beginning and end — represen-
tative of Christ.
In mathematics, letters are used as represen-
tatives of nimibers, Hues, angles and quan-
tities. In arguments, letters are substitu-
ted for persons, in cases supposed, or stat-
ed for illustration, as A contracts with B
to deliver property to D.—h\ the English
ABA
ABA
ABA
jJuaseolonjy " a landlord has a hundred
a year," " the sum amounted to ten dollars
rt man," a is merely tlie adjective one, and
this mode of expression is idiomatic ; a
hundred in o [one] year ; ten dollars to a
AAM, n. [Ch. riDN, or xnK a cubit, a measure
containing 5 or 6 palms.] A measure of
liquids among the Dutch equal to 288
English pints.
A 'TRONIC, u. Tert&ining to Aaron, the
■Jrwish High P) icst, or to the priesthood
of which he was the head. Doddridge.
AB, In Knghsh names, is an abbreviation of
Abbey or Abbot ; as Abbingdon, Abbey-
town, Abbeyhill, Abbol-town.
AB, a prefix to words of Latin origin, and a
Latin preposition, as in abscond, is the
Greek arco, and the Eng. of, Ger. ab, D. af,
Sw. Dan. af, written in ancient Latin af.
It denotes from, separating or departure.
AB, The Hebrew name of Father. See Abba.
AB, The eleventh month of the Jewish civil
year, and the fiflh of the ecclesiastical
year, answermg to a part of July, and a
part of August. In the Syriac Calendar,
ab is the name of the last summer month.
AB'ACIST, n. [from abacus.]
One that casts accoimts ; a calculator.
[JVot much ^ised.]
ABACK' adv. [a and back, Sax. on bcec ; at,
on or towards the back. See Back.]
Towards the back ; on the back part ; back-
ward. In seamen's language it signifies
tlie situation of the sails, when pressed
back against the mast by the wind.
7'aken aback, is when the sails are carried
back suddenly by the wind.
Laid aback, is when the sails are purposely
placed in that situation to give the shi|
sternway, -- . . _.
can and Doric orders. Encm.
ABACUS PYTHAGORICUS, The nmki-
plication table, invented by Pvthagoras.
ABACUS HARMONICUS, The structure
and disposition of the keys of a musical
instrument.
ABACUS MAJOR, A trough used in mines,
to wash ore in. Encyc.
AB'ADA, n. A wild animal of Africa, of the
of a steer, or half grown colt, having
to the plinth above the boultin in the Tus-f|ABAN'DONER, n. One who abandons.
two horns on its forehead and a third on ABAN'GA, n. The ady ; a species of Palm-
the nape of the neck. Its head and tail
AB'ACOT, n. The cap of State, formerly ^
used by Enghsh Kings, wrought into the
figure of two crowns.
ABACTOR, n. [Latin from abigo, ab and
ago, to drive.]
tn law, one tliat feloniously drives away or
steals a herd or numbers of cattle at once,
in distinction from one that steals a sheep
or two.
AB'ACUS n. [L. abacus, any thing flat, as a
cupboard, a bench, a slate, a table or board
for games; Gr. agot. Usually deduced
from the Oriental, n3X abak, dust, be
cause the ancients used tables covered
with dust for maldng figures and dia-
grams.]
1. Among the Romans, a cupboard or buffet
2. An instrument to facilitate operations in
arithmetic ; on this are drawn lines
counter on the lowest line, is one ; on the
next, ten ; on the third, a hundred, &c
On the spaces, counters denote half the
number of the line above. Other schemes
are called by the same name. The name
is also given to a table of numbers cast up,
as an abactts of addition ; and by analogy,
to the art of numbering, as in itnighton's
Chronicon. ^ "Encyc
3. In architecture, a table constituting the up-
per member or crowning of a column and
its capital. It is usually square, but some-
times its sides are arched inwards. The
name is also given to a concave nioldmg
on the capital of the Tuscan pedestal ; and
resemble those of an ox, but it has cloven
feet, like the stag. Cyc.
ABADDON, n. [Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. n3N,
to be lost, or destroyed, to perish.]
1. The destroyer, or angel of the bottomless
pit. Rev. ix.
2. The bottomless pit. Milton.
AB'AFT, adv. or prep. [Sax. eft or aft, again.
Hence efler or cefter, after, subsequent ;
Sax. (eftan, behind in place ; to which
word be is prefixed — beaiftan, behind, and
this word is corrupted into abaft.]
A sea-term signifying in or at the hinder
part of a ship, or the parts which lie to-
wards the stern ; opposed to afore. Rela-
tively it denotes /uri/ier ajl or towards the
stern ; as abaft the mainmast. Abajl the
beam, is ui that arch of the horizon which
is between a hne drawn at right angles
with the keel, and the point to which the
stern is directed. It is often contracted
into aft. Mar. Diet.
AB AGUN, n. The name of a fowl in Ethi-
o])ia, remarkable for its beauty and for a
sort of horn, growing on its head. The
wcpi-il hianifies statelv Abbot. Crabbe.
Al'.AISA.NCE, [See Obeisance.
Maiiner''s Dic't.W^ 15 V LI UN ATE v. t. [See Alienate, Aliene.
title of property from one to
another — a term of the civil law — rarely or
never used in common law proceedings.
ABALIENA'TION, n. The transferring of
title to propenv. [See Alienation.]
ABAN'DON, D. «. [Fr. abandonner; Sp. and
Port, abandonar ; It. abbandonare ; said to
be from ban, and donner, to give over to
the ban or proscription ; or from a or ab
and bandum, a flag or ensign.]
1. To forsake entirely ; as to abandon
hopeless enterprize.
Wo to that generation by which the te^itimony
of God shall be abandoned. Dr. .Mason.
2. To renounce and forsake ; to leave witl
a view never to return ; to desert as lost
or desperate ; as to abandon a country ;
to abandon a cause or party.
3. To give up or resign witliout control, as
when a person yields himself, witliout res
traint, to a propensity ; as to abandon
one's self to intemperance. Abandoned
over and abandoned of are obsolete,
4. To resign ; to yield, relinquish, or give
over entirely.
Varus abandoned the cares of empire to hi-
wiser colleague. Gibbon
ABAN'DON, n. One who totally forsake>
or deserts. Obs.
3. A relinquishment. [Xot used.] Karnes.
ABAN'DONED, pp. Wholly forsaken or
deserted.
iVBAN'DONING, ppr. Forsaking or de-
serting wholly ; renoimcing ; yielding
one's self without restraint.
ABAN'DONING, n. A forsaking ; total de-
sertion.
lie hoped his past meritorious actions might
outweigh his present abandoning the thought
of future actions. Clarendon.
ABAN'DONMENT, n. A total desertion ; a
.state of being forsaken.
3. Given up
hence, extremely
tree. [See Ady.]
ABANNI'TION; «. [Low Lat.]
A banishment for one or two years for man-
slaughter. [JVot used.] Diet.
ABAPTIS'TON, n. The perforating part of
he trephine, an instrimient used in tre-
panning. Coxe.
ABA'RE, V. t. [Sax. abarian. See Bare.]
To make bare ; to uncover. [Abi in use.]
ABARTICULA'TION, n. [See Articulate.]
In anatomy, that species of articulation or
structure of joints, which admits of mani-
fest or extensive motion ; called also diar-
tlirosis and dearticulation. Encyc. Coxe.
ABAS', n. A weight in Persia used in
weighing pearls, one eighth less than the
European carat. Encyc.
ABA'SE, V. t. [Fr. abaisser, fi-om bas, low,
or the bottom ; W. bais ; Latin and Gr.
basis ; Eng. base ; It. Abbassare ; Sp. baxo,
low. See "Aba^h.]
1. The literal sense of aba^e is to lower or
depress, to throw or cast down, as used by
Bacon, " to abase the eye." But the word
is seldom used in reference to material
tilings.
3. To cast down ; to reduce low ; to de-
press ; to humble ; to degrade ; applied to
the passions, rank, oflice, and condition in
Ufe.
Those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Dan. iv.
Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased.
Mat. xxiii. Job, xl. 2 Cor. xi.
ABASED, pp. Reduced to a low state,
humbled, degraded.
In heraldry, it is used of tlie wings of eagles,,
when the tops are turned downwards to-
wards the point of the shield ; or when the
wings are shut, the natural way of bear-
ing them being spread, with the top point-
ing to the cJiief of the angle.
Bailey. Chambers.
ABA'SEMENT, n. The act of humbling
or bringing low ; also a state of depres-
sion, degradation, or humiliation.
ABASH', V. t. [Heb. and Ch. lyu bosh, to
be confounded, or ashamed.]
To make the spirits to fail ; to cast down the
countenance ; to make ashamed ; to con-
fuse or confoimd, as by exciting suddenly a
consciousness of guih, error, inferiority,&c.
They heard and were abashed. Milton..
ABASH'ED, pp. Confused with shame ;
confounded ; put to silence ; followed by at.
ABASHING, ppr. Putting to shame or
ABASII'MENT, n. Confusion from shame.
[Little used.]
ABASING, ppr. Humbling, depressing,
liringing low.
ABAS'SI, or ABASSIS, ?!. A silver
wicked, or sinning without restraint; irre-i of Persia, of the v;iluc of twenty cents,
claimablv wicked. " about ten ncnce sterlins. Encic.
claimably wicked,
about ten pence sterling.
Encyc.
ABA
ABATABLE, a. That may or can be aba-
ted ; as ail abatable writ or nuisance.
ABA'TE, V. t. [Fr. abattre, to beat down ;
battre, to beat, to strike ; S|i. balir, abatir ;
Port, bater, abater; It. battere, abbattere;
Heb. CIi. £33n, to beat; Syr. .^ela< id.
Ar. tiA^i gabata, to beat, and i-Haa^s
kabatha, to beat down, to prostrate. The
Saxon has the pai'ticiple gebatod, abated.
The prefix is sunk to a in abate, and lost in
heat. See Class Bd. No. 2,3, :«.]
1. To beat down ; to pull down ; to destroy
in any manner ; as to abate a nuisance.
2. To lessen ; to diminish ; to moderate ; as
to abate zeal ; to abate pride ; to abate a
demand ; to abate courage.
3. To lessen ; to mitigate ; as to abate pain
or sorrow.
4. To overthrow ; to cause to fail ; to fru
trate by judicial sentence ; as to abate a
writ.
5. To deject ; to depress ; as to abate the
sold. Obs.
6. To deduct ;
Nothing to add and nothing to abate. Pope.
7. To cause to fail ; to annul. By the Eng-
lish law, a legacy to a charity is abated by
a deficiency of assets.
8. In Connecticut, to remit, as to abate a tax.
ABA'TE, V. i. To decrease, or become less
in strength or violence ; as pain abates ; a
storm abates.
2. To fail I to be defeated, or come to naught;
as a writ abates. By the civil law a legacy
to a charity does not abate by deficiency
of assets.
3. In laiv, to enter into a freehold after the
death of the last occupant, and before the
heir or devisee takes
4. In horsemanship, to perform well a down
ward motion. A horse is said to abate, or
take down iiis curvets, when, working
upon curvets, he puts both his hind legs
to the ground at once, and observes the
same exactness in all the times. Encyc.
ABA'TED, pp. Lessened ; decreased ;
destroyed ; mitigated ; defeated ; remit
ted ; overthrown.
- ABATEMENT, n. The act of abating ;
the state of being abated.
2. A reduction, removing, or pulling down,
as of a nuisance. Blackstone.
3. Duninution, decrease, or mitigation, as of
grief or pain.
4. Deduction, sum withdrawn, as from an
account.
3. Overthrow, failure, or defeat, as of a writ.
Blackstoiu
G. The entry of a stranger into a freeholi
after the death of the tenant, before the
heir or devisee. Blacksto
7. In heraldry, a mark of dishonor in a coat
of arms, by which its dignity is debase<
for some stain on the character of the
wearer.
•- ABATER, n. The person or thing that
abates.
ABATING, ppr. PuUing down, diminish
ing, defeating, remitting.
__ ABATOR, n. A person who enters into j
ju freehold on the death of the last possessor,
I before the heir or de\'isee. Blackstone
ABB
\TTIS, ) n. [from beating or pulling
ABATIS, ^ down. Fr. abattre.]
Rubbish. In fortification, piles of trees, or
branches of trees sharpened, and laid with
the points outward, in front of ramparts,
to prevent assailants from mounting the
walls. Encyc.
AB'ATURE, n. [from abate.] Grass beaten
or trampled down by a stag in passing.
Diet.
ABB, n. [Sax. ab or ob.] Among weavers,
yarn for the warp. Hence abb-wool is
wool for the abb. Encyc.
AB'BA, n. In the Chaldee and Syriac, a
father, and figuratively a superior. Sans.
appen.
In the Syriac, Coptic and Ethiopic churches,
it is a title given to the Bishops, and the
Bishops bestow the title, by way of dis-
tinction, on the Bishop of Alexandria.
Hence the title Baba, or Papa, Pope or
great father, which the Bishop of Alexan
dria bore, before the Bishop of Rome.
'4 AB'BAC Y, n. [trom abba, Low Lat. abba-j
tia.] The dignity, rights and privileges of|
an abbot. It comprehends the govern-
ment and revenues.
ABBAT'I€AL. ) r, , . . , ,
ABBATIAL, J "' Belongmg to an abbey
AB'BE, n. Ab'by, [from abba.]
In a monastic sense, the same as an abbot ;
but more generally, a title, in Catholic
countries, without any determinate rank,
office or rights. The abbes are numerous,
and generally have sojie literary attain-
ments ; they dress as academics or schol
ars, and act as instructors, in colleges and
private families ; or as tutors to young
gentlemen on their travels ; and many of
them become authors.
AB'BESS, n. [from abba.]
A female superior or governess of a nun
nery, or convent of nuns, having the
authority over the nuns which the abbot
have over the Monks. [See Abbey.]
AB'h^\,n.plu. abbeys, [from abba.]
A monastery or society of persons of either
sex, secluded fi-om the world and devoted
to rehgion. The males are called monks.
and governed by an abbot; the females
are called nuns, and governed by an abbess.
These institutions were suppressed in
England by Henry VIII.; but they still
exist in Catholic countries.
ABBEY-LUBBER, n. A name given t
monks, in contem])t for their idleness.
AB'BOT, n. [formerly abhat, tViuii nhh<
latinized abbas, or from Hrh. jiliiral ni3N.]
The superior or governor of an alibi y or
monastery. Originally monasteries were
founded m retired places, and the religious
had no concern with secular affairs, being
entirely subject to the prelates. But the
abbots possessing most of the learning, in
ages of ignorance, were called from their
seclusion to aid tlic rliurches in opposing
hcn-si,-s ; n„.n,-istrnrs vv,-n- W .led in
thi- vir,nit\ ..f ,-,,„-- liH- :,Mh,i. brcanie
weiiltliMii.l he. II.. I-; s.,ii„. ., I'll, , -III .-i>sumed
the miter, threw off" their depentlence on
the bishops, and obtained seats ui parha-
ment. For many centuries, princes and
noblemen bore the title of abbots. At
present, m catholic coimtries, abbots are
regular, or such as take the vow, and wear
A B D
the habit of the ordi^r ; an<\ coynmendatury,
such as are seculars, but obliged, when of
suitable age, to take orders. The title is
borne also by some persons, who have not
the govermnent of a monastery ; as bisli-
ops, whose sees were formerly abbeys.
Encyc.
AB'BOTSHIP, n. Tlie state of an abbot.
ABBREUVOIR, n. [Fr. abreuvoir, from
abreuver, to water ; Sp. abrevar, id. ; from
Gr. Bf>fx>^.]
Among masons, the joint between stones in
a wall, to be filled wth mortar. Diet.
[ I know not whether it is now used.]
ABBREVIATE, v. t. [It. abbreviare ;
Sp. abreviar ; Port, abbreviar ; fi'om L.
ahbrevio, brevio, from hrevis, short ; con-
tracted from Gr. Bpo;^j, from the root of
break, which see.]
1. To shorten ; to make shorter by contract-
ing the parts. [In this sense, not much
used, nor often applied to material sub-
sta7ices.]
2. To shorten ; to abridge by the omission
or defalcation of a part ; to reduce to
a smaller compass ; as to abbreviate a
writing.
3. In mathematics, to reduce fractions to the
lowest teniis. Wallis.
ABBREVIATED, pp. Shortened ; reduced
in length ; abridged.
2. In botany, an abbreviated perianth is
shorter than the tube of the corol.
Martyn.
ABBREVIATING, ppr. Shortening ; con-
tracting in lengtli or into a smaller com-
ABBREVIATION, n. The act of shorten-
ing or contracting.
2. A letter or a few letters used for a word :
as Gen. for Genesis ; U. S. A. for United
States of America.
3. The reduction of fractions to the lowest
terms.
ABBRE'VIATOR, n. One who abridges or
reduces to a smaller compass.
ABBRE'VIATORS, a college of seventy-
two persons in the chancery of Rome,
whose duty is to draw up the Pope'.s
briefs, and reduce petitions, when granted,
to a due fiirm for bulls.
ABBRE'VIATORY, a. Shortening, con-
tracting.
ABBRE VIATURE, n. A letter or charac-
ter for shortening ; an abridgment, a
\. H.
The tlrree first letters of the alpha-
bi-i, used lor the whole alphabet. Also a
litll.- book for teaching the elements of
reading. Shak.
AB'DALS, n. The name of certain fanatics
in Persia, who, in excess of zeal, some-
times run into the streets, and attempt to
kill all they meet who are of a different
religion ; and if they are slant for their
madness, they think it meritorious to die,
and by the vulgar are deemed martyrs.
Enajc.
AB'DERITE, n. An inhabitant of Abdera,
a maritime town in Thrace. Democritus
is so called, from being a native of the
place. As he was given to laughter, fool-
ish or incessant laughter, is called abde-
rian. Whitaker.
AB DI€ANT, a. [See Abdicate.] Abdicating :
renouncing.
A B D
ABE
ABE
ABDICATE, V. t. [L. abdico ; ah and dico,
to cieilioate, to bestow, but the literal jiri-
iiiary sense (li dico is to send or thrust.]
1. In a g-ejiemi seijse, to relinquish, renounce,
or abandon. Forster.
'J. To abandon an office or trust, without
a formal resignation to those who confer-
red it, or without their consent ; also to
abandon a throne, without a formal sur-
render of the crown.
Case of King James, Blackstone.
3. To relinquish an office before the expira-
tion of the time of service.
Case of Diocletian, Gibbon; also Case of
Paul III. Coxe's Russ.
4. To reject ; to renoiuice ; to abandon as a
right. Burke.
5. To cast away ; to renounce ; as to abdi-
cate our mental faculties. [Unusual.l
J. P. Smith.
G. In the civil law, to disclai]
expel him from the family, as a father ;
to disinJierit during the Ufe of tlie father.
Encyc
AB'DI€ATE, v. i. To renoimce ; to aban-
don ; to cast off; to relinquish, as a right,
power, or trust.
Though a ICing may abdicate for his own per
son, he cannot abdicate for the monarchy.
Burke
AB'DI€ATED, pp. Renounced ; rehnquish-
ed without a formal resignation; aban-
doned.
ABDICATING, ppr. Relinquishing with-
out a formal resignation ; abandoning.
ABDICA'TION, n. The act of abdicating
the abandoning of an office or trust, with
out a formal surrender, or before the usual
or stated time of expiration-
9. A casting off; rejection.
ABDICATIVE, o. Causing or implying
abdication. [LAftte used.] Diet.
AB'DITIVE, a. [L. abdo, to hide ; ab and
do.] Having the power or quality ol'
hiding. [Little used.] Diet
AB'DITORY, 71. A place for secreting or
preserving goods. Cowel.
ABDOMEN, or ABDOMEN, n. [L. per
haps abdo and omentum.]
I. Tiie lower belly, or that part of the body
which lies between the thorax and the
bottom of the pelvis. It is lined with
membrane called peritoneum, and co
tains the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas,
kidneys, bladder and guts. It is separated
from the breast internally by the dia
phragm, and externally, by the extremi
ties of the ribs. On its outer surface it ii
divided into four regions — the epigastric,
the umbilical, the hypogastric and limibar.
Quincy
'?. In insects, tlie lower part of the animal
united to the corslet by a thread. In
species, it is covered with wings, and 'H
case. It is divided into segments and
rings, on the sides of which are small
t^piracles bv which the insect respires
D. JVat. Hist.
ABDOMINAL, a. Pertaining to the lower
hellv.
ABDOM'INAL, n. phi. abdominals. liil
ichthyology the abdominals are a class of
fish whose ventral fins are placed behind
the pectoral, and which laelong to the
division of 6oni/_/5sA. The class contains
nine genera — the loche, sahnon, pike,
argentine, atherine, mullet, flying fish,
herring and carp. JEnci/c.
ABDOMINAL RING, or INGUINAL
RING, an oblong tendinous ring in both
groins, through which pass the spermatic ABERR A'TION, n. [L. abeiratio.] The
cord in men, and the round ligaments of
the uterus in women. Med. Diet.
ABiJOM'INOUS, a. Pertaining to the abdo-
men ; having a large belly. Cowper.
ABDU'CE, V. t. [L. abduco, to lead away,
of a6 and duco, to lead. See Duke.]
To draw from ; to withdraw, or draw to a
fferent part ; used chiefly in anatomy.
ABDU'CENT, a. Drawing from, pulUng
back ; used of those muscles which pidl
back certam parts of the body, for sepa-
rating, opening, or bending them. The
abducent muscles, called abductors, are
opposed to the adducent muscles or adduc-
tors. Med. Diet.
son andf|ABDU€'TION, n. In a general sense, the
act of drawing apart, or carrying aw;
2. In surgery, a species of fracture, in which
the broken parts recede from each other,
3. In logic, a kind of argimientation, called
by the Greeks apagoge, in which t"
major is evident, but the minor is not
clear, as not to require farther proof. As
in this syllogism, "all whom God absolves
are free from sin ; God absolves all who
are in Christ; therefore all who are in
Christ are free from sin." Encyc.
4. In lata, the takuig and carrying away of a
child, a ward, a wife, &c. either by fraud,
persuasion, or open violence.
Blackstone
ABDUCTOR, n. In anatomy, a muscle
which serves to withdraw, or pull back a
certain ])art of the body ; as the abductor
oculi, which pulls the eye outward
ABEA'R, V. t. ahare, [Sax. abccran.] To
bear ; to behave. Obs. Spenser.
ABE A'R ANCE, n. [from abear, now disused ;
from tear, to carry.] Behavior, demeanor.
[Little used.] Blacksto
ABECEDA'RIAN, n. [a word formed from
the first four letters of the alphabet.] O
who teaches the letters of the alphabet,
a learner of the letters.
ABECE'DARY, a. Pertaining to, or formed
by the letters of the alphabet.
ABED', adv. [See Bed.] On or in bed,
ABE'LE, or ABEL-TREE, n. An obsolete
name of the white poplar. [See Poplar.]
ABE'LIANS, ABELO NIANS or ABEL
ITES, m Church history, a sect in Africs
which arose in the reign of Arcadius
they married, but lived in continence,
after the manner, as they pretended, of
Abel, and attempted to maintain the sect
by adopting the cliildren of others.
Encyc
A'BELMOSK, n. A trivial name of a spe
cies of hibiscus, or Syrian mallow. The
plant rises on a herbaceous stalk, three or
foiu- feet, sending out two or three side
branches. The seeds have a musky odor,
(whence its name, iiouxoi,) for which rea-
son the Arabians mix them with coffee.
ABER'RANCE, > n. [L. aberrans, aberro,
ABER'RANCY, \ to wander from ; of ab
and erro, to wander.]
A wandering or deviating from the right
way, but rarely used in a literal sense. In
a figurative sense, a deviation from truth,
error, mistake ; and in morals, a fault, a
deviation from rectitude. Brown.
ABER'RANT, a. Wandermg, stray mg from
the right way. [Rarely tised.]
of wandering from the right way ; devia-
tion from truth or moral rectitude ; devia-
tion from a strait line.
2. In astronomy, a small apparent motion of
the fixed stars, occasioned by the progres-
sive motion of light and the earth's annua)
motion in its orbit. By this, they some-
times appear twenty seconds distant frozn
their true situation. Lunier.
3. In optics, a deviation in the rays of light,
when inflected by a lens or speculum,
by which they are prevented from uniting
in the same point. It is occasioned by the
figure of the glass, or by the imequa) re-
frangibility of the rays of light. Encyc.
Crown of abeiration, a luminous circle sur-
rounding the disk of the sun, depending on
the aberration of its rays, by which its
ajiparent diameter is enlarged. Cyc.
ABER'RING, part. a. Wandering; going
astray. Broken.
ABERRUN'CATE, v. t. [L. averrunco.] To
pull up by the roots ; to extkpate utterly.
[ATot used.] Did.
ABET', V. t. [Sax. betan, gebetan ; properly
to push forward, to advance ; hence to
amend, to revive, to restore, to make bet-
ter ; and applied to fire, to increase the
flame, to excite, to promote. Hence to
aid by encouraging or instigating. Hence
in Saxon, " Na bete nan man that fyr."
Let no n)an bet, [better, excite] the fire,
LL. Ina. 78.]
1. To encourage by aid or countenance, but
now used chiefly in a bad sense. " To
abet an opinion," in the sense of support,
is used by Bishop Cumberland ; but this
use is hardly allowable.
In law, to encourage, counsel, incite or
assist in a criminal act.
ABET', n. The act of aiding or encouraging
crime. [JVbt used.]
ABETMENT, n. The act of abetting.
ABETTED, pp. Incited, aided, encour-
aged to a crime.
jVBETTING, ppr. CounseUiug, aiding or
encouraging to a crime.
ABET'TOR, n. One who abets, or incites,
aids or encourages another to commit a
crime. In treason, there are no abettors;
all persons concerned being principals.
ABEVA€UA'TION, n. [ab and e-acuation.]
In medicine, a partial evacuation of mor-
bid humors of the body, either by nature
or art. Cyc.
[ABKY'ANCE, n. pron. abuyance. [Norm.
abbaiaunce, or abaizance, in expectation ;
boyance, expectation. Qu. Fr. bayer, to
gape, to look a long time with the mouth
open ; to stand looking in a silly manner ;
It. badare, to amuse one's self, to stand
trifling ; " tenere a bada," to keep at bay ;
" Star a bada," to stand trifling. If B d
are the radical letters, it seems to belong
to the root of abide. See Bay.]
In pxi)ectation or contemplatiou of law.
The fee simple or inheritance of lands and
tenements is in abeyance, when there is
no person in being in whom it can vest ;
so that it is in a state of expectancy or
waiting until a proper person shall appear.
A B 1
A B J
A B L
Tlius if land is leased to a man for life,
retiiaiiuler to another for years, the re-
mainder for years is in abeyance, till the
death of the lessee, for life. Blackstone.
ABHOR', v.t. [L.abhorreojofabandhorreo,
to set uj) bristles, shiver or shake ; to look
terrible.]
1. To hate extremely, or with contempt ; to
lothe, detest or abominate. iShak.
2. To despise or neglect. Ps. xxii. 24. Amos
vi. 8.
3. To cast off or reject. Ps. kxxix. ii8.
ABHORRED, pp. Hated extremely, de
tested.
ABHOR'RENCE, } n. Extreme hatred, de
ABHOR'RENCY, ^ testation, great aver
ABHOR'RENT, a. Hating, detesting, struck
with abhorrence.
2. Contrary, odious, inconsistent with, ex
pressive of extreme opposition, as, "Slan
der is ahhortxnt to all ideas of justice." In
this sense, it should be always followed
by to — abhorrent from is not agreeable tc
the Eixjrlish idiom.
ABHOR'RENTLY, adv. With abhorrence,
ABHOR'RER, n. One who abhors.
ABHOR'RING,;)pr. Having great aversion
detesting. As a noun, it is used in Isaiah
l.wi. for the object of hatred — "An ahhor
ring to all flesh."
A'BIB, n. [Heb. 3X, swelUng, protuberant
Ch. 33X, to produce the fu-st or early fruit
3'3N, a full grown ear of corn.]
The first month of the Jewish ccclesiastica
year, called also Nisan. It begins at the
spring equinox, and answers to the latter
part of March and beginning of April
Its name is derived fi-om the foil growtl
of wheat in Egypt, which took place an-
ciently, as it does now, at that
ABI'DE, V. i. pret. and part, abode. [Ai-. ^x j \
abada, to be, or exist, to continue ; W.
hod, to be ; Sax. bidan, abidan; Sw. bida
D. beiden ; Dan. bier ; Russ. vitayu, to
dwell, rest, continue, stand &-m, or be
stationary for any tune indefinitely. CI
Bd. No 7.]
1. To rest, or dwell. Gen. xxix. 19.
2. To tarry or stay for a short time. Gen;
x.\iv. 55.
3. To continue permanently or in the same
state ; to be firm and inunovable. Ps
CXLX. 90.
4. To remain, to continue. Acts, xxrii. 31
Eccles. viii. 15.
ABI'DE, li. t. To wait for ; to be prepared
for ; to await.
Bonds and afflictions abide me. Acts, xx. 23
[For is here understood.]
2. To endure or sustain.
To abide the indignation of the Lord. Joel x.
3. To bear or endure; to bear patiently
" I cannot abide his impertinence."
This verb when intransitive, is followed by
in or at before the j)lace, and with before
the person. " Abide icith me — at Jerusa-
lem or in this land." Sometimes by
the sword shall abide on his cities; antj
in the sense of wait, by for, abide/or jne.
Hosea, iii. 3. Sometuues by by, abide by
the crib. Job, .xxxix.
In general, abide by signifies to adhere to.
maintain, defend, or stand to, as to abide
by a promise, or by a fiiend ; or to sufter
the consequences, as to abide by the event,
that is, to be fixed or permanent in a par-
ticular condition.
ABI'DER, n. One who dwells or continues.
ABIDING, ppr. Dwelling; remaining;
Mlinuing; enduring; awaiting.
ABl DING, n. Continuance ; fixed state ;
residence ; an enduring.
.-VBI'DINGLY, adv. In a manner to con-
tinue ; permanently. Haweis.
ABIL'ITY, 71. [Vr.habilM; It. abilita; Sp.
habilidad ; L. habUitas, ableness, fitness,
from habeo, to have or hold.]
1. Physical power, whether bodily or men-
tal ; natural or acquired ; force of under-
standing ; skill in arts or science. Ability
is active power, or power to perform ; as
opposed to cfipacitjf, or power to receive.
In the jiluiul, abilities is much used in a
like sense ; and also for faculties of the
mind, and acquired qualifications.
Franklin.
2. Riches, wealth, substance, which are the
means, or which furnish the poiver, of
doing certain acts.
Tliey gave after their ability to the work.
Ez. ii.
3. Moral power, depending on the will — a
metaphysical and theological sense.
4. Civil or legal power ; the power or right
to do certain things, as an ability to trans-
fer property or disj)Ose of effects — ability
to inherit. It is opposed to disability.
Cyc.
ABINTEST'ATE, a. [L'. ah and intesla-
ttis — dying without a will, from in and
tc.<ilor, to bear witness ; W. tyst ; Arm,
test, witness. See Test and Testify.]
In tlie civil law, inheriting the estate of one
dying without a will.
ABJECT', V. t. To throw away ; to cast
out. Ohs. Spenser
ABJECT, a. [L. abjectm, &om abjicio, tc
throw away, from ab and jacio, to throw.]
1. Sunk to a low condition ; applied to per-
sons or things. Hence,
2. Worthless, mean, despicable, low in esti-
mation, without hope or regard.
AB'JEiT, )!. A person in the lowest con-
dition and despicable. Ps. xxxv.
ABJECT EDNESS, ft. A very low or des
)iicable condition. [Little used.]
ABJECTION, )i. A state of being cast
away ; hence a low state ; meanness of]
spirit ; baseness.
ABJECTLY, adv. In a contemptible man
ncr ; nieanlv : servilelv.
AB JECTNE'SS, n. The state of being
abject ; meanness ; servilit3^
ABJURATION, n. [See Abjure.]
I. The act of abjuring ;, a renunciation upon
oath ; as "an abjuration of the realm," by
which a person swears to leave the coiui
try, and never to return. It is used also
for the oath of renunciation. Formerly
in England, felons, takhig refiige in a
church, and confessing their guilt, could
not be arrested and tried, but might save
their lives by abjuring the realm ; that '
by taking an oath to qiut the kingdom for-
2. A rejection or denial with solemnit;
total abandonment; as "an abjuration of
heresv."
ABJU'RATORY, a. Containing abjura
tion. Encyc.
ABJII'RE, V. t. [L. abjuro, to deny upon
oath, from ab and juro, to swear.]
1. To renounce upon oath ; to abandon ; as
to abjure allegiance to a prince.
2. To renounce or reject with solemnity ;
to reject ; as to abjure errors ; abjure
.3. To recant or retract. Shak.
4. To banish. [J\rot used.]
ABJURED, pp. Renounced upon oath;
solemnlv recanted.
ABJU'RER, ft. One who abjures.
ABJURING, ppr. Renouncing upon oath ;
disclaiming with solenmit)^
ABLAC'TATE, t-. t. [L. ablacto ; from ab
and lac, milk.] To wean from tlie breast.
[LitUe used.]
ABLACTA'TION, n. [L. ab and lac, miUc.
Lacto, to suckle.]
1. In medical authors, the weaning of a
child from the breast.
2. Among ancient gardeners, a Siethod of
grafting in which the cion was not sepa-
ratee! (Vcjiii till' parent stock, till it wa.s
firmly uiiitid to that in which it was in-
serted. Tills is now called grafting by
approach or inarching. [See Craft.] Encyc.
ABLAQUEATION, [L. allaqucatio, fi-om
ab and laquear, a roof or covering.]
A laying bare the roots of trees to expose
them to the air and water — a practice
niiiong eardeners.
ABLATION, n. [L.o6 anAlatio, a carrj--
ing-]
A carrying away. In medicine, the taking
from the body whatever is hurtful ; evac-
uations in general. In rhimistry, the re-
moval of whatever is finished or no longer
necessarv.
AB'LATIVE, a. [F. ahlaiif; It. ablativo ;
L. ahhilirtis ; L. ablatus, from aufero, to
cany away, c^fah and /fro.]
\ word applied to the sixth case of nouns in
the Latin language, in which case are u.scd
words when the actions of carrying away,
or taking from, are signified.
Ablative absolute, is when a word in that
case, is independent, in construction, of
the rest of the sentence.
ABLE, a. a'bl. [L. habilis ; Norm, ablez.] V
1. Having physical power sirfficient ; having
competent power or strength, bodily or
mental ; as a man able to perform miUtary
service — a child is not able to reason oii
abstract subjects.
2. Having strong or imusual nowers of
mind, or intellectual qualificanons ; as an
able minister.
Provide out of all Israel able men. Ex. xviii.
3. Having large or competent property ; or
simply having property, or means.
Everj' man shall give as he is able. Dcut. xvi.
4. Having competent strength or fortitude.
He is not able to sustain such pain or affliction.
5. Having sufficient knowledge or sldll.
He is able to speak French.
She is not able to play on the piano.
G. Having competent moral power or quali-
fications.
An illesilimate son is not able to take by inher-
A'BLE-B6DIED,n. Havmg a sound, strong
body, or a body of competent strength for
service. In marine language, it deuctcs
sldll in seamanship. Mar. Diet.
ABO
-AB'LEN, or AB'LET, n. A Miiail fresh
water fish, the bleak.
A'BLENESS, n. Abihty of body or mmd ;
force ; vigor ; capabihty.
AB'LEPSY, n. [Gr. oisjif+ia.] Want of
sight ; blindness.
ABLER, and A'BLEST, Comp. and superl
of able.
AB'LOCATE, V. t. [L. abloco, ah and loco
to let out.] To let out ; to lease. Calvin
ABLOCA'TION, n. A letting to hire.
ABLU'DE, v.t.[L. abludo, ah and ludo, to play.'
To be unhlte ; to differ. [N'ol used.] Hall
AB'LUENT, a. [\.. ahluo, to wash away;
ab and luo, or lavo, to wash ; Ir. lo or liui.
water.]
Washing clean ; cleansing by water or li-
quids. [Little used except as a noun.]
AB'LUENT, n. In medicine, that which
thins, purifies or sweetens tlie blood.
(^uincy.
[See Diluent and Abstergent.]
ABLUTION, n. [L. abhitio, from ab and luo
or lavo to wash.]
1. In a general sense, the act of washing
a cleansing or purification by water.
2. Appropriately, the washing of the body as
a preparation for religious duties, enjoin:
ed by Moses and still practiced in many
countries.
3. In chimistry, the purification of bodies by
the affusion of a proper liquor, as water to
dissolve salts. Qiiincy.
4. Ill medicine, the washing of the body ex-
ternally, as by baths ; or internally, by
diluting fluids.
5. Pope has used ablution for the water used
in cleansing.
6. The cup given to the laity without conse
cration, in popish churches. Johnson
A'BLY, adv. In an able manner ; with great
abilitv.
AB'NEGATE, v. I. To deny. [JVb« used:
ABNEGATION, n. [L. abnego, to deny,
from ab and neso ; W. 7mca, nacau ; Sw.
7}eka, to deny ; W. nac, no ; Eng. nay; L.
nee, not ; Ir. nach, not.] A denial ; a re-
nunciation ; self-denial. Hammond.
AB'NEGATOR, n. One who denies, re-
nounces, or opposes any tiling. Sandys.
ABNODA'TION, n. [L. abnodo ; ab and
nodus, a knot.] The act of cutting away
the knots of trees. Diet.
ABNORM'ITY, n. [L. ainormu, in-egular ;
ah and norma, a rule.] Irregularity ; de-
formity. [Little used.] Diet.
ABNORIVrOUS, a. [L. abnormis, supra.]
Irregular ; deformed. [Little used.] Diet.
ABOARD, adv. [a and board. See Board.]
Within a ship, vessel, or boat.
Togo aboard, to enter a ship, to embark.
To fall aboard, to strike a ship's side.
Aboard main tack, an order to draw a corner
of the main-sail down to the chess-tree.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
ABO'DANCE, n. [from bode.] An omen.
[j\"ot used.] Johnson.
ABO'DE, pret. of abide.
ABO'DE, n. [See Abide.] Stay; continuance
in a place ; residence for a longer or shor-
ter time.
2. A place of continuance ; a dwelling ; a
habitiition.
3. To make abode, tn dwell or reside.
ABO'DE, v.t. [See Bode.] To foreshow.
Shak.
ABO
ABO'DE, V. i. To be an omen. Dryden
ABO'DEMENT, n. [from bode.] A secret
anticipation of something future. Shak
ABO'DING, ji. Presentiment ; prognostica
tion. Hall.
ABOL'ISH, v.t. [Fr. abolir; L. aholeo ; {rom
ah and oleo, olesco, to grow.]
1. To make void; to annul; to abrogate
applied chiefly and appropriately to estab-
fished laws, contracts, rites, customs and
institutions — as to abolish laws by a repeal,
actual or virtual.
9. To destroy, or put an end to ; as to abol-
ish idols. Isa. ii. To abolish death, 2
Tim. i. This sense is not common. To
abolish posterity, in the translation of Pau
sanias. Lib. 3. Ca. 6. is hardly allowable.
ABOL'ISHABLE, a. That may be annul
led, abrogated, or destroyed, as a law, rite,
custom, &c.
ABOL'ISHED,;;;?. AnnuUed ; repealed ; ab
rogated, or destroyed.
ABOL'ISHER, n. One who aboUshes.
ABOL'ISIIING, ppr. JIaking void ; annul
ling ; destroving.
ABOLISHMENT, n. The act of aimul
ing ; abrogation ; destruction. Hooker
ABOLI"TION, n. abolishun. The act of
abolishing ; or the state of beuig abolish
ed ; an annulfing ; abrogation ; utter des
truction ; as the abolition of laws, decrees
ordinances, rites, customs, debts, &lc.
The appUcation of this word to persons and
things, is now uimsual or obsolete. To
abolish persons, canals and senses, the Ian
guage of good writers formerly, is no Ion
ger legitimate.
ABOM'INABLE, a. [See Abomiiiate.] Very
hateful ; detestable ; lothesome.
This word is appficable to whatever
odious to the mind or offensive to the
senses. Milton.
3. Unclean. Lcvit. vii-
IaBOMTNABLENESS, n. The quality or
tate of being very odious; hatefuhiess.
ABOM'INABLY, adv. Very odiously ; de
testably ; sinfiilly. 1 Kings xxi.
2. In vulgar language, extremely, exces
sivelv.
ABOMTNATE, v. t. [L. abomino, supposed
to be formed by ab and omen ; to depre
cate as ominous ; may the Gods avert the
evil.]
To hate extremely ; to abhor ; to detest.
Southern
ABOM'INATED, pp. Hated utterly; de
tested ; abhon-ed.
ABOMINATING, ppr. Abhorring ; hating
extremely.
ABOMINA'TION, n. Extreme hatred ; de
testation. Sieijl^
2. Theobject of detestation, a common signi-
fication in scripture.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to
the Lord. Prov. xv.
3. Hence, defilement, pofiution, in a physica'
sense, or evil doctrines and practices,
which are moral defilements, idols and
idolatry, are called abominations. The
Jews were an abomination to the Egyp-
tians; and the sacred animals of the
Egj'jJtians were an abomination to the
Jews. The Roman army is called the
abomination of desolation. Mat. xxiv. 13.
In short, whatever is an object of extreme
hatred, is called an abomination.
ABO
ABO'RD, n. [Fr. See Border.] Literally, ar-
rival, but used for first a|)pearance, man-
ner of accosting, or address, but not an
Enghsh word. Chesterfield.
ABO'RD, v.t. To accost. [JVotinuse.]
ABO'REA, n. A species of duck, called by
Edwards, the black-bellied whistling duck.
This fowl is of a reddish brown color, with
a sort of crest on its head ; the belly is spot-
ted with black and white. It belongs to
the genus, anas.
ABORIG'INAL, a. [L. ab and origo, origm.
See Origin.]
First ; original ; primitive ; aboriginal people
are the first inhabitants of a country.
Aboriginal tribes of America.
President Smith
ABORIG'INAL, n. An original, or primitive
inhabitant. The first settlers in a country
are called aboriginals ; as the Celts in Eu-
rope, and Indians in America.
President Smith.
ABORIGINES, n. plur. Aborigmals— but
word.
not an Enghsh i
It may be well to let it pass into disuse. [See
Aboriginal.]
ABORSEMENT, n.abors'ment. [See Abort.]
Abortion. [jVot in use.]
ABORT', V. I. [L. aborto ; ab and ortus, orior.]
To miscarry in birth. [JVb< in use.]
Herbert.
ABORT', n. An abortion. [JSTotinuse.]
Burton.
ABORTION, n. [L. aioj-ito, a miscarriage ;
usually deduced from o6 and orior.]
1. The "act of miscarrying, or jwoducing
young before the natural time, or before
the fetus is perfectly formed.
2. In a figurative sense, any fruit or produce
that does not come to maturity, or any
thing which fails in its progress, before it
is matured or perfect, as a design or pro-
ject.
3. The fetus brought forth before it is per-
fectly formed.
ABOR'TIVE, a. Brought forth m an imma-
ture state ; failmg, or coming to naught,
before it is comj)lete.
2. Failing in its effect ; miscarrying ; pro-
ducing nothing ; as an abortive scheme.
3. Rendering abortive; as abortive gulf, in
Milton, but not legitimate.
4. Pertaining to abortion ; as abortive vellum,
made of the skin of an abortive calf
Encyc.
5. In botany, an abortive flower is one which
falls without producing fruit. Martyn.
ABOR'TIVE, n. That which is brought
forth or born prematurely. [Little used.]
ABOR'TIVELY, adv. Immaturely ; in an
untimely manner.
ABOR'TIVENESS, n. The state of being
abortive ; a failuig in the progress to per-
fection or maturity ; a failure of producing
the intended effect.
llbVBORT'MENT, n. An untimely birth.
ABOUND', v.i. [L.abundo;Fr.abonder; It.
abbondare ; Sp. abundar. If this word is
from L. unda. a wave, the latter has prob-
ably lust its first consonant. Abound may
n;it"inally be deduced from the Celtic.
Anil. /;«(», I'leiity ; fonna,lo abound; W.
fyniaw. tn prudiiie, to generate, to abound,
from fu'n, a source, the root of fynon.
L. fons, a fountain.]
A B G
1. To have or possess in great quantity; to
be copiously supplied; followed by with
or in ; as to abound tvith provisions ; to
abound in good things.
2. To be in great plenty ; to be very prevalent.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more
abound. Rom. v.
ABOUNDING, ppr. Having in great plen-
ty ; being in great plenty ; l)eing very pre-
valent ; generally prevaiUng.
ABOUND'ING, ji. Increase. South.
ABOUT', prep. [Sax. abutan, onbutan, em-
butan, about, around ; on or emb, coincid-
ing with Or. a^$i, and butan, without, [see
but,] Uterally, around, on the outside.]
1. Around ; on the exterior part or surface.
Bind them about thy neck. Prov. iii. 3.
Isa. 1. Hence, .
2. Near to iti place, with the sense of circiUa-
rity.
Get you up from about the tabernacle. Num.
xvi.
3. Near to in lime. .
He went out a6«u( the third hour. Mat.xxi.iJ.
4. Near to, in action, or near to the perform-
ance of some act.
Paul was about to open his mouth.
They were about to flee out of the ship. Acts,
xviii. 14— xxvii. 30. , , , , ,
5. Near to the person ; appended to the clothes
Every thing about him is in order. Is
your snuffbox about you ?
From nearness on all sides, the transition
is easy to a concern with. Hence,
C. Concerned in, engaged in, relating to, re-
A B O
The weight is above a tun.
4. More in degree; in a greater degree.
Hannaniah feared God above many. Neh,
vii. 2.
The serpent is cursed above all catUe. Gen. m
5. Beyond ; in excess.
I In stripes above measure. 2 Cor. xi.
God will not suffer you to be tempted above
I what ye are able, 1. Cor. x. 13.
6. Beyond ; in a state to be unattainable ; as
things above comprehension.
7. Too proud for.
This man is above his business.
8. Too elevated in mind or raiilc ; having too
much dignity for ; as
This man is above mean actions
spectmg.
I must be about my father's busmess. Luke,
ii. 49. The painter is not to take so much pains
about the drapery as about tlie face. I>ryd(
flTiat is he about ?
7. In compass or circumference ; two yards
about the trunk.
ABOUT', ofrfi'. Near to in number or quantity
There fill tliat day about three thousand men,
Ex. xxxii.
2. Near to in quality or degree ; as about as
high, or as cold.
3. Here and there ; around ; in one place and
another.
Wandering about from house to house. 1.
Tim. v.
4. Round, or the longest way, opposed to
across, or the shortest way. A mile about,
and half a mile across.
To bring about, to bring to the end; to ef-
fect or accomplish a purpose.
To come about, to change or turn ; to come
to the desired point. In a like sense, sea-
men say go about, when a ship changes
her course and goes on the other tack
Ready about, about ship, are orders for tack-
ing.
To go aboiit, signifies to enter upon ; also
to prepare ; to seek the means.
fvhy go ye about to kill nie. John, vii.
-^ ABOVE', prep. [Sax. abufan, bufan, bufon ,
D. ftoi'cn.]
1. Literally, liigher in place.
The fowls that fly above the earth. Gen. i. 20
2. Figuratively, superior in any respect.
I saw a light above the brightness of the Sun
Acts, xxvi.
The price of a virtuous woman is above ru
bies, Prov. xxxi.
3. More in number or qnantity.
He was seen by above five hundred brethren
at once, 1. Cor. xv. 6.
3. It is often used elliptically, for IieavcU;
the celestial regions.
Let not God regard it from above. Job, iii
The powers above.
10 In a book or writing, it denotes if/on
in a former place, as what has been said
above ; supra. This mode of speakiii
originated in the ancient maimer of writ-
ing, on a strip of parchment, beginning
one end and proceeding to the other. The,
beginning was the upper end.
ABOVE', adv. Overhead ; in a higher place.
Bacon.
2. Before. Dnjden.
."?. Chief in rank or power. Deut. xxviii.
I'e all is elliptical; above all considera-
ons ; chiefly ; in preference to other things.
Above board ; above the board or table ; in
open sight ; without trick, concealment
or deception. This expression is said by
Johnson to be borrowecl from gamesters,
who, when they change their cards, put
their hands imder the table.
ABOVE-CITED, Cited before, in the pre
ceding part of a book or wi-ituig.
ABOVE-GROUND, Alive, not buried.
ABOVE-MENTIONED, Mentioned before.
A. Bp. Al)brev. for Archbishop.
ABRACADAB'RA, The name of a deity
worsliipped by the Syrians : a cabaUstic
word. The letters of his name, written on
paper, in the form of an inverted cone,
were recommended by Samonicus as an
antidote against certain diseases. Encyc.
ABRA'DE, V. t. [L. abrado, to scrape, from
rado.]
To rub or wear off; to waste by friction
used especially to express the action of
sharp, corrosive medicines, in wearing
away or removing the mucus of the mem-
branes.
ABRA'DED, pp. Rubbed or worn off; worn ;
scraped.
ABRA'DING, ppr. Rubbing off; wearing.
ABRAHAM'IC, a. Pertaining to Abraham,
the patriarch, as Abrahamic Covenant
Mason.
ABRA'SION, n. abra'zhun. The act ol
wearing or rubbing off; also substance
worn off by attrition. Quinn/.
ABREAST', adv. abresV, [from a and breast.]
1. Side by side ; with the breasts in a line
Two men rode abreast.
2. In marine language, ships are abreast
when their heads are equally advanced
and tliev are abreast of objects when the
objects "are on a line with the beam-
Hence,
3. Opposite ; against ; on a line with— as a
I ship was abreast of Montauk point. — .3|
I seaman's phrase.
ABO
.\BRID6E', V. t. abridj', [Fr. ahriger, from
Gr. 9<^xv(, short, or its root, from the root
oi break or a verb of that family.]
To make shorter ; to epitomize ; to con-
tract by using fewer words, yet retaining
the sense in substance— used of writings.
Justin abridged the history of Trogus Pom-
peius.
2. To lessen; to diminish; as to abridge
labor ; to abridge power or riglits. Smith.
3. To deprive ; to cut off from ; followed by
of; as to abridge one of his rights, or enjoy-
ments. To abridge from, is now obsolete
or improper.
4. In algebra, to reduce a compound quantity
or equation to its more simple expression.
The equation thus abridged is called a for-
mula.
ABRIDG'ED pp. IMade shorter ; epitomized;
reduced to a smaller compass ; lessened ;
deprived.
ABRID(i'ER, It. One who abridges ; one
who makes a compend.
ABRIDGING, ppr. Shortening; lessening;
depriving ; debarring.
ABRIDGMENT, n. An epitome ; a com-
pend, or sumraaiT of a book.
2. Diminution ; contraction ; reduction — as
an abridgment of expenses.
3. Deprivation ; a debarring or restraint— as
an ahridgment of pleasures.
ABROACH, adv. [See Broach.]
Broached ; letting out or yielding liquor, or
in a posture for letting out ; as a cask is
abroach. Figuratively used by Shakespeare
for setting loose, or in a state of being dif-
fused, "Set miscliief abroach;" but tliis
sense is unusual.
ABROAD, adv. abrawd'. [See Broad.]
In a general sense, at large ; widely ; not
confined to naiTow limits. Hence,
1. In the open air.
' Beyond or out of the walls of a house, as
o walk abroad.
3. Beyond the limits of a camp. Deut. xxiii.
10.
Beyond the bounds of a country ; in for-
eign countries — as to go abroad for an ed-
ucation.— We have broils at home and en-
emies abroad.
5. Extensively ; before the public at large.
He began to blaze abroad the matter. Mark
i. 45. Esther 1.
i Widely ; with expansion ; as a tree
spreads its branches abroad.
AB ROGATE, v. t. [L. abrogo, to repeal,
from ab and rog-o, to ask or propose. See
the EnffUsh reach. Class Rg.]
To repeat; to annul by an authoritative act ;
to abolish by the authority of the malter or
his successor ; applied 'to the repeal of
laws, decrees, ordinances, the abolition of
established customs &c.
AB'ROGATED;)?). Repealed ; annulled by
an act of authority.
AB'ROGATING,;>/)r. Repealing by author-
itv ; ni.iking void.
ABROGATION, n. The act of abrogating;
a repeal by authority of the legislative
power.
ABROOD' adv. [See Brood.] In the action
ofbroodins. [.Vo« in «.?e.] Sancrojt.
ABROOD'ING, n. A sitting abrood. [Aot
in use.] B.isset.
ABROOK', V. t. To brook, to endure. |.Vo/
in I'se. Sec Brook.] .^kak.
A B S
ABRO TANUM, n. [Gr. A§poforov.]
A species of ]ilant arranged under the Genus,
Artemisia ; called also southern wood.
ABRUPT', a. [L. abruplus, from abrumpo, to
break of, oi ah and rumpo. See Rupture.]
1. Literally, broken off, or broken sliort.
Hence,
2. Steep, craggy ; applied to rocks, precipi-
ces and the like.
3. Figurativdy, sudden ; without notice to
prejjare the mind for the event ; as an ab-
rupt entrance and address.
4. Unconnected ; having sudden transitions
from one subject to another ; as an abrupt
style. Ben Jonson
5. In botany, an abrupt pinnate leaf is one
which has neither leaflet, nor tendiil at
the end. MaHyn
ABRUPT' n. A chasm or gulf with steep
sides. " Over the vast abrupt." Milton.
[T)ds use of the word is infrequent.']
ABRUP'TION, n. A sudden breaking off;
a violent separation of bodies. IVoodward.
-VBRUPT'LY, adv. Suddenly; without giv-
ing notice, or without the usual forms ; as,
the Mmister left France abruptly.
ABRUPT'NESS, n. A state of being brok-
en ; craggediiess ; steepness.
2. Figuratively, suddenness ; unceremonious
haste or vehemence.
AB'SCESS, n. [L. abscessus, from ab and
cedo, to go from.]
An imposthume. A collection of morbid
matter, or pus in the cellular or adipose
membrane ; matter generated by the sup-
puration of an inflammatory tumor.
QuinoT/. Hooper.
ABSCIND', vt. [L. absci7ido.] To cut off.
[Little used.]
AB'SCISS, n. [L. abscissus, from ab and
scindere, to cut ; Gr. ff;ti?u. See Scissors.]
In conies, a part of the diameter, or transverse
axis of a conic section, intercepted be-
tween the vertex or some other fixed
point, and a semiordinate. Encyc.
ABSCIS"SION, n. [See Absciss.]
A cutting off, or a being cut oft". In surgery,
the separation of any corrupted or useless
part of the body, by a sharp instrimient ;
applied to the soft parts, as amputation is
to the bones and flesh of a limb. Quincy.
ABSCOND', t).t. [L.abscondo, to hide, of
abs and condo, to hide, i. e. to withdraw,
or to thrust aside or mto a corner or secret
place.]
1. To retire from public view, or from the
place in which one resides or is ordinarily
to be found ; to withdraw, or absent one's
self in a private manner ; to be concealed ;
appropriately, used of persons who secrete
themselves to avoid a legal process.
2. To hide, withdraw or be concealed ; as,
" the marmot absconds in winter. [lAttle
used.] Ray.
ABSCOND'ER, n. One who withdraws
from public notice, or conceals himself
from public view.
ABSeOND'ING, ppr. Whhdrawing pri-
vately from public view ; as, an absconding
(/eJtor, who confines himself to his apart-
ments, or absents himself to avoid the mi-
;iisters of justice. In the latter sense, it is
properly an adjective.
AB'SENCE, n. [L. absens, from ahsum,
abesse, to be away ; ab and sum.]
1. A state of being at a distance in place, or
ABS
not in company. It is used to denote any
distance indefinitely, either in the sann
town, or country, or in a foreign country
and primarily supposes a prior presence.
" Speak well of one in his absence."
2. Want ; destitution ; implying no previous
presence. " In the absence of conventiona'
law." Ch. Kent.
3. In law, non-appearance ; a not being ii
court to answer.
4. Heedlessness ; inattention to things pre
sent. Absence of mind is the attention of
the mind to a subject which does not occu
py the rest of the company, and wliicl
draws the mind from things or objects
which are present, to others distant or for-
eign.
AB'SENT, a. Not present ; not in compa-
ny ; at such a distance as to prevent com-
munication. It is used also for being in i
foreign country.
A gentleman is absent on his travels.
Absent from one another. Gen. xxxi. 49.
2. Heedless ; inattentive to persons pre-
sent, or to subjects of conversation m com
pany.
An absent man is uncivil to the company.
In familiar language, not at home ; as,
the master of the house is absent. In other
words, he does not wish to be disturbed
by company.
ABSENT', V. t. To depart to such a dis
tance as to prevent intercourse ; to retire
or withdraw ; to forbear to appear in pre-
sence ; used with the reciprocal pronoun.
Let a man absent himself from the company
ABSENTEE', n. One who withdraws iron
his coimtry, ofiiee or estate ; one who
removes to a distant place or to another
country.
ABSENt'ER, n. One who absents himself
/VBSENT'MENT, ,i. A state of being ab-
sent. Barroto.
ABSINTH'IAN, a. [from absinthium.] Of
the natuie of wormwood. Randolph
ABSINTH'IATED, a. Impregnated with
wormwood. Diet.
ABSINTH'IUM, n. [Gr. o+aS™. ; Per.
...AAAAMil afsinthin ; the same inChal-
daic. BudEBus in his commentaries on
Theophrast, supposes the word composed
of a priv. and ^itSos, dehght, so named
from its bitterness. But it may be an Ori-
ental word.]
The common wonnwood; a bitter plant, us-
ed as a tonic. A species of Artemisia.
VB'SIS, In astronomy. [See Apsis.]
AB'SOLUTE,a. [L.absolutus. See Absolve.]
1. Literally, in a general sense, free, indepen-
dent of any thing extraneous. Hence,
2. Complete in itself ; positive ; as an abso-
lute declaration.
3. Unconditional, as an absolute promise.
4. Existing independent of any other cause,
is God is absolute.
5. Unlimited by extraneous power or control,
as an absolute government or prince.
C. Not relative, a.s absolute space. StUlingfleet.
In grammar, the case absolute, is when a
word or member of a sentence is not im-
mediately dependent on the other parts of
the sentence in government.
Absolute equation, in astronomy, is the ag-
gregate of the oplic and eccentric equa-
ABS
tions. The apparent inequality of a
planet's motion in its orbit, arising from
its unequal distances from the earth at
different times, is called its optic equation :
the eccentric inequahty is caused by the
uniformity of the planet's motion, m an
elliptical orbit, which, for that reason,
appears not to be imiform.
Absolute numbers, in algebra, are such as
have no letters annexed, as 2a-|-3(j=48.
The two latter numbers are absolute or
pure. Encyc.
Absolute space, in physics, is space consid-
ered without relation to any other object.
Bailey.
Absolute gravity, in philosophy, is that prop-
erty in bodies by which they are said to
weigh so much, without regard to circum-
stances of modification, and this is always
as the quantity of matter they contain.
Bailey.
AB'SOLUTELY, adv. Completely, wholly,
as a thing is absolutely uninteUigible.
2. Without dependence or relation ; in a
state unconnected.
Absolutely we cannot discommend, we can-
not absolutely approve, either willingness to
live, or forwardness to die. Hooker.
3. Without restriction or Umitation ; as God
reigns absolutely.
4. Without condition, as God does not for-
give absolutely, but upon condition of faith
and repentance.
Positively, peremptorily, as command me
absolutely not to go. Milton.
AB'SOLUTENESS, n. Independence ; com-
pleteness in itself
2. Despotic authority, or that which is sub-
ject to no extraneous restriction, or con-
trol.
ABSOLU'TION, n. In the civil law, an
acquittal or sentence of a judge declaring
an accused person innocent. In the canon
law, a remission of sins pronounced by a
priest in favor of a penitent. Among
protestants, a sentence by which an ex-
communicated person is released from his
hability to punishment. Ayliffe. South.
AB'SOLUTORY, a. Absolving; that ab-
ABSOLV'ATORY, a. [from absolve.] Con-
taining absolution, pardon, or release ;
having power to absolve. Cotgrave.
ABSOLVE', V. t. abzolv', [L. absolvo, from ah
and solvo, to loose or release ; Ch. nblV, to
absolve, to finish ; Heb. ^\3, to loose or
loosen. See Solve.]
To set free or release from some obligation,
debt or responsibility ; or from that which
subjects a person to a burden or penalty ;
as to absolve a person from a promise ; to
absolve an offender, which amounts to an
acquittal and remission of his punishment.
Hence, in the civil law, the word was used
for acquit ; and in the canon law, for for-
give, or a sentence of remission. In ordi-
nai-y language, its sense is to set free or
release from an engagement. Formerly,
good writers used the word ui the sense of
finish, accomplish; as to absolve work, in
"Milton ; but in this sense, it seems to be
obsolete.
ABSOLVED, jjjj. Released; acquitted; re-
mitted : declared imiocent.
ABSOLV'ER, n. One who absolves; also
that pronounces sin to be remitted.
A B ?<
A B S
A B 8
ABSOLVING, ppr. Settin:; ficc from a
flebt. or fliarge ; arqiiitting; remitting.
AIVSONANT, a. [See Absonous.] Wide
from the purpose ; contrary to reason.
AB'SONOTJS, a. [L. absonus ; ah and sonus,
sound.] Unmusical, or untiiuable.
Fotherhy.
ABSORB', v- t. [L. absorbeo, ah and sorheo,
ft^n or lU^n, id. ; Rab. tjlty, to diaw or
drink in ; whence simp, sherbet, shnib.]
1. To drink in ; to suck up ; to imbibe ; as
a spunge, or as the lacteais of the body.
2. To drink in, swallow up, or overwhelm
with water, as a body in a whirlpool.
;j. To waste wholly or sink in expenses ; to
exhaust ; as, to absorb an estate in luxury.
4. To engross or engage wholly, as, absorbed
in study or the pursuit of wealtli.
ABSORBABIL'ITY, n. A state or quality
of being absorbable.
ABSORB'ABLE, a. That may be imbibed
or .swallowed. Kerr^s Lavoisier.
ABSORB' ED, or ABSORPT', pp. Im-
bibed ; swallowed ; wasted ; engaged ; lost
in study ; wholly engrossed.
ABSORB'ENT, a. Imbibing ; swallowimr.
ABSORB'ENT, n. In anatonv/, n vrs'sol
which imbibes, as the lacteal-. I\ in|ili:itir^,
and inhaling arteries. In mu/i, in,-, .i n —
taceous powder, or other substniice, « liiili
imbibes the humors of the body, as chalk
or magnesia. Encyc.
ABSORB'ING, ;)pc. Imbibing; engrossing;
wasting.
ABSORP'TION, n. The act or process ofl
imbibing or swallowing ; either by water
which overwhelms, or by substances,which
drink in and retain liquids ; as the absorp-
tion of a body in a whirlpool, or of water
by the earth, or of the humors of the body
by dry powders. It is used also to express
the swallowing up of substances by the
earth in chasms made by earthquakes, am'
the sinking of large tracts in violent com
motions of the earth.
% In chimistry, the conversion of a gaseous
fluid into a liquid or solid, by union with
another substance. Ure.
_\BSORP'TIVE, a. Having power to hn-
bibe. Darwin
ABSTA'IN, V. i. [L. abstineo, to keep from
abs and <e?ieo, to hold. See Tenant.]
In a general sense, to forbear, or refi-ain
from, voluntardy ; but used cliiefly to de-
note a restraint upon the passions or
ai)petites ; to refrain fi-om indulgence.
Abstain from meats offered to idols. Acts, xv
To abstain from the use of ardent spirits ; to
abstain (com luxuries.
ABSTE'MIOUS, a. [L. abstemius ; from
abs and temetum, an ancient name of strong
wine, according to Fabius and Gellins
But Vossius supposes it to be from absti-
7ieo, by a change of n to m. It may be
from the root of timeo, to fear, that is, to
withdraw.] Sparing in diet ; refraining
from a free use of food and strong drinks.
Instances of longevity are chiefly among the
abstemious. .irbuthnot.
2. Sparing in the enjoyment of animal pleas-
ures of any kind. [TTiis sense is less com-
mon, a/id perhaps not legitimate.]
3. Sparingly used, or used with temperance ;
belonging to abstinence ; as an abstemious
diet ; an abstemious life.
ABSTE'MIOUSLY, adv. Temperately
with a spiiriiig use of meat or drink.
AHSTH'AllorsNESS, n. The quality of
liiinir tiHijii rate or sparing in the use of
Inod .mikI .-iioiigdrink.s.
This word expresses a greater degree of
abstinence than temperance.
ABSTERGE', V. t. absterj'. [L. abslergeo,
of abs and tergeo, to wipe. Tergeo may
have a common origin with the Sw. torcka,
G. trocknen, D. droogen, Sax. drygan, to
dry; for these Teutonic verbs signify to
ivipe, as well as to dry.]
To wipe or make clean by wiping ; to
cleanse by resolving obstructions in the
body. [ Used chiefly as a medical term.]
ABSTERG'ENT, a. Wiping; cleansing.
ABSTERg'ENT, n. A medicine which frees
tlie body from obstructions, as soap ; but
the use of the word is nearly superseded
by detergent, which see.
ABSTER'SION, n. [(romh.abstergeo,abster
SM«.] The act of wiping clean; or a clean-
sing by medicines which resolve obstruc-
tions. [See Deterge, Detersion.] Bacon.
ABSTER'SIVE, o. Cleansing; having the
qualit.v of removing obstructions. [See
Detersive.]
\B'STINENCE, n. [L. abstinentia. See
Abstain.] In general, the act or practice
of voluntarily refraining from, or forbear-
ing any action. ^^ Abstinence from every
thing which can be deemed labor."
Foley's Philos.
More appropriately,
2. The refraining from an indulgence of
appetite, or from customary gratificat"
of animal propensities. It denotes a total
forbearance, as in fasting, or a forbearance
of the usual quantity. In the latter se
it may comcide with temperance, but in
general, it denotes a more sparing use of
enjoyments than temperance. Besides,
abstinence implies previous free indul
gencp ; temperance does not.
AB'STINENT, a. Refiaining from indul
gence, especially in the use of food and
drink.
AB'STINENTLY, adv. With abstinence
AB'STINENTS, a sect which appeared
France and Spain in the third century,
who opposed marriage, condemned the
use of flesh meat, and placed tlie Holy
Spirit in the class of created beings.
ABSTRACT', v. t. [L. abstraho, to draw
from or separate; from abs and trako,
which is the Eng. draw. See Draw.]
1. To draw from, or to separate ; as to abstract
an action fi-om its evil effects ; to abstract
spirit from any substance by distillation :
but in this sense extract is now more gen-
erally used.
2. To separate ideas by the operation of the
mind ; to consider one part of a complex
object, or to have a partial idea of it in the
mind. Home.
3. To select or separate the substance of a
book or writing ; to epitomize or reduce
to a suimnary. Jf'atts.
4. In chimistry, to separate, as the more
volatile parts of a substance by repeated
distillaticm, or at least bv distillation.
AB'STRAGT, a. [L. absiractus.] Separate
2
distini't troni sonioil.iii!: fl>e. An abstract
idea, in iiict.-i|ili\ -ir. i :i,i idea separated
from a <-(iiii|il.-\ ohp ■,- i- iVom other ideas
wliicli natm-iilly :ii-i-i>iiniaiiy it, as the so-
lidity of marble contemplated apart fi-om
its color or figure. Encyc
Abstract terms are those which express ab-
stract ideas, as beauty, whiteness, round-
ness, without regarding any subject in
wliich they exist; or abstract terms arc
the names of orders, genera, or species of
things, in which there is a combination of
similar quahties. Stewart.
Abstract numbers are numbers used with-
out apphcation to things, as, 6, 8,10:
but when applicti to any thing, as 6 feet,
10 men, they become concrete.
Abstract or pure mathematics, is that
wliich treats of magnitude or quantity,
without restriction to any species of par-
ticular magnitude, as arithmetic and
gcomcti-y ; opposed to which is mixed
iiiailii MKitirs, w liiih trcatsof sunple prop-
erti(^. .'iikI till- relations of quantity, as
a|>|ili( .1 \n -i-ii-ililc objects, as hydi-ostat-
ics, iiuMguti'ju, optics, &c. Encyc.
2. Separate, existing in the mind only ; as
an abstract subject ; an abstract question ;
and hence difficult, abstruse.
AB'STRAeT, ?!. A simmiai-y, or epitome,
containing the substance, a general view,
or the principal heads of a treatise or
writing. ti'att.t.
2. Formerly, an extract, or a smaller quan-
tity, contaming the essence of a larger.
In the abstract, in a state of separation, as a
subject considered in the abstract, i. c.
without reference to particular persons of
things.
ABSTR A€T'ED, pp. Separated ; refined ;
exalted ; abstruse ; absent in mind.
Milton. Donne. •
ABSTRA€T'EDLY, adv. In a separate
state, or in contemplation only.
Dryden.
ABSTRA€T'EDNESS, n. The state of be-
ing abstracted. Baxter.
ABSTRAeT'ER, n. One who makes an
abstract, or summary.
ABSTRA€T'ING,/);)r. Separating ; making
a sunnnary.
ABSTRA€'TI0N, n. The act of separating,
or state of being separated.
2. The operation of the mind when occupied
by abstract ideas ; as when we contem-
plate some particular part, or property of a
complex object, as separate from the rest.
Thus, when the mind considers the branch
of a tree by itself, or the color of the
leaves, as separate from their size or
figure, the act is called abstraction. So
also, when it considers whiteness, softness,
virtue, erislence, as separate from any par-
ticuliu- objects. Encyc.
The power which the understanding has
of separating the combinations which are
presented to it, is distinguished by logi-
cians, by the name of absiraction. Steieart.
Abstraction is the ground- work of clas-
sification, by which things are an-anged in
orders, genera, and species. We separate
in idea the qualities of certain objects
which are of the same kind, from others
which are diflferent in each, and arrange
the objects having the same properties in a
class, or collected bodv.
ABU
ABU
A C A
3. A separation from woi-ldly objects ; a re-
cluse life ; as a lierinit's abstraction.
4. Absence of mind ; inattention to present
objects.
5. In the process of distillation, the term is
used to denote tlie separation of the volatile
parts, which rise, come over, and are con-
densed in a receiver, from those which
are fixed. It is chiefly used, when a
fluid is repeatedly poured upon any sub-
stance in a retort, and distilled off", to
change its state, or the nature of its com-
position. JVicholson.
ABSTRACT'IVE, a. Having the power or
qualitv of abstracting.
ABSTRACT'IVE, ? a. Abstracted, or
ABSTRA€TI"TIOUS, S drawn from other
substances, particularly from vegetables,
without fermentation. Cyc.
AB'STRA€TLY, adv. Separately ; absolute-
ly ; in a state or manner unconnected witli
any thing else ; as, matter abstractly con-
sidered.
AB'STRACTNESS, n. A separate state ; a
.state of being in contemplation only, or
not connected with any object.
ABSTRU'DE, v. t. [Infra.] To thrust or
puU away. [JVoi used.]
ABSTRU'SE, a. [L. abstrusus, from abstru-
do, to thrust away, to conceal; abs and
tnido ; Ar. j^j.Ia tarada ; Cli. Tit3, to thrust ;
Syr. Sam. id.; Eng. to thrust] Hid; con-
cealed ; hence, remote from apprehension ;
difficult to be comprehended or under-
stood ; opposed to what is obvious. [.Vbi
used of material objects.]
Metaphysics is an abstruse science. Eneyc.
ABSTRU'SELY, adv. In a concealed man-
ner ; obscurely ; in a manner not to be
easily understood.
•ABTRU'SENESS, n. Obscurity of mean-
ing ; the state or quaUty of being difficult
to be understood. Boyle.
ABSURD', a. [L. absurdus, from ab and
.nirdus, deaf, insensible.] Opposed to man-
ifest truth ; inconsistent with reason, or the
plain dictates of conmion sense. An ab-
.?urd man acts contrary to the clear dic-
tates of reason or sound judgment. An ab-
surd proposition contradicts obvious truth.
An absurd practice or opinion is repugnant
to the reason or common apprehension of
men. It is absurd to say sLx and six make
ten, or that plants will take root in stone.
VBSURD'ITY, n. The quality of being in
consistent with obvious truth, reason, or
sound judgment. Want of judgment, ap-
plied to men ; want of propriety, applied to
things. Johnson
'I. That which is absurd ; in this sense it has
a plural ; the absurdities of men.
ABSURD'LY, adv. In a maimer
tent with reason, or obvious propriety
ABSURD'NESS, n. The same as absurdity,
and less used.
\BUND'ANnE, n. [F. abondance. See
Abound.] Great plenty; an overflowing
quantity ; ami)le sufficiency ; in strictness
applicable to quantity only ; but custom-
arily used of number, as an abundance ol
peasants. Addison
In scripture, the abundance of the rich is great
wealth. Eccl. v. Mark, xii. Luke, xxi.
The abundance of the seas is great plenty of]
fish. Dcut. x^xlii.
It denotes also fullness, overflowing, as the
oftM/M/traff of the heart. Mat. xii Luke, vi.
ABUND'ANT, a. Plentiful; in great quan-
tity ; tiilly sufficient ; as an abundant sup-
])ly. in scripture, abounding; having in
great quantity ; overflowing with.
The Lord God is abundant in goodness and
tmth. Ex. xxxiv.
Abundant number, in arithmetic, is one, the
sum of whose aliquot parts exceeds the
number itself Thus 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, the
aliquot parts of 12, make the sum of IC.
This is opposed to a deficient number, as 14,
whose aUquot parts are 1, 2, 7, the :
of which is 10 ; and to a perfect nunilier,
which is equal to the sum of its ahqu<
parts, as 6, whose aUquot parts are 1, 2, 3.
ABUND'ANTLY, adv. Fully ; amply ; plen
tifully ; in a .sufficient degree.
[ABU'SAGE, n. Abuse. [Kot used.]
ABU'SE, V. t. s as z. [Fr. abuser ; Sp. abu
sar ; It. abusare ; L. abutor, abu.ms, of
ab and utor, to use ; Ir. idh ; W. gtveth,
use ; Gr. (9w, to accustom. See Use.]
1. To use ill; to maltreat; to misuse; to use
with bad motives or to wrong purposes ; as,
to abuse rights or privileges.
They that use this world as not abusing it.
1 Cor. vii.
2. To violate ; to defile by improper sexual
intercourse. Spenser.
3. To deceive ; to impose on.
Nor be with all these tempting words abtised.
Pope.
. To treat rudely, or with reproachful lan-
guage ; to revile.
He mocked and abused them sliamcfully.
Mac.
5. To pervert the meaning of; to misapply ;
as to abuse words.
ABU'SE, n. Ill use; impro])er treatment or
employment ; application to a wrong pur-
pose ; as an abuse of our natural powers ;
an abuse of civil rights, or of rehgious pri-
vUeges ; abuse of advantages, &c.
Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of
Ubei-ty, as well as by the abuses of power.
Federalist, Madison
2. A corrupt practice or custom, as the abuses
of government.
3. Rude speech; reproachful language ad
dressed to a person ; contumely ; reviUng
words. Milton.
. Seduction.
After the abuse he forsook me. Sidney.
5. Perversion of meaning; improper use or
appUcation ; as an abuse of words.
ABU'SED, pp. s as z. Ill-used ; used to a
bad purpose ; treated with rude language ;
misemployed ; perverted to bad or wrong
ends ; deceived ; defiled ; violated.
ABU'SEFUL, a. Using or practicing abuse;
abusive. [JVot used.] Bp. Barlotv.
ABU'SER, n. s as :. One who abuses, in
speech or behavior; one that deceives;
a ravisher ; a sodomite. 1 Cor. vi.
ABU'SING, ppr. s as z. Using ill ; employ
ing to bad purposes; deceiving; violating
the person ; perverting.
ABU'SION, n. abu'zhon. Abuse; evil or
ru])t usage ; reproach. [Idttle ttsed.]
ABU'SIVE, a. Practicing abuse; offering
harsh words, or ill treatment ; as an ahi
sive author; an abusive fellow.
2. Containing abuse, or that is the instru-
of abuse, as abusive words ; rude
reproachful. In the sense of deceitful, as
an abusive treaty. [Littk itsed.] Bacon.
ABUSIVELY, adv. In an abusive manner ;
iiidelv ; reproachfiiUy.
ABU'SIVENESS, n. lU-usage ; the quality
of being abusive ; i-udeness of language, or
violence to the person. Barlow.
ABUT', v. i. [Fr. aboutir. See About.] To
border upon ; to be contiguous to ; to meet :
in strictness, to adjoin to at the end ; but
this distinction has not always been ob-
served. The word is chiefly used in de-
scribing the bounds or situation of land,
ami ill |i(ijiular language, is contracted into
but, as hutted and bounded.
\BUT'iMENT, «. The head or end; that
which unites one end of a thing to an-
other; chiefly used to denote the soUd
pier or mound of earth, stone or timber,
which is erected on the bank of a river to
support the end of a bridge and connect it
with the land.
2. That which abuts or borders on another.
Bryant.
ABUT'TAL, n. The butting or boundary of
land at the end ; a head-land.
Spelman. Cowel.
ABY', V. t. or i. [Probably contracted from
abide.] To endure ; to pay dearly ; to re-
ain. Ohs. Spenser.
ABYSM', n. abyzm'. [Old Fr., now abime.
See Abyss.] A gulf. Shak.
ABYSS', n. [Gr. ASvaaoi, bottomless, from a
priv. and Svsio;, bottom. Ion. for 8v8os.
See Bottojn.] A bottomless gulf; used
also for a deep mass of waters, supposed
by some to have encompassed the earth
before the flood.
Darkness was upon the face of the deep, oi
abyss, as it is in the Septuagint. Gen. i. 2.
The word is also used for an immense
cavern in the earth, in which God is sup-
posed to have collected all the waters on
the third day of the creation. It is used
also for hell, Erebus.
2. That which is immeasurable; that m
which any thing is lost.
Thy throne is darkness, in the abyss of light.
Milton.
The o5!/ssoftime. Dryden.
3. In antiquity, tlie temple of Proserpine, so
called from the immense treasures it was
supposed to contain.
4. In heraldry, the center of an escutcheon.
He bears azure, a fleur de Us, in abyss.
ABYSSINIAN, a. Ar.
habashon,
Abyssinians, Ethiopians, from (_p:x2«.
habasha, to collect, or congregate. A name
denoting a mixed multitude or a black
race. Ludolf. Castle.
ABYSSIN'IANS, n. A sect of christians m
Abyssinia, who admit but one nature in
Jesus Christ, and reject the council of
Chalcedou. They are governed by a
bishop, or metropohtan, called Abuna, who
is appointed by the Coptic patriarch of
Cairo. Encyc.
A€, in Saxon, oak, the initial syllable of
names, as acton, oaktown.
A€A€'ALOT, \ n. A Mexican fowl, the
AC'ALOT, S Tantalus Mexicanus, or
Corvus aquaticus, water laven. See Acalot.
ACA'CIA, n. [L. acacia, a thorn, from Gr.
axr;, a [Kiint.]
A C A
A C C
A C C
Egyiitian thorn, a species of i>laiu ranked by
Liiine under the genus mimosa, and by
others, made a distinct genus. Of the
flowers of one species, the Chinese make a
yellow dye which bears washing in silks,
and appears with elegance on paper.
Encyc.
A€ACIA, ua medicine, is a name given to
the inspissated juice of the unripe fruit of
the Mimosa Nilotica, which is brough
from Egypt in roundish masses, in blad
ders.
Externally, it is of a deep brown color ; in
ternally, of a reddish or yellowish brown ;
of a firm consistence, but not very dry
It is a mild astringent. But most of the
drug which passes under this name, is the
inspissated juice of sloes. Encyc.
Acacia, among antiquaries, is a name
given to something like a roll or bag, seei
on medals, as in the hands of emperors and
consuls. Some take it to represent i
handkerchief rolled u)), with which sig
nals were given at the games ; others, a
roll of petitions ; and some, a purple bag
of earth, to remind them of their mortal-
ity. Encyc.
A€A'CIANS, in Church History, were cer-
tain sects, so denominated from their lead-
ers, Acacius, bishop of Cesarea, and Aca-
cius, patriarch of Constantinople. Some
of these maintained that the Son was only
a similar, not the same, substance with the
Father ; others, that he was not only
distinct but a dissimilar substance. Encyc.
A€ADE'ME ; n. An academy ; a society of
persons. [J^Tot used.]
A€ADE'MIAL, a. Pertaining to an acade-
my.
ACADE'MIAN, n. A member of an acad
emy; a student in a university or col
A€ADEM'le, > a. Belonging to ar
A€ADEM'l€AL, \ academy, or to a col
lege or university — as academic studies ;
also noting what belongs to the school or
philosophy of Plato — as the academic sect.
A€ADEM'I€, n. One who belonged to the
school or adhered to the philosophy of
Socrates and Plato. Tlie latter is consid-
ered as the founder of the academic phi-
losophy in Greece.
He taught, that matter is eternal and infinite,
but without form, refractory, and tending
to disorder ; and that there is an intelli
gent cause, the author of spiritual being,
and of the material world. Enfldd.
ACADEMICALLY, adv. In an academi
cal manner.
ACADEMI"CIAN, n. [Fr. acadimicien.]
A member of an academy, or society for
promoting arts and sciences ; particularly,
a member of the French academies.
ACAD'EMISM, n. The doctrine of the
academic pliilosophy. Baxter.
ACAD EMIST, n. A member of an Acad-
emy for promoting arts and sciences ; also
an academic philosopher.
ACAD'EMY, n. [L. academia, Gr. AxoStjum.]
Originally, it is said, a garden, grove, or villa,
near Athens, where Plato and his follow-
ers held their philosophical conferences.
1. A school, or seminary of learning, hold-
ing a rank between a university or col-
lege, and a common school; also a school,
tor teaching a particular art, or particular
sciences, as a military academy.
2. A house, in which the students or mem-
bers of an academy meet ; a place of edu
cation.
3. A society of men united for the promo
tion of arts and sciences in general, or of
some particidar art.
AC'ALOT, n. [Contracted fi-om ctcacalotl.]
A Mexican fowl, called by some the aquatic
crow. It is the ibis, or a ibwl that very
much resembles it.
ACAMAC'U, 71, A bird, the Brazilian fly
catcher, or Todus. Cyc.
AC.ANA'CEOUS, a. acana'shus. [Gr. axapof
a i)rickly shrub.]
Armed with prickles. A class of plants are
called acanacem. Milne
ACANTH'A, n. [Gr. axmOa, a spine oi
thorn.]
In botany, a prickle ; in zoology, a spine or
I)rickly fin ; an acute process of the ver-
tebers. Encyc.
ACANTHA'CEOUS, a. Armed with prick-
les, as a plant.
ACAN'THARIS, n. In entomology, a spe-
cies of Cimex, with a spinous thorax, and
a ciliated abdomen, with spines ; found in
Jamaica. Cyc.
ACANTH'INE, a. [See Acanthus.]
Pertaining to the plant, acanthus. The
acanthine garments of the ancients were
made of the down of thistles, or embroid-
ered in imitation of the acanthus. Encyc.
ACANTHOPTERYG'IOtS, a. [Gr axa^Sos,
a thorn, and rtf fpi7io!', a Uttle feather, fi-om
KTepov, a feather.]
In zoology, having back fins, which are hard,
bony and pricky, a term applied to certain
Jishes. hinne
AC.ANTH'US n. [Gr. oxar^os, L. acanthus,
from oxoffio, a prickle or thorn. See
acantha.]
The plant bear's breech or brank ursine ;
a genus of several species, receiving their
name from their prickles.
2. In architecture, an ornament resembling
the foliage or leaves of the acanthus, used
in capitals of the Corinthian and Compo-
site orders. Milton. Encyc.
ACAN'TICONE, n. See Pistacite.
ACARN'AR, n. A bright star, of the first
magnitude, in Eridamis. Bailey.
ACATALECTIC, n. [Gr. o.xa.ta%fixroi, not
defective at the end, of xaTa and 7.rjyu to
cease ; Ir. lieghim.] A verse, wliich has
the complete number of syllables without
defect or superfluity. Johnson.
ACAT'ALEPSY, n. [Gr. axata%r,-ita ; a and
xaraAa/tSaiu to comprehend.]
Impossibihty of complete discovery or com-
l)rehension ; incomprehensibility. [Little
used.] Whitaker.
ACAT'ECHILI, n. A Mexican bird, a spe-
cies of Fringilla, of the size of the siskin,
ACATER, ACATES. See Caterer and Cates.
ACAU'LINE, \ a. [L. a. priv. and caxdis, Gr.
ACAU'LOUS, S xo.v^oi, a stalk ; W. haul; D.
kool, cabbage. See Colcwort.]
In botany, without a stem, having floAvers
resting on the ground ; as the Carline
thistle.
ACCE'DE, V. i. [L. accedo, of ad and ccdo,
to yield or give place, or ratlier to move.]
I. To agree or assent, as to a proposition, or
to terms proposed by another. Hence ui
a negotiation.
2. To become a party, by agreeing to the
terms of a treaty, or convention.
ACCE'DING, ppr. Agreeing ; assenting ;
becommg a party to a treaty by agreeing
to the terms proposed.
ACCELERATE, v. t. [L. accdero, of ad
and cdero, to hasten, from cder, quick :
Gr. XE?.^; ; Heb. Ch. Syr. and Eth. S'rp,
nSp or "75, to be light, nimble ; Syr. to has-
ten. In Ch. and Ar. this root signifies
also to be small, or minute.]
1. To cause to move faster; to hasten; to
quicken motion ; to add to the velocity of
a moving body. It implies previous mo-
tion or progression.
2. To add to natural or ordinary progres-
sion ; as to accelerate the growth of a plant,
or the progress of knowledge.
3. To bring nearer in time ; to shorten the
time between the present tune and a fu-
ture event ; as to accelerate the ruin of a
govenunent ; to accelerate a battle.
Bacon.
ACCEL'ERATED, pp. Quickened in mo-
tion ; hastened in progress.
ACCELERATING, ppr. Hastening; in-
creasHig velocity or progres
ACCELERA'TION, n. The act ofincreas-
ing velocity or progress ; the state of being
quickened in motion or action. Accelera-
ted motion in mechanics and physics, is
that which continually receives accessions
of velocity ; as, a falling body moves to-
wards the earth with an acceleration of ve-
locity. It is the opposite of retardation.
.Icceleration of the moon, is the increase of the
moon's mean motion from the sun, com-
pared with the diurnal motion of the eanh ;
the moon moving with more velocity noiv
than in ancient tunes — a discovery made
by Dr. Halley.
The diurnal acceleration of tlie fixed star.?,
is the time by which they anticipate the
mean diurnal revolution of the sun, which
is nearly three minutes, fifty-six seconds.
Cyc.
ACCEL'ERATIVE, a. Adding to velocity ;
quickening progression. Reid.
A.CCEL'ERAT6RY, a. Accelerating ; quick-
ening motion.
ACCEND', V. t. [L. accendo, to kindle ; ad
and candeo, caneo, to be white, canus,
white ; W. caii, white, bright ; also a song.
Whence, can/o, to sing, to chant ; cantus, a
song; Eng. eani; W. ca»j«, to bleach or
whiten, and to sing ; cynnud, fuel. Hence,
kindle, L. candidus, candid, white. The
primary sense is, to tlu-ow, dart, or thrust ;
to shoot, as the rays of light. Hence,
to cant, to throw. See Chant and Cant.]
To kindle ; to set on fire. [The verb is not
used.]
ACCENDIBIL ITY, n. Capacity of being
kindled, or of becoming inflamed.
ACCEND'IBLE, a. Capable of bemg in-
flamed or kindled. Ure.
ACCEN'SION, n. The act of kindling or
setting on fire ; or the state of being kind-
led ; inflammation. Chimistn/.
ACCENT, n. [L. accentus, tromad and fa-
no, cantum, to sing ; AV. canu ; Corn, kann :
h: canaim. Sec ikccend.]
A C C
A C C
A C C
I . Tlie modulation of the voice in reading or
sjjealiiiig, as practiced by tlie ancient
Greeks, wliich rendered tlieir rehearsal
musical. More strictly, in English,
'.'. A particular stress or force of voice upon
certain syllables of words, wliich distin-
guishes them from the others. Accent
is of two liinds, jirimary and secondary ;
as in as'pira'tion. In uttering this word,
we observe xhejirst and third syllables are
distinguished ; the third by a full sound,
which constitutes the primary accent ; the
first, by a degree of force in the voice
which is less than that of the primary ac-
cent, but evidently greater than that which
falls on the second and fourth syllables.
When the full accent falls on a vowel,
that vowel has its long sound, as in vo'cal ;
but when it falls on an articulation or con-
.sonaiit, the preceding vowel is short, as in
hab'it. Accent alone regulates EngUsh
verse.
3. A mark or character used in writing to
direct the stress of the voice in proiumcia-
tion. Our ancestors borrowed from the
Greek language three of these characters,
the acute (',) the grave (') and the circum-
flex (' or '.) In the Greek, the first
shows when the voice is to be raised ; the
second, when it is to be depressed ; and
tlie thu-d, when the vowel is to be uttered
with an undulating sound.
4. A modulation of the voice expressive of
passions or sentiments.
The tender accents of a woman's cry. Prior
5. Manner of speaking.
A man of plain accent. Obs. Shak
G. Poetically, words, language, or expres
sions in general.
Words, on your wings, to heaven her accents
bear,
Such words as heaven alone is fit to hear.
Dryden.
7. In music, a swelling of sounds, for the
purpose of variety or expression. The
principal accent falls on the first note
the bar, but the third place in common
time requires also an accent.
8. A pecuhar tone or inflection of voice,
A€'CENT, V. t. To express accent ; to utter
a syllable with a particular stress or mod
ulation of the voice. In poetry, to utter
or pronounce in general. Also to note
accents by marks in writuig.
Locke. Wotlon
ACCENTED, pp. Uttered with accent
marked with accent.
A€'CENTING, ppr. Pronouncing or mark-
ing with accent.
ACCENT'UAL, «. Pertaining to accent.
ACCENTUATE, v. t. To mark or pro-
nounce with an accent or \vith accents.
A€CENTUA'TION, n. The act of placuig
accents in writing, or of pronouncing them
in speaking.
.\CCEPT', V. t. [L. accepto, from accipio, ad
and capio, to take; Fr. accepter; Sj).
aceptar ; Port, aceiter; It. accettare. See
Lat. capio. Class G. b.]
I. To take or receive what is offered, with
a consenting mind ; to receive with ap
probation or favor.
Bless. Lord, his substance, and accept the
work of his hands. Deut. xx.viii.
He made an oifer
eepted.
Observe the difference between receive
and acctjit.
He received an appointment or the offer of a
commission, but he did not accept it.
2. To regard with partiahty ; to value or
esteem.
It is not good to accept the person of the
wicked. Prov. xviii. 2 Cor. viii.
In theology, acceptance with God im-
])lies forgiveness of sins and reception into
his favor.
3. To consent or agree to ; to receive as
terms of a contract ; as, to accept a treaty ;
often followed by of.
Accept of the terms.
4. To understand ; to have a particular idea
of; to receive in a particular sense.
How is tliis phrase to be accepted ?
5. In commerce, to agree or iwomise to pay,
as a bill of exchange. [See Acceptance.]
ACCEPT'ABLE, a. That may be received
with pleasure ; hence pleasing to a receiv-
gratifying ; as an acceptable present.
2. Agreeable or pleasing in person ; as, a
man makes himself acceptable by his ser-
vices or civihties.
ACCEPT' ABLENESS, > n. The quahtv of
ACCEPTABILITY, I bemg agreeable
a receiver, or to a person with whom one
has mtercourse. [The latter ivord is little
used, or not at all.]
ACCEPT' ABLY, adv. In a mamier to
please, or give satisfaction.
Let us have grace whereby we may serve God
acceptably. Heb. xii.
ACCEPT' ANCE, n. A receiving with ap-
probation or satisfaction ; favorable recep-
tion ; as work done to acceptance.
They shall come up with acceptance on my
altar. Isa. Ix.
2. The receiving of a bill of exchange or or-
der, m such a manner, as to bind the
ceptor to make payment. This must
by express words ; and to charge the
drawer with costs, in case of non payment,
the acce])tance nmst be in writmg, under,
across, or on the back of the bill.
Blackstone.
3. An agreeing to terms or proposals in com-
merce, by which a bargain is concluded
and the parties bound.
4. An agreeing to the act or contract of an
other, by some act which binds the person
in law ; as, a bishop's taking rent reserved
on a lease made by liis predecessor, is an
acceptance of the terms of the lease and
binds the party. Laiv.
5. In mercantile language, a bill of exchange
accepted ; as a merchant receives anoth
er's acceptance in payment.
6. Formerly, the sense in which a woi'd is
understood. Obs. [See Mceptation.]
ACCEPTA'TION, n. Kind reception; a
receiving with favor or approbation.
This is a saying worthy of all acceptation.
1 Tim. i.
2. A state of being acceptable ; favorable re-
gard.
Some things are of great dignity and accept-
ation with God. Hooker.
But in this sense acceptableness is more
generally used.
3. The meaiung or sense in which a word or
expression is understood, or generally re-
ceived ; as, a term is to be used according
to its usual acceptation.
4. Reception in general. Obs.
ACCEPT'ED, pp. Kindly received ; re-
garded ; agreed to ; understood ; received
as a bill of exchange.
ACCEPT'ER, or ACCEPTOR, n. A per-
son who accepts; the person who receives
a bill of exchange so as to bind himself to
])ay it. [See Acceptance.]
ACCEPT'ING, ppr. Receiving favorably;
agreeing to ; understanding.
ACCEP'TION, n. The received sense of a
word. [J^ot now used.] Hammond.
ACCEPT'IVE, a. Ready to accept. [JVol
used.] B. Jonson.
ACCESS', n. [L. accessus, from accedo. See
Accede. Fr. acc^s.]
1. A coming to ; near approach ; admit-
tance ; admission ; as to gain access to a
pruice.
2. Approach, or the way by which a thing
may be approached ; as, the access is by a
neck of land. Bacon.
3. Means of approach ; liberty to approach;
mplying previous obstacles.
By whom also we have access by faith
Rom. V.
4. Admission to sexual intercourse.
During coverture, access of the husband shall
e presumed, unless the contrary be shown.
Blackstone.
5. Addition; increase by sometliing added;
as an access of territory ; but in this sense
accession is more generally used.
6. The return of a fit or paroxysm of disease,
or fever. In this sense accession is gene-
rally used.
ACCESSARILY, See ACCESSORILY.
ACCESSARINESS, See ACCESSORI-
NESS.
ACCESSARY, See ACCESSORY.
ACCESSIBIL'ITY, n. The quahty of heiiig
approachable; or of admitting access.
ACCESS'IBLE,a. That may be approached
or reached ; approachable ; applied to
things ; as an accessible town or mountain.
2. Easy of approach ; affable ; used ofpeisons.
ACCESS'ION, n. [L. accessio.] A coming to ;
an acceding to and joining ; as a king's
accession to a confederacy.
2. Increase by something added ; that which
is added ; augmentation ; as an accession of
wealth or territory.
3. Inlaw, a mode of acquiring property, by
which the owner of a corporeal substance,
which receives an addition by growth, or
by labor, has a right to the thing added or
the unprovement ; provided the tiling is
not changed into a different species. Thus
the owner of a cow becomes the owner of
her calf Blackstone.
4. The act of arriving at a throne, an ofiice,
or dignity.
5. That which is added.
The only accession which the Roman Em-
pire received, was the province of Britain.
Gibbon.
6. The invasion of a fit of a periodical dis-
ease, or fever. It difiers from exacerbation.
Accession uiiphesa total previous intermis-
sion, as of a fever ; exacerbation impUes
■ only a previous remission or abatement of
violence.
ACCESS'IONAL, a. Additional.
ACCESSO'RIAL, a. Pertaining to an acces-
sory; as accessorial agenc}', accessorial guilt.
Burr's Trial.
ACCESSORILY, arfu. [Sec Accessory.] In
the manner of an accessory ; fiy subordi-
A C C
Dale means, or in a secondary chai
not as principal, but as a subordinate agent.
A€'CESSORINESS, n. The state of being
accessory, or of being or acting in asecon
dary character.
ACCESSORY, n. [L. Accessorius, fi-om ac
cessus, accedo. See Accede. This word i
accented on the first syllable on accoinit of|
the derivatives, which require a seconda
ry accent on the third ; but the natural
accent of accessory is on the second sylla
ble, and thus it is often pronounced b)
good speakers.]
1. Acceding ; contributing ; aiding in prochic-
ing some effect, or acting in subordination
to the principal agent. Usually, in a bad
sense, as John was accessory to the felony
1. Aiding in certain acts or effects in a sec-
ondary manner, as accessory sounds in mu-
sic. Encyc,
Ae'CESSORY, n. In latv, one who is guilty
of a felony, not by committing tlie offense
in person or as principal, but by advising
or commanding another to commit the
crime, or by conceaUng the offender.
There may be accessories in all felonies,
but not in treason. An accessory before
the fact, is one who counsels or commands
another to commit a felony, and is not
present when the act is executed ; aftei
the fact, when one receives and conceals
the offender.
3. That wliich accedes or belongs to some-
thing else, as its principal.
Accessory nerves, in anatomy, a pair of nerves
wiiich arising from the medulla in the ver-
tebers of the neck, ascend and enter the
skull ; then passing out with the par va
gum, are distributed into the muscles of|
the neck and shoidders.
Accessory, among paijiters, an epithet given
to paits of a history-piece which are
ly ornamental, as vases, armor, &c.
.\€'CIDENCE, n. [See Accident] A small
book containing the rudiments of grammai'.
ACCIDENT, n. [L. accidens, faUing, fioni
ad and cado, to fall; W. codum, a fall
cicyzaw, to fall ; Ir. kudaim ; Corn, kotha .
.\rm. kueika, to fall. See Case and Ca-
dence. Class G d.]
1. A coming or falling; an event that takes
j)lace without one's foresight or cxpecta
tion ; an event which proceeds from ar
miknown cause, or is an unusual effect of
alinown cause,^ and therefore not expect
ed ; chance ; casuahy ; contingency.
2. That which takes place or begms to exist
without an efficient intelligent cause and
without design.
All of them, in his opinion, owe their being,
to fate, accident, or the blind action of stuptd
matter. Bwight.
:\ In logic, a property, or quaUty of a being
which is not essential to it, as whiteness in
paper. Also all quahties are called acci-
dents, in opposition to substance, as sweet-
ness, sojlness, and tilings not essential to a
body, as clothes. Encyc.
4. In grammar, something belonging to a
word, but not essential to it, as gender
number, inflection. Encyc.
a. In heraldry, a point or mai'k, not essential
to a coat of arms. Encyc.
ACCIDENT'AL, a. Happerung by chance,
or rather imexpectedly ; casual" ; fortui-
A C C
tons ; taking place not according to the
usual course of tilings ; opposed to that
which is constant, regular, or intended ; as
an accidental visit.
2. Non-essential ; not necessarily belonging
to ; as songs are accidental to a play.
Accidental colors, are those which depend
upon the affections of the eye, in distinc-
tion from those which belong to the light
itself. Encyc.
Accidental point, in perspective, is that point
in the horizontal line, where tlie projec-
tions of two lines parallel to each other,
meet the perspective plane.
ACCIDENT' ALLY, arfy. By chance; casu
ally ; fortuitously ; not essentially.
ACCIDENT'ALNESS, n. The quaUty of]
being casual. [Little used.]
ACCIDEN'TIARY, a. Pertaining to the ac-
cidence. [JVot used.] Morton
ACCIP'ITER, n. [L.ad and ca;)io, to seize.]
1. A name given to a fish, the milvus or hi
cerna, a species of Trigla. Cyi
9. In ornithology, t\m name of the order of
rapacious fowls.
The accipiters have a hooked bill, the su))e-
rior mandible, near the base, being exten-
ded on each side beyond the inferior. The
genera are the vultur, the falco, or hawk
and the strix, or owl.
AeCIF'ITRINE, a. [Supra.] Seizing ; ra-
pacious ; as the accipitrine order of fowls.
Ed. Encyc.
AeCI'TE, V. t. [L. ad and aft, to cite.] To
call ; to cite ; to summon. [.Vot used.]
A€€LA'IM, V. t. [L. acclamo, ad and clamo.
to cry out; Sp.clamar; Fort. clamar ; It.
clamare; W. llevain; Ir. liumham. See
Claim, Clamor.] To applaud. [Little used.]
Hall.
A€€LA'IM, n. A shout of joy ; acclama-
tion. Milton.
ACCLAMA'TION, n. [L. acclamatio. See
Acclaim.]
A shout of applause, uttered by a multitude.
Anciently, acclamation was a form of
words, uttered with vehemence, some wtat
resembUng a song, sometimes accorapan
ed with applauses which were given by
the hands. Acclamations were ecclesias-
tical, military, nuptial, senatorial, synodi
cal, theatrical, &c. ; they were musical,
anil i7thmical ; and Ijestowed for joy, re
spect, and even reproach, and oflen ac
companied with words, repeated, five
twenty, and even sixty and eighty times!
In the later ages of Rome, acclamations
were performed by a chorus of music in
structed for the pui-pose.
In modem times, acclamations are expres
sed by huzzas; by clapping of hands ; and
often by repeating vivat rex, vivaf respubll
ca, long live the king or repubhc, or other
words expressive of joy and good wishes.
ACeLAM'ATORY, a. Expressing joy or
applause by shouts, or clapping of hand
ACCLI'MAT ED, a. [Ac for ad and cli-
mate.] Habituated to a foreign climate,
or a cUmate not native ; so far accustom-
ed to a foreign chmate as not to be pecu-
liarly liable to its endemical diseases.
Med. Repository.
AeeLIV'ITY, n. [L. acclivus, acclivis, as-
cending, from ad and clivus, an ascent ;
A C C
Ir. clui; Gr. Eol. xAirtvj; Sax. clif, a
cliff, bank or shore; clifian, cleofian, to
cleave, or split. See Cliff.]
-\ slope or inclination of the earth, as the
side of a hill, considered as ascending, in
oi)position to declivity, or aside descending.
Rising groiuid ; ascent ; the talus of a
rampart.
ACCLI'VOUS, a. Rising, as a hill with a
slope.
A€€LOY', V. t. To fill ; to stuff: to fill to
satiety. [.Yot used.] [See Cloy.] Spenser.
A€€OIL'. [See Cor7.]
A€'€OLA, n. A delicate fish eaten at Maha.
ACCOLA'DE, n. [L. ad and collum, neck.]
A ceremony formerly used in conferring
knighthood ; but whether an embrace or
a blow, seems not to be settled. Cyc.
ACCOM'MODABLE, a. [Fi. accommodable.
See Accommodate.]
That may be fitted, made suitable, or made
to agree. [Little used.]
A€€OM']MODATE,i;.f. [L. accommodo, to
apply or suit, from ad and commodo, to
profit or help ; of con, with, and modus,
measure, proportion, limit, or manner. See
Mode.]
1. To fit, ada])t, or make suitable ; as, to ac-
commodate ourselves to circumstances ; to
accommodate the choice of subjects to the
occasions. Paley.
2. To supply with or furnish ; followed by
with ; as, to accommodate a man idth
apartments.
•3. To supply with conveniences, as to ac-
commodate a fi-iend.
4. To reconcile things which are at vari-
ance ; to adjust ; as to accommodate differ-
ences.
5. To show fitness or agreement ; to api)ly ;
as, to accommodate prophecy to events.
i. Toiend— a commercial sense.
In an intransitive sense, to agree, to be con-
formable to, as used by Boyle. Obs.
A€€OM'MODATE,n, Suitable; fit; adapt-
ed ; as means accommodate to the end.
Ray. TUloUon.
ACCOMMODATED, pp. Fitted ; adjust-
ed ; adapted ; apphed ; also fiimished
with conveniences.
We are well accommodated with lodgings.
ACCOM'MODATELY, adv. Suitably ; fitly.
[Little used.] More.
ACCOM MODATENESS,)). Fitness. [Lit-
tle %ised.]
ACCOMMODATING, ppr. Adapting ;
making suitable ; reconciling ; furnishing
with conveniences ; applying.
ACCOMMODATING, a. Adapting one's
self to ; obliging; yielding to the desires of
others ; disposed to comply, and to oblige
another ; as an accommodating man.
\CCOMMODA TION, n. Fitness ; adapta-
tion ; followed by to.
The organization of the body with accommo-
dation to its functions. Hale.
I. Adjustment of differences ; reconciliation;
as of parties in dispute.
3. Provision of conveniences.
In the plural ; conveniences ; things fur-
nished for use ; chieffy applied to lodgings.
In mercantile language, accommodation is
used for a loan of money ; which is often
a great convenience. An accommodation
A C C
.'o/f, in the language of bank directors,
is one drawn and offered for discount, fo
the purpose of borrowing its amount, ii
opposition to a note, which the owner has
received in payment for goods.
In England, accommodation hill, is one
given instead of a loan of money. Crabbe
6. It is also used of a note lent merely to
accommodate the borrower.
7. In theology, accoimnodation is the appli
cation of one thing to another by analogy,
as of the words of a prophecy to a future
Many of those quotations were probably in-
tended as nothing more than accommodations.
Paley
^. In marine language, an accommodation-
ladder is a hglit ladder hung over the side
of a ship at the gangway.
A€COM'MODATOR, ti. One that accom
niodates ; one that adjusts. Warburton.
A€€t)lM'PANABLE, a. [See Accompany.
Sociable. [J^Totused.]
A€€ClM'PANIED, pp. Attended; joined
with in societv.
ACeOM'PANIMENT, n. [Yr.A'-compagne.
ment. See Accompany.] Something that
attends as a circumstance, or which is ad-
ded by way of ornament to the principal
thing, or for the sake of symmetry. Thus
instruments of music attending the voice ;
small objects in pauituig ; dogs, guns and
game in a hunting piece ; warlike instru-
ments with the portrait of a military cha-
racter, are accompaniments.
A€€OM'PANIST, n. The performer in mu-
sic who takes the accompanying part.
Bushy.
ACCOM'PANY, V. t. [Fr. accompagner ; Sp,
acompahar ; Port, acompanhar. See Com-
pany.]
1. To go with or attend as a companion or
associate on a journey, walk, &c. ; as a
man accompanies his friend to church, or
on a tour.
2. To be with as connected ; to attend ; as
pain accompanies disease.
A€€OM'PANY, V. i. To attend; to be
associate ; as to accompany with others.
Obs. Bacon.
2. To cohabit. Milton.
3. In music, to perform the accontpanying
part in a composition. Busby.
A€€OM'PANYING, ppr. Attending ; going
with as a companion.
A€€OM'PLICE, n. [Fr. complice ; L. com-
plicatus, folded together, of coji, with, and
plico, to fold ; W. plegy, to plait ; Arm.
plega. See Complex and Pledge.] An asso-
ciate in a crime ; a partner or partaker in
guilt. It was formerly used in a good
.sense for a co-opei-ator, but this sense is
wholly obsolete. It is followed by loith be-
fore a person ; as, A was an accomplice
with B in the murder of C. Dryden uses
it with to before a thing.
A€eOM'PLISH, V. t. [Fr. accomplir, to fin-
ish, from ad and L. compleo, to complete.
See Complete.] To complete ; to finish
entirely.
That He would acco?nplish seventy years in
the desolation of Jerusalem. Dan. ix.
2. To execute ; as to accomplish a vow, wrath
or fury. Lev. xiii. and xx.
3. To gain ; to obtain or cfiiict by successful
A C C
exonions ; as to accomplish a purpose. Prov.
xiii.
4. To fulfil or bring to pass ; as, to accomplish
oust yet be accomplished
prophecy.
Tliis that is written
in me. Luke, xxii.
>. To fin-nish with qualities whicli serve to
render the mind or body complete, as with
valuable endowments and elegant man-
ners.
.\C€OM'PLISHED, pp. Finished ; complet
cd ; fidfiUed ; executed ; effected.
2. a. Well endowed with good qualities anc
manners ; complete in acquirements ; hav-
ing a finished education.
3. Fashionable. Swift.
ACeOM'PLISHER, n. One who accoiii
plishes.
A€€OM'PLISHING, ppr. Finishing; com
pleting ; fulfilHng ; executing ; effecting ;
furnishing with valuable qualities.
A€eOM'PLISHMENT,?i. Completion; ful-
filment ; entire performance ; as the accom-
plishment of a prophecy.
2. The act of carrying into effect, or obtain-
ing an object designed ; attainment ; as
the accomplishment of our desires or ends.
?. Acquirement ; that which constitutes ex-
cellence of mind, or elegance of manners,
acquired by education.
A€€OMPT'. Obs. [See Account.]
ACCOM PT' ANT. Obs. [See Accountayit.]
ACCORD', n. [Fr. accord, agreement, con-
sent ; accorder, to adjust, or reconcile ; Sp
acordar ; Arm. accord, accordi ; It. accordo.
accordare. The Lat. has concors, concordo.
Qu. cor and cordis, the heart, or from the
same root. In some of its apphcations, it
is naturally deduced from chorda. It.
da, the string of a musical instrument ^
Agreement ; harmony of minds ; consent
or concurrence of opinions or wills.
They all continued with one accord in prayei
Acts, i.
2. Concert ; harmony of sounds ; the union
of different sounds, which is agreeable to
the ear ; agreement in pitch and tone ;
tjie accord of notes ; but in this sense, it is
more usual to employ concord or chord.
•3. Agreement ; just correspondence of things ;
as the accord of hght and shade in painting,
4. Will ; voluntary or spontaneous motion ;
used of the will of persons, or the natural
motion of other bodies, and preceded by
oum
Cor.
;ing more forward of his own accord. 2
That which groweth of its own accord thou
shalt not reap. Lev. xxv.
. Adjustment of a difference ; reconciliation.
The mediator of an accord.
6. In law, an agreement between parties in
controversy, by which satisfaction for an
injury is stiptdated, and which, when ex-
ecuted, bars a suit. Blackstone.
7. Permission, leave.
ACCORD', J', t. To make to agree, or cor-
•espond ; to adjust one thing to another.
Her hands accorded the lute's music to the
voice. Sidney.
2. To bring to an agreement ; to settle, ad-
just or compose ; as to accord suits or con-
troversies. Hall.
\CCORD', V. i. To agree ; to be in corres-
pondence.
My heart accnrdeth with my tongue. Shak.
To agree in pitch and tone.
A C C
AecORD'ABLE, a. Agreeable; consonanf.
^ Goiver
ACCORD' ANCE, n. Agreement with a per
son ; contbrmity loifh a thing.
ACCORD'ANT, a. Corresponding; conso-
nant ; agreeable.
ACCORD'ED, pp. Made to agree ; adjusted.
Shak.
ACCORD'ER, n. One that aids, or favors
[Little used.]
ACCORD'ING, ppr. Agreeing ; harmoni-
zing.
Th' according music of a well mixt state.
2. Suitable ; agreeable ; in accordance with
In these senses, the word agrees with or
refers to a sentence.
Our zeal should be according to knowledge.
Spral.
Noble is the fame that is built on candor and
ingenuity, according to those beautiful lines ol
Sir John Denham. Spectator.
Here the whole preceding parts of the
sentence are to accord, i. e. agree with,
correspond with, or be suitable to, what
follows. According, here, has its true parti-
cipial sense, agreeing, and is always fol-
lowed by to. It is never a preposition.
ACCORD'INGLY, adv. Agreeably; suita-
bly ; in a manner conformable to.
Those who live in faith and good works, will
be rewariled accordingly.
ACCORP'ORATE, v. t. To unite ; [JVot in
use.] '" ' ■ ^ - -
ACCC
side, border, coast ; G. kiiste ; D. kust :
Dan. kyst.]
To approach ; to draw near ; to come side
by side, or face to face. [JVo< in use.]
2. To speak first to ; to address. Milton.
Dryden,
ACCOST', i;. i. To adjoin. [J^ot in use.]
Spenser.
ACCOST'ABLE, o. Easy of access ; famil-
iar. Howell.
•e.] [See Incorporate.] Milton.
DOST' V. t. [t r. accoster ; ad and cote.
ACCOST'ED, pp. Addressed ; first spoken
In heraldry, being side by side.
ACCOST'ING, ppr. Addressijig by first
speaking to.
ACCOUCHEUR, n. accooshdre. [Fr.] A
man who assists women in cliildbirth.
ACCOUNT', n. [Fr. conte ; It. conto ; Sp.
cuenta; Ann. count ; an account, reckon-
ing, computation. Formerly writers used
accompt from the Fr. compte. See Count]
1. A sum stated on paper; a registry of a
debt or credit ; of debts and credits, or
charges ; an entry in a book or on paper
of things bought o^- sold, of payments, ser-
vices &,c., including the names of the par-
ties to the transaction, date, and price or
value of the thing.
Account signifies a single entry or
charge, or a statement of a number of jjar-
ticular debts and credits, in a book or on a
separate paper ; and in the plural, is used
for the books containing such entries.
A computation of debts and credits, or a
general statement of particular sums; as,
the accou7it stands thus ; let him exliibit
his account.
A computation or mode of reckoning ;
applied to other things, than money or
trade ; as the Julian account of time.
t|4. Narrati\ e ; relation ; statement of facts :
A C C
A C C
A C C
recital of particular transactions and
events, verbal or written ; as an account
of the revolution in France. Hence,
5. An assigmnent of reasons ; explanation
by a recital of particular transactions, giv-
en by a person in an employment, or to a
sujierior, often implying responsibility.
Give axi account of thy stewardship. Luke, xvi.
Without responsibility or obligation.
He giveth not account of his matters. Job,
xxxiii.
6. Reason or consideration, as a motive ; as
on all accounts, on every account.
7. Value ; importance ; estimation ; that is,
such a state of persons or things, as rend-
ers them worthy of more or leas estima-
tion ; as men of account.
What is the son of man that thou niakest ac-
count of \ata. Ps. cxliv.
8. Profit ; advantage ; that is, a result or pro-
duction worthy of estimation. To find
our account in a pursuit ; to tuni to ac-
count. Philip. 4.
9. Regard; behalf; sake; a sense deduced
from charges on book ; as on account of
public affairs.
Put that to mine account. Philem. xviii.
To make account, that is, to have a previous
opinion or e.xpectation, is a sense now ob-
solete.
A writ of account, in law, is a writ which
the plaintiffbrings demanding that the de-
fendant should render his just account, or
show good cause to the contrary ; called
also an action of account. Cowel.
A€€OUNT', V. t. To deem, judge, consid-
er, think, or hold in opinion.
I and my son Solomon shall be accounted of-
fenders. 1. Kings, i.
2. To account of, to hold in esteem ; to value.
Let a man so account of us as of minister
of Christ. 1 Cor. iv.
Silver was not any thing accounted of in Ih
cLiys of Solomon. 1 Kings, x.
3. To reckon, or compute ; as, the motion of
the sun whereby years are accounted-
also to assign as a debt ; as, a project a
counted to his service ; but these uses are
antiquated.
A€€OUNT', V. i. To render an
or relation of particulars. An oflicer must
account with or to the Treasurer/or money
received.
t}. To give reasons; to assign the
to explain ; with for; as, idleness accounts
for poverty.
3. To render reasons ; to answer for
responsible character.
We must account for all the talents entrusted
to us.
-.A€€OUNTABIL'ITY, n. The state of being
liable to answer for one's conduct ; habil-
jty to give account, and to receive reward
or punishment for actions.
The awful idea of accountability.
R. Hall
2. Liability to the payinent of money or of
damages ; responsibility for a trust
ACCOUNT' ABLE, a. Liable to be called to
account ; answerable to a superior.
Every man is accountable to God /or his con
duct.
2. Subject to pay, or make good, in case of
loss. A sheriff is accountable, as bailiff and
receiver of goods.
.Accountable for, that may be explained. [.Vot
elegant.]
.\CCOUNT'ABLENESS, n. Liablencss to
answer or to give accoimt ; the state ofj
being answerable, or liable to the payment
of monev or damages.
ACCOUNT' ANT, n. One skilled in mercan-
tile accounts ; more generally, a person
who keeps accounts ; an oflicer in a pub-
lic oflice who has charge of the accounts.
In Great Britain, an officer in the court
of chancery, who receives money and
pays it to the bank, is called accountant-
general.
ACCOUNT'-BOOK, n. A book in which
accounts are kept. Sufijt.
ACCOUNT'ED, pp. Esteemed; deemed;
considered ; regarded ; valued.
Accounted for, ex]>lained.
A.CCOUN'T'ING, n;7r. Deeming ; esteeming ;
reckoning ; rendering an account.
Accounting for, rendering an account ; as-
signing the reasons ; unfoldmg the causes.
ACCOUNT'ING, n. The act of reckoning
or adjusting accounts.
VCCOUPLE, V. t. accup'plc. To couple ; to
join or link together. [See Couple.]
ACCOUPLEMENT, n. accup'plement. A
couphng ; a connecting in paus ; jimction.
{Ijittle used.]
ACCOUR'AGE, v. t. accur'age. [See Cour-\
age.] To encourage. [JVut tised.]
Spenser.'
ACCOURT, V. t. [See Court.] To entertain'
witli courtesy. [Ao< used.] Spenser}
ACCOUTER, tJ. f. accoot'er. [Fr. accoutrer ;'
contracted from accoustrfr, from Norm.j
costc, a coat, coster, a rich cloth or vest-
ment for festivals. I think this to be the!
true origin of the word, rather than cou-\
dre, couture, couturier.] [
In a general sense, to dress ; to equip ; but ^
appropriately, to array in a militaiy dress •^'
to put on, or to ftu'nish with a military
dress and arms ; to equip the body for
military service.
ACCOUt'ERED, pp. Dressed in arms;
Ai't'Ol T ERIXG, ppr. Equipping with
iiiilitarv haliilinients. *
ACCOUt'ERMENTS,?!. plu. Dress ; equip-
age ; furniture for the body ; appropri-
ately, miUtary dress and arms ; equijiage
for miUtary service.
3. In common usage, an old or unusual Ai
ACCOY', V. t. [old Fr. accoisir. Todd.]
To render quiet or diffident ; to soothe ; to
caress. [Obs-] Spenser.
ACCRED'IT, r. «. [Fr. accrcrfi7er; Sp. acrc-
ditar; It. accreditare; to give authority or
reputation ; from L. ad and credo, to be-!
heve, or give faith to. See Credit.] j
To give credit, authority, or reputation ; to'
accredit an envoy, is t6 receive him in his
public character, and give him credit and
rank accordinglv.
ACCREDITATION, n. That which sives
title to credit. [Ldttle used.]
ACCRED'ITED, pp. Allowed ; received
with reputation ; authorized in a public
character. Christ. Obs.
ACCRED'ITING,;>p-. Giving authority or
reputation.
ACCRES'CENT, a. [See Accretion.] In-
creasing. Shuckford.
ACCRE'TION, n. [Lat. accretio
accres'co, to increase, literally, to grow
ad .iiid cresco ; Eiig. accrue ; Fr. accroitre.
See Increase, Accrue, Grow.]
\. A growing to ; an increase by natural
growth ; applied to the increase of organic
bodies by the accession of parts.
Plants have an accretion, but no alimenta-
tion. Bacon.
2. In the civil law, the adhering of property
to sometlijng else, by which the owner of
one thing becomes possessed of a right to
anotlier ; as, when a legacy is lef\ to two
persons, and one of them dies before the
testator, the legacy devolves to the sur-
vivor by right of accretion. Encyc.
ACCRE'TIVE, a. Increasing by growth;
growing; adding to by growth; as the
accretive motion of plants.
ACCROACH, V. i. [Fr. accrocher, to fix on a
hook ; from croc, crochet, a hook, from
the same elements as crook, which see.]
1. To hook, or draw to, as with a hook ; but
in this sense not used.
2. To encroach ; to draw away from an-
other. Hence in old laws to assume the
e.vercise of royal prerogatives.
Bhckstone.
The noun accroachment, an encroachment, or
attempt to exercise royal power, is rarely
or never used. [See Encroach.]
ACCRUE, V. i. accru'. [Fr. accroitre, accru,
to increase; L. accresco, cresco; Sp. crecer
and acrectr ; It. crescere, accrescere ; Port.
crecer : Arm. crisqi.]
Literally, to grow to; hence to arise, pro-
ceed or come ; to be added, as increase,
profit or damage ; as, a profit accrues to
government from the coinage of copper ;
a loss accrues from the coinage of gold
and silver.
ACCRUE, n. accru'. Something that ac-
cedes to, or follows the property of an-
other. 04s.
ACCRU'ING, ppr. Growing to ; arising ;
coming ; being added.
.'V.CCRU'MENT, n. Addition ; increase.
[Little used.] Montagu.
(fACCUBA'TION, n. [L. accubatio, a rechn-
ing, from ad and cubo, to lie down. See
Cube.] A lying or reclining on a couch, as
the ancients at their meals. The manner
was to rechne on low beds or couches
with the head restmg on a pillow or on the
elbow. Two or three men lay on one bed,
the feet of one extended behind the back
of another. This practice was not permit-
ted among soldiers, children, and senants ;
nor was it known, until luxury had cor-
rupted manners. Encyc.
.^iCCUMB', V. i. [L. accumbo ; ad and cubo.]
recline as at table. [.Vot used.]
ACeUM'BENCY, n. State of being accum-
bent or reclining.
ACCUM'BENT, a. [L. accumbens, accumbo,
from cubo. See Accubation.] Leaning or
reclining, as the ancients at their meals.
ACCU'MULATE, v. t. [L. accumulo.ad md
cumulo, to heap; cumulus, a heap; Sp.
acuimilar ; It. accumulare ; Fr. accumu-
ler, combler.]
1. To lieap up ; to pile ; to amass ; as, to accu-
mulate earth or stones.
2. To collect or bring together; as to accu-
mulate causes of misery ; to accumulate
wealth.
ACCU'MULATE. v. i. To grow to a grea'.
A C C
.-ii/e, mmiber or quantity ; to
^'leatly ; as public evils uccumulale
ACCUMULATE, a. Collected into a mass,
orfjiiaiitity. Bacon
ACCUMULATED, ipp- Collected into i
lic,-i|i i.r ^'irat quantity.
Aid Ml LV'l'lNG, ;);))•. Heaping up
i(iM^(>-in^ : increasing greatly.
ACCLMULATION, n. Thekct ofaccunni
latiiig ; tlie state of being accumulated ; ai
amassing; a collecting together; as ai:
nccumulation of earth or of evils.
•2. In tat', the concun-ence of several titles
to the same thing, or of several circum
stances to the same proof. Encyc.
3. In Universities, an accumulation of degrees,
is tlie taking of several together, or at
.smaller intervals than usual, or than is
allowed by the rules. Encyc.
AeCU'MULATIVE, a. That accumulates;
heapuig up ; accumulating.
ACCU'MULATOR, n. One that accumu-
lates, gathers, or amasses.
ACCURACY, n. [L. accuratio, from accu-
rare, to take care of; ad and curare, to take
care ; cxira, care. See Care.]
1. Exactness ; exact conformity to truth ; or
to a rule or model ; freedom from mistake ;
nicety; correctness; precision wliich re-
sults from care. The accuracy of ideas or
ophiions is conformity to truth. The val-
ue of testimony depends on its accuracy ;
copies of legal instruments should be taken
with accuracy.
2. Closeness ; tightness ; as a tube sealed with
accuracy.
ACCURATE, a. [L. accuratus.] In exact
conformity to truth, or to a standard or
rule, or to a model ; free from failure, error,
or defect ; as an accurate account ; accurate
measure ; an accurate expression
2. Determinate ; precisely fixed ; as, one body
may not have a very accurate influence on
another. Bacon
3. Close ; perfectly tight ; as an accurate seal-
ing or luting.
ACCURATELY, adv. Exactly ; in an accu-
rate manner ; with precision ; without er-
ror or defect ; as a writing accurately copied.
9. Closely; so ' • ■ ■ ^ J-
vial
AC
ACE
2. The charge of an offense or criiiif
the declaration containing the charge.
They set over his head his accusation, ]
ACCU'SATIVE, a. A term given to a case
of noims, in Grammars, on which thi
tion of a verb terminates or falls ; called
in English Grammar the objective case.
ACCU'SATIVELY, adv. In an accusative
manner.
2. In relation to the accusative case
Grammar.
ACCU'SATORY, a. Accusing ; containing
an accusation ; as an accusatory libel.
ACCU'SE, ». <. sasz. [L. accuse, to blame.
ad and causor, to blame, or ac-
causa, blame, suit, or process.
ACE
Port
lui ui ucicci, asu n rnmg accurately copiea.
Closely ; so as to be peifectly tight ; as a
vial accurately stopped. Comstock.
3'eURATENESS, n. Accuracy; exact-
ness ; nicety ; precision.
ACCURSE, V. t. accurs', [Ac for ad and
curse.] To devote to destruction ; tounpre
cate misery or evil upon. [This verb i
rarely used. See Curse.]
ACCURS'ED, pp. or a. Doomed to destruc
tion or misery :
The city shall be accursed. John vi.
2. Separated fi-om the faithful ; cast out of
the church ; excommunicated.
I could wish myself accursed from Christ.
St. Paul,
\S. Worthy of the curse : detestable ; exe-
crable.
Keep from tlie accursed tiling. Josh. vi.
Hence,
4. Wicked ; malignant in the extreme.
ACCU'SABLE, a. That may be accused ;
chargeable with a crime ;"blamable; ha-
^ ble to censure ; followed by of.
ACCU'SANT, n. One who accuses. Hall.
ACCUSA'TION, n. The act of charging
with a crime or offense ; the act of accus-
ing of any wrong or injustice.
cause ; t v. accuser ;
accusar; It.accusare; Arm. accusi. The
sense is, to attack, to drive against, t(
charge or to fall upon. See Cause.]
1. To charge with, or declare to have com
mitted a crime, either by plaint, or com
plaint, information, indictment,or impeach-
ment ; to charge with an offense against
the laws, judicially or by a public process
as, to accuse one of a high crime or mis-
demeanor.
2. To charge with a fault ; to blame.
Their thoughts, in the meanwhile, accusing
or excusing one another. Rom. ii.
It is followed by o/ before the subject of ac-
cusation ; the use of for after this verb is
illegitimate.
ACCU'SED, pp. Charged with a crime, by
a legal process ; charged with an offense
blamed.
ACCU'SER, n. One who accuses or blames
an oflicer who prefers an accusation
against another for some offense, in the
name of the government, before a tribu
nal that has cognizance of the offense.
ACCU'SING, ppr. Charging with a crime
blaming.
ACCUS'TOM, V. t. [Fr. accoutumer, from ad
and coutume, coustume, custom. See Cus-
tom.]
Toinake familiar by use ; to form a habit I: _
practice ; to habituate or inure ; as to
accustom one's self to a spare diet.
ACCUS'TOM, V. i. To be wont, or habitu
ated to do any thing. [Little used.]
3. To cohabit. [Abi«serf.] Milton.
ACCUS'TOM, n. Custom. [JVot used.]
Milton
ACCUS'TOMABLE, a. Of long custom ;
habitual ; customary. [Little used.]
ACCUS'TOMABLY, adv. According
custom or habit. [Little used.]
ACCUS'TOMAISfCE, n. Custom ; habitual
use or practice. [JVotused.] Boyle.
ACCUS'TOMARILY, adv. AcconUng to
custom or common practice. [See Cus-
■" '; used.]
, a. Ui
[See Ciistoman/.] [Little used.
ACCUS'TOMED, pp. Being fainihar by
use ; habituated ; inured.
2. o. Usual ; often practiced ; as in their ac-
customed manner.
ACCUS'TOrMING, ppr. Making famihar
by practice ; inuring.
ACE, n. [L. as, a unit or pound ; Fr. as ;
It. asso; D. aas; G. ass; Sp. as.]
A unit ; a single point on a card or die ; or
the card or die so marked.
tomarily.] [Little used.
ACCUS'TOMARY, a. Usual; customary
2. A very small quantity; a panicle; an atonj;
a trifle ; aw a creditor will not abate an ace
of his demand.
ACEL'DAMA, n. [Ch. Spn, a field, and
KOI, Ch. Syr. and Sam., blood.]
A field said to have lain south of Jerusalem,
the same as the potters field, purchased
with the bribe which Judas took for betray-
ing his master, and therefore called the
field of blood. It was appropriated to the
interment of strangers.
ACEPH'ALOUS, a. [Gr. a priv. and«t«„,
a head.]
Without a head, headless. In lustory, the
term Acephali, or AcephaUtes was given
to several sects who refused to follow
some noted leader, and to such bishops as
were exempt from the jurisdiction and dis-
cipline of their patriarch. It was also
given to certain levelers who acknowl-
edged no head in the reign of Henry 1st.
It was also applied to the Blemmvcs, a
pretended nation of Africa, and to "other
tribes in the East, whom ancient natural-
ists represented as havhig no head : their
eyes and mouth being plncnl in other
parts. Modern discoverjis li:n c ili>-i|>;it-
ed these fictions. In Kii?jli-li l.;i\\ >. men
who held lands of no paiti. iilai lonl, and
clergymen who were under no bisliop.
L. L. Hen. I. Cowel.
ACEPH'ALUS, n. An obsolete name of the
tjenia or tape worm, which was formerly
supposed to have no head ; an error now
exploded. The term is also used to ex-
press a verse defective in the begimiing.
ACERB', a. [L. acerbus ; G. herbe, harsh,
sour, tart, bitter, rough, whence herbst,
autumn, herbstzeit, harvest time ; D. herfst,
harvest. See Harvest]
Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste ; sour,
with astringency or roughness ; a quaUty
of unripe fruits. Qtiincy.
ACERB'ITY, n. A sourness, with rough-
ness, or astringency.
Figuratively, harshness or severity of
temper in man.
ACER'IC, a. [L. acer, a maple tree.]
Pertaining to the maple ; obtamed from the
na))le, as aceric acid. Ure.
AC'EROUS, a. [L. acerosus, chaflfy, from
acus, chaffer a point.] In botany, chaffy ;
resembling chaff.
2. An acerous or acerose leaf is one which
is linear and permanent, in form of a nee-
dle, as m pine. Martyru
ACES'CENCY, n. [L. acescens, turning
sour, from acesco. See Acid.] A turning
sour by spontaneous decomposition ; a
state of becoming sour, tart, or acid ; and
hence a being moderately sour.
ACES'CENT, a. Turning .sour; becoming
tait or acid by spontaneous decomposition.
Hence sliglitly sour ; but the latter sense
is usually expressed by acidulous or sub-
acid. JVicholson.
ACES'TE, n. In entomology, a species of
papUio or butterfly, with subdentated
wings, found in India. Cyc.
ACES'TIS, n. [Gr.] A factitious sort of
chi-ysocolla, made of Cyprian verdigris,
urine, and niter. Cyc.
ACETAB'ULUM, n. [L. from acetum, vin-
egar. See Acid.] Among the Romans a
A C H
A C I
A C 1
vinegar cnise or like vessel, and a meas-
ure of about one eighth of a pijit.
1. In anatomy, the cavity of a bone for receiv-
ing the protuberant end of another bone,
and therefore forming the articulation cal-
led enarthrosis. It is used especially for
the cavity of the os Innominatum, which
receives the liead of the thigh bone
ACTIE'AN, a. Pertaining to Acliaia in
Greece, and a celebrated league or con-
federacy established there. Tliis State lay
on the gulf of Corinth, within Pelopon-
nesus.
ACIIERN'ER, n. A star of the first magni-
tude m the southern extremity of the con-
stellation Eridanus.
2. In botfiny, the trivial name of a species of A€H'ER!SET, n. An ancient measure of
■■ ■ " ■ corn, supposed to be about eight bushels.
Encyc.
ACHIE'VABLE, a. [See Achieve.^ That
may be performed. Barrow.
ACHIE'VANCE, n. Performance. Ehjol.
.'VCIIIE'VE, v.t. [Fr.ac/ieucr, to finish; Ann.
acchui; old Fr. cJicver, to come to the end,
from Fr. chef, the head or end ; old Eng.
cheve ; Sp. and Port, acabar, from cabo, end,
cnpe. See Chief.]
1. To i)erform, or execute ; to accomplisli ;
to finish, or carry on to a final close. It is
apiiropriately used for the effect of efforts
made by tlie hand or bodily exertion, as
fleeds achieved by valor.
2. To gain or obtain, as the result of exertion.
Show all the spoils by valiaat Kings achieved.
Prior.
AOIIIE'VEn, pp. Performed; obtained ;
piv.izn, the cup peziza ; so called from its
reseinbliince to a cup.
3. A glandular substance found in the placen-
ta of some anunals.
4. It is sometimes used in the sense of Coty-
ledon.
5. A species of lichen. Cyc.
^AC'ETARY, n. [^ee Acid.] An acid pulpy
substance in certain fi-uits, as the pear, in-
closed in a congeries of small calculous
bodies, towards the base of the fruit.
Grew.
ACETATE, n. [See Acid.] In chimistry, a
neutral salt formed by the union of the
acetic acid, or radical vuiegar, with any
saUfiable base, as with earths, metals, and
alkalies; as the ace/aie of alumine, of lime,
or of copper. Lavoisier.
AC'ETATED, «. [See Acid.] Combined
with acetic acid, or radical vinegar.
ACE'Tle, o. [See Acid.] A term used to
denote a particular acid, acetic acid, the
concentrated acid of vinegar, or radical
vinegar. It may be obtained by exposing
common vinegar to fi-ost — the water frcez"
ing leaves the acetic acid, in a state of pu
rity.
ACETIFI€A'TION, n. The act of making
acetous or sour; or the operation of mak-
ing vinegar. Cyc.
ACE'TIFY, V. t. To convert into acid oi
vinegar. Aikin
AC'ETITE, n. [See Add.] A neutral salt
formed by the acetous acid, with a salifi
able base ; as the acelitc of copper, alumi
nous acetite. Lavoisier
ACETOM'ETER, n. [L. acetum, vinegar,
and liftfiov, measure.]
An instrument for ascertaining the strengtl
of vinegar. Ure.
ACETOUS, a. [See Acid.] Sour; hke or
having the nature of vinegar. Acetous
acid is the term used by chimists for dis
tilled vinegar. Tliis acid, in union with
different bases, forms salts called acetites.
ACETUM, n. [L. See Add.] Vmegar; a
sour liquor, obtained from vegetables dis
solved in boiUng water, and from ferment
ed and spirituous liquors, by expositig tliem
to heat and air.
This is called the acid or acetous fermenta
tion.
A€HE, V. i. ake. [Sax. ace, ece ; Gr. axtu.
to aclie or be in pain ; a;K05, pain. Tli
primary sense is to be pressed. Perhaps
the oriental pi;? "
1. To suffer pain ; to have or be in pain, or
in continued pain ; as, the head aclm.
• 2. To suffer grief, or extreme grief; to be
- ' distressed ; as, the heart aches
AGHE, 7!. ake. Pain, or continued pain, in
opposition to sudden twuiges, or spasmod
ic ])ain. It denotes a more moderate de
gree of pain than pang, anguish, suid tor-
Vol. L
VCIllK'VEMENT, n. The performance of
i-tii
2. A great or heroic deed ; something ac-
complished by valor, or boldness.
3. An obtaining by exertion.
4. An escutcheon or ensigns armorial, grant-
ed for the performance of a great or hon-
orable action. Encyc.
ACHIE'VER, n. One who accomplishes a
purpose, or obtains an object by his exer-
tions,
ACHIE'VING,p;)r. Performing; executing ;
gaining.
A'ellING, ppr. Being in pain ; suffering
distress.
A'€HING, n. Pain; continued pain or distress.
A'CHIOTE, n. The anotta, a tree, and adriig
used for dyeing red. The bark of the tree
makes good cordage, and the wood is used
to excite fire by friction. [See Anotta.]
Clavigero.
A'€HOR, n. [Gr. a;t"P, sordes capitis.]
. The scald head, a disease forming scaly
eruptions, supposed to be a critical evac-
uation of acrimonious humors ; a species
of herpes. Hooper. Quincy.
. In mythology, the God of flies, said to have
been worshipped by the Cyreneans,
avoid being vexed bv those insects. Encyc.
A€HR03IAT'I€, a. "[Gr. a priv. and ;i:p"iu<t,
color.]
Destitute of color. Achromatic telescopes
are formed of a combination of lenses
which separate the variously colored rays
of light to equal angles of divergence, ';ii
different angles of refi-action of the niuai
ray. In this case, the rays being made i.
refract towards contrary parts, the w holt
ray is caused to deviate from its course,!
without being separated into colors, and}
the o[)tical aberration arising fi-om the
rious colors of light, is prevented. This
telescope is an invention of DoUand.
JVicholson.
\CI€'ULAR, a. [L. adcula, Priseian, a
needle, froniGr. axtj, L. acies,3. point. See
Acid.]
3
Intlic shape of a needle; having sharp point*
like iieedlcs. Kirwan. Martyn.
\n ncicidar prism is when the crystals are
slender and straight. Phillips.
ACl€'ULARLY, adv. In the manner of
needles, or prickles.
ACID, a. [L. acidus ; Sax. aced, vine-
gar ; from the root of ades, edge ; Gr.
axr] ; W. oKif, an edge or point. See Edge.]
Sour, sharp or biting to the taste, having the
taste of vinegar, as addfruils or liquors.
AC'ID, n. In chimistry, acids are a class of
of substances, so denominated from their
taste, or the sensation of .sourness which
they ijnidnce on the tongue. But the
namc^ is now given to several substances,
which ha\e not this characteristic in an
eminent degree. The properties, by which
they are distinguished, are these :
1. When taken into the mouth, they occa-
sion the taste of sourness. They are cor-
rosive, unless diluted with water ; and some
of them are caustic.
2. They change certain vegetable blue colors
to red, and restore blue colors which have
been tiu-ned green, or red colors which
have been turned blue by an alkali.
3. iWost of them unite with water in all pro-
jjortions, with a condensation of volume
and evolution of heat ; and many of them
have so strong an attraction for "water, as
not to appear in the sohd state.
4. They have a stronger affinity for alka-
hes, than these have for any other sub-
stance ; and in combining with them, most
of them produce effervescence.
They unite with earths, alkaUes and me-
tallic oxyds, forming interesting com-
pounds, usually called salts.
6. With few exceptions, they are volatiUzed
or decomposed by a moderate heat.
The old chimists divided acids into ani-
mal, vegetable, and mineral — a division
now deemed inaccurate. They are also
divided into oxygen acids, hydrogen acids,
and acids destitute of these acidifiers.
Another division is into acids with simple
radicals, acids with double radicals, acids
with triple radicals, acids with imknown
radicals, compound acids, dubious acids,
and acids destitute of oxygen.
Lavoisier. Thomson. J^icholson. Aikin.
ACIDIF'EROUS, a. [Acid and L. fero.]
Containing acids, or an acid.
Acidiferous minerals are such as consist of
an earth combined with an acid; as carbo-
nate of Ume, alumuiite, &c. Phillips.
VCID'IFIABLE, a. [From Acidify.]
Capable of being converted into an acid, by
union with an acidifying principle, with-
out decomposition.
ACIDIFI€A'TION, n. The act or process
of aridifvuig or changing into an acid.
\ril) II'IKD, pp. Made acid; converted
veil* ll'IKR, n. That which by combina-
tion Ibiins an acid, as oxygen and hydro-
gen.
ACID'IFY, I', t. [Add and L.fncio.]
To make acid ; but appropriately to convert
into an acid, chimically so called, by com-
bination with any substance.
ACIDIFYING, ppr. Making acid; con-
verting into an acid ; having power to
change into an acid. Oxygen is called the
acidifying principle or element.
A C K
ACIDIM'ETER, n. [Acid and Or. nitf^ov,
measure.]
All instrument for ascertaining tlie strength
of acids. Ure.
ACID'ITY, n. [Fr. aciditi, from acid.]
The quality of being sour; sourness; tart-
ness ; sharpness to the taste.
AC'IDNESS, n. The quahty of being sour;
acidity.
ACIDULATE, v. t. [L. addulus, shghtly
sour; Fr. aarfwier, to make sour. See^a'rf."
To tuige with an acid ; to made acid in i
moderate degre. A-buthnot.
ACID'ULATED, pp. Tinged with an acid ;
made slightly sour.
ACID'ULATING,;7jur. Tinging with an acid
AC'IDUIiE, \ 11. In chimistry, a compound
ACID'ULUM, S salt, in which the alkahne
base is su])ersaturated with acid ; as, tarta
reous aciduhim ; oxalic acidulum.
ACIDULOUS, a. [L. addulus. See Add.]
Slightly sour ; sub-acid, or having an ex
cess of acid ; as, addulous sulphate.
ACINAC'IFORM, a. [L. acmaces, a cime
ter, Gr. axuaxs;?, and Tl,. forma, form.]
In botany, formed like, or resembling a cim-
eter. Marfyn.
AC'INIFORM, a. [L. annus, a grape stone
and forma, shape.]
Having the form of grapes ; being ui clusters
Uke grapes. The uvea or posterior la-
men of the iris in the eye, is called the
adniform tunic. Anatomists apply the
term to many glands of a similar forma
tion. Qtiincy. Hooper
ACINOSE, > a. [From L. acinus. Set
ACINOUS, S Adniform.]
Consisting of minute granular concretions
used in mineralogy. Kirwan
ACINUS, n. [L.] In botany, one of the
small grains, which compose the fruit of
the blackbeiTy, &c.
ACIPENSER, a. In ichthyology, a genus
of fishes, of the order of chondropterygii,
having an obtuse head ; the mouth under
the head, retractile and without teeth.
To this genus belong the sturgeon, ster-
let, huso, &c. Cyc
\CIT'LI, n. A name of the water hare, or
great crested grebe or diver.
Diet, of Nat. Hist
A€KNOWL'EDGE, v.t. Aknol'edge, [ad
and knoivledge. See Kno%p.]
J. To own, avow or admit to be true, by a
declaration of assent ; as to acknoiuh'dge
the being of a God.
'3. To own or notice with particular regard.
In all thy ways acknowledge God. Prov. iii.
Isa. xxxiii.
?i. To own or confess,
sciousness of guilt.
1 acknowledge my transgressions, and my
sin is ever before me. Ps. li. and x.\xii.
4. To own with assent ; to admit or receive
with approbation.
He tliat acknowledgeth the son, hath the
the father also. 1 John ii. 2 Tim. ii.
3. To own with gratitude ; to own as a ben-
efit ; as, to acknowledge a favor, or the re-
ceipt of a gift.
They his gifts acknowledged not. Milton.
G. To own or admit to belong to ; as, to ac-
knowledge a son.
7. To receive with respect.
AU tbat eee them shall acknowledge that
A C O
implying a con-
they are the seed which the Loid hath blessed
Isa. vi. I Cor. xvi.
8. To own, avow or assent to an act in a le-
gal foriri, to give it validity ; as, to acknowl-
edge a deed before competent authority.
A€KNOWL'EDGED, pp. Owned ; con-
fessed ; noticed with regard or gratitude ;
received with approbation ; owned before
authoritv-
A€KNOWL'ED(iING, ppr. Owning ; con
fessing ; approving ; grateful ; but the lat-
ter sense is a galUcism, not to be used.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, n. The act of
owning ; confession ; as, the acknowledg-
ment of a fault.
2. The ownuig, with approbation, or m the
true character ; as the acknowledgment of
a God, or of a pubUc mmister.
3. Concession ; admission of the truth ; as,
of a fact, position, or principle.
4. The owning of a benefit received, accom-
panied with gratitude ; and hence it com
bines the ideas of an expression of thanks.
Hence, it is used also for something given
or done ui return for a favor.
5. A declaration or avowal of one's own act
to give illegal vahdjty ; as the acknowledg-
ment of a deed before a proper officer.
icknoivledgment-money, in some parts of Eng-
land, is a stun paid by tenants, on the death
of their landlord, as an acknowledgment
of their new lords. Encyc.
A€'aiE, n. Ac'my. [Gr. axuri.]
The top or highest point. It is used to de-
note the maturity or perfection of an ani-
mal. Among physicians, the crisis of a
disease, or its utmost violence. Old med-
ical writers divided the progress of a dis-
ease into four periods, the arche, or begin-
ning, the anabasis, or increase, the acme
or utmost violence, and the paracme.
or decline. But acme can hardly be con-
sidered as a legitimate English word.
A€'NE, n. Ac'ny. [Gr.]
A small hard pimple or tubercle on the face.
Qiiincy.
ACNES'TIS, n. [Gr. a priv. and xiuu, to rub
or gnaw.]
That part of the spine in quadi'upeds which
extends from the metaphrenon, between
the shoulder blades, to the loins ; which
the animal cannot reach to scratch.
Coxe. (^uincy.
A€'0, n. A Mediterranean fish, called
sarachus.
AG'OLIN, n. A bird of the partridge kind
in Cuba. Its breast and belly are white ;
its back and tail of a dusky yellow brown
Diet. ofJVat. Hist
A€OL'OTHIST, ? ,„ , « i
A€'OLYTE, I "• [^■■- <""'^»'"-]
In the ancient church, one of the subordinate
officers, who hghted the lamps, prepared
the elements of the sacraments, attended
the bishops, &c. An oflicer of the like
character is still employed in the Romish
Church. Encyc.
A€'ONITE, n. [L. aconitum; Gr. axo^^To^"
The herb wolf's bane, or monks-hood,
poisonous plant ; and in poetry, used for
poison in general.
AeON'TIAS, n. [Gr. axovtias
dart, from axuv.]
1. A species of serpent, called dart -snake, or
jaculum, liomits maimer of dartuig on its
prey. This serjieni is about three feet iji
AGO
length ; of a hght gray color witli blaclr
spots, resembling eyes ; the belly perfectly
white. It is a native of Africa and the
Mediterranean isles; is the swiftest of its
kind, and cods itself upon a tree, from
which it darts upon its prey.
2. A comet or meteor resembUiig the serpent.
ACOP', adv. [a and cope.}
JAt the top. Obs. Jonsort.
A'€ORN, n. [Sax. eecem, from ace or ac,
oak, and com, a grain.]
1. The seed or fruit of the oak ; an oval nut
which grows in a rough permanent cup.
The first settlers of Boston were reduced to
the necessity of feeding on clams, muscles,
ground nuts, and acorns. B. Trumbull.
2. In marine language, a small ornamental
piece of wood, of a conical shape, fixed on
the point of the spindle above the vane, on
the mast head, to keep the vane from be-
ing blown off. Mar. Diet.
3. In natural history, the Lepas, a genus of
shells of several species found on the Brit-
ish coast. The shell is multivalvular, un-
equal, and fixed by a stem ; the valves are
parallel and pei-pendicular, but they do not
open, so that the animal performs its func-
tions by an aperture on the top. These
shells are always fixed to some solid body.
A'€ORNED, a. Furnished or loaded with
acorns.
A'eORUS, n. [L. from Gr. axopoi.]
1. Aromatic Calamus, sweet flag, or sweet
rush.
2. In natural history, blue coral, which grows
in the form of a tree, on a rocky bottom,
in some parts of the African seas. It is
brought from the Camarones and Benin.
Encyc.
3. In medicine, this name is sometimes given
to the great galangal. Encyc.
A€OTYL'EDON, n. [Gr. a priv. and xotv-
^yjiuv from xotvt.ij, a hollow.}
In botany, a plant whose seeds have no side
s, or cotyledons. Martim.
ACOTYLEDONOUS, a. Having no side
lobes.
ACOUS'TIC, a. [Gr. oxoisnaioj, from axovu,
to hear.]
Pertaining to the ears, to the sense of hear-
ing, or to the doctrine of sounds.
Acoustic duct, in anatomy, the meatus audito-
rius, or external passage of the ear.
Acoustic vessels, in ancient theaters, were bra-
zen tubes or vessels, shaped like a bell,
used to proj)el the voice of the actors, so
as to render them audible to a great dis-
tance ; in some theaters at the distance of
400 feet. Encyc.
icoustic instrument, or auricular tube, called
in popidar language, a speaking trumpet.
Encyc.
Acoustics, or acousmalics, was a name given
to such of the disciples of Pythagoras, as
had not completed their five years proba-
tion.
A€OUS'TICS, n. The science of sounds,
teaching their cause, nature, and phenom-
ena. This science is, by some writers, di-
vided into diacoustics, which explains the
properties of sounds coming du-ectly from
the sonorous body to the ear; and catacou-
stics, which treats of reflected sounds.
But the distinction is considered of httl©
real utility.
2. lu medicine, this term is sometimes usetj
A c a
A c a
A C R
for remedies for deafness, or imperfect
hearinj^. quincij.
ACQUA'INT, V. t. [Old Fr. accointer, to
make known ; whence accointance, ac-
qnaintance. Qu. Per. \^l^s kunda,
knowing, intelligent ; Ger. kunde, knowl-
edge ; kwid, known, public ; D. kond or
kunde, knowledge ; Sw. klind, known ;
Dan. kimder, to know, to be acquainted
with. These words seem to have for their
primitive root the Goth, and Sax. kunnan,
to know, the root of cunning ; Ger. ken-
nen ; D. kunnen, kan ; Eng. can, and ken ;
which see.]
1. To make known ; to make fully or inti-
mately known ; to make famiUar.
A man of sorrows and acquainted with giicf.
Isaiah liii.
2. To inform ; to communicate notice to ; as, a
friend in the country acquaints me with hi;
success. Of before the object, as to ac-
quaint a man o/this design, has been used,
but is obsolete or improper.
3. To acquaint one^s self, is to gain an inti-
mate or particular knowledge of
JJcquaiiit now thyself with him and be at
peace. Job xxii.
A€QUAI'NTANCE, ?i. Famihar know-
edge ; a state of being acquainted, or of
having intimate or more than sUght or su-
perficial knowledge ; as, 1 knotv the man,
but have no acquaintance with him. Some-
times it denotes a more slight knowledge.
9. A person or persons well known ; usually
persons we have been accustomed to see
and converse with; sonietmies, persons
more slightly known.
Lover and friend hast thou put far from me,
end mine acquaintance into darkness. Ps
bixxviii.
•Acquaintances, in the plural, is used, as ap
plied to individual persons known; but
more generally, acquaintance is used for
one or more.
Jicquaintant, in a like sense, is not used.
ACQUAINTED, pp. Known; famiharly
known ; informed ; having personal know-
ledge.
ACQUAINTING, ppr. Making known to ;
giving notice, or information to.
ACQUEST', n. [L. acquisitus, acquiro.]
1. Acquisition ; the tiling gained. Bacon.
2. Conquest ; a place acquired by force.
ACQUIESCE, V. i. acquiess'. [L. acquiesco
of ad and quiesco, to be quiet ; quies, rest
Fr. acquiescer.]
1 . To rest satisfied, or apparently satisfied, or
to rest without opposition and discontent ;
usually implying previous opposition, m
easiness, or dislike, but ultimate compl:
ance, or submission ; as, to acquiesce in the
dispensations of providence.
2. To assent to, upon conviction ; as, to ac-
quiesce in an opmion ; that is, to rest satis-
fied of its correctness, or propriety.
Acquiesced in, in a passive sense, comphcd
with ; submitted to, without opposition
as, a measure has been acquiesced in.
ACQUIES'CENCE, n. A quiet assent ; a si-
lent submission, or submission with appa
rent content ; distinguished from avowed
consent on the one" hand, and on the other,
from opposition or open discontent ; as, an
acquiescence in the decisions of a court, or
in the allotments of providence.
ACQUIES'CENT, a. Resting satisfied;
easy; submjtthig; disposed to submit.
Johnson
ACQUIES'CING, ppr. Quietly submitting ;
resting content.
ACQUI'RABLE, a. That inay be acquired.
ACQUI'RE, V. t. [L. acquiro, ad and quwro, to
seek, that is to follow, to press, to urge ; ac-
quiro signifies to jmrsue to the end or ob-
ject; Fr.ac^uenr; Sp. arfgutnV ; Ar. Sy'i,
Heb. Ipn to seek, to make towards, to fol-
low. The L. qucesivi, unless contracted, is
jnobably from a difierent root. See class
Gr. and Gs.]
To gain, by any means, something wliich is
in a degree permanent, or which becomes
vested or inherent in the possessor ; as, to
acquire a title, estate, learning, habits,
skill, dominion, &.C. Plants acquire a green
color from the solar rays. A mere tempo-
rary possession is not expressed by acquire,
but by gain, obtain, procure ; as, to obtain
[not acquire] a book on loan.
Descent is the title whereby a man, on the
the deatli of liis ancestor, acquires liis estate, by
right of representation, as his heir at law.
Blackstone.
ACQUI'RED, pp. Gained, obtained, or re-
ceived fi-om art, labor, or other means,
in distinction from thosQ,things which are
bestowed by nature. Thus we say, abili-
ties, natural and acquired. It implies title,
or some permanence of possession.
ACQUI'REMENT, n. The act of acquiring,
or that wliich is acquired ; attainment,
is used ui opposition to natural gifts ; as,
eloquence, and skill in music and painting,
are acquirements ; genius, the gift of nature.
It denotes especially personal attainments,
in opposition to material or external thuigs
gained, whicli are more usually called ac-
quisitions ; but this distinction is not always
observed.
ACQUI'RER, n. A person who acquires.
ACQUIRING, ppr. Gaining by labor or
other means, something that has a degree
of permanence in the possessor.
ACQUI'RY, n. Acquirement. [.Vo< used.]
Barrow.
AC'QUISITE, a. s as ;. Gained. [.Vot used.]
Burton.
ACQUISI"TION, n. [L. acquisitio, fi-om ac-
quisitxts, acqucesivi, which are given as the
part, and prct. of acquiro ; but quasivi is
probably from a different root ; W. ceisiaw ;
Eth. rhUJUJ chasas, jchas ; Ar. ^i kassa,
to seek. Class Gs. ]
1. The act of acquiring ; as, a man takes
pleasure m the acquisition of property, as
well as in the possession.
2. The thing acquired, or gained ; as, learn-
ing is an acquisition. It is used for mtellec-
tual attainments, as well as for external
things, property, or dominion ; and in a
good sfiisp. (I<>niitiiig something estimable.
ACQl'lH rrn K. «. That is acquu-ed; ac-
quii-i-il : \hiit improper.] Walton.
ACQUI.-« 1TI\ ELY, adv. Noting acquirc-
meut, with to or for followuig.
Lilifs Grammar.
ACQUIST', n. See Acquest. [JVol used.]
Milton.
ACQUIT', v.t. [Fr. acquiUer; W. gadit,
gadaw ; L. cedo ; Arm. kitat, or quytaat,
to leave, or forsake ; Fr. quitter, to forsake ;
Sp. quitar; Port, quitar; It. quitare, to re-
mit, forgive, remove ; D. kttyten ; Ger. quil-
tiren.]
To set free ; to release or discharge from an
obligation, accusation, guilt, censure, sus-
picion, or whatever Ues upon a person as
a charge or duty ; as, the jury acquitted xho
prisoner ; we acquit a man of evil inten-
tions. It is followed by of before the ob-
ject ; to acquit from is obsolete. In a re-
ciprocal sense, as, the soldier acquitted
himself well in battle, the word has a like
sense, implying the discharge of a duty or
obhgation. Hence its use in expressing
excellence in performance ; as the orator ac-
quitted himself well, that is, in a manner
that his situation and public expectation
demanded.
ACQUIT'MENT, n. The act of acquitting,
or state of being acquitted. South.
S'his word is superseded by acquittal.]
IT'TAL, n. A judicial setting free, or
deliverance from the charge of an offense ;
as, by verdict of a jury, or sentence of a
court.
The acquittal of a principal operates as an
acquittal of the accessories.
ACQUITTANCE, n. A discharge or re-
lease from a debt.
2. The writing, which is evidence of a dis-
charge ; a receipt in full, which bars a
fui-thcr demand.
ACQUIT TED, pp. Set fiee, or judicially
(liscliiu-fi-cd iWiiri an accusation ; released
fri>iri H (Ic hi, iluty, obligation, charge, or
su.spi<-ioii of guilt.
ACQUIT'TING, ppr. Setting free from ac-
cusation ; releasing from a charge, obliga-
tion, or suspicion of guilt.
ACRA'SE, I V. t. To make crazy ; to in-
ACRA'ZE, S fatuate. [JYot in use.] [See
Crazy.]
2. To impair; to destroy. [JVotin use.]
AC'RASY, n. [Gr. axpaaia, from a priv. and
xpost;, constitution or temperament.]
In medical authors, an excess or predominan-
cy of one quahty above another, in mix-
tin-e, or ui the human constitution. Bailey.
ACRE, n. a'ker. [Sax. acer, acera, or acer ;
Ger. acker ; D. akker ; Sw. acker ; Dan.
ager ; W. eg- ; Ir. acra ; Gr. oypof ; Lat.
ager. In these languages, the word re-
tains its primitive sense, an open, plowed,
(II- >.i\\i',l III 111. In Eng. it retained its ori-
^■iii.il -ii;iiii;r:iiiiin, that of any open field,
iiiiiil II \\,i- liMiitod to a definite quantity
liv .i,,rin. > -il. Ed. 35. Ed. 1. 24. H. 8. '
Cowel.]
1. A quantity of land, containing 160 square
rods or jierches, or 4840 square yards.
This is the EngUsh statute acre. ' The
acre of Scotland contains 6150 2-5 square
yards. The French arpent is nearly equal
to the Scottish acre, about a fifth larger
than the English. The Roman juger was
3200 square yards.
•2. In the 3Iogul's dominions, acre is the
same as lack, or 100,000 rupees, equal to
£12,500 sterUng, or S55,.500.
Acre-fght, a sort of duel in the open field.
A C R
formerly fought by English and Scotch
combatants on their frontiers.
Acre-tax, a tax on land in England, at a cer-
tain sum for each acre, called also acre-shot.
A'€RED, a. Possessing acres or landed pro-
perty. Pope.
A€'R1D, a. [Fr. acre ; L. acer.]
Sharp; pungent; bitter; sharp or biting to
the taste ; acrimonious ; as acrid salts.
A€'RIDNESS, n. A sharp, bitter, pungent
quahty.
A€RIMO'NIOUS, a. Sharp; bitter; corro-
sive ; abounding with acrhnony.
2. Figuratively, severe ; sarcastic ; apphed to
language or temper.
A€RIMO'NIOUSLY, adv. With sharpness
or bitterness.
ACRIMONY, n. [L. (uriinonia, from acer,
sharp. The latter part of the word seems
to denote likeness, state, condition, like
head, hood, in knighthood; in which case it
may be from thesame root as maneo, Gr.
jutrco.]
1. Sharpness ; a quality of bodies, which
rodes, dissolves, or destroys others ; as, the
acrimony of the hiunors. Bacon.
2. Figuratively, sharpness or severity oftem-
per ; bitterness of expression proeeeduig
from anger, ill-nature, or petulance. South
AC'RISY, n. [Gr. o priv. and xptsi;-, judg
ment.]
A state or condition of which no right judg-
ment can be formed ; that of which no
choice is made ; matter in dispute ; inju
djciousness. [Ldttle used.] Bailey.
AC'RITUDE, n. [See Acrid.]
An acrid quahty ; bitterness to the taste
biting heat.
ACROAMAT'Ie, a. [Gr. oxpottjuof txo;, from
axpooo/iat, to hear.]
.\bstruse ; pertaining to deep learning ; an
epithet applied to the secret doctrines of
Aristotle. Enfield,
ACROAT'IC, a. [Gr. axpoartxo;.]
Abstruse ; pertaining to deep learning ; and
opposed to exoteric. Aristotle's lectures
were of two kinds, acroatic, acroamatic, or
esoteric, which were dehvered to a class of
select disciples, who had been previously
instructed in the elements of learning; and
cxotenc, which were dehvered in public.
The former respected being, God, and na-
ture ; the principal subjects of the latter
were logic, rhetoric, and policy. The ab-
struse lectures were called acroatics.
Enfield.
ACROCERAU'NIAN, a. [Gr. axpa, a sum-
mit, and xsfavvoi, thunder.]
An epithet apphed to certain mountains,
between Epirus and lUyricum, hi the 41
degree of latitude. Tliey project into the
Adriatic, and are so termed from beuig
often struck with lightning. Encyc.
ACRO'MION, n. [Gr. axpos, highest, and
u/ios, shoulder.]
In anatomy, tliat part of the spine of the
scapula, whicli receives the extreme pan
of the clavicle. Quj'ncT/.
A€RON'I€, I a. [Gr. axpos, extreme, and
A€RON'I€AL, S rul, night.]
(n astronomy, a term applied to tlie rising of
a star at sun set, or its setting at sun rise.
This rising or setting is called acronical.
The word is opposed to cosmical.
Banley. Encyc. Johnson.
A C T
A€RON'l€ALLY, adv. In an acronical
manner ; at the rising or setting of the
sun.
.\€'ROSPIRE, n. [Gr. axpos, highest, and
artcifa, a spire, or spiral line.]
A shoot, or sprout of a seed ; the plume, or
plumule, so called frotnits spu-alform.
Mortimer.
A€'ROSPIRED, a. Having a sprout, or
having sprouted at both ends. Mortimer.
ACROSS', prep, akraus'. [a and cross. See
Cross.]
1. From side to side, opposed to along, which
is in the direction of the length ; athwart ;
quite over ; as, a bridge is laid across a
river.
i. Intersecting ; passing over at any angle ;
as a line passing across another.
A€ROS'Tl€, n. [Gr. axpa, extremity or be-
ginning, and atix"!, order, or verse.]
A composition in verse, in which the first
letters of the Unes, taken in order, form the
name of a person, khigdom, city, &c.
which is the subject of the composition
or some title or motto.
A€ROS'Tle, a. That relates to, or contains
an acrostic.
ACROS'TICALLY, adv. ,In the manner of
ACT
A€T, V. t. To perform ; to represent a
character on the stage.
Act well your part, there all the honor lies.
Pope.
To feign or counterfeit. Obs. or improper.
With acted fear the villain thus pursued.
Xh-yden.
To put m motion ; to actuate ; to regulate
[In this latter sense, obsolete and superseded by
actuate, which see.]
ACT, ji. The exertion of power; the effect,
of which power exerted is the cause ; as,
the act of giving or receiving. In thia
sense, it denotes an operation of the mind.
Thus, to discern is an act of the understand-
ing ; to judge is an act of the will.
2. That which is done ; a deed, exploit, or
achievement, whether good or ill.
And his miracles and his acts wUch he did
in the midst of Egypt. Deul. xi.
3. Action ; performance ; production of ef-
fects ; as, an act of charity. But this sense
is closely allied to theforegoing.
A state of reality or real existence, as
A€ROTELEU'Tl€, li. [Gr. oxpo;, extreme
and Ti'Kivrij, end.]
\mong ecclesiastical ivriters, an appellation
given to any thing added to the end of a
psahn, or hymn ; as a doxology.
AC'ROTER, n. [Gr. oxpoyjjp, a summit.]
In architecture, a small pedestal, usually witl
out a base, anciently placed at the two
extremes, or m the middle of pediments or
frontispieces, serving to .support the statues,
&c. It also signifies the figures placed as
ornaments on the tops of churches, and the
shaip pinnacles that stand in ranges about
flat builduigs with rails and balusters.
Anciently the word signified the extremi-
ties of the body, as the head, hands, and
feet. Encyc.
ACROTHYM'ION, n. [Gr. azpos, extreme,
and Su^of, thyme.]
Among physicians, a species of wart, with a
narrow basis and broad top, having the
color of thyme. It is called Thymus.
Celsus.
ACT, V. i. [Gr. ayu, Lat. ago, to urge,
drive, lead, bring, do, perform, or in gen-
eral, to move, to exert force ; Cantabrian,
eg-, force ; W. eg'ni; Ir. cig-eon, force ; Ir.
aige, to act or carry on ; eachdmn, to do or
act ; actaim, to ordain ; eacht, acht, deed,
act, condition ; F. agir ; It. agire, to do
act.]
1. To exert power: as, the stomach acts upon
food ; the will acts upon the body in pro-
ducing motion.
2. To be in action or motion ; to move.
He hangs between in doubt to act or rest.
Pope
3. To behave, demean, or conduct, as in
morals, private duties, or public offices
as, we know not why a minister has acted
in this manner. But in this sense, it i.'
most frequent in popular language ; as
how the man acts or has acted.
To act up to, is to equal in action ; to fulfil
or perform a correspondent action ; as, he
has acted up to his engagement or hi:
advantages.
opposed to a possibility.
The seeds of plants are n
not at first in act, but
in possibility, what they afterwards grow to be.
Hooker.
5. In general, act denotes action completed ;
but preceded by in, it denotes incomplete
action.
She was taken in the very act. John viii.
In act is used also to signify incipient
action, or a state of preparation to exert
po wer ; as, " In act to strilte," a poetical use.
A part or division of a play, to be perform-
ed without interruption ; after which the
action is suspended to give respite to the
performers. Acts are divided into smaller
portions, called scenes.
7. The result of pubhc deliberation, or the
decision of a prince, legislative body,
council, court of justice, or magistrate :
a decree, edict, law, judgment, resolve,
award, determination ; as an act of par-
hament, or of congress. The term is also
transferred to the book, record, or writing,
containing the laws and determinations.
Also, any instrument in writing to verily
facts.
In the sense of agency, or power to pro-
duce effects, as in the passage cited by
Johnson, from Shakespeare, the use is im-
proper.
To tiy the vigor of them and apply
AUayments to their act.
.id, in English Universities, is a thesis
maintained in pid)lic, by a candidate for a
degree, or to show the proiSciency of a stu-
dent. At Oxford, the time when masters
and doctors complete their degrees is also
called the aci, which is held with great so-
lemnity. At Cambridge, as in the United
States," it is called commencement. Encyc.
Act of faith, auto da fe, in Cathohc countries,
is a solenm day held by the Inquisition,
for the punishment of heretics, and the
absolution of accused persons found inno-
cent ; or it is the sentence of the Inquisi-
tion.
Acts of the Apostles, the title of a book in the
New Testament, containing a history of
the transactions of the Apostles.
Acta Diiirna, among tiie Romans, a sort of
ACT
ACT
ACT
Gazette, containing an authorized account
of transactions in Rome, nearly siHiilar to
our newspapers.
^cta popuh, or atta publica, the Roman re-
gisters of assemblies, trials, executions,
biLililih'js, Iiirlii<. marriages, and deaths of
iili(-;n.'.,i-|,rr-i„,,s&c.
^di: .<. ,)(/hs-. mil, lit. 's of what passed in the
Rumaii Mjiiute, culled also conunentarii,
coniinciitaries.
A€T'ED,pp. Done; performed; represent-
ed oil the stage.
A€'TIAN, a. Relating to Actium, a town
and promontory of Epirus, as Actian
games, which were instituted by Augus-
tus, to celebrate his naval victory over
Anthony, near that town, Sep. 2, B. C. 31.
They were celebrated every five years.
Hence, Actian years, reckoned from that
era. Encyc.
ACT'ING,;>;)r. Doing; performing; behav-
ing ; representing the character of another.
A€T'ING, n. Action ; act of performing a
part of a play. Shak. Churchill.
A€'TINOLITE, n. [Gr. axnv, a ray, and
ueo;, a stone.]
A mineral, called, by Werner, strahlstcin,
ray-stone, nearly allied to hornblend. It
occurs in prismatic crjstals, which are
long, and incomplete, and sometimes ex-
tremely minute and even fibrous. Its
prevailing color is green of different
shades, or shaded with yellow or brown.
There are several varieties, as the com-
mon, the massive, the acicular, the glassy,
and the fibrous.
Werner. Kirwan. Cleaveland.
AetinoUte is crystalized, asbestiform, and
glassy. Phillips.
A€TlNOLIT'I€, a. Like or pertaining to
actinolite.
A€'T10N, n. [L. actio. See Act.]
1. Literally, a driving ; hence, the state of
acting or moving ; exertion of power or
force, as when one body acts on another ;
or action is the effect of power exerted on
one body by another ; motion produced.
Hence, action is opposed to rest. Action,
when produced by one body on another, is
mechanical ; when produced by the will of
a living being, spontaneous or voluntary.
[See Def. 3.]
2. An act or thing done ; a deed.
The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him
are actions weighed. 1. Sam. ii.
■i. In mechanics, agency ; operation ; driving
impulse ; effort of one body upon another ;
as, the action of wind upon a ship's sails.
Also the effect of such aetion.
4. In ethics, the external signs or expression
of the sentiments of a moral agent ; con-
duct ; behavior ; demeanor ; that is, mo-
tion or movement, with respect to a rule
or propriety.
5. In poetry, a series of events, called also
the subject or fable ; this is of two kinds ;
the principal action which is more strictly
the fable, and the incidental action or epi-
sode. Encyc.
6. In oratory, gesture or gesticulation ; the
external deportment of the speaker, or the
accommodation of his attitude, voice, gest-
ures, and countenance to the subject, or to
the thoughts and feelings of the mind.
Enajc.
7. In physiology, the motions or functionsof
the body, vital, animal, and natural ; vi-
tal and involuntary-, as the action of the
heart and lungs ; animal, as muscidar, and
all voluntary motions; natural, as mandu-
cation, deglutition, and digestion. Encyc.
8. In laiv, literally, an urging for right ; a
suit or process, by which a demand is
made of a right ; a claim made before a
tribunal. Actions are real, personal or
mixed ; real, or feudal, when the demand-
ant claims a title to real estate ; personal,
when a man demands a debt, jjersonal
duty, or damages in Ueu of it, or satisfac-
tion for an injury to person or property ;
and mired, when real estate is demanded,
with damages for a wrong sustained.
Actions are also civil or penal ; civil, when
instituted solely in behalf of private per-
sons, to recover debts or damages ; penal,
when instituted to recover a penalty, im-
posed by way of punishment. The w-ord
is also used for a right of action ; as, the law
gives an action for every claim.
Blackstone.
A chose in action, is a right to a thing,
in opposition to the possession. A bond
or note is a chose in action [Fr. chose, a
thing,] and gives the owner a right to prose-
cute his claim to the money, as he has an
absolute property in a light, as well as in
a thing, in possession.
In some countries of Europe, action is a
share in the capital stock of a company,
or in the pubhc funds, equivalent to oiir
term sluire ; and consequently, in a more
general sense, to stocks. The word is
also used for movable effects.
10. In painting and sculpture, the attitude or
position of the several parts of the body,
by wliich they seem to be actuated by pas-
sions ; as, the arm extended, to represent
the act of giving or receiving.
11. Battle ; fight ; engagement between
troops in war, whether on land or water,
or by a greater or smaller number of com-
batants. This and the 8th definition ex-
hibit the Uteral meaning of ac/to/i — a driv-
ing or urging.
Quantity ofaction, in physics, the product
of the mass of a body by the sjiace it
runs through and its velocity. Encyc.
In many cases action and act are synony-
mous : but some distinction between
them is observable. Action seems to
have more relation to the power that
acts, and its operation and process of
acting ; and act, more relation to the effect
or operation complete. Action is also more
generally used for ordinary transactions ;
and act, for such as are remarkable, or
dignified ; as, all our actions should be reg-
ulated by prudence ; a prince is distinguish-
ed by acts of heroism or humanity. Encyc.
Action taking, in Shakespeare, is used for hti-
gious.
A€'TIONABLE, a. That will bear a suit,
or for which an action at law may be sus-
tained ; as, to call a man a thief is actionable.
A€'TIONABLY, adv. In a manner that sub-
jects to legal process.
AC'TIONARY or AC'TIONIST, n. In
Europe, a proprietor of stock in a trading
company ; one who owns aefiois or shares
of stock.
ACT'IVE, a. [L. activus ; Fr. actif]
That has the power or quality of acting ; that
contains the principle of action, indepeii-
ilciit of any visible external force ; as,
attraction is an active power : or it may be
defined, that communicates action or mo-
tion, opposed to passive, that receives ac-
tion ; as, the active powers of the mind.
2. Having the power of quick motion, or
disposition to move with speed ; niTnble ;
hvely ; brisk ; agile ; as an active animal.
Hence,
3. Busy ; constantly engaged in action ;
pursuing business"with vigor and assidu-
ity ; op))osed to dull, slow, or indolent; as
an aetive officer. It is also opposed to
sedentary, as an active life.
4. Requiring action or exertion ; practical ;
operative ; producing real effects ; opposed
to speculative ; as, the active duties of Ufe.
a. In grammar, active verbs are those which
not only signify action, but have a noun
or name following them, denoting the
object of the action or impression ; called
also transitive, as they imply the passing
of the action expressed by the verb to the
object ; as, a professor instructs his pupils.
6. Active capital, or wealth, is money, or prop-
erty that may readily be converted into
money, and used in commerce or other
employment for profit. Hamilton,
7. Active commerce, the commerce in which
a nation carries its own productions and
foreign commodities in its own ships, or
which is prosecuted by its own citizens ;
as contradistinguishedfrom passive com-
merce, in which the productions of one
country are transported by the people of
another country.
The commerce of Great Britain and of
the United States is active ; that of China
is passive.
It maybe the interest of foreign nations
to deprive us, as far as possible, of oil
active commerce in our own bottoms.
Federalist, Hamilton.
ACTIVELY, adv. In an active manner;
by action ; nunbly ; briskly ; also in an
active signification, as a word is used
actively.
A€T'IVENESS, n. The quality of being
active; the faculty of acting; nimbleness;
quickness of motion; less used than activity.
A€T1V ITY, n. The quality of being ac-
tive; the active faculty ; nimbleness; agil-
ity ; also the habit of diligent and vigorous
pursuit of business ; as, a man of activity.
It is apphed to persons or things.
Sphere of activity, is the whole space in which,
the virtue, power, or influence of any ob-
ject, is exerted.
To put in activity, a French phrase, for put-
ting in action or employment.
A€T'OR, n. He that acts or performs ; an
active agent.
3. He that represents a character or acts a
part in a play ; a stage player.
3. Among civilians, an advocate or proctor
in civil courts or causes.
ACTRESS, n. A female who acts or per-
forms, and especially, on the stage, or in
a play.
A€T UAL, a. [Fr. actuel. See Act.]
Real or eftective, or that exists truly and
absolutely ; as, actual heat, opposed to
that, which is virtual or potential ; actual
cautery, or the burning by a red-hot iron,
opposed to a cautery- or caustic appUcation,
A C U
that may produce the same effect upon
the body by a different process.
2. Existing in act ; real ; in opposition to
sijecidative, or existing in theory only;
as an actual crime.
3. In theology, actual sin is that which is
committed by a person himself, opposed
to original sin, or the corruption of nature
supposed to be communicated from Adam.
4. That includes action.
Besides her walking and other actual per-
formances. [Hardly legitimate.} Shak.
A€TUAL'ITY, n. ReaUty. Haweis.
A€T'UALLY, adv. In fact ; really ; in truth.
ACTUARY, n. [L. aduan'its.]
A register or clerk ; a term of the civil law,
and used origmally in courts of civil law
jurisdiction ; but in Europe used for i
clerk or register generally.
ACT'UATE, a. Put in action. ILiUle used.
A€T UATE, V. t. [from act.]]
To put into action ; to move or incite to
action ; as, men are actuated by motiv
or passions. It seems to have been used
formerly in the sense of invigorate, noting
increase of action ; but the use
legitimate.
ACTUATED, pp. Put in action ; incited to
action.
ACTUATING, ppr. Putting in action ; in
citing to action.
ACTUATION, n. The state of being put in
action ; effectual o])eration. Glanville
ACT'US, n. Among the Romans, a measure
in building equal to 120 Roman feet. In
agriculture, the length of one furrow.
ACIJ ATE, V. t. [L. acuo, to sharpen. See
Acid.]
To sharpen ; to make pungent, or coiTosive.
[Little %ised.] Harvey.
ACUBE'NE, n. A star of the fourth magni-
tude in the southern clavif of Cancer.
ACUI "TION, n. [from L. acuo, to shaqien.]
The sharpening of medicines to increase
their effect.
ACU'LEATE, a. [L. aculeus, from acus.
Gr. axri, a point, and the diminutive ul.
See Acid.]
In botany, having prickles, or sharp points ;
pointed; used chiefly to denote prickles
lixed in the bark, in distinction from
thorns, which grow from the wood.
Milne.
2. In zoology, having a sting.
ACU'LEI, n. [L.] In botany and zoology,
piickles or spmes.
AC'ULON, or AC ULOS, n. [Gr. axv^oj,
probably from ac, an oak.]
The fruit or acorn of the ilex, or scarlet oak
ACU'MEN, )!. [L. acumen, from acus oi
acuo.']
A sharp point; and figm-atively, quickness
of perception, the faculty of nice discrim
ination.
ACU'MINATE, a. [L. acuminatus, from
Endins in a sharp point ; pointed.
ACU'MINATEK, a. Sliarpened to a point.
ACUMINA'TION, n. A sharpening ; termi-
nation in a sharp point.
ACUPUNCTURE, n. [L. acus, needle, and
punctura, or punctus, a pricking.]
Among the Chinese, a surgical operation,
performed by pricking the part aftected
with a needle, as in head-aches and lethar-
gieg. Encyc.
A D
AC'URU, n. The name in India of a fragrant
aloe-wood. As. Researches.
A'CUS, n. [L.] The needle-fish, or gar-fish.
3. The ammodyte or sand eel. Cyc.
3. The oblong cimex. Cyc.
ACUTE, a. [L. acutus, sharp-pointed ; Qu.
from acuo, acus, or from the Oriental m
had or chad, sharji, Heb. Ch. Ar.]
Shar]) at the end ; ending in a sharp point ;
opposed to blunt or obtuse. An acute angle
in geometry, is one which is less than a
right angle, or which subtends less than
ninety degrees. An acute angled triangle
is one whose three angles are all acute,
or less than ninety degrees each.
2. Figuratively, applied to mental powers;
penetrating ; having nice discernment ;
perceiving or using minute distinctions;
opposed to dull or stupid ; as an acute
soner.
3. Applied to the senses ; having nice or quick
sensibility ; susceptible of slight impres-
sions ; having power to feel or perceive
small objects ; as, a man of acute eye
sight, hearing, or feeling.
4. Aji acute disease, is one which is attended
with violent symptoms, and comes speedily
to a crisis, as a pleurisy ; opposed to chronic
5. An acute accent, is that wMch elevates or
sharpens the voice.
6. Ill music, acute is applied to a tone which
is sharp, or high ; opposed to grave.
. In botany, ending m an acute angle, as
leaf or perianth. Martyn.
ACUTELY, adv. Sharply ; keenly ; with
nice discrimination.
ACU'TENESS, n. Shaipness ; but seldom
used in this hteral sense, as apphed to ma-
terial things.
2. Figuratively, the faculty of nice discern-
ment or perception ; app'Ued to the senses,
or the understanding. By an acuteness of
feeUng, we perceive small objects or slight
impressions ; by an acuteness of intellect,
we discern nice distinctions.
3. Sharpness, or elevation of sound, in rhet-
oric or music. Boyle
4. Violence of a disease, which brings i)
speedily to a crisis.
ACUTIA'TOR, n. In the middle ages, a per-
son whose office was to sharpen instru-
ments. Before the invention of fire-arms,
such officers attended armies, to sharpen
their instruments. Encyc.
AD. A Latin preposition, signifying to. It
is probably from Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. Eth.
nn«, Ar. 4^;;^, to come near, to approach;
from which root we may also deduce at.
In composition, the last letter is usually
changed into the first letter of the word to
which it is prefixed. Thus for addamo,
the Romans wrote acclamo ; for adgredior,
aggredior ; for adjirmo, affirmo ; for adlego,
allego ; for adpono, appono ; for adripio,
ai-npio ; for adscribo, ascribo ; for adtineo,
attineo. The reason of tliis change is found
in the ease of pronunciation, and agreea-
bleness of the sounds.
Ad hominem, to the man, m logic, an argu-
ment, adapted to touch the prejudices of
the person addressed.
Ad inquirendum, in law, a judicial writ com
manding inquiry to be made.
Ad libitum, [L.] at pleasure.
ADA
Ad valorem, according to the value, Lti' com*
merce and finance, terms used to denote
duties or charges laid upon goods, at a
certain rate per cent, upon their value, a?
stated in their mvoices ; in opposition to a
specific sum upon a given quantity or
number.
AD'AcjE, n. [L. adagium, or adagio; It.
adagio.]
A proverb ; an old saying, which has obtain-
ed credit by long use ; a wise observation
handed down from antiquity.
ADA'GIO, 71. [It. ffrfcfg-io, a compound of arf
and agio, leisure ; Sp. and Port, ocio ; L.
otium\; Fr. aise ; Eng. ease.]
In music, a slow movement. As an adverb,
slowly, leisurely, and with grace. When
repeated, adagio, adagio, it directs the
movement to be very slow.
AD'AM, n. InHeb.Ch. Syr.Eth.Ar.,jV/an;
primarily, the name of the human species,
mankind ; appropriately, the first Man,
the progenitor of the human race. The
word signifies form, shape, or suitable form :
hence, species. As a verb, the word signi-
fies, in Ethiopic, to please or be agreeable ;
in Arabic, to join, imite, or be accordant, to
agree. It is evidently connected with nm
damah, Heb. Ch. Syr., to be like or equal,
to form an image, to assimilate. Whence
the sense of likeness, image, form, shape ;
Gr. Sefms, a body, like. [See Man.]
Adam's apple, a species of citron, [see Cit-
ron ;] also the prominent part of the throat.
Ad'am's needle, the popular name of the
yucca, a plant of four species, cidtivated in
gardens. Of the roots, the Indians make
a kind of bread. [See Y^tcca.]
AD'AMANT, n. [Gr. aSa^a;; L. adamas;
a word of Celtic origin ; W. ehedvaen, a
load stone, from ehed, to fly or move, and
vaen, or maen, a stone. Chaucer uses ada-
mant for the load stone. Romaunt of the
Rose, L. 1182. Ger. diamant, is adamant
and diamond ; Sp. diamante ; Sw. damant ;
Fr. aimant, loadstone. See Diamond.]
A very hard or imiieuetrable stone ; a name
given to the diamond and other substan-
ces of extreme hardness. The name has
often been given to the load stone ; but in
modern mineralogy, it has no technical
signification.
ADAMANTE'AN, a. Hard as adamant.
Milton.
ADAMANT'INE, a. Made of adamant ; ha-
ving the quaUties of adamant ; that cannot
be broken, dissolved, or penetrated ; as
adamantine bonds, or chains.
Adamantine Spar, a genus of earths, of three
varieties. The color of the first is gra)',
with shades of brown or green ; the form
when regular, a hexangular prism, two
sides large and four small, without a
pyramid ; its surface striated, and with a
thin covering of white mica, mterspersed
with particles of red felspar ; its fracture,
foliaceous and sparry. The second variety
is whiter, and the texture more foliaceous.
Tlie third variety is of a reddish brown
color. This stone is very hard, and of
difficult fusion. Enajc.
A variety of corundum. Cleaveland.
AD'AMie, a. Pertaining to Adam. \Adamic
earth, is the term given to common red
clay, so called by means of a mistaken
opinion thai .\daiii means red earth.
ADA
ADD
ADD
AD'AMITES, in Church hislonj, a sect of
visionaries, who pretended to establish a
Btate of innocence, and like Adam, went
naked. They abhorred marriage, holding
it to be theeffect of sin. Several attempts
have been made to revive this sect ; one
as late as the 15tli century. Encyc.
ADAMIT'I€, a. Like the Adamites.
Taylor.
ADANSO'NIA, n. Ethiopian sour gourd,
monkey's bread, or African calabash-tree.
It is a tree of one species, called baobab, a
native of Africa, and the largest of the
vegetable kingdom. The stem rises not
al)ove twelve or fifteen feet, but is from
sixty-five to seventy-eight feet in circum-
ference. The branches shoot horizontally
to the length of sixty feet, the ends bend-
ing to the ground. The fruit is oblong,
pointed at both ends, ten inches in length,
and covered with a greenish down, under
whicl) is a hard ligneous rind. It hangs to
the tree by a pedicle two feet long, and
contains a white spungy substance. The
leaves and bark, dried and powdered, are
used by the negroes, as pepper, on their
food, to promote perspiration. The tree is
named from M. Adanson, who has given
a description of it.
ADAPT', «.<. [Sp.flrfaptar; It. adattare; L.
ad. and apto, to fit ; Gr. ortru.]
To make suitable ; to fit or suit ; as, to adapt
an instrument to its uses ; we have pro-
vision adapted to our wants. It is appUed
to things material or immaterial.
ADAPT' ABLE, a. That may be adapted.
ADAPTA'TION, n. The act of making
suitable, or the state of being suitable, or
fit; fitness.
ADAPT'ED, pp. Suited ; made suitable ;
fitted.
ADAPT'ER. See adopter.
ADAPTING, ;);>r. Suitint' ; making fit.
ADAPTION, n. Adaptation ; the act of
fitting. [Little used, and hardly legitimate.]
ADAPT'NESS, n. A state of being fitted.
[.Vot used.] JVewton.
A D.\R, n. A Hebrew month, answering to
the latter part of February and the begin-
ning of March, the 12th of the sacred and
6th of the civil year ; so named from "nx,
to become glorious, from the exuberance
of vegetation, in that month, in Egypt and
Palestine. Parkhurst.
ADAR'CE, n. [Gr. a«opx»;s.]
A saltish concretion on reeds and grass in
marshy grounds m Galatia. It is lax and
porous, like bastard spunge, and used to
clear the skin ui leprosy, tetters, &c.
Qufnci/. Plot.
ADAR'€ON, n. In Jeurish antiquity, a gold
coin worth about three dollars and a tliird,
or about fifteen shillings sterhng.
ADAR'ME, n. A Spanish weight, the s
teenth of an oimce ; Fr. demi-gros. The
Spanish ounce is seven per cent, lighter
than that of Paris.
Encyc. Span. Diet.
AD'ATIS, n. A muslin or species of cotton
cloth from India. It is fine and clear ; the
piece is ten French ells long, and three
quarters wide.
AD>AUNT, V. t. To subdue. [JVot used.
See Daunt.] Skelton.
ADAW, r. t. To daunt ; to subject. [.Vot
used.] Spenser.
ADA'YS, adv. On or in days ; as in tiie
phrase, now adays.
ADD, V. t. [L. addo, from ad and do, to give.]
1. To set or put together, join, or unite, as,
one thing or sum to another, in an aggre-
gate ; as, add three to four, the sum is
2. To unite in idea or consideration ; to
subjoin.
To what has been alledged, let this argument
be added.
3. To increase number.
Thou shall add tliree cities more of refuge.
Deut. xix.
4. To augment.
Rehoboam said, I will add to your yoke.
1 Kings, xii.
Ye shall not add to the word wliich I com-
mand you. Deut. iv.
As here used, the verb is intransitive, but
there may be an eUipsis.
To add to, is used in scripture, as eqtuvalent
to g^'re, or bestow upon. Gen. xxx. Matt,
vi. In Gal. ii. the word is understood to
signify instruction. " In conference they
added nothing to me." In narration, he or
they added, is elUptical ; he added words,
or what follows, or he continued his dis-
course.
In general, when used of things, add impUes
a principal thuig, to which a smaller is
to be annexed, as a part of the whole sum,
mass, or immber.
ADDEC'IMATE, v. t. [L. ad and decimus,
tenth.]
To take, or to ascertain tithes. Did.
ADD'ED, pp. Joined in place, in sum, in
mass or aggregate, in number, in idea or
consideration ; united ; put together.
ADDEE'M, V. t. [See Deem.] To award ;
to sentence. [Little used.]
AD'DER, n. [Sax. aetter or aettor, a serpent
and poison ; D. adder. Qu. Sax. naedre,
a serpent ; Goth, nadr ; G. Jintfer ; W.
neider ; Corn, naddyr ; Ir. nathair ; L.
natrix, a serpent.]
A venomous serpent or viper, of several
species.
AD'DER-FLY, n. A name of the dragon-
fly or libellula ; sometimes called adder-bolt.
ADDER'S-GRASS, ji. A plant about which
serpents lurk.
ADDER'S-TONGUE, n. A plant whose
seeds are produced on a spike resembling
a serpent's tongue.
ADDER'S- WORT, n. Snakeweed, so named
Com its supposed virtue in curing the bite
of serpents.
ADDIBIL'ITY, n. The possibihty of being
added. Locke.
AD'DIBLE, a. [See Add.] That may be
added. Locki
AD'DICE, obs. [See Jldz.]
ADDICT', a. Addicted. [JVot much used.]
ADDICT', V. t. [L. addico, to devote, from
ad and dico, to dedicate.]
To apply one's self habitually ; to devote
tune and attention by customary or con
slant practice ; sometimes in a good se7ise.
They have addicted themselves to the minis-
try of the saints. 1 Cor. xv.
More usually, in a bad sense, to follow cus
tomarily, or devote, by habitually prac-
tising that which is ill ; as, a man is addicted
to uitemperance.
To addict oyie's self to a person, a sense bor-
rowed from the Romans, who used the
word for assigning debtors in service to
their creditors, is found in Ben Jonson,
hut is not legitimate in English.
ADDICTED, pp. Devoted by customary
practice.
ADDICT'EDNESS, n. The quaUty or state
of being addicted.
ADDIcT'ING, ppr. Devoting time and at-
tention ; practicing customarily.
ADDICTION, n. The act of devoting or
givhig up in practice ; the state of being
devoted.
His ctddiclinn was to courses vain. Shak.
2. Among the Romans, a making over goods
to another by sale or legal sentence ; also
an assignment of debtors in service to their
creditors. Encyc.
ADDING, ppr. Joining ; putting together ;
increasing.
ADDIT'AMENT, n. [l..addilamentum,trom
additus and ment. See Md.]
An addition, or rather the thing added, as
furniture in a house ; any material mixed
with the principal ingredient in a com-
pound. Ancient anatomists gave the name
to an epiphy.sis, or junction of bones with-
out articulation. [Little used in either
sense.]
ADDP'TION, n. [L. additio, from addo.]
1. The act of adding, opposed to subtraction,
or diminution ; as, a sum is increased by
addition.
2. Any thing added, whether material or
immaterial.
3. In arithmetic, the uniting of two or more
numbers in one sum ; also the rule or
branch of arithmetic which treats of add-
ing numbers. Simple addition is the join-
ing of .sums of the same denomination, as
pounds to pounds, dollars to dollars.
Compound addition is the joining of sums
of different denominations, as dollars and
cents.
4. In laiv, a title annexed to a man's name,
to show his rank, occupation or place of
residence ; as, John Doe, Esq. ; Richard
Roe, Gent ; Robert Dale, Mason; Thomas
Way, of .Yeie- York.
5. In music, a dot at the side of a note, to
lengthen its sound one half.
j6. In heraldry, something added to a coat of
arms, as a mark of honor, opposed to abate-
ments, as bordure, quarter, canton, gyroii,
I pile, &.C. See these terms. Encyc.
7. In distilling, any thing added to the wash
I or Uquor in a state of fermentation.
|8. In popular language, an advantage, orna-
ment, improvement ; that is, an addition
1 bv wav of eminence.
ADDI tlONAL, a. That is added. It is
used by Bacon for addition ; but improp-
A DDL TION ALLY, adv. By way of addi-
I lion.
ADD'ITIVE, a. That may be added, or thar
is to be added.
ADD'ITORY, a. That adds, or may add.
[ADDLE, a. [W. hadyl, corrupt ; hadlu, to
decay, to putrilj' ; Heb. Snn, to fail ; Ar.
J<X=.> t° decline, and J j^^to frustrate,
to fail, to cease.]
In a morbid state ; putrid ; apphed to eggs.
Hence, barren, producing nothing.
His brains grow addle. Dryden.
ADD
AD'DLED, n. Morbid, coiriipt, putrid, or
l);areii. Broicn
AD'DLE-PATED, a. Having einptv brains
'Dryden
ADDOOM', V. t. [See Doom.] To adjudge.
Spenser
ADDORS'ED, a. [L. ad and dorsum, tlie
baclv.]
Ill heraldry, having the backs turned to each
other, as beasts.
ADDRESS', v.t. [Fr. adresser ; Sp. ende
rezar ; It. dirizzare, to direct, to make
straiglit. Thi.s is suppo.sed to be from L,
dirigo ; it also coincides with Ch. Sin,
Ai: |jo»j'j ^yr- id., to direct, to rectify
to fir. See Dress.]
1. To prepare ; to make suitable dispositions
for.
Tumus addressed his men to single fight.
IJryd,
The archangel and the evil spirit addressing
themselves/or the combat. Addison
[This sense is, I believe, obsolete or little tised.]
y. To direct vi'ords or discom-sc ; to a])ply to
by words ; a.s, to address a discourse to ai
assembly ; to atldress the judges.
3. To tlirect in writing, as a letter ; or to di-
rect and transmit ; as, he addressed a letter
to the speaker. Sometimes it is used witl
the reciprocal pronotui, as, he addressed
himself to the speaker, instead of, he ad-
dressed his discourse. The phrase is
faulty ; but less so than the followuig.
" To such I would address with tliis most af-
ectiouate petition.
Young Tumus to the beauteous maid adtlrest.
Dryden.
The latter is admissible m poetry, as an
elliptical phrase.
4. To present an address, as a letter of
thanks or congratulation, a petition, or a
testimony of resjoect ; as, the legislature
addressed the president.
5. To court or make suit as a lover.
(i. In commerce, to consign or entrust to the
care of another, as agent or factor ; as, the
ship was addressed to a merchant in Bal-
timore.
ADDRESS', Ji. A speaking to ; verbal ap-
plication; a formal manner of speech ; as,
when introduced, tlie president made a
short address.
2. A written or formal appUcation ; a mes-
sage of respect, congratulation, thanks, pe-
tition, &c.; as, an address of thanks ; an
officer is removable upon the address of
both houses of assembly.
3. Manner of speakmg to another ; as, a man
of pleasing address.
4. Com-tship ; more generally m the plural,
addresses ; as, he makes or pays his addresses
to a lady.
5i Skill ; dexterity ; skUlful management ;
as, the envoy conducted the negotiation
with address.
G. Direction of a letter, includuig the name,
title, and place of residence of the person
for whom it is intended. Hence these
liarticidars are denominated, a man'
address.
ADDRESS'ED, pp. Spoken or applied to ;
directed ; courted ; consigned.
ADDRESS'ER, n. One who addresse
petitions.
A D E
ADDRESS'ING, ppr. Spealdng or applyin:
to ; directing ; courting ; consigning.
ADDU'CE, V. t. [L. adduco, to lead or bring
to ; ad and duco, to lead. See Duke.]
1. To bring forward, present or offer; as, a
witness was adduced to prove the fact.
2. To cite, name or introduce ; as, to adduce
an authority or an argmnent.
ADDU'CED, pp. Brought forward ; cited
alledged in argument.
ADDU^CENT, a. Bringing forward, or to
gether ; a word apphed to those muscles of
the body which ])ull one part towar '
another. [See Mductor.]
ADDU'CIBLE, a. That may be adduced.
ADDU'CING, ppr. Bringing forward ; cituig
in argiunent.
ADDirt'TION, n. The act of bringuig
forward.
ADDU€'TIVE, a. That brings forward,
ADDUCTOR, n. [L.]
A muscle which draws one part of the body
towards another; as the adductor oculi.
which turns the eye towards the nose ; the
adductor pollicis manus, which draws the
thumb towards the fingers.
\DDULCE, 1-. t. adduls'. [L. ad and dul
cis, sweet.]
To sweeten. [.Ybf used.] Bacon
AD'EB, n. An Egyptian weight of 210 okes,
each of three rotolos, which is a weight of
about two drams less than the English
pound. But at Rosetta, the adeb is only
150 okes. Eneyc.
ADELANTA'DO, «. [Spanish.] A govern-
or of a province ; a heutenaut governor.
BobcHson.
AD'ELING, n. A title of honor, given by
our Saxon ancestors to the children of
princes, and to young nobles. It is com-
posed of adel, or rather eeth^l, the Teuton-
ic term for noble, illustrious, and ling.
young, posterity. Spclman. Sw. adelig ';
D. edel ; Ger. e'del and adelig, noble ; Sp.
hidalgo. We observe the term in many
Saxon names of princes, as Ethel-wolf,
noble wolf, or noble help, Ethel-bald, noble
bold, Ethel-bert, noble brightness. Ar.
\ •■( athala, to be well rooted, to be of
noble stock or birth. Class Dl.
AD'ELITE, n. AdeUtes or Almoganens, m
Spain, were conjurers, who predicted the
fortunes of individuals by the flight and
singing of birds, and other accidental cir-
cumstances. Ed. Encyc.
ADEMP'TION, 71. [L. adimo, to take
away ; of arf and emo, to take.]
In the civil law, the revocation of a grant,
donation, or the like.
ADENOGRAPHY, n. [Gr. aS,.-, a gland
and ypa^u, to describe.]
That part of anatomy wliich treats of the
glands.
AD'ENOID, a. [Gr. oSjjv, a gland, and ttSoj,
form.]
In the form of a gland ; glandiform ; glan-
dulous ; appUed to the prostate glands
ADENOLOg'ICAL, a. Pertaining to the
doctrine of the glands. Encyc.
ADENOL'OgY, n. [Gr. aS^v, a gland, and
■Kayo;, discourse.
In anatomy, the doctrine of the glands, their
nature, and then- uses.
A D H
.-VD'ENOS, n. A species of cotton, from
Aleppo, called also marine cotton.
ADEPT', n. [L. adeptus, obtained, from
adipiscor.]
One fully skilled or well versed in any art.
The term is borrowed from the Alchimists,
who applied it to one who pretended to
have found the philosopher's stone, or the
panacea. Encyc.
ADEPT', a. Well skilled ; completely vers-
ed or ac(|uainted with. Boyle.
ADEP'TION, n. [L. adeptio.]
An obtaining ; acquirement. Obs. Bacon.
AD'EQUACY, ra. [L. adcequatus, of ad amd
cequatus, made equal.]
The state or quahty of being equal to, pro-
portionate, or sufficient ; a sufficiency for
a particular purpose ; as, " the adequacy
of supply to the expenditure."
fVar in Disguise.
AD'EQUATE, a. Equal ; proportionate ;
correspondent to ; fully sufficient ; as,
means adequate to the object ; we have
no adequate ideas of infinite power.
Adequate ideas, are such as exactly represent
their object.
AD'EQUATE, v. t. To resemble exactly.
\_JVotused.] Shelford.
AD'EQUATELY, adv. In an adequate
maimer ; in exact proportion ; with just
correspondence, representation, or pro-
portion ; in a degree equal to the object.
AD'EQUATENESS.Ti. The state of being
adequate ; justness of proportion orrepre-
sentation ; sufficiency.
ADEQUA'TION, ji. Adequateness. [JVot
used.] Bp. Barlow.
ADESSENA'RIANS, n. [L. adesse, to be
present.]
In church history, a sect who hold the real
presence of Clirist's body in the euchaiist,
but not by transubstantiation. They dif-
fer however as to this presence ; some
holding the body of Christ to be in the
bread ; others, about the bread. Encyc.
ADFE€T'ED, a. In algebra, compounded :
consisting of different powers of the un-
known quantity. Bailey.
ADFIL'IATED, ff. Adopted as a son. [See
.IjffUiale.]
ADFILIA'TION,)!. [L. ad and flius, a. soa.]
A Gothic custom, by which the children of
a former marriage, are put upon the same
footing with those of a succeeding one ;
still retained in some parts of Germany.
ADHE'RE, V. i. [L. adhareo, ad and h(Ereo,
to stick ; Ir. adharadh.]
1. To stick to, as glutinous substances, or by-
natural growth ; as, the lungs sometimes
adhere to the pleura.
2. Tobejoined, or held in contact; to cleave
to.
3. Figuratively, to hold to, be attached, or
remain fixed, either by personal union or
conformity of faith, principle, or opinion ;
as, men adhere to a party, a leader, a
cliurch, or creed.
4. To be consistent ; to hold together as the
jtarts of a system.
Every thing adheres together. Shak.
.IDHE'RENCE, n. The quahty or state of
sticking or adhering.
3. Figuratively, a being fixed in attachment ;
A D I
A D J
A D J
fidelity ; steady attachment ; as, an adhe-
rence to a iiarty or opinions.
ADHE'RENCY, n. The same as adherence.
In tlie sense oi'that which adheres, not le-
gitimate. Decay of Piety
ADIIE'RENT, a. Sticking, uniting, as glue
or wax ; iniited with, as an adherent mode
in Locke, that is, a mode accidentally join
ed with an object, as wetness in a cloth.
ADIIE'RENT, n. The person who adiieres ;
one who follows a leader, party or profes
sion ; a follower, or partisan ; a behever
in a particular faith or church.
In the sense of an appendage. Obs.
ADHERENTLY, adv. In an adherent
manner.
ADHE'RER, n. One tliat adiieres ; an ad-
herent.
ADHE'SION, n. adhe'zhun. [L. adhcesio.]
1. The act or state of sticking, or being united
and attached to ; as the adhesion of glue,
or of parts united by growth, cement, and
the like. Adhesion is generally used in a
literal ; adherence, in a metaphorical sense.
2. Sometimes Jiguratively, adlierence, un-
ion or steady attachment ; firmness in
opinion ; as, an adhesion to vice : but in
this sense nearly obsolete. The union of
bodies by attraction is usually denoniuia-
ted cohesion.
ADHE'SIVE, a. Sticky ; tenacious, as glu-
tinous substances ; apt or tending to ad-
here. Thus gums are adhesive.
ADHE'SIVELY, adv. In an adhesive man-
ner.
ADHE'SIVENESS, n. The quality of stick-
ing or adhering ; stickiness ; tenacity.
ADHIB'IT, V. t. [L. adhibeo, ad andhabeo,
to have.]
To use, or apply. [Rarely used.]
ADHIBI "TION, n. AppUcation ; use.
Whitaker.
AD'HIL, n. A star of the sixth magnitude,
upon the garment of Andromeda, under
tlie last star in her foot. Encyc.
ADHORTA'TION, ?i. [L. adhortatio.]
Advice. [Seldom used.]
ADHORT'ATORY, a. [L. adhortor, to ad-
vise, ad and hx>rtor.]
Advisory ; containing coimsel or warning.
Potter's Antiq.
ADIAPH'ORISTS, n. [Gr. ae«»4.opo5, uadif-
ferent.]
Moderate Lutherans ; a name given in the
sixteenth century, to certain men that
followed Melancthon, who was more pa-
cific than Luther. Encyc.
The adiaphorists held some opinions
and ceremonies to be indifferent, which
Luther condenmed as sinful or heretical.
ADIAPH'OROUS, a. Indifferent ; neutral ;
a name given by Boyle to a spu-it distilled
from tartar, and some other vegetable sub-
stances, neither acid, nor alkaline, or not
possessing the distinct character of any
chimical body.
ADIEU', Adu'. [Fr. adieu, to God ; a com-
pound word, and an elliptical form of^
speech, for / commend you to God. It is
called an adverb, but it has none of t
properties of a modifying word.]
Farewell ; an expression of kind wishes
the parting of friends.
ADIEU', n. A farewell, or commeiidatii
Vol. I.
to the care of God ; as an everlastijig
adieu.
ADIPOC'ERATE, v. t. To convert into
adipooere.
ADIPOCERA'TION, n. The act or pro
cess of being changed into adlpocere.
AD'IPOCERE, n. [L. adeps, fat, and cera,
Fr. are, wax.]
A soft unctuous or waxy substemce, of a
light brown color, into which the muscular
fibers of dead animal bodies are convert-
ed, when protected from atmospheric air,
and under certain circumstances of tem-
perature and humidity. This substance
was first discovered by Fourcroy, in the
burying ground of the Chiu-ch des Inno-
cens, when it was removed in 1787. It is
speedily produced, when the body is im-
mersed in running water.
Lunier. Med. Repos. Ed. Encyc.
AD'IPOSE, } a. [L. adiposus, from adeps,
AD'IPOUS, S fat. Qu. Ch. tffSa, to grow fat ;
Heb. and Ch., fat, gross, stupid ; Ar.
i.il9 ) fat, bulky.]
at. The adipose membrane is the cellular
membrane, containing tlie fat in its cells,
and consisting of ductile membranes, con-
nected by a sort of net-work. The adipose
vein spreads itsell' on the coat and fat that
covers the kidneys. The adipose ducts are
the bags and ducts which contain the fat.
Quincy. Coxe.
AD'IT, n. [L. aditus, fvom'adeo, aditum, to
approach, ad and eo, to go.]
An entrance or passage ; a term in minmg.
used to denote the opening by which a
mine is entered, or by which water and
ores are carried away. It is usually made
in the side of a hill. The word is some-
times used for air-shaft, but not with strict
propriety. Encyc.
ADJA'CENCY, n. [L. adjaceo, to lie con-
tiguous, from ad andjaceo, to lie.]
The state of lying close or contiguous ; a
bordering uiion, or lying next to ; as the
adjacency of lands or buildings. In the
sense of that which is adjacent, as used by
Brown, it is not legitimate.
ADJA'CENT, a. Lying near, close, or con-
tiguous ; bordering upon ; as, a field adja-
cent to the highway.
ADJA'CENT, n. That which is next to or
contiguous. [Little itserf.] Locke.
ADJECT', v.t. [L. adjicio, of ad and jado,
to throw.]
To add or put, as one thing to another.
Macknii(hl.
ADJEC'TION, n. The act of adding" or
thing added. [Little used.] Brown.
ADJE€TI "TIOUS, a. Added.
Parkhurst, Gram.
AD'JECTIVE, n. In grarnmar, a word used
with a noun, to express a quality of the
thing named, or something attributed to
it, or to limit or define it, or to specify or
describe a thing, as distinct from some-
thing ejse. It is called also an attributive
or attribute. Thus, in the phrase, a toise
ruler, wise is the adjective or attribute, ex-
pressing a particular property of rufer.
.\D'JE€TIVELY, adv. In the manner of
an adjective ; as, a « ord is used adject
ively.
4
yVDJOIN', v.t. [Fr. adjmndre ; L. adjungo,
adnndjungo. Hee Join.]
To join or unite to ; to put to, by placing ui
contact ; to unite, by fastening together
with a joint, mortise, or knot. But in
these transitive senses, it is rarely used.
J See Join.]
JOIN', V. i. To lie or be next to, or in
contact ; to be contiguous ; as, a farm ad-
joining to the highway. This is the com-
mon use of the word, and to is often omit-
ted ; as, adjoining the highway.
ADJOIN' ANT, a. Contiguous to. [A'ol
used.] Carew.
ADJOINED, pp. Joined to ; united.
ADJOIN'ING, ppr. Joining to; adjacent;
contiguous.
ADJOURN', V. t. Adjum'. [Fr. ajoumer,
from joumie, a day, or day's work, or
journey; It. giomo. See Journal, Journey.]
Literally, to put off, or defer to another day;
but now used to denote a formal intermis-
sion of business, a putting off to any fu-
ture meeting of the same body, and appro-
priately used of public bodies or private
conmiissioners, entrusted with business;
as, the court adjourned the consideration
of the question.
ADJOURN', V. i. To suspend business for a
time ; as, from one day to another, or for a
longer period, usually pubUc business, as
of legislatures and courts, for repose or
refreshment ; as, congress adjourned at
four o'clock. It is also used for the act of
closing the session of a pubUc body ; as,
the court adjourned without day.
It was moved that parliament should adjourn
for six vpeeks. Select Speeches, Vol. v. 403.
ADJOURNED, pp. Put off, delayed, or
deferred for a hmited time.
2. As an adjective, existing or held by ad-
journment, as an adjourned session of a
court, opposed to stated or regular.
ADJOURNING, ;>pr. Deferring; suspend-
ing for a time ; closing a session.
ADJOURNMENT, n. The act of ad-
journuig ; as, in legislatures, the adjourn-
ment of one house is not an adjournment oC
the other.
2. The puttuig off till another day or time
specified, or without day ; that is, the
closmg of a session of, a pubhc or official
body.
3. The tune or intenal during which a pub-
lic body defers business ; as^ during an ad-
joumment. But a suspension of business,
between the formuig of a house and an
adjournment for refreshment, is called a
recess. In Great Britain, the close of a
session of parliament is called a proroga-
tion ; as the close of a parhament is a dis-
solution. But in Great Britain, as well as
ui the United States, adjournment is now
used for an intermission of business, for
any indefinite time ; as, an adjournment of
parliament fbr six weeks.
Select Speeches, Vol. v. 404.
ADJUDGE', V. t. [Fr. adjuger, from juge,
judge. See Judge.]
To decide, or determine, in tlie case of a con-
troverted question ; to decree by a judicial
opinion ; used appropriately of courts of
law and equity.
The case was adjudged in Hilary term.
The prize was adjudged to the victor ; a
criminal was adjudged to sufler death.
A D J
A D J
ADM
it has been used in the sense of to judge ;
as, he adjudged him unworthy of his friend-
ship. But this sense is unusual.
ADJUDGED, pp. Determined by judicial
opinion ; decreed ; sentenced.
ADJUDG'ING, ppr. Determining by judicial
opinion ; sentencing.
ADJUDGMENT, n. The act of judgini; ;
sentence. Ttinple.
ADJU'DI€ATE, v. t. [L. adjudko, to ^ive
sentence. See Judge.'\
To adjudge ; to try and determine, as a
court. It has the sense of adjudge.
'VDJU'DJeATE, V. i. To try and determine
judicially ; us, the court adjudicated upoi
the case.
ADJU'DI€ATED,;);>. Adjudged; tried and
decided.
.^DJU'DI€ATING, ppr. Adjudging; try-
ing and determining.
ADJUDICATION, n. The act of ad-
judging ; the act or process of trying and
determining judicially ; as, a ship was ta-
ken and sent into port for adjudication.
2. A judicial sentence ; judgment or deci-
sion of a court.
Whose families were parUes to some of the
former adjwlicalions. Blackstotie
3. In Scots law, an action by wliich a cred-
itor attaches the heritable estate of his
debtor, or his debtor's heir, in payment or
security of his debt ; or an action by which
the holder of an heritable right, laboring
under a defect in point of form, may sup-
ply tliat defect. Encyc
AD'Jl^MENT, n. [L. adjumentum.]
Help ; support, [.^otused.]
ADJUNCT, n. [L. adjunctus, joined, from
adjungo. See Join.]
1. Something added to another, but
sentially a part of it ; as, toater absorbed
by a cloth or spunge is its adjunct. Also
a person joined to another.
^. In metaphysics, a quality of the body or
the mind, whether natural or acquired
color, in the body ; thinking, in the mind.
3. In grammar, words added to illustrate or
aniphfy the force of other words ; as, the
History of the American revolution. The
words in Italics are the adjuncts of His-
tory.
4. In music, the word is employed to denom
inate the relation between the principal
mode and the modes of its two fifths.
Encyc
The adjunct deities, among the Romans
were inferior deities which were added as
assistants to the principal gods ; as Bello-
na, to Mars; to Vulcan, the Cabin; U
the Good Genius, the Lares ; to the Evil,
the Lemures.
In the royal academy of sciences at Paris,
the adjuncts are certain members at
tached to the study of particular scien
ces._^ They are twelve in number, created
in 1716. Encyc
Adjunct has been used for a colleague, but
rarely. Walton.
AD'JUN€T, o. Added to or united with,
as an adjunct professor.
ADJUNc'TlON, n. The act of joining ; the
tiling joined.
ADJUNCTIVE, a. Joining; having the
quality of joining.
.ADJUNCTIVE, n That which is joined
\DJUN€'TIVELY, adv. In an adjunctive
manner.
ADJUN€T'LY, adv. In comiection witli ;
consequently.
ADJURA'TION, n. The act of adjming ;
a solenm charging on oath, or under the
penalty of a curse.
2. The form of oath. Addison.
ADJU'RE, V. t. [L. adjuro, to swear solemn-
ly, or compel one to swear ; from ad and
juro, to swear.]
1. To charge, bLiid or command on oath, or
under the penalty of a curse.
Joshua adjured them at that time, saying,
cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth
up and buildeth this city of Jericho. Josh. vi.
2. To charge earnestly and solemidy, on
pain of God's wrath.
I adjure Ihce by the living God. Mat. xxvi.
Acts, xix.
3. To conjure ; to charge, lu-ge or summon
with solemnity.
The magistrates adjured by all the bonds of
civil duty. Milton.
Ye sacred stars, be all of you adjured.
Dry den.
The Commissioners adjured them not to let
pass so favorable an opportunity of securiuo,
their liberties. Marshall's Life of Washington.
\DJU'RED, pp. Charged on oath, or with
a denunciation of God's wrath ; solemnly
urged.
ADJU'RER, n. One that adjures; one that
exacts an oath.
ADJU'RING, ppr. Charging on oath, or on
the penalty of a curse ; beseeching with
solemnity.
ADJUST',' t). t. [Sp. ajuslar; Port, id; It.
aggiustare ; Fr. ajuster, to fit or frame ; of
L. ad, andjusttis, just, exact. See Just.]
1 . To make exact ; to fit ; to make corres-
pondent, or conformable ; as, to adjust e
garment to the body, an event to the pre-
diction, or things to a standard.
Swift. Locke. Addison
2. To jiut in order ; to regulate or reduce to
system ; as to mljust a scheme ; to adjust
affairs.
To make accurate ; to settle or bring to
a satisfactory state, so that parties ar
agreed in the result ; as to adjust accounts ;
the differences are adjusted.
ADJUST'ED, pp. Made exact or conforma-
ble ; reduced to a right form or standard;
settled.
ADJUST'ER, n. A person who adjusts :
hat which regulates.
ADJUSTING, ppr. Reducing to due form :
fitting ; making exact or correspondent :
settling.
ADJUST'MENT, n. The act of adjusting ;
regulation ; a reducing to just form or or-
der ; a making fit or conformable ; settle-
ment. Watts. Woodward.
AD'JUTANCY, n. [See Adjutant.] The
office of an adjutant ; skillful arrangement
Burke
AD'JUTANT, n. [L. adjutans, aiding ; fron
adjuto, to assist ; of ad and juvo, jutum, t<
In military affairs, an officer whose busines.-
is to asM.-t the ]M ijor by receiving am
coniiii;;iin or;ii': cr 'c is. Each battalion ol
fool. r -.nt of horse has ai
adjnt^,..,. - ) ,. i,\cs orders fi-om thi
BrijLi^iiii' Aiiiioj, to ciimmuniccte to tin
Colonel, and to subalterns. He places
guards, receives and distributes ammuni-
tion, assigns places ol rendezvous, &c.
Adjutant- General, in an army, is the chief
djiitant.
Adjutants General, among the Jesuits, were
a select number of lathers, who resided
with the general of the order, each of
whom had a province or country assign-
ed to his care. Their business was to
correspond with that province, by their
delegates, emissaries or visitors, and give
information of occmrences to the father
general. Encyc.
ADJU'TE, V. t. To help. [J^Tot used.]
ADJU'TOR, n. A heljier. [Little used; its
compound coadjutor is in common use.]
ADJU'VANT, a. Helping; assisting. Howell.
\DLEGA'T10N, n. [L. ad and legatio, an
embassy, from lego, to send. See Legate.]
In the public law of the German Empire, a
right claimed by the states, of joining their
own ministers with those of the Emperor,
in pubUc treaties and negotiations, relating
to the common interest of the Empire.
Encyc.
ADLOCU'TION, rf. [See Allocution.]
ADMEAS'URE, v. t. admezh'ur. [ad and
measure. See Measure.]
1. To measure or ascertain dimensions, size
or capacity ; used for measure.
2. To apportion ; to assign to each claimant
his right ; as, to admeasure dower or com-
mon of pa.sture. Blackstone.
ADMEASURED, pp. Measured ; appor-
tioned.
ADMEASUREMENT, n. The measur-
ing of dimensions by a rule, as of a ship,
cask, and the like.
2. The measure of a thing, or dimensions as-
certained.
In these uses the word is equivalent to
measurement, mensuration and measure.
3. The adjustment of proportion, or ascer-
tainment of shares, as of dower or pasture
held in common. This is done by writ of
admeasurement, directed to the sheriff.
Blackstone.
ADMEAS'URER, n. One that admeasures.
\DMEAS'URING,/)p-. Measuring; appor-
tioning.
ADMEN.-^URA'TION is equivalent to ad-
measurement, but not much used. [See
Mensuration.]
ADiMIN'ICLE, n. [L. adminiculum.']
liel|i ; snpiiort. [M)t used."]
ADMINICULAR, a. Supplying help ; help-
ful.
ADMIN'ISTER, v. i. [L. administro, of ad
and ministro, to serve or manage. See
Minister.]
1. To act as minister or chief agent, in man-
aging public affairs, under laws or a
constitution of government, as a kin^,
president, or other supreme officer. It is
used also of absolute monarchs, who rule
not in subordination ; but is more strictly
ai>plicahle to limited monarchs and other
snjjreine executive officers, and to gover-
nors, vice-roys, judges and the like, who
are imder the authority of laws. A Idng
or a president administers the government
or laws, when he executes them, or carries
rheni uito effect. A judge administers th&
laws, when he applies them to particular ca-
ses or persons. In short, to administer is t(>
direct the execution or application of lawg»
ADM
ADM
A D M
2. To dispense, as to admiyiisler justice or
the sacrament.
3. To afford, give or furnish ; as, to adminis-
ter relief, tliat is, to act as the agent. To
administer medicine is to direct and cause
it to be taken.
4. To give, as an oath ; to cause to swear
according to law.
ADMIN' ISTER, v. i. To contribute ; to
bring aid or supplies ; to add something ;
as, a shade administers to our comfort.
2. To perform the office of administrator ;
as, A administers upon the estate of B.
ADMINISTERED, pp. Executed ; mana-
ged ; governed ; afforded ; given ; dis-
pensed.
ADMINISTE'RIAL, a. Pertaining to ad-
ministration, or to the executive part of|
government.
ADMINISTERING, ppr. Executing ; car-
rying into effect; giving; dispensing.
ADMINISTRATE, in the place of admin
ister, has been used, but is not well author
ADMINISTRA'TION, n. The act of admin-
istering ; direction ; management ; gov
ermneut of public affairs ; the conducting
of any office or employment.
2. The executive part of government, con
sisting in the exercise of the constitutional
and legal powers, the general superintend
ence of national affairs, and the enforce
ment of laws.
3. The persons collectively, who are entrust
ed with the execution of laws, and the su
perintendence of public affairs ; the chief
magistrate and his council ; or the counci
alone, as in Great Britain.
4. Dispensation ; distribution ; exhibition
as the administration of justice, of the sa
cranient, or of grace. 1 Cor. xii. 2 Cor. ix.
5. The management of the estate of an ui-
testate person, under a commission from
the proper authority. This management
consists in collecting debts, payhig debts
and legacies, and distributmg the property
among the heirs.
C. The power, office or coimiiission of an
administrator.
Surrogates are authorized to grant adminis-
Iration. Laws of JVew- Vork.
It is more usual to say, letters of administra-
tion. Slackstone.
7. This name is given by the Spaniards, to
the staple magazine or warehouse, at Ca "
lao, in Peru, where foreign ships must ui
load. Enciic.
ADMINISTRATIVE, a. That administers,
or by which one admuiisters.
ADMINISTRATOR, n. A man who, by
virtue of a commission from the Ordinary,
Surrogate, Court of Probate, or other
proper authority, has the charge of the
goods and estate of one dying witliout a
will.
2. One who administers, or who directs,
manages, distributes, or dispenses laws
and rites, either in civil, judicial, political,
or ecclesiastical affairs.
3. In Scots lam, a tutor, curator or guardian
having the care of one who is incapabli_
of acting for hhnself. The term is usually
applied to a father who has power over
his children and their estate, during their
jninority. Eiicyc.
ADMINISTRATORSHIP, n. The office
of an administrator.
ADMINISTRATRIX, n. A female who
Iniinisters upon the estate of an intestate ;
so a female wlio administers govern-
AD MIRABLE, a. [L. admirabUis.]
To be admired; worthy of admiration ; hav-
ing qualities to excite wonder, with appro-
bation, esteem or reverence ; used of per-
sons or things ; as, the admirable structure
of the body, or of the universe.
AD'MIRABLENESS, n. The quality of be-
ing admirable ; the power of exciting ad-
AD'MIRABLY, adv. In a manner to excite
wonder, mingled with approbation, esteem
or veneration.
AD'MIRAL, ?!. [In the Latin of the middle
ages, Jlmira, Amiras, Admiralis, an Emir
Sp. almiranle ; Port. id. ; It. ammiraglio ;
amara, to coin
Fr. amiral ; from Ar. j.^ ?
mand, .^^J, a commander; Sans.
Ileb. Ch. Syr. Sam. ION, to speak. The
terminating syllable of admiral may be
from a?t5, the sea. This word is said to
have been introduced into Europe by tl
Turks, Genoese or Venetians, in the I2th
or 13th century.]
A marine coiiunander in chief; the com-
mander of a fleet or navy.
1. The Lord High Admiral'in Great Britain,
is an officer who superintends all mar'
time affairs, and has the government of
the navy. He has also jurisdiction over
all maritime causes, and commissions the
naval officers.
2. The Admiral of th^ fleet, the highest officer
under the admiralty. When he embarks
on an expetlition, the union flag is display-
ed at the main top gallant mast head.
3. The Vice Admiral, an officer next in
rank and coiTuuand to the Admiral, ha
command of the second squadron. H(
carries his flag at the fore top gallant mast
head. This name is given also to certain
officers who have power to hold courts of
vice-admiralty, in various parts of the
Britisli dominions.
4. The Rear Admiral, next in rank to the
Vice Admiral, has command of the third
squadron, and carries his flag at tl
top gallant mast head.
5. The commander of any single fleet, or in
general any flag officer.
The ship which carries the admiral ; also
the most considerable ship of a fleet of
merchantmen, or of fishin^
Encyc.
7. In zoology, a species of sheU-fish. [Set
Valuta.]
2. Also a butterfly, which lays her eggs or
the great sthiging nettle, and delights ii:
brambles. Encyc
AD'MIRALSHIP, n. The office or powei
of an admiral. [Little used.]
AD'lMIRALTY, ii. In Great Britain, tht
office of Lord High Admiral. This office
is discharged by one person, or by Com-
missioners, called Lords of the Admiralty .
usually seven in nmnber.
The admiralty court, or court of admiralty, is
the supreme court for the trial of maritime
causes, held before the Lord High Admi-
ral, or Lords of the admiralty.
In general, a court of admiralty is a court for
the trial of causes arising on the high seas,
as prize causes and the hke. In the Uni-
ted States, there is no admiralty court,
distinct from others ; but the district
courts, established in the several states by
Congress, are mvested with admiralty
powers.
ADMIRATION, n. Wonder mingled with
pleasing emotions, as approbation, esteem,
love or veneration ; a compoimd emotion
excited by something novel, rare, great, or
excellent ; applied to persons and their
works. It often includes a shght degree
of surprise. Thus, we view the solar sys-
tem with admiration.
Very near to admiration is the wish to ad-
mire. Anon.
It has been sometimes used in an ill sense,
denoting wonder with disapprobation.
Your boldness I with admiration see.
Dryden.
Wien I saw her I wondered with great admi-
ration. Luke xvil.
ADMI RATIVE, n. A note of admiration,
thus I [J\"ot used.] Cotgrave.
ADMI'RE, V. t. [L. admiror, ad and miror,
to wonder ; Sp. and Port, admirar ; Fr.
admirer ; It. ammirare ; Fr. mirer, to look,
to take aim ; Corn, miras, to look, see or
face ; Arm. miret, to stop, hold, keep ; W.
mir, visage ; also fair, comely ; and maer,
one that looks after, keeps or guards, a
mayor, or baihff ; Russ. zamirayu, to be as-
tonished or stupified ; za, a prefix, and mir,
peace ; miryu, to pacify ; zamiriayu, to
make peace. The primary sense is to
hold, to stop, or strain. Ch. and Syr.
IDT ; L. demiror. See Moor and Mar.]
1. To regard with wonder or surprise, ming-
led with approbation, esteem, reverence
or affection.
When he shall come to be glorified in his
saints and be admired in all them that love him.
2 Thes. i.
Tliis word has been used in an ill sense,
but seems now correctly restricted to the
sense here given, and implying something
great, rare or excellent, in the object ad-
mired.
2. To regard with affection ; a familiar term
for to love greatly.
ADMI'RE, V. i. To wonder ; to be affected
with shght surprise ; sometimes with at ;
as, to admire at his own contrivance. Ray.
To admire at sometimes implies disapproba-
ADMI'RED, pp. Regarded with wonder,
mingled with pleasurable sensations, as
esteem, love or reverence.
ADMI'RER, n. One who admires ; one
who esteems or loves greatly.
.\I)iMI'RING, ppr. Regarding with wonder
united with love or esteem.
ADMIRINGLY, adv. With admiration ; in
the manner of an admirer.
ADMISSIBILITY, n. The quality of being
admissible. Chase.
ADMISSIBLE, a. [See admit.] That may
bo admitted, allowed or conceded ; as, the
testimonv is admissible.
ADMISSION, n. [L. admissio.^
1. The act or practice of admitting, as the
ADM
admission of aliens into our country
also tlie state of being admitted.
2. Admittance ; power or permission to en
ter ; entrance ; access ; power to approach
as, our laws give to foreigners easy admis-
sion to the rights of citizens ; the admis-
sion of a clerk to a benefice.
3. Allowance ; grant of an argument or
position not fully proved.
ADMIT', V. t. [L. admitlo, from ad and init-
io, to send, Fr. meltre.]
1. To suffer to enter ; to grant entrance ;
wliether into a place, or an office, or into
the mind, or consideration ; as to admit a
student into college ; to admit a serious
thought into the mind.
2. To give right of entrance ; as, a ticket
admits one into a play house.
3. To allow; to receive as true; as, tlie ar
gument or fact is admitted.
4. To permit, grant or allow, or to be capa-
ble of; as, the words do not admit of such
a construction. In this sense, of may be
used after the verb, or omitted.
ADMIT'TABLE, a. That may be admitted
or allowed.
ADMITTANCE, n. The act of admitting
allowance. More usually,
2. Permission to enter ; the power or right
of entrance; and hence, actual entrance;
as, he gained admittance into the church.
3. Concession ; admission ; allowance ; as
the admittance of an argument. [JVot
^lsed.]
4. Skakespeare uses the word for *the cus-
tom or prerogative of being admitted ;
" Sir John, you are a gentleman of excel-
lent breetUng, of great admittance": but
the license is unwarrantable.
ADMIT'TED, pp. Permitted to enter or
ap])roach ; allowed ; gi-anted ; conceded,
ADMIT'TER, n. He that admits.
ADMIT'TING, ppr. Permitting to enter or
apin-oach ; allowing ; conceding.
ADMIX', V. t. To mingle with something
else. [See Mix.]
ADMIX'TION, n. admix'chun, [L. admixtio.
or admistio ; of ad and misceo, to mix,
See Mx.]
A mingluig of bodies ; a union by mixing
diflferent substances together. It differs
from composition or chimical combination ;
for admixtion does not alter the nature of
the substances mixed, but merely blends
them together ; whereas in composition,
the particles unite by affinity, lose then-
former properties, and form new com
pounds, with different properties.
ADMIX'TURE, n. [From admix.]
The substance mingled with another ; some
tunes the act of mixture. We say, an ad-
mixture of sulphur with alum, or the ad-
mixture of different bodies.
ADMONTSH, v.t. [L. admonco, arf and mo-
neo, to teach, warn, admonish ; Fr. admon-
eter; Norm, amonester ; Sp. amonestar ;
Port, amoestar, or admoestar ; It. ammonire ;
G. mahnen, ermahnen ; D. maanen, to dun,
vermaanen, to admonish ; Sw. mana, for-
mana ; Dan. maner, fonnaner ; Sax.
mxnan, to mean.]
I. To warn or notify of a fault ; to reprove
with mildness.
Coimt him not as an enemy, but admonish
bim as a brother. 2Thess. iii.
ADO
2. To counsel against wrong practices;
caution or advise.
3. To mstruct or direct.
Moses was admonished of God, when he was
about to make the tabernacle. Heb. ■
4. In ecclesiastical affairs, to reprove
ber of the church for a fault, either publicly
or privately ; the first step of church disci
phne. It is followed by of, or against ; as, tc
admonish of a fault committed, or against
committing a fault. It has a like use in
colleges.
\DMON'ISIIED, yjp. Reproved; advised;
warned ; instructed.
ADMON'ISHER, n. One who reproves or
counsels.
ADMON'ISHING, ppr. Reproving ; warn-
ing ; coun.seluig; dhecting.
ADMON'ISIIMENT, n. Admonition. Shak.
ADMONI"TION, n. Gentle reproof; coun-
seling agahist a fault ; instruction in du-
ties ; caution ; direction. Tit. iii. 1 Cor.
X. In church discipline, public or private
reproof to reclaim an offender ; a step
preliminary to excommunication.
ADMONI"TIONER, n. A dispenser of ad-
monitions. Hooker.
ADMON'ITIVE, a. Containing admonition
Burroiv.
ADMON'ITOR, n. An atbnonisher, a mou-
ADMON'ITORY, a. Containing admoni-
tion ; that admonishes.
ADMORTIZA'TION, n. The reducing of
lands or tenements to mortmain. [See
Mortmain.] Encyc.
ADMOVE', V. /. [L.admoveo.]
To move to ; to bring one thing to another.
[Little used.] Brown
ADNAS'CENT, o
growing.]
Growing on something else. Evelyn.
ADNA'TA, n. [L. ad and nalus, grown,
from nascor, to grow.]
in anatomy, one of the coats of the eye,
vyhich is also called albuginea, and is sonie-
times confounded with the conjunctiva.
It hes between the sclerotica, and con-
junctiva.
2. Such parts of anmial or vegetable bodies
as are usual and natural, as the hair, wool,
horns ; or accidental, as fungus, misletoe,
and excrescences.
Offsets of plants, germinating under
ground, as from the lily, narcissus, and
hyacinth. ' Quincy. Encyc.
AD'NATE, a. [L. ad and nai^s, grown.]
In botany, pressing close to the stem, or
growing to it. Martyn.
AD'NOUN, n. [ad and noun.]
In grammar, an adjective, or attribute. [Lit-
tle used.]
AD6', ti. [Qu. a and do.]
Bustle ; trouble ; labor ; difficulty ; as, to
make a great ado about trifles ; to per-
suade one with much ado.
ADOLES'CENCE, n. [L. adolescens, grow-
ing, of ad and olesco, to grow, from oleo.
[L. ad and nascens
Heb.
rhp, to ascend; Ar. )JL«, to be
high.]
[The state of growing, applied to the young
of the human race ; youth, or the period
I of life between childhood and manhood.
ADO
ADOLES'CENT, „. Growing; advandng
from clnldhood to manhood.
ADONE'AN, a. Pertaining to Adonis. j
Fair Adonean Venus. Faberk
ADO'NIA, n. Festivals celebrated anciently
in honor of Adonis, by females, who spent
two days in lamentations and infamous
pleasures. Encyc
ADO'NIC, a. Monic Verse, a short verse^
in wliich the death of Adonis was bewailed!
It consists of a dactyl and spondee or tro-
, fhee. Bailey. Cvc.
[ADO'NIC, n. An Adonic verse.
ADO'NIS, n. In mythology, the favorite of
Venus, said to be the son of Cinyras, king
of Cyprus. He w^s fond of hunting, and
received a mortal wound from lljc tusk of
a wild boar. Venus lamented his death,
and changed him into the flower, aue-
mony.
ADO'NIS, in botany, bird's eye or pheas-
ant's eye.
ADO'NISTS, n. [Heb. Ch. and Syr. |n^?
adon, Lord, a scriptural title of the Su-
preme Being.]
Among critics, a sect or party who maintain
that the Hebrew points ordinarily annexed
to the consonants of the word Jehovah, are
not the natural points belonging to that
word, anti that they do not express the
true pronunciation of it ; but that they are
vowel pomts belongmg to the words, Mo-
nai and Elohim, apphed to the ineffable
name Jehovah, which the Jews were forbid
to utter, and the true pronunciation of
which was lost ; they were therefore al-
ways to pronounce the word Adonai,
instead of Jehovah. Encyc.
ADOPT', V. t. [L. adopto, of ad and opto, to
desire or choose. See Option.]
1. To take a stranger into one's family, as
son and heir ; to take one who is not a
child, and treat him as one, giving him a
title to the privileges and rights of a child.
2. In a spiritual sense, to receive the sinful
children of men into the uivisible church,
and into God's favor and protection, by
which they become heirs of salvation by
Christ. Brown.
3. To take or receive as one's own, that
which is not naturally so ; as, to adopt the
opinions of another ; or to receive that
which is new ; as, to adopt a particular
mode of husbandry.
4. To select and take ; as, which mode will
you adopt ?
ADOPT'ED, pp. Taken as one's own ; re-
ceived as son and heir ; selected for use.
ADOPT'EDLY, adv. In the manner of
something adopted.
ADOPT'ER, n. One who adopts.
2. In chimistry, a large round receiver, with
two necks, djametrically opposite to each
other, one of which admits the neck of a
retort, and the other is joined to another
receiver. It is used in distillations, to give
more space to elastic vapors, or to increase
the lengtli of the neck of a retort.
ADOPT'ING, ppr. Taking a stranger as a
son ; taking as one's own.
ADOP'TION, n. [L. adoptio.]
1. The act of adojrting, or the state of being
adopted ; the taking and treatuig of a
stranger as one's o^vn cliild.
ADO
ADO
A D U
2. Th«
viiig as one's own, what is new
iiatiiial.
3. God's taking the sinful children of men
into his favor and protection. Eph. iv,
Adoption by arms, an ancient ceremony of
presenting arms to one for his merit or
valor, whirh laid the person under an oh-
ligation to defend the giver.
Moption by baptism is the spiritual affinity
whicli is contracted by god-fathers and
fod-children, in the ceremony of baptism,
t was introduced into the Greek church,
and afterwards among tlie ancient Frank.s.
This affinity was supposed to entitle the
god-child to a share of the god-father's
estate. Encyc.
Adoption by hair was performed by cutting
off the hairof a person and giving it to the
adoptive father. Thus Pope John VIII
adopted Boson, king of Aries.
Adoption by matrimony is the taking the chil-
dren of a wife or husband, by a former
marriage, into the condition of natural
chilihcii. Tliis is a practice pecuUar to
tlic (Iciiiiiiiis ; but is not so properly
aduiitioii ;is itiljilialion. Encyc.
Adoption by testament is the appointing of a
person to be heir, by will, on condition of
his taking the name, arms, &c. of the
adopter. Encyc.
In Europe, adoption is used for many kinds
of admission to a more intimate relation,
and is nearly equivalent to recepti
the admission of persons into hospitals, or
monasteries, or of one society into
tlier. Encyc.
ADOPT'IVE, Of. [L. adoptivus.]
That adopts, as an adoptive father ; or that
is adf>])ted, as an adoptive son.
ADOPT'IVE, n. A (lerson or thing adopted,
AUO'RABLE, o. That ought to be adored;
woitliy of divine honors. In popular use,
wiii-tliv I't'ihr utmost love or respect.
ADO I! \l{|,i;M;!?S,n. The quality of being
ador.-ililc, iir worthy of adoration.
ADO'RAliLY, adv. In a maimer worthy of
adoration.
ADORA'TION, n. The act of paying
lionnrs to a divine being ; the worship paid
to (.'od ; the ;lc I of addressing as a God.
Adm-iilion i-oii.^ists in external homage, ac-
coiiipaiiifd willi the highest reverence. It
is used for tlie act of praying, or prefer-
ring requests or thanksgiving, to the Su-
preme Being.
2. Homage paid to one in high esteem ; pro-
found reverence.
Adoration, among the Jews, was per-
formed by bowing, kneeling and prostra-
tion. Among the Romans, the devotee
with his head uncovered, applied his right
hand to his lips, bowing and turning him-
self from left to right. The Persians fell
on the face, strildng the forehead against
the earth, and kissing the ground. The
adoration paid to the Grecian and Roman
emperors, consisted in bowing and kneel-
ing at the feet of the prince, laying hold of
his robe, then withdrawing the hand and
clapping it to the lips. In modern times,
adoration is paid to the pope by kissing
his feet, and to princes, by kneeling and
kissing the hand. This word was used by
the Romans for acclamation or great ap-
plause, given to public performers ; and the
election of a pope is sometimes by adora-
tion, that is, by sudden acclamation with-
out scrutiny. Encyc.
ADO'RE, V. t. [L. adoro. In Ch. and Heb.
^^n, to honor, reverence or glorify, to
adorn; Heb. T1X, to be magnificent or
glorious, to magnify, to glorify. Thi^
word is usually referred to the Latin ad
orare, to carry to one's mouth; ad auil
OS, oris ; as, in order to kiss one's hand, the
hand is earned to one's mouth. See Cal-
met, ad verbum, who cites, in confirmation
of this opinion, the ancient practice of kiss-
ing the hand. See Job. xxxi. 1 Kings,
xix. Ps. ii. Gen. xli. Ainsworth sup!
poses the word to be a compound of ad
and oro, to pray; and if the word is com-
pound, as I suspect, this opinion is most
probably correct.]
To worship with profound reverence ; to
address with exalted thoughts, by prayer
and thanksgiving ; to pay divine honors
to ; to honor as a god or as divuie.
Ih-yden.
2. To love in the highest degree ; to regard
with the utmost esteem, affection and
respect ; as, the people adore their prince.
Tatler.
ADO'RED, pp. Worshipped as divine ; high-
ly reverenced ; greatly beloved.
AUO'RER, n. One who worships, or hon-
ors as divine ; in popular language, an ad-
miring lover.
ADO'RING, ppr. or a. Honoring or ad-
dressing as divine ; regaijling with great
love or reverence.
ADORN', V. t. [L. adorno, ad and omo, to
deck, or beautify", to dress, set off, extol,
furnish; Fr. omer ; Sp. Port, omar; It.
ornare ; Arm. aouma. Omo is probably
the Saxon hrinan, gerenian, gerinan, ge-
hiinan, to touch, to strike, to adorn, that
is, to put on.]
To deck or decorate ; to make beautiful ;
to add to beauty by dress ; to deck with
external ornaments.
Abiide adorneth herself with jewels. Isa. vi.
2. To set off to advantage ; to add orna-
ments to ; to embellish by any tiling ex-
ternal or adventitious ; as, to adorn a speech
by appropriate action, sentiments with
elegance of language, or a gallery with
pictures.
•3. To make pleasing, or more pleasing ; as,
great abiUties adorned by vutue or affabil-
4. To display the beauty or excellence of ; as,
to adorn the doctrine of God. Titus ii.
ADORN', 71. Ornament. Obs. Spenser.
ADORN', a. Adorned ; decorated. Obs.
Milton.
ADORN'ED, jojj. Decked ; decorated ; em-
bellished.
ADORN'ING, ppr. Ornamenting ; decora-
tiiiff ; disi)laying beauty.
ADORN'ING, n. Ornament; decoration.
1 Pet. iii.
ADOS€ULA'TION, n. [L. ad and osculatio,
a kissing, from osculum, a kiss, or mouth.]
The impregnation of plants by the falling of
tlie farina on the pistils. Encyc.
Adosculation is also defined to be the insi
mg of one part of a plant into another,
Crabbe.
ADOS'SED, a. [Fr. adossie, part, ofadosser,
to set back to back ; dos, the back '
In heraldry, denoting two figures or bear-
ings placed back to back. Encyr.
ADOWN', prep, [a and down.] From a
liigher to a lower situation ; downwards ;
iniplying descent.
ADOWN , adv. Down; on the ground ; at
\l)ltlv\l), a. Adred'. [See Dread.] Af-
ffctcl by dread. Obs.
ADRIATIC, a. [L. Adria, or Hadria, the
gulf of Venice.]
Pertaining to the Gulf, called, from Venice,
the Venetian Gulf
ADKIVTIC, n. The Venetian Gulf; a
(/iill'ilial washes tlie eastern side of Italy.
ADRIFT, a. or adv. [Sax. adrifan, gedri-
fan, antl drifan, to drive. See Drive. Adrift
is the participle of the verb.]
Literally, driven ; floatmg ; floating at ran-
dom ; inqielled or moving without direc-
tion. As an adjective, it always follows its
noun ; as, the boat was adrift.
ADROGA'TION, n. [L. arf and rogo, to ask.
See Interrogate and Rogation.]
A species of' adoption in ancient Rome, by
wliieli a person, capable of choosing for
himself, was admitted into the relation of
a son. So called from the questions put
to the parties. Encyc.
ADROIT', a. [Fr. from droit, right, straiglit,
direct ; whence droite, the right hand ; It.
diritto, right, straight, contracted from the
L. directus, dingo ; Arm. dret. See Right.]
Dextrous ; skilful ; active in the use of the
hands, and figuratively, in the exercise of
the mental faculties ; ingenious ; ready in
invention or execution.
ADROIT' LY, adv. With dexterity ; in a
ready skilful manner. Chesterfield.
ADRdlT'NESS, n. Dexterity ; readiness in
the use of the limbs, or of the mental fac-
ulties. Home.
ADRV, a. [Sax. adrigan, to dry.]
Thirsty, in want of drink. [This adjective
always follows the noun.] Spectator.
ADSCITI'TIOUS, a. [h. ascititius, &oin
adscisco, ascisco, to add or join.]
Added ; taken as supplemental ; additional ;
not requisite. Warlon.
ADSTRle'TION, n. [L. adstridio, astrictio,
of ad and stringo, to strain or bind fast.
See Strict.]
A binding fast. Among physicians, the ri-
gidity of a part of the body, occasioning a
retention of usual evacuations ; costive--
ness ; a closeness of the emunctories ; al-
so the styptic effects of medicines.
Encyc. Quincy.
ADSTRleTORY, ADSTRING'ENT. [See
Astringent.]
ADULA'RIA, 71. [From Adula, the summit
of a Swiss mountain.]
A mineral deemed the most perfect variety
of felspar; its color white, or with a tinge
of green, yellow, or red. Cleaveland.
ADULA'TION, n. [L. adulatio.]
Servile flattery ; praise in excess, or beyond
what is merited ; high coni])liment. Shak.
IaD'ULATOR, n. A flatterer ; one who of-
fers praise servilely.
ADULATORY, a. Flattering ; containing
excessive praise or compUments ; servilely
praising ; as, an adulatory address.
AD'ULATRESS, n. A female that flatter?
with servility.
A D U
-VDULT', n. [L. adultus, grown to maturity,
from oleo, to grow ; Heb. rhp, to ascend
Having arrived at mature years, or to full
size and strength ; as an adult person or
plant.
ADULT', n. A person grown to full size and
strength, or to the years of manhood. It
is also applied to full grown plants.
Among civilians, a person between four-
teen and twenty-five years of age. Enaic.
ADl'LTERANT, n. The person or thing
tliat adulterates.
ADUL'TERATE, v. t. [L. adultero, from
adulter, mixed, or an adulterer ; ad and
alter, other.]
To corrupt, debase, or make impure by ar
admixture of baser materials; as, to adul
terale hquorb-, or the coin of a country.
ADUL'TERATE, v. i. To" commit adultery.
Obs.
ADUL'TERATE, a. Tainted with adidte
rv ; debased by foreign mixture.
ADUL'TERATED, pp. Corrupted ; debased
by a mixture with something of less value.
ADUL'TERATENESS, n. The quahty or
state of beuig debased or counterfeit.
ADUL'TERATING, ppr. Debasing; cor-
rupting ; counterfeituig.
ADULTER A'TION, n. Theact of aduher-
ating, or the state of being adulterated,
corrupted or debased by foreign mixture.
The adulteration of liquors, of diaigs, and
even of bread and beer, is common, but a
scandalous crime.
ADUL'TERER, n. [L. adulter.]
1. A man guilty of adultery ; a man who has
sexual commerce with any maiTied wo-
man, except his wife. [See Adultery.]
9. In scripture, an idolater. Ezek. xxiii.
3. An apostate from the true faith, or one
who violates his covenant engagements ;
a very wicked person. Jer. ix. and xxiii.
4. One devoted to earthly things. James, iv.
ADULTERESS, n. A married woman
guilty of incontinence.
ADUL'TERINE, a. Proceeding fiom adul-
terous commerce ; spurious. Hall.
ADUL'TERINE, n. In the cm7 foif, achild
issumg from an adulterous connection.
ADUL'TEROUS, a. Guilty of adultery;
pertainuig to adultery.
2. In scripture, idolatrous, very wicked. Mat.
xii. and xvi. Mark, viii.
ADUL'TERY, J,. [L. adultcrium. SeeMul-
terate.]
1. Violation of the marriage bed ; a crime,
or a civil injury, which introduces, or may
introduce, into a family, a spurious off-
spring.
By the laws of Connecticut, the sexual
intercourse of any man, with a married
woman, is the crime of adulteiy in both :
such intercourse of a married man, with
an unmarried woman, is fornication m
liotli, and adultery of the man, within the
meaning of the law respecting divorce ;
but not a felonious adultery in either, or
the crime of adultery at common law, or
by statiue. This latter offense is, in Eng-
land, proceeded with only in the ecclesi-
astical courts.
In common usage, adidtery means the
unfaithfulness of any married person to
the marriage bed. In England, I'arlia-
A D V
ment grant absolute divorces, for Lnfideli
ty to the marriage bed in either party ; ane
the spiritual courts divorce a me?isa el
thoro.
'2. In a scriptural sense, all manner of lewd
ness or unchastity, as in the seventh com
mandment.
3. In senpture, idolatrj', or apostasy fj'oin the
true God. Jer. iii.
4. In old laws, the fine and penalty imposed
for the offense of adultery.
5. In ecclesiastical affairs, the intrusion of a
person into a bishopric, during the life of
the bishop. Encyc.
6. Among ancient naturalists, the grafting of
trees was called adultery, being consider-
ed as an unnatural uuion. Pliny.
ADULT'NESS, n. The state of being aduh.
ADUM'BRANT, a. [See Adumbrate.] Giv-
ing a faint shadow, or shght resemblance.
ADUM'BRATE, v. t. [L. adumbro, to shade,
from umbra, a shade ; Fr. ombre ; Sp. som-
bra ; It. ombra.]
To give a faint shadow, or slight likeness ;
to exhibit a faint resemblance, hke
shadow.
ADUMBRA'TION, n. The act of maldng
a shadow or faint resemblance.
2. A faint sketch ; an imperfect represeiua-
tion of a thing. Bacon.
3. In heraldry, the shadow only of a figure,
outhned, and painted of a color darker
than the field. Diet.
ADUNA'TION, n. [L. ad and mius, tinio.]
The state of being united ; union. [ATot
used.] Cranmer.
ADUN'CITY, n. [L. aduncitas, hookedness,
of ad and uncus, a hook.]
Hookedness ; a bending in form of a hook.
Arbulhnoi
ADUN'COUS, a. [L. aduncxis.]
Hooked ; bent or made in the form of a hook,
Bacon.
ADUNQUE, o. Adunk'. Hooked. [JVol
used.] Bacon.
ADU'RE, V. I. [L. aduro, ad and uro, to
burn.]
To burn up. [JVb< used.] Bacon.
ADUST', a. [L. adustus, burnt, the partici-
ple of aduro, to burn.]
Burnt ; scorched ; become dry by heat ; hot
and fiery.
ADUST'ED, a. Become hot and dry ; burnt ;
scorched.
ADUS'TION, n. The act of burning, scorch-
ing, or heating to dryness ; a state of being
thus heated or dried.
ADV'ANCE, V. t. adv'ans. [Fr. avancer; Sp.
avanzar, to move forward ; It. avanzare,
to get or increase ; Ai-m. avans, to advance.
This word is formed on van, the front,
which seems to be the Ch. and Heb. ms,
D'J3, surface, face ; whence, Fr. avant, It.
avanti, before.]
1. To bring forward ; to move further in
front. Hence,
2. To promote ; to rawo-^o a higher rank ;
as, to advance one from the bar to the
bench.
3. To improve or make better, which is con-
sidered as a progression or moving for-
ward ; as, to advance one's true int^
4. To forward ; to accelerate growth
advance the growth of plants.
5. To offer or propose ; to bring to v
A D V
notice ; as, to advance an opinion or an
argument.
(3. In commerce, to supply beforehand ; to
furnish on credit, or before goods are
delivered, or work done ; or to furnish as
a part of a stock or fund ; as, to advance
money on loan or contract, or towards a
purcliase or estabhshment.
7. To furnish for others; to supply or pay
for others, in expectation of reimburse-
ment.
They advanced the money out of their own
funds, and took the sheriffs deeds in their own
name. lient, Johnson's Rep.
8. To raise ; to enhance ; as, to advance the
price of goods.
ADVANCE, v. i. To move or go forward ;
to proceed ; as, the troops advanced.
2. To improve, or make progress ; to gi-ow
better, greater, wiser or older ; as, to ad-
vance m knowledge, in stature, in wisdom,
or in years.
3. To rise in rank, office, or consequence :
to be preferred, or promoted ; as, to advance
in political standing.
.\DV>ANCE, n. A moving forward, or to-
wards the fl-ont. Clarendon.
2. Gi-adual progres.sion ; improvement ; as,
an advance in rehgion or Itnowledge.
Atterbury.
3. Advancement ; promotion ; preferment :
as, an advance in rank or office.
4. First hint by way of invitation ; first step
towards an agreement ; as, A made an
advance towards a reconciliation with B.
In this sense, it is very frequently used in
the plural.
The amours of an empress require the plainest
advances. Gibbon.
5. In trade, additional price ; profit ; as, an
advance on the prime cost of goods.
6. A giving beforehand ; a furnishing of some-
thing, on contract, before an equivalent is
received, as money or goods, towards a
capital or stock, or on loan ; or the money
or goods thus furnished ; as, A made large
advances to B.
7. A furnishing of money or goods for oth-
ers, in expectation of reimbursement ; or
the property so furnished.
I shall, with great pleasure, make the neces-
sary advances. Jay.
The account was made up witli intent to show
what advances had been made. ITent.
In advance, in front ; before ; also before-
hand ; before an equivalent is received, or
when one partner in trade has furnished
more than his ]>roportion ; as, A is in
advance to S a thousand dollars or pounds.
ADV>ANCED, pp. Moved forward ; pro-
moted ; improved ; furnished beforehand ;
situated in front, or before the rest ; also
old, having reaclied the decline of life ; as,
advanced in years ; an advanced age.
ADV>ANCEMENT, n. The act of moving
forward or proceeding.
2. The state of being advanced ; preferment ;
promotion, in rank or excellence ; the act
of ]ironioting.
3. Settlement on a wife, or jointure.
4. Provision made by a parent for a child,
by gift; of property, during his, the parent's
life, to which the child would be entitled
as heir, after his parent's death.
R. M. Sherman.
A D V
A D V
A D V
ADVANCER, n. One who advances; a
promoter.
Among sportsmen, a start or branch of a
biirk's attire, between the back antler and
tlie pahii. Encyc.
ADV' ANCING, ppr. Moving forward ; pro-
ceeding ; promoting ; raising to higher
rank or excellence ; improving ; supply-
ing beforehand, as on loan, or as stock in
trade.
ADV'ANCIVE, a. Tending to advance, or
promote.
ADV>ANTA6E, n. [Pr. avantage, from
avaiit, before ; It. vantaggio ; Sp. ventaja.]
1. Any state, condition, or circumstance,
favorable to success, prosperity, ijiterest,
or reputation.
TTie enemy had tlie advantage of elevated
ground.
2. Benefit ; gain ; profit.
\\ hat advantage will it be to thee .' Job xxxv.
There exists, In the economy and comse of
nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and
happiness; between duty and advantage.
Washington.
3. Means to an end ; opportunity ; conven-
ience for obtaining benefit ; as, students
enjoy great advantages for improvement.
The General took advantage of his enemy'
negligence.
4. Favorable state or circumstances ; as
jewels set to advantage.
5. Superiority, or prevalence over ; with of
or over.
Lest Satan should get an advantage o/ us, (
over us.) 2 Cor. ii.
G. Superiority, or that which gives it ; as, the
advantage of a good constitution.
7. Interest ; increase ; overplus.
And with advantage means to pay thy love.
Obs. Slmk
8. Additional circumstance to give prepou
deration.
ADVANTAGE, v. t. To benefit ; to j-ield
profit or gain.
What is a man advantaged, if he gain th(
whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away
Luke Lx.
'2. To promote ; to advance the interest of.
ADV>ANTAGEABLE, a. Profitable ; con
veiiient ; gainfid. [Little used.]
ADV>ANTAGED,;);j. Benefitted ; promoted.
ADVANTAGE-GROUND, n. Ground that
gives advantage or superiority ; a state
that gives superior advantages for annoy-
ance or resistance. Clarendon
ADVANTAGEOUS, a. Being of advan-
tage ; furnishing convenience, or opportu-
nity to gain benefit ; gainful ; profitable ;
useful ; beneficial ; as, an advantageous
position of the troops ; trade is advanfa
geous to a nation.
ADVANTAGEOUSLY, adv. In an advan
tageous manner ; profitably ; usefully ;
conveniently. Arbuthiiol.
ADVANTA'GEOUSNESS, n. The qualitj-
or state of being advantageous; profita-
bleness ; usefulness ; convenience.
Boyle.
ADV'ANTAGING, ppr. Profiting ; bene-
fiting.
.\DVE'NE. V. i. [L. advenio, to come to, ad
and venio.]
To accede, or come to ; to be added to,
become a part of, though not essential.
{Little used.]
ADVE'NIENT, a. Advening ; coming fromi
outward causes.
AD'VENT, n. [L. adventus, from advenio, of,
ad and venio, to come. See Find.] |
A coming ; appropriately the coming of our
Savior, and in the calendar, it includes
four sabbaths before Christmas, beginning
on St. Andrew's Day, or on the sabbath
next before or after it. It is intended as
a season of devotion, with reference to the
coming of Christ in the flesh, and bis sec-
ond coming to judge the world. Encyc.
ADVENT'INE, a. Adventitious. [ATot used.]
Bacon.]
ADVENTI"TIOUS, a. [L. adventitius, from\
advenio. See Advent.]
Added extrinsically ; accidental ; not essen-
tially iidierent ; casual ; foreign.
Diseases of continuance get an adventitious
strength from custom. Bacon.
ADVENTL'TIOUSLY, adv. Accidentally.
ADVENT'IVE, a. Accidental ; adventitious.
[Little used.] Bacon.
ADVENT'IVE, n. The thing or person that
comes from without. [Little used.] j
Bacon.'
.ADVENT'UAL, o. Relating to the season of
advent. Saunderson.i
ADVENTURE, n. [Fr. aventure, from
advenio. See Advent.] |
L Hazard ; risk ; chance ; that of which one|
has no direction ; as, at all adventures, that,
is, at all hazards. [See Venture.] \
2. An enterprize of hazard; a bold under-;
taking, in which hazards ajre to be encoun-!
tered, and the issue is staked upon imfore-
seen events. Drydenl
3. That which is put to hazard ; a sense in'
popular use with seamen, and usually!
pronounced venture. Something which a!
seaman is permitted to carry abroad, with
a view to sell for profit.
A hill of adventure, is a writing signed by a[
person, who takes goods on board of his
ship, wholly at the risk of the owner.
Encyc}
ADVENT'URE, v. t. To risk, or hazard ; to
put in the power of unforeseen events; as,l
to adventure one's life. [See Venture.]
ADVENT'URE, v. i. To dare ; to try the
chance ; as, to adventure on " the tempes-
tuous sea of hbertj'." '
ADVENT'URED, pp. Put to hazard ; ven-j
tured ; risked.
ADVENTURER, n. One who hazards,
or puts something at risk, as merehant-
advatturers.
2. One who seeks occasions of chance, or
attempts bold, novel, or extraordinary en-
terprizes.
ADVENTURESOME, a. Bold ; daring ;
incurring hazard. [See Vejituresome.]
ADVENT URESOMENESS, n. The qual
ity of being bold and venturesome.
ADVENTURING, ppr. Putting to risk
hazarding.
ADVENT' UROUS, a. [Fr. aventttreux.]
1. Inchned or wilhng to incur hazard ; bold
to encoumer danger; daring; courageous ;
enterprizing : applied to persons.
2. Full of ha'zai-d ; attended with risk ; ex-
posing to danger ; requiring courage :
applied to things ; as, an adventurous un-
dertaking.
Ajid followed freedom on the adventurous tide,
Trumbull.
ADVENTUROUSLY, adv. Boldly ; dar-
ingly ; in a manner to incur hazard.
ADVENT UROUSNESS, n. The act or
quality of being adventurous.
AD' VERB, n. [L. adverbium, of ad and ver-
bum, to a verb.]
In grammar, a word used to modify the
sense of a verb, participle, adjective or
attribute, and usually placed near it ; as,
he writes well ; paper extremely wliite.
This part of speech might be more signi-
ficantly named a modifier, as its use is to
modify, that is, to vary or quaUfy the
sense of another word, by enlarging or
restraining it, or by expressing form, qual-
ity or manner, which the word itself does
not express. The term adverb, denoting
position merely, is often improper.
ADVERB lAL, a. Pertaining to an adverb.
ADVERB'IALLY, adv. In the manner of an
adverb.
ADVERSA'RIA, n. [L. from adversus. See
Adverse.]
Among the ancients, a book of accounts, so
named from the placing of debt and credit
in opposition to each other. A common-
I>lace book. Encyc.
AD'VERSARY, n. [See Adverse.]
1. An enemy or foe ; one who has enmity at
heart.
In scripture, Satan is called THE .\d vef.-
4RT, by way of eminence. 1 Pet. v.
2. An opponent or antagonist, as in a suit at
law, or in smgle combat ; an opposing
litigant.
AD'VERSARY, a. Opposed; opposite to;
adverse. In law, having an opposing par-
ty, as an adversaiy suit; in distinction
from an appUcation, in law or equity, to
which no opposition is made.
ADVERS'ATIVE, a. Noting some differ-
ence, contrariety, or opposition ; as, John
is an honest man, but a fanatic. Here but
is called an adversative conjunction. This
denomination however is not always cor-
rect ; for but does not always denote
opposition, but somethins additional.
ADVERS ATIVE, n. A word denoting con-
trariety or opposition.
ADVERSE, a. [L. adversus, opposite ; of arf
and versus, turned ; from verto, to turn.
See Advert. This word was formerly ac-
cented, by some authors, on the last sylla-
ble ; but the accent is now settled on the
first.]
L Opposite ; opposing ; acting in a contrarj-
direction ; conflicting ; counteracting ; as,
adverse wmds ; an adverse party.
2. Figuratively, opposing desire ; contrary tQ
the wishes, or to supposed good ; hence,
unfortunate ; calamitous ; afflictive ; per-
nicious ; unprosperous ; as, adverse fate or
circumstances.
ADVERSE, v. t. advers'. To oppose. [JVot
itsed.] Gower.
AD'VERSELY, adv. In an adverse man-
ner ; oppositely ; unfortunately ; unpros-
jierously ; in a manner contrary to desire
or success.
.AD'VERSENESS, j^ Opposition ; impros-
perousness.
ADVERSITY, n. An event, or series of
events, wliich oppose success or desire :
A D V
luiilDiluui; ; calamity ; affliction ; distress ;
state of unliappiness.
In the day of adversity, consider. Eccl. vii.
Ye have rejected God, who saved you out of
all your adversities. 1 Sam. x.
\DVERT', V. i. [L. adverto, oi ad and verto
to turn.]
To turn tlie mind or attention to ; to regard,
observe, or notice ; with to ; as, he adverted
to what was said, or to a cu-cumstance
that occurred.
ADVERT'ED, pp. Attended to ; regarded ;
with to.
■VDVERT'ENCE, ) n. A cUrection of the
\DVERT'ENCY, ^ mind to ; attention ;
notice ; regard ; consideration ; heedful-
ness.
ADVERT'ENT, a. Attentive ; heedful.
ADVERTING, ppr. Attending to ; regard-
ing; observing.
ADVERTI'SE, v. t. s as z. [Fr. avertir ;
Arm. avertisza, to inform ; fi-om ud and
verto, to turn. See Advert.]
1. To inform ; to give notice, advice or intel-
ligence to, whether of a past or present
event, or of something future.
I will advertise thee what this people will
to thy people in the latter day. Num. xsiv.
I thought to advertise thee, saying ; buy it
before the inhabitants and elders of my people
Ruth iv.
In this sense, it has o/" before the subject
of information ; as, to advertise a man of
his losses.
% To publish a notice of; to publish a writ-
ten or printed account of; as, to adveyiise
goods or a farm.
ADVERTI'SED, pp. Informed ; notified ;
warned ; icsed of persons : pubUslied ; made
known ; used of things.
ADVER'TISEMENT, n. Information ; ad-
monition ; notice given. More generally,
a publication intended to give notice ; this
may be, by a short account printed in s
newspaper, or by a written account posted,
or otherwise made pubUc.
ADVERTI'SER, n. One who advertises.
This title is often given to pubhc prints.
ADVERTI'SING, ppr. Infonning; givuig
notice ; pubhshing notice.
2. a. Furnishing advertisements ; as, adver-
tising customers.
3. In the sense of monitory, or active in giv-
ing intelUgence, as used by Shakespeare
\jYot now used.]
fFr.
A D V
!2. Open to advice. South.
ADVI'SABLENESS,n. The quality of being
advisable or expedient.
ADVI'SE, V. f. s. as z. [Fr. aviser; Arm.
avisa ; Sp. avisar ; It. avvisare. See Advice.]
To give counsel to ; to offer an opinion, as
worthy or expedient to be followed ; as, I
advise you to be cautious of speculation,
2. To give information ; to communicate n
tice ; to make acquainted with ; followed
by of, before the thing communicated ;
the merchants were advised of the risk.
3. To deUberate, consider, or consult.
.Advise thyself of what word I shall bring
again to him that sent me. 1 Ch. xxi.
in this sense, it is usually intransitive.
\DVrSE, v. i. To deUberate, weigh well.
or consider.
Advise and see what answer I shall return to
him that sent me. 2 Sam. xx
To advise with is to consult for the puq)Ose
of taking the opinions of others.
ADVrSED, pp. Informed ; counseled ; alsc
cautious; prudent; acting with deUbera-
tion.
Let him be advised In his answers. Bacon
With the well advised is wisdom. Prov. xiii.
2. Done, formed, or taken with advice or
deUberation ; intended ; as, an advised act
or scheme.
ADVI'SEDLY, adv. With deliberation oi
advice ; heedfuUy ; purposely ; by design
as, an enterprize advisedly undertaken.
VDVI'SEDNESS, n. Dehberate considera
tion ; prudent procedure.
ADVrSEMENT, n. Counsel; informa-
tion ; circumspection.
2. Consultation.
The action standing continued nisi for advise.
ment. Mass. Reports
ADVI'SER, n. One who gives advice or
admonition ; also, in a bad sense, one who
instigates or persuades.
ADVrSING, j)pr. Giving counsel.
ADVI'SING, n. Advice ; coimsel. Shak.
ADVI'SORY, a. Having power to advise.
The general association has a general adviso-
ry superintendence over all the ministers and
churches.
VDVI'CE, n. [
Arm. avis. This and the verb aviser, to
avis, opuuon, notice ;
A D V
grants of land, with power to lead the vas-
sals of the church to war.
Fiscal advocates, in ancient Rome, defended
causes in which the pubhc revenue was
concerned.
Juridical advocates became judges, in conse-
quence of their attending causes in the
earl's court.
Matricular advocates defended the cathedral
churches.
Militaiy advocates were employed by the
church to defend it by arms, when force
gave law to Europe.
Some advocates were called nominative, from
their beuig nominated by the pope or king;
some regular, from their being qualified by
a proper course of study. Some were
supreme ; others, subordinate.
Advocate, in the German pohty, is a magis-
trate, appointed in the emperor's name, to
administer justice.
Faculty of advocates, \n Scotland, is a society
of emuient lawyers, who practice in the
highest courts, and who are admitted
members only upon the severest examina-
tion, at three different times. It consists
of about two hundred members, and fi'om
this body are vacancies on the bench
usually supplied.
Lord advocate, in Scotland, the principal
crown lawyer, or prosecutor of crimes.
Judge advocate, in courts martial, a person
who manages the prosecution.
In Enghsh and American courts, advo-
cates are the same as counsel, or counsel-
ors. In England, they are of two degrees,
barristers and Serjeants ; the former, being
apprentices or learners, cannot, by ancient
custom, be admitted Serjeants, till of six-
teen years standing. Blackslonc. Encyc.
3. One who defends, vindicates, or espouses
a cause, by argument ; one who is friendly
to ; as, an advocate for peace, or for the
oppressed.
In scripture, Christ is called an advocate for
ad^^se, seem to be formed of ad and the
L. viso, to see, to visit.]
1. Counsel ; an opuiion recommended, or of-
fered, as worthy to be followed.
What advice give ye ? 2 Ch. x.
With good advice make wai-. Prov. xx.
We may give advice, but we cannot give
conduct. Franklin.
2. Prudence ; dehberate consideration.
Shak.
3. Information ; notice ; intelligence ; as, we
liave late advices from France.
To take advice, is to consult with others.
ADVI'CE BOAT, n. A vessel employed to
carry dispatches or information.
ADVI'SABLE, a. [See Advise.]
1. Proper to be advised ; prudent ; expedient :
proper to be done or practiced.
It is not advisable to proceed, at this time, to
0 i.-lioirt> of officers.
TruinbulVs Hist. Conn.
Madison. Ramsay, Hist. Car.
2. Containing advice ; as, their opinion is
merely advisory.
AD'VO€ACY, n. The act of pleading for ;
intercession. Brown
2. J udicial pleading ; law-suit. Chaucer.
AD'VO€ATE, n. [L. advocatus, fi-om advoco.
to call for, to plead for ; of ad and voco,
to call. See Vocal.]
Advocate, in its primary sense, signifies,
one who pleads the cause of another in a
court of civil law. Hence,
2. One who pleads the cause of another be-
fore any tribunal or judicial court, as e
ban-ister in the Enghsh courts. We say,
a man is a learned lawyer and an able
advocate.
In Europe, advocates have different titles,
according to their particular duties.
Consistoricd advocates, in Rome, appear be
fore the Consistory, in opposition to tin
disposal of benefices.
Elective advocates are chosen by a bishop
abbot, or chapter, with hcense from the
prince.
Feudal advocates were of a military kind
and to attach them to the church, had
We have an advocate with the father.
1 John, ii.
,AD'VO€ATE, v. t. To plead in favor of; to
defend by argument, before a tribiuial ; to
support or vindicate.
Tliose who advocate a discrimination.
Hamilton's Report on public debt.
The Duke of York advocated the amendment.
Debates on the Regency in the House of
Lordt, Dec. 27, 1810.
The Earl of Buckingham advocated the ori-
ginal resolution. Ibid.
The idea of a legislature, consisting of a single
branch, though advocated by some, was gene-
rally reprobated. Ramsay, Hist. Carolina.
How little claim persons, who advocate this
sentiment, really possess to be considered cal-
vinists, will appear from the following quotation.
Mackenzie's Life of Calvin.
The most eminent orators were engaged to
advocate his cause. Mitford.
A part only of the body, whose cause he ad-
vocates, coincide with him in judgment.
Chris. Obs. xi. 434. Scott.
AD'VOeATED,;;;). Defended by argument ;
vindicated.
AD'VOCATESS, n. A female advocate.
Taylor.
AD'VO€ATING, ppr. Supportuig by rea-
sons; defending; nuiintaining.
ADVOCA'TION, n. A pleading for: plea;
apology.
A E D
A E R
A F F
•.iliU of advocation, in Scotland, is a written
Application to a superior court, to call an
action before them from an inferior court.
The order of the superior court for this
purpose is called a letter of advocation.
ADVOU'TRESS, n. An adulteress. Bacon.
ADVOU'TRY, )i. Adultery. [Utile used.'\
Bacon.
ADVOWEE', n. He that has the right of|
advowson. Cowel.
2. The advocate of a church or religious
house. Cyc.
ADVOWSON, ». sas z. [Fr. awwene.from
avouer, to avow ; Norm, avoerie, aravoeson.
But the word was latinized, advocatio, from
advoco, and avoio is from advnco.]
In English law, a right of presentation to a
vacant benefice ; or in other words, a right
of nominating a person to officiate in a va-
cant church. The name is derived from
advocatio, because the right was first ob-
tained by such as were founders, benefac-
tors or strenuous defenders, advocates, of
the church. Those who have this right
are styled patrons. Advowsons are of
three kinds, presentative, collntirt, and
donative i presentative, when the patron
presents his clerk to the bishop of the
diocese to be instituted ; collative, when the
bishop is the patron, and institutes, or col-
lates his clerk, by a single act ; dourilive,
when a church is founded by tlic kiri^,
and assigned to the patron, willjiHii licing
subject to the ordinary, so that the patron
confers the benefice on his clerk, without
presentation, institution, or induction.
Advowsons are also appendant, that is, an-
nexed to a manor ; or, in gross, that is,
annexed to the person of the patron.
Blacksto)ie.
ADVOY'ER, or ^voy'er, [Old Fr. advoes.]
A chief magistrate of a town or canton in
Switzerland.
A'DY, n. The abanga, or Thernel's restora-
tive ; a species of Pahn tree, in the West
Indies, tall, upright, without branches,
with a thick branching head, which fiir-
nishes a juice, of which the natives make
a drink by fermentation. Encyc. Coxe.
ADZ, n. [Sax. adese ; Sp. azuela ; formerly
written in Eng. addice.]
An iron instrument with an arching edge,
across the line of the handle, and ground
from a base on its inside to the outer edge ;
used for chipping a horizontal surface of
tuuber. Encyc.
JE, a diphthong in the Latin language ; used
also by the Saxon writers. It answers to
the Gr. ai. The Sax. os has been changed
into e or ea. In derivatives fi-om the learn-
ed languages, it is jnostly superseded l)y e,
and convenience seems to require it to be
wholly rejected in anglicized words. For
such words as may be found with this
initial combination, the reader will there-
fore search mider the letter E.
JED, erf, corf, syllables found in names from
the Saxon, signify happy ; as, Eadric,
happy kingdom ; Eadrig, liappy victory ;
Edward, prosperous watch ; Edgar, suc-
cessful weapon. Gibson. Lye.
JE'DJLE, n. [Lat.] In ancient Rome, an
officer or magistrate, who had the care of
the public buildings, [ades,] streets, high-
ways, pubUc spectacles. &c.
Vol. I.
iE'GlI.OPS, n. [Gr. aiyiXu^; ai?, a goat, and
w^, the ej'e.]
A tumor in the corner of the eye, and a plant
so called. Quincy.
.(E'(iIS, n. [Gr. aiyi;, a goat skin, and
shield ; from a(4, a goat.]
AshieUl, or defensive atmor.
jEt^al, alh or eal, in Saxon, Eng. all, arc seen
in many names ; as, in JElfrcd, Alfred, all
peace ; JEhdn, all conqueror. Gibson
^LF, seems to be one form ofhelp, but more
generally written elph or utph ; as, in
JElftmn, victorious aid ; .^thehmdph, illus-
trious help. Gibson
AE'OLIST, n. [L. .Eohis.]
A pretender to inspiration. Sivifl.
A'ERATE, V. t. [See Air.] To combine
with carbonic acid, formerly called fixed
air. [The word has been discarded from
modem chijnistry.]
A'ERATED, pp. Combined with carbonic
acid.
A'ERATING, ppr. Combining with car
bonic acid.
AERA'TION, n. The act or operation of
combining with carbonic acid.
AERIAL, o. [L.aerius. See Air.]
\. Belonging to the air, or atmosphere ; as,
aerial regions.
^. Consisting of air; partakingof the nature
of air; as, aerial particles.
:?. Produced by air ; as, aerial honey. Pope.
4. Inhabiting or frequenting the air ; as,
aerial songsters.
5. Placed in the air ; high ; lofty ; elevated ;
as, aeiial spii-es ; aeiial flight.
AE'RIANS, n. In church history, a branch of]
Arians, so called from Aerius, who
tained, that there is no difference between
bishops and priests.
A'ERIE, n. [W. eryr. Corn, er, an eagle.]
The nest of a fowl, as of an eagle or hawk ;
a covey of birds. Shak.
AERIFICA'TION, n. Theact of combining
air with ; the state of being filled with air,
Fourcroy.
3. The act of becoming air or of changing
into an aeriform state, as substances wliicl
are converted fi-om a liquid or solid form
into gas or an elastic vapor ; the state of
being aeriform. Fourcroy.
AERIFIED, pp. Having air infused, or
combined with.
A'ERIFORM, a. [L. aer, air, and forma,
form.]
Having the fonn or nature of air, or of an
elastic, invisible fluid. The gases are aeri
form fluids.
AERIFY, V. t. To infuse air into ; to fill
with air, or to combine air with.
AEROG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. a^, air, and
ypoijjw, to describe.]
A description of the air or atmosphere ; but
aerolog}/ is chiefly used.
A'EROLITE, n. [Gr. ojjp, air, and udos,
a stone.]
A stone falling from the air, or atmospheric
regions ; a meteoric stone.
Guidotte. Med. Rep.
AEROLOg l€AL, a. Pertaining to aero-
AEROL'OgIST, )i. One who is versed in
aerology.
AEROL'OgY, n. [Gr. o.:p, air, an.l ?.o-/o5,
description.]
ascertaining the i
A'ERONAUT, n.
sailor, from rouj,
Adescri|)tion of the air-; that branch of phi
^ losophy which treats of the air, its con-
1 stituent parts, properties, and phenomena.
I Encyc.
jA'EROMANCY, n. [Gr. arp, and fiautua,
\ divination.]
jDivination by means of the air and winds.
[lAttle used.]
AEROM'ETER, n. [Gr.ai^p, air, and /Kffpoi,
I measure.]
An instrument for weighing air, or for ascer-
taining the mean bidk of gases.
Journ. of Science.
AEROM'ETRY,n. [as above.] The science
of measuring the air, including the doc-
trme of its pressure, elasticity, rarefaction,
and condensation. Encyc.
Rather, aeronietry is the art or science of
lean bulk of the gases.
Encyc. Ure.
[Gr. ai;p, and vourjjj, a
ship.]
One who sails or floats in the air ; an aerial
navigator ; applied to persons who ascend in
air balloons. Burke.
AERONAUT IC, a. Sailing or floating in
the air ; pertaining to aerial sailing.
AERONAUT'leS, n. The doctrine, science,
or art of sailing in the air, by means of a
balloon.
A'ERONAUTISM.n. The practice of ascen-
ding and floating in the atmosphere, in
balloons. Journ. of Science.
AEROS'€OPY, n. [Gr. atjp, and axotro^a,.
to sec]
The observation of the air. [Little used.l
A'EROSTAT, n. [Gr.a,p, and Bfaro;, sus-
taining, from tarr,/ii, to stand.]
A machine or vessel sustaining weights in
the air ; a name given to air balloons.
Encyc.
AEROSTAT'Ie, a. Suspending in air ; per-
taining to the art of aerial navigation.
AEROSTATION, n. Aerial navigation :
the science of raising, suspending, and
guiding machines in the air, or of ascend-
ing in air balloons. Mams.
2. The science of weighing air.
A'ERYLIGHT, in Milton, light as air :
used for airy light.
AF'AR, adv. [a and far. See Far.]
1. At a distance in place ; to or from a dis-
tance ; used wth from preceding, or off
following ; as, he was seen from afar ; 1
saw him afar off.
2. In scripture, figuratively, estranged in af-
fection ; alienated.
My kinsmen stand afar off. Ps. xxxviii.
3. Absent ; not assisting.
Why standest thou afar off, O Lord ? Ps. x.
4. Not of the visible church. Eph. ii.
AFE'.\RD, a. [Sax. aferan, to make afraid.
Afeard is the participle passive. See
Fear.]
Afraid ; affected with fear or apprehension,
in a more moderate degree than is express-
ed by terrified. It is followed by of, but
no longer irsed in books, and even in pop-
ular use, is deemed vulgar.
AF'FA, n. A weight used on the Guinea
coast, equal to an ounce. The half of it
is called eggeha. Encyc.
.\FFABIL ITY, n. [See Affable.] The qual-
ity of being affable ; readiness to con-
verse ; ciWlity and courteousness, in re-
ceiving others, and in conversation : con-
A F F
A F I
A F F
our attairs.
desceiisioii in niaiiners. Affahilily of coun-
tenance is that mikhiess of aspect, which
invites to free social intercourse.
AF'FABLE, a. [L. affabiUs, of ad ani fab-
ulor. See Fable.]
1. Easy of conversation; admitting others to
free conversation without reserve ; cour-
teous ; complaisant ; of easy manners ;
condescending ; usually applied to superi
ors ; as, an affable prince.
3. Applied to external appearance, affable
denotes that combination of features,
which invites to conversation, and ren
ders a person accessible, opposed to a for-
bidding aspect ; mild ; benign ; as, an affa-
ble countenance.
AF'FABLENESS, n. Affability.
AF'FABLY, adv. In an affable manner:
courteously ; iuvituigly.
AFFA'IR, n. [Fr. affaire, from /aire, to
make or do; L. facere ; Sp. hacer ; It.
fare. The prunary sense of facio is to
urge, drive, impel.]
1. Business of any kind ; that which is done,
or is to be done ; a loord of very indefinite
and undefnabk signification. In the plural,
it denotes transactions in general ; as hu-
man affairs ; pohtical or ecclesiastical af-
fairs : also the business or concerns of an
uidividual ; as, liis affairs are embarrassed.
9. Matters ; state ; condition of business or
concerns.
I have sent that ye may
Eph. vi.
3. In the singular, it is used for a private dis
pute, or duel ; as, an affair of honor ; and
sometimes a partial engagement of troops.
In the phrase, at the head of affairs, the
word means, the pubhc concerns of ex-
ecuting the laws, and administering the
government. Junius.
AFFECT' V. t. [L. officio, affectum, of ad and
facio, to make ; L. affecto, to desire, from
the same root. Jtffecl is to make to, or
upon, to press upon.]
1. To act upon ; to produce an effect or
change upon ; as, cold affects the body ;
loss affects our interests.
2. To act upon, or move the passions ; as,
affected with grief
.3. To aim at ; aspire to ; desire or entertain
pretension to ; as, to affect imperial sway.
[See the etymology of ^^air.]
4. To tend to by natural affinity or disposi-
tion ; as, the drops of a fluid affect a spher-
ical form.
5. To love, or regard with fondness.
Think not that wars we love and strife affect.
Fairfax.
{This sense is closely allied to the third.]
0. To make a show of ; to attempt to imi-
tate, in a manner not natural ; to study
the appearance of what is not natural, or
real ; as, to affect to be grave ; affected
friendship.
It seems to have been used formerly for
mnvict or attaint, as in Aylifie's Parergon ;
but this sen.se is not now in use.
AFFECTA'TION, n. [L. affectatio.]
J. An attemjit to assume or exhibit what is
not natural or real ; false pretense ; artifi-
cial appearance, or show ; as, an affectation
of wit, or of virtue.
2. Fondness ; affection. [jYot used.]
Hooker. Hall.
AFFECT'ED, pp. Impressed; moved, or
touclied, either in person or in interest
having suffered some change by external
force, loss,, danger, and the like ; as, we
are more or less affected by the failure of
the banJc.
3. Touched in tlie feelings ; having the feel
ings excited ; as, affected with cold or heat.
■i. Having the passions moved; as, affected
with sorrow or joy.
4. a. Inclined, or disposed ; followed by to
as, well affected to government.
5. a. Given to false show ; assuming, or
pretending to possess what is not natural
or real ; as, an affected lady.
I), a. Assumed artificially ; not natural ; as,
affected airs.
AFFECT'EDLY, adv. In an affected man-
ner ; hypocritically ; vrith more show than
reahty ; formally ; studiously ; unnatural-
ly ; as, to walk affectedly ; affectedly civil.
AFFE€T'EDNESS, n. The quaUty of
being affected ; affectation.
AFFE€T'ING, ppr. Impressing ; havin,
an effect on ; touching the feehngs
moving the passions ; attempting a false
show ; greatly desiring ; aspiring to pos
2. a. Having power to excite, or move the
passions ; tenduig to move the affections
pathetic ; as, an affecting address.
The most affecting music is generally the
most simple. Milford.
AFFECT'INGLY, adv. In an affecting
manner ; in a manner to excite emotions.
AFFE€'TION, n. The state of being af-
fected. {Little used.]
2. Passion ; but more generally,
3. A bent of mind towards a particular ob-
ject, holding a middle place between dis-
position, which is natural, and passion,
which is excited by the presence of its ex-
citing object. Affection is a permanent
bent of the mind, formed by the ])resence
of an object, or by some act of another
person, and existing without the presence
of its object. Encyc.
4. In a more particular sense, a settled good
will, love or zealous attachment ; as, the
affection of a parent for his child. It was
formerly followed by to or towards, but is
now more generally followed hy for.
5. Desire ; inchnation ; propensity, good or
evil ; as, virtuous or vile affections. Rom. i.
Gal. 5.
6. In a general sense, an attribute, quality
or ])roperty, wliich is inseparable from its
object ; as, love, fear and hope are affec-
tions of the mind ; figure, weight, &c., are
affections of bodies.
7. Among physicians, a disease, or any par-
ticular morbid state of the body; as, c
gouty affection ; hysteric affection.
'. In painting, a Uvely representation of
passion.
Shakespeare uses the word for affectation;
but this use is not legitimate.
AFFE€'T10NATE, a. [Fr. affictionn/.]
1. Having great love, or affection ; fond ; as,
an affectionate brother.
2. Warm in affection ; zealous.
Man, in )iis love to God, and desire to please
him, can never be too affectionate. Sprat.
3. Proceeding from affection ; indicating
love ; benevolent ; tender ; as, the affec-
tionate care of a parent ; an affectionate
countenance.
4. Inchned to ; warndy attaclied. {LittU
used.] Bacon.
AFFE€'TIONATELY, adv. With affec-
tion ; fondly ; tenderly ; kindly. 1. Thes. ii.
AFFE€'TIONATENfcSS, )(. Fondness:
goodwill ; affection.
AFFEC'TIONED, a. Disposed ; having an
affection of heart.
Be ye kindly affectioned one to another.
Rom. xii
2. Affected; conceited. Obs. Shak.
AFFE€T'IVE, a. That affects, or excite^
emotion ; suited to affect. {Little used.]
AFFE€T'IVELY, adv. In an affective or
impressive nmimer.
AFFE€T'OR, ? n. One that affects; one
AFFE€T'ER, S that practices affectation.
AFFE€T'UOUS, a. FuU of passion. [JSTot
Mserf.] Leland.
AFFEE'R, V. t. [Fr. affier, to set.]
To confirni. [jYot used.]
AFFEE'R, v.t. {Fr. afferer, aff'eurer, or affo-
rer, to assess or value.]
Ill law, to assess or reduce an arbitrary
penalty or amercement to a precise sum ;
to reduce a general amercement to a sum
certain, accorduig to the circumstances
of the case. Blacksfone.
AFFEE'RED, pp. Moderated in sum ; as-
sessed ; reduced to a certainty.
AFFEE'RMENT, n. The act of affeering,
or assessing an amercement, according to
the circumstances of the case.
AFFEE'ROR, n. One who affeers ; a per-
son sworn to assess a penalty, or reduce
an uncertain penalty to a certainty. Cowel.
AFFETTUO'SO, or conaffetto, [It., from L.
affectus.']
In music, a direction to render notes soft and
affecting.
AFFI'ANCE, n, [Norm, affiaunce, confi-
dence ; Fr. fancer, to betroth ; Sp. fanza,
security in bail, afianzar, to give security
or bail, from far, to trust, to bail, to confide
in ; Port, id ; Fv.fier, to trust ; It. fidare,
qffidare, to trust, fidanza, coniidence,fidan-
zare, to betroth, from L. fdo, fdes.]
1. The marriage contract or promise ; faith-
pledged.
2. Trust in general ; confidence ; rehance.
The Christian looks to God with implicit affi-
ance. Hammond.
AFFI'ANCE, V. t. To betroth ; to pledge
one's faith or fidehty in marriage, or to
promise marriage.
To me, sad maid, he was affianced. Spenser.
2. To give confidence.
Affianced in my faith. Pope.
AFFI'ANCED, pp. Pledged in marriage ;
betrothed ; bound in (kith.
AFFI'ANCER, n. One who makes a con-
tract of marriage between parties.
AFFI'ANCING, ppr. Pledging in marriage ;
promising fidelity.
AFFIDA'VIT, n. [An old law verb in the
perfect tense ; he made oath ; from ad and
fdes, faith.]
A declaration upon oath. In the United
States, more generally, a declaration in
writing, signed by the party, and sworn to,
iiefore an authorized magistrate.
AFFI'ED, a. or part. Joined by contract ;
affianced. [.Voi %t.ied.] Shak.
AFFI'LE, 1!. i. [Fr. affiler.]
To polish. [JVot used.] Chaucer.
AFFIL'IATE, v. t. [Fr. affdier, to adopt,
A F F
A F F
A F F
to initiate into the mysteries of a reDgious
order ; L. ad a.nd Jilius, a son.]
1. To adopt ; to receive into a family as a
son.
2. To receive into a society as a member,
and initiate in its mysteries, plans, or in
trigues — a sense in which the word was muih
used by the Jacobins in France, during the
revolution.
AFFILIATION, n. Adoption ; association
in the same family or society.
AFFIN'ITY, n. [L. affinilas, from nffinis,
adjacent, related by marriage ; ad and
Jiriis, end.]
1. The relation contracted by marriage, be-
tween a husband and his wife's kindred,
and between a wife and her husband's
kindred ; in contradistinction from consan-
guinity or relation by blood.
Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh.
I Kings iii.
2. Agreement ; relation ; conformity ; resem-
blance ; connection ; as, the affinity of
sounds, of colors, or of languages.
3. In chimistry, attraction ; elective attrac-
tion, or that tendency which different spe-
cies of matter have to unite, and combine
with certain other bodies, and the power
that disposes them to continue iti combi-
nation. There are two kinds of affinity.
1. Affinity of aggregation, which is tlic
power that causes two homogeneous bod-
ies to tend towards each other, unite and
cohere, as tHodrups (if watii, whicli iiiiiro
in one. -'. .■Iffinilii i.f roinjiosiihin, u hid]
is the tciiilciicy '"l'" ludics of dilh-ii-iit
kinds to ujiitc and fmiu new coiiihiiiii-
tions of bodies witli different projierties.
Such is the affinity which unites acids and
alkaUes, the results of which combination
are neutral salts.
The operations of this princii)le
rious. When heterogeneous bodies have
mutually an equal attraction, it is called
compound affinity. When one substance
decomposes a combination of otliers,
imites with one of them and precipitates
the other, the power is called the affinity
of decomposition. When bodies will not
unite, but by means of a third, which ena
bles them to combine, this is affinity by
means of a medium.
Double affinity is when by means of four
bodies, two decompositions and two new
combinations are effected.
Fourcroy. Hooper
AFFIRM, V. t. afferm'. [L. affirmo ; ad and
firmo, to make rtrm. See Firm.']
I. To assert positively ; to tell witli confi
dence ; to aver ; to declare the existence
of soniethmg ; to maintain as true; oppo-
sed to deny.
Of one Jesus whom Paul affirmed to be alive,
Acts 25.
9. To make firm ; to establish, confirm or
ratify ; as, the Supreme court affirmed the
judgment.
\FFIRM' V, i. To declare solemnly before
a court or magistrate, for confirming a
fact, or to have an affirmation administer
ed to, by way of confirmation, or as a sub
stitute for an oath ; as, the witness affirm
ed to the fact, or he was affirmed to the
fact.
AFFIRM'ABLE. a. That may be asserted
or declared ; followed by of; as, an atlri
bute affirmable of every just man.
AFFIRM'ANCE, n. Confirmation; ratifi
cation ; as, the affirmance of a judgment ;
a statute in affirmance of common law.
2. Declaration ; affirmation. [Little used.]
Selden. Cowper.
AFFIRM'ANT, n. One who affirms.
AFFIRMA'TION, n. The act of affirming
or asserting as true ; opposed to negation
or denial. Shak.
3. That which is asserted ; position declared
as true ; averment. Hammond.
3. Confirmation ; ratification ; an establish-
ing of what had been before done or de-
creed. Hooker.
4. 'A solemn declaration made under the
penalties of perjury, by persons who con-
scientiously decline taking an oath ; whicli
affirmation is in law equivalent to testimo-
ny given imder oath.
AFFIRM'ATIVE, a. That affirms, or as-
serts; declaratory of what exists ; ojjposed
to negative ; as, an affirmative proposition.
2. Confirmative ; ratifying ; as, an act affii
alive of common law.
3. In tibj-rhrn, pc>siti\c : a term .Tppliod to
mnnlici- wIhcIi li.nr tlir si-ii -f /,/».s-, de
4. Positive ; dogmatic. Obs. Taylor
AFFIRM'ATIVE, n. That side of a ques
tioii which affirms or maintains ; opposed
to negative ; as, there wftre seventy votes
in the affirmative, and thirty-five in the ne-
gative.
AFFIRM'ATIVELY, adv. In an affirma-
tive manner ; positively ; on the affirma-
tive side of a question ; opposecl to nega-
tively.
\¥FiYiM''E.D,pp. Declared ; asserted ; aver-
red ; confirmed ; ratified.
AFFIRM'ER, n. One who affirms.
AFFIRM'ING, ppr. Assertuig; declaring
positively ; eonfirmuig.
AFFIX', V. t. [L. affigo, affirum, of arf and fgo,
to fix ; Gr. rtriyu, nrp/mu, rf^?M ; Eng. peg
See Fii.]
1. To unite at the end ; to subjohi, annex, or
add at the close ; as, to affix a syllable
word ; to affix a seal to an instrument.
2. To attach, unite, or connect with, as
names affixed to ideas, or ideas affixed to
things.
3. To fix or fasten in any manner. In this
sense,/j; is more generally used.
AF'FIX, n. A syllable or letter added to the
end of a word.
AFFIX'ED, pp. United at the end ; annex-
ed ; attachetl.
AFFIX'ING, ppr. Uniting at the end ; sub-
joining; attaching.
AFFIX'ION, n. The act of uniting at the
end, or state of being so united. [lAltle
used.']
AFFIX'TURE, n. That which is affixed,
Drake.
AFFLA'TION, n. [L. afflo, affiatum, of
and/o; Eng. 6/oic. See Blow.]
A blowing or breathing on.
AFFLATUS, n. [L.]
1. A breath or blast of wind.
2. Inspiration ; coiraniniication of divine
knowledge, or the power of prophesy.
Sim
AFFLICT', v.t. \h.affligo,affiieto,ol'ad anCi
Jligo, to strike ; Eng. flog ; Gr. Eol. ^xtyu,
to strike ; Gr. tXjjyjj, L. phiga, a stroke ;
Onth.flekan, to strike. Hence, Ger.flegel;
D. vlegel ; Eug.flaU, g being suppressed ; L.
flagellum. See Flog.]
I . To give to the body or mind i)ain which
is continued or of some permanence ; to
grieve, or distress ; as, one is afflicted with
the gout, or with melancholy, or with loss-
es and misfortunes.
They afflict thy heritage, O Lord. Ps. xcv.
3. To trouble ; to harass ; to distress.
AFFLICT'ED, pp. Affected with continued
or often repeated pain, either of body or
mind ; suffering grief or distress, of any
liiud ; followed by at, by or tirith ; as,
afflicted at the loss of a cmld, by the rheu-
matism, or vnth losses.
AFFLI€T'EDNESS, n. The state of being
afflicted ; but superseded by affliction.
AFFLI€T'ER, n. One who afflicts, or
causes pain of body or of mind.
AFFLI€T'ING, ppr. Causing continued or
durable pain of body or mind ; grieving :
distressing.
AFFLICT'ING, a. Grievous; distressing:
as, an (Riding event.
AFFLl€'TION, n. The state of being af-
flicted ; a state of pain, distress, or grief.
Some virtues are seen only in affliction.
3. The cause of continued pain of body or
mind, as sickness, losses, calamity, ad-
versity, persecution.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous.
Ps. xxxiv.
AFFLICTIVE, a. Giving pain; causing
continued or repeated pain or grief; pain-
fid ; distres.sing. Hall.
AFFLICT'IVELY, adv. In a manner to
give pain or grief. Brown.
AF'FLUENCE, n. [L. affiuentia, of ad and
ffvo, toflow. See Flow.]
1. Literally, a flowing to, or concourse. In
this sense it is rarely used. It is sometimes
written affiuency.
2. Figuratively, abundance of riches ; great
|)leiity of worldly goods; wealth. Rogers.
AF'FLUENT, o. "Flowing to ; more general-
ly, wealthy ; abomiding in goods or riches ;
abundant." Prior.
AF'FLUENTLY, adv. In abundance ; abim-
dantly.
AF'FLUX, n. [L. affiuxum, from affiuo.
See Flow.]
The act of flowing to ; a flowing to, or tliat
which flows to ; as, an afflux of blood to
the head.
AFFLUX'ION, n. The act of flowing to ;
that whicli flows to. [Sec Afflux.]
AF'FORAGE, n. [Fr. afforer, to value. See
Affeer.]
In France, a duty paid to the lord of a dis-
trict, lor pci-niission to sell wine or other
li(|M(>is. within liis seignorv. Encyc.
AFl'O UC1:M1:NT, n. [ad and force.]
In old charters, a fortress ; a fortification for
defense. Obs. Cyc.
AFFO'RD, V.t. [ad and the root of forth,
further ; G.fordem, to further or promote ;
D. voorderen ; Dan. befordrer, to further.
The sense is to send forth. But I have
not found this precise word in the exact
sense of the English, in any other lan-
guage.]
1. To yield or produce as fruit, profit, issuei=.
A F 1
or result. Tims, the eanli affords grain
u well affords water ; trade affords profit
distilled liquors afford spirit.
a. To yield, grant or confer ; as, a good life
affords con.«olation in old age.
'J. To be able to grant or sell with profit or
without loss ; as, .4 can afford wine at
less price than B.
4. To be able to expend without injury
one's estate ; as, a man can afford a sinn
yearly in charity ; or be able to bear ex-
penses, or the price of the thing purchased ;
as, one man can afford to buy a farm, which
another cannot.
5. To be able without loss or with profit.
The merchant can afford to trade for smalle
profits. Hamilton
AFFO'RDED, pp. Yielded as fruit, pro-
duce or result ; sold without loss or with
profit.
AFFO'RDING, /);>r. Yielding; producing
selling without loss ; bearing expenses.
AFFOR'EST, v. t. [ad and forest]
To convert ground into forest, as was done
by the first Norman kings in England, for
the purpose of affording them the pleas-
ures of the chase.
AFFORESTA'TION, n. The act of turn-
ing ground into forest or wood land.
Black stone.
AFFOR'ESTED, pp. Converted into forest.
AFFOR'ESTING, ppr. Converting into
forest.
AFFRANCHISEMENT, n. [See Fran-
chise and Disfranchise.]
The act of making free, or liberating from
dependence or servitude. [Little used.]
AFFRAP', v.t. [Fr. /rapper, to striliejEng.
rap.]
To strike. Ohs. Spenser.
\FFR A' Y, I n. [Fr. effrayer, to fright-
VFFRA' YMENT, S en ; effroi. terror ; Arm.
effreyza, effrey.]
I. In law, the fighting of two or more per-
sons, in a pubUc place, to the terror of
others. A fighting in private is not, in a
legal sense, an affray. Blackstone.
■2. la popular language, fray is used to ex-
press any fighting of two or more persons ;
but the word is now deemed inelegant.
3. Tumult ; disturbance. Spenser.
\FFREIGHT', V. t. affra'te. [See Freight.]
To liire a ship for the transportation of goods
or freight. Commerce
AFFREIGIIT'ED, pp. Hired for transport-
ing goods.
\FFREIGHT'ER, n. The person who hires
or charters a ship or other vessel to con
vev goods. Walsh, Am. Rev
.\FFREIGHT'MENT, n. The act of hiruig
a ship for the transportation of goods.
American Review, J)pp.
AFFRET', n. [It. affrettare, to hasten.]
A furious onset, or attack. [jYot used.]
Spenser.
AFFRIC'TION, n. The act of rubbing
[JVot used.] [See Friction.] Boyle
A.FFRIENDED, a. affrend'ed. Made friends
reooncilfid. Ohs. Spenser
AFFRI'GHT. v.t. affri'te. [Sax. frihtan
See Fright.]
To impress with sudden fear ; to frighten
to terrify or alarm. It expresses a strong-
er impression than fear or apprehend, and
perhaps less than terror.
AFFRI'GHT, n. Sudden or great fear : ter
A F 1
ror ; also, the cause of terror ; a frightfid
object.
AFFRI'GHTED, pp. Suddenly alarmed
with fear ; teriified ; followed by at or
ivith, more generally by at ; as, affrighted a
the cry of fire.
AFFRI'GHTER, n. One who frightens.
AFFRi GIITFUL, a. Terrifying'; terrible
tiiat niav excite great fear ; dreadful.
AFl'RI'GIITING, ppr. Impressmg sudden
fear ; terrifying.
AFFRl'GHTMENT, n. Affiight ; terror ; the
state of being frightened. [Rarelv used.]
[In common discourse, the use ofthu word, in
all its forms, is superseded by fright, fright-
ed,frightful.]
AFFRONT', V. t. [Fr. affronter, to encounter
face to face, oi' ad and L.frons, front, face.]
1. Literally, to meet or encounter face to
face, in a good or bad sense ; as.
The seditious affronted the king's forces.
Hayward. Milton. Shak.
[TVie foregoing sense is obsolete.]
2. To offer abuse to the face ; to insidt, dare
or brave openly ; to offer abuse or insult
in any manner, by words or actions ; as, to
affront one by giving liim the he.
3. To abuse, or give cause of offense to,
without being present with the person ; to
make shghtly angry ; a popular use of the
word.
AFFRONT', n. Opposition to the face;
open defiance ; encounter. Oi*.
2. Ill treatment ; abuse ; any thmg reproach-
ful or contemptuous, that excites or justi-
fies resentment, as foul language, or per-
sonal abuse. It usually expresses a less
degree of abuse than insult.
3. Shame ; disgrace. [Not tisual.]
Arbuthnot.
4. In popular language, shght resentment ;
displeasure.
AFFRONT'ED, pp. Opposed face to face;
dared ; defied ; abused.
2. In popidar language, offended ; shghtly an-
gry at ill treatment, by words or actions ;
displeased.
AFFRONTEE', a. In heraldry, front to
front; an epithet given to animals that
face each other. Ash.
AFFRONT'ER, n. One that affi-onts.
AFFRONT'ING,;j/)r. Opposing face to face ;
defying ; abusing ; ofteruig abuse, or any
cause of displeasure.
AFFRONT'ING, a. Contumelious; abusive.
AFFRONT'IVE, a. Giving offense ; tend-
ing to offend ; abusive.
AFFRONT'IVENESS, n. The quahty that
gives offense. [Little used.]
AFFU'SE, V. t. s as z. [L. affundo, affusum,
ad and fundo, to pour out. See Fu^e.]
To pour upon ; to sprinkle, as with a liquid.
AFFU'SED, pp. Sprinkled with a liquid ;
sprinkled on ; having a liquid poured upon.
AFFU'SING,p;7r. Pouring upon, or sprink-
ling.
AFFU'SION, n. affu'zhnn. The act of pour-
ing iqjon, or sprmkling with a hquid sub-
stance, as water upon a diseased body, or
upon a child in baptism.
AFFV', V. t. [Fr. affier.] To betroth;
bind or join. [JVbt xised.]
AFFY', v.t. To trust or confide in. [Not
u.^ed.]
AFlE'hT), adv. [a ami f eld.]
To the field. Mlton
A F R
AFI'RE, adv. On fire. Cower.
AFLAT', adv. [a and fat.] Level with the
ground. Bacon.
AFLO'AT, orfti. or o. [a and float.]
1. Borne on the water ; floating ; swim-
ming ; as, the ship is afloat.
2. Figuratively, moving; passing from place
to place ; as, a rumor is afloat.
3. Unfixed ; moving without guide or con-
trol ; as, our affairs are all afloat. [As ati
adjective, this icord ahoays foilotvs the noun.]
AFOOT', adv. [a or on and foot.] On foot ;
borne by the feet ; opposed to riding.
2. In action ; in a state of being planned for
execution ; as, a design is afoot, or on foot.
AFO'RE, adv. or prep, [a and fore.] In
front.
2. Between one object and another, so as to
intercept a direct view or intercourse ; as,
to stand between a person and the light of
a candle — a popular use of the word.
3. Prior in time ; before ; anterior ; prior
time being considered as in front of sub-
sequent time.
The grass which withereth afore it growetli
up. Ps. cxxix.
In all these senses it is now inelegant,
and superseded by before.
4. In seaman's language, toward the head
of the ship ; further forward, or nearer the
stem ; as, afore the windlas. Afore the mast,
is a plu-ase which is applied to a common
sailor, one who does duty on the main
deck, or has no office on board the ship.
Mar. Diet.
AFOREGOING, a. Gomg before. [See
Foregoing, which is chiefly used.]
AFO'REHAND, adv. [afore and hand.]
In time previous ; by previous provision ; as,
he is ready aforehand.
She is come aforehand to anoint my body.
Mark xiv.
a. Prepared ; previously provided ; as,
to be aforehand in business. Hence in
popular language, amply provided ; well
supphed with the means of livu)g ; having
means beyond the requirements of neces-
sity ; moderately wealtliy. This word is
popularly changed into aforehanded, before-
handed, or rather forehanded ; as, a fore-
handed farmer.
AFO'REMENTIONED, a. [afore and men-
tion.]
Mentioned before in the same writing or
discourse. Addison.
AFO'RENAMED, a. [afore and name.]
Named before. Peacham,
AFO'RESAID, a. [afore and say.]
Said or recited before, or in a preceding
part.
AFO'RETIME, adv. [afore and time.] _
In time past ; in a former time. Bible.
AFOUL', adv. or a. [a and foul.]
Not free; entangled. Columbiad
AFRA'ID, a. [The participle of a^ay.]
mpressed wth fear or apprehension ; fear-
ful. This word expresses a less degree of
fear than terrified or frightened. It is fol-
lowed by of before the object of fear; as,
to be afraid o/" death.
Joseph was afraid to sin against God.
AFRESH', adv. [a and fresh.]
Anew ; again ; recently ; after intermission.
They cracify tfie son of God afresh. Heb. vi.
AF'RieA, n. [Qu. L. a neg. and frigus,
cold.]
AFT
AFT
A G A
One of the four quarters or largest divisions
of the globe ; a continent separated from
Europe by the Mediterranean sea.
AF'RI€AN ( "■ P6'"tai"'"S to Africa.
AF'RI€An1 n. A native of Africa.
This*name is given also to the African mary-
gold. Tate's Cowley.
AFRONT', adv. In front. Shak.
'AFT, a. or adv. [Sax. wfl, eft, after, behind.]
Li seaman's language, a word used to denote
the stern or what pertains to the stern of a
ship ; as, the aft part of the ship ; haul aft
the main sheet, that is, further towards
the stern. Fore and aft is the whole length
of a ship. Right aft is in a direct line with
the stern. Mar. Diet.
'AFTER, a. [The comparative degree ofl
aft. But in some Teutonic dialects it is
written with g ; D. ag^er ; Dan. agters.
The Eng. corresponds with the Sax. after,
Sw. efter, Goth, ftaro, Dan. efter.]
1. In marine language, more aft, or towards
the steru of the ship ; as, the after sails ;
after hatchway.
2. In common language, later in tune ; as, an
after period of Ufe. Marshall.
In this sense, the word is often combi-
ned with the following noun ; as In after-
noon.
AFTER, prep. Behind in place ; as, men
placed in a line one after another.
"2. Later in tune ; as, after supper. This
word often precedes a sentence, as a
governing preposition.
4/ter 1 have arisen, 1 will go before you into
Galilee. Math. xxvi.
8. In pursuit of, that is, moving behind,
following ; in search of.
.Mfter whom is the king of Israel come out ?
1 Sam. xxiv.
Ye shall not go afier other Gods. Deut. vi.
4. In imitation of ; as, to make a thing aftei
a model.
5. According to ; as, consider a thing after
its intrmsic value. Bacon.
6. Accoriling to the direction and influence
of.
To walk after the flesh ; to live after the flesh
Rom. viii
To judge after the sight of the eye. Is. xi
To inquh-e after is to seek by asking ; to
ask concerning.
To follow after, in scriptiu-e, is to pursue,
or imitate ; to serve, or worship.
'AFTER, adv. Posterior ; later in time ; as.
it was about the space of three hours after.
In this sense, the word, however, is really
a preposition, the object being imderstood ;
about three hours after the time or fact
before specified.
-ifter is prefixed to many words, formuig
compounds, but retaining hs genuine sig
nification. Some of the following words
are of this kind, but in some of them aftei
seems rather to be a separate word.
'AFTER- ACCOUNT, n. A subsequent reck-
oning. KiUingbeck
'AFTER-A€T, n. A subsequent act.
'AFTER-AgES, n. Later ages ; succeedmg
times. After-age, in the singular, is not
improper. Addison.
'AFTER ALL is a phrase, signifying, when
all has been considered, said or done
last : in the final result. Pope.
'AFTER-BAND, n. A future band. Milton.
AFTER-BIRTH, n. The appendages of the
fetus, called also secundines. Wiseman.
.\FTER-€LAP, n. An unexpected, subse-
quent event ; something happening after
an aflair is supposed to be at an end.
Hubbard.
AFTER-COMER, n. A successor.
AFTER-COMFORT, n. Future comfort.
Jonson.
AFTER-€ONDUCT, n. Subsequent be-
havior. Sherlock.
AFTER-CONVl€'TION, ?;. Future con-
viction. South.
AFTER-COST, n. Later cost ; expense after
the execution of the main design.
Mortimer.
AFTER-COURSE, n. Future course.
Brotcn.
AFTER-CROP, n. The second crop in the
same year. Mortimer.
AFTER-DAYS, n. Future days. Congreve.
AFTER-EATAGE, n. Part of the increase
of the same year. [Local.] Burn
AFTER-ENDEAV'OR, n. An endeavor
after the first or former effort. Locke.
AFTER-GAME, «. A subsequent scheme,
or expedient. Wotton.
AFTER-GUARD, n. The seaman stationed
on the poop or after part of the sliip, to
attend the after sails. Mar. Diet.
AFTER-HOPE, n. Future hope. Jonson.
-AFTER-HOURS, n. Hours tliat follow ;
time following. Shak.
'AFTER-IGNORANCE, n. Subsequent ig-
norance. • Stafford.
'AFTER-KING, n. A succeeding khig.
Skuckftird.
'AFTER-LIFE, n. Future Ufe or the life
after this. Dryden. Butler.
3. A later period of life ; subsequent life.
'AFTER- LIVER, n. One who lives in suc-
ceeding times. Sidney.
'AFTER-LOVE, n. The second or later
love. Shak.
'AFTER-MALICE, n. Succeeding mahce,
Dryden.
'AFTER-MATH, n. [after and math. See
Moio.]
A second crop of grass, in the same season ;
roweii. Holland.
'AFTER-MOST, a. Superl. In marine lan-
guage, nearest the stern, opposed to fore-
most ; also hindmost.
'AFTER-NOON', n. The part of the day
which follows noon, between noon anil
evening. Dryden.
'AFTER-PAINS, n. The pains which suc-
ceed child birth.
AFTER-PART, n. The latter part. In
marine language,xbe part of a ship towards
the stern. Mar. Die.
'AFTER-PIECE, n. A piece performed
after a play ; a farce or other 'entertain-
ment. Cumberland.
'AFTER-PROOF, n. Subsequent proof or
evidence ; quahties known by subsequent
experience. ff'otton.
AFTER-REPENTANCE, n. Subsequent
repentance. South.
'AFTER-REPORT, n. Subsequent report,
or information. South.
'AFTER-SAILS, n. The sails on the mizen-
mast and stays, between the main and
mizen-masts. Mar. Diet.
'AFTER-STATE, n. The future state.
Clanvilte.
AFTER-STING, n. Subsequent sting.
Herbert.
AFTER-STORM, n. A succeeding or fu-
ture storm. Dryden.
AFTER-SUPPER, n. The time between
supiicr ;ii]il fioiiiir to bed. Shak.
AFTKK-SW AKAI, n. A swarm of bees
whic h Iravcs tl)i' hive after the first.
AFTER-TASTE, n. A taste which suc-
ceeds eatuig and drinking.
AFTER-THOUGHT, n. [See Thought.]
Reflections after an act ; later thought, or
e.\|i<iliiiit (iccurring too late. Dryden.
AFTl'.K-'l'lMi:.-;. (I, Succeeding times. It
may In' iimiI in tiie singular. Dryden.
'AFTF.K-'l'OSSIXG, n. The sweU or agita-
tion of the sea after a storm.
AFTERWARD, or AFTERWARDS, adv.
[See Hard.] In later or subsequent time.
Hooker.
'AFTER- WISE, a. Wise afterwards or too
late. Addison.
'AFTER-WIT, n. Subsequent wit ; wisdom
that comes too late. L Estrange.
AFTER- WRATH, n. Later wrath ; anger
after the provocation has ceased. Shak.
AFTER-WRITER, n. A succeeding wri-
ter. Shuckfttrd.
AG A, n. [Per. o \ and IX I ak and aka,
lord, dominus, herus ; also sir, a title of
respect ; Tart. aha. Qu. the och in Beloch,
and ak in Balak.]
In the Turkish dominions, a commander or
chief officer. The title is given to various
chief oflicers, whether civil or military. It
is also given to great land holders, and to
the eunuchs of the Sultan's seragho.
En eye.
AGAIN, adv. agen'. [Sax. gean, agen,
agean, ongean ; D. with a different prefix,
tegen; G. dagegen,gegen; Sw. igen ; Dan.
igien ; qu. L. con, whence contra ; It. coinne,
opposite, a meetmg. Hence Sax. togeanes,
togegnes, against ; but placed after its ob-
ject; as, " hi comen heom togeanes,"
they come them against. D. tegens,
against; jegens, towards; G. entgegen,
dagegen, against ; begegnen, to meet or
encoimter. The primary sense is to turn,
or to meet in fi-ont ; or the name of the
face, front or forepart. So in Dan. and
Sw. mod, imod, emot, against, is our word
meet.]
1. A second time ; once more.
I will not again curse the ground. Gen. viii.
2. It notes sometlimg further, or additional
to one or more particulars.
For to which of the angels said he at any
lime, thou art my son, this day have I begotten
thee .' and again, I will be to him a father, and
he sliall be to me a son .' and again, let all the
angels of God worship him. Heb. i.
All the uses of this word carry in them the
ideas of return or repetition ; as in these
phrases ; give it back again ; give huii as
much again, that is, the same
once more or repeated.
There is not, in the world again, such a com-
merce as in London.
Who art thou that answerest again .'
Brini; us word again.
Again and again, often ; with frequent repe-
tition.
quantity
A G yV
AGAINST, p-e/). agenst'. [Sax. logermes.
See Jlgain.]
1. In opposition ; noting enmity or ilisappro-
bation.
His hand will be against every man.
Gen. xvi.
I am against your pillows. Ez. xiii.
2. In opposition, noting contrariety, contra-
diction, or repugnance ; as, a decree
against law, reason or public opinion.
3. In opposition, noting competition, or dif-
ferent sides or parties ; as, tliere
twenty votes in the affirmative against
ten in the negative.
4. In an opposite direction; as, to ride against
the wind.
5. Opposite in place ; abreast; as, a ship
against the mouth of a river. In th
sense it is often preceded by over.
Aaron lighted the lamps over against the
candlesticks. Num. viii.
6. In opposition, noting adversity, injury, or
contrariety to wishes ; as, this change of
measures is against us.
7. Bearuig upon ; as, one leans against
wall.
8. In provision for ; in preparation for.
Urijah made it against king Ahaz came from
Damascus. 2 Kings, xvi.
In this sense against is a preposition,
with the following part of the sentence for
an object. See 3/ier, prep. def. 2.
In short, the .sense of this word is oppo-
sition, variously modified according to its
application to different objects.
AG'ALLOCH, > r«/- • / 7 •■
AGAL'LO€HUM, T" [Of oriental ongm
Aloes-wood, the product of a tree growing
in China, and some of the Indian isles
There are three varieties, the calambac,
the common hgnuni aloes, and the calam-
bour. The first variety is light and porous,
and so filled with a fragrant resin, that it
may be molded by the fingers ; the sec-
ond is denser and less resinous ; and the
third is the aloes-wood used by cabinet
makers and inlayers. Encyc.
AGALMAT'OLITE, n. [Gr. oyaTi^a, im-
age, and TLtBof, stone.]
A name given by Klaproth to two varieties
of the pierre de lard, lard stone, of China.
It contams no magnesia, but otherwise has
the characters of talck. It is called in Ger-
man, bildstein, figure-stone, and by Brong-
niart, steatite pagodite. Cyc. Ure.
AG^APE, adv. or a. [a and gape. See
Gape.]
Gaping, as with wonder, expectation, or
eager attention ; having the mouth wide
open. Milton.
■\G'APE, n. ag'apy. [Gr. ayartt;, love.]
Among the primitive christians, a love feast
or feast of charity, held before or after the
communion, when contributions were
made for the poor. This feast was held
at first without scandal, but afterwards
being abused, it was condemned at the
council of Carthage, A. D. 397. Encyc.
AG'ARI€, n. [Gr. ayafiixov. Qu. from Aga-
ria, in Sarniatia. Dioscorides.]
h\ botany, mushroom, a gfinus of fiuiguses,
containing numerous species. Mushrooms
grow on trees, or spring from the earth ;
of the latter species some are valued as
A G A
articles of food ; others are poisonous,
The name was originally given to a fun-
gus growing on the larch. This species ii
now frequent in the shops, and distin
guished by the name of female agaric.
From this fungus is extracted a tui-pen-
tine, of which three fourths of its weight
is a resinous substance ; the rest, a sli-
my, mucilaginous, earthy matter, tena-
cious and almost insoluble in water. It is
used in dyeing, but is little esteemed in
medicine. Theoph. Macquer. Quincy.
fie Agaric of the oak is called towh-wood,
from its readiness to take fire. Boletus
Igniarius, lAnne.
Agaric mineral, a calcarious earth, or (
bonate of lime, resembling a fungus
color and texture; found in fissures of
rocks, and on the roofs of caverns. It
sometimes used as an astringent in fluxes,
and a styptic in hemorrhages. It occurs
in a loose semi-indurated form, white
or whitish red, or yellow, light and friable.
Kinvan mentions three varieties.
AG' AST or AGH AST, a. [Qu., a contrac-
tion of agazed, or Goth, agis, Sax. egesa,
horror. See Aghast and Gaze.]
.Struck with terror, or astonislunent ; ama-
zed ; struck silent with horror.
With shuddering horror pale and eyes agasf.
Milton.
AGA'TE, adv. [a and gate.]
On the way ; going. Obs. Gotver.
AG' ATE, n. [Fr. agate ; L. achates, gagates ;
Gr. ytvyatTjf ; so called, saj's Pliny, 37, 10,
because found near a river of that name in
Sicily. So also SoUnus and Isidore. But
Bochart, with more probability, deduces it
from the Pimic and Hebrew ipy, and with
a different prefix npj, spotted. The word
is used. Gen. xsx. and xxxi., to describe
the speckled and spotted cattle of Laban
and Jacob.]
A class of siliceous, semi-pellucid gems of
many varieties, consisting of quartz-crjs-
tal, flint, horn-stone, chalcedony, amethyst,,
jasper, comehan, heUotrope, and jade, in
various combinations, variegated witl
dots, zones, filaments, ramifications, ar-
borizations, and various figures. Agates
seem to have been formed by successive lay-
ers of siliceous earth, on the sides of cavi-
ties which they now fill entirely or in part
They are esteemed the least valuable of the
precious stones. Even in Phny'stime, they
were in Uttle estimation. They are found
in rocks, in the form of fragments, in nod
ules, in small rounded lumps, rarely in
stalactites. Their colors are various.
They are used for rings, seals, cups,
beads, boxes and handles of small uten-
sils. Kinmn. Encyc. Cleaveland.
AG'ATE, n. An instrument used by gold
wire drawers, so called from the agate ii
the middle of it.
AG'ATINE, a. Pertaining to agate.
AG'ATINE, 71. A genus of shells, oval or
oblong.
AG'ATIZED, a. Having the colored lines
and figures of agate. Fourcroy.
Agatized wood, a substance apparently pro-
duced by the petrifiiction of wood ; a spe-
cies of hornstone. U'erner.
AGE
AG'ATY, a. Of the nature of agate.
4 r' A i\TV rfi ^Voodward.
AtiA VJ;,, n. [Gr. ayauo?, admirable.]
1. The American aloe. The great aloe rises
twenty feet, and its branches form a sort
of pyramid at the top. Encyc.
2. A genus of univalvular shells.
AGA'ZE, V. t. [from gaze.] To strike with
, a"iazeniient. Obs. Spenser.
AGA'ZED, pp. Struck with amazement.
[JVot m use.] shak.
AGE, n. [Fr. age; Arm. oage ; deduced by
Lunier from Lat. alas, or a;vum. But these
are undoubtedly contracted words, Goth.
aim ; D. eemv ; Gr. aiur ; from the Celtic,
W. haug, fullness, completeness, an age, a
space of time ; plu. hogix)n ; the g being
sunk in the Latin words ; in the Sanscrit,
yuga.]
The whole duration of a being, whether
animal, vegetable, or other kind ; as, the
usual age of man is seventy years ; the
age of a horse may be twenty or tliirty
years ; the age of a tree may be four hun-
dred years.
3. That part of the duration of a being, which
is between its beginning and any given
time ; as, what is the present age of a
man, or of the earth ?
. The latter part of life, or long continued
duration ; oldness.
TTie eyes of Israel were dim for age. Gen.
4. A certain period of human life, marked
by a difference of state ; as, life is divided
into four stages or ages, infancy, youth,
manhood, and old age ; the age of youth ;
the age of manhood.
5. The period when a person is enabled by
law to do certain acts for himself, or when
he ceases to be controlled by parents or
guardians ; as, in our country, both males
and females are of ag-e at twenty-one years
old.
6. Mature years ; ripeness of strength or
discretion.
He is of age, ask him. John ix.
7. The time of hfe for conceiving children,
or perhaps the usual time of such an event.
Sarah was delivered of a son when she was
past age. Heb. xi.
8. A particular period of time, as distin-
guished from others ; as, the golden age,
the age of iron, the age of heroes or of
chivalry.
The people who live at a particular peri-
od ; hence, a generation and a succession
of generations ; as, ages yet unborn.
The mysteiy hid from ages. Col. i.
10. A century ; the period of one hundred
years.
A'GED, a. Old ; having lived long ; having
lived almost the usual time allotted to that
species of being ; applied to animals or
plants ; as, an aged man, or an aged oak.
2. Having a certain age ; having lived ; as,
a man aged forty years.
A'GED, n. Old persons.
And the aged arose and stood up. Job xxix.
AGEN', for again. Obs.
A'GENCY, «. [h.agens. See Act]
1. The quality of moving or of exerting
power ; tlic state of being in action ; ac-
A G G
A G G
A G G
ijon ; operation ; instrumentality ; as, the
agency ot'provitlence in thf; natural world.
U. The office of an agent, or factor ; busi-
ness of an agent entrusted witli the con-
cerns of another ; as, the principal pays
the charges of agency.
A6END'A, re. [L. things to be done.]
A nieraoranduiii-book ; the service or office
of a church ; a ritual or liturgy. Encyc.
A'6ENT, a. Acting ; opposed to patient,
sustainuig action ; as, the body agent.
ilAltle used.] Bacon.
A'GENT, >i. An actor; one that e.xerts pow-
er, or has the power to act ; as, a moral
agent.
2. An active power or cause; tliat which
has the power to produce an effect ; as,
heat is a powerful ag'cn^.
3. A substitute, deputy, or factor ; one en-
trusted with the business of another ; an
attorney ; a minister.
A'GENTSHIP, «. The office of an agent
[JVot used.] We now use agency.
AGGELA'TION, Ji. [L. gelu!] Concretion
of a fluid. Uyht used.] Brmon
AGgENERA'TION, n. [L. ad and genera-
tio.] The state of growing to another
Wot used.] Broum
AG'GER, 71. [L.] A fortress, or inoundt
[JVot used.] Heame
AG'6ERATE, v. t. [L. aggero.] To heap
[jVbt iwcrf.]
AGGERA'TION, n. A heaping ; accumula-
tion ; as, " aggerations of sand." Ray.
AGGLOM'ERATE, v. t. [L. agglomero, ad
and glomero, to wind into a ball, from
glomus, a ball of yarn ; from the Hob. d'7J;
to involve; Qu. Ar. J to go round m a
circle, to be round, to collect, or con
dense.]
To wind, or collect mto a ball ; to gather
into a mass. Young.
AGGLOM'ERATE, v. i. To gather, giow
or collect into a baU or mass. Thomson.
AGGLOM'ERATED, pp. Wound or col-
lected into a ball.
AGGLOM'ERATING, pp: Winding into
a ball ; gathering uito a lump.
AGGLOMERA'TION, n. Tlie act of wind
ing into a ball ; the state of being gathered
into a ball or mass.
AGGLU'TINANT, n. Any viscous sub-
stance which unites other substances, by
causing an adhesion ; any application
which tends to unite parts which have too
little adhesion. Coxe
AGGLU'TINANT, a. Uniting as glue ; tend-
ing to cause adhesion.
AGGLU'TINATE, v. t. [Lat. agglutino, ad
and glutino, from gluten ; Eng. glue ; Fr.
glu ; Arm. glud ; W. gbjd. See Glue.]
To unite, or cause to adhere, as with glue
or other viscous substance; to unite by
causing an adhesion of substances.
AGGLUTINATED, pp. Glued together;
united bv a viscous substance.
AGGLU'T INATING,;3pr. Gluing together ;
uniting bv causing adhesion.
AGGLUTI'NA'TION, n. The actofimiting
by glue or other tenacious substance ; the
state of being thus united.
AGGLU'TINATIVE, a. That tends to unite,
or has power to cause adhesion.
AGGRA'CE, V. t. To favor. [Mt used.]
Spenser. H"
AGGRA'CE, n. Kindness ; favor. [Xol
iised.] Spenser.
AGGRANDIZA'TION, n. The act of ag-
grandizing. IJVot used.] fVaterhouse.
AG'GRANDIZE, v. t. [Fr. agrandir, oi
L. ad and grandis. See Grand.]
1. To make great or greater in power, rank
or honor ; to exalt ; as, to aggrandize a
family.
2. To enlarge, applied to things ; as, to ag-
grandize our conceptions. It seems to be
never appUed to the bulk or dimensions of
material bodies.
AG'GRANDIZED,/p;>. Made great or great
er ; exalted ; enlarged.
AGGRAND'IZEMENT, n. The act of
aggrandizing ; the state of being exalted
in power, rank or honor ; exaltation
enlargement.
The Emperor seeks only the aggrandizement
of his own family.
AG'GRANDIZER, n. One that aggrandizes
or exalts in power, rank or honor.
AG'GRANDIZING, ppr. Makhig great :
exalting ; enlarging.
AGGRA'TE, v. t. [It.] To please. [JVot
used.] Spenser.
AG'GRAVATE, v. t. [L. aggrajvo,oi' ad and
gravis, heavy. See Grave, Gravity.]
1. To make heavy, but not used in this literal
sense. Figuratively, to make worse, more
severe, or less tolerable ; as, to aggravate
the evils of Ufe ; to aggravate pain or pun
ishment.
2. To make more enoi-mous, or less excusa-
ble ; as, to aggravate a crime.
3. To exaggerate.
4. To give coloring in description ; to giv(
an exaggerated representation ; as, to ag-
gravate a charge against an offender ; to
aggravate circumstances.
Guthrie, Quint. Paley.
.Vctions and motives maliciously aggravated.
Washington's Life.
The propriety of the word in the latter
passage is questionable. Aggravate is gen-
erally used In reference to evils, or some-
thing improper or unnatui-al.
AGGRAVATED, pp. Increased in severity
or enormity ; made worse ; exaggerated.
AGGRAVATING, ppr. Increasmg m se-
verity, enormity, or degree, as evils, mis-
fortunes, pam, punishment, crimes, guilt,
&c. ; exaggerating.
AGGRAVATION, n. The act of making
worse, used of evils, -natural or moral ;
the act of increasing severity or
ness ; addition to that which is evil or
improper ; as, an aggravation of pain or
grief
2. Exaggerated representation, or height-
ened description of any thing wrong,
improper, or unnatural; as, an aggrava-
tion of features in a caricature.
Paley. Addison.
AG'GREGATE, v. t. [L. aggrego, to collect
in troops ; of ad and grex, a herd or band.
See Gregarious.]
To bring together ; to collect particulars into
a sum, mass or body.
AGGREGATE, a. Formed by a collection
of particulars into a \\ hole mass or sum ;
as, the aggregate amount of charges.
Aggregate Jlowers, in botany, are such as are
composed of florets united by means of
the receptacle or calyx. Milne.
f Aggregate corporation, in laiv, is one which
consists of two or more persons united,
whose existence is preserved by a suc-
cession of new member*. Blackstone.
AG'GREGATE, n. A sum, tnass or assem-
blage of particidars ; as, a house is an
aggregate of stones, bricks, timber, &c.
It chffers from a compound in this, that
the particulars of an aggregate are less
intimately mixed than in a compound.
AGGREGATED,;)/). Collected mto a sum,
mass or system.
AGGREGATELY, adv. Collectively ; taken
in a sum or mass.
AGGREGATING, ppr. Collecting into a
AGGREGATION, n. The act of aggre-
gating ; the state of being collected into a
sum or mass ; a collection of particulars ;
an aggregate.
2. In chimistry, the affinity of aggregation, is
the power which causes homogeneous
bodies to tend towards each other, and to
cohere, when united. The aggregate, in
this case, differs from a heap, w'hose parts
do not cohere ; and from a mixture, which
consists of pans dissimilar in their nature.
The word is used of soUd, fluid, or aeri-
form bodies.
3. The imion and coherence of bodies of the
same nature.
AG'GREGATIVE, a. Taken together ; col-
lective.
.AGGREGATOR, n. He that collects mto
a whole or mass. Burton.
AGGRESS', V. {. [L. aggredior, aggressus,
of ad and gradior, to go. See Grade.]
To make a first attack ; to commit the first
act of hostihty or offense ; to begin a
(juanel or controversy ; to assault first or
invade. Prior.
AGGllESSlJiG, ppr. Commencing hostility
first ; making the first attack.
AGGRESSION, n. The first attack, or act
of hostility; the first act of injury, or first
act leading to war or controversy.
L'Estrange.
AGGRESS'IVE, a. Tending to aggress ;
making the first attack. Ctarkson.
AGGRESS'OR, ^^. The person who fii-st
attacks ; he who first commences hostihty
or a quarrel ; an assaulter ; an invader.
Dn/den.
The insolence of the aggressor is usually
proportioned to the tameness of the sufferer.
.^mes.
AGGRIE'VANCE, n. [See Aggrieve.]
Oppression ; hardship ; injury. But griev-
ance is more generally used.
AGGRIE'VE, V. t. [of ad and grieve, from
grief. Perhaps tlie word is borrowed
directly from the Sp. agraviar, to injure ;
Fr. grever. See Grief and Grave.]
To give pain or son-ow ; to afflict. In this
sejtse, it is nearly superseded by grieve.
2. To bear hard upon ; to oppress or injure,
in one's rights ; to vex or harass by civil
or political injustice.
AGGRIE VE, V. i. To mourn ; to lament.
[JVot used. See Grieve.]
A G
A G N
AGO
AGGRIEVED, pp. Pained ; afflicted ; civ
illy or politically oppressed.
AGGRIE'VING,;);jr. Afflicting; imposing
hardships on ; oppressing.
AGGRoUP', > V. t. [Sp. agrvpar ; It. ag
AGGROOP', I gruppare, aggroppare, u
knot or bring together. See Group.']
To bring together ; to group ; to collect
many persons in a crowd, or many figures
into a whole, either in statuary, painting
or description. Encyc.
AGGROUP'ED, I pp. Collected into a group
AGGROOP'ED, $ or assemblage.
AGH'AST, or more correctly agast, a or
adv. [Perhaps the participle of agaze ; oth-
erwise from the root of ghastly and ghost.]
Struck with amazement ; stupified with siid
den fright or horror.
AGILE, a. [Fr. agile; L. agilis, from ae-o.
See Act.]
Nimble ; having the faculty of quick motion
in the limbs ; apt or ready to move ; brisk ;
active.
Ati'ILENESS, 91. Nimbleness ; activity ; the
faculty of moving the limbs quickly ;
agility.
AGlL'lTY, n. [L. agilitns.]
The power of moving the limbs quickly ;
nimbleness ; briskness ; activity ; quick-
ness of motion. Watts.
A'GIO, n. [Ital. aggio, surplus, difference.]
1. In commerce, the difference between bank
notes and current coin. In Holland, the
agio is three or fovn- per cent. ; in Rome,
from fifteen to twenty-five per cent. ; in
Venice, twenty ))er cent. : but the agio is
subject to variation. Encyc.
2. Premium ; sum given above the nominal
value. Lunier.
AGIST', V. t. [If the primary sense is to lie,
or to rest, this is from Fr. gesir ; Norm.
agiser, to be levant and couchant, from
giser, to lay or throw down ; whence gist,
cast ; gistance, a casting. Class Gs. No. 18.
If the primary signification is to feed, see
Nos. 5, 6, 10, 12, and 5G. Ch. Class Gs.]
In law, to take the cattle of others to graze,
at a certain simi ; to feed or pasture the
cattle of others ; used originally for the
feeding of cattle in the king's forest.
Coivel. Blackstone.
AGISTMENT, n. The taking and feeding
other men's cattle in the king's forest, or
on one's own land ; also, the price paid
for such feeding. It denotes also a bur-
den, charge or tax. [In canon lam, a
modus, orcomposition. Johnson, Qu.]
Cotvel. Blackstone. Encyc.
AGISTOR, or AGIST A'TOR, n. An officer
of the king's forest, who has the car
cattle agisted, and collects the money for
the same ; hence called gist-taker, which
ill England is cori-upted into guest-taker.
Encyc.
AG'ITABLE, a. [See Agitate.] That may
be agitated, shaken or discussed.
AG'ITATE, v. t. [L. agito, from ago. See
Act.]
I. To stir violently ; to move back and forth
with a quick motion ; to shake or mc
briskly ; as, to agitate water in a vessel
a. To move or force into violent irregular
action : as, the wind agitates the sea.
3. To disturb, or excite into tumult ; as, to
agitate the mind or passions.
4. To fliscuss ; to debate ; to controvert ;
to agitate a question.
5. To consider on all sides ; to revolve
the mind, or view in all its aspects ; to
contrive by mental deliberation ; as, poli-
ticians agitate desperate designs.
King Charles
G. To move or actuate. [jVb< used.]
Blackmore.
Agitated, pp. Tossed from side to side ;
shaken ; moved violently and irregularly
disturbed; discussed; considered.
AGlTATING,;>pr. Shaldng ; moving with
violence ; disturbing ; disputing ; (
tiiving.
AGITATION, n. The act of shaking ; the
state of being moved with violence, or
with irregular action ; commotion ; as, the
sea after a storm is in agitation. Bacon
2. Disturbance of tranquility in the mind
perturbation ; excitement of passion.
'. Discussion ; examination of a subject in
controversy. L'Estrange.
4. A state of being deliberated upon, with a
view to contrivance, or plan to be adopted ;
as, a scheme is in agitation.
AGITA'TO, in music, denotes a broken style
of performance, adapted to awaken sur-
prise or perturbation. Diet, of Music,
AG'ITATOR, n. One who agitates ; also, an
insurgent ; one who excites sedition or re-
volt. In antiquity, a chariotteer, that is, a
driver. In Cromwell's time, certain offi-
cers appointed by the army to manage
their concerns, were called agitators.
Hume.
AG'LET, > n. [Fr. aiguillette, a point, from
ATGLET, \ aiguille, a needle, from aigu
sharp. See Acid.]
A tag of a point curved into the represen-
tation of an animal, generally of a man ;
a small plate of metal.
2. In botany, a pendant at the ends of the
chives of flowers, as in the rose and tuUp.
AG'LET-BABY, n. A small image on the
top of a lace. Shak.
AG'MINAL, a. [L. agmen, a troop or body
of men arrayed, fiom ago.]
Pertaining to an army or troop. [Little used.]
AG'NAIL, n. {ad and nail, or Sax. ange,
pain, and nail. See J^ail.]
A disease of the nail ; a whitlow ; an inflani
mation round the nail. Bailey.
AG'NATE, a. [L. agnatus.] Related or akin
by the father's side.
\G"'NATE, n. [L. agnatus, adnascor, of ad
and nascor, to be born. See JSTature.]
Any male relation by the father's side.
Encyc.
AGNAT'Ie, a. Pertaining to descent by
the male line of ancestors. Blackstone
AGNA'TION, n. Relation by the fatlier's
side only, or descent in the male hue, dis
tinet from cognation, which includes des-
cent in the male and female lines.
AG'NEL, n. [From agnus, a lamb, the figure
struck on the coin.]
An ancient French coin, value twelve sols,
six deniers. It was called also mouton
d'or and agnel rf' or. Encyc.
AGNI"TION, n. [L. agnitio, agnosco.]
Acknowledgment. [Little used.] Pearson.
AGNI'ZE, V. t. To acknowledge. [Wo/ /„
««f-] Shak.
AGNOMINATE, v. t. [L. agnomina ; ad
and nomino, nomen, namc.J
To name. [Little used.]
AGNOMINA'TION, n. [L. agnomen, a sur-
name, of ad and nomen. See JVame.]
1. An additional name, or title; a name ad-
ded to another, as expressive of some act,
achievement, &c. ; a surname.
Camden. Encyc.
2. Allusion of one word to another by
sound.
AGNUS CASTUS. A species of vitex, so
called from the Gr. o^toj, chaste, or
from a negative, and ymos, seed, from
its imagined virtue of preserving chastity.
The Athenian ladies reposed on the leaves
of this plant at the feast of Ceres. The
Latin Castus, chaste, now added to the
name, forms a dupUcation of the sense.
Encyc.
AGNUS DEI. [Lamb of God.]
In the Romish Church, a cake of wax stamp-
ed with the figure of a lamb, supporting
the banner of the cross. It is supposed to
possess great virtues in preserving those
who carry it, in faith and from accidents,
• &c. Also a part of the mass in which
these words are repeated by the priest.
Encyc.
AGNUS SCYTHICUS. [Scythian Lamb.]
A name appUed to the roots of a species of
fern, Aspidium Baromez, covered with
brown wooly scales, and, in shape, resem-
bling a lamb ; found in Russia and Tartaiy.
AGO', adv. or a. [Sax. agan, or geond, the
participle of gan, to go ; contracted from
agone. See Go.]
Past ; gone ; as, a year ago.
AGOG' adv. [Fr.' agogo ; vivre it gogo, to
live in clover.]
In a state of desire ; highly excited by eager-
ness after an object.
The gaudy gossip when she's set agog.
Diyden.
AGO'ING. [The participle of go, with the
prefix a.]
In motion, as to set a mill agoing ; or
about to go ; ready to go ; as, he is agoing
immediately. The latter use is vulgar.
A'GON, n. [Gr.]
The contest for the prize. [JVot used.]
Sancroft.
AGONE, pp. agaivn', [See Ago and Gone.]
Ago ; past ; since. [JVearly Obs.]
AGONISM, n. [Gr. ayund^oj,]
Contention for a prize. Diet.
AGONIST, n. One who contends for the
prize in public games. Milton has used
Agonistes in this sense, and so called his
tragedy, from the similitude of Sampson's
exertions, in slaying the Philistines, to
prize fighting. In church history, the dis-
ciples of Donatus are called agonistics.
AGONIST'I€, \ Pertaining to prize-
AGONIST'l€AL, \ "' fighting, contests of
strength, or athletic cpmbats. Enfield.
AGONIST'I€ALLY, adv. In
manner ; like prize-fighting.
AG'ONIZE, v.t. [Gr. ayu«fio,t
Agony.]
To writhe with extreme pain ;
lent anguish.
To Finart ami agonize at every pore. Pnpe
n agomstic
strive. See
3 suffer vio-
A G R
A G R
A G R
AG'ONIZE, V. t. To distress with extreme
pain ; to torture. Pope.
AG'ONIZING, ppr. Suffering severe pain
writhing witli torture.
AG'ONIZINGLY, adv. With extreme an
guish.
AG'ONY, n. [Gr. a^uv, a contest with bod
ily exertion ; a word used to denote the
atliletic games, in Greece ; whence (vyuvia,
angiiisi), solicitude ; from (vyw, L. ago. In
Ir. ag-A, is a battle, conflict; Gr.ayunfw, to
strive. See Act."]
1. In strictness, pain so extreme as to cause
writhing or contortions of the body, sim
lar to those made in the athletic contests
in Greece. Hence,
'3. Extreme pain of body or mind ; anguish ;
appropriately, the pangs of death, and the
sufferings of our Savior in the garden of
Gethsemane. Luke xxii.
3. Violent contest or striving. More.
AGQQD', adv. In earnest. [JVo< used.] Slutk.
AGoUTY, n. [Qu. Sp. agudo, sliarp ; L. acu-
tus.]
A quadruped of the order Rodcntia ; arran-
ged by naturalists in the genus Cama. It is
of the size of a rabbit. The upper part of
the body is brownish, with a mixture oi"|
red and black ; the belly yellowish. Three
varieties are mentioned, all peculiar to
South America and the West Indies. It
burrows in the ground, or in hollow trees
lives on vegetables ; is voracious like a pig,
and makes a similar grunting noise. It
holds its meat in its fore paws, like a squir-
rel. When scared or angry, its hair is
erect, and it strikes the ground with it«
hind feet. Its flesh is white and well tast-
ed. Emyc.
AGRA'RIAN, a. [L. agrarius, from ager,
a field.]
Relating to lands. Appropriately, denoting
or pertaining to an equal division of lands ;
as, the agrarian laws of Rome, which dis-
tributed the conquered and other public
lands equally among all the citizens, limit-
ing the quantity which each might enjoy.
Authors sometimes use the word i
noun ; an agranan, {or agrarian laic.
Burke.
An agrarian distribution of land or property
would make the rich, poor, but would not make
the poor, rich.
AGREE', V. i. [Fr. agrhr, from gre', will,
accord. This is contracted from Sp. agra-
dar, Port, id, to please, to gratify, whence
agradable, agreeable ; from the root of L
gratia, W. rhad, grace, favor, that comes
treely. The primary sense is advancing,
from the same root as L. gradior ; W. rkaz.
[rliath]; Syr. j ,; radah, to go.]
1. To be of one mind ; to harmonize in opin-
In the expediency of the law, all the partiei
agree.
2. To hve in concord, or without contention
as, parents and children agree well to-
gether.
3. To yield assent; to approve or admit
followed by to ; as, to agi-ee to an offer, or
to an opinion.
4. To settle by stipulation, the minds of par-
ties being agreed, as to the terms ; as.
Didst thou not agree with me for a penny a
day ? Mat. xx.
To agree on articles of partnership.
Vol. I.
5. To come to a compromise of differences ;
to be reconciled.
Jlgree with thy adversaiy quickly. Mat. v.
G. To come to one opinion or muid ; to con-
cur ; as, to agree on a place of meeting.
This sense differs not essentially from the
fourth, and it often unplies a resolving to
do an act. John ix.
7. To be consistent ; to harmonize ; not to
contradict, or be repugnant.
Their wiuiess agreed not together. Mark
xiv.
This story agrees with what has been
related by others.
8. To resemble ; to be similar ; as, the pic-
ture does not agree with the original.
9. To suit ; to be acconunodated or adapted
to ; as, the same food does not agree with
every constitution.
AGREE', V. t. To admit, or come to one
mind concerning ; as, to agree tlie fact.
Also, to reconcile or malte friends ; to i>ut
an end to variance; but these senses are
unusual and hardly legitimate. Let the
parties agree the fact, is really eUiptical ;
let them agree on the fact.
AGREEABIL'ITY, n. Easiness of disposi-
tion. [JVot used.] Chaucer
AGREE' ABLE, a. Suitable ; conformable ;
correspondent ; consistent with ; a.s, the
practice of virtue is agreeable to the law of
God and our own nature.
2. In pursuance of; in conformity with ; as,
agreeable to the order of the day, the house
took up the report of the committee. It
is not correctly followed By with. In this
sense, some writers use agreeably, for agree-
able, but in violation of the true principles
of construction ; for the word is an adjec-
tive or attribute, in agreement with the
last clause of the sentence. The house
took up the report of a committee, (which
taking up was) agreeable to the order of
the day. The use of agreeably in this sen-
tence would pervert the sense.
•3. Pleasing, either to the mind or senses ; as,
agreeable manners ; fruit agreeable to the
taste.
AGREE'ABLENESS, n. Suitableness ; con-
formity ; consistency ; as, the agreeable-
ness of virtue to the laws of God.
2. The quality of pleasing ; that quality
which gives satisfaction or moderate
pleasure to the mind or senses ; as, an
agreeableness of manners ; there is an
agreeableness in the taste of certain fruits.
This is the usual sense of the word.
.3. Resemblance ; Ukeness ; with to or be-
tween ; as.
The agreeableness between man and' other
parts of creation. Obs. Grew.
AGREE'ABLY, adv. Pleasingly ; in an
agreeable manner; in' a maimer to give
pleasure ; as, to be agreeably entertained
with a discourse.
2. Suitably ; consistently ; conformably ;
The eifect of wliich is, that marriages grow
less frequent, agreeably to the maxim above
laid down. Paley.
This is a gross error, proceeding from
mistake. Agreeably signifies, in an agree-
able manner ; but tliis is not the sense, nor
does the word modify the verb grow. The
sense is, marriages grow less frequent,
which [fact, or whole member of the sen-
tence, or proposition] is agreeable to the
6
maxim above laid down. This use ol'
agreeably is common, but grossly erro-
.3. Alike ; in the same manner.
Both armed agreeably. Obs. Spenser.
AGREE'D, pp. Being in concord or har-
mony of opinion ; of one mind.
Can two walk together except they be agreed ■
.■Vmos. iil.
2. .'Assented to ; admitted ; as, a proposition is
agreed to.
3. Settled by consent ; implying bargain or
contract ; as, the terms were agreed to, or
agreed upon.
AGREE'ING, ppr. Living in concord ; con-
curring ; assenting ; settling by consent.
AGREE'INGLY, adv. In conformity to.
[Little used.]
AGREE'Mfc^NT, n. Concord ; harmony :
conformity.
What agreement hath the temple of God with
idols. ? 2 Cor. vi.
2. Union of opinions or sentiments ; as, a
good agreement subsists among the mem-
bers of the council.
3. Resemblance ; conformity ; similitude.
Ex|iansion and duration have this farther
agreement. Locke.
4. Union of minds in regard to a transfer of
interest ; bargain ; compact ; contract ;
stipulation.
Make an agreement with me by a present.
2 Kings xviii.
He made an agreement for the purchase
of a house.
AGRES'TIe, I [L. agrestis; Fr. a-
AGRES'TI€AL, J "' greste ; from L. ager, a
field, or the same root.]
Rural ; rustic ; pertainmg to fields or the
coimtry, in opposition to the city ; unpol-
ished. Gregory.
AG'RIeULTOR, n. [L. ager, afield, and
cultor, a cultivator.]
One whose occupation is to till the ground ;
B farmer ; a husbandman ; one skilled in
husbandrv.
AGRIeUL'TURAL, a. Pertaining to hus-
bandry, tillage, or the cidture of the earth.
AGRICULTURE, n. [L. ager, a field, and
cultura, cultivation. See Acre and Culture.]
In o general sense, the cultivation of the
ground, for the purpose of producing veg-
etables, and fruits, for the use of man and
beast ; or the art of preparing the soil,
sowing and planting seeds, dressing the
plants, and removing the crops. In this
sense, the word includes gardening, or
horticulture, and also the raising and feed-
ing of cattle, or stock. But in a more
common and appropriate sense, it is used to
signify that species of cultivation which is
intended to raise grain and other crops for
man and beast. It is equivalent to husbandry.
Agriculture is the most general occupation
AGRICUL'TURISM, n. The art or science
of agriculture. [Little used.]
AGRICULTURIST, n. One skilled in the
art of cultivating the ground ; a skUful
husbandman.
AG'RIJIONY, n. [L. argemonia, from the
Gr. Thus it is written by Pliny. But in
lower Latin it is written agrinionia. Said
to be from Gr. apyt^a, the web or pearl of
the eye, from opyof, white, which this plant
was supposed to cure. See Theojih. 887.]
.\ genus of pkints, of several specie?. Of
A G U
A I A
A I H
these, the eupatoria or common agrimony,
and the odorata or sweet scented, are tlie
most useful. Encyc.
AGRIPPJX 1 WS. ». In Church history, the
follower-- (if \i;ii|.|MnMs, bishop of Car-
thage, in tilt- iliuil ri-iitury, who first taught
and defended 1 he doctrine of rebaptization.
Encyc.
AGRiSE, V. i. [Sax. agnsan.]
To shiver. [J^Tot in use.] Chaucer.
AGRiSE, V. t. To terrify ; also, to make
frightful. [.Voi in use.'] Spenser.
A'GROM, n. A disease frequent in Bengal,
and other parts of the E. Indies, in which
the tongue chaps and cleaves, becomes
rough and sometimes covered with white
spots. The remedy is some chalybeate
liquor, or the juice of mint. 'Encyc.
AGROSTEM'MA, n. A genus of plants of
several species, containing the common
corn cockle, wild lychnis or cantijion, &c.
AGROS'TIS, n. [Gr. aypuf^.]
Bent grass; a genus of many species.
AGROUND', adv. [Of a, at or on, and
ground.]
J. On the ground ; a marine terra, signifying
that the bottom of a ship rests on the
ground, for want of sufficient depth of
water. When the groimd is near the
shore, the ship is said to be ashore or
stranded.
Q. Figuratively, stopped; impeded by insu-
perable obstacles.
AGUAPE€A'€A, n. The Jacana, a Brazil-
ian bird, about the size of a pigeon. In
the extremity of each whig, it has a sharp
prickle which is used for defense.
Did. ofJVat. Hist.
A'GUE, n. a'gti, [Sax. a:ge, oga, or hoga,
fear, horror ; Arm. hegea, to shake ; Goth.
agis, fear, agyan or ogan, to fear ; Ir. agh,
fear, ag}ia or aghaim, to fear. The radical
idea is a shaking or shivering similar to
that occasioned by terror.]
1. The cold fit which precedes a fever, or a
paroxysm of fever in intermittents. It is
acconqianied with shivering.
2. Chilliness ; a chill, or state of shaking
with cold, though in heahh.
3. It is used tor a periodical fever, an inter-
mittent, whether quotidian, tertian, or
quartan. In this case, the word, which
signifies the preceding cold fit, is used for
the disease.
A'GUE, 17. t. To cause a shivering in; to
strike with a cold fit. Haywood.
A'GUE-CAKE, n. A hard tumor on the
left side of the belly, lower than the false
ribs ; supposed to be the efiect of inter-
mitting fevers. Encyc.
A'GUED, a. Chilly ; having a fit of ague ;
.shivering with cold or fi;ar. Shak.
A'GUE-FIT, n. A paroxysm of cold, or
shivering ; chilliness.
A'GUE-PROOF, n. Able to resist agues;
proof against agues.
AGUER'RY, i)./.''[Fr. aguerrir; from gtierre,
war.]
To inure to the hardships of war ; to in-
struct in the art of war. [Not in use.]
Lyttleton.
A'GUE-SPELL, n. A charm or spell to
ciu-e or prevent ague. Gay
A'GUE-STRUCK, a. Struck with ague.
Henu/t
A'GUE-TRKK, n. A name sometimes ap-
plied to sassafras, on account of its febri
fuge quaUties. Encyc
AGUI'SE, V. t. [See Guise.] to dress ; to
adorn. [JVbt in use.] Spenser.
AGUI'SE, n. Dress. [JVot in use.] More.
A'GUISII, a. Chilly ; somewhat cold or
shivering; also, having the quaUties of an
ague.
Her aguish love now glows and bums.
Graywille.
A'GUISHNESS, n. Cliilliness ; the quahty
of being aguish.
AGUILLANEUF', n. [From a, to, gui, mis-
leto, and Van neuf, the new year.]
A form of rejoicing among the ancient
Franks, on the first day of the year ; de-
rived from the drnidical custom of cutting
misleto, which was held sacred by the
druids, and on the first day of the year,
consecrating it by cryuig, aguillaneuf, the
year to the misleto. This cry is said to
be still observed in some parts of France;
and the term came to signify also a beg-
ging of New Year's gifts. Encyc.
A'GUL, n. A species of the hedysarum.
AH, An exclamation, expressive of surprise,
pity, complaint, contempt, disUke, joy, ex-
ultation, &c., according to the manner of
iitterance.
^\irA. An exclamation expressing triumph,
contempt, or simple surprise ; but the
senses are distinguished by very differ-
ent modes of utterance, and different mod-
ifications of features.
2. A sunk fence, not visible, without near
approach. Mason.
AHAN'IGER, n. A name of the gar-fish.
AHEAD, adv. Med', [a and head, or at head.]
Further forward than another thing ; in
fi-ont ; originally a sea term, denoting fur-
ther forward than another ship, or on the
point to which the stem is directed, in op-
jiosition to astern. Mar. Diet.
2. Onward ; forward ; towards the point be-
fore the stem or head ; as, move ahead.
3. Headlong ; without restrauit ; precipitant-
ly ; as, children suffered to run ahead.
[.Yot used.] L'Estrangc.
\1IEI'GHT, adv. [a and height.]
Aloft ; on high. [J\'ot used.] Shak.
AHI€CYAT'LI, n. A poisonous serpent of
Mexico, somewhat resembling the rattle-
snake, but destitute of rattles. Its poison
is as fatal as that of any known species of]
serpent. Encyc.
AHI'GH, arfv. On high. [JVofused.]
AIIO'LD, adv. Near the wind; as, to lay a
ship ahold. [jYot in use.] Shak.
AHOVAI, n. A trivial name synonymous
with Cerhera, a very poisonous species of
plum.
AHOY', Exclam. A sea term used in hail
ing.
AHRIMAN. [See ^riman.]
AHUIT'LA, n. A worm found in the lake of
Mexico, four inches in lengtli, as thick as
a goose-quill ; the tail, which is hard and
poisonous, contains a sting. Clavigero.
AHUIT'ZOTE, n. An amphibious quadru-
ped of the tropical climate of America,
whose body is a foot long, its snout long
and sharp, its skin of a mixed black and
brown color. Clavigero
A'lA, n. A Brazilian fowl of the spoon-bill
kind, and resendiling that bird in form and
size. Diet. ofJVat. Hist
AICU'RUS, n. A large and beautiful species'
of parrot, foundm Brazil ; its head beauti-
fully variegated with yellow, red and vio-
let colors ; its body green ; the tips of its
wings red, and its tail long and yellow.
Diet, of Nat. Hist.
AID, v.t.. [Fr. aider, to help ; It. aiutare,
which seems to be contracted from L. ad-
-£
juto. In Ar. ^ U or ^j\ signifies to assist
or strengthen, and | ^ \ and j i 1 to help.
In Welsh, ced is a benefit, and the word
was used to denote the aids of feudal ten-
ants.]
To help ; to assist ; to support, either by
furnishing strength or means to effect a
jjurpose, or to prevent or remove evil.
AID, n. Help ; succor ; support ; assistance.
ff'atts.
2. The person who aids or yields support ;
a helper ; an auxihary ; also the thing that
aids or yields succor.
3. In English law, a subsidy or tax granted
by parliament, and making a part of the
king's revenue.
In France, aids are equivalent to customs,
or duties on imj)orts and exports. Encyc.
4. In England, a tax paid by a tenant to his
lord ; originally a mere gift, which afVer-
wards became a right deniandable by the
lord. The aids of this kind were chiefly
three. 1. To ransom the lord when a
prisoner. 2. To make the lord's eldest
son a knight. 3. To marry the lord's eld-
est daughter. Bladcslonc.
5. An aiddecamp, so called by alilin-Matiou.
(i. To pray in aid, in law, is to call in a ])er-
son interested in a title, to assist in defend-
ing it. Thus a tenant for life may pray
in the aid of him in remauider or rever-
sion ; that is, he may pray or petition that
he may be joined in the suit to aid or help
maintain the title. This act or petition is
called aid-prayer. Cowel. Blackstone.
Court of aids, in France, is a court which has
cognizance of causes respecting duties or
customs. Encyc.
A'IDANCE, n. Aid ; help ; assistance. [Lit-
tle used.] Shak.
A'IDANT, a. Helping ; helpfid ; supplying
aid. [Not used.]
A'IDDE€AMP, n. plur. Aiddecamps. [Fr.,
but naturalized, and here angUcized.]
In military affairs, an officer whose duty is to
receive and communicate the orders of a
general officer. [The pronunciation should
be English, according to the orthography,
not aid de cong.]
A'IDED, pp. Assisted; supported; furnish-
ed with succor.
A'IDER, n. One who helps ; an assistant,
or auxiliary.
A'IDING, iqir. Helping; assisting.
A'lDM'.SS, (/. Helpless; without aid; un-
siippoited ; undefended. Shak.
A'I(ii;i:T, AIGRETTE, n. In zoologxj, a
name of the small white heron.
Diet, of Nat. Hist.
2. In botany. [See Egret.]
A'lGULET, n. [Fr. Usually contracted in-
to aiglet, which see.]
A point or tag, as at the ends of fringes.
A'IKRAW, n. A popular name of a species
of hchen, or moss. Fam. of Plants.
AIR
AIR
A I R
AIL, V. I. [Sax. eglian, to be troubled, to be
irksome ; egle, trouble, grief. In the Sax-
on, it is impersonal.]
To trouble ; to affect with imeasiness, either
of body or mind ; used to express some un-
easiness or affection, whose cause is un-
known ; as, what ails the msui .' I know
not what ails him.
What aileth thee, Hagar .' Gen. xxi.
It is never used to express a specific dis
case. We never say, he ails a pleurisy
but it is usual to say, he ails something
he ails notliing ; nothing ails him.
AIL, n. Indisposition, or morbid affection.
A'lLING, ppr. Diseased ; indisposed ; full
of complaints.
A'lLMENT, n. Disease ; indisposition
morbid affection of the body ; but the
word is not appUed ordinarily to acute
diseases.
AIM, V. i. [Qu. Ir. oigham, to eye. Skin-
ner refers this word to the old Pr. esmer.
If this was the orthography, I know not its
afiinities.]
To point at, Avith a missive weapon ; to d
rect the intention or purpose ; to attempt
to reach, or accomplish ; to tend towards ;
to endeavor ; followed by at before the
object ; as, a man aims at distinction ; o
aims to be rich.
-AIM, V. t. To direct or point as a weapon
to direct to a partieidar object ; as, to aivi
a musket or an arrow, the fist or a blow ;
to aim WKitire or a reflection at some per-
son or Wee.
AIM, n. The pointmg or direction of a mis-
sile weapon ; the direction of any thing to
a particular point or object, with a view
to strike or affect it ; as a spear, a blow, a
discourse or remark.
9. The point intended to be hit, or object
tended to be affected ; as, a man missed
his aim.
3. Figuratively, a purpose ; uitention ; d'
sign ; scheme ; as, men are often disap-
pointed of their aim.
4. Conjecture; guess.
It is impossible, by aim , to tell it. [A'ot useJ.]
Spenser on Ireland.
AIMED, p/j. Pointed; directed; intended
to strike or affect.
AIMER, n. One that aims.
A'IMING, ppr. Pointing a weapon
object ; directing any thing to an object ;
intending ; purposing.
A'IMLESS, a. Without aim. May.
\IR, n. [Fr mV; L. acr; Gr. aj?p; It. ana ;
S[). ayre; Port, ar ; Arm. tar, eer; Ir. aer
W. atcyr; Ch. TIN ; Syr. ; ] ] ; Eth. ^ _£ /J
Ar. lj<. This word, in the Shemitic
languages, falls under the root iix Heb.
and Ch., to sliine. The radical sense
to open, expand ; whence clear ; or to
flow, to shoot, to radiate.]
1. The fluid which we breathe. Air is ino-
dorous, invisible, insipid, colorless, elastic
possessed of gravity, easily moved, rarefi
ed, and condensed.
.llmospheric air is a compound fluid, con
sisting of oxygen gas, and nitrogen or azo-
te ; the proportion of each is stated by
chimists differently ; some exjieriments
making the oxygen a twenty-eighth part
of a hundred ; others, not more than a!
twenty-third, or something less. The lat-
ter is probably the true proportion.
Oxrjgen gas is called vital air. The body
of air surrounding the earth is called the
atmosphere. The specific gravity of air is
to that of water, nearly as 1 to 828. Air
is necessary to life ; being inhaled into the
lungs, the oxygenous part is separated
from the azotic, and it is supposed to fur-
nish the body with heat and animation.
It is the medium of sounds and necessary
to combustion.
Air in motion ; a Ught breeze.
Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play.
Pope.
3. Vent ; utterance abroad ; publication ;
pubhcity ; as, a story has taken air.
You gave it air before me. Drydtii.
Wind is used in like mamier.
4. A tune ; a short song or piece of music
adapted to words; also, the pecuUar mod-
ulation of the notes, which gives music its
character ; as, a soft air. A song or piece
of poetry for singing ; also, the leading
part of a tune, or that wliich is intended
to exhibit the greatest variety of melody.
5. The peculiar look, appearance, manner or
mien of a person ; as, a heavy air ; the air
of youth ; a graceful air ; a lofty air. It
is applied to manners or gestures, as well
as to features.
6. Mrs, in the plural, is used to denote an af-
fected manner, show of j)ride, haughti-
ness ; as, when it is said of a person, he
puts on airs. The word'is used also to
express the artificial motions or carriage
of a horse.
In painting, that which expresses the life
of action; manner; gesture; attitude.
8. Any thing hght or luicertain ; that is hght
as air.
Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks
Qu. Obs. Shah-
!). Advice ; mtelligence ; information. Obs.
Bacon
10. Different states of air are characterized
by different epithets ; as, good air, foul air
morning air, evening air ; and sometimes
airs may have been used for ill-scent
vapor, but the use is not legitimate.
To take the air, is to go abroad ; to walk or
ride a little distance.
To take air, is to be divulged ; to be made
public.
AIR, V. t. To expose to the air ; to give ac
cess to the open air ; to ventilate ; as, t<
air clothes ; to air a room.
2. To expose to heat ; to warm ; as, to air
liquors.
:?. To dry by a fire ; to expel dampness; as
to air iinen.
A'IRA, n. Hair grass, a genus of plants.
A'IR-BALLOON. [See Balloon.]
A'IR-BLADDER, n. A vesicle or cutifk
filled with air ; also, the bladder of a fish
Arbuthnot
A'IR-RORN, a. Bornof the air. Congreve
AIR-BRAVING, a. Braving the winds.
Shak
A'IR-BUILT, a. Erected in the air; hav-
ing no solid foundation ; chimerical ; as,
an air-built castle ; air-built hopeti.
A'IR-DRAWN, a. Drawn in air ; imagina-
I ry. Shak.
' A'IRED, pp. E.xposed to air ; cleansed by
air ; heated or dried by exposure to a fire ;
ventilated.
;\'IRER, 7[. One who exposes to the air.
A'IR-GUN, n. A pneumatic engine, resem-
bling a musket, to discharge bullets by
means of the elastic force of compressed
air. Encyc.
V'IR-HOLDER, n. [Air and hold.]
An instrument for holding air, for the pur-
pose of counteracting the pressure of a
decreasing coliunn of mercury.
Clayfield. Davy.
A'lR-HOIiE, n. An opening to admit or
dLscharge air.
.\'IRINESS, n. Exposure to a free current
of air ; openne.=s to the air; as, the airi-
ness of a country seat.
2. Gayety ; levity ; as, the airiness of young
persons.
A'IRING, ppr. Exposing to the air ; warm-
ing ; drying.
A'IRING, n. An exposiu-e to the air, or to
a fire, for warming or drying ; also, a walk
or ride in the open air ; a short excursion.
The exercise of horses in the open air.
A'IR-JACKET, n. A leather jacket, to
which are fastened bags or bladders filled
with air, to render persons buoyant in
swimming. Encyc.
A'IRLESS, a. Not open to a free current
of air; wanting fi-esh air, or commmiica-
tion with open air.
A'IRLING, a. A thoughtless, gay person.
Jonson.
A'IR-PIPE, n. A pipe used to draw foul air
from a ship's hold, by means of a commu-
nication with the furnace, and the rare-
faction of the air by fire. This pipe is in-
tended to supply the combustion with the
air of the hold, by preventing the access of
other air to the fire. Encyc.
AIR-POISE, n. [Air and poise.]
An instrument to measure the weight of the
air.
A'IR-PUMP, n. A macliine for exhausting
the air of a vessel. The machines for this
purpose are of different constructions.
A'IR-SACS, n. Air bags in birds, which are
certain receptacles of air, or vesicles lodg-
ed in the fleshy parts, in the hollow bones
and in the abdomen, wldch all communi-
cate with the lungs. These are supposed
to render the body specifically lighter, and
to supply tlie place of a muscular dia-
phragm. Encyc.
AIR-SHAFT, n. A passage for air into a
mine, usually opened in a perpendicular
direction, and meeting the adits or hori-
zontal passages, to cause a free circuJa-^
tion of fresh air through the mine. Encyc.
AIR-STIRRING, a. Puttmgthe air in mo.
tion. May.
A'lR-TIIREAD, n. A name given to die
siiiiler's webs, which are often seen float-<
log in the air. These filaments are at-
tached to the tops or ends of branches of
shrubs or trees, and serve to support llie
spider when in quest of prey. Encyc.
A'IR-THREATENING, a. Threatenine the
air ; lofty. Todd.
,-V IR-VES.*«EL, n. A spiral duct in plants
containbig air, and supposed to be analo-
gous to the lungs in animals. Encyc.
A'IRY, a. Consisting of air ; as, an airy
substance.
A K 1
a. Relating or belonging to air ; high in air ;
as, an airy flight ; airy region.
3. Open to a free current of air ; as, an airy
situation.
4. Light as air; resembling air; thin; un-
substantial ; without soBcUty ; as, airy
ghosts. An airy dress is one which ad-
mits air, and is cool.
5. Without reality ; having no sohd founda
tion ; vain ; trifling ; as, an airy scheme ;
airy notions.
6. Gay; sprightly; full of vivacity and Ic^n-
ty ; light of heart ; Uvely ; as, an airy girl,
A'IRY, or A'ery, n. [See Aery.]
Among sportsinen, the nest of the hawk or
eagle.
A'IRY-FLYING, a. Flying like air.
Thomson.
AISLE, or AILE, n. Pronounced Re. [Fi
aite, a wing ; L. ala.]
The wing of a quire ; a walk in a church.
AIZO'ON, n. [Sax. aizon, from L. aizoon
It seems to be composed of Or. au, always.
Sax. aa, Eng. aye, and |uor, livuig.]
A genus of plants, called by Miller semper
vine. Tlie name has, by some writers, been
applied to the house leek and to the aloes,
Encyc.
AJA'VA, n. The seed of a plant brought
from Malabar, said to be an excellent car
minative, and very useful in the colic.
Quincy.
AJU'GA, n. Bugle, a genus of plants.
Encyr
AJU'RU-CATINGA, n. A species of Amer
ican parrot, of a green color, with eyes of
a fiery red, encircled with white.
AJU'RU-€URAU, n. An American parrot,
of a Uvely green color, with a blue crown ;
the throat, and sides of the head, of a fine
yellow.
AJU'RU-PARA, n. A small parrot of Amer-
ica, of a beautiful green, with the beak,
legs and circlets of the eyes white.
Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
VJ'UTAGE, or AD'JUTAgE, n. [Fr. from
ajouter, to join.]
\ tube fitted to the mouth of a vessel
through which the water of a fountain is
to be played.
AKE, V. i., less properly written acAe. [Sax,
ace, pronounced ake. See .^che.]
1. To be in pain ; usually, in pain of some con-
tinuance.
2. To feel distress of mind ; to be grieved ;
as, the heart akes.
AKE, n. Continued pain, less severe than
is expressed by pang, agony, and torment ;
as, the tooth-aie ; head-afte. It is com
monly used in composition with the name
of the jjart aflfected, as head-ake.
A'KER, n. [Gr. (vypoj; L. ager; Sax. acer,
pronounced aker ; Germ, acker. The most
correct orthography is aker.]
Origuially an open field. But in G. Britain,
the quantity of land in the aker is fixed by
statute at four thousand eight hundred and
forty square yards, n]aking one hundred
and sixty square rods, perches or poles ;
and this is the quantity of land it contauis
in the United States of America. [See
Acre.]
AKIN', a. [a or of and kin. See Kin.]
i. Related by blood, used of persons ; as,
the two lamilies are near akin.
% Allied by nature ; partaking of the same
ALA
properties; as, envy and jealousy at
akin. [This adjective is used only after the
noun.]
A'KING, ppr. Having continued pain ; suf-
fering distress of mind, or grief.
A'KING, n. Continued pain, or distress of
mind.
AL, in Arabic, an adjective or inseparable
prefix, answering to the ItaUan il, and Sp
el and la. Its use is to render nouns defi
nite, Uke the Enghsh tlit ; as, alkoran, the
koran or the book by eminence ; alcove
alchimy, alembic, almanac, &c.
AL, in Enghsh, is sometimes a contraction
of the Saxon ccthel, noble or illustrious.
More generally al, in composition, is a con
traction of aid or alt, old, and it is prefix-
ed to many names, as Alburg. Sax. eald
Germ, alt, old.
Al, m the composition of Latin words, is
written before I for ad, for the ease of pro
nunciation ; as, in allevo, alludo, for ad levc
ad tudo.
AL'ABASTER, n. [L. from Gr. axoffafpor
A sub-variety of carbonate of lime, found in
large masses, formed by the deposition of
calcarious particles in caverns of lime
stone rocks. These concretions have i
foliated, fibrous or granular structure,
and are of a pure white color, or more
generally they present shades of yellow
red or brown, in undulating or concentric
stripes, or in spots. Cleaveland.
Among the ancients, alabaster was also the
name of a vessel in which odoriferous li
quors were kept ; so called from the stone
of which it was made. Also, the name of
a measure, containing ten ounces of wine
or nine of oil. Encyc. Macquer. Pliny.
AL'ABASTER, a. Made of alabaster,
resemhhng it.
Alabastrum dendroide, a kind of laminated
alabaster, variegated with figures of shrubs
and trees, found in the province of Hohen
stein. Encyc.
ALACK', exclam. [Per. jsTiViil'alaka, per-
dition, destruction, and alaksadan, to per-
ish.]
An exclamation expressive of sorrow.
ALACK' ADA Y. An exclamation uttered to
express regret or sorrow.
ALAC'RIOUSNESS, n. Briskness. [jVof
used.]
ALA€'RITY, «. [L. alacritas, from alacer,
alacris.']
Cheerfulness ; gayety ; sprightliness ; more
usually, a cheerful readiness or prompt'
tude to do some act ; cheerful willingness
as, the soldiers advanced with alacrity to
meet the enemy.
ALAD'INISTS. Free thinkers among the
Moliammedans. Encyc.
AL'ALITE, ». A crystalized mineral; diop-
side ; a semi-transparent pyroxene. A
variety with twelve sided prisms, was
found by Bonvoisin, near the village of
Ala in Piedmont, and by him called Ala-
lite. Cleaveland.
ALAMJRE', n. The lowest note but one, in
Guidci Aretine's scale of music. Johnson.
ALAMODAL'ITY, n. Conformity to ihr
prevailing ijjode, or fashion of the times
[Little used.] Encyt
ALB
ALAMO'DE adv. [Fr. a la mode, after the
fashion.]
According to the fashion or prevailing mode
fVhittock.
ALAMO'DE, n. A thin glossy silk for hoods,
scarfs, &,c.
ALAND', adv. At or on land. Sidney.
AL'ARM, «. [Dan. larm, noise, bustle,
alarm; larmer, to make a noise or bustle,
to alarm; G. larm, laitnen, \d ; Sw. larm,
larma, id ; Fr. alarme, alarmer ; Sp. alarma,
alarmar ; It. aUarme, allarmare ; W. alarm,
a great shout, compounded of al, very,
most, and garm, an outciy. The Welsh
gives the true origin and primary signifi-
cation.]
1. Any sound, outcry or information, intend-
ed to give notice of approaching danger
as, to sound an alarm.
8. A summon to arms. Dryden.
3. Sudden surprise with fear or terror ; as,
the fire or the enemy excited an alarm.
4. Terror ; a sensation excited by an appre-
hension of danger, from whatever cause ;
as, we felt an alann at the cry of fire.
5. In/eraawg-, an appeal or challenge. Encyc.
AL^ARM, V. t. To give notice of danger ;
to rouse to vigilance, and exertions for
safety.
2. To call to arms for defense.
3. To surprise with apprehension of danger ;
to disturb with terror ; to fill with anxiety
by the prospect of evil.
AL' ARM-BELL, ji. A beU that gives no-
tice of danger.
AL' ARMED, pp. Notified of sudden danger ;
surprised with fear ; roused to vigilance
or activity by apprehension of approach-
ing danger ; solicitous at the prospect or
expectation of evil. Thus, we are alarmed
at the approach of danger, or alarmed for
the safety of friends at sea.
AL' ARMING, ppr. Givijig notice of ap-
proaching danger ; rousing to vigilance ;
exciting sohcitude by a prospect of evil.
AL' ARMING, a. Exciting apprehension ;
terrifying ; awakening a sense of danger;
as, an alarming message.
ALARMINGLY, adv. Whh alarm ; in a
manner to excite apprehension.
AL'ARMIST, n. One that excites alarm.
AL' ARM-POST, n. A place to which troops
are to repair in cases of an alarm.
AL' ARM-WATCH, n. A watch that strikes
the hour by regulated movement. Herbert.
RUM, foi ■
i be used.
ALARUM, for alarm, is a corruption, and
ALAS' ex. [Dutch helaas ; Fr. helas.]
An exclamation expressive of sorrow, grief,
pity, concern, or apprehension of evil ;
sometimes followed by day or while ; alas
the day, like alack a day ; or alas the while,
(Obs. Spenser.) expressing an unhappy
time.
ALA'TE, adv. Lately. [M>t used.]
ALA'TED, a. [L. a/a, a wing; ate/«s, wing-
ed.]
Winged ; having dilatations like wings.
Botany.
AL'ATERN, n. A trivial name of a species
of rhamnus or buckthorn.
ALB, n. [L. albus, Gr. cA^os, white.]
A surplice or vestment of white linen, reach-
hig to the feet, worn by the Romish cler-
gy. Also a Turkish coin, called also an
asper, value one hundred and twelve mills
ALB
AL'BATROS, n. An aquatic fowl, belong'
ing to the order of ansers. Tlie bill ii
strait ; the upper mandible crooked at the
point, and the lower one truncated ; the
nostrils are oval, open and Uttle promi
nent, and placed on the sides ; the wings
are pennated, and there are three webbed
toes on each foot. The upper part of the
body is of a spotted brown, and the belly
white. It is of the size of a pelican or
larger, very voracious, preying on fish and
small water fowls. These fowls are seen,
in great numbers, about the capes of the
two continents, and on the northern shores
of Asia. They are sometimes called the
great gull. Encyc.
ALBE'IT, [This is supposed to be a com-
pound of aH, fceand it, and is equivalent to
admit, or grant it all.]
Be it so ; admit all that ; althougli ; notwith-
standing.
Whereas ye say, the Lord saith it, albeit I
have not spoken. Ez. xiii.
[This word ts now antiquated.]
AL'BELEN, n. A fish of the truttaceous or
trout kind, found in the German lakes,
weighing five or six pounds.
Did. o/Nat. Hist.
ALBES'CENT, a. [L. albesco, to grow white.]
Becoming white, or rather, whitish ; mod-
erately wliite. Encyc.
AL'BleORE, -II. [Port, albacor; at and
bacoro, a little pig.]
A marine fish, like a tunny, noted for follow-
ing ships.
ALBIGEN'SES, ALBEgEOIS, n. A party
of Reformers, who sejjarated from the
church of Rome, in tlie 12th century ; so
called from the Albegeois, asmallterritoiy
in France, where they resided. They are
sometimes confounded with the fValdenses ;
but they were prior to them in time, differ-
ed from them in some of their tenets, and
resided in a different part of France. The
catholics made war ujion them, and they
gradually dwindled, till the reformation,
when the remains of them fell in with the
followers of ZuingUus and the Genevan
Protestants. Encyc.
AL'BIN, n. [L. albus, wliite.]
A mineral, of an opake white color, consist-
ing of aggregated crj'staline lamins, found
in Bohemia.
This is regarded as a variety of apophyllite.
Werner. Cleaveland.
ALBI'NO, n. [L. albus, white.]
A white descendant of black parents, or a
white person belonging to a race of blacks.
A person unnaturally white.
ALBI'NOS, n. A name signifying white
men, given by the Portuguese to the white
negroes of Africa. The color of this race
appears like that of persons affected with
leprosy ; and the negroes look upon them
as monsters. Encyc.
AL'BION, n. An ancient name of England,
still used in poetry. It is supposed this
name was given to it on account of its
white cliffs.
ALBO'RA, n. A sort of itch or rather lep
rosy, terminating without ulceration, but
with fetid evacuations in the mouth and
nostrils. Qutnei/.
ALBO'RO, n. The erythrinus, a small red
fisb of the Mediterranean.
Diet. of. Vat. Hist.
A L C
ALBUgIN'EOUS, a. [L. albugo, the white
spot in the eye, from albus white.]
Pertaijiing to or resembling the wliite of the
eye, or of an egg. Encyc.
Mbugineous humor, the aqueous humor ofthe
eye. Encyc. ^uincy.
ALBU'GO, n. The white speck in the eye,
called the fihn, haw, dragon, pearl or
cicatrice. Also a disease ofthe eye, occa-
sioned by a white opake spot growing on
the cornea and obstructing vision. It is
called also leucoma, nebula, pannus oculi,
onyx, unguis, &c. Quincy. Encyc.
ALBU'LA, n. A species of truttaceous fish,
destitute of teeth. The Albula Indica is
called by the Dutch wit-fish, and is ofthe
size of a herring. The Albula nobilis is a
fish caught in the lakes of Germany.
Did. o/JVdf. Hist.
AL'BUM, n. [L. albus, white.]
1. Among the Romans, a white table, board
or register, on which the names of public
officers and pubUc transactions were en-
tered. Lat. Did.
2. A book, originally blank, in which for-
eigners or strangers insert autographs of
celebrated persons, or in which friends in-
sert pieces as memorials for each other.
ALBU'MEN, n. [L. from albus, white.]
The white of an egg. A like substance is a
hief con.stituent in all animal solids. Ure.
ALBU'MINOUS, a. Pertaining to, or hav-
ing tlie properties of albumen.
AL'BURN, ? 71. [L. alburnum, from albus,
ALBURNUM, S white.] .
The white and softer part of wood, between
the inner bark and the wood. In Amer-
ica, it is popularly called the sap. This is
annually acquiring hardness, and becom-
ing wood. Milne.
AL'BURN, n. [L. albumus, from albus,
white.]
A fish called the bleak. It belongs to the
order of abdominals, and the genus Cypri-
nus. It is five or six inches in length, and
esteemed delicious food. Artificial pearls
are made of its scales. Encyc.
AL'€AHEST, or AL'KAHEST, n. [Arabic]
A pretended universal dissolvent, or men-
struum. [See Alkahest.]
AL€A'le, a. Pertaining to Alcaeus, a Lyric
poet of Mitylene, in Lesbos, who flourished
about the forty-fourth Olym|)iad ; or to
other poets of the same name, of which
three are mentioned ; one an Athenian
tragic poet, and anotlier a Messenian.
AL€A'ICS, n. plu. Several kinds of verse,
so called from Alcfeus, their inventor. One
kind consists of five feet, a spondee or
iambic, an iambic, a long syllable and two
dactyls. Encyc.
AL€A'ID, n. [Sp. alcayde-; Port. alcaide; Ar.
Jv J li' kaidon, with the prefix al, from j I. ji
to lead, rule, govern. Hence the Cadi of
the Turks.]
Among the Moors, Spaniards and Portu-
guese, a governor. In Portugal, the chief
civil magistrate of a town or city ; also the
jurisdiction of certain judges of appeal.
In Spain, the governor of a castle or fort :
also a jailer. Span, and Port. Diet.
AL€AN'NA, n. [Arabic] A plant ; and a
powder, prepared from the leaves of the
A L C
Egyptian privet, used by the Turkish fe-
males to give a golden color to tlie nails
and hair. Infused in water, it forms a
yellow color ; with vinegar, it forms a red.
From the hemes is extracted an oil, used
in medicine. In Cairo, it forms an article
ofconmierce. Encyc. Theophrast.
AL'CATRAZ, n. The Spanish name of tlie
Pelecanus Onocrotalus of Linne ; a peU-
can ; also a fish taken on the coast of
India. Span. Did.
ALCAV'ALA, n. In Spain, a tax on every
transfer of property, real or personal.
Encyc.
ALCE'DO, n. [L.]
The king fisher ; a genus of birds, of the
order of Picae. The species are numerous.
They usually live about rivers, feeding on
fish, which they take by darting into the
water with surprising velocity. [See Hal-
cyon.
ALCHIM'le, \ a. Relating to alchimy,
AL€lIIM'l€AL, i or produced by it.
ALeHIM'l€ALLY, adv. In the manner of
alchimv.
AL'CHIMIST, n. One who practices al-
chimy.
ALCHIMIST'Ie, la. Practicing alchi-
ALCHIMIST'ICAL, S my, or relating to
it. Bxirke, Rev.
AL'€HIMY, n. [It. alchimia; Ar. al, the,
and Ia.«.a.S5 kimia, secret, hidden, or
the occult art, from ^ ^^^^^kamai. to
hide. See Chimistry.]
1. The more sublime and difficult parts of
chimistry, and chiefly such as relate to the
transmutation ofmetals into gold, the find-
ing a universal remedy for diseases, and an
alkahest or universal solvent, and other
things now treated as ridiculous. This
pretended science was much cultivated in
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries,
but is now held in contempt.
2. Formerly, a mixed metal used for uten-
sils.
.4L€MA'NIAN, a. Pertaining to Alcman, a
lyric poet of the twenty-seventh Olym-
piad, celebrated for his amorous verses.
The Alcmanian verse consisted of two dac-
tyls and two trochees. Encyc.
AL'CO, n. A quadruped of America, nearly
resembhng a dog, but mute and melan-
choly ; and this circumstance seems to
have given rise to the fable that dogs, trans-
ported to America, become mute. The
animal was used for food by the native
Americans, and the first Spanish settlers ;
but it is said to be now extinct. It is
known also by the name of Techichi.
Clavigero.
ALCOHOL, «. [Ar. J..=:v^5 kahala; Heb.
Syr. and Eth. Snj, to paint with a prepa-
ration of powder of antimony. The oi-i-
ental females still practice the painting of
the eye brows with this material. The
name was appHed to this substance, and
afterwards to other fine powders, and to
highly rectified spirits.]
Pure or highly rectified spirit, obtained from
fermented liquors by distillation. It con-
A L D
sisis of liydrogen, carbon and n\yj;ei
it is extremely light and inflammable, an
a powerlul stimulant and antiseptic. This
is the usual sense of the word ; but ori-
ginally, in Arabic, it signified a fine impal-
pable powder, in which sense it is still
used. Enajc.
»\LCOHOL'I€, o. Pertaining to alcohol, or
partaking of its qualities. Med. Rep.
ALCOHOLIZATION, n. The act of
fying spirit, till it is wholly dephlegniated?;
or of reducuig a substance to an impalpa-
ble powder.
AL'€OHOLIZE, V. t. To convert into alco-
hol; to rectify spirit till it is wholly de-
plilegmated ; also, to reduce a substance
to an impalpable powder.
.\L'€OR, 11. [Ar.] A small star adjoining
to the large bright one in the middle of the
tail of Ursa Major. Encyc.
ALCORAN. [See Korun and Alkoran.]
\L'€OVE or ALCO'VE, n. [Sp. alcoba,
composed of o/, with the Ar. t^S kabba,
to arch, to construct with an arch, and its
derivatives, an arch, a round Jfcuse ; Eng.
cubby.]
I. A recess, or part of a room, separated by
an estrade, or partition of columns, or by
other corresponding ornaments ; in which
is placed a bed of state, and sometimes
seats for company. The bed is sometime
raised two or three steps, with a rail at the
foot. These are frequent in Spain.
Encyc.
ii. A recess in a library, or small lateral
apartment for books.
AL'CYON, n. A trivia' name of the king-
fisher. [See Halcyon.]
AL'CYONITE, n. [Supra.]
A fossil zoophite, somewhat resembling a
fungus. J. of Science
ALCYO'NIUM, n. The name of a subma
ruie plant, or bastard spunge. Also a kind
ALE
tioii. In general, aldermen have the pow-
ers of a justice of the peace, and, with the
mayor, they constitute the court of the
corporation. In most of our cities, they
are annually elected by the citizens.
\L'DERMANLY, o. Pertaining to or like
an alderman. . Simft.
AL'DERN, a. Made of Alder.
ALE, n. [Sax. eala, tale, or aloth ; G. al ;
Sw. Ol ; Dan. til ; Ir. ol. Q,u. Ir. olam, to
drink.]
1. A liquor made from an infusion of malt by
fermentation. It ditters from beer, in
having a smaller proportion of hops. It
is of different sorts, chiefly pale and broimi ;
the first made from malt slightly dried :
the second, from malt more considerably
dried or roasted. Ale was the common
drink of the ancient inhabitants of Evn-ope.
It is usually made with barley ; but some-
times with"wheat, rye, millet, oats, &c.
a fo!
sil foimd in Eng-
Encyc.
Fr. aune, aulne ;
of astroit or
land.
\L'DER, n. [L.alnus;
■ Sax. «?)■.]
\ tree, usually growing in moist land, and
belonging to the genus Alnus. The name
is applied also to some species of other
genera.
ALD'ERMAN, n. phi. Aldermen. [Sax. aid
or eald, old, comp, aider, older, and man ;
G. alt ; D. oud.]
I . Among our Saxon Ancestors, a senior or
superior. The title was applied to princes,
dukes, earls, senators and presiduig magis-
trates ; also to archbishops and bishops,
implying superior wisdom or authority.
Thus, Ethelstan, duke of the East-Angh-
ans, was called alderman of all England ;
and there were aldeniien of cities, coun
ties, and castles, who had jurisdiction
within their respective districts,
i>. In present usage, a magistrate or oflicer ofl
a town coi-porate, next in rank?below the
mayor. The number of aldermen is differ
ent in different cities. In London the
niunber is twenty-six, one in each ward,
and the office is held for life.
Spelman. Cowel. Encyc.
In the United Slates, the number of alder
men depends on the charters of iucorpnra
Q. A merry meeting in EngUsh coimtry ]>\a
ces, so called from the liquor drank.
Ben Jonson
Medicated Ales are those which are preparecll
for medicinal purposes, by an infusion of
herbs during fermentation. Encyc.
.\'LE-BENCH, n. A bench in or before an
ale house. Homilies.
A'LE-BERRY, n. A beverage, made by
boiling ale with spice, sugar and sops of
bread. Jolmson.
A'LE-BREWER, n. One whose occupation
is to brew ale.
A'LE-€ONNER, n. [ale and con, to kiiow
see.]
An officer in London, whose busuiess
inspect the measures used in public houses,
to j)revent frauds hi selluig liquors. Four
of these are chosen annually by the livery
men, in common hall, on midsummer's
day. Ad of Pari.
A'LE-€OST, n. Costmary, a plant, a spe-
cies of Tanacetum.
A'LE-FED, a. Fed with ale. Stafford.
A'LE-GAR, )i. [ale, and Fr. aigre, sour.]
Sour ale ; the acid of ale.
A'LE-HOOF, n. [D. eiloof, a plant used
brewing.]
Ground-ivy, the glechoma hederacea, of
Linne. "The leaves of this plant are used
to clarify and give flavor to ale.
Lee. Encyc.
A'LE-HOUSE, n. A house where ale is re-
tailed ; and hence a tijiling house.
A'LE-HOUSE-KEEPER, n. One who
keeps an ale-house.
A'LE-KNIGHT, n. A pot coinpani(
Chaucer.
A'LE-SHOT, (1. A reckoning to be paid lor
ale.
A'LE-SILVER, n. A duty paid to the Lord
Mayor of London, by the sellers of ale
within the city.
A'LE-STAKE, n. A stake set as a sign be-
fore an ale-house. Chaucer.
A'LE-TASTER, n. An officer apiwinted in
every court leet, and sworn, to inspect ale,
beer and bread, and examine the quality
and quantity within the precincts of the
lordship. Cowel.
A'LE-VAT, n. A vat in which ale is fer-
mented.
ALE
V'LE-WASHED, a. Steeped or soaked in
ale. Shak.
A'LE-WIFE, )i. A woman who keeps an
ale house.
A'LEWIFE, or A'LOOF, n. [This word is
properly aloof, the Indian name of a fish.
See Winthrop on the culture of maiz iu
America, Phil. Trans. No. 142. p. 1065.
and Baddam's Memoirs, vol. 2. 131.]
An American fish, belonging to the genus
Clupea, and called Clupea Serrata. It
resembles the herring. The estabhshed
pronunciation is alewifc, plu. alewives.
ALE€TRYOM'ANCY, n. [Gr. ax^xifvuv, a
cock, and fiavreta, divination.]
An ancient practice of foretelling events by
means of a cock. The twenty four letters
were laid on the ground, and a grain of
corn on each ; a cock was then permitted
to pick up the grains, and the letters under
the grains selected, being formed into
words, were supposed to foretel the event
desired. Encyc.
ALEE', adv. [a or at and lee. See Lee.]
In seaman's language, on the side opposite
to the wind, that is, opposite to the side on
which it strikes. The helm of a ship is
alee, when pressed close to the lee side.
Hard alee or luff alee, is an order to put the
helm to the lee side.
Helm's alee, that is, the helm is alee, a notice
given as an order to the seamen to cause
the head-sails to shake in the wind, with
a view to bring the ship about. Mar. Diet.
A'LEgER, a. [Fr., Sp. aUgre ; L. alacer.]
Gay ; chcerfid ; sprightly. [JVot used.]
Bacon.
ALEGGE, v. t. To lighten ; to lessen ; lo
assuage. [JVot used.]
ALEMB'DAR, n. In Turkey, an officer who
bears the green standard of Mohammed,
when the Sultan appears in public.
Encyc.
rVLEM'BIC, ji. [Ar. ul and^xil or
so? " ..
XX j< a chimical vessel.]
A chimical vessel used in distillation ; usually
made of glass or copper. The bottom
part containing the liquor to be distilled, is
called the cucurbit ; the upper part which
receives and condenses the steam, is called
the head, the beak of which is fitted to the
neck of a receiver. The head is more
properly the alembic. This vessel is not.
so generally used now, as the worm still
and retort.
ALENGTH', adv. [a and length.]
At full length ; along ; stretched at fidl length.
Chaucer.
ALEP'IDOTE, n. [Gr. a priv. and Afrtis,
a scale]
Any fish whose skin is not covered with
scales.
ALERT', a. [Fr. alerte ; Sp. oleHo, vigilant,
watchful, estar aleria, to be on the watch.]
1. Watchful ; vigilant ; active in vigilance.
Hence the miUtary phrase, upon the alert,
upon the watch, guarding against siu--
prise or danger.
2. Brisk ; nimble ; moving with celerity.
S})ectator-
ALERT'NESS, n. Briskness; nhnbleness;
sprightUncss ; levity. Addison-
A L G
A L I
A L
ALEUROiAI'ANCY, n. [Gr. a^vpor, meal,
and liavriia, divination.]
A kind of divination by meal, used by the
ancients. Encyc.
ALEU'TIAN, or ALEU'TI€, a. Designating
certain isles in tlie Pacific ocean, eastward
of Kamtschatka, extending northeastward
towards America. The word is formed
from aleui, which, in Russian, is a bald
rock. Tooke. Pinkerton.
ALEX^ANDERS, n. The name of a plant
of the genus Smyrniuin. Muhlenberg.
ALEX' ANDER'S" FOOT, n. The name of a
plant.
ALEX' ANDRIAN, n. Pertaining to Ale.xan-
dria. There are many cities of this name,
in various parts of the earth. The term
is often applied as an attribute, or used as
a noun, for one who professed or taught
the sciences in the school of Alexatidria,
in Egypt ; a place highly celebrated for its
literature and magnificence, and whose
library, it is said, consisted of 700,000
volumes. The Persians and Turks write
for Alexander, Scander, or Sconder ; and
for Alexandria, Scanderona ; hence Scan-
deroon, a sea port in Syria.
ALEX ANDRINE, or ALEXANDRLVN,
n. A kind of verse, consisting of tweh t
syllables, or of twelve and thirteen alter
nately ; so called from a poem written ii
French on the Ufe of Alexander. Thi;
species of verse is pecuhar to modern
poeti7, but well adapted to epic poems.
The Alexandrine in English consists of
twelve syllables, and is less used than this
kind of verse is among the French, whose
tragedies are generally composed of Alex-
andruies. Pope. Dryden.
ALEXIPH'ARMI€, a. [Gr. o.'Ki%^, to expel,
and ^Kip/jaxof, poison.]
Expelling poison ; antidotal ; sudorific ; that
has the quality of expelling poison or uifec
tion bv sweat.
ALEXi'PH'ARMie, n. A medicine that i:
intended to obviate the effects of poison ;
an antidote to poison or infection. By tli
Greeks, the word was used for an amulet.
Quincy. Encyc.
ALEXITER'le, ? a. [Gr. aXf|J, to expel,
ALEXITE'RLAL, \ and brp.r,iv,i,iov, po
son.]
Resisting poison ; obviating the efllects of
venom. Qiiincy. Encyc.
ALEXlTER'Ie, \ n. A medicine to re-
ALEXITER'I€AL, \ sist the effects of
poison, or the bite of venomous animals ;
nearly synonymous with akxtpham
Used also by the Greeks for an amulet,
AL'GAROT, or AL'GAROTH, n. The
name of an emetic powder, prepared
from the regulus of antimony, dissolved
in acids, and separated by repeated lotion;
in waim water. It is either an Arabic
term, or the name of the inventor, a phy-
sician of Verona. Qittnci/. Encyc.
AL'GEBRA, n. [Ar. al and
the re
duction of parts to a whole, or fractions to
whole numbers, from the verb, which sig-
nifies to consolidate ; Heb. Ch. Syr. aiid
Eth.l2J, to be strong.]
The science of quantity in general, or imi
versal arithmetic. Algebra is a general
ijiethod of computation, in which signs and
sjniibuls, which are commonly tiic letters
of the al])habet, are made to represent
numbers and quantities. It takes an un-
known quantity souglit, as if granted ;
and, by means of one or more quantities
given, proceeds till the quantity supposed
is discovered, by some other known quan-
tity to which it is equal.
This science was of Oriental discovery ; but
vhether among the Arabians or Indians,
s uncertain.
ALgEBRA'I€, }a. Pertaining to alge-
ALgEBRA'I€AL, I bra ; containing an
operation of Algebra, or deduced from
such operation.
Algebraic curve, a figure whose intercepted
diameters bear always the same propor-
tion to their respective ordinates. Bailey.
ALgEBRA'IST, n. One who is versed in
tlie science of algebra.
AL'gENEB, n. A fixed star of the second
magnitude, in the right side of Perseus
Long. 27° 40' 12" of Taurus ; Lat. 30° 05'
28" North. Encyc.
AL6ERiNE', n. [from Algiers.] A native of]
Algiers, a city and a govermnent on the
coast of Africa.
ALgER'iNE', a. Belonging to Algiers.
AL'GID, a. [\.. algidus.] Cold. [.Votused.^
AL'GOL, n. A fixed star of the third mag-
nitude, called Medusa's head, in Perseus ;
Long. 21° 50' 42" of Taurus ; Lat. 23° 23'
47" North. Encyc.
AL'GOR, n. [Lat.] Among physicians, an
luiusual coldness in any p^rt of the body.
ALGORITHM, or AL'GORISM, n. An
Arabic term, signifying numerical com-
putation, or the six operations of arith-
metic. Johnson. Encyc.
AL'GOUS, a. [L. alga, sea weed.]
Pertaining to sea weed ; aboimding with, or
like sea weed.
ALHEN'NA, n. [See Alkenna.]
A'LIAS, [L.] Otherwise ; as in this exam-
ple, Simson alias Smith ; a word used in
judicial proceedings to connect the diffc
ent names by which a person is called,
who attempts to conceal his true name
and pass under a fictitious one.
A'LIAS, 7!. A .second writ, or execution,
issued when the first has failed to enforce
the judgment.
AL'IBI, n. [L.] Elsewhere; in another
place ; a law term. When a person is
charged with an offense, and lie proves
that he could not have committed it, be
cause he was, at the time, in another place
he is said to prove an alibi. The part of
a plea or allegation, which avers the party
to have been in another place, is als(
called an alibi.
A'LIEN, a. dlyen, [L. alienns, from al!ii.i
another ; Ir. aile, eile, oile, another ; W
all, other, and ail, second ; Arm. eel, all,
eguile ; Corn, gele ; Gr. aJ-Ao;. Hence, L.
alieno, to alienate ; cdter, another ; whence
Fr. alterer, to alter ; L. altemo, to alter, to
alternate, and alterco, altercor, to altercate
Eth. t\Cih kalea, to alter, to change
whence alius, another, the second ; the
first letter being lost, except in the Cor
nish and Armoric, as it is in all. See
Class Gl. No. 36, and Ludolf, 387.]
. Foreign ; not belonging to the same coun-
try, land or government.
2. Belonging to one who is not a citizen.
3. Estranged ; foreign ; not allied ; adverse
to ; as, principles alien from our rehgion,
A'LIEN, n.d/7/c»i. A foreigner; one born in,
or belonging to, another country ; one
who is not a denizen, or entitled" to the
privileges of a citizen.
2. In scripture, one who is a stranger to the
church of Christ, or to the covenant of
grace.
At that time, ye were without Christ, be-
ing aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.
Eph. ii.
In France, a child born of residents who are
not citizens, is an alien. In Great Britain,
the children of aliens born in that coun-
try, are mostly natural bom subjects ; and
the childi'en of British subjects, owing al-
legiance to the crown of England, though
born in other countries, are natural sub-
jects, and entitled to the privileges of resi-
dent citizens. Blackstone.
Alien-duty, a tax upon goods imported by
aliens, beyond the duty on the liice goods
imported by citizens ; a discruninating
duty on the tonnage of ships belonging to
aUens, or any extra duties imposed by laws
or edicts on ahens.
A'LIEN, I . r, ,. T
ALIE'NE, \ "■ '• fL- "heno.]
1. To transfer title or property to another :
to sell.
Nor could he aliene the estate, even willi
the consent of the Lord. Blackstone.
2. To estrange ; to make averse or indiffer-
ent ; to turn the affections from.
The prhice was aliened from all thoughts of
the marriage. Clarendon.
In this sense, it is more common to use
ilienate. '
ALIENABIL'ITY,n. The capacity of beuig
alienated or transferred.
The alienability of the domain. Burke.
A'LIENABLE, a. That may be sold, or
transferred to another ; as, land is alien-
able according to the laws of the State.
A'LIENAgE, n. The state of being an aUen.
Why restore e.states, forfeitable on account of
alienage ? Stori/.
A'LIENATE, v. i. [L. alieno.]
1. To transfer title, property or right to
another ; as, to alienate lands, or sove-
reignty.
2. To estrange; to withdraw, as the affec-
tions ; to make indifferent or averse, where
love or friendship before subsisted ; with
from ; as, to alienate the heart or afiec-
tions ; to alienate a man from the friends
of his youth.
3. To apply to a WTong use.
niey shall not alienate the fir.st fruits of the
land. Ezek. xlviii.
A'LIENATE, a. [L. alienatus.]
Estranged ; withdrawn from ; stranger to ;
with/rmn.
O alienate from God, O spirit accurst.
Milton.
The whigs were alienate from truth. Swijt.
ALIENA'TION, n. [L. alienatio.^
1. A transfer of title ; or a legal conveyance
of property to another.
2. The state of being alienated.
3. A withdiawing or estrangement, as of
the heart or affections.
4. Delirium ; derangement of mental facul-
ties ; insgnitv. Hooker,
A L
A L K
A L K
Alienation-office, in Great-Britain, is an of-
fice to which all writs of covenant and en-
try, on wliich fines are levied and recove-
ries suffered, are carried, to have fines for
alienation set and paid thereon. Encyc.
A'LIENATOR, n. One that ahenates or
transfers property. JVarton.
ALIENEE', n. One to whom the title to
property is transferred.
If the aVuncc enters and keeps possession.
Blackstone.
ALI'FE, adv. {a or on and lift.']
On my life. Shak.
ALIF'EROUS, a. [L. ala, whig, and fero,
to bear.]
Having wings.
AL'IFORM, a. [L. ala, ^ving, and forma,
sliapc.]
Having the shape of a wing ; a term applied
to a certain process and muscles of the
body, as the pterygoid process, and the
muscles arismg from that pi-ocess.
ALIG'EROUS, a. [L. ala wing, and gero, to
carry.]
Having wings.
ALI'GHT, V. i. [Sax. alihtan, gelihtan. Uh-
lan. See Light]
1. To get down or descend, as from on
horseback or from a carriage.
2. To descend and settle ; as, a flying bird
alights on a tree.
3. To fall or descend and lodge ; as, snow
alights on a roof.
ALI'KE, a. [Sax. gelic. See Like.]
Having resemblance or similitude ; similar.
The darkness and the light are both alike to
thee. Ps. xiii.
[This adjective never precedes the noun which
it qualifes.]
ALI'KE, adv. In the same manner, form or
degree.
We are all alike concerned in religion.
He fashioneth their hearts alike. Ps. xxxiii
ALI'KE-MINDED, a. Having the same
mind ; but like-minded is more generally
used.
AL'IMENT, n. [L. alimentum, from alo, to
feed ; Ir. alaim, ailim, olaim, to feed or
That which nourishes ; food ; nutriment ;
any thmg which feeds or adds to a sub
stance, animal or vegetable, in natural
srowth.
ALFMENT'AL, a. Supplying food ; that
has the quaUty of nourishing ; that fur-
nishes the materials for natural growth
as, chyle is alimental ; alimental sap.
ALIMENT'ALLY, adv. So as to serve for
nourishment or food.
ALIMENT' ARINESS, n. The quality of|
supi)lying nutrmient.
ALIMENT' ARY, a. Pertaining to aliment
or food ; having the quahty of nourishing
as, alimentary particles.
The alimentary canal, in animal bodies, is
the great duct or intestuie, by which ah
ments are conveyed through the body, and
the useless parts evacuated.
Alimentary law, among the Romans, was
law which obliged children to support
their parents. Encyc.
Ohligation of aliment, in Scots law, is the
natural obligation of parents to ])rovide
for their children. Encyi
ALIMENTA'TION, n. The act or power
of affording nutriment.
2. The state of being nourished.
Johnson. Bacon.
ALIMO'NIOUS, a. [See Alimony.]
Nourishing ; affording food. [lAttle used.]
AL'IMONY, n. [L. alimonia, of alo, to feed.
See Aliment.]
An allowance made for the support of a
woman, legally separated from her hus-
band. The sum is fixed by the proper
judge, and granted out of the husband's
estate. Blackstone.
AL'IPED, «. [L. ala, wing, and pes, foot.]
Wing-footed ; having the toes connected by
a membrane, which serves as a wing.
AL'IPED, n. [Supra.]
An animal whose toes are connected by a
membrane, and which thus sei-ve for
wings ; a cheiropter ; as, the bat.
Dumeril.
AL'IQUANT, a. [L. aliquantum, a little.]
In arithmetic, an ahquant number or part
that which does not measure another
number without a remainder. Thus 5
an aliquant part of 16, for 3 times 5 is 15,
leaving a remainder 1.
ALIQUOT, a. [L.]
An aliquot part of a number or quantity
one which will measure it without a r
mainder. Thus 5 is the aliquot part of 15.
\'LISH, a. [From ale.]
Like ale; having the quaUties of ale.
Mortimer.
ALI'VE, a. [Sax. gelifian, to Uve, from li
fan, to live. See Life.]
1. Having Ufe, in opposition to dead ; living ;
being in a state in which the organs per
form their functions, and the fluids move
whether in animals or vegetables ; as, the
man or plant is alive.
2. In a state of action ; unextinguished ; uii
destroyed ; unexpu-ed ; in force or opera
tion ; as, keep the process alive.
3. Cheerfld ; sprightly ; Hvely ; full of alac
ity ; as, the company were aU alive.
4. Susceptible ; easily impressed ; having
lively feeUngs, as when the mind is solici
tons about some event ; as, one is alive to
whatever is mterestlng to a friend.
Exhibiting motion or moving bodies ir
great numbers.
The city was all alive, when the General en
tered.
6. In o scriptural sense, regenerated ; born
again.
For this my sou was dead and is alive. J
[TViis adjective always follows the noun which
it qualifies.]
AL'KAHEST, n. [Arab.]
A universal dissolvent ; a menstruum capa-
ble of dissolving every body, which Para-
celsus and Van Helmont pretended they
possessed. This pretense no longer '
poses on the creduUty of any man.
The word is sometimes used for fixed salts
volatilized. Encyc.
ALKALES'CENCY, n. [See Alkali.]
A tendency to become alkahne ; or a ten
dency to the properties of an alkah ; oi
the state of a substance in which alkahne
properties begin to he developed, or to be
inedominant. Ure.
ALKALES'CENT, a. Tending to the pro-
perties of an alkali ; slightly alkaline.
AL'KALI, n. plu. Alkahes. [Ar. ^jXi" ka-
li, with the common prefix, tlie plant call-
ed glass wort, from its use in the manu-
facture of glass ; or the ashes of the plant,
which seems to be its prunitive sense, for
the verb signifies to fry.]
In chimistry, a term applied to all bodies
which possess the following properties :
1. a caustic taste ; 2. volatiUzable by
heat ; 3. capability of combining with
acids, and of destroying their acidity ; 4.
solubility in water, even when combined
vnth carbonic acid ; 5. capability of con-
verting vegetable blues to green.
Thomson.
The term was formerly confined to three
substances : 1. potash or vegetable fixed
alkah, generally obtained from the ashes
of wood ; 2. soda or mineral fixed alka-
h, wliich is found in the earth and procu-
red from marine plants ; and 3. ammo-
nia or volatile alkali, an animal product.
Modern chimistry has discovered many new
substances to which the term is now ex-
tended.
The alkahes were formerly considered as
elementary substances; but it is now as-
certainetl that they are all compounds.
The alkahes are used in the manufacture of
glass and soap, in bleaching and in medi-
AL'KALIFY, v. t. To form, or to convert
into an alkali.
AL'KALIFY, v. i. To become an alkali.
ALKALIG'ENOUS, a. [Alkali, and yivvau,,
to generate.]
Producing or generating alkali.
ALKALIM'ETER, n. [Alkali and Gr. ^£-
■fpoi/, measure.]
An instrument for ascertaining the strength
of alkalies, or the quantity of alkah in pot-
ash and soda. Ure.
AL'KALINE, a. Having the properties of
alkali.
The quahty which coii-
Thomson.
Alkaline ; impregnated
Boyle. JVewton.
n. The act of render-
ing alkahne by impregnating with an al-
kali.
AL'KALIZE, V. t. [and formerly Alkali-
zate.]
To make alkaline ; to conununicate the pro-
perties of an alkali to, by mixture.
AL'KANET, n. The plant bugloss. The
root is used to unpart a deep red color to
oily substances, ointments, plasters, &c.
Encyc.
ALKEKEN'GI, n. The winter cherry,' a
species of physalis. The plant bears a
near resemblance to solanuiii, or night-
shade. The berry is medicinal.
Chambers.
ALKEN'NA, or ALHEN'NA, n. Egyptian
privet, a species of Lawsonia. The pulveri-
zed leaves of this plant are much used by
the eastern nations for staining their nails
yellow. The powder, being wet, forms a
paste, which is bound on the nails for a
night, and the color thus given will last
several weeks. Enq/c.
ALKALINITY, n.
stitutes an alkali.
AL'KALIZATE, a.
with alkah. Obs.
ALKALIZA'TION,
ALL
ALL
A L L
ALKERM'ES, n. [Arab. See Kennes.]
In pharmacy, a compound cordial, in the
form of a confection, derived from the
kermes berries. Its other ingredients are
said to be pippin-cider, rose water, sugar,
ambergris, nmsk, cinnamon, aloes-wood,
pearls, and leaf-gold.
Quincy. Chambers. Enajc.
ALKER'VA, n. An Arabic name of tlie
Palma Cbristi. Quincy.
AL'KORAN, n. [Arab, al, the, and koran,
book. The book by way of eminence, as
we say the Bible. See Koran. It is pro-
nounced, I beUeve, by orientalists, alko-
raivn.]
The book wliich contains the Mohammedan
doctrines of faith and practice. It was
written by Mohammed, in the dialect of
the Korcish, whicli is the purest Arabic ;
but the Arabian language has suffered
such changes, since it was written, that
the language of the Alkoran is not now in-
telligible to the Arabians themselves, with-
out being learnt like other dead languages.
JViebukr. Encyc.
AL'KORANIST, n. One who adheres
strictly to the letter of the Alkoran, re-
jecting all comments. The Persians are
generally AUtoranists ; the Turks, Arabs,
and Tartars admit a multitude of tradi-
tions.
ALKUS'SA, n. A fish of the Silurus kind,
with one beard only under the chin.
Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
ALL, a. awl. [Sax. eal ; Dan. al; G. all;
Sw. all.; W. oil or hall ; Ann. oil ; h:
■uile ; Gr. oXo; ; Shemitic Sj, from rhj
ealah, to be ended or completed, to pc
feet. The Welsh retains the first radic
letter. This is radically the same word as
heal ; for in Sw. hel, and in Dan. hele, signi-
fy all, and these words are from the root of
heal. See Call, Heal and Whole.]
1. Eveiy one, or the whole number of par-
tictilars.
'■I. The whole quantity, extent, duration,
amount, quality, or degree ; as, all the
wheat ; all the land ; all the year ; all the
strength. This word signifies then, the
whole or entire thing, or all the parts or
)iarticulars which compose it. It alway;
precedes the definitive adjectives, the, my,
Ihy, hi.f, our, your, their ; as, all the cattle ;
all my liibor ; all thy goods ; all his wealth ;
nil oiii- families ; all your citizens ; all their
prn,.(.rty.
This word, not only in popular language,
but in the scriptures, often signifies, indef-
initely, a large portion or number, or a
great part. Thus, all the cattle in Egypt
died ; all Judea and all the region round
about Jordan ; all men held John as a
prophet ; are not to be understood in a
literal sense, but as including a large part
or very great numbers.
This word is prefixed to many oth
words, to enlarge their signification ; as
already, always, all-prevailing.
ALL, adv. Wholly ; completely ; entirely ;
as all along ; aU bedewed ; all over ; my
friend is all for amusement ; I love my
father all. In the ancient phrases, all too
dear, all so long, this word retains its ap-
pro])riate sense ; as, " he thought them six-
pence all too dear," that is, he thought
Vol. I.
them too dear by the sum of sixpence,
In tlie sense a( although, as "all were it as
the rest," and in the sense ot just, or at tht
moment, as "oH as his straying flock he
fed," it is obsolete, or restricted to poetry,
It is all one is a phrase equivalent to the same
thing in effect ; that is, it is wholly the same
thing.
All the better is equivalent to wholly the bet-
ter; that is, better by the whole difierence.
ALL, n. The whole number; as, aH hav
not the .same disposition ; that is, all men.
2. The whole ; the entire thing ; the aggre-
gate amount ; as, our all is at stake.
And Laban said, all tliat thou seest is mine.
Gen. xxxi.
This adjective is much used as a noun, and
applied to persons or things. ]
Ml in all is a phrase which signifies, alii
tlrings to a person, or every thuig desked.j
Thou shall be all in all, and I in thee, |
Forever. Milton:
When the words, and all, close an enumera-j
tion of particulars, the word all is either
intensive, or is added as a general term to
express what is not enumerated ; as, a tree
fell, nest, eagles and all. L'Estrange]
At all is a phrase much used by way of en-
forcement or emphasis, usually in negative!
or interrogative sentences. He has no]
ambition at all ; that is, not in the least de-'
gree. Has he any property a< a/i? j
fill and some, in Spenser, Mason interprets,!
one and all. But from Lye's Saxon Die-,
tionary, it appears that the phrase is a|
corruption of the Sax. emlle cet somne, all
together, all at once, from somne, togeth-j
er, at once. See Lye under Somne. |
All in the wind, in seamen's language, is ai
phrase denoting that the sails are parallel^
with the course of the wind, so as to|
shake. Mar. Dict.i
All is well is a watchman's phrase, express-
ing a state of safety. |
I, in composition, enlarges the meaning, or
adds force to a word ; and it is generally
more emphatical than most. In some in-
stances, all is incorporated into words, as
in almighty, already, ahvays ; but in most'
instances, it is an adjective prefixed to
other words, but separated by a hyphen.
ALL-ABAN'DONED, a. Abandoned bv all.
Sk'elton.
ALL-ABHORRED, a. Detested by all.
Shah.
ALL-A€€OM'PLISHED, a. Fully accom-
plished ; whose education is highly finish-
ed or complete.
ALL-ADMI'RING, a. WTioUy admiring.
Shak.
ALL-ADVI'SED, a. Advised by all.
Tf'arburton.
ALL-APPROVED, a. Approved by all.
More.
ALL-ATO'NING, a. Atoning for all ; ma-
king complete atonement. Dryden.
ALL-BEA'RING, a. Producing every thing :
omniparous. Marston.
ALL-BEAU'TEOUS, a. Perfectly beautiful.
Pope.
ALL-BEHOLDING, a. Beholding or see-
ing all things. Drayton.
ALL-BLASTING, a. Blasting all ; defam-
I ing or destroying all. Marston.
7
ALL-BOUN'TEOUS, ? Perfectly bouuu
ALL-BOUN'TIFUL, i; "• ful ; of infinite
boimty.
ALL-CHA'NuING, a. Perpetually chang-
ing- Shak.
ALL-CHEE'RING, a. That cheers all ; that
gives gavetv or cheerfulness to all. Shak.
ALL-€0MM"ANDING, a. Having com-
mand or sovereignty over all. Raleigh.
ALL-COMPLYING, a. Complying in ev-
ery respect. More.
ALL-eOMPO'SING, a. That makes all
tranquil or peaceful. Crashaw.
ALL-€OMPREHEN'SIVE, a. Compre-
hending all things. GlanvUte.
ALL-€ONCE'ALING, a. Hiding or conceal-
ing all. Spenser.
ALL-CONQUERING, a. That subdues
all. Milton.
ALL-CONSCIOUS, a. Conscious of all ;
all-knowing.
ALL-CONSTRAINING, a. Constraining
all. Drayton.
ALL-CONSU'MING, a. That consumes or
vours all. Pope.
ALL-DA'RING, a. Daring to attempt evei-y
thing. Jonson.
ALL-DESTROYING, a. Destroying every
thing. Fanshaw.
ALL-DEVASTATING, a. Wasting every
thing.
ALL-DEVOUR ING, a. Eating or consum-
ing all. Pope.
ALL-DIMMING, a. Obscuring every thing.
Marston.
ALL-DISCOV'ERING, a. Discovering or
disclosing every thmg. More.
ALL-DISGRACED, a. Completely disgra-
ced. Shak.
ALL-DISPENSING, a. Dispensing all
things ; affording dispensation or permis-
sion. Milton. Dryden.
ALL-DIVI'NE, a. Supremely excellent.
Hoicdl.
ALL-DIVI'NING, a. ForeteUing all thijigs.
Fanshaw.
ALL-DREADED, a. Dreaded by all.
Shak.
ALL-EFFI' CIENT, a. Of perfect or un-
limited efficacy or efficiency.
ALL-EL'OQUENT, a. Eloquent in the
highest degree. Pope.
ALL-EMBRA'CING, a. Embracing all
things. Crashaw.
ALL-ENDING, or. Puttiiic an end to all
things. " Shak.
ALL-ENLI'GHTENING, a. Enlightening
all things. Cotton.
ALL-ENRA'GED, a. Highly enraged. Hall.
ALL-FLA'MING, a. Flaming in all direc-
tions. Beaumont.
ALL-FOOL'S-DA\% n. The first of April.
ALL-FORGIVING, a. Forgiving or par-
doning all. Dniden.
ALL-FOURS, n. [all and/our.]
A game at cards, played by two or four per-
sons ; so called from the possession of^the
four honors, by one person, who is then
said to have all fours.
To go on all fours is to move or walk on
foin- legs, or on the two legs and two arms.
ALL-GIV'ER, n. The giver of all things.
Milton.
ALL-GOOD', a. Completely good. Dryden.
ALL-GQOD'. n. The popular name of thr
ALL
ALL
ALL
plant Good-Henry, or Englisli Mercury,
Chcnopodium bonus Henricus.
ALL-GRA'CIOUS, a. Perfectly gracious.
ALL-GUI'DING, a. Guiding or conducting
all things. Sandys.
ALL-HA'IL, ex. [all and Sax. heel, health.]
All health ; a phrase of salutation, express-
ing a wish of all health or safety to the
person addressed.
ALL-HALLOW, or ALL-HALLOWS, n.
All Saints day, the first of November ; a
feast dedicated to all the saints in general.
ALL-HALLOW-TIDE, n. [lid, in Sax., is
time.]
The time near All Saints, or November first.
ALL-HAP'Py, a. Completely happy.
ALL-HE'AL, 72. The popular name of sev-
eral plants.
ALL-HE'ALING, a. Healing all things.
Selden.
ALL-HELP'ING, a. Assisting all. Selden.
ALL-HI'DING, a. Concealing all things.
Shak.
ALL-HON'ORED, a. Honored by all.
Shak.
ALL-HURTING, a. Hurting all things
Shak.
ALL-I'DOLIZING, a. Worshiping any thing.
Crashnw.
ALL-IM'ITATING, a. Imitating every
thing. More.
ALL-INFORM'ING, a. Actuating all by
vital powers. Sandys.
ALL-IN'TERESTING, a. Interesting in
the lushest degree.
ALL-INTER'PRETING, a. Explaining all
things. Milton.
ALL-JUDG'ING, a. Judging all ; possessing
the sovereign right of judging. Roive.
ALL-JUST', a. Perfectly just.
ALL-KI'ND, a. Perfectly Icind or benevo-
lent.
ALL-KNO'WING, a. Having all knowl-
edge ; omniscient. Mlerbury.
ALL-LI'CENSED, a. Licensed to every
thing. Shak.
ALL-LOVING, a. Of infinite love. More.
ALL-MA'KING, a. Maldng or creating all
oninitic. Dn/den.
ALL-MATU'RING, a. Maturing all things.
Dryden.
ALL-MERCIFUL, a Of perfect mercy or
compassion.
ALL-MURDERING, a. Killing or destroy-
ing every thing. Fanshatv,
ALL-OBEDIENT, a. Entirely obedient.
Crashaw.
ALL-OBEYTNG, a. [See Obey.] Receiving
obedience from all. Shak.
ALL-OBLIV'IOUS, a. Causing total obliv-
ion. Shak.
ALL-OBSeU'RING, a. Obscuring every
thing. King.
ALL-PA'TIENT, a. Enduring every thing
witiiout nuiriuurs. Mitford.
ALL-PEN'ETRATING, a. Penetrating ev-
ery thing. Stafford.
,VLL-PER'FECT, a. Completely perfect;
having all perfection.
ALL-PER'FE€TNESS, n. The perfection
of the whole ; entire perfection. More
\LL-PIER'CING, a. Piercing every thing.
Marston.
ALL-POW'ERFUL, rt. Almighty ; omniiio
tent, Swijl.
ALL-PRAISED, a. Praised by all. Shak
ALL-RULING, a. Governing all things.
Milton.
ALL-SAGA'CIOUS, a. Having all sagacity ;
of perfect discei-nment.
ALL-SAINTS-DAY, n. The first day of
November, called also all hallows ; a feast
in honor of all the saints.
\LL-SAN€'TIFYING, a. Sanctifying the
whole. ff^est.
ALL-SA'VING, a. Saving all. Selden.
ALL-SEARCH'ING, a. Pervading and
seacbing every thing. South.
ALL-SEE'ING, a. Seeing every thing.
Dryden.
ALL-SEE'R, n. One that sees every thing.
Shak.
ALL-SHA'KING, fi. Shaking all things.
Shak.
ALL-SHUN'NED, a. Shmmed by all. Shak.
ALL-SOULS-DAY, »i. The second day of
November ; a feast or solenmity held by
the church of Rome, to supplicate for the
soids of the faithfijl deceased.
ALL'-SPICE, n. The berry of the pimento,
a tree of the West Indies ; a spice of a
mildly pungent taste, and agreeably aro-
matic.
ALL-SUFFI"CIENCY, 7i. Complete or in-
finite aliilitv. Hall.
ALL-SUFFI''CIENT, a. Sufiicient to every
thing ; inflnitelv able. Hooker.
ALL-SUFFI"CIENT, n. The all-sufficient
Being; God. Whitlock.
ALL-SURROUND'ING, a. Encompassing
the whole.
ALL-SURVEY'ING, n. [See Survey.] Sur-
veying every thing. Sandys.
ALL-SUSTA'INING, a. Upholding all
things. Beaumont.
ALL-TELL'ING, a. TelUng or divulging
every thing. Shak.
\LL-tRI'UMPHING, a. Triumphant eve-
ry where or over all. Jonson.
\LL-WaTCH'ED, a. Watched throughout,
Shak
ALL-WI'SE, a. Possessed of infinite wis-
dom. South.
ALL-WIT'TED, a. Having all kinds of wit
Jonson
ALL-WOR'SHIPED, a. Worshiped oi
adored by all. Milton
ALL-WOR'THY, a. Of infinite worth ; of
the highest worth.
AL'LAGITE, n. A mineral, of a brown or
green color, massive, with a flat conchoi-
dal fracture, and nearly opake, found in
the Ilartz near Elbingerode. Phillips.
AL'LANITE, n. A mineral named from
Mr. Allan, of Edinburgh, who first recog-
nized it as a distinct species. It is massive-
of a brownish black color, and conchoidal
fracture. A sUiceous oxyd of cerium.
Cleaveland. Jameson. Ure.
ALLANTOIS' or ALLANTOID', n. [Gr.
ax>.as, a sausage, and fiSo;, form.]
A thin membrane, situated between the cho-
rion and amnios in quadrupeds, and form-
ing one of the membranes which invest
the fetus in those animals. Ed. Encyc.
AL'LATRATE, v. t. [L. allatro.]
To bark, as a dog. [J^oi used.] Stubbes.
ALLA'Y, V. t. [Sax. alecgan, alegan, to lay.
to set, to depress, lecgan, to lay, to cast or
strike down ; G. legen, D. kggen, to lay
Gr. ^»;yu. The Fr. allier, to alloy, Sp.
ligar, seems to be directly from the L. ligo,
to bind ; but this may be the same word
difiereiuly applied, that is, to set, to fix,
to make fast, to unite. Allay and alloy
were formerly used indifierently ; but!
have recognized an entire distinction be-
tween them, applying alloy to metals.]
1. To make quiet; to pacify, or appease ;
as, to allay the tumult of the passions, or
to allay civil commotions.
2. To abate, mitigate, subdue or destroy ;
as, to allay grief or pain.
Females, who soften and allay the bitterness
of adversity. Rawle.
3. To obtund or repress as acrimony ; as, to'
allay the acrid qualities of a substance.
4. Formerly, to reduce the purity of ; as, to
allay metals. Birt, in this sense, alloy is
now exclusively used. [See Alloy.]
ALLA'Y, n. Formerly, a baser metal mixed
with a finer ; but in this sense it is now
written alloy, which see.
2. That which allays, or abates the predom-
inant qualities ; as, the allay of colors.
JVeictoit.
Also, abatement ; diminution by means
of some mixture ; as, joy without allay.
But alloy is now more generally used.
ALLA'YED, pp. Layed at rest ; quieted ;
tranqiulized ; abated ; [reduced by mixture.
Obs.]
ALLA'YER, n. He, or that, which allays.
ALLA'YING, ppr. Quieting ; reducing to
tranquilUty ; abating ; [reducing by mixt-
ure. Obs.]
ALLA'YMENT, n. The act of quieting, or
a state of tranquillity ; a state of rest after
disturbance ; abatement ; ease ; as, the
allayment of grief. Shak.
AL'LE, n. ally. The little auk, or black and
white diver.
ALLEC'TIVE, a. Alluring. [JYot used.]
Chaucer.
ALLEC'TIVE, n. Allurement. [.Vol u.^ed.]
Eliot.
ALLEDgE' 1'. t. [L. allego, ad and lego, to
send ; Fr. alleguer ; Sp. alegar ; Port, aile-
gar ; It. allegare. This is only a modified
application of the Eng. lay ; Ij. loco, to
set, or throw. See Class L g.]
1. To declare ; to affirm ; to assert ; to pro-
nounce with positiveness ; as, to alledge a
fact.
2. To produce as an argument, plea or ex-
cuse ; to cite or quote ; as, to alledge the
authority of a judge.
ALLEDG'ED, pp. Affirmed ; asserted,
whether as a charge or a plea.
ALLEDg'ER, n. One who affirms or de-
clares.
ALLED(i'ING, ppr. Asserting; averring;
declaring.
ALLEGA'TION, n. Aflii-mation ; positive
assertion or declaration.
2. That which is affirmed or asserted ; that
which is offered as a plea, excuse or justifi-
cation.
3. In ecclesiastical courts, a formal complaint,
or declaration of charges.
ALLEGE. [See M^dge.]
ALLEG'EABLE, a. That maybe alledged.
[JVot used.] Brown.
ALLE'GEAS, or A LLE'GIAS, n. A slutf
manufactured in the East Indies, of twt
ALL
ALL
ALL
kinds, one of cotton, the other of variou
plants which are spun like flax. Encyc.
ALLEG'EMENT, 7!. Allegation. [A^o^intt^e.]
ALLEGHA'NEAN, a. Pertaining to the
mountains called Alleghany, or Alle-
ghenny.
ALLEGHA'NY, n. The chief ridge of the
great chains of mountains which run from
N. East to S. West through the middle
and southern states of North America ;
but, more appropriately, the main or un
broken ridge, which casts all the waters
on one side to the east, and on the other
side to the west. This ridge runs from
Pennsylvania to Georgia, and chains e.x-
tend through the U. States.
This name is given also to the river
Ohio, above its confluence with the Mo-
nongahela ; but improperly, as the Indian
name of the river to its source is Ohio.
ALLE'GIANCE, n. [Old Fr. from L. alligo,
of arf and ligo, to bind. See Liege and
Leagiie.]
The tie or obligation of a subject to his
Prince or government ; the duty of fidelity
to a king, government or state. Every
native or citizen owes allegiance to the
government under which he is born.
This is called natural or implied allegiance,
which arises from the connection of a per
son with the society in which ho is born,
and his duty to be ii t'liilil'iil sulijcct, inde-
pendent of any expic-- |ii uinisc. Express
allegiance, is that iililii;ati(iii which pro-
ceeds from an express promise, or oath of
fideUty.
Local or temporary allegiance is due from an
alien to the government or state in which
he resides. Blackstone.
ALLE'(iIANT, a. Loyal. [ATot used.] Shak.
ALLEGOR'I€, > a. In the manner of al-
ALLEGOR'IeAL, ^ legory ; figurative ;
describing by resemblances.
ALLEGOR'IeALLY, adv. In a figurative
manner ; bv way of allegory.
ALLEGOR'i€ALNESS, n. ^lie quaUty of
being allegorical.
AL'LEGORIZE, v. t. To form an allegory;
to turn into allegory ; as, to allegorize the
history of a people. Campbell.
2. To understand in an allegorical sense ; as,
when a passage in a writer may be under-
stood literally or figuratively, he who gives
it a figurative sense is said to allegorize it.
AL'LEGORIZE, v.i. To use allegory; as,
a man may allegorize, to please his fancy.
AL'LEGORIZED, pp. Tm-ned into allegory,
or understood allegorically.
AL'LEGORiZING,;)j9r. Turning into alle-
gory, or understanding in an allegorical
sense.
AL'LEGORY, n. [Gr. aitx^yopia, of a%%0!,
other, and ayopfvu, to speak, from oyopa, a
forum, an oration.]
A figurative sentence or discourse, in which
the principal subject is described by an-
otlier subject resembling it in its properties
and circumstances. The jirincipal subject
is thus kept out of view, and we are left to
collect the intentions of the writer or
speaker, by the resemblance of the secon
dary to the primary subject. Allegory ii
in words what hieroglyphics are in'paint
ing. We have a fine example of an alle
gory in the eightieth psalm, in which God'i
chosen people are represented by a vine-
yard. The distinction in scripture betw
a parable and an allegory, is said to be that
a parable is a supposed history, and an
allegory, a figurative description of real
facts. An allegory is called a continued
metaphor. The following Une in Virgil '
an example of an allegory.
Claudite jam rivos, pueri, sat prata biberuiit.
Stop the currents, young men, the mead-
ows have drank suSiciently ; that is, let
your music cease, our ears have been suf-
ficiently delighted. Encyc.
ALLEGRET'TO, [from allegro,] dcn(
in music, a movement or time quicker than
andante, but not so quick as allegro.
Rousseait. Busby.
ALLE'GRO. [It. merry, cheerful ; It. leg-
flere ; Sp. ligero ; Fr. leger, light, nimble,
ee Light.]
In music, a word denoting a brisk movement ;
a sprightly part or strain ; the quickest
except presto. Piu allegro is a still quicker
movement. Roit-sseau. Encyc.
IaLLELU'IAH, n. [Heb. H'-lSSn, praise to
1 Jah.]
[Praise to Jehovah ; a word used to denote
pious joy and exultation, chiefly in hymns
and anthems. The Greeks retained the
word in their E»,f7.fti Irj, praise to lo ;
probably a corruption of Jah. The Ro
mans retained the latter word in their
lo triumphe.
ALLEMAND', n. A slow air in common
time, or grave, solemn music, with a slow
movement. Also a brisk Sauce, or a figure
in dancing. Diet, of Music.
ALLEMAN'Nl€,a. Belonging to the Ale
anni, ancient Germans, and to Alemannia,
their country. The word is generally sup-
posed lo be composed of all and manni, all
men. Cluver, p. G8. This is probably an
error. The word is more probably com-
posed of the Celtic all, other, the root of
Latin alius and man, place ; one of ano-
ther place, a stranger. The Welsh all-
man is thus rendered, and this seems to be
the original word. Owen, ii'elsh Did
The name, Alemanni, seems to have been first
given to the Germans who invaded Gaul
in the reign of Augustus.
Cluver, Germ. Antiq.
ALLER'ION, n. In heraldry, an eagle with-
out beak or feet, with expanded wings
denoting Imperialists vanquished and dis-
armed. Encyc.
.■VLLEVEU'R, n. A small Swedish coin,
value about a cent. Encyc.
ALLE'VIATE, v. t. [Low L. Mevio ; ad and
levo, to raise, lexfis, light ; Fr. lever ; It,
levare, to raise ; Sp. llevar, to carry, le-
vantar, to raise, and leyante, a rising, and
the eastern coasts of' the Mediterranean
the east, so called from the rising of the
sun, hke oriental, fi-om orior, to rise ; Sax
Mifian, to be eminent. See Lift.]
1. To make light ; but always in a figurative
sense, as it is not applied to material ob-
jects. To remove in part ; to lessen, miti-
gate, or make easier to be endured ; ap-
plied to evils ; as, to a//cw"a<e sorrow, pain,
care, punishment, a burden, &c.; opposed
to aggravate.
|2. To make less by representation ; to lessen
the magnitude or criminality ; to extenu-
I ate ; applied to mora] conduct ; as, to alle-
viate an offense. [This sense of the word is
ALLEVIATED,;);?. Made lighter ; mitiga-
ted ; eased ; extenuated.
ALLE'VIATING, ppr. Making lighter, or
more tolerable ; extenuating.
ALLEVIA'TION, n. The act of lightening,
allaying, or extenuating ; a lessening or
mitigation.
2. That which lessens, mitigates or makes
more tolerable ; as, the sympathy of a
friend is an alleviation of grief.
I have not wanted such alleviations of life, as
friendship could supply. Dr. Johnson's letter
to Mr. Hector. Boawell.
This use of alleviation is hardly legiti-
mate without supplying some word ex-
pressing evil, as trouble, sorrow, &c.
Without such alleviations of the cares oi
troubles of life.
ALLE'VIATIVE, n. That which mitigates.
[M)t in use.]
AL'LEY, n. al'ly. [Fr. aHee, a passage, from
alter to go ; Ir. alladh. Literally, a passing
or going.]
L A walk in a garden ; a narrow passage.
2. A narrow passage or way in a city, as
distinct from a public street.
3. A place in London where stocks are
bought and sold. Ash.
ALLIA'CEOUS, a. [L. allium, garUc]
Pertaining to allium, or garlic ; having the
properties of garhc. Barton.
ALLI'ANCE, n. [Fr. alliance, from allier,
Her, to tie or unite, from L. ligo, Gr. Xvyow;
Sp. alianza ; Port, alianca ; It. alleanza ;
from the same root as liege, league, alle-
giance ; class L. g.]
1. The relation or union between families,
contracted by marriage. Dryden.
2. The union between nations, contracted by
compact, treaty or league.
•3. The treaty, league, or compact, which is
the instrument of confederacy ; some-
times perhaps the act of confederating.
4. Any union or connection of interests be-
tween persons, famihes, states or corpora-
tions ; as, an alliance between church and
state.
5. The persons or parties allied ; as, men or
states may secure any alliances in their
power. Addison.
ALLI'ANT, n. An ally. [.Yot used.]
Wotton.
ALLI"CIENCY, n. [Lat. aUicio, ad and
lacio ; G. locken ; D. lokken ; Sw. locka ;
Dan. lokker ; L. allecto, elicio. Class
Lg-]
The power of attracting any thing ; attrac-
tion ; magnetism. [Little t<-serf.] Glanville.
ALLI"CIENT, n. That which attracts.
[JVot rised.] Robinson.
ALLI'ED, pp. Connected by marriage,
treatv or similitude. [See All'i/.]
AL'LIGATE, v. t. [L. alligo, a^ and ligo, to
bind. See Allegiance, Liege, League.]
To tie together ; to imite by some tie.
ALLIGA'TION, n. The act of tying to-
gether; the state of being tied. [Little
used.]
2. A rule of arithmetic, for finding the price
or value of compounds consisting of ingre-
dients of different values. Thus if a quan-
tity of sugar, worth eight cents the pound,
and another quantity worth ten cents, are
mixed, tlie question to be solved by alliga-
ALL
Hon is, vrhat is the value of the mixture by
the pound. Alligation is of two kinds,
medial and alternate ; medial, when the
rate of a mixture is sought from the
and quantities of tlie simples
when the quantities of the simpl
sought from the rates of the simple
the rate of the mixture.
ALLIGA'TOR, n. [Properly allagarto, from
the Spanish and Portuguese lagarto,
lizard ; L. lacerta. The Latin word seems
to be connected with lacertus, the arm ;
and the animal may be named from the
resemblance of his legs to arms.]
The American crocodile. This animal is of
the Uzard genus, having a long naked
body, four feet, with five toes on thej
fore feet, and four on the hind, arm-
ed with claws, and a serrated tail. The'
mouth is very large, and furnished with
sharp teeth ; the skin is brown, tough,
and, on the sides, covered with tubercles.
The largest of these animals grow to the
length of seventeen or eighteen feet. They
live in and about the rivers in warm cli-
mates, eat fish, and sometimes catch hogs,
on the shore, or dogs wliich are swimming.
In winter, they burrow in the earth, which
they enter under water and work upwards,
lying torpid till spring. The female lays a
great number of eggs, which are deposited
in the sand, and left to be hatched by the
heat of the sun. Encyc.
ALLIGATOR-PEAR, n. A West India
fruit, resembling a pear in shape, from one
to two pounds in weight, (Lawus Persea,
Linne.) It contains within its rind a
yellow butyraceous substance, which,
when the fruit is perfectly ripe, constitutes
an agreeable food. Encyc.
ALLIG'ATURE, n. See Ligature, which is
the word in use.
ALLI'NEMENT, n. [Fr. alignement, a row,
a squaring, from ligne, line ; L. linea.]
A reducing to a hne or to a square ; a state
of being in squares, in a hne, or on a level ;
a line ; a row. Asiat. Res. Columhiad.
•\L'LIOTH, n. A star in the tail of the great
bear, much used for finding the latitude at
sea. Encyc.
ALLISION, n. atlizh'un. [h.allido, to dash
or strike against, of ad and Icedo, to hurt
by striking ; Ir. leas, a sore ; D. leed, a
hurt ; D. beleedigen ; Ger. beleidigen, to hurt ;
Fr. blesser, to hurt. Lcedo forms its par-
ticiple Iwsus. Class. L d. L s.]
A striking against; as, the allision of the sea
against the shore. Woodward.
ALUTERA'TION, n. [L. ad and Ultra, a
letter.
The repetition of the same letter at the be-
ginning of two or more words immediately
succeeding each other, or at short inter-
vals ; as/and g in the tbllowing line :
Fields ever fresh, and groves forever green.
ALLITERATIVE, a. Pertaming to, or
consisting in, alliteration.
ALLO€A'TION, n. [L. ad and locatio, a
placing, from locus, place. See Local.]
The act of putting one tiling to another ;
hence its usual sense is the admission of an
article of account, or an allowance made
upon an account ; a term used in the En
lish Exchequer. [See Allow.]
Chambers. Johnson.
AL'LOCHROITE, n. An amorphous, mass-
ALL
ive, opake mineral, of a grayish, yellowish
or reddish color, found in Norway ; con
sidered as a variety of garnet. Its name
is said to be given to it, as expressive of its
changes of color before the blowpipe ; Gr,
ayJKo;, other, and ;tpo'», color. Cleaveland.
ALLO€U'TION, n. [L. allocutio, of ad amX
loquor, to speak. See Eloquence.'
1. The act or manner of speaking to, or of
addressing in words.
2. An address ; a formal address ; as, of a
General to his troops; a Roman term
rarely used in Enghsh. Addison. Encyc
ALLO'DIAL, a. Pertaining to allodium ;
freehold ; free of rent or service ; held
independent of a lord paramount ; oppo-
sed to feudal. Blackstone
ALLODIAN is sometimes used, but is not
well authorized. Cowel
ALLO'DIUM, n. [Fr. alleu, contr. word,
According to O'Brien, in his Focaloir, or
Dictionaiy of the Irish, this word is the
Celtic allod, ancient. According to Pont
oppidan, it is composed of all and odh.
all-property, or whole estate.]
Freehold estate ; land which is the absolute
property of the owner ; real estate held ii
absolute independence, without being sub-
ject to any rent, service, or acknowledg
ment to a superior. It is thus opposed to
feud. In England, there is no allodial
land, all land being held of the king
but in the United States, most lands are
allodial.
ALLONGE', n. allunj'. [Fr. allonger, to
lengthen, to thrust, allonge, lengthened, of
ad and long.]
1. A pass with a sword ; a thrust made by
steppuig forward and extending the arm ;
a term used in fencing, often contracted
into lunge.
2. A long rein, when a horse is trotted m the
hand. Johnson
ALLOO', V. t. or i. To incite dogs by a call.
Phillips
ee the correct word. Halloo.]
AL'LOPHANE, n. [Gr. auoj, other, and
ivu, to appear.]
A mineral of a blue, and sometunes of e
green or brown color, which occurs mas
sive, or in imitative shapes. It gelatini
zes in acids. Ure
AUophane is a variety of clay, occurring
amorphous, botryoidal or reniform
isses. Cleaveland.
^LhOT',v.t. [of ad and lot; Sax. Mot. See
Lot.]
1. To divide or distribute by lot.
2. To distribute, or parcel out in parts orpor
tions ; or to distribute a share to each in
dividual concerned.
3. To grant, as a portion ; to give, assign oi
appoint in general.
Let every man be contented with that
which providence allots to him.
ALLOT'MENT, n. That which is allotted
a share, part, or portion granted or dis
tributed ; that which is assigned by lot, or
by the act of God.
2. A part, portion or place appropriated.
In a field, there is an allotment for olives.
Sroome
ALLOT'TED, pp. Distributed by lot ; grant
ed ; assigned.
ALLOT'TERY is used by Shakespeare for
allotment ; but is not authorized by usage.
ALL
ALLOT'TING, ppr. Distributing by lot ;
£iving as portions; assigning.
LOW, V. t. [Fr. allouer, from louer; L.
loco, to lay, set, place ; W. llogi ; Norm.
allutr. See Lay. Class. L g.]
1. To grant, give or yield ; as, to allow a
servant his liberty ; to allow a pension.
2. To admit ; as, to allow the truth of a
])ropositioM ; to allotv a claim.
•3. To admit ; to own or acknowledge ; as,
to allow the right of the President to dis-
place officers.
4. To approve, justify or sanction.
Ye allow the deeds of your fathers.
Luke xi. Rom. vii.
.5. To afford, or grant as a compensation ;
as, to allow a dollar a day for wages.
G. To abate or deduct ; as, to allow a sum
for tare or leakage.
7. To permit ; to grant hcense to ; as, to
allow a son to be absent.
ALLOWABLE, a. That may be pennitted
as lawful, or admitted as true and proper ;
not forbid ; not unlawful or miproper ; as,
a certain degree of freedom is allowable
among friends.
ALLOW'ABLENESS, 7i. The quality of
being allowable ; lawliilness ; e.xemption
from prohibition, or impropriety. South.
ALLOWABLY, adv. In an allowable man-
ner ; with propriety. Lowth.
ALLOWANCE, n. the act of allowing or
admitting.
2. Permission ; license ; approbation ; sanc-
tion ; usually slight approbation.
Locke. Shak.
3. Admission ; assent to a fact or state of
things ; a grantmg. Hooker.
4. Freedom from restraint ; indulgence.
5. That which is allowed ; a portion appoint-
ed ; a stated quantity, as of food or drink :
hence, in seamen''s language, a limited
quantity of meat and drink, when provis-
ions fall short.
6. Abatement ; deduction ; as, to make an
allowance for the inexperience of youth.
7. Established character ; reputation ; as, a
pilot of approved oHOTflajice. Obs. Shak.
ALLOWANCE, v. t. To put upon allow-
ance ; to restrain or limit to a certain
quantity of provisions or drink.
Distress compelled the captain of the ship to
allowance his crew.
ALLOAV'ED, pp. Granted ; permitted ; as-
sented to ; admitted ; apjiroved ; indulged ;
appointed ; abated.
ALLOWING, ppr. Granting ; permitting ;
admitting ; approving ; indulging ; de-
ducting.
ALLOY', V. t. [Fr. allier, to unite or mix ;
L. alligo, ad and ligo, to bind ; Gr. 7.V70W ;
Sp. ligar, to tie or bind, to alloy or mix
base metals with gold or silver, to league
or confederate ; Port. id. ; It. legare. We
observe that aUoy and league, alliance, ally,
are from the same root. Class L g.]
1. To reduce the piu-ity of a metal, by mixing
^vith it a portion of one less valuable ; as,
to alloy gold with silver, or silver with
copper.
2. To mix metals. Lavoisier.
3. To reduce or abate by mixture ; as, to
alloy pleasure with misfortunes.
ALL6Y', n. A baser metal mixed with a
finer.
2. The mixture of different metals ; any me-
ALL
A L M
A L M
fallic compound ; this is its common sig-
nification in cliimistry.
3. Evil mixed with good ; as, no happiness
is witliout alloy.
ALLOY' A6E, n. [Ft. alliage, from oilier.]
1. The act of alloying metals, or the mixture
of a baser metal with a finer, to reduce its
purity ; the act of mixing metals.
2. The mixture of different metals.
Lavoisier.
ALLOY'ED, pp. 3Iixed ; reduced in purity ;
debased ; abated by foreign mixture.
ALLOY'ING, ppr. JMixing a baser metal
with a finer, to reduce its purity ; abating
by foreign mixture.
ALL'SPICE. [See under the compomids
of all.]
ALLU'DE, V. i. [L. alludo, to smile upon or
make sport with, of ad and ludo, to play ;
Sp. Port, aliulir ; It. alludere. Class L d.]
To refer to something not directly mention-
tioned ; to have reference ; to hint at by
remote suggestions ; as, that story alludes
to a recent transaction.
ALLU'DING, ppr. Having reference ; hint-
ing at.
ALLU'MINOR, n. [Fr. allumer, to hght.
See i/imner.]
One who colors or paints upon paper or
parchment, giving light and ornament to
letters and figures. Cowel. Encye.
This is now written limner.
ALLU'RE, V. t. [Fr. leurrer, to decoy, from
leurre, a lure.]
To attempt to draw to; to tempt by the
oflTerofsome good, real or apparent; tc
invite by something flattering or accepta-
ble ; as, rewards allure men to brave dan
ger. Sometimes used in a bad sense, to
allure to evil ; but in this sense entice is
more common. In Hosea, ii. 14, allure is
used in its genuine sense ; in 2 Peter, ii. 18,
in the sense of entice.
ALLU'RED, pp. Tempted ; di-awn, or in-
vited, by something that appears desira-
ble.
ALLU'REMENT, n. That which allures ;
any real or apparent good held forth, or
operating, as a motive to action ; tempt
lion ; enticement ; as, the allurements of|
pleasure, or of honor.
ALLU'RER, ?i. He, or that, wliich allures.
ALLU'RING, /)/>»•. Dravvmg; tempting; in
viting by some real or apparent good.
2. a. Inviting ; having the quality of attract
ing or tempting.
ALLU'RINGLY, adv. In an alluring man-
ner ; enticingly.
ALLU'RINGNESS, n. The quality of allur-
ing or tempting by the prospect of some
good. [Rarely used.]
ALLU'SION, n. allitzhun. [Fr. from allusio
Low L. See Allude.]
A reference to something not explicitly men-
tioned ; a hint ; a suggestion, by which
something is applied or understood to be-
long to that which is not mentioned, by
means of some similitude which is per-
ceived between them. Burnet.
ALLU'SIVE, a. Having reference to some-
thing not fully expressed. South.
ALLU'SIVELY, adv. By way of allusion :
by implication, remote suggestion or insin-
uation. Hammonds
ALLU'SIVENESS, n. The quality of being
allusive. [Rarely used.]
ALLU'VIAL, a. [See Muvion.]
1. Pertaining to alluvion ; added to land by
the wash of water.
3. Washed ashore or down a stream ; formed
by a current of water ; as, alluvial ores ;
alluvial soil. Kiruian.
ALLU'VION, I n. [L. alluvia, of ad and
ALLU VIUM, i lavo or luo, alluo, to wash.
See iMve.]
1. The msensible increase of earth on a
shore, or bank of a river, by the force of
water, as by a current or by waves. The
owner of the land thus augmented has a
right to the alhnial earth.
2. A gradual washuig or carrying of earth
or other substances to a shore or bank ;
the earth thus added.
.3. The mass of substances collected by
means of the action of water.
In this alluvium was found the entire skele-
ton of a whale. Buckland.
ALLU'VIOUS, a. The same as alluvial, and
less frequently used.
ALLY', V. t. [Fr. allier ; reciprocal verb, s^al-
lier, to match or confederate ; from ad and
Her, to tie or unite. L. ligo.]
1. To unite, or form a relation, as between
famihes by marriage, or between princes
and states by treaty, league or confede-
racy.
2. To form a relation by simiUtude, resem-
blance or friendship. Note. This word is
more generally used in the passive form,
as families are allied by blood ; or recip-
rocally, as princes ally theijiselves to pow-
erful states.
ALLY' n. A prince or state united by treaty
or league ; a confederate.
The allies of Rome were slaves. -imes.
2. One related by marriage or other tie ; but
seldom apphed to individuals, except to
princes in their public capacity.
ALLY'ING, ppr. Uniting by mamage or
treaty.
AL'MACANTAR, n. [See .mmucantar.]
ALMADIE, n. A bark canoe used by the
Africans ; also a long boat used at CaU-
cut, in India, eighty feet long, and six or
seven broad ; called also cathuri. Encyc.
AL'MAgEST, 11. [al and ncytsi, greatest.]
A book or collection of problems in astron
omy and geometry, dravni up by Ptolemy
The same title has been given to othe
works of the like kind. Encyc.
ALMA'GRA, n. A fine deep red ocher, with
an admixture of purple, ver^ heavy, dense
but friable, with a rough dusty surface.
It is the sil atticum of the ancients. It is
austere to the taste, astringent, melting
the mouth and staitiing the skin. It is
used as a paint and as a medicine. Encyc.
aL'MANACK, 71. [Ar. al and ^i^ manacli,
manack, a calendar, or diary.]
A small book or table, containing a calen-
dar of days, weeks and months, with the
times of the rising of the sun and moon,
changes of the moon, ecUpses, hours of
full tide, stated festivals of churches, stated
terms of courts, observations on the weath
er, &c. for the year ensuing. This calen-
dar is sometimes published on one side of
a single sheet, and called a sheet-almanack.
The Baltic nations formerly engraved their
calendars on pieces of wood, on swords,
helves of axes, and various other utensils,
and especially on walking sticks. Many
of these are jjreserved in the cabinets of
the curious. They are called by difterent
nations, rimstocks, primstaries, runstocks,
runslaffs, clogs, &c.
The characters used are generally the Runic
or Gothic.
Junius. Encyc. Tooke''s Russia.
ALMANACK-MAKER, n. A maker of al-
manacks.
AL'MANDINE, n. [Fr. and It.] In mine-
ralogy, precious garnet, a beautiful mineral
of a red color, of various shades, some-
times tinged with yellow or blue. It is
commonly translucent, sometimes trans-
parent. It occurs crystalized in the rhom-
bic dodecahedron. Phillips.
AL'ME, or AL'MA, n. Gnls in Egjpt, whose
occupation is to amuse company with
singing and dancing. Encyc. Savary.
.\LME'NA, 91. A weight of two pounds,
used to weigh saffron in several parts of
Asia. Sp. Diet.
ALMI'GIITINESS, n. Omnipotence ; infi-
nite or boundless power ; an attribute of
God only.
ALMIGHTY,
Mght.]
Possessing all power ; oimiipotent ; being of
unlimited might ; being of boundless suf-
ficiency ; appropriately applied to the Su-
preme Being.
ALMIGHTY, 11. The Omnipotent God.
,\L'MOND, n. [Fr. amande ; It. mandola ;
Sp. almendra ; Germ, mandel.]
1. The fi-uit of the almond tree ; an ovate,
compressed nut, perforated in the pores.
It is either sweet or bitter. [It is popu-
[all and mighty. See
larly pronounced ammond.]
JVicholson. Encyc.
2. The tonsils, two glands near the basis of
the tongue, are called almonds, fi-om their
resemblance to that nut; ^iilgularly, but
improperly, called the almonds of the ears,
as they belong to the throat.
Qiiincy. Johnson.
3. In Portugal, a measure by which wine is
sold, twenty-six of which make a pipe.
Encyc.
[But in Portuguese it is written almude.]
I. Among lapidaries, almonds signify pieces
of rock crystal, used in adorning branch
candlesticks, so called from then- resem-
blance to this fruit. Encyc.
ALMOND-FURNACE, among refners, is a
fiu-nace in which the slags of Utharge, left
in refining sUver, are reduced to lead, by
the help of charcoal ; that is, according to
modern chimistrj', in which the oxyd of
lead is deoxydized, and the metal revived.
ALMOND-TREE, n. The tree which pro-
duces the almond. The leaves and flow-
ers resemble those of the peach, but the
fruit is longer and more compressed, the
green coat is thinner and drier when ripe,
and the shell is not so rugged. Miller.
ALMOND-WILLOW, n. A tree ^vith leaves
of a hght green on both sides.
Mason from Shenstone.
AL'IMONER, 71. [See M,ns.]
An officer whose duty is to distribute charity
or ahns. By the ancient canons, every
monastery was to dispose of a tenth of its
A L M
income in alms to the poor, and all bish-
ops were obliged to keep an almoner.
This title is sometimes given to a chap-
lain ; as, the almoner of a ship or regi-
ment.
The Lord Almoner, or Lord High Almoner
in England, is an ecclesiastical officer,
generally a bishop, who has the forfeiture
of all deodands, and the goods of self-
nmrderers, which he is to distribute to the
poor.
The Grand Almoner, in France, is the first
ecclesiastical dignitary, and has the super-
intendence of hospitals. Encyc.
ALMONRY, n. [Corrupted into ambry, aum-
bry, or aumery.]
The place where the almoner resides, or
where the alms are distributed.
ALMOST, adv. [all and most. The Saxon or-
der of writing was thus : " all most who
were present." Sax. Chron. p. 225. Wc
now use a duplication, almost all who
were present.]
IS'early ; well nigh ; for the greatest part.
Almost thou peisuadest me to be a christiaii.
Acts xxvi.
"ALMS, n. kmz. [Sax. almes ; old Eng.
almesse ; Norm, almoignes ; Fr. aumunes
D. aalmoes ; Sw. almosa ; Dan. almisse ;
G. almosen ; L. cleemosyna ; Gr. Aii^ixoavrr;.
The first syllables appear to be from Aitu,
top'ty-] . , ,. ,
Any tliitig given gratuitously to relieve the
poor, as money, food, or clothmg, other-
wise called charity.
A lame man was" laid daily to ask an alms
Acts iii.
Cornelius gave much alms to the people.
Acts
Tenure by free alms, or frank-almoign
England, is that by which the possessor is
bound to pray for the soul of the donor,
whether dead or alive ; a tenure by which
most of the ancient monasteries and reli-
gious houses in England held their lauds,
as do the parochial clergy, and many
ecclesiastical and eleemosynary establish-
ments at this day. Land thus held was
free from all rent or other service.
Blackstone.
ALMS-BASKET; ALMS-BOX; ALMS-
CHEST ; vessels appropriated to receive
alms.
'ALMS-DEED, n. An act of charity ; a char-
itable gift.
'ALMS-FOLK, n. Persons supporting oth-
ers by alms. [JVot used.]
'ALMS-GIVER, n. One who gives to the
poor. Bacon.
'ALMS-GIVING, n. The bestowinent of
charitv.
'ALMS-HOUSE, n. A house appropriated
for the use of the poor, who are sui)ported
by the public.
•\LMS-MEN, I n. Persons supported
ALMS-PEOPLE, I by charity or by pubhc
provision.
AL'MU€ANTAR, n. [Arabic] A series of|
circles of the sphere passing through th
center of the sun, or of a star, parallel t
the horizon. It is synonymous with a
parallel of altitude, whose common zenith
is the vertical point.
Bailey. Encyc. Johnson,
ALMU€ANTAR'S STAFF. An instrument
of box or pear-tree, having an arch of fif-
A L O
teen degrees, used to take observations of
the sun, about the time of its rising or set-
ting, to find the amplitude and the varia-
tions of the compass. Encyc. Chambers.
ALMU'DE, n. A wine measure in Portugal,
of which twenty-six make a pipe.
Port. Did.
AL'MUG, }n. In scripture, a tree or wood
AL'GUM, S about which the learned are
not agreed. The most probable conjee
ture is that the word denotes gummy or
resinous wood in general.
The Vulgate translates it ligna thyina, and
the Septuagmt, ivrought-wood ; others, eb
ony, bravil or pine, and the Rabbins ren
der it coral. It was used for musical
instruments, stair cases, &c.
The thyinum is the citron tree, from Maur
tania, much esteemed by the ancients for
its fragrance and beauty. The almug.
almugim, or algumim, or simply gummim,
is most probably a gummy wood, and
perhaps may be the Shittim, often men
tioned in Scripture. See 1 Kings, x. 11.
Calmet. Encyc.
AL'NAGE, n. [Fr. aulnage, now softened
into aunage ; L. ulna ; Gr. u'Kct'tj, an arm.
a cubit ; W. elin ; Ir. uelen, uUe, or iiilean.
an elbow, a nook, or corner. See Ell.]
A measuring by the ell.
AL'NAGER, or AL'NAGAR, n. A meas-
urer by the eU ; a sworn officer, whose
duty was to inspect and measure woolen
cloth, and fix upon it a seal. This office
was abolished by Statute, 11. and 12. Will
3. No duty or office of this kind exists in
the United States.
AL'NIGHT, n. A calie of wax with the
wick in the midst. Bacon.
AL'OE, n. al'o, plu. aloes, pronounced aloze
and popularly al'oez, in three syllables, ac-
cording to the Latin. [L. aloe ; Gr. a>.o)j
Sp. Port. It. Fr. aloe ; Ileb. plu. D'^HN aloe
trees.]
In botany, a genus of monogynian hexanders,
of many species ; all natives of warm cli-
mates, and most of them, of the southern
part of Africa.
Among the Mohammedans, the aloe is a sym-
bohc plant, especially in Egypt ; and every
one who returns from a pilgrimage to
Mecca, hangs it over his street door, as
token that he has performed the journey.
In Africa, the leaves of the Guinea aloe are
made into durable ropes. Of one species
are made fishing Unes, bow strings, stock-
ings and hammocs. The leaves of another
species hold rain water.
ALOES, in medicine, is the inspissated juice
of the aloe. The juice is collected from
the leaves, which are cut and put in a tub,
and when a large quantity is procured
is boiled to a suitable consistence ; or it is
exposed to the sun, till all the fluid par
exhaled. There are several kinds sold in
the shops ; as the socotrine aloes from So-
cotora, an isle in the Indian ocean ; the
hepatic or conunon Barbadoes aloes ; and
the fetid or caballine aloes.
Aloes is a stimulating stomachic purgati
when taken m small doses, it is useful for
people of a lax habit and sedentary hfe.
Encyc.
A L O
AL'OES-WOOD, n. [See Agallochum.]
ALOET'I€, > Pertaming to aloe or
ALOET'l€AL, ^ "' aloes ; partakmg of the
quahties of aloes.
ALOET'Ie, n. A medicine consisting chiefly
of aloes. Qut'ncy.
ALOFT', adv. [a and lofl. See Loft and
Luff-]
On high ; in the air ; high above the
ground ; as, the eagle soars aloft.
In seamen's language, in the top ; at the
mast head ; or on the higher yards or rig-
ging. Hence on the upper part, as of a
building.
ALO'GIANS, 71. [a neg. and >.oyo5, word.]
In chxirch history, a sect of ancient heretics,
who denied Jesus Christ to be the Logos,^
and consequently rejected the gospel of
St. John. Buck. Encyc.
AL'OGOTROPHY, n. [Gr. oOoyos, uiyeason-
able, and rpoijjJ?, nutrition.]
A disproportionate nutrition of the parts of
the body, as when one part receives more
or less nourishment and growth than an-
other. Bailey.
AL'OGY, n. [Gr. a and >,oyo5.]
Unreasonableness; absurdity. Obs. Brown.
ALO'NE, a. [all and one ; Germ, allein ; D.
alleen ; Sw. allena ; Dan. allene.']
1. Single ; soUtary ; without the presence of
another ; applied to a person or thing.
It is not good that man should be alone.
Gen. ii.
[This adjective follows its noun.]
2. It is applied to two or more persons or
tlungs, when separate fi-om others, in a
place or condition by themselves ; with-
out company.
And when they were alone, he expounded
all things to his disciples. Mark, iv.
.3. Only.
Thou whose name alone is Jehovah. Ps.
Ixxxiii.
This sense at first appears to be adver-
bial, but really is not ; whose name single,
solitary, without another, is Jehovah.
To let alone is to suflTer to rest ; to forbear
molesting or meddling with ; to suffer to
remain in its present state. Alone, in this
])lirase, is an adjective, the word to which
it refers being omitted ; let me alone ; let
them alone ; let it alone ; that is, suffer it
to be unmolested, or to remain as it is, or
let it remain by itself
ALO'NE, adv. Separately ; by itself
ALO'NELY, a. or adv. Only; merely;
singly. [JVot used.] Gower.
ALO'NENESS, n. That state which be-
longs to no other. [JVot used.] Montague.
ALONG', adv. [Sax. and-lang or ond-lang ;
Fr. au long, le long. See Long. The Sax-
ons always prefixed and or ond, and the
sense seems to be, by the length, or oppo-
site the length, or in the direction of the
length.]
1. By the length ; lengthwise ; in a line with
the length ; as, the troops marched along
the bank of the river, or along the high-
way. 1 Sam. vi.
2. Onward ; in a line, or with a progressive
motion ; as, a meteor glides along the sky ;
let us walk along.
I along signifies the whole length ; through
the whole distance ; in the whole way or
length.
ALP
ALT
A L T
■Ahv)^, tvith signifies in company ; joined
witi) ; as, Go along with us. Sometimes
mth is omitted ;
Come then, my friend, my genius, come along.
Pope.
Along side, in seamen's language, that is, by
the length or in a line with the side, signi-
fies side by side, as by another ship or by
the side of a wharf.
^long shore is by the shore or coast, length-
wise, and near the shore.
Lying along is lying on the side, or pressed
down by the weight of sail. Mar. Did.
ALONGST', adv. Along ; through or by the
length. Ol)S. Knolles.
ALOOF', adv. [Probably from the root of
leave, to depart.]
1. At a distance, but within view, or at a
small distance, in a literal sense ; as, to
stand aloof.
2. In a figurative sense, not concerned in a
design ; decUning to take any share, im-
plying clrcum.spection ; keeping at a dis-
tance from the point, or matter in debate.
AL'OPECY, n. [Gr. aX«rtj;|, a fox, whose
urine is said to occasion baldness.]
A disease, called the fox-evil or scurf, which
is a falling oft' of the hau-, from any part
of the body. Qiiincy. Encyc. Bailey.
ALO'SA,M. A fish of passage, called the shad,
or mother of herrings, a species of Clu-
pea. It is an abdominal) and some natur-
alists allege it to be a different species
from the shad. Encyc. Diet, of Mit. Hist.
ALOUD', adv. [a and loud ; Sax. gehJyd,
clamor. See Loud.]
Loudly ; with a loud voice, or great noise.
Ciy aloud, spare not. Isa. Iviii.
ALP, ALPS, n. [Qu. Gr. ax^o;, white ; L.
albus. The Celts called all high moun-
tains alpes or olbe. Cluver. Thucydides
mentions a castle, In the territory of Argos,
situated on a hill and called Olpas or Olp.
Lib. 3. Ca. 105. Pelloutier, Hist, des Gel-
tes, Liv. 1. 15. The derivation of th<
word fi-om 0^05, wliite, is therefore doubt
ful. In Ir. or Gaelic, ailp is a huge mass 01
lump.]
A high mountain. The name, it is supposed,
was originally given to mountains whose
tops were covered with snow, and bene
appropriately a])plied to the mountains of
Swisserland ; so that by Alps is generally
understood tlie latter mountains. But ge-
ographers apply the name to any high
mountains. Pinkerton.
.\LPAG'NA, n. An animal of Peru, used
as a beast of burden ; the Camelus Paco
of Linne, and the Paces of Pennant. .'
Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
AL'PHA, n. [Ileb. t^iSx an ox, a leader.]
The first letter in the Greek alphabet, an-
swering to A, and used to denote first or
beginning.
I am Alpha and Omega. Rev. i.
As a numeral, it stands for one. It was
merly used also to denote chief ; as, Plato
was the Alpha of the wits.
AL'PHABET, n. [Gr. aXij>a and Bijro, A
and B.]
The letters of a language arranged in the
customary order ; the series of letters
which form the elements of speech.
AL'PHABET, v. t. To arrange in the order
of an alphabet ; to form an alphabet in a
hook, or designate the leaves by the letters
of the alphabet.
ALPHABETA'RIAN, n. A learner while
in the A. B. C.
ALPHABETIC, ) In the order of an
ALPHABETICAL, J alphabet, or in the
order of the letters as customarily ar-
ranged.
ALPHABET'ICALLY,(H/i>. In an alphabet-
ical manner ; in the customary order of
the letters.
ALPHE'NIX, n. [al and phmnix.]
White barley sugar, used for colds. It
common sugar boiled till it will easily
crack ; then poured u])on an oiled marble
table, and molded into various figures.
Encyc.
AL'PHEST, n. A small fi.sh, having a pur-
ple back and belly, with yellow sides, a
smooth mouth, and thick fleshy lips ;
always caught near the shore or amon,
rocks. Lahrus Cinwdus, lAnne.
Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
.\LPHON'SIN, n. A surgical instrument
for extracting bullets from wounds, so
called fi'om its inventor, Alphonsus Fer-
rier of Naples. It consists of three
branches, which close by a ring, and open
when it is drawn hack. Encyc.
.'VLPHON'SIN TABLES. Astronomical
bles made by Alphonsus king of Anag^
Bailey.
AL'PHUS, n. [Gr. a\^o,, white.]
That species of leprosy called vitiligo, in
hich the skin is rough, with white spots.
Quincy.
AL'PINE, a. [L. alpinus, fi-om Alpes.]
Pertaining to the Alps, or to any lofty
mountain ; very high ; elevated.
2. Growing on liigh mountains ; as, alpine
plants. Milton. Thomson.
AL'PINE, n. A kind of strawberry grow-
ing on lofty hills.
AL'PIST, or AL'PIA, 71. The seed of the
fox-tail ; a small seed, used for feeding
birds. Encyc.
AL'QUIER, )i. A measure in Portugal for
dry tilings, as well as liquids, containing
half an alniude or about two gallons. It
is called also Cantar. Port. Diet.
AL'QUIFOU, n. A sort of lead ore, which,
when bi'oke, looks like antimony. It is
found in Cornwall, England ; used by
potters to give a green varnish to their
wares, and called potters ore. A small
nii.xture of manganese gives it a blackish
hue. Encyc.
ALREAD'Y, adv. alred'dy. [all and ready.
See Ready.]
Literally, a state of complete preparation ;
but, by an easy deflection, the sense is, at
tliis time, or at a specified time.
Elias is come already. Mat. xvii.
Joseph was in Egypt already. Ex. i.
It has reference to past tune, but may be
used for a future past ; as, when you shall
arrive, the business will be already com-
pleted, or will have been completed al-
readij.
^L'SO, adv. [all and so. Sax. eal and swa ;
eal, all, the whole, and swa, so.]
Likewise ; in lil<e manner.
Where your treasure is, there will your heart
lie uho. Mat. xvi.
ALT or AL'TO, a. [It. from L. alius, higli ;
Ct'k, all, nilt, a high place ; Heb. rf^'
upper, hy, high.]
In music, a term applied to high notes in the
scale. In sculpture, alto-relievo, high re-
lief, is when the figures project lialf or
more, without behig entirely detached
from the groimd. Enaic. Cue.
ALTAIC, or ALTA'IAN, a. [tart, a'la-
tau, perhaps aZ-ta^, high mountain. Tookc
Pertaining to the Altai, a vast ridge of moim-
tains extending, in an easterly direction,
through a considerable pan of Asia, and
forming a boundary between the Russian
and Chinese dominions.
Pinkerton. Encyc.
jJiL'TAR, n. [L. allure, probably from the
same rootasaftws, higli ; Celtic, alt, a high
place.]
1. A mount ; a table or elevated place, on
which sacrifices were anciently offered to
some deity. Altars were originally made
of turf, afterwards of stone, wood or horn ;
some were round, others square, others
triangular. They differed also in liighth,
but all faced the east. The principal
altars of the Jews were, the altar of in-
cense, of burnt-ofterings, and of show-
bread ; all of shittim wood, and covered
with gold or brass. Encyc.
3. In modem churches, the communion table ;
and, figuratively, a chiu-cli ; a place of
worship.
3. In scripture, Christ is called the altar of
Christians, he being the atoning sacrifice
for sin.
We have an altar, whereof they have no
right to eat, who serve tabernacles. Heb. xiii.
AL'TAR-CLOTH, n. A cloth to lay upon
an altar in churches.
.\L'TAR-PIECE, n. A painting placed
over the altar in a church. IVarton.
.^.L'TAR-WISE, adv. Placed in the man-
ner of an altar. Howell.
AL'TARAgE, n. The profits arising to
priests from oblations, or on account of
the altar. Also, in law, altars erected in
virtue of donations, before the reforma-
tion, within a parochial church, for the
purpose of singing a mass for deceased
friends. Encyc.
AL'TARIST, or ALTAR-THANE, n. In
old laws, an appellation given to the priest
to whom the altarage belonged ; also a
chaplain. Cue.
AL'TER, v. t. [Fr. alterer ; Sp. alterar ; It.
alterare ; from L. alter, another. See
Alien. Alter is supposed to be a contrac-
tion of ox^ofcppot, alienus, of 0^.05 and
ITipOi.]
1. To make some change in ; to make differ-
ent in some particular ; to vary in some
degree, without an entire change.
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the
thing that has gone out of my lips. Ps. Ixxxix.
2. To change entirely or materially ; as, to
cdier an opinion. In general, to alter is to
change partially ; to change is more gene-
rally to substitute one thing for another,
or to make a material difference in a thing.
AL'TER, V. i. To become, m some respects,
different ; to vary ; as, the weather alters
ahiiost daily.
The law which alterelh not. Dan. vi.
AL'TERABILITY, 71. The quaUty of being
susceptible of alteration.
ALT
ALT
ALT
AL'TERABLE, a. That may become dit"
feieiit ; tliat may vary.
AL'TERABLENESS, n. The quaUty of
admitting alteration ; variableness.
/kL'TERABLY, adv- In a manner that may
be altered, or varied.
AL'TERAGE, n. [From ah, to feed.]
The breeding-, nourishing or fostering of a
child. Sir J. Davits. But this is not an
English word.
AL'TERANT, a. Altering ; gradually chang-
uig.
Ai'TERANT, n. A medicine whicli, with-
out a sensible operation, gradually eonects
the state of the body and changes it from
a diseased to a healthy condition. An al
terative. Enmic. Q\dncy.
ALTERA'TION, n. [L. alteratio.]
The act of making different, or of varying
in some particular ; an altering or partial
change ; also the change made, or the loss
or acquisition of quaUties not essential to
the form or nature of a tiling. Thus a
cold substance suffers an alteration when
it becomes hot.
AL'TERATIVE, a. Causmg alteration ;
having the jiower to alter.
AL'TERATIVE, n. A medicuie wliich,
without sensible operation, gradually in-
duces a change in the habit or constitu-
tion and restores healthy functions. This
word is more generally used than alterant.
AL'TERCATE, I., i. [L. altercor, alterco,
from alter, another.]
To contend in words ; to dispute with zeal,
heat or anger ; to wrangle.
ALTER€A'TI0N, n. [h. altercatio.]
Warm contention in words ; dispute can-ied
on with heat or anger ; controversy ;
wrangle.
AL'TERN, a. [h. alternus, of alter, another,^
1. Acting by turns ; one succeeding another";
alternate, which is the word generally
used.
2. In chry.Halography, exhibiting, on two
parts, an upper and a lower part, feces
which alternate among themselves, but
which, when the two parts are compared,
correspond with each other. Cleaveland.
Altem-hase, in trigonometry, is a term used
in distinction from the true base. Thus
in oblique triangles, the true base is the
sum of the sides, and then the difference
of the sides is the altern-base ; or the true
base is the difference of the sides, and then
the sum of the sides is the altern-base.
Encyc.
AL'TERNACY, n. Performance or actions
by turns. [Little used.]
ALTERN'AL, a. Alternative. [Liille used.]
ALTERN'ALLY, adv. By turns. [Little
used.] May.
ALTERN'ATE, a. [L. alttmaius.]
1. Beuigby turns ; one following the other in
succession of time or place ; hence recip-
rocal.
Ana bij alternate passions fall and rise.
Pope.
2. In botany, branches and leaves are alter-
nate, when they rise higher on opposite
sides alternately, come out singly, and
follow in gradual order. Encyc. Lee.
Mternate alligation. [See Migation.]
Mternate angles, in geometry, the internal
angles made by a line cutting two paral-
lels, and lying on opposite sides of the
cutting line ; the one below the first paral-
lel, and the other above the second.
Johnson
In heraldry, the first and fourth quarters
and the second and third, are usually ol
the same nature, and are called alternate
quarters.
ALTERN'ATE, n. That which happens by
tiu-ns with something else; vicissitude,
Prior.
AL'TERNATE, v. t. [L. alterno. See Alter.
With the accent on the second syllable
the participle alternating can liardly be
pronounced.]
To perform by turns, or in succession ; to
cause to succeed by turns ; to change
thing for another reciprocally ; as, God
alternates good and evil.
AL'TERNATE, v. i. To happen or to acl
by turns; as, the flood and ebb tides o/«er-
note with each other.
2. To follow reciprocally in place.
Difl'erent species alternating with each oth-
er. Kirwan
ALTERN'ATELY, adv. In reciprocal suc-
cession ; by turns, so that each is succeed-
ed by that which it succeeds, as night fol-
lows" day and day follows night.
ALTERN'ATENESS, n. The quality ol
being alternate, or of following m sucees
AL'TERNATING, ppr. Performing or fol-
lowing by turns.
ALTERNA'TION, n. The reciprocal suc-
cession of things, in time or place ; the
act of following and being followed in
succession ; as, we observe the alternation
of day and night, cold and heat, summer
and winter.
2. The different changes or alterations o
orders, in numbers. Thus, if it is required
to know how many changes can be rung
on six bells, multiply the numbers 1, 2, .3,
4, 5, 6, continually into one another, and
the last product is the number required,
This is called permutation.
.3. The answer of the congregation speaking
alternately with the minister.
4. Alternate performance, in the choral
sense. Mc
ALTERN'ATIVE, a. [Fr. allematif.]
Offering a choice of -two tilings.
ALTERN'ATIVE, n. That which may be
chosen or omitted ; a choice of two things,
so that if one is taken, the other must be
left. Thus, when two things oflTer a choice
of one only, the two things are called alter-
natives. In strictness, then, the word can
not be appUed to more than two thingi
and when one thing only is offered for
choice, it is said there is no alternative.
Between these alternatives there is no mid-
dle ffiound. Crunch
ALTERN'ATIVELY, adv. In the manner
of alternatives ; in a manner that admits
the choice of one out of two things.
ALTERN'ATIVENESS, n. The quality or
state of being alternative.
ALTERN'ITY, n. Succession by turns;
alternation.
ALTHE'A, 71. [Or. aJ.9oia, from a%9a, or
a7.6at.vu, to heal.]
In botany, a genus of polyandrian mona-
delphs, of several species ; called in Eng-
lish marsh-malloiD.
Tlie common species has a perennial root.
and an annual stalk rising four or five feet.
It abounds with mucilage, and is used as
an emolhent. Encyc.
ALTHO'UGH, altho', obs. verb, or used
only in the Imperative, [all and though ;
from Sax. thah, or theah ; Ir. daighim, to
give ; Ger. doch ; D. dog ; Sw. doch, and
endoch ; Dan. dog, though. See Though.]
Grant all this ; be it so ; allow all ; suppose
that; admit all that; as, '^although the
fig-tree shall not blossom." Hab. iii. That
is, grant, admit or suppose what follows —
" the fig-tree shall not blossom." It is a
transitive verb, and admits after it the
definitive that — although that the fig-tree
shall not blossom ; but this use of the verb,
has been long obsolete. The word may
be defined by notwithstanding, non obstan-
te ; as not opposing may be equivalent to
admitting or supposing.
ALTIL'OQUENCE, n. [L. alius, high, and
loquor, loquens, speiddng.]
Lofty speech ; pomiious language.
ALTIM'ETER, n. [L. altus, high, and Gr.
fiitfov, measure. See Measure and Mode.]
An mstruraent for taking altitudes by geo-
metrical principles, as a geometrical quad-
rant.
ALTIM'ETRY, n. The art of ascertaining
altitudes by tneans of a proper instrument,
and by trigonometrical principles without
actual mensuration.
AL'TIN, ?i. A money of account in Russia,
value three kopecks, or about three cents ;
also a lake in Siberia, ninety miles in
length. Tooke. Encyc.
ALTIN'€AR, n. A species of factitious salt
or powder, used in the ftision and purifi-
cation of metals, prepared in various ways.
[See Tincal.] Encyc.
ALTIS'ONANT, ? a. [L. altus, high, and
ALTIS'ONOUS, ^ sonans, sounding; sonus,
sound.]
High soundmg, lofty or pompous, as lan-
£uage. Evelyn.
'TITUDE, n. [h. altitudo, of altus, high,
and a common termination, denoting state,
condition or manner.]
1. Space extended upward; highth; the
elevation of an object above its founda-
tion ; as, the altitude of a mountain, or
column ; or the elevation of an object or
place above the surface on which we
stand, or above the earth ; as, the attitude
of a cloud or a meteor ; or the elevation of
one object above another ; as, of a bird
above the top of a tree.
2. The elevation of a point, a star, or other
object above the horizon. This is true or
apparent altitude ; true, when taken from
the rational or real horizon ; apparent,
when taken from the sensible, or apparent
horizon.
3. Figuratively, high degree ; superior ex-
cellence; highest point of excellence.
He is proud to the altitude of his virtue.
Shak.
The altitude of the eye, in perspective, is a
right Hue let fall fi-om the eye, perpendic-
ular to the geometrical plane. Encyc.
Meridian altitude is an arch of the merid-
ian between the horizon and any star or
point on the meridian.
ALTIV'OLANT, a. [L. altus, lugh, and ro-
Inns, flying.]
Flying high.
A L U
A M
A M A
Al.'TO. [It. fioni L. alius.] High.
.Ilto and Basso, high and low, in old
terms used to signify a suhiiiissioii of all
differences of every kind to arbitration.
AJVTO-0€TA'VO. [It.]
An octave higher.
ALTO-RELIEVO. [It.]
High relief, iii sculpture, is the projection of
a figure half or more, without being en
tirely detached. Cyc.
AL'TO-RIPIE'NO. [It.]
The tenor of the great chorus, whicli
and plays only in particular places. Encyc.
AL'TO-VIOLA. [It.]
A small tenor viol.
AL'TO-VIOLINO. [It.]
A small tenor violin.
ALTOGETH'ER, adv. [all and togethe
See Together.]
Wholly ; entirely ; completely ; without ex-
ception.
Every man at his best estate is altogether
vanity. Ps. xxxix.
AL'UDEL, n. [a and lutum, without lute.
Lunier.]
In chimistry, aludcls are earthern pots with-
out bottoms, tliat they may be e.\actly fit-
ted into each other, and used in subfima-
tioiis. At the bottom of the furnace is a
pot containing the matter to be sublimed,
and at the top a head to receive the vola-
tile matter. Quincy. Encyc.
AL'UM, n. [L.alumen.]
A triple sulphate of alumina and pota.ssa.
This substance is white, transparent and
very astringent ; but seldom found pure
or crystalized. This salt is usually pre-
pared by roasting and lixiviating certain
clays containing pyrites, and to the lye
adding a certain quantity of potassa ; the
salt is then obtained by crystalization.
Alum is of great use in medicine and the
arts. In medicine, it is used as an astrin-
gent ; internally, in henioptoe, diarrhea,
and dysentery ; externally, as a styptic
applied to bleeding vessels, and as an es-
oharotic. In the arts, it is used in dyeing
to fix colors ; in making candles, for hard-
ening the tallow ; in tanning, for restoring
the cohesion of skins.
Encyc. Fourcroy. Webster^s Manual.
ALUM-EARTH, n. A massive mineral, of
a blackish brown color, a dull luster, and
soft consistence. Ure.
AL'UMIN, ) n. An earth, or earthy sub-
VLU'MINA, ^ stance, which has been con-
sidered to be elementary, and called pure
clay ; but recently, chimical experiments
have given reason to beUeve it to be a
metallic oxyd, to the base of which has
been given the name aluminum. This
metallic base however has not been ob-
tained in such a state as to make its pro-
perties susceptible of examination. Alum-
ina is destitute of taste aud smell. When
moistened with water, it forms a cohesive
and ductile mass, susceptible of being
kneaded into regular forms.
Dam/. Cyc. Webster's Manual.
ALU'MINIFOliM, a. Having the form of
alumina. Chnptal.
AL'UMINITE, n. Subsulphate of alumina;
a mineral that occurs in small roundish or
reniform masses. Its color is snow white
or yellowish white.
Aikin. Jameson. Cleaveland.l
Vol. I.
ALU'MINOUS, a. Pertaining to alum oi
alumina, or partaking of the same proper-
ties.
ALU'MINUM, n. The name given to the
supposed metallic base of alumina.
Davij
AL'UMISH, a. Having the nature of alum ;
somewhat resembling ahun.
ALUM-SLATE, n. A mineral of two spe
cies, conunon and glossy.
ALUM-STONE, n. The siliceous subsul
phatc of alumina and potash. Cleaveland.
ALU'TA, n. [L.] A species of leather-
stone, soft, pliable atid not laminated.
Quincy.
ALUTA'TION, n. [L. alula, tanned leath-
er.]
The tanning of leather.
AL'VEARY, n. [L. alvearium, alveare, a bee
hive, from alvus, the belly.]
The hollow of the external ear, or bottom
of the concha. Qidncy.
AL'VEOLAR, ? a. [L. alveolus, a socket.
\L'VEOLARY, S from alveus, a hollow ves
ael.]
Containing sockets, hollow cells or pits ; per-
taining to sockets. Anatomy.
AL'VEOLATE, a. [L. alveolatus, from al-
eus, a hollow vessel.]
Deeply pitted, so as to resemble a honej-
comb. Martyn
AL'VEOLE, ? ri 1- e 1 i
AL'VEOLUS, \ "■ [L- ''™- of '^»'^»«-]
1. A cell in a bee hive, or in a fossil.
2. The socket in the jaw, m which a tooth is
fixed.
3. A sea fossil of a conic figure, composed of]
a tunnlier of cells, like bee-hives, joined
by a pipe of communication. Encyc.
AL'VEOLITE, n. [L. alveolus, and Gr.
■KlOoi.]
Ill natural history, a kind of stony polypiers,
of a globular or hemi.spherical shape
formed by umnerous concentric beds, each
composed of a union of httle cells.
Diet, of JSi'at. Hist.
AL'VINE, a. [from alvus, the belly.]
Belonging to the belly or intestines.
Darwin.
ALAVAR'GRIM, n. The spotted plover,
Charadrius Apricarius. Pennant.
AL'WAY or AL'WAYS, adv. [all and loay ;
Sax. eal, and toeg, way ; properly, a going,
at all goings ; hence, at all times.]
1. Perpetually ; throughout all time ; as, God
is always the same.
2. Continually ; without variation.
3. Continually or constantly during a certain
period, or regularly at stated intervals.
Mephiboshelh shall eat bread alway at my ta-
ble. 2 Sam. ix.
4. At all convenient times ; regularly.
Cornelius prayed to God alway. Acts x.
Luke xviii. Eph. vi.
Alway is now seldom used. The applica-
tion of this compound to time proceeds
from the primary sense of way, which is
a going or passing ; hence, contuiuation
A. M. stand for Artium Magister, master of
arts, the second degree given by universi-
ties and colleges ; called in some conn
tries, doctor of philosophy. In America
this degree is conferred without examina-
tion, on bachelors of three years standing
8 "
A. M. stand also for Anno Mundi, in tJn
i year of the world.
AM, the first person of the verb to be, in tlif
indicative mode, present tense. Sax. com :
Gr. it/xt ; Goth, im ; Pers. am.
I AM that 1 AM. Ex. iii.
A'MA, or H.VMA, n. [D. aam, a vessel.]
In church affairs, a vessel to contain wine ibi-
the eucharist ; also, a wine measure, as ii
cask, a pipe, &c. Enaic.
AMABIL'ITY, 71. [h. amaUlis, from amo.
to love.]
Loveliness ; the power of pleasing, or rather
the combination of agreeable qualities
which win the aflfections. Taylor.
AMAD'AVAD, n. A small curious bird ot
the size of the crested wren ; the upper
part of the body is brown, the prime feath-
ers of the wings black.
Diet. ofJ\rat. Hist.
AMADET'TO, n. A sort of pear, so called,
it is said, from a person who cultivated it.
Skinner.
AMAD'OGADE, n. A small beautiful bird
in Peru ; the upper part of its body and
wings are of a lively green, its breast red,
and its belly white. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
AM'ADOT, J^. A sort of pear. Johnson.
AM'ADOU, n. A variety ofthe boletus ignia-
rius, found on old ash and other trees.
Urc.
This is written also amadow, and called black
match, and pyrotechnical spunge, on accoimt
of its inflammability. Cyc.
AMA'IN, adv. [Sax. a and mcegn, force,
strengtli. See May, Might.]
With force, strength or violence ; violently ;
furiously ; suddenly ; at once.
WTiat, when we fled amain. Milton.
Let go aviain, in seamen's language, or strike
amain, is to let fall or lower at once.
Mar. Diet.
A3IAL'GAM, 71. [Gr. na^aiyfta, from fuiAaasu,
soften. Its usual derivation is certainly
•oneous.]
1. A mixture of mercui-y or quicksilver with
another metal ; any metallic alloy, of which
mercury forms an essential constituent
part. Cyc.
2. A mixture or compoimd of different
things. Burke.
AMALGAMATE, v. t. To mix quicksilver
with another metal. Gregory uses amal-
gamize.
2. To mix different things, to make a com-
pound ; to unite.
ABIAL'GAMATE, v. i. To mix or unite in
an amalgam ; to blend.
AMALGAMATED,/!;). Mixed with quick-
silver; blended.
AMAL'GAMATING, ;>;»•. Mixing quicksil-
ver with another metal ; compounding.
AMALGAMA'TION, n. The act or opera-
tion of mixing mercury with another
metal. Encyc.
2. The mixing or blending of different
things.
AM'ALOZK, n. A large aquatic fowl of
Mexico. Did. of J^'at. Hist.
AMAN'DOL.\, n. A green marble, having
the ajipearance of honey comb, and con-
taining white spots ; of 100 parts, 76 are
mild calcarious earth, 20 shist and 2 iron.
The cellular appearance proceeds from
the shist. Kirwmi. .Vicholson.
A M A
A M B
A M B
AMANUEN'SIS, n. [L. fyommmnis, band.]
A person whose employment is to write what
another dictates.
AM'ARANTH, ) n. [Gr. a>.aporro5, of o
AMARANTH'lIS, \ neg. and fiopoii-w, to
decay ; so called, it is said, because, when
croj)ped, it does not soon wither.]
Flower-gentle; a genus of plants, of many
species. Of these the tricolored has long
been cidtivated in gardens, on account of
the beauty of its variegated leaves.
£j!C)/C.
/VjM'ARANTH, n. A color inclinijig to pur-
ple. Cyc.
AMARANTH'INE, a. Belonging to ama-
ranth ; consisting of, containing, or resem-
bling amaranth.
AMAR'ITUDE, n. [L. amaiitudo, from ama-
rus, bitter ; from Heb. ID bitter.]
Bitterness. [JVot much used.^
AMARYL'LIS, n. [The name of a country
girl in Theocritus and Virgil.]
\nhotany, lily-daffodil, a genus of lihaceoiis
plants of several species, which are cidti-
vated ill gardens for the beauty of their
flowers. Encyc
AM'ASS, V. t. [Fr. amasser ; It. anunassare
L. massa, a heap or lump ; Gr. ^uofo. See
Mass.]
1. To collect into a heap; to gather a great
quantity ; to accumulate ; as, to amass a
treasure.
2. To collect in great numbers ; to add many
things together ; as, to amass words or
phrases.
AlVrASS, re. An assemblage, heap or accu-
mulation. [Tliis is superseded by Mass.]
AM'ASSED, pp. Collected in a heap, or in
a great quantity or number ; accumulated
AM'ASSING, ppr. Collecting in a heap, or
in a large quantity or number.
AlVrASSMENT, n. A heap collected
large quantity or number brought togeth-
er ; an accumulation.
AMA'TE, V. i. [See Mate.] To accompany
also to terrify, to perplex. [.Yot used.]
AMATEU'R, 11. [Fr., from L. amator, i
lover, from amo, to love.]
A person attached to a ])articular pursuit
study or science, as to music or pamting
one who has a taste for the arts. Burke.
AMATO'RIAL, ? a. [L. amatorius, from amo,
AMATORY, <, to love.]
I. Relating to love ; as, anialonal verses ; cau-
sing love ; as, amatory potions ; produced
by sexual intercourse ; as, amatorial pro-
geny. Darwin.
•2. In anatomy, a term applied to the oblique
muscles of the eye, from their use
oghng.
.\MAT0'RIALLY, adv. In an amatorial
manner ; by way of love. Danoin.
AMAURO'SIS, n. [Gr. a^avpof, obscure
A loss or decay of sight, without any visible
defect in the eye, except an immovable
pupil ; called also gutta serena. Some
times the disease is periodical, coming on
suddenly, continuing for hours or days,
and then disappearing. It has sometimes
been cured by electricity. Encyc. Coxe
AMA'ZE,v.t. [Qu. Ar. ^e to perplex
or confuse ; or from maze.]
To confound with fear, sudden surprise, or
wonder ; to astonish.
Theyi
Tliey shall be afraid ; they shall be amaztil
one another. Is. xiii.
ere all amazed and glorified God.
Mark ii. Luke v.
Tills word implies astonishment or perplex-
ity, arising from something extraordinary,
unexpected, unaccountable, or frightfuh"
AMA'ZE, re. Astonishment ; confusion ; per-
plexity, arising from fear, surprise or won-
der. It is chiefly used in poetry, and is
nearly synonymous with amazement.
AMA'ZED, pp. Astonished ; confoiuided
with fear, sui-jirise or wonder.
AM A'ZEDLY, adv. With amazement ; in a
to confound. [Little used.]
AMA'ZEDNESS,re. The state of being con-
foimded with fear, surprise or wonder ;
astonishment ; great wonder.
AMA'ZEMENT, n. Astonishment; confu-
sion or perplexity, from a sudden impress-
ion of fear, surprise or wonder. It is some-
times accompanied with fear or terror ;
sometimes merely extreme wonder or ad-
miration at some great, sudden or unex-
|)ected event, at an unusual sight, or a'
the narration of extraordinary events.
AMA'ZING, ppr. Confoundmg with fear,
surprise or wonder.
2. a. Very wonderful ; exciting astonish
ment, or perplexity.
- "'NGLY, adv.
gree ; in a manner to excite astonishment,
or to perplex, confound or terrify.
AM'AZON, n. [This is said to be formed of
a neg. and f«i?05, breast. History inform;
us, that the Amazons cut off their right
breast, that it might not incommode them
in shooting and hurling the javelin. This
is doubtless a fable.]
1 . The Amazons are said by historians, to have
been a race of female warriors, who foun-
ded an empire on the river Thermodon, in
Asia Minor, on the coast of the Eux
They are said to have excluded men from
their society ; and by their warlike enter
prises, to have conquered and alanned
surrounding nations. Some writers treat
these accounts as fables.
Herodian. Justin
2. By analogy, a warlike or masculine wo
man ; a virago.
3. This name has been given to some Anieri
can females, on the banks of the largest
river in the world, who joined their hus-
bands in attacking the Spaniards that first
visited the country. This trivial occur
rence gave the name Amazon to that river,
whose real name is Maranon,
Garcilasso, p. 606.
AMAZO'NIAN, a. Pertaining to or resem-
bling an Amazon. Applied to females.
bold ; of mascuhne manners ; warlik
2. Belonging to the river Maranon in South
America, or to Amazonia, the country-
lying on that river.
AMB, AM. About ; around ; used in compo
sition. Sax. enib, ymb ; W. am ; Ir. im
um ; G. um ; D. om ; Dan. om ; Sw. om
Gr. a/i$i ; Lat. am or amb.
AMBA'gES, re. [L. amb and ago, to drive.]
. A circumlocution ; a circuit of words to
express ideas which may be expressed in
fewer words.
2. A winding or turning.
AMBAS'SADOR, 71. [This is the more com-
mon orthography ; but good authors write
also embassador ; and as the orlhography
of embassy is established, it would he bet-
ter to write embassador. See Embassador.]
AM'BE or AMBI, n. [Gr. a^S^, a brim ;
from amb, about.]
Literally, a brim ; but in surgery, an instru-
ment for reducing dislocated shoulders, so
called from the jutting of its extremity.
Also the mango tree.
Qidncy. Encyc. Core.
AM'BER, re. [Fr.ambre; Sp. ambar; Port.
id; It. ambra; an oriental word ; Pers.
j^ic anbar or anabar; Ar. j^is anba-
ron. In 1 ICings x. 2. 10, the Arabic is ren-
dered spices. Tlie Arabic word is render-
ed by Castle, amber, a marine fish, a shield
made of skuis, crocus and finius. In Eth.
OtII^ anbar is rendered a whale, and
the word is used in Jonah, ii. 1. and Math,
xii. 40. This word is placed by Castle under
i-*.A£ to produce grapes, and ^^ic
signifies grapes, Ch. and Heb. 33^. The
Chaldee verb signifies to joui or connect,
and the sense of this word, apphed to
grapes, is a cluster, hke grape in Enghsh.
It signifies also in Ch. a tumor, a pustle,
a mountain, the sense of which is'a lump
or mass collected ; and this may be the
sense of amber. In German, Dutch, Swe-
dish and Danish, it has the name of burn-
stone.]
A hard semi-pellucid substance, tasteless and
without smell, except when pounded or
heated, when it emits a fragrant odor. It
is found in alluvial soils, or on the sea
shore, in many places ; particularly on the
shores of the Baltic, in Europe, and at
Cape Sable, in Maryland, in the V. States.
The ancient opinion of its vegetable origin
seems now to be estabhshed, and it is be-
lieved or known to be a fossil resin. It
yields by distillation an empyreumatic oil,
and the succinic acid, which sublimes in
small white needles. Its color usually pre-
sents some tinge of yellow. It is highly
electrical, and is the basis of a varnish.
Journal of Science. Encyc. Chambers.
AM'BER, a. Consisting of; or resembUng
amber.
AM'BER, Ji. t. To scent with amber.
AM'BER-DRINK, n. A drink resembUng
amber in color.
AM'BER-DROPPING, a. Dropping amber.
Milton.
AM'BER-SEED, n. Musk-seed, resembUng
millet. It is of a bitterish taste, and brought
from Egypt and the Vl^. Indies.
Chambers.
AMBER-TREE, n. The EhgUsh name of
a species of Anthospermum, a shrub, with
evergreen leaves, which, when bruised,
emit a fragrant odor. Miller.
AM'BERGRIS, n. [amber and Fr. gris,
gray ; gray amber.]
A solid, opake, ash-colored inflammable sub-
stance, variegated like marble, remarkably
light, rugged on its surface, and when
heated, it has a fragrant odor. It does not
effervesce with acids ; it melts easily into
a kind of yellow resin, and is highly solu-
ble in spirit of wine. Various opinions
A M B
A M B
A M B
have been entertained respecting its ori-
gin ; but it is well ascertained, that it is
indurated fecal matter, discharged by the
spermaceti whale, a species of physeter.
It has been found in that species of whale,
but usually is found floating on the surface
of the ocean, in regions frequented by
whales ; sometimes in masses of from CO
to 225 lbs. weight. In this substance are
found the beaks of the cuttle fish, on which
that whale is known to feed. It is highly
valued as a material in perfumery.
Encyc.
AM'BIDEXTER, n. [L. ambo, both, and
dexter, the right hand.]
1. A person who uses both hands with equal
facihty.
2. A double dealer ; one equally ready to
act on either side in party disputes. [This
sense is used in ludicrous luTiguage.]
3. Inlaw, a juror who takes money of both
parties, for giving his verdict ; an embra-
cer. Cowel.
AMBIDEXTERITY, > n. The faculty
AMBIDEX'TROUSNESS, \ of using both
hands with equal facility ; double dealing ;
the taking of money from both parties for
a verdict.
AMBIDEXTROUS, a. Having the faculty
of using both hands with equal ease ; prac-
ticing or siding with both parties.
AM'BIENT, a. [L. ambiens, from ambio, to
go round, from amb, about, and eo, to go.]
Surrounding ; encompassing on all sides ;
investing ; appUed to fluids or diffusible
substances ; as, the ambient air. Milton.
AMBKi'ENAL, a. [L. ambo, both, and genu,
a knee.]
An ambigenal hyperbola is one of the triple
hyperbolas of the second order, having
one of its infinite legs falling within an
angle formed by the asymptotes, and the
other without. Enaic.
AM'BIGU,n. [Fr. See Jlmbiguity.]
An entertainment or feast, consisting of a
medley of dislies. King.
AMBIGU'ITY, 71. [L. ambiguitas, fi-om
ambigo.]
Doubthdness or uncertainty of signification,
from a word's being susceptible of differ-
ent meanings ; double meaning.
Words should be used which admit of no am-
Mfe
AMBIG'UOUS, a. [L. ambiguus.]
Having two or more meanings; doubtful;
being of uncertain signification ; suscep-
tible of different interpretations ; hence,
obscure. It is applied to words and ex-
pressions; not to a dubious state of mind,
though it may be to a person using words
of doubtful signification.
The ancient oracles were ambiguous, as were
their answers.
AMBIG'UOUSLY, adv. In an ambiguous
mamier ; with doubtful meaning.
AMBIG'UOUSNESS, n. The quality of
being ambiguous ; uncertainty of mean-
ing ; ambiguity ; and hence, obscurity
AMBIL'06Y, n. [ambo, both, and xo
speech.]
Talk or language of doubtful meaning.
AMBILOQUOUS, a. [ambo, both, and
loquor, to speak.]
Using ambiguous expressions.
AM'BIT, n. [L. ambitus, a circuit, from
ambio, to go about. See ^jnbient.]
Xoyos,
The line that encompasses a thing ; in geom
etry, the perimeter of a figure, or the sur
face of a body. The periphery or circum
feronce of a circular body.
Johnson. Encyc.
AMBI"TION, n. [L. ambitio, from ambio, tol
go about, or to .seek by making interest, of|
amb, about, and eo, to go. See Amhagt
This word had its origin in the practice of
Roman candidates for office, who went
about the city to solicit votes.]
A desire of preferment, or of honor ; a desire
of excellence or superiority. It is used '
a good sense ; as, emulation may spring
from a laudable ambition. It denotes also
an inordinate desire of power, or emi
nence, often accompanied with illegal
means to obtain the object. It is .some-
times followed by of ; as, a man has
ambition of wit. Blilton has used the word
in the Latin sense of going about, or at
tempting ; but this sense is hardly legiti-
mate.
AMBI'TION, V. t. [Fr. ambitionner.]
Ambitiously to seek after. [Little used.]
King.
AMBI"TIOUS, a. Desirous of power, honor,
office, superiority or excellence ; aspiring
eager for fame ; followed by of before a
noun ; as, ambitious o/ glory.
2. Showy ; adapted to command notice o
praise ; as, ambitious ornaments.
3. Figuratively, eager to swell or rise higher
as, the ambitioUrS ocean. ' Shak.
AMBI"TIOUSLY, adv. In an ambitious
manner ; with an eager desire after pre-
ferment, or superiority.
AMBI"TIOUSNESS, n. The quality of be-
ing ambitious ; ambition. Being nearly
synonymous with ambition, it is not often
u.sed.
AM'BLE, V. i. [Fr. ambler, from L. ambulo,
to walk ; Qu. amb, about, and the root of
Fr. aller.]
1. To move with a certain peculiar pace
as a horse, first lifting his two legs on one
side, and then changing to the other.
Edin. Encyc.
2. To move easy, without hard shocks.
Him time ambles withal. Shak
3. In a ludicrous sense, to move with sub-
mission, or by direction, or to move af-
fectedly. Johnson.
AM'BLE, n. A peculiar pace of a horse.
AMBLER, n. A horse which ambles ; a
pacer.
AM'BLIGON, or AM'BLYGON, n. [Gr.
a^SXiif, obtuse, and yavta, an angle.]
An obtuse angled triangle ; a triangle with
one angle of more thau ninety degrees.
Bailey. Encyc.
AMBLIG'ONAL, a. Containing an obtuse
anffle. jlsh
AM'BLIGONITE, n. [Gr. au8t.vyuvios, hav
ing an obtuse angle.]
A greenish colored mineral, of different pak
shades, marked on the surface with red
dish and yellowish brown spots. It occur:
massive or crystahzed in oblique four
sided prisms, in granite, with topaz and
tounnaUn, in Saxony. t're,
AJI'BLING, ppr. or a. Lifting the two legs
on the same side at first going oft', and
then changing.
AM'BLINGLY, adv. With an ambUng gait.
AM'BLYOPY, n. [Gr. a^S?^-?, dull, and ^.
eye.]
Incipient amaurosis ; dulness or obscurity of
sight, without any apparent defect of tlie
organs ; sig'ht so depraved that objects
can be seen only in a certain light, dis-
tance, or position. Encyc. Coir.
AM'BO, n. [Gr. afiSui, a pulpit ; L. umbo, a
boss.]
A reading desk, or pulpit. Ifhekr.
AMBREA DA, n. [from amber.] A kind of
factitious amber, which the Europeans sell
to the Africans. Encyc.
AMBRO'SIA, n. ambro'zha, [Gr. a neg. and
eporoj, mortal, because it was supposed to
confer immortality on them that fed on it.]
1. In heathen antiquity, the imaginary food
of the gods. Hence,
2. Whatever is very pleasing to the taste or
smell. The name has also been given to
certain alexipharmic compositions.
AJIBRO'SIAL, a. amhro'zhal. Partaking of
the nature or qualities of ambrosia ; fra-
grant ; dehghting the taste or smell ; as,
ambrosial dews. Ben Jonson uses ambro-
siac in a hke sense, and Bailey has am-
brosian, but these seem not to be war-
ranted by usage.
AMBRO'SIAN, a. Pertaining to St. Am-
brose. The Jlmbrosian office, or ritual, is
a formula of worship in the church of
Milan, instituted by St. Ambrose, in the
fourth century. Encyc.
AM'BROSIN, n. In the middle ages, a coin
.struck by the dukes of Milan, on which
St. Ambrose was represented on horse-
back, with a whip in his right hand.
Encyc.
AM'BRY, n. [contracted from Fr. aumo-
nerie, ahuonry, from old Fr. almoigne,
alms.]
1. An abnonry; a place where alms are
deposited for distribution to the poor. In
ancient abbeys and priories tliere was an
office of this name, in which the almoner
Uved.
2. A place in which are deposited the uten-
sils for house keeping ; also a cupboard :
a place for cold victuals.
AMI5S'-AC'E, n. [L. ambo, both, and ace.]
A double ace, as when two dice turn up the
ace. Johnson.
AM'BULANT, a. [L. ambulans, from am-
bulo.]
Walking ; moving from place to place.
Encyc.
Ambulant brokers, in Amsterdam, are ex-
change-brokers, or agents, who are not
sworn, and whose testimony is not re-
ceived in courts of justice. Encyc
AMBULATION, n. [L. ambulatio.] A wag-
ing about ; the act of walking.
AM'BULATOR, ji. In entomology, a species
of Lamia, whose thorax is armed on each
side with two spines ; a Cerambyx of
Lmne. Cuc.
AMBULATORY, a. That has the power
or faculty of walking ; as, an animal is
ambulatory.
2. Pertaining to a walk ; as, an ambulatoiy
view.
3. Moving from place to place ; not station-
arj- ; as, an ambuUitory court, which exer-
cises its jurisdiction in different places.
Johnson.
AMBULATORY, n. A species of ichneu-
A M E
A M E
A M E
moil, with a yellowish sciitellum ami spot-
ted thorax. Ci/c.
AM'BURY, 01- .\N'BURY, n. [Qu. L.
umbo, the navel ; Gr. a/iS^v.]
Among farriers, a tumor, wart or swelling
on a horse, full of blood and soft to the
toucli. Encyc.
AM'BUS€ADE,n. [Fr. emhiscade ; Sp.Port.
emboscada ; It. imboscata ; from It. imbos-
eare, Sp. emboscar, to lie in bushes, or
concealed ; in and bosco, bosque, a. wood ;
Eng. biish.]
1. LiUrnlly, a lying in a wood, concealed,
for the purpose of attacking an enemy by
surprise : hence, a lying in wait, and con-
cealed in any situation, for a like puiTiose.
2. A private station in which troo()S lie
concealed with a view to attack their ene-
my by sui-prise ; ambush.
AM'BUS€ADE, v. t. To lie in wait for, or
to attack from a concealed position.
AM'BUS€ADED, pp. Having an ambush
laid against, or attacked from a private
station ; as, his troops were ambuscaded.
AM'BUS€ADING, ppr. Lying in wait for ;
attacking from a secret station.
AM'BUSH, n. [Fr. embikhe, of in and bush ;
Dan. busk ; D. bosch ; Germ, busch ; Fr.
bosquet, boscage, bocage, bois. See Bush.]
1. A private or concealed station, where
troops lie in wait to attack their enemy by
surjjrise.
2. The state of lying concealed, for the pur-
pose of attacking by surprise ; a lying in
wait.
3. The troops posted in a concealed place
for attacking by surprise.
Lay thee an ambush for the city. Josli. viii.
AM'BUSH, V. t. To lie in wait for ; to sur-
prise, by assailing unexpectedly from a
concealed place.
AM'BUSH, V. i. To lie in wait, for the pur-
pose of attacking by surprise.
Nor saw the snake, that ambush'd for his prey.
Trumbull
AM'BUSHED, pp. Lain in wait for ; sud-
denly attacked from a concealed station.
AM'BUSHING, ppr. Lying in wait for ; at-
tacking from a concealed station.
AM'BUSHMENT, n. An ambush ; which
see.
AMBUS'TION, )!. [L. ambustio, from am
buro, to burn or scorch, o{amb, about, and
ttro, to burn.]
Among physiciatis, a burning ; a burn or
scald.
AMEl'VA, n. A species of lizard, found in
Brazil. Bid. of JVai. Hist.
AM'EL, n. [Fr. email.'] The matter with
which metallic bodies are overlaid ; but its
use is superseded by enamel ; which see.
Boyle.
AME'LIORATE, v. t. [Fr. ameliorer, from
L. melior, better.]
To make better ; to improve ; to meUorate,
S. S. Smith. Christ. Obs. Buchanan.
AME'LIORATE, v. i. To grow better ; to
meliorate.
AMELIORA'TION,n. A making or becom-
ing better ; improvement ; melioration.
AMEN'. This word, with slight differences
of orthography, is in all the dialects of the
Assyrian stock. As a verb, it signifi
confirm, estabhsh, verify ; to trust, or give
confidence ; as a noun, truth, f
trust, confidence ; as an adjective, firm,
stable. In English, after the oriental
manner, it is used at the beginning, but
more generally at the end of declarations
and prayers, in the sense of, be it firm, be
it established.
And let all the people say amen. Fs. cvi.
The word is used also as a noun.
" All (he promises of God are amen in
Christ ;" that is, firmness, stability, constancy.
;VME'NABLE, a. [It. menare ; Fr. mener,
amener ; Norm, amesner, to lead, to brhig ;
Fr. amener. It. ammainare, in marine lan-
guage, to strike sail.]
1. In old law, easy to be led ; governable,
as a woman by her husband. [This sense
is obsolete.}
2. Liable to answer ; responsible ; answera-
ble ; liable to be called to account ; as, ev-
ery man is amenable to the laws.
We retain thi.s idiom in the popular
phrase, to Irring in, to make answerable ;
as, a man is brought in to pay the debt of
another.
AM' ENAGE,r.<. To manage. Obs.,
AM'ENANCE, n. Conduct, behavior. Obs.
Spenser.
AMEND', D.i. [Fr. amender ; h. emendo, of
e neg, and menda, mendum, a fault ; W.
mann, a spot or blemish ; Sp. Port, emen-
dnr ; It. ammendare. See Mend.]
1. To correct ; to rectify by expunging a
listake ; as, to amend a law.
3. To reform, by quitting bad habits ; to
make better in a moral sense ; as, to amend
our ways or our conduct.
3. To correct ; to sup])ly a defect ; to im-
prove or make better, by some addition of
what is wanted, as well as by expunging
what is wrong, as to amend a bill before a
legislature. Hence it is applied to the
correction of authors, by restoring passa-
ges which had been omitted, or restoring
the true reading.
AMEND', V. i. To grow or become better,
by reformation, or rectifying something
wrong in maimers or morals. It differs
from improve, in this, that to amend im
plies something previously wrong ; t(
improve, does not.
.\MEND', n. [Fr.] A pecuniary punishment,
or fine. The amende honorable, in France,
is an infamous punishment inflicted on
traitors, parricides and sacrilegious per-
sons. The offender, being led into court
with a rope about his neck, begs pardon
of his God, the court, &c. These words
denote also a recantation in open court,
or in presence of the injured person.
Encyc.
AMEND' ABLE, a. That may be amended ;
capable of correction ; as, an amendable
writ or error.
AMEND'ATORY, a. That amends ; sup
plying amendment ; corrective.
AMEND'ED,^;). Corrected; rectified; re
formed ; improved, or altered for the
better.
AMEND'ER, n. The person that amends.
AMEND'ING, jop\ Correcting; reforming
altering for the better.
AMEND'MENT, n. An alteration or change
for the better ; correction of a fault or
faults ; reformation of life, by quitting vices.
2. A word, clause or paragraph, added or
proposed to be added to a bill before a
legislature.
3. In laie, the correction of an error in a writ
or process.
Shakespeare uses it for the recovei-y of
health, but this sense is unusual.
AMENDS', n. plu. [Fr. amende.]
Compensation for an injury; recompense;
satisfaction ; equivalent ; as, the happiness
of a future life will more than make amends
for the miseries of this.
AME'NITY, n. [L. ammnitas ; Fr. aminiti ;
L. amamis ; W. mwyn, good, kind.]
Pleasantness ; agreeableuess of situation ;
that which delights the eye ; used of pla-
ces and prospects. Brown.
AM'ENT, n. [L. amentum, a thong, or
strap.]
In botany, a species of inflorescence, from a
common, chafiy receptacle ; or consisting
of many scales, ranged along a stalk or
slender axis, which is the common recep-
tacle ; as in birch, oak, chesnut. Martyn.
AMENTA'CEOUS,a. Growing in an ament ;
resembling a thong ; as, the chesnut has
an amentaceous inflorescence. Martyn.
AMERCE, V. t. amers'. [A verb formed from
a for on or at, and Fr. merci, mercy, or
from L. merces, reward.]
1. To inflict a penalty at mercy ; to punish by
a pecuniary penalty, the amoimt of which
is not fixed by law, but left: to the discre-
tion or mercy of the coin-t ; as, the court
amerced the criminal in the sum of one
hundred dollars.
2. To inflict a pecuniary penalty ; to punish
in general. Milton uses of afler amerce .-
" Millions of spirits amerced of heaven ;"
but this use seems to be a poetic license.
A3IER'CED, pp. Fined at the discretion of
a court.
AMERCEMENT, n. amers'ment. A pecun-
iary penalty inflicted on an offender at the
discretion of the court. It differs from a
fine, in that the latter is, or was originally,
a fixed and certain sum prescribed by stat-
ute for an offense ; but an amercement is
arbitrary. Hence the practice of affeering.
[See Affeer.] But in America, the word fine
is now used for a pecuniary penalty which
is uncertain ; and it is common in stat-
utes, to enact that an offender shall be
fined, at the discretion of the court. In
England also, fines are now usually dis-
cretionary. Thus the word fine has, in a
measure, superseded the use of amerce-
ment. This word, in old books, is written
amerciament.
Amercement royal is a penalty imposed on an
officer for a misdemeanor in his office.
AMER'CER, n. One who sets a fine at dis-
cretion, upon an offender.
AMER'l€A, n. [from Amerigo Vespucci,
a Florentine, who pretended to have first
discovered the we.-^tern continent.]
One of the great comments, first discovered
by Sebastian Cabot, June 11, O. S. 1498,
and by Columbus, or Christoval Colon,
Aug. 1, the same year. It extends from
the eightieth degree of North, to the fifty-
fourth degree of South Latitude ; and
from the thirty-fifth to the one hundred
and fifty-sixth" degree of Longitude West
from Greenwich, being about nine thou-
sand miles in length. Its breadtli at
Darien is narrowed to about forty-five
miles, hut at the northern extremity is
nearly four the iisand miles. From Darien
A M I
to the JVorth, tlie continent is called ^Torth
America, and to the South, it is called South
Ancrica.
AMER'1€AN, a. Pertaining to America.
AMER'ICAN, n. A native of America
originally ai)plied to the aboriginals, or
copper-colored races, found here by the
Europeans; but now applied to the des-
cendants of Europeans born in America.
The name American must always exalt thi
pride of patriotism. • Washington
AMER'I€ANISM, n. The love which Amer-
ican citizens have to their own country, or
the preference of its interests. Analogi-
cally, an American idiom.
AMERICANIZE, v. t. To render Amer-
ican ; to naturalize in America.
AMER'ICIM, n. A species of lizard in
South America, not more than two inches
in length, and the third of an inch in diam-
eter. Its legs are of the size of a hog's
bristle. Did. o/JVat. Hist.
AMETH'ODIST, n. A quack. [M,t used.]
AM'ETHYST, n. [L. amethystus ; Gr.
afiiBvioi, which the Greeks supposed to
be formed from a nag. and /ufSnu, to ine-
briate, from some supposed quality in the
stone of resisting intoxication. Phn. xxxvii.
9, mentions an opinion that it takes its
name from its color approachuig that of
wine, but not reaching it.]
A sub-species of quartz, of a violet blue
color, of different degrees of mtensity. I
generally occurs crystalized in hexahedral
prisms or pyramids ; also in rolled frag-
ments, composed of imperfect prismatic
crystals. Its fracture is conchoidal oi
splintery. It is wrought into various arti-
cles of jewelry. Cleaveland. Encyc
AM'ETHYST, in heraldry, signifies a pur-
ple color. It is the same, in a nobleman's
escutcheon, as purpure, iji a gentleman's
• and mercury, in that of a prince. Encyc.
AMETHYST'INE, a. Pertaining to or re-
sembling amethyst ; anciently apjilied to a
garment of the color of amethyst, as dis-
tinguished from the Tyrian and hyacuith-
ine purple.
AM'IA, n. A genus offish, of the abdomin-
eJ order, foimd in the rivers of Carolina.
Pennant
A'MIABLE, a. [Fr. amiable ; L. amabilis ;
from amo, to love.]
1. Lovely ; worthy of love ; deserving of af-
fection ; applied usually to persons. But in
Ps.lxxxiv. 1, there is an exception, " How
amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord."
3. Pretending or showing love.
Lay amiable siege to the honesty of this
Ford's wife. Shak
But this use is not legitimate.
A'MIABLENESS.n.The quahty of deserv-
ing love ; loveliness.
A'MIABLY, adv. In an amiable manner
in a manner to excite or attract love.
AM'IANTH, } „ [Gr. af.iar.ro;, of a neg.
AMIANTH'US, S and a"*'-"-, to pollute,
or vitiate ; so called from its incombusti-
bility. Plin. 3(3. lit.]
Earth-flax, or mountain flax ; a mineral sub-
stance somewhat resembling flax ; usually
grayish, or of a greenish white ; sc
times of a yellowish or silvery wliite, ohve
or mountain green, of a pale flesh red or
ocher color. It is composed of delicate
filaments, very flexible and somewhat
A M I
elastic, often long and resembling threads
of silk. It is incombustible, and has
sometimes been wrought into cloth
paper. Kirwan. Encyc. Cleaveland.
AMIANTH'IFORM, a. [Amianth a.nd form.]
Having die form or Ukeness of amianth.
Amianthiform arseiiiate of copper. Phillips.
AMIANTH'INITE, n. A species of amor-
phous mineral, a variety of actinolite ; its
color ash, greenish or yellowish gray,
olicn mixed with yellow or red ; its f " -
ture confusedly fohated and fibrous.
Kirwan.
AMIANTH'OID, n. [Amianth and Gr.
fi6of, form.]
A mineral which occurs in tufts, composed
of long capillary filaments, flexible and
very elastic ; more flexible than the fibers
of asbestus, but stiffer and more elastic
than those of amianth. The color is olive
green, or greenish white. HaiXy. Cleaveland.
AMIANTH'OID, a. Resembhng amianth
in form.
AM'ICABLE, a. [L. amicabilis, from ami
a friend, from amo, to love.]
1. Friendly ; peaceable ; harmonious in social
or mutual transactions ; usually apphed
to the dispositions of men who have busi
ness with each other, or to their inter
course and transactions ; as, nations oi
men have come to an amicable adjustment
of their diflerences.
2. Disposed to peace and friejidship ; as, an
amicable temper. [But rarely applied '
single person.]
AM'IeABLENESS, n. The quahty of being
peaceable, friendly, or disposed to peace";
friendliness ; a disposition to preserve
peace and fi^iendship.
AM'I€ABLY, adv. In a friendly manner;
with harmony or good will ; without con
troversy ; as, the dispute was amicably ad
usted.
jusl
.M'l
ICE, n. [L. amictus from amicior, to
clothe ; Fr. amid ; Sp. amito ; Port, amicto.]
A square hnen cloth that a Cathohc priest
ties about his neck, hanging down behind
under the alb, when he officiates at mass.
Sp. and Port. Did.
AMID', > ,.„„ [of a and Sax. midd,
AMIDST', (iP'^P- the middle, L. medius.
Amidst is the superlative degree middest.
a contraction of Sax. mid-mesta, mid-most.
See Middle and Midst.]
In the midst or middle.
2. Among ; mingled with ; as, a sheplierd
amidst his flock.
.3. Sun-ounded, encompassed, or envelop
ed with ; as, amidst the shade ; amid the
waves. Amid is used mostly in poetry.
AMID'-SHIPS, in marine language, the
middle of a ship, with regard to her
lengtli and breadth.
AM'ILOT, n. A white fish in the Mexican
lakes, more than a foot in length, and
much esteemed at the table. Clavigero.
AMISS', a. [a and miss. See Miss.]
1. Wrong ; fauhy ; out of order ; impi'oper ;
as, it may not be amiss to ask advice. [This
adjective always follows its noun.]
2. adv. In a faulty manner ; contrary to
propriety, truth, law or morality.
Ve ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss.
James, iv.
Applied to the body, it signifies indisposed ;
as, I am somewhat amiss to day.
A M 31
AM'ITY, n. [Fr. amilie ; It. amistct, aviitt-
dde ; Sp. amistad, from amistar, to recon-
cile ; Port, amizade ; Norm, amistee, ti'iend-
ship, amez, friends, ameis, amdz, beloved.
Qu. L. amo, amicitia.]
Friendship, in a general sense, between in-
dividuals, societies or nations ; harmony ;
good understanding ; as, our nation is in
amity with all the world ; a treaty of
amity anil conmierce.
AM'MA, n. [Heb. DK mother.]
1. An abbess or spiritual mother.
2. A girdle or truss used in ruptures. [Gr.
a/ifna.] Coie.
AM'MAN, n. [G. amimann ; D. amptman ;
Da.n. amtmand ; a compound ofampt, Sas.
ambahl or embeht, office, duty, charge, and
man. See Embassador.]
In some European nations, a judge who
has cognizance of civil cau.ses. In Prance,
a notary or ofiicer who di-aws deeds and
other writings. Encyc.
AM'IMITE or HAM'MITE, n. [Gr. .v^oj,
sand.]
A sand-stone or free-stone, of a pale brown
color, very heavy, of a lax texture, com-
posed of smaU round granides, cemented
by an earthy spaiTy matter. The grit or
granules are small stalagmites, composed
of crusts or coats including one another.
It is the roe-stone or oohte of recent au-
thors. Da Costa. Plin. 37. 10.
AM'MOCETE, n. An obsolete name of the
ammodyte. In Cuvier, the name of a genus
of fish, including the lampern, Petroniy-
zon hranchialis, Linne.
AM'MOeURYSE, n. am'mokris, [Gr. au-
Hos, sand, and jfpvffoj, gold.]
A yellow soft stone, found in Germany, con-
sisting of glossy yellow particles. When
rubbed or ground, it is used to strew over
writing, Uke black sand with us. tin. yel-
low mica. Plin. 37. 11. Encyc.
AMMODYTE, n. [Gr. a^^oj, sand, and
Svu, to enter.]
The sand eel, a genus of fish, of the apodal
order, about a foot iti length, with a com-
pressed head, a long slender body, and
scales hardly perceptible. There is but
one species, the tobianus or lance. It bu-
ries itself in the sand, and is found also in
the stomach of the porpess, which indi-
cates that the latter fish roots up the sand
like a hog. Encyc.
This name is also given to a serpent of the
size of a viper, and of a yellowish color,
found in Africa ; also to a large serpent of
Ceylon, of a whitish ash color, and very
venomous. Did. ofJVat. Hist.
AMMO'NIA, I [The real origin of this
AM'MONY, ^ "■ word is not ascertained.
Some authors suppose it to be from Am-
nion, a title of Jupiter, near whose temple
in upper Egypt, it was generated. Others
suppose it to be fi-om Ammonia, a Cyre-
naic territory ; and others deduce it fi-om
an/ios, sand, as it was found in sandy
ground. Anghcized, this forms an elegant
word, ammony.]
Volatile alkali ; a substance, which, in its
purest form, exists in a state of gas. It is
composed of hydrogen and nitrogen.
Combined with the muriatic acid, it fijrma
the muriate of ammonia, called also sal
ammoniac at(,d hydro-chlorate of ammo-
A M N
A M O
A M O
Ilia. Native muriate of ammony is found
in Egypt, where it is said to be generated
in large inns and caravanseras, from the
excrements of camels and other beasts,
It occurs also massive and crystalized in
the vicinity of volcanoes. Ammony, pop-
ularly called hartshorn, is extremely pun-
gent and acrid, but when diluted, is an
agreeable stimulant. It extinguishes flame,
and is fatal to animal life. It combines
with acids, and produces a class of salts,
which, with few exceptions, are soluble
water. Nicholson. Thompson. JVehstcr's
Manual.
AMMONIAC, ) Pertaining to am
AMftlONI'AeAL, S "• nia, or possessing its
properties.
AMMONIAC, or AMMONIAC GUM, n
[See Ammonia.'^
A gam resin, from Africa and the East
brought in large masses, composed of
tears, internally white and externally yel-
low ; supposed to be an exudation from ar
umbelhferous plant. It has a fetid smell,
and a nauseous sweet taste, followed by a
bitter one. It is inflammable, soluble in
water and spirit of wine, and is used in
medicine, as a deobstruent, and resolvent.
Encyc.
AMMO'NIAN, a. Relating to Ammonius,
surnamed Saccas, of Alexandria, who
flourished at the end of the second (
tury, and was the founder of the eclectic
system of Philosophy ; or rather, he com
pleted the estabhshment of the sect, whicl
originated with Potamo. Enfield.
AM'MONITE, n. [Cornu amnwms, from
Jupiter Amman, whose statues were rep
resented with rani's horns.]
Serpent-stone, or cornu ammonis, a fossil
shell, curved into a spiral, hke a ram's
horn ; of various sizes, from the smallest
grains to three feet in diameter. This fos
sil is found in stratums of limestone and
clay, and in argillaceous iron ore. It is
smooth or ridged ; the ridges strait, crook-
ed or undulated. Cyc. Encyc. Plin. 37. 10,
AMMO'NIUM, n. A name given to the sup-
posed metallic basis of ammonia. If mer-
cury, at the negative pole of a galvanic bat-
tery, is placed in contact with a solution
of ammonia, and the circuit is completed
an amalgam is formed, which, at the tern
perature of 70° or 80" of Fahrenheit, is of
the consistence of butter, but at the freez-
ing point is a firm and crystalized mass.
This amalgam is supposed to be formed
by the metallic basis, ammonium.
Davy. Thomson.
AMMONI'URET, n. The solution of a sub-
stance ill ammonia. Ed. Encyc
AMMUNI"TION, n. [L. ad and munitio,
from munio, to fortify.]
Military stores, or provisions for attack or
defense. In modern usage, the significa-
tion is confined to the articles which are
used in the discharge of fire-arms and
ordnance of all kinds ; as powder, balls,
bombs, various kinds of shot, &c.
Ammunilion-bread, bread or other provisions
to supply troops.
AM'NESTY, n. [Gr. ani'Tjatta, of aneg. and
nvrjats, memory, from the root of mens.
mmd. See Mind.]
An act of oblivion ; a general pardon of the
offenses of subjects against the govern-
ment, or the proclamation of such pardon.
AM'NIOS or AM'NION, n. [Gr. aftvM,', a
vessel or membrane.]
The innermost membrane surrotmding the
fetus in the womb. It is thin, transparent,
soft and smooth on the inside, but rougl
on the outside. Encyc.
AMNIOT'IC, o. Obtained from the liquor
of the amnios, as the amniotic acid.
Ure.
AMOBE'AN, a. Alternately answering.
Warton.
AMOBE'UM, n. [Gr. a^otffaioj, alternate;
afioiSri, change.]
A poem in which persons are represented
as speaking alternately, as the third and
seventh eclogues of Virgil. Encyc.
AMO'MUM, n. [Gr. auu.f.o..; Ar. UL.,^
hamauma, from ^ ~. lianinia, to warm
or heat ; the heating plant.]
A genus of plants ; all natives of warm cli-
mates, and remarkable for their pungen-
cy and aromatic properties. It includes
the common ginger or zingiber, the ze
rumbet, zedoary, cardamom, and granun
paradisi or grains of paradise. The roots
of the three former, and the seeds of the
two latter, are used in medicine as cai
natives and stunulants, and in cookeiy as
condiments. They are important articles
of commerce. Cyc.
True amomum is a round fruit, from the East,
of the size of a grape, containing, under
membranous cover, a number of angular
seeds of a dark brown color, in three
cells. Of this fruit, ten or twelve grow in
a cluster, adhering, without a pedicle, to
a woody stalk. It is of a pungent taste
and aromatic smell, and was formerly
much used in medicine, but is now a stran-
ger to the shops. Plin. 12. 13. Encyc.
AMONG', I Amung', ) [Sax. on-
AMONGST', \P''''P- Amungst',lmang,on-
gemang, among ; gemangan, to niuigle ;
D. and Ger. mengen ; Sw. mangia ; Dan.
mmnger, to mingle ; Gr. /iiyvvu. See
Mingle.]
1. In a general or primitive sense, mixed or
mingled with ; as tares among wheat.
2. Conjoined or associated with, or niak:
part of the number.
Blessed art thou among women. Luke, i.
3. Of tlie number ; as, there is not one among
a thousand, possessing the hke qualities.
AMO'NIAN, a. [from Anion or Hamon, a
title of Jupiter, or rather of the sun ; Ar.
Heb. and Ch. an, rron. Ham or Camah,
which, as a verb, signifies to heat or warm,
and as a noun, heat or the sun ; and in
Arabic, the supreme God.]
Pertaining to Jupiter Amon, or to his temple
and worship in upper Egypt. Bryant.
AMOR.\'DO, n. [L. amor, love, amo, to love.
But the word is ill formed.]
A lover. See Inamorato, which is chiefly
used. Ch. Rel. Appeal.
AMO'RE, n. A name given by Marcgrave,
to a tribe offish, of three species, the pix-
unia, guacu, and tinga. They are found
about the shores of South America, and
are used for food. Cyc. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
AMORE'ANS, n. A sect of Gemaric doc-
tors or commentators on the Jerusalem
Tahnud. The Amoreans were followed
by the Mishnic doctors, and these by the
Sebureans.
.\MORET', n. [L. amor, love ; Fr. amour-
ette.]
A lover ; an amorous woman ; also a love
knot or a trifling love affair.
Good's Sacred Idyls. Chaucer.
AM'ORIST, n. [L. atnor, love.]
A lover ; a gallant ; an inamorato. Boyh.
AMORO'SO, n. [It. fi-om amor, love.]
A lover ; a man enamored.
AM'OROUS, a. [Fr. amoreux ; It. amoroso ;
from L. amor, love.]
1. Inclined to love ; having a propensity to
love, or to sexual enjoyment ; loving ;
fond.
'2. In love ; enamored. Shak.
3. Pertaining or relating to love ; produced
by love ; indicating love ; as, amorous de-
light ; amorous airs. Milton. Walter.
AM'OROUSLY, adv. In an amorous man-
ner ; fondly ; lovingly.
AM'OROUSNESS, n. The quahty of being
inclined to love, or to sexual pleasure ;
fondne.ss ; lovingness. Sidney.
AMORPH'A, n. [Gr. a neg. and /top^r;, form.]
False or bastard uidigo. The plant is a na-
tive of Carolina, constituting a genus. It
rises, with many irregular stems, to the
highth of twelve or fourteen feet ; the
leaves, beautifully pinnated, are of an ad-
mired green color, and its purple flowers
grow in spikes of seven or eight inches
long. Of this plant has been made a
coarse kind of uidigo. Encyc.
AMORPHOUS, a. [Gr. a neg. and aop*?,
form.]
Having no determinate form ; of iiTegular
shape ; not of any regular figure. Kirwan.
AMORPH'Y, n. Irregularity of form ; de-
viation from a determinate shape. Swifl.
AMORT', adv. [L. mors, mortuus.]
In the state of the dead. Shak.
AM ORTIZ ATI ON or AMORTIZE-
MENT, n. The act or right of ahena-
ting lands or tenements to a corporation,
which was considered formerly as trans-
ferring them to dead hands, as such alien-
ations were mostly made to religious hous-
es for superstitious uses. Btackstone.
AMORT'IZE, V. t. [Norm, amortizer, amor-
tir ; Sp. amortizar, to sell in mortmain ; It-
ammortire, to extinguish, from morte, L.
mors, death. See Mortmain.]
In English law, to alienate in mortmain, that
is, to sell to a corporation, sole or aggre-
gate, ecclesiastical or temporal, and their
successors. This was considered as sell-
ing to dead hands. This cannot be done
without the king's hcense. [See Mort-
main.] Blackstone. Cotvel.
AMOTION, n. [h. amotio ; a7iioveo.]
Removal. fVarton.
AMOUNT', V. i. [Fr. monter, to ascend ;
Norm, amont, upwards ; Sp. Port, montar ;
It. montare ; from L. mons, a mountain, or
its root ; W. mynyz.]
1. To rise to or reach, by an accumulation of
particulars, into an aggregate whole ; to
compose in the whole ; as, the interest on
the several sums amounts to fifty dollars.
•2. To rise, reach, or extend to, in eflfect, or
substance ; to result in, by consequence,
when all things are considered ; as, the
A 31 P
AMP
A M P
testimony of these witnesses amounts to
very little. Bacon.
AMOUNT', n. The sum total of two or
more particular sums or quantities ; as.
the amount of 7 and 9 is 16.
2. The effect, substance or result ; the simi
as, the amount of the testimony is this.
AMOUNT'ING, ppr. Rising to, by accumu-
lation or addition ; coming or increasing
to ; resulting in effect or substance.
AM6UR', n. [Fr., from L. amor, love.]
An unlawful connection in love ; a lov
trigue; an affair of gallantry. South.
AMoV'AL, n. [L. amoveo.]
Total removal. [M)t used.] Evelyn.
AMOVE', V. t. [L. amoveo, a and moveo, to
move.]
To remove. [JVotused.] Hall. Spenser.
AM'PELITE, Ji. [Gr. a^rttXoj, a vine. The
name of an earth used to kill worms on
vines. Phny says it is like bitumen. Lib.
35, 16.]
Cannel coal, or candle coal ; an inflammable
sub.stance of a black color, compact tex
ture, and resinous luster, and sufficiently
hard to be cut and polished. It burns
with a bright flame, of a short duration
and gives but a moderate heat. It is used
Uke jet for making toys. It is found
France and England, where husbandmen
smear vines with it to kill vermin.
Encyc. Cleaveland.
AMPHIB'IAL, AMPHIB'IA, n. [Gr.<iA<4>.,
both or about, and (Jio{, life.]
In zoology, amphibials are a class of animals,
so formed as to live on land, and for a
long time under water. Their heart has
but one ventricle ; their blood is red and
cold ; and they have such command of
the lungs, as for a considerable time, to
suspend f espu'ation. This class of anunals
is divided into two orders, the Reptiles
and the Serpents. To the first belong the
testudo, or tortoise, the draco or dragon,
the lacerta or hzard, and the rana or frog ;
to the second, the crotalus, boa, coluber,
anguis, amphisbena, and cecilia. Linne.
The term has also been appUed to such
quadrupeds, as frequent the water, par-
ticularly the marine quadrupeds, such as
the seal, walrus and laniantin. Encyc.
AMPHIB'IOLITE, n. [Gr. a.utiSwj, am-
phibious, and %Woi, stone.]
A fragment of a petrified amphibious ani-
mal. Diet, of JVat. Hist
AMPHIBIOLOG'I€AL, a. [Infra.]
Pertaining to amjihibiology.
AMPHIBIOL'OGY, n. [Gr. aixft, on both
sides, (Jioj, life, and >.oyo{, discourse.]
A discourse or treatise on amphibious
mals, or the history and description of such
animals.
AMPHIBIOUS, a. [See AmpUhial]
1. Having the i>ower of living in two ele-
ments, air and water, as frogs, crocodiles,
beavers, and the like.
2. Of a mi.xed nature ; partaking of two
tures; as, an amphibious breed.
AMPHIB'IOUSNESS, n. The quahty oil
being able to live in two elements, or of
partaking of two natures.
AMPHIB'IUM, n. That which lives in two
elements, as in air and water.
AM'PHIBOLE, n. [Gr. a/iijn«o?.05, equivocal
an^i and )3a?.J.u.]
A name given by Haoy to a species of min
erals, including the Tremohte, Hornblend,
and Aclinohte. Its primitive form is an
oblique rhombic prism. Cleaveland.
AMPHIBOLIC, «. Pertaining to anqjhi-
bole ; resembling amphibole, or partaking
of its nature and characters. Cooper.
AMPHIBOLOGICAL, a. Doubtful ; of
doubtful meaning.
AMPHIBOLOG'ICALLY, adv. With
doubtful meaning.
AMPHIBOL'OgY, n. [Gr. afi^i, (Saxxu and
Xoyos, speech, ajifiSo^oym.]
A phrase or discourse, susceptible of two in
terpretations ; and hence, a phrase of un
certain meaning. Amphibology arises
from the order of the phrase, rather than
from the ambiguous meaning of a word,
which is called equivocation. We have
an example in the answer of the oracle to
Pyrrhus. "Aio te Romanes vincere pos
se." Here te and Romanos, may either of
them precede or follow vincere posse, and
the sense may be either, you may conquer
the Romans, or the Romans may conquer
you. The English language seldom ad-
mits of amphibology. Encyc. Johnson
AMPHIB'OLOUS, a. [Gr. afi^iSoxos, 0^4,,
and (3OW.C0, to strike.]
Tossed from one to another ; striking each
way, with mutual blows. [lAttle used.]
AMp'hIB'OLY, ji. [Gr. a;/$iffo?.to, 0^.4.', both
ways, and liaMM, to strike.^
Ambiguity of meaning. [Rarely used.
Spclman.
AMPHIBRACH, n. [Gr. a^f, and |3pa;tis,
short.]
In poetry, a foot of three syllables, the middle
one long, the first and last short ; as ha
here, in Latin. In English verse, it is used
as the last foot, when a syllable is added
to the usual number forming a double
rhyme ; as.
The piece, you think, is incorrect, why take it ?
Pope. Trumbull
AM'PHICOME, n. [Gr.aw^t andxo,.,, hair.]
A Idnd of figured stone, of a round shape,
but rugged and beset with
called Erotylos, on account of its
power of exciting- love. Anciently, it was
used in divination ; but it is Uttle known
to the moderns. Encyc.
AMPHICTYON'IC, a. Pertammg to the
august council of Aniphictyons.
AMPHIC'TY'ONS, n. In Grecian history,
an assembly or council of deputies from
the different states of Greece, supposed to
be so called from Ampliictyon, tlie son of
Deucahon, but this opinion is probably
a fable. Ten or twelve states were re
presented in this assembly, which sat a
Thermopylse, but ordinarily at Delphi
Each city sent two deputies, one called
Hieromnemon and the other Pylagoras.
The former mspected the sacrifices and
ceremonies of rehgion ; the latter, had the
charge of deciding causes and differences
betweeti private persons. The former
was elected by lot ; the latter by a plural
ity of voices. They had an equal right to
dehberate and vote in all matters relatuig
to the common interests of Greece.
Pans. Plin. Strabo. Encyc.
AM'PHIgENE, n. [Gr. oa<}>t and yeros.]
In mineralogy, another uatne of the leucite
or Vesuviau.
AMPHIHEXAHE'DRAL, a. [Gr. auft, and
hexahedral.]
In cryslalugraphy, when the faces of the crys-
tal, counted in two different directions,
give two hexahedral outlines, or are found
to be six in number. Cleaveland.
AMPHIM'AGER, n. [Gr. o^t'faxpos, long
1 both sides.]
In ancient poetry, a foot of three syllables, the
iniddle one short and the others long, as
in castitas.
AMPHIS'BEN, > »i. [Gr.o;«$i«e<u.u,ofout»5
AMPlllSBE'NA, 5 and ffoim, to go ; indi-
cating that the animal moves with either
end foremost.]
A genus of serpents, with the head small,
smooth and blunt ; the nostrils small, the
eyes minute and blackish, and the mouth
furnished with small teeth. The body is
cylindrical, destitute of scales, and divided
into numerous annular segments ; the tail
obtuse, and scarcely to be distinguished
from the head, whence the beUef that it
moved equally well with either end fore-
most. There are two species ; the fuli-
ginosa, black with white spots, found in
Africa and America ; and the alba, or
white species, found in both the Indies,
and generally in ant-hillocks. They feed
on ants and earth-worms, and were for-
merly deemed poisonous ; but this opinion
is exploded. Plin. 8. 23. Encyc. Cyc.
The aquatic amphisben, Gordius aquaticue,
Linne, is an animal resembling a horse
hair, found in water, and moving with ei-
ther end foremost. The vulgar opinion
that this is an animated horse-hair is
found to be an error. This hair Avorra is
generated in the connnon black beetle, in
which the parent worm lays its eggs ; and
is sometimes found in the earth and on
the leaves of trees.
Lister, Phil. Trans. jVo. 8.3.
AMPHIS'CII, I [Gr. o;.$i, on both
AMPHIS'CIANS, ^"- sides, and (Tx«., shad-
ow.]
In geography, the inhabitants of the tropics,
whose shadows, in one part of the year,
are cast to the north, and in the other, to the
south, according as tlie sun is in the south-
ern or northern signs.
AM'PHITANE, n. A name given by an-
cient naturahsts to a fossil, called by Dr.
Hill pyricubium. Pliny describes it as of
a square figure and a gold color. Qu.
Cubic pyntcs. Pliny, 37. 10. Encyc.
AMPHITHE'ATER, n. [iSr. af,^i9iaTpo,; of
afL^i, about, and fiforpoi', theater, from
eeoMfiai, to .see or look.]
1. An edifice in an oval or circular form, hav-
ing its area encompassed with rows of
seats, rising higher as they recede from
the area, on which people used to sit to
view the combats of gladiators and of wild
beasts, and other sports. The ancient
theater was a semicircle, but exceeding it
by a fourth part of its diameter ; the am-
phitheater was a double theater, and its
longest diameter was to its shortest as
1 1-2 to 1. It was at first of wood, but in
the reign of Augustus one was erected of
stone. The area or cavea being covered
with sand was called arena. Kennel.
2. In gardening, a disposition of shrubs and
trees in the form of an amphitheater, on a
slope, or forming a slope, by placing the
AMP
AMU
A M 1
lowest in front. An ampliitheater may
also be formed of turf only. Encyc.
AMPHITHE'ATRAL, a. Resembliiif; at
amphitheater. Tooke
AMPHITHEAT'RICAL, a. Pertaining to
or exhibited in an amphitheater. H'arton.
AM'PHITRITE, n. [Gr. oit^crp.t,,, a
dess of the sea.]
A genus of marine animals, of the Linnean
order, Mollusca.
AM'PHOR, or AM'PHORA, n. [L. ampho-
ra ; Gr. oi/t^iopfvs, or a^ifii^opfvs ; a^f and
$opfu.]
Among the Greeks and Romans, a liquid
measure. The amphora of the Romans
contained about forty-eight sextaries, equal
to seven gallons and a pint, English wine
measure. The Grecian or Attic amphor
contained about a third more. This was
also, among the Romans, a dry measure
of about three bushels. Among the Ve-
netians, it is a hquid measure of sixteen
quarts.
This name was formerly used in England ;
hut t)ie capacity of the Sax. ambra is not
certainly known.
LL. In<E. Cap. 70. WiUins, Pre/. LL.
JEfhetstan. Spelman. Encyc.
AM'PLE, a. [Fr. ampk ; L. amplus.]
1. Large ; wide ; spacious ; extended ; as
ample room. This word carries with it
the sense of room or space fully sufficient
for the use intended.
2. Great in bulk, or size ; as an ample tear
Shak.
3. Liberal ; unrestrained ; without parsimo-
ny ; fully sufficient ; as, ample provision
for the table ; ample justice.
4. Liberal ; magnificent ; as ample promises.
5. Diffiisive ; not briefer contracted ; as an
ample narrative.
AM'PLENESS, n. Largeness; spacious
ness ; sufficiency ; abundance.
A3IPLEX'I€AUL, a. [L. amplexor, to em-
brace, of amh about, and plico, plexus, to
fold, and caulis, xavXo;, a stem.]
In botany, suiTounding or embracing the
stem, as the base of a leaf.
AM'PLIATE, V. t. [L. amplio. See Ampk
To enlarge ; to make greater ; to extend.
[Little used.]
AMPLIA'TION, n. Enlargement ; ampl
fication ; diffuseness. [lAttle used.]
3. In Roman antiquity, a deferring to pass
sentence ; a postponement of a decision,
to obtain further evidence. Encyc.
AMPLIFl€A'TION, n. [L. amplificatio.]
1. Enlargement ; extension.
2. In rhetoric, diffusive description or dis-
cussion ; exaggerated representation ; co-
pious argument, intended to present the
subject in every view or in the strongest
light ; diffuse nai-rative, or a dilating
upon all the particulars of a subject ; a
description given in more words tlian are
necessary, or an illustration by various ex-
atnples and proofs.
AM'PLIFIED, pp. Enlarged; extended
diffusively treated.
AM'PLIFIER, n. One who amplifies or en-
larges ; one who treats a subject diffusive-
ly, to exhibit it in the strongest light.
Sidney.
AM'PLIFY, V. t. [Fr. amplifier ; L. amplijfi-
CO ; of amplus and facto, to make large.]
1. To enlarge; to augment ; to increase or
extend, in a general sense ; applied to
te.rial or immaterial things.
2. In rhetoric, to enlarge in discussion or by
representation ; to treat copiously, so as
to present the subject in every view and
in the strongest fights.
•3. To enlarge by addition ; to improve or
extend ; as, to amplify the sense of ai
thor by a paraphrase.
AM'PLIFY, V. i. To speak largely or co-
piously ; to be diffuse in argument or de
scription ; to dilate upon ; often followed
by on ; as, to amplify on the several topics
of discourse. JFatts.
2. To exaggerate ; to enlarge by representa-
tion or description ; as.
Homer amplifies — not invents. Pope
AM'PLIFYING, ppr. Enlarging; exag-
gerating ; diffusively treating.
AM'PLITUDE, n. [L. amplitudo, from am-
plus, large.]
1. Largeness ; extent, appUed to bodies ; as,
the amplitude of the earth.
2. Largeness; extent of capacity or intellec-
tual powers ; as, amplitude of mind.
3. Extent of means or power ; abiuidance
ifficiency. ^'iite.
Amplitude, in astronoiny, is an arch of tlie
horizon intercepted between the east and
west point, and the center of the sun or
star at its rising or setting. At the rising
of a star, the amplitude is eastern or ortive ;
at the setting, it is western, occiduous, oi
occasive. It is also northern or southern,
when north or south of the equator.
Johnson. Encyc.
Amplitude of the range, in projectiles, is the
horizontal fine subtending the path of a
body thrown, or the line which measures
the distance it has moved.
Johnson. Chambers
Magnetical amplitude is the arch of the hori-
zon between the sun or a star, at rising or
setting, and the east or west point of the
horizon, by the compass. The difference
between this and the true amplitude is the
variation of the compass. Entye.
AM'PLY, adv. Largely; Uberally ; fully;
sufficiently ; copiously ; in a diffusive
manner.
AM'PUTATE, V. t. [L. amputo, of amb.
about, and puto, to prune.]
1. To prune branches of trees or vines ; to
cut off.
2. To cut off a limb or other part of an ani
mal body ; a term of surgery.
AM'PUTATED,;7p. Cutoff; separated from
tlie bodv.
AM'PUTATING,jtii;)r. Cutting offafimb or
part of tlie body.
AMPUTA'TION, n. [L. amputatio.] .
The act or operation of cutting off a limb or
some part of the body.
AM'ULET, n. [L. amitletum; Fr. amnlette ;
Sp. amuleto ; from Lat. amolior, amolitus,
to remove.]
Something worn as a remedy or preserva
live against evils or mischief, such as dis
eases and witchcraft. Amulets, in dayi
of ignorance, were common. They con
sisted of certain stones, metals or plants ;
sometimes of words, characters or senten-
ces, arranged in a particular order. They
were appended to the neck or body.
Among some nations, they are stiU in use.
Enaji
AMU'SE, I), t. s as z. [Fr. am%iser,to stop or
keep at bay, to detain ; from muser, to
loiter, or trifle ; It. musare, to gaze or stand
idle ; Ger. miissig, idle. Qu. Gr. ^i^« ;
Lat. musso.]
To entertain the mind agreeably ; to occu-
py or detain attention with agreeable ob-
jects, whether by singing, conversation, or
a show of curiosities. Dr. Johnson re-
marks, that amuse implies something less
Uvely than divert, and less important than
please. Hence it is often said, we are amu-
sed with trifles.
2. To detain ; to engage the attention by
hope or expectation ; as, to amuse one by
flattering promises.
AMU'SED, pp. s as z. Agreeably entertain-
ed ; having the mind engaged by soine-
thing pleasing.
AMU'SEMENT, n. sasz. That which
amuses, detains or engages the mind ; en-
tertainment of the mind ; pastime ; a pleas-
urable occupation of the senses, or that
which furnishes it, as dancing, sports or
music.
AMU'SER, n. s as z. One who amuses, or
affords an agreeable entertainment to tlic
mind.
AMU'SING, ppr. or a. s as -. Entertaining ;
giving moderate pleasure to the mind, so
as to engage it ; pleasing.
AMU'SINGLY, adv. s as :. In an amusing
manner.
AMU'SIVE, a. That has the power to
amuse or entertain the mind.
AMYG'DALATE, a. [L. amygdalus, an
almond.] Made of almonds.
AMYG'DALATE, n. An emulsion made of
almonds ; milk of almonds.
Bailey. Core.
AMYG'DALINE, a. Pertaining to or resem-
bfing the almond.
AMYG'DALITE, n. A plant ; a species of
spurge, with leaves I'esembling those of
the almond. Ash.
AMYG'DALOID, n. [Gr. a.^lvySa^fa, an al-
mond, and fi6o{, form ; G. mandel-stein,
almond-stone.]
Toad-stone ; a compound rock, consisting of
a basis of basalt, greenstone or some other
variety of trap, imbedduig nodules of
various minerals, particularly calcarious
spar, quartz, agate, zeofite, chlorite, &c.
When the imbedded minerals are detach-
ed, it is porous, like lava. Cleaveland.
(VMYG'DALOIDAL, a. Pertaining to amyg-
daloid.
.^MYLA'CEOUS, a. [L. amylum, starch, of
o priv. and nVKiq, a miU, being formerly
made without grmding. Plin. 18. vii.]
Pertaining to starch, or the farinaceous part
of grain ; resembling starch.
AM' YLINE, n. [L. amyhim ; Gr. afivXov ;
o^vXoj, imground, a and fivTtti, null.]
A farinaceous substance between gum and
starch. IVebster's Mantud.
A3I'YRALDISM, n. In church history, the
doctrine of universal grace, as explained
by Amyraldus, or Amyrault, of France, in
the seventeenth century. He taught that
God desires the happiness of all men, and
that none are excluded by a divine decree,
but that none can obtain salvation without
faith in Christ ; that God refuses to nono
the power of believing, though he does not
ANA
ANA
ANA
grant to all his assistance to improve tlii.-
poucr. Encijc
\MVZ'TLI, n. A Mexican name of the sea-
lion, an amphibious quadruped, inhabiting
the shores and rivers of America, on the
Pacific ocean. Its body is three feet in
length, and its tail, two feet. It has a long
snout, short legs and crooked nails. Its
skin is valued for the length and softness
of its hair. Clavigero.
AN, a. [Sax. an, ane, one ; D. een ; Ger. ein .
Sw. and Dan. era ; Fr. on, un, une ; Sp
un, uno ; It. uno, ima ; L. unus, una, unum ;
Gr.er; Ir. em,ertn, oon ; W. un, yn ; Corn
uynyn ; Arm. yunan.]
One ; noting an individual, either definitely,
known, certain, specified, or understood ;
or indefinitely, not certaui, known, or spe-
cified. Definitely, as "Noah built an ark of
Gopher wood." " Paul was an eminent
apostle." Indefinitely, as " Bring me an
orange." Before a consonant the letter
is dropped, as a man ; but our ancestors
wrote an man, an king. This letter repre-
sents an definitely, or indefinitely. Definite
ly, as " I will take you to me for a people,
and I will be to you a God." Ex. vi. In-
definitely, as " the province of a judge is to
decide controversies." An being the sam
word as one, should not be used with it
" such an one" is tautology ; the true
phrase is such one. Although an, a and
one, are the same word, and always have
the same sense, yet by custom, an and a
are used exclusively as a definitive adjec-
tive, and one is used in numbering. Where
our ancestors wrote an, tuia, thry, we now
use one, two, three. So an and a are never
used except with a noun ; but one like
other adjectives, is sometimes used with-
out its noun, and as a substitute for it ;
" one is at a loss to assign a reason for
such conduct."
AN, in old English authors, signifies if; as,
" an it please your honor." So in Gr,
cai', Ar. • 1, Sam. and L.
if or
whether ; Ir. an, Ch. ]X or yn, if, whether,
It is probably an imperative, like if, gif,
give. Qu. Sax. annan, or anan, to give
A'NA, (id, or a. [Gr. ara.]
tn medical prescriptions, it signifies an equal
quantity of the several ingredients;
wine and honey, ana, da or a ^ ii. that is, of
wine and honey each two ounces.
.\'NA, as a termination, is annexed to the
names of authors to denote a collection of
their memorable sayings. Thus, Scalige-
rana, is a book containing the sayings of
Scaliger. It was used by the Romans, as
in Collectaneus, collected, gathered.
ANABAP'TISM, n. [See Anabaptist.]
The doctrine of tlie Anabaptists.
ANABAP'TIST, n. [Gr. otu, again, and
ia7tri;t;i, a hajitist.]
One who holds the doctrine of the baptism
of adults, or of the invalidity of infant bap
tism, and the necessity of rebaptization ii
an adult age. One who maintains that
baptism ought always to be performed by
immersion. Encyc
ANABAPTIST'IC, ) Relating to the
ANABAPTIST'ICAL, ^ "" Anabaptists
to their doctrines. Milton, j
Vol. I.
ANABAP'TISTRY, n. The sect of Ana-
baptists.
ANABAPTI'ZE, v. t. To rebaptize. [^rut
used.] Whitl
ANA€A, n. A speciesofparokeet, about the
size of a lark ; the crown of the head is a
dark red, the upper part of the neck, sides,
back and wings are green.
Did. of J^nt. Hist.
ANA€AMP'TI€, a. [Gr. aro and xo/xrtru, to
bend.]
1. Reflecting or reflected ; a word formerly
appUed to that partof optics, which treats
of reflection; the same as what is now
called catoptric. [See Catoptrics.]
2. Anacamptic sounds, among the Greeks,
were sounds produced by reflection, a
echoes ; or such as proceeded downwards
from acute to grave. Rousseau. Busby.
ANACAMP'TleS, n. The doctrine of re-
flected light. [See Catoptrics.]
ANA€AR'DIUM, n. The cashew-nut, or
marking nut, which produces a thickish,
red, caustic, hiflammable Hquor, which,
when used in marking, turns black, and is
very durable. Ure.
ANA€ATHAR'TI€, a. [Gr. a.u, upward,
and xaOapnts, a purging. See Cathartic]
Throwing upwards ; cleansing by exciting
vomiting, expectoration, &c. Quincy.
ANA€ATHAR'TI€, n. A medicine whicl
excites discharges by the mouth, or nose
as expectorants, emetics, sternutatories
and masticatories. Quincy.
ANA€HORET. [See Anchffret.]
ANA€H'RONlSM, n. [Gr. am, and ;tpoM5
time.]
An error in computing time ; any error in
chronology, by which events are mis-
placed.
ANA€HRONIS'TIe, a. Erroneous in date
containing an anachronism. Warton
.'VNACLAS'Tle, a. [Gr. ava and x^oaif, a
breaking, from x\au>, to break.]
Refracting ; breaking the rectilinear course
of fight.
Anaplastic glasses, sonorous glasses or phials,
which are flexible, and emit a vehement
noise by means of the human breath ;
called also vexing glasses, from the fright
which their resilience occasions. They
are low phials with flat bellies, like inver-
ted timnels, and with very thin convex
bottoms. By dravring out a little air, the
bottom springs into a concave form with
a smart crack ; and by breathing or blow-
ing into them, the bottom, with a like noise
springs into its former convex form.
Encyc.
ANA€LAS'TI€S, n. That part of optics
which treats of the refraction of light,
commonly called dioptrics, which see.
Encyc.
ANA€OENO'SIS, n. [Gr. waxoivwuif ; ava
and xoii-Of, common.] j
A figure of rhetoric, by which a .speaker
applies to his opponents for their opinion
on the point in debate. Walker..
ANAeOND'A, n. A name given in Ceylon
to a large snake, a species of Boa, which
is said to devour travelers. Its flesh is
excellent food. Encyc.
ANACREON'Tle, a. Pertaining to Anac-
reon, a Greek poet, whose odes and epi-
grams are celebrated for their dehcate,
easy and graceful air, and for their exact
9
imitation of nature. His verse consists oT
three feet and a half, usually spondees
and iambuses, sometimes anapests ; as in
this line of Horace.
" Lvdia, die per omnes." Encyc.
ANACREON'TIe, n. A poem composed in
the manner of Anacreon.
AN'ADEME, n. [Gr. woiijfta.] A chaplet or
crown of flowers. W. Broume.
ANADIPLO'SIS, n. [Gr. avo, again, and
iirtXoo;, double.]
Duplication, a figure in rhetoric and poetry,
consisting in the repetition of the last word
or words in a line or clause of a sentence,
in the beginning of the next ; as, " he re-
tained his virtues amidst all his misfor-
tunes, misfortunes which no prudence
could foresee or prevent. Encyc.
ANAD'R03I0US, o. [Gr. ava, upward, and
Spo/iof, course.]
Ascending ; a word applied to such fish as
pass from the sea into fresh waters, at sta-
ted seasons. Encyc.
AN'AGLYPH, n. [Gr. oro, and y^vfu, to
engrave.]
An ornament made by sculpture.
ANAGLYP'TIC, a. Relating to the art of
carving, engraving, enchasing or emboss-
ing plate. Evelyn.
AN'AGOciE, ) [Gr. ot'oyuyjj, of oiu, up-
AN'AGOGY, I "■ ward, and oywyj?, a
leading, from oyu.]
An elevation of mind to things celestial ; the
spiritual meaning or application of words ;
also the ap[)lication of the types and alle-
gories of the old testament to subjects of
the new. Encyc.
ANAGOG'ICAL, a. Mysterious ; elevated ;
spiritual ; as, the rest of the sabbath, in an
anagogical sense, signifies the repose of
the saints in heaven.
ANAGOG'I€ALLY, adv. In a mysterious
sense ; with religious elevation.
ANAGOg'ICS, n. Mysterious considera-
tions. Addison.
AN'AGRAM, n. [Gr. aio, and ypo^/ao, a
letter.]
A transposition of the letters of a name, by
which a new word is formed. Thus Ga-
lenus becomes angelus ; William JVoy,
(attorney general to Charles I., a laborious
man,) may be tunied into Imoyl in law.
ANAGR.AJ«MAT'I€, ? Making an
ANAGRAMMAT'I€AL, l"' anagram.
Camden''s Remains.
ANAGRAMMAT'I€ALLY, adv. In the
manner of an anagram.
ANAGRAM'MATISM, n. The act or prac-
tice of making anagrams. Camden.
ANAGRAM'MATIST, n. A maker of ana-
grams.
ANAGRASI'MATIZE, v. i. To make ana-
grams. Herbert.
AN'AGROS, n. A measure of grain in
Spain, containing something less than two
bushels. Encyc.
A'NAL, a. [L. anus.] Pertaining to the anus ;
as, the anal fin. Encyc. Pennant.
ANAL'CIM, ) Cubic zeolite, found in
ANAL'CIME, I "■ aggregated or cubic crys-
tals. Ure.
This mineral is generally crystalized, but is
also found amorphous, and in reniform,
maminillary, laminated or radiated mass-
ANA
ANA
ANA
es. By friction, it acquires a weak electri-
city ; hence its name, Gr. araxxif, weak.
Cleaveland.
AN' ALE€TS, n. [Gr. aiw and^eya, to collect.]
A collection of short essays, or remarks.
Encyc.
AN'ALEMMA, n. [Gr. woxij^^a, altitude.]
1. In geometiy, a projection of the sphere on
the plane of the meridian, orthographical
ly made by straight hues, circles and ellip
ses, the eye being supposed at an infinite!
distance, and in the east or west points of
the horizon. Also,
2. An instrument of wood or brass on which
tliis kind of projection is drawn, with a
horizon and cursor fitted to it, ui which the
solstitial colure, and all circles parallel
it, will be concentric circles ; all circles
oblique to the eye will be elhpses ; and all
circles whose planes pass through the eye,
will be right hues. Encyc. ,dsh.
ANaLEP'SISj n. [Gr. avoa.r;^ti, from amrafi-
eavu, to receive again.]
The augmentation or nutrition of an emacia-
ted body ; recovery ol' strength after a
disease. Quinci/,
ANALEP'TI€, a. Corroborating ; invigora-
ting ; giving strength after disease.
ANALEP'TIe, n. A medicine wliich gives
strength, and aids in restoring a body to
health after sickness ; a restorative.
ANAL'OGAL, a. Analogous. [A^o< used.]
Hale.
ANALOci'IeAL, o. Having analogy ; used
by way of analogy ; bearing some rela-
tion. Thus analogicnl reasoning is reas-
onuig fi-oin some similitude which things
known bear to tilings unknown. An ana-
logical word is one which carries with it
some relation to the original idea. Thus
the word_^rni primarily denotes solidity or
compactness in a material body ; and by
analogy, when used of the mind, it con-
veys the idea of qualities having a simili-
tude to the soUdity of bodies, that is, fixed-
ness or immovability. IVatts.
ANALOG'IeALLY, adv. In an analogical
manner; by way of similitude, relation or
agreement. Thus to reason analogically
is to deduce inferences from some agree-
ment or relation which things bear to eacl:
other.
ANAL06'I€ALNESS, n. The quality of
being analogical ; fitness to be applie<l for
the illustration of some analogy. Johnson.
ANAL'OgISM, n. [Gr. a>.o?ioyia^o5.]
An argument from the cause to the eflTect.
Johnson.
Investigation of things by tlie analogy they
bear to each other. Crahb'e.
ANAL'OgIST, n. One who adheres to
analogy.
ANAL'OGIZE, v. t. To explain by analogy ;
to form some resemblance between diftt'r-
ent things ; to consider a thing with regard
to its analogy to something else. Cheyne.
ANAL'OGOUS, a. Having analogy ; bear-
ing some resemblance or proportion ; fol
lowed by to; as, there is something in tlit
exercise of the mind analogous to that of
the body.
ANAL'OgY, »i. [Gr. a^aXoyio, of a™, and
Xoyo;, ratio, proportion.]
1. An agreement or likeness between things
in some circumstances or effects, when tin
things are otherwise entirely ditlerent
Thus a plant is said to have life, because
its growth resembles in some degree, that
of an animal. In life and growth, then,
there is an analogy between a plant and
an animal. Learning enlightens the mind
because it is to the mind, what light is to
the eye, enabling it to discover tilings be-
fore hidden. When the things which have
an analogy follow a preposition, that prep-
osition must be between or betwixt ; as there
is an analogy between plants and animals,
or between customs. When one of the
things precedes a verb, and the other fol-
lows, the prej)osition used must be to oi
loiih ; as, a plant has some analogy to or
ivith an animal.
3. With grammarians, analogy is a confor-
mity of words to the genius, structure or
general rules of a language. Thus th
general rule in Enghsh is that the plural
of a noun ends in es ; therefore all nouns
which have that plural termination have
an analogy, or are formed in analogy with
other words of a like kind.
Johnsoit. Encyc.
ANAL'YSIS, n. [Gr. (u«>ju(Jk, of ava and
Xvffis, a loosing, or resolving, from f.vu, to
loosen. See Loose.]
1. The separation of a compound body into
its constituent parts ; a resolving ; as, an
analysis of water, air or oil, to discover its
elements.
2. A consideration of any thing in its sepa-
rate pai-ts ; an examination of the difttjr-
ent parts of a subject, each separately ; as
the words which compose a sentence, the
notes of a tune, or the simple propositions
which enter into an argument. It is op-
posed to synthesis.
In mathematics, analysis is the resolving
of problems by algebraic equations. The
analysis of finite quantities is otherwise
called algebra, or specious arithmetic.
The analysis of infinites is the method of
fluxions, or the differential calculus.
Encyc.
In logic, analysis is the tracing of things to
their soiu-ce, and the resolving of knowl
edge into its original principles.
3. A syllabus, or table of the principal head;
of a continued discourse, disposed in their
natural order.
4. A brief, methodical illustration of the
principles of a science. In this sense, it is
nearly synonymous with synopsis.
AN'ALYST, }i. One who analyzes, or is
versed in analysis. Kirwan.
ANALYT'I€, } Pertaining to analy
ANALYTICAL, S "• sis ; that resolves uito
first j)rinci|)les ; that separates into parts
or original principles ; that resolves a com-
pound body or subject ; as, an analytical
experiment in chiniistry, or an analytical
investigation. It is opposed to synthetic.
ANALYTICALLY, adv. In the maimer of]
analysis ; by way of separating a body
into its constituent parts, or a subject, uito
its principles.
ANALYTICS, n. The science of analys
[See Analysis.]
AN'ALVZE, V. t. [Gr. araTivw. See Jlnal-
^ysis.]
To resolve a body into its elements ; to sep-
arate a compound subject into its parts or
pro])ositions, for the jmrpose of an cxanii
nation of each separately ; as, to anntyz
a fossil substance ; to analyze an action to
ascertain its morality.
AN'ALYZED, pp. Resolved into its con-
stituent parts or principles, for examina-
tion.
AN'ALYZER, n. One who analyzes ; that
which analyzes or has the power to ana-
lyze.
AN'ALYZING, ppr. Resolving into ele-
ments, constituent parts, or first princi-
ples.
ANAMORPHOSIS, n. [Gr. ava, and /m..-
$uffi;, formation.]
In perspective draidngs, a deformed or dis-
torted portrait or figure, which, in onir
point of view, is confused or unintelligible,
and in another, is an exact and regulai
representation ; or confused to the naked
eye, but reflected from a plain or curved
mirror, appearing regular, and in right
proportion. Johnson. Encyc.
ANA'NAS, n. The name of a species of
Bromelia, the pine-apple. Encyc.
AN'APEST, n. [Gr. am, and rtaiu, to strike.
Bailey.]
In poetry, a foot, consisting of three sylla-
bles, the two first short, the last long ; the
reverse of the dactyl; as.
Can ft bosom so gentle remain
Uiunoved when her Corydon sighs ?
Shenstone.
ANAPEST'IC, n. The anapestic measure.
Bentley.
ANAPEST'IC, a. Pertaining to an anapest :
consisting of anapestic feet.
ANAPH'ORA, n. [Gr. from ow-a^tpu.]
1. A figui'e in rhetoric, when the same word
or words are repeated at the beguming of
two or more succeeding verses or clauses
of a sentence ; as, " iPhere is the wise ?
IVhere is the scribe ? H'here is the dis-
puter of this world ?" Johnson.
2. Amoi^g physicians, the discharge of blood
or purulent matter by the mouth.
Encyc. Coxe.
ANAPLEROT'IC, a. [Gr. a.'artx^po«, to fill.]
Filling up ; supplying or renovating flesh.
ANAPLEROT'IC,/!. A medicuie wliich re-
news flesh or wasted parts. Encyc. Coxe.
AN'ARCH, n. [See Anarchy.] The author
of confusion ; one who excites revolt.
Milton.
ANARCH'IC, ) Without rule or gov-
ANARCH'ICAL, S ernment ; in a state
of confusion ; apphed to a state or society.
Fielding uses anarchial, a word of less dif-
ficult pronunciation.
AN'ARCHIST, n. An anarch ; one who
excites revolt, or promotes disorder in a
fitate. Stephens.
AN'ARCHY, 7t. [Gr. ompzm, of a priv. and
apxn, rule.]
Want of government ; a state of society,
when there is no law or supreme power,
or when the laws are not efficient, and
individuals do what they please with im-
punitv ; i)olitical confusion.
ANAR'HICHAS, n. The sea wolf; a genus
of ravenous fish, of the order of Apodals,
found in the northern seas.
A'NAS, 71. [L.] A genus of water fowl of
the order Anseres ; incliuling the swans,
geese, and ducks. The species are very
numerous.
ANAS' ARCA, ?!. [Gr. wo, in or between,
and (JO|)?, flesli.1
ANA
A species of dropsy, from a serous humor
spread between the skin and flesh ; or
an accumulation of lymph in the cellular
membrane, occasioning a soft, pale, ine-
lastic swelling of the skin, ^uincy. Coxe.
ANAS'AReOUS, a. Belonging to anasarca,
or dropsy ; dropsical. |
ANAS'TOMOSE, v. i. s as z. [Gr. ava, and,
aro^o, mouth.]
To inosculate ; to unite the mouth of onej
vessel with another, as the arteries with
the veins. Darwin. Encyc.
ANASTOM'OSY, } The inosculation of
ANASTOMO'SIS, S vessels, or the open-
ing of one vessel into another, as an artery
into a vein ; a relaxation or dilatation of
the mouths of vessels ; also the communi-
cation of two vessels, as a vein with a vein.
Qiiincy. Encyc. Coxe.
ANASTOMOT'IC, o. Opening the mouths
of vessels, or removing obstructions.
ANASTOiMOT'Ie, n. A medicine sup-
posed to have the power of opening tlie
mouths of vessels, and promoting circula-
tion, such as cathartics, deobstruents and
sudorifics. Encyc
ANAS'TROPIIE, > „ [Gr. a.ufpot.?, a con-
ANAS'TROPHY, \ "' version or inversion.:
In rhetoric and grammar, an inversion of the
natural order of words ; as saxa per et
acopulos, for per saxa et scopulos. Encyc.
AN'ATASE, n. [Gr. avataai!, extension, so
named from the length of its crystals.^
Octahedrite ; octahedral oxyd of titanium ;
a mineral that shows a variety of colors
by reflected hght, from indigo blue to red
dish brown. It is usually crystaUzed it
acute, elongated, pyramidical octahedrons.
Ure. Cleaveland.
ANATII'EMA, n. [Gr. ava9ifia., from
fifljfitti, to place behind, backward or at a
distance, to separate.]
X. Excommunication with curses. Hence,
a curse or denunciation by ecclesiastical
authority, accompanying excommunica
tion. This species of excommunication
was practiced in the ancient churches,
against notorious oflenders ; all churches
were warned not to receive them ; all
magistrates and private persons were
admonished not to harbor or maintain
them, and priests were enjoined not to
converse with them, or attend tlieir fu
neral.
There are two kinds of anathemas, Jurft
ciary and abjuratory. The former i
pronounced by a council, pope or hisliop
the latter is the act of a convert who
anathematizes the heresy which he ab
jures.
•J. In heathen mythology, an ofiering, or pres
ent made to some deity and hung up in a
temple. Whenever a person quitted hi;
employment, he set apart, or dedicated hi;
tools to his patron-deity. Persons who
had escaped danger remarkably, or been
otherwise very fortunate, testified their
gratitude by some ofiering to their deity.
Encyc.
ANATIIEMAT'I€AL, a. Pertaining
anathema.
ANATHEMAT'ICALLY, adv. In the man
ner of anathema.
ANATHEMATIZATION, n. The act of|
anathematizing. Encyc.
ANATH'EMATIZE, v. t. To e.xcominuni-
A N C
cate with a denmiciation of curses ; to pro-j
nouncc an anathema against. Hamynond.l
ANATH'EMATIZED, pp. Excommunica-j
ted with curses. i
ANATHEMATIZING, ppr. Pronoimcing
an anathema.
ANATIF'EROUS, a. [L. anas, a duck, and
/era, to produce.] Producing ducks. Brown.
ANAT'OCISM, 71. [L. anatocismus, fromGr.
gain, and roxos, usury.]
Interest upon interest ; the taking of com-
pound interest ; or the contract by which
such interest is secured. [Rarely used.]
Johnson. Cicero.
ANATOMT€AL, a. Belonguig to anatomy
or dissection ; produced by or according
to the principles of anatomy, or natural
structure of the body ; relating to the parts
of the body when dissected or separated.
ANATOM'leALLY, adv. In an anatomical
manner; by means of dissection ; accord-
ing to the doctrine of anatomy.
ANATOMIST, n. One who dissects bodies ;
more generally, one who is skilled in the
art of dissection, or versed in the doctruie
and principles of anatomy.
ANAT'OMIZE, v. t. To dissect an animal ;
to divide into the constituent parts, for the
purpose of examining each by itself; to
lay open the interior structure of the parts
of a body or subject ; as, to anatomize an
animal or plant ; to anatomize an argu
ANAT'OMIZED, pp. Dissected, as au ani
mal body.
ANAT'OMIZING, ppr. Dissecting.
ANAT'OM Y, n. [Gr. a.aroftij, of a.u, through
and tf/ivu, to cut.]
1. The art of dissecting, or artificially sepa-
rating the different parts of an animal
body, to discover their situation, structure
and economy.
"3. The doctrine of the structure of the body
learned by dissection ; as, a physician
understands anatomy.
The act of dividing any thing, corporeal
or intellectual, for the purpose of examm-
ing its parts ; as, the anatomy of a plant
or of a discourse.
4. The body stripped of its integuments ; c
skeleton, or the corporeal frame of bone*
entire, without the skin, flesh and vessels
an improper use of the ivord, and vulgar
5. Ironically, a meager person.
ANATREP'Tle, a. [Gr. amrpfrtu, to over
turn.]
Overthrowing ; defeating ; prostrating ; c
word applied to the dialogues of Plato, which
represent a complete defeat in the gymnastic
exercises. Enfield.
AN'ATRON, n. [from Gr. .xrpo^, niter.]
1. Soda or mineral fixed alkali.
2. Spume or glass gall, a scmn which r
upon melted glass, in the furnace, and
when taken off, dissolves in the air, and
then coagulates into common salt.
3. The salt which collects on the walls of
vaults. Johnson. Core.
AN'BURY, n. A disease in turneps, or an
injury occasioned by a fly.
AN'CESTOR, n. [Fr. ancestres, ancetres ; L.
antecessor, of ante, before, and cedo, to go.]
One from whom a person descends, either
by the father or mother, at any distance
of time, in the tenth or hundredth gene-
ration. Au ancestor precedes in the order
A N C
of nature or blood ; a predecessor, m the
order of office.
iVNCES'TRAL, a. Relating or belonging to
ancestors ; claimed or descendhig from
ancestors ; as, an ancestral estate.
AN'CESTRY, n. A series of ancestors, or
progenitors ; lineage, or those who com-
])ose the line of natural descent. Hence,
l)irth or honorable descent. Addison.
\N'€HILOPS, n. [Gr. atyi?L«+, from o.|, a
goat, and u+, an eye. Qu.]
The goat's eye ; an abscess in the inner
angle of the eye ; an incipient fistula lach-
rymalis. Encyc. Coxe.
AN'CIIOR, n. [L. anchora ; Gr. oyxvpa ; It.
and Port, ancora ; Sp. ancla ; D. G. Dan.
anker ; Sw. anchare ; Ir. ankaire, ancoir
or ingir ; Corn, ankar; Ar. ankar; Pers. an-
ghar ; Russ. iacor ; Fr. ancre ; Arm. ancor.]
1. An iron instrument for holding a ship
or other vessel at rest in water. It is a
strong shank, with a ring at one end, to
which a cable may be fastened ; and with
two arms and flukes at the other end,
forming a suitable angle with the shank
to enter the ground.
In seamen's language, the anchor comes home,
when it is dislodged from its bed, so as to
drag by the violence of the wind, sea or
cm-rent.
Foul anchor is when the anchor hooks or is
entangled with another anchor, or with a
wreck or cable, or when the slack cable
is entangled.
The anchor a cock bill, is when it is sus-
pended perpendicularly from the cat
iiead, ready to be let go.
The anchor a peek, is when it is drawn in
so tight as to bring the ship directly over it.
The anchor is a trip, or a weigh, when it is
just drawn out of the ground, in a perpen-
dicular direction, eitlier by the cable or the
buoy-rope.
To back an anclior is to lay down a small
anchor ahead of that by which the sliip
rides, with the cable fastened to the crowu
of the latter to prevent its coming home.
At anchor is when a ship rides by her an-
chor. Hence, to lie or ride at anchor.
To cast anchor, or to anchor, is to let go
an ajichor, to keep a ship at rest.
To weigh anchor is to heave or raise the
anchor out of the ground.
Anchors are of diflerent sizes. The princi-
pal, and that on which most dependence
is jilaced, is the sheet anchor. Then come
the best bower, the small botcer, the spare
anchor, the stream anchor, and the hedge
anchor, which is the smallest. Mar. Diet.
l2. In a figurative sense, that which gives sta-
bility or security ; that on wliich we place
dependence lor safety.
Which hope we have as an anchor of the
soul, both sure and stedfast. Heb. vi.
3. In architecture, anchors are carved work,
somewhat resembling an anchor. It is
coimnonly a part of the ornaments of the
botdtins of capitals in the Tuscan, Doric
and Ionic orders, and on the moldings of
cornices.
In heraldry, anchors are emblems of hope.
Encyc.
AN'CHOR, V. t. To place at anchor ; to
moor ; as to anchor a ship.
2. To fix or fasten on ; to fix in a stable con-
dition.
A N C
A N C
AND
AN'CHOR, r. i. To cast anchor ; to come
to anchor ; as, our ship anchored off the isle
of Wiglit.
2. To stop ; to fix or rest on.
AN'ellORABLE, o. Fit for anchorage.
[.Yo< used.] Herbert.
AN'€HORAgE, n. Anchor-ground ; a place
where a ship can anchor, where the
ground is not too rocky, nor the water too
deep nor too shallow.
2. The hold of a ship at anchor, or rather
t)ie anchor and all the necessary tackle
for anchorhig.
3. A duty imposed on ships for anchoring in
a harbor.
AN'€HORED, ;>jB. Lying or riding at an-
chor ; held by an anchor ; moored ; fixed
in safety.
AN'€HORESS, n. A female anchoret.
Fairfax.
AN'€HORET, or ANCHORITE, n. [Gr.
avax^fnjtTj^j from ai'a;twp£w, to retire, ol ara
and ;t"pf"> to go. Written by some au
thors, anachoret.]
A hermit ; a recluse ; one who retires from
society into a desart or soUtary place
avoid the temptations of the world and
devote himself to religious duties. Also a
monk, who, with the leave of the abbot,
retires to a cave or cell, with an allowance
from the monastery, to five in solitude.
Encyc.
AN'CHOR-GROUND, n. Ground suitable
for anchoring.
AN'€HOR-MdLD, );. The hold or fastness
of an anchor ; security.
AN'eHORING, ppr. Mooring ; coming tc
anchor ; casting anchor.
AN'€HOR-SMITH, n. The maker or for
ger of anchors, or one whose occupation
is to make anchors.
ANCHO'VY, > [Port, and Sp. anchova
AN'CHOVY, I "• Fr. anchois ; It. acciuga
G. anschove.]
A small fish, about three inches in lengtli, of
the genus Chipea, found and caught, in
vast numbers, in the Mediterranean, and
pickled for exportation. It is used as a
sauce or seasoning.
ANCHO'VY-PEAR, n. A fi-uit of Jamaica,
constituting the genus Grias. It is large,
contains a stone, and is escident.
AN'CIENT, a. Usually pronounced most
anomalously, ancient. The pronunciation
of the first vowel ought to accord with
that in antiquity, anger, anchor, &c. [Fr.
uncien ; It. anzmno, anzi; from L. ante,
tiquus.]
t. Old ; that happened or existed in former
times, usually at a great di.stance of time
as, ancient authors, ancient days. Old,
says Johnson, relates to the duration of
the tiling itself, as an old coat ; and ancient,
to time in general, as an ancient dress.
But this distinction is not always observed.
We say, in old times, as well as ancient
times ; old customs, &c. In general
however, ancieiit is opposed to modern,
and old to new, fresh or recent. When
speak of a thing that existed formerly,
whicli has ceased to exist, we commonly
use ancient, as ancient repubUcs, ancient
heroes, and not old republics, old heroes.
But when the thing which began or existed
in former times, is still m existence, we
use cMier ancient or old; as, ancient statues
or paintings, or old statues or paintings ;
ancient authors, or old authors, meaning
books. But in these examples ancient
seems tlie most correct, or best author-
ized. Some persons apply ancient to men
advanced in years still living ; but this
use is not common in modern practice,
though foimd in scripture.
With the ancient is wisdom. Job.
3. Old ; that has been of long duration ; as,
cient forest; an ancient city.
.3. Known from ancient times; as the ancient
continent, opposed to the new continent.
Robertson.
AN'CIENT, n. [Supra.] Generally used in
the plural, ancients. Those who lived in
former ages, opposed to modems.
In scripture, very old men. Also, governors,
rulers, political and ecclesiastical.
The Lord will enter into judgment with the
ancients of his people. Isa. iii. Jer. xix.
God is called the Ancient of days from his
eternal existence. Dan. vii.
Hooker uses the word for seniors, "They
were his ancients," but the use is not au-
thorized.
2. Ancient is also used for a flag or streamer,
in a ship of war ; and for an ensign or the
bearer of a flag, as in Shakespeare. Cov/el
supposes the word, when used for a flag,
to be a corruption of end-sheet, a flag at
the stern. It is probably the Fr. enseigne
Johnson. Cowel. Encyc.
Ancient demain, in Enghsh Law, is a tenure
by which all manors belonging to the
crown, in the reign of William the Con-
queror, were held. The numbers, names
&c. of these were all entered in a book
called Domes-day Book. Cowel. Blackstone,
AN'CIENTLY, adv. In old tunes; in times
long since past ; as Rome was anciently
more ])o])ulous than at present
.AN'CIENTNESS, n. The state of being
ancient; antiquity; existence from old time:
AN'CIENTRY, n. Dignity of birth; the
honor of ancient Uneage.
Spenser on Ireland. Shak
AN'CIENTY, n. Age ; antiquity. [JVo< in
Martin
AN'CIENTY, n. In some old English stat-
utes and authors, eldership or seniority
14. Hen. III.
AN'CILLARY, a. [L. ancilla, a female ser-
vant.]
Pertaining to a maid servant, or female ser-
vice ; subservient as a maid servant.
Blackstone.
ANCIP'ITAL, a. [L. anceps.]
Doubtful, or double ; double-faced or double-
formed; apphed to the stem of a plant, it
signifies a two edged stem, con
and forming two opposite angles.
Barton's Elem. of Botany. Lee,
AN'€OME, n. A small ulcerous swelling
coming suddenly. Boucher.
\N'€ON, n. [L. ancon ; Gr. ayxut-, the el
bow.]
The olecranon, the upper end of the uhia, or
elbow. Coxe.
AN'€ONE, n. [Lat. ancon, Gr. oyxui'.] In
architecture, the corner of a wall, cross-
beam or rafter. Encyc.
AN'€ONY, n. [Probably from oyxur, the
cubit, from its resemblance to the arm.]
In iron works, a ])iece of half wrouglit iron,
111 the shape of a bar in the middle, but
rude and unwrought at the ends. A piece
of cast iron is melted off and hammered
at a forge, into a mass of two feet long
and square, which is called a bloom ; then,
carried to a finery, and worked into an an-
cony ; it is then sent to a chafery, where
the ends are wrought into the shape of the
middle, and the whole is made into a bar.
Encyc.
AND, conj. [Sax. and ; Ger. und ; D. endt
; and.]
And is a conjunction, connective or conjom-
ing word. It signifies that a word or part
of a sentence is to be added to what pre-
cedes. Thus, give me an apple and an
orange ; that is, give me an apple, add or
give in addition to that, an orange. John
and Peter and James rode to New- York,
that is, John rode to New- York ; add or
fuHher, Peter rode to New- York ; add
James rode to New-York.
AN'DALUSITE, n. A massive mineral, of
a flesh or rose red color ; sometime?
found crystalized in imperfect four-si-
ded prisms, nearly or quite rectangular.
Its hardness is nearly equal to that of
Corundum, and it is infusible by the blow
pipe. It has its name from Andalusia, in
Spain, where it was first discovered.
Werner. Brongniart.
ANDAN'TE, [It. from andare, to go ; Eng-
to luend, to wander.]
In music, a word used to direct to a move-
ment moderately slow, between largo and
allegro. Encyc.
AN'DARAC, n. Red orpiment. Coxe.
AN'DEAN, a. Pertaming to the Andes,
the great chain of raountams extending
through S. America. Cobimbiad, 3, 138.
ANDi'RA, n. A species of bat in Brazil,
nearly as large as a pigeon. jE>ic<. JVat. Hist.
AND'IRON, n. [Teutonic, andena, or andc-
la. In Sax. the corresponding word is
brand-isen, brand or fire iron ; D. brand-
yzer. The Fr. landier. Arm. lander, Junius
thinks, is our and-iron, with the French I
prefixed.]
An iron utensil used, in Great Britam, where
coal is the common fuel, to support the
ends of a spit ; but in America, used to
sujiport the wood in fire places.
ANDORlN'HA, n. The Brazihan swallow.
Did ofJSTat. Hist.
ANDRANAT'OMY, n. [Gr. a*,jp, wSpos, a
man, and avatojirj, dissection.]
The dissection of a human body, especially
of a male. Coxe. Quincy.
AN'DREOLITE, n. A mineral, the harmo-
tome, or cross-stone. Ure.
ANDROG'YNAL, > [Gr. w^, a man,
iANDROG'YNOUS, S and yr«j, woman.]
Having two sexes ; being male and female ;
hermaphroditical.
In botany, the word is applied to plants
which bear both male and female flowers^
from the same root, as birch, walnut, oak,
chesnut, mulberry, &c. These plants con-
stitute the monecian class in Linne's sys-
tem, and frequently have an amentum,
thong or catkin, for a calyx. Milne.
,\NDR0G'YNALLY, adv. With the parts
of both sexes.
^VJNDROG'YNUS. ?i. A hermaphrodite.
Johnson.
ANDROID, n. [Gr. aii;p, man, and «6os,
form.]
A N E
A N G
A i\ (J
A maeliine, in the human form, which, by
certain springs, performs some of the nat-
ural niotions of a Uving man. One of
these machines, invented by M. Vaucan-
son, appeared at Paris in 1738, represent-
ing a time player. Encyc.
ANliROM'EDA, n. A northern constella-
tion, behind Pegasus, Cassiopeia and Per-
seus, representing the figure of a woman
chained. The stars in this constellation,
in Ptolemy's catalogue, are 23 ; in Tycho's,
22 ; in Bayer's, 27 ; in Flamsted's, 84.
2. The name of a celebrated tragedy of Eu-
ripides, now lost. Encyc.
ANDROPH'AGi, n. [Gr. an^p, man, and
^(v/u>, to eat.]
Blaii-eaters ; but the word is httle used, being
superseded by anthropophagi, which see.
Herodotus mentions people of this charac-
ter. Melpoin, lOti.
ANE'AR, prep. Near. Atterburtj.
AN'E€DOTE, n. [Gr. o priv. and fxSiSuj^ui,
to publish, part. fxSoTo;, given out.]
In its original sense, secret history, or facts
not generally known. But in more com
mon usage, a particular or detached inci
dent or fact of an interesting nature ; a
biographical incident ; a single passage of
private life. Procopius gave the title of
anecdotes to a book he pubhslied agains
Justinian and his wife Tlieodora ; and
similar collections of incidents in the lives
of eminent men are now common. Ena/c.
ANE€DOT'IeAL, a. Pertaining to anec-
dotes. Bolingbroke.
ANE'LE, t>. t. [Sax. odl, oil.]
To give extreme unction. [jVo/ used.] Shak.
ANEMOG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. aw^oj, wind,
and ypa^i?, description.]
A description of the winds. Johnson
ANEMOL'OgY, n. [Gr. att^o;, wind, and
Xoyos, discourse.]
The doctrine of winds, or a treatise on the
subject.
ANEMOM'ETER, n. [Gr. aviftoi, wuad, and
(utrpEu, to measure.]
An instnunent or machine for measuring the
force and velocity of the wind. Encyc.
ANEM'ONE, \ [Gr. avi/iavt;, from 015^405,
ANEM'ONY, S "■ wind. It was by the an
cient Greeks written arf|U«M<i. Theoph.
Lib. 6. Ca. 7. Plin. 31, 2-3. Venus is said
to have changed her Adonis into an ane-
mone. Ovid. Metam. Lib. 10, 735.]
Wind-flower ; a genus of plants of numer-
ous species. Some of the species are cul-
tivated in gardens, of which their double
flowers are among the most elegant oma
ments.
Sea Anemone. See Animal Flower.
ANEM'OSCOPE, n. [Gr. o»^5, wind, and
exorciu, to view.]
A machine whieli shows the course or velo-
city of the wind. Encyc.
ANENT', prep. About ; concerning ; over
against : a Scottish word. Qu. Gr. niavri
AN'EURISM, n. [Gr. ova, and (vpwa, to di
late, from tvpu;, broad.]
A preternatural dilatation or rupture of the
coats of an artery. This is encysted or
diflused. The encysted atiewism is when
the coats of the artery being only dilated,
the blood is confined to its proper coat.
Of this kind is the varicose. The diffused
aneurism includes all those in which, from
an aperture in the artery, the blood is
spread about in the cellular membrane-,
out of its proper course. Quincy. Coxe.
ANEURIS'MAL, a. Pertaining to an aneu-
ANEVV' adv. [a and neio.]
Over again ; another time ; in a new form ;
as, to arm anew ; to create anew.
ANFRA€'TUOUS, a. [L. anfractus, of amb,
about, and fractus, broken. See Break.]
Winding ; full of windings and turnings ;
written less correctly, anfractuose. Roy-
ANFRAC'TUOUSNESS, n. A state of be-
ing full of windings and turnings.
ANGARIA'TION, n. [L. angaria ; Gr.
ouyyopfuu, to compel ; a word of Persian
origin.]
Compulsion ; exertion. [Not xtsed.]
AN6EIOT'03IY, n. See Angiotomy.
AN'CtEL, n. Usually pronounced dngcl, but
most anomalously. [L. angelus, Gr.
oy-yfXo;, a messenger, from oyyirKu, to tell
or aimounce ; fr. agalla, agallaim, to
speak or tell ; from the root of call, or of Ar.
J1.S to say, to tell. Sax. angel ; Ir. ain-
geal, or aingiol ; D. G. Sw. • Dan. engel ;
Sp. angel ; It. angelo ; Port, anjo ; Fr.
ange ; Russ. angel.]
1. Literally, a messenger ; one employed to
communicate news or information from
one person to another at a distance. But
appropriately,
2. A spirit, or a spiritual intelhgent being
employed by God to commimicate his will
to man. Hence angels are ministers of
God, and ministring spirits. Heb. 1.
3. In a bad sense, an evil spirit ; as, the angel
of the bottomless pit. Math. xxv. 1 Cor.
vi. Rev. ix.
4. Christ, the mediator and head of the
church. Rev. x.
5. A minister of the gospel, who is an em-
issador of God. Rev. ii. and iii.
6. Any being whom God employs to execute
liis judgments. Rev. xvi. Crudcn.
7. In the style of love, a very beautiful per-
son. Shak.
AN'GEL, n. A fish found on the coast of
CaroHna, of the thoracic order and genus
Chajtodon. It has a small projecting
mouth ; the lamens above the gills are
armed with cerulean spines ; the body, a
foot in length, ai)pears as if cut ofl^, and
waved, and covered with large green
scales. Pennant from Catesby.
AN'GEL, ji. a gold coin formerly current
in England, bearing the figure of an angel.
Skimier says, this de^^ce was impressed
upon it in allusion to an observation of
Pope Gregory the Great, who, seeing
some beautiful English youths, in tlie
market at Rome, asked who they were ;
being told they were Angli, English, he
replied, they ought rather to be called an-
geli, angels. This coin had different val-
ues under different princes : but is now
an imagmary sum or money of account,
implying ten shillings sterling. Encyc.
AN'GEL, a. Resembling angels ; angehc ;
as, angel whiteness. Shak.
AN6EL-AGE, n. The existence or state of
angels. Beaumont, &c.
AN'gEL-FISH, n. A species of shark, the
squalus squatina. It is from six to eight feet
long, with a large head, teeth broad at the
ba.-e, but slender and sharp above, disposeil
in five rows, all round the jaws. The fish
takes its name from its pectoral fins, wliicli
are very large and extend horizontally,
hkc wings when spread. This fish con-
nects the genus of rays, with that ot'
sharks, partaking of the characters of
both ; but it differs from both in this, thai
its mouth is placed at the extremity of the
head. Encyc.
ANgEL'I€, } „ [L. angelicus.-] Resem-
ANgEL'I€AL, ^ "• bling angels ; belong-
ing to angels, or partaking of tlieir nature :
suiting the nature and dignity of angels.
ANgEL'I€A, n. A genus of digynian ])en-
tanders, containing several species. The
sort is cultivated for medicinal
uses. It grows naturally in northern cli-
mates, and has large umbels of a globose
figure. The roots have a fragant aromatic
smell, and are used in the aromatic tinct-
m-e. The stalks make an agreeable sweet-
meat. Encyr.
AN6EL'I€ALLY, adv. Lil;e an angel.
AN6EL'I€ALNESS, n. The quaUty of be-
ing angehc; excellence more than hu-
AN'GELITES, in Church history, so
called from Angelicum in Alexandria,
where they held their first meetings, h
sect of heretics near the close of the 5th
century, who held the persons of the trin-
ity not to be the same, nor to e.vist by
their own nature ; but each to be a God,
existing by participating of a deity com-
mon to them all. They are called also
Severites, from Sevenis, their head ; and
Theodosians, from one Theodosius, whom
they made their Pope. Encyc.
x\N'GEL-LIKE, a. ResembUng or having
the manners of angels.
ANGELOL'OgY, 71. [Angel and ^oyo;.]
A discourse on angels ; or the doctrine of
angelic beings. Ch. Spectator.
AN'gELOT, n. [Fr. anche, the reed of a
hautboy or other instrument of music]
1. An instrument of music, somewhat re-
sembUng a lute. Johnson.
2. An ancient English coin struck at Paris
while under the dominion Of England; so
called from the figure of an angel sup-
porting the escutcheon of the arms of
England and France. Also, a small rich
sort of cheese made in Normandy. Encyc.
AN'GEL-SHOT, n. [Fr. ange, a chain-shot.]
Chain-shot, being two halves of a cannon
ball fastened to the ends of a chain.
AN' GEL- WINGED, a. Winged Uke angels.
Thomson.
AN'gEL-WORSHIP, n. The worshiping
of angels. Trapp.
AN'GER, »i. ang'ger. [L. ango, to choke,
strangle, vex ; whence angor, vexation,
anguish, the quinsy, angina. Gr. (vy;);", to
strangle, to strain or draw together, to
vex. The primary sense is to press,
squeeze, make narrow ; Gr. 07;^, near ;
Sax. enge ; G. enge ; D. Dan. eng, nar-
row, strait ; W. ing. This word may
be connected in origin with the Ar.
vJtA2> hanika, to be angry, and (Jiiji
chanaka, to strangle ; Ileb. Ch. Sjt. Eth.
pin, to strangle. In SaK. ange signifies
A i\ G
vuxoil ; iingmod, sad, anxious ; ang-set, a
carbuncle ; angsum, pressed close ; anxsu-^.
mian, to vex, to make anxious ; Eng. an-\
guish, anxious ; L. angustus, angina, &c.
See Anguish.]
1. A violent passion of the mind excited by a]
real or supposed injury ; usually accom-
panied with a propensity to take ven-
geance, or to obtain satisfaction from the
offending party. This passion however
varies in degrees of violence, and in ingen
uous minds, may be attended only with a
desire to reprove or cliide the offender.
Anger is also excited by an injury offer
ed to a relation, friend or party to whici
one is attached; and some degrees ofii
may be excited by cruelt}', injustice or
oppression offered to those with whon
one has no immediate connection, or evenj
to the community of which one is a mem-[
ber. Nor is it unusual to see sometliingj
of this passion roused by gross absurditiesi
in others, especially in controversy or dis-|
cussion. Anger may be inflamed till it'
rises to rage and a temporary delirium.
2. Pain ; smart of a sore or swelling ; the'
literal sense of the word, but little used.
VN'GER, V. t. ang'ger. To excite anger; to^
provoke ; to rouse resentment. [
:i. To make painful ; to cause to smart ; tO:
inflame ; as, to anger an ulcer. Bacon!
AN'GERLY, adv. [anger and like.] \
In an angry manner ; more generally writ
ten angrily.
.\NgI'NA, n. [L. from ango, to choke. Sec
Anger.]
\ quinsy ; an inflammation of the throat ; f
tumor impeding respiration. It is a gen-
eral name of the diseases called sore-
throat, as quinsy, scarlet fever, croup,
mumps, &c. • Coxe.
Angina pectoris, an anomalous or spasmodic
affection of the chest and organs of res-
piration ; or a disease of the heart. Coxe.
ANOIOG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. (vyyaiov, a vessel,
and yfa^rj, description.]
A description of the vessels in the human
body. Ash.
ANUIOL'OgY, n. [Gr. oyytioi', a vessel, and
j.»yo5, discourse.]
A treatise or discourse on the vessels of the
hiunan body, as the arteries, veins, ly:
phatics, &c. Qfiincy.
VNGIOMONOSPERM'OUS, n. [Gr.ayynov
a vessel, fioroc, alone, and jrtfp^ia, seed.]
Producing one seed only in a pod.
Bailey. Johnson
AN'cilOSPERM, n. [Gr. ayyiiov, a vessel,
and ortfpfta, seed.]
In botany, a plant which has its seeds inclo-
sed in a pericarp.
ANGIOSPERM'OUS a. Having seeds in-
closed in a pod or other pericarp. Ii
Liime's system, the second order of plantsl
in the didynamian class are called angio-\
spermia. This word is opposed to gv/m-j
nosj)ermous, or naked-seeded.
ANGIOT'OMY, n. [Gr. oyyaor, a vessel, and
•ff/ivu, to cut.]
The opening of a vessel, whether a vein or
an artery, as in bleeding. It includes^
both arteriotomy and phlebotomy.
AN'GLE, n. [Fr. angle ; L. angulus, a cor-
ner ; Gr.aryxvf.or,W. ongle ; G. and B.angeU
a hook, an ang/e ; Dan. angel, ahook, ojig^/f,
a sting ; S*ax. iingel, a hook ; f^p. Port.l
A N G
angulo ; It. angolo. The German has an-
geln, for angling with a hook ; but in D.
hengel is the rod, and hengelen, to angle.
Qu. hinge and hang.]
In popular language, tlie point where two
lines meet, or tlie meeting of two lines '
point ; a corner.
In geometry, the space comprised between
two straight lines that meet in a point, or
between two straight converging lines
which, if extended, woiUd meet ; or the
quantity by which two straight lines, depar-
ting fiom a point, diverge from each other.
The point of meeting is the vertex of tlie
angle, and the lines, coiitahiing the angle,
are its sides or legs.
In optics, the angle of incidence is the angle
which a ray of light makes with a perpen
dicidar to the surface, or to that poi nt of the
surface on which it falls.
The angle of refraction is the angle which a
ray of hght refi-acted makes with the sur-
face of the refracting medium ; or rather
with a perpendicular to that pomt of the
sijrface on wiiich it falls. Encyc.
A right angle, is one formed by a right Une
falling on another perpendicularly, or
angle of 90 degrees, making the quarter
of a circle.
An obtuse angle is greater than aright angle,
or more than 90 degrees.
An acute angle is less than a right angle or
less than 90 degrees.
A rectilineal or right-Uned angle, is formed
by two right lines.
A curvitineal angle, is formed by two curved
lines.
A mixed angle is fonned by a right line with
a curved line.
Adjacent or contiguous angles are such as
have one leg common to both angles, and
both together are equal to two right an-
gles.
External angles are angles of any right-Uned
figure without it, when the sides are pro-
duced or lengthened.
Internal angles are those which are within
any right-hned figure.
Oblique angles are either acute or obtuse, in
opposition to right angles.
A solid angle is the meeting of three or more
plain angles at one point.
A spheiical angle is one made by the meeting
of two arches of great circles, which mu
tually cut one another on the surface of
the globe or sphere. Bailey.
AN'GLE, n. A hook ; an instriunent to take
fisli, consisting of a rod, a line and a hook,
or a line and hook.
AN'GLE, V. i. To fish with an angle, or
with hne and hook.
'2. V. t. or i. To fish for ; to try to gain by
some bait or insinuation, as men angle
for fish ; as, to angle for the hearts of peo-
ple, or to angle hearts. Shak. Sidney.
AN'GLED, a. Having angles — tised only in
compounds.
AN'GLER, n. One that fishes with an an-
gle ; also a fish, a species of lophius.
ANGLE-ROD, n. The rod or pole to which
a line and hook are fastened.
AN'GLIe, ) [From Ajigles, Sax. ing,
AN'GLICAN, S "' « plain or meadow, and
lie, like, or kzo;, like, which is the rool
of the L. icus, in publicus, and all similar
adje<.-tives. From ing, was formed Angles,
A N G
the English, to which is added this con>-
niou affix, ic. The Angles, were the In-
gtevones, of Tacitus, ing-ivoners, dwellera
on the plain or level land, near the Elbe
and Weser. [See English and fFont.]
Ing is annexed to many English names, as
Reading, Basing, Kittering, towns situated
on flat land.]
English ; pertaining to England or the Eng-
lish nation ; as the Anglican church.
Pinkerton.
ANGLICISM, n. An English Idiom;a forni
of language pecuhar to the EngUsh.
Milton.
AN'GLICIZE, V. t. To make EngUsh ; to
render conformable to the EngUsh idiom,
or to English analogies.
AN'GLING, ppr. Fishing with an angle.
AN'GLING, n. A fishing with a rod and
line.
ANGLO-DA NISH, a. Pertaining to the
English Danes, or the Danes who set-
tled in England. fVotton.
ANGLO-NORM'AN, a. Pertaining to the
EngUsh Normans. ff'otton.
.\NGLO-SAX'ON, a. Pertaining to the
Saxons, who settled in England, or Eng-
lish Saxons.
ANGLO-SAX' ON, n. A kind of pear; also
the language of the EngUsh Saxons.
ANGOLA-PEA or PIGEON-PEA. A spe-
cies of Cytisus.
AN'GOR, n. [L. See Anger.]
. Paul ; intense bodily pain.
2. The retiring of the native bodily heat to
the center, occasioning head-ache, palpi-
tation and sadness. Encyc. Coxe,
\N GRED or ANG'ERED, pp. Made an-
gry ; provoked.
VN'GRILY, adv. In an angry manner ;
peevishly ; witli indications of resentment.
AN'GRY, a. [See Anger.]
1. Feeling resentment ; provoked; followed
generally by with before a person.
God is angry with tlie wicked evei-y day.
Pa. vii.
But it is usually followed by at before a
thing.
Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice ?
Eccles. v.
2. Showing anger ; wearing the marks of
anger ; caused by anger ; as, an a/ngry
countenance; angry words.
Inflamed, as a sore ; red ; manifesting in-
flammation.
4. Raging ; furious ; tumultuous.
Or chain the angry vengeance of the waves.
Trumbull.
ANGSA'NA or ANGSA'VA, n. A red gum
of the East Indies, like that of dragon's
blood. Coxe.
AN'GU, ?i. Bread made of the Cassada, a
plant of the W. Indies.
AN'GUIFER, n. [L. anguis, a serpent, and
fero, to bear ; Sans, agui.]
In astronomy, a cluster of stars in the form
of a man holding a serpent ; Serpentarius,
one of the twelve signs of the zodiac.
Ash.
ANGUIL'LA, 71. [L. an eel.]
In zoology, an eel ; also the name of a Med-
iterranean fisli used for food, called also
lii.^)iitiis and atherhia. Qu. Atherina
flips.li,.^. l/iiuu. Diet. J^at. Hist.
ANGI IL l.iroKM, a. [L. ang-ui/to, an eel,
and forma, shajic]
A N H
lu Ihe form of an eel, or of a sei-pent ; re
sembling an eel or serpent.
AN'GUISH, n. [Fr. angoisse ; It. angoscia
Sp. ansia ; Port, angustia, showing tlie
direct derivation of this word from L.
gustia, narrowness, from pressure ; D. and
G. angst ; Dan. angest. This and a nu-
merous class of words are from the root
ang, eng, denoting narrow, from pressure.
See Anger.]
Extreme pain, either of body or mind. As
bodily pain, it may dift'"' from agony,
which is such distress of the whole body
as to cause contortion, whereas avgidsh
may be a local pain as of an ulcer, or gout,
But anguish and agony are nearly synony-
mous. As pain of the mind, it signi-
fies any keen distress from sorro\y, re-
morse, "despair and the kindred passions.
And they hearkened not to Moses, for an-
guish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. Ex. vi.
AN'GUISH, V. t. To distress with extreme
pain or grief Temple
AN'GUISHED, pp. Extremely pained ; tor-
tured ; deeply distressed.
AN'GULAR, a. Having an angle, angles or
corners ; pointed ; as an angular fig
2. Consisting of an angle ; forming a
gle ; as an angular point.
ANGULAR'ITY, n. The quality of having
an angle or corner.
AN'GULARLY, adv. With angles, or cor
ners ; in tlie direction of the angles.
AN'GULARNESS, n. Tlic quality of being
angular.
AN'GULATED, a. Formed with angles or
corners. If'oodward.
AN'GULOUS, a. Angular ; having corners
hooked. Glanville.
ANGUST', a. [L. anffustus.]
Narrow ; straight. [JVb< used.] Burton
ANGUSTA'TION, n. [L. anguslus, narrow.
See Anger.]
The act ot making narrow ; a straightening,
or being made narrow. Wiseman.
ANGUST'I€LAVE, n. [L. anguslus, nar-
row, and clavus, a knob or stud.]
A robe or timic embroidered with purple
studs or knobs, or by purple stripes, worn
by Roman knights." The laticlave, with
broader studs, was worn by,senators.
Quijidilian. Kennet.
ANHELA'TION, n. [L. anhelo, to pant oi
breathe with difiiculty ; from halo, U.
breathe.]
Shortness of breath ; a panting ; difficult
respiration, without fever, or with a sense
of suffocation. Encyc. Coxe
ANHELO'SE, a. Out of breath ; panting
breathing witli difficulty. [Litlk used.]
Did.
AN'HIMA, n. A Brazihan aquatic fowl,
larger than a swan, somewhat like
crane. Its head is small, its bill black,
the toes armed with long claws. But
what is remarkable, is a horn growing
from its forehead ; and the second joint
of the wing is armed with two straight tri-
angular spurs, an inch in length. The
fidelity between the male and female is sc
great, that when one dies, the other re
mains by the carcase, till it exi)irps.
Did. oJWat. Hist.
AN'HYDRITE, n. [See Anhydrous.]
A species of sulphate of Ume, anhydrous
sypsiun, of which there are several varie
A N I
ties ; compact, granular, fibrous, radiated,!
sparry, siliciferous or vulpinite, and con-
voluted. Jameson. Urc}
ANHY'DROUS, a. [Gr. awhfoi, dry ; apriv.!
and uJup, water.] I
Destitute of water. Anhydrite is so called, j
because it is destitute of the water of crys-
talization. Cleavetand.l
ANIENT'ED, a. [It. niente, nothing ; Norm
neant ; Fr. aneantir, to annihilate.]
Frustrated ; brought to naught. 06s.
Chaucer.
ANI'GHT, adv. [a or at, and night.]
In the night time ; anights, in the plural, is
used of frequent and customary acts.
You must come in earlier anights. Shah.
AN'IL, ?!. [Sp. am7, indigo; Port. antV; D.
anyl; Ar. j.^; nilon, slender, nila, blue.]
A shrub from whose leaves and stalks indi-
is made ; Indigo/era, or the indigo plant.
Encyc.
ANIL'ITY, ?!. [L. anilis, anilitas, from anus,
an old woman ; Celtic, hen, old.]
The state of being an old woman ; the old
age of a woman; dotage.
ANIMADVER'SION, n. [L. animadversio.]
Remarks by way of censure or criticism ;
reproof; blame. It may sometimes be'
used for punishment, or punishment may
be implied in the word, but this is not
common. In an ecclesiastical sense, it
differs from censure, says Aylifie ; censure,
respecting spiritual j)uuishment, and ani-
madversion, a temporal one. Glanville
uses the word in the sense of perception
but this use is not authorized.
AMMADVER'SIVE, a. That has the pow
]ierceiving. Obs. Glanville.]
ANIMADVERT', v. i. [L. animadverto, of
animus, mind, and adverfo, to turn to.] I
1. To turn the mind to ; to consider. |
2. To consider or remark upon by way of
criticism or censure. Dry'den.
i. To inflict punishment ; followed by upon.
Grew.
ANIMADVERT'ER, n. One who animad-
verts or makes remarks by way of cen-
ANIMADVERT'ING,p;)r. Considering; re-
marking by way of criticism or censure.
AN'IMAL, n. [L. animal, from anima, air,
breath, soul ; Gaelic anam, breath. The
W. has envU, en, a being, soul, spirit, and
mil, a beast ; Arm. aneval. Qu. Dan. aan-
de, Sw. anda, breath.]
An organized body, endowed with life and
the power of voluntary motion ; a living,
sensitive, locomotive body ; as, man is an
intelligent animal. Animals are essential-
ly distinguished from plants by the pro-
perty of sensation. The contractile jtrop-
erty of some plants, as the mimosa, has
the appearance of the effect of sensation,
but it may be merely tlie effect of irrita-
bility.
The distinction here made between animals
and vegetables, may not be philosophical-
ly accurate ; for we cannot perhaps as-
certain the precise limit between the two
kinds of beings, but this is sufficiently cor-
rect for common practical purposes.
The history of animals is called zoology.
By way of contempt, a dull person is called,
a stupid animal. '
A N 1
VN lAlAL, a. That belongs or reJuies to
animals ; as animal functions.
Animal is distinguished from intellcdual ; m
animal appetites, the apjietites of the body.
as hunger and thirst.
The animal functions, are touch, taste, mo-
,&c.
j Animal life is opposed to vegetable life.
Animal is opposed also to spiritual or ration-
al, which respects the soid and reasoning
Jaculties ; as animal nature, spiritual na
turc, rational nature.
Aninud food may signify that food which
nourishes animals ; but it usually denotes
food consisting of animal flesh.
Animal economy is the system of laws bi
which the bodies of animals are governed
and depending on their organic structure.
Animal spirit is a name given to the nervous
fluid.
^njma^ spirits in the plural, life, vigor, en-
ergy.
Animal system, or animal kingdom denotes
the whole class of beings endowed with
animal life. Encyc. Johnson.
ANIMAL'€ULE, n. [L. animaiculum, ani-
malcula.]
A little animal ; but appropriately, an animal
whose figure cannot be discerned without
the aid of a magnifying glass ; such as an-
invisible to the naked eye. Encyc.
ANIMAL-FLOWER, n. In zoology, sea-
anemone, sea-nettle or urtica marina, the
name of several species of animals belong-
ing to the genus actinia. They are called
sea-nettle from their supposed property of
stinging, and sea-anemone from the re-
semblance of their claws or tentacles, to
the petals of some flowers. These are
disposed in regular circles, and tinged
with various bright colors. Some of these
animals are hemispherical, others cylin-
drical ; others are shaped hke a fig. Some
are stiff and gelatinous ; others, fleshy and
muscular ; but all can aher their figure
by extending their claws in search of food.
These animals can move slowly, but are
generally fixed by one end to rocks or
stones in the sand. On the other extrem-
ity, is the mouth in the center, which is
surrounded by rows of fleshy claws
and capable of great dilatation. They
are very voracious, and will swallow a
muscle, or crab, as large as a hen's egg.
Encyc.
The term, Animal Flower, is also extended
to many other marine animals, from their
resemblance to flowers. They belong to
the Holothurias, which with the Actinias,
were ranged under tlie Molluscas, by
Linne ; and to the Tubularias and Hydras,
which were classed with the Zoophytes.
They are all arranged imder the Zoophytes,
by Cuvier. Cue.
ANIMALIZA'TION, n. The act of giving
animal Ufe, or endowuig with the proper-
ties of an animal. Ure. Med. Repos.
AN'IMALIZE, V. t. To give animal life to ;
to endow with the properties of animals.
-\N'IMALIZED, pp. Endowed with animal
Ufe.
AN'IMALIZING,;);ir. Giving animal hfe to.
AN'IMATE, V. t. [L. animo. See Aninud.]
1. To give natural life to ; to quicken ; to
make aUve ; as, the soul animates the body.
9. To give powers to, or to heighten tlji^
A iN 1
A N N
ANN
I'owers or eflect of n thing ; as, to animak
ii lyre.
3. To give sjiiiit or vigor ; to infuse cour-
age, joy, or other enlivening passion ; to
stiinulate or incite ; as, to animate ilispii-it-
cd troops.
W'IMATE, <t. Alive ; possessing animal
life. Milton.
[This word is used chiefly in poetry for
nnimated.]
AN'IMATED, pp. Being endovired with an-
imal life, as the various classes of anima-
ted beings.
)1. a. Lively ; vigorous ; full of spirit ; indi-
cating animation ; as anonima<erf discourse.
AN'IMATING, pjtr. Giving life ; infusing
spirit ; enlivening.
ANIMA'TION, n. The act of infusing life ;
the state of being animated.
•i. The state of being lively, brisk or full of
spirit and vigor ; as, he recited the story
Avith great animation.
AN'IMATIVE, a. That has the power of
giving life or spirit. Johnson.
ANIMATOR, n. One that gives Ufe ; that
which infuses hfe or spirit.
AN'IJIE, n. [Fr.] In heraldry, a term de
noting that the eyes of a rapacious ani
inal are borne of a different tincture fron
the animal himself.
AN'IJME, n. [Sp.] A resin exuding fi-oni
the stem of a large American tree called
by the natives courbarU ; by Piso, jetaiba.
It is of a transparent amber color, a light
agreeable smell, and of little or no taste,
It dissolves entirely, but not readily, in
rectified spirit of wine, and is used by the
BraziUans in fumigations, for pains pro-
ceeding from cold. Encyc.
ANIMET'TA, n. Among ecclesiastical ic
ters, the cloth which covers the cup of the
eiicharist. Encyc.
ANIMOS'ITY, n. [L. animositas ; Fr. anl
mositi ; from L. animosiis, animated, cour-
ageous, enraged ; from animus, spirit,
mind, passion. So in Teutonic, mod,
mind, signifies also pride, passion, angei
Jlnimus, spirit, Gr. avifios, wind, breath, is
from flowing, swelling, rushing, which
gives the sense of violent action and pas
sion. See Animal.]
Violent hatred accompanied with active op-
position ; active enmity. Animosity dif
fers from enmity which may be secret and
inactive ; and it expresses a less criminal
passion than malice. Animosity seeks to
gain a cause or destroy an enemy or rival,
from hatred or private interest; malice
seeks revenge for the sake of giving pain.
ANIN'GA, n. A root growing in the VVest-
Indies, like the Cliina plant, used in re-
fining sugar. Encyc.
AN'ISE, n. an'nis. [L. anisitm ; Gr. avijov ;
Ar. ianison. Cast. 1C19.]
An annual plant, placed by Linne under the
genus Pimpinella. It grows naturally ir
Egypt, and is cultivated in Spain and Mai
ta, whence the seeds are imported. The
stalk rises a foot and a half high, dividing
into slender branches, garnished with nar-
row leaves, cut into tlree or four naiTow
segments. The branches terminate
large loose umbels, composed of smaller
umbels or rays, on long footstalks. The
flowers are small and of a yellowish white
(he seeds oblong and swelling. Anise
seeds iiave an aromatic smell, and a pleas-
ant warm taste ; they are useful in warm-
ing the stomach and expelling wind.
Enci/c. Theoph. Lib. 7. 3. Plin. 20. 17
AN'ISE SEED, n. The seed of anise.
ANK'ER, n. [Dutch.]
A measure of Uquids used in Holland, con-
taining about 33 gallons, English measure.
Encyc.
Chambers says it contains two stekans ; each
stekan, 16 mengles ; each mcngle, 2 wine
quarts. Chambers. Encyc.
\NK'LE, n. a7ik'l. [Sax. ancleow; D. enkel.]
The joint which connects the foot with the
leg.
ANK'LE-BONE, n. Theboneof the ankle.
AN'NALIST, n. [See Annals.]
A writer of annals.
AN'NALlZE, V. t. To record ; to write an-
nals. [N'ot much used.] Encyc,
AN'NALS, n. plu. [L. annates, annalis,
from annus, a year, the root of which may
be the Celtic an, ain, a great circle. Varro
says the word annus signifies a great cii--
cle.]
1. A species of histoiy digested in order of
time, or a relation of events in chronolog
ical order, each event being recorded un
der the year in which it happened. An
nals differ from history, in merely relating
events, without observations on the mo-
tives, causes and consequences, which,
in history, are more diffusively illustrated,
2. The books containing annals, as the an-
nals of Tacitus.
AN'NATS, )i. [L. annus.-]
A year's income of a spiritual living ; the
first fruits, originally given to the Pope,
upon the decease of a bishop, abbot or
parish clerk, and paid by his successor
In England, they were, at the reforma-
tion, vested in tlie king, and in the reign
of Queen Anne, restored to the church,
and appropriated to the augmentation of
poor livings. Encyc.
ANNE'AL, V. t. [Sax. anmlan, on-wlan, to
kindle or inflame, to heat ; firom (elan, to
Idndle, to heat or bake, and to anoint with
oil. Sax. Oil, oil. Hence it may be infer
red that oil is named from inflaming o
burning.]
1. To heat ; to heat, as glass andiron for the
purpose of rendering them less brittle, or
to fix colors ; vulgarly called nealing. This
is done by heating the metal nearly to
fluidity, in an oven or furnace, and suffer-
ing it to cool gradually. Metals made
hard and brittle by hammering, by this
process recover their malleability. Tht
word is applied also to the bakhig of tiles
Encyc. Bailey. Ash
2. To temper by heat ; and Shenstone uses
it for tempering by cold.
ANNE'ALED,jo;j. Heated ; temjiered ; made
malleable and less brittle by heat.
ANNE'ALING, pjfr. Heating ; tempering
bv heat.
ANNEX', V. t. [L. annedo, annexum ; Fr
annexer ; of ad and necto, to tie, or con
nect.]
1. To unite at the end ; as to annex a codi
ril to a will. To subjoin, to aflix.
2. To unite, as a smaller thing to a greater ;
as to annex a province to a kingdom.
3. To luiite to something preceding, as the
main object ; to comicct with ; as to
nex a penahy to a prohibition, or ptinish-
ment to guilt.
ANNEX', V. i. To jom ; to be united.
Tooke.
ANNEX A'TION, n.The act of anne.xing, or
umtiiig at the end ; conjunction ; addition ;
the act of connecting; union. In English
law, the uniting of lands or rents to the
crown.
ANNEX'ED, pp. Joined at the end; con-
nected with ; aflixed.
ANNEX'ING, ppr. Unidng at the end,
affixing.
ANNEX'ION, n. The act of annexing; an-
nexation ; addition. [Little used.]
ANNEX'MENT, n. The act of annexing :
the thing annexed. Shak.
ANNI'HILABLE, a. That may be amiihi
lated.
ANNI'HILATE, v. t. [L. ad and nihilum,
nothing, of Me, not, and hilum, a trifle.]
1. To reduce to nothing ; to destroy the ex-
istence of.
No human power can annihilate matter.
2. To destroy the form or peculiar distinct-
ive properties, so that the specific thing no
longer exists ; as, to annihilate a forest by
cutting and carrying away the trees,
though the tunber may still exist ; to
annihilate a house by demolishing the
structure.
ANNIHILATED, pp. Reduced to nothing ;
destroyed.
ANNI'HlLATING.ppr. Reducing to noth-
ing ; destroving the specific form of.
ANNIHlLA'tlON, n. The act of reducing
to nothing or non-existence ; or the act of
destroying the form or combination of
parts under which a thing exists, .so that
tlie name can no longer be applied to it,
as the annihilation of a corporation.
2. The state of being reduced to nothiiis.
ANNIVERS'ARILY, adv. Annually. Hall.
ANNIVERS'.ARY, a. [L. anniversarius, of
a7inus, year, and tierto, to turn.]
Returning with the year, at a stated time ;
annual ; yearly ; as an anniversary feast.
ANNIVERS'ARY, n. A stated day return-
ing with the revolution of the year. The
term is apphed to a day on which some
remarkable event is annually celebrated,
or a day on which an interesting event is
commemorated by solemnities of religion,
or exhibitions of respect. In the Romish
church, a day in which an ofiice is yearly
performed for the souls of the deceased.
2. The act of celebration ; performance in
honor of an event. Dryden.
ANNO DOMINI. [L.] In the year of om-
Lord, noting the time from our Savior's in-
carnation ; as. Anno Domini, or A. D. 1800.
This was written Anno Domini, 1S09, and
revised A. D. 1.82.5 and 1827. W.
ANNOMINA'TION, n. [L. ad and nomina-
tio, from nomino, to name, from nomtn.]
1. A piui ; the use of words nearly alike in
sound, but of different meanings ; a paro-
nomasy. Encyc.
2. Alliteration, or the use of two or more
woi-ds successively beginnuig with the
same letter. Tyrwhitt.
ANNO'NA, n. [L. annona, from annus, a
year, and signifying a year's production
or increase ; hence provisions.]
The custard apple, a genus of several spe-
cies, one ol' which, the papaw, is common
ANN
ANN
A N O
ill the southern and westera parts of the
United States. [See Papaw.]
AN'NOTATE, v. l [L. annoto.]
To comment ; to make remarks on a writing.
Taikr.
ANNOTA'TION, n. [L. annotatio, of arfand
notatio, a marking, from nolo, to mark, or
nota, a mark.]
J . A remark, note or commentary on some
passage of a book, intended to illustrate
its meaning ; generally used in the plural,
as annotations on the scriptures.
3. The first symptoms of a fever, or attack
of a
Core
commentator ; a scholiast ; one who \vrites
notes to illustrate the composition of an
author,
ANNOT'TA, n. Orlean, or roucou ; a hard,
dry paste, consisting of the pelUclesof the
seeds of the bixa orellana, a shrub grow
ing in S. America and the W. Indies. It
is moderately hard, of a brown color i
the outside, and a didl red within. It
used in dyeing to give an orange cast to a
simple yellow. It is used also in coloring
cheese. [See Anotta.] Ure,
ANNOUNCE, v.t. annoims'. [Fr. anno7i.
cer ; It. annunziare ; L. annuncio, to deliv-
er a message, of ad and nuncio, to tell,
from nuncius, a messenger.]
1. To publish ; to proclaim ; to give notice,
or first notice ; as, the biith of Christ was
announced by an angel.
2. To pronounce; to declare by judicial sen-
tence. Prior.
ANNOUN'CED, pp. Proclaimed ; first pub
lished.
ANNOUNCEMENT, n. announs'ment. The
act of giving notice ; proclamation ; pul
lication. Month. Mai
ANNOUN'CER, n. One that announces, or
first gives notice ; a proclaimer.
ANNOUN'CING, ppr. Introducing notice ;
first publishuig ; proclaiming.
ANNOY', t;. t. [Norm, annoyer, from neure^
nuire, to hurt ; Fr. nuire ; It. nuocere ; fi-om
L. 7ioceo, to hurt, that is, to strike ; Syr.
Jiij.Ar. {^j to strike, to hurt; Heb.
and Ch. r\D3 to strike. Hence probably
L. neco, to kill. See JVuisance and Aox-
ious.]
To incommode ; to injure or distiu-b by con-
tinued or repeated acts; to tease, vex or
jiiolest ; as, to annoy an army by hnpeding
tlieir march, or by a continued cannonade.
ANNOY', n. Injury or molestation from con-
tinued acts or inconvenience.
Shak. Beatiie.
ANNOY'ANCE, n. That which annoys, or
injures; the act of annoying ; the state of
being annoyed. It includes something
more than inconvenience.
ANNOY'ED, pp. Incommoded, injured or
molested by something that is continued
or repeated.
ANNOY'ER, n. One tliat annovs.
ANNOY'FUL, a. Giving trouble; incom-
moding ; molesting. [JVotused.] Chaucer.
ANNOY'ING, ^jjr. Incommoding; hurtuig;
molesting.
ANNOY'OUS, a. Troublesome. [Xotu^ed.]
Chaucer.
AN'NUAL, a. [Fr. amine?; Sp. a»n,«/; It.
Vol. 1.
annuale; L. annalis, from annus, a year;
Gr. ff05, (vvoi • Sans, anda.]
. Yearly ; that returns every year ; coming
yearly ; as an annual feast.
2. Lasting or continuing only one year or
season ; that requires to be renewed every
year ; as an annual plant. Leaves that
grow in the spring, and perish ill the au
tumn, are called annual, in opposition t<
evergreens.
3. Performed in a year ; as the annual motion
of the earth.
AN'NUAL, n. A plant that lives but one
year, or rather but one suinmer. Martyn.
AN'NUALLY, adv. Yearly; returning every
year ; vear by year.
ANNU'ITANT, n. [See Annvily.]
One who receives oris entitled to receive a
amiuitv.
ANNU'ITY, n. [Fr. annuite, from antiits,
year. See Annual.]
A sum of money, payable yearly, to continue
for a given number of years, for hfe or for
ever ; an annual income, charged on the
person of the grantor ; or an annual al-
lowance. Governments often borrow
money upon annuities, that is, for a cer-
tain sum advanced on loan, the govern-
ment contracts to pay the lender a specific
sum, for life, or for a term of years. The
stock created by such loans is transfer-
able.
ANNUL', V. t. [Fr. annuller, of L. ad nullum,
to nothing.]
1. To make void; to nulhfy ; to abrogate
to abolish ; used appropriately of laws,
decrees, edicts, decisions of courts,
other estabhshed rules, permanent
and the like, which are made void by coin
petent authority.
3. To reduce to nothing ; to obliterate. [Ao<
in muck une.] Milton.
AN'NULAR, a. [L. annulus, a ring, fi-om
Celtic ain, a circle, and ul, young, small ;
annulus, a little circle.]
Having the form of a ring ; pertainuig to
ring.
Annular crystal is when a hexahedral prism
has six, or an octahedral prism eight mar
ginal faces, disposed in a ring about eacl
base ; or when these prisms are truncated
on all their terminal edges. Cleaveland.
AN'NULARY, a. Having the form of a ring,
Ray,
AN'NULATED, a. Furnished with rings,
' circles, like rings ; having belts.
AN'NULET, n. [L. anmdus, a ring.]
In architecture, a small square member in the
Doric capital, under the quarter roimd;
also a narrow flat molding, which "
mon to many places, as in the bases or
capitals ; called also a. fillet, or hstil, or
cincture, or a list, tunea, eye brow or
square rabbit. Encyc.
In heraldry, a Uttle circle, borne as a charge
in coats of arms ; formerly reputed a mark
of nobihty and jurisdiction ; it being the
custom of prelates to receive their investi-
ture per hacidum et annidum, by stafi'and
ring. It denotes also strength and eter-
nity, by its circular form. Among the Ro-
mans, it represented liberty and distinc-
tion of rank. It denotes also difference,
or mark of distinction, which the fifth
brother of a family ought to bear on liis
coat of arms. Encyc. Johnson.
10
ANNUL'LED, pp. Made void ; abrogated.
ANNUL'LING, ppr. Abrogating ; abolish-
ing.
ANNUL'MENT, n. The act of annulling.
ANNU'MERATE, v. t. [L. annumero, of aj
and numiro, to number, from numerus.
number ; VV. niver ; Ir. nuiver or nuimhe,.
See JVumter.]
To add to a former number ; to unite t>i
.something before mentioned. Johnson.
ANNUMERA'TION, n. Addition to a for
iner number.
ANNUN'CIATE, v. t. [See Announce.]
To brine tidings ; to announce. Chaucer.
ANNUNCIA'TION, n. An announcing ; the
tidings brought by the angel to Mary, of
the incarnation of Christ. Also the day
celebrated by the church, in memory oV
the angel's salutation of the blessed vir-
gin, which is the 25th of March. The
Jews give the title to a part of the cere-
mony of the passover. Encyc.
2. Proclamation ; promulgation.
ANNUNCIA'TOR, n. One who announ-
ces ; an officer in the church of Constan-
tinople, whose busuiess was to inform the
Iieople of the festivals which were to be
celebrated. Encyc.
.VN'ODYNE, n. [Gr. o or a., priv. and oSnr.
pain.]
Any medicine which allays pain, or causes
sleep, as an opiate, paregoric, narcotic.
&c. Coit .
AN'OD^NE, a. Assuaging pain ; causinjr
sleep, or insensibUity.
jVT', v.t. [Fr. omare, d. ouU ; Sp.
p. ungir; It.
ANOLNT',
oindre, p. oint ;
un tar, to anoint; 1^. ungo ;
ungere, or ugnere.]
1. To pour oil upon ; to smear or rub over
with oil or unctuous substances ; also to
spread over, as oil. We say, the man
anoints another, or the oil anoints him.
3. To consecrate by unction, or the use of
oil.
Thou shalt anoint the altar, and sanctify it.
Ex.xxii
3. To smear or daub.
He anointed the eyes of the blind man witli
clay. John ix.
, To prepare, in allusion to the consecra
ting use of oil.
Anoint tlie shield. Isaiah xxi.
To anoint the head with oil, Ps. xxiii. seems
pify to CO
oly Spirit.
The use of oil in consecrations, was of higli
antiquity. Kings, prophets and priests
were set apart or consecrated to their ofii-
ces by the use of oil. Hence the pecuhar
apphcation of the term anointed to Jesus
Christ.
ANOINT'ED, pp. Smeared or rubbed with
" ; set apart ; consecrated with oil.
.ANOINT'ED, n. The Messiah, or Son of
God, consecrated to the great office of
Redeemer ; called the lord's anointed.
Cyrus is also called the Lord's anointed.
Isaiah xlv.
ANOINT'ER, Ji. One who anoints.
ANOINT'ING, ppr. Smearing with oil ;
pouring on oil, or other oleaginous sub-
stance ; consecrating.
ANOINT'ING, n. The actof smearmgwith
oil ; a consecrating.
ANOINTMENT, 71. The act of anouiting.
or state of being anointed.
A N O
ANO'LE, 71. A species of lizard in the W.;
Indies, of a yellowish color, having several
blue and green strii)es running down it;
back. Did. ofJVat Hist.
ANOftl'ALIPED, a. [Gr. aru^aTtta, inequal-
ity, and rtot's, L. pes, foot.]
An epithet given to fowls, wliose middle toe
is united to the exterior by three phalan-
ges, and to the interior by one only.
ANOM'ALIPED, n. An anomalous footed
fowl. [Sec the adjective.] Diet. J^Tat. Hist.
ANOM'ALISM, n. An anomaly ; a deviation
from rule.
AN03IALI.S'TI€, } Irregular; de
ANOMALIS'TI€AL, I "' parting from com
mon or established rules.
In astronomy, the anotfialistic year is the time
in whicli the earth passes through her or-
bit, which is longer than the tropical year,
on account of the precession of the equi-
noxes.
ANOM'ALOUS, a. Irregular ; deviating from
a general rule, method or analogy ; appli-
ed, in grammar, to words which deviate
from the connnon rules of inflection ; and
in astronomy, to the seemingly irregular
motions of the planets ; but applied also
generally to whatever is irregular; as, an
(tnomalous character ; anomalous pronun-
ciation.
ANOM'ALOUSLY, adv. Irregularly ; in a
manner different from conmion ride, meth-
od or analogy.
ANOM'ALY, n. [Fr. anomalie ; Sp. anomxt-
lia; Gr.avu/iaUa, inequality, ofapriv. and
oftaTjii, equal, similar ; Celtic, W. hamal, or
haval ; Ir. amhail, similar.]
1. IiTegularity ; deviation from the common
rule ; thus oxen, the plural of ox, is an
anomaly,m grammar, as the regular plural
would be axes.
2. In astronomy, an irregularity in the motion
of a planet, whereby it deviates from the
aphelion or apogee. Encyc.
3. In music, a false scale or interval. Busby.
ANO'MEANS, n. [Gr. a^ofioio;, cUssimilar.]
In church history, the pure Arians, as distin-
guished from the Semi-Arians. Encyc.
ANO'MIA, n. [Gr. avofna ; a priv. and I'Ofjos,
rule.]
A genus of bivalve shells, so called from their
unequal valves ; the beaked cockle.
AN'OMITE, n. A fossil shell of the genus
anomia. Jameson.
ANOMORHOM'BOID, j!. [Gr. avofio^o;, ir-
regular, and foneoiilirii, of a rliomboidal
figure.]
\ genus of spars, pellucid, and crystaUne, of]
no determinate form externally," but break-
ing into regular rhomboidal masses. The
species are five, mostly of a white color.
Encyc.
AN'OMY, n. [Gr. avo^ca.j A violation of|
law. [Rarely used.] Bramhall.
ANON', adv. [Sax. on an, in one ; not, as
Junius supposes, in one minute, but in con-
tinuation, without intermission ; appUed
originally to extension in measure, and
then to time by analogy. " And sfedon
that hi ssegon on north-east fir micel and
brad with thone earthe, and weax on
lengthe up on an to tham wolcne." Sax.
Chron. A. D. 1022. And they said they
saw in the north-east a great fire anil
broad, near the eartli, and it increased in
A N S
length in r-ontimwiion to the clouds. S'
also An. Dom. 1127.]
. Quickly; without intermission; sooi
immediately.
The same is he that heareth the word, and
anon Avith joy receivetli it. Matt. xiii.
2. Sometimes; now and then ; at other times
accompanied with ever, ever and ation.
ANON'YMOUS, a. [Fr. anonjrme ; U anon
ymus ; Gr. arwi'v^uoj, ot' a priv. and opofia,
name. See Mime.]
Nameless ; wanting a name ; without the
real name of the author ; as, an anonymous
jiamjjhlet.
ANON'YMOUSLY, adv. Without
AN'OPLOTHER, ( [Gr. ap neg.,
ANOPLOTHE'RIUM, \ "• o^ao^, arms, and
Sjjpior, a beast.]
This is the name which Cuvier has given to
a genus of anunals, whose bones are found
in the gypsiun quarries near Paris ; a genus
now extinct.
ANOP'SY, n. [Gr. m neg. and a^, sight.]
Want of sight ; mvision. [Little used.]
Broum.
AN'OREXY, n. [Gr. a priv. and optlij, appe-
tite.
Want of appetite, without a lothing of food,
Co.re,
ANOTH'ER, a. [an, or one and- otter.]
1. Not the same ; different ; as, we have one
form of government ; France, another.
2. One more, in adilition to a former num-
ber, indefinitely ; as, grant one request,
they will ask another favor, another and
another.
3. Any other; any different person, indefi-
nitely ; as, " Let another praise thee and not
thy own mouth." This word is often used
without a noun, becoming a substitute for
the name of the person or thing; as in the
last example. It is also much used in op-
position to one, as in the first and second
passages cited. It is also frequently used
with one, in a reciprocal sense ; as, " love
one another ;" " bear one another's burdens ;"
that is, love one, or let one love another.
ANOTH'ER-GAINES, adv. Of another kind.
Obs. Sidney.
ANOTH'ER-GATES, adv. Of another sort.
Obs. Sanderson.
ANOTH'ER-GUISE, a. [anofJier and guise,
Fr. way, manner ; Sax. (me. The Saxon
manner of writuig this word would be
another-wise.]
Ol'a different kind ; different. This is a vid-
gar word, and usually contracted uito other
guess.
ANOT'TA, n. An elegant red color, fonned
from the pelhcles or pulp of the seeds of
the bixa, a tree conmion in South America.
This is called also Terra Orleana and
Roco. The annotta is made by steeping
the seeds for seven or eight days, pounding
them to separate the red sldns, then strain-
ing the liquor, boiling it, taking off" the
scum which is the coloring matter, then
boiling it to a due consistence, and making
it into balls. Ejtcyc.
AN'SATED, a. [L. ansatus, from ansa, a
handle.]
Having a handle or handles, or something in
the form of handles. Johnson.
AN'SER, 71. [L. a goose.]
In zoology, the iinnic of the goose, whether
A N S
me or wild. The domestic goose is the
gray-lag or wild goose, domesticated.
2. In astronomy, a small star, in the milky
way, between the swan and eagle. Encyc -
.•VN'SERINE, a. [L. anserinus, from anser.
a goose.]
1. Resembling the skin of a goose ; imeven ;
as, an anserine skin. Encyc.
2. Pertaining to the ansers.
AN'SERS, n. In Lume's system, the third
order of avea or fowls, whose character-
istics are a smooth bill, broadest at the
point, covered with a smooth skin, and
furnished with teeth. The tongue is fleshy,
and the toes are webbed or palmated. It
includes all the web-footed water fowls,
with legs and feet adapted to swmmiinff.
AN'SLAIGHT, n. [See Slay.] An attack ;
an affiay. [JVot in use.]
ANSWER, V. t. dnsvr. [Sax. andswarian,
ofanti, against, and Sax. swaran, or sioe-
rian or swerigan, Goth, srvaran, to swear.
The primitive sense of swear was merely
to speak or affirm, and hence, originally,
oath was used after it, to steear an oath :
which is not a pleonasm, as Lye supposes,
biit the primitive fonn of expression re-
tained. The sense of answer is an oppo-
site, a returned word or speech. Hence
we observe the Saxon has andwyrd, anti-
word, an answer; Goth, andawaurd; D.
aniicoord; Ger. antwort.]
1. To speak in return to a call or question,
or to a speech, declaration or ai-gument of
another person ; as, " I have called and ye
have not answered." " lie answered the
question or the argument." This may be
in agreement and confij-mation of what
was said, or in opposition to it.
2. To be equivalent to; to be adequate to,
or sufficient to accomphsh the object.
" Money answerelh all things," noting,
primarily, return.
3. To comply with, fidfiU, pay or satisfy ; as,
he anstvered my order ; to answer a debt.
4. To act ui return, or opposition ; as, the ene-
my answered our fire by a shower of grape
shot.
5. To bear a due projiortion to ; to be equal
or adequate ; to suit ; as, a weapon does
not aTiswer the size and strength of the
man using it ; the success does not answer
our expectation.
6. To perform what was intended ; to ac-
complish ; as, the measure does not ansiver
its end ; it does not ansiver the purpose.
7. To be opposite to ; to face ; as, fire an-
swers fii-e. Shak.
1. To write in reply ; to reply to another
writing, by way of explanation, reftitation
or justification ; as, to answer a pamphlet.
9. To solve, as a proposition or problem in
mathematics.
This word may be apphed to a great
variety of objects, expressing the idea of a
return ; as the notes, or sounds of birds, and
other animals ; an echo, &c.
'ANSWER, v. i. To reply ; to speak by way
of return ; a.*, there is none to answer.
1 Kings xviii.
2. To be accountable, liable or responsible ;
followed by to before the person, and for
before the thing for which one is hable ; as,
the man must answer to his employer /or
the money rntrustcd to his care ; we cajo
to Godybc our offenses.
A N S
ANT
A N T
rj. To vindicate, or give a justificatoi-y aC'
coiuit of; followed by for; as, a man can
not answer for liis friend.
4. To correspond with ; to suit with ; follow-
ed by to.
In water face answereth to face, so the heart
of man to man. Prov. 27.
.'5. To act reciprocally, as the .strings of an
instrument to the hand. Dryden
{». To stand as opposite or correlative ; as, al
legiance in the subject answers to {irotec-
tion on the part of the prince or govern-
ment.
7. To rettu-n, as sound reverberated ; to echo.
The noise seems to fly away, and answer at
agreat distance. Encyc. Jlrt. Echo.
8. To succeed ; to efiect the object intended ;
to have a good effect ; as, gypsum aTiswers
as a manure on a dry soil.
*ANS WER, n. A reply ; that which is said, in
return to a call, a question, an argument,
or an allegation.
A soft answer turaeth away wrath. Prov.
I called him, but he gave me no answer.
Cant. v.
'Jt. An account to be rendered to justice.
He will call you to so hot an answer for it.
Shah:
3. In law, a counter-statement of facts, in a
course of pleadings ; a confutation of what
the other ijaity has alledged.
4. A writing, pamphlet or book, in reply to
another.
.'>. A reverberated sound ; an echo.
6. A return ; that wliich is sent in conse-
quence of some petition, as a blessing is
sent in answer to ju-ayer.
7. A solution, the result of a mathematical
operation.
'ANSWERABLE, a. That may be answer-
ed ; that to which a reply may be made,
usually implying that the answer may be
satisfactory ; as, an answerable argument.
il. Obliged to give an accoimt, or Uable to
be called to account ; amenable ; respon-
sible ; as, an agent is answerable to his prin-
cipal.
3. Obliged or Uable to pay, indeimiify or
make good ; as, to be answerable for a debt
or for damages.
4. Correspondent ; agreeing with ; in con-
formity with ; as, the featm-es expressed in
a picture are answei-able to the original.
5. Suitable ; suited ; proportionate ; as, an
achievement answerable to the preparation
for it.
C. Equal ; correspondent ; proportionate ; as,
the success is answerable to my desires.
"ANSWERABLENESS, n. The quality of
being answerable, liable, responsible, or
correspondent.
'ANSWERABLY, adv. In due proportion,
' correspondence or conformity ; suitably ;
as, continents have rivere answerably lar
ger than isles.
ANSWERED, pp. Replied to; fulfilled
paid ; complied with ; accompUshed ; solv-
' ed ; confuted.
' '.VNSWERER, n. One who an.swers ; he or
'' tliat which makes a return to what anoth-
er has spoken ; he who writes an answer.
; ANSWERING, ppr. Repljang ; correspond-
1 ing to ; fidfiUing ; solving ; succeeding ; re-
(verberating ; confutuig.
ANSWER-JOBBER, n. One who makes
a business of WTitmg answers. Sirifl.
AN'T, in okl authors, is a contraction of an
it, that is, if it. [See An.]
ANT, in our vulgar dialect, as in the phrases,
I mt, you dvi, he ant, we dnt, &c., is un-
doubtedly a contraction of the Danish er.
tre, the substantive verb, in the present
tense of the Indicative iVIode, and not, I
er-not, we ere-not, he er-not, or of the Swe
dish ar, the same verb. Infinitive vara, U
be. These phrases are doulrtless legiti-
mate remains of the Gothic dialect.
*ANT, n. [Sax. cemet, emmet, contracted into
ant ; Germ, ameise.]
An enunet ; a pismire. Ants constitute a ge-
nus of insects of the hymenopteral order,
of which the characteristics are; a small
scale between the breast and belly, with a
joint so deep that the animal appears as if
almost cut in two. The females, and the
neuter or working ants, which have no
se.xua! characteristics, are furnished with
a hidden sting ; and both males and fe
males have wings, but the neuters hav<
none. These uisects meet together in
companies, and maintain a sort of repub
lie. They raise hillocks of earth, in which
they Uve. In these there are paths, lead-
ing to the repositories of their provisions,
The large black ants, in the warm climates
of America, to avoid the eflfects of gr
rauis, build large nests on trees, of Ught
eanh, roundish and plastered smooth.
Encyc,
ANT-BEAR or ANT-EATER, n. A quad-
ruped that feeds upon ants. This animal
has no teeth, but a snout or muzzle, with a
long cyUndi-ical tongue. The body is i
ered with long hair. There are several
species, constituting the genus, myrmeco-
pkaga, ant eaters. Encyc.
'ANT-EGGS, n. Little white balls found in
the hillocks of ants, usually supposed to be
their eggs, but foimd on e.xamination to be
the yomig brood, in their first state. They
are verniicules, vvTapped in a fiLn, compo-
sed of a silky substance spun Uke a spi-
der's webb. " Encyc.
'ANT-HILL, n. A little tunmlus or hillock,
formed by ants, for their habitation.
AN'TA, n. In ancient architecture, a square
coliinm, at the corner of a building ; a pil-
aster ; written also ante.
ANTACID, 71. [ajiti and acid.]
In pharmacy, an alkaU, or a remedy for sour-
ness or acidity ; better written anti-acid.
ANTAC'RID, n. [anti and aciid.]
That which corrects acrimony ; better
written anti-acrid.
ANTAG'ONISM, n. Opposition of action ;
counteraction of things or principles.
Good, B. ofJVature.
ANTAGONIST, n. [Gr. avu, against, and
oyuMf);;, a champion. See Jlct and Agony.]
1. One who contends with another in com
bat ; used primarily in the Grecian games.
An adversaiy.
2. An opponent in controversy. Campbell.
3. In anatomy, a muscle which acts in opjio-
sition to another ; as a flexor, which bends
a pail, is the antagonist of an extensor,
which extends it.
ANTAG'ONIST, a. Counteracting ; oppo-
sinc ; combatins ; as, an ajitagonist muscle.
ANTAGONIS'TIC, a. Opposing in combat;
contending agamst.
ANTAGONIZE, v.i. To contend against ;
to act in o]>position ; to oppose in argu-
ANTAG'ONY, n. Contest ; opposition. [j\ol
used.] MUloit.
ANTAL'tilC, n. [Gr. om, against, and oOyo;.
pain.]
Alleviating pain ; anodyne. [Little used.
ANTANA€LA'SIS, n. [Gr. o.roiax>.o!»;, a
driving back.]
1. In rhetoric, a figure, whicli consists in re-
peatino^ the same word in a different sense ;
as, winlst we live, let us live. Learn sonic
crnfl when young, that « hen old you ma.\
live without craft.
2. It is also a repetition of words, beginnint
a sentence, after a long j)arenthesis ; ai^,
shall that lieai-t, (which not only feeU
them, hut which has all motions of lile
placed in them,) shall that heart. Sec.
Smith's Rhtl.
ANTANAGO'gE, n. antanago'gy. [Gr.a^r..
against, and avar/i^rj, a taking uj).]
In rhetoric, a figure which consists in replying
to an adversary, by way of recrimination :
as, when the accusation of one party is un-
answerable, the accused person charges
him with the same or other crime. BaUey.
ANTAPHRODIS'IAC, a. [Gr. wr,, again^,
and a^poSioiof, venereal, from tKjjpoStri;.
Venus.]
Antivenereal ; having the quality of extin-
guishmg or lessening venereal desire.
ANTAFHRODIS'IAe, n. A medicine tha;
lessens or extinguishes tlie venereal appe-
tite. Encyc. Coxe.
ANTAPHRODIT l€, a. [Gr. See the pre-
ceding words.] Antivenereal, abating the
venereal appetite, or eflicacious against
the venereal disease.
ANTAFHRODIT'IC, n. A medicine which
abates the venereal appetite, or is good,
agauist the venereal disease.
Coxe. Quinc}/.
ANTAPOPLEC'TIC, a. Good against apo-
plexy.
ANTARCTIC, a. [Gr. ain, against, and
apxros, the bear, a northern constellation.]
Opposite to the northern or arctic pole ; rela-
ting to the southern pole or to llie region
near it, and applied especially to a lesser
circle, distant from the pole 23° 28'. Thus
we say the antarctic pole, antarctic circle,
or antarctic region. Encyc.
ANTA'RES, n. The nameofastai- of the
first magnitude, called also the scorpion's
heart. Its longitude is 60° 13' 14 " of Sag-
ittarius ; and its latitude 4° 31' 2G" Soutli.
Encyc.
ANT.VRTHRIT IC, a. [Gr. aiu, against,
and opSpiTij, gout.]
Counteracting the gout.
ANTARTHRIT'Ie, n. A remedy wliicb
cures or alleviates the gout.
.ANTASTHMAT'Ie, a. [Gr. aiu, agamst,
' aoSfia, asthma.]
Opposing the asthma.
ANTA^
A.STHMAT'I€, n. A remedy for the
asthma.
AN'TE. A Latin preposition, the Gr. avfi,
Sax. and Goth, and; much used in the
composition of English words, especially
in words from the Latin and Greek lan-
guages. It signifies before in place, in
front ; hence opposite, contrary ; and figu-
ratively, before in time. The Latin antf
is generally used in the sense of before, and
A N T
the Greek am, in that of opposite, or in
the place of.
AN'TE or AN'TA, n. A pilaster. In her-
aldry, ante denotes that the pieces are let
into one another, in the manner there ex-
pressed, as by dove tails, rounds, swallow
fails, &c. Encyc.
AN'TEA€T, n. [_ante and act.] A preceduig
ANTECEDA'NEOUS, a. [Infra.] Ante-
cedent ; preceding in time. Oiven.
\NTECE'DE, V. t. {ante and cedo, to go.
See Cede.]
To so before in time ; to precede. /ia'f
ANTECE'DENCE, n. The act or state of
going before in time ; precedence. In
tronomy, an apparent motion of a planet
towards the west, or contrary to the order
of the signs. Encyc
ANTECE'DENT, a. Going before m tmie
prior ; anterior ; preceding ; as, an event
antecedent to the deluge.
ANTECE'DENT, n. That which goes be
fore in tune ; hence in writings, that which
precedes in place. In grammar, the noun
to which a relative or other substitute re-
fers ; as, Solomon was the pnnce, who]
built the Temple. la logic, the first of
two propositions in an enthymeme, or
gument of two propositions; as, if the
is fixed, the earth must move. Here the
first and conditional proposition is the an-
tecedent ; the second, the consequent. JVatts.
Til mathematics, the first of two terras of a
ratio, or that which is compared with the
other. Encyc.
ANTECE'DENTLY, adv. Previously ; at
a time preceding.
.VNTECES'SOR, n. [L. whence ancestor.
See Antecede.]
\. One who goes before ; a leader ; a princi-
pal. It was formerly a title given to those
who excelled in any science ; to professors
of civil law ; and* in the Universities of
France, the teachers of law talie the title
in their theses.
•i. One that possessed land before the pres-
ent possessor. Brady.
AN'TECHAMBER, n. {Ante, before, and
chamher.']
A chamber or apartment before the chiel
apartment to which it leads, and in whicl
persons wait for audience. Dryden
ANTECHAP'EL, n. The part of the chapel
through which is the passage to the choir
or body of it. WaHon.
ANTE'CIAN, n. [Gr. ai-ft, opposite, and
orxeu, to dwell ; L. antiEci.]
Ih geography, the antecians are those inhab
itants of the earth, under the same merid
jan, and at the same distance from the
equator, but, on opposite sides, one party
north, the other soutli. They have the
same hours of day and night, but difier-
ent seasons; it being winter with one,
when it is summer with the other. Encyc.
ANTE€URS'OR, n. [L. ante, before, and
cursor, a runner, from curro, to run. See
Course.]
One who runs before ; a forerunner. In tlie
Roman armies, the antecursors were a
body of horse detached to obtain intelli
gence, get provisions, &c., for the main
body. Encyc
AN'TEDATE, n. [Infra.] Prior date ; a
<late antecedent to another. Good
A N T
AN'TEDATE, v. I. [L. ante, and datum,
given. See Date.}
1 To date before the true time ; thus, to
antedate a deed or a bond is to express a
date anterior to the true time of its execu-
tion. „ ,
3. To anticipate ; to take before the true
time.
And antedate the bliss above. ^ope.
ANTEDILU'VIAL, ) , [L. ante, and dilu-
ANTEDILU'VIAN, S vium, a flood. See
Lave.] »T . , ■
Before the flood, or deluge, in Noah s time ;
existing, happening, or relating to what
happened before the deluge,
ANTEDILU'VIAN, n. One who lived be-
fore the deluge.
AN'TELOPE, n. [Qu. Gr. avti and rto^oj,
resembling a deer.]
In zoology, the gazelle ; a genus of ruminant
quadrupeds, intermediate between the
deer and goat. Their horns are solid and
permanent, straight or curved; in some
species annulated ; in others, suiTounded
by a spiral ; and in others, smooth. They
resemble the deer in the lightness and ele-
gance of tlieir forms, and m their agility.
They inhabit open plains or mountains,
and some species in herds of two or three
thousand. Their eyes are large, black,
and of exquisite beauty and vivacity; and
are therefore a favorite image with the
eastern poets. Encyc. Cyc.
ANTELU'CAN, a. [L. antelucanus, of ante,
before, and lux, light.]
Being before light ; a word apphed to as-
semblies of christians, in ancient times of
persecution, held before Ught in the morn-
ing. ^ Encyc^
ANTEMERID'L\N, a. {ante, before, and
meridian.]
Being before noon ; pertaining to the lore
noon.
ANTEMET'I€, a. {avn, against, and emetic,
from tfi£", to vomit.]
Restraining or allaying vomiting. Qmncy.
ANTEMET'ie,n. A medicine which checks
vomiting. Quincij. Coxe.
ANTEMUND'ANE, a. {ante, belore, and
m,undus, the world.] Being before the
creation of the world.
ANTENI'CENE, a. {ante, before, and
Mcene, from JVice.]
Anterior to the first council of Nice
fcmcene faith. ,^"Ti
ANTEN'NiE, n.plu. [L. nji/enna, asail yard.]
In zoology, the horns or feelers of insects,
projecting from the head.
ANT'ENUM'BER, n. A number that pre-
cedes another. Bacon.
ANTENUP'TIAL, a. [ante and nuptial]
Being before marriage ; as, an antenuptial
agreement ; antenuptial children. Kent.
ANTEPAS€H'AL, a. Pertaining to the
time before Easter. JVelson.
AN'TEPAST, n. {ante, before, and pastum,
A foretaste ; something taken before the
proper time.
ANTEPENULT', n. [L. ante, before, pene.
ahnost, and ultimus, last.]
The last syllable of a word, except two ; as
syl in syllable.
ANTEPENULT'IMATE, a. Pertaining tc
the last syllable but two.
ANTEPILEP'TI€, a. [a>rt, against, and
ANT
iTttXyinrixoi, epileptic, from imfjiuSaiu, to
Resisting or curing epilepsy.
ANTEPILEP'Tl€, n. A remedy for the
epilepsy. Encyc. Coxe.
ANTEPOSP'TION, n. s as z. [L. ante, before.
and position, from pono, to place.]
In grammar, the placing of a word before
another, which, by ordinary rules, ought to
follow it.
ANTEPREDI€'AMENT, n. {ante and pre-
dicament.]
A preliminary question in logic to illustrate
the doctrine of predicaments and categor-
ies ; a question which is to be first known.
Encyc.
ANTE'RIOR, a. [h.] Before in time or
place ; prior ; antecedent ; preceding in
time.
2. Before or in front in place.
ANTERIOR' IT Y, n. The state of being
anterior, preceding or in front ; a state ol
being before in tune, or situation.
AN'TEROOM, n. {ante and room.] A room
liefore or in front of another. Darwin.
AN'TES, n.plu. [L.] PiUars of large dmien-
sions that support the front of a building.
ANTESTAT'URE, n. [ante and stature.]
In fortification, a small retrenchment or work
formed of pahsades, or sacks of earth.
Encyc.
ANTESTOM'A€H, n. [ante and stomach.]
A cavity which leads into the stomach, as
the crop in birds. [M'ot in use.] Ray.
ANTEVERT', v. t. [L anteverto.] To pre-
vent. [J^ot in »J5C.] Hall.
ANTEVIRGIL'IAN, a. [avti and Virgil]
A term given to Tull's new husbandry, or
method of horse hoeing. Encyc.
ANTHELMIN'Tle, a. [<wtt, against, and
XfA-wf, a worm.] Good against wonns.
ANTHELMIN'Tle, n. A remedy for worms
in the intestines. Encyc. Coxe.
AN'THEM, n. [Gr. avti, against, and vfivog,
a hymn, from vfiviu, to sing. See Hymn.}
A hymn sung in aUernate parts ; but in mod-
ern usage, a sacred tune or piece of music
set to words, taken from the psahns or
other parts of the scriptures, first intro-
duced into church service in Elizabeth's
reign. Encyc.^
AN'THEM-WISE, adv. In the manner ot
an anthem ; alternately. Bacon.
AN'THEMIS, n. Camomile. Tate.
AN'THER, n. [L. anthera, a flowery plant,
from the Greek avSr^fo^, flowery, from a.v9oi,
a flower.]
In botany, the summit or top of the stamen,
connected with the flower, and elevated
by means of the filament or thread, within
the corol. It contains the pollen, or fer-
tilizing dust, which, when mature, is emit-
ted for the impregnation of the stigma.
It is called by Ray, the afex, and by Mal-
i)i<fhi, the capsxda' ataminxs.
* " Milne. Martyn.
\N'THERAL, a. Pertaining to anthers.
Asiat. Res. 4, 404.
ANTHERIF'EROUS, a. [anther and fero,
to bear.] Producing anthers. Barton, 162.
ANTHESTE'RION, «. The sixth month of
the Athenian year, consisting of 29 days,
and answering to a part of November and
a part of December. It is supposed to be
so cafled from the Anthesteria, feasts in
honor of Bacchus, celebrated m that
ANT
ANT
ANT
inonth, and so called from or^oj, a flower ;
garlands of flowers being oftered to Bac-
chus at those feasts.
ANTHOLOG'l€AL,o. Pertaining to anthol
ogy.
ANTHOL'OgY, n. [Gr. avOos, a flower, and
^oyof, a discourse, or tioyia, a collection.]
1. A discourse on flowers.
2. A collection of beautiful passages from
authors ; a collection of poems or epi-
grams. In the Greek church, a collection
of devotional pieces. Encyc.
AN'THONY'S FIRE. A popular name of|
the erysipelas, supposed to have been so
named from the saint in Italy, to whom
those, who were affected, applied for a
cure. Encyc.
ANTHOPH' YLLITE, n. [Gr. 0^805, a flower,
and fiiMMP, a leaf]
A mineral in masses composed of interlaced
plates, or crystalized in reed-shaped crys
tals, which appear to be four sided prisms
longitudinally streaked. The color is be-
tween dark yellowish gray Eind olive
brown ; the luster shining and pearly.
Diet. JVat. Hut. Cleaveland.
AN'THORISM, n. [Gr. avti, opposite, and
ofne/Mf, definition.]
In rhetoric, a description or definition 1
trary to that which is given by the advei'se
party. Ash.
ANTHRACITE, n. [Gr. (wSpol, a burning
coal ; infra.']
Slaty glance-coal, or columnar glance coal
that species of coal wliich has a shining
luster, approaching to metallic, and which
burns without smoke, and with intense
heat. It consists essentially of carbon
AN'THRA€OLITE. [See Anthracite.]
ANTHRAX, n. [Gr. ; supra.]
A carbuncle ; a malignant ulcer, with intense
burning. The ancients gave this name to
a gem, and it is sometunes u.sed for lithan-
thrax or pit-coal. Encyc.
ANTHROP'OGLOT, n. [Gr. orSpurtof, man.
and yXwffo, the tongue.]
.^n animal which has a tongue resembling
that of man, of which kind are parrots.
Enajc.
ANTHROPOG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. a^Spurto;,
man, and ypa^ij, descrijition.]
A description of man or the human race,
or of the parts of the human body. Encyc.
ANTHROP'OLITE, n. [Gr. oi'Spurto;, man,
and ».ifloj, a stone.]
A petrifaction of the human body, or skel-
eton. Some naturalists have asserted that
skeletons of the animal frame have been
found petrified in old mines ; but the fact
is not credited, and the existence of such
petrifactions is denied. Encyc.
Capt. Wilford informs us, that in digging a
well near the Ganga, some persons found,
at the depth of 90 feet, on an old bed ot
that river, the bones of men and quadru-
peds, supposed to be petrifactions.
Asiat. Res. 8. 294.
The skeleton of a man has been foimd
in a limestone rock, of recent formation, in
(iiiadaloupe. Ed. Encyc.
Tlunian bones have also been found, by Prof
IJuckland, in the open cave of Paviland,
Glamorganshire. He considers them post-
diluvian. Quart. Rev. v. 29. p. 148.
ANTHROPOLOg'ICAL, a. Pertaining to
anthropology; according to human man-
ner of speaking. Kirwan
ANTHROPOL'OtlST, n. One who de
scribes, or is versed in the physical history
of the human body.
ANTHROPOL'OOY, n. [Gr. a^Spwrtoj, man,
and Xoyo;, discourse.]
1. A discourse upon human nature. Encyc.
2. The doctrine of the structure of the hu
man body ; the natural histoi-y or physiol-
ogy of the human species.
.3. The word denotes that manner of expres-
sion by which the inspired writers attribute
himian parts and passions to God. Encyc.
ANTHROPOM'ANCY, n. [Gr. a^Spurtoj,
man, and navctia, divination.]
Divination by inspecting the entrail:
liiuiian being. Encyc.
ANTHROPOMORPH'ISM, n. The heresy
of the anthropomorphites. Encyc.
ANTHROPOMORPH'ITE, «. [Gr.
rtof, man, and «op^, form.]
One who believes a himian form in the
^iipiciiio IJcjug. A sect of ancient here-
tiis nn- cnllcd (inthropomorphites. Encyc.
ANTIIUOI'OMORPH'OUS, a. Belonging
to that uliicli has the form of man ; hav
ing tlie figure of resemblance to a man.
Ash. Encyc.
ANTHROPOP'ATHY, n. [avSpuno;, mkn
and !<a9o5, passion.]
The affections of man, or the application of
human passions to the Supreme Being
Owen. Encyc. Ash.
ANTHROPOPH'AGl, n. plu. [Gr. a.9piorto?,
man, and $oyu, to cat.]
Maneaters ; cannibals ; men that eat human
flesh. Johnson. Encyc.
ANTHRGPOPH'AGOUS, o. Feeding on
human flesli.
ANTHROPOPHAGY, n. The eating of|
human flesh, or the practice of eating it.
Johnson. Encyc.
ANTHROPOS'€OPY,ji. [Gr.<w9pco?to;,man,
and (jxortfio, to view.]
The art of discovering or judging of a man's
character, passions and inclinations from
the lineaments of his body. Encyc.
ANTHROPOS'OPHY, »». [Gr. avSp^no;,
man, and oo(j)ta, wisdom.]
Knowledge of the nature of man ; acquain-
tance with man's structure and functions,
comprehending anatomy and physiology
Encyc.
AXTHYPNOT'l€, a. corrupt orthography.
[See Antihypnotic]
ANTHYPO€HOND'RIAC. [See Antihy-
pochondriac]
ANTHYPOPH'ORA. [See Antihypophora.]
ANTHYSTER'le. [See Antihysteric]
AN'TI, [Gr. See Ante.] A preposition sig-
nifying against, opposite, contrary, or m
place of; used in many EngUsh words.
ANTIAC'ID, a. Opposing or removing
acidity. Often written antacid.
ANTIAC'ID, n. An alkali ; a medicine
proper to correct sourness, or acidity ; an
absorbent, as chalk, magnesia, coral, sea-
shells, hematite, steelfilings ; or an obtun-
dent, as oil or fat ; or an inunutant, as
lixivious salts, and soaps. Cyc.
ANTIAMER'I€AN, a. Opposed to Amer-
ica, or to the true interests or government
of the United States ; opposed to the rev-
olution in America. Marshall.
ANTIARTHRIT'IC, a. [Sec Anlarlhritic]
Good against the gout.
ANTIARTHRIT'IC, n. A remedy for the
gout.
ANTIASTHMAT'IC, a. [See Antasthmatic]
Good against asthma.
ANTIASTHMAT'IC, n. A remedy for the
asthma.
ANTIBAC'CHIUS, n. [Gr. arri, and (3ax-
A;«o{, a foot of one short and two long syl-
lables.]
In poetry, a foot of three syllables, the two
first kmg and the last short, as ambire;
opposed to the bacchius, in which the first
syllable is short and the two last long.
This foot is supposed to be so named from
its use in hymns to Bacchus.
Trumbull. Encyc. Gr. Lex.
ANTIBASIL'ICAN, a. s as z. [Gr. avu,
and Bauatxr;, a palace ; L. basilicus, royal,
basilica, a hall of justice.]
Opposed to rojal state and magnificence.
Plowden, Brit. Empire.
AN'TIC, a. [from Fr. antique ; L. antiquus ;
It. antico ; a sense derived from the gro-
tesque figures of antiques.] Odd ; fanci-
ful ; as, antic tricks.
AN'TIC, n. A buflbon or merry Andrew ;
one that practices odd gesticulations.
Shak.
2. Odd appearance ; fanciful figures.
Spenser.
3. In architecture, sculpture and painting,
such pieces as were made by the ancients ;
usually written antique, and pronoimced
anteek, but without any good reason.
AN'TIC, V. t. To make antic. Shak.
rVNTICACHEC'TIC, a. [Gr. wrt, and xa-x-
exttj;, of an ill habit of body.]
Curing or tending to cure an" ill habit of the
constitution. Johnson.
VNTICACHEC'TIC, 71. A medicine that
tends to correct an ill habit of body. Coxe.
ANTICAT'ARRHAL, a. [am, against, and
xorappoo;, a catarrh.] Good against catarrh.
ANTICAT'ARRHAL, n. A remedy for
catarrh. Coxe.
ANTICAUSOT'IC, a. [mu, against, and xm-
5o{, a burning fever.] Good against a
burning fever.
ANTICAUSOT'IC, n. A remedy for a burn-
ing fever. Coxe.
AN'TI-CHAMBER, n. Dr. Johnson prefers
ante-chamber, whicli see. But ante and
anti are the same word in different dia-
lects ; and have the same radical signifi-
cation. [See Ante.]
.'VN'TI-CHRIST, n. [Gr. arri, against, and
Christ.]
A great adversary of Christ ; the man of sin ;
described 1 John, ii. 18. 2 Thess. ii. Rev.
ix. Protestants generally suppose this ad-
versary to be the Papal power ; and some
divines believe that, in a more general
sense, the word extends to any persons
who deny Christ or oppose the fundamen-
tal doctrines of Christianity.
Encyc. Brown. Buck.
ANTICHRIS'TI.\N, a. "Pertaining to anti-
christ ; opposite to or opposing 3ie chris-
tian religion.
ANTICHRIS'TIAN, n. A foUower of anti-
christ ; one opposed to the christian reU-
gion.
ANTICHRIS'TIANISM, n. Opposition or
contrariety to the cliristian reUgion.
A N T
ANTI€HRISTIAN'ITY, n. Opposition
rontrarietv to eliristianity.
ANTI€II'RONIS3I,?i. [Gr. avti, and xpov
time.] Deviation fronx the true order of
time. Selden.
ANTICIPATE, V. t. [L. anllcipo, of ante,
before, and capio, to take]
1. To take or act, before another, so as to
jirevent liim ; to take first possession.
3. To take before the pro|)er time ; as, tlie
advocate has anticipated that part of his
argument.
3. To foretaste or foresee ; to have a pre
ous view or impression of something
future; as, to anticipate the pleasm-es o"
an eutertaunnent ; to anticipate tlie evil
ofhfe.
4. To prevent by crowduig in before ; t(
prechide. Johnson
[This sense is essentially included in the first.]
ANTICIPATED, ;jp. Taken before; fore-
tasted ; foreseen ; prechided ; prevented.
ANTICIPATING, ;)p. Taking before :
foretasting ; preckiiling ; preventing.
ANTICIPA'TION, n. The act of taldngiip,
placing, or considering something before
the proper time, in natural order ; pre
vention.
2. Foretaste ; previous view or impression of
what is to liappen afterward ; as, the unfi-
cipalion of the joys of heaven.
The happy anticipation of a renewed exis-
tence in company with the spirits of the just.
Thoilei/
8. Previous notion ; preconceived opinion,
produced in the mind, before the truth is
known ; shght previous impression.
4. Tlie attack of a fever before the usual
time. Core.
.5. In music, the obtrusion of a chord upon a
syncopated note, to wliich it forms a dis-
cord. Busby.
ANTIC IP ATOR, n. One who anticipates.
ANTICIPATORY, a. Taking before the
time. M(
ANTl€Lr3IAX, n. [Gr. apti, opposite, and
xXi/xa^, climax. See Climate.]
A sentence in wliich the ideas fall or become
less important and strildng at the close ;
opposed to climax. For example
Next comes Dalhousie, the great God of war,
Lieutenant Col'nel to the Eail of Mar.
AN'TI€LY, adv. In an antic manner; with
odd postures and gesticidations; witli fan-
ciful appearance. Shak.
AN'Tl€MASK,orAN'TIMASK,Ji. Aiuask
of antics. Bacon. B. Jonson.
ANTI€ONSTITU'TIONAL, a. Opposed to
or against the constitution. Bolingbroke.
ANTICONSTITU'TIONALIST, n. One
opposed to the constitution.
ANTI€ONTA'(iIONIST, n. One w
poses the doctrine of contagion.
ANTI€ONTA'GlOUS, a. [wr.., and conta-
gious.] Opposing or destroying contagion
ANTI€ONVUL'SIVE, a. [avti, and convul-
sive.] Good against convulsions. Floyer.
AN'TI€0R, n. [anti, and Fr. caur, or L,
cor, the heart.]
Among farriers, an inflammation in a horse's
throat, answering to the quinsy in man.
Encyc
ANTl€OSMET'l€, a. [anti and cosmetic
See Cosmetic.^ Destructive or injurious
to beauty.
ANT
\NTI€OSMET'I€, n. Any preparation
wliich injures beauty.
AN'TICOt'RT, a. In opposition to the court.
[JVot used.] Reresby.
ANTleOURTIER, n. anticortyur. [auH and
courtier.]
One who opposes the court, or the measures
of administration. Ash.
ANTICREA'TOR, «. One that opposes the
creator.
ANTIDEJIOCRAT'le, \ Opposing
ANTIDEHIO€RAT'ICAL, \ "■ democra-
cy ; contrary to government by the people.
Milford.
\N'TIDOTAL, a. That has the quality of
preventing the ill effects of poison, or of
any thing noxious or mischievous.
.'VN'TTIDOTE, n. [a^riSoro;, of ai-fi, against;
and iiSu/ii, to give ; W. dodi, to give.]
1. A medicuie to counteract the effects of
poison, or of any tiling noxious taken into
the stomacli
2. Whatever tends to prevent mischievous
effects, or to counteract the evil whicli
something else miglit produce.
ANTIDO'Tl€AL, a. Serving as an anti-
dote.
ANTIDO'TIeALLY, adv. By way of anti
dote. Brown
ANTIDYSENTER'I€, a. [Gr. a.ri, against
and ^t'fffiTfpixo;, dysenteric] Good against
the dvseiitery, or bloody flux.
VNTIDYSENTER'I€, n. A remedy for
dvsfiitorv. Coxe
VNTIEMET'le, n. [Gr. avu, against, and
tfiitixo;, emetic, from ifnu, to vomit.]
Having the quality of allaying vomiting.
A remedy to check or
, op
ANTIE3IET'I€,
allay voiuitimr
ANTIENNEAHE'DRAL, a. [Gr.
posite, trvia, nine, and lijia, side.]
In crystalography, having nuie faces on two
opposite parts of the crystal. Cteaveland.
ANTIENTHUSIAS'TI€, a. [anti and
thusiastic] Ojjposing enthusiasm.
Shaftsbtm/.
AN'TIENTRY, n. [More
cientry.] Cast of antiquity
ancient.
ANTIEPIS€'OPAL, a. Ad\
pacy.
ANTIEVANgEL'I€AL,
orthodoxy, or
gospel.
op-
■ectly,
that which is
Gray
rse to episco-
K. Charles.
Contrary to
he genuine sense of the
Milner.
AN'TIFACE, n. Opposite face. Jonson.
ANTIFANAT'le, n. An opposer of fanati-
cism. Milton
ANTIFE'BRILE, a. [avti, against, and fe-
brile.]
That has the quality of abating fever ; oppos-
ing or tending to cure fever.
ANTIFE'BRILE, n. A medicine that cures,
abates, or tends to allay fever.
ANTIFLAT'TERING, a. Opposite to flat-
tery. Delany.
ANTIGUG'LER, n. [anti and guggk.]
A crooked tube of metal, so bent as to In
introduced into the neck of a bottle, I'm
drawing out the liquor, without disturhiiii:
the sediment. Encyc
ANTIHE€'TI€, a. [Gr. avti, against, and
fxrixos, hectic]
That has the quality of opposing or curiii:
hectical disorders.
A N T
ANTIHEC'Tle, n. A medicine that is good
in the cure of hectic disorders.
Encyc. Coxe.
ANTIHYPNOT'Ie, a. [Gr. avti, and vnpoj,
leep.]
Counteracting sleep ; tending to prevent
AiN rill Vl'.\( >'l' \c,n. A medicine that pre-
vent-; i<y teii.U to prevent sleep. Coxe.
\N'rillVl'()CllONDRIA€, a. [Gr. am,
and vrtoxoibfiiaxos, liypochondriac]
That counteracts or tends to cure hypoclion-
driac affections, and depression of spirits.
\NTIIIYPOCHOND'RIA€, n. A remedy
for hypochondiiac affections and low
ANTIHYPOPirORA, n. [Gr. avu, and
vTfo^ofM, an inference.]
In rhetoric, a figure which consists in refu-
tuig an objection by the opposition of a
contrary sentence.
Smith. Johnson. Ash .
ANTIHYSTERTC, a. [Gr.avn, and vsti^,
uterus.]
Counteracting hysterics.
ANTIHYSTER'Ie, n. A medicine that
cures or counteracts hysterical affections.
Coxe.
ANTILOG'ARITHM, n. [anti and loga-
Ihm.]
The complement of the logarithm of any
tangent or secant, to 90 degrees.
Bailey.
ANTIL'OgY, n. [Gr. a> rt, against, and xoyof,
speech.]
A contradiction between any words or pas-
sages in an author.
\NTIMA(iIS'TRI€AL, a. Opposed to the
office of magistrates. [JVot used.[ South.
lOT{MiNri€AL,h-C-'-nd«>a,uW.]
Counteracting or curing madness or frenzy.
Beattie.
AN'TIMASK, n. A lesser mask. Bacon.
ANTIMETAB'OLE, n. antimetah'oly. [Gr.
ai'ri, against, and turaSoXtj, mutation.]
In rhetoric, a setting of two things in oppo-
sition to each other ; as, an honorable ac-
tion may be attended with labor, but the
labor is soon past, and the honor is iimnor-
tij. Encyc.
ANTIMETATII'ESIS, n. [Gr. am, against,
and fiiTaSioii, a transposition.]
In rhetoric, an inversion of the parts or mem-
bers of an antithesis ; as, " Compare the
arrival of this governor, with the victory
of that general." " Compare this peace
with that war."
Cicero in Verrem. Encyc.
ANTIM'ETER, n. [Gr. am and fijrpo^,
An optical instrument for measuring angles,
with greater accuracy than can be done
bv the usual quadrants or sextants. Ree.i.
ANTIMET'RIeAL, a. Contrary to the
rules of meter or verse. Bailey.
ANTIMINISTE'RIAL, a. [anti and minis-
terial.]
Ojipnsed to the ministry, or administration
of government.
ANTIMINISTE'RIALIST, n. One thai
opposes the ministry.
ANTIMONAR€H'ICAL, a. [anti, against,
and monarchical.]
Opposed to monarchy ; that opposes a king-
ly government. Addison.
ANT
A N T
A i\ T
Ax\TIMONARCH'l€ALNESS, n. The
quality of bniiig opposed to nioiiarcliy.
ANTIMO'NIAL, a. [ivom antimony.]
Pertaining to antimony ; relating to antimo
nv, or partaking of its qualities.
ANTIMO'NIAL, n. A preparation of anti
niony ; a medicine in which antimony is a
principal ingredient. Encyc
ANTIMO'NIATE, n. A compomid or salt
composed of antiinonic acid and a base.
Henry.
ANTIMO'NIATED, a. Partaking of anti-
mony ; mi.\r<l nr jjrepared with antimo-
ny ; "as iinlimnniuled tartar. JVicholson,
ANT1M()'NI€, a. IVrtaining to antimony ;
the antiinonic acid is a pcro.xyd of anti-
mony. Henry,
ANTIMO'NIOUS, a. Pertaining to antimo-
ny. The aniimonious acid is a deutoxyd
of antimony. Henry.
AN'TIMONITE, n. A compound of anti-
monious acid and a base. Henry.
AN'TIMONY, Ji. [Fr. antimoine ; Low L.
anlimonium ; It. antimonio ; Sp. id. This
by some writers is supposed to be com-
posed of anti and Fr. moine, monk, from
the fact that certain monks were poison
ed by it. This story, reported by Pure-
tiere, is treated by Morin, as fabulous, and
liy him it is said to be composed of G:
ufti, against, and juoro;, alone, and s
named because it is not found alone. The
real trutli is not ascertained.]
Primarily, a metallic ore consisting of sul
pliur combined with a metal ; the sulphu
ret of Antimony, the stibium of the Ro
mans and the ri/«f»t, of the Greeks. It i:
a blackish mineral, which stains the hands,
hard, brittle, full of long, shining, needle-
like strife. It is found in the mines of Bo-
hemia, and Hungary; in France and Eng-
land, and in America. This word is also
used for the pure metal or regultis of anti-
mony, a metal of a grayish or silvery white,
very brittle, and of a plated or scaly tex-
ture, and of moderate specific gravity. By
exposure to air, its surface becomes tar-
nished, but docs not rust. It is used as
an ingredient in concave mirrors, giving
them a liner te.xture. In bells, it renders
the soimd more clear ; it renders tin more
hard, white and sonorous, and gives to
printing types more firmness and smooth-
ness. It is also useful in promoting the
fusion of metals, and especially in casting
cannon balls. In its crude state, it is harm-
Ii's.s to the human constitution ; but many
of its preparations act violently as emetics
and cathartics. It has also a pecuUar ef-
tii-acy in promoting the secretions, partic-
ularly as a sudorific.
Chambers. Encyc. jYicholson.
ANTIiMOR'ALIST, n. An opposer of mo-
ralitv. Warhurton.
ANTIMU'SI€AL, a. Opposed to music;
having no ear for music. Amer. Review.
ANTINEPHRITIC, a. {anti,Mui.nephHtic,
which see.]
f^'ounteracting diseases of the kidneys.
Coxe.
ANTINEPHRITIC, n. A medicine that
tends to remove diseases of the kidneys.
ANTINO'MIAN, a. [Gr. avri, against, "and
i'0/<ot, law.]
Apainst law ; pertaining to the Antinomians.
ANTINO'MIAN, n. One of a sect who
maintain, that, imder the gospel dispensa-
tion, the law is of no use or obligation ;
or who hold doctrines which supersede
the necessity of good works and a virtu-
ous life. This sect originated with John
Agricola about the year 1538. Encyc.
ANTINO'MIANISM, 71. The tenets of An-
tinomians. Hall.
AN'TINOMIST, n. One who pays no re-
gard to the law, or to good works.
Sanderson
AN'TINOMY, n. A contradiction between
two laws, or between two parts of the
same law. Baker.
ANTIO'€HIAN, a. Pertaining to Antioehus,
the founder of a sect of philosophers, co
temporary with Cicero. This sect was t
branch of the academics, though Antio
elms was a stoic. He attempted to recon
cilc the doctrines of the different schools,
and was the last preceptor of the Platonic
school. Enfield. Encyc.
The Antiochian epoch was a method of com-
puting time, from the proclamation of lib-
erty granted to the city of Antioch, about
the tune of the battle of Pharsalia.
Encyc.
ANTIPA'PAL, a. Opposing popery.
ANTIPAPIS'TIC, } Opposed to pope-
ANTIPAPIS'TI€AL, <, "' ry or papacy.
Joriin.
ANTIPAR'ALLEL, a. Running in a con-
trary direction. Hammond.
ANTIPARALYT'IC, a. [ain, and paralytic,
which see.]
Good against the palsy.
ANTIPARALYT'IC," n. A remedy for the
palsy.
.NTIP
ATHET'IC,
Coxe.
VNTIPATHET'ICAL, ^ "• [See .4nh>a%.]
Having a natural coiurariety, or constitu-
tional aversion to a thing.
ANTIPATHET'I€ALNESS, n. The qual-
ity or state of having an aversion or con-
trariety to a tiling. Johnson.
ANTIP'ATHY, n. [Gr. avtt, against, and
«a9o{, feeUng.]
Natural aversion ; instinctive contrariety or
opposition in feeling ; an aversion felt a
the iiresence, real or ideal, of a particulai
object. This word literally denotes a nat-
ural avereion, which may be of different
degrees, and in some cases may excite ter-
ror or horror at the presence of an object.
Such is the aversion of animals for their
natural enemies, as the antipathy of a
mouse to a cat, or a weasel. Sometimes
persons have an insuperable constitutional
antipathy to certain kinds of food.
The word is appUed also to aversion con-
tracted by experience or habit ; as when
a person has suffered an injury from some
food, or from an animal, which before was
not an object of hatred ; or when a par-
ticular kind of food or medicine is taken
into a sickly stomach, and which nauseates
it ; the effect is antipathy, which is often of
long continuance.
Antipathy however is often affected, as when
persons pretend a great aversion to things
from false delicacy.
2. In ethics, antipathy is hatred, aversion or
repugnancy ; haired to persons ; aversion
to persons or things ; repugnancy to ac-,
tions. Of these hatred is most voluntary.;
Aversion, and antipathy, in its true sense,
il>l>riKl more on the constitution ; repujr-
nancy may depend on reason or education.
Encyc.
Inveterate antipathies against particular na-
tions, and passionate attachments to others, are
to be avoided. Washington.
3. In physics, a contrariety in the properties
or affcctiojis of matter, as of oil and water,
which will not mix.
.•Vntipathy is regularly followed by to, some-
times by against ; and is opposed to sym-
pathy.
ANTIPATRIOT'Ie, a. Not patriotic ; op-
posing the interests of one's country.
Jlntipalriotic prejudices. Johnson.
ANTIPEDOBAP'TIST, n. [Gr. om, against,
rtoi5, nai&oi, a child, and /iortriju, to bap-
tize.]
One who is opposed to the baptism of infants.
Buck.
\NTIPERISTAL'TIC, a. [See Peristaltic.]
Opposed to peristaltic ; rctroverted, as in
vomiting ; as, the antiperistaltic motion of
the intestines. Cyc.
ANTIPERIS'TASIS, ;i. [Gr. am, against,
and rttpij-astf, a standing around.]
The opposition of a contrary quality, by
which the quality opposed acquires
strength ; or the action by wliich a body
attacked collects force by opposition ; or
the intension of the activity of one quali-
ty by the opposition of another. Thus
quick-lime is set on fire, or sensible heat is
excited in it, by mixture with water ; and
cold ap])lied to the human body may in-
crease its heat. Johnson. Dryden. Quincy.
ANTIPERISTAT'IC, a. Pertaining to aii-
tiperistasis. Ash.
ANTIPESTILEN'TIAL, a. [aiiti ami pes-
tilential, which see.]
Counteracting contagion or infection ; hav-
ing the quality of ojiposing or destroying
pestilential diseases.
ANTIPHLOgIS'TIAN, n. [anti and phlo-
giston, which see.]
\n opposer of the theory of phlogiston.
ANTIPHLOGISTIC, a. Counteracting heat
or inflaimnation ; tending to reduce arteri-
al action ; opposed to the doctrine of phlo-
giston. JSTichotson.
ANTIPHLOgIS'TIC, n. Any medicme or
diet which tends to reduce inflammation
or the activity of the vital power.
Hooper. Coxe.
AN'TIPHON, n. [See Antiphony.]
The chant or alternate singing in choirs of
cathedrals.
ANTIPH'ONAL, }
ANTIPHON'le, }a. [Sec Antiphony.]
ANTIPHON'ICAL, S
Pertauiing to antiphony or alternate singing.
Encyc.
ANTIPH'ONARY, n. [wu, contrary, and
^uvri, sound, voice.]
A service book, in the catliolic church, con-
taining all the iuvitatories, responsories,
collects, and whatever is said or sung in
tlie choir, except tlie lessons ; called also
a responsary ; compiled by Gregory the
Great. Encyc.
ANTIPH'ONER, n. A book of anthems or
tiphons. ^ Chaucer.
.ANTIPH'ONY, n. [avu, contrary, and tuvij,
oice.]
1. The ansAver of one choir to another, when
ANT
ANT
ANT
ail anthem or psalm is sung by two choirs
aheniate singuig.
2. A species of psahnody, wlien a coiigrega
tioii is divided iiito two parts, and eacli
sings the verses alternately. Encyc.
3. The words given out at the beginning of
a psahn, to which both the choirs are tt
accommodate their singing. Encyc.
4. A musical composition of several verses,
extracted from different psahns. Encyc.
ANTIPH'RASIS, n. [Gr. avu, against, and
(j>pa«5, a form of speech.]
The use of words in a sense opposite to their
proper meaning ; as when a court of jus
tice is called a court of vengeance.
Johnson. «3s/i
ANTIPHRAS'TI€, > „ Pertabiing to an-
ANTIPHRAS'TI€AL, ^ '*• tiphrasis. Ash.
ANTIP'ODAL, a. Pertaining to the anti
podes ; having the feet directly opposite.
AN'TIPODE, n. [Gr. avtc, opposite, and
Tim;, rtoSos, foot.]
One who Uves on the opposite side of the
globe, and of course, whose feet are direct-
ly opposite.
ANTIPOrSON, n. s as :. An antidote for
poison. Brown.
AN'TIPOPE, n. [anti and j'opc]
One who usurps the papal power, in opposi-
tion to the pope. Addison.
AN'TIPORT, n. An outward gate or door.
Smith.
ANTIPRELAT'I€AL, a. Adverse to pre-
lacv. Motion.
AN TIPRIEST, n. An opposer or enemy
oi" priests. Walerland.
ANTIPRIE'STCRAFT, n. Opposition to
priestcraft. Bxirke.
ANTIPRIN'CIPLE, n. An opposite princi-
])le. Spenser.
ANTIPROPH'ET, n. An enemy or oppo-
ser of prophets. Mede.
ANTIP'TOSIS, n. [Gr. avti and rtfust;,
case.]
In grammar, the putting of one case for an-
other. Johnson.
ANTIPU'RITAJV, n. An opposer of puri-
tans. Warton.
ANTIQUARIAN, a. Pertaining to antiqua-
ries, or to antiquit)'. As a noim, this is
used for antiquary.
ANTIQUA'RIANISM, n. Love of antiqui-
ties. WarhuHon.
AN'TIQUARY, n. [L. anliquarius.]
One who studies into the history of ancient
things, as statues, coins, medals, paintings,
inscriptions, books and manuscripts, or
searches for them, and explains their ori-
gin and purport ; one versed in antiquity.
AN'TIQUATE, v. t. [L. antiquo. See An-
tiquary.]
To m.ake old, or obsolete ; to make old in
such a degree as to put out of use. Hence,
when appUed to laws or customs, it
amoiuits to make void or abrogate.
Christianity might reasonably introduce new
laws and antiquate or abrogate old ones.
Hale
AN'TIQUATED, pp. Grown old ; obso-
lete ; out of use ; having lost its bindinji
force by non-observance ; as an antiquated
law.
AN'TIQUATEDNESS, n. The state of be
iiig old or obsolete.
ANTIQUA'TION, n. The state of being
antiquated.
ANTIQUE, a. antee'k. [Fr. from L. anil
qmis, probably from ante.]
1. Old ; ancient ; of genuine antiquity ; ii:
this sense it usually refers to the flourish-
ishing ages of Greece and Rome ; as an
antique statue.
2. Old, as it respects the present age, or a
modern period of time ; of old fashion, as
an antique robe.
3. Odd ; wild ; fanciful ; more generally writ
fen antic.
ANTIQUE, n. antee'k. In general, any
thing very old ; but in a more iunited
sense, the remains of ancient artists, as
busts, statues, paintings and vases, the
works of Grecian and Roman antiqiuty.
ANTlQUENESS, n. antee'kness. The qual-
ity of being ancient ; an appearance of an-
cient origin and workmansliip. Addison
ANTIQ'UITY, n. [L. antiquitas.]
1. Ancient times ; former ages ; times long
since past ; a very indefinite term ; as,
Cicero was the most eloquent orator of
antiquity.
2. The ancients ; the people of ancient
times ; as, the fact is admitted by all an-
tiquity.
Meaning that mankind are inclined to verify
the predictions of antiquity. T. Dawes.
3. Ancientness ; great age ; the quality of
being ancient ; as, a statue of remarkable
antiquity ; a family of great antiquity.
4. Old age ; a ludicrous sense used by Shak
5. The remains of ancient times. Li this
sense it is usually or always plm-al. An-
tiquities comprehend all theremains of an-
cient times ; all the moniunents, corns,
inscriptions, edifices, liistory and frag-
ments of literature, oiBces, habiUments,
weapons, manners, ceremonies ; in short,
whatever respects any of the ancient na-
tions of the earth.
ANTIREVOLU'TIONARY, a. [See Revo-
lution.]
Opposed to a revolution ; opposed to an en-
tire change in the form of government.
Burke.
ANTIREVOLU'TIONIST, n. One who is
ojiposed to a revolution in government.
ANTISABBATA'RIAN, n. [anti and sab-
bath.)
One of a sect who oppose the observance of
the Christian sabbath ; maintaining that
the Jewish sabbath was only of ceremo-
nial, not of moral obhgation, and was con-
sequently abohshed by Christ. Encyc.
ANTISA'BIAN, a. [See Sabiati.]
Opposed or contrary to Sabianism, or the
worship of the celestial orbs. Faher.
ANTISACERDO'TAL, a. Adverse to
priests. Waterland.
ANTIS"CIAN, ANTIS"CIANS, n. [L. an-
tiscii, of Gr. owfi, opposite, and exm,
shadow.]
In geography, the inhabitants of the earth,
Uving on difl'erent sides of the equator,
whose shadows at noon are cast in con-
trary directions. Those who hve north of
the equator are antiscians to those on the
soutli, and vice versa ; the shadows on one
side being cast towards the north ; those
on the other, towards the south. Ena/c.
ANTIS€ORBU'TI€, a. [anti and scorbutic,
which see.]
Coimteracting the scurn-.
:ANTISC0RBU'TI€, n. A remedy for the
I scurvy.
^i\TIS€RIP'TURISM, n. Opposition to
the Holy Scriptures. Boyle.
ANTISeRIPTURIST, n. One that detues
revelation. Boyle.
ANTISEP'TIC, a. [Gr. ovriand sijrtrof, pu-
I trid, from oijTtui, to jjutrify.]
Opposing or counteracting putrefaction.
Ash.
ANTISEP'TI€, n. A medicine which re-
sists or corrects putrefaction, as acids,
stimulants, saUne substances, astringents,
&c. Enciic.
ANTISO'CIAL, a. [See Social.}
Averse to society ; that tends to interrupt or
I destroy social intercourse.
Pascalis, Med. Rep.
ANTIS'PASIS, n. [Gr. cwn, against, and
anau, to draw.]
A revulsion of fluids, from one part of the
body to another. Qiiincy.
ANTISPASMODIC, a. [Gr. avu, against,
and anaafios, from anau, to diaw.]
Opposing spasm ; resisting convulsions ; a?
anodynes. Coxe.
ANTISPASMODIC, n. A remedy for
spasm or convidsions, as opium, balsam of
Peru, and the essential oils of vegetables.
Coxe.
ANTISPAS'TIC, a. [SeeAntispasis.]
Causing a revulsion of fluids or humors.
Johnson.
ANTISPLENET'IC, a. [See Spleen.]
Good as a remedy in diseases of the spleen.
Johnson.
ANTIS'TASIS, n. [Gr. avu, opposite, and
arams, station.]
In oratory, the defense of an action from the
consideration that if it had been omitted,
something worse woidd have happened.
Encyc.
ANTIS'TES, n. [L.]
The chief priest or prelate. Milton.
ANTIS'TROPHE, ) [Gr. avu, opposite.
ANTIS'TROPIIY, ^ "" and fpo^jj, a turn-
uig-]
In g)-ammar, tlie changing of things mutually
tiepending on each otlier ; reciprocal con-
version ; as, the master of the servant, the
servant of the master.
2. Among the ancients, that part of a song or
dance, before the altar, which was per-
formed by turning from west to east, in
opposition to the strophy. The ancient
odes consisted of stanzas called strophies
and antistrophies, to which was often ad-
ded the epode. These were sung by a
choir, which turned or changed places
when they repeated the different parts of
the ode. The epode was sung, as the cho-
rus stood stUl. [See Ode.]
IVesfs pre/, to his Pindar.
ANTIS'TROPIION, n. A figure which re-
peats a word often. Milton.
ANTISTRUM AT'le, a. [anti and struma, a
scrophulous swelluig.]
Good against scrophulous disorders.
Johnson. fViseman.
ANTITH'ESIS, n. [Gr. avXiBwi, of o^r.
and Stati, from tiStmi, to place.]
In rhetoric, an opposition of' words or senti-
ments ; contrast ; as, " When our vices
leave us, we flatter ourselves we leave
them." " The prodigal robs his heir, the
miser robs himself." " Excess of ceremony
A N V
sliows want of breeding." " Liberty with
laws, and government without oppression."
2. Opposition of opinions ; controversy.
Encj/c.
ANTITHET'IC, } Pertaining to ariti-
ANTITHET'I€AL, \ "■ iIjcsIs, or opposition
of words and si-ntinients ; containing or
abounding with antithesis.
Enfielil. Encyc.
ANTITRINITA'RIAN, n. [anti and trini-
tnrian, whicli see.]
One wlio denies the trinity or the existence
of three persons in the Godhead. Ena/c.
ANTITRINITA'RIAN, a. Opposing tlie
trinity. .
ANTITRINITA'RIANISM, n. A denial of
the trinity.
AN'TITYPE, n. [Gr. avtirvTtov, of Mtt,
against, and Trrtoj, a type, or pattern.]
A figure corresponding to another figure ;
that of w)iich the type is the pattern or
representation. Thus the paschal lanib '
scriptm-e, is the type, of which Christ is the
antitype. An antitype then, is something
which is formed according to a model or
pattern, and bearing strong features of
semblance to it.
In the Greek litur^i, the sacramental bread
and wine are called antitypes, that is, fig-
ures, similitudes ; and llie Greek fathers
used the word in a like sense. Encyc.
ANTITYP'I€AL, a. Pertaining to an anti-
type ; explaining the type. Johnson.
ANTIVARIO'LOUS, a. [anti and variolous,
which see.]
Opposing the small pox. Med. Rep.
ANTIVENE'REAL, a. [anti and venereal,
which see.]
Resisting venereal poison.
ANT'LER, n. [From the root of ante, before;
Fr. andouUler. See Jlnte.]
A start or branch of a horn, especially of the
horns of the cervine animals, as of the stag
or moose. The branch next to the head
called the brmo-antler, and tlie branch next
above, the bes-antkr. Encyc
ANT'LERED, a. Furnislied with antlers.
Encyc
ANTO'NIAN, a. Noting certain medicinal
%vaters in Germany, at or near Tonstein,
Encyc.
ANTONOiMA'SIA, ? „ [Gr. avti, and oiofia,
ANTONOM'ASY, S name.]
The use of the name of some office, dignity,
profession, science or trade, instead of the
true name of the person ; as when his ma-
jesty is used for a king, lordship for a noble-
man. Thus instead of Aristotle, we say,
the philosopher ; a grave man is called a
Cato ; an eminent orator, a Cicero ; a wise
man, a Solomon. In the latter examples,
u proper name is used for an appellative ;
the appUcation being sui)ported by a re-
sembl.Tnce in cliaracter. Encyc.
ANTOSl AN KKIAN, n. One of a sect" of
rigid Lutliir:ni>, sDilenominated from their
opposing the doctrines of O.siander. Thi
sect deny that man is made just, but is only
imputatively just, that is, pronoiuiced so.
Encyc.
AN'VIL, n. [Sax. anfiU, mnfiU; D. aanbeeld;
Old Eng. anvelt. The firet syllable seems
to be the preposition on, from the Belgic
dialect aan. The last syllable is from the
verb build; in Germ. bUden, to form
shape, and bild, an image or form, whicli
Vol. I.
ANY
Dutch is beeld. To build is to shape, to
form, and anvil, that is, on build, is that on
which things are shaped. The Latin ^. ord
incus, ineudis, is formed by a like analogy
from in and cudo, to hammer, or shape ;
and the same ideas are connected in the
Celtic ; W. eingion ; It. inneon, anvil,
inneonam, to strike.]
An iron block with a smooth face, on which
smiths haimner and .shape their work
Figuratively, any tiling on which blows are
laid. Shak
To be on tlie anvil, is to be in a state of dis
cussion, formation or prejjaration ; as when
a scheme or measure is forming, but not
matured. This figure bears an analogy to
that of discussion, a shaking or beating.
ANXI'ETY, n. angzi'ety. [L. anxietas, from
onrtus, solicitous; \.. ango. See Anger.
. Concern or solicitude respecting some
event, future or uncertain, whicli disturbs
the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful
uneasiness. It expresses more than unea
siness or disturbance, and even more than
trouble or solicitjuie. It usually springs
from fear or serious apprehension of evil
and involves a suspense respecting an
event, and often, a perplexity of mind, tt
know how to shape our conduct.
2. In medical language, uneasiness ; unceas
ing restlessness in sickness.
ANX'IOUS, a. ank'shus. Greatly concerned
or solicitous, respecting something future
or unknown ; being in painful suspense ;
applied to persons ; as, to be anrious for the
issue of a battle.
2. Full of soUcitude ; unquiet ; applied to
things ; as anxious thoughts or labor.
3. Very careful ; solicitous ; as, anxious to
please ; anxious to commit no mistake.
It is followed by for or about, before the
object.
ANXIOUSLY, adv. In an anxious manner
solicitously ; with painful uncertainty
carefully ; unquietly.
ANX'IOUSNESS, n. The quality of being
anxious ; great soUcitude. Johnson.
AN'Y, a. en'ny. [Sax. anig, cenig ; D. eenig ;
Ger. einig. This word is a compound of
an, one, and ig, which, in the Teutonic
dialects, is the ic of the Latins, mus-ic
Any is unic-xxs, one-like.]
\. One indefinitely.
Nor knoweth any man the Father, save the
Son. Math xi.
If a soul shall sin against any of the com
inandments. Lev. iv.
2. Some ; an indefinite number, plurally ;
for though the word is formed from one, it
often refers to mamj. Are there any wit
nesses present ? I'lie sense seems to be a
small, uncertain number.
3. Some ; an indefinite quantity ; a small
portion.
Who will show us any good ? Ps. iv.
4. It is otlen used as a substitute, the person
or thmg being understood.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye
have aught against any. Mark xi.
If any lack msdoui, let liim ask it of God
James i.
It is used in opposition to none. Have you
any wheat to sell? I have none.
ANY- WISE is sometimes used adverbially,
but the two words may be separated, and
used witli a preposition, in any wise.
11
A P A
AO'NIAN, a. [From Aonia, a part of I3a'(
tia, in G:
Pertaining to the
nr to Aonia, in Bo'
otia. The Aonian fount was Aganippe.
at the foot of mount Helicon, not tar from
Thebes, and sacred to the muses. Hence
the muses were called Aonides. Dryden
Virg. Eclogue. 10. 12. But in trutli.
Aonia itself is formed from the Celtic aon.
a spring or fountain, [the fabled son oi
Neptune,] and thi.-i word g.ave name tiv
Aonia. As tlie muses were fond of springs,
the word was applied to the muses, and
to mountains which were their favorite
residence, as to Parnassus. Milton.
A'ORIST, n. [Gr. oopij-oj, indefinite, of a
priv. and opo5, limit.]
The name of certain tenses in the grammar
of the Greek language, which express
time indeterminate, that is, either past,
present or future.
AORIST'le, a. Indefinite ; pertaining to an
aorist, or indefinite tense.
AORT'A, n. [Gr. aoptti, the great artery ;
also an ark or chest.]
The great artery, or trunk of the arterial
system ; proceeding from the left ventricle
of the heart, and giving origin to all the
arteries, except the pulmonarj' arteries. It
first rises, when it is called the ascending
aorta ; then makes a great curve, when it
gives off branches to the head, and upper
extremities ; then proceeds downwards,
called the descending aorta, when it gives
off branches to the trunk ; and finally di-
vides into the two iliacs, which supply the
pelvis and lower extremities. Vyc. 'Parr.
AORT'AL, o. Pertaining to the aorta, or
great artery. Dancin.
AOU'TA, n. The paper-mulberry tree in
Otaheite, from whose bark is manufactur-
ed a cloth worn by the inhabitants.
Encyc.
APA'CE, adv. [a andpace.]
With a quick pace ; quick ; fast ; speedily :
with haste ; hastily ; applied to things iu
motion or progression ; as, birds fly apace ;
weeds grow apace.
AP'AGOgE, I [Gr. from artoyu, to draw
AP'AGOgY, I aside, of a/to, from, and
oyw, to drive.]
1. In logic, abduction ; a kind of argument,
wherein the greater extreme is evidently
contained in the medium, but tlie medium
not so e\'idently in the lesser extreme, as
not to require further proof. Thus, " All
whom God absolves are free from sui ; but
God absolves all who are in Christ ; there-
fore all who are in Christ are free from
sin." The first proposition is evident ; but
the second may require further proof, as
that God received full satisfaction for sin,
by the suffering of Christ.
2. In mathematics, a progress or passage from
one proposition to another, when the first,
having been demonstrated, is employed in
proving others.
3. In the Athenian law, the carrying a crimi-
nal, taken in the fact, to a magistrate.
Encyc.
APAGOg'I€AL, a. An apagogical demon-
stration is an indirect way of proof, by
showing the absurdity or impossibiUty of
the contrarj'.
APALACH'IAN, a. Pertaining to the Apa-
A P E
APE
A P ir
Jafhcs, a tribe of Indians, in the wc>tern
part of Goorifia. Hence the word is ap-
plied to lIU' inoiintaiiis in or near their
country, ^vhiili arc in fact the southern
extreniitv of ilic Alltj,'hanean ridges.
APAN'THROI'V, n. [Gr. arto, fiom, and
avdfUTioi, man.]
An aversion to the company of men ; a love
of solitude. i'lin/c.
APARITIl'MESIS, n. [Or.] In rliHoric,
enumeration.
AP'ART, arfv. [aa.nApaH; Fr. apartt. See
Part.]
1. Separately ; at a distance ; in a si
separation, as to place.
Jesu3 departed thence into a desert place
apart. Math. xiv.
2. In a stateofdistinction,as to purpose, use
or character.
The Lord hatli set apart him that is godly fo
himself. Ps. iv.
3. Distinctly ; .separately ; as, consider the
two propositions apart.
4. Aside ; in exclusion of; as, apart from all
regard to his morals, he is not qualified, in
other respects, for the office he holds.
AP^ARTMENT, )!. [Fr. apartement, or ap
partement, of ab or a, from, and partir, to
depart. See Part.]
A room in a building ; a division in a house,
separated from others by partitions; a
place separated by inclosure.
APATHET'Ie, o. Void of feeling ; free froin
passion ; insensible. Harris
AP'ATHY, n. [Gr. a priv. and rtoSoj, pas-
sion.]
Want of feeling ; an utter privation of pas-
sion, or insensibility to pain ; applied either
to the body or the mind. As applied to the
mind, it is stoicism, a calmness of mind in
capable of being rufRed by pleasure, pain
or passion. In the first ages of the church,
the christians adopted the term to express
a contempt of earthly concerns.
Quietism is apathy disguised under the ap-
pearance of devotion. Encye
AP'ATITE, n. [from Gr. arfafcuo, to deceive ;
it having been often mistaken for oth
V variety of phosphate of lime ; generally
crystalized in low, flat, hexahedral prisms,
sometimes even tabular. Its powder phos-
phoresces on burning coals.
The phosporite of Werner includes the mas-
sive and earthy varieties of the phosphate,
which are distinguished from tlie apatite,
by their containing a small portion of flu-
oric acid. Cleaoeland.
APE, n. [D. aap ; Dan. abe ; Sax. Sw. and
Ir. apa ; Ice. ape ; Germ, affe ; W. ab, or
epa, so natned from the celerity of its
motions.]
1. A genus of quadrupeds, found in the tor-
rid zone of both continents, of a great
variety of species. In common i
word extends to all the tribe of monkeys
and baboons ; but in zoology, ape is limited
to such of these animals as have no tails
while those with short tails are called bab
oons, and those with long ones, monkeys
Tliese animals have four cutting teeth in
each jaw, and two canine teeth, with ob-
tuse grinders. The feet are formed like
hands, with four fingers and a thumb, and
flat nails. Apes are lively, full of frohc
and chatter, generally untamable, thiev-
ing and mischievous. They inhabit the
forests, and hve on fruits, leaves and
insects. Encyc.
i. One who imitates servilely, ui allusion to
the manners of the ape ; a silly fellow.
APE, V. t. To imitate servilely ; to mimic,
as an ape unitates human actions. Weak
persons are always prone to ape foreigners.
APE'AK, adv. [a and peak, a point. See
Peak.]
1. On the point ; in a posture to pierce.
Joh7ison.
2. In seameii's language, yterpentWculai: The
anchor is apeak, when the cable is drawn
so as to bring the ship directly over it.
Mar. Diet.
AP'ENNINE, a. [L. ape7minus ; ad and
penninus, an epithet applied to a peak or
ridge of the Alps. ikvy. Celtic pen or
ben, the peak of a mountain, or in general,
a mountain.]
Pertainiiin to or designating a chain of moun-
tains, which extend from the plains of
Piedmont, round the gtdf of Genoa, to
center of Italy, and thence south east to
the extremity.
AP'ENNINE, ) The monntauis above
AP'ENNINES, S "■ described.
APEP'SY, n. [Gr. a priv. and nttttu, to
digest.]
Defective digestion; indigestion. [LAtth
■used.] Coxe. Encyc.
A'PER, n. One who apes. In zoology, the
wild boar.
APERIENT, a. [h. aperiens, aperio ; Sp.
Port, abrir ; It. aprire ; Fr. ouvrir.]
Opening ; that has tlie quality of opening ;
deolistruent ; laxative.
x\PE'R1EjVT, n. A medicine which pro-
motes the circulation of the fluids, by re-
moving obstructions ; a laxative ; a de-
obstruent ; as, smallage, fennel, asparagus,
parsley, and butcher's broom. Encyc,
APER'ITIVE, a. Opening; deobstruent ;
aperient. Harvey. Fotherby.
APERT', a. [h. aptrtus.] Open ; evident ;
undisguised. [JVot vsed.]
APER'TION, n. The act of opening; the
state of being opened ; an opening ; a gap,
aperture, or passage. [Little used.}
kViseman. Wollon.
APERT'LY, adv. Openly. [Uitle used.]
Bale.
APERT'NESS, n. [L. apeiius.] Openness.
[Rarely used.] Holder.
APERT'OR, «. A muscle that raises the
upper eye lid. Quincy.
AP'ERTURE, n. The act of opening ; more
generally, an opening ; a gap, cleft or
chasm ; a passage perforated ; a hole
through any solid substance.
Holder. JVewton
An opening of meaning ; explanation.
[JVot used.] Tayl,
.3. In geomttry, the space between two right
lines, forming an angle. Encyi
APET'ALOUS, a. [Gr. a neg. and netaxov,
a flower-leaf or petal.]
In botany, having no petals, or flower-leaves ;
having no corol. Martyn
APET'ALOUSNESS, n. A state of being
without jjetals.
A'PEX, J!, plu. apexes. [L.apex, \>U\. apices.]
The tip, point or summit of any thing. I
anlitjuiiy, the ca)) of a flamen or priest
the crest of a hehnet. In grammar, the
mark of a long syllable, in botany, thff
anther of flowers, or tops of the stamens,
like knobs. Martyn.
APH'ANITE, n. [Gr. a priv. and fawu, to
a|>]>ear.]
In mineralogy, compact ainphibole in a par-
ticular state. Diet, of JVat. Hist.
APHE'LION, n. [Gr. arto, from, and rino;,
sun.]
That point of a planet's orbit which is most
distant from the sun ; opjjosed to perihe-
lion.
APHERE'SIS, n. [Gr. ojto, from, and atptu,
to take.]
The taking of a letter or syllable from the
beginning of a word. Thus by an aphe-
resis, omMere is written, mitlere. Encyc.
2. In the healing art, the removal of any thing
noxious. In surgery, amputation.
Quincu.
APHIDIV'OROUS, a. [of a;)Ws, the puce-
ron or vine fretter, and loro, to eat.]
Eating, devouring, or subsisting on the aphis,
or plant-louse. Dancin.
APHILAN'THROPY, n. [of a neg. and ^t,-
Xoi'Spurtio, of ^aeu, to love, and aidfuno;.
Want of love to mankind. In medicine, the
first stage of melancholy, when soHtude is
preferred to soeiet}'. Coxe.
A'PHIS, n. In zoology, the puceron, vine
fretter, or plant-louse ; a genus of insects,
belonging to the order of hemipters. The
aphis is furnished with an inflected beak,
and with feelers longer than the thorax.
In tlie same species, some individuals have
four erect wings, and others are entirely
without wings. The feet are of the ambu-
latory kind, and the belly usually ends ia
two horns, from which is ejected the sub-
stance called honey-dew. The species
are very numerous. Encyc.
APHLOdlS'Tle, ct. [Gr. a priv. and t?-o-
yifo;, inflammable.]
Flaraeless ; as an aphlogistic lamp, in which
a coil of wire is kept in a state of continued
ignition by alcohol, witliout flame.
ComstDck.
APII'ONY, n. [Gr. a priv. and ijiu;nj, voice.J
A loss of voice ; a palsy of the tongue j
dumbness; catalepsy. Johnson. Coxe.
APH'ORISM, n. [Gr. a^opts^os, determina-
tion, distinction ; from a^opt^u, to sepa-
rate.]
A maxim ; a precept, or principle expressed
in few words ; a detached sentence con-
taining some important truth ; as, the
aphorisms of Hippocrates, or of the civil
law. Encyc.
APHORISM'ER, n. A dealer in aphorisms.
Milton.
APHORISTIC, I In the form of an
APHORIS'TI€AL, I °" aphorism ; in the
form of short unconnected sentences ; as
an aphoristic style.
APH0RIS'TI€ALLY, adv. In the form or
manner of aphorisms.
APH'RITE, n. [Gr. 0^05, froth ; the schaum
erde, or earth scum, of Werner ; the sil-
very chalk of Kirwan.]
A subvariety of carbonate of lime, occurring
in small masses, solid or tender and friable.
It is composed of lamels or scales, of a
])early luster. It is connected by insensi-
ble shades with argentine.
Jameson. Cleavdand.
API.
A P O
A P O
APII'RIZITE, n. A variety of black tour-
malin. Phillips.
APllRODIS'IAC, } [Gr. a^i^oii'n.o,, ve-
APHRODISI'ACAL, i; "■ iiereal, A^pobitr,,
Venus, from o^poj, froth.]
Exciting venereal de-siro ; increasing the ap-
petite for sexual connection.
APIIRODIS'IA€, n. A provocative to ve-
iiery. Encyc. Quincy.
APU'RODiTE, n. [Gr. Afpo&it^.] A follovt-er
of Venus. Cleaveland.
APU'RODITE, } In zoology, a genus ofl
APHRODI'TA, S "■ tlie order of MoUuscas,
called also sea-movse. The body i,s oval,
with many small protuberances or tenta-
cles on each side, which serve as feet.
The mouth is cj'hndrical, at one end of the
body, with two bristly tentacles, and capa-
ble of being retracted. Encyc.
2. A name of Venus, so called from 6r.
atpof, froth, from which the goddess was
supposed to have been jiroduced. [See
Venus.]
APH'THONG, n. [Gr. arto, without, and
4i8oyyof, sound.]
A letter or combination of letters, which, in
the customai-y pronimciation of a word,
have no sound. Focaloir, or Diet, of the
Hibemo- Celtic Lanmiase.
APIl'THOUS, a. [Gr. a$e«, ulcers in the
mouth.]
Pertaining to thrush ; of the nature of thrush
or ulcerous affections of the mouth.
Bigelow.
APII'VLLOUS, a. [Gr. a neg. and ifvXKov.
folium, a leaf.]
In botany, destitute of leaves, as the rush,
mushrooms, garlic, some sea- weeds, &,c.
Milne.
APIARY, n. [L. apiarium, of apis, a bee.]
Tlie place where bees are kept ; a stand or
shed for bees.
A'PIASTER, n. [From apis, a bee.]
The bird called a bee-cater, a species of
rops. The apiaster has an iron colored
back, and a belly of bluish green.
Encyc.
A'l'ICES, A'PEXES. [See ^pei, and
.Inther.]
APIE'CE, adv. [a and piece.]
To each; noting the share of each; as here
is an orange apiece.
A'PIS, n. In mythology, an ox, worshiped in
ancient Egypt, or a di\ inity or idol in the
figure of an ox.
A'PIS, n. [L.] In zoolofcy, the bee, a genu;
of insects, of the order of hymenopters.
The mouth lias two jaws, and a proboscis
infolded in a double sheath ; the wings
are four, the two foremost covering the
hinder ones when at rest. The females
and working bees have a sting. Encyc.
A PISH, a. [See Ape.] Having the quali-
ties of an ajie ; inclined to imitate in a ser-
vile manmr; licnce, foolish, foppish, af-
li'ctcd, trilling, insigniticant ; as, an apish
fellow ; apish manners.
A'PISHLY, adv. In an apish manner ; with
sei-vile imitation ; foppishly.
A'PISHNESS, n. The quaUty of being
apish ; mimicry ; foppery.
APIT'PAT, With quick beating or palpita-
tion ; a word formed from the sound, ;n<
and pat, or from heat.
APLANAT'IC, a. [Gr. a ucg. and .t?.araco,to
wander.]
An aplanatic telescope is one which entirely
corrects the aberration of the rays of light.
It is thus distinguished from the achromatic,
whicli only partially corrects the alierra-
tion. Ed. Encyc.
APLO'ME, 71. [Gr. arCKoo;, simple.]
A mineral closely allied to garnet. It is con-
sidered by Jameson, as crystalized com-
mon garnet. It is a rare mineral, found
in dodecahedrons, with rhombic face.s,
supposed to be derived from the cube, by
one of the most simple laws of decrement,
that of a single range of particles, parallel
to all the edges of a cube.
Haiiy. Cleaveland.
APLUS'TER, I [L. from Gr. af7^;m; the
APLUS'TRE, S "' summit of the poop of a
ship.]
.An ensign, or ornament carried by ancient
ships. It was shaped Uke a plume of]
feather.s, fastened on the neck of a goose
or swan, and to this was attached a party-
colored ribin, to indicate the course of the
wind. Addison. Encyc.
APO€'ALYPSE, n. apoc'alyps. [Gr. from
a7toxa\v7fti^, to disclose ; orto and xiAvrtru.
to cover.]
Revelation ; discovery ; disclosure. The
name of a book of the New Testament,
containing many discoveries or predictions
respecting the future state of Christianity
written by St. John, in Patmos, near the
close of the first century.
APO€ALYP'Tl€, \ Containing
APOCALYPTICAL, \ "" pertaining to
revelation ; disclosing.
APOCALYPTICALLY, adv. By revela
tion ; in the mamier of disclosure.
APOCOPATE, v.t. [^ee apocope.]
To cut off, or drop the last letter or syllable
of a word.
APOCOPATED, pp. Shortened by the
omission of the last letter or syllable.
M. Stuart
APOCOPATING, ppr. Cutting off, or omit-
ting the last letter or syllable.
APOCOPE, ? [Gr. anoxortrj, abscission,
APOCOPY, ^ "■ of arto, -And xottTu to CM.]
The cutting off, or omission of the last letter
or svllable of a word ; as di for dii.
APOC'RISARY, n. [Gr. from ortoxpKKj, an
swer ; ajtoxptvofiac, to answer.]
-Anciently a resident in an imperial city, in
the name of a foreign church or bishop,
answering to the modern nuncio. He was
a proctor, in tlie emperor's court, to ne-
gotiate, and transact business for liis con
stituent. Encyc. Spelman
APOCRUST'Ie a. [Gr. artoxpwrixa, from
oTto and xpoDu, to drive froni.[
Astringent ; repelling.
APOCRUST'Ie, n. A medicine wliich con-
stringes, and repels the humors ; a repel-
lent, (^uincy. Coxe.
APOCRYPHA, n. [Gr. from anoxfvTttw,
xpvTtru, to conceal.]
Literally such things as are not pubhshed ;
but in an appropriate sense, books who&
authors are not known ; whose autlienti
city, as inspired writings, is not admitted,
and which are therefore not considered a
part of the sacred canon of the scripture.
When the Jews published their sacred
books, they called them canonical and di-
vine ; such as they did not publish, were
called apocryphal. The apocryphal books
arc received by the Romi.sh Church as ca-
nonical, l)ut not by Protestants. Encyc.
APOCRYPHAL, a. Pertaining to the apoc-
ryjiha ; not canonical ; of uncertain au-
thority or credit ; false ; fictitious.
Congreve. Hooker.
APOC/RYPHALLY, adv. Uncertainly ; not
indisputably.
APOCRYPIIALNESS, n. Uncertainty, a^
to authenticity ; doubtfulness of credit, oi
genuineness.
AP'ODAL, a. [See Apode.]
Without feet ; in zoology, destitute of ventral
fins.
AP'ODE, n. [Gr.apriv.andrtoi.s,«o«o5,fool.
An animal that has no feet, applied to cer-
tain fabulous fowls, wliich are said to have
no legs, and also to some birds that have
very short legs.
In zoology, the apodes are an order of fishes,
which have no ventral fins ; the first order
in Linne's system. Encyc.
APODICTIC, I [Gr. artoii^n, evi-
APODICTICAL, S "■ dence, of o«o, and
Ssixivni, to show.]
Demonstrative ; evident beyond contradir
tion ; clearly proving. [lAltle used.]
Brovm. GlanvUk.
APODICTICALLY, adv. So as to be evi
dent beyond contradiction.
APOD'OSIS, n. [Gr.] The appUcation or
latter part of a similitude. Mede.
AP'OciEE, n. [apogeon, apogeum ; Gr. o«o,
from, and yij, the earth.]
That point in the orbit of a planet, which is
at the greatest distance from the earth.
The ancients regarded the earth as fixed
in the center of the system, and therefore
assigned to the sun, with the planets, an
apogee ; but the moderns, considering the
sun as the center, use the terms perilielion
and aphelion, to denote the least and
greatest distance of the planets from that
orb. The sun's apogee therefore is in
strictness, the earth's aphelion. Apogee
is properly appUcable to the moon.
Encyc. Johnson.
AP'OGON, n. A fish of the Mediterranean,
the summit of whose head is elevated.
AP'OGRAPH, n. [Gr. ortoypntw ; artaypa^^]
An exemplar; a copy or transcript. Ash.
APOLLINA'RIAN, a. [From Apollo.]
The ApoUinarian games, in Roman antiquity,
were celebrated in honor of Apollo ; insti-
tuted A. R. 542. after the battle of CanniE.
They were merely scenical, with exliibi-
tions of music, dances and various moun-
tebank tricks. Encyc.
APOLLINA'RIANS, in Church history, a
sect, deriving theirname (rom Apollinaris,
bishop of Laodicea, in the 4tli Century,
who denied the proper humanity of Christ;
maintaining that his body was endowed
with a sensitive, and not with a rational
soul ; and that the divine nature supplied
the place of the intellectual principle in
man. Encyc. Hooker.
ApoUo-Belvidere, an ancient statue of the
first class in excellence.
APOL'LYON, )i. [Gr. ortoxxiw, destroying.]
The destroyer; a name used Rev. ix. 11, for
the angel of the bottomless pit, answering
to the Hebrew Abaddon.
APOLOGET'IC, I [Gr. aWoXoyfOfw,, to
APOLOGET'ICAL, I "■ speak in defense of:
o«o and ^»yo5, speech.]
A P O
A P O
A P O
Dcleiiding by worils or argunieiits ; excus-
ing ; said or written in defense, or by way
of apology; as an opo/og-ef ic essay. Boyle.
APOLOgET'I€ALLY, adv. By way of
apology or excuse.
APOI.'OGIST, n. [See Apology.]
One who makes an apology ; one who
speaks or writes in defense of another.
APOL'OgIZE, v. i. To make an apology ;
to write or speak in favor of, or to make
excuse for ; followed l)y for ; as, my cor-
respondent apologized for not answering
my letter.
AP'OLOGUE, n. ap'olog. [Gr. ortoxoyoj, i
long speech, a fable.]
A moral fable ; a story or relation of ficti
tious events, intended to convey usefid
truths. An apologue differs from a para-
ble in this; the parable is drawn from
events which pass among mankind, and is
therefore supported by probability ; an
apologue may be founded on supposed
actions of brutes or inanimate things, and
therefore does not require to be supported
by probability. Esop's fables are good
examples of apologues. Encyc.
APOL'OGY, n. [Gr. ajto-Koyca, of a?to and
^oj, discourse.]
All excuse ; something said or written ui de-
fense or extenuation of what appears to
others wrong, or unjustifiable ; or of what
may be liable to disapprobation. It may
be an extenuation of what is not perfectly
justifiable, or a vindication of what is or
may be disai)proved, but wliich the apolo-
gist deems to be right. A man makes
iia apology for not fulfilhng an engage-
ment, or for publishing a pamplilet. An
apology then is a reason or reasons assign-
ed for what is wrong or may appear to be
wrong, and it may be either an extenua-
tion or a justification of something that is
or may be censured, by those who are not
acquainted with the reasons.
APONEURO'SIS, I [Gr. orto, from, and
APONEU'ROSY, I "' vivpov, a nerve ; W.
nerth ; Arm. nerz. See JVerve.]
An expansion of a tendon in the manner of a
membrane ; the tendinous expansion or
fascia of muscles ; the tendon or tail of a
muscle. Encyc. Coxe.
APOPEMP'TIe, a. [Gr. arco, from, and
rttfinu, to send.]
Denoting a song or hymn among the an-
cients, sung or addressed to a stranger, on
his departure from a ])lace to his own
country. It may be used as a noun for
the hymn. Encyc.
APOPH'ASIS, n. [Gr. orto, from, and *o(«5,
form of speech.]
In rhetoric, a waving or omission of what one,
speaking ironically, would plainly insinu-
ate ; as, " I will not mention another argu-
ment, which, however, if I should, you
could not refute." Smith. Johnson.
APOPHLEGMAT'IC a. [Gr. arto, from, and
t>.f7fia, phlegm.]
Masticatory ; having the quahty of exciting
discharges of phlegm from the mouth or
nostrils.
APOPHLEGMAT'IC, n. A masticatory;
a medicine which excites discharges of
phlegm from the mouth or nostrils. Coxe
APOPHLEG'MATISM, n. An apophleg-
inatic. JSacon.
APOPHLEGMAT'IZANT, n. An apo-
phlegmatic. Qiiincy- Coxe
APOPHTHEGM, \ [Gr. arto, from, ant
AP'OTHEM, S"' te^wa, vvord. It
would be eligible to reduce this harsh
word to apothem.]
A remarkable saying ; a short, sententious,
instructive remark, uttered on a particular
occasion, or by a distinguished character ;
as that of Cyrus, " He is unworthy to be
a magistrate, who is not better than hi;
subjects ;" or that of Cato, " Homines ni
hil agendo, discunt male agere ;" men by
doing notliing, soon learn to do mischief.
APOPH'YgE, ( [Gr. o«o, from, and 4>vy^,
APOPH'Y(iY, \ "■ flight.]
1. In architecture, the part of a column, where
it springs out of its base ; originally a ring
or ferrel to bind the extremities of col
umns, and keep them from sphtting ; af-
terwards imitated in stone iiillars. It is
sometimes called the spring of the column.
Chambers.
2. A concave part or ruig of a coliunn, lying
above or below the flat member, called by
the French le conge d'en has, or dV» haut
by the Itahans, cavo di basso, or di sopra
also, il vivo di basso. Encyc.
APOPH'YLLITE, n. [Gr. arto, from, and
qivM.ov, a leaf; so called because of its ten-
dency to exfoliate.]
A mineral occurring in laminated masses
or in regular prismatic crystals, having a
strong and pecuhar pearly luster. Its
structure is foliated, and when a fragment
is forcibly rubbed against a hard body, it
separates into thin lamens, like selenite.
It exfohates also before the flame of a
lamp. From its pecidiar luster, it is some-
times called by the harsh name, ichthyoph-
thalmite, fish-eye stone. Cteaveland.
APOPH' YSIS, ^ [Gr. arto, from, and fven;,
APOPH'YSY, $"• growth.]
The projecthig soft end or protuberance of a
bone ; a process of a bone.
Quincy. Encyc. Coxe
APOPLE€'TI€, ) [See apoplexy.]
APOPLEC'Tl€AL, ^ Pertaining to or
consisting in apoplexy, as an apoplectic
fit ; or predisposed to apoplexy, as an apo-
plectic habit of body.
APOPLE€'TIC, n. A person affected by
apoplexy. Knatchbull.
AP'OPLEXED, a. Affected with apoplexy,
Shak.
AP'OPLEXY, )^.'[Gr. aMxyr^io., of orto, from,
and rt>.)jmio, to strike.]
\ sudden deprivation of all sense and vol-
untary motion, occasioned by repletion or
whatever interrupts the action of the nerves
upon the muscles. Cidlcn.
Dryden, for the sake of measure, uses apo
plex, for apoplexy.
AP'ORON, \ [See Jlpory.] A problem
AP'ORIME, S "■ difiicult to be resolved.
Encyc.
AP'ORY, I [Gr. artopio, from a.topo;,
APO'RIA, \ ' inops coucilii, of a and
rtopos, way or passage.]
1. In rhetoric, a doubting or being at a loss
where to begin, or what to say, on account
of the variety of matter. Smith.
2. In (/(£ medical art, febrile anxiety ; utiea
siness ; restlessness, from obstructed per
spiration, or the stoppage of any natura
secretion. Coxe.
[APOSIOPE'SIS, > . [Gr. ortoscurt,9<f, of
APOSIO'PESY, I"- a«o, andauortocw.tobe
silent.]
Reticency or suppression ; as when a speak-
er for some cause, as fear, sorrow, or an-
ger, suddenly breaks off his discourse, be-
fore it is ended ; or speaks of a tiling, when
he makes a show as if he would say noth-
ing on the subject ; or aggravates what he
pretends to conceal, by uttering a part and
leaving the remainder to be understood.
Smith. Johnson. Encyc.
APOS'TASY, n. [Gr. artoraa.5, a defection.
ofa^i;r;tii, to depart, arte and irij/uc]
1. All abandonment of what one has profes-
sed ; a total desertion, or departure from
one's faith or religion.
2. The desertion from a party to which one
has adhered.
3. Among physicians, the throwing off of
exfohated or fractured boue, or the various
solution of disease. Coxe.
4. An abscess. Encyc.
APOS'TATE, n. [Gr. artoyor,;.]
One who has forsaken the church, sect or
profession to which he before adliered.
In its original sense, apphed to one who
has abandoned his rehgion ; but correctly
applied also to one who abandons a po-
litical or other party.
APOS'TATE, a. False ; traitorous.
Spenser.
APOSTAT'IeAL, a. After the manner of
Sandys.
To abandon one's
profession or church ; to forsake principles
or faith which one has professed ; or the
party to which one has been attached.
IVorthington.
APOS'TATIZING, ppr. Abandonuig a
chtirch, profession, sect or party.
APOS'TEMATE, v. i. To form into an ab-
scess ; to swell and fill with pus.
APOSTEMA'TION, n. The formation of
an aposteme ; the process of gathering
into an abscess ; written corruptly impost-
humation.
APOSTEM'ATOUS, a. Pertaining to an
abscess ; partaking of the nature of an
aposteme. Journ. of Science.
AP'OSTEME, n. [Gr. ano^^f^a, from
cuftf^ftt, to go off, to recede ; arto and
i.;riiu, to stand.]
An abscess ; a swelling filled with purulent
matter ; written also corruptly imposthume.
A-POSTERIORI, [L. posterior, after.]
Arguments a posteriori, are drawn from
effects, consequences or facts ; in opposi-
tion to reasoning a priori, or from causes
previously known.
APOS'TLE, n. apos'l. [L. apostolus ; Gr.
ajtoc;o7^oc, from artoftXXu, to send away, of
arto, and ;iX>M, to send ; G. stellen, to set.]
\ person deputed to execute some important
business ; but appropriately, a disciple of
Christ commissioned to preach the gospel.
Twelve persons were selected by Christ
for this purpose ; and Judas, one of the
number, proving an apostate, his place was
supphed by Matthias. Acts i.
The title of apostle is applied to Christ him-
self, Heb. 3. In the primitive ages of the
church, other ministers were called apos-
tles, Rom. xvi ; a.s were persons sent to
curry aluis from one church to anottier.
A P O
Philip, ii. Tliis title was also given to per-
sons who first planted the Christian faith.
Thus Dionysius of Corinth is called the
apostle of France ; and the Jesuit Mission-
aries are called apostles.
Among the Jews, the title was given to ofK
cers who were sent into distant provinces,
as visitors or commissioners, to see the
laws observed.
Apostle, in the Greek liturgy, is a book con-
taining the epistles of St. Paul, printed ni
the order in which they are to be read ni
churches, through the year. Encyc.
APOS'TLE-SHIP, n. The office or dignity
of an apostle.
APOS'TOLATE, n. A mission ; the dignity
or office of an apostle. Ancient writers
use it for the office of a bishop ; but it
now restricted to the dignity of the pope,
whose see is called the Apostolic See.
Encyc.
APOSTOLIC, I Pertamuig or re-
APOSTOL'I€AL, ) lathig to the apos
ties, as the apostolic age.
2. According to the doctrines of the apos-
tles ; delivered or taught by the apostles
as apostolic faith or practice.
Apostolic constitutions, a collection of regula
tions attributed to the apostles, but gen
erally supposed to be spurious. They
appeared in the 4tli century ; are divided
into eight books, and consist of rules and
pi-ecepts relating to the duties of christ-
ians, and particularly, to the ceremonies
and discipline of the church.
Apostolic Fathers, an appellation given to the
christian writers of the first century.
APOSTOL'I€ALLY, adv. In the manner
of the apostles.
APOSTOL'ICALNESS, n. The quality of
being apostolical, or according to the doc
trinesofthe apostles.
APOSTOL'leS, n. Certain sects so called
from their pretending to imitate the prac-
tice of the apostles, abstaining from mar
riage, from wine, flesh, pecuniary reward
&c., and wandering about clotlied in
white, with long beards, and bare heads.
Sagarelli, the founder of one of these sects,
was burnt at Parma ui 1300. Ency(
APOSTROPHE, ( [Gr. a?to, from, and
APOS'TROPHY, I "• ifio^, a turning.]
In rhetoric, a diversion of speech ; a digre
sive address ; a changing the course of a
speech, and addressing a person who is
dead or absent, as if present ; or a short
address introduced into a discourse, direct
ed to some person, diflerent from the par
ty to which the main discourse is directed
as when an advocate, in an argument to
the jury, turns and addresses a few
marks "to the court. Encyc. Smith.
2. In grammar, the contraction of a word by
the omission of a letter or letters, which
omission is marked by a comma, as call'd
for called. The comma used for this pur-
pose niav also be called an apostrophe.
APOS'TR'OPHIC, a. Pertaining to an apo:
trophe; noting the contraction of a word
Murray.
APOS'TROPIIIZE, V. i. or /. To make
apostrophe, or short detached address
speaking ; to address by apostrophv.
2. V. t. To contract a word by omitting a
letter or letters.
APO
3. To mark with a comma, ijidicating the
omission of a letter.
APOSTROPHIZED, pp. Addressed by
way of digression ; contracted by the
omission of a letter or letters ; marked by
an apostropliy.
APOSTROPHIZING, ppr. Addressing in
a digression ; contracting or markmg by
apostrophy.
AP'OSTUME, Ti. An aposteme, which see.
APOTAC'TITE, n. [Gr. anotaxro;, from
artotatta, to renounce ; ano and faf ru, to
ordain.]
One of a sect of ancient christians, who, in
imitation of the first believers, renounced
all their effects and possessions. Encyc.
APOTH'E€ARY, n. [L. and Gr. apotheca,
a repository, from a,noii9rifi.i, to deposit or
lay aside, or from Sijatij, a chest.]
. One who practices pharmacy ; one who
prepares drugs for medicinal uses, and
keeps them for sale. In England, apothe
caries are obliged to prepare medicines ac-
cording to the formulas prescribed by the
college of physicians, and are liable to
have their shops visited by the censors of
the college, who have ))ower to destroy
medicines which are not good.
2. In the middle ages, an apothecary was the
keeper of any shop or warehouse ; and an
officer appointed to take charge of a maga-
zine. Encyc.
A remarkable saying ; a short, instructive re-
mark.
APOTHEGMAT'IC ) „ In the manner
APOTHEGMAT'leAL, i "' of an apothem.
IVarton.
APOTHEG'MATIST, n. A collector or
maker of apothems. Pope.
APOTHEG'MATIZE, v. t. To utter apo-
thems or short instructive sentences.
AP'OTHEME, n. [See Apothecary.^
In Russia, an apothecary's shop, or a shop
for tlie preparation and sale of medicines.
Tooke.
APOTHE'OSIS, n. [Gr. artoSsujis, of arto,
and 9f05, God.]
Deification ; consecration ; the act of placing
a prince or other distinguished person
among the heathen deities. This honor
was often bestowed on illustrious men in
Rome, and followed by the erection of
temples, and the institution of sacrifices
to the new deity. Encyc.
APOTH'ESIS, n. [Gr. <«to, and ri8^M','to
put back.]
1. The reduction of a dislocated bone.
Coie.
2. A place on the south side of the chancel
in the primitive churches, furnished with
shelves, for books, vestirients, &c. fVheler.
APOT'OME, } rn .. . . <ri
APOT'OMY, < "• ^ o^notiiipu, to cut ott.J
1. In mathematics, the difference between
two incommensurable quantities. Cyc.
2. In music, that portion of a tone major
which remains after deducting from it an
interval, less by a comma, than a semitone
major. Busby.
The difference between a greater and
lesser semitone, expressed by the ratio
128 ; 125. The Greeks supposing the
greater tone could not be divided into two
A P P
jual parts, called the diflorcncc, or.sniall-
• part, npotomc ; the other, limma.
Chambers. Encyc.
APOTREP'SIS, n. [Gr. o«o, and rpiTtu, to
turn.]
The resolution of a sup])urating tumor.
Coie.
AP'OTROPY, »!. [Gr. axo, and tpi>tu, to
turn.]
In ancient poetry, a verse or hymn composed
for averting the wrath of incensed denies.
The deities invoked were called apotrop-
eans. Encyc.
AP'OZEM, n. [Gr. a^o, and ?f«, to boil.J
A decoction, in which the medicinal sub-
stances of plants are extracted by boiling.
Encyc. Wiseman.
APOZEM'ICAL, a. Like a decoction.
Whitaker.
APPA'IR, V. t. To impair. [jVot in use.]
APPA'IR, V. i. To degenerate. [jVo< in use.l
APPALL', V. t. [Yr.palir; L. palleo, to be-
pale. See Pale.]
1. To depress or discourage with fear; to
impress with fear, in such a manner that
the mind shrinks, or loses its firmness ; as,
the sight appalled the stoutest heart.
2. To reduce, allay or desti-oy ; as, to appall
thirst. [Unusual.] Thomson.
APPALL', V. i. To grow faint ; to be dis-
mayed. Lidgaie.
APPALL'ED, pp. Depressed or dishearten-
ed with fear ; reduced.
APPALL'ING, ppr. Depressing witlifear;
educing.
APPALL'MENT, n. Depression occasion-
ed by fear ; discouragement.
AP'PANAgE, n. [Fr. apanage, an estate
assigned to a yoimger son for his mainte-
nance ; an appendix, dependence, appur-
tenance ; It. appannaggio, an appendage.
If this word is from the panage, panagi-
um of the middle ages, it is from panis,
food, provision ; It. panaggio, provision.
This is probably the true origin of the
word.]
1. Lands appropriated by a prince to the
maintenance of his younger sons, as their
patrimony ; but on condition of the fail-
ure of male offspring, they were to revert
to the donor or his heir. From the ap-
panage it was customary for the sons to
take their surnames. Spelman.
2. Sustenance; means of nourishing.
Wealth — the appanage of wit. Swift.
\PP.-VR.\'TUS, n. plu. apparatuses. [L.
from apparo, to prepare, oi' ad and paro.]
1. Things provided as means to some end ;
as the tools of an artisan ; the furniture of
a house ; instruments of war. In more
technical language, a complete set of in-
struments or utensils, for performing any
operation. Cavallo. EnofC.
i. In surgery, the operation of cutting for
the stone, of three kinds, the small, the
great, and tlie high. Encyc. Coie.
Apparatus is also used as the title of several
books, in the form of catalogues, biblio-
thecas, glossaries, dictionaries, &c.
Encyc.
APPAREL, )!. [Fr. appareil, from parer, to
dress or set off; Sp. aparejar ; L. paro,
apparo, to prepare ; Arm. para ; Port, ap-
arelho, Sp. aparejo, tackle, whence parrel
A P P
A P P
A P P
ill seamen's language ; Cli. Heb. x^3, bara ;
Ar. {^j . Class Br. No. 8. 10. 19.]
1. Clothing; vesture; garments; dress.
2. External habiliments or decorations ; ap-
pearance ; as, religion appears In the natu-
ral apparel of simplicity.
Glorious in apparel. Isa. Ixiii.
3. The furniture of a ship, as sails, rigging;
anchors, &c.
APPAR'EL, V. t. To dress or clothe.
They who are gorgeously appareled are in
kings courts. Luke vii.
2. To adorn with dress.
She did apparel her apparel. S/iak
3. To dress with external ornaments ; tc
cover with something ornamental ; to cov-
er, as with garments ; as, trees appareled
with flowers ; or a garden with verdure.
4. To furnish with external apparatus ; as
.ships appareled for sea.
APPARELED, pp. Dressed ; clothed ;
covered as with dress ; furnished.
APPAR'ELING, ppr. Dressing; clotliing;
covering as with dress ; furnishing.
APPA'RENCE, I Appearance. [ATot in
APPA'RENCY, I "• use.]
Chaucer. Gower.
APPA'RENT, a. [See Appear.]
1. That may be seen, or easily seen ; visible
to the eye ; within sight or view.
Merbury.
2. Obvious ; plain ; evident ; indubitable ; as,
the wisdom of the creator is apparent in
his works.
3. Visible, in opposition to hid or secret ; as, a
man's apparent conduct is good.
4. Visible ; appearing to the eye ; seeming,
ill distinction from true or i-eal, as the ap-
parent motion or diameter of tlie sun.
Heirs apparent are those whose rig-ht to
an estate is indefeasible, if they survive
the ancestor; in distinctidu t'viMw presump-
tive heirs, who, if the aiicistur >liiiiilil ilir
immediately, would inhtiit, Imt wIjosi'
right is liable to be deli'atcd by lln' biith
of other children. Blackstone.
APPA'RENTLY, adv. Openly ; evidently ;
as, the goodness of God is apparently man-
ifest in his works of providence.
2. Seemingly ; in appearance ; as, a man
may be apparently friendly, yet malicious
in heart.
APPARP'TION, 71. [See Appear.]
1. In a general sense, an appearance ; visi-
bihty. [lAttle tised.] Milton.
2. The tiling appearing ; a visible object ; a
form. Milton. Shak.
3. A ghost; a specter; a visible spirit. [This
is now the usual sense of the word.]
4. Mere appearance, opposed to reality.
Denham.
APPAR'ITOR, 71, [L. apparo, to prepare,
or appareo, to attend.]
Among the Romans, any officer who attend-
ed magistrates and judges to execute their
orders. In England, a messenger or otfi-
cer who serves the process of a spiritual
court, or a beadle in the university '
carries the mace. Encyc.
APPA'Y, V. t. [Sj). and Port, apagar.]
To satisfy. Obs. [See Pay.] Sidney.
APPE'ACH, r.t. To accuse; to censure, or
rf iiroach. Ob.t. [See Impeach.] Shall.
APl'E'ACHlMENT, ;;. Accusation; char
e.Yliibitcd. Obs. n'otton.
APPEAL, v.i. [Fr.appeler; It. appellor
Sp. apelar ; Port, appellar ; L. appello ; ad
and pello, to drive or send ; Gr. fiaVKu. We
do not see the sense of call in pello, but to
drive or press out, is the radical sense of
calling, naming. This word coincides in
elements with L. bcdo, Eng. bawl, and peal.
Class Bl.]
1. To refer to a superior judge or court, for
the decision of a cause depending, or the
revision of a cause decided in a lower
court.
I appeal to Cesar. Acts sxi.
2. To refer to another for the decision of a
question controverted, or the counterac
tion of testimony or facts ; as, I appeal to
all mankind for the truth of what is al
ledged.
APPE'AL, I', t. To call or remove a cause
from an inferior to a superior judge or
court. This may be done after trial and
judgment in the lower court ; or by S|iecial
statute or agi-eement, a party may appe
before trial, upon a fictitious issue and
judgment. We say the cause was appeal
ed before or after trial.
iVPPE'AL, V. t. In criminal law, to charge
with a crime; to accuse; to institute a
criminal prosecution, for some hainous of-
fense ; as, to appeal a person of felony.
This process was anciently given to a
private person to recover the weregild, or
private pecuniary satisfaction for an inju-
ry he had received by the murder of a re-
lation, or by some personal injury.
Blackstone.
;\PPE'AL, n. The removal of a cause or
suit from an inferior to a superior tribu-
nal, as from a common pleas court to a
superior or supreme court. Also the right
of appeal.
9. An accusation ; a process Instituted by a
private person against a man for some
liainous crime by which he has been in-
jured, as for murder, larciny, mayhem.
Blackstone
3. A summons to answer to a charge.
Dryden.
4. A call upon a person ; a reference to an-
other for proof or decision.
In an oath, a person makes an appeal to
the Deity for the truth of his declaration.
5. Resort ; rccoin-se.
Every milder method is to be tried, before a
ition makes an appeal to arms. Kent.
.\PPE'ALABLE, a. That may be appealed :
that may be removed to a higher tribunal
for decision ; as, the cause is appealable
2. That may be accused or called to answer
by ajipeal ; applied to persons ; as, a crimi-
nal is appealable for manslaughter.
APPE'ALANT, n. One who appeals. [JVot
used.] Shak.
APPE'ALED, pp. Removed to a higher
court, as a cause ; prosecuted for a crime
by a private person, as a criminal.
APPE'ALER, n. One who appeals ; an ap
pellor.
.\PPE'ALING, ppr. Removing a cause to a
higher tribunal ; prosecuting as a private
person for an offense ; referring to anoth-
er for a decision.
APPE'AR, V. i. [L. appareo, of ad and pa
reo, to appear, or be manifest ; It. appa-
rirc ; Sp. parecer, aparecer ; Fr. apparoi
apparoilre. Class Br.]
1. To come or be insight; to be in view; t(?
be visible.
Tlie leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh
Lev. xiii.
And God said. Let the dry land appear
Gen. i.
2. To become visible to the eye, as a spirit,
or to the apjirehension of the mind ; a
sense frequent in scripture.
The Laid appeared to Abram, and said.
Gen. xii.
The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
flame of fire out of the midst of the bush. Ex.
iii.
3. To stand in presence of, as parties or ad-
j vocates before a court, or as persons to be
1 tried. The defendant, being called, did
I not appear.
I We must all appear before the judgment seat
I of Christ. 2 Cor. v.
J4. To be obvious ; to be known, as a subject
j of observation or comprehension.
t Let thy work appear to thy sei-vant. Ps. xc.
1 It doth not yet appear what we shall be. 1
I John iii.
i5. To be clear or made clear by evidence ;
as, this fact appears by ancient records.
I But sin that it might appear sin. Rom. vii.
'6. To seem, in opposition to reahty.
They disfigure their faces, that they may ap-
I pear to men to fast. Mat. vi.
17. To be discovered, or laid open.
I That thy shame may apj)ear. Jer. xiii.
,APPE'AR, n. Appearance. Obs.
APPE'ARANCE, n. The act of coming in-
to sight ; the act of becoming visible to
the eye; as, his sudden appearance sur-
I prised me.
2. The thing seen ; a phenomenon ; as an
appearance in the sky.
3. Semblance ; apparent likeness.
There was upon the tabernacle as it were the
appearance of fire. Num. ix.
4. External show ; semblance assumed, in
opposition to reality or substance ; as, we
are often deceived by appearances ; he
has the appearance of virtue.
For man looketh on the outward appearance .
1 Sam. xvi.
5. Personal presence ; exhibition of the per-
son ; as, he made his first appearance at
court or on the stage.
6. E.\hibition of the character ; introduction
of a person to the public in a particular
character, as a person makes his appear-
ance in the world, as a historian, an artist,
or an orator.
7. Probability ; likelihood. Bacon. This
sense is rather an hiference from the third
or foin-th ; as probability is inferred from
external semblance or show.
8. Presence ; mien ; figure ; as presented by
the person, dress or manners ; as, the lady
made a noble appearance.
0. A being present in court ; a defendant's
filing common or special bail to a process.
10. All a])parition. Addison.
APPE'ARER, n. The person that appears.
Brown.
APPE'ARING, ppr. Coming in sight ; be-
coming evident ; making an external
show ; seemuig ; having the semblance.
APPE'ARING, n. The act of becoming vis-
I ible ; appearance.
APPE'ASABLE, a. That may be appeas-
ed, quieted, calmed, or pacified.
APPE'ASABLENESS, n. The quahty of
being appeasable.
A P P
A P P
A P P
APPE'ASE, V. t. s as z. [Fr. npaiser, of ad
anil paix, peace ; L. pax. Sue Pence.]
1. To make quiet ; to calm ; to reduce to i
state of peace ; to still ; to pacify ; as, t(
appease the tumult of tlie ocean, or of tin
passions ; to appease hunger or thirst.
[This word is of a general application to ev-
ery thing in a disturbed, ruffled or agitated
state.]
AI'PK'ASED, pp. Quietfil ; cahneil ; still
ed ; pacified.
APPE'ASEMENT, n. The act of appeas
ing ; the state of being in peace.
APPE'ASER, n. One who appeases, or
pacifies.
APPE'ASIVE, a. Having the power to ap
I)ease ; mitigating ; quieting.
APPEL'LANT, n. [See Appeal.']
1. One who appeals, or removes a cause
from a lower to a higher tribunal.
2. One who prosecutes another for a crime.
3. One who challenges, or summons anoth-
er to single combat.
4. In church history, one who appeals from
the Constitution Unigenitus to a general
council. Blackstone. Encyc. Milton.
APPEL'LATE, n. A person appealed, or
prosecuted for a crime. [J^ot now used.
See Appellee.] Ayltffe.
APPEL'LATE, a. Pertaining to appeals ;
having cognizance of appeals; as "appel-
late'}ur\ediction." Const of the U. States.
Appellate judges. Burke, Rev. in Prance.
APPELLA'TION, n. [L. appellatio. Sec
Appeal.]
Name ; the word by which a thing is called
and known. Spenser uses it for appeal.
APPEL'LATIVE, a. Pertaining to a com-
mon name ; noting the connnon name of
APPEL'LATIVE, n. A common name in
distinction from a proper name. A com-
mon name or appellative stands for a whole
class, genus or species of beings, or for
universal ideas. Thus man is the name
of the whole human race, and fowl of all
winged animals. Tree is the name of
all plants of a particular class ; plant and
vegetable are names of things that grow
out of the earth. A proper name, on the
other hand, stands for a single thing, as,
London, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston.
APPEL'LATIVELY, adv. According to the
manner of nouns appellative ; in a man-
ner to express whole classes or species ; as,
Hercules is sometimes used appellative-
ly, that is, as a common name to signify
a strong man. Johnson.
APPEL'LATORY, a. Containing an appeal.
APPELLEE', n. The defendant in an ap-
peal.
2. The person who is appealed, or prosec
ted by a private man for a crime.
Blackstone.
APPELLOR', n. The person who institutes
an appeal, or prosecutes another for i
crime. Blackstone
This word is rarely or never used for
the plaintiff in appeal from a lower court,
who is called the appellant. Appellee is
opposed both to appellant and appellor.
APPEND', V. t. [L. appendo, of ad and pen-
deo, to hang.]
1. To hang or attach to, as by a strmg, sc
that the thing is suspended ; as, a sea
appended to a record.
2. To add, as an accessory to the principal
■ ing. Johnson
APPEi\D'A6E, n. Something added to a
princi])al or greater thing, though not ne-
cessary to it, as a portico to a house.
Modesty is the appendage of sobriety.
Taylor
APPEND'ANCE, / Something annexed.
-VPPEND'ENCE, ( "• LYot tised.]
Bp. Hall.
APPEND'ANT, a. Hanging to ; annexed ;
belonging to something ; attached ; a.«, i
seal appendant to a pa|)er.
2. In law, common appendant, is a right, be
longing to the owners or occupiers of
lanil, to put commonable beasts iqion the
lord's waste, and upon the lands of other
persons within the same manor. An ad-
vowson appendant, is the right of patron-
age or presentation, annexed to the pos-
session of a manor. So also a commoi!
of fishing may be appendant to a freehold
Blackstone. Cowcl.
APPEND'ANT, n. That which belongs t(
another thing, as incidental or subordinate
to it.
APPEND'ED,»p. Annexed; attached.
APPEND'ICATE, v. t. To append ; to ad.l
to. Obs. Hale
APPENDICA'TION, n. An appen.lage or
adjunct. Obs. Hale
APPEND'ICLE, n. A small appendage.
APPEND'ING, n. That which is by right
annexed. Spelman
APPEND'IX, n. plu. appendixes, [L. The
Latin plural is appendices. See Append.]
1. Something appended or added.
Normandy became an appendix to England.
Hale.
2. An adjunct, concomitant, or appendage.
Watts.
3. More generally, a supplement or short
treatise added to a book.
APPERCE'IVE, «. <. [Fr. apercevoir.] To
comprehend. Obs. Cha\
APPERCEP'TION, n. [ad a.nA perception.]
Perception that reflects upon itself; con-
sciousness. Leibnitz. Reid.
APPER'IL, n. Peril ; danger. [.Yot in use.]
Shak.
APPERTA'IN, v.i. [Fr. apparienir ; It.
appartenere ; L. ad and pertineo, to per-
tain, otper and teneo, to hold. Pertineo is
to reach to, to extend to, hence to belong.
See Tenant.]
To belong, whether by right, nature or ap-
pointment.
Give it to him to whom it appertaineth.
Lev. vi.
[See Pertain.]
APPERTAINING,™. Belonging.
A.PPERTA'INMENT, n. That which be-
longs. ■ Shak.
'VPPER'TENENCE,n. [fiee Appurtenance.]
APPER'TINENT, a. Belonging ; now writ-
ten appurtenant. Shak.
APPER'TINENT, n. That which belongs
to something else. 06s. Shak.
[See Appurtenance.]
AP'PETENCE, I [L. appetentia, appetens,
AP'PETENCY, S from appeto, to desire
of ad and peto, to ask, supplicate or seek
Ch.B"3; Eth. <t1"(D to desire, to iiitreat ;
Dan. beder ; D. bidden ; Ger. Mtten ; Arm.
pidi ; Eng. bid ; Sax. bidan ; Sw. bedja ;
L. invito, compound. Tlie primary sense
is to sti-ain, to urge or press, or to advance.
See Bid. Class Bd.]
1. In a general sense, desire ; but especially,
2. The ,li>|MrirM/n ''-l''n,i''!',',','/'.'riM,,lies to
select ,-111.1 mil. ill.' -n.h |...rii..iis of matter
as sorM- In >ii|i|Hirt ,111.1 II -ish them, or
such partiilcs us are designed, through
their agency, to carry on the animal or
vegetable economy.
These lactcals have mouth.s, and by animal
selection or appetency, they absorb such part of
the fluid a-s is agreeable to their palate.
Darwin.
3. An inclination or propensity in animals to
perform certain actions, as in the young
to suck, in aquatic fowls to enter into wa-
ter and to swim.
4. According to Darwin, animal appetency
is synonymous with irritabihty or seii.si-
bility ; as the appetency of tlie eye for
light, of the paps to secrete milk, &(r.
.5. Attraction, or the tendency in bodies to
move toward each other and unite.
Copernicus^
AP'PETENT, a. Desiring ; very desirous.
Buck.
APPETIBIL'ITY, n. The .^tiality of bemg
desirable for gratification.
AP'PETIBLE, a. [Low L. appetibilis, from
appeto.] Desirable ; that may be the object
of sensual desire.
AP'PETITE, n. [L. appelitus, from appeto.
See Appetence.]
1. The natural desire of pleasure or good ;
the desire of gratification, either of the
body or of the mind. Appetites are pas-
sions directed to general objects, as the
appetite for fame, glory or riches ; in dis-
tinction from passions directed to some
particular objects, which retain their
proper name, as the passion of love, envy
or gratitude. Passion does not exist with-
out an object ; natural appetites exist first,
and are then directed to objects. Encyc.
2. A desire of food or drink ; a painful sen-
sation occasioned by hunger or thirst.
3. Strong desire ; eagerness or longing.
Clarendon.
4. The thing desired.
Power being the natural appetite of princes.
Swift.
Appetites are natural or artificial. Hun-
ger and thirst are natural appetites ; the
appetites for olives, tobacco, snuff, &c.
are artificial.
In old authors, appetite is followed by to,
but regularly it should be followed by
for before the object, as an appetite for
pleasure.
To be given to appetite, is to be voracious
or gluttonous. Prov. xxiii. 2.
APPETI'TION, n. [L. appetilio.] Desire.
[Rarebj used.]
AP'PE'flTIVE, a. That desires ; that has
the quality of desiring gratification ; as ap-
petitive power or faculty. Hale.
AP'PIAN, a. Designating something that
belongs to Appius, partictdarly a way from
Rome through Capua to Brimdusiuni, now
Brindisi, constructed by Appius Claudius,
A. R. 44L It is more than 3.30 miles in
length, formed of hard stone squared, and
so wide as to admit two carriages abreast.
Livy. Lemprierc,
A P P
APPLAUD', t).<. [L.applaudo; adanAplau
do, to make a noise by clapping the hands
Sp. aplaudir ; It. applaudire ; Fr. applau
dir. This word is formed on the root of
laus, laudo ; Eng. loud ; W. clod, praise, from
Hod, what is forcibly uttered ; llodi, to readi
out ; from llaiod, that shoots out. It coin-
cides also with W. Woez, a shout, or out-
cry ; bloeziaw, to shout ; blozest, applause,
acclamation. Ir. blaodh, a shout ; btath,
praise. These may all be of one family
Class L d. See Loud.]
1. To praise by clapping the hands, accla-
mation, or other significant sign.
2. To praise by words, actions or other
means ; to express approbation of ; to
commend ; used in a general sense. Pope.
APPLAUD'ED,p/». Praised by acclamation,
or other means ; commended.
APPLAUD'ER, n. One who praises or com-
mends.
APPLAUDING, ppr. Praising by acclama-
tion ; commending.
APPLAUSE', n. s as z. [L. applausus.]
A shout of approbation ; ai)probation and
praise, expressed by clapping tlie hands,
acclamation or huzzas; approbation ex-
pressed. In antiquity, applause differed
fi-om acdanialion ; applause was expressed
by the hands, and acclamation by the
voice. There were three species of ap-
plause, the bombus, a confused din made
by the hands or mouth ; the imbrices and
festce, made by beating a sort of soundin"
vessels in the theaters. Persons were ap-
pointed for the purpose of applauding, and
masters were emiiloyed to teach the art.
The applauders were divided into choru,ses,
and placed opposite to each other, like the
choristers in a cathedral. Encyc.
APPLAU'SIVE, a. Applauding ; containing
applause. Jonson.
AP'PLE, n. [Sax. appl, appil ; D. appel
Ger. apfel ; Dan. (^ble ; Sw. aple ; W. aval
Ir. abhal or ubhal ; Arm. aval ; Russ
iabloko, or yabloko. This word primarily
.signifies fruit in general, especially of
round form. In Pers. tlie same word
J>fl. J ], pronounced ubhul, signifies the fruit
or berries of the savin or jimiper. Castle.
In Welsh, it signifies not only the apple,
but the plum and other fruits. Lhiiyd.
Aval melynhir, a lemon ; aval euraid, an
orange. Owen.]
1. The fruit of the apple tree, [pyrus nialus,]
from which cider is made.
2. The (wple of the eye is the pupil.
,/}pple of love, or love apple, tlie tomato,
or lycopei'sicuni, a species of Solanum.
The stalk is herbaceous, with oval, pin
nated leaves, and small yellow flowers
The berry is smooth, soft, of a yellow or
reddish color, of the size of a plum. It is
used in soups and broths. Encyc.
AP'PLE, V. t. To form like an apple.
Marshal.
AP'PLE-GRAFT, n. A scion of the apple-
tree engrafted.
AP'PLE-HARVEST, n. The gathering of
ajiples, or the time of gathering.
AP'PLE-PIE, n. A pie made of apples
stewed or baked, inclosed in paste, or cov
ered with paste, as in England.
A P P
AP'PLE-SAUCE, n. A sauce made of stew-
ed apples.
AP'PLE-TART, n. A tart made of apples
baked on paste.
AP'PLE-TREE, n. A tree arranged by Linnc
under the genus pyrus. Tlie fruit of this
tree is indefinitely various. TJie crab ai>ple
is supposed to be the original kind, from
which all others have sprung. New va-
rieties are springing annually froin the
seeds.
AP'PLE- WOMAN, n. A woman who sells
apples and other fruit.
AP'PLE-YARD, n. An orchard ; an inci-
sure for apples.
APPLI'ABLE, a. [See Apply.] That may
be applied. This word is superseded by
applicable.
APPLI'ANCE, n. The act of applymg, or
thing applied. Obs. Shak.
APPLI€ABIL'ITY, n. [See Apply.] The
quaUty of being applicable, or fit to be
applied.
AP'PLI€ABLE, a. That may be apphed,
fit to be applied, as related to a thing ; that
may have relation to something else ; as,
this observation is applicable to the case
under consideration.
\P'PLI€ABLENESS, n. Fitness to be ap
plied; the quahty of being applicable.
AP'PLI€ABLY, adv. In such a manner that
it may be applied.
AP'PLicANT, n. One who applies; one
who makes request ; a petitioner.
The applicant for a cup of water declares
himself to be the Messias. Plumtree.
The court require the applicant to appear in
person. Z. Swift
AP'PLl€ATE,n. A right line drawn across
a curve, so as to be bisected by the diam-
eter ; an ordinate. Cyc.
AP'PLI€ATE-ORDINATE. A right hne
at right angles appUed to the axis of any
conic section, and bounded by the curve.
Bailey.
APPLI€A'TI0N, n. [L. applicatio. See
1. The act of laying on ; as the application
of emollients to a diseased limb,
2. The tiling applied ; as, the pain was
abated by the application.
3. The act of making request or soliciting
as, he made application to a court of clian-
cery.
4. The act of applymg as means ; the em
ployment of means ; as, children may be
governed by a suitable application of re-
wards and punislunents. This is the first
signification directed to moral objects.
5. The act of fixing the mind ; intenseness
oftliouiiht; cliisc study; attention; as, to
injuri' till- licMJih by application to study.
' H;ul Ills iiiiiili<idi(i)i been equal to his talents,
his pio<;rcss luiglit liave been greater.
/. Jay
6. The act of directing or referring some-
thing to a particular case, to discover oi
illustrate the agreement or disagreement
as, I make the remark and leave you to
make the application.
7. In theology, the act by which the merits of
Christ are transferretl to man, for h
tification.
a In geometry, a division for applying one
quantity to another, whose areas, but not
figin-es, shall be tlie same ; or the transfer-
A P P
ring a given line into a circle or other
figure, so that its ends shall be in the peri-
meter of the figure. Encyc.
9. In sermons, that part of the discourse, in
which the principles before laid down and
illustrated, are applied to practical uses.
APPLICATIVE, a. That apphes.
Bramhall.
AP'PLIeATORY, a. That includes the act of
applyins. Edwards^ Hist, of Redemption^
AP'PLIeATORY, n. That which appUes.
Taylor.
APPLIED, pp. Put on; put to : directed:
employed.
APPLI'JEDLY, adv. In a manner which
niav be applied. [Ao< in use.] Montagu.
APPLI'ER, n. One that appUes.
APPLI'MENT,n. Application. [J^otinuse.]
Marslon.
APPLY', V. t. [L. applico, of ad and plico, to
fold or knit together ; Fr. avpliquer ; Sp.
aplicar ; It. applicare ; W. plegy, to bend
or fold ; Arm. plega, to fold or plait ; pleca,
a fold ; Gr. rfKixu, to knit, or twist ; Sax.
plegan, plegian, pleggan, to play, to bend
to or apply, incumbere ; Dan. Jliig, a fold ;
D. plooi, a fold ; ploojen, to plait ; Eng.
ply, display, and employ. The word plegy,
plico, is formed from the root of lay. Sax.
lecgan. The sense then is to lay to ; and
it is worthy of remark, that we use lay to
in the precise sense of ply and apply. It
is certain from the Welsh that the first
consonant is a prefix.]
1. To lay on ; to put one thing to another ;
as, to apply the hand to the breast ; to
apply medicaments to a diseased part of
the body.
2. To use or employ for a particular pur-
3se, or in a particular case ; as, to apply
sum of money to the payment of a debt.
3. To put, refer or use, as suitable or rela-
tive to something ; as, to apply the testi-
mony to the case.
4. To fix the mind ; to engage and employ
with attention ; as, apply thy heart to in-
struction. Proverbs.
5. To address or direct ; as, " Sacred vows
applied to Pluto." Pope.
G. To betake ; to give the chief part of time
and attention ; as, to apply one's self to
the study of botany. This is essentially
the fourth sense.
7. To make application ; to have recourse
by request ; as, to apply one's self to a
counsellor for advice. This is generally
used intransitively ; as, to apply to a coun-
sellor.
8. To busy ; to keep at work ; to ply. Obs.
Sidney. Spenser.
[Superseded by ply, wliich see.]
APPLY', V. i. To suit ; to agree ; to have
some connection, agreement or analogy ;
as, this argument applies well to the case.
2. To make request ; to solicit ; to have re-
course, with a view to gain something ; as,
to apply to the president for an office ; I
applied' to a friend for information.
APPLY'ING, ppr. Laying on ; nialdng ap-
plication.
APPOINT', V. t. [Fr. appointer, to refer, to
give an allowamr ; Hp. npimlar, to point
or aim, to shai|irii, to faslcii as with
points or nails: \{. nppnnldn, to fix, ap-
point or sharpni. Sn- I'oinl.]
1. To fix ; to settle ; to establish ; to make fast.
A P P
A P P
A P P
When he appointed the foundation') of tlic
earth. Prov. viii.
% To constitute, ordain, or fix by decree,
order or decision.
Let Pharaoh appoint officers over the land
Gen. xli.
He hath appoinied a day in which he will
judge the world. Acts xvii.
'!. To allot, assign or designate.
Aaron and liis sons shall appoint every one|
to his service. Num. iv.
These cities were appointed for all the chil-
dren of Israel. Josh. xx.
4. To purpose or resolve ; to fix the inten-
tion.
For so he had appointed. Actsxx.
.1. To ordain, command or order.
Thy servants are ready to do whatever my
Lord the King shall appoint. 2 Sam. xv.
G. To settle ; to fix, name or determine by
agreement; as, tlicy appointed a time and
place for the meeting.
APPOINT' ABLE, a. That maybe appointed
or constituted ; as, officers are nppoinlahU
by the Executive. Federalist, Madison.
APPOINT'ED, pp. Fixed ; set ; established :
decreed ; ordained ; constituted ; allotted.
2. Furnished ; equipped with things neces-
sary ; as, a ship or an army is well ap-
pointed.
APPOINTEE', 71. A person appointed,
"The commission authorizes them to make
appointments, and pay the appointees."
Circular of Mass. Representatives, 1768; )
also, ffheaton's Reports. ^
"J. A foot soldier in the French army, who,
for long service and bravery, receives more
pay than other privates. JEncyc. Bailey.
APPOINT'ER, Ji. Ono who ajjpoints.
APPOINT'ING, ppr. Settmg ; fixing ; or-
daining ; constituting ; assigning.
APPOINT'MENT, ji. The act of" appoint-
ing ; designation to office ; as, he erred by
tlie appointment of unsuitable men.
9. Stipulation ; assignation ; the act of fixing
by mutual agreement ; as, they made an
appointment to meet at six o'clock,
rt. Decree ; established order or constitution ;
as, it is our duty to submit to the divine
appointments.
4. Direction ; order; command.
Wheat, salt, wine and oil, let it be givec
according to tlie appointment of tlie priests,
Ez. vi.
."). Equipment, furniture, as for a ship, or an
army ; whatever is appointed lor use and
management.
0. An allowance to a person ; a salary or
pension, as to a pubhc officer.
An appointment differs from wages, in
being a special grant, or gratification, not
iixed, whereas wages are fixed and ordi-
nary. Encyc.
7. A devise or grant to a charitahle use.
Blackstone.
APPO'RTER, n. [Fr. apporfer ; h. porta.]
A bniigeriii ; one that brings into the coun-
trv. [JVot in use..] Hale.
.\l>PO'RTION, V. t. [L. ad and portio, por
tiun. See Portion and Part.]
Til divide and assign in just proportion; to
ilistribute among two or more, a just part
cir share to each; as, to apportion undivided
riixhts; to apportion time among various
employments.
APPO'RTIONED, pp. Divided ; set out
assigned in suitable parts or shares.
Vol. I.
APPO'RTIONER, n. One that apportion;
.APPO'RTIONING, ppr. Setting out in just
proportions or shares.
.M'PO'RTIONMENT, n. The act of appor
tioinng ; a dividing into just proportions or
shares ; a diviiUng and assigning to each
jiroprietor liis just portion of an undivided
right or property.
Hamilton, Rep. Feb. M, 179.3.
.XPPO'SE, I', t. s as 2. [Fr. apposer, to set
to ; L. appono. See Jlpposile.]
. To put questions ; to examuie. [See Pose.]
Bacon.
2. To apply. Harvey.
APPO'SER, n. An examiner ; ono whose
business is to put questions. In the En-
glish Court of Exchequer there is an offi-
cer called the Ibreign apposer. This is
ordinarily pronounced Boser. Encyc.
.•VP'POSITE, a. s as z. [L. appositus, set or
put to, from appono, of ad and pono, U
put or place.]
Suitable ; fit ; very applicable ; well adapt
ed ; followed by to ; as, this argument is
verv apposite to the case.
.\P'POSITELY, adv. Suitably ; fitly ; prop-
erlv. Harvey.
AP'POSITENESS, n. Fitness ; propriety
suitableness. Hale
,\PPOSl"TION, n. The act of adding to
addition ; a setting to.
By the apposition of new matter. Arbuthnot
2. In Grammar, the placing of two nouns, in
the same case, without a connecting word
between them ; as, I admire Cicero, t
orator. In this ease, the second noun c
plains or characterizes the first.
•\PPRA'ISE, V. t. [Fr. appreder ; Sp. op
ciar ; It. apprezzare, to set a value ; fi-om
L. ad and pretium, price. See Price and
Appreciate.]
This word is written and often pronounced
after the French and Italian manner. But
generally it is pronounced more correctly
apprize, directly from the D.prys
Eng. price or prize. [See Appri:
W.pris;
To set a value ; to estimate the worth, par-
ticularly by persons appointed for the
purpose.
,\PPRA'ISEMENT, n. The act of setting
the value ; a valuation. [See Apprize
ment.]
APPRA'ISER, ?i. One who values; appro
priately a person appointed and sworn to
estimate and fix the value of goods and
estate. [See Apprizer.]
PPRE'CIABLE, a. ,
APPRE'CIABLE, a. apprhhable. {See Ap-
preciate.]
. That may be appreciated ; valuable.
Encyc
3. That may be estimated ; capable of being
duly estimated.
APPRE'CIATE, r. f. appreshate. [Fr.ap
precier, to set a value ; L. ad and pretium,
value, price ; D. prys ; W. pris ; Ger. preis.
See Pncf.]
To value ; to set a price or value on ; to
estimate ; as, we seldom sufficiently appre-
ciate the advantages we enjoy.
2. To raise the value of.
Lest a sudden peace should appreciate the
Dney. Sainsay.
APPRE'CIATE, V. i. To rise in value ; to
become of more value ; as, the coin of the
country appreciates ; public securities ap-
preciated, w-lien the debt was funded.
12
APPRE'CIATED,p;j. Valued; prized; cs-
tiniainl ; ;i(lv;iiic((| in value.
.\Pl'Ki; y'\ wise, ppr. Setting a value on ;
esiiin.-itiii;: ; n>u\'j. in value.
APPRKCI.A TION, n. A setting a value on;
a jiL'it valuation or estimate of merit,
weight, or any moral consideration.
lVa.Mngton's Inaug. Speech, Apr. .30, 1789.
2. A risuig in value; increase of worth or
value. Marshal, L. of Washington.
Hamilton's Report. Feb. 13, 1793.
APPREHEND', v. t. [L. apprehendo, of ad
and prehendo, to take or seize ; Sax. hen-
dan or lienlun.]
1. To take or seize ; to take hold of. In this
hteral sense, it is apj>lied chiefly to taking
or arresting persons by legal process, or
with a view to trial ; as to apprehend a
thief.
2. To take with the understanding, that is,
to conceive in the mind ; to understand,
without passing a judgment, or making
an inference.
I apprehend not why so many and various
laws are given. Milton.
3. To think ; to believe or be of opinion, but
without positive certainty ; as, all this is
true, but we apprehend it is not to the
purpose.
Notwithstanding this declaration, we do not
apprehend that we are guilty of presumption.
Encyc. Art. Metaphysics.
4. To fear ; to entertain suspicion or fear of
future evil ; as, we apprehend calamities
from a feeble or wicked administration.
VPPREHEND'ED, pp. Taken ; seized ;
arrested; conceivecl; understood; feared.
APPREHEND ER, «. One who takes; one
who conceives in his mind ; one who
fears.
APPREHENDING, ppr. Seizing ; taking ;
conceiving; understanding; fearing.
APPREHEN'SIBLE, a. f hat may be ap-
prehended or conceived.
APPREHENSION, n. The act of taking or
an-esting ; as, the felon, after his appre-
hension, escaped.
2. The mere contemplation of things with-
out affirming, denying, or passing any
judgment ; the operation of the mind in
contemplating ideas, without comparing
them with others, or referring them to ex-
ternal objects ; simple intellection.
If'atts. Glanville. Encyc.
An inadequate or imperfect idea, as when
the word is applied to our knowledge of
God. Encyc.
Opinion ; conception ; sentiments. In
this sense, the word often denotes a beUef,
founded on sufficient evidence to give pre-
ponderation to the mind, but insuiScient
to induce certainty.
To be false, and to be thought false, is all one,
in respect of men, who act not according to
truth, but apprehension. South.
In our apprehension, the facts prove the
issue.
5. The faculty by which new ideas are con-
ceived ; as, a man of dull apprehension.
6. Fear ; suspicion ; the prospect of future
evil, accompanied with imeasiness of
mind.
Claudius was in no small apprehension for
his own life. Addison.
APPREHEN'SIVE, a. Quick to under-
stand : as, an apprehensive scholar.
Holder. South.
A P P
A P P
A P P
2. Fearful ; in expectation of evil ; as, we
were apprehensive of fatal consequences,
[This IS the usual sense of the word.^
3. Suspicious ; inclined to believe ; as, I am
apprehensive he does not understand me
4. Sensible; feeling; perceptive. [Rnrdy
used.] Milton
APPREHEN'SIVELY, adv. In an appre
liensive manner.
APPREHEN'SIVENESS, n. The quality
of being apprehensive ; readiness to under
stand; fearfulness.
APPREN'TICE, n. [Fr. apprenti, an aj)
prentice, from apprendre, to learn ; L. ap
prehendo. See Apprehend.}
\. One who is bound by covoiant to serve a
mechanic, or other person, for a certain
time, with a view to learn his art, mystery
or occupation, in which his master is
bound to instruct him. Apprentices are
regularly bound by indentures.
Blackstone.
2. In old law books, a barrister ; a learner of
law. Blackstone.
APPREN'TICE, V. t. To bind to, or put
under the care of a master, for the purpos(
of instruction in the luiowledge of a trade
or business.
APPREN'TICEHOOD, n. Apprenticeship
[J\rot used.] Skat
APPRENTICESHIP, n. The term for
which an apprentice is bound to serve hii
master. This term in England is by stat
nte seven years. In Paris, the term is five
years ; after which, the person, before he
is quaUfied to exercise the trade as a mas-
ter, must serve five years as a journeyman
during which tenn, he is called the com
panion of his master, and the term is called
his companionship. Enci/c.
3. The service, state or condition of an ap-
prentice ; a state in which a person is gain-
ing instruction under a master.
APPREN'TISAGE, n. Apprenticeship. [.Wot
in use.] Bacon.
APPREST', a. [ad and pressed.]
In botany, pressed close ; lying near the stem ;
or applying its upper sin-fuce to the stem,
Maiiyn. Ed. Encyc
APPRI'SE, v. t. s as z. [Fr. appris, partici-
ple ot apprendre, to learn, or inform. See
Jlpprehend.]
To inform ; to give notice, verbal or written
followed by of; as, we will apprise the
general of an intended attack ; he ap-
prised the connnander of what he had
done.
APPRI'SED,;);?. Informed; having notic(
or knowledge communicated.
APPRI'SING, ppr. Informing; communi
eating notice to.
APPRI'ZE, V. t. [This word is usually writ
ten appraise, as if deduced from the Italian
apprezzare. There is no other word, from
which it can regularly be formed ; the
French apprecier, being recognized in ap-
preciate. But apprize, the word generally
used, is regularly formed, with ad, from
price, prize; D.prys; Ger.preis; W.^ri«;|
or from the Fr. priser, to prize, and this is
the more correct orthography.]
To value ; to set a value, in pursuance ol
authority. It is generally used for the act
of valuing by men appointed for the pur-
pose, inider direction of law, or by agree-
ment of ])arties ; as, to apprize the goods
and estate of a deceased person. The pri-
vate act of valuing is ordinarily expressed
bv prize.
APPRI'ZED, pp. Valued ; having the worth
fixed by authorized persons.
APPRI'ZEMENT, n. Tlie act of setting a
value under some authority or appoint-
ment ; a valuation.
Statutes of Conn. Blackstone.
2. The rate at which a thing is valued ; the
value fixed, or valuation ; as, he purchas-
ed the article at the apprizement
APPRI'ZER, n. A person appointed to rate,
or set a value on articles. When appri;
act under the authority of law, they must
be sworn.
APPRI'ZING, ppr. Ratuig ; setting a value
under authority
APPRI'ZING, n. The act of valuing under
authority.
APPROACH, V. i. [Fr. approcher, from
proche, near. The Latin proximus con-
tains the root, but the word, in the positive
degree, is not found ui the Latin. It '
from a root in class Brg, signifying to
drive, move, or press toward.]
1. To come or go near, in place ; to draw
near ; to advance nearer.
Wherefore approached ye so nigh the city ?
2 Sam. xi
2. To draw near in time.
And so much the more as ye see the day ap
proach. Heb. x.
3. To draw near, in a figurative sense ; tf
advance near to a point aimed at, in sci-
ence, literature, government, morals, &c.
to approximate ; as, he approaches to the
character of the ablest statesman.
4. To draw near in duty, as in prayer or
worship.
They take deliglit in approaching to God.
Isaiali.
APPROACH, V. f. To come near to ;
Pope approaches Virgil in smoothness of]
versification. This use of the word
elhptical, to being omitted, so that the
verb can hardly be said to be transitiv
The old use of the word, as " approach the
hand to the handle," is not legitimate,
2. To have access carnally. Lev. xviii.
3. In gardening, to ingraft a sprig or shoot
of one tree into another, without cutting
it from the parent stock. Encyc.
APPROACH, n. The act of drawing near
a coming or advancing near ; as, he was
apprised of the enemy's approach.
2. Access ; as, the approach to kings.
Bacon
3. In fortification, not only the advances of
an army are called approaches, but the
works thrown up by the besiegers, to pro-
tect them in their advances towards a
fortress.
APPROACHABLE, a. That may be ap
proached ; accessible.
APPROACHER, n. One who approaches
or draws near
APPROACHMENT, n. The act of coming
[Little used.] Brown
AP'PROBATE, a. [L. approbatus.] Appro-
ved. Elyot.
AP'PROBATE, V. t. [L. approbo, to approve,
of ad and probo, to prove or approve
probate is a modern word, but
use in America. It differs from approve.
denoting not only the act of the mind, bin
an expression of the act. See Proof, Ap-
prove and Prove.]
To express api)robation of ; to manifest a
liking, or degree of satisfaction ; to express
approbation oflicially, as of one's fitness
for a pubUc trust.
Mr. Hutchinson approbated the choice.
/. Eliot.
APPROBATED, pp. Approved ; com-
mended.
APPROBATING, ppr. Expressing appro-
bation of.
APPROBATION, n. [L. approbatio. See
Proof and Prove.]
The act of approving ; a liking ; that state
or disposition of the mind, in which we
assent to the j)ropriety of a thing, with
some degree of pleasure or satisfaction ;
as, the laws of God require our approba-
tion.
2. Attestation ; support ; that is, active ap-
probation, or action, in favor of what is
approved. Shak.
The commendation of a book licensed or
permitted to be published by authority, as
was formerly the case in England.
AP'PROBATiVE, a. Approving ; implying
approbation. MUner.
AP'PROBATORY, a. Containing approba-
tion ; expressing approbation.
Jlsh. Scoti.
APPROMPT', for Pro)npt. [Mt used.]
Bacon.
APPROOF', n. Approval. [ATot used.]
Shak.
APPRO'PERATE, r. <. [h. appropero.] To
hasten. [.\"ot used.]
APPROPIN'QUATE, v. i. [L. appropinquo.]
To draw near. [Mot tised.]
APPROPINQUA'TION,n. A drawing nigh.
[JVot used.[ HaU.
APPROPINQUE, V. i. To approach. [JVW
used.] Hudibras.
APPRO'PRIABLE, a. [From appropriate.]
That may be appropriated ; that may be set
apart, "sequestered, or assigned exclusively
to a particular use. Brown.
APPROPRIATE, V. t. [Fr. approprier, of L.
ad and proprius, private, pecuUar. See
Proper.]
To set apart for, or assign to a particular
use, in exclusion of all other uses ; as, a
spot of ground is appropriated for a
garden.
2. To take to one's self in exclusion of oth-
ers ; to claim or use as by an exclusive
right.
Let no man appropriate the use of a common
benefit.
3. To make peculiar ; as, to appropriate
names to ideas. Locke.
1. To sever an ecclesiastical benefice, and
annex it to a spiritual corporation, sole or
aggregate, being the patron of the living.
Blackstone.
APPRO'PRIATE, a. Belonging peculiarly ;
peculiar ; set apart for a particular use or
person ; as, rehgious worship is an appro-
priate duty to the Creator.
2. Most suitable, fit or proper ; as, to use
appropriate words in pleading.
APPROPRIATED, pp. Assigned to a par-
ticular use ; claimed or used exclusively ;
annexed to an ecclesiastical corporation.
APPRO'PRI.\TENESS, n. PecuUar fit-
A P P
A P P
APT
iiess ; the quality of being appropriate, or
pcriiliarlv suitiible. Med. Ii<p.
APPRO' PRIATING, ppr. Assigning to a
particular person or use ; claiming or using
exclusively ; severing to the perpetual use
of an ecclesiastical corporation.
APPROPRIA'TION, n. The act of seques-
tering, or assigrung to a particular use or
person, in exclusion of all others ; appli-
cation to a special use or purpose ; as, of
a piece of ground, for a park ; of a right,
to one's self; or of words, to ideas.
9. In law, the severing or sequestering of a
benetiie to the perpetual use of a spiritual
corjjoration, sole or aggregate, being the
patron of the living. For this purpose
must be obtained the king's license, the
consent of the bishop and of the patron.
When the appropriation is tlius made, the
appropriator smd his successors become
perpetual parsons of the church, and must
sue and be sued in that name.
Eng. Law. Blackstone.
APPRO'PRIATOR, n. One who appro-
of an appropriated
benefice. " Blackstone.
APPRO'PRIETARY, n. A lay possessor of
the profits of a benefice. Spelman.
APPRbV'ABLE, a. [See Approve.]
That may be approved ; that merits appro-
bation. Temple.
APPROVAL, n. Approbation. [See Ap-
prove.]
APPRoV'ANCE, n. Approbation. [See Ap-
prove.] Tliomson.
.\PPR0VE', V. t. [Fr. approuver ; L. appro-
bo ; of ad and probo, to prove or approve.
See Approbate, Prove and Proof.]
1. To Uke ; to be pleased with ; to admit tlie
propriety of; as, we approve the measures
of administration. This word may in-
clude, with the assent of the mind to the
propriety, a commendation to others.
"J. To prove ; to show to be true ; to justify.
WouWst thou approve thy constancy ? Jip-
prove first thy wisdom. Milton.
[This sense, though common a century or
two ago, is now rare.]
3. To experience ; to prove by trial. [JVbl
tised. See Prove.] Shak.
4. To make or show to be worthy of appro-
bation ; to commend.
Jesus, a man approved of God. Acts ii.
This word seems to include the idea of
Christ's real office, as the Messiah, and of]
God's love and approbation of him in that
_ character. Brown's Did.
5. To like and sustain as right ; to commend.
Yet their posterity approve their sayings.
Ps. xlix.
This word, when it signifies to be pleased,
is often followed by of, in which use, it is
intransitive ; as, I approve of the measure.
But the tendency of modern usage is to
omit of. " I approve the measure."
6. To improve. Blackstone.
APPROV'ED, pp. Liked ; commended :
shown or proved to be worthy of appro-
bation ; ha\-ing the approbation and sup-
port of
God. 2
APPRoVE'MENT, n. Approbation ; liking.l
Haytmrd.'
2. In law, when a person indicted for felony!
or treason, and arraigned, confesses the
fact before plea pleaded, and appeals or]
accuses his accomplices of the same crime,
to obtain his p-ardon, this confession ami
accusation are called approvement, and tin-
person an approver. Blackslom.
•3. Improvement of common lands, by in-
closing and converting them to the uses
of husbandry. Blackstone.^
APPROVER, n. One who approves. For-
merly one who proves or makes trial.
'i. In laiv, one who confesses a crime and
accuses another. [See Approvement.] Al-
so, formerly, one who had the letting ofi
the king's demain.s, in small manors. In]
Stat. 1. Edw. 3. C. 8, sheriffs are called
approvers. A baihff or steward of a manor.
Encyc.
APPRoV'ING, ppr. Liking ; commending ;
giving or expressing approbation.
APPRoV'ING, a. Yielding approbation ;
us an approving conscience.
APPROX'IMANT, a. Approaching. [.Vol
used.] Bering.
APPROXIMATE, a. [h. ad a.m\ prorimus,
next. See Approach.]
Nearest to; next; near to. [This icord is
superseded by proximate.]
APPROX'IMATE, v. t. To carry or ad-
vance near ; to cause to approach.
To approximate the inequality of riches to
the level of nature.
Burke. Aikin. Shenslone
APPROX'IMATE, v. i. To come near; tc
approach. Burke.
APPROXIMATION, n. Approach ; a draw-
ing, moving or advancing near. Hale.
2. In arithmetic and algebra, a continual ap-|
proach or coming nearer and nearer to &■
root or other quantity, without being able
perhaps ever to arrive at it.
Encyc. Johnson.
3. In medicine, communication of disease by
contact. Coxe-
4. A mode of cure by transplanting a dis-
ease into an animal or vegetable by im-
mediate contact. Coxe-
APPROX'IMATIVE, a. Approaching ; that
approaches. Ed. Encyc.
APPULSE, 7^. appuls'. [L. appulsus, of ad
and pello, to drive.]
1. The act of striking against; as, in all con-
sonants there is an appulse of the organs.
Holder.
2. In astronomy, the approach of any planet
to a conjunction with the sun, or a star.
3. Arrival ; landing. Bryant.
APPUL'SION, n. The act of striking against
bv a moving body.
APPUL'SIVE, a. Striking against ; driving
towards ; as, the a/>/>«/*iDe influence of the!
planets. Mtd. Rep.l
APPUR'TENANCE, n. So written for ap-\
peiienence. [Fr. appartenance. See Ap-'
pertain.]
That which belongs to sometliing else ; an
adjimct ; an appendage. Appropriate-!
ly, such buildings, rights and improve-l
ments, as belong to land, are called the ap-\
purtenances ; as small buildings are
ow»Hrten<ince« of a mansion. " I
APPL'R'TENANT, a. Belonging to ; per-i
taining to of right. '
2. In law, common appurtenant is that which
is annexed to land, and can be claimed
only by prescription or immemorial usage,
on a legal presumption of a special grant.
Blackstone.
\ PRICATE, v.i. [Uapricor.]
I'l'ii lia-k in liu! sun. [Little used.] Ray.
L\I'R1C ITV, n. Sunshine. [LUtle used.]'
.V PR HOT, n. Old orthography, apricock.
[W. bricyllen ; Arm. hrigesen ; Fr. abricot,
whence the present orthography. Junius
and Skinner alledge that the Itahans for-
merly wrote the word bericoco, berricoccoti.
At present they write it albicocca, and the
Spaniards albaricoque, which indicate the
word to be Ibrmed of albus and coccus,
white berry ; Sp. albar, white. But apri-
cot seems to be formed from the old or-
thography.]
A fruit belonging to the genus Prunus, of
the plum kind, of an oval figure, and de-
licious taste.
A'PRIL,n. [L. aprUis; Fr. arnZ; Sp. ahril;
Ir. abrail ; Corn. ebrU ; W. eiri«.]
The fnnrth month of the year.
V PRON, n. [h. aprun ; a or ag-, and Celtic
bron, the breast.]
1. A cloth or piece of leather worn on the
forepart of the body, to keep the clothes
clean, or defend them from injury.
2. The fat skin covering the belly of a goose.
Johnson.
3. In gunnery, a flat piece of lead that cov-
ers the vent of a cannon.
4. In ships, a piece of curved timber, just
above the foremost end of the keeL
Mar. Diet.
5. A platform, or flooring of plank, at the
entrance of a dock, on which the dock
gates are shut. Encyc.
A'PRONED, a. Wearing an apron. Pope.
A'PRON-MAN, n. A man who wears an
apron ; a laboring man ; a mechanic.
AP'ROPOS, adv. ap'ropo. [Fr. a and pro-
pos, purpose.]
1. Opportunely; seasonably. Jfarburton.
2. By the way ; to the purpose ; a word
used to introduce an incidental observa-
tion, suited to the occasion, though not
strictly belonging to the narration.
AP'SIS, n. phi. apsides. [Gr. o+i;, comiec-
tion, Iron o«tu, to connect.]
1. Inastronomy, the apsides are the two points
of a planet's orbit, wliich are at the great-
est and least distance from the sim or
earth ; the most distant point is the
aphehon, or apogee ; the least distant, tlie
perihelion or perigee. The line connect-
ing these is called the line of the apsides.
Encyc.
2. Apsis or absis is the arched roof of a
house, room or oven; also the ring or
compass of a wheel.
3. In ecclesiastical writers, an irmer part of a
church, where the altar was placed, and
where the clergy sat, answering to the
choir and standing opposite to the nave.
Also, the bishop's seat or throne in an-
cient churches ; called also eiedra and tri-
bune. This same name was given to a
reliquary or case in which the relics of
saints were kept. Encyc.
\PT, a. [L. aptus, from apto, to fit ; Gr.
orfro, to tie ; Sax. ho'p.]
1. Fit ; suitable ; as, he used very apt meta-
phors.
A a u
A a u
A R A
'i. Having a tendency ; liable ; used of things;]
as, wheat on moist laud is apt to blast or
be winter-ldlled. |
3. Inclined ; disposed customarily ; ustd q/i
persons; as, men are too apt to slander oth-
ers. I
J. Ready; r)uick; used of the mental powers ;\
as, a pujiil apt to learn ; an apt wit.
5. Qualified ; fit. [
All the men of might, strong and apt for.
war. 2Khigsxxiv.
APT, I), t. To fit ; to suit or adapt. Obs. 1
APT' ABLE, a. That may be adapted. [Xot\
used.] Shencood.\
AP'TATE, )'. t. To make fit. [Xot jised.]
pnv
and
Bailey.'
riooi; a
AFTER, in. [G
AP'TERA. ^whig.j I
An insect withuiit wings. The aptera, con-j
.stitiiling tlie seventh order of insects in;
Ijiniii 's" system, comprehend many gene-
ra. But later zoologists have made a very,
different distribution of tliese animals. I
,\P'TERAL, a. [Supra.] Destitute of wings.l
APTITUDE, n. [otaptus, apt.] |
J. A natural or acquired disposition for a
particular piu-pose, or tendency to a par-
ticidar action or effect ; as, oil has an ap-
titude to burn ; men acquire an aptitude toi
particular vices. i
9. Fitness ; suitableness.
8. Aptness ; readiness in learning ; docility.
APT'LY, adv. In an apt or suitable man-:
ner ; with just correspondence of parts 5
fillv ; properly ; justly ; pertinently.
APT'NESS, n. Fitness; suitableness; asj
the aptness of things to their end. I
1. Disposhion of the mind; propensity; as,l
the aptness of men to follow example. [
3. Quickness of apprehension ; readiness in
learning ; docility ; as, an aptness to learnl
is more observable in some children than
in others.
4. Tendency, in things; as, the aptness of
iron to rust.
AP'TOTE, n. [Gr. a priv. and rtfuatj, case.]
In grammar, a noiui which has no variation!
of termination, or distinction of cases; ani
indeclinable noun. |
AP'YREXY, 71. [Gr. a priv. and rtupEOiio, to
be feverish, from rtvp, fire.]
The absence or intermission of fever.
A.P'YROUS, a. [Gr. artupoj, a priv. and Tfiv,
fire.]
Incombustible, or that sustains a strong heat
without alteration of form or properties.
Apijrous bodies differ from those simply re-
tractory. Refractory bodies cannot be fu-
sed by heat, but may be altered. Encye.
A'QUA, n. [L. aqua ; Sp. agua ; Port
ag'oa ; It. acqua, water ; Arm. cagul, U
water, or steep ; Goth, ahwa, water, which
in Saxon is reduced to ea ; G. and D. ei,
in eiland ; Fr. eatt ,• W. gwy or aw ; Ir.
oig or oiche ; Amli. oge.]
Water ; a word much used in pharmacy
and the old chimistry.
Aquafortis, in the old chimistry, is now call-
ed nitric acid.
Aqua marina, a name which jewelers give to
the beryl, on account of its color
Aqua regia, in the old rhunistry, is now call-
ed nitro-muriatic acid.
Aqua vita, brandy, or spirit of wine.
AQUA'RIAN, n'. One of a sect of chris
tians. iu the )irhmtive church, who consc
crated water in the eucharisl instead of
wine ; either under a pretense of absti-
nence, or because it was unlawfiil to drink
wine. Encyc.
AQUA'RIUS, n. [L.] The water bearer ; a
sign in the zodiac wliich the sun enters
aliout the 21st of January ; so called from
the rains which prevail at that season, in It-
aly and the East. The stars in this constel-
lation, according to Ptolemy, are 45 ; ac-
cording to Tycho Brahe, 41 ; according to
Ilevelius, 47 ; and according to Flamstead,
108.
VQUATT€, a. [L. aquaticus. See Aqua.]
Pertaining to water ; apphed to animals
which live ui water, as fishes ; or to such
as frequent it, as aquatic fowls ; applied to
plants, it denotes such as grow in water.
Aquatical is rarely used.
AQUAT'Ie, n. A plant which grows in wa-
ter, as the flag.
AQ'UATILE, a. That iidiabits the water.
[Rarely used.] Brown.
AQUA'TINT'A, n. [aqua, water, and It.
tiiita, dye. See Tincture.]
.\. method of etchuig on copper, by wliich a
beautiful eflect is produced, resembling a
fine drawuig in water colors or Indian ink.
This is performed with a powder of as-
phalt and fine transparent rosin sifted on
the plate, which is a httle greased ; the
loose powder being shaken off, the plate
is heated over a chafing dish ; and when
cool, the light places on the plate are cov-
ered with a hair pencil, dipped in tuqien-
tine varnish mixed with ivory black. A
rim is then raised with bees wax, and re-
duced mtrous acid is poured on, and suf-
fered to stand five minutes ; then poured
oft', and the plate dried. This process
with the pencil and the aqua fortis is to be
repeated till the darkest shades are pro-
duced. Encyc.
AQ'UEDUeT, 71. [L. aqua, water, and duc-
tus, a pipe or canal, from duco, to lead.
See Duke.]
A structure made for conveying water from
one place to another over uneven ground ;
either above or under the surface. It
may be either a pipe or a channel. It may
be constructed above ground of stone or
wood ; carried through hills by piercing
them, and over valleys, by a structure sup-
ported by props or arches. Some have
been formed with three conduits on the
same hue, elevated one above another.
En/yc.
rV'QUEOUS, a. Watery; partaking of the
nature of water, or abounding with it.
A'QUEOUSNESS, n. The quahty of being
watery ; waterishness ; wateriness.
AQ'UILA, 71. [L., whence aquilinus ; from
the Oriental Spy, to be crooked. This
fowl is probably named from its curving
beak.]
In ornithology, the eagle. Also, a nonhern
constellation containing, according to the
British catalogue, 71 stars. Encyc.
AQ'UILINE, a. [L. aquilinus. See Aqu'
la.]
1. Belonging to the eagle.
'2. C'urving ; hooked ; prominent, like the
lnak of an eagle.
AQTILON, 71. [h.aqu!lo.]
The norlh wind. Shak.
AQUITA'NIAN, a. Pertaining to Aquita-
nia, one of the great divisions of Gaul,
which, according to Cesar, lay between
the Garonne, the Pyrenees and the Ocean.
In modern days, it has been called Gas-
cony. The inhabitants, in Cesar's time,
spoke a different dialect fi-om that of the
proper Celts, between the Garonne and
Seine. This dialect bore an affinity to
the Basque, in Biscay, to which they were
contiguous; and some remains of it still
exist in the Gascon. Aquitania is the
country of the Aqui; from the name of the
people, with tan, a Celtic word, signify mg
region or country. The Romans, either
fi'om their general usage, or from not un-
derstanding the Celtic tan, amiexed an-
other termination signifying coinitry, ia,
the Ir. ai or aoi, Heb. 'x ai, a settlement
or habitation ; Gr. ata, land, comitry ;
Hindu, eya, the same.
Cesar, Com. Lib. i. 1. D'AnvUle.
A. R. stand for a/i)io regni, the year of the
king's reign ; as A. R. G. R. 20, in thf
20th year of the reign of kmg George.
ARABESQUE,? .« o t.- ^
ARABESK'Y, I "■ ^S^^ Arabian.]
1. In the manner of the Arabians ; applied
to ornaments consisting of imaginary fo-
liage, stalks, plants, &c., in which there
are no figures of animals. Encyc.
2. The Arabic language. [JVot in ztse.]
Guthrie^
ARA'BIAN, a. [See the noun.] Pertauiing
to Arabia.
ARA'BIAN, n. [Arab denotes a wanderer,
or a dweller in a desert.]
A native of Arabia ; an Arab.
AR'ABI€, a. Belonging to Arabia, or the
language of its inhabitants.
\R'ABI€, 71. The language of the Arabi-
ans.
ARAB'ICALLY, adv. In the Arabian man-
ner.
AR'ABISM, n. An Arabic idiom or pecul-
iarity of language. Encyc. Stuart.
AR'ABIST, n. One well versed in Arabic
literature. Encyc.
AR'ABLE, a. [L. aro, Gr. opoo, to plow ;
Ir. araiyn.]
Fit for plowing or tillage ; hence often ap-
plied to land which has been plowed.
AR'ABY, 71. Arabia. Milton.
ARA€H'NOID, a. [Gr. apa;i:i'77, a spider, and
f 1805, form ; Heb. jns, to weave, that is, to
stretch, to draw out ; Eng. reach.]
In anatomy, the arachnoid tunic, or arach-
noid, is a seinitransparent thin membrane
which is spread over the brain and pia-
mater, and for the most part closely con-
nected with the latter. The term has also
been apphed to that capsule of the crysta-
liue lens, which is a continuation of the
hyaloid membrane. Cyc.
ARA€H'N01D, n. A species of madrepore
found fossil. Cyc.
ARA€HO'SIAN, a. Designating a chain of
mountains which divide Persia fi-om In-
dia. As. Researches.
ARAIGNEE'orARRA'IGN,7i. ardin. [Fr.
a spider.]
In fortification, the branch, return or gallery
of a mine. Bailey.
ARA'ISE, V. t. To raise. [Mt used.]
A R D
A R B
ARC
ARAME'AN, a. Pertaining to Aram, a i
of Sheni, or to the Clialdeans.
VR'AMISM, n. An idiom of the Aramean
or Chaldee language ; a Chaldaism.
ARA'NEOUS, o. [L. aranea, a spider, or
cobweb.]
Resembling a cobweb.
ARAU€A'NIAN, a. Pertaining to the Arau
cauians, a tribe of aboriginals, inhabiting
Arauco, in Chili. Molina.
.VRBALIST, n. [From arcus, a bow, and
balista, L., an engine to throw stones ;
Gr. lia^u), to throw.]
A cross-bow. This consists of a steel bow
set in a shaft of wood, furnished with a
string and a trigger ; and is bent with a
piece of iron. It serves to throw bullets,
darts, arrows, &.c. Encyc.
ARBALISTER, n. A cross-bowman.
Speed.
ARBITER, n. [L.] A person appointed, or
chosen by parties in controversy, to de-
cide their differences. This is its sense in
the civil law. In modern usage, arbitra-
tor is the techjiical Avord.
a. In a general sense, notv most common, a
person who has the power of judg'ing and
determining, without control ; one whose
power of deciding and governing is not
limited.
3. One that commands the destiny, or holds
the empire of a nation or slate. Mitford.
'ARBITRABLE, a. Arbitrary ; depending
on the will. Spelman.
ARBITRAMENT, n. Will ; determuiation ;
Milton.
2. The award of arbitrators. Coivel. In
this sense award is more generally used.
^ARBITRARILY, adv. By will only ; des-
potically ; absolutely.
'ARBITRARINESS, n. The quality of be-
ing arbitrary ; despoticalness ; tyranny.
Temple.
ARBITRA'RIOUS, a. Arbitrary ; despotic.
[J^/ot used.] Mirris. More.
ARBITRA'RIOUSLY, adv. Arbitiarily.
rjVo< used.] Glanville.
ARBITRARY, a. [L. arbitrarius.]
1. Depending on will or discretion ; not gov
erned by any fixed rules ; as, an arbitrary
decision ; an arbitrary punishment.
.Arbitrary power is most easily established on
the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.
Washington.
a. Despotic ; absolute in power ; having no
external control ; as, an arbitrary prince
or government.
'ARBITRATE, v. i. [L. arbitror.]
'J'o hear and decide, as arbitrators ; as, to
choose men to arbitrate between us.
'ARBITRATE, v. t. To decide; to deter-
mine ; to judge of. MUton. Shak.
ARBITRA'TION, 71. The heaiuig and de-
termination of a cause between parties in
controversy, by a person or persons cho-
sen by the parties. This may be done by
one person ; but it is usual to chuse two
or three ; or for each party to chuse one,
and these to name a third, who is called
the umpire. Their determination is caUed
an award.
2. A hearing before arbitrators, though tliey
make no award. [This is a common use of
the icord in the United States.]
'ARBITRATOR, n. A person cliosen by
party, or by the parties who have a con-
troversy, to determine their differences.
The act of the parties in giving power to
the arbitrators is called the submission, and
this may be verbal or written. The person
chosen as umpire, by two arbitrators,
when the parties do not agree, is also cal-
led an arbitrator.
2. An arbiter, governor, or president.
Milton.
3. In a more extensive sense, an arbiter ; one
who has the power of deciding or prescri-
bing without control. Addison. Shak.
ARBITRESS, n. A female arbiter.
ARBOR, n. [The French express the sense
by berceau, a cradle, an arbor, or bower ;
Sp. emparrado, from parra, a vine raised
on stakes, and nailed to a wall. Q.u. L.
arbor, a tree, and the primary sense.]
1. A frame of lattice work, covered witl
vines, brandies of trees or other plants,
for shade ; a bower.
2. In botany, a tree, as distinguished from
a shrub. The distinction which Linne
makes, that a tree springs up with a bud
on the stem, and a shrub not, is found not
to hold universally ; and the tree, in pop-
ular understanding, differs from tlie shrul:
only in size. .4r6or forms the seventh
family of vegetables in Linne's system,
[See Tree.]
3. In mechanics, the principal part of a ma-
chine, sustaining the rest. Also the axit
or spindle of a machme, as of a crane, ot
win<lmill. Encyc.
This in America is called the shaft.
'ARBORATOR, n. One who plants or who
prunes trees. Evelyn.
ARBO'REOUS, a. [L. arboreus, from arbor.]
Belonging to a tree ; resembling a tree ; con-
stituting a tree ; growing on trees, as
moss is arboreous.
ARBORES'CENCE, n. [L. arboresco, to
grow to a tree.]
The figure of a tree ; the resemblance of
tree in minerals, or crystalizations or
groups of crystals in that form.
ARBORES'CENT, a. Resemhhug a tree ;
having the figure of a tree; dendj-itical
E^icyc.
2. From herbaceous becoming woody.
Marty n.
ARBORES'CENT STAR-FISH, ji. A spe
cies of asterias, called also caput Medu-
sce. [See Starfish.]
'ARBORET, n. [It. arboreto, from «r6or, a
tree.]
A small tree or shrub ; a place planted or
overgrown with trees. Milton.
'ARBORIST, n. One who makes trees his
study, or who is versed in the knowledge
of trees. Howell.
ARBORIZATION, n. The appearance or
figure of a tree or plant in minerals, or
fossils. [See Herborization.]
'ARBORIZE, V. t. To form the appearajice
of a tree or plant in minerals.
'ARBUSCLE, 71. [L. arbusculus, a little tree.]
A dwarf tree, in size between a shrub and
a tree. Bradley.
ARBUSeULAR, a. Resembhng a shrub ;
having the figure of small trees.
Da Costa.
ARBUST'IVE, a. [From arbustum.]
Containing copses of trees or shrubs ; cover-
ed with shrubs. Bartram.
ARBUST'UM, 71. [L. See Arbor.] A copse
of shrubs or trees ; an orchard.
'ARBUTE, 71. [L. arbutus.] The strawberry
tree.
ARBU'TE.'VN, a. Pertaining to the straw-
berry tree. Encyc. Evelyn.
'ARC, n. [L. arcus, a bow, vault or arch ;
arcuo, to bend ; Gr. af>xVt beginning, origin :
apxu, to begin, to be the author or chief;
Fr. arc, arche ; Sp. arco, a bow and an
arch; Pori. id; ll. id; .\rm. goarec. The
(Jrcek word has a different application,
but is probably from the same root as
arcus, from the sense of springing or
stretching, shooting up, rising, which
gives the sense of a vault, or bow, as well
as of chief or head. Heb. jix, to weave;
Syr. ; j to desire or long for ; Ar.
_ \ to emit odor, to diffuse fragrance :
and Ileb. i-y to desire, or long for, to as-
cend; Eth. 0<iT to ascend, to mount ;
Ar. id. The radical sense of all these
roots is, to stretch, strain, reach ; Gr.
opfyu; li.fragro ; and the sense of arch is
from stretching upwards, ascending. From
ore or arch comes the sense of bending,
deviating and cunning.]
In geometry, any part of the circumference
of a circle, or curved line, lying from one
])oint to another ; a segment, or part of a
circle, not more than a semicircle.
Encyc. Johnson.
ARCA'DE, 71. [Fr. from arcus ; Sp. arcada.]
A long or continued arch ; a walk arched
above. Johnson.
-■VReA'DIAN, ) Pertainuig to Arcadia, a
ARCA'DI€, l"' mountainous district in
the heart of the Peloponnesus.
Trans, of Pausanias.
ARCA'DICS, 71. The title of a book m Pau-
sanias, which treats of Arcadia.
Trans. B. 8.
AR€A'NE, a. [L. arcanus.] Hidden, secret.
[N'ot much %tsed.]
Trans, of Pausanias.
AR€A'NUM, 71. [L.] A secret ; generally
used in the plural, arcana, secret things,
mysteries.
ARCBOUTANT, 71. [Fr. arc, and bcnit. See
About, Abutment.] In building, an arched
buttress. Encyc.
ARCH, 71. [See Arc."] A segment or part
of a circle. A concave or hollow struct-
ure of stone or brick, supjiorted by its
own curve. It may be constructed of
wood, and supported by the mechanism
of the work. This species of structure is
much used in britlges.
A vault is ])roperly a broad ai-ch. Encyc.
!. The space between two piers of a bridge,
when arched ; or any place covered with
on arch.
t. Any cur\'aturc, in form of an arch.
4. The vault of heaven, or sky. Sliak.
Triumphal arches are magnificent struc-
tures at the entrance of cities, erected to
adorn a triiunph and perpetuate the mem-
ory of the event.
ARCH, V. t. To cover with an arch ; to
fonn with a curve ; as to arch a gate.
ARCH, V. i. To make an arch or arches;
as, to arch beneath the sand. Pope.
ARC
ARC
ARC
ARCH', a. [It. arcare, to bend, to arch, to
cheat, or deceive, from arco, L. arcus, a
bow ; G. org, cunning, arch, bad ; D. arg,
crafty, roguish ; Sw. Dan. arg, id. The
Teutonic arg, appears to be allied to arch,
and to be the Eiig. rogue. Tliis circum-
stance, and tlie Arm. goarec, [see arc,] in-
dicate that tlie radical letters in arc, arch,
<H>XV> are Rg. The radical sense of bend
is, to strain.]
Cunning ; sly ; shrewd ; waggish ; mischiev-
ous for sport ; mirthful ; as we say in
popular language, roguish ; as an arch
'"ARCH, a. used also in composition. [Gr.
apz°!, chief; Ir. arg, noble, famous.]
Chief ; of the first class ; principal ; as, an
arch deed. Shak.
Shakspeare uses this word as a noun ; " IMy
worthy arch and patrons ;" but the use ih
not authorized.
•ARCHAISM, n. [Gr. opzoto;, ancient, from
<*POT, beginning.]
An ancient or obsolete phrase or expression.
H'atts.
AR€lIAN'(iEL, n. An angel of the liigh-
est order ; an angel occupying the eighth
rank in the celestial hierarchy. Encyc.
2. The name of several plants, as the dead-
nettle, or lamium ; a species of melittis ;
and the galeopsis or hedge-nettle.
AR€HANgELT€, a. Belonging to archan-
ARCHAPOS'TATE, n. A chief apostate.
ARCHAPOS'TLE, n. The chief apostle.
Trapp.
ARCirARCHITECT, n. The supreme ar-
chitect. Sylvester.
ARCHBE'ACON, n. The chief beacon,
place of prospect or signal.
ARCHBISH'OP, n. A chief bishop ; a
church dignitary df the tirst class; a me-
tropolitan bishop, who superintends the
conduct of the suffragan bishops, in his
province, and also exercises episcopal au-
thority in his own diocese. Clarendon.
ARCHBISH'OPRIe, n. [Archbishop and
ric, or rick, territory or jurisdiction.]
The jurisdiction or place of an archbishop ;
the province over which an archbishop
exercises authority. Clarendon
ARCHBOTCH'ER, n. The chief botcher,
or mender, ironically. Corbet.
ARCHBUILD'ER, > Chief builder.
ARCHBILD'ER \ "• Harmar.
ARCHBUT'LER, n. A chief butler ; an of-
ficer of the German empire, who presents
the cup to the emperor, on solemti occa-
sions. This office belongs to the king of
Bohemia. Encyc.
ARCHCHAMBERLAIN, n. A chief cham
berlain ; an officer of the German empire
whose office is similar to that of the great
chamberlain in England. This office be
longs to the elector of Brandenburg.
Encyc.
ARCHCH ANCELLOR, n. A chief chan
cellor ; an officer in the German empire,
who presides over the secretaries of the
court. Under the first races of French
kings, when Germany and Italy belonged
to them, three archchancellors were
pointed ; and this institution gave rise to
the three archchancellors now subsisting
in Germany, who are the archbishops of|
Mentz, of Cologne, and of Treves. Encyc.
ARCHCH^ANTER, n. The chief chanter,
or president of the chanters of a church.
ARCH€HIM'I€, a. Of supreme chimical
powers. Milton.
ARCHCONSPIR'ATOR, n. Principal con-
spirator. Maundrell.
ARCH€OUNT', n. A chief count ; a title
formerly given to the earl of Flanders, on
account of his great riches and power,
Encyc.
ARCH€RIT'Ie, M. A chief critic.
lARCHDAP'IFER, 71. [Arch, chief, and L
daplfer, a iood-bearer, from daps, meat 01
a feast, and /era, to carry.]
An officer in the German empire, whose of
fice is, at the coronation of the emperor,
to carry the first dish of meat to table on
liorscliack. Encyc.
ARIMlDi: ACON, n. [See Deacon.]
Ill KngUtnil, an ecclesiastical dignitary, Jiext
in rank below a bishop, who has jurisdic
tion either over a part or over the whole
diocese. He is usually appointed by the
bishop, and has an authority originally
derived from the bishop, but now inde
pendent of him. He has a court, the mosi
inferior of ecclesiastical courts, for hear-
ing ecclesiastical causes, and the punish-
ment of offenders by spiritual censures.
Blackstone.
ARCHDE'A€ONRY, n. The office, juris
diction or residence of an archdeacon. In
England, evei^y tliocese is divided into
archdeaconries, of which there are sixty
and each archdeaconry into rural dean-
eries, and each deanery into parishes.
Blackstone
ARCHDE'A€ONSHIP, n. The office of an
archdeacon.
JARCIIDIVI'NE, n. A principal theologi;
ARCHDRU'ID, n. [See Druid.] A chiefl
druid, or pontiff of the ancient druids.
Henry, Hist. Eng. Roivtand's
Mona Antiqua.
ARCHDU'€AL, a. [See Archduke.] P
taining to an archduke.
ARCHDUCH'ESS, n. [See Duchess.] AJ
title given to the females of the house of
Austria.
ARCHDUCH'Y, n. The territory of an arch
duke or archduchess. Ash.
•VRCHDU'KE, [See Duke.] A title given to
princes of the House of Austria; all the
sons being archdukes, and the daughters
archduchesses. Encyc.
ARCHDUKEDOM, n. The territory or ju
risdiction of an archduke or archduchess.
VAJICHED, pp. Made with an arch or curve
covered with an arch.
ARCHEN'EMY.n. A principal enemy.
Milton
ARCHE0L06'IeAL, o. Pertaining to a trea-
tise on antiquity, or to the knowledge of
ancient things.
ARCHEOL'OgY, n. [Gr. ap;taio;, ancient^
and Xoyoj, discourse.]
A discourse on antiquity ; learning or knowl
edge which respects ancient times.
Panoplist, Dec. 1808.
'ARCHER, n. [Sp. archero ; It. arcih-o ; Fr.
archer ; from arcus, a bow. See Arch anil
Arc]
A bowman ; one who uses a bow in battle ;
one who is skilled in the use of the bow
and arrow.
ARCHERESS, n. A female archer.
MarkhaDt.
ARCHERY, n. The use of the bow and
arrow ; the practice, art or skill of arch-
ers ; the act of shooting with a bow and
arrow.
ARCHES-€OURT, in England, so called
from the church of St. Mary le bow {de
arcubus,) whose top is raised of stone pil-
lars built archwise, where it was anciently
held, is a court of appeal, in the ecclesias-
tical pohty, the judge of which is called
the dean of the arches. This court had
jurisdiction over thirteen peculiar parishes
in London, belonging to the archbishop of
Canterbury ; but the office of dean of the
arches being united with that of the arch-
bishop's principal office, the dean now
receives and determines appeals from the
sentence of aU inferior courts within the
province ; and from him lies an appeal to
the king in chancery. This and all the
principal spiritual courts are now held at
Doctors' Commons. Blackstone.
'ARCHETYPAL, a. Original ; constituting
a model or pattern.
ARCHETYPE, n. [Gr. apxitvrtov; ap;t'7,
beginning, and tvxos, form.]
1. The original pattern or model of a work ;
or the model from which a thing is made ;
as, a tree is the archetype or pattern of
our idea of that tree. fVatts.
2. Among minters, the standard weight, by
which others are adjusted.
Among Platonists, the archetypal world is
the world as it existed in the idea of God,
before the creation. Encyc.
ARCHE'US, n. [Gr. apxvt beginning, or
apxof, a chief; VV. erchi.]
A term used by the ancient chimists, to de-
note the internal efficient cause of all
things ; the anuna mundi or plastic power
of the old philosophers ; the power that
presides over the animal economy, or the
vis medicatrix ; the active principle of the
material world. In medicine, good health,
or ancient practice. Johnson. Encyc. Coxe.
ARCHFEL'ON, n. [See Felon.] A chief
felon. Milton.
ARCHFIE'ND, n. [See Fiend.] A chief
fiend or foe. Milton.
ARCHFLAM'EN, n. A chief flmnen or
priest Herbert.
ARCHFLAT'TERER,n. [See Flatter.] A
chiefflatterer. Bacon.
ARCHFO'E, n. [See Foe.] A grand or
chief enemy. Milton.
ARCHFOl'ND'ER, n. A chief founder.
MUton.
ARCHGOV'ERNOR, n. The chief gov-
ernor. Brewer.
ARCHHER'ESY, n. [See Heresy.] The
greatest heresy. Butler.
ARCHHER'EtiC, n. A chief heretic.
Shak.
ARCHHI'EREY, n. [Gr. apxos, chief, and
(fpo5, priest.] A chief priest in Russia.
Tooke, i. 530.
ARCHHYP'OCRITE, 71. A great or chief
hypocrite. Fuller.
ARCH'IATER, ji. [Gr. op;to5, chief, and
Mif po5, physician.] Chief physician ; a word
used in Russia. Tooke, i. 557.
ARCH'ICAL, a. Chief: primary.
Hallywell.
ARCHIDIAC'ONAL, a. [See Deacon.]
ARC
ARC
A R D
Pertaining to an archdeacon ; as an archidi-
aconal visitation.
AR€HIEPI.S'€OPAL, a. [See Episcopal]
Belonging to an arclihishop ; as, Canterbury
is an archiepiscopal see. ff'eever.
ARCHIL, n. A lichen, which grows on
rocks, in the Canary and Cape de Verd
islos, which yields a rich jiurple color, not
durable, but very beautiful. It is bruised
between stones, and moistened with strong
spirit of urine mixed with quick lime. It
first takes a purplish red color, and then
turns to blue. In the first state it is called
archil ; and in the second, lacmas or lit-
mase, litmiis. Encyc.
AR€llILO'€HIAN, a. Pertaining to Archil-
oclius, the poet, who invented a verse of
seven feet, the first four dactyls or spon-
dees, the last three, trochees.
-ARCHIMAGUS, ji. tSee Ma^cian.] The
high priest of the Persian Magi, or wor-
shipers of fii-e. Encyc.
ARCHIMAND'RITE, n. [from mandrite, a
Syriac word for monk.]
In church history, a chief of the mandrites or
monks, answering to abbot in Europe.
Encyc. Tooke, Russ.
'ARCHING, jti/jr. Forming an arch; cover-
ing with an arch.
ARCHING, a. Curving hke an arch.
ARCHIPEL'AGO, n. [Authors are not
agreed as to the origin of this word.
Some suppose it to be compounded of
apx°i, chief, and Wf^oyoj, sea ; others, of
Atyoioj, and rttXayos, the Egean sea. See
Gibbon, Mitford and Ed. Encyc]
In a general sense, a sea interspersed with
many isles ; but particularly the sea which
separates Europe from Asia, otherwise
called the Egean Sea. It contains the
Grecian isles, called Cyclades and Spo-
rades.
'AR€HITE€T, n. [Gr. apx^s, chief, and
ttxtuv, a workman. See Tech^ical.]
1. A person skilled in the art of building ;
one who under.stands architecture, or
makes it his occupation- to form plans and
designs of buildings, and superintend the
artificers employed.
2. A contriver ; a former or maker. Ray.
ARCHITECT'IVE, a. Used in building;
proper for building. Derham.
AR€HITE€TON'IC, a. That has power or
skill to build. Smcllie, Ch. 13.
AReHITE€TON'I€S, n. The science of
architecture. Jish.
AK€HITE€T'RESS, n. A female architect.
rVotton.
AR€HITE€T'URAL, a. Pertaining to the
art of building ; that is according to the
rules of architecture. Mason
'AR€HITE€TURE, n. [L. architectura.]
1. The art of building ; but in a more Um-
ited and appropriate sense, the art ofj
constructing houses, bridges and other
buildings for the purposes of civil hfe.
2. Frame or structure.
The earth is a piece of divine architecture.
Burnet.
Military architecture is the art of fortification.
J^avnl architecture is the art of building ships.
'ARCHITRAVE, 71. [Gr. apxoi, chief, and It
trave, fi-om L. trabs, a beam.]
In architecture, the lower division of ar
entablature, or that part which rests
mediately on the coliunn. It probably
represents the beam which, in ancient
buildings, extended from column to col-
umn, to support the roof
In chimney.s, the architrave is called the
mantle piece ; and over doors and win-
dows, the hyperthyrioii.
Johnson. Encyc. Cyc.
'ARCHIVAL, a. [See Archives.] Pertain-
ing to archives or records ; contained in
records. Tooke.
~AR€HIVAULT, ji. [arch, chief, and vault.]
In building, the inner contour of an arch, or
a band adorned with moldings, running
over the faces of the arch-stones, and
bearing upon the imposts. It has only a
single face in the Tuscan order ; two faces
crowned in the Doric and Ionic, and the
same moldings, as the architrave, in the
Corinthian and Composite. Encyc.
'ARCHIVES, n.plu. [Gr. op;tecw ; Low L.
archivum ; Fr. archives ; It. arcldvio.]
The apartment in which records are kept ;
also the records and papers which are
preserved, as evidences of facts.
'ARCHIVIST, n. [Fr. and It.] The keeper
of archives or records. Encyc.
'ARCHLIKE, a. Built Ukc an arch.
Young.
'ARCHLUTE, ) „ ,., „..•/,„,„ i
'ARCHILUTE, \ "• t^'' '"•"'"''"•I
A large lute, a theorbo, the base-strings of
which are doubled with an octave, and the
higher strings with a unison. Busby
'ARCHLY, adv. Shrewdly; wittily; jest-
ingly.
.RCHR
ARCHMAGI'CIAN, ji. The chief magi
cian. Spenser.
ARCHMAR'SHAL, n. The grand marshal
of the German empire ; a dignity belong-
ing to the elector of Saxony.
ARCHNESS, n. Cunning ; shrewdness ;
waggishness.
ARCHON, n. [Gr. apx^', a prince.]
The archons in Greece were chief magis-
trates chosen, after the death of Codrus,
from the most illustrious famiUes, to si
perintend civil and religious concern!
They were nine in number ; the fii-st was
properly the archon ; the second was called
kiTig ; the third, polemarch, or general of
the forces. The other six were called
thesmothetce, or legislators. Encyc.
'ARCHONSHIP, n. The office of an ar-
chon ; or the term of his office. Mitford.
ARCHON'TICS, n. In church history, a
branch of the Valentinians, who held that
the world was not created by God, but by
angels, archontes.
ARCHP'ASTOR, n. Chief pastor, the shep-
herd and bishop of our souls. Barrow.
ARCHPHILOS'OPHER, n. A chief phi-
losopher. Hooker.
ARCHPIL'LAR, 7!. The main pillar.
Harmar.
ARCHPO'ET, n. The principal poet.
ARCHPOLITI CIAN,»i. [See Policy.] An
eminent or distinguished poUtician.
Bacon
ARCHPON'TIFF, n. [See Pontiff.] A su
premc pontitl'or priest. Burke
ARCHPRE'LATE, n. [See Prelate.] The
chief prelate.
ARCHPRES'BYTER, n. [See Presbyter.]
A chief presbyter or priest. Encyc.
ARCHPRES'BYTER V. v. The absolute
dominion of presbyteiT, or the chief pres-
•jy'ery. " Milton.
ARCHPRIE'ST, n. [See Priest.] A chief
priest. Encyc.
ARCHPRI'MATE, 71. The chief primate ; an
archbishop. MUton.
ARCHPROPH'ET, ti. Chief prophet.
fVarton.
ARCHPROT'ESTANT, n. A principal or
distinguished proteslant.
ARCIIPUB'LICAN, ,.. The distinguished
publican. Hall.
ARCHREB'EL, ti. The chief rebel.
MUton.
ARCHTRA'ITOR, n. A principal traitor.
ARCHTREAS'URER, n. [See Treasure.^
The great treasurer of the German em-
pire ; a dignity claimed by the elector of
Hanover. Guthrie.
ARCHTREAS'URERSniP,7i. The office
of archtreasurer. Collins' Peerage.
ARCHTY'RANT, n. A principal or great
tyrant. Hall.
ARCHVIL'LAIN, n. [See Villain.] A chief
or great villain. Shak.
ARCHVIL'LANY, n. Great villany.
'ARCHWISE, adv. [arch and mse. See
fVise.] In the form of an arch.
ARCTA'TION, t [L. arrfus, tight.] Pre-
ARC'TITUDE, ^ "-tematuralstraightness :
constipation from inflammation. Corf.
ARCTIC, a. [Gr. opxroj, a bear, and ii
northern constellation so called. W. artb ;
Ir. art, a bear.]
Northern ; pertaining to the northern con-
stellation, called the bear ; as, the arctic
pole, circle, region or sea.
The arctic circle is a lesser circle parallel to
the equator, 23° 28' from the north pole.
This, and the antarctic circle, are called
the polar circles, and within these lie the
frigid zones.
ARCTU'RUS, 7!. [Gr. opxro}, a bear, and
ovfia, tail.] A fixed star of the first mag-
nitude, in the constellation of Bootes.
Encyc.
'ARCUATE, a. [L. arcuatus. See Arc]
Bent or curved in the form of a bow.
Martyn. Bacon. Ray.
ARCUA'TION, 77. The act of bending ; in-
curvation ; the state of being bent ; cur-
vity; crookedness; great convexity of the
tliorax. Coxe.
2. A method of raising trees by layers; that
is, by bending branches to the ground, and
covering the small shoots with earth, three
inches deep upon the joints ; making a
bason of earth to hold the water. When
these have taken root, they are removed
into a nursery. Chambers. Encyc.
ARCUBALIST, 7?. [L. arcus, a bow, and
balista, an engine for throwing stones.]
A cross-bow. H'arton.
.\RCUBALIS'TER, 7i. A cross-bowman;
one who used the arbalist. Camden.
'ARD, the termination of many Enghsh
words, is the Ger. art, species, kind ; Sw.
and Dan. art, mode, nature, genius, form ;
Ger. arten, to take after, resemble ; Sw.
arta, to form or fashion ; Ger. aiiig, of the
nature of, also comely ; Dan. and Sw.
artig, beautiful ; D. aarden, to take after,
resemble; aardig, genteel, pretty, ingen-
ious. We observe it in Goddard, a divine
temper ; Giffard, a disposition to give, lib^
ARE
erality ; Bernard, filial affcciion ; standard,
drunkard, dotard, &c.
ARDENCY, n. [L. ardens, from ardeo, to
burn.]
Warmth of passion or affection; ardor; ea-
gerness ; as, the ardency of love or zeal.
ARDENT, a. Hot ; burning ; that causes a
sensation of burning ; as, ardent spirits, that
is, distilled spirits ; an ardent fever.
•2. Having the ap))earance or quality of fire;
fierce ; as ardent eyes.
;'. Warm, applied to the passions and affec-
tions ; passionate ; affectionate ; much en-
gaged ; zealous ; as, ardent love or vows ;
ardent zeal.
ARDENTLY, adv. With warmth ; affec-
tionately ; passionately.
■ARDENTNESS, n. Ardency.
■ARDOR, H. [L.] Heat, in a literal sense ;
as, the ardor of the sun's rays.
•i. Warmth, or heat, applied to the passions
and affections ; eagerness ; !is, he pursues
study with ardor; they fought with ardor.
Milton uses the word for person or spirit,
bright and effulgent, but by an unusual
license.
ARDUOUS, (J. [L. ardiius; Ir. ard, high;
W. hardh ; Ir. airdh, high, highth.]
I. High, lofty, ill a literal sense ; as, ardu
ous'paths. Pope
'i. Ditficult ; attended with great labor, like
the ascending of acclivities ; as, an arduoui
em])loyment, task, or enterprise.
'ARDUOUSLY, adv. Li aii arduous man
uer ; with laboiiousness.
ARDUOUSNESS, n. Highth ; difficulty of
execution.
\RE. The plural of the substantive verb ;
but a different word from be, am or was.
It is from the Sw. vara, Dan. vcerer, to
be, to exist ; « or «) being lost. We are ;
ye or you are ; they are ; jiast tense plural
tvere. It is usually pronounced ar.
,V-RE, ) The lowest note, except one.
ALAMIRE, S ill Guido's scale of music.
Shak
A'REA, n. [L. I suspect this to be con-
tracted from Ch. NJ'IX, an area or bed ;
Heb. njny ; fi'om a root which signifies to
reach, stretch, lay or spread.]
1. Any plain surface, as the floor of a room
of a church or other building, or of tlie
ground.
2. "The space or site on which a building
stands; or of any inclosure.
3. Ill geometry, the superficial contents of any
figure ; the surface included witliin any
given lines ; as the area of a square or a
triangle.
4. Among physicians, baldness ; an empty
space ; a bald space produced by alopecy
also a name of the disease. Core. Parr.
5. In mining, a compass of ore allotted to
diggers. Coxe.
AREA'D, ) . [Sax. aredan.'] To counsel
AREE'D, \ "• ''■ to advise. Ohs. Spenser
A'REAL, a. Pertaiiiuig to an area ; as areai
interstices. Barton.
AKEE'K, aiiu. In a reeking condition. [Set
Reek.^ Smjl
AREFA€'TION, n. [L. arefacio, to dry,
from areo.] The act of drying ; the state of
growing dry. Bacon
AR'EFY, V. t. To dry or make dry.
Bacon
ARE'NA, n. [L. sand.] An open space ofl
ARE
ground, strewed with sand, on which the
gladiators, in ancient Rome, exhibited
shows of fighting for the amusement of
spectators. Hence, a place for pubhc ex-
hibition. Mam's Rom. Ant. Ray.
2. Among physicians, sand or gravel in the
kidneys.
ARENA'CEOUS, a. [from arena, sand.]
Sandy ; having the properties of sand.
IVoodward.
2. Brittle ; as arenaceous limestone. Kinvan
ARENA'TION,n. Among ;)A_i/sicians, a sand
bath ; a sprinkhng of hot sand upon a dis-
eased person. Core.
.'VREN'DALITE, n. In mineralogy, another
name of epidote, or pistacite ; epidote being
the name given to it by Hauy, and pistacite
by Werner. [See Epidote.]
ARENDA'TOR, n. [Russ. arenda, a farm
Q». Sp. arrendar, to rent.]
In Livonia and other provinces of Russia, a
farmer of the farms or rents ; one who
contracts with the crown for the rents of
the farms. He who rents an estate be-
longing to the crown, is called Crotcn-
arendator. Arende is a term used both for
the estate let to farm, and the sum for
which it is rented. Tooke's Russ. ii. 288.
\RENILIT'I€, a. [arena, sand, and xiBof, a
stone.]
Pertaining to sand stone ; consisting of sand
stone ; as arenilitic mountains. Kirwan
ARENO'SE, \ Sandy ; fiUl of sand.
AR'ENOUS, \ "• Johnson.
AR'EOLE, \ [L.] The colored circle
AREO'LA, \ "■ round tlie nipple, or round
)ustulc. Encyc. Coxe.
AREOM'ETER, n. [Gr. apatoj, rare, thin,
and fiffpfw, to measure.]
An instrument for measuring the specific
gravity of liquids. Fourcroy.
AREOMET'RI€AL, a. Pertaining to an
areometer.
AREOM'ETRY, n. Tlie measuring or act
of measuring tlie specific gravity of fluids.
AREOPAGIT'Ie, a. Pertauiing to the Are-
opagus. Mitford
AREOP'AGITE, n. A member of the Are-
opagus, which see. Acts xvii. 34.
AREOPAGUS, n. [Gr. Ap,j{, 3Iars, and
Ttayof, hill.]
A sovereign tribunal at Athens, famous for
the justice and impartiality of its decis
ions. It was originally held on a hill ii
the city ; but afterward removed to the
Royal Portico, an open square, where the
judges sat in the open air, inclosed by a
cord. Their sessions were in the night,
that they might not be diverted by object;
of sight, or influenced by the presence and
action of the speakers. By a law of So-
lon, no person could be a member of tlii;
tribunal, until he had been archon or chiel]
magistrate. This court took cognizance
of high crimes, impiety and immorality,
and watched over the laws and the public
treasury. Lempriere. Encyc. Pausa- }
nias. Acts xvii. 10. ^
AREOT'Ie, a. [Gr. apaiof, thin.] Attenu
ating ; making thin, as in liquids ; rare
AREOT'Ie, ?i. A medicine, which atteiiuatei
the humors, dissolves viscidity, opens the
pores, and increases perspiration ; an at-
tenuaut. Quincy. Coxe.
A R G
[Gr. opEfiy, virtue, and
ARETOL'OgY,
>.oyo{, discourse.^
That part of moral philosojihy which treats
of virtue, its nature and "the means of
attaining to it. [Little used.] Johnson.
ARGAL, n. Unrefined or crude tartar, a
substance adheiing to the sides of wine
ca.sks. Johnson. Coxe.
ARtiE'AN, a. Pertaining to Argo or the
Ark. Faber.
ARGENT, n. [L. argentum ; Gr. apyupof, sil-
ver, from opyoj, white ; Ir. arg, white ;
airgiod, silver, money ; Fr. argent, money ;
Sans, rajatam, Q.U.]
1. The white color in coats of arms, intended
to represent silver, or purity, innocence,
beauty, or gentleness. Encyc.
2. a. Silvery ; of a pale white, Uke silver.
Johnson. Encyc.
3. a. Bright.
Ask of yonder argent fields above. Pope,
ARgENT'AL, a. Pertaining to silver ; con-
sisting of silver ; containing silver ; com-
bined with silver ; applied to the native
amalgam of silver, as argental mercury.
Cleaveland.
>ARgENTATE, n. A combination of the
argentic acid with another substance.
ARtiENTA'TION, n. An overlaying with
silver. Johnson.
ARGENT-HORNED, a. Silver honied.
ARGENT'Ie, a. Pertaining to silver ; tlie
argentic acid is a saturated combination of
silver and oxygen. This is yet hypothet-
ical. Lavoisier.
ARGENTIF'EROUS, a. [L. argentum, sil-
ver, and fero, to produce.] Producing
silver ; as argentiferous ore. Kirwan.
ARGENTI'NA, ? InK/i%oZogT/, ageuus
'ARGENTINE, ^ of fishes ot the order
of abdominals.
Argentina is also a name of the wild tansy,
silver-weed. Encyc. Coxe.
'ARGENTINE, a. Like silver; pertaining
to silver, or sounding hke it. Johnson.
'ARGENTINE, n. In mineralogy, a sub-
species of carbonate of lime, nearly pure ;
a mineral of a lamellated or slaty struc-
ture ; its lamens usually curved or undu-
lated ; its surface is shining, or of a pearly
luster. It is found in primitive rocks, and
frequently in metallic veins. Cleaveland.
'ARGIL, n. A species of the Ardea, or genus
of cranes.
'ARGIL, 71. [L. argilla, white clay, from Gr.
opyos, white.]
Ill a general sense, clay, or potter's earth ;
but in a technical sense, pure clay, or alu-
mine. Fourcroy.
AR(5ILLA;CE0US, a. [L.argillaceus.] Par-
taking of the nature of clay ; clayey ; con-
sisting of argil. Kirwan.
ARgILLIF'EROUS, a. [L. argilla, clay, and
fero, to produce.] Producing clay ; applied
to such earths as abound with argil.
Kirwan.
ARGILLITE, n. Argillaceous shist or
slate; clay-slate. Its usual color is bluish,
greenish or blackish gray. Kirwan.
ARGlLLIT'le, a. Pertaining to argilUte.
AllGlLLO€AL'CITE, n. [of argilla, clay,
and calx, calcaneus earth.]
A species of calcarious earth, with a large
]iroportion of clay. Kirwan.
ARGILLOMURITE, n. [of argilla, clay,
ARC
A R I
A R 1
"Hnd muria, Iirlne or salt water ; magnesia
being obtained from sea-salt.]
A species of earth consisting of magnesia,
mixed with silex, alumine and lime ; a
variety of Magnesite.
Kirwan. Cleaveland.
ARgIL'LOUS, a. Consisting of clay ; clayey ;
partaking of clay ; belonging to clay.
Brown.
"ARGIVE, a. Designating what belongs to
Argos, the capital of Argohs in Greece,
whose inhabitants were called Argivi.
This name however is used by the poets
for the Greeks in general. Paus. Trans.
JAIIGO, n. The name of the ship which car-
ried Jason and his fifty-four companions
to Colchis, in quest of the golden fleece.
ARGO-NAVIS, the ship Argo, is a constel-
lation in the southern hemisphere, whose
stars, in tlie British catalogue, are sixty-
four. Encyc.
'ARGO'AN, a. Pertaining to the ship Argo.
Faber.
•ARGOL'l€, a. Belonging to Ai-golis, a ter-
ritory or district of Peloponnese, between
Arcadia and the Egean sea ; as the Ar-
solic Gulf. D'Anmlk.
ARGOL'ICS, Ji. The title of a chapter in
Pausanias, which treats of Argolis.
Trails. B. ii. 15.
'ARGONAUT, n. [of apyu, Jason's ship,
and vavtrji, a sailor.]
One of the persons who sailed to Colcliis
witli Jason^ in the Argo, in quest of tl
golden fleece.
Cicero. Pliny. Sir W. Jones.
ARGONAUT' A, n. [See Argonaut.]
A genus of shell-fish, of the order of vermes
testacea. The shell consists of one spiral
involuted valve. There are several spe
cies ; one of which is the Argo, with i
subdentated carina, the famous nautilus,
which, when it sails, extends two of its
arms, spreading a membrane, which
for a sail, and six other arms are thrown
out, for rowing or steering.
Encyc. Cuvier.
ARGONAUT'I€, a. Pertaining to the Ar-
gonauts, or to their voyage to Colchis ; as
the Argonautic story. Sir W. Jones.
ARGONAUT'I€S, n. A poem on the sub-
ject of Jason's voyage, or the exi)edition
of the Argonauts ; as, the Argonautics of
Orpheus, of V. Flaccus, and of Apollo-
nius Rhodius. Encyc.
'ARGOSY, n. [Sp. argos, Jason's ship.] A
lar^e merchantman ; a carrac. Shak.
'ARGrUE, V. i. [L. arguo, to show, argue,
accuse or convict ; Fr. arguer ; Sp. arguir ;
It. arguire. The radical sense of arg-ue is
to urge, drive, press, or struggle.]
1. To reason ; to invent and offer reasons to
support or overthrow a proposition, opin-
ion or measure ; as, A argites m favor of
a measure ; B argues against it.
3. To dispute ; to reason with ; followed by
leith ; as, you may argue loith your friend,
a week, without convincing liim.
'ARGUE, V. t. To debate or discuss ; to treat
by reasoning ; as, the counsel argued the
cause before the supreme court ; the cause
was well argued.
2. To prove or evince ; to manifest by infer-
ence or deduction ; or to show reasons for ;
as, the order visible in the universe argues I
a divine cause.
Vol I.
3. To persuade by reasons ; as, to argue a
man into a different opinion.
4. Formerly, to accuse or charge with ; a
Latin sense, now obsolete ; as, to argue one
of profaneness. Dryden.
'ARGUED, pp. Debated ; discussed ; evin-
ced; accused.
'ARGUER, n. One who argues; areasoner;
a disputer ; a controvertist.
ARGUING, ppr. Inventing and offeruig
reasons; disputing; discussing ; cvijiciiig ;
accusing.
'ARGUING, n. Reasoning ; argumentation.
What (lotli youi- arguing reprove .' .lob.
'ARGUMENT, n. fL. argumentum.]
1. A I
offered for or against a proposi
tion, opinion, or measure ; a reason offered
in proof, to induce belief, or convince the
mind; followed by for or against.
2. In logic, an inference drawn fi-om prenii
ses, which are indisputable, or at least of|
probable truth. Encyc.
■3. The subject of a discourse or writing.
Milton. Shak
4. An abstract or summary of a book, or the
heads of the subjects.
.5. A debate or discussion ; a series of reason
ing ; as, an argument was had before the
court, in which argument, all the reasons
were urged.
In nstronomy, an arch by which we seek
another unknown arch, proportional to
the first. Chambers.
ARGUMENT'AL, a. Belonging to argu-
ment ; consisting in argument. Pope.
ARGUMENTATION, n. Reasoning ; the
act of reasoning ; the act of inventing or
forming reasons, making inductions, draw
ing conclusions, and applying them to the
case in discussion. The operation of in-
ferring propositions, not known or admit-
ted as true, from facts or principles known,
admitted, or proved to be true.
Encyc. IVatts.
ARGUMENT'ATIVE, a. Consisting of ar-
gument ; contauiing a process of reason-
ing ; as an argumentative chscourse.
2. Showing reasons for ; as, the adaptation
of things to their uses is argumentative of
infinite wisdom in the Creator.
ARGUMENT' ATIVELY, adv. In an argu-
mentative manner. Taylor
'ARGUS, n. A fabulous being of antiquity
said to have had a hundred eyes, placed
by Juno to guard lo. The origin of this
being may perhaps be found ui the Teu-
tonic word arg, crafty, cunning, of which
the hundred eyes are symbohcal.
ARGUS-SHELL, n. A species of porcelain-
shell, beautifully variegated with spots,
resembhng, in some measiu'e, a peacock's
tail. Encyc.
ARGUTE, a. [L. arguius.] Sharp ; slu-ill ;
wittv. [Little used.]
ARGU'TENESS, n. Acuteness ; wittiness.
[Uttle used.] Dryden.
A'RIAN, a. Pertaining to Arius, apreshyter
of the church of Alexandria, in the fourth
century ; or to his doctrines.
A'RIAN, n. One who adheres to the doc-
trines of Arius, who held Christ to be a
created being, inferior to God the father
in nature and dignity, though the first
and noblest of all created beings ; and also
that the Holy Spirit is not God, but crea-
ted bv the power of the Son, Encyc.
13
A RIANISM,?;. Thcdoctrinesofihc Ariaus.
A'RIANIZE, V. i. To admit the tenets of the
Arians. WoHhington.
AR'ID, a. [L. aridus, diy, from areo, to be
dry.]
Dry ; exliau.sted of moisture ; parched with
heat ; as an arid waste. Thomson.
AR'IDAS, n. A kind of taffety, from the
East Indies, made of thread, from certain
lants
.ARIDITY,
.•VR'IDNESS,
Encyc.
Dryness ; a state of being
without moisture.
Arbuthnol.
2. A dry state of the body ; emaciation; thc-
withering of a limb. Con.
A'RIES, n. [L. from the Celtic. Ir. reithe.
or receith ; Corn, urz, a ram ; W. hwn, a
thrust, a ram.]
The ram, a constellation of fixed stars, drawji
on the globe, in the figure of a ram. It is
the first of the twelve signs iu the zodiac,
which the sun enters about the 21st of
March.
AR'IETATE, v. i. [L. ai-ieto, from aries.]
To butt, as a ram. [jYot used.] Johnson.
VRIETA'TION, n. The act of butting, as a
ram. The act of battering with the aries
or battering ram. Bacon.
2. The act of striking or conflicting. [Rare-
ly used.] Glanville.
ARIET'TA, n. [It.] A short song ; an au-.
or Uttle air.
ARI'GHT, (irfj;. [a va\d right. Sax. gericht.)
Rightly ; iu a right form ; without mistake
or crime.
AR'IL, } The exterior coat or covcr-
ARIL'LUS, S ing of a seed, fixed to it at
the base only, investing it wholly or par-
tially, and falling off spontaneously ; by
some writers called, from the Greek, Ca-
lyptra. It is either succulent, or cartila-
ginous ; colored, elastic, rough or knotted.
Linne. Milne. Martyn. Smith.
Havuig an exterior cov-
ei-ing or aril, as coffee.
Encyc. Eaton,
AR'IMAN, -
AR'IMA,
AH'RIMAN,
The evil genius or demon of the Persians :
opposed to yezad, yezdan, ormozd, or
hormizda, the good demon. The ancient
magi held, that there are two deities or
principles ; one the author of all good,
eternally absorbed in light ; the other, the
author of all evil, forever buried in dark-
ness ; or the one represented by light ;
the other by darkness. The latter answers
to the loke of the Scandinavians, whose
Celtic name, lock, signifies darkness. Ori-
ginally, the Persians held these demons or
jjrinciples to be equal, and from all eterni-
ty ; but the moderns maintain that the evil
principle is an inferior being. So the
devil is called the prince of darkness.
Encyc. Gibbon. As. Researches.
ARIOLA'TION or ) [L. ariolus or hari-
HARIOLA'TION, S oto, a sooth sayer.j
\ soothsaying ; a foretelling. Brown.
ARIO'SO, a. [It. from aria, air.] Light ;
airy. //. Did.
But according to Rousseau, applied to mu-
sic, it denotes a kind of melody bordering
on the majestic style of a capital air.
Cyc.
ARI'SE, t'. i. s as t. pret. arose: pji. arisen .-
AR'ILLATED, j
AR'ILLED, (
[Per. ahriman. Sans, art,
a foe.]
A R I
proii. arize, aroze, arizn. [Sax. arisan ; D.l
rjjzen ; Goth, reisan. It may be allied to Ar.
I to be the head or chief ; Heb. Ch.
Svr. Sam. Eth. U'iO head, origin.]
(. To ascend, mount up or move to a higher
])lace ; as, vapors arise fi'om hinnid places.
:,*. To emerge from below the horizon ; as,
the sun or a star arises or rises.
!}. To get out of bed ; to leave the place or
.•^tate of rest ; or to leave a sitting or lying
[)Osture.
The king arose early and went to the den
Dan. vi.
4. To begin ; to spring up ; to originate.
A persecution arose about Stephen. Acts xi
5. To revive from death ; to leave the grave
Many bodies of saints arose. Math, xxvii.
Figuratively, to awake from a state of
sin and stupidity ; to repent.
Jlrise from the dead, and Christ shall give
thee life. Eph,
6. To begin to act ; to exert power ; to
move from a state of inaction.
Let God arise; let his enemies be scattered
Ps. Ixviii.
7. To appear, or become known ; to become
visible, sensible or operative.
To you shall the sun of righteousness arise
Math, iv
shall .
you
Till the day
2 Pet. i.
8. To be put in motion ; to swell or be agi
tated ; as, the waves arose.
0. To be excited or provoked ; as, the wrath
of the king shall arise.
10. To emerge from poverty, depress!
tlistress.
By whom shall Jacob arise ? for he is small
Amos vii.
11. To appear in a particidar character
enter upon an office.
There arose a new kins who knew not Jo
seph. Ex. i.
12. To begin sedition, insurrection, or mu
tiny ; as, the men arose, or rose upon their
oflicers.
13. To invade, assault or begin hostility ; fol-
lowed by against.
When he "arose against me, I caught him by
the beard. 1 Sam. xvii.
In this sense, the word against really be-
longs to the verb, and is necessary to give
it this meaning. [See Rise, another
form of this verb, which has the
nification, and is more generally used in
popular language.]
ARI'SING, ppr. Ascending; moving up-
ward; originating or proceeding; getting
up ; springin
.\RIST'A,n. [
pointed beard which issues from the husk,
or scaly flower cup of the grasses, called
the glume. Milne.
ABISTAR'CHY, n. [Or. api/of, best, and
apxv, I'ule.]
A body of good men in power, or govern
ment by excellent men. Harington
ARlSTO€'RACY, n. [Gr. opifos, best, and
xfiariio, to hold or govern.]
\ form of government, in which the whole
supreme power is vested in the principal
persons of a state ; or in a few men distin-
guished by their rank and opulence.
When the supreme power is exercised by
a small niuiiber, the government is called
nil oligarchy. The latter word however
ARK
is usually applied to a corrupted form of
aristocracy.
ARIST'0€RAT, n. One who favors an ar
tocracy in principle or practice ; one w
is a friend to an aristocratical form of
government. Burke.
ARlSTOeRAT'le, I Pertaining to
ARISTOeRAT'I€AL, S aristocracy ;
consisting in a government of nobles, or
principal men ; as an aristocratic consti-
tution.
2. Partaking of aristocracy; as, an aristo-
cratic measure ; aristocratic pride or man-
ners.
ARISTO€RAT'I€ALLY, adv. In an aris-
tocratical manner.
ARISTO€RAT'l€ALNESS, n. The quahty
of being aristocratical.
ARISTOTE'LIAN, a. Pertainmg to Aris-
totle, a celebrated philosoplicr, who was
born at Stagyra, in Macedon, about 38<
years before Christ. The Aristotelian phi-
iosophv is otherwise called peripatetic.
ARISTOTE'LIAN, n. A follower of Aris
totle, who was a disciple of Plato, and
founded the sect of peripatetics. [See
Peripatetic]
ARISTOTE'LIANISM, n. Tlie philosophy
or doctrines of Aristotle.
ARISTOTEL'le, a. Pertaining to Aristotle
or to his philosophy.
AR'ITHMANCY, n. [Gr. (ipiS/cto,-, number,
and fioivriM, divination.]
Divination or the foretelling of future events
by the use or observation of numbers.
ARITH'METIe, n. [Gr. api«;ix(«, to num
ber, af,Lefit]ri.xri, the art of numbering, from
optS^of, number ; from pvS/iioj, number
rhythm, order, agreement.]
The science of numbers, or the art of com-
putation. The various operations of arith-
metic are performed by addition, subtrac-
tion, multiplication and division.
ARTT1IMET'I€, ) Pertaining to arith
ARITiniETK AL, S metic ; according
to thi- rules 111- iiifthod of arithmetic.
ARITll^iF/r It ALLY, adv. According to
tlie ruk's, jiriiiciples or method of arith-
1. Port. It
airg, airk ;
■ coft'er, sucli
ARITHMETI CIAN, n. One skilled in
arithmetic, or versed in the science of
numbers.
'ARK, n. \Tr.arche; L. a
area, a chest or coffer
Sax. ere or erk ; G. arche ; D. arke ; Ch,
TJ1X.]
1. A small close vessel, chest
as that which was the repository of the
tables of the covenant among the Jews.
This was about three feet nine inches in
length. The lid was the propitiatory, or
mercy seat, over which were the cherubs.
The vessel in which Moses was set afloat
upon the Nile was an ark of bulrushes.
2. The large floating vessel, in which N
and his family were preserved, during the
deluge.
3. A depository.
Arise, O Lord, into thy rest, thou and the ark
of thy strength. Ps. cxxx
4. A large boat used on American rivers, to
transport produce to market.
"ARKITE, ji. A term used by Biyant to de-
note one of the persons who were prcsi
ARM
ved in the ark ; or who, according to-
pasan fables, belonged to the ark.
ARKITE, a. Belonging to the ark.
Bryant. Faber.
ARKTJZITE, > A mineral, now called
AR€TlZiTE, (, "■ Wernerite.
ARM, n. [Sax. arm, earm ; D. G. Sw. Dan.
arm ; L. arvms, an arm, a shoulder, a
wing. In Russ. a shoulder is ramo, « hich
may be the same word as the L. armu3.
If so, this word Ivlongs to the root, Rm,
coinciding with L. ramus, a branch, that
is, a shoot, like the Celtic braich, L. bra-
cliium. But if the L. arrnus is directly
from the Gr. ap^toj, a joint, it would seem
to be formed from Gr. opu, to fit.]
The limb of the himian body, which ex-
tends from the shoulder to the hand.
2. The branch of a tree, or the slender part
of a macliine, projecting from a trunk or
axis. The limbs of animals are also
sometimes called arms.
3. A narrow inlet of water from the sea.
I. Figuratively, power, might, strength ; as
the secular arm. In this sense the word
is often used in the scriptures.
To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed.
Isa. liii.
ARM, V. t. [L. armo ; Fr. armer ; Sp. armar;
It. armare ; from L. arma.]
t. To furnish or equip with weapons of of-
fense, or defense ; as, to arm the militia.
3. To cover with a plate, or with whatever
will add strength, force, or security ; as,
to arm the hilt of a sword.
I. To furnish with means of defense; to pre-
pare for resistance ; to fortify.
Arm yourselves with the same mind. 1
Pet. iv.
ARM, V. i. To provide with arms, weapons,
or means of attack or resistance ; to take
arms ; as, the nations arm for war.
This verb is not really intransitive in
this use, but recipi-ocal, the pronoun being
omitted. The nations arm — for, the na-
tions arm themselves.
\RMA'DA, n. [Sp. from arma.]
A fleet of armed ships ; a squadron. The
term is usually applied to the Spanish fleet,
called the Invincible Armada, consisting of
1.30 ships, intended to act against England
in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, A. D.
1588.
ARMADILLO, n. [Sp. ; so called from be-
ing armed with a bony shell.]
A quadruped peculiar to America, called
also tatoo, and in zoology, the dasypus.
This animal has neither fore-teeth, nor
dog-teeth ; it is covered with a hard, bony
shell,Tlivided into movable belts, except
on the forehead, shoulders and haunches,
where it is not movable. The belts are
connected by a membrane, which ena-
bles the animal to roll itself up like a
hedge hog. These animals burrow in the
earth, where they he during the day time,
seldom going abroad except at night.
They are of diflferent sizes ; the largest
3 feet in length, without the tail. They
subsist chiefly on fruits and roots ; some-
times on insects atid flesh. When attack-
ed, they roll themselves into a ball, present-
ing their armor on all sides to any assail-
ant ; but they are inoftensive, and their
flesh is esteemed good food. Encyc.
ARM
ARM
ARM
ARMAMENT, n. [L. urmamenlu, utensils,
tackle, from arma.]
A body of forces equijjped for war ; used ol
II land or naval force. It is more gene-
rally used of a naval force, including ships,
men and all tlie necessary furniture for war.
ARMAMENT' ARY, n. An armory ; a maga-
zine or arsenal. [Rareli/ used.l
'ARMATURE, n. [L. arniatura.]
1. Armor ; that which defends the body. It
comprehends whatever is worn for defense
of the body, and has been sometimes used
for offensive weapons. Armature, like arms
and arynor, is used also of the furniture of
animals and vegetables, evidently intend
ed for their protection ; as prickles, spines
and horns.
2. In ancient military art, an exercise pei
formed with missive weapons, as darts,
spears and arrows. Encyc.
'ARMED, pp. Furnished with weapons of
offense or defense ; furnished with the
means of secui'ity; fortified, in a moral
2. In heraldry, armed is when the beaks,
talons, horns, or teeth of beasts and bu-ds
of prey are of a difl'erent color from the
rest of the body Chambers.
3. Capped and cased, as the load stone ; that
is, set in iron.
An armed ship is one which is taken into the
service of government for a particular oc-
casion, and armed like a ship of war.
ARME'NIA, a. Pertaining to Armenia, a
country and formerly, a kingdom, in Asia,
divided into Major and Minor. The great-
er Armenia is now called Turcomania.
ARME'NIAN, n. A native of Armenia, or
the language of the country.
Sir W. Jones.
Armenian bole is a species of clay from Ar-
menia, and found in other countries. But
the term, being of uncertain signification,
is rejected in modern mineralogy. [See
Bole] Cronsledt. Kirwan.
Armenian stone, a soft blue stone, consisting
of calcarious earth or gypsum, with the
oxyd of copper. It is too soft to give fire
with steel, loses its color when heated,
and does not admit of a polish.
JVicholson.
ARME-PUIS'SANT, a. [See Puissant.]
Powerfid in arms. Weever.
'ARMFUL, ji. As much as the arms can
hold.
'ARMGAUNT, a. Slender, as the arm. [J^ot
in use.] Shak.
'ARMHOLE, n. [arm and hole.] The cavi-
ty under the shoulder, or the armpit.
Bacon.
2. \ hole for the arm in a garment.
ARMI6'EROUS, a. [L.armiger; armo and
gero.]
i jterally, bearing arms. But in present usage,
armiger is a title of dignity next m degree
to a knight. In times of chivalry, it sig-
nified an attendant on a knight, or other
person of rank, who bore his shield and
rendered him other military services. So
in antiquity, Abiniilech, Saul, &c. had
their armor bearers. Jiidg. ix. 1 Sam.
xvi. As had Hector and Achilles. Homer.
This title, under the French princes, in
England, was exchanged, in common
usage, for esquire, Fr. ecuyer, a wnrd of
similar import, from ecu, L. scutum.
shield. Armiger is still retained with us,
as u title of respect, being the Latin word
equivalent to esquire, which see. Spelman.
ARMILLARY, a. [L. armilla, a bracelet,
from annus, the arm.]
Resemblmg a bracelet, or ring ; consisting
of rings or circles. It is chiefly applied to
an artificial sphere, composed of a number
of circles of the mundane sphere, put to-
gether in tlieir natural order, to ;i—i-i in
giving a just conception of the ron-niu
tion of the heavens, and the motion?, oiiln
celestial bodies. This artificial sjijiere re-
volves upon its axis within a horizon, divi-
ded into degrees, and movable every way
upon a brass sirpporter. Encyc.
'ARMING, ppr. Equipping with arms ; pro-
viding with the means of defense or at-
tack ; also, preparing for resistance in a
moral sense.
'ARMINGS, n. The same as leaist-clothes,
hung about a ship's upper works.
Chambers.
ARMIN'IAN, a. Pertaining to Arminius, or
designating his principles.
ARMIN'IAN, n. One of a sect or party of
Cliristians, so called from Arminius, or
HarmanscM, of Mollaml, who llourishe.l at
the cLisc' of tl]o l(ilh coiituiv, and Ijroiji-
IHUgof tlic 17tlr. Tli.'Ariiiiuianductriiic.-,
are, 1. Conditional election and reproba-
tion, in opposition to absolute predestina-
tion. 2. Universal redemption, or that the
atonement was made by Clu'lst for all
mankind, though none but believers can
be partakers of the benefit. 3. That man,
in order to exercise true faith, must be re-
generated and renewed by the operation
of the Holy Spirit, which is the gift of God
but tliat this grace is not irresistible and
may be lost ; so that men may relapse from a
state of grace and die in theirsins. Encyc.
ARMIN'IANISM, (I. The pecuUar doctriiies
or tenets of the Arminians.
ARMIP'OTENCE, n. [arma and potentia.
See Potency.]
Power in arms. Johnson.
ARMIP'OTENT, a. Powerful in arms
mighty in battle. Dnjden.
AR3IIS'ONOUS, a. [arma and sonus.' See
Sound.]
Sounding or rustling in arms. Johnson
ARMISTICE, n. [L. arma and sisto, tc
stand still, Gr. ifTj/ii ; Sp. armistido ; It.
armistizio ; Fr. armistice.]
A cessation of arms, for a short time, by (
vention ; a truce ; a temporary suspension
of hostihties by agreement of the partie:
ARMLESS, or." Without an arm ; destitute
of weapons. Beaumont
'ARMLET, n. [dim. of arm.] A little arm
a piece of armor for the arm ; a bracelet.
JDryden. Johnson.
'ARMOR, n. [from arm.]
1. Defensive arms ; any habit worn to protect
the body in battle ; formerly called har
ness. A complete armor formerly con-
sisted of a casque or helmet, a gorget
cuirass, gauntlets, tasses, brassets, cuisbes,
and covers for the legs to which the spurs
were fastened. Encyc.
In English statutes, armor is used for the
whole apparatus of war ; includmg ofl^en-
sive as well as defensive arms. The
statittes of armor <lirected what arms e% e-
ry man shouM provide, 27. Heu. II. and
of Westminster. Hence armor includes
all instruments of war.
Blackstone, B. iv. Cli. 7. B. i. Cli. 1.'!.
Hen. Hist. Brit. B. iii. Ch. 1.
2. In a spiritual sense, a good conscience,
faith and Christian graces are called annor.
Rom. xiii. Eph. viT 2 Cor. vi.
Coat-armor is the escutcheon of a person or
family, with its several charges and other
fiMiiiture, as mantling, crest, supporters.
'ootto, &c. Encyc.
AKMOR-BEARER, n. One who carries
thi! armor of another.
'ARMORER, n. A maker of armor or arms :
a manufacturer of instruments of war.
The armorer of a ship has the cliarge of
the arms, to see that they are in a condi-
tion fit for service.
.\RMO'RIAL, a. Belonging to armor, or to
the arms or escutcheon of a family ; as
ensigns armorial. Blackstone.
/VRMOR'l€, ) [Celtic ar, upon, and
ARMOR'ICAN, J "" mor, the sea ; that u=.
maritime.]
Designating the northwestern part of France,
formerly called Armorica, afterward Bre-
tagne, or Britanny. This part of France
is peopled by inhabitants who speak a dia-
liil of ilic Celtic. It is usually supposed
ihcir ancestors were refugees or colonists
from Emrland.
ARMOR'le, n. The language of the Armo-
ricans ; one of the Celtic dialects which
have remained to the present times.
ARMOR'ICAN, n. A native of Armorica,
or Bretagne.
ARMORIST, n. One skilled in heraldry'.
ARMORY, n. A place where arms, and m-
Etruments of war are deposited for safe
keeping.
2. Arinor; defensive arms. Milton.
'.i. Ensigns armorial. Spenser.
4. The knowledge of coat-armor ; skill in
heraldry. Encyc.
'ARMPIT, n. [armand;?^*.] The hollow place
or cavity under the shoulder. Moxon.
'ARMS, n. plu. [L. arma ; Fr. arme ; Sp.
it.arm^.]
1. ^Veapons of offense, or armor for defense
and protection of the body.
2. War ; ho.stility.
jirins and the man I sing. Dryden.
To be in arms, to be in a state of hostil-
ity, or in a military life.
To arms is a phrase which denotes a ta-
king arms for war or hostility ; particu-
larly, a summoning to war.
To take arms, is to arm for attack or de-
fense.
Bred to arms denotes that a person has
been educated to the profession of a soldier.
3. The ensigns armorial of a family ; con-
sisting of figures and colors borne in
shields, banners, &c., as marks of dignity
and distinction, and descending from fa-
ther to son.
4. In law, arms are any tiling which a man
takes in his hand in "anger, to strike or as-
sault anotlier. Cowel. Blackstone.
5. In botany, one of the seven species of ful-
cra or props of plants, enumerated by
Linne and others. The different sjiecies
of arms or armor, are prickles, thorns,
forks and stings, which seem intended to
protect the plants from injiny by animals.
Milne. Martyn,
A R O
A R R
A R R
Kre arms, are such as may be cliargeil with
powder, as cannon, muskets, mortars, &c,
A stand of arms consists of amusket, bayonet,
cartridge-box and belt, with a sword. But
for common soldiers a sword is not neces
sary.
Ill falconiy, arms are the legs of a hawk
from the thigh to the foot. Encyc.
ARMS-END, n. At the end of the arms ; al
a good distance ; a phrase taken from box-
ers or wrestlers.
'ARMY, n. [Fr. armee ; Ir. arbhar, or arm-
har ; from the common root of arm, armo,
1. A collection or body of men armed for
war, and organized in companies, battal-
lions, regiments, brigades and clivisions,
under proper officers. In general, an ar-
my in modern times consists of infantiy
and cavalry, with artillery ; although the
union of all is not essential to the consti
tution of an army. Among savages, ar-
mies are differently formed.
2. A great number ; a vast nmltitude ; as an
army of locusts or caterpillars. Joel ii. 25
■■ARNOLDIST, n. A disciple of Arnold of
Brescia, who in the 12th century, preach-
ed against the Romisli Clnnili, H.r wljicl
he was banished ; but he wa, aliii u:ird
permitted to return. ]!\ liisinr.irlmi;.., ai
insurrection was excited, fuj- ulmli lie
was condemned and executed. Encyc.
ARNOT, 91. A name of the bunium, pig-
nut or eartlmut.
ARNOT'TO, n. The Anotta, which see.
Also a tree so called.
>ARNUTS, n. Tall oat grass.
ARO'MA, I [Gr. apuua.] The quality of
AR'OBIA, I "■ plants which constitutes theii
fragrance, which is perceived by an agree
able smell, or a warm spicy taste.
AROMAT'l€, I Fragrant ; spicy
AROMAT'ICAL, ^ "' strong-scented; odo-
riferous ; having an agreeable odor,
AROMAT'l€, n. A plant which yields a
spicy, fragrant smell, or a warm pimgent
taste ; as sage, summer savory, geranium
sweet marjoram, &c. Mihie
AR'OMATITE, n. A bituminous stone, ir
smell and color reserabhng myrrh. Coxe
AROMATIZA'TION, n. The act of hn-
pregnating or scentuig with aroma, oi
rendering aromatic.
AR'OMATIZE, i;. t. To impregnate with
aroma ; to infuse an aromatic odor ; to
give a spicy scent or taste ; to perfume.
Bacon.
AR'OMATIZED, pp. Impregnated with
aroma ; rendered fragrant.
AR'OMATIZER, n. That which commu-
nicates an aromatic quality. Evelyn.
AR'OMATIZING, ppr. Rendering spicy;
impregnating with aroma.
ARO'MATOUS, a. Containing aroma, or
the principle of fragrance.
AR'OPH, n. [A contraction ot aroma philos-
ophoriim.]
1. A name by which saffron is sometimes
called.
1. A chimical preparation of Paracelsus,
formed by sublimation from equal quanti-
ties of hematite and sal ammoniac. The
word is also used by the same writer as
synonymous with lithontriptic, a solvent
ftir the stone. Encyc. Coxe.
ARO'SE. The pastor preterite tense of the
verb, to arise.
AROUND', prep, [a and round. See Round.]i
1. About; on all sides ; encircling; encom-|
passing ; as, a lambent flame around h'
brows. Dryden
2. In a looser sense, from place to place
random.
AROUND', adv. In a circle ; on every side
2. In a looser sense, at random ; without any
fixed direction ; as, to travel around from
town to town. [See Round.]
AR6URA, n. [Gr.] A Grecian measure ofl
fifty feet. Also, a square measure of hall]
the plethron, a measure not ascertained
The Egyptian aroura was the square of
hundred feet or a hundred cubits.
Encyc. Arbuth.
AROUSE, V. t. arouz". [In Heb Xtn ; Ar.
«3 J s» haratza, to stir, to excite. It
often contracted into rouse. It may be
allied to D. raazen ; G. hrausen, to ragt
to stir, bluster ; Class Rs.]
To excite into action, that which is at rest
to stir, or put in motion or exertion, that
which is languid ; as, to arouse one frou
sleep ; to arouse the dormant faculties.
AROUS'ED, pp. Excited into action ; put
in motion.
AROUS'ING, ppr. Putting in motion ; stir-
ring ; exciting into action or exertion.
AROW, adv. [a and roio.'] In a row ; suc-
cessively. Sidney. Shak.
AROYNT', adv. Be gone ; away. Obs.
Shak.
ARPEg'6IO, n. [From If. arpa, a harp.]
The distinct sound of the notes of an instru-
mental chord, accompanymg the voice.
ffUker
ARPENT, ?!. [Fr. arpcnt ; Norm, arpen.
In Domesday, it is written arpennus, ar-
pendtis, and arpent. Columella mentions
that the arepennis was etiual to half the
Roman juger. The word is supposed to
be corrupted from arvifendium, or aripen-
mwrn, the measuring of land with a cord
Spelman. Lunier.]
A portion of land m France, ordinarily con-
taining one hundred square rods or perch
es, each of 18 feet. But the arpent is dif-
ferent in different parts of France. The
arpent of Paris contains 900 square toises
It is less than the English acre, by about
one seventh. Spelman. Encyc. Cowel.
Arthur Young.
ARQUEBUSA'DE, n. A distilled liquor
applied to a bruise. Chestetfeld.
I. The shot of an arquebuse. Ash.
ARQUEBUSE, ) [Fr. 6-om arquer, to
H' ARQUEBUSE, I "' make crooked, and
the Teutonic bus, a pii)e, a gun ; D. bus, a
tube, pipe, gun ; Sw. bossa, a gun or
non. Hence the word signifies a hook
gun.]
A hand gun ; a species of fire arms, anciently
used, which was cocked with a wheel.
It carried a ball that weighed nearly two
ounces. A larger kind, used in fortresses,
carried a ball of three ounces and a half
Encyc.
ARQUEBUSIE'R, n. A soldier armed with
an arquebuse.
AR'RACH, n. A plant. See Oirach.
ARRACK', n. contracted into rack. A
spirituous liquor imported from the East
Indies. The name is said to signify, in
the East, any spirituous liquor ; but that
which usually bears this name is toddy, a
liquor distilled from the juice of the cocoa-
nut tree, procured by incision. Some per-
sons alledge it to be a spirit distilled from
rice or sugar, fermented with the juice of
the cocoa-nut.
AR'RAGONITE, n. [From MoUua in Ai--
ragon, Spain.]
In mineralogy, a species of carbonate of
lime, but not pure, and said to contain 3 or
4 per cent, of carbonate of strontian. It
differs from pure carbonate of lime, in
hardness, specific gravity, crystaline
structure, &c. It is harder than calcarious
spar, and exhibits several varieties of
structure and form. It is ofi:en crystaU-
zed, generally in hexahedral prisms or
jtyramids. The massive varieties have
usually a fibrous structure, exhibiting va-
rious imitative forms, being sometunes
coraloidal.
Haiiy. Cleaveland. Stromeyer.
ARRA'IGN, V. t. aira'ne. [Norm, arraner.
arraisoner, and aresner, to put to answer,
to arraign. The usual derivation of this
word, from Sax. wregan, gewregan, to ac-
cuse, is probably incorrect. It appears to
be of Norman origin, and if s is radical, it
coincides in origin with L. reus, contract-
ed from the root of re*.]
1. To call or set a prisoner at the bar of a
court, to answer to the matter charged
against him in an indictment or informa-
tion. When called, the indictment is read
to him, and he is put to plead, guilty or not
guilty, and to elect by whom he will be
tried. Blackstone.
2. According to Law writers, to set in order ;
to fit for trial ; as, to arraign a writ of novel
disseisin. To arraign the assize, is to
cause the tenant to be called to make the
plaint, and set the cause in order, that the
tenant may be brought to answer. Cowel.
•3. To accuse ; to charge with faults. John-
son. More correctly, to call before the
har of reason, or taste ; to call in question;
for faults, before any tribunal.
They will not arraign you for want of knowl-
edge. Dryden.
ARRA'IGN, n. arra'ne. Arraignment ; as,
clerk of the arraigns. Blackstone.
ARRA'IGNED, pp. Called before a tribu-
nal to answer, and elect triers ; accused ;
called in qurstion.
AURA KiNIXO, yo/w. Calling beforeacourt
or ti-ihuiial ; arcusing.
ARKA 1<;XM1;NT, n. i^oxm. arresnemeni,
arraynement.]
The act of arraigning ; the act of calling and
setting a prisoner before a court to an-
swer to an accusation, and to choose his
triers.
2. Accusation.
3. A calling in question for faults.
ARRA'IMENT, n. [See Array.] Clothes;
garments. We now use raiment.
ARRANGE, V. t. [Fr. arranger, of ad and
ranger, to set m order ; Arm. renega, rang,
rank, a row or line. See Rank.]
1. To i)Ut in proper order ; to dispose the-
parts of a whole in the manner intended,
or best suited for the purpose ; as troops
arranged for battle.
A R R,
A R R
A R R
3, To adjust ; to sijttln ; to put in oirlcr ; to
prepare ; a popular ttse oj' the word of very
eencril explication.
ARRANGED, pp. Put in order ; disposed
in the proper order ; adjusted.
ARRANGEMENT, n. The act of putting in
proper order ; the state of being put in or-
der ; disposition in suitable form.
9. Tiiat which is disposed in order ; system
of parts disposed in due order.
The interest of that portion of social ar-
rangement is in the hands of all those who com-
pose it. Burke.
3. Preparatory measure; previous disposi-
tion ; as, we have made arrangements for
receiving company.
4. Final settlement; adjustment by agree
ment ; as, the parties have made an ar
rangemtnt between themselves concerning
their disputes ; a popular use of the word.
3. Classification of facts relating to a sub-
ject, in a regular, systematic order ; as the
Linnean arrangement of plants.
ARRANGER, n. One that puts in order.
ARRANGING, ppr. Putting in due order or
form ; adjusting.
AR'RANT a. [I know not the origin of this
word. It coincides in sense with tlic W.
cam, notorious.]
Notorious, in an ill sense ; infamous ; mere
vile ; as an arrant rogue or coward.
AR'RANTLY, adv. Notoriously, in an ill
sense ; infamously ; impudently ; shamefully
AR'RAS, n. [Said to be from Arras, tlie cap-
ital of Arlois, in the French Netherlands,
where this article is manufactured.]
Tapestry ; hangings wove with figures.
Shah
ARRA'Y, n. [Norm, araie, and arraer, arair,
to array, settle, prepare ; ray, a robe and
the array or pannel of tlie Jury ; Old Fr.
arroi, a word contracted ; Ir. earradh.
suit of annor, furniture, accouternients,
wares ; It. arredo, furniture, implements,
rigging ; arredare, to prepare or equip ; Arm
revza, to put in order or arrange ; Sp. arreo,
Port, arreio, arreyo, array, dress ; Port.
rear, to dress. Class Rd., and allied to
rod, radius, ray. The primary sense is
make straight or right. See Dress.]
1. Order ; disposition in regular lines ; as
army in battle array. Hence a posture ofl
defense.
2. Dress ; garments disposed in order upon
the person. Dryden.
3. In law, the act of impanneling a jury ;
or a jury impanneled ; that is, a jury set
in order by the sheriff, or called man by
man. Blackstone. Cowel.
Commission of array, in English history, was
a commission given by the prince to offi
cers in every county, to muster and array
the inhabitants, or see them in a condition
for war. Blacksto
ARRA'Y, V. i. To place or dispose in order,
as troops for battle.
2. To deck or dress ; to adorn with di-ess
it is applied especially to dress of a splen-
did kind.
^rray thyself with glory. Job, xl.
Pharaoh arrayed Joseph with fine linen.
Gen. xli-
3. To set a jury in order for the trial of e
cause ; that is, to call them man by man.
Blackstone. Cowel
4. To envelop.
f judgm
a judgn
mg or stopping of a judgment after ver-
dict, for causes assigned. Courts have
power to arre.st judgment for intrinsic cau-
ses appearing upon the face of the record ;
aswhonlhi' (|i',|:ii:iiioii varies from the
origjii.i! uni: u Inn ih- v ndict ditiers ma-
terially lio],, il„- I.I.;,,!,,,:;.; or when the
case laiil iii ili,> (l.vian.ii..M is not sufficient
in point of law, to found an action upon.
The motion for this purpose is called a
motion in arrest of judgment. Blackstone.
5. A mangy humor between the ham and
pastern of the liiiid legs of a horse.
Johnson.
\RRESTA'TION, n. The act of arresting ;
In gelid caves with horrid glooms arrayed. I 9. Any seizure, or taking by power, phvsical
T^-mnbull.n or moral. ■= .< j ' i j
ARRA'YED, pp. Set in order, or in lines ; ;j. a stop, hindrance or restraint.
arranged m order for attack or <l<-fe.|se; 4. !„ ;„„,, „n arrest of judgment is the stay
dressed; adorned by dress; impanneled, -- - -^-^ ^ •>. T - J
as a jurv ; enveloped.
ARRA'VER, n. One who arrays. In Ei
glish history, an officer who had a commis-
sion of array, to put soldiers of a coimty
in a condition for military service.
ARRA'YING, ppr. Setting in order; putting
on splendid raiment ; impanneling.
ARRE'AR, adv. [Fr. ari-iere, behind. In
some of its uses it has the sense o( lower,
inferior. [See Arriere-ban.] Sp. and Port.
arriar, to lower sail ; Arm. rem; revr, or
refr, the fundament ; W. rhevyr, id., from
rhev, thick. Lunier deduces arrear and
arriere froniL.arf and retro. But the deri-
vation from the Celtic seems most proba-
bly correct.]
Beliind ; at the hinder part. Spenser. In
this sense obsolete. But from this use, \\>-
retain the word as a noun in the phrase, mi
arrear, to signify behind in payment.
ARRE'AR, n. That which is behind in pay-
ment, or which remains unpaid, though
due. It is generally used in the plural,
as the arrears of rent, wages and taxes ;
and supposes a part of the money already
paid.
ARRE'ARAgE, n. [arre r and the common
French termination age.]
Arrears ; any sum of money remauiing un
paid, afler previous payment of a part. A
person may be in arrear for the whole
amount of a debt ; but arrears and arrear-
age imply that a part has been paid.
ARRE€T', I [L. arrccius, raised, erect,
ARRE€T'ED, ^ "• from arrigo. See Reach.]
Erect ; attentive ; as a person listening.
Menside.
ARRENTA'TION, n. [Sp. arrendar
rent, or take by lease ; of ad and reddo, to
return. See Rent.]
In the forest laws of England, a licensing the
ir of land in a forest, to inclose it with
all ditch and low hedge, in considera-
ofa yearly rent. Cowel.
ARREPTI'TIOUS, o. [L. arreptus, of ad
and rapio, to snatch. See Rapacious.]
1. Snatched away.
2. [ad and repo, to creep. See Creep.] CrepI
in privily. Johnson. Bailey.
ARREST', V. t. [Fr. arreter, for arrester
Sp. arrestar ; It. arrestare ; L. resto, to stop ;
W. araws, arosi, to stay, wait, dwell ; Eng.
to rest. See Rest.]
1. To obstruct ; to stop ; to check or hinder
motion ; as, to arrest the current of a river ;
to arrest the senses.
2. To take, seize or apprehend by virtue of
a warrant from authority ; as, to arrest one
for debt or for a crime.
3. To seize and fix ; as, to arrest the eyes or
attention.
The appearance of such a person in the
world, and at such a period, ought to arrest the
consideration of every tliinking mind.
JBuckminster.
4. To hinder, or restrain ; as, to arrest the
course of justice.
ARREST', J!. The taking or apprehending
of a person by virtue of a warrant froni
authority. An arrest is made by seizing
or touching the body.
ARRl'.S T r.l), pp. Seized ; apprehended ;
sici|i|nil ; l/indered; restrained.
AHKKSTKR, > One who an-ests. In
ARREST'OR, J "• Scots law, the ijerson at
whose suit an arrest is made.
ARRESTING, ppr. Seizing; staying ; hin-
dering; restraining.
ARREST'MENT, n. In Scots law, an ar-
rest, or detention of a criminal, till he finds
caution or surety, to stand trial.
Also the order of a judge by which a debtor
to the arrestor's debtor is prohibited to
make payirient, till the debt due to the ar-
rester is paid or secured.
ARRET', 71. [Contracted from arrests, Fr.
arrete, fixed.]
The decision of a court, tribunal or council ;
a decree published ; the edict of a sove-
reign prmce.
ARRET', v. t. To assign ; to allot. Obs.
Spe7iser.
ARRI'DE, V. t. [L. arrideo.] To laugh at ;
to please well. [JVotinuse.] B. Jonson.
ARRIE'RE, n. The last body of an army ;
now called rear, wliich see.
Arriere-ban, or ban and arriere ban. This
phrase is defined to be a general proclama-
tion of the French kings, by which not
only their immediate feudatories, but their
vassals, were summoned to take the field
for war. In this case, ariiere is the French
word signifying those who are last or be-
hind, and ban is proclamation. [See Ban.]
.drriere-fee or fief. A fee or fief dependent
on a superior fee, or a fee held of a feuda-
tory.
irriere vassal. The vassal of a vassal.
ARRI'VAL, n. The coming to, or reaching
a place, from a (hstance, whetlier by water,
as in its original sense, or by land.
2. The attainment or gaining of any object,
by effort, agreement, practice or study.
ARRI'VANCE, n. Company commg. [J^Tot
itsed.] Shak.
2. Arrival ; a reachmg in progress. Obs.
Brown.
ARRI'VE, V. i. [Fr. arriver ; Ann. arrivont,
arrivein ; It. arrivare ; Sp. Port, arribar ;
of ad and Fr. rive, the shore or sloping
bank of a river ; Sp. ribera ; L. ripa ; Sans.
arivi. In Irish, airbhe is ribs. It appears
that rib, rive and ripa are radicahy one
word ; in like manner, casta, a rib, and
coast are radically the same.]
1. Literally, to come to the shore, or baiik.
A R R
A R S
ART
Tlence to romc to or reach in progress by
water, followed by at. We arrived at
Havre de Grace, July 10, 1824. N. W.
2. To come to or reach by traveling on land ;
as, the post arrives at 7 o'clock.
8. To reach a point by progressive motion ;
to gain or compass by effort, practice,
study, enquiry, reasoning or experiment ;
as, to arrive at an unusual degree of excel-
lence or wickedness ; to arrive at a con-
elusion.
4. To happen or occur.
He to whom this glorious death arrives.
Waller.
ARRI'VE, V. t. To reach. LVot in use.]
.ShaJc.
ARRI'VING, ppr. Coming to, or reaching
by water or land ; gaining by research, ef-
fort or study.
ARRO'BA, n. [Arabic] A weight in Por-
tugal of tliirty two pounds ; in Spain, of]
twenty five pounds. Also a Spanish meas-
ure of thirty two Spanish pints.
Sp. Dictionary.
AR'ROGANCE, n. [L. arrogantia, from ar-
rogo, to claim ; of ad and rogo, to beg, oi
desire ; Fr. arrogance ; Ann. roguerdez
S]). Port, arrogancia; It. arroganza. See
Arrogate.]
The act or quaUty of taking much upon one
self; that species of pride which consists
in exorbitant claims of rank, dignity, esti
niation or power, or which exalts th<
worth or importance of the person to at
undue degree ; proud contempt of others
conceitedness ; presumption.
I will cause the arrogance of the piouJ to
cease. Is. xiii. 1 Sam. ii. Prov. viii.
AR'ROGANCY, n. Arrogance. [This
thograpktj is less usual.]
AR'ROGANT, a. Assuming; making or
having the disposition to make exorbitant
claims of rank or estimation ; giving one's
self an undue degree of importance ;
haughty ; conceited ; applied to persons.
2. Containing arrogance ; marked with ar-
rogance ; proceeding from undue claims
or self importance ; applied to things ; as
arrogant pretensions or behavior.
AR'ROGANTLY, adv. In an arrogant
manner ; with undue pride or self im
portance.
AR'ROGANTNESS, n. Arrogance. [Little
used.]
AR'ROG ATE, v. t. [L. arrogo, ofad and rogo ,
Fr. arroger ; Sp. Port, arrogar ; It. arro-
gare. The primary sense of rogo, to ask
is to reach or stretch.]
To assume, demand or challenge more thai
is proper ; to make imdue claims, from
vanity or false pretensions to right or
merit ; as, the Pope arrogated dominion
over kings. I
AR'ROGATED, pp. Claimed by undue
pretensions.
AR'ROGATING, ppr. Challenging or
claiming more power or respect than is
just or reasonable.
ARROGA'TION, n. The act of arrogating,!
or making exorbitant claims ; the act oil
taking more than one is justly entitled to.
AR'ROGATIVE, a. Assuming or making
undue claims and pretensions. More.]
ARROND'ISMENT, n. [from Fr. arro7idir,\
to make round; of ad and rond, round.]
A circuit ; a district ; a division or portion of I
territory, in France, for the exercise of a
particular jurisdiction.
ARRO'SION, n. s as :. [L. arrodo.] A
gnawing.
AR'ROW,»z. [Sax. arewa. Qu.ray, radius, a
shoot.]
A missive weapon of offense, straight,
slender, pointed and barbed, to be shot
with a bow.
2. In scripture, the an-oios of God are the ap-
prehensions of his wrath, which pierce and
pain the conscience. Job vi. Ps. xxxviii.
In a like figm-ative manner, arrows repre-
sent the judgments of God, as thimder,
hghtning, tempests and famine. 2 Sam.
xxii. Ez. V. Ilab. iii. The word is used
also for slanderous words and malicious
purposes of evil men. Ps. xi. Prov. xxv.
Jer. ix. Ps. Ixiv. Cruden. Brown.
AR'ROW-GRASS, n. A plant or genus of
plants ; the Triglochin. Muhlenberg.
AR'ROW-HEAD, 71. The head of an arrow.
Sagittaria ; a genus of aquatic plants,
called from the resemblance of the leaves
to the point of an arrow.
AR' ROW-ROOT, n. The Maranta ; a genus
of plants, natives of the Indies. The In-
dians are said to employ the roots of the
arundinacea, in extracting the virus of poi
soned arrows ; w hence the name. There
are several species. From the root of the
arunflinnrert, or starch-plant, is obtamed
tlir :inii^\ -i-.Kit iif the shops. Encyc.
2. Thr >Ninli iiltlic maranta, or arrow-root,
food.
AR'KOVVV, a. Consisting of arrows.
Milton
!. Formed Uke an arrow. Cowper
ARSE, n. cvrs. [Sax. earse ; D. aars ; G
arsch ; Persic, arsit, or arst] The but-
tocks or hind part of an animal.
To hang an arse, is to lag beliind ; to be slug-
gish, or tardy.
'ARSE-SMART, n. The vulgar name of a
species of polygonum, or knot-grass.
'ARSENAL, n. [Sp. Port. It. Fr. Arm. i
magazine or repository of stores ; in Ital
ian and Spanish, a dock or dock-yard
probably L. arx navalis, a naval citadel or
repository.]
A repository or magazine of arms and niili
tary stores, whether for land or naval ser-
vice.
ARSE'NIA€ or ARSEN'ICAL ACID. Ar-
senic combined with a greater jiroportion
of oxygen, than in the arsenious acid. It
is called arsenic acid by most authors.
ARSE'NIATE, n. A neutral sah, formed by
arsenical acid combined with any metal-
lic, earthy or sahne base.
Lavoisier. Fourcroy.
ARSENIC, n. [Ar. Jiijj zirnakon ; Syr.
).:^.>.ji1 zarnika ; Gr. afntvixov; L
nicum ; Sp. arsenico ; Fr. arsenic]
Arsenic, as it is usually seen in the shops, is
not a metal, but an oxyd, from which the
metal may be easily obtained by mixing it
with half its weight of black flux, and
introducing the mixture into a Floreni
flask, gradually raised to a red heat, in
sand bath. A* brilUant metallic subhmate
of pine arsenic collects in the upper po
of the flask. Ai-senic is of h steel blue
color, quite brittle, and the metal with aB
its compounds, is a virulent poison, vul-
garly called rats-bane. It forms alloys with
most of the metals. Combined with sul-
phur it forms orpiment or realgar, which
are the yellow and red sulphurets of ar-
senic. Orpiment is the true arsenicum of
the ancients. Plin. 34, 18. Native orpi-
ment appears in yellow, brilliant, and
seemingly talcky masses of various sizes ■
realgar is red, of different shades, and of-
ten crystalized in needles. Arsenic is also
found as a mineralizer in cobalt, antimonj .
copper, iron and silver ores. It is brought
chiefly from the cobalt works in Saxony,
where zaifer is made. Webster's Manual.
Fourcroy. JSIicholson. Cyc.
.•VRSEN'ICAL, a. Belonging to arsenic r
consisting of or containing arsenic.
ARSEN'I€ATE, v. t. To combine with
arsenic.
ARSEN'ICATED, a. Combined with ar-
senic.
ARSE'NIOUS, a. Pertaunng to, or con-
taining arsenic. The arsenious acid, or
white oxyd of arsenic, is a combination of
arsenic with a less proportion of oxygen
than in the arseniac acid.
ARSENITE, n. A salt formed by the ar-
senious acid, with a base.
ARSHINE, n. A Russian measure of two
feet, four inches and 242 decimals. This
seems to be the Chinese arschin, of which
four make three yards English.
Toolce\i Russia. Encyc.
ARSON, n. arsn. [Norm. Fr. arsine, arseun ;
from L. ardeo, arsum, to burn.]
In laiD, the malicious burning of a dwelling
house or outhouse of another man, which
by the common law is felony. The defi-
nition of this crime is varied by statutes in
different countries and states. In Con-
necticut, the burning not only of a dwell-
ing house or contiguous building, but of a
ship or other vessel, is declared to be ar-
son, if human life is thereby destroyed or
put to hazard.
ART. The second person, indicative mode,
present tense, of the substantive verb am ;
but from were, Sw. vara, Dan. merer.
ART, n. [L. ars, artis ; probably contracted
from the root of W. cerz, Ir. ceard. The
radical sense is strength, from stretching,
straining, the primary sense of strength
and power, and hence of skill. See an
analogy in can.]
1. The disposition or modification of things
by human skill, to answer the purpose in-
tended. In this sense art stands opposed
to nature. Bacon. Encyc.
2. A system of rules, serving to facihtate the
performance of certain actions ; opposed
to science, or to speculative principles ; as
the art of building or engraving. Arts are
divided into useful or mechanic, and liberal
or polite. The mechanic arts are those in
which the hands and body are more con-
cerned than the mind ; as in making
clothes, and utensils. These arts are
called trades. The liberal or polite arts
are those in which the mind or imagina-
tion is chiefly concerned ; as poetry, music
and painting.
In America, literature and the elegant artx
must s;row up side by side with the coarser plants
of daily necessity. Irving.
ART
A R T
A R 1'
3. Skill, dexterity, or the power of perform
ing certain actions, ac(iuire<l by experi
ciice, study or observation ; as, a man has
the art of managing liis business to advan
tage.
ARTEMIS'IA, n. Mug-wort, southern
wood, and wormwood ; a genus of plants
of numerous species. Of these, tlie uli
sinthium or common wormwood is wel
known.
ARTE'RIAL, a. [See AHery.] Pertaining
to an artery or the arteries ; as arteriui
action.
2. Contained in an artery ; as arterial blood.
ARTERIOT'OMY, n. [Gr. apr^pwt, an ar-
tery, and to/irj, a cutting,"
Tlie opening of an artery by the lancet, for
the purpose of letting blood
•ARTERY, n. [Gr. oprjjpio, from aijp, air, and
rijptco, to i)resen'e or contain ; so called
frotn the opinion of the ancients, that the
arteries contained or circulateil air. The
term was also applied to the trachea oi
winrl pipe, arteria aspera. In Ger. hijl-
ader, air-vein, is the name for artery ; ii
Dutch, slag-ader, stroke-vein ; in Swed
puls-ader, pidse-vein ; Dan. jnds-aart
pidse vein, that is, the beating vein.]
A cylindrical vessel or tube, which convey;
the blood from the heart to all parts of the
body. There are two principal arteries
the aorta, which rises from the left ventri-
cle and ramifies through the whole body
and the pulmonary artery, which conveys
the blood from the right ventricle to the
lungs, to undergo respiration. An artery
is composed of three coats ; the outer con-
sists of condensed cellular membrane, and
is supplied with numerous blood vessels
and nerves ; the middle coat consists o;
circular fibers, generally supposed to bo
muscular ; the inner coat, thin, smooth,
and dense, confines the blood within its
canal, and facihtates its motion.
Parr. Cyc.
•ARTFUL, a. [See Art.] Performed with
art or skill. Dryden,
2. Artificial, as opposed to natural.
Johnson.
3. Cunning; practicing art, or stratagem:
crafty ; as an artful boy. [ This is the most
usual sense.]
4. Proceeding from art or craft ; as an artful
scheme.
'ARTFULLY, adv. With art, or cunning
skilfully ; dextrously.
ARTFULNESS, n. Art;
ift;
ad.l
cunnmg
ARTHRIT'IC, I ^, Pertaining to the
ARTHRIT'I€AL, ^ "• joints, or to the
gout ; affecting the joints.
ARTIIRIT'IS, n. [Gr. ap9piris, from ap9pov
a joint. It seems to be of the same fam-
ily as artus, a limb.]
In a general sense, any jiainful disease of the
joints ; but more particularly, the gout, an
hereditary, intermitting disease, usually
affecting the small joints; sometimes tlie
stomach. Coie. Ouina/.
ARTHRO'DIA, ?i. [from ap9pou, to frame or
articulate.]
1. A species of articulation, in wliich the head
of one bone is received into the shallow
socket of anotlier ; as the humerus and the
scapula. Encyc.
2. In natural history, a genus of imperfect
cr^stnl', iniiMil in complex masses, and
Ciniiliir I'm;; >irigle pyramids, with ven
>Im.i-i .'111.! -I. M,|<-i- colunms. Encyr.
'AR'I'lt. 'l\n> \\(jrd is by mistake used In
sdiiir jMithois tor arclic.
ARTICHOKE, .1. [Qu. the first syllable of
Gr. opTvrixa. Fr. artichaut ; Arm. aiii-
chauden ; Sp. alcachofa ; Port, alcachofra ;
It. carciofo, carciofano, or carciofalo. The
first syllable is probably the L. carduus,
chard, thistle, corrupted. D. artichok ; G
urlischoke ; Dan. artiskok.']
A plant somewhat resembling a thi.stle, with
a dilated, imbricated and prickly calyx.
The head is large, rough and scaly, on an
upright stalk. It is composed of nume-
rous, oval scales, inclosing the florets, sit-
ting on a broad receptacle, which, with the
fleshy base of the scales, is the eatable
part of the plant. Encyc. Miller.
The Jerusalem artichoke is a species of sun-
flower or hehanthus.
'ARTICLE, n. [L. artictdus, a joint, from
artus ; Gr. opSpor.]
1. A single clause in a contract, account,
system of regulations, treaty, or other wri-
ting ; a |)articular separate charge or item,
in an account; a term, condition, or stip-
ulation, in a contract. In short, adistmct
part of a writing, instrument or discourse,
consisting of two or more particulars ; as,
articles of agreement ; an accoiuit con-
sisting of many articles.
2. A point of faith ; a doctrinal point or
proposition in theology ; as the thirty-nine
aiiicles.
3. A distinct part.
Upon each article of human duty. Paley.
4. A particidar commodity, or substance ; as,
an article of merchandize ; salt is a neces-
sary article. In common usage, this word
is appUed to almost every separate sub-
.stance or material.
The articles which compose the blood.
Danmn.
5. A point of time. [.Vol in use.]
Clarendon.
G. In hotany, that part of a stalk or stem,
which is between two joints. Milne.
". In grammar, an adjective used before
uouns, to limit or define their appUcation ;
as hie, ille, ipse, in Latin ; o, tj, to, in Greek ;
the, this, that, in English ; le, la, les, in
French ; il, la, to, in Italian. The pri-
mary use of these adjectives was to
convert an indeterminate name into a
determinate one ; or to luuit the applica-
tion of a common name, to a specific,
known, or certain individual. But article
being an unjiroper term to express the
true signification, I make use of definitive,
which see.
ARTICLE, V. t. To draw up in distinct par-
ticulars; as, to article the eiTors or folhesi
of a man. Taylor ^
2. To accuse or charge by an exhibition of)
articles. " He shall be articled againsti
in the High Court of admiralty." Stat.'
as. George III.
3. To bind by articles of covenant or stipu-
lation ; as, to article an apprentice to a me-
chanic.
ARTICLE, V. {. [supra.] To agree by arti-
cles ; to stipulate. Donne.
^■VRTICLED, pp. Drawn up in particulars :
accused or bound by articles.
ARTK I I,\H,«. [L. articularis.]
!■' ML 111'.' 1.1 tlie joints; as, the gout is an
\l;ri( I I.VTE, a. [L.arhVu/a/us, jointed,
Formed by jointing pr articuliition of tlio
organs of speech j applied to sox'tid. An
articulate sound is. nmde "by i?iosin;t -nOd •
opening the organ.~i of speech. Thftj.iik'- ■
tion or closing of the organs forms a joint
or articulation, u.s in the .syllables ab, ad,
ap ; in passing from one articulation to an-
other, the organs are, or may be opened,
and a vowel is uttered, as in attune ; and
the diflerent articulatioii.s with the inter-
vening vocal sounds, fiiii wIku is called
articulate sounds; s.iiin.l- .li-ru.. i. hc|)a-
rate, and modified by :ini. nlaii.in ..r |i)int-
ing. This articulation r.-n-iniit. -^ the
j)rominent difference In tu. , n iIm hiiiiiiin
voice and that of briiti--. ISnii. - nji. n ihe
mouth and make vocjil >iiiiiiil.-, I.m have,
either not at all, or very imiifcrlecllv, the
power of articulation.
2. Expressed in articles, or in separate par-
ticulars. IJ^ot used.] Brown.
3. Jointed ; (firmed with joints. Botany.
ARTICULATE, v. t. To utter articulate
sounds; to utter distinct syllables or words.
2. To draw up or write in separate particu-
lars. [JVot used.] Shak.
3. To treat, stipulate or make terms. [.Vol
used.] Shak.
4. To joint. Smith.
ARTICULATED, pp. Uttered distinctly in
syllables or words.
2. Jointed ; having joints, as a plant.
ARTIC ULATELY, adv. With distinct ut-
terance of syllables or words.
2. Article by article ; in detail. Paley.
ARTIC'ULATENESS, n. The quality of
being articulate.
ARTICULATING, ;>/)r. Uttering in distinct
syllables or words.
ARTICULATION, n. In anatomy, the join-
ing or juncture of the bones. This is of
three kinds : 1st, diaiihrosis, or a mova-
ble connection, including enarthrosis, or
the ball and socket joint ; anhrodia, which
is the same, but more superficial ; gingly-
inus, or hinge-Uke joint ; and trochoid, or
the wheel and axle : 2d, synarthrosis, im-
movable connection, as by suture, or
junction by serrated margins ; harmony,
or union by straight margins ; and goni-
phosis, like a nail driven in a board, as
the teeth m their sockets : 3d, symphysis,
or union by means of another substance ;
as synchondrosis, union by a cartilage ;
syssarcosis, union by muscular fibres ;
syimeurosis, union by a tendon ; syndes-
mosis, union by hgaments ; and synostosis,
union by a bony substance.
^uincy. Coxe.
2. In botany, the connection oi the parts of a
plant by joints; also the nodes or joints,
as in cane and maize. Encyc.
3. The forming of words ; a distinct utter-
ance of syllables and words by the human
voice, by means of closing and opening
the organs.
4. A consonant; a letter noting a jointing or
closing of the organs.
'ARTIFICE, n. [L. artificium, from ars, art,
and facio, to make.]
Stratagem ; an artful or ingenious device, in
ART
a good or bad sense. In a bad sense, it
coiTes))onds with trick, or fraud.
3. Art ; trade ; skill acquired by science
practice. [Rarek/ used.]
ARTIE'IJSBH.,.?.',. \L.arHfe.r, from ars, and
faciq.]., . ' -
1. An artisl; ; a, mechanic or manufacturer
, pH^. wli/j.sv! ocGdgatitiu requires skill or
iHovviedge ot' a particular kind ; as a sil-
versmith, or Sadler.
3. One who makes or contrives ; an inventor ;
as an artificer of fraud or lies. Milton.
3. A cunnmg, or artful fellow. [JVot used.]
Ben Jonson.
ARTIFI"CIAL, a. Made or contrived by
art, or by human skill and labor, in oppo-
sition to natural ; as artificial heat or Ught
an artificial magnet.
'J. Feigned; fictitious; no
ural ; as artificial tears.
3. Contrived with skill or
4. Cultivated ; not indigenous ; not being of
spontaneous growth ; as artificial grasses.
Gibbon.
AHifidal arguments, in rhetoi-ic, are argu-
ments invented by the speaker, in distinc-
tion from laws, authorities and the like,
which are called inartificial arguments or
proofs. Johnson.
Artificial lines, on a sector or scale, are luies
so contrived as to represent the logarith-
mic sines and tangents, which, by the help
of the hne of numbers, solve, with tolerable
exactness, questions in trigonometry, navi-
gation, &c.
Artificial numbers, the same with logarithms
Chambers. Encye
ARTIFICIAL'ITY, n. The quaUty of being
artificial; appearance of art.
Shenstone.
ARTIFI"CIALLY, adv. By art, or human
skill and contrivance ; hence, with good
contrivance ; with art or ingenuity.
ARTIFI"CIALNESS, n. The quality of
being artificial.
ARTIL'LERY, n. This word has no plural.
[Fr. artilkne ; It. artiglie7-ia ; Sp. artille-
ria. In Fr. artilleur, artillier, is a matross ;
Sp. arlillar, to mount cannon. In Arm-
oric, artillery is adilhiry, and an artist is
artilher. In Norm. Fr. artillery is written
articlane. The Arinoric unites this word
with art, aHist, inihcating that the primary
sense is, instruments, things formed by art
or rather prepared by art, preparations.]
1. In a general sense, offensive weapons of
war. Hence it was formerly used for bows
and arrows.
But in present usage, appropriately,
3. Cannon ; great guns ; ordnance, inchuUng
guns, mortars and grenades, with their
furniture of carriages, balls, bombs and
shot of all kinds.
3. In a more extended sense, the word in-
cludes i)owderj cartridges, matches, uten-
sils, machines of all kinds, and horses that
belong to a train of artillery.
4. The men who manage cannon and mor-
tars, including iiiatrosses, gunners, bomb-
ardiers, c-aiinoiiins, or by whatever name
they ai-r calli-il, with the officers, engineers
and iHTsnns « lio supply the artillery witli
implements and materials. Encyc.
A R U
ARTISAN, n. s as z. [ Fr. from L. ars. Sec
Art.]
An artist ; one skilled in any art, mystery or
trade ; a handicrafls-man ; a mechanic
a tradesman.
'ARTIST, n. [¥r. artiste; It. artisla;^-om
L. ars. See AH.]
1. One skilled m an art or trade ; one who
is master or professor of a manual art ;
good workman in any trade.
2. A skilful man ; not a novice.
In an academical sense, a proficient in the
faculty of arts ; a philosopher. Encyc.
4. One skilled in the fine arts ; as a painter
scidptor, architect, &c.
'ARTLESS, a. Unskilful ; wanting art
knowledge or skill. Dryden.
2. Free from guile, art, craft or stratagem
simple ; sincere ; unaffected ; undesign-
ing ; as an aiiless mind.
3. Contrived without skill or art ; as an art-
less tale.
ARTLESSLY, adv. Without art or skill;
in an artless manner.
3. Without guile ; naturally ; sincerely ;
Pope
The quality of being
simplicity ; sincerity ;
n. [ofGr. apros, bread,
affectedly,
ARTLESSNESS,
void of art or guil
unaffectedness.
AR'TOTYRITE,
and Tupos, cheese.]
One of a sect of heretics, in the primitive
church, who celebrated the euchai'ist with
bread and cheese, alledging that the first
oblations of men were not only the fruit of
the earth, but of their flocks. They ad-
mitted females to the priesthood and epis-
copacv. Encyc.
.4RTS-MAN, n. A learned man. Obs.
Shak.
ARUNDE'LIAN, a. Pertaining to Arundel,
as Arundelian marbles. The Arimdelia
marbles are ancient stones, containing
chronological detail of the principal events
of Greece, from Cecrops, who lived about
1582 years before Christ, to the archonship
of Diognetus, before Christ 264. The en-
graving was done in Pares, and the chro-
nology is called the Parian Chronicle
These stones are called Arundelian from
the Earl of Arundel, who employed W
liam Petty to procure relics of antiquity in
the East, in 1624. These, with other
osities, were purchased, and by the Earl's
grandson presented to the University of
Oxford. Their antiquity and even their
authentioitv has been questioned. Ena/c.
ARUNDINA'CEOUS, a. [L. arundo, a reed.]
Pertaining to a reed ; resembhng the reed
or cane
ARUNDIN'EOUS, a. Abounding with reeds.
ARU'RA, n. [Gr. apspo.] Literally, as au
thors suppose, a ploweti field. According
to Herodotus, and Suidas, the arura of
Egypt, was a piece of ground fifty feet
square. Others make it a square of 100
cubits ; others of 100 feet. The Grecian
aroura was a square measure of half the
plethron, [See Aronra.]
Encyc. Herod. Euterpe.
[L.] A soothsayer.
Dryden.
writteji also haruspice.
haruspex, a soothsayer, or
VRUS'PEX,
ARUS'PICE,
[L. aruspex.
diviner, who attemjKed to foretell events
A S B
by consulting the entrails of beasts slain iia
sacrifice. Qu. Teut. or/; i/r/"; Eth. A4T
arwe, cattle, and L. specio, to view.]
A priest, in ancient Rome, whose business
was to inspect the entrails of victhns, killed
m sacrifice, and by them to foretel future
events.
ARUS'PICY, n. The act of prognosticating
by inspection of the entrails of beasts, slain
m sacrifice. Butler.
AS, adv. nz. [Pers. \,^\ asa, like, similar,
as ; Gr. uj. Qii. Fr. aussi. But more prob-
ably the English word is contracted fi-oni
als, G. and D. It corresponds in sense
with the Persian.]
1. Literally, Uke ; even; similar. " Ye shaH
be as Gods, knowmg good and evil." " As
far as we can see," that is, like far, equally
far. Hence it may be explained by in like
manner ; as, do as you are connnanded.
2. It was formerly used where we now use
that Obs.
The relations are so unccrtiiin as they require
a great deal of examination. Bacon.
3. It was formerly used for as if. Obs.
He lies, as he his bliss did know.
Waller.
V\''hile ; dm-ing ; at the same time. " He
trembled as he spoke." But in most of its
uses, it is resolvable into like, equal, even,
or equally, in like manner. In some phra-
ses, it must be considered a nomuiative
word, or other words must be supplied.
" Appoint to office such men as deserve
pubUc confidence." This phrase may be
elliptical for " such men as those who de-
serve public confidence."
As seems, in some cases, to imply the sense
of ))ro])ortion. " In general, men are more
happy, as they are less involved in pubhc
concerns."
?, m a subsequent part of a sentence, an-
swers to such ; give us such tilings as you
please ; and in a preceding part of a sen-
tence, has so to answer to it ; as with the
people, so with the priest.
AS, n. [L.] A Roman weight of 12 ouncesj
answering to the libra or potmd.
A Roman coin, origuially of a pound
weight ; but reduced, after the first Punic
war, to two ounces ; in the second Punic
war, to one ounce ; and by the Papirian
law, to half an ounce. It was originally
stamped with the figure of a sheep, sow,
or ox ; and afterwards with a Jamis, on
one side, and on the reverse, a rostrum o^-
prow of a ship.
3. An integer ; a whole or single thing.
Hence the English ace. Hence the Ro-
mans used the word for the whole inher-
itance ; haeres ex asse, an heir to the whole
estate. Encyc.
ASA, a corru])tion oflasar, an ancient name
of a gum. [See Ooze.]
ASA-DULCIS, the same as benzoin.
ASA-FET'IDA, n. [Asa, gum, and L. fati-
dus, fetid.]
A fetid gum-resin, from the East Indies. It
is the concrete juice of a large imibelhfer-
ous plant, much used in Medicine, as ai»
antispasmodic. Encyc.
ASBES'TINE, a. [See Asbestus.]
Pertaining to asbestus, or i)aitaking of it'?
nature and qualities ; ineonibustible.
A S C
A S C
A S C
ASBES'TINITE, n. [See Jlshestus.] The
actinolite or stralilstciii. Kirwan.
Calciferous abestinite ; u variety of steatite.
Kirwan.
ASBES'TUS, } [Gr. aaSi^o,, inextiiiguisii-
ASBES'TOS, <, "•alp|e;ofaneg.and<jSE.TVMi,
•\ti
A niiii(i:il, wliiclj lias frequently the appear-
ance (if a \ ejjctahle .suhstaiieo. It isalways
filjri)us, and its fihers sometimes aj)pear tc
l)e prismatic crystals. They are some-
times delicate, flexible, and elastic ; al
other times, stiff and brittle. Its powder
is soft to the touch; its colors are s
shade of white, gray or green, passing
brown, red or black, ft is incombustible,
anil has been wrought into a soft, fl
cloth, which was formerly used as a shroud
for dead bodies. It has been al.-i
factured into incombustible pajjer, and
wicks for lamps.
Kirwan. Encyc. Cleaveland.
Ugniform asbeslus is a variety of a brown
color, of asphntery fracture, and if broken
across, presents an irregidar filamentous
structure, like wood. Kirwan.
ASCA'RIS, n. plu. ascar'ides. [Gr.]
In zoology, a genus of intestinal worms. The
body is cylindrical, and tapering at the
ends. It includes two of the mc
mon worms in the lumian intestines, the
ascarides, and the lumbricoides.
ASCEND', V. {. [L. ascendo, from scando, to
mount or climb ; VV. e.igyn, to rise ; cyn
first, chief It has the same elements as
begin.]
1. To move upwards ; to mount ; to go up
to rise, wlietlier in an- or water, or upon a
material object.
2. To rise, in a figurative sense ; to proceed
from an inferior to a superior degree, from
mean to noble objects, from particulars tc
generals, &c.
3. To proceed from modern to ancient times
to recur to former ages ; as, our inquiries
ascend to the remotest antiquity.
4. In a corresponding sense, to proceed in a
line towards ancestors ; as, to ascend
our first progenitors.
5. To rise as a star ; to proceed or come
above the horizon.
C. In mmic, to rise in vocal utterance ;
l)ass from any note to one more acute.
ASCEND', V. t. To go or move upwards
upon, as to ascend a hill or ladder; or to
climb, as to ascend a tree.
ASCEND' ABLE, a. That maybe ascended,
ASCEND'ANT, n. Superiority or conmiaud-
ing influence ; as, one man has the ascend-
ant over another.
'i. An ancestor, or one who precedes in ge-
nealogy, or degrees of kindred ; ojjposed
to descendant.
3. Ilighth ; elevation. [Little used.]
Temple.
4. hi astrology, that degree of the echptic
which rises above the horizon at the time
of one's birth. That part of the echptic
at any particular time above the horizon,
supposed to have influence on a person's
life and fortune. Johnson. Encyc.
ASCEND'ANT, a. Superior ; predominant ;
surpassing.
•i. In astrologi), above the horizon.
ASCEND'Ei), pij. or a. Risen ; mounted up;
irone to heaven.
Vol. I.
ASCEND'ENCY, n. Power; governing oi
controlling influence.
Custom has an ascendency over the under-
standing. Watts.
ASCE.\D'ING, ppr. Rising; moving up-
wards ; proceeding from the less to the
griiater ; proceeding from modern to an-
cient, from grave to more acute. A star
is said to be ascending, when rising above
the horizon, in any parallel of the equator.
scending latitude is the latitude of a planet,
when moving towards the North pole.
Ascending node is that point of a planet's or-
bit, wherein it passes the ecliptic to proceed
northward. It is also called the northern
node.
\.,1scending vessels, in .'cnatoniy, arc thos(
whicli carrv the liluinl M|i\\aiil or tow;u-(
tiio su|icrio"r parlsortliclMiilv.
ASCEN'SION, n. [L. ascensi6.]
1. The act of ascending; arising. It is fre-
quently applied to the visible elevation of]
our Savior to Heaven.
2. The thing rismg, or ascending. [JVot
authorized.]
3. In astronomy, ascension is either right or
obliijue. Right ascension of the sim or of a
star, is that degree of the equinoctial,
counted from the beginning of Aries,
which rises with the sim or star, in a right
sphere. Obliiiue ascension is an arch of
the equator, intercepted between the first
point of Aiies, and that point of the equa-
tor which rises together with a star, in ar
oblique sphere. Johnson.
ASCENSION-DAY, n. A festival of some
cliristian churches, held ten days or on
the Thursday but one, before Whitsuntide,
which is called Holy Thursday, in com-
memoration of our Savior's ascension into
heaven, after his resurrection.
Ascensional difference is tlie difference be-
tween the right and oblique ascension of
the same point on the surface of the S|)here.
Chambers.
ASCEN'SIVE, a. Rising ; tending to rise,
or causing to rise. Joum. of Science.
ASCENT', n. [L. ascensus.]
'. The act of rising ; motion upwards,
whether in air, water or other fluid, nr on
elevated objects ; rise ; a mountiiifj np-
• wards; as the ascent of vapors from the
earth.
2. The way by which one ascends ; the
means of ascending. Baron.
3. An eminence, hill or high place.
Mdison
4. The degree of elevation of an object, or
the angle it makes with a horizontal line
as, a road has an ascent of fi^e degrees.
Acclivity ; the rise of a hill ; as a steep
ascent.
ASCERTA'IN, v.t. [from the L. ad certum.
to a certainty.]
. To make certain ; to define or reduce to
precision, by removing obscurity or ambi-
giuty.
The divine law ascertains the truth. Hooker.
. To make certain, by trial, examination or
experiment, so as to know what was be-
fore imknown ; as, to ascertain the weight
of a commodity, or Uie purity of a metal.
3. To make sure by previous measures.
Tl>c ministry, in order to ascertain a majority
in (he house of lords, jiersuaded the queen to
create twelve new peers. Smollett
14
4. To make certain or confident, followed hy
a pronoun ; as, to a.'irertain j(.sof the good-
ness of our work. [Vniisval.] Dryden.
5. To fix ; to establish wiili certainty; to
render invariable, an<l not suhject to will.
The mildness and precision of their laws as-
certained the mle and measure of taxation.
Gibbon.
ASCERTA'INABLE, a. That may be made
certain in fact, or certain to the mind ;
that may be certainly known or reduced
to a certainty. Kerr's Lavoisier.
ASCERTA'INED, pp. Made certain ; de-
fined ; established ; reduced to a certainty.
ASCERTA'INER, n. The person who as-
certains or makes certain.
ASCERTA'IMXO, ppr. Making certain ;
; (--^iiiliii^liing ; reducing to a cer-
: nliiainiiii.' certain knowledge.
ASCi;i!'l A l.NiMENT, n. The act of ascer-
tahiing ; a reducing to certainty ; certainty ;
fi-'i:<''l rule. Suiff. Burke.
ASCESSANCY, ) [See Acescency, Aces-
ASCESSANT, J cent.]
ASCET'IC, a. [Gr. aoxr;ro;, exercised, hard-
ened ; from aaxtu, to exercise.]
Retired tioni tlie world; rigid; severe ; aus-
tere ; cmi)loyed in devotions and mortifi-
cations.
ASCET'I€, n. One who retires from the
customary business of life, and devotes
himself to tlie duties of piety and devotion ;
a hermit ; a recluse.
2. The title of certain books, on devout ex-
ercises ; as the ascetics of St. Basil.
AS'CIAN, n. [L. ascii, from Gr. a prW.
and BXM, a shadow.]
A person, who, at certain times of the year,
has no shadow at noon. Such are the
inhabitants of the torrid zone, who have,
at times, a vertical sun. Bailey.
AS'CITANS, n. [Gr. oaxoj, a bag or bottle
of skin.]
.K sect or branch of Montanists, who appear-
ed in the second century. They introdu-
ced into their assemblies, certain bacchan-
als, who danced around a bag or skin
distended with air, in allusion to the bot-
tles filled with new wine. Math ix. Encyc.
AS'CITES, n. [Gr. affxoj, a bladder.]
A dropsy or tense elastic swelling of the
belly, with fluctuation, from a collection of
"••Iter. CoTe. Quincy.
AS( IT IC. i ^ Belonging to an ascites;
ASCIT UAL, 5 ■ dropsical; hydropical.
ASCITI TIOUS, a. [L.ascifus; Low L.
ascititius ; trom ascisco, to take to or asso-
ciate.]
Additional ; added ; supplemental ; not inhe-
rent or original.
Homer has been reckoned an ascititious
name. Pope.
AS€LE'PIAD, Ji. In ancient poetry, a verse
of four feet, the first of which is a .spondee,
the second, a choriamb, and the last two,
dactyls ; or of four feet and a cesura, the
first, a spondee, the second, a dactyl, then
the cesura, followed by two dactyls ; a.s,
Maece | nas ata : vis | edite 1 regihus. Encyc.
AS€RI'BABLE, a. [See Ascribe.] Thai
may be ascribed or attributed.
ASCRIBE, V. t. [L. ascribo, of ad and .scribo,
to write.]
1. To attribute, impute, or set to, astoacau.se ;
to assign, as effect to a cause ; as, losses
are often to be ascribed to imprudence.
A 8 11
A S I
ASK
•1. To uliribiito, n*i a quahty, or an appurte-
nance ; to consider or alledge to belong ;
as, to ascribe perfection to God, or imper-
fection to man. Job xxxvi. Ps. 'Ixviii.
1 Sam. xviii.
ASCRI'BED, ])p. Attributed or imputed;
considered or alledged, as belonging.
AS€RI'BING, 7);)r. Attributing; imputing;
alledging to belong.
ASCRIP'TION, n. The act of ascribing,
imputing or atTirming to belong.
\S€RIPTI"TIOUS, a. That is ascribed.
This word is applied to villains under the
feudal system, who are annexed to the
freehold and transferable with it.
Spelman. Lib. JViger Scaccarii.
ASH, n. [Sax. ase ; Dan. ask ; Germ, esche ;
D. essche ; Russ. yassen.]
1. A well known tree, of which there are
many species. There is no hermaphrodite
calyx, or it is quadripartite ; and no corol,
or it is tetrapetalous. There are two sta-
mens ; one pistil ; one seed, contained in a
membranous, lanceolate capsule, and tlie
pistil of the female flower is lanceolate
The leaves are pinnate, and the capsules
grow in clusters. This wood is valuable,
for fuel, as well as for timber ; and the
tree, when it grows in an open field, often
formp, with its branches, a beautiful oval
figure and a thick shade.
Encyc. Linne. MUlei
2. The wood of the ash tree.
ASH, a. Pertaining to or like the ash ; made
of asli.
ASHA'ME, V. t. To shame. [JVot tised.]
ASHA'MED, «. [from Sax. gescamian or as-
camian, to be ashamed, to blush, iron)
scama, shame ; originally a participle. See
Shame.]
1. Affected by shame ; abashed or confused
by guilt or a conviction of some criminal
action or indecorous conduct, or by the
exposure of some gross errors or miscon-
duct, which the person is conscious must
be wrong, and which tends to impair his
honor or reputation. It is followed by of.
Thou shall remember thy ways, and be asha-
med. Ex. xvi.
Israel shall be ashamed of liis own counsel.
Hosea x.
9. Confused by a consciousness of guilt or of
inferiority ; by the mortification of pride
by failure or disappointment.
They shall be greatly ashamed, Ihat trust ii
images. Isa. xlii.
[This adjective always follows its noun.'}
ASHA'MEDLY, adv. Bashfully. [J^ot used.]
ASH-€OLORED, a. Of a color between
brown and gray. Woodward.
ASH'EN. a. [See Ash.] Pertaining to ash ;
made of ash.
ASH'ES, n. plu. without the singular num-
ber. [Sax. asca ; Goth, azga ; D. asch ; G.
asche ; Sw. aska ; Dan. aske ; Basque, aus-
cxia.]
1. The earthy particles of combustible sub-
stances remaining after combustion ; as of
wood or coal.
2. The remains of the human body when
burnt. Hence figuratively, a dead body
or corpse.
3. In scnpture, ashes is vised to denote vile
ness, meanness, frailty, or liumiliation.
I who am but dust and ashes. Gen. xviii.
1 abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.
Job xlii.
ASH'-FIRE, n. A low fire used in chunical
operations.
ASH'-HOLE, n. A repositoi^ for ashes ; the
lower jiart of a furnace.
ASH'LAJl, Ji. Common or free stones, as
they come from the quarry, of difti;rent
lengths, breadths and thicknesses.
Johnson.
ASH'LERING, n. Quartering for lathing
to, in garrets, two or three feet high, per-
pendicular to the floor, and reacliing to
the under side of the rafters. Encyc.
ASHO'RE, adv. [a, at or on, and shore. See
Shore.]
1. On shore ; on the land adjacent to water ;
to the shore ; as, bring the goods ashore.
On land, opposed to aboard ; as, the cap-
tain of the ship. remained asAorc.
3. On the ground ; as, the ship was driven
ashore.
ASHWEDNESDAY, n. The first day of
Lent ; supposed to be so called from a cus-
tom in the Romish Church of sprinkhng
ashes, that day, on the heads of penitents,
then admitted to penance.
ASH'-WEED, n. A plant, the small wild
angehca, gout-wort, goats-foot, or herb-
gerard. Encyc,
ASHY, a. Belonging to ashes ; ash-color-
ed ; pale ; inchnuig to a whitish gray.
Shak
\SHY-PALE, a. Pale as ashes. Shak
\'SIAN, a. [from J}sia, a name originally
gwen to Asia Minor or some part of it
))erhaps fi-om the Asses, Ases or Osses,
about Mount Taurus. Mallet, JVorth. Ant
i. 60. Plin. 6. 17.]
Pertaining to Asia. Dryden. Mitford.
A'SIAR€H, n. [Asia and apxof, chief]
A chief or pontiff of Asia ; one who had
the sujjerintendence of the public games,
Acts xix. Milner.
ASIAT'I€, a. Belonging to Asia, a quarter
of the globe whicli extends from the strait
of Constantinople and the Arabian gulf, to
the Pacific ocean on the east. It is proba
ble, the name was originally appropriated
to what is now Asia Miiior or rather a
part of it.
ASIAT'Ie, n. A native of Asia.
ASIAT'ICISM, n. Imitation of the Asiatic
manner. JVarton.
ASI'DE, adv. [a and side. See Side.
I. On or to one side ; out of a perpendicular
straight direction.
i. At a little distance from the main part or
body.
Thou shall set asUle that which is full. 2
Kings iv.
3. From the body ; as, to jiut or lay aside a
gai-ment. John xiii.
4. From the company ; at a small distance
or ui private ; as when speakers utter
something by themselves, upon the stage.
5. Separate from the person, mind or atten-
tion ; in a state of abandonment.
Let us lay aside every weight. Heb. xii.
6. Out of the fine of rectitude or propriety,
a moral view.
They are all gone aside. Ps. xiv.
7. In a state of separation to a particular
use ; as, to set aside a thing for a future
day.
To set aside, in judicial proceedings, is to de
feat the eflfect or operation of, by a subse-
quent decision of a superior tribunal ; as.
to set aside a verdict or a judgment.
ASINE'GO, n. [Sp. asnico, a httle ass.] A
foolish fellow. Mason.
AS'ININE, rarely AS'INARY, a. [L. asi-
nus ; W. asyn, the ass ; which see.]
Belonging to the ass ; ha^^ng the quaUties of
the ass.
ASK, V. t. [Sax. ascian, acsian, or aiian ;
D. eischen ; G. heischen ; Ir. ascaim ; Gr;
allow. Qu. Eth. ^ ft tV t'^ pray or beseech.
In former times, the EngUsh word was
])ronouneed ax, as in the royal style of as-
senting to bills in Parliament. " Be it as
it is axed." In Calmuc, asoc signifies to in-
quire. The sense is to urge or press.]
1. To request ; to seek to obtain by words ;
to petition ; with of before the person to
whom the request is made.
Ask counsel of God. Judges xviii.
2. To require, expect or claim.
To whom men J^ave committed much, of him
they wiU ask the more. Luke xii.
3. To interrogate, or inquire ; to put a ques-
tion, with a view to an answer.
He is of age, ask him. John ix.
4. To require, or make claim.
Ask me never so much dowry. Gen. xxxiv.
Dan. ii.
5. To claim, require or demand, as the price
or value of a commodity ; to set a price ;
as, what price do you ask ?
L To requiie, as physically necessarj'.
The exigence of a stale asks a much longer
time to conduct the design to maturity.
Addison .
This sense is nearly or entirely obsolete :
ask being superseded by require and de-
mand.
7. To invite ; as, to ask guests to a wedding
or entertainment ; ask my friend to step
into the house.
ASK, V. i. To request or petition, followed
by for ; as, ask for bread ; or without for.
Ask and it shall be given you. Mat. «i.
2. To incpiire, or seek by request ; some-
times followed by after.
Wherefore dost thou ask after my name ?
Gen. xxxii.
This verb can hardly be considered as
strictly intransitive, for some person or ob-
ject is always understood.
Ask is not equivalent to demand, claim, and
require, at least, in modern usage ; much
less, is it equivalent to beg and beseech.
The first three words, demand, claim, re-
quire, iiiqily a right or supposed right in
the person asking, to the thuig requested ;
and beseech imphes more urgency, than ask.
Ask and request imply no right, but sup-
pose the thing desired to be a favor. The
French demander is correctly rendered by
ask, rather than by demand.
ASK\\NCE, ? , " [D. schuins, sloping.]
ASK^ANT, I '^^- Sideways ; obhquely ;
towards one corner of tlie eye. Dryden.
^ASKED, pp. Requested ; petitioned ; ques-
tioned ; mterrogated.
'ASKER, Ji. One who asks ; a petitioner ;
an inquirer.
2. A water newt. Johnson.
ASKEW adv. [G.schief; Dan. ski(EV ; D.
schccf, awry, crooked, oblique.]
ASP
^Vith a wry look ; aside ; askant ; sometimes
indicating scorn, or contempt, or envy.
Sptnser.
ASKING, ppr. Requesting; petitioning;
interrogating ; inquiring.
2. Silently expressing request or desire.
Kxplain the asking eye. Pope.
ASLA'KE, V. I. [Sax. nulacian. See Slack.]
To remit ; to slacken. [.Vo/ in use.] Speiise;
ASLA'NI, n. A silver coin worth from 115
to 120 aspers. Enn/c.
ASL'ANT, a. or adv. [a and slant. See
Slant.]
On one side ; obliquely ; not perpendicularly
or with a right angle.
The shaft drove through his neck aslant
Dry den
ASLEE'P, a. or adv. [a and sleep, or Sax,
ge^lapan, to sleep.]
1. Sleeping ; in a state of sleep ; at rest.
Sisera was fast asleep. Judges iv.
2. To a state of sleep ; as to fall asleep.
-!?. Dead ; in a state of death.
Concerning them who arc asleep, sonrow not.
1 Thess. iv.
4. To death.
For since the fathers fell asleep, all things
continue. 2 Pet. iii.
ASLO'PE, a. or adv. [n and slope. See
Slope.]
With leaning or inclination ; obliquely ; wit
declivity or descent, as a hill ; dechning
from an upright direc-tion.
Set theni not upright, but aslope. Bacon
ASLUG', adv. In a sluggish manner. [JVot
tised.] Fotherby.
ASMONE'AN, a. Pertaining to Asmoneus,
the father of Simon, and chief of the As
moneans, a family that reigned over the
Jews 126 years.
ASMONE'AN, n. One of the family of As
moneus.
ASO'MATOUS, a. [Gr. a priv. and e^ixa,
body.]
Without a material body ; incorporeal. [JVot
used.] Todd.
ASP, } ji [L. aspis ; Gr. asrtis, a round
ASP'I€, ^ ■ shield and an asp ; supposed
to be from Ileb. and Ch. 30X,to gather in,
or collect ; from the coil of this serpent,
with his head elevated in the center, like
the boss of a buckler.]
A small poisonous serpent of Egypt and
Libya, whose bite occasions inevitable
death, but without pain. It is said that
the celebrated Cleopatra, rather than be
carried a captive to Rome by Augustus,
suffered death by the bite of the asp ; but
the fact has been questioned. Authors
are not agreed, as to what species the asp
of the ancients should be referred. Bruce
thinks it the coluber cerastes, Liime.
ASPAL'ATHUS, n. A plant.
ASPAR'AgIN, n. White transparent crys-
tals of a peculiar vegetable principle,
which spontaneously form in asparagus
juice evaporated to the consistence of
"su-up. They are ui the form of rhom-
boidal prisms. Ure
ASPAR'AGUS, 7J. [L. and Gr. ; probably
from 8rtopo9(ju, to tear, from its lacerated
appearance, or from the root of ujtttpa, a
spire, from its stem.]
Sparagus ; sperage ; vulgarly, sparrow-grass
a genus of plants. That which is cultiva
ted in gardens, has an upright herbaceous
ASP
stalk, bristly leaves, and equal stipuJas.
The roots have a bitterish mucilaginous
taste ; and the stalk is, in some degree,
aperient and deobstruent, but not verj'efH-
caciou.s. Encyc,
"ASPECT, n. [L. aspectus, from asptcio, to
look on, of arf and specio, to see or look.]
1. Look ; view ; appearance to the eye or
the mind ; as, to present an object or a
subject in its true aspect, or under a double
a.ipect. So we say, public afl'airs have
favorable aspect.
2. Countenance ; look, or particular appear-
ance of the face ; as a mild or severe
pect.
3. View ; sight ; act of seeing. [This sense
is now unusual.]
4. Position or situation with regard to „._
I ing, or that position which enables one to
I look in a particular direction ; as, a house
I has a southern aspect, that is, a position
I which faces or looks to the south.
5. In astronomy, the situation of one planet
with respect to another. The aspects are
five; sextile, when the planets are 60°
distant ; quartile, or quadrate, when their
distance is 90°, or the quarter of a circle ;
trine, when the distance is 120° ; opposi-
tion, when the distance is 180°, or half a
circle ; and conjunction, when they are in
the same degree.
ASPECT', V. t. To behold. [JVot used.]
Temple.
ASPECT' ABLE, a. That may be seen.
[.Vol used.] Raleigh.
ASPECT'ED, a. Having an aspect. [Xot
tised.] B. Jonson
ASPEC'TION, „. The act of viewing
[A'ot used.] Brown
ASP'EN or ASP, n. [D. esp; G. aspe, dspe ;
Sax. (espe ; Sw. asp ; Dan. a;sp ; Qu. from
the Ar.^^^ gashafa, to be agitated.]
A species of the poplar, so called from thi
trembUng of its leaves, which move with
the sUghtest impulse of the air. Its leaves
are roundish, smooth, and stand on long
slender foot-stalks.
.\SP'EN, a. Pertaining to the aspen, or re-
sembling it ; made of aspen wood.
Nor aspen leaves confess the gentlest breeze
Gay
AS'PER, a. [L. See Asperate.] Rough
rugged. [Little used.] Bacon.
AS'PER, n. [L. aspiro, to breathe.]
In grammar, the Greek accent ' , unporting
that the letter over which it is placed
ought to be aspirated, or pronounced as if
the letter h preceded it. Encyc.
jAS'PER, n. A Turkish coin, of which three
make a medine. Its value is about a cent
and 12 decimals.
IAS' PER ATE, V. t. [L. aspero, from asper,
rough.]
To make rough or uneven. Boyle.
ASPER A'TION, n. A making rough.
ASPERIFO'LIATE, a. [L. asper, rough,
and folium, a leaf]
Having rough leaves. Plants of this kind
are, by some authors, classified according
to this character. They constitute the
foity-first order of Linne's fragments of a
natural method. In the methods of Her-
man, Boerhave, and Ray, tliis class con-
sists of plants wliich "have four naked
ASP
seeds. Their leaves stand alternately on
the stalks, and the flower is monopetalous
in five di> isir)ns. Encyc. Milne.
ASPERIFO'LIOUS, a. Having leaves rough
to the touch. [See the preceding word.]
ASPER ITV, n. [L. asperitas, from asper.
rough.]
1. Roughness of surface ; unevenness : op-
posed to smoothness. Boyle.
2. Roughness of sound ; that quahty which
grates the ear ; harshness of [ironunciation.
Warton.
.3. Roughness to the taste : sourness.
4. Roughness or ruggedness of temper ; mo-
roseness ; sourness ; crabbedness. Rogers.
5. Sharpness. Berkeley.
ASPEROUS,a. [L. asper, rough.] Rough;
uneven. Boyle.
ASPERSE, V. t. aspers'. [L. aspergo, asper-
sus, of ad and spargo, to scatter ; Ar. ^ j
to spUt, divide, scatter. See Class Brg.]
1. To bespatter with foul reports or false
and injurious charges ; to tarnish in point
of reijutation, or good name ; to slander or
calumniate ; as, to asperse a |)oet or his
writings ; to asperse a character.
2. To cast upon. Heywood.
ASPERS ER, n. One that asperses, or vih-
fies another.
.\SPER'SION, n. A .'=prinkhng,as of water
or dust, in a literal sense. Shak.
2. The spreading of calumnious reports or
charges, which tarnish reputation, like the
bespattering of a body with foul water.
Bp. Hall.
ASPHALT', I [Gr.aataWo;.] Bitumen
ASP1L\LT'UM, S Judaicum, Jew's pitch;
a smooth, hard, brittle, black or brown
substance, which breaks with a polish,
melts easily when heated, and when pure,
burns without leaving any ashes. It has
little taste, and scarcely any smell, unless
heated, when it emits a strong smell of
pitch. It is found in a soft or liquid state
on the surface of the Dead Sea, which,
from this substance, is called Asphaltite, or
the Asphaltic Lake. It is found also in
the earth, in many parts of Asia, Europe
and America. Formerly, it was used tor
embalming dead bodies ; the sohd asphalt
is still employed in Arabia, Egypt, and
Persia, instead of pitch for ships ; and the
fluid asphalt is used for varnishing, and
for burning in lamps. A species found in
Neufchatel is found excellent as a cement
for walls and pavements ; very durable in
an', and not penetrable by water. A com-
position of asphalt, lamp black and oil is
used for drawing black figures on dial-
plates. Encyc. .\icholson.
ASPHALT'IC, a. Pertaining to asphalt, or
containing it ; bituminous. Milton.
ASPHALT ITE, a. Pertaining to or con-
taining asphalt. Bryant. Wilford.
AS PHODEL, »i. [L. and Gr. See Theoph.
Lib. 7. Phn. Lib. 21. 17. Perhaps it is
from the root of spud ; Sw. spyd ; Ice.
spioot, a spear, from the shape of its
leaves.]
King's-spear ; a genus of Uhaceous plants,
cultivated for the beauty of their flow-
ers. The ancients planted asphodels near
graves, to supply the manes of the dead
with nourishment. Encyc. Johnson.
A 8 P
ASS
ASS
, a hammer ; not malleable,
A series of semimetallic fossils, fTisible bj
ASPIIU'RELATES, n. [Gr. a priv. and
s, ui
fire, and in their purest state not niallea
ble. Ill their native state, they are mixed
with sulphur and other adventitious mat-
ter, in the form of ore. Under this denom-
ination are classed bismuth, antimony, co-
balt, zink and quicksilver. Core. Encyc.
ASPHYX'Y, n. [Gr. aafv^M, of a priv. and
o^ulij, pulse.]
A temporary suspension of the motion of]
the heart and arteries ; swooning ; faint-
ing. QidncT/. Coxe.
ASP'I€, 7!. The asp, which see.
2. A ])iece of ordnance carrying a twelve
poimd shot.
ASP'I€, n. A plant growing in France, a
species of lavender, which it resembles in
the blue color of its flowers, and in the
iigure and green color of its leaves. It is
called male-lavender, .spica nardi, and
Pseudo-nardus. The oil of this plant
used by painters, farriers and other art
cers. It is very inflammable, of a wliite
color and aromatic ; and it is almost the
only dissolvent of sandarac.
J\picholson. Fourcroy
ASPI'RANT, n. [See Aspire.] One wlio
aspires, breathes after, or seeks with eager-
ness. Faher.
AS'PIRATE, t'. t. ]L. aspiro, to breathe or
blow ; Gr. osrtaipu, to palj)itate ; fromspiVo,
and ijrtaipu ; Ar. j, i^o safara, to hiss, or
make a hissing by blowing on a wind in-
strument. See Spire, Spirit.]
To pronounce with a breathing or full emis-
sion of lireath. We aspirate the word.';
horse and house. Dryden.
AS'PIRATE, V. i. To be uttered with a
strong breathing ; as, the letter h aspirates.
Dryden.
AS'PIRATE, n. A letter marked with an
asper, or note of breathing ; a mark of as-
piration, as the Greek accent ' .
Beniley.
AS'PIRATE, a. Pronounced with a full
breath. Holder.
AS'PIRATED, pp. Uttered with a strong
emission of breath.
AS'PIRATING, ppr. Pronouncing with a
full breath.
ASPIRA'TION, n. The pronunciation of a
letter with a full emission of breath.
Holder.
2. A breathing after ; an ardent wish or de-
sire, chiefly of spiritual blessings. Jf'atts.
3. The act of aspiring or of ardently desiring
what is noble or spnitual.
ASPI'RE, V. i. [L. aspiro, to breathe. See
Aspirate.]
1. To desire with eagerness ; to pant after
an object, great, noble or spiritual ; follow
ed by to or ajltr ; as to aspire to a cr6wn,
or ujler unmortality.
2. To aim at something elevated ; to rise or
tower with desire.
Aspiring to be Gods, if angels fell ;
Aspiring to be angels, men rebel. Pope
ASPI'RER, n. One who aspires ; one who
aims to rise in power or consequence, t
to accomplish some important object.
Mitto.
ASPi'RING ppr. Desiring eagerly ; aiming
at something noble, great, or spiritual.
ASPI'RING, a. Ambitious : animated with
an ardent desire of power, importance, or
excellence.
ASPIRING, n. Ambition ; eager desire of
something great. Hammond.
2. Points ; stops. [JVol used.] Herbert.
ASPORTA'TION, n. [L asportatio, of abs
and poHo, to carry ; W. porthi, to carry
See Bear.]
A cari'ying away. In laiv, the felonious re-
moval of goods from the place where they
were ileposited, is an asportation, and ad-
judged to be theft, though the goods are
not carried from the house or apartment.
Blackstone
ASQUINT', adv. [D. schuinte, a slope ;
schuins, slopingly ; Sp. esqvina ; D. kant,
a corner. See Askance, and Squint'
To the corner or angle of the eye ; obliquely ;
towards one side ; not in the straight line of
vision ; as, to look asquint.
2. Not with regard or due notice. Fox.
'ASS, ?!. [W. asyn ; Ir. asan ; L. asinus ; Fr.
line, for asne ; Arm. asen ; Sp. Port, asno ;
It. asino. Qu. from Goth, auso, Gr. ovf, an
ear.]
1. A quadruped of the equine genus. This
animal has long slouching ears, a short
mane, and a tail covered with long hairs
at the end. He is usually of an ash color,
with a black bar across the shoulders.
The tame or domestic ass is patient to
stujiidity, and carries a heavy burden. He
is slow,"but very sure footed, and for this
reason very useful on rough steep hills.
2. A dull, heavy, stupid fellow ; a dolt.
ASS'AI, [Ital.] A term in music ; added to a
word signifying slow, it denotes a little
quicker ; and to a word signifying quick,
it denotes a little slower. Bailey.
ASSA'IL, V. t. [Fr. assaillir, from L. assilio,
to leap or rush upon, of ad and salio, to
leap, to rise.]
To leap or fall upon by violence ; to assault ;
to attack suddenly, as when one person
falls upon another to beat him.
2. To invade or attack, in a hostile manner,
an army, or nation. Spenser.
3. To attack with arguments, censure, abuse,
or criticism, with a view to injure, bring
into disre])ute, or overthrow.
4. To attack, with a view to overcome, by
motives ajjplied to the passions.
Nov hide the encounter of assailing eyes.
Shak.
ASSA'ILABLE, a. That may be assailed,
attacked or invaded.
ASSA'ILANT, n. [Fr.] One who assails,
attacks or assaults.
ASSA'ILANT, a. Assaulting; attacking;
invading with violence.
ASSA'ILED, pp. Assaulted ; invaded ; at-
tacked with violence.
ASSA'ILER, n. One who assails.
ASSA'ILING, ppr. Assaulting ; invading
by force ; attacking with violence.
ASSA'ILMENT, n. Attack. [LiUle used.]
Johnson.
ASSAPAN'I€, n. The flying squirrel ; an
animal which flies a Uttle distance by ex-
tending the skin between the fore and hind
legs. [See Squirrel.] Trevoux.
AS'SARON, n. The omer or homer, a H
brew measure of five pints. Enci,
ASSART', n. [Old Fr. assarter, to grub up.'
In ancient laws, the offense of grubbing up
trees, and thus destroying thickets or cov-
erts of a forest. Spelman. Cowel.
2. A tree plucked up by the roots ; also a
piece of land cleared. Ash.
ASSART', V. t. To grub up trees ; to com-
mit an assart. Ashmole.
ASSAS'SIN,
[Ar
hassa, to kill.]
One who kills or attempts to kill, by sur-
prise or secret assault. The circumstance
of surprise or secresy seems essential to the
signification of this word ; though it is
sometimes used to denote one who takes
any advantage, ui kiUing or attempting to
murder ; as by attacking one when un-
armed.
ASSAS'SINATE, v. t. To kill or attempt to
kill, by surprise or secret assault ; to mur-
der by sudden violence. Assassin as a verb
is not now used.
2. To way lay ; to take by treachery.
Milton
ASSAS'SINATE, n. A murder or murderer.
[jVo< used.] B. Jonson.
ASSAS'SINATED, pp. Murdered by sur-
prise or secret assault.
ASSAS'SINATING, ppr. Murdering by
surprise or secret assault.
ASSASSINA'TION, n. The act of kiUing
or mm-dering, by surprise or secret as-
sault ; murder by violence.
ASSAS'SINATOR, n. An assassin, which
see.
ASSAS'SINOUS, a. Murderous. [JVot used.}
ASSAS'SINS, n. In Syria, a tribe or clan
called Ismaehans, Batauists or Bateniaiis.
They originated in Persia about the year
1090; whence a colony migrated and set-
tled on the mountains of Lebanon, and
were remarkable for their assassinations.
Their religion was a compound of magia-
nism, Judaism, and Christianity. One ar-
ticle of their creed was, that the Holy
Spirit resided in their Chief, and that his
orders proceeded fi-om God himself He
was called Scheik, and is better known by
the denomination of Old man of the mou7i-
tain. This barbarous chieftain and his
followers spread terror among nations far
and near, for almost two centuries, when
the tribe was subdued by Sultan Bibaris.
Enaic.
ASSA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. assatus.] A
roasting. [J^'ot used.]
ASSAULT', n. [Fr. assault, now assaut ; It.
Port, assalto; Sp. asalto; from L. assulto,
o{ ad and salto, to lea]), fonned on salio, or
its root. See Assail. We have the same
root in insidt and result.]
1. An attack or violent onset, whether by an
individual, a company, or an ai-my. An
assault by private persons may be made
with or without weapons. An assault by
an army is a violent hostile attack ; and
when made upon a fort or fortified place is
called a storm, as opposed to sap or siege.
2. All attack by hostile words or measures ;
as, an assault upon the prerogatives of a
pruice, or upon a constitution of govern-
3. In Law, an
ilawful setting upon one';
iipt or ofter to beat
.'I other, without touching his person ; as by
A S
A S 8
ASS
lifting the fist or a cane, in a threatenii _
iiiauiier. If the blow aimed takes effecf,
it is a battery. Blackstone. Finch.
ASSAULT', V. t. To attack or fall upon by
violence, or with a hostile intention
to assault a man, a house or town.
2. To invade or fall on with force ; as, the
cry of war assaults our ears.
3. To attack by words, arguments or
friendly measures, with a view to shake,
impair or overthrow ; as, to assault a char
aoter, the laws or the administration.
ASSAULT' ABLE, a. That may be assault
ed. IFUliams.
ASS^iULT'ED, pp. Attacked with force,
arms, violence, or hostile views.
ASSAULT'ER, n. One who assaults, or vio-
lently attacks.
ASSaCLT'ING, ppr. Attacking with force,
or with hostile measures.
ASSA'Y, n. [Ft. essai; Sp. eiisayo; Port, en-
saio ; It. saggio, an assay ; Fr. essayer, to
try ; old Fr. essoyer, to endeavor. Kelham's
Norm. Did. It. assaggiare, to try ; saggiare
to try, essay ; Sp. etisayar, to try ; Sw.fbrst)-
kia, to try ; Dan. forsiiger, to try, examine,
endeavor. These words are all from the
same root as seek, the radical sense of
which is, to follow, to urge, press or strain
Sax. secan, to seek ; L. sequor ; assequor, ti:
follow, to examine ; D. zoeken ; G. sucheii ;
Dan. sSger ; Ir. seichim ; It. seguire ; Sp.
seguir, to follow. Assay and essay are
radically one word ; but modem usage ha;
a]>propriated assay to experiments in met
allurgy, and essay to intellectual and bodily
efforts. Class Sg. See Essay.]
1. The trial of the goodness, purity, weight,
value, &c. of metals or metallic substan-
ces. Any operation or experiment for as-
certaining the quantity of a precious metal
in an ore or mineral. Analysis is a term
of more comprehensive import, extending
to an examination of the nature and quan-
tities of all parts of the compound.
Assaying is called the docimaslic art.
8. In law, an examination of weights and
measures by the standard. Coivet.
3. Examination ; trial ; effort ; &-st entrance
upon any business; attempt. In these
senses, which are found in old authors,
now rarely used. [See Essay.]
4. Value ; great purity. Obs. Spenser
ASSA'Y, V. t. To try or prove, by examina-
tion or experiment, the quantity and pu-
rity of metallic substances.
2. To apply to the touchstone. Milton.
ASSA'Y, V. i. To attempt, try or endeavor.
He assayed to go. 1 Sam. xvii.
[In this sense essay is now used.]
ASSAY-BALANCE, n. A balance for thi
trial of the weight and purity of metals.
ASSA'Y ED, ;?^. Examined; tested; prov
ed by experiment.
ASSA'YER, n. One who examines metals
to find tlieir quantity and purity. An offi-
cer of the mint, whose business is to try
the weight and purity of metals.
ASSA'YING, ppr. Trying by some stand-
ard ; examining by experiment, as metals
cer appointed to try the weight and fine
ness of tlie precious" metals.
ASSECU'RANCE, w. Assurance. [M)t
used.] Sheldon.
ASSEeURA'TION, n. A^^.-^urance ; a mak-
ing secure. [jYot used.] Bp. Hall.
ASSEeU'RE, V. t. To secure. [jVo< used.]
BuUokar
ASSECU'TION, n. [L. assequor.] An ob-
taining or acquiring. Ayliffe.
ASSEM'BLAUE, n. [Fr. See Assemble.]
A collection of individuals, or of particular
things ; the state of being assembled.
Locke. Thomsm
2. Rarely, the act of assembling.
ASSEftrBLANCE, ?i. Representation; an
assembling. [.\'ol in use.] Shak. Spenser.
ASSEM'BLE, v. i. [Fr. assembler; Sw
samla ; Dan. samler ; D. zamelen ; Ger
sammeln, to assemble. L. simul ; Dan
sammen ; D. zamen, together.]
To collect a number of individuals or par-
ticulars into one place, or body ; to bring
or call together ; to convene ; to congre
ASSEM'BLE, v. i. To meet or come to
gether ; to convene, as a number of indi
viduals.
ASSEM'BLED, pp. CoUected into a body
congregated.
ASSEMBLER, n. One who assembles.
\SSr,;\I HLIXG, ppr. Comhig together
ciillii-iiii;,' iiiici one place.
V.'^Sll.M lilJ.\(;, li. A collection or meeting
to-rl|„T. Ilcb. X.
ASSEMBLY, n. [Sp. asamblea ; It. assem
blea ; Fr. assemUee.]
1. A company or collection of individuals, in
the same place ; usually for the same pur
pose.
2. A congregation or religious society convc
ned.
•3. In some of the United States, the \cgis\atm-e,
consisting of different houses or branches,
whether in session or not. In some states,
the popular branch or House of Represent
atives is denominated an assembly. [Sci
the constitutions of the several states.]
4. A collection of persons for amusement;
as a dancing assembly.
5. A convocation, convention or council of
ministers and riiling elders delegated from
each presbytery ; as the General Assembly
of Scotland or of the United States.
Ena/c
G. In armies, the second beating of the drum
before a march, when the soldiers strike
their tents. Encyc.
7. An assemblage. [.Vo/ in use.]
ASSEM'BLY-ROOM, n. A room in which
persons assemble.
ASSENT', n. [L. assensus, from assentior,
to assent, of a<i and sentio, to think; Eth.
f]hl\ sena or sana, concord, audits de-
rivative, to agree, to harmonize ; Sw. sin7ie,
mind, sen.se ; D. zin, mind ; zinnen, to feel
or mind ; G. sinn, sense ; sinnen, to tlimk
or consider. The Danes preserve the
final consonant, sind, mind, sense, inclina-
tion ; W. syn, sense ; syniaw, to perceive.]
1. The act of the mind in admitting, or
agreeing to, the truth of a proposition.
Faith is the assent to any proposition, on the
credit of the proposer. Locke.
2. Consent ; agreement to a proposal, res-
pecting some right or interest ; as, the bill
Ijefore the house has the asseytt of a great
majority of the members.
The distinction between assent and consent,
seems to be this: assent is the agreement
to an abstract jtroposition. VVe os.tcni to
a statement, but we do not consent to it.
Consent is an agreement to some proposal
or measure which affects the rights or in-
terest of the consenter. We consent to a
proposal of marriage. This distinction
howe\er is not always observed. [See
Consent.]
3. AcronI ; agreement. 2 Chron. xviii.
ASSENT', !'. 1. To admit as true ; to agree,
yield or concede, or rather to cx|)ress an
agreement of the mind to what is alledged,
or proposed.
The Jews also assented, saying these tilings
are so. Acts xxiv.
It is sometimes usnl for consent, or an agree-
nient to .sdmcihiiiic affecting the rights or
uitere-^t cif i|;c |,( r.son assentinff. But to
asucnl In tlic inaniage of a daughter is less
roncc I tli:iii lu nuiscnt.
ASSENT \ llo.V. n. [L. assentatio, from
assiiilui; 111 i-iiiii|ily.]
Conipliuiicc with tiic opinion of another, from
flattery or dissimulation. Chesterfield.
ASSENTA'TOR, ,i. A flatterer.
ASSENTATO'RILY, adv. With adulation.
[JVot in use.] Bacon.
ASSENT'ER, n. One who assents, agrees
to, or admits.
ASSENT'ING, ppr. Agreeing to, or admit-
ting as true ; vielding to.
ASSENT'INGLY, adv. In a manner to ex-
press assent ; by agreement.
ASSENT'MENT, a. Assent ; agreement.
[Rarely used.] Broivn.
ASSERT', V. t. [L. assero, assertum, to claim
or challenge, to maintain or assert; ofarf
and sero. The sense of sero is to sow,
properly to throw or set. To assert is to
throw or set firmly.]
L To affirm positively ; to declare witli as-
surance ; to aver. Milton.
2. To maintain or defend by words or meas-
ures ; to vindicate a claim or title to ; as, to
assert our rights and liberties. Dryden.
ASSERT'ED, pp. Affirmed positively;
maintained ; vindicated.
ASSERT'ING, ppr. Declaring with confi-
dence ; maintaming ; defending.
ASSER'TION, n. The act of asserting; the
maintaining of a claim.
2. Positive declaration or averment ; affirm-
ation ; position advanced. Broum.
ASSERT'IVE, a. Positive ; affirming con-
fidentlv ; peremptory. GlanvUle.
ASSERTIVELY, adv. Affirmatively.
'BedeU.
ASSERT OR, n. One who affirms positive-
ly ; one who maintains or vindicates a
claim ; an affirmer, supporter, or vindica-
tor. Dryden.
ASSERT'ORY, a. Affirming ; maintaining.
Bp. Hall.
ASSESS', V. i. [Fr. asseoir ; Norm, asser,
asseoir, to settle, fix, ascertain, assess ; It.
assestare, assettare ; L. assideo, ad and
sedeo ; Eng. to «7, or set. See Set and Sit.]
To set, fix or charge a certain sum upon
one, as a tax ; as, to assess each citizen in
due proportion.
2. To value ; to fix the value of property,
for the purpose of being taxed ; as by the
law of the United States. Also, to value
or fix the profits of business, for the pur-
pose of taxation.
ASS
ASS
ASS
;J. To set, iix or ascertain ; as, it is tlio prov-
ince of a jury to assess damages.
ASSESS', n. Assessment. [JVot used.]
ASSESS'ABLE, a. That may be assessed.
ASSESS'ED, pp. Charged with a
sum ; valued ; set ; fixed ; ascertaiued,
ASSESSING, ppr. Cliarging with a sii
vahiing ; fixing ; ascertaining.
ASSES'SION, n. A sitting down by a per-
son. [JVot used.]
ASSES'SIONARY, a. Pertaining to assess-
ors. Carew.
ASSESS'MENT, n. A valuation of prop-
erty or profits of business, for the purpose
of taxation. An assessment is a valuation
made by authorized persons according to
their discretion, as opposed to a sum cer-
tain or determined by law. It may be a
direct charge of the tax to be paid ; or a
valuation of the property of those who are
to pay the tax, for the purpose of fixing
the proportion which each man shall pay ;
on which valuation the law imposes a spe-
cific sum upon a given amount.
Btackstone. Laws of the U. States.
Q. A tax or specific sura charged on the per-
son or property.
.3. The act of assessing ; the act of deter-
mining the amount of damages by a jury.
ASSESS'OR, n. One appointed to assess
the person or projjerty.
2. An inferior otficer of justice, who sits to
assist the judge. Encyc.
3. One who sits by another, as next in dig-
nity. Milton.
ASSETS', n. plu. [Fr. assez, enough ; It.
a^sai, enough, or many ; Ir. sath, suffi-
ciency ; sasadh, satisfaction ; L. sat, satis,
enough.]
Goods or estate of a tleceased person,
cient to pay the debts of tlie deceased.
But the word sufficient, though expressing
the original signification of assets, is not
with us necessary to the definition. In
present usage, assets are the money, goods
or estate of a deceased person, subject by
law to the payment of his debts and lega-
cies. Assets are real or personal ; real assets
are lands which descend to the heir, sub-
ject to the fulfilment of the obligations of
the ancestor ; personal assets are the money
or goods of tiie deceased, or debts due to
him, which come into the hands of the
executor or administrator, or which he is
bound to collect and convert into money.
Blackstone.
ASSEV'ER, I „ , [L. assevero, from
ASSEVERATE, S ad, and
mc sioear; Sax.swerian; Goth, sioaran, to
swear, to aflSrm positively.]
To affirm or aver positively, or with solemni-
ty. Fotherby.
ASSEVERA'TION, n. Positive affirmation
or assertion ; solemn declaration. This
word is not, generally, if ever, used for a
declaration under an official oath, but for
a declaration accompanied with solemnity.
ASS-HEAD, n. [ass and head.] One dull,
like the ass ; one slow of apj)rcliension :
a blockhead.
ASSIDE'ANS or CHASIDE'ANS. [Heb.
IDD pious.]
A sect of Jews who resorted to Mattathias
to fight for tlie laws of their God and the
liberties of their country. They were men
of great zeal, and obsei-ved the traditions
of the elders. From these sprung the
Pharisees and Essenes. Encyc.
AS'SIDENT, a. [L. assideo, assidens, of ad
and sedeo, to sit.]
issidenl signs, ui medicine, are such as usu
ally attend a disease, but not always ; dis-
tinguished {rom ■pathognomic signs, which
are inseparable from it. Encyc.
\SSID'UATE, a. Daily. [JVol in use.]
K. Charles
ASSIDU'ITY, )!. [h. ussiduitas. SeeAssid-
1. Constant or close application to any busi-
ness or enterprise ; dihgence. Addison.
\ Attention ; attentiveness to persons.
siduities, in the phn-al, are services i
dered with zeal and constancy.
ASSID'UOUS, a. [L. assiduus, from assideo,
to sit close, ad and sedeo ; Eng. to sit ; Sax.
sittan, settan.'i
. Constant in application ; as a person as-
siduous in his occupation.
2. Attentive ; careful ; regular in attendance ;
as an assiduous physician or nurse.
3. Performed with constant dihgence or at-
tention ; as assiduous labor.
ASSID'UOUSLY, adv. DUigently; atten-
tively ; with earnestness and care ; with
regular attendance.
.\SSID'UOUSNESS, n. Constant or dili-
gent application.
ASSIENT'O, n. [Sp. asiento, a seat, a con-
tract or agreement ; L. assideo.]
A contract or convention between the king
of Spain and other powers, for furnishingj
slaves for the Spanish domuiions in South,
America. Treaty between G. B. and Spain}
March 26, 1713. I
ASSI'GN, V. t. assine. [Fr. assigner ; Sp.
asignar ; Port, assinar ; It. assegnare ; L.I
assigno, of ad and signo, to allot, to mark
out ; Ir. sighin ; L. signum, a mark. The[
primary sense of sign is to send, or to set.]i
1. To allot ; to appoint or grant by distribu-|
tion or apportionment. i
The priests had a portion assigned them.
Gen. xlvii.
9. To designate or appoint for a particular
purpose.
They assigned Bezer, a city of refuge. Josh
XX.
3. To fix, specify or designate ; as an as-
signed quantity.
4. To 1 "
make or set over ; to transfer, sell or
convey, by writing, as by indorsing a note
or by any writing on a separate paper.
5. Toalledgeor show in particular ; as, to
assign a reason for one's conduct.
6. In law, to show or set forth with particu
larity ; as, to assign error in a writ ; to'
as-ngn false judgment.
ASSI'GN, n. A person to whom property or
an interest is or may be transferred ; as, a
deed to a man and "his heirs and assigns.
ASSI'GNABLE, a. That may be allotted,
appointed or assigned.
That may be transferred by writing ; as
an assignable note, or bill.
3. That may be specified, shown with pre-
cision, or designated; as an assignable.
error.
AS'SIGNAT, Jj. A public note or hill in'
France ; paper currency. Burl
ASSIGNA'TION, n. An appointment ■
tune and place for meeting ; used chiefly
of love-meetings.
2. A making over by transfer of title. [See
Assignment.]
3. In Russia, a public note or bank bill ; pa-
per currency. Tooke.
ASSI'GNED,j9p. Appointed ; allotted ; made
over ; shown or designated.
ASSIGNEE', n. A person to whom an as-
signment is made ; a person appointed or
deputed to do some act, perform some
business or enjoy some right, privilege or
property ; as an assignee of a bankrupt.
An assignee may be by special appoint-
ment or deed, or be created by law ; a?
an executor. Cowel.
ASSi'GNER, n. One who assigns, or ap-
points.
ASSI'GNING, ppr. Allotting ; appointing •
transferring ; showing specially.
ASSI'GNMENT, n. An allotting, or an ap-
pointment to a particular person or use.
2. A transfer of title or interest by writing,
as of a lease, bond, note, or bill of ex-
change.
3. The writmg by which an interest is trans-
ferred.
4. The appointment or designation of causes
or actions in court, for trial on particular
days.
5. In law, the conveyance of the whole in-
terest which a man has in an estate, usu-
ally for life or years. It differs from a
lease, which is the conveyance of a less
term than the lessor has m the estate.
Z. Siifiji.
ASSIGNOR', n. An assigner ; a person who
assigns or transfers an interest ; as the
assignor of a bill of exchange.
ASSIM'ILABLE, a. That may be assimi-
lated.
ASSIM'ILATE, v. t. [L. assimUo, of ad and
similis, like. See Similar.]
1. To bring to a lilieness ; to cause to resem-
ble. Swifl.
2. To convert into a like substance ; as, food
is assimilated by conversion into animal
substances, flesh, chyle, blood, &c.
ASSIM'ILATE, v. i. To become similar.
2. To be converted into a like substance.
Bacon.
ASSIM'ILATED, pp. Brought to a like-
ness ; changed into a like substance.
ASSIM'ILATING, ppr. Causing to resem-
ble ; converting into a like substance.
ASSIMILA'TION, n. Tlic net of bringing
a resemblance.
2. The act or process by whicli bodies con-
vert other bodies into their own nature
and substance ; as, flame assimilates oil,
and the food of animals is by assimilation
converted into the substances which com-
pose their bodies.
Mineral assimilation is the property which
substances possess, m the earth, of appro-
priating and assimilating to themselves
other substances with which they are in
contact ; a property which seems to be the
basis of the natural history of the earth.
,\SSII\IILATIVE, a. Having power of con-
verting to a likeness, or to a like substance.
HaJcewill.
'VSSiai'ULATE, V. t. [L. assimido.] To
feign. [JVot used. See Simulate.]
i ASSIMULA'TION, n. A coimtcrfeiting.
[.Wot used. Sec Simulation.]
ASS
ASS
ASS
ASSIST', V. t. [L. assisto, of ad and sisto, I
stand up ; Russ. sijii, to sit, or be placed ;
Sp. asistir ; It. assistere ; Fr. assister. Lit-
erally, to be present, or as we still say in
English, to stand by.]
To help ; to aid; to succor ; to give support
to in some undertaking or effort, or in
time of distress.
ASSIST', V. i. To lend aid.
ASSIST' ANCE.K. Help ; aid; furtherance ;
succor ; a contribution of support in bodily
strength or other means.
ASSIST'ANT, a. Helping ; lending aid or
support ; auxiliary. Hale.
ASSIST'ANT, n. One who aids, or who
contributes liis strength or other means to
further the designs or welfare of another
an auxiliary. Dnjden
ASSISTED,/;;). Helped; aided.
ASSIST'ER, n. One that lends aid.
ASSIST'ING, ppr. Helping ; aiding ; sup
porting with strength or means.
ASSIST'LESS, a. Without aid or help.
Pope.
ASSI'ZE, \ [Fr. assises, and sometimes
ASSI'ZES, S "• so written in English ; L,
assideo, to sit by, of ad and sedeo, to sit ;
Ir. ^asair, a session. See Jlssess.]
1. Originally, an assembly of knights and oth-
er substantial men, with a bailiff or justice,
in a certain place and at a certain time, for
public busines. The word was sometimes
appUed to the general council, or fVittena-
gemote, of England.
Blackslone. Glanville.
!J. A court in England, held in every county
by special commission to one of tlie judg-
es, who is called a justice of the assize, and
empowered to take assizes, that is, th
verdict of a jury, called the assize.
3. A jury. In this sense the word was ap-
plied to tlie grand assize, for the trial of
property, and to the petty assize, for the
trial of possession. In Scotland, the assize
consists of fifteen men, selected from a
greater number.
4. A writ ; as an assize of novel disseisin,
which is given to recover the possession
of lands, tenements, rents, common, &c.,
of which the tenant has been lately dis-
seised ; assize of mart d' ancestor, which lies
against an abator, who enters upon land
after the death of the tenant, and before
the heir enters ; assize of darrein present-
7nent, which lies against a stranger whc
presents a clerk to a benefice. Blackstone.
5. A particular species of rents, estabhshed
and not subject to be varied. Eng. Law.
6. The time or place of holding the court of
assize.
7. In a more general sense, any court of jus-
tice.
8. A statute of regulation ; an ordinance
regulating the weight, measure and price
of articles sold in market ; and hence the
word came to signify the weight, measure
or price itself; as the assize of bread.
Sjitlman. Cowel. Encyc. Blackstone.
This word is, in a certain sense, now
corrupted into size, which see.
ASSI'ZE, V. t. To fix the weight, measure
or price of commodities, by an ordinance
or regulation of authority.
ASSIZED,;;;). Regulated in weight, meas-
ure or price, by an assize or ordinance.
ASSI ZER, n. An officer who has the care
or inspection of weights and measures.
Chambers.
ASSI'ZOR, )i. In.S'coWanrf, ajuror. Bailey.
'ASS-LIKE, a. Resembling an ass.
Sidney.
ASSO'BER, V. I. rSee Sober.] To keep un-
der. [JVot used.) Gower
ASSOCIABIL'ITY, n. The quality of being
capable of association ; the quality of
suffering some change by sympathy, or of
being affected by the affections of another
part of the body. Darwin.
ASSO'CIABLE, a. assoshable. [See ^sso
date.] That may be joined to or asso
ciated.
2. In a medical sense, liable to be affected
by sympathy, or to receive from other
parts correspondent feelings and affec
tions. " The stomach, the most associa
ble of all the organs of the animal body."
Med. Rep. Darwin
ASSO'CIATE, V. I. assoshate. [Fr. associer
L. associo, of ad and socio, to join.]
1. To join in company, as a friend, compan
ion, partner or confederate ; as, to associate
others with us in business, or in an enter
prise.
It conveys the idea of intimate union.
2. To unite in the same mass : as, particles
of matter associated with other substances,
ASSO'CIATE, t». i. To unite in company ;
to keep company, implying mtimacy ; as.
congenial minds are disposed to associate.
2. To unite in action, or be affected by the
action of a different part of the body.
Darwin
ASSO'CIATE, flf. Joined in interest or pur
pose ; confederate. Milton.
2. Joined in employment or office ;
associate judge.
ASSO'CIATE, n. A companion ; one
frequently in company with another, im-
plying intimacy or equality ; a mate ; e
fellow.
2. A partner in interest, as in business ; or a
confederate in a league.
3. A companion in a criminal transaction ;
an accomplice.
ASSO'CIATED, pp. United in company
in interest ; joined.
ASSO'CIATESHIP, »!. The state or office
of an associate. Encyc. art. Reynolds.
ASSO'CIATING, ppr. Uniting in company
or in interest ; joining.
ASSOCIA'TION, n. The act of associating;
union ; connection of persons.
2. Union of persons in a company ; a society
formed for transacting or carrying on
some business for mutual advantage ; a
partnership. It is often appUed to a union
of states or a confederacy.
3. Union of things ; apposition, as of parti
cles of matter.
4. Union or connection of ideas. An asso-
ciation of ideas is where two or more ideas
constantly or naturally follow each other
in the mind, so that one ahnost infallibly
produces the otlier. Encyc.
5. An exertion or change of some extreme
part of the sensory residing in the muscles
or organs of sense, in consequence of some
antecedent or attendant fibrous contrac-
tions. Darwin.
0. In cccksiasticid affairs, a society of the
clergy, consisling of a number of jmstors
of neighboring churches, united for pro-
moting I he interests of religion and the
haiiiHpfiv oftlii- i-liuiclies.
A^^^Of 1 A TloNAi., „. Pertaining loan
.•i>>iiii:iii.iii of i-lci-j:vMien.
AS.SO CIA ri\ E, «. 'Having the quality of
as.-^ociatiiig, or of being affected by symjia-
thy. Dnndn. Miller.
ASSOIL', r. t. [Old Fr. from L. absolvo.]
To .-<olvc ; to release ; to absolve. Obs.
Mcde. Taylor.
ASSOIL', V. t. [Fr. souilhr.] To soil ; to
stain. Obs.
AS'SO\A.\CE, ». [Fr. from L. ad and
.sunu, Id sound. See Sound.]
Rcseiiililaiice of sounds. In rhetoric and po-
etry, a rcscmblanre in sound or termina-
tion, without making rhyme. Encyc.
AS'SONANT, a. Having a resemblance of
sounds. In Spanish poetry, assonant
rhymes are those ui which a resemblance
of sounds serves instead of a natural
i-hyme ; as, ligera, tierra. Encyc.
.ASSORT', V. t. [Fr. assortir ; It. assortlre ; of
ad and sortir, sorlire, to sally forth, and in
It. to draw lots. See Sort.]
1. To separate and distribute into classes
things of the like kind, nature or quality,
or things which are suited to a like pur-
pose. It is sometimes applied to persons
as well as things.
2. T.. n.p .M>li with all .sorts. Burke.
ASHOl!'!', r. /. To agree; to be in accor-
iliiiitr « nil ; t(i suit. Mitford.
\."^S()K'I' i;i), pp. Distributed into .sorts,
kinds or classes.
2. Furnished with an assortment, or with :i
variety ; as a well assorted store. Burke.
ASSORT'ING, ppr. Separating into sorts ;
supplying with an assortment.
ASSORT'MENT, n. The act of distributing
into sorts, kinds or classes, or of selecting
and suiting things.
2. A mass or quantity distributed into kinds
or sorts; or a number of things assorted.
3. A number of things of the same kind, va-
ried in size, color, quahty, price, form, or
the like, to suit the market, the wants of
people, or various purposes ; as an assorl-
ment of thread, of .silks, of calicoes, &c.
An assortmezif of paintings. W. Coxe.
4. A variety of sorts or kinds adapted to va-
rious wants, demands or purposes ; as an
assortment of goods. Mercantile Usage.
ASSOT', r. t. [See Sot.] To infatuate ; to
besot. [JVot used.] Spenser.
ASSUA'6E, V. t. [This word appears to be
formed on the G. schwach ; D. zwak, weak ;
or on D. zagt, sof\, gentle, quiet, which
coincides with the Sax. steig, silence ;
swigan, to be silent ; whence gesmgean,
to be silent ; D. zwygen, id. In Sax. also,
gesiincan, is to cease, fail, rest, be quiet.
But the Dutch word for assuage is verzagt-
en, to soflen.]
To soften, in afgurative sense ; to allay, mit-
igate, ease or lessen, as pain or grief; to
appease or pacify, as passion or tumult.
In strictness, it signifies raflier to moderate,
than to quiet, tranquilize or reduce to per-
fect peace or ease.
ASSUA'GE, I', i. To abate or subside.
The waters assuaged. Gen. viii.
A .S S
A S «
AST
iiiit 1 a)ipreliPiitl tlie snnse is, tlir; waters
were .•hecked; llcb. yif.
ASSV A.' tJHI), pp. Allayed; mitigated ; eased ;
aj>])eased.
ASSUA'GEMENT, n. Mitigation; abate-
ment.
ASSUA'GER, n. One who allays ; that
which mitigates or abates.
ASSUA'GlNGf, ppr. Allaying ; mitigating ;
appeasing ; abating.
ASSUA'SIVE, a, [from nsuvage.} Soften-
ing; mitigating; tranquilizing. Pope.
ASSUEFAC'TION, n. [L. assiufano.] The
art of accustoming. [JVot used.] Brown.
AS'SUETUDE, n. [L. assuetudo, from assu-
e.tiis, p. of «.ssj(esco, to acctistom.] Custom;
habit ; habitual use. Bacon.
ASSU'ME, V. t. [L. assumo, of ad and sumo,
to take.]
1 . To lake or take upon one. It differs from
receive, in not implying an offer to give.
The God assvmed his native form again.
Pope,
•I. To take what is not just ; to take with
arrogant claims ; to arrogate ; to seize
unjustly ; as, to assume haughty airs
assume unwarrantable powers.
3. To take for granted, or without proof; to
suppose as a fact ; as, to assume a principle
in reasoning.
4. To appropriate, or take to one's self; as, to
assume the debts of another.
5. To take what is fictitious ; to pretend to
possess ; to take in appearance ; as, to as-
sume the garb of humility.
ASSUME, V. i. To be arrogant ; to clain
more than is due.
3. In law, to take upon one's self an obliga
tion ; to undertake or promise ; as, A assu
vied upon himself, and promised to pay.
ASSU'MED,pjj. Taken; arrogated; takei
without proof; pretended.
ASSU'MER,?j. One who assumes ; unarro
gant person.
ASSU'MING, ppr. Taking ; arrogating
taking for granted ; pretending.
ASSU'MING, a. Taking or disposed to take
upon one's self more than is just ; haughty
arrogant.
ASSU'MING, Ji. Presumption. Jonson
ASSUMP'SIT, n. [Pret. tense of L. assumo.'
1. In faiu, a promise or undertaking, founded
on a consideration. This promise may be
verbal or written. An assumpsit is express
or implied ; express, when made in wordi
or writiiii!' ; implieil, when in consequence
-■ifsoiiir lull, lit III cimsideration accrniij
to our |iiiM)ii liiiiii tlie acts of another, tl
law prcftUiuts lliat person has promised to
iriake compensation. In this case, the
law, upon a principle of justice, implies or
raises a promise, on which an action may
be brought to recover the compensation.
Thus if A contracts with B to build a
iiouse for him, by miplication and intend
ment of law, A promises to pay B for the
same, without any express words to tl
effect.
'J. An action founded on a promise. When
this action is brought on a debt, it is called
indelitalus assumpsit, which is an action
on the case to recover damages for the non-
payment of a debt. Blackstone.
ASSUMPT', V. t. To take up ; to raise. [Bar-
barous and not used.] Sheldon,
ASSUMPT', n. That which is assumed.
[Not used.] Chillingiooiih.
ASSUMP'TiON, n. [L. assumptio.]
The act of taking to one's self.
Hammond.
2. The act of taking for granted, or suppo-
sing a thing without proof; supposition.
JVorris.
This gives no sanction to the unwarrantable
asstwiption that the soul sleeps from the period
of death to the resurrection of the bodv-
Thodey.
3. The thing supposed ; a postidate or propo-
sition assumeil. In logic, the minor or
second proposition In a categorical syllo-
gism. Enc7jc.
4. A consequence drawn from the pro])osi-
tions of which an argument is composed.
Encyc.
5. Undertaldng ; a taking upon one's self.
Kent.
C. In the Romish Church, the taking up a
person into heaven, as the Virgin Mary.
Also a festival in honor of the miraculous
ascent of Mary, celebrated by the Romish
and Greek churches. Encyc.
7. Adojrtion. Warton
ASSUMP'TIVE, a. That is or may be assu-
med. In heraldry, assumptive arms are
such as a person has a right, with the ap-
probation of his sovereign, and of the her-
alds, to assume, in consequence of ai
exploit. Encyc.
ASSU'RANCE, n. ashu'rance. [Fr. from
assurer, of ad and sur, seivr, sure, certain
Qu. the Rab. and Tahn. IB'X, to make firm,
confirm, verify ; or is seur the G. zivar, fron
the root of L. verus; or h.securus, contract
ed.]
1. The act of assuring, or of making a decla
ration in terms that furnish ground of con
fidence ; as, I trusted to his assurances ; or
the act of furnishing any ground of full
confidence.
Whereof he hath given assurance to all men
in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts
2. Firm persuasion ; full confidence or trust ;
freedom from doubt ; certain expectation
the utmost certainty.
Let us draw near with a true heart, in full
assurance of faith. Hcb. x.
3. Firmness of mind ; undoubting stead
ness ; intrepiditj'.
Brave men meet danger with assurance.
Knolles.
4. Excess of boldness; impudence; as, his
».«:,n„„r,<i„tiiierable.
5. Vvi • i!"M iV.iui ■■xcessivemodesty,timidity
or ha-iiiiihir-s ; hiiidable confidence.
Luin.,i.-.iliuii with the world will give them
Ivnowledge and assurance. Locke.
6. Insurance ; a contract to make good a
loss. [See Insurance.]
7. Any writing or legal evidence of the con-
I vevance of property. Blackstone.
18. Conviction. Tillotson.
9. In theology, full confidence of one's inter-
est in Christ, and of final salvation.
ASSU'RE, V. t. ashu're. [Fr. assurer. Sec
./Issurance.]
|I. To make certain ; to give confidence by
I a promise, declaration, or other evidence ;
I as, he assured me of his sincerity.
2. To confirm ; to make certain or seen
And it shall be assured to hiin. Lev. :
Is. To embolden ; to make confUlent.
And hereby we shall assure our hearts before
m. 1 John iii.
4. To make secure, with o/ before the object
secured ; as, let me be assured of your
fidelity.
5. To affiance ; to betroth. Obs. Shot.
6. To insure ; to covenant to indemnify for
loss. [See Insure.]
ASSU'RED, pp. Made certain or confident ;
made secure ; insured.
ASSU'RED, a. Certain ; indubitable ; nor
doubting ; bold to excess. Bacon. Shak.
ASSU'REDLY, orfi). Certainly ; indubitably.
Jlssuredly thy son Solomon shall reign.
1 Kings i.
ASSU'REDNESS, n. The state of being
assured ; certaintv ; full confidence.
Hakcuin
ASSU'RER, Ji. One who assures; one who
insures against loss ; an insurer or under-
writer.
ASSUR'GENT, a. [L. assurgens, assurgo.]
Rising upwards in an arch ; as an assurgenl.
stem, in botany. Eaton.
ASSU'RING, ]^r. Making sure or confi-
dent ; eiving security ; confirming.
ASSWA'GE. [See Assuage.]
AS'TACITE, ? [Gr. ayaxo?, a craw-
AS'TA€OLITE, S fish, and J-iflos, a stone.]
Petrified or fossil crawfish, and other crusta-
ceous animals ; called also caticrites, crab-
ites, and gammarolites.
AS'TEISM, n. [Gr. ac-fws, beautiful, polite.]
In rhetoric, genteel irony ; a polite and ingen-
ious maimer of deriding another. Encyc.
AS'TER, n. [Gr. afjjp.] A genus of plants,
with comjiound flowers, many of which
are cultivated for their beauty, particularly
the China Aster. The species are very
ASTE'RIAS, } [Gr. ay^p, a star.] Stella
AS'TER, ^ marina, sea-star, or star
fish, a genus of the order of Molliiscas. It
has a depressed body with a coriaceous
coat ; is composed of five or more seg-
ments ruimuig out from a central part,
and furnished with numerous tentacles,
with a mouth below, in the center. There
are many species. Encyc.
ASTE'RIATED, a. [Supra.] Radiated ;
presenting diverging rays, like a star ; as
asteriated sap)ihire. Cleaveland.
ASTE'RIATITE, n. Petrified asterias.
AS'TERISK, n. [Gr. a;eft.<ixoi, a httle star,
from a;ijp, a star.]
The figure of a star, thus,*, used in printing
and writing as a reference to a passage or
imtf in tiic margin, or to fill the space
when a nan;e is omitted.
AS'TERISM, JI. [Gr. ajspto^o;, a little star,
from ayjjp, a star.]
1. A constellation ; a sign in the zodiac.
The figures of the twelve asterisms.
As. Researches.
2. An asterisk, or mark of reference. [This
is less proper.]
AS'TER ITE, or .star stone. [See Astrite.]
ASTERN', adv. [a or at, and stem. See
Stern.]
1. In or at the hinder part of a ship ; or
towards the hinder part, or backwards ;
as, to go astern.
2. Behind a ship, at any indefinite distance.
Mar. Diet.
AS'TEROID, n. [Gr. as-i:p, a star, and £i6o<,
iiriri
AST
A uamc given by Ilerschel to the newly dis
covered planets between the orbits of Mars
and Jupiter.
ASTEROID'AL, a. Resembling a star ; or
pertaining to the asteroids.
Journ. of Sciei
AS'TEROPODE, ) [Gr. ar^p, a star,
ASTEROPO'DIUM, i "" and ?tovs, «o«of, a
foot.]
A kind of extraneous fossil, of the same sul
stance with tlie astrite, to which it serve
as the base. Encyc.
ASTERT', V. t To startle. [J^ot in use.]
Spenser.
ASTHEN'I€, a. asten'ic. [Gr. a priv. and
aStuoi, strength.]
Weak ; characterized by extreme debility
Brown.
ASTHENOL'OOY, n. [Gr. o priv., aSivos.
strength, and J^yoj, discourse.]
The doctrine of diseases arising from de-
bility. Coxe.
ASTriMA, n. ast'ma. [Gr. aaSfw.]
A shortness of breath ; intermitting difficiUty
of breathing, with cough, straitness and
wheezing. Coxe.
ASTHMAT'IC, a. Pertaining to asthma
also affected by asthma ; as an asthmatic
patient.
ASTIPULATE for StipuMe. t [Mtt
AST] PULATION for Stipulation. S use.
ASTO'NE, ?„, [See .Astonish.] To terrify
ASTO'NY, S"-'- or astonish. Obs. Chaucer.
ASTO'NED, ) „ Astonished. Obs.
ASTO'NIED, S PP- Spencer. MUton.
ASTON'ISH, V. t. [Old Fr. estonner, now
Manner ; L. attono, to astonish ; ad and tono.
Sax. gestun, noise, and stunian, to stun :
G. staunen ; Arm. eston, wonderfully. The
primary sense is, to stop, to strike diunb, to
fix. See Tone and Stun.]
T(i stun or strike dumb with sudden fear,
terror, surprise or wonder; to amaze; to
confound with some sudden passion.
I Daniel was astonished at the vision.
Dan. viii.
ASTON'ISHED, p;>. Amazed; confounded
«ith fear, surprise, or admiration.
\STON'ISHING,ppr. Amazing ; confound-
iiii: with wonder or fear.
AS rON'ISHING, a. Very wonderful ; of a
nature to excite great admiration, or
AST
ASTONISHINGLY, adv. In a manner or
ilei;ree to excite amazement.
Bp. Fleetwood.
NSTON'ISHINGNESS, n. The quality of
exciting astonishment.
\STON'ISHiHENT, n. Amazement; con-
tusion of mind from fear, surprise or ad-
luiiation, at an extraordinary or imex-
peeted event.
ASTOUND', V. t. To astonish ; to strike
dimib with amazement. From Old Fr.
estonner.
ASTRAD'DLE, adv. [a and straddle. See
StraMle.]
AVitli tlie legs across a thing, or on different
siiles ; as, to sit astraddle.
AS TRAGAL, n. [Gr. ofpoyaTioj, a tiu-ning
liiiiit, vertebra, spondylus.]
I. Ill architecture, a httle round molding
which surrounds the top or bottom of a
cnkiran, in the form of a ring ; represent-
ing a ring or band of iron, to prevent tlie
splitting of the column. It is often cut
Vol. I.
into beads or berries, and is used in orna
mented entablatures to separate the sev
eral faces of the architrave. Encyc.
2. In gunnery, a round molding on cannot
lear the mouth. Encyc
3. In anatomy, the buckle, ankle, or sling
bone ; the upper bone of the foot support-
ing tlie tibia. Coxe.
4. In botany, the wood pea ; the milk vetch
the liquorice vetch.
AS'TRAL, a. [L. astrum ; Gr.a^tif, a star.]
Belonging to tlie stars ; starry. Dryden.
ASTRA'Y, adv. [a and stray. See Stray.]
Out of the right way or proper place, both in
a Uteral and figurative sense. In morals
and religion, it signifies wandering from
the path of rectitude, from duty and ha])-
piness.
Before I was afflicted, I went astray. Ps
cxix.
Cattle go astray when they leave their propei
owners or inclosures. See Deut. xxii.
ASTRE'A, n. [Gr. a;,,p, a star.]
The goddess of justice. A name sometimes
given to the sign virgo. The poets feign
that justice quitted heaven, in the golder
age, to reside on earth ; but becoming
weary with the iniquities of men, she re-
turned to heaven, and conunenced a con-
stellation of stars. Enctjc
ASTRICT', t). «. [L. astringo, astridus. See
Jlstringc]
To bind fast, or compress. [Aot much used.
ASTRIeT', a. Compendious ; contracted.
H'eeva
ASTRI€T'ED, pp. Bound fast ; compressed
with bandages.
ASTRleT'ING, ppr. Buiding close ; com
pressing ; contracting.
ASTRIC'TION, n. The act of binding close
compressing with ligatures.
2. A contraction of parts by applications ;
the stopping of hemorrhages. Coxe
ASTRIeT'IVE, a. Bindmg ; cotiipressing
A S T
ASTRINg'ER, n. A falconer that keeps a
I goss hawk. Shak.
ASTRIN(i'ING,ppr. Compressing ; binding
I fast ; contracting.
AS'TRITE, 7!. [Gr. am, a star; Fr.
I astroite.]
An extraneous fossil, called also asteria and
astroit. Astrites are stones in the form of
small, short, angular, or sulcated columns,
about an inch and a half long, and the third
of an inch in diameter, composed of several
regular joitits, wliich, when separated,
resemble a radiated star. Encyc.
^strites are said to be detached articu-
I lations of encrinites, a kind of marine
I polypier.
\STROG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. ari;p, or orpoi,
a star, and ypacjiu, to describe.]
A description of the stars, or the science of
I describing them.
jAS'TROIT, n. Star-stone. [See Jlstritc]
i2. A species of petrified madrepore often
found in calcarious stones.
ASTROLABE, «. [Gr. ar.jp, a star, and
XoSsii', to take.]
1. An instrument formerly used for taking
the altitude of the sun or stars at sea.
2. A stereograjihic projection of the sphere,
either upon the plane of the equator, the
eye being supposed to be in the pole of
the world ; or upon the plane of the me-
ridian, the eye being in the point of inter-
section of tlie ec|uinoctial and the horizon.
.3. Among the ancients, the same as the mod-
ern armillary sphere. Encyc.
ASTROLOGER, > [L. astrologus, of
ASTROLO'6IAN, S ofpor, a star, and
>^o{, discourse.]
1 . One who professes to foretell futiu-e events
by the aspects and situation of the stars.
Astrologian is little used. fVotton.
2. Formerly, one who understood the mo-
tions of the planets, without predicting.
ASTRl€T'ORY, a. Astrmgent ; biuduig;
ipt to bind.
ASTRIF'EROUS, a. [L.astrifer; astrum,
a star, and fero, to bear.]
Bearing or containing stars. [Little used.]
ASTRIG'EROUS, a. (^Low L. astrigcr.]
Bearing stars. [JVot used.]
ASTRIN(JE, v.t. astrinj'. [L. astringo, o{
ad and stringo, to bind fast, to strain. See
Strain.]
To compress ; to bind together; to contract
by pressing the parts together. Bacon.
ASTRINg'ED, pp. Compressed ; straiten-
ed , contracted.
ASTRIN6'ENCY, n. The power of con-
tracting the parts of tlie body ; that quality
in medicines which binds, contracts or
strengthens parts which' are relaxed ; as
the astringency of acids or bitters.
Bacon.
ASTRING'ENT, a. Binding; contracting;
trengthening ; opposed to laxative.
Quinci/.
ASTRING'ENT, n. A medicine which binds
or contracts tlie parts of the body to which
it is apphed, restrains profuse discharges,
coagulates animal fluids, condenses and
strengtliens the sohds. Core.
Modern practice inclines to the use of as-
tringent, for internal applications, and styp-
tic, for external.
15
ASTR0L0G'I€, I Pertaining to as-
ASTR0L0g'I€AL, ^ "• trology ; profess-
ing or practicing astrology.
ASTR0L06'ICALLY, adv. In the manner
of astrology.
ASTROL'OgIZE, v. i. To practice as-
trology.
ASTROL'OgY, n. [Supra.] A science
which teaches to judge of the effects and
influences of the stars, and to foretell fu-
ture events, by their situation and different
aspects. This science was formeriy in
great request, as men ignorantly supposed
the heavenly bodies to have a riding influ-
ence over the physical and moral world ;
but it is now universally exploded by true
science and philosophy.
ASTRON'OMER, n. One who is versed in
astronomy ; one who has a knowledge of
the laws of the heavenly orbs, or the prin-
ciples by which their motions are regida-
ted, with their various phenomena.
ASTRONOMIC, I Pertaining to as-
ASTRONOM ICAL, S tronomy.
ASTRONOMICALLY, adv. In an astro-
nomical manner ; by the principles of
astronomy.
ASTRON'OMIZE, v. i. To study astrono-
Diy. [Litth used.] Broum.
ASTRONOMY, n. [Gr. ojpov, a star, and
fo^oj, a law or rule.]
A S Y
Tlie science which teaches the knowledge of
the celestial bodies, their magnitudes, mo-
tions, distances, periods of revolution, as-
pects, eclipses, order, &c. This science
depends on observations, made chiefly
with instruments, and upon mathematical
calculations.
ASTROSCOPE, n. [Gr. ofpor, a star, and
oxortfu, to view.]
An astronomical instrument, composed of
two cones, on whose surface the constella-
tions, with their stars, are delineated, by
means of which the stars may be easily
known. Encyc.
AS'TROSCOPY, n. [See Astroscope.] Ob-
.servation of the stars.
ASTRO-THEOL'OgY, n. [L. astmm, a
star, and theologia, divinity.]
Theology founded on the observation of the
celestial bodies. Derhavi.
ASTRUT', adv. [See Strut.] In a strutting
ASTU'TE, a. [L. astutus, from astus, craft,
subtilty ; Ir. aisde, aiste, ingenuity.]
Shrewd; sharp; eagle-eyed; critically ex-
amining or discerning. Sandys.
ASUND'ER, adv. [Sax. asundrian,to divide.
See Sunder.]
Apart ; into parts ; separately ; in a divided
state.
The Lord hath cut asunder the cords of the
wicked. Ps. cxxix.
ASWOON', adv. In a swoon. Obs.
Gower.
ASY'LUM, »!. [L. from Gr. aauT-or, safe from
spoil, a and av'Kri, spoil, (5i*o<j, to plunder.]
1. A sanctuary, or place ofrefuge, where crim-
inals and debtors shelter themselves from
justice, and from which they cannot be
taken without sacrilege. Temples and
altars were anciently asylums ; as were
tombs, statues and monuments. The an-
cient heathens allowed asylums for the
protection of the vilest criminals ; and the
Jews had their cities ofrefuge.
'I. Any place of retreat and security.
AlYMMKPmc^AL, \ «■ tSee Symmetry.]
Not having symmetry. [Little used.] More.
AS YM' JVIETR Y, n. [Gr. a priv. and au^/ttrpta,
symmetry, of aw, with, and utrptu,
measure.]
The want of proportion between the parts of
a thing. It is also used in mathematics
for incommensurability, when between
two quantities there is no common meas-
ure. Johnson.
AS'YMPTOTE, n. [Gr. a priv., aw, with,
and rtrow, to fall; not meeting or coin
ciding.]
\ line which approaches nearer and nearer
to some curve, but though infinitely ex-
tended, would never meet it. This may
be conceived as a tangent to a curve at an
infinite distance. Chambers.
ASYMPTOT'ICAL, a. Belonging to an
asymptote. Asymptotical lines or curves
are such as continually approach, when
extended, but never meet.
ASYN'DETON, n. [Gr. a priv. and awbiu,
to bind together.]
In grammar, a figure which omits the con-
nective ; as, vent, vidi, vici. It stands op-
posed tojpohjsyndeton, which is a multipli-
Campbell.
■ connectives.
ATE
AT, prep. [Sax. at ; Goth, at ; L. ad. At,
ad and to, if not radically the same word,
often coincide in signification. In W. at
is to, and in Danish it is the sign of the
infinitive mode ; in Amh. od, or ud, is to-
wards. The word at is doubtless the ori-
ental xnx, nflN, Ch. and Heb. to come, to
approach. Hence it primarily denotes
presence, meeting, iiearness, direction to-
wards.]
In general, at denotes nearness, or presence ;
as at the ninth hour, at the house ; but
it is less definite than in or on ; at the
house, may be in or near the house. It
denotes also towards, versus ; as, to aim an
ai-row at a mark.
From this original import are derived all
the various uses of oJ. At the sight, is vnth,
present, or coming the sight ; at this news,
present the news, on or unth the approach
or arrival of this news. At peace, at war,
in a state of peace or war, peace or war
existing, being present ; at ease, at play, at
a loss, &.C. convey the like idea. At am
furnished with arras, bearing arms, pi
sent with arms ; at hand, within reach of
the hand, and therefore near ; at my cost,
with my cost ; at his suit, by or with his
suit ; at this declaration, he rose from liis
seat, that is, present, or coming this dec
laration ; whence results the idea in con
sequence of it. At his command, is either
under his command, that is, literally, com
iiig or being come his command, in the
power of, or in consequence of it. He '
good at engraving, at husbandry ; that
in performing that business. He deserv
well at our hands, that is, from us. The
peculiar phrases in which this word
curs, with appropriate significations, are
numerous. At first, at last, at least, at
best, ai the worst, a<the highest or lowest
are phrases in which some noun is impli-
ed ; as, at the first time or beginning ; at
the last time, or point of time ; at the least
or best degree, &c. ; all denoting an ex-
treme point or superlative degree. At all.
is in any manner or degree.
At is sometimes used for to, or towards.
noting progression or direction ; as, he
auns at perfection ; he makes or run
him, or points at him. In this phrase, he
longs to be at him, at has its general sense
of approaching, or present, or with, in con
test or attack.
AT'ABAL, 71. [Sp.] A kettle drum; a kind
of tabor. Dryden.
ATAC'AMITE, n. A muriate of copper.
AT'AGAS, n. The red cock or niooi-ganic,
Coxe.
ATAMAS'€0, n. A species of lily of the
genus Amaryllis.
AT'ARAXY, n. [Gr. arapa;to5, of <x priv.
and rafsaxri, tumult.]
Calmness of mind ; a term used by the stoics
and sceptics to denote a freedom from the
emotions which proceed from vanity and
self-conceit. Encyc.
ATAX'Y, n. [Gr. a priv. and rolij, order.]
Want of order ; disturbance ; irregularity
in the functions of the body, or in the cri-
ses and paroxysms of disease.
Coxe. Encyc
ATCHE, n. In Turkey, a small silver coin,
value about six or seven mills. Encyc.
ATE, the preterite of ea(, wliich see.
A T H
A'TE, n. a'ty. [Gr. att;, mischief; atau, to
hint. Ate is a personification of evil, mis-
chief or mahce.]
In pagan mythology, the goddess of mischief,
who was cast down from heaven by Jupi-
ter. Pope's Horn. II.
ATEL'LAN, a. Relating to the dramas at
Atella in Italy. Shajlesbury.
ATEL'LAN, n. A dramatic representation,
satirical or Ucentious. Shajlesbury.
A TEMP'O (ilUSTO. [It. ; L. in tempore jus-
A direction in music, which signifies to sing
• play in an eciual, true or just time.
ATHANA'SIAN, a. Pertaining to Athana-
sius, bishop of Alexandria, in the fourth
century. The Athanasian creed is a for-
mulary, confession or exposition of faith,
supposed formerly to have been drawn up
by Athanasius, but this opinion is now re-
jected, and the composition is ascribed by
some to Hilary, bishop of Aries. It is a
summary of what was called the orthodox
faith.
ATH'ANOR, n. [Ar. and Heb. nun thanor,
an oven or furnace.]
A digesting furnace, formerly used in chimi-
cal operations ; so constructed as to main-
tain a uniform and durable heat. It is a
ftirnace, with a lateral tower close on all
sides, which is to be filled with fuel. As
the fuel below is consumed, that in the
tower falls down to supply its place.
JVicholsov.
A'THEISM, n. The disbehefof the exist-
ence of a God, or Supreme intelligent Be-
ing.
JitheUm is a teroclous system that leaves
nothing above us to excite awe, nor around us.
to awaken tenderness. Rob. Hall
A'THEIST, n. [Gr. a9E0{,ofopriv. andStoj.
God.]
One who disbelieves the existence of a God.
or Supreme intelligent Being.
A'THEIST, a. Atheistical ; disbelieinng or
denying the being of a Supreme God.
ATHEIST'I€, I Pertauiing to athe-
ATHEISTICAL, ^ "' ism.
2. Disbeheving the existence of a God ; im-
pious ; applied to persons; as, an atheistic
writer.
3. Implying or containing atheism; applied
to things ; as, atheistic doctrines or opin-
ions.
rVTHEIST'ICALLY, adv. In an atheistic
manner ; impiously.
ATHEIST'I€ALNESS, n. The tiuaUty of
lieing atheistical.
A'THEIZE, V. i. To discourse as an athe-
ist. [Not iised.] Cudworth.
ATHEL, ADEL or ^THEL, noble, of
illustrious birth ; Sax. add, athel ; G. adel ;
--£
D.edel; Sw. adel ; Ban. adel ; Ar. yj\
athala, to be well rooted, to be of noble
origin. Tliis word is found in many Sax-
on names ; as in Atheling, a noble youth ;
Ethelred, noble counsel ; Ethelard, noble
genius ; Ethelbert, noble bright, eminently
noble ; Ethehvald, noble government, or
power ; Ethelward, noble defender.
ATHE'NIAN, a. [from Athens.] Pertaining
to Athens, the metropoUs of Attica in
Greece.
ATHE'NIAN, n. A native or inhabitant of
Athens.
A T L
A T O
A T O
ATHEOLO'GIAN, n. One who is opposed
to a theologian. Hayward.
ATHEOL'OciY, n. Atheism. [JVot in use.]
Swifl.
A'THEOUS, a. Atheistic ; impious. [JVot
vsfd.] Milton.
ATII'KRINE, I A gemis of fishes of tlie
ATIIKRI'NA, s"-Jib(lominal order. The
fliaracters are, the upper jaw is rather
flat, the rays of the gill membrane are
six, and tlie side belt or Une shines like
silver. There are four species ; the best
known is the Hepsetus, very abundant in
the Mediterranean, where it is caught in
larfie quantities. Pennant. Ed. Encyc.
ATU'tfaOME; ['■•[«'•. from a.,pa, pap.]
An encysted tumor, without pain or discol-
oration of the skin, containing matter like
pap, intermixed with hard stony particles ;
easily cured by incision. Encyc. Coxe.
ATHERO'MATOUS, a. Pertaining to or
resembling an atherome ; having the qual-
ities of an atherome. Wiseman.
ATHIRST', a. athursV. [a and thirst. See
Thirst.]
1. Thirsty ; wanting drink.
y. Having a keen appetite or desire.
He had a soul athirst for knowledge.
Ch. Observer.
ATHLETE, n. [See AtlUetic] A contend-
er for victory. A. Smith's Theory.
ATHLET'le, a. [Gr. aST>.rjT7js ; L. athleta, a
wrestler ; fi-om arfixof, strife, contest.]
1. Belonging te wrestling, boxing, running
and other exercises and sports, which
were practiced by the ancients, usually
called the athletic games. Hence,
'i. Strong ; lusty ; robust ; vigorous. An
athletic body or constitution is one fitted
for vigorous exertions.
ATHWART', prep, [a and thwaH. See
Thwart.]
1. Across ; from side to side ; transverse ;
as athwart the path.
2. In marine language, across the line of a
ship's course ; as, a fleet standing athwart
our course.
Athwart house, is the situation of a ship
when she Ues across the stem of another,
whether near, or at some distance.
Athwart the fore foot, is a phrase applied
to the flight of a cannon ball, across
other ship's course, ahead, as a signal for
her to bring to.
Athwart ships, reaching across the sliip
from side to side, or in that direction.
Mar. Diet.
.\THWART', adv. In a mamier to cross
and perplex ; crossly ; wrong ; wrongfully.
ATII.T', adv. [a and tilt. See TUt]
1. Ill the manner of a tilter; in the posi
tioii, or with the action of a man making
a thrust ; as, to stand or run aiilt.
3. Ill the manner of a cask tilted, or with one
• III! raised.
A'"' 1^1Y, n. [Gr. ofi/uio, a and tifi?;, honor.^
In iiiident Greece, disgrace; exclusion from
I 111. I' or magistracy, by some disquahfylng
:i(l iir.lrrree. Mitford.
ATLAN riAX. > Pertaining to the isle
ATI. W'I'i; AN, ^ 'Atlantis, which the an
ri. Ills all) ilge was sunk and overwhelm
.il liy the ocean. Plato.
'i. Pertaining to Atlas ; resembluig Atlas.
ATLAN'TIC, a. [from Atlas or Atlantis.]
Pertaining to that division of the ocean,
which lies between Europe and Africa oi)
the east and America on the west.
ATLAN'TIC, n. The ocean, or that part of
the ocean, which is between Europe and
Africa on the east and America on the
west.
ATLAN'TI€A, > An isle mentioned by
ATLAN'TIS, S tl'c ancients, situated
west of Gades, or Cadiz, on the strait of
Gibraltar. The poets mention two isles
and call them Hespendes, western isles,
and Ely sian fields. Authors are not agreed
whether these isles were the Canaries, or
some other isles, or the continent of Amer-
ica. Homer. Horace.
ATLAN'TIDES, n. A name given to the
Pleiades or seven stars, which were feign-
ed to be the daughters of Atlas, a king of
Mauritania, or of his brother, Hesperus,
who were translated to heaven. Encyc.
ATLAN'TIS, n. A fictitious philosophical
commonwealth of Lord Bacon, or the
piece describing it ; composed in the man-
ner of Morc's Utopia, and Campanella's
City of the Sun. One part of the work is
finished, in which the author has described
a college, founded for the study of Nature,
under the name of Solomon's House. The
model of a commonwealth ivas never ex-
ecuted. Encyc.
AT' LAS, n. A collection of maps in a
volume ; supposed to be so called from a
picture of mount Atlas, supporting the
heavens, prefixed to some collection.
Johnson.
2. A large square folio, resembling a volume
of maps.
3. The supporters of a building.
4. A silk sattin, or stuff", manufactured in the
east, with admirable ingenuity, Atlasses
are plain, striped, or flowered ; but they
have not the fine gloss and luster of some
French silks. Encyc.
5. The first verteber of the neck. Coie.
t). A term apphed to paper, as atlas fine.
Burke.
ATMOM'ETER, n. [Gr. atfios, vapor, and
fiitfsfu, to measure.]
An instrument to measure the quantity of
exhalation from a humid surface in a giv-
en time ; an evaporometer. lire.
AT'MOSPHERE, n. [Gr. ar^oj, vapor, and
B$oipa,a sphere.]
The whole mass of fluid, consisting of air,
aqueous and other vapors, surrounding the
earth.
ATMOSPHERIC ) Pertaining to the
ATMOSPHERICAL, I "' atmosphere ; as
atmospheric air or vapors.
2. Dependent on the atmosphere.
I am an atmospAeric creature. Pope.
AT'OM, n. [Gr. a-roftoj ; h. atomus ; from a,
not, and fifivu, to cut.]
1. A particle of matter so minute as to ad-
mit of no division. Atoms are conceived
to be the first principles or component
parts of all bodies. Quincy.
2. The ultimate or smallest component part
of a body. Chimistry.
3. Any thing extremely small. Shak.
ATOMIC, ) Pertaining to atoms ; con-
ATOM'ICAL, \ °" sisting of atoms; extreme-
ly minute.
The atomical philosophy, said to be broach-
ed by Moschus, before the Trojan war.
and cultivated by Epicurus, teaches that
atoms are endued with gravity and mo-
tion, by which all things were formed,
without the aid of a supreme intelligent
Being.
The atomic theory, in chimistry^ or the doc-
trine of definite proportions, teaches that
all chimical combinations take place be-
tween the ultimate particles or atoms of
bodies, and thaf these unite either atom
with atom, or in proportions expressed by
some simple multiple of the number of
atoms. Dalton.
AT'OMISM, n. The doctrine of atoms.
AT'OMIST, n. One who holds to the atom-
ical philosophy.
ATOM-LIKE, a. Resembling atoms.
Brotime.
AT'OMY, n. A word used by Shak.-spearc
for ato7n ; also an abbreviation of anato-
my.
ATO'NE, adv. [at and one.] At one ; to-
gether. Spenser.
ATO'NE, v. i. [Supposed to be compound-
ed of at and one. The Spanish has adu-
nar, to unite or join, and the Ital. adunare,
to assemble ; from L. ad and unus, unio.
In Welsh, dyitn signifies united, accord-
ant, agreeing ; dyunatv, to unite or agree ;
from Hn, one, and dy, a prefix denoting
iteration.]
1. To agree; to be in accordance; to ac-
cord.
He and Aufidus can no more atone,
Than violentest contrariety. Shak.
[TTiis sense is obsolete.]
2. To stand as an equivalent ; to make re-
paration, amends or satisfaction for an of-
fense or a crime, by which reconciliation
is procured between the offended and of-
fending parties.
The murderer fell and blood atoned for blood.
Pope.
By what propitiation shall I atone for my for-
mer gravity. Rambler, No. 10.
The life of a slave was deemed to be of so
little value, that a very slight compensation
atoned for taking it away.
Robertson, Charles V.
3. To atone for, to make comjiensation or
amends.
This evil was atoned for by the good effects
of the study of the practical physics of Aristotle.
Schlegel, Trans.
The ministry not atoning for their former
conduct by any wise or popular measure.
Junius.
ATO'NE, V. t. To expiate; to answer or
make satisfaction for.
Or each atone his guilty love with life.
Pope.
2. To reduce to concord ; to reconcile, as
parties at variance ; to appease. [JVot
now used.]
ATO'NED, pp. Expiated ; appeased ; re-
conciled.
ATONEMENT, n. Agreement; concord;
reconciliation, after enmity or controversy.
Rom. V.
He seeks to make atonement
Between the Duke of Glo'ster and your brothers.
Shak.
2. Expiation ; satisfaction or reparation
made by giving an equivalent for an inju-
ry, or by doing or suffering that which is
received in satisfaction for an offense or
injiu-y ; witli /or.
ATT
And Moses said to Aaron, go to the altar, and
oli'er thy sin-offering, and thybumt-offering, and
make an atoneinent for thyself and for tlie peo-
ple. Lev. ix.
When a man has been guilty of any vice, the
best atonement he can make for it is, to warn
others not to fall into the like. Spect. No. 8.
The Phocians behaved with so much gallant-
ly, that they were thotight to have made a suffi-
cient atonement for their former offense.
Potter, Anliq.
8. In theology, the expiation of sin made by
the obedience and personal sufTerings ot
Christ.
ATO'NER, n. lie who makes atonement.
ATON'le, a. Relaxed; debilitated.
ATO'NING, ppr. Reconcihng. Obs.
'I. Making amends, or satisfaction.
.\T'ONY, n. [Gr. atoiia, defect, of a priv.
and foi<o5, tone, from tuvu, to stretch.]
Debihty ; relaxation ; a want of tone or ten-
sion ; defect of muscular power ; palsy.
Wilson. C'oxe.
ATOP' adv. [a and top. See Top.] On or
at the top. Milton
.ATRABILA'RIAN, ? [L. atraUUs,
ATRABILA'RIOUS, \ "■ black bile.]
.\ft'ected witli melancholy, which the an-
cients attributed to the bile ; replete with
black bile.
VTRABILA'RIOUSNESS, n. The state of
being melancholy, or aflected with disor-
ATRAlMEiNT'AL, > {L. atramenliim,\nk.
ATRAMENT'OUS, \ "• from atcr, black.]
Inky ; black Uke iidi.
\TRAMENTA'RI0US, a. Like ink ; suit-
able for making ink. The sulphate of iron,
or green copperas, is called atramentari-
ous, as being the material of ink.
Foiircroy,
ATRIP', adv. [a and trip. See Trip.]
In nautical language, the anchor is atrip.
when drawn out of the ground in a per-
pendicular direction. The topsails are
atrip, when they are hoisted to the top of
the mast, or as high as possible. Mar. Diet
ATRO'CIOUS, a. [L. atrox, trui, fierce,
cruel.]
Extremely hainous, criminal or cruel ; enor-
mous ; outrageous ; as atrocious guilt or
offense.
ATRO'CIOUSLY, adv. In an atrocious
manner ; with enormous cruelty or guilt-
ATRO'CIOUSNESS, n. The quahty of be-
ing enormously criminal or cruel.
ATROCITY, n. Enormous wickedness;
extreme hainousnes or cruelty ; as the atro
city of murder.
AT'ROPHY, n. [Gr. a. priv. and rpt^u, to
nourish.]
A consumption or wasting of the flesh, with
loss of strength, without any sensible cause
or hectic fever ; a wasting from defect of
nourishment. Encye. Coxe
ATRO'PIA, n. A new vegetable alkali ex
tracted from the atropa belladonna, oi
deadly nightshade. It is white, brilliant
and crystaUzes in long needles. Ure.
\TTACH', V. t. [Fr. attacker, to tie or fas
ten, to apply, to engage, to stick ; Arm
staga ; It. attaccare ; Norm, attacker, to
attack ; tacke, tied, fixed, tacked together ;
Port. Sp. atacar. It seems to be allied to
attack, and the sense is to put, throw or
fall on, hence to seize, and stop, coincid
ing with the Eng. take ; Sw. tuga ; Dan
ATT
tager ; Sax. tmccan ; Gr. Sta;0|Uot ; L. tango,
for tago; Eng. tack ; &c. Class, Dg.
See Attack and Tack.]
. To take by legal authority ; to arrest the
person by writ, to answer for a debt ; ap-
phed to a taking of the person by a civil
process ; being never used for the arrest of
a criminal. It is appUed also to the taking
of goods and real estate by an officer, by
virtue of a writ or precept, to hold the
same to satisfy a judgment to be rendered
in the suit.
!. To take, seize and lay hold on, by moral
force, as by affection or interest ; to win
the heart ; to fasten or bind by moral influ-
ence ; as, attacked to a friend ; atlaching
others to us by wealth or flattery.
3. To make to adhere ; to tie, bind or fasten ;
as, to attack substances by any glutmous
matter ; to attach one thing to another by
a string.
ATTACHABLE, a. That may be legally
attached ; liable to be taken by writ or pre-
cept.
ATTACH'ED, pp. Taken by writ or pre
cept ; drawn to and fixed, or united by af
fection or uiterest.
ATTACHING, ppi: Taking or seizmg by
connnandment or writ ; drawing to, and
fixing by influence ; whining the aft'ec
tions.
ATTACH'MENT, n. A takuig of the per
son, goods or estate by a writ or precept
in a civil action, to secure a debt or de
mand.
2. A writ directing the person or estate of a
person to be taken, to secm-e his appear
ance before a court. In England, the first
notice to appear in court -is by summons ;
and if the defendant disobeys this moni
tion, a writ of attachment issues, com
manding the sheriff to attack him, by ta
king gage, or security in goods, which he
forfeits by non-appearance, or by making
him find safe pledges or sureties for his
appearance. But in trespasses, an attach-
ment is the first process. In this country,
attachment is more generally the first pro-
cess, and in some states, the writ of at-
tachment issues at first against the prop-
erty or person of the defendant. In Con-
necticut, this writ issues against the person,
goods or land, in the first instance, com-
manding to take the goods and estate of
the defendant, if to be found ; or other-
wise, to take his body. In England, wit-
nesses not appearing upon a summons,
may be taken by attachment ; a process
called with us a capias. Attachments also
issue against persons for contempt of|
court. The cou7-t of attachments, in Eng
land, is held before the verderors of the
forest, to attach and try offenders against
vert and venison.
Foreign attachment is the taking of the money
or goods of a debtor in the hands of a
stranger ; as when the debtor is not with
in the jurisdiction of the court or has ah
seonded. Any person who has goods or
effects of a debtor, is considered in law as
the agent, attorney, factor or trustee of
the debtor ; and an attachment served on
such person binds the property in his hands
to respond the judgment against the
debtor.
3. Close adherence or affection ; fidelity
ATT
regard ; any passion or affection that binds
a person ; as, an attachment to a friend, or
to a party.
ATTACK', v.t. [Fr. attaquer ; Arm. attacqi ;
It. attaccare, to fasten, to engage in battle ;
attacco, a sticking ; Sp. atacar, to assault,
to fasten or make close, to cram ; Port.
atacar, to attack, to seize, to fasten ; Heb.
and Ch. mr\, to thrust, to drive, to strike.
It seems to be alUed to attack ; but the
latter verb agrees better with the Eth.
m©+ to press, whence ^^® +
to press, to make close ; and the Ch. ntJ,
to accuse, to unite. Class Dg.]
1. To assault ; to fall upon with force ; to
assail, as with force and arms. It is the
appropriate word for the commencing act
of hostility between armies and navies.
2. To fall upon, with unfriendly words or
writing ; to begin a controversy with ; to
attempt to overthrow or bring into dis-
repute, by satue, calunany or criticism ; as,
to attack a man or his opinions in a pam-
phlet.
ATTACK', n. An onset ; first invasion ; a
falhng on, with force or violence, or with
calumny, satire or criticism.
ATTACK'ED, pp. Assaulted; invaded;
fallen on by force or emnity.
ATTACK'ER, n. One who assaults or in-
vades.
ATTACKING, ppr. Assaulting; invading:
falling on with force, cahunny or criticism.
ATTA€OT'TI€, a. Pertaining to the Atta-
cotti, a tribe of ancient Britons, alhes of
the Scots. Pinkerton.
AT'TAGEN, «. A beautiful fowl, reseni-
bhng the pheasant, witli a short black bill
and a fine crest of yellow feathers, varie-
gated with black and white spots, foimd
in the mountains of Sicily.
Did. ofJVat. Hist.
ATTA'IN, V. i. [Fr. and Norm, atteindre ; L.
attingo, to reach, come to or overtake ;
ad and tango, to touch, reach or strike ;
that is, to thrust, urge or push to. It has
no connection with L. attineo. See Class,
To reach ; to come to or arrive at, by mo-
tion, bodily exertion, or efforts towards a
place or object.
If by any means they might attain to Phen-
icc. Acts xxvii.
2. To reach ; to come to or arrive at, by an
effort of mind.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for rae ; it
is high ; I cannot attain to it. Ps. cxxxix.
Regularly tliis verb should be always follow-
ed by /o; the omission of <o, and the use
of the verb, in a transitive sense, may have
originated in mistake, from the opinion
that the verb is from the L. attineo, and
equivalent to obtain.
ATTA'IN, 17./. To gain; to compass; to
achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach
by efforts ; without to following.
Is he wise who hopes to attain the end wijji-
out the means ? TillotsdH.
This use of the verb is now established ; but
in strictness to is here implied ; attain to
the end. The real sense, as in the intran-
sitive use of the verb, is, to reach or come to
the end or purpose in view. This word
always implies an effort towards an object.
Hence it is not synonymous with obtain
ATT
A T T
ATT
and procure, which do not necessarily im-|
ply such eftbrt. We procure or obtain a!
thing by purchase or loan, and we obtain
by inheritance, but we do not attain it by
such means. An inattention to this dis-
tinction has led good authors into great
mistakes in the use of this word.
9. To reach or come to a place or object by
progression or motion.
But ere such tidings shall his ears attain.
Hook's Tasso.
Canaan he now attains. Milton.
3. To reach in excellence or degree ; to
equal. Bacon.
ATTA'INABLE, a. That may be attained ;
that may be reached by efttirts of the niiml
or body ; that may be compassed or ac-
oomphshed by eftbrta dir«riecl to th(^ <ili-
ject ; as, perfection is not attainable in this
life. From an inattention to the true sense
of this word, as explauied under attain,
authors have very improperly used tliis
word for obtainable, procurable ; as in the
following passages. " The kind and quali-
ty of food and liquor ; the species of hab-
itation, furniture and clothing to which
the common people of each country are
habituated, must be attainable with ease
and certainty." Paley, Phil. B. G. Ch. 11.
" Gen. Howe would not permit them to
be purchased in Philadelphia, and they
(clothes and blankets) were not attainable
in the country." Marshall's Lile of Wash-
ington, 3, 428. Each ofthese words should
be obtainable.
ATTA'INABLENESS, n. The quality of
being attainable.
ATTAINDER, n. [Norm. Fr. atteindre, to
corrupt, attaint ; also conviction ; L. ad
and hngo, to stain ; Gr. rtyyu. Class Dg.
See Tinge.]
1. Literally a staining, corruption, or ren-
dering impure ; a corruption of blood.
Hence,
2. The judgment of death, or sentence of a
competent tribunal upon a person convict-
ed of treason or felony, which judgment
attaints, taints or corrupts his blood, so
that he can no longer inherit lands. The
consequences of this judgment are, forfeit-
ure of lands, tenements and hereditaments,
loss of reputation, and disqualification to
be a witness in any court of law. A stat-
ute of Parhament attainting a criminal, is
called an act of attainder.
Upon the thorough demonstration of which
guilt by legal attainder, the feudal covenant is
broken. Blackstonc.
3. The act of attainting.
An act was made for the attainder of several
persons. Encyc.
J\lht€. By the constitution of the United
States, no crime works an attainder.
ATTAINMENT, n. The act of attaining ;
the act of aiTiving at or reaching; hence
the act of obtaining by efforts ; as the at-
tainment of excellence.
2. That which is attained to, or obtained by
exertion ; acquisition ; as, a man of great
attainments.
ATTA'INT, V. t. [See Jlttainder.]
,1. To taint or corrupt ; to extinguish the
pure or inheritable blood of a person found
guilty of treason or felony, by confession,
battle, or verdict, and consequent sentence
of death, or by special act of Parliament.
No person shall be attainted of high tieason
where corruption of blood is incurred, but by
the oath of two witnesses, &c. Slat. 7 and H.
W. 3.
2. To taint, as the credit of jurors, convicted
of giving a false verdict. This is done by
special writ of attaint. The conviction of
such a crime attaints the reputation of ju-
rors, and renders them infamous.
3. To disgrace; to cloud with infamy; to
stain. Spenser.
. To taint or corrupt. Shak.
ATTA'INT, n. A stain, spot or taint. Stiak.
[See Taint.}
2. Any thing injurious ; that which impairs.
Ohs. Sliak.
j. A blow or wound on the hinder feet of a
horse. Farriery.
4. A writ which lies after judgment against
a jury for giving a false verdict in any
court of record.
ATTAINTED, pp. Stained; corrupted;
rendered infamous; rendered incapable
of inheriting.
ATTA'lNTING,;)pr. Staining; corrupting;
rendering infamous by judicial act ; depri-
ving of inheritable blood.
ATTA'INTMENT, n. The being attainted.
ATTA'INTURE, n. A staining or render-
ing infamous ; reproach ; imputation
ATTASK', V. t. To task ; to tax. [Not
used. See Task.} Stiak.
ATTA'STE, V. t. To taste. [.\o( used. See
Taste.-\
ATTEM'PER, v. t. [L. attempero, oforfand
tempera, to temper, mix, or moderate. See
Temper.]
To reduce, modify or moderate by niix-
tiu-e ; as, to attemper heat by a cooling
mixture, or spirit by diluting it with water
2. To soften, mollify or moderate ; as, to at-
temper rigid justice with clemency.
3. To mix in just proportion ; to regulate ;
as, a mind well attempered with kindness
and justice.
4. To accommodate ; to fit or make suit-
able.
Arts attempered to the lyre. Pope
ATTEM'PERANCE, n. Temperance. [.Yet
used.] Chaucer.
ATTEM'PERATE, a. [L. attemperatns.]
Tempered ; ))roportioned ; suited.
Hope must be proportioned and attemperate
to the promise. Hammond.
ATTEM'PERATE, v. t. To attemper. [Not
in use.] Hammond.
ATTEM'PERED, pp. Reduced in quality
moderated ; softened ; well mixed ; suited.
ATTEM'PERING, ppr. Moderating in
quality ; softening ; mixing in due propor-
tion ; "making suitable.
ATTEM'PERLY, adv. In a temperate
manner. [Not in use.[ Chaucer.
ATTEMPT', V. t. [Fr. atfenter, from L. at-
tento, to attempt, of ad and /f)i(o, to ti-y ;
Arm. attempti. The L. tento is from the
same root as tendo, to strain ; Gr. ravu.
Hence, the literal sense is to strain, urge,
stretch.]
1. To make an effort to effect some object ;
to make trial or experiment ; to try ; to
endeavor ; to use exertion for any pui
pose ; as, to attempt to sing ; to attempt
bold flight.
2. To attack ; to make an effort upon ; as, to
attempt the enemy's camp.
This verb is not always followed by an ob-
ject, and appears to be intransitive ; but
some object is understood, or a verb in
the infinitive follows in the place of an
object ; as, he attempted to speak.
VTTEMPT', n. An essay, trial or endeav-
or ; an attack ; or an effort to gain a point.
Baco7i.
\TTEMPT'.\BLE, a. That may be at-
tempted, tried or attacked ; hable to an
attempt, or attack. Shak.
ATTEMPT'ED, pp. Essayed ; tried ; at-
ATTEMPT'ER, n. One who attempts, or
tacks. Milton.
ATTEMPT'ING, ;);)r. Trying; essaying;
iiaking an effort to gain a point ; attack-
off-
ATTEND', V. t. [L. attendo ; Fr. attendre, to
wait, stay, hold, exjjcct ; Sp. atender ; It.
attendere ; L. ad and tendo, to stretch,
to tend. See Tend.]
. To go with, or accompany, as a compan-
ion, minister or servant.
2. To be present ; to accompany or be uni-
ted to ; as a cold attended with fever.
3. To be present for some duty, implying
charge or oversight ; to wait on ; as, the
physician or the nurse attends the sick.
4. To be present in business ; to be in com-
pany from curiosity, or from some connec-
tion in affairs ; as, lawyers or spectators
attend a court.
3. To be consequent to, from connection of
cause ; as, a measure attended w itli ill
effects.
6. To await ; to remain, abide or be in store
for ; as, happiness or misery attends us
after death.
7. To wait for ; to lie in wait. Shah.
8. To wait or stay for.
Three days 1 promised to attend my doom.
Diyden.
9. To accompany with sohcitude ; to regard.
Their hunger thus appeased, their care attends
The doubtful forttine of their absent friends.
Dry den .
10. To regard ; to fix the mind upon.
Tlie pilot doth not attend the unskilful words
of the passenger. Sidney.
This is not now a legitimate sense. "To
express this idea, we now use the verb in-
transitively, with to, attend to.
11. To expect. [Not in use.] Raleigh.
ATTEND' V. i. To listen ; to regard with
attention ; followed by to.
Attend to the voice of my supplication. Vs.
Ixxxvi.
Hence much used in the imperative, at-
tend '.
2. To regard with observation, and corres-
pondent practice.
My son, attend to my words.
Hence, to regard with corapUance.
He hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Ps. Ixvi.
3. To fix the attention upon, as an object of
pursuit ; to be busy or engaged in ; as, to
attend to the study of the scriptures.
4. To wait on ; to accompany or be present,
in pursuance of duty ; with on or upon ; as,
to attend upon a committee ; to attend upon
business. Hence,
5. To wait on, in ser\'ice or worship ; to
serve.
ATT
ATT
ATT
That ye may attend upon the Lord without
distraction. 1 Cor. vii.
(j. To stay ; to delay. Obs.
For this perfection she must yet attend.
Till to her maker she espoused be.
Davies
7. To wait ; to be within call. Spenser.
ATTEND' ANCE, n. [Fr.] The act of wait-
ing on, or serving.
Of which no man gave attendance at the al
tar. Heb. vii.
2. A waiting on; a being present on business
of any kind ; as, the attendance ofwitne:
or persons in court ; attendance of members
of the legislature.
3. Service ; ministry.
Receive attendance. S
4. The persons attending ; a train ; a retinue.
Milton
5. Attention ; regard ; careful application of
mind.
Give attendance to reading. 1 Tim. iv.
6. Expectation. Obs. Hooker.
ATTEND' ANT, a. Accompanying; being
present, or in the train.
Other suns with their attendant moons.
Milton
'2. Accompanying, connected with, or imme-
diately following, as consequential ; as,
intemperance with all its attendant evils.
3. In law, depending on or owing service to ;
as, the wife attendant to the heir. Cowel.
ATTEND'ANT, n. One who attends oi
accompanies, in any character whatever,
as a friend, companion, minister or ser-
vant ; one who belongs to the train.
Dryden.
'2. One who is present ; as an attendant at
or upon a meeting.
3. One who owes semce to or depends on
another. Cowel.
4. That which accompanies or is conse-
quent to.
A love of fame, the attendant of noble spirits
Pope.
Shame is the attendant of vice. ^non.
ATTEND' ED, pp. Accompanied; having
attendants ; served ; waited on.
ATTEND'ER, n. One wlio attends ; a com-
panion ; an associate. [Little tised.]
ATTEND'ING. ppr. Going with ; accom-
panying ; waiting on ; superintending or
taking care of; being present ; immediately
consequent to ; serving ; Ustening ; regard-
ing with care.
ATTENT', n. Attentive. "2 Chron. vi.
ATTENT'ATES, n. Proceedings in a court
of judicature, after an inhibition is de
creeil. Ayliffe.
ATTENTION, n. The act of attending or
heeding; the due application of the ear to
sounds, or of the mind to objects presented
to its contemplation. [Literally, a stretch-
ing toioards.]
They say the tongues of dying men
Enforce attention lilie deep harmony.
Shah.
2. Act of civility, or courtesy ; as attention to
a stranger.
ATTENT'IVE, a. [Fr. attentif.]
Heedful ; intent ; observant ; regarding will
care. It is applied to the senses of hear-
ing and seeing, as an attentive ear or eye
to the application of the mind, as in con-
templation ; or to the application of the
mind, together with the senses abovemei
tioned, as when a person is attentive to the
words, the manner and matter of a speak
er at tlie same time.
ATTENT'IVELY, adv. Heedfully; care
fully ; vvith fixed attention.
ATTENT'IVENESS, n. The state of beuig
attentive ; heedfulness ; attention.
ATTEN'UANT, a. [See Mtenuate..]
Making thin, as fluids ; diluting ; renderin,
less dense and viscid.
ATTEN'UANT, n. A medicine which thins
the humors, subtilizes their parts, dissolves
viscidity, and disposes the fluids to motion,
circulation and secretion ; a diluent.
Coxe.
ATTEN'UATE, v. t. [L. attenuo, of ad and
tenuo, to make thin ; L. tenuis; W. tenau ;
Ir. tana or tanaidhe ; Eng. thin, which
1. To make thin or less consistent ; to
tilize or break the humors of the body
finer parts ; to render less viscid ; opposed
to condense, incrassate or thicken.
2. To comminute ; to break or wear solid
substances into finer or very minute parts.
This uninterrupted motion must attenuate and
wear away the hardest rocks.
Trans, of Chaptal's Chimistry.
.3. To make slender ; to reduce in thickness.
ATTEN'UATE, a. Made thin, or less vis-
cid ; made slender. Bacon.
ATTEN'UATED, pp. Made thin or less
viscid ; comminuted ; made slender. In
botany, growing slender towards the point.
ATTEN'UATING, ppr. Making thin, as
fluids ; making fine, as solid substances ;
making slender or lean.
ATTENUA'TION, n. The act of making
thin, as fluids ; as the attenuation of the
humors.
2. The act of making fine, by commmution,
or attrition.
The action of the air facilitates the attenua-
tion of these rocks. Trans. Chaptal.
.3. The act or process of making slender, thin
or lean.
AT'TERATE, v. t. [L. attero, to wear.] To
wear away.
2. To fijrm or accumulate by wearing.
AT'TERATED, pp. Formed by wearing.
Ray.
ATTERA'TION, n. The operation of form-
ing land by the wearing of the sea, and the
wearing of the earth in one place and depo-
sition of it in another. Ray.
ATTEST', V. t. [Fr. attester ; L. attestor ; of
ad and teslor, to aflirm or bear witness,
from testis. See Testify.]
1. To bear witness to ; to certify ; to affirm
to be true or genuine ; to make a solemn
declaration in words or writing, to support
a fact ; appropriately used for the affirma-
tion of persons in their official capacity ; as,
to attest the truth of a writing ; to attest a
copy of record. Persons also attest wri-
tings by subscribing their names.
2. To bear witness, or support the truth of
a fact, by other evidence than words ; as,
the ruins of Palmyra attest its ancient
magnificence.
3. To call to witness ; to invoke as con-
scious.
The sacred streams which heaven's imperial state
Jittests in oaths, and fears to violate.
Dryden.
ATTEST', n. Witness ; testimony ; attesta-
tion. [Little iwerf.]
ATTESTA'TION, n. Testimony ; witness ;
a solemn or official declaration, verbal or
written, in support of a fact; evidence.
The truth appears from the attestation of
witnesses, or of the proper officer. The
subscription of a name to a writing is an
attestation.
ATTESTED, pp. Proved or supported by
testhnony, solenm or official ; witnessed ;
supported by evidence.
ATTEST'ING,;)ior. Witnessing; calhngto
witness ; affirming in support of.
ATTESTOR, n. One who attests.
AT'TIC, a. [L. Micus ; Gr. Atnxoi.]
Pertaining to Attica in Greece, or to its prin-
cipal city, Athens. Thus, Attic wit, Attic
salt, a poignant, delicate wit, peculiar to
the Athenians ; Attic faith, inviolable faith.
Attic base, a peculiar base used by the an-
cient architects in the Ionic order, or col-
umn ; and by Palladio and others, ui the
Doric. Encyc.
Attic order, an order of small square pillars
at the uppermost extremity of a building.
This had its origin in Athens, and was in-
tended to conceal the roof. These pdlars
should never exceed one tliird of the length
of the order on which they are placed, nor
be less than one quarter of it. Encyc.
Attic story, a story in the upper part of a
house, where the windows usually are
square. Encyc.
AT'TI€, n. A small square pillar with its
cornice on the uppermost part of a build-
ing. Attics properly form the crown of
the building, or a finishing for the other
orders, when they are used in the struc-
ture. Encyc.
2. An Athenian ; an Athenian author.
Jones^ Gr. Grammar.
^.T'TICISM, n. The pecidiar style and idiom
of the Greek language, used by the Athe-
nians ; refined and elegant Greek ; con-
cise and elegant expression.
Encyc. Art. Philos.
2. A parlicidar attachment to the Athenians.
Mitford.
AT'TICiZE, V. t. To conform or make con-
formable to the language or idiom of At-
tica. Adjectives in o;, when atticized, be-
come u5. Jones^ Gi: Grammar.
AT'TICiZE, V. i. To use atticisms, or the
i(hom of the Athenians.
AT'TI€S, n. plu. The title of a book in Pau-
sanias, wliich treats of Attica.
Trans, of Paus. B. 1.
ATTI'RE, V. t. [Norm, attyrer, to provide ;
Fr. atours, dress, attire ; atoumer, to dress
a bride, to attire ; atourneresse, a tire
woman ; Arm. atourm, female ornaments ;
G. zieren, to adorn. We retain tire, the
sinijile word, applied to the band of a
wheel, and this word, in the D. toer, coin-
cides with tour. See Class Dr.]
To dress ; to array ; to adorn with elegant
or splendid garments.
With the linen miter shall Aaron be attired.
Lev. xvi.
ATTI'RE, n. Dress; clothes; habit; but
appropriately, ornamental dress.
Can a bride forget her attire. Jer. ii.
2. The horns of a deer.
3. In botany, the generative parts of plants.
Florid attire, called thrums or suits, as in
the flowers of marygold or tansy, consists
of two or three parts, of which tlie outer
ATT
ATT
ATT
part is the floret. Semiform attire consists
oftlu; chives and apexes. T/tis language
is now obsolete.
ATTl'RED, pp. Dressed ; decked witli or-
naments or attire.
ATTI'RER, n. One who dresses or adorns
with attire.
ATTl'RING, p;^r. Dressing; adorning with
dress or attire.
ATTl'TLE, ». «. To entitle. [JVotiiiuse.]
Goiver.
ATTITUDE, n. [Fr. attitude, posture ; Sp.
actitud, from L. actus, ago. Tlie Italian
attitudine is posture and fitness ; attitude
and aptitude being united in the same
word.]
1. In painting and sculpture, the posture or
action in which a figure or statue is placed ;
the gesture of a figure or statue ; such a
disposition of the parts as serves to ex-
press the action and sentiments of the per-
son represented. Johnson. Ena/c.
9. Posture ; position of things or persons ;
as, in times of trouble let the prince or a
nation preserve a firm attitude.
fVashington^s Farewell Address.
Hamilton. Gov. Smith. JV. H.
ATTOL'LENT, a. [L. attollens, attoUo, of|
ad and tollo, to lift.]
Lifting up ; raising ; as an attoUent muscle,
Derham.
ATTOL'LENT, n. A muscle which raises
some part, as the ear, the tip of th
or tlie upper eyo lid ; otherwise called
levator or elevator. Quincy. Coxe.
ATTORN', V. i. [L. ad and tomo ; Fr. tour-
ner ; Arm. tuirgna, tumein, to turn ; Sp,
tornar; Port, id; It. attamare, lomiare
Hence tomiamento, a tournament ; Sp. lor-
neo. See Turn.]
In the feudal law, to turn, or transfer homage
and service from one lord to another.
This is the act of feudatories, vassals or
tenants, upon the alienation of the estate.
Blackstone. Encyc.
ATTORN'EY, n. plu. attorneys. [Norm, at-
tournon ; torne,iA; i'rom tour, touni, turn,
change. One who takes the turn or place
<if another. See ^ftorji and Turn.]
One who is appointed or admitted in the
place of another, to manage his matters in
law. The word formerly signified any
per.son who did business for another ; but
its sense is now chiefly or wholly restricted
to persons who act as substitutes for the
persons concerned, in prosecuting andde
finding actions before courts of justice, or
ill transacting other business in which
legal rights are involved. The word
swers to the procurator, (proctor,) of the
civilians.
Attorneys are not admitted to practio
courts, until examined, approved, licensed
and sworn, by direction of some
after which they are proper officers of the
court.
In G. Britain, and in some of the U. States,
attorneys are not jiermitted to be advocates
or counsel in the higher courts ; this privi-
lege being confuied to counsellors and ser-
geants. In other states, there is no dis-
tinction of rank, and attorneys practice in
all the courts. And in a general sense, the
word attorney comprehends counsellors,
barristers and Serjeants.
In Virginia, the duties of attorney, counsellor,
conveyancer and advocate, are all per-
formed by the same individual. H'irt.
An attorney may have general powers to
transact business fiir another ; or his pow-
ers may be special, or limited to a particu-
lar act or acts.
Attorney General is an (iflicer appointed to
manage business liir llie king, the state or
prosecute jiersoiis guilty oiCrimcs.
A tetter or warrant of attorney is a written
authority from one piTson empowering
another to transact business for him.
ATTORN'EY, i;. t. To perform by proxy ;
to employ as a proxy. [.Voi in use.\
Shak.
ATTORN'EYSHIP, n. The oflice of an
attorney ; agency for another. Shak.
ATTORN'ING, ppr. Acknowledging a new
lord, or transferring homage and fealty to
the purchaser of an estate.
ATTORN'MENT, n. The act of a feudatory,
vassal or tenant, by which he consents,
U|K>n the alienation of an estate, to receive
a new lord or sujjerior, and transfers to
him his homage and service.
Encyc. Blackstone.
ATTRACT', V. t. [L. attraho, attractus, of]
ad and traho, to draw. See Drag and
Draw.]
1. To draw to ; to cause to move towards
and unite with ; as, electrical bodies attract
straws, and light substances, by physical
laws.
3. To draw to or incline to unite with,
though some cause may prevent the
ion ; as, the sun is supposed to attract the
planets.
3. To draw by influence of a moral kuid ; to
invite or allure ; as, to attract admirers.
4. To engage ; as, to attract attention.
ATTRACT', n. Attraction. [JSTotinu^e.]
Hudibras.
ATTRACTABIL'ITY, n. The quality ofl
being attractable, or of being subject to
the law of attraction. Asiat. Researches.
ATTRACT' ABLE, a. That may be attract-
ed ; subject to attraction.
Lavoisier by Kerr.
ATTRACTED, pp. Drawn towards
ted; allured; engaged.
ATTRACT'IC, ) „ Having power to
ATTRACT'ICAL, ] "' draw to. [JSTot
used.] Ray.
ATTRACT'ILE, a. That has power to
attract. Med. Rep
ATTRACT'ING, ppr. Drawing to or to-
wards ; inviting ; alluring ; engaging.
ATTRACT'INGLY, adv. In an attracting
manner.
ATTRACTION, n. The power in bodies
which is sujjposed to draw them together
or the tendency or principle which inchne=
them to unite or cohere ; called by Coper-
nicus, appetence. Encyc.
This power, principle or tendency in
bodies to unite, is distinguished by philoso-
phers into attraction of gravity or gravita-
tion, which extends to a sensible distance,
such as the tendency of the planets to the
sun, or of a stone, when raised in the air,
to fall to the earth, and of which kind is
the attraction of magnetism, and of elec-
tricity ; and into attraction of cohesion, or
that tendency which is manifested between
small particles of matter, at insensible dis-
tan<'e.s, or near the ))oint of contact, to
unite them in coherence.
The attraction of grarily is supposed to
be the great principle which confines the
planets in their orbits. Its power or force
is directly as the (juantity of matter in a
body, and inversely as the square of the
distances of the attracting bodies.
jYeivton. Encyc.
2. The act of attracting ; the cflect of the
principle of attraction.
Attraction may be performed by impulse or
other means. JVewton'a Optica.
3. The power or act of alluring, drawing to,
inviting or engaging ; as the attraction of
beauty or eloquence.
Contiguous attraction is that which is ex-
erted briui-cn iiiiiinle [laiiicles or atoms,
at ijiscij>ililc (li-iaiiees. \\ hen this prin-
ciple unites ])arlicl<s iif the same kind, it is
called affinity of aggregation, cohesive af-
finity or cohesion. When it operates on
dissimilar particles, producing union, it is
distinguished as heterogeneous, and called
chimical attraction or affinity.
fVebster's Manual.
Elective attraction, in chiniistry, is other-
wise called affinity. It is that power in
substances, which elects or selects from a
mixture those elements with which they
have the strongest tendency to combine.
ATTRACT'IVE, a. [Fr. att'ractif]
1. Having the quality of attracting; drawuig
to ; as the attractive force of bodies.
2. Drawing to by moral influence ; alluring ;
inviting ; engaging ; as the attractive graces.
An attractive undertaking. Roscoe.
ATTRACT'IVELY, adv. With the power
of attracting, or drawing to.
ATTRACTIVENESS, n. The quaUty of
being attractive, or engaging.
ATTRACT'OR, n. The person or thing that
attracts.
ATTR A'HENT, a. [L. attrahens.] Drawing
to ; or as a noun, that which draws to.
Glanville.
ATTRAP', V. t. [Qu. Fr. drap, cloth.] To
clothe : to dress. [Not in use.] Barret.
ATTRECTA'TION, n. [L.attrectatio.] Fre-
quent handling. Diet.
ATTRIBUTABLE, a. [Sec AttHbute.]
That may be ascribed, imputed or attribu-
ted ; ascribable ; imputable ; as, the fault
is not attributable to the author.
ATTRIBUTE, v. t. [L. attribuo ; ad and
tribuo, to divide, to bestow, to assign ; tri-
his, a tribe, division or ward ; Fr. attribuer ;
Sp. atribuir, tribuir ; It. atiribuire. See
Tribe.]
1. To allot or attach, in contemplation ; to
ascribe ; to consider as belonging.
We attribute nothing to God, that contains a
contradiction. Tillatson.
2. To give as due ; to yield as an act of the
mind ; as, to attribute to God all the glory
of redemption.
3. To impute, as to a cause ; as, our misfor-
tunes are generally to be attributed to our
folhes or imprudence.
AT'TRIBUTE, n. Tliat which is attributed ;
that which is considered as belonging to,
or inherent in ; as, power and wisdom are
attributes of the Supreme Being: or a
quality determining something to be after
A U C
A U D
AUG
1, extension is an at-
tribute of body. Encyc.
'2. Quality ; characteristic disposition ; as
bravery and generosity in men. Bacon.
3. A tiling belonging to another ; an append-
ant ; as the arms of a warrior. In paint-
ing and sculpture, a symbol of office or
character, added to the principal figure :
as a club is the atlrihute of Hercules.
Encyc.
4. Reputation ; honor. Shak.
[JSTot a proper sense of this ^vorl{.]
ATTRIB'UTED, pp. Ascribed ; yielded a:
due ; imputed.
ATTRIB'UTING,/,'^/-. Ascribing: yielding
or giving as due ; imputing.
ATTRIBU'TION, n. The act of attributing,
or the quality ascribed ; commendation.
ATTRIB'UTIVE, a. Pertaining to or e.\-
pressing an attribute. Harris.
ATTRIB'UTIVE, ?i. In f!;rammar, a word
significant of an attribute ; as an adjec-
tive, verb or particle, which is the attribute
of a substance. Harris'' Hermes.
ATTRI'TE, a. [L. attritus, worn, of ad and
tero, to wear ; Gr. tttfiu. See Trite.] Worn
by rubbing or friction. Milton.
[See Trite, which is now generally used.]
ATTRI'TENESS.n. The bemg much worn.
Johnson.
ATTRI"TION, n. Abrasion ; the act of
wearing by friction, or rubbing substances
together.
The change of aliment is effected by the at-
trition of the stomach. Arbuthnot
9. The state of being worn. Johnson.
3. With divines, grief for sin arising from
fear of punishment ; the lowest degree of
repentance. Widlis.
ATTU'NE, «.«. [ofarf and tone. See Tone
and Tune.'] To make musical.
Vernal airs attune the trembling leaves.
Miltu,
2. To tune, or put in tune ; to adjust one
sound to another ; to make accordant ; as
to attune the voice to a harp.
ATTU'NED, pp. Made musical or harmoni
ous ; accommodated in sound.
ATTU'NING,ppr. Putting in tune ; making
musical, or accordant in sound.
ATWA'IN, adv. In twain ; asunder. Obs.
Shak.
ATWEE'N, «(£«. Between. Obs. Spenser.
ATWIXT', adv. Betwixt. Obs. Spenser.
ATWO, adv. In two. Ota. Chaucer.
AUBA'INE, n. auhain. [Fr. auhain, an alien.]
The droit d^auhaine, in France, is the right
of the king to the goods of an alien
dying within his jurisdiction, the king
standing in the place of the heirs.
AU'BURN,a. [This word is evidently formed
from brun, bruno, Fr. and It. brown, by a
transposition of the letters r and n, with a
prefix, auburn, for aubrun, from brennan,
burn, denoting the color rnade by scorch
ing.] Brown ; of a dark color.
His autmrn locks on either shoulder flowed.
Dtyden
AUCTION, n. [L. auctio, a public sale;
Eng. to haxok ; G. hoken ; properly, to cry
out. See Hawk.]
1. A public sale of property to the highest
bidder, and regularly, by a person licensed
and authorized for tiie purpose ; a vendue.
Contracts for services, sometunes, are sold
to the lowest bidder. By the Romans,
this species of sale was made by a crier,
stib hasta, under a spear stuck in the earth.
2. The thing sold at auction. Pope.
AU€'TIONARY, a. Belonging to an auc-
tion or public sale. Dryden,
AU€TIONEE'R, n. [L. auctionarius.]
The person who sells at auction ; a person
licensed by government to dispose of goods
or lands by pubUc sale to the highest bid
der.
AUCTIONEE'R, v. t. To sell at auction.
Coumer.
AUCUPA'TION, n. [L. aucupatio, from
aucupor, of avis and capio.] The act oi
practice of taking birds ; fowling ; bird
catching. [Little used.]
AUDA'CIOUS, a. [L. aiidax ; Fr. audacieux;
from L. audeo, to dare. The sense is, ad
vancing forward.]
1. Very bold or daring ; impudent ; contem
ning the restraints of law, religion or de-
corum ; used for bold in wickedness ; apphed
to persons ; as an audacious wretch.
2. Committed with, or proceeding from, dar
ing elFrontery, or contempt of law ; as an
audacious crime.
3. Bold ; spirited. Jonson.
AUDA'CIOUSLY, adv. In an impudent
manner ; with excess of boldness. Shak
AUDA'CIOUSNESS, n. The quality of be-
ing audacious ; impudence ; audacity.
Sandys,
AUDACITY, n. Boldness, sometimes in a
good seyise ; daring spirit, resolution or
confidence.
9. Audaciousness ; impudence ; in a bad
sense ; implying a contempt of law
moral restraint.
AUD'EANISM, n. Anthropomorjihism ; or
the doctrine of Audeus, who maintained
that God has a human shape ; fiom Gen.
i 26. Encyc.
AUD'IBLE, a. [L. audibilis, from audio, to
hear. This word is evidently connected
with the name of the ear; Gr. ova;, ovato;;
Vulg. Gr. av8ia. The verb is contracted
into Sp. oir ; Port, ouvir ; Fr. ouir, to hear.
Hence in law oyer, and from the French
oyez, hear ye, the barbarous O yes, of our
courts.]
That may be heard ; perceivable by the ear ;
loud enough to be heard ; as an audible
voice or whisper.
AUD'IBLENESS, n. The quahty of being
audible.
AUD'IBLY, adv. In an audible manner ; in
a manner so as to be heard.
AUD'IENCE, n. The act of hearing, or at-
tending to sounds.
His bold discourse had audience. Milton.
2. Admittance to a hearing ; pubhc recep-
tion to an interview ; a ceremony observed
in courts, or by official characters, when
embassadors or applicants to men in office
are permitted to appear and state their
business in person.
3. An auditory ; an assembly of hearers.
4. In the Spanish dominions, a court ; as the
audience of Seville, which is a court of
oyer and terminer ; and the audience pre-
torial, in the Indies, which is a high court
of judicature. The word in Spain also
signifies certain law-officers, appointed to
institute a judicial uiquiry. Span. Dirt.
5. In England, a court held by the arch-
bishop of Canterbury, on the subject of
consecrations, elections, institutions, mar-
riages, &c, Encyc.
AUD'IENT,n. A hearer. lM.tinuse.]
AUD'IT, n. [h. audit, he hears.] An exam-
ination of an account or of accounts, with
a hearing of the parties concerned, by
proper officers, or persons appointed for
that purpose, who compare the charges
with the vouchers, examine witnesses, and
state the balance.
2. The result of such an examination, or ac-
count as adjusted by auditors; a final
account. Hooker.
AUD'IT, V. t. To examine and adjust an ac-
count or accounts, by proper officers, or by
persons legally authorized for the purpose :
as, to audit the accounts of a treasurer, or
of parties who have a suit depending in
court.
AUD'IT-HOUSE, n. An appendage to a ca-
thedral, in which the business belonging
to it is transacted. Wheler.
AUD'ITIVE, a. Having the power of hear-
ing- Cotgrave.
AUDITOR, [L.] A hearer ; one who at-
tends to hear a discourse.
2. A person appointed and authorized to ex-
amine an account or accounts, compare
the charges with the vouchers, examine
the paities and witnesses, allow or reject
charges, and state the balance. It is usual
with courts to refer accounts, on which an
action is brought, to auditors for adjust-
ment, and their rejjort, if received, is the
basis of the judgment.
In England, there are officers who are aud-
itors of courts; as the auditors of the Ex-
chequer, of the receipts, &c.
AUD'ITORSHIP, n. The office of auditor.
Johnson.
AUD'ITORY, a. That has the power of
hearing ; pertaining to the sense or organs
of hearing; as, the aurfitoTO nerve.
AUD'ITORY, n. [L. auditonum.] An audi-
ence ; an assembly of hearers, as in a
church or lecture room.
2. A place or apartment where discourses
are dehvered. In ancient churches, the
nave, where the hearers stood to be in-
structed.
3. A bench on which a judge sits to hear
causes. Encyc.
AUD'ITRESS, n. A female hearer.
Milton.
AUF, n. A fool ; a simpleton. [See Oaf]
AUGE'AN, a. The Augean stable, in Gre-
cian mythology, is represented as belong-
ing to Augeas or Augias, one of the
Argonauts, and afterwards king of Ehs.
This prince kept a great number of oxen,
in a stable which was never cleansed, un-
til Hercules undertook the task ; a task
which it seemed impracticable to execute.
Hence the Augean stable came to repre-
sent what is deemed impracticable, or a
place which has not, for a long time, been
clean-sed. Lempriere.
AUG'ER, n. [D. avegaar. The Saxon word
is nafe-gar or naue-gar, from nafa, the nave
of a wheel, and gar, a tool or a borer. It
is probable that the real word is naugar,
corrupted.]
An instrument for boring large holes, chiefly
used by carpenters, joiners, cabinet mak-
AUG
ers, wheelwiiglits and sliipwiiglits. It
consists of an iron blade, ending in a steel
Ijit, with a handle placed at right angles
with tlie blade. Augers, made with a
straight channel or groove, in some places,
are called pod-augers ; the modern augers,
with spiral channels, arc called screiv-
augers.
AUG'ER-HOLE, n. A hole made by an
auger.
AUGHT, 71. aut. [Sax. atviht, aid, or oioiht,
ohml, olil, from ttfiht, wight, a creature, an-
imal, thing, any thing. 'I'his xrihi m-xnus
to be our ivight and icliil ; mid ( .■■ns|H'(t
the L. qui, qua, quod, quid, whal, to be the
same word varied in ortliograjihy. Tliis
word .should not be written ought.]
I. Any thing, indefinitely.
But go, my son, and see if aught be wanting.
Addisoti.
0. Any part, the smallest , a jot or tittle.
There liiiled not aught of'any good thing
which the Lord had spoken. Josh. xxi.
AU'(SITE, n. [Gr. atyyr, briffhtness. Plin.
37,10.]
A mineral called by HaOy, pyroxene ; oflen
found ill distinct crystals. Its secondary
forms are all six or eight-sided prisms.
Sometimes it ajijiears in hemitrope crys-
tals. It has a foliated structure, and is
harder than Iiornblend. The varieties
are common augile, sahlite, fassaite, and
coccolite. The "omphacite of Werner ap-
pears also to lie a vjiriety ; and the com-
mon augite, found near the lake Baikal,
has been called Baikalite. Cleaveland.
Werner divides augite into four sub-species;
granular, foliaterl, conchoidal, and com-
mon ; and there is a variety called slaggy
augite.
AU(iIT'l€, a. Pertaining to augite ; resem-
bling augite, or partaking of its nature and
characters. Cooper.
AUGMENT', V. t. [Fr. augmenter ; L. aug
mento, augmentum, from augeo, auxi, to
increase ; Gr. milu, oslu. It seems to be
the Eng. to loax, or to eke ; Sax. eacan.]
\. To increase ; to enlarge in size or extent ;
to swell ; to make bigger ; a.s, to augment
an army, by reinforcement ; rain augments
a sti'eam.
a. To increase or swell the degree, amount
or magnitude ; as, impatience augments an
AUGMENT', V. i. To increase ; to grow
larger ; as, a stream augments by rain.
AUG'MENT, ji. Increase ; enlargement by
addition ; state of increase.
3. In philology, a syllable prefixed to a word
or an increase of the quantity of the ini-
tial vowel.
AUGMENT'ABLE, a. That may be in-
creased; capable of augmentation.
. „„.,^ ft^alsh's Jlmer. Review
AUGMENTA'TION, n. The act of increas-
ing, or making lai-ger, by addition,#xpan-
sion, or dilatation.
2. The state of being increased or enlarged,
3. The thing added by which a thing is en-
larged.
I. In nmstc, a dou!)ling the value of the notes
of the subject of a fugue or canon.
Bushy
.'bigmentation Court, in England, a couri
erected by 27 Hen. VIII., to augment thi
revenues of the crown, by the" suppres-H
Vol. I.
AUG
sion ofnionasteries. It was long ago dis-
solved. Encyc
In heraldry, augmentation consists in ad-
ditional charges to a coat-armor, often as
marks of honor, borne on the escutcheon
ol- a canton. Ena/c.
AUGMENT'yVTIVE, a. Having the quality
or power of augmenting.
AUGMENT'EK, n. He that augments.
AUGMENTING, ;);)r. Increasing; enlarg-
ing.
AU'GUR, n. [L. augur. The first syllable
is from avis, a fowl ; but the meaning and
origin of the last syllable are not obvious.]
1. Among the Romans, an officer whose duty
was to foretell future events by the sing-
ing, chattering, flight and feeding of birds^
There was a college or community of
augurs, originally three in number, and
afiirwards nine, four patricians, and five
plclici.uis. 'I'licy bore a staffer wand, and
«i Tc- IrI(I ill ;;ieat respect. Encyc.
a. One who pixieiids to foretell future events
by oniei
We all know that augur cannot look at augur
without laughing. Buckminster.
AU'GUIl, 1'. i. To guess ; to conjecture by
signs or omens ; to prognosticate.
AU'GUR, V. t. To predict or foretell; as, to
OMg-urill success.
AU'GUR.\L, a. [L. auguralis.] Pertaining
to an augur, or to i)rediction by the ap-
pearance of birds. The Romans had their
augural stall" and augural books.
AU'GURATE, v. i. To judge by augury
to predict. [Little used.] Warburton.
AUGURA'TION, n. The practice of au-
gury, or the foretelling of events by the
chattering and flight of birds. It may be
used for prediction by other signs and
omens.
AUGURED,
. Conjectured by omens ;
An augur. [J^ot legitimate.]
Shak.
AUGU'RIAL, a. Relating to augurs.
Brown.
AU'GURIZE, V. t. To au-rur. [JVot in use.]
AU'GUROUS, a. Predicting ; foretelhng ;
foreboding.
AU'GURY, n. [L. atigurium.] The art or
practice of foretelhng events by the flight
or chattering of birds.
2. All omen ; prediction ; prognostication.
Skak. Druden.
AUGUST', a. [L. augtcstus. The fii-st syl-
lable of this word is probably fi-om the
root of augeo, or of awe.]
Grand; magnificent; majestic; impressing
-■ve ; inspiring reverence.
The Trojan chief appeared, august in visage.
Bryden.
It is related that this epithet was first' con-
ferred by the Roman senate upon Octa-
vius, after confirming him in the sovereign
power.
AU'GUST, n. The eighth month of the'
year, containing thirty-one days. The old
Roman name was Sextilis, the sixth month
from March, the month in which the prim-
itive Romans, as well as Jews, began the'
year. The name was changed to August
in honor of the Emperor Octavius Augus-j
tus, on account of his victories, and" hisj
entering on his first consulate in tliati
"^o'ltli- Gebelin.l
16
A U R
r\UGUST'AN, a. Pertaining to Augustus -.
as the Augustan age.
2. The Augustan confession, drawn up ai
Augusta or Augsburg, by Luther and Me-
lancthon, in 1530, contains the principle.^
of the protestants, and their reasons for
separating from the Romish church.
AUGUSTIN'IANS, „. Those divines, who
(mm St. Aiigustin, maintain that grace is
effectual from its nature, absolutely and
morally, not relatively and gradually.
AJJGUST'INS, } Anorderofmo"n'?s;
AUGUSTIN'IANS, ^ "• so called from St!
Augustin. They originally were hermits,
and called Austin friars. They were con-
gregated into one body by Pope Alexan-
der IV., under Lanfi-anc, in 1256. They
clothe in black, and make one of the four
orders of mendicants. Enciic
AUGUST'NESS, n. Dignity of mien; gran-
deur ; magnificence.
AUK, n. [contracted fi-om Alca.] The al-
ca, a genus of aquatic fowls, of the order
of ansers, including the northern penguin
or great auk, the little auk or black and
white diver, the puffin, &c.
AULA'RIAN, n. [L. attla, a hall.] At Ox-
ford, the meinhcr of a hall, distinguishei!
.fi'°'?i a collegian. Todd.
AULET'IC, a. [Gr. a.v>.r;Tixo(, from ovXoj, ;;
pipe.]
1 ertaimng to pipes or to a pipe. [Littlf
used.]
AU'Ll€, <r. [L. aidicus, from aula, a hall.
court or jialace ; Gr. av%r,.]
Pertaining to a royal court. The epithet is
probably confined to the German Emjiire,
where it is used to designate certain courts
or officers composing the courts. The
aulic council is composed of a president,
who is a catholic, a vice-chancellor and
eighteen counsellors, nine of whom are
protestants, and nine catholics. They al-
ways follow the Emperor's court,- and de-
cide without an appeal. This council
ceases at the death of the Emperor.
The Aulic, in some European universi-
ties, is an act of a young divine, on being
admitted a doctor of divinity. It begins
by a harangue of the chancellor address-
ed to the young doctor, after which he re-
ceives the cap and presides at the Aulic or
disputation. Encyc
AUMA'IL, V. t. [Fr. email.;] To figure or
variegate. [ATot used.] Spejiser.
AUMBRY. [SeeAmhy.] ^
AUME, n. A Dutch measure for Rhenish
ine, containing 40 gallons. Encyc.
AUNE, n. [A contraction of aulne, uina.]
A French cloth measure, but of ilifferent
lengths in different parts of the country
At Rouen, it is an Eng. ell ; at Calais,
1. 52 ; at Lyons, 1. OGl ; at Paris, 0. 95.
*AUNT, n. [L. amita, contracted. Qu. Fr.
tante.]
The sister of one's father or mother, coiTela-
tive to nephew or niece.
AURA, n. [L. from Heb.iN', a stream ; Gr.
aupa. See Air.]
Literally, a breeze, or gentle current of air,
but used by Enghsh writers for a stream
of fine particles flowing from a bodv, a.<?
effluvia, aroma, or odor ; au exhalation.
A U R
A U S^
A U S
■VlJ'llATE, n. [Supposed to be from aurum,
gold.]^
A sort of pear.
VII'RATE, n. [L. aurvm, gold ; Fr. or; from
the Heb. and CIi. 11N, light, fire, and to
shine, from its color ; Ir. or ; W. aur ;
Corn, our ; Basque urrea ; Arm. mir, gold.]
\ combination of the oxyd of gold with a
base; as auraie of potash.
Lavoisier. Fourcroy.
AU'RATED, a. Resembling gold.
AURE'LIA, »!. [from aurum, or avr, gold,
from its color. Pee Clir;isfilis.]
In natural histori/, tin' tt\ in|>h av clirysalis of
an insect ; or the loini <>!' im animal, like
a worm or maggot, cnvcrc'il with a hard
ish pellicle, and in a state ot' seeming in
sensibility. From this state, it changes t(
a moth, butterfly or other winged insect.
Encyc.
AURE'LIAiyf, a. Like or pertaining to the
aurelia. ' Humphreys.
AU'RI€, a. [from mtrum, gold.] Pertaining
to gold. The auric acid is a saturated
combination of gold and oxygen.
Fourcroy.
AU'RieLE, n. [L. auricula, dim. from au-
ris, the ear.]
1. The external ear, or that part which is
prominent from the head.
•3. The auricles of the heart are two muscu-
lar bags, situated at the base, serving as
diverticula for the blood, during the d
tole. They resemble the auricle of
ear, and cover the ventricles of the heart,
like caps. Their systole or contraction
corresponds to the diastole of the heart,
and vice versa. They receive the blood
from the veins, and communicate it to the
lentricles. Encyc. Chambers.
\URI€'ULA, n. That species of primrose,
called, from the shape of its leaves, bear'
ear.
AURI€'ULAR, a. [from L. auricula, the
(. Pertaining to the ear ; within the sense of
hearing; told in tlie ear ; &s auricular (
fession.
*?. Recngnizi'd by the ear; known by the
sense of hearing ; as auricular evidence,
:!. Trailitiiinai ; known by rejiort ; as auric-\
uliir traditions. Bacon.l
AURIC IJI.ARLY, adv. In a secret man-
ner ; by way of whisper, or voice adcbess-
ed to the ear.
AURI€'ULATE, a. Shaped like the ear.
Botany.
VURle'ULATED, a. Having large or elon-
gated cars ; as the auriculated vulture.
Ed. Encyc.
AURIF'EROUS, a. [L. aurifer, from aurum}
gold, and /ero, to produce.]
■That yields or produces gold ; as auriferous
sands or streams. Thomson.
AURI'GA, n. [L. ofaurea, orea, a head-stall,
a bridle, and rego, to govern or manage.]
Literally, the director of a ear, or wagon.
In astronomy, the wagoner, a constella-
tion in the northern hemisphere, consist-
ing of 23 stars, according to Tycho ; 40,
according to Hevelius ; and 68, in the Brit-
ish catalogue. Encyc.
3. The fourth lobe of the liver ; also a band-
age for the sides. Ouincy.
AURIGA'TION, n. [L. auriga.] The act
' practice of driving horses harnessed to
AURIPIGMENTUM. [See Orpiment]
AU'RISCALP, n. [L. auris, ear, and scalpo,
to scrape.]
An instrument to clean the ears; used also
operations of surgery on the ear.
AU RIST, n. [L. auris, ear.] One skilled
in disorders of the ear, or who professes
to cure them. Ash.
AU'ROCIIS, ». [G. wroc/is, the ure-ox,urus
and ox.]
A species of ox, whose bones are found in
gravel and alluvial soil. . J. of Science.
AURO'RxV, n. [L. aurora; Sans, anui ; Ch.
and Heb. 11X Ught, and "ly to raise.]
1. The rising hght of the morning ; the
dawn of day, or morning twilight.
2. The goddess of the morning, or twilight
deified by fancy. The poets represented
her ii> iiMfii; ^iiit oi'tiie ocean, in achariot,
witli r.i~\ lin;M I- .h()|)i)iMg gentle dew.
.3. A ^|" lir- oliiijw liiot. Johnson.
duroia Boixalis, or lumen borcak ; northern
twilight. This species of hght usually ap-
pears in streams, ascending towards the
zenith from a dusky line a few degrees
above the horizon. Sometimes it assmnes
a wavy appearance, as ui America, in
March 1782, when it overspread the whole
hemisphere. Sometimes it appears in de-
tached places ; at other times, it almost
covers the hemisphere. As the streams
of light have a tremulous motion, they are
called, in the Shetland isles, merry dan-
cers. They assume all shapes, and a va-
riety of colors, from a pale red or yellow
to a deep red or blood color ; and in the
northern latitudes, serve to illuminate the
earth and cheer the gloom of long winter
nights. This hght is sometimes near the
earth. It is said to have been seen be-
tween the spectator and a distant moun-
tain.
AURO'RAL, a. Belonging to the aurora, or
to the nortliern lights ; resembling the twi-
light. jE. Goodrich.
AU'RUM, n. [L. See Jlurate.] Gold.
Aurum fidminans, fulminating gold, is gold
dissolved in aqua-regja or nitro-muriatic
acid, and precipitated by volatile alkali.
This precipitate is of a brown yellow, or
orange color, and when exposed to a mod-
erate heat, detonizes with considerable
noise. It is a compo luid of the oxyd of gold
and annnonia. _ Fourcroy.
Aurum mosaicum, or musivum, a sparkling
gold-colored substance, from an amalgam
of ([uick-silverand tin, mixed with sulphur
and sal amnioniac, set to sublime. The
UifiTui y ami part of tlie suliihur unite in-
ainnifiiiiai', ami Iravi's the aur nosai-
cuiii at the buttoiii. It is a sulphurct of
tin, and is used as a pigment.
Encyc. J\/'icholson.
AUSeULTA'TION, n. [L. from aiitifi.ouse,
Gr. ov!, ova.!, the ear, and cultus, from colo,
to use or exercise.]
1. The act of listening, or hearkening to.
a. In medidne, a method of distinguishing
diseases, particularly in the thorax, by ob-
serving the sounds in the part, generally
by ineans of a tube applied to the surface.
Lacnnec.
AU'SPICATE, v. I. [L. auspicor.] To give
a favorable turn to ; a sense taken from
the Roman practice of taking the auspi-
cium, or inspection of birds, before they
undertook any important business.
Burke's Reflections.
2. To foreshow. B. Jonson.
a To beghi. Burke.
AU'SPICE, AU'SPICES, n. [L. auspicium,
I of avis, a bird, and specio, to inspect.]
A. The omens of an undertaking, drawn
from birds ; the same as augury, which
2. Protection; favor shown; patronage ; in-
fluence. In this sense the word is gene-
rally plural, auspices.
AUSPI"CIOUS, a. [^ee Auspice.] Having
omens of success, or favorable appearan
ces ; as an auspicious beginning.
3. Prosperous ; fortunate ; applied to persons .
as auspicious chief. Dryden.
3. Favorable ; kind ; propitious ; applied to
perscms or things ; as an auspicious mis-
tress. Shak.
AUSPI'CIOUSLY, adv. With favorable
omens ; happily ; prosperously ; favora-
bly ; propitiously.
AUSPI"CIOUSNESS, n. A state of fair
promise ; prosperity.
AIJS'TER, n. [L.] the south wind. Pope.
AUSTE'RE,a. [L.austerus.] Severe ; harsh ;
rigid ; stern ; applied to persons ; as an
austere master ; an austere look.
9- Sour ; harsh ; rough to the taste ; applied
to things; as austere fruit, or wine.
AUSTE'RELY, adv. Severely; rigidly;
harshly.
AUSTE'RENESS, Ji. Severity in maimers?
harshness ; austerity.
2. Roughness in taste".
AUSTERITY, n. [L. austeritas.} Severity
of manners or life ; rigor ; strictness ;
harsh discipline. It is particularly appli-
ed to the mortifications of a monastic Ufe,
which are called austerities.
AUS'TRAL, a. [L. australis, from austere
the south wind, or south.]
Southern ; lying or being in the south ; as
mistral land ; austral signs.
AUSTRALA'SIA, n. [austral and Asia.] \
name given to the countries situated to the
south of Asia ; comprehending New-Hol-
land, New Guinea, New Zealand, &c.
Pinkerton.
AUS'TRIAN, rt. [from Austria. This word
is formed with the Latin termination, ia,
country, trom (Estreich, the German name,
which "is eastern rick, eastern kingdom, so
called ill reference to the western domin-
ions of Charlemagne.]
Pertaining to Austria, a circle or district of
Germany, and an empire, Ijing on the
Damibe north of the gulf of Venice.
AUS'TRIAN, n. A native of Austria.
tVUS'TRINE, a. [L. axislrinus, from auster,
sou*.]
South ; southerly ; southern. Johnson.
AUS'TROiMANCY, n. [from auster, the
south wind, and Gr. juotrfio, divination.]
Soothsaying, or prediction of future events,
from observations of the^vinds. Encyc,
Auterfoits, a word composed of the French
autre, another, and foils, fois, time, intro-
duced into law language, imder the Nor-
man princes of England. It signifies, at
another time, formerly ; as auterfoits
A U T
A U T
A U T
(icquil, auterfoils allaird, auterfoils convict,
Jbrinerly acquitted, attainted or convicted,
which being specially pleaded, is a bar to
a second prosecution for the same offense.
Blackstone.
AUTHEN'TIC, I [Fr. authentique ; It.
AUTHEN'TI€AL, ^ "• and Sp. nuien&o;
Low L. autkcnticus, from the Gr. avOivt txo;,
I'rom wveivTTji, an author or maker; one
who doo.s any Ihingby his own right ; al.<o
one who kills himself. The first syllable
i.** from avrof, which is probably from tlie
loot of aulkor, audor ; and the sense of
si'lf-murderer seems to indicate that the
other constituent of the word is from Ofiio,
Oiivio, to kill, but the primary sense of which
is, to strike, to drive or thrust with the
hand, &c. In tlie word before ns, the
sense is to throw, or to set ; hence millim-
tlc is set, fi.xeil, made or made certain I)y
tlie author, by one's own self.]
• . [laving a genuine original or authority,
in opposition to that which is false, ficti
tious, or counterfeit ; being what it pin-
jiorts to be ; genuine ; true ; applied to
things ; as an authentic ])aper or register
9. Of approved authority ; as an authentic
writer.
AUTHEN'TI€ALLY, adv. In an authentic
manner ; with the requisite or genuine au-
thority. Brown.
AUTHEN'TICALNESS, n. The quality of
being authentic ; genuineness; the quality
of being of good authority ; authenticity.
[The latter word is genenilli/ itsed.]
Barrow.
AUTHENTICATE, v.t. To render au-
thentic ; to give authority to, by the proof,
attestation, or formalities, required by law,
or sufficient to entitle to credit.
The king serves only as a notary to authenti-
cate the choice of judges. Burke
AUTHEN'TI€ATED, pp. Rendered au-
thentic ; having received the forms wliich
prove genuineness.
AUTIIEN'TI€ATING,;);)r. Giving author-
ity by the necessary signature, seal, attes-
tation or other forms.
AUTHENTICATION, n. The act of au-
thenticating; the giving of authority by
the necessary formalities.
AUTHENTIC'ITY, n. Genuineness; the
quality of being of genuine original ; as
the authenticity of the scriptures.
AUTHEN'TI€NESS,n. Authenticity. {Rare-
ly tised.]
All'THOR, n. [L. auctor; Ir. ughdar ; W.
awdur; Fr.auteur; Sp. autor; It. autore.
The Latin word is from the root ofaugeo,
to increase, or cause to enlarge. The pri-
mary sense is one who brings or causes to
come fortli.]
1. One who produces, creates, or brings into
being ; as, God is the author of the Uni
verse.
3. The beginner, former, or first mover ofj
any thing ; hence, the efficient cause of a
thing. It is appropriately applied to one
who composes or writes a book, or origi-
nal work, and in a more general sense, to
one whose occupation is to compose and
write books ; opposed to compiler or
translator.
AU'THOR, V. t. To occasion ; to effect.
[JVot Kserf.]
AU'THORESS, n. A female author.
AUTHOR'ITATIVE, a. Having due au-
thority. Pearson.
2. Having an air of authority ; positive; per-
cmplorv. Wolton.
AUTHORITATIVELY, adv. In an author-
itative manner ; with a show of authority ;
with due authority.
AUTHOR ITATIVENESS, n. The quality
of being nullioritalivo ; an acting by au-
AlITIIOUri'V, ». [1,. rnulwUa^.]
1. Legal power, or a right to command or
to act ; as the axithority of a prince over
subjects, and of ))arents o\er children.
Power; rule; sway.
2. The power derived fi-om opinion, respect
or esteem ; iiithicncc of cliarnctcr or ollicc ;
credit ; as llic (iiithorili/ ot' i\'^e or (■.\aiii|)lc,
which is s-liliMiittcd tn or respected, in some
measure, as a law, or rule of action. That
which is claimed in justification or sup-
port of opinions and measures.
3. Testimony; M'itness; or the person who
testifies ; as, the Gospels or the evangel-
ists are our authorities for the miracles of
Christ.
4. Weight of testimony ; credibility ; as a
historian of no authority.
5. Weight of character ; respectability; dig-
nity ; as a magistrate of great authority in
the city.
C. Warrant ; order ; permission.
By what authority dost thou these things.
Mat. xxi. Acts ix.
7. Precedents, decisions of a court, official
declarations, respectable opinions and
sayings, also the books that i-ontain them,
are called authorities, as they influence the
opinions of others ; and in law, the deci
sions of supreme courts have a binding
fort'e upon inferior courts, and are called
authorities.
8. Government; the persons or the body ex
ercising power or command ; as the "local
authorities of the states.
Marshall. 1 Pet. iii.
In Connecticut, the justices of the peace
are denominated the civil authority.
AUTHORIZATION, n. The act of giving
authority, or legal power ; establishment
by authority.
AU'THORIZE, v.t. [Yr. autoriser ;
torizar.']
1. To give authority, warrant or legal power
to ; to give a right to act ; to empower ; as,
to authorize commissioners to settle the
boundary of the state.
2. To make legal ; as, to authorize a mar-
iage.
3. To establish by authority, as by usage, or
public opinion ; as an authorized idiom of
language.
4. To give authority, credit or reputation to;
as to authorize a report, or opinion.
5. To justify ; to support as right. Suppress
desires which reason does not authorize.
AU'THORIZED, pp. Warranted by right ;
supported by authority ; derived from le-
gal or proper authority ; having power or
authority.
AU'THORIZlNG,/i;)r. Giving authority to,
or legal power, credit, or permission.
AU'THORSHIP, n. [atdhor and ship.] The
quality or state of being an author.
Shaftesbury.
AUTOBIOG'RAPIIY, n. [Gr. ovro;, au.i
biography.]
Biograjihy or memoirs of one's life written
by himself. Ualsh.
AUTOC'RASY, n. [Gr. avra, self, and xpo-
foj, power, or scparju, to govern, to take
or hold. ]
Independent power; supreme, uncontrolled,
unlimited authority or right of governing^
in a single person.
AU'TOCRAT ) An absolute prince
AU'TOCRATER, } n. or sovereign ; a ru-
AU'TOCRATOR, ^ ler or monarch who
holds and exercises the ])owers of govern-
ment by inherent right, not subject to re-
striction ; a title assumed by the Emperors
of Russia. Tooke.
2. This litle was sometimes conferred by
the Atlicnians on their embassadors and
general.*, when invested with unlimited
powers. Encyc.
AUTOCRATIC, > Pertaining to au
AUTOCR.\T ICAL, ^ "• tocracy; absolute ;
holding independent and unlimited ])owers
of government. Eton.
AU'TOCRATRIX, n. A female sovereign,
who is independent and absolute ; a title
given to the Empresses of Russia. Tookt.
Auto dafe. [Port, act of faith.]
1. In the Romish church, a so\emn day held by
the Inquisition, for the punishment of her-
etics, and the absolution of the innocent,
accused. Span. Auto defc. Encyc.
2. A sentence given by the Inquisition, and
read to a criminal, or heretic, on the scaf-
fold, just before he is executed. Sp. Diet
,3. The session of the court of inquisition.
AU'TOGRAPH, ? [Gr. arros, self, and
lAUTOG'RAPHY, \ "• ypo^, writing.]
A person's own hand writing ; an original
manuscript.
AUTOGRAPHIC, ? Pertaining to an
AUTOGRAPH'ICAL, 5 "• autograph, oi
one's own hand writing.
AUTOM'ALITE, n. A mineral called b>
Haily, spinelle zincifere. It is classed with
the spinel ruby. It occurs imbedded in
talcky slate ; the color, a dark green. It
is crystalized in regular octahedrons, or in
tetrahedrons with truncated angles. It is
harder than quartz, but not so hard as
spinel. It is sometimes called gahnitCj
from Galiu, its discoverer.
Cyc. Thomson. Cleavdand.
AU'TOMATH, n. [Gr. wrof, and iJL0.v9a.vu, to
learn.] One who is self taught. Young.
AUTOMAT'IC, \ Belongine to an au-
AUTOMAT'ICAL, \ "' tomaton ;''liaving the
power of raovuig itself; mechanical.
Johnson. Stewart.
2. Not voluntary ; not depending on the will.
Dr. Hartley has demonstrated that all our
motions are originally automatic, and gen-
erally produced by the action of tangible
things on the muscular fiber.
AUTOM'ATON, n. [Gr. avro/iaroi ; ovfoj,
self, and ftau, moveo, nwtus. The Greek-
plural, automata, is sometimes used ; but
the regular English plural, automatons, is
preferable.]
A self-moving machine, or one which moves
by invisible springs.
AUTOM'ATOUS, a. Having in itself the
power of motion. Brown.
AUTON'OMOUS, a. [Infra.^ Independent.
A V A
A V E
AVE
in goveniineiit ; having the right of sell
goveiniiipiit. Mifford.
AUTON'OMY, n. [Gr. orr'os, self, and 10^05,
law, rule.]
This word is rarely used. It signifies the
power or right of self government, wheth-
er in a city which elects its own magis-
trates and makes its own laws, or in an
individual who lives according to his own
will. Johnson. En eye.
AU'TOPSY, n. [Gr. avta^M, orro;, self,
and (JiJ/is, sight.] Personal observation ; oc-
ular view. Ray.
AUTOP'TICAL, a. Seen with one's own
eyes. Johnson.
AUTOP'TIeALLY, adv. By means of ocu-
lar view, or one's own observation.
Broion.
[Autopsy and its derivatives are rarely used.]
AlI'TUiMN, n. aulum. [L. autuinnus, " Ety-
mon iimltuiii torquetur." Misworth.]
Tlic third siMxjn of the yeai-, or the season
hitwccii siiiuiiier and winter. Astronom-
ically, it begins at the equinox, when the
Sim enters libra, and ends at the winter
solstice ; but in popular language, autumn
comprises September, October and No-
vember.
The golden pomp of mihimn. Irving.
AUTUM'NAL, a. Belonging to autumn ;
produced or gathered in autumn ; as au-
tumnal fruits.
AUTUM'NAL, n. A plant that flowers in
Autumn. The autumnals form the third
division of plants in Du Pas' ai-rangc-
ment. Milne.
AUXE'SIS, n. [Gr. aAiir^nn, increase.]
fn rhetoric, a figure by which any thing is
magnified too much ; an increasing, or ex-
oriiation, when, for amplification, a more
grave and magnificent word is put for the
proper word. Smith. Eneyc.
AMXIL'IAR, I [L. auxiliaris, from aux-
\UXf L'lARY, i "• ilium, aid, auxilior, to
aid.]
Helping ; aiding ; assisting ; subsidiary ; con-
ferring aid or support by joint exertion,
influence or use ; as auxiliary troops.
AUXIL'IARIES, n. plu. Foreign troops m
the service of nations at war.
AUXILIARY, n. A helper; an assistant;
a confederate in some action, enterprise
or undertaking.
3. In grammar, a verb which helps to form
the modes and tenses of other verbs ; as,
have, be, may, can, do, must, shall and ivill,
in English ; etre and avoir, in French ;
avcre and essere, in Italian ; estar and ha-
ber, in Spanish.
,AVA'IL, V. t. [Fr. valoir, to be worth ; L.
valeo, to be strong or able, to profit, to be
of force or authority ; Sp. valer, to be val-
uable, to avail or prevail, to be binding,
to be worth ; It. valere, to be worth, to be
■useful; Eng. MJeZi; Ar. 3.J balla. The
primary sense is, to stretch or extend
whence strength, value.]
1. To profit one's self ; to turn to advantage
followed by the pronouns, myself, thyself,
himself, herself, ourselves, yourselves, them-
selves, with of before the thing used ; as,
let him avail himself of \ns license.
2. To assist or profit ; to effect the oliject, or
bring to a succesful issue; as, what will
skill avail us against numbers. Artifices
will not avail the sinner in the day of
judgment.
AVA'lL, V. i. To be of use, or advantage
to answer the purpose ; as, strength with-
out judgment will rarely avail. Generally
it signifies to have strength, force or effica-
cy suflScient to accomplish the object ; as,
the plea in bar must avail, that is, be suf-
ficient to defeat the suit; this scheme
will not avail; medicines will not a«ai7 to
check the disease ; suppositions, without
proof, will not avail.
AVA'lL, n. Profit ; advantage towards suc-
cess ; benefit ; as, labor without econo-
my is of little avail. It seems usually to
convey the idea of eflicacioiis aid or
strength.
AVA'ILABLE, a. Profitable ; advanta-
geous ; having efiicacy ; as, a measure is
more or less available. .Mcrbury.
2. Having sufiicient power, force, or efiicacy,
for the object ; valid ; as an available plea.
Laws are available by consent. Hooker.
AVA'ILABLKXKS^;, /-. Power or efiicacy,
in proiiii.tiii;; ;ii] cii.l ill Miw.
2. Conqirtvnt powir; Iciral force; validity;
as the ucuilnUtnLSS uf a title.
AVAILABLY, adv. Powerfully; profita-
bly ; advantageously ; validly ; efiica-
ciously.
AVA'ILING, pp. Tm-ning to profit : using
to advantage or cflTect.
AVA'ILMENT, n. Profit ; efficacy ; success-
ful issue. [^Little used.l
AVA'ILS, Ji. plu. Profits or proceeds. It is
used in New-England, for the proceeds of
goods sold, or for rents, issues or profits.
AVALANCHE, ^ [Fr. from avaler, to
AVALANGE, \^- fall.]
A snow-slip ; a vast body of snow sliding
down a mountain.
AVANT', n. The front of an army. [Xoi
used.'] [See Van.']
AVANT'GUARD, n. The van or advanced
body of an army. [See Vanguard.]
AVANT'URINE, n. A variety of quartz
rock containing spangles. Ure.
AVARICE, n. "[L. avaritia, from avarus,
from aveo, to covet.]
\n inordinate desire of gaining and posses-
sing wealth ; covetousness ; greediness or
insatiable desire of gain. Shak.
Avarice sheds a blasting influence over the
finest afl'ections and sweetest comforts of man-
kind. Buekminster.
AVARP'CIOUS, a. Covetous ; greedy of
gain ; immoderately desirous of accumu-
lating propertv.
AVARL'CIOUSLY, adv. Covetously ; witli
inordinate desire of gaining wealth.
Goldsmith
AVARI"CIOUSNESS, n. The quahty of
being avaricious ; insatiable or inordinate
passion for property.
AV'AROUS, a. Covetous. [JVo< used.]
Gower.
AVAST, exclam. [Ger. 6nsto, stop ; bastant,
sufficient ; from It. taste, enough ; Per.
bas, enough.]
In seamen's language, cease ; stop ; stay.
AVAUNT', excl. [W. ibant, begone.]
Begone ; depart ; a word of contempt or ab-
horrence, equivalent to the phrase, " Get
thee behind me."
A'VE MARY, n. [from the first words of G
briel's salutation to the Virgin Maiy ; L-
ave, hail.]
A form of devotion in the Romish Church'.
Their chaplets and rosaries are divided
into a certain number of ave-marys and
paternosters.
AVENA'CEOUS, a. [L. avenaceus, from
avena, oats ; Fr. avoine.]
Belonging to, or partaking of the nature of
oats.
AV'ENAgE, n. [Fr.] A certain quantity of
oats paid by a tenant to a landlord in lieu
of rent or other duty. Spelman.
Iv'ENOR;!"- [Norm. French.]
In English feudal law, an officer of the king's'
stable whose duty was to provide oats.
AVENgE, v. t. avenj'. [Fr. venger ; Sp. ven-
gar ; Port, vingar ; L. vindex. In Sax.-
ivinnan, to contend, to gain, to min.]
1. To take satisfaction for an injury by pun-
ishing the injuring party ; to vindicate by
inflicting pain or evil on the wrong doer.
Shall not God avenge his own elect. Luke
xvili.
Avenge me of my adversary. Id. v. 3.
In these examples, avenge implies that tlie-
evil inflicted on the injuring party is a sat-
isfaction or justice done to the injured, and
the party vindicated is the object of the
verb.
2. To take satisfaction for, by pain or pun-
ishment inflicted on the injuruig party.
He will avenge the blood of his servants^
Deut. xx.\ii.
Here the thing for which satisfaction is'
taken is the object of the verb.
3. To revenge. To avenge and revenge, rad-
ically, are synonymous. But modern
usage inclines to niiike a valuable distinc-
tion in the use of these words, restricting
avenge to the taking of just punishment,
and revenge to the infliction of pain or
evil, maliciously, in an illegal manner.
4. In the passive form, this verb signifies to
have or receive just satisfaction, by the
punishment of the offender.
Shall not my soul be avenged on such a natidn
as this ? .ler. 5.
AVENG'EANCE, n. Punishment. [JVot
used.] [See Vengeance.]
AVEN(i'ED, pp. Satisfied by the punish-
ment of the offender ; vindicated ; pun-
ished.
AVENG'EMENT, n. Vengeance ; punish-
ment ; the act of taking satisfaction for an
injury by inflicting pain or evil on the of-
fender ; "satisfaction taken ; revenge.
AVENG'ER, n. One who avenges or vindi-
cates; a vindicator; a revenger.
AVENg'ERESS, n. A female avenger.
Spenser.
AVENG'ING, ppr. Executing vengeance ;
taking satisfaction for an injury by the
jiunishment of the offender; vindicating.
AV'ENS, n. The herb bennet. Miller.
AV'ENTINE, a. Pertaining to Mons Aven-
tinus, one of the seven hills on which
Rome stood. Bryant.
AVEN'TURE, n. [Fr. aventurc, from L. ve-
nio, to come.]
A mischance causing a person's death with-
out felony; as by drowning, or falling
from a house. [See Adventure.] Coxvd.
.W'ENUE, ji. [Fr. from venir, to come or
go ; L. venio.]
AVE
AVE
AVI
1. A passage ; a way or opening for entrance
into a place ; any opening or passage by
which a thing is or may be introduced.
2. An alley, or walk in a garden, planted
with trees, and leading to a liouse, gate,
wood, &c., and generally terminated by
some distant object. The trees may be in
rows on the sides, or, according to the
more modern practice, in clumps at some
distance from each other. Encyc.
3. A wide street, as in Washington, Co
lumbia.
AVER' V. I. fFr. avtrer ; It. avverare, to
aver or verify ; Arm. quirya, from the root
of verus, true ; Ir. feor, or jir ; W. gteir
Corn, uir ; Ger. wahr; D. waar. See
Venfy.]
To afhrm with confidence ; to declare in i
positive or peremptoi-y manner, as in con
fidence of asserting the truth. Prior.
AVERAGE, n. [Norm, avtr, avers, cattle
money, goods, Sp. averio, from aver or /iff-
ber, Fr. avoir, to have or possess. In an-
cient law, a duty or ser\'ice which a tenant
was bound to render to his lord, by hi;
beasts and carriages or instruments of Inis
bandry. Spelman. But averagium signi
lies also the loss of goods in transporta
tion ; Sp. averia, ilamage sustained by
goods or ships ; Port. avaria,au allowance
out of freight to the master of a ship, for
damage sustained ; contribution by insur
ers, to make good a loss ; It. avaria ; Dan.
haverie, damage of a ship or waste of
goods, extraordinary charges during a
voyage. If avaria signifies damage, and
is iVom aver or haber, Spanish, to have
the sense of the word is probably that
I which happens or falls, a misfortune, for
the verb have and liappen are radically the
•same word ; Spanish, haber, to have, and
to happen or befall; alsofortinie, property.
This would give the sense of damage, or
of proportion, lot, share, that which falls
to each of a number. But the primary
sense is not very obvious.]
1. In co;>iOTerce, a contribution to a general loss.
When for the safety of a ship in distress,
any destrucBon of property is incurred,
either by cutting away the masts, throw-
ing goods overboard, or other means, all
persons who have goods on hoard, or
property in the ship, contribute to the loss
according to their average, that is, the
goods of eacli on board. This principle,
iiuroduced into the commerce of Europe,
from the Rhodian laws, and recognized
by the regulations of Wisby, is now
established rule in the maritime laws of|
Europe ; for it is most reasonable, that
when one man's property is sacrificed to
save a ship, all persons whose property is
saved, or in like hazard, should bear their
proportion of the loss.
Spelman. Park. Beawes
2. From the practice of contributing to bear
losses, in proportion to each man's prop-
erty, this word has obtained the present
popular sense, which is, that of a mean
proportion, medial sum or quantity, made
out of imequal sums or quantities. Thus,
if A loses 5 dollars, B 9 and C 16, the
sum is 30, and the average, 10.
3. A small duty payable by the shippers of
goods, to the master of the ship, over and
above the fi-eight, for his care of the goods.
ITcnce the expression in bills of lading,
" paying so much freight, with primage
and average accustomed." Cowel. Encyc.
4. In England, the breaking up of cornfield!
eddisli or roughings. Jtsh. Spelman.
Upon, or on an average, is taking the mean
of imequal numbers or quantities.
AVERAGE, a. Medial; containing a mean
proportion. Price. Beddoes. Kirwan
Edwards^ If. Indies.
AVERAGE, V. t. To find the mean of un-
equal sums or quantities ; to reduce to a
medium ; to divide aniong a number, ac
cording to a given proportion ; as, to ai'er
age a loss.
AV'ERAGE, v. i. To form a mean or me
dial sum or quantity; as, the losses of the
owners will average 25 dollars each.
These spars average 10 feet in length.
Belknap.
C'h. Obs. X. .522. xi. 302.
AVERAGED, pp. Reduced or formed into
a mean proportion, or into shares propor-
tioned to each man's property. Jefferson.
AVERAGING, ppr. Forming a mean pro-
portion out of unequal sums or quantities,
or reducing to just shares according to
each man's property.
AVER'MENT, n. [See Aver.] Affirmation ;
positive assertion; the act of averring.
, Verification ; estabUshment by e% ' "
Bacon.
by evidence
3. In pleading, an offer of either party t
justify or prove what he alledges. In an
stage of pleadings, when either party ad
vanccs new matter, he avers it to be true,
and concludes with these words, " and thi
he is ready to verify." This is called an
averment. Blackstone.
A VER'NAT, n. A sort of grape. Ash. Johnson
AVER'NIAN, a. Pertauiing to Avemus, a
lake of Campania in Italy, famous for
its poisonous qualities, which the poefs
represent as so malignant, as to kill fowls
fljing over. Hence, as authors tell us, its
name, oopi'oj, without birds.
Virgil. Mela. SIrabo.
AVERPENNY, n. Money paid towards
the king's carriages by land, instead of
service by the beasts in kind. Burn.
WER'RED, pp. Affirmed; laid with an
averment.
AVER'RING, n/jr. Affirming ; declaring
positively ; offering to justify or verify.
AVERROIST, n. One of a sect of peripa
tetic philosophers, who were so denomi
nated from Averroes, a celebrated Arabi
an author. They held the soul to be mor
tal, though they ])retended to submit to
the christian theology. Encyc.
WERRUNC'ATE, v. t. [L. averrunco, of
ah and erunco, from runco, to weed, or rake
away.]
To root up ; to scrape or tear away by the
roots. Hudibras.
AVERRUN€A'T10N, n. Tiie act of tear-
ing up or raking away by the roots.
AVERSA'TION, n. [L. aversor. See Avert.]
A turning from with disgust or dislike ; aver-
sion ; hatred ; disinclination. South.
It is nearly superseded by aversion.
AVERSE, a. avers' [See Avert.] The literal
' sense of this word is, turned from, in mani-
festation of dislike. Hence the real sense is,
1. Disliking; unwilling; having a repug-1
nance of miud. I
.Iverse alike to flatter or oflTend. Pope
2. Unfavorable ; indisposed ; malign.
And Pallas now averse refused her aid.
Dry den.
This word and its derivatives ought to be
followed by to, and never by from. Thi."?
word includes the idea of from ; hut the
literal meaning being lost, the affection of
the mind signified by the word, is exerted
towards the object of dislike, and like ite
kindred terms, hatred, dislike, conlriry, re-
pugnant, &c., should be followed by to.
Indeed it is alisun! to speak of an affec-
tion of 111. inii.il I \cited from an object-
Aver.li ( \|.ii "( < .1 li-s degree of opposi-
tion in the niiiiil, than detesting and ab-
horring.
Milton once uses averse in its literal sense,
with from, but it is not according to tlie
English idiom.
AVERSELY, adv. avers'bj. With repug-
nance ; unwilUngly. Brown.
AVERSENESS, n. avers'ncss. Opposition
of mind ; dislike ; unwilluigness ; back-
wardness. Herbert.
WER'SION, n. [Fr. aversion, from L,
averio.]
I. Opposition or repugnance of mind ; dis-
like ; disinclination ; reluctance ; hatred.
Usually this word expresses moderate ha-
tred, or opposition of mind, not amounting
to abhorrence or detestation. It ought gen-
erally to be followed by to I)cfore the ob-
ject. [See Averse.] Sometimes it admits
of/or.
A freeholder is bred witli an aversion to sub-
jection. Addisor>.
2. Opiiosition or contrariety of nature ; ap-
plied to inanimate substances.
Magnesia, notivithstanding tliis aversion to
solution, forms a kind of paste with water.
Fourcroy, TVans.
a The causa of dislike.
Pain theii aversion, pleasure their desire.
Pope.
AVERT', V. t. [L. averto, a, from, and verto,
to turn, anciently, vorto ; hence vertex, vor-
tex, averto ; probably allied to L. vario ;
Eng. veer; Sp. birar ; V^ih.fMP bari.
Class Br.]
1. To turn from ; to turn off or away ; as, to
aveii the eyes from an object. Shak.
2. To keep "off, divert or prevent ; as, to
avert an approaching calamity. Hooker.
3. To cause to dishke. Hooker. But this
sense seems to be improper, except when
heart or some equivalent word is used ; as,
to avert the heart or affections, which
may signify to aUenate the affections.
Thomson.
AVERT', v. i. To turn away. Thomson.
AVERT'ER, 71. One that turns away ; that
Inch turns away.
.■VVERT'ING, /i;)r." Turning from; turning
away.
A'VIARY, ji. [L. aviarium, from avis, a
fowl.]
A bird cage ; an inclosure for keeping birds
confined. ffotton.
AVID' lOUSLY, arfu. [See Avidity.] Eager-
ly ; with greediness. Bale.
VID'ITY, n. [L. aviditas, from avidus, and
this from aveo, to desire, to have appetite ;
Heb. and Ch. nw, to desire, or covet.]
1. Greediness; strong appeute ; applied to
the senses.
A V O
A V O
A W A
ii. Eagerness; inteiiseness of desire ; a/ipZitrf
to the mind.
•WIGA'TO, ? Tlie Persea, or alUgator-
AVO€A'DO, ^ ■ pear, a species ranked
under the genus Laurus, a native of the
W. Indies. The tree lias a straight trunk,
long oval pointed leaves, and flowers of
six petals disposed like a star, produced
in clusters, on the extremities of the
branches. The fruit is insipid.
Encyc. Miller.
.Ivignon-herry, the fruit of a species of lycium,
so called from the city, Avignon, in France.
The berry is less than a pea, of a yellow
ish green color, and bitter astringent taste ;
used by dyers and painters for staining
yellow. Encuc.
AVI'LE, V. t. [Fr. avilir. See TOe.] I'o
depreciate. [Jsfotinuse.] B. Jonson.
AVI'SE, > [Yi.avis.] Advice: iutelhgence.
AVI'SO, I "• [ATot in use.]
AVI'SE, 1?. i. sasz. To consider. [jYotin use.;
Spenser
AVI'SEMENT, n. Advisement. [See Ad
vice and .ddvise.]
AV'0€ATE, V. t. [L. avoco, from a and
voco, to call. See Voice and Vocal.]
To call off, or away. [JVot used.] Boyle.
AVOCA'TION, n. [See Vocation, Voice.
Vocal.]
1. The act of calling aside, or diverting from
some employment ; as an avocation from
sin or from business.
2. The business which calls aside. The
word is generally used for the smaller af-
fairs of life, or occasional calls which sum-
mon a person to leave his ordinary or
princi))al business. The use of this word
for vocation is very improjier.
AVO'€ATIVE, fl. Calhng off. [.Vol zised-]
AVOID', !'. t. [Fr. vuicler, 01- viiler : vuide,
void, empty ; Eng. wide, void, widow ; L.
vidua. See Void. It coincides also with
L. vito, evito ; Fr. evitcr. See Class Bd.]
1. To shun; to keep at a distance from; that
is, literally, to go or heitnde from ; as, tn
avoid the company of gamesters.
S. To shift off", or clear off"; as, to avoid
expense.
3. To quit ; to evacuate ; to shun by leaving ;
as, to avoid the house.
4. To escape ; as, to avoid danger. Shak
5. To emit or throw out ; as, to avoid excre
tions. For this, void is now generally used.
(J. To make void; to annul or vacate.
The grant cannot be avoided without injustice
to the grantee. Anon.
7. \n pleading, to sti ii|is(iiii(> iiewmatteror
distinction, wliirli sli;ill nniid, that is, de
feat or evadn \W all.-.ii„>ii of the othei
party. Thus, in m leiilicatioii, the plaintiff'
may deny the defendant's [ilea, or confess
it, and avoid it by stating new matter.
Blackstone.
.WOID', V. i. Tn retire ; to withdraw.
l)a\i'l (irauhd f,iit of his presence. 1 Sam
Nvin, [/,„,„,.,.-, ^]
'.'. To liLcuiiii- xdiil, vacant or empty.
A lieiietice avoids liv common law. .^yliffe
AVOID'ABLE, a. that may be avoided,
left at a distance, shunned or escaped.
2. Tliat may be vacated ; liable to be
nulled.
AVOID'ANCE, n. The act of avoiding, or
shunning.
0. The act of vacating, or the state of I;
vacant. It is appropriately used for the
state of a benefice becoming void, by the
death, deprivation, or resignation of the
incumbent. Cowel. Encyc.
3. The act of annulUng.
4. The course by which any thing is car-
ried ofl^. Bacon.
AVOID'ED, pp. Shunned ; evaded ; made
void ; ejected.
AVOID'ER, n. One who avoids, shuns or
escapes.
2. The person who carries any thing away ;
the vessel in which things are carried
away. Johnson.
AVOlb'ING, ppr. Shuimiug ; escaping ;
keeping at a distance ; ejecting ; evacua-
AVO
g ; making void, or vacant.
iID'LESS, a. That cannot be avoided ;
bic. Dryden.
AVOIRDUPOIS', n. s as z. [Fr. avotr du
poids, to have weight. See Poise.']
A weight, of which a pound contains 16
ounces. Its proportion to a pound Troy
is as 17 to 14. This is the weight for the
larger and coarser commodities, as hay,
iron, cheese, groceries, &c. Chambers.
rWOLA'TION, n. [L. avolo, to fly away, of
a and volo. See Volatile.]
The act of fly uig away ; flight ; escape. [lAt-
tle used.]
AV'OSET, > In ornithology, a species
AVOSET'TA, I "■ of fowls, arranged under
the geiuis, rccurviro.stra, and jilaced by
Linne in the grallic order, but by Pennant
and Latham, among tlie palmipeds. The
bill is long, slender, flexible and bent up-
ward towards the tip. This bird is of the
size of a lapwing, with very long legs, and
the feathers variegated with black and
white. It is found both in Europe and
America. Encyc.
AVOUCH', v. t. [Norm, voucher, to call, to
vouch ; L. roco, arfi'oco. See Voice.]
I. To affirm; to declare or assert with
positiveness. Hooker.
'i. To produce or call in ; to aftirm in favor
of, maintain or support.
Such antiquities coulJ be avouched for the
the Irish. ' S2}enser
To maintain, vindicate or justify. Skak.
AVOUCH', n. Evidence ; testimony ; decla-
ration. [Little used.] Shak.
AVOUCH'ABLE, a. That may be avouched.
[Little used.]
AVOUCH'ED, pp. Affirmed; maintained;
called in to support.
AVOUCII'ER, n. One who avouches.
AVOUCH'ING, ppr. Aflirming ; calling in
to maintain ; vindicating.
AVOUCH'iMENT, n. Declaration ; the act
of avouching. Shak.
AVOW, v.t. [Fr. amier; Arm. avoei ;
Norm, avower ; L. voveo.]
1. To declare openly, with a view to justify,
maintain or defend ; or simply to own,
acknowledge or confess frankly ; e
man avoivs his princi])les or his crimes.
2. In law, to acknowledge and justify ; as
when tlie distrainer of goods defends '
action of replevin, and avoios the taking,
but insists that such taking was legal.
Blackstone.
AVOW, n. A vow or determinaiion. [JVot
used.] Gower.
AVOW ABLE, a. That may be avowed, or
openly acknowledged with confidence.
Donne.
AVOWAL, n. An open declaration ; frank
acknowledgment. Hume.
AVOWANT, n. The defendant in replevin,
who avoivs the distress of the goods, and
justifies the taking. Coivel.
AVOWED, pp. Openly declared; owned;
frankly acknowledged.
AVOWEDLY, adv. In an open manner ;
with frank acknowledgment.
AVOW^'EE, n. Sometimes used for advowee,
the person who has a right to present to a
benefice, the patron. [See Advowson.]
Cowel.
AVOW'ER, n. One who avows, owns, or
asserts.
AVOWING, ppr. Openly declaring ; frank-
ly acknowledging ; justifying.
AVOWRY, n. In laiv, the act of the dis-
trainer of goods, who, in an action of re-
plevin, avows and justifies the taking ; the
act of maintaining the right to distrain, by
the distrainer, or defendant in replevin.
Blackstone.
AVOWTRY, [See Advowtry.]
AVULS'ED,o. [See Avulsion.] Plucked or
pulled oft". Shenstone.
AVUL'SION, n. [L. avulsio, from avello, a
and vello, to pull, comciding with Heb.
and Ar. rhs, to separate ; Eng. pull.]
A pulling or tearing asunder ; a rending or
violent separation.
AWA'IT, V. t. [a and wait. See fVait. Fr.
guetter, to watch ; guet, a watch ; It. gua-
tare, to look or watch.]
Literally, to remain, hold or stay.
1. To wait for ; to look for, or expect.
Betwixt the rocky pillars, Gabriel sat,
Chief of the Angelic guards, awaiting nighf.
Alitton.
2. To be in store for; to attend ; to be ready
for ; as, a glorious reward aivaits the
good.
AWA'IT, }(. Ambush ; in a state of waiting
for. Spenser.
AWA'ITING, ppr. Waiting for ; looking
for ; expecting ; being ready or in store for.
AWA'KE, V. t. pret. awoke, awaked; pp. awa-
ked. [Sax. geivwcan, wacian, or weccan ;
D. wekken ; Ger. wecken ; Sw. xipvhcka ;
Dan. vaekker. The L. vigilo seems to be
formed on this root. See Wake.]
1. To rouse from sleep.
I go that I may awake him out of sleep.
John xi.
2. To excite from a state resembling sleep,
as from death, stupidity or ijiaction ; to
put into action, or new life ; as, to awake
the dead ; to awake the dormant faculties.
AWA'KE, V. i. To cease to sleep ; to come
from a state of natural sleep.
Jacob awaked out of sleep. Gen. xxviii.
9. To bestir, revive or rouse from a state of
inaction ; to be invigorated with new life ;
as, the mind awakes from its stupidity.
Awake, 0 sword, against my shepherd.
Zcch. xiii.
3. To rouse from spiritual sleep.
Awake thou tliat sleepest, and arise from the
dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Eph. v.
Awake to righteousness. 1 Cor. xv.
4. To rise from the dead. Job xiv.
AWA'KE, a. Not sleeping ; in a state oi
vigilance or action.
A W A
A W H
A W R
AWA'KEN, I', t. awiikn. This is the word
awake, with its Snxoii iIlfiniti^■e. It is
transitive or intransitive ; but more fre-
quently transitive, as awake is more fre-
quently intransitive. Its significations are
the same as those of awake.
AWA'KENED, pp. Roused from sleep, in
a natural or moral sense.
AWA'KENER, n. He or that which aw
kens.
AWA'KENING, n. A revival of religion, or
more general attention to religion, than
usual.
AWARD', V. t. [Scot, warde, determination ;
Norm, garda, award, judgment ; agardetz,
awarded. See Guard and Regard.]
To adjudge ; to give by sentence or judicial
deterniinatiou ; to assign by sentence.
This word is appropriately used to e.\-
press the act of arbitrators in pronoimcing
upon the rights of parties; as, the arbitra-
tors awarded damages to A. B.
AWARD', V. i. To judge ; to determine ;
to make an award.
AWARD', n. The judgment, or determina-
tion of arbitrators, or tlie paper contain-
ing it.
2. Judgment ; sentence ; determination of
ijoints submitted to arbitrators.
AWARD'ED, pp. Adjudged, or given by
juflicial sentence, or by the decision of
arbitrators.
AWARD'ER, n. One that awards, or as-
signs by sentence or judicial determina-
tion; a judge. Thomson.
AWARD'ING, ppr. Adjudging; assigning
by judicial sentence ; determining.
AWA'RE, a. [Sax. gewarian, to take care,
provide, avoid ; to preserve or defend ;
also covered, protected ; warian, to be-
ware ; war, aware. See Ware and IVary.]
Watchful ; vigilant ; guarded ; but more
strictly in modern usage, apprised ; ex-
pecting an event from information, or
probability ; as, the general was aware of
the enemy's design.s.
AWA'RE, V. i. To beware ; to be cautious.
[Mt legitimate.] Milton.
AWARN', V. t. To warn, which see.
Spenser.
AWAT'CHA, n. A bird of Kanitchatka,
enumerated by Pennant, among the war-
blers. The upper parts of the body are of
a deep brown color ; the throat and breast
white, with black spots.
AWA'Y, adv. [Sax. aweg, absent, a and
weg, way ; also onweg, away, and awegan,
to avert. See ff^ay.]
1. Absent ; at a distance ; as, the master is
aivay from home.
Have me away, for I am wounde J. 2 Chron.
XXXV.
S. It is much used with words signifying
moving or going from ; as, go aivay, send
away, run away. Sic; all signifying de-
parture, or separation to a distance. Some-
times without the verb ; as, whither aivay
so fast. ShaL
Love hath wings and will away. Waller.
3. As an exclamation, it is a command or in-
vitation to depart ; aivay, that is, be gone,
or let us go. " Away with him." Take
him away.
4. With verbs, it serves to modify thek sense
and form peculiar phrases ; as.
To throw away, to cast from, to give up,
dissipate or foolishly destroy.
To trijle aivay, to lose or expend in tri-
fles, or in idleness.
To drink away, to squander away, &c.,'
to dissipate in drinking or extravagance.
To make away, is to kill or destroy.
5. Away iinth has a peculiar signification in
the phrase, " I caimot away with it." Isa.
i. The sense is, " I cannot bear or en-
dure it."
AWE, n. aw. [Dan. ave, fear, awe, chastise-
ment, discipline ; aver, to chastise or cor-
rect ; Gr. ayaw, to be astonished. Qu. Ir.
agh ; Sax. ege, or oga, fear ; Goth, agjan,
or ogan, to dread. It would appear that
the primary sense of the Dan. is to strike,'
or check.] I
1. Fear mingled with admiration or rever-
ence ; reverential fear. |
Stand in awe and sin not. Ps. iv.
2. Fear ; dread inspired by something great,!
or terrific. j
AWE, V. t. To strike with fear and rever-
ence ; to influence by fear, terror or res-
pect ; as, his majesty awed them into
silence.
AWE'ARY, a. Weary, which see. Shaki
AWEATU'ER, adv. aweth'er. [a and'
weather.] I
On the weather-side, or towards the wind ;
as, the helm is aweather ; opposed to (i/ee.|
Mar. Diet.
AWE-€OMMAND'ING, a. Striking or in-
fluencing by awe. Gray.
AW'ED,j);). Struck with fear; influenced
bv fear or reverence. j
AWEIGH', adv. [a and weigh.] Atrip. The'
anchor is aweigh, when it is just drawn'
out of the ground, and hangs perpendicu
a. Impressinir with
Bp. Hohrn-I.
Impressed or siiucU
.Milton.
lar. [See Atrip.] j
AWE-INSPIRING,
awe.
AWE-STRUCK, a.
with awe.
AWFUL, a. [awe and full]
1. That strikes with awe ; that fills with
profound reverence; as the au/wZ majesty
of Jehovah.
2. That fills with terror and dread ; as the
awful approach of death.
3. Struck with awe ; scrupulous.
A weak and awful reverence for antiquity.
Watts.
Shakspeare uses it for worshipful, inspir-
ing respect by authority or dignity.
Our common people use this word in the
sense of frightful, ugly, detestable.
AW'FULLY, adv. In a manner to fill with!
awe ; in a reverential manner. |
AW'FULNESS, n. The quahty of striking:
with awe, or with reverence ; solemnity ;'
as, " the auf illness of this sacred place." j
2. The state of being struck with awe.
A help to prayer, producing in us reverence and!
awfulness. Taylo
[J\/'ot legitimale.]
AWHAPE, V. t. awhap'. [W. cwapiaw, to
strike smartly.] To strike ; to confound.
Obs. Spenser.
[This is our vulgar whop.]
AWH'ILE, adv. [a and while, time, or inter-
val.]
A space of titne ; for some time ; for a short
time.
AWK,n. Odd; out of order. L' Estrange.
2. Clumsy in performance, or manners ; un-
handy; not dextrous. [Fulgar.]
AWK'WARD,a. [awk and ward.] Wanting
de.\terity in the use of the hands or of in-
struments ; unready; not dextrous; bung-
ling; untoward. Dryden.
2. Inelegant ; unpoUte ; ungraceful in man-
ners; clumsy; unnatural; bad. Shak.
AWKWARDLY, arft,. Clumsily; in a rude
or bungling manner ; inelegantly; badly.
AWK'\VARDNESS, n. Clumsiness; un-
gracefulness in manners; want of dexter-
ity in the use of the hands or instruments ;
unsuitableness. Addison.
AWL, n. [Sax. wl, an awl, and an eel ; Ger.
ahl, an awl, and aal, an eel ; D. els, an awl ;
aal, an eel ; Dan. aal, an rel ; Ir. ail, a
sting or prickle.]
^Vn iron instrument for piercing small holes
in leather, for sewing and stitching ; used
by shoemakers, sadlers, &c. The blade
is either straight, or a little bent and flat-
tened.
AW'LESS, a. [awe and less.] Wanting rev-
erence ; void of respectful fear ; as awless
insolence. Dryden.
2. Wanting the power of causing reverence:
not exciting awe ; as an awless throne.
Shak.
AWL'WORT, ?i. [awl and wort. See /f orf.]
The popular name of the Subularia arjvalica,
or rough leaved alyssum; so called from
its awl-shaped leaves, which grow in clus-
ters round the root. It is a native of Brit-
ain and Ireland. Enciic.
AWM, ? ,r, r. I 1
AUM S "■ ^ """^ ' """••]
A Dutch hquid measure, containing, eight
stcckans or twenty verges or verteels, equal
to the English tierce, the sixth of a French
tun, and the seventh of an English tun, or
thirty-six gallons. Encyc. Arbuthnot.
WVN, n. [Sw. agne ; Gr. ax'">; °-X''n-\
The beard of corn or grass, as it is usually
midcrstood. But technically, a slender
sharp process issuing from the chaff or
glume in corn and grasses. Mariyn.
AWN'ING, n. [Goth, hulijan, to cover.]
1. A cover of canvas, usua"lly a sail or tar-
pauhng, spread over a boat or ship's deck,
to shelter from the sun's rays, the oflicers
and crew, and preserve the decks.
2. That part of the poop deck which is con-
tinued forward beyond the bulk head of
the cabin. Mar. Diet.
\WN'LESS, a. Without a^vn or beard.
AWN'Y, a. Ilaving awns ; full of beard.
AWO'KE. The preterit of awake.
.\WORK', adv. [Sax. geweorcan, to work.]
At work ; in a state of labor or action. [JVot
used.] Shak.
AWORK ING, adv. At work; into a state
of working or action. Hubbard's Tale.
.\WRY', a. or adv. [Dan. vrider, to twist ;
wen, twisted ; Sw. vrida ; Sax. writhan,
to writhe.]
1. Turned or twisted towards one side ; not
in a straight or true direction, or position ;
asquint ; with oblique vision ; as, " to
glance a look awry;" the lady's cap is
awry.
2. In a fgurative sense, turned aside from
the line of truth, or right reason ; per-
verse or perversely. Sidney. Milton
A X r
AYE
A Z U
AX, n. improperly written o.rt. [Sax. cei
eax, wse ; Sw. yxe ; L. ascia ; Gr. oIcm;
It. azza ; Eth. rh 6 P hatzi, an ax ; or Ar.
•«» hazza, to cut; Ch. and Syr. Nrsn an
An instrument usually of iron, for hewing
timber and chopping wood. It consists of
a head with an arching edge, and a helve
or handle. The ax is of two kinds, the
broad ax for hewing, and tlie narrow ax
for rough-hewing and cutting. The hatch-
et is a small ax to be used with one hand
AXAYA'CAT, n. A fly in Mexico, whose
eggs, deposited on rushes and flags, in
large quantities, are sold and used i
sort of caviare, called ahuauhtli. This was
a dish among the Mexicans, as it now is
among the Spaniards. Clavigero
AXESTONE, I A mineral, a subspecies
AXSTONE, I "• of jade ; less hard than
nephrite ; of a leek or grass green, ol
green or greenish gray color. It occurs
amorphous, or in rolled fragments. It is
found chiefly in New-Zealand and the S,
Sea isles, where it is used by the rude na-
tives for axes and other instruments.
Ure. Cteaveland.
AX'IFORM, a. [L. axis, and forma.] In the
form of au axis. Encyc.
AX'IL, »i. [L. axilla; h: asgal ; Fr. aisselle ;
D. oxel, the armpit ; Ch. and Heb. VsN, to
separate or set apart ; whence 'VXN, arm-
pits.]
1. The armpit ; a cavity under the upper
part of the arm or shoulder.
S. In botany, the .space or angle formed by a
branch with the stem, or by a leaf with
the stem or branch. Milne. Darwin.
AX'ILLAR, ) Pertaining to the arm-
AXTLLARY, ^ ' pit, or to the axil of plants.
AxUlary leaves are those whicli proceed
from the angle formed by the stem and
branch. Martyn. Milne.
AX'INITE, n. A mineral which sometimes
occurs in lamellar masses, but commonly
in crystals, whose general form is that of a
very oblique rhomb, or rather, foiu-sided
prism, so flattened that some of its eilges
become thin and sharp, like that of an ax ;
whence its name, Gr. a|i)i);. This is the
thumerstone of Kirwan. It has been
sometimes called yanolite and violet shorl.
Hawj. Brongniart. Cleaveland.
AXINOM'ANCV, n. [Gr. o^.,, au ax, and
IMvtiia, divination.]
Among the ancients, a species of divination,
by means of an ax or hatchet, ijerfornied
by laying an agate-stone on a red hot
hatchet, or by fixing a hatchet on a round
stake, so as to be poised ; then the names
of those suspected were repeated, anil he
at whose name the hatchet moved, was
pronounced guilty. Encyc.
AX'IOM, n. [Gr. atuo/ta, aiuhority, an au-
thoritative sentence, or that which is as-
sumed, from a|ioj, worthy, aliou, to think
worthy, to esteem ; Eng. to ask, [to ax ;]
that which is asked, sought or esteemed.]
1. A self evident truth, or a proposition whose
truth is so evident at first sight, that
process of reasoning or demonstration can
make it plainer ; as, " tlie whole is greater
Ij)^n a part." John-son. Encyc.
2. An established principle in some art or
science ; a principle received without new
proof; as, " things which are equal to the
same thing, are equal to one another."
Encyc.
AXIOMAT'IG, ) Pertaining to an ax-
AXIOMAT'I€AL, ^ iom ; havuig the na-
ture of self evident truths or received
principles. Pre/, to Bacon's Aphorisms.
AX'IS, n. plu. axes. [L. ; Gr. o^uv ; Russ. os.
or osi ; Sax. ax ; Fr. axe, or aissieu ; G.
achse ; D. as ; It. asse ; Sp. exe ; Port, exo,
eivo.]
1. The straight hue, real or imaginary, p
iug through a body, on which it revolves,
or may revolve ; as the axis of the earth.
2. In geometry, a straight line in a plain fig-
ure, about wliich it revolves to produce a
solid.
.3. In conic sections, a i-ight line dividing the
section into two equal parts, and cutting
all its ordinates at right angles.
4. In mechanics, the axis of abalance is that
Une about which it moves, or rather turns.
The axis of oscillation is a right line
parallel to the horizon passing through
the center, about which a penduliun vi-
brates.
The axis in peritrochio is a wheel con-
centric with the base of a cylinder, and
movable -with it about its axis.
5. In optics, a jjarticular ray of light from any
object which falls perpendicularly on the
eye.
6. In archilectwe, s)iiral axis is the axis of a
■]>tvi] ruiiiiiii] >|iir:illy iliawii in order to
Axi.<ioflln Iniilr ,,ij,il,il I - a 1 1 1 1.- | .asking pcr-
iei]"ilii-ii!ai-|y ihruiigli tluj iriidilli' uf the eye
f the volute.
The axis of a vessel is an imaginai-y line
passing through the middle of it, perpen-
dicular to its base, and equally distant from
its sides.
In botany, axis is a taper column in the cen-
ter of some flowers or catkins, about which
the other parts are disposed.
In anatomy, axis is the name of the second
verteberof the neck; it has a tooth which
enters into the fii-st verteber, and this tooth
is by some called the axis. Encyc.
AX'LE, > [Sax. a:x and tree. See
VX'LE-TREE, I "" Axis.]
A piece of timber or bar of iron, fitted for
insertion in the hobs or naves of wheels,
on which the wheels turn.
AX'OLOTE, n. A water lizard found in the
Mexican lake, about eight inches in length,
sometimes much larger. The skin is black
and soft. It swims with its feet, which re-
semble those of a frog. It has a periodical
evacuation of blood, like the human fe-
male. Clavigero.
AY, ? „ ,„ [G. D. Dan. Sw. ja, pron. ya ;
AYE, ^"""-Dan. eja ; Corn, ia; Ar. ya ;
Fr. Old. It may be a contracted word.]
Yes, yea, a word expressing assent, or an af-
firmative answer to a question. It is used
also to enforce the sense of what is assert-
ed, equivalent to even so, truly, certainly.
AYE, adv. [Sax. aa, a, or awa ; Gr. asi :
Amh. at, continually ; D. eetiw, an age ;
Goth, aiw, an age, eternity ; L. asvum,
which, without its termination, is av, wtv ;
probably a contracted word, W. hang.]
Always; forever; continually; for an indef-
inite time ; used in poetry.
AYLE, n. In law, a grandfather. [See
Besayle.]
A'YRY. [See^me.]
AZ'AROLE, n. [Fr.] A species of thorn .
the three grained medlar, a species of
cratasgus.
A7'FRIT "i
AZERI'TA.Jn. A species of ph.morpru-
AZERrRA, S '""• Fam. of Plants.
AZ'IMUTH,n. [Ar.CK*-w saniatha, to move
or go towards ; Ck.^am i (L. semita,) a way
or path ; with a prefix.]
1. In astronomy, an arch of the horizon inter-
cejited between the meridian of the place,
and the azimuth or vertical circle, passing
through the center of the object.
2. Magnetical azimuth, an arch of the hori-
zon, intercepted between the azimuth or
vertical circle, passing through the center
of any heavenly body, and the magnetic
meridian. This is found by observing the
object with an azimuth compass.
3. Azimuth compass, an instrument for find-
ing either the magnetic azimuth or ampli-
tude of an heaveidy object.
4. Azimuth dial, a dial whose stile or gno-
mon is at right angles to the plane of the
horizon.
5. Azimuths or vertical circles, are great
circles intersecting each other in the zenith
and nadir, and cutting the horizon at right
angles.
Encyc. Chambers. Bailey. Johnson.
On charts, these azimuths are repre-
sented by rhumbs, and on the globe, by
the quadrant of altitude, when screwed
in the zenith.
AZ'OTE, n. [Gr. o priv. and fco,, life, or
^uiTtxoi, vital.]
A species of gas, called also niephitic aii-,
and atmospheric mephitis, on account of
its fatal effects upon animal hfe. It is
tasteless, and inodorous : it exists in com-
mon air, mixed with oxygen, and consti-
tutes about seventy-nine hundredth parts
of atmospheric air. It may be obtained,
in large quantities, from the muscular
fibers of animals. Combined with hydro-
gen, it forms volatile alkali ; and it enters
into the composition of most animal sub-
stances. It is the radical of nitric acid,
and is now called nitrogen gas, or ni-
trogen.
AZ'OTH, n. Among alchimists, the first
principle of metals ; the mercury of met-
als ; a universal medicine. Obs. Ash.
2. The liquor of sublimated quicksilver;
l>rass. Coxe.
AZOT'Ie, a. Pertaining to azote ; fatal to
limal life.
AZ'OTITE, n. A salt formed by a combina-
tion of the protoxyd of azote, or nitrous
oxyd, with an alkali. Tlwmson.
AZ'URE, a. azh'ur. [Persic, lazurd, blue ;
Fr. azur; Sp. azul, or azur; It. azzurro ;
W. astir, blue. Hence lazuli, in Lapis
Lazuli.]
Of a sky-blue ; resembling the clear blue
color of the sky.
AZ'URE, n. aih'w: The fine blue color <:»l
BAA
the sky. This word was formerly applied
to the lapis lazuli, and the color prepared
from it. But it is now applied to the blue
extracted from cobalt, though somewhat
a different color ; the blue of the lapi
called ultramarine. Azure is applied also
to the blue glass made of the oxyd of co-
balt and vitrifiable substances, reduced to
fine powder. In large masses it is called
^mnlt. Encyc.
BAB
12. The sky, or azure vault of heaven.
3. In heraldry, a blue color in coats of all per-
sons und(;r the degree of baron. Jones.
'AZ'URE, r. /. To color blue.
[AZ'URED, a. azh'tired. Colored azure ; be-
ing of an azure color. Sidney.
AZURE-STONE, ) ^ Another name of the
AZ'URITE, I "• jazuhte.
AZ'URN, a. Of a blue color. [Li'We used.]
Milton
BAB
AZ'YME, )!. [See Azymous.] L'jiiiiaveiled
liread. [Ao/ in use.]
AZ'YMITE, n. [See ^ymous.] In church
history, azymites are christians who ad-
minister the eucharist with unleavened
'"■ead- Eneyc.
AZ'\ MOUS, a. [Gr. a priv. and ^vfir,, leav
en.]
Unleavened ; unfermented ; as sea-biscuit.
Enci/c. Jlst .
B.
Ij is the second letter, and the first articu-
lation, or consonant, in the Enghsh
the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and most other
alphabets. In the Ethiopic, it is the ninth
letter, and its shape is that of a hut. Per-
haps from this or other like figure, it
received its Hebrew name, beth, a house.
It is a mute and a labial, being formed by
pressing the whole length of the lips to-
gether, as in pronouncing eb. It is less
perfectly mute than p, as may be perceived
by pronouncing the syllables ab and ap.
It is convertible, 1st, with j>, as in the Cel-
tic, ben or pen, a mountain ; in the English,
heak and peak, beck and peck ; 2d, with v,
as in the German, silber for silver ; and in
Spanish, b and v are used indifferently ;
3d, with /, as in bore and perforo ; Eng
hear, L. fero; in the Celtic bun, bunadh.
bunait, stock, origin, foundation ; English,
found^ ; L. fundamentum ; with the Gr. f,
as Bilip, for 4>at«rtoj; 4th, with u and iti;
as, Ir. /for, L. verus ; fear, vir ; Ir. buaic,
the udck of a candle.
The Greek B is always pronounced hke tlie
English V, and the Russian B corresponds
with the Greek.
In composition, the letter B is changed into
p before the letter p ; as in opprimo, from
ob and premo ; oppono, from ob and pono ;
into /, before /, as in offero, from oh and
fero ; into c before c, as in occido, from ob
and cado, and credo.
-\s a mnneral, B was used by the Hebrews
and Greeks, as now by the Arabians, for
2 ; by the Romans for 3"00, and with a dash
over it thus B, for 3000. B is use<l also
as an abbreviation; thus B. A. stand for
bachelor of arts ; B. L. for bachelor of|
laws; B.D. for bachelor of divinity ; B. F,
before the decrees of the old Romans, for
bonum factum. In music, B stands for the
tone above A ; Bb, for B flat, or the .semi
tone major above A. B also stands foi
base, and B. C. for basso continuo, Oi
thorough base.
B"AA, n. The cry or appropriate bleating of]
sheep.
B\\A, V. i. To cry or bleat as sheep.
BA'AL, n. [Oriental, '7;'^, lord.]
An idol among the ancient Chaldeans and
Syrians, representing the sun. The word
signifies also lord, or commander ; and the
character of the idol was varied by differ-
ent nations, at different times. Thus Baal
Vol. I.
I Berith is supposed to signify the Lord of
the Covenant ; Baal Peor, or ratlier Baal
Phegor, the Lord of the dead. Ps.
Baal Zebub, the god of flies, &c.
BAB'BLE, t.. i. [b. habbelen ; Fr. habiUer ;
properly to throw out.]
1. To utter words imperfectly or indistinct-
ly, as children. Prior.
To talk idly or irrationally ; to talk
thoughtlessly. Arhuthnot.
.3. To talk much ; to prate ; hence to tell se-
crets. Shak.
To utter sounds frequently, incessantly, or
indistinctly; as, a babbling echo; a hub
bling stream.
BAB'BLE, v.t. To prate; to utter.
BAB'BLE, n. Idle talk ; senseless prattle.
Shak
BABBLEMENT, n. Idle talk; sensele;
prate ; unmeaning words. MiUon.
BAB'BLER, n. An idle talker ; an irrational
prattler ; a teller of secrets.
BAB'BLING, ppr. Talking idly ; telling
crets.
2. Uttering a succession of murmuring
sounds ; as a babbling stream.
3. In hunting, babbling is when tlie hound
are too busy after they have found a good
scent.
BAB'BLING, n. Foolish talk. 1 Tim. vi.
BABE, n. [Ger. buhe, a boy ; Ir. baban ; D.
babyn ; Syr. babia ; Phenician, babion; Ar.l
babah, ababe, an infant. Ar. |j„ »,jljba
bos or baboson, the young of man or be"ast
Syr. babosa, a little child. It is remarka
ble that tliis Syriac and Arabic word for
an infant, is retained by the natives of
."Vmenca, who call an infant pappoos. L.
pupus, a word of endearment ; pupa, little
girl; whence pupiltus,pupilla, pupil. Ar.
bobohon, the beginning of youth ; Gr. fJaffou
and Ttanai. ; Ar. Lj L j baba, to say haba,
that is, father ; papa,' a word taken from!
the first attempts of children to pronounce:
the name of a parent.]
An infant ; a youne child of either sex.
B.\'BEL, 11. [Heb.] Confusion; disorder.
Beaumonti
BA'BERY, ?!. Finery to please a child ; any^
trifling toy for children. Sidnevi
BA'BISH, a. Like a babe ; childish. ]
_ Ascham.\
BA'BISHLY, adv. Childishly.
BABOON', n. [Fr. icrtoum," so called from!
17
its resemblance to a babe. This name
seems to have originated in the oriental
habion, papio. See Babe.]
A monkey of the largest species ; a quadru-
l)ed belonging to the genus Simia, in the
class Mammalia, and order Primates, ac-
cording to the system of Linne ; but by
Pennant arranged under the digitated
quadrupeds. Baboons have short tails;
a long face ; a broad high muzzle ; dog-
like tusks, or canine teetli; and naked
callosities on the buttocks. They are
found only on the eastern continent.
B.\ BY, a. Like a young child ; pertaining
to an infant. °
BABY, n. [See Babe.] An infant or young
child of either sex ; a babe ; [used in fa-
miliar language.]
i. A small image in form of an infant, for
girls to play with ; a doll.
BABY, V. t. To treat like a young child.
BA'BYHOOD, n. The state of being a tebfi
BA'BY-HOUSE, n. A jilace for children's
dolls and babies. Swift
BABYLONIAN, ) Penaining to Baby-
BABYLO'NISH, \ "• Ion, the cipital of the
ancient kingdom of Babylonia, or to the
kingdom. The city stood on the river
Prat, or Euphrates, and it is supposed, on
the spot where the tower of Babel was
foimded.
2. Like the language of Babel ; mixed ; con-
fused.
BABYLO'NIAN, n. Aninhabitant of Baby-
lonia. In ancient writers, an astrologer,
as the Chaldeans were remarkable for llie
study of astrology'.
BABYLON'IC, ? „ Pertaining to Baby-
BABYLON'l€AL, \ "' Ion, or made there ;
as Babylonic garments, carpets or lian"-
"igs- Enc^c.
Tumultuous; disorderly. Harrington
BABYLON'ICS, n. plu. The title of a frag-
ment of the history of tbe worid, ending
267 years before Christ, composed by Be-
rosus, a priest of Babylon. Encyc.
BABYRoUS'SA, n. In zoology, the Indian
hog, a native of Celebes, and of Buero, but
not found on the continent of Asia or of
Africa. This quadruped belongs to the
genus Sus, in the class Mammalia, and
order Bellua. From the outside of the
upper jaw, spring two teeth twelve inches
B A C
BAG
B A C
lung, bemling like horns, and aVmosUouch-
iiig the forehead. Along the back are
some weak bristles, and on the rest of the
body only a sort of wool. These animals
live in herds, feed on herbage, are some
times tamed, and their flesh is well tasted.
When pursued hard, they rush into the
sea, swim or dive and pass from isle to isle.
In the forest, they rest their heads by
hooking their upper tusks on a bough.
Ejici/c
BAC or BACK, n. [D. bak, a bov 1 or c"is-
tern.]
1. In nam^ation, a ferry-boat or praam.
a. In bremng, a large flat tub, or vessel, in
which wort is cooled before boiling ; hence
called a cooler.
3. In disiilhrits, a vessel into which the !i
quor to be fermented is pumped, from the
cooler, iu order to be worked with the
yeast.
BA€'€A, n. [L.] In botany, a berry ; a fruit
which consists of a pulpy pericarp, with-
out valves, inclosing several naked seeds.
Milne.
BA€€ALAU'REATE, n. [The first part of
this word is from the same root asbachel
or ; or as Bailey supposes, from bacca,
ben-y ; and the latter part, from laurea, a
laurel, from the practice of wearing a gar
land of bay berries.]
The degree of bachelor of arts.
BAC'€ATED, a. [L. baccatus, garnished
with pearls, from bacca, a berry.]
Set or adorned with pearls ; having many
berries. [Little used.]
BAC'ellANAL, I [from Bacchus, Gr.
BACeHANA'LIAN, <, "'taaxajos, the deity ot
wine and revelling. Qu. Ir. back, drunk
or D. bak, bowl, L. poculum ; Gyp. becha
ri, a cup ; or from raging, revelling.]
One who indulges in driuiken revels ; <
druid;ard ; one who is noisy and riotous,
when intoxicated.
BACCHANAL, ? RevelHng in intern-
BAC€IIAN.VLIAN, \ "" perate drinking ; ri-
otous ; noisy.
BAeeHANA'LIAN, a. Pertaining to revel-
ling and drunkenness.
Even bacchanalian in.idncss h.is its charms.
Cowper
BACCHANALS, n. plu. Drunken feasts
the revels of bacchanalians. In antiquity.
feasts in honor of Bacchus, the god of
wine. These were celebrated in spring
and autunui, with games and shows.
Encyc
BA€'€HI€, a. Jovial; drunken; mad will
intoxication.
% Relating to Bacchus, the god of wine
as, a bacchic feast or song ; bacchic myste
ries. Faber. Encijc.
BA€'eHIUS, n. In ancient poetry, a foot
composed of a short syllable and two long
ones ; as in avari. Encyc.
BA€CIF'EROUS, a. [L. baccifer, of bacca
a berry, and /ero, to bear.]
That jn-oduces berries. [See Bncca.'] Bac
ciferous plants formerly included all siicl
plants a-< liave a jHilpy fruit, whether of
ihe ■.\Y\>\'\ liiTiv •'i- cl'iiTi-y kiLul; but tlie
under ilii;.l.-.rn|,ii.,ii Mich'|ilaiit^' (Ujly as
beai- Ih.; i>ulpy pmcuq), railed iucci, c
berry. Milw
BA€CIV'OROUS, a. [L. bacca, berry, and
voro, to eat.]
Eating or subsisting on berries ; as baccivo-
rmts birds.
BACH'ELOR, n. [Fr. bachelier; Sp. bach-
itler, a bachelor of arts and a babbler;
i'ort. hacharel, id. and bacello, a shoot
twig of the vine ; It. baccelliere, a bachelor
of arts; bacchio, a staff ; hacchelta, a rod;
L. baculus, a stick, that is, a shoot ; Fr.
bachelettc,a. damsel or young woman ; Scot.
baich, a child ; W. bacgen, a boy, a child ;
liacgenes, a young girl ; from bac, small.
This word has its origin in the name of a
child or young person of either sex,
whence the sense of babbling in the Span-
ish. Or both senses are rather from shoot-
ing, protruding.]
A young man who has not been married.
2. A man of any age, who has not been mar-
ried : often with the word old.
3. A pei'son who has taken the first degree
in the liberal arts and sciences, at a college
or university. This degree or honor is
called the baccalaureate. This title is giv-
en also to such as take the first degree in
divinity, law or physic, in certain Euro
pean universities.
4. A knight of the lowest order, or more cor
rectly, a young knight, styled, a knight
bachelor. The Germans anciently consti-
tuted their young men knights or soldiers,
by presenting to them a shield and a lance,
in a great council. This ceremony an-
swered to that of the toga virilis of the
Romans. In the livery companies of Lon-
don, those persons not yet admitted to the
livery are called bachelors.
BACHELORSHIP, n. The state of bein
bachelor.
2. The state of one who has taken his first
degree in a college or university.
BACK, n. [Sax. bac, bcec; Dan. bag; Sw
bak ; and Sw. backe, bakke, a hill, a clod
or lump. The se
like the Ger. jiicA-
shoulders or to the back oi'ix beast
1. The upper part of an animal, particidarly
of a quadruped, whose back is a ridge
In human beings, the hinder part of the
bixly.
2. The outward or convex part of the hand,
ojjposed to the inner, concave part, or
se probably is a ridge,
)i, D. rug, applied to the
ojjpose
palm.
3. As the back of man is the part on the
side opposite to the face ; hence the part
opposed to the front ; as the back of
book and of a chimney, or the back of
house.
4. The part opposite to or most remote from
that which fronts the speaker or actor, or
the part out of sight ; as the back of an isle,
of a wood, of a village.
5. As the back is the strongest part of an
imal, and as the back is behind ui moti
hence the thick and strong part of a <
ting tool; as the back of . a knife, or of a
saw.
(j. The place behind or nearest the back : as,
on the back of a hill or of a village.
7. The outer part of the body, or the whole
body ; a part for the whole ; as, he has
not clothes to his back.
To turn the back on one, is to forsake, oi
neiflecf liiiii. South
9. To turn the back to one, to acknowledge
to be superior.
10. To turn the back, is to depart, or to leave
the care or cognizance of ; to remove or
be absent. Davits.
\\. Behind the back, is in secret, or when
one is absent.
12. To cast behind the back, in scripture, is to
forget and forgive. Is. xxxviii. 17 ; or to
treat with contempt. Ez. xxiii. 35. Neh,
ix. 26.
13. To plow the back, is to oppress and per-
secute. Ps. cxxix.
14. To bow the back, is to submit to oppres-
sion. Rom. xi. 10.
BACK, adv. To the place from which one
came ; as, to go back is to return.
2. In a Jigurative sense, to a former state,
condition or station ; as, he cannot go back
from his engagements.
3. Behind ; not advancing ; not coming oi-
bringing forward ; as, to keep hack a part ;
to keep one's self tacfc.
4. Towards times or things past ; as, to lool)
back on former ages.
5. Again ; in return ; as, give hack the
6. To go or come back, is to return, either to
a Ibrmer place, or state.
7. To go or give back, is to retreat, to recede
BACK, V. t. To mount ; to get upon the
back ; sometimes perhaps to place upon
the back ; as, to batk a horse. Shak.
2. To support ; to maintain ; to second or
strengthen by aid ; as, the Court was
backed by the House of Commons.
Dryden.
3. To put backward ; to cause to retreat or
recede ; as, to back oxen.
To buck a warrant, is for a justice of the
peace in the county where the warrant is
to be executed, to sign or indorse a war-
rant, issued in another county, to appre-
hend an offender. " Blackstone.
5. In seamanship, to back an anchor is to lay
down a small anchor ahead of a large one,
the cable of the small one being fastened
to the crown of the large one, to prevent
its coming home.
(5. To back astern, in rowing, is to manage
the oars in a direction contrary to the us-
ual method, to move a boat stern foremost.
7. To back the sails, is to arrange them so as
to cause the ship to move astern.
Mar. Diet.
BACK, II. i. To move or go back ; as, the
horse refuses to back. Encyc.
BACK'BITE, V. t. [back and bite.] To cen-
, sine, slander, reproach, or speak evil of
the absent. Prov. ,\xv.
BACKBITER, n. One who slanders, ca-
hnnniates or .speaks ill of the absent.
BACKBITING, n. The act of slandering
tlie absent ; secret calumnv. 2 Cor. xii.
BACKBITINGLY, adv. With secret slan-
der. Barret.
BACK'BOARD, n. [back and board.] A
board placed across the after part of a
boat.
BACKBO'NE, n. [back and bone.] The
hone of the back ; or the spine.
BACK'€ARRY, n. A having on the back ;
a term of law.
BACKDOOR, n. [hack and door.] A door
on the back part of a building ; a private
)>assas:'' ; an indirect vvyv.
BAG
BAG
A D
ftACK'ED, pp. Mounted ; having on the
back ; supported by aid ; seconded ; mo-
ved backward.
BACK'ED, o. Having a back; a word used
in composition ; as broad-backed, hump-
backed.
BACK'FRIEND, n. Ihack and friend. A
secret enemy. South.
BACKGAM'MON, n. [W. bac, small, and
cammaun, conflict, battle ; camp, a game.]
A game played by two persons, upon a ta-
ble, with box and dice. The table is in
two parts, on which are 24 black and white
spaces, called points. Each player has 15
men of difterent colors for the purpose of
distinction. Encyc.
BACK'GROUND, n. [back and ground.]
Ground in tlie rear or behind, as opposed
to the front.
2. A place of obscurity, or shade ; a situa-
tion little seen, or noticed.
BACK'HANDED, a. [back andhand.] With
the hand turned backward ; as a backhand
ed blow.
BACK'HANDED, adv. With the hand di
rected backward ; as, to strike backhanded.
BACK'HOUSE, n. [back and house.] A
building behind the main or front build
in?.
BACK'ING, ppr. Mounting ; moving back,
as a horse ; seconding.
BACK'PAINTINO, n. [back and paint.]
The method of painting mezzotinto prints,
pasted on glass of a size to (it the print.
Ena/c.
BACK'PIECE, n. [back and piece.] The
piece of armor which covers the back.
BACK'RETURN, ti. Repeated return.
Shak.
BACK'ROOM, n. [back and room.] A room
behind the front room, or in the back part
of the house.
BACKS, n. Among dealers in leather, the
thickest and best tanned hides. Eyicyc.',
BACK'SET, a. [back and set.] Set upon!
in the rear. Anderson.
BACK'SIDE, n. [back and side.] The back
part of any thing ; tlie part behind that
which is presented to the face of a specta-
tor. Ex. iii.
?. The hind part of an animal.
:J. The yard, ground or place behind a
house. I
BACKSLI'DE, v. i. [back and slide.] To|
fall off; to apostatize ; to tiu-n gradually
from the faith and practice of Christianity.!
Jer. iii. Hos. iv. 1
BACKSLI'DER, n. An apostate; one who
falls from the faith and practice of reh-j
gion. Prov. xiv. |
2. One who neglects his vows of obedience
and falls into sin. |
BACKSLI'DING, n. The act of apostati-
zing from faith or practice ; a faUing in-
sensibly from religion into sin or idolatry.
Jer. v. 6.
BACK'STAFF, n. [back and staff, so called
from its being used with the observer's
back toward the sun.]
■V quadi'ant ; an instrument for taking the
sun's altitude at sea ; called also, from its]
inventor, Davis's quadrant. Encyc.\
BACK'STAIRS, n. [hack and stairs.] I
Btairs in the back part of a house ; privatej
stairs ; and fguratively, a private or indi-
rect way. 1
BACK'STAYS, n. [back and stay.]
Long ropes or stays extending from the top-
mast heads to both sides of ii ship, to as-
sist the shrouds in supporting the mast,
when strained by a weight of sail, and
prevent it from giving way and falling
overboard. Mar. Diet.
BACK'SWORD, n. [back and sword.]
A sword with one sharp edge. In England,
a stick wth a basket handle used in rustic
amusements. Arbuthnol.
BACK'WARD, ) . [back and ward. See
BACK'WARDS, P""- IVard.] With the
back in advance ; as, to move backward.
2. Toward the back ; as, to throw the arms
backward; to move backwards and fo
wards.
3. On the back, or with the back downward
a?, to fall backward.
4. Toward past times or events ; as to look
backward on the history of man.
,5. By way of reflection ; reflexively. Davies.
(5. From a better to a worse state ; as, public
afiiiirs go backward.
7. In time past ; as, let us look some age
backward.
8. Perversely ; from a wrong end.
I never yet saw man but she would spell him
backward. Shak
9. Towards the beginning ; in an order con
trary to the natural order; as, to read
backivard.
10. In a scriptural sense, to go or turn back
loard, is to rebel, apostatize, or relapse into
sin, or idolatry. Is. i.
11. Contrarily; in a contrai-y manner.
Swift.
To be driven or turned backieard, is to be de-
feated, or disappointed. Ps. xl.
To turn judgment backward, is to pervert jus-
tice and laws. Is. lix.
BACK'W.-UID, a. Unwilling ; averse ; re-
luctant ; hesitating.
For wiser bmtcs are backward to be slaves.
Pope.
2. Slow ; sluggish ; dilatory.
The mind is backward to undergo the fati^e
of weighing every argument. Watts
3. Dull ; not quick of apprehension ; behind
progress ; as a backward learner.
4. Late ; behind in time ; coming after some-
thing else, or after the usual time ; as
backward fruits ; the season is backward.
B.\CK'WARD n. The things or state be-
hind or past.
In the dark backward or abysm of time.
Shak.
[JSTot proper, nor in use.]
BACK'WARDLY, adv. UnwilUngly ; re-
luctantly ; aversely ; perversely.
BACKWARDNESS, n. Unwillingness ; re-
luctance ; dilatoriness, or dullness in ac-
tion.
2. A state of being behind in progress ; slow-
ness ; tardiness ; as the backwardness of
the spring.
BACK'WORM, n. [back and worm.] a|
small worm, in a thin skin, in tlie reins ofl
a hawk. [See Filanders.] Encyci
BA'€ON, 5!. ba'kn. [W. baccun ; Ir. bogun.l
In old charters, boca. Cowel. In Ger.l
bache, is a wild sow.]
Hog's flesh, salted or pickled and dried, usu-
ally in smoke.
Tti save one's bacon, is to preserve one's self
from hiirin.
BA<;'IJLK, n. [Fr. bascule.]
In fortification, a kind of portcullis or gate,
made like a pit-fall, with a counter])oi»c,
and supported by two great stakes. Encyc.
BAC'ULITE, n. [L. baculus.]
A genus of fossil shells, of a straight fonn,
in their cellular structure resembling the
anmionitos. Edin. Encyc.
BAeULOM'ETRY, n. [L. baculus, a staflT.
and Gr. futiiov, measure.]
The act of measuring distance or altitude by
a stafl' or staves. Bailey. Johnson.
BAD, «. [Pers. Jv J bad, evil, depraved ; al-
lied perhaps to Ar. i Lj ; Ibb. Ch. Syr
Sam. n3N to perish or destroy.]
1. Ill ; evil ; opposed to good ;" a word of
general use, denoting physical defects and
moral faults, in men and things ; as a bad
man, a bad heart, a bad design, bad air, bad
water, bad books.
2. Vicious ; corrupt ; depraved, in a moral
sense ; as a bad lite ; a bad action.
3. Unwholesome ; as bad provisions.
4. Unfortunate ; unprosperous ; as a bad
state of afTairs.
a. Unskilful ; as a bad player.
6. Small ; poor ; as a bad crop.
7. Infirm ; as a bad state of health.
8. Feeble, corrupt, or oppressive ; as a bad
government.
9. Hurtful ; pernicious ; as, fine print is bad
for the eyes.
10. Unfavorable ; as a bad season.
11. Poor; steril ; as a 6orf soil.
12. Rough or muddy ; as a bad road.
In short, bad expresses whatever is injurious,
hurtful, uiconvenient, unlawful or immor-
al ; wliatever is ofiensive, painful or unfa-
vorable ; or what is defective.
BAD, BADE, the past tense of bid. [See
Bid.]
BADGE, n. [I know not the afiiniiies of this
word, not having found it in any other lan-
guage. Probably it belongs to class Bg.]
1. A mark, sign, token or thing, by which a
person is distinguished, in a particular
place or employment, and designating his
relation to a person or to a pardcular oc-
cupation ; as the badge of authority.
2. Tlie mark or token of any thing ; as the
badge of bitterness. Skak.
3. An ornament on ships, near the stem,
decorated with figures.
BAD(';E, V. t. To mark, or distinguish with
a Ijadfro. Shak.
BAl)(i'ER, n. [Qu. badge, sn^ra. ; or Sax.
Iii/!fiui, hycffan, to buy ; Norm, bugge.]
In law, a person who is licensed to buy corn
in one place and sell it in another, without
incurring the penalties of engrossing.
CmveL
BADG'ER, n. A quadruped of the genua
Ursus, of a clumsy make, with short, thick
legs, and long claws on the fore feet. It
inhabits the north of Europe and Asia,
burrows, is indolent and sleepy, feeds by
night on vegetables, and is very fat. Its
skin is used for pistol furniture ; its flesh
makes good bacon, and its hair is used for
brushes to soften the shades in painting.
Ena/c.
BAG
BAH
B A
riie American badger is called the gi-ouud
hoir, and is sometimes white. Pennant.
BADV; ER-LEGGED, a. Having legs like
a badger. Johnson says having legs of
iniequal length ; but, qu. short thick legs.
Shak.
BADIA'GA, n. A small spunge, common in
the North of Europe, the powder of which
is used to take away the livid marks of
bruises. Encyc.
BAD'IANE, I The seed of a tree in Ciii-
BAN'DIAN, ^ ' 'na, which smells hke anise
seeds ; used by the Chinese and Dutch to
give their tea im aromatic taste. Encyc.
BADIgE'ON, n. A mixture of plaster and
free stone, ground together and sifted,
used by statuaries to lill the small holes
and repair the defects of the stones, of
which they make their statues. Encyc.
BAD'INAgE, 11. [Fr.] Light or playful dis-
course. CktsUrfitld.
BAD'LY, adv. [from had.]
In a bad manner ; not well ; unskilfully ;
grievously ; unfortunately ; imperfectly.
BAD'NESS, n. The state of being bad, evil,
vicious or depraved ; want of good quali-
ties, natural or moral ; as the badness of
the heart, of the season, of the roads, &e.
BAF'FETAS, 1 An India cloth or plain
BAF'TAS, > n. muslin. That of Su
B.\S'TAS, 5 is said to be the best.
Encyc.
BAF'FLE, V. t. [Fr. befler, to make, or play
the fool with ; Sp. befar ; It. beffare, id.
It coincides in origin with buffoon. In
Scottish, heff, baff, signifies to stiike.]
To mock or elude by artifice ; to elude by
shifts and turns ; hence to defeat, or con-
found ; as, to baffle the designs of an
enemy.
Fashionable follies baffle argument. .inon.
BAF'FLE, i\ i. To practice deceit. Barroio.
BAF'FLE, w. A defeat by artifice, shifts
and turns. South.
BAFFLED, p;?. Eluded ; defeated ; eon-
foundod.
BAF'FLER, ?i. One that baffles.
BAF'FLING, ppi: Eluding by shifts, and
turns, or by stratagem; defeating; con-
founding. A baffling wind, among sea-
men, is one that frequently shifts, from
one point to another.
BAG, n. [Norm, bage, a bag, a coflfer ; bag
nes, baggage. This word seems to be from
the root of pack, pouch, Fr. poche, or of
the same family ; or it is from the
of tying, binding; Sp. baga, a rope or cord
for fastening loads on beasts of burden.
Hence baggage ; It. bagagUa ; Sp. bagage
Port, bagagein ;Fr. bagage; Arm. pacq,
a pack, and bagaich.]
i. A sack ; a pouch, usually of cloth or leath-
er, used to hold, preserve or convey corn,
and other commodities.
9. A sack in animal bodies containing some
fluid or other substance.
3. Formerly, a sort of silken purse tied to
the hair.
i. In commerce, a certain quantity of a com-
modity, such as it is customary to carry
to market in a sack ; as a bag of pepper or
hops ; a bag of corn.
3. Among farriers, a bag of asafcEtida and
savin is tied to the bits of horses to restore
their appetites Enciic.
BAG, V. t. To put into a bag.
2. To load with bags.
BAG, V. i. To swell like a full bag, as sail:
when filled with wind.
BAGATELLE, n. bagaleV. [Fr. ; Sp. baga-
tela ; It. bagatella ; Arm. bagauh.]
A trifle ; a thing of no importance.
BAGGAGE, n. [Fr. bagage. Qu. Eug.
package ; D. pakkaadje, baggage, that
which is packed. See Bag.]
1. The tents, clothing, utensils, and other
necessaries of an army.
2. The clothing and other conveniencies
which a traveller carries with him, on e
journey.
Havhig dispatcheJ my baggage by water t(
Altdorf. Coxe, Switz
[The English now call this luggage.']
BAG'GAtiE, n. [Fr. bagasse; lubagascia
Sj). bagazo, a catamite ; Pers. baga, i
strumpet.]
A low worthless woman ; a strumpet.
BAG'GING, ppr. Swelling ; becoming pro
tuberant.
BAG'GING, n. The cloth or materials for
bags. U. States. Edivards' W. Indies.
BAGNIO, n. ban'yo. [It. bagno ; Sp. bano ;
Port, banho ; Fr. bain ; L. balneum.]
1. A bath ; a house for bathing, cupping,
sweating and otherwise cleansing the
body. In Turkey, it is the name of pris-
ons where slaves are kept ; so called from
the baths which they contain. Encyc.
2. A brothel.
BAG' PIPE, n. [bag ami pipe.]
A musical wind instrument, used chiefly in
Scotland and Ireland. It consists of a
leatliern bag, which receives the air by a
tube, wliich is stopped by a valve ; and
pipes, into which the air is pressed by the
])erformer. The base-pipe is called the
drone, and the tenor or treble is called the
chanter. The pipes have eight holes like
those of a flute, which the performer stops
and opens at pleasure. There are several
species of bag-pipes, as the sort and me-
lodious Irish bag-pipe, with two short
drones and a long one ; the Highland bag-
pipe, with two short drones, the music of
wliich is very loud ; the Scot's Lowland
bag-pipe, which is ])layed with a bellows
and is also a loud instrument. There '
also a small pipe, with a chanter about
eight inches in length. Encyc.
In seamansliip, to bag-pipe the mizen,
lay it aback by bringing the sheet to the
mizen shrouds. Mar. Diet.
BAG'PIPER, ?!. Que who plays on a bag-pipe,
BAG'RE, n. A small beardetl fish, a species
of Silurus, anguillifortn, of a silvery hue,
without scales, and delicious food.
Did. of ATat. Hist.
BAG'REEF, n. [bag and reef/]
A fourth and lower reef used in the 1
ritish
uavy. Mar. Diet.
BAGUET', n. [Fr. baguette, from bague, a
ring ; Ir. beacht ; Sax. beag.]
In architecture, a little round molding, less
than an astragal, sometimes carved and
enriched. Encyc.
BAHAR', ? Weights used in the E. Indies.
BAR'RE, I "■ The great bahar, for weighing
pepper, cloves, nutmegs, &c., is 5241b. 9oz.
avoirdupoise. The little bahar, for weigl
ing quicksilver, vermilion, ivory, silk, ice,
)•=. 137 lbs. 90:?. Encyi
^AIGNE, V. t. [Fr. baigner.]
To soak or drench. [JVot used.] Carew .
BA'IKALITE, m. [From Baikal, a lake in
Northern Asia.]
A mineral occurring in acicular prisms,
sometimes long, and either confusedly
grouped or radiating from a center. Its
color is greenisli, or yellowish white. It
is regarded as a variety of Tremolite.
This name is given also to an olive-green
variety of augite and also of epidote.
Cleaveland.
BAIL, V. t. [Fr. and Norm, bailler, to deUv-
er, to lease ; Ann. bahailhat ; Ar. J. 4 j
bahala ; Eth. (]^(h baleah, to deliver, free,
liberate, permit to go.]
. To .set free, deliver, or liberate from ar-
rest and imprisonment, upon security giv-
en that the person bailed shall appear and
answer in court. The word is apphed to
the magistrate, or the surety. The magis-
trate bails a man, when he Uberates him
from arrest or imprisonment, upon bond
given with siu-eties. The surety bails a
person, when he procures his release fi-om
arrest, by giving bond for his appearance.
Blackstone.
2. To deliver goods in trust, upon a contract,
expressed or implied, that the trust shall
be faithfully executed on the part of the
bailee or person entrusted ; as, to baii
cloth to a tailor to be made iiUo a garment,
or to bail goods to a carrier. Blackstone
'■i. To free from water, as to bail a boat.
This word is improperly written bale
The word is probably the same as bail in
law, to free, or liberate, and signifies to
throw out water, as with a bucket or
shovel.
BAIL, n. Tlie person or persons tvho pro-
cure the release of a prisoner from custody,
by becoming surety for his appearance in
The 6ai7 must be real substantial bondsmen.
Blackstone.
B and B were bail to the arrest in a suit at law.
Kent.
Bailis not used with a plural termination.
2. The security given for the release of a
prisoner from custody ; as, the man is out
upon bail.
Excessive bail ought not to be required.
Blackstone.
Bail is common or special. Common bail are
imaginary persons, who are pledges for
the plaintifl''s prosecution ; as John Doe
and Richard Roe.
Special hail must be men of real substance,
sufficient to pay their bojid or recogniz-
ance. To perfect or justify bail is to prove
by the oath of the person that he is worth
the sum for which he is surety beyond his
debts. To admit to bail, is to release up-
on security given by bondsmen.
3. The handle of a kettle or other vessel.
1. Ill England, a certain limit within a
lol-cst.
BA ILABLE, a. That in.iy he set free up-
on bond with sureties ; that may be ad-
mitted to bail ; used of persons.
2. That admits of bail ; as a bailable offense.
Blacksto7ic.
BA'ILBOND, n. A bond or obhgation given
B A I
B A L
B A L
by a prisoner and his surety, to insure the
prisoner's appearance in court, at the re-
turn of the writ.
BAILED, pp. Released from custody on
bonds for appearance in court.
"2. Dehvered in trust, to be carried and de-
posited, redehvered, or otherwise account-
ed for.
3. Freed from water, as a boat.
BAILEE', n. The person to whom goods
are connnitted in trust, and who has a
temporary possession and a quahfied prop-
erty in theni,lbr the purposes of the trust.
Blackstone.
BA'ILER, } One wlio dehvers goods to
BA'ILOR, \ "■ another in trust, for some
particular purpose.
BA'ILIFF, n. f Fr. baUlif; Arm. belly ; Scot.
bailii ; It. bailo, a magistrate ; balia, power,
authority. Ch. Ar. Heb. Syr. S;'3, lord,
chief. Class, Bl.]
In England, an officer appointed by the sher-
if}". Bailiffs are either special, and ap-
pointed, for their adroitness, to arrest
persons ; or bailiffs of hundreds, who col-
lect fines, siunmon juries, attend the assiz
es, and execute writs and process. The
sheriff in England is the king's bailiff.
There are also iiaiVi^sof Uberties, appointed
by the lords in their respective jurisdic
tions, to execute process, and perforn
other duties ; bailiffs of forests and of man-
ors, who direct the husbandry, coUeci
rents, &c. ; and water bailiffs ia each port,
to search vessels, gather toll for anchorage
arrest persons for debt on the water, &c
Blackslone. Encyc.
The office of bailiff formerly was high and
honorable in England, and officers under
tliat title on the continent are still invest-
ed with important functions.
BA'ILIWICK, n. [bailii, an officer, see
bailiff, and Sax. tine]
The precincts in which a bailifT has juris-
diction ; the limits of a baihfTs authority
as a hundred, a liberty, a forest, over which
a bailiff is appointed. In the hberties and
i franchises of lords, the baiUff has exclu-
sive jurisdiction. Encyc.
i BA'ILMENT, n. [from bail]
I A delivery of goods, in trust, upon a con-
'' tract, expressed or implied, tliat the trust
shall be faithfully executed. Blackslone.
1 BA ILPIECE, n. A slip of parchment or
I i)aper containing a recognizance of bail
above or bail to the actio7i. Blackslone.
BA 1 KN, ^ [Sax. beam ; Scot, bairn ; prob-
BARN, S ably. Eng. born.} A child. [Lit-
tle used in English.]
BAIT, ii. [W.abwyd, hwyd; Arm. boet; Ir.
aliiilh; Sw. bete, food ; beta, to feed ; Sax,
biitiin, to bait ; Russ. pitayu : Dan. beder, to
rest lor refreshment.]
1. Any substance for food, proper to be used
or actually used, to catch fish, or other
animals, by alluring them to swallow a
hook, or to be caught in snares, or in a
iuclosure or net.
'1. A nortion of food and drink, or a refresli
meat taken on a journey.
3. An allurement ; enticement ; temptation.
BAIT, V. t. To put meat on a hook or line
or in an inclosure, or among snares, to al-
hne tisli, fowls and other animals into hu-
■nan power.
2. To give a portion of food and drink toi
man or beast upon the road ; as, to bail
iiorses.
BAIT, V. i. To take a portion of food and
drink for refreshment on a journey ; as,
we stopped to bait.
BAIT, V. t. [Goth, beilan. In Sax. bale is
contention. See Make-bate.]
1. To provoke and harass by dogs ; to har-
ass by the help of others ; as, to bait a bull
or a boar.
2. To attack with violence ; to harass in the
manner of small animals.
BAIT, V. i. To clap the wings ; to flutter
as if to fly ; or to hover as a hawk, when
she stoo))s to her prey. Bailey. Shak.
BAIT, n. VVliitc Bait, a small fish of the
Thames.
BA'ITED, pp. Furnished with bait ; allur-
ed ; tempted.
2. Fed, or refreshed, on the road.
■•3. Harassed by dogs or other small animals ;
I attacked.
BAITING, ppr. Furnishing with bait
tempting; alluring.
2. Feeding; refreshing at an inn.
3. Harassing, with dogs ; attacking.
BAIZE, n. [Per. pozah, the nap or down of
cloth ; Sp. bausan, the same.]
A coarse woolen stuff, with a long naji
sometimes frized on one side, withou
wale, being wove with two treadles like
flannel. Chambers.
BAKE, V. t. [Sax. bacan ; Sw. baka ; Dan,
bager ; D. hakken ; Ger. backen ; Gypsey,
pekgum ; Russ. peku, to bake ; pekar, a.
baker ; Per. pochian, to bake or cook.^
1. To heat, dry and harden, as in an oven or
furnace, or under coals of fire ; to dress
and prepare for food, in a close place
heated ; as, to bake bread.
2. To dry and harden by heat, either
oven, kiln or furnace, or by the solar rays ;
as, to bake bricks ; to bake the ground.
BAKE, V. i. To do the work of baking
as, she brews, washes and bakes.
2. To be baked ; to dry and harden in heat ;
as, the bread bakes; the ground bakes in a
hot sun.
BA'KED, pp. Dried and hardened by heat ;
dressed in heat ; as baked meat.
BAKEHOUSE, n. [bake and hojise.] A
house or building for baking.
BA'KEMEATS, n. Meats prepared for
food in an oven. Gen. xl.
B A' KET>!, pp. The same as baked, and nearly
obsolete.
BAKER, n. One whose occupation is to
bake bread, biscuit, &c.
BA'KER-FOOT, n. An ill-sliaped or dis
torted foot. Taylor
BAKER-LEGGED, a. One who has crook
ed legs, or legs that beiid inward at tin
BAKERY, n. The trade of a baker.
2. A i)lace occupied with the business of]
baking bread, &c. SmoUett.
BA'KING, ppr. Drying and hardening in
heat : dressuig or cooking in a close place,
or in heat.
BA'KING, n. The quantity baked at once
as a baking of bread.
BAL'AN, n. A fish of a beautiful yellow,
variegated with orange, a species of
wrasse, caught on the shores of England
Did. o/mt. Hist
BAL'ANCE, 71. [Fr. balance ; Sp. balanza ,
It. bitancia ; L. bilani, bis, twice, and
lam, a dish, the double dish.]
1. A pair of scales, for wcighmg commodi-
ties. It consists of a beam or lever sus-
pended exactly in the middle, with a scale
or basin hung to each extremity, of pre-
cisely equal weight. The Roman balance,
our steel-yard, consists of a lever or beam,
movable on a center, and suspended near
one of its extremities. Hence,
2. One of the simple powers in mechanics,
used for determining the equality or dif-
ference of weight in hea%-y bodies, and
consequently their masses or quantity of
matter. Encyc.
3. Figuratively, an impartial state of the
mind, in deliberating ; or a just estimate
of the reasons and arguments on both
sides of a question, which gives to each its
due iveight, or foTce and importance.
4. As balance signifies equal weight, or equal-
ity, it is by custom used for the wciglU or
sum necessary to make two unequal weights
or sums equal ; that wliich is necessary to
bring them to a balance or equipoise.
Hence, in accounts, balance is the differ-
ence of two sums ; as upon an adjustment
of accounts, a balance was found against
A, in fiivor of B. Hence, to pay a balance,
is to pay the difference and maKe the two
accounts equal.
5. Balance of trade is an equal exportation
of domestic productions, and importation
of foreign. But, usually, the term is ap-
plied to the difference between the amount
or value of the commodities exported and
imported. Hence the common expres-
sion, the balance of trade is against or in
favor of a couutrj'.
6. Equipoise, or an equal state of power be-
tween nations ; as the "balance of power."
7. Equipoise, or an equal state of the pas-
sions.
The Jafei»ice of the mind. Pope.
. That which renders weight or authority
equal.
The only balance attempted against the an-
cient kings, was a body of nobles. /. Adams.
9. The part of a clock or watch which reg-
ulates the beats.
10. In astronomy, a sign in the zodiac, called
in Latin Libra, which the sun enters at the
equinox in September.
The hydrostatic balance is an instnunent
to determine the specific gravity of fluid
and solid bodies.
The assay balance is one which is used
in docimastic operations, to determine the
weight of minute bodies.
BAL'ANCE, V. t. To adjust the weights m
the scales of a balance so as to bring them
to an equipoise. Hence,
2. To weigh reasons; to compare, by esti-
mating the relative force, importance, or
value of different things ; as, to balance
good and evil.
3. To regulate different powers, so as to
keep them in a state of just proportion;
as, to balance Europe, or the powers of
Europe.
4. To counterpoise ; to mal<e of equal weight
or force ; to make equipollent ; as, one
species of attraction balantes another.
One expression in the letter must check and
balance another. fTeni
B A L
B A L
B A L
5. To settle and adjust, as an account ; to
find the difference of two accounts, and to
pay the balance, or difference, and make
them equal.
6. In seamanship, to contract a sail, by roll
ing up a small part of it at
BAL'ANCE,
I corner.
Mar. Did.
To have on each sidi
equal weight ; to be on a poise.
3. To hesitate ; to fluctuate between motives
which appear of equal force, as a balance
plays when poised by equal weights.
Between right and wrong, never balance
moment. Jlnoi
BAL'ANCED, pp. Charged with equal
v/eights; standing on an C(iuipojse ; regu
lated si. :!s Id bcM'((u;il: settled; adjusted
made r(|i;;il ill V. ii"lit oraiiKiunt.
BAL'A.XCi; FISH, ,,. 'rhfzyi.a<na,orniRr
teaii ; :\ li-li dl'tlic ^ciius sqiiulus, or shark
kind. It is () feet' long, and weighs 500
lbs. It has three or four rows of broad
pointed and serrated teeth; has a horrible
aspect, and is verv voracious. Encyc.
lUL'ANCER, ;;. The person who weighs,
or who uses a balance.
9. A member of an insect useful in balancing
the body.
3. One skilled in balancing.
BAL'ANCE-REEF, n. A reef band that
crosses a sail diagonally, used to contract
it in a storm. Mar. Did.
BAL'ANCING, ppr. Charging with equal
weights ; being in a state of equipoise ;
bringing to a state of equality ; regulating
respective forces or sums lo make them
equal; settling; adjusting; paying a dif-
ference of accounts ; hesitating; contract-
ing a sail bv rolling up one corner of it.
BAL'ANCING, n. Equilibrium ; poise.
Spenser.
BAL'ANITE, n. A fossil shell of the genus
Balanus. Jameson.
BAL'ASS, } r- I , ,',,•■,
BAL'AS < "■ '■*''• *"""' ' '' ''• ""'«'*■]
A variety of spinel ruby, of a pale rose red,
or inclining to orange. Its crystals are
usually octahedrons, composed' of two
four-sided pyramids, applied base to base.
[See Spinel.] CkaveUmd. Kinivn.
BALAUS'TINE, n. The wild pomegranate
tree. Core.
BAL'eONY, n. [Fr. balcon ; It. balcone ;
Sp. balcon ; Port, balcam ; probably a jut-
ting, as in bulk, belly, W. bale. In Pers.
t.jS.1 1 J balkanah, is a cancellated win-
dow.}
In arcMtecture, a frame of woqd, iron or stone,
in front of a house or other building, sup-
ported by colunms, pillars or consoles, and
encompassed with a balustrade. Balco-
nies are conmion before windows.
BALD, a. baiild. [Sp. baldio, untilled, va-
cant, unfiirnished ; Port, baldio, open, com-
mon ; baldar, to frustrate.]
I. Destitute of hair, especially on the top
and back of the head.
5. Destitute of the natural covering ; as a
bald oak.
n. Without feathers on the head ; as a bald
vulture.
t. Destitute of trees pj)^ thp top ;. as a bald
mountain. ...■ -,, ....
5. Unadorned ; inelegant ; as a bald transla-
tion. Dryden
(>. Mean ; naked ; base ; without dignity oi
value. Shak
7. In popular language, open, bold, auda
cious.
8. Without beard or awn ; as bald wheat.
BALD'ACIIIN, I [It. baldacchino ; Sp.
BALD'AQUIN, \ "' baldaquino, a rich silk
or canopy, carried over the host. Du
Cange. Lunier deduces it from the name of
a city in Babylonia.]
In architecture, a building in form of a
opy, supported by columns, and oiten used
as a covering to insulated altars; some-
times used for a shell over a door.
Encyc. Johnson.
BALD ERDASH, n. [Qu. Sp. balda, a tri-
fle, or baldonar, to insult with abusive
language ; AV. baldoi-z, to prattle ; D. bid-
deren.]
Mean, senseless prate ; a jargon of words :
ribaldry ; any thing jumbled together with-
out judement.
BALD ERDASH, v. t. To inix or adulterate
liquors. Johy^son
BALD LY, adv. Nakedly ; meanly ; inele-
gantly ; openly.
BALD IVESS, n. Want of hair on the toj
and back of the head; loss of hair; mean-
ness or inelegance of writing; want of
BALD'PATE, n. A pate without hair.
Shak
BALD'PATED, a. Destitute of hair ; shorn
of hair. Shak
ALD'RICK, n. [from Sw. bait, Ir. balta,
L. balteus, a belt, and lick, rich. See these
words.]
1. A girdle, or richly ornamented belt ; a
ar girdle.
A radiant baldrick o'er his shoulders ded.
Pope.
2. The zodiac. Spenser.
BALE, n. [Fr. bulk ; Ger. ballen ; D. bi "
It. balla, a bale ; Ch. Ar. Heb. h:r\, to bind,
to pledge, and its derivative, in Ar. antl
Etii., a rope.]
1. A bundle or package of goods in a cloth
cover, and corded for carriage or trans-
l)ortation.
9. Formerly, a pair of dice.
BALE.t). t. To make up in a bale.
BALE, 71. [Sax. beat, bealo. Qu. Ilcb. Ch.
Syr. and Ar. S3N, to grieve or mourn, to
be desolate, orS^n, to destroy. In Ir. bealu
is to die, and abail, death.] Alisery ; calam-
ity. Obs.
BALEAR'I€, a. [from Balearis, the denom-
ination given to Majorca and Minorca.
Q.U. fi-om Gr. ^a%\u, to throw, because the
inhabitants were good slingers.]
Pertaining to the isles of Majorca and Mi-
norca, in the Mediterranean sea.
BA'LEFUL, a. [See Bale.] Woeful ; sad ;
sorrowful ; full of grief ; producing mis-
ery ; as, a baleful smart ; baleful eyes.
Spenser. Milton
2. Mischievous ; destructive ; pernicious
calamitous ; deadly ; as, baleful enemies ;
baleful war.
BALtFULLY, adv. Sorrowfidly ; perni-
ciouslv ; in a calamitous manner.
BALIS'TER, n. [L. balista, from Gr. icCKT.^.
throw.] A cross bow. Blount.
BALiZE', n. [Fr. balise ; Sp. valiza, a bea-
con.] A sea-mark; a pole raised on a
bank.
BALK, n. bank. [Sax. bale ; W. bale, a ridge
between furrows ; bale, prominent, swell-
ing, proud ; said to be from bal, a promi-
nence ; bala, eruption ; bakm, to shoot,
spring or drive out.]
1. A ridge of land, left unplowed, between
furrows, or at the end of a field.
2. A great beam, or rafter. [G. balken ; D.
balk.]
3. Any thing left untouched, hke a ridge in
plowing. Spenser.
4. A frustration ; disappointment. South.
BALK, V. t. bauk. To disappoint ; to frus-
trate. Locke.
2. To leave untouched ; to miss or omit.
Drayton .
3. To pile, as in a heap or ridge. Shak.
4. To turn aside ; to talk beside one's mean-
Obs. Spenser.
5. To plow, leaving balks.
BALK'ED, pp. Plowed in ridges between
furrows, as in American husbandry.
2. Frustrated ; disappointed.
BALK'ER, n. One who balks. In fishery,
balkers are persons who stand on rocks
and eminences to espy the slides of her-
ring, and to give notice to the men in
boats, which way they pass.
Encyc. Cowel.
BALKTNG, ppr. Plowing in ridges ; frus-
trating.
BALL, n. [G. ball ; D. bal ; Sw. ball ; Dan.
baUon ; Russ. bal ; Sp. bala, bola ; It. palla ;
h. pila; W. p(l, pellen; Arm. bolat; Fr.
balle, boule. A ball may signify a mass
from collecting, or it may be that which is
driven, from the root of L. pello ; probably
the former.]
1. A round body ; a spherical substance,
whether natural or artificial; or a body
nearly round ; as, a ball for play ; a ball of
thread ; a ball of snow.
2. A bullet; aiaHof iron or lead for cannon,
muskets, &c.
3. A printer's ball, consisting of hair or wool,
covered with leather or skin, and fastened
to a stock, called a ball-stock, and used to
put ink on the types in the forms.
4. The globe or earth, from its figure.
5. A globe home as an ensign of authority ;
as, to hold the hall of a kingdom. Bacon.
6. Any part of the body that is round or pro-
tuberant ; as, the eye ball ; the ball of the
thumb or foot.
7. The weight at the bottom of a pendulum.
8. Among the Cornish miners in England, a
tin mine.
9. hi pyrotechnics, a composition of combus-
tible ingredients, which serve to burn,
smoke or give hght.
Ball-stock, among printers, a stock somewhat
hollow at one end, to which balls of skin,
stuffed with wool, are fastened, and which
serves as a handle.
Ball-vein, among miners, a sort of iron ore,
found in loose masses, of a circular form,
containing sparkling particles. Encyc.
Ball and socket, an instrument used in sur-
veying and astronomy, made of brass, with
a perpetual screw, to move horizontally,
obliquely, or vertically.
Puff-ball, in botany, the Lycoperdon, a genu«
of funguses.
B A L
B A L
B A L
l^re-ball, a meteor ; a luminous globe dart-!
iiijr through the atmosphere ; also, a ba]
of canvas filled with gunpowder, sulphui
pitch, saltpeter, &c., to be thrown by the
hand, or from mortars, to set fire to
houses.
BALL, 71. [Fr. bal ; It. ballo ; Sp. baijle, a
dance ; It. baUare, to dance, to shake ; Gr.
(SoAXu, to toss or tlirow ; or noXKu, to leap.]
An entertainment of dancing; originally and
peculiarly, at the invitation and expense of
an individual ; but the word is used in
America, for a dance at the expense of the
attendants.
BALL, 1). i. To form into a ball, as snow on
horses' hoofs, or on the feet. We say the
horse balh, or the snow balls.
BAL'LAD, »i. [It. ballata, a ball, a dance, a
ballad ; Fr. balhde, a song, and baladin, a
dancer. See Bail.]
A song ; originally, a solemn song of praise ;
but now a meaner kind of popular song.
ft'atts.
BAL'LAD, V. i. To make or sing ballads.
Shak.
BAL'LADER, n. A writer of ballads.
Overburij.
BAL'LAD-MAKER, n. A maker or coiii-
poser of ballads. Shak.
BAL'LAD-MONGER, n. [Bee Monger.] A
dealer in writing ballads. Shak.
BAL'LADRY, n. The subject or style of
ballads. B. Jonson.
BALLAD-SINGER, n. One whose employ-
ment is to sing ballads.
BAL'LAD-STYLE, n. The air or manner
of a ballad.
BAL'LAD-TUNE, n. Tlie tune of a ballad.
Ifarton.
BAL'LAD-WRITER, J^. A composer of
ballads. Warion.
BAL'LARAG, v. I. To bully; to tlireaton.
[N'ot in use.} Jf'aiion.
BAL'LAST, n. [Sax. bat, a boat, with lust,
a load ; D. Gor. and Dan. last ; VV. llwyth ;
Arm. lastr, a load ; bal-Iast, boat-loati, cor-
rupted into ballast ; Russ. baUasl ; Fr. lest ;
Sp. lastre.]
1 . i leavy matter, as stone, sand or iron, laid
on tlie bottom of a ship or other vessel, to
sink it in the water, to such a depth, as to
iiiable it to carry sufficient sail, without
oversetting.
ShingleballastishaUast of coarse gravel.
Mar. Did.
i. Figuratively, that which is used to make
:i thing steady. Sivifl.
I5AI.'L.4ST, V. t. To place heavy substances
nil tlie bottom of a ship or vessel, to keep
it from oversetting.
i. Tf) keep any thing steady, by counterbal-
ancing its force. Dryden.
BA L' LASTED, pp. Furnished with ballast ;
ki pt steady bv a counterpoising force.
P. A 1.' LASTING, ppr. Furnishing with bal-
last ; keeping steadv.
KAl.'LASTING, n. Ballast; that which is
iisnl for ballast. Shak.
P.Al.'LATED, a. Sung in a ballad. [Little
BAl.l.ATOON', n. A heavy luggage boat
iiiiployed on the rivers about the Caspian
Lake. Encyc.
HA 1,'LATRY, ji. A song ; a jig. Milton.
IJAI.'LET, )i. [Fr. ia//ef ; It. 6a//f«o. See
Halt, a dance.]
L A kind of dance ; an interlude ;
dance, consi.sting of a series of several airs,
with different movements, representing
some subject or action.
2. A kind of dramatic poem, representing
some fabulous action or subject, in which
several persons appear and recite things
under the name of some deity or person-
age. Encyc
In heraldry, ballets or balls, a bearing in
coats of anus, dcnon)inated according to
their color, bezants, plates, hurts, &c.
Encyc.
BAL'LIAgE, or more correctly bailage, n.
[Ir. baile, a town.]
A small duty paid to the city of London by
aliens, and even by denizens, for certain
commodities exported by them. Encyc.
BALLIARDS. [See BUlwrds.]
BALLISTER. [See Baluster.]
\LLIS'TIe, a. [L. balista, an engine to
throw stones, or shoot darts, from Gr.
jiaUM, to throw or shoot.]
Pertaining to the balista, or to the art of
shooting darts, and other missive weap-
ons, by means of an engine.
BALLIS'TIeS, n. The science or art of
throwing missive weapons, by the use of
an engine. The balista was a machine
resembling a cross-bow.
Encyc. Math. Diet. Ash.
BALLOON', )!. [Fr. ballon, a foot-ball ; Sp.
balon ; It. pallone ; W. pelhen, from pel, a
a ball. See BaU.]
In general, any spherical hollow body.
Encyc.
2. In chimistry, a round ves.sel with a short
neck, to receive whatever is distilled ; a
glass receiver of a splierical form.
3. In architecture, a ball or globe, on the top
of a pillar.
4. In fireworks, a ball of pasteboard, or kind
i)f bomb, stuflfed with combustibles, to be
jilaynl off, when fired, either in the air, or
in water, which, bursting like a bomb, ex-
hibits sparks of fire like stars.
Johnson. Encyc.
5. A game, somewhat resembling tennis,
played in an open field, with a lar^e ball
of leather, inflated with wind. Encyc.
6. A bag or hollow vessel, made of silk or
other light material, and filled with hydro-
gen gas or heated air, so as to rise and
float in the atmosphere ; called for distinc-
tion, an air-balloon.
7. In France, a quantity of paper, containing
24 reams. [See Bale.]
8. In France, balloon, ballon or ballot, a
quantity of gla.ss plates ; of white glass,
25 btindles of six plates each ; of colored
glass, 121-2 bundles of three plates each.
Enn/c.
B,\LL0ON', ? A state barge of Siam,
BAL'LOEN, 5 "• made of a single piece of
timber, veiy long, and managed with oars.
Encyc.
BAL'LOT, n. [Fr. ballotte ; Sp. balota,a Uttle
ball. See Ball]
A ball used in voting. Ballots are of dif-
ferent colors; those of one color give an
affirmative ; those of another, a negative.
They are privately put into a box or urn.
2. A ticket or written vote, being given in
Heti of a ballot, is now called by the same
name.
3. The act of voting by balls or tickets.
BAL'LOT, V. i. To vote by ballot, that i.-.^
by putting little balls of" diftcrent color>
into a box, the greater number of one
I color or the other determining the result.
2. To vote bv written papers or tickets.
BAL'LOTADE, ) In the menage, a leap ol
BAL'OTADE, ^ a horse between two
pillars, or uiion a strait line, so that when
ins fore feet are in the air, he shews noth-
ing but the shoes of his hind feet, withoul
jerking out. In a capriole, the horse yerks
out his hind legs. Farrier's Diet. Encyc.
BALLOTA'TION, n. A voting by ballot.
[Lillle usprf.J Wotton.
BAL'LOT-BOX, n. A box for receiving
ballots.
B'ALftI, n. biim. [Fr. baume, a contraction
o( balsam, which see.]
. The sap or juice of trees or shrubs re-
markably odoriferous or aromatic.
Dryden.
I. Any fragrant or valuable ointment.
Shak.
•3. Any thing which heals, or which soothcf-
or mitigates pain. Shak. Young.
4. In botany, the name of several plants, par-
ticularly of the genus Melissa. They are
aromatic and used as corroborants.
Balm of Gilead. A plant of the genus Ainj -
ris. Its leaves yield, when bruised, a
strong aromatic scent ; and from this plant
is obtained the balm of Gilead of the shops,
or balsam of Mecca or of Syria. It has a
yellowish or greenish color, a wann bitter-
ish aromatic taste, and an acidulous fra-
grant smell. It is valued as an odoriferous
unguent, and cosmetic, by the Turks, who
possess the country of its growth, and
hence it is adulterated for market. Encyc
B ALM, v.t. To anoint with balm, or with
any thing medicinal.
i2. To sootlie ; to mitigate ; to assuage.
Shak.
B'ALMY, a. Having the qualities of balm :
aromatic. Milton.
[2. Producing balm ; as the balmy tree.
Pope.
3. Sootliing ; soft ; mild ; as balmy slumbers.
Dryden .
4. Fragrant ; odoriferous ; as halmy wings.
Dryden.
5. Mitigating ; easing ; assuaging ; as balmy
breath. Shak.
B.AL'NEAL, a. [L. balneum.^ Pertaining
to a bath. Howell.
BAL'NEARY, ji. [L.bulnearium,iTon\bal-
neum. Syr. balna, bath.]
A bathing room. Broum.
BALNEA'TION, n. The act of bathing.
Brown.
BAL'NEATORY, a. Belonging to a bath or
stove. Johnson.
BaL'SAM, n. [Gr. fJoaoo^iov ; L. lalsamum.]
An oily, aromatic, resinous substance, flow-
ing spontaneously or by incision, from cer-
tain plants. A great variety of substances
pass imder this denomination. But in
modem chimistry, the term is confined to
such vegetable juices, as are liquid or spon-
taneously become concrete, and consist of
a resinous substance, combined with ben-
zoic acid, or capable of affording it by de-
coction or subhmation. The balsams are
either hquid or solid ; of the former, are the
balm of Gilead and the balsams of copaibaj
BAM
Peru and tolu ; of the latter, benzoin,
dragon's blood, and storax.
Encyc. JVicholson. Ure
Balsam apple, an annual Indian plant, inclu-
ded under the genus Momordica. A wate r
and a subtil oil are obtained from it, which
are commended as dcobstruents.
Balsam tree. This name is given to a genus
of plants called Clusia ; to another, called
Copaijera, which produces the balsam of
Copaiha ; and to a third, called Pistacia,
turpentine tree or mastich tree.
Balsam of Sulphur is a solution of sulpliur in
oil.
Balsam of Tolu is the produce of the Toha-
fera, or Tolu tree, of South America. It is
of a reddish yellow color, transparent, thick
and tenacious, but growing hard and brit-
tle by age. It is very fragrant, and like
the Balsam of Peru, is a stimulant
used as a pectoral. Ena/c. Linne.
Balsam 0/ Peru, the produce of a tree in Peru,
possessing strong stimulant qualities.
BALSAM A'TION, n. The act of rendering
balsamic.
BALSAMIC, ?
BALSAM'leAL, I
ting ; unctuous ;
BALSAMIC,
Encyc.
a. Yielding bal
Crashaw
Having the qualities
\ "' of balsam ; stimula-
soft ; mitigating ; mild.
Arhuthnot.
A warm, stimulating, de-
mulcent medicine, of a smooth and oily
consistence. Coxe.
BAL'SAMINE, ?!. Touch-me-not, or Iinpa
tiens, a genus of plants.
BAL'SAM-SWEATING
sam.
3.\LT'I€, 11. [From halte, belt, from certain
straits or channels, surrounding its isles,
called helts. See Belt.}
The sea which separates Norway and Swe
den from Jutland, Holstein and Germany.
BALT'I€, a. Pertaining to the sea of that
name ; situated on the Baltic sea.
Each Baltic state to join the righteous cause
Barlow
BAL'USTER, n. [It. balaustro ; S\>. balaus-
tre ; Fr. balustre ; from L. palus ; Eng. pole
pale. This is corrupted into baniuster.
which I liave rejected.^
A small colunm or pilaster, of various forms
and dimensions, often adorned with mold
ings, used for balustrades.
BAL'USTERED, a. Having balusters.
Soames.
BAL'USTRADE, n. [S[>. balaiistrado ; I
balaustrata; Fr. bahtstrade; from baluster.
\ row of balusters, joined by a rail, serving
as a fence or inclosure, for altars, balco-
nies, stair-cases, ten-aces, tops of build-
ings, &c. Encyc. Johnson,
BAM or BEAM, as an initial syllable in
names of places, signifies tcood; implying
that the place took its name from a grove,i
or forest. Ger. baum, a tree.
BAM'BOO, n. A plant of the reed kind, or
genus Arundo, growing in the East Indies,
and in some other warm climates, and
sometimes attaining to the height of 60
feet. From the main root, which is long,
thick and jointed, spring several round,
jointed stalks, which at 10 or 12 feet from
the ground, send out from their joints sev-
eral stalks which are united at their base.
These are armed, at their joints, with one
or two sharp rigid spines, and furnished
BAN
with oblong, oval leaves, eight or nine
inches long, on short footstalks. The flow-
ers grow in large panicles, from the joints
of the stalk, placed three in a parcel, close
to their receptacles. Old stalks grow to
five or six inches in diameter, and are so
hard and durable, as to be used for build-
ing and for all sorts of fumitiu-e, for water-
pipes, and for poles to support palanquins.
The smaller stalks are used for walking
sticks, flutes, &c. Encyc.
BAMBOO'ZLE, v.t. Toconfoimd; to de-
ceive ; to play low tricks. [A loiv ivord.)
Arhuthnot
BAMBOO'ZLER, n. A cheat ; one who
plays low tricks. Arhuthnot.
BAN, n. [Sax. bannan, abannan, to pro
claim ; It. bando, a proclamation ; Sp. and
Port, bando ; Fr. ban ; Arm. ban ; D. ban,
bnnnen ; Ger. id ; Sw. banna, to revile ;
Dan. band, ban, outlawry ; forbander, to
curse. Hence banish. The radical sense
is to send, thrust or drive. Class Bn.
No. 3.]
1. A public proclamation or edict ; a public
order or notice, mandatory or proliibitory,
In a more particular sense,
3. Notice of a marriage proposed, or of a
matrimonial contract, proclainied in a
ciiurch, that any person may object, if he
knows of any kindred between the parties,
of any precontract or other just cause, why
the marriage should not take place.
3. An edict of interdiction or proscription
Hence to put a prince under the ban of the
empire, is to divest him of his dignities,
and to interdict all intercourse and all offi-
ces of humanity with the oflfender. Some-
times whole cities have been put under
the ban, that is, deprived of their rights and
privileges. Encyc.
Interdiction ; prohibition. Milton.
5. Curse ; excommunication ; anathema.
Raleigh.
C. A pecuniai-y mulct or penalty laid upon a
dehn(|uent for offijnding against a ban.
A nmlct paid to the bishop by one guilty
of sacrilege and other crimes.
8. In military ajfnirs, a ])roclan!ation by beat
iif diiiMi, 'n"(|uiring a strict observance of
disiijilini', citliri- for declaring a new offi-
cer, or fur puiii.-liing an offender.
9. In commerce, a smooth fine mushn, im-
ported from the E. Indies. Encyc-
BAN, V. t. To curse ; to execrate.
Shak. Knolles.
BAN, V. i. To curse. Spenser
BAN' ANA, n. A species of the genus Mw-
sa, or plantain tree, and its fruit. It ri-
ses 15 or 20 feet high, with a sot\ stalk,
marked with dark purple stripes and spots,
with leaves six feet long, and a foot broad.
The flowers grow in bunches, covered with
a sheath of a fine purple color. The fruii
is four or five inches long, and an inch 01
more in diameter ; the pulp soft and of j
luscious taste. When ripe, it is eaten raw
or fried in sUces. Bananas grow in large
bunches weighing a dozen pounds or more,
This tree is the native of tropical countries,
and on many isles, constitutes an impor-
tant article of food. Encyc.
BAND, n, [Sax. banda; Sw.band; Dan
baand ; D. band ; G. band, hinde ; Sp. banda
BAN
venda ; Port. It. banda ; Ir. banna ; Pers.
Jvx J band ; Sans, bande, bunda ; Fr. hande.
See Bind and Bend.']
1. A fillet ; a cord ; a tie ; a chain ; any nar-
row ligament with which a thing is bound,
tied or fastened, or by which a number of
things are confined together.
2. In architecttire, any flat low member or
molding, broad but not deep, called also
fascia, face or plinth. Johnson. Encyc
3. Figuratively, any chain; any means of re-
straint ; that which draws or confines.
Dryden.
4. Means of union or connection between
persons; an. Hymen's hands. Shak.
. Any thing bound round or encircling
another. Bacon.
1. Something worn about the neck ; as the
6a»!rfs of clergymen. Addison.
7. A company of soldiers ; the body of men
united under one flag or ensign. Also, in-
definitely, a troop, a body of armed men,
2 Kings vi.
8. A company of persons united in any com-
mon design ; as a band of brothers.
9. A shp of canvas, sewed across a sail to
strengthen it. Mar. Diet.
The band of pensioners in England, is a
company of 120 gentlemen, who receive a
yearly allowance of £100 St., for attending
the king on solemn occasions. Encyc.
The bands of a saddle are two pieces of
iron nailed upon the bows, to hold them in
their proper situation. Johnson.
BAND, V. t. To bind together ; to bind over
with a band. Dryden.
2. To unite in a troop, company or confed-
eracy. Milton.
BAND, V. i. To unite ; to associate ; to con-
federate for some common purpose. Acts
xxiii.
BAND'AgE, ji. [Fr.] A fillet, roller, or
swath, used in dressing and binding up
wounds, restraining hemorrhages, and
joining fractured and dislocated bones.
Sometimes, the act or practice of applying
bandages.
2. Something resembUng a bandage ; that
I which is bound over another. Addison.
BANDAN'A, n. .\ species of silk handker-
chief.
BAND'BOX, )!. A slight paper box for
bands, caps, bonnets, mufl's, or other light
articles. Addison.
BAND'ED, pp. Bound with a band ; united
in a band.
BAND'ER, )i. One that bands or associates
ith others.
BAND'ERET, n. [from band.] In Swiss-
erland, a general in chief of military forces.
BAND'IED, pp. Beat or tossed to and fro ;
agitated ; controverted without ceremony.
BAND'ING, ppr. Bindii:g with a band ; uni-
ting in a band or company.
BANDIT, n. plu. BAN'DITS or BANDIT-
TI, [It. bandito, from bandire, to pro-
claim, to banish or proscribe by proclama-
tion. Bonrfj'io, is the participle. Sp. 6aJ!-
dido. See Ban.]
An outlaw ; also in a general sense, a robber ;
a highwayman ; a lawless or desperate
fellow.
BAN'DLE, 21. An Irish measure of two feet
in length. Bailty.
BAN
BAN
BAN
BAND'LET, / rir i j ; ., i
BAND'ELET, \ "• t^r- bandddh.]
Any little baud or flat molding, as that which
crowns the Doric architrave. Encyc
BAN'DOG, n. A large species of dog.
Shak. Spenser.
BANDOLEE'RS, n. [Sp. bandolera ; It. ban-
dolicra ; Fr. bandouliere ; band and V.lecr.
leather.]
A large leathern belt, thrown over the right
shoulder, and hanging under the left arm
worn by ancient musketeers for sustaining
their fire arms, and their musket charges,
which being put into little wooden cases,
and coated with leather, were hung, to the
number of twelve, to each bandoleer.
Encyc
BAN'DON, )!. Di.sposal ; hcensc. [Not in
xise.] Chaucer.
BAN'DORE, n. [Sji. bandurria ; Gr. )iav-
«8pa.]
A musical stringed instrument, like a lute.
Encyc.
BAND'ROL, n. [Fr. banderole ; h. bande-
ruola ; Sp. banderolas ; literally, a httle
banner. See Banner.]
1. A little flag or streamer, in form of a gui-
don, used to be hung on the masts of ves-
sels.. Encyc.
2. The little fringed silk flag that hangs on a
trumpet. Johnson.
BAND' STRING, n. A string appendant tc
a band. Taylor
BAND'Y, n. [Fr. bander, to tie, bind, bend,
bandy ; L. panda.]
.\ club for striking a ball at play. Johnson.
BAND'Y, V. t. To beat to and fro, as a ball
in play.
2. To exchange ; to give and receive recip-
rocally ; as, to bandy looks. Shak.
3. To agitate ; to toss about, as from man to
man.
Let not known truth be bandied in disputa-
tion. Watts.
B.^ND'Y, II. t. To contend, as at some
game, in which each strives to drive the
ball Ills own way. Shak.
BAND'YING, ppr. Beating, impeHing oi
tossing from one to another ; agitating in
controversy without ceremony.
BAND'Y-LEG, n. [bandy and leg. See
Bend.]
A crooked leg ; a leg bending inward or
outward. Encyc.
BAND'Y-LEG GED, a. Having crooked
legs.
BANE, n. [Qu. the aftinities. In Sax. bana,
is a murderer; in Gr. fjiu, is to kill ; in
L. venenum is poison ; Fr. vejiin ; Arm.
benym or vinym.]
Poison of a deadly quaUty ; hence, any fatal
cause of mischief, injiiry or destruction ;
as, vice is the bane of society.
BANE, V. t. To poison. Shak
BA'NE BERRY, n. A name of tlie herb
Christopher, acteea, or
BA'NEFUL, a. Poisonous ; pernicious ;
destructive.
BA'NEFULLY, adv. Perniciously ; destruc-
tively.
BA'NEFULNESS, n. Poisonousness ; de-
structiveness.
BA'NE WORT, n. [See Ifort.] A plant,
called also deadly nightshade. Johnson.
BANG, V. t. [Dan. banker, to beat ; G. bangd.
Vol. I.
a club, and the clapper of a bell ; D. ben
gel, a bell ; Ir. beanaim, to beat.]
L To beat, as with a club or cudgel; tc
thump ; to cudgel. [^ low word.]
2. To beat or handle roughly ; to treat with
violence. Shak.
BANG, n. A blow with a club ; a heavy blow
Shak
BAN'GLE, j;. /. To waste by httle and httle
to squander carelessly. Johnson
BAN'IAN, n. A man's undress or morning
gown, as worn by the Banians in the
E. Indies. Johnson
2. A Gentoo senant, employed as an ageni
in commerce. Herbert.
3. A tree in India. Milton.
Banian days, in seamen's language, are
three days in a week, hi which the sailors
have no flesh meat served out to them,
This use of the terni seems to be borrowed
from the Banians in Asia, who, believing
in a metempsychosis, will eat no flesh, nor
even kill noxious animals.
BAN'ISH, V. I. [Fr. bannir, bajinissant
whence bannissement, banishment ; Arm.
emhanna, to publish ; forbana and forbani-
za, to banish ; It. bandire ; D. bannen ; G.
verbannen, ausbannen. See Ban.]
1. To condemn to exile, or compel to leave
one's country, by autliority of the prince
or government, either for life or for a Um-
ited time. It is connnon for Russians to
be banished to Siberia.
2. To drive away ; to compel to depart ; as,
to banish sorroAV.
3. To quit one's country voluntarily, and
with a view to reside abroad ; as, he ban-
ished himself.
BAN'ISHED, pp. Compelled to leave one's
country ; driven away.
BAN'ISHER, ?i. One who compels another
to (|iiit his country.
BAN'lSlUNt;, i>pr. Compellingto quit one'
<■ iiv ; driving away.
BAN Ir^llMK.NT, n. The actof aprince o
government, compelling a citizen to leave
his country, either for a hmited time or
forever, as for some crime.
2. A voluntary forsaking of one's country
upon oath, called abjuration. [This prac-
tice has noiv ceased in G. Brilain.]
3. The state of bemg banished; exile.
4. The act of driving away or dispelling ; as
" e banishment o{ care from the mind.
B.VNK, n. [Sax. banc; D. and G. bank ; Sw.
banck ; Dan. banke ; It. banco ; Sp. Port.
banca, banco ; Fr. banc, banque ; W. banc ;
Arm. bancq; Ar. ^^j bank, a bench.
Bank and bench are radically the same
word. The sense is, that which is set,
laid or extended. Applied to a mass of
earth, it is a collectio;i, that which is
thrown or laid together.]
1. A mound, pile or ridge of earth, raised
above the surrounding plain, either as a
defense or for other purposes. 2 Sam. xx.
15.
2. Any steep acclivity, whether rising from
a river, a lake, or the sea, or forming the
side of a ravine, or the steep side of a hil-
lock on a plain. When we speak of the
earth in general adjoining a lake or the
sea, we use the word shore ; but a particu-
lar steep acclivity on the side of a lake,
river or the sea, is called a bank.
18
3. A bench, or a bencli of rowers, in a gal-
ley ; so called from their seat.
Placed on their banks, the lusty Trojans
sweep. Waller.
4. By analogy, a collection or stock of money,
deposited, by a number of persons, for a
particular use; that is, an aggregate of
particulars, or a fund ; as, to establish a
bank, tliat is a joint fund.
5. The place where a collection of money is
deposited ; a common repository of the
money of individuals or of companies ;
also a house used for a bank.
C. A company of persons concerned in a
bank, \v hetlier a private association, or an
incorporated company ; the stockholders
of a bank, or their representatives, the di-
rectors, acting in their corporate capacity.
7. An elevation, or rising ground, in the sea ;
called also flats, shoals, shelves or shal-
lows. These may rise to tlie surface of
the water or near to it ; but the word bank
signifies also elevated ground at the bot-
tom of the sea, when many fathoms be-
low the surface, as the banks of New-
foundland.
BANK, V. I. To raise a mound or dyke ; to
inclose, defend or fortify with a bank ; as,
to bank a house.
2. To ])ass by the banks of.
As 1 have bank'd their towns. Shak.
[JVbt in use]
3. To lay up or deposit money in a bank.
[Little used A Johnson.
BANK'ABLE, a. Receivable at a bank, as
bills ; or discountable, as notes. [Of re-
cent origin.]
BANK-BILL, ) A promissory note, is-
ANK-NO'1'E, S sued by a banking com-
pany, signed by their President and coun-
tersigijcd by the Cashier, payable to the
beanr in gold or silver at the bank, on de-
mand. If payable to order, the note is
called a. post-note.
BANK'ED, pp. Raised in a ridge or mound
of earth ; inclosed, or fortified with a bank.
BANK'ER, n. One who keeps a bank ; one
w ho traflicks in money, receives and remits
money, negotiates bills of exchange, &;c.
2. A vessel employed in the codfishery on
the banks of Newfoundland. Mar. Did.
BANK'ING, ppr. Raising a mound or bank ;
inclosing « ith a bank. When we speak
of restraining water, we usually call it
banking; when we speak of defending the
land, we call it imhanking. Encyc.
BANK'ING, n. The business or employ-
ment of a banker ; the business of estab-
lishing a common fund for lending money,
discounting notes, issuing bills, receiving
deposits, collecting themoney on notesde-
posited, negotiating bills of exchange, &c.
BANKRUPT, n. [Fr. banqueroute ; Sp.
bancarrota, bankruptcy, bank and Sp.
roto, Port, roto, It. rotto, "broken ; Eng. rout,
defeat. This may signify icncA-broken, or
iajiA-broken ; most jjrobably the latter,
referring to the fund or stock. The last
syllable is the Latin ruptus contracted ;
Norm, roupt, rous, broken.]
1. A trader who secretes himself, or does
certain other acts tending to defraud his
creditors. Blaekstone.
2. In a less technical sense, a trader who fails
or becomes unable to pay his just debts;
an insolvent trader. In strictness, no per-
BAN
BAP
BAR
sou but a trader can be a bankrupt.
Bankruptcy is applied to merchants and
traders ; insolvency, to other persons.
BANK'RUPT, a. ftaving committed acts of
banliruptcy ; unable to pay just debts ; in-
solvent.
BANK'RUPT, V. t. To break one in trade ;
to make insolvent.
BANK'RUPTCY, n. The state of being a
bankrupt, or insolvent ; inability to pay all
debts.
■J. The act of becoming a bankrupt; the act
of rendering one's self a bankrupt, as by
absconding, or otherwise ; failure in trade.
BANK'RUPTED, pp. Rendered insolvent.
BANK'RUPTING, ppr. Breaking in trade ;
rendering insolvent.
BANK'RUPT-LAW, n. A law, which, upon
a bankrupt's surrendering all his property
to commissioners for the benefit of hi;
creditors, discharges him from the pay
ment of his debts, and allUability to arres
or suit for the same, and secures his future
acquired property from a liability to the
payment of his past debts.
BANKRUPT-SYSTEM, n. A system of
laws and legal proceedings in regard to
bankrupts and their property.
BANK-STOCK, n. A share or shares in
the capital stock of a bank.
BAN'NER, n. [Fr. banniere ; W. baner; It.
bandiera ; Sp.bandera; G. fahne andpan-
ier; D. vaan and vaandel ; from Goth, fana,
cloth; 8a.x. fana; h. pannus ; li: fuan,
cloth.]
1. A square flag ; a military ensign ; the prin-
cipal standard of a jirince or state. Encyc.
2. A streamer borne at the end of a lance or
elsewhere. Johnson.
3. In botany, the upper petal of a papiliona-
ceous corol. Martyn.
BAN'NERED, a. Furnished with or bear-
ing banners. .Milton.
Shield the strong foes, and riike the bannered
shore. Barlow.
BAN'NERET, n. [Fr. from banner.] A
knight made in the field. Bannerets for-
merly constituted an order of knights or
feudal lords, who led their vassals to bat-
tle under their own flags. On the day of
battle, the candidates presented their flags
to the king or general, who cut off" the
train or skirt, and made it square. They
were then called knights of the square flag.
They were a middle order between barons
and simple knights. Spelman. Encyc,
BAN'NEROL. [See BandroL]
BAN'NOCK, n. [Ir. boinneog.] A cake
made of oatmeal or peas-meal, baked on
an iron plate over the fire ; used in Scot-
land, and the northern counties of Eng-
land. Johnson
BAN'OY, n. A species of hawk, somewhat
larger than the English sparrow hawk ;
the hack and wings yellow, and the belly
white ; a native of the Philippine isles.
Diet. ofJVat. Hist
BAN'QUET, n. [Fr. banquet ; Arm. bancyed,
or banvez ; It. banchetto, a little seat, a
feast; Sp. banqueta, a stool with three
legs ; banquete, a banquet. From these
words, it would appear that banquet is f
sitting and hence a feast, and not, as sup
posed, from the oriental pJS, ijiii to feed
or bring up delicately.]
A feast ; a rich entertainment of meat and
drink. Esther v. Job xh. Amosvi.
BAN'QUET, V. t. To treat with a feast, or
h entertainment. Shak.
BAN'QUET, V. i. To feast ; to regale one'
self with good eating and drinking. Shak.
BAN'QUETED, pp. Feasted; richly
tertained at the table.
BAN'QUETER, n. A feaster; one who
lives deliciously.
2. One who makes feasts, or rich entertain-
ments.
BAN'QUETING,/)j)r. Feasting; entertain-
ing with rich fare.
2. Partaking of rich fare.
BAN'QUETING, n. A feast ; luxurious
living ; rich entertainment. 1 Pet. iv.
BAN'CiUETING-HOUSE, ? A house
BAN'QUET-HOUSE, S where en-
tertainments are made. Cant, xxiv
Dan. v.
BAN'aUETING-ROOM, n. A saloon, or
spacious hall for public entertainments.
Enajc
BANQUETTE or BANQUET, n. banket'
[Fr.] In fortification, a httle raised way
or foot bank, riuming along the inside of a
parapet, on which musketeers stand tc
fire upon the enemy in the moat or cover-
ered wav. Encyc.
BAN'SHEEorBEN'SHI, n. An Irish fairv
Todd
BAN'STICKLE, n. A small fish, called al-
so stickle-back. This fish falls under the
genus Gastcrosleus.
BAN'TER, V. t. [Gr. ^f^ol, whence 4>fmxifu,
to mock, or deride.]
To play upon in words and in good humor ;
to rally ; to joke, or jest with. Banter
hardly amounts to ridicule, much les
derision. It consists in being pleasant and
witty with the actions of another, and
raising a humorous laugh at his expense,j
often attended with some degree of sar
casm.
BAN'TER, 71. A joking or jesting ; raillery
wit or humor ; pleasantry.
BAN'TERED, pp. Rallied ; laughed at ii
good humor.
BAN'TERER, n. One who banters, o
laughs at with pleasantry.
B.\N'TERING, ppr. Joking ; laughing a
with good humor.
BANT'LING, n. [G. bankaH. Qu.] A
young child ; an infant.
BAP'TISM, n. [Gr. fiartT'Ki;ua, from fJartTcJw,
from 3artTio, to baptize; Sp. bautizar ; It.
battezzare ; Port, bautizar, or baptizar.
These seem to be from the Greek, by con-
traction. But the Arm. badeza, badein,
may be from bath, bad, water]
1. The application of water to a person, as a
sacrament or religious ceremony, by which
he is initiated into the visible church of
Christ. This is usually performed by
sprinkling or innnersion.
2. The sufferings of Christ. Matt. xx. 22
23.
3. So much of the gospel as was preached
by John, the Baptist. Actsxviii.
Cruden
BAPTIS'MAL, a. Pertaining to baptism
as a baptismal vow.
BAP'TIST, n. One who administers bap
tism. This appellation is appropriately
given to John, the forerunner of Christ,
2. As a contraction of Anabaptist, one who
denies the doctrine of infant baptism, and
maintains that baptism ought to be admin-
istered only to adults by iimnersing the
body in water.
BAP'TISTERY, n. [L. baptistenum.] A
l)lace where the sacrament of baptism is
administered. Primitively, baptisteries
were in buildings separate from the
church ; but in the sixth century, they
were taken into the church-porch, and
afterwards into the cliurch itself Encyc.
BAPTIS'TIe, I Pertaining to bap-
BAPTIS'TICAL, S "■ tism. Bramhall.
BAPTI'ZE, V. t. [See Baptism.] To ad-
minister the sacrament of baptism to ; to
christen. By some denominations of
christians, baptism is performed by plung-
ing, or immersing the whole body in water,
and this is done to none but adults. More
generally the ceremony is performed by
sprinkling water on the face of a person,
whether an infant or an adult, and in the
case of an infant, by giving him a name,
in the name of the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, which is called Christening.
BAPTI'ZED, pp. Having received baptism ;
christened.
BAPTI'ZER, n. One who christens, or ad-
ministers baptism.
BAPTI'ZING, ppr. Administering baptism
; christening.
B'AR, n. [VV. bar; Ir. barra; Fr.barre;
Sp. barra ; Port, id ; It. barra, sbarra ;
Arm. barren, sparl ; Heb. n'">3 ; Ch. Xl3i'.
If these words are the Eng. bar, the sense
is a shoot, that which shoots, passes or is
driven.]
1. A piece of wood, iron or other solid mat-
ter, long in proportion to its diameter,
used for various purposes, but especial-
ly for a hindrance or obstruction ; as
the bars of a fence or gate ; the bar of a
door or hatchway. Numb. iii. 36. Ex.
xxvi. 26.
Any obstacle which obstructs, hinders or
defends ; an obstruction ; a fortification.
Must I new bars to my own joy create.
Dry den.
•3. The shore of the sea, which restrains its
aters. Job .xxxviii.
4. The railing that incloses the place which
counsel occupy in courts of justice. Hence
the phrase, at the bar of the court, signifies
in open court. Hence also licensed law-
yers are called barristers ; and hence the
whole body of lawyers licensed in a court,
are customarily called the bar. A trial at
bar, in England, is a trial in the courts of
Westminster, ojiposed to a trial at Nisi
Pj-ius, in the circuits.
5. Figuratively, any tribunal ; as the bar of
public opinion. Thus the final trial of
men is called the bar of God.
6. The inclosed place of a tavern, inn or
coffee house, where the landlord or his
servant delivers out liquors, and waits upon
customers. Addison.
7. A bank of sand, gravel or earth, forming
a shoal at the mouth of a river or harbor,
obstructing entrance, or rendering it difli-
cuh.
8. A rock in the sea, according to Brown ; or
I any thing by which structure is held to-
BAR
BAR
BAR
gether, according to Johnson ; used in Jo
null ii.
9. Any thing laid across another, as bars in
heraldry, stripes in color, and the like.
10. In the menage, the highest part of the
place in a horse's mouth between the
grinders and tusks, so that the part of the
mouth wliich lies under and at the side of
the bars, retains the name of the gum.
Ena/c. The upper part of the gums,
which hears no teeth, and to which the bit
is applied. Johnson.
11. In music, bars are liites drawn perpen-
dicularly across the lines of the staff, in-
cluding between each two, a certain quan-
tity of tunc, or number of beats.
12. In law, a peremptory exception suffi-
cient to destroy the plaintiff's action. It
is divided into a bar to common intend
mcnt, and bar special ; bar temporary and
bar perpetual. Bar to common intend
nient is an ordinary or general bar, which
disables the declaration of the plaintiff.
A special bar is more than ordinary, as a
fine, release, or justification. A temporari/
bar is that which is good for a time, but
may afterwards cease. A perpetual bai
overthrows the action of the plaintiff for-
ever. Blackstone. Cotcel.
13. A barof ^old or silver, is an ingot, lump
or wedge, from the mines, run in a mold,
and unwrought. A bar of iron is a long
piece, wrought in the forge and hammer
ed from a pig.
14. Among printers, the iron with a wooden
handle, by which the screw of the press is
turned.
15. In the African trade,, a denomination of
price ; payment formerly being made tc
tlie Africans in iron bars. Johnson
B'AR, V. i. To fasten with a bar; as, to bai
a door, or gate.
2. To hinder; to obstruct, or prevent ; as, to
bar the entrance of evil.
3. To prevent ; to exclude ; to hinder ; to
make impracticable ; as, the distance be-
tween us bars our intercourse. In this
sense, the phrase is ofVen varied, thus : the
distance bars me from his aid, or bars him
from my aid.
4. To prohibit ; to restrain or exclude by ex-
press or implied prohibition ; as, the stat-
ute bars my right ; the law bars the use of
poisoned weapons.
.■). To obstruct, prevent or hinder by
moral obstacle ; as, the right is barred by
time, or by statute ; a release bars the
plaintiff's recovery.
f). To except ; to exclude by exception ; as, I
bar to night. Shak.
7. To cross with stripes of a different color.
8. To bar a vein, in farriery, is an operation
upon llic I(i;s of a horse, or other parts, to
slop iiialiyiiaiit liumors. This is done by
opciiiiii.' llir skin .-ihove a vein, disengaging
it and lying ii licith above and below, and
striking between tlic two hgatures.
Johnson.
9. To adorn with trappings ; a contraction
of barb. [See Barb.]
Drayton. Haywood.
B*ARB, n. [h. barba ; W.barv; Corn, bar;
Arm. baro. This is beard, with a different
ending. The sense may be, that which
shoots out.]
1. Beard, or that which resembles it, or
grows in the place of it ; as the barb of a
fish, tlie smaller claws of the polypus, &c.
Johnson. Coxe.
2. The down, or pubes, covering the surface
of some plants; or rather, a tuft or bunch
of strong hairs terminating leaves.
lAnne. Milne.
3. Anciently, armor for horses; formerly,
barbe or barde. Hayward.
. A c-ommon name of the barbary pigeon,
a bird , " • • ■
a black or dun color.
Did. ofJSTat. Hist.
A horse from Barbary, of which it seems
to be a contraction.
(J. The points that stand backward in an
arrow, fish-hook or other instrument for
jiiercing, intended to prevent its being ex-
tracted.
In botany, a straight process armed witli
teeth ijointing backward like the sting of a
bee. This is one sort of pubescence.
Martyn.
B>ARB, v.t. To shave; to dress the beard
Obs. Shak.
2. To furnish with barbs, as an arrow, fisl
hook, spear, or other instrument.
3. To put armor on a horse. Milton
B'ARBACAN, n. [Fr. barbacane ; Sp. bar-
bacana ; It. barbacane. Qu. a projectin<;
work.]
1. A fortification or outer defense to a city
or castle, consisting of an elevation ofl
earth about three feet high, along the foot
of the rampart.
Encyc. Johnson. Sp. Diet.
2. A fortress at the end of a bridge, or at the
outlet of a city, having a double wall with
towers. " Encyc
3. An opening in the wall of a foi-tress
through wliich guns are leveled and fired
upon an enemy. Johnson. Encyc.
The French use the word also for an aper-
ture in a wall to let in or drain off water;
and the Spaniards, for a low wall round
church vard. Fr. and Sp. Diet.
BARBA'DOES-CHERRY, n. The Malpigh-
ia, a tree growing in the W. Indies, fif-
teen feet high and producing a pleasant
tart fruit. Johnson.
BARBA'DOES TAR, ,i. A mineral fluid, of
the nature of the thicker fluid bitumens, of
a nauseous bitterish taste, a very strong
disagreeable smell, viscid, of a brown,
black or reddish color ; it easily melts, and
burns with much smoke, but is not soluble
in ardent spirits. It contains a portion of
acid of amber. It trickles down the sides
of mountains in some parts of A
and sometimes is found on the surface of
the waters. It is recommended in coughs
and disorders of the breast and lungs.
Encyc. J\/icholson.
BARBARIAN, n. [L. barbarus ; Gr. >5op-
Sapoj; Ir. barba, or beorb ; Russ. varvar ;
Ch.-Ol3. See Class Br. No. 3 and 7. The
sense is, foreign, wild, fierce.]
A man in his rude, siivage state ; an un-
civilized person. Dcnham.
2. A cruel, savage, brutal man ; one desti-
tute of iiity or humanity. Philips.
i. A foreigner. The Greeks and Romans
denominated most foreign nations barbari-
ans ; and many of these were less civilized
than themselves, or unacquainted with
their language, la«s and manners. But
reproacli
witii them the word w
ful than with us.
BARBA'RIAN, a. Belonging to savages:
rude ; uncivilized. Pope.
2. Cruel ; inhuman.
BARBAR'Ie, a. [L. barbaricus. See Barba-
rian. The Romans apphed this word to
designate things foreign ; Barbaricum au-
rum, gold fi-oni Asia, Virg. JEn. 2. 504 ;
Barbarica vestes, embroidered garments
from foreign nations. English writers
use the word in a like sense.]
Foreign ; imported from foreign nations.
Milton. Pope.
B'ARBARISM, n. [L. barharismus. Se(
Barbarian.]
1. An offense against purity of style or lan-
guage ; any form of speech contrary to the
pure idioms of a particular language.
Dryden.
2. Ignorance of arts ; want of learning.
Shak. Dryden.
Rudeness of manners ; savagisni ; inci-
vility ; ferociousness ; a savage state of so-
ciety. Spenser. Davits.
4. Brutality ; cruelty ; barbarity. {In this
.irn.'se Utile used, being superseded by bar-
ba.-in.]
|{AKI5.\I{ JTV, n. [See Barbarian.]
'I'hc MiaiMicrs of a barbarian ; savagencss ;
cruelty ; ferociousness ; inhumanity.
Clarendon.
2. Barbarism; impurity of speech.
Dryden. Swift.
[The use of the word in this setise, is now
superseded bi/ barbarism.]
B-ARBARIZ£:, V. t. To make barbarous.
Hideous changes have barbarized France.
Burke.
BARBAROUS, a. Uncivilized; savage;
unlettered ; untutored ; ignorant ; unac-
quainted with arts ; stranger to civility of
Thou art a Roman ; be not barbarous.
Shak.
2. Cruel ; ferocious ; inhuman ; as barbarous
usage. Clarendon.
B ARBAROUSLY, adv. In the manner of
a barbarian ; ignorantly ; without knowl-
edge or arts ; contrary to the rules of
speech. Dryden.
2. In a savage, cruel, ferocious or inhuman
B ARBAROUSNESS, n. Rudeness or inci-
vility of manners. Temple.
2. Impurity of language. Brerewood.
3. Cruelty ; inhumanity ; barbarity. Hall.
BARBARY, n. A barbaiy horse ; a barb.
Beaum.
B'ARBASTEL, n. A bat with hairy lips.
BARBATE, ) [\..barbatus, frombarba.
BARBATED, \ "' See Barb.]
In botany, bearded ; also gaping or ringent.
Barba'tus Jlos, a gaping or ringent flower ;
.synonymous witli the ringent flower of
Linne, and the labiate of Tournefort.
JV/i7ne. Lee.
B'ARBE. In the military art, to fire in barbe.
is to fire the cannon over the paiapet, in-
stead of firing through the embrasures.
Encyc.
BARBECUE, n. In the West Indies, a hog
roasted wliole. It is, with us, used for
an ox or perhaps any other animal dres-
sed in like manner.
BARBECUE, v. t. To dress and roast a
BAR
BAR
BAR
liog wliole, which is clone by splitting the
liog to the back bone, and roasting it on a
gvidiion ; to roast any animal whole.
BARBED, pp. [See Barb.]
1. Furnished with armor ; as barbed steeds.
Shak.
2. Bearded ; jagged with hooks or points ;
as barbed arrows.
3. Shaved or trinuned ; having the beard
dressed. Encyc.
B'ARBEL, n. [L. barba ; Fr. barbeau ; D.
barbeel.]
1. A fish of the genus Cypriniis, of the order
of abdominals. The mouth is toothless;
the gill has three rays ; the body is smooth
and white. This fish is about three feet
long, and weighs 18 pounds. It is a very
coarse fish, living in deep still rivers and
rooting like swine in the soft banks. Its
dorsal fin is armed with a strong spine,
sharply serrated, from which circumstance
it probably received its name. Encyc.
2. A knot of superfluous flesh, growing in
the channels of a horse's mouth; written
also barbie, or barb. Eticyc. Farrier's Diet.
B'ARBER, 11. [Persian, barbr. See Barb.]
One whose occupation is to shave men, or
to shave and dress hair. Shak.
B'ARBER, V. t. To shave and dress hair.
Shak.
B ARBER-eHIRURGEON, n. One who
joins the practice of surgery with that of
a barber ; a practice now unusual. A low
practitioner of surgery. Wiseman.
B^ARBERESS, n. A female barber. [jYot
used.]
BARBER-M6NGER, »i. A man who fre
quents tlie barber's shop, or prides him
self in being dressed by a barber ; a fop.
Shak.
B'ARBERRY, n. [L.berberis; Iv.barbrogi
D. berberis ; Sp. berbero. In Eth. abar-
bar, is the nettle, urtica major ; in Anih., a
species of thistle. Lud. Eth. 23.3; Amh.
39. It is probable therefore that this
jjlant is so named from its spines or barbs.
Its other name, oiyacanthus, indicates a
like origin.]
1. A plant of the genus berberis, common in
hedges ; called in England, pipperidge
bush. The berries are used in house-
wifery, and are deemed eflicacioiis ir
fluxes and fevers. The bark dyes a fine
yellow, especially the bark of the root.
This plant is pernicious to wheat, the ears
of which will not fill, if within the effluvia
of the plant ; and the influence of this
has been known to extend three or foiu-
hundred yards. Miller. Encyc.
B'ARBET, n. A name given by some
French writers to a peculiar species of
those worms which feed on the puceron
or aphis. [See Aphis.] Encyc.
2. The Bucco, a genus of birds found in tlie
warm cUmates of both continents.
3. A dog, so called fi-om his long hair.
BARD, n. [W. bardh, or barz ; Ir. bard;
Fr. barde ; a poet ; Ir. bardas, a satire or
lampoon; W. bardhas, philosophy; bard-
gan, a song.]
1. A poet and a singer among the ancient
Celts ; one whose occupation was to com-
pose and sing verses, in honor of the hero-
ic achievements of princes and brave men.
The bards used an instrument of music
like a lyre or guitar, and not only praised
the brave, but reproached the cowardly,
Diod. Sic. Am. Marcel. Lucan. Festus
2. In modern usage, a poet. Pope. Dryden
B*ARD, n. The trappings of a horse.
B'ARDED, a. In heraldry, caparisoned.
Encyc
BARDES'ANISTS, n. A sect of heretics,
who sprung from Bardesanes, of Edessa,
in Mesopotamia, in the 2<1 century, who
taught that the actions of men depend on
fate, to which God himself is subject. His
followers went farther, and denied the in
carnation of Christ and the resurrection.
Encyc.
B*ARDI€, a. Pertaining to bards, oi
their poetry. Owen.
B^ARDISH, a. Pertaining to bards ; writ
ten by a bard.
B^ARDISM, n. The science of bards ; the
learning and maxims of bards. Owen
BARE, a. [Sax. bar, or iffr ; Sw. and Dan.
bar ; G. bar. This word is from opening,
separating, stripping. In Ch. Syr. Sam.
1S3 signifies to open, or explain ; Ar. to
dig; also 113 is to separate, to purify.
Ch. Syr. 113 to lay waste ; Ar. id.]
1. Naked ; without covering ; as, the arm is
bare ; the trees are bare.
2. With the head uncovered, from respect,
Clarendon.
3. Plain ; simple ; unadorned ; without the
polish of refined manners. Spenser.
4. Laid open to view ; detected ; no longer
concealed. Milton.
,5. Poor ; destitute ; indigent ; empty ; un-
furtiished. Hooker. Dryden.
I have made Esau bare. Jer. xlix.
6. Alone ; unaccompanied. Shak. South.
7. Thread-bare ; much worn. Shak.
8. Wanting clothes ; or ill supjjlied with gar-
ments. Johnson
Under bare poles, at sea, signifies having no
sail set. Mar. Diet.
It is often followed by of; as, the country is
bare of money. Locke.
BARE, 1'. t. [Sax. abarian. See Bare, adj.]
To strip oft' the covering ; to make naked :
as, to bare the breast. Bacon. Pope.
BARE, the old preterit of bear, now bore.
BA'REBONE, n. [See Bone.] A very lean
))erson.
BA'REBONED, a. Lean, so that the bones
ap])ear, or rather, so that the bones show
their forms. Shak
BA'RED, pp. Made bare ; made naked.
BA'REFACED, a. [See Face.]
' . With the face uncovered ; not masked.
Shak.
2. Undisguised ; unreserved ; without con-
cealment ; hence shameless ; impudent :
audacious ; as a barefaced lalsehood.
BA'REFACEDLY, adv. Without disguise
or reserve ; openlv ; ini])udently.
BA'REFACEDNESS, n. Effi-ontery ; as-
surance ; audaciousness.
BA'REFOOT, a. [See Foot]
With the feet bare ; without shoes and stock-
ings. 2 Sam. XV. Isaiah xx.
BA'REFOOT, a. or adv. With the feet
bare ; as, to dance barefoot. Shak.
BA'REFOOTED, a. Having the feet bare.
BA'REGNAWN, a. [See Gnaiv.] Eaten
bare. Shak.
BAREHEADED, a. [See Head.]
Having tlie head uncovered, either from res-
pect or other cause. Bacon. Dryden.
BA'RELEGGED, a. Having the legs bare.
Burton.
BA'RELY, adv. Nakedly; poorly; indi-
gently ; without decoration ; merely ;
only ; without any thing more; as a
prince barely in title. Barret. Hooker.
BA'RENECKED, a. Having the neck un-
covered ; exposed. Shak.
BA'RENESS, n. Nakedness ; leanness ;
poverty ; uidigence ; defect of clothes, or
the usual covering. Shak. South.
BA'REPICKED, a. Picked to the bone.
Sliak.
BA'RERIBBED, a. Lean. Shak.
BARGAIN, n. [Fr. bareuigner, to haggle,
to hum and haw ; Atia. barguignour, a hag-
gler ; It. bargagnare, to cavil, contend,
bargain ; Ir. braighean, debate. It seems
to accord with It. briga, Sp. brega, Fr.
brigue.]
An agreement between parties concerning
the sale of property ; or a contract by
which one party binds himself to transfer
the right to some property, for a consider-
ation, and the other party binds himself
to receive the property and pay the con-
sideration.
2. Stipulation : interested dealing.
3. Purchase or the thing purchased. Locke.
4. In popidar language, final event ; upshot.
We must make the best of a bad bargain.
To sell bargains, is a vulgar phrase.
To strike a bargain, is to ratify an agreement,
originally by striking, or shaking hands.
The Latin ferire faidus, may represent a
like ceremony, unless it refers to the
practice of killing a victim, at the solemn
ratification of oaths.
Bargain and sale, in law, a species of convey-
ance, by which the bargainer contracts "to
convey the lands to the bargainee, and be-
comes" by such contract a trustee for and
seised to the use of the bargainee. The
statute then completes the purchase ; that
is, the bargain vests the use, and the stat-
ute vests the possession. Blackstone.
B'ARGAIN, V. i. To make a contract or
conclusive agreement, for the transfer of
property ; often with for before the thing
purchased ; as, to bargain far a house. A
bargained with B for his farm.
B^ARGAIN, V. t. To sell ; to transfer for a
consideration ; as, A bargained away his
farm ; a popidar use of the word.
BARGAINEE', n. The party in a contract
who receives or agrees to receive the
property sold. Blackstone.
B^ARGAINER, n. The party in a contract
who stipulates to sell and convey property
to another. Blackstone.
B>ARGE, n. biirj. [D. bargie ; It. and Sp.
barca ; Ir. bare. Barge, and bark or barque,
a sliip, are radically one word.]
1. A pleasin-e boat ; a vessel or boat of state,
fin-nishcd with elegant apartments, cano-
pies and cusliions, equipped with a band
of rowers, and decorated with flags and
streamers; used by officers and masfis-
trates. Encyc.
3. A flat-bottomed vessel of burthen, for
loading and unloading ships. Mar. Diet.
B'ARGE-€0UPLES, n. In architecture, a
beam mortised into another, to strength-
en the building. Encyr
B'AR<';E-€0URSE, n. In bricklaying, ;.
BAR
BAR
BAR
part of the tiling which projects beyond
the principal rafters, in buildings where
there is a gable, or kirkinhead. Encyc.
B ARCiEMAN, n. The man who manages
a barge.
B'ARGEMASTER, n. The proprietor of a
barge, conveying goods for hire.
Blackslone.
BARKER, n. The manager of a barge.
«AilII/LA, »i. [Sp.] A plant cultivated in
Spain for its ashes, from which the purest
kind of mineral alkali is obtained; used
ill making glass and soap, and in bleach-
ing linen. The plant is cut and laid in
hiaps, and burnt, the salts running into a
hole in the ground where they form a vit-
rified lump. Encyc.
2. The alkali procured from this plant.
BAR'ITONE, [See Banitone.-]
BAR'IUM, n. The metallic basis of barytoor
baryta, which is an oxyd of barium.
Davi/.
B'ARK, »!. [Dan. bark; Sw. barck ; G.
borke ; probably from stripping, separa
ting.]
I. The rind or exterior covering of a tree,
corresponding to the skin of an animal
This is composed of the cuticle or epider-
mis, the outer bark or cortex, and the
inner bark or liber. The rough broken
matter on bark is, by the common people
of New-England, called ross.
i. By wav of distinction, Peruvian Bark.
B'ARK, 'v. t. To peel ; to strip off bark
Also to cover or inclose with bark.
B'ARK, \ [Ir. 6arc ; Fr. ioryue ; Russ.
BARQUE, \ "• barka ; It. and Sp. barca.'
A small ship ; but appropriately, a ship
which carries three masts without a mizen
top sail. The English mariners, in the
coal trade, apply this name to a broad-
sterned ship without a figure-head.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
fVater-barks, in Holland, are small vessel;
for conveying fresh water from place to
place, the hold of which is filled with wa-
ter. Encyc.
B'ARK, V. i. [Sax. beorcan, hyrcan, to
bark.]
1. To make the noise of dogs, when they
threaten or pursue.
2. To clamor at ; to pursue with unreason-
able clamor or reproach. It is followed
by at.
To hark at sleepino; fame. Spenser.
IV ARK-BARED, a. Stripped of the bark.
.Mortimer.
B ARK-BOUND, a. Having the bark too
firm or close, as with trees. This dis-
ease is cured by slitting the bark. Encyc.
BARKED, pp. Stripped of the bark ; peel-
ed ; also covered with bark.
B',\RKER, n. One who barks, or clamo/s
unreasonably ; one who strips trees of
their bark.
B' ARK-GALLED, a. Having the bark gall-
ed, as with thorns. This defect is cured
bv binding on clay. Encyc.
B'.\RKING, ppr. Stripping off bark; mak
ing the noise of dogs; clamoring; cover-
ing with bark.
B'ARKY, a. Consisting of bark ; contain-
ing bark. Shak.
B'ARLEY, n. [W. barlys ; Sax. here. Qu.
L. far, Gr. xupoj, Heb. na bar, corn. In
the Saxon chronicle. An. 1124, it is writ
ten barlk. Owen renders it bread-corn,
from bara, bread.]
A species ofv.-duable grain, used especially
for making malt, from which are distilled
liquors of extensive use, as betr, ale. and
porter. It is of the genus hordeum, coii-i
sisting of several s()ecies. Those jirinci-
pally cultivated in England, are the com-
mon spring barley, the long eared barley,
the winter or square barley, by some
called Wfif, and the sprat or battledore
barley. This grain is used in medicine,
as possessing emollient, diluent, and ex-
pectorant (|ualities.
Encyc. Miller. Arbuthnot.
BARLEY-BRAKE, n. A rural play ; a trial
of swiftness. Sidnei/.
BARLEY-BROTH, n. A low word fii
strong beer. Shak.
B ARLEY-€ORN, n. [See Com.] Agn
of barley ; the third part of an inch
length ; hence originated our measures of
length. Johnson.
BARLEY-MOW, n. A mow of barley, or
the place where barley is deposited.
Ga)j.
B'ARLEY-SUGAR, n. Sugar boiled tiU'it
is brittle, formerly with a decoction ofl
barley.
B'ARL'EY-WATER,n. A decoction of bai-
ley, which is reputed soft and lubricating,
and much used in medicine.
French barlet/ and pearl barley are used for
making decoctions. Tliese are made by
separating the grain from its coat. The
pearl barley is reduced to the size of a
small shot. "
B'ARM, n. [Sax. beorm. Qu. L. fermentum,
from ferveo ; or beer-rakm, beer cream ; or
AV. berwi, to boil.]
Yeast ; the scum rising upon beer, or other
malt liquors, when fermenting, and used
as leaven in bread to make it swell, caus-
ing it to be softer, lighter, and more del:
cate. It may be used in liquors to make
them ferment or work.
Johnson. Encyc.
B'ARMY, a. Containing barm, or yeast.
Bacon. Shak.
B'ARN, n. [Sax. bereni, from here, barley,
and cern, or em, a close place or repos-
itory.]
A covered building for securing grain, hay,
flax, and other productions of the earth.
In the northern states of America, the
farmers generally use barns for stabling
their horses and cattle ; so that among
them, a barn is both a cornhouse or grange,
and a stable.
B>ARNA€LE. n. [Port, bemaca, the Solan
goose; Fr. barnacle or bamaque; L.pema,
a shell-fish.]
1. A shell which is often found on the bot-
toms of ships, rocks and timber, below the
surface of the sea.
2. A species of goose, found in the northern
seas, but visiting more southern climates
in winter. The forehead and cheeks are
white, but the upper part of the body and
neck is black. Formerly, a strange no-
tion prevailed, that these birds grew out
of wood, or rather out of the barnacles at-
tached to wood in the sea. Hence the
name. It is written also Bemacte.
Pennant.
. In tlie pUirnl, an instrument consisting of
luo branches joined at one end with a
hinge, to jiut upon a horse's nose, to con-
fine him, fur shoeing, bleeding, or dress-
ing. Encyc.
BAR'OLITE, n. [Gr. ^apo;, weight, and
>.iOoj, a stone.]
Carbonate of baryte. Its color is usually a
light yellowish gray ; sometimes whitish,
or with a tinge of gi-een. It is strongly
translucent. It usually occurs in sniajl
masses, which have U fibrous structure :
sometimes in distinct crystals.
This niineral is called also VVitherite, from
Dr. Withering, the di.st^overer.
Cleaveland. Kirwan. Urel '.
BAROM ETER, n. [Gr. ,iapo;, weight, am^'
jutTpoi-, measure.]
An instrument for measuring the weight
pressure of the atmosphere, consisting i
a glass tube, Iiermeticully sealed at onp\ Cv
end, filled with quicksilver, well defecated NT-'.^.-
and purged of air, and inverted in a basin
of quicksilver. A column of quicksilver
is then supported in the tube, of equal
weight witli the incuiiibent atmosphere.
This instrument was invented by Torri-
celli, of Florence, in 1G43. Its uses are to
indicate changes of weather, and to deter-
mine the altitude of mountains, by tin-
falling and rismg of the mercury. For
this purpose, the tube is fixed to a grad-
uated scale, so that the smallest variation
in the column is visible.
Encyc. Johnson.
BARO.METRltAL, a. Pertaining or re-
lating.' Id till liaruiiietcr ; made by a ba-
i-oniPt(-r ; .-i- hiiniiinlrical experiments.
BAROMET KKALLY, adv. By means of
a barometer. Pinkerton.
BAR'ON, n. [Fr. baron ; Sp. baron or varon ;
It. barone ; Sans, bareru, bharta, a husband.
This word, in the middle ages, was writ-
fen bar, ber, var, baro, paro, viro, virro.
viron. It is the vir of the Latins; Sax.
wer ; Ir. fir, fear ; W. gror, for guir, gevir.
See Spelman''3 Glossary, and Hirt. Pansa.
De Bell. Alex. 42 : Hicks' Sax. Grammar.
113, ]4fJ. The Sax. wer, L. vir, is doubt-
less the Shemitic "OJ, a man, so named
from strength.]
. In Great Britain, a title or degree of no-
bility ; a lord ; a peer ; one who holds the
rank of nobiUty next below that of a vis-
count, and above that of a knight or bar-
onet. Originally, the barons, being the
feudatories of princes, were the proprie-
tors of land held by honorable .service.
Hence, in ancient records, the word barons
comprehends all the nobility. All such in
England had, in early times, a right to sit
in parliament. As a baron was the pro-
prietor of a manor, and each manor had
its court-baron ; hence the barons claimed,
and to this day enjoy, the right of judging
in the last resort ; a right pertaining to the
house of lords, or peers, as the represen-
tatives of the ancient barons, land-holders,
manor-holders.
Anciently, barons were greater, or such
as held their lands of the lung in capite;
or lesser, such as held then- lands of the
greater barons by military service in
capiie.
The title of baron is no longer attached
to the possession of a manor, but given by
the king's letters patent, or writ of sum-
BAR
BAR
BAR
inons to parliament ; that is, the dignity is
personal, and not territorial.
The radical word, v{r,fir, a man, is Cel-
tic, as well as Teutonic ; but the word
baron was not known in the British isles,
till introduced from the continent under
the Norman princes.
Spehian. Blackstone. Encyc. Cowel.
2. Baron is a title of certain officers, as bar-\
ons of the exchequer, who are the four judg-
es who try cases between the king and hisi
subjects, relating to the revenue. Barons
of the Cinque Ports are members of the
House of Commons, elected by the seven
Cinque Ports, two for each port. These
ports are Dover, Sandwich, Romney, Hast-
ings, Hythe, Winchclsea, and Rye.
Blackstone.
3. In law, a husband ; as baron and feme,
husband and wife.
BAR'ONAgE, n. The whole body of bar-
ons or peers.
2. The dignity of a haroii.
3. The land which gives title to a baron.
Johnson.
BAR'ONESS, n. A baron's wife or lady.
BAR'ONET, n. [Fr. diinia of baron.]
A dignity or degree of honor, next below a
baron, and above a kniglii ; having prece-
dency of all knights except those of the
garter, and being the only knighthood
that is hereditary. The order was founded
by James I. in 1611, and is given by
patent. Johnson. Blackstone.
BARO'NIAL, a. Pertaining to a baron.
Encyc.
BAR'ONY, n. The lordship, honor, or fee
of a baron, whether spiritual or temporal
This lordship is held in chief of the king
and gives title to the possessor, or baron.
Johnson. Encyc
BAR'0S€0PE, n. [Gr. .iSapoj, weight, and
exoTCsu, to view.]
An instrument to sliow the weiglit of the at-
mosphere ; superseded by the Barometer.
AROSeOPTe, a. Pertaining to or deter-
mined by the baroscope.
BAROSEL'ENITE, n. [Gr. /3apo5, weight
or |3apu5, heavy, and se/e?ii7e.]
A mineral ; sulphate of baryte ; heavy spar.
Kirivan. Cleaveland.
BAR'RA, n. In Portugal and Spain, a long
measure for cloths. In Valencia, 13 bar-
ras make 12^ yards English ; in Castile, 7
are equal to 67 yards ; in Arragon, 3 make
2y yards. Encyc.
BARRAeA'DA, n. A fish, about fifteen
inches in length, of a dusky color on tl
back, and a white belly, with small blat-k
spots. Diet, of , Vat. Hist.
BAR'RA€AN, n. lit. baracane ; Sp. barra
gan ; Fr. bouracan.]
A thick, strong stuff, something like camelot
used for clokes, surtouts, and other oute
gai-ments.
B.CR'RACK, n. [Sp. barraca; Fr. buraque.
It seems to be formed like Sax. parruc, a
park, an inclosure.]
A hut or house tor soUUers, especially in gar
rison. In Spain, a hut or cabm for fish
ernien.
BARRACK-MASTER,?!. The officer who
superintends the barracks of soldiers.
Swijl.
BARRA€U'DA, n. A species of fish of the
pike kind, found in the seas about the
Bahamas and W. Indies, of ten feet in
length. The color is deep brown, and the
fish is very voracious. The flesh is disa-
greeable and sometimes poisonous.
Catesby. Pennant.
BAR'RATOR, n. [Old Fr. barat, strife, de-
ceit ; Cimbric, baratton ; Ice. and Scan-
dinavian, baratta, contest ; It. baratta, strife,
quarrel ; barattare, to barter, to cheat ; Sp.
barato, fraud, deceit ; baratar, to barter, to
deceive. The radical sense is to turn,
toind and twist, whence to strive ; L. verto ;
Eng. barter. See Barter.]
1. One who frequently excites suits at law ;
a Common mover and maintainer of suits
and controversies ; an encourager of liti-
gation. Coke. Blackstone.
2. The master of a ship, who commits any
fraud, in the management of the ship, or
in relation to his duties as master, by whicli
the owner or insurers are injured.
BAR'RATRY, n. The practice of exciting
and encouraging lawsuits and quarrels.
Coke. Blackstone.
2. In commerce, any species of cheating or
fraud, in a shipmaster, by which the own
ers or insurers are injured ; as by running
away witli the ship, sinking or deserting
her, by wilful deviation, or by embezzUng
the cargo. Park.
BARRED, pp. Fastened with a bar; bin
dered ; restrained ; excluded ; forbid ;
striped ; checkered.
BAR REL, n. [W. Fr. baril ; Sp. baml ; It
barUe ; Arm. baraz.]
1. A vessel or cask, of more length than
breadth, round and bulging in the middle,
made of staves and heading, and bound
with hoops.
2. The quantity which a barrel contains
Of wine measure, the Enghsh barrel con-
tains 31i gallons ; of beer measure, 36
gallons ; of ale, 32 gallons ; and of beer-
vinegar, 34 gallons.
Of weight, a barrel of Essex butter is
lOGpomids; of Suffolk butter, 2.56 ; a bar
rel of herring should contain 32 gallon!
wine measure, and hold 1000 herrings; a
barrel of salmon should contain 42 gal-
lons ; a barrel of soap should weigh 2.56
lbs. Johnson. Encyc.
In America, the contents of a barrel are
regulated by statutes.
In Connecticut, the barrel for liquors
nmst contain 31 i gallons, each gallon to
contain 231 cubic inches. In New- York,
a barrel of flour by statute must contain
either 196 lb. or 228 lb. nett weight. Tlie
barrel of beef and pork in New- York and
Connecticut, is 200 lbs. In general, the
contents of barrels, as defined by statute,
in this country, must be from 28 to 31
gallons.
.3. Any thing hollow and long, as the barrel
of a gim ; a tube.
4. A cylinder ; as the barrel of a watch,
within which the spring is coiled
rounil which is wound the chain.
5. A cavity behind the tympanum of the ear
is called the barrel of the ear. It is lour or
five lines deep, and five or six wide, and
covered with a fine membrane. It is
ni(ne usually called the cavity of the tym-
panum. Enci/c. Johnson
BAR'REL, V. t. To i)ut in a barrel ; to pack
in a baiTel with salt for preservation, as
to barrel beef, pork or fish.
BARREL-BELLIED, o. [See Belly.] Hav-
ing a large belly. Dryden.
BAR'RELED,^;}. Put or packed in a barrel.
BAR'RELING, ppr. Putting or packing in a
barrel.
BAR'REN, a. [from the same root as bare.]
Not producing young, or offspring ; ap-
plied to animals.
2. Not producing plants; imfruitful; steril;
not fertile ; or producing Uttle ; unproduc-
tive ; applied to the earth.
3. Not producing the usual fruit ; applied to
trees. &c.
Not copious ; scanty ; as a scheme barren
of hints. SwiJI.
5. Not containing useful or entertaining
ideas ; as a barren treatise.
6. Unmeaning ; uninventive ; dull ; as barren
spectators. Shak. Johnson. Qu.
7. Unproductive ; not inventive ; as a barren
mind.
BAR'REN, n. In the States west of the AUe-
ghany, a word used to denote a tract of
land, rising a few feet above the level of a
plain, and producing trees and grass. The
soil of these barrens is not barren, as the
name imports, but often very fertile. It is
usually alluvial, to a depth sometimes of
several feet. Atwater, Journ. of Science.
2. Any unproductive tract of land ; as the
pine barrens of South Carohna.
Drayton.
BAR RENLY, adv. Unfruitfully.
BAR'RENNESS, adv. The quahty of not
])roducing its kind ; want of the power of
conception ; applied to animals.
2. Unfruitfuhiess ; sterility ; infertility. The
quality of not producing at all, or in small
uantities ; as the barrenness of soil.
Vant of invention ; want of the power of
producing any thing new ; applied to tht
mind.
Want of matter ; scantiness ; as the ftor-
rejirees.! of a cause. Hooker.
5. Defect of emotion, sensibility or fervency ;
as the barrenness of devotion. Taylor.
BAR'RENWORT, n. [See WoH.] A plant,
constituting the genus Epimedium, of
which the aipinum is the only species ; a
low herbaceous plant, with a creeping
root, having many stalks, each of wliicli
has three flowers. Encyc.
B'ARRFUL, a. Full of obstructions. Shak.
BARRI€A'DE, n. [Fr. barricade; It. barri-
cata ; fiom It. barrare, Sp. barrear, to bar.]
1. A fortification made in haste, of trees,
earth, palisades, wagons, or any thing
that will obstruct the progress of an ene-
my, or serve for defense or security,
against his shot.
2. Any bar or obstruction ; that which de-
fends.
3. In naval architecture, a strong wooden
rail, supported by stanchions, extending
across the foremost part of the quarter
deck, in ships of war, and filled with rope,
mats, pieces of old cable, and full ham-
mocks, to prevent the efiect of small shot
in time of action. Encyc.
BARRI€A'DE, v. t. To stop up a passage ;
to obstruct.
2. To fortify with any sUght work that pre-
vents the approach of an enemy.
BARRl€A'DO. The same as barricade.
ail.
6 A R
B A S
B A S
BAR'RIER, [Fr. barrierc ; It. barriera ; Sp.
harrera, n barrier; Sp. barrmr, to bar or
barricade. See Bar.]
1. In fortification, a kind offence made in a
passage or retrenchment, composed of
great stakes, with transums or overthwart
rafters, to stop an enemy. Encyc.
2. A wall for defense.
3. A fortress or fortified town on the fron-
tier of a country. Stinfl.
4. Any obstruction ; any thing which con-
fines, or vvliicli hinders approach, or at-
tack ; as constitutional barriers.
Hopkinson.
.'>. A bar to mark the limits of a place ; any
limit, or boundary ; a line of separation.
Pope.
B>ARRING, ppr. Making fast with a bar ;
obstructing ; excluding ; preventing ; pro-
hibiting ; crossing with stripes.
BAR'RISTER, n. [from bar.-] A counsel-
or, learned in the laws, qualified and
admitted to plead at the bar, and to take
upon him the defense of chents ; answer-
ing to the advocate or hcentiate of other
countries. Anciently, barristers were call-
ed, in England, apprentices of the law.
Outer barristers are pleaders without the
bar, to distinguish them from iimer barris-
ters, benchers or readers, who have been
sometime admitted to plead within the
bar, as the king's counsel are.
Johnson. Encyc.
BAR'ROW, n. [Sax. berewe ; W. berva ; Ger.
bahre ; D. berri ; from the root of bear, to
carry. See Bear.]
1. A light small carriage. A hand-harrow is
a frame covered in the middle with boards,
and borne by and between two men.
A wheel-barrow, is a frame with a box,
supported by one wheel, and rolled by a
single man.
2. A wicker case, in salt works, where the
salt is put to drain. Encyc.
BAR'ROW, n. [Sax. berga, or beorgh, a hog ;
D. barg, a barrow hog.]
1. In England, a hog ; and according to Ash,
obsolete. Barrow-grease is hog's lard.
'2. In America, a male hog castrated; a word
in common itse.
BAR'ROW, n. [Sax. beara, or bearewe, a
grove.]
In the names of places, barrow is used to
signify a wood or grove.
BAR'ROW, n. [Sax. beorg,a liill or hillock ;
byrgen, a tomb ; G. and D. bergen, to con-
ceal, to save.]
\ hillock or mound of earth, intended as a
repository of the dead. Such barrows are
found in England, in the North of the Eu-
ropean continent, and in America. They
sometimes were formed of stones, and iii
England called cairns. The barrow an-
swers to the tumulus of the Latuis. rSee
Tomb.]
B'ARSE, n. An English name for the com-
mon perch. Did. of jYat. Hist.
B^ARSHOT, n. [See Bar and Shoot.]
Double headed shot, consisting of a bar, with
a half ball or round head at each end ;
used for destroying the masts and rigging
in naval combat. Mar. Diet.
B'ARTER, V. i. [Sp. baratar ; It. barattare,
to exchange. The primary sense is prob-
ably to turn or change, and this gives the
sense of deceiving, barratry, as well as of
bartering. L. vario, verto. Class Br.]
To traffick or trade, by exchanging one com
niodity for another, in distinction from a
sale and purchase, in which money is paid
for the commodities transferred.
BARTER, V. t. To give one thing for an-
other in commerce. It is sometimes fol-
lowed by away ; as, to barter away goods or
honor.
BARTER, 71. The act or practice of traf-
ficking by exchange of commodities ;
sometimes, perhaps, the thing given in ex-
change.
B-ARTERED,;)p. Given in exchange.
B-ARTERER, n. One who trafficks by ex-
change of commodities.
B^ARTERING, ;;/«•. Trafficking or trading
by an exchange of commodities.
B' ARTERY, n. Exchange of commoditie.-
in trade. [JVot jised.] Camden
B-ARTON, n. [Sax. bere-ton, barley-town.]
The demain lands of a manor ; the manor
itself; and sometimes the out-houses.
Johnson. Blount.
B'ARTRAM, n. [L. pyrethrum ; Gr. «vp,
fire.]
A plant ; pellitory. Bailey. Johnson.
BARYSTRON"riANITE, n. [Gr. fSopvj,
heavy, and slrontian.]
A mineral, called also stromnite, from Stroni-
ness, in Orkney. It has been found in
masses of a grayish white color internally,
but externally of a yellowish white.
Traill. ' Cleaveland. Phillips.
BARY'TA, I „ [Gr. fjapvj, heavy ; ^fwcn.
BAR'YTE, \ "• weight.]
Ponderous earth ; so called from its great
weight, it being the heaviest of the earths,
Spec. grav. about 4. Recent discoveries
have shown tliat baryle is an oxyd, the ba-
sis of whirli is a niftallic substance called
II is ^c'litially found in conibi-
itli the suljiliiiric and carbonic
niiig tlic sulphate and carbonate
, the former of which is called
heavy spar. Cleaveland. Thomson.
BARYT'le, a. Pertaining to baryte ; form-
ed of baryte, or containing it. Kirtcan.
BARYTO-CAL'CITE, it. [baryte and calr.
Sec Calx.]
A mixture of carbonate of lime with sul-
phate of baryte, of a dark or light gray
color, of various forms. Kirwan.
BARYTONE
roroj, tone.]
Pertaining to or noting a grave deep sound,
or male voice. H'alker. Arbuthnot.
BAR'YTONE, n. In music, a male voice,
tlie compass of which partakes of the com-
mon base and the tenor, but which does
not descend so low as the one, nor rise as
high as the other.
2. In Greek Grammar, a verb which has no
accent marked on the last syllable, the
grave accent being understood.
BA'SAL, a. Pertaining to the base ; consti-
tuting the base. Say.
BASALT', n. bazaW. [Pliny informs us that
the Egyptians found in Ethiopia, a species
of marble, called basaltes, of an iron color
and hardness, whence it received its name.
Nat. Hist. Lib. 36. Ca. 7. But according tojl
han'ui]
of bai-j't
a. [Gr. (Sopvf, hea\-y.
tlie Fr. basane, tawi
till' Ethiopic basal, ire
It may b.; allied
Lunicr rrfrvs i, ,
a wi.r.l I caiiiii.t
A (lark,giavisli bla( k luineral or stone, some-
tinics biui.sli ur brownish black, and when
withered, the surface is grayish or reddish
brown. It is amoi-phous, columnar, tabu-
lar or globular. The columnar form is
straight or cuned, perpendicular or incli-
ned, sometimes nearly horizontal ; the
diameter of the columns from three inclies
to three feet, sometimes with transverse
semi-spherical joints, in which the convex
part ot one is inserted in the concavity of
another. The forms of the columns gen-
erally are pentagonal, hexagonal, or octa-
gonal. It is sometimes found also in
romided masses, either spherical, or com-
pressed and lenticular. These rounded
mas.ses are sometimes composed of con-
centric layers, with a nucleus, and some-
times of prisms radiating from a center.
It is heavy and hard. The pillars of the
Giant's causey in Ireland, composed of
this stone and exposed to the roughest sea
for ages, have their angles as perfect as
those at a distance from the waves. The
English miners call it cockle ; the German,
short, or sheerl. It is called by Kirwan,
Figurale Trap, from its prismatic forms.
hiniuin. Jameson. Cleaveland.
BASALTIC, n. Pertaining to basalt ; formed
of or coiilaiiiiiig basalt.
BASALT IFOK.M, a. In the form of basalt;
columnar.
BAS.^LT'INE, n. Basaltic Hornblend ; a
variety of conmion hornblend, so called
from its being often found in Basalt. It is
also found in lavas-and volcanic scorijB. It
is generally in distinct crystals, and its
color is a pure black, or slightly tinged
with green. It is more foliated than the
other varieties, and has been mistaken for
mica. Kirwan. Cleaveland.
i. A column of basalt. Kirwan.
BAS'ANITE, n. « as 2. [Gr. ^amvoi, the
trier. Plin. Lib. .30. Ca. 22. See Basalt.]
Lydian stone, or black jasjrer ; a variety of
siliceous or flinty slate. Its color is a gray-
ish or bluish bl.ick, interspersed with veins
of quartzL. It is employed to test the purity
of gold. Kirwan. lire. Cleaveland.
BASE, a. [Fr. bas, low ; W. bas ; It. basso;
Sp. baio, low ; W. hasu, to faU, or lower.
See Abase.]
1. Low in place. Obs. Spenser.
2. Mean ; vile ; worthless ; that is, loio in
value or estimation ; used of things.
3. Of low station ; of mean account ; with-
out rank, dignity or estimation among
men ; used of persons.
The base shall behave proudly against the
honorable. I-s. iii.
4. Of mean spirit; disingenuous; ilhberal ;
low ; wiilioiit (li!.'iiiiy of sentiment; as a
base and aliic.i iiniliiuide.
5. Of littli- niMiii.ir.itivo value; applied to
metals, and perhaps to all metals, except gold
and silver.
the
Dee]) ; grave ; applied to sounds ;
sounds of a viol. Bacon.
7. Of illegitimate birth ; born out of wed-
lock. Shak.
Da Costa, that stone was not the samel 8. Not held by honorable tenure. A base
which now bears the name of 6<MaZ<. Hist. I estate is an estate held by services not
of Fossils, p. 263. If named from its color,|| honorable, not in capite, or by viUenage.
B A
B A
B A S
Sai-li a tenure is called base, or low, andj
rlie tenant, a base, tenant. 80 writers
the laws of England use the terms, a base
lee, a base court. Encyi
BASE, n. [Gr. )3a<«5 ; L. basis ; It. basa,
base ; Sp. basa ; Fr. base ; that which
set, the foundation or bottom.]
1. The bottom of any thing, considered
its support or the part of a thing on which
it stands or rests ; as the base of a column,
the pedestal of a statue, the foundation of
a house, &c.
In architecture, tlie base of a pillar ])ropcrly
is that part which is between the top of a
pedestal and the bottom of the shaft ; but
when there is no pedestal, it is the part
between the bottom of the colunni and the
pUnth. Usually it consists of certain spires
or circles. The pedestal also has its base,
Encyc
2. In fortification, the exterior side of the
polygon, or that imaginary line which is
drawn from the flanked angle of a bastion
to the angle opposite to it.
3. In gunnery, the least sort of ordnance,
the diameter of whose bore is 1 1-4 inch.
Encyc.
4. The part of any ornament which hangs
down, as housings. Sidney.
.'>. The broad part of any thing, as the bot-
tom of a cone.
0. In old authors, stockings ; armor for the
legs. Hudibras.
7. The place from which racers or tilters
start ; the bottom of the field ; tlie career
or starting post. Dryden.
0. The lowest or gravest part in music ; im-
properly written bass.
10. A rustic play, called also bays, or prison
bars. Shak.
11. In geometry, the lowest side of the peri-
meter of a figm-e. Any side of a triangle
may be called its base, but this term most
properly belongs to the side which is par-
allel to the horizon. In rectangled trian-
gles, the base, properly, is the side oppo-
site to the right angle. The base of a solid
figure is that on which it stands. The
base of a conic section is a right line in the
hyperbola and parabola, arising from the
common intersection of the secant plane
and the base of the cone. Encyc.
19. In chimistry, any body which is dissolved
by another body, which it receives and
fixes. Tlius any alkaline, earthy or me-
tallic substance, combining with an acid,
forms a compound or neutral salt, of which
it is the base. Such salts arc called salts
with alkaline, earthy or metollic bases.
Encyc.
13. Thorough base, in music, is the part per-
formed with base viols or theorbos, while
the voices sing and other instruments per-
form their parts, or during the intervals
when the otlier parts stop. It is distin-
guished by figures over the notes.
Counter base is a second or double base,
when tliere are several in the same con
cert. Encyc.
BASE, V. t. To embase ; to reduce the value
by the admi,\ture of meaner metals. [Ldt-
tie used.] Bacon
'i. To found ; to lay the base or foundation
To base and build the cominomvealth of man
Columbiad.
BA'SE-BORN, a. [base and born.] Born:
out of wedlock. Gay.l
2. Born of low parentage.
3. Vile ; mean. Milton.
BA'SE-€OURT, n. [Fr. basae-cour. See
Court.]
The back yard, opposed to the chief court
in front of a house ; the farm yard.
Shak.
BA'SED, pp. Reduced in value ; founded.
BA'SELESS, a. Without a base ; having
nb foimdation, or support.
The 6ose/fss fabric of a vision. Shak
The fame how poor that swells our baseless
pride. TVumbull.
BA'SELY, adv. In a base manner ; meanly;
dishonorably. Dryden.
2. Illegitimately ; in bastardy. Knolles.
BA'SEMENT, n. In architecture, the ground!
floor, on which the order or colunms whichj
decorate the principal story, are placed. 1
Encyc.^
BA'SE-MINDED, a. Of a low spirit or
mind ; mean. Camden.
BA'SE-MINDEDNESS, ji. Meanness of^
spirit. Sandys.'
BA'SENESS, n. Meanness ; vileness ; worth-
lessness. Dryden
2. Vileness of metal ; the quality of being oi
little comparative value. Swift.
i. Bastardy; illegitimacy of birth. Shak.
4. Deepness of sound. Bacon.'
BA'SENET, n. A helmet. Spenser:
BA'SE-STRING, n. The lowest note. j
Shak.:
BA'SE-VIOL, n. [See Viol.] A musical in-;
striunent, used for playing the base or'
gravest part. |
BASH, v.i. [Heb.E?13,bosh,tobe cast down,|
or confounded. Qu. D. verbaazen, to con-:
found. See Mash.] |
To be ashamed ; to be confounded with'
shame. Spenstr.]
BASHAW, n. [Ar. lx:U basha ; Pers.'
pasha ; Sp. baxa ; It. bascia ; Turk. basch,<
the head. Qu. D. baas, master, and tlie^
bassus of the Alemanni and Longobards, in'
the middle ages. This word is often writ-!
ten most absurdly pasha, both by the
English and Americans. It should be
written and pronounced pashaw.]
1. A title of honor in the Turkish dominions ;
appropriately, the title of the prime vizei
but given to viceroys or governors of prov
inces, and to generals and other men of
distinction. The Turkish bashaws exer
cise an oppressive authority in their prov
inces. Hence,
2. A proud, tyrannical, overbearing man.
BASH'FUL, a. [See Bash and Abash.]
' Properly, having a downcast look ; hence
very modest.
9. Modest to excess ; sheepish. Shak.'
3. Exciting shame.
BASH'FULLY, adv. Very modestly : in a!
timorous manner.
BASH'FULNESS, n. Excessive or extreme'
modesty ; a quality of mind often visible
in external appearance, as in blushijjg, a
downcast look, confusion, &c.
2. Vicious or rustic shame. Sidney.
BASH'LESS, a. Shameless; unblushing."
Spenser.
BAS'IL, ?i. s as :. The slope or angle of a
tool or instrument, as of a chisel or plant :
usually of 13 degrees, but for hard wood^
18 degrees. Encyc.
BAS'IL, V. t. To grind or form the edge of
a tool to an angle. Moxon.
BAS'IL, n. s as z. [Fr. basilic ; It. basUico.]
A plant of the genus Ocymum, of which
there are many species, all natives of warm
climates. They are fragrant aromatic
plants, and one species, the sweet basil,
is much used in cookery, especially in
France.
BAS'IL, n. [Orient, tn to strip.]
The skin of a sheej) tanned ; written also
basan.
BAS'IL-WEED, n. Wild basil, a plant of
the genus Clinopodium. Muhlenburg.
EaI{lARY,S«- — tSeefi-Kc]
Chief; an anatomical term appUed to several
bones, and to an artery of the brain.
Coxe.
Basilian monks, monks of the order of St.
Basil, who founded the order hi Pontus.
The order still exists, but has less power
and celebrity than formerly. Encyc.
BAS'ILIC, n. s as 2. [Gr. iiaaAtxi] ; L. bas-
ilica ; Gr. )Sq.aAiv$, a king.]
Anciently, a public bailor court of judicature,
where princes and magistrates sat to ad-
minister justice. It was a large hall, with
aisles, porticoes, tribiuies, and tribunals.
The bankers also had a part allotted for
their residence. These edifices, at first,
were the palaces of princes, afterwards
courts of justice, and finally converted into
churches. Hence basilic now signifies a
church, chapel, cathedral or royal palace.
Encyc. Sp. and 6. Diet.
BAS'ILle, n. [SeeBasU.] The middle vein
of the arm, or the interior branch of the
axillary vein, so called by way of emi-
nence. Encyc. Qidncy.
BAS'ILI€, I Belonging to the middle
BASIL'I€AL, S "■ vein of the arm.
2. Noting a particular nut, the walnut, bas-
ilica nu.r.
BASIL' l€ON, n. s as z. [Gr. fJaaaixos,
royal.]
An ointment. This name is given to several
compositions in ancient medical writers.
At present it is confined to three oflicinal
ointments, distinguished into black, yellow
and green basilicon. Encyc.
BAS'ILISK, n. s as z. [Gr. f3tt!jin(jxos; L.
basillscus.]
1. A fabulous serpent, called a cockatrice,
and said to be produced from a cock's egg
brooded by a serpent. The ancients al- •
ledgod that its hissing would drive away
all other serpents, and that its breath and 1
even its look was fatal. Some writers i
siqjpose that a real sei-pent exists under j
ihis name.
2. In milituni affairs, a large piece of ord-
nance, so called from its supposed resem-
blance to the serjjent of that name, or from
its size. This cannon carried a ball of 200
pounds weight, but is not now used. Mod-
ern writers give this name to cannon of a
smaller size, which the Dutch make 15
feet long, and the French 10, carrying a
48 pound ball. Encyc.
BA'SIN, ?i. biisn. [Fr. bassin ; Ir. baisiii ;
Arm. bafiiii; It. bacino, or bacile; Port.
B A S
B A S
B A S
hacia. If the last rodical is primarily
palatal letter, this is the German becken ;
D. bekken.]
1. A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for
wasliing, and for various other uses.
2. In hydraulics, any reservoir of water.
3. That which resemhles a basin in contain
ing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, i
hollow place for Uquids, or an inclosed
part of water, forming a broad space with-
in a strait or narrow entrance ; a Uttle
bay.
4. Anion;; glass fcrinders, a concave piece
of metal by which convex glasses art
formed.
5. Among hatters, a large shell or case.
usually of iron, placed over a furnace, in
which the hat is molded into due shape.
6. In anatomy, a round cavity between the
anterior ventricles of the brain.
7. The scale of a balance, when hollow and
round.
8. In Jewish antiquities, the laver of the tab-
ernacle.
BA'SIS, n. plu. bases. [L. and Gr.; the samt
as base, which see.]
1. The foundation of any thing; that on
which a thing stands or lies ; the bottom
or foot of the thing itself, or that on which
it rests. See a full explanation under base.
'i. The ground work or fij'st principle ; that
which supports.
3. Foundation ; support.
Tlie basis of public credit is good faith.
Hamilton
The basis of all excellence is truth.
Johnson
4. Basis, in chimistry. See Base. No. 12.
B'ASK, V. i. [The origin of tliis word is nol
obvious. Clu. Ir. basgaim, to rest or
repose.]
To lie in warmth ; to be exposed to genial
heat ; to be at ease and thriving under be-
nign influences; as,tobask in the blaze of
day ; to bask in the sunshine of royal favor.
The word includes the idea of some con-
tinuance of exposure.
B'ASK, V. t. To warm by continued expo-
sure to heat ; to warm with genial heat.
Dryden.
B" ASKED, pp. Exposed to warmth, or gen-
ial heat.
B'ASKET, n. [W. basged, or basgawd; Ir.
hascaid ; probably from weaving or tex-
ture ; W. basg, a netting or plaitijig of
splinters.]
1. A domestic vessel made of twigs, rushes,
splinters or other flexible things interwo-
ven. The forms and sizes of baskets are
very various, as well as the uses to which
they are appHed ; as corn-baskets, clothes-
baskets, fruit-baskets, and work-baskets.
2. The contents of a basket ; as much as a
baslj^et will contain ; as, a basket of med-
lars is two bushels. But in genera], this
quantity is indefinite.
In military affairs, baskets of earth some-
times are used on the parapet of a trench,
between which the soldiers fire. They
serve for defense against small shot.
Encyc.
B>ASKET, v.t. To put in a basket.
Coioper.
B'ASKET-FISH, n. A species of sea-star,
or star-fish, of the genus Asterias, and
otherwise called the Magellanic star-fish.
Vol. I.
It has live rays issuing from an augui
body, and dividing into innumerable
branches. These wheji extended form a
circle of three feet diameter. [See As-
terias. ] Encyc.
B^ASKET-HILT, »i. [See HM.] A hilt
which covers the hand, and defends it from
injury, as of a sword. Hudibras.
B-ASKET-HILTEl), a. Having a hilt of
basket-work. H'arton.
B>ASKET-SALT, 7i. Salt made from .salt
springs, which is purer, whiter and finer,
than common brine salt. Encyc.
B>ASKET-WOMAN, n. A woman who
carries a basket, to and from market.
B" ASKING, ppr. Exposing or lying exposed
to the continued action of heat or genial
warmth.
B' ASKING-SHARK, n. The sun-fish of tlie
Irish ; a species of squalus or shark. This
fish is from three to twelve yards in lengtl
or even longer. The upper jaw is much
longer than the lower one ; the tail
large and the upper part much longer than
the lower ; the skin is rough, of a deep
leaden color on the back, and white on
the belly. The fish weighs more than a
thousand pounds, and affords a great quan-
tity of oil, which is used for lamps, and to
cure bruises, bums, and rheumatic com-
plaints. It is viviparous, and frequent;
the northern seas. [See Squalus.]
Pennant. Enci/c.
B>ASQUISH, a. baskish. Pertaining to th^
people or language of Biscay. Brown
B'ASS, n. [It has no plural.] The name of
several species offish. In England, this
name is given to a species of perch, called
by some the sea-wolf, from its voracity,
and resembling, in a degree, the trout in
shape, but having a larger head. It weighs
about fifteen pounds. In the northern
stales of America, this name is given to a
striped fish which grows to the weight of
25 or 30 pounds, and which enters the
rivers ; the perca ocellaia.
.\ species of striped fish, of a darker color,
with a large head, is called sea-ba
is never found in fresh water. This fish
grows to two or three pounds weight.
Both s])ecies are well tasted, but the proper
bass is a very white and delicious food.
Prince. Belknap.
B'ASS, n. The linden, lime or tiel tree ;
called also bass-wood. [See Bast.]
2. [pron. bas.] A mat to kneel on in churches.
B.4SS, n. In music, the base ; the deepest or
gravest part of a tune. Tliis word is th
written in imitation of the Itahan basso,
which is the Eng. base, low ; yet with the
pronunciation of ia.se and plural bases, a
gross error that ought to be corrected ; as
the word used in pronunciation is the Eng-
lish word base.
BASS, V. t. To sound in a deep tone.
Shak.
BASS-RELIE'F, n. In English, base-relief
[From It. basso, low, and rilevare, to raise ;
whence nViewo, raised work. See Z<i/iand
Relief]
Scidpture, whose figures do not stand out
far from the ground or plane on which
they are formed. When figures do not pro-
tuberate so as to exhibit the entire body,
they are said to be done in relief; and
when they are low, flat or little raised
19
liom tiie plane, the work i.s .<aid lo be ih
low riliif When the figures are so raised
as to be well distinguished, they are said
to be bold, strong, or high, alto relievo.
jSce Relief] Encyc.
Bass-viol, „. [See Basc-vioi.]
BAS'SA. [See Bashaio.]
BAS'SET, n. [Fr. busselte.] A game at
cards, said to have been invented at Ven-
ice, by a nobleman, who was banished fw
the invention. The game being introduced
into France by the Venetian embassador,
Justiniani, in 1674, it was prohibited by
severe edicts. Encyc.
BAS'SET, V. i. [See Basil.] Among coal
diggers, to inchnc upwards. Thus a vein
of coal bassets, when it takes a direction
towards the surface of the earth. This is
called cropping, and is opposed to dipping.
Encyc.
BAS'SETING, ppr. Having a direction up-
wards.
BAS'SETING, n. The upward direction of
a vein in a coal mine.
BASSO-€ONCERTANTE, in music, is the
base of the Uttle chorus, or that which
plays throughout tlie whole piece. Bailey.
BASSO-€ONTINUO, thorough base, which
see under base. Bailey.
BASSO-REPIENO, is the base of the grand
chorus, which plays only occasionally, or
in particular parts. Bailey.
BASSO-RELIEVO. [See Bass-relief]
BASSO-VIOLINO, is the base of the base-
viol. Bailey.
BAS'SOCK, n. The same as bass, a mat.
BASSOON', n. [Fr. basson ; It. bassone, from
basso, low.]
A musical wind instrument, blown with
a reed, and furnished with eleven holes,
which are stojiped, as in other large flutes.
Its compass comprehends three octaves.
Its diameter at bottom is nine inches, and
for convenience of carriage it is divided
into two parts ; whence it is called also a
fagot. It serves for the base in a concert of
hautboys, flutes, &c.
Johnson. Encyc. Bushy.
BASSOON'IST, n. A performer on the
5n. Busby.
B'AST, n. [Qu. D. and Dan. bast, bark, or
from twisting.]
A rope or cord, made of the bark of the lime
tree, bass-wood or Unden ; or the bark
made into ropes and mats. Ash. Bailey.
B'ASTARD, n. [\rm. bastard ; Ir.basdard;
Fr. bdtard; D. bastaard ; G. bastari ; It.
and Sp. bastardo ; W. bastarz ; basu, to
fall, whence base, and tars, gro>vth, issue,
a sprout.]
A natural child ; a child begotten and born
out of wedlock ; an illegitimate or .spuri-
ous child. By the civil and canon laws, a
bastard becomes a legitimate chUd, by the
intermarriage of the parents, at any future
time. But by the laws of this country, as
by those of England, a child, to be legiti-
mate, must at least be bom after the law-
ful marriage. Blackstonc.
Bastard eigne', or bastard elder, in law, is
when a man has a bastard son, and after-
ward marries the mother, and has a legiti-
mate son, called mulier puisne, or younger.
Blackstone.
BASTARD, n. A kind of sweet wine. [.\'ot
.] Shak.
B A S
BASTARD, a. Begotten and born out of
lawful matrimony ; illegitimate.
9. Spurious ; not genuine ; false ; suppositi
tious ; adulterate. In this sense, it is ap
plied to things which resemble those
which are genuine, but are really not gen-
uine ; as a bastard hope, bastard honors.
Shak. Temple.
In military affairs, bastard is applied to pie-
ces of artillei7 which are of an unusual
make or proportion, whether longer or
shorter, as the double cidverin extraordi-
nary, half or quarter culverin extraordina-
ry. Encyc.
Bastard-Flawer-fence, a plant, a species of
Menanthera.
Bastard-hemp, a plant, a species of Datisca.
false hemp.
Bastard-Rocket, dyers- weed, or wildwoad,
a species of Reseda.
Bastard-Star of Bethlehem, a plant, a species
ot.ilbuca.
Bastard-Scarlet, a red color dyed with ball
madder.
B'ASTARD, v.t. To make or determine to
be a bastard. Bacon.
B>ASTARDISM, n. The state of a bastard.
B'ASTARDIZE, v. t. To make or prove to
be a bastard ; to convict of being a bas-
tard ; to declare legally, or decide a pe
son to be illegitimate.
Tlie law is so indulgent as not to bastardize
the child, if bora, though not begotten, in law-
ful wedlock. Blackstone
% To beget a bastard. Shak.
B'ASTARDLY, adv. In the manner of a
bastard; spuriously. Donne
ITASTARDS, an appellation given to s
faction or troop of bandits, who ravaged
Guienne in France in the 14th century ;
sujjposed to have been headed by the ille
gitiraate sons of noblemen, who were ex
eluded from the rights of inheritance.
Mezeray.
B'ASTARDY, n. A state of bemg
tard, or begotten and born out of lawful
wedlock, which condition disables the per-
son from inheriting an estate. Blackstone.
JiASTARN'le, o. Pertaining to the Bas-
ternsB, ancient inhabitants of the Carpa-
thian mountains. D^AnvUle.
Bastarnic Alps, the Carpathian moimtains,
between Poland, Himgary and Transylva-
nia ; so called from the ancient inhabitants,
the Baslarna. D'Anville.
BASTE, V. t. [Arm. baz ; Fr. baton, for bos-
ton ; Sp. baston ; It. bastone, a stick or
club.]
1. To beat with a stick.
1. To drip butter or fat upon meat, as it
turns upon the spit, in roasting ; to mois
ten with fat or other Uquid. Swift.
BASTE, V. t. [Sp. bastear ; It. imbastire, t
baste ; It. basta, a long stitch.]
To sew with long stitches ; to sew slightly,
BASTED, pp. Beat with a stick; moistened
with fat or other matter in roasting ; sew-
ed together with long stitches, or slightly,
BAS'TILE, )!. [Fr., from bdtir, bastir, to
build.]
An old castle in Paris, built between 1369
and 1383, used as a state prison, and con-
verted to the purpose of confining men
for life, who happened to incur the resent-
ment or jealousy of the French monarchs.
BAT
It was demolished by the enraged popu-
lace in 1789.
BASTINA'DE, ) [Fr. bastonnade ; Sp.
BASTINA'DO, ^ bastonada ; It. bastona-
ta, trom bastone, a stick or staff. See
Baste.]
A sound beating with a stick or cudgel ; the
blows given with a stick or staff". Tliis
name is given to a punishment in use
among the Turks, of beatuig an oflender
on the soles of his feet.
BASTINA'DE, ). To beat with a stick
BASTINA'DO, ^ "' '' or cudgel.
BASTING, ppr. Beating with a stick ; mois-
tening with dripping ; sewing togetlier
with long stitches.
Basting, n. a beating with a stick; a
moistening with dripping ; a sewing to-
gether slightly with long stitches.
BAS'TION, n. bas'chun. [Fr. and Sp. bas-
tion ; It. bastione ; probably fa-om bastir, ba-
th; to build, to set or Ibund.]
A huge mass of earth, usually faced with
sods, sometimes with brick, or stones,
standing out trom a rampart, of which ii
is a principal part ; formerly called a but
mark. Bastions are solid or hollow. A
flat bastion is made in the middle of tl
curtaui, when it is too long to be defended
by the bastions in its extretnes. A cut
bastion has its point cut off and mstead of
it a re-entering angle, or an angle inwards,
with two points outward. A composed
bastion has two sides of the interior poly
gon unequal, which makes the gorges un
equal. A demibastion is composed of one
face only, with one flank and a demigorge
A double bastion is one raised on the plane
of another. Encyc.
BAS'TO, n. The ace of clubs at quadrille.
BASTON, or BATOON', n. [Sp. Sec
Baste.]
In architecture, a round molding in the base
of a column ; called also a tore, [torus.]
Encyc.
BAT, n. [Sax. bat; h:bat,bata; Russ. fcoi ;
allied to beat]
1. A heavy stick or club; a piece of wood
with one end thicker or broader than the
other.
2. Bat or bate, a small copper coin of Ger
many, with a small mixture of silver,
worth four crutzers. Also a coin of Switz-
erland, worth five livres. Encyc.
3. A term given by muiers to shale or bitu-
minous shale. Kirwan.
BAT, V. i. To manage a bat, or play with
one. Mason
BAT, n. [Rab. and Tal. niX3, Nni3, or nNl3
Buxtorf. I have not found this word in
any European language, except in Eng-
lish.]
A race of quadrupeds, technically called
Vespertilio, of the orAar primates, in Linne's
system. The fore feet have the toes con-
nected by a membrane, expanded into a
kind of wings, by means of which the an-
imals fly. The species are numerous. Of|
these, the vampire or Ternate bat inhabits
Africa and the Oriental Isles. Tiiese an
imals fly in flocks from isle to isle, ohscu
ring the sun by their numbers. Their
wings when extended measure five or si
feet. They five on fruits ; but are sai
sometimes to draw blood from persons
when asleep. The bats of the northern
BAT
latitudes are small ; they are viviparous
and suckle their young. Their skin re-
sembles that of a mouse. They enter
houses in pleasant summer evenmgs, teed
upon moths, flies, flesh, and oily substan-
ces, and are torpid during the winter.
Encyc.
BAT'-FOWLER, n. One who practices, or
i pleased with bat-fowling. Bamngton.
BAT'-FOWLING, n. A mode of catching
birds at night, by holding a torcn or other
hglit, and beating the bush or perch where
they roost. The birds flying to the light
are caught with nets or otherwise.
Coivel. Encyc.
BA'TABLE, a. [See Bate and Debate.] Dis-
putable. The laud between England and
Scotland, « liich, when the Idngdoms were
distinct, was a subject of contention, was
called batable ground. Cowel. Encyc.
BATA'TAS, n. A species of tick or mite,
found on the potatoes of Surinam. Also
the Peruvian njune of the siceet potatoe.
Encyc.
BATA'VIAN, a. [from Batavi, the people
lio inhabited the isle.]
Pertaining to the isle of Betaw in Holland,
between the Rhine and the Waal. But
more generally, the word denotes what
appertains to Holland in general.
BATA'VIAN, n. A native of Betaw, or of
the Low Countries.
BATCH, n. [D. bakzel ; G. geback ; from
bake.]
1. The quantity of bread baked at onetime;
a baking of bread.
2. Any quantity of a thing made at once, or
united as to have like qualities.
B. Jonson.
BATE, n. [Sax. bate, contention. It is
obably from the root of beat. See De-
Strife ; contention ; retained in make-bate.
BATE, V. t. [Fr. baUre, to beat, to batter;
but perhaps from abattre, to beat down.
The literal sense is, to beat, strike, thrust ;
to force down. See Beat.]
To lessen by retrenching, deducting or re-
ducing; as, to bate the wages of the labor-
er ; to bate good cheer. Locke. Dryden.
[We now use abate.]
BATE, V- i. To grow or become less ; to
remit or retrench a part ; with of.
Abate thy speed and I will bate of mine.
Dryden.
Spenser uses bate in the sense of smking,
driving in, penetrating ; a sense regularly
deducible from that of fceaf, to thrust.
Yet there the steel staid not, but inly bate
Deep in tlie flesh, and open'd wide a red
flood gate.
BATE-BREEDING, a. Breeding strife.
[.mt used.] Shak.
BA'TEFUL, a. Contentious ; given to strife ;
exciting contention. Sidney.
BA'TELESS, a. Not to be abated. Shak.
BA'TEMENT, n. Abatement; deduction;
diminution.
[Bate, with its derivatives, is, I believe,
httle used, or wholly obsolete in the U.
States.]
BATEAU, n. batto'. [Fr. from L. batillum.]
A light boat, long in proportion to its
breadth, and wider in the middle than at
the ends.
BAT
BAT
BAT
BAT'ENfTES, BAT'ENISTS, or BATE-
NIANS, n. A sect of apostates from Mo'
hammedism, who professed the abomina
ble practices of the Ismaelians and Kir-
matians. The word signifies esoteric, or
persons of inward light. [See Assassins.'
BAT'FUL, a. [See Batten.} Rich, fertile, a^
land. lJ\rot in use.] Mason
B>ATH, n. [Sax. bwth, baiho, a bath ; ba-
thian, to bathe ; W. badh, or baz ; D. G. Sw.
Dan. bad, a bath ; Ir. bath, the .sea ; Old
Phrygian bedu, water. Qu. W. bozi, to
immerse.]
1. A place for bathing ; a convenient vat or
receittacle of water for persons to plunge
or wash their bodies in. Baths are warin
or tepid, hot or cold, more generally cal-
led warm and cold. They are also natural
or artificial. J^atural baths are those
which consist of spring water, either hot
or cold, wliich is often impregnated with
iron, and called chalybeate, or with sul-
phur, carbonic acid, and other mineral
qualities. These waters are often very
efficacious in scorbutic, bilious, dyspeptic
and other complaints.
2. A place in which heat is appUed to a body
immersed in some substance. Thus,
A dry bath is made of hot sand, ashes,
salt, or other matter, for the purpose of
applying heat to a body immersed in them.
A vapor bath is formed by filling an
apartment with hot steam or vapor, in
which the body sweats copiously, as in
Russia ; or the term is used for the ap-
plication of hot steam to a diseased part
of the body. Encyc. Tooke.
A metalline bath is water impregnated
with iron or other metalUc substance, and
applied to a diseased part. Encyc.
In chimistry, a wet bath is fonmed by hot
water in which is placed a vessel contain-
ing the matter which requires a softer
iieat than the naked fire.
In medicine, the animal bath is made by
wrapping the part aftected in a warm skin
just taken from an animal. Coxe.
3. A house for bathing. In some eastern
countries, baths are very magnificent edifi-
ces.
4. A Hebrew measure containing the tenth
of a homer, or seven gallons and four
])ints, as a measure for liquids ; and three
pecks and three pints, as a dry measure.
Calmit.
BATH-ROOM, n. An apartment for bath-
ing. Tooke.
BATHE, V. t. [Sax. bathian, to wash. See
Bath. (iu. W. bozi, to immerse.]
1. To wash the body, or some part of it, by
immersion, as in a bath ; it often differs
from ordinary washing in a longer appli-
cation of water, to the body or to a par-
ticular part, as for the purpose of cleans-
ing or stimulating the skin.
2. To wash or moisten, for the purpose of
making soft and supple, or for cleansing,
as a wound.
3. To moisten or suffuse with a liquid ; as, to
bathe in tears or blood.
BATHE, V. i. To be or lie in a bath ; to
be in water, or in other hquid, or to be im-
mersed in a fluid, as in a bath ; as, to bathe
in fiery floods. Shnk.
BA'THED, pp. Washed as in a bath; mois-
tened with a liquid ; bedewed.
BA'THER, n. One who bathes; one who
immerses himself in water, or who a|)-
plies a liquid to himself or to another.
Tooke.
BA'THING, ppr. Washing by immersion,
■ by applying a liquid ; moistening ; fo-
BA'THING, n. The act of batliing, or wash-
ing the body in water. Mason.
BA'THING-TUB, n. A vessel for bathing,
usually made either of wood or tin. In
the Royal Library at Paris, I saw a bath
ing-tub of porphyry, of beautiful form and
exquisite workmanship.
BATHOS, n. [Gr. ,3a9o5; allied to Eng.
bottom, and perhaps to W. bozi, to im-
merse.]
The art of sinking in poetiy. Arbuthnot
BATING, ppr. [from bate.] Abating ; ta-
king away ; deducting ; excepting.
Children have few ideas, bating some faint
ideas of hunger and thirst. Locke.
BAT'INIST. [See BatenUes.]
BAT'IST, n. A fine linen cloth made in
Flanders and Picardy, of three different
kinds or thicknesses. Encyi
BAT'LET, n. [from bat.] A small bat, or
square piece of wood with a handle, for
beating linen when taken out of the buck.
Johnson
BAT'MAN, n. A weight used in Smyrna, of
six okes, each of 400 drams ; equal to
16 lbs. 6 oz. 1.5 dr. English.
BATOON' or BAT'ON, n. [Fr. baton from
baslon. See Baste.]
A staff" or ehib ; a marshal's staff"; a trun-
cheon ; a badge of militaiy honors.
Johnson.
BAT'RA€HITE, n. [Gr. ^of pa;^05, a fiog.j
A fossil or stone in color resembling a frog,
Ash.
BAT'RA€HOMYOM'A€HY, n. [Gr. t3oT-
fia-xoi, a frog, ^vj, a mouse, and ^ajt"?, a bat-
tle.]
The battle between the frogs and mice ; a
burlesque poem ascribed to Homer.
BATRA'CIAN, a. [Gr. 3o.tfa.xof, a frog.]
Pertaining to fi-ogs ; an epithet designa-
ting an order of animals, including frogs
toads and similar animals. Barnes.
BATRA'CIAN, n. An animal of the orde:
above mentioned.
BAT'TABLE, a. Capable of cultivation.
[.Vo( in use.'] Burton.
BAT TAILANT, n. [See BatUe.] A com-
liatant. [.Yot used.] Shelton.
BAT'TAILOUS, a. [See Battle.] Warlilte ;
having the form or appearance of an
my arrayed for battle ; marshaled, as for
an attack. Milton. Fairfo
BATTAL'IA, n. [Sp.batalla; Ix. battaglia,
battle. See Battle.]
1. Tlie order of battle : troops arrayed in
their proper brigades, regiments, battal-
ions, &c., as for action.
2. The main body of an army in array, dis-
tinguished from the wings. Johnson.
BATT ALTON, n. [Fr.bataiUon. See Battte.]
A body of infantry, consisting of from 500
to 800 men ; so" called from being origi-
nally a body of men arrayed for battle.
A battalion is generally a body of troops
next below a regiment. Sometimes a bat-
talion composes a regiment ; more gene-
rally a regiment consists of two or more
battalions. Johnson. Encyc.
Shakspeare u.ses the word for an arm v.
BATTALTONED, a. Formed into battal
ions. Barlow.
BATTEL, (I. [See Battle.]
In law, wager of battel, a si)ecies of trial for
the decision of causes between parties-
This species of trial is of high antiquity,
among the rude mihtary people of Eu-
rope. It wasintroducedinto England, by
William, the Norman Conqueror, and used
in three cases only ; in the court martial,
or court of chivalry or honor ; in appeals
of felony; and in issues joined upon a
writ of right. The contest was had before
the judges, on a piece of ground inclosed,
and the combatants were boimd to fight
till the stars appeared, unless the death
of one party or victory sootier decided tlu'
contest. It is no longer in use.
Blackstone.
BATTEL, V. i. To grow fat. LVot in use.]
[See batten.]
2. To stand indebted in the college books at
Oxford, for provisions and drink, from
the buttery. Hence a 6a«e/er answers to
a sizer at Cambridge.
BAT'TEL, n. An account of the expenses
of a student at Oxford.
BAT'TEL, a. [See Batten.] Fertile ; fruit-
fid. [JVot used.]
BAT'TELER,
B.\TTLER,
Hooker.
A student at Oxford.
BAT'TEMENT, n. [Fr.] A beating; strilv-
g ; imi)ulse. [.Yot in use.]
Darwin, Zoon.
BAT'TEN, V. t. bat'n. [Russ. botiayu. Uu.
Ar. •S.J badana, to be fat; or • j^j
faddana, to fatten. See Fat.]
1. To fatten ; to make fat ; to make plump
by plenteous feeding. Milton.
To fertilize or enrich land. Philips.
BAT'TEN, V. i. To grow or become fat ; to
live in luxury, or to grow fat in ease and
luxury. ' Dryden.
The pampered monarch battening in ease.
Garth.
BAT'TEN, n. A piece of board or scant-
ling, of a few inches in breadth, used in
making doors and windows. It is not as
broad as a pannel. Encyc.
ATTEN, V. t. To form with battens.
BAT'TER, v.f. [Fr. baHre ; Sp. batir; It.
battere; L. batiw, to beat. See Beat.]
1. To beat with successive blows ; to beat
with violence, so as to bruise, shake, or
demolish ; as, to batter a wall.
2. To wear or impair with heating ; as a bat-
tered pavement; a battered jade.
Dryden. Pope.
3. To attack with a battering ram.
4. To attack with heavy artillerj', for the
purpose of making a breach in" a wall or
rampart.
BAT'TER, V. i. To sweU, bulge or stand
out, as a timber or side of a wall from its
foundation. Moxon.
BAT'TER, n. [from beat or batter.]
A mixture of seAeral ingredients, as flour,
eggs, salt, &c., beaten together with some
liquor, used in cookery. King.
BATTERED, pp. Beaten ; bruised, brok-
en, impaired by beating or wearing.
BAT TERER, n. One who batters or beats.
BATTERING, ppr. Beating; da.<^hing a-
gainst ; bruising or demoUsliijig by beatinsr
BAT
BATTERING-RAM, n. In antiquity, a
military engine used to beat down the
walls of besieged places. It was a large
beam, with a head of iron somewhat re-
sembling the head of a ram, whence its
name. It was suspended by ropes in the
middle to a beam which was supported
by posts, and balanced so as to swing back
wards and forwards, and was impelled by
men against the wall. It was sometimes
mounted on wheels.
BATTERY, n. [Fr. baUeiie ; Sp. bateria ;
It. batteria. See Beat.]
1. The act of battering, or beating.
9. The instrument of battering.
3. In the military art, a parapet thrown up.l
cover the gunners and others employed
about tlieni, from the enemy's shot, with
the guns employed. Thus, to erect a bat
tery, is to form the parapet and mount the
guns. The term is applied also to a num-
ber of guns ranged in order for battering
and to mortars used for a like purpose
Cross batteries me two batteries which
play athwart each other, forming an angle
upon the object battered
Battery d'enjilade, is one which scours or
sweeps the whole line or length.
Battery en echarpe, is that which play
obliquely. .
Battery de revers, is that which plays
upon the enemy's back.
Camerade battery, is when several guns
olay at the same time upon one place.
* ■' Encyc.
■1. In laiv, the unlawful beating of another,
The least violence or the touching ot an-
other in anger is a battery. Blackstone
.5. In electrical apparatus and experiments, s
number of coated jars placed in such t
manner, that they may be charged at the
same time, and- discharged in the same
manner. This is called an electrical battery.
6. Galvanic battery, a pile or series of plates
of copper and ?ink, or of any substances
susceptible of galvanic action.
"BAT'TING, n. The management of a bat
play.
BAT'TISH, a. [from bat,
Resembling a bat ; as a battish humor.
p'crnon.
BAT'TLE, n. [Fr. bataille ; W. batel, a
drawing of the bow, a battle ; Sp. batal-
la ; It. battaglia, from beating. See Beat.
Owen supposes the Welsh batel, to be from
fel, tight, stretched, compact, and the
word primarily to have expressed the
g of the bow. This
B A U
2. A body of forces, or division of an army,
Mason
animal.]
The main body, as distinct from the
and rear. Obs. Hayward.
To give battle, is to attack an enemy ; to join
battle, is properly to meet the attack ; but
perhaps tliis distinction is not always ob-
served.
A pitched battle is one in which the aiTmci
are previously drawn up in form, with i
regular disposition of the forces.
To turn the battle to the gate, is to fight val-
iantly, and drive the enemy, who hath
entered the city, back to the gate. Is.
BAT'TLE, V. i. [Fr. batailler ; Sp. batallar.]
To join in battle ; to contend in fight ; some-
times with it ; as, to battle it. Addison.
BAT'TLE, V. I. To cover with armed force.
Fairfax.
BATTLE-ARRA'Y, n. [battle axiA array.]
Array or order of battle ; the disposif— ' ■''
forces preparatory to a battle.
BAT'TLE-AX, \ An ax anciently used
BAT'TLE-AXE, \ "" as a weapon of
It has been used till of late years by the
highlanders in Scotland ; and is still used
by the city guards in Edinburg, in quelling
mobs, &c. Encyc.
BAT'TLE-DOOR, n. bat'tl-dore. An instru-
ment of play, with a handle and a flat
board or palm, used to strike a ball or
shuttle-cock ; a racket. . iocte-
3. A child's horn book. [M'ot in use in U. S.]
BAT'TLEMENT, n. [This is said to have
been bastillement, from bastille, a fortifica-
tion, from Fr. bdtir, bastir, to build. Qu.]
A wall raised on a building with openmgs
or embrasures, or the embrasure itself
Encyc. Johnson.
BAT'TLEMENTED, a. Secured by battle-
ments. Herbert
BAT'TLING, n. Conflict. Thomson
BATTOL'OGIST, n. [See Battology.]
One that repeats the same thing in speaking
Iting. [Little used.] Wkitlock.
BATTOL'OtiIZE, v. t. To repeat need-
lessly the same thing. [Liltle used.]
Herbert.
BATTOL'OuY, n. [Gr. fSarfoXoyia, from
fJarros, a garrulous person, and 710705, dis-
A needless repetition of words in speaking.
Ash. Encyc.
BAT'TON, )!. [from bat.] In commerce,
pieces of wood or deal for flooring, or
other purposes. Encyc.
BAT'TORY, n. Among the Hans-Towns, a
factory or magazine which the merchants
have in foreign countries. Encyc.
BAT'TULATE, v. t. To interdict commerce,
[A word used by the Levant company.]
Eton
drawing of the bow. Tins is probably an
error. The first battles of men were vifitl
clubs, or some weapons used in beating.
striking. Hence the club of Hercules
And although the moderns
weapons, still a battle is si
l.''r4"hl°or'enc"unter between enemies,! BAT'TY, a. [from 6a<, an animal.]
or opposing armies ; an engagement. It'
is usually applied to armies or large bod
ies of men ; but in popular language, the
word is applied to an encounter between
small bodies, between individuals, or infe-
rior animate. It is also more generally
applied to the encounters of land forces
than of ships ; the encounters of the latter]
being called engagements. But battle is
applicable to any combat of enemies.
difterent., „
ode oi BATTULA'TION,>i. A prohibition of com
Eton
Belonging to a bat. Shak.
BATZ, n. A small copper coin with a mix-
ture of silver, current in some parts of
Germany and Switzerland. Encyc.
BAUBEE', n. [Qu. Fr. bas-biUon.] In Scut-
land and the North of England, a half
penny. Johnson.
BAUgE, n. A drugget manufactured in Bur-
gundy, with thread spun thick, and of
coarse wool. Encyc.
B A W
BAULK. [See Balk.-\
BAV'AROY, n. A kind of cloke or surtout.
Johnson.
BAVIN, n. A stick like those bound up in
faggots ; a piece of waste wood. In war,
brush, faggots. Johnson. Encyc.
BAWBLE, n. [Fr. babiole, a toy, or baby-
thing ; according to Spelman, baubella are
gems or jewels.]
A trifling piece of finery ; a gew-gaw ; that
which is gay or showy without real value.
Dry den.
BAWB'LING, a. Trifling ; contemptible.
Obs. Shak.
BA W'-€OCK, n. A fine fellow. [Qu. beau-
cock.] Shak.
BAWD, n. [I know not the origin of this
word ; but in French, baudir is a term in
hunting, signifying to excite or encourage
dogs to the chase ; formed, according to
Lunier, from the Low Latin, baldire, or
exbaldire, to enliven, to quicken ; which,
from the Italian, baldo, baldanza, appears
to be from the root of Eng. bold, the pri-
mary sense of which is, to project, to push
or rush forward. In W. pud is what tends
to allure. But one author quotes Hesych-
ius, as giving Gr. )3a6o5, a procurer or
procuress.]
A procurer or procuress. A person who
keeps a house of prostitution, and con-
ducts criminal intrigues. [UsuMy applied
to females.]
BAWD, V. i. To procure ; to provide women
for lewd purposes.
2. To foul or dirtv. [ATol in use.] Skelton.
BAWD'-BORN, a. Descended from a bawd.
Shak.
BAWD'ILY, arfi'. Obscenely; lewdly.
BAWD'INESS, n. OKscenity ; lewdness.
B.\WD'RICK, n. [See Baldrick.] A belt.
Chapman.
BAWD'RY,n. [See Bawd.] The abomina-
ble practice of procuring women for the
gratification of lust.
2. Obscenity ; filthy, unchaste language.
BAWD'Y, a. Obscene; filthy; unchaste;
applied to lane^uase.
BAWD'Y-HOUSE; a. A house of lewdness
and prostitution.
BAWL, V. i. [Sax. bellan ; Sw. hola, to low
or bellow ; W. ballaw ; G. bellen, to bark ;
D. balderen, to roar ; L. balo, to bleat ; Fr.
piailler, to bawl, to pule ; Heb. by the
blast of a trumpet ; Per. bala, a cry or
clamor ; and Ar. and Heb. Sds, to weep,
to wail. These all coincide in elements
with L. pello, appello, Eng. peal, and the
primary sense is the same]
To cry out with a loud full sound ; to
hoot ; to cry with vehemence, as in calling,
or in pain or exultation.
2. To cry loud, as a child from pain or
vexation.
BAWL, D. t. To proclaim by outcry, as a
common crier. Suijt.
BAWL'ED, pp. Proclaimed by outcry.
BAWL'ING,/)pr. Orving aloud.
BAWL'ING, n. The act of crying with a
loud sound.
BAWN, n. An inclosure with mud or stone
walls for keeping cattle ; a fortification.
[JVot used.] Spen.'icr.
BAW'RKL,n. A kind of hawk. Todc'.
BAW'SIN, rt. A badger. B. Jonson.
BAY
BAXTE'RIAN, a. Pertaining to Baxter, :
celebrated English divine ; as the Baxle
rian scheme. Encyc.
BAV, a. JFr. hai or haie ; It. baio ; 6p. bayo
L. badius. Class Bd.]
Red, or reddish, inchniiig to a chcsnut color
applied to the color of horses. The shades
of this color are called light bay, dark bay,
dappled bay, gilded bay, chesnut bay. In
popular language, in England, all bay
horses are called broum.
Johnson. Encyc
BAY, n. [Fr. baie ; Sp. Port, bahia ; It. bam
D. baai ; contracted from the root of Sax.
byge, an angle, bygan, D. boogen, to bend,
whence bow.']
1. An arm of the sea, extending into the
land, not of any definite form, but smaller
than a gulf, and larger than a creek. The
name however is not used with much pre
cision, and is often applied to large tracts
of water, around which the land forms a
curve, as Hudson's Bay. Nor is the name
restricted to tracts of water with a narrow
entrance, but used for any recess or inlet
between capes or head lands, as tlie bay
of Biscay.
2. A pond-head, or a pond formed by a dam,
for the purpose of ilriving mill-wheels,
[/ believe not used in U. S.]
3. Ill a bam, a place between the floor and
the end of the building, or a low inclosed
place, for depositing hay.
In Englaiid,B&ysio\msoT\, if a barn con-
sists of a floor and two h^ads, where they
lay corn, they call it a barn of two bay's.
These bays are from 14 to 20 feet long,
and floors from 10 to 12 feet broad, and
usually 20 feet long, wliicli is the breadth
of the bam. Builder's Did.
4. In ships of war, that part on each side be-
tween decks which hes between the hitts.
Mar. Did.
.'). Any kind of opening in walls.
Chambers.
BAY, n. [Qu. Gr. tSaiov, a branch of the palm
tree. In Sp. baya is a berry, the fruit of
the laurel.]
1. The laurel tree. Hence,
2. Bays, in the plural, an honorary garland
or crown, bestowed as a prize for victory
or excellence, anciently made or consist-
ing of branches of the laurel.
The patriot's honors, and tlie poet's bays.
Tnimbull.
3. In .some parts of the U. States, a tract of
land covered with bay trees.
Drayton, S. Carolina.
BAY, 71. [Goth, beidan, to expect ; It. bada ;
" tenere a bada," to keep at bay ; " star a
bada," to stand trifling ; bada're, to stand
trifling, to amuse one's self, to take care,
to watch, to covet ; abbadare, to mind ; ^r.
bayer, to gape or stand gaping. Qu.
aboyer.]
A state of expectation, watching or looking
for ; as, to kee)) a man at bay. So a stag
at bay is when he turns his head against
the dogs. Whence abeyance, in law, or a
state of expectancy.
BAY, t). f. [Fr. aboyer; It. toinre, to bark.]
1. To bark, as a dog at his game. Spenser.
2. To encompass, or inclose, from bay. We'
now use embay. Shak.l
B.\Y, V. t. To bark at ; to follow with bark-
ing. Shale]
B E
BAY-SALT, is salt which crystalizes or re
ceives its consistence from the heat of the
sun or action of the air. It fonns in pits
or basins, and from this circumstance re-
ceives its denomination. It appears first
in a slight incrustation upon the surface of
the water, which may be sea water, or any
other water in which salt is dissolved.
This crust thickens and hardens, till the
crystaUzation is perfected, which takes
place, in eight, ten or fifteen days.
Encyc. Chambers.
BAY-WINDOW, n. A window jutting out
from the wall, as in shops.
BAY- YARN, n. A denomination sometimes
used promiscuously with woolen yam.
Chambers.
BA'YARD, 71. [bay and ard, kind.]
1. A bay horse. Philips.
2. An-unmannerly beholder. B. Jonson.
BA'YARDLY, a. Blind ; stupid. Taylor.
BA'YED, a. Having bays, as a building.
BA'YONET, 71. [Fr. baionette ; Sp. bayoji-
etu ; It. baionetta ; so called, it is said, be
cause the first bayonets were made at Bay
onne. Fieyra's Portuguese Did.]
A short pointed instrument of iron or broad
dagger, formerly with a handle fitted to
the bore of a gun, where it was inserted
for use, after the soldier had fired ; bi
now made with an iron handle and rmg
which go over the muzzle of the piece, so
that the soldier fires with his bayonel
fixed. Encyc
BA'YONET, V. t. To stab with a bayonet.
2. To compel or drive by tlie bayonet.
Burke.
BAYS, or BAYZE. [See Baize.]
BAZAR, 71. [Pers.jljL^ bazar; Rus
bazari, a market.]
Among the Turks and Persians, an ej
change, market-place, or place wliere
goods are exposed to sale. Some bazars
are open, others are covered with lofty
ceihiigs or domes, pierced to give light.
The bazar at Tauris will contain 30,000
men. "" Encyc.
BAZ'AT, ^ „ A long, fine spun cotton from
BAZ'A, S ■ Jerusalem, whence it is called
Jerusalem cotton. Encyc.
BDEL'LIUM, n. deU'yum. [L.; Gr. ^SfWi.or;
Syr. Ch. Heb. rhl2. Bochart and Park
hurst translate it, pearl. Gen. ii. But i
is doubtful whether the bdellium of the
scriptures is that now used.]
A gummy resinous juice, produced by a tree
in the East Indies, of which we have no
satisfactory account. It is brought fi-om
the E. Indies and from Arabia, in pieces
of diflferent sizes and figures, externally of
a dark reddish brown, internally, clear
and not unlike to glue. To the taste, it '
slightly bitterish and pungent ; its odor
agreeable. In the mouth, it becomes S(
and sticks to the teeth ; on a red hot iron,
it readily catches flame and burns with a
crackling noise. It is used as a perfume
and a medicine, being a weak deobstru-
ent. Encyc.
BE, V. i. substantive; ppr. being; pp. been.
[Sax. 6eon, to be. 6. bin, bist ; D. 6€7i ;
Indie, pres. tense. Qu. Pers. • v ,
bodan, to be, and W. bud, byzu, bydiaw.
B E A
The sense is to stand, remain or be fixed ;
hence to continue. This verb is defect-
ive, and its defects are supjihed by verbs
from other roots, am, is, was, were, which
have no radical connection with be. The
case is the same with the substantive verb
in most languages.]
1. To be fixed ; to exist ; to have a real state
or existence, for a longer or shorter time.
Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ
Jesus. Phil. ii.
To be, contents his natural desire. Pope.
2. To be made to be ; to become.
And they twain shall be one flesh. Math.
Jcr. xxxii.
3. To remain. Let the garment be as if
was made.
4. To he present in a place. Where uas I
at the time ? When will you be at my
house .''
5. To have a particular manner of being or
happening ; as, how is this aflair ? how
was it ? what were the circumstances ?
This verb is used as an auxiliary in forming
the tenses of other verbs, and particularly
in giving to them the passive form ; as,
he has been disturbed. It forms, with
the infinitive, a particular future tense,
which often expresses duty, necessity or
purpose ; as, govenmient is to be sup-
ported ; we are to pay our just debts.
Let be is to omit, or leave untouched ; to let
alone.
Let be, said he, my prey. Dryden.
BE, a prefix, as in because, before, beset, be-
deck, is the same word as by ; Sax. 6f, big ;
Goth. bi. It is common to the EngUsh,
Saxon, Gothic, German, Dutch, Danish
and Swedish languages. It occurs proba-
bly in the Russian, but is written ;)o, as it
is in possideo and a few other words in the
Latin. It denotes nearness, closeness,
about, on, at, from some root signifying to
pass or to press. [See By.]
That this word is the Shemitic 3, used as a
prefix, is certain, not only from its general
applications, which may he seen by com-
paring the uses of the word, in the Heb.
for instance, with those in the Saxon ;
but from its use in particular phrases, par-
ticularly in its use before the name of the
Supreme being in s»vearing. Hence we
find that 3 is not from n3 nor from ri'S, as
Parkhurst supposes, but is a contraction
of big, which is used in the Saxon, big-
spelt, a proverb, a by-worA ; bigslandan,
to stand by.
BEACH, 71. [Qu. Russ. bok, coast.]
The shore of the sea, or of a lake, wliieh is
washed by the tide and waves ; the strand.
It may he sometimes used for the shore of
large rivers.
BE' ACHED, a. Exposed to the waves ;
washed by the tide and waves. Shak,
BE'ACHY, a. Having a beach or beaches.
Shak.
BE'A€ON, 71. be^kn. [W. pigxm, a beacon,
cone, or turret, from p^g, a point. See
Pike. Sax. beaccn, becen, asignal ; D. baak,
baaken ; Ger. bake.]
1. A signal erected on a long pole, upon an
eminence, consisting of a pitch barrel, or
some combustible matter, to be fired at
night, or to cause a smoke by day, to no-
tify the approach of an enemy.
2. A light-house ; a house erected on a point
B E A
of land, or other place on the sea-coast,
with lamps which burn at night, to direct
navigators, and preserve vessels from run-
ning upon rocks, sand banks, or the shore.
In general, a beacon may be any light or
mark intended for direction and security
against danger.
3. Figuratively, that which gives notice of
danger.
BE'A€ONAgE, n. Money paid for the
maintenance of a beacon. Encyc. ,/lsh,
BEAD, n. [Ger. bethe, a bead ; supposed
from beten, biddan, to pray, from the use of
beads in Cathohc countries ; Sax. bead, a
praying. In Spanish and Portuguese, the
word answering to count is used for a bead.'
1. A little perforated ball, to be strung on £
tln-ead, and worn about the neck, for orna
nient. A string of beads is called a neck-
lace. Beads are made of gold, pearl,
amber, steel, garnet, coral, diamond, crys-
tal, pastes, glasses, &c. The Romanists
use strings of beads in rehearsing their
prayers. Hence the phrase, to tell heads,
and to be at 0)ie'« beads, is to be at prayer.
Encyc. Johnson.
2. Any small globular body ; hence the glass
globules, used in traffick with savages, and
sold in strings, are called beads ; also a
bubble on spirit.
3. In architecture, a round molding, com-
monly made upon the edge of a piece of
stuff.in the Corintliian and Roman orders,
cut or carved in short embossments, like
beads in necklaces. Encyc.
Bidding of beads, is a charge given by
priest to his parishioners, to repeat certain
pater-nosters upon their beads for a de-
parted sold. Bailey.
BE'AD-MAKER, n. One who makes beads.
In French, paternostrier is one who makes,
strings, and sells beads. In Paris are
three companies of paternostriers ; one that
works in glass or ci-ystal ; one, in wood
and horn ;"a third, ui amber, coral, &c.
Enci/c.
BE'AD-PROOF, a. Spirit is bead-proof,
when, after being shaken, a crown of
bubbles will stand, for some time after,
on the surface, manifesting a certain
standard of strength. Encyc.
BE' AD-ROLL, n. Among Catholics, a list
or catalogue of persons, for the rest of
whose souls, they are to repeat a certain
number of prayers, which they count by
their beads. Encyc.
BE'AD-TREE, n. The azedarach, a species
of MeUa, a native of the Indies, growing
about 20 feet high, adorned with large
pinnated or winged leaves, and clusters of
pentapetalous flowers. Encyc.
BEADS-MAN, n. A man employed in pray-
ing, generally in praying for another.
Joh7ison.
BE' ADS-WOMAN, n. A praying woman ;
a woman wlio resides in an alms-house.
Ash.
BE'ADLE, n. [Sax. bydel, or bfcdel; Fr.
bedeau ; Sp. bedel ; It. bidello ; Ger. bidtel,
pedeU ; Sw. bodel, a beadle, or lictor ; from
the root of bid. Sax. beodan, to order or
command. See Bid.]
1. A messenger or crier of a court ; a servi-
tor ; one who cites persons to appear and
answer ; called also an apparitor or sum-
raoner. Encyc.
13 E A
2. An officer in a university, whose chief
business is to walk with a mace, before
the masters, in a public procession ; or as
in America, before the president, trus-
tees, faculty and students of a college, in a
procession, at public commencements.
Encyc.
A parish officer, whose business is to pim-
ish jietty offenders. Johnson.
BE'ADLESHIP, n. The office of a beadle.
Wood.
BE'AGLE, n. [Fr. bigle, so named from lit-
tleness ; W. ioc, little ; Ir. pig ; It. piccolo.
We have from the same root boy, and the
Danes pige, a httle girl, and probably pug
is the same word. Qu. Gr. nvyfiaMi, a pyg
my.]
A small hound, or hunting dog. Beagles are
of different sorts ; as tlie southern beagle,
shorter and less, but thicker, than the
deep-mouthed hound ; the Jleet northern
or cat beagle, smaller, and of a finer shape
than the southern. From these
united, is bred a third, still preferable ; and
a smaller sort is little larger than the lap-
dog. Encyc.
BEAK, n. [D.bek; W.pig; Ir.peac ; Arm.
bek ; Fr. bee ; Sp. pica ; It. becco ; Dan.
pig, pik ; Sw. pigg, pik ; Sax.piic ; Fr.
pique ; Eng. peak, pike, &c. The sense
is, a shoot, or a point, from thrusting ; and
this word is connected with a numerous
family. See Class Bg.]
1. The bill, or nib of a bird, consisting of i
horny substance, either straight or curv
ing, and ending in a point.
2. A pointed piece of wood, fortified with
brass, resembling a beak, fastened to the
end of ancient gallies ; intended to pierce
the vessels of an enemy. In modern ships,
the beak-head is a name given to the fore
part of a ship, whose forecastle is square,
or oblong ; a circumstance common to all
ships of war, which have two or more
tiers of guns. Mar. Diet
Beak or beak-head, that part of a ship,
before the forecastle, which is fastened to
the stem, and supported by the main knee.
Encyc
3. In farriery, a little shoe, at the toe, about
an inch long, turned up and fastened in
upon the fore part of the hoof
Farrier^s Diet
4. Any thing ending in a point, like a beak,
This in America is more generally pro-
nounced peak.
BEAK, II. t. Among cock fighters, to take
hold witli the beak. Ash.
BE'AKED, a. Having a beak ; ending in
point, like a beak.
BE'AKER, n. [Ger. hecher.] A cup or glass.
Johnson.
BE'AKiRON, n. A bickern ; an iron tool,
ending in a point, used by blacksmiths.
Ash.
BEAL, n. [See Boil. W. bal, a pronfiinence.]
A pimple ; a whelk ; a small inflamma-
tory tumor ; a pustule. Johnson. Ash
BEAL, V. i. To gather matter ; to swell and
come to a head, as a pimple.
Johnson. Ash.
BEAM, n. [Goth, bagms, a tree ; Sax. beam ;
G. baum ; D. boom, a tree ; Dan. horn, a bar
or rail ; Ir. beiin, a beam. We see by the
Gothic, th^t the word belongs to Cli
B E A
Bg. It properly signifies the stock or stem
of a tree ; that is, the fixed, firm part.]
1. The largest, or a principal piece in a
building, that lies across the walls, and
serves to support the principal rafters.
Encyc.
2. Any large piece of timber, long in pro-
portion to its tliickuess, and squared, or
hewed for use.
3. The part of a balance, from the ends of
which the scales are suspended ; some-
times used for the whole apparatus for
weighing. Encyc.
4. The part on the head of a stag, which
bears the antlers, royals and tops.
5. The pole of a carriage, which runs be-
tween the horses. Dryden.
6. A cylinder of wood, making part of a
loom, on which weavers -wind the warp
before weaving ; and this name is given
also to the cylinder on which the cloth is
rolled, as it is wove.
7. The straight part or shank of an anchor.
In ships, a great main cross timber, which
holds the sides of a ship from falling to-
gether. The beams support the decks and
orlops. The mam beam is next the main-
mast. Mar. DicL
The maul piece of a plow, in which the
I plow-tails are fixed, and by which it is
i drawn.
10. Beam co7npass, an instrument consisting
of a square wooden cr brass beam, having
shding sockets, that carry steel or pencil
points ; used for describing large circles,
and in large projections for drawing the
furniture on wall-dials. Encyc. Johnson.
On the beam, in navigation, signifies any dis-
tance from the ship, on a line with the
beams, or at right angles with the keel.
Jlfar. Diet.
Before the beam, is an arch of the horizon be-
tween a line that crosses the ship at right
angles, or the line of tlie beam, and that
point of the compass which she steers.
Mar. Diet.
Beam ends. A vessel is said to be on her
beam ends, when she inclines so much on
one side that her beams approach a ver-
tical position. Mar. Diet.
Beam-feathers, in falconry, the long feathers
of a hawk's wing. Bailey.
BE'AM-BIRD, n. In Yorkshire, England,
the petty chaps, a species of Motacilla,
called in Dorsetshire, the hay-bird.
Encyc.
The spotted fly-catcher, a species of Musci-
capa. Ed. Encyc.
BE'AM-TREE, n. A si)ecies of wild ser-
vice. Johnson.
The Crataegus Aria. Cye.
BEAM, n. [Sax. beam, a ray of the sun ;
tieamian, to shine or send forth beams ;
Sam. bahmah, splendor ; Ij. beim, a stroke,
and solf'heim, a thunderbolt.]
A ray of light, emitted from the sun, or other
luminous bodv.
BEAM, V. f. To send forth ; to emit.
BEAM, V. i. To emit rays of hght, or beams-,
to shine.
He beam'd, the day star of the rising age.
Trumbull.
BE'AMING, ppr. Emitting rays of hght or
beams.
BE'AMING, n. Radiation ; the emission or
darting of light in rays.
B E A
'■I. The issuing of ijitellectual light ; dawn
prophetic intimation ; first indication.
Such were tlie beamings of an original and
rifted mind. T. Dawes
BE'AMLESS, a. Emitting no rays of light
BE'AMY, a. Emitting rays of hght ; radi-
ant ; shining.
2. Resembling a beam in size and weight :
massy. Dryden.
3. Having horns, or antlers. Dryden.
BEAN, n. [Sax. bean ; Dan. bonne ; Sw.
bbna ; Gr. rfvavw ; D. boon ; Ger. bohne ;
Ch. [ISN, apun, a vetch. Qu. Arm. fa
Corn. id. ; W. faen.]
A name given to several kinds of pulse, or
leguminous seeds, and the plants produ
cing them. They belong to several gen
era, particularly Vicia, Phaseolus and
Dolichos. The varieties most usually
cultivated are, the horse bean, the maza-
gan, the kidney bean, the cranberry liean,
the hma bean, the frost bean, &c. The
stalk is erect or climbing, and the fruit
generally roundish, oval or fiat, and of
various colors.
Malacca-beans. Anacardia, the fruit of a tree]
growing in Malabar, and other parts of
the Indies. This fluit is of a shining black
color, of the shape of a heart flattened,
about an inch long, terminating at one end
in an obtuse point, and at the other, ad-
liering to a wrinkled stalk. It contains,
mthin two shells, a kernel of a sweetish
taste ; and betwixt the shells is lodged
thick acrid juice. Encyc.
BE'AN-€APER, n. A plant, a species of
zygophyllum, a native of warm climates.
Encyc.
BE'AN-€OD, n. A small fishing vessel oi
pilot boat, used in the rivers of Portugal.
It is sharp forward, having its stem bent
above into a great curve, and plated with
iron. Eyicyc.
BE'AN-FED, a. Fed with beans. Shak.
BE'AN-FLY, n. A beautiful fiy, of a pale
purple color, found on bean flowers, pro-
duced from a maggot called mida.
Encyc.
BE'AN-GOOSE, n. A species of Anas ; a
migratory bird, which arrives in England
in autumn, and retires to the north in sum
mer. It is so named, from the likeness of
the nail of the bill to a horse-bean.
Encyc
Bean-tree of America, a name given to thi
Erythrina.
Kidney- Bean-tree, a name given to the Gly
B E A
son ; Dan. barer, to carry, bear,|
; L. ftro, pario, porta ; Gr. ^i
barn, a
produce
?iopf« ; Sji. I'on.parir, to bring forth ; por-
tar, to carry ; It. portare, to carry ; Ir
bearadh, beirim, to bear or bring forth, to
tell or relate, whence Fr. parter; Russ.
bent, to take, to carry; Sans, bharadi,
bear. Tliis verb I suppose to be radically
the same as the Shemitic tn3 to produce ;
L. pario. The primary sense is to throw
out, to bring forth, or in general, to thrust
or drive along. It includes the proper
both of L. fero and pario ;
significations, both of L. fe
Shemitic mi) and <</JP. Hem
Binding-bean-tree, a name given to the
Mimosa.
Bean-trefoil, tlie Cytisus. Fam. of Plants.
BEAR, V. t. pret. bore ; pp. born, borne. [Sax.
boeran, beran, beoran, byran, geba:ran, gebe-
ran, gebyran, abceran, aberan, to beai-,
carry, bring, sustain, produce, bring forth ;
gebyrian, gebyrigan, to pertain to, to be-
long to, to happen, to become, or be suit-
able ; answering to the Latin fero, porto,
pario and oporteo. Hence, probably. Sax.
barn, beam, a son, coinciding with bom.
Goth, bairan, to bear, or carry ; gabairan,
to bear; G.fikren, to carry, and gebaren, to
bring forth ; D. beuren, to hfV ; voeren, to
carry or bear ; baaren, to bring forth ; Sw.
b&ra, to carry ; bhra from, to bring forth ;|
pano
probi
bly, Gr. tJopoj, .io^vj, and a great family of
words. See Class Br. No. 15, Zi, S3, 35.]
1. To support ; to sustain ; as, to bear a
weight or burden.
2. To carry ; to convey ; to support and re
niove from place to place ; as, " they bear
him upon the shoulder ;" " the eagle bear-
eth them on lier wings."
Isaiah. Deuteronomy.
3. To wear ; to hear as a mark of authority
tiou ; as, to iear u sword, a badge,
to bear arms in a coat.
4. To keep afloat ; as, the water bears a ship.
5. To support or sustain without sinking
yielding ; to endure; as, a man can bear
severe pain or calamity ; or to sustain witi
proportionate strength, and without inju-
ry ; as, a man may bear stronger food oi
drink.
6. To entertain ; to carry in the mind ; as
to bear a great love for a fiiend ; to bear
inveterate liatred to gaining.
7. To suffer ; to undergo ; as, to bear pun
ishment.
To suffer without resentment, or inter-
ference to prevent ; to have patience ; as
to bear neglect or indignities.
9. To admit or be capable of; that is, to suf-
fer or sustain without violence, injury, oi
change ; as, to give words the most favor
able interpretation they will bear.
10. To bring forth or produce, as the fruit of
plants, or the young of animals ; as, to bear
apples ; to bear children.
11. To give birth to, or be the native place of
Here dwelt the man divine whom Samos bore.
Dryden.
13. To possess and use as power ; to exer-
s, to bear sway.
13. To gain or win.
Some think to bear it by speaking a great
word. £acon
[Not now used. The phrase now used is
to bear away.]
14. To carry on, or maintain ; to have ; as,
to bear a part in conversation.
15. To show or exhibit ; to relate ; as, to bear
testimony or witness. This seems to im
ply utterance, like the Latin fero, to relate
or utter.
16. To sustain the effect, or be answerable
for ; as, to bear the blame.
17. To sustain, as expense ; to supply the
means of paying ; as, to bear the charges,
that is, to pav the expe
18. To be the object of.
Let me but 6ear your love, and I'll tear your
cares. [Unusual.] Shak.
19. To behave ; to act in any character ; as,
" hath he borne iiiraself penitent ?" [.Vbf
usual] Shak.
B E A
0. To remove, or to endure the eft'ects of;
and hence to give satisfaction for.
He shall bear tlieir iniquities. Is. liii. Heb.
To bear the infrmities of the weak, to bear one
another's burdens, is to be charitable to-
wards their faults, to sympathize with
them, and to aid them in distress.
Brown.
To bear off, is to restrain ; to keep from ap-
proach ; and in seamanship, to remove to
a distance ; tu keep clear from rubbing
against any tiling ; as, to bear off a blow ;
to bear off a boat ; also, to carry away ; as,
to bear iff stolen goods.
To bear down, is to imjiel or urge ; to over-
throw or crush by force ; as, to bear down
an enemy.
To bear down upon, to press to overtake ; to
make all sail to come up with.
To bear hard, is to press or lu-ge.
Cesar doth bear me hard. Shak.
To bear on, is to press against ; also to carry
forward, to press, incite or animate.
Confidence hath borne thee on. Milton.
To bear through, is to conduct or manage ;
as, " to bear through the consulship."
B. Jonson. Also, to maintain or support
to the end ; as, religion will bear us through
the evils of Hfe.
To bear out, is to maintain and support to the
end ; to defend to the last.
Company only can bear a man out in an ill
thing. South.
To bear up, to support ; to keep from falling.
Religious hope bears up the mind under suf-
fprings. Addison.
To bear up, to keep afloat.
To bear a body. A color is said to bear a
body in paintuig, when it is capable of be-
ing ground so fine, and mixed so entirely
with the oil, as to seem only a very thick
oil of the same color. Johnson.
To bear date, is to have the mark of time
when written or executed ; as, a letter or
bond bears date, Jan. 6, 1811.
To bear a price, is to have a certain price.
In common mercantile language, it oden
signifies or imphes, to bear a good or high
price.
To bear in hand, to amuse with false preten-
ses ; to deceive. Bacon. South. Shak.
I believe this phrase is obsolete, or never
used in America.
To bear a hand, in seamanship, is to make
haste, be quick.
BEAR, V. i. To suffer, as with pain.
But man is bom to bear. Pope.
This is unusual in prose ; and though
admissible, is rendered intransitive, merely
by the omission of pain, or other word ex-
pressive of evil.
2. To be patient ; to endure.
I cannot, cannot bear. Dryden.
This also seems to be elliptical.
3. To produce, as fruit ; to be fruitful, in op-
position to barrenness.
This age to blossom, and the next to bear.
Dryden.
Here fruit must be luiderstood.
4. To take effect ; to succeed ; as, to bring
matters to bear. Guardian.
5. To act in any character.
Instruct me how I may bear like a tnie friar
[C'/iKsua;.] Shak.
To be situated as to the point of compas?.
B E A
with respect to something else ; as, the
land hore E. N. E. fi-om the ship.
7. To bear away, in navigation, is to change
the course of a ship, when close hauled,
or sailing with a side wind, and make her
run before the wind. To bear up, is used
in a like sense, from the act of bearing up
the helm to the windward. Mar. Did
Hence, perhaps, in other cases, the ex-
pression may be used to denote tending or
moving from.
8. To bear down, is to drive or tend to ; to
approach with a fair wind ; as, the fleet
bore down upon the enemy.
9. To bear in, is to run or tend towards
a ship bears in with the land ; opposed to
bear off, or keeping at a greater distance.
10. To bear up, is to tend or move towards ;
as, to bear up to one another : also, to be
su])ported ; to have fortitude ; to be firm :
not to sink ; as, to bear up under afflictions
11. To bear upon, or against, is to lean upon
or against ; to act on as weight or force,
in any direction, as a column upon its
base, or the sides of two incluiing objects
against each other.
12. To bear agaiiist, to approach for attack
or seizure ; as, " a lion bears against his
prey." Dryden.
13. To bear upon, to act upon ; as, the artil-
lery bore upon the center : or to be pointed
or situated so as to affect ; as, to bring or
plant guns so as to bear upon a fort, or
ship.
14. To bear leith, to endure what is unplea
ing ; to be indulgent ; to forbear to resent,
oppose, or punish.
Reason would I shoulJ bear with you. Acts
xviii.
Shall not God avenge his elect, though he
bear long iciih them ? Luke xviii.
BEAR €LOTH, > A cloth in whicl
BEARING-€LOTH, S "' a new born child
is covered when carried to church
baptized. Shak.
BEAR, Ji. [Sax. bera; Ger. bar; D.
Sw. Dan. and Ice. biom ; Ir. bear ; allied
perhaps xojierce, L. ferus, /era, or to bar-
barus.]
1. A wild quadruped, of the genus Ursus.
The marks of the genus are, six fore
teeth in the upper jaw, alternately hol-
low on the inside ; and six in the under
jaw, the two lateral ones lobated ; the dog
teeth are soUtary and conical ; the eyes
have a nictitating membrane, and the nose
is prominent.
The arctos, or black bear, has his body
covered with long shaggy hair. Some are
found in Tartary, of a pure white color.
The polar, or white bear, has a long head
and neck ; short, round ears ; the hair
long, soft, and white, tinged in some parti
with yellow. He grows to a great size,
the skins of some being 13 feet long. This
bear lives in cold climates only, and fre-
quently swims from one isle of ice t<
another. Enajc.
:l. The name of two constellations in the
northern hemisphere, called the greater
and lesser bear. In the tail of the lesser
bear is the pole star.
BEAR-BAITING, n. The sport of baiting
hears with dogs. Shak
BEAR-BERRY, n. A plant, a species of
Arbutus.
B E A
BEaR-BIND, n. A species of bind weed,
or Convolvulus.
BEAR'S-BREECH, n. Brank-ursine oi
Acanthus, a genus of jilants.
BEAR'S-EAR, n. The trivial name of prim-
ula auricula.
BEAR'S EAR SANICLE, n. A species of
Cortusa.
BEAR-FLY, n. An insect. Bacon
BEAR'S-FOOT, n. A plant, a species of
hellebore.
BEAR-GARDEN, n. A place where bears
are kept for diversion. Jlsh.
BEAR-G.\RDEN, a. Rude ; turbulent ; as
bear-garden sijort. Todd.
BEAR-WHELP, n. The whelp of a bear.
Shak.
BEAR'S WORT, n. A plant. Shak.
BEARD, n. berd. [Sax. beard; D. baard;
Ger. bart; Dan. bart ; L. harba ; Russ. 6or-
oda, the beard and the chin ; probably from
bear.]
1. The hair that grows on the chin, lips and
adjacent parts of the face, chiefly of male
adults ; hence a mark of virility. A gray
heard, long beard and reverend beard, are
terms for old age.
2. Beard is sometimes used for the face, and
to do a thing to a man's beard, is to do il
in defiance, or to his face. Johnson
3. The awn or sharp prickles on the ears
of corn. But more technically, parallel
hairs or a tuft of stiff hairs terminatuig the
leaves of plants, a species of pubescence.
By some authors the name is given to the
lower lip of a rmgent corol. Martyn
4. A barb or sharp point of an arrow, or oth-
er instrmnent, bent backward from the
end to prevent its being easily drawn out.
5. The beard or chuck of a horse, is that part
which bears the ciu-b of a bridle, under-
neath the lower mandible and above the
chin. Farrier's Diet. Encyc.
j6. The rays of a comet, emitted towards that
part of the heaven to which its proper mo-
tion seems to direct it. Encyc.
7. The threads or hairs of an oyster, muscle
or similar shell-fish, by which they fasten
themselves to stones. Encyc.
8. In insects, two small, oblong, fleshy bo-
dies, placed just above the trunk, as in
gnats, moths and butterflies. Encyc.
BEARD, V. t. herd. To take by the beard ;
to sieze, pluck or pull the beard, in con-
tempt or anger.
2. To opiiose to the face ; to set at defiance.
hA\e been bearded by boys. More.
BEARD'ED, a. berd'ed. Having a beard,
as a man. Having parallel hairs or tufts
of hair, as the leaves of plants. Martyn
2. Barbed or jagged, as an arrow. Dryden.
BEARD'ED, pp. berd'ed. Taken by the
beard ; opposed to the face.
BEARD'-GRASS, n. A plant, the Andro-
pogon.
BEARD'ING, ppr. berd'ing. Taking by the
beard ; opposing to the face.
BEARD'LESS, a. berd'less. Without i
beard ; yoimg ; not having arrived to man
hood, in botany, not having a tuft, of
hairs.
BEARD'LESSNESS, n. The state or qual
ity of being destitute of beard.
Laurrence, Led
BEARER, 7(. [See Bear.] One who bears
B E A
sustains, or carries ; a earner, especially
of a corpse to the grave.
2. One who wears any thing, as a badge or
sword.
3. A tree or plant that yields its fruit ; as a
good bearer.
4. In architecture, a post or brick wall be-
tween the ends of a piece of tunber, to
support it. In general, any thing that sup-
ports another thing.
5. In heraldry, a figure in an achievement,
placed by the side of a shield, and seeming
to support it ; generally the figure of a
beast. The figure of a human creature
for a like purpose is called a tenant.
Encyc.
BEARHERD, n. [bear and herd.] A man
that tends bears. Shak.
BEARING, ppr. Supporting ; carrying ; pro-
ducing.
BEARING, n. Gesture; mien; behavior.
I know him by his bearing. [ Unusual.']
Shak
2. The situation of an object, with respect to
another object, by which it is supposed to
have a connection with it or influence
upon it, or to be influenced by it.
But of this frame, the bearings and the ties.
Pope.
3. In architecture, the space between the two
fi.xed extremes of a piece of timber, or be-
tween one extreme and a supporter.
Builder's Did.
4. In navigation, the situation of a distant
object, with regard to a ship's position, as
on the bow, on the lee quarter, &c. Al-
so, an arch of the horizon intercepted be-
tween the nearest meridian and any dis-
tant object, either discovered by the eye
and referred to a point on the compass, or
residting from sinical proportion.
Mar. Diet.
5. In heraldry, bearings are the coats of arms
or figures of armories, by which the uo-
bihty and gentry are distinguished from
common persons. Encyc.
BEARISH, a. Partaking of the qualities of
a bear. Harris.
BEARLIKE, a. Resembling a bear. Shak.
BE.ARN, n. [Sax. beam ; Goth, bam ; from
hear ; Goth, gabaurans, born.]
A child. In Scotland, bairn. Shak.
BEAR WARD, n. A keeper of bears. Shak.
BEAST, Ji. [\y. biast, piasd ; Corn, hist ; D.
beest ; L. bestia ; Fr. bete, from beste ; Da:i.
bmst, beest ; W. btcyst, wild, savage, fero-
cious. See Boisterous.]
Any four footed animal, which may be
used for labor, food or sport ; distuiguish-
ed from fowls, insects, fishes and man ; as
beasts of burden, beasts of the chase, beasts
of the forest. It is usually apphed to large
animals.
2. Opposed to man, it signifies any irrational
animal, as in the phrase " man and beast."
So wild beast.
.3. Figuratively, a brutal man ; a person rude,
coarse, filthy, or acting in a manner un-
worthy of a rational creature. Johnson.
4. A game at cards. Hence to beast.
Encyi:.
BE' ASTLIKE, a. Like a beast ; brutal.
Titus Andronicus.
BE'ASTLINESS, n. [from beastly.] Bru-
tality; coarseness; vulgarity ; filthiness: a
practice contrary to the rules of humanity.
B E A
B E A
B E A
BE'ASTLY, a. Like a beast ; bl-utui ; coar:^e ;
filthy ; contrary to the nature and dignity
of man.
2. Having the forth or rtaturii of a beast.
Prior.
BE.\T, V. t. pret. beat ; p]). beat, beaten.
[Sax. bealan, gebeolan, to beat ; gebeaien,
beaten ; W. btezu ; Fr. batlre, or batre ; Sp
hatir ; Port, baier ; It. bnttere ; L. batuo
Russ. botayu ; Ar. IaA:i. gabata, and
C^A^j kabata ; Heb. Ch. Syr. B2n,
Perliapa, Hindoo, pata, to kill ; Burmaii, po-
tai, id ; as we say, to smite and to slay
Henoe, the otV-pata, man killers, in Hero-
dotus. Class Bd. No. SO. 23. 33. See
Mate.]
1. To strikt' repeatedly ; to lay on repeated
blov.s, with a stick, with the hand or fist
or with any instrument, and for any cause
just or unjust, or for punishment. Luke
xii. Deut. .\xv.
2. To .strike an iustrumcnt of music ; to play
On, as a drum. Shak
3. To break, bruise, comminute, or pidver-
ize by beating or pounding, as pepper oi
spices. Ex. XXX.
4. To extend by beating, as gold or other
malleable substance ; or to hammer into
any form ; to forge. Ex. xxxix.
5. To strike bushes ; to shake by beating, or
to make a noise to rouse game. Prior.
G. To thresh ; to force out corn from tin
husk by blows. Rufh
7. To break, mix or agitate by beating ; as,
to beat an egg with any other tiling.
Bo!/le.
8. To dash or strike, as water ; to strike or
brush, as wind. Milton
0. To tread, as a path. Blackmore.
10. To overcome in a battle, contest or
strife ; to vanquish or conquer ; as, one
beats another at play.
Pyrrhus beat the Carthagiuians at sea.
.Irbuthnot
11. To harass ; to exercise severely ; to over
labor ; as, to beat the brains about logic.
HakewiU.
To beat down, to break, destroy, throw down,
by beating or battering, as a wall.
Also, to press down or lay flat, as I
treading, by a current of water, by violent
wind, &c. Shak.
Also, to lower the price by importunity
■ or argument.
Also, to depress or crush ; as, to beat down
opposition.
Also, to sink or lessen the price or value.
Usury beats down the price of land . Bacon.
-To beat back, to compel to retire or return.
To beat into, to teach or instill, by repetition
of instruction.
To beat up, to attack suddenly ; to alarm or
disturb; as, to beat up an "enemy's quar-
ters.
To beat the iidng, to flutter ; to move with
fluttering agitation.
To beat off, to repel or drive back.
To beat the hoof, to walk ; to go on foot.
To beat time, to measure or regulate time in
music by the motion of the hand or foot
In the manege, a horse beats the dust, when at
each motion he does not take in groimd
enough with his fore legs ; and at curvets,
when he does them too precipitately, or
Vol. 1.
too low. He beats upon a walk, when lie
walks too short. Enq/c.
To beat out, to extend by hartuncring. In
popular use, to be beat out, is to lie extreme-
ly fatigued ; to have the strength exhau.st-
ed by- labor or exertion.
BEAT, 1). ]. To move with pulsation, as
the pulse beats ; or to throb, as the heart
beats.
2. To dash with force, as a storm, flood, pas-
sion, &c. ; as, the tempest beats against the
house.
3. To knock at a door. Judges xix.
4. To fluctuate ; to be in agitation. Shak
To beat about, to trj' to find ; to search b)
various means or ways. Mdison
To beat upon, to act upon with violence.
Jonah.
Al.'o, to speak frequently ; to enforce by
repetition. Hooker.
To beat up for soldiers, is to go about to
enlist men into the army.
In seamanship, to beat, is to make pro-
gress against the direction of the wind, by
sailing in a zigzag hue or traverse.
Mar. Diet.
With hunter.s, a stag heats up and down,
when he runs first one way and then an-
other. Encyc.
BEAT, n. A stroke ; a striking ; a blow,
whether with the hand, or with a weapon.
2. A pulsation ; as the beat of the pulse.
3. The rise or fall of the hand or foot, in reg-
ulating the divisions of time in music.
4. A transient grace-note in music, .struck
tnediately before the note it is intended
ornament. Busby
In tlie military art, the heat of drum, is a
succession of strokes varied, in different
ways, for particular })urposes ; as to reg
ulate a march, to call soldiers to their amis
or quarters, to direct an attack or re
treat, &c.
The heat of a watch or clock, is the stroke
made by the fangs or pallets of the spin
die of the balance, or of the pads in a roy
al pendulum. Encyc.
BEAT, I Struck; dashed against;
BE'ATEN, I PP- pressed or laid down ;
hannnered ; pounded ; vanquished ; made
smooth by treading ; worn by use ; track-
ed.
BE'ATER, n. One who beats, or strikes :
one whose occupation is to hammer me-
tals.
2. .'Vn instrument for pounding, or commi-
nuting substances.
BEATER-UP, n. One who beats for game:!
porlsman^s term. Butler.
BEATH, v.t. To bathe. [Xotinuse.]
Spenser.
BEATIF'IC, I [L.6en*tiS, blessed, from
BEATIF'I€AL, 5 "' beo, to bless, and facio,
ke. See Beatify.]
That has the power to' bless or make happy
or the power to complete blissful enjoy
ment ; used only of heavenly fruition after
death ; as beatific vision. Milton
BEATIF'ICALLY, adv. In such a manner
as to complete happiness.
BEATIFICATION, n. In the Romish
church, an act of the Po])e by which he
declares a person beatified or blessed af-
ter death. This is the first step towards
canonization, or the raising of one to the
dicnitv of a saint. No person can be be-
20
untied nil so years after his death. All
CI itificatcs or attestations of his virtucF
and miracles are examined by the con-
gregation of rites, and tliis examination
continues often for years ; after which his
Holiness decrees the beatification, and tho
corpse and relics of the intended saint are
exposed to the veneration of all good
christians. Encyc.
BEAT'IFY, V. t. [L. beatus, happy, from
beo, to bless, and facio, to make.]
1. To make happy ; to bless with the com-
pletion of celestial enjoyment.
2. In the Romish church, to declare, by a de-
cree or jmblic act, that a person is receiv-
ed into heaven, and is to be reverenced as
ble.'^ised, though not canonized.
BE'ATING, ppr. Laying on blows ; strik-
ing; dashing against ; conquering; pound-
ing ; sailing against the direction of the
wind;&c.
BE'ATING, n. The act of striking or giv-
ing blows ; punishtnent or chastisement
by blows.
The beating of flax and hemp is an ope-
ration which renders them more soft and
pliable. For this purpose, they are made
into rolls and laid in a trough, where they
are beat, till no rouehness or hardness can
be felt. " Encyc.
In book binding, beating is performed ny
laying the book in quires or sheets folded,
on a block, and beating it with a heavy
broad-faced hammer. On this operation
the elegance of the binding and the easy
opening of the book chiefly depend.
Encyc.
Beating the icind, was a pi-actice in tlic
ancient trial by combat. If one of the
combatants did not appear on the field,
tlie other was to beat the icind, by making
flourishes with his weapons ; by "which he
was entitled to the advantages of a con-
queror.
Beatings, in music, the regular pulsative
swellings of sound, produced in an organ
by |)ipes of the same kej-, when not in
uni-son, and their vibrations not simulta-
neous or coincident. Bvsby.
BEAT'ITUDE, n. [L. beaiUudo, from bea-
tus, beo. See Beatify.]
1. Blessedness ; felicity of the highest kind ;
consununate bliss ; used of the joys of
heaven.
2. The declaration of blessedness made by
our Savior to jiarticular virtues.
BEAU, 71. bo. i)lu. beaux, boze. [Fr. beau,
contracted fi-om bel, L. bellus, Sp. It.
Iiello, fine, gay, handsome.]
Aman of dre.ss; a fine, gay man ; one whose
great care is to deck his person. In fa-
miliar language, a man who attends a
lady.
BEAUISH,
pish ; fine.
BEAU-MONDE, n. bomond'. [Fr.6eau,fine,
and monde, world.]
The fashionable world ; people of fashion
I gaiety. Prior.
BEAUTEOUS, a. bu'teous. [See Beauty.]
Very fair; elegant in form; pleasing to
the "sight : beautifid ; verj' handsome. It
expresses a greater degree of beauty than
handsome, and is chiefly used in poetrv.
BEAU'TEOUSLY, adv. 'bu'Uously. In ",i
bo'ish. Like a beau; fop-
B E A
B E C
beauteous
to the sight ; beautifully
BEAU'TEOUSNESS, n. bu'teousness. The
state or quality of being beauteous; beau-
in a manner pleasingi 6. Joy and gladness. Is. Ixi. Order, pros-
perity, peace, holiness. Ezek. xvi.
EAU'TY, V. t. bu'ty. To adorn ; to beau-
tify or embellish. Obs. Shuk
BEAUTY-SPOT, n. bu'ty-spot. A patch;
a foil ; a spot placed on the face to height-
en beauty.
BEAUTY-WANING, a. Declining in beau
ty. Shak
BE'AVER, n. ]Sax. he/or, biofor ; Fr. bii-
vre ; h. fiber ; Ir. beabhar; Sw. bafwt
Dan. bwoer ; Ger. biber ; D. bever ; Rus
He
that
BEAU'TIFIER, n. bu'tifier
which makes beautiful.
BEAU'TIFUL, a. bu'tiful. [beauty and full
1. Elegant in form; fair; having the fori
that pleases the eye. It expresses more
than handsome.
A beautiful woman is one of the most attrac-
tive objects in all nature's works. Anon
A circle is more beautiful than a square ; !
square is more beautiful than a parrallelogram
Lord Karnes
9. Having the qualities which constitute
beauty, or that which pleases the senses
other tlian the sight ; as a beautiful sound.
Encyc.
BEAU'TIFULLY, adv. bu'tifally. In a
beautiful manner.
BEAU'TIFULNESS, n. bu'Ufubiess. Ele-
gance of form ; beauty ; the quahty of
being beautiful.
BEAU'TIFY, V. t. bu'tify. [beauty and L
To make or render beautiful ; to adorn ; to
dork ; to grace ; to add beauty to ; to em
licjiisli. Hayward.
Cl^AU'TIFY, t). r. bu'tify. To become beau
tifid ; to advance in beauty. Addison
CEAU'TY, n. bu'ty. [Fr. beauti, from beau.
See Bea%i.'\
1. An assemblage of graces, or an assem
blage of properties in the form of the per
son or any other object, which ])Ieases the
eye. In the person, due proporti
symmetry of parts constitutes the most
essential property to which we annex
the term beauty. In the face, the regu
ty and symmetry of the features, the color
of the skin, the expression of the eye, are
among the principal properties which con
stitute beauty. But as it is hanlly possi
ble to define all the properties which con
stitute beauty, we may observe in genera]
that beauty consists in whatever pleases tin
eye of the beholder, whether in the human
body, in a tree, in a landscape, or in any
other object.
Beauty is intrinsic, and ))erceived by the
eye at first view, or relative, to perceive
which the aid of the understanding and
(lection is requisite. Thus, tlie beauty of
a machine is not perceived, till wo under-
stand its uses, and adaptation to its pur-
pose. This is called the beauty of utility
By an easy transition, the word beauty ii
used to express what is pleasing to the
other senses, or to the understanding.
Thus we say, the beauty of a thought, of a
remark, of sound, &c.
So beauty, armed with virtue, bows the soul
With a commanding, but a sweet control.
Percival.
2. A particular grace, feature or ornament
any particular thing which is beautiful
and pleasing ; as the beauties of nature,
3. A particular e.\cellence, or a part which
surpasses in excellence that with whicl
is united ; as the beauties of an author.
4. A beautiful person. In scripture, the
chief dignity or ornament. 2 Sam. i.
5. In the aHs, symmetry of parts ; harmony ;
justness of composition. Encyc.
bobr; Pers. xj babir.]
1. An amphibious quadruped, of the genus
Castor. It has short ears, a blunt nose,
small fore feet, large hind feet, with a flat
ovate tail. It is remarkable for its inge-
nuity in constructing its lodges or habita-
tions, and fromthis animal is obtained the
castor of the shops, which is taken froiu
cods or bags in the groin. Its fur, which
is mostly of a ehesnut brown, is the
rial of the best hats.
2. The fur of the beaver, and a hat made of
the fur ; also, a part of a helmet that cov
ers the face.
BE'AVERED, a. Covered with or wearing
a beaver. Pope.
BEBLEE'D, v. t. [be and bleed.] To make
bloodv. Obs. Chaucer.
BEBLdOD', ) , [be and blood.] To
BEBLOOD Y, < **• '" make bloodv. Obs.
Sheldon
BEBLOT', V. t. [he and blot.] To blot ; to
stain. Obs. Chaucer
BEBLUB'BERED, a. [be and blubber.] Fou
or swelled with weeping. Shelton.
BE€ABUN'GA, n. [Sax. becc ; G. bach, a
brook.]
Brookliine speedwell ; veronica bccabung
a plant common in ditches and shallow
streams. Hooper.
BE€AFi'€0, n. [It. from the root of pica,
peck, beck, and fico, a fig. See Beak.]
A fig-pecker ; a bird like a nightingale
which feeds on figs and grapes.
Johnson. Prior. Bailey,
BECALM, V. t. becam. [be and calm. See
Calm.]
1. To still ; to make quiet ; to appease
stop, or repress motion in a body ; used
of the elements and of the passions; as
becalm the ocean, or the mind. But calm
is generally used.
2. To intercept the current of wind, so as to
prevent motion ; to keep from motion for
want of wind ; as, high lands becalm a ship.
BECALMED, pp. becamed. Quieted ; ap-
peased.
a. Hindered from motion or progress by a
calm ; as a ship becalmed.
BECALMING, p;jr. becaming. Appeasing;
keeping from motion or progress.
BECALMING, n. becaming. A calm at
Herbert.
BECA'ME, pret. of become. [See Beco
BECAUSE, becauz', a compound word.
[Sax. be for by and cause. See By and
Cause.]
By cause, or by the cause ; on this accoui
for the cause which is explained in the
next proposition ; for the reason next ex
plained. Thus, I fled, because I was
afraid, is to be thus resolved ; I fled, by
EEC
the cause, for the cause, which is mentioned
in the next affirmation, viz. I was afi-aid.
Hence, cause being a noun, because may
be regularly followed by of.
The spirit is life, because of righteousness.
Because of these cometh the wrath of God
upon the children of disobedience.
BECH'ARM, V. t. [be and charm.] To
harm ; to captivate. Beaum.
BECH-ANCE, v. i. [be, by, and chance.] To
befall ; to happen to. Shak.
BE'CHIC, n. [Gr. (3>;;t«a, from )3j;5, a cough.]
A medicine for relieving coughs, synony-
mous with pectoral, which is now the term
mostly used. i^incy.
BECK, n. A small brook. Gray. This
word. Sax. becc, Ger. bach, D. btek, Dan.
bcek, Sw. back, Pers. ^j bak, a brook
or rivulet, is found in the Ir. Ar. Ch. Syr.
Sam. Heb. and Eth., in the sense of floic-
ing-, as tears, weeping. Gen. xxxii. 22 It is
obsolete in English, but is found in the
names of towns situated near streams, as
in Walbeck ; but is more fi-equent in names
on the continent, as in Griesbach, &c.
BECK, n. [Sax. beacn, a sign ; beacniav.
bycnian, to beckon. The Sw. peka, Dan.
peger, signifies to point with the finger.]
A nod of the head ; a significant nod, in-
tended to be understood by some person,
especially as a sign of command.
BECK, V. i. To nod or make a sign with the
head.
BECK, V. t. To call by a nod ; to intimate a
command to ; to notify by a motion of the
head. Shak.
BECK'ED, pp. Called or notified by a nod.
BECK'ET, n. A thing used in ships to con-
fine loose ropes, tackles or spars ; as a
large hook, a rope, with an eye at one
end, or a wooden bracket. Mar. Diet.
BECK'ING, ppr. Nodding significantly ;
directing by a nod.
BECK'ON, V. i. bek'n. [See Beck.]
To make a sign to another, by nodding,
winking, or a motion of the hand or finger,
&c., intended as a hint or intimation. Acts
xix.
BECK'ON, v.t. bek'n. To make a signifi-
cant sign to. Dryden.
BECK'ONED, pp. Having a sign made to.
BECK'ONING, ppr. Making a significant
IS a hint.
BECLIP', V. t. [Sax. beclyppan.] To em-
brace. [M'ot in use.] Wickliffe.
BECLOUD', V. t. [See Cloud.] To cloud ;
to obscure ; to dim. Sidney.
BECOME, V. i. becum'. pret. became, pp.
become. [Sax. bccuman, to fall out or hap-
pen ; D. bekoomen ; G. bekommen, to get or
obtain; Sw. bekomma ; Dan. bekommer, to
obtain ; be and come. Tlicse >ii,'iiifi(ations
diiFer from the sense in En^dish. But the
sense is, to come to, to arrive, to reacli, to
fall or pass to. [See Come.] Hence the
sense of suiting, agreeing with. In Sax.
cicman, Goth, kuriman, is to come, and
Sax. cweman, is to please, that is, to suit or
be agreeable.]
1. To pass from one state to another; to
enter into some state or condition, by a
change from another state or condition, or
by assuming or recpiving new properties
or qualities, additional matter, or a new
character ; as, a cion becomes a tree.
BED
The Lord God breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life and man became a living soul
To the Jew, I became a Jew.
BED
BED
^. To become of, usually with u)fta< preceding ;
to be the fate of; to be the end of; to be
the final or subsequent condition ; as, what
will become o/" our commerce ? what will
become of ua i
In the present tense, it applies X.0J1U
well as condition. What has become of my
friend ? that is, where is he ? as well as
what is his condition ? IVhere is he become '.
used by Shakspeare and Spenser, is obso
leir ; but this is the sense in Saxon, where
has be fallen ?
BECOME, V. t. In general, to suit or be suita
blc ; to be congruous ; to befit ; to accord
with, in character or circumstances ; to be
worthy of, decent or pro])er. It is used
ill tlie same sense applied to persons or
things.
If 1 become not a cart as weil as another man
Shak
This use of the word however is less fre-
quent, the verb usually expressing the
suitableness of thuigs, to persons or
other things ; a,s, a robe becomes a prince.
It becomes me so to speak of an excellent
poet. Dryd,
BEcC)M'ING,^/)r., but used rarely or never
except as an adjective. Fit ; suitable ;
congruous ; proper ; gracefid ; belonging
to the character, or adopted to circumstan
ces ; as, he speaks with becoming boldness
a dress is very becoming.
Some writers formerly used of, after this
word.
Such discourses as are becoming of t\\em
Drydcn.
But this use is inelegant or improper.
BECOM'ING, a. Ornament. Obs. Shak
BECOM'INGLY, adv. After a becoming 01
projicr manner.
BECOM'INGNESS, »i. Fitness; congruity;
propriety ; decency ; gracefidness arising
from fitness. Greie.
BE€RIP'PLE, j;. «. [^pe.Cnppk.] To make
lame ; to cripiile. [Little used.]
BE€URL', V. t. To curl. [Ao« wed.]
BED, n. [Sax. bed ; D. bed ; G. bctt or beet ;
Goth. badi. The sense is a lay or .spread,
from laying or setting.]
1. A place or an article of furniture to sleep
and take rest on ; in modern times, and
aniong civilized men, a sack or tick filled
with feathers or wool ; but a bed may be
made of straw or any other materials. The
word bed includes often the bedstead.
2. Lodging; a convenient place for sleep.
3. Marriage ; matrimonial connection.
George, the eldest son of his second bed.
Clarendon.
4. A plat or level piece of ground in a garden,
usually a bttle raised above the adjoining
ground. Bacon.
5. The channel of a river, or that part in
which the water usually flows. Milton.
6. Any hollow ])lace, especially in the arts ; a
hollow place, in which any thing rests ; as
the bed of a mortar.
7. A layer ; a stratum ; an extended inass of
any thing, whether upon the earth or with-
in it ; as a bed of sulphur ; a bed of sand
or clay.
8. Pain, torment. Rev. ii. The grave. Is
Ivii. The lawful use of wedlock. Heb,
The icrf of the carriage of a gun is a thick IBEDASH'ING, ppr. Be.'spatlcring ; dasliiuj
plank which lies under the piece, being, as
it wore, the body of the carriage.
The bed of a inortar is a solid piece of oak,
hollow in the middle, to receive the britch
and half the trimnions.
In masonry, bed is a range of stones, and the
joint of the bed is the mortar between I
stones placed over each other. En
Bed of justice, in France, was a throne
which the king was seated when he w
to parliament. Hence the phrase, to hold
a bed of justice.
To make a bed, is to put it in order aftei
has been used.
To bring to bed, to deliver of a child, is rarely
used. But in the passive form, to In
brought to bed, that is, to be delivered of r
child, is common. It is often followed bj
of; as, to be brought to bed of a son.
To put to bed, in midwifery, is to deliver of j
child.
Dining bed, or discubitory bed, among tbf
ancients, a bed on which persons lay ai
meals. It was four or five feet high, "and
would hold three or four persons. Three
of these beds were ranged by a square
table, one side of the table being left open,
and accessible to the waiters. Hence the
Latin name tor the table and the roon
tricliniuyn, or three beds. Encyc.
From bed and board. In law, a separation of
njan and wife, without dissolving the bandi
of matrimony, is called a separation from
bed and 6oarrf, o mensa et thoro. In this
case the wife has a suitable maintenance
allotted to her out of the husband's estate,
called alimony. Blackstone.
BED, V. t. To place in a bed. Bacon.
2. To go to bed with. [Unusual.] Shak.
3. To make partaker of the bed. Bacon.
4. To plant and inclose or cover ; to set or
lay and inclose ; as, to bed the roots of a
plant in soft mold.
5. To lay in any hollow place, surrounded
or inclosed ; as, to bed a stone.
6. To lay in a place of rest or security, cov-
ered, surrounded or inclosed ; as" a fish
bedded in sand, or under a bank.
7. To lay in a stratum ; to stratify ; to lay in
order, or flat ; as bedded clay, bedded liau-s.
Shak.
BED, V. i. To cohabit ; to use the same bed.
If he be married and bed with his wife.
H^iseman.
BEDAB'BLE, v. t. [be and dabble.] To wet ;
to sprinkle.
Bedabbled with the dew. Shak.
BEDABBLED, pp. Wet ; sprinkled.
BEDAB'BLING,our. Wetting; sprinkling.
BEDAFF', V. I. To make a fool of, [JVot m
use.] Chaucer.
BEDAG'GLE, v.t. [6c and daggle.] To
soil, as clothes, by drawing the ends in the
mud, or spattering tbom with dirty water.
BEDAG'GLED, pp. Soiled by reaching the
mud in walking ; bespattering.
BEDA'RE,r. (. [be and dare.] To dare ; to
lefv. [JVot used.] Peek.
BEDARK', V. t. [be and dark.] To darken.
[.\'nt used ] Gotver.
BEDAFH', V. «. [be an(\ dash.] To wet, by I
throwing water, or other liquor upon; to
bespatter, with water or mud.
BEDASH'ED, /)p. Bespattered with watcr^
or other liquid.
water upon, or other liquid.
BEDAUB', V. t. [be and daub.] To daub
over ; to besmear with viscous, slimy mat-
ter ; to soil with any thing thick and dirty.
Shak.
BEDAUBED, pp. Daubed over; be-
smeared.
BEDAUBING, ppr. Daubing over; be
Muraring.
BEDAZ'ZLE, r.f. [be and dazzle.] To con-
found the sight by too strong a light ; to
make dim by luster. Shak.
BEDAZ'ZLED, pp. Having the sight con-
Immdcd by too strong a light.
BI".I».\Z Zl.ING, ppr. Confounding or ma
Uiiig iliin li\ H too brilliant luster.
BKD't 11 AMBER, n. [bed ami chamber.] An
u|iartment ur chamber intended or appro-
priated fur a bed, or for sleep and repose.
BED'-CLOTHES, n. plu. [bed and clothes.]
Blankets, or coverlets, &c., for beds.
Shak.
BED'DED,p/>. Laid in a bed ; inclosed as
in a bed.
BED'DER, } [from bed.] The nether
BEDET'TER, $ "' stone of an oil mill.
Todd.
BED'DING, ppr. Laying in a bed ; inclo-
sing as in a bed.
BED'DING, 71. A bed and its furniture ; a
bed ; the materials of a bed, whether for
man or beast. Spenser.
BEDECK', V. t. [be and deck.] To deck ; to
adorn ; to grace. Shak.
BEDECK'ED, ;>;?. Adorned; ornamented.
BEDECK'ING, ppr. Adorning ; decking.
BE'DEHOUSE, n. [Sax. bead, a prayer, and
house.']
Formerly, a hospital or alms bouse, where
the poor prayed for their founders and
benefactors.
BE'DEL, n. An ofiicer in the universities
of England. fA pecuhar orthography of
beadle^]
BE'DELRY, n. The extent of a bedel's
office. Blount.
BEDEW', V. t. [be and deiv.] To moisten,
as with dew ; to moisten in a gentle man-
ner with any liquid ; as, tears bedew her
face. Shak.
BEDEWED, pp. Moistened, as if xyith
lew ; gently moi-stened.
BEDEW'ER, 11. That which bedews.
Sherwood.
BEDEWING, ppr. Moistening gently, as
with dew ; wetting.
BEDEW'Y, a. Moist with dew. [Littk
used.]
ED'FELLOW, n. [bed and feUoiv.] Orte
who lies in the same bed. Shak^
BED-HANGINGS, n. Curtains. Shak.
BEDI'GHT, V. t. bedi'te. [be and dight.]
To adorn ; to dress ; to set off with orna-
ments. [Link used.] More.
BEDi'GHTED, pp. Adorned; set off with
ornaments.
BEDI'GHTING, ppr. Adorning.
BEDIM', V. t. [be and dim.] To make dim ;
t(i iilisi-iirc (ir darken. Sidney.
miDIM Air.l)./)^. Made dim ; obscured.
r.rniM MiSC.ppr. ftlakingdim; obscur-
iiiLr : ilarki-ning.
, Bi:i)IZ'EN, V. t. bediz'n. [be and dizen.] To
1 adorn ; to deck ; a low word.
BEDIZENED, pp. Bedecked; adorned
BED
appropriated for
Spelman.
one who lives in
SItak
mad house
Sluik
BEBIZ'ENING.p/).-. Adorning.
BEDLAM, n. [Corrupted Irom B€M(e/icni,
tlie name of a religious house in London,
afterward converted into a hospital lor
lunatics.]
1. A mad house ; a plac
lunatics.
9. A madman ; a lunatic
Bedtum.
3. A place of uproar.
BED'LAM, a. Belonging to
fit for a mad house.
BED'LAMITE, n. An inhabitant of a mad
house; a madman. B. Jonson.
BED'MAKEK, n. [bed and maker.] One
whose occupation is to make beds, as ir
a college or university. Spectator.
BED'MATE, n. [bed and male.] A bed-
fellow. ,^. '='«''''"•
BED'-MOLDING, n. [bed and molding.\
In iirchitedure, the members of a cornice,
which are placed below the coronet, con-
sisting of an ogee, a list, a large boultme,
and aiiother list under the coronet.
Encyc.
BEDO'TE, V. t. [be and dote.] To make to
dote. [Xotinuse.] ^ ,^, ^'""'f i
BED'l'OST, «. [bed anA post.] The post ot
a bedstead.
BED'PRESSER,«. [bed and press.] A lazy
fellow ; one who loves his bed. Shak.
BEDRAG'GLE, v. t. [be and draggle.] To
soil, as garments which are sufiered, ni
walkmg, to reach the dirt ; to soil bj
drawing along on mud. Swijt.
BEDRAG'GLED, pp. Soiled by reachmg
the dirt, in walking. . , , .
BEDRAG'GLING, ppr. Soiling by drawing
along in dirt or mud: , -, ,r.
BEDRKNCH', v.t. [be and drewh-] lo
drench ; to soak ; to saturate with moist-
ure • applied to things which imbibe moist-
nre.' «*«*•
BEDRENCH'ED,pp. Drenched ; soaked.
BEDRENCiriNG,;)/>r. Soaking; drench-
ing.
BED'RID, ? _ [bed and ride ; S;
BED'RIDDEN, <, ' rida.]
Confined to the bed, by age or infirmity.
Shnk
BED'RITE, 11. [bed and rile.] The privi
lege of the marriage bed.
BED'ROOM, n. [bed and room.\ A room or
apartment intended or used for a bed ; "
lodging room.
2. Room in a bed. [JVot m use.] A/ja*.
BEDROP', V. t. [be and drop.] To sprinkle,
as with drops. ^ . ,, ^ Chaucer
BEDROP'PED, pp. Sprinkled as with
drops; speckled; variegated with spots.
BED'SIDE. n. The side of the bed.
Middleton.
BED'STAFF.n. [bed a,nA staff .] A wooden
pin anciently inserted on the sides of bed-
steads, to keep the ckHhes from slipping
on either side. , , Johnson
BED'STEAD, n. bed'sted. [bed and stead.
A frame for supporting a bed. ^
BED'STRAVV, n. [bed and straw.] btraw
laid under a bed to make it soft ; also the
name of a plant, a species of gahum.
BED'SWERVER, n. [bed and swerve.] Oi
that swerves from his bed ; that is, one
who is false and unfaithful to the marriage
«nw. Shak.
BEE
BED'TIME, J!. [ic(/ and iimf.] The time to
tro to rest ; the usual hour of going to bed.
" Shak.
[be and duck.] To duck
.bed
BEDUCK
to put the head under water ; to nninerse.
Spenser.
BEDUST', V. t. [be and dust.] To sprinkle,
soil or cover with dust. Sherwood.
BED'WARD, adv. [bed and ward.] Toward
bed •^''«*'
IbEDVVARF', ?). <. [be and dwarf.] To make
httle ; to stunt or liiuder growth. Donne.
BED' WORK, n. [bed and work.] Work
done in bed, without toil of the hands
with ease. , *'"'"'*■
BEDY'E, t>. t. [be and dye.] To dye
stain. ■S>«"««'-
BEDY'ED,;)?. Dyed; stained.
BEE n. [Sax. beo ; D. bye ; Ger. biene ; Sw.
bij ; Dan. bie ; Ir. beach ; It. pecchia ; Sp.
abeja. Class Bg.] ^ a . -,
An insect of the genus Apis. [See Apis.]
The species are numerous, of which the
honey-bee is the most interesting to inai
It has been cultivated from the earliest
periods, for its wax and honey. It lives
in swarms or societies, of from 10,000 to
I 50,000 individuals. These swarms con-
tain three classes of bees, the females or
queen bees, the males or drones, and
neuters or working bees. Of the fori
there is only one in each hive or swsi
whose sole office is to jiropagate the spe
cies. It is much larger than the other
bees. The drones serve merely for
pregnating the queen, after which they
destroyed by the neuters. These last are
the laborers of the hive. They collect the
honey, form the cells, and feed the other
bees and the young. They are furnished
%vith a proboscis by which they suck the
honey from flowers, and a mouth by which
they swallow it, and then convey it to the
hive in then- stomachs, where they dis
gorge it into the cells. The pollen of flovv
ers'settleson the hairs with which then-
body is covered, whence it is collected into
pellets, by a brush on their second pair of
legs, and deposited in a hollow in the third
pair. It is called bee bread, and is the food
of the lamw or young. The adult bees
feed on honey. The wax was supposed
to be formed from pollen by a digestive
process, but it is now ascertained that it is
formed from the honey by a siniilar pro-
cess. The females and neuters have a
barbed stins, attached to a bag of poison
SEE
BEE'-GARDEN, n. [bee and garden.] A
garden, or inclosure to set bee-hives in.
Johnson.
BEE'-GLUE, n. [bee and glue.] A soft,
unctuous matter with which bees cement
the combs to the hives, and close up the
cells ; called also propoMs. Encyc.
BEE'-HIVE, n. [bee and hive.] A case,
box, or other hollow vessel, which serves
as a habitation for bees. Hives are made
of various materials, as of boards, the hol-
low trunk of a tree, and withes of straw,
or of glass.
BEE'-JIASTER, n. [bee and master.] One
who keeps bees. Mortimer.
BEECH, «. [Sax. bece, hoc ; D. hmke, or
beukenboom ; Ger. buche, or buchbaum ;
Slav. 6ofeu; Russ. iM* ; Gr. ^^ayoj; L./«-
gus; It. faggio; Sp.haya; Port.faia. In
Saxon bee and boc is a book. It, is proba-
ble that beechis properly the name of bark,
and this being used, by oiir rude ances-
tors, as the material for writing, the word
came to signify a book.]
A tree arranged" by Linne under the genus
fngus, with the chesnut. The beech grows
to a large size, with branches forming a
beautiful head, with thick fofiage. The
bark is smooth and of a silvery cast. The
mast or nuts are the food of swine, and of
certain wild animals, and yield a good oil
for lamps. When eaten by man, they are
said to occasion giddiness and headach.
Encyc.
BEE'CH-€OAL, n. [beech and coal]
Charcoal from beech wood.
BEE'CHEN, a. bee'chn. Consisting of the
wood or bark of the beech ; belonging to
the beech ; as a beechen vessel. Dryden.
BEE'CHMAST, n. The fruit or nuts of the
lieech.
BEE'CH-OIL, n. [beech and oil]
Oil expressed from tlie mast or nuts of the
beech-tree. It is used in Picardy, and in
other parts of France, instead of butter;
but is said to occasion heaviness and pains
the stomach. Encyc.
wlij.-h Hows im^
the sting. Whe
new colony is se
of a queen bee.
; food
the wound inflicted by
a hive is overstocked,
t out under the direction
This is called swarming.
Cyc. Ed. Enyc.
BEE'-BREAD, n. [bet and bread.] TV
pollen of flowers collected by bees,
for their young. [See Bu.]
BEE'-EATER, n. [bee and eat.] A bird
tliat feeds on bees. There are several
species included in the genus merops, of
which the apiaster of Europe is remarka
ble for the brilliancy of its plumage.
Encyc.
BEE'-FLOWEB, n. [bee and Jlower.] A
plant; a species of Ophrys or Iwyblade,
whose flowers represent singular figures
of bees, flies and other uisects. Encyc.
BEE'CH-TREE, ii. [beech and tree.]
beech.
BEEF, n. [Fr. bauf, beuf, an ox ; Arm. be-
vin ; It. bue ; Sp. buey ; Port, boy ; W.
buw ; Corn, byuh, an ox ; Ir. bo, a cow,
plu. buaibh ; L. bos, bovis ; Gr. |3oi!{.]
1. An animal of the bovine genus, whether
ox, bull or cow ; but used of those which
are full grown or nearly so. In this, which
is the orighial sense, the word has a plu-
ral, beeve.?.
1. The flesh of an ox, bull, or cow, when
killed. In popular language, the word is
often apiilied to the live animal ; as, an ox
is good beef; that is, is well fattened. In
this sense, the word has no plural.
BEEF, a. Consisting of the flesh of the ox,
or bovine kind ; as a beef-steak. Swift.
BEE'F-EATER, n. [beef and eat.] One
that eats beef.
2. A yeoman of the guards, in England.
1:5. The Buphaga, an African bird that feeds
on the larvas which nestle nnder the hides
of oxen.
4 In popular use, a stout fleshy man.
BEE'F-STEAK, n. [beef and steak.] A
steak or slice of bee/ for broihng.
BEE'F-WITTED, a. [beef and uit.] Dull
in intellects; stupid ; lieavy-headed. Shak.
BEE
B E F
BEG
BEELD, n. [Sax. behJiidan, to cover.] Pro-|
toction ; refuge. [jYot in nse.] Fairfax
BEEN, [>S,ix. fceo)!.] Part. perf. of 6e; pro
nouncerl bin. In old aiithoi's, it is also the]
prcseut tense plural of Ae.
BEEN, n. A IVetted stringed instruinent ofj
music of the guitar kind, having nineteen
frets ; used in India. As. Researches.
BEER, n. [W. bir; Fr. biere ; Arm. Injer,
bir, ber; D. and Ger. bier; It. birra.]
1. A spirituous liquormade from any farina-
ceous grain; but generally from barley,!
which is first malted and ground, and itsj
fermentable substance extracted by hot|
water. This extract or infusion is evapo-
rated by boiling in caldrons, and hops or!
some other plant of an agreeable bitter-
ness added. The liquor is then suffered
to ferment in vats. Beer is of ditferent
degrees of strength, and is denominated
small beer, ale, porter, broivn stout, &c., ac-
cording to its strength, or other peculiar
qualities. Encyc.i
'1. Beer is ?i name given in America to fer-|
nienting liquors made of various other
materials; and when a decoction of the
roots of plants forms a part of the com-
position, it is called spnng-beer, from the
season in which it is made.
BEE'R-BARREL, n. A barrel for holdingj
beer.
BEE'R-HOUSE, n. A house where maltj
liquors are sold ; an ale house.
BEKSTINGS, [See Biestinfcs.]
BEET, n. [D. bid; Ger. beete ; It. bietola ;
VV. hdi/se,i ; L. beta ; Fr. bette.] j
A plant of the genus Beta. The species cul-
tivated in gardens are the cicla and vulga-
ris, or white and red beet. There are ma-
ny varieties ; some with long taper roots,
and others with flat roots, like turneps.
The root furnishes a large portion of su-
gar, which has been recently manufactur-
ed in France on a great scale. Ci/c.
BEE'TLE, n. [Sax. bill, or bytl, a mallet ;
betel, the insect, beetle.]
1. A heavy mallet or wooden hammer, used
to drive wedges, beat pavements, &c. ;
called also a stamper, or rammer.
3. In zoology, a genus of insects, the scara-
bseus, of many species. The generic char-
acters arc, clavatcd aiiteiiMrc, fissile lon-
gitmliiKilly, Icfxs IVi'ipii'iitly il'iilatcd, and
win<;s wliic-h have liaid i asrs, ur sheatlis.
The hmies of tliosc insects are placed ex-
ternally, and their muscles within. They
are of different sizes, from that of a pin's
head, to that of a man's fist. Some are
produced in a month, and go through
their existence in a year ; in others, four
years are required to produce thcin, and
they live as winged insects a year more.
They have various names, as the may-bug,
the dorr-beetle, the cock-chaffer, the tum-
ble-dung, the elephant-beetle, &.c. The
latter, found in South America, is the lar-
gest species, being foiu- inches long.
Encyc.
BEE'TLE, V. i. bee'tl. To jut ; to be proin-
inent ; to hang or extend out ; as, a cliff
that bceiles over its base. Shak.
BEE'TLE-BROW, n. [beeUe and brow.] a'
prominent brow. Shak.\
BEE'TLE-BROWED, a. Having promi-l
nent brows. Swift.]
BEE'TLE-IIEAD, n. [beetle and head.] A
stupid fellow. Scot.
BEE'TLE-HEADED, a. Having a head
hke a beetle ; dull ; stupid. Shak.
BEE'TLE-STOCK, n. [beeUe and stock.]
The handle of a beetle. Spenser,
BEE'TLING, ppr. Jutting ; being promi-
nent ; standing out from the main body,
Ttiomson.
BEET-RAVE, ) A kind of beet, used
BEET-RADISH, p- for sallad. Ash.
BEEVES, n. j.lu. of beef. Cattle ; quad-
rupeds of the bovine genus, called in En-
gland, black cattle.
BEFALL', V. t. pret. befeU ; part, befallen
[Sax. befellan, of be and fall.]
To happen to ; to occur to ; as, let me know
the worst that can befaU me. It usually
denotes ill. It is generally transitive in
form, but there seems to be an ellipsis of
to, and to sometimes follows it.
BEFALL', V. i. To happen ; to come to
pass.
I have reveal'd this discoid which befell.
.miton
To befall of is not legitimate.
BEFALL'ING, ppr. Happening to ; occur-
ring to ; coming to pas.s.
BEFELL', pret. of befall.
BEFIT', i;. t. [be and ft] To suit ; to be
suitable to ; to become.
That name best befits tliee. Milton
BEFIT'TING, ppr. or a. Suiting ; becom
iug.
BEFOAM, V. t. [be and foam.] To cover
with foam. [Little used.]
BEFOOL', V. t. [be And fool] To fool ; to
infatuate ; to delude or lead into error.
Men befuol tlieinselves. South
BEFOOL'ED, pp. Fooled ; deceived ; led
into error.
BEFOOL'ING, ppr. Fooling; making
fool of; deceiving ; infatuating.
BEFO'RE, prep, [ie and/ore, that is by fore,
near the fore part. Sax. before, or beforan,
retained by Chaucer in befom.]
i. In front ; on the side with the face, at
any distance ; used of persons. Milton.
3. In presence of, with the idea of power,
authority, respect.
Abraham bowed before the people of the land
Gen. xxiii.
Wherewitlial shall I come before tl:e Lord
Micah vi.
3. In sight of; as before the face.
4. In the presence of, noting cognizance or
jurisdiction.
Both parties shall come before the judge.
Ex. xxii.
5. In the power of, noting the right or ability
to choose or possess ; free to the choice.
The world was all before them. Milton
My land is before thee. ■ Gen. xx.
6. In front of any object ; as before the house ;
before the fire
7. Pr.
receding in time.
Before I was afflicted.
stray. Ps
Before Abraham was, I am. John viii.
Here the preposition has a sentence fol-
lowing for an object.
8. In preference to.
Aiid he set Ephraim before Manasseh. Gen,
xlviii.
Poverty is desirable before torments.
Tat/lor.
9. Superior ; preceding in dignity.
j He that Cometh after me is preferred before
I me, for he was before me. John i.
[10. Prior to; having prior right ; preceding
iu order ; as, the eldest son is before the
I younger in succession.
,n. Previous to ; in previous order; in or-
der to.
Before this treatise can become of use, two
I points are necessary. Swift. [See No. 7.]
12. Before the u-ind, is to move in the direc-
I tion of tlie wind by its impulse.
BEFO'RE, adv. In time preceding.
You tell me what 1 knew before. Dryden.
2. In time preceding, to the present, or to this
time ; hitherto ; as, tumults then arose
which before were unknown.
3. Further onward in place, iu progress, or
in front.
Reaching forth to those things which are be-
fore. Phil. iil.
4. In front ; on the fore part.
The battle was before and behind. 2 Chron
In some of the examples of the use of before,
which Johnson places under the adverb,
the word is a preposition governing a sen-
tence ; as, " Before the hills appeared."
This is the real construction, however
overlooked or misunderstood.
BEFOREHAND, adv. [before and hand.]
In a state of anticipation or preoccupa-
tion ; often followed by with ; as, you are
before hand with me.
2. Antecedently ; by way of preparation or
preliminary ; aforetime. Math. xiii. 1
Tim. v.
3. In a state of accumulation, so as that
more has been received than expended.
A man is beforehand. In this use it is morr
j properly an adjective.
4. At first ; before any thing is done.
L'Estrange.
BEFO'RE-TIME, adv. [before and time.]
Formerly ; of old time. 1 Sam. 9. Josh.
XX. Obs.
BEFOR'TUNE, v. t. [be and foiiune.] To
I happen to ; to betide. Shai.
.BEFOUL', t.. t. [Sax. befylan, be and foul.]
I To make foul ; to soil.
jBEFRIEND, v. I. befrend'. [be and friend.]
To favor ; to act as a friend to ; to coun-
tenance, aid or benefit. Shak.
BEFRIENDED, ;)p. Favored; countenan-
jBEFlilENDING, ppr. Favoring; assist-
ing as a friend ; showing kindness to.
|BEFRIN(iE, V. t. befrinj'. [be and fringe.]
To furnish with a fringe ; to adorn as
I with fringe. FuUer.
IBEFRINg'ED, pp. Adorued as with a
j fringe.
iBEG, / [The Turks write this word begh
JBEY, \ "■ or bek, hut pronounce it bey.]
In the Turkish dominions, a governor of a
town or country ; more particularly, the
lord of a sangiac or banner. Every prov-
ince is divided into seven sangiacs or ban-
ners, each of which qualifies a bey ; and
these are commanded by the go\emor of
the province, called begler-beg or lord of
all the beys. Each beg has the command
of a certain number of spahis, or horse,
denominated timariots.
In Tunis, the beg or bey is the prince or
king, answering to the dey of Algiers.
In Egypt, the begs are twelve generals
BEG
wlio command the militia, or standiii}^ for-
ces of the kingdom. Enajc.
BEG, V. t. [In Italian, piccaro is a beggar.
This word is from some root in Class Bg,
which signifies to make towards or to
press, to urge, or to cry out. The Ger.
hegehren, to wliich Skinner refers this word,
is a compound of be and gieren to
D. begeeren, Sax. giernan, whence yearn
With this, beg has no connection.]
1. To ask earnestly ; to beseech ; to entreat
or supplicate with humility. It implies
more urgency than ask or petition.
Joseph begged the body of Jesus. Math
xxvii.
2. To ask or supplicate in charity; as, we
may yet be reduced to beg
3. To take for granted ; to assume without
proof; as, to beg the question in debate.
BEG, V. i. To ask alms or charity ; t
practice begging ; to live by asking alms,
I cannot dig ; I am ashamed to beg. Luke
xvi.
BEOET', V. t. pret. begot, begat ; pp. begot,
begotten. [Sax. begetan, of be and getan, to
• get. See Get.}
1. To procreate, as a father or sire ; to
erate ; as, to beget a son.
2. To produce, as an effect ; to cause to ex-
ist; to generate ; as, luxury begets vice.
BEGET'TER, n. One who' begets or pro-
creates ; a father.
BEG'GABLE, a. Tliat may be begged.
Bntler.
BEG'GAR, n. [See Beg-.] One that lives
by asking alms, or makes it his business
to beg for charity.
2. One who supplicates with humility ; a
petitioner ; but in this sense rarely used
as the word has become a term of con-
tempt. Johnson.
3. One who assumes in argument what he
does not prove. TiUotson.
BEG'GAR, V. t. To reduce to beggary ; to
im|)Overish. Shak.
2. To deprive or make destitute ; to exhaust :
as, to beggftr description.
BEG'GARED, pp. Reduced to extreme
poverty.
BEG'GARING, ppr. Reducing to indigence
or a state of beggary.
BEG'GARLINESS, n. Tlie state of being
beggarly ; meanness ; extreme poverty.
Barret.
BEG'GARLY, a. Mean ; poor ; in the con-
dition of a beggar; extremely indi
BEG'GARLY, adv.
despicably.
BEGGAR-MAID, ;;
Shak
Meanly ; indigently ;
looker.
a heg
Shak
BEG'GAR-MAN, n. A man that is a beg-
gar. Slmk
BEG'GAR-WoMAN, n. A female beggar
Shak.
BEG'GARY, n. A state of extreme indi-
ffpnce. Sidney.
BEG'GED, pp. Entreated ; sujiplicated ; ask-
ed in charity.
BEG'GING, ppr. Asking alms; supplica-
uming without proof.
BEG'GING, n. The act ofsohciting alms;
tlie practice of asking alms ; as, he lives
bv begging
BEGHARDS', ) A religious order of St
BEGUARDS', I "• Francis in Flanders, es
BEG
(abhslied at Antwerp in 1228, and .so na
med from St. Begghe, their patroness.
They at first employed themselves in ma-
lung linen cloth, united in bonds of chari-
ty, without any rule ; but in 1290, they
embraced tliat of the tliird order of St.
Francis. The name has been transferred
to all the other religious of the convent of
Antwerp. Encm.
BEGILT', a. Gilded. B.Jonson.
BEGIN', 17. i. pret. began ; pp. begun. [Sax.
gynnan, aginnan, beginnan, and onginnan,
to begin, ongin, a beginning ; Goth, du-
ginnan ; Sw. begynna ; Dan. begynder ; D
anil Ger. beginnen, to begin ; D. and Ger.
beginn, a beginning, origin ; W. cycwnii
to begin, cy, a prefix, and cwn, a head
The radical word is gin or gyn, to which
are prefixed ie, on, and du whicli is to. This
appears to be the root of the Gr. yivonai
■yfwow, L. genero, gigno, coinciding with
Syr. 3 Kon, to begin to be ; in Apl:
plant, to confirm, to create ; Eth. Tl (D ^
Kon, to be, to become or be made ; Ar,
• tr to be or become, to make, t(
to generate ; Heb. Ch. Sam. ]13, to make
ready, to adapt, prepare, establish ; Sam
to create. The primary sense is, to throw
thrust, stretch forward, hence to set, or
to produce, according to its connection
application.]
To have an original or first existence ;
to take rise ; to commence.
As he spake by the mouth of his holy proph-
ets, who have been since the world bes;an.
Lukel.
Judgment must ifgm at the liouse of God,
1 Pet. 4.
From Nimrod first the savage race began.
Pope.
And tears began to flow. Dryden.
2. To do the first act ; to enter upon some-
thing new ; to take the first step ; as, begin,
my muse.
Begin every day to repent. Taylor.
When I begin, I will also make an end. 1
S.im. Hi.
BEGIN', v.t. To do the first act of any
thing ; to enter on ; to commence.
Ye nymphs of Solyma, begin the song.
Pope.
And tirs they begin to do. Gen. xi.
2. To trace from any thing, as the first
ground ; to lay the foundation.
^The apostle begins our knowledge in the
creatures, which leads us to the knowledge of
God. Locke.
To begin with, to enter upon first ; to use or
employ first ; as, to begin ivith the Latin
Grammar ; to begin business ivith a small
capital.
BEGIN'NER, n. The person who begins ;
he that gives an original ; the agent who
is the cause ; an author.
2. One who first enters upon any art, sci-
ence or business ; one who is in his rudi-
ments ; a young practitioner ; often imply-
ing want of experience.
BEGIN'NING, pjn: First entering upon ;
commencing ; giving rise or original ; ta
king rise or origin.
BEGIN'NING, n. The first cause ; origin,
n the beginning and the ending. Rev. i
2. That which is first ; the first state; coin
menccmcnt ; entrance into being.
BEG
In the beginning, God created the heaven
d the earth. Gen. 1.
3. The rudiments, first ground or materials.
Mighty things from small beginnings grow.
BEGIN'NINGLESS, a. That hath'^note-
gmniiig. [Jl bad word and not used.}
Barrow.
BEGIRD, V. t. begurd'. pret. begirt, begirded;
pp. begirt, [be and gird ; Sax. begyrdan.]
1. To bind with a band or girdle.
2. To surround ; to inclose ; to encompass.
Begird the Almighty throne. Milton.
3. To besiege. Clarendon.
To begirt, used by B. Jonson, is a corrupt
orthography.
BEGIRDED, }
pp.
Bound with a girdle ;
surrounded ; inclosed :
BEGIRT,
besieged.
BEGIR'D'ING, ppr. Binding with a girdle,-
surrounding ; besieging.
BEG'LERBEG, n. [See Beg.] The gover-
nor of a province in the Turkish empire,
next in dignity to the grand vizier. Each
has three ensigns or staves, trimmed witk
a horse tail, to distinguish him from a ba-
shaw, who has two, and a beg, who has
one. His province is called beglerbeglik.
Encyc.
BEGNAW, V. t. benaw'. [Sax. begnagan;
be and gnaw.}
To bite or gnaw ; to eat away ; to corrode ;
to nibble. Shak.
BEGONE. Go away; depart. These two
words have been improperly united. Be
retains the sense of a verb, and gone, that
of a participle.
BEGO'RED, a. [be andg-ore.] Besmeared
with gore. Spenser.
BEGOT', BEGOT'TEN, pp. of get. Pro-
created ; generated.
BEGRA'VE, V. t. To deposit in the grave;
to bury. [JVot used.]
2. To engrave. [JVot used.] Gower.
BEGRE'ASE, v. t. s as z. [be and grease.]
To soil or daub with grease, or other oily
matter.
BEGRI'ME, V. t. [be and grime.] To soil
with dirt deep-impressed, so that the nat-
ural hue caiuiot easily be recovered.
Shak.
BEGRIMED, np. Deeply soiled.
BEGRUDtiE, V. t. begrvdj'. [See Grudge.]
To grudge ; to cnxy the possession of.
BEGUI'LE, V. t. begi'le. [be and guile.] To
delude ; to deceive ; to impose on by arti-
fice or crafl.
The serpent beguiled mc and I did (
Gen,
2. To elude by craft.
WHien misei'v could beguile the tyrant's rage
Shak
3. To elude any thing disagreeable by
amusement, or other means ; to pas.<
ph^.^-^iii^lv : to amuse ; as, to beguile the
tedious ,l;iy with sleep. ShaJc.
BV.ai]]. V.D, jip. Deluded; imposed on;
misled by craft ; eluded by stratagem ;
passed pleasingly.
BEGUI'LER, n. He or that wliich beguiles
■ deceives.
BEGUI'LING,;)pr. Deluding; deceiving by
raft; eluding by artifice ; amusing.
BEGUIL'TY, V. t. To render guilty. [^
barbarous word.] Sander.<!on.
BE'GUIN, n. The Beguins are a coiigrega-
B E H
B E H
B E H
non of nuns in Flanders, so called from
their founder, or from their head dres
Beguin, in French, is a linen cap. From
this order sprung tiie Beguinages in Flan-
ders. Encyc. Mason.
BEGUN', pp. of btgin. Connnenced ; ori-
ginated.
BEHALF, n. bthaf. [This word is probably
a corruption. If composed of te and half,
it is a word of modern origin : but I take
it to be the Sa.v. behefe, profit, need, or
convenience ; G. behuf; D. behoef, neces-
saries, business ; behoeve, behalf ; Sw. 6e-
kof; Uan. behov, need, necessity, sufficien-
cy, or what is required, sustenance or sup-
port ; from the verb behoove, behofwa, be-
hover, to need. The spelling is therefore
corrupt : it should be behof or behoof. See
Behoof]
1. Favor; advantage; convenience; profit;
support ; defense ; vindication. The ad-
vocate pleads in behalf of the i)risoner.
The patriot suffers in behalf of his coun-
try.
9. Part; side; noting substitution, or the act
of taking the part of another ; as, the agent
appeared in beh<itf of his constituents, and
entered a clahn.
BEHAP'PEN, v.i. [be and happen.] To
happen to. Spenser.
BEHA'VE, v.l. [G.gchaben; Sax. gehabban,
and hehabban ; be and have.]
1. To restrain ; to govern ; to subdue. [The
Saxon sense of the word.]
He did behave his anger e'er 'twas spent.
Shak.
This sense is obsolete. Yet it often
seems to be implied ; for to behave one'«
self, is really, to govern one's self; to have
in command.
9. To carry ; to conduct ; used with the re-
ciprocal pronoun ; as, he behaves himself
■manfully. But the tendency of modern
usage is to omit the pronoun ; as, he behaves
well.
BEHA'VE, V. i. To act ; to conduct ; gen-
erally applied to manners, or to conduct
in any particular business ; and in a good
or bad sense. He behaves well or ill.
BEHAVED,/);?. Conducted.
BFHA'VING, ;>;»■. Carrying; conducting.
BEHA'VIOR, n. 6c/i(ii.^ur. [See Behave.] \
-Manner of behaving, whether gooti or bad
conduct; manners; carriage of one's self,
with respect to propriety, or morals ; de-
portment. It expresses external appear-
ance or action ; sometunes in a particular
character ; more generally in the common
duties of life ; as, our future destiny de-
pends on our behavior in this Hfe. It may
express correct or good manners, but I
doubt whether it ever expresses the idea
of elegance of manners, without another
word to qualify it.
To be upon one^s behavior, is to be in a state
of trial, in which something important de-
pends on propriety of conduct. The mod-
ern phrase is, to be or to be put, tipon one's
good behavior.
BEHEAD', v. t. behed'. [be and head.]
To cut off the head; to sever the head from
the body, with a cutting instrument ; ap-
propriately used of the execution of men
for crimes.
BEHEAD' ED, pp. behed' ed. Having the
head cut off.
BEHEAD'ING, ppr. hehed'ing. Severing
the lieuil from the body. 1
BEHEAD'ING, n. behed'ing. The act of
separating the head from the body by i
cutting instrument : decollation.
BEHELD', pret. and pp. of behold, whicl
BE'HEMOTH, n. [Heh. niona, from nDn3,
a beast or brute ; from an Arabic verb,
which signifies, to shut, to lie hid, to be
dumb. In Eth. dumb.]
Authors are divided in opinion as to the an-
imal intended in scripture by this name ;
some supposing it to be an ox, others, an
elephant ; and Bochart labors to prove it
the hippopotamus, or river horse. The lat-
ter opinion is most probable. [See Hip-
popotamus.] The original word in Arabic
signifies a brute or beast in general, es-
pecially a quadruped.
BE'HEN, BEN, or BEK'EN, n. A plant.
The white behen is a species of Cucuhal-
us, called Swedish Lychnis, or gum
sepungar. The empalement of its flower
resembles net-work, and its leaves have
somewhat of the flavor of pease.
Family of Plants. Encyc.
The behen of the shops, or white behen,
is spatling poppy. Red behen is sea lav
ender. Lee. Bailey. Coxe.
BEHEST', n. [be and Sax. hcese, a com
mand ; Ger. geheiss, connnand, from heis
sen, to call, tell, or command. See Heat.]
Command ; precept ; mandate. [Antiquated,
except in poetry.]
BEHI'GHT, V. t. behite ; pret. behot. [Sax,
behetan, to promise.]
To promise ; to entrust ; to call, or
to command ; to adjudge ; to address ; to
inform ; to mean ; to reckon. The orthog-
raphy is corrupt ; it should he behite. Obs.
Spenser. Chaucer.
BEHIND, prep. [Sax. behindan, of be and
hindan, behind ; Goth, hindar, beyond, he
hind ; hindar-leithan, to pass, prseterire ;
Ger. hinter.]
1. At the back of another ; as, to ride behind
a horseman.
2. On the back ]iart, at any distance ; in tJi
rear ; as, to walk behind another.
3. Remaining ; left after the departure of
another, whether by removing to a d'
tance, or by death ; as, a man leaves his
servant behind him, or his estate at his
decease.
4. Left at a distance, in progress or ira
provement ; as, one student is behind an
other in mathematics.
5. Inferior to another in dignity and excel
leuce.
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the
very chiefest apostles. 2 Cor. xi.
6. On the side opposite the front or nearest
part, or opposite to that which fronts
person ; on the other side ; as behind a
bed ; behind a hill ; behind a house, tree,
or rock.
Behind the back, in scripture, signifies, out
of notice, or regard ; overlooked ; disre-
garded.
They cast thy laws behind their backs. Neh
xix. Is. xxxviii.
BEHIND, arfi). [be a.ni hind.] Out of sight;
not produced, or exhibited to view; re
niaining ; as, we know no what evidence
is behind.
2. Backwards ; on the back-part; a.<, to look
behind.
3. Past in the progress of time.
Forgetting those things which arc behind.
Phil. iii.
4. Future, or remaining to be endured.
And fill up that which is behind of llic afflic-
tions of Christ in my flesh. Col. i.
.5. Remaining after a payment ; unpaid ; as,
there is a large sum behind.
G. Remaining after the (le|)arture of; as, he
departed and left us behind.
BEHINDHAND, a. [behind and liand.]
In arrear; in an exhausted state; in a state
in which rent or profit has been anticipa"
ted, and expenditures precede the receipt
of funds to sup|)ly them. In popular use,
a state of poverty, in which the means of
living are not adequate to the end. Also,
in a state of backwardness, in which a
particular business has been delayed be-
yond the proper season for perforiiiing it ;
as, he is behindhand in his business.
Behindhand loith, is behind in progress ; not
u|)on equal terms in forwardness ; as, to be
behindliand with the fashionable world.
This word is really an adjective, as it is ap-
plied to the ^craon rather than to the verb;
but like adnfi, aloft, ashamed, and several
other words, never precedes the noun.
Sliakspeare's " behindhand slackness, "
therefore, according to present usage, is
not a legitimate phrase.
BEHO'LD, v.t. pret. and pp. beheld'. [Sax.
behealdan, beheoldan, gehealdan, gehaldan,
from healdan, to hold. The sense is, to
hold, or rather to reach with the eye, to
have in sight, from straining, or extend-
ing. In Saxon, the verb signifies not only
to look or see, but to guard ; so in Latin,
obsen-o, from servo, to keep. This expli-
cation leads us to an understanding of the
participle beholden, which retains the prim-
itive sense of the verb, hound, obliged.
The Germans retain the original sense in
behalten, to hold or keep ; as the Dutch do
in gehouden, held, bound ; and the Danes
in beholder, to keep, retain ; behold, a re-
treat, refuge, reservation. See Observe
and Regard.]
1. To fix the eyes upon ; to see with atten-
tion ; to ob.serve with care.
Behold the lamb of God wliich taketh away
the sin of the world. John i.
2. In a less intensive sense, to look upon ;
to see.
When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Num. xxl.
BEHO'LD, v. i. To look ; to direct the eyes
to an object.
And I beheld, and lo, iu the midst of the
throne, a lamb, as it had been slain. Rev. 5.
2. To fix tlic attention upon an object ; to
attend ; to direct or fix the mind.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
Rev. iii.
This word is much used in this manner
for exciting attention, or admiration. It
is in the imperative mode, expressing com-
mand, or exhortation ; and by no means
a mere exclamation.
BEHO'LDEN, pp. or a. beholdn. [The
participle of behold, to keep, guard, or bind.
See Beliold.]
Obliged ; bound in gratitude ; indebted.
Little are we beholden to your love. Sltak.
B E K
BEL
BEL
BEHO'LDKR, n. One whobeliojtis; cispto-
tutor ; one who looks upon, or sees.
BEHO'LDING,;jpr. Fixing tlic eyes upon
looking on ; seeing.
2. Fixing the attention ; regarding with at
tention.
3. Obligation. [JVb< used.] Cairw
4. Obliged. Bacon on Love. A mistaken use
of the word for beholden.
BEHO'LDINGNESS, n. The state of being
obliged. Donne. Sidney.
[An error, and not in ■use.']
BEHON'EY, V. I. To sweeten with honey.
Skeneood.\
BEHOOF', n. [Sax. behojran, to want, to be|
necessary, to be expedient ; hence, tfi bei
n duty ; D. hehoeven, to need ; Ger. behuf,i
behoof; Dan. behorer, to need, to lack ;[
behx>v, need, necessity, sufficiency, niain-j
teiiance, that is, thhigs needed ; Sw.}
behof, need ; behoftva, to need.] !
1. RndieaUy, need, necessity ; whence, by.
an easy analogy, the word came to signify
that which supplies want. Hence, ini
present usage,
0. That which is advantageous ; advantage ;
profit ; benefit.
No mean recompense it brings to your behoof.
Milton.
BEHOOV'ABLE, a. Ncedfid ; profitable. !
BEHOOVE, V. I. behoov'. [Sax. behofian, to
want, to be necessary, or expedient. Sa-,
pra.]
To be necessary for ; to be fit for ; to be:
meet for, with respect to necessity, duty,;
or convenience.
And thus it behooved Christ to suffer. Lulie
xxiv.
It may perhaps be used intransitively ; as,i
let him behave as it behoovetk ; but I be-|
lieve such use is rare.
BEHOOVEFUL, a. behoov'/ul. Needful :
useful ; profitable ; advantageous.
BEHOOVEFULLY, adv. behoov' fully. Use-
fiilly ; profitably. [Obs. or nearly so.]
BEHOT', pret. of" behigU. Obs.
BEHOVE, and its derivatives. [See Be-
hoove.]
BEHOWL', V. i. [be and howl] Tojiiowl at.
[Kot used.] Shak.
BE'ING, ppr. [See Be.] Existing in a cer-
tain state.
Man, being in honor, abideth not. Ps. xlix.
BE'ING, n. Existence ; as, God is the au-
thor of^ our being.
In God we live, and move, and have our
being. Acts xvii.
a. A particular state or condition. [This is
hardly a different sense.]
3. A person existing ; applied to thi
race.
4. An immaterial, intelligent existence, or
.spirit.
Superior beings, when of late they saw
\ mortal man unfold all nature's law —
Pupe
5. An animal ; any living creature.
Animals are such beings, as are endowed will
sensation and spontaneous motion.
BEJA'DE, I). <. [6e and Jade.] To tire. [,\'ot\
used.] Milton.
BE.IA'PE, V. t. To laugh at ; to deceive.
[JVot used.] Chaucer.
BEKISS', V. t. [be and kiss.] To kiss or sa-
lute. [JVot in use.] Jonson
BEKNA'VE, V. t. [be aiid knave.] To call
knave. [Not used.] Pope.
BE KNOW, V. t. [be and knmo.] To ac-
knowledge. [Not used.] Chaucer.
BELABOR, V. I. [))erhaps from he and la-
bor ; but in Russ. bulava is a club.] To
beat soundly ; to thump.
Ajax belabors there a harmless ox.
Dry den.
BELA'CE, V. t. [be and lace.] To fasten, as
with a lace or cf)rd.
•i. To beat ; to whip.
BELA'CED, a. Adorned witli lace.
Beaumont.
BEL'AMOUR, n. [Fr. bel-amour.] A gal-
lant; a consort. [Aotxtsed.] Spenser.
BEL'AMY, n. [Fr. bel-ami.] A good friend ;
intimate. [.Yot used.] Spenser.
BELA'TE, V. t. [be and late.] To retard or
make too late. [Not used.
BELA'TED, a. [be and lated.] Benighted ;
abroad late at night.
9. Too late for the hour ap]iointcd or in-
tended ; later than the proper time.
BELA'TEDNESS, n. A being too late.
Milton.
BELA \E, I', t. [be and lave.] To wash.
[Not used.]
BEI.AWGIVE, V. t. To give a law to
[Barbarous and not used.] Miiton
BELAY, V. t. [This word is composed of IBELEP'ER
To besiege ; to bleok up ; to surround wit!i
an army, so as to preclude escape.
Dryden.
BELEAGUERED, pp. Besieged.
BELE'AGUERER, n. One wiio besieges.
Sherwood.
BELE'AGURING, ppr. Besieging ; block-
ing up.
BELE'AVE, V. t. [be and leave.] To leave.
[Not used.] May.
BELEE', V. t. [be and lee.] To place on tlie
lee, or in a position unfavorable to the
wind. [Not used.] Shak.
BELEM'NITE, n. [Gr. li^-Keuvoi,, a dart, or
arrow, from jJf^os, from the root of iIoMm.
pello, to throw.]
rVrrow-liead, or finger stone ; vulgarly called
thunder-bolt, or thunder stone. A genus
of fossil shells, common in chalk and
limestone. These shells consist of an in-
terior cone, divided into partitions con-
nected by a syphon, as in the nautilus, and
surrounded by a number of concentric lay-
ers, made up of fibers radiating from the
axis. These layers are somewhat trans-
parent, and when burnt, rubbed or scruiied,
give the odor of rasped horn. The spe-
cies are now extinct.
Eneyc. Ed. Encyc.
be and lay, to lay to, lay by, or close. See
Beleagve'r.]
To block tip, or obstruct.
Dryden. Gower.
2. To place in anihu.sli. Spenser.
To adorn, surround, or cover. Spenser.
4. In seamanship, to fasten, or make fast, by
winding a rope round a cleat, kevil, or be-
laying-pin. It is chiefly applied to the
running rigging. Mar. Diet.
BELA'YED, pp. Obstructed ; ambushed ;
made fast.
BELA'YING, ppr. Blocking up ; laying an
mbush ; making fast.
BELCH, V. t. [Sax. bealcan, to belch, that
is, to push out, to swell or heave ; hrlgan,
to be angry, that is, to swell with ]>as-
sion ; Eng. bulge, bilge, bulk; allied to W.
bale, prominent.]
1. To tlirow or eject wind from the stom-
ach with violence.
2. To eject violently from a deep hollow
place ; as, a volcano belches flames and
lava.
BELCH, n. The act of throwing out from
the stomach, or from a hollow place ;
eructation.
3. A cant name for malt liquor. Dennis.
BELCH'ED, pp. Ejected from the stomach,
or from a hollow place.
BELCH'ING, ppr. Ejecting from tlic stom-
ach or any deep hollow place.
BELCH'ING, n. Eructation. Barret.
BEL'DAM, n. [Fr. belle, fine, handsome,
and dame, lady. It seems to be used in
contempt, or as a cant term.]
L An old woman. Shak.
Spenser seems to have used the word in
its true sense for good dame.
2. A hag. Dryden. Shak
BELE'AGIJER, v. t.belee'ger. [Ger. helagern,
from it, by, near, and tagem, to lay ; D
belegeren, to besiege, to convene, to belay
Sw. belcegra, to besiege ; Dati. heligger ;
Russ. ohlrgayi'.'
>. t. To infect with leprosy.
Beaumont.
[Fr. befroy ; barb. L. belfre-
JVot used.]
EL'FRY, n.
dus.]
Among military writers of the middle
age, a tower erected by besiegers to over-
look the place besieged, in which senti-
nels were placed to watch the avenues,
and to prevent surprise from parties of the
enemy, or to give notice of fires, by ring-
ing a "bell. Encyc.
3. That part of a steeple, or other building,
in which a bell is hung, and more particu-
larly, the timber Avork which sustains it.
Encyc.
BELGARD', n. [Fr. bel and egard.] A soft
look or glance. [Not tised.] Spenser.
BEL'GIAN, a. [See Belgic.] Belonging to
Belgica, or the Netherlands.
BEL'GlAN, n. A native of Belgica, or tlie
Low Countries.
BEL't>Ie, a. [L, belgicus, from Belgae, the
inhabitants of the Netherlands and the
country bordering on the Rhine, from that
river to the Seine and the ocean. The
name may have been given to them from
their bulk or large stature ; W. bale, prom-
inent, proud, from bal, a shooting out ;
Eng. bidge ; Russ. velikai, great. See
Pomp. Mela. Lib. 3. 3, and 3. 5 : Tac.
Agric : Joseph. De Bell. Jud.2. 16 : Herod.
L. 6 : Strabo. L. 4. Owen sup))oses the
Welch name, Belgiad, to have been given
them, from their bursting t'ortli and r.iv-
aging Britain and Ireland, lint tiny had
the name on the continent, before their ir-
ruption into Britain.]
Pertaining to the Belgae, who, in Cesar's
time, possessed the country between the
Rhine, the Seine and the ocean. They
were of Teutonic origin, and anterior to
Cesar's invasion of Gaul and Britain, col-
onies of them had established themselves
in the southern part of Britain. The
country was railed from its inhabitants
Belgica, tint Belgium, which was the town
of Beauvais. Sec Cluv. Germ. Ant. 2. 2.
BEL
BEL
BEL
Belgic is now applied to the Netherlands,
called also Flanders, or that part of the
Low Countries which formerly belonged
to the house of Austria.
BE'LIAL, n. [Heb. hp-^Z.] As a noun, un-
profitableness ; wickedness. As an ad-
jective, worthless ; wicked. In a collec-
tive sense, wicked men. Parkhursl.
BELI'BEL, V. t. [ht and lihd.] To libel or
traduce. [JSTot used.] Fuller.
BELI'E, V. I. [be and lie. Sax. belecgan, of
be and leogan, to lie, lig, or lyg, a lie ; D,
beliegen ; Ger. beliXgen, to belie.
iie.J
1. To give the lie to ; to show to be false;
to charge with falsehood ; as, the heart
belies the tongue. It is rarely used of de
clarations ; but of appearances and facti
which show that declarations, or certain
appearances and pretences are false and
hypocritical. Hence,
% To counterfeit ; to mimic ; to feign re-
semblance.
With dust, with horse's hoofs, that beat the
gi'ound.
And martial brass, hcUe tlie tliunder's sound.
Dry den.
3. To give H false representation.
Should 1 do so, \ should belie my thouslits.
Shak.
4. To tell lies concerning ; to calumniate by
false reports.
Thou dost helie him, Percy. Shali
5. To fill with lies.
Slander doth belie all comers of the world.
[jXtit legitimate.'] Shak.
BELI'ED, pp. Falsely represented either
by word or obvious evidence and indica-
cation ; counterfeited ; mimicked.
BELIE'F, 71. [Sax. geleaf, leave, license,
permission, consent, assent, belief, faith or
trust ; gelenfan, gelefan, geliefan, gehjfan, to
believe ; leofan, to leave and to live. From
tliese words, it api)ears that belief is from
the root o{ leave, peniiission, assent; Sax.
leaf, leave and belief, fides ; leofn, permission,
license ; written also lif and lufii ; hfnn.
to permit; D. geloof G. gliiube, belief
credit, faith ; ofe/oown, glaubcn, to believe ;
Dan. belover, to promise ; D. oorlof, verlof.
leave, permission ; G. urlaub, leave, fi
low. The primary sense of believe is to
throw or put to, or to assent to ; to leave
with or to rest on ; to rely. See Leave
and Live.]
I. A persuasion of the truth, or an assent of
mind to the truth of a declaration, pro-
position or alledged fact, on the ground
of evidence, distinct from personal kiinw-
tedge ; a.* the belief of the gospel ; belief
of a « iiiifss. liiliif may also he fminded
on iiilcri.;il iiii|.i-r.-si,)n.s. or arpiim-iits and
reasons t'lnni^lii'il liy our own iiiiiids ; as
the bflirfi,\'nnr sriiscs ; a train of reason-
ing may rcsidtin belief. Belief is opposed
to knowledge and science.
*. In theologij, faith, or a firm persuasion of
the truths of rehgion.
[ No man can attain [to] belief by the bare
I contemplation of heaven and earth. Hooker.
\i. Religion ; the body of tenets held by the
I professors of faith."
I In the heat of persecution, to which christian
belief vias subject, upon its tirst promulgation.
Hooker.
X. In some cases, the word is used for per-
■' suasion or opinion, when the evidence isl
Vol. I.
not so clear as to leave no doulrt ; but the
shades of strength in opinion can hardly
be defined, or exemplified. Hence the
of qualifying words; as a. firm, full or
strong belief.
5. The thing believed ; the object of belief.
Superstitious prophecies are the belief of
fools. Bacon.
0. A creed ; a form or summary of articles
of faith. In this sense, we generally use
Creed.
BELIE'VABLE, a. That may be beheved ;
credible. Sherwood.
BELIE'VE, j>. t. To credit upon tlje author-
ity or testimony of another ; to be per-
suaded of the truth of something upon
the declaration of another, or upon ev
dence furnished by reason.'!, argument
and deductions of the minil, or by other
circumstances, than personal knowledge.
When we believe uj)on the authority ot
another, we always put confidence in hi.s
veracity. When we believe upon the au-
thority of reasoning, arguments, or a con-
currence of facts and circumstances, we
rest our conclusions upon their strength
or probability, their agreement with our
own experience, &c.
2. To exi>ect or hope witli confidence ; t
trust.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see tl
goodness of the Lord in the land of the living
liiuler nistruction, as prejjaratory to bap,
tisiii and admission to church privileges.
ppr. Giving credit to testi-
otlier evidence than jicrsonaj
BELIE'VE, v. i. To have a firm persuasion of
any thing. In some cases, to have full per-
suasion, approaching to certainty; in oth
ers, more doubt is inijilied. It is' often fol-
lowed by in or on, especially in the scrip-
tures. To believe in, is to hold as the objeci
of faith. " Ve believe in God, believe also in
me." John xiv. To believe on, is to trust,
to place full confidence in, to rest upon
with faith. " To them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to then
that believe on his name." John i. John
son. But there is no ground for much dis
tinction.
In theology, to believe sometimes expresses !
mere assent of the understanding to the
truths of the gospel ; as in the case of Si-
mon, .^cts viii. In others, the word im
plies, with this assent of the mind,a yield-
ing of the will and affections, accotnpani-
ed with a humble reliance on Christ foi
salvation. John i. 12. iii. 1.5.
In fiopular use, and familiar discourse, to be-
lieve often expresses an opinion in a vague
manner, without a very exact estimate of
evidence, noting a mere preponderance
of opinion, and is nearly equivalent to
think or suppose.
BELIEVED, pp. Credited; assented to, as
true.
BELIE'VER, n. One who believes ; oni
who gives credit to other evidence than
that of ])ersonal knowledge.
2. In theology, one who gives credit to the
truth of the scriptures, as a revelation from
God. In a more restricted sense, a pro
fessor of Christianity; one who receives
the gospel, as unfolding the true way of
• sah :iti<pii, and Christ, as his Savior
In the primilirr church, those who had been
instructed in the truths of the gospel and
baptized, were called believers; in dis-
tinction from the catechwmens, who were
21
i'/ICT/C.
BELIEVING, - '^■- •
mony or to otli
knowledge.
BELIE'VINGLV, adr. In a believing man
ner.
BELIKE, adv. [be and like.] Probablv;
likely ; perhaps. [.Yenrlu antiquated.]
BELI'KELV, adu. Probably. [Xot used.]
Hall.
BELI'VE, adv. [See Uve.] Speedilv ; qiiick-
l.V- Obs. ' Spenser.
BELL, n. [Sax. bell, hella, belle, so named
from its sound ; Sax. bellan, to bawl, or bel-
loiv ; W. bullaw ; G. bellen ; D. id. ; coin^
cidiug with i3a\Xa and ;;f//o. See Peal.]
1. A vessel or hollow body, used for in.-iking
sounds. Its constituent parts arc a bar-
rel or hollow body, enlarged or expanded
at one end, an ear or cannon by which it
is himg to a beam, and a clapper on the
inside. It is formed of a composition oi
metals. Bells are of high antiquity. Th<
blue tunic of the Jewi.Ji High Priest wai
adorned with
lis : and the king.-
t" have the hem of ihei:
li till 111 ill liki- manner
ks, those who went tin
robe .11 1.. I
Amoiii.' tl
nightly rounds in camps or garrisons,
u.scd to ring a bell, at each sentinel-box, to
see that the soldier on duty was awake.
Bells were also put on the necks of crimi-
nals, to warn persons to move out of the
way of so ill an omen, as the sight of a
criminalor his executioner ; also on the
necks of beasts and birds, and in houses.
In churches and other public bnildingt.
bells are now used to notify the time ot'
meeting of any congregation or other as-
sembly. Encyr.
In private houses, bells are used to call
servants, either hung and moved bv a
wire, or as hand-bells. Small bells are also
used in electrical experiments.
. A hollow body of metal, perforated, and
containing a solid ball, to give sounds
when shaken ; used on animals, as on
horses or hawks.
3. Any thing in form of a liell, as the cup
or calix of a flower.
To bear the bell, is to be the first or leader,
in allusion to the bell-wetlicr of .-i flociv,
or the leading horse of a team or drove,
that wears bells on his collar.
To shake the bells, a phrase of Shakspearc,
gnifies to move, give notice or alarm.
BELL, V. i. To grow in the form of bells,
as buds or flowers.
BELL -FASHIONED, a. Having the form
of a liell. Mortimer.
BELL'-FLOWER, n. [beU and fiower.] A
genus of plants, so named Irom the shape
of the corol or flower which resembles a
bell, L. Campanula, a genus of monogy-
nian pentanders, comprehending many
species.
BELL'-FOUNDER, n. [beU and founder.]
A man whose occupation is to found or
cast bells.
BELL'-MAN, n. [bell and man.] A man who
rings a bell, especially to give notice of any
thing in the streets.
BELL-METAL, n. [beU and metal.] A
mixture of copper and tin, in the proportion
BEL
BEL
BEL
<if alioiit ten parts of copper to one ol
tin, or according to Thomson, three parts
to one, and usually a small portion of
brass or ziuk ; used" for making bells.
Encyc.
BELL'-PEPPER, n. [bell and pepper.] A
name of the Guinea pepper, a species of
Capsicum. Tliis is the red pepper of the
gardens, and most proper for pickling.
Encyc.
BELL-RINGER, n. One whose business
is to ring a church or other bell.
BELL'-SHAPED, n. [hell and shape.^ Hav-
ing the form of a bell. Botany.
BELL'-WETHER, n. [bell and tcether.] A
wether or sheep which leads the flock,
with a bell on his neck.
BELL'-WORT, n. A plant, the Uvidaria.
Muhlenberg.
BEL'LADONNA, n. A plant, a species of
Atropa, or deadly nightshade. Lee.
BEL'LATRIX, n. [L.] A ruddy, glittering
star of the second magnitude, in the left
shoulder of Orion ; so named from its ima-
gined influence in exciting war. Encyc.
BELLE, n. bel. [Fr., from L. bellus, It. hel-
lo, Sp. hello, handsome, fine, whence to
embellish ; allied jjerhaps to Russ. bielo,
white.]
A young lady. In popular use, a lady of su-
perior beauty and much admired.
BELL'ED, a. Hung with bells.
BELLES-LETTRES, n. phi. bel' letter, or
anglicised, bell-ktters. [Fr. See Belle and
Letter.]
PoUte literature ; a word of very vague sig-
nification. It includes poetry and orato-
ry ; but authors are not agreed to what
particular branches of learning the term
should be restricted. Enryc.
BELL'IBONE, n. [Fr.belle and bonne.] A
woman excelling both in beauty and good-
ness. UVot in use.] Spenser.
BELLIG'ERENT, a. [L. belliger, warlike ;
helligero, to wage war ; from helium, war,
and gero, to wage ; part, gerens, gerentis,
waging. Gr. n;oj.f/ioj, war ; W. bel, war, tu-
mult ; beta, to war, to wrangle.]
Waging war ; carrying on war ; as a bel-
ligerent nation.
BELLIG'ERENT, n. A nation, power or
slate i-arrving on war.
BELLlG'ERdUS, a. The same as hellige-
renl. [J^ot used.]
BELL'ING, n. [Sax. hellan, to bellow.] The
noise of a roe in rutting time ; a hunl.^-
man's term. Diet.
2. a. Growing or forming like a bell ; grow-
ing full and ripe ; used of hops ; from bell.
Jlsh.
BELLIP'OTENT, a. [L. helium, war, and
patens, powerful, bellipotens.]
Powerful 01' mighty in war. [Little used.]
Diet.
BELLIQUE, a. hellee'k. [Old Fr.] War-
like. [JVo< used.] Feltham.
BEL'LON, )i. A disease, attended with lan-
guor and intolerable griping of the bow-
els, common in places where lead ore is
smelted. Encye.
BELLO'NA, n. [from L. bellum, war.] The
goddess of war. Alt. Mythol.
BEL'LOW, v.i. [8e.x.bulgian,bylgean;W.
hatlaw ; L. balo ; D. hilken ; Sw. bola ;
Sax. bellan, to bawl. See Bawl.]
1. To make a hollow, loud noise, as a bull
to make a loud outcry ; to roar. In con-
tempt, to vociferate or clamor.
2. To roar, as the sea in a tempest, or as the
wind when violent ; to make a loud, hol-
low, continued sound. Dryden.
BEL'LOW, n. A loud outcry ; roar.
BEL'LOWING, ppr. Making a loud hol-
low soinul, as a bull, or as the roaring of
billows.
BEL'LOWING, n. A loud hollow sound or
roar. Herbert.
BEL'LOWS, n. sing, and phi. [Sax. bilig or
bylig, bellows ; and bihg, bylg, a blown
bladder, a bottle ; Goth, balgs, bylg, byl-
ga, a mail or budget ; L. bulga ; Ir. builg,
holg, a bellows ; Ger. balg, a skin ; blase-
halg, a bellows, that is, a blow-skin ; D.
blaasbalg ; Sw. blhsbcdg ; Dan. blwsebelg.
See Blaze. The word is properly in the
singular number, Goth halgs, but is used
also in the plural. It seems to be the same
word as the L. follis, and probably from
shooting out, sweHing or driving, W.
bal.]
An instrument, utensil or machine for blow-
ing fire, either in private dwellings or in
forges, ftirnaces and shops. It is so form-
ed as by being dilated and contracted, to
inhale air by a lateral orifice which is
opened and closed with a valve, and to
propel it through a tube upon the fire.
BEL'LOWS-FISH, n. The tnnnpet-fish,
about four inches long, with a long snout ;
w lience its name. " Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
BEL'LUINE, a. [L. belhiimis, from belhia,
a beast.]
Beastly ; pertainins to or like a Ijeast ; bru-
tal. [Little u.'sed".] Alterbury.
BEL'LY, n. [h: holg, the belly, a bag, pouch,
budget, blister, bellows ; \V. boly, the bel-
ly, whence bolimv, to belly, to gorge
Arm. boelcu, bowels. The primary sens«
is swelled, or a swell.]
1. That part of the human body which ex-
tends from the breast to the thighs, con-
taining the bowels. It is called also the
abdomen or lower belly, to distinguish it
from the head and breast, which are
sometimes called bellies, from their cavity.
Qiiincy.
2. The part of a beast, corresponding to the
human belly.
3. The womb. .Ter. i. 5.
4. The receptacle of food ; that wliich re
quires food, in opposition' to the back.
Whose god is their belly. Phil. iii.
.'>. The part of any tiling which resembles
the hvinian belly in protuberance or cav
ity, as of a harp or a bottle.
6. Any hollow inclosed place; as the belly of
hell, in Jonah.
7. In so-ipture, belh/ is used for the heart.
Prov. xviii. 8. xx'. 30. John vii. 38. Car-
nal lusts, sensual pleasures. Rom. xvi. 18.
Phil. iii. 19. The whole man. Tit. i. 12.
Brown. Cruden.
BEL'LY, V. t. To fill ; to swell out. Shak.
BEL'LY, V. i. To swell and become protu-
berant, like the belly ; as, bellying goblets ;
bellying canvas. Dryden. Phillips.
9. To strut. Bailey.
BEL'LY-A€HE, n. [belly and ache.] Pain
ill the bowels; the colic. [Vulgar.]
BELLY-ACHE BUSH or WEED, n. A
s|i. r ,>- ofJatropha.
BEL'LY-BAND, n. A baud that encom-
I passes the belly of a horse, and fastens the
I saddle ; a girth. Sherwood.
iBEL'LY-BOUND, a. Diseased in the belly,
so as to be costive, and shrunk in the'belly.
I Johnson -
BEL'LY-CHEER, n. Good cheer. [JVo<
i used.] Chaucer.
.BEL'LY-FRETTING, n. The chafing of a
I horse's belly, with a fore girt.
j2. A violent pain in a horse's bell-y, caused
I by worms. Diet.
BEL'LYFUL, n. [belly awl full] As mnch
as fills tiie belly, or satisfies the appetite.
In familiar and ludicrous language, a great
abundance ; more than enough. [ Vulgar.]
Johnson.
BEL'LY-GOD, n. [belly and god.] A glut-
ton ; one who makes a god of his belly;
that is, whose great business or pleasure
is to gratify his appetite.
BEL' LYING, fi;)r. Enlarging capacity; swel-
ling out, like the belly.
BELLY-PINCHED, a. [See Pinch.] Star-
ved ; pinched with himger. Shak.
BEL'LY -ROLL, n. [See Rott.] A roller
protuberant in the middle, to roll land be-
tween ridges, or in hollows. Mortimer.
BEL'LY-SLAVE, n. A slave to the appe-
tite. Homily.
BEL'LY-TIMBER,n. [See Timber.] Food;
that which supports the belly. [ Vulgar.]
Prior. Hiidibras.
BEL'LY-WORM, n. [See Worm.] A worm
that breeds in the belly or stomach.
Johnson.
BELOCK', V. t. [Sax. belucan, from loc, a
lock, with be.]
To lock or fasten as with a lock. Shak.
BEL'OMANCY, n. [Gr. jJfjios, an arrow,
and (Uai'Tfia, divination.]
A kind of divination, practiced by the an-
cient Scythians, Babylonians and other
nations, and by the Arabians. A number
of arrows, being marked, were put into a
bag or quiver, and drawn out at random ;
and the marks or words on the arrow
drawn determined what was to happen.
See Ezek. xxi. 31. Encyc.
BELO'NE, n. [Gr. |3E>.or,, a needle.] The
gar, garfish, or sea-needle, a species of
Esox. It grows to the length of two or
three feet, with long pointed jaws, the
edges of which are armed with small
teeth. Encyc.
BELONG', V. i. [D. belangen, to concern,
belang, concern, interest, importance, of
be and lang ; Ger. belangen, to attain to,
or come t<i ; anlangen, to arrive, to come
to, to concern, touch or belong ; Dan. an-
langer, to arrive at, to belong. In Sax.
gelangian is to call or bring. The radical
sense of long is to extend or draw out,
and with be or an, it signifies to extend to,
to reach.]
1. To be the property of; as, a field belongs
to Richard Roe ; Jamaica belongs to G.
Britain.
2. To be the concern or proper business of ;
to appertain ; as, it belongs to John Doe to
prove his title.
3. To be appendant to.
He went into a desert place belonging to
Bethsaida. Luke ix.
4. To be a pait of, or connected with,tliough
detached in place ; as, a beam or rafter
BEL
B E M
BEN
Mongs to surh a iranie, or lo such n placf
in the building.
5. To liave relation to.
And David said, lo wiiom belotigest thou :
1 Sam. XXX.
C To be the quality or attribute of.
To the Lord our God belong mercies and for-
giveness. Dan. ix.
7. To be suitable for.
Stroni; meat belongeth to them of full age,
Heb. V.
8. To relate to, or be referred to.
He careth for tilings that belong to the Lord.
1 Cor. vii.
!>. To have a legal residence, settlement, or
inhabitancy, whether by birth or operation
of law, so as to be entitled to maintenance
by the parish or town.
Bastards also are settled in the parishes to
which the mothers belong. Slackstonc.
Hence,
10 To be the native of; to have original resi-
dence.
There is no other country in the world to
which the Gipeys could belong.
Grellman. Prcf 12.
n. In common language, to have a settled
resilience ; to be domiciliated.
BELONG'ING,;)/;r. Pertaining ; appertain-
ing ; being the jiroperty of; being a quality
of; being the concern of; being append-
ant to ; being a native of, or having a legal
or permanent settlement in.
BELONG'ING, n. A (piality. [jYot in use.]
Shall.
BELOVED, ppr. [be and loved, from love.
Belove, as a verb, is not used.]
Loved ; greatly loved ; dear to the heart.
Paul.
BELOW, prep, [be and low.] Under in place ;
beneath ; not so high ; as, below the moon ;
beloiv the knee.
2. Inferior in rank, excellence or dignitj'.
Felton.
;}. Unworthy of; unbefitting. Dryden.
BELOW, adv. In a lower place, with respect
to any object ; as, the heavens above and
the earth below.
"2. On the earth, as oiijiosed to the heavens.
The fairest child of Jove below. Prior.
3. Ill hell, or the region of the dead ; as the
realms below. Dn/den.
4. In a court of inferior jurisdiction ; as, at
the trial below. IVhealon.
BELOWT', t). «. [SeeLoivt.] To treat with
contemptuous language. [JVot in use.]
Camden.
BEL'SWAGGER, n. A lewd man.
Dnjden.
BELT, 71. [.Sax. belt ; Sw. bdlt ; Dan. bielie ;
L. balteus. Qu. Ir. bait, a ivelt. Class
BI.]
1. A girdle ; a band, usually of leather, in
which a sword or other weapon is hung.
2. A narrow passage, or strait between the
isle of Zealand and that of Funen at the
entrance of the Baltic, u.sually called the
Great Bell. The Lesser Belt is the passage
between the isle of Funen, and the coast
of Jutland.
3. A bandage or band used by surgeons for
various purposes.
4. Ill astronomy, certain girdles or rings,
which surround the planet Jupiter, are
called belts.
5. A disease among sheep, cured by cutting
off the tail, laying the sore bare, tJien cast-
ing mold on it, and applying tai- and goose
grease. Encyc.
BELT, I', t. To encircle. ff'arton
BELU'GA, n. [Russ. signifying white fish.]
A fish of the cetaceous order, and genu;
Velphinus, from 12 to 18 Icet in length
The tail is divided into two lobes, lyinj
horizontally, and there is no dorsal fin. In
swimming, this fish bends its tail under its
body like a lobster, and thrusts itself along
with the rapidity of an aiTow. This lisji
is found in the arctic seas and rivers, ami
is caught for its oil and its skin. Pennant.
BEL'VIDERE, n. [L. beUus, fine, and video,
to see.]
\. A plant, a species of chenopodlum, goose
foot or wild orach, called scoparia or an
nual mock cyjiress. It is of a beautiful
pyramidical form, and much esteemed in
China, as a salad, and for other uses.
Eneyc.
2. In Italian architecture, a pavilion on the
top of an edifice ; an artificial eminence
in a gartlen. Encyc.
BELYE. [See Belie.]
BE'MA, n. [Gr. /Jijiua.] A chancel. [JVot
; use.] Beaumont.
2. In ancient Greece, a stage or kind of pul-
pit, on which speakers stood when ad-
dressing an assembly. Milfurd.
BEMAD', u. «. Ibeandmad.] Tomakeiiiad.
[.Yot in «*c.] Shak.
BEMAN'GLE, v. t. [be and mangle.] To
mangle ; to tear asunder. [Little used.]
Beaumont
BEarASK, V. t. [he and mask.] To mask :
conceal. Slielton
BEMA'ZE, V. t. To bewilder. [See Maze.]
[Little used.] Cowper.
BEME'TE, V. t. [be and melc] To meas-
ure. [J^ot in use.] Shnk.
BEMIN'GLE, v. t. [be and mingle.] To
mingle ; to mix. [lAttle used ]
BEMI'RE, V. t. [be and mire.] To drag or
incumber in the mire ; to soil by passing
throuch mud or dirtv places. Swifl.
BEMIST', V. t. [be aiid mist.] To cover or
involve ill mist. [JVot used.] Felton.
BEMOAN, I', t. [be and moan.] To lament ;
to bev.'ail ; to express sorrow for ; as, to
bem/tan the loss of a son. Jeremiah.
BEMOANABLE, a. That may be lamented.
[.Vo< used.] Shenvood.
BEMOANED, /y/). Lamented; bewailed.
BF.MOANER, ?i. One who laments.
BEMOANING, p/)>\ Lamenting; bewailing.
BEMOCK', 11. t. [he and mock.] To treat
with niocWry. [Little used.] Shak.
BEMOCK', v.'i. To laugh at.
BEMOIL', V. t. [be and moil. Fr. mouiller,
to wet.]
To bedraggle ; to bemire ; to soil or incum-
ber with mire and dirt. {JVot in use.]
Shak.
BEMOL, n. In jnwsic, a half note. Bacon,
BEMON'STER, v. i. [be and monster.] To
make monstrous. [JVot in use.] Shak.
BEMOURN, V. t. To weep or mourn over.
[Little used.]
BEMU'SED, a. [be and muse.] Overcome
with musing ; dreaining ; a word of con-
tempt. Johnson. Pope.
BEN or BEN'-NUT, n. A purgative fniit or
nut, the largest of which resembles a fil-
bert, yielding an oil used in i)harmacy.
Encyc.
BENCH, n. [Ir. hinse ; Corn, btnk ; S?a.V.
bene ; Fr. banc. See Bank.]
1. A long seat, usually of boar<l or plank, dif-
fering from a stool in its greater length.
2. The seat where judges sit in court ; th*
at of justice. Hence,
3. The persons who sit as judges ; the court.
Shak. Dryden.
Free bench, in England, the estate in copy-
hold lands, which the wife, being espous-
ed a virgin, has for her dower, after the
decease of her husband. This is various
in different manors, accordhig to their res-
pective custoins.
King''s Bench, in England, a court in which
the king formerly sat in persun, and which
accompanied his hi>iiM Ih,M. 'I'ln cdiirt
consists of the Lord ( Imi .ln-n. . , and
three other justices, win. Iia\i jun-ilirtjon
overall matters of a crinniiiil or iiublic na-
ture. It lias a crown side and a plea side ;.
the former determining criminal, the lat-
ter, civil causes. Blackstow.
BENCH, V. t. To furnish with benches.
Dryden.
2. To seat on a bench. Slud.
.'5. r. i. To sit on a .seat of justice. Shak.
BENCH'ER, 71. In ing'/anrf, the benchers
in the inns of court, are the senior mem-
bers of the society who have the govern-
ment of it. They have been readers, and
being admitted to plead within the bar, are
called inner barristers. They annually
elect a treasurer. Encyc. Johnson.
2. The uUlermau of a corporation.
.ishmoli .
3. A judge. Shnk.
BEND, V. t. pret. bended or bent : pp. bended
or bent. [Sax. bendan, to bend ; Fr. bander,
to bend, bind or tie ; Ger. binden, to wind,
bind or tie ; D. binden, the same ; Sw.
banda, to bind ; Dan. binder, to bind ; L.
pando, pandare, to bend in ; pando, pan-
dere, to open ; pandus, bent, crooked ; It.
banda, sidewise ; benda, a fillet or band ;
bendare, to crown ; Sp. pandear, to bend
or be inclined, to bulge out, to belly ;
pandeo, a bulge or protuberance ; pando,
jutting out. The primary sense is, to
stretch or strain. Bend and bind are rad-
ically the same word.]
1. To strain, or to crook by straining ; as, to
bcTid a bow.
2. To crook ; to make crooked ; to curve :
to inflect ; as, to bend the arm.
3. To direct to a certain point ; as, to bend
our steps or course to a particular place.
4. To exert ; to apply closely ; to exercise
laboriously ; to intend or stretch ; as, to
bend the mind to study.
5. To prepare or put in order for use ; to
stretch or strain.
He hath bent his bow and made it ready.
6. To incline ; to be determined ; that is, to
stretch towards, or cause to tend ; as, to be
bent on mischief.
It expresses disposition or iiurjiose.
7. To subdue : to cause to yield ; to make
submissive : as, to bend a man to our will.
8. In seamanship, to fasten, as one rope to
another or to an anchor ; to fasten, as a
sail to its yard or stay ; to fasten, as a cable
to the ring of an anchor. Mar. Diet.
9. To hend thf lirou; is to knit the bro>v : to
sco«l; to frown. Camd'jn
BEN
BEN
B E N
[$Ki\D, r. ('. To be crooked; lo ciook, or be
curving. Sandys.
ti. To incline ; to lean or turn ; as, a road
bends to the west.
3. To jut over ; as a bending clifF.
4. To resolve, or determine. [Sec Bent on.]
Dnjdi
5. To bow or be submissive. Is. Ix.
BEND, n. A curve ; a crook ; a turn in
road or river ; flexure ; Incurvation.
2. In marine language, that part of a rope
which is fastened to another or to an
chor. [See To bend. No. 8.]
3. Bends of a ship, are the thickest and
strongest planks in her sides, more gener
ally called wales. They are reckoned from
the water,/rs*, second or third bend. They
have the beams, knees, and foot hooks
bolted to them, and are the chief strength
of the ship's sides. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
4. In heraldry, one of the nine honorable or-
dinaries, containing a third part of the
field, wlien charged, and a filth, when
plain. It is made by two lines drawn
across from the dexter chief, to the sinis-
ter base point. It sometimes is indented,
ingrailed, &c. Johnson. Encyc.
BEND, n. A band. [JVot in use.] Spenser.
BENDABLE, a. That may be bent or iii-
curvated. Sherwood.
BEND'ED, ? Strained ; incurvated :
BENT, ^ PP' made crooked ; inclined :
subdued.
BEND'ER, n. The person who bends, or
makes crooked ; also, an instrument for
bending other things.
BEND'ING, ppr. Incurvating ; forming into
a curve ; stoopiug ; subduing ; turning as
a road or river ; inclining ; leaning ; ap-
plying closely, as the mind ; fastening.
BEND'LET, n. In heraldry, a little bend,
which occupies a sixth i)art of a shield.
Baile)/.
BEND'-WITH, n. A plant. Did.
BEND'Y, n. In heraldry, the field divided
into four, six or more parts, diagonally,
and varying in metal and color.
Encyc. Ash.
.BENE, n. bcn'y. The popular name of the
sesamum orientale, called in the West In-
dies vangloe, an African plant. Mease.
BENE' APED, a. \be and neap.] Among
seamen, a ship is heneaped, when the water
does not flow high enough to float her
from a dock or over a bar. Encyc
QEyE'ATU,prep. [Sax. beneath, hcneothan
benythan ; of be and neothan, below, under
See JVether.]
I. Under ; lower in place, with something
directly over or on, as to place a cusli
ion beneath one ; often with the sense of
pressure or oppression, as to sink beneath a
burden, in a literal sense.
*3. Under, in a figurative sense ; bearing heavy
impositions, as taxes, or oppressive gov-
ernment.
Our country sinks beneath the yoke. Shak.
3. Lower in rank, dignity or excellence ; as,
brutes are beneath man ; man is beneath
angels, in the scale of beings.
4. Unworthy of; mibecoming; not equal to;
as, he will do nothing beneath his station
or character.
BENE'ATH, adv. In a lower place ; as, the
earth from beneath will be barren.
Mortimer.
'2. Below, as opposed to heaven, or to any
superior region ; as, in heaven above, or
in earth beneath.
BEN'EDleT, a. [L. benedictus.] Having
mild and salubrious quaUties. [A/ot in
vse.] Bacon
BENEDI€'TINE, a. Pertaining to the order
or monks of St. Benedict, or St. Benet.
BENEDICTINES, n. An order of monks,
who profess to follow the rules of St. Ben
edict ; an order of great celebrity. They
wear a loose black gown, with large wide
sleeves, and a cowl on the head, ending in
a point. In the canon law, they are called
black friars.
BENEDICTION, ?!. [L. benedictio, from
bene, well, and dictio, speaking. See
Boon and Diction.]
1. The act of blessing; a giving praise to
God or rendering thanks for his favors ; a
blessing pronounced ; hence grace befu
and after meals.
3. Blessing, prayer, or kind wishes, uttered
in favor of any person or thing ; a solemn
or aftectionate invocation of happiness
thanks; expression of gratitude.
3. The advantage conferred by blessing.
Bacon
i. The form of instituting an abbot, answer-
ing to the consecration of a bishop.
Jlyliffe.
5. The external ceremony performed by
priest in the office of matrimony is called
the nuptial benediction. Encyi
6. In the Romish Church, an ecclesiastical
ceremony by which a thing is rendered
sacred or venerable. Encyc
BENEFACTION, k. [L. benefacio, oi' bene
well, andyaa'o, to make or do.]
1. The act of conferring a benefit.
More generally,
. A benefit conferred, especially a charita-
ble donation. Atlerbury
BENEFACTOR, n. He who confers a
benefit, especially one who makes chari-
table contributions either for public insti-
tutions or for private use.
BENEFACTRESS, n. A female who con-
fers a benefit. Delany.
BEN'EFICE, n. [L.. beneficium ; ¥r. bene-
fice. See Benefaction.]
1. Literally, a benefit, advantage or kind-
ness. But in present usage, an ecclesiast-
ical living ; a church endowed with a reve-
nue, for the maintenance of divine service,
or the revenue itself All church prefer-
ments are called benefices, except bish-
oprics, which are called dignities. But
ordinarily, the term dignity is applied to
bishoprics, deaneries, arch-deaconries, and
prebendaries ; and benefice, to parsonages,
vicarages, and donatives. Encyc.
2. In the middle ages, benefice was used for
a fee, or an estate in lands, granted at first
for life only, and held e.r mero beneficio of
the donor. The estate afterwards becom-
ing hereditary, took the appellation of feud,
and benefice became appropriated to cliurcli
livings. Encyc.
BEN'EFICED, a. Possessed of a beneliCt
or church jireferment. 'lyliffc
BEN'EFICELESS, a. Having no benefice
[jVol xised.] Sheldon
BENEF'ICENCE, n. [L. beneficentia, fron:
the participle of benefacio.]
The practice of doing good ; active good-
ness, kindness, or charity.
BENEF'ICENT, a. Doing good ; perform-
ing acts of kindness and charity. It dif-
fers from benign, as the act from the dispo-
sition ; beneficence being benignity or kind-
ness exerted in action. Johnson.
BENEFICENTLY, adv. In a beneficent
BENEFI"CIAL, a. Advantageous; confer-
ring benefits ; useful ; profitable ; helpful ;
contributmg to a valuable end ; followed
by to ; as, industry is beneficial to the body,
as well as to the property.
3. Receiving or entitled to have or receive
advantage, use or benefit ; as the beneficial
owner of an estate. Kent.
BENEFI"CIALLY, adv. Advantageously;
profitably ; helpllilly.
BENEFI'CIALNESS, 71. Usefidness; profi-
tableness. Hale.
BENEFl'CIARY, a. [L. beneficianus. See
Benefaction.]
Holding some office or valuable possession,
in subordination to another ; having a de-
pendent and secondary
BENEFl'CIARY, n. One who holds a
benefice. A beneficiary is not the proprie-
tor of the revenues of his church ; but he
has the administration of them, without
being accountable to any person. The
word was used, in the middle ages, for a
feudatory, or vassal. Encyc.
2. One who receives any thing as a gift, or
is maintained by charity. Blackstone.
BENEFI"CIENCY, n. Kindness or favor
bestowed. Broion.
BENEFI 'CIENT, a. Doing good.
Adam Smith.
BEN'EFIT, n. [Primarily from L. benefi-
cium, or benefactum ; but perhaps directly
from the Fr. bienfail, by corruption.]
1. An act of kindness ; a favor conferred.
Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all
his benefits. Ps. ciii.
2. Advantage ; profit ; a word of extensive
use, and expressing whatever contributes
to promote prosperity and personal happi-
ness, or add value to property.
Men have no right to what is not for their
benefit. Burke.
3. In \a\v, benefit of cleigy. [See Clergy.]
BEN'EFIT, ii. t. To do good to ; to advan-
tage ; to advance in health, or prosperity ;
applied either to persons or things ; as, exer-
cise benefits health ; trade benefits a nation.
BEN'EFIT, v.i. To gain advantage; to
make improvement ; as, he has benefited by
good advice ; that is, he has been bene-
fited.
BEN'EFITED,;)jo. Profited; having recei-
d benefit.
BEN'EFITING, ppr. Doing good to ; profit-
ing ; gaining advantage.
BENE'ME, V. t. [Sax. be and naman.] To
name. [J^ot in use.] Spenser.
3. To promise ; to give. [JVbi in iMc]
Spenser.
BENEMP'NE, v. t. To name. [TVbi in use.]
Spensei:
BENEPLAC'ITURE, n. [L. bcneptncitum,
bene, well, and placilum, from plaeeo, to
]>leasc.]
Will ; choice. [.Vo< in use.] Glanvilte.
BEN
BEN
B E R
BENET', V. t. [be and net] To catch in a
net ; to ensnare. [Kot used.] Shah.
BENEVOLENCE, n. [L. benevoknliaM
bene, well, and volo, to will or wish. See
nm.]
1. The disposition to do good ; good will
kindness ; charitableness ; the love of
mankind, accompanied with a desire to
promote their happiness.
The benevolence of God is one of his
moral attributes ; that attribute which de
lights in the happiness of intelligent beings.
" God is love." 1 John iv.
2. An act of kindness ; good done ; charity
given.
3. A species of contribution or tax illegally
exacted by arbitrary kings of England.
Blackstone.
BENEVOLENT, a. [L. benevolens, of bciu
and volo.]
Having a disposition to do good ; possessing
love to mankind, and a desire to promote
their prosperity and happiness ; kind.
BENEVOLENTLY, adv. In a kind man-
ner ; with good will.
BENGAL', n. A thin stuff made of silk and
hair, for women's apparel, so called from
Bengal in the E. Indies.
Bailey. Johnson.
BENGALEE', n. The language or dialect
spoken in Bengal.
BENGALE'SE, n. sing, and plu. A native
or the natives of Bengal. As. Res. vii. 171.
BENI'GHT, V. t. [be and night] To involve
in darkness ; to shroud with the shades of
night.
The clouds benight the sky. Garlh
2. To overtake with night; as a benighted
traveler.
."}. To involve in moral darkness, or igno-
rance ; to debar from intellectual light ; as
benighted nations, or heathen.
BENI'GIITED, pp. Involved in darkness,
physical or moral ; overtaken by the night.
BENI'GN, a. beni'ne. [L. benignus, from the
same root, as bonus, bene, ancient L. benus,
Eiig. boon.]
1. Kind; of a kind disposition ; gracious;
favorable.
Our Creator, bounteous and benign.
Milton.
'2. Generous ; liberal ; as a benign benefac-
tor.
3. Favorable ; having a salutary influence ;
as the benign aspect of the seasons.
The benign light of revelation.
IVashington.
4. Wholesome ; not pernicious ; as a benign
medicine. Arbuthnot
5. Favorable ; not malignant ; as a benign
disease.
BENIG'NANT, a. Kind ; gracious ; favor-
able.
BENIG'NITY, n. Goodness of disposition
or heart ; kindness of nature ; gracious-
ness.
2. Actual goodness ; beneficence.
3. Salubrity ; wholesome quahty ; or that
which tends to promote health. Wiseman.
BENI'GNLY, adv. beni'nehj. Favorably;
kindly ; graciously.
BEN'ISON, n. s as z. [Fr. henir, to bless ;
henissant, blessing ; from the root of bene,
bonus, boon. See Boon.]
Blessing ; beuedjction. [Nearly antiqua-
ted.] Johnson.
BEN'JAMIN, n. A tree, the Laurus liei
zoin, a native of America, Called a\so spic
hush. It grows to the height of 15 or 20
feet, with a very branchy head.
3. A gum or resin, or rather a balsam. [See
Benzoin.] Encijc.
BEN'NET, n. The herb bennet, or avens,
known in botany by the generic term
Geum. Fam. of Plants.
BEN'NET FISH, n. A fish of two feet in
length, caught in the African seas, having
scales of a deep purple, streaked with gold,
Diet. ofJ\rat. Hist
BENT, pp. of bend. Inciu-vated ; inflected ;
inclined ; prone to or having a fixed pro-
pensity ; determined.
Bent on, having a fixed inclination ; resolv-
ed or determined on.
BENT, n. The state of being curving
crooked, or inclined from a straight line
flexure ; curvity.
2. Declivity ; as the 6fHN)f a hill. [Unusual.]
Dnjden
Inclination ; disposition ; a leaning or hi
as of iniiid ; propensity; as the bent of the
Miiiiil or will ; the bent of a people toward;
an object. This may be natural or artiii
cial, occasional or habitual, with indefi
nite degrees of strength.
4. Flexion ; tendency ; particular direction ;
as the bents and turns of a subject.
Locke.
5. Application of the mind; a bending oWhe
mind in study or investigation. Locke.
BENT, \ A kind of grass, called
BENT'-GRASS, (, "' in botany, Agrostis, of
several species. Encijc.
BENT'ING-TIME, n. The time when pi-
geons feed on bents, bclbre peas are ripe,
Johnson. Dniden.
BENUM', corruptly BENUMB', v. t. [Sax,
beniman, benyman, j)p. benumen, to seize,
of 6e and niman. Sax. and Goth., to take or
seize. This root is retained in urUhemam.
It is to be observed, that b after m, in numb,
thumb, dumb, &c., is an arbitrary addition
of modern writers.]
. To make torpid ; to deprive of sensation ;
as, a hand or foot benummed by cold.
2. To stupify ; to render inactive ; as, to ie-
.nu7n the senses. Dryden.
BENUM'MED, pp. Rendered torpid ; de-
prived of sensation ; stupified.
BENUM'MING, ppr. Depriving of sensa-
tion ; stupifying.
BE.N'ZOATE, n. [See Benzoin.] A salt
formed by the union of the benzoic acid
with any salifiable base.
BENZO'l€, a. Pertaining to benzoin.
Benzoic acid, or flowers of Benzoin,
pecuUar vegetable acid, obtained from
Benzoin and other balsams, by subhmation
or decoction. It is a fine light white mat-
ter in small needles ; its taste pungent and
bitterish, and its odor slightly aromatic.
Thomson.
BENZOIN', \ Gum benjamin ; a con-
BEN'JAMIN, \ Crete resinous juice flow-
ing from the Styrax Benzoin, a tree of Su-
matra, &c. It is properly a balsam, as it
yields benzoic acid. It flows from incis-
ions made in the stem or branches. It is
solid and brittle, sometimes in yellowish
white tears joined together by a brown
substance, and sometimes of a uniform
brown substance lilie resin. It lias little
taste, but its smell, especially when rub-
bed or heated, is extremely fragrant and
agreeable. It is chiefly used in cosmetics
and perfumes. Encyc. Thomson.
BEl'A'INT, v.t. [be and par)!/.] To paint;
to cover with paint. [Little used.] Shah.
BEl'A'LE, V. t [be and pale.] To make
pale. [M)t in use.] Careus.
BEPINCII', V. t [be and pinch.] To mark
with pinches.
BEPLXCIIED, ^ ^^ Marked with pinches.
BEPINCHT,
pp.
Chapman.
BEPOW'DER, V. t. [he and ponder.] To
])owder ; to sjjrinkle or cover with pow-
der.
BEPRA'ISE, V. t. [be and jnaise.] To praise
greatly or extravagantly. Goldsmith.
BEPUR'PLE, V. t [be and purple.] To tinge
or dye with a purple color.
BEQUE'ATH, v.t [Sax. becwmthan ; bt
and cicethan, to say ; cuid, a saying, opin-
ion, will, testament ; cythan, to testily ; Eng.
(juuth.]
To give or leave by will ; to devise some
species of property by testament ; as, to
bequeath an estate or a legacy.
BEQiriVATIIED, pp. Given oV left by will.
BIXiUK ATHING, ppr. Giving or devising
by tcstiiMieiit.
BEliUE ATHMENT, n. The act »f be-
queathing ; a bequest.
BEUUEST', n. Something left by will; a
legacy.
BERA'IN, V. t To rain upon. {Xot in use.]
Chaucer.
BERA'TE, V. t [be and rale.] To chide ve-
hemently ; to scold.
BERAT'TLE, v. t [be and rattU.] To fill
with rattling sounds or noise. Shak.
BERA'Y, V. t To make foul ; to soil. [J^ot
in use.] Milton.
BERBERRY, n. [L. berheris.] [See Bar-
berry.]
BERE, n. [Sax. ber, barley.] The name of
a species of barley in Scotland. Gray.
BERE' AVE, V. t pret. bereaved, bereft -.pp.
bereaved, bereft. [Sax. bereafan, of be and
reafian, to deprive. See Rob and Reap.]
1. To deprive; to strip; to make destitute ;
with o/ before the thing taken away.
Mc have yc bereaved of my children. Gen.
xlii.
It is sometimes used without of, and is
particidarly applied to express the loss of
IHcnds by death.
2. To take away from. Shak.
BEREAVED, pp. Deprived ; stripped and
left destitute.
BEREAVEMENT, n. Deprivation, par-
ticularly by the loss of a friend by death.
BERE'AVING, ppr. Stripping bare; de-
priving.
BEREFT',;?;), of bereave. Deprived ; made
destitute.
BERENGA'RIANISM, n. The opinions or
doctrines of Bereugarius, archdeacon of
St. Mary at Anjou, and of his followers,
who deny the reality of the body and
blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Encyc.
BERG, ji. [Sax. beorg, beorh, a hill, a castle.]
A borough ; a town that sends burgesses to
ParUament ; a castle. [See Burg.] Obs.
Ash.
BERG'AMOT, ». [Fr. bergamote ; Sp. ber-
gamota.]
1. A species of pear.
B E R
B E S
B E S
2. A species of citron, at first casually pro-
duced by an Italian, who grafted a citron
on the stock of a bergamot pear tree.
The fruit has a fine taste and smell, and
its essential oil is in high esteem as a per-
ume. This oil is extracted from the yel-
low rind of the fruit. Hence,
t). An essence or perfume from the citron
thus produced.
4. A species of snuff perfumed with berga
mot.
5. A coarse tapestry, manufactured with
flocks of wool, silk, cotton, hemp and ox
or goat's hair, said to have been invented
at Bergamo in Italy. Encyc.
BERG'ANDER, n. [berg, a cliff", and Dan.
and, G. ente. Sax. ened, a duck.]
A burrow duck ; a duck that breeds in holes
under cliffs. Thomson.
BER'GERET, n. [Fr. lergcr, a shepherd.]
A song, [j^ot used.'] Chaucer.
BERG'MANITE, n. [from Bergman, the
mineralogist.]
A mineral classed with scapolite, in the fam
ily of felspath. It occurs massive, witli
gray and red quartz in Norway. Its col-
ors are greenisli and grayisli white. Cyc.
BERG'MASTER, n. [Sax. beorg, a hill oi
castle, and master.]
The bailiff or chief officer among the Derby-
shire miners. Johnson.
BERG'iWOTE, n. [Sax. beorg, a hill, and
mote, a meeting.]
A court held on a hill in Derbyshire, in Eng
land, for deciding controversies l)etween
tlie miners. Blount. Johnson.
BERHY'ME, v. t. [be and rhyme.] To men-
tion in rhyme or verse ; used in contempt.
Shak.
BER'LIN, n. A vehicle of the chariot kind,
sup]josed to have this name from Berhn,
the chief city of Prussia, wliere it was first
made, or from tlie Italian berlina, a sort
of stage or pillory, and a coach. Encyc.
BERLUC'CIO, n. A sinall bird, somewhat
lik-v! the yellow hammer, but less and more
sle-.:ler. Did. ofJVat. Hist.
BERME, n. In foHiJicalion, a space of
ground of three, four or five feet in width,
I n between the rampart and the moat or
foss, designed to receive the ruins of the
rajnpart, and prevent the earth from filling
the ibss. Sometimes, it is palisaded, and
in Holland, it is generally planted with
quick-set liedge. Encyc.
BESJ'NACLE, [See Barnacle.]
BER'NARDINE, a. Pertaining to St. Ber-
nard, aud the monks of the order.
BER'NARDINS, n. An order of monks,
foimded by Robert, abbot of Moleme, and
reformed by St. Bernard. Tlie order
originated about the beginning of the 12tl
century. They wear a white robe, with a
black scapulary ; and wlien tliey officiate,
tliev are clothed with a large white gown,
with great sleeves, and a hood of the same
color. Encyc.
BEROB', v.t. [beauArob.] To rob. [JVotin
use.] Spen.<ier.
BER'OE, n. A marine animal of an oval or
spherical form, nearly an inch in diameter,
and divided into longitudinal ribs, like a
melon. Diet, of JVnt. Hist.
BRR'RIED, a. Furnished with berries.
BER'IIY, n. [Sax. tf-m. a -rapr or .hitter
of grapes ; hergn, a. grape stone, a berry.]
1. A succulent or pulpy fruit, contauiing na-
ked seeds. Or in more technical language
a succulent pulpy pericarp, or seed vessel,
without valves, containing several seeds,
which are naked, that is, which have no
covering but the pidp and rind. It is com-
monly round or oval. This botanical def-
inition includes the orange and other like
fruits. But in popular language, berry ex-
tends only to the smaller fruits, as straw-
berry, gooseberry, &c., containing seeds or
granules.
2. A mound, [for barrow.'] W. Broivne.
BER'RY, V. i. To bear or produce berries.
BER'RY-BEARING, a. Producing berries.
BERT. Sax. beorht, berht ; Eng. blight
This word enters into the name of many
Saxon princes and noblemen ; as Egbert,
Sigbert. T)ie Bertha of tlie northern na-
tions was by the Greeks called Eudoxia,
an equivalent word. Of the same sort
were Phcedrus, Epiphanius, Photius,
Lampridius, Fulgentius, Ilhistris. Camden.
[See Bright.]
BERTH, n. [fiom the root of bear.]
1. A station in which a ship rides at anchor,
comprehending the space in which she
ranges. In more famihar usage, the word
signifies any situation or place, Where a
vessel lies or can lie, whether at anchor
or at a wharf
3. A room or a))artment in a ship, where a
number of officers or men mess and re-
side.
3. The box or place for sleeping at the sides
of a cabin ; the jjlace for a haramoc, or a
repository for cliests, &c.
To berth, in seamen's language, is to al
lot to each man a place for liis hammoc.
BER'TRAM, n. [L. pyrethrnm, said to be
from Ttvp, fire, from its acrid quality.]
Bastard pellitory, a plant.
BER'YL, n. [h. berTjllus ; Gr. )3rpi.W.o5 ; Ch
Syr. Eth. a gem, beryl, and in Syr. crystal,
and a pearl ; the latter word being a dif
ferent orthography of beryl ; probably
from the root of the Fr. briller, to shine,
Eng. brilliant, Eth. f) C U bareah, to shine.]
A mineral, considered by Cleavelaud as a
subspecies of Emerald. Its prevailing
color is green of various shades, but al-
ways pale. Its crystals are usually longer
and larger than those of the precious em-
erald, aud its structure more distinctly fo-
liated. It is liarder than the ajjatite, with
which it has been confounded ; harder
aud less heavy than the pjcnite. The
best beryls are found in Brazil, in Siberia
and Ceylon, and in Dauria, on the fron-
tiers of China. They are found in many
of the United States.
Sillimnn. Cleaveland.
BER'YL- CRYSTAL, n. A species of im-
jjerfect crystal, of a very jiure, clear, and
et[ual texture. It is always of the figure
of a long and slender column, irregularly
hexangular, and tapering at the top. Its
color is a pale brown, of a fine transparen-
cy. Enci/c.
BER'YLLINE, a. Like a beryl ; of a ligi.t
or bluish green.
BESA'INT, 1'. t. [be and saint.'] To make
aiut. [JVot in u.ie.]
BESA'YLE, n. [Norm, ayte ; Fr. aietd,
grandfather.] A great grandfather.
part
If the abatement happened on the death
of one's grandfather or grandmother, a
writ of ayle lietii ; if on the death of the
great grandfather, then a writ of besayle ;
but if It mounts one degree higher, to the
tresayle, or grandfather's grandfather, &.C.,
the writ is called a writ of cosinage, or
dc consanguineo. Blackstone.
BES€AT'TER, v. t. [be and scatter.] To
scatter over. [ATot used.] Spenser.
BES€ORN', V. t. [be and acorn.] To treat
with scorn ; to mock at. [JVot used.]
Chaucer.
BES€BATCH', v. t. [be and scratch.] To
scratch ; to tear with the nails. [jVot in
use.] Chaucer.
BESeRAWL', V. t. [be and scrawl.] To
scrawl ; to scribble over. Milton.
BESCREE'N, v. t. [be and screen.] To cov-
er with a screen ; to shelter ; to conceal.
Shak.
BESCREE'NED, pp. Covered ; sheltered ;
concealed.
BESeRIB BLE, v. t. To scribble over.
Milton.
BES€UM'BER, v.t. [from cumber.] To
encumber. [JVot legitimate nor used.]
B. Jonson.
BESEE', 1'. i. [be and see.] To lofk ; to
mind. [Xotinuse.] TVicklife.
BESEE'CH, V. t. pret. and pp. besought. [Sax.
be and secan, to seek, enquire, follow ; D.
verzoeken ; Ger- ersuchen ; from seek, se-
quor, to follow, with be, by, near, about ;
that is, to follow close, to press. See Seek
and Essay. The Saxon has gesecan.]
To entreat ; to supplicate ; to implore ; to
ask or pray with urgency ; followed by a
person ; as, " I Paul beseech you by the
meekness of Christ," 2 Cor. x. ; or by a
thing ; as, I beseech your patience.
BESEE'CHER, n. One who beseeches.
BESEE'CHING, ppr. Entreating.
BESEE'K, ]>. t. To beseech. [JVbi used.]
Chaucer.
BESEE'M, v.t. [6e and seem.] To become;
to be fit for, or worthy of ; to be decent
for.
Wliat form of speech or behavior beseemeth
us, in our prayers to God ? Hooker.
BESEE'MIN'G, ppr. or a. Becoming; fit;
worthv of.
BESEE'MING, n. Comeliness. Barret.
BESEE'MLY, a. Becoming; fit; suitable.
BESEE'N, a. Adapted ; adjusted. [JVot
used.] Spenser.
BESET', V. t. pret. and pp. beset. [Sax. he-
settan, to place, of ic and setlan, to set; D.
bezetten ; Ger. besetzen. See Set.]
. To surround ; to inclose ; to hem in ; to
besiege ; as, we are beset with enemies", a
city is beset with troops. Hence,
2. To press on all sides, so as to perplex ; to
entangle, so as to render escape difficult or
impossible.
Adam sore beset replied. .Wilton.
3. To waylay. Shak.
4. To fall upon. Spenser.
BESET'TING, /!/))•. Surrounding; besieg-
ing ; wnylaving.
BRSET'TING, a. Habitually attending, or
pressing ; as a besetting sin.
BESHI'NE, f.<. To shine upon. [JVbtused.]
BESHREW, I', t. [be und shrew.] To wish
a curse to ; to execrate. Drydtii
B E S
2. To happen ill to. [JVot in use] Shak
BESHUT', 11. I. To shut up. [,Vot used.]
BESI'DE, prep, [be and side, by the. side.]
1. At tlie side of a person oithinjj; near
as, sit down beside me, or beside the stream.
3. Over and above ; distinct from.
Beside all this, between us and you, there is
a peat gulf fixed. Luke xvi.
3. On one side ; out of the regular course or
order ; not according to, but not contrary.
It i.s beside my present business to enlarge
upon this speculation. Locke.
4. Out of; in a state deviating from ; as, to
put one beside his patience. Hence,
5. With the reciprocal pronoun, beside one
self is outof the wits or senses; out of the
order of reason, or of rational beings.
Paul, thou art beside thyself. Acts xxvi.
BESI'DES, jtrep. Over and above ; sepa
rate or distinct from.
And there was a famine in the laud, besides
the first famine. Gen. xxvi.
Note. This word, though radically the
same as beside, and a corruption of it, ought
not to be confounded with it, for it is nev-
er used in the senses explained under be-
side, except in the second.
BESI'DE, ? , Moreover ; more than
BESI'DES, I ""*'• that ; over and above ;
distinct from ; not included in the nunibi
or in what has been mentioned.
Besides, you know not what is the fate of]
your friend.
The men said to Lot, hast thou here any be-
sides ! Gen. .xix.
To all beside, as much an empty shade,
An Eugene living, as a Cesar dead. Pope.
These sentences may be considered as
elliptical.
BESID'ERY, n. A species of pear.
Johnson.
BESIE'6E, V. t. [it and siege ; Fr. siege,
and assieger, to besiege. See Siege.]
1. To lay siege to ; to beleaguer ; to beset,
or surround with armed forces, for the
purpose of compelling to surrender, either
by famine or by violent attacks ; as, to ie-
siege a castle or city.
'i. To beset ; to throng round.
BESIE'fiED, pp. Surrounded or beset with
hostile troops.
BESIE'GER, n. One who lays siege, or is
employed in a sie^e.
BESIE'GING, ppr.Lay'mg siege ; surround-
ing with armed forces.
BESIE'dING, a. Surrounding in a hostile
manner ; employed in a siege ; as a besieg-
ing army.
BESIT', V. t. [be and sit.] To suit ; to be-
come. [JVot used.] Spenser.
BESLA'VE, V. t. To subjugate; to enslave.
[JVot used.] Bp. Hall.\
BESLI'ME, V. t. To daub with shme ; to soil.j
[JVot used.] B. JonsonJ
BESLUB'BER, v. t. [be and shtbber, slabber.]:
To soil or smear with spittle, or any thing;
running from the mouth or nose. [ Vul-.
BESME'AR, V. t. [be and smear.] To bedaub ;'
to overspread with any viscous, glutinous!
matter, or with any soft substance that
adheres. Hence, to foul ; to soil.
BESMEARED, pp. Bedaubed ; overspread!
with any thmg soft, viscous, or adhesive ;j
soiled.
BESME'ARER, n. One that besmears. I
B E S
BESME'ARING, ppr. Bedaubing; soihng.
BESMIRCH' V. t. [be and smirch.] To soil ;
to foul ; to discolor. [Little used.] Shak.
BESMO'KE, V. I. [be and smoke.] To foul
with smoke ; to harden or dry in smoke.
[Little used.]
BESMO'KED, pp. Fouled or soiled with
smoke ; dried m smoke.
BESMUT', V. t. [be and smut.] To blacken
with smut ; to fold with soot.
BESMUT'TED, pp. Blackened with smut
or soot.
BESNOW, V. t. [be and snow. Sax. besniwed,
participle.] To scatter ILIte snow. [Littli
used.] Goiiter.
BESNOWED, a. or pp. [be and snow.
Covered or sprinkled whh snow, or will
white blossoms. Hanbury.
BESNUFF', V. t. To befoul with snuff.
BESNUFF'ED, pp. Foul with snuff.
Young.
BE'SOM, n. s as z. [Sax. besm, a brush or
broom ; besnan, twigs. Orosius, 2. 3. Ger.
besen ; D. bezem; Arm. bezo, birch. Tiie
besom was a little bundle of twigs used
for sweeping.]
A broom; a brush of twigs for sweeping.
I will sweep it with the Jesom of destruction,
saitli the Lord of Hosts, is. xiv.
BE'SOM, V. t. To sweep, as with a besom
Rolls back all Greece, and besoms wide the
plain. Barlow.
BESORT', v.l. [be and sort.] To suit; to
fit ; to become. Shak.
BESORT', n. Company ; attendance ; train.
Obs. Shiik.
BESOT', V. t. [be and sot.] To make sottish ;
to infatuate ; to stupify ; to make dull or
senseless. Jililton.
2. To make to dote. Shak.
BESOT'TED, pp. Made sottish or stupid.
Besotted on, infatuated with foolish affec-
tion. Dryden.
BESOT TEDLY, adv. In a foohsh man-
ner. JUilton.
BESOT'TEDNESS, n. Stupidity; arrant
folly ; infatuation. Jililton.
BESOT'TING, ppr. Infatuatitig ; making
sottish or foolish.
BESOUGHT', besauV. pp. of beseech. En-
treated ; implored ; sought by entreaty.
BESPAN'GLE, v. t. [be and spangle.] To
adorn ivith spangles ; to dot or sprinkle
with something brilliant ; as, the heavens
bespangled with stars.
BESPAN'GLED, pp. Adorned with span-
gles or something shining.
BESPAN'GLING,;i;>A Adornuig with span-
gles or glittering objects.
BESPAT'TER, v. t. [be and spatter.] To soil
by spattering ; to sprinkle vvitli water, i
with dirt and water.
2. To asperse with calumny or reproach.
Sioifl.
BESPATTERED, pp. Spattered oi
soiled with dirt and water ; aspersed ;
calumniated.
BESPAT'TERING, ppr. Spattering with
water ; soihng with dirt and water ; as-
persing.
BESPAWL', I', t. [be and spawL] To soil or
make toul with spittle. Milton.
BESPE'AK, I', t. pret. bespoke; pp. bespoke,
bespoken, [be and speak.]
. To speak for beforehand ; to order or cn-
B E S
gage against a future time ; as, to bespeak
a seat in a public coacli.
My lady is bespoke. Shak.
2. To forebode ; to foretell.
They started fears, and beapoke dangers, to
scare the allies. Swift.
3. To speak to ; to address. This sense ia
mostly poetical.
He thus the queen bespoke. Dryden.
4. To betoken ; to show ; to indicate by ex-
ternal marks or appearances; as, hisinan-
ners bespeak him a gi-ntlcMmii.
BESPE'AKEK, n. <>,„• «!,., bespeaks.
BESPE'AKINC;. /-/>/. .-^iM-aking for or or-
dering belbrchaiiil ; U.ic hoding ; address-
ing ; showing ; indicating.
BESPE'AKING, n. A previous speaking-
or discourse, by way of apology, or to en-
gage favor. ' Dryden.
BESPECK'LE, v. t. [be and speckle.] To
mark with speckles or spot.s. Milton.
BESPI'CE, V. t. [be and spice.] To season
witli spices. Shak.
BESPIRT', > To spurt out, or over ; to
BESPURT', ^ "■ '■ throw out in a stream or
streams. [JVot tised.] Milton.
BESPIT', V. t. pret. bespit ; pp. bespit, bespit-
ten. [be and spit.] To daub or soil with
spittle. Johnson.
BESPO'KE, pret. and pp. of bespeak.
BESPOT', V. t. [be and spot.] To mark with
spots. Mortimer.
BESPOT'TED, pp. Marked with spots.
BESPOT'TING, ppr. Marking with spots.
BESPREAD', t!. t. bespred'. pret. and pp.
bespread, [be and spread.] To spread over ;
to cover over ; as, to besjtread with flowers.
BESPRINK'LE, D. <. [be and sprinkle.] To
sprinkle over ; to scatter over ; as, to ie-
sprinkle with dust.
BESPRINK'LED, pp. Sprinkled over.
BESPRINK'LER, n. One that sprinkles
over.
BESPRINK'LING, ppr. Sprinkhng over.
BEST, a. superlative. [Sax. best, contracted
from betest, from bet, more, or better ; betre
is also used ; betan, to amend, or restore,
correct, heal ; bote, reparation, compensa-
tion ; Eng. boot, to boot ; Gotli. botyan, to
profit, aid, assist ; Eng. but ; G. bass, good,
besser, better, beste, best ; D. beter, best ;
Dan. beste ; Sw. btist. This word has no
connection in origin with g'oorf. See Bet-
ter.]
Literally, most advanced. Hence,
1. Most good ; having good qualities in the
highest degree ; applied indifferently to
physical or moral subjects ; as, the best
man ; the best road ; the best cloth ; the
best abilities. This, like most, and other
attributes, is often used ^vithout its noun,
when the noun is obvious ; as, men are all
sinners ; the best of them fail in the per-
formance of duty.
2. Most advanced ; most accurate ; as the
best scholar.
3. Most correct or complete ; as the best
view of a landscape, or of a subject.
4. The best. This phrase is elliptical, and
may be variously interpreted ; as, the ut-
most power ; the strongest endeavor ; the
most, the highest perfection ; as, let a man
do his best ; let him do a thing to the best
of his power.
■. At best, in the best manner : in the utmosi
B E S
B E S
BET
degree or extent, applicable to the case ;
as, lile is at best very short.
To make the best of, to cany to its greatest
perfection ; to improve to the utmost ; as,
to make the best of a sum of money, or a
piece of land. Also, to permit the least pos-
sible inconvenience ; as, to make the best of
ill fortune or a bad bargain.
The best of the way. We had made tht. best
of ourivay to the city; that is, the most,
die greatest part of the distance. [This is
the primary sense of the word.]
BEST, adv. In the highest degree ; beyond
all other ; as, to love one best ; to like this
best ; to please best.
1. To the most advantage ; with the most
ease ; as, " which instrument can you best
use
3. With most profit or success ; as, money i.'
fces<eni])loyed in manufactures; this iiied
icine will answer best in the present case.
4. Most intimately or particulai'ly ; mos
correctly ; as, what is expedient is best
known to himself.
BEST-TElM PERED, a. Having the most
kind or mild temper.
BESTA'IN, V. t. [be and stain.] To marl
with stains ; to discolor, either the whole
surface of a thing, or in spots. Shak.
BESTEAD', V. t. bested', pret. and pp. bested.
[be and stead.] To profit.
How little you bestead. .Wilton.
9. To accommodate.
They shall pass through it, hardly bestead.
That is, distressed ; perplexed.
3. To dispose. Spenser.
BES'TIAL, a. [fi-om beast.]
1. Belonging to a beast, or to the class of
beasts.
9. Having the qualities of a beast ; brutal ;
below the dignity of reason or hiunanity ;
carnal ; as a bestial appetite. Shak.
BESTIAL'ITY, n. The quality of beasts ;
the state or manners of man which re
scmble those of brutes.
2. riiiK\tiir:il ciiiinection with a beast.
Bi:S Tl Al.lZr., V. t. To make like a beast.
B!;s 'riALI.V, adv. Brutally; in a mannei
Kclciw liuiiiaiiity.
BESTICK', V. t. "pret. and pp. bestuck. [ii
and stick.] j
To stick over, as ^vith sharp points ; to mark,
by infixing points or spots here and there
Truth shall retire, bestuck with slanderous
darts. Mdton
BESTIR', V. t. bestur'. [be and stir.] To put
into brisk or vigorous action ; to move
with life and vigor ; usually with the re-
ciprocal pronoun ; as, rise anil bestir your-
selves.
BESTIR'RED, pp. Roused uito vigorous
action ; quickened in action.
BESTIR'RING, ppr. Moving briskly ; put-
ting into vigorous action.
BEST'NESS, n. The state of being best.
[JVot used.] Morion.
BESTORM', i-.i. [be s.nA storm.] To storm;
to rage. [JVot used.'] Young.
BESTOW, V. t. [be and stow, a place. See
Stow. Literally, to set or place.]
1. To give ; to confer ; to impart ; with the
sense of gratuity, and followed by ou or
upon.
Consecrate yoursplvcs to the Lord, that he
nwy leslow on you a blessing. Ex. xxxii.
Though I bestow all my goods to feed the
oor. 1 Cor. xiii. 3.
This word should never be followed by to.
2. To give in marriage ; to dispose of.
I could have bestowed her upon a fine gen-
tleman. Tatter.
3. To apply ; to place for the purpose of ex-
ertion, or use ; as, to bestoio our whole
force upon an object.
4. To lay out, or dispose of; to give in pay-
ment for ; as, to bestow money lor what we
desire. Deut. xiv. 20.
5. To lay up in store ; to deposit for safe
keeping ; to stow ; to place.
I have no room where to bestow my fniits.
Luke xii.
BESTOWAI,, n. A conferring ; disposal.
[Little used.]
BESTOWED, p;?. Given gratuitously ; con-
I'pired ; laid out ; applied ; deposited for
» safe-keeping.
BESTOWER, n. One who bestows; a giv
er ; a disposer.
BESTOWING, ppr. Conferring gratuitous-
ly ; laying out ; applying ; depositing in
store.
BESTOWMENT, n. The act of giving gra
tuitously ; a conferring.
God the fatlier had committed the bestow
inent of the blessings purchased, to his son.
Edwards on Redemp. 375
If we consider this bestowment of gifts in this
view. Chauncey, U. Sal. 15.5
Whatever may be the secret coimsel of his
will respecting his own bestowment of saving
grace. Smalley, Serm. p. 37
2. That which is conferred, or given ; dona-
tion.
They strengthened his hands by their liberal
bestowments on him and his family.
Christ. Mag
The free and munificent bestowment of the
Sovereign Judge. Thndey
BESTRAD'DLE, v. I. To bestride. [See
Straddle.]
BESTRAUGHT', a. Distracted ; mad. [jYot
used.] Shak
BESTREW', V. t. pret. hestreived ; pp. be-
strewed, bestrown. [be and streu).] To scat-
ter over ; to besprinkle ; to strow.
Milton.
BESTREWED, pp. ofbe.ifrew.
BESTRI'DE, JJ. t. pret. bestrid ; pp. bestrid,
bestridden, [be and stride.]
1. To stride over ; to stand or sit with any
thing between tlie legs, or with the legs
extended across ; as, to bestride the world
like a colossus ; to bestride a horse.
Shak
2. To step over; as, to bestride a threshold.
Shak
Bestriding sometimes includes riding, or dc
fending, as Johnson remarks : but tlie jiar
ticuliir purposes of the act, which depend
on the circumstances of the case, can
hardly he reduced to definition.
BESTRI'DING, ppr. Extending the legs
over any thing, so as to include it between
them.
BESTROWN, pp. of bestreiv. Sprinkled
over.
BESTUCK', pp. of bestick. Pierced in vari-
ous places with sharp points.
BESTUD', 1!. t. [be and stud.] To set with
studs ; to adorn with bosses ; as, to bestud
with .<tars. Milton.
BESTUD'DED, pp. Adorned with .stud
BESTUD'DING, ppr. Settijig with studs;
adorning as with bosses.
BESWIKE, 1'. t. beswik'. [Sax. bestrican.]
To allure. [JVot used.] Gower.
BET, n. [Sax. bad, a pledge ; badian, to give
or take a pledge.]
wager ; that which is laid, staked or
pledged in a contest, to be won, either bj
the victorious party himself, or by another
person, in consequence of his victory. At
a race, a man lays a bet on his own "horse,
or on the horse of another man.
BET, V. t. To lay a bet ; to lay a wager ; to
stake or pledge something upon the event
of a contest.
BET, the old participle of beat, is obsolete or
vulgar.
BETA'KE, V. t. pret. betook ; pp. betaken, [be
and take. Sax. betuecun.]
1. To take to ; to have recourse to ; to ap-
ply ; to resort ; with the reciprocal pro-
noun ; as, to betake ourselves to arms, or
to action. It generally implies a motion
towards an object, as to betake ourselves
to a shady grove ; or an application of the
mind or faculties, corresponding with such
motion, as to betake ourselves to study or
to vice.
2. Formerly, to take or seize. Obs.
Spenser.
BETA'KEN, /)«)•/. of betake.
BETA'KING,^^r. Havmg recourse to ; ap-
lying; resorting.
BETAVGHT, pret. of betake. [JVot used.] .
Chaucer.
BETEE'M, v. t. [be and teem.] To bring
forth ; to produce ; to shed ; to bestow.
[JVot used.] Spenser. Shak.
BE'TEL, } A species of pepper, the
BE'TLE, ^ "• leaves of which are chewed
by the inhabitants of the East Indies. It
is a creeping or climbing plant like the
ivy, the leaves somewhat resembling those
of the citron. It is planted by a tree, or
supported by props. In India, betel is
taken after meals ; during a visit, it is of-
fered to friends when they meet, and when
they sei>arate ; in .short, nothing is to be
done without betel. To correct the bit-
terness of the leaves, a little areea is wrap-
ped in tliciii with the chinam, a kind of
burnt jiiiii' Diaile of shells. Encyc.
BIOTIIINK , r. t. pret. and pp. bethought.
[he and think.]
To call to mind ; to recall or bring to recol-
lection, reflection, or consideration ; gen-
erally followed by a reciprocal pronoun,
with o/ before the subject of thought.
I have bethought myself o/ another fault.
Shak.
BETHINK', v. i. To have in recollection ;
to consider. Spenser.
BETH'LEHEM, n. [Heb. the house of food
or bread.]
1. A town or village in Judea, about six
miles south-east of Jerusalem ; famous for
its being the place of Christ's nativity.
2. A liospital for lunatics ; corrupted into
bedlam.
BETH'LEMITE, n. An iidiabitant of Beth-
lehem ; a hmatic.
2. In chureh history. tlii> Bcthlemites w ere a
sortof Miiidis. iiitr.HliH-cd iijtd England in
the year i'-'.")7, \:]in wi-n- hidiited like the
Doniinicaiis. ex. i-pt that ihi'V wore a star
with five rays, in memory of the comet or
BET
BET
BET
star which appeared over Bethlehem at
the nativity of our Savior. The
order of Belhlemites also in Peru. Encyc.
BETHOUGHT', bethaut', pret. and pp. o'
bethink.
BETHRALL', v. I. [be and thrall.] To en
slave ; to reduce to bondage ; to bring into!
s\ibiection. [Little used.] Shak.\
BETHUMP', V. t. [be and thump.] To beat
sounillv. [LAttle used.] Shak.\
BETI'DE, v.t. pret. belid, or betided ; i)p.
betid, [be and tide. Sax. tidan, to happen.l
See Tide.]
To ha|)pen ; to befall ; to come to ; used oj
good or evil.
What will betide the few ? Milton
BETI'DE, V. i. To come to pass ; to hap-
pen.
What news else betideth here ? Shak
Shakspeare has used it with of. What would
betide of thee .' but this is unusual or im
proper.
BETI'ME, I , [be and time, that is, by
BETI'MES, \ """• the time.]
1. Seasonably ; in good season or time ; be-
fore it is late.
To measure life learn thou betimes.
.Milton
2. Soon ; in a short time.
He tires betimes, that spurs too fast betimes
Shak
BETO'KEN, V. t. beto'kn. [be and token.
Sax. betcecan.]
1. To signify by some visible object ; to show
by signs.
A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow
Betokening peace from God. Milton
2. To foreshow by present signs ; to indi
cate something future by that which is
seen or known ; as, a dai-k cloud often be-\
tokens a storm. Thomson}
BETO'KENED, pp. Foreshown ; previJ
ouslv indicated. I
;: BETO'KENING, ppr. Indicating by previ-
ous signs. I
t BET'ONY, n. [L. betonica.] A genus of;
! plants, of several species. The pinple or
;; wood betony grows in woods and shadyj
places, and is deemed useful as a mild cor-i
roborant. Encyc)
BETQOK', pret. of betake.
BETO'RN, a. Torn in pieces.
15ETOSS', V. t. [he and toss.] To toss;
tci agitate; to disturb; to put in violent
motion. Shak. Shelton.
iir.TRAP', v.t. [h-om trap.] To entrap; to
1 iisnare. [JVo< used.] Occleve.
lil'TRA'Y, V. t. [Chaucer wrote betrass, be-
trniss, and the Fr. traiire is a contraction
oi' traistre ; Arm. traycza, to betray ; Norm.
Irahir, to draw in, to beti-ay ; treitre, a trai-
tor; Fr. trahir, which seems to be tlie L.
trtrho. From trahir, is formed trahissant,'
.iud trahison, treason. If traho is the root,'
tiie sense is, to draw aside, to withdraw,!
or lead away ; which would agree withj
'he D. bedriegen, G. betriegen, Sw. be-\
'Irnga, Dan. bedrager, to deceive ; and;
trnicheni, Fr. tricherie, is from the root of
liirk. I do not find betrogan in the Saxon,
liiil bedrog is rendered /f/e//i7, and this is!
tVorn dragan, to draw. Betray then seems
to be a compound of be and dragan, to
draw ; and betrass, supra, may be from a]
diflerent root. In strictness, to fail in du-j
ty ; to be guilty of breach of trust ; to vio-|
Vol. I.
late the confidence reposed. The word
does not in itself import to deliver up; but
by usage, either with or without the word
enemies, it signifies to deliver up, in breach
of trust.]
To deliver into the hands of an enemy by
treachery or fraud, in violation of trust ;
as, an officer betrayed the city.
Tlie son of man shall be betrayed into the
hands of men. Matt. xvii.
3. To violate by fraud, or unfaithfulness ; eis,
to betray a trust.
If the people of America ever betray their
trust, tlieir guUt will merit even greater punish-
ment than other nations have suffered, and the
indignation of heaven. /. Adams.
3. To violate confidence by disclosing a se-
cret, or that which was intrusted ; to ex-
pose ; followed by the person, or the thing ;
as, my friend betrayed me, or betrayed the
secret.
4. To disclose, or permit to appear, what is
intended to be kept secret, or what pru-
dence would conceal.
Be swift to hear, but cautious of your tongue,
lest you betray your ignorance. H'atts.
Hence,
5. To mislead or expose to inconvenience
not foreseen ; as, great confidence betrays
a man into errors.
To show ; to discover ; to indicate whs
is not obvious at first view, or would otl:
erwise be concealed.
Nor, after length of years, a stone betray
The place where once the very ruins lay.
Mdison.
Tliis river betrays its original in its ni
Holwell.
All tlie names in the country betray gi
tiquity. Bryant.
7. To fail, or deceive.
But when I rise, I shall find my legs betray
ng me. Johnson, Boswell.
BETRA'YED, pp. Delivered up in breach
of trust; violated by unfaithfulness ; ex
posed by breach of confidence ; disclosed
contrary to expectation or intention ; made
known ; discovered.
BETRA'YER, n. One who betrays ;
BETRA'YING, ppr. Delivering up treach
erously ; violating confidence ; disclosing
contrary to intention ; exposing ; diseov
ering.
BETRIM', V. t. [be and tiim.] To deck ; to
dress ; to adorn ; to grace ; to embellish ;
to beautify ; to decorate. Shak
ETRIMMED, pp. Adorned; decorated.
BETRIM'MING, ppr. Decking; adorning;
embellishing.
BETROTH', V. t. [be and troth, truth, faith.
See Truth, and Troth.]
1. To contract to any one, in order to a fu-
ture marriage ; to promise or pledge one
to be the future spouse of another; to af-
fiance ; used of either sex. " The father
betroths his daughter."
2. To contract with one for a future spouse ;
to espouse ; as, a man betroths a lady.
•3. To nominate to a bishopric, in order to
consecration. Ayliffe.
BETROTHED, pp. Contracted for future
marriace.
BETROTHING, ppr. Contr.-cting to any
one, in order to a future niairiage, as the
father or guardian ; contracting with one
22
i for a future wife, as the intended husband ;
I espousing.
[BETROTH'MENT, n. A mutual promise
or contract between two parties, for a fu-
ture marriage between the persons be-
trothed ; espousals. Encyc.
BETRUST', V. t. [be and trust.] To entrust ;
to commit to another in confidence of
fidelity ; to confide. This is less used than
entrust. Hall.
BETRUST'ED, pjD. Entrusted; confided;
committed in trust.
BETRUST'ING, ppr. Entrusting ; commit-
ting in trust.
BETRUST'MENT, n. The act of entrust-
ing ; the thing entrusted. Cliipman.
BET'SO, n. The smallest Venetian coin.
Mason.
BET'TER, a. comp. of bet. See Best. [Sax.
bet, more, better ; betere, betera, better ;
Sw.bdtter; D. beter; G. besser ; D. baat,
profit ; baaten, to boot, to avail ; Sans.
bhadra, good. The primary sense is, more,
or advanced further ; and in America, this
is a common popular signification. This
vessel contains better than half, that is,
more than half; he walked better than a
mile, that is, more than a mile.]
1. Having good qualities in a greater degree
than another ; applied to physical, acquir-
ed or moral qualities ; as a better soil, a
qua
better man, a better physician, a better house,
a heller air, a better harvest.
2. More advantageous.
Were it not better for us to return to Egypt .'
X. xiv.
3. More acceptable.
To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Sam. xv.
4. More safe.
It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put
confidence in man. Ps. cxviii.
5. Improved in health ; less affected with
; as, the patient is better.
6. To be better off, to be in a better condi-
tion. Beddoes, Hygeia. This is a verj' com-
mon phrase ; but ought not off, to be of?
It is not elegant.
To have the better, is to have the advan-
tage or superiority, followed by of before
him or that over which the advantage is
enjoyed ; as, the English had the better of
the Spaniards.
To get or gain the better, is to obtain the
advantage, superiority or victory ; as, to
get the better of an enemy.
For the better, is for the advantage or im-
provement.
BET'TER, adv. In a more excellent man-
ner ; with more skill and wisdom, virtue,
advantage or success ; as, to perform work
belter ; to plan a scheme better ; land better
cultivated ; laws better executed ; govern-
ment better administered.
2. More correctly, or fully ; as, to under-
stand a subject better than another.
3. With superior excellence ; as, to write or
speak better than another.
4. With more affection ; in a higher degree ;
as, to love one better than another.
It is not easy to specify and exemphfy the
various appUcations of better. In general,
it im]ilies what is more excellent, advan-
tiigeous, useful, or virtuous, than some-
thing else.
BET'TER, V. t. [Sas. bderian, hetrian. See
Better.]
B E V
B E W
B E W
1. To improve : to meliorate ; to increase
tlie good qualities of ; as, manure betters
land ; discipline may better the morals.
2. To surpass ; to exceed.
The works of nature do always aim at that
which cannot be bettered. Hooker
Qu. is not the sense, made better ?
3. To advance ; to support ; to give advan-
tage to ; as, to better a party ; to better a
cause.
BET'TER, «. A superior ; one who has a
claim to precedence on account of hi
rank, age, or office ; as, give place to you
belters. It is generally or always used ii
the plin-al.
BET'TERED, pp. Improved ; meliorated
made better.
BET'TERING, ppr. Making better; im
proving.
BET'TOR, n. [from bet.] One who bets oi
lays a wager. Addison.
BET'TY, n. [Supposed to be a cant word
from the name of a maid ; but qu. is it not
from the root of beat or L. peto ?]
An instrument to break open doors.
Jlrbuthnot.
BETUM'BLED, a. [be and tumble.] Rolled
about ; tumbled ; disordered. Shak.
BETWEE'N, prep. [Sax. betweonan, helimj-
nan ; of be and twain, two. Sax. tweg,
twegen. The Saxons used, in the same
sense, bcluh and betweoh, betwo. See
Twain, Tidn.]
1. In the intermediate space, without regard
to distance ; as. New- York is between Bos-
ton and Philadelphia ; the Delaware river
runs between Pennsylvania and New-Jer-
sey.
2. From one to another ; passing from one
to another, noting exchange of actions or
intercourse ; as, things go well betweenthe
parties.
^. Belonging to two or more, in common or
partnership ; as, two friends have but one
soul between them ; twenty proprietors
own a tract of land between them. We ob
serve that between is not restricted to two.
1. Having mutual relation to two or more ;
as, discords exist between the famiUes.
•">. Noting difference, or discrimination of one
from another; as, to distinguish between
right and wrong.
BETWIXT', prep. [Sax. betimjr, betmjit,
betweox, betweoh ; be and tweg, two.]
1. Between ; in the space that separates two
persons or things ; as, betivixt two oaks.
'i. Passing between ; from one to another,
noting intercourse. [See Between.]
BEVEL, n. [Fr. buveau. Qu. It. bieca livel-
la, oWique level.]
A^mong masons, carpenters, joiners, &c., an
instrument, or kind of square, one leg of
which is frequently crooked, according to
the sweep of an arch or vault. It is
movable on a point or center, and so may
be set to any angle. An angle that is not
square is called a bevel angle, whether ob-
tuse or acute. Bailey. Johnson. Encj/e.
fj. A curve or inclination of a surface from a
right line ; as, the proper bevel of a piece
of timber. Encyc.
BEVEL, a. Crooked ; awry ; oblique.
Bailey.
BEVEL, V. t. To cut to a bevel angle.
Moxon.
BEVEL, V. i. To curve ; to incline towards
a point, or from a direct line.
BEVELED, pp. Formed to a bevel angle
Kirwan.
BEVELING, ppr. Forming to a bevel
angle.
BEVELING, a. Curving ; bending from a
right line.
BEV'ELING, n. A hewing of timber with
a proper and regular curve, according to a
mold laid on one side of its surface.
2. The curve or bevel of timber. Encyc.
BEVELMENT, n. In mineralogy, bevel-
ment supposes the removal of two con-
tiguous segments from the edges, angles
or terminal faces of the predominant form,
thereby producing two new faces, inclined
to each other at a certain angle and form-
ing an edge. Cleaveland.
BEV'ER, n. [It. bevere, to drink.] A colla
tion or small repast between meals. [JVot
used.] Monson.
BEV'ER, V. i. To take a small repast be-
tween meals. fVallis.
BEVERAGE, n. [It. fcet)«re,or6ere,todrink;
beveraggio, drink ; Sp. heber, from L. bibo ;
Fr. buveur, a tipler ; buvette, a tavern ; bu-
volier, to sip, to tipple ; Arm. beuvrauh,
beverage.]
Drink ; liquor for diinking. It is generally
used of a mixed liquor. Nectar is called
the beverage of the gods.
In the middle ages, beverage, beveragium,
or hiberagium was money for drink given
to an artificer or other person over and
above his hire or wages. The practice
has existed, to a certain extent, in America,
within my memory, and I know not but it
still exists in some parts of this country.
A person who had a new garment, was
called on to })ay beverage, that is, to treat
with liquor. Hence,
3. A treat on wearing a new suit of clothes,
or on receiving a suit from the tailor ; also
a treat on first coming into prison ; a gar-
nish.
3. In England, water-cider, a mixture of
cider and water, made by putting water
into pumice before it is pressed.
Mortimer. Johnson.
BEVILE, n. [See Bevel] In heraldry, a
thing broken or opening, like a carpen-
ter's bevel. Encyc.
BEVY, n. [I know not the origin or affini-
ties of this word. The etymologies I have
seen are not worth notice.]
A flock of birds ; hence, a company ; an as-
sembly or collection of persons ; usually
applied to females.
BEWA'IL, V. t. [be and wail] To bemoan ;
to lament ; to express sorrow for. It ex-
presses deep sorrow ; as, to bewail the loss
of a child.
The true penitent bewails Iiis ingratitude to
God. Jinon.
BEWA'IL, V. i. To express grief. Shak.
BEWA'ILABLE, a. That may be lamented.
Sherwood.
BEWA'ILED, pp. Lamented; bemoaned.
BEWA'ILING, ppr. Lamenting ; bemoan-
ing ; expressing grief for.
BEWA'ILING, n. Lamentation. Raleigh.
BEWA'KE, V. t. [be and ivake.] To keep
awake. [A'ot used.] Goner.
BEWA'RE, V. i. [Sax. bewerian, bewarian,
geicarian, to guard, defend, restrain, pro-)j
hibit, fortify, be cautious ; Sw. bevara ; D.
bewaaren ; Ger. bewahren ; Dan. bevarer,
to keep, guard, preserve. See Ware,
Wary.]
1. Literally, to restrain or guard one's self
from. Hence, to regard with caution ; to
restrain one's self from any thing that may
be dangerous, injurious or improper; to
avoid ; to take care ; followed by o/before
the thing that is to be avoided.
Beware of all, but most beware of man.
Pope.
Betvare of false prophets ; beware of the leav-
en of the Pharisees ; beware of the concision.
Scripture
3. To have a special regard to.
Behold, I send an angel before thee — beware
of him, and obey his voice. Ex. xxiii.
[ This is unusual and hardly legitimate.']
This word though here admitted as a verb,
from the Saxon, is rarely used as a verb
in fact ; or if a verb, is now never used ex-
cept in the imperative mode. It is a com-
pound of be and the Old Eng. ware, now
wary. Be ivary of danger. Hence it can-
not be used with did, like a regular verb,
nor with be, in any of its inflections, he is
beware ; for this would be to use the sub-
stantive verb twice before toare and wary,
is and be. Ben Jonson however has used
the word in the third person. He bewares
to act. But it has no past tense or jiartici-
ple, and therefore, if admitted as a verb, it
is defective, and used only in the impera-
tive mode, or after an auxiliary.
We must beware of excess.
BEWEE'P, V. t. [be and weep.] To weep
over ; to bedew with tears. [Little used.]
Shak.
BEWEE'P, v.i. To make lamentation.
[Lnttle used.] Shak.
BEWEPT', pp. Wept over; bedewed with
tears. [Little ^ised.]
BEWET', V. t. [be and wet.] To wet ; to
moisten. [J^Tot used.]
BEWILDER, V. t. [Dan. forvilder, wider;
D. venmlderen ; G. vertoiUern ; from u>ild.]
To lead into perplexity or confusion ; to lose
in pathless places ; to confound for want
of a plain road ; to perplex with maze^ ;
or in general, to perplex.
Lost and bewildered in the fruitless search.
Mdison-
BEWIL'DERED, pp. Lost in mazes ; per-
plexed with tlisorder, confusion, or intri-
cacy.
BEWILDERING, ppr. Losing in a path-
less place ; perplexing with confusion or
intricacy.
BEWIN'TER, V. t. To make like winter.
[JVot used.] Cowley.
BEWITCH', V. t. [be and witch.] To fas-
cinate ; to gain an ascendancy over by
charms or incantation ; an operation which
was formerly supposed to injure the per-
son bewitched, so that he lost his flesh, or
behaved in a strange unaccountable man-
ner ; ignorant people being inclined to as-
cribe to evil spirits what they could not
account for.
Look, how I am bewitched ; behold, mine arm
Is like a blasted sapling withered up. Shak.
2. Tochai-m; to fascinate; to please to such
a degree as to take away the power of
resistance.
The charms of poetry our souls bewitch.
Dryden
BEY
B E Z
B I B
;j. To deceive and mislead by juggling tricks
or imposture. Acts viii. 9.
liEWITCH'ED,^;). Fascinated; charmed.
BEWITCH' ER, n. One that bewitches or
fascinates. Stafford.
BEWITCH'ERY, n. Fascination ; charm ;
resistless power of any thing that pleases.
South.
BEWITCH'FUL, a. Alluring; fascinating.
Milton.
BEWITCHING, ppr. Fascinating ; charm-
BEWITCII'ING, a. That has power to be-
witch or fascinate ; that has power to con-
trol by the arts of pleasing.
BEWITCH'INGLY, adv. In a fascinating
^ manner. HalbjwM.
^EWITCH'MENT.n. Fascination; power
j of charming. Shak.
/BEWON'DEKED.a. [4e and iTOnder.l Ama-
zed. [ATot used.] Fairfax.
BEWRAP', V. I. berap'. [be and wrap.] To
wrap up.
BEWRA'Y, V. t. beriiu. [Chaucer has wraie,
wreye, wray, and in the mfinitive, bewrien, to
discover, as if from Sax. wrecan, to tell. In
Sax. aiereon, omvrcon, signify to reveal, as
if the negative otiorigan, tocover.]
To disclose perfidiously ; to betray ; to show
or make visible.
Thy speech bewraycth thee. Matt, xxiii.
[Thi.i ivord is nearly antiquated.]
BEWRA'YED, pp. Disclo.sed ; indicated :
betrayed ; exposed to view.
BEWRA'YER, n. A divulger of secrets ; a
discoverer.
BEWRAYING, ppr. Disclosing; making
known or visible.
BEWRECK', V. t. bereck'. [be and lereck.]
To ruin : to destroy. [JVot itsed.]
BEWROUGHT', a. beraiW. [be and work.]
Worked. [jVot used.] B. Jonson.
BpY, n. In the Turkish dominions, a gover-
nor of a town or particular district of
country ; also, in some places, a prince ;
the same as the Arabic Uf »•. [See Besc.]
Eton. Encyc.
BEYOND', prep. [Sax. begeond, begeondnn,
of be and geond, yond, "yonder. " This is
the participle of the verb gan, to go, to
pass. It coincides with the D. gannde, the
participle of the present tense of the same
verb gaan, to go ; Dan. gaaende. Lite-
rally, then, it signifies by-passing, or by-
past ; or as we now say, past by, gone by.]
I. On the further side of; on the side most
distant, at any indefinite distance from
that side ; as beyond a river, or the sea,
either a mile beyond, or a hundred miles
beyond the river.
'J. Before ; at a place not yet reached.
.\ thing beyond us, even before our death.
Pope.
3. Past ; out of reach of; further than any
given Umit ; further than the extent of any
thing else ; as, beyond our power ; beyond
comprehension ; beyond dispute ; beyond
our care.
4. Above ; in a degree exceeding or sui-pass-
ing ; proceeding to a greater degree, as in
dignity, excellence, or quahty of any kind;
as, one man is great or good beyond an-
other.
To go beyond is a phrase which expresses an
excess in some action or scheme ; to ex-
ceed in ingenuity, in research, or in any
thing else ; hence, in a bad sense, to de-
ceive or circumvent.
Let no man go beyond and defraud his broth-
er in any matter. St. Paul
BEYOND, arfv. At a distance; yonder.
Spenser.
BEZ'AN, n. A cotton cloth from Bengal,
white or striped. Encyc.
BEZ'ANT, n. A gold coin of Byzantium.
[See Biizant.]
BEZANt'LER, n. [from antler.] The
branch of a deer's horn, tiext above the
brow antler. Encyc.
BEZ'EL, n. [Qu. Ch. Sa, limits, confines ;
Sw. betzel, a rein ; betzla, to curb.]
The upper part of the collet of a ring, which
encompasses and fastens the stone.
Bailey.
BE'ZOAR, n. [Pers. i>'iLj badzhar,
which Castle interprets " ventus, i. e. dis-
sipator veneni, alexipharmicum omne,
quod venenuHi pellit, et spirituum facul
tates retinet," from ^ l j wind, breath
spirit, and Aj poison. Others make it
pazahar, against poison, an antidote for
poison.]
1. An antidote ; a general name for certain
animal substances supposed to be effica
cious in preventing the fatal efiects of poi
son. Bezoar is a calcarious concretion
found in the stomach of certan ruminant
animals, composed of concentric c
surrounding each other, with a little cavity
in the middle, containing a bit of wood,
straw, hair, or the Uke substance. There
are two sorts ; the oriental, from Persia and
the East Indies, of a shining dark green
or olive color, with a smooth surface ; and
the occidental, from the Spanish West In
dies, which has a rough surface, is less,
green, much heavier, more brittle, and of|
a looser texture. The oriental is generally
less than a walnut ; the occidental is lar-
ger, and sometimes as large as a goose
egg. Encyc.
The oriental bezoars are generally of a
resinous composition and combustible.
Thomson.
2. In a more general sense, any substance
formed, stratum upon stratum, in the
stomach or intestines of animals. Encyc
This name is also given to the biliary
calculi of certain animals. Cyc.
Fossil-bezoar is a figiu-ed stone, formed, like
the animal bezoar, with several coats
round some extraneous body, which serves
as a nucleus ; found chiefly in Sicily, iii
sand and clay pits. It is of "a purple color
and of the size of a walnut. It seems to
be of the nature of bole armeniau, and is
called Sicilian earth. Encyc.
Bezoar-mineral. This preparation is an oxyd
of antimony, produced by distilUng the ni-
trous acid several times to dryness from
the sublimated muriate of antimony.
JK'icholson
BEZOAR DI€, a. Pertaining to or com
pounded of bezoar.
BEZOAR'DI€, n. A medicine compounder:
with bezoar. Johnson.
BEZ'OLA, n. Afish of tlie truttaceous kind
oi a dusky blue color, nearly of the size of
of a herring. iJid. of Xat. Hist.
BEZ'ZLE, t-. I. To waste in riot. l.Vof
used. [See Embezzle.] MxUon.
BHUCHAMP'AC, n. [Hindu, bhu, ground,
and clwmpac, a plant.]
A beautiful plant of India, knowai in Linne'.-*
system, under the name of Kmmjpferia ro-
tunda. The blossoms rise from the
ground with a short scajjc, and scarce
live a whole day. As. Res. iii. 254.
BI'A, n. In commerce, a small shell called a
coivry, much valued in the East Indies.
Encyc.
BIAN'GULATE, ) rr , ■ <
BIAN'GULATED, ia. ^^- ^f^ *"'"=^' '{"'I
BIAN'GULOUS, S ""^"'"*' ""» "°S'^-^
Having two angles or corners. [Little used.']
BIARM'IAN, a. Noting a race of Finns in
Perme, in the north of Europe, on the
Dvina, and about the White Sea ; written
also Permian. The Biarinians or Pcrmi-
ans are said to be the most wealthy and
powerful of the Finnish tribes. Tooke.
BI'AS, n. [Arm. Inhays or vies; Ft. biais, a
slope ; biaiser, to use shifts, evasions or
tricks.]
1. A weight on the side of a bowl which
turns it from a straight line.
2. A leaning of the mind ; inclination ; pre-
possession ; propensity towards an object,
not leaving the mind indifferent ; as, edu-
cation gives a bias to the mind.
3. That which causes the mind to lean or
incline from a state of indifference, to a
particular object or course.
BI'AS, V. t. To incline to one side; to warp:
to give a particular direction to the mind ;
to prejudice ; to prepossess. The judg-
ment is ofVen biassed by interest.
This word is used by Shakspeare as an ad-
verb, bias and thwart, i. e. aslope ; and as
an adjective.
Blow till tliy bias cheek
Outswell the cholic of puft Aquilon.
BIAS-DRAWING, n. Partiality. [AW
used.] Shak.
BI'ASED, pp. Inclined from a right line ;
warped ; jirejudiced.
BI'ASING, ppr. Ginng a bias, particular
direction or propensity ; warping ; preju-
dicing.
BIB, n. A small piece of linen or other cloth
worn by childien over the breast.
2. A fish about a foot in length, the back of
a light olive, the sides yello%v, and the
belly white. Diet. ofjYat. Hist.
BIB, V. t. [L. Ubo; Sp. beber ; It. bevere ;
Gypsey, piava, to driidt ; Slav, pibo, piba,
drink.]
To sip ; to tipple ; to drink frequently. [Lit-
tle itscrf.l Locke
BIBA'CIOUS, a. [L. W6ar. See Bi'6.] Ad-
dicted to drinking ; disposed to imbibe.
BIBAC'ITY, 71. The quahty of drinking
ranch. [JVbt used.]
BIB'BER, n. A tippler ; a man given to
drinking ; chiefly used in composition, as
irinebiliher.
BIB'BLE-BABBLE, n. Idle talk ; prating
to no purpose. [A low word, and not u.ied.]
Shak.
BIB'IO, »?. A name of the wine fly, a small
uisect found in emptv wine casks.
Dirt, of Xat. Mst.
Bl'BLE, II. [Gr. /Jiftuoi', (JiSJioj, a book.]
B I C
THE BOOK, by way of eminence ; the
sacred volume, in wliicli are contained tlie
revelations of God, the principles of Chris-
tian faith, and the rules of practice. It
consists of tvfo parts, called the Old and
New Testaments.
The Bible should be the standard of language
as well as of faith. Anoti.
BIB'LER, n. [See Bib.] A tipler ; a great
drinker.
BIB'LI€AL, o. Pertaining to the Bible, or
to the sacred writings ; as biblical criticism.
BIBLIOG'RAPHER, n. [Gr.>iiexo5,a book,
and ypo^u, to write.]
One who composes or compiles the history
of books ; one skiUed in literary history ;
a transcriber. Bailey. Johnson. Ash.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC, t Pertainin
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL, J the history of
books. Kelt
BIBLIOG'RAPHY, n. A history or descrip
tion of books ; the perusal of books, and
manuscripts, with notices of the diftijrent
editions, the times when they were printed,
and other information tending to illustrate
the history of literature.
Encyc. Pinkerton
BIB'LIOLITE, n. [Gr. ^iS^wv, a book, and
iiiOoj, a stone ; called also phylobiblia and
liOiobiblia.]
Bookstone; a species of shistous stones
mostly calcarious, which present, between
their lamens, the figures of leaves, or some
times simple dendrites.
BIBLIOM'ANCY, n. [Gr. ^iSJlos, a boolv
and iMvttia, divination.]
A kind of divination, performed by means of
the bible ; consisting in selecting passages
of scripture at hazard, and drawing from
them indications concerning things future
Encyc. Southey.
BIBLIOMA'NIA, n. [Gr. |3te^tov, book, and
IxavM, madness.]
Book-madness ; a rage for possessing rare
and curious book:
BIBLIOMA'NIAC, n. One who has a rage
for books.
BIBLIOP'OLIST, «. [Gr. liiSxwv, book, and
rtuXfu, to sell.] A bookseller.
BIBLIOTH'E€AL, a. [L. bibliolheca, a U-
brary ; ^iS?.os, and theca, Sr^xr,, a reposito-
ry-]
Belonging to a library.
BIBLIOTH'ECARY, n. A librarian.
IMl.
BIBLIOTHE'KE, n. A library. Bale.
BIB'LIST, n. [from bible.] With the Ro-
manists, one who makes the scriptures the
sole rule of faith. Encyc.
2. One who is conversant with the bible.
Ash.
BIBRAC'TEATE, a. Doubly bracteate.
Eaton
BIB'ULOUS, a. [L. bibulus, from bibo, to
drink.]
Spungy ; that has the quality of imbibing
fluids or moisture. Thomson.
BICAP'SULAR, a. [L. 6w, double, and ca/*
sula, a httle chest, from capsa, a chest.
See Capsular.]
In botany, having two capsules containing
seeds, to each flower ; as a bicapsular
pericarp. Martyn.
BIC^ARBONATE, n. Supercarbonate ; a
carbonate containing two primes of car-
bonic acid. Vre.
BICAU'DA, n. A fish of the sword-fish kind
B I D
about five feet m length ; its back and sides
of a brown color, and its belly white.
Diet. o/JVat. Hist.
BICE or BISE, n. Among painters, a blue
color prepared from the lapis armenus,
Armenian stone. Encyc.
Bice is smalt reduced to a fine powdei
by levigation. Cyc.
BICIP'ITAL, I [L. biceps, of bis, twice,
BICIP'ITOUS, S and caput, head.]
Having two heads. Applied to the muscles,
it signifies having two heads or origins ;
and any such muscle is denominated biceps
BICK'ER, V. i. [W. bicra, to fight, to bick-
er ; Scot, bicker, to fight by throwing
stones, to move quickly, to skirmish ; alhed
perhaps to It. picchiare, to beat ; picchiarsi.
to fight ; picchiere, a soldier armed with a
pike ; picchio, a blow or stroke, a wood-
pecker ; beccare, to peck. This verb is from
the root of beak, peck, pike, and primarily
signifies to beat, to strike, to thrust at, or
to make at by repeated thrusts or blows.]
1. To skirmish ; to fight off" and on ; that is,
to make repeated attacks. [But in this
sense I believe rarely used.]
2. To quarrel ; to contend in words ; tc
scold ; to contend in jietulant altercation
[This is the usual signification.]
3. To move quickly ; to quiver ; to be tremu-
lous, like flame or water; as the bickering
flame ; the bickering stream.
Milton. Thomson
BICK'ERER, n. One who bickers, or enga
ges in a petty quarrel.
BICK'ERING, ppr. Quarreling; contend
ing ; quivering.
BICK'ERMENT, n. Contention. [Mt
used.] Spenser
BICK'ERN, n. [of W. pig, a beak, or beak
and iron.]
An iron ending in a beak or point.
BI'CORN, n. [L. bis, twice, and comu.
horn, bicornis.]
A plant whose anthers have the appearance
of two horns. Milne.
BI'CORN, I Having two horns.
BleORN'OUS, 5 "• Browne
BID, V. t. pret. bid, or bade ; pp. bid, bidden
[Sax. biddan ; Goth, bidyan, to ask, request
or pray ; Sax. beodan, to command ; bead,
one who persuades or exhorts ; Sw. bidia,
to ask or entreat ; D. bieden, to offer, or
bid ; gebieden, to command ; G. bieten, to
offer ; gebieten, entbieten, to command ;
Dan. beder, to pray, or desire ; byder, to
command, to bid, to offer, to invite ; L,
peto, to drive at, to attack, to ask, to desire
to beseech, anciently beta ; Ir. impidhim
to beseech ; Sp. Port, pedir, to ask or beg
Sans, badi, padi, petir, bolti, a commander ;
Ch. B'3, to pray or beseech ; Eth. <<'t'®
fato, or fatho, to desire. The primary
sense is, to press forward, to drive, to urge ;
hence, L. impetus. Applied to the voice, it
denotes utterance, a driving of sounds,
which is applied to asking, prayer, and
command. Class Bd.]
1. To ask ; to request; to invite.
Go ye into the highways, and as many as ye
shall find, bid to tlie marriage. Math. xxii.
This sense is antiquated, but we have
the same word from the Latin, in invite,
[in and bid.]
|2. To command ; to order or direct
B I E
And Peter answered him and said. Lord, if
it be thou, bid me come to thee on the water.
Mat. xiv.
3. To offer ; to propose ; as, to bid a price at
in auction.
4. To proclaim ; to make known by a public
voice. 06s.
Our bans thrice bid. Shak.
5. To pronounce or declare ; as, to bid a
welcome.
6. To denoimce, or threaten ; as, to bid defi-
ance.
To wish or pray.
Neither bid him good speed. 2 John 10.
To bid beads, is to pray with beads, as the
CathoUcs ; to distinguish each bead by a
prayer. Johnson.
Also, to charge parishioners to say a
number of paternosters. Encyc.
To bid fair, is to open or offer a good pros-
pect ; to appear fair.
BID or BIDDEN, pp. of bid. Invited ; offer-
ed ; commanded.
BID, 71. An offer of a price ; a word much
used at auctions.
BID'ALE, n. [bid and ale.] In England, an
invitation of friends to drink ale at some
poor man's house, and there to contribute
in charity ; an ancient and still a local
custom. Encyc.
[D'DER, n. One who offers a price.
Bidders at the auction of popularity.
Burke
BID'DING, ppr. Inviting ; offering ; com
manding.
BID'DING, n. Invitation ; command ; order :
a proclamation or notifying. Shnk.
BIDE, V. i. [Sax. bidan. See Abide.] To
dwell ; to inhabit. Milton.
3. To remain ; to continue or be permanent,
in a place or state. [JVearly anfiijuitted.]
Shak.
BIDE, V. t. To endure ; to suffer. [See
Abide.] Shak.
BI'DENS, n. A plant, bur marigold.
Muhlenberg.
BIDENT'AL, a. [L. bidens, ofbis, twice, and
dens, a tooth.] Having two teeth.
Swijt.
BIDET', n. [Fr.] A small horse, formerly
allowed to each trooper or dragoon for
can-ying his baggage.
B. Jonson. Encyc.
BI'DING, ppr. Dwelling ; continuing ; re-
maining. [See Abiding.]
BI'DING, n. Residence ; habitation.
Rowe.
BID'ON, n. A measure of liquids, of about
five quarts, wuie measure, used by sea-
men. Ejicyc.
BIEN'NIAL, a. [L. biennis, of bis, twice,
and annus, a year.]
1. Continuing for two years ; or happening,
or taking place once in two years ; as a
biennial election.
In botany, continuing for two years and
then perishing ; as plants, whose root and
leaves are formed the first year, and which
produce fruit the second. Martyn.
BIEN'NIALLY, adv. Once in two years;
at the return of two years.
BIER, n. [Sax. ba:r ; D. baar ; Ger. bahre ;
Dan. baare ; Ir. fier ; from the same root as
bear; h.feretrum, fmm/ero. See Bear.]
A carriage or frame of wood for conveying
dead human bodies to the grave.
B I G
BIG
B I L
BIE'R-BALK, n. The church road for buri-
als. [M)t used in America.] Homilies.
BIE'STINGS, n. plu. [Sax. byst, or bi/sting ;
D. biest ; Ger. biest7mkh.]
The first milk given by a cow after calving
B. Jonson
BIFA'RIOIJS, o. [h.bifarius; bis and fero,
or Teutonic, /om«, to go.]
Two-fold. In botany, pointing two ways, as
leaves that grow only on opposite sides of
a brunch. Martyn.
BIFA'RIOUSLY, adv. In a bifarious man-
ner. A stein or branch is bifariously hairy,
when the hairs between any two joints
come out on the front and back, and in
the two adjoining internodes, on the right
and left side. Martyn.
BIF'EROUS, a. [h. bifer, Uferus ; of 6i4-.
twice, andjTero, to bear.
Bearing fruit twice a year, as plants do in
warm ciiniates. Martyn.
BIF'ID, I [L.bifulus, Uidatus^udis.
BIF'IDATE, \ °" twice, &iu\Jindo,fidi, to split
or cleave. See Divide and Wide.]
In botany, two-cleft ; divided ; opening witli
a cleft ; divided by a hnear sinus, witli
straight margins. Martyn
BIF'LOROUS, a. [L. bis, twice, an<\ Jlorec]
Rearing two flowers. Martyn.
BI'FOLD, a. [L. bis, twice, and fold.] Two
fold; double; of two kinds, degrees, &:.c.
BI'FORM, a. [L. biformis, of tw, twice, and
furmn, form.]
Having two forms, bodies or shapes.
Croxall.
BI'FORMED, a. Compounded of two forms.
Johnson.
BIFORM'ITY, n. A double form. More.
BI'FIJR€ATE, \ [L. bifurcus, of bis,
BI' FURCATED, S "' twice, and furca, a
fork.]
Forked ; divided into two branches.
Johnson.
BIFURCA'TION, n. A forking, or division
into two branches. Brown.
BIG, a. [In W. baic is a load ; beiciaw, to
load, or lay on ; beiciaiog, pregnant ;
bog is a swelling ; buciaw, to bellow ; Dan.
hug, the belly. These words seem to be
allied to big, but I have not found this word
ill any other language.]
t . Bulky ; protuberant ; pregnant, applied to
ft males. Big, in the sense of pregnant, is
lollowed by with ; as, big mthch'M. The
u<e of of, big q/" child, is not good Englisl
.'. ( ; reat ; large ; in a more general sense ;
applied to any body or object.
■i. Full ; fraught, and about to have vent, or
lie brought forth.
The important day, big with the fate of Rome.
Addison.
4. Distended ; full, as with grief or passion.
Tliy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.
Shak
5. Swelled ; tumid ; inflated, as with pride ;
hence, haughty in air or mien, or indicar
ting haughtiness ; proud ; as big looks ;
big words; to look big.
a. (J reat in spirit; lofty ; brave.
Have not I a heart as Ji'^as tliine ? Shak.
lilt!, n. A kind of barley.
ilKJ'AM, n. A bigamist. [J\/'ot used.]
Bp. Peacock.
BIGAMIST, n. [See Bigamy.] One who
lias romniitted bigamy, or had two w'
BIG'AMY, n. f L. 6m, twice, and Or. ya/»ss
to marry, yay.o{, marriage. In Ar. «4,2»
is to collect ; to come together ; to agree,
or 1)0 in accord ; to sleep together ; to
bind.]
The crime of having two wives at once. But
the term is ordinarily used as synonymous
with Polygamy, and may be more justly
defined, the crime of havuig a plurality of
wives. Blackslone.
In the canon law, bigamy was the marrying
a second wife after the death of the first,
or once marrying a widow. This disqual-
ified a man for orders, and holding eccle-
siastical offices. Blackstone.
KIG'liKLLIED, o. Having a great belly;
iidvaiircd in pregnancy.
|{|(;|5(J'NED, a. Having large bones.
Herbert.
lUG'CORNED, a. Having large grains.
Dry den.
RIliEM'lNATE.n. [L. W«, twice, and gemi-
nus, double.]
Twin-forked ; used of a decompound leaf
having a forked petiole, with several leaf
Irts, at the end of cucli division. Martyn.
BI(;'(;i',L, ». A i|iiadni|ied of the East in-
dies, sipinrwliai like a rane or rein-deer,
but its head rcsi'iiililcs that of a horse. It
has two horns, cloven feet and a mane
like an ass. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
BIG'GIN, 71. [Fr. beguin; Sp. teca, a tippet,
or cap.]
1. A child's cap, or something worn about
the head.
2. A building. Obs. [Sax. byggan, to build.]
Shak.
BIGHT, n. [D. bogt, a bend, a turning,
coil, a bay ; Dan. bugt, a bend, a bow,
a bay. It is the participle of boogen, bui-
gen, bugan, to bend ; W. bcu:, bacu. See
Bow.]
1. A bend, or small bay between two points
of land.
2. The double part of a rope when folded,
in distinction from the end ; that
round, bend or coil any where except at
the ends. Mar. Diet.
3. The inward bent of a horse's charabrel,
and the bent of the fore knees. Bailey.
BIG'LY, orfji. [from big.] In a tumid,
swelling, blustering manner ; haughtily.
BIG'NAMED, a. Having a great or famous
name. Crashaiv.
BIG'NESS, n. Bulk ; size ; largeness ; di-
mensions. It is used of any object, ani-
mate or inanimate, and with or without
comparison. Thus we speak of the lyig-
ness of a tree, of a rock, of a house, with-
out instituting a comparison with other
objects of the kind. Yet in this case there
is always some reference in the mind to
known measure. We also say, one thing
is as big as another ; in which case we
give the idea of unknown size, by a known
object. Big and bigness always imply
expansion, more or less, in breadth, and
are thus distinguished from tall and tatl-
ness.
BIG'OT, n. [Fr. bigot, and cagot, a bigot or
hypocrite; Arm. bigod. In Itahaii, iacc^ei-
tone is a hypocrite. In Spanish, bigote is
a whisker; hombre de bigote, a man of
spirit ; tener bigotes, to be hnn or undamit
ed. If the French cagot is connected with
bigot, the first syllable in both is a prefix.
But I am not able to ascertain the real
origin and primary sense of the word.
The etymologies I have seen are not
satisfactory.]
1. A person who is obstinately and unrea-
sonably wedded to a particular religious
creed, opinion, practice or ritual. The
word is sometimes used in an enlarged
sense, for a person who is illiberally at-
tached to any opinion, or system of belief;
as a bigot to the Mohammedan religion ; a
bigot to a Ibrm (^f government.
2. A Venetian liquid measure containing the
fourth part of the amphor, or half the
boot. Eneyc.
BIG'OT, > Obstinately and blindly
BIG'OTED, ^ ■ attached to some creed,
opinion, practice or ritual ; unreasonably
devoted to a system or party, and illiberal
towards the opinions of others.
BIG'OTEDLY, adv. In the manner of a
bigot ; pertinaciously.
BIG'OTRY, n. Obstinate or blind attach-
ment to a particular creed, or to certain
tenets; unreasonable zeal or warmth in
favor of a party, sect or opinion ; excess-
ive prejudice.
2. The practice or tenet of a bigot. Pope.
BIG'SOUNDING, a. Having a pompous
sound. Hall.
BIG'SVVOLN, a. [big and swoln. See
Swell.]
Swelled to a large size ; turgid ; greatly
1 swelled ; ready to burst. Addison.
!BIG-UDDERED, a. [big and udder.]
Having large udders, or udders swelled with
I milk. Pope.
BHIYDROG'URET, Jt. A double hydrogu-
ret, or with two atoms of hydrogen.
Thomson.
BIJU'GOUS, a. [L. bis, twice, and jugum, a
yoke, a pair.]
Having two pairs of leaflets ; used of pinna-
ted lea\ es. Martyn.
BILA'BIATE, a. [L. bis, twice, and /aitum,
a lip.]
Having two Ups, as the corols of flowers.
Martyn.
BILAM'ELLATE, a. [L. 6m, twice, and
lamella, a plate.]
Having the form of a flatted sphere, longitu-
dinally bifid ; used of the stigma of plants.
Martyn.
BI'LANDER, n. [D. bylander ; Fr. beJaiide,
belandrc ; Sp. bUandra ; from be, by, and
land ; Ger. biniienlander.]
A small merchant vessel with two masts,
distinguished from other vessels of two
masts, by the form of the main-sail, which
is bent to the whole length of a yard, hang-
ing fore and aft, and inchned to the hori-
zon in an angle of about 4.'5 degrees ; the
foremost lower corner, called the tack,
being secured to a ring-bolt in the deck,
and the aftermost or sheet, to the tafferel.
Few vessels are now rigged in this man-
ner. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
The bilander is a kind of hoy, manageable
by four or five men and used chiefly in the
canals of the Low Countries. Johnson.
BILATERAL, a. [L. 6m and latus, side.]
Having two sides. Diet.
BILBERRY, ?i. [I know not the meaning
ot'bil in this word. The Dutch word is
B I L
Uaauwbes, blue-berry ; the Ger. heidelbeere.
heath-berry.]
The name of a shrub and its fruit ; a species
of Vaccinium or whortle-berry. Tlie
name with us is given to the tailor slvrub
and its fruit which is of a bluish color
BIL'BO, n. [from Bilboa, in Spain.]
A rapier; a sword; so named, it is said,
from Bilboa in Spain, where the best arc
made. Ash. Johnson
BIL'BOES, n.phi. Onboard of ships, long
bars or bolts of iron with shackles sliding
on them, and a lock at the end, used to
confine the feet of prisoners or offenders,
Hence the punishment of offenders in this
manner is called by the same name.
Mar. Did. Encyc.
BILD, V. t. pret. hilded, bill ; pp. id. [G.
bildeii; Dan. bilder; S\v. bilda.]
To construct ; to erect ; to set up and finish ;
as, to bild a house or ship ; to bild a wall.
[This is the true orthography ; the com-
mon spelling is incorrect. See Build.]
BILD'STEIN, n. [G. biU, shape, and stein,
stone.]
Agalmatolite, or figure-stone. A massive
mineral, with sometimes a slaty structure
of a color gray, brown, flesh red, some
times spotted, or with blue veins. It fuses
into a transparent glass. Brongniart calls
it steatite pagodite, from its coming from
China in grotesque figures. (Ire.
This mineral resembles steatite in its physi-
cal characters, but differs from it essen-
tially in its composition. It is soft, easily
cut with a knife, and reducible to a fine
unctuous powder. Cleaveland.
BILE, 71. [L. bilis ; Fr. bile.] A yellow bitter
liquor, separated from tlie blood in the
liver, collected in the poii biliarii and gall
bladder, and thence discharged by the
common duct into the duodenum. Encyc.
BILE, n. An inflamed tumor. [See Boil,
the correct orthography.]
BI'LEDUeT, n. [bile and L. ductus, a con-
duit.] A vessel or canal to convey bile.
Darmn.
BI'LESTONE, n. [bile and stone.] A con-
cretion of viscid bile. Darwin.
BILgE, n. [A different orthography o{ bulge,
and belly, a protuberance.]
1. The protuberant part of a cask, which is
usually in the^ middle.
2. The breadth of a ship's bottom, or that
part of her floor which approaches to a
horizontal direction, on which she would
rest, if aground. Hence, when this part
of a ship is fractured, she is said to be
bilged. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
BILGE, v. i. To suffer a fracture in the
bilge ; to spring a leak l)y a fracture in the
bilge. The term is used also when a sliip
lias some of her timbers struck off by a
rock or an anchor, and springs a leak.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
BILG'ED, pp. or a. Having a fracture in the
bilge. This participle is often used, as if
the verb were transitive ; arid perhaps it
is sometimes so used.
BILgE-PUMP, n. A burr-pump; a pump
to draw the bilge-water from a ship.
BILgE-WATER, n. Water which enters a
ship, and lies upon her bilge or bottom.
BII.'IARY, a. [from L. hilis.] Belonging
B I L
to the bile ; conveying the bile ; as a Mli
ary duct.
BIL'INGSGATE, n. [from a place of this
name in London frequented by low people
who use foul language.]
Foul language ; ribaldry. Pope.
BILINGUOUS, o. [L. 6is, and lingua,
tongue.]
Having two tongues, or speaking two lan-
guages.
BIL'IOUS, a. [L. biliosus, from bilis, the
bile.]
Pertaining to bile ; consisting or partaking
of bile; caused by a redundancy, or bad
state of the bile ; as a bilious fever. !
BILIT'ERAL, a. [L. bis, twice, and litera,
letter.]
Consisting of two letters; as a. biliteral root
in language. Sir W. Jones.
BILK, V. t. [Goth, bilaikan, to mock or de
ride. This Gothic word appears to be
compound, hi and laikan, to leap or
exult.]
To frustrate or disappoint ; to deceivi
defraud, by non-fulfilment of engagement ;
as, to bilk a creditor. Dryden
BILK'ED, pp. Disappointed ; deceived ; de-
frauded.
BILK'ING, ppr. Frustrating ; defrauding.
BILL, n. [Sax. bile, a beak, that is, e
shoot.]
1. The beak of a fowl.
•3. An instrument used by plumbers, basket-
makers and gardeners, made in the form
of a crescent, and fitted with a handle.
When short, it is called a hand-bill ; when
long, a hedge-bill. It is used for pruning
trees, &c.
BILL, n. [Sax. bil ; G. beil, an ax or hatch-
et ; D. byl ; Dan. bUe ; W. bwyell ; Pers.
Vaj bil, a mattock, or pick-ax, and a
shovel.]
.\ pick-ax, or mattock ; a battle-ax ; an ax
or hatchet with a crooked point.
BILL, n. [Norm, bille, a label or note ; Fr
billet, bil ; Arm. bilked ; Sp. billete ; It. bigl-
ietto, bulletta, bollettino. The primary sense
probably is a roll or folded paper, Sp. bo-
leta, a billet, a ticket, and a paper of to
bacco, coinciding with bola, a ball ; or it
is from cutting off, and signifies a piece.]
1. In laie, a declaration in writing, express-
ing some wrong the complainant has suf-^
fered from the defendant, or a fault com-
mitted by some person against a law. It
contains the fact complained of, the dam-
age sustained, and a petition or process
against the defendant for redress. It is
used both in civil and criminal cases.
In Scots law, every summary applica-
tion in writing, by way of petition to the
court of session, is called a bill. Encyc.
9. In law and in commerce, in England, an
obligation or security given for money
under the hand, and sometimes the seal
of the debtor, without a condition or for
feiture for non-payrnent. In the latter
circumstance, it differs from a bond. In
the United States, this species of security
is usually called a note, a note of hand, or
a promissory note.
3. A form or draft of a law, presented to a
legislature, but not enacted. In some ca-
B I L
ses, statutes are called bills ; but usually
they are qualified by some description, as
a bill of attainder.
4. A paper written or printed, and posted in
some public place, advertising the propo-
sed sale of goods, or particular things; an
advertisement posted.
5. An accomit of goods sold or delivered,
services rendered or work done, with the
price or value annexed to each article.
6. Any written paper, containing a state-
ment of particulars ; as a bill of charges
or expenditures ; a physician's bill of pre-
scriptions ; a bill of fare or provisions,
&c.
7. A biU of exchange is an order drawn on a
person, in a distant place, requesting or
directing him to pay money to some per-
son assigned by the drawer, or to his or-
der, in consideration of the same sum re-
ceived by the drawer. Bills of exchange
are eitherybreigTi or inland ; foreign, when
drawn by a person in one countiy upon
one residing in another; inland, when
both the drawer and drawee reside in the
same coimtry. The person who draws
the bill is called the drawer ; the person
on whom the request or demand is made,
is called the draicee ; and the person to
whom the money is directed to be paid,
is called the payee.
8. A bill of entry is a written account of
goods entered at the custom house, wheth-
er imported or intended for exportation.
9. A bill of lading is a written account of
goods shipped by any person, on board of
a vessel, signed by the master of the ves-
sel, who acknowledges the receipt of the
goods, and promises to deliver them safe
at the place directed, dangers of the sea
excepted. It is usual for the master to
sign two, three or four copies of the bill;
one of which he keeps in possession, one
is kept by the shii)i)er, and one is sent to
the consignee of the goods.
10. A bill of parcels is an account given by
the seller to the buyer, of the several arti-
cles purchased, with the price of each.
1 K A bill of sale is when a person borrows
money and delivers goods to the lender as
security, and at the same time, gives him
a bill, empowering him to sell the goods,
if the money is not repaid at the appoint-
ed time with interest. Encyc.
In the United States, a hill of sale is a
writing given by the seller of personal
property, to the purchaser, answering to
a deed of real estate, but without seal.
12. A bill of mortality is an account of the
number of deaths in a place, in a given
time. In these bills it is not unusual to
insert registers of births and christenings,
as ill London.
13. Bank-bill. [See Bank.]
14. A bill of rights is a summary of rights
and privileges, claimed by a people. Such
was the declaration presented by the
lords and commons of England to the
prince and princess of Orange ui 1688.
In America, a bill or declaration of rights
is prefi.xed to most of the constitutions of
the several states.
15. A bill of divorce, in tlie Jewish law, was a
writing given by the husband to the wife.
B I M
by which the marriage relation nag dis-
solved.
Ifi. [See Indictment.]
BILL, v.i. [Cromittf, obeak.] To join bills,
as doves ; to caress in fondness. Dryden.
BILL, V. t. [from bill, a writing.] To ad-
vertise by a bill or pubhc notice ; a cant
word. L'Estrange.
BILL ARI), n. A bastard or imiierfect ca-
non ; also a fish of the irod kind. Jhh.
BILL'ET, 71. [dim. of biU; Fr. billet; It.
buUetta.]
A small paper or note in writing, used for
various purposes ; sometimes it is a short
letter, addressed to some person; some-
times a ticket directing soldiers at what
house to lodge.
In heraldry, biUei is a bearing in the form of
a long square. Encyi
Billet-doux, bil'k-doo. [Fr.] A love billet.
BILL'ET, n. [Fr. billot.] A small stick of
wood
BILL'ET, V. t. [from billet, a ticket.] To
direct a soldier by a ticket or note where
to lodge ; hence, to quarter, or place in
lodgings, as soldiers in private houses.
BILL'ETING, ppr. Quartering, as soldier:^
in private houses.
BILL'IARD, a. bil'yard. Pertaining to the
game of biUiards.
BILL'IARDS, ji. phi. bil'yards. [Fr. bill-
aid, a mace or billiard-table ; It. bigliar-
do ; Sp. viliar. According to the an -lent
orthography, balyard, this word is com-
posed of ball and yard, a ball-stick.]
A game played on a rectangular table, cover-
ed with a green cloth, with small ivory balls,
which the players aim to drive into hazard-
nets or pockets at the sides and corners
oftlie tables, by impelling one ball against
another, with maces, or cues, according to
certain rules of the game.
BILL'ION, 11. bil'yiin. [bis and million.]
A million of millicms ; as many millions as
there are units in a million.
BIL'LOW, n. [Dan. bolge, Sw. bolja, a swell,
or rolhng swell, allied to bilge, bvige.]
A great wave or surge of the sea, occasioned
usually by violent wind. It can hardly
be applied to the waves of a river, un-
less in poetry, or when tlie river is very
large.
B I N
BIL'LOW, v.i. To swell; to rise and roll in
large waves, or surges. Prior.
BIL'LOW-BEATEN, a. Tossed by billows.
BIL'LOWING, ppr. Swelled into large
waves or surges.
BIL'LOWY, a. Swelling, or swelled into
large waves ; wavy ; full of billows, or
surges.
BILO'BED, I [L. bis, twice, and Gr.
BILO'BATE, I "• Xoeo{. See Lobe.] D" '
ded into two lobes ; as a bilobate leaf
Marli/n.
BILOe'ULAR, a. [L. bis, twice, and lo'cu-
lus, from locus, a place.]
Divided into two cells, or containing two
cells internally ; as a bilocular pericarp
Martyn.
BIL'VA, n. The Hindu name of a plant, the
Cratseva Marmelos of Liune.
.9s. Res. ii). 250
BIMA'NOUS, a. [bis and jnanus.] Having
two hands. Man is bimanous. Lnurrena
BIME'DIAL, a. [L. 67s, twice, and mcdinl.
In mathematics, if two medial lines, A B and
B C, commeuBurablc oidy in power, and
containing a rational rectangle, are com-
pounded, the whole hne A C will be irra-
tional, and is called a first bimedial Une.
Encyc.
2. Belonging to a quantity arising from a
particular combination of two other quan-
tities. 'Ush.
BIN, n. [Sax. binn, or bimie.] A wooden
box or chest used as a repository of corn
or other eommodities.
BIN'At'LE, n. [Formerly bittacle, supposed
to be a corruption of Fr. habilacle; but
more probably, boite d'aiguille, needle box.]
A woodeti case or box in which the compass
and lights are kept on board a ship. It is
sometimes divided into three apartments
with sliding shutters ; the two sides con-
tain each a compass, and the middle divis-
ion, a lamp or candle.
BI'NARY, a. [L. binus, two and two.]
Binary arithmetic, the invention of Leibnitz,
is that in vvhicli two figures only, 0 and 1,
are used, in lieu of ten ; the cypher mul-
tiplying every thing by two, as in common
arithmetic by 10. Thus, I is one ; 10 i
two ; 11 is three ; 100 is four ; 101 is five
110 is sLx ; HI, is seven; 1000 is eight
1001 is nine ; 1010 is ten. It is said this
species of arithmetic has been used by the
Chinese for 4000 years, being left in enig-
ma by Fohi. Encyc.
Binary measure, in music, is that used in
comtnon time, in which the time of rising
in beating, is equal tp the tune of falling.
Encyc.
Binary number is that which is composeil of
two imits. ' Encyc.
BI'NARY, Ji. The constitution of two.
Fotherby.
BI'NATE, a. [L.Wnu*. See Binary.] Be-
in" double or in couples ; growing in pairs.
Abinate leaf has a simple petiole, connect-
ing two leaflets on the top ; a species of
digitate leaf. Martyn.
BIND, !'. t. pret. bound; pp. bound, and obs.
bounden. [Sax. bindan, gebindan, pret.
band, bund, or bunden ; Goth, bindan, ga-
bindan ; D. binden, verbinden; Ger. the
same ; Sw. binda, forbinda ; Dan. binder,
to bind, and bind, a band ; also baand, a
hand ; Hindu, bandna ; Gypsey, bandopen ;
B I N
We are bound by tlie laws of kindness, of
nature, of a state, &.C.
C. To confirm or ratify.
Pers.
bandan, and
bandidan, to bind ; the former signifies al-
so, to apply, to bend the mind ; and the lat
ter, to shut, close, make fast. The sense
is, to strain.]
1. To tie together, or confine with a cord
or any thing tliat is flexible; to fasten as
with a band, fillet or ligature.
2. To gird, inwrap or involve ; to confine by
a wrapper, cover or bandage ; sometimes
with up ; as, to bind up a wound.
3. To confine or restrain, as with a chain
fetters or cord ; as, bind him hand and foot.
. To restrain in any manner.
He bindeth the floods from overflowing.
Job xxviii.
5. To oblige by a promise, vow> stipulation
covenant, law, duty or any other moral
tie ; to engage.
If a man shall swear an oath to bind his
with a bond. Numbers xxx.
Whatsoever thou sh-ilt bind on earth, shall be
bound ill heaven. Matth. xvi.
7. To distress, trouble, or confine by infirm-
ity.
Whom Satan hath bound these eighteen
years. Luke xiii.
To constrain by a powerful influence or
persuasion.
I go bound in tlie spirit to Jerusalem. Acts
XX.
To restrain the natural discharges of the
bowels; to make costive ; as, certain kinds
of food bind the body or bowels.
10. To form a border; to fasten with a
band, ribiu, or any thing that strengthens
the edges ; as, to bind a garment or car-
pet.
11. To cover witli leather or any thing firm;
to sew together and cover ; as, to bind a
book.
12. To cover or secure by a band ; as, to bind
a wheel with tire.
13. To oblige to serve, by contract ; as, to
bind an apprentice ; often with out ; as, to
bind out a servant.
14. To make hard or firm; as, certain sub-
stances bijul the earth.
The uses of this word are too various and
numerous to be reduced to exact defini-
tions.
To bind to is to contract ; as, to bind one s
self to a wife.
To bind over is to oblige by bond to appear
at a court.
BIND, V. i. To contract ; to grow hard or
tifl'; as, clay binds by heat. Mortimer.
2. To grow or become costive.
3. To be obligatory.
BIND, n. A stalk of hops, so called from its
winding round a pole or tree, or being
hound to it.
2. A bind of eels, is a quantity consisting of
10 strikes, each containing ^ eels, or 250
in the whole. Encyc.
3. Among miners, indurated clay, when
much mixed with the oxyd of iron.
Kincan.
BI'NDER, n. A person who binds ; one
whose occupation is to bind books ; also,
one who binds sheaves.
2. Any thing that binds, as a fillet, cord, rope,
or band.
BINDERY, 71. A place where books are
bound.
BI'NDING, ppr. Fastening with a band ;
confining; restraining; covering or wrap-
jiing : obliging by a promise or other mor-
al tie ; making costive ; contracting ; ma-
king hard or stiff.
BI'NDING, a. That obliges; obligatory;
as the binding force of a moral duty or of
a command.
BI'NDING, n. The act of fastening with a
band or obliging : a bandage ; the cover
of a book, wth the sewing and accom-
panying work ; any thing that binds ;
something that secures the~edge of cloth.
2. In the art of defense, a method of securing
or crossing the adversarj^'s sword witli a
pressure, accompanied with a spring of
the wrist. Encyc.
Binding-joists, in architecture, are the joists
of a floor into which the trimmers of stair-
B I P
cases, or well holes of the stairs and cliim-
nev ways, are framed. Encyc.
BI'ND-WEED, n. A genus of plants, called
Convolvulus, comprehending many species,
as the white, the blue, the Syrian bind-
weed, &c. The black briony or Tamus is
called black bind-weed ; and the Smilax is
called rough bind-ioeed.
Encyc. Fam. of Plants.
BING, n. In alum works, a heap of alum
thrown together in order to drain. Encyc.
BIN'0€LE, n. [binus, double, and ocidiis, an
eye.]
A (hoptric telescope, fitted with two tidies
joining, so as to enable a person to view
an object with both eyes at once.
Harris.
BINOCULAR, a. [See Binoclc] Having
two eyes ; also, having two apertures or
tubes, so joined that one may use both
eyes at once in viewing a distant object ;
as a binocular telescope. Encyc.
BINO'MIAL, a. [L. bis, twice, and nomen,
In algebra, a root consisting of two mem-
bers connected by the sign plus or minus ;
asa + fc, or7 — 3. Encyc.
BINOM'INOUS, a. [L. bis, twice, and no-
men, name.]
Having two names. Johnson.
BINOT'ONOUS, a. [bis and note.] Consist-
ing of two notes ; as a binotonovs ciy.
Moi^tague.
BIOG'RAPHER, n. [See Biography.] One
who writes an account or histoi-y of the
hfe and actions of a particular person ; a
writer of hves, as Plutarch.
BIOGRAPHIC, ) Pertaining to biog-
BIOGRAPH'I€AL, \ "' raphy, or the histo-
ry of the life of a person ; containing
biography.
BiOG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. iiio;, life, and ypafco^
to write.]
The history of the life and character of a
particular person.
BIOTINA, n. [from Biot, a French natu-
ralist.]
A newly discovered Vesuvian mineral
whose ]irimitive form is that of an obtuse
rhomboid. Journ. of Science.
BIP'AROUS, a. [L. bis, twice, and pario, U
bear.]
Bringing forth two at a birth.
BIPART'IBLE, ) [L. bis, twice, and par
BIP'ARTILE, S tio, to divide.] That
mav be divided into two parts. Martyn.
BIPAR'TIENT, a. [L. bis, twice, and par-
tio, partiens, to divide.] Dividing into
parts.
BIP'ARTITE, a. [L. bis, twice, andpaHitus
divided.]
1. Having two correspondent parts, as a legal
contract or writing, one for each party.
9. In botany, divided into two parts to the
base, as a leaf Marlyn.
BIPARTI"TION, n. The act of dividing in-
to two parts, or of making two correspon-
dent parts. Johnson.
BI'PED, n. [L. bipes, of bis, twice, and pes,
pedis, a foot.]
An animal having two feet, as man.
BIP'EDAL, a. Having two feet, or the
length of two feet.
BIPEN'NATE, a. [L. his, and penna,
wing or feather.] llaving two wings.
B I R
2. In botany, having pinnate leaves on each
side of the petiole, as a leaf or frond.
Martyn.
BIPET'ALOUS, a. [L. bis, twice, and Gr.
TtBTaT-ov, a leaf.]
Consisting of two flower leaves ; having two
petals.
BIPIN'NATIFID, ) [h.Us, mice, pinna,
BIPEN'NATIFID, S a wing or feather,
and/)irfo, to divide.]
Doubly-pinnatifid ; having pinnatifid leaves
on each side of the petiole. Martyn
BIQUaD'RATE, n. [L. bis, twice, and quad
ratus, squared.]
In mathematics, the fourth power, arising from
the multiplication of a square number or
quantity by itself. Thus 4X4=16, whicli
is the square of 4, and 16 X 16=256, the bi-
quadrate of that number.
BIQUADRATIC, Ji. The same as biquad-
rate. Encyc
BIQUaDRAT'IC, a. Pertaining to the bi-
quadratic or fourth power.
Biquadratic equation, in algebra, is an equa-
tion raised to the fourth power, or where
the unknown quantity of one of the terms
has four dimensions.
Biquadratic parabola, in geometry, is a curv
Une of the third order, having two infinite
legs tending the same way.
Biquadratic root of a number, is the square
root of the square root nf that numbe
Thus the square root of 81 is 9, and the
square root of 9 is 3, which is the biquad-
ratic root of 81. Encyc
BIQUIN'TILE, n. [L. bis, twice, and quin-
tus, fifth.]
An aspect of the planets, when they are dis-
tant from each other, by tidce the fifth part
of a great circle, that is 144 degrees or
twice 72 degrees.
BIRA'DIATE, } „ [L. his, twice, and
BIRA'DIATED, I diatus, set with rays.]
Having two rays ; as a biradiate fin. Encyc.
BIRCH, n. burch. [Sax. birce ; D. berken, or
berkeboom ; Ger. birke ; Dan. birk.]
A genus of trees, the Belula, of which there
are several species ; as the white or com-
mon birch, the dwarf birch, the Canada
birch, of which there are several varieties,
and the common black birch.
Birch nf Jamaica, a species of the Pistacia or
turpentine tree. Fam. of Plants
BIRCH, I Made of birch ; consisting
BIRCH'EN, S "■ of birch.
BIRD, n. burd. [Sax. bird, or hridd, a chick-
en ; from the root of dear, or W. bridau',to
break forth.]
1. Properly, a chicken, the young of fowls,
and hence a small fowl.
9. In modem use, any fowl or flying animal.
It is remarkable that a nation should lay
aside the use of the proper generic name
of flying animals, fmvl. Sax. fugel, D. vo-
gel, the flyer, and substitute the name of
the young" of those animals, as the generic
term. The fact is precisely what it woukh
be to make lamb, the generic name of
sheep, or colt, that of the equine genus.
BIRD, V. t. To catch birds. Shak
Bird of paradise, a genus of birds, found ir
the Oriental isles, and in New Guinea
some of them remarkably beautiful. The
beak is covered with a belt or collar of]
downy feathers at the base, and the feath
ers on the sides are very long. The lar
B I R
gest species is two feat four inches in
length. The head and back part of the
neck are lemon-colored ; the neck of the
brightest emerald green, soft like velvet ;
the breast is black ; the wings of a ches-
nut color. The back part of the body is
covered with long straight narrow feath-
ers, of a pale brown color, similar to the
plumes of the ostrich. These are spread
when the bird flies, for which reason he
cannot keep long on the wing. From the
rump proceed two long stiff shafts, feath-
ered at the extremities. Encyc.
BIRD'BOLT, n. [bird and bolt.] An arrow,
broad at the end, for shootuig birds.
Shak.
BIRD'-CAgE, 71. [bird and cage.] A box or
case with wires, small sticks, or wicker,
forming open work, for keeping birds.
BIRD'€ALL, 71. [bird and call.] A little
stick, cleft at one end, in which is put a
leaf of some plant for hnitating the cry of
birds. A laurel leaf counterfeits the voice
of lapwings ; a leek, that of nightingales :
&c. Encyc.
BIRD'-€ATCHER, 7!. [bird and catch.] One
whose eniploynient is to catch birds ; a
fowler.
BIRD'-€ATCHING, n. [bird and catch.]
The art of taking birds or wild fowls, either
for food, for pleasure, or for their destruc-
tion, when pernicious to the husbandman.
BIRD'-CHERRY, 7t. [bird and cherry.] A
tree, a species of Prunus, called padus ;
there are other sjiecies called by the same
iijinip. Encyc. Fam. of Plants.
BIRD'ER, n. A bird-catcher.
BIRD'-EYE, I [bird and eye.] Seen from
BIRD'S-EYE, S "■ above, as if by a flying
as a bird-eye landscape. Burke.
BIRD'EYED, a. Of quick sight.
BIRD ING-PIECE, 71. [bird and piece.] A
fowling-piece. Shak.
BIRD'-LIKE, a. Resembling a bird.
BIRD'-LIME, 7j. [bird and lime.] A viscous
substance, usually made of the juice of
holly-bark, extracted by boiling, mixed
with a third-part of nut oil or thin grease,
used to catch birds. For this purpose, the
twigs of a bush are smeared over with tliis
viscid substance. Encyc.
BIRD'-LIMED, a. Smeared with bird-lime ;
spread to ensnare. Hoivell.
BIRD'-MAN, ?!. [bird and man.] A fowler
or bird-catcher.
BIRD'-PEPPER, 77. [bird and pepper.] A
species of Capsicum or Guinea-pepper ; a
shrubby plant, bearing a small oval fruit,
more biting than the other sorts.
Encyc.
BIRDS'EYE, 71. [bird and eije.] A genus of
plants, called also pheasant's eye, knovva
ill botany by the generic term Adonis.
There are several species, some of which
produce beautiful flowers. Encyc.
BIRDS'FQQT, ti. [bird and foot.] A plant,
the Ornithopus, whose legumen is articu-
lated, cylindrical, and bent in the form of
a bow. Encyc.
BIRDSFOOT-TREFOIL, 7i. A genus of
plants, the Lotus, of several species.
Encyc.
BIRDS'NEST, 7i. [bird and nest.] The nest
in which a bird lays eggs and hatches her
young.
B I R
BIS
BIS
2. A plant, a species of Opliij s or Uvyblade ;
also a species of Orchis. Encyc.j
3. In cookery, the nest of a small swallow, of]
China, and the neighboring countries, dcl-|
icately tasted, and mixed with soups. Tliis
nest is found in the rocks ; it is of a hem
iaphcrical figure, of the size of a goose
egg, and in substance resembles isinglass.
In the East, these nests are esteemed a
great luxury, and sell at a very high price.
Encijc.
BIRDSTARES and BIRDSTONGU:
names of plants.
BIRD'-VVITTED, a. Not having the faculty
of attention. Bneon.
BI'REME, n. [L. biremis,bis and remus, an
oar.]
A vessel with two banks or tiers of oars.
M'tford.
BIRG'ANDER, n. Tlie name of a wild
srooso. Ciu. Derf^ander.
BIRIIOMBOID'AL, a. [bu and rhomboid.]
Having a surface composed of twelve
rhombic faces, which, being taken six and
six, and prolonged in idea, till they inter-
cept each other, would form two difl'erent
rhombs. Cleaveland.
BIRK'EN, V. t. [from birch, Sax. birce, byre]
To beat with a birch or rod. Obs.
Ch. Jielig. Appeal.
BIROS'TR.\TR, ) [L. bis, twice, and
BIROS'TRATl'.n, ^ "" rostrum, a beak '
Having a double beak, or process resembling
a beak.
The capsule is bilocular and birostrated.
Encyc.
BIRT, n. buH. A fish, called also tiirbot.
BIRTH, n. berth. [Sax. byrd, beorth ; D.
geboorte ; Ger. geburt ; Ir. beirthe ; L. par-
tus, the participle of pario, to bear.]
1. The act of coming into life, or of being
born. Except in poetry, it is generally
applied to human beings; as the birth of
a son.
2. Lineage ; extraction ; descent ; as, Gre-
cian birth. Denham
It is used of high or low extraction ; but
is often used by way of distinction for a
descent from noble or honorable jjarents
and ancestors ; as a man of birth.
3. The condition in which a person is born.
A foe by birth to Troy. Dryden.
4. That which is born ; that wliich is pro-
duced, whether animal or vegetable.
Milton. Mdison.
.J. The act of bringing forth; as, she had two
children at a birth.
6. In a theological setise, regeneration is call-
ed the new birth.
7. Origin ; beginning ; as the birth of an
empire.
BIRTH, BERTH, n. A station in which a
ship rides. [See Berth.]
BIRTH'DAY, n. [birth and day.] The day
in which any person is born.
2. The same day of the month, in wliich a
person was born, in every succeeding
year ; oflcn celebrated as a joyful anniver
sary. It sometimes has tlie form of ar
attribute ; as a birlh-day ode.
BIRTH'DOM, n. [birth and dom. See Don
and Z>oom.] Privilege of birth. [ATot used.]
Shak.
BIRTH'ING, n. Any thing added to raise
the sides of a ship. Ash. Bailey.
BIRTH'NIGHT, n. [birth and night.] The
Vol. I.
night in which a person is bom ; and the
anniversary of that night in succeeding
years.
BIRTH'PLACE, n. [birth and place.] The
town, city or country, where a person
born ; more generally, the particular town,
city, or other local district.
BIRTH'RIGHT, n. IMrth and right.] Any
right or privilege, to which a person is en-
titled by birtl), such as an estate des-
cendible by law to an heir, or civil liberty
under a free constitution.
Esau, for a morsel, sold his birthright. Hob.
xii.
It may be used in the sense of primogeni-
ture, or the privilege of the first born, but
is applicable to any right which results
from descent.
BlRTll'-SONG, n. A song sung at the birtl
of a- person.
BIRTH-STRANGLED, a. [birth and strati-
gle.'] Strangled or suflbcuted in being
boru. " Shak
BIRTH'WORT, n. [birth and wort.] A ge-
nus of plants, Aristolochia, of many ape-,
cies. Of these are the snake root of
America, and the contrayerva of Jamaica,
Encyc,
BISA, } AcoinofPegu,ofthe value of lial
BIZA, J ■ a ducat ; also, a weight. Encyc.l
BIS'€OTIN, n. [Fr.] A confection, made
of flour, sugar, nianuelade and eggs.
BISCUIT, )i. Iiis'/iil. [Fr. compounded oi
L. bis, twice, and cuil, baked ; It. biscotto ;'
Sp. bizcocho.]
1. A kind of bread, formed into cakes, andi
baked hard for seamen.
2. A cake, variously made, ("or the use o
private families. "The name, in Eugland
is given to a composition of flour, eggs
and sugar. With us the name is given to
a composition of flour and butter, made
and baked in private families. But the
compositions under this denomination are
very various.
3. The body of an earthem vessel, in dis-
tinction from the glazing. Thomson.
BISE€T', J', t. [h.bis, twice, and seco, sec-
tum, to cut. See Section.]
To cut or divide into two parts. In geome
try, one line bisects another when it crosses
it, leaving an equal part of the fine on each
side of the point where it is crossed.
BISECTED, pp. Divided into two equal
parts.
BISECT'ING, ppr. Dividing into two equal
parts.
BISECTION, n. The act of cutting into
two equal parts ; the division of any fine
or quantity into two equal parts.
BISEG'MENT, n. [bis and segment.] One
of the parts of a line,- divided into two
equal parts.
BISEX'OUS, a. Consisting of both sexes.
Broien
BISH'OP, n. [L. episcopus; Gr. j7t<«orto5, of]
fjtt, over, and u*o«o{, ins])ector, or visitor:
cxontu, to view, or insjiect; \Vhence im-
axfrtTojuoi, to visit or irspcct ; also iXiaxoKfu,
to view. This Greek and Latin word ac-
companied the introduction of Christianity
into the west and north of Europe, and
has been corrupted into Saxon biscop, bis-
obispo, Port. bispo,\V. f.<!gob, and Ir. easgob.
InAr.andPcrs. t_iji«< oskof. This ti-
tle the Athenians gave to tliose whom
they sent into the j)rovinces subject to
them, to inspect the state of afiairs ; and
the Romans gave the title to those who
were inspectors of provisions.]
1. An overseer; a spiritual superintendent,
ruler or director ; applied to Christ.
Yo were as sheep going astray, but are now
returned to the shei)hcr<I and biihop of your
souls. 1 Pet. ii.
2. In the primitive church, a spiritual over-
seer ; an elder or presbyter ; one who ha<l
the pastoral care of a cinirch.
The same persons are in this chapter called
ciders or presbyters, and overseers or Ifishops.
Scott, Comm. Acts xx.
Till the churches were multiplied, the bish-
ops and presbytei-s were the same. lb. Phil. i. I .
1 Tim. iii. I. Tit. i. 7.
Both the Greek and Latin fathers do, \ritli
one consent, declare, that bishops were called
presbyters, and presbyters bishops, in apostolic
times, tlie name being then common.
IFhilby.
3. In the Greek, Latin, and some Protestant
churches, a prelate, or person consecrated
for the spiritual goverimient and direction
of a diocese. In Great Britain, bishops
are nominated by the king, who, upon re-
quest of the dean and chapter, for leave to
elect a bishop, sends a cong'e d'elire, or
license to elect, witli a letter missive, nom-
inating the person whom he would have
chosen. The election, by the chapter,
nnist be made within twelve days, or the
king has a right to appoint whom lie
pleases. Bishops are consecrated by an
archbishop, with two assistant bishops.
A bishop must be thirty years of age; and
all bishops, except the bishop of Man, arc
peers of the reahn. Blackstone.
By the canons of the Protestant Episco-
pal church in the United States, no dio-
cese or state shall proceed to the election
of a bishop, unless there are at least six
officiating presbyters residing therein, who
shall be qualified, according to the canons,
to vote for a bishop ; a majority of whom
at least must concur in the election. But
the conventions of two or more dioceses,
or states, having together nine or more
such presbyters, may join in the election
of a bishop. A convention is composed of
the clergy, and a lay delegation, consisting
of one or more members from eacli par-
ish. In every state, the bishop is to be
chosen according to such rules as the con-
vention of that state shaU ordain. The
mode of election, in most or all of the
states, is by a concurrent vote of the cler-
gy and laity, in convention, each body
voting separately. Befort
bisl
lop can
be consecrated, he must receive a testimo-
nial of approbation from the General Con-
vention of the church ; or if that is not in
session, from a majority of the standijig
committee in the s^everal dioceses. The
mode of consecrating bishops and ordain-
ing priests and deacons differs not essen-
tially from the practice in England.
Bishop Brotcnell.
and Dan, biskop, D. *iw^op,i,BISH'OP, n. A cant word for a' mixture of
Ger. bischof, It. rescovo, Fr. evique, Sp.ll wine, oranges, and sugar. Sipiji.
BIS
BIT
B I T
BISHOP, »•. t. To confirm ; to admit s>ol-
ojiinly into tl'C church. Johnson.
2. Among horse-dealers, to use arts to make
an old horse look like a young one, or to
give a good appearance to a bad horse.
.Ml. Ennjc.
tUSH'OPLIKE, a. Resembling a bishop;
l)('l(in<;iiig to a bisliop. Fulke.
BISH'(JPRI€, 71. [bishop and j-ic, jurisdic
tion.]
1. A diocese ; the district over which the
Jurisidiction of a bishop extends. \n Eng
land, arc twenty-four bishoprics, beside;
that of Sodor and Man ; in Ireland, eigh-
teen.
2. The charge of instructing and governinc
in si)iritual concerns ; office. Acts i. 20.
J?ISiI'OPSWEED, n. [bishop and weed.[
A genus of plants, with the generic name
,1mmi.
BISH'OPSWORT, n. A plant.
BISK, n. [Fr. bisque.] Soup or broth, made
by boiling several sorts of flesli together.
King.
BISK'ET,n. A bisciiil. This orthograj)liy
isadopti-d bv iiiaiiy respectable writer
BIS'MUTll, »'.s;is:; [d.wissmuth.] A metal
of a yellowish or reddish white color, anc
a lamellar texture. It is somewhat hardei
than lead, and scarcely, if at all, niallea
ble, being so brittle as to break easily un
der the hammer, and it is reducible to
powder. Its internal face or fracture ex-
hibits large shining plates, variously dis-
posed. It melts at 476° Fahr. and may
be fused in the flame of a candle. It is
often found in a native state, crystalized iiil
rhombs or octahedrons, or in the form of
dendrites, or thin lamens investing the
ores of other metals, particularly cobalt.
JVicholsoii. Encyc.
BIS'MUTHAL, a. Consisting of bismuth, oi
containing it. Cleaveland.
T.IS'MUTHIe, a. Pertaining to bismuth ;
blsmuthic acid. Lavoisier.
BIS'ON, n. [L.] A quadruped of the bovine
genus, usually but improperly called the
buffalo. The proper buffalo is a distinct
species, peculiar to the warmer climates
of the Eastern Continent. The bison is a
wild animal, with short, black, rounded
horns, with a great interval between their
bases. On the shoulders is a large hunch,
consisting of a fleshy substance. The
head and hunch are covered with a .-..^
undulated fleece, of a rust-color, divided
into locks. In winter, the whole body is
covered in this manner ; but in summer,
the hind part of the body is naked, and
wrinkled. The tail is about a foot long,
naked, except a tuft of hairs at the end,
The fore parts of the body are very thick
and strong ; the hind parts are slender
and weak. These animals inhabit the in
terior jiarts of North America, and some
of the mountainous parts of Europe and
Asia. Pennant.
Pennant alledges that the bison of America
is the same species of animal as the bison
and aurochs of Europe, the bonasus of
Aristotle, the urits of Cesar, the bos ferus or
wild ox of Strabo, the bison of Pliny, and
the bistoti of Oppian.
Cuvier has not separated the bison of Ameri
ca from that of Europe. He considers
their identitv as doulnful. The former has
the legs and tail shorter, and the hairs of
its head and neck longer than in the latter.
Regne Anim.
BISSEXTILE, n. [L. bissexlilis, leap year,
from bissextus, [6is and seitus] the sixth of
the calends of March, or twenty-fourth
day of February, which was reckoned
twice every fourth year, by the intercala-
tion of a day. ./linstvorth.]
Leap year ; every fourth year, in which a day
is added to the month of February, on ac-
count of the excess of C hours, which the
civil year contains, above 365 days. This
excess is 11 minutes 3 seconds too much ;
that is, it exceeds the real year, or annual
revolution of the earth. Hence at the end
of every century, divisible by 4, it is neces-
sary to retain the bissextile day, and to sup-
press it at the end of those centuries which
are not divisible by 4. Encyc.
BISSEX'TILE, a. "Pertaining to the leap
year.
BIS'SON,a. [Sax.fcisen.] Blind. [JVotused.]
Shak.
BISTER, n. [Fr. bistre, from bis, brown.]
Among painters, the burnt oil extracted
from the soot of wood ; a brown pigment.
To prepare it, soot [that of beach is the
best] is put into water, in the proiiortimi of
two pounds to a gallon, ancl lioilrd hall'
an hour; after standing to setih', iiod « liilf
hot, the clearer part of the fluid must be
poured oft" from the sediment, and evapo-
rated to dryness ; the remainder is bister.
Enci/c.
BIS'TORT, ?!. [L. bistorta, bis and tortus,
isted.j
A plant, a species of polygonum, or many
knotted or angled. In'po[iular language,
it is called snake-weed.
BIS'TOURY, n. bis'tury. [Fr. listouri, from
Pistoia, a city.]
A surgical instrument for making ii
It is either straight and fixed in a handle
like a knife, or its blade turns like a Ian
cet, or it is crooked, with the sharp edge
on the inside. Encyc.
BISUL€'OUS, a. [L. bisulcus, of bis and
sulcus, a furrow.] Cloven footed, as swine
or oxen. Brown.
BISUL'PHURET, n. [bis and sulphuret.]
In chimistry, a sulijhuret, with a double pro-
portion of sulphur. Silliman.
BIT, n. [Sax. bitol, gebxte, gebcetel, a bit
bcetan, to bit or curb.]
The iron part of a bridle which is inserted
in the mouth of a horse, and its appenda
ges, to which the reins are fastened. I
includes the bit mouth, the branches, tli(
curb, the sevel holes, the tranchefil anc
cross chains. Bits are of various kinds,
as the musrol, snaffle, or watering bit ;
the canon mouth, jointed in the middle
the canon or fast mouth, all of a piece
kneed in the middle ; the scateh-mouth ;
the masticador, or slavering bit ; &c.
Johnson. Encyc.
BIT, V. t. To put a bridle upon a horse ; to
put the bit in the mouth.
BIT, pre/, and pp. of bite. Seized or wound-
ed by the teeth.
BIT, n. [Sax. bita, a bite or mouthful ; bitan,
to bite ; D. bit ; G. biss.] A small piece ;
a mouthful, or morsel ; a bite.
2. A small piece of any substance.
3. A small coin of the West Indies, a ha
pistareen, about ten cents, or five pence
sterling.
4. The point of an auger, or other borer ; the
bite.
This word is used, like jot and whit, to ex-
press the smallest degree ; as, he is not a
bit wiser or better.
BITCH, n. [Sax. ticca, tjcce, bice ; Dan. biUe.
Qu. Ger. betze ; Basque, 7)o<2oa. This word
probably signifies a female, for the French
biche is a hind.}
I. The female of the canine kind, as of the
dog, wolf, and fox.
12. A name of reproach for a woman.
Pope. Arbuthnot.
BITE, V. t. pret. bit ; pp. bit, bitten. [Sax.
bitan; Sw.bitn; Dan. bider ; Ger. beissen.
to bite.]
1. To break or crush with the teeth, as in
eating ; to pierce with the teeth, as a ser-
pent ; to seize with the teeth, as a dog.
:2. To pinch or pain, as with cold ; as a
biting north wind ; the frost bites.
13. To reproach with sarcasm ; to treat with
severity by words or writing ; as, one
poet praises, another bites.
4. To pierce, cut, or wound ; as a biting
faulchion. Shak.
."). To make to smart ; as, acids bite the
mouth.
(i. To cheat ; to trick.
The rogue was l}it. Pope.
[J^ot elegant, but common.]
7. To enter the ground and hold fast, as the
bill and palm of an anchor. Mar. Diet.
8. To injure by angry contention.
If ye bite and devour one another. Gal. 5.
BITE, n. The seizure of any thing by the
teeth of an animal, as the bite of a dog ;
or with the mouth, as of a fish.
2. The wound made by the teeth.
3. A morsel ; as much as is taken at once by
biting; a mouthful.
4. A cheat ; a trick ; a fraud. [A low word.]
5. A sharper ; one who cheats.
BI'TER, n. One who bites ; that which
bites ; a fish apt to take bait.
2. One who cheats or defrauds.
BITERN'ATE, a. [L. Ins and temus, three.]
In botany, doubly teruate, as when a petiole
has three ternate leaflets. Martyn.
Bl'TING, ppr. Seizing, wounding, or crush-
ing with the teeth ; pinching, paining,
causing to smart with cold ; reproaching
with severity, or treating sarcastically ;
cheating.
Bl'TING, a. Sharp; severe; .sarcastic.
BI'TINGLY, adv. In a sarcastic •
BIT'LESS, a. Not having a bit or bridle.
Fanshaw.
BIT'MOUTH, n. [bit and mouth.] The bit,
or that part of a bridle which is put in a
horse's mouth. Bailey. Ash. Encyc^
BIT'TA€LE, n. [Qu. Fr. boile d'aiguille,
needle box.]
The box for the compasses and lights on
board a ship. [See Binnacle.]
BIT'TEN, pp. of bite, bit'tn. Seized or
wounded by the teeth ; cheated.
BIT'TER, a. [Sax. biter ; Sw. D. Ger. and
Dan. bitter ; from bite.]
1. Sharp, or biting to the taste; acrid ; like
wormwood.
2. Sharp; cruel; severe; as bitter enmitv
1 Ileb. i.
BIT
B I T
B L A
■i. Sharp, as words ; reproachful; sarcastic,
1. Sliarp to the feeling ; piercing ; painful
that makes to smart ; as a bitter cold day,
or a hitter blast.
"). Painful to the mind ; calamitous ; poig-
nant ; as a bitter fate.
0. ASUcted ; distressed.
The Egjptians made their lives bitter. Ex. i.
7. Hurtful; very sinful.
It is an evil and bitter thing. Jer. ii.
8. Mournful; distressing ; expressive of mis-
ery ; as a bitter complaint or lamentation.
Job xxiii. Jer. vi. xxxi.
BIT'TER, n. A substance that is bitter.
[See Bitters.]
BIT'TER, n. [See BUls.] In marine lan-
guage,, a turn of the cable which is round
tlie hitts.
Bitter-end, that part of a cable which is
abaft the bitts, and therefore within board,
when the ship rides at anchor.
Mar. Diet.
BIT'TER-GOURD, n. [bitter and gourd.]
A |)lant, a species of Cucumis, called Col-
ocynthis, Colocynth, Coloquintada. The
fruit is of the gourd kind, having a shell
inclosing a bitter pulj), which is a very
drastic purgative. It is brought from the
Levant, and is tlie bitter apple of the shops
Encyc
BIT'TERISH, a. Somewhat bitter; bitter
in a moderate degree. Goldsmith.
BIT'TERISHNESS, n. The quahty of be-
ing moderately bitter. Encyc.
BIT'TERLY, adv. With a bitter taste.
2. In a severe manner ; in a manner express-
ing poignant grief; as, to \vee[) Utterly.
3. In a manner severely reproachful ; sharp-
ly ; severely ; angrily ; as, to censure bii-
terly.
BIT'TERN, n. [D. butoor ; Fr. butor;
Corn, klabitter.]
.\ fowl of the grallic order, the Jlrdea stella-
ris, a native of Europe. This fowl has
long legs and neck, and stalks among
reeds and sedge, feeding upon fish. It
makes a singular noise, called by Dryden
bumping, and by Goldsmith booming.
Encyc.
BIT'TERN, n. [from bitter.] In saU worh,
the brine remaining after the salt is con-
creted. This being laded olf, and the salt
taken out of the pan, is returned, and be-
ing again boiled, yields more salt. It is
used in the preparation of Epsom salt,
the sulphate of magnesia, and of Glauber's
salt, the sulphate of soda. Johnson. Encyc.
BIT'TERNESS, n. [from bitter.] A bitter
tuste ; or rather a quality in things which
excites a biting disagreeable sensation in
the tongue.
2. In a ftgurative sense, extreme enmity,
grudge, hatred ; or rather an excessive de-
gree or implacable ness of jjassions and
emotions; as the 6iWerne*« of auger. Eph.
iv.
3. Sharpness; severity of temper.
4. Keenness of reproach ; piquancy; biting
sarcasm.
5. Keen sorrow; painful affliction; vexa-
tion ; deep distress of mind.
Hannah was in bitterness of soul. 1 Sam. i.
.lob vii.
In the gall of bitterness, in a state of extreme
impiety |'r enmity to God. .\cts viii.
Root iif bitterness, a dangerous error, or
I schism, tending to draw persons to apos-
I tasy. Ileb. xii.
BIT'TERS, n. A liquor in which bitter
herbs or roots are steeped ; generally a
spirituous liquor, the bitter cause ofintem-
I perance, of disease, and ofpremalure death '
(BfT'TER-SALT, n. Epsom salt.
IBiT'TER-SPAR, n. Rhombspar, a mine
ral that crystalizes in rhomboids. It i;
the crystalized variety of magnesian lime-
atone. Ure,
BIT'TER-SWEET, n. [bUter and sweet.] A
species of Solanum, a slender climbing
plant, whose root, when chewed, produ-
ces first a bitter, then a sweet taste.
Encyc.
BIT'TERVRTCIf, n. [hitter am] vetch.] A
species of Ei-vimi, or lentil, cultivated for
fodder. Ettcyc.
2. A genus of plant.s, known by the generic
name Orolms, remarkable for their beau-
tiful papilionaceous flowers. The tuber-
cles of one species are in great esteem
among tlie Highlanders of Scotland, who
chew them, when dry, to give a better
relish to their liquors.
BIT'TER-VVORT, n. [hitter nnd wort.] Th
plant calird !;ciili:ni, Gentiana, which has
a remark.-ihlv I'iltrr taste.
BIT'TOl'K ur BIT TOR, n. The bittern.
Dnjden.
BITTS, n. phi. [from the same root asbite.]
A frame of two strong |)ieces of timber
fixed perpendicularly in the fore part of a
ship, on which to fasten the cables, when
she rides at anchor. There are also top-\
sail sheet bitts, paul-bitls, carrick-biUs, &c.i
Mar. Did.
BITT, r. t. To put round the bitts ; as, toj
hitt the cable, in order to fasten it or to
slacken it out gradually, which is calledj
veering away. Mar. Diet.'
BITU'ME, n. Bitumen, so written for tliej
sake of the rhyme. May.]
BIT'UMEN, I ,, [L. ; Fr. bitume; Sp. betun ;i
BITU'.MEN, ^ "• h.bitume.] '
This name is used to denote various inflam
mal)le substances, of a strong smell, and ol"
different consistencies, which are found
in the earth. There are several varieties,
most of which evidently pass into eachj
other, proceeding from Naphtha, the most
fluid, to Petroleum, a viscid fluid. Maltha,
more or less cohesive, elastic bitumen or
mineral caoutchouc, and Asphalt, which
is sometimes too hard to be scratched by
the nail. JVicholson. Cleavetand.
BITU'JMINATE, v. t. To impregnate with
bitumen.
BITU'MINATED, a. Impregnated with
bitumen.
BITUMINIF'EROUS, a.- [bitumen and fero,
to produce.]
Producing bitumen. Kirwan.
BITU'MiNIZE, V. t. To form into, or im-
prcffnate with bitumen. Lit. Mug.
BITU'.^IINOUS, a. Having the qualities of
bitumen : conqjounded with bitumen ;
containing bitumen. Milton.
Bituminous Limestone is of a lamellar struc-
ture, susceptible of polish, of a brown or
black color, and when rubbed emitting an
uni)lea.«aiit .smell. That of Dalmatia is so
chariied with bitumen, that it may be rut
Uke soap. Urc.
BI'VALVE, n. [L. his, twice, and voice, 1.,
valva.]
An animal having two valves, or a shell con-
sisting of two parts which open and shut.
Also a pericarp in which the seed-case
oi)ens or splits into two parts. Encyc.
BI'VALVE, ^ Having two shells or
BIVALV'IjLAR, \ a. valves which open and
BIVALV'OLS, S shut, as the oyster and
the seed cases of certain plants.
Martyn. Coxe.
BIVAULT'ED, a. [L. 6u, twice, and vault.j
Having two vaults or archc.s. Barlow.
BIVENT'RAL, a. [L. bis and venter, belly.]
Having two belhes ; as a biventral muscle.
Bailty.
BIVIOUS, a. [h.bivius; bis and via, way.j
Having two ways, or Railing two ways.
Brown.
BIVOUAC, n. [Fr. This word is probably
composed of be and the Teutonic root of
icake, watch ; Sax. wacian, to wake, to
watch ; L. vigilo ; G. wache, a guard ; wa-
chen, to watch.]
The guard or watch of a whole army, as in
cases of great danger of surprise or at-
tack.
BIVOUAC, V. t. To watch or be on
guard, as a whole arm^'.
[This word anglici-sed would be bewatch.]
BIX' WORT, n. A plant.
BIZANTINE. [See Byzantine.]
BLAB, V. t. [W. llavaru, to speak ; D. lab-
bery, prattle ; Ir. clubaire, a babbler ; labh-
raim, to speak ; Chaucer, labbe, a Idabber.j
1. To utter or tell in a thoughtless manner ;
to publish secrets or trifles without discre-
tion. It implies, says Johnson, rather
thoughtlessness than treachery, but may
be used in either sense. Dryden.
Q. To tell, or utter ; in a good sense. Shak.
BLAB, V. i. To tattle ; to tell tales. Shak.
BL.\B, n. A babbler; a telltale; one who
betrays secrets, or tell things which ought
to lie kept secret.
BLABBER, n. A tattler; a tell-tale.
BLAB'BING, ppr. Telling indiscreetly what
ought to be concealed ; tatthng.
BLACK, a. [Sax. hlac, and blcec, black, pale,
w'an, livid ; blacian, blacan, to become pale,
to turn white, to become black, to black-
en ; hlac, u)k ; Sw. blek, pale, wan, livid ;
bleck, ink ; bleka, to insolate, to expose to
the sun, or to bleach; also to lighten, to
flash ; D. bleek, pale ; bleeken, to bleach ;
G. bleich, pale, wan, bleak ; hleichen, to
bleach ; Dan. blmk, ink ; hleeg, pale, wan,
bleak, sallow ; bleeger, to bleach. It is re-
markable that black, bleak and bleach are
all radically one word. The primary
sense seems to be, pale, wan or sallow,
from which has proceeded the present va-
riety of significations.]
1. Of the color of night; destitute of light;
dark.
2. Darkened by clouds ; as the heavens
black with clouds.
3. Sullen ; liaving a cloudy look or counte-
nance. Shak.
4. Atrociously wicked ; horrible ; as a black
deed or crime. Dryden.
5. Dismal ; mournful ; calamitous. Shak.
Black and blue, the dark color of a bruiso
in the flesh, which is accompanied with a
mixtui-e of blue.
BLACK, n. That which is destitute of light
B L A
B L A
B L A
or whiteness ; the darkest color, or rather!
a (lestiti-itioii of all color ; as, a cloth has a
good black.
•i. A negro ; a person whose skin is black.
8. A black dress, or mourning; as, to be
clothed in black.
BLACK, V. t. To make black ; to blacken ;
to soil. Boyle.
BLACK'-ACT, n. [black and act.] The
English statute 9. Geo. I. which makes it
felony to appear armed in any park or
warren, &c., or to hunt or steal deer, &c.,
with the face blacked or disguised.
Blackstone.
BLACK'-BALL, n. [black and ball.]
position for blacldng shoes.
BLACK'-BALL, v. I. To reject or negative
in choosing, by putting black balls into a
ballot-box.
BLACK'-BAR, n. [black and bar.] A plea
obliging the plaintiff to assign the place of
trespass. Ash.
BLACK'-BERRY, n. [Sax. blacberian, black
and berry.]
The berry of the bramble or rubus ; a popu-
lar name applied, in different places, to
different species, or varieties of this fruit.
BLACK'-BIRD, n. [black and bird..] In
England, the menila, a species ofturdus, a
singing bird with a fine note, but very
loucl. In America, this name is given to
ilifferent birds, as to the gracula quiscula
or crow black-bird, and to the oriohis
pheeniceus, or red winged black-bird.
nus predatorius, Wilson.]
BLACK'-BOOK, n. [black and book.] The
Black Book of the Exchequer in England,
is a book said to have been composed i
1175, by Gervais of Tilbury. It contains
^ description of the Court of Exchequer, it
officers, their ranks and privileges, wages,
perquisites and jurisdiction, with the reve-
nues of the crown, in money, grain and!
cattle. Encyc.
■i. Any book which treats of necromancy.
Encyc.
;i. A book compiled by order of the visitors
of monasteries, under Heniy VIII., con-
taining a detailed account of the enormi-
ties practised in religious houses, to black-
en them and to hasten their dissolution.
Encyc.
nLACK'-BROWED, a. [black and brow.]'
Having black eye-brov,'s ; gloomy ; dis-1
mal ; threatening; as a black-browed gust.
Dryden.\
BLACK-BRY'ONY, n. [black and bryony. ]\
A plant, the Tamus. Encyc.
15LACK-€AP, n. [black and cap.] A bird,;
the Motacilla atricapilla, or mock-nightin-j
gale ; so called from its black crown. It
is common in Europe. Encyc. Pennant.i
"2. In cookery, an apple roasted till black, to
be served up in a dish of boiletl custard.
Mason.
BLACK'-€ATTLE, n. [black and cattle.]
Cattle of the bovine genus, as bidls, oxen
and cows. [English.] Johnson.
BLACK-CHALK, n. A mineral of a bluish
black color, of a slaty texture, and soiling,
the fingers when handled; a variety ofl
argillaceous slate. Ure.\
BLACK' -COCK, n. [black and cock.] A
fowl, called also black-grous and black-
game, tiie Tetrao tetrix of Linne.
BLACK'-EAGLE, n. [black and eagle] In!
Scotland, a name given to the Falcofulmis,
the white tailed eagle of Edwards.
BLACK'-EARTH, n. Mold ; earth of a
dark color. Woodward.
BLACK'ED, pp. Made black ; soiled.
BLACK'EN, V. t. [Sax. blxcan. See Black.]
'1. To make black.
The importation of slaves that has blackened
half America. Franklin.
]2. To make dm-k ; to darken ; to cloud.
3. To soil.
4. To sully reputation ; to make infamous ;
1 as, vice blackens the character.
BLACK'EN, V. l To grow black, or dark.
BLACK'ENER, n. He that blackens.
BLACK'-EYED, a. Having black eyes.
Bryden.
BLACK-FACED, a. Having a black face
Shak.
BLACK'-FISII, n. [black anifsh.] A fish
in the Orontes, about twenty inches lon^
in shape resembling the sheat-fish. Its
eyes are jilaced near the corners of its
moiitu on the edge of the lower jaw.
Diet. ofjVat. Hist.
2. In the U. States, a fish caught on the
rocky shores of New-England.
BLACK-FOREST, n. [black and forest.] A
forest in Germany, in Swabia; a part of
the ancient Hercynian forest.
BLACK-FRIAR, ™. Black-fi-iars is a name
given to the Dominican Order, called also
Predicants and preaching friars ; in France,
Jacobins. Encyi
BLACK'-GUARD, n. [said to be of blackj
and guard ; but is it not a corruption of
black-ard, black-kind .']
A vulgar term applied to a mean fellow, who
uses abusive, scurrilous language,
treats others with foul abuse.
BLACK'ING, ppr. Making black.
BLACK'ING, n. A substance used for
blacking shoes, variously made ; any fac-
titious matter for making things black.
Encyc. Ash
BLACK'ISH, a. Somewhat black ; mode-
rately black or dark.
BLACk'-JACK, n. A name given by mi-
ners to blend, a mineral called also fals(
galena, and blend. It is an ore of zink, in
combination with iron and sulphur, sul
phiu-et of zink. Micholson.
A leathern cup of old times.
BLACK'-LEAD, n. A mineral of a dark
steel-gray color, and of a scaly texture,
composed of carbon, with a small portion
of iron. This name, black-lead, is
proper, as it contains.uo lead. It is called
plumbago, and technically graphite, i
is used for pencils. Cleaveland.
BLACK'-LEGS, n. In some parts of Eni^
land, a disease among calves and sheep.
It is a sort of jelly which settles in the
legs and sometimes in the neck. Encyc.
BLACK'LY, adv. Darkly ; atrociously.
BLACK'-MAIL,n. A certain rate of money,
corn, cattle or other thing, anciently paid,
in the north of England, to certain i
who were allied to robbers, to be by them
protected from pillage. Cowel. Encyc
2. Black rent, or rents paid in corn or flesh
Bailey. Encyc.
BLACK'-MONDAY, n. Easter Monday, ii;
34. Ed. III., which was misty, obscure
and so cold that men died on horseback.
Stowc.
BLACK'-MONKS, a denomination given to
the Benedictines. Encyc.
BLACK'-MOOR, n. [black and moor.] A
negro ; a black man.
BLACK'-MOUTHED,a. Using foul or scur-
rilous language. Killingbeck.
BLACK'NESS, n. The quality of being
black; black color; darkness; atrocious-
ness or enormity in wickedness.
BLACK'-PUDDING, n. A kind of food
made of blood and grain. Johnson.
BLACK'-ROD, n. [black and rod.] In Eng-
land, the usher belonging to the order of
the garter ; so called from the black rod
which he carries. He is of the king's
chamber and usher of Parliament.
Cmvel.
Black row grains, a species of iron stone or
ore, found in the mines about Dudley ii»
Staffordshire, England. Encyc.
BLACK' SEA, n. [black and jca.] The Eux-
ine Sea, on the eastern border of Europe.
BLACK'-SHEEP, n. [black and sheep.] In
oriental history, the ensign or standard of
a race of Turkmans in Armenia and Mes-
opotamia. Encyc.
BLACK'SMITH, n. [black and smith.] A
smith who works in u-on, and makes iron
utensils ; more properly, an iron-smith.
Black' -strak^s, in a ship, are a range of planks
immediately above the wales in a ship's
side, covered with tar and lamp-black.
Encyc.
BLACK'-TAIL, n. [black and tail.] A fish,
a kind of perch, called also a rtiffot pope.
Johnson.
BLACK'-THORN, n. [black and thorn.] A
species of prunus, called also sloe. It
grows ten or twelve feet high, very
branchy, and armed with sharp, strong
spines," and bearing small, round, black
cherries. It is much cultivated for hedg-
es. Encyc.
BLACK'-TIN, n. [black and tin.] Tin ore,
when dressed, stamped and washed ready
for mehing. It is the ore conuninuted by
beating into a black powder, like fine sand.
Encyc.
BLACK'-VISAgED, a. Having a dark vis-
age or appearance. Marston.
BLACK'- WaDD, n. [black and wadd.] An
ore of manganese, found in Derbyshire,
England, and used as a drying ingredient
in paints. It is remarkable for taking fire,
when mixed with linseed oil in a certain
proportion. Encyc.
BLACK'-WORK, n. [blctck and tvork.] Iron
wrought by black-smiths; so called in
distinction from that wrought by white-
smiths. Encyc.
BLAD'-APPLE, n. In botany, the cactus or
a species of it. Fam. of Plants.
BLAD'DER, n. [Sax. bla:dr, bhvdra, bleddra,
n bladder, and bla'd, a puft" of wind, also
a goblet, fruit, the branch of a tree ; W.
pledren, a bladder; Sw. and Dan. blad, a
page, a leaf, Eng. a blade ; D. blad, a leaf,
page, sheet, a board, a blade, a plate ; G.
blatf, a leaf; blatter, a blister, which is our
bladder. The Germans express bladder by
blase, D. blaas, which is our Maze. Hence
we observe that the sense is taken from
swelling, extending, dilating, blowing ;
Sax. blawan, to blow ; W. blot or blwth, a
puffor blast ; W. pled, extension, fromlled,
breadth ; L. Mus.]
B L A
B L A
B L A
i . A thin membranous bag in animals, whicli
serves as the receptacle of some secreted
fluid, as the urinary bladder, the gall blad-
der, &c. By way of eminence, the word,
in common language, denotes the urinary
bladder, either within the animal, or wlien
taken out and inflated with air.
Encyc. Johnson.
2. Any vesicle, blister or pustule, especially
if tilled with air, or a thin, watery hquor.
3. In botany, a distended membranaceous
pericarp. Martyn.
BLAD'DERED, a. Swelled like a bladder.
Drydcn .
BLAD'DER-NUT, n. [bladder and nut. ^ A
genus of plants, with the generic name ot
StaphyUEO. They have three capsules,
inflated and joined by a longitudinal
suture. Encyc.
3. The African bladder nut is the Royena.
3. The laurel-leaved bladder-nut is a species
of Ilex, holm or holly. Fam. of Plants.
BLAD'DER-SENNA, or bastard-senna, a
genus of plants, called in botany Colutea.
Fam. of Plants.
The jointed-podded bladder-senna is the Co-
ronilla. Fam. of Plants
BLAD'DERY, a. ResembUng a bladder
containing bladders.
BLADE, n. [Sax. ftterf, bled, a branch, fruit,
herbs, goblet, a phial, the broad part or
blade of an oar ; Gr. rfkatv;, broad. The
radical sense is to shoot, extend, dilate
See Bladder.}
1. The stalk or spire of a plant, particularly
of grass arjd corn; but apphcable to tht
stalk of atiy herbaceous plant, whether
green or dry.
•2. A leaf. In this sense much used in the
Southern States o/jV. Amenca, for tJie leat
of maize, tvhick are used as fodder.
3. The cutting part of an instrument, as the
blade of a knife, or sword, so named from
its length or breadth. Usually, it is made
of iron or steel, but may be of any other
metal, cast or wrought to an edge or point
.\lso, the broad part of an oar.
4. The blade of the shoulder, shoulder-blade, or
blade-bone, is the scapula, or scapular bone.
It is the broad upper bone of the shoulder
so called from its resemblance to a blade
or leaf.
5. A brisk man ; a bold, forward man ; a
rake.
BLADE, V. t. To furnish with a blade,
BLA'DE-BONE, n. The scapula, or upper
bone in the shoulder.
BLA'DED, pp. Having a blade or blades.
It may bo used of blade in the sense of a
leaf, a spire, or the cutting part of an
instrument.
2. In mineralogy, composed of long and nar
row plates, like the blade of a knife.
Cleaveland.
BLA'DE-SMITH, n. A sword cutler.
BLAIN, ». [Sax. blegene ; Tf.bkin.]
A pustule ; a botch; a blister. In farriery,
bladder growing on the root of the tongue
against the wind pipe, which swells so as
to stop the breath. Encyc
BLA'MABLE, a. [See Blame.] Favdty ;
culpable ; reprehensible ; deserving of cen-
sure. Dryden
BLA'MABLENESS, ji. Cnlpableness ; iault
the state of being worthy of censure.
Whithck
BLA MABLY, arfv. Culpably; in i
deserving of censure.
BLAME, V. t. IFr. bldmer, for blasmer ; It.
biasmare, to blame ; biasmo, for blasmo,
blame. The Greeks have the root of this
word in jixavfriniu, to blaspheme, and it
seems to be of the same family as Fr.
blesser, to injure, that is, to strike. See
Blemish. But it is not clear that the noun
ought not to be arranged before the verb.]
. To censure ; to express disapprobation
of ; to find fault with ; opposed to praife
or commend, and applicable most properly
to persons, but applied also to things.
1 withstood hill), because he was to be bla
med. Gal. ii.
I must [blame your conduct ; or I musi
blame you for neglecting business. Legiti-
mately, it cannot be followed by of.
3. To bring reproach upon ; to blemish ; to
injure. [See Blemish.]
.She had blamed her noble blood. [ Obs.]
Spenser
BLAME, n. Censure ; reprehension ; impu-
tation of a fault ; disapprobation ; an ex-
pression of disapprobation for something
deemed to be wrong.
Let nie bear the blame forever. Gen. xliii
3. Fault ; crime ; sin ; that which is desi
ving of censure or disapprobation.
That we should be holy and without blame
before him in love. Eph. i.
3. Hurt ; injury.
j\nd glancing down his shield, from blame
him fairly blest. Spenser.
The sense of this word, as used by Spen-
ser, proves that it is a derivative from the
root of blemish.
To blame, in the phrase, he is to blame, signi
fies blamablc, to he blamed.
Blame is not strictly a charge or accusation
of a fault; but it impUes an opinion in the
censuring party, that the person censured
is faulty. Blame is the act or expression of
disapprobation for what is supposed to be
wrong.
BLA'MED, ;;ip. Censured; disapproved.
BLAMEFUL, a. Faulty; meriting blame ;
reprehensible.
BLA'MELESS, a. Without fault ; innocent ;
guiltless ; not meriting censure.
A bishop then must be blameless. 1 Tim. iii
Sometimes followed by of.
We will be blameless of this thine oath
Josh. ii.
BL.A'MELESSLY, adv. Innocently ; with-
out fault or crime. Hammond.
BLA'MELESSNESS,n. Innocence ; a state
of being not worthy of censure.
Hammo7id.
BLA'MER, )!. One who blames, finds fault
or censure;;.
BLAMEWORTHINESS, n. The quahty
of deseri'ing censure.
BLA'MEWORTHY, a. [blame and woMy:
Deserving blame ; censurable ; culpable
reprehensible. Martin
BLA'MING, j);)r. Censuring ; finding fault,
BLAN€'ARD, n. [Fr. blanc, white, and ard,
kind.]
.\ kuid of hnen cloth, manufactured ui Nor-
mandy, so called because the thread is half
blanched before it is wove. Enct/i
BL>ANCH, I', t. [Fr. bUmchir ; It. bianchire,
the / suppressed as in blame ; Sp. blan
quear ; Port, branquear, I changed into r
Eng. blank. See Bleach.]
1. To whiten ; to take out the color, and
make white ; to obliterate. Drydm.
3. To slur ; to balli ; to pass over ; that is,
to avoid ; to make empty. Obs. Bacon.
3. To strip or peel ; as, to blanch almonds.
H'iseman.
BL'ANCH, V. i. To evade ; to shift ; to speak
softly. Johnson.
Rather, to fail or withhold ; to be re.served ;
to remain blank, or empty.
Books will sjieak plain, when counselors
hiatu-li. Bacon.
I'.L A\( lir.l), pp. Whitened.
I'll. A.Nrlll'.i;, II. One who whitens; also,
(Jill- who aiMioals, and cleanses money.
BLA.\C;ilLM ETER, n. [blanch, and Gr.
ftirpov, measure.]
An instrument for measuring the bleaching
liower of oxytnuriate [chloride] of hme,
and potash. Ure.
BL'ANCHING, ppr. Whitening. In coin-
age, the operation of giving brightness to
pieces of silver, by heating them on a peel,
and afterwards boiling them successively
in two pans of copper, with aqua fortis,
common salt, and tartar of Montpelier ;
then draining ofi" the water in a sieve :
sand and fresh water are then thrown
over them, and when drj-, they are rubbed
with a towel. Encyc.
The covering of iron plates with a thin coat
of tin is also called blanching. Encyc.
Blanch-ferm, or blank farm, in ancient law,
a white farm, was one, where the rent was
paid in silver, not in cattle. Encyc.
Blanch-holding, in law, a tenure by which
the tenant is bound to pay only an elusory
yearly duty to his superior, as an acknowl-
edgment to his right. Encyc.
BLANC-MANGER, pron. blomonge. [Fr.
white food.] In cookery, a preparation of
dissolved isinglass, milk, sugar, cinnamon,
&c., boiled into a thick consistence, and
garnished for the table with blanched
almonds. Encyc.
BLAND, a. [L. blandus ; Fr. blond ; G.
linde, gclinde, mild, soft ; Sw. lindra ; G.
lindem ; D. linderen ; Dan. lindrer ; to soft-
en or mitigate ; Dan. lind, sofl, mild, gen-
tle ; L. lenis, lentus ; Ar. ^ ^ lana, to be
mild, soft, gentle, placid, smootli, lenient.
See Relent^
Mild ; soft ; gentle ; as bland words ; bland
zephyrs. Milton. Thomson.
BLANblL'OQUENCE, n. [L. blandus, mild,
and loquor, to speak.] Fair, mild, flatter-
ing speech.
IBLAND'ISH, v.t. [L. blandior ; It. blandire;
Sp. hlandiar, blandir; Old Eng. blandise.
j Chaucer.]
jTo soften ; to caress ; to flatter by kind
words or aft'ectionate actions. Milton.
BLAND'ISHER, n. One that flatters with
! soft words.
BLAND'ISHING, ppr. Soothing or flatter-
ing with fair words.
BLAND'ISHING, n. Blandishment.
BLANDISHMENT, n. Soft words ; kind
speeches ; caresses ; expression of kind-
ness ; words or actions expressive of af-
fection or kindness, and tending to win the
heart. Milton. Dryden.
BL.-VNK, a. [Fr. blanc ; It bianco ; Sp.
bianco : D. and Ger. blank ; Dan. blank.
B L A
B L A
B L A
shilling; Sw. 6/ancA;, wliite, shining ; blan
Ida, to shine. See Bleach.\
1. Void ; eiiii)ty ; consequently white ; as i
blank paper.
2. White or pale ; as the blank moon.
MUlon
3. Pale from fear or terror ; hence confused
confounded; dispirited; dejected.
Adam — astonished stood, and blank. Milton
4. Without rhyme ; as 6/anA; verse, verse ii
wliich rhyme is wanting.
5. Pure ; entire ; complete. Beddoes.
6. Not containing balls or bullets ; as blank
cartridges.
This word is applied to various otlier ob-
jects, usually in the sense of destitution,
emptiness ; as a blank hne ; a blank space.
in a book, &c.
BLANK, n. Any void space ; a void space
on ])aper, or in any written instrument
2. A lot by which nothing is gained ; a ticket
in a lottery which draws no prize.
3. A pajier unwritten ; a paper without
marks or characters.
4. A paper containing the substance of a
legal instrument, as a deed, release, wi-it
or execution, with vacant sjiaces left to be
filled with names, date, descriptions, &c
5. The point to which an arrow is directed,
marked with white paper. [Little tised.']
Shak.
6. Aim ; shot. Obs. Shak.
7. Object to which any thing is directed.
Shak.
8. A small copper coin formerly current in
France, at the rate of 5 deniers Tournois.
There were also pieces of three blanks,
and of six ; but they are now become
moneys of account. Encyc.
9. In coinage, a plate or piece of gold or sil-
ver, cut and shaped, but not stamped.
Encyc.
Blank-bar, in law, a common bar, or a plea
in bar, which, in an action of trespass, is
put in to oblige the plaintiff to assign the]
place where the trespass was committed.
Encyc.
Point-blank, in gunnery, the shot of a
gun leveled horizontally. The distance
between the piece, and the point where
the shot first touches the ground, is called
the point-blank range ; the shot proceeding
on a straight line, without curving.
Encyc.
BLANK, V. t. To make void ; to annul.
Spenser.
2. To deprive of color, the index of health
and .spirits ; to damp the spirils ; to dis-
puit or confuse ; as, to blank the face of
jo v. Shak. TUlotson.
BLANK'ED,p;). Confused ; dispirited.
BLANK'ET, n. [Fr. blanchet, the blanket of
a printing press.]
1. A cover for a bed, made of coarse wool
loosely woven, and u.^ed for securing
against cold. Blankets are used also by
soldiers, and seamen, for covering.
2. A kinil of pear, sometimes written after
the French, blanquet.
3. Among printers, woolen cloth or white
baize, to lay between the tvmpans.
Print. Guide.
BLANK'ET, y. t. To toss in a blanket by
w;iy of punishment ; an ancient custom.
The Emperor Otlio used to sally forth inj
dark nights, and if he found a drunken
man, lie administered the disciphne of the
blanket. Encyc.
2. To cover with a blanket.
BLANK'ETING,;);)r. Tossing in a blanket.
BLANK'ETING, n. The punislunent of
tossing in a blanket.
2. Cloth for blankets.
BLANK'LY, rt(/r. In a blank manner ; with
paleness or confusion.
BLARE, V. i. [Old Belgic blaren ; Tent.
blairen ; L. ptoro, to cry out, to bawl, to
weep ; Ir. blor, or glor, a noise, or voice
The radical souse is to shoot or drive fortli
or to spread.]
1. To roar; to bellow. [Little used.]
Johnson.
2. To sweal or melt away, as a candle.
Bailey.
This is, I believe, usually called f^lre.
BLARE, n. Roar ; noise. ILittle used.]
And sigh for battle's blare. ' Barlow.
2. A small copper coin of Bern, nearly of the
same value as the ratz. Encyc.
BLASPHE'ME, v. t. [Gr. .JTia^^^^fu. The
first syllable is the same as in biame, blasme.
denoting injury ; probably, Fr. blesser, to
hurt, that is, to strike ; L. Icedo, lce.ms.
Hence in Sp. blasfemable is blamable. The
last syllable is the Gr. ^tifit, to speak.]
1. To speak of the Supreme Being in terms
of impious irreverence ; to revile or speak
reproachfully of God, or the Holy Spirit.
1 Kings xxi. Mark iii.
3. To speak evil of ; to utter abuse or cal-
umny against ; to speak reproachfully of
Pope.
BLASPHE'ME, v. i. To utter blasphemy.
He that shall blaspheme against the Holy
Spirit shall not be forgiven. Mark iii.
2. To arrogate the |>rerogatives of God
This man blasphemeth. Wlio can forgive
sins hut God ? Math. ix. Mark ii.
BLASPHE'MER, n. Onewhoblasph
vho speaks of God in imjiious and
rent terms. 1 Tim. i.
BLASPIIE'MING, p;)r. Uttering impious or
reproachful words concerning God.
BLAS'PHEMOUS, a. Containing blasph-
my ; calumnious ; impiously irreverent or
reproachful towards God. Sidney.
BLAS'PHEMOUSLY, adv. Impiously ; with
impious irreverence to God.
BLAS'PHEMY, n. An indignity offered to
God by words or writing ; rejiroacliful,
contemptuous or irreverent words uttered
impiously against Jehovah.
Blasphemy is an injury offered to God, by de-
nying that which is due and belonging to him, or
att.-ibuling to him that wliich is not agreeable to
hii natuie. Linwood.
In the middle ages, blasphemy was used
to denote simply the blaming or condemn-
ing of a person or thing. Among thej
Greeks, to blaspheme was to use words oft
ill omen, which they were careful to avoid.
EncycJ.
2. That which derogates from the preroga-
tives of God. Mark ii.
BL>AST, n. [Sax. hlw.'it, a puff of wind, a
blowing ; Sw. bl&st ; Dan. bla:st ; Ger.
blasen ; D. blaazen ; Dan. bla:ser ; Sw.
blusa, to blow ; whence Ger. blrLif. T>. blanf:.'
Sw. hlilia, a bladder. Tiei.i-. i'.i:' A ■.. ,
which is primarilv a hloici'i. ■ i .
Ice. blots, to blow! Uu. Fr. ' ' - \ : ' ■■
u]). to ( onsunio. The piirii.ii> .,i.j;, i: i.-. ii.,
1. A gust or puff of wind ; or a sudde
of wind.
gnst
The sound made by blowing a wind
instrument. Shak.
3. Any pernicious or destructive influence
upon animals or plants.
4. The infection of any thing pestilential ; a
blight on plants.
A" sudden compression of air, attended
with a shock, caused by the discharge of
(j. A forcible stream of air from the mouth,
" om a bellows or the like.
7. A violent explosion of gunpowder, m split-
g rocks, and the explosion of infiam-
ible air in a mine.
8, The whole blowing of a forge necessary
to melt one supply of ore ; a common use
of the word among worlunen in forges in
America.
BL^AST, V. t. [Literally, to strike.] To make
to wither by some pernicious influence,
as too much heat or moistine, or other
destructive cause ; or to check growth and
prevent from coming to maturity and pro-
ducing fruit ; to blight, as trees or plants.
2. To affect with some sudden violence,
plague, calamity, or destructive influence,
which destroys or causes to fail ; as, to blast
pride or hopes. The figurative senses of
this verb are taken from the blasting of
plants, and all express the idea of checking
growth, preventing maturity, impairing,
injuring, destroying, or disappointing of
the intended effect ; as, to blast credit, or
reputation ; to blast designs.
3. To confound, or strike with force, by a
loud blast or din. Shak.
4. To spht rocks by an explosion of gun-
powder.
They did not stop to blast this ore.
Forster's Kalm's Travels.
BL'ASTED, pp. Affected by some cau,se
that checks growth, injures, impairs, des-
troys, or renders abortive ; split by an ex
plosion of gunpowder.
BL'ASTER, n. He or that which blasts or
destrovs.
BL'ASTING, ppr. Affecting by a blast ;
preventing from coming to maturity ; frus-
tratuig ; sphtting by an explosion of gun-
powder.
j'ASTING, n. A blast ; destruction by a
pernicious cause ; explosion.
BL\\STMENT, n. Blast; sudden stroke of
some destructive cause. [Superseded by
blast and blasting.] Shak.
BLA'TANT, a. [See Bleat.] Bellowing as
alf [ATol used.] Dn/den.
BLAT'TER, t;. i. [from the root of bleat.]
'o make a senseless noise.
BLAT'TERER, n. A noisy blustering
boaster. [JVot used.] Spenser.
BLAY, n. [See Bleak.] A small river fish,
the bleak. Ainsxcorth. Johnson.
BLAZE, n. [Sw. bl&sa ; G. blasen ; 1). blaa-
zen ; Dan. blwser, to blow, and Dan. blu.'i-
ser; to burn, blaze, glisten ; Eng. to blush ;
Sax. blaze, a lamp or torch ; Dan. bins :
Fr. blaser. The word seems primarily to
express rushing or flowing, or violent
agitation, and expansion.]
! . Flame ; the stream of light and heat
from any body when burning, proceeding
from the coinbu.«tion of inflammable gas.
,2. Publication; wide diffusion of rcjiort. In
B L E
B L E
B L E
lliis sensp, we observe the radical sense of
dilatation, as well as that of light.
3. A white spot on the forehead or face of a
horse, descending nearly to the nose.
4. Light ; expanded light ; as the blaze of
day.
5. Noise ; agitation ; tumult.
HLAZE, V. I. To flame ; as, the fire blazes.
a. To send forth or show a bright and ex-
panded light.
The third fair mom now blazed upon the main.
Pope.
3. To be conspicuous.
BLAZE, V. t. To make pubUc far and wide.
To blaze those virtues which the good would
hide. Pope.
2. To blazon. [JVot used. See Blazon.]
Peacham.
3. To set a white mark on a tree, by paring
off a part of the bark. Todd.
BLA'ZED, pp. Published far and wide.
BLA'ZER, n. One who publishes and
spreads reports.
BLA'ZING, ppr. Flaming ; publishing far
aud wide.
BLA'ZING, a. Emitting flame, or light ; as
a blazing star.
BLA'ZING-STAR, 71. A comet; a star that
is accompanied with a coma or train of
light.
BLA'ZON, V. I. bla'zn. [Fr. blasonner : It.
blasonare ; Sp. blasonar, to blazon ; blaso7i
heraldry. It is a derivative o{ blaze.]
1. To explain, in proper terras, the figures on
ensigns armorial. Addison
2. To deck ; to embellish ; to adorn.
She blazons in dread smiles her hideous form
Garth
3. To display ; to set to show ; to celebrate
by words or writing. Shak.
4. To blaze about ; to make public far and
wide.
5. To display ; to exhibit conspicuously.
There pride sits blazon'd on th' unmeaning
brow. Trumbull.
BLA'ZON, n. The art of drawing, descri-
bing or explaining coats of arms ; perhajjs
a coat of arms, as used by the French.
Peacham.
2. Publication ; show ; celebration ; jjom-
pous display, either by words or by other
means.
BLA'ZONED, pp. Explained, decyphercd
in the manner of heralds ; published a
broad ; displayed pompously.
BLA'ZONER, n. One that blazons ; a her
aid ; an evil speaker, or propagator of
scandal.
BLA'ZONING, ppr. Explaining, descril
ing as heralds ; showing ; publishing ; bla
zing abroad ; displaying.
BLA'ZONRY, n. The art of describing
coats of arms, in proper terms.
BLEA, n. The part of a tree, which lies
immediately under the bark. [/ believe not
used.] Chambers
BLEACH, V. t. [Sax. bl(Ecan ; D. bleeken .
G. bleichen ; Sw. bleka ; Dan. bleeger ; tc
whiten or bleach ; D. blyken, to appear, to
show; Dan. blik, a white plate of iron, or
tin plate ; bleeg, pale, wan, Eug. bleak ;
Sw. blek, id.; bleka, to shine. Ar. ,_jjX.
balaka, to open or be opened, to shine
^X J balaja, id. It is not improbable that
blank and blanch are this same word, with
a nasal sound casually uttered and after-
wards written before the final consonant.]
To whiten ; to make white or whiter ; to
take out color ; applied to many things, but
particularly to cloth and thread. Bleach-
ing is variously performed, but in gener-
al by steeping the cloth in lye, or a solu-
tion of pot or pearl ashes, and then expo-
sing it to the solar rays.
Bleaching is now generally performed, on
the large scale, by means of chlorine or
the oxymuriatic acid, which has the prop-
erty of whitening vegetable substances.
Cyc.
BLEACH, V. i. To grow white in any man-
ner. Shak.
BLE'ACHED, pp. Whitened ; made white.
BLEACHER, n. One who whitens, or
whose occupation is to whiten cloth.
BLE'ACHERY, n. A place for bleaching ;
as a wax bleachery. Tooke.
BLE'ACHING, ppr. Whitening; makuig
white ; becoming wlihe.
BLE'ACHING, n. The act or art of whiten-
ing, especially cloth.
BLEAK, a. [Sax. blac, blwc, black, and pale,
or wan ; niger, pallidus, fuscus, pullus.
It appears that originally this word did
not denote perfect whiteness, but a wan
or brown color. This is from the same
root as black and bleach. See Bleach.]
I. Pale. [But not often used in this sense, in
America, as far as my observations ertend.]
Gower.
8. Open ; vacant ; exposed to a free cur-
rent of air; as a bleak hill or shore. This
is the true sense of the word ; hence cold
and cheerless. A bleak wind is not so
named merely from its coldness, but from
its blowing without interruption, on a wide
waste ; at least this is the sense in Amer-
ica. So in Addison. " Her desolation
presents us with nothing but bleak and
barren prospects."
BLEAK, n. A small river fish, five or six
inches long, so named from its whiteness.
It belongs to the genus Cyprinus, and is
known to the Londoners by the name of
white bail. It is called also by contraction
blay. Encyc.
BLE'AKNESS, n. Openness of situation ;
exposure to the wind ; hence coldness.
Addison.
BLE'AKY, a. Bleak ; open ; unsheltered ;
cold ; chill. Dnjden.
BLEAR, a. [D. blaar ; Ban. blcere, a bl'ister,
a bladder or bubble.]
Sore, with a watery rheum ; apjilied only to
the eyes ; as the blear-eyed owl.
L'Estrange.
To
ake the noise of a sheep; to cry
lee]).
BLEAT, n. The crj' of a sheep.
BLE'ATING, ppr. or a. Crying as a sheep.
BLE'ATING, n. The cry of a sheep.
BLEB, 71. [This word belongs to the root
of blab, blubber.]
A httle tumor, vesicle or blister.
Arsenic abounds with air blebs. Kirwan.
BLED, pret. aud pp. o{ bleed.
BLEED, v.i. pret. and pp. bled. [Sax.
bledan; D. blocden ; G. bliiten; to bleed;
allied i)erliaps to Gr. (ixvfu.]
1. To lose blood ; to run with blood, by
whatever means ; as, the arm bleeds.
3. To die a violent death, or by slaughter.
The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to day.
Pope.
3. To issue forth, or drop as blood, from an
incision ; to lose sap, gum or juice ; as, a
tree or a vine bleeds.
For me the balm shall bleed. Pope.
The heart bleeds, is a phrase used to denote
extreme pain from sympathy or pity.
BLEED, V. I. To let blood; to take blood
I fniiii, liy opening a vein.
BLEE DJNG, ppr. Losing blood; letting
blood ; losing sap or juice.
BLEEDING, n. A running or issuing of
blood, as from the nose ; a hemorrhage :
the operation of letting blood, as in surge-
ry ; the drawing of sap from a tree or
plant.
BLEIT, I [Ger: blode ; D. bloode.] Bash-
r.LATl", S "■ ful ; used in Scotland and the
iinitliiiii ( oMuties of Ensland. Johnson.
WIA.M \<\\. v.t. [In Fr. Wcmir, is to grow
JmiIc, :iii(1 Utme, Irom the ancient blesme, is
pale, wan; Arm. blem; Normtin, blasme,
blamed ; blemish, and ble!>mys, broken ;
hlemishment, blemissment, infringement,
prejudice ; blesme, pale, wan ; from blesser,
to injure, or its root, from which was
formed the noun blesme, pale, wan, or
black and blue, as we should now say ; and
the s being dro|>i)ed, blamer and blemir,
were formed. See Blame.]
1. To mark with any deformity : to injure or
imi>air any thing which is well Ibrmed, or
excellent ; to mar, or make defective, ei-
ther the body or mind. Sidney.
2. To tarnish, as reputation or character ; to
defame. Dryden.
BLEM'ISII, n. Any mark of deformity;
any scar or defect that diminislies beauty,
or renders imperfect that which is well
formed.
2. Reproach ; disgrace ; that which impairs
reputation ; taint ; turpitude ; delbrmity.
Hooker.
BLEMISHED, pp. Injured or marred by
any mark of detbrraity ; tarnished; soiled.
BLEAR, V. t. To make sore; to affect witii lU.E^I ISIILNG, ppr. Marking with defor-
sorcness of eyes, or a watery humor; tcj miu : i.ii nisliiug.
make dim or partially obscure the sight. I'.l.l'.M ISIII.ESS, a. Without blemish;
Raleigh. Dryden. ^,„,il,-^.
BLE'AREDNESS, n. The state of being jjleM li^iniENT, n. Disgrace. [Uttle
bleared, or dimmed with rheum.
friseman.
BLEAR-EYED, a. Having sore eyes ; ha-
ving the eyes dim with rheum ; dim-sight-
ed. ■ Butler.
BLEAT, V. i. [Sax. bMan ; L. blatero ; D.
blaeten ; Sw. bladra, plnddra : Dan. plud-
rer. It coincides in elements with L.t
plaudo.] I
used.] Morton.
BLENCH, v.i. [This evidently is the i/ancfc
of Bacon [see Blanch,] and perhaps the
modern finch.]
To shrink ; to start back ; to give way.
Shak.
BLENCH, v.t. To hinder or obstruct, says
Johnson. But the etymology explains
the passage he cites in a different man-
B L E
uer. " Tlie rebels canied great trusses <
liay before them, to blench tlie defendant;
fight." Carew. That is, to render tlie
combat blank ; to render it ineffectual ; to
break the force of the attack ; to deaden
the shot. Obs.
BLENCH, n. A start. Shak.
BLENCH'ER, n. That which frus
BLENCH'-IIOLDING, n. A tenure of lands
upon the ijajanent of a small sum in sil
ver, blanch, that is, white money.
JBlackstone.
BLEND, n. [Ger. blenden, to blind ; blende,
a blind or skreen.]
An ore of zink, called also mock-lead, false
galena and black jack. Its color is most-
ly yellow, brown and black. 'I'here
several varieties, but in general, this
contains more than half its weight of
zink, about one foiu-th sulphur, and
ally a small portion of iron. In chimical
language, it is a sulphuret of zink.
Fourcroy. Cleaveland. Thomson
BLEND, V. t. [Sax. blendian, to blend and
to blind ; g;cUendan, to mix, to stain
dye; bUndan, to blind; D. blinden ; &
blenden, to blind ; Dan. blander, to blend
or mix ; blinder, to blind.]
1. To mix or muigle together ; hence to con-
found, so that the separate things mixed
cannot be distinguished.
2. To pollute by mixture ; to spoil or cor
rupt. 06s. Spenser.
3. To blind. Obs.
BLEND, t'. i. To be mixed ; to be united.
There is a tone of solemn and sacred feeling
that blends with our conviviality. Irving.
BLEND'ED, pp. Mixed; confounded by
mixture.
BLEND'ER, n. One that mingles or con-
founds.
BLEND'ING, ppr. Mingling together ; con-
founding by mixture.
BLEND'OUS, n. Pertaining to blend.
BLEND'-WATER, n. A distemper incident
to cattle, called also more-hough. Encyc.
BLEN'NY, n. [Sax. blinnan, to cease.] A
genus of lishes, of the order of Jugulars,
in Ichthyology called Blennius. There
are several species ; the size from five in-
ches to a foot in length.
Encyc. Diet. ofJVut. Hist.
BLENT, the obsolete participle of blend.
Spenser.
BLESS, V. t. pret. and pp. blessed or blest.
[Sax, bledsian, bletsian, bletsigan and bles-
sian ; whence, bletsung, bledsnng, a bles-
suig or benediction. W. Had, a gift, e
favor, a blessing.]
1. To pronounce a wish of happiness to one ;
to express a wish or desire of happiness.
And Isaac called Jacob and blessed him.
Gen. xxviii.
2. To make happy ; to make successful ; to
))rosper in temporal concerns ; as, we are
blest with peace and plenty.
The Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thou
doest. Deut. xv.
3. To make happy in a future life.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.
Rev. xiv.
4. To set apart or consecrate to holy purpos-
es ; to make and pronounce holy.
And God blessed the seventh day and sancti-
fied it. Gen. 2.
5. To consecrate by prayer ; to invoke a
blessing upon.
B L E
And Jesus took the five loaves and tlie two!
fishes, and looking up to heaven he blessed\
them. Luke ix.
6. To praise ; to glorify, for benefits re-
ceived.
Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and all that is
within me. Ps. ciii.
7. To praise; to magnify; to extol, for ex-
cellencies. Ps. civ.
To esteem or account happy ; with tlie re-
ciprocal pronoim.
The nations shall bless themselves in him.
Jer. iv.
!). To pronounce a solemn prophetical ben-
ediction upon. Gen. xxvii. Deut. xxxiii.
10. In this line of Spenser, it may signify to
throw, for this is nearly the primary s(
His sparkling blade about his head he blest.
Johnson supposes the word to signify to
wave or brandish, and to have received thi;
sense from the old rite of blessing a field
by directing the hands to all parts of it.
Bless in Spenser for bliss, may be so Avrit-
ten, not for rhyme merely, but because
bless and bliss are from the same root.
BLESS'ED, pp. Made happy or prosperous :
extolled ; pronounced happy.
BLESS'ED, a. Happy ; prosperous in world-
ly affairs ; enjoying spiritual happiness
and the favor of God ; enjoying heavenly
felicity.
Blessed-thistle. A plant of the genus
Cnicus, sometimes used in decoctions, for
a bitter.
BLESS'EDLY, adv. Happily ; in a fortunate
Skak
■ pros-
BLESS'EDNESS, n. Happiness ; felicity ;
heavenly joys ; the favor of God.
2. Sanctity.
BLESS'ER, n. One that blesses o:
pers ; one who bestows a blessing.
BLESS'ING, ppr. Making happy ; wishing
happiness to ; ])raising or extolling ; con-
secrating by praver.
BLESS'ING, n. Benediction; a wish ofl
happiness pronounced ; a prayer
ing happiness upon another.
2. A solemn prophetic benediction, in which
happuiess is desired, invoked or foretold,
This is the blessing wherewith Moses — bless-
ed the children of Israel. Deut. xxxiii.
3. Any means of happiness ; a gift, benefit
or advantage ; that which promotes tem-
])oral prosperity and welfare, or secures
iuunortal felicity. A just and jjious ma
gistrate is a public blessing. The divine
favor is the greatest blessing.
4. Among the Jeios, a present ; a gift ; either
because it was attended with kind wishes
for the ^^•clfare of the giver, or because it
was the means of increasing happiness.
Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought
to thee. Gen. xxxiu.
BLEST, pp. of bless.
BLEST, a. Made happy.
2. Making happy ; cheering.
While these blest sounds my ravlsh'd ear as-
sail. Trumbull.
BLE'TONISM, n. The faculty of perceiv-
ing and indicating subterraneous springs
and currents by sensation ; so called from
one Bleton of France who possessed this
facidtv. Ency:
BLE'TONIST, n. One who possesses th
faculty of ijerceiving subterraneous springs
by sensation. Encyc
BhE^V, pret. of blow.
B L I
BLEYME, ji. An inflammation in the foot
of a horse, between the sole and the bone.
Farrier's Diet.
BLICE'A, n. A small fish caught in the
Gennan seas, somewhat resembling the
EngUsh sprat. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
BLIGHT, n. [Qu. Sax. blcectha, scurf, lep-
rosy.]
1. A disease incident to plants, affecting
them variously. Sometimes the whole
plant perishes ; sometimes only the leaves
and blossoms, which will shrivel, as if
scorched.
2. Any thing nipping or blasting.
In America, I have often heard a cutaneous
eruption on the human skin called by the
name of blights.
BLIGHT, V. t. To aflfect with blight ; to
blast ; to prevent growth, and fertility ; to
frustrate.
BLIN, V. t. [Sax. blinnan.1 To stop or cease.
Obs. Spenser.
BLIND, a. [Sax. blind ; Ger. D. S^v. and
Dan. blind ; Sax. blendan, to blend and to
blind. This is the same word as blend,
and was so written by Spenser. Se«
Blend. Obscurity is from mixture.]
Destitute of the sense of seeing, either by
natural defect, or by deprivation ; not ha-
ving sight. ,
Not having the faculty of discerrmient ;
destitute of intellectual light; unable to
understand or judge ; ignorant ; as, au-
thors are blind to their own defects.
Blind should be followed by lo ; but it is
followed by of, in the phrase, blind of an eye.
3. Unseen ; out of public view ; private ;
dark ; sometimes implying contempt or
censure ; as a bli7id corner. Hooker.
4. Dark ; obscure ; not easy to be found ; not
sasily discernible ; as a blind path.
Heedless ; inconsiderate ; undeUberating.
This plan is recommended neither to blind
approbation nor blind reprobation.
Federalist, Jay.
6. In scnplure, blind implies not only want
of descernment, but moral depravity.
BLIND, V. t. To make blind ; to deprive of
sight.
To darken ; to obscure to the eye.
Such darkness blinds the sky. JJryden.
3. To darken the understanding ; as, to blind
the mind.
4. To darken or obscure to the understand-
ing.
He endeavored to blind and confound the
controversy. Stillingjieet.
5. To eclipse. Fletcher.
BLIND, or BLINDE, See Blend, an ore.
BLIND, n. Something to hinder the sight.
Civility casts a blind over the duty.
L'Esirange.
2. Something to mislead the eye or the nn-
derstanding; as, one thing serves as a
blind for another.
3. A skreen ; a cover ; as a blind for a win-
dow, or for a horse.
BLINDED, pp. Deprived of sight ; depri-
ved of intellectual discermnent ; made
dark or obscure.
BLINDFOLD, a. [blind and fold.] Having
the eyes covered ; having the mental eye
darkened.
BLINDFOLD, v. t. To cover the eyes ; te
hinder from seeing.
B L
B L O
B L O
BLINDFOLDED, fp. Having tho eyes cov
ered ; Itindered tVoni seeing.
BLINDFOLDING, ppr. Covering the eyes
liindeiiiig from seeing.
BLINDING, ppr. Depriving of sight, or of
understanding ; ohsouring.
BLINDLY, adv. Without sight, or under
standing.
^i. Without discerning the reason ; impheitly ;
witliout examination ; as, to be blindly led
by anuther. Drydtn.
3. Without judgment or direction. Dri/den.
BLINDMA^f'S BALL, n. A species of ftin-
gu.s, Lycoperdon, or puff-ball.
Fam. of Plants.
BLINDMAN'S BUFF, n. A play in wliich
one person is blindfolded, and hunts out
the rest of the company. Johtscju.
BLINDNESS, n. Want of bodily siirln ;
want of intellectual discernment : igi](i-
rance. Locke.
BLINDNETTLE, n. A plant
„, . . ... ^
made of osiers or branches interwoven,
and laid across two rows of stakes, four or
live feet asunder, of the highth of a man,
to shelter the workmen, and prevent their
being overlooked by the enemy. Eiicyc.
BLIND SERPENT, n. A reptile of the
Cape of Good Hoi)e, covered with black
scales, but spotted with red, wliite and
brown. Did. ofMit. Hist.
BLINDSIDE, n. [blind and side.] Tlie
-side which is most easily assailed ; or the
side on which the [larty is least able o:
disposed to see danger ; weakness ; foible
weak part. Sii>ijl
BLIND VESSEL, witli chiinists, a vessel
with an opening on one side only.
Johnson
BLINDWORM, n. [bliiid and leorm.]
small reptile, called also slow worm, a
species of Angiiis, about eleven inches
long, covered with scales, with a forked
tongue, but harmless. Did. of .V«<. Hist.
BLINK, y.i. [Sax. blican, to shine, to twin-
kle ; bliciend, clothed in white ; ahlican.
to appear, to whiten ; D. blikken
glance, to twinkle, and blinken, to shine,
to glitter ; blyken, to appear or show ; Swi
blincha, to wink, to connive ; bleka, to
shine, to twinkle ; Ger. blicken, to look,
to glance ; blinken, to glance, to shine,
to twinkle, to wink ; Dan. blinker, to blink,
to glance, to wink, to shine, to glitter.
This contains the same radical letters as
light.]
1. To wink; to twinkle with the eye.
2. To see obscurely. Johnson. Is "it not to
see with the eyes half shut, or with fre
quent winking, as a person with weak
eyes .•"
One eye was blinking and one leg wass lame.
Pope.
BLINK, ?i. A glimjjse or glance. Hall.
BLINK, n. Blink of ice, is the dazzling
whiteness about the horizon, occasioned
by the reflection of light from fields of ice
at sea. Mar. Did.
BLINK'ARD, n. [blink and ard, kind.] A
person who blinks or has bad eyes ; that
which twinkles, or glances, as a dim star,
■which appears and disappears. Hakewili
BLINK'ING, ppr. Winking; twinkhng.
BLISS, n. [Sax. bliss, joy, alacrity, exulta-
tion ; blissian, to rejoice, to exult, to con-
Vol. I.
grattdatc, to applaud ; also blithsian, to
rejoice. See Bless and Blithe.']
The highest degree of hap|)in<'ss ; bles.«ed-
ness ; felicity ; used of felicity in general,
when of .-ui exalted kind, but appropriately,!
of hcaveidy joys. Hooker. Pope.i
BLISS'FUL, a. Full of joy and felicity;
hai)pv in the highest degree. Spenser.l
BLISS'FULLY, mlv. In a blissful manner.!
Shertcood.
BLISS'FULNESS, n. Exalted happiness:
felicity; fulness of joy. Barrow.
BLISS'LESS, a. Destitute of bliss.
Hawkins
BLIS'SOM, V. i. [W. blys, btysiaw, to crave
that is, to reach forward.]
To he liL-itfii! ; t.) caterwaul. [T.Hltf vskL]
IU.IS"l'l':i{, ,1. [C.rv hl,,.-^,, »Ui\ bhitin: li \
is ni.lir.'.lU III,. .KiiHK- word as blnddrr, in a j
<lifi"ereni liialect. See BMder, ISIast
Blaze.]
1. A pustule ; a thin bladder on the skin,
containing watery matter or serum, wheth-
er occasioned by a burn, or other injury,
or by a vesicatory. It is formed by rais-
ing the cuticle.
2. Any tumor made by the separation of the
film or skin, as on plants; or by the swell
ing of the substance at the surface, as or
steel.
3. A vesicatory ; a ]>laster of flies, or other
matter, applied to raise a vesicle.
BLIS'TER, V. i. To rise in bUsters. Dnjden.
BLIS'TER, ti. t. To raise a blister, by any
hurt, burn or violent action upon the skin ;
to raise a blister by a medical ajjplication,
or vesicatory.
2. To raise tumors on iron bars in a furnace,
in the process of converting iron into steel.
BLISTERED, pp. Having bUsters or tu-
BLIS'TERING, ppr. Raising a blister ; ap-
plying a blistering plaster, or vesicatoi-y.
BLITE, n. [L. blitum ; Gr. iSxitov.] A ge
nus of plants, called strawberry spinach.
Ency(
2. A species of amaranth, or flower gentle.
Fnm. of Plants.
BLITHE, a. [Sax. blithe and blealha,bleathe,
?^y> .joy'iih Tliis is probably the same
word as bliss ; L. la^tjis ; Eng. glad. See
Bliss and Glad. The Ir. lith, happiness
seems to be the original word without the
prefix.]
Gay; merry ; joyous ; sprightly ; mirthful.
For that fair female tioop thou sawest, that
seemed
Of goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gav.
.miton.
BLI'THEFUL, a. Gay; full of gayety.
BLI'THELY, adv. In a gay, joyful manner.
BLI'THENESS, n. Gayety; sprightliness ;
the quahtv of being blithe.
BLl'THESOME, a. Gav ; merry ; cheerful.
Philips.
BLI'THESOMENESS, n. The quality of
beine blithesome ; gavety.
BLOAT, V. t. [This woVd may be allied to
bladder, from the sense of inflating, swell-
ing ; W. bhrth, a pufl", a blast ; blytha^, a fat
paunch, a bloated person.]
1. To swell or make turgid, as with air ; to
inflate ; to pufli" up ; hence, to make vain ;
followed by up, but without necessity. To
bloat up with praise is less elegant than to
bloat with praise. Dryden.l
24
2. To sw(!ll or make turgid with water, or
other means ; as a bloated limb. It is used
to denote a morbid enlargement, often ac-
companied with softness.
BLO.AT, V. i. To grow turgid ; to dilate.
Jlrbuthnot.
BLOAT, a. Swelled ; turgid. [.Vot used.]
BLOATED, pp. Swelled ; grown turgid :
inflated.
BLOATEDNESS, n. A turgid state ; tur
gidncss; dilatation from inflation, debility,
or any morbid cau.se. Arbulhnol.
|BLO,\TlNG,/);)r. Swelling; inflating.
.| BLOB'BIOR, n. [Ir. plub, or pluibin, from
swelling, pushing out, as in bleb, blubber ;
j W. //ii'6, a bulging out. tin. bulb, by trans-
(losition. See Blubber.]
lo : pronounced by the common peo-
ple in America, blubber. It is a legitimate
« (ud, but not elegant. Carew.
BLOB'BERLIP, n. [blabber and lip.] A
thick lip. Dryden.
BLOB'BERLIPPED, a. Having thick lij^.
VEstrange.
BLOCK, 77. [D.blok; Ger. block; Fr. bloc ;
W. ploc, from Hoc, a mound ; plociaw, to
\)\ock,lo plug; Rus.s. nfecfta, a block. The
primary sense is, set, fixed, or a mass.]
1. A heavy piece of timber or wood, usually
with one plain surface ; or it is rectangu-
lar, and rather thick than long.
2. Any mass of matter with an extended sur-
face ; as a block of marble, a piece rough
from the quairy.
\ A massy body, solid and heavy ; a mass
of wood, iron, or other metal, with at least
one plaiti surface, such as artificers use.
4. The wood on which criminals are be-
headed.
5. Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction :
a stop ; hindrance ; obstacle.
6. A piece of wood in which a pulley runs ;
used also for the pulley, or the block it-
self and the sheaves, or wheels.
7. A blockliead ; a stupid fellow.
8. Among cutters hi wood, a form made of
hard wood, on which they cut figures in
relief with knives, chisels, &c. Encyc.
9. In falconry, the perch whereon a bird of
prey is kept. Ena/c.
BLOCK, V. t. [Fr. bloquer; Port, and ^p.
uear; It. 6/occare.]
To inclose or shut up, so as to hinder egress
or passage ; to stop up ; to obstruct, by
placing obstacles in the way : ol'ten follow-
ed by up ; as, to block up a town, or a
road.
BLOCKA'DE,n. [h.bloccato ; Port, bloquea-
do, blocked up ; Sp. bloqueo ; Fr. hlociis.]
The siege of a place, formed by surround-
ing it with hostile troops or ships, or by
posting them at all the avenues, to pre-
vent escape, and liinder supplies of pro-
visions and annnunition from entering,
with a view to com|)el a surrender, by
hunger and want, witliout regidar attacks.
To constitute a blockade, the investing pow-
er must be able to apply its force to every
point of practicable access, go as to ren-
der it dangerous to attempt to enter ; and
there is no blockade of that port, where its
force cannot be brought to bear.
Kent's Commentaries.
BLOCKA'DE, v. t. To shut up a to%vn or
fortress, by posting troops at all the ave-
nues, to compel the garrison or inbabi-
B L O
B L O
L O
tants to smrender by means of liunger and
want, without regular attacks ; also, to sta-
tion ships of war to obstruct all intercourse
with a town or nation.
BLOCKA'DED, pp. Shut up or inclosed by
an eiieni)'.
BLOCKA'DING, ppr. Besieging by a block
adc.
BLOCK'HEAD, n. [block and head.'] A stu
pid fellow ; a dolt ; a person deficient in
understanding.
BLOCK'HEADED, a. Stupid ; dull.
Shah
BLOCK'HEADLY, a. Like a blockhead.
BLOCK'HOUSE, n. [block and house.] A
house or fortress, erected to block up
pass, and defend against the entrance of
an enemy.
BLOCK'ISH, a. Stupid ; dtdl ; deficient in
understanding. Shak
BLOCK'ISHLY, adv. In a stupid manner.
Harmar.
BLOCK'ISIINESS, n. Stujudity ; dullness.
BLOCK'LIKE, a. Like a block ; stupid.
Hnlieunll.
BLOCK'-TIN, n. [block and tin.] Tin wliich
is pure, unmixed, and unwrought.
Johnson, jlsh.
BLO'MARY, n. [See Bloom, a mass of iron.]
The first forge through which iron passes,
after it is melted from the ore.
BLONK'ET, a. Gray. [JVot used.]
Spensei:
BLoOD, n. [Sax. Sw. and Dan. blod ;
Ger. blut, blood ; blulen, to bleed ; D. bloed,
blood ; bloeden, to bleed ; allied perhaps to
Gr. (3?.v?co.]
I. The fluid which circulates through the
arteries and veins of the human body, and
of other animals, which is essential to the
preservation of life. This fluid is gene-
rally red. If the blooil of an animal is
not red, such animal is called exsangui-
nus, or white-blooded ; the blood beinj
white, or white tinged with blue.
^. Kindred ; relation by natural descent fron
a common .nncestor; consanguinity.
God hath made of one blood, all nations of
t!ie earth. Acts xvii.
Hence the word is used for a child ; a
family ; a kindred ; descent ; lineage ;
progeny ; descendants ; &.c.
'X Royal lineage ; blood royal ; as a prince
of the blood.
4. Honorable birth ; high exlracrion ; as a
gentleman of blood. Shak.
5. Life.
Shall I not require his blood at your hands .'
2 Sam. iv.
6. Slaughter ; murder, or bloodshedding.
1 will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the
house of Jehu. Hosea i.
The voice of thy brother's blood crieth to
me from the ground. Gen. iv.
7. Guilt, and punishment.
Your blood be upon your own heads. Acts
xviii.
S. Fleshly nature ; the carnal part of man ;
as opposed to spiritual nature, or div'
life.
Who were bom, not of flesh and blood, noi
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God. John i.
9. Man, or human wisdom, or reason.
Flesh and blood ha(h not revealed it to thee
but my Father who is in heaven. Matt. xvi.
10. A sacramental symbol of the blood of
Christ.
Tliis is my blood of the New Testament
which is shed for the remission of sins. Matt
XX vi.
11. The death and sufferings of Christ.
Being now justified by his blood, we shall be
saved trom wrath through him. Rom. v
Eph. i.
12. The price of blood ; that which is ob-
tained by shedding blood, and seizing
goods.
Wo to him that buildeth a town with blood
Hab. ii. Acts i.
13. Temper of mind ; state of the passions ;
but in this sense, accompanied with cold
or wai~m,, or other qualifying word. Thus
to commit an act in cold blood, is to do it
deliberately, and without sudden passion.
Warm blood denotes a temper inflamed or
irritated ; to ivarm or heat the blood, is to
excite the passions.
14. A hot spark ; a man of fire or spirit ; a
rake.
15. The juice of any thing, especially if red ;
a.s, " the blood of grapes." Gen. xlix.
Whole blood. In law, a kinsman of the lohole
blood is one who descends from the same
coui)le of ancestors ; of the half blood, one
who descends from either of them singly,
by a second marriage. Encyc.
BLOOD, V. t. To let blood; to bleed by
opening a vein.
2. To stain with blood. Addison. Dri/den.
3. To enter ; to inure to blood ; as a hound.
Spenser.
4. To heat the blood ; to exasperate. [Un-
usual.] Bacon.
BLOOD-BESPOT'TED, a. Spotted with
" Odd. Shak.
BLOOD-BOLTERED, a. [blood and bolter.]
Sprinkled with blood. [.Yot used.]
Macbeth.
BL0OD-€ONSU'MING, a. Wasting the
blood. Shak.
BLOOD'ED, pp. Bled ; stained with blood ;
ured to blood.
BLOOD'-FLOWER, 7i. [blood an<\ flower.]
Hsemauthus, a genus of plants, natives of
the Cape of Good Hope. Encyc.
BLOOD-FROZEN, a. Having the blood
chilled. Spenser.
BLOOD-GUILTINESS, n. [blood aud guilt.]
The guilt or crime of shedding blood.
BLOOD-HOT, a. [blood and hot.] As warm
as blood in its natural temperature.
BLOOD'-HOUND, n. [blood and hoimd.]
A species of canis or dog, with long,
smooth and pendulous ears, remarkable
for the acuteness of its smell, and employ-
ed to recover game which had escaped
wounded from the hunter, by tracing; the
lost animal by the bloo(l it had sjjilt :
whence the name of the dog. Encyc.
BLOOD'ILY, adv. In a bloody maimer;
cruelly ; with a disposition to shed blood
Shak.
BLOOD'INESS, n. The state of being
bloody ; disposition to shed blood.
BL0OD'IN(J, ppr. Letting blood ; staining
with blood ; inuring to blood, as a hound.
BLOODLESS, «. Without blood ; dead
2. Without shedding of blood or slaughter ;
as a hUiodless vict(jry. Shak. If'allcr
3. Without spirit or activity. Shd:
BLOOD-LET, v. t. To bleed; to let blood.
Jlrbuthnot.
BLOOD'-LETTER, n. One who lets blood,
as in diseases ; a phlebotomist.
Wiseman.
BLOOD'LETTING, n. [blood and let.] The
act of letting blood, or bleeding by open-
ing a vein.
BLOOD'PUDDING, n. [blood andpudding.]
A ]iudding made with blood and other
materials.
BLOOD-RED, n. Red as blood.
BLOOD -ROOT, n. A plant so named from
its color ; a species of sanguinaria, called
also puccoon, turmeric and red root.
Bigelow.
BLOOD'SHED, n. [blood and shed.] The
shedding or spilling of blood ; slaughter ;
waste of life ; the crime of shedding blood.
Spenser.
BLOOD'SHEDDER, n. One who sheds
blood ; a murderer.
BLOODSHEDDING, n. The shedding of
blood ; the crime of shedding blood.
Homilies.
BLOOD'SHOT, a. [blood and shoot.] Red
and inflamed by a turgid state of the
blood vessels, as in diseases of the eye.
Garth.
BLOOD'SNAKE, n. A species of snake, the
haemorrhus. j}sh.
BLOOD'-SPAVIN, n. [blood and spavin.]
A dilatation of tlie vein that runs along
the inside of the hock of a horse, forming
a soft swelling. Encyc.
BLOOD'-STAINED, a. Stained with blood ;
also, guilt v of murder.
BLOODSTONE, n. [blood and stone.] A
stone, imagined, if worn as an amulet, to
be a good preventive of bleeding at the
nose. [See Hematite.]
BLOOD'-SUCKER, n. [blood and suck.]
Any animal that sucks blood, as a leech, a
fly, &c. A cruel man ; a murderer.
BLOOD'-SUCKING, a. That sucks or
Iraws blood. Shak.
BLOOD'-THIRSTY, a. [blood and thirst.]
Df'sirous to «hcd blood ; murderous.
BLOOD'-VESSEL, n. [blood and vessel]
Any vessel in which blood circulates in an
animal body ; an artery or a vein.
BLOOD'-WARM, a. Warm as blood ; juke
arm. Addison.
BLOOD'-WITE, n. [blood and mte, a fine
or penalty.]
In ancient law, a fine or amercement, paid
as a compositon for the shedding of blood.
BLOOD'-WQOD, n. [blood and wood.] A
name civen to log- wood, from its color.
BLOOD'-WORT, n. [blood and wort.] A
ant, a species of Rumex.
BLOOD'Y, a. Stained with blood.
2. Cruel ; murderous ; given to the shed-
ding of blood; or having a cruel, savage
disposition ; applied to animals.
3. Attended with bloodshed ; marked by
cruelty ; applied to things ; as a bloody bat-
tle.
BLOOD'Y, I', t. To stain with blood.
Overbury.
BLOODY', arfi). Very; as bloody sick, bloody
drunk. [This is very vulgar.]
BLOOD'Y-EYED, a. Having bloody or
cruel eves.
BLOOD'V-FaCED, a. Having a bloody face
or appearance. Shak.
B L O
B L O
B L O
BLOOD' Y-FLUX, n. [blood i,m\Jlur.] Tlir
dysentery, a disease in wliii-,h the dis-
ciiarges from the bowels have a mixture
of blood. Arhuthnot.
BLOOD'Y-HAND, n. [Mood and liand.] A
hand stained with the blood of a deer,
which, in the old forest laws of England,
was sufficient evidence of a man's tres-
pass in the forest against venison. Ash.
BLOOD' Y-IIUN TING, «. Hunting for blood.
Shak.
BLOOD'Y-MINDED, a. [blood aiid mhul.]
Having a cruel, ferocious disposition ; bar-
barous ; inclined to shed blood.
Dryden.
BLOOD'Y-RED, a. Having the color of
blood.
BLOODY-SCEP'TERED, a. Having a
scepter obtained by blood or slaughter.
Shak.
BLOOD'Y-SWEAT, n. [blood and sweat.
A sweat, accomi)anied by a discharge of
blood ; also a disease, called sweating
sickness, wliich formerly prevailed in Eng
land and other countries.
BLOOM, ». [Goth, bloma; D. bloem ; G.
blume ; Sw. blommc ; Dan. blomsler ; W.
bloden, blawd, from tlie root of blow ; Sax
blowan, contracted from blodan, or bloihan.
Blossom is a dialectical form of the word,
from the same root. See Blossom.]
\. Blossom; the flower of a plant; an ex-
panded bud.
While opening blooms diffuse their sweets
around. Pope.
•2. The opening of flowers in general ; flow-
ers open, or in a state of blossoming ; as.
the trees are clothed with bloom.
."). The state of youth, resembling that of
blossoms ; a state of opening manhood,
life, beauty, and vigor ; a state of health
and growth, promising higher perfection ;
as the bloom of youth.
4. The blue color upon plums and grapes
newly gathered. Johnson.
BLOOM, V. i. To produce or yield blos-
soms ; to flower.
2. To be in a state of healthful, growing
youth and vigor ; to show the beauty of
youth ; as blooming graces.
BLOOM, V. t. To put forth as blossoms.
Charitable affection bloomed them.
lJ\/'ot in use.] Hooker
BLOOM, n. [Sax. bloma, a mass or huiip ;
W. plwm ; Arm. plom, plowm, or bloum ;
Fr. plonib ; Sp. plomo ; It. piombo ; L
phimbum, lead, properly a lump.]
A mass of iron tliat has passed the blomary,
or midergone the first hammering.
BLOOM'ING, ppr. Opening in blossoms ;
flowering; thriving in the health, beauty,
and vigor of youth ; showing the beauties
of youth.
His blooming laurels graced tlie muse's seat.
Trumbxdl
BLOOM'INGLY, adv. In a blooming man-
BLOOM'Y, a. Full of bloom ; flowery
flourishing with the vigor of youth ; as a
bloomy sprav ; bloomy beauties.
BLORfi, n. [This is a different orthography
of blare, which see.]
The act of blowing ; a blast. [.Vo/ used.]
Chapman
BLOS'SOM, n. [Sax. blosm, blosma, blosim,
blostma, and blosan, a blossom; blosmian,
blostmian, to lilossom ; D. bloessem, a bios
som ; G. blxdhe, a blossom ; allied perhaps to
G. bloss, Dan. blot, naked ; G. blossen, Dan.
blottrr, to uncover; W. Woden, a flower,
blodtuaw, to blossom, from blawd, meal,
bloom ; Gr. jiKa^ijua, a bud, jirobably
from the same root; Syr. -Xii '" g'^'"
niinate, to flourish, to put forth leaves.]
1. The flower or corol of a plant ; a general
term, applicable to every species of tree
or plant, Itiit more generally used than
flo«.'iorl.lo(,„i, wlicM we Iimvc rcfi'n
to llic Hint «lll.-hi,s|..MHTr,.,|. TIlU,-
tiM.t.'ilforiiniaiMCiil ; and W«r,m, in a ir
general sense, as flowers in general, or in
reference to the beauty of flowers.
2. This word is used to denote the color of a
horse, that has his hair white, but inter-
mixed with sorrel and bay hairs ; other-
wise, peac/i-coiorerf. Encyc.
BLOS'SOM, V. i. To put forth blossoms oi
flowers ; to bloom ; to blow ; to flower.
2. To flourish and prosper.
The desert shall blossom as llie rose. Is
BLOS'SOMING, ppr. Putting forth flow-
ers; blowing.
BLOS'SOMING, ji. The blowing or flower-
ing of plants.
BLOT, V. t. [Goth, hlauthjan ; Sw. plottra
Van. plet, a spot, stain, blot ; plelter, to bloi
or stain ; L. litura, [whence tituro, obli-
tero,] without the prefix ; and D. kladden,
with a different one.]
1. To spot with ink ; to stain or bespatter
with ink; as, to blot a j)aper.
2. To obliterate writing or letters with ink,
so as to render the characters invisible, or
not distinguishable ; generally with out ;
as, to blot out a word or a sentence.
3. To efface ; to erase ; to cause to be un
seen, or forgotten ; to destroy ; as, to blot
out a crime, or the remembrance of any
thing.
4. To stain with infamy ; to tarnish ; to dis-
grace ; to disfigure.
Slot not thy innocence wth guiltless Wood.
Rotcc
5. To darken.
He sung how earth blots the moon's a;ilded
wane. Cowlri/
6. In scripture, to blot one out of the book of
life, is to reject him from the number of
those who are to be saved. To blot out a
name, a person or a nation, is to destroy
the person or nation ; to exterminate
consume. To blot out sins, is to forgi
tliem. Sins are compared to debts, which
are recorded in God's book of remem
brance, and when paid, are crossed or
cancelled.
BLOT, n. A spot or stain on paper, usually
applied to ink.
a. An obhteration of something written oi
printed. Dryden.
3. A spot in reputation ; a stain ; a disgrace ;
a reproach ; a blemish. Shak.
4. Censure ; scorn ; reproach.
5. In backgammon, when a single man lies
open to he taken up. Johnson
BLOTCH, ?!. [Sax. blwcthc, a scab or lep-
rous afl^ection.1
.A))usiulc u|)on the skin; antrupiioii, usually
of a large kind.
BLOTCH, V. t. To blacken. Harmar.
BLOTE, V. t. [The afiinities of this word are
not clearly ascertained. InSax. 6Wan is
to sacrifice ; in Golh. to serve or worship;
in Arm. bloda is to soften ; W. plyz, soft ;
plyzaw, to soften ; Dan bidder, Sw. biota,
to soften.]
To dry and smoke ; as, to blole herrings.
BLO'TED, pp. Smoked and dried.
BLOTTED, ;)p. Stained; spotted; erased.
ni.OT'TER, n. In counting houses, a waste
1 k.
Iil.( cr'TING, ppr. Spotting with ink ; ob-
liiriating; staining.
BLOW, n. [This j)roI)ahly is a contracted
word, and the ])rimary sense must be, to
strike, thrust, push, "or throw, that is,
to drive. I have not found it in the cog-
nate dialects. If g or other palatal letter
is lost, it corresjjonds in elements with the
L. plaga, Gr. «>.>;y»?, L. fligo, Eng. fog.
But blow, a stroke, is written liUc the verb
to blow, the Latin/o, and Woic, lo blossom.
The letter lo.st is prnhalily .i dental, and
the original was blod or blolh, in which
case, the word has the elements of loud,
laudo, elaudo, lad, &c.]
The act of striking; more generally the
stroke ; a violent aj)i>lication of the hand,
fist, or an instrument to an object.
2. The fatal stroke ; a stroke that kills ;
hence, death.
3. An act of hostility ; as, the nation which
strikes the first blow. Hence, to come to
blows, is to engage in combat, whether by
individuals, armies, fleets or nations ; and
when by nations, it is war.
4. A sudden calamity ; a sudden or severe
evil. In like manner, plaga in Latin gives
rise to the Eng. plague.
5. A single act ; a sudden event ; as, to gain
or lose a province at a blow, or by one blow.
At a stroke is used in like manner.
6. An ovum or egg deposited by a fly, on
flesh or other substance, called a fly'-blow.
BLOW, V. i. pret. blew ; pp. blown. [Sax.
blawen, blowan, to blow as wind ; hlowan,
to blo.ssom or blow, as a flower ; D. bloe-
yen, to blossom ; G. bldhen, to swell or in-
flate ; h.flo, to blow. This word probably
is from the same root as bloom, blossom,
6/oi(', a flower ; W. bloden. See Blossom.]
1. To make a current of air ; to move as air ;
as, the wind blows. Often u.sed with it ;
as, it blows a gale.
2. To pant ; to puff" ; to breathe hard or
quick.
Here is Mrs. Page at the door, sweating and
blowing. Shak.
3. To breatlie ; us, to blow hot and cold.
V Estrange.
To sound with being blown, as a horn
or trumpet. Milton.
5. To flower ; to blossom ; to bloom ; as
plants.
How blows tlie citron grove. .Wilton.
To blow over, to pass away without effect ;
to cease or be dissipated ; as, the storm or
the clouds are bloion over.
To blow up, to rise in the air ; also, to be bro-
ken and scattered by the explosion of giui-
powder.
BLOW, V. t. To throw or drive a current of
air upon ; as, to bloio the fire ; also, to fan.
B L O
B L U
B L U
2. To iliivc by a current of air; to impel ;
as, tlie tempest blew the ship ashore.
3. To breathe upon, for the purpose of warm-
ing ; as, to blote the fingers in a cold day.
Shak.
4. To sound a wind instrument ; as, bloiv the
trumpet.
5. To spread by report.
And tliiough the court his courtesy was hlmtm.
Dryden.
G. To deposit eggs, as flies.
7. To form bubbles by blowing.
8. To swell and inflate, as veal ; a practice of
butchers.
!«. To form glass into a particular shape by
the breath, as in glass manufactories.
10. To melt tin, after being first burnt to
destroy the mundic. Eiicyc,
To blow away, to dissipate ; to scatter with
wind.
To blow down, to prostrate by wind.
To blow off, lp shake down" by wind, as to
blow off fruit from trees; to drive from
land, as to bloip off' & ship.
To blow out, to extinguish by a current of
air, as a candle.
To bloio up, to till with air ; to swell ; as,
to blow up a bladder or a bubble.
1*. To inflate ; to puft'up ; as, to blow up one
with flattery.
3. To kindle ; as, to blow up a contention.
4. To burst, to raise into the air, or to scat
ter, by the explosion of gunpowder. Figu
ratively, to scatter or bring to naught sud
denly ; as, to blow up a scheme.
To blow upon, to make stale ; as, to blow
upon an author's works. Addison.
BLOW, n. A flower ; a blossom. Tliis word
is in general use in the U. States, and le-
- gitimate. In the Tatier, it is used for blos-
soms in general, as we use blowth.
'1. Among seamen, a gale of wind. This
also is a legitimate word, in general use in
the U. States.
BLOW-BALL, «. [blowawAbalL] The flow-
er of the dandelion. B. Jonson.
BLOWER, n. One who blows ; one who is
employed in melting tin.
5. A plate of iron for drawing up a fire in a
stove chimney. Mason.
BLOWING, ppr. Making a current of air;
breathing quick ; sounding a wind instru-
ment ; inflating ; impelHng by wind ; melt-
ing tin.
BLOWING, n. The motion of wind or act
of blowing.
BLOWN, pp. Driven by wind ; fanned ;
sounded by blowing ; spread by report ;
swelled ; inflated ; expanded as a blossom.
BLOW-PIPE, n. [blow and pipe.'] An in-
strument by which a blast or current of
air is driven through the flame of a lamp
or candle, and that flame directed upon a
mineral substance, to fuse or vitrify it.
Blow-pipe of the artist, a conical tube of brass,
glass or other substance, usually a quarter
of an inch in diameter at one end, and cap-
illary or nearly so at the other, where it is
bent nearly to a right angle. This is used
to propel a jet of air from the lungs, through
the flame of a lamp or candle, upon the
substance to be fused.
Blow-pipe of the mineralogist, the same in-
Ktiiiment substantially as the foregoing,
but usually fitted with an ivory or silver
mouth-piece, and with Bcvcral movable
jets to produce flames of different sizes.
Its ottice is to produce instantly a furnace
heat, on minute fragments of mineral sub-
stances, supported on charcoal, by platiua
forceps, &c.
Compound Blotv-pipe of Dr. Hare, invented
in 1821, an instrument iu which oxygen
and hydrogen, propelled by hydrostatic or
other pressure, coming from separate res-
ervoirs, in the proportions requisite to form
water, are made to unite in a capillary ori-
fice, at the moment when they are kindled.
The heat produced, when the focus is
formed on charcoal or any non-conducting
substance, is such as to melt every thingj
but the diamond, to burn the metals,!
and to dissipate in vapor, or in gaseous
forms, most known substances.
The blow-pipe of Newman, Clarke, &,c., it
the compound blow-pipe of Dr. Ilare, witl
some unimportant modifications.
Siitiman
BLOW-POINT, ra. [blow and point.'] A kind
of play among children. Johnson
BLOWTH, n. [Ir. blath, blaith, a flower oi
Ijlossom ; D. bloeizel ; Ger. bliithe.]
Bloom, or blossom, or that which is expand
ed. It signifies bloom or blossoms in gen
eral, or the state of blossoming. Thu.s we
say, trees arc now in their blowth, or they
have a full blowth.
BLOWZE, n. blowz. [From the same root
as blush, ^vllich see.]
\ ruddv fat-faced woman. Hall.
BLOWZ'Y, a. Ruddy faced ; fat and ruddy ;
high colored.
BLUB, V. f. To swell. [.\ot in use. See
Bleb.]
BLUB'BER, n. [See Blobber, Blob and Bleb.]
A blobber, or bubble ; a common vulgar
word, but kgitimale.
The fat of whales and other large sea ani-
mals, of which is made train-oil. It lies
inunediately under the skin and over the
nmscular flesh.
3. Sea nettle, or sea blubber, the medusa.
Encyc.
BLUB'BER, V. i. To weep in such a man-
ner as to swell the cheeks. Johnson.
If I mistake not, this word carries with
it the idea of weeping, so as to slaver.
BLUB'BER, V. t. To swell the cheeks or
di.sfigurc the face whh weeping,
PP-
as a blubhered lip.
BLUB'BERING, ppr. Weeping so as to
swell the checks.
BLUD'gEON, »i. [Goth, blyggwan, to strike.]
A short stick, with one end loaded or thicker
and heavier than the other, and used as au
offensive weapon by low persons.
BLUE, o. bhi. [Sax. bleo, bleoh, Meow, color ;
D. blaaute ; Ger. blau ; Dan. blaae ; Sw.
bla, blue ; Sw. bly, Dan. blye, Ger. blei,
load, so named from its color ; Slav, plavu ;i
Fr. bleti ; Corn, hlou.] j
One of the seven colors, into which the rays!
of light divide themselves, when refructeil
through a glass prism. There are various'
sliadesof blue, as sky-blue, ot azure, Prus-\
pan blue, indigo blue, smalt blue, &c. i
Kirwan. Etiajc]
Prussian blue, a combination of the oxyd of
iron with an acid called ferro-prussic.
Ure.l
BLU'E. V. t. To make blue : to dye of a blue!
color ; to make blue by heating, aa metals.
&c.
BLU'E-BIRD, n.[Uae and bird.] A small bird,
a species of Motacilla, very common in the
U. States. The upper part of the body is
blue, and the throat and breast, of a dirty
red. It makes its nest in the hole of a
tree.
BLU'E-BONNET, n. [blue and bonnet.] A
plant, a species of Centaurea.
Fam. of Plants.
BLU'E-BOTTLE, n. [blue and botUe.] A
l)lant, a species of Centaurea, called Cya-
nus, which grows among corn. This and
the former plant receive their names from
their blue funnel-shaped flowers.
2. A fly with a large blue belly. Johnson.
BLU'E-€AP, ,1. [blue and cap.] A fish of
tlie salmon kind, with blue spots on its
head. Did. of J\lat. Hist.
BLUE-EYED, a. Having blue eyes.
Dryden.
BLU'E-FISH, n. [blue andfsh.] A fish, a
species of Corvphaena, of the order of (Ao-
racics, found al)out the Bahamas, and on
the coast of Cuba. Encyc.
BLUE-HAIRED, a. Having hair of a blue
'lor. Milton.
BLU'E-JOHN, n. Among miners, fluor spar,
a mineral, found in the mines of Derby-
shire, and fabricated into vases and other
ornamental fisures. Encyc.
BLU'ELY, «rf«: With a blue color. Swr%
BLU'ENESS, n. The quahty of being blue ;
blue color. Boyle.
BLU'E-THROAT, n. [blue and throat.] A
bird with a tawny breast, marked with a
sky-blue crescent, inhabiting the northern
parts of Europe and Asia.
lAl'E-VKlNED, a. Having blue veins or
streaks. Shak.
LUFF, a. [Perhaps allied to W. Ihvf, Eng.
leap, from shooting forward.] Big ; surly ;
blustering. Dryden.
BLUFF, n. A high bank, almost perpendicu-
lar, projecting into the sea; a high bank
presenting a steep front.
Belknap. Mar. Diet.
BLUFF'-BOWED, a. [bluff and bow.] Hav-
g broad and flat bows. Mar. Diet.
BLUFF'-HEADED, a. [bluff and head.]
Having an upright sten). Mar. Diet.
BLUFF'NESS, n. A swelling or bloated-
ss ; surliness. fVorld.
BLU'ISH, a. Blue in a small degree.
Pope.
BLU'ISHNESS, n. A small degree of blue
color. Boyle.
BLUN'DER, V. i. [This word seems to be
allied to the Gr. iCUmoiu,, to err, and to floun-
der. The sense of the latter is to move
with siulden jerks, and irregular motions.
In Dan. blunder is to wink, twinkle or dis-
semble ; allied to Fr. loin.]
. To mistake gro.ssly ; to err widely or
stupidly. Johnson.
2. To move without direction, or steady
guidance ; to plunge at an object ; to
move, speak or write with sudden and
blind preci|)itanee ; as, to blunder \ipon a
reason ; to blunder round a meaning.
Pope.
■3. To stumble, as a horse ; a common use of
the tvord.
BLUN'DER, Ji. A mistake through precipi-
B L U
BOA
BOA
tance, or without due exercise of judg-
ment ; a gross mistake.
Bl.UN'DERBUSS, n. [blunder, and D. bus..
a tube ; Dan. bOsst ; Sw. bbssa, a. gun.]
A short gun or fire-arm, with a large bore,
capable of holding a number of balls, and
intended to do execution without e.xact
BI.UN'DERER, n. One who is apt to blun-
der, or to make gross mistakes ; a careless
BjtoN'DERHEAD, n. [btunderixnd head.]
A stupid fellow; one who blunders.
L'Estrange.
BLUN'DERINU, ppr. Moving or acting
with blind precipitance ; mistaking gross-
ly ; stumbling.
BLUNDERINGLY, adv. In a blundering
manner. Lewis.
BLUNT, a. [from the root of Gr. u.u9kvvu,
to dull.]
1. Having a thick edge or point, as an instru-
ment; dull ; not sharp.
2. Dull in understanding; slow of discern-
ment. Shak.
3. Abrupt in address ; plain ; unceremoni-
o\is ; wanting the forms of civility ; rough
in manners or speech. Bacon.
4. Hard to penetrate. [Unusual.] Pope.
BLUNT, V. t. To dull the edge or point, by
making it thicker.
2. To repress or weaken any appetite, dr-ui'
or power of the mind ; to impair the fm ii-
of any passion which aflects the mind, or,
of any evil or good which affects ili'^
body ; as, to Utint the edge of love, of pain,
orof suft'ering.
Your cea-<eless endeavors will be exerted to
blunt the sdngs of paiu. DwigM.
BLUNT' ED, pp. JVIade dull ; weakened ;
impaired ; repressed.
BLU'NT'ING, ppr. Making dull ; repressing;
Taylor.
BLUNT'LY, adv. In a blunt manner;
coarsely ; plainly ; abruptly ; without deli-
cacy, or the usual forms of civility.
BLUNT'NESS, n. Want of edge or point ;
dullness ; ohtuseness ; want of sharpness.
2. Coarseness of address ; roughness of man-
ners ; rude sincerity or plainness.
BLUNT' WITTED, o. [blunt onAimt.] Dull;
stupid. Shak.
BLUR, n. [I have not found this word in
any other language, but probably it is al-
lied to the W. llur, black and blue, livid,
L. luridus.]
A dark spot ; a stain ; a blot, whetlier upon
paper or other substance, or upon repu-
tation. South.
BLUR, V. t. To obscure by a dark spot, or by
any foul matter, without quite eftacing.
2. To sully ; to stain ; to blemish ; as, to
blur reputation. Butler.
BLURRED, ;j;j. Darkened or stained ; ob-
scured.
BLUR'RING, ppr. Darkening or staining ;
spotting.
BLURT, V. t. [Allied probably to flirt, to
throw.]
To throw out, or throw at random, hastily,
or unadvisedly ; to utter suddenly or inad-
vertently ; commonly with out, and applied
to words. Young.
BLUSH, r.t. [D.bloozen; Sw. 6??/a», to blush
blushing ; D. fefca, a blush ; Sw.6/os*,- Dan
blus, a torch ; Dan. blues ved, to blush or be
ashamed; Ir. loise, loisi, fliiiue. It implie
a throwing out, or spreading. Flash may
be from the same root. See Blaze."
. To redden in the cheeks or face ; to be
surUienly sufliised with a red color in the
cheeks or laic, from a sense of guilt, shame,
coMl'iisioii, modesty, diffidence or surprise ;
followed by al or for, before the cause of
blushing ; as, blush at your vices ; btushjor
your degraded country.
In the presence of the sliameless and unblush-
ing, the young offender is ashamed to blush.
Buckminater
2. To bear a blooming red color, or any soft
bright color ; as the blushing rose.
He bears his blushing honors thick upon him
Shak
Shakspeare has used this word in a transi
tive sense, to make red, and it may be
allowable in poetry.
RLIISH, n. A red color suffusing the cheeks
only, or the face generally, and excited by
confusion, which may spring from shame,
guilt, modesty, diffidence or surprise.
The rosy blush of love. Trumbull.
2. A red or reddish color.
3. Sudden appearance ; a glance ;
taken from the sudden suffusion of the face
in blushing ; as, a proposition appears ah-
siM-d ;it first 4/U.5A. Locke
r. I . I S 1 1 ' ET, n. A young modest girl. LVof
us..l.\
lilJ ^11 ING, ppr. Reddening in the cheeks
or i'iu-o ; bearing a bright color.
BLUSH'LESS, a. Unblushing; past blush-
ing; impudent. Marston
BLUSH' Y, a. Like ablush ; having the color
of a blush. Harvey.
BLUS'TER, V. i. [Probably allied to blaie,
blast ; Dan. blusser, to blaze, to rage.]
1. To be loud, noisy or swaggering ; to bully
to puff; to swagger ; as a turbulent or
boasting person.
2. To roar, and be tumultuous, as wind; to
be boisterous ; to be windy ; to hurry.
BLUS'TER, n. Noise ; tumult ; boasting
boisterousness ; turbulence ; roar of a tem
pest ; violent wind ; hurry ; any irregular
noise and tumult from wind, or from
vanity.
BLUS'TERER, n. A swaggerer ; a bully
a noisy, tumultuous fellow, who makes
great pretensions from vanity.
BLUSTERING, ppr. Making a noise ; puff-
ing; boasting.
.US'T
Noisy ; tumultuous ;
BLUSTERING,
windy.
BLUS'TROUS, o. Noisy ; tumultuous ;
boastful. Hudibras.
BO, exclam. [ W. bw.] A word of terror ; a
customary sound uttered by children to
frighten their fellows.
BO' A, n. A genus of serpents, of the class
Amphibia, the characters of which are,
the belly and tail are furnished with scuta.
It includes tlie largest species of serjjent,
the constrictor, sometimes 30 or 40 feet
long. Cyc
BOAR, n. [Sax. bar; Corn, torn, a boar ; D.
beer, a bear or boar ; Ger. eber, a boar, and
a gindet or auger; also, eberschwein, boar-
swine. Qu. L. aper, and verres ; Sans.
varaha "
Dan. blusser, to blaze or glisten ; 6/i(ss«/,l|The male of swine not castrated
BOAR-SPEAR, n. A .spear used in limiting
boars. Spen.ser.
BOAR, r. i. In the manege, a horse is said to
boar, when he ^loots out his nose, raising
it as high as his ears, and tosses his nose iu
the wind. Encyc.
BOARD, n. [Sax. bord and bred, a board, or
table ; Goth, baurd ; Sw. bord, and brlide ;
D. hoord, a board, a hem, border, m.irgin ;
Ger. bord, a botird, a brim, bank, border ;
and brel, a board, or plank ; Dan. bord, a
board, a tabli- ; lircede, a board, or plank ;
and bred, a border ; W. burz, a board or
table : Ir. bord, a table, a border. This
worti anci broad seem to be allied in origin,
and the primary sense is to open or spread,
whence broad, dilated.]
1. A piece of limber sawed thin and of consid-
erable length and breadth, compared with
the thickness, used for building and other
purposes.
2. A table. The table of our rude ancestors
was a piece of board, perhaps originally
laid upon the knees. " Lauti cibuni capi-
unt : separata singulis sedes, et suacuique
mensa." The Germans wash before they
eat, and each has a separate seat, and his
own table. Tacituji. De Mor. Germ. 22.
3. Entertainment ; food ; diet : as, the price
of board is two, five, or seven dollars a
week.
4. A table at which a council or court is
held ; hence a council, convened for busi-
ness, or any authorized assembly or meet-
ing ; as a ioarrf of directors.
. The deck of a ship ; the interior part of a
ship or boat ; used in the phrase, on board,
aboard. In this phrase however the sense
is primarily the side of the ship. To go
aboard is to go over the side.
. The side of a ship. [Fr. bord; Sp. borda.]
Now board to board, the rival vessels row.
Di-yden
To fall over board, that is, over the side ;
the mast went by the board.
Board and board, side by side.
7. The line over which a ship runs between
tack and tack. T'o make a good board, is
to sail in a straight line, when close hauled.
To make short boards, is to tack frequently.
Mar. Diet.
A table for artificers to sit or work on.
A table or frame for a game ; as a chess
board, &i:
10. A body of men constituting a quorumin
session ; a coiut, or council ; as a board of
trustees ; a board of officers.
BOARD, I', t. To lay or spread with boards ;
to cover with boards.
2. To enter a ship by force in combat, which
answers to storming a city or fort on land.
3. To attack ; to make the first attempt upon
a man. In Spenser, to accost. [Fr. ahor-
der.] Obs. Bacon. Shak.
4. To place at board, for a compensation, aa
a lodger.
5. To furnish with food, or food and lodging,
for a compensation ; as, a man boards ten
students.
BOARD, V. i. To receive food or diet as a
lodger or without lodgings, for a compen-
sation ; as, he boards at the moderate price
of two dollars a week.
BOARDABLE, a. That may be boarded^
ship.
B O A
BOB
BOD
BOARDED, pp. Covered with boards; en-
tered by armed men, as a sliip ; furnished
with food for a compensation.
BOARDER, n. One who. has food or diet
and lodging in anotlier's family for a re-
ward.
3. One who boards a ship in action ; one
who is selected to board shi])S. Mar. Did.
BOARDING, ppr. Covering with boards ;
entering a ship by force ; furnishing or
receiving board, as a lodger, for a reward.
BOARDING-SCHOOL, n. A school, the
scholars of which board with the teacher.
BOARD-WAGES, n. Wages allowed to
servants to keep themselves in victuals.
Dryden.
BOARISH, a. [from hoar.] Swinish ; bru-
tal ; cruel. Shak.
BOAST, V. i. [W. hostiaw, to boast, to
toss or throw ; G. pausten, to blow, swell,
bounce ; Sw. posa, Dan. paster, id. Qu.
Gr. ?vBau, to inflate ; Russ. chvasluyu,
to boast ; L.fashis.]
1. To brag, or vaunt one's self; to make an
ostentatious display, in speech, of one's
own worth, property, or actions.
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph. ii. 9.
2. To glory ; to speak with laudable pride
and ostentation of meritorious persons or
things.
I 'boast of you to them of Macedonia. St.
Paul. 2 Cor. ix.
Usually, it is followed by of; sometimes
by in.
3. To exalt one's self.
With your mouth you have boasted against
me. Ezek.
BOAST, V. I. To display in ostentatious Ian
guage ; to speak of with pride, vanity oi
exultation, with a view to self-conimenda
the multitude of
Lest men should boast their specious deeds
Milton
'Z. To magnify or exalt.
They boast tliemselves
their riches. Ps. xlix.
3. To exult in confident expectation.
Boast not thyself of to-morrow. Prov
BOAST, n Expression of ostentation, pride
or vanity ; a vaunting.
Thou makest thy boast of the law. Rom. i
'i. The cause of boasting; occasion of pridi
vanity, or laudable exultation.
Trial l)y peers is the boast of the British ni
tion.
BOASTER, 11. One who boasts, glories or
vaunts ostentatiously. Boyle.
BOASTFUL, a. Given to boasting ; osten-
tatious of personal worth or actions.
Shak.
BOASTING, ppr. Talking ostentatiously:
glorving ; vaunting.
BOASTING, 71. Ostentatious display of
personal worth, or actions ; a glorying or
vaunting.
Where is boasting then ? Rom. iii,
BOASTINGLY, adv. In an ostentatious
manner; with boasting.
BOASTIVE, a. Presumptuous. [Umtsual.]
Shenstone
BOASTLESS, a. Without ostentation.
Thomson.
BOAT, n. [Sax. and Sw. bat ; Dan. haad ;
W. bad : Ir. bad ; D. boot ; G. hot, a boat ;
It. dim. battello, a little boat, whence Fr.
bateau : Sp. bote, a boat.]
ipen vessel, or water craft, usual-
ly moved by oars, or rowing. The forms,
dimensions and uses of boats are very va-
rious, and some of them carry a hght sail.
The different kinds of boats have different
names ; as,long-boat, tanch, barge, pinnace,
jolly-boat, cutter, yawl, ferry-boat, wherry,
Moses-boat, pimt, felucca, fishing-boat, pe-
rogve, &c.
2. A small vessel can-ying a mast and sails ;
hut usually described Iiy another word,
as a packet-boat, passage-boat, advice-
boat, &c. Johnson.
BOAT, V. t. To transport in a boat ; as, to
boat goods across a lake.
Report on Canals. Ash.
BOA TABLE, a. Navigable for boats, or
small river craft. Ramsay.
BOAT-BILL, n. [boat and bill.'] A genus
of birds, the Cancroma, of two species, the
crested and the brown ; but by some orni-
thologists, they are considered as varieties
of the same species. They are of the gral
lie order, with a bill four inches long, no'
unlike a boat with the keel uppermost, oi
like the bowls of two spoons, with the hoi
low parts placed together. Encyc.
BOAT-FLY or B0AT-INSE€T, n. A ge-
nus of insects, hemipters, known in zool-
ogy by the generic term Notonecta.
Encyc.
BOAT-HOOK, n. [boat and hook.] An iron
hook witli a point on the back, fixed to a
long pole, to pull or push a boat.
Mar. Diet.
BOATING, ppr. Transporting in boats.
BOATING, n. The act or practice of trans
porting in boats.
2. In Persia, a punishment of capital offend-
ers by laying them on the back in a boat
which is covered, where they perish
Encyc.
BOA'TION, 71. [L. boo.] A crying out ; f
roar. [JVot used.] Derham
BOATM/VN, ? [boat and man.] A man
BO.\TSMAN, S "■ who manages a boat ; a
of a boat. Dryden. Prior.
BOAT-ROPE, 71. [boat and rope.] A rope
to fasten a boat, usually called a painter.
BOAT-SHAPED, a. Having the shape of
boat; navicular; cyinbiforin ; hollow like
a boat ; as the valve of some pericarps.
Martt/n.
BOATSWAIN, Ji. In seamen's langueige,
bosn. [Sax. batswein, from bat, boat, and
swein, swain, a boy or servant.]
An officer on board of ships, who has charge
of the boats, sails, rigging, colors, anchors
cables and cordage. His office is also, to
summon the crew to their duty, to rel:
the watch, assist in the necessary business
of the ship, seize and punish ofienders,
&c. He has a mate who has charge of the
long-boat, for setting forth and weighing
anchors, warping, towing and mooring,
Mar. Diet. Encyc. Johnson.
OB, 71. Any little round thing, that pi
loosely at the end of a string, cord, or
movable machine ; a little ornament
pendant that hangs so as to play loosely
Dryden
Our common people apply the word to
a knot of worms, on a string, used in fisli
ing for eels.
2. The words repeated at the end of a star
UEstraiigt
3. A blow ; a shake or jog ; a jeer or flout.
jlinsworth. Ascham.
4. The ball of a short pendulum. Encyc.
A mode of ringing. Johnson.
A bob-wig, Shenstone.
OB, v.l. To beat; to shake or jog. Shak.
2. To cheat ; to gain by fraud. Shak.
!3. To mock or delude. Ainsworlh.
To cut short.
BOB, V. i. To play backward and forward :
to play loosely against any thing. Dryden.
2. To angle, or fish for eels, or to catch eels
ith a bob. Encyc.
BOBANCE, 71. bobans'. A boasting. [JVo<
Ml use.] Chaucer.
BOB'BED, pp. Beat or shaken ; cheated ;
gained by fraud ; deluded.
BdB'BIN, 71. [Fr. bohine ; D. habyn.] A
small pin or cylindrical piece of wood,
with a head, on which thread is wound for
mailing lace. A similar instrument, bored
through to receive an iron pivot, and with
a border at each end, is used in spinning,
to wind thread or silk on ; a spool.
BOB'BING, ppr. Playing back and forth ;
striking ; cheating ; angling for eels.
BOB'BINWORK, ti. ibobUn and work.]
Work woven with bobbins. Grew.
BOB'-CHERRY,7i. [bob smA cherry.] Among
children, a play in which a cherry is hung
so as to bob against the mouth. Johnson.
BO'BO, 71. A Mexican fish, two feet long, ia
! high esteem for food. Clavigero.
BOB'STAYS, 71. [bob and stay.] Ropes to
confine the bow.sprit of a ship dovFiiward
to the stem. Mar. Diet.
BOB'TAIL, 71. [bob and tail.] A short
tail, or a tail cut short. Shale. ■
2. Tlie rabble ;u.sed in contempt. Bramsfon.
BOB'-TAILED, a. Having the hair cut
short. L' Estrange.
BOB-WIG, 71. {bob and wig.] A short wig.
Spectator.
BOCAQUE or BO€AKE, 7i. An animal
found on the banks of the Nieper, resem-
bling a rabbit, except that its ears are
I shorter, and it has no tail.
Did. ofJVat. Hist.
'BOC'ASINE, 71. [Fr.] A sort of fine linen
or buckram. Johnson.
BOCE, 71. The spams, a beautiful fish.
I Ash.
JBOCK'ELET, ) A kind of long-wmged
BOCK'ERET, (, "• hawk. Johnson.
BOCKLAND. [See Bookland.] Encyc.
BODE, V. t. [Sax. bodian, bodigan, to fore-
tell, to utter or announce ; bod, an order,
mandate or edict ; boda, a messenger, or
preacher ; Sw. bod, a message, an embas-
.sy; fteioda, to tell or relate ; Sax. gebodian,
to offer or bid, to relate, tell or announce,
to conunand, to show, to promise. Radi-
cally, this is the same word as bid, which
see. The radical sense is, to utter, to drive
out the voice.]
To portend ; to foreshow ; to presage ; to
indicate something future by signs ; to be
the omen of; most generally applied to
things ; as, our vices bode evil to the coun-
try.
BODE, V. i. To foreshow ; to presage.
i Tins bodes well (o you. Dryden.
jBODE, 71. An omen. Chaucer.
2. A stop. [See Abide.]
jBO'DEMENT, 7i. An omen ; portent ; prog-
I iiostic ; a fore-showing. Obs. Shak
BOD
BOG
B O I
BOD(iE, V. i. [See Boggk.] To boggle ; to
stop. [JVot used.] Shak.
BODOE, 11. A botch. [Ao< used.]
miitlock.
BOD'ICE, n. Stays; a waistcoat, quilted
with whalebone ; worn by women.
Johnson.
BOD'IED, a. [Iroiii 6orfy.] Having a body.
Shak.
BOD'ILESS, n. [See Body.] Having no
body or material form ; incorporeal.
Davies.
BOD'ILY, a. Having or containing a body
or material form; corporeal ; as bodily di-|
niensions. South.\
2. Relating or pertainin" to the body, in dis-i
tiiiction from the mind ; as bodily defects ;
bodily pain. Locke.
3. Real ; actual ; as bodily act. Shak.
BOD'ILY, adv. Coqjoreally ; united with ii
body or matter.
It is his human nature, in which the Godlicail
dwells bodily. Jf'nltn.
BO'DING, ;>jp)-. [fromiorfe.] Foreshow iiii; ;
presaging.
BO'DING, n. An omen. Bp. Ward.
BOD'KIN, n. [Ir. hod, a limb, that is, a
point, a shoot, with the termination kin,
used as a diminutive ; Gr. jioToj, a thorn.]
1. An instrument of steel, bone, ivory or the
like, with a small blade, and a shaqj point,
for making holes by piercing. A hke in-
strument with an eye, for drawing threati,
tape, or ribin through a loop, &c. An
instrument to dress the hair. Johnson.
2. A dagger. [JVo« in use.] Chaucer.
BOD'LEIAN, a. Pertaining to Sir Thomas
Bodley, who founded a celebrated Ubrary
in the 16th century. I
BOD'Y, n. [Sax. bodig, stature, trunk, spine,^
body; that which is set or fixed.]
1. The frame of an animal ; the material
substance of an animal, in distinction from,
the hving principle of beasts, and the sold
of man.
Be not anxious for your body.
Matthew. Luke.
2. Matter, as opposed to spirit. Hooker.
a. A person; a human being; sometimes
alone ; more generally, » ith some or no ;'
as, somebody ; nobody.
4. Reality, as opposed to representation. I
A sliadow of things to come, but tlie body is,
of Christ. Col. ii.
5. A collective mass; a number of individu-
als or particulars united ; as the body o{"
mankind. Christians united or the Churclij
is called the body, of which each Chris-|
tian is a member, and Christ the head. Ii
Cor. xii. 12. 27.
6. The main army, in distinction froin the'
wings, van or rear. Also, any number of
forces under one commander. Clarendon}
7. A corporation ; a number of men, united^
by a common tie, by one form of govern-|
ment, or by occupation ; as the legislative^
body ; the body of the clergy ; body corpo-
rate ; body politic. j
8. Tlie main part ; the bulk; as the body of
;i tree ; the body of a coach, of a ship,
'.K Any extended solid substance; matter:'
;iiiy substance or mass distinct from oth-,
<i- ; as a metaline body : a floating body :
;i moving body ; a light body ; a hea\ y body.
10. A pandect : a general collection ; a code ;;
, ^lu. [body and chlh,
lor "
a system ; as a body of laws ; a body oi
divinity.
11. Strength ; as whie of a good body.
12. Among painters, colors bear a body, when
they are capable of being ground so fine
and of being mixed so entirely with oil, as
to seem only a very thick oil of tlie same
color. Encyc.
13. The unrenewed part of man, or sensual
affections.
But I keep under my body. 1 Cor. ix.
14. The extent ; the hmits.
Cause to come here on such a day, twelve
free and lawful men — from the body of youi
county. Form of a venire facia;
BODY, I'. /. To produce in some form.
Imagination bodies forth the forms of thing;
BOD'Y-CLOTHES,
Clothing or covering for the body, as for
a horse. Addison
BOD V-GUARD, n. The guard that pro
ti'cis or defentis the person ; the life guard
I lenco, security. Porleus
BOG, n. [Ir. bog, soft; bogach, a nrrarsh
bogha, a bow ; boghaim, to bend ; Sax. bu
gun ; D. boogen, to bend. Sojl is flexible,
yielding to pressure, bending. See Bow.'
1. A quagmire covered with grass or other
plants. It is defined by marsh, and »io
TOSS, but differs from a marsh, as a part
from tlie whole. Wet grounds are bogs,
which are the softest and too soft to bear
a man ; marshes or fens, which are less
soft, but very wet ; and swamps, which are
soft spongy land, upon the siu'face, but
sustain man and beast, and are often
mowed,
2. A little elevated spot or clump of earth, in
marshes and swamps, filled with roots and
grass. [This is a comvion use of the word
in JVew- England.^
BOG, V. t. To whelm or plunge, as in mud
and mire. Jonson
BOG'-BEAN, n. [bog and bean ; called buck-
bean.]
Menyanthes, a plant, the marsh-trefoil.
which grows in moist and marshy places,
Fam. of Plants.
BOG'-BERRY, n, [bog and berry.] Vaccin-
ium, a name of the cranberry growuig in
low lands and mai'shy places.
Fam. of Plants.
BOGGLE, V. i. [Qu. W. bwgwl, a teiTify-
1. To doubt; to hesitate; to stop, as if afraid
to proceed, or as if impeded by unforeseen
difficulties ; to play fast and loose.
We boggle at every unusual appearance.
Granville.
2. To dissemble. Howell.
BOG'GLE, V. t. To embarrass with difficul-
ties ; a popular or vidgar use of the ivord i
'\d St;
the United States.
BOG'GLED, pp. Perplexed and impeded by
sudden difficulties ; embarrassed.
BOG'GLER, H. A doubter ; a timorous
Shak
BOG'GLING, ppr. Starting or stopping at
difficulties ; hesitating.
BOGGLISII, a. Doubtful. [JVoi used.]
Taylor.
BOG GY, a. [from bog.] Containing bogs
full of bogs.
BOG'HOLSE, n. [6og' and /loiise.] A house
of office.
BOG'-LAND, a. [bog and land.] Living m
or pertaining to a marshy country.
Dryden.
BOGLE or BOG'GLE, )i. [VV. bwg, a bug-
bear or goblin.] A bugbear.
BOG'-ORE, n. An ore of iron found in bog-
gy or swanqiy land.
BOG'-RL'SII, n. [bog and rush.] A rush
that gro%vs in hogs, the Schoenus.
Pennant.
2. A bird, a species of warbler, of the size of
a wren, of a testaceous brown color, seen
among the bog-rushes of Schonen in Swe-
'len. Pennant.
BOG'-SPAVIN, n. [bog and spavin.] In
horses, an encysted tumor on the inside of
the hough, containing a gelatinous mat-
ter. Encyc.
BOG-TROTTER, n. [bog and trot.] One
who lives in a boggy countrj'. Johnson.
BOG'-WIIORT, /!. [bog and whort.] The
bilberry or whortleberry growing in low
h-md.s. Fam. of Plants.
BOIiE'A, )i. [Grosier informs us that this
is named from a mountain in China, call-
ed Vou-y or Voo-y. Vol. i. 4<37.]
A species of coarse or low priced tea from
China ; a species of black tea.
BOI'AR or IBOY'AR, n. In the .
Empire, a nobleman ; a lord ; a person of
quality ; a soldier. This word answers
nearly to Baron in Great Britain, and oth-
er countries in the west of Europe.
Tooke. Eton.
BOI'ARIN, n. In Russia, a gentleman; a
person of distinction ; the master of a fam-
ily. Tookc. Russ. Did.
BOIGU'ACU, n. The largest of the serpent
kind, and said to be forty feet long.
Bailey.
BOIL, r. I. [Fr. bouHlir; L. bullio ; M.bol-
lire ; Sp. bidlir, to boil ; L. bulla, a bubble ;
Russ. bul, the noise of boiling water; It.
bolla, a bubble or bUster; Eth. ^^^
Anili. <jl ^ to boil ; W. balau, to spring. Qu.
Sax. weallan, to well, to boil.]
1. To swell, heave, or be agitated by the ac-
tion of heat; to bubble ; to rise in bubbles ;
as, the water boils. In a chimical sense, to
pass from a liquid to an aeriform state or
vapor, with a bubbling motion.
2. To be agitated by any other cause than
heat ; as, the boiling waves which roll and
foam.
3. To be hot or fervid ; to swell by native
heat, vigor or irritation ; as tlie boiling
blood of youth ; his b\ood boils with anger.
4. To be in hoihng water ; to suffer boiling
heat in water or other hquid, for cookery
or other purpose.
.5. To bubble ; to effervesce ; as a mixture
of acid and alkali.
To boil away, to evaporate by boihng.
To boil Ofer, is to run over the top of a
vessel, as liquor when thrown into vio-
lent agitation by heat or other cause of
effervescence.
BOIL, i;. t. To dress or cook in boiling wa-
ter ; to seethe ; to extract the juice or
quality of any thing by boiling.
2. To prepare for some use in boihng liquor ;
as, to boil silk, thread or cloth. To tbrm
by boiling and evaporation. This word
is applied to a variety of processes for
different purposes ; as, to boil salt, or su-
B O L
B O L
B O i.
jjai-, &c. In general, toiYmg- is a violent
agitation, occasioned by heat ; to boil a
liquor is to subject it to heat till it bubbles,
and to boil any solid substance is to sub-
ject it to heat in a boiling liquid.
l>OIL, n. [D. buil ; Ger. beule ; Dan. bylde ;
Sax. bite ; Arm. bvil, a bUster ; Sw. bula,
a i>rotuberance ; D. bol, plump ; Ger. bolle.
a bud, a gem ; Ir. butle, rage, madness
Pers. pallo, a wart, an idcer, a boil ; W.
bal, a prominence.]
A tumor upon the flesh, accompanied with
soreness and inflammation ; a sore angry
swelling.
BOIL'ED, pp. Dressed or cooked by boil-
ing; subjected to the action of boihng
liquor.
BOIL'ER, n. A person who boils.
'i. A vessel in which any thing is boiled. A
large pan, or vessel of iron, copper or
brass, used in distilleries, pot-ash works
and the like, for boiling large quantities of
hquor at once.
BOIL'ERY, n. A place for boiling and the
apparatus.
BOIL'ING, ppr. Bubbling; heaving
bubbles ; being agitated as boiling liquor ;
.swelling with heat, ardor or passion ;
dressing or preparing for some purpose
by hot water.
BOIL'ING, n. The act or state of bubbling ;
agitation by heat ; ebullition ; the act of
dressing by hot water; the act of prepar-
ing by hot water, or of evaporating by
heat.
BOIO'BI, 71. A green snake, found in Amer-
ica, an ell in length, called by the Portu-
guese, cobra de verb. It is harmless, unless
provoked ; but its bite is noxious. Encyc.
BOIS'TEROUS, a. [Dan. pust, a puff, a
blast ; puster, and Sw. pusta, to blow ;
D. byster ; Dan. bister, furious, raging ;
W. btvyst, wild, savage, whence, beast]
1. Loud ; roaring ; violent ; stormy ; as
boisterous wind.
3. Turbulent ; furious ; tumultuous ; noisy ;
as a boisterous man.
3. Large ; unwieldy ; huge ; clumsily vio-
lent ; as a boisterous club. Obs. Spenser.
4. Violent ; as a boisterous heat. Woodward.
BOIS'TEROUSLY, adv. Violently; furi-
ouslv ; with loud noise ; tuniultuousl}-.
B0IS'TEROUSNESS,n. The state or qual-
ity of being boislei-ous ; turbulence ; dis-
order ; tumultuousness.
BOITPAPO, n. A Brazilian serpent, about
eight feet long, covered with triangular
scales, of an olive or yellowish coloi
whose bite is mortal. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
BO'LARY, a. [See Bole.] Pertaining tu
bole or clay, or partaking of its nature
and qualities. Broum.
BOL'BITINE, a. An epithet given to one
of the channels of the Nile, by which it
waters are discharged into the Mediter
ranean. It is the second from West ti
East, but nearly filled with sand.
D''AnviUe. Encyc.
BOLD, a. [Sax. bald, beald; D. bout, con-
tracted ; It. baldo, bold ; baldanza, pre-
simiption ; imualdanzire, to embolden,
The sense is, open, forward, rushing tor-
ward.]
1. Daring; courageous; brave; intrepid
fearless ; applied to men or other aniinah ;
as, bold as a lion.
2. Requiring courage in the execution ; ex-
ecuted with spirit or boldness ; planned
with courage and spirit ; as a bold enter-
prise.
3. Confident ; not timorous.
We were bold in our God to speak to you.
Thess. ii.
4. In an ill sense, rude, forward, impudent.
Licentious ; showing great liberty of fic-
tion or expression ; as, the figures of an
author are bold.
Standing out to view ; striking to the eye ;
as bold figures in painting, sculpture and
architecture.
7. Steej) ; abrupt ; prominent ; as a bold
shore, which enters the water almost per-
pendicularly, so that ships can approach
near to land without danger.
Where the bold cape its warning forehead rear=.
Trumbull.
To make bold, to take freedoms; a common,
but not a correct phrase. To be bold is
better.
BOLD, V. t. To make daring. [JVot used.]
Hall.
BOLDEN, V. t. To make bold ; to give con
fideuce. This is nearly disused ; being
superseded by embolden. Ascham.
BOLD-FACE, n. [bold and face.] Impu-
dence ; sauciness ; a term of re]ireheu-
sion, and reproach. L'Estrange.
BOLD-FACED, a. Impudent. Bramhall.
BOLDLY, adv. In a bold manner; courage-
sly ; intrepidly ; without tiinidity or fear;
th confidence. Sometimes, perhaps, in
lad sense, for impudently.
BOLDNESS, n. Courage ; bravery ; mtre
idity ; spirit ; fearlessness. I cannot, with
Johnson, interpret this word by fortitude
or magnanimity. Boldness does not, 1
think, imply the firmness of mind, which
constitutes fortitude, nor the elevation and
generosity of magnanimity.
Prominence ; the quality of exceeding the
ordinary rules of scrupulous nicety and
caution ; applied to style, expression, and
metaphors in language ; and to figures in
painting, sculpture and architecture.
3. Freedom from timidity ; liberty.
Great is mv boldness of speech towards you.
2 Cor. vii.
4. Confidence ; confident trust.
We have boldness and access with confi-
dence. Eph. iii.
5. Freedom from bashfulness; assurance;
confident mien. Bacon
G. Prominence ; steepness ; as the boldness
of the shore.
7. Excess of freedom, bordering on impu
dence. Hooker
BOLE, re. [Sw. bol; Dan. but]
1. The body, or stem of a tree. [JVot in use.
Dryden
2. A measure of corn, containing six bush
els. Mortimer.
BOLE, n. A kind of fine clay, often highly
colored by iron. Its color is reddish yel
low of various shades, often with a tingi
of brown, sometimes passing to reddish
yellowish, or blackish brown, flesh red, or
yellowish white. It is opake or a little
translucid, especially at the edges, in the
red and yellow varieties. It is com])act
and its fracture conchoidal. It is brittle
smooth, a little unctuous, and receives a
polish from the finger nail. It adheres to
the tongue, melts by degrees in the
mouth, and impresses a shght sense of as-
tringency. Cleavelartd.
Armenian bole is of a bright red color, with
a tinge of yellow, harder than the other
kinds, and of a rough dusty surface.
Bole ofBlois is yellow, hghter than the othe;
kinds, and it effervesces with acids.
Bohemian bote is of a yellow color, with a
ast of red, and of a flaky texture.
French bole is of a pale red color, variegated
with sjiecks of white and yellow.
Lemnian bole is of a pale red color.
SUesian bole is of a pale yellow color. Encyc.
BOLET'l€, a. Boletic acid is the acid of
Boletus, a genus of mushrooms.
BOLETUS, n. [L.] A genus of mush-
rooms, containing many species.
BO'LIS, n. [L. from Gr. |ioj.ts, a dart; ^ox-
Xu, to throw.]
A fire-ball darting through the air, followed
by a train of light or sparks.
BOLL, n. [W. but, a seed vessel ; Sax. bolla,
a howl.]
The pod or capsule of a plant, as of flax; a
pericarp. Bole, a measure of six bushels,
is sometimes written in this manner.
BOLL, V. i. To form into a pericarp or seed-
vessel.
The badey was in the ear and the flax was
balled. Exodus ix.
Heb. hy2i, Gr. ortfpfioTtJov, as translated
by the seventy.
Bollard timbers, in a ship, or knight-heads,
are two timbers, rising just within the
stem, one on each side of the bowsprit, to
secure its end. Mar. Did.
In docks, bollards are large posts set in the
ground on each side, to which are lashed
large blocks, through which are reeved
the transporting hawsers for docking and
undocking sliips. Encyc.
BOLO'GNIAN STONE, bolo'nian stone.
Radiated sulphate of barytes ; found in
roiui.dish masses, composed of radiating
fibers ; first discovered near Bologna. It
is phosphorescent, when calcined.
BOLSTER, n. [Sax. and Sw. bolster ; Ger.
polster ; Dan. bolster-dyne, a feather bed ;
Pers. t^^Uj hahsht. In Dutch, bolster
is a husk, cod or shell.]
1. A long pillow or cushion, used to .support
the head of persons lying on a bed ; gen-
erally laid under the pillows.
2. A pad, or quilt, used to hinder pressure,
sujiport any part of the body, or make
a bandage sit easy upon a wounded part
a compress.
j3. In sadlery, a part of a saddle raised upon
the hows'or hinder part, to hold the rider's
thigh. Farrier''s Diet.
4. hi ships, a cushion or bag, filled with tar-
red canvas, used to preserve the stays
from being worn or chafed by the masts.
Mar. Diet.
jBOLSTER, V. t. To sujjport with a bolster,
pillow or any sort pad or quilt.
\2. To support ; to hold uj) ; to maintain.
1 Hooker. South.
3. To afford a bed to. [Unusual.] Sha!:.
BOLSTERED, a. Swelled
BOLSTERER.
|)I)ort
B O L
BOM
15 O N
BOLSTERING, n. A prop or support.
r<,ylo,
BOLT, n. [Dan. bolt ; Riiss. holt ; D. houf
G. bolzen; Sax. bolta, ciitapiilla, that wliicli
is driven, from tlie root of Gr. ,i3o?.x«, L.
petlo.]
1. An arrow ; a dart ; a pointed shaft.
Dryden.
'2. A strong cylindrical pin, of iron or other
metal, used to fasten a door, a i)lank, a
chain, &c. In ships, bolts are used in
the sides and decks, and have different
names, as rag-bolts, eye-bolts, ring-bolts,
chain-bolts, &c. In gunnery, there arc
prise-bolts, transom-bolts, traverse-bolts,
and bracket-bolts.
3. A thunder-bolt; a stream of lightning, so
named from its darting like a bolt.
4. The f|uantity of twenty-eight ells of can-
vas. Encyc.
BOLT, V. i- To fasten or secure with a bolt,
or iron pin, whether a door, a plank, fet-
ters or any thing else.
2. To fasten ; to shackle ; to restrain. Shak.
3. To blurt out ; to utter or throw out pre-
cipitately.
I hate when vice can bolt her avguincnt-s.
Milton
In this sense it is often followed by out
4. [Norm, bulter, a bolting sieve. Qu. Fr,
btuter.'] To sift or separate bran from flour,
In America this term is applied only to the
operation performed in mills.
5. Among sportsmen, to start or dislodge,
used of coneys.
6. To examine by sifting ; to open or sepa-
rate the parts of a subject, to tin<l the
truth ; generally followed by out. " Ti
and nature will bolt out thetruth of things."
[fnelegant.] UEslrange.
7. To purify ; to purge. {Unusual.'] Shak.
8. To discuss or argue ; as at Gray's inn,
where cases are privately discussed by
students and barristers. Encyc.
BOLT, V. t. To slioot forth suddenly ; 'to
spring out with speed and suddenness ; to
start forth hkeabolt; commonly follow-
ed by out ; as, to bolt otit of the house, oi
out of a den. Dryden.
BOLT-AUGER, n. [boll and auger.] A
large borer, used in sliip-buildini;. Ash
BOLT-BOAT, n. [bolt and boat.] A strong
boat that will endure a rough sea. Ash
BOLTED, pp. Made fast with a bolt ; sho
forth ; sifted ; examined.
BOLTER, n. An instrument or machine
for separating bran from flour or the coar-
ser part of meal from the finer.
I 2. A kind of net. Johnson
I BOLT-HEAD, n. [boU and head.] A long
' straight-necked glass vessel for chimical
distillations, called also a matrass or re-
ceiver. Johnson
BOLTING, ppr. Fastening with a bolt, or
bolts ; blurting out ; shooting forth sud
denly ; separating bran from flour ; sift
ins ; examining ; discussing ; dislodging.
BOLTING, n. The act of fastening with i
bolt or bolts ; a sifting ; discussion.
B0LTING-€LOTH, n. [bolt and cloth.] A
linen or hair cloth of which bolters are
made for sifting meal. Encyc.
BOLTING-HOUSE, n. [holt and house.]
The house or place where meal is bolted.
Johnson.
Vol. I.
BOLTING-HUTCH, n. A tub for l.olt.cl
I Hour.
[bolting-mill, n. [bolt and mill.] A
machine or engine for sifting meal. Encyc.
BOLTING-TUB, n. A tub to sift meal in.
BOLT-KOI'K, 71. [bolt and rope.] A rope
to whirli the edges of sails are sewed to
»lrti]i;lli(n llicni. That part of it on tin-
pcipindli-iilar >ide is called the leech-ropt :
that al ihc lidUnm, the foot-rope; that at
Ma
the Ici|), llic hi(i(l-rope.
BOLT-SI'KIT, n. [From the univ.-isal
popular pronunciation of this word, this
may have been the original word ; but I
doubt it. See Boiosprit.]
BO'LUS, n. [L. ioiits ; Gr. >3uXoj, a mass.]
A soft mass of any thing medicinal to be
swallowed at once, like a pill. It may be
of any ingredients, made a little thicker
than honey. Encyc.
BOM, n. A large serpent found in America,
of a harmless nature, and remarkable for
uttering a sound like bom.
Did. ofXal. Hilt.
BOMB, n. [L.bombus ; Gr. liofiSoi.] A great
noise. Hacon..
2. A large shell of cast iron, roimd and hol-|
low, with a vent to receive a fusee, which
is made of wood. This being filled with
gunpowder and the fusee driven into the
vent, the fusee is set on fire and the bomb
is thrown from a mortar, in such a dire<-
tion as to fall into a fort, city or enemyV
camp, when it bursts with great violence
and often with terrible effect. The in-
ventor of bombs is not known ; they
came into common use about the year
1(>M. Encyc.
3. The stroke upon a bell.
BOMB, V. t. To attack with bombs ; to bom-
bard. [JVol used.] Prior.
BOMB, V. i. To sound. B. Jonson.
BOM'BARD,n. [bomb and ard, kind. Fr.
bombarde ; Sp. It. bombarda.]
1. A piece of short thick ordnance with a
large mouth, formerly used ; some of them
carrying a ball of three hundred pounils
weight. It is called also basilisk, aiul by
the Dutch, donderbuss, thunder-gim. But
the thing and the name arc no longer in
use. Encyc.
2. An attack with bombs ; bombardment.
Barlou:
3. A barrel ; a drinking vessel. Oi*.
Johnson. Ash.
BOMB'ARD, V. t. To attack with bombs
throw M from iiiurtars.
Bo:MI; AKhKI), ii[). Attacked with bombs.
liO.AIliAUlHr. I!, (i. One whose business is
to alt( iiil Uie loading and firing of mor-
tars.
2. Carabus, a genus of insects of the beetle
kind. Encyc.
BOMB>ARDING, ppr. Attacking with shells
or bombs.
BOMBARDMENT, n. An attack with
bombs ; the act of throwmg bombs into a
town, fort or ship. Addison.
BOMB^ARDO, n. A mu.sical instrument of
the wind kind, much like the bassoon, and
used as a base to the hautboy. Encyc.
BOMBASifN, n. s as z. A name gi^ en to
two sorts of stuffs, one of silk, tlie other
crossed of cotton. Encyc.
BOM'BAST, n. Originally a stuff of soft
loose textme, used to swell garments.
25
Hence, high sounding words ; an iiiila
ted style ; fustian ; a serious attempt, h\
strained description, to raise a low or fa-
miliar subject beyond its rank, which,
instead of being sublime, never fails to be
ridinilous. Encyc.
iM i;\S'l', a. High-sounding; inflated;
I'l'j "III 1 njcaning. Su-ifl.
iMIiAS Tit, a. Swelled ; high sounding ;
Shaflesbtm;.
/>/-■/, |{O.Mi;\s'
I! V, n. Swelling words without
ining; fustian. Swift.
BOMB -(■llEST, n. [bomb and chest.] A
chest filled with bombs or only with gun
])owder, placed under ground, to make
destruction by its displosion.
BOM'BIAT, n. A salt formed by the bom-
bic acid and any base saturated.
Lavoisier.
BOM'BIC, a. [L. bombyx, a silk worm.]
Pertaining to the silk worm ; as bombic
BOMBILA'TION, n. [L. hombilo.] Sound;
icport : iiriisc. [lAttle used.] Brown.
l'.(i\ll'. Kl/I'cn, ) A small ship or vcs-
r.dMi; \I>-.~|;L, ^ ■ sel, constructed for
iliioHiiii; liombsinto a fortress from the
sea, and built remarkably strong, in order
to sustain the shocks produced by the dis-
charge of the mortars. They generallv
are rl^riri'd ns ketches. Mar. Diet.
lt()Air>A(' I.NOU?*, a. [h. bomhyciniis, from
l,niii/:i/r. :\ -ilk worm.]
2. Being of the color of the silk Avorm ;
transparent, with a vellow tint. Darwin.
BO'NA-FIDE, [L.] AVith good faith ; with-
out fraud or deception.
BoNA-RoBA, ?!. [It. a fine gown.] A showy
wanton. Shak.
BONA'IR, a. [It. bonario, from L. bonus.]
Complaisant ; yielding. [jYot used.]
BONA'SUS, n. [L.] A species of Bos, or
wild ox, with a long mane : a native of
Asia and Africa. It is of the size of a
bull. Encyc.
BoN €HRETiErf, n. [Fr. good christian.]
A species of pear.
BOND, n. [Sax. bond. See Band and Bind.]
1. Any thing that binds, as a cord, a chain,
a rope ; a band.
2. Ligament; that which holds things to-
gether.
Union ; connection ; a binding.
Let walls be so constructed as to make a good
bond. Mortimer.
4. In the plural, chains ; imprisonment ; cap-
tivity.
He hath done nothing worthy of death or
of bonds. Acts.
5. Cause of union ; cement which unites ;
link of coimection ; as the boTids of affec-
tion.
Charity is the bond of perfcctness. Col. 3.
6. An obUgation imposing a moral duty, as
by a vow, or promise, by law or other
means.
In law, an obligation or deed by which a
person binds himself, his heirs, executors,
and administrators, to pay a certain sura,
on or before a future day appointed.
This is a single bond. But usually a con-
dition is added, that if the obhgor shall do
a certain act, or pay a certain sum of mo-
ney, on or before a time specified, ilie
obligation shall be void ; otherwise it shall
BON
BON
BON
leinain in full force. If the condition is
uot perfornied, the bond becomes forfeit-
ed, and the obhgor and his heirs are hable
to the payment of the wliole sum.
Blackstone.
BOND, a. [for bound.] In a state of servi-
tude, or slavery; captive.
Whetlier we be Jews or Gentiles ; whether
we be bond or free. 1 Cor. xii.
BOND, V. t. To give bond for, as for duties
or custom.s at a custom house ; to secure
payment of, by giving a bond.
clearances were g
was made that the cargo consisted ol' bonded or
debentured goods. H or in disguise.
In the U. States, it is applied to the goods on
which the customs arise, and to the duties
secured by bond.
BOND' AGE, n. Slavery or invohmtary
vitude ; captivity ; iinprisonnient ; restraint
of a person's liberty by compulsion. In
ancient English law, villenage.
a. Obligation; tie of duty.
He must resolve not to be Ijrought under the
bondage of observing oaths. South.
3. In scripture, spiritual subjection to sin and
corrupt passions, or to the yoke of the
ceremonial law ; servile fear. Heb. ii. Gal.
ii. Rom. viii.
BOND'ED, pp. Secured by bond, as duties.
Bonded goods are those for the duties on
which bonds are given at the custom
BOND'MAID, n. [bond and maid.-\ A fe-
male slave, or one bound to service with-
out wages, in opposition to a hired ser-
vant.
BOND'MAN, n. [bond and man.] A man
slave, or one bound to service without
wages. In old English law, a villain, or
tenant in villenage.
BOND'SERVANT, n. [bond and servant]
A slave ; one who is subjected to
thority of another, or whose person and
libertv are restrained.
BOND'SERVICE, n. [bond and service.'
The condition of a bond-servant; slavery
BOND'SLAVE, n. [bond and slave.] A per
son in a state of slavery ; one whose
person and liberty are subjected to the
authority of a master.
BONDS'MAN, n. [bond and maii.] A slave.
Obs. Derham.
2. A surety ; one who is bound, or who
gives security, for another.
BONDS'WOMAN, \ [bond and woman.']
BOND'-WoMAN, \ "' A woman slave.
B. Jonson.
^ON'DUe, n. A species of Guilandina, or
nickar tree, the yellow nickar, a climbing
plant, a native of the West Indies, bearing
a pod containing two hard seeds of the
size of a child's marble. Encyc.
BONE, n. [Sax. ban ; Sw. hen ; D. been,
bone or leg ; Ger. bein, a leg ; Dan. been,
leg or bone. These
which is set or fixed. ,
.1. A firm hard substance, of a dull white
color, composing some part of the frame
of an animal body. The bones of aJi ani-
mal support all the softer parts, as the
flesh and vessels. They vary in texture
in different bones, and in different part
of the same bone. The long bones are
compact in their middle portion, witli
a central cavity occupied by a network of
jilates and fibers, and cellular or spongy
at the extremities. The flat bones are
compact externally, and cellular internal-
ly. The bones in a fetus are soft and
cartilaginous, but they gradually harden
with age. Tlie ends of the long bones
are larger than the middle, which renders
the articulations more firm, and in the fe-
tus are distinct portions, called epiphyses.
Bones are su])plied with blood vessels,
and in the fetus, or in a diseased state, are
very vascular. They are probably also
furnished with nerves and absorbents,
though less easily detected in a sound
state. They are covered with a thin,
strong membrane, called the periosteum,
which, together with the bones, has very
little sensibility in a sound state, but when
inflamed, is extremely sensible. Their
cells and cavities are occupied by a fatty
substance, called the medulla or marrow.
They consist of earthy matter, rather more
than half, gelatin, one sixteenth, and car-
tilage, about one third of the whole. The
earthy matter gives them their solidity,
and consists of phosphate of lime, with a
small ])ortion of carbonate of lime and
phosphate of magnesia.
Cyc. Wislnr. Thomson.
ii. A piece of bone, with fragments of meat
adhering to it.
To be upon the bones, is to attack. [Liltle
used, and vulgar.']
To make no bones, is to make no scru])le ; a
metaphor taken from a dog who greedily
swallows meat that has no bones.
Johnson .
Bones, a sort of bobbins, made of trotter
bones, for weaving lace ; also dice.
Johnson
BONE, V. t. To take out bones from tin
flesh, as in cookery. Johnson
2. To |iut whale bone into stays. Ash
BO'NE-ACE, 71. [bone and ace.] A game a
cards, in which he who has the highest
card turned up to him, wins the bone, thai
is, one half the stake. Encyc
BO'NE-ACHE, n. Pain in the bones. Shot
BO'NED, pp. Deprived of bones, as ii
cookery.
BO'NED, a. Having bones ; used in com-
position ; as high-boned ; strong-boned.
BO'NELACE, n. [bone and lace.'] A lace
made of linen thread, so called because
made witli bobbins of bone, or for its stiff-
ness. Obs.
BO'NELESS, a. Without bones ; wanting
bones ; as boneless gums. Shak.
BO'NE-SET, V. t. [bone and set.] To set a
dislocated bone ; to unite broken bones.
Wiseman
BO'NE-SET, n. A plant, the thorough-
wort, a species of Eupatorium.
BO'NE-SETTER, n. [bone and set.] One
whose occupation is to set, and restore
broken and dislocated bones.
BO'NE-SETTING, n. That branch of sur-
gery which consists in replacing broken
and luxated bones ; the practice of setting
bones.
BO'NE-SPAVIN, n. [bone and spavin.] A
bony excrescence, or hard swelling, on the
inside of the hock of a horse's leg ; usu-
ally cured by blistering and firing, or
caustic blisters. Encyc.
BONET'TA, n. A sea fish. Qu. boaito.
Herbert.
BON'FIRE, n. [Fr. bon, good, and Jire.]
A fire made as an expression of pubhc
joy and exultation.
BON'GRACE, n. [Fr. bonne, and grace.]
A covering for the forehead. [JVot used.]
Beaum.
BO'NIFy, V. t. To convert into good. [JVot
used.] Cudworth.
BONlTO, n. [Sp.] A fish of the tunny kind,
growing to the length of three feet, and
found on the American coast, and in the
tropical climates. It has a greenish back,
and a white silvery belly.
Hawksworth. Pennant. Diet. JVat. Hist.
BON'MOT, 71. [Fr. bon, good, and mot, a
word.]
A jest ; a witty repartee. This word is not
anglicized, and mav be pronounced 6omo,
BON'NET, n. [Fr. bonnet; Sp. bonete ; Ir.
boinead ; Arm. boned.]
1. A covering for the head, in common use
before the introduction of hats. The word,
as now used, signifies a cover for the
head, worn by females, close at the sides,
and projecting over the forehead.
2. In fortification, a small work with two
faces, having only a parapet, with two
rows of palisades about 10 or 12 feet dis-
tant. Generally it is raised above the
salient angle of the counterscarp, and com-
municates with the covered way.
Encye.
Bonnet a prelre, or priest's bonnet, is an
outwork, having at the head three sahent
angles and two inwards. Johnson.
3. In sea language, an addition to a sail, or
an additional part laced to the foot of a
sail, in small vessels, and in moderate
winds. Mar. Diet.
BONNET-PEPPER, n. A species of Cap-
sicum, or guinea pepper.
Fam. of Plants.
BON'NIBEL, n. [Fr. bonne, and belle.] A
handsome girl. Spenser.
BON'NILASS, n. [bonny and lass.] A
beautiful girl. Spenser.
BON'NILY, adv. [See Bonny.] Gayly :
handsomely ; plumply.
BON'NINESS, n. Gayety ; handsomeness ;
plumpness. [Little used.]
BON'NY, a. [Fr. bon,bonne, good ; L. bomts.
See iSoon.]
1. Handsome ; beautiful.
Till bonny Susan sped across the plain.
Gay.
2. Gay ; merry ; frolicksome ; cheerful ;
blithe.
Blithe and bonriy. Shak.
3. In familiar language, plump, as phmip
and healthful persons are most inclined to
mirth.
[This word is much used in Scotland.]
BON'NY, n. Among miners, a bed of ore,
differing from a squat in being round,
whereas a squat is flat ; or a distinct bed
of ore, that communicates with no vein.
Bailey. Encyc.
BON'NY-€LABBER, n. [Qu. bonmj, or
Ir. haine, milk, and clabber; Ar. \,xl
biestings ; G. lab, D. kb, rennet.]
A word used in Ireland for sour buttermilk.
Johnsoit.
BOO
BOO
BOO
turned or become thick in the i)rocess of
souring, and appUed only to that part
which is thick.
BON'TEN, n. A narrow woolen stufF.
Bo.NUM MAGNUM, [L.] A spccics of plum.
Johiison.
BO'NY, a. [fromione.] Consisting of bones
full of bones ; pertaining to bones.
'i. Having large or prominent bones; stout
strong.
BON'ZE, n. bon'zu. An Indian priest ; i
name used in China, Tunkin and the
neigboring countries. In China, the Bon
zes are the priests of the Fohists, or sect
of Folii. They are distinguished from the
laity by their dress. In Japan, they are
gentlemen of family. In Tunkin, every
pagoda has at least two bonzes belonging
to it, and some have thirty or forty. In
China, the number of bonzes is estimated
at fifty thousand, and they are represented
as idle dissolute men. Encyc
BOO'BY, n. [Sp. bobo, a dunce or ideot, a
rutr for the neck, a buffoon, the bird
bobo. ]
I. A dunce ; a stupid I'ellow ; a lubber; one
void of wisdom, or intellect. Prior.
3. A fowl of the pelican genus, of a brown
and white color, nmch varied in different
individuals. This fowl is found among
the Bahama isles, feeds upon fish and lays
its eggs on the bare rocks. It has a joint
in the upper mandible, by which it car
raise it without opening the mouth. Encyc
BOQK, n. [Sa.\. boc, a book and the beech
tree ; Goth, boka ; Icelandic book ; D. boek,
a book, and the mast of beech ; beuke, a
beech tree.; G. buck, a book, and buche, a
beech; Dan. 6og-; 8w. bok ; Russ. buk ; Gyp-
sey, buchos. Like the Latin liber, book sig-
nifies primarily bark and beech, the tree
being probably named from its bark.]
A general name of every literary composi
tion which is printed ; but appropriately, i
printed composition bound ; a volume.
The name is given also to any number of
written sheets when bound or sewed to-
gether, and to a volume of blank paper,
intended for any species of writing, as for
memorandums, for accounts, or receipt;
% A particular part of a literary composi-
tion ; a division of a subject in the same
volume.
3. A volume or collection of sheets in which
accounts are kept ; a register of debts and
credits, receipts and expenditures, &c.
In books, in kind remembrance ; in favor.
I was so much in his books, that at his de-
cease he left me his lamp. .Addison.
Without book, by memory; without read-
ing ; without notes ; as, a sermon was de-
livered tvithout book. This phrase is used
also in the sense of without authority ; as, a
man asserts without book.
BOOK) »• '• To enter, write or register in a
book.
BOOK-ACCOUNT', n. [book and account.]
An account or regi.^ter of debt or credit in
a book.
BOOK'BINDER, n. [book and bind.] One
whose occupation is to bind books.
BOOK'BINDING, n. The art or practice of
binding books ; or of sewing tlie sheets,
and covering them with leather or otlier
material.
BOOK'ED, nn. Written in a book; registered.
ByOK'FUL, a. [book and fuU.] Full of
tions gleaned from books ; crowded with|
undigested learning. Pope.
BOOK'INii, ppr. Registering in a book.
BOOK'ISH, a. Given to reading; fond o
study; more acquainted with books thai
with men. Shak
BOOK'ISHLY, adv. In the way of being]
addicted to books or much reading.
Thurlow.
BOOK'ISHNESS, n. Addictedness to books ;|
fonilness for study. Whitlock
BOOK'-KEEPER, n. [book and keep.] On(
who keeps accounts, or the accounts oi
another ; the officer who has the charge
of keeping the books and accounts in
public office.
BOOK'-KEEPING, n. [book unA keep.] Tl
art of recording mercantile transactions i
a regular and systematic maimer ; the art
of keeping accounts in such a manner
that a man may know the true state of
his business and property, or of his debts
and credits, by an inspection of his books.
The books for this purpose are, 1. a Waste
Book, or blotter, in which are registered all
accounts or transactions in the order in
which they take place ; 2. the Journal,
which contains the accounts transferred
from the waste book, in the same order
but expressed in a technical style ; 3. tl
Leger, in which articles of the same kind
are collected together, from the journal,
and arranged under proper titles.
In addition to these, several others are used
as cash-book ; book of charges of merchan-
dize ; book of house-expenses ; invoice-book ;
sales-book ; bill-book ; receipt-hook ; letter-
book ; pocket-book ; the use of which may
be uiulerstood from the names. Encyi'
BOOK'LAND, } [book and land.] In old
BOCK'LAND, $ "• English laivs, charter
land, held by deed under certain rents and
free-services, which differed nothing from
free socage lands. This species of tenure
has given rise to the modern freeholds.
Blackstone.
BOOK'LEARNED, a. [book and learn.]
Versed in books ; acquainted with books
and literature ; a term sometimes imply-
ing an ignorance of men, or of the com
mon concerns of life. Dn/den
BOOK'LEARNING, n. Learning acquired
by reading ; acquaintance with books and
literature ; sometimes implying want of
practical knowledge. Sidney.
BOOK' LESS, a. [book and less.] Without
books ; unlearned. Shenstonc
BOOK'MAKING, n. The practice of writing
and publishing books.
BOOK'MAN, n. [book and man.] A man
whose profession is the study of books.
Shak.
BOOK'MATE,n. [book and mate.] A school-
fellow. Shak.
BOOK'OATII, n. The oath made on the
book, or Bible. Shak
BOOKSELLER, n. [book and sell] One
whose occupation is to sell books.
BOOK'WORM,)!. [book and ivorm.] A worm
or mite that eats holes in books.
2. A student closely attached to books, or
addicted to study; also, a reader without
judgment. Pope.
BOO'LEY, n. In Ireland, one who has no
settled habitation, but wanders li-oiu plact:
to place, with his flocks and herds, living
on their milk, like the Tartars. Spenser.
BOOM, n. [D. boom, a tree, a pole, a beam, a
bar, a rafter ; Goth. bag7ns ; Ger. baum;
Eng. 6enm ; D. boomen, to push forward
with a pole ; Dan. bom, a rail or bar.]
.\ long pole or spar, run out from various
parts of a ship, or other vessel, for tho
jjurpose of extending the bottom of par-
ticular sails ; as the jib-boom, sludding-saH
boom, main-boom, square-saU boom. &c.
Mar. Did.
2. A strong iron chain, fastened to spars, and
extended across a river, or the mouth of
a harbor, to prevent an enemy's ships
from i)assing.
•"}. A pole set up as a mark to direct sen-
men how to keep the channel, in shallow
water.
BOOM, ti. i. [Sax. byma, byme, a trumpet ;
bymian, to blow or sound a trumpet ; D.
bomme, a drum; bommen, to drum; W.
btomp, a hollow sound. We see the senses
of sounding, uttering the voice, swelling
and rushing forward, are connected.]
1. In marine language, to rush with vio-
lence, as a ship under a press of sail.
2. To swell ; to roll and roar, as waves.
The hoarse waves booming to the ocean shore.
Hillhouse.
3. To cry as the bittern. Goldsmith.
The Dutch use bom for the sound of an
emptv barrel, and bommen is to drum.
BOON,"/!. [L. bonus; Vr.bon; Norm. 6ooJi ;
It. iuojio ; Sp. bueno ; Port, bom, good.]
1. A gift ; a grant ; a benefaction ; a present ;
a favor granted. Addison.
2. [Dan. bon, Sw. bon, a petition.] A
prayer, or petition. Ash.
OON, a. [Ft. bon ; L. bonus.] Gay ; merry ;
kind ; bountiful ; as a Joon companion.
Milton.
BO'OPS, n. The pike-headed whale, with a
double pipe in its snout, and a hard horny
ridge on its back ; so named from its sharj)
pointed nose. Encyc.
BOOR, n. [Sax. gebur, a countryman or
farmer ; D. boer, a rustic, or farmer ; G.
bauer, a countryman and a builder, from
bauen, to build, to cultivate; Sax. byan, or
bugian, and gcbugian ; D. bouwen ; Dan.
bygger ; Sw. byggia, to build. Boor is a
contracted word.]
A countryman ; a peasant ; a rustic ; a plow-
man ; a clown ; hence, one who is rude in
manners, and ilUterate. Dryden.
BOORISH, a. Clownish ; rustic ; awkward
in manners ; illiterate. Shak.
BOOR'ISHLY, adv. In a clownish manner.
BOOR'ISHNESS, n. Clownishness ; rusti-
ty ; coarseness of manners.
BOOSE, 71. [Sax. bosig, bosg ;^ Heb. Ch.
OiaN, a stall or crib ; Ar.
..\
ut up or imprison.]
A stall or inclosure for an ox, cow or other
cattle. [.Yot iised or local.]
BOOSE, > . , r«r . ■ .
BOUSF \ v. 1. 0002. [\\ . 6o«, to immerse.]
To drink hard; to guzzle. [Vulgar.]
BOO'SY, a. boo'zy. A Uttle intoxicated ; mer-
rv with liquor. [Vulgar.]
BOOST, V. t. To lift or raise by pushing ; to
push up. [A common vulgar uvrd in J^.
England.]
BOO
B O R
B O R
BOOT, V. t. [Sax. bot, bote, reparation, sat-j
isfactioii, a making good, amends ; GothJ
boti/an, to profit or help ; S\v. bot, a fine ;
n.'boete, fine, penalty, repentance ; boeten,
' to amend, or repair ; G. busse, boot, fine,
jienaiice ; bii-ssen, to amend ; Dan. bodder,
to repair, or requite ; boder, to expiate, or
make atonement ; W. in:, profit; buziaw,
to profit. We observe this word is from
the root ot' better, denothig more, or ad-[
\ ance ; Eiig. but. The primary sense ofi
llie root is to advance, or carry forward.]
I. To ])rofit ; to advantage.
It shall not boat them. Hooker. \
But more generally followed by it, what
boots it '/ Indeed it is seldom used, except
in the latter phrase,
'i. To enrich ; to benefit.
1 will boot thee. Ob.i. .S'/mfr.
BOOT, n. Profit ; gain ; advantage ; tliat}
which is given to make the exchange
equal, or to supply the deficiency of value
in one of the things exchanged. Shi:k.
12. To boot, in addition to; over and above:
besides; a compensation for the dificrence
of value between things bartered ; as, I
will give my house for yours, with one
hundred dollars <o too*. [Sax. /oto(e. Tlie
phrase is pure Saxon.]
;i. Spoil ; plunder. [See Booty.] Shnk.
BOOT, 11. [I''r. botte, a boot, a bunch ; Ir.l
butais; W.botasm, botas ; Sp.bota,a.boot,\
a butt, or cask, a leather bag to carry]
li(|uors ; Port, bota ; It. botte, boots, a cask.]
1. A covering for the leg, made of leather,
and united with a shoe. This garment
was originally intended for horsemen, butj
is now generally worn by gentlemen on
foot. The difterent sorts are Jishhig-boots,'
worn in water ; hunting-boots, a thinner
kind for sportsmen ; jack-boots, a strong
kind for horsemen ; and half-boots.
•i. A kind of rack for the leg, formerly used
to tortiu'e criminals. This was made of
boards bound fast to the legs by cords ; or
a boot or buskin, made wet and drawn
upon the legs and then dried by the fire,
so as to contract and squeeze the legs,
Encyc.
'■i. A box covered with leather in the fore
part of a coach. Also, an apron or leath-
ern cover for a gig or chair, to defend
persons from rain and mud. This latter
application is local and improper.
BOOT, V. t. To put on boots.
BOOT'€ATCHER, n. [boot and eatch.] The
person at an inn whose business is to pull
oft" boots. Obs. Sivifl.
BOOT'ED, pp. Having boots on. Dryden.
BOOTEE', rt. A word sometimes used for
a half or short boot.
BOO'TES, n. A northern constellation,
consisting, according to P'lamstead's cata-
logue, of fifty-four stars.
BOOTH, n. [W. bwth ; Ir. hoith or both ; G
bude ; Russ. budka ; Ch. n'3, bith, a house,
and to lodge for a night ; also in the Ar.
Sam. Syr.^th. and Heb. beth, a house or
booth, a nest for birds. Probably the
sense is, a dwelling, from lodging, abiding."
A house or shed built of boards, boughs of
trees, or other slight materials, for a tem-
porary residence. Bible. Camden.
BOOT'-HOSE, n. [boot and hose.] Stocking-
hose or spatterdashes, in lieu of boots.
Shak
BOOT'LEG, n. [boot and leg.] Leather cm
out for the leg of a boot. .4s/t.
BOOT'LESS, a. [from boot.] Unavailing;
unprofitable; useless; without advantage
or success. IShak.
BOOT'LESSLY, adv. Without use or profit.
BOOT'-TOPPING, n. [boot and top.] The
operation of cleansing a ship's bottom,
near the surface of the water, by scraping
oft' the grass, slime, shells, &c., and daub-
ing it with a mixture of tallow, sidpliur
and rosin. Mar. Diet.
BOOT'-TREE, or BOOT'-LAST, n. An
instrument to stretch and widen the leg of
a boot, consisting of two pieces, sliaped
like a leg, between which, wlien put into
the boot, a wedge is diHven. Encyc.
BOOT'Y, n. [Sw. byte; Dan. byUe ; D
buit ; G. beute ; It. bottino ; Sp. botin :
Fr. butin ; D. buiten, to rove. See Buf.j
S])oil taken from an enemy in war ; plun-
der ; pillage. Milton.
That which is seized by violence and rob-
bery. Shak.
To play booty is to play dishonestly with an
intent to lose. Johnson.
BOPEEP, n. [bo, an exclamation, iindpeep.]
The act of looking out or from behind
something and drawing back, as children
iu play, for the purpose of frigliteuing eacli
other." Shale. Dryden.
BO'RABLE, a. [See Bore.] That may be
bored. [Little tised.]
BORAOH'IO, n. [Sp. borraeho, drunk.] A
drunkard. Congreve.
2. A bottle or cask. [JVol used.] Dryden.
BORAC'le, a. [See Borax.] Pertaining to
or produced from borax.
iracic acid, a compound of a peculiar base,
boron, with oxygen. It is generally ob-
tained from borax, by adding sulphuric
acid. It it also foimd native, in certain
mineral springs in Italy. Webster.
BO'RACTTE, n. Borate of magnesia ; mag-
nesian earth combined with boracic acid.
It is generally of a cubic form, and remark-
able for its electrical properties when heat-
ed. Cleaveland.
BO'RACITED, a. Combined with boracic
acid.
BO'RA€OUS ACID, the base of boracic
acid, partially satm-ated with oxygen.
BORATE, n. bur' rage. A jilant of the ge-
nus Borago.
BO'RATE, ?!. A sait formed by a combina-
tion of boracic acid with any base satura-
ted. Fourcroy.
BORAX,
[Pcrs.
; Ar.
O ^j baraka, to si
'J-^
borakon, fron
Russ. bura.]
Sub-borate of soda ; a salt formed by the
combination of boracic acid with the ma
rine alkali or soda. It is brought from tiv
East Indies, where it is said to be found
at the bottom or on the margin of certain
lakes, particularly in Thibet. It is saiil to
be artificially prepared in Persia, like niter.
It comes in three states. 1. Crude borax,
tinkal, or chrysocolla, from Persia, ir
greenish masses of a greasy feel, or ii
opake crystals. 2. Borax of China, some
what jiurer, in small plates or masses,
irregularly crystalized, and of a dirty
white. 3. Dutch or purified borax, in
portions of transparent crystals, which is
the kind generally used. It is an excel-
lent flux in docimastic operations, a styp-
tic in medicine, and usefid in sodering
metals. Encyc. Cleaveland. Hooper.
B0RDA6E, n. [See Bordlands.]
BORD'EL, > „ [Fr. bordel, a brothel ; D.
BORDEL'LO, ^ bordeel ; Ger. bordeU; It.
bordello ; Sp. burdel ; Arm. bordell ; from
hord, a house. Tliis is the Eng. brothel.]
A brothel ; a bawdy-house ; a house devo-
il to ])rostitution. B. Jonson.
BORD'ELLER, n. The keeper of a brothel.
Gower.
BORD'ER, n. \¥r.bord; Arm. id; Sp. ior-
do ; Port, borda ; It. bordo. See hoard.]
The outer edge of any thing ; the extreme
part or surroimding line ; the confine or
exterior limit of a country, or of any region
or tract of land ; the exterior part or edge
of a garment, or of the corol of plants ;
the rim or brim of a vessel, but not often
applied to vessels ; the exterior part of a
garden, and hence a bank raised at the
side of a garden, for the ctdtivation of
flowers, and a row of plants ; in short,
the outer part or edge of things too nu-
merous to be specified.
BORD'ER, V. i. To confine; to touch at the
edge, side or end ; to be contiguous or ad-
jacent ; with o?i or upon ; as, Connecticut
on the tiuith borders on or upon Massachu-
setts.
To approach near to.
Wit, which borders upon profaneness, de-
serves to be branded as folly. Tlllotaon.
BORD'ER, V. t. To make a border ; to
adorn with a border of ornaments ; as, to
border a garment or a garden.
2. To reach to ; to touch at the edge or end ;
to confine upon ; to be contiguous to.
Sheba and Raamah border the Persian gulf.
Raleigh.
.3. To confine within bounds ; to limit. [JVot
used.] Shak.
BORD'ERED, pp. Adorned or furnished
with a border.
BORD'ERER, n. One who dwells on a
border, or at the extreme part or confines
of a country, region cr tract of land ; one
who dwells near to a place. Bacon.
BORD'ERING, ppr. Lying adjacent to ;
forming a border.
BORD-IIALFPENNY, n. Money paid for
setting up boards or a stall in market.
Burn.
BORD-LA\D, n. [hord and land. See
Board.]
In old law. the domain land which a lord
kept in his hands for the maintenance of
hi^ bord, hoard, or table. Spelman.
BORD-LODE, ) [bord and had.] The
BOARD-LOAD, ^ "" service required of a
tenant to carry timber from the woods to
the lord's house ; also, the quantity of pro-
vision paid by a bord-man for bord-land.
Bailiy.
BORD-MAN, n. [bord and man.] A tenant
of bord-land, who supplied his lord with
provisions. Encyc.
BORD'-RAGING, «. An incursion upon
the borders of a country. Obs. Spenser.
BORD'-SERVICE, u. [board and service.]
The teniu-e by which bord-land was held,
B O li
B O R
B O R
whicli was the payment of a certain quan
tity of provisions to the lord. In lieu ol
this, the tenant now pays six pence an
acre. Encyc.
IJOKD'UIIE, n. In heraldry, a tract or com-
pass of metal, color or fur, within the es-
cutcheon, and around it. Bailey.
BORE, V. I. [Sax. boriaii ; tiw. bura ; D. boor-
en; Ger. bohren; Dnii. borer, to bore; i).
boor; Ger. bohrer ; Dan. borre, a borer;
h.J'oro ami perforo, to bore, to perforate;
Russ. burav, u borer ; Gr. «f tpu>, to picrc
or transfix ; also, to pass over, hi which
sense it coincides witli ferry. The Celtic
ber, bear, a spit, L. veru, irom thrusting
piercing, coincide in elements »vith tl
root. Pers. s.aj aborer.]
1. To perforate or penetrate a solid body and
make a round hole by turning an uuge
gimlet, or other instrument. Hence, to
make hollow ; to form a round hole ; as, to
bore a cannon.
2. To eat out or make a hollow by gnawing
or corroding, as a worm.
3. To penetrate or break through by turning
or labor; as, to 6ore through a crowd. Gay.
BORE, V. i. To be pierced or i)enetrated by
an uistrumcnt that turns ; as, this timber
does not bore well or is hard to bore.
1. To pierce or enter by boring ; as, an au-
ger bores well.
3. To push forward toward a certain point.
Boring to the west. Ihyden.
4. With horsemen, a horse bores, when he
carries his nose to the ground. Did.
5. In o transitive or intransitive sense, to
pierce the earth with scooping irons,
which, wlien drawn out, biiiij,' uith them
samples of the difiercnt stratuius, through
which they pass. This is a method of dis-
covering veins of ore and coal without
opening a mine. Encyc.
BORE, n. The hole made by boring. Hence,
the cavity or hollow of a gun, cannon, ])is-
tol or other fire-arm ; the caliber ; wheth-
er formed by boring or not.
2. Any instrument for making holes by
boring or turning, as an auger, gimlet or
wimble.
BORE, n. A tide, swelling above another
tide. Burke.
A sudden influx of the tide into a river
or narrow strait. Cyc.
BORE, pret. of bear. [See Bear.]
lJO'RE-€OLE, 71. A species of Br.issica
or cabbage. Fam. of Plants.
BO REAL, a. [L. borealis. See Boreas.]
Northern ; pertainhig to the north or the
north wind. Pope.
BO'REAS, n. [L. horcas; Gr. .3optas, the
north wind ; Russ. boria, boreas, and ii(-
ria, a storm or tempest; buran, a tempest
with snow. The Russ. gives the radical
sense.]
The northern wind ; a cold northerly wind.
'Mittoti.
BO'RED, pp. Perforated l>y an auger or
other turning instrument; made hollow.
BOREE', n. [F'r.] A certain dance, or move-
ment in common time, of four crotchets
in a bar ; always beginning in the last qua-
ver or las-t crotchet of the measure.
Busby.
BO'RER, )i. One who bores ; also an in-
strument to make holes with by turning
3. Terebella, the piercer, a genus of sea
worms, that pierce wood.
BORN, pp. of bear, baurn. Brought forth-
as an animal. A very useful distinction
is observed by good authors, who, in the
sense of produced or brought forth, write
this word born ; but in the sense of
ricd, write it borne. This dirterence of
orthography renders obvious the difler
eiice of pronunciation.
1. To be born, is to be produced or brought
into life. " Man is bom to trouble." A
man bom a prince or a beggar. It is follow-
ed by of, before the mother or ancestors.
Man that is bom of woman is of few days
and full of trouble. Job xiv.
2. To be born, or 6or/j again, is to be
rated and renewed ; to receive spiritual
life. John iii.
BORNE, /)/>. of 6ear. Carried; conveyed;
ipported ; defrayed.
BORNE, n. The more correct orthography
of bourn, a hmit or boundary. [See
Bourn.]
BORON, n. The combustible base of bora-
•ic a(-id. Ure
BOROUGH, n. bur'ro. [Golh. bairgs ; Sax.
burg, burh, beorh, l)eorg, byrig ; Ir. brog ;
I'V. bourg ; It. borgo ; Sp. 6urg-o ; D. burg
and icrg- ; Dan. 6org ; Arm. bourg ; G.
burg and berg; Gr. xupyoj; Ar.
Z^^
Sans. bura. This word, in Saxon,
terpreted a hill, heap, mountain, fortifica-
tion, castle, tower, city, house and tomb.
Hence Perga, in Paiiiphyha, Bergen, in
Norway, Burgos, in Spain, and probably
Prague, in Bohemia. In \V^. bwr, bierc,
signifies a wall, rampart, or work for de-
fense, and bwrdais is a burgess. But the
original sense probably is found in the verb.
Sax. beorgan, D. and G. hergen, Russ.
beregu, to keep, or save, that is, to make
close or secure. Hence it coincides with
park, and L. parous, saving. See the next
word. If the noun is the primary word,
denoting hill, this is from throwing to-
gether, collecting ; a sense allied to that of
making fast or close.]
Oriffinally, a fortified city or town ; hence a
hill, f(]r hills were selected for places of
(iifiiisc. But ill later times, the term city
was substinilcd to denote an episcopal
town, in which was the see of a bishop,
ami that of borough was retained for the
rest. At iiresent, the name is given appro-
I)riately to such towns and villages as
send representatives or burgesses to Par-
liament. Some boroughs are incorjiora-
fed, others are not. Blackstone. Enri/c.
BOROUGH, n. bur'ro. [Sax. borhoe, a sino-
ty ; borgian, to borrow ; borg, interest ;
borga, a debtor, a surety ; borgwed, a pro-
mise or bond for appearance, a pledge ;
borg-bn/ce, burg-break, violation of pledge ;
borgha'nd, borhhand, a surety or bail ; beor-
gan, to keep, guard or preserve ; G. bor-
gen, D. id., to borrow. See the preceding
word.]
In Saxon times, a main pledge, or associa-
tion of men, who were sureties or free
pledges to the king for the good behavior
of each other, andif any offense was com-
mitted in their distri<-t, they were bound
to have the oflender fonhcomiiig. Tlie
association of ten men was called a tithing,
or decenary; the presiding man was called
the tithing man, or head-borough; or iu
some places, borsholder, borough's elder.
This society was called also friburg, free
burg, frauk pledge. Ten tithings formed a
hundred, consi.-tiiig of tliat number of
surciir.-. :ui(l ilii- rli-iioiiDiiatioti is still giv-
en to till ill II 1. Is, (oniprehended in the
a.ssori.iiinii. Ill, iiiiii seems to have been
used liutli li-r the society and lor each sure-
ty. The word main, hand, wliich is at-
tached to this society, or their mutual as-
surance, indicates tliat the agreement was
ratified by shaking hands.
Spelman. Blackstone. Cowel.
Some writers have suggested that the
application of this word to towns sprung
from these associations, and of course
was posterior to them in time. See Encyc.
Art. Borough. But the word was used
for a town or castle in other nations, and
in Asia, doubtless long before the origin of
t\>e frank pledge.
In Connecticut, this word, borough, is used
for a town or a part of a town, or a village,
incorporated with certain privileges, dis-
tinct from those of other towns and of
cities ; as the Borough of Bridgeport.
In Scotland, a borough is a body corporate,
consisting of the inhabitants of a certain
district, erected by the Sovereign, with a
certain jurisdiction.
Boroughs are erected to be held of the
sovereign, as is ^'enerally the case of royal
boroughs; or of the superior of the lands
included, as in the case of boroughs of re-
gahty and barony. Royal boroughs are
generally erected for the advantage of
trade. JSnc^c.
Borough English, is a customary descent
of lands and tenements to the youngest
son, instead of the eldest; or if the owner
leaves no son, to the youngest brother.
Blackstone. Cowel.
Borough-head, the same as head-borough, the
chief of a borough. ^sk.
BOROUGH-HOLDER, n. A head-bo-
rough : a borsholder. ^/,.
BOROUGH-MASTER, n. The mayor,
governor or balift'of a borough. M.
BORRACH'IO, n. The caoutchouc, India
ibbcr, or elastic gum. [See Caoutchouc]
BOR'RELISTS, n. In church history, a
.sect of Christians in Hollaiul, .so called
from Borrel, their fouiuler, who reject the
use of the sacraments, public prayer and
all external worsliii). They lead a veiy
austere life. Encyc.
BOR'ROW, V. t. [Sax. borgian, to borrow ;
D. borgen, to borrow, lend or trust ; Ger.
borgen, the same; Dan. borger, to bor-
row ; borgen, bail, surety, pledge, war-
ranter, main-pernor ; horg, trust, credit: Sw.
horgan, a giving bail ; borg, a fortress.
The primary sense is, to malve fast or se-
1. To take from another by request and con-
sent, with a view to use the thing taken
for a time, and return it, or if the thing
taken is to be consumed or transferred in
the use, then to return an equivalent in
kind ; as, to borrow a book, a snm of money,
or a loaf of bread. It is opposed to ?enrf.
BOS
BOS
B O T
2. To take from aiiotlier, for one's own use ;[
to copy or select from the writings ofj
another author ; as, to ion-oMJ a passage
from a printed book; to borrow a title.
■3. To take or adopt for one's own use, sen-
timents, principles, doctrines and the Uke;!
as, to borrow instruction.
4. To take for use something that belongs
to another ; to assume, copy or imitate ;
as, to borrow a shape ; to borrow the man-
ners of another, or his style of writing.
BOR'ROW, n. A borrowing ; the act of
borrowing. [JVot used.]
Butof your royal presence I'll adventure
The borrow of a week. Shak
BOR'ROWED, pp. Taken by consent of
another, to be returned or its equivalent in
kind; copied; assumed.
BOR'ROWER, n. One who borrows; op-
posed to lender. [See the verb.]
U. One who takes what belongs to another
to use as one's own.
BORROWING, ppr. Taking by consent to
use and return, or to return its equivalent ;
taking what belongs to another to use as
one's own; copying; assuming; imita-
ting.
BtHJ'ROWING, n. The act of bon-owing.
[See the verb.]
IJORiS'llOLDER, n. [A contraction of
iitc/i's ealdor, borough's elder, the elder
or chief of a borough.]
The head orchief of a tithing or burg of ten
men ; the head-borough.
Lambert. Spclman.
BOS, n. [L.] In zoology, the technical name
of a genus of quadrupeds. The charac-
ters are, the horns are hollow within
and turned outward in the form of cres-
cents ; there are eight fore teeth in the
under jaw, but none in the upper ; there
are no dog teeth. The species are, the
Taurus or common ox, the Urus, aur-
ochs or bison of Europe, the Bison or buf-
falo of North America, the Bubalus or
proper buffalo of the Eastern continent,
the Caffer or Cape buffalo, the Grunniens
or yak of Thibet, and the Moschatus or
musk ox of Arctic America.
Encyc. Cuvier.
BOSCAGE, n. [Fr. boscage, now bocage, a
grove ; It. bosco ; Dan. busk ; Ger. busch
a wood, or properly a thicket or under-
wood ; Eng. bush.]
1. Wood ; under-wood ; perhaj)s, sometimes
lands covered with underwood ; also, a
thicket.
2. In old laws, food or sustenance for cattle,
which is yielded by bushes and trees.
Cowei
3. With painters, a landscape, representing
thickets of wood. Encyc
BOS'CHAS, n. The common wild duck, or
mallard, belonging to the genus Anas.
Encyc.
BOSH, n. Outline ; figure. Todd.
BOSK'ET, i [It. boschetto, a little wood,
BOS'QUET, > Ji. from bosco. See Bos
BISK'ET, ^ cage.-]
In gardening, a grove ; a compartment form-
ed by branches of trees, regularly or irreg
ularly disposed, according to fancy.
Encyc.
BOSK'Y, a. [See Boscage.] Woody ;
ered with thickets. Milton
BO'SOiM, n. s as z. [Sax. bosm, bosum ; U.
boezem ; G. busen. Qu. Ch. r\r2 or am,
the breast, uber, mamma.]
1. The breast of a human being and the jiarts
adjacent.
The folds or covering of clothes about the
breast.
Put thy hand in thy bosom. Ex. iv.
3. Embrace, as with the arms; inclosurc ;
compass; often implying friendship or af-
fection ; as, to Uve in the bosom of a churcli.
4. The breast, as inclosing the heart ; or the
interior of the breast, considered as the
seat of the passions.
Anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Eccles.
5. The breast, or its interior, considered as a
close place, the receptacle of secrets.
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by
hiding my iniquity in my bosom. Job xxxi.
6. Any inclosed place ; the interior ; as the
bosom of the earth or of the deep.
7. The tender affections ; kindness ; favor ;
as the son of his bosom ; the wife of thy
bosom.
He shall cany the lambs in his bosom. Is. xl.
8. The arms, or embrace of the arms. Ps.
9. Inclination ; desire. [JVol used.} Shak.
Bosom, in composition, implies intimacy,
affection and confidence ; as a bosom-friend,
an intimate or confidential friend; bosom-
lover, bosom-interest, bosom-secret, &e. In
such phrases, bosom may be considered as
an attribute eiiuivalent to intimate, con-
fidential, dear.
i)'SO.M, v. t. To inclose in the bosom ; to
keep with care.
Bosom \ip my counsel. Shak.
2. To conceal ; to hide from view.
To happy convents bosom'd deep in vines
Pope.
BO'SOMED, pp. Inclosed in the breast ;
concealed.
J'SON, n. A boatswain ; a popular, but
corrupt pronunciation.
The merry boson. Dryden
BOSPO'RIAN, a. [from Bosporus.] Per-
taining to a bosporus, a strait or narrow
sea between two seas, or a sea and a lake
The Alans forced the Bosporian kings to pay
them tribute, and exterminated the Taurians.
Tooke.
BOS'PORUS, )i. [Or. ,301!, an ox, and Ttopoj, a
passage.]
A narrow sea or a strait, between two
or between a sea and a lake, so called, it
is supposed, as being an ox-passage,
strait over which an ox may swim. So
our northern ancestors called a strait
sound, that is, a swim. The term Bospo-
rus has been particularly applied to the
strait between the Propontis and the Eux
ino, called the Thracian Bosporus ; and to
the strait of Caffa, called the Cimmerian
Bosporus, which connects the Palus Ma^o-
tis or sea of Azof, with the Euxine.
D'Anille
BOSS, n. [Fr. bosse ; Arm. 6of:. In D. bos h
a bunch, a bundle, a truss, a tuft, a bush, i
sheaf, whence bosch, G. busch, a bush, 01
thicket. In W. both is the boss of a buck
ler, the nave of a wheel, and a bottle, and
hence W. bothel, a rotundity, a bottle or
any round vessel, a wheal or blister. A
boss is a protuberance, either from shoot-
ing, projecting, or from collecting and
forming a mass.]
1. A stud or knob ; a protuberant ornament,
of silver, ivoty, or other material, used on
bridles, harness, &c.
2. A protuberant part ; a prominence ; as
the boss of a buckler.
3. A round or swelhng body of any kind; a»
fcossofwood. Moxon.
4. A water-conduit, in form of a tun-bellied
figure. Ash. Bailey.
BOSS'AGE, n. [from boss ; Fr. bossage.]
1. A stone in a building which has aprojec-
ture, and is laid rough, to be afterwards
carved into moldings, capitals, coats of
arms, &c. Encyc.
2. Rustic work, consisting of stones which
advance beyond the naked or level of the
building, by reason of indentures or chan-
nels left in the joinings ; chiefly in the
corners of edifices, and called rustic quoins.
Tlie cavities are sometimes round, some-
times beveled or in a diamond form,
sometimes inclosed with a cavetto, and
sometimes with a listel. Encyc.
BOSS'ED, pp. Studded ; ornamented with
bosses. Shak.
BOSS'I VE, a. Crooked ; deformed. Osborne.
BOSS' Y, a. Containing a boss; ornamented
His head recUning on his bossy shield.
Popf
BOS'TRVeHITE, n. [Gr. 0o;pvxos.] A
gem in the form of a lock of hair. Jlsh.
BOS'VEL, n. A plant, a species of crow-
foot. Johnson .
BOT. [See Bots.]
BOTAN'le, I [See Botany.] Pertain-
BOTAN'l€AL, $ "' ing to botany ; relating
to plants in general ; also, containing plants,
as a botanic garden.
BOTAN'l€ALLY, adv. According to th«
system of botany.
BOT'ANIST, n. One skilled in botany ; one
versed in the knowledge of plants or vege-
tables, their structure, and generic and
specific differences.
The botanist is he who can affix similar names
to similar vegetables, and difTerent names to dif-
ferent ones, so as to be intelligible to every one
Linne
BOT'ANIZE, V. i. To seek for plants ; to
investigate the vegetable kingdom ; to
study plants.
He could not obtain pennission to botanize
upon mount Sabber. A'iebuhr, Trans.
B0TAN0L'06Y, n. [Gr. iiotwvr,, a plant,
and ?ioyos, discourse.] A discourse upon
plants. Diet.
BOTANOM'ANCY, ?^. [fiotwr;, a plant,
and itavTtM, divination.]
An ancient species of divination by means of
plants, especially sage and fig leaves. Per-
sons wrote their names and questions on
leaves, which they exposed to the wind,
and as many of the letters as remained in
their places were taken up, and being
joined together, contained an answer to
the question. Encyc.
BOT'ANY, n. [Gr. jSoravr, a plant ; Pers.
* J ^ J " shrub ; probably allied to bud, to
shoot.]
That branch of naturul histoid which treats
of vegetables ; a science which treats of
B O T
B O T
B O T
the (lift'erent plants, and of the distinguish-
ing marks by which each individual spe-
cies may be known from e%ery other.
Martyn. Encyc.
Or, botany is the science of the structure,
functions, properties, habits and arrange-
ment of plants, and of the technical cliar-
acters by which they are distinguished.
Cyc.
BOTAR'GO, n. [Sp.] A relishing .sort ol
food, made of the roes of the mullet, much
used on the coast of the Mediterranean, at
an incentive to drink.
Johnson. Chambers.
BOTCH, n. [It. *02:a, [botza,] a swelling,
or rather »ez2o, a piece ; the latter is the
F,ng. patch.]
1. A swelling on the skin ; a large ulcer-
ous affection.
Botches and blains must all his flesh iiiiboss,
Aliltoii.
a. A patch, or the part of a garment patchcil
or mended in a clumsy manner ; ill-finish
cd work in mending.
3. Tliat which resembles a botch ; a part
added clumsily ; adventitious or ill-applied
words.
If those words are not notorious botches, I am
deceived. Dryden.
BOTCH, V. t. To mend or patch with a nee-
dle or awl, in a clumsy manner, as a gar-
ment ; to mend or repair awkwardly, as a
system of government. Hudibras.
2. To put together unsuitably, or unskilfully ;
to make use of unsuitable pieces.
For treason botched in rhyme will be thy li;ine.
Dry den .
3. To mark with botches.
Younc; Hvlas botched with stains. Garth.
BOTCH'ED,';?^. Patched clumsily ; mended
unskilfully ; marked with botches.
nOTCH'ER, n. A clumsy workman at
mending ; a mender of old clothes, wheth-
er a tailor or cobler. Eltjot.
BOTCH'Y, a. Marked with botches ; full of
botches.
BOTE, n. [The old orthography of 6oo(, but
retained in law, in composition. See
Boot.']
1. In /au', compensation ; amends; satisfac-
tion ; as manbote, a compensation for a
man slain. Also, payment of any kind.
'2. A privilege or allowance of necessaries,
u.sed in composition as equivalent to the
French estovers, supplies, necessaries ; as
house-bote, a sufficiency of A^ood to repair
a house or for fuel, sometimes called J?re-
hote ; so plow-bote, cart-botc, wood for ma-
king or repairing instruments of husband-
ry ; hay-bote or hedge-bote, wood for hedges
or fences, &c. These were privileges en-
joyed by tenants under the feudal system.
Blackstonc.
BO'TELESS, a. In vain. [See Bootless.]
BOTET'TO, n. A small thick fish of Mexico,
about eight inches long, whh a flat belly,
and convex back. When taken out of tlie
water it swells, and if kicked, will burst.
Its liver is deadly poison. Clavigero.
BOTH, a. [Sax. butic, bulwu, or batwa, (qu.
Goth, bayolhs ;) Ir. beit ; Svv. b&da ; Dan.
baade ; D. and Ger. fceirfc ; in Ancient Af-
rican, na bet, beth, two. Buxt. 18(50.]
Two, considered as distinct from others or
by themselves ; the one and the other ; Fr.
tous les deux ; l' un et P autre ; as, here
are two books, take them both.
This word is often placed before the nouns
with which it is connected.
He understands how to manage both public
and private concerns. Guth.Quintilian, p. 4
It is often used as a substitute for nouns.
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave
them to Abimelech : and both of them made <
covenant. Gen. .\xi.
Both often represents two members of a sen-
tence.
He will not bear the loss of his rank, because
he can bear the loss of his estate ; but he will
bear both, because he is prepared for both.
Bolingbroke on Exile
Both often pertains to adjectives or attri-
butes, and in this case generally precedes
them in construction ; as, he endeavored
to render commerce both disadvantagei
and infamous. Mkkie's Lusiad.
BOTH'ER, the vulgar pronunciation of
yother. [See Pother.]
BOTll'Nl€, ? Pertaining to Bothnia,
BOTH'NIAN, P' province of Sweden, an
to a gidf of the Baltic sea, which is so
called from the province, which it pene
trates. I'inkerton uses Bolhnic, as a noui
for the gulf, and Barlow uses Bothnian, in
the same manner.
Pink. Art. Sweden. Columb. 9. 564
BOTO'TOE, n. A bird of the parrot kiiid,
of a fine blue color, found in the Philippine
isles. Did. ofjyat. Hist.
BO'TRYOID, I [Gr. fSorpvj, a bunch
BOTRYOI'DAL, S of grapes, and uSof,
form ; Fr. botle, a bunch or bundle ; Arm.
bod, hot, a grape.]
Having the form of a bunch of grapes; hke
grapes ; as a mineral presenting an aggre-
gation of small globes. Kirwan. Phillips.
BO'TRYOLITE, re. [Gr. jSorpvs, supra, and
7.t9o5, Stone.]
Literally, grai)e-stone. This mineral occurs
in mammillary or botryoidal concretions,
in a bed of magnetic iron in gneiss, near
Arendal in Norway. Its colors are pearl-
gray, grayish or reddish white, and pale
rose-red, and form concentric stripes.
Cyc.
BotiTolite is a variety of siliceous borate of
lime. It is found near the Passaic falls in
New- Jersey. Cleavdand.
BOTS, n. generally used in the plural. [Qu.
Pers. pot, teredo, a worm that eats wood.]
A species of small worms foimd in the intes-
tines of horses. They are the larvas of a
species of (Estrus or gad-fly, whicli depos-
its its eggs on the tips of the haii-s, gener-
ally of the fore-legs and mane, whence
they are taken into the mouth and swal-
lowed. This word is also applied to the
lai-vas of other species of CEstrus, found
under the hides of oxen, in the nostrils of
sheep, &c. , Cyc.
BOTTLE, n. [Fr. bouteille ; Arm. boulailh ;
Ir. boiii, buideal ; W. both, a boss, a bottle,
the nave of a wheel ; bot, a round body ;
botas, from bot, a boot, a buskin ; botwm, a
button ; and from both, the W. has also
bothell, a bottle, a round vessel, a wheal or
blister ; Sp. botella, a bottle, and botilla, a
small wine bag, from bota, a leather bag
for wine, a butt or cask, a boot ; It. bottigl-
ia, a bottle ; botle, a butt, a cask, and boots ;
Russ. bulilka, a bottle. In G. beutel, a bag,
a purse, seems to be the Sp. botilla. In
Fr. bottc is a boot, a bunch or bundle, bolle]
defoin, a bottle of hay. It wouldseem that!
bottle is primarily a bag, and from the sense
of swelling, bulging, or collecting into a
bunch ; if so, the word was originally ap-
plied to the bags of skins used as bottles
in Asia. Yet the primal-)- sense is not
easily ascertained. The Arabic 1 as Jaj
a duck, Sp. palo, and urceus coriaccus in
<pio lirjuidiora circumferunt viatores.
Cast.]
. A hollow vessel of glass, wood, leather or
other material, with a narrow mouth, tor
holding and <-:irning liquors. The orien-
tal n^itiun- ii-r -kms or leather for the con-
ve\aiiri .il' |].|u.ii> : arid of this kind are
the Iji.til.-. nil iiiiuMid in scripture. " Put
new wine into new bottles." In Europe
and America, glass is used for liquors of all
kinds ; and farmers use small cags or hol-
low vessels of wood. The small kinds of
glass bottles are called vials or phials^-
. The contents of a bottle ; as much as a
bottle contains ; but from the size of bot-
tles used for wine, porter and cyder, a bot-
tle is nearly a quart ; as a bottk of wine or
of porter.
3. A quantity of hay in a bundle ; a bundle
BOT'TLE, V. t. To put into bottles; as, to
bottle wine or porter. This includes the
stopping of the bottles with corks.
BOTTLE-ALE, «. Bottled ale. Shak.
BOT'TLE-eOWPANION, ) A friend or
BOTTLE-FRIEND, ^ "• companion
in drinking.
BOT'TLED, pp. Put into bottles ; inclosed
in bottles.
2. Having a protuberant belly. Shak.
BOT'TLE-FLOWER, n. A plant, the cya-
nus, or blue bottle, a species of Centaurea.
Fam. of Plants.
BOTTLE-SCREW, «. A screw to draw
corks out of bottles.
BOT'TLING, ;?;»•. Putting into bottles.
BOTTLING, n. The act of putting into
bottles and corking.
BOT'TOM, n. [Sax. 6ote; Sw. 6o/;i; D.
bodem ; G. boden. It seems to be allied to
Gr. ^aSoi, and to the Russ. pad, a valley,
padauu, to fall. The sense is from throw-
ing down, setting, laying or beating down ;
a dialect perhaps of basis. Class Bd.]
1. The lowest part of any thing ; as the bot-
tom of a well, vat or ship; the bottom of a
hill.
2. The groimd under any body of water ; as
the bottom of the sea, of a river or lake.
3. The foundation or ground work of any
thing, as of an edifice, or of any system or
moral subject ; the base, or that which sup-
ports any superstructure.
4. A low ground ; a dale ; a valley ; applied
ill the U. States to the flat lands adjmning
rivers, Ifc. It is so used in some parts of
England. Mitford.
5. The deepest part ; that which is most re-
mote from the view ; as, let us examine
this subject to the bottom.
6. Bound ; limit.
There is no bottom in ray voluptuousness.
Shak.
7. The utmost extent or depth of cavity, or
of intellect, whether deep or shallow.
I do see the bottom of justice Shallow.
Shak.
8. The foundation, considered as the causp.
B O U
spring or origin ; the first moving cause ;
as, a foreign prince is at tlie bottom of tlie
confetlerncy.
9. A sliip or vessel. Goods imported in for-
eign bottoms pay a liigher duty, than tliose
imported in our own. Hence, a state of
li:i/.ir(l. rli.iiice or risk ; but in this sense
it i~ II (il rim ily or solely in the singular.
\Vi .:i\, Miiiiui' not too much in one bot-
tom ; tliul Is, ilo not hazard too much at a
single risk.
10. A ball of thread. [W. botwm, a button :
Corn.irf. See Bottle.]
11. The bottom of a lane or alley, is the low-
est end. Tliis phrase supposes a declivity ;
but it is often used for the most remoti'
part, when there is very little declivity.
V2. Tlie bottom of beer, or other liquor, is the
grounds or dregs.
13. In the language of jockeys, stamina, na-
tive strength ; as a horse of good bottom.
BOT'TOM, V. I. To found or build ui)on ;
to fix upon as a support ; followed by on ;
as, sound i-easoning is bottomed on just
as, to
bottom a chair.
3. To wind round something, as in making
a b;ill of thread. Shak.
BOT TOJI, V. i. To rest upon, as its ulti-
mate support.
Find on what foundation a proposition bot-
toms. Locke.
BOT'TOMED, pp. Furnished with a bot-
tom ; having a bottom.
This word is often used in composition, as
ajlat-liottomed boat, in which case the com-
pound becomes an adjective.
BOT'TOMING, ppr. Founding; building
upon ; furnishing with a bottom.
BOT'TOM LESS, a. Without a bottom ;
applied to water, caverns &c., it signifies
fathomless, whose bottom cannot be found
by sounding ; as a bottomless abyss or ocean.
BOT'TOMRY, n. [from bottom.] The act
of borrowing money, and pledging the
keel or bottom of the ship, that is, the ship
itself, as seciu-ity for the repayment of the
money. The contract of bottonuy is in
the nature of a mortgage ; the owner of a
ship borrowing money to enable him to
carry on a voyage, and pledging the shiji
as security for the money. If the ship is
lost, the lender loses the money ; but if the
ship arrives safe, he is to receive the money
lent, with the interest or premium stipula-
ted, although it may exceed the legal rate
of interest. The tackle of the ship also is
answerable for the debt, as well as the per-
son of the borrower. When a loan is made
upon the goods shipped, the borrower is
said to take up money at respondentia, as
he is bound personally to answer the con-
tract. Blackstone. Park.
BOT'TONY, ?i. [from the same root as
bud, bxition.]
lu heraldry, a cross bottony terminates at
each end in three buds, knots or buttons,
resembling in some measure the three-
leaved grass. Encyc.
BOUCHET', n. [Fr.] A sort of pear.
BOUD, n. An insect that breeds in malt or
other grain ; called also a weevil. Did.
B0U6E, V. i. booj. [Fr. bouge, a lodge, the
bilge of a cask ; from the root of bow,
which see.J To swell out. [Little !(.?ff/.]
B O U
BOUGE, »!. Provisions. [M,t in use.J
Jonson.
BOUGH, n. bou. [Sax. bog, boh or bogh, iht:
shoulder, a branch, an arm, the body of a
tree, a stake, a tail, an arch, or bow"; Sw.
bog ; Dan. bov ; from the same root as boiv,
to bend, to throw ; Sax. bugan.]
The branch of a tree ; applied to a branch of
.size, not to a small shoot.
BOUGHT, bau4, pret. and pp. of buy. [See
riuy.]
I!< )I'GHT, n. bawt. [D. bogt, a bend, a coil :
li-om lioogen to bend. See Bight.}
I. A twist ; a link ; a knot ; a flexure, or
bend. Milton. Brown.
1. The part of a sling that contains the stone.
B01:GHT'Y, a. haw'ty. Bending. Sherwood.
Bougie, n. boogee'. [Fr. a wax-candle;
S]i. bugia.]
In Surgery, a long slender instrument, that is
introduced thmiiLrh the in-cthra into the
bladder, to rv<wi\r ..i>>tiii(tions. It is
usually madiMil'-li|>- < 'I' w II \cd linen, coiled
into a slightly cniiiciii I'luin by rolling them
on an\ hard smooth surface. It is also
made of catgut, elastic gum and metal ;
but those of waxed linen are generally
preferred. Hooper. Dorseij.
Bouillon, n. [Fr. fi-om bouHUr, to boil.
See Boil.] Broth ; soup.
BOULDER-WALL, n. [rather boivlder-
wall. See Bowlder.]
A wall liiiill of round flints or pebbles laid in
a strong mortar, used where the sea has a
biaih cast up, or where there is a plentv
of flints. Builder's Diet.
B6ULET', ?!. [from the root of ball, or
bold ; Fr. boule.]
In the manege, a horse is so called, when the
fetlock or pastern joint bends forward, and
out of its natural position. Encyc.
BOULT, an incoirect orthography. [See
Bolt.]
BOULTIN, n. [from the root of W/ ; Sp.
bulto, a protuberance.]
Ill architecture, a molding, tlie convexity of
which is just one fourth of a circle, being
a member just below the plinth in the
Tuscan and Doric capital. Encyc.
BOUNCE, V. i. [D. bonzen, to bounce ; bons,
a bounce; alhed probably to bound; Arm.
houndirza; Fr. boiidir.]
1. To lefip or spring; to fly or rush out sud-
denly.
Out bounced the mastilT. Swift.
"3. To spring or leap against any thing, so as
to rebound ; to beat or thump by a spring.
Against his bosom 6oMncc(i his heaving heart.
JJryden.
3. To beat hard, or thump, so as to make a
sudden noise.
Another bounced as hard as he could iinock.
Swift.
4. To boast or bully ; itsed in familiar speech.
Johnson .
.5. To be bold or strong. Shak.
BOUNCE, n. A heavy blow, thrust or thumi)
with a large solid body.
The bounce burst open the door. Dn/den.
2. A loud heavy sound, as by an explosion.
Shak. Gay.
3. A boast ; a threat ; in low language.
Johnson.
4. A fish ; aspeciesofsqualus or shark.
Encyc.
BOU
BOUN'CER, 71. A boaster; a bully; in fa-
miliar language. 'Johnson.
BOUN'CING,^^r. Leaping; bounding with
violence, as a heavy body ; springing out ;
thumping with a loud noise ; boasting ;
moving with force, as a heavy bounding
body.
BOUN'CING, a. Stout ; strong ; large and
heavy ; a customary sense in the U States ;
as a bouncing lass.
BOUN'CINGLY, adv. Boastinglv.
BOUND, n. [Norm, bonne, boune, a bound ;
bond, limited ; bundes, limits ; from bind,
bond, that which binds ; or from French
bo7idir, to spring, and denoting the utmost
extent.]
1. A limit ; the line which comprehends the
whole of any given object or space. It
differs from boundary. See the latter.
Bound is applied to kingdoms, states, cities,
towns, tracts of land, and to territorial
jurisdiction.
2. A limit by which any excursion is re-
strained ; the limit of indulgence or desire ;
as, the love of money knows no bounds.
3. A leap; a spring;" a jump; a rebound:
[Fr. bondir, to spring.]
4. In dancing, a spring from one foot to the
other.
BOUND, V. t. To hmit ; to terminate ; to fix
the furthest point of extension, whether
of natural or moral objects, as of land, or
empire, or of passion, desire, indulgence.
Hence, to restrain or confine ; as, to bound
our wishes. To bound in is hardly legit-
imate.
2. To make to bound. Shaks.
BOUND, v.i. [Vr. bondir: Arm. boundit-za.]
To leap; to jump; to spring; to move
forward by leaps.
Before his lord the ready spaniel bounds.
Pope.
2. To reboimd — but the sense is the same.
BOUND, pret. and pp. otbind. As apaHi-
ciple, made fast by a band, or by chains
or fetters ; obliged by moral ties ; confin-
ed ; restrained.
2. As a pailiciple or perhaps more properly
an adj., destined ; tending ; going, or in-
tending to go ; with to or for; as, a ship is
bound to Cadiz, or for Cadiz.
The application of this word, in this use,
is taken from the orders given for the
government of the voyage, implying obli-
gation, or from tending, stretching. So
destined implies being bound.
Bound is used in composition, as in ice-
bound, unnd-bound, when a ship is confi-
ned or prevented from sailing by ice or
by contrarv winds.
BOUND'AR'Y, n. A limit ;.a bound. John-
son. This word is thus used as synony-
mous with bound. But the real sense is,
a visible mark designating a limit. Bound
is the limit itself or furthest point of exten-
sion, and may be an imaginary hne ; but
boundary is the thing which ascertains the
limit ; terminus, noxfinis. Thus by a .stat-
ute of Connecticut, it is enacted that the
inhabitants of every town shall procure
its bounds to be .set out by such marks and
hounilaries as may be a plain direction for
the fiitiui' .- wliicii marks and boundaries
hliiill 111- a i;ii'nt licap of stones or a ditch
(ifsix fret loni;, tV(-. This distinction is
observed also in the statute of Massachu-
B O U
B O V
B O \\
setts. But the two words are, in ordinary
usp, confounded.
B0CND-BAI1.IKF, n. An officer appointed by
asheriflTto execute process; so deiiomi
natcd from the bond given for tlie faithful
discharge of his trust. Blackstone
BOUND'ED, pp. Limited ; confined ; res-
trained.
BOIIND'EN, pp. of bind. [See Bind, and
pp. Bound.]
BOUNDER, n. One that Hmits; a boun-
dary. Herbert
BOUND'ING, ppr. Limiting; confininjj
restraining ; leaping ; springing ; rebound
ing ; advancing with
BOIND ING-STONE,
mg ; ailvancing witn leaps.
A stone to play
R(»IMI STONE, 5"- with. Drydt'
BOI'.ND'l.l'.SS, a. Unlimited; uncontino
inmioasurable ; illimitable ; as boundless
S))aco ; boundless power.
BOUND'LESSNESS, n. The quality of be-
ing without limits. Sotith.
BOUN'TEOUS, a. [See Bounty.] Liberal
in charity ; disposed to give freely ; gener-
ous; immificent; beneficent; free in be-
stowing gifts ; as bounteous nature. It is
used chiefly in poetry for bountiful.
Johnson.
BOUN'TEOUSLY, adv. Liberally; gene
rously ; largely ; freely.
BOUN'TEOUSNESS, n. Liberality in be
stowing gifts or favors; munificence; kind
BOUN'TIFUL,
a. [bouni;/
au(
full] Free
to give ; lilicr.
ing
gifts and fa-
vors; munific
ent ; generij
us.
God.theioto
liful author
of 0
ur being.
Locke
It is followed by of before the thing given,
and to before the person receiving.
BOUN'TIFIJLLY, adv. Liberally ; largely
in a bountiful manner.
BOUN'TIFULNESS, n. The quality of be
ing bountiful; liberality in the bestow
ment of gifts and favors.
BOUN'TIHEDE, ? ^ , ^,
BOUN'TIHEAD^ \ "• Goodness. Obs.
BOUN'TY, n. [Fr. bonte, goodness, excel
lence, favor ; It. bonta ; L. bonitas, li-om
bomts, good.]
1. Liberality in bestowing gifts and favors
generosity ; munificence. The word in
eludes the gift or favor and the kindness
of disposition with which it is bestowed;
or a favor bestowed with a benevolent
disposition. This distinguishes it fi-om a
mere gift. It is also observed by Johnson,
that it differs from charitij, as a present
trom an alms, in not beuig bestowed upon
persons absolutely necessitous. This is
often the case ; but bounty includes char-
ity, as the genus comprehends the species ;
charity however does not necessarily in-
clude bounty, for charity or an alms may
be given \vith reluctance.
The word may he used also for a free
gift, 2 Cor. i.\. 5 ; or a disposition to give,
without the gift ; goodness in general.
■S^e»i.9er.
9. A premium offered or given, to induce
men to enlist into the public service ; or
to encourage any branch of industry, as
husbandry, manufactures or commerce.
Bouquet, n. booka'y. [Fr. a plume, a
Vol. I.
nosegay; Ann. boged ; It. boschctto. See
Bush.]
A nosegay; a bunch of flo\ver.s.
BciURl), 71. A jest. Obs. Spenser.
BoURD'ER, n. A jester. Obs.
BOURGEOIS', n. burjois'. [It appears to
be a French word, but I know not the
reason of its application to types.]
A small kind of jjrinting types, in size be-
tween long primer and brevier. The
type on which the mahi body of this work
is printed.
BOUR'GEON, V. i. bur'jun. [Fr. bourgeon,
ud ; Arm. bourgeon, a button, or a bud.]
To sprout ; to put tbrth buds ; to shoot fortlj
a,s a branch. Goldsmith.
BOURN, rather BORNE, n. [Fr. borne, a
limit ; bomer, to bound. In the sense of a
stream. Sax. burn ; Sw. brunn ; D. bron ;
G. brunnen ; Dan. brand.]
1. A bound: a limit.
That undiscovered co\intrj-, from whose bourn
No traveller returns. Shak.
2. A brook ; a torrent ; a rivulet. [In this
sense obsolete ; but retained in many names
oftou<ns, seated on the banks of streams. In
Scotland, it is still used in the sense of a
brook, but they write it burn.]
B6URNONITE, n. Antinionialsulphuret of
lead. Ure
BoUSE, I „ . .„„. [Arm. beuzi, to over-
BOOZE, \ '-•'•"OO" flow, to drown; \V
bozi ; Old D. buysen. In Russ. busa
drink brewed from millet. Tooke.]
To drink freely ; to tope ; to guzzle. [.'?
ul^ar word.'] SpenMr.
BoUh'Y, o. booz'y. Drunken ; intoxicated
[ Fulgar.] Dn/den.
BOUT, n. [Fr. bout, end, or It. bot'ia, i
stroke.]
A turn ; as much of an action as is perform-
ed at one time ; a single part of an action
carried on at successive intervals ; essay
atteniiJt. Sidney. Dryden.
BOUT, ;i. [It. beuita, or bevuta, a drinking,
from bere, or bci'crc, to drink ; L. libo ; Fr
boire ; Sp. bcber.]
We u.se this word tautologically in the
phrase, a drinking-ioJt< ; or the word
the same as the preceding.
BOUTA'DE, n. [Fr. from bouter, Sp. botar,
h. biittare, to thrust; Eng. put; allied tc
bud.]
Properly, a start ; hence, a whim. [.Vo< En-
glish!] Sivift
BoUTEFEU, n. [Fr. from ioiifcr, to throw^
and feu, fire ; or according to Thomson,
from boute, a match. Qu. from the root of
Eng. bate or better.]
An incentUary ; a inakc-bate. [J^'ot English.
B6UTISALE, n. [Qu. sale, of booty, or iron
boute, a match. Thomson.]
A cheap sale ; or accorduig to others, a sale
by a lighteil match, during the burning of
which a man may bid. [JVot used.]
Hayward.
BO'VATE, n. [In Law L. bovaia, from bos,
bovis, an ox.]
An ox-gate, or as much land as an ox can
plow in a year ; Cowell says 28 acres.
BO'VEY-COAL, n. Brown "lignite, an in-
flammable fossil, resembling, in many of
its properties, bituminous wood. Its struc-
ture is a little slaty ; its cross fractm-e, even
or couchoidal, w'ith a resinous luster,]
26
.shining. It is brittle, buju.-
with a weak flame, and exhales an odor,
which is generally disagreeable.
Cleaveland.
BO'VINE, a. [Low L. bovimts, from bos,
bovis, an ox ; VV. bu, biiw, bur, buw;, and
the verb, bui,inu', to bellow.]
Pertaining to oxen and cows, or the quad-
rupeds of the genus Bos.
This animal is the strongest and fiercest of
the bovine genus. Barrow's Trav.
The ox-born souls mean nothing more
than the eight living souls, wlio issued from
their allegorical mother, the bovine ark. Faber.
BOW, V. t. [Sax. bugan, bygan ; W. bwan,
and bacu, to bond, to grapple; G. bie-
gen, beugen ; D. boogen, buigen ; Sw. 66-
ya ; Dan. boyer, to bend.]
1. To bend ; to inflect ; as, to 4oic vines.
2. To bend the body in token of respect or
civility ; as, to boiv the head.
3. To bend or incline towards, in condescen-
sion.
Sow down thine ear to the poor. Eccles.
4. To depress ; to crush ; to subdue.
His heavy hand hath boived you to tlie
grave.
He bows the nations to his will.
BOW, V. i. To bend ; to curve ; to be inflec-
ted ; to bend, in token of reverence, res-
pect or civility ; often with down.
This is the idol to which the world bows.
2. To stoop ; to fall upon the knees.
The people bowed upon their knees. Judges.
3. To sink under pressure.
They stoop : tliey bow down together. Isa-
BOW, n. An inclination of the head, or a
bending of the body, in token of reverence,
respect, civility, or submission.
BOW, n. [See bow, to bend.] An instru-
ment of war, and hunting, made of wood,
or other elastic matter, with a string fas-
tened to each end. The bow being bent
by drawing the string, and suddenly re-
turning to it.s natural state by its elastic
force, throws an arrow to a great distance,
and with force sufficient to kill an ani-
mal. It is of two kinds, the long-bow, and
the cross-bow, arbalet or arbalest. The
use of the bow is called archery.
2. Any thing bent, or in form of a curve ;
the rainbow ; the doubling of a string in a
knot; the part of a yoke which embraces
the neck ; &c.
.3. A small machine, formed with a stick
and hairs, which being drawn over the
strings of an instrument of music, causes
it to sound.
4. A beam of wood or brass, with three long
screws that direct a lathe of wood or steel
to any arch ; used in forming drafts of
ships, and projections of the sphere, or
wherever it is necessary to draw large ai--
ches. Harris.
3. An instrument for taking the sun's alti-
tude at sea, consisting of a large an-h of
ninety degrees graduated, a shank or
staff", a side-vane, a sight-vane, and a
horizon-vane ; now disused. Encyc.
(1. An instrimient in use among smiths for
turning a drill ; with turners, for turning
wood ; with hatters, for breaking fiir and
wool.
Bows of a saddle, are the two pieces of
wood laid archwise to receive the upper
B O W
BOW
BOX
pail of a horse's back, to give the satldlf
its due form, and to keep it tight.
Farrier's Did.
S. Bozo of a ship, is the rounding part of her
side forward, beginning where the planks
arcli inwards, and terminating wliere they
close, at the stem or prow. A narrow
bow is called a kan bow ; a broad one, a
bold or bluff bow.
On the bow, in navigation, is an arch of the
liorizon, not exceeding 45 degrees, com
prehended between some distant object
and that point of the compass which i;
right ahead. Mar. Did.
BOW-BEARER, n. [boio and bear.] An
under officer of the forest, whose duty
inform of trespasses. Cowel.
BOW-BENT, a. [bow and bend.] Crooked.
Milton.
BOW-DYE, n. A kind of scarlet color, su
perior to madder, but inft linr to the true
scarlet grain for li.xednis:^, diid duration ;
first used at Bow, near l.on<loii. Encyt
BOW'-GRACE, 11. In sea language, a frame
or composition of junk, laid out at t'
sides, stem, or bows of ships to secnre
them from injury by ice. Encyc.
BOW-IIAND, 11. [bownnAhrtnd.] The hand
tliat draws a bow. Spei
BOW-LEGGED, a. [bow and leg.] Ha-
ving crooked legs. John
BOWMAN, n. [how and man.] A nian who
uses a bow ; an archer. Jeroni. iv. 39.
BGW'MAN, n. Tlie man who rows the
foremost oar in a boat. Mar. Did.
BOWNET, n. [bow and nd.] An engine
for catching lobsters and crawfish, called
also bow-wheel. It is made of two roinid
wicker baskets, pointed at the end, one of
which is thrust into the other, and at the
mouth is a little rim bent inwards. Enajc.
BOW'-PIECE 11. [bow and piece.] ^X piece
of ordnance carried at the bow of a ship.
BOW-SHOT, 11. [how and shot.] The space
whicli an arrow may pass \vlicn shot from
a bow. Gen. xxi, 16. Boyle.
BOWSPRIT, 11. [bow and sprit ; D. boeg-
spriet ; Dan. houg-sprid ; G. bugspriet. See
Sprit.]
A large boom or spar, which iirojects i
the stem of a ship or other ves.'^el, tn lairx
sail forward. [This is probably tin Irur or-
thography.] Mar. Dirt.
BOW-STRING, n. [bow and string.] Tlie
siring of a bow.
BOW-WINDOW. [See Bay-u>indow.]
BOW'ABLE, a. Of a flexible disposition.
[.N'ot in use.]
BOWED, pp. Bent; crushed; subdued.
BOWED, pp. Bent ; like a bow.
BOWELS, n. plu. [G. bauch ; D. buik ; Sw.
buk; Dan. bug; Fr. boyau; W. bog, a
swelling ; bogel, the navel. The sense is
protuberance.]
1. The intestines of an animal ; the entrails,
especially of man. The heart. 9. Cor. vi.
12.
'i. The interior part of any thing ; as the
bowels of the earth.
3. The seat of pity or kindness ; hence, ten-
derness, compassion, a scriptural sense.
Bowel, iti the sinaiilar. is somefimos used for
BOW'EL, V. t. To take out the bowels ; to
eviscerate ; to penetrate the bowels.
Ainsworlh. Jish.
BOWELLESS, a. Without tenderness or
BOVV'ER, n. [from boio.] An anchor car-
ried at the bow of a ship. There are gen-
erally two bowers, called first and second,
great and little, or best and small. Encyc.
BOW'ER, n. [Sax. bur, a chamber or pri-
vate apartment, a hut, a cottage ; W.
bwr, an inclosure.]
1. A shelter or covered place in a garden,
made with boughs of trees bent and twined
together. It differs from arbor in that it
may be round or square, whereas an arbor
is long and arched. Milton. Encyc.
2. A bed-chamber ; any room in a house ex-
cept the hall. Spenser. Mason.
3. A country scat ; a cottage.
Shenstone. B. Jonson.
4. A shady recess ; a plantation for shade.
W. Broivn.
BOWER, V. t. To embower to inclose.
Shaks.
BOWER, V. I To lodge. Spenser.
BOWERS, I [from boio.] Muscles that
BOWRS, ^ "• bend the joints.
Spenser. Mason.
BOWERY, «. Covering ; shading as a
bower ; also, containing bowers.
Thomson.
BOWESS, BOWET, n. A young hawk,
when it begins to get out of the nest ; a
term in falconry. Encyc. Jlsh.
BOWGE, v.i. To swell out. [See Bovge.]
BOWgE, v. t. To i>erforate ; as, to bowge a
ship. Ainsworth.
[I do not find this word in any other author.]
BOWING, ppr. Bending ; stooi)ing ; ma-
king a bow.
BOWINGLY, adv. In a bending manner.
BOWL, n. [Sax. bolla. In hatm^vola is the
hollow of the hand.]
1. A concave vessel to hold liquors, rather
wide than deep, and thus distinguished
from a cuji. Which is rather deep thai
wide.
2. The hollow part of any thing ; as the bowl
of a spoon.
:l A basin ; a fountain. Bacon
r>OWL, n. [D. bol ; Fr. boiile; Sp. bola;
Ann. boul, a ball; W.pd.]
A liidl of wood used for play on a level pi;
of ground.
BOWL, V. i. To play with bowls, or at bov
I 'ill?;-
BOWL, V. I. To roll as a bowl ; also, to pelt
with anv thing rolled. Shak
BOWLDER, n. [from bowl] A small stone
of a roundish form, and of no determinate
size, found on the sea shore and on the
banks or in the channels of rivers, &c.
worn smooth or rounded by the action ol
water ; a pebble. Johnson. Ewjjr
The term bowlder is now used in Geulo?;>
for rounded masses of any rock, fomid oui
of place, and apparently transported IVon
their original bed by water. Bowlders of
Granite, often of great size, are very com-
mon on the surface of the most recent
formations.
BOWLDER-STONE. [See Bowlder.]
BOWLDER-WALL, n. A wall constructed
of pebbles or bowlders of flint or other sili-
ceous stones, which have been rounded by
the action of water. Builder's Diet.
BOWLER, n. One who plays at bowls.
BOWLINE, n. [Sp. and Port, bolina; Arm.
bouline, " voile de biais pour recevoir le
vent de c6t6," a slanting sail to receive
a bide wind, Gregoire ; Fr. bouline, a
tack ; boxdiner, to tack, to turn one way
and the other, to dodge or shift. But iii
Danish it is bougline, the line of the bow
or bend.]
A rope fastened near the middle of the leech
or perpendicular edge of the square sails,
by subordinate parts, called bridles, and
used to keep the weather edge of the sail
tight forward, wlien the ship is close haul-
ed. Mar. Diet.
Bowline-bridles, are the ropes by which the
bowline is fastened to the leech of the sail.
Encyc.
BOWLING, ppr. Playing at bowls.
BOWLING-GREEN, n. [bowl and green.]
A level piece of ground kept smooth for
bowhng.
2. In gardening, a parterre in a grove, laid
with fine turf, with compartments of di-
vers figures, with dwarf trees and other
decorations. It may be used for bowling :
but the French and Italians have sucii
greens for ornament. Encyc.
BOWSE, V. i. In seaman's language, to pull
or haul ; as, to loicse upon a tack ; to botose
away, to j)ull all together. Encyc.
BOWSS'EN, V. t. To drink ; to drench.
[.Yot used.] Qu. boxise.
BOWYER, n. [from bow, a corruption of
bower, like sawyer.]
An archer; one who uses a bow; one who
makes bows. [Little used.] Johnson.
BOX, n. [Sax. box, a cofler and the box-
tree ; Lat. buxus, the tree, and pyxis, a
box ; Gr. nvii;, a box, and rtvloj, the tree ;
rtv?, the fist ; Ir. bugsa, buksa ; Sw. bux-
bom ; Ger. huchshaum ; Dan. buxhom, the
box tree ; Ger. biichse, a box ; It. bosso,
the box tree ; bossolo, a box ; Sp. box, the
tree ; Port, buxo, the tree ; buxa, a stop-
ple ; Pers.
buxus, box tree: Ar.
the same. Box may be from closeness, ap-
plied to the shrub, the fist and the case.]
A coffer or chest, either of wood or metal. In
general, the word box is used for a case of
rough boards, or more slightly made than
a chest, and used for the conveyance of
goods. But the name is applied to cases
of any size and of any materials; as a
woollen box; a tin box, an iron box, a
strong box.
2. The quantity that a box contains ; as a
box of quicksilver ; a box of rings. In some
cases, the quantity called a box is fixed by
custom ; in others, it is uncertain, as a
box of tea or sugar.
:?. A certain seat in a play-house, or in any
1 public room.
4. The case which contains the mariner's
com])ass.
.5. A money chest.
(j. A tree or shrub, constituting the genus
buxus, used for bordering flower-beds.
The African box is the myrsinc.
7. A blow on the head with the hand, orou
the car with the open hand.
BOY
BRA
B 11 A
^. A cylindrical hollow iron used in wheels,
in vvliich the axle-tree runs. Also, a liol-
low tube in a pump, closed with a valve
BOX, V. i. To fight with the fist; to combat
with the hand or fist.
BOX, V. t. To inclose in a box ; also, to fur-
nish with boxes, as a wheel or block.
2. To strike with the hand or fist, especially
th(! ear or side of the head.
3. To rehearse the several points of the com-
pass in their proper order. Encyc.
4. To make a hole or cut in a tree, to pro
cure the sap ; as, to box a maple.
5. To sail round. [Sp. boxar.]
BOX' ED, pp. Inclosed in a box ; struck on
the head with the fist or hand ; furnished
with a box or hollow iron, as a wheel
BO,\'liN,a. Made of box-wood; resemblmg
l)(>x. Diydni. Gay.
BO.X'ER, n. One who fights with his fist.
BOX'-llAUL, V. t. To veer a ship in a par-
ticular manner, when it is impracticable
to tack. Chambers.
BOX'ING, ppr. Inclosing in a box ; striking
witli the hst ; furnishing with a box.
BOX'ING, n. The act of fighting with the
fist ; a combat with the fist.
BOX'-TUORN, n. [box and thorn.] A plant,
the Lycium, or a species of it.
Fam. of Plants.
BOY, n. [Pers. bach, a boy ; W. bargen, from
bar, little ; Arm. buguel, a child, biigalc,
boyish ; Sw. poike, a. young boy ; Dan. pog ;
Fr. page. See Beagle and Pug. Boy is
a contracted word, and probably the L,
puer for puger, for we see by puclla, that r
IS not radical. So the Or. "rtaij probably
is contracted, for the derivative verb,
rtouju, forms rtai^u), rtaizSfis. The radical
letters probably are Bg or Pg.]
A male child, from birth to the nge of pu
herty; but in general, applied to males
under ten or twelve years of age ; a lad
Sometimes it is used in contempt for a
young man, indicating immaturity, want
of vigor or judgment.
BOY, V. t. To treat as a boy. Johnson.
Rather, to act as a boy ; to imitate a hoy
in action. The passage in Shakspeare, in
wliich this word is found, is sup])osed to
allude to the practice of boys acting wo-
men's parts, on the stage.
I shall see some squeaking Cleopatra boy mv
greatness. See Mason's Sup. to Johnson
BOY'AR, n. A Russian nobleman. [See
Boiar.]
BOY'AU, n. boy'o. [Fr. boyau, a gut, and t
branch of a tree.]
In fortif cation, a ditch covered with a (Jara
pet, serving as a communication between
two trenches. Encyc
BOY -BLIND, a. Blind as a boy ; undiscern-
ing. Ohs. Beaum.
BOY'ER, n. A Flemish sloop, with a castle
at each end. Encyc.
BOY'HOOD, n. [boy and hood.-] The stite
of a boy, or of immature age. Swift
BOY'ItSIl, (I. B-'loiiging to a boy ; childish ;
trifliiii; ; rcscuililiii!: a bov in mannei
o|.iui.iiis : pu.Tllr. " " Shnk.i
BOYISHLY, wli: Childishly; in a trifling
manner. " Sherwood.]
BOY'ISHNESS, n. Childishness ; the man-
ners or behavior of a bov.
BO\"ISM, n. Childishness; puerilitv. '
'Dnjde,,.'
2. The state of a boy. H'ar!oii.
BOYS-PLAY, n. Childish amusement ; any
thing tritliiig.
BOYli'NA, n. A large serpent of America,
black and slender, liaving an intolerable
smell. Also, a harmless reptile.
Did. ofJVat. Hist.
BP. An abbreviation of Bishop.
BRABANT'INE, a. Pertaining to Brabant,
a province of the Netherland.s, of wliich
Brussels is the capital.
State Papers, V. ii.
BRABBLE, n. [D. brabbekn, to stammer.]
A broil ; a clamorous contest ; a wrangle.
06s. Shak.
BRAB'BLE, v. i. To clamor ; to contest
noisily. Obs. Beaum. and Fletcher.
BRAB'BUiR, n. A clamorous, f|uarrelsome,
noisy follow ; a wrangler. 06*. Shak.
BliAB'BLING,;>;)r. Clamoring; wranghng.
Obs.
BRACE, n. [Fr. bras ; Sp. brazo ; Port,
brai-o ; Arm breach, or breh ; Ir. 6/ac and
raigh ; \V. braic ; Corn, breck, or breh ; L.
brachium ; Gr. |3()a;j:i.ut, the arm. This
word furnishes clear and decisive evidence
of the change of a palatal letter into a sib-
ilant. The change comes through the
Spanish or other Celtic dialect, brach,
brazo, the Sp. z being originally a palata'
or guttural ; thence to the Fr. bras, and
Eng. 6raee. In like manner, Durazzo is
formed from Dyrrachium. The Greek
verbs furnish a multitude of similar chan-
ges. This word fiirnishes also a proof]
that 6 is a prefi.x, for in Irish 6rac is writ-
ten also raigh. The sense of arm is, that
which breaks fortli, .a shoot. From bras.
the French have etnbrasser, to embrace.
and in Sp. brazas is braces, and bracear
is to 6r«ce, and to swing the arms. Brace,
in naval affairs, is in D. bras; Dan. bras,
and braser, to brace. Qu. is this the same
word as the Fr. bras, an arm.]
1. In architecture, a piece of timber framed
in with bevel joints, to keep the budding
front swerving either way. It extends
like an arm from the post or main timber.
2. That which holds any thing tight ; a cinc-
ture or bandage. The braces of a drum
arc not bands.
3. A pair ; a couple ; as a brace of ducks. I
is used of persons only in contempt, or in
the style of drollery.
4. In music, a double curve at the beginning
of stave.
.5. A thick strap, which sujiports a carriage
on wheels.
6. A crooked line in printing, connecting two
or more words or lines ; thus, {,^^^1 >
It is used to connect triplets in poetry.
7. In marine language, a rope reeved througl
a block at the end of a yard, to square oi
traverse the yard. The name is givei
also to pieces of iron which are used as
supports; such as of the poop lanterns, &c
Mar. Diet.
8. Brace, orbrasse, is a foreign measure an-
swering to our fathom.
9. Harness ; warUke preparation ; as we
say, girded for battle. Shnk.
10. Tension ; tightness. Holder.
IL Braces, p/it., suspenders, the straps that
su.?tain pantaloons, &c.
12. The braces of a drum, are the cords on
the sides of it, for tightening the heaiis
I and snares.
jBRACE, V. t. To draw tight ; to tighten ;
to bind or tie close ; to make tight and
I firm.
2. To make tense ; to strain up ; as, to brace
a drum.
3. To furnish with braces ; as, to 6race a
I building.
4. To strengthen ; to increase tension ; as, to
brace the nerves.
5. In marine language, to bring the yards tB
either side.
To brace about is to turn the yards round for
the contrary tack.
To brace sharp is to cause the yards to have
the smallest possible angle with the keel.
To brace to is to check or ease off the lee
braces, and round-in the weatlier ones, to
assist in tacking. Mar. Diet.
BR.\'CEI), pp. Furnished with braces;
drawn close and tight; made tense.
HJ{A'CELKT,»!. [Fr. brassdet, and bracelet;
It. bracciale, braccialello ; Sj). brazalete. See
Brace.]
1. An ornament for the wrist, worn by la-
dies. This ornament seems anciently to
have been worn by men as well as woinen.
2. A piece of defensive armor for the arm.
Johnson.
BRACER, n. That which braces, binds or
makes firm ; a band or bandage ; also,
armor for the arm. Chaucer.
2. An astringent medicine, which gives ten-
sion or tone to any part of the body.
BRA€H, n. [Fr. brague ; D. brak ; It. bracco,
a setting dog ; Sp. braco, pointing or set-
ting as a pointer.] A bitch of the hound
kind. Shak.
BRA€II'IAL, a. [L. brachium, from the Cel-
tic braic, brae, the arm.] Belonging to the
arm ; as the brachial arterv. Hooper.
BRACH'IATE, a. [See Brachial] In bot-
any, having branches in jiairs, decussated,
all nearly horizontal, and each pair at
right angles with the next. Martyn.
BRACH'MAN, ) An ancient philosopher
BRAM'IN, I "• of India. The brach-
mans are a branch of the ancient gymnos-
ophisls, and rciiMikable for the severity of
their li\c,« ami ni.iiincrs. Encyc.
BRAfllVt; HAl'llER, n. [See the next
word.] A writer in short hand. Gaylon.
BRACllYG RAPHY, n. [Gr. 3pa;tv5, short,
and Tpouj));, a writing.]
The art or practice of writing in short hand ;
stenography. B. Jonson.
BRA€HYL'0(iY, n. [Gr. ^paxvs, short, and
?Loyoj, expression.]
In rhetoric, the expressing of any thing in the
most concise manner. Encyc.
BRACK, 71. [G. bruch; Dan. brak; Norm.
brek ; from break, which see.]
An opening caused by the parting of any
solid bodv ; a breach ; a broken part.
BRACKEN, n. Fern. [See Brake.]
BRACK'ET, 11. [Fr. braquer, to bend. Qu.
Oriental p3, Ar. Ch. Heb. Syr. Sam. and
Eth., to bend the kuee ; hence it signifies
the knee.]
1. Among workers in timber, an angular
wooden stay, in form of the knee bent, to
support shelves, scafTolds and the like.
2. The cheek of a mortar carriage, nia'e of
I strong i>lank. Encyc.
3. In ;jn'?i/ing-, hooks; thus, [].
BRA
B R A
BRA
KRACK'ISH, a. [D. icat, overflowed ; qii
tVuni bnak or Gr. lif^X'-', to water. Per-
liajis applied to land on which salt water
has flowed.]
Salt, or salt in a moderate degree ; it is ap-
plied to any water partially saturated witli
salt. Bacon.
BR.\CK'ISHNESS, n. The quality of being
brackish ; saltness in a small degree.
Cheyne
BR.\CK'Y, a. Brackish. [ATot used.]
BRAC'TE.'V, ? [L. Ainsworth writes,
BRA€TE, i"- braclea, or braltea.]
In botany, a floral leaf, one of the seven fid-
crums or props of plants. It diflers from
other leaves in shape and color, and is gen-
erally situated on the peduncle, so near the
coroi, as easily to be mistaken for the
calyx. Maiti/n
In the Asiatic Researches, iv. 354, this word
i.ii anglicized, and written bract.
BRA€'TEATE, a. [from bractea.] Furnish-
ed with bractes. Barton.
BRA€'TED, «. Furnished with bractes.
Marti/n.
BRA€ TEOLE, n. A little bract.
De Candolle.
BK At; TEOLATE, «. Furnished with brnc-
tcolcs.
BK AD, ill Sax., is broad, and occurs in names ;
as ill Bradford, hroadford.
BR.'VD, n. [Arm. broiid, a point ; Ir. brad, or
braid ; Dan. braad, a goad or sting ; Ch.
£313 a dart, a borer.]
A particular kind of nail, used in floors and
other work, where it is deemed proper to
drive nails entirely into the wood. For
this purpose, it is made without a broad
head or shoulder over the shank.
Moxon
BRAD'YPUS, n. The sloth, which see.
BRAG, V. i. [W. bragiaw, to swell, to shoot
up, to brag ; brap;, a sprouting, malt
bragu, to malt. It coincides witli Dan
hrager, to crackle, Gr. lipaxi^, Eng. to
brag, and many other words signifying to
break or shoot forth. See Brave.]
To boast; to display one's actions, merits or
advantages ostentatiously ; to tell boastful
stories; followed by of; as, to brag of a
good horse, or of a feat. Skbiey. Sliak.
To brag on is vulgar ; indeed the word itself]
is become low, and is not to be used in el
egant composition.
r.RAG, n. A boast, or boasting; ostenta
tious verbal display of one's deeds, or ad-
vantages ; the thing boaste^l.
Milton. Bacon
Spenser has used this word as an adverb
for proudly.
BRAG,)!. A game at cards. Chesterfield.
BRAGGADO'CIO, n. A puffing, boasting
icUow. Dryden.
F.RAG'GARDISM, n. Boastfulness ; vain
fistontation.
BRAG'GART, n. [irag- and art, arrf, kind.]
A boaster ; a vain fellow. Shak.
BRAG'GART, a. Boastful ; vainly ostenta-
tions. Bonne.
BRAG'GER, n. One who brags ; a boaster.
RRAG'GET, n. [W. bragawd. See Brag.]
A liquor made by fermetuing the wort of
ale and mead. Owen.
BRAG'GING, ppr. Boasting.
BRAG'GINGLY, udv. Boastingly.
BRAGLESS, a. Without bragging, or os-
tentation. [Unusual.] Shak,
BRAG'LY, adv. Finely ; so as it may be
bragged of. [JVot used.] Spenser.
BRAHMAN'le, a. Pertaining to the Brach-
mans or Bramins of India. Vallancey.
BRAID, I', t. [Sax. bredan, to braid ; Old
Eng. brede ; Dan. breider, to upbraid.]
1. To weave or infold three or more strands
to form one.
2. To reproach. 06s. [See Upbraid.]
BRAID, n. A string, cord or other texture,
formed by weaving together different
strands.
2. A start. Sackville.
BRAID, a. Deceitful. Shak..
Chaucer used the Saxon word brede, to
deceive. This is the figurative sense of
braid. Obs.
BRAIL, n. [Fr. brayer, a brail, or truss, a
contracted word.]
1. A piece of leather to bind up a hawk's
wing. Bailey.
In navt'rrafion, brails are ropes passing
through piilliy:^, on the mizen mast and
yard. :niil IJistcnnl to the aftmost leech of
of the sail in ditii-rent places, to truss it upj
close. Also, all ropes emploj'ed to haul!
up the bottoms, lower corners and skirts
of the other great sails, for the more reiidy
furling of them. Mar. Diet.
BRAIL^r. t. To brail up, is to haul up into
the brails, or to truss up with the brails.
Mar. Diet.
BRAIN, n. [Sax. brmgan, bregen, bragen ; D.
brein ; Gr. lipiyua, ])roi)erly the fore part
of the head or sinciput, also the brain.]
1. That soft whitish mass, or viscus, in-
closed in the cranium or skull, in which
the nerves and spinal marrow terminate,
and which is supposed to be the seat of
the soul or intelligent principle in man.
It is divided above into a right and left
hemisphere, and below into six lobes. It
is composed of a cortical substance, which
is external, and a medullary, which is in-
ternal. From llie hriiiii jirocecd nine pair
of nerves, which an- ilistributed princi-
pally to the head and neck.
Hooper. Encyc.
9. The understanding. Hale.
3. The affections ; fancy ; imagination. [Un-
usual.] Shak. Sandys.
BRAIN, V. f. To dash out the brains ; to kill
by beating out the brains.
Pope. Dryden.
To conceive ; to understand. [JVot used.]
Sliak.
BRA'INISH, a. Uot-headed ; furious ; as
L. ccrebrosiis. Shak.
BRA'INLESS, a. Without understanding ;
silly ; thouglitless ; witless.
Ticket. Shak.
BRA'INPAN, n. [brain and pan.] The
skull which incloses the brain. Dryden.
BRA'INSICK, a. [brain and sick.] Dis-
ordered in the understanding ; giddy ;
thoughtless. Shak. Knolh
BRA'INSICKLY, adv. Weakly; with
disordered understanding. Shak.
BRA'INSICKNESS, n. Disorder of; the un-
derstanding ; giddiness ; indiscretion.
BRAIT, ?!. Among jetvelers, a rough dia-
BRAKE, pp. of break. Obs. [!iee Break.]
BRAKE, n. [W. bnvg ; h: fraoch; Port.
brejo ; Sp. brezo ; Dan. bregne ; G. breche ;
L. erica ; Gr. tpixu, tpftxu, to break. So
named probably from its roughness or
broken appearance.]
1. Brake is a name given to fern, or rather
to the female fern, a species of cryptogam-
ian plants, of the genus Pteris, whose
fructification is in lines under the margin
of the leaf or frond.
Fam. of Plants. Encyc.
2. A place overgrown with brake. Encyc.
3. A thicket ; a place overgrown with shrubs
and brambles. Johnson.
4. In the U. States, a thicket of canes, as a
cane-brake ; but I believe used only in com-
l)osition. Ellicott.
BRAKE, 71. [See Break.] An instriuncnt to
break flax or hemp.
1. The handle or lever by which a pump is
worked ; that is, hrac, brachium, an arm.
3. A baker's kneading trough.
4. A sharp bit, or snaffie.
5. A machine for confining refractory horses,
while the smith is shoeing them.
Johnson.
G. That part of the carriage of a movable
battery or engine which enables it to turn.
Faiifar.
7. A large heavy harrow for lireaking clods
after plowing ; called also a drag.
BRA'KY, a. Full of braises ; abounding with
brambles or shrubs ; rough ; thorny.
B. Jonson.
Tlie bream, a fish. [See
[B)ou»i,Piromis. Herodo-
. tus. tii\. L. primus, Ir.
priomh, first, chief, Goth.
, origin, beginning.]
The chief deity of the Indian nations, con-
sidered as the creator of all things.
.is. Researches.
BR AM'BLE, n. [Sax. brembel, brembr, bremd,
a bramble, rubus, vepres; D. braam, braain-
bosch, braamstruik, bramble ; Ger. brom-
heer, blackberry ; brombecrstaude, bram-
ble. This plant probably is named from
its berry or its prickles. See Broom.]
The raspberry bush or blackberry bush ; a
general name of the genus rubu^, of which
tliere are several species. They are arm-
ed with prickles ; hence in common lan-
guage, anv rough, prickly shrub.
BRAM'BLEBUSH, n. [bramble and bii.^h.]
The bramble, or a collection of biaiiiliU s
growing together. . /<A
BRAM'BLED, a. Overgrown with bran.lilrs.
BRAM'BLE-NET, n. [bramble and net.]
A hallicr, or a net to catch bu'ds.
Encyc. Ash.
A bird, a species of
fringilla, the mountain
Encyc.
[See Brarhnan.]
BRAM'BLING, }
BRAMBLE, <,
finch.
BRAM'IN, I
BRAH'MIN, S "
A ])riest among the Hindoos and other na-
tions of India. There arc several orders
of Bramins, many of whom are very cor-
rupt in their morals; others live seques-
tered from the world devoted to supersti-
tion and indolence. Tliev are the only
person
who understand the Sa
ancient langtiagc of the country, in which
BRA
BRA
B R A
n. The wife of a Bramin.
>heir sacred books are written ; and to
them are European nations indebted for
their knowledge of the language. Tlicy
worship Urania, the supposed creator ol
the world, but have many subordinate <
ities.
BRAMIN ESS,
BRAMINEE',
BRAM1N'I€AL; a. Pertaining to tlie Bra
niins, or their doctrines and worship ; as
the Braminical system.
Asial. Researches.
BRAM'INISM, n. The religion, or system
of doctrines of the Bramins.
BRAN, n. [W. bran, composed of b and
rhan, a piece, from rhunu, to rend or tear ;
Arm. brenn ; Ir. and Fr. bran. In ItaUan
brano, is a piece or bit. Arm. ranna ; Ir.
rannam, to tear.]
Tlie outer coat of wheat, rye or other fari-
naceous grain, separated from the flour by
grinding.
BRAN-NEW, properly brm\d-new, a. [Q.
brennen, to burn ; brand, burning.] Quite
new, [fire new] ; bright or shining
BRAN€'ARD,n. [Fr.] A horse htter. [.Yot
in use.]
BR'ANCH, n. [Fr. branche ; Arm. brnncg.
li n is not radical, this word coincides with
W. braic, the arm, a shoot. Tins is prob-
ably tlie fact.]
1. Tlic shoot of a tree or other plant; a
liiiil); a bougli shooting from the stem, or
Irom another branch or bough. Johnsun
restricts the word to a shoot from a main
bough ; but the definition is warranted
neither by etymology nor usage.
A division of a main stem, supporting tli€
leaves and fructitication. Martyn
An arm of a tree sprouting from the stem.
Kiicyc
2. Any arm or extended part shooting oi
e.vteuded from the main body of a thing ;
as the branch of a canillpslick or of an ar-
tery. Hence, from simiiituilc, a smallci
stream running into a larger one, or pro-
ceeding from it. Also, the shoot of a stag'.s
lioru ; an antler.
;t. Any member or part of a body, or sys-
tem ; a distinct article ; a section or sub-
division ; as, charity is a branch of christian
duty.
4. Any individual of a family descending in
a collateral line ; any descendant from a
common parent or stock.
-">. Branches of a bridle, two pieces of bent
iron which' bear the bit, the cross cliains
and the curb. Encijc.
t!. In architecture, branches of ogives are the
arches of Gotliic vaults, traversing from
one angle to another diagonally, and form-
ing a cross between the otlier arches,
which make the sides of the square, of
which these arches are diagonals.
Hams.
7. A warrant or commission given to a pilot.
Laws of Massachusetts.
Ash.
To shoot or spread in
nify, as a ])lanl, or as
8. A chandelier.
BRANCH, V. i.
branches ; to i
horns.
2. To divide into
sparate parts, or subdi-
visions, as a mountain, a stream, or a mor-
al subject ; to ramify.
3. To speak diffusively ; to make many dis-
tinctions or divisions in a discourse.
|4. To have horns shooting ouu MUion.
BR'ANCH, r.<. To divide as into branch-
I es ; to make subordinate divisions.
Baron.
2. To adorn with needle work, representing
branches, flowers, or twigs. Spenstr.
BR'ANCHED, pp. Divided or spread into
branciics ; separated into subordinate
parts ; adorned with branches ; furnished
with branches.
BR-ANCHER, n. One that shoots forth
1 branches.
|3. A yoimg hawk when it begins to leave
the nest and take to the branches. !
lBR>ANCHERif, n. The ramifications ..i
! ramified vessels dispersed tiirough tlic
pulpy part of fruit. Enct/c. .Isli
liot irc
reproacl
; fi.\i;
I'ma
lark of
BRAND -IRON, ) An iron to brand
BRAM)I.\(;-IR(JN,^"- whh.
BltANJJ ISII, ,■./. [I'r. brandir; Pon.bran-
1 dir ; l^p. tila ndir, r changed into / ; It. brand-
ire ; probably allied to Fr. branler, to
shake]
[l. To move or wave, as a weapon ; to raise,
I and move in various directions ; to shake
or flourish ; as, to brandish a sword or a
I cane. It often indicates threatening.
2. To jilay with ; to flourish ; as, to brandish
>>!!-;;, Ml. >. Locke.
ISi; \.\l) ISIII:D, pp. Raised and waved in
U..- ,iir Willi a flourish.
15R.\.M) l.-lli;i{. H. One N\ ho brandishes.
BR'ANCHINESS, n. Fulness of branches. LBRAND ISHiNG, /-/.r. Raising and waving
Johnson.ll intli<'air; fiourisliinir.
BR".\NCHING,;)/)r. Shooting in branches:
(li\iiliMg iiitcj ^oM'i'ul subordinate parts.
Bl! A .\( ' II I \( ;, (/. I 'ill iiislied with branches;
sli,M,nh-..iit hiaiirhrs.
BKA.Nt lll()STi;(;<)l S, a. [Gr )3poy;^«i.,|
gills, and fsyos, a covering.] Having gill-
covers, or covered gills, as a branchioste-
gous fish; covering the gills, as the; bran-
chiostegous membrane. The branchiostegil
are an order of fish in the Linnean system,
the rays of whose tins are bony, but whose
gill-covers are destitute of bony ravs.
BRANCH-LEAF, n. A leaf growi'ng on a
branch. Marl,/,,.
BU ANCHLESS, a. Destitute of l.r,iiirlir>,
or shoots; without any valuable product:
barren ; naked. Shak.
BR'ANCHLET, n. A little branch ; a twig ;
the subdivision of a branch.
Martyn. Jisiat. Researches.
BR\ANCH-PEDUN€LE, n. A peduncle
springing from a branch. Mart,/
BR'ANCH-FH.OT, n. A pilot who has a
branch or public commission.
Laws of.Mus.iiichusetts and .V. York.
BR'ANCHV, a. Full of branches ; having
wiile spreading branches. Pope.
BRAND, n. [Sax. brand; D. brand ; G.
brand ; Dan. brmnde ; Sw. brand ; from
brfmna, brennen, to burn. See Burn.']
1. A burning piece of wood ; or a stick or
piece of wood partly burnt, whether burn-
ing or after the fire is extinct.
2. .\ sword, either from brandishing,- Fr.
brandir, or from its glittering brightness ;
note obsolete, unless in poetry. Milton.
3. A thunder-bolt. Granville.
4. A mark made by burning with a hot iron,
as upon a criminal, or upon a cask ; a
stigma : any note of infamy.
Bacon. Dryden.
BRAND, V. t. To burn or impress a mark
with a hot iron ; as, to "brand a crinjinal, by
way of punishment ; or to brand a cask or
any thing else, for the purpose of fixing a
mark upon it.
2. To fix a mark or character of infamy, in
allusion to the branding of criminals ; to
stigmatize as infamous ; as, to brand a vice
with infamy. Rowe. Addison.
BRAND' ED," pp. Marked with a hot iron ;
stigmatized.
BRAND'-GOOSE, n. A species of Anas, or
the goose kind ; usually called in America
brant or brent.
BRAND'ING, ppr. Impressing a mark w itli
BRANDLING, n. A kind of worm.
ffallon.
BRAND-NEW, a. Quite new ; bright as a
brand of fire. Tatter.
BRAN'DY, n. [D. branden ; Ger. brennen,
to distil; branden, to boil; brenner, a dis-
tiller ; G. branntwcin ; Fr. brandevin, bran-
dy. See Burn.]
An ardent sjiirit distilled from wine. The
same iiaiiii- i> iio\\ ■;j\eij to s|iirit distilled
from oiher liiimas, ami in tlie L'. States
p.irliciihirlv to tli.it »lii.'li is distilled fi-om
e.v,ler,-,„diM-ael,es.
I!|{\.\ l)V-\\iNE, n. Brandy. Wiseman.
I!i; AN (;i.l",, >,. [Rus.s. bran, war, strife,
noise, broil ; branyu, to hinder, to scold ;
h.frtndeo. Qu. wrangle. Brangle, in Scot-
tish, signifies to shake, or to threaten ; Fr.
branler.]
A wrangle ; a squabble ; a noisy contest or
disi)ute. Swift.
BRAN'GLE, i'. i. To wrangle ; to dispute
contentiouslv ; to squabble. Swift.
BRAN'GLEMENT, n. Wrangle ; brangle.
BRAN'GLING, n. A quarrel. JVhitlock.
BRANK, n. [So named probably from its
joints, breaks. " Gallia; (|uoque suuni
genus farris dedere ; quod iUic branee vo-
cant, apud nos sandalum, nitidissimi
grani." PUn. 18. 7.]
1. Buckwheat, a species of polygonum ; a
grain cultivated tuostly for beasts and
poultry : but in the U. States, the flour is
much used for making breakfast cakes.
2. In some parts of England and Scotland, a
scolding-bridle, an instrument for correct-
ing scolding women. It consists of a head-
piece, which incloses the head of the of-
fender, and of a sliar|) iron which eaters
the mouth and restrains the tongue.
Plott. Encyc.
BRANK'URSINE, n. [brank and ursus, a
bear.]
Bear's-breech, or acanthus, a g«>nus of plante,
of several species. The leaves of the com-
mon sort are said to have furnished the
model of tlie Corinthian capitals.
BRAN'LIN, n. A species of fish of the
salmon kind, in some places called the
fingry, from five or six black lines or marks
on each side resembling fingers. It is
foimd in rapid streams.
Did. of Mat. Hist.
BRAN'NY, a. [from bran.] Having the
appearance of bran ; consisting of bran.
Wiseman.
B R A
BRA
BRA
BRAX'.SLE, n. A brawl, or Juucc. [jVol
ustd.] Spenser.
BRANT, n. [Qii. brand, burnt or brown.]
A species of anas or the goose kind ; called
also hrent and brand-goose, which see.
!!RANT, 0, Stcej). Todd.
BRA'SEN, a. briizn. Made of brass. [Sec
Brass and Brazen.]
BKA'SIER, ?). brdzhur. An artificer who
works in brass. Franklin.
'i. A pan for holding coals. [See Brass.]
BRASIL. [See Brazil]
BR' ASS, n. [Hsix-brms; W.pres; Corn.
bresl ; Ir. pras. In Welsh, pres signifies
brass and wliat is quick, ready, sharp,
smart, also haste, fuel, atidpresu, to render
innninent, to hasten, to render present.
Till! latter sense indicates that it is from
the Latin. But I see no connection be-
tween these senses and brass. This word
may be named from its bright color, and
be allied to Port, braza, Sp. brasas, live
coals, abrazar, abrasar, to burn or inflame ;
l)ut the real origin and primary sense are
not evident.]
1. An alloy of copper and zink, of a yellow
color ; usually containing about one third
of its weight of zink, but the proportions
are variable. The best brass is made by
cementation of calamine or the oxyd of
zink with granulated copper.
Thomson. Encxje.
U. Impudence ; a brazen face.
BR'ASSE, n. The pale spotted perch, witl
two long teeth on each side ; the lacio-
perca. Ash
BRAS'SIeA, ?i. [L.] Cabbage. Pope
BR'ASSINESS, re. A quality of brass ; the
appearance of brass.
BRASS-PAVED, a. Hard as brass.
Spenser.
BR ASS-VISAgED, a. Impudent. Todd.
BR ASSY, a. Pertaining to brass ; jiartaking
of brass ; hard as brass ; having the color
of brass.
CJ. Impudent ; impudently bold.
BRAST, a. Burst. [JVotinuse.] Spen.ter.
BRAT, n. A child, so called in contempt.
2. OflLspring : progeny.
BRAUL, n. Indian cloth with blue and white
stripes, called twhants. Encyc.
BRAVA'DO, n. [Sp. bravata ; Fr. bravade.
See Brave.]
\ boast or brag ; an arrogant menace, in-
tended to intimidate.
BRAVE, a. [Fr. brave ; Arm. brao ; Sp. Port.
h. bravo; U.braaf; Sw. braf; tfau.brav;
Ger. trail, whence braviren, to look big, to
bully or hector. In Sp. and Port, bravo
signifies 6raiie, valiant, strenuous, bullying,
fierce, wild, savage, rude, unpolished,
cellent, fine ; bravear, to bully, to menace
in an arrogant manner ; brava is a swell of |
the sea ; bravezn, valor, and fiiry of the!
elements. The word brave expresse;
.■I shnwy ih-c,=s ; Arm. bniscal, Xci be
ilrcsvcil, line. >|inii-e, of wliicii brao seems
lu l,r .-, ,-.„,ir:.ctinii. The word bears the
>i-iisr ol'(i|ieii, lidld, expandinir, and ru;
ing, vaunting. It is doubtless contracted,
and probably from the root of brag.]
I. Courageous ; bold ; daring; intrepid ; fear-
less of danger; as a lirave warrior. It
usually unites the sense of court
generosity and dignity of mind ; qualities
often united. Bacon.
The brave man mil not deliberately do an
injury to his fellow man. Anon.
2. Gallant ; lofty ; graceful ; having a noble
len. Shak.
3. 3Iagnificent ; grand ; as a brave place.
Denham.
4. Excellent : noble ; dignified. But in mod-
ern usage, it has nearly lost its application to
things.
. Gaudy ; showy in dress. [Ar. o »j
to adorn.] Obs. Spenser.
BRAVE, n. A hector ; a man daring beyond
discretion or decency.
Hot braves like these may fight. Dryden.
i. A boast ; a challenge ; a defiance. Skak.
BRAVE, V. t. To defy ; to challenge ; to en-
counter with courage and fortitude, or
without being moved ; to set at defiance.
The ills of love I can brave.
The rock that braves the tempest. Dryden.
2. To carry a boasting appearance of ; as, to
brave that which they believe not.
Bacon.
\{.\.'VED, pp. Defied ; set at defiance ; met
without dismay, or being moved.
[lA'VELY, «(/('. Courageously; gallantly;
splendidly : in a brave manner ; heroically.
In Spenser, finely ; gaudily.
BR A' VERY, re. Courage ; heroism ; undaun-
ted spu'it ; intrepidity ; gallantry ; fearless-
ness of danger ; often united with generos-
ity or dignity of mind which despises
meanness and cruelty, and disdains to
take advantage of a vanquished enemy.
The duellist, in proving his bravery, shows
that he thinks it suspected. Anon.
2. Splendor ; magnificence ; showy aiipear-
auce.
The bravery of tlieir tinkling ornaments. Is.
iii. Spenser.
3. Show; ostentation; fine dress. Bacon.
Bravado ; boast. Bacon. Sidney.
A sho\vy jierson. Spenser.
[In the laM four senses, this word is nearly
antiquated.]
1? A'VING, ppr. Setting at defiance ; chal
lenging.
BRA'VO, re. [It. and Sp.] A daring villain ;
a bandit ; one who sets law at defiance ;
an assassin or murderer.
Gov't of the Tongue.
BRAWL, V. i. [G. britUen; D. brullen ; Dan,
vraaler and briiler ; Sw. vrala, to roar or
bellow ; Fr. brailler ; Arm. brailhat, to
brawl or be noisy ; L. prcelior ; W. bro
Haw, to boast, to brag ; brawl, a shooting
out, a boast.]
1. To quarrel noisily and indecently.
fVafts
2. To speak loud and indecently. Shak
3. To roar as water ; to make a noise.
Shak.
BRAWL, v. t. To drive or beat away.
'Shak.
BRAWL, n. [Norm, braul] Noise ; quar-
rel ; scurrility ; uproar. Hooker.
2. Formerly, a kind of dance.
Shak. B. Jonson. Gray.
BRAWL'ER, re. A noisy fellow ; a wran-
gler. Ayliffe.
BRAWLING, )!. The act of quarreling.
BRAWL'INGLY, adv. In a quarrelsome
manner. Hi
BRAWN, n. [L. aprugnus, earn uprugna.]
1. The flesh of a boar, or the animal.
2 The fleshy, protuberant, muscular part of
the body. Peacham.
3. Bulk ; mu.scular strength. Dryden.
4. The arm, from its muscles or strength.
Shak,
BRAWN'ED, a. Brawny ; strong.
Spenser.
BRAWN'ER, re. A boar killed for the table.
Johnson. King.
BRAWN'INESS, re. The quaUty of beufg
brawny ; strength ; hardiness. Locke.
BRAWN' Y, a. Musculous ; fleshy ; bulky ;
having large, strong muscles ; strong.
Dryden.
BRAY, V. t. [Sax. bracan ; Fr. broyer, to
pound, or bruise ; hraire, to roar, or bray
as an ass ; Arm. bregui, to roar; N'.nii.
brair, to cry, to brag ; Gr. »3po;tu ; W. bri-
waw, to break in pieces, to rub, or grind ;
breyan, a quern ; Ir. bra, a bandmiU. See
Brag and Break.]
To pound, beat or grind small ; as, to bray
a fool in a mortar. Prov. xxvii.
2. To make a harsh sound, as of an ass.
Dryden.
3. To make a harsh, disagreeable grating
sound. Milton.
BRAY, re. The harsh soimd or roar of an
ass ; a harsh grating soimd.
2. Shelving ground. Fairfax.
BRAY, n. [W. hre, a mount or peak.] A
bank or moimd of earth. Obs. Herbert.
BRA'YER, re. One that brays like an ass.
Pope.
2. A instrument to temper ink in printing
offices. Bailey. Johnson.
BRA'YING, ppr. Pounding or grinding
small ; roaring.
BRA'YING, re. Roar ; noise ; clamor.
Smith.
BRAZE, V. t. [Fr. braser.] To soder with
brass. Moxon.
2. To harden to impudence ; to harden as
with brass. Shak.
BRA'ZEN, a. brazn. Made of brass ; as
a brazen helmet. Dryden.
Pertaining to brass ; proceeding from
brass ; as a brazen din. Shak.
3. Impudent ; having a front like brass.
Brazen age, or age of brass, in mythology,
the age which succeeded the silver age,
when men liad degenerated from primi-
tive purity.
Brazen dish, among miners, is the standard
by which other dishes are guaged, and is
kept in the king's hall. England.
Brazen sea, in Jewish antiquity, a huge ves-
sel of brass, cast on the plain of Jordan,
and placed in Solomon's temple. It was
ten cubits from brim to brim, five in
height, thirty in cu-cumference, and con-
tahied 3000 baths. It was designed for the
priests to wash themselves in, before they
pertbrmed the service of the temple.
Encyc.
BRA'ZEN, V. i. brazn. To be impudent : to
bully. Ariuthnoi.
BRA'ZEN-FACE, re. [brazen and/«fc] An
iniiaident perscm ; one remarkable fi)r
ertrnntcrv. Shak.
BRA'ZEN-FACED, a. Impudent; hold to
excess; shameless. Dri/den.
BRA'ZENLY, adv. In a bold impudent
iiiauner.
B R E
B R E
B R E
BRAZENNESS, n. Appearance like brass.
In tliis sense, brassmess is the more correct
word.
2. Impudence; excess of assurance.
BRAZIER. [See Brasier.]
BRAZIL', } [Port, braza, a live
BRAZIL-WQOD, S "" coal, or glowing
fire. This name was given to the wood
for its color, and it is said that King Eman-
uel of Portugal gave this name to the e-oun-
try in America on account of its producing
this wood. It was first named Santa Cniz,l
by its discoverer, Pedro Alvares Cahnil.
Lindleij's ATarrative of a voyage to Brazil.
Med. Rep. Hex. 2. vol. 3. 200.]
Brazil, or brazil-wood, or braziletto, is a very
heavy wood of a red color, growing in
Brazil, and other tropical countries. It is
used in manufactures for dyeing red. It
is a species of Coesalpina.
BRAZILETTO, J^. The same as Brazil-
W(>0(h
BRAZILIAN, a. Pertaining- to Brazil ; as,
Brazilian strand. Barlow.
BREACH, n. [Fr. brecke; D. Ireuk ; Ger.
bruch ; Sw. br&ck ; Dan. br(ck ; Sp. and
Port brecha. See Break.]
1. The act of breaking ; or state of being
broken; aruiiiure; a break ; a gap; the
s])a(!e between [lie severed parts of a solid
body pnrted by violence ; as a breach in a
garment, or in a wall.
2. The viohition of a law ; the violation or
non-fultilmentof a contract : the non-per-
<!)rmance of a moral duty ; non-perform-
ance of duty being a breack of obligation,
as well as a positive transgression or vio-
lation.
Every breach of the public engagements is
Iiuitful to |)ublic credit. Hamilton.
3. An opening in a coast. [^Vo< wsim/.]
Spenser.
1. Separation between friends by means of
enmity ; difference ; quarrel. Clarendon.
5. Infrai:tion; injury; invasion; a.s a breach
upon kingly power. Clarendon.
C. Beniiviinciit ; loss of a friend and its con-
sequent atllictioM.
7. A viohitiim of the public peace, as by a
riot, ;iniay, or any tunnilt which is con-
trary to law, and destructive to the public
tr;ui(|uillity,is called a breach of the peace.
BRE-\CH, t). /. To make a breach, or open-
ing. Life of Wellington.
BREAD, n. bred. [Sax. bread ; G.brot; D.
brood ; Sw. brod ; Dan. brod. Qu. Gr. tipuros,
any thing escident. If the word signifies
fofxl in general, or that which is eaten,
probably it is the Heb. and Ch. nn2, from
ni3 barah, to eat or feed. But in Ger-
man, it signifies loaf as well as bread.
" Zehen brot," ten loaves. It may there-
fore signify i)rimj(rily a lump or portion.]
J . A mass of dough, made by moistening and
kneading the flour or meal of some species
of grain, and baked in an oven, or pan.
'?. Food in general.
In tlie sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.
Gen. iii.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Lord's Prayer.
3. Support of life in general ; maintenance.
Is the reward of virtue, bread ? Pupe.
Bee-bread. [See Bee.]
Ship-bread, biead for ships : hard biscuits.
Cassuda-bread. [See Cassada.]
BREAD, t'.<. l^iix. brcedan. See Broad.]
To spread. [J\i~ot used.] Bay.
BREAD -CHIPPER, n. [b,-ead and chip.]
One w ho cliips bread ; a baker's servant ;
an uiidur butler. Shak
BREAD'-tORN, n. [bread and corji.] Corn
of which bread is made. This in mos
countries is wlieat and rye ; but in some
countries bread is made of other grain, as
of maize in some parts of America.
BREAD'EN, a. Made of bread. [Little
used.] Rogers
BREAD'LESS, a. Without bread ; destitute
of food.
BREAD'-ROOM,n. An apartment in a ship
hold, where the bread is kept.
BREAD'-TREE, n. [bread and tree.] The
bread-fruit tree, or Artocarpu.s, a tree which
grows in the isles of the Pacific ocean, of
tlie size of an apple-tree, producing a fruit
shaped like a heart, and as large as a small
loaf of bread, which is eaten as food.
£7lC^C.
BREADTH, ji. bredth. [Sax. brad and bred.
See Board and Broad]
The measure or extent of any plain surface
from side to side ; a geometrical dimen-
sion, which, multipUed into the length,
constitutes a surface ; as, the length of a
table is five feet, and the breadth, three ;
5 X a = l.T feet, the whole surface.
BREADTH'LESS, a. Having no breadth.
More.
BREAK, V. t. pret. broke, [brake. 06s.]; jjp.
broke or broken. [Sax. brmcan, brecan, to
break, and bracan, to bray, as in a mortar ;
Sw. briikd ; Dan. brcekker ; D. braaken,
breeken ; G. brechen ; W. bregu, to break ;
breg, a rent or rupture ; brer, a breaking
out, a freckle ; Goth, brikan ; Ir. bracaim,
to break, to harrow ; Sp. and Port, brecha,
a breach ; L./rajig-o,/reg-i, n casual ; Arm.
fncga; Fr. fracas ; Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. Ar.
p"\3 to break, to free or deliver, to sepa-
rate ; Gr. ifipaoffu, $payf<a. These words
seem also to be allied to J\2 and pa. If
the first consonant is a prefix, which is
probable, then connected with the.se words
are the Gr. pjjyrou, and ipiixu, W. rhuygaie,
Arm. roga, rega, to rend. M'reck is prob-
ably of the same family. The primary
sense is to strain, stretch, rack, drive ;
lience, to strain and burst or break. It
should be noted that the Greek pijyj?, in the
jEolic dialect, is iifrrjyTj.]
, To part or divide by force and violence,
as a solid substance ; to rend apart ; as, to
break a band ; to break a thread or a cable.
2. To burst or open by force.
The fountains of the earth were broke open.
3. To divide by piercing or penetrating ; to
burst forth ; as, the hght breaks through the
clouds. Dnjden.
4. To make breaches or gaps by battering,
iin a wall. Shak.
5. To destroy, crush, weaken, or impair, as
the hiunan body or constitution. .Wdton.
6. To sink ; to appall or subdue ; as, to break
le spirits, or the passions. Philips.
7. To crush; to shatter; to dissipate the
strength of, as of an army. Dn/den.
8. To weaken, or impair, as" the faculties.
Shak.
\). To tame : to train to obedience ; to make
tractable; as, to 6r«aA; a horse. Addison.
JO. To make bankrupt. ."?oi(//i.
11. To discard, dismiss or cashier ; as, to break
an officer. Swift.
12. To crack, to part or divide, as the skin ;
to open, as an aposteme.
13. To violate, as a contract or promise, ci-
ther by a i)ositive act contrary to the
promise, or by neglect or non-liilfilment.
14. To infringe or violate, as a law, or any
moral obligation, either by a positive act
or by an omission of what is required.
Dryden.
15. To stop ; to inteiTupt ; to cause to cease ;
as, to break conversation ; to break sleep.
Shak.
16. To intercept; to check; to lessen the
force of; as, to break a fall, or a blow.
Bacon.
17. To separate ; to part ; as, to break com-
jiany or liiendship. Atterbun/.
18. 'I'o dissolve any union; sometimes with
off ; as, to break off a. connection.
I'J. To cause to abandon ; to reform or
cause to reform ; as, to break one of ill
habits or practices. Grew.
20. To ojien as a purpose ; to propound
something new ; to make a first disclosure
of opinions ; as, to break one's mind.
Bacon.
21. To frustrate ; to prevent.
If plas>ie8 or earthquakes break not heaven's
design. Pope.
22. To take away ; as, to break the whole
staff of bread. Ps. cv.
23. To stretch ; to strain ; to rack ; as, to break
one on the wheel.
To break the back, to strain or dislocate the
vertebers with too heavy a burden ; also,
to disable one's fortune. Sliak.
To break bulk, to begin to unload.
Mar. Diet.
To break a deer, to cut it iq) at table.
Johnson.
To breakfast, to cat the first meal in the day,
but used as a conqmund word.
To break ground, to plow. Carew.
To break ground, to dig ; to open trenches.
Encyc.
To break the heart, to afilict grievously ; to
cause great sorrow or grief; to depress
with sorrow or despair. Dryden.
To break a jest, to utter a jest unexpected.
Johnson.
To break the neck, to dislocate the joints of
the neck. Shak.
To break off, to put a sudden stop to ; to in-
terrupt ; to discontinue.
Break off thy sins by righteousness. Dan.
iv.
2. To sever ; to divide ; as, to break off a
To break sheer, in marine language. When a
ship at anchor is in a position to keep
clear of the anchor, but is forced by wind
or current out of that position, she breaks
her sheer. Mar. Diet.
To break up, to dissolve or put an end to ;
a.s, to break up house-keeping.
2. To open or lay open ; as, to break up a
bed of earth.
3. To plow groimd the first time, or after
Iving long unplowed ; o common use in the
U. Stfiles.
4. To separate ; as, to break up a company
13 R E
B 11 E
B R E
"i. 'J'li (lisliaiid ; as, to break up an army.
To breiik upon the wheel, to stretch and break
tlie bones by torture upon tlie wheel.
To break wind, to give vent to wind from the
body backward.
BREAK, I'. {. To part; to separate ; to di
vide in two ; as, the ice breaks ; a band
breaks.
•.'. To burst : as, a storm or deluge breaks
Dry den.
:i. To burst, by dashing against something ;
as, a wave breaks upon a rock. Pope.
4. To open, as a tumor or aposteine.
Harvey.
5. To open, as the morning ; to show the
first Hght ; to dawn. Addison
(J. To burst forth ; to utter or exclaim.
Shak.
7. To fail in trade or other occupation ; to
become bankrupt. Pope.
8. To declhie in health and strength ; to be-
gin to lose the natural vigor. Swijl.
0. To issue out with vehemence. Pope.
10. To make way with violence or sudden-
ness; to rush : often with a particle; as,
to break in ; to break in upon, as calami-
ties ; to break over, as a flood ; to break nut,
as a fire ; to break forth, as liglit or a
sound.
11. To come to an explanation.
I am to break with thee upon some afl'aiis.
[/ beliei^e, antiquated.'] Shak.
12. To sufler an interruption of friendship ;
to fall out.
Be not afraid to break witli traitor?.
J}. Jonson.
13. To faint, flag or pant.
My soul brcaketh for longing to (hy judg-
ments. Ps. cxix.
To break away, to disengage itself from ; to
rush from ; also, to dissolve itself or dissi-
pate, as fog or clouds.
To break forth, to issue out.
To break from, to disengage from ; to depart
abruptly, or with vehemence.
Roscommon.
To break in, to enter by force ; to enter un-
expectedly ; to intrude. Addison.
To break loose, to get free by force ; to es-
cape from confinement by violcijce ; to
shake off restraint. Milton. Tillotson.
To break off, to part ; to divide ; also, to de-
sist suddenly. Bacon.
To break off from, to part from with violence.
Shak.
To break out, to issue forth ; to discover it-
self by its efl!ccts, to arise or spring up;
as, a fire breaks out ; a sedition breaks out ;
a fever breaks out. Dryden. Milton.
'.'. To appear in eruptions, as pustules ; to
liave jHistules, or an efflorescence on the
the skin, as a child breaks out. Hence we
liaveyrccA/e from the root of break ; Welsh
brer.
':}. To throw ofl' restraint, and become disso-
lute. Dryden.
To break up, to dissolve itself and separate ;
as a company breaks up ; a meeting breaks
up ; a fog breaks up ; but more generally
we say, fog, mist or clouds break aiDuy.
To break with, to part in enmity ; to cease to
be frifiuls ; as, to break with a friend or
coMipanion. Pope.
This verb Cannes with it its primitive
sense oi' straining, parting, severing, burst
1/ig, oifcn «iib violence, with the conse
qiiential senses of injury, defect, and
firmitij.
BREAfv, n. A state of being open, or the
act of separating ; an. opening made by
force ; an open place. It is the sani(
word as brack, differently written and pro
nounced.
9. A pause ; an interruption.
3. A line in writing or printing, noting a sus
jjension of the sense, or a stop in the sen
tence.
4. In a ship, the break of the deck is the part
where it terminates, and the descent on to
the next deck below commences.
5. The fir.st appearance of light in the morn
ing ; the dawn ; as the break of day. Ar.
Owi farakon, id.
C. In architecture, a recess.
BREAKAGE, »?. A breaking ; also, an al
lowance for things broken, in transpor
tation.
BREAKER, n. The person who breaks
any thing ; a violator or transgressor
as a breaker of the law. South.
2. A rock which bi-eaks the waves ; or the
wave itself which breaks against a rock,
a .sand bank, or the shore, exhibiting a
white foam. Mar. Diet. Johnson
3. A pier, mound or other solid matter, pla-
ced in a river, to break the floating ice,
and prevent it from injuring a bridge be-
low ; called also ice-breaker.
4. One that breaks up ground.
5. A destroyer. Micali^ii.
BREAK'FAST, n. brekfast. [break and
fa^t.]
1. The first meal in the day ; or the thing
eaten at the first meal.
2. A meal, or food in general. Dryden.
BREAK'FAST, v. i. brekfast. To eat the
first meid in the da}'.
BREAK'FASTING, ppr. Eating or taking
the first meal in the day.
BREAK'FASTING, n. A party at break-
fast. Chesterfield.
BREAKING, ppr. Parting by violence :
rending asunder ; becoming bankrupt.
BREAKNECK, n. [break anA neck.] A fill 1
that breaks the neck ; a steep place endan-
gering the neck. Shak.
BREAKPROMISE, n. [break and promise.]
One who makes a practice of breaking his
promise. \Xot used.] Shak.
BREAKVOW, »i. [break and vow.] One
who habitually breaks his vows. [J^Tot
used.] Shak.
BREAKWATER, n. [break and water.] The
hull of an old vessel sunk at the entrance
of a harbor, to break or diminish thefiircc
of the waves, to secure the vessels in har-
bor. Mar. Diet.
2. A small buoy fastened to a large one,
when the rope of the latter is not long
enough to reach the surface of the water.
Mar. Diet.
3. A mole, at the mouth of a harbor, intend-
ed to break the force of the waves.
BREAM, n. [Fr. 6remf ,• Ch. nnn3N, abru-
mah ; Sp. brema.]
A fish, the Cyprinus brama, an inhabitant oi
lakes and deep water, extremely insipid
and little valued. Encyc. fValton.
BREAM, v.t. In sea language, to burn ofl'
the filth, such as grass, sea weed, ooze.
&c., from a sliip's bottom. Mar. Diet.
BREAST, n. brest. [Sax. breast ; Sw. bi-i>st ;
D. borst, the breast, a lad, a notch ; G.
brust, breast, and briisten, to hold up the
head, to look big ; Dan. brost, breast ; also
default, defect, Wemish ; also, bryst,hTeast,
pap ; brysier sig, to strut ; brisler, to burst.
The scii.^e seems to be, a protuberance.]
1. The soft, protuberant body, adhering to
the thorax, which, in females, furnishes
milk for infants.
His breasts are full of ii>ilk. Job xxi. 24.
2. The fore part of the thorax, or the fore
part of the human body between the neck
antl the belly.
3. The part of a beast which answers to the
breast in man. This, in quadrupeds, is
between the fore legs, below the neck.
4. Figuratively, the heart; the conscience ;
the disposition of the mind ; the affections :
the seat of the aftectionsand passions.
Cowley. Dryden.
5. Formerly, the power of singing. Tusser.
BREAST, V. t. brest. To meet in front ; to
oppose breast to breast.
Goldsmith. Dwight.
The court breasted the popular current by
sustaining the demurrer. Wirt.
BREAST' BONE, ?i. [breast und bone.] The
bone of the breast ; the sternum.
Peaeham.
BREAST'-€'ASKET, n. [breast and cask-
et.]
One of the largest and longest of the caskets
or strings on the middle of the yard of a
shii>. Johnson. [I do not find this word ii).
the Mariner^s Dicttonarij.]
BREAST'DEEP, o. Breast high ; as high
as the breast.
BREAST'ED, a. Having a broad breast;
having a fine voice. Fiddes.
BREAST'F'AST, n. [breast and fast.] A
large royje to confine a ship sidewise to a
wharf or key. Mar. Diet.
BREAST'IIIGH, a. [breast smA high.] High
as the breast. Sidney.
BREAST'HQOK, n. [breast and hook.-\ A
thick yjiece of timber placed directly across
the stem of a ship to strengthen the fore
])art and unite the bows on each side.
Mar. Diet.
BREASTING, ppr. Meeting with the
breast ; opposing in front.
BREAST'KNOT, n. [breast and knot.] A
knot of ribins worn on the breast.
Addison.
BREAST'PLATE, n. [breast and plate.]
1. Armor for the breast. Cotrley.
2. A strap that runs across a horse's breast.
Ask.
3. In Jetvish antiquity, a part of the vestment
of the high priest, consisting of a folded
piece of the rich embroidered stuff ol
which the ephod was made. It was set
with twelve precious stones, on which
were engraved the names of the twelve
tribes. Enci/c.
BREAST'PLOW, n. [breast and plow.] A
plow, driven by the breast, used to cut or
|)are tiu'f. Johnson.
BREAST'ROPE, n. [breast and rope.] In
a ship, breast ropes aie used to fasten the
yards to the parrels, and with the parrels,
to hold the yards fast to the mast ; now
called parrel rapes.
B H E
B R E
B R E
nUEAST'-WORK, n. [breast and worl,:] In
fortificfitiov, a work thrown up for dofense ;
a parapet, wliidi sie.
BREATH, n. birlli. [Sax. brcelh, odor, scent
breath ; G. broikm, steam, vapor, breath."
1. Tlie air inhaled and expelled in iho res-
piration of animals.
2. Life.
No man has more contempt than I of breath.
Iky den
■3. Tlie state or power of breathing freely :
opposed to a state of exhaustion from vio-
lent action ; as, I am out of breath ; I am
scan-e in breath. Shak.
4. Respite ; pause ; time to breathe ; as, let
me take breath : give nie some breath.
Shak.
5. Breeze; air in gentle motion.
Calm and unruffled as a summer's sea,
Wlien not a breath of wind flics o'er its sur-
face. Addison .
0. A single respiration ; as, he swears at ev-
ery breath.
7. An instant ; the time of a single respira-
tion ; a single act.
He smiles and he frowns in a breath.
Dry den.
». A word.
A breath can make them, a^ a breath has
made. Goldsmith.
BREATHABLE, a. Tliat may be breathed.
BREATHE, v. i. To respire ; to inspire and
expire air. Hence, to live. Pope. Shnk.
f2. To take breath ; to rest from iiction ; as,
let them have time to breathe.
3. To pass as air.
To whose foul mouth no wholesome air
breathes in. Shak.
BREATHE, v. t. To inhale as air into the
lungs and expel it ; as, to breathe vital air.
Dniden.
% To inject by breathing; to infuse; follow-
ed by into.
And the Lord God breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life. Gen. ii.
3. To eifpire ; to eject by breathing ; follow-
ed by out ; as, to breathe out threatenings
and slaughter. Acts.
4. To exercise ; to keep in breath.
The greyhounds are as swift as breathed stags.
Shak.
.5. To inspire or blow into ; to cause to sound
by breathing ; as, to breathe the flute.
Prior.
C. To exhale ; to emit as breath ; as, the
flowers breathe odors or perfume.
7. To ultei softly or in private; as, to breathe
a vow. Shak.
t-. To give air or vent to ; to open ; as, to
breathe a vein. [W. brathu, to pierce.]
Johnson. Dryden.
!>. To express ; to manifest.
Other articles breathe tlie same severe spirit.
.Milner.
liRE'ATHED, pp. Inhaled and exhaled;
respired ; uttered.
BRE'ATHER, n. One that breathes or
lives ; one that utters ; an inspirer, oi
who animates or infuses by inspiration.
BREATH'FUL, o. breth'ful. "Full of breath :
full of odor. Spenser.
BUE'ATHING, /)pr. Respiring giving ; ut-
tering.
;!. a. Exhibiting to the life ; as breathing
paint. Pope.
BRE'ATHING, n. Respiration; tlio act ofl spread; D. Arocrfeti, to brood ; Ger
inhaling and e.xhaUng air.
Vol. L
2. Aspiration ; secret prayer. Prior.
',i. Breathing-place ; vent. Dryden.\
14. Accent ; aspiration.
BRE'ATHING-PLACE, n. A i)ause. |
'2. A vent.
jBRE'ATIHNG-TIME, n. Pause; relaxa-
tion. Hall.]
BREATH'LESS, a. breth'less. Being out
of breath ; spent with labor or violent ac-
1 tion.
I2. Dead ; as a breathless body. Shak
BREATH'LESSNESS, n. The state of be-
ing exhausted of breath. Hall
BRE€'CIA, n. [It. a breach.] In mineralogy,
an aggregate composed of angular fra^
ments of the same mineral, or of different
minerals, united by a cement, and jnesent-
ing a variety of colors. Sometimes a few
of the fragments are a little roimded. The
varieties are the siliceous, calcarious and
trap breccias. Cleaveland.
When rounded stones and angidar frag-
ments are united by a cement, the aggre-
gate is usually called coarse conglome-
rate.
BREC'CIATED, a. Consisting of angular
fragments, cemented iiii;eil]er.
BRECH'ITE, n. A Io-mI ^,11,. ,1 t<. the Al
cyons. It is c_\ liihliH-.il. -in,.ic(l, and its
thick end conical, inrn-cd wnh holes, and
crested. Fr. Dirt. A''at. Hist.
15RED, pp. of breed. Generated ; produced ;
contrived ; educated.
BREDE, n. A braid. [Mf vsed.] Mdison.
BREECH, n. brich. [See Breach and Break.]
The lower part of the body behind,
2. Breeches ; but rarely used in the singular.
Shak.
3. The hinder part of any thins. Johnson.
BREECH, V. t. To put into breeches.
Johnson.
2. To whip on the breech. JMassinger.
.3. See Britch.
BREECHES, 7t. plu. brich'es. [Sax brae,
brwccee ; D. broek ; Arm. braga, brages ; It,
brace, brachesse or braghesse ; Port. Sp.
bra gas ; Fr. braies; Ir. brog ; Low L.
braccce ; Dan. brog^ breeches, and broged.
of various colors, mixed, variegated; VV,
bryran, a spotted covering, scotch plaid
bryc, variegated with colors. "Sarmatse
totuni braccati corpus." Mela, 2. 1. See
Plin. a 4. Herod. Lib. 7. Strabo, Lib.
15. Ovid. Tri.-^t. 5. 7. Cluv. Germ. Ant
1. 10. Pelloutier, Hist. Celt. 1. 30. The
word seems to be fi-om the root of break,
and to denote, diverse in color, variegated,
like freckled. See Freckle.]
A garment worn by men, covering the hips
and thighs. It is now a close garment
but tlie word formerjy was used for a
loose garment, now called trowsers, laxa:
bracc(E. Ovid.
To wear the breeches is, in the wife, to usurp
the authority of the husband. Johnson
BREECHING, ppr. hrich'ing. Furnishing
with breeches, or with a breech. [See
Britch.]
2. Whi])ping the breech ; and as a noun, a
whipping. Marlow.
BREECHING, in gunnery on board of
ships. [See Britching.]
BREED, V. t. pret. and pp. bred. [Sax. bre-
dan, bradan, to warm, to dilate, to open, to
to brood ; Dan. breder, to spread, dilate,
27
unlijld ; W. brud, warm ; brydiaw, lu
warm, to heat. Class Ku. See broad.]
1. To generate ; to engender; to hatch ; to
produce the young oi" any species of ani-
mals. I think it is never used of plants,
and in animals is always applied to the
mother or dam.
2. To [iroduce within or ujion the body ; as.
to breed teetli ; to breed worms.
3. To cause ; to occasion : to produce ; to
originate.
Intemperance and lust breed infirmities.
Tillotson.
Ambition breeds factions. Anon .
4. To contrive; to hatch; to produce by
plotting.
Had he a heart and a brain to breed it ui ?
Shak.
.5. To give birth to ; to be the native place
of; as, a pond breeds fish ; a northern
country breeds a race of stout men.
(J. To educate ; to instruct ; to form by edu-
cation ; often, but unnecessarily, followed
by lip ; as, to breed a son to an occupation ;
a man bred at a university. To breed up
is vulgar.
7. To bring up ; to inirse and foster ; to take
care of in infancy, and through the age
of youth ; to provide for, train and con-
duct ; to instruct the mind and form the
manners in youth.
To bring thee forth with pain, with care to
breed. Dryden.
BREED, V. i. To jiroduce, as a fetus ; to
bear and nourish, as in pregnancy ; as, a
female breeds with pain.
2. To he formed in the parent or dam ; to
be generated, or to grow, as young before
birth ; as, children or young breed in the
matrix.
3. To have birth; to be produced ; as, fish
breed in rivers.
4. To be increased by a new production.
But could youtli last and love still breed.
Raleigh.
5. To raise a breed ; as, to choose the best
species of swine to breed from.
REED, n. A race or jirogeny from the
same parents or stock.
2. A cast ; a kind ; a race of men or other
animals, which have an alliance by nativi-
ty, or some distinctive qualities in com-
mon ; as a breed of men in a particular coun-
try ; a breed of horses or sheep. Applied
to men, it is not elegant. We use race.
3. Progeny ; offspring ; applied to other
;hings than animals. Shak.
4. A number produced at once ; a hatch ;
a brood ; but for this, brood is generally
used. Grew.
BREED-BATE, n. One that breeds or
originates quarrels. [.Vo? in use.] Shak.
BREE'DER, n. The female that breeds or
produces, whether human or other ani-
mal.
2. The person who educates or brings up ;
that which brings up.
Italy and Rome have been the best breeders
of worthy men. Aseham.
3. That which produces.
Tune is the nurse and breeder of all good.
Shak.
4. One who raises a breed ; one who takes
care to raise a particular breed, or breeds,
as of horses or cattle. Temple.
BREEDING, ppr. Bearing and nourishing,
B R E
B R E
B R E
as a fetus ; engendering ; producing ; edu-
cating.
l^REE'DING, 71. The act of generating or
of producing.
'J. Tlie raising of a breed or breeds; as, the
farmer attends to the breeding of slieep.
:!. Niature ; education ; instruction ; forma-
tion of manners.
She had her breeding at my father's charge.
Shak.
1. By ivciy of eminence, manners; knowl-
edge of ceremony ; deportment or behav-
ior in the external offices and decorums
of social life. Hence good breeding is po-
liteness, or the qualifications which con-
stitute genteel deportment. Encyc.
BREEZE, )i. [Sax. briosa, from its sound,
resembling a breeze.]
\ genus of flies or insects, technically called
Tabanus. There are many species, but
the most noted is the bovinus, great horse
fly, whose mouth is armed with two hooks
wliich penetrate the skin of an animal
while with a proboscis, like a sting, ii
sucks the blood.
BREEZE, n. [It. brezza, a cold, windy mist
Sp. brisa, a breeze ; Sw. brusa, to be fervid,
to boil, to murmur ; Dan. bruser, to rush,
roar or foam, to rise in waves ; bruusen,
tlie rustling of the wind, a humming
buzzing, fermentation. In French s
language, biise, a breeze ; Gr. |3pai^u, and
(Spoffiju, to boil ; Fr. brasser, to brew ; W.
brys hasty, from rkys, a rushing. These
words seem all to have a common root.
See Rush.]
1. A light wind ; a gentle gale.
From land a sentle breeze arose at nioht.
Drydi
•?. A shifting wind, that blows from the s
or from the land, for a certain time, by
night or by day. Such breezes are com
mon in the tropical regions, and in a good
degree regular. The wind from the
is called a sea breeze, and that from the
land, a land breeze. In general, the sea
breeze blows in the day time, and the land
breeze at night. The like breezes are
common, in the sunnner months, in the
temperate latitudes.
BREEZE, V. i. To blow gently ; a ivord
common among seamen.
For now the breathing airs, from ocean born
Breeze up the bay, and lead the lively morn
Barlow
BREE'ZELESS, o. Motionless; destitute
of breezes. Shenstone
BREE'ZY, a. Fanned with gentle winds or
breezes ; as the breezy shore. Pope.
^. Subject to frequent breezes. Gray
BRE'HON, n. In Irish, a judge. In an-
cient times, the general laws of Ireland
were called Brelion laws, unwritten like
the common law of England. These law?
were abolished by statute of Edward III
Encyc. Blackslone
BRE'ISLAKITE, n. A newly discovered
Vesuvian mineral, resembling a brownisl
or reddish brown down, which lines the
small bubbles found in the lava of Scalla,
and is found in cavities of the lava of Oleba-
no ; named from Breislak, a celebrated
Italian naturalist. Journal of Science,
BRKME, o. [Snx. bremman, to murmur, t
fret ; L. fnmo.] Cruel ; sharp. [JVo< used.
Chaucer.
BREN, I', t. [Sax. brennan, to burn.] To
- irn. Obs. Spenser.
BREN'NAGE, j?. [from bran.] In the mid-
dle ages, a tribute or composition which
tenants paid to their lord, in lieu of bran
which they were obUged to furnish for his
hounds. Encyc.
BRENT or BRANT, a. [W. bryii, a hill.]
Steep ; high. Obs. Ascham.
BRENT, n. A brant, or brand-goose, a fowl
with a black neck and a white collar or
line round it. [See Brnnl.]
3. Burnt. [See Bren. Obs.] Spenser.
BREST or BREAST, n. In architecture, the
member of a column, more usually called
torus or tore. [See Torus.] Encyc.
BREST'-SUMMER, n. In architecture, a
piece in the outward part of a vvoodei
building, into which the girders are fra
med. This, in the ground floor, is called
a sill, and in the garret floor, a beam. Encyc.
BRET, n. A local name of the turhot, called
also burt or brut.
BRET'FUL, a. Brimful. Obs. Chaucer
BRETH'iiEN, n. plu. of brother. It is used
almost exclusively in solemn and script-
ural language, in the place of brothers.
[See Brother.]
BREVE, n. [h. breve; L. brei-is; Sp.irere;
Fr. bref short. See Brief]
1. In music, a note or character of time,
equivalent to two semibreves or four min
ims. When dotted, it is equal to three
semibreves.
3. In law, a writ directed to the chancellor,
judges, sherifls or other oflicers, whereby
a person is summoned, or attached, to an-
swer in the king's court. Encyc.
This word, in the latter sense, is more gen
erallv written brief.
BREVET', n. [from breve.] In the French
customs, the grant of a favor or donation
from the king, or the warrant evidencing
the grant ; a \\ srrant ; a brief, or commis-
sion. 3Iore particularly, a commission
given to a subaltern oflicer, written on
parchment, without seal. Encyi
9. A commission to an oflicer which entitles
I him to a rank in the army above his pay.
Thus a brevet major serves as a captain
and receives pay as such. Such c
missions were given to the officers of the
American Army at the close of the war,
giving them a grade of rank above that
which they had held during service.
Eniyc. Marshall's Life of Wash
BRE'VIARV, n. [Fr. breviaire ; L. hrevia-
rium, from brevis, short. See Brief]
1. An abridgment ; a compeud ; an epit-
ome. '^yHfe-
2. A book containing the daily service of thi
Romish church. It is composed of matins,
lauds, first, third, sixth and ninth vespers,
and the compline or post communio. The
Greeks alao liave a breviary. Encyc.
BRE'VIAT, n. [See Breve and Brief] A
short compend ; a sunnnary.
Decay of Piety.
BRE'VIATE, v.t. To abridge. [JVot used.]
[See ./Ihbreriate.]
BRE'VIATURE, n. An abbreviation. [See
Brief] Johr
BREVIE'R, n. [Fr. breviaire; so called,
says Johnson, from being originally used
in printing a breviary.]
A small kind of printing types, in size be
tween bourgeois and minion. It is miicfi
used in printing marginal notes.
BREV'IPED, a. [L. brevis, short, and pes,
foot.] Having short legs, as a fowl.
BREV'IPED, n. A fowl having short legs.
BREVITY, n. [L. brevitas, from brevis,
short. See Brief]
1. Shortness; applied to time; as the brevity
of human life.
9. Shortness ; conciseness ; contraction into
few words ; applied to discourses or wri-
tings. Dryden.
BREW, V. t. [Sax. hriwan, to brew ; briu;
broth ; D. brouwen, to brew, to contrive,
to mix ; G. brauen. These seem to be
contractions of the Gothic ; Sw. briggia :
Dan. brygger, to brew. The Russ. has
burchu. Tlie Welch has brwc, a boiling,
stir, tumult, from rhwc, something rough ,-
and it has also benvi, to boil, or bubble,
whence berwezu, to brew, from bar, fury,
imjmlse. Our word brew seems to be di-
rectly from the Saxon. The sense is, to
stir, boil, or agitate with violence.]
1. In ageneral sense, to boil, and mix ; hence
in Saxon, it signifies broth or pottage :
Old Eng. brewis.
2. In a more restricted sense, to make beer,
ale or other similar liquor from malt ; or
to pi-epare a liquor from malt and hops,
and in private families, from other mate-
rials, by steeping, boiling and fermenta-
tion.
•3. To mingle.
Brew rae a pottle of sack. Shak.
4. To contrive ; to plot ; as, to fcrfiu mis-
chief.
5. To put in a state of preparation. Qu.
BREW, V. i. To be in a state of prepara-
tion ; to be mixing, forming or collecting ;
as, a storm brews in the west. In this sense
I do not recollect the use of the verb, in a
transitive sense, and generally the partici-
ple only is used ; as, a storm is breunng.
2. To perform the business of brewing or
making beer ; as, she can breiv, wash and
bake.
BREW, n. The mixture formed by brewing ;
that which is brewed. Bacon.
BREW'AgE, n. Malt liquor ; drink brewed.
Shak.
BREWED, pp. Blixed, steeped and fermen-
ted ; made by brewing.
BREW'ER, n. One whose occupation is to
prepare malt liquors ; one who brews.
BREWERY, w. A brew-house ; the house
and apparatus where brewing is carried
on.
BREW-HOUSE, n. [brew and house.] A
brewery ; a house appropriated to brew-
ing.
BREWING, ppr. Preparing malt liqUor.
2. In a state of mixing, forming or prepar-
ing; as, a storm is breunng. Pujn .
3. Contriving; preparing; as, a schcnic ii
brewing. ft'otton.
BREW'ING, n. The act or process of pre-
paring liquors from malt and hops.
2. The quantity brewed at once. Bacon.
Vi. Among seamen, a collection of black
I clouds ijortending a storm. Mar. Did.
BREWIS, n. Broth ; pottage. 06s.
2. A piece of bread soaked in boiling fat
pottage, made of salted meat.
I Bailey. Johnson.
BR I
BRIAR, [See Brier.]
BRIBE, n. [Ir. brtab. In Pers. ^^ij parah,
is a bribe, a half, piece, bit, segment, a
morsel. F*. bnbe, a piece of bread.]
1. A price, reward, gift or favor bestowed or
promised with a view to pervert the judg-
ment, or corrupt the conduct of a judge,
witness or other person. A bribe is a
consideration given or promised to a per-
son, to induce liim to decide a cause, give
testimony, or perform some act contrary
to what he knows to be trutli, justice or
rectitude. It is not used in a good sense,
unless in fainihur language.
2. That which seduces.
Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce
to leave these ever blooming sweets. Alcenside.
BRIBE, V. t. To give or promise a rewaid
or consideration, with a view to pervert
the judgment, or corrupt the conduct. To
hire for bad purposes ; to purchase the de-
cision of a judge, the testimony of a wit
ness, or the performance of some act con-
trary to known truth, justice or rectitude.
9. To gain by a bribe.
Xn familiar language, it is sometimes used in
a good sense ; as, to bribe a child to take a
medicine. Dryden has used the word in
a good sense, in solemn language ; but
such use is rare, and hardly legitimate.
BRIBE-DEVOUR'ING,o. Greedy of bribes
or presents ; as bribe-devouring kings.
Mitford.
BRl'BER, n. One who bribes, or pays for
corrupt practices. South
BRI'BERY, n. The act or practice of giv-
ing or taking rewards for corrupt practi-
ces ; the act of paying or receiving a re-
ward for a false judgment, or testimony,
or for the performance of that which
known to be illegal, or unjust. It is a
plied both to him who gives, and to him
wlio receives the compensation, but ap-
propriately to the giver.
BR I BE- WORTHY, a. [bribe and worthy.'
Worth bribing to obtain. Mason.
BRICK, n. [_Fr. biique, a brick, and a little
loaf; Ir. bnce, or brike ; Arm. brigen ; sup-
posed to be a contraction of L. imbrex, t
giitter-tile, from imber, a shower, which is
probably a compound, of which the last
syllable is from ^fiX'^, whence It. imbria-
carsi, to get drunk. See Ebriety.]
A mass of earth, chiefly clay, first moistened
and made fine by grinding or treading, then
formed into a long square in a mold, dried
and baked or burnt in a kiln ; used in build-
ings and walls.
2. A loaf shaped like a brick.
BRICK, II. t. To lay or pave with bricks.
Swift.
2. To imitate or counterfeit a brick wall on
plaster, by smeaiing it with red ocher and
making the joints with an edge-tool, filling
ihem with fine plaster. Encyc.
BRICK'BAT, n. [brick and bat.] A piece
or fragment of a brick. Bacon.
BRICK-BUILT, o. Built with bricks.
Dniden.
BRICK'CLAV, 7!. [bAck and day.] Clay
used or suitable for making bricks.
IVoodward.
BRICK DUST, n. [brick and dust.} Dust
of pounded bricks. Spectator.
B R 1
BRICK'EARTH, n. [bHck a.aA earth.] Clayj
or earth used, or suitable for bricks.
BRICK'KILN, n. [bAck and kiln.] A kiln,|
or furnace, in which bricks are baked or
burnt, or a pile of bricks, laid loose, vvitli
arches underneath to receive the wood or
fuel.
BRICK'LAYER, n. [brick and lay.] One
whose occupation is to build with bricks ;
a mason.
BRICKLE, a. [from break.] Brittle ; easi-
ly broken. [JVot used.] Spenser.
BRICK'MAKER, n. [brick and make.] One
who makes bricks, or whose occupation
is to make bricks.
BRICK'WORK, n. The laying of bricks,
a wall of bricks.
BRICK'Y, a. Full of bricks, or formed of
bricks. Spenser.
BRI'DAL, o. [See Bride.] Belonging to a
bride, or to a wedding ; nuptial ; connubi-
al ; as bridal ornameiits.
Milton. Pope.
BRI'DAL, n. The nuptial festival. Dryden.
BRIDAL'ITY, n. Celebration of the nuptial
feast. [JVol iised.] Jonson.
BRIDE, n. [Sax.bryd; Sw. brud ; D. bruid ;
Ger. braut; Dan. brud; Aim. /"■'/'</, jiritd
W. priod-verch, priodns-\ II i\\. ;i lunlc ; !i
brideog ; W.priodi o vci-(-li, in l^r m.Mrn-il
Ar. prietaat, to marry; r,.rn. I.riun-jiriut
a bride-; W. priod-vah, a bride-mab, bride
goom ; Arm. pridolidh, wedlock. It seems,
by the Celtic dialects, that bride is prima
rily an adjective used with the name ofl
maid or woman, as bridegoom is the same
word with the name of a man. In V\^
priawd, the root of priodas, signifies ap
jiropriate, proper, fit ; priodi, to render
appropriate, to espouse, to marry.]
1. A woman new married. Johnson
But the name is applied to a woman a:
the marriage festival, before she is mar-
ried, as wetl as after the ceremony.
3. A woman espoused, or contracted to bt
married. The case of Lewellyn, prince of
Wales. Henrifs Hist, of Britain, B. iv. oh,
sect. 2. [This is the true original sense of
the ivord.]
BRl'DEBED, n. [bride and bed.] The mar-
riage bed. Prior.
BRI'DE€AKE, n. [bride and cake.] The
cake which is made for the guests at a
wedding; called, in the U. States, wed-
ding cake.
BRl DECHAMBER, n. The nuptial apart-
ment. Malt. \x.
BRIDEGOOM, n. [Sax. brydguma; Sw.
brudgumme ; D. bruidegom ; Ger. brduti-
gam ; Dan. brudgoni ; a comjiound of bride,
and gum, guma, a man, which, by our an-
cestors, was pronoimced g-oom. This
word, by a mispronouncing of the last
syllable, has been corrupted into bride
groom, which signifies a bride's hostler
groom being a Persian word, signifiying i
man who has the care of horses. Such e
gross corruption or blunder ought not to
remain a reproach to philology-.]
A man newly married ; or a man about
be married. The passage of Shakspeare
cited by Johnson proves that the last defi
nition is just.
As are those dulcet sounds in break of day,
Tliat creep into the dreaming bridegroom's ear,
And summon him to marriage.
B R 1
BRIDEGROOM, n. [See Bridegoom.]
BRI'DEIMAID, n. [bride and maid.] A wot
niauwlm attends on a bride at her wedding.
Bl!rDi;.M\\, ?i. [tj-iVc and jn</?i.] A man
wliii ailriids uj)on a bridegoom and bride-
at llicir iimrriage. I have generally heard
these uordfi pronounced bride's man and
bridv's mulil.
BRIDl'.STAKE, n. A stake or post set in
the ground to dance round. B. Jonson.
BRl DEWELL, n. A house of correction,
for the confinement of disorderly persons ;
so called from the palace built near St.
Bride's or Bridget's well, in London, which
was turned into a workhouse. Johnson.
BRIDGE, n. [Sax. brie, bricg, brigg, or bryc.
hrycg ; Dan. broe ; S w. bryggia, bro; D. brug ;
Ger. briicke ; Prus. brigge.]
1. Any structure of wood, stone, brick, or
iron, raised over a river, pond, or lake, for
the |)assage of men and other animals.
Among rude nations, bridges are some-
times formed of other materials ; and
sometimes they are formed of boats, or
logs of wood lying on the water, fastened
together, covered with planks, and called
floating bridges. A bridge over a niarsk
is made of logs or other materials laid up-
on the surface of the earth.
/'( mil III in- hanging bridges are not sup-
|)orteil by posts, but by the peculiar struc-
ture of the frame, resting only on the
abutments.
A draio bridge is one which is made with
hinges, and may be raised or opened.
Such bridges are constructed in fortifica-
tions, to hinder the passage of a ditch or
moat ; and over rivers, that the passage
of vessels need not be interrupted.
A flying bridge is made of pontoons, light
boats, hollow beams, empty casks or tlie
like. They are made, as occasion requires,
for the passage of armies.
A flying bridge is also constructed in such
a manner as to move from one side of a
river to the other, being made fast in the
middle of the river by a cable and an an-
chor. Encyc.
2. The upper part of the nose. Johnson.
3. The part of a stringed instrument of mu-
sic, over which the strings are stretched,
and by which they are raised.
4. In gunnery, the two pieces of timber
which go between the two transums of a
gun-carriage. Encyc.
BRID6E, v.^ To build a bridge or bridges
over ; as, to bridge a river.
2. To erect bridges on ; to make a passage
by a bridge or bridges. Milton.
BRIDGED, pp. Covered or furnished with
a bridge.
BRIDG'lNG, ppr. Erecting a bridge ; build-
ing a bridge over.
BRIDg'Y, a. FuU of bridges. [Xot ttsed.]
Sherwood.
BRIDLE, n. [Sax. bridl, or bridet ; Fr.
bride ; Arm. brid ; D. breidel, a bridle ; Sp.
brida, the reins of a bridle ; Port, brida.]
1. The instrument with which a horse is
governed and restrained by a rider ; con-
sisting of a head-stall, a bit, and reins, with
other appenda'ges, according to its parti-
cular form and uses.
2. A restraint ; a curb ; a check. Watts.
3. A short piece of cable well served, at-
tached to a sw^ivel on a chain, laid in a
B R 1
hailjor, ;iir1 Ujc iippci' end drawn into a
,-liip and secured to the bitts. The use is
to iiiahle a ship, when moored, to veer
witli the wind and tide. Mar. Did.
ISowlinc bridles are short legs or pieces of
rope, ruiuiing through iron thimbles, by
wliich the bowline attaches to different
places on the leech or edge of a large sail,
Mar. Diet
liRl'DLE, V. t. To put on a bridle ; as, to
bridle a horse.
'}. To restrain, guide or govern ; to check
curb or control ; as, to bridle the passions;
" to bridle a muso." Pope.
Bridh- the excvirsions of youth. Dwight.
r.RIDLE, V. i. To hold up the Lead, and
ihaw in the rliiii.
1;RI'DLED, pp. Having a bridle on; re-
strained.
I'.RI'DLE-HAND, n. [bridle and hand.] The
liand which holds the bridle in riding.
Sidney.
BRI'DLER, n. One that bridles; one that
restrains and governs. Milton.
IJRI'DLING, ppr. Putting on a bridle ; re
straining ; curbing.
:l. Holding up the head, and drawing in the
chin.
Tlie bridling frown of wiinklcd brows.
Tnimbull.
BRIEF, a. [Fr. bref; It. Sp. Port, breve; L.
brevis, whence brevio, to sliorten, abbre-
viate. Brevis, in Latin, is doubtless con-
tracted from the Gr. iifazvs, whence to
abridge. The Greek word coincides in
elements with break.]
Short ; concise ; it is used chiefly of lan-
guage, discourses, writings and time ; as
a bnef space, a brief review of a book.
Shakspeare applies it to wars, to na-
ture, &c. A little brief authority, is aii-
ihoritv very limited.
BRIEFJ»?. [in tliis sense the word has been
received into most of the languages of
Europe.]
1. An epitome; a short or concise writing.
This is the general sense of the word,
explained by Zonaras on the council of
Carthage. It was thus used as early
the third century after Christ. Spelman.
In modern tiriies, an apostolical brief is a
letter which the pope dispatches to a prince
or other magistrate, relating to public af-
fairs. A brief is distinguished from a bull,
in being more concise, written on paper,
sealed with red wax, and impressed with
the seal of the fisherman or Peter in a
boat. A bull is more ample, written
parchment, and sealed with lead or green
wax. Encyc.
i. In law, an abridgment of a client's case,
made out for the instruction of council on
a trial at law. Encyc. Johnson
Also, a writ summoning a man to an
swer to any action ; or any precept of the
king in writing, issuing from any court
whereby he commands a thing to be done
Cowel.
In Scots law, a writ issuing from the
chancery, directed to any judge ordinary,
commanding and authorizing that judge
to call a jury to inquire into the case, and
uijon their verdict to pronounce sentence.
Encyc,
3. A letter patent, from proiier authority,
authorizing a public collection or charita
B R I
ble contribution of money for any public
or private purpose.
JVetv- England.
A writing in general. Slutk.
In music, the word, if I mistake not, is
now written breve.
BRIE'FLY, adv. Concisely ; in few word;
Baco)
BRIE'FNESS, n. Shortness ;
discourse or writing. Camden.
BRI'ER, n. [Sax. brwr ; Ir. bi-iar, a prickle;
Fr. bniyere, heath ; Arm. brug. The latter
shows this word to be from the root of
rough.]
In a general sense, a prickly plant or
shrub. Is. V. (i. Judges viii. 7.
2. In a limited sense, the sweet-brier and
the wild-brier, species of the rose.
BRI'ER Y, a. Full of briers ; rough ; thorny.
Johnso7i.
BRIG, the termination of names, signifies a
briilge, or perhaps, 'in some cases, a town,
or burg.
BRIG, n. [from brigantine.] A vessel with
two masts, square rigged, or rigged nearly
like a shijj's mainmast and foremast. Tin
term however is variously appUed by
the mariners of different nations.
Mar. Did.
BRIG.A'DE, n. [Fr. brigade ; It. brigata
). anil Port, brigada; perhaps from Ar.
jij »i farikon, agmen, turba hominum
major, that is, a division, from
faraka, to break. This word comes to us
from the south of Europe, and may hav
been introduced into Spain by the Moors.
If this conjecture is not well founded, I
know not the origin of the word. Sec
Cast. Hept. Col. 3084.]
A party or division of troops, or soldiers,
whether cavalry or infantry, regular or
militia, commanded by a brigadier. It
consists of an indeterminate number of
regiments, squadrons, or battalions,
brigade of horse is a body of eight or ten
squadrotis ; of infantry, four, five, or six
battalions, or regiments.
BRIGA'DE, V. t. To form into a brigade, or
into brigades.
BRIGA'DE- MA.IOR, n. [See JV/aJor.] An
officer appointed by the brigadier, to assist
him in the management and ordering of
his brigade.
BRIGADIE'R, n. [¥r. from brigade.'] The
general officer who commands a brigade,
whether of horse or foot, and in rank
next lielow a major-ffeneral.
BRIG'AND, n. [Fr. brigand ; W. brigant, a
mountaineer, a plunderer, from W. brig.
a top or summit.]
A robber ; a fi-ee hooter ; a lawless fellow
who lives by plunder, or who belongs to a
band of robbers. iVarlurton.
BRIG'ANDAGE, n. Theft ; robbery ; phm
der. Warburlon
BRIG'ANDINE, n. [Qu. the origin of this
word. In Pers. praghe is a helmet."
Anciently, a coat of mail. The name has
ceased to be used, with the disuse of the
thing. It consisted of thin jointed scale
of plate, pliant and easy to the body.
Encyc.
B R I
BRIG'ANTINE, n. [Fr. brigantin ; Am,,
bringantine ; It. briganlino ; Sp. bergan-
tin ; Port, bargantim ; D. berkanlyn. Uu.
from L. aphradum, Gr. o^poxToj, a \ essel
without a deck, uncovered. It is usually
derived from brigand.] fSeS Brig.]
BRIGHT, a. brUe. [Sax. biorht, briht, byrhl,
or bryht, clear, shining, whence beorhtnes,
brightness, beorhtian, Goth, bairtiyan, to
shine or be clear, or to manifest ; Ar. Ch.
Heb. Syr. Eth. pn3 to shine, or more
probably, Eth. flCU bareah,to shine,as
the Eth. participle 'fl C 9 "1" berht or
bereht, corresponds exactly with the Sax-
on. I have not found this word in any
other Teutonic or Gothic language, and
the original verb is lost in the Saxon. In
Saxon, beorhthieile, or brihthwile, signifies a
moment, the twinkling of an eye. This
directs us to the primary sense of the verb
to shine, which is, to shoot, to dart, to
glance. That this is the primary sense,
we have evidence from the Sax. bryhtm,
which is a derivative from bryht, and which
signifies a moment, that is, the time of a
shoot, or darting, like glance.}
1. Shining; lucid ; luminous ; splendid; as a
bright Sim or star ; a bright metal.
9. Clear ; transparent ; as liquors.
Thomson.
3. Evident ; clear ; manifest to the mind, as
hglit is to the eyes.
Tlie evidence of this truth is bright. Watts.
Res])lendent with charms ; as a bright
beauty ; the brightest fair. Pope.
Illuminated with science ; sparkling with
wit ; as the brightest of men. Pope.
C. Illustrious; glorious; as the brightest pe-
riod of a kingdom. Cotton.
7. In popular language, ingenious ; possess- ,
ing an active mind.
8. Promising good or success ; as bright
prospects.
9. Sparkling ; animated ; as bright eves.
BRIGHT-BURNING, a. Burning" with a
bright fiame.
BRIGHTEN, v. t. briln. To make bright or
brighter ; to make to shine ; to increase
luster.
2. To make luminous by light firom with-
out, orby dispelhnggloom; as, to brighten
sorrow or prospects. Philips.
3. To cheer; to make gay or cheerful,
.foy brightens his crest. Milton.
4. To make illustrious, or more distinguish-
ed ; as, to brighten a character. Swift.
5. To make acute or witty. Johnson.
BRIGHTEN, v. i. britiK To grow bright,
or more bright ; to clear up ; as, the sky
brightens.
2. To become less dark or gloomy ; as, our
(irospects brighten.
BRIGHT-EYED, a. Having bright eyes.
Gray.
BRIGHT-HAIRED, a. Having bright hair.
Milton.
BRIGHT-HARNESSED, a. Having glh-
tering armor. Milton.
lARlGinhY, adv. britely. Splendidly; with
luster.
BRIGHTNESS, n. brilencss. Splendor ;
luster ; glitter. South.
2. Acuteness, appUed to the faculties; sharp-
ness of wit ; as the brightness of a mai.'f;
parts. Prim\
B R I
B R I
B R I
URFGIIT-SHINING, a. Sliining with sploii-
(liir. Spenser.
BRIGO'SE, a. [from brigue.] Contentious.
[j\ot used.] Puller.
IJRiGUE, 71. breeg. {Fr. brigue; Sp. brega
It. briga, strife, rlipquiet ; Ir. brtaghean, to
debate, to quarrel.]
A cabal ; intrigue ; faction ; contention. [lAl-
tle used.] Chaucer. Chesterfield.
BRlGUE, I', i. breeg. To canvass ; to solicit.
[LilUe used.] Hurd.
BKILL'IANCY, n. [See Brilliant.] Splen-
dor ; glitter ; great brightness.
BRILL'IANT, o. [Fr. brillant, sparkling,
from brillcr, to shine or sparkle ; It. brit-
lanle, sparkling ; brUlo, joy, gladness, also
tipspy ; Sp. brillar, to glitter ; brillador,
briljiiiiit ; brillo, splendor ; Ger. and Dan.
britle, n pair of si)ectacles ; hence Eng.
ben/l and pearl.]
1. Sparkling with luster ; glittering ; as a
hrUliant gem ; a brilliant dress.
2. Splendid ; shining ; as a brilliant achieve-
ment.
Washington was more solicitous to avoid fatal
mistakes, than to perform brilliant exploits.
JImes.
BRILL'IANT, n. A diamond of tlic finest
cut, formed into angles, so as to refract the
light, by which it is rendered more glit-
tering. Dryden. Enajc.
2. In the manege, a brisk, high-spirited horse,
with a stately carriage. Encyr.
BRILL'IANTLY, adv. Splendidly.
If'arton.
BRILL'IANTNESS, n. Brilliancy ; splen-
dor^ glitter. Johnson.
BRILLS, n. The hair on the eyelids of a
horse.
BRIM, n. [Sa.\. brymm ; Sw. bram ; Dan.
bramme ; probably the extent or extreme.]
I. The rim, lip or broad border of any vessel
or other thing ; as the brim of a hat, or of
a ves.sel.
■.'. The upper edge of a vessel, whether
broad or not ; as the brim of a cup or
glass.
3. The top of any liquor ; the edge or that
next the border at the top.
The feet of the priests were clipped in the
brim of the water. Josh. Hi.
4. The edge or brink of a fountain ; the
verge. Drayton.
BRIM, a. [Sax. bn/me.] Pid)lic ; well known
celebrated, [^i'ot in use.] Warnet
BRIM, D. t. To fill to the brim, upper edge,
or top. Milton.
BRIM, V. i. To bo full to the brim.
Philips.
BRIM'FUL, a. [brim and fidl.^ Full to the
top ; completely full ; as a glass brimful ;
a heart brimful of tears.
BRIM'FULNESS, n. Fulness to the top.
[.Vo< used.] S7icwt,
BRIM'LESS, a. Having no brim.
1 BRIM'MER, n. A bowl full to the top.
I Dn,d,
' BRIM'MING, a. Full to the top or brim ;
as a brimming pail. Drydi
BRIM'STONE, n. [Sax. bn/ne, combustic
and stone, bum-stone, or burning stone. See
Brand and Burn.]
Sulphur ; a hard, brittle, imflammable sub-
stance, of a lemon yellow color, which has
«o smell, unless heated, and which be
comes negatively electric by heat and
friction, ft is found, in great quantities,
and sometimes pure, in the neighborhood
of volcanoes. It is an ingredient in a va-
riety of minerals and ores. The sulphur
of commerce is procured fi-om its natural
beds, or artificially extracted from pyrites.
Hooper. JVicholson.
BRIM'STONY, a. Full of brimstone, or
-Hnitaining it ; rcserabhng brimstone ; sul-
jihuroiis.
BRIND'ED, a. [It. ftrinato, spotted.] Mark-
d with spots ; tabby ; having different
olors. Milton.
BRIN'DLE, n. [from brind, the root of
brinded.]
The state of being brinded ; spottedness.
Richardson.
BRIX'DLED, a. Spotted ; variegated with
pots of dilferent colors. Addison.
BRINE, n. [Sax. bryne, brine, and a burning,
froin brennan, to burn.]
1. Water saturated or strongly impregnated
with salt, like the water of the ocean. Ar-
tificial brine is used for the preservation of
the flesh of animals, fish, vegetables, &.c.
2. The ocean or sea. Milton.
3. Tears, so called from their saltness.
Shak.
Leach brine is brine which drops from corned
salt in drying, which is preserved to be
boiled again. Eneyc.
BRINE, V. t. To steep in brine, a.s corn to
prevent snmt ; also, to mix salt with, as to
brine hay. Enctjc.
BRI'NE-PAN, n. [brine and pati.] A pit'of
salt water, where, by the action of the
sun, salt is formed by crystalization.
BRI'NE-PIT, n. [brine and pit.] A brine-
pan, or a salt spring from which water is
taken to be boiled or evaporated for ma-
king salt. Encyc.
BRI'NE-SPRING, n. [brine and spring.] A
spring of salt water. Encyc.
BRING, V. f. pret. and pp. brought. [Sax.
bringan ; Sw. bringa ; Dan. bringer ; D.
brengen; G.bringen; Goth, briggan. VVe
see by brought, D. bragt, and the Gothic
briggan, that n is not radical.]
1. To fetch ; to bear, convey or lead from a
distant to a nearer place, or to a person ;
as, bring me a book from the shelf; bring
me a morsel of bread. In this sense, it is
opposed to carry, and it is applied to the
person bearing or leading, in opposition to
sending or transmitting by another.
2. To produce ; to procure as a cause ; to
draw to.
Nothing brings a man more honor than to be
invariably just.
3. To attract or draw along.
In distillation the water brings over wiUi it
another substance.
4. To cause to come ; to cause to proceed
fi"Otn a distant place, in company, or at the
same time ; as, to bring a boat over a river ;
to bring a horse or carriage ; to bring a
cargo of dry goods.
5. To cause to come to a point, by moral
influence; used of the mind, and implying
previous remoteness, aversion, alienation,
or disagreement ; as, to firing- the mind to
assent to a proposition ; or to bring a man
to terms, by persuasion or argument. In
this sense, "it is nearly equivalent to per-
suade, prevail upon, or induce. The same
process is effected by custom, and other
causes. Habit brings us to relish things
at first disagreeable; reflection brings a
man to his senses, and whether the pro-
cess is slow or rapid, the sense of the verb
is the same. To bring to the mind any
thing before and forgotten, is to recall ;
but the sense of bring is the same.
The primary sense is to lead, draw or cause
to come ; the sense of conveying or bearing
is secondary.
The use' of this verb is so extensive, and in-
corporated into so many peculiar phrases,
that it is not easy to reduce its significa-
tions within any precise limits. In gen-
eral, the verb bnng implies motion from a
place remote, either in a literal or figura
tive sense. It is used with various modi
fyiiig words.
To bring back is to recall, implying previous
departure, either in a literal or figurative
sense.
To bring about, to bring to pass ; to effect ;
to accomplish ; to Iiring to the desired
issue.
To bring forth is to produce, as young or
fruit ; also, to brin^ to light ; that is, to
make manifest ; to disclose.
To bring forward, to cause to advance ; to
produce to view.
To bring in, to import ; to introduce ; to bear
fi-om a remote place within a certain pre-
cinct ; to place in a particular condition ;
to collect things dispersed ; to reduce
within the limits of law and government ;
to produce, as income, rent or revenue ; to
induce to join ; &c.
To bring off, to bear or convey fi-om a dis-
tant place, as to bring off men from an
isle ; also, to procure to be acquitted ; to
clear from condemnation ; to cause to es-
cape.
To bring on, to cause to begin, as to bting
on an action ; also, to originate or cause to
exist, as to bring on a disease ; also, to
bear or convey from a distance, as to
bring on a quantity of goods; also, to at-
tend, or to aid in advancing, as to bring
one on his way.
To bring over, to bear across, as to bring
over dispatches, to bring over passengers
iii a boat ; also, to convert by persuasion
or other means ; to draw to a new party ;
to cause to change sides, or an opinion.
To bring out, to expose ; to detect ; to bring
to light from conceabnent ; as, to bring out
an accomplice or his crimes.
To bring under, to subdue ; to repress ; to
restrain ; to reduce to obedience : also, to
bring beneath any thing.
To bring up, to nurse ; to educate ; to iu-
.struct ; to feed and clothe ; to form the
manners, and furnish the miiid with
knowledge. The ])hrase may compre-
hend all these pai-ticulars. Also, to intro-
duce to practice, as to bring up a fashion
or ceremony ; also, to cause to advance
near, as to bring up forces, or the body of
reserve : also, to bear or convey upwards.
In navigation, to cast anchor.
To bring doum, to cati.se to come down ;
also, to humble or abase, as to bring down
high looks.
To bring to, in navigation, to check the course
of a ship, by arranging the sails in such a
manner, that they shall counteract feach
B R I
B R O
B R O
oilier, and keep her nearly stationary.
She is then said to lie to. The phrase is
rised also in applying a rope to the cap-
stan.
To bring by the lee, to incline so rapidly to
leeward of the course, when a ship sails
large, as to bring the lee side suddenly to
the windward, and by laying the sails
aback, expose her to the danger of over-
setting. Mar. Did.
iJRING'ER, n. One who brings, or con-
veys to.
Bringer in, the person who uUroduces.
Bnnger up, an instructor ; one who feeds,
clothes, and educates ; also, one who is in
the rear of an army. Ascham.
BRING'ING, p/)r. Bearing to; conveying;
persuading ; causing to come.
BKING'ING FORTH, n. Production.
Shak.
BRI'NISH, a. [from hnne.'] Like brine ;
salt ; somewhat salt ; saltish.
BRI'NISHNESS, n. Saltness ; the quality
of being saltish.
BRINK, n. [Dan. Sw. brink ; W. bryncyn ;
Ir. breach, bruach ; from break.]
The edge, margin or border of a steep ])lace,
as of a precipice, or the bank of a river.
BRI'NY, a. [from brine.] Pertaining to
brine, or to the sea ; partaking of the na-
ture of brine ; salt ; as a briny taste ; the
briny flood. Dryden. Addison.
BRISK, a. [This word may be of tlie same
family with frisk, and fresh, which see.
W. brysg, from brys, quick ; brysiaw, to
hasten, coinciding with press ; from W.
rhys, a rushing. See Rush.]
1. Lively; active; nimble ; gay; sprightly;
vivacious ; applied to animals ; as a brisk
young man ; a biisk horse.
2. Full of spirit or life ; effervescing, as
liquors ; as brisk cyder.
3. Lively ; burning freely ; as a brisk fire.
4. Vivid ; bright ; as, a glass makes an ob-
ject appear SrisA:. [JVot used.] JVeicto7i.
BRISK UP, V. t. To make lively ; to enli-
ven ; to animate.
BRISK UP, V. i. To come up with Me and
speed ; to take an erect, or bold attitude.
BRISK'ET, n. lQ,u.Fr. brcchet.] The breast
of an animal ; or that part of the breast that
lies next to the ribs. The fore part of the
neck of a horse, at the shoulder down to
the fore legs. Bailey.
BRISK'LY, adv. Actively ; vigorously ; with
life and spirit. Boyle. Ray.
BRISK'NESS, 71. Liveliness ; vigor in ac-
tion ; quickness ; gayety ; vivacity ; effer-
vescence of limfors. South. ■ Dryden.
BRIS'TLE, n.Jris'l. [Sax. bristl, and byrst ;
Sw. borst ; D. borstel, a bristle, a briisl
G. borste, bristle ; borslen, to bristle up ;
Dan. bryster, to strut. The sense is, a
shoot.]
1. The stiff" glossy hair of swine, especially
that growing on the back, used for making
brushes ; similar hair on other animals.
9. A species of pubescence on plants, in form
of stiff" roundish hair. Martyn.
BRIS'TLE, V. t. To erect in bristles ; to erect
in defiance or anger, like a swuie ; as, to
bristle the crest. Shak.
2. To fix a bristle ; as, to bristle a thread.
Johnson.
BRIS'TLE, V. i. To rise or stand erect ; as,
the hair bristles. Dri/dcn.
2. To raise the head and strut, as in anger
or defiance ; as, a man bristles up to anoth-
er. In this sense the word is common in
the U. States, but generally pronoimced
brustle.
BRIS'TLE-SHAPED, a. [bristle and shape.]
Of the thickness and length of a bristle, as
a leaf. Martyn.
BRIS'TLY, a. bris'ly. Thick set with bris-
tles, or with hau-s lilie bristles ; rough.
Bacon.
BRIS TOL-FLOWER, n. A .species of
Lychnis, bachelor's button or catch fly.
Fam. of Plants.
BRISTOL-STONE, n. Rock crystal or
crystals of quartz, foimd in a rock near the
city of Bristol in England.
BRIS'TOL- WATER, n. The water of a
wann spring near the city of Bristol in
England. Ash. Encyc.
BRIT, n. A fish ; probably a diff"erent or-
tliography of bret, or hurt. Carew.
BRITAN'NI€, a. Pertaining to Britain ; or
in its present use, to Great Britain. It
applied almost exclusively to the title of
the king ; as his Britannic Majesty. In
the Encyclopedia, article Argo JVavis, it
is applied to catalogue, the Britannic cat-
alogue.
BRITCH, n. [G. britsche, a club or mace.]
The large end of a cannon or of a musket
the club or thick part of the stock of a
musket or other fire arm.
BRITCH', V. t. To fasten with britching.
BRITCH'ING, n. A strong rope, fastened
to the cascabel or pummelion of a cannon,
by a thimble, and clinched to ring bolts in
the ship's side, to prevent it from recoiling
too much in battle. Mar. Did.
BRITE, or BRIGHT, v. i. To be or become
over ripe, as wheat, barley or hops.
Johnson.
[I know not that this wordis used in the U.
States.]
BRIT'ISII, a. Pertaining to Great Britain
or its inhabitants. It is sometimes applied
to tlie language of the Welsh.
BRIT'ON, n. A native of Britain.
BRIT'ON, a. British. Spenser.
BRITTLE, a. [Sax. briltan, brytan, to
break ; Sw. bryta ; Dan. bryder, id.; W.
iirorf, a breaking ; Sam. A'\S;Ch. mS;
Ar. i i ; Syr. L ^.3 ; Hcb. nns, to part, to
break. See Part.]
Easily broken, or easily breaking short, with-
out splinters or loose parts rent from the
substance ; fragile ; not tough or tena-
cious ; as brittle stone or glass.
Arbuthnol.
BRIT'TLELY, adv. In a brittle manner.
Slierwood.
BRIT'TLENESS, n. Aptness to break
fragility ; opposed to toughness and tena
city. Boyle.
BRIZE, n. The gad fly. [See Breeze.]
BROACH, 71. [Fr. hroche, a spit, faucet or
quill ; \N.proc, a thrust, a stab; It. brocco,
a peg ; brocciare, to prick ; Sp. broca, i
drill,"a tack. It denotes a shoot, a shar|
pointed thing.]
1. A s])it, and in some parts of the English
iloniinions, an awl, and a lioiUvin. Encyc.
2. A musical instrument played by turning
a handle. Johnson.
3. A clasp or small utensil to fasten a vest.
[See Brooch.]
4. A start of the head of a young stag.
Johnson .
BROACH, V. t. [W. prociaw, to thrust or
stab.]
1. To spit ; to pierce as with a spit.
Shak. HakewUl.
2. To tap ; to pierce, as a cask, in order to
draw the liquor ; hence, to let out.
Hudibras.
3. To open, as a store. [Unusual.]
Knolles.
4. To utter ; to give out ; to publish fii-st ; to
make public what was before unknown ;
as, to broach an opinion. Swifl.
To broach to, in navigation, to incUne sud-
denly to \yindward, so as to lay the sails
aback and expose the Vessel to the danger
of oversetting. Mar. Diet.
BROACHED, pp. Spitted ; tapped ; opened ;
uttered ; first pubUshed.
BROACHER, n. A spit ; one who broaches,
opens or utters ; a first publisher.
Dryden. UEstrange.
BROAD, a. brawd. [Sax. brad; Sw. bred;
D. breed ; Ger. breit ; Dan. breed, broad ;
Arm. brudi, brudein, to publish. This
word and spread seem to be fdrmed on the
root mi or rm to open, expand, spread ;
in Syr. to go, L. gradior ; a root of exten-
sive use.]
1. Wide ; extended in breadth, or from side
to side, as distinguished from long, or ex-
tended from end to end. It is opposed to
narrow ; as a broad street ; a broad table.
Dryden. Temple.
2. Wide ; extensive ; vast ; as the broad ex-
panse of ocean.
3. Large ; as a broad mixture of falsehood.
Locke.
4. Open ; clear ; not covered, confined or
concealed ; as in broad simshine.
5. Gross ; coarse ; as broad mirth ; broad
nonsense. Pope. Dryden.
6. Plain ; tending to obscenity ; as a broad
comment. Dryden.
7. Bold ; not delicate ; not reserved ; as broad
ords. Shak.
8. Comprehensive.
It may be urged that the words in the con-
stitution are broad enough to include the case .
Z>. Daggett, Wheaton's Rep.
Broad as long, equal upon the whole.
Lt'Estrange.
BROAD-AX, n. [broad and ax:] Formerly,
a military weapon. In modern usage, an
ax till- lii'wiiii; timber.
BROAI)-I!\(Ki;i), o. [broad and back.]
UiwwiX a bn.ad hack. Barlow.
BROAli-BLOWN, a. [broad and blow.]
Fidl blown. Shak.
BROAD-BREASTED, a. Having a broad
breast.
BROAD-BRIMMED, a. [broad and brim.]
Having a broad brim. flrnm.ilon.
BROAD-€AST, 71. [broad -dudcn.il.] Aiimng
farmers, a casting or throwing sued from
the hand for dispersion in sowing.
BROAD-€AST, adv. By scattering or throw-
ing at large from the hand ; as, to sow
broad-cast.
BROAD-€AST, a. Cast or dispersed upon
B R O
B R O
B R O
the ground with the hand, as seed in s
iiig; o|)posed to planting in hill.s or row
BROAD-€LOTH, ?i. A species of woolen
cloth, so called from its breadth.
BROADEN, V. i. brawd'n. To grow broad,
[Unusual.] Thomson,
BROAD-EYED, a. [broad and eye.] Having
a wide \ievv or survey ; as broad-eyed day,
Shak.
BROAD-FRONTED, a. Having a broad
from ; (Wjilitd to cattle. Chapman.
BROAD-HORNED, a. Having large horns,
Huloet.
BROAD'ISH, a. Rather broad. Ruasel.
BROAD-LEAVED, ) [broad and lea/.]
BROAD-LEAFED, I "' Having broad
leaves. Woodward.
BROADLY, adv. In a broad manner.
BROADNESS, n. Breadth; extent from
side to side ; coarseness ; grossness ; fid-
sonieness. Dryden.
BROAD-PIECE, n. [broad and piece.] A
piece of gold coin broader than a guinea.
Encyc.
BROAD-SEAL, n. The great seal of Eng-
land ; a.s a verb, not used.
BROAD-SHOULDERED, a. [broad and
shoulder.] Broad across tlie shoulders.
Spectator.
BROAD-SIDE, n. [broad and side.] A dis-
charge of all the guns on one side of asliip;
above and below, at the same time.
Mar. Diet.
2. The side of a ship, above the water, from
the bow to the quarter. Mar. Diet.
3. In printing, a sheet of paper containing
one large page, or printed on one side
only. Ash. Johnson.
BROAD-SPREADING, a. Spreading wid
ly. Shak.
BROAD-SWORD, n. [broad and sword.]
A sword witii a bi-oad blade, and a cutting
edge. Ash. Wiseman.
BROAD-TAILED, a. Having a broad tail.
Sandys.
BRO A D-W I S E, adv. [broad and iiise.] I ii
the dircition of the breadth. Boyle.
BRO€A Dl::, n. [i'p. hrocado ; probably froi
broche, the iii.struiucnt used in embroidery
so Fr. brochure, a pamphlet or stitched
book.]
Silk stuff, variegated with gold and silver, or
raised and enriched with flowers, foliage
and other ornaments.
Encyc. Span. Diet.
BROCA'DED, a. Woven or worked, as bro
cade, with gold and silver.
S. Drest in brocade. Johnson.
BROCADE-SHELL, n. The trivia! name of
the Conus geographicus. Cyc
BRO'CAgE, n. [See Broke, Broker.]
1. The premium or commission of a broker ;
the gain or profit derived from transacting
business for other men, as brokers, either
in a good or bad sense. Spenser.
2. The hire given for any unlawful office.
Bacon.
3. The trade of a broker; a dealing m old
things.
4. The business of a broker ; the transac-
tions of commercial business, as buying
and selling, for other men. [See Broke,
Broker.]
5. The act of pimping. Ash.
BRO'CATEL, } [Sp. irocofeZ.] A cal-
BROCATEL'LO, J "• carious stone or spe-
cies of marble, composed of fragments of
four colors, white, gray, yellow and red.
Fourcroy. JVicholson. Sp. Diet
2. A kind of coarse brocade, used chiefly for
tajic'stry. Newman saj's it is made of
hemp and silk.
Encyc. JVe«))(ian's Sp. Diet.
BROCCOLI, 71. [It. broccolo, sprouts ; Fr.
brocoli.]
A variety of cabbage or Brassica.
BROCHE, the true, but not the common
orthography of broach.
BROCK, n. LSax. broc ; Ir. broc ; Corn, id
W. broc, a badger, and noise, din, tumult,!
foam, anger ; brori, to chafe, fume, waxj
fierce, from rkoc, a rough sound ; rhoca'
to grunt. Owen.]
A badger ; an animal of the genus Ursus,
found in the northern parts of Europe
Asia. The Russians call it barsuk. In Ir.
brech is a wolf, a wild savage and a badger,
BROCK'ET, n. [See Brock.] A red deer
two years old. Bailey writes this brock or
brocket. Tlie French write it brocard.
BRO'DEKIN, n. [Vv.brodequin.] A bus-
kin or half boot. Echard.
BROG'GLE, V. i. To fish for eels. [Not
used.]
BROGUE, n. brig. [Ir. brag, a shoe, a
house.]
1. A shoe. " Clouted brogues,^' in Shaks-
peare, signify shoes whose soles are stud-
ded with nails, or clouts.
2. A cant word for a corrupt dialect or man-
ner of pronunciation. Farquhar.
3. Brogues is used by Shenstone for breeches,
from the Irish brog.
BROGUE-MAKER, n. A maker of brogues.]
Johnson:
BROID, V. t. To braid. 06s. [See Braid.]
BROID'ER, V. t. [Fr. broder ; Sp. and Port.
bordar, to embroider ; Arm. brouda, to prick ;
D. borduuren, to embroider ; W. hrodiaiv}
to make compact, to darn, to embroider ;I
brwyd, a broach, an embroidering frame.] [
To adorn with figures of needle work.
A robe, a ftroideied coat, and a girdle. Exod.
BKOID'ERER, n. One that embroiders. |
BROID'ERY, n. Embroidery; ornamental
needle work wrought upon cloth. [See'
Embroider.] Ticket.
BROIL, n. [Fr. brouillerie, from brouUler, to
mix, confound, embroil ; It. broglia,
mult ; brogliare, to embroil. From this
verb, we have roil, to disturb, as lees. See
Roil. The primary sense is, to stir, to agi-
tate. It may be allied to brawl and the
French bnder.]
Vtmnult; a noisy quarrel ; contention; dis-
cord, either between individuals or in the
state. Shak. Granville.
BROIL, V. t. [Qu. Fr. bruler. I beUeve this
is from brouiller.']
To agitate with heat ; to dress or cook over
coals, before the fire ; but more generally'
upon a gridiron over coals. Dryden.
BROIL, V. i. To be subjected to the action
of heat, like meat over the fire ; to be
greatly heated or to sweat with heat.
Where have you been broiling? Shak.
BROTL'ED, pp. Agitated or dressed by heat.
BROILER, n. One that excites broils ; that
wliicli dresses by broiling.
BROILING, ppr. Agitating by heat ; sweat-
nis
BROKE, V. i. [Sax. bnican, to use, employ,
enjoy; to cat or chew ; lo brook ; toprolii.
broce, use ; brec, use, gaiji ; bryce, gain,
profit, fruit,/rud«« ; a violation, or break-
ing ; Sw. 6ritA:a ; G. brauchen ; Dan. bru-
ger ; D. gebruiken, to use or employ; L.
fruor, ibr frucor, whence fruetus, fniil ;
Gr. npaaaui, «po|u, npayfta. See Practice.]
To transact business for another in trade ;
to act as agent in buying and selling, and
other commercial business ; to transact
business by an agent. Bacon. Shak.
[This word is little used, at least in Amer-
ica ; and English writers seem lo have used
it in a low sense.]
BROKE, ore/, and pp. o{ break.
BRO'KEN, pp. of break, bro'kn. Part-
ed by violence ; rent asunder ; infirm ;
m.ide bankrupt.
BRO'KEN-BACKED, a. A broken-backed
ship is one which is so weakened in her
frame as to droop at each end. Mar. Did,
BRO'KEN-BELLIED,a. Having a ruptur-
ed belly. Sandys.
BliO'KEN-llEARTED, a. [break and
h<(frl.] Having the spirits depressed or
iriislicil liy grief or despair.
BRO K EN l,Y, adv. Iii a broken interrupted
manner ; without a regular series.
Hakeu'Ul.
BRO'KENNESS, n. A state of being bro.
ken ; imevenncss.
i. Coiitritidii ; as brokenness of heart.
BRO KEN WIND, 7!. [break and icind.] A
disease in horses, often accompanied with
a preternatural enlargement of the lungs
and heart, which disables them from bear-
ing fatigue. Encyc.
BRO'KENWINDED, a. Having short
breath, as a horse.
BRO'KER, n. [from broke.]
An agent or negotiator, who is employed by
merchants to make and conclude bargains
for them, for a fee or rate per cent., or who
transacts other business for his employers.
Brokers are of several kinds.
1. Exchange-brokers, who make and con-
clude bargains for others in matters of
money or merchandize, learn the rate of
exchange and notify their employers-
2. Stock-brokers, who are emploj-ed to biij'
and sell shares in the stocks, whether of
the public funds, of banks or of other cor-
porations.
3. Pawn-brokers, who make it their busi-
ness to lend money upon pawns, that is,
property deposited in pledge.
4. Insurance-brokers, whose business is
to procure the insui-ance of vessels at sea
or bound on a voyage.
In the U. States, tlie business of a stock-
broker and an insiu-ance-broker is often
or generally carried on by the same person.
2. One who deals in old household goods.
Johnson.
3. A |)inip or procurer. Sliak. Johnson.
[In the two latter senses, the word, I believe,
is never used in America, urdess in cant
language.]
BRO'KERAGE, n. The fee, reward or
commission given or charged foi; transact-
ing business as a broker.
Anderson''s Comm-
BRO'KERLY, a. Mean; servile. Jonson.
BRO'KERY, n. The business of a broker.
[jVot used.] Hall
B R O
B R O
B R O
BRO KTNG, ppr. Transacling b
liioki^i- ; i)iacticoil by brokers. .STiaA".
BK03IK, n. [Gr. |5pu/»o{, foetor.] A li-
quid of a deep red-brown color, very vola-
tile, and having an ill smell, obtained from
tlio niotlicr-water of salt-works, and from
tlic lixivia of the ashes of sea plants, by
treating these solutions with chlorine. It
lias three times the density of water.
joum. of Science-
BROME-GRASS, n. A plant, the Bromus.
Mwhlenherg
BRONCH'IAL, a. [Gr. (ipoyjroj, the wind-
[lipe.] Belonging to the bronchia, or rami-
fications of the wind-pipe in the lungs.
The bronchial arteries are branches of the
superior descending aorta accompanyin
the bronchia, or branches of the trachea.
Bronchial glands, glands at the division of
the bnin< hia. Quincy. Core
BRONCiriC, o. The same as bronchial.
liROXfH'OCELE, n. [Gr. /3poy;to5, the
wiud-iiipr, iiiiil xrj\ri,a tumor."
An I'liliiiiriil lh\ ruid gland ; a tumor on the
fi.ri' part nf ihc neck, called goiter; tlie
l)crli\shire neck. Quincy. Coxe
BKOXCIIOT'OMY, n. [Gr. t3poy;to5, the
wind-pipe, and rofiri, a cutting.]
An incision into the wind pipe or larynx, be-
tween the rings ; called also tracheotomy.
Quincy. Coxe.
BROND, n. A sword. [See Brand.]
BRONTOL'OtiY, n. [Gr. l3?ovr^, thunder,
and >.oyo{, discourse.]
A discourse or dissertation upon thunder
containing an explanation of its causes
and phenoniena. Encyc.
BRONZ, I [Fr. hronze; Arm. hi-ow~~
BRONZE, S It. hronzo ; Sp. bronct. In
Ital. bronzino is sun burnt. It may take its
name from its color, from burn, broivn.]
1. A compound of copper and tin, to which
otlier metallic substances are sometimes
added, especially zink. It is brittle, liard.
and sonorous, and used for statues, bells
and cannon, the proportionsof the respec-
tive ingredients being varied to suit the
particular purposes. ^Nicholson. Encyc.
2. A color prepared for the purpose of imi-
tating bronze, of two kinds, the yellow
and the red. Tlie yellow is made of fine
cn|>ppr-(tu<t ; ihi' icil, of copper-dust with
a linle puhni/cil nil ocher. Encyc.
3. Ainoiij; tniliiiunrii.'!. iuiy figure of men,
beasts, urns, or otlier ])iece of sculpture,
which the ancients made of bronze
Encyc.
4. Any statue or bust cast of bronze, wheth-
er original or a copy of an antique.
Encyc.
5. Among medalists, any copper medal.
jE)?n/c,
BRONZE, V. t. To imitate bronze,by means-
of copper-dust or leaf fastened on the out-
side, as gold-leaf is in gilding. Encyc.
2. To harden, or make like brass. Yonng.
BRONZ'ING, ppr. Imitating bronze.
BRONZ'ING, n. The act or art of imita
ting bronze, by means of copper-dust o
leaf. Encyc.
BRONZ'ITE, n. [from bronze.] A mineral,
called by HaOy dialluge melalloide, nearly
allied to Labrador hornblend, or hyper
stene. It has a vellowish brown coloi
and scmi-nietallic luster, approaching lo
that of bronze. Did.
ronzite is regarded by Cleaveland as a
subspecies of diallage.
BROOCH, n. hroche. [Slav, obrutsh, or ob-
rnch, a ring, a circle, a bracelet.]
1. An ornamental utensil for fastening the
vest, or the bosom of a shirt, as formerly
used in America. It is usually made of
silver, often round, with a tongue crossing
its diameter, sometimes with two tongues
It formerly was used in England, as it was
in America, and is still in the highlands of
Scotland. Encyc
A jewel.
•3. With ^oin/cr,9, a painting all of one color.
Diet.
BROOCH, II. t. To adorn or furnish with
brooches or jewels. Shak.
BROOD, V. i. [Sax. brod, a brood; and
brcedan, bredan, to dilate or extend, to
warm, to divulge, to spread ; D. broeden.
to brood ; Ger. briiten, to broofl ; brut,
brood ; W. brwd, warm ; brydiaw, to warm.
The sense is, to warm, or to cover, to spread
over.]
1. To sit on and cover, as a fowl on her eggs
for tiie jun-pose of warming them and
hatching chickens, or as a hen over her
chickens, to warm and protect them.
2. To sit on ; to spread over, as with wings
to sit brooding over the vast abyss.
Milton
3. To remain a long time in anxiety or so-
licitous thought ; to have the mind unin-
Serruptedly dwell a long time on a sub-
ject ; as, the miser broods over his gold.
Dryden.
4. To mature any thing with care. Bacon.
BROOD, V. t. To sit over, cover and cherish ;
as, a hen broods her chickens.
2. To cherish.
You'll brood your sonows on a throne.
J}ryden.
BROOD, n. [Sax. brod.] Of!spring ; proge-
ny ; formerly used of human beings in el-
egant works, and we have brother, from
this word ; but it is now more generally
used hi contempt.
2. A hatch ; the yoimg birds hatched at
once ; as a brood of chickens or of ducks.
3. That which is bred ; species generated ;
that which is produced.
Lj!iia'.-i broods of ])oi«on. Jlddison.
4. The act of covering the eggs, or of brood-
ing. [Unusual.] Shak.
BROOD'ED, pp. Covered with the wings;
cherished.
BROODING, ppr. Sitting on; covering
and warming ; dwelling on with an.xiety.
BROOD'Y, a. In a state of sitting on eggs
for hatching; inclined to sit. [Unusual.]
Ray.
BROOK, "• [Sax. broc, or brooc. As the
sense is a stream or flowing, it may be
the D. broek, G. bruch, a marsh, and allied
to Gr. |i5p£;t", or .i3pvu, to rain, to pour, to
flow, Eolic f3pva|, a brook. Near the site
of ancient Troy is a stream called Thym-
brec, Thymbrius.]
A small natural stream of water, or a cur-
rent flowing from a spring or fountain less
than a river. In some parts of America
run is used in a like sense ; but run is also
applied to larger streams than brook.
BROOK, V. t. [Sax. brdcan, to v.^p, employ
or perform, to eat or chew ; brtecan, bre-
can, to break ; Gr. jSpvx^, to eat, to grind
the teeth.]
Literally, to chew or digest, as the Fr. rfi'o-e-
rir. Hence,
To bear ; to endure ; to support ; as, young
men cannot brook restraint.
Hooker. Dryden.
BROOK'-LIME, n. [brook and lime.) A
plant, a species of Veronica, called beca-
bunga, with blue flowers in loose lateral
spikes. Encyc.
BROOK'-MINT. n. The water mint.
BROOK -WEED, n. A plant, water pim-
pernel, the Samolus. Muhlenberg.
BROOK'Y, a. Abounding with brooks.
Dyer.
BROOM, 71. [Sax. bnim; D. brem,braam;
Ir. brum. This is the simple root of bram-
ble.]
A plant of several species, called dyer's
weed, being used by dyers to give a yel-
low color, dyer^s broom, green wood, or
ivood loaxen, dwarf broom, all belonging
to the genus Genista. Broom rape is Oro-
banche, and with large purple flowers,
Lathrcea. Fam. of Plants.
Spa7iish Broom is a species of Spartium, and
Butcher''s broom is the Riiscus.
A besom, or brush with a long handle for
sweeping floors ; so called from being
originally made of the broom-plant. In
America, brooms are made of the fops of
broom-corn, or of some species of wood
splintered, chiefly ash. The latter spe-
cies of broom is furnished by the natives
of the countrj'. The original broom, made
of shrubs or twigs, is still used in stables.
BROOM. [See Bream.]
BROOM'€ORN, n. [broom and corn.] A
species of Holcus or Guinea-corn, with a
jointed stem, like a reed, or the stem of
maize, rising to the higlith of eight or ten
feet, bearing a head of which brooms are
made.
BROOMING a ship. [See Bream.]
BROOM'LAND, n. [broom and land.] Land
producing broom. MoHimer.
BROOx^I'RAPE, n. [See Broom.]
BROOM'STAFF, \ [See Staff anA Stick.]
BROOM'STICK, \ The staff or handle,
of a broom. Shak. Sivift.
BROOM'Y, a. Full of broom ; containuig
broom. .Mortimer. Sioifl.
BROTH, n. braulh. [Sax. broth ; _U. brodo ;
Ir. broth ; S]>. brodio ; Ir. bruithim, to boil.
Qu. D. broaden, to roast ; W. broth, a stir-
ring (tr tumult.]
Liiiuor in wliicli flesh is boiled and ma-
cerated, usually with rice and herbs, or
some ingredient to give it a better relish.
2. In ..Imeiica, the word is often applied to
foaming water, and especially to a mix-
ture of snow and water in the highways
^^ hich is called snotf-hroth.
BROTH'EL, n. [A dialectical orthography
ofbordel, which see.]
A house of lewdness ; a house appropriated
to the purposes of prostitution ; a bawdy
liotise ; a stew.
BROTH'ELER, n. One that frequents
brothels.
BROTH'EL-HOrSE, n. A brothel.
BROTH'ELRY, n. Lowdness ; obscenity.
Hall. Jonsov.
B R O
B R O
B R U
BROTHER, n. phi. brothers or brethren
[Goth, brofhar ; Sax. brother, or brether ;
Sw. and Dan. broiler ; D. broeder, from
broeden, to ftroorf, to breed ; G. bruder ; Sans.
6rarfer ; Russ. brat ; Dalmatian brath ; L.
frater ; Gr. $pa7>jPi ^raVup ; Pers. •i ? »
borailar; Corn, frrcrfor; Ir. brathair ; W.
iraiiirf ; Sam. aiirat ; Fr. /we, from L
frater; Sp. /mi//e, a friar; It. fratello,
brotlier, and /ra<e, friar; Arm. breuzr. By
the Dutch, it appears that this word signi
fies one of the brood or breed. The com
ition plural is brothers ; in the solemn style
brethren is used.]
1. A human male born of the same father
and mother. A male by one of the pa-
rents only is called a half-brother, or
brother of the half blood. Blackslonc.
2. Any one closely united ; an associate ; as
a band of brothers.
3. One that resembles another in manners.
He that is slothful in his work is brother to
him that is a great waster. Proverbs xvi
In scripture, the term brother is applied to
kinsman by blood more remote than a sc
of the same parents ; as in the case of
Abraham an<l Lot, Jacob and Laban.
Persons of the same profession call each
other brother, as judges, clergymen, ]iro
fessors of religion, members of soeit'tie;
united in a common cause, monks and the
like.
Kings give to each other the title of|
hrothe-r.
Clergymen address their congregations
by the title of brethren. In a more gene-
■ral sense, brother or brethren is used for
man in general ; all men being children of
the same primitive ancestors, and forming
one race of beings.
Brother-german is a brother by the father
and mother's side, in contradistinction to
a uterine brother, or by the mother only.
Encyc.
BROTH'ERHOOD, n. [brother and Aoo(/.]
The state or quality of being a brother.
Loeke.
1. An association of men for any purpose,
as a society of monks ; a fraternity.
Da vies.
3. A class of men of the same kind, profes-
sion, or occupation. Addison.
BROTH'ERLESS, a. Without a brother.
Shak.
BROTH'ERLIKE, a. Becoming a brother.
Shak.
BROTH'ERLOVE, n. Brotherly affection.
Shak.
BROTH'ERLY, o. Pertaining to brothers ;
such as is natural for brothers ; becoming
brothers ; kind ; affectionate ; as brotherly
love. Bacon.
Shakspeare uses this word as an ad-
verb. " I speak but brotherly." But the
use is not authorized.
BROUGHT, pret. and pp. of fcring- ; pro-
nounced hraut. [See Bring.]
BROW, 71. [Sax. brwiv, brtiwa ; D. braauw ;
G. braue ; Russ. brov ; Ir. bra, brni, eye-
brow, and afcftra, the eyelid ; Sans, bruwan,
bru ; Gr. o^pvj;, o^iptij ; Pers. . . j or . j,j 1
and the last syllable of L. paJvebra. It if
Vol. I.
probably contracted from hrg, and sign
fies an edge, border or projection.]
1. The prominent ridge over the eye, form
ing an arch above the orbit. The skin of ernment.
this arch or ridge is moved by muscles,
which contract it in a frown and elevate
it in joy or sur])rize. Hence, to knit the
brows, is to frown. Encyc.
2. The hah- that covers the brow forming
arch, called the ewe brow.
3. The forehead. Hence, the general air of
the countenance. Shak. Waller.
4. The edge of a steep place, as the brink
of a river or precipice ; as the brmv of
hill. Bacon
5. A fringe of coppice, adjoining to the hedg
of a field. Mason.
BROW, V t. To boimd; toUmit; to form
I the edge or border of. Milton.
iBROW '-ANTLER, n. [brow and antler.]
The first start that grows on a deer's head.
Bailey.
2. The branch of a deer's horn next the tail.
Encyc.
BROW'-BEAT, v. t. [brmo and beat.] To
depress or bear down with haughty, stern
looks, or with arrogant speech and dog-
matic assertions ; or in general to bear
down by impudence.
BROWBEATEN, pp. Overborne by im
ptiileni-c.
BROW BEATING, ppr. Overbearing with
severe brows, stern looks, or positive as-
BROWBEATING, n. A bearing down
with stern looks, supercilious manners, o
confident assertions.
BROW'BOUND, a. [brmv and ftoujirf.
Crowned ; having the head encircled as
with a diadem. Shak
BROW'LESS, a. Without shame.
Mdison
BROW'-POST, n. [brow imd post] Among
builders, a beam that goes across a build-
ing. Encyc
BROW-SICK, a. [brow and sick] Deject-
ed ; hanging the head. [A'oi tiserf.]
Sucklijig.
BROWN, a. [Sax. brun ; D. bruin ; Ger,
braun ; Dan. bruun ; Fr. brun ; Sp. and
It. bnmo ; from the verb, to bum.]
Dusky; of a dark or dusky color, inclining
to redness ; but the shades are vaiious, as
Spanish brown, London brown, clove brown,
tawny brown. Brown results from a mix-
tiue of red, black and yellow. Kirwan.
BROWN, V. t. To make brown or dusky.
A trembling twilight o'er the welkin moves,
Broums the dim void, and darkens deep the
groves. Barlow.
BROWN'-BILL, n. [brown and bill] A
weajion formerly used by the English foot
soldiers. The origin of the name
stated ; but from it broum musket is i
have derived its appellation. Johnson.
BROWN'ISH, a. Somewhat brown; in-
chned to brown. Kinvan.
BROWN'ISM, n. The doctrmes or reU-
gious creed of the Brownists, who main-
tained that any body of professing Chris-
tians united under one pastor, or com-
miming together, constitute a church in-
dr|)rndent of any other. Ennjc.
BROWN'IST, n. A follower of Robert
Brown, a puritan, or dissenter from th<>
Church of England, who left England j
28
with his congregation and settled at 51id-
dleburgh in Zealand. He was the head of
a party of Independents in Church gov-
Encyc.
BROWN'NESS, n. A brown color.
Sidney.
BROWN-SPAR, n. Pearl spar, or sidero-
calcite. Ure.
BROWN-STUDY, n. [broum and study.]
Gloomy study; dull thouglitfulness; med-
itation directed to no certain object.
JVorris.
BROWN'- WORT, n. [brown and wort.] A
plant, prunella.
2. A species of Scrophularia, the vernaUs, or
yellow figwort, with brown stalks.
Encyc. Fam. of Plants.
BROWN'Y, a. Brown. [AW used.] Shak.
BROWSE, V. t. s as :. [Gr. ^fuaiw, to eat
or browse, fJp«5ts, food, hut probably these
words may be from sprouts ; Arm. brouz,
brouez, or broust, sprouts, buds ; Fr. broul,
brouter ; Arm. brousta, or iroitza, to browze.
It is aJlied to brush; W. bru<ys, luxuriant
growth ; rhwys, vigor, luxuriance, wanton-
ness.]
To eat the ends of branches of trees and
shrubs or the young shoots, as cattle, or
deer. Spenser. Shak.
BROWSE, V. i. s as z. To feed on the ten-
der branches or shoots of shrubs and
trees, as cattle, sheep and goats.
Arbuthnot. Shalt.
BROWSE, n. brows. The tender branches
or twigs of trees and shrubs, fit for the
food of cattle and other animals.
BROWS'ING, ppr. s as z. Feeding on
branches, shrubs, or shoots of trees.
BRU'CIA, \ A new vegetable alkali, ex-
BRU CINE, \ "• tracted from the bark of
the false angustura. Ure.
BRU'CITE, n. A mineral, the chondrodite
of Berzelius, which sometimes occurs in
grains or imperfect crystals, sometimes
in four-sided prisms with rhombic bases.
It is so named from the late Dr. Bruce, a
distinguished mineralogist of New York.
Cleaveland.
BRCISE, V. t. s as :. [Sax. brysan, to bruise ;
Fr. briser, to break or bruise ; froisser, to
bruise ; Arm. brousta.]
To crush by beating or pounding with an in-
strument not edged or pointed. When
applied to animal flesh or to vegetables, a
bruise is a contusion that impairs the nat-
ural soUdity and texture of the part, but
ofl;en without breaking the skin. When
applied to minerals and similar substances,
it signifies to break them, and often to re-
duce them to a coarse powder.
BRUISE, n. A contusion ; a hurl upon the
flesh of animals, upon plants or other
bodies, with a blunt or heavy instnmient.
BRUISED, pp. Crushed; hurt or broken
by a blunt or heavy instrument.
iBRriSER, n. A concave tool for grinding
I the specula of telescopes. Chambers.
;2. In ru>zar language, a boxer.
BRf ISEWORT, n. [bruise and icoii.] A
plant : comfrey. Johnson.
BRCISING, ppr. Crushing; breaking or
wounding by a blunt or heavy instrument.
BRTISING, n. In popular language, a beat-
ing or boxin?.
BRCIT, fi. [JFr.] Report; rumor; fame.
Obs. Shak.
B R U
B R U
B U C
BllClT, V. t. To report; to noise abroad.
Obs. Rakish.
BRU'MAL, n. [L. bruma, winter, bni malts ;
Span, brunia, winter, fog or mist.]
Belonging to the winter. Brown.
BRUME, n. [Fr. brume; Sp. bnma. See
Brumal]
Mist ; fog ; vapors. [Little used.] Barlow.
J5RUN, BURN. A river or stream. Obs.
BRUNET', I [Fr. from brun, brown.
BRUNETTE, ^ "' See Broivn.] A woman
witli IX brown or dark complexion.
BRUN'ION, n. [Fr. briigno7i.] A sort of]
liuit between a plum and a peaclj.
Trevoux.
Brunswick green. An ammoniaco-niuriate of
copper, used for paper hangings and in oil
])aiiitii]g. Ure.
BRUNT, n. [Dan. In/rerfe, and frrujis^, ardor,
ardency, burning heat. It is the Dutch
brand, fire, flame, ardor, from the com-
mon root of burn, brennan, brand. This
shows the radical sense of burn. See
Burn.]
i. The heat, or utmost violence of an onset
the strength or violence of any couten
tion ; as the brunt of a battle.
2. The force of a blow ; violence ; shock of
any kind. Hudibras
3. A sudden eftbrt. Bp. Hall
BRUSH, n. [Fr. brosse ; It. brusca ; tip
brusca, bruza; probably allied to browze,
W. brwys, thick, branching, from rhwys,
vigor, luxuriance, or prys, brushwood.
A brush is primarily sprouts, shoots.]
I. An instrument for cleaning any thing of
dust and dirt by light rubbing, as floors,
furniture, boots, &c. Brushes originally
were made of shrubs or small branches of
trees tied together, and such are yet used
for coarse purposes. But the materials
most used are bristles set in wood. Paint
ors use a small brush to lay colors on their
large pieces. Silver smiths use a wire
brush for scrubbing silver, copper or brass
in order to gilding ; and there is a method
of staining leather by rubbing the color
on the skin with a brush. Encyc.
'i. Branches of trees lopped off"; brush-
wood ; a sense common in the U. States.
^1. The small trees and shrubs of a wood
or a thicket of small trees. Encyc
1. A skirmish ; a slight encounter ; also, an
assault ; a shock, or rude treatment, from
collision ; as we say a scouring, a rub.
3. In electricity, the luminous appearance of
electric matter issuing in diverging rays
from a point. Encyc
6. A tail ; as the brush of a fox.
BRUSH, V. t. To sweep or rub with a brush
as, to brush a hat.
2. To strike as with a brush ; to strike lightly,
by passing over the surface, without inju
ry, or impression ; as, to brush the arm ir
passing ; to brush the briny flood.
Dryden.
3. To paint with a brush ; hence, to brush
vp is often used for cleansing in genei
Pope
4. With off, to remove by brushing
brush o^dust ; also, to carry away by an
act like that of brushing, or by passing
over lightly, as by wind. Bentley.
5. To move as a brush ; to pass over with a
liglit contact. Dryden.
BRUSH, V. i. To move nimbly in haste ; to
I hghtly
to brush by.
scarcely to be perceiv-
Prior.
2. To move or skim over, with a slight con-
tact, or without much impression.
Dryden.
BRUSIl'ED, pp. Rubbed with a brush ;
struck hghtly.
BRUSH'ER, ?i. One who brushes.
BRUSHING, ppr. Sweeping or rubbing
with a brush ; striking gently ; moving
nimbly in haste ; skimming over lightly.
BRUSH'ING, a. Brisk; light; as a brush-
ing gallop. Encyc.
BRUSH-LIKE, a. [brush and like.] Resem-
bling a brush Jlsiat. Res.
BRUSH' WQOD, n. [brush and wood.]
Brush ; a thicket or coppice of small trees
and shrubs ; also, branches of trees cut off.
Dryden.
BRUSH'Y, a. ResembUng a brush ; rough ;
shaggy ; having long hair. Boyle.
BRUSK, a. [Fr. brusque.] Rude ; rough.
Wotton.
BRUS'TLE, V. i. hrus'l. [Sax. brastlian, to
crackle ; G. brausen ; Dan. bruser ; Sw.
brusa; from the root of rustle.]
To crackle ; to make a small crackUng
noise ; to rustle, as a silk garment ; to va-
])or, as a bidly.
BRUS'TLING, ppr. Crackling ; rustUng
vai)oring.
BRUT, V. i. [Fr. brouler.] To browse, [^rot
in use.] Evely:
BRU'TAL, a. [See Brute.] Pertaining to
brute ; as brutal nature.
2. Savage ; cruel ; inlmmau ; brutish ; ui
feeling like a brute ; merciless ; as brutal
courage ; brutal manners.
BRUTAL'ITY, 7i. Inhumanity ; savage-
ness ; churlishness ; insensibility to pity
or shame. Locke.
BRU'TALIZE, v. t. To make brutal, churl-
ish or inhuman.
All crael punisliinents brutalize the heart.
Z. Swift
BRU'TALIZE, v. i. To become brutal, in-
human, or coarse and beastly. Addison.
BRUTALLY, adt). Cruelly; inhumanly ; in
a coarse, churlish, or brutal manner.
Jlrbuthnot
BRUTE, a. [Fr. brut, from L. brutus,
senseless, irrational ; It. and Sj). bruto.
This word may be tin- < 'h. Nnnn I'nreign
strange, as the anciriit^ i \|,ic~-.i d wild
ncss and savageness |p\ m iIp> wliii.-li sig
nify to depart or be di^ianl.J
Senseless ; unconscious ; as the bi-ute
earth. Bentley.
2. Irrational ; ferine ; as a brute beast.
South.
3. Bestial ; in common with beasts ; as brute
violence. Milton.
4. Rough ; unciviHzed ; insensible ; as a
brute philosopher. Pope.
BRUTE, n. A beast ; any animal destitute
of reason, and of course the word com
prehends all animals except man, but ii
applied mostly to the larger beasts.
2. A brutal person ; a savage in heart or
manners; a low bred, unfeeling man.
BRUTE, V. t. for bruit, to re])ort. [.Vol
tised.]
BRU'TELY, adv. In a rude manner.
MUto^
BRU'TENESS, n. Brutahty. Obs. Spenser.
BRU'TIPY, V. t. To make a person a brute;
to make senseless, stupid or unfeeling.
Congreve.
BRU'TISH, a. Like a brute or beast ; as a
brutish form. Milton.
2 Insensible ; stupid ; as brutish men. Grew.
3. Uj] feeling; savage; ferocious; brutal.
4. Gross; carnal; bestial. Shak. South.
5. Ignorant ; uucivihzed ; imtaUght. Hooker.
BRU'TISHLY, adv. In the manner of a
brute ; grossly ; irrationally ; stupidly ;
^a
ied.] Sackville.
i'BLE, n. [p. bobbel; Sw. bubla; from
BRU'TISHNESS, n. Stupidity ; insensi-
bility ; brutahty ; savageness ; the quaU-
tiea of a brute. Sprait.
BRY'ONY, n. [L.bryonia; Gr. jifyvtMia.]
White jalap ; a genus of plants of several
species. The root of the rough or white
bryony is a strong irritating cathartic.
Encyc. Coxe.
Black-bryony is a genus of plants, called Ta-
mus. Encyc.
BUB, n. A cant word for strong malt liquor.
Pnor.
t. To throw out in bubbles. [^J'ot
used.] " ' '"
BUB'
swelling, inflation.]
1. A small bladder or vesicle of water or
other fluid inflated with air. J^ewton.
2. Any thing that wants firmness or solidi-
ty ; a vain i)roject ; that which is more
specious than real. Hence, a false show ;
a cheat or fraud. Bacon. Dryden.
3. A delusive scheme of speculation ; an
enqity project to raise money on imagina-
ry grounds ; as the South Sea bubble.
Sidfl.
A person deceived by an empty project.
Prior.
BUB'BLE, V. i. To rise in bubbles, as liquors
when boiling or agitated. Shak. Dryden.
2. To run with a gurgling noise ; as a
bubbling stream. Pope.
BUB'BLE, V. t. To cheat ; to deceive or im-
|)Ose on. Addison.
BUB'BLER, n. One who cheats. Digby.
BUB'BY, n. [from the same root as bub-
ble and bubo.] A woman's breast.
Arbutknot.
BU'BO, Jt. [Gr. fSouSw.-, L. bubo, a swelling.]
A tumor or abscess with inflannnation, w'niili
rises in certain glandular parts of the body,
as in the groin, or armpit. Encyc. Coxe.
BU'BONOCELE, n. [Gr. jimSuv, the groin,
and xTjXTj, a tumor.]
Hernia inguinalis, or inguinal rupture ; a
tumor in the groin, formed by a prolapsus
of the intestines or omentum or both,
through the processes of the peritoneum
and rings of the abdomuial muscles.
Encyc.
BU'BUKLE, n. A red iiimple. [.Vot used.]
Shak.
BUBUL'CA, n. A flat fresh-water fish, of a
circular form and a silvery color.
Diet, of.yat. Hist.
BUCANEE'R, I [Fr. boucaner, to broil
BU€ANIE'R, I "-fish or flesh, to hunt
oxen for their skins.]
Primarily, a bucaneer is said to be one who
dries and smokes flesh or fish after the
manner of the Indians. The name was
first given to the French settlers in Haiti
or Hispaniola, whose business was to hunt
wild cattle and swine. It was afterward?
B U C
BUG
BUD
applied to the piratical adventurers, En-U used to convey water by hand for extin-llBUCK'SKIN, n. The skin of a buck. Ah
^lish and French, who combined to make
depredations on the Spaniards in America.
En eye.
BU€A'0, n. A species of owl, in tlie Phil-
ippine isles, of a beautiful plumage, and
size of a peacock, but remarkable for a
hideous nocturnal scream.
Did. o/ATat. Hist.
BU€'€AL, a. [L. bucca, the cheek ; W.
toe]
Pertaining to the clieek. The huccal glands
are the small glands of the mouth, under
the cheek, which secrete saliva. Hooper.
BU€CELLA'TION,n. [L. bueeella, buccea,a.
mouthful.]
The act of breaking into large pieces.
BUe'CINITE, n. Fossil remains or petri-
factions of the shells called buccinnm.
Jameson.
BITCENT'AUR,n.Thestate barge of Venice.
BUCEPH'ALUS, n. An animal of the ga-
zelle tribe, of the size of a hind.
BU'CEROS, n. The honibill or Indian ra-
ven ; a genus of birds, common in the East
Indies.
BUell'OLZITE, n. A newly discovered
mineral, whose colors are white and black,
appearing iu spots. Cteaveland.
BUCK, n. [G. bauche, beucke ; Sp. bugada.]
1 the pri)
Lye in which clothes
operation of bleaching; the liquor ir
wliich clothes are washed.
Enci/c. Johnson
2. The cloth or clothes soaked or washed
in lye. Shak.
BUCK, V. i. [G. beuchen ; Dan. boger ; Sw
byka ; Arm. bugad ; Norm. buer. This
verb is retained in the L. imbuo, for imbuco
or imbtigo, to steep, tinge, imbue.]
To soak or steep in lye, a process in bleach-
ing ; to wash or steep in lye or suds.
Encyc. Shak
BUCK, n. [Sax. buc, hucca ; D. bok ; Ger. Sw
bock ; Sp. boque ; W. bw(; ; It. becco. This
Italian word signifies a bill or beak, the
mouth, the helm of a ship, the pipe of
a still and a buck. We see it is the
same word as beak, from thrusting ;
Dan. buk, whence bukker, to ram or
thrust piles. Ir. boc or poc; Corn, byk;
Ft. bouc ; Arm. bouch ; Kalmuc, bugn, a
stag. Qu. Eth. (IrhTlbahak, the male
of sheep or goats.]
The male of the fallow deer, of the goat
the sheep, the rabbit and hare. It is aj)
plied only to the smaller quadrupeds.
BUCK, V. i. To copidate as bucks and does.
Mortimer.
BUCK'-BASKET, n. [buck and basket.] A
basket in which clothes are carried to the
wash. Shak.
BUCK'BEAN, n. This is properly bog-
bean, which see.
BUCK'ED, pp. Soaked in lye. .^sh
BUCK'ET, n. [Sax. buc ; Fr. baquet ; Ir.
buiccad ; Sw. buc ; Dan. bak.]
1. The vessel in which water is drawn out
of a well ; it is nearly in the form of a
pail.
2. A vessel or ptiil used at sea to draw wa-
ter up at the side of a ship, for wasliing
~ the decks, &c. Mar. Did.
3. A vessel made of leather, nc:iily in the
form of a pail, but narrower and deeper
guishing fires.
BUCK'ING, ppr. Soaking in lye,
cess of bleaching; washing.
BUCK'ING, n. The act or process of soak
ing cloth in lye for bleaching; also, the HI
Ive or liquor ; a washing. Encuc. ^sh.
BlfCK'ING-STOOL, n. A wasliing block,
BUCK'LE, re. [Fr. boucle, a buckle, a ring,
a knocker; boucler, to curl, to ring, to
buckle ; Ir. bucla ; Arm. boucL In Sp. bu-
ck is hair curled. In W. ba^u, bagtllu,
and baglu signify, to bend, hook or
pie. Sax. bugan, to bow.]
1. An in.strunient made of some kind of
metal, for fastening together certain parts
of dress, as the straps of shoes, kneebands
&c., or other straps and bands, as in a
harness. The forms are various, but
consists of a ring or rim with a chape and
tongue.
2. A curl, or a state of being curled or crisp-
ed, as hair. Spectator.
j.3. In coats of arms, a token of the surety,
faith and service of the bearer. Ena/c
BUCK'LE, V. I. To fasten with a buckle
or buckles.
2. To prepare for action ; a metaphor, taken
j from buckling on armor. Spenser
3. To join in battle. Hayward.
a.lje
soaked in the! 4. To confine or limit.
A span buckles in his sum of age. Shak
BUCKLE, V. i. To bend ; to bow ; as, tc
buckle imder life. Skak
To buckle to, to bend to ; to apply witli
vigor ; to engage with zeal. Locke.
To buckle in, to close in ; to embrace or
seize the body, as in a scuffle ; a popular
use in .America.
To buckle loith, to encounter with embrace ;
to join in close ccnnbat. Dryden.
BUC'K'LER, n. [W. bwccled; Fr. bouclier ;
Ir. buicleir.]
A liind of shield, or piece of defensive armor,
anciently used in war. It was composed
of wood, or wickers woven together, cov-
ered with skin or leather, fortified with
plates of brass or other metal, and worn
on the left arm. On the middle was an
umbo, boss or prominence, very useful in
causing stones and darts to glance off.
The buckler often was fom' feet long, and
covered the whole body. Encyc.
BUCK'LER, ti. t. To support ; to defend.
[.Yot used.] Shak.
BUCKLER-THORN, n. Christ's thorn.
Johnson.
BUCK'MAST, n. [buck, that is, beach, and
mast.]
The mast or fruit of the beach tree.
Johnson.
BUCK'RAM, n. [Fr. bougran ; It. buche-
ratne ; qu. from It. bucare, to make holes.]
A coarse linen cloth, stiffened with glue,
used in garments to keep them m the
form intended, and for wrappers to cover
cloths, and other mi^rcliiindi/.e. Encyc.
BUCK'RAM, a. Stiff; precise. Fitlke.
BUCK'RAMS, n. The same as wild garlic.
Johnson.
BUCKS'HORN, n. [buck and h>m.]
ics of Ptanta,
pin lit, a spec
called crcropus-
The wife J buckihorn is
Icaria, or scurvy grass
ntago, or pla
si>ecies of Coch-
Fam. of Plants.
ive, made of leather prepared
111 skin of a buck. ^h.
-lAI.!., n. [buck and staU.] .\ toil
1" i.ike deer. ■ Encyc.
rilOKN, „. [buck and thorn.] A
genus of plants, called Rhamnus, of many
species. The common purging buck-thorn
grows to the height of 12 or 14 feet, and
bears a black berry, which, when green,
is used to dye yellow, and when ripe,
green. The "bark also dyes yellow. The
sea buck-thorn is a genus of plants, called
Hippophae. Encyc. Fam. of Plants.
BUCK'WHEAT, n. [D. boek-weit; Ger.
buchweitzen.]
A plant and a species of grain ; called also
brank. It belongs to the genus poly-
gonum, or knot-grass. It is cultivated
as food for beasts, and the flour is much
used in America for breakfast cakes.
BUCOL'IC, a. [Gr. ;5oi.xo>.o;, a herdsman ;
fimxoXixof, pastoral ; L. buculus, an ox ;
bticolicus, pertaining to cattle, pastoral ;
\V. and Corn, bugail or bygel ; Ir. buachail,
a shepherd. See Bovine]
Pastoral ; relating to country affairs and to
a shepherd's hfe and occupation.
Johnson.
BUCOL'IC, n. A pastoral poem, represent-
ing rural affairs, and the life, manners
and occupation of shepherds ; as the bjt-
colics of Theocritus and Virgil.
Dryden. Encyc.
2. A writer of pastorals. Warton.
BUD, n. [D. bot ; Fr. bouton ; It. botlone, a
bud or button ; Ir. abaidh, a bud ; S|). 60/011 :
Ann. bouton, literally a push ; Sp. iotar, to
push or thrust, to vow ; Gr. $vtw ; ^vu, to
plant or beget, contracted from ^tu ; Ch.
B3J ; Ar. J^kx J nabata ; allied to pout,
Fr. bonder. See class Bd, No. .34.]
A gem; the shoot of a plant ; a small protu-
berance on the stem or branches of a
plant, containing the rudiments of future
leaves or a flower. It is called by bota-
nists the hybcrnacle, the winter lodge or
receptacle of the leaves or flowers of
plants, and is an epitome of a flower, or
of a shoot, which is to be unfolded the
succeeding summer. It is covered with
scales, which are intended to defend the
inclosed rudiments from cold and other
external injuries.
Buds are of three kinds ; that containing the
flower; that containing the leaves; and
that containing both flower and leaves.
Milne. Martyn.
BUD, V. i. To put forth or produce buds or
gems. Job xiv. !).
2. To put forth shoots ; to grow as a bud
into a flower or shoot. Dryden.
3. To begin to grow, or to issue from a
stock in the manner of a bud, as a horn.
Dryden.
4. To be in bloom, or growing like a young
plant. Sh)ik.
BUD, !'. /. To inoculate a plant ; to insert
the bud of a plant under the bark of anoth-
er tree, for the j)urpose of raising, upon
any stock, a species of fruit different from
that of the stock.
B U F
B U F
BUG
BUDDED, pp. Put (brth in Inuls ; inocula-
ted.
BUD'DIIISM, n. The doctrines of the Bud-
dhists in Asia.
]5UD'DING, ppr. Putting forth buds ; iuoc-
idating.
BUD'DILE, n. In mining, a large square
frame of boards, used in washing tin ore.
wJsA. Encyc.
BUD'DLE, V. i. Among miners, to wash
oie. Bailey. Ash.
BUDliE, V. t. [Fr. and Norm, hoxiger, to
stir or wag.]
To move of}'; to stir; to wag. In America,
u'ag is much used as equivalent to hudge ;
but the use of both words is vulgar.
Shak.
BUDtiE, n. The dressed skin or fur of
lambs. Bailey.
BUDtJE, a. Brisk ; jocund. Bailey.
2. Surly; stiff; formal. Obs. Johnson.
BUDGE-BACHELORS, a company of
men clothed in long gowns lined with
lamb's fur, who accompany the Lord K
or of London at his inauguration.
Bailey. Ash.
BUDgE-BARREL, n. A small barrel with
only one head ; on the other end, a piece
of leather is nailed, which is drawn to-
gether upon strings like a purse. It is
used for carrying powder, with a gun or
mortar. " Encyc.
BUDgENESS, n. Sternness ; severity. [JVot
used.]
BUDG'ER, n. One who moves or stirs from
his place. Shak
BUDdi'ET, n. [Fr. bougette ; Arm. 6oi(g-e
den ; Norm, bouge ; perhaps from the root
of bag.}
1. A bag ; a little sack, with its contents.
Hence, a stock or store ; as a budget of in-
ventions. UEstrange.
•2. The papers respecting the finances of
the British nation.
To open the budget, to lay before a legisla
live body the papers of the Ej^ecutive
Government. Price.
HUDG'Y, a. Consisting of fiir. \JVot used.]
BUD' LET, rt. [from bud.] A little bud
sprmging from a parent bud.
We have a criterion to distinguish one but
from another, or the parent bud from the nu
merous budlets which are its oftspring.
Darwin
BUFF, n. [contracted fi-om buffalo, or
buffskin.]
I. Buffskin; a sort of leather, prepared fi-om
the skin ol' the buffalo, dressed with oil,
like shammy. It is used for making ban
doliers, belts, pouches, gloves and other
articles. The skins of oxen, elks and
other anunals, dressed in like manner, are
also called buffs. Encyc.
fi. A military coat made of buff-skin or simi-
lar leather. Shak.
3. The color of buff ; a light yellow.
4. A yellow viscid substance formed on the
surface of blood drawn in inflammatory
diseases. Parr.
BUFF, V. t. To strike. [See Buffet.]
BUPF'ALO, n. [It. and Sp. bufalo ; Fr. huf-
fie ; L. bubalus.]
The Bubalus, a species of the bovine genus,
originally from India, but now found in
most of the warmer countries of the East-
ern Continent. It is larger and less docile
than the common ox, and is fond of marshy
places and rivers. The name is also ap-
plied to wild oxen in general, and particu-
larly to the Bison of North America. [See
Bison.] Cyc. Cuvier.
BUFF'EL, n. Buffel's head duck, anas bu-j
cephala, a bird with a short blue bill, and
a head whose apparent size is greatly in-
creased by the fulness of its feathers, found
in winter in the rivers of Carohna.
Catesby. Pennant.
BUFF'ET, n. [Fr. buffet ; It. buffetto ; Sp.
bufete.]
A cupboard, or set of shelves, for plates,
glass, cliina and other like furniture. It
was formerly and is still in some parts of
the country, an apartment erected on one
side of a room ; but in more fashionable
houses, it lias been laid aside, and a side
board substituted, which is now consider-
ed as the buffet. But as far as my knowl-
edge extends, the name has become, in a
great measure, obsolete, excei>t among
the common people, by whom it is pro-
nounced bofat.
BUFF'ET, n. [It. buffetto ; Sp. Port, bufar,
to blow, to ]mff; Norm, buffe, a blow ; W.
pnfiaiv, to thump. See Biffoon and Puff.]
A blow with the fist ; a box on the ear or
face ; a slap. Milton.
BUFF'ET, V. t. To strike with the hand or
fist ; to box ; to beat.
They spit in his face and buffetted Mm. Math,
xxvi.
2. To beat in contention ; to contend against ;
as, to buffet the billows. Otwny.
BUFF'ET, V. i. To exercise or play at box-
ing. Shak.
BUFF'ETED,;?;?. Struck; beaten. 1 Cor.
iv. II. 1 Pet. ii. 20.
BUFF'ETER, n. One who buffets ; a boxer.
Johnson.
BUFFETING, ppr. Striking with the hand ;
boxing ; contending against.
BUFF'ETING, n. A striking with the hand
2. Contetition ; attack ; opposition.
He seems to have been a plant of slow growth;
but fonned for duration, and titted to endure the
biiffetings of the rudest storm. IVirt.
BUFF'IN, n. A sort of coarse stuff; as, buf-
fin gowns. Massinger.
BUFF'LE.w. [Fr.] The buffalo.
BUFF'LE, V. i. To puzzle ; to be at a loss.
Siviji.
This is probably the same word as baflle
BUFF'LE-HEAD, n. [baffle and head.] One
who has a large head.
BUFF'LE-HEADED, a. Having a large
head, like a buffalo ; dull; stupid; fooli.sh.
BUFF'ON, n. The Numidian crane, an
African fowl. Diet. ofJ\'at. Hist.
BUFFOON', n. [Fr. bouffon; It. buffo ; Sp.
bufon, a buffoon, comical ; It. beffare and
bxiffare, to trifle, joke, play the fool ; Sp.
befar, to mock or ridicule ; bufar, to blow,
or puff with anger, to snort ; Port. id.
These verbs indicate the origin of buffoon-
ery. The root of buffet, puff, signifies to
drive, to push, to strike. See Puff.]
1. A man who makes a practice of amusing
others by low tricks, antic gestures anil
postures, jokes and other vulgar pleasant-
ries. A droll ; a mimic.
Johnson. En rye.
2. He that uses indecent raillery. Gaith.i
BUFFOON', V. I. To make ridiculous.
Glanvitlt.
BUFFOON'ERY, n. The arts and practices
of a buffoon ; low jests; ridiculous pranks;
vulgar tricks and postures. Johnson.
Dryden has placed the accent improperly on
the first syllable.
BUFFOON'ING, n. Buffoonery.
Dryden. Guihrie''s Quint.
BUFFOON'ISH, a. Like a buffoon; con-
sisting in low jests or gestures.
BUFFOON'ISM, n. The practices of a
buffoon.
BUFFOON'-LIKE, a. Resembling a buf-
foon. Sherwood.
BUFFOON'LY, a. Consistuigof low vidgar
tricks. (Little used.]
BU'FONITE, n. [L. iu/o, a toad.] Toad-
stone, or fossil-teeth of the anarrhicas or
sea-wolf, formerly much esteemed for its
imaginary virtues and worn in rings. It
was named from an opinion that it was
found in the head of a toad. Encyc.
BUG, 71. [Qu. W. baf, bygan, small.] In
common language, the nanie of a vast mul-
titude of insects, which infest houses and
plants. In zoology, this word is applied to
the insects arranged under the genus Ci-
mex, of which several himdred species are
described. Bugs belong to the order of hem-
ipters. They are furnished with a rostrum
or beak, with antennae longer than the
thorax, and the wings are folded together
crosswise. The back is flat, the throat
margined, and the feet are formed for run-
ning. Some s))ecies have no wings. The
house-bug, or bed-bug, is a troublesome
and disgusting insect. Encyc.
BUG, or BUG' BEAR, n. [W. J-icg-, a hob-
goblin or scarecrow ; Intgadu, to terrify ;
lluss. buka, a sprite or gobhn. In Pers
J-L, is fear.]
A frightful object ; a walking specter ; any
thing imaginary that is considered as
frightful. Locke. Pope.
BUG'BEAR, V. t. To alarm or frighten with
idle phantoms. ArchVp. King.
BUgEE', n. A species of monkey found in
India, of a beaver color.
Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
BU'GELUGEY, n. A large species of liz-
ard, four feet long. Diet. o/JVat. Hist.
BUG'GER, n. [Fr. bougre; Sp. bujarron ;
D. boggeren, verb.]
One guilty of the crime against nature. A
vile wretch ; a term of reproach.
BUG'GERY, n. The unnatural and detesta-
ble crime of carnal intercourse of man or
woman with a beast ; or of human beings
unnaturally with each other. Sodomy.
E7icyc.
BUG'GINESS, ?!. [from titg-g-^.] The state
of being infected with bugs.
BUG'GY, a. [from bug.] Abounding with
bugs. Johnson.
BU'GLE, I [W. bugail, a shep-
BU'GLE-HORN, ^ "' herd. See Bucolic.
The shepherd's horn, or from the same
root as the Fr. beugler, to bellow, from its
sound.] A hunting horn.
Spenser. Shak.
2. A military instrument of music.
BU'GLE, n." A shining bead of black glass.
B U L
B U L
B L L
BU'GLE, n. [L. bugula, or ftugiZto.] A ge
iius of plants, Ajuga, of several species,
Encyc.
BU'GLE, n. [L. buculus, an ox.] A sort of
wild ox. Philips.
BU'GLE- WEED, n. A plant, the lycopus
virginicus, valued as a remedy for hsemoi
tysis, or spitting of blood.
BU'GLOSS, n. [L. bughssus ; Gr. /3«y>^(joos,
of )3oi)j, an ox, and yjAjana, tongue.]
A genus of plants, called alkanet ; in botany
anchusa.
The small wild bugloss, is the Aspemgo.
The viper's bugloss, is the Echium.
BUG' WORT, n. A plant, the Ciniicifuga.
Muhlenberg.
BUHR'STONE, n. A subspecies of silex or
<iuartz, occurring in amorphous musses
partly compact, but containing many irreg-
ular cavities. It is used for mill-stones.
CkfivelnnJ.
This word is often written burr-ston
BUILD, I V. I. bUd; pret. built ; p|i. built,
BILD, \ pronounced bill. The rcgiil:ii
pret. and pp. builded, is sometimes used,
[Sax. byldan, to confirm ; hyld, bylde, byldo.
constancy, firmness ; bilith, a model, an
image ; Sw. bilda ; D. afbeelden, verbedd-
en ; Ger. bilden, abbilden ; Dan. bilder, af-
bilder, to shape, form, design, deUneate.
represent, counterfeit ; Sw. and Ger. bild ;
D. becld, image, statue, figure, representa
tion. The primary sense is to set, fix or
make, and the true orthography is bild.]
1. To frame, construct, and raise, as an edi-
fice or fabric of almost any kind, as a
house, barn, shop, ship or vessel, a wall.
or other structure of art ; to unite mate-
rials into a regular structure for use ot
convenience.
2. To raise by art ; to frame or shape into a
particular form ; as, to build up a head
dress in a cone. Spectator.
3. To raise any thing oi> a support or foun-
dation ; as, to build our hopes on air.
4. In scripture, to increase and strengthen ;
to cement and knit together ; to settle or
establish and preserve. Acts xx. 32. Eph
ii. 22. 1 Sam. ii. 35.
BUILD, 11. i. bild. To exercise the art, oi
practice the business of building.
To build, to plant, whatever you intend.
Pope.
:2. To construct, rest or depend on as a foun-
dation ; as, to build on the opinions of
others. Addison
BUILD'ER, n. bild'er. One who builds ; one
whose occupation is to build ; an archi-
tect, a sliip-wright, a mason, &c.
fj. A creator.
Whose builder and maker is God. Heb. xi
BUILD'ING, ppr. bild'ing. Framins and
erecting ; resting on.
BUILD'ING, n. bild'ing. A fabric or edifice
constructed for use or convenience, as a
house, a church, a shop, &c.
BUILT,;);?, bilt. Framed and raised; con-
structed.
BUILT, n. bilt. Form ; shape ; general fig-
ure of a structure; as the built of a ship.
Dryden. Mar. Diet
2. Species of building. Temple.
BUL, ». Tiie conunon flounder.
Chambers.
BULB, n. [Gr. »3ox5os ; L. bulbus, a bulb oi
round root ; Fr. bulbe ; It. bulbo ; Sp
bvlbo, an onion, or bulbous root ; \\ . bat,
bol, protuberance.]
A round body, applied to many objects. But
in botany, it is appropriately a bud formed
under groimd, upon or near the roots of
certain herbaceous plants, which are hence
called bulbous plants, as the tulip, onion
and lUy. The bulb under ground is what
the bud is upon tlie stem or branches, a
hybt rnacle or winter receptacle of a fu-
ture plant, containing the plant in embrj'o,
covered with a bark or rind, generally
consisting of scdes placed over each other,
to defend the tender rudiments of the
plant from cold and other external injuries.
A bulb is scaly in the lily, solid in the
tulip, coated in the onion, and jointed in
the tuberous moschatel.
Milne. Martyn
BULB, V. i. To bulb out is to project or be
protuberant. [Little used.] Evelui
T?IL15A'CEOUS,a. Bulbous. [I believe, not
ii.'icd. J Johnson.
BULB' ED, a. Round headed.
BULBIF'EROUS, a. Producing bulbs
bvlbijerous stems. Eaton
BULB'OtJS, a. Containing bulbs or a bidb:
growing from bulbs ; round or roundish.
Martyn. Milne
12. Containing a knob, or protuberant part
swelling out; presenting rounded eleva-
tions. Kirwan
BULCHIN, n. A young male calf.
Dekker. Marston
BULGE, n. A different orthography ofl
bilge. [W. hivlg, bulk ; bale, prominent ;
Sax. bulgian, to bellow, from swelling out.]
The bilge or protuberant part of a cask ;
protuberance.
BUL6E, V. i. To swell out ; to be protubor
MoX07l.
2. To bilge as a ship. [See Bilge.]
Dryden
BULg'ING, ppr. or a. Swelling out ; bil-
gi'ig-
As an adjective, protuberant.
BU'LIMY, n. [Gr. ^ii\ifiu),, lis, great, and
xi^oj, hunger.]
A voracious appetite ; a disease in which the
patient has a perpetual and insatiable ap-
petite for food, and often faints, if not in-
dulged. It is attended with various symp-
toms ; sometimes with heart burn ; some-
times with vomiting or convulsions.
Encyc. Coxe.
BULK, n. [W. helg, bulk ; balciaw, to swell,
to be proud ; Ir. bide, great, strong ; Russ,
bulikayu, to boil, to bubble ; D. bulken, to
low or bellow ; Dan. bulk, a bunch on the
back ; Sax. bulgian, to low.]
1. Magnitude of material substance ; whole
dimensions; sizeofathjng ; as an ox or
ship of great bulk.
2. The gross ; the majority ; the main ma;
or body ; as the bulk of a debt ; the bulk
of a nation. Swift. Addison.
3. Main fabric. Shak.
4. The whole content of a ship's hold for the
stowage of goods. Encyc.
5. A pan of a building jutting out. Shak.
To break bulk, in seamen's language, is tc
begin to unload. Mar. Diet
Laden in bulk, having the cargo loose in the
hold, or not inclosed in boxes, bales oi
BULK'-HEAD, n. [bulk and head.] A par-
tition in a ship made with boards, to form
separate apartments. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
BULK'INESS, n. Greatness in bulk, size or
stature. Locke.
BULK'Y, a. Large ; of great dimensions;
of great size. Dryden.
BULL, n. [G. bull; W. bwla ; Russ. vol.
Q.U. from his sex, or from bellowing ; Sw.
bola, or biila ; Dan. boler.]
1. The male of the Bos, or bovine genus of
quadrupeds, of which cow is the female.
2. in a scriptural sense, an enemy, powerful,
fierce and vioh'iit.
Many bulls have compassed me. Psalms.
3. Taurus, one 'of the twelve signs of the
zodiac.
BULL, n. [It. bolla, a bubble, a blister, a
seal or stamp, the Pope's bull ; Fr. buUe ;
L. bulla, a boss, and an ornament worn on
a child's neck. Thi,s name was given to
the seal which was appended to the edicts
and briefs of the Pope, and in process of
tiirie, applied to theeiUct itself. Spelman.]
A letter, edict or rescript of the Pope, pub-
Ushed or transmitted to the churches over
which he is head, containing some decree,
order or decision. It is used chiefly in
matters of justice or of grace. If the for-
mer, the lead or seal is hung by a hempen
cord ; if the latter, by a silken thread.
The lead or bull is impressed on one side
with the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul ;
on the other with the name of the Pope
and the year of his pontificate. The wri-
ting is in the old, round Gothic letter; and
the instrument has about it a cross with
some text of scripture, or religious motto.
Lunier. Emyc.
The Golden Bull, so called from itsgolden
seal, is an edict or imperial constitution,
made by the Emperor Charles V., contain-
ing the fundamental law of the German
Empire.
Leaden Bulls were sent by the Emperors
of Constantinople to patriarchs and prin-
ces ; and by the grandees of the Empire,
of France, Sicily, &c., and by patriarchs
and bishops.
Waxen bulls were in frequent use with the
Greek Emperors, who thus sealed letters
to their relations. Encyc.
2. A blunder or contradiction. Pope.
BULL, a prefix, signifies a bull, or large, or
having a large head.
BULL'-BAlTfNG, n. [bidl and bait.] The
jiractice of baiting or exciting bulls with
dogs. Addison.
BULL'-BEEF, n. [buU and beef.] The flesh
of a bull; coarse beef. Shak.
BULL'-BEGGAR, n. [buU and beggar.]
Something terrible, or frightful. Ayliffe.
BULL'-C^ALF, n. [bull and calf] A male-
calf; a stupid fellow. Shak.
BULL'-DOG, n. [bull and dog.] A species of
dog of a particular form and of i-emarka-
ble courage ; so named probably fi-om
being employed in baiting bulls, or from
the size of the head.
BULL'S-EYE, 7!. [bull and eye.] Among
seamen, a piece of wood in tlie form of a
ring, answering the purpose of a thimble.
Mar. Diet.
2. Aldebaran, a star of the first magnitude
in the constellation Taurus. .^h.
i. A small obscure cloud, ruddy in the mid-
dle, portending a great storm. Encyc.
B U L
BUM
BUN
BULL'-FACED, a. Having a large face.
Dryden.
BULL-FEAST, n. [See Bull-fight.]
BLTLL'-FIGIIT, n. [bull and fight.-] A com-
bat vvitli a bull ; an amusement among the
Spaniards and Portuguese. A horseman,
called a toreador or picador attacks a bull
in a circus or inclosed arena, in presence
of multitudes of spectators, irritating him
with a spear, till the bull rushes upon the
horseman, and perhaps dismounts the
rider. After the bull has been tormented
a long time, tlie horseman leaves him, and
some persons on foot attack him and
plunge darts mto his neck ; and at a signal
given by the president, the barbarous sport
is endeil by tlie dagger of a matador.
Eneijc.
BULL'-FINCH, n. [Indl &n<X finch.] A bird
of the Sparrow kind, whose breast, cheeks
and throat are of a crimson color ; the
rubicilla. Did. ofJVat. Hist.
BULL-FLY, or BULL'-BEE, n. An insect.
Philips.
BULL'-FROG, n. [bull and frog.] The raua
ocellata, a large species of frog, found in
North America, of a dusky brown color,
mixed with a yellowish green, and spotted
with black. These frogs live in stagnant
water, and utter a loud croaking sound,
from which they probably received tliei
name.
BULL'-HEAD, n. [bull and head.] A genus
of fishes, the Cottiis, with a head broade
than the body, whence the name. This
fish is called by some the Miller's thumb.
Encyc.
2. A stupid fellow ; a lubber. Johnson
3. A small black water vermin. Philips
BULL'-TROUT, n. [bull and trout.] A large
species of trout, called also sea-trout, thick-
er than the common sort, and weighing
about three pounds. Its back has a bluish
green gloss, and there are several black
spots on the sides. Did. of JStat. Hist.
BULL'- WEED, n. Knap weed. Johnson.
BULL'-WORT, n. Bishopsweed. Johnson.
BULL' ACE, n. The buUy-tree, or Chry-
sophyllum, a plant of two species, nativ"
of the West Indies.
Fam. of Plants. Encyc.
2. The wild plum, a species of Prunus.
Fam. of Plants. Encyc.
BULLAN'Tle, a. [from ML] Designating
certain ornamental capital letters, used in
ApostoUc bulls. It is used also as a noun,
Fry.
B tLL'ARY, n. A collection of Papistical
hulls. South.
BUL'LATE, a. [L. butlatus.] Having eleva-
tions, like blisters ; as a bullate leaf
Martyn
BULL'ET, n. [Fr. bould, dim. of boule, a
ball. See Ball.]
A ball of iron or lead, called also shot, used
to load guns for killing man or beast.
Balls for cannon are made of iron ; mus-
ket-balls are made of lead.
BULL'ETIN, n. [Fr. bulletin, a ballot, a
packet, a certificate ; Sp. holetin, a ticket
ov warrant ; boleta, a ticket, a hillet ; Port
bolrt'i ; It. buUetta, bullettino ; properly, a
roll.]
A Fn n 'h word denoting
I. All official report from an oflicer to his
commander or superior.
2. An ofiicial report of a physician respect-
ing the king's health.
A little note given by a banking com-
pany.
It is sometimes used for a notice, or ]iub-
lic announcement ; as a bibliographical
bulletin.
BULL'ION, n. [Fr. billon, base coin.] Un-
coined gold or silver in the mass. The
precious metals are called bullion, when
smelted and not perfectly refined, or when
refined, but in bars, ingots, or in any form
uncoined, as in plate. Encyc.
BULL'ISH, a. Partaking of the nature of a
bull or blunder. Milton.
BULL'IST, n. A writer of papal bulls.
Harmar.
BUL'LITE, n. A petrified shell, or the fossil
emains of shells, of the genus Bulla.
Jameson.
BULLI"TION, n. [L bullio, to boil. See
Boil.]
The act or state of boihng. Superseded by
ebullition. Bacon.
BULL'OCK, n. [Sax. bulluca ; G. butlochs.]
An ox, or castrated bull. In America, it
is applied to a full grown ox.
BULL' Y, n. [Sw. bUa, to bellow ; buller, a
tumuU; Dan. bullen, swelled, puffed U|i ;
or more directly from Sax. hidgian, to
belloio.]
A noisy, blustering, overbearing fellow, more
distiiiguished for insolence and empty me-
naces, than for courage, and disposed to
provoke quarrels. Addison
BULL'Y, V. t. To insult and overbear with
and blustering menaces. King.
BULL'Y, V. i. To be noisy and quarrelsome.
Johnson.
BUL'RUSH, n. [bole, or boll, and rush.] A
large kind of rush, growing in wet land or
water, and without knots, says Johnson
but Dryden calls it, the knotty bulrush. It
is not a technical word.
BULTEL, n. [See Bolt.] A boiler or bolt
ing cloth ; also, bran. [Al'ot used.]
BUL'WARK, M. [Sw. bolvhrck; D. holtverk ;
Ger. bollwerk ; Dan. bolvark ; from D.
bol, plump and a ball, Sw. hula, W. bal, a
protuberance, and umrk; a projecting or
outwork. Fr. boulevard; Sp. and Port.
balunrte ; It. baluardo.]
1. In fortification, a bastion, or a rampart ; a
mound of earth round a place, capable of
resisting cannou shot, and formed with
bastions, curtains, &c. Encyc.
2. A fortification ; also, any means of de-
fense ; as, a navy is the bulwark of a na-
tion.
3. That which secures against an enemy or
external annoyance ; a screen or shelter
means of protection and safety.
Salvation will God appoint for walls and bul-
warks. Is. xxvi.
BUL'WARK, V. t. To fortify with a ram-
part ; to secure by a fortification ; to pro-
tect. Addison. Barlow.
BUM, n. The buttocks ; the part on which
we sit. Johnson
BUM, V. i. To make a noise. Marston.
BUMBA'ILIFF, n. [A corruption of iowrerf
haUiff.]
In England, an under-bailift'; a suhordi
civil officer, appointed to .serve writs,
to make arrests and executions, and bound
with sureties for a faithful discharge of
his trust. [A vulgar word.]
Blackstone.
BUM'BARD,n. [See Bombard.]
BUM'BAST, II. [A different orthography of
bombast, which see.]
1. A cloth made by sewing one stuff upon
another: patchwork. Gretr.
3. Linen stuffed with cotton ; stuffing ; wad-
ding. Shak.
BUMBLE BEE, n. [L. bomhis, a buzzing.]
A large bee, sometimes called humble
bee ; so named from its sound.
BUM'BOAT, n. A small boat, for carrying
provisions to a ship at a distance from
shore. Mar. Did.
BUM' KIN, n. [See Bumpkin.] A short boom
projecting from each bow of a ship, to ex-
tend the clue of the foresail to windward.
2. A small out-rigger over tlie stern of a boat,
to extend the mizen. Mar. Did.
BUMP, n. [W. piomp, a round mass ; ptmnp-
iaw, to thump: allied to L. bombus, and
Eng. pomp, from swelling, thrusting out.]
1. A swelling or protuberance. Dryden.
2. A thump ; a heavy blow.
BUMP, V. i. To make a loud, heavy or hol-
low noise, as the bittern. It is also writ-
ten boom. [W. brmnp.] Dryden.
BUMP, V. t. To strike as with or against any
thing large or solid, as to bump the head
against a wall ; to thump.
BUMP'ER, n. A cup or glass filled to the
brim, or till the liquor runs over.
Dryden.
BUMP'KIN, n. [bump, large, swelling, and
kin. Sax. cyn, kind, genus.]
An awkward heavy rustic ; a clown, or coun
trv lout. Locke.
BUMP'KINLY, n. Clownish. [JVotused.]
Richardson.
BUNCH, n. [W. pwng ; Dan. hunke, hynke,
a heap or heaped measure.]
1. A protuberance ; a hunch ; a knob or
lump ; as the bunch on a camel's back.
Isaiah.
2. A cluster ; a number of the same kind
growing together ; as a bunch of grapes.
Dryden.
.3. A number of things tied together ; as a
hunch of keys ; a bunch of rods. Locke.
A collection of things; a knot; as a bunch
of hair ; a bunch of trees. Spenser.
BUNCH, V. i. To swell out in a protube-
rance ; to be protuberant or round.
H'oodward.
BUNCH, ti. t. To form or tie in a bunch or
bunches.
BUNCH'-BACKED, a. [bunth and back.]
Having a bunch on the back ; crooked.
Shak.
BUNCH'INESS, n. The quality of being
bunchy, or growing in bunches.
Johnson.
BUNCH'Y, o. Growing in bunches; like a
bunch ; having tufts. Grew.
BUN'DLE, n. [Sax. h/ndel ; D. bondd ; G.
bund,,hundel ; Sw. blndel and bunt. This
word is formed from the root of bind, band,
bond.]
1. A number of things put together.
2. A mil ; any thing bound or rolled into a
convenient form for conveyance ; as a
bundle of lace ; a bundle of hay.
Spectator.
BUG
BUR
B U li
BUN'DLE, V. t. To tie or bind in a bundle
or roll ; often followed by up; ns, to bundle
up clothes. Locke. Su-ift.
BUNG, n. [Fr. hondon ; G. spund ; 1). sponjs ;
W. bwng, a bung hole.]
1. The stopple of the orifice in the bilge of a
cask. Mortimer.
% The hole or orifice in the bilge of u cask.
BUNG, V. t. To stop tlie orifice in the bilg
of a cask with u bung ; to close up.
BUNG'-HOLE, n. [bung; and hole.] The
The hole or orifice in tlie bilge of a cask
BUNG'LE, V. i. bung'gl. To perform in
cluinsv, awkward manner ; as, to bungle
in making shoes. Dri/dtn.
BUNG'LE, V. t. To make or mend cliunsily;
to botch ; to manage awkwardly ; with
up. Dryden
BUNG'LE, n. A botch ; inaccuracy ; gross
blunder ; clumsy performance. Ray.
BUNG'LER, n. A clumsy awkward work-
man ; one who performs without skill.
Peaeham.
BUNG'LING, ppr. Performing awkwardly.
BUNG'LING, a. Clumsy ; awkwartUv done.
briidi
BUNG'LINGLY, adv. Clumsily ; awkwai
ly. ■ BertUerj.
BUNK, n. [Dan. hynke, a meal tub ; Sw
miolk-bunek, a milk pan.]
A case or cabin of boards for a bed ; a loord
used ill some parts of America.
BUNN or BUN, n. [Scot, bun, lunn ; Ir.
bunna ; Gr. jjotiroj, a hill, and a cake of-
fered to deities. It signifies a mass or
collection.]
A small cake, or a kind of sweet bread.
Gay.
BUN'SING,7^. An nuininl fuuiul .it the Cape
of Good Hope, reseiulilina tin- lijict, hut
twice as large. WIiimi piiisucil. It I'inits
an intolerable stench. Did. ajWul. Hist.
BUNT, n. The middle part, cayity, or belly
of a sail. Mm: Diet.
BUNT, V. i. To syvell out ; as, the sail bunts.
% In popular language, to push with the
horns; to butt. [See Point.]
BUNT'ER, n. A cant word for a woman
who picks uj) rags in the streets ; hence, a
low vulgar woman. Johnson.
BUNTING, n. A bird of the genus Embe-
riza. The name is apjdied to dillerent
species, as the English bunting and tlie
rice bunting.
BUNT'ING or BUN'TINE, n. [Ger. bunt, D.
bont, streaked, or of different colors.]
A thin woolen stuff, of which the colors or
flags and signals of ships are made.
Mar. Diet.
BUNT'LINES, n. Ropes fastened to crin-
gles on the bottoms of square sails, to draw
Them up to their yards. Mar. Diet.
BUOY, 71. [Fr. bouie, a buoy ; D. boei, a
buoy, a lodge or hut, a fetter, or sliackle,
a handcuft" ; boeijen, to fetter, to buoy
Ger. boy ; Dan. boy ; Russ. 6m ; Sp. boya,
a buoy ; probably from the root of Sax.
. byan, to dwell, that is, to set, be fixed, or
stationary ; Dan. boe, boende-]
A close empty cask, or a block of wood or
cork, fastened by a rojie to an anchor, and
floating on the water, to show where th
anchor is situated. Buoys are of various
kinds, as can-buoys, in the form of a cone
nun-buoys, whicli are large in the middle
and tapering nearly to a point at each
end ; cable-buoys, empty casks, employed
to buoy up the cable, in rocky anchorage.
Buoys are used also as marks, to point
out tin; situation of rocks, shoals, c
chaiiiiei.
To stream the buoy, is to let it fall by the
ship's side into the water, before letting
go the anchor. Mar. Diet.
BUOY'ROPE, n. f buoy and rope.^ The rope
which fastens a buoy to an anchor.
BUOY, V. t. To ke<j> afloat in a fluid ; to
bear up, or keep from sinking in a fluid,
as in water or air ; yvith up. H'oodward.
2. To support, or sustain ; to keep from
sinking into ruin or despondency.
King Charles.
3. To fi.\ buoys, as a direction to marinei-s.
BUOY, V. i. To float ; to rise by specific
liplitness. Pope
BUOY'ANCY, n. The quality of floating on
the surface of water, or in the atrnosjihe;
specific lightness.
BUOY'ANT, a. Floating ; light ; that will
not sink ; having the quality of rising or
floating in a fluid. Thomson.
2. Bearing up, as a fluid ; sustaining another
body. <^ Unusual.] Dryden.
BUPR'ES'TES, n. A species of cantharides
of a nauseous scent, and biting severely.
Diet. of.Yat. Hist
BOUR > ^^^' *"'■' signifies a chamber or a
HOR, ' S ''""^^^•
BUR, n. [Sax. burre, burdock; W. bar, i
bushy head or bunch ; Ir. borr, a bunch oi
knob ; Fr. bourree, bush.]
I. A rough prickly covering of the seeds oi
certain plants, as of the chesnut, and bur
dock.
i. A broad ring of iron behind the place for
the hand on a spear, used in tilting.
Eneyt
BUR'BOT, n. [from L. barbatus, so named
from its beard.]
A fish of the genus Gadus, shaped like an
eel, but sliorter, with a flat head, and on
the nose it has two small beards, and an-
other on the chin. It is disgusting in ap-
pearance, but delicate food. It is called
also eel-pout. Encyc.
BURD'ELAIS, n. A sort of grape.
Johnson
BURD'EN, n. burd'n ; written also burthen
[Sax. byrden, byrthen ; Sw. bordri ; Dan,
byrde ; G. biirde ; Ir. heart or beirt ; Gr.
fH^"! ; F'"- fardeau ; Arm. fard ; from
tJ-V-
bear ; L. fem, or poiio ; Pers.
burdan, to carry. See Bear.]
. That which is borne or carried ; a load
Hence,
2. That which is borne with labor or diffi-
culty ; that which is grievous, wearisome
or oppressive. Milton.
3. A birth. Shak.
4. [Fr. bourdon, a drone.] The verse re-
peated in a song, or the return of the
theme at the end of each verse ; the cho-
rus ; so called from the application of this
word to the drone or base, and tlie j)ipe or
string which plays it, in an instrument.
A chord which is to be divided, to perform
the intervals of music, when open and un-
divided, is also called the burden.
Encyc.
5. In common language, tliat which is ollfH
repeated ; a subject on which one dwells.
6. A fixed quantity of certain commodities ;
i a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds.
7. The contents of a ship ; the quantity or
number of tuns, a vessel will carry ; as a
ship of a liundrcd tuns burden.
8. A club. [Kot in rise.] Spenser.
BURDEN, V. t. burd'n. To load ; to lay on
a heavy load ; to incumber with weight.
Hence,
i2. To oppress with any thing grievous ; as,
to burdin a nation yvith taxes.
3. To surcharge ; as, to burden the memorj".
BURD'ENED, pp. Loaded with weight ; in-
cuiiil.crcd : oppressed.
BURD'ENER, n. One who loads; an op-
pressor.
BURD'ENOUS, a. Grievous ; heavy to bo
borne ; 0|)pressive. Sidney.
2. Cunilirrsome ; useless. Milton.
BURDENSOME, a. Heavy ; grievous to be
borne ; causing uneasiness or fatigue : op-
pressi\e. Dryden.
BURD'ENSOMENESS, n. The quality of
being burdensome ; heaviness ; oppress-
iveness.
BUR'DOCK, n. [bur and dock.] A genus of
plants, called Arctium. They are trouble-
some yveeds.
The lesser burdock is a species of xanthium.
BU'REAU, n. biiro. [Fr. bureau, an office, a
table, a court, a chest of drawers ; Sp.
bureo, a court of justice ; Arm. burell ; Fr.
bure, a cloth. The primary sense is a cloth
covering a table, like exchequer. Lunier.]
1. A chest of drayvers, for keeping papers or
clothes.
2. An embassador's or secretary's office.
In Spanish, this word bureo is a court of jus-
tice for the trial of persons belonging to the
king's household.
BURG, 71. [This is the same word as borough,
the only difi'erence being in the pronunci-
ation of the final letter.]
A borough ; originally a fortified toyvn, but
noyv a city or town, yvhich sends members
to parliament, yvhether incorporated or
not. [See Borough.]
BURG'AOE, 71. [from burg.] In English
law, tenure in burgage, or burgage tenure,
is tenure in socage, applied to cities or
towns, or where houses, or lands yvhich
were formerly the site of houses, in an an-
cient borough, are held of some lord in
common socage by a certain established
rent ; a remnant of Saxon liberty.
Blackstone.
BURG'AMOT, n. A species of pear. [See
Bergamot.]
2. A kind of perfume. [See Bergamot.]
BURG'ANKT, ) [Fr. bourguignote, from
BURG'ONET, S burg, in the sense of
covering or guarding.]
A Ivind of helmet, the Spanish murrion.
Spenser. Shak.
BURgEOIS', n. [Fr. bourgeois, pronounced
boorzhiva, from bourg, burg.] A burgess.
BURGEOIS', I , . . , A species of
BOURt>EOIS , <, "■ ""'"■''"* • type, or print-
ing letter, smaller than long primer, and
larger than brevier.
LJRgEON. [See Bourgemi.]
BURGER-MASTER, 7i. An aquatic foyvl
yvhich builds its nest on cliffs near the
yvater. Did. o/Aa(. Hist.
BUR
"BURu'ESS, n. [Fr. bourgeois, from bourg.
burg.]
1. An inhabitant of a borough, or walled
town; or one who possesses a tenement
therein ; a citizen or freeman of a bor
ough. Blackstone.
3. A representative of a borough in parlia-
ment. ]b
3. A magistrate of certain towns. Encyc
4. Before tlie revolution, the representatives
in the popular branch of the legislature of
Virginia, were called burgesses, as the
House of Burgesses. It is now called tlie
Hoxise of Delegates.
BUR6'ESS-SHIP, n. The state or quality
of a burgess. Soiith
BURGH, 11. burg. A different orthography
of burg, borough, which see.
BURGH'-BOTE, n. [burgh and bote.] In old
laws, a contribution towards the building
or repairing of castles, or walls, for the
defense of a city or town. Encyc.
BURGH'-BRECH, n. [burgh and break.] A
fine imposed on a burgh, for a breacli of|
the peace. English
BURGH'ER, n. [from burg.] An inhabitant
of a burgh or borough, who enjoys the
privileges of the borough of which he is a
freeman. In America, it is applied to any
native citizen, especially in the state of
New-York.
BURGH'ER-SHIP, n. The state or privi-
lege of a burgher.
BURGH'-M'ASTER, n. [burgh and master.]
A burgomaster ; also, an officer in the tin-
mines, wiio directs and lays out the meers
for the workmen, called also bailiff and
bar-master. Encyc.
BURGH'MOTE, n. [burgh and mote, meet-
ing.] The court of a burgh or borough.
Enqjc.
BURG'LAR, n. [burgh or hirg, a house, and
Arm. laer, a tliief ; whence Fr. lan'on.]
One guilty of nocturnal house breaking ; one
who breaks and enters a mansion house,
with intent to commit a felony. Coke.
BURGLARIOUS, a. Pertaining to burg-
lary ; constituting the crime of burglary.
To come down a chimney is held a burglari-
ous entry. Blackstone.
BURGLA'RIOUSLY, adv. With an intent
to commit burglai-y; in the manner of a
burglar. Blackstone.
BURG'LARY, n. The act or crime of noc-
turnal house breaking, with an intent to
commit a felony. To constitute this
crime, the act must be committed in the
night, or when there is not day-light
enough to discern a man's face. It must
be in a mansion house, or in an adjoining
building which is a part or parcel of the
mansion. There must be an actual break-
ing and an entry ; but an opening made
by the offender, as by taking out a pane of
glass, or lifting a window, raising a latch,
picking a lock, or removing any fastening,
amounts to a breaking ; and a putting in
of the hand, after such breaking, is an en-
try. The act must also be done with an
intent to commit felony. Blackstone.
BURG'OM'ASTER, n. [burg and mast)^.]
A burgh-master ; a magistrate or one em-
ployed in the government of a city. The
burgomasters are the chief magistrates of
the great towns, m Holland, Flanders and
German^'.
BUR
BUR' GRAVE, n. [burg and G. graf D.
graaf an earl.]
In some European countries, an hereditary
governor of a town or castle.
BUR'GUNDY, n. A kind of wine, so called
from Burgundy in France. Shensl
Burgundy pitch is turpentine boiled down to
a firmer consistence.
BURH, is the same as burg, burgh, with the
aspirate. It is Saxon, and signifies a city
a castle, a house, or tower. Hence in
composition it signifies defense, protection ;
as cwtnburh, (queen-burh) a woman ready
to assist ; Cuthburh, eminent for assist-
ances. Gibson's Camden.
BURIAL, n. ber'rial. [See Bury.] The acl
of burying a deceased person ; sepulture :
interment ; the act of depositing a dead
body in the earth, in a tomb or vault
in the water.
2. The act of placing any thing under earth
or water ; as, to bury seed in the earth.
3. The church service for funerals. Johnson.
BURIAL-PLACE, n. A place appropriated
to the burial of the dead ; a grave-yard.
BURIER, n. ber'rier. One who buries a de-
ceased person. Shak.
BU'RIN, n. [Fr. burin ; Port, boril ; It. bu-
lino.]
A graver ; an instrument for engraving.
Jolmson.
BURL, V. t. [See Burly.] To dress cloth as
fullers do. Johnson
2. To pick knots and loose threads off fi-oni
cloth. Ash.
BUR'LACE, n. [A contraction of bmdelais.]
A sort of grape. Johnson.
BURL'ER,r!. A dresser of cloth.
RLESQUE, } [Fr. ; It. burlesco, from
BURLESK', \ "■ hurlare, to ridicule ; tur-
la, mockery, raillery ; Port, and Sp. burlar.
to jest or scoft'; burlesco, a wag, a jester.
The termination esque answers to Eng.
ish.]
Jocular ; tending to excite laughter by ludi-
crous images, or by a contrast between the
subject and the manner of treating it, as
when a trifling subject is treated witl
gravity.
[JRLESQUE, I Ludicrous representa-
BURLESK', S "• tion ; a contrast be
tween the subject and the manner of]
treating it, wliich tends to excite laughter
or ridicule.
2. A composition in which a trifling subject
or low incident is treated with great grav-
ity, as a subject of great dignity or impor-
tance ; or a composition in which the
contrast between the subject and the man-
ner of considering it renders it ludicrous
or ridiculous ; as in Virgil Travestie, the
Lutrin of Boileau, Butler's Hudihras and
Trumbull's McFingal.
BURLESQUE, ) . To turn into ridicule ;
BURLESK', \ "• '• or to make ludicrous
by representation ; as by treating a low or
trifling subject with great gravity.
BURLESQ'UER, ) , One who burlesques,
BURLESK'ER, ^ or turns to ridicule.
BURLET'TA, n. [Italian. See Burlesque,
Burly.]
A comic opera ; a musical entertainment
BIJR'LINESS, n. [See Burly.] Bulk ; hi
ter. Johnson.
BURL'Y, «. [The sense probably is swelhd.
Hence it accords with Russ. hurlyu, to be
BUR
noisy, to swell as sound. Qu. W. broliaw.
See Burlesque.]
Great in size ; bulky ; tumid ; falsely great ;
boisterous. Dryden. Cowley.
This word is obsolete or nearly so in
America; but hurly-burly is common in
vulgar use, for noise, con'fusion, uproar.
BURN, V. t. pret. and pp. burned or burnt.
[Sax. bernan, bcernan or byman, to bum ;
bryne, a burning, fire, ardor ; Sw. brinna,
brhnna; G. brennen ; D. hranden ; Dan.
bra:nder, from brand ; L. pruna, and per-
ha\^s,fumus,fornar, a furnace. The pri-
mary sense is, to rage, to act with violent
excitement.]
1. To consume with fire ; to reduce to ash-
es by the action of heat or fire ; frequent-
ly with up ; as, to bum up wood.
|2. To expel the volatile pans and reduce te
charcoal by fire ; as, to hum wood into
coal. Hence, in popular language, to burn
I a kiln of wood, is to char the wood.
:3. To cleanse of soot by burning ; to inflame ;
as, to burn a chimney ; an extensive use of
j the word.
,4. To harden in the fire ; to bake or harden
by heat ; as, to bum bricks or abrickkiln.
5. To scorch ; to affect by heat ; as, to bum
the clothes or the legs by the fire ; to 6«rn
meat or bread in cookery.
6. To injure by fire ; to affect the flesh by
7. To dry up or dissipate ; with up ; as, to
bum up tears. Drt/den.
8. To dry excessively ; to cause to viith'er by
heat ; as, the sun bu7-ns the grass or plants.
9. To heat or inflame ; to aflfect with exces-
sive stimulus ; as, ardent spirits bum the
stomach.
10. To affect with heat in cookery, so as to
give the food a disagreeable taste. Hence
the phrase burnt to.
11. To calcine with heat or fire; to expel
the volatile matter from substances, so
that tliey are easily pulverized ; as, to hum
oyster shells, or lime-stone.
12. To affect with excess of heat ; as, the fe-
ver burns a patient.
1.3. To subject to the action of fire ; to heat
or dry ; as, to bum colors. Encyc.
To bum up, to consume entirely by fire.
To bum out, to burn till the fuel is all con-
sumed.
BURN, V. i. To be on fire ; to flame ; as,
the mount burned with fire. Exodus.
2. To shine ; to sparkle.
0 prince ! 0 wherefore burri your eyes .'
JRowe.
3. To be inflamed with passion or desire; as,
to bum with anger or love. Thomson.
4. To act with destructive violence, as fire.
Shall tliy wrath burn like fire ?
Psalm Ixxxix.
5. To be in commotion ; to rage witli de-
structive violence.
The groan still deepens and the combat hums.
Pope.
G. To be heated ; to be in a glow ; as, the face
hums.
7. To be affected with a sensation of heat,
pain or acidity; as, the heart 6«nis.
8. To feel excess of heat; as, the flesh bums
by a fire ; a patient bums with a fever.
To 'bum out, to burn till the fuel is exhaust-
ed and the fire ceases.
BUR
BUR
BUR
BURN, n. A hurt or injury of tiic flesii
caused by the action of fire.
3. The operation of burning or baking, as in
brickniaking ; as, they have a good hum.
BURN'ABLE, a. That may be burnt.
[Littk used.]
BURN'-€OW or BURST'-€OW, n. A ge-
nus of insects, with filiform feelers, of
several species ; very obnoxious to cattle.
Did. o/JVat. Hist.
BURNED, BURNT, pp. Consumed with
fire ; scorched or dried with fire or heat ;
baked or hardened in the fire.
BURN'ER, n. A person who burns or sets
fire to any thing.
BURN'ET, n. A plant, Poterium or garden
bnrnct.
BURNET-SAXIFRA(iE, n. A plant, Pim-
pinella.
BURN'ING, ppr. Consuming with fire ;
flaming ; scorching ; hardening by fire ;
calcining ; charring ; raging as fire ; glow-
BURN'ING, n. Combustion; the act of ex-
pelling volatile matter and reducing to
ashes, or to a calx ; a fire ; inflammation ;
the heat or raging of passion. In surgery,
actual cautery ; cauterization.
BURN'ING, a. Powerful ; vehement ; as a
burning shame ; a burning scent. Shak.
3. Much heated ; very hot ; scorcliing.
The burning plains of India. S. S. Smith.
BURN'ING-GLASS, n. [hum and g-tes*.]
A convex glass which, when exposed to
the direct rays of the sun, collects them
into a small space, called a /octts, pniilii-
cing an intense heat. The name is f^ivcii
also to a concave mirror which condenses
the sun's rays. Enciic.
BURNING-THORNY-PLANT. A species
of Euphorbia or s|)urgo. Fam. of Plants.
BURN'ISH, I', f. [Fr. brunir; D. bruineeren ;
It. brunire; Sp. hrunir. This word un
doubtedly is of secondary formation, from
the color of flame. See Bum.]
To polish by friction ; to make smooth,
bright and glossy ; as, to burnish steel.
Dryden.
BURN'ISH, V. i. To grow bright or glossy.
Smjl.
BURN'ISH, 71. Gloss ; brightness ; luster.
Christ. Observ.
BURN'LSHED, pp. Polished ; made glossy.
BURN'ISHER, n. The person who pohsh-
es, or makes glossy.
2. An instrument used in pohshing, of dif-
ferent kinds. It may be a piece of round
polished steel, a dog's or wolf's tooth, a
piece of copper, agate or pebble, &c. It is
used for giving a gloss or smoothness to
metals, to the edges of books, &c.
BURN'ISHING, ppr. Polishing; making
smooth and glossy.
BURN'OOSE, > re. ,, n ,
BURN'OS, < "■ ^ P' "''""■""^ '■ "<"■'• «'-
bemoz; Ptrs. ^^^^j ; Syr. ^jo ;.aO bi-
runn.]
An upper cloke or garment. Parkhurst
BURNT, />p. of iurn. Consumed ; scorch-
ed ; heated ; subjected to the action ol
fire.
BURNT-OFFERING, n. [burnt and offer.]
Something offered and burnt on an altar,
as an atonement for sin : a sacrifice ; call
Vol. r.
ed also humt-sacrifice. The oflferings of the
Jews were a clean animal, as an ox, a
calf, a goat, or sheep ; or some species of
vegetable substance, as bread and ears of
wheat or barley. Brown.
BURR, n. The lobe or lap of the ear.
Did.
2. The round knob of a horn next a deer's
head. Encyc.
3. The sweetbread.
Burr-pump, or bilge-pump. A pump, having
a staff of (), 7 or b feet long with a bar of
wood to wliich the leather is nailed, which
serves instead of a box. This staff is
worked by men who pull it up and down,
with a rope fastened to the middle of it.
Encyc.
BUR'RAS-PIPE, n. An instrument or ves-
sel used to keep corroding powders in.
Johnson.
BUR'-REED, n. A plant, the Sparganium.
Muhlenberg.
BUR'REL, 71. A sort ofpear, called also the
red butter pear, from its smooth, delicious,
soft pulp. Philips.
BURREL-FLY, ti. The ox-fly, gad-bee, or
breeze. Johnson.
BURREL-SHOT, ji. [Fr. bourreler, to tor-
ment, and shot.]
Small shot, nails, stones, pieces of old iron,
&c., put into cases, to be dischaj-ged among
enemies.
BUR'ROCK, n. A small wier or dam where
wheels are laid in a river, for catching fish.
Philips.
m;R ROW, n. A different orthography of
huriih, liorovgh, which see.
I!l K'KOW, 71. [Sax. byrgen, a sepulcher,
byrian, to bury, or beorgan, to keep.]
A hollow place in the earth or in a warren,
where small animals lodge, and sometimes
deposit their provisions. Some animals
excavate the earth, by scratching, and
form these lodges.
BUR'ROW, V. i. To lodge in a hole exca-
vated in the earth, as coneys or rabbits.
In a more general sense, to lodge in any
deep or concealed place. The word
seems to include the idea of excavating a
hole for a lodge, as well as lodging in it ;
but the verb is not often used transitively,
as toburroiv the earth.
BUR'ROWING, ppr. Lodging in a burrow.
BURS'AR, n. [See Burse.) A treasurer, or
cash-keeper, as the bursar of a college, or
of a monastery ; a purser.
2. A student to whom a stipend is paid out
of a bur.se or fund appropriated for that
purpose, as the exhibitioners sent to the
universities in Scotland by each presbyte-
ry. Enaic. Johnson.
BURS'AR-SHIP, n. The oflice of a bursar.
Hales.
BURS'ARY, n. The treasury of a college,
or monastery.
2. In Scotland, an exhibition. Encyc.
BURSE, 71. 4m?'*. [Fr. bourse, a purse, the
vesicle of the gall, the hull or skin of
seeds, an exchange ; D. beurs, a purse,
an exchange, scrotum ; Ger. horse, a purse,
an exchange ; D. bars, the same ; It. borsa ;
Sp. and Port, bolsa, a pm'se or bag, r be-
ing changed into I.]
1. A public edifice in certain cities, for the
meeting of merchants to consult on mat-
ters of trade and money, and to negotiate
29
bills of exchange. This is the name used
in many cities in Eiu-ope, but in England
and America, such building is called an
exchange. The new Burse in Paris is one
of the most elegant buildings in the city.
2. In /VoJice, a fund or foundation for the
maintenance of poor scholars in their
studies. In the middle ages, it signified
a little college, or a hall in a university.
Encyc.
BURST, V. i. prcl. and pp. hurst. The old
participle hursten is nearly obsolete. [Sax.
hjrstan, hursian ; D. barsten ; G. bersten ;
Dun. brister ; Sw. brista, to burst. The
word b)-istle seems to belong to burst, de-
noting a shoot.]
1. To fly or break open with force, or with
sudden violence ; to sufter a violent dis-
ru])tion. The peculiar force of this word
i.s, in expressing a sudden rupture, with
violence, or expansion, or both. Hence it is
generally used to signify the sudden rup-
ture of a thing by internal force, and a
liberation from confinement ; as, to burst
from a prison ; the heart bitrsts with ^rief.
Mtlton.
2. To break away ; to spring from ; as, to
burst from the arms. Pope.
3. To come or fall upon suddenly or with
iolence ; to rush upon unexpectedly ; as,
sound bursts upon our ears.
4. To issue suddenly, or to come from a
hidden or retired place into more open
view ; as, a river hursts from a valley ; a
spring hursts from the earth.
5. To break forth into action suddenly ; as, to
burst into tears.
6. To break or rush in with violence ; as, to
burst into a house or a room.
It is often followed by an intensive par-
ticle ; as, out, forth, away, from, or ajtunder.
BURST, V. t. To break or rend by force or
violence ; to open suddenly ; as, to burst a
chain or a door; to burst a cannon.
BURST, 7!. A sudden disruption ; a violent
rending ; more appropriately, a sudden ex-
plosion or shooting forth ; as a hurst of
thunder ; a burst of applause ; a hurst of
passion.
2. A rupture, a hernia, or the unnatural
protrusion of the contents of the abdomen.
BURST, or BURST'EN, pp. or a. Affected
with a rupture or hernia.
BI'RST, pp. Opened or rent asunder by vio-
lence.
BURST'ENNESS, n. The state of having
a ruptuje ; the hernia.
BURST'ER, n. One that bursts.
BURST'ING, ppr. Rending or parting by
violence ; exploding.
BURST'-WORT, n. The Hemiaria, a
plant said to be good against hernia or
. ruptures.
BURT, 71. A flat fish of the turbot kind.
Johnson.
BURTHEN. [See Burden.]
BUR'TON, n. A small tackle formed by two
blocks or pulleys, used to set up or tight-
en the to])most shrouds, and for various
other purposes; called also top-hurton-
tackle. Mar. Did.
BURY, 77. ber'ry. This word is a different
orthography of hurg, hurh, borough. It
signifies a house, habitation or castle, and
is retained in many names of places, as in
BUS
B U
BUS
Shreu'sbwy, Danhury, Aldtrmanhury. Tlie
word is used by Grew, for burrow.
liURY, V. t. ber'ry. [Sax. byrian, burgan, U
bury ; byrgen, a tomb or sepulcher ; alii
ed to beorgan, to save.]
1. To deposit a deceased person in the
grave ; to inter a corpse ; to entomb.
2. To cover with earth, as seed sown.
3. To hide ; to conceal ; to overwhelm ; to
cover with any thing ; as, to bury any one
in the ruins of a city.
4. To withdraw or conceal in retirement
as, to biiry one's self in a monastery or in
solitude.
5. To commit to the water ; to deposit in tlie
ocean ; as dead bodies buried in the deep.
6. To place one thing within another.
Thy name so buried in her. Shak.
7. To forget and forgive ; to hide in oblivion ;
as, to bury an injury.
To bury the hatchet, in tlie striking metaphor-
ical language of American Indians, is
to lay aside tlie instruments of war, forget
injuries, and make peace.
BURYING, ppr. Interring ; hiding ; cover-
ing with earth ; overwhelming.
BURYING, n. The act of interring the
dead ; sepulture. John xii. 7.
BURYING -PL ACE, n. A grave-yard; a
place ajipropriated to the sejiultuie of the
dead ; a church-yard.
BUSH, n. [D.bosch; G. busch ; Dan. busk;
Sw. bitska ; It. bosco ; Sp. bosque ; Port.
bosque ; whence Sp. boscage, Fr. bocage,
It. boscala, a grove or cluster of trees.
Q.U. Gr. (Soffxu, L. pasco, originally, to feed
on sprouts.]
1. A shrub with branches ; a thick shrub ;
also, a cluster of shrubs. With hunters, a
fox tail. Spenser. fValler. Encyc. .fish.
2. An assemblage of branches interwoven.
, Encyc.
3. A branch of a tree fixed or hung out as a
tavern sign. Hence, since the branch has
been discontinued, a coronated frame of
wood hung out as a tavern sign, is so call-
ed. Hence the English proverb, "Good
wine needs no bush." Encyc.
[I knoro not that this word is thus xised in
the U. States.]
4. A circle of metal let into the sheaves ol'
such blocks as have iron pins, to jirevent
their wearing. Mar. Diet.
This word when applied to sheaves is
called bush, but when apjilied to the cir-
cular iron of a cart wheel is, in America,
called a box. Qu. It. bosso, the box-tree ;
bossolo, a little box. Johnson writes
bushel.
BUSH, V. i. To grow thick or bushy.
Milton.
BUSH, V. t. To furnish a block with a busl
BUSH'EL, n. [Fr. boisseau ; Arm. bocsel;
Norm, bussel ; probably from hoiste, boite,
a box ; It. iossoZo, that is, a little box.]
A dry measure, containing eight gallons, ot
four pecks. The standard English bushel,
by Stat. 12. Henry VII., contains eight
gallons of wheat, each gallon eight pound
of wheat, troy weight, the pound, twelv
ounces troy, the ounce, twenty sterlingi
and the sterling, thirty two grains of wheat
growing in the middle of the ear. The
contents are 2145. 6 solid inches, equiva
lent to 1131 ounces and 14 pennyweights
troy. Encyc.
The Enghsh bushel is used also in the
U. States.
Bushel signifies both the quantity or ca-
pacity, and the vessel which will contain
the quantity.
2. In popular language, a large quantity in-
definitely. Johnson.
3. The circle of iron in the nave of a wheel ;
in America, called a box. [See Bush.]
BUSII'ELAgE, n. A duty payable on com-
modities by the bushel. [JM'ot used in the
U. States.]
BUSH'INESS, 7!. [from bush, bushy.] The
quahty of being bushy, thick or intermix-
ed, like the branches of a bush.
BUSH'-MAN, n. [D. bosch-man.] A woods-
man ; a name which the Dutch give to
the wild and ferocious inhabitants of Af-
rica, near the Cape of Good Hope.
BUSH'MENT, n. [from htsh.] A thicket ;
a cluster of bushes. [M>t used.]
Raleigh.
BUSH'Y, a. [from fcttsZi.] Full of branches;
thick and spreading, lilce a bush ; as a
bushy beard or brier. Bacon.
2. Full of bushes ; overgrown with shrubs.
Dryden.
BUSIED, ;;p. of busy; pran. biz'zied.
BUSILESS, a. biz'iitess. [See Busjj.] With-
out business ; at leisure ; unemjiloyed.
Shak.
BUSILY, adv. biz'zily. With constant oc-
cupation ; actively ; earnestly ; as, to be
busily employed.
2. With an air of liurn' or im])ortance ; with
too much curiosity ; importunately ; offi-
ciously. Dryden.
BUSINESS, n. biz'ness. [See Busy.] Em-
ployment ; that which occupies the time,
attention and labor of men, for the pur-
pose of profit or improvement — a word
of extensive use and indefinite signification.
Business is a particular occupation, as
agriculture, trade, mechanic art, or pro-
fession, and when used of a particular
employment, the word admits of the i)lu-
ral number, businesses. Bitsiness is also
any temporary employment.
2. Affairs ; concerns ; as, a man leaves his
business in an unsettled state.
3. The subject of employment ; that which
engages the care and attention.
Vou ate so inucli the bttsiness of our souls.
Dryden.
4. Serious engagement ; important occupa-
tion, in distinction from trivial affairs.
It should be the main business of life to serve
God, and obey his commands.
5. Concern ; right of action or interposing.
" What hisiness has a man with the dis-
putes of others?"
6. A point; a matter of question: something
to be examined or considered.
Fitness to govern is a perplexed business.
Bacon.
7. Something to be done; employment ol
importance to one's interest, opposed to
amusement; as, we have no buMness in
town.
They were far from the Zidonians and had
no business with any one. Judges.
8. Duty, or employment that duty enjoins.
A lawyer's business is to do justice to his
clients.
To do the business for a man, is to kill, des
troy or ruin him.
BUSK, n. [Fr. busque.] A piece of steel oi
whale bone, worn by women to strengthen
their stays; a word dependent on fashion.
Donne.
BUSK, n. A bush. [JVot used.]
BUSK, V. i. To be active or busy. This is
probably the Saxon word bysgian, to busy,
or the Sp. buscar, to search. Busk is still
used in America. [See Busy.] Fairfax
uses it in the sense of prepare, transitively,
" to busk them for the battle."
BUSK'ET, n. A small bush, or a compart-
ment of shrubs in a garden. Spenser.
BUSK'IN, M. A kind of half boot, or high
shoe, covering the foot and leg to the mid-
dle and tied underneath the knee, worn
by actors in tragedy on the stage. The
buskins of the ancients had very thick
soles, to raise the actors and actresses to
the stature of the persons they represent-
ed. Encyc.
2. In classic authors, the word is used for
tragedy.
BUSK'INED, a. Dressed in buskins.
Milton. Pope.
BUSK'Y, a. Bushy; wooded; shaded or
overgiown with trees or shrubs ; generally
written bosky. [See Bush.] Shak.
BUSS, n. [Per. ^ J.a*«j.j bosidan ; Ar.
(j„ Lj bausa, to kiss ; L. basio ; Fr. baiser ;
Norm, beser ; Sp. iesar; Port, beijar; It.
baciare ; D. poezen ; to kiss. Tiie verb
may be from the noun, and perhaps from
the name of the lip ; at any rate, fi-oin the
same i-adical sense, to push ; Per. puz, the
lip ; W. and Ir. bus, the lip ; D. poes, a
kiss, a iiuss, a fur-tip]iet, a girl ; Sp. beso, a
kiss ; Port, beiro, the lip ; beijo, a kiss ; It.
bacio. This \vord, so venerable for its an-
tiquity and general use, has fallen into
disrepute.]
A kiss ; a salute with the lips.
2. [D. btiis ; G. biise ; Russ. busa.] A small ves-
sel, from 50 to 70 tons burthen, carrying
two masts, and two sheds or cabins, one
at each end ; used in the herring fishery.
Encyc. Mar. Did.
BUSS, V. t. To kiss ; to salute with the lips.
Shak.
BUST, n. [It. and Sp. busto ; Fr. buste ; L.
bustu7n.]
In sculpture, the figure of a jierson in relief,
showing only the head, shoulders and
stomach ; ordinarily placed on a pedestal
or console. In speaking of an antique,
we say the head is marble and the bust
porphyry or bronze ; that is, the shoul-
ders and stomach. The Italians use the
word for the trunk of ttie body from the
neck to the hijis. " Encyc.
BUST'ARD, n. [bus and tarda ; It. otarda ;
Fr. outarde. Ancient Celtic, tarda. Plin.
10. 22.]
The tarda, a .species of fowl of the gral-
lic order, and genus Otis. This fowl
grows to the wcij;lit Mr'.'.' nr 27 pounds,
with a breadth nl' \\in- ■!' m\ nr seven
feet. It inhabii.< r.iiL'l.m.l. I'rcHing on
green corn and dtln r ml;( i.ililes, and on
earth-worms. It ruiis'^last and takes
flight with diflicultv. Encyc.
BUS'TLE, V. i. bus'l. [This word may be
allied to busy, or to "[j. festino.]
To stir quick: to be very active; to bt
BUT
very quick in motion, often or usually
with the sense of noise or agitation.
And leave the world for nie to bustle in.
Skak
BUS TLE, 71. biis'l. Hurry ; great stir; rapiti
motion with noise and agitation ; tumult
from stirring or agitation ; combustion.
All would have been well without this btislle
Spectator
BUS'TLER, Ji. bus'ter. An active stirring
person.
BUS'TLING, ppr. bus'ling. Stirring ; mo-
ving actively with noise or agitation
BUST'O, n. A bust ; sometimes perliaps
used for a statue. Ashmole.
BUSY, a. biz'zy. [Sax. bysi, bysig; whence,
bifseg, business, byagian, to busy ; D. be
:ig, busy ; bezigen, to busy, to use. Tliis
word appears, from the Dutch, to be com
posed of 6c, the prefix, and zig, the root of
see, contracted in Inf. to zicn, but retained
in the pret. zag, and in the derivatives, zigt,
sight, ziglbaar, visible. We find bezigti
gen signifies to view. If this opinion i
correct, the primary sense is seeing, or
closely inspecting.]
1. Employed with constant attention ; enga-
ged about something that renders
ruption inconvenient ; as, a man is busy
in posting his books.
My misliess is buKy aiul cannot come.
Shalt
2. Actively employed ; occupied without ces-
sation ; constantly in motion ; as a busy
bee. Shak.
3. Active in that which does not concern tli
person ; meddling with or prying into the
affairs of others; officious; importunate
hence, troublesome ; vexatious. Waller.
4. Much occupied with employment ; as a
busy day.
BUSY, i>. t. biz'zy. To employ with con-
stant attention ; to keep engaged ; to make
or keep busy ; as, to busy one's self with
books.
To be busied with genus and species.
Locke.
BUSY-BODY, II. Uz'zy-body. [busy and
body.'\
.\ meddling person ; one who officiously
concerns himself with the affairs of others.
TayloA
BUT, part, for butan. [Sax. butan, butonl
buta, bule, without, on the outside, abroad ;
hence, except or excepting, besides; that
, separated, not included. The verb is
BUT
Lycon being separated, or excepted, \vho
can it be ?
And but intirmity.
Which waits upon worn times, hath something
seized
His wish'd ability, he liad liimself
The lands and waters measured. Shak,
That is, except, unless, separate this fact,
that infii-mity had seized his ability, he
had measured the lands and waters.
In this use but, butan, is a participle equiv
alent to excepting, and may be referred tc
the person speaking, or more naturally, it
equivalent to excepted, and with the
following words, or clause, forming the
case absolute.
Who can it be, Lycon being excepted
And but my noble Moor is true of mind, it
were enough to put him to ill thinking.
the Saxon ; but in Dutch we have
the verb in its primary sense, buiten, to
rove, or wander, to go freebooting ; bmt,\
booty ; buiten, out, without, abroad, be-
sides, except ; buiten board, over board ;[
buiten deur, out of doors; buiten kuis,
out-house ; buiten man, an out-man,
stranger ; G. beiUe, booty ; Sw. byte, booty ;
byta, to exchange ; Dan. bytte, booty, a
parting, division, distribution ; bytter, to
part, divide, exchange, barter ; Sp. botin ;
It. botiino ; Fr. irnh'n, booty. The primary
sense of booty is to rove or wander, to
part or separate from ; applied to persons,
it is to wander ; applied to things, it may
include stripping. But then is a contrac-
tion of butan, and primarily a participle.]
1. Except; besides; unless.
Who can it be, but perjured I^ycon .' Smith.
■fliat is, removed, separated, excepted.
It cannot be but nature hath some directoi
infinite power, to guide her in all her ways.
Hoo
There is no question but the King of Spain
will reform most of the abuses. Addison
It is not impossible but I may alter the com-
plexion of my play. Dryden
In the last three examples, that is oniitted
after but.
It is not impossible but that I may alter the
complexion of my play.
In these and all similar phrases, but de-
notes separation, exception.
2. Only.
A formidable man, but to his friends. Dryden
There is but one man present.
This use of but is a modern innovation
but perhaps too firmly established to bt
corrected. In all such ])hrases, a negative,
not, nothing, or other word, is oniitted. He
is not a formidable man, but to his ene
mies, that is, except. There is not but one
one man present, that is, there is not ex-
cept or besides one present. So also, " Oui
light affliction is but for a moment." 2 Cor
iv. Our affliction is not, except for a mo
ment.
If they kill us, we shall but die. 2 Kings vii.
The common people in America retain
tlie original and correct phrase ; usual!
employing a negative. They do not say, I
have but one. On the other hand, they
say, I have not but one, that is, I ha^e not
except one ; except one, and I have none
This word but for butan is not a conjunc-
tion, nor has it the least affinity to that
part of speech.
BUT, conj. [Sax. iofe, reparation, satisfac
tion, compensation, and adverbially, more-
over, further, that is, something added
to make good, to supply what is wanted
from betan, to make better, or more, tc
amend, that is, to advance ; D. boete ; Sw,
bote ; Dan. baade ; W. buz, advantage. So
in Ger. aber, but, is the Eng. over. In
some of these languages it denotes a fine
or penance, that which makes satisfaction.
In Danish, profit ; baader, to gain or profit ;
W. buziaw ; Goth, botyan, id ; G. busse.
biissen. We use this word as a noun,
in the phrase, he gives a guinea to 6oof,
that is, to make good, to satisfy, or by way
of addition ; and as a verb, in the phrase,
what boots it, what gain or profit is it.
radically the same word as bet in
B U T
More; further; noting an addition to sup
ply what is wanting to elucidate, or mod-
ify the sense of the preceding part of a
sentence, or of a discourse, or to continue
the discourse, or to exhibit a contrast.
Now abide faith, hope, charity, these three ;
but, the greatest of these is charily. 1 Cor. .xiii.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame ; but
with the lowly is wisdom. Prov. xi.
It
better ; ;
vancc.]
the radical sense is to ad-
Tlie house of representatives were well agreed
in pa.s3ing the bill ; but the senate dissented.
This word ia in fact a noun equivalent to ad-
dition or supply ; but in grammatical con-
struction, no inconvenience results from
considering it to be a connective.
BUT, n. [Fr. bout, end, extremitv, and but,
end, aim, design ; Arm. but or baut. It is
sometimes written butt, especially when
applied to the end of a plank. It coin-
cides, in sense and elements, with h.peto,
Sp. 4ofe, a thrust, botar, to cast, It. botta,
botto, botare, Fr. botte, bonder, Eng. pout,
and many other words. See Butt.]
1. An end ; a limit ; a bound. It is used
particidarly for the larger end of a thing,
as of a piece of timber, or of a fallen tree;
that which grows nearest the earth. It is
not often applied to the bound or limit of
land ; yet butted, for bounded, is oflen
used.
2. The end of a plank in a ship's side or bot-
tom, which unites with another ; generally
written butt.
BUT, V. i. To be bounded by ; to lie contig-
)us to ; a word used in America. [See
ijut.]
BUT-EXD, n. [but and end.] The largest
or blunt end of a thing ; as the but-end of
a musket or of a piece of timber. This
word is tautological, but and end signify-
ing the same thing ; unless but is consid-
ered as equivalent to swelling, protuberant.
BUTCH'ER, n. [Fr. boucher; Arm. boczer.
a butcher ; Fr. boucherie ; It. becch'eric,
butchery, shambles. The primary sense
probably is to stick or stab, as the Fr. bou-
cher signifies to stop, that is, to set, to
thrust.]
1. One who slaughters animals for market :
or one whose occupation is to kill animals
for the table. The word may and often
does include the person who cuts up and
sells meat.
2. One who kills men, or commands troops
to kill them ; one who sheds, or causes
to be shed human blood in abundance ;
applied to princes and conquerors tcho de-
light in war, or are remarkable for destroy-
ing human life. Lockf.
BUTCHER, V. t. To kill or slaughter ani-
mals for food, or for market.
2. To murder ; but emphatically applied to
murder committed with unusual cruelty,
or circumstances of uncommon barbarity
BUTCHER-BIRD, n. The shrike ; a gentjs
of birds, called Lanius. One species of
this genus is called king-bird, from its
courage in attacking hawks and crows.
Encyr.
The king-bird is now arranged under the
genus Mu.<!cicapa. Ed. Encuc
BUTCH ERLINESS, n. A cruel, savage,
butcherly manner. Johnson,
B U T
BUTCH'ERLY, a. [from butcher.] Cruel ;
savage ; murderous ; grossly and clumsily
barbarous. Ascham. Shak.
BUTCHER'S- BROOM, n. Ruscus; a ge-
nus of plants, called also knee-holly. It is
used by butchers for brooms to sweepj
their blocks. EncycS
BUTCH'ERY, n. The business of slaugh-
tering cattle for the table or for market.
Pope.
'>. Murder, especially murder committed
with unusual barbarity ; great slaughter.
Shak. Dryden.
■i. The place where animals are killed for
market ; a shambles, or slaughter-house :
also, a place where blood is shed. Shak.
BUT'LER, n. [Fr. houteillier, from bouteille,
a bottle, that is, the bottler ; Ir. buit-
leir, a butler, from buidel, boide, a bot-
tle.]
A servant or officer in the houses of princes
and great men, whose principal business
is to take charge of the liquors, plate, &c.
Formerly, an officer in the court of France,
being the same as the grand echanson or
great cup-bearer of the present times.
Encyc.
BUT'LERAgE, n. A duty of two shilUngs
on every tun of wine imported into Eng-
land by foreigners or merchant strangers.
It was a composition for the privileges
granted to them by king John and Ed
ward I., and originally received by the
crown ; but it has been granted to certain
noblemen. It was called butlerage, be
cause originally paid to the king's butler
for the king. Blackstone. Enci/c.
BUT'LERSHIP, n. The office of a butler.
Gen. xl. 21.
BUT'MENT, 11. [Old Fr. aboutement, from
bout, but, end.]
1. A buttress of an arch; the supporter, or
that part which joins it to the upright pier.
Johnson. Encyc.
2. The mass of stone or solid work at the
end of a bridge, by which the extreme
arches are sustained. The mass of stone
at the end of a timber bridge, without
arches, is called by the same name. It '
written also abutment.
BUT'SHAFT, 11. \but and shaft.] An arrow
to shoot at butts with. B. Jonson.
BUTT, n. [See But] Literally, end, fur
thest point. Hence, a mark to be shot at
the point where a mark is set or fixed to
be shot at. Dryden
?3. The point to which a purpose or effort is
directed. Shak
3. The object of aim ; the thing against
which an attack is directed. Clarendon
Hence,
4. The person at whom ridicule, jests or
contempt are directed; as the butt of ridi-
cule. Spectator.
5. A push or thrust given by the head of an
animal, as the butt of a ram ; also, a
thrust iu fencing.
6. A cask whose contents are 126 gallons of|
wine, or two hogsheads ; called also a pipe.
A butt of beer is 108 gallons, and from
1500 to 2300 weight of currants is a butt.
[Sax. butte or bytt ; Sp. bota.] Johnson.
7. The end of a plank in a ship's side or bot-
tom. Mar. Diet.
8. A particular kind of hinge for doors, &c.
BUT
BUTT, V. i. [W. pwtiaw, to butt, to thrust ;
It. buttare ; Sp. botar ; Port, botar, to thrust,
or throw ; Fr. botte, a thrust ; from the
same root probably as but, bout, L. peto.]
To thrust the head forward; to strike by
thrusting the head against, as an ox or a
ram. Wotton. Dryden.
BUT'TER, n. [Sax. buler, butera ; D. boter ;
Ger. butter ; L. butyrum ; Gr. fiouTvfiov.''
An oily substance obtained from cream oi
milk by churning. Agitation separate:
the fat or oily part of milk from the thii
or serous part, called butter-milk.
Butter, in the old chimistry, was applied t(
various preparations ; as,
Butter of a7itimoni/, now called the sublirna
ted muriate of antimony, and made by
distilling a mixture of corrosive sublimate
and the regulus.
Butter of arsenic, sublimated muriate of
arsenic, made by a like process.
Butter of bismuth, subUmated muriate of
bismuth.
Butler of tin, sublimated muriate of tin.
Butter of zink, sublimated muriate of zink,
Fourcroy
Butter of cacao, is an oily concrete white
matter obtained from the cacao nut, made
by bruising the nut and boiling it in wa
ter. J^icholson.
Butter of tvax, the oleaginous part of wax
obt.iined by distillation, and of a butyra-
ceous consistence. J^icholson
BUT'TER, V. t. To smear with butter.
2. To increase the stakes at every throw or
every game ; o cant term among gamesters
Johnson
BUTTER-BUMP, n. The bittern.
Johnson
BUT'TER-BURR, n. A plant, a species of
Tussilago, or Colt's-foot, called petasites,
growing in wet land, with large leaves
Fam. of Plants. Encyc.
BUT'TER-eUPS, 11. A name given to
species of Ranunculus or crow-foot, with
bright yellow flowers ; called also golden-
cup. Fam. of Plants. Lee
BUT'TER-FLOWER, n. A yellow flower.
Gay
BUT'TERFLY, n. [fi-om the color of a
yellow species.]
Papilio, a genus of insects, of the order of
lepidopters. They have four wings im
bricated with a kind of downy scales; the
tongue is convoluted in a spiral form ; and
the body is hairy. The species are
merous. Butter-flies proceed from the
crysalids of caterpillars ; caterpillars pro
ceed from eggs deposited by butterflies
they then change into crysalids, which
produce butterflies, which again deposit
their eggs.
BUTTERFLY-SHELL, n. Agenusoftei
molluscas, with a spiral unilocu-
hell ; called valuta. Encyc.
BUT'TERIS, n. An instrument of steel set
wood, for paring the hoof of a horse.
Farrier's Diet.
BUT'TER-MILK, n. The milk that remains
after the butter is separated from it. John
son calls this whey ; but whey is the thii
part of the milk after the curd or cheese
is separated. Butter-milk in America i;
not called whey.
BUT'TERNUT, n. [butter and nut.]
The fruit of an American tree, the Juglans
B U T
, 30 called from tlie oil it contains.
The tree beai-s a resemblance, in its gen-
eral appearance, to the walnut, or black
walnut, so called. It is sometimes called
oihiut and white walnut. The tree is cal-
led also butternut or butternut-tree. Dr.
M. Cutler calls it Juglans Cathartica.
Belknap.
BUTTER-PRINT, ^ A piece of caived
BUTTER-STAMP,^"- wood, used to
mark cakes of butter.
BUTTER-TOOTH, n. A broad fore tooth.
Johnson,
BUTTER-WIFE, ) A woman who
BUT'TER-WoMAN, J "• sells butter.
Johnson.
BUT'TERWORT, n. A species of Pinguic-
ula, a plant growing on bogs or soft
grounds. The leaves are covered with
soft pellucid pnrkl.-s, which secrete a glu-
tinous liquor ; and milk, in which these are
steeped, or washed, acquires, in a day or
two, consistency, and is an agreeable food,
used in the north of Sweden. Encyc.
BUT'TER Y, a. [from 4u«£r.] Having the
quaUties or appearance of butter.
Harvey.
BUT'TERY, 11. An apartment in a house,
where butter, milk, provisions and utensils
are kept. Iu some colleges, a room where
liquors, fruit and refreshments are kept for
sale to the students.
BUT'TOCK, n. The rump, or the protuber-
ant part behind.
2. The convexity of a ship behind, under
the stern. Mar. Diet.
BUT'TON, n. but'n. [Fr. bouton, a button, a
bud; W. buttun, or botwm ; Corn, bottum;
It. bottone ; Sp. boton, a button or bud ;
from the root of bud, that is, a push or
protuberance. See Butt.]
1. A knob ; a small ball ; a catch, used to
fasten together the different parts of dress,
made of metal, silk, mohair, wood, &c.
2. Any knob or ball ftistened to anothejr
body ; a small protuberant body.
Boyle. Pope.
3. A hud ; a gem of a plant. Shak.
4. The button of the reins of a bridle, is a
ring of leather, with the reins passed
through, which runs along the length of
the reins. Encyc.
A flat piece of wood, turning on a nail or
screw, to fasten doors.
A small round mass of metal, found at the
bottom of a crucible, in chimical experi-
ments. J^cholson.
The sea-urchin, an animal which has
prickles instead of feet. Ainsworfh.
BUT'TON, V. t. but'n. To fasten with a but-
ton, or buttons ; to inclose, or make secure
with buttons ; often followed with up, as
to button up a waistcoat.
2. To dress or clothe. [J^ot used.]
BUT'TON-HOLE, n. The hole or loop in
which a button is caught.
BUTTON-MAKER, n. One whose occu-
pation is to make buttons.
BUT'TON-STONE, n. A species of figured
stone, or hard flint, resembling a button,
consisting of two bodies which appear to
be the filling up of holes in a shell. A
species has been fotind finely striated, like
a mohair button. This name is given also
to a species of slato found in the manpii-
sate of Bareith. Encyc.
BUY
B Y
B Y
BUT'TON-TREE, n. The Conoca.p.is, call
eU also button-wood, a genus «l' plants,
natives of the West-Indies.
Fani. of Plants. Encyc.
BUT'TON-WEED, n. A genus of plants,
the Sperniacoce. Fam. of Plants.
BUT'TON-WOOD, n. The Cephalanthus, a
shrub of N. America, growing five or six
feet high. Encyc.
9. The Platanus Occidentalis, Western
plane-tree, a large tree growing in N.
America, producing rough balls, from
which it is named. The wood is liard,
and used for windlasses, wheels and
blocks. Belknap. Mease.
BUT'TRESS, 71. [This word appears to be
composed of but, end, and truss, or some
word of that family.]
1. A prop ; a wall or abutment built arch-
wise, serving to support another wall on
the outside, when very high or loaded with
a lieavy superstructure. Encyc.
2. Any prop or support. South.
BUT'TRESS, V. t. To support by a buttress ;
to prop.
BUT'TRESSED, «. Supported with u but-
tress, ff'ard.
BUTTS, re. plu. [from butt.] A place where
archers meet to shoot at mark. Also, short
pieces of land in arable ridges and fur
rows. Eticuc.
BUT'- WINK, n. A bird. Johnson.
BUTYRA'CEOUS, ) [from butyrum, but-
BUT'YROUS, I "• ter.] Having the
qualities of butter; resembling butter.
Encyc. J\/ichobon. Flayer.
BUX'OM, a. [Sa.\. bocsum, from bog, a bow,
bugan, to bend, and sum, some.J
1. Obedient ; obsequious ; ready to obey,
Obs. Milton.
2. Gay ; lively ; brisk. Milton.
3. Wanton ; jolly. Druden.
BU.\;'OMLY, adv. Obediently. Obs.
2. Wantonly ; amorously. Johnson
BUX'OMNESS, n. Meekness; obedience
Obs. Chaucer.
2. Briskness ; ani;»rousncss.
BUY, V. t. pret. and pp. bought, pron. bawt
[Sax. bigan, or bycgan, bygan ; Goth, bug-
yan, to buy.]
1. To acquire the property, right or title to
any thing, by paying a consi<leration or an
equivalent in money. It differs from baHe,
only in this, that in barter the consideration
or equivalent is some species of commodi
ty ; \i\purchase, the consideration is money
paid or promised. To purchase ; to acquire
by paying a price to the satisfaction of the
seller ; opposed to sell.
% To procure by a consideration given, or
by something that is deemed worth the
thing bought ; to procure at a price ; as, to
bray ])leasure with praise ; to buy favor
with flattery. Denham.
3. To bribe ; to corrupt or pervert the judg-
ment, by paying a consideration.
To buy off, to influence to compliance ; to
cause to bend or yield by some considera
tion, as to buy off conscience ; to detach
by a consideration given, as to iitt/ q/T one
from a party.
To buy out, to buy off", or detach from. Shak
2. To purchase the share or shares of s
person in a stock, fund, or partnership, by
which tlie seller is separated from tlie con
pany, and the pin-chaser takes his place ;
as, A buys out B. To purcha.'ie slock in
any fund or partnersliip, is to buy in.
To buy on credit, is to purchase a tiling, on a
promise in fact or in law, to make pay
mcnt at a future day.
To buy the refusal, is to give money for the
right of purchasing at a fixed price at
future time.
To buy the small pox, in South Wales, is to
receive it by inoculation. Encyc.
In popular language, to buy is to pay dear
for, as in Chaucer.
BUY, V. i. To negotiate, or treat about a
purchase.
I will buy with you and sell with you.
Shak.
BU'PER, n. One who buys ; a purchaser.
Wotton.
BUYING, ^pr. Purchasing.
BUZZ, V. I. [It. buzzicare, to whisper ; Pers,
• Ok A y J bazidan, to blow as wind.]
1. To make a low hissing sound, as bees ; to
make the sound of z, with an expiration of
breath between the tongue and the roof
of the mouth or upper teeth.
2. To whisper ; to speak with a low hissing
voice ; to make a low hissing soimd.
Shak. Hayward
BUZZ, V. t. To whisi>er ; to spread, as re-
port, by whispers, or to spread secretly.
Benllcy.
BUZZ, n. The noise of bees; also, a whisper.
South. Bacon.
BUZZ'ARD, n. [D. buzaard ; G. bussaar,
busshard ; It. bozzago ; Fr. buze, buse or
1 . A species of falco, or hawk, the buteo ; a
rapacious, but sluggish bird ; the breast
usually of a yellowish white ; the upper
parts of a deep brown. In some parts of
America, it is called the great Hen-hawk
from its feeding on poultry.
Pennant. Encyc.
2. A block-head ; a dunce. Johnson
BUZZ'ARD, a. Senseless ; stupid. Milton
BUZZARDET', n. A species of Falco or
hawk, resembling the buzzard in most res-
pects ; but its legs are in proportion rather
longer. Pennant.
BUZZ'ER, re. A whisperer; one who is busy
in telling tales secretly. Shak.
BUZZ'ING, ppr. Making a low hiss
sound ; whisperuig ; tattling iu secret.
BY, prep. [Sax. be or big ; Goth, bi; Sw.
and Dan. be ; D. by ; G. bei ; all contracted
from big. This w(jrd in composition is
often written be, as in because, besiege. In
Sw. and Dan. it is used only in compo-
sition. The Sw. and Dan. paa, and Russ
po, may be from a different root, although
they are nearly allied in signification, and
may be the same word diffi^rently written.
This preposition occurs as a prefix in all
the Shemitic languages, contracted indeed
into 3. See the Introduction. The pri-
mary sense 'is,jpressing, clo.oe, near, at ; but
in Goth, and Sax. it signifies also, about,
according to, on, with, against, after, &c.
In .some of these senses, it coincides with
the Russ. po. The original verb to which
this word belongs, most probably signifies
to pass, to go, or come, to drive, to press '
. Near; close; as, sit by me; that house
stands by a river. So in It. presso, from
L. pressus ; Fr. pres, aupres.
2. Near, in motion ; as, to move, go or pass
by a church. But it seems, in other phra-
ses, or with a verb in the past time, to sig-
nify past, gone beyond. " The procession
is gone hy ;" " the hour is gone by ;" " John
went by." We now use past as an equiva-
lent word. The procession is gone past.
Gone by is in strictness tautology, as now
used ; but I apprehend by signifies prima-
rily near.
3. Through, or with, denoting the agent,
means, instrument or cause ; as, " a city is
destroyed by fire ;" " profit is made by
commerce ;" " to take by force." This use
answers to that of the Latin per, through,
denoting a passing, acting, agency, or iii-
strinnentallty.
4. " Day by day ;" " year by year " " article
by article." In these phrases, by denotes
])assing from one to another, or "each par-
ticular separately taken.
" By the space of seven years." In this
phrase, by denotes through, ])assing or con-
tinuing, (luring.
G. " By this time, the sun had risen." The
word here seems to denote, at, present or
come to.
7. According to ; as, " this appears by his
own account ;" " these are good rules to
live by.
On ; as, " to pass by land or water ;"
" great battles by sea and land." In the
latter phrase, at or on might be substituted
for by.
9. It is placed before words denoting quan-
tity, measure or proportion ; as, to sell by
the pound ; to work by the rod or jierch ;
this line Is longer by a tenth.
10. It is used to represent the means or in-
strument of swearing, or aflirming ; as, to
swear by heaven, or by earth ; to aflirm by
all that is sacred.
11. In the phrase, " he has a cask of wine by
him," by denotes nearness or presence.
12. " To sit by one's self," is to sit alone, or
without company.
13. " To be present 61/ attorney." In this
phrase, 6^ denotes means or instrument ;
through or in the presence of a substitute.
14. In the phrase, " North by ^yest," the
sense seems to be north passing to the
west, inclining or going westward, or near
west.
As an adverb, by denotes also nearness,
or presence ; as, there was no person by,
at the time. But some noun is understood.
So in the phrase, " to pass or go 6^," there
is a noun understood.
By and 4^ is a phrase denoting nearness in
time ; iu a short time after ; presently ;
soon.
Wicn persecution arisetli, because of the
word, by and by, he is offended. Math. xiii.
By the by signifies, as we proceed or pass,
[Fr. en passant,] noting something interpo-
sed in the progress of a discourse, which
is distinct from the main subject. The old
phrase, " on the by," on the passage, is now
obsolete.
To stand by, is to stand near, or to support.
By, in lullaby, and in the nursery, a word
used in lulling infants to sleep, is evidently
allied to words foimd in many languages,
signit'yiiig to rest, or be quiet, or to ap
pease ; that is, to press, to stop, as the Gr
rtcwju, L. paco. It is used in Russia,
witli us, bayu, bai. This probably is the
saine word as the foregoing.
liy or bye, in by-law, Sax. bilage, is probably
the &w. by, Dan. bye, a vilhtge, town,
borough or city, from Sw. byggia, Dai
bygger, G. bauen, D. bouwen, to buil<
Sax. byan, to inliabit ; that is, a town-la«
a municipal law.
fa the common phrase, good-bye, bye sig
nilies passing, going. The phrase signi
fies, a good going, a prosperous passage,
and it is precisely equivalent to fareioell,
Sax. famn, to go, go well, may you have
a good going, equivalent to good speed, in
tlie phrase, " to bid one good speed."
[Not God speed, as is generally read and
understood.]
By is used in many compound words, in
most of which we observe the sense of
nearness, closeness, or a withdrawing or
seclusion.
BY-€OFFEE-HOUSE, n. A coffee house
in an obscnre place. Addison.
BY-€ONCERN'MENT, n. An affair dis-
tinct from the main business. Dryden
BY'-€ORNER, n. A private corner.
BY-DEPEND'ENCE, n. An appendage;
that which depends on something else, or
is distinct fi-om the main dependence.
Shall.
BY-DESI'GN, n. An incidental design, or
puqjose. Hudibras.
BY'-DRINKING, n. A private drinking.
BY'-END, 71. Private end ; secret purpose
or advantage. L'Estrange.
BY'-GONE,"a. Past ; gone by. {Scots dia-
lect.) ' Grew.
CAB
BY'-L\TEREST, n. Self interest : private
advantage. Atterbury.
BY'-LANE, 11. A private lane, or one out of
the usual road.
BY'-LAW, n. A town law ; the law of a
city, town or private corporation. Bacon.
BY'-MATTER, n. Something incidental.
Bacon.
BY'-NAME, n. Nickname ; an incidental
appellation. Camden.
BY'-PAST, a. Past ; gone by. [Scots dia-
lect.) Chcyne
BY'-PATH, n. A private path ; an obscure
way. Shak.
BY-RESPECT', Ji. Private end, or view.
Bacon. Dryden.
BY'-ROAD, n. A private or obscure road.
Stvifl.
BY-ROOM, n. A private room or apart-
ment. Shak.
BY'-SPEECII, n. An incidental or casual
S])eech, not directly relating to the point.
Hooker.
BY'-SPELL, n. [Sax. bigspelL] A proverb.
[Ao« used.] Coles.
Y'-STANDER, n. [Sax. Ugstandan, to
stand by.] One who stands near ; a spec-
tator ; one who has no concern with the
business transacting. Locke.
BY'-STREET, n. A separate, private or
obscure street. Gay.
BY'-TURNING, n. An obscure road.
Sidney.
BY'-VIEW, n. Private view ; self interested
purpose. Atterbury.
Y'-WALK, n. A secluded or private walk.
Dryden.
BY'-WAY, n. A secluded, private or nb-
nre way. Addison.
BY-WEST', adv. Westward ; to the west
of. Davies.
CAB
BY'-WIPE, n. A secret stroke or sarcasm.
Milton.
BY'-WORD, n. [Sax. bi, or big, and tDord,
as in bigcwid, and bigspell. Either a pass-
ing word, or a town-saying.]
A common saying ; a proverb ; a saying
that has a general currency. Bacon
BYE, n. [Sax.] A dwelling^ Gibson.
BYS'SIN, I ,, [Gr. tivam,, infra.] A silk
BYS'SUS, ^"- or linen hood. [JVotinuse.]
Goiver.
BYS'SINE, a. Made of silk. Coles.
BYS'SOLITE, n. [Gr. livaaos, fine flax, and
t.tSos, stone ; so called from its resemblance
to moss.]
A rare mineral, occurring m very delicate
filaments, short, flexible and elastic. Their
color is ohve green, or brownish yellow,
and their luster a little silky. Jameson
places byssolite under actinoUte ; HaOy
arranges it under amianthoid.
Hausman. Saussure. Cleaveland.
BYS'SUS, n. [L. byssus ; Gr. jSvaao;, fine
linen, or cotton.]
The asbestns, composed of parallel fibers, is
by some called by this name. JVicholson.
BYZ'ANT, I [from Byza7itium.] A
BYZ'ANTINE, ( "• gold coin of the value
of fifteen pounds sterling, so called from
being coined at Byzantium. Also, a piece
of gold offered by the king on certain
festivals. Johnson. Camden. Ash.
BYZAN'TINE, ) „ Pertaining to Byzanti-
BYZAN'TIAN, ^ "' um, an ancient city of
Thrace situated on the Bosporus. In the
year 3;W, Constantine the Great took pos-
session of Byzantium, enlarged and em-
belUshed it, and changed its name to
Constantinople. D^Anville. Encyc.
C the third letter in tlie English alphabet,
and the second articulation or consonant,
is a palatal, nearly corresponding in sound
with the Greek x, kappa, and ^vith the
Hebrew 3, caph. It bears a middle place
in pronunciation, between the aspirate n,
and the palatal J. It is a Roman charac-
ter, borrowed from the Gr. x, or from the
oriental 3, which was used in languages
written from right to left, and when in-
verted and the corners rounded, becomes
C. In the old Etruscan, it was written 3,
with the corners rounded, but not inverted ;
in Arcadian, C, as now written. That its
sound in Latin was the same, or nearly
the same, as that of kappa, may be known
from the fact, that the Greeks, while the
Latin was a living language, wrote kap])a
lor the Roman C. Perhaps the same char-
acter may be the basis of the Arabic ^ •
As an abbreviature, C stands for Caius, Car-
olus, Cfesar, condemno, &c., and CC for con-
sulibus. As a numeral C stands for 100;
CC for 200 ; &c. In music, C after the cliff,
is the mark of common time. Encyc.
In English, C has two sounds, or rather
represents two very different articulations
of the organs ; one close, like K, which
occurs before a, o and u ; the other, a sib-
ilant, precisely like s, which occurs be
fore e, t and y. The former is distinguish
ed in this vocabulary by G, which may be
called ke. In Russ. C is precisely the
English s, as it was in the old Greek al
phabet.
€AB, n. [Heb. Ch. 3p kab.] An oriental dry
measure, being the sixth part of a seah or
satum, and the eighteenth of an ephah ;
containing two pints and five sixths Eng-
lish and American corn measure.
€ABAL', n. [Fr. cabale, a club, society or
combination ; It. cabala, knowledge of se-
cret things ; Sp. cabala, secret science ;
cabal, perfect, just, exact; Heb. Sap to take,
receive, accept ; Ch. to cry out, 'to bawl ;
also to take or receive ; also to be dark, to
obscure ; Syr. to accuse, oppose, or cen-
sure, to cavil ; Eth. to accept, to pour
out ; Sam. to accejit, and to darken ; Ar.
to admit or accept, as agreeable ; to come ;
to be surety ; to give bail. See Class BI.
This word seems to include the significa-
tions of several biliteral roots. Qu. W.
cafael, to get or obtain ; or gavaelu, to
hold. The primary sense of the root
seems to be to catch or seize by rushing
on, or in general, to press, to drive ; hence
the sense of collection, combination and
accusation.]
A number of persons united in some close
design ; usually to promote their private
views in church or state by intrigue. A
junto. It is sometimes synonymous with
faction, but a cabal usually consists of few-
er men than a party, and the word gene-
rally implies close "union and secret in-
trigues. This name was given to the
ministry of -Charies II., Clifford, Ashley,
Buckingham, Arlington, and Lauderdale,
the initials of whose names compose thf
word.
2. Intrigue ; secret artifices of a few men
united in a close design. Dryden.
€ABAL', )^ [See the preceding word.
CABALA, J ■ It is from the sense of re-
ception.]
CAB
Traditiou, or a mysterious kind of science
among Jewish Rabbins, pretended to have
been delivered to the ancient Jews by rev
elation, and transmitted by oral tradition
serving for the interpretation of difficult
passages of scripture. This science con
gists chiefly in understanding the combi
nation of certain letters, words and num-
bers, which are alledged to be significant
Every letter, word, number and accent of
the law iM supposed to contain a mystery,
and tlie calialists pretend even to foretell
future events by the study of this science.
Encyc. Buck.
CABAL', v.i. To unite in a siiiall party to
promote private views by intrigue ; to in-
trigue ; to unite in secret artifices to effect
some design. Dn/den.
€AB'ALISM, n. The secret science of the
cabalists.
CAB'ALEST, n. A Jewish doctor who pro-
fesses the study of the cabala, or the mys-
teries of Jewish traditions.
2. In French commerce, a factor or agent.
Encyc.
€ABALIST'I€, i Pertaining to the
€ABALIST'I€AL, S "' cabala, or mysteri-
ous science of Jewish traditions ; contain-
ing an occult meaning.
€ABALIST'ICALLY, cidv. In the manner of
tlie cabalists. Herbert.
CAB'ALIZE, V. i. To use the maimer or
language of the cabalists. [JVot much used.]
CABAL'LER, n. One who unites with oth-
ers in close designs to eftcct an object by
intrigue ; one who cabals.
€AB'ALLINE, a. [L. caballinus, from ca-
bctltus, a horse ; Russ. kohila, kobiela, a
mare ; Ir. capall ; Fr. cheval, a horse ; ca-
vale, a mare ; It. cavallo ; Sp. cahaUo.']
Pertaining to a horse ; as caballine aloes, so
called from its being given to horses as a
purge. Encyc.
■eABAL'LING,;)/)r. Uniting in a cabal; in-
triguing in a small part\-.
CAB'ARET, n. [Fr. allied probably to
cabin.]
A tavern ; a house where hquors are re-
tailed. Bramhall.
CAB'BAgE, n. [It. cappuccio ; Corn, kavatsh ;
It. gabaisde, gabaiMe. This word is prob-
ably from tiie root of caput, a head ; It.
capuccio, a head ; Sp. cabexa ; Fr. caboche,
a head. Hence D. kabuis-kool, head-cole,
or headed-cole. In Fr. choux-cabus, is cab-
bage-headed, or cabbage-head. See Cap,
Core.]
A geiuis of plants, called in botany Brassica,
of several species ; some of which are cul-
tivated for food. The leaves are large and
fleshy, the pods long and slender, and the
seeds globular. The kinds most culti-
vated are the common cabbage, called
■with us the drum-head, the Savoy, the
broccoli, the cauliflower, tlie sugar-loaf, and
the cole-wort.
Dog's cabbage, a name given to the Thelygo-
num ct/nocrambe. Fatn. of Plants.
Sea-cabbage, n. The sea-beach kale, or sea-
colewort, a genus of plants, called crambe.
They are herbaceous esculents, with |)er-
ennial roots, producing large leaves like
those of cabbage, spreading on the ground,
Encyc.
€AB'BA6E, 11. i. To form a head in gro"w-
ing ; as, a plant cabbages. Johnson.
CAB
€AB'BAgE, d. t. [D. kabassen, to steal ; ka
bos, a hand basket ; Old Fr. cabasser.]
To purloin or embezzle, as pieces of cloth
after cutting out a garment. Arbuthnoi.
€AB'BAuE-NET, n. A small net to boil
cabbage in. Shenstone.
€AB'BA(iE-TREE, n. The cabbage-palm,
a species of Areca, the oleracea, a native of
warm climates. This tree grows with a
straight stem to the highth of 170 or 200
feet. Its branches grow in a circular man-
ner, and the lowermost ones spread hori-
zontally with great regularity. The fibers
of the leaves are used for making cordage
and nets. On the top grows a substance
called cabbage, lying in thin, snow-white,
brittle flakes, in taste resembling an al-
mond, but sweeter. This is boiled and
eaten with flesh, hke other vegetables.
When this is cut out, the tree is destroyed.
Encyc.
€AB'BA0lE-\VORM, n. An insect.
Johnson.
eABTAI, n. An animal of South America
resembling a hog, living on the margins of
lakes and rivers, and feeding on fish. It
is a species of Cavy, called also thick-
nosed tai)ir. Diet, of JS/'at. Hist. Encye.
CAB' IN, n. [Fr. cabane, a cabin, a cottage ;
caban, a cloke ; It. capanna, a cottage ; Sp.
and Port, cabana, a hut or cottage; Ir.
cabnn ; W. caban, from cab, a hut, cot, or
booth made in the form of a cone, with
rods set in the ground, and tied at the lop ;
Gr. xartavr,, from xanij, a stable or inclosed
place.]
1. A small room ; an inclosed place.
Spenser.
2. A cottage ; a hut, or small house. Swift.
3. A tent ; a shed ; any covered place for a
temporary residence. _ Fairfax.
4. An apartment in a ship for oflicers and
passengers. In large ships there are sev-
eral cabins, the principal of which is oc-
cupied by the commander. In small ves-
sels, there is one cabin in the stern for the
acconmiodation of the officers and passen-
gers. The bed-places in ships are also
called cabins. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
CAB IN, I', i. To live in a cabin ; to lodge.
Shak.
CAB'IN, V. t. To confine in a cabin. Shak.
CAB'IN-BOY, n. A boy whose duty is to
wait on the officers and passengers on
board of a ship.
CAB'INED, pp. Inclosed ; covered.
MUton.
CAB'INET, js. [Fr. cabinet; It. gabinetto ; Sp.
gabinete. See Cabin.]
1. A closet ; a small room, or retired apart-
ment. Bacon.
2. A private room, in %vliicli consultations
are held. Drydt
3. The select or secret council of a |)rince or
executive government ; so called from the
apartment in which it was originallv held.
Encyc.
4. A piece of furniture, consisting of a chest
or box, with drawers and doors. A pri-
vate box. Swift.
5. Any close place where things of value are
reposited for safe keeping. Taylor.
G. A hut ; a cottage ; a small house. Obs.
Spenser.
CAB'INET, V. t. To inclose. [Little tised.]
Howcl.\
CAB
CABINET-COUNCIL, n. A council held
with [irivacy ; the confidential council of
a prince or executive magistrate.
Bacon.
2. The members of a prii-y council ; a select
number of confidential counselors. Gay.
CVB'INETED, pp. Inclo.scd in a private
apartment, or in a cabinet.
CABINET-MAKER, n. A man whose oc-
cupation is to make cabinets, tables, bu-
reaus, bed-steads, and other similar fur-
niture.
CABIN-MATE, n. One who occupies the
same cabin with another. Beaum.
CABIRE'AN, n. [See the ivords below.]
One of the Cabiri. Faber.
CABIR'IAN, i [Oriental "I3J to be strong
CABIR IC, > a. or powerful, to be great ;
CABIRIT'IC, ) whence it signifies man,
a lord, and in some languages, a giant. It
is common to all the Shemitic dialects.
Perhaps L. vir, with a prefix.]
Pertaining to the Cabiri, certain deities
greatly venerated by the ancient Pagans,
in Greece and Phenicia. The accounts
of these deities are confused and contra-
dictory. Some authors limit their num-
ber to four; some to three ; others to two ;
while Sanchoniathon makes them to bi;
eight. They were worshiped with jiarti-
cular honors in the isle of Samothrace ;
and their worship and mysteries are said
to have been introduced into Greece by
the Pelasgians. They were supposed to
have a particular influence over the sea
and maritime affairs.
In truth, the name which signifies frea/,
or the mighty ones, seems to have been ap-
plied to the supposed beings that presided
over the more striking operations of na-
ture. Herod, ii. 51. Pans. ix. 25.
Bryant. Faber. Asiat. Researches.
CABLE, n. cabl. [Sp. Fr. cable; D. Dan. G.
kabel ; Arm. chabl ; Ir. rabla or gabla ;
Russ. kabala, a bond ; Heb. Ch. Syr. Ar.
^33 a chain ; as a verb, to tie or bind ; or
S3n to tie or make fiist, and a rope. If
the first letter of the oriental word is a
prefix, this coincides with bait, a package,
that is, a tie.]
A large strong rope or chain, used to retain
a vessel at anchor. It is made usually of
hemp or iron, but may be made of other
materials. Cables are of different sizes, ac-
cording to the bulk of the vessel for which
they are intended, from three to twenty
inches in circumference. A cable is com-
posed of three strands : each strand of
three ropes ; and each rope of three twists.
A ship's cable is usually 120 fathom, or
720 feet, in length. Hence the expres-
sion, a cablets length.
Stream cable is a hawser or rope, smaller
than the bower cables, to moor a ship in
a place sheltered from wind and hea\-y
seas.
To pay out, or to veer out the cable, is to slack-
en it that it may rini out of the ship.
TTj serve the cable, is to bind it round with
ropes, canvas, &c., to jirevent its being
worn or galled in the hawse.
To slip the cable, is to let it run out end for
end. Mar. Diet.
CA'BLED, a. Fastened with a cable.
Dyer.
C A C
OAB'LKT, n. A little cable. Mar. Did.
€A'BLE-TIER, n. The place where the ca-
bles are coiled away. Mar. Did.
CABO'CHED, ? „ In heraldiy, having the
CABO'SHED, \ "■ head cut close, so as to
have no neck left. Did.
CABOOSE', n. [G. kahv.se, a little room oi
hut ; Dan. kahjse, a cook's room in a ship
Qu. Ch. 033 to hide or cover, or Heb. Ch.
W22 a kiln or furnace. In Dutch, kombuis
is an oven, furnace or cook's room.] |
1. The cook-room or kitchen of a ship. In]
smaller vessels, it is an inclosed fire-place,
hearth or stove for cooking, on the main
deck. In a ship of war, the cook room is
caUed a galley. Mar. Did.
•2. A box that covers the chimney m
CAD
A fish which is said to void excrements
when pursued. Others say, a fish which
eaten produces lax bowels.
Skinner. Johnso
CACK'LE, V. i. [D. kaakekn, to chatter ;
Ger. gackern, to cackle, to gaggle ; D. g-o^-
felen, to chatter ; Eng. gaggle and giggle ,
>an. kagler, to cluck, as a hen ; Sp. cacar-
ear, to cackle or crow.]
1. To make a particular noise, as a goose oi
a hen. Dryden. Shak.
2 To laugh with a broken noise, like the
cackling of a goose; to giggle, which is a
"■•ord from the same root. Arbutknot.
talk in
3. To prate ; to prattle ; to tattle ;
'. inci.\ a silly manner. Johnson.
a ship. CACK'LE, n. The broken noise of a go.
Encyc\ or hen.
.LI. A.„., .„- €ACK'LING, ppr. Making the no.se of
Dryden
Johnson
CAB'RIOLE, } „ [Fr. cabriolet, from ca-
€AB'R10LET, ^ hnole, a goat-leap; L..
■apra.]
Johnson
noise of a
ved by the
goose or lien.
€ACK'LING, n. The broke
goose or hen. Rome was
cackling of a goose.
€A€0€HYM'I€, ?„ [See Cacoehymy.]
€A€0€HYM'I€AL, ^ "' Having the fluids
of the body vitiated, especially the blood.
Encyc.
of xaxos,
, xoxoj;v/iii<
A "fg ; a one horse chair, a light carriage
€AB'URE, n. A Brazilian bird of the owl
kind, of the size of a thrush, of a beautitu
umber color, spotted with white.
DictofJVat. Hist.
€AB'URNS, n. Small Unes made of spun |^^^,ocHYMY, n. [G
yarn, to bind cables, seize tackles, and he €At ^^^ ^^^^^^ ,^,^^l
like. „, , -^"vy<^- U vicious state of the vital humors, espe
€Ae>AO or €0'€OA, «. The chocolate- pj^,,^ ^fj^g blood, arising from a disorder
tree, a species of the Iheobroma, a native ^ secretions or excretions, or from
of the West Indies. This tree grows about .,„;„„ Encyc.
twenty feet high, bearing pods which are Uv^qj5j.,j^iON n. [Gr. xaxoj, evil, and
oval and pointed. The nuts o^^seeds are p^^^ ^_^ ^ ^^^^^^;^^ ^L^ ^^i, ^^■^■^_ ghak
€A€OE'THES, n. [Gr. xaxo^flna ; xaxo,,
CAD
€ADE, n. [L. cadus ; Gr. xoSoj, a cask;
xaiim, a purse or Uttle cask ; allied per
haps to W. cadw, to hold, to keep.]
jA baiTcl or cask. A cade of herrings is the
quantity of five hundred ; of sprats, a
thousand. Encyc.
ICA'DE-OIL,n. In the materia medico, an oil
used m Germany and France, made of the
friut of the oxycedrus, called in those
countries, cada. Encyc.
€ADE-WORM, n. The same as caddis.
€A'I)ENCE, ? [Fr. cadence; Sp. Port.
eA'DENCY, ii cadencia ; L. cadens, from
cado, to fall ; W. cwyzaw ; Corn, kodha ;
Arm. kuedha, or kueza ; Ir. cadam, cudaim :
It. cadere ; Sp. caer ; Port, cahir ; Fr.
cheoir.]
1. A fall : a decline ; a state of sinking.
Milton.
3. A fall of the voice in reading or speaking,
as at the end of a sentence ; also, the fall-
ing of the voice in the general modulation
of tones in reciting. In reading or speak-
ing, a certain tone is taken, which is called
the key, or key-note, on which most of the
words are pronounced, and the fall of the
voice below this tone is called cadence.
Encyc.
The ordinary cadence is a fall of the
last syllable of a sentence only.
3. The general tone of reading verse. The
cadence of one line must be a rule to that
of the next ; as the sound of the former
must slide sently into that which follows.
Drydeiu
4. Tone ; sound : as, hoarse cadence.
Milton
numerous, and lodged in a white pithy
substance. hncyc.
€A€COONS', n. A plant called in botany
Flevillea. ^ .^"'^f ■
CACH'ALOT, n. A cetaceous hsli, the
physeter or spermaceti whale. The prin-
cipal species are, the black headed with a
dorsal fin, and the round-headed, with-
out a fin on the back, and with a fistula in
the snout. From this whale is obtained
the spermaceti. Encyc.
CA€HE€'Tle, I „ [See Cachcry.] Hav
CACHEC'TIeAL, <, ' ing an ill habit of
body ; of a deranged or vitiated state of
the body without fever. Core.
€\€HEX'Y, n. [Gr. xaxiba, from xaxoi, ill.
and f|i5, habit, from f jru, to have.
A vicious state of the powers of the hotly ; a
deranged state of the consthution, without
fever or nervous disease. Encyc. Coxe.
€A€HINNA'TION, n. [L. cachimiatto.
Loud laughter. [Uttle used.]
CACH'OLONG, n. [said to be from Cach,
the name of a river in Bucharia, and cho-
lon, a Calmuc word for stone.]
A variety of chalcedony, which is a subspe
cies of quartz, usually milk %vhite, some
times grayish or yellowish white; opak.
or slightly translucent at the edges. Its
fracture is even, or conchoidal with large
cavities, sometimes dull, sometimes pearly
or glossy. It often envelops common chal-
cedony ; the two minerals being united by
insensible shades. It also associates with
flint and semi-opal. Cleavelanxl.
€ACK, V. i. [L. caco.] To ease the body by
stool. ^ PV''^
GACK'EREL, n. [said to be from L. cnco.J
icious, and >;9o5, manners.]
1. A bad custom or habit ; a bad disposition,
2. In medicine, an incurable ulcer. Co.re.
CAeOPH'ONY, 71. [Gr. xaxof, ill, and $wr^,
voice.]
L In rhetoric, an uncouth or disagreeable
sound of words, proceeding from the meet-
ing of harsh letters or syllables. Encyc.
2. In medicine, a depraved voice ; an altered
state of the voice. Coxe. Encyc.
13. In music, a combination of discordant
sounds.
€AD'AVER, n. [L.] A corpse.
CADAVEROUS, a. [L. cadaver, a dead
carcase.]
1 Having the appearance or color of a dead
human body ; pale ; wan ; ghastly ; as a
cadaverous look.
2. Having the qualities of a dead body.
Arbuthnot.
€AD'DIS, n.
of tape or ribin.
2. A kind of worm
of straw.
€AD'DOW, ji. A cliougl
Qu. L. cadus, a cask.] A kind
,;„. Shak
grub found in a case
Johnson.
a jack daw.
Jlay.
CAD'DY, n. A small box for keeping tea.
€ADE. a. [Qu. W. cadw, to keep or guard
or Ar. ili" to lead or govern, to h
led, to be submissive.]
Tame ; bred by hand ; domesticated ; as
cade lamb.
€ADE, 11. t. To bring up or nourish by hand,
or with tenderness ; to tame.
[5. In music, repose ; the termination of ,
harmonical phrase on a repose o"" on
perfect chord. Encyi -
Also, the manner of closing a song ; ein
bellishment at the close. Bushj.
G. In horsemanship, an equal measure or ])ro
portion observed by a horse in all his mo-
lions. ^^ Encyc.
j7. In heraldry, the distinction of families.
€A'DENCE, V. t. To regulate by musics:
measure. SmiH.
CA'DENCED, pp. or a. Having a partici,
lar cadence ; as well cadenced music.
Rousseau.
CADE'NE, n. A species of inferior car|irt
imported from the Levant. Encyr.
CA'DENT, a. [L. cadens.] FaUing down ;
sinkin" Johnson.
CADEN-ZA, n. [It. See Cadence.] The fall
or modulation of the voice in singing.
CADET', n. [Fr. cadd ; It. cadetto ; Sp.
cadde. In French properlv the second
son. Gebelin. But in general, the younger
or brother, or the youngest.]
1. The younger or youngest son. Brown.
2. A gentleman who carries arms in a regi
ment, as a private man, with a view to ac-
quire military skill, and obtain a commis-
sion. His service is voluntary, but he re-
ceives pay, and thus is distinguished from
a volunteer. Encyr.
,3. A young man, in a miUtary school.
CADEW, n. A straw worm. [See Cutl-
CADgE, v. I. To carry a burden. [JVW in
CADG'ER, n. One who brings butter, eggs
OAF
and poultry to tlie market, from the coun-
try; a huckster. Johnso7i
[I believe not it^ed in the U. States.]
€A'DI, n. [Ar. JvjLi' a governor, from
2,\.3 to lead, rule or govern ; Eiig. guide.
Hence Mcaide.]
In the Turkish dominions, a judge in civil
affairs ; usually the judge of a town or
village, for the judge of a city or province
is called Mould. Encyc.
€AUlL'LAe, n. A sort of pear. Johnson.
€ADME'AN, f Relating to Cadmus, a re-
CAD'MIAN, J puted prince of Thebes,
who introduced into Greece, the sixteen
simple letters of the alphabet — a, «, y, *, i,
I, X, %, fi, V, 0, rt, p, 0, r, V. These are called
Cadmean letters. Bn/ant.
This personage may be a fabulous be
ing, or if such a person ever existed, he
may have been named from his knowledge
of letters, for in the ancient Persian, ka
deem signified language ; Ir. cuadham, tc
tell or relate ; ceadach, talkative ; ceadal, i
story. Or he may have been named from
his eminence or antiquity, Dip kadam, to
precede ; Arabic, to excel ; vvlicnce the
sense of priority and antiquity ; or his
name may denote a man iioni tlie East.
•CAD'MIA, n. An oxyd of zink which col-
le< ts on the sides of furnaces where zink
is sublimed, as in brass founderies. Tliis
substance is readily volatilized on char-
coal, by the oxy-hydrogen blowpipe, and
it burns with the usual beautiful combus-
tion of zink. Pulverized, mixed with char-
coal powder, wTapped in sheet copper, and
heated with the compound blowpipe, it
readily forms brass. Sitliman.
eAD'MiUM, n. A metal discovered by M.
Stromeyer, in 1817, in carbonate of zink, at
Hanover. Its color is a fine white, with a
shade of bluish gray, resembling that of
tin. Its texture is conqiact, its fracture
hackly, and it is susceptible of polish. It
is ductile and malleable, and when fused,
crystalizes in octahedrons. It melts be-
low a red heat, and suffers no change in
air. Ure. Clcnveland.
€ADU'CEUS, n. [L.] In antiquilij, Mercu-
ry's rod ; a wand entwisted by two ser-
pents, borue by Mercury as an ensign of
quality and office. On medals, the Cadu-
ceus is a symbol of good conduct, peace
and prosperity. The rod represents pow-
er ; the seri)ents, wisdom ; and the two
wings, diligence and activity. Encyc.
CADU'CITY, n. [L. caducus, from cado, to
fall.] Tendency to fall. [LHUe used.]
Chesterfield.
€ADU'€OUS, a. [L. supra.] In botany,^'
falling early ; as caducous leaves, which fall
before the end of sinnmer, A caducous
calyx falls before the corol is well unfold-
ed. Martyn.i
CiE'CIAS, n. [L.] A wind from the north-j
east, [and in Latin, according to Ains-l
worth, from the north-west.] Jifilton.'
CvESARIAN. [vSce Cesarian.]
C.ESURA. [See Cesura.]
CAF FEIN, !i. A substance obtained from
an infusion of unroasted coffee, by treating
it with the muriate of tin. Urc.
Vol. I.
C A K
CAF'TAN, n. [Persic] A Persian or Turk
ish vest or garment. Johnson
CAG, n. [Fr. caque ; Dan. kag ; alUed
probably to cage, that which holds.]
A small cask, or barrel, differing from the
barrel only in size, and containing a few
gallon.s, but not of any definite capacity
It is generally written Keg.
eA(ilE, n. [Fr. cag-e; D. kouio and kooi
See Cag.]
1. A box or inclosure, made of boards, or
with lattice work of wood, wicker or wire,
for confining birds or beasts. For the
confinement of the more strong and fero
cious beasts, a cage is sometimes made of
iron. Encyi
2. An inclosure made with pallisades for
confining wild beasts. Johnson
.3. A prison for petty criminals. Johnson
4. In carpentry, an outer woi-k of timber, in
closing another within it ; as the cage of a
wind mill or of a stair case. Encyc.
€AgE, v. t. To confine in a cage ; to shui
up, or confine. Donne.
eA'GIT, n. A beautiful green parrot of the
Phili))pine isles. Diet. o/JVat. Hist.
€AG'UI, n. A monkey of Urazil, of two
species, one of them called the pongi, the
otiier not more than six inches long.
They are called also jacclius and oedipus.
Encyc. Did. ofJVaf. Hist.
CMC or CAIQUE, n. [Fr.] A skiff belong-
ing to a galley.
CAIMAN. [See Cayman.]
CAIRN, n. [Welsh, earn.] A heap of stones.
CA'ISSON, or CAISSOON', n. [Fr. from
caisse, a chest. See Case.]
1. A wooden chest into which several bombs
are put, and sometimes gunpowder, to be
laid in the way of an enemy, or under
some work of which the enemy intend to
possess themselves, and to be fired when
they get possession. Encyc.
2. A wooden frame or chest used in laying
the foimdation of tlie pier of a bridge.
Encyc.
.3. An atnmunition chest, or waggon.
CA'ITIFF, 71. [It. caHJDO, a captive, a slave,
a rascal ; caitivare, to master, to enslave.
This word is from the L. captimis, a cap-
tive, from capio or capio, to take. The
sense of knavery is from the natural con
nection between tlie degradation of a
slave and vice.]
A mean villain ; a despicable knave : it im-
pUes a mixture of wickedness and misery
Johnson
CAJ'EPUT, n. An oil from the East Indies,
resembling that of cardamoms, obtained
from the Melaleuca leucodendron. Enci/c.
CA.IO'LE, V. t. [Fr. cajoler, enjoler; Arm.
cangeoli. See Gull.]
To flatter ; to soothe ; to coax ; to deceive
or delude by flattery. Hudibras.
CAJO LER, n. A flatterer ; a whecdler.
CAJO LERY, n. Flattery ; a wheedling to
delude. Burke.
CAJO'LING, ppr. Flattering ; wheedling ;
deceiving.
CAJO'TA^". A Mexican animal resembling
a wolf and a dog. Clavigero.
CAKE, 71. [D. kock ; G. kuchen ; Dan. kage :
Sw. kaka: Ch. ■]y3: Pers. ^\^;Svr.
30
C A L
(.a OS- The sense seems to be, a mass
or lump.]
A small mass of dough baked ; or a com-
position of flour, butter, sugar, or other in-
gredients, baked in a small mass. The
name is apjilied to various compositions,
baked or cooked in different shapes.
12. Something in the form of a cake, rather
flat than high, but roundish ; as a cake on
a tree. Bacon.
3. A mass of matter concreted ; as a cake of
ice. Dryden.
In jVeu) England, a piece of floating ice
in a river or lake.
4. A hard swelling on the flesh ; or rather a
concretion without such swelling.
CAKE, V. t. To form into a cake or mass.
CAKE, V. i. To concrete, or form into a
hard mass, as dougli in an oven, or as
flesh or any other substance. Addison.
CAKE, V. i. "To cackle. [Xot used.] Ray.
CAL'ABASH, n. [Sp. cn/aia:a, a pumpkin,
a gourd, a calabash ; Port, calahaca. Qu.
Gr. xa.-f.7tri, a water-pot or pitcher.]
1. A vessel made of a dried gourd-shell or of
the shell of a calabash tree, used for con-
taining hquors, or goods, as pitch, rosin
and ihe like. Encyc.
2. A popular name of the gourd-plant, or
Cucuibita. Fam. ojf Plants.
CALABASH-TREE, n. A tree of two spe-
cies, known in botany by the generic name
Crescenlia. The cujete has narrow leaves,
but a large round or oval fruit. The lati-
folia has broad leaves. The shell of the
fruit is used for cups, bowls, dishes and
other utensils. Encyc.
CALA'DE, Ji. The slope or declivity of a
rising manege-ground. Encyc.
CALA'lTE, n. A name given to the tur-
quois ; which see.
CALAMANCO, n. [Fr. eallimanque, cal-
mande ; D. kalmink ; G. kalmank ; Sp. cal-
amaco. Qu. Sp. »naca, a spot.]
A woolen stuff', of a fine gloss, and checker-
ed in the warp. Encyc.
CAL'AMAR, n. [Sp. id.; It. calamaia, an
ink-horn, and this animal.]
An animal, having an oblong body and ten
legs. On the belly are two bladders con-
taining a black fluid, which the animal
emits when pursued. It is called also
sea-sleeve and cuttle-fish.
Sp. Diet. Diet. ofXat. Hist.
CAL'AMBAC, n. [Sp. calambuco.] Aloes-
wood, xyloe-aloes, a drug, which is the
product of a tree growing in China and
some of the Indian isles. It is of a light
spungy texture, very jwrous, and the pores
so filted with a soft fragrant resin, that it
may be indented by the fingers and chew-
ed like mastich. It is also called tambac.
The two coarser kinds are called lignum
aloes, and calambour. Encyc.
CAL'AMBOUR, »i. A species of the aloes-
wood, of a dusky or mottled color, of a
light, friable texture, and less fragrant
than calambac. This wood is used by
cabinet-makers and inlayers. Encyc.
CALAMIF'EROUS, a. [calamus and fero.]
Producing plants having a long, hollow,
knotted stem. Chambers.
CAL' AMINE, or CAL'AMIN, n. Lapis cal-
aniinaris, or cadmia fossiUs; an ore of
zink, much used in the composition of
C A L
C A L
C A L
Ijrass. This term is applied botli to tliej
siliceous oxytl and the native carbonate of
ziiik. They can scarcely be distinguished
by their external characters. They are
generally compact, often stalactilic, and
sometimes crystalized. Most of the ca-
lamines of England and Scotland are said
to be carbonates. Encyc. Ckaveland.
CAL'AMINT, ji. [L. calaviintha ; Gr. xa-
jMftivdtj; fiwSa, mentha, nienta, mint]
A plant, a species of Melissa, or bauni, an
aromatic plant, and a weak corroborant.
Encyc.
Waler-calamint is a species of Mentha, or
mint.
CAL'AMISTRATE, v. t. To curl or frizzle
the hair. [JVot used.] Cotgrave.
CALAMISTRA'TION, n. The act of curl-
ing the hair. [JVbi used.]
€AL'AMIT, n. [L. calamus, a reed.] A
mineral, probably a variety of Tremolite.
It occurs in imperfect or rounded prisma-
tic ci^stals, longitudinally striated, and
sometimes resembling a reed. Its struc-
ture is foliated ; its luster vitreous, and
more or less shining.
Cleaveland. Werner,
CALAM'ITOUS, a. [Fr. calamiteux. See
Calamity.]
1. Very miserable ; involved in deep dis
tress ; oppressed with infelicity ; wretched
from misfortune ; applied to men.
Johnson. Calamy
2. Producing distress and misery; making
wretched ; applied to external circumstan-
ces ; as a calamitous event. Milton.
3. Full of misery ; distressful ; wretched ;
applied to state or condition. South.
CALAM'ITOUSLY, adv. In a manner to
bring great distress.
€ALAM'ITOUSNESS, n. Deep distress;
wretchedness; misery ; the quality of pro-
ducing misery.
CALAM'ITY, n. [L. calamitas. Qu. Ar.
*,Xr kalama, to wound ; Heb. Ch. dSo to
make ashamed. Under this root, the Syr
iac has calamity. The sense of the verb
is, to strike, to beat down. But the origin
of the word is uncertain.]
Any great misfortune, or cause of misery
generally applied to events or disasters!
which produce extensive evils, as loss of
crops, earthquakes, conflagrations, defeat
of armies, and the like. But it is ap|)lie(
also to the misfortunes which bring great
distress upon individuals. Milton. Prior.
The deliberations of calamity are rarely wise
Burke
€AL'AMUS, n. [L. from Gr. xaxa^o;, a
stalk or stem, a reed, stubble ; Eth. and Ar
^Xi" calamus scriptorius, a writing reed
or pen. The verb in Arabic signifies to
cut or pare. But qu., for it would seem
to be allied to culmus.]
1. The generic name of the Indian cane
called also rotang. It is without branch
es, has a crown at the top, and is beset
with spines. Encyc.
2. In antiquity, a pipe or fistula, a wind i
strument, made of a reed or oaten stalk,
Encyc
•3. A rush or reed used anciently as a pen to
write on parchment or papyrus. Encyc.
A sort of reed, or sweet-scented cane, used
by the Jews as a perfume. It is a knotty
root, reddish without and white within,
and filled with a spungy substance. It
has an aromatic smell. Brown. Calmet.
The sweet flag, called by Linne Scorns.
Encyc.
€ALAN'DRA, n. A species of lark, with
a thick bill, the upper part of the body of
a reddish brown, spotted with black, with
a body thicker than the sky-lark.
Pennant.
CALAN'DRE or €AL'ANDER, n. The
French name of a species of insect of tlie
beetle kind, very destructive in granaries.
Encyc.
eALAN'GAY, n. A species of white parrot.
Ash.
CALASH', n. [Fr. caleche ; D. kales; Sp.
calesa ; Russ. koliaska.]
A light chariot or carriage with very low
wheels, used for taking the air in parks
and gardens. It is open, or covered with
mantlets of cloth, that are let down at
pleasure. Encyc.
9. A cover for the head sometimes used by
ladies.
€AL€'AR, n. In glass works, a kind of
oven, or reverberating furnace, used for
the calcination of sand and salt of potash,
and converting them into frit. Encyc.
€AL€'ARATE, a. [L. calcar, a spur ; calx,
the heel; Ir. calg, a sting or goad.]
Furnished with a spur ; as a calcarale corol,
in larkspur ; a calcarate nectary, a nectary
resembling a cock's spur. Martyn.
€AL€A'RIO-SUL'PHUROUS, a. [See Calx
and Sulphur.]
Having lime and sulphur in combination, or
partaking of both. Kirwan.
CAL€A'RIOUS, a. [L. calcarius. See Calx.]
Partaking of the nature of lime ; having
the qualities of lime ; as calcarioxis earth
or stone. Encyc. Kirwan
€AL€AVAL'LA, n. A kind of sweet wine
from Portugal. Mason
€AL'CEATED, a. [L. calceatus, from cal
ceus, a shoe.]
Shod ; fitted with or wearing shoes.
Johnson.
€AL'CEDON, n. [See Chalcedony.] Witl
jewelers, a foul vein, like chalcedony, in
some precious stones. Ash.
€ALCEDON'l€, ) re i-.i. ; j t
€ALCEDO'NIAN, \ "• ^^^^ Chalcedony.]
Pertaining to or resembling chalcedony.
Encyc. Kinvan.
€ALCEDONY. See Chalcedony, the more
correct orthography.
CALCIF'EROiJS, a. [of co7.r,hme, and /ero,
to produce.] Producing calx or lime.
€AL'CIFORM, a. [of calx, Ihne, and forma.
form.] In the form of calx.
€ALCIMU'RITE, n. [of co/r, lime, and mu-
ria, salt water.]
A species of earth, of the muriatic genus, oi
a blue or olive green color, of the consist-
ence of clay. It consists of calcarious
earth and magnesia tinged with iron.
Kirwmi.
€ALCI'NABLE, a. [See Calcine.] That
may be calcined ; capable of being redu-
ced to a friable state by the action of fire.
Encyc.
CAL'CINATE, v. t. To calcine. [See Cal.
c^ne.] Bacon.
CALCINA'TION, n. [from calcine.] The
operation of expelling from a substance
by heat, some volatile matter with which
it is combmed, or which is the cementing
principle, and thus reducing it to a friable
state. Thus chalk and carbonate of lime
are reduced to lime by calcination, or the
expulsion of carbonic acid.
2. The operation of reducing a metal to an
oxyd, or metallic calx. This in modern
chimistry is called oxydation.
€AL'CINATORY, n. A vessel used in cal-
cination.
€AL'CINE, ti.f. [Ft. caleiner ; It. calcinare ;
Sp. calcinar ; from calx. See Calx.]
1. To reduce a substance to a powder or to
a friable state, by the action of heat ; or
to expel from a substance some volatile
matter, combined with it, or forming its
cementing principle, as the carbonic acid
from limestone, or the water of crystali-
zation from salts.
2. To oxydize, as a metal ; to reduce to a
metallic calx.
3. To dissolve ; to destroy the principles
which unite. Denham.
€AL'CINE, V. i. To be converted into a
powder or fi-iable substance, or into a
calx, by the action of heat. JVetcfon.
CAL'CIUM, n. [from L. calx.] The metallic
basis of lime. Davy.
€AL€OGRAPH'l€AL, a. [See Calcogra-
phy.] Pertaining to calcography.
€AL€OG'RAPHY, n. [L. calx, chalk, and
Gr. 7pa$u, to engrave.] An engraving in
the hkeness of chalk.
€AL€-SINTER, n. Stalactitic carbonate
of lime. Ure.
€AL€-TUFF, n. An alluvial formation of
carbonate of lime. Ure.
€AL€'ULABLE, a. [See Calculate.] That
may be calcidated, or ascertained by cal-
culation.
€AL€'ULARY, n. [L. calculus, a pebble.]
A congeries of little stony knots dispersed
through the parenchyma of the pear and
other fruits, formed by concretions of the
sap. Encyc.
€AL€'ULATE, v. t. [Fr. calculer ; It. calcu-
lare ; Sp. calcular ; Lat. calculo ; from
calculus, a pebble. Ar. Syr. ^ jJiXi'
gravel.]
To compute; to reckon; to add, subtraci,
multiply or divide any sums, for the pur-
pose of finding the amount, difference, or
other result. Thus, to calculatethe expen-
ses of erecting a house, is to estimate and
add together the several sums which eacl-
part of the materials and the work \\i\'
cost.
2. To ascertain by the use of tables or niuii-
bers ; as, to calculate an ecUpse.
.3. To form tables upon mathematical prin
ciples, as logarithms, ephemerides, &c.
4. To compute the situation of the planets
at a certain time, for astrological pur-
poses ; as, to calculate the birth of a person.
Shak.
5. To adjust by computation ; to fit or jire-
pare by the adai)tation of the means to
the end; as, to calculate a system of laws
for a free people.
C A L
CAL€'ULATE, v. i. To make a coniputa
tion ; as, we calculate better for ourselves
than for otiiers.
Ill popular use, this word is often equivalent
to intend or purpose, that is, to make ar-
rangements, and form a i)lan ; as, a niai)
calculates to go a journey. This use of
the word spring's from the practice oi' com-
puting or estimating the various circum-
stances which concur to influence the
mind in forming its determinations.
€AL€'ULATED,jo/>. Computed ; reckoned ;
suited ; adapted by design.
€AL€'ULAT1NG, ppr. Computing; reck-
oning ; adapting by design ; adjusting.
€AL€ULA'TION, n. The art, practice or
manner of computing by numbers. The
use of numbers, by addition, subtraction,
nudtiplication, or division, for the purpose
of arriving at a certain result. Thus coin-
putations in astronomy and geometry for
making tables of numbers are called cal-
culations. Eniyc.
2. The result of an arithmetical operation ;
computation ; reckoning. Hooker.
3. Estimate formed in the mind by compar-
ing the various circumstances and facts
which influence its determination.
€AL€'ULATIVE, a. Pertaining to calcula-
tion ; tendin" to calculate. Burke.
CALCULATOR, n. One who computes or
reckons ; one who estimates or considers
the force and effect of causes, with a view
to form a correct estimate of the effects.
€AL€'ULATORY, a. Belonging to calcu-
lation. Johnson.
€ALC'ULE, n. Reckoning; computation.
Ohs. Howel.
CALCULOUS, a. [Supra.] Stony ; gritty ;
hard like stone ; as a calculous concretion
Brown.
2. Affected with the gravel or stone ; as a
ralculous person. Sharp.
CAL€'ULUS, n. [L. See Calculate.] The
stone in the bladder or kidneys. The cal-
culus ill the bladder is called lithiasis; in
the kidneys, nephritis. Encyc.
'i. In mathematics ; Differential calculus, is
the arithmetic of the infinitely small differ-
ences of variable quantities ; the method
of diflferencing quantities, or of finding an
infinitely small quantity, which, being ta-
ken infinite times, shall be equal to a giv-
en quantity. This coincides with the doc-
trine of fluxions. Encyc.
'■i. Exponential calculus, is a method of differ-
encing exponential quantities ; or of find-
ing and summing up the differentials or
moments of exponential quantities; or at
least of bringing them to geometrical con-
structions. Encyc.
4. Integral calculus, is a method of integra-
ting or sunnning up moments or differen-
tial quanlities ; the inverse of the differen-
tial calculus. Encyc.
,■). Literal calculus, is specious arithmetic or
algebra. Encyc.
CALDRON, n. cawl'dron. [Old Fr. chaul-
dron, now chaudron; Basque, galda, to
lieat ; galdarea, a great kettle ; It. caldaia,
or caldaro, a caldron ; caldo, heat and hot ;
Sp. calda, heat ; caldear, to heat, to weld
iron; caldera, a caldron; Port. c(ddeira, i
caldron ; L. caldarium, id : calda, hot wa
C A L
ter; calidus, hot; from caleo, to be hot.
This is from the root of Eng. scald.]
A large kettle or boiler, of copper, or otlier
metal, furnished with a movable handle
or bail, with which to hang it on a chim-
ney hook. Addison
CALECIIE, [See Calash.]
C A LE DON IAN, «. Pertaining to Caledonia,
111 ancient name of Scotland. The ter
nination in, signifies a country, and was
Killed by (lie Humans. Caledon signifies
iriilmlily, the hill or town of the Gaels, or
Vdds, tiie primitive inhabitants.]
CALEUO'NIAN, n. A native of Caledonia,
>w Scotland.
CALEEA'CIENT, a. [See Cole/action, Cal
A'CIENT, n. That which warms
f/u.] Warming ; heating,
ALEF A'CIENT, n. Th
or heats,
CALEF ACTION, n. [L. calefaclio, from
calefacio, to make warm. See Calefy.]
The act or operation of warming or heating ;
the production of heat in a body by the
action of tire, or by the communication of
liriil liiiin nilirr bodies. Encyc.
'i. Till' suite of being heated. John.ion.
CALI'lKAfl'lVE, I [See Calefaction.]
CALEFACTORY, S "' That makes warm
or hot ; that communicates heat.
C.'VL'EFY', v. i. [L. calejio, to become warm,
or hot ; from caleo &iu\/io ovfacio.]
To grow hot or warm ; to be heated.
Brown
CAL'EFY, v. I. To make warm or hot.
Johnson
CAL'ENDAR, n. [L. calendarium, an ac-
count book. See Calends.]
1. A register of the year, in which the
months, weeks, and days are set down in
order, with the feasts observed by tli
church, &-C. ; an almanack. It was so
named from the Roman Calendce, the
name given to the first day of the month,
and written, in large letters, at the head of'
each month. [See Calends.] Encyc.
■2. A list of prisoners in the custody of the
sheriff". Eng.
An orderly table or enumeration of jier-
sons or things. Encyc.
Calendar-montli, a solar month as it stands
Almanacks.
CAL'ENDAR, v. t. To enter or write in a
calendar.
CAL'ENDER, v. t. [Fr. calendrer ; Sp. cal
enlar, to heat, to urge or press forward ;
from caleo, to be hot.]
To press between rollers, for the purpose
of making smooth, glossy and wavy;
woolen and silk stuflTs and linens.
CAL'ENDER, n. A machine or hot press,
used in manufactories to press cloths, for
the purpose of malting them smooth, even-
and glossy, laying the nap, watering tliemi
and giving them a wavy appearance. It
consists of two thick rollers or cylinders,
placed between boards or planks, the low-
er one being fixed, the ujiper one mova-
ble, and loaded with a great weight. Encyc.
CAL'ENDRER, n. The person who calen-
ders cloth.
CAL'ENDS, n.plu. [L. caZeiirfoe, from calo,
Gr. xoTifu, Eng. to call. See Call]
Among the Romans, the fii'st day of each
month. The origin of this name is differ-
ently related. Varro supposes it to have
originated in the practice of notifying the'
C A L
time of the new moon, by a piicfft who
called out or proclaimed the fact, to the
peo]ile, and the number of the calends, or
the day of the nqnes. Others alledge that
the people behig convened, the pontifex
proclaimed the several feasts or holidays
in the month ; a custom which was dis-
continued in the year of Rome 450, when
the fasti or calendar was set up in public
places, to give notice of the festivals.
Encyc. AdanVs Ram. Ant.
CAL'ENTURE, n. fSp. calentura, heat, a
fever with irregular pulse ; calentar, to
heat ; from L. caUo, to be hot. Russ.
kalyu, to heat, to make red or red hot.]
A violent ardent fever, incident to persons
in hot clhnates, especially natives of cooler
climates. It is attended with delirium,
and one of the symptoms is, that the
person affected imagines the sea to be a
green field, and sometimes attempting to
walk in it, is lost. Enajc. Coxe.
CALF, n. c'aff, phi. calves, jiron. c'avz.
[Sax. cealf; Sw. kalf; Dan. kalv ; D. kalf;
and the verb kalven, to calve, to vomit ;
G.kalb; kalben. The primary sense is is-
sue, from throwing out. Hence the word
is applied to the protuberant part of the
leg, a push, a swell.]
1. The young of the cow, or of the bovine
genus of quadru])eds.
2. In contempt, a dolt ; an ignorant, stupid
person ; a weak or cowardly man.
Drayton.
3. The thick fleshy part of the leg behind;
so called from its protuberance. Wiseman.
4. The calves of the lips, in Hosea, signify the
pure offerings of prayer, praise and thanks-
giving. Broivn.
C^ALF-LIKE, a. Resembling a calf. Shak.
C^ALF-SKIN, n. The hide or skin of a
calf: or leather made of the skin.
CAL'IBER, n. [Fr. and Sp. calibre.]
1. The diameter of a body ; as the caliber of
a colunm, or of a bullet. Encyc.
2. The bore of a gun, or the extent of'its
bore.
Caliber-compasses, calibers, or callipers, a sort
of compasses made with arched legs, to
take the diameter of round bodies, as
masts, shot, &c. The legs move on an
arch of brass, on which are marked the in-
ches and half inches, to show how far the
points of the compasses are opened asun-
der. Encyc.
Caliber-rule, Gunner's Callipers, an instru-
ment in which a right line is so divided
as that the fii'st part being equal to the
diameter of an ii-on or leaden ball of one
pound weight, the other parts are to the
first as the diameters of balls of two,
three, four, &c. pounds, are to the diame-
ter of a ball of one pound. It is used by
engineers, to determine, from a ball's
weight, its diameter or cahber and I'lce
versa. Encyc.
CAL'ICE, «. [L. calix; Fr. calice ; Sax. ca-
lic, a cup ; Gr. xi'?.i|. It is usually written
chalice ; but incorrectly.]
A cup ; appropriately, a communion cup, or
vessel used to administer the wine in the
sacrament of the Lord's supper. It is used
by the Roman Catholics in the mass.
CAL'ICO, n. [said to be from Calicut, in
India.] Cotton cloth. In England, wliite
or imprinted cotton cloth is called calico.
C A L
C A L
C A L
In tlie United States, calico is printed
cotton cloth, having not more than two
colors. I have never heard this name
given to the imprinted cloth. Calico vras
originally im])orted from India, but is now
nianufactHreil In Europe and the United
States.
<;AL'I€0-PRINTER, 11. One whose occu-
pation is to print calicoes.
CAL'ID, a. [L. calidus, {romcaleo, to be hot.]
Hot; burning; ardent. Johnson.
GALIDITY, n. Heat. Brown.
CAL'IDU€T, 11. [L. caleo, to be hot, color,
heat, and duco, to lead.]
Among the Ancients, a pipe or canal used
to convey heat from a furnace to tlie apart-
ments of a house.
CA'LIF, n. written also caliph and kalif.
[from Ar. i_iX-L calafa, to sue
Hence a calif is a successor, a title j
■ced.
5opm oi rersia. jL,ncyc.
i The office or dignity of
i, > n. a calif; or the govern-
5 ment of a calif. Harris.
to the successors of Mohammed.]
A successor or vicar; a repre-sentative of Mo-
hammed, bearing the same relation to him
as the Pope pretends to bear to St. Peter.
Among the Saracens, or Mohammedans, a
calif is one who is vested with supreme
dignity and power in all matters relating
to religion and civil pohcy. This title is
borne by the Grand Signior in Turkey,
and by tlie Sophi of Persia. Encyc.
€A'LIFATE, - - .. . .
CALIPHATE.
KA'LIFATE,
CALIGA'TION, n. [L. caligalio, dimne
from caligo, to be dark.] Darkness ; dim-
In medical authors, caligation or caligo, is an
opakeness or cloudiness of the anterior
surface of the crystahne lens, causing dim-
ness of sight ; impaired sight from obstruc-
tion to the passage of light, or cataract.
Coxe. Encyc.
eALI(5TNOUS, a. Dim ; obscme ; dark.
CALlG'INOUSNESS,n.Dimness;obscurity.
€ALIGRAPH'Ie, a. [Infra.] Pertaining to
elegant penmanship. Jfarton.
€ALiG RAPHY, ) [Gr. xaxa, fair, and
€ALLIG'RAPHY, ^ yp"$w, to write ; xax-
Fair or elegant writing, or penmanship.
Pridcaux.
CA'LIN, n. A compound metal, of which the
Chinese make tea canisters and the like.
The ingredients seem to be lead and tin.
Encyc.
CAL'IVER, n. [from caliber.] A kind "of]
handgun, musket or arquebuse. Shak.
€A'LIX, n. [h.calix;Gr.xvXit]
1. A cup.
2. Tlie membrane which covers the papillae
in the pelvis of the human kidney. Coxe.
But it seems to be erroneously used for
calyx, which see.
€ALK, V. t. cauk. [Qu. the connection of this
word with the Sp. calafetear ; It. rnlafa-
tare ; Port, calafetar ; Arm. calefcli ; Fr
calfater, to smear with cement or mortar ;
Ar. (_JiXa kalafa, to stop the seams of ships
with fine moss, &c., and pay them over
with pitch ; Sam. id. It may be corrupted
from this word ; if not, it may be from the
Dan. WJ:, calx, lime or mortar; but
seems not probable. The Germans and
Danes have borrowed the Spanish and
French word to express the idea. Skinner
deduces the word from Fr. calage, tow.]
1. To drive oakum or old ropes untwisted,
into the scams of a ship or other vessel,
to prevent their leaking, or admitting wa-
ter. After the seams are filled, they are
covered with hot melted pitch or rosin,
keep the oakum from rotting.
'. In some parts of America, to set upon
horse or o.\ shoes armed with sharp points
of iron, to prevent their slipping on '
that is, to stop from shpping.
CALK, n. cauk. In JVew-Eugland, a sharp
pointed piece of iron on a shoe for a horse
or an ox, called in Great Britain calkin :
used to prevent the animal from slipping
CALK'ER, n. cauk'cr. A man who calks;
sometimes perhaps a calk or pointed iron
on a horse-shoe.
CALK'ED, /)/). cauk'ed. Having the seams
stopped ; furnished with shoes with iron
points.
CALK'IN, n. A calk.
CALKTNG, ppr. cauk'ing. Stopping the
seams of a ship; putting on shoes with
iron points.
CALK'ING, n. cauk'ing. In painting, the
covering of the back .side of a design with
black lead, or red chalk, and tracing lines
through on a waxed plate or wall or oth-
er matter, by passing lightly over each
stroke of the design with a point, which
leaves an impression of the color on the
plate or wall. Chambers.
CALK'ING-IRON, n. cauk'ing-iron. An in-
strument like a chisel, used in calking
ships.
CALL, V. t. [L. calo ; Gr. xa\f« ; Sw. kalla ;
Dan. holder ; W. galw, to call ; D. kallen,
to talk ; Ch. lh2 in Aph. to call, to thun-
der ; Heb. to hold or restrain, which is the
Gr. xuxiiu, L. cavla ; Syr. Sam. Eth. to
hold, or restrain ; Ar. to keep ; L. celo.
The primary sense is to press, drive or
strain. We find the like elements and sig-
nification in San. giellan, or giillan, to yell ;
Dan. g-aZer, to crow. Class Gl. Tlie W.
galiv is connected in origin with gallu, to
be able, to have power, may, can, Eng.
could, the root of gallant, L. gnllus, &c.]
In a general sense, to drive ; to strain or force
out sound. Hence,
1. To name ; to denominate or give a name.
And God called the light day, and the dark-
ness he called night. Gen. i.
2. To convoke ; to summon ; to direct or
order to meet ; to assemble by order or
public notice ; often with togetluer ; as, the
king called his council together ; the presi-
dent called together the congress.
3. To request to meet or come.
He sent his servants to call them that were
bidden. Math. xxii.
4. To invite.
Because I have called and ye refused.
Prov. i.
5. To invite or summon to come or be pres-
ent ; to invite, or collect.
Call all your senses to you.
6. To give notice to come by authority ; to
command to come ; as, call a servant
7. To proclaim ; to name, or publish the
Nor parish clerk, who calls the psahi
Gai/
8. To appoint or designate, as for an office,
duty or employment.
See, I have called byname Bezaleel. Est
KXXi.
Paul called to be an aposUe. Rom. i.
9. To mvite ; to warn ; to exhort. Is. xxii. 12.
Cruden.
10. To invite or draw into union with Christ :
to bring to know, beUeve and obey the
gospel. Rom. viij. 28.
11. To own and acknowledge. Heb. ii. li.
12. To invoke or appeal to.
I call God for a record. 2 Cor. i.
13. To esteem or account. Is. Iviii. 5. Mat.
iii. 15.
To call down, to invite, or to bring down.
To call back, to revoke, or retract ; to recall ;
to summon or bring back.
To call for, to demand, require or claim, as
a crime calls for punishment ; or to cause
to grow. Ezek. xxxvi. Also, to speak
for ; to ask ; to request ; as, to call for a din-
ner.
To call in, to collect, as to ccdl in debts or
money ; or to draw from circulation, as
to call in clipped coin ; or to summon to-
gether ; to invite to come together ; as, to
call in neighbors or friends.
To call forth, to bring or summon to action;
as, to call forth all the faculties of the mind.
To call off, to summon away ; to divert ; as, to
call off the attention ; to ccdl off workmen
from their employment.
To call up, to bring into viewer recollection;
as, to call up the image of a deceased
friend ; also, to bring into action, or dis-
, cussion ; as, to ccUl up a bill before a legis-
lative body.
To call over, to read a list, name by name ;
to recite separate particidars in order, as
a roll of names.
To call out, to summon to fight ; to challenge ;
also, to summon into service ; as, to call out
the iTiilitia.
To call to mind, to recollect ; to revive in
memory.
CALL, V. i. To utter a loud sound, or to ad-
dress by name ; to utter the name ; some-
times with to.
Tlie angel of God called to Hagar. Gen. xxi.
2. To stop, without intention of staying r to
make a short stop ; as, to call at the inn.
This use Johnson supposes to have origin-
ated in the custom of denoting one's pres-
ence at the door by a call. It is common,
in this phrase, to use at, as to call at thp. inn ;
or on, as to call on a friend. This applica-
tion seems to be equivalent to speak, D.
kallen. Let us speak at this place.
To call on, to make a short visit to ; also, to
solicit payment, or make a demand of a
debt. In a theological sense, to pray to or
worship : as, to call on the name of the
Lord. Gen. iv. To repeat solemnly.
Dryden.
To call out, to utter a loud voice ; to bawl ;
a popular use of the phrase.
CALL, 11. A vocal address, of summons or
' invitation ; as, he will not come at a call.
2. Demand ; requisition ; public claim ; as,
listen to the calls of justice or humanity.
3. Divine vocation, or suunnons ; as the call
of Abraham.
4. Invitation ; request of a public body or
society ; as, a clergyman has a call to settle
ill the ministry.
A summons (iom heaven ; impulse.
C A L
C A L
C A L
St. Paul believed he had a call, when he per-
secuted tlie christians. Locke.
('). Autliority; command. Denham.
7. A short visit ; as, to make a call ; to give
one a call ; that is, a speaking to ; D.
kallen. To give one n call, is to stop a
motnent and speak or say a word ; or to
have a short conversation with.
8. Vocation ; employment. In this sense
ccdlmg is generally used.
9. A naming ; a nomination. Bacon.
10. Among hunters, a lesson blown on tlic
horn, to comfort the hounds. Encyc.
11. Among seamen, a whistle or pipe, used
by the boatswain and his mate, to summon
the sailors to their duty. Encyc.
12. The English name of the mineral called
by the Germans tungsten or wolfram.
Encyc.
13. Among/oio/er*, the noise or cry of a fowl,
or a pipe to call birds by imitating their
voice. Encyc. Bailey.
14. In legislative bodies, the call of the house,
is a calling over the names of the uieni
bers, to discover who is absent or for othe
purpose ; a calling of names with a view to
obtain answers from the jiefsons named.
eALL'ED, pp. Invited ; summoned ; address-
ed ; named ; appointeil ; invoked ; assem-
bled by order ; recited.
-CALL'ER, n. One who calls.
CAL'LET, I A trull, or a scold. [JVot
€AL'LAT, I "• used.] Shnk
CAL'LET, V. i. To rail ; to scold. [ATot ii
use.]
eALL'ING, ppr. Inviting ; summoning ; na
ming ; addressing ; invoking.
€ALL'ING, n. A naming, or inviting ; i
reading over or reciting in order, or a call
of names with a view to obtain an answer,
as in legislative bodies.
2. Vocation ; profession ; trade ; usual occu-
pation, or emplovment.
Pope. Simjl. 1 Cor. vii. 20,
3. Class of persons engaged in any profession
or employment. Hammond,
4. Divine summons, vocation, or invitation,
Give all diligence to make your calling and
election sure. 2 Pet. i.
€AL'LIOPE, n. cal'Uopy. In Pagan my
tliology, the muse that presides over elo
qiience and heroic poetry.
CAL'LIPERS. [See Caliher.)
CALLOS'ITY, n. [Fr. callosite ; L. callositas
See Callous.]
Hardness, or bony hardness ; the hardness of
the cicatrix of ulcers. Coxe.
CAL'LOUS,a. [L. crtito,hardness ; calleo, to
be hard, to know or be skilled ; Eng.
could, which see.]
1. Hard ; hardened ; indurated ; as an ulcer
or some part of the body. Wiseman.
2. Hardened in mind ; insensible ; unfeehng,
I Dryden.
CAL'LOUSLY, adv. In a hardened or un-
feeling manner.
CAL'LOUSNESS, n. Hardness, induration
applied to the body ; insensibility, applied
; to the mind or heart. Cheyne. Bentley.
I CAL'LOW, a. [Ir. calbh ; L. calvus, bald
G. kahl ; D. kaal ; Fr. chauve ; Pers. V^
kal ; Russ. golei, bald, naked ; goleyu, tc
be stripped.]
« Destitute of feathers ; naked ; unfledged ; as
hi a young bird. Milton
CAL'LUS, n. [L. callus, from calleo, to be
liard ; Sans, kalla, stone.]
Any cutaneous, corneous, or bony hardness,
but generally the new growth of osseous
matter between the extremities of fractur-
ed bones, serving to unite them ; also, a
hardness in the skin ; a hard, dense, insen-
sible knob on the hands, feet, &c.
Encyc. Coxe.
CALM, a. cam. [Vr. calme ; Sp.calma; It.
cahna ; D. kalm. Q,u. Gr. ;to».aco ; It. calare,
to decrease or abate ; Sp. calar, to sink.]
Still ; quiet ; being at rest ; as the air.
Hence not stormy or tempestuous ; as a
calm day.
2. Undisturbed ; not agitated ; as a ccdm
sea.
3. Undisturbed by passion ; not agitated or
excited ; quiet ; tranquil ; as the mind
temper, or attention.
CALM. ». Siilliioss;tranquillity;quiet;frce
(loin iVuiii iMciiion, agitation, or distm-b-
jiiice ; (ijij)liiit to the elements, or to the mind
and jiassiuns. Sotdh.
G'ALM, V. I. To still ; to quiet; as the wind,
or elements ; to still, appease, allay or
pacify, as the mind, or passions.
Dryden. Atterhury.
CALMER, ji. The person or thing that
calms, or has the power to still, and make
quiet ; that which allays or pacifies.
CALMING, vpr. Stilling; appeasing.
e'ALMLV, adv. In a quiet manner; with-
out disturbance, agitation, tumult, or vio-
lence ; without passion ; quietly.
e^ALMNESS, n. Quietness; stillness; tran-
quillity ; applied to the elements.
2. Quietness ; mildness ; unruffled state ; ap-
plied to the mind, passions or temper.
CALMY, o. Calm ; quiet ; peaceable.
Spenser. Cowley.
€AL'OMEL, n. [Qu. Gr. xaXoj, fair, and
ftfXof, black, or JEthiops mineral.]
A preparation of mercury, much used
medicine. It is called the submuriate or
protocliloride of mercury, and is prepared
in various ways, by sublimation or precipi-
tation, and al-so in the dry way. The fol-
lowing are the directions given in the last
London Pharmacopaia. Take of muriated
quicksilver one pound, and of purified
quicksilver, nine ounces ; rub them togeth-
er till the globules disappear ; then sub-
lime, and repeat the sublimation twice
more successively. Webster.
€ALOR'I€, n. [L. calor, heat.] The prin-
ciple or matter of heat, or the simple ele-
ment of heat. Lavoisier.
Caloric may be defined, the agent to which
the phenomena of heat and combustion
are ascribed. Ure..
Caloric expands all bodies. Henry.^
€ALOR'I€, a. Pertaining to the matter of
heat.
€ALORIF'l€, a. That has the quality of
|iroduriiig heat ; causing heat; heating.
eALORlM'ETER, n. [L. co/or, heat, aiid
Gr. fitrpov, measure.]
An apparatus for measuring relative quanti-
ties of heat, or the specific caloric of bod-
ies ; or an instrument for measuring the
heat given out by a body in cooling, from
the quantity of ice it melts, invented by
Lavoisier and Lapla
€AL'ORIMOTOR, J!, [caloric and L. motor,
mover.]
A galvanic instrument, in which the calorilic
influence oreffects are attended by scarcely
anv electrical power. Hare.
€ALb'TTE, I [Fr. caloUe.] A cap or
€ALO'TE, I"- coif, of hair, satin or other
stuff, worn in popish countries, as an eccle-
siastical ornament.
2. In architecture, a round cavity or depress-
ion, in form of a cup or cap, lathed and
plastered, used to diminish the elevation of
a chapel, cabinet, alcove, &:.c., which would_
otherwise be too high for other pieces of
the apartment. Harris. Encyc.
CALOY'ERS, or€ALO(iERI, n. Monks
of the Greek church, of three orders ;
archari, or novices ; ordinary professed,
or mierochemi ; and the more perfect, called
megalochemi. They are also divided into
cenobites, who are employed in reciting
their offices, from midnight to sunrise ;
anchorets, who retire and live in hermita-
ges ; and rec/u»e*, who shut themselves up
in grottos and caverns, on the mountains,
and live on alms furnished to them by the
monasteries. Encyc.
€ALP, n. A subspecies of carbonate of lime,
of a bluish black, gray or grayish blue, but
its streak is white, called also argillo-fer-
ruginous limestone. It is intermediate
between compact limestone and marl.
Kirwan. Cleaveland. Phillips.
CAL'TROP, n. [Sax. coltrappe, a species
of thistle, rendered by Lye, rhamnus, and
carduus stellatus. The French has chausse-
trape. The Italian calcatreppolo is from
calcare, to trea<l, and tribolo, a thistle ; L.
Iribulus.]
1. A kind of thistle, the Latin trilmltis, with
a roundish prickly pericarp ; on one side,
gibbous, often armed with three or four
daggers ; on the other side, angular, con-
verging with transverse cells. It grows
in France, Italy and Spain, among corn,
and is very troublesome, as the prickles
run into the feet of cattle.
Fam. of Plants. Miller.
2. In military affairs, an instrument with four
iron points, disposed in a triangular form,
so that three of them beingon tlie ground,
the other points upward. These are scat-
tered on the ground where an enemy's
cavalry are to pass, to inijiede their prog-
ress by endangering the horses' feet.
Encyc. Dr. Addison.
€AL'UMET, n. Among the aboriginals of
America, a pipe, used for smoking tobacco,
whose bowl is usually of soft red marble,
and the tube a long reed, ornamented with
feathers. The calumet is used as a sym-
bol or instrument of peace and war. To
accept the calumet, is to agree to thetemis
of peace, and to refuse it, is to reject them.
The calumet of jjcace is used to seal or
ratify contracts and alUances, to receive
strangers kindly, and to travel with safety.
The calumet of war, differently made, is
used to proclaim war.
€ALUM'NIATE, v. t. [See Calumny.] To
accuse or charge one falsely, and know-
ingly, with some crime, offense, or some-
thing disreputable ; to slander.
CALUM'NIATE, v.i. To charge falsely
and knowingly with a crime or offense;
to propagate evil re))orts with a design to
injure the reputation of another.
C A L
CALUMNIATED, pp. Slandered ; falsely
and maliciously accused of what is crimi-
nal, immoral, or disgraceful.
■CALUMNIATING, ppr. Slandering.
CALUiMNIA'TION, n. False accusation of
a crime or offense, or a malicious and false
representation of the words or actions of
another, with a view to injure his good
name.
CALUM'NIATOR, n. One who slanders ;
one who falsely and knowingly accuses
another of a crime or offense, or malicious-
ly propagates false accusations or reports.
€ALUM'NIATORY, a. Slanderous.
Montagu.
CALUM'NIOUS, a. Slanderous ; bearing or
implying calumny ; injurious to reputation.
CALUM'NIOUSLY, adv. Slanderously.
€ALUM'NIOUSNESS, n. Slanderousness.
Bp. Morton.
CAL'UMNY, n. [L. calumnia ; Tr. calomnie ;
It. calunnia. If m is radical, this word
may be allied to calamity, both from the
sense of falling upon, rushing, or throwing
on. If m is not radical, this word may be
the Gothic holon, to calumniate, Saxon
holan, to rush upon. The word is found in
Ir. guilimne, calumny, guilimmghim, to
calumniate or reproach].
Slander ; false accusation of a crime or of-
fense, knowingly or maliciously made or
reported, to the injury of another; false
representation of facts reproachful to an-
other, made by design, and with knowl-
edge of its falsehood ; sometimes followed
by on.
Neglected calumnij soon expires.
.Murphy's Tacitus.
PAL'VARY, n. [L. calvaria, from calva, a
skidl or scalp ; Ir. calb, the liead ; Sp. cal-
vario, calva ; It. calvo.]
I. A place of .skulls; particularly, the place
where Christ was crucified, on a small hill
west of Jerusalem. In catholic countries,
a kind of chapel raised on a hillock near a
city, as a place of devotion, in memoi'y of
the place where our Savior suffered.
1. In heraldry, a cross so called, set upon
steps, resembling the cross on which our
Saviour was crucified.
C'ALVE, V. i. cav. [from calf; Sax. calfian.]
To bring forth young, as a cow.
'i. In a metaphorical sense, and sometimes by
way of reproach, a,i when applied to the hu-
man race, to bring forth ; to produce.
CALVES-SNOUT, n. A i)lant, snap-drag-
on, antirrhinum.
CAL'VER, V. t. To cut in slices. [jYot in
use.'] B. Jonson.
€.\L'VER, V. i. To shrink by cutting, and
not fall to pieces. [Not in use.] Cotton.
CAL'VILLE, n. [Fr.] A sort of apple.
CAL'VINISM, n. The theological tenets or
doctrines of Calvin, who was born in Pic-
ardy in France, and in 1536, chosen pro-
fessor of divinity, and minister of a church
in Geneva. The distinguishing doctrines
of this system are, original sin, particular
election and reprobation, particular re-
demption, effectual grace in regenerat'
or a change of heart by the spirit of God,
justification by free grace, perseverance of
the saints, and the trinity.
■CAL'VINIST,n. A follower of Calvin ; one
who embraces the theological doctruies ofi
Calvin.
C A L
€ALVIN1ST'I€, ) Pertaining to Cal-
CALVINIST'IeAL, S "• vin, or to his opin-
ions in theology.
€'ALVISH,a. [iromcalf] Like a calf. [More
rly, catfish.] Sheldon.
eALX, n. '(Aa. calxes or calces. [L. caij; Sax.
cealc, a stone, calculus, and chalk ; D. kalk ;
G. kalk ; Sw. kalck; Dan. kalk ; Fr. chaux.
The same word signifies chalk, lime, mor-
tar, and the heel, and from that is formed
calculus, a little stone. TheVord then sig-
nifies primarily, a lump, or clod, or hard
mass, and is allied to callus. If calx is
from ;tax,tS, the usual orthography was not
observed by the Latins. See Calculate.]
Properly liine or chalk ; but more appropri-
ately, the substance of a metal or mineral
which remains after being subjected to
violent heat, burning, or calcination, solu-
tion by acids, or detonation by niter, and
which is or may be reduced to a fine pow-
der. Metallic calxes are now called oxyds.
They are heavier than the metal from
which they are produced, being combined
with oxygen. Coxe. Encyc.
Calx nativa, native calx, a kind of marly
earth, of a dead whitish color, which, in
water, bubbles or hisses, and without burn-
ing, will make a cement, like hme or
gypsum.
Calx viva, quick-lime, is hme not slaked.
€ALYC'INAL, f Pertaining to a calyx ;
CAL'YCINE, 5 "• situated on a calyx.
Martyn.
CAL'Y€LE, n. [L. calyculus. See Calyx.]
'n totally, a. row of small leaflets, at the base
of the calyx, on the outside. The calycle
of the seed is the outer proper covering
or crown of the seed, adhering to it, to fa-
cihtate its dispersion. Martyn.
€ALY€'ULATEor €AL'Y€LED, a. Hav-
ing a calycle at the base on the outside ;
used of the calyx.
€ALYP'TER, n. [Gr. xa.Xv7ttr,f, a cover.]
The calyx of mosses, according to Linne ;
but not properly a calyx. It is a kmd of
vail, or cowl, which covers or is suspended
over the tops of the stamens, like an extin-
guisher. Mine.
The calyptra of mosses is an appendage of
the capsule or female flower. It at first
closely invests the capsule, and its summit
is the stigma. As the capsule approaches
maturity, the calyptra is detached below,
and appended to the stigma hke a hood.
Cyc. Smith.
CA'LYX, ti. plu. calyxes. [L. calyx ; Gr.
j£oJ,u|, a flower not opened, a husk or shell.
It has been confounded with xvy^, calix,
a cup.]
The outer covering of a flower, being the
termination of the cortical epidermis or
outer bark of the plant, which, in most
plants, incloses and supports the bottom of
the corol. In Linne's system, it compre-
hends the perianth, the involucrum, the
ament, the spath, the glume, the calyptra,
and the volva. But in general it signifies
the perianth, and the leaves are generally
green. Milne. Martyn. Encyc
The opinion of Linne that the calyx is the
continuation of the epidermis is now con-
sidered erroneous. Ed. Encyc. Smith.
€ALZOONS', 71. [Sp. cakones.] Drawers,
[Not English.] Herbert
C A M
€AM'BER, 7^. [Fr.cambrer, to arch, to Vault,
to bend, from L. camera, a vault, a cham-
ber.]
Among builders, camber or camber-beam is
a piece of timber cut archwise, or with an
obtuse angle in the middle, used in plat-
forms, where long and strong beams are
required. As a verb, this word signifies to
bend, but I know not that it is used.
A cambered-deck, is one which is higher in
the middle, or arched, but drooping or de-
chning towards the stem and stern ; also,
when it is irregular.
jeAM'BERING, ppr. or a. Bending ; arched ;
as, a deck lies cambering.
€AM'BIST, n. [It. cambista, from cambio,
exchange ; Sp. id.]
A banker ; one who deals in notes, and bills
of exchange. Christ. Obs.
[cambric, n. A species of fine whhe linen,
I made of flax, said to be named from Cam-
bray in Flanders, where it was first manu-
factured.
iCAME, ^ref. of co;ne, which see.
CAME, n. A slender rod of cast lead, of
which glaziers make then- turned lead.
Encyc.
CAM'EL, 71. [Ucameltis; Gr. xa/xTfljir, T>.
Dan. kameel ; G. kamel ; Heb. Syr. Eth.
SaJ ; Ch. nSdJ ; Ar. y^^ The Arabic
verb, to which this word belongs, signifies
to be beautiful or elegant, to please or to
behave with kindness and humanity. In
Sa.x. gamele, or gamol, is a camel, and an
old man ; gamol-feax, one that has long
hair; gamol-ferhth, a man of a great mind.
In W. the word is cammarc, a crooked
horse.]
1. A large quadruped used in Asia and Af-
rica for carrying burdens, and for riders.
As a geiuis, the camel belongs to the order
of Pecora. The characteristics are ; it has
no horns ; it has six fore teeth in the under
jaw ; the canine teeth are wide set, three
in the upper and two in the lower jaw ;
and there is a fissure in the upper lip.
The dromedary or Arabian camel has one
bunch on the back, fimr callous pro-
tuberances on the fore legs and two on
the hind legs. The Bactrian camel has
two bunches on the back. The Llama of
South America is a smaller animal, with
a smooth back, small head, fine black eyes,
and very long neck. The Pacos or sheep
of ChiU lias no bunch. Camels constitute
tlie riches of an Arabian, without which
he could neither subsist, carry on tr»<le
nor travel over sandy desarts. Their milk
is his cofiimon food. By the camel's p.iw-
er of sustaining abstinence from drink, fur
many days, and of subsisting on a I'.w
coarse shrub.s, he is pecidiarly i'mt'd
for the parched and barren landsof Asia
and Africa.
2. In Holland, Camel, [or Kameel, as Coxe
writes it,] is a machine for litlitig ships, and
bearing them over the Pampus, at the
mouth of the river Y, or over other bars.
It is also used in other places, and particu-
larly at the d ock in Petersburg, to bear
vessels over a bar to Cronsta<lt.
Coxe. Encyc.
CAM'EL-BACKED, a. Having a back like
a camel. Fulkr
CAM
CAM
C A M
Came'leon mineral. [See Chameleon.] A com
pound of pure potash ami black oxyd of
manganese, fused together, whose solution
in water, at first green, passes spontane
ously through the whole series of colored
rays to the red ; and by the addition of
potash, it returns to its original green.
Ure.
CAM'ELOPARD, n. [camelus and pardalis.]
The giraff, a species constituting the genus
Camelopnrdalis. This animal has two
straight horns, without branches, six inch-
es long, covered with hair, truncated at
the cnil and tufted. On the forehead, is
a tubiMcle, two inches high, resembling
another horn. The fore legs are not much
longer than the hind ones, but the should-
ers are of such a vast length, as to render
the fore part of the animal much higher
than the hind part. The head is like'th
of a stag ; the neck is slender and elegant,
furnished with a short mane. The color
of the whole animal is a dirty white mark-
ed with large broad rusty spots. Tl
animal is found in the central and eastern
parts of Africa. It is timid and not fleet.
£?ic^c.
€AM'EO, CAMA'IEU, or €AMAY'EU, n
[It. cammeo; Vr. camayeu ; Sp. and Port
camafeo.]
A peculiar sort of onyx; also, a stone on
which are lomid various figures and rep
reseiitations of landscapes, a kindoflusus
naturae, exhibiting pictures without paint
ing. The word is said to be the oriental
camehuia, a name given to the onyx, when
they find, in preparing it, another color
as who should say, another color.
The word is applied by others to those
precious stones, onyxes, carnelians and
agates, on which lapidaries employ their
art, to aid nature and perfect the figures
The word is also applied to any gem
which figures may be engraved.
The word signifies also a painting ...
which there is only one color, and where
the lights and shadows are of gold,
wrought on a golden or azure ground,
When the ground is yellow, the French
call it ciraee ; when gray, grwaUle. Tliis
work is chiefly used to represent basso-
relievos. These pieces answer to the
Hovoxfuifiata, of the Greeks.
Encyc. Cliambers. Imnier.
Camera obscura, or dark chandler, in optics,
an apparatus representing an artificial
eye, in which the images of external ob-
jects, received through a double convex
glass, are exhibited distinctly, and hi their
native colors, on a white rnatter, placed
■within the machine, in the focus of the
glass.
€AM'ERADE, n. [L. camera, a chamber.]
One who lodges or resides in the same
apartment ; now comrade, which see.
€AMERALIS'TI€, a. [Infra.] Pertaining
to finance and public revenue.
CAMERALIS'TICS, n. [G. cameralht, a
financier. In Sp. camarista, is a minister
of state ; camarilla, a small room. The
word seems to be from L. camera, a cham-
ber.]
The science offinance orpublic revenue,
comprehending the means of raising and
iisiiosingofit. Grimke.
CAM'ERATE, v. t. [L. camera, from camera.
a chamber, properly an arched roof.]
To vault ; to ceil. [Little tised.]
CAM'ERATED, a. [L. cameralus, from
camera.} Anhed ; vaulted.
€AMERA'TION, n. An arching or vaulting,
€A3I'IS, n. [It. camtce.] A thin dress. [JVo/
English,]
€AMISA'DE, n. [Fr. from chemise, a shirt ;
It. camicia ; Sp. camisa.]
An attack by surprise, at night, or at break
of day, when the enemy is supposed to be
in bed. This word is said to have taken
its rise from an attack of this kind, in
which the soldiers, as a badge to distin-
guish each other by, bore a shirt over their
arms. Encyc.
€AM'ISATED,o. Dressed with a shirt out-
wards. Johnson.
CAM'LET, n. [from camel, sometimes writ-
ten cameloL]
A stuff" originally made of camel's hair. It is
now made, sometimes of wool, sometimes
of silk, sometimes of hair, especially that
of goats, with wool or silk. In some, the
warp is silk and wool twisted together,
and the woof is hair. The pure oriental
camlet is made solely from the hair of a
sort of goat, about Angora. Camlets are
now made in Europe. Encyc.
€AM'LETED, a. Colored or veined.
Herbert.
€AM'MO€, n. [Sax. cammoc, or cammec]
A plant, petty whin or rest-harrow, On-
onis.
€AM'OMILE, n. [Fr. camomUle ; Arm,
cramamailh ; D. kamille ; G. id.; Dan. kam-
eel-blomster ; L. clmmwmelon, which seems
to be the Gr. a;"^*', earth, and i";>.oi', an
apple.]
A genus of plants, Anthemis, of many spe
cies. It has a chaff"y receptacle ; the calyx
is hemispheric and subequal, and the
florets of the ray are more than five. The
common sort is a trailing perennial plant,
has a strong aromatic smell, and a bitter
nauseous taste. It is accounted caniiina-
tive, aperient, and emollient.
CAM'OUS, I [Fr. camiis ; W. ,
€AMOyS', I "■ crooked.]
Flat; de|>ressed; applied only to the nose, &nA
little used.-]
€AM'OUSED, a. Depressed ; crooked.
B. Jonson
€AM'OUSLY, adv. Awry. Skelton.
€AMP', n. [L. campus; Fr. camp a.r\A champ ;
Arm. camp ; It. Sp. Port.
camp. The sense is, an open level field or
plain. See Champion and Game.]
1. The ground on which an army pitch their
tents, whether for a night or a longer
time.
3. The order or arrangement of tents, or
disposition of an army, for rest ; as, to
pitch a camp. Also, the troops encamped
oir the same field.
|;i. An aimy. Hume.
CAMP, V. t. or i. To rest or lodge, as an army,
usually in tents; to pitch a camp; to fix
tents : but seldom used. [See Encamp.]
CAMP -FIGHT, J!. In lata ivriters, a tr\ii\hy
duel, or the legal combat of two champi-
ons, for the decis'on of a controversv.
[Ciimp in W. is a game, and campiaw is to
contend.]
CAMPA'IGN,? ,„„,„„, [,Vy.campagaf.
CAMPA'IN, \"- '""V""'- It. campaina ;
Sp.compaiia ; Port, campanha ; from camp.
This should be written campain, as Mit-
ford writes it.]
1. An open field ; a large open plain ; an
extensive tract of ground without consid-
erable hills. [See Champaign.]
2. The time that an army keeps the field,
either in action, marches, or in camp, with-
out entering into winter quarters. A cam-
paign is usually from spring to autumn or
winter ; but in some instances, armies
make a winter campaign.
CAMPA'IGN, I', t. To serve in a campaign.
Musgrave.
CAMPAIGNER, n. One who has served
CAMPA'NA, n. [L.] The pasque-flower.
CAMPAN'IFORM, a. [L. cam;)ana, a bell,
and forma, form.]
In the shape of a bell ; applied to flowers.
Botany.
CAMPANULA, n. [L.] The bell-flower.
CAMPAN'ULATE, a. [L. campanula, a little
hell.] In the form of a bell. Botany.
CAMPE'ACHY-WOOD, from Campeachy
in Mexico. [See Logu-ood.]
CAMPES'TRAL, ) [L. campestris, from
CAMPES TRIAN, I "' campus, a field.]
Pertaining to an open field ; growing in a
field or open ground. Mortimer.
CAM PIIOR, n. projierly cafor. [Low L.
c amphora ; Fr. camphre ; It. canfora; Sp.
alcanfor ; Port, canfora ; D. and G. kamfer ;
Ar. -JL,^ kafor, kaforon, from .j «=,
kafara, Heb. Ch. Syr. "ea kafar, to drive
off", remove, separate, wipe away ; hence,
to cleanse, to make atonement. " It seeitis
to be named from its purifying effects, or
from exudation. It will be seen that the
letter m in this word is casual.]
A solid concrete juice or exudation, from the
laurus caniphora, or Indian laurel-tree, a
large tree growing wild in Borneo, Suma-
tra, &c. it is a whitish translucent sub-
stance, of a granular or foliated fracture,
and somewhat unctuous to the feel. It
has a bitterish aromatic taste, and a very
fragrant smell, and is a powerful diapho-
retic. Enctjc. Lunier. Jlikin.
CAMPHOR, V. t. To impregnate or wash
with camphor. [Little used.]
CAM'PHORATE, n. In chimistry, a com-
pound of the acid of camphor, with differ-
CAM'PHORATE, a. Pertaining to camphor,
or impregnated with it.
CAMPHORATED, a. Impregnated with
caniphiT.
CAMPHORIC, a. Pertaining to camphor,
or partaking of its qualities.
CAMPHOR-OIL. rSee Camphor-tree.]
CAMPHOR-TREE, n. The tree from which
camphor is obtained. According to Mil-
ler, there are two sorts of trees that pro-
duce camphor; one, a native of Borneo,
which produces the best species ; the other,
a native of Japan, which resembles the
bay-tree, bearing black or purple berries.
But the tree grows also in Sumatra. The
stem is thick, the bark of a brownish
color, and the ramification strong, close
CAN
CAN
CAN
anfl extended. The wood is soft, easily
worked, and usefiil for domestic purposes.
To obtain camphor, the tree is cut down,
and divided into pieces, and the camplior
talien out ; it being found in small whitish
flakes, situated perpendicularly, in irregu-
lar veins, in and near the center of the
tree. It is then repeatedly soaked and
washed in soapy water, to separate fron
it all extraneous matter. It is then passed
through three sieves of different textur
to divide it into three sorts, head, belly and
foot camphor. Camphor oil is camphor,
before the operations of nature have re-
duced it to a concrete form ; and concrete
camphor may be reduced to oil, by the ni-
tric acid. .Ssiat. Res. iv. 1,
CAMPIL'LA, n. A plant of a new genus,
used by dyers. Jlsiat. Res.
CAMP'ING, ppr. Encamping.
■CAMP'ING, n. A playing at football.
Bryant.
CAMPION, ji. A plant, the jjopular name
of the lychnis.
CAM'US, I [L. ctimisa.] A thin dress,
CAM'IS, ^ "• [JVol Eng.] Spenser.
CAN, n. [D. kan ; Sax. can7ia ; G. lumne ;
Dan. kande ; Svv. kanna ; Corn, hannaih ;
Sans, kundha ; probably from holding,
containing, W. cannu or ganu, to contain,
gan, capacity, a mortise, Eng. gain, in
carpentry. Hence W. cant, a circle, a
hoop, a fence round a yard, a hundred, L
centum, Teut. hind, in hundred. See Cent
and Hundred, and Can, infra.]
A cup or vessel for hquors, in modern times
made of metal ; as a can of ale.
€AN, V. i. pret. could, which is from another
root. [See Could.] [Can is from the Sax.
cennan, to know, to bear or produce ; Goth
kunnan. Sax. cunnan, to know, to be able ;
cunnian, to try, to attempt, to prove ; cind,
cyn,gecynd, kind ; L. genus ; D. kunnen, to
know, to understand, to hold, to contain,
to be able, like the Fr. savoir ; Dan. kan,
to be able ; kiender, to know ; Sw. kan-
na, to know ; kunna, to be able ; G. kennen
to know ; kiinnen, to be able. Hence cun-
ning, that is, knowing, skilful, experien-
ced ; G. ftoimen, a being able, ability, knowl-
edge ; kund, pidilic ; kunde, knowledge,
acquaintance. The Teutonic and Gothic
words unite with the Greek ytmuo, to
get, as a male, and to bear, as a female,
which is connected witli yixo^t, to be born
or produced. Can, cennan, and ycwau, are
probably the same word ; and the Sax. gin-
nan, in the compounds, aginnan, heginnan,
onginnan, to begin, is from the same root
The primary sense is, to strain, to stretch
to urge or thrust with foi-ce, whicli gives
the sense of producing, and of holding,
containing, which is t!ie primary sens
knotving, comprehending ; and straining
gives tiie sense of power. The Sax. cun-
nian, to try, is to strain. See Ken. Ar
• Lf to be, the substantive verb ; also, to
become, to be made, to endure ; also,
to create, to generate, to form ; jij
to know ; Heb. and Ch. ]D, to fit or pre-
pare, to form or fashion : whence right.
fit ; as we have right, Sax. reht, L. recius,l
from rego, to rule, that is, to strain, stretch,
make straight ; Syr. _a to begin to be,
and its derivatives, to plant or estabhsh,!
to create, to be prepared; Eth. Tl®^!
kuu, to be, to become, to be made ; Ch.i
Sam. as the Hebrew. See Class Gn. No.!
aa 38. and 58. 42. 45. &c. Can in English I
is treated as an auxiUary verb, the signl
of the infinitive being omitted, as in the
jihrases, / can go, instead of, / can to go ,-!
thou canst go ; he can go.] |
To be able ; to have sufficient strength:
or physical power. One man can hft a
weight which anotlier can not. A horsei
can run a certain distance in a given time.
2. To have means, or instruments, whichj
supply power or ability. A man can buildi
a house, or fit out a ship, if he has the re-
quisite property. A nation cannot prose-
cute a war, without money or credit. I
will lend you a thousand dollars, if I can.\
3. To be possible.
Nicodemus said, How can these things be .'
John ili.
4. To have adequate moral power. A man
can indulge in i)leasure, or he can refrain.
He can restrain his appetites, if he will.
5. To have just or legal competent power,
that is, right ; to be free from any restraint
of moral, civil or political obligation, or
from any positive prohibition. We can
use a highway for travel, for this is per-
mitted hy law. A man can or cannot hold
an office. The Jews could not eat certain
kinds of animals which were declared to
be unclean. The House of Commons in
England can impeach, but the House of
Lords only can try impeachments. In
general, we can do whatever neither the
laws of God nor of man forbid.
How can I do this great wickedness and sin
against God. Gen. xxxix.
I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord, my
God, to do less or more. Numb. xxii.
C. To have natural strength, or capacity ; to
be susceptible of; to be able or free to un-
dergo any change, or produce any effect,
by the laws and constitution of nature, or
by divine appointment. Silver can be melt-
ed, but cannot be changed into gold.
Can the rush grow witliout mire ? Job viii.
7. To have competent strength, ability, for-
titude, patience, &c., in a passive sense.
He cannot bear reproof. I cannot endure
this impertinence.
This is a hard saying ; who can hear it .' John
vi.
8. To have the requisite knowledge, experi-
ence or skill. Young men are not admit-
ted members of college, till they can trans-
late Latin and Greek. A]i astronomer can
calculate an echpse, though he can not
make a coat.
9. To have strength of inchnation or tnotives
sufficient to overcome obstacles, impedi-
ments, inconvenience or other objection.
I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot
come. Luke xiv.
I cannot rise and give thee — yet because of
his importunity, he will rise and give him.
Luke xi.
10. To have sufficient capacity ; as, a vessel
can not hold or contain the whole quuu-
tity.
€AN, V. t. To know. [JVot in use.] Spenser.
CAN'-BUOY, n. In seamanship, a buoy in
form of a cone, made large, and sometimes
painted, as a mark to designate shoals.
&c. Mar. Diet.
eAN'-HQOK, n. An instrument to sling a
cask by the ends of its staves, formed by
reeving a piece of rope through two flat
hooks, and splicing its ends together.
Mar. Diet.
€ANA'DIAN, a. Pertaining to Canada, an
extensive country on the north of the
United States.
€ANA'D1AN, n. An inhabitant or native of
Canada.
€ANA'IL, 71. [Fr. canaille ; Sp. eanalla ; Port.
canalha ; It. canaglia.]
The coaiser part of meal ; hence, the lowest
people; lees; dregs; offscouring.
CAN'AKIN, n. A little can or cup. Shak.
CANAL', n. [L. canalis, a channel or kennel :
these being the same word differently
written; Fr. canal; Arm. can, or canol;
Sp. Port, canal ; It. cancde. See Cane,
It denotes a passage, from shooting, or
passing.]
1. A passage for water ; a water course :
properly, a long trench or excavation in
the earth for conducting water, and con-
fining it to naiTOW limits ; but the term
may be apphed to other water courses.
It is chiefly applied to artificial cuts or
passages for water, used for transporta-
tion ; whereas channel is applicable to a
natural water course.
The canal from the Hudson to Lake Erie is
one of the noblest works of art.
2. In anatomy, a duct or passage in the bodj
of an animal, through which any of the
juices flow, or other substances pass ; as
the neck of^ the bladder, and the aUmenta-
ry canal.
3. A surgical instrument ; a splint. Coxe.
€ANAL-C0AL. [See Cannel-coal.]
CANALICULATE, \ [L. canalicula-
CANALIC'ULATED, ^ "• tus, from canal-
iculus, a little ]>ipe, from canalis, canna, a
pipe.]
Channelled ; furrowed. In botany, having a
deep longitudinal groove above, and con-
vex underneath ; applied to the stem, leaf,
or petiole of plants. J\Iart}/n.
€/ "
icles.
2. An old dance. Shakspeare has tiscd the
word as a verb in a kind of cant phrase.
€ANA'RY-BIRD, n. A singing bird fi-om
the Canary isles, a species of Fringilla.
The bill is conical and straight ; the body
is yellowisli white ; the prime feathers of
the wings and tail are greenish. These
birds are now bred in other countries.
CANA'RY-GRASS, n. A plant, the Phala-
ris, whose seeds are collected for canary-
birds.
C.\N'CEL, V. t. [Fr. canceller ; Port, can-
cellar ; L. cancello, to deface, properly to
make cross bars or lattice-work, hence
to make cross fines on writing, from can-
celli, cross bars or lattice-work ; Gr. xi^xUf ;
Syr. Ch. Spjp kankel, id.]
1. To cross the lines of a writing, and de-
face them ; to blot out or obliterate.
or petiole of plants. Marti/n.
;ANA'RY, n. Wine made in the Canary
CAN
CAN
CAN
'*. To annul, or destroy ; as, to cancel an ob
ligation or a debt.
CAN'CELATED, o. [L. cancellalus, can
ceUo.] Cross-barred ; marked with cross
lines. Grew. Martyn.
CANCELA'TION, n. The act of delacnig
by cross lines ; a canceling.
CAN'CELED, ;//>. Crossed ; obliterated
annulled.
CAN'CELING,;);>r. Crossing; obliterating
annulling.
CAN'CER, n. [L. cancer; Sixx.cancre; Fr.
cancre; D.kanker; S}!. cangrejo, cancro
It. cancro, canckero ; Gr. xayxn- This
seems to be the same word, though ap-
plied to the shell ; xofxivoi, a cancer, is i
different word. From the Greek, the
Latins have concha, Eng. conch. But n is
not radical ; for this is undoubtedly the
W. cocos, Eng. cockle, Fr. coquille, coque,
It. coccia. These words are probably from
the same root as Sp. cocar, to wrinkle,
twist, or make wry faces ; Ir. cuachaim, to
fold ; Eng. cockle, to shrink or i)ucker ;
verbs which give the primary sense. It is
to be noted that cancer and canker are the
same word ; ca?i*er being the original pro-
niuiciation.]
1. The crab or crab-fish. This genus of ani-
mals have generally eight leg.s, and twd
claws which serve as hands ; two distant
eyes, supported by a kind of peduncles,
and they are elongated and movable.
They have also two clawed palpi, and the
tail is jointed. To this genus belong the
lobster, shrimp, cray-fish, &c.
% In astronomy, one of the twelve signs of
tlie zodiac, represented by the form of a
crab, and limiting the sun's course north-
ward in summer ; hence, the sign of the
summer^ solstice.
3. In medicine, a roundish, hard, unequal,
scirrous tumor of the glands, which usu-
ally ulcerates, is very painful, and gene-
rally fatal.
€AN'CERATE, v. i. To grow into a can-
cer ; to becoTne cancerous. L'Eslrangc.
CANCERA'TION, n. A growing cancer-
ous, or into a cancer.
•eAN'CEROUS, a. Like a cancer; having
the qualities of a cancer. Wiseman.
€AN'CEROUSNESS, n. The state of being
cancerous.
C.\N'CRIFORM, a. Cancerous.
2. Having the form of a cancer or crab.
I'AN'CRINE, a. Having the quahties of a
crab.
lAN'CRITE, n. [ft-om cancer.] A fossil or
l»iriiied crab. Fourcroy.
< \.\ DENT, a. [L. candens, from candeo,
to be white or hot. See the verb, to cant~
Very hot ; heated to whiteness ; glowing
with heat.
€AN'DI€ANT.a. Growing white. Diet.
i,'AN'DID, o. [L. Candidas, white, from can-
deo, to be white ; W. canu, to bleach. Set
Cant] White. Drydcn.
[But in this sense rarely used.]
9. Fair ; open ; frank ; ingenuous ; free fi-om
undue bias; disposed to think and judge
according to truth and justice, or without
partiality or prejudice ; applied to persons.
3. Fair ; just ; impartial ; applied to things; as
a candid view, or construction.
€AN'DIDATE, n. [L. candidatiis, from can
didus, white ; tliose who sought offices in
Vol. I.
Rome being obliged to wear a white
gown.]
A man who seeks or aspires to an offii
one who offers himself, or is proposed for
l)referment, by election or appointment
usually followed by for; as a candidate
for the office of sherift'.
2. One who is in contemplation for an office,
or for preferment, by those who have
power to elect or appoint, though he does
not offer himself
3. One w^ho, by his services or actions, will
or may justly obtain preferment or re-
ward, or whose conduct tends to secure
it ; as a candidate for praise.
A man who is qualified, according to the
rules of the church, to preach the gospel,
and take the charge of a parish or reli-
gious society, and j)roposes to settle in the
ministry. U. States.
5. One who is in a state of trial or probation
for a reward, in another life ; as a can-
didate for heaven or for eternity.
eAN'DIDLY, adv. Openly ; frankly ; with-
out trick or disguise; ingenuously.
€AN'U1DNESS, n. Openness of mind;
fraid<noss ; fairness ; ingenuousness.
€AN'DIED, pp. or a. [from candy.] Pre-
served with sugar, or incrusted with it ;
covered with crystals of sugar or ice, or
with matter resembling them ; as candied
raisins.
GAN'DLE, 71. [L. Sp. It. candela ; Fr. chan-
delle ; Sa.\. candel ; Pers. knndil ; Arm.
cantol ; W. camvyll ; Ir. cainneal ; from L.
candeo, to shine, to be white, or its root.
The primary sense of the root is, to shoot,
to throw, to radiate. See Cant and
Ownt.]
1. A long, but small cylindrical body of tal-
low, wa.x or spermaceti, formed on a wick
composed of linen or cotton threads,
twisted loosely ; used for a portable light
of domestic use.
3. Alight.
3. A fight; a luminary. In scripture, the
candle of tlie Lord is the divine favor and
blessing. Job xxix. 3. ; or the conscience
or understanding. Prov. xx. 27.
Excommunication by inch of candle, is when
the offender is allowed time to repent,
while a candle burns, and is then excom-
municated.
Sale by inch of candle, is an auction in which
persons are allowed to bid, only till a small
piece of candle burns out.
Medicated candle, in medicine, a bougie.
Rush-candles are used in some countries ;
they are made of the pith of certain rushe.i,
peeled except on one side, and dipped in
grease. Encyc.
€AN'DLE-BERRY TREE, n. The Mynca
cerifera, or wax-bearing myrtle ; a shrub
conunon in North America," fi-om the ber-
ries of which a kind of wax or oil is pro-
cured, of which candles are made. Th«
oil is obtained by boiling the berries in
water ; the oil rising to the surface is
skimmed off, and when cool, is of the con-
sistence of wax, and of a dull green color.
In jiopular language, this is called bay-
berrii tallow.
CAN'DLE-BOMB, n. A small glass bubble,
filled with water, placed in the wick of a
candle, where it bursts with a report.
CANDLE-HOLDER, n. [candle ani hold.]
31
A person that holds a candle. Hence, one
that remotely assists another, but is oth-
erwise not of importance. Shak.
CAN'DLE-LIGHT, n. [candle and light.]
The light of a candle ; the necessary can-
dles for use. MolinevT.
CAN'DLEMAS, n. [candle and mass. Sax.
massa ; candle-feast.]
The fea.st of the church celebrated on the
second day of February, in honor of the
purification of the Virgin Mary ; so called
fiorn the great miniber of lights used on
that occasion. This feast is supposed to
have originated in the declaration of Sim-
eon, that our Savior was "to be a light to
lighten the Gentiles." On this day, the
Catholics consecrate all the candles and
tapers which are to be used in their
churches diu'ing the whole year. In
Rome, the ])ope performs the ceremony
himself, and distributes wax candles to
the cardinals and others, who carry them
in procession through the great hall of the
{lope's palace. The ceremony was pro-
libited in England by an order of coun-
cil in 1548. But candlemas is one of the
four terms for paying and receiving rents
and interest ; and it gives name to a law
term, beginning Jan. 15, and ending Feb. 3.
Encyc.
CAN'DLE-STICK, «. [candle and stick;
Sax. candel-sticea.] An instrument or uten-
sil to hold a candle, made in different
forms and of different materials ; origi-
nally a stick or piece of wood.
€AN'bLE-STUFF, n. [candle and «/»/.]
A material of which candles are made, as
tallow, wax, &c. Bacon.
CAN'DLE- WASTER, n. [candle and waste.]
One who wastes or consumes candles ; a
hard student, or one who studies by can-
dle-fight; a spendthrift.
B. Jonson. Shak.
€AN'DLES-ENDS, n. Scraps ; fragments.
Beaum.
CAN'DOe, n. A plant or weed that grows
in rivers. Walton.
€.\N'DOR, n. [L. candor, from candeo, to
be white.]
Openness of heart ; frankness : ingenuous-
ness of mind ; a disposition to treat sub-
jects with fairness ; fi-eedom from tricks
or disguise; sincerity. Watts.
CAN'DY, V. t. [It. candire, to candy, to pre-
serve ; candito, candied ; Fr. candir. This
seems not to be the Latin condio, for the
Italian has also condire. Possibly it may be
from L. candeo, to be white. But in Ar.
<j o -
j^^'i kand, kandon, is the saccharine mat-
ter of the sugar cane, or concrete sugar,
and it is tlie same in Persian; Sans.
khand.]
1. To conserve or dress with sugar ; to boil
in sugar.
2. To form into congelations or crj-stals.
Shak.
3. To cover or incrust with congelations, or
crystals of ice. Dryden.
€AN'DY, V. i. To form into crystals, or be-
come congealed ; to take on the form of
candied sugar.
€.\N' DYING, ppr. Conserving with sugar.
CANDYING, n. The act of preserving
CAN
simples in substance, by boiling then in
sugar. Encyc.
€AJV'DY-TUFTS, n. A plant, the Ibeiis.
Fam. of Plants.
2. A Cretan flower. Tale.
CANE, n. [L. canna ; Gr. xowro ; Fr. canne ;
W. cawn ; Sp. caha ; Port, cana or canna ;
It. canna; Arm. canen ; Heb. Ch. Syr.
Ar. nJp- In the Arabic, a word of this
family signifies a subterraneous passage
for water, or canal. It probably signifies
a shoot.]
1. In botany, this term is applied to several
species of plants belonging to different
genera, such as Arundo, Calamus, Sac-
charum, &c. Among these is the 6am-
boo of the East Indies, with a strong stem,
which serves for pipes, poles, and walk-
ing sticks. The sugar cane, a native of
Asia, Africa and America, furnishes the
juice from which are made, sugar, melas-
ses and spirit. [See Sugar Cane.]
2. A walking stick.
3. A lance, or dart made of cane. Dryden
4. A long measure, in several countries of
Europe ; at Naples, the length is 7 feet Hi
inches ; in Thoulouse in France, 5 feet 8^
inches ; in Provence, &c., 6 feet 5J inches
€ANE, V. t. To beat with a cane or walk
ing stick.
GA'NE-BRAKE, n. [cane and brake.] A
thicket of canes. Ellicotl.
GA'NE-HOLE, n. [cane and hole.] A hole
or trench for planting the cuttings of cane,
on sugar ])lautations. Edivards' fV. Indies
€A'NE-TRASH, n. [cane and trash.] Re-
fuse of canes, or macerated rinds of cane,
reserved for fuel to boil the cane-juice.
Edwards' }V. Indies
CANES'CENT, a. [L. canescens.] Growing
white or hoary.
CANIC'ULA, I [L. canicula, a little dog,
CA'NieULE, S "• from cayiis, a dog.]
A star in the constellation of Canis Major,
called also the dog-star, or Sirius ; a star
of the first magnitude, and the largest and
brightest of all the fixed stars. From the
rising of this heliacally, or at its emersion
from the sun's rays, the ancients reckoned
their dog-days.
€ANI€'ULAR, a. [L. canicularis.] Pertain
ing to the dog-star.
CANINE, a. [L. caninits, from canis, a dog.
Pertaining to dogs ; having the properties
or qualities of a dog ; as a canine appetite,
insatiable hunger ; canine madness, or hy
drophobia.
Canine teeth are two sharp pointed teeth in
each jaw of an animal, one on each side,
between the incisors and grinders ; so na-
med from their resemblance to a dog's
teeth.
■eA'NING, n. A beating with a stick or
cane.
CAN'ISTER, n. [L. canistrum; Gr. xaraypov,
xavrii or xowtw ; Fr. canastre ; Port, canas-
tra ; Sp. canasta.]
Properly, a small basket, as in Dryden ; but
more generally, a small box or case, for
tea, coffee, &c.
€ANK'ER, n. [L. cancer; Sax. cancere or
cancre ; D. hanker ; Fr. chancre ; It. cai
chero. This is the Latin cancer, with tl
Roman pronunciation. See Cancer.]
1. A disease incident to trees, which causes
the bark to rot and fall.
CAN
2. A popular name of certain small eroding
ulcers in the mouth, particularly of child-
ren. They are generally covered with a
whitish slough. Cyc.
3. A virulent, corroding ulcer ; or any thing
that corrodes, corrupts or destroys.
Sacrilege may prove an eating canker.
Mterbury.
And tlieir word will eat as doth a canker. 2
Tim. ii.
4. An eating, corroding, virulent humor;
5. A kind of rose, the dog rose.
Peacham. Shak
6. In farriery, a running thrush of the worst
kind; a disease in horses' feet, discharging
a fetid matter from the cleft in the middle
of the frog. Encyc.
CANK'ER, V. t. To eat, corrode, corrupt,
consume, in the manner that a cai
fects the body. Herbert.
2. To infect or pollute. Addison.
CANK'ER, V. i. To grow corrupt ; to de-
cay, or waste away by means of any nox-
ious cause ; to grow rusty, or to be oxy-
dized, as a metal. Bacon.
CANK'ERBIT, a. Bitten with a cankered
or envenomed tooth. Shak
CANK'ERED, pp. Corrupted.
Crabbed ; uncivil. Spciiser
CANK'EREDLY, arfy. Crossly; adverselv.
CANK'ER-FLY, n. A fly that preys on
fruit. Walton
CANK'ER-LIKE, a. Eating or corrupting
ranker.
CANK'EROUS, a. Corroding like a canker.
Tliomsoru
CANK'ER-WORM, n. A worm, destruc
tive to trees or plants. In America, tliis
name is given to a worm that, in some
years, destroys the leaves and fruit of ap
pie trees. This animal springs from ai
egg deposited by a miller, that issues from
the ground.
CANK'ERY, a. Rusty.
CAN'NABINE, a. [L. cannahinus. from can-
nabis, hemp.] Pertaining to hemp ; hemp-
en.
CAN'NEL-COAL, CAN'DLE-COAL, n. A
hard, opake, inflammable fossil coal of]
a black color, sufliciently solid to be cut
and polished. On fire it decrepitates ant!
breaks into angular fragments. It is some-
times used for hikholders and toys.
Ckaveland
CAN'NEQUIN, n. White cotton cloth from
the East Indies, suitable for the Guinea
trade. Encyc.
CAN'NIBAL, n. A human being that eats
human flesh ; a man-eater, or anthropoph-
agite. Bacon. Bentley.
CAN'NIBALISM, n. The act or practice 6f|
eating human flesh, by mankind.
2. Murderous cruelty ; barbarity. Burk
CAN'NIBALLY, adv. In the manner of a
cannibal. Shak
CAN'NON, n. [Fr. canon ; Arm. canon or
canol ; D. kanon ; G. kanone ; Sp. canon
Port, canham ; It. cannone. Probably from
L. canna, a tube. See Cane.]
A large military engine for throwing balls,
and other instruments of death, by the
force of gunpowder. Guns of this kind
are made of iron or brass and of differ
ent sizes, carrying balls from three or four
poiuids, to forty eight povinds weight. In
CAN
some countries, they have been made of
much larger size. The smaller guns of
this kind are called field pieces.
CANNONA'DE, n. The act of discharging
cannon and throwing balls, for the purpose
of destroying an army, or battering a town,
ship or fort. The term usually implies an
attack of some continuance.
CANNONA'DE, v. t. To attack with heavy
artillery ; to throw balls, or other deadly
weapons, as chain-shot or langrage, against
an enemy's army, town, fortress or ship :
to batter with cannon shot.
CANNONA'DE, v. i. To discharge cannon ;
to plav with large guns.
CAN'NON-BALL, n. A ball, usually made
of cast iron, to be thrown from cannon.
Cannon bullet, of the like signification, is
not now used. Cannon balls were origi-
nally of stone.
CANNONEE'R, \ A man who manages
CANNONIE'R, ( cannon; an engineer.
CAN'NON-PROOF, a. Proof against can-
non shot.
CAN'NON-SHOT, n. A ball for cannon;
also, the range or distance a cannon will
throw a ball.
CANNOT, [can and not.] These words are
usually united, but perhaps without good
reason ; canst and not are never united.
CAN'NULAR, a. [L. cawna, a tube.] Tubu-
lar; having the form of a tube. Encyc.
CAN6E, n. canoo'. [Fr. canot ; Sp. canoa ;
It. canoe or canon ; from L. canna, a tube
or cane, or the same root.]
1. A boat used by rude nations, formed of
the body or trunk of a tree, excavated, by
cutting or burning, into a suitable shape.
Similar boats are now used by civihzed
men, for fishing and other purjioses. It is
impelled by a paddle, instead of an oar.
2. A boat made of bark or skins, used by
CAN'ON, n. [Sax. Fr. Sp. Port, canon ; It.
canone ; L. canon ; Gr. xawi-. Dr. Owen
deduces the word from the Heb. rup a
cane, reed or measuring rod. In Eth.
^'I'l kanan, signifies to set, to establish,
to form a rule, whence canon, a rule. But
this verb is probably from the noim. The
word is from one of the roots in Class Gn,
which signifies to set, or to strain. The
Welsh unites it with the root of can, L.
cano, to sing, W. canon, a song, a rule, a
canon, from canii to sing, L. cano. The
sense of canon is that which is set or es-
tablished.]
. In ecclesiastical affairs, a law, or rule of
doctrine or discipline, enacted by a coun-
cil and confirmed by the sovereign; a^ de-
cision of matters in religion, or a regula-
tion of policy or disciphne, by a general oi
provincial council.
A law or rule in general.
3. The genuine books of the Holy Scrip
tures, called the sacred canon, or genci.il
rule of moral and religious duty, given by
inspiration.
A dignitary of the church; a person who
possesses a prebend or revenue allotted
for the performance of divine service in a
cathedral or collegiate church.
A cardinal canon is one attached to a
church, incardinatus, as a priest to a parish.
DomiceUary canons, arc young canons.
CAN
CAN
CAN
not in orders, having no riglit in any par-
ticular cliapters.
Expedahve canons, having no revenue or
prebend, but having the title and dignities
of canons, a voice in the chapter and a
place in the choir, till a prebend should
full.
Foreign canons, such as did not officiate
in their canonries ; opposed to mansionary
T)r residentiary canons.
Lay, secular or Itonorary canons, lay
men admitted out of honor or respect, int(
SDtxiB chapter of canons.
Regular canons, who hve in monasteries
or in coniinunity, and who, to the practice
of their rules, have added the profession of
vows.
Tertiary canons, who have only the third
part of the revenue of the canonicate.
Encyc.
5. In monasteries, a book containing the
rules of the order.
G. A catalogue of saints acknowledged and
canoniy.ed in the Romish Church.
7. The secret words of the mass from the
preface to the Pater, in the middle of whirl
the j)riest consecrates the host. The peo-
ple are to rehearse this part of the service,
on their knees, and in a voice lower than
can be heard. Romish Church.
8. In ancient music, a rule or method for de-
termining the intervals of notes, invented
by Ptolemy. Encyc.
9. In modem tnusic, a kind of perpetual
fugue, in which the different parts, begin
ning one after another, repeat incessantly
the same air. Busby
10. In geometry and algebra, a general rule
for the solution of cases of a like nature
with the present inquiry. Every last step
of an equation is a canon.
11. In pharmacy, a rule for con]j)ounding
medicines.
12. In surgery, an instrument used in sev
up wounds.
Canon-law, is a collection of ecclesiastical
laws, serving as the rule of church govern
ment.
CANON-BIT, n. That part of a bit let into
a horse's mouth.
€AN'ONESS, n. A woman who enjoys a
prebend, affixed, by the foundation
maids, without obliging them to make
any vows or renounce the world. Enci/c
C.\NON'l€AL, a. [L. canonicus.] Pertain
ing to a canon ; according to the canon or
rule.
Canonical books or canonical scriptures, are
those books of the scriptures which
admitted by the canons of the church, to
be of divine origin. The Roman catholic
church admits the Apocryphal books to
be canonical ; the Protestants reject them.
Canonical hours, are certain stated times of
the day, fixed by the ecclesiastical laws,
or appropriated to the offices of prayer
and devotion. In Great Britain, these
hours are from eight o'clock to twelve in
the forenoon, before and after which mar-
riage cannot be legally performed in the
church. Encyc.
Canonical obedience, is submission to the
canons of a church, especially the submis-
sion of the inferior clergy to their bishops,
and other religious orders to their superi-
ors.
Canonical punishments, are such as the
church may inflict, as excommunicatiou,
degradation, penance, &c.
Canonical ltfe,'\9 the method or rule of living
prescribed by the ancient clergy who liv-
ed in community, a course of living pre-
scribed for clerks, less rigid than the mo-
nastic and more restrained than the secu-
lar.
Canonical sins, in the ancient church, were
those for which capital punishment was
inflicted ; as idolatry, murder, adultery,
heresy, &.C.
Canonical letters, anciently, were letters
which passed between the orthodox cler
gy, as testimonials of their faith, to keep
up the catholic communion, and to distin
guish them from heretics.
Canonical epistles, is an appellation given to
those epistles of the New Testament
which are called general or catholic.
Encyc.
CANONICALLY, orfr. In a manner agree-
able to the canon.
CANON'ICALNESS, n. The quality of be-
ins canonical.
€ANON'ICALS, 71. plu. The full dress of
the clergy, worn when they officiate.
€ANON'l€ATE, n. The office of a ca
Encyc.
CAN'ONIST, n. A professor of canon law
one skilled in the study and practice of
errlesiastical law.
€ANONIS'Tle, a. Having the knowledge
of a canonist.
€ANONIZA'TION,7!. [See Canonize.) The
act of declaring a man a saint, or rather
the act of ranking a deceased person in
the catalogue of saints, called a canon.
This act is preceded by beatification, and
by an examination into the life and mira-
cles of the person ; at^er which the Pope
decrees the canonization.
Addison. Encyc.
2. The state of being sainted.
CAN'ONIZE, V. t. [from canon.] To de-
clare a man a saint and rank him in the
catalogue, called a canon.
€AN'ONRY, I An ecclesiastical bene-
€AN'ONSHIP, I "• fice, in a cathedral or
collegiate church, which has a prebend or
stated allowance out of the revenues of
the church commonly annexed to it. The
benifice filled by a canon. A prebend
may subsist without a canoiiry ; but a can-I
onicate is inseparable from a prebend. !
Ayliffe. Encyc]
€AN'OPIED,a. [See Canopy.] Covered witi
a canopv. Milton
€AN'OPY, n. [Gr. *ururt»or, a pavihon oi
net spread over a bed to keep off gnats
from xMvu-i-, a gnat.]
1. A covering over a throire, or over a bed ;
more generally, a covering over the head,
So the sky is called a canopy^ and a cano-
py is borne over the head in processions.
2. In architecture and sculpture, a magnifi-
cent decoration serving to cover and
crown an altar, throne, tribunal, pulpit,
chair or the like. Encyc.
eAN'OPY, V. t. To cover with a canopy.
Dry den.
eANO'ROUS, a. [L. canorua, from cano, to
sing.] Musical ; tuneful. Broum.
CANO'ROUSNESS, n. Musicalness.
CANT, V. t. [L. canto, to sing ; Sp. cantar.
Port, id., to sing, to chant, to recite, to
creak, to chirp, to whistle ; It. cantare, to
sing, to praise, to crow ; Fr. chanter :
Arm. cana ; from L. cano, to sing. The
primary sense is to throw, thrust or drive,
as in can ; a sense retained in the phrase,
to can* over any thing. In singing, it im-
plies a modulation or inflexion of voice.
In Welsh, can, with a different sound of
the vowel, signifies a song and white, L.
cano, canus, and canco. These are from
the same root and liave the same radical
sense, to throw or shoot as rays of light,
to shine, probably appUed to the sun's
morning rays. W. canu, to sing ; Sans-
crit, gana ; Persic, kandam.]
1. In popular usage, to turn about, or to turn
over, hy a sudden push or thrust ; as, to
cant over a pail or a cask. Mar. Diet.
2. To toss ; as, to cant a ball.
3. To speak with a whining voice, or an af-
fected singing tone.
[In this sense, it is usually intransitive.]
4. To sell by auction, or to bid a price at
auction. Swijl.
CANT, n. A toss; a throw, thrust or push
with a sudden jerk ; as, to give a ball a
cant. [This is the literal sense.]
2. A whining, singing manner of^ sjieech ; a.
quaint, affected mode of uttering words
cither in conversation or preaching.
3. The whining speech of beggars, as in
asking alms and making complaints of
their distresses.
4. The peculiar words and phrases of pro-
fessional men ; phrases often repeated, or
not well authorized.
5. Any barbarous jargon in speech.
6. Whining pretension to goodness.
Johnson .
7. Outcry, at a public sale of goods ; a call
for bidders at an auction. SwiJl.
This use of the word is precisely equiv-
alent to auction, auctio, a hawking, a crj'-
ing out, or in the vulgar dialect, a singing
out, but I beUeve not in use in the L.
States.
CANT, n. [D. kant, a corner.] A nich ; a
corner or retired place. B. Jonson.
Cant-timbers, in a ship, are those which are
situated at the two ends. Mar. Diet.
CANTA'BRIAN, a. Pertaining to Canta-
bria, on the Bay of Biscav, in Spain.
CAN'TALIVER; n. [cantfe and eaves.] In
architecture, a piece of wood, framed into
the front or side of a house, to suspend
the moldings and eaves over it. Encyc
CAN'TAR, \ An eastern weight ; at
CAN'TARO, J "• Acra in Turke>, 603
poimds ; at Tunis and Tripofi, 114 pounds.
In Egypt, it consists of 100 or 150 roto-
los ; at Naples, it is 25 pounds ; at Genoa,
150 ; at Leghorn, 150, 151, or 160. Encyc.
At Alicant in Spain, the cantaro is a li-
quid measure of 3 gallons. In Cochin, a
measure of capacity, of 4 rubies ; the rubi,
32 rotolos. '
CANTA'TA, n. [Italian, from cantare, to
sing ; L. canto.]
A poem set to music ; a composition or song,
' ' " ■ if-
ly intended for a single voice.
intermixed with recitatives and airs, chief
CANTA'TION, a. A singing. [.Vo< used.]
CANTEE'N, 71. [It. cantina.] A tin vessel
used by soldiers for carrying liquor for
di-ink. Chambers
CAN
tJAN'TELEUP, 11. A variety of muskmel-j
eANT'ER, V. i. [Arm. canlreal or cantrenS
to run, to rove or ramble, from tossing or
leaping, canting. See Cant]
To move as a horse in a moderate gallop,
raising the two fore feet nearly at the
same time, with a leap or spring.
CANT'ER, V. t. To ride upon a canter.
€ANT'ER, »;. A moderate gallop.
2. One who cants or whines.
CANTERBURY BELL, n. A species of
Campanula. [See Bell-Flower.]
CANTERBURY TALE, n. A fabulous sto
ry ; so called from the tales of Chaucer
€A"NT'ERING, ppr. Moving or riding with
a slow gallop.
CANTHAR'IDIN, n. [Infra.] Tliat pe-
culiar substance existing in the Meloe ves
icatorius, or cantharides, which causes
vesication. Thomson.
€ANTHA'RIS or plu. CANTHARIDES,
n. [Gr. xorSaptj.] Spanish flies; a species
of Meloe. This fly is nine or ten hues in
length, of a shining green color, mixed
with azure, and has a nauseous smell. It
feeds upon the leaves of trees and shr
preferring the ash. These flies, when
bruised, are imiversally used as a vesica-
tory, or blistering plaster. The largest
come from Italy, but the best from Spain.
CANTH'US, n. [Gr. xwSoj; D. kant, a
corner.]
An angle of the eye ; a cavity at the extrem
ities of the eyelids ; the greater is next to
the nose ; the lesser, near the temple.
Encyc.
CAN'TICLE, n. [Sp. and It. canlico; L.
canticwn, from canto. See Cant]
\. A song. Ill the plural, canticles, the Son
of Songs or Song of Solomon, one of the
books of the Old Testament.
% A canto ; a division of a song. Obs.
Spe7iger.
CAN'TILLATE, v. t. [L. cantillo. See
Cant.] To chant ; to recite with musical
tones. M. Stuart
CANTILLA'TION, n. A chanting ; recita-
tion with nmsical modulations.
(JANTTNG, ppr. Tlu-owing with a sudden
jerk ; tossing.
'I. Speaking with a whine or song-like tone
CANT'INGLY, arfv. With a cant.
CAN'TION, n. A song or verses. [JVoi
used.] Spe7}
CAN'TLE, n. [Arm. chantell ; Fr. chanteau,
whence echantillon ; Eng. scantling.]
A fragment ; a piece ; a portion. 06s.
CAN'TLE, V. t. To cut into pieces ; to cut
out a piece. Obs. Dri/den.
CANT'LET, n. A piece ; a little corner ; a
fragment. Dryden
CAN'TO, n. [It. canto, a song ; L. cantus.
See Cant.)
A part or division of a poem, answering to
what in prose is called a book. In Ital-
ian, canto is a song, and it signifies also
the treble part, first treble, or highest vo-
cal part.
CAN'TON, n. [It. eantone, a corner-stone,
and a canton ; Sp. canton ; Port, canto.
a corner ; Fr. canton, a corner, a part of al
country, a district ; Arm. canton ; D. kant ;,
G. kante ; Dan. kandl, a eorner, point,'
edge, border. The Welsh unites canton^
CAN
with canl, a hundred, L. centum. Sax. hund,
for cantrev is a circuit or division of a coun-
try, from canl, a hundred.]
1. A small portion of land, or division of ter-
ritory ; originally, a portion of territory on
a border ; also, the inhabitants of a canton.
3. A small portion or district of territory,
constituting a distinct state or government ;
as in Switzerland.
3. In lieraldry, a corner of the shield.
4. A distinct part, or division ; as the cantons
of a painting or other representation.
Burnet.
CAN'TON, V. t. [Sp. acantonar.] To divide
into small parts or districts, as territory :
to divide into distinct portions.
Locke. Addison
2. To allot separate quarters to each regi-
ment of an army or body of troops.
Marshall. Encyc.
CAN'TONAL, a. Pertaining to a canton ;
divided into cantons.
CAN'TONED, pp. Divided into distinct
parts, or quarters ; lodged in distinct quar-
ters, as troops.
CAN'TONING, ppr. Dividing into distinct
districts ; allotting separate quarters to
each regiment.
CAN'TONIZE, V. t. To canton, or divide
into small districts. Davits.
CAN'TONMENT, n. A part or division of
a town or village, assigned to a particular
regiment of troops ; separate quarters.
Marshall.
CAN'TRED, I [L. centum.] A hundred
CAN'TREF, \ "■ villages, as in Wales.
Encyc.
CAN'VAS, n. [Fr. canevas, canvas, and
chanvre, hemp ; Arm. canavc^; Sp. caha-
mazo ; Port, canamo ; It. canavaccio, canvas
and canapa, hemp ; D. kanefas, canvas, and
hennep, hemp; G. kanefass, canvas, and
hanf, hemp; Dan. canefas ; L. cannabis
hemp ; Gr. xanaSts ; Ir. canbhas, canvas,
and cniiaib, hemp ; Russ. kanephas. It i;
from the root ofcanna, cane ; perhaps adi
minutive.]
1. A coarse cloth made of hemp, or flax, used
for tents, sails of ships, painting and other
purposes.
2. A clear unbleached cloth, wove regularly
in little squares, u.sed for working tapestry
with the needle.
3. Among the French, the rough draught or
model on which an air or piece of music
is composed, and given to a poet to finish.
The canvas of a song contains certain
notes of the composer, to show the poet
the measure of the verses he is to make.
4. Among seamen, cloth in sails, or sails
general ; as, to spread as much canvas as
the ship will bear.
CANVAS-CLIMBER, n. A sailor that goes]
aloft to handle sails. Shak
CAN'VASS, I', t. [Old Fr. cannaba.sser, to
boat about or shake, to examine. Junius
Skinner.]
1. To discuss; Uterally, to beat or shake out,
to open by beating or shaking, like the
L. discutio. This is the common use of
the word, as to canvass a subject, or the
policy of a measure.
2. To examine returns of votes ; to search
or scrutinize ; as, to canvass the votes for
CAN'VASS, v. i. To seek or go about to
CAP
solicit votes or interest ; to use efforts to
obtain ; to make interest in favor of; fol-
lowed by for; as, to canvass for an oflice,
or preferment ; to canvass for a friend.
CAN'VASS, n. Examination; close inspec-
tion to know the state of; as a canvass of
2. Discussion ; debate.
3. A seeking, solicitation, or efforts to ob-
tain.
CAN'VASSED, pp. Discussed ; examined.
CAN'VASSER, n. One who solicits votes,
or goes about to make interest. Burke.
9. One who examines the returns of votes-
for a public oflicer.
CAN'VASSING, ppr. Discussing ; examin-
ing ; sifting ; seeking.
CAN'VASSING, n. The act of discussing,
makii
1 cam
or abounding with canes. Milton.
ig interest.
CA'NY, a. [from cane.] Consisting of cane
CAN'ZONE, n. [It. a song. See Cant.] A
song or air in two or three parts, with pas-
sages of fugue and imitation ; or a poem
to which music may be composed in the
style of a cantata. When set to a piece of
instrumental music, it signifies much the
same as cantata ; and when set to a sona-
ta, it signifies allegro, or a brisk move-
ment. Bailey. Busby.
CAN'ZONET, n. [It. canzonetta.] A httle
or short song, in one, two or three parts.
It sometimes consists of two strains, each
of which is sung twice. Sometimes it is a
species of jig. Encyc. Busby.
CAP, n. [Sax. cceppe, a cap, and a cape, a
cloke ; D. kap ; G. kappe and haube ; Dan.
kappe, a robe or coat ; Sw. kappa, id ; It.
cappa, a cap, a cloke ; W. cap ; Fr. chape,
chape.au; Arm. ehap or cap. The sense is
probably that which is put on. Class Gb.
No. 70. also 31.36.]
1. A part of dress made to cover the head.
2. The ensign of a cardinalate. Shak.
3. The to]), or the uppermost ; the highest.
Thou art the cap of fools. Shak.
4. A vessel in form of a cap. Wilkins.
5. An act of respect, made by uncovering the
head. VEstrange.
Cap of cannon, a piece of lead laid over the
vent to keep the priming dry ; now called
an apron.
Cap of maintenance, an ornament of state,,
carried before the Kings of England at
the coronation. It is also carried before
the mayors of some cities.
In ship-building, a cap is a thick strong block
of wood, used to confine two masts to-
gether, when one is erected at the head of
another.
CAP, v. t. To cover the top, or end ; to
spread over ; as, a bone is capped at the
joint with a cartilaginous substance.
The cloud-capped towers. Shak.
2. To deprive of the cap, or take off a cap.
To cap verses, is to name alternately verses
beginning with a particular letter ; to name
in opposition or emulation ; to name al-
ternately in contest. Johnson.
CAP, v. i. To uncover the head in reverence
or civility. [.Vo* used.] Shak.
Cap-a-pie, [Fr.] From head to foot ; all over ;
as, armed cap-a-pie.
Cap-paper, n. A coarse paper, so called fi-om
CAP
CAP
CAP
being used to make caps to hold commod
ities. Boyle
Cap-aheaf, n. The top sheaf of a stack
grain ; the crowner.
CAPABIL'ITY, n. [See Capable.] The
quality of being capable ; capacity ; capa
bleness. SItak. Lavoisier, Trans.
CA'PABLE, a. [Vr. capable, from L.capio,
take. See Class Gb. No. 68. 69. 75. 83.]
1. Able to hold or contain ; able to receiv
sufficiently capacious ; often followed by
of; as, the room is not caj3a6/e o/ receiv
ing, or capable of holding the company.
2. Endued with power competent to the ob-
ject; as, a man is capable of judging, oi
he is not capable.
3. Possessing mental powers ; intelligent
able to understand, or receive into the
mind ; having a capacious mind ; as a ca-
pable judge ; a capable instructor.
4. Susceptible ; as, capable of pain or grief.
Prior
5. Qualified for ; susceptible of; as, a thin"
is capable of long duration ; or it is capable
of being colored or altered.
6. Qualified for, in a moral sense ; having
legal power or capacity ; as, a bastard is
not capable of inheriting an estate.
7. Hollow. UVot now used.]
CA'PABLENESS, n. The state or quality
of being capable ; capacity ; power of un-
derstanding ; knowledge. Killingbeck.
CAPAC'IFY, V. t. To qualifv. [Unusual.]
Barrow. Good.
€APA'CIOUS, a. [L. capax, from capio, to
take or hold.]
1. Wide ; large ; that will hold much ; as a
capacious vessel.
2. Broad ; extensive ; as a capacious bay or
harbor.
.'!. Extensive ; comprehensive ; able to take
a wide view ; as a capacious mind.
CAPA'CIOUSNESS, n. Wideness ; large
ness ; as of a vessel.
2. Extensiveness ; largeness ; as of a bay.
3. Comprehensiveness ; power of taking f
wide survey ; applied to the mind.
CAPACITATE, V. t. [See Capacity.] To
make capable ; to enable ; to furnish with
niitiirnl power ; as, to capacitate one for
understanding a theorem.
!2. To endue with moral qualifications ; to
quaUfy ; to furnish with legal powers ; as,
to capacitate one for an office.
CAPACITATED, pp. Made capable;
qualified.
CAPACITA'TION, n. The act of making
capable.
CAPACITY, 71. [L. capacitas, from capax,
capio ; Fr. capaciti.]
1. Passive power ; the power of containing,
or holding ; extent of room or space ; as
the capacity of a vessel, or a cask.
2. The extent or comprehensiveness of the
mind ; the power of receiving ideas or
knowledge.
Let instruction be adapted to the capacities of
youth.
3. Active power ; ability ; applied to men or
things ; but less common, and correct.
The world does not include a cause endued
with such capacities. Blackmore.
4. State ; condition ; character ; profession ;
occupation. A man may act in the capa-
city of a mechanic, of a friend, of an attor-
ney, or of & statesman. He may have
natural or a political capacity.
5. Ability, in a moral or legal sense ; qual
ification ; legal power or right ; as, a man
or a corporation may have a capacity to
give or receive and hold estate.
6. In geometry, the solid contents of a body,
7. In chimistry, that state, quality or consti-
tution of bodies, by which they absorb
and contain, or render latent, any fluid
as the capacity of water for caloric.
.'ISON, n. [Sp. caparazon ; Port
CAPAR
caparazam, a cover put over the saddle of]
a horse, a cover for a coach ; Fr. capara
gon.]
A cloth or covering laid over the saddle oi
furniture of a horse, especially a sumptcr
horse or horse of state. Milton
CAPAR' ISON, V. t. To cover with a cloth
as a horse. Dryden
2. To dress pompously ; to adorn with rich
dross. Shah
CAP'CASE, n. A covered case. [Little
used.] Burton
CAPE, n. [Sp. Port, cabo; It. capo; Fr
cap ; D. haap ; Dan. kap ; L. caput ; Gr
xf^aJj; ; Sans, cabala, head. It signifie;
end, furthest point, from extending, shoot
■ng-]
1. A head land; properly the head, point or
termination of a neck of land, extending
some distance into the sea, beyond the
conunon shore, and hence the name is a))-
plicd to the neck of land itself, indefinitely,
as in Cape-Cod, Cape-Horn, Cape of Good
Hope. It differs from a promontory in
this, that it may be high or low land
but a promontory is a high bold termina
tion of a neck of land.
2. The neck-piece of a cloke or coat.
CAP'ELAN, n. A small fish, about six in
ches in length, sholes of which appear ofl"
the coasts of Greenland, Iceland and New
foundland. They constitute a large part
of the food of the Greenlanders. Pennant
CAPEL'LA, n. A bright fixed star in the
left shoulder of the constellation Auriga.
Encyc.
CAP'ELLET, n. A kind of swelling, like a
wen, growing on the heel of the hock on
a horse, and on the point of the elbow.
Encyc
CA'PER, i>. i. [Fr. cahrer, to prance ; cabri-
ole, a goat-leap, a caper ; It. capriola, a
wild goat, a caper in dancing ; Sp. cabrio-
la ; L. caper, a goat. But probably caper
is from the root of capio, which signifies
not merely to seize, but to shoot or reach
forward, or to leap and seize. Hence it is
probable that this word coincides in ori-
gin with Dan. kipper, to leap, whence Eng.
to skip.)
To leap; to skip or junrp; to prance; to
sprmg.
Shak
CA'PER, n. A leap ; a skip ; a spring ; as i
dancing or mirth, or in the frolick of
goat or lamb.
CA'PER, n. [Fr. capre ; Arm. capresen ; Sp.
Port, alcaparra ; It. cappero ; L. capparis ;
D. kapper; G. kaper ; Syr. kapar ; Ar.
j.x^3 kabaron. The Ar. verb signifies
to increase.]
The bud of the caper-bush, which is much
used for pickling. The buds are collected
betbrc tlie flowers expand, and preserved
ill vinegar. The bush is a low shrub, gen-
erally growing from the joints of old
walls, from fissures in rocks and amongst
rubbish, in the southern parts of Europe.
Enciic.
CA'PER-BUSH. [See Caper.]
CA'PER-CUTTliVG, n. A leaping or dan-
cings in a frolicksome manner. Beaum.
CA'PERER, n. One who capers, leaps and
skips about, or dances.
CA'PERING, ppr. Leaping ; skipping.
CA'PIAS, n. [L. capio, to take.] In law, a
writ of two sorts ; one before judgment,
called a capias ad respondendum, where
an original is issued, to take the defendant,
and make him answer to the plaintiff; the
other, which issues after judgment, is of
divers kinds; as a capiasad satisfaciendum,
or writ of execution ; a. capias pro fine; a
capias utlagatum ; a capias in withernam.
Blackslone.
CAP'IBAR, n. An animal partaking of the
form of a hog antl of a rabbit, the cabiai.
CAPILLA'CEOUS, a. [L. capillaceus,ba\ry.]
Hairy ; resembling a hair. [See Capillary.]
CAPILLA'IRE, n. [Fr.] A kind of^sirrup,
extracted from maiden-hair. Mason.
CAPIL'LAMENT, n. [L. capillamenlum,
from capiltus, hair, probably ahttle shoot.]
1. The filament, a smaU fine thread, like a
hair, that grows in the middle of a flower,
with a little knob at the top ; a chive.
2. A fine fiber, or filament, of which the
nerves are composed.
CAP'ILLARY, a. [L. capUlaris, from capU-
lus, hair.]
1. Resembling a hair, fine, minute, small iu
diameter, though long : as a capillary tube
or pipe ; a capillary vessel in animal bodies,
such as the ramifications of the blood ves-
sels. ^'Irbuthnot.
2. In botany, capillary plants are hair-sha-
ped, as the ferns ; a term used by Ray,
Boerhaave and Morison. This class of
plants corresponds to the order of Filices,
in the Sexual method, which bear their
flower and fruit on the back of the leaf or
stalk. Milne.
This term is applied also to leaves which are
longer than the setaceous or bristle-sha-
ped leaf, to glands resembling hairs, to
the filaments, to the stjde, and to the pap-
jius or down affixed to some seeds.
Martyn.
CAP'ILLARY, n. A fine vessel or canal.
Danvin,
CAPILLA'TION, n. A blood vessel like a
hair. [JVot in xise.] Brotim.
CAPIL'LIFORM, a. [L. eapillus, a hair,
ai\A forma, form.]
In the shape or form of a hair, or of hairs.
CAP'ITAL, a. [L. capitalis, from caput, the
head. See Cape.]
1. Literally, pertaining to the head ; as a
capital bruise, in Milton, a bruise on the
head. [This use is not comnwn.]
2. Figuratively, as the head is the highest part
of a man, cliief ; principal ; first in impor-
tance ; as a capital city or town ; the cap-
ital articles of religion.
. Punishable by loss of the head or of hfe ;
incurring the forfeiture of life ; punishable
with death ; as, treason and murder are
capital ofl'enses or crimes.
CAP
CAP
CAP
4. Taking away life, as a capital punishment
or affecting life, as a capital trial.
5. Great, important, though perhaps not
chief; as, a town possesses capital advan
tages for trade.
6. Large ; of great size ; as capital letters,
which are of different form, and larger
than common letters.
Capital stock, is the sum of money or stock
which a merchant, banker or manufact-
urer employs in his business ; either the
original stock, or that stock augmented.
Also, the sum of money or stock whith
each i)artner contributes to the joint fund
or stock of the ])artnership ; also, the com-
mon fund or stock of the company, wheth-
er incorporated or not.
A capital city or town is the metropolis or
chief city of an empire, kingdom, state or
province. The application of the epithet
indicates the city to be the largest, or to
be the seat of government, or botli. In
many instances, the capital, that is, the
largest city, i
the seat of government.
CAP'ITAL, n. [L. capitellum.] The upper-
most part of a column, pillar or pilaster,
serving as the head or crowning, and pla-
ced immediately over the shaft, and imder
the entablature. Encyc.
By the customary omission of the noun, to
which the adjective, capital, refers, il
stands for,
1. The chief city or town in a kingdom or
state ; a metropolis.
9. A large letter or type, in printing.
3. A stock in trade, in manufactures, or in
any business requiring the expenditure of
money with a view to profit.
€AP'ITALIST, n. A man who has a capi-
tal or stock in trade, usually denoting a
man of large property, which is or may be
emjjloyed in business. Burke. Stephens.
€AP'ITALLY, adv. In a capital manner;
nobly ; finely.
2. With loss of life ; as, to punish capitally.
CAP'ITALNESS, n. A capital offense.
[Little used.] • Shertvood.
€AP'ITATE, a. [L. capitafus, from caput,
a head.]
In botany, growing in a head, applied to a
flower, or stisma. Martyn. Lee.
CAPITA'TION, n. [L. capitatio, from caput,
the head.]
1. Numeration by the head ; a numbering
of persons. Brown.
2. A tax, or imjjosition upon each head or
person ; a poll-tax. Sometimes written
Capitation-tax. Encijc.
CAP'ITE. [L. caput, the head, abl.] In
English law, a tenant in capite, or in chief,
is one who holds lands immediately of the
king, caput, the head or Lord Paramount
of all lands in the kingdom, by knight's
service or by soccage. This tenure is
called tenure in capite ; but it was abol-
ished in England, by 12 Cliarles II. 24.
Blackstone.
eAP'ITOL, n. [L. capitolium, from caput,
the head.]
1. Tlie temple of Jupiter in Rome, and a
fort or castle, on the Mons Capitolinus.
In this, the Senate of Rome anciently as-
sembled ; and on the same place, is still
the city hall or town-house, where the
conservators of the Romans hold their
meetings. The same name was given to
the principal temples of the Romans ir
their colonies. Encyc.
2. The edifice occupied by the Congress of
the United States in their deliberations.
In some states, the State-house, or house
in which the legislature holds its sessions
a government house.
€APITOLIAN, a. Pertaining to the capi
I in Rome. D'^nville
€AP'ITOLINE, a. Pertaining to the capitol
in Rome. The Capitoline Games were
annual ^ames instituted by Camillus in
honor of Jupiter Capitolinus, and in com-
memoration of the preservation of the
capitol from the Gauls, and other games
instituted by Domitian and celebrated ev-
ery five years. Encyc.
CAPIT'ULAR, > [L. capitulum, a head
CAPITULARY, I "• or chapter.]
An act passed in a chapter, either of
knights, canons or religious.
The body of laws or statutes of a chap-
ter, or of an ecclesiastical council. This
name is also given to the laws, civil and
ecclesiastical, made by Cljarlemagne, and
other princes, in general councils and as
semblies of the peo])le. Some indeed
have alledged that these are supplements
to laws. They are so called, because they
are divided into chapters or sections. Encyc.
3. The member of a chapter.
CAPIT'ULARLY, adv. In the form of an
ecclesiastical chapter. Swift.
€APIT'ULARY, a. Relating to the chap-
ter of a cathedral. Warton.
eAPIT'ULATE,t).i. [bomcapitulum, supra.]
1. To draw up a writing in chapters, heads
or articles. Shak.
[But this sense is not usual.]
2. To surrender, as an army or garrison, to
an enemy, by treaty, in which the terms
of surrender are specified and agreed to
by the jjarties. The term is applicable to
a garrison or to the inhabitants of a be-
sieged place, or to an army or troops in
any situation in wiiich they are subdued or
compelled to submit to a victorious enemy.
€APITULA'TIOi\, ii. The act of capitula-
ting, or surrendering to an enemy upon
stipulated terms or conditions.
2. The treaty or instrument containing the
conditions of surrender.
3. A reducing to heads. [M>t much used.]
In German polity, a contract which the
EmiJeror makes with the electors, in the
names of the princes and states of the em-
pire, before he is raised to the imperial
dignity.
€APIT 'ULATOR, n. One who capitulates.
Sherwood.
CAP'ITULE, n. A sunnnarv. [Mot in use.]
Wickliffe.
CAPi'VI, n. A balsam of the Spanish West-
Indies. [See Copaiba.]
€AP'NOM\NCY,n. [Ov. xarcvo;, smoke, and
ftairsia, divination.] Divination by the
ascent or motion of smoke. Spenser.
CAPO'CH, n. [Sp. capucho, a hood; Fr.
capuce.] A monk's hood.
CA'PON, n. [Sp. capon ; Port, capam ; It. cap-
pone ; Fr. chapon ; L. capo ; Ir. cabun ; D. ka-
poen ; G. kapaun ; Arm. cabon ; Svv. Dan.
kapun ; Gr. xaxuv. Qu. the root of Fr.
couper.] A castrated cock ; a cock-chick-
en gelded as soon as he quits his dam, or
as soon as he begins to crow.
CA'PON, V. t. To castrate, as a cock. Birch..
CAPONiVIE'RE, n. [Fr., Sp. caponera, It.
capponiera, a little cut or trench, and it
seems to be allied to capon, Sp. caponar,
to cut or curtail.]
Infortification, a covered lodgment, sunk four
or five feet into the ground, encompassed
with a parapet, about two feet high, serv-
ing to support several planks, laden with
earth. It is large enough to contain 15 or
20 soldiers, and is placed in the glacis, at
the extremity of the counterscarp, and in
dry moats, with embrasures or loop holes,
through wliich the soldiers may fire.
Harris. Encyc.
CAPO'T, n. [Fr., probably from L. capio, to
seize.]
A winning of all the tricks of cards at the
game of piquet. Johnson.
CAPO'T, V. t. To wm all the tricks of
cards at picquet.
CAP'PER, n. [from cap.] One whose bu-
siness is to make or sell caps.
CAP'REOLATE, «. [L. capreolm, a tendril,
properly a shoot, from the root of capra, a
goat.]
In botany, having tendrils, or filiform spiral
claspers, by which plants fasten them-
selves to other bodies, as in vines, peas, &c.
Harris. Martyn.
CAPRICE, n. [Fr. caprite ; Sp. Port, ca-
pricho ; It. capriccio, a shaking in fever,
rigors ; also, whim, freak, fancy. I sus-
pect this word to be formed, with a pre-
fix ca, on the root of freak, break ; deno-
ting primarily a sudden bursting, breaking,
or starting. So we see in Italian, inaglio,
and camaglio, a mail. In early English
writers, it is written, according to the
Spanish, co^ric/io. If formed from the root
of capio, caper, the primary sense is the
same.]
A sudden start of the mind ; a sudden
change of opinion, or humor ; a whim,
freak, or particular fancy.
CAPRP'CIOUS, a. Freakish ; whimsical ;
apt to change opinions suddenly, or to
start from one's purpose ; unsteady ;
changeable ; fickle ; fanciful ; subject to
change or irregularity ; as a man of a ca-
priciuus temper.
CAPRI-'CIOUSLY, adv. In a capricious
manner ; whimsically.
CAPRI"CIOUSNESS, n. The quality of
being led by caprice ; whimsicalness ; un-
steadiness of purpose or opinion.
2. Unsteadiness ; liableness to sudden chan-
ges ; as the capriciousness of fortune.
CAP'RICORN, n. [L. capricornus, caper, a
goat, and cornu, a horn.]
One of the twelve signs of the zodiac, the
winter solstice ; represented on ancient
monuments, by the figure of a goat, or a
a figure having the fore part like a goat
and the hind part like a fish. Encyc.
CAPRIFICA'TION, n. [L. caprificatio.]' \
method of ripening figs by means of a
gnat or insect that pricks the bud. Encyc.
CAP'RIFOLE, n. [L. caprifulium.] Hon-
eysuckle ; woodbine. Spenser.
CAP'RIFORM, a. [L. caper, a goat, and
forma, form.] Having the form of a goat.
Eclectic Review.
CAP'RIOLE, n. [Fr., now cabriole ; Sp. Port.
cabriola ; It. capriola, a caper.]
In the 7nanege, capriole* are leaps that a
CAP
CAP
CAP
horse makes in the same place without
ailvaiiciijg, ill such a manner that when
he is at the highth of the leap, he jerks
out witii his hind legs, even and near. It
differs from the croupade in this, that, in a
croupade, a horse does not show his shoes,
and from a balotade, in which he does not
jerk out. Farrier's Did.
€AP'UIPED, a. [L. caper, a goat, and pes.
foot.]
Having feet like those of a goat.
CAP'SICUM, 71. Guinea pepper. Chambers.
€APSI'ZE, V. t. To upset or overturn ; a
seaman's phrase. Mar. Diet.
€AP'STAN, n. sometimes written cap-
stern. [Fr. cabestan ; Sp. cabestrante ; Port.
cabrestante, from cabresto, Sp. cabestro, a
halter ; L. capistrum ; Sax. cmpster, or cab-
estr, a halter. The Spanish has also calria,
an a.\le-tree, and cabrio, a rafter. Capstan
is probably from L. capio, to hold, with
some other word.]
A strong massy column of timber, formed
like a truncated cone, and having its upper
extremity pierced to receive bars or levers,
for winding a rope round it, to raise great
weights, or perform other extraordinary
work, that requires a great power. It
may be let down through the decks of a
ship, and so fixed that the work is per-
formed by a horizontal motion. Mar. Did.
€AP'iuLi^V, \ «• """"- '"^« ^ '■'"^«'-
2. Capsular ligament, is that which sur-
rounds every movable articulation, and
contains the synovia like a bag. Hooper.
€AP'SULATE, ) Inclosed in a capsule,
CAP'SULATED, i "' or as in a chest or
box. Botany.
€AP'SULE, n. [L. caps^da, a little chest,
perhaps from capio, to take.]
The seed vessel of a plant; a dry membra-
naceous hollow pericarp, opening differ-
ently in different plants. It is composed
of valves or outer covering, partitions,
the columella or central pillar, and cells.
Marlyn. Milne.
CAP'TAIN, n. [Fr. capilaine ; Sp. capitan:
Port, capitam ; It. capilano ; from L. caput,
the head. In the feudal laws of Europe,
the term was applied to tenants in capite,
who were bound to attend their prince in
his wars, at the head of soldiers, and from
this practice the name had its origin, or
from their command.]
J. l/uerally, a head or chief officer; appro-
priately, the military officer who com
mands a company, "whether of infantry,
cavalry, artillery or matrosses.
3. The commander of a ship of war, or of a
merchantman. But the latter is often
called a master.
3. The commander of a military band, a
sense that occurs in the scriptures ; as a
captain of fifty.
4. A man skilled in war or military affairs ;
as, Lord Wellington is a great captain.
5. A chief commander. Shak. But in this
sense rarely used, but in composition.
Captain-general, is the commander in chief
of an army, or of the militia. The gover-
nor of a state is Captain- General of the
militia. U. States.
Captain- Lieutenant, is an officer, who with
the rank of captain and pay of lieutenant,
commands a company or troop. Thus
the colonel of a regiment being the cap-
tain of the first company, that company is
commanded by a Captain-Lieutenant.
Captain- Bashaw, or Capudan Bashaw, in
Turkey, is the High Admiral.
CAP'TAIN, a. Chief; valiant. Shak
CAP'TAINCY, n. The rank, post or com
mission of a captain. H'ashington
2. The jurisdiction of a captain, or comman-
der, as in South America.
CAP'TAINRY, n. The power or command
over a certain district ; chieftainship.
Spenser. Johnson
CAP'TAINSHIP, n. The condition or posi
of a captain or chief commander. Shak.
2. The rank, quahty or post of a captain.
In lieu of this captaincy is now used.
3. The command of a clan, or government
of a certain district. Davies
4. Skill in military affairs.
CAPTA'TION, n. [L. captatio, from capto,
to catch.]
The act or practice of catching favor or ap-
plause, by flattery or address.
King Charles.
CAP'TION, n. [L. captio, from capio,
seize.]
1. The act of taking, or apprehending by
judicial process. [Little used.]
2. A certificate signed by commissioners in
Chancery, declaring when and where the
commission was executed. Ash.
3. A preamble.
4. In Scots law, a writ issued at the instance
of a creditor, commanding an officer
take and imprison the debtor, till he pays
the debt.
CAP'TIOUS, a. [L. captiosus, from capto,
to catch.]
1. Disposed to find fault, or raise objections ;
apt to cavil, as in popular language, it '
said, apt to catch at ; as a captious man.
2. Fitted to catch or ensnare ; insidious; as
ptious question. Locke.
3. Proceeding from a caviling disposition
as a captious objection or criticism.
CAP'TIOUSLY, adv. In a captious manner
with an inclination or intention to object
or censure. Locke
CAP'TIOUSNESS, n. Disposition to find
faidt ; inchnation to object ; peevishness.
Locke.
CAP'TIVATE, V. t. [L. captivo, from capti-
vus, a prisoner, from capio, to take ; Fr,
captiver ; Sp. cautivar ; Port, cativar ; It.
cattivare.]
To take prisoner ; to seize by force ; as
an enemy in war.
Shak. Locke. B. Trumbull.
2. To subdue ; to bring into bondage
King Charles.
I. To overpower and gain with excellence
or beauty ; to charm ; to engage the affec-
tions ; to bind in love. Addison
. To enslave ; with to ; as, captivated to error
Locke
CAP'TIVATE, a. Taken prisoner. Shak.
CAP'TIVATED, pp. Made prisoner
harmed.
€AP'TIVATING, ppr. Taking prisoner;
engaging the affections.
2. a. Havinc power to engage the affe
eAPTIVA'TION, n. The act of taldng a
prisoner; a taking one captive.
€AP'TIVE, n. [Fn captif; Sp. cautiio ; It.
eattivo, whence Eng. caitiff; L. captivuf,
from capto, to seize.]
1. A prisoner taken by force or stratagem in
war, by an enemy ; followed by to ; as a
captive to the victor.
2. One who is charmed or subdued by beauty
or excellence ; one whose affections are
seized, or who is held by strong ties of
love.
3. One who is ensnared by love or flattery,
I or by wiles. 2 Tim. ii, 26.
4. A slave. Anciently captives were ensla-
ved by their conquerors. But in modem
times, they are not made slaves in christian
countries ; and the word captive, in a lite-
ral sense, rarely signifies a slave.
CAP'TIVE, a. Made prisoner in war ;
kept in bondage, or confinement ; as
captive souls. Dryden.
2. Holding in confinement ; as captive
chains.
CAP'TIVE, V. t. To take prisoner ; to bring
into subjection. Obs. Dryden. Prior.
CAPTIVITY, n. [Fr. captiviU ; L. captivi-
tas, from capto to seize.]
1. The state of being a prisoner, or of being
in the power of an enemy by force or the
fate of war. Dryden.
[2. Subjection to love. Addison.
3. Subjection ; a state of being under con-
trol.
Bringing into captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ. 2 Cor. x.
4. Subjection ; servitude ; slavery.
But I sec another law in my members — bring-
ing me into captivity to the law of sin. Rom.
To lead captivity captive, in scripture, is to
subdue those who have held others in sla-
very, or captivity. Ps. Ixviii.
CAP'TOR, 71. [L. capio, to take.] One who
takes, as a prisoner or a prize. It is ap-
propriately one who takes a prize at sea.
CAP'Tl'RE, n. [L. captura ; Fr. capture;
from L. capio, to take.]
1. In a general sense, the act of taking or
seizing; as the capture of an enemy, of a
ship, or of booty, by force, surprise or
stratagem.
2. The thing taken ; a prize ; prey taken by
force, surprise or stratagem.
3. Seizure; arrest; as the ca/)t«re of a crim-
inal or debtor.
CAP'TL'RE, V. t. To take or seize by force,
surprise or stratagem, as an enemy or his
properly ; to take by force under the au-
thority of a commission ; as to capture &
ship.
CAP'TURED, pp. Taken as a prize.
CAP'TlRIiN'G, ppr. Seizing as a prize.
CAPT'CCIO, 71. [It.] A capuchin or hood.
CAPU'CHED, a. Covered with a hood.
[Little used.] Brown.
CAPUCHlN, n. [Fr. capucine, from capuce,
a hood or cowl.]
1. A garment for females, consisting of a
cloke and hood, made in imitation of the
dress of capuchin monks. Johnson.
2. A pigeon whose head is covered with
feathers.
CAPUCHINS, n. Monks of the order of
St. Francis, who cover their beads with
a capuce, capuchon, a stuff-cap or cowl.
They are clothed in brown or gray, go
bare-footed, and never shave their faces.
£71 eye.
C A R
CAR
CAR
eAP'UCINE, n. A species of monkey, the
sagoo or sai.
€AP'IJLIN, n. The Mexican cherry.
CAR, €AER, CHAR, in names of places, is
sometimes the Celtic Caer, a town or city,
as in Caermarlhen.
CAR, Ji. [W. car; Ir. carr, carra, or cairt ;
Arm. qarr ; D. and G. karre ; Sw. khrra ;
Dan. karre ; Sp. It. Port, carro ; L. carrus, or
nirrus; Fr. char, whence chariot; Sax.
cra:t, a cart. The sense is probably taken
from running on wheels. See Current]
1. A small veliicle moved on wheels, usually
drawn by one horse. Johnson.
2. In poetical language, any vehicle of dig-
nity or splendor ; a chariot of war, or of tri-
umph. Milton. Prior.
3. The constellation called Charles's wain or
the bear. Dryden.
CAR'ABINE, I [Fr. carabine ; Sp. carabi-
€ARBINE, y^-na; It. id.]
A short gun or fire arm, carrying a ball of
24 to the pound, borne by light horsemen,
and hanging by a belt over the left shoul-
der. The barrel is two feet and a half
long, and sometimes furrowed.
CARABINEE'R, n. A man who carries a
carabine ; one who carries a longer car-
abine than others, which is sometimes
used on foot. Encyc.
CAR' AC, ) [Port, carraca ; Fr. caraque ;
CAR'ACK, S "'Sp. carraca; aUied to It. car-
ico, a burden, cargo.]
A large ship of burden ; a Portuguese In-
diaman.
C-\R'ACOL, n. [Fr. caracole, a wheeling
about ; Sp. caracal, a small cone, a wind-
ing staircase, a snail ; It. caracollo, a
wheeling.]
1. In the manege, a semi-round, or half turn
which a horseman makes, either to the
right or left. In the army, the cavalry
make a caracol after each discharge, iii
order to pass to the rear of the squadron.
Encyc.
2. In architecture, a staircase in a helix or
spiral form. Encyc.
CAR'ACOL, V. i. To move in a caracol :
to wheel.
CAR'ACOLY, n. A mixture of gold, silver
and copper, of which are made rings, pen-
dants and other toys for the savages.
CAR'AT, n. [It. carato ; Fr. carat ; D. ka-
raut; G. karat; Gr. xipattov, a little horn,
a pod, and the berry of a pod, used
for a weight of four grains. From tlie
Greeks, it is said, the Arabians borrowed
their isj.a karat, a weight used in Mec
ca, equal to the twenty-fourth of a deua
rius, or denier. See Castell, Col. 3448,
and Ludolf, 199.]
1. The weight of four grains, used by gold
smiths and jewelers in weighing precious
stones and pearls. Encyc.
2. The weight that expresses the fineness of
gold. The whole mass of gold is divided
into 24 equal parts, and as many 24tl
parts as it contains of pure gold, it is cal
led gold of s-o many carats. Thus gold o
twenty-two parts of pure metal, is gold
of twenty-two carats. The carat in Great
Britain is divided into four grains ; among
the Germans into twelve parts ; and
among the French into thirty-two.
Encyi
3. The value of any thing. Obs. B. Jonson.
karau, to stretch along, to follow, to pro-
ceed from place to place. Sp. caravana ;
Fr. caravane. Pers. as Ar.]
A company of travellers, pilgrims or mer-
chants, marching or proceeding in a body
over the deserts of Arabia, or other region
infested with robbers.
CARAVAN' SARY, n. A place appointed
for receiving and loading caravans ; a kind
of inn, where the caravans rest at night,
being a large square building, with a spa-
cious court in the middle. Encyc.
CAR'AVEL, I [Sp. caravela ; It. caravello ;
C'ARVEL, S F»- caravelle.]
1. A small vessel on the coast of France,
used in the herring fishery. These vessels
are usually from 25 to 30 tons burden.
2. A light, round, old-fashioned ship.
Johnson.
CAR'AWAV, 71. [Gr. xopoj, xapw ; h. caros,
Fr. carii ; Sp. alcaravea or alcar-
ahueya; D.kerwe; Ar. Lj, ^.J" karawia.]
A plant of the genus Carmn, a biennial plant,
with a taper root like a jjarsnip, which,
when young, is good eating. The seeds
have an aromatic smell and a warm pun-
gent taste. They are used in cakes, in-
crusted with sugar, and distilled with
spirituous liquors. Encyc.
CARBON, n. [L. carbo, a coal ; Sp. carbon ;
It. carbone ; Fr. charbon. Qii. Gr. xap$w,
to dry, or the root of c/iar, Russ. charyu, to
burn.]
Pure charcoal ; a simple body, black, brittle,
light and inodorous. It is usually the re-
mains of some vegetable body, from which
all its volatile matter has been expelled by
heat. When cr}'stalized, it forms the
diamond ; and by means of a galvanic
apparatus, it is fomid to be capable of
fusion.
CARBONA'CEOUS, a. Pertaining to char-
coal. [See Carbonic]
C'ARBONADE, ? [from carbo, supra.] In
CARBONA'DO, S "' cooke/y, flesh, fowl or
the like, cut across, seasoned and broiled
on coals. Obs. Shak.
C^ARBONADE, ? „ , To cut or hack. Obs.
CARBONA'DO, (, "■ '■ Shak.
C'ARBONATE, n. In chimistry, a compound
formed by the union of carbonic acid with
a base ; as the carbonate of hme ; a carbon-
ate of copper.
C'ARBONATED, a. Combined with car-
bon. Lavoisier.
CARBON'IC, a. Pertaining to carbon, or
obtained from it. The carbonic add is i
saturated combination of carbon and oxy
gen. It has been called Jixed air, aerial
acid, mephitic gas, and cretaceous acid, or
acid of chalk. It is found, in some places,
in a state of gas ; it exists in the atmos-
phere, and is disengaged from fermenting
liquors, and from decomposing vegetable
and animal substances. It is heavier than
air, and subsides into low places,
vaults and wells. Hooper
CARBONIFEROUS, a. [carbo and fero, to
bear.] Producing carbon, or coal.
Kirwan, Geol
CARBONIZATION, n. The act or proce^?
of carbonizing.
CARBONIZE, V. t. To convert into carbon
by combustion or the action of fire ; to ex-
pel from wood or other substance all vola
tile matter.
CARBONIZED, pp. Converted into carbon
or cliarcoal.
CARBONOHY'DROUS, a. [carbon and
Gr. ii&uf, water.] Composed of carbon
and hydrogen.
C^ARBONOUS, a. Carbonous acid is carbon
not fully saturated with oxygen.
Lavoisier.
C*ARBUNCLE, n. [L. carbunculus, a little
coal, from carto.]
An anthrax ; an inflammatory tumor, or
painful gangrenous boil or ulcer.
Coxe. Hooper.
2. A beautiful gem, of a deep red color, with
a mixture of scarlet, called by the Greeks
anthrax, found in the East Indies. It is
found pure, and adhering to a heavy ferru-
ginous stone, of the emery kind. It is
usually a quarter of an inch in length, and
two-thirds of that in diameter, of an angu-
lar figure. When held up to the sun, it
loses its deep tinge, and becomes exactly
of the color of a burning coal. Encyc.
The carbuncle of the ancients is suppo-
sed to have been a garnet. Cleaveland.
3. In heraldry, a charge or bearing consistuig
of eight radii, four of which make a com-
mon cross, and the other four, a saltier.
Encyc.
C'ARBUNCLED, a. Set with carbuncles ;
spotted.
CARBUNC'ULAR, a. Belonging to a car-
buncle ; resembling a carbuncle ; red ;
inflamed.
CARBUNCULA'TION, n. [L. carbuncula-
iio, from carbunculo, to burn to a coal, to
blast. See Carbon.]
The blasting of the young buds of trees or
plants, by excessive heat or cold. Harris.
C^ARBURET, n. A combination of carbon
with a metal, earth or alkali. Lavoisier.
A combination of carbon with a simple in-
flammable or a metal. Webster.
CARBURETED, a. Combined with car-
bon, or holding carbon in solution ; as
carbureted hydrogen gas.
Carbureted hydrogen consists of one prime
equivalent of each. Ure.
Carbureted hydrogen gas is called hydro-car-
bonate, being resolvable into carbonic acid
and water, by combustion with oxygen.
Aiken.
Carbureted is applied to gaseous compounds.
Thus we say carbureted hydrogen, instead
of carburet of hydrogen. Silliman.
CAR CA JO, n. The glutton, a voracious
carnivorous animal.
C^ARCANET, n. [Fr. carcan, a chain ; Ii.
carcame.] A chain or collar of jewels.
Shak. Hakewell.
C^ARCASS, Ji. [Fr. carcasse ; It. carcame ;
Norm, carkoys, a mast, and a carcass. Qu.
Gr. xa^ixr^niov.]
1. The body of an animal ; usually the body
when dead. It is not applied to the living
body of the human species, except in low
or ludicrous language.
2. The.decaying remains ofabidky thing, as
of a boat or ship.
3. The frame or main parts of a thnig, unfin
CAR
CAR
CAR
ished or without ornament. This scorns
to be the primary sense of the word. [See
the next word.] Hale.
€'AR€ASS, n. [\x. carcassa; Sp.carcajc;
Fr. carcaase ; D. karkas.]
An iron case or hollow vessel, about the size
of a bomb, of an oval figure, filled with
combustible and other substances, as
meal-powder, salt-peter, sulphur, broken
glass, turpentine, &c., to be thrown from
a mortar into a town, to set fire to build-
ings. It has two or three apertures, from
which the fire blazes, and the light some-
times serves as a direction in throwing
shells. It is equipped with pistol-barrels,
loaded with powder to the muzzle, which
explode as the composition biu-ns down to
them. This instrument is probably named
from the ribs of iron that form it, which
resemble the ribs of a human carcass.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
e>ARCELA{iE, n. [L. career.] Prison fees.
[Mot w use.]
C^ARCERAL, a. Belonging to a prison.
CARCINO'MA, 71. [Gr. xopxirw^ta, from
xafxu'ou, xopxH'05, a cancer.]
A cancer ; also, a lurgesence of the veins of
the eye. Core.
CARCINO'MATOUS, a. Cancerous ; like a
cancer, or tending to it.
e-ARD n. [Fr. cartt ; Sp. Port. It. carta :
L. charla ; Gr. X'^'^ni \ D. kaart ; G. kniie ;
Dan. kort ; Ir. cairt ; perhaps from bark,
L. cortex, Ir. coirt or cairt, or the same
root.]
1. A paper or pasteboard of an oblong figure,
on which are painted figures or points ;
used in games.
2. A blank piece of paper, or the like paper
with some writing' upon it, used in messa-
ges of civility, or business.
3. The paper on which the points of the
compass are marked.
Reason the card, but passion is the gale.
Pope.
CARD, V. i. To play much at cards ; to
gain. Johnson.
CARD, n. [D. kaard ; G. kardetsche ; Dan.
karde ; Sw. karda ; Fr. carde ; Arm. en-
cardoner ; Sp. earda, teasel, and a card ;
Fort, carda, a card, and cardo, a thistle ; L
carduus ; It. cardo, a thistle and a card ;
L. caro, w card ; Ir. cir, a comb. It seems
that card, and L. carduus, are the same
word, and probably the plant, teasel, is the
original word, or both are from ;i common
root. The French carde is a card, and the
stalks of the artichoke. AHichoke is so
written for cardichoke.]
An instrument for combing, opening and
breaking wool or flax, freeing it from the
coarser parts, and from extraneous matter.
It is made by inserting bent teeth of wire
in a thick piece of leather, and naihng this
to a piece of oblong board, to which a
handle is attached.
CARD, V. t. To comb, or open wool, flax.
1 lienip, &c., with a card, for the purpose of
cleansing it of extraneous matter, separa
ting the coarser parts, and making it fine
and soft for spinning.
C'ARDAMI\E,n. [Gr.] The plant, meadow
cresses, or cuckow flower.
C'ARDAiVlOM, ji. [Gr. jtapSa^uKoi'.] A plant
of the genus Jlmoinum, and its seeds, a
tive of India. The seeds of this plant,
Vol. 1.
which grow in a pod, have a warm a
matic flavor, and are used in medicine.
Eneye.
CARDED,;);?. Combed; opened; cleansed
with card.s.
CARDER, 71. One who cards wool ; also,
one who plays much at cards. Woiton.
€'ARDIA€, } ih.cardiacus;V,r.xafhi-
CARDIACAL, S axoj, from «op«io, the
heart.]
1. Pertaining to the heart.
2. Exciting action in the heart, through the
medium of the stomach ; having the quality
of stimulating action in the system, invig-
orating the spirits, and giving strength and
cheerfulness. Med. Diet.
CARDI.'VC, n. A medicine which excites
action in the stomach, and animates the
spirits.
€'ARDIAL(iy, n. [Gr. *opSta, the heart,
and a>.yoj, pain.]
The heart-burn, a violent sensation of heat
and acrimony in the upper or left orifice
of the stomach, seemingly at the heart,
but rising into the oesophagus. It is called
also the cardiac passion.
CARDINAL, a. [L. cardinalis, said to be
from carrfo, a hinge.]
Chief, principal, jirecminent, or fundamen-
tal ; as the cardinal virtues, which Pagans
supposed to be justice, prudence, temper-
ance and fortitude.
€'ARDINAL, »i. An ecclesiastical prince in
the Romish church, who has a voice in the
conclave at the election of a Pope, who is
taken from their number. The cardinals
are divided into three classes or orders,
containing six bishops, fifty priests, and
fourteen deacons, making seventy. These
constitute the sacred college, and compose
the Pope's council. Originally they were
subordinate in rank to bishops ; but they
have now the precedence. The dress of
a cardinal is a red soutaine or cassock, a
rocket, a short purple mantle and a red
hat. Encyc. Spclman.
2. A woman's cloke.
Cardinal-fower, a plant of the genus IjO-
belia, of many species. They are fibrous-
rooted perennials, rising from two to five
or six feet high, with erect stalks, orna-
mented with oblong, oval, sjiear-shaped
simple leaves, and sjjikes of beautifiil mo-
nopetaloiis flowers of scarlet, blue and
violet colors. The natives of this country
use a decoction of one species, the siphil-
itica, as a remedy in the venereal disease.
Encyc.
Cardinal nitvibers, are the numbers, one,tuo,
three, &c., in distinction from frst, second,
third, &c., which are called ordinal num-
bers.
Cardinal points, in cosmography, are
four intersections of the horizon with the
meridian, and the prime vertical circle, or
North and South, East and West. In
astrology, the cardinal points are the rising
and setting of the sun, the zenith and
nadir.
Cardinal signs, in astronomy, are Aries,
Libra, Cancer and Capricorn.
Cardinal icinds, are those which blow from
the cardinal points.
CARDINALATE, > The oflice, rank oi
€>ARDINALSHIP, J "• dignity of a cardi
nal.
32
€'ARDINALIZE, v. t. To make a cardinal
I [lAttle used.] Hheldon.
C^ARDING, ppr. Combing, as flax, woo),
&c.
2. The act of plaving at cards. [Little used.]
CARDlNG-MAcHlNE, n. A machine late-
ly invented, for combing, breaking and
cleansing wool and cotton. It consists of
cylinder!-, thick set with teeth, and moved
by die force of water, steam, &.c.
€ ARDIOID, n. [Gr. xopJ.a, heart, and €i«oj,
form.]
An algebraic curve, so called from its resem-
blance to a heart. Chambers.
€'ARDITE, n. Fossil or petrified shells of
the genus Cardium. Jameson.
CARD-MAKER, n. [card and maker.] A
maker of cards.
CARD-MATCH, n. [card and match.] A
match made by dipping pieces of card in
melted sulphur. Addison.
€ARDOON', n. [Sp. carrfon ; U carduus.]
A species of Cynara, resembling the arti-
choke, but larger. Chambers.
e^ARD-TABLE, n. The table appropriated
to the use of gamesters, or used for jilay ing
cards on.
€ARE, n. [Sax. car, cara ; Goth, kar, kara :
Ir. car ; L. cura. In Welch, cur is care,
anxiety ; also, a blow or beating, a throb ;
citrau; to beat, strike or throb, to fight ;
curiau; to trouble, vex, pine, or waste
away. In L. euro signifies to care, and
to cure. Ill Sp. curar is to jirescribe medi-
cine ; to salt or cure, as flesh ; to season,
as timber ; to bleach, as cloth ; intransi-
tively, to recover from sickness; and re-
ciprocally, to take care of one's self. In
Italian, curare is to cure, attend, protect,
defend, and to value or esteem. In French,
ciirer is to cleanse ; " curer les dens," to
pick the teeth ; cure is a benefice. The
primary sense is, to strain, or stretch, as in
care, attention, and curious is stretching
forward ; but the sense of separating, or
driving off", is comprehended, which gives
the French sense, and the sense of prying
into is included in curious. The sense of
healing is from that of care, or making
sound and strong. The Welch sense of
beating is from driving, thrusting, coinci-
ding with straming. See Carl and Cure.]
1. Concern ; anxiety ; sohcitude ; noting
some degree of pain in the mind, from ap-
prehension of evil.
They shall eat bread by weight and with care.
Ezek. iv.
2. Caution ; a looking to ; regard ; attention,
or heed, with a view to safety or protec-
tion, as in the phrase, " take care of your-
self."
A want of care does more damage than a want
of knowledge. Franklin.
3. Charge or oversight, implying concern for
safety and prosperity ; as, he was under
the care of a physician.
That which cometh upon me daily, the care
of all the churches. 2 Cor. xi.
|4. The object of care, or watchful regard and
attention ; as, " Is she thy care .'"
Dryden.
CARE, V. i. To be anxious or solicitous ; to
be concerned about.
Ma
( thou not that we perish ? Mark
2. To be inchned or disposed ; to have regard
CAR
CAR
CAR
io ; \vith/or before a noun, and to before a|
verb. " Not caring to observe the wind."
•' Great masters in painting never care for
drawing people in the fashion." In this
sense the word imphes a less degree of
concern. The different degrees of an.xiety
expressed by this word constitute the cliiei
differences in its signification or applica-
tions.
CA'RE-CRAZED, a. [care and craze.] Bro-
ken or disordered by care, or solicitude ;
as a care-crazed mother. Shak.
GARE-DEFY'ING, a. Bidding defiance to
care. Shenstone.
CA'RE-TUNED, a. Tuned by care
ful. Shak.
€A'RE-WOUNDED, a. Wounded with
care. May.
eAREE'N, V. t. [Fr. carener, from carene, the
side and keel of a ship, L. carina ; Sp
carenar ; Port, querenar ; It. carenare.]
1. In sea language, to heave or bring a ship
to lie on one side, for the purpose of calk
ing, repairing, cleansing, or paying over
with pitch, the other side. Mar. Did
CAREE'N, V. i. To incline to one side, as a
ship under a press of sail. Mar. Diet.
€AREE'NED, pp. Laid on one side ; in-
clined.
CAREE'NING, ppr. Heaving down on one
side ; inclining.
CAREE'NING, n. The act of heaving down
on one side, as a ship.
€AREE'R, 11. [Fr. carriere ; i .
Port, carreira ; It. carriera. It is from the
root of car, andL. curro, from the sense of
running.]
1. A course ; a race, or running ; a rapid
ruiming ; speed in motion.
Wilkins. Prior.
3. General course of action or movement:
procedure; course of proceeding.
Continue and proceed in honor's fair career.
Dry den.
3. The ground on which a race is run.
Johnson.
4. In the manege, a place inclosed with a
barrier, in which they run the ring.
Encijc.
5. In falconry, a fliglit or tour of the hawk,
about 120 yards. Encyc.
CAREE'R, 17. i. To move or run rapidly.
When a sidj) is decked out in all her canvas,
every sail swelled, and careering gayly over the
curling waves, how lofty, how gallant she ap-
pears ! Irving
CAREE'RING, pp. Running or moving
with speed.
GA'REFUL, a. [See Core.] Full of care ;
anxious ; solicitous.
Martha, thou art careful and troubled about
many things. Luke x.
% Provident ; attentive to support and pro-
tect ; with of or for.
Thou hast been careful for us witli all care
2 Kings iv.
What could a careful father more Iiave done
Dryden
In present usage careful is generally fol
lowed by of; as, careful q/" health.
3. Watchful; cautious; giving good heed
as, be careful to maintain good works
be careful of your conversation.
4. FiUing with care or solicitude ; exposing
to concern, anxiety or trouble ; full of
cares.
Raised to a careful height. ^hak.
eA'REFULLY, adv. With care, anxiety, or
solicitude.
Though he sought it carefully with tears.
Heb. xii.
2. Heedfidiy ; watchfully ; attentively ; as,
consider these precepts carefully.
If thou carefully hearken to the Lord. Deut.
3. In a manner that shows care.
En\'y, how carefully does it look. Collier.
4. Providently; cautiously. Johnson.
CA'REFULNESS, n. Anxiety ; solicitude.
Drink thy water with trembling and with care
fulness. Ezek. xii.
Heedfulness ; caution ; vigilance, in guard-
ing against evil, and providing for safety.
€A'RE"LESS, a. [care and less, Sax. leas,
Goth. laus. See Loose.]
Having no care ; heedless ; negligent ;
unthinking ; inattentive ; regardless ;
mindful ; followed by of or about ; i
careless mother; a mother careless of or
about her children, is an unnatural parent,
2. Free fi'om care or anxiety ; whence, undis-
turbed ; cheerful.
Thus wisely careless, innocently gay.
Pope
Dune or said without care ; unconsidered ;
as a careless throw ; a careless expression
Not regarding with care ; unmoved by;
unconcerned for ; as, careless of money
careless q/" consequences.
Contrived without art. Bp. Taylo,
CA'RELESSLY, adv. In a careless manner
or way ; negligently ; heedlessly ; inatten-
tively ; without care or concern.
CA'RELESSNESS, n. Heedlessness ; inat-
tention ; negligence ; manner without care.
CAR'ENTANE, n. [Fr. quarantaine, forty.]
A papal indulgence, multiplying the remiss-
ion of penance l)y forties. Taylor
CARESS', V. t. [Fr. caresser ; Arm. chengza,
to caress, and to cherish ; W. caredigaw ; It
carezza, flattery, a caressing ; careggiare
to coax, flatter, esteem ; Sp. caricia, i
caress ; acariciar, to caress, cherish, fondle
Port. id. It may be from the common roo
of L. cartis, Fr. cher, cherir, W. car. But
some difficulties attend this hypothesis.]
To treat with fondness, affection, or kind
ness ; to fondle ; to embrace with tender
affection ; as a parent a child. Soiith.
CARESS', n. An act of endearment ; any
t or expression of afiection ; an embra
ng with tenderness ; as conjugal caresses.
Milton
CARESS'ED, pp. Treated or embraced
with affection.
eARESS'ING,^pr. Treating with endear-
ment, or affection.
CA'RET, n. [L. care<, there is wanting, from
careo, to want.]
In writing, this mark A, which shows that
something, omitted in the line, is interlined
above, or inserted in the margin, and
should be read in that place.
C'ARGASON, n. A cargo ; which see.
Howell.
CARGO, n. [W.fa)g,aload,c«j-^«, to loai
from car, a vehicle ; Port, cargo, Sp. ra
ga, a load, burden, charge ; Sp. cargo,
load ; cargazon, id. ; cargar, to load, i
charge ; It. carico, a load or charge ; caric-
are, to load, to charge ; Fr. cargaison.
cargo ; charge, a charge or load ; charger.
to load, burden, charge ; Arm. carg. See
Charge.]
The lading or freight of a ship ; the goods,
merchandize, or whatever is conveyed in
a ship or other merchant vessel. The la-
ding within the hold is called the inboard
cargo, in distinction from horses, cattle and
other things carried on deck. The person
employed by a merchant to proceed with,
oversee and dispose of the lading, is called
a supercargo.
ARGOOSE, n. A fowl belonging to the
genus Colymbus, called the crested diver.
The cheeks and throat are surrounded
with a long pendant ruff, of a bright
tawny color, edged with black. The
breast and belly are of a silvery white. It
weighs two pounds and a half
CA'RIATED, (7. Carious. [ATotused. Sec
Carious.]
CAR'IBOO, n. A quadruped of the stag
kind.
CAR'ICA, 71. The papaw, a tree bearing a
fleshy fiuit of the size of a small melon.
CAR'ICATURE, n. [It. caricatura, formed
from carica, a load, caricare, to load. See
Cargo.]
A figure or description in which beauties are
concealed and blemishes exaggerated, but
still bearing a resemblance to the object.
Encyc.
CAR'ICATURE, v. t. To make or draw a
caricature ; to represent as more ugly than
the life. Lyttelton.
CAR'1C.\TURIST, n. One who caricatures
others.
CARICOG'RAPHY, n. [earex, sedge, and
ypaijiu, to describe.]
A description of the plants of the genus Carex
or sedge. Dewey, Joum. of Science.
CAR'ICOUS, a. [L. caAca, a fig.] Resem-
bling a fig ; an epithet given to tumors
that resemble a fig, such as occur often in
the piles. Encyc.
CA'RIES, n. [L.] The corruption or morti-
fication of a bone ; an ulcerated bone.
Coie.
CAR'ILLON, ji. [Fr.] A little bell. Also, a
simple air in music, adapted to the per-
formance of small bells or clocks. [See
Carol.] Busby.
CAR'INATE, \ [L. carinatvs, from ca-
CAR'INATED, <, "' rina, a keel.]
In botany, shaped like the keel of a ship ;
having a longitudinal prominency on the
back like a keel ; applied to a calyx, leaf
or nectary. Martyn.
CARIN'THIN, n. A mineral from Carin-
thia, regarded as a variety of hornblend.
Cleaveland.
CARIOS'ITY, n. [See Caries.] Mortifica-
tion, or ulceration of a bone. Wiseman.
CA'RIOIIS, a. Mortified; corrupted; ul-
cerated ; as a bone. Wiseman.
C'ARK, n. [W. care, care, restraint; earcar,
a prison, L. career ; Sax. cearc, care ;
cearcian, to cark, to creak, to grumble.
The primary sense is, to strain.]
Care ; anxiety ; concern ; solicitude ; dis-
tress. Obs. Sidney.
C'ARK, V. {. To be careful, anxious, solicit-
ous, concerned. Obs. Sidney.
C'ARKING, pp. Distressing ; perplexing ;
giving anxiety. Obs.
CARLE, n. carl. [Sax. carl, a male, whence
Carolus, Charles. The word signifies pri-
CAR
CAR
CAR
jnarUy, strong, robust. Whence the Eng
lisli, carl-cat, and carl-hemp ; house-carl, a
domestic servant ; Ger. kerl, a fellow ; kerl-
hajl, masculine, stout. See ChurlJ]
1. A rude, rustic, rough, brutal man. Ohs.
[See Churl.-\
2. A kind of hemp. Tusaer.
€'ARLE, V. i. To act like a churl. [JVot in
use.] Burton
CARLINE, or €AR'OLlNE, n. A silver
coin in Naples.
C'ARLJNE, ) [Fr. carlingue, or escar-
e-ARLING, \ "• lingue.]
A piece of timber in a sliip, ranging fore and
aft, from one deck beam to another, di
rectly over the keel, sei-ving as a founda-
tion for the body of the ship. On thei
rest the ledges, on wliich the planks of the
deck are made fast. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
Carline-knees are timbers in a ship, lying
across from the sides to the hatchway,
and serving to sustain the deck. Encyc.
€'ARLINE-TII1STLE, n. A genus of plants
growing in the south of France, and one
a native of Great Britain.
CARLISH, CARLISHNESS. [See Churl-
ish.]
CHARLOCK, n. A sort of isinglass from Rus-
sia, made of the sturgeon's bladder, and
used in clarifying wine. Encyc.
CAR LOT, n. A countryman. [See Carle.
JVol used.] Shak.
CARLOVIN'GIAN, a. Pertaining to Char-
lemagne ; as the Carlovingian race of
kings.
€*ARMAN, n. [car and man.] A man whost
employment is to drive a cart, or to con-
vey goods and other things in a cart.
€*ARMELIN, > Belonging to the order
CARMELITE, $ °- of Carmehtes.
m
CARMELITE, n. [from Mount Carmel] A
mendicant friar. The Carmelites Ii;
four tribes, and they have now thirty-eiglit
provinces, besides the congregation ii
Mantua, in which are fifty-four monaste
ries, under a vicar general, and the con
gregations of barefooted Carmelites in It-
aly and Spain. Thoy wear a scapulary, or
small woolen habit, of a brown color,
thrown over the shoulders. Encyc
2. A sort of pear.
CARMIN'ATIVE, a. [Fr. carminatif; Sp,
carminative, from carminar, to expel wind
backward, from L. carmino, to card
tease.]
Expelling wind from the body ; warmin
antispasmodic.
CARMIN'ATIVE, n. A medicine, which
tend.s to expel wind, or to remedy colic
and flatulencies.
CARMINE, n. [Fr. carmin ; Sp. carmin
Port, carmim; It. carminio ; from the same
root as crimson ; Port, carmesim, crimson
Sp. carmesi, crimson and cochineal jiow-
iler ; It. chennisi, crimson, and chermes.
niizon, a berry, and an insect, used m dye
A powder or pigment, of a beautiful red oi
crimson color, bordering on purple, and
used by painters in miniature, though
rarely, on account of its great price. It is
prepared by dissolving cochineal in an al
kaJine lye, and precipitating it by ulum.
Encyc. hitcholson
CARNAuE, n. [Vr. carnage; Sp. caniiceria,
carnage, aud shambles ; It. carnaegio,
flesh-meat, and carnaccia, carrion ; Port.
camagem ; from L. caro, flesh.]
1. Literally, flesh, or heaps of flesh, as ii
shambles.
2. Slaughter ; great destruction of men
havoek ; massacre. Hayward.
€'ARNAL, a. [Fr. chamel ; L. camalis, from
caro, flesh.]
1. Pertaining to flesh ; fleshly ; sensual ; op-
posed to spiritual ; as carnal pleasure.
2. Being in the natural state ; unregenerate.
The carnal mind is enmity against God,
Rom. viii.
3. Pertaining to the ceremonial law ; as car-
nal ordinances. Heb. ix. 10.
4. Lecherous; lustful; libidinous ; given to
sensual indulgence. Shak
Carnal-knowledge, sexual intercourse.
CARNALIST, »i. One given to the indul-
gence of sensual appetites. Burton
C^ARNALITE, n. A worldly-minded man
Jinderson.
CARNAL'ITY, n. Fleshly lust, or desires,
or the indulgence of those lusts; sensu
ality. South.
2. Crossness of mind or desire ; love of sen-
sual pleasures. Tillotson
CARNALIZE, i-. t. To make carnal ; to de-
base to carnality. Scott.
CARNALLY, adv. In a carnal manner; ac-
cording to the flesh ; in a manner to grat-
ify the flesh or sensual desire. Lev. xviii
20. Rom. viii. 6.
CARNAL-MINDED, a. Worldly-minded.
More
CARNAL-MINDEDNESS, n. Crossness of
mind. Ellis.
CARNA'TION, n. [Fr. carnation, the naked
[lart of a picture, flesh color ; It. incarna-
tino ; carnagione, complexion ; Sp. car-
naza ; Vort. carnaz ; from L. caro, flesh.]
1. Flesh color ; the parts of a picture which
are naked, or without drapery, exhibiting
the natural color of the flesh. Encyc.
2. A genus of plants, Diunthus, so named
from the color of the flower. Among
these are the clove-gilliflower, sweet
ham, IiMhan pink, &c.
CARNA'TIONED, a. Made like carnation
color.
CARNE'LIAN, n. [Fr. cornaline; Sp.come
A siliceous stone, a variety of chalcedony, of
a deep red, flesh-red, or reddish white
color. It is tolerably hard, capable of a
good polish, and used for seals.
Encyc. Cleaveland.
Carnel-icork, in ship-buiUling, is the putting
together the timbers, beams and planks,
as distinguished from clin(!h-work. Encyc.
€>ARNEOUS, a. [L. carneus, from cdro.
^ flesh.]
Fleshy; having the qualities of flesh. Ray.
CARNEY, n. A disease of horses, iu which
the mouth is so furred that tliey cannot
eat. Chambers
€ARNlFl€A'TION, n. [Infra.] A turning
to flesh. _ Chambers.
CARNIFY, v.i. [from L. coro, caraw, flesh.]
To form flesh ; to receive flesh in growth.
Hah.
CARNIVAL, } [Sp. Port, carnaval ;'Vi.
CARNAVAL, i; "• camaval ; It. carr.ovale :
from L. caro, flesh.]
The feast or season of rejoicing, before Lent,
observed, in Catholic countries, with great
solemnity, by leasts, balls, operas, con-
certs, &r. Encyc.
CAHNIVORAC'ITY,)!. [Infra.] Greediness
of appetite for flesh. Pope.
CARNIVOROUS, a. [L. caro, flesh, and
voro, to eat.]
Eating or feeding on flesh ; an epithet ap-
plied to animals which naturally seek flesh
for food, as the lion, tiger, dog, wolf, &r.
CARNOS'ITY, n. [Fr. carnosite, from L.
caro, flesh.]
A little fleshy excrescence in the urethra, the
neck oflho bladder, &c.
C^ARNOrs, a. Fleshy. [Sec Carneous.]
CAR'OB, n. [Sp. algarroba ; It. carruba.]
The carob-tree, Ceratonia siliqua, a native
of Spain, Italy, and the Levant. It is an
evergreen, growing in hedges, and produ-
cing long, flat, brown-colored pods, filled
with a mealy, succulent j'ulp, of a sweetish
taste. In times of scarcity, these pods arc
eaten by poor people, but they are apt to
cause griping and lax bowels.
Miller. Eneyr.
CARO'CHE, n. [It. carrozza. See Car.-[ A
carriage of pleasure. Burton.
CARO'CIIED, a. Placed in a caroche.
Beawn.
CAR'OL, H. [It. carola ; W. carawl ; Arm.
coroll, a dunce ; VV. cor. Corn, karol, a
choir.]
A song of joy and exultation ; a song of de-
votion ; or a song in general.
Dryden. Spenser. Baton. MUton.
CAR'OL, V. i. [It. carolare ; W. caroli ; Ayw-
carolli, to dance, to sing love songs.]
To sing ; to warble ; to sing in joy or fes-
tivity. Prior. Shak-
CAR'OL, V. t. To praise or celebrate in song.
Milton.
CAROLI'NA, n. [from Carolus, Charies IL]
The name of two of the Atlantic States
in North America, called North Carohna
and South Carolina.
CAR'OLING, 71. A song of praise or devo-
tion. Spe7tser.
CAROLIN'IAN, a. Pertaining to Carolina.
CAROLIN'IAN, n. A native or inhabitant of
Carolina.
CAR'OMEL, ?i. The smefl exlialed by su-
gar, at a calcining heat. Ure.
CAROTID, a. [Gr. xapunSn.] The carotid
arteries, iu the body, are two arteries, the
right and left, wliich convey the blood
from the aorta to the head and brain. The
ancients sujiposed drowsiness to be seated
in these arteries. Gr. xopoj.
CAROUS'AL, n. s as z. [See Carouse.] A
feast or festival. Johnson.
But in America it signifies a noisy drink-
ing bout, or reveling.
CAROUSE, V. i. carouz'. [Fr. carrouse, hard
drinking. I know not the real original of
this wonl. In Pers. j j. T karoz signifies
hiliarity, singing, dancing. In Germ.
rauschen signifies to rush, to fuddle. In
Ir. craosal is drunkeimess, from craos, ex-
cess, revelling.]
'To drink hard : to guzzle. In the U. States,
CAR
CAR
as bacchana-
it signifies also to be noisy
lians.
CAROUSE, n. carouz'. A drinking match ;
a hearty drink or full draught of liquor ; i
noisy drinking match.
OAROUS'ER, n. A drinker; a toper; a noi-
sy reveler, or bacchanalian.
CAROUS'ING, ppr. Drinking hard; rev
eling.
€'ARP, V. i. [L. carpo, to seize, catch, pick
It. carpire ; Sp. Port, carpir, to tear or
scratch. See Carve.]
Literally, to snap or catch at, or to pick.
Hence, to censure, cavil, or tind fault, par-
ticularly without reason, or petulantly ;
followed by at.
No, not a tooth or nail to scratch
And at my actions carp and catcli. Herbert.
CARP, n. [Fr. Port, carpe; Sp. carpa; It,
carpione ; Arm. carpen ; Russ. karp ; D,
karper ; G. karpfen ; Dan. karpe ; Svv. karp ;
Low L. carpio, from carpo, to sieze.]
A fish, a species oi cypnnus, an excellent fisli
for ponds. These fishes breed rapidly
grow to a large size, and live to a greai
age. Encyc
C^ARPAL, a. [L. carpus, the wrist.] Per-
taining to the wrist. Enaic
CARPA'THIAN, a. Pertaining to the Car
pates, a range of mountains between Po
land, Hungary and Transylvania.
C^ARPENTER, n. [Fr. ckarpentier ; Sp,
carpintero; Port, carpenteiro ; It. carpen-
tiere, a cart-wright, or coach-maker; L,
carpentarius, from carpentuni, a chariot.]
An artificer who works in timber ; a framer
and builder of bouses, and of ships. Those
who build houses are called house-carpen-
ters, and those who build ships are called
ship-carpenters.
In New England, a distinction is often madi
between the man who frames, and the
man who executes the interior wood-work
of a house. The framer is the carpenter,
and the finisher is called a joiner. This
distinction is noticed by Johnson, and
seems to be a genuine English distinction.
But in some other parts of America, as in
New-York, the term carpenter includ—
both the framer and the joiner; and
truth both branches of business are often
performed by the same person. Tlic word
is never applied, as in Italy and Spain, to
a coach-maker.
C^ARPENTRY, »i. The art of cutting, fi-am-
ing, and joining timber, in the construc-
tion of buildings ; divided into house-car
pentry and ship-carpentry.
CARPER, n. One who carps; a caviler.
CARPET, n. [I know not the origin of this
word.]
1. A covering for floors, tables, stairs, &c.
This covering is usually made of wool,
wrought with a needle, or more generally
in a loom, but is sometimes made of other
materials. The manufacture is of Asiatic
origin, but has been introduced into many
parts of Europe, and into the U. States.
2. Level ground covered, as with grass ; as
a grassy carpet ; a carpet of green grass.
To be on the carpet, is to be under considera-
tion ; to be the subject of deliberation. The
French phrase, to be on the tapis, is used -
the Uke sense.
Carpet-knight, in Shakspeare, is a kmght
who enjoys ease and security, or luxury
and has not known the hardships of the
field.
Carpet-monger is used in a like sense.
C^ARPET, V. I. To cover with a carpet; to
spread with carpets. Bacon. Derham.
CARPETED, pp. Covered with a carpet.
C^ARPETING, n. Cloth for carpets; car-
pets in general.
€ ARPET-WALK, n. A walk on smooth
turf Evelyn.
CARPING, ;)/>r. Caviling ; captious ; censo-
rious. }Vatt^.
CARPING, n. The actof caviHng; a cavil;
unreasonable censure.
CARPINGLY, adv. Captiously ; in a carp-
ing manner. Camden.
CARPMEALS, n. A kind of coarse cloth
made in the North of England. Phillips.
C>ARPOLITE, n. [Gr. xajMo;, fruit, and
■KiBoi, stone.]
Petrified fruits, of which the most remarka
ble arc nuts converted into silex.
CARPOL'OtilST, n. [Gr. xaprtoj, fruit, and
Xeyu, to speak.] One who describes fruits
CARPOL'OGY, n. [Supra.] A description
of fruits. Cyc
CARPUS, n. [L.] The wrist, but not at
English word.
€AR'RAWAY,n. A kind of apple. Mason.
CARTJABLE, a. That may be carried.
[JVot in use.] Shenvood.
CAR'RIAGE, n. [Fr. charrlage, from char-
rier, to carry ; It. carreggio, or carriaggio.
See Carry.]
1. The act of carrying, bearing, transporting,
or conveying ; as the carriage of sounds.
Bacon.
2. The act of taking by an enemy ; conquest :
acquisition. Obs. Knolles.
3. That which carries, especially on wheels ;
a vehicle. This is a general term for a
coach, chariot, chaise, gig, sulkey, or otli
vehicle on wheels, as a cannon-carriage
on trucks, a block-carriage for mortars, and
atruck-camage. Appropriately the word is
applied to a "coach ; and carts and wag-
ons are rarely or never called carriages.
The price or expense of carrjing.
5. That which is carried ; burden ; as bag-
gage, vessels, furniture, &c.
And David left his carriage in the hands of
the keeper of the carriage. 1 Sam. xvii,
[Little used.] Spenser
6. In a moral sense, the manner of carrying
one's self; behavior ; conduct ; deport-
ment ; personal manners. Bacon. Dryden.
Measures ; practices ; management.
Shak.
CAR'RIBOO. [See Canboo.]
CAR'RICK-BEND, n. A particular kind of
knot.
CAR'RICK-BITTS, n. In a ship, tho bitts
which support the windlass. Mar. Diet
CAR'RIER, n. [See Carry.] One who car-
ries ; that which carries or conveys ; also
a messenger.
2. One who is employed to carry goods for
others for a reward ; also, one whose oc-
cupation is to carry goods for others, call
ed a common carrier ; a porter-
•3. A pigeon that conveys letters from place
to place, the letters being tied to the neck.
CAR'RION, n. [It. carogna ; Sp. carrona ;
Fr. charogne ; Arm. caroan ; D. karonje.]
The dead aud putrefying body or fieeh of
CAR
animals ; flesh so corrupted as to be un-
fit for food. Dryden. Pope,
2. A worthless woman ; a term of reproach.
Shak.
CAR'RION, a. Relating to dead and putre-
fyuig carcasses ; feeding on carrion, as a
carrion-croii: Shak.
CARRONA'DE, n. [It is said to be fiom
Cairon, in Scotland, where it was first
made.]
A short piece of ordnance, having a large
caliber, and a chamber for the powder,
like a mortar. This species of cannon is
carried on the upper works of ships, as
the poop and forecastle, and is very useful
in close engagements.
Mar. Diet. Encyc.
CARROON', n. In London, a rent received
for the privilege of driving a cart. Ash.
3. A species of cherry. Tooke, Russ.
CAR'ROT, n. [It. carota; Fr.carotte; Low
L. carota.]
An esculent root, of the genus Daucus, cul-
tivated for the table and for cattle.
CAR'ROTY, a. Like a carrot iu color ; an
pithet given to red hair.
CAR'ROWS, n. In Ireland, people who wan-
der about and get their living by cards and
dice ; strolling gamesters. Spenser.
CAR'RY, It. t. [W. cariatv, from car, a dray,
drag, or wagon ; Fr. charrier ; Arm. char-
reat or charreein ; Sp. af:arrear ; Dan.
kiiirer; Sw. kibra ; G.karren. These verbs
signify primarily to carry on a cart or car,
and are evidently from the noun. But the
EngUsh carry coincides also with the Latin
gero, our vulgar keri-y ; for the sense of
behavior can hardly proceed from the mo-
ving of a wheel-carriage, nor indeed can
some other senses of this word. But the
pruiiary sense, in both cases, is to move.}
To bear, convey, or transport, by sustain-
ing and moving the thing carried, either
by bodily strength, upon a beast,
hide, or in any kind of water-craft. In
general, it implies a moving from the
speaker or the place present or near, to a
place more distant, and so is opposed to
bring and fetch, and it is often followed by
from, away, off, out.
He shall carry the lambs in his bosons
Is. xl.
When he dieth, he shall carry nothing awa>
Ps. xlix.
2. To convey ; as, sound is carried iu the air.
;. To effect ; to accomplish ; to prevail ; to
gain the object ; as, to carry a point, meas-
ure, or resolution ; to carry a prize ; to
cany a fortified town by force of arms ;
sometimes followed by it.
Whose wills will carry it over the rest.
Locke. Burke.
4. To hear out ; to face through.
If a man carries it off, there is so much mon-
ey saved. L'Bstrange.
5. To urge, impel, lead or draw, noting mor-
al impulse.
Pride or passion will carry a man to great
lengths.
Men are carried away with imaginary pros-
pects. See Eph. iv. 14. Heb. xiii. 9.
To bear ; to have.
In some vegetables, we see something that
carries a kind of analogj' to sense. IJale.
To bear ; to show, display or exhibit to
view.
CAR
The aspect of every one in the family Ci
satisfaction. Mc
8. To'iinply or import.
To quit former tenets carries an imputation
ofignorance. Locke.
9. To contain or comprise.
He thought it carried something of argument
in it, to prove that doctiine. fVatts.
10. To extend or continue in time, as to
carry a historical account to the first ages
of the world ; but usually with a parti-
cle, as to carry up or carry back, to carry\
forward.
11. To extend in space, aa to carry a line
or a boundary ; or in a moral sense, as
to carry ideas very far.
12. To support or sustain.
Carry camomile on sticlcs. Bacon
13. To bear or produce, as trees.
Set them a reasonable depth, and they will
carry more shoots upon the stem. Baco?i
14. To manage or transact, usually with on
as, to carry on business.
15. To carry one's self, to behave, conduct oi
demean.
He carried Ai/nse/f insolently. Clarendon
Sometimes with it ; as, he carried it high
16. To remove, lead or drive.
And he carried away all his cattle. Gen,
xxxi.
17. To remove ; to cause to go.
And the kin^ of Assyria did carry away Israel
to Assyria. 2 Kings xviii.
18. To transport ; to afTect with extraordi-
nary impressions on the mind. Rev. xvii.
19. To fetch and bring.
Young whelps learn easily to carry.
Ascham
iO. To transfer ; as, to carry an account to
the ledger.
War was to be diverted from Greece by being
carried into Asia. Mitford.
To carry coals, to bear injuries. Mason
To carry off, to remove to a distance ; also, tc
kill, as to be carried off'hy sickness.
To carry on, to promote, advance, or help
forward ; to continue ; as, to carry on a
design ; to carry on the administration of
grace.
U. To manage or prosecute ;
husbandry.
3. To prosecute, continue or pursue ; as, to
carry on trade or war.
To carry through, to sujiport to the end ; to
sustain or keep from failing, or being sub-
dued.
to carry on
Grace will carry a man through all difficul-
'"^f- Hammond.
To carry out, to bear from within ; also, to
sustam to the end ; to continue to the end.
lo carry away, in seamanship, is to break :
to carry sail till a spar breaks ; as, to carni
away a fore-topmast.
€AR'RY, V. i. To run on rotten ground, ot
on frost, which sticks to the feet, as a hare.
n rr, , , , , Johnson.
i. To bear the head m a particular manner,
as a horse. When a horse holds his head
high, with an arching neck, he is said
carry well. When he lowers his head too
much, he is said to carry low.
3. To convey ; to propel ; as, a gun or mor
tar carries well ; hit this is elliptical.
CARRYING, ppr. Bearing, conveying, re
movnig, &c.
CAR'RYING, n. A bearing, eonveviue, re-
moving, transporting. ' "
CAR
Carrying trade, the trade which consists in
the transportation of goods by water froi
country to country, or place to place.
We are rivals with them in navigation and the
carrying trade. Federalist, Jay.
Carrying ivind, among horsemen, is a toss-
ing of the nose, as high as the horse's ears.
Encyc.
€AR'RY-TALE, n. A tale-bearer. [JVot
««^</-l Skak.
€'ART, n. [W. cart; Sax. crat, crat ; Ir.
cairt ; Russ. karet. See Car.]
1. A carriage with two wheels, fitted to be
drawn by one horse, or by a yoke of oxen,
and used in husbandry or commercial cit-
ies for carrying heavy commodities. In
Gieat Britain, carts are usually drawn by
horses. In America, horse-carts are used
mostly in cities, and ox-carts in the coun-
try.
2. A carriage in general.
r>ART ,. / T ^'""^''- ^^'"■
1/ AK I, v.t. lo carry or convey on a cart ;
as, to cart hay.
2. To expose in a cart, by way of punish-
ment.
CARTAGE, n. Tl
CAR
|€;ARTEL, v. i. To defy. Ohs. B. Jonson.
CARTER, n. The man who drives a cart,
or whose occupation is to drive a cart.
€ARTE'S1AN, a. carlizhun. Pertaining to
the philosopher Des Cartes, or to his phi-
losophy, which taught the doctrine of vor-
texes round the sun and planets.
CARTE'SIAN, „. One who adopts the
philosophy of Des Cartes.
CARTHAGINIAN, a. Pertaining to an-
cient Carthage, a celebrated city on the
Northern Coast of Africa, about twelve
miles from the modern Tunis. It was
founded by the Phenicians, and destroyed
by the Romans.
act of carrying in a
cart, or the price paid for carting.
C'ART-BOTE, n. In English law, wood
which a tenant is entitled for making and
repairing carts and other instruments of
husbandry
CARTED,
CART-HOI
^. Borne or exposed in a ca
sE, n. A horse that draws
CARTING, 2W- Conveying or exposing in
a cart.
CARTING, n. The act of carrying in a cart,
CART-JADE, n. A sorry horse; a horse
used in drawing, or fit only for the ca
CART-LOAD, 71. A load borne on a cart;
as much as is usually carried at once on a
cart, or as is sufficient to load it.
C>ART-ROPE, n. A rope for binding hay,
or other articles on a cart.
C>ART-RUT, n. The cut or track of a cart-
wheel. [See Route.]
CART-TIRE, n. The tire, or iron bands,
to bind the wheels of a cart.
CART- WAY, n. A way that is or may be
passed with carts, or other wheel carria-l
ges.
CART-WHEEL, n. The wheel of a cart
e^ART-WRIGHT, n. An artificer who'
makes carts. I
Carte-blanche. [Fr. white paper.] A blank!
paper, signed at the bottom with a per-
son's nanie, and sometimes sealed with
his seal, given to another person with per-
mission to superscribe what conditions he
I'leases Encyc.
CARTEL, n. [It. carteltoi Fr. Sp. Port, car-
tel ; from L. chartula.]
1. A writing or agreement between states at
war, for the exchange of prisoners, or for
some mutual advantage; also, a vessel em-
ployed to convey the messenger on this
occasion.
A letter of defiance or challenge ; a chal-
lenge to single combat. This sense thej
word has still in France and Italy; but
with us it is obsolete.
Cartel-ship, is a ship employed in the ex-l
change of prisoners, or in carrying propo-!
sitions to an enemv. ■
CARTHA6IN'IAN, n. An inhabitant or
native of Carthage.
C-ARTHAMUS, n. The generic name of
Bastard Saffron. [See SaMower.]
CARTHUSIAN, n. carthiAun. One of
an order of monks, so called from Char-
treuse, the place of their institution. Thev
are remarkable for their austerity. They
cannot go out of their cells, except to
church, nor speak to any person without
'e»vf. Enmic.
CARTILA6E, n. [h. caHilago ; Fr. car'til-
age. I suspect this and the English gris-
tle to be the same word ; the r being trans-
posed, carti7 for cratil.]
Gristle ; a smooth, solid, elastic substance,
softer than bone, of a pearly color and
homogeneous texture, without cells or
cavities. It is invested with a particular
membrane called perichondrium, which in
the articular cartilages, is a reflexion of
the synovial membrane. Cyc. tVistar.
CARTILAGINOUS, a. Pertaining to or
resembling a cartilage ; gristly ; consisting
of cartilage. Ray.
2. In ichthyology, cartilaginous fishes are
those whose muscles are supported by
cartilages instead of bones, or whose skel-
eton is cartilaginous. Many of these are
viviparous, as the ray and shark, whose
young are excluded from an egg hatched
within them. Others are oviparous, as
the sturgeon. Some of them have no eill-
covers, but breathe through aiiertures^ on
the sides of the neck or top of the head ;
others have gill-covers, but destitute of
bony rays. Encyc. Ed. Encyc
CARTOON', n. [It. cartone, paste-board;
Sp. Fr. carton ; from L. charta, pajier.]
In painting, a design drawn on strong paper,
to be afterward calked through and trans-
ferred on the fresh plaster of a wall, to be
painted in fresco. Also, a design colored
for working in Mosaic, tapestry &c.
CARTOITCH', „. [Fr. caHouche; Sp,^caHu.
cho ; Port, cartuxo ; It. cartuccia, a cart-
ridge, a bit of paper, from carta, paper 1
1. A case of wood, about three inches thick
at the bottom, girt with marlin, holding
about four hundred musket baUs, and sii
or eight iron balls of a pound weight, to
he hied out of a howitz, for defending a
pass. A cartouch is sometimes made of a
globular form, and filled with a ball of a
pound weight ; and sometimes for gun«
being of a ball of a half or quarter of a
pound weight, tied in the form of a bimoh
of grapes, on a tompion of wood and coat-
Enqic.
cd over.
CAR
CAS
CAS
!J. A portable box for charges. [See CaH-
ridge-box.]
3. A roll or scroll on the cornice of a column.
Coles.
CARTRIDGE, n. [a corruption ofcartoiich.]
A case of pasteboard or parchment, hold-
ing the charge of powder or powder and
ball, for a cannon, mortar, musket or pis
tol. The cartridges for small arms, pre
pared for battle, contain the powder and
ball ; those for cannon and mortars are
made of paste-board, or tin. Cartridges,
without balls, are called blank cartridges.
CARTRIDGE-BOX, n. A case, usually of
wood, covered with leather, with cells for
cartridges. It is worn upon a belt thrown
over tlie left shoulder, and hangs a little
below the pocket-hole on the right side.
CARTULARY, n. [Fr. cadulaire ; Sp. car-
tulario ; from carta, paper.]
A register-book, or record, as of a monas-
tery. Blackstone writes it chartulary ; and
primarily it signifies the officer who has
the care of charters and other public
papers.
€AR'U€ATE, n. [L. caruca.] As much
land as one team can plow in the year.
Eng. Law. Kelham.
CAR'UNCLE, n. [L. canmcula, from caro,
flesh.]
1. A small fleshy excrescence, either natural
pr morbid. Coxe.
2. The fleshy comb on the head of a fow
eARUNC'ULAR, a. In the form of a ca-
runcle.
CARUNC'ULATED, a. Having a fleshy
excrescence, or soft fleshy protuberance.
Encyc.
CARVE, V. t. c'arv. [Sax. ceorfan, cearfan ;
J), kerven ; G.kerben; Ttan.karver; L.car-
po. See Ar. <_.»;
and
Oj..
Heb.
and Ch. 313. Class Rb. No. 26. 27. 30.]
1. To cut into small pieces or slices, as meat
at table.
2. To cut wood, stone or other material into
some particular form, with an instrument,
usually a chisel; to engrave; to cut fig-
ures or devices on hard materials.
3. To make or shape by cutting ; as, to carve
an image.
4. To apportion ; to distribute ; to provide
at pleasure ; to select and take, as to one's
self, or to select and give to another.
South.
5. To cut ; to hew. Shak.
To carve out, is to cut out, or to lay out, by
design ; to plan.
CARVE, V. I. c'arv. To cut up meat ; fol-
lowed sometimes by for ; as, to carve for
all the guests.
2. To exercise the trade of a sculptor.
3. To engrave or cut figures.
C>ARVE, n. A carucate. [JVot in use.]
CARVED, pp. Cut or divided ; engraved ;
formed by carving.
CARVEL, n. [See Caravel]
2. Tlie urtica marina, or sea blubber.
e ARVER, 71. One who cuts meat at table ;
a scidptor ; one who apportions or distrib-
utes at will, or one who takes or gives at
pleasure. Dryden. Shak.
2. A large table knife for carving.
CARVING, p;)!-. Cutting, dividing, as meat ;
cutting in stone, wood or metal ; appor
tioning ; distributing.
CARVING, n. The act of cutting, as meat ;
the act or art of cutting figures in wood
or stone ; sculpture ; figures carved.
CARYA'TES, ) In architecture, fig
CARYAT'IDES, J "• ures of women dress
ed in long robes, after the Asiatic manner
serving to support entablatures. The Athe
nians had been long at war with the Cary
aiis ; the latter being at length vanquishec
and their wives led captive, the Greeks, to
perpetuate this event, erected trophiei
which figures of women, dressed in the
Caryatic manner, were used to support
entablatures. Other female figures were
afterwards used in the same mariner, but
they were called by the same name.
Encyc
They were called Caryatides, from Carya, a
city in the Peloponnesus, which sided with
the Persians, and on that account was
sacked by the other Greeks, its males but-
chered, and its females reduced to slavery,
Cyc.
€ARYAT'l€, a. Pertaining to the Caryans
or Caryatides.
CARYOPHYL'LEOUS, a. [Gr. xopw.., a
and ^i<M.oi; a leaf.] Having five petals with
long claws, in a tubular calyx ; applied to
flowers. Eaton.
CARYOPH'YLLOID, n. [Gr. xopuo^vWioi-,
clove-gilliflower. Infra.]
A species of mica, the scales of which are
concentric and perpendicular. Obs.
Cronstedt. JSticholso,
CASARCA, n. A fowl of the genus Anas,
called also ruddy-goose, larger than a
mallard, found in Russia and Siberia.
Encyc.
CASCABEL, n. [Port, cascavel; Sp. cas-
cabel, a little bell, a button or knob at the
end of a cannon.] The knob or pumuie-
lion of a cannon. Mar. Diet.
CASCA'DE, n. [Fr. cascade; Sp. cascada .
It. cascata, from cascare, to fall.]
A waterfall ; a steep fall or flowing of wa-
ter over a precipice, in a river or natural
stream ; or an artificial fall in a garden.
The word is applied to falls that are less
than a cataract.
CASCAL'HO, n. [Port.] In Brazil, a de-
posit of pebbles, gravel and sand in which
the diamond is usually found.
Port. Diet. Cleaveland.
CASE, Ji. [Fr. caisse ; Sp. Port, caxa, a box-
er chest ; It. cassa ; D. kas ; Dan. kasse.
The French caisse is the Sp. caxa. The
Spanish caxeta, a gasket, seems to be a de-
rivative o(caxa, and if so, the fact indicates
that caxa is from air oriental root, signif;v-
ing to tie or bind, and that the word ori-
ginally denoted a bag made of skin, like a
bottle, or a basket made of osiers puer-
woven, like fsc, fscus. Qu. Syr. Ja3
casha, to bind or tie.]
1. A covering, box or sheath ; that which
incloses or contains ; as a case for knives ;
a case for books; a watch case; a printer's
case ; a pillow ca^e.
2. The outer part of a building. Addison.
3. A certain quantity ; as a cose of crown
glass.
4. A building unfurnished. [JYot used.]
CASE, V. t. To cover with a case ; to sur-
round with any material that shall inclose
or defend.
2. To put in a case or box.
3. To strip off' a case, covering, or the skin.
[Unusual.] Shak.
CASE, n. [Fr. cas ; It. caso ; Sp. Port, caso;
Ir. cos ; L. casus, fi-om cado, to fall.]
1. Literally, that which falls, comes, or hap-
pens; an event. Hence, the particular
state, condition, or circumstances that be-
fall a person, or in which he is placed ; as,
make the case your own ; this is the case
with my friend ; this is his present case.
2. The state of the body, with respect to
health or disease ; as a case of fever ; he
is in a consumptive case ; his cose is des-
perate.
To be in good case, is to be fat, and thiii
phrase is customarily abridged, to be in
case ; applied to beasts, but not to men, ex-
cept in a sense rather ludicrous.
3. A question ; a state of facts involving a
question for discussion or decision ; as,
the lawyer stated the case.
4. A cause or suit in court ; as, the case was
tried at the last term. In this sense, case
is nearly synonymous with cause, whose
primary sense is nearly the same.
5. In grammar, the inflection of nouns, or a
change of termination, to express a differ-
ence of relation in that word to others, or
to the thing represented. The variation
of nouns and adjectives is called declen-
sion ; both case and declension signifying
falling or leaning from the first state of
the word. Thus, liber is a book ; libri, of
a book ; libro, to a book. In other words,
cose denotes a variation in the termination
of a jioun, to show how the noun acts
upon the verb with which it is connected,
or is acted upon by it, or by an agent. The
cases, except the nominative, are called ob-
lique cases.
In case, is a phrase denoting condition or
supposition ; literally, in the event or con-
tingency; if it should so fall out or happen.
Put the case, suppose the event, or a certain
state of things.
Action on the case, in law, is an action in
which the whole cause of complaint is set
out in the writ. Blackstone.
CASE, i;. i. To put cases. [JVot in itse.]
L'Estrangc.
GA'SED, pp. Covered with a case.
CASE-HARDEN, v. t. To harden the outer
part or superficies, as of iron, by convert-
ing it into steel. This may be done by
putting the iron into an iron box, with a
cement, and exposing it, for some hours,
to a red heat. Encyc.
CA'SEIC, a. [L. caseus, cheese.] The
caseic acid is the acid of cheese, or a sub-
stance SO" called, extracted from cheese.
Proust.
CVSE-KNIFE, 11. A large table knife, often
kept in a case.
CA'SEMATE, ji. [Fr. casemate; It. casa-
matta ; Sp. Port, casamata ; from casa, a
house.]
1. In fortification, a vault of mason's work in
the flank of a bastion, next to the curtain,
somewhat inclined toward the capital of
the bastion, serving as a battery to defend
the face of the op|)Osite bastion, and the
moat or ditch. Chambert^
CAS
CAS
CAS
'i. A well, with its subterraneous branches,
dug in the passage of the bastion, till the
miner is heard at work, and air given to
the mine. Harris.
€A'SEMENT, n. [It. casamento, a large
house.]
1. A hollow molding, usually one sixth or
one fourth of a circle. Encyc.
2. A little movable window, usually within
a larger, made to turn and open on hinges.
Encuc.
CA'SEOUS, a. [L. caseus, cheese.] Like
cheese ; having the qualities of cheese.
€AS'ERN,?i. [Fr. caserne ; Sp. caserna, from
casa, a shed or house.]
A lodging for soldiers in garrison towns,
usually near the rampart, containing each
two beds. Encyc.
GASE-SHOT, n. Mu.sket balls, stones, old
iron,&c., put in cases, to be discharged from
cannon.
€A'SE-WORM, n. A worm that makes
itself a case. John
eASH, 11. [Fr. caisse; Sp. Port, caxa, a
chest, box, coffer. See Case.]
Money ; primarily, ready money, money
chest or on hand, in bank or at commai
It is properly silver and gold ; but since
the institution of bank.s, it denotes a'
bank notes equivalent to money. To pay
in cash is opposed to payment in goods,
commodities, or labor, as in barter.
CASH, V. t. To turn into money, or to ex-
change for money ; as, to cash a note oi
an order.
a. To |)ay money for ; as, the clerks of i
bank cask notes when presented.
Mercantile usage.
eASII, V. t. To discard, [for cashier. JVot
iised.]
GASH-AeeOUNT', n. An accoimtofn
ey received, paid, or on hand.
CASH'-BQQK, n. A book in which is kept
a register or account of money.
€ASH'-KEEPER, n. One entrusted witl
tlie keeping of money.
€ASII'EW-NUT, n. A tree of the West
In(lics,.4nacorrfium, bearing a kidney-simp
ed nut. The fruit is as large as an orange
and full of an acid juice, which is often used
to make punch. To the apex of this fruit
grows a nut, of the size of a hare's kid
the shell of which is hard, and the kernel,
wliich is sweet, is covered with a thin film
Encyc
C.'VSHIE'R, n. [Fr. caissier ; It. cassiere ;
Sp. caxero ; Port, caxeiro ; from caxa
a box, whence cash.]
One who has charge of money ; a cash-keep-
er. In a banking institution, the cashier
is the officer who superintends the books,
payments and receipts of the bank. He
also signs or countersigns the notes, and
superintends all the transactions, under
the order of the directors.
C.ASHIE'R, V. t. [Fr. cosscr, to break ; It.
cassare, to annul, blot out, erase.]
1. To dismiss from an office or place of trust,
by annulling the commission ; to break, as
for mal-conduct, and therefore with re
proach ; as, to cashier an officer of the
army.
2. To dismiss or discard from service or from
society. Mdison. Dryden. SwiJI.
3. To reject ; to annul or vacate.
Locke. South.
•CASHIE'RED, ;*/?. Dismissed; discarded;
annulled.
€ASHIE'RER, n. One who rejects, dis
cards or breaks ; as a caskierer of mon-
archs. Burke.
€ASHIE'RING, ppr. Discarding
ing from service.
eASH'OO, n. The juice or gum of a tree
in the East Indies.
€A'SING, ppr. Covering with a case.
€A'SING, n. The act or operation of pi;
tering a house with mortar on the outside,
and striking it while wet, by a ruler, with
the corner of a trowel, to make it resem-
ble the joints of free-stone. Encyc.
2. A covering ; a case.
€'ASK, n. [Sp. Port, casco ; Fr. ca-iquc ;
Arm. casquen, casqed ; L. cassis. See Case]
.\ head-piece ; a helmet ; a piece of defensive
armor, to cover and protect the head and
neck, in battle.
€'ASK, n. [Sp. Port, casco.] A close vessel
for containing hquors, formed by staves
heading and hoops. This is a general
term comprehending the pipe, hogshead,
butt, barrel, &c.
CASKET, n. [dim. of cask. See Case.] A
small chest or box, for jewels or oth
small articles. Shak.
2. In seamen's language, a small rope, fast-
ened to gromets or little rings upon tin
yards, used to fasten the sail to the yard
in furling. Encyc.
This is usually written gasket.
€>ASKET, V. I. To put in a little chest.
Sliak
CAS'PIAN, a. [Caspice, a word applied to a
pass in the range of Mount Taurus. Plin.
5. 27. D'AnvUle.]
An epithet given to a large lake between
Persia and Astracan, called the Caspian
Sea.
€ASS, V. t. [Fr. casser, L. quasso.] To
quash ; to defeat ; to annul. [JVbl nni
used.] Raleigh
eASS'ADA, ) A plant, of the genus Ja
CASS'AVI, y'' tropha, of different species.
The roots of the manihot or bitter cassa
da, and of the janipha, are made into i
kind of bread which serves for food to
tlie natives of Africa and the West Indies,
and they are also roasted and eaten hke
potatoes. They yield also a great quan
tity of starch, which the Brasihans export
in small lumps under the name of tapioca.
CASSAMUNA'IR, n. An aromatic vegeta-
ble brouccht from the East. Todd.
€AS'SATiE, V. t. [Fr. casser. See Cashier.]
To vacate, annul, or make void. 06s.
Ray.
€ASSA'TION, Ji. The act of annulling. In
France there is a coui't of Cassation.
CASSIA, n. cash'ia. [Fr. casse ; It.
sia ; Or. and L. id. Qu. Heb. mp.]
A genus of plants of many species, among
which are the fistula, or purging cassia
and the senna. The former is a native
of Egypt and both Indies ; the latter is a
nativeof Persia, Syria and Arabia. The
latter is a shrubby plant, the leaves of!
which are much used in medicine. The
purging cassia is the pulp of the pods, and
is a gentle laxative.
Cassia is also the name of a species of Lau-
rus, the bark of which usually passes un-
der the name of cinnamon, difiering from
real cinnamon chiefly in the strength of its
qualities. From a plant of this kind was
extracted an aromatic oil, used as a perfume
by the Jews. Ex. xxx. Ps. xlv, 8. Eiicyc.
CAS'SIDONY, n. [Fr. cassidoinc] A spe-
cies of plant, GnaphaUum, cotton-weed,
cudweed or goldylocks; also, Lavandula
stachas or French lavender.
Encyc. Fam. of Plants.
CAS'SIMER, n. [Sp. casimira.] A thin
twilled woolen cloth. Encyc.
CASSiNO, JI. A game at cards. Todd.
CAS'SIOBURY, n. A species of plant, of the
genus Cassine, of which the most remark-
able species is the Yapon of the Southern
States of America. The berries are of a
beautiful red color.
Fam. of Plants. Encyc.
The Yapon is now arrang-ed in the genus
Ilex. Cyc.
CASSIOPE'IA, n. A constellation in the
Northern Hemisphere, situated near to
Cephcus, as the fabulous Cassiopeia was
wife to Ceplieus, king of Ethioiiia. It con-
tains fiftv five stars. Encyc.
CASSITE'RIA, n. [L. cassiteron, tin.] A
kind of crystals which appear to have an
admixture of tin. The color is brown or
whitish. Encyc.
CAS'SOCK, )i. [Sp. casaca ; It. casacca ; Fr.
casaque.]
A robe or gown worn over the other gar-
ments, particularly by the clergy. Encyc.
A close garment, now generally that which
clergymen wear under their gowns.
Johnson.
CAS'SOCKED, a. Clothed with a cassock.
The cassock'd huntsman. Cowper.
CASSONA'DE, n. [Fr.] Cask-sugar ; sugar
not refined. Encyc.
CAS'SOWARY, n. [Sp. camel] A large
fowl of the genus Stnithio, nearly as large
as the ostrich, but its legs are thicker and
stronger in proportion. The wings are
so small as not to appear, being hid under
the feathers. The head is armed v/ith a
helmet of horny substance, consisthig of
l)lates one over another. It runs with
great rapidity, outstripping the swiftest
racer. Encyc.
It is now arranged in a separate genus, Cas-
uarius. Ciivier.
C^AST, It. /. pret. and pp. cast. [Dan. kas-
ter ; Sw. kasta. Qu. Arm. cafz, pp. eagzet,
to send, to throw. See Class Gs. No. 1.
5G. In Dan. et blind kast, is a guess, and
to cast is the radical sense of guess. In
Norman, gistes signifies cast up, and this
seems to be the participle of gesir, to lie
down ; to he down may be to throw one's
self down. This verb coincides in sense
with the W. cothi, to throw off.]
1. To throw, fling or .send : that is, to drive
from, by force, as from the hand, or from
an engine.
Hagar cast the child under a shrub. Gen. xxi.
Uzziah prepared slings tocos* stones. 2 Ch.
xxri.
2. To sow ; to scatter seed.
If a man should cast seed into the ground.
Mark iv.
3. To drive or impel by violence.
A mighty west wind cast the locusts into (he
sea. Ex. x:
CAS
4. To siicil or throw off; as, trees cast their
fruit ; a serpent casts his skin.
5. To throw or let fall ; as, to cast anchor.
Hence, to cast anchor is to moor, as a ship,
the effect of casting the anchor.
t). To throw, as dice or lots ; as, to cast lots.
7. To throw on the ground, as in wrestling.
Shak.
S. To throw away, as worthless.
His carcase was cast in the way. 1 Kings
xiii.
y. To emit or throw out.
This casts a sulphurous smell. Woodward
10. To throw, to extend, as a trencli or
rampart, including the sense of digging
raising, or forming.
Thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee
Luke xix.
n . To thrust ; as, to cast into prison.
12. To put, or set, in a particular state.
Both chariot and horse were cast into a dead
sleep. Ps. Ixxvi.
1.3. To condemn ; to convict ; as a criminal,
Both tried and both were cast. Dryden.
14. To overcome in a civil suit, or in any
Shah
ise ; to reject ;
Addison.
to throw into
contest of strength or skill ; as, to cast the
defendant or an antagonist.
15. To cashier or discard.
16. To lay aside, as unfit for
as a garment.
17. To make to preponderate
one scale, for tlie purpose of giving it su
perior weight ; to decide by a vote tha
gives a sujjeriority in numbers ; as, to cast
the balance in oneV favor ; a casting vote
or voice.
18. To throw together several particulars, to
find the sum ; as, to cast accounts. Hence
to throw together circumstances and facts
to find the result ; to compute ; to reckon ;
to calculate ; as, to cast the event of war.
To cast and see how many things there are
which a man cannot do himself. Bacon.
19. To contrive ; to plan. Temple.
20. To judge, or to consider, in order to
judge. Milton.
21. To fix, or distribute the parts of a play
among the actors. Mdison.
23. To throw, as the sight ; to direct, or turn,
as the eye ; to glance ; as, to cast a look,
or glance, or the eye.
23. To found ; to form into a particular
shape, by pouring liquid metal into a mold ;
to run ; as, to cast camion.
Thou shah east four rings of gold for it. E
XXV.
24. Figuratively, to shape ; to form by
model. ffatts.
25. To commimicate ; to spread over ; as,
to cast a luster upon posterity ; to c
splendor upon actions, or light upoi
subject.
To cast aside, to dismiss or reject as u
less or inconvenient.
To cast away, to reject. Lev. xxvi. Is.
V. Rom. xi. Also, to throw away ;
lavish or waste by profusion ; to turn to no
use ; as, to cast nway life. Addison.
Also, to wreck, as a ship.
To cast by, to reject ; to dismiss or discard
with neglect or hate, or as useless.
Shak. Locke
To cast down, to throw down ; to deject oi
depress the mind.
Wliy art tliou cast doivn, O my soul. Ps
xlii.
To cast forth, to throw out, or eject, as froiu
CAS
an inclosed place ; to emit, or send abroad ;
to exhale.
To cast off, to discard or reject ; to drive
away ; to put off; to put away; to disbur-
den. Among huntsmen, to leave behind,
as dogs ; to set loose, or free. Among
seamen, to loose, or untie.
To cast out, to send forth ; to reject or turn
out ; to throw out, as words ; to speak or
give vent to.
To cast up, to compute ; to reckon ; to cal-
culate ; as, to cast up accoimts, or the cost.
Also, to eject ; to vomit.
To cast on, to refer or resign to. South.
To cast one's self on, to resign or yield one's
If to the disposal of, without reserve.
To cast young, to miscarry ; to suffer abor-
tion. Gen. xxxi.
To cast in the teeth, to upbraid ; to charge :
to twit. So in Danish, " kaster en i nces-
en," to cast in the nose.
€'AST, V. i. To throw forward, as the
thoughts, with a view to some dctermina
tion; or to turn or revolve in the mind;
to contrive ; sometimes followed by about.
I cast in careful mind to seek her out.
Spenser.
To cast about how to perform or obtain.
Bacon. Bentley.
2. To receive form or shape.
Metal will east and mold. Woodward
3. To warp ; to twist from regular shape.
Stuff is said to cast or warp, when it alters its
flatness or straightness. Moxon
Note. Cast, hke throw and warp, im-
plies a winding motion.
4. In seamen^s language, to fall off, or incline,
so as to bring the side of a ship to the
wind ; appUed particularly to a ship riding
with her head to the wind, when her an-
chor is first loosened.
€'AST, ?i. The act of casting ; a throw ; the
thing thrown ; the form or state of throw
ing ; kind or manner of throwing.
2. The distance passed by a thing thrown
or the space through which a thing thrown
may ordinarily pass; as, about a stone'
cast. Luke xxii.
3. A stroke ; a touch.
This was a cast of Wood's politics. Swift
4. 3Iotion or turn of the eye ; direction,
look or glance ; a stjuinting.
They let you see by one cast of the eve.
Addison.
A throw of dice ; hence, a state of chance
or hazard.
It is an even cast, whetlier tlie army should
march this way or that way. Sotlth.
Hence the phrase, the last cast, is used to
denote that all is ventured on one throw,
or one effort.
G. Form; shape.
A heroic poem in another cast. Prior.
A tinge ; a slight coloring, or shght degree
of a color ; as a cast of green. Hence, a
slight alteration in external appearance, or
deviation from natural appearance.
The native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er witli the pale cast of thought.
3. Manner ; air ; mien ; as, a peculiar cast of
countenance. This sense itnplies, the turn
or manner of throwing ; as, the neat cast
of verse. Pope.
ft. A flight; a number of hawks let go at
once. Sidney.
10. A small statue of bronze. Encyc.
CAS
11. Among founders, a tube of wax, fitted
into a mold, to give shape to metal.
12. A cylindrical piece of brass or copper,
slit in two lengthwise, to form a canal or
conduit, in a mold, for conveying metal.
13. Among plumbers, a little brazen funnel,
at one end of a mold, for casting pipes
without sodering, by means of which tiie
melted metal is poured into the mold.
Encyc.
14. [Sp. Port, casta.] A breed, race, line-
age, kind, sort.
15. In Hindoostan, a trihc or class of the
same rank or profession ; as the cast of
Bramins, or priests ; of rajahs, or princes ;
of choutres, or artificers ; and of parias, or
poor people. Or according to some wri-
ters, of Brajiiin* ,- of cwHen/, or soldiers; of
shuddery, or merchants ; and of wyse, or
mechanics. Encyc.
The four casts of the Hindoos are the
Brahmins or sacred order ; the Chehteree
or soldiers and rulers ; the Bice, Vaissya,
or husbandmen and merchants ; and the
Sooders, Sudras, or laborers and mechan-
ics. Cyc. Ed. Encyc.
16. A trick. Martin.
€ASTA'LIAN, a. Pertaining to CastaUa, a
cool spring on Parnassus, sacred to the
muses ; as Castalian fount. Poetry.
€AST'ANET, n. [Sp. castaneta, castahuela ;
Port, castanheta ; Fr. castagnette ; It. cas-
tagnetta. This word seems to be from
castana, a chestnut, so named from the re-
semblance to two chestnuts.]
An instrument of music formed of small con-
cave sliells of ivory or hard wood, shaped
like spoons, placed together, fastened to
the thumb and beat with the middle fin-
ger. This instrument is used by the Span-
iards, Moors and Bohemians, as an accom-
paniment to their dances, sarabands and
guitars. Span. Diet. Encyc.
>ASTAWAY, n. [cast and away.] That
which is thrown away. A person
abandoned by God, as unworthy of his
favor ; a reprobate. 1 Cor. ix. 27.
€'ASTAWAY, a. Rejected; Useless; of no
value. Raleigh.
COASTED, pp. for cast, is not in use.
€AS'TELLAN, n. [Sp. castellan; Fr.
chatelain. See Castle.]
A governor or constable of a castle. In Po-
land, tlie name of a dignity or charge ; a
kind of lieutenant of a province, command-
ing part of a palatinate under a palatine.
The castellans are senators, of the lower
class, sitting, in the diets, on low seats be-
hind the palatines. Encyc.
€AS'TELLANY, n. [See Castle.] The
lordship belonging to a castle ; or the ex-
tent of its land and jurisdiction. Phillips.
€AS'TELLATED, a. Inclosed in a building,
as a fountain or cistern. Johnson.
2. Adorned with turrets, and battlements,
€ASTELLA'TION, m. The act of fortifying
a house and rendering it a castle.
€'ASTER, n. [from cast.] One who throws
or casts ; one who com|)Utes ; a calcula-
tor ; one who calculates fortunes.
Addison.
2. A small phial or vessel for the table ; as a
set of casters.
3. A small wheel on a swivel, on which fur-
niture is cast, or rolled, on the floor.
CAS
eAS'TIGATE, V. t. [L. casligo, from easlus,
chaste. Qu. Etli. 7 Ul 8 gasts, to chas
ten, correct, chide. The French use
chillier, from castus, chaste ; Arm. castiza ;
Sp. Port, castigar; It. castigare.]
To chastise ; to punish by stripes ; to correct ;
to chasten ; to check. Shak.
CASTIGATED, pp. Punished; corrected,
€AS'TIGATING, ;9;w. Punishing; correct-
ing ; cliastising.
€ASTIGA'TION, rt. Punishment ; correc-
tion ; penance ; discipline ; emendation ;
restraint. Boyle. Hale
2. Among the Romans, a mihtary puni.sli-
ment inflicted on offenders, by beating witli
a wand or switcli. Enciic.
€AS'TlGATOR, n. One who corrects. "
CAS'TIGATORV, a. Tending to correc-
tion ; corrective ; punitive. Bramhall.
€AS'TIGATORY. n. An engine formerly
used to punisli and correct arrant scolds,
culled also a ducking stool, or trebucket.
Blackstone.
€AS'TlLE-SOAP, n. A kind of pure, refi-
ned soap.
CASTIL'IAN, a. Pertaining to Castile
Spain.
CASTIL'IAN, 71. An inhabitant or native (
Castile in Spain.
C'ASTlTiG, ppr. Throwing; sending; con
puting ;^ calculating ; turning ; giving
:.y ; deciding ; running, <
) a mold to give shape. [Sc
preponder
throwing intc
Cast.]
COASTING, n.
ding.
3. That which
The act of casting or foini
cast in a mold ; any vessel
formed by casting melted metal into a
mold, or in sand.
3. The taking of casts and impressions of
figures, busts, medals, &c.
€'ASTING-NET, n. A net which is cast
and drawn, in distinction from a net that
is set and left. J[fau
CASTING-VOTE, ? The vote of a pre-
C-ASTING- VOICE, I "• siding ofiicer, in
an assembly or council, which decides a
qnestion, when the votes of the assembly
<ir house are equally divided between the
affirmative and negative.
U. States. Coxe
■When there v
had the casting
t'AS'TLE, n. kas'l. [Sax. castel; L. castell
um; D.kasteel; Arm. gastell ; Norm, chax-
tel ; Fr. chateau ; Port, castello ; It. id ; W
cast, envelopment, from cos, a being sepa-
rated or insulated, hatred, envy, a cas-
tle ; castell, a castle, whence castellu, to
surround; casitl,a cloke, a chasuble. The
Welch cds gives the primaiy sense, which
is to separate, to drive ofl' ; hence, tt) de
fend. It is probably from this root the
Latins had casa. We observe in the
Welch, cds signifies, separated, a castle,
and hatred, envy; also, hateful, odious:
and casnawr, a hater, a persecutor ; casnori,
to persecute, to chase. Hence we see the
radical sense of hatred is a driving off.]
1. A house fortified for defense against an
enemv ; a fortress. The term seems to
CAS
2. Tiie house or mansion of a nobleman
prince.
3. In a ship, there are two parts called by
this name ; the forecastle, a short deck
the fore part of the ship, above the upper
deck ; and the hindcastle, at the stern.
Castle in the air, a visionary project ; a scheme
that has no sohd foundation.
€AS'TLE, V. t. In the game of chess, to
cover the king with a castle, by a certaii
move. • Encyc.
€AS'TLE-BUILDER, n. One who forms
visionary schemes.
CAS'TLE-BUILDING, n. The actof build-
uig castles in the air.
GAS'TLE-CROWNED, a. Crowned with
a castle.
CAS'TLED, a. Furnished with castles ; as
a castled elephant. Druden.
GAS'TLE-GUARD, n. A feudal tenure, or
knight service, which obhged the tenant to
perform service within the realm, without
limitation of time. Lyltelton.
■CAS'TLERY, n. The governmeiit of a
castle. Blount.
€AS'TLET, n. A small castle. Leland.
€AS'TLE-WARD, n. An imposition laid
upon subjects dwelling within a certain
distance of a castle, (or the purpose of
maintaining watch and ward in the castle.
CAS
CAS'TRATE, v.t. [h. castro ; Vr. chalrtr,
for chastrer ; Sp. Port, castrar ; It. cas-
trare ,- Ar. ^ ^ ^ , Etlj. .i, f^ (]) to castrate :
"cut out or off. Class Gs. No.
Encyc.
€"ASTLING, n. An abortion or aboitivc.
Brovm.
€'ASTOR, n. [h. castor ; Tr.Sp. Von. id.;
Gr. xafup. See Ar. Class Gs. No. 42.]
1. A beaver, an amphibious quadruped, witl
a flat ovate tail, short ears, a blunt nose,
small fore feet, and large hind feet
A reddish brown sub.stance, of a strong
penetrating smell, taken from bags or cod
in the groin of the beaver ; a powerful
antispasmodic. Mcholson.
3. In astronomy, a moiety of the constellation
Gemini, called also Apollo.
Castor and Pollux, in meteorology, a fiery
meteor, which, at sea, appears sometimes
adhering to a part of a ship, in the form of
one, two and even three or four balls.
When one is seen alone, it is called Helena,
which portends that the severest part of
the storm is yet to come. Two appear-
ing at once are denominated Castor and
Pollux, or Ti/ndaridw, and portend a ces-
sation of the storm. Chainbers
€'ASTORIN, I An animal principle dis
€'ASTORINE, ( "• covered in castor, and
prepared by boiling castor in six times its
weight of alcohol, and filtering the liquor
From this is deposited the Castorin.
ff'ebster''s Manual.
€ASTOR-OIL, n. The oil of the Ricinus,
Palma Christi, a plant of the West Indi.
which grows to thehighth of twenty feet,
in one season. The oil is obtained" from
the nuts or seeds by expression or decoc-
tion. That obtained by decoction is pre-
ferred, as less liable to become rancid,
being free from the mucilage and acrid
matter, which is mixed with the oil when
expressed. It is a mild cathartic. Encyc.
CASTRAMFTA'TION, n. [L. caslrametor,
to encamp, casira, camp, and metior,
include the house and the walls or other ' measure or snrvey.]
works around it. In old writers, the word The art or a< t of encamnin"- ■ the mnrkin<rnr
.soused for a town or village fortified. l| laying out of a cam™' V^Ay/te:; ^;-;sVf"douTt?urp?opriet;:
Ch. xyn 1
41. 42. J
1. To geld ; to deprive of the testicles ; to
emasculate.
2. To take away or retrench, as the obscene
])arts of a writing.
3. To take out a leaf or sheet from a book,
and render it imperfect.
€AS'TRATED, pp. Gelded ; emasculated :
purified from obscene expressions.
CAS'TRATlNG,;,pr. Gelding; taking away
the ob.sccne parts of a writinff
CASTRA'TION, n. The act of gelding; the
act or practice of making eunuchs ; the act
of takmg away the obscene parts of a wri-
ting ; the act of taking out a leaf or sheet
of a book. In botany, the cutting off of the
anthers, or tops of the stamens of flowers
before the ripening of the pollen.
eASTRA'TO, n. [It. See Ca.itrate.] A malft
person emasculated for the purpose of im-
proving his voice for a singer. Swi/}
€AS'TREL or KESTREL, „. A kind of'
hawk, resembling the laniier in shape and
the hobby in size.
€ASTREN'SIAN, a. [L. ca.Hrensis, from
castra, a camp.] Belonging to a camp.
€AS'UAL,a. cnzh'ual. [Fr. casuel; Sp. Port.
casual ; It. casuale ; from L. casus, a fall
See Case and Accident]
1. Falling; happening or coming to pass
without design m the person or persons
affected, and without being foreseen, or
expected; accidental; fortuitous; coniinc
by chance ; as, the parties liad a casual
rencounter.
2. Occasional ; coming at certain times
vy-ithout regularity, in distinction from sta-
ted, or regular ; as casual expenses.
3. Taking place, or beginning to exist with-
out an efficient iriteUigent cause, and with-
out design.
Atheists assert that the existence of thines is
casual. nwt-'ht
€AS'UALLY, adv. Accidentally ; fortuit-
ously; without design ; by chance.
€AS'UALNESS, n. Accidentalness ; the
I quality of being casual.
€AS'UALTY, n. Accident; that which
comes by chance or without design, or
I without being foreseen ; contingency.
j2. An accident that produces unnatural
death ; and by a metonymy, death, or
other misfortune, occasioned by an acci-
dent.
,3. In Scots law, an emolument due from a
[ vassal to his superior, beyond the stated
yearly duties, upon certain casual events.
€AS'UIST, n. fit. Sp. Port. ra.mist^"Tr.
castiiste ; from L. casus, a ease.]
One who studies and resolves cases of con-
science.
The judjrment of any casuist or learned divine
is not sulEcient to give hun confidence.
South.
eAS'UIST, V. i. To play the part of a casu-
'*•• Milton.
^^^}7,fZ\^\i la Relating to cases of
€A?-L IS^TIGAL, J ' conscience, or to ca-
CAT
CAT
CAT
€AS'UISTRY, n. The science or doctrine of]
cases of conscience ; the science of resol
ving cases of doubtful propriety, orof de
termining the lawfuhiess or unlawfulness
of what a man may do, by rules and prin
ciples drawn from the scriptures, from the
laws of society, or from equity and natural
reason. Pope.
Casus faderis. [L.] The case stipulated by
treaty ; that which conies within the terms
of compact. Lmw of Mitions
€AT, n. [Ir. cat ; Fr. chat ; D. kat ; Dan.
kat ; Sw. katt ; G. kater, or katze ; L. catus ;
Vulgar Greek, xam, or ya-toi ; It. gatto
Port, and Sp. gato ; Lap. id.; Pol. kot ;
Rus3.kots; Turkish teii; W.cath; Corn
kath ; Arm. gaz or kaz ; Basque cafua.
In Ar. jj^^' kitta, is a male cat. Class Gd
No. 56.]
1. A name applied to certain species of car-
nivorous quadrupeds, of the genus Felis.
The domestic cat needs no description. It
is a deceitful animal, and when enraged
extremely spiteful. It is kept in houses,
chiefly for the purpose of catching rats and
mice. The wild cat is much larger than the
domestic cat. It is a strong, ferocious au'
mal, living in the forest, and very de;
tructive to poultry and lambs.
The wild cat of Europe is of the same
species with the domestic cat ; the cata
mount, of N. America, is much larger and
a distinct species. Ed. Encyc.
U. A ship formed on the Norwegian model,
having a narrow stern, projecting quar-
ters, and a deep waist. It is strong built,
from four to six hundred tons burthen, and
employed in the coal trade.
3. A strong tackle or combination of pulleys,
to hook and draw an anchor perpendicu
larly up to the cat-head of a ship.
4. A double tripod having six feet.
Cat of nine tails, an instnnnent of pimish
ment, consisting of nine pieces of line or
cord fastened to a piece of thick rope, and
having three knots at intervals, used to flog
ofienders on board of ships.
CAT' AMOUNT, n. Cat of the mountain^
the wild cat.
eAT'-BL9CK, n. A two or three fold block
with an iron strop and large hook, used to
draw up an anchor to the cat-head.
Mar. Diet.
€AT'S'-EYE, n. Sun-stone, a subspecies of]
quartz, called in Latin acidus cati or onyco
palus, from its white zones or rings "likf
onyx, and its variable colors like opal. It
is very hard and semitransparent, and from
certain points exhibits a yellowish radia
tion, or chatoyant appearance, somewhat
resembling a cat's eye. Encyc. Cleaveland.
tAT'-EYED, a. Havuig eyes like a cat.
Bryden
€AT'-FISH, n. A species of the Squalus, oi
shark. The cat-fish of the N. American
rivers is a species of Cottus, or bull-head,
CAT'S'-FOOT, n. A plant of the genus
Glechoma, ground ivy, or gill.
CAT'-GUT, n. The intestines of sheep or
lambs, dried and twisted together, used
strings for violins and other instruments,
and for other purposes. Great quantities
are imported from Lyons and Italy.
CAT'-HARPINGS, n. Ropes serving
brace in the shrouds of the lower masts
behind their respective yards, to tighten
the slirouds and give more room to draw
in the yards, when the ship is close hauled.
Mar. Diet.
€AT'-HEAD, n. A strong beam projecting
horizontally over a ship's bows, carrying
two or three sheaves, about which a rope
called the cat-fall passes, and communi-
cates with the cat-block. Mar. Did.
CAT'S'-HEAD, n. A kind of apple.
eAT'-HQQK, n. A strong hook fitted to
the cat-block. Mar. Diet.
€AT'-MINT, n. A plant of the genus Ne-
peta, so called because cats eat it.
€AT'S'-PAW, n. Among seamen, a light air
perceived, in a calm, by a ripphng of the
siu'face of the water ; also, a particular
turn in the bight of a rope, made to hook
a tackle on. Mar. Diet.
2. A dujje ; the instrument which another
€AT'-SALT, n. A sort of salt beautifully
granulated, formed out of the bittern or
leach-brine, used for making hard soap.
€AT'SILVER, n. A fossil, a species of mica,
€AT'-TAIL, n. [cat and tail.] A species of]
reed, of the genus Typha, the downy sub-
stance of which is used for stuffing mat-
tresses, &c. Bailey.
9. A substance growing on nut-trees, pines,
&c. Bailey.
€ATABAP'TIST, n. [Gr. ;tora and /Jart-
Tcj'ijs.] One who opposes baptism.
Featley
€ATA€AU3'TI€, a. [Gr. xataxavais, a burn-
ing.] Catacaustic curves, in geometry,
are that species of caustic curves, which
are formed by reflection.
Bailey. Encyc.
€ATA€HRE'SIS, n. [Gr. xaraxmaii, abuse,
from xora, against, and j^poo^tu, to use.]
An abuse of a trojie or of words ; a figure in
rhetoric, when one word is abusively put
for another, or when a word is too far
wrested from its true signification ; as, a
voice beautiful to the ear.
Smith. Bailey. Johnson
A catachresis is a trope which borrows tlif
name of one thing to ex])ress another, or a
harsh trope ; as when Milton, speaking ol
Raphael's descent from heaven, says, he
" sails between worlds and worlds." Here
the novelty of the word sails enlivens the
image. So in scripture we read of the
" blood of the grape." Deut. xxxii.
€ATA€HRES'TI€, ? Belonging tc
€ATA€HRES'TI€AL, ^ "• a catachresis
forced ; far-fetched ; wrested from its nat-
ural sense. Johnson. Bronin
€ATA€HRES'TI€ALLY, adv. In a forced
er. Evelyn.
€AT'A€LYSM, n. [Gr. x<u-eo.x7.vunoi, a del
iige, from xarajcXvfo, to iiumdate.]
A deluge, or overflowing of water; particu
larly, the flood in Noah's days. [Lillle
used.] Hall.
€AT'A€OMB, n. [probably from Gr. xara..
and xviiSoi, a liollow or recess.]
A cave, grotto or subterraneous place for the
burial of the dead. It is said to have been
originally applied to the chapel of St. Se
bastian in Rome, where the ancient Ro-
man Calendars say, the body of St. Peter
was deposited. It is now applied to a
niunber of subterraneous sepulchers, about
three miles from Rome, in the Appian
way ; supposed to be the cells and caves
in which the primitive christians concealed
themselves, and in which were deposited
the bodies of the primitive martyrs. These
are visited by devout people, and relics
are taken from them, baptized by the Pope
and dis])ersed through Catholic countries^
Each catacomb is three feet broad and
eight or ten high ; along the side walls
are sepulchral niches, closed with thick
tiles or pieces of marble. Catacombs are
found also at Naples and in other places.
Encyc.
€ATA€OUS'Tl€S, n. [Gr. xafaxovu, to
hear.]
That part of acoustics or the doctrine of
sounds, which treats of reflected sounds.
But the distinction is deemed of little use.
Encyc.
€ATADIOP'TRIC, > [Gr. xaxa, and
€ATADIOP'TRl€AL, <, "' «w«To,«u,to set-
through.] Reflecting light.
€AT'ADUPE, n. [Gr. xoro, and ^ourttu, to
sound.]
A cataract or waterfall. [JVo< in use.]
Brewer
€ATAGMAT'l€, a. [Gr. xafay^, a frag-
ment.]
That has the quahty of consolidating broken
IJarts ; promoting the union of fractured
bones. Wiseman. Core.
€AT'AGRAPH, n. [Gr. xaro, and ypa$«, tc
describe.]
The first draught of a picture ; also, a profile ,
Chambers.
€ATALE€'TI€, a. [Gr. xara, and J-fyu.]
Pertaining to metrical composition, or to
measure. Tyrwhitt.
Cataleetic verses, are such as want either feet
or syllables. Cyc.
€ATALEP'SIS, ) [Gr. xaTa?n;4.i5, a seiz-
€AT'ALEPSY, S "' ing, from xaToXa^Sa.w,
to take, seize, or invade.]
A sudden suppression of motion and sensa-
tion, a kind of apoplexy, in which the pa-
tient is speechless, senseless, and fixed in
one posture, with his eyes open, without
seeing or understanding. The word is
applied also to a retention of the breath or
of the humors, and to the interception of
the blood by bandages. Encyc. Coie.
€ATALEP'TI€, a. Pertaining to catalepsy.
€AT'ALO(iIZE, r. t. To insert in a cata-
logue. [.Vo< used.] Coles.
€AT'ALOGUE, n. kaValog. [Gr. xara>.oyos ;
xara and >.oyo;, according to words.]
A list or enumeration of the names of men or
things disposed in a certain order, often
in alphabetical order; &» 'A catalogue of the
students of a college, or of books, or of the
stars.
€AT'ALOGUE, v. t. [as above.] To make
a list of. Herbert.
€ATAL'PA, n. A large tree of Carolina and
the South, which in blossom has a beauti-
ful appearance. It belongs to the genus
Bignonia, or trumpet flower.
Drayton. Encyc.
€ATAL'YSIS, n. [Gr. xaran.ats.] Dissolu-
tion. [Little n.ted.] Taylor.
CATAME'NIAL, a. [Gr. xoi-a.ujjuof; xara
and ^ifv, a montli.]
Pertaining to the catainenia, or menstrual
discharge?.
CAT
CAT
CAT
CAT'AMITE, n. [L. catamitus.] A boy kept
for unnatural purposes.
eAT'APASM, n. [Gr. xarartanfw..] A dry
powder for sprinkling the body. Coxe.
€AT'APELT, or CAT'APULT,n. [Gr. xafa-
niMrji ; L. cataputta ; xara and net-ri;, a
target, or more probably from naXKu
SaXKu,, to tlirow or drive, L. pello.]
A military engine used by the ancient Greeks
and Romans for throwing stones, darts and
arrows upon an enemy. Some of these
would throw a stone ot a hundred pounds
weight. Mitford.
eATAPEL'TIC, a. Pertaining to the cata-
pelt. As a noun, the catapelt.
CATAPHON'ICS, n. [Gr. xaro, and 4)qi/5j,
sound.]
The doctrine of reflected sounds, a branch
of acoustics. Encyc.
CAT'APHRACT, n. [h. cataphrada ; Or
xoTeufpaxfos, from xaroujipaoou, to arm or
fortify.]
1. In the ancient military art, a piece of heavy
defensive armor, formed of cloth or leather,
strengthened with scales or links, used to
defend the breast, or whole body, or even
the horse as well as the rider. Encyc.
2. A horseman in complete armor. Milton
CAT'APLASM, Ji. [Gr. xoran>^*f«i, from
xararfKaaaoy, to anoint, or to spread i
plaster.]
A poultice ; a soft and moist substance to be
applied to some part of the body, to excite
or repel heat, or to relax the skin, &
When mustard is an ingredient, it is called
a sinapism. Encyc.
€AT'APUCE, n. The herb spurge. Obs.
Chaucer.
CAT'ARACT, n. [L. cataracia ; Gr. *
paxri;5, from xaropa^sco, to break or fall
with violence, from paaau, pa|u, to strike or
dash.]
1. A great fall of water over a precipice ; as
thatof Niagara, of the Rhine, Danube and
Nile. It is a cascade upon a great scale.
The tremendous cataracts of America thun
dering in their solitudes. Irving
2. In medicine and surgery, an opacity of the
crystaline lens, or its capside ; a disorder
in the eye, by which the pupil, which is
usually black and transparent, becomes
opake, blue, gray, brown, &,c., by which
vision is impaired or destroyed. Encyc.
CAT'ARRH, n. cater. [L. catarrhus ; Gr,
xarappooj, from xaroppfu, to flow down.]
A defluxion, or increased secretion of mucus
from the membranes of the nose, fauces
and bronchiiB, with fever, sneezing, cough,
thirst, lassitude and loss of appetite, and
sometimes an entire loss of taste ; called
also a cold, coryza. An epidemic catanl
is called Influenza.
Hooper. Coxe. Encyc.
CAT'ARRHAL, \ Pertaining to catarrh
€AT-ARRHOUS, S produced by it or at-
tending it ; as a catarrhal fever.
€ATAS'TERISM, n. [Gr. xaT'offpid^os, from
xafaytpifw, to distinguish with stars, or to
place among the stars ; xora and ajjjp, a
star.]
A constellation, or a placing among the stars.
€ATAS'TROPHE, { [Gr. xarafpo^^,, an
CATAS'TROPHY, \ "• end or overthrow-
ing, from xaracpfifu, to subvert ; xata and
fP't"-]
1. The change or revolution which produces
the final event of a dramatic piece ; or the
unfolding and winding up of the plot,
clearing up difliculties, and closing the
play. The ancients divided a play into the
protasis, epitasis, catastasis, and catas-
trophy ; the introduction, continuance,
heightening, and development or conclu
sion. Johnson. Encyc.
2. A final event ; conclusion : generally, an
unfortunate conclusion, calamity, or dis-
aster.
€AT'CALL, n. [cat &iu\ call.] A squeaking
instrument, used in play-houses to con-
demn plays. Johnson. Pope
CATCH, V. t. pret. and pp. catched or caught
[Sp. coger, to catch, coinciding in ele-
ments with Gr. xi;tfu. The orthography
of caught determines the radical letters to
be Cg. The popular or conunon pronun-
ciation is ketch.]
1. To seize or lay hold on with the hand
carrying the sense of pursuit, thrusting
forward the hand, or rushing on.
And they came upon him and caught him.
Acts vi.
2. To seize, in a general sense ; as, to calch a
ball ; to catch hold of a bough.
3. To seize, as in a snare or trap ; to ensnare ;
to entangle.
They sent certain of the Pharisees and of \h
Herodians, to catch him in his words. Mark xii
4. To seize in pursuit ; hence simply to
overtake ; a popular use of the word.
He ran, but could not catch his companii
5. To take hold ; to communicate to.
The fire caught the adjoining building.
6. To seize the affections ; to engage and
attach to ; as, to catch the fair. Dryden
7. To take or receive by contagion or infec-
tion ; as, to catch the measles or small pox
8. To snatch ; to take suddenly ; as, to catch
a book out of the hand.
9. To receive something passing.
The swelling sails no more
Catch the soft airs and wanton in the sky.
Trumbull
To calch at, to endeavor to seize suddenly.
To catch at all opportunities of subverting the
state. Addison
To catch up, to snatch ; to take up suddenly,
€ATCH, V. i. To communicate ; to spread
by infecting; as, a disease will catch from
man to man.
2. To seize and hold ; as, a hook catches.
CATCH, n. Seizure; the act of seizing.
2. Any thing that seizes or takes hold, as a
hook.
3. The posture of seizing; a state of prepa-
ration to catch, or of watching an oppor-
tunity to seize ; as, to lie upon tJie catch.
Addison.
4. A sudden advantage taken. Dryden.
5. The thing caught, considered as an object
of desire; profit; advantage.
Hector shall have a great fafcA. Shak.
6. A snatch ; a short interval of action.
It has been writ by catches. Locke.
7. A little portion.
We retain a catch of a pretty story.
Gla7imlle.
8. In music, a fugue in the unison, wherein
to humor some conceit in the words, the
melody is broken, and the sense is inter-
rupted in one part, and caught and sup-
ported by another, or a different sense is
given to the words : or a piece for three
or more voices, one of which leads ana
the others follow in the same notes.
Encyc. Bushy.
€ATCH'ABLE, a. That may be caught.
[.Vol well authorized.]
€ATCH'ER, 71. One who catches; that
which catches, or in which any thing is
caught.
€ATCH'-FLY, n. A plant of the genus
Lychnis ; campion.
CATCH' ING, ppr. Seizing; taking hold ;
ensnaring ; entangling.
CATCH'ING, a. Communicating, or that
may be communicated, by contagion ; in-
fectious ; as, a disease is catching.
CATCH'PENNY, n. [catch and penny.]
Something worthless, particularly a book
or pamphlet, adapted to the popular taste,
and intended to gain money in market.
€ATCH'-POLL, n. [catch and poU, the
head.] A bailifTs assistant, so called by
way of reproach.
CATCHUP, > A liquor extracted from
CAT'SUP, I "■ mushrooms, used as a
sauce.
CATCH'-WORD, n. Among printers, the
word placed at the bottom of each page,
under the last line, which is to be inserted
as the first word on the following page.
CATE, n. [See Cates.]
CATECHET'ICAL, a. [See Catechise.]
Relating to oral instruction, and particu-
larly in the first principles of the christian
religion.
2. Relating to or consisting in asking ques-
tions and receiving answers, according to
the ancient manner of teaching pupils.
Socrates introduced a catechetical method of
arguing. Addison.
CATECHET'ICALLY, adv. By question
and answer ; in the way of oral instruc-
tion.
CAT'ECHISE, V. t. s as :. [Gr. xarrjxi^u,
and xatrixf^, to sound, to utter sound, to
teach by the voice ; from xai-a, and ixi'^,
to sound, whence eclw. Hence xaT'j;;|Tjfftj,
xaTtjx^e^io;, catechise, catechism, instruction.]
1. To instruct by asking questions, receiving
answers, and offering explanations and
corrections.
2. To question ; to interrogate ; to examine
or try by questions, and sometimes with
a view to reproof, by eliciting answers
from a person, which condemn his own
conduct.
3. Appropriately, to ask questions concerning
the doctrines of the christian religion ; to
interrogate pupils and give instruction in
the principles of rehgion.
CATECHISED, ;>;>. Instructed.
CAT'ECHISER, n. One who catechises ;
one who instructs by question and ati-
swer, and particularly in the rudiments of
the christian religion.
CAT'ECHISING, ppr. Instructing in rudi-
ments or principles.
CATECHISM, JI. [Gr. xar^zw^f.] A form
of instruction by means of questions and
answers, particularly in the principles of
rehgion.
An elementary book containing a summa-
ry of principles in any science or art, but
appropriately in religion, reduced to the
form of questions and answers, and some-
times with notes, explanations, and refer-
ences to authorities.
CAT
CAT'ECHIST, n. [Gr. xatrix^-^m.] One
who instructs viva voce, or by question
and answer ; a catechiser ; one appointed
by the church to instruct in the principles
of religion.
Cz\TE€HIS'TIC, \ Pertaining to a
€ATE€H1S'TI€AL, S catechist, or cat-
echism.
CAT'ECHU, n. Terra Japonica, a dry ex-
tract, or brown astringent substance, ob-
tained by decoction and evaporation from
a species of Mimosa in India. It consists
chiefly of tannin. Thomson. Ure
eATECHU'MEN, n. [Gr. xaf»;j;(n.j«fva, phv
ces where hearers stood to be instructed,
or buildings adjoining a church where the
catechist taught the doctrines of religion.]
One who is in the first rudiments of Christ-
ianity ; one who is receiving instruction
and preparing himself for baptism. These
were anciently the children of believing
parents, or pagans not fully initiated in the
principles of tlie christian religion. They
were admitted to this state by the imposi-
tion of hands, and the sign of the cross.
^ Encyc.
CATE€HUMEN'I€AL, o. Belongmg to
catechumens.
CATECHU MENIST, n. A catechumen.
Bp. Morton.
CATEGOR'ICAL, a. [See Category.] Per
taiuing to a category.
'I. Absolute ; positive ; express ; not relative
or hypothetical ; as a categorical proposi
tion, syllogism or answer.
CATEGOR'ICALLY, adv. Absolutely ; di
rectly ; expressly ; positively ; as, to affi
categorically.
CAT'EGORY, n. [Gr. xattiyopia, from x>
rjyofiu, to accuse, show, demonstrate ;
xara and ayopeu, to speak in an assembly
to harangue or denounce, from ayopa, a fo
rum, judicial tribunal or market.]
In logic, a series or order of all the predicates
or attributes contained under a genus.
The school philosophers distributed all the
objects of our thouglits and ideas into
fenera or classes. Aristotle made ten
categories, viz. substance, quantity, qual
CAT
situation and habit. J^nci/c
CATENA'RIAN, } [L. catcnaiius, from
CAT'ENARY, S catena, a cham.]
Relating to a chain ; like a chain. The cate
narian curve, in geometry, is formed by ;
rope or chain hanging freely between two
points of suspension, whether the jjoints
are horizontal or not. Harris. Encyc.
CAT'ENATE, v. I. [L. caicno, a chain ; G_
kette ; Sans, ketta, whence ketlenu, to bind.;
To chain, or rather to connect in a series of
CA'TER, n. A provider. [See Caterer.]
Old Eng. achator. Chaucer.
CA'TER, n. The four of cards or dice ; so
written for Fr. quatre.
CA'TER-COUSIN, n. A quatre-cousin, a
remote relation. Shak.
CA'TERER, n. [from cater. In Chaucer,
achator, a purchaser or caterer, is evidently
from acheter, to buy.]
A provider, buyer or purveyor of provisions.
Chaucer, Cant. Tales. 570. South.
€A'TERESS, n. A woman who caters; a
female provider of food.
CAT'ERPILLAR, n. [The etymology of
this word is uncertain. Perhaps it may
be from Fr. chatte pelue, hairy cat.]
The colored and often hairy larva of the
lepidopterous insects. This term is also
applied to the larvas of other insects, such
as the Tenthredo, or saw-fly ; but is more
generally confined to the lepidopters. Cat-
erpillars are produced immediately from
the egg ; they are furnished with several
pairs of feet, and have the shape and ap
pearance of a worm. They contain the
embryo of the perfect insect, inclosed
within a muscular enveloj), which is
thrown off, when the insect enters th(
nymph or chrysalis state, in which it re
mains for sometime as if inanimate. It
then throws off its last envelop, and
emerges a perfect insect. Caterpillars
generally feed on leaves or succulent veg-
etables, and are sometimes very destruc-
tive. Ed. Encyc. Kirby.
eAT'ERPILLAR-EATER, n. A worm
bred in the body of a caterpillar, which
eats it. Encyc.
€AT'ERWAUL, v. i. [probably from cat
A wawl. It. guaiolare, Eng. wail."
To cry or wawl, as cats in rutting time ; to
make a harsh ofl'ensive noise.
CAT'ERWAULING, n. The cry of cats; a
harsh disagreeable noise or cry.
CA'TERY, n. The place where provisions
are deposited. . .
GATES, n. Dehcious food or viands ; dainties
CATH'ARIST, n. [Gr. xopaSoj, pure.] One
ho pretends to more purity than otlier-
C A T
€ATH'EDRATED, a. Relating to the au-
thority of the chair or ofiice of a teacher.
mdtlock.
cATH^ARTle, I „ [Gr. xa9aprixo<, from
CATH'ARTICAL, S "oSaf^tvu, xaOatpu, to
purge, xa9af>oi, clean, xara and atpu, to
remove.]
Purging ; cleansing the bowels ; promoting
evacuations by stool ; purgative.
CATH'ARTIC, n. A medicine that pro-
motes alvine discharges, and thus cleanses
the stomach and bowels ; a purge ; a pur
links or ties.
Danvin
CATENA'TION, n. Connection of links,
union of parts, as hi a chain; regular con-
nection. [See Concalenation.]
CAT'ENULATE, a. Consisting of little
links or chains.
CA'TER, V. i. [In It. cattare is to get ; a
tare, to beg or borrow. In Fr. acheter is
to buy ; Norm, acat, a buying. The Fi
gueter, for quester, to beg, seems to be a
different word. See Caterer.]
CATH'ETER, n. [Gr. xoSfrijp, from xaei/rnti,
to thrust in ; xara and ir)ni., to send.]
In surgery, a tubular instrument, usually
made of silver, to be introduced into the
bladder, to draw oft" the urine when the
natural discharge is suppressed ; also, a
sound to search for the stone, or a bougie
made of silver or elastic gum.
Encue. Coxe.
€ATH'ETUS, n. [Gr. xaSfroj. See Caih--
ter.]
In geometry, a line or radius, falling perpen-
dicularly on another line or surface ; as
the two sides of a right-angled triangle.
Encyc.
Cathetus of incidence, in catoptrics, is a right
line drawn from a point of the object,
perpendicular to the reflecting line.
Cathetus of reflection, or of the eye, a right Une
drawn from the eye, per])endicular to the
reflecting plane.
CatKetus of obliquation, a right line drawn
perpendicular to the speculum, in the
point of incidence or reflection.
In architecture, a cathetus is a perpendicu-
lar line, supposed to pass through the
middle of a cylindrical body. Encyc.
CATH'OLI€, a. [Gr. xa9o?.ixo5, xora and
oTitxos, from o?u)5, the whole ; L. catholicus ;
Fr. catholique ; Sp. catolico ; It. cattolico.]
Universal or general ; as the Catholic church.
OriginaUy this epithet was given to the
Christian church in general, but is now
appropriated to the Romish church, and in
strictness there is no CathoUc church, or
universal Cliristian communion. The epi-
thet is sometimes set in opposition to her-
etic, sectary or schismatic.
2. Liberal ; not narrow minded, partial or
bigoted ; as a catholic man.
3. Liberal ; as catholic principles.
Catholic epistles, the epistles of the apostles
which are addressed to all the taithlul,
and not to a particular church.
CATH'OLIC, n. A papist.
CATH'OLICISM, n. Adherence to the
Catholic church.
a. Universality, or the orthodox faith ot the
whole church. Pearson.
3. More generally, liberality of sentiments.
This is the renowned seat of Catholicism.
E. D. Griffin.
CATH'OLICIZE, v. i. To become a catho-
lic. [Little used.]
CATH'OLIeLY, adv. Generally; m a
catholic manner. Sir L. Cary.
CATH'OLICNESS, n. Universality.
Brnnnt.
^..i..,»..^- , - The quality of
I promoting discha-rges from the bowels.
'cATIIE'DRAL, n. [L. cathedra ; Gr. xa9
(6pa, a chair or seat, from xara and fSpa,
a seat.] . .
The see or seat of a bishop ; the principal
church in a diocese.
[CATHE'DRAL, a. Pertaining to the church
which is the bishop's seat, or head church
of a diocese ; containing the see of a
bishop ; as a cathedral church ; cathedral
To provide food ; to buy or procure provis-| service. ,u„,,,.„i .
ions ; followed by /or; as, to caier /or the|3. Resembling the "isles of a cathedral ,|
the sparrow.
Shak.ii as, cathedral walks.
Pope.
CATHOL'ICON, n. [Gr. xoeoj.ixox lo^a, uni-
versal remedy.]
A remedy for all diseases; a universal rem-
edy ; a remedy supposed to be eflicacious
in purtrin" away all humors ; a panacea ;
a kind'of soft purgative electuary so called.
ICAT'ILINISM, n. The practices of Cati-
line, the Roman conspirator ; conspiracy.
CAT'KIN, n. [from cat and kin.] In bota-
ny, a species of calyx or rather of inflores-
cence, from a common chafly- gemma-
ceous receptacle, or consisting of many
chaffy scales ranged along a stalk, slen-
der as a thread, which is the common r.-
ceptacle, as in' hazle, birch, oak, willow,
c A r
C A U
C A U
poplar, <kc. ; so called from its resemblance
to a cat's tail. Marlyn.
tAT'-LlKE. o. Resembliuj; a cat. Shak.
CAT' LING, n. A clismcmbering knife, used
by sm-geons. Hams.
2. The down or moss growing about wal-
nut trees, resembling the hair of a cat.
Harris
3. Catgut. Uu. Shak.
CATO'JNIAN, a. Pertaining to or resem-
Wing Calo, the Roman, who was remark-
able for his severity of manners ; grave :
severe ; infle.tible.
CATOP'TER, ( [Gr. xato^tfov. See
CATOP'TRON, 5 "• Caloptrix:s.\ An opt
cal glass or instrument. Did.
ciTOFTRlcAL.h-f^^^^"'"^'"^^-^
Relating to catoptrics, or vision by reflec-
tion.
€ATOP'TRICS, n. [Gr. «orortrp«os, from
xatontfiov, a mirror, trom xoro, against, and
onroixtu, to see.]
That part of optics which explains the prop-
erties of reflected light, and particularly
that which is reflected from mirrors or
polished bodies. Encyc.
€ATOP'TROMANCY, n. [Gr. xatonrpo-
fiavTsia ; xarojtrpor, a mirror, and fxay-rfia^
divination.]
A species of divination among the ancii'iii:
which was performed by letting dowri
mirror into water, for a sick person to Inn
at his face in it. If his countenance aj
peared distorted and ghastly, it was an ill
omen ; if fresh and healthy, it was favor-
able. Encyc.
€AT'-PIPE, n. [See Catcall]
€AT'SUP, n. [See Catchup, Ketchup.]
CAT'TLE, n. sing, or ptu. [Norm, catal,
chastel, and chatters, goods, commodi-
ties, movables ; Arm. chelal, beasts ; Port,
gndo, cattle. In Syr. and Ch. ru and n"J sig-
nify a flock, herd, possession, goods. But
Spelman alledges that the word chattel is
contracted from capitatia, capiat, from ca
put, a word used in the middle ages for
all goods, movable and immovable,
swering nearly to the use of Gr. xifaMiiof,
Acts xxii. 38. TtoXKov xi^axoum, " with a
great price or sum I obtained this free-
dom." Qu. Sp. caudal, wealth, property,
capital sum.]
Beasts or quadrupeds in general, serving for
tillage, or other labor, and for food to man
In its primary sense, the \vord includes
camels, horses, asses, all the varieties of
domesticated horned beasts or the bovine
genus, sheep of all kinds and goats, and
perhaps swine. In this general sense, it is
constantly used in the scriptures. See Job
i. 3. Hence it would appear that the
word properly signifies possessions, goods.
But whether from a word originally sig-
nifying a beast, for in early ages beasts
constituted the chief part of a man's prop
erty, or from a root signifying to get oi
possess, Gr. xTao/iae, It. cattare, or from
capitalia, it is not easy to determine. Tli
word is restricted to domestic beasts ; but
in England it includes horses, which it or
dinarily does not, in the United States, at
least not in New-England.
2. In the United States, cattle, in common
usage, signifies only beasts of the bovine
genus, oxen, bulls, cows and their yoimg.
In the laws respecting domestic beasts,
horses, sheep, asses, mules and swine are
distinguished from cattle, or neat cattli
Thus the law in Connecticut, requiring
" that all the owners of any cattle, sheej
or swine, shall ear-mark or brand all their
cattle, sheep and swine," does not extend
to horses. Yet it is probable that a law
giving damages for a trespass committed
by cattle breaking into an inclosure, would
he adjudged to include horses.
In Great Britain, beasts are distinguish-
ed into black cattle, including bulls, o.xen,
cows and their young ; and small cattle, in-
cluding sheep of all kinds and goats.
3. In reproach, human beings are called
cattle. Shak.
eAU€A'SIAN, \ Pertaining to Mount
€AUCASE'AN, \ Caucasus in Asia.
As. Researches. Pinkerton.
CAUCUS, n. A word used in America to
denote a meetingof citizens to agree upon
candidates to be jiroposed for election to
ottices, or to concert measures for support-
ing a |)arty. The origin of the word is
not ascertained.
CAUD'AL, a. [L. cauda, a tail.] Pertain-
ing to a tail ; or to the thread which ter-
minates tlie seed of a plant. Botany.
CAr:i)ATE, ^ [L. cnurfo, a tail.] Ha-
l AID A'l'KD, ^ ■ ving a tail. Fairfax.
I \l I) i;\, n. plu. caudeies. [L.] In bot-
any, ihc stem of a tree. Linne uses the
\vord for the stock which proceeds from
a seed, one part ascending and forming
the body above ground, the other des-
cending and putting forth roots.
Martyn. Danvin.
CAU'DLE, n. [Fr. chaudeau, from chaud,
warm or hot, by contraction from L. cali-
dus or its root ; It. caldo.]
A kind of warm broth, a mixture of wine
and other ingredients prepared for tlie
sick. Wiseman.
CAU'DLE, V. t. To make or prepare caudle,
or to dress with caudle. Shak.
€AUF, n. [probably from the root of cof-
A chest with holes for keeping fish ahve in
water. Ash.
€AUGHT, pret. and pp. of catch, pronoun-
ced caut.
€AUK, i ^ A name given by miners to
€AWK, ^ ■ certain specimens of the com-
pact sulphate of baryte. These are of a
white, gray or fawn color, often irregular
in figure, but sometimes resembhng a
number of small convex lenses set in a
ground. Nicholson, lire.
This name is sometimes' given to masses
composed of concentric lamellar concre-
tions. Cleaveland.
€AUK'Y, a. Pertaining to cauk ; like cauk.
H'oodward.
CAUL, n. [L. caula, a fold, from the root
of ftoW. See Hold.]
I. In anatomy, a membrane in the abdomen,
covering the greatest part of the lower in-
testines, called from its structure, reticu-
lum, a net, but more generally, the omen-
tum ; also, a little membrane sometimes
encompassing the head of a child when
born. Encyc.
2. A kind of net in which females inclose
their hair ; the hinder part of a cap.
Dryden.
3. Any kind of net. Greic.
CAULES'CENT, a. [L. caulis, a stalk ; Gr.
xoiiXos. See Cole.]
In botany, having a stem different from that
which produces the flower ; as a caxdea-
cent plant. Linne apphes this term to the
root also, as in cabbage and turnep.
Martyn. Lee.
€AULlF'EROUS, a. [L. caulis, astern, and
fero, to bear.]
In botany, having a stem or stalk.
€AUL'lFLOVVER, n. fit. cavotfiore ; L.
caulis, VV. cawl, D. kool, mid Jlower.]
A variety of Brussica or cabbage, well known
and much esteemed.
CAUL IFORM, a. [L.* caulis, a stem, and
forma, form.]
Having the form of a stalk or of stems.
Kirwan.
CAUL'INE, a. [L. caulis, a stalk.] In bot-
any, growing immediately on the stem,
without the intervention of branches ; as
a cauline leaf, bulb, peduncle or scape.
Marlyn.
CAULK, [See Calk.]
CAUP'ONATE, u.t. [L. cauponor.] To keep
victualling house. [.Ybt in use.]
CAUP'ONISE, V. t. To sell wine or vict-
uals. [jVot in use.] ff'artmrton.
CAUS'ABLE, a. [See Cause.] That may
be caused, produced or effected. Ash.
CAUS'AL, a. [See Cause.] Relating to. a
cause or causes ; implying or containing
a cause or causes ; expressing a cause.
Causal propositions are where two propositions
are joined by causal words, as that or because.
Watts.
CAUS'AL, n. In grammar, a word that
expresses a cause, or introduces the rea-
son. Harris.
CAUSAL'ITY, n. The agency of a cause ;
the action or power of a cause, in produ-
cing its effect. Encyc. GlanvUle.
CAUS'ALLY, adv. According to the order
or series of causes. Johnson. Broton.
CAUS'ALTY, n. Among miners, the light-
er, earthy parts of ore, carried off by wash-
ing. Encyc.
CAUSA'TION, n. The act of causing or
producing ; the act or agency by which
an effect is produced. Brown.
CAUS'ATIVE, a. That expresses a cause
or reason ; also, that effects as a cause.
Johnson.
CAUS'ATIVELY, adv. In a causative man-
CAUSA'TOR, 71. One who causes or pro-
duces an efl'ect. Broum.
CAUSE, n. s asz. [Fr. cause ; Sp. Port. It.
causa; h. causa, from the Celtic; Welsh
acaws, effecting power, allied to cais, ef-
fort, ceisiaw, to seek or go after, to attempt ;
Arm. caus or cos. The primary sense is
to urge, press, impel, like sequor, whence
suit ; hence, to accuse, to attack or follow
with a charge. The root of this word
coincides vvilh that of castle, cast. Sic,
which express a driving. A cause is that
which moves, excites or impels to ac-
tion or effect ; in law, a pressing for a
claim. Sec Question. Cause, sake and
thing have the hke radical sense.]
1. A sidt or action in court ; any legal pro-
C A U
C A U
C A V
cess which a party institutes to obtain
las demand, or by which he seeks his
right or his supposed right. This is a le-
gal, scriptural and popular use of the
word, coinciding nearly with case from
cado, and action from ago, to urge or drive.
The rouse of both parties shall come before
the judges. Ex. xxil.
3. That which produces an effect ; that
which impels into existence, or by its agen-
cy or operation produces what did not be-
fore exist ; that by virtue of which any
thing is done ; that from which any thing
proceeds, and without which it would not
exist.
Cause is a substance exerting its power into
act, to make a thing begin to be. Lorke.
3. The reason or motive that urges, moves,
or impels the min(f to act or decide.
For this cause have I raised up Pharaoh.
Ex. ix.
And David said, is there not a cause ? 1 Sam.
4. Sake ; account.
I did it not for his cause that had done the
wrong. 2. Cor. vii. [See Sake.]
5. That which a party or nation pursues ; or
rather pursuit, prosecution of an object.
We say, Bible Societies are engaged in a
noble cause. [See the first definition.]
Hence the word cause is used to denote
that which a person or thing favors ; that
to which the efforts of an inteUigent being
are directed ; as, to promote religion is to
advance the cause of God. So we say, the
cause of truth or of justice. In all its ap-
phcations, cause retains something of its
original meaning, struggle, impelling force,
contest, effort to obtain or to eft'ect some-
thing.
6. Jf^thout cause, without good reason ; with-
out a reason or motive to justify the act.
They hale me without cause. Ps. x.xxv. l.xix.
€AUSE, V. t. To produce ; to bring into ex-
istence.
They caused great joy to all the brethren.
Acts XV.
2. To effect by agency, power or influence.
I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days.
Gen. vii.
I will couse him to fall by the sword. 2
CAUSE, V. i. To assign insufficient cause.
Obs. Spenser.
CAUS'ED, pp. Produced ; effected ; brought
about.
CAUSELESS, a. cauz'less. Having no
cause, or producing agent. Blackinore.
2. Without just ground, reason or motive' ;
causeless hatred ; causeless fear.
Fairfax. Waller. Prov. xxvi.
CAUSELESSLY, adv. cauz'lesshj. Without
cause or reason. Taylor.
CAUSELESSNESS, n. cauz'lessness. The
Slate of being causeless. Hammond,
CAUS'ER, n. He that causes ; the agent by
which an effect is produced.
Johnson. Sidney.
CAUS'EY, n. cauz'y. [Norm, calsay ; Fr.
chaussie for chaulsie, a bank, or raised
way ; Arm. chau^zer, the bank or mole
of a pond. The ^Spanish has calzada, a
causey, or way paved and raised ; Port
calgada, a pavement, and stones used in
paving. Both those words are evidently
from the same root as Sj). calzas, Port
calgado, Sp. calzado, hose, loose breeches,
trowsers, shoes, Fr. chausse, and the
French word is evidently the same with
the loss of <. The sense is probably taken
from putting on, covering, Port, cal^ar,
to put on shoes, or stockings, to pave, Sp.
calzar, id, L. calceo, calceus.]
A way raised above the natural level of the
ground, by stones, earth, timber, fascines,
&c., serving as a dry passage over wet or
marshy ground, or as a mole to confine
water to a pond or restrain it from over-
flowing lower ground. Most generally it
is a way raised in a common road.
CAUSID'ICAL, a. [L. caitsidicus, causa
and rfico.]
Pertaining to an advocate, or to the mainte-
nance and defense of suits.
CAUSING, ppr. Producing ; effecting ;
bringing into being.
€AUS'TI€, \ [Gr. xwogixof, from xomh,
€AUS'TI€AL. \ "■ xooiffu, to burn.]
Burning ; corroding ; destroying the texture
of animal flesh.
€AUS'TI€, n. In medicine, any substance
which applied to living animals, acts like
fire, in corroding the part and dissolving
its texture ; an escharotic. [See Caustici-
ty.] Coxe. Encyc.
Lunar caustic, a preparation of crystals of
silver, obtained by solution in
acid, and afterwards fused in a crucible.
It is a nitrate of silver. JsTicholson.
Caustic curve, in geometry, a curve formed
by a coincidence of rays of light reflected
from another cui-ve. Encyc.
CAUSTICITY, n. The quality of acting
like fire on animal matter, or the quality
of combining with the principles of organ-
ized substances, and destroying their tex-
ture. This quality belongs to concentra-
ted acids, pure alkalis, and some metallic
salts. J^/tcholson
CAU'TEL, n. [L. caulela, from cavco, to take
care.] Caution. [JVot Mserf.] Shak.
CAU'TELOUS, a. [Fr. cauieleux, from L.
cautela.] Cautious ; wary ; provident.
Wolton.
9. Cunning ; treacherous ; wily. Spenser.
CAU'TELOUSLY, tM/i). Cunningly; slily;
treacherously. Bacon.
2. Cautiously ; warily. Brown.
CAU'TELOUSNESS, n. Cautiousness.
CAU'TERISM, n. The appUcation of cau-
tery. Ferrand.
CAUTERIZA'TION, n. [See Cauterize.]
In surgery, the act of burning or searing
some morbid part, by the appUcation of
fire. This is done by burning tow, cot
ton, mo.xa, Spanish wax, pyramidical pie
ces of linen, &c., or more generally by a
hot iron. Encyc
CAU'TERIZE, V. t. [Fr. cauteriser; Sp. Port
cauterizar ; It. cauterizzare ; Gr. atavrjypiof u
from xavtrif, a burning or branding iron,
from xaiu, to burn.]
To burn or sear with fire or a hot iron, as
morbid flesh.
CAU'TERIZED, pp. Burnt or seared with
a hot iron.
CAUTERIZING, ppr. Burning, as with
hot iron.
CAU'TERIZING, n. The act of burning, as
with a hot iron.
CAU'TERY, n. [Gr. xmitripiov ; L. cauleri
um. See Cauterize.]
A burning or searing, as of morbid flesh, by
a hot iron or by caustic medicines that
burn, corrode or destroy any solid part of
an animal body. The burning by a hot
iron is called actual cautery ; that by caus-
tic medicines, potential cautery.
CAU'TION, n. [L. cautio ; Fr. caution ; Sp.
caucion ; from L. caveo, to take care. See
Class Gb. No. 3. 52. 53. 83. The sense of
catieo is probably to retire, or to stop,
check or hold.]
\. Provident care ; prudence in regard to
danger ; wariness, consisting in a careful
attention to the ]>robable effects of a meas-
ure, and a judicious course of conduct to
avoid evils and the arts of designing men.
Caution is the armor to defend us against im-
position and the attacks of evil.
2. Security for, nearly the sense of the
French caution, bail.
The parliament would give his majesty suffi-
cient caution that the war should be prosecuted.
Clarendon.
3. Provision or security against ; measures
taken for security ; as the rules and cau-
tions of government.
4. Precept ; advice ; injunction ; warning ;
exhortation, intended as security or guard
against evil.
CAU'TION, V. t. To give notice of danger ;
to warn ; to exhort to take heed.
You cautioned me against then- charms.
Swift.
CAUTIONARY, a. Containing caution, or
warning to avoid danger ; as cautionary
advice.
2. Given as a pledge or in security ; as a
cautionary town.
CAU'TIONED, pp. Warned ; previously
admonished.
CAU'TIONER, n. In Scots law, the person
who is bound for another, to the perform-
ance of an obligation.
CAU'TIONING, ppr. Warning; giving pre-
vious notice of danger.
CAU'TIONRY, n. In Scots laiv, the act
of giving security for another, or the obli-
gation by which one person becomes en-
gaged as security for another, that he
shall pay a sum of money or perform a
deed. Enq/c.
CAU'TIOUS, a. Wary ; watchful ; careful
to avoid evils ; attentive to examine prob-
able effects and consequences of meas-
ures, with a view to avoid danger or mis-
fortune ; prudent ; circumspect.
CAUTIOUSLY, adv. With caution; in a
wary, scrupulous manner.
CAU'tlOUSNESS, n. The quality of being-
cautious ; watchfulness ; provident care ;
circumspection ; prudence with regard to
danger. Addison.
CAVALCADE, n. {Tr. cavalcade ; Sp.eaW-
gada ; It. cavidcata. See Cavalry.]
A procession of persons on liorseback ; a
formal, pompous march of horsemen and
equipage, by way of parade, or to grace a
triumph, the public entry of a person of
distinction, &c.
CAVALIE'R, n. [Fr. See Cavalry.] A horse-
man, especially an armed horseman ; a
knight.
2. A gay, sprightly, military man.
3. The appellation of the party of king
Charles I. Swift.
4. \n fortification, an elevation of earth, situ-
C A V
C A V
C E A
ated ordinarily in the gorge of a bastion
bordered with a parapet, with embrasures
Encyc.
4. In the manege, one who understands
horseinansiiip ; one skilled in the art of
riding.
€AVALIE'R, a. Gay ; sprightly ; warlike ;
brave ; generous.
2. Haughty; disdainful.
€AVALIE'RLY,«</b. Haughtily; arrogant-
ly; disdainfully. Warhurton.
CAVALIE'RNESS, n. Haughtiness; a dis-
dainful manner.
CAVALRY, n. [Fr. cavalerie, from cavalier,
a horseman, and this fiom cheval, a horse,
whence cavalcade ; It. cavalh, a horse,
cavaliere, cavalcala ; Sp. caballo, caballero,
cabalgada ; from L. caballus, a horse ; Ir.
capaU and peall ; Russ. kobila, a mare ; Gr.
xaSaXKi]!, a pack-horse.]
A body of military troops on horses ; a gen
eral term, including light-horse, dragoons,
and other bodies of men, serving on horse-
back. Encyc.
CA'VATE, V. f. [L. cai'o, to make hollow ;
To dig out and make hollow ; but super-
seded by excavate.
€AVATifNA, n. [It.] In music, a short air,
without a return or second part, which is
sometimes relieved by recitative. Busliy
€AVA'ZION, n. [L. cavo, to hollow.] In
architecture, the underdigging or hollowing
of the eartli for the foundation of a build-
ing, or for cellarage ; alloweil to be the
sixth part of the highth of the building
Johnson. Bailey.
CAVE, n. [Fr. cave ; L. cavea ; Sp. cueva
It. cava ; Arm. caff, or cau ; W. ogov
Hindoo, gopa ; Ar.
jLs to dig ou
to be hollow. Class
excavate, or
Gb. No. a 71.]
A hollow place in the earth ; a subterrane-
ous cavern ; a den. This may be natura:
or artificial. The primitive inhabitants of
the earth, in many countries, lived
caves ; and the present inhabitants of some
parts of the earth, especially in the high
northern latitudes, occupy caves, particu-
larly in winter.
Lot dwelt in a cave, he and his daughters
Gen. xix.
Caves were also used for the burial of tlie
dead.
.\braham buried Sarah in the cave of the field
of Machpelah. Gen. xxiii
Bacon applies the word to the ear, "the
cave of the ear ;" but this application is
unusual.
CAVE, 1'. t. To make hollow. Spenser.
CAVE, r. i. To dwell in a cave. Shak.
To cave in, to fall in and leave a hollow, as
earth on the side of a well or pit. When
in digging into the earth, the side is exca-
vated by a falling of a quantity of earth, it
is said to cave in.
CA'VEAT, n. [L. caveat, let him beware,
from caveo.]
In law, a process in a court, especially in a
spiritual court, to stop proceedings," as to
stop the proving of a will ; also to prevent
the institution of a clerk to a benefice.
Blackston
In America, it is used in courts of com-
mon law. Crouch's Reports
2. Intimation of caution ; hint ; warning ;
admonition.
CA'VEAT, V. t. To enter a caveat.
Judge Innes, CrancVs Rep.
CA'VEATING, n. \n fencing, is the shifting
the sword from one side of that of your
adversary to the other. Encyc.
CA'VEATOR, n. One who enters a caveat
Judge Innes, Cranch's Rep,
CAV'ERN, n. [L. caverna; Sp. Port. It. id.
This word seems to be composed of cavus,
and the Sax. cem, a secret place.]
A deep hollow place in the earth. In gen-
eral, it difters from cave in greater depth,
and in being applied most usually to
natural hollows, or chasms.
Earth with its caverns dark and deep.
Watts.
CAV'ERNED, a. Full of caverns, or deep
chasms ; having caverns.
2. Inhabiting a cavern. Pope.
CAVERNOUS, a. [L. cavernosus.] Hollow ;
full of caverns. U'oodward.
[Faber uses cavernal, which is less
larly formed.]
CAVERN'ULOUS, o. [h. cavemula.] Full
of Uttle cavities ; as cavemulous metal.
Black
CAVET'TO, n. [from It. cavo.] In architecture,
a hollow member, or round concave mold-
ing, containing the quadrant of a circle;
used as an ornament in cornices. Encyc.
CA VEZON. ) [Fr. cavefon, or cavesson ;
CA VESSON, ^ "■ It. cavezzone, a muzzle for
horse, from cavare, to draw.]
A sort of nose-band, of iron, leather or wood
sometimes flat, and sometimes hollow oi
twisted, which is put on the nose of c
horse to wring it, and thus to forward the
suppling and breaking of him.
Farrier's Diet.
CAVIAR, Ji. cavee'r [Sp. cabial ; It. cavi-
ale; Ar. .IxAii gabiar. The Arabic
ppr. Raising frivolous objec-
verb j.Aji gabara, from which this
word is formed, signifies to try, to strain
or press, and to season with fat. {t may
coincide with the Gr. jtftpou, L. experior.]
The roes of certain large fish, prepared and
salted. The best is made from the roes of
the sterlet, sturgeon, sevruga, and beluga,
caught in the lakes or rivers of Russia!
The roes are put into a bag with a strong
brine, and pressed by wringing, and then
dried and put in casks, or into cisterns,
perforated at bottom, where they are
pressed by heavy weights. The poorest
sort is trodden with the feet. Tooke.
CAVIL, V. i. [Sp. cavilar: Port, cavillar ;
It. cavUlare ; L.cavillor; U. kibbelen ; Ori-
ental S3p ; Ch. to cry out or complain ;
Syr. to accuse, oppose, censure.]
1. To raise captious and frivolous objections
to find fault without good reason ; follow-
ed by at.
It is better to reason than to cavil. Anon
2. To advance futile objections, or to frame
sophisms, for the sake of victory in an ar-
gument.
CAVIL, V. t. To receive or treat with objec-
tions.
Wilt thou enjoy the good.
Then cavil the conditions. Mlton
\_JVot usual.}
C.W IL, 11. False or frivolous objections :
also, a fallacious kind of reason, bearing
some reseinblance to truth, advanced for
the sake of victory. Johnson. Encyc.
CA VILER, n. One who cavils; one who is
apt to raise captious objections ; a cap-
tious disputant. Jlddison.
CAVILING,
tions.
CAV'ILINGLY, adv. In a caviling manner.
Sherwood.
CAVILLA'TION, n. [L. cavUlatio.} The
act or jiractite of caviling, or raising friv-
olous objections. Hooker.
C.WILOUS, a. Captious ; unfair in argu-
ment ; apt to object without good reason.
Miffe.
CA V'lLOUSLY, adv. In a cavilous manner ;
captiously. Milton.
CAV'ILOUSNESS, n. Captiousness ; dispo-
sition or a|)titude to raise frivolous objec-
tions.
CAViN, n. [Fr. from L. cams, hollow.]
In the military art, a hollow way or natural
hollow, adapted to cover troops and facil-
itate their approach to a place.
Johnson. Bailey.
CAVITY, n. [L. cavitas; Fr. caviti; from L.
caws, hollow.]
A hollow place; hollowness; an opening;
as the cavity of the mouth or throat. This
a word of very general signification
^'OLINITE, n. [from Caiilini, a
CAVOLINITE,-n. [from Cavolini, a Nea-
politan naturalist.]
A newly discovered Vesuvian mineral, of u
hexahedral form, occurring in the interior
of calcarious balls, accompanied with gar-
nets, idocrase, mica, and granular pjTox-
ene, lining the cavity of the geode, &c.
Joum. of Science.
CA'VY, n. A genus of quadruped.s, holding
a middle place between the murine and
leporine tribes. Encyc.
CAW, V. i. [probably from the sound ; Sa.\.
ceo, a crow or a jay.]
To ciy like a crow, rook or raven.
CAX'OU, n. [Sp. caxa, caxon.] A chest of
ores of any metal that has been burnt,
ground and w ashed, and is readv to be
refined. [Local.] ' Todd.
CA'YMAN, n. An animal of the genus
Lacerta, found in the West Indies, the al-
ligator.
CAZiC, or CAZiQUE, n. cazeik. The title
of a king or chief among several Uibes of
Indians in America.
CEASE, v.i. [Fr. cesser; Sp.cesar; Port.
cessar ; It. cessare ; L. ocoto.]
1. To stop moving, acting or speaking; to
leave off; to give over ; followed hy from
before a noun.
It is an honor for a man to cease from strife".
Prov. XX.
2. To fail ; to be wanting.
The poor shall never cease out of the land.
Deut. XV.
3. To stop ; to be at an end ; as, the wonder
ceases ; the stonii has ceased.
i. To be forgotten.
I would make the remembrance of them to
cease. Deut. xxxii.
5. To abstain ; as, cease from anger. Ps.
XXX vii.
To cease from labor, is to rest ; to cease from
strife, is to be quiet ; but in such phrases,
the sense of ceoje is not varied.-
C E
C E L
C E L
CEASE,!'. (. To put a stop to; to put an
end to.
Cease this impious rage. Milton.
[But in this use the phrase is generally el-
liptical.]
CEASE, n. Extinction. [jYol in use.]
Shak.
CE'ASELESS, a. Without a stop or pause ;
incessant ; continual ; witliout intermis-
sion.
All these with ceaseless praise liis works be-
hold. Miltun.
2. Endless ; enduring for ever ; as the cease-
less joj's of heaven.
CE'ASELESSLY, adv. Incessantly ; per-
petually. Donne.
CE'ASING, p/)r. Stopping; ending; desist-
ing ; failing.
CE€€H N, J!. A coin of Italy and Barbary.
[See Zechin.]
CE'CITY, n. [L. ciBcitas, from ca:cus, blind.]
Blindness. Brown.
CE'DAR, n. [L. cedrus : Fr. cedre ; Sp.
It. cedro ; from Gr. xf 8po5 ; Syr. ! ^a ;
Heb. Tip kadar, to be dark.]
A tree. This name is given to different spe-
cies of the jimiper, and to a species of Pi-
nus. The latter is that which is men-
tioned in scripture. It is an evergreen,
grows to a great size, and is remarkable
for its durability.
CE'DAR-LIKE, a. Resembling a cedar.
B. Jonson.
CE'DARN, a. Pertaining to the cedar.
MUon.
CEDE, V. t. [Fr. ceder ; Sp. Port, ceder ; It.
cedere ; L. cerfo; W . gadu, gadaw ; Eng. to
quit. See Qjiii and Conge. This coin-
cides also with the Gr. jr*?", (X<^^°''-]
1. To yield; to surrender; to give up ; to re-
sign ; as, to cede a fortress, a province or
country, by treaty. This word is apjjro-
priately used to denote the relinquishment
of a conquered city, fortress, or territory,
to the former sovereign or proprietor.
2. To relinquish and grant ; as, to cede all
claims to a disputed right or territory.
The people must cede to the government
some of their natural rights. Jay.
CE'DED, pp. Yielded ; surrendered ; given
up.
CE'DING, ppr. Yielding ; giving up.
CE'DRAT, n. A species of citron-tree.
Pallas. Tooke.
CE'DRINE, a. Belonging to cedar.
CE'DRY, a. Having the color or properties
of cedar. Evelyn.
CED'UOUS, a. Fit to be felled. Evelyn.
CEIL, «. <. [Sp. cicZo, heaven, a roof or ceil-
ing ; It. cielo ; Fr. del, heaven, a canopy,
a tester ; L. cmlum. Qu. Gr. xoaoj. This
word indicates its original application
vaulted buildings, without divisions into
stories ; such as many of the pubhc edifi
ces in Europe, but which are rarely seer
in America.]
To overlay or cover the inner roof of a
building ; or to cover the top or roof of a
room.
And the greater house he ceiled with fir-tree
2 Chron. iii.
CE'ILED, pp. Overlaid with timber, or with
plastering.
CE'ILING, ppr. Covering the top of a room
or building.
CE'ILING, n. The covering which overlays
the inner roof of a building, or the timbers
which form the top of a room. This cov-
ering may be of boards, or of lath and
plastering. Hence ceiling is used for the
upper part of a room.
2. In ship building, the inside planks of a
ship.
CEL'ANDINE, n. [T>. celedonie ; It. celido-
nia ; L. chelidonia ; Gr. xi'^i&wi.ov, from
;tf>.i8uii', a swallow.]
A plant, swallow-wort, horned or prickly
poppy, growing on old walls, among rub-
bish, and in waste places. The lesser cel-
andine is called pile-wort, a species of
Ranunculus. The name is also given to
the Bocconia, a plant of the West Indies,
called the greater tree-celandine. The
true orthography would be Chelidine.
Coxe. Fam. of Plants.
CE'LATURE, n. [L. cmlatura, from ca:lo, to
engrave or emboss.]
. The act or art of engraving or embossing.
2. That which is engraved. Hakeuiill.
CEL'EBRATE, v. t. [Ir. ceileabradh ; Fr.
celehrcr ; Sp. Port, celehrar ; It. celebrare ;
L. celebro, irom celeber, famous. The Russ.
has slavlyu. Qu. the root of caH.]
. To praise ; to extol ; to commend ; to give
praise to ; to make famous ; as, to celebrate
the name of the Most High.
The grave cannot celebrate thee. Is. xxxviii.
2. To distiuguish by solemn rites ; to keep
holy.
From even to even shall ye celebrate your
sabbath. Lev. xxiii.
3. To honor or distinguish by ceremonies
and marks of joy and respect ; as, to cele-
brate the birth day of Washington ; to cel-
ebrate a marriage.
4. To mention in a solemn manner, whether
of jov or sorrow. Johnson.
CEL'EBRATED, pp. Praised ; extolled ;
honored.
CEL'EBRATING,;)pr. Praising ; honoring
CELEBRA'TION,n. Solemn performance
a distinguishing by solemn rites ; as the
celebration of a marriage, or of a reUgious
festival.
2. A distinguishing by ceremonies, or by
marks of joy or respect; as the celebration
of a birth day, or other anniversary.
3. Praise ; renown ; honor or distinction be
stowed, whether by songs, eulogies, or
rites and ceremonies. Clarendon
CEL'EBRATOR, n. One who celebrates.
Boyle.
CELE'BRIOUS, a. Famous ; renowned.
[Little used.] Grew.
CELE'BRIOUSLY, adv. With praise or re-
nown. [Little used.]
CELE'BRIOUSNESS, n. Fame; renown-
[Little used.]
CELEB'RITY. n. [L. celebritas.] Fame ; re-
nown ; the distinction or honor pubhcly
bestowed on a nation or person, on char-
acter or exploits; the distinction bestowed
on whatever is great or remarkable, and
manifested by praises or eulogies ; as the
celebrity of the duke of Wellington ; the
celebrity of Homer, or of the Iliad.
England acquired celebrity from the triumphs
of Marlborough. T. Dawes
2. Public and splendid transaction ; as the
celebrity of a marriage. In this sense,
used bv Bacon, we now use celebration.
CEL'ERI. [See Celery.]
CELE'RIA€, n. A variety of celery, called
also the tumep-rooted celeni. [See Celeru.l
CELER'ITY, n. [L. cderitis ;Fr. celerite;
Sp. celeridad; It. eelerita ; from L. cder,
swift ; Oriental Sp swift, light ; Gr. xfWUo.]
1. Rapidity in motion; swiftness; speed;
applied most generally to bodies moving
on or near the earth ; as the celerity of a
horse or of a fowl. We speak of tlie ve-
locity of sound or of light, or of a planet in
its orbit. This distinction however is not
general, nor can the different uses of the
two words be precisely defined. We ap-
ply celerity rather than velocity to thought ;
but there seems to be no reason, except
usage, why the two words should not be
synonymous.
2. An affection of motion by which a mova-
ble body runs through a "given space in a
given time. Encyc.
CEL'ERY, n. [Fr. celeri; D. seldery;'G.
selleri; Gr. BtV-tpw.]
A plant, a species of Apium, cultivated for
the table.
CELES'TIAL, a. [h. cwlestis, from calum,
ccelum, heaven.]
1. Heavenly ; belonging or relating to hea-
ven ; dwelling in heaven ; as celestial spir-
its ; celestial joys. Hence the word con-
veys the idea of superior excellence,
delight, purity, &c. Dryden.
2. Belonging to the upper regions, or visible
heaven ; as celestial signs ; the celestial
globe.
3. Descending from heaven ; as a suit of ce-
lestial armor. Pope.
CELES'TIAL, n. An inhabitant of heaven.
Pope.
CELES'TIALLY, adv. In a heavenly or
transporting manner.
CELES'TIFY, v. I. To communicate some-
thing of a heavenly nature to any thing.
[JVbt used.] Brown.
CEL'ESTIN, I In mineralogy, native
CEL'ESTINE, S sulphate of strontian,
a mineral so named from its occasional
dehcate blue color. Ure.
CEL'ESTINS, n. A religious order, so nam-
ed from Pope Celestin. They have ninety-
six convents in Italy, and twenty-one in
France. They rise two hours after mid-
night to say matins. They eat no flesh,
except when sick, and fast often. Their
habit is a white gown, a capuche aud a
black scapulary. Encyc.
CE'LIA€, a. [L. caliacus ; Gr. xoataxoj,
from xoaia, the belly.]
Pertaining to the lower belly, or intestines.
Arhuthnot.
CELIB'ACY, n. [L. Calebs, an unmarried
person ; calibaivs, a single life.]
An unmarried state; a single hfe. It is most
frequently if not always applied to males,
or to a voluntary single life.
They look on celibacy as an accursed state.
Spectator.
CEL'IBATE, n. A single Hfe ; celibacy ;
chiefly used when speaking of the single ; i
life of the Popish clergy. Encyc.
CELL, n. [L. ceUa ; Ir. ceall ; Sp. celda ;
Port. It. cella ; D. kelder, a cellar ; G.
keller ; ?w.kellare; Dan. kelder; W.cill<
It has the elements of the Latin cdo, to
cont'cal, and of the English hold.] ij
C E M
C E N
C E N
I. A small or close apartment, as in a prison,
or a bath.
9. A cottage ; a cave ; a small or mean place
of residence. Prwr.
3. A small cavity or hollow place, variously
applied ; as the cells of the brain ; the cells
of a honey comb, &c.
4. In botany, a hollow place in a pericarp,
particularly in a capsule, in which seeds
are lodged. According to the number of
these cells, pericarps are called unilocular,
bilocular, trilocular, &c. Marti/n
J. In anatomy, a little bag, or bladder, con-
taining fluid or otlier matter ; as the adi-
pose cells, containing fat. Encyc.
6. A religious house. Chaucer.
CEL'LAR, n. [L. cellarium. See Cell.^
A room under a house or other building, \\s-
ed as a repository of liquors, provisions,
and other stores for a family.
CEL'LARAGE, n. The room for a cellar;
a cellar, or cellars.
OEL'LARET, n. A case of cabinet work,
for holding bottles of liquors. [Local.]
OEL'LARIST, CELLARER, n. An of-
ficer in a monastery who has the care of|
the cellar, or the charge of procuring and
keeping the provisions ; also, an officer ir
chapters, who has the care of the tempo-
rals, and particularly of distributing bread,
wine, and money to canons, an account of
their attendance" in the choir. Ennic
CELLIF'EROUS, a. [L. cella, and /ero," to
bear.] Bearing or producing cells.
Encyc.
CEL'LULAR, a. [L. celhda, a little cell.]
Consisting of cells, or containing cells.
Kincan.
The cellular membrane, in animal bodies,
is composed of an infinite number of mi-
nute cells, communicating with each oth-
er. It invests every fiber, and seems to be
the medium of connection between all
parts of the body. The cells serve as re-
servoirs for fat. Encyc.
CELLULIF'EROUS, a. [L. celhda, a little
cell, and fero, to bear.] Bearing or pro-
ducing little cells. Dkf. Mit. Hist
CKLS'ITUDE, n. [L. celsitudo.] Highth
• Icvation. Chaucer.
<.'KI.T, n. One of the primitive inhabitants
oltlie South ofEurope. [See Celtic]
• Ki.riBE'RIAN, a. Pertaining to Celtibe
111, and its inhabitants, the Celtiberi, or
I ills of the Iberus, a river in Spain.
' i . I .TI BE'RIAN, n. An inhabitant of Celt
t ' I ; I .'f' le, a. [W. celt, a covert or shelter ;
n .,';'«(/, one that dwells in a covert, an in-
haliitant of the forest, a Celt ; cebt, to
conceal,L. celo ; Gr. KtWoi, Celts.'
IVrtuiningto the primitive inhabitants of the
.'-'(iiith pnd West ofEurope, or to the ear-
ly inhabitants of Italy, Gaul, Spain and
liiitain. We say, Celtic nations ; Celtic
iiistonis; Ce/h'c origin.
< I'.l.Tle, n. The language of the Celts.
' I. I.T'ICISM, n. The manners and cus-
I s of the Celts. Warlon.
• I'.l.'i' IS, Ji. The nettle-tree,of several spe-
i-i.s; among which are the australis or
Mmtliern, a native of Africa and the South
• ifEiirope; the oriental, growing in Arme-
nia and Tam'ica; and the western, srrow-
Arm. cimant; Sp. cimiento, the groundl
work of a building ; It. cimento, an essay
or experiment.]
1. Any glutinous or other substance capable
of uniting bodies in close cohesion,
mortar, glue, soder, &c. In building, ce-
ment denotes a stronger kind of mortar
than that which is ordinarily used. Encyc.
2. Bond of union ; that which unites firmly,
as persons in ft-iendsbip, or men in society
.3. Powders or pa.stes, surrounding bodies ir
pots and crucibles, for chimical purposes
CEMENT', V. t. To unite by the application
of glutinous substances, by mortar which
hardens, or other matter that produces
cohesion of bodies.
2. To unite firmly or closely ; as, to cement
all parts of the community ; to cement
friendship.
CEMENT', V. i. To unite or become solid;
to unite and cohere. Sharp.
CEMENTA'TION, n. The act of cement-
ing ; the act of uniting by a suitable sub-
stance.
2. In chimisiry, the act of applying cements
to substances, or the corroding and chang
ing of them by cement. This is done by
surrounding them with the powder of an-
other body, and exposing them, in a close
vessel, to a heat not suflicient to fuse them.
Encyc. Ure.
CEMENT' ATORY, a. Cementing ; having
the quality of uniting firmly. Encyc.
CEMENT'ED, pp. United by cement
changed by cement ; firmly united ; con-
solidated
CEMENT'ER, n. The person or thing that
CEMENT'ING, ppr. Uniting by cement
changing by means of a cement ; uniting
closely ; consolidating.
CEMENTI "TIOUS, a. Uniting as cement
conglutinating ; tending to unite or con
solidate.
CEM'ETERY,H. [h. ca:meterium ; Gr.xot/.,-
rjjptoi', from xoi/iuu^, to sleep.]
A place where the dead bodies of human
)eings are buried. Addison.
CEN'ATORY, a. [L. comatorius, from cana,
sup])er, cceno, to sup.]
Pertaining or relating to supper. Brown
CE'NOB'ITE, n. [Gr. xoivaSiorr,i, a commu-
nity, from xoii'oj, common, and fJiof, life.
(3tou, to live.]
One of a religious order, who live in a con-
vent, or in community ; in opposition to
an anchoret, or hermit, who lives in soU-
tude. Encyc.
CEN0BIT'I€, \ a. Living in communi-
CEN0BIT'I€AL, ^ ty, as men belonging
to a convent. . StiUingdeet
CE'NOBY, n. A place where persotis live in
coinmunitv. Buck.
CEN'OTAPH, n. [Gr. xsi-ofo^wi', from xe-
I'oj, empty, and rcujios, a tomb.]
\n empty tomb erected in honor of some
deceased person ; a monument erected to
one who is buried elsewhere.
Johnson. Encyc.
CENSE, n. cens. [L. census, a valuation, a
registering, a tax ; censeo, to enroll, tc
tax. Qu. Ch. OJp to impose a fine.]
1. A public rate or tax. Bacon.
ing in Virginia. Enryc. Tooke.p. Condition ; rank. Obs. B. Jonson.
UEM'ENT, n. [L. cwmentum; Vr. ciment ;\\CEtiSE, v. t. [Fr. encenser. See Incense.]
\ Vol. I. 34
To perfume with odors from burning sub-
stances. Dryden.
CENS'ER, n. [Fr. tncensoir ; Sp. incensa-
rio ; It. incensiere. See Incense.]
A vase or pan in which incense is burned.
Among the Jews, a kind of chafins-dish,
covered by a dome, and suspended by a
chain, used to oflijr perfumes in sacrifices^
Eitcyo.
CENSING, ppr. Perfuming with odors.
CEN'SION, n. [L. censio. See Cense] A
rate, tax, or assessment. [.Vot used.]
J. Hall.
CENS'OR,n. [L. censor. See Cense]
An ofiicer, in ancient Rome, whose business
was to register the effects of the citizens,
to impose taxes according to the property
which each man possessed, and to inspect
the manners of the citizens, with power to
censure vice and immoraUty, by inflicting
a public mark of ignominy on the offender.
2. One who is empowered to examine all
manuscripts and books, before they are
committed to the press, and to see that
they contain notliing heretical or immoral.
Encyc.
3. One who is given to censure.
Roscominon. Dryden.
CENSORIAL, } a. Belonging to a censor.
CENSO RIAN, \ or to the correction of
public morals ; as, censorial power.
2. Full of censure. See Cejisorious, the pro-
per word.
CENSO'RIOUS, a. Addicted to censure ;
apt to blame or condemn ; severe in mak-
ing remarks on others, or on their writings
or manners ; often implying ill-nature, il-
liberaUty, or uucharitableness ; as a cen-
sorious critic.
2. Implying or expressing censure ; as, cen-
sorious remarks.
CENSORIOUSLY, adv. In a censorious
manner.
CENSO RIOUSNESS, n. Disposition to
blame and condemn; the habit of censur-
ing or reproaching. Taylor.
2. The quality of being censorious.
CENS'ORSHIP, n. The office or dignity of
a censor ; the time during which a cen-
sor holds his office.
CENS'UAL, a. [L. censualis.] Relatingt o, or
containing a census ; liable to be rated.
Whitaker. Encyc.
CENS-URABLE, a. [See Censure.] Wor-
thy of censure ; blamable ; culpable ; rep-
rehensible ; faulty ; as a censurable person,
or censurable conduct or vvTitings. Locke.
CENS'URABLENESS, n. Blamableness ;
fitness to be censured. ffTiitlocl;.
CENS'URABLY, adv. In a manner worthy
of blame.
CENS'URE, n. cen'shur. [L. censura ; Fr.
censure ; Sp. Port. It. censura ; from L. cen-
seo, censor.]
1. The act of blaming or finding fault and
condemning as wrong; applicable to the
moral conduct, or to the works of men.
When applied to persons, it is nearly equiv-
alent to blame, reproof, reprehension, re-
prunand. It is an expression of disappro-
bation, which often implies reproof.
2. Judicial sentence ; judgment that con-
demns. An ecclesiastical ce?i*ure is a sen-
tence of condemnation, or penalty inflict-
ed on a member of a church for inal-con-
ductj by which he is deprived of the com-
C E N
ijiiiiiion of the church, or prohibited from
executing the sacerdotal office. Encyc.
CENS'URE, V. t. cen'shur. [Fr. cenaurer;
Sp. censumr.] To find fault with and con
demn as wrong ; to blame ; to express dis
approbation oi'; as, to censure a man, o:
his manners, or his vvTitings.
We laugh at vanity, oftener than we censure
pride. Buckminsler
Q. To condemn by a judicial sentence, as in
ecclesiastical affairs.
3. To estimate. [JVot in use.] Shak.
CENS'URE, V. {. To judge. [JVot in use.]
CENS'URED, p;>. Blamed ; reproved ; con-
demned.
CENS'URING, /)/))•. Blaming, finding fault
with ; condemning.
CENS'US, n. [L. from censeo. See Cense ^
In ancient Rome, an authentic declaration
made before the censors, by the citizens,
of their names and places of abode. This
<leclaration was registered, and contained
an enumeration of all their lands and es-
tates, their quantity and quality, with the
wives, children, domestics, tenants, and
slaves of each eitizen. Hence the word
signifies this enumeration or register, a
man's whole substance, and the ta,x im-
posed according to each man's property.
•2. In the United States of America, an enu-
meration of the inhabitants of all the
States, taken by order of the Congress, to
furnish the rule of api)ortioning the repre-
sentation among the States, and the num-
ber of represensatives to which each State
is entitled in the Congress ; also, an enu-
meration of the inhabitants of a State, ta-
ken by order of its legislature.
CENT,n. [Fr. ce7i<,- Sp. ciejiio ; Port. cento;
It. cento ; from L. centum, formed on tlie
Celtic, W. cant. Arm. cant. Corn. kanz.
The Welcli cant signifies a circle, hoop,
wheel, or rim, a wattled fence round a
yard or corn floor ; hence, a complete cir-
cle, a hundred. It is probable that the
Teutonic and Gothic hund, in hundred, is
the same word. Ar. j>i^ handon, a
hundred, and the same root gives India,
Hindu. See Hundred.]
1. A himdred. In commerce, per cent, de-
notes a certain rate by the hundred ; as,
ten per cent, is ten in the hundred, whether
profit or loss. This rate is catied percent-
age.
2. In the United States of America, a copper
coin whose value is the hundredth part of
a dollar.
CENT'AgE, n. Rate by the cent or hun-
dred.
CEN'TAUR, n. [L. centaurus; Gr. xii/tmifiof.
Qn. xtfiiu, to spur, and Tewpoj, a bull.]
In mythology, a fabulous being, supposed to
be half man and half horse. It has been
supposed that this fancied monster origin-
ated among the Lapithse, a tribe in Thes-
saly, who first invented the art of breaking
horses. But the origin of the fable and of
the name is doubtful.
2. Part of a southern constellation, in form
of a centaur, usually joined with the wolf,
containing thirty-five stars ; the archer.
CEN'TAURLIKE, a. Having the abear-
ance ol a centaur. Sidney.
C E N
CEN'TAURY, n. [L. centaurea; Gr. xivtav
The name of a plant, and a genus of plants,
of numerous species. The lesser centaury
is a species of Gentiana. Centaui-y bears
the popular names of knapweed, blue-
bottle, sultan, and star-thistle. Encyc
CENT'ENARY, n. [L. centenarius, iwm
centum, a hundred.]
The number of a hundred ; as a centenary ofl
years.
CENT'ENARY, a. Relating to a hundred ;
consisting of a hundred.
CENTEN'NIAL, a. [L. centum, a hundi-ed,
and annus, a year.]
. Consisting of a hundred years, or com-
pleting that term. Mason.
2. Pertaining to a hundred years.
3. Happening every hundred years.
CEN'TER, n. [Gr. xivrpoi; a point, goad or
spur, from xivri^, to prick ; L. centrum ;
Fr. ce7itre ; Sp. centra ; Port. It. id.]
. A point equally distant from the e.xtrem
ilies of a line, figure or body ; the middlf
point or place.
3. The middle or central object. In an ar
my, the body of troops occupying the place
in the line between the wings. In a Jleet,
the division between the van and rear of
the fine of battle, and between the weath
er division and lee, in the order of sailing
Mar. Diet.
3. A single body or house.
These institutions collected all authority in-
one center, Idngs, nobles and people.
/. Mams.
Center of gravity, in mechanics, the point
about which all the parts of a body exact-
ly balance each other.
Center of motion, the point which remains at
rest, while all the other parts of a body
move round it. Encyc.
CEN'TER, V. t. To place on a center ;
fix on a central point. Milton.
2. To collect to a point.
Thy joys are centered all in me alone.
Prior.
CEN'TER, V. i. To be coUected to a point.
Our hopes must center on ourselves alone.
Dryden.
2. To be collected to a point ; to rest on.
3. To be placed in the middle. Milton.
CEN'TERED, pp. Collected to a point or
center ; fixed on a central point.
CEN'TERING,;>;)r. Placing on the center;
collecting to a point.
CENTES'IMAL, a. [L. centesimus, from
centum, a hundred.]
The hundredth. As a noun, the next step of
progression after decimal in the arithme-
tic of fraction!?. Johnson.
CENTESIMA'TION, n. [L. centesimus, su-
pra.]
A military punishment, for desertion, mutiny
or the like, where one person in a hundred
is selected for execution. Ena/c.
CEN'TESM, n. [L. centesimus.] The hun-
dredth part of an integer or thing. [M)t
used.] Bailen.
CENTIFO'LIOUS, a. [L. centum, a hund-
red, and folium, a leaf] Having a hundred
leaves. Bailey. Johnso7i.
CEN'TIGRADE, a. [L. centuni, a hundred,
and grndus, a degree.]
Consisting of a hundred degrees ; gradu-
C E N
ated into a hundred divisions or equai
parts ; as a centigrade thermometer.
„ „ . , Medical Repositorti.
CEN'TIGRAM, n. [L. centum and gram.] fn
French Measure, the hundredth part of a
gram. [See Gram.]
CENTILITER, n. [L. centum, and Fr. litre
or litron.] The hundredth part of a liter,
a httle more than 6-10 of a cubic inch
CENTIM'ETER, n. [L. centum, a hundred,
and Gr. fiiTfiov, measure.]
In French measure, the hundreth part of a
meter, rather more than 39-100 of an inch,
English measure. Christ. Obs. x. 192.
CEN'TINODY, n. Knotgrass. [JVot used.]
EN'TIPED, n. [L. centipeda; centum, a
hundred, and pes, a foot.]^
An insect having a hundred feet, but the
term is applied to insects that have mauv
feet, though not a hundred. Insects of
this kind are called generically Scolopendra.
In warm climates, some of them grow to
the length of six inches or more, and their
bite is poisonous. Encyc.
CENTIPEE, for centiped, is not used.
CENT'NER, n. [L. centum, centenarius.]
In metallurgy and assaying, a dociniastic
hundred; a weight divisible first into a
hundred parts, and then into smaller parts.
The metallurgists use a weight divided
into a lumdred equal parts, each one
pound; the whole they call a centner : the
pound is divided into thirty-two parts or
half ounces ; the half ounce into two quar-
ters, and each of these into two drams.
But the assayers use different weights.
With them a centner is one dram, to which
the other parts are proportioned. Encyc.
CEN'TO, n. [L. cento, patched cloth, a
hapsody.]
A composition formed by verses or passa-
ges from other authors, disposed in a new
order. Johnson. Encyc.
CEN'TRAL, a. [L. centralis.] Relating to
the center ; placed in the center or middle ;
containing the center, or pertaining to
the parts near the center.
Central forces, in mechanics, the powers
which cause a moving body to tend to-
wards or recede from the center of mo-
tion.
CENTRAL'ITY, n. The state of being cen-
tral.
CEN'TRALLY, adv. With regard to the
center ; in a central manner.
CEN'TRI€, a. Placed in the center or mid-
dle.
CEN'TRI€ALLY, adv. In a central position.
CEN'TRICALNESS, n. Situation in the
center.
CENTRIF'UGAL, a. [L. centrum, and/w-
gio, to flee.]
Tending to recede from the center. The
centrifugal force of a body, is that force by
which all bodies moving round another
body in a curve, tend to fly oft' from the
axis of their motion, in a tangent to the
periphery of the curve. Encyc.
CENTRIP'ETAL, a. [L. centrum, and peto,
to move towards.]
Tending towards the center. Centripetal
force IB that force which draws or impels
a body towards some point as a center ; as
in case of a planet revolving round the snu,
the center of the system.
[Note. The common accentuation of cen-
C E 1»
C E R
C E R
hy'iigal and centripetal is artificial and harsli.
The accent on the first and third syllables,
circumpolar, would be natural and easy.]
CEN'TUMVIR, n. [L. centum, a hundred,
and vir, a man.]
One of a hundred and five judges, in ancient
Rome, appointed to decide common caus-
es among the people.
CENTUM' VIRAL, o. Pertaining to tlie cen
tumvirs.
CEN'TUPI.E, a. [Fr. from L. cenluptex,
cenltuii, iind »/jco, to fold.]
A hundred fold.
CEN 'TUPLE, V. t. To multiply a hundred
fold. Beatun.
CENTU'PLI€ATE, v. t. [L. centum, and
pUcatus, folded ; Sp. cenluplicar, to make
a hundred fold.]
To make a hundred fold.
CENTU'RIAL, a. [from century.] Relating
to a century, or a hundred years ; as a
cenlurial sermon.
When tJie third centurial jubilee of New
England shall come, who of us will then be liv
iug to participate the general joy .'
J. JVoodbridge
CENTU'RIATE, v. t. [L. centurio, to divide
into hundreds or companies.]
To divide into hundreds. Johnson. Bailey.
CENTURIA'TORS, ) n. [Fr. centui-iateur,
CEN'TURIST, ^ from L. centuria,
century, or from centurio, to divide into
hundreds.]
A historian who distinguishes time into cen
turies ; as in the Universal Church His-
tory of Magdeburg.' -^yliffe
CENTU'RION, n. [L. centurio, from cen-
tum, a huntlied.]
Among the Romans, a military officer who
commanded a hundred men, a century or
company of infantry, answering to the
lern armies.
[L. centuria, from centum.
hundred.]
1. In a general sense, a hundred ; any thing
consisting of a himdred parts.
2. A division of the Roman people for tl
piu'pose of electing magistrates and eiia<-
ing laws, the people voting by centuiie;
also, a company consisting of a huiidrt
men.
3. A period of a hundred years. Tliis is the
most common signification of the word ;
and as we begin our modern computation
of time from the incarnation of Christ,
the word is generally applied to some term
of a hundred years subsequent to that
event ; as the first or second century, or tlie
tenth century. If we intend to apply the
word to a different era, we use au explan-
,atory adjunct; as the third century before
the Christian era, or after the reigu of
Cyrus.
4. The Centuries of Magdeburg, a title given
to an ecclesiastical history, arranged in
1.3 centuries, compiled by a great number
of I'rotestants at Magdeburg.
CENTZONT'LI, ». The Me.xican name of
the Turdus Polyglottus, or inocking
thrush. Clavigero.
CEOL, Sax. a ship, L. celox, or Eng. keel.
This word is sometimes found prefixed to
names.
CEPHALAL'UIC, n. [Infra.] A medicine
good for the headache. Swi/l.
CEPH'ALALUY, n. [Gr. xttaXaJiyia, xf$o?.
the head, and aXyo;, pain.] The lieadach
CEPHAL'IC, a. [Gr. xt^oxtxos, from xifat^ij,
the head.]
Pertaining to the head ; as cephalic med
remedies for disorders in the head. The
cephalic vein, which runs along the arm,
was so named because the ancients used
to open it for disorders of the head.
Encyc
CEPHAL'IC, n. A medicine for headache
or other disorder in the head.
CEPH'EUS, n. A constellation in the North-
ern hemisphere.
CE'PHUS, n. A fowl of the duck kind ; al-
so, a species of monkey, the mona.
Diet. Mtl. Hist
CERA SEE', n. The male balsam apple.
CER'ASIN, 71. [L. cerasus.]
Any gummy substance which swells in
cold water, but does not readily dissolve
in it. Ure. Dr. John.
CER'ASITE, n. [L. cerojum, cherry.] A
petrifaction resembling a cherry. Cijc
CERAS'TES, n. [Gr. xtpaf,;?, from xtpof, ;i
horn.]
In zoology, tlie name of a serpent, of the
genus Coluber, which the ancients suppos-
ed to have horns.
CE'RATE, n. [L. ceralum, fVom cera, wax.]
A thick kind of ointment, composed of wax
and oil, with other ingredients ; iipplied
externally in various diseases. Cyc.
CE'RATED, a. [L. ceratus.] Covered witli
vax.
CERE, n. The naked skin that covers the
base of a hawk's bill. Encyc.
CERE, V. t. [L. cera, wax.] To wax or
with wax. Wiseman.
CER'EBEL, I „ [L. cerebellum.] The
CEREBEL'LUM, \ "• hinder part of the
head, or the little brain. Coxe
CER'EBRAL, ? „ [from L. cerebrum, the
CER'EBRINE, \ "" brain.]
Pertaining to the cerebrum or bram.
CE'RECLOTH, n. [L. cera, wax; and cloth.]
A ilcitli sirieared with melted wax, or will
some iiuiiimy or glutinous matter. Bacon
[Put the Enghsh word for a cloth used to
cover wounds is sear-cloth, Sax. aar-cloth
a sore-cloth.]
CE'REMENT, n. [L. cera, wax.] Cloths
clipped in melted wax, with which dead
bodies were infolded, when embalmed
Johtison.
CEREMO'NIAL, a. [See Ceremony.]
Relating to ceremony, or external rite ;
ual ; according to the forms of estabhslied
rites ; as ceremonial exactness. It is par
ticularly appUed to the forms and rites of
the Jewish religion ; as the ceremonial law
or worship, as distinguished from the mor
id and judicial law.
2. Formal ; observant of old forms ; exact ;
precise in manners. Dryden
[In this sense, ceremonious is now used.]
CEREMONIAL,?!. Oiuwardform; exter-
nal rite, or established forms or rites,
eluding all the forms prescribed ; a sys-
tem of rules and ceremonies, enjoined by
law or established by custom, whether in
religious worship, in social intercourse, or
in the courts of princes.
3. The order for rites and forms in the Ro-
mish church, or the book containing the
rules prescribed to be observed on solemn
occasions.
CEREMONIOUS, a. Consisting of out-
ward fbnns and rites ; as the ceremonious
part of worshi]). [In this sense, ceremonial
is now used.]
2. Full of ceremony or solemn forms.
Shali.
.3. According to the rules and forms prescri-
bed or customary ; civil; formally respect-
ful. " Ceremomous phrases." Addison.
4. Formal; according to the rules of civility ;
as, to take a ceremonious leave.
5. Formal ; exact ; precise ; too obsers-ant
of forms.
CEREMO'NIOUSLY, adv. In a eeremoni-
ous manner; formally; with due forms.
CEREMO'NIOUSNESS, n. The use of
customary forms ; the practice of too much
ceremony ; great formality in manners.
CER'EMONY, n. [L. Sp. It. Port, ceremo-
nia ; Fr. ceremonie.]
\. Outward rite ; external form in religion.
2. Forms of civihty; rules established by
custom for regulating social intercourse.
3. Oiitward forms of state ; the forms pre-
scribed or established by order or custom,
serving for the purpose of civility or mag-
nificence, as in levees of princes, the re-
ception of embassadors, &c.
Master of ceremonies, an officer who super-
intenils the recejition of embassadors. A
person who regulates the forms to be ob-
served by the company or attendants on a
public occasion.
CER'EOLITE, n. [L. cera, wax, and Gr.
y.(,9os, a stone.]
\ substance which in appearance and soft-
ness rrsoiiddes wax ; sometimes confound-
(■(I uiili >ti-»lite. Cyc. Cteaveland.
C'E Iv I'.or.^, a. [L. cereus, from cera, wax.]
\V,-i.\(ii : like wax. Gayion.
CE'RES, 7(. In mythology, the inventor or
goddess of corn, or rather the name of corn
deified.
2. The name of a planet discovered by 31.
Piozzi, at Palermo in Sicily, in 1801.
CE'RIN, 71. [L. CfT-a, wax.] Apeculiarsub-
stance which precipitates on evaporation,
from alcohol, which has been digested on
grated cork. Ure.
3. The part of conmion wax which dissolves
in alcohol. Dr. John.
3. A variety of the mineral allanite.
CERINTH'IANS, n. A set of heretics, so
called from Cerinthus, one of the first
heresiarchs in the church. They denied
the divinity of Christ, but they held that,
m his baptism, a celestial virtue descended
on him in the form of a dove, by means of
which he was consecrated by the Holy
Spirit and made Christ. Encyc.
CE'RITE, n. [See Ceriwn.] The siliceous
oxyd of Cerium, a rare mineral of a pale
rose red color, with a tinge of yellow.
Haiiy. Jameson. Cleaveland.
2. A fossil shell.
CE'RIUM, 71. A metal recently discovered
iu Sweden, in the mineral cerite, and so
called from the i)lanet Ceres. It is of
great specific gravity. Its color a grayish
wliite and its texture lamellar.
■ Diet. JVitt. Hist.
CEROON', 71. [from the Spanish.] A bale
or package made of skins.
C E R
C E R
C E S
CER'RIAL, a. Pertaining to the Cerrus, or
bitter oak. Chaucer.
CER'RUS, n. [L.] The bitter oak.
CP:R'TAIN, o. cer'tin. [Fr. certain; Sp.
cierto ; It. Port, certo ; from L. certus.]
1. Sure ; true ; undoubted ; unquestionable ;
that cannot be denied ; existing in fact and
trutli.
The dream is certain and the interpretation
sure. Dan. ii.
2. Assured in mind ; having no doubts ; fol-
lowed by of, before a noun.
However I with thee have fixed my lot,
Certain to undergo like doom of death.
Consort with thee. Milton.
To make her certain of the sad event.
Dry den.
3. Unfailing; always producing the intended
effect ; as, wc may have a certain remedy
for a disease.
4. Not doubtful or casual ; really existing.
Virtue that directs our ways
Througli certain dangers to uncertain praise.
Dryden.
5. Stated ; fixed ; determinate ; regular.
Ye shall gather a certain rate every day. Ex.
xvi.
6. Particular.
There came a certain poor widow. Mark xii.
In the plural number, a particular part or
number ; some ; an indefinite part, num-
ber, or quantity. " Ilanani came, he
and certain men of Judah." " I mourned
certain days." Neh. i. 2. 6.
In the latter sense, it is used as a noun ; as,
" certain also of your own poets have
said." Acts xvii.
CER'TAINLY, adv. Without doubt or ques-
tion ; in truth and fact.
Certainly this was a righteous man. Luke
xxiii.
2. Without failure.
He said, I will certainly return to thee. Gc
xviii.
CER'TAINNESS, n. Certainty, wliicli see.
CER'TAINTY, n. A fixed or real state ;
truth ; fact.
Know lor a certainty, that the Lord your God
will no more drive out these nations. Josh,
xxiii. Luke i.
2. Full assurance of mind ; exemption from
doubt.
Certainty is the perception of the agreement
or disagreement of our ideas. Locke.
3. Exemption from failure ; as the certainty
of an event, or of the success of a medi-
cine.
The certainty of punishment is the truest se-
curity against crimes. Ames
4. Regularity : settled state.
CER'TES, adv. Certainly ; in truth ; verily.
Obs. Chaucer.
CERTIF'IGATE, n. [Yr.ceHifical; It. ccr-
tificato. See Certify.)
I. In a general sense, a written testimony not
sworn to ; a declaration in writing, signed
by the party, and intended to verify a fact
'J. In o more particular sense, the written dec-
laration, under the hand or seal or both,
of some public officer, to be used as evi-
dence in a court, or to substantiate a fact
A certificate of this kind may be consid-
ered as given under the oath of oflice.
3. Trial by cerfijicate, is where the evidence
of the person certifying is the only proper
criterion of the point in dispute ; as when
the issue is whether a person was absent
in the army, this is tried by the certificate
of the MareschaD of the army, in writingl
under his seal. Blackstone.
CERTIF'IeATE, v. t. or i. To give a cer
tificate ; to lodge a certificate with the
proper officer, for the purpose of being ex
empted from the payment of taxes to suj)
port the ministry, in a parish or ecclesi
astical society. JS/ew England.
2. To give a certificate to, acknowledging
one to be a parishioner.
CERTIFICA'TION, 71. The act of certify
ing.
CER'TIFIED, pjo. [See Certify.] Assured;
made certain ; informed.
CER'TIFIER, n. One who certifies, or
CER'TIFY, V. t. [Fr. certifier ; Sp. certifcar ;
It. certificare ; Low L. certijico ; from cer-
tus, certain, and facio, to make.]
I. To testify to in writing ; to make a decla-
ration in writing, under hand, or hand and
seal, to make known or establish a fact.
The judges shall certify their opinion to the
chancellor, and upon such certificate, the decree!
is usually founded.
The judge shal
the freehold came chiefly in question.
Blackstone.
9. To give certain information to ; applied to
and certified the king. Ezra iv.
3. To give certain information of; applied to
tilings. I
Tills is designed to certify those things that
are confirmed of God's favor. Hammond.
It is followed by of, after the person, and
before the thing told ; as, I cetiified you
of the fact.
CER'TIFtING, ppr. Giving a written tes-
timony, or certificate ; giving certain no-
tice ; making certainly known.
CERTIORA'RI, n. [Low L. certioror, from
certus, certior.]
A writ issuing out of Chancery, King's!
Bench or other superior court, to call up
the records of an inferior court, or remove;
a cause there depending, that it may bel
tried in the superior court. This writ is
obtained upon complaint of a party, that he
has not received justice, or that he cannot
have an impartial trial, in the inferior
court. Encyc.
CER'TITUDE, n. [Low L. certitudo, from
certus, certain.] Certainty ; assurance ;
freedom from doubt. Dryden.
CERU'LEAN, > [L. ca^r^ile^is ; It. Sp.
CERU'LEOUS, I "■ ceruleo.] Sky-colored ;
blue. Thomson.
CERULIF'IC, a. Producing a blue or .sky-
color.
CERU'MEN, n. [L. cera, wax.] The wax
or vellovv matter secreted by the ear.
CER'USE, n. [Fr. ceruse ; L. It. cerussa ;
Sp. ceriisa."
White-lead ; a carbonate of lead, produced
by ex|)osing the metal in thin plates to
the vapor of vinegar. Lead is sometimes
found native in the form of ceruse.
Ceruse of antimony is a white oxyd of anti
mony, which separates from the water ii
which diaphoretic antimony has been
washed. Micholson
CER'USED, a. Washed with a preparation
of white lead. Beaum
CER'VI€AL, a. [L. cennx, the neck,
whence cervicalis.]
Belonging to the neck; as the ccmcaZ nerves ;
cermcal vessels. Encyc.
CERV'IN, I [I: cervinus ; Sp. cervino ;
CERVINE, p- from L. cerrus, a deer; W.
carw ; Corn, and Ai-m. karu ; Kamtchatka,
haro.]
Pertaining to the deer, or to animals of the
genus Cervus.
CESA'REAN, a. The Cesareaji operation is
the taking of a child from the womb by
cutting ; an operation, which, it is said,
gave name to Caesar, the Roman em-
peror.
CESPITP'TIOUS, a. [L. cespes, turf] Per-
taining to turf; made of turf Gough.
CES'PITOUS, a. Pertaining to turf; turfy.
A cespitous or turfy plant, has many stems
from the same root, usually forming a close thick
carpet or matting. Martyn.
CESS, as a noun, a rate or tax, and as a
verb, to rate or lay a tax, is probably a
corruption of assess, or from the same root.
It is not used. Spenser.
CESS, V. i. [L. cesso, to cease.] To neglect
a legal duty. Obs. Cowel.
CESSATION, n. [L. cessatio, from cesso, to-
cease.]
1. A ceasing ; a stop ; a rest ; the act of dis-
continuing motion or action of any kind,
whether temporary or final.
2. A ceasing or suspension of operation, force
or effect ; as a cessation of the laws of
nature.
A cessation of arms, an armistice or truce,
agreed to by the commanders of armies,
to give time for a capitulation, or for other
purposes.
CESSA'VIT, n. [L. cesso, to cease, cessavit,
he hath ceased.]
In law, a writ given by statute, to recover
lands, when the tenant or occupier has
ceased for two years to perform the service,
which constitutes the condition of his ten-
ure, and has not sufficient goods or chat-
tels to be distrained, or the tenant has so
inclosed the land that the lord cannot
come upon it to distrain. Blackstone.
CES'SER, n. [See Cess.] A ceasing ; a
neglect to perform^ervices or payment for
two years. [See Cessavit.] Blackstone.
CESSIBIL'ITY, n. [See Cede and Cession.]
The act of giving way or receding. [L/it-
tle used.] Digby.
CES'SIBLE, a. {See Cede.] Giving way ;
yielding ; easy to give way. Digby.
CES'SION, n. [L. cessio ; Fr. cession ; from
L. cedo, cessum. See Cede.]
1. The act of giving way ; a yielding to force
or impulse. Bacon.
2. A yielding, or surrender, as of property
or rights, to another person ; particularly,
a surrender of conquered territory to its
former proprietor or sovereign, by treaty.
3. In the civil law, a voluntary surrender of
a person's efiects to his creditors, to avoid
imprisonment. Encyc.
4. In ecclesiastical law, the leaving of a bene-
fice without dispensation or being other-
wise qualified. ^Vhen an ecclesiastical
person is created a bishop, or when tlie
parson of a parish takes another benefice,
without dispensation, the benefices are
void by cession, without resignation.
JSnci/.-.
C H A
C H A
C H A
CES'SIONARY, a. Having surrendered ef-
fects ; as a cessionary bankrupt. Martin.
CESS'MENT, Ji. An assessment or tax.
rjVo< uierf.]
CES'SOR, n. [L. cesso, to cease.] In luto,
he that neglects, for two years, to perform
the service by which lie holds lands, so
that he incurs the danger of the writ of
cessavit. [See Cessavit.] Coioel.
2. An assessor, or taxer.
CEST, n. [Infra.] A lady's girdle.
Collins.
CEST'US, n. [L. from Gr. x^yof.] The
girdle of Venus, or marriage-girdle, among
the Greeks and Romans.
CESU'RA, I [Fr. cesure ; It. cesura ; h.
CE'SUKE, < "■ ca^ura, from casdo, cwsum,
to cut ofl'.J
A pause in verse, so introduced as to aid the
recital, and render the versification more
melodious. It divides a verse or line uito
equal or unequal pai-ts. Its most pleasing
effect is produced, when it is placed at the
end of the second foot, or in the middle,
or at the end of the third foot.
Sheridan.
CE'SURAL, a. Pertaining to the cesure.
CETA'CEOUS, a. [L. cete ; Gr. x^toj, a
whale.]
Pertaining to the whale ; belonging to the
whale kind. The cetaceous fishes include
the genera monodon, balana, physeter and
ddphimu. They have no gills, but an
aperture on the top of the head, and a flat
or horizontal tail. Encyc.
CE'TATE, n. A compound of cetic acid,
with a base. Chevreul.
CET'ERAeH,n. A trivial name of a species
of Asplenium, or spleen-wort.
CE'TI€, a. [L. cetvs, a whale.] Pertaining
to the whale. The cetic acid is a peculiar
substance obtained from the spermaceti.
Ure.
CE'TIN, n. [L. celjts, a whale.] A name
given to spermaceti by Chevreul.
CET0L06'I€AL, a. [from cetology.] Per-
taining to cetology.
CETOL'OgIST, n.Onc who is versed in tJic
natural history of the whale and its kin-
dred animals.
CETOL'OgY, n. [Gr. xjjfoj, a whale, and
Tioyoj, discourse.]
The doctrine or natural history of cetaceous
animals. Ed. Encyc.
f'E'TUS, n. [Supra.] In astronomy, the
whale, a large constellation of the south-
ern hemisphere, containing ninety-seven
stare. Encyc.
CE'YLANITE, n. [from Ceijlon.] A min-
eral, classed with the ruby family ; called
also pkonaste. Its color is a muddy, dark
blue, and grayish black, approaching to
u-on black. It occurs in grains, or small
crystals, either perfect octahedrons, or
truncated on the edges, or with the angles
acuminated by four planes. It occurs also
in rhomboidai dodecahedrons.
Cyc. Ure.
1 CHAB'ASIE, ) „ [Schahasit. Werner.] A
CHAB'ASITE, I "■ mineral which has been
regarded as a variety of zeolite. It is di-
visible into very obtuse rhomboids.
Diet. Xat. Hist
This mineral occurs in crystals, whose primi-
tive form is nearly a cube. Ure:
Chabasie has a foliated structure ; its frac-
ture is somewhat conchoidal or uneven,
with a glistenuig vitreous luster. It is
translucent, sometimes transparent. Its
color is white or grayish white, sometimes
with a rosy tinge. Before the blowpipe,
it uitumesces a little, and easily melts into
_ a white sjtongy mass. Cleaveland.
CHAD, n. A kind of fish; pronounced «/iarf.
Carew.
CHAFE, V. t. [Fr. echauffer ; Sp. escalfar, to
warm ; Port, escalfar, to poach or boil
slightly ; from the root of L. caleo, whence
calefio, calfacio.]
1. To excite heat or inflammation by fric-
tion, as to chafe the skin ; also, to fret and
wear by rubbing, as to chafe a cable.
2. To excite heat in the mind ; to excite pas-
sion ; to inflame ; to make angry ; to cause
to fret ; to provoke or incense. 2 Sam.
xvii. 8.
•3. To excite violent action ; to cause to rage ;
the wind chafes the ocean.
4. To perfume ; rather, to stimulate, or agi-
tate ; to excite by pungent odors.
Lilies, whose scent chafed the air.
Suckling
CHAFE, II. i. To be excited or heated ; to
rage ; to fret ; to be in violent action.
Popi
2. To act violently upon, by rubbing ; to fret
against, as waves against a shore.
The tioubled Tyber chafing with his shores
Shak
3. To be fretted and worn by rubbing ; as,
a cable chafes.
CHAFE, n. Heat, excited by friction.
Violent agitation of the mind or passions :
heat ; fret ; passion. Camden.
CHA'FED, pp. Heated or fretted by rub-
bing ; worn by friction.
CHA'FER, n. One who chafes.
CHA'FER, n. [Sax. ceafor; J), kever ; G.
kclfer.] An insect, a species of Scara-
ba-us, or beetle.
CHA'FERY, n. [from chafe.] In Iron tvorks,
a forge in which an ancony or square mass
of iron, hammered into a bar in the mid
die, with its ends rough, is reduced to i
complete bar, by hammering down the
ends to the shape of the middle. Encyc.
CHA'FE-WAX, n. In England, an ofticer
belonging to the Lord Chancellor, who
fits the wax for the sealing of writs.
Harris.
CH'AFF, n. [Sax. ceaf; D. kaf; G. kaff.]
1. The husk, or dry calyx of corn, and!
In common language, the word
applied to the husks when separated
from the corn by thrashing, riddling or
winnowing. The word is sometimes used
rather improperly to denote straw cut
small for the food of cattle.
Marlyn. Encyc.
2. Refuse ; worthless matter ; especially that
which is light, and apt to be driven by thel
wind. In scripture, false doctrines, fruit
less designs, hypocrites and ungodly men
are compared to chaff. Ps. i. 4. Jer. xxiii.
28. Is. xxxiii. 11. Math. iii. 12.
CHAF'FER, V. i. [Sax. ceapian ; D. koopen ;
G. kaufen ; Sw. kapa ; Dan. kiober, to bar-
gain or buy. It seems to be radically the
same word as cheap, cheapen, and chap\
in chapman. See Cheap.''
To treat about a purchase ; to bargain ; to
haggle ; to negotiate ; to chop and change ;
as, to cAo^er for |)relerment3. Drydtn.
CHAF'FER, V. t. To buy ; to exchange.
Spenser.
[In this sense it is obsolrle.]
CHAF'FER, n. Merchandize. [Ao< in use.]
Skelton.
CHAF'FERER, n. One who chaffers ; a
bargainer ; a buyer.
CHAF'FERN, ji. A vessel for heating water.
[Local.]
CHAF'FER Y, n. Trafick ; buying and seU-
ing. Obs. Spenser.
CHAF'FINCH, n. [chaff and fnch.] A spe-
cies of birds of the genus Fringilla, which
are said to delight in chaft", and are ad-
mired for their song.
CH'AFFLESS, n. AVithout chaff. Shak.
CH^AFFWEED, n. A plant, cud-weed, a
species of Gnaphaliuni ; but this name is
given also to the Centuuculus.
Muhlenhtrg.
CH'AFFY, a. Like chaff; fullof chaff; light :
as, chaffy straws ; chaffy opinions.
Broivn. Glanviile.
CHA'FING, ppr. Heating or fretting by
friction.
CHAFING-DISH, »i. [chafe and dish.] A
dish or vessel to hold coals for heating any
thing set on it ; a portable grate for coals.
CHAGRIN', n. [Fr. This word, applied to a
particular kind of skin, or leather, is said
to be derived from a Turkish word, sagri,
Fr. croupe. The skin is dressed so as to
present on its surface little eminences. See
Shagreen.]
Ill-humor ; vexation ; peevishness ; fretful-
ness. Pope.
CHAGRIN', V. t. [Fr. chagriner.] To ex-
cite ill-humor in ; to vex ; to mortify.
CHAGRINED, pp. Vexed; fretted; dis-
pleased.
CHAIN, n. [Fr. chaine, for chaisne ; Norm.
cadene, and cheyne ; Arm. chaden, cadenn,
or jadenn; Sp. cadena ; Port, cadea ; It.
catena ; L. catena ; D. keten ; G. kette ,• Sw.
klulia ; Dan. kede ; \V. cadwen. Qu. Ar.
s - , , t
i,\.SsS from J^^sl akada, to bind or
make fast.]
1. A series of links or rings connected, or
fitted into one another, usually made of
some kind of metal, as a chain of gold, or
of iron ; but the word is not restricted to
any particular kind of material. It is used
often for an ornament about tlie person.
2. That which binds ; a real chain ; that
which restrains, confines, or fetters ; a
bond.
If God spared not the angels that sinned, but
delivered tliem into chains of darkness. 2
Peter ii.
3. Bondage ; affliction.
He hath made my chain hca\'y. Lam. iii.
4. Bondage ; slavery.
In despotism the people sleep soundly in their
chains. Ames.
5. Ornament. Prov. i. 9.
6. A series of things linked together : a series
of things connected or following in suc-
cession ; as a chain of causes, of ideas, or
events ; a chain of being.
A range, or fine of things connected; as a
chain of mountains.
8. A series of links, forming an instrument to
measiu:e land.
C H A
9. A string of twisted wire, or sometliiiig
similar, to hang a watch on, and for other
pui-poses. 1 r i- I
10. In France, a measure of wood tor tiieJ,
and various commodities, of various
length. ,. ,
11. In ship-building, chains are strong hnks
or plates of iron, bolted at the lower end
to the ship's side, used to contam the
blocks called dead eyes, by which the
shrouds of the mast are extended.
19. The warp in weaving, as in French.
Chain-pump. This consists of a long cham,
equipped with a sufficient number ot
valves, moving on two wheels, one above,
the other below, passing downward
through a wooden tube and returning
through another. It is managed by a long
winch, on which several men may be em-
ployed at once. , ^ Encyc.
Chain-shot, two balls connected by a cham,
and used to cut down masts, or cut away
shrouds and rigging. ,,.,,,
Chain-wales of a ship, broad and thick planks
projecting from a ship's side, abreast ot
and behind the masts, for the purpose ot
extending the shrouds, for better support-
ing the masts, and preventing the shrouds
from damaging the gunwale. Encyc
Chain-ivork, work consisting of threads
cords and the Uke, linked together m the
form of a chain ; as lineal chaining or tam-
bour work, reticulation or net work, &c.
Ed. Encyc.
Top-chain, on board a ship, a chain to sling
the sail-yards in time of battle, to prevent
their falling, when the ropes that sujiport
them are shot away. Encyc.
CHAIN, V. t. To fasten, bind or connect witli
a chain ; to fasten or bind with any thing
in the manner of a chain.
2. To enslave ; to keep in slavery.
And which more blest ? Who chainhi his coun-
C H A
7. A two-wheeled carriage, drawn by one
horse ; a gig.
8. Supreme office or magistracy.
When Governor Shute came to the chair,
several of the old councilors were laid aside.
Selknap.
Curule chair, an ivory seat placed on a car,
used by the prime magistates of Rome.
CHA'IR-MAN, n. The presiding officer or
speaker of an assembly, association "
company, particularly of a legislative
house ; also, tlie president or senior mem-
ber of a committee.
'i. One whose business is to carry a chair.
Dryden
CHAISE, n. s as :. [Fr. chaise, a seat or
chair. Qu. It. seggia.]
A two-wheeled carriage drawn by one
horse ; a gig. It is open or covered.
CHALCEDON'ie, a. Pertaining to dial
cedony. , ,
€HAL'CEDONY, n. [from Chakedon, a
a To guard with a chain, as a
ad.iy?
Pope.
harbor or
CHAINED, pp.
Made fast, or bound by a
chain ; bound ;
chain ; connected by
enslaved.
CHAINING, ppr. Binding, fastening oi
connecting with a chain ; binding, or at
tachjng to ; enslaving.
CHAIR, n. [Fr. chaire, a pulpit, contracted
from Norm, cadiere, as chain from catena ;
Arm. cadarn, or cador ; Ir. cathaoir ; L.
cathedra ; Gr. xa9f«pa, connected with
xa9f?o;uc«, to sit, xara and ifo^« ; W
cadair, a seat or stool.]
1 A movable seat ; a frame with a bottom
made of different materials, used for per-
sons to sit in ; originally a stool, and an-
ciently a kind of pulpit in churches.
2. A seat of justice or of authority ; as a
chair of state. ,
3. A seat for a professor, or his otiice ; as tlie
professor's chair.
4. The seat for a speaker or presiding officer
of a public council or assembly, as the
speaker's clw-ir ; and by a metonymy, the
speaker himself; as, to address the chair.
5. A sedan; a vehicle on poles borne by
men.
«. A pulpit. BvrnH
town in Asia Minor, opposite to Byzanti-
um, now Constantinople. Pliny informs
us that Chalcedon signifies the town of
blind men. The last syllable then is the
Celtic dun, English town, a fact that the
historian should not overlook. Pliii. Lib.
5- 32.] . , „ ,
A subspecies of quartz, a mineral called
also white agate, resembling milk diluted
with water, and more or less clouded or
opake, with veins, circles and spots. It
is used in jewelry.
Cleaveland. Nicholson. Encyc.
The varieties of chalcedony are common
chalcedony, heliotrope, chrysoprase, plas-
ma, onyx, sard and sardonyx. Ure.
€HAL'C'EDONYX, n. A variety of agate,
in which white and gray layers alternate.
Cleaveland.
CHAL'CITE, n. [Gr. x«-'^-*'<i, brass.] Sul-
phate of iron of a red color, so far calcined
as to have lost a considerable pan of its
acid Fourcroy.
CHAL€OG'RAPHER, n. [Infra.] An en-
graver in brass.
€HAL€OG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. ;i:aJ.xos, brass,
and ypo^u, to write.] The act or art ot
engraving in brass.
€HALDA'I€, a. Pertaining to Chaldea, an-
ciently a country on the Frat or Euphra-
tes, in Asia, called in scripture Shinar,
Of this Babylon was the principal city.
€HALDA'I€, n. The language or dialect
of the Chaldeans.
€HAL'DAISM, n. An idiom or pecuha
the Clialdee dialect. Parkhxirst.
€HALDE'AN, n. An inhabitant of Chal
I'f'^- ^, , ,
CHAL'DEE, a. Pertaining to Chaldea.
CHAL DEE, n. The language or dialect of
the Chaldeans.
CHAL'DRON, > , [Yr. chaudron; Sp. cal
CHAL'DER, y de'^o'n■ ; It. c(dderone, i
kettle. The same word as caldron. Chal
der is not in use in the United States.]
A measure of coals consisting of thirty sn
bushels. Chamhirs
CHAL'ICE, n. [Fr. calice ; Sp. calix ; It
calice ; D. kelk ; G. kelch ; L. cahx ; Gr.
xia.it It should have been written cal-
C H A
plied by Shakspeare to a flower; but I
believe little used.
CHALK, n. chauk. [Sax. cealc ; D. Dan.
G. kalk ; Sw. kalck ; W. cole ; Com. kalch ;
Ir. cailk ; L. calx ; Fr. chain. The Latin
calx is lime-stone, chalk-stone, and the
heel, and calco is to kick and to tread.
In Italian calca is a crowd. The sense
then is a mass made compact, a clod or
lump. If the Gr. xa'^i, Aint) gravel, is the
same word, the Latins deviated from their
usual practice m writing calx, for chalx.
These words are probably connected in
origin with callus.]
\ well known calcarious earth, of an opake
white color, soft and admitting no polish.
It contains a large portion of carbonic acid,
and is a subspecies of carbonate of lime.
it is used as an absorbent and anti-acid.
Cleaveland. JVicholson. Kirwan. Aikin.
Black-chalk is a species of earth used by
painters for drawing on blue paper.
Red-chalk is an indurated clayey ocher used
bv iiainters and artificers.
CHALK, V. t. To rub with chalk; to mark
with chalk.
3. To manure with chalk, as land.
3. From the use of chalk in marking lines,
the phrase to chalk out is used to signify,
to lay out, draw out or describe ; as, to
chalk out a ))lan of proceeding.
CHALK-CUTTER, n. A man that digs
chalk. Woodward.
CHALKINESS, n. chauk'iness. Tlie state
of being chalkv.
CHALK-PIT, n'. A pit in which chalk is
(]„„. Johnson.
CHa'lK-STONE, n. In medicine, a calca-
rious concretion in the hands and feet of
men violently aftected by the gout. Encyc.
2. A small lump of chalk. Isaiah.
CHALKY, a. chauk'y. Resembling chalk ;
:halkii taste.
2. White w"ith chalk; consisting of chalk;.
as, cfta% cliffs. Rowe.
3. Impregnated with chalk ; as, chalky wa-
usiially, a communion cup.
. Having a cell or cup ; ap-
CHAL'LENgE, n. [Norm, calenge, an ac
eusation ; chalunge, a claim ; challenger, to
claim ; from the root of call, Gr. xaJ^u,
xAr.u, L. calo. See Coll.]
Literally, a calling, or crying out, the
primai-y sense of many words expressing
a demand, as claim, L. clamo. Hence
appropriately,
A calling upon one to fight in single com-
bat; an invitation or summons, verbal or
written, to decide a controversy by a duel.
Hence the letter containing the summons
is also called a challenge.
2. A claim or demand made of a right or
supposed right.
There must be no challenge of superiority.
Collier.
3. Among hunters, the opening and crying
of hounds at first finding the scent ol
their game. Encyc.
4. In law, an exception to jurors; the claim
ofajiarty that certain jurors shall not sit
ill I rial upon him or his cause; that is, a
calling them off. The right of challenge
is given both in civil and criminal trials,
for certain causes which are supposed to
disqualify a juror to be an impartial judge.
The ri^ht of challenge extends either to
the wlmlc panel or array, or only to par-
C H A
C H A
C H A
ticular jurors, called a challenge to the
polls. A principal challenge is that which
the law allows without cause assigned.
A challenge to the favor, is when the
party alledgcs a special cause. In crimi-
nal cases, a prisoner may challenge twenty
jurors, without assigning a cause. This
is called a peremptory challenge.
Blackslont.
CHAL'LENgE, v. t. To call, invite or sum-
mon to answer for an offense by single
combat, or duel.
2. To call to a contest ; to invite to a trial ;
as, 1 challenge a man to prove what he
asserts, implying defiance.
3. To accuse ; to call to answer.
Spenser. Shak.
4. To claim as due ; to demand as a right ;
as, the Supreme Bemg challenges our rev-
erence and homage.
5. In law, to call off a juror, or jurors; or
to demand that jurors shall not sit in trial
upon a cause. [See the noun.]
6. To call to the perfoririance of conditions.
CHALLENGEABLE, a. That may be
challenged ; that may be called to ac-
count. Sadler.
CHAL'LENgED. pp. Called to combat or
to contest ; claimed ; demanded, as due ;
called from a jury.
CHAL'LENgER, n. One who challenges;
one who invites to a single combat ; one
who culls on another by way of defiance.
Shak.
9. One who claims superiority; one who
claims any thing as his right, or makes
pretensions to it. Hooker.
3. One who calls a juror, or a jury, from the
trial of his cause.
CHALLENGING, ppr. Summoning to a
duel, or to contest ; claiming as a right ;
defying ; calling off from a jury.
CHALYB'EAN, a. [Infra.] Pertaining to
steel well tempered. Milton.
CHALYB'EATE, a. [L. chahjhs ; Gr. x<>-->^H,
steel. Qu. from Chatybs, a town near the
Euxine.]
Impregnated with particles of iron ; as
chalybeate waters.
CHALYBEATE, n. Any water or other
liquor into which iron enters.
CHAM, Ji. kam. The sovereign prince of
Tartary. Usually written Khan.
CHAMA'DE, n. [Fr. from It. chiamata, a
calling ; chiamare, to call ; L. clamo ; Sp.
llamada ; Port, chamada, from chamar. to
call. See Claim.]
In war, the beat of a drimi or sound of a
trumpet, inviting an enemy to a parley ;
as for making a proposition for a truce,
or for a capitulation. Encyc.
CHAMBER, } iThe first pronunciation is
CH'AMBER, ^ ■' most common ; the last,
most analagoiis and correct. [Fr. cham-
bre ; Arm. canipr, cambr ; It. camera ; Port,
Sp. camara ; L. camera ; Gr. xa/iofu, an
arched roof, vault or upper gallery, a
chamber ; D. kamer ; G. kammer ;' Sw,
kaiiwinre ; Dan. kammer ; Cli. I3p to arch ;
Eth. ^<^Q karaare, an arch or vault.]
1. An apartment in an upper story, or in
story above the lower floor of a dwellin
house; often used as a lodging room.
2. Any retired room ; any private apartment
which a person occupies ; as, he called on
the judge at his chamber.
Joseph entered into liis chamber and wept.
Gen. xliii.
i. Any retired place.
Her house is the way to hell, going down to
the chambers of death. Prov. vii.
4: A hollow or cavity ; as the chamber of
the eye. Sharp.
5. A place where an assembly meets, and
the assembly itself; as star-chamber ; im-
perial chamber ; chamber of accounts ; ec-
clesiastical chamber; privy chamber; cham-
ber of commerce, &c.
6. In military affairs, the chamber of a mor-
tar is that part of the chase, where the
powder lies.
7. A powder-chamber, or bomb-chamber, a
place under ground for holding powder
and bombs, where they may be safe and
secured from rains.
8. The cliambtr of a mine, a place, generally
of a cubical form, where the powder is
confined.
9. A species of ordnance. Qu. Camden.
10. The clouds. Ps. civ.
IL Certain southern constellations whicJi
are hid from us.
The chambers of the south. Job ix.
Chamber- council, a private or secret council.
Shak.
Chamber-counsel, a counselor, who gives his
opinion in a private apartment, but does
not advocate causes in court.
CHAMBER, I . To reside in or occupy
CHAMBER, I ^- '• as a chamber.
2. To be wanton ; to indulge in lewd or im-
modest behavior. Rom. xiii.
CHAMBER, I , To shut up as in a
CH AMBER, I ^'- '■ chamber. Shak.
CHAMBERER, ) One who intrigues, or
ClPAaiBERER, I "■ indulges in wanton-
ness. Shak.
'HAMHER-FELLOW, ) One who
CHAMBER-FELLOW, ^ "• sleeps in
the same apartment. Spectator.
CHAMBER-HANGING, n. Tapestry or
hangings fur a chamber.
CHAMBERING, ? Wanton, lewd, im-
CH^AMBERING, I "' modest behavior.
Rom. xiii.
CHAMBERLAIN, > „ [Fr. chambeUan;
CHAMBERLAIN, ^ "• Arm. cambrelan
Sp. camarero ; Port, eamareiro ; It. earner
lingo ; D. kamerling ; Dan. kammer-herre ;
L. camerarius.]
1. An ofiicer charged with the direction and
management of a chamber, or of cham-
bers. The Lord Chamberlain of Great
Britain is the sixth oflicer of the crown.
To him belong livery, and lodging in the
king's court ; on coronation day he brings
to the king his apparel, his sword, scab-
bard, &c. He dresses and undresses the
king on that day, and waits on him be-
fore and after dinner. To him also be-
longs the care of providing all things in
the house of lords, in time of parliament.
Under liim are the gentleman usher of the
black rod, and other officers. The Lord
Chamberlain of the household has the
oversight of all officers belonging to the
king's chambers, excejit the precinct of
the bed-chamber, of the wardrobe, ])hy
sicians, chaplains, barbers, &c., audadmiu
isters the oath to all officers above stairs.
The chamberlains of the exchequer, of
London, of Chester, of North Wales, &c.,
are receivers of rents and revenues.
Encyc. Johnson.
2. A servant who has the care of the cham-
bers in an inn or Imtcl.
CHAMBERLAINSIHP, ) The office of
CH'AMBERLAINSIHP, S"" a chamber-
lain.
CHAMBER-LYE, n. Urine.
CHAMBER-MAID, ) A woman who
CHAMBER-MAID, ^ "• has the care of
chambers, making the beds, and cleaning
the rooms, or who dresses a lady and
waits upon her in her apartment.
CHAMBER-POT, n. A vessel used in bed-
rooms.
CHAMBER-PRACTICE, ? t,,
CHAMBER-PRACTICE, S "• ^'"^ P'"°'='
tice of counselors at law, who give their
opinions in private, but do not appear in
court.
CHAM BREL,n. The joint or bending of the
upper part of a horse's bind leg. In New-
England pronounced gambrel, which see.
CHAMELEON, n. [L. chamceleon ; Gr.
Xanai,7.tut'.]
An animal of the genus Lacerta, or lizard,
with a naked body, a tail and four feet.
The body is six or seven inches long, and
the tail five inches ; with this it clings to
the branches of trees. The skin is cold to
the touch, and contains small grains or
etninences, of a bluish gray color, in the
shade, but in the light of the sun, all parts
of the body become of a grayish brown,
or tawny color. It is a native of Africa
and Asia. Encyc.
CHAME'LEONIZE, v. t. To change into
various colors. Diet.
CHAMFER, V. t. [corrupted from Fr.
echancrer, to hollow, to cut sloping ; Arm.
chancra ; said to be from cancer.]
1. To channel ; to cut a furrow, as in a col-
Uinn, or to cut into a sloping form.
Johnson. Bailey. Encyc.
2. To wrinkle. Shak.
CHAM'FER, } A small gutter or furrow
CHAM FRET, ^ "" cut in wood or other
hard material ; a slope.
CHAM FERED, pp. Cut into furrows, or
cut sloping.
CHAMFERING, ppr. Cutting a gutter in ;
cutting in a slope.
CHAM'ITE, n. Fossil remains of the Cha-
ma, a shell.
CHAMLET, [See Camlet.]
CHAMOIS, n. [Fr. from It. camozza ; Sp.
gamitza, from gamo, a buck.]
An animal of the goat kind, whose skin is^
made into soft leather, called shammy.
Johnson.
It is now arranged with the Antelopes.
Cuvitr.
CHAMOMILE, [See Catnomile.]
|CH,\JMP, V. t. [Fr. champayer, 1 have not
found. Qu. Gr. xanru, for m is often casual
before a labial, and in Gr. yafi^a: is the
I jaws.]
11. To bite with repeated action of the teeth ;
I as, a hoi-se chainps the bit.
2. To bite into small pieces ; to chew ; to
masticate ; to devour. Dryden.
CHAMP, V. i. To chew; to perform the ac-
tion of biting by repeated motion of the
teeth ; as, to champ ujjon the bit. Hooker.
C H A
C H A
C H A
9. A string of twisted wire, or soinetliing
similar, to hang a watch on, and for other
10. In France, a measure of wood for fuel,
and various commodities, of various
length.
11. In ship-building, chains are strong links
or plates of iron, bolted at the lower end
to the ship's side, used to contain the
blocks called dead eyes, by which the
shrouds of the mast are extended.
12. The warp in weaving, as in French.
Chain-pump. This consists of a long chain,
equippett with a sufficient number of
valves, moving on two wheels, one above,
the other below, passing downward
through a wooden tube and returning
through another. It is managed by a long
winch, on which several men may be
ployed at once. Encyc.
Chain-shot, two balls connected by a ch
and used to cut down masts, or cut away
shrouds and rigging.
Chain-ivales of a sliip, broad and thick plank
projecting from a ship's side, abreast of
and behind the masts, for the purpose of
extending the shrouds, for better support
ing the masts, and preventing the shrouds
from damaging the gunwale. Encyc.
Chain-work, work consisting of threads,
cords and the like, linked together in the
form of a chain ; as lineal chaining or tam-
bour work, reticulation or net work, &c.
Ed. Encyc.
Top-chain, on board a sliip, a chain to sling
the sail-yards in time of battle, to prevent
their falling, when the ropes that support
them are shot away. Encyc.
CHAIN, V. t. To fasten, hind or connect with
a chain ; to fasten or bind with any thing
in the manner of a chain.
2. To enslave ; to keep in slavery.
And which more blest ? Who chained his coun-
try, say.
Or he whose virtue sighed to lose a day ?
Pope.
3. To guard with a chain, as a harbor or
passage.
4. To unite ; to form chain-work.
CHA'INED, pp. Made fast, or bound by a
chain ; connected by a chain ; bound ;
enslaved.
CHA'INING, ppr. Binding, fastening or
connecting with a chain ; binding, or at-
taching to ; enslaving.
CHAIR, n. [Fr. chaire, a pulpit, contracted
from Norm, cadiere, as chain from catena ;
Arm. cadani, or cador ; Ir. cathaoir ; L.
cathedra ; Gr. xaStSpa, connected with
xa.9t^oi.i(u, to sit, xara and ffoftai ; W.
cadair, a seat or stool.]
1. A movable seat ; a frame with a bottom
made of diiferent materials, used for per-
sons to sit in ; originally a stool, and an-
ciently a kind of pulpit in churches.
2. A seat of justice or of authority ; as a
chair of state.
3. A seat for a professor, or his office; as the
professor's chair.
4. The seat for a speaker or presiding officer
of a public council or assembly, as the
speaker's chair ; and by a metonymy, th
speaker himself; as, to addi-ess the chair.
.5. A sedan ; a vehicle on poles borne by
men.
a. A i)ul|>ir. Burnet.
7. A two-wheeled carriage, drawn by one
horse ; a gig.
8. Supreme office or magistracy.
Wlien Governor Shute came to the chair,
several of the old councilors were laid aside.
Selknap.
Curulc chair, an ivory seat placed on a cai",
used by the prime magistates of Rome
CHAIR-MAN, n. The presiding officer or
speaker of an assembly, association or
company, particularly of a legislative
house ; also, the president or senior mem-
ber of a committee.
2. One whose business is to can-y a chair.
Dryden.
CHAISE, n. s as z. [Fr. chaise, a seat or
chair. Qu. It. seggia.]
A two-wheeled carriage drawn by one
horse ; a gig. It is open or covered.
€HALCEDON'I€, a. Pertaining to chal-
cedony.
eHAL'CEDONY, n. [from Chalcedon, a
town ill Asia Minor, opposite to Byzanti-
lun, now Constantinople. Pliny informs
us that Chalcedon signifies the town of
blind men. The last syllable then is the
Celtic dun, English town, a fact that tlie
historian should not overlook. Plin. Lib.
5. 32.]
A subspecies of quartz, a mineral called
also wliite agate, resembling milk diluted
with water, and more or less clouded or
opake, with veins, circles and spots. It
is used in jewelry.
Cleaveland. JVichohon. Encyc.
The varieties of chalcedony are common
chalcedony, heliotrope, chrysoprase, plas-
ma, onyx, sard and sardonyx. Ure.
€HAL'CEDONYX, n. A variety of agate,
in which white and gray layers altei-nate.
Cleaveland.
€HAL'CITE, n. [Gr. x<a.xoi, brass.] Sul-
phate of iron of a red color, so far calcined
as to have lost a considerable part of its
acid. Fourcroij.
€HAL€OG'RAPHER, n. [Infra.] An en-
aver in brass.
€HALCOG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. za?.*of, brass,
and ypo^iu, to write.] The act or art of
engraving in brass.
CHALDA'I€, a. Pertaining to Chaldea, an-
ciently a country on the Frat or Euphra-
tes, in Asia, called in scripture Shinar.
Of this Babylon was the principal city.
€HALDA'l€, n. The language or dialect
of the Chaldeans.
CHAL'DAISM, n. An idiom or peculiarity
the Clialdee dialect. Parkhurst.
ellALDE'AN, )(. An inhabitant of Chal-
dea.
eHAL'DEE, a. Pertaining to Chaldea.
€HAL'DEE, ;i. The language or dialect of
the Chaldeans.
CHAL'DRON, ? [Fr. chaudron; Sp. cal-
CHAL'DER, I deron ; It. adderonc, a
kettle. Thesame word as caWron. Chal-
der is not in use in the United States.]
A measure of coals consisting of thirty six
bushels. Chambers.
CHAL'ICE, n. [Fr. calice ; Sp. caliz ; It.
calice ; D. kelk ; G. kelch ; L. calix ; Gr.
xuXtl. It should have been written cal-
rV cup, or bowl ; usually, a communion cup.
CHAL'ICED, a. Haviiig a cell or cup; ap-
pHed by Shakspeare to a flower; but I
believe little used.
CHALK, ?i. chauk. [Sax. cealc ; D. Dan.
G. kalk ; Sw. kalck ; W. calc ; Com. kalch ;
Ir. cailk ; L. calx ; Fr. chaui. The Latin
calx is lime-stone, chalk-stone, and the
heel, and calco is to kick and to tread.
In Italian calca is a crowd. The sense
then is a mass made compact, a clod or
lump. If the Gr. ;^a>.i?, ffint, gravel, is the
same word, the Latins deviated from their
usual practice in writing calx, for chalx.
These words are probably connected in
origin with callus.]
A well known calcarious earth, of an opake
white color, soft and admitting no polish.
It contains a large portion of carbonic acid,
and is a subspecies of carbonate of lime.
It is used as an absorbent and anti-acid.
Cleaveland. JVicholson. Kirwan. Aikin.
Black-chalk is a species of earth used by
painters for drawing on blue paper.
Red-chalk is an indurated clayey ocher used
by painters and artificers.
CHALK, V. t. To rub with chalk ; to mark
with chalk.
2. To manure with chalk, as land.
.3. From the use of chalk in marking lines,
the ])hrase to chalk out is used to signify,
to lay out, draw out or describe ; as, to
chalk out a ])lan of proceeding.
CHALK-€UTTER, n. A man that digs
chalk. Woodward.
CHALKINESS, n. chauk'iness. Tlie state
of being chalkv.
CHALK-PIT, 7i." A pit in which chalk is
dug. Johnson.
CHALK-STONE, n. In medicine, a calca-
rious concretion in the hands and feet of
men violently aflected by the gout. Encyc.
2. A small lump of chalk. Isaiah.
CHALKY, a. chauk'y. Resembling chalk ;
as a chalky taste.
2. White with chalk ; consisting of chalk ;
as, chalky cliffs. Rawe.
J. Impregnated with chalk ; as, chalky wa-
ter.
CHAL'LENgE, n. [Norm, calenge, an ac
eusation ; chalunge, a claim ; challenger, to
claim ; from the root of call, Gr. xa%iu,
xiVKu, L. calo. See Call.]
Literally, a calling, or crying out, the
primary sense of many words expressing
a demand, as claim, L. clamo. Hence
appropriately,
1. A calling upon one to fight in single com-
bat; an invitation or summons, verbal or
written, to decide a controversy by a duel.
Hence the letter containing the summons
is also called a challenge.
2. A claim or demand made of a right or
supposed right.
There must be no challenge of superiority.
CoUier.
3. Among hunters, the opening and crying
of hounds at first finding the scent of
their game. Enci/c.
4. In laiv, an exception to jurors ; the claam
of a party that certain jin-ors shall not sit
in trial iqion him or his cause ; that is, a
calling them off. The right of challenge
is given both in civil and criminal trials,
for certain causes which are siqiposed to
disquahfy a juror to be an impartial judge.
The right of challenge extends either to
the whole panel or array, or only to par -
C H A
C H A
C H A
licular jurors, called a challenge to tl
polls. A principal challenge is that which
the law allows without cause assigned
A challenge to the favor, is when the
party alledgcs a special cause. In crimi
nal cases, a prisoner may challenge twenty
jurors, without assigning a cause. This
is called a pereiiiptory challenge.
Blackstone
CHAL'LENgE, v. t. To call, invite or sum-
mon to answer for an oftense by single
combat, or duel.
2. To call to a contest ; to invite to a trial :
as, 1 challenge a man to prove what he
asserts, implying defiance.
3. To accuse ; to call to answer.
Spenser. Shak
4. To claim as due ; to demand as a right ;
as, the Supreme Being challenges our rev-
erence and homage.
5. In law, to call off a juror, or jurors; or
to demand that jurors shall not sit in trial
upon a cause. [See the noun.]
6. To call to the performance of condition
CHAL'LENuEABLE, «. That may be
challenged ; that may be called to ac-
count. Sadler.
CHAL'LENgED. pp. Called to combat or
to contest ; claimed ; demanded, as due
called from a jury.
CHAL'LENCiER, n. One who challenges ;
one who invites to a single combat ; one
who calls on another by way of defiance.
Shak.
2. One who claims superiority ; one who
claims any thing as his right, or makes
pretensions to it. Hooker.
3. One who calls a juror, or a jury, from the
trial (if his cause.
CHAL'LENgING, ppr. Summoning to a
duel, or to contest ; claiming as a right ;
defying; calling off from a jury.
CHALYB'EAN, a. [Infra.] Pertaining lo
steel well tempered. Milton.
CHALYB'EATE, a. [L. chalybs ; Gr. x"-7.v^,
steel. Qu. from Chalybs, a town near the
Euxine.]
Impregnated with particles of iron ; as
chalybeate waters.
CHALYBEATE, n. Any water or other
liquor into which iron enters.
CHAM, n. kam. The sovereign prince of
Tartary. Usually written A7m?i.
C'HAMA'DE, n. [Fr. from It. chiamata, a
calling ; chiamare, to call ; L. clamo ; Sp.
llamada ; Port, chamada, from chamar. to
call. See Claim.]
In war, the beat of a drum or sound of a
trumpet, inviting an enemy to a parley ;
as for making a proposition for a truce,
or for a capitulation. Eneyc.
CHAMBER, } iThe first pronunciation is
CH'AMBER, ^ '-most common; the last,
most analagous and correct. [Fr. cham-
hre ; Arm. campr, cambr ; It. camera ; Port.
Sp. camara ; L. camera ; Gr. xa/tapu, an
arched roof, vault or upper gallery, a
chamber ; D. kamer ; G. kammer ; Sw.
kammare ; Dan. kammer ; Cli. nap to arch ;
Eth. 'P'^^ kamare, an arch or vault.]
1. An ai)artment in an upper story, or in a
story above the lower floor of a dwelling
house ; often used as a lodging room.
2. Any retired room ; any private apartment
which a person occupies ; as, he called on
the judge at his chamber.
Joseph entered into liis chamber and wept
Gen. xliii.
i. Any retired place.
Her hou.se is the way to hell, going down to
the chambers of death. Prov. vii.
4: A hollow or cavity ; as the chamber of|
the eye. Sharp.
A place where an assembly meets, and
the assembly itself; as star-chamber ; im
perial chamber ; chamber of accounts ; ec
clesiastical chamber; privy chamber; cham
6er of commerce, &c.
6. In military affairs, the chamber of a mor
tar is that part of the chase, where tli(
powder lies.
7. A powder-chamber, or bomb-chamber, i
place under ground for holding powder
and bombs, where they may be safe and
secured from rains.
8. The chamber of a mine, a place, generally
of a cubical form, where the powder is
confined.
9. A species of ordnance. Qu. Camden.
10. The clouds. Ps. civ.
U. Certain southern constellations which
are hid from us.
The chambers of the south. Job ix.
Chamber-council, a private or secret council.
Shak
Chamber-counsel, a counselor, who gives his
opinion in a private apartment, but does
not advocate causes in court.
CHAMBER, } . To reside in or occupy
CH' AMBER, I "• '• as a chamber.
2. To be wanton ; to indulge in lewd or im
modest behavior. Rom. xiii.
CHAMBER, ) To shut up as in :
CHAMBER, I ^- '• chamber. Shak.
CHAMBERER, ) One who intrigues, or
CH AMBERER, I "• indulges in wanton
ness. Shak
HAMBER-FELLOW, ) One who
CHAMBER-FELLOW, I "■ sleeps in
the same apartment. Spectator.
CHAMBER-HANGING, n. Tapestry or
hangings for a chamber.
CHAMBERING, ) Wanton, lewd, im-
CIPAMBERING, I "• modest behavior,
Rom. xiii.
lAMBERLAIN, ) [Fr. chambellan
CH^AMBERLAIN, ^ "• Arm. cambrelan ;
Sp. camarero ; Port, camareiro ; It. camer-
lingo ; D. kamerling ; Dan. kammer-herre ;
L. caynerai-ius.]
1. An ofiicer charged with the direction and
management of a chamber, or of cham
bers. The Lord Chamberlain of Greai
Britain is the sixth officer of the crown
To him belong livery and lodging in the
king's court ; on coronation day he brings
to the king his apparel, his sword, scab-
bard, &c. He dresses and undresses the
king on that day, and waits on him be-
fore and after dinner. To him also be-
longs the care of providing all things in
the house of lords, in time of parUament.
Under him are the gentleman usher of the
black rod, and other oflicers. The Lord
Chamberlain of the household has the
oversight of all oflicers belonging to the
kmg's chambers, exce])t the precinct ofl
the bed-chamber, of the wardrobe, i)hy-
sicians, chaplains, barbers, &c., and admin-
isters the oath to all officers above stairs,
The chamberlains of the exchequer, of
London, of Chester, of North Wales, &c.,
are receivers of rents and revenues.
Encyc. Johnson.
2. A servant who has the care of the cham-
bers in an inn or hotel.
CHAMBERLAINSIHP, ) The oftlce of
CH'AMBERLAINSHIP, ^ "• a chamber-
lain.
CHAMBER-LYE, n. Urine.
CHAMBER-MAID, > A woman who
CH' AMBER-MAID, \ "• has the care of
chambers, making the beds, and cleaning
the rooms, or who dresses a lady and
waits upon her in her ai)artment.
CHAMBER-POT, n. A vessel used in bed-
rootns.
CHAMBER-PRACTICE, \ ,„,
CH'AMBER- PRACTICE, P- ^"^ ?"■"•="
tice of counselors at law, who give their
opinions in private, but do not appear in
court.
CHAM BREL, n. The joint or bending of the
upper part of a horse'.s hind leg. In New
England pronounced gambrel, which see.
CHAME'LEON, n. [L. chamaleon ; Gr.
Xa.iw.0.iM:]
An animal of the genus Lacerta, or lizard,
with a naked body, a tail and four feet.
The body is six or seven inches long, and
the tail five inches ; with this it clmgs to
the branches of trees. The skin is cold to
the touch, and contains small grains or
eminences, of a bluish gray color, in the
shade, but in the light of the sun, all parts
of the body become of a grayish brown,
or tawny color. It is a native of Africa
and Asia. Encyc.
CHAME'LEONIZE, v. t. To change into
various colors. Diet.
CHAM'FER, V. t. [corrupted from Fr.
echancrer, to hollow, to cut sloping ; Arm.
chancra ; said to be from cancer.]
To channel ; to cut a furrow, as in a col-
umn, or to cut into a sloping form.
Johnson. Bailey. Encyc.
To wrinkle. Shak.
CHAM'FER, > A small gutter or furrow
CHAM FRET, $ "• cut in wood or otlier
hard material ; a slope.
CHAMFERED, pp. Cut into furrows, or
cut sloping.
CHAMFERING, ppr. Cutting a gutter in ;
cutting in a slope.
CHAM'ITE, n. Fossil remains of the Cha-
ma, a shell.
CHAMLET, [See Candet.]
CHAMOIS, n. [Fr. from It. camozza ; Sj).
gamuza, from g-amo, a buck.]
An animal of the goat kind, whose skin is
made into soft leather, called shammy.
Johnson.
It is now arranged with the Antelopes.
Cuvier.
CHAM'OMILE, [See Camomile.]
CHAJMP, V. t. [Fr. champayer, I have not
found. Qu. Gr. xantu, for m is often casual
before a labial, and in Gr. yo/iijiat is the
jaws.]
1. To bite wth repeated action of the teeth ;
as, a horse champs the bit.
2. To bite into small pieces ; to chew ; to
masticate ; to devour. Dryden.
CHAMP, u. i. To chew ; to perform the ac-
tion of biting by repeated motion of the
teeth ; as, to champ upon the bit. Hooker.
C H A
C H A
C H A
CHAMPA'GNE, ) „ A kind of brisk, spark-
CHAMPA'NE, S ling wine, from Cham-
pagne in France.
CHAMPA'IGN, ? [from caini) or the
CHAMPA'IN, S same root.] A flat
open coimtry. Bacon. Milton.
CHAMPA'IN, )i. In heraldry, champain or
point champain, is a mark of dishonor in
the coat of arm? of him who has killed a
prisoner of war after he has asked for
quarter. Encyc.
CHAMP'ED, pp. Bitten ; chewed.
CHAMP'ER, n. One that champs or bites.
CHAM'PERTOR, n. [See ChampeHy.] In
Imv, one who is guilty of ckamperty, whicli
CHAM'PERTY, n. [Fr. champart, field-
rent ; champ, L. campus, a field, and part,
a share, or partir, to divide, campum par-
tire.]
A species of maintenance, being a bargain
with a plaintiff or defendant, to divide the
land or other matter in suit, between them,
if they prevail; whereupon the champer-
tor is to carry on the party's suit at his
own expense. The purchase of a suit, or
of the right of suing. Blackstone.
CHAMPIGN'ON, n. shampin'yon. [Fr.] A
kind of mushroom.
CHAMP'ING, pp. Biting with repeated ac-
tion.
CHAM'PION, n. [Fr. champion; Arm.
campyon ; Sp. campeon ; Port, campeam, or
eampiam ; It. campione ; D. hamper, or
kampvegter ; G. kampfer. In all the Teu-
tonic dialects, camp or kamp signifies a
combat, and in some of them, a camp ; Sax.
campa, a camp and a combat ; cempa, a
soldier, warrior or gVidiator ; W. camp, a
game, a feat ; campiaw, to contend in a
game. Here we have the origin of the
Latin campus. It was originally the plain
or open place appropriated to games,
sports and athletic exercises.]
1. A man who undertakes a combat in the
place or cause of another. Bacon.
9. A man who fights in his own cause n a
duel.
,3. A hero ; a brave warrior. Hence, one
who is bold in contest ; as a champion
for the truth.
CHAM'PION, V. t. To challenge to a com-
bat. Shak.
CHAM'PIONESS, n. A female champion.
Fairfax.
CH'ANCE, n. [Fr. chance ; Norm, cheaunce ;
Arm. chanpz ; D. kan^ ; G. schu7ize. This
seems to be from the participle of the
French verb cheoir, to fall, Sp. caer, from
the L. cado, or directly from the Latin ca
dens, cadentia.]
, 1. An event that happens, falls out or takes
place, without being contrived, intended,
expected or foreseen ; the effect of an un
known cause, or the unusual or unex
pected effect of a known cause; accident
casualty ; fortuitous event ; as, time and
chance happen to all.
By chance a priest came down that way
Luke s.
S. Fortune ; what foitime may bruig ; as,
they must take their chance.
3. An event, good or evil ; success or mis-
fortune ; luck. Shiik.
4. Possibility of an occurrence ; opportunity.
Yotir ladyship may have a chance (o escape
this address. Swift.
CH'ANCE, V. i. To happen ; to fall out ; to
come or arrive without design, or expec-
tation.
If a bird's nest chance to be before thee.
Deut. xxii.
Ah Casca, tell us what hath chanced to day.
Slmk.
CH'ANCE, o. Happening by chance ; cas-
ual ; as a chance comer.
CH'ANCEABLE, a. Accidental; casual;
fortuitous. Sidney.
CH'ANCE-€OMER, n. One who comes
unexpectedly. Addison.
CH'ANCEFUL, a. Hazardous. Spenser.
CH'ANCE-MEDLEY, n. [chance and med-
ley, a mixture.]
Inlaw, the kiUing of a person by chance,
when the killer is doing a lawful act ; for
if he is doing an unlawful act, it is felony.
As if a man, when throwing bricks from
a house into a street where people are con-
tinually passing, after giving warning to
passengers to lake care, shoidd kill a per-
son, this is chance-medley. But if he
gives no warning, and kiUs a man, it is
manslaughter.
CH'ANCEL, n. [Fr. chancel or chanceau;
L. cancelli, lattices or cross bars, inclosing
the place ; Sp. cancel, cancilla, a wooden
screen, a wicker gate ; It. cancello, balus-
trades; Gr. xtyxT.!?; Ch. Spjp kankel or
kankail, net work ; Syr. id. See Cancel.]
That part of the choir of a church, between
the altar or communion table and the
balustrade or railing that incloses it, or
that part where the altar is placed ; for-
merly inclosed with lattices or cross bars,
as now with rails. Encyc. Johnson.
CH'ANCELLOR, n. [Fr. chancelier ; Arm.
chanceilher, or canceller ; Sp. canciller ;
Port, chancelier ; It. cancelliere ; D. kan-
selier ; G. kanzler ; Sw. cantsler ; Dan.
kantsler or cantsler ; L. cancellarins, a
scribe, secretary, notary, or chancellor;
from cancello, to make lattice work, to can-
cel, or blot out by crossing the lines ; or
from cancelli, lattices, because the secreta-
ry sat behind lattices.]
Originally, a chief notary or scribe, under
tlie Roman Emperors ; but in England, it
later times, an officer invested with judi
cial powers, and particularly with the su
perintendance of all charters, letters and
other official writings of the crown, that
required to be solemnly authenticated.
Hence this officer became the keeper of
the great seal. From the Roman Empire,
this office passed to the church, and hence
every bishop has his chancellor.
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain,
or Keeper of the Great Seal, is the highest
officer of the crown. He is a privy coun-
selor by his ofiice, and prolocutor of tin
house of lords by prescription. To him
belongs the appointment of all justices of
the peace ; he is keeper of the king's i
science, visitor of all hospitals and colle-
ges founded by the king, guardian of all
charitable uses, and judge of the liigh
court of chancery.
Chancellor of an Ecclesiastical Court, is the
bishop's lawyer, versed in the civil and ca
non law, to direct the bishop in causes ofl
the church, civil and criminal.
Chancellor of a Cathedral, is an officer who
hears lessons and lectures in the church,
by himself or his vicar, inspects schools,
hears causes, applies the seal, writes and
dispatches letters of the chapter, keeps the
books, &c.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, is an officer who
presides in that court, and takes care of
the interest of the crown. He has power,
with the lord treasurer, to lease the crown
lands, and with others, to compound for
forfeitures on penal statutes. He has a
great authority in managing the royal rev-
enues, and in matters relating to the first
fruits.
Chancellor of a University, is an officer who
seals the diplomas, or letters of degree,
&c. The chancellor of Oxford is usually
one of the prime nobiUty, elected by the
students in convocation, and he holds the
office for fife. He is the chief magistrate,
in the government of the university. The
chancellor of Cambridge is also elected
fi'om among the prime nobility ; he does
not hold his office for life, but may be
elected every three years.
Clumcellor of the Order of the Garter, and oth-
er military orders, is an officer who seals
the commissions and mandates of the
chapter and assembly of the knights,
keeps the register of their proceedings,
and dehvers their acts under the seal of
their order. Johnson. Encyc.
In France, a secretary is, in some cases,
called a chancellor.
In the United States, a chancellor is the
judge of a court of chancery or equity, es-
tablished by statute.
In scripture, a master of the decrees, or pres-
ident of the council. Ezra iv.
CHANCELLORSHIP, n. The office of a
chancellor ; the time during which one is
chancellor.
CH'ANCERY, n. [Fr. chancellerie ; Arm.
cancellery ; Sp. chancilleria ; It. cancelleria ;
L. eancellaria, from cancelli, lattices, or from
the judge, who presided in the court.]
1. In Great Britain, the highest court of jus-
tice, next to the parliament, consisting of
two distinct tribunals ; one ordinary, being
a court of common law ; the other extra-
ordinary, or a court of equity. The ordi-
nary legal court holds pleas of recogni-
zances acknowledged in the chancery,
writs of scire facias, for repeal of letters
patent, writs of partition, and all personal
actions by or against any officer of the
court. But if the parties come to issue, in
fact, this court cannot try it by a jury :
but the record must be delivered to the
king's bench. From this court issue all
original writs that pass under the great
seal, commissions of charitable uses, bank-
ruptcy, idiocy, lunacy, &c.
The extraordinary court, or court of
equity, proceeds upon rules of equity and
conscience, moderates the rigor of the
common law, and gives relief in cases
where there is no remedy in the common
law courts.
9. In the United States, a court of equity.
OHAN'€RE, »!. [Fr. chancre ; Arm. chancr.
The same as cancer, canker.] A venereal
ulcer.
CHAN'€ROUS, a. Ulcerous ; having the
qualities of a chancre.
C H A
C H A
C H A
ClIANDELIE'R, n. [Fr. id. ; Sp. eanddero
It. candeliere ; Arm. cantolozr, or caniuUr
from L. candela, a candle, from caneo, t(
shine.]
1. A frame with branches to hold a number
of candles, to illuminate a public or larg<
room.
2. In fortijication, a movable parapet, scrv
ing to support fascines to cover pioneers.
CH' ANDLER, w. [Qr. Fr. chandelier, or rath
er Teutonic handler. See Corn-chandler.'
An artisan whose trade is to make can
dies, or one who sells candles. Johnson
In America, I believe the word never signi
fies a seller of candles, unless he is the
maker. A corn-chandler is a seller of corn,
but 1 believe not used in the U. States.
CH'ANDLERLY, o. Like a chandler.
MUton.
CH'ANDLERY, n. The commodities sold
by a chandler.
CirANDRY, n. The place where candles
are kept. B. Jonson.
CH.\NGE, v. i. [Fr. changer ; It. cangiare
Arm. eceinch ; Norm, chainant, exchang
ing. Qu. Is this radically the same
word as It. cambio, cambiare, Sp. id. ?]
1. To cause to turn or pass fVom one state
to another ; to alter, or make different
vary in external form, or in essence ; as, to
change the color or shape of a thing ,
change the countenance ; to change the
heart or life.
2. To put one thing in the place of another;
to shift ; as, to change the clothes.
Be clean and change your garments. Gi
XXXV.
■3. To quit one thing or state for another ;
followed by /or ; as, persons educated in a
particular religion do not readily change it
for another.
4. To give and take reciprocally ; as, will
you change conditions imlh me ?
5. To barter ; to exchange goods ; as,
change a coach for a chariot.
6. To quit, as one place for another ; as, to
change lodgings.
7. To give one kind of money for another ;
to alter the form or kind of money, by re-
ceiving the value in a different kind, as
to change bank notes/or silver ; or to give
pieces of a larger denomination for an
equivalent in pieces of smaller denomina
tion, as to change an eagle for dollars, or
a sovereign for sixpences, or to change
a dollar into cents ; or on the other haiid,
to change dollars ybr or i7ito eagles, giving
money of smaller denomination for larger.
8. To become acid or tainted ; to turn from
a natural state of sweetness and purity ;
as, the wine is changed ; thunder aiid
lightning are said to change milk.
To change a horse, or to change hand, is to
turn or bear the horse's head from one
hand to the other, from the left to the
right, or from the right to the left.
Farrier^s Diet.
CHANGE, V. i. To be altered ; to undergo
variation ; as, men sometimes cliange for
the better, often for the worse.
I am Jehovali ; I change not. Mai.
2. To pass the sun, as the moon in its orbit ;
as, the moon will change the 14th of this
month.
CHANGE, n. Any variation or alteration in
form, state, quality, or essence ; or a pass-
Vol. I.
ing from one state or form to another ; a.'
a change of countenance ; a change of hab
its or principles.
2. A succession of one thing in the place of
another ; vicissitude ; as a change of sea
sons ; a change of objects on a journey ; <
change of scenes.
3. A revolution ; as a change of government.
4. A passing by the sun, and the beginning
of a new monthly revolution ; as a change
of the moon.
5. A different state by removal ; novelty ;
variety.
Our fathers did, for change, to France repair
Dryden
6. Alteration in the order of ringing bells ;
variety of sounds.
Four bells admit twenty-four changes in ring-
ing. Holder
7. That which makes a variety, or may be
substituted for another.
Tliirty changes of raiment. Judges xiv.
8. Small coins of money, which may be
en for larger pieces.
9. The balance of money paid beyond the
price of goods purchased.
I gave the clerk a bank note for his clotli, and
he gave mc the change.
10. The dissolution of the body; death.
All the days of my appointed time will 1 wait
till my cliange come. Job xiv.
11. Change for exchange, a place where mer-
chants and others meet to transact busi
ness ; a building appropriated for mercan
tile transactions.
12. In arithmetic, permutation ; variation!
of numbers. Thirteen numbers admit of|
6,227,020,800 changes, or different posi-
tions.
CHANGEABILITY, n. Changeableness,
which is generally used. Fleming.
CHANGEABLE, a. That may change ; sub-
ject to alteration ; fickle ; inconstant ; mu-
table ; variable ; as a person of a change-
able mind.
2. Having the quality of suffering alteration
of external appearance ; as changeable
silk.
CHANgEABLENESS, n. The quality of|
being changeable ; fickleness ; inconstan-
cy ; instability ; mutability.
2. Susceptibility of change, or alteration.
Hooker
CHANgEABLY, adv. Inconstantly.
CHANGED, pp. Altered ; varied ; turned ;
converted ; shifted.
CHANGEFUL, a. Full of change ; incon-
stant ; mutable ; fickle ; uncertain ; sub-
ject to alteration. Pope.
CHANGELESS, a. Constant ; not admit-
ting alteration.
CHANGELING, n. [change and ling. It is
said this word originated in a superstitious
opinion that fairies steal children and put
others that are ugly and stupid in their
places. Johnson.]
1. A child left or taken in tlie place of an-
other. Spenser.
2. An idiot ; a fool. Dryden. Locke.
3. One apt to change ; a waverer. Shak.
4. Any thing changed and put in the place of
another. Shak.
CHANGER, 71. One who alters the form of
any thing.
2. One that is employed in changing and
discounting money ; a money-changer.
35
3. One given to change.
CH.vNGiNG, ppr. Altering; turning; put-
ting one thing for another; shifting.
CHAJV'NA, n. A fish taken in the Mediter-
ranean, resembling the sea-perch.
Diet, ofj^at. Hist.
CHAN'NEL,n. [Ir. cainneal ; Fr. canal; L.
canalis ; Arm. can, or canol. It is a dif-
ferent spelling of cano/.]
1. In a general sense, a passage ; a place ol"
passing or flowing; particularly, a water-
2. The place where a river flows, including
the whole breadth of the river. But more
appropriately, the deeper part or hollow
in which the principal current flows.
3. The deeper part of a strait, bay, or har-
bor, where the principal current flows, ei-
ther of tide or fresh water, or which is
the most convenient for the track of a
ship.
4. That through which any thing passes;
means of passing, conveying, or transmit-
ting ; as, the news was conveyed to us by
diflerent channels.
5. A gutter or furrow in a column.
6. An arm of the sea ; a straight or narrow
sea, between two continents, or between
a continent and an isle ; as the British or
Irish channel.
7. Channels of a ship. \^ee Chain-wales. 'X
CHANNEL, V. t. To form a channel ; to
cut chamiels in ; to groove ; as, to channel
a field or a column. IFotton
CHANNELED, pp. Having channels;
grooved longitudinally.
CHANNELING, ppr. Cutting channels ;
grooving longitudinally.
CHAN'SON, n. [Fr.] A song. Shak.
CH" ANT, V. t. [Fr. chanter ; L. canto, canlus :
W. apanu ; Arm. cana, cannein ; It. can-
tare ; Sp. Port, cantar ; L. cano. See
Cant]
1. To sing ; to utter a melodious voice ; that
is, to cant or throw the voice in modula-
tions.
The cheerful birds do chant sweet music.
Spenser.
2. To celebrate in song ; as, to chant the
praises of Jehovah.
3. To sing, as in church-service ; to repeat
words in a kind of canting voice, with
modulations.
CHANT, t.. I. To sing ; to make melody
with the voice.
They chant to the sound of the viol. Amos vi.
2. To repeat words in the church-service
with a kind of singing.
CH'ANT, n. Song ; melody ; church-ser-
vice.
CHANTED, pp. Sung ; uttered with mod-
ulations of voice.
CH.\NTER, n. One who chants ; a singer
or songster. Pope.
2. The chief singer, or priest of the chan-
tiy. Gregory.
3. The pipe which soimds the tenor or tre-
ble in a bagpipe.
CHANTICLEER, n. [chant and clear, Fr.
clair.]
A cock, so called fi-om the clearness or loud-
ness of his voice in crowing. Dryden.
CH' ANTING, ppr. Singing ; uttering a me-
lodious voice ; repeating words with a
singing voice.
C H A
C'H'ANTING, n. The act of singing, or ut-
tering with a song.
CH"ANTRESS,Ji. A female singer. Milton.
CH>ANTRY, n. [Fr. chantrene, from chant]
A church or chapel endowed with lands,
or other revenue, for the maintenance of
one or more priests daily to sing or say
mass for the souls of the donors, or such
as they appoint. Cowdi
CHA'OS, n. [L. chaos; Gr. zaoj.] That con-
fusion, or confused mass, in which matter
is supposed to have existed, before it was
separated into its different kinds and
duced to order, by the creating power of
God. " Rudis, indigestaque moles."
Ovid.
2. Any mixed mass, without due form or or-
der; as a chaos of materials.
D. Confusion ; disorder ; a state in which tlie
parts are undistinguished. Donne.
CHAOT'Ie, a. Resembling chaos ; confus-
ed ; as, tlie eartli was originally in a chaotic
state.
CHAP, i>. /. [Ar
jiibba, to cut ofl'
or out, to castrate ; i_,l-» to split, rend,
tear, or cleave, to cut. It seems to be al
lied to the G. and D. happen, Dan. kap
per, Fr. couptr ; but these agree betlei
witli Ar. -x:=5 or t-ix^ to cut
See Chop 'and Gape. Chap is .sometime!
pronounced chop.]
To cleave, split, crack, or open longitudi
iially, as the sinface of tlie eartli, or the
skin and flesh of the hand. Dry weather
chaps the earth ; cold dry winds chap th
hands.
CHAP, V. I. To crack ; to open in long slits ;
as, the earth chaps ; the hands chap.
CHAP, n. A longitudinal cleft, gap or chink,
as in the surface of the earth, or in the
Iiands or feet.
C'HAP, n. [Sax. ceaf, a beak, or chap ; phi.
ceaflas, the chaps.]
The upper and lower part of the mouth ; the
jaw. It is applied to beasts, and vulgarly
to men ; generally in the pliu-ul, the chaps
or mouth.
CHAP, 71. A man or a boy ; a youth. It
used also in the sense of a buyer. "If
you want to sell, here is your chap." In
ihis sense it coincides with chapman. [See
Cheap.] _ Steele.
CHAP, V. i. [Sax. ceapian.] To cheapen.
[Not used.]
CHAP'BOOK,«. [See Chapman drnXaieap.]
A small book or pamphlet, carried about
for sale by hawker.?.
CHAPE, n. [Fr. chape, the tongue of a
buckle, a cover, a cliurchman's cope,
the head of an alembic ; Arm. chap ; Sp.
ckapa, a thin plate of metal covering some
kind of work. Qu. ca/>.]
1. The catch of any thing, as the hook of a
scabbard, or the catch of a buckle, by
which it is held to the back strap.
2. A brass or silver tip or case, that strength-
ens the end of a scabbard.
Johnson. PhiUips.
CHAPEAU, n. ahappo. [Fr.] A hat ; in her-
aldn/, a cap or bonnet.
CHAP'EL, n. [Fr. chapelle ; L. capdla i
C H A
Arm. chapel ; Sp. capilla, a chapel, a hood
or cowl, a chapter of collegians, a proof-
sheet; Port, capella; It. cappella; D.kapel;
from the same root as cap. It is said that
the kings of France, in war, carried St
Martin's hat into the field, which was kept
in a tent as a precious relic, whence the
place took the name capella, a little hat,
and the priest who had the custody of the
tent was called capellanus, now chaplaii
Hence the word chapel came to signify
private oratory. Encyc. lAinier.]
1. A house for public worship ; primarily, a
private oratory, or house of worship be
longing to a private person. In Great
Britain there are several sorts of chapels;
as parochial chapels, distinct from the
mother church ; chapels which adjo
and are a part of the church ; such were
formerly built by honorable persons for
burying places ; chapels of ease, built in
large parishes for the accommodation of
the inhabitants ; free chapels, which were
founded by the kings of England ; chapels
in the universities, belonging to particular
colleges ; domestic chapels, built by noble-
men or gentlemen for the use of their
families. Encyc.
2. A printer's workhouse ; said to be so call-
ed because printing was first carried on in
a chajiel. Bailey. Encyc.
CHAP'EL, V. t. To deijosit in a chapel.
Beaum.
CHA'PELESS, a. Without a chape,
CHAP'ELET, I [Fr. chapelet.] A pair of
CHAP'LET, I "■ stirrup leathers, with stu-
mps, joined at the top in a sort of leather
buckle, by which they are made fast to the
pommel of the saddle, after they have
been adjusted to the length and bearing of
the rider. Farrier's Diet.
CHAP'ELLANY, n. A place founded with-
in some church and dependent thereon.
Jyliffe.
CHAP'ELLING, n. The act of turning a
slnp round in a light breeze of wind, when
close hauled, so that she will lie the same
way as before. Mar. Diet.
CHAP'ELRY, n. The bounds or jurisdic-
tion of a chapel.
CHAP'ERON, n. [Fr.] A hood or cap worn
by the knights of the garter in their hab-
its. It was anciently worn by men, wo-
men, nobles and populace ; afterwards ap-
propriated to doctors and licentiates in
colleges. The name then passed to cer-
tain devices placed on the foreheailf^ <i("
horses which drew the herse in pompous
funerals. Johnson. Enci/r
CHAP'ERON, V. t. To attend on a lady "in
a public assembly. Todd.
CHAP'-F ALLEN, a. [chap and fall.] Hav-
ing the lower chap depressed ; hence, de-
je(;ted ; dispirited ; silenced. B. Jonson.
CilAP'ITER, n. [Fr. chapiteau ; It. capitello ;
L. capitellum, from caput, a head. This is
a different word for capital.]
1. The upper part or capital of a column or
pillar; a word used in the scriptures. [See
Capital.]
2. That which is delivered by the mouth of
the justice in his charge to the inquest.
Encyc.
CHAP'LAIN, n. [Fr. chapelain ; Sp. capel-
Ian ; It. cappellano : L. capellanus ; from
chapel.]
C H A
1. An ecclesiastic who has a chapel, or who
performs service in a chapel. The king of
Great Britain has forty-eight chaplains,
who attend, four each month, to perform
divine service for the royal family. Prin-
ces also, and persons of quality have chap-
lains, who ofliciate in their chapels.
2. A clergyman who belongs to a ship of
war, or to a regiment of land forces, for
performing divine service.
3. A clergyman who is retained to perform
divine service in a family.
Chaplains of the Pope, are auditors or judges
of causes in the sacred palace. Encyc.
CHAP'LAINCY, n. The oflice or station of
a chaplain.
CHAP'LAINSHIP, ji. The ofiice or busi-
ness of a chaplain.
2. The possession, or revenue of a chapel.
Johnson.
CHAP'LESS, a. Without any flesh about
the mouth. Bailey. Shak.
CHAP'LET, n. [Fr. chapelet.] A garland
or wreath to be worn on the head ; the
circle of a crown.
2. A string of beads used by the Roman
Catholics, by which they count the num-
ber of their prayers. They are made
sometimes of coral, of wood, of diamonds,
&.C., and are called;;a(enios<er«. The inven-
tion is ascribed to Peter the hermit, who
probably learnt it in the East, as the Ori-
entals use a kind of chaplet, called a chain,
rehearsing one of the perfections of God
on each hiik, or head. The Great Mogul
is said to have eighteen of these chains,
all precious stones. The Turks also use
a kind of chaplet in reciting their prayers.
Encyc.
3. In architecture, a little molding, carved in-
to round beads, pearls, olives or the like.
4. In horsemanship, a chapelet, which see.
5. A tuft of feathers on a peacock's head.
Johnson.
G. A small chapel or shrine. Hammond.
CHAP'MAN, n. phi. chapmen. [Sax. ceap-
man ; D. koopman ; G. kaufmann ; Dan.
kiobmand. See Cheap.]
1. A cheapener ; one tliat offers as a pur-
chaser.
Their chapmen fhey betray. Dryden.
2. A seller ; a market-man. ^hak.
CHAP'PED, pp. Cleft ; opened, as the sur-
face or skin.
CHAP'PING, ppr. Cleaving, as the surface
rilAl'l'Y, a. Full of chaps; cleft.
( IIAI'S, the nio-jdi or jaws. [See Chap.]
(11 APT. [See Chapped.]
CHAPTER, n. [Fr. chapitre; L. capitulim,
a head ; It. capitolo ; Sp. capitulo; from L.
caput, the head.]
1. A division of a book or treatise ; as. Gen-
esis contains fifty chapters. Hence the
])hrase, to the end of the chapter, that is,
throughout ; to the end. Johnson.
2. In ecclesiastical polity, a society or com-
munity of clergymen, belonging to a ca-
thedral or collegiate church. Encyc.
3. A place where delinquents receive disci-
pline and correction. -flyliffe.
4. A decretal epistle. Jlyhffe.
CHAP'TER, V. t. To tax : to correct.
Dryden
CHAP'TER-HOUSE, n. A house where a
chapter meets. Bailen
C H A
CHAP'TREL, n. [flora chapiter.] Tlie capi-
tals of pillars and pilasters, wlii(:li support
arches, commonly called imposts. Moxon.
CH>AR, n. A fish.
CHAR, n. In England, work done by the
day ; a single job, or task. In jVew Eng-
land, it is pronounced chore, which see. I
know not the origin of the word. In Sax.
cerre, curr, signifies a time, a turn, occa-
sion, from ctrran, cyrran, to turn, oi
return.
€HAR, V. t. To perform a business. May
CHAR.w. t. To work at others houses by the
day, without being a hired servant ; to do
small jobs. Bailey. Johnson
CHAR- WOMAN, n. A woman hired for odd
work, or for single days. Johnson.
[Cliar-man and Char-woman are, I believe,
not used in America.]
CirAR, V. I. [Russ. jari/u or chnryii, to ron
or burn; or goryu to burn, or \iv biin
and with a preli.v, sgnrayu or ngdniyii,
burn; Fr. c/iarrea, ashes. Qu. Hub. (
Eth. Tm. Class Gr. No. 23. 1i. This
seems to be the root of L. carbo.
Chark.]
1. To burn or reduce to coal or carbon
reduce to cliiucoid, by expelUng all volatile
matter from wood. This is done by burn-
ing wood slowly under a covering of turf]
and earth.
2. To e.xpol all volatile matter from stoue or
earth, by heat.
The stone or earth charred from all foreign
visible ingredients. JCirican
€HAR'A€T, ) [See Character.] An in-
CHAR'ECT, S "• scription. [JVotin use.]
Sketton.
CHAR'ACTER, n. [L. character ; Fr. carac-
tere ; Sp. caracter ; It. carattere ; G,
axrrjp, from the verb jjopasou, jioportu,
;ta()o?u, to scrape, cut, engrave.]
1. A mark made by cutting or engraving, as
on stone, metal or other hard material
hence, a mark or figure made with a pen
or style, on paper, or other material used
to contain writing; a letter, or figure used
to form words, and communicate ideas.
Characters are literal, as the letters of an
alphabet ; numeral, as the arithmetical
figures ; emblematical or symbolical, which
express things or ideas ; and abbreviations
as C. for centum, a hundred; lb. for libra,
a pound ; A. D. Anno Domini
2. A mark or figuie made by stampnig or
impression, ns t
3. Themann.rnlv
of letters iiscil Ir
Vouknow t!w i
C H A
All the characters in the play appeared l<
advantage.
The friendship of distinguished characters.
Roscoe
the peculiar form
■ uliir person.
By way of eminence, distinguished or
good qualities ; those which are esteemed
and respected ; and those which arc ascri-
bed to a person in common estimation.
We enquire whether a stranger is a man
of character.
Adventitious qualities impressed by office,
or station ; the qualities that, in pul)lic es-
timation, belong to a person in a particidar
station; as when we ask how a magis-
trate, or commander supports liis char-
acter.
i>. In natural history, the peculiar discrimina-
ting qualities or properties of animals,
plants and minerals.
These properties, when employed for the pur
pose of discriminating minerals, are called char
acters. Cleaveland.
IIAR'ACTER, V. t. To engrave ; to
scribe. Milton. Shak.
2. To describe ; to distinguish by i)articular
marks or traits. Mitford.
eHAR'A€TERED, pp. Engraved; inscri
bed ; distinguished by a particular charac
ter. Mitford.
€IiAR'ACTERISM, n. The distinction of
character. Bp. Hall.
2. A particular aspect or configuration of the
heavens. Encyc.
eHARA€TERIS'TIC, ? „ [Or. ;KO(>ax-
€HARA€TERIS'TI€AL, S rwfxos,
from jjapaxfijp.]
That constitutes the character ; that marks
the peculiar, distinctive qualities of a per-
son or thing.
Generosity is often a characteristic virtue of i
brave man.
It is followed by of.
Generosity is characteristic of tnie bravery
€IIARA€TERIS'TI€, n. That which con-
stitutes a character ; that which charac-
terizes ; that which distinguishes a persor
or thing from another.
Invention is the characteristic of Homer.
Pope
2. In grammar, the principal letter of a word,
which is preserved inmost of its tenses, in
its derivatives and compounds.
The characteristic of a logarithm, is its index
or exponent.
The characteristic triangle of a curve, in ge
ometry, is a rectilinear right-angled trian
gle, whose hypotenuse makes a part of
the curve, not sensibly difierent from a
right line. Encyc.
€HARA€TERIS'TI€ALLY, adv. In
C H A
To mark with a peculiar slanip,or ligurc.
European, Asiatic, and African faces are all
cliararferized. Arbuihnol.
ellAR'ACTERIZED,;);). Described or dis-
tinguii^heil by pecular qualities.
CHARACTERIZING, ppr. Describing or
4. The peculiar qualities, impressed by na
ture or habit on a person, which distin
guish him from others ; these constitute
real character, and the qualities which he
supposed to possess, constitute his estimated
character, or reputation. Hence we say, a
character is not formed, when the person
has not acquired stable and distinctiv
qualities.
5. An accotmt, description or representation
of any thing, exhibiting its qualities and
the circumstances attending it ; as, to gi
a bad character to a town, or to a road.
6. A person ; as, the assembly consisted of
various characters, eminent characters, and
low characters.
aractcr.
r><, n. The
•liaractcristic.
; I-. xc^ft^xTr^fi^u.]
account of the
; to describe by
manner that disiin-ui-l
€HARA€TERIi^ 1 I ( \1
state or qualitii - <'!' I» ii
€H.\R'A€TERIZr, r. /.
To give a character, or
personal qualities of a n:
peculiar qualities.
2. To distinguish ; to mark, or express the
character; to exhibit the pecuUar qualities
of a person or thing; as, humility charac
terizes the true christian ; the hero is char-
acterizedhy bravery and magnanimity.
The system of mediation has characterized
the entire scheme of divine dispen-sation.
Thodey
.3. To engrave or imprint. [Little used.]
Hale.
distinguishing by peculiar quahties
CHARACTERLESS, a. Destitute of any
peculiar character. Shale.
CHAR'ACTERY, n. Impression ; mark :
distinction. [Aof used.] ShaJc.
CHARA'DE, n. [Said to be from the name
of the inventor.]
A composition, in which the subject must be
a word of two syllables, each forming a
distinct word ; and these syllables are to
be concealed in an enigmatical descrip-
tion, first sei)arately and then together.
Example.
My first, when a Frenchman ia leartiing Eng-
lish, serves him to .swear by. My second in
either hay or corn. My whole is tlie delight of
the age. Gar-rick. Encyc.
CH'ARCOAL, n. [c/tar and coo/. See C/tar.j
Coal luade by charring wood ; the remains
of wood burnt under turf, and from which
all watery and other volatile matter has
been expelled by heat. It makes a strong
heat, and is used in furnaces, forges, pri-
vate families, &c. It is black, brittle, light
and inodorous, and not being decomposa-
ble by water or an-, will endure for ages
without alteration.
CH'ARD, Ii. [Fr. charde; L. carduus.]
The leaves of artichokes tied and wra|)petl
all over, except the top, in straw, during
autumn and winter. This makes them
grow white and lose some of their bitter-
ness. Chambers.
Chards of beet are plants of white beet trans-
planted, producing great tops, which, in
the midst, have a large, white, thick,
downy, cotton-like maiji shoot, which is
the true chard. Mortimer.
CH'ARgE, D. <. charj. [Fr. charger ; Arm.
carga ; Sp. cargar ; It. caricare, or carcare ;
Port, carregar. It would seem from the
Welsh that this word is from cai; a cart or
other vehicle, and that the noun charge or
cargo was first formed, and therefore
ought in arrangement to precede the verb.
If the verb was fiist formed, the primary
sense would be to load, to thrower put on
or in. I tliink the fact to be otherwise.
See Cargo.]
1. To rush on; to fall on ; to attack, espe-
cially with fixed bayonets ; as, an army
charges the enemy.
2. To Toad, as a musket or cannon ; to thrust
in powder, or powder and ball or shot.
3. To load or burden ; to tlirow on or im-
pose that which oppresses ; as, to charge
the stomach with indigestible food ; or to
lay on, or to fill, without oppressing ; as, to
charge the memory with rules and pre-
cepts ; to charge the mind with facts.
4. To set or lay on ; to impose, as a tax ; as,
the land is charged tvith a quit rent ; a rent
is charged on the land.
5. To lay on or impose, as a task.
The gospel chargeth us with piety towards
God. Tillotson.
6. To put or lay on ; as, to charge a building
with ornaments, often implying super-
fluity.
7. To lay on, as a duty ; followed by with.
C H A
C H A
C H A
The commander charged the officer with the
execution of the project. See Gen. xl. 4
8. To entrust to ; as, an officer is charged with
dispatches.
9. To set to, as a debt ; to place on the debit
side of an account ; as, to charge a man
with the price of goods sold to him.
10. To load or lay on in words, something
wrong, reproachful or criminal ; to impute
to ; as, to charge a man mth theft.
11. To lay on in words; to impute to; fol-
lowed by on before the person; as, tc
charge a crime oti the offender ; to charge
evil consequences on the doctrines of the
stoics.
12. To censure ; to accuse.
In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God
foolishly. Job i.
13. To lay on, give or communicate, as
order, command or earnest request ;
enjoin ; to exliort.
Charge them that are rich in this world, that
they be not high-minded. 1 Tim. vi.
In this sense, when the command
given in the name of God, or with an oath,
the phrase amounts to an adjuration.
To adjure ; to bind by an oath. 1
Sam. xiv. 28.
14. To give directions to ; to instruct author-
itatively ; as, the judge charged the grand
jury to inquire respecting breaches of the
peace.
15. To communicate electrical matter to, as
to a coated vial, or an electrical battery,
OH'ARCE, V. i. To make an onset. Thus
Glanville says, " like your heroes of anti
quity, he charges in iron ;" and we say, to
charge with fixed bayonets. But in this
application, the object is understood ; tc
charge the enemy.
C'HARtiE, n. [Fr. charge; Arm. and W
carg ; Sp. carga, cargo ; Port, carga, car
carga
go.]
rega ; It. earica, carco ; Eng. cargo.
I. That which is laid on or in ; in ageneral
sense, any load or burden. It is the same
word radically as cargo.
?. The quantity of powder, or of powder
and ball or shot, used to load a musket,
cannon or other like instrument.
:i. An onset ; a rushing on an enemy
tack; especially by moving troops with
fixed bayonets. " But it is used for an on-
set of cavalry as well as of infantry.
4. An order, injunction, mandate, command,
Moses gave Joshua a charge. Numbers
xxvii.
The king gave charge concerning Absalom,
2 Sam. xviii.
Hence,
5. That which is enjoined, committed, en-
trusted or deUvered to another, implying
care, custody, oversight, or duty to be per-
formed by the person entrusted.
I gave Hanani charge over Jerusalem. Nch
Hence the word includes any trust or
commission ; an office, duty, employment
It is followed by of or over ; more generally
by of. Hence,
(i. The person or thing committed to anotl;
er's custody, care or management ; a
trust. Thus the people of a parish are
called the minister's charge.
The starry guardian drove his charge away
To some fresh pasture. Drydcn
7. Instructions given by a judge to a jury, or
by a bishop to his clergy. The word may
be used as synonyinous with command,
direction, exhortation or injunction, but
always implies solemnity.
Im]iutation in a bad sense ; accusation.
Lay not this sin to their charge. Acts vii.
9. That which constitutes debt, in coimner-
cial transactions ; an entry of money or
the price of goods, on the debit side of an
account.
10. Cost; expense ; as, the eftarg-fts of the war
are to be borne by the nation.
11. Imposition on land or estate ; rent, tax,
or whatever constitutes a burden or duty.
13. In military affairs, a signal to attack ; as,
to sound the charge.
13. The posture of a weapon fitted for au
attack or combat.
Their armed slaves in charge. Shak.
14. Among farriers, a preparation of the
consistence of a thick decoction, or be-
tween an ointment and a plaster, used as
a remedy for sprains and inflammations.
15. In heraldi-y, that which is borne upon the
color ; or the figures represented on the
escutcheon, by which the bearers are dis-
tinguished from one another.
16. In electrical experiments, a quantity of
electrical fluid, communicated to a coated
jar, vial or pane of glass.
A charge of lead, is thirty-six pigs, each con-
taining six stone, wanting two pounds.
CH^ARgEABLE, a. That may be charged ;
that may be set, laid, imposed ; as, a duty
of forty percent, is chargeable on wine.
9. Subject to be charged ; as, wuie is charge-
able toith a duty of forty per cent.
3. Expensive ; costly ; as a chargeable fam-
ily-
4. Laying or bringing expense.
Because we would not be chargeable to any
of you. 1 Thess. ii.
5. Imputable ; that may be laid or attributed
as a crime, fault or debt ; as a fault charge-
able on a man.
6. Subject to be charged or accused ; as a
nan chargeable with a fault, or neglect.
CH' ARGEABLENESS, n. E.xpensiveness ;
cost ; costliness. Boyle.
CH'ARGEABLY, adv. Expensively ; at
great cost. Ascham.
CH'ARgED, pp. Loaded; burdened; at-
tacked ; laid on ; instructed ; imputed ;
accused ; placed to the debt ; ordered
commanded.
CirAR6EFyL, a. Expensive ; costly. [JVb<
iised.] Shak.
CH'AROELESS, a. Not exi)ensive ; free
from expense.
CH>AR6ER, n. In Scots law, one who char-
ges another in a suit.
9. A large dish. Nurn. vii.
3. A horse used for attack.
CH*AR6ING, ppr. Loading ; attacking ;
laying on; instructing; commanding; ac-
cusing; imputing.
CHA'RILY, adv. [See Chary.] Carefully ;
warily ; frugally. [Little used.] Shak
CHA'RINESS, n. Caution ; care ; nicety ;
scrupulousness. [Little used.] Shak
CHAR'IOT, n. [Fr. chariot, from char, a car,
which see ; Sp. It. carro ; It. carrctta.]
1. A half coach; a carriage with four wheel;
and one seat behind, used for conveni
ence and pleasure.
2. A car or vehicle used formerly in war,
diawn by two or more horses, and con
veymg two men each. These vehicles-
were sometimes armed with hooks or
sythes.
CHAR'IOT, V. t. To convey in a chariot.
Milton.
CUAR'IOTEB, pp. Borne ma chariot.
Cowper.
CHARIOTEER, n. The person who drives
or conducts a chariot. It is used in speak-
ing of mihtary chariots and those in the
ancient games, but not of modern drivers.
Johnson. Addison.
CHARIOT-MAN, n. The driver of a char-
iot. 2 Chron. xviii.
CHAR'IOT-RACE, n. A race with char-
iots ; a sport in which chariots were driven
in contest for a prize. Addison.
CHARITABLE, a. [Fr. See Charity.]
Benevolent and kind ; as a charitable dis-
position.
2. Liberal in benefactions to the poor, and
in relieving them in distress ; as a char-
itable man.
3. Pertaining to charity ; springing fi-oni
charity, or intended for charity ; benevo-
lent ; as a charitable institution, or society :
a cliai-itable purpose.
4. Formed on charitable principles ; favora-
ble ; dictated by kindness ; as a charitable
construction of words or actions.
CHARITABLENESS, n. The disposition
to be charitable ; or the exercise of charity.
2. Liberality to the poor.
CHARITABLY, adv. Kindly; liberally:
benevolently ; with a disposition to help
the poor ; favorably.
CHAR'ITY, n. [Fr. chariU ; L. chariias,
or caritas ; W. cariad ; Sp. caridad ; Port.
caridade ; It. carita,caritade. Qu. Gr.^^opij.
The Latin caritas is from carus, dear, cost-
ly, whence beloved, and the word was
sometimes written charitas, as if from the
Gr. ajoptj. The Lat. cai-us would seem to
be from the verb careo, to want, as dear-
ness arises from scarcity. Of this we have
an example in the English dear, whence
deaiih, which shows the primary sense of
dear to be scarce. But qu. the Oriental
Y ■ Class Gr. No. 50.]
1. In a general sense, love, benevolence, good
will ; that disposition of heart which in-
chnes men to think favorably of their fel-
low men, and to do them good. In a theo-
logical sense, it includes supreme love to
God, and universal good will to men.
1 Cor. xiii. Cpl. iii. 1 Tim. i.
2. In a more particular sense, love, kindness,
affection, tenderness, springing from nat-
ural relations ; as the chanties of father,
son and brother. Milton.
3. Liberality to the poor, consisting in alms-
giving or benefactions, or in gratuitous
services to relieve them in distress.
4. Alms; whatever is bestowed gratuitously
)n the poor for their reUef.
5. Liberality in gifts and services to promote
])ublic objects of utility, as to found and
.support bible societies, missionary socie-
ties, and others.
6. Candor; liberality in judging of men and
their actions ; a disposition which inclines
men to think and judge favorably, and to
put the best construction on words and
actions which the case will admit.
C H A
ITie hiehest exercise of charity, is charity
towards £e uncharitable. Huckminster.
7. Any act of kindness, or benevolence; as
the charitiea of life.
8. A charitable institution. D. JVehater.
Charity-school, is a school maintained by vol-
untary contributions for educating poor
children.
CH^ARK, V. t. [Qu. char, or Ch. pn, Ar.
Oj.^ haraka, to burn.]
To burn to a coal ; to char. [JVo< used. See
Char.] Gr'iv.
CH^ARLATAN, n. [Fr. from It. ciarlatano.
a quack, from ciarlare, to prate ; Sp. char-
latan, from charlar, to prate ; Port, chartar,
id.; L. garrulo, garrio ; Gr. yjjptu.]
One who prates much in his own favor, and
makes unwarrantable pretensions to skill ;
a quack ; an empiric ; a mountebank.
Brown. Butter.
CHARLATAN'ICAL,a. Quackish; making
undue pretensions to skill ; ignorant.
Cowley.
CH^ARLATANRY, n. Undue pretensions
to skill ; quackery ; wheedhng ; deception
by fair words. Johnson
CH'ARLES'S-WAIN, n. [Charles, Celtic
karl, a man, or brave man. See ff'ain.
In astronomy, seven stars in the constellation
called Ursa Major, or the Great Bear.
Encyc
CH^ARLOCK, n. [Sax. cerlice. Leac, in
Saxon, is a leek, but the same word occurs
in hemlock, and it probably signifies, a plant
or root.]
The English name of the Raphanus rapha
nistrum and Sinapis arvensis, very perni
cious weeds among grain. One kind has
yellow flowers ; another, white, with joii
ed pods. Lee. Encyc.
CH'ARM, n. [Fr. channe ; Norm, carine oc
garme; Arm. chalm ; L. carmen, a song, a
verse, an outcry, a charm. It coincides
with the W.gann, an outcry, garmiaiv, to
shout. Sax. cirm, or ei/rai, outcry, noise:
See Marm.]
I. Words, characters or other things ima
gined to possess some occult or unuitelh
gible power; hence, a magic power or
.«pell, by which with the supposed assis
tance of the devil, witches and sorcerers
have been supposed to do wonderful
things. Spell; enchantment. Hence,
','. That which has power to subdue opposi
tion, and gain the affections ; that which
can please irresistibly ; that which delights
and attracts the heart ; generally in the
idural.
The smiles of na
C H A
4. To fortify with charms against evil.
I have a charmed life, which must not yield.
[JVotinuse.} Shak.
5. To make powerful by charms. Johnson.
6. To sununon by incantation.
Shak. Johnson.
7. To temper agreeably. Spenser.
CH'ARM, V. i. To sound harmonically.
MUon.
CH'ARMA, »i. A fish resembling the sea-
wolf.
CWAKMED, pp. Subdued by charms; de
lifjlited ; enchanted.
CHARMER, n. One that charms, or has
power to charm ; one that uses or has the
jjower of enchantment. Deut. xviii. 11.
One who delights and attracts the affec-
tions.
CH'ARMERESS, n. An enchantress.
Chaucer.
CH'ARMFUL, a. Abounding with charms.
Coivlty.
CH^ARMING, ppr. Using charms ; en-
chanting.
~ ' de-
d the charn)s of art.
.'Iddison
Good humor only teaches charms to last.
Pope
CH^ARM, V. t. To subdue or control by in-
cantation or secret influence.
I will send serpents among you — wliich will
not be charmed. Jer. vUi.
2. To subdue by secret power, especially by
that which pleases and deUghts the mind
to allay, or appease.
Music the fiercest grief can charm. Pope
3. To give exquisite pleasure to the mind oi
senses ; to delight.
We were charmed with the conversation.
The aerial songster charms us with her melo-
dious notes. .inon
. Pleasing in the highest degree
lighting.
Music is but an elegant and charming species
of elocution. E. Porter.
CirARMlNGLY, adv. Delightfully; in a
manner to charm, or to give deUght.
She smiled very charmingly. .iddison.
CirARMLNGNESS, n. The power to
please. Johnson.
CHARMLESS, a. Destitute of charms.
Swift.
Cir ARNEL, a. [Fr. chamel, carnal, fleshly ;
charnier, a charnel-house, a larder ; Arm
camell ; Sp. camera ; It. carnaio ; L. car-
nalis, carnal, from caro, flesh.]
Containing flesh or carcasses. Milton
CHARNEL-HOUSE, n. A place under or
near churches, where the bones of the dead
are reposited. Anciently, a kind of porti-
co or gallery, in or near a church-yard,
over which tlie bones of the dead were
laid, after the flesh was consumed. Encyc
€HA'RON, )i. In falndous history, the son of
Erebus and Nox, whose office was to
ferry the souls of the deceased over the
waters of Acheron and Styx, for t
piece of money.
CHVVRR, n. A fish, a species of Salmo.
CH'ARRED, pp. [from char.] Reduced t(
a coal.
CHARRING, ppr. Reducing to coal ; de
priving of volatile matter.
CH'ARRY, a. [See Char.] Pertaining to
charcoal ; like charcoal, or partaking of
its qualities. Lavoisier.
CH'ART, n. [L. charta, the same as card.
which see.]
A hydrographical or marine map ; a draught
or projection of some part of the earth's
superficies on paper, with the coasts, isles,
rocks, banks, channels or entrances into
harbors, rivers, and bays, the points
of compass, soundings or depth of water,
&c., to regulate the courses of ships in
their voyages. The term chart is applied
to a marine map; map is appUed to
draught of some portion of land.
A plane chart is a representation of some
part of the superficies of the globe, in
which the meridians are supposed parallel
to each other, the parallels of latitude at
equal distances, and of course the degrees
C H A
of latitude and longitude are everj- where
equal to each other.
Mercalor'a chart, is one on w hich the meridi-
ans are straight fines, parallel and equi-
distant ; the parallels are straight Unesand
parallel to each other, but the distance
between them increases from the equi-
noctial towards either pole, in the ratio of
the secant of the latitude to the radius.
Globular chart, is a meridional ])rojection in
which the distance of the eye from the
plane of the meridian, on which the pro-
jection is made, is supposed to be equal
to the sine of the angle of forty-five degrees.
Selenographic charts, represent the spots
and appearances of the moon.
Topographic charts, are draughts of particu--
lar places, or small parts of the earth.
Encyc.
CH-ARTER, n. [Fr. chartre, i'rom L. charta.
See Card.]
A written instrument, executed with usual
forms, given as evidence of a grant, con-
tract, or whatever is done between man
and man. In its more usual sense, it is
the instrument of a grant conferring pow-
ers, rights and privileges, either from a
king or other sovereign power, or from a
jirivate person, as a charter of exemption,
that no person shall be em])annelled on
a jury, a cliarter of pardon, &c. The
charters under which most of the colonies
in America were settled, were given by
the king of England, and incorporated
certain persons, with powers to hold the
lands granted, to establish a govermnent,
and make laws for their own regidation.
These were called charter-governments.
Any instrument, executed with form and
solemnity, bestowing rights or privileges.
Dryden. South.
3. Privilege ; immunity ; exemption.
Who has a cliarter to extol her blood,
Wien she does praise me, grieves me. Shah.
CHARTER, V. t. To hire, or to let a ship
by cliarter. [See Charter-parly.]
2. To establish by charter. Buchanan.
CHARTER-LAND, n. Land held by char-
ter, or in soccage. Coke.
CH>ARTER-PARTY, n. [Fr. charle-partie,
a divided charter ; from the practice of
cutting the instrument in two, and giving
one part to each of the contractors.]
In commerce, an agreement respecting the
hire of a vessel and the freight. This is
to be signed by the proprietor or master
of the ship and by the merchant who
hires or freights it. It must contain the
name and burden of the vessel, the names
of the master and freighter, the price or
rate of the freight, the time of loading
and unloading, and other stipulated con-
ihtions. Encyc.
CirARTERED, i>p. Hired or let, as a ship.
3. Invested with privileges by charter; priv-
ileged. SItak.
3. Granted by charter ; as chartered rights ;
chartered power. D. Ramsay.
CHARTERING, ppr. Giving a charter;
establishing by charter.
2. Hiring or letting by charter.
CH^ARTLESS, a. Without a chart; of
which no chart has been made ; not delin-
eated on paper ; as the charUess main.
Barlme.
C H A
CII'ARTULARY, n. [Fr. chartulaire. See
Caiiutary.]
An officer in the ancient Latin church, who
had the care of charters and other papers
of a pubhc nature. Blaekstone uses this
word for a record or register, as of anion
astery.
CHA'RY, a. [Sax. cearig. See Care.] Care
fnl ; wary ; frugal. Shak
CHA'SABLE, a. That may be chased ; fit
for tlie chase. Cower.
CHASE, V. t. [Fr. chasser ; Arm. chaczeal;
Sp. cazar ; Port, ca^ar ; It. cacdare. The
eleirieiits are Cg or Ck ; and the change
of a palatal to a sibilant resembles that
in firofc]
1. Literally to drive, urge, press forward
with vehemence ; hence, to pursue for the
purpose of taking, as game ; to hunt.
2. To pursue, or drive, as a defeated
flying enemy. Lev. xxvi. 7. Deut. xxxii.
30.
3. To follow or iiursue, as an object of de
sire ; to ])ursue for the purpose of taking
as, to chase a ship.
4. To drive ; to pursue.
Chased bv their brother's endless malice.
KnoUes
To chase away, is to compel to depart ; ti
disperse.
To chase metals. [See Enchase.]
CHASE, re. Vehement pursuit; a runnins
or driving after ; as game, in hunting ; i
flying enemy, in war ; a ship at sea, &c.
2. Pursuit with an ardent desire to obtain,
as pleasure, profit, fame, &c. ; earnest
seeking.
3. That which may be chased ; that which
is usually taken by chase ; as beasts of
chase.
4. That which is pursued or hunted ;
seek some other chase. So at sea, a slnp
chased is called the chase.
5. In law, a driving of cattle to or from
place.
G. An open ground, or place of retreat for
deer and oHicr wild beasts; ditt'eringfr—
a forest, wliicli is not private property
and is invested with privileges, and from
a park which is inclosed. A chase is pri;
vate property, and
beasts or game.
7. [Fr. cJiasse; Sp. coaajlt. cassa. See Case
and Cash.] An iron frame used by print
ers to confine types, when set in columns
8. Chase of a gun, is the whole length of
the bore.
i). A term in the game of tennis.
Chase guns, in a ship of war, guns used
in chasing an enemy or in defending a
ship when chased. These have their ports
at the head or stern. A gun at the head
is called a bow-chase ; at tlie stem, a stem-
chase.
CHA'SED, pp. Pursued ; sought ardently
driven.
CHA'SER, n. One who chases ; a pursuer
a driver ; a hunter.
2. An enchaser. [See Enchase.]
CHA'SING, ppr. Pursuing ; driving ; hunt
ing.
CHASM, n. [Gr. ;taff;Uo, L. chasma, from
Gr. ;t<*") x^^^*^, Xf^^^^, to open.]
1. A cleft; a fissure; a gap; properly,
opening made by disrupture, as a breach
j)i the earth or a roi-k.
ell stored with wild
C H A
2. A void space ; a vacuity.
Between the two propositions, that the gos-
pel is true and that it is false, what a fearful
chasm .' The unsetUed reason hovers over it in
dismay. Suckminster.
CHAS'MED, a. Having gaps or a chasm.
CHAS'SELAS, n. A sort of grape.
CHASTE, a. [Fr. chaste ; Arm. chast ;^ It.
Sp. Port, casto ; from L. castus. Sax.
cusc, D. kuisch, G. keusch, Sw. kysk,\^
Russ. chistei, are probably from the samei
root. Qu. Ir. caidh. 1 suppose the pri-
mary sense to be, separate, fi-ora the ori-J
ental practice of sequestering females. If
so, castus accords with the root of castle, \
W. cas ; and at any rate, the word de-
notes purity, a sense taken from separa-i
tion.]
1. Pure from all uidawful commerce of sex-;
es. Applied to persons before marriage, it|
signifies pure from all sexual commerce,]
uudefiled ; applied to married ])ersons.
to the marriage bed.
Free from obscenity.
While they behold your chaste conversation.
1 Peter iii.
3. In language, pure ; genuine ; uncorrupt ;
free from barbarous words and phrases,
and from quaint, affected, extravagant
expressions.
CHA'STE-EYED, a. Having modest eyes.
Collins.
CHA'STE-TREE, re. The agnus castus, or
vitex ; a tree that grows to the highth
of eight or ten feet, producing spikes of
flowers at the end of every strong shoot
in autumn. MUler.
CHA'STELY, adv. In a chaste manner ;
without unlavvfiil commerce of sexes;
without obscenity ; purely ; whhout bar-
barisms or unnatural phrases.
CHA'STEN, V. t. cha'sn. [Fr. chatier, for
chastier ; Arm. castien ; Russ. chischu.]
1. To correct by punishment ; to punish ; to
inflict pain for the purpose of reclaiming
an oftender ; as, to chasten a son with a rod.
I will chasten him with the rod of men. 2
Sam. vii.
2. To afllict by other means.
As many as I love I rebuke and chasten.
Rev. iii. .
I chastened my soul with fasting. Ps. Ixix.
3. To purify from errors or faults.
CHA'STENED, pp. Corrected ; punished ;
aflhcted for correction.
CHA'STENER, n. One who punishes, for
the purpose of correction.
CHA'STENESS, n. Chastity ; purity.
CHA'STENING, ppr. Correcting ; aflflict
ing for correction.
CHA'STENING, re. Correction ; punish
ment for the purpose of reclaiming.
No chastening for the present seemeth to b(
C H A
2. To reduce to order or obedience ; to res
train ; to awe ; to repress.
The gay social sense.
By decency chastis'd. Thomson
To correct ; to piu-ify by expimging faults ;
as, to chastise a poem.
CHASTI'SED, pp. Punished ; corrected.
CHASTISEMENT, n. [Fr. chatiment :
Arm. cc^tiz ; from chaste.]
Correction ; punishment ; pain inflicted for
]nmishment and correction, either by
stripes or otherwise.
Shall I so much dishonour my fair stars.
On equal terms to give him chastisement.
Shak.
I have borne chastisement, I will not offend
any more. Job xxxiv.
The chastisement of our peace, in Scripture,
was the pain which Christ suffered to
purchase our peace and reconciliation to
God. Is. liii.
CHASTI'SER, n. One who chastises ; a
punisher; a corrector.
CHASTI'SING, pp: Punishing for correc-
tion ; correcting.
CHAS'TITY, n. [L. castitas; Fr. thastete ;
Sp. caslidad ; It. caslila ; from L. castus,
chaste.]
1. Purity of the body ; freedom from aU un-
lawful conunerce of sexes. Before mar-
riage, purity from all commerce of sexes ;
after marriage, fidelity to the marriage
bed.
2. Freedom from obscenity, as i
or conversation.
3. Freedom from bad mixture
words and phrases.
4. Piuity ; unadulterated state ;
tity of the gospel.
language
purity
the chas-
Gibbon.
Deserving of chastise-
Sherwood.
but gnevous,
CHASTl'SABLE, <
ment.
CHASTI'SE, V. t. s as z. [Fr. chatter ; Arm.
casliza ; from chaste, castus. The Latin
tigo, Sp. Port, castigar. It. gastigare,
formed with a different termination. We
have chastise from the Armoric dialect
1. To correct by punishing ; to punish
inflict pain by stripes, or in other manner,
for the purpose of punishing an offender
and recalling him to his duty,
1 will chastise you seven times for your sins.
Lev. xxvi.
CHAT, V. i. [G. kosen, to talk or prattle ;
Ir. ceadach, talkative ; ceadac, a stoi-y or
narrative ; Sp. cotorra, a magpie ; cotorrera,
■ a hen-])arrot, a talkative woman ; Gr.
xuriTAu, to prate ; D. koeteren, to jabber,
and kwetleren, to chatter ; koulen, id.]
t To talk in a familiar manner ; to talk with-
out form or ceremony. Milton. Dryden.
2. To talk idly ; to prate. Johnson.
CHAT, V. t. To talk of [jVot in use.]
I. Free, familiar talk ; idle talk ;
It. A twig, or httle stick. [See
CHAT,
prate.
CHAT,
Chit.]
CHAT'EAU, re. shat'o. [Fr. a castle. See
Castle.] A castle ; a seat in the country.
CHAT ELET, n. A little castle. Chambers.
CHAT'KLLANY, n. [Fr. chateUenie.] The
lordship or jurisdiction of a castellan, or
goveiuor of a castle. [See Castdlany.]
CHATOYANT, a. [Fr. chat, cat, and aU,
eye.]
Having a changeable, undulating luster, or
coloi-, like that of a cat's eye in the dark.
CHATOYANT, re. A hard stone, a little
transi)arent, which being cut smooth pre-
sents on its surface and in the interior, an
undulating or wavy light. It is of a yel-
lowish gray color or verging to an olive
sreen. It rarely exceeds the size of a
iilbert. Diet. ofJSTat. Hist.
CHATOY'MENT, re. Changeable coin.-..
or changeableness of color, in a mine ral :
plav of colors. Cltuvrhn, .'
ClIAT'TEL, H. chat'l. [See Culllc.] Prim.
CHE
CHE
CHE
nly, any article of movable goods. In
modern usage, the word chattels conipre
Lends all goods, movable or immovable,
except such as have tlie nature of freehold,
" Chattels are real or personal.
real, are such as concern or savor of the
realty, as a term for years of land, ward-
ships in cliivalry, the next presentation to
a church, estates by statute merchant,
elegit and the like. Chattels personal, are
things movable, as animals, furniture of a
house, jewels, corn, &o." Blackstone.
ClIAT'T'ER, V. i. [See Chat]
1. To utter sounds rapidly and indistinctly,
as a magpie, or a monkey.
2. To make a noise by collision of the
teeth. We say, the teeth chatter, when one
is chilly and shivering.
3. To talk idly, carelessly or rapidly ; to
jabber.
CHAT'TER, n. Sounds like those of a pie
or monkey ; idle talk.
CHATTER-BOX, n. One that talks
santly.
CHAT'TERER, n. A prater; an idle talker.
CHAT'TERING,;);)c Uttering rapid, indis
tinct sounds, as birds; talking idly; mo-
ving rapidly and clashing, as the teeth.
CIIAT'TERING, n. Rapid, inarticulatt
.sounds, as of birds ; idle talk ; rapid
striking of the teeth, as in chilliness.
CHATTING, ]mr. Talking famiharly
CH-iVT'TY, a. Given to free conversation ;
talkative.
CHAT'WPOD, n. I,ittle sticks ; fuel.
Bailey. Johnsoti.
CHAUMONTELLE, n. [Fr.] A sort of
pear.
CHAUN, n. A gap. [JVo< in use. See Yaicn.]
CHAUN, V. i. To open ; to yawn. [Xot '
use.]
CIIAV'ENDER, } [Fr. chei^esne.] The
CHE V EN, I "• chub, a fisli.
CHAW, V. t. [Sax. ceowan; D. kaauwen
G. kauen ; Ir. ca^naim, or cognaim ; Arm.
jaoga, or chaguein ; coinciding with jaw,
^vhich in Arm. is javed, gaved or chagell,
and as cheek und jaw are often united, this
word coincides with Sax. ceac, ceoca. It is
most correctly written and pronounced
chaw ; but chew is deemed most elegant."
1. To grind with the teeth; to masticate
as food in eating ; to ruminate, or to
chew as the cud.
3. To ruminate in thought ; to revolve and
consider. Obs.
CHAW, n. [a different spclhng of jaw. Sec
CItaw, supra.]
1. The jaw. Ezek. xxix. 4. But in modern
editions of the Bible it is printed/
2. In vulgar language, a cud ; as much as is
put in the mouth at once.
CHAW'DRON, n. Entrails. Shak.
CHAY, n. Chaya-root; the root of the Ol-
denlandia umbellata, used in dyeing rod.
CHEAP, a. [Sax. ceap, cattle, business, or
trade, a price, a pledge or pawn, a sel
ling any thing that may be bought or sold
rrapian, cypan, to buy, to sell, to nego-
tiate, to gain ; D. koop, a bargain or pur-
chase ; " te koop zetten," to set to sale
" goed koop," ch^ap, good purchase ; koop-
en, to buy ; G. kaufen ; Dan. kiober ; Sw.
kPipa ; Russ. kupayu ; L. caupo ; Eiig.
che'apen, to chaffer, chap-man, chap-book,
chop and change. The sense is a purchase,
and good cheap is a good purchase or bar-
gain. Hence probably, omitting good, we
nave cheap.]
1. Bearing a low price, in market ; that may
be purchased at a low price ; that is, at a
price as low or lower than the usual price
of the article or commodity, or at a i)rice
less than the real value. The sense is
always comparative ; for a price deemed
cheap at one time is considered dear at
another.
it is a principle wliich the progress of politi-
cal science has clearly establisiied ; a principle
that illustrates at once (lie wisdom of the crea-
tor and the blindness of human cupidity, that it
is cheaper to hire the labor of freemen than to
compel the labor of slaves. L. Bacon.
2. Being of small value; common; not res-
pected ; as cheap beauty.
Make not yourself cheap in the eyes of the
world. Anon.
CHEAP, n. Bargain ; purchase ; as in the
phrases, good cheap, better cheap ; the
original phrases from which we have
cheap.
CHE'APEN, v.<. che'apn. [Sax. ceapian. Sec
Cheap, supra.]
. To attempt to buy ; to ask the price of i
commodity ; to chafler.
To sliops in crowds the daggled females fly,
Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy.
SwiJI.
2. To lessen value. Dryden.
CHE'APENER, 7i. One who cheapens or
bargains.
CHE'APLY, adv. At a small price ; at a low
ate.
CHE'APNESS, n. Lownoss in price, con-
sidering the usual price, or real value.
CHEAR, [See Cheer.]
CHEAT, V. t. [Sax. cealt. In Ar. = Js -;
gadaa, signifies to deceive, circumvent,
seduce ; to fail, to hide, to disguise, to de-
fraud : i L^, kaida, signifies to deceive.
to lay snares ; Eth. "^ ^ (Tl chiet or hiet,
signifies to cheat, to deceive, to defraud.]
1. To deceive and defraud in a bargain ; to
deceive for the purpose of gain in selling.
Its proper application is to commerce, in
which a person uses some arts, or misre-
presentations, or withholds some facts,
by which he deceives the purchaser.
2. To deceive by any artifice, trick or de-
vice, with a view to gain an advantage
contrary to common honesty ; as, to cheat
a person at cards.
.3. To impose on ; to trick. It is followed by
q/'or out of, and colloquially by into, as to
cheat a child into a belief that a medicine
is palatable.
CHE.\T, n. A fraud committed by decep-
tion ; a trick ; imposition ; imposture.
A person who cheats ; one guilty of fraud
by deceitful practices.
CHE'ATABLENESS, n. Liability to be
cheated. Hammond.
CHEAT-BREAD, n. Fine bread purchas-
ed, or not made in the family. {LUtle
used.]
CHEATED, pp. Defrauded by deception.
CHE'ATER, n. One who jiractices a fraud
in commerce.
iCHE'ATING, ppr. Defrauding by decep-
I tion ; imposing on.
CHE'ATI.\G, n. The act of defrauding by
( deceitful arts.
CHECK, V. t. [Fr. echec, plu. echecs, which
we have changed into chess ; Sp. xaque, a
move at chess ; la/jtte de male, check-mate ;
Port, xaque, a check ; xagoale, a rebuke.
Sp. and Port, xaquima, a halter ; It. scacco
the squares of a chess-board ; scacchi, chess-
men ; scacco-matto, check-mate ; scaccato,
checkered ; Low L. scaccarium, an exche-
quer, Fr. echiquier ; G. schach, chess ;
schachmatt, check-mate ; D. schaak, chess ;
schauk-mat, check-mate ; Dan. skak, chess,
crooked, curving ; skak-7nal, check-mate ;
skakrer, to barter, chaffer, chop and
change; Sw. schach, chess; schach-mcUt,
check-mate; Russ. scAacA, check, chess;
schach-mat, check-mate. In Spanish xaque,
xeque, is an old man, a shaik, and xaco, a
jacket. These latter words seem to be the
Ar. _L;i or a L.^ ; the latter is render-
ed to grow old, to be old, to blame or
rebuke, under which we find shaik ; the
former signifies to use diligence, quasi, to
bend to or api)ly ; also, to abstain or turn
aside. In Arabic we find alsOi^^ to
doubt, hesitate, halt, and in Heb. the same
word 131? signifies to still, allay, sink, stop
or check, to obstruct or hedge ; ip a
hedge. We have, in these words, clear
evidetice of the manner, in which several
modern nations express the Shemitic 17, or
^•]
To stop ; to restrain ; to hinder ; to curb.
It signifies to put an entire stop to motion,
j or to restrain its violence, and cause an
abatement ; to moderate.
j2. To rebuke ; to chide or reprove. Shak.
|3. To compare any paper with its counter-
part or with a cipher, with a view to as-
I certain its authenticity ; to compare cor-
j responding pai)ers; to control by a coun-
I ter-rcgister.
4. In seamenship, to ease off a little of a rope,
which is too stiffly extended ; also, to stop-
per the cable. Mar. Did.
CHECK, v.i. To stop; to make a stop; with
at.
The mind checks at any vigorous iinderta-
kmg. Locke.
2. To clash or interfere.
I love to check with business. Bacon.
3. To strike with repression. Dryden.
[These applications are not Jrequent.]
CHECK, Ji. A stop; hindrance; rebuff;
sudden restraint, or continued restraint ;
curb; control; government.
2. That which stops or restrains, as reproof,
reprimand, rebuke, shght or disgust, fear,
apprehension, a person ; any stop or ob-
struction. Shak. Dryden. Clarendon.
3. In falconry, when a hawk forsakes her
proper game, to follow rooks, pies, or oth-
er fowls, that cross her in her flight.
Bailey. Encyc.
4. The correspondent cipher of a bank note ;
a corresponding indenture ; any counter-
register. Johnson.
A term in chess, when one party obliges
CHE
CHE
C H E
the other either to move or guard his
king.
6. An order for money, drawn on a banker
or on the cashier of a bank, payable to the
bearer.
This is a sense derived from that in de-
finition 4.
7. In popidar use, checkered cloth ; check, for
checkered.
Check or check-roll, a roll or book containing
the names of persons who are attendants
and in the pay of a king or great person-
age, as domestic servants.
Bailey. Encyc.
Clerk of Ike check, in the British King's
household, has the check and control of
the yeomen of the guard, and all the usl
crs belonging to the royal family, the care
of the watch, &c. Bailey. Encyc.
Clerk of the check, in the British Royal Dock-
Yards, Is an officer who keeps a register of
all the men employed on board his ma
jesty's shij)s and vessels, and of all the ar
tificers in the service of the navy, at the
port where he is settled.
CHECK'ED, CHF.CKT, pp. Stopped
strained ; repressed ; curbed ; moderated ;
controlled ; reprimanded.
CHECK'ER, V. t. [from check, or perhaps
directly from the Fr. echiquier, a chess
board. Norm, escheqir, or chekere, exche
quer.]
1. To variegate with cross lines ; to form
into little squares, like a chess board, by
Imes or stripes of different colors. Hence.
2. To diversify ; to variegate with different
qualities, scenes, or events.
Our minds are, as it were, checkered with
trutli and falsehood. Jiddlson.
CHECK'ER, n. One who checks or re-
strains ; a rebuker.
2. A chess-board.
CHECK'ER, ) Work varied al-
CHECK'ER-WORK, \ "" ternately as to itsi
colors or materials ; work consisting of|
cross lines.
CHECK'ERS, n. plu. A common game on
a checkered board.
CHECK'ING, ppr. Stopping; curbing; re.
straining ; moderating ; controlling ; re-
buking.
CHECK'LESS, a. That cannot be checked
or restrained.
CHECK'-MATE, n. [See Check. Mate is
from the root of the Sp. and Port, vmtar,
to kill. Ar. Ch. Syr. Heb. Eth. Sam. niD
moth, to die, to kill.]
1. The movement on a chess board or in the
game of chess that kills the opposite men,
or hinders them from moving, so that the
game is finished.
2. Defeat ; overthrow. Spenser.
CHECK'-MATE, v. t. To finish. Skelton.
CHECK' Y, n. In heraldn/, a border that has
more than two rows of'cheekers, or when
the bordure or shield is checkered, like a
chess-board. Bailey. Encyc.
CHEEK, re. [Sax. ceac, ceoca ; D. kaak ; this
is probably the same word as jaw, Fr.
joue, Arm. gaved, javed, connected with
jaoga, chaguein, to chaw, or chew, for the
words chin, cheek and jaw, are confounded,
the same word which, in one dialect, sig-
nifies the cheek, in another, signifies the
jaw. GtiHi in I.atiu is the Eughsh chin.^
The side of the face below the eyes on
each side.
2. Among mechanics, cheeks are tliose pieces
of a machine which form corresponcUng
sides, or which are double and alike ; as
the cheeks of a printing press, which stand
perpendicular and support the three som-
mers, the head, shelves and winter ; the
cheeks of a turner's lathe ; the cheeks of a
glazier's vise ; the cheeks of a mortar, and
of a gun-carriage ; the cheeks of a mast,
which serve to sustain the trestle trees,
&c.
Cheek byjoivl, closeness, proximity. Beaum.
CHEE'K-BONE, n. The bone of the cheek.
CHEE'KED, a. Brought near the cheek.
Cotton.
CHEE'K-TOOTH, n. The hinder tooth or
tusk. Joel i. 6.
CHEEP, V. i. To chirp, as a small bird.
CHEER, V. t. [Fr. chere ; Arm. cher, cheer,
entertainment ; Ir. gairim, to call, shout,
extol, rejoice ; Gr. ;t'»'P", to rejoice, to hail
or salute. The primary sense is to call
out or shout, as in joy ; a sense retained
in jovial companies, to give cheers, and
among seamen, to salute a ship by cheers.
Orient. Nip kara.]
1. To salute with shouts of joy, or cheers.
Mar. Did.
To dispel gloom, sorrow, silence or apa
thy ; to cause to rejoice ; to gladden ; t(
make cheerful ; as, to cheer a lonely desert
the cheering rays of the sun ; good news
cheers the heart.
To infuse life, spirit, animation ; to incite ;
to encourage ; as, to cheer the hounds.
CHEER, V. i. To grow cheerful ; to be-
come gladsome, or joyous.
At siglit of thee my gloomy soul cheers up.
PhiWps
Cheer up, my lads.
CHEER, n. A shout of joy; as, they gave
three cheers.
A state of gladness or joy; a state of ani-
mation, above gloom and depression of
spirits, but below mirth, gayety and jolhty.
- Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven
thee. Mat. ix.
Then were they all of good cheer, and they
also took some meat. Acts xxiii.
;?. Mii'fh ; gayety ; jollity ; as at a feast.
4. Invitation to gayety. Shak.
5. Entertainment ; that which makes cheer-
fid ; provisions for a feast. Shak.
The table was loaded with good cheer.
Irving.
6. Air of countenance, noting a greater or
less degree of cheerfulness.
His words their drooping cheer
Enlightened. .Milton.
CHEE'llED, pp. Enlivened ; animate<l
ma<lc glad.
CHEE'RER, M. One who cheers ; he or that
which gladdens.
Thou cheerer of our days. Wotton.
Prime cheerer, light. Thomson
CHEE'RFUL, a. Lively ; animated ; hav-
ing good spirits ; tiioderately joyful. This
is the most usual signification of the word,
expressing a degree of animation less than
mirth and jollity.
2. Full of life; gay; animated; mirthful;
musical ; as the cheerful birds.
3. Expressive of good spu-its or joy; lively
iii mated.
A merry heart maketh a cheerful counte-
Qce. Prov. XV.
CHEE'RFULLY, adv. In a cheerful man-
ner ; with alacrity or wilhngness; readily ;
with life, animation or good spirits.
CHEE'RFyLNESS, n. Life ; animation ;
good spirits ; a state of moderate joy or
gayety ; alacrity.
He that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Rom. xii.
CHEE'RILY, adv. With cheerfubess; with
spirit.
CHEE'RING, ppr. Giving joy or gladness ;
enlivening ; encouraging ; animating.
CHEE'RISHNESS, n. State of cheerful-
ness. [N'ot in ttse.] Milton.
CHEERLESS, o. Without joy, gladness,
or comfort ; gloomy ; destitute of any
thing to enhven or animate the spirits.
Spenser.
CHEE'RLY, a. Gay ; cheerful ; not gloomy.
CHEE'RLY, adv. Cheerfully ; heartily ;
briskly.
CHEE'RY, a. Gay ; sprightly ; having pow-
er to make gay.
Come, let us hie, and quaff a cheery bowl.
Gay.
CHEESE, n. sasx. [Sax. cese, or eyse; Ir.
cais; W. caws; Corn, kes; Arm.caus ; L.
caseus ; Sp. queso ; Port, queijo ; D. kaas ;
G. kase ; Basque, gasna or gazta. The
primary sense is to curdle, to congeal,
from collecting, drawing or driving, W.
casiaw, to curdle. Perhaps it is allied to
squeeze.]
1. The curd of milk, coagulated by rennet,
separated from the serum or whey, and
pressed in a vat, hoop or mold.
2. A mass of pumice or ground apples placed
a press. JVeiv England.
CHEE'SE-€AKE, n. A cake made of soft
curds, sugar and butter. Prior.
CHEE'SE-MONGER, n. One who deals
or sells cheese. B. Jonson.
CHEESE-FARING, n. The rind or paring
of cheese. Beaum.
CHEESE-PRESS, n. A press, or engine
for pressing curd in the making of cheese.
Gay.
CHEE'SE-RENNET, n. A plant, ladies
bed-straw, Galium verum.
CHEESE-VAT, n. The vat or case in
which curds are confined for pressing.
GlanviUe.
CHEE'SY, a. Having the nature, qualities,
te or form of cheese.
CHEG'OE, n. A tropical insect that enters
the skin of the feet and multiplies incredi-
blv, causing an itchmg. Encyc.
€HEI'ROPTER, n. [Gr. ;t«'P, the hand, and
rtTtpoK, wing.]
An animal whose anterior toes are connect-
ed by a membrane, and whose feet thus
serve for wings, as the bat. Lntnier.
CHEL IDON, n. [Gr.] A brown fly with
silvery wings.
€HELIF'EROUS, a. [Gr. j:i;>^^, a claw, and
L.fero, to bear.] Furnished with claws,
as an animal.
CHEL'IFORM, a. [L. chela, a claw, and
form.] Having the form of a claw.
CllELMS'FORDITE, re. A mineral arran
ged as a subspecies of schaalstein ; found
in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
Cleaveland.
CHELO'NIAN, a. [Gr. xtf-^i, X<^>":, a tor-
CHE
CHE
CHE
loise.] Pertaining to or designating ani-
mals of the tortoise kind.
■GHEL'Y, n. [L. chela, Or. xi^, a claw.]
The claw of a shell-fisli. Brown.
€HEMI€AL. [See Chimical]
€HEMI€ALLY. [Sec CliimicaUy.]
CHEMISE, n. [Fr. chemise; Ir. caimae,
caimis ; Sj). camisa ; It. camicia ; Ar.
(j<3A«.3 kaniitzon ; Anih. id.]
I. A shift, or under garment worn by fe-
males.
■2. A wall that lines the face of any work of
eartli. Battel/.
CHEMIST. [See ChimisL]
CHEMISTRY. [See Chimistry.]
CHEQUER. [See Checker.]
CUER'IFF, n. written also Sheriff. The
prince of Mecca; a high priest among the
MoliamMicdan.s.
Cni':R'ISn, v. l. [Fr. chenr; Arm. cheri^za;
from F'r. cher, dear ; W. cir, bounty ; cir-
imv, to pity, to cherish. See Caress.]
1. To treat with tenderness and affection ;
to give warmth, ease or comt'crt to.
We were gentle among you^ even as a nurse
cherisheth her children. 1 Tlicss. ii.
The damsel was fair and cherished the king,
1 Kings i.
3. To hold as dear ; to embrace with aflec-
tion ; to foster, and encourage ; as, to cher-
ish the principles of virtue ; to cherish reli-
gion in the heart.
3. To treat in a manner to encourage
growth, by protection, aid, attendance, or
supplying nourishment; as, to cherish ten
der plants.
4. To harbor; to indulge and encourage in
the mind ; as, to cherish ill will, or any evil
])assion.
CHERISHED, pp. Treated with tender-
ness ; warmed ; comforted ; fostered.
CHER'ISHER, n. One who cherishes ; an
encourage'r ; a supporter.
CHERISHING, ppr. Warming ; comfort
ing ; encouraging ; fostering ; treating
with affection.
C'HER'ISHING, n. Support; encourage
CHERTSHMENT, n. Encouragement ;
comfort. [JVot used.] Spenser.
CHERMES. [See Kermes.]
OHER'RY, n. [Fr. cerise ; L. cerasus ; It.
ciriegia ; Port, cereja ; Sp. cereza ; Arm.
freresen ; D. kars, or kiiek ; G. kirsche ;
Sw. kirshar ; Dan. kirsehcer ; so named, it
is said, from Cerasus, a city in Pontus.
near the Euxine, whence the tree was im-
ported into Italy.]
The fruit of a tree, a species of Prunus, of
which there are many varieties, as the
red or garden cherry, the red heart, the
white heart, the black cherry, the black
heart, and several others. The fruit '
pulp inclosing a kernel. It is related that
this fruit was brought fiom Cerasus ii
Pontus to Italy, after the defeat of Mithri
dates by Lucullus, A R. G80., and introdu-
ced into England by the Romans, about
130 years afterwards, A. D. .55.
Barbadoes chern/, is the genus Malpighia,
of several species. The berries are redj
cherry-shaped, acid and eatable.
Bird cherry, is a species of Prunus, tlie com
mon laurel or lauro-cerasus. Lee.
Vol. I.
Also, the Prunus padus. Encyc
Cornelian cherry, is the fruit of the Corniis
cornel-tree or dogwood. It is a small
acid, cherry-like, eatable berry.
Dwarf cherry, is the fruit of a species of Loni-
cera, or honey-suckle.
Hottentol-chern/, is the fruit of a species of
Cassine. The, fruit is a trispermous berry
of a dark purple color.
fVinter-cherry, is a name of the fruit of the
Physalis, a genus of many species. It is a
berry of the size of a small cherry, inclosed
in an inflated, bladder-like caly.v. This
name is also given to a species of Solanum.
Fam. of Plants.
CHER'RY, a. Like a red cherry in color;
red, ruddy, blooming ; as a cherry lip ;
cherr)! cheeks.
CHER'RY, n. A cordial composed of cher-
ry juice and spirit, sweetened, and diluted
The wild cherry is most generally used
for this purpose, being steeped for some
days in spirit, which extracts the juice of
the fruit ; the tincture is then sweetened
and diluted to the taste. This cordial
moderately bitter and astringent. It is
sometimes made of the mazzard.
CHERRY-CHEEKED, a. Having ruddy
clu'eks. Congreve.
CHER'RY-PIT, n. A child's play, in which
cherry stones are thrown into a hole.
Shah.,
CHER'RY-TREE, n. A tree whose fruit is
cherries, in the more appropriate sens
the word. The name is mostly give
the common cultivated trees, and to that
which produces the black wild cherry,
The wood of the latter is valued for cabi-
net work.
eHER'SONESE, n. [Gi: x^faovriaor, x^V^oi,
land or uncultivated land, and j'jjaos, an
isle.]
A peninsula; a tract of land of any indefinite
extent, which is nearly surrounded by
wafer, but united to a larger tract by
neck of land or isthmus ; as the Cimbric
Chersonese or Jutland ; the Tauric Cher-
sonese, or Crimea.
CHERT, 11. In mineralogy, a subspecies of
rhomboidal quartz ; called also hornstone,
petrosilex or rock flint. It is less hard
than common quartz ; its fracture usually
dull and splintery, sometimes more or
less conchoidal. It is more or less trans
lucent, sometimes at the edges, and some
times the whole mas.s, if thin, has the
strong translucency of certain horns. It
colors are numerous and usually dull. It
is usually amorphous, sometimes globu
lar, or in nodules. It occurs often ii
veins, especially metallic, in primitive
mountains. ■ Jameson. Cleaveland.
Chert is also applied to other minerals
besides hornstone. Aikiu calls a variety
o{ Aim, flinty chert, and the Derbyshire mi-
ners apply the term, black chert, to a fusi-
ble mineral, whereas the hornstone above
described is infusible.
CHERT'Y', a. Like chert ; flintv. Pennant.
CHER'UB, n. plu. cherubs, but 'the Hebrew
plural cherubim is also used. [Heb. 2113
kerub. In Ch. and Syr. the correspond-
ing verb signifies to plow ; and the word
is said to signify properly any image or
figure ; if so, it may have been named
from engraving. But this is uncertain,
36
and the learned are not agreed on the sig
nification.]
A figure composed of various creatures, as
a man, an ox, an eagle or a hon. Tlie
first mention of cherubs is in Gen. iji. 24,
where the figure is not described, but their
office was, with a flaming sword, to keep
or guard the way of the tree of hfe. The
two cherubs which Moses was command-
ed to make at the ends of the Mercy seat,
were to be of beaten work of gold ; and
their wings were to extend over the Mer-
cy seat, theii- faces towards each other,
and between them was the residence of
the Deity. Ex. xxv. The cherubs, in
Ezekiel's vision, had each four heads or
faces, the hands of a man and wings.
The four faces were, the face of a bull,
that of a man, that of a lion, and that of
an eagle. They had the likeness of a man.
Ezek. iv. and x. In 2 Sam. xxii. 11. and
P.salm xviii., Jehovah is represented as
riding on a cherub, and flying on the wings
of the wind. In the celestial hierarchy,
cherubs are represented as spu-its next in
order to seraphs. The hieroglyphical and
emblematical figures embroidered on the
vails of the tabernacle are called cherubs
of curious or skilful work. Ex. xxvi.
CHERUBIC, I [The accent is usually
ClIi'.Kr Bic, ^"' laid on the second sylla-
lil", liiii Improperly.]
I'lrtMiinii:.' t<i cherubs ; angelic. Sheldon.
I'.K IBIM, 11. The Hebrew plural of
dumb. '^
CHER'UBIN, a. Cherubic; angehc.
Shak.
CHER'UBIN, n. A cherub. Dryden.
CHER UP, a corruption of chirp, which see.
CHER'VIL, n. [Sax. cerfiUe, a contraction
of L. chwrophyllum ; Gr. ^tpt cjniWo^, ;tat()u
to rejoice, and ^VKov, leaf.]
A genus of plants, two species of which are
called cow-weed.
CHES'APEAK, n. A bay of the U. States,
whose entrance is between Cape Charles
and Cape Henry, in Virginia, and which
extends northerly into Mainland 270 miles.
It receives the waters of the Susquehan-
nah, Potomack, Rappahannock, York, and
James Rivers.
CHES'IBLE, n. [Old Fr. casuhle.] A short
vestment without sleeves, worn by a po-
pish priest at mass. Bale.
CHES'LIP, n. A small vermin that lies un-
der stones and tiles. Skinner.
CHESS, n. [Fr. echecs. See Check.] An
ingenious game perfoi-med by two par-
ties with different pieces, on a check-
ered board, that is, a board divided into
sixty four squares or houses. The success
of the game depends almost entirely on
skill. Each gamester has eight dignified
pieces, called a king, a queen, two bish-
ops, two knights, and two rooks or castles ;
also eight pawns. The pieces of the par-
ties are of different colors. Encyc.
CHESS, n. [I do not find this word in any
English Dictionary ; nor do I know its
origm or aflSnities. In Persian, ^»,ii
chas or gas, signifies evil, depraved, and
a useless weed.]
In New England, that weed which grows
among wheat, and is supposed to be wheat
CHE
CHE
CHI
degenerated or clianged, as it abounds
most in fields where the wheat is winter-
killed. It bears some resemblance to oats.
This fact is mentioned by Pliny, Nat. Hist.
Lib. 18. Ca. 17. Primum omnium fiu-
menti vitium avena est : et hordeum in
earn degenerat. This change of wheat
and barley into oats, he ascribes to a inoi
soil, wet weather, bad seed, &c. Tl
opinion coincides with observations in
.\raerica, as wheat is most liable to perish
in moist land, and often in such places,
almost all the wheat is killed, and instead
of it chess often appears.
CHESS'-APPLE, n. A species of wild
CHESS'-BOARD, n. The board used in tl
game of chess, and from the squares of
which chess has its name.
CHESS'-MAN, n. A piece or puppet, for the
game of chess.
CHESS'-PLAYER, n. One who plays
chess ; one skilled in the game of chess.
CHESS'-TREE, n. In ships, a piece of wood
bolted perpendicularly on the side to con-
fine the clews of the main sail.
CHESS'OM, n. Mellow earth. Bacon
CHEST, n. [Sax. cest or cyst ; L. cista ; W.
cist ; Ir. cisde ; Gr. xtyi? ; G. kiste ; D.
kist ; Sw. kista ; Dan. kiste. See Chest-
nut.]
1. A box of wood or other material, in which
goods are ke"pt or transported. It differs
from a trunk in not being covered with
skin or leather.
3. The trunk of the body from the neck to
the belly ; the thorax. Hence, broad-chest-
ed, narmw-chested, having a broad or nar-
row chest.
-.3. In commerce, a certain quantity ; as a chest
of sugar; a chest of indigo ; cfcc.
Chest of drawers is a case of movable boxes
called drawers.
CHEST, V. t. To reposit in a chest ; to
hoard. Johnson.
CHEST'-FOUNDERING, n. A disease in
horses, like the pleurisy or peripneumony
in the human body. Farrier's Diet.
CHEST'NUT, n. [Sax. cystel, and the tree
iu Sax. is cijstbeam or cystenbeam ; L.
ianea, the tree and the nut ; Fr. chataigne ;
Arm. gistenen, or gestenen ; W. castan
Sp. castana ; Port, castanha ; It. casta^a
G. kastanie ; Sw. Dan. kastanie ; fron
Welsh cast, envelopment, the root of castle,
from separating, defending ; so named from
its sheU or cover.]
The fruit, seed or nut of a tree belonging to
the genus Fagus. It is inclosed in a prick
ly pericarp, which contains two or more
seeds.
CHEST'NUT, a. Being of the color of a
chestnut ; of a brown color. It is perha:
rarelv used as a noun.
CHESTNUT-TREE, n. The tree which
produces the chestnut. This tree grows
to a great size, with spreading branches.
It is one of the most valuable timber trees,
as the wood is very durable, and forms in
America the principal timber for fencing.
The timber is also used in building, and
for vessels of various kinds.
Dwarf-chestnut, or chinkapin, is another spe-
cies of Fagus.
Horse-chestnut, is a tree of the genus .iEscu-
Jus. The common tree of this sort is a
native of the North of Asia, and admired
for the beauty of its flowers. It is used
for shade and ornament, and its nuts are
esteemed good food for horses. The scar-
let-flowering horse-chestnut is a native of
Carolina, Brazil and the East, and is ad-
mired for its beauty.
The Indian Rose-chestnut, of the genus
Mesua, bears a nut, roundish, pointed and
marked with four elevated longitudinalj
sutures. Encyc. Fain. ^ Plants.
CHES'TON, ?i. A species of plum.
Johnson.
CHEV'ACHIE, n. An expedition with cav-
alry. [jVbt MSfrf.] Chaucer.
CHEVAL DE FRiSE, generally used in the
plural, chevaux de frise, j)ronounced shevo
defreez. [Fr. cheval, a horse, and/rise, any
thing curled, rough, entangled ; the horse
of fiise, or frizzled horse. Hence called
also titrnpike, tourniquet.]
1. A piece of timber traversed with wooden
spilies, pointed with iron, five or six feet
long ; used to defend a passage, stop a
lireach, or make a retrenchment to stop
2. A kind of trimmuig.
CHEVALIE'R, n. [Fr.from cheval, ahorse
Sp. caballero. See Cavalry.]
1. A knight ; a gallant young man. Shak.
2. In heraldry, a horseman armed at all
points. Encyc.
CHEV'EN, n. [Fr. chcvesne.] A river fish,
the chub.
CHEV'ERIL, n. [Fr. chevrcau, a kid, from
chevre, a goat, L. caper, W. gavar. Arm.
gavricq, gavr.]
A kid, or rather leatlier made of kid-skin ;
used as a noun or adjective. Shak
CHEV'ERILIZE, v. t. To make as phab's
kid-leather. Montagu.
CHEV'ISANCE, n. s as z. [Fr. chevir, to
come to the end, to perform, to prevail,
from chef, the head, literally the end. See
Chief and Achieve.]
1. Achievement; deed; performance;
tcrprize accomplished. Obs. Spe,
In law, a making of contracts ; a bargain.
Stat. 13 Eliz. 7.
3. An unlawful agreement or contract. 21
James. 17.
4. An agreement or composition, as an end
or order set down between a creditor and
his debtor. Encyc.
CHEVRON, n. [Fr. a rafter; W.ceber; Arm.
gebr.]
In herald)-y, an honorable ordinary, repre-
senting two rafters of a house meeting at
the top. Bailey.
OHEV'RONED, o. Having a chevron, or
the form of it. B. Jonson.
CHEVROTA'IN, n. [from Fr. chevre, a
goat.] The smallest of the antelope kind.
CHEW, II. <. [Sax. ceouian ; O.kaautcen; G.
kauen. See Chaw.]
1. To bite and grind with the teeth ; to mas-
ticate, as food, to prepare it for degluti-
tion and digestion.
2. To ruminate in the thoughts; to meditate
as, to chew revenge. Shak.
3. To champ ; to bite, hold or roll about iu
the mouth ; as, to chew tobacco.
4. To taste, without swallowing. Shak.
CHEW, V. i. To champ upon ; to ruminate,
Old politicians chew on wisdom past. Pope.
CHEW, n. That which is chewed; that
which is held in the mouth at once ; a cud.
[Vulgar.]
CHEW'ED,pp. Ground by the teeth ; mas-
ticated.
CHEW'ET, n. A kind of pie, made with
chopped substances.
CHEWING, ppr. Grinding with the teeth ;
masticating ; ruminating ; meditating ;
champing.
CHI'A, n. A beautiful Mexican plant.
CHl' AN, a. Pertaining to Chios, an isle in the
Levant.
Chian earth, a medicinal, dense, compact
kind of earth, from Chios, used anciently
as an astringent, and a cosmetic. Encyc.
Chian turpentine, or Cyprus turpentine, is
procured from the Pistacia Terebintbus.
It is of the consistence of honey, clear and
of a yellowish white.
€HIAS'TOLITE, n. [Gr. x^asc, decussa-
ted.]
A mineral, called also made, whose crystals
are arranged in a peculiar manner. The
form of the crystals is a four-sided prism,
whose bases are rhombs, differing little
from squares. But each crystal, when
viewed at its extremities, or on a trans-
verse section, is obviously composed of
two very different substances ; and its gen-
eral aspect is that of a black prism, passing
longitudinally through the axis of another
prism which is whitish. The term mcu:le,
as the name of a distinct species, applies
to the whitish prisms only. Cleaveland.
CHIB'BAL, n. [Fr. ciboule.] A small sort
of onion. Beaum.
CHI€A'NE, n. [Fr. chicane ; Arm. dean or
cicanerez. Qu. Gr. Sixamos, a SiciUan, a
cheat. Lmnier.]
1. In law, shitY ; turn ; trick ; cavil ; an abuse
of judiciary proceedings, by artifices, un-
fair practices, or idle objections, which
tend to perplex a cause, puzzle the judge,
or impose on a party, and thus to delay or
pervert justice.
2. In disputes, sophistrj- ; distinctions and
subtleties, that tend to perplex the question
and obscure the truth. Locke.
3. Any artifice or stratagem. Prior.
CHICA'NE, V. i. [Fr. chicaner.] To use
shifts, cavils or artifices.
CHI€A'NER, n. [Fr. chicaneur.] One who
uses shifts, turns, evasions or undue artifi-
ces, in litigation or disputes; a caviller; a
sophister; an unfair disputant. Locke.
CHICA'NERY, n. [Fr. chicanerie.] Soph-
istry ; mean or unfair artifices to perplex
a cause and obscure the truth.
CHICH'ES, n. plu. Dwarf peas.
CHICII'LING, ? , A vetch or pea,
CHICKLING-VETCH, I "■ of the genus
Lathyrus, used in Germany for food, but
inferior to other kinds. j\iiller.
CHICK, V. i. To sprout, as seed in the
ground ; to vegetate. Todd.
CHICK, } [Sax. ciccn ; D. kuiken ;
CIIICK'EN, S "■ G. kuchkin. Qu. Russ.
chikayu, to peep.]
1. The young of fowls, particularly of the
domestic hen, or gallinaceous fowls.
2. A person of tender years.
3. A word of tenderness.
CHICK'EN-HEARTED, a. Timid; fear-
ful ; cowardly.
CHICK'EN-POX, /!. A mild contagious
C H I
C H I
CHI
eruptive disease, generally appearing in
children.
CHICKLING, H. A small chick or chicken.
CHICK-PEA, n. [L. cicer ; G. kkher; Sp.
chicharo.]
A plant or poa, constituting the genus Cicer ;
a native of Spain, where it is used in olios.
It is smaller than the common pea.
CHICK'-\VI:KI), «. a nhml of Iho -roniis
Msim, wlii,-l, iMclmlcsMiiiny spcrics. Tlic
ConiMinii ,-l,i,k-w.T<l, witli u hifc hlossorns,
affonis ;i n-iiMrk;il.le instaiicp of the sleep
of plants; for,at night, the leaves H|iproach
in pairs, and inclose the tender rudiments
of the young shoots. The leavesare cool-
ing and nutritive, and are deemed excel-
lent food for persons of a consumjitive
habit. They are deemed useful also for
swelled breasts. Encyc. IViseman.
©HIDE, V. t. pret. chid, [chode is obs.] ; part.
chid, chidden. [Sax.cidan, cA«/a/i, to chide,
to scold ; VV. cozi, to chide, to press,
straiten; Ch. BOp, to scold, to brawl, to
fight. Qu. W. cad, a battle.] Literally,
to scold ; to clamor ; to utter noisy words ;
that is, to drive. Hence,
1. To scold at; to reprove; to utter words
in anger, or by way of disapprobation; to
rebuke ; as, to chide one fur his faults.
2. To blame ; to reproach ; as, to chide folly
or negligence.
To chide from or chide away, is to drive away
by scolding or reproof.
CHIDE, V. 1. To scold ; to clamor; to find
fault ; to contend in words of anger ; some-
times followed by loith.
The people iliil chide with Moses. E.\. svii.
2. To quarrel. Shak.
3. To make a rough, clamorous, roaiing
noise ; as the chiding floo<l. Shak.
CHIDE, n. Murmur ; gentle noise.
Thoinson.
CHI'DER, n. One who chides, clamors, re-
proves or rebukes.
CHI'DERESS, n. A female who chides.
[JVot v^ed.] Chajicer.
CHI'DING, p;>r. Scolding; clamoring; re-
bidiing ; making a harsh or continued
CHI'DING, ji. A scolding or clamoring;
rebuke ; re])roof.
CHI'DINGLY, adv. In a scolding or repro-
ving manner.
CHIEF, a. [Fr. chef, the head, that is, the
top or highest point ; Norm, chief; Sp.
xefc ; Ir. ceap ; It. capo. It is e\idently
from the same root as the L. caput, Gr.
xifa^tj, and Eng. cape, bvit through the
Celtic, probably from shooting, extend-
ing.]
1. Highest in office or rank ; ])rincipal ;
as a chief priest; the cAte/" butler. Gen
xl. 9.
him.
2. Principal or most eminent, in any quality
or action ; most distinguished ; having
most influence ; commanding most res-
pect ; taking the lead ; most valuable ;
most important; a word of extensive use
as a country chief in arms.
The liand of the princes and rulers hath been
ehief in thi.s trespass. Ezra ix.
Agriculture is tlie cAif/'empIoymentof men.
8. First in aftection ; most dear and familiar,
A whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov,
xvi.
CHIEF, n. A commander ; particularly a
military commander ; the person who
heads an army ; equivalent to the modern
terms, commander or general in chief,
captain general, or generalissimo. 1 Ch.
xi.
2. The principal person of a tribe, family, or
congregation, &c. Num. iii. Job xxix
Math. XX.
i. In chief, in English law, in capile. To
hold land in chief is to hold it directly from
the king by honorable personal services.
Blackstone.
4. In heraldnj, chief signifies the head or up-
per part of the escutcheon, from side to
side, representing a man's head. In chief,
imports something borne in this part.
Encyc.
5. In Spenser, it seems to signify something
like achievement, a mark of distinction
as, chaplets wrought with a chief.
Johnson
i. This word is often used, in the singular
number, to express a pluraUty.
I took the chief of your tribes, wise men and
known, and made them heads over you. Deut.
i. 15.
Tlicse were the chief of the officers, that were
over Solomon's work. 1 Kings 9.
In these phrases, chief may have been
primarily an adjective, that is, chief men,
chief persons.
7. The principal part ; the most or largest
part, of one thing or of many.
The people took of tlic spoil,*sheep and oxen,
the cAi>/of the things which should have been
utterly destroyed. I Sam. xv.
He smote the chief of their strength. Ps.
Ixviii.
The chief of the debt remains unpaid.
CHIEF, adi. Chiefly.
CHIE'FAgE, I A tribute by the head.
CHE'VAgE, <, "■ Obs. Chambers.
CHIE'FDOM, n. Snvereigntv. Spenser.
CHIE'FLESS, a. WithoiU a chief or leader.
Pope.
CHIE'FLY, adv. Principally; eminently;
in the first place.
It chiefly concerns us to obey the divine pre-
cepts.
2. For the most part.
In the parts of the kingdom where the estates
of the dissenters chiefly lay. Swift.
CHIE'FRIE, n. A small rent paid to the
lord paramount. Spenser^s Ireland.
CHIE'FTAIN, n. [from chief. Norm, cheven-
teins, formed like captain, capitai7ie.]
A captain, leader or commander ; a chief;
the head of a troop, army or clan. It is
most commonly used in' the latter sense.
The chieftains of the Highland clans in
Scotland, were the piincipal noblemen and
eentlemen. Encyc.
CHIE'FTAINRY, ? Headship; cap-
CHIE'FTAINSHIP, <, "■ taincy; the gov-
ernment over a clan.
Johnson. Smollett.
CHIE' VANCE, n. [S orm. chivisance. See
Chevisance.]
An unlawful bargain ; traffick in which
money is extorted. Obs. Bacon.]
CHIEVE or CHIVE, t..t. [Fr. chevir. Seel
Achieve.] To come to an end ; to issue ;|
to succeed. Obs. Chancer.]
CIIIL'BLAIN, n. [chill. Sax. cele, cold, and
blain.]
A blain or sore produced by cold ; a tumor
afl'ecting the hands and feet, accompanied
with inflanunation, pain, and sometimes
ulceration. Encyc.
CHILD, JI. plu. children. fSax. cUd ; in
Dan. kuld is jirogeny, kulde is coldness,
and ktder is to blow strong. Child is un-
doubtedly issue, that which is produced.]
1. A son or a daughter ; a male or female
descendant, in the first degree ; the imme-
diate progeny of parents'; applied to the
human race, and chiefly to a person when
young. The term is applied to infants
from their birth ; but the time when they
cease ordinarily to be so called, is not de-
fined by custom. In strictne.-is, a child is
the shoot, issue or produce of the parents,
and a person of any age, in respect to the
parents, is a child.
An infant.
Hagar cast the child under one of the shrubs .
Gen. xxi.
It signifies also a person of more advau'
cod years.
Jephtha's daughter was his only chUd. Judges
xi.
The child shall behave himself proudly.-
Is. iii.
A curse will be on those who corrupt the
morals of their children. J. Clarke.
The application of child to a female in
opposition to a male, as in Shakspeare, is
not legitimate.
2. One weak in knowledge, experience, judg-
ment or attainments ; as, he is a mere
child.
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child.
Jcr. i.
3. One young in grace. 1 John ii.
One who is humble and docile. Math,
xviii.
One who is imfixed in principles. Eph.
iv.
4. One who is born again, spiritually re-
newed and adopted ; as a chUd of God.
5. One who is the product of another ; or
whose principles and morals are the [)ro-
duct of another.
Thou child of the devil. Acts xiii.
That which is the product or effect of
something else.
This noble passion, child of integrity. Shak.
6. In the plural, the descendants of a man
however remote; as the children of Israe} ;
the children of Edom.
7. The inhabitants of a country ; as the chil-
dren of Seir. 2 Chron. xxv.
To be leith child, to be pregnant. Gen. xvi.
U.xix. 36.
CHILD, V. i. To bring children. [jYot used.]
Shak.
CHILD-BEARING, a. or ppr. [See Bear.]
Bearing or producing children.
CHILD-BEARING, n. The act of produ-
cing or bringing forth children ; parturi-
tion. Milton. Addison.
CHILDBED, ji. [child and bed.] The state
of a woman bringing forth a child or being
in labor; parturition.
CHILDBIRTH, n. [child and birth.] The
act of bringing forth a child ; travail ; la-
bor: as the pains of cAtWiirtA. Taylor.
CHILDED, a. Furnished with a child.
[.Vol used.] Shak.
CHI
CHILD'ERMAS T>AY, jj. [child, viass and
An anniversary of the church of England,
held on the 28th of Decemher, in commem-
oration of the children of Bethlehem slain
by Herod ; called also Innocents' Day.
Bailey. Encyc.
CHILD'HQOD, n. [Sax. cildhad. See
Hood.]
1. The state of a child, or the time in which
(lersons are children, including the time
from birth to puberty. But in a more res-
tricted sense, the state or time from infancy
to puberty. Thus we say, infancy, child-
hood, youth and manhood.
Childhood and youth are vanity. Eecl. .\i
2. The properties of a child. Dn/den
CHILDING,;>;7r. [The verb <o c/iiW is not
now used.] Bearing children ; producing
as childing women. Arhuthnot.
CHILDISH, a. Belonging to a child ; tri-
fling ; puerile.
When I became a man, I put away childish
things. 1 Cor. xiii.
2. Pertaining to a child ; as childish years oi
age ; childish sports.
3. Pertaining to children ; ignorant ; silly
weak ; as childish fear.
CHILDISHLY, adv. In the manner of s
child ; ia a trifling way ; in a weak or fool-
ish manner.
CHILDISHNESS, n. Triflingness, pue-
rility, the state or quahties of a child, ir
reference to manners. But in reference
to the mind, simplicity, harmlessuess,
weakness of intellect.
CHILDLESS, a. Destitute of children or
offspring. 1 Sam. xv. 33.
CHILDLIKE, a. Resembling a child
that which belongs to children ; becoming
a child ; meek ; submissive ; dutiful ; as
childlike obedience.
CHILDLY, a. Like a child.
CHIL'DREN, n. phi. of child.
eHIL'IAD, n. [Gr. x<''^Mi,tvom j;aia, a thou-
sand.]
1. A thousand ; a collection or sum, contain-
ing a thousand individuals or particulars.
Holder.
2. The period of a thousand years. Encyc.
CHIL'IAGON, n. [Gr. ;taio, a thousand,
and ymia, a corner.]
A plain figure of a thousand angles and
sides. Math. Diet.
CHILIAHE'DRON, n. [Gr. j:aia, a thou
sand, and f 8pa, a base.]
A figure of a thousand equal sides.
€HIL'IAR€H, n. [Gr. ;tc>.ia, a thousand, and
apxoi: a chief.]
The military commander or chief of a thou
sand men.
CHIL'IARCHY, n. A body consisting of i
thousand men. Mitford.
CHIL'IAST, n. [Supra.] One of the sect of
Millenariuns.
eHILIPAC'TIVE. [See Chylifaclive.]
€HlLIOL'ITER. [See Kilohter.]
eHILIOM'ETER. [See KUometer.]
CHILL, n. [Sax. cele, cyle, cyl, cold ; celan
to be cold ; D. kil ; allied to Fr. geler,
L. gelo, gelidus. See Cold, which appear;
to be radically the same word. The word
cele in Saxon is a noun.]
1. A shivering with cold ; rigors, as m an
ague ; the cold fit that precedes a fever
CHI
sensation of cold in an animal body; chil-
liness. [See Cold and Heat.]
3. A moderate degree of cold ; chilliness in
any body ; that which gives the sensation
of cold.
CHILL, a. Cool ; moderately cold ; tending
to cause gliiveriiig ; as the chill vapors ot
night.
2. Shivering with cold.
My chill veins freeze with despair. Jlowe.
3. Cool; distant; formal; dull; not warm,
animated or affectionate ; as a chill recep-
4. Depressed ; dispu-ited ; dejected ; dis
couraged.
CHILL, V. t. To cause a shivering, or shrink
ing of the skin ; to check circulation or
motion ; as, to chill the blood, or the veins.
The force of this word hes in expressing
the shivering and shrinking caused by
cold.
3. To make cold, or cool ; as, the evening
I- chills the earth.
3. To blast with cold ; to check the circula
tion in plants, and stop their growth.
Blackmore.
To check motion, life or action ; to de-
press ; to deject ; to discourage ; as, to
chill the gayety of the spirits. Rogers.
CHILLED, ;>;). Made cool; made to shiv
; dejected.
CHIL'Li, )!. A Mexican plant, Guinea
C H I
3. To jingle ; to clatter.
Tlie sely tonge may wi
age:
2. A moderate degree of coldness ; as the
chilliness of the air, which tends to cause
a shivering.
CHILLTNG, ppr. Cooling ; causin;^
"liver.
CHILL'NESS, n. Coolness ; coldness ; a
shivering.
CHILL'Y, a. Cool; moderately cold, such
to cause shivering ; as a chilly day,
...j,ht, or air.
€HlL'OGRAM. [See Kilogram.]
CHIMB, n. [See Chime.]
CHIME, n. [Chaucer, chimbe ; Dan. kimer,
to tinkle, to tingle, to toll a bell ; L. cam-
pana, a bell, from its sound, whence It,
scampanare, to chime.]
\. The consonant or harmonic sounds of
several correspondent instruments.
Instruments that made melodious chime.
Milton
2. Correspondence of sound.
Love— harmonized the chime. Dryden
3. The musical sounds of bells, struck witl
hammers. Shak.
4. Correspondence of proportion or relation.
Grew.
5. A kind of periodical music, or tune of a
clock, produced by an apparatus annexed
to it.
A set of bells which chime, or ring in
harmony.
CHIME, V. i. To sound in consonance or
harmony ; to accord.
To make the rough recital aptly chime.
Prior.
2. To correspond in relation or proportion.
Father and son, husband and wife, correla-
tive terms, do readily chime. Locke
3. To agree ; to fall in with.
He often chimed in with the discourse.
.irhtithnnl
4. To agree ; to suit with. Locke
Smith.
and chimbe.
Chaucer.
CHIME, V. t. To move, strike, or cause to
sound in harmony. Dryden.
2. To strike or cause to sound, as a set of
bells.
CHIME, n. [D. kim; G.kimme, edge, brim.]
The edge or brim of a cask or tub, formed
by the ends of the staves.
CHl'MER, n. One who chimes.
€HIME'RA, n. [L. chimcera ; Gr. zi|«atpo, a
goat, a monstrous beast.]
In fabulous history, a monster with three
heads, that of a lion, of a goat, and of a
dragon, vomiting flames. The foreparts
of the body were those of a lion, the mid-
dle was that of a goat, and the hinder
parts were those of a dragon ; supposed
to represent a volcanic mountain in Lycia,
whose top was the resort of lions, the
middle, that of goats, and the foot, that of
serpents. Hence,
In modern usage, a vain or idle fancy ; a
creature of the imagination, composed of
contradictions or absurdities, that can
have no existence except in thought.
Encyc.
€HIMERT€AL, a. Merely imaginary ; fan-
ciful ; fantastic ; wildly or vainly con-
ceived ; that has, or can have no existence
except in thought.
€HIMER'I€ALLY, adv. Wildly; vainly;
fancifully ; fantastically.
€HIM'I€AL, a. [See Chimistry.] Pertain-
ing to chimistry ; as a chimical opera-
tion.
Resulting from the operation of the prin-
ciples of bodies by decomiiosition, combi-
nation, &c. ; as chimical changes.
3. According to the principles of chimistry <
chimical combination.
€HIM'I€ALLY, adv. According to chim-
ical jirinciples ; by chimical process or
operation.
CHIM'INAGE, n. [Fr. chemin ; Sp. camino,
a way.]
In law, a toll for passage through a forest.
Cowel. Bailey.
CHI'MING, ppr. [from chime.] Causing to
chime ; sounding in accordance.
€HIM'1ST, n. A person versed in chimis-
trv ; a professor of chimistry.
CHiM'ISTRY, n. [Fr. chimie ; Sp. chimia :
It. and Port, chimica. The orthography
of this word has undergone changes
through a mere ignorance of its origin,
than which nothing can be more obvious.
It is the Arabic La^aSs kimia, the
occult art or science, from ^ ^
kamai, to conceal. This was originally
the art or science now called alchimy ; the
art of converting baser metals into gold.
The order of Diocletian, directing seairh
to be made for books treating of the won-
derful art of making gold and silver, and
all that should be found to be committed
to the flames, proves the origin of this ni i
to be as remote as the close of the third
century, and it was probably somewhat
earlier. Gibbon, Ch. 13. It is not iiii
probable that this art was used in coun-
terfeiting coins. The common orthogra-
phy is from ;t'") to melt or fuse ; the oM
C H 1
C H I
CHI
orthography was from ;ti'u, the same word,
(lifFerontly written ; both having no foun-
dation, but a random guess. If lexicog-
raj)hers and writers iiad been contented
to take the orthography of the nations in
the south of Europe, where the origin of
tlic word was doubtless understood, and
tln-ough whom tlie word was introduced
into England, the orthography would have
been settled, uniform, and corresponding
exactly with the pronunciation.]
Chimistry is a science, the object of which
is to discover the nature and properties of
all bodies by analysis and synthesis.
Macquer.
Chimistry is that science which explains the
intimate mutual action of all natural bod-
ies. Fourcroy.
Analysis or decomposition, and synthesis or
combination, are the two methods which
chimistry uses to accomplish its piu-poses.
Fourcroy. Hooper.
Chimi.sti"y may be defined, the science which
investigates the composition of material
substances, and the permanent changes of
constitution which their mutual actions
produce. Ure.
Cliiuiistry may be defined, that science, the
olycct of which is to discover and explain
the changes of composition that occur
amon^ the integrant and constituent parts
of diflerent bodies. Henry.
Chimistry is the science which treats of
tliose events and changes in natural bod-
ies, wliich are not accompanied by sensi-
ble motions. Thomson.
Chimistry is justly considered as a science,
but the practical operations may be de-
nominated an art.
CIIIM'NEY, 71. plu. chimneys. [Fr. chemi-
n/e ; Arm. cimiaal, or cheminal ; G. kandn;
Corn, chimbla ; Ir. simiLeur ; Sp. chimenea ;
It. cammino ; L. caminus ; Ch. pap ; Ar.
..A*i' ; Gr- *»«""<>« ; Russ. kamin. It
seems originally to have been a furnace,
a stove, or a hearth.]
1. In architecture, a body of brick or stone,
erected in a building, containing a funnel
or funnels, to convey smoke, and other
volatile matter through the roof, from the
hearth or fire-place, where fuel is burnt.
This body of materials is sometimes called
a slack of chimneys, especially when it con-
tains two or more funnels, or passages.
2. A fireplace ; the lower part of the body of
brick or stone which confines and con-
veys smoke.
CHliVI'NEY-eORNER, n. The corner of a
fire-place, or the space between the fire
and the sides of the fire-place. In the
Northern States of America, fire-places
were formerly made six or eight feet wide,
or even more, and a stool was placed by
the side of the fire, as a seat for children,
and this often furnished a comfortable sit-
uation for idlers. As fuel has become
scarce, our fire-places are contracted, till,
in many or most of our dwellings, we have
no chimney-corners.
a. In a more enlarged sense, the fire-side, or
a place near the fire.
CHIM'NEY-HQOK, n. A hook for holding
pots and kettles over a fire.
CHIMNEY-MONEY, n. Hearth-money, a
duty paid for each chimney in a house.
Eng.
CHIM'NE Y-PIECE, n. An ornamental piece
of wood or stone set round a fire-place.
CHIMNEY-SWEEPER, n. One whose oc-
cupation is to sweep and scrape chimneys,
to dean them of the soot that adheres to
their sides.
CHIMFAN'ZEE, n. An animal of the ape
kind, a variety of the oiu-ang-outang.
Diet. JVat. Hist.
It is now considered a distinct species.
Cuvier.
CHIN, «. [Sax. cinne ; Pcrs. ^ l^ ; D.
kin ; G. kinn ; Dan. kind, the cheek ; Sw.
kind; L. gena; Gr. ytm. The sense is
probably an edge or side, and allied to
chine.]
The lower extremity of the face below the
mouth; tlie point of the under jaw.
CHI'NA, n. A species of earthern ware
made in China, and so called from the
country ; called also china ware and porce-
lain. [See Porcelain.]
CHINA-ORANGE, n. The sweet orange,
said to have been originally brought from
CIH'NA-RQOT, n. The root of a species
Smilax, brought from the East Indies, of
a ])ale reddish color, with no smell, and
very little taste.
CHINCH, 71. [Qu. It. cimice, L. cimex, cor-
rupted.]
A genus of insects, resembling the feather-
wing moths. These insects live in the
flowers of j)lants, and wander from flower
to flower, but prefer those wiiich are
sweetest. Diet. JVat. Hist.
CHIN'-COUGH, n. [D. kink-hoest, from
kink, a twist or bend, and hoest, a cough :
G. keichhusten, from keichen, to pant. Qui
for in Pers. ^i^i chonah is a cough.]
A contagious disease, often epidemic among
children. It increases for some weeks, is
attended with a difficulty of breathing, and
in its worst stage, with a degree of con-
vulsion. From a particular noise made in
coughing, it is also called hooping cough.
:CHINE, Ji. [Fr. echine ; It. schiena ; Ann.
! chein. It may be allied to chin. In Ger-
I :nan, schiene is the shin, also a clout, a
splint ; and rad-schiene is the band of a
I wheel ; Russ. schina.]
:1. The back-bone, or spine of an animal.
J2. A piece of the back-bone of an animal,
; with the adjoining parts, cut for cooking.
i3. The chime of a cask, or the ridge formed
by the ends of the staves.
Stat, of Pennsylvania.
iCHINE, II. t. To cut through the back-
bone, or into chine-pieces.
CHI'NED, a. Pertaining to the back.
Beaum.
iCHINE'SE, a. Pertaining to China.
CHINE'SE, n. sing, and plu. A native of
I China ; also, the language of China.
CHIN'GLE, n. Gravel free from dirt. [See
Shingle.] Donne.
.CHINK, 71. [This word may be a derivative
from the Saxon dnan, or ginian, geonan,
I to gape, to ymtm, Gr. x"*"'^; or from the
common root of these words. Sax. cina,
or cinu, a fissure.]
A small aperture lengthwise ; a cleft, rent,
or fissure, of greater length than breadth ;
a gaj) or crack ; as the chinks of a wall.
CHINK, V. i. To crack ; to open. Barrett
CHINK, V. t. To open or part and form a
fi.>^!^urc.
CHINK, V. t. [See Jingle.] To cause to
sound by shaking coins or small pieces of
metal, or by bringing small sonorous bod-
ies in colhsion ; as, to chink a purse of
money. Pope.
CHINK, ti. i. To make a small sharp sound,
as by the collision of little pieces of money,
or other sonorous bodies. Jlrhuthnol.
CHINKAPIN, 77. The dwarf chestnut, Fa-
gus pnmila, a tree that rises eight or ten
feet, with a branching shrubby stem, pro-
ducing a nut.
CHINK^Y, a. Full of chinks, or fissures;
gaping ; openmg in narrow clefts.
Dry den.
CHINNED, a. Having a long chin.
Kersey.
CHINSE, V. i. In naval affairs, to thrust
oakum into the seams or chinks of a ship
with a chisel or point of a knife, as a tetn-
jiorary expedient for calking. Mar. Diet.
CHINTS, 71. [b.diits; G.zitz; Sans, cheet;
Hindoo, cheent ; Per. chim, spotted, stain-
ed.]
Cotton cloth, printed with more than two
colorfi.
CHIOPPlNE, 71. [Sp. chapin ; Port, chapim.
It is said to be of Arabian origin. It can-
not be the L. crepis, Gr. xpijjtts, unless
a letter has been lost.]
A high shoe, Ibrmerly worn by ladies.
Shak.
CHIP, CHEAP, CHIPPING, in the names
of places, imply a market: from Sax. ceap-
an, cypan, to buy or sell. [Sec Cheap.]
CHIP,"7i. [from the root of chop. Fr. coup-
eau.]
1. A piece of wood or other substance, sep-
arated from a body by a cutting instru-
ment, particularly by an ax. It is used
also lor a piece of stone separated by a
chisel or other instrument, in hewing.
2. A fragment or piece broken ofl'; a small
piece.
CHIP, V. t. To cut into small pieces, or
chips ; to diminish by cutting away a lit-
tle at a time, or in sniiall pieces ; to hew.
Shak.
CHIP, ti. J. To break or fly ofl" in small pie-
ces, as in potter's ware.
CHIP-AX, n. An ax for chipping.
CHIPPED, pp. Cut in chips, or small pie-
ces ; hewed.
CHIPPING, ppr. Cutting off in small pie-
ces.
CHIP PING, 71. A chip ; a piece cut off or
separated by a cutting or engraving instru-
ment ; a fragment.
2. The flying or breaking off in small pieces,
of the "edges of potter's ware, and porce-
lain. Encyc.
CHIRAC Rl€AL, a. [from chiragra, hand-
gout, Gr. ;tt(p, the hand, and oypo, sei-
zme.]
Having the gout ill the hsmd, or subject to
that disease. Brown.
CHIRK, a. churk. [Probably allied to chirp;
D. drcken, obs. Chaucer uses the verb.
C H
C H I
C H L
to chirk, in the sense of cMi-p or chatter-
The word is found in the Russ. chirkayu.
to chirp. It is in popular use in New-
England.]
Lively ; cheerful ; in good spirits ; in a com-
fortable state.
CHIRK, V. i. To cliirp. Obs. Chaucer.
CHIRM, V. i. [Sax. cyrman.] To sing as a
bird. [JVot in use.]
CHI'ROGRAPH, n. [Gr. x^^?, the hand, and
ypoi}>u, to write.]
1. Anciently a deed, which, requiring a coun-
terpart, was engrossed twice on the same
piece of parchment, with a space between,
in which was written chirograph, throu;
which the parchment was cut, and o
part given to each party. It answered to
what is now called a charier-party. Encyc.
2. A fine, so called from the manner of en-
grossing, which is still retained in the
chirographer's office in England. Ibm
eHIROG'RAPHER, n. [See Chirograph.'
He that exercises or professes the art or
business of writing. In England, the chi-
rographer of fines is an officer in the
common pleas, vvlio engrosses fines ac
knowledged in that court, and delivers the
iiidi'iitiMvs Id the parties. Enci/<
tlllR<)<;i!AI'lI IC, ? Pertaining to
Cllll!0(il! \1M1 I€AL, \ "• chirographv.
Cllll!«»(; HAIMIIST, n. One who tells for
tunes by examining the hand. [Not a le-
gitimate ivord.] Arbuthnot.
eHlROG'RAPHY, n. [See Chirograph.
The art of writing, or a writing with one'i
own hand.
€HIROLOG'l€AL, a. Pertaining to chi
rology.
CHIROL'OGIST, n. [Gr. x^V, the hand,
and Xoyo;, discourse.]
One who communicates thoughts by signs
made with the hands and fingers.
CHIROL'OGY, n. [See Chirologist.] The
art or practice of communicating thought;
by signs made by the hands and fingers;
a substitute for language or discourse
much used by the deaf and dumb, and by
others who communicate with them,
Bailey.
CHIR'OMANCER, n. " [See Chiromancy.]
One who attempts to foretell future events,
or to tell the fortunes and dispositions of
persons, by inspecting the hands. Dryden.
€HIR'OMANCY,7i. [Gr. j:Eip, the hand, and
imrcii-a,, divination.]
Divination by the hand ; the art or practice
of attempting to foretell events, or to dis-
cover the dispositions of a person, by in-
specting the lines and lineaments of his
hand. Broimi.
CHIROMAN'Tle, a. Pertaining to chiro-
mancy, or divination by the hand.
Chiromantic deception. Grdlman.
CHIRP, V. i. cherp. [Ger. zirpen.] To make
the noise of certain small birds, or of cer-
tain insects ; as a chirping lark, or cricket.
Thomson.
CHIRP. V. t. To make cheerfid. Pope.
CHIRP, n. A particular voice of certain
birds or insects. Spectator.
CIIIRP'ER, ji. One that chirps, or is cheer-
ful.
CHIRP'ING, ppr. Making the noise of cer
tain small birds.
CIIIR1"ING, n. The noi.se of certain small
birds and insects.
€HIRUR'GE0N, n. [Gi-. ;t"pTOpro{, one who
operates with the hand, x"f>, the hand,
and ifyov, work ; L. chirvrgus ; Fr. chirur-
gien ; Sp. cirujano ; Port, surgiam, or ci-
rurgiam ; It. chirurgo ; A rm. surgj/an.'}
A surgeon ; one whose profession is to heal
diseases by manual operations, instru-
ments or external apphcations. [This ill-
sounding word is obsolete, and it now
appears in the form of ™?g-eo)!, which see.]
CHIRIJR'GERY, n. [Gr. ;t«pcmp7ia. See
Chirurgeon.']
That part of the medical art which consists
in heahng diseases and wounds by instru
ments and external applications ; now
written surgery.
€HIRUR'Gle, ? Pertaining to surge
eHIRUR'GlCAL, S ry, or to the art of
healing diseases and wounds by manual
operations, instruments or external appli-
cations.
2. Having qualities useful in external appli-
cations, for healing diseases or injuries
It is now written surgical.
CHIS'EL, n. s as z. [Fr. ciseau, a chisel ;
ciseler, to engrave ; Arm. gisell ; Sp. cin-
cel ; Heb. ?1J, Ch. DIJ, or NtJ, or Ar.
•i» chazza, to cut, hew, carve. See
Class Gs.]
An instrument of iron or steel, used in car
pentry, joinery, cabinet work, masonry
scul])ture, &c., either for paring, hewing or
gouging. Chisels are of different sizes
and shapes, fitted for particular uses.
CHIS'EL, V. t. To cut, pare, gouge, or
ave with a chisel.
CHIS'ELEJ), pp. Cut
cliisel.
CHISELING, ppr. f
CHIS'LEU, n. [Hcb
raved with a
chisel.
TO3, from tlie Ar
\*v.r kasila, to be torpid or cold.]
The ninth month of the Jewish j'ear, an
swering to a part of November and a part
of December, in the modern division of
the year.
CHIT, n. [Sax. cith, a shoot or twig, from
thrusting out.]
1. A shoot or sprout ; the first shooting or
germination of a seed or plant. Hence,
2. A child or babe, in familiar language.
•S. A freckle, that is, a push.
CHIT, V. i. To sprout ; to shoot, as a seed
or ])lant.
CHIT'-CHAT, n. [See Chat, Chatter.]
Prattle ; familiar or trifling talk.
CHIT'TERLING, n. The frill to the br
of a shirt. Gascoigne.
CHIT'TERLINGS, n. plu. [G. kuttel, prob-
ably from the root of gut.]
The guts or bowels ; sausages.
Johnson. Bailey.
CHIT'TY, a. Childish ; like a babe.
Johnson
2. Full of chits or warts.
CHIVALROUS, a. [See aiivalry.] Per-
taining to chivalry, or knight errantry
warlike ; bold ; gallant. Spenser.
CHIVALRY, n. [Fr. chevalerie, from e^ci--
alier, a knight or horseman, from cheral,
a horse ; Sp. caballeria ; It. cavalkna. See
Cavalry.]
Knighthood ; a military dignity, founded
on the St
of soldiers on horseback
called knights ; a service formerly deemed
more honorable than service in infantry.
Bacon.
2. The qualifications of a knight, as valor
and dexterity in arms. Shak.
3. The system of knighthood ; the privileges,
characteristics or manners of knights ;
the practice of knight-errantry, or the he-
roic defense of life and honor. Dryden,
4. An adventure or exploit, as of a knight.
Sidney.
The body or order of knights. Shak.
6. In English law, a tenia-e of lands by
knight's service ; that is, by the condition
of performing service on horseback, or of
performing some noble or military ser-
vice to his lord. This was general or
special ; general, when the tenant held
per servitium militare, without specification
of the particular service ; special, when
the particular service was designated.
When the tenant held only of the king, the
tenure was regal ; when he held of a com-
mon person, it was called common. This
service was also grand sergeantry, as when
the tenant was bound to perform service
to the king in his own person ; and petit
sergeantry, when he was bound to yield to
the king annually some small thing, as a
sword or dagger. Chivalry that might be
held of a common person, was called escu-
age, scutagium, or shield service.
Blackstone.
Court ofchivaln/, a court formerly held be-
fore the Lord High Constable and Earl
Marshal of England, having cognizance
of contracts and other matters relating to
deeds of arms and war. It had jurisdic-
tion both of civil and criminal causes, but
no power to enforce its decisions by fine
or imprisonment, not being a court of
record. It is now nearly extinct.
Blackstone.
CHIVE, n. [Fr. cive ; L. cepa.] A species
of small onion.
CHIVES, n. plu. In botany, slender threads
or filaments in the blossoms of plants.
[See Stamen.]
€HLO'RATE, n. [See ChloHne.] A com-
pound of chloric acid with a saUfiable
base. Ure.
€HLO'RIC, a. Pertaining to chlorine, or
obtained from it; as chloric acid. Ure.
CHLORIDE, } [See Chlorine.] A com-
CHLO'RID, <i "■ pound of chlorine with a
couibustil)le body. Ure.
ellLORID'IC, a. Pertaining to a chloride.
Ure.
ellLO'RINE, ^ [Gr. x^fi, green ; so na-
€HLO'RIN, I "• med from its color.]
Chloric gas ; a new name given to what has
been called oxymuriatic gas. This sub-
stance has hitherto resisted all efforts to
decompose it, and as it is not known to
contain oxygen, and is apparently a sim-
ple substance, it has been denominated
from its color, cJdorine, or chloric gas.
Davy.
€HLORIODT€, a. Consisting of chlorine
and iodine, or obtained from them. Davy.
CHLO'RIS, n. [Gr. ;i:>.upo5, green.] The
green finch, a small bird.
€HLO'RITE, n. [Gr. x-^^f^f, green.]
A mineral of a grass green color, opako,
usually frit'.l.'lc or easily pulverized, com-
C H O
C H O
C II O
posed of little spangles, scales, prisms or
shining small grains. It is classed by Kir-
wan with the muriatic genus. Tliere are
four subspecies, chlorite earth, common
chlorite, chlorite slate, and foliated chlo-
rile. Ure. Kirwan
CHLORO-€ARBON'l€, { The terms
ellLORO-CARBONOUS, S chloro-car-
bonic and and chloro-carbonous acid, are
a|)|)lied, the former by Thomson, and the
latter by Ure, to a compound of chlorine
and carbonic oxyd, formed by exposing a
mixture of the two gases to the direct
solar rays. It was discovered by Dr. J.
Davy, and called by him pkosgene gas.
ellLOKO'PAL, n. [green opal.] A newly
observed mineral, of two varieties, the
conchoidal and the earthy ; the conchoi-
dal is of a pistachio green color ; the other
has an earthy fracture, and both varieties
are possessed of magnetic [iroperties.
Phillips.
GHLO'ROPHANE, n. [Gr. x^fos, gieen,
and ^aivu, to show.]
A variety of fluor spar, from Siberia. When
placed on a heated iron, it gives a beauti-
ful emerald green light.
Cleaveland. Cyc.
CHLO'ROPIIEITR, n. [Gr. yfl^poi, green,
and tfMof, blackish.]
.\ rare mineral found in small nodules.
Cleaveland.
CIILO'ROPHYL, n. [Gr. x^-'^fU green, and
^■KtMi, leaf.]
The green niatterof the leaves of vegetables.
Pelletier.
ellLORO'SIS, n. [Gr. ifl.>^foi, green.] The
green sickness; a disease of females, char-
acterized by a pale or greenish hue of the
skin, weakness, palpitation, dyspepsy, &c.
Coxe.
€HLOROT'Ie, a. Pertaining to chlorosis;
as, chlorotic affections. Medical Repository.
2. Affected by chlorosis; as, cWoroiic nuns.
BaHie.
€HLO'ROUS, a. Pertaining to rlilorinc ; as
chlorous oxyd.
OTIOAK, [See Choke.]
CHOCK, n. [from choke.] In marine lan-
guage, a kind of wedge for confining a
cask or other body, to prevent it from mo-
ving.
Chocks of the rudder, are pieces of timber
kept in readiness to stop the motion of
the rudder, in case of an accident, &c.
Mar. Diet.
CHOCK, an encounter. [See Shock.]
CHOCOLATE, n. [Fr. chocolat ; Sp. Port.
chocolate ; It. cioccolata ; from cacao.]
1. A paste or cake composed of the kernel
of cacao, with other ingredients, usually a
little sugar, cinnamon" or vanilla. The
nut is first ground fine, mixed with the
ingredients, and put in a mold.
2. The liquor made by dissolving chocolate
in boiling water.
CHOe OLATE-HOUSE, n. A house where
company may be served with chocolate.
CHO€'OLATE-NUT. [See Cacao.]
CHODE, the old preterit of cfetWe, which see.
CHOICE, n. [Fr. choix ; Arm. choas ; Sax.
q/se ; D. keus. See Choose.]
1 . The act of choosing ; the voluntary act
of selecting or separating from two or
more things that which is preferred ; or
the determination of the mind in prefer-
ring one thing to another ; election.
Ye kuow how that a good while ago God,
made choice among us, that the Gentiles by
my mouth should hear the word of the gospel,
anil believe. Acts xv.
, The power of choosing ; option.
Where there is force, there can be no choice.
Of these alternatives we have our own choice.
Anon.
selecting; judgment or skill in
hiiiir \vli;it is to be jn-eferred, and
LMus were collected
iliat which is a))pro
preference to others
3. Care in
distingui
in givii,
I ill>.>;;l
with jui!
4. The iln
ved and
selection
Nor let thy conquests only be her choice.
Prior
5. The best part of any thing ; that which!
is preferable, and properly the object of]
choice.
In the choice of our sepulchers bury thy dead
Gen. xxiii.
6. The act of electing to office by vote ; elec-
tion.
To make choice of, to choose; to select; to
separate and take in preference.
CHOICE, a. Worthy of being preferred;
select ; precious ; very valuable.
My choicest hours of life are lost. Swift
My revenue is better than choice silver. Hrov
2. Holding dear; preserving or using with
care, as valuable; frugal ; as, to be choice c'Tinuv
of time or of advantages. OHUivt.
3. Selecting with care, and due attention to
preference ; as, to be choice of one's
panv.
CHOICE-DRAWN, a. Selected with par-
ticular care. Shak
CHOICE'LESS, a. chois'less. Not having
the power of choosing ; not free.
Hammond.
CHOICE'LY, adv. chois'ly. With care in
choosing ; with nice regard to preference ;
with exact choice ; as a band of men
choicely collected.
2. Valuably ; excellently ; preferably
ously.
3. With great care ; carefully ; as a thing
choicely preserved.
CHOICM'NESS, n. chois'ness. Valuable-
ness ; ])articular value or worth ; as the
choiceness of a plant or of wine.
€I10IR, n. quire. [L. chorus ; Gr. ;^opos ; Fr
chaur ; Sp. Port. It. coro ; Sax. chor ; D,
choor ; G. chor ;
.'^ to go round
collect or bind. See Cliorus.]
1. A collection of singers, especially in d
vine service, in a church.
2. Any collection of singers.
3. That part of a church appropriated for
the singers, separated from the chancel
and the nave. In congregational and
some other churches, the singers are pla-
ced in certain seats in the galleries.
4. In nunneries, a large hall adjoining to the
body t)f the church, separated by a grate,
wlit'K' I lie nuns sing the office.
ClIOII! Sl',l!\ ICE, n. The service of sing-
^ 'u\!Z iiirioriiicd by a choir. Warlon.
CHOKE, V. I. [Sax. aeeocan. In Arm. coucq
I or goucq is the neck, Avith which choke
I may be connected, in the sense of narrow-
ness or comi)ression. The sense of choice
is to stuff, thrust down or stop ; or to
compress, or bind tight. [The Sp. ahogar
is the Port, afogar, L. »t«^oco.] It is i)rob-
ably allied to the Sf). ceg-ar, to shut, L.
emeus, Eng. key. Sax. ccig.]
1. To stop the passage of the breath, by fil-
ling the windpipe or compressing the lieck.
The word is used to express a temporary
or partial stoppage, as to choke with <lirt
or smoke ; or an entire stoppage that
causes death; to suffocate; to strangle.
Mark V.
2. To stop by filling ; to obstruct ; to block
up; as, to choke tiie entrance of a harbor,
or any passage.
3. To hinder by obstruction or impediments ;
to hinder or check growth, expansion, or
progress ; as, to choke plants ; to choke the
spreading of the fruit. Bacon.
Thorns choke them. Matt. xiii. Luke viii.
4. To smother or suffocate, as fire. Dryden.
5. To suppress or stifle; as, to choke the
strong conception. Shak.
6. To offend ; to cause to take an exception ;
as, I was choked at this word. Simjl.
We observe that this word generally im-
plies crowding, stuffing or covering. A
channel is choked by stones and sand, but
not by a boom.
CHOKIE, v. i. To have the wind-pipe stop-
ped ; as, cattle are apt to choke when eat-
I ing potatoes.
!2. To be offended ; to take exceptions.
The filamentous or capillary
part of the artichoke. Johnson.
CHO'KE-CHERRY, n. The popular name
of a species of wild cherry, remarkable for
its astringent qualities.
CHO'KED, pp. Suffocated ; strangled ; ob-
structed by filling; stifled; suppressed;
smothered.
CHOKE-FULL, a. [choke and full.] Full
as po^sible ; quite full.
CHOKE-PEAR, n. A kind of pear that
has a rough astringent taste, and is swal-
lowed with difficulty, or which contracts
the parts of the moiith.
2. An aspersion or sarcasm by which a per-
son is put to silence. [^ low term.]
Clarissa.
CHO'KER, n. One that chokes another ;
one that puts another to silence ; that
which cannot be answered. Johnson.
CHOKE-WEED, n. A plant so called.
CHO'KY, a. That tends to suffocate, or has
power to suffocate.
€HOL'AGOGUE, n. col'agog. [Gr. x<^>i^a-
yoj, from xo^l, bile.]
A medicine that has the specific quality of
evacuating the bile.
CHOL'ER, n. [L. cholera; Gr. xo^po., from
Xoi.ri, bile.]
1. The bile. By the superabundance of this
fluid, anger was formerly supposed to be
produced ; or perhaps the opinion was
that the bile caused the inflamed appear-
ance of the face in anger. Hence,
2. Anger; wrath; irritation of the passions.
Cholera Morbus, a sudden evacuation of bile,
both upwards and downwards.
CHOLERIC, a. Abounding with choler.
Dryden-.
2. Easily irritated ; irascible ; inclined to an-
ger ; as a choleric man.
C H O
3. Aiigiy ; iiitlicatiiig anger ; excited by an-
ger; as a. choleric speech. Raleigh
€HOL'ERI€NESS, n. Irascibility; anger;
peevishness.
eHOLES'TERI€, a. Pertaining to choles-
terin, or obtained from it ; as cholesteric
acid. Ure.
€HOLES'TERINE, ? „ [Gr. z"^, bile, and
€HOLES'TERIN, (, "• ;ip^o,, solid.]
A name given by M. Chevreul, to the pearly
or crystaline substance of human biliary
calcul'
CHOLIAM'BIC, n. [L. choliambi.] A verse
in poetry having an iambic foot in the fiftli
place, and a spondee in the sixth or last.
Beiitky.
eHON'DRODITE, n. A mineral, called
also Brucite. It occurs in grains or
perfect crystals, or in four-sided prisms
with rhombic bases, truncated on the two
acute lateral edges. It is translucent ; and
its color varies from reddish or amber yel-
low to grayish brown. Ckaveland.
CHOOSE, V. t. s as z. pret. chose ; pp. cho-
sen, chose. [Sax. ceosan ; D. kiezen ; G.
kiesen ; Sw. kesa ; Ice. kioosa ; Fr. choisir ;
Arm. choasa; Pers. ghozidan. The He-
brew has \mr> to collect. Sec Class Gs,
No. 40. 70. 71.]
]. To pick out ; to select ; to take by way of
preference from two or more things offer-
ed ; to make choice of.
The man the Lord doth choose shall be holy,
Jv'um. xvi.
Refuse the evil and choose the good.
3. To take in preference.
Let us choose to us judgment. Job xxxiv
3. To prefer; to choose for imitation; tc
follow.
Envy not the oppressor, and choose none of
his ways. Prov. iii.
4. To elect for eternal ha])piness ; to predes
tiuate to life.
Many are called but few chosen. Matt, xx
For his elect's sake, whom he hath chosen
Mark xiii
.5. To elect or designate to office or employ-
ment by votes or suffrages. In the United
States, the jjoople choose representatives by
votes, usually by ballot.
CHOOSE, V. i. To prefer; as, I choose to go.
2. To have the power of choice. Tlie
phrase, he cannot choose but stay, denotes
that he has not the power of choice,
whether to stay or not.
The verb, in these phrases, is really transi-
tive ; the following verb standing as the
object, instead of a noun.
CHOOS'ER, n. He that chooses ; he thn
has the power or right of choosing ; an
elector
C H O
CHOOSING,
takii
preference ; electing.
CHOOS'ING, n. Choice ; election.
CHOP, V. t. [G. and D. kappen ; Dan. kajy
per ; Gr. xorttui ; Fr. couper ; Norm, copper
oi-coupcr; Ar. ^x^s or ^^5./..^= lo cui.j
Class Gb. No. 47.' 51.]
1. To cut off or separate, by striking with
a sharp instrument, either by a single blow
or by repeated blows ; as, to chop off a
head ; to chop wood.
2. To cut into small pieces-; to niincc; as,
ti> chop meat : to rhup straw.
3. To grind and mince with the teeth ; to
devour eagerly ; with up; as, to chop up an
entertamment. Dryden.
To break or open into chinks or fissures ;
to crack ; to chap. [See Chap.]
CHOP, V. i. To catch or attempt to seize
with the mouth. {N'ot used.]
To chop at the shadow and lose the sub-
stance. V Estrange.
■2. To light or fall on suddenly. Johnson.
[If this is a legitimate sense, it indicates
that the primary sense is, to throw, thrust,
or strike. It is not in common use.]
To chop in, to become modish. [M'ot
used.] Wilson.
To chop out, to give vent to. [M'ot used.]
Beaum.
CHOP, V. t. [Sax. ceapian, cypan, to buy
or sell. See Cheap.]
. To buy, or rather to barter, truck, ex
change.
. To exchange ; to put one thing in the
place of another; as, to chop and change
our friends. L'Estrange.
3. To bandy ; to altercate ; to return one
Word or thing for another.
Let not the council chop with the judg.
Bacon.
CHOP, V. i. To turn, vary, change or shift
suddenly ; as in the seaman's phrase, the
wind chops, or chops about.
[The various senses of this verb seem to cen-
ter in that of thrusting-, driving, or a sud-
den motion or exertion of force.]
CHOP, n. A piece chopped off; a small
piece of meat ; as a mutton chop.
2. A crack or cleft. See Chap, which, with
the broad sound of a, is often pronounced
chop.
3. The chap; the jaw: plu. the jaws ; the
mouth ; the sides of a river's mouth or
channel. [See Chap.]
CHOP'-CHURCH, ». An exchange or an
exchanger of benefices.
CHOP'-FALLEN, a. Dejected ; dispirited.
CHOP'-HOIISE, n. A house where provis-
ready dressed is sold.
CHO'PIN, n. [Fr. chopine.'] A liquid meas-
ure in France, containing nearly a pint
Winchester measure. In Scotland
quart of wine measure.
CHOP'PED, pp. Cut; minced.
CHOP'PING, ppr. Cutting; mincing; buy-
bartering.
CHOP'PING, o. Stout; lusty; plump.
CHOP'PING, n. [Sp. chapin.] A high-heel
ed shoe, worn by ladies in Italy. [See
, Chioppine.]
2. A cutting ; a mincing ; from chop.
CHOP'PING-BLOCK, n. A block
which any thing is laid to be chopped
CHOP'PING-KNIFE, n. A knife for min
, cing meat.
CHOP'PY, o. Full of clefls or cracks.
CHOPS, [See Chop.]
€HO'RAL, a. [from chorus.] Belonging tc
or composing a choir or concert ; as, cho-
ral symphonies. Milton.
i. Singing in a choir ; as, choral serapli
C H O
The string of a musical instrument.
Milton.
2. In music, the union of two or more sounds
uttered at the same time, forming an en-
tire harmony ; as a third, fifth and eighth,
which are perfect chords, or consonancies.
The fourth and si.xth are imperfect chords.
3. In geometry, a right line drawn or suppo-
sed to extend from one end of an arch of
a circle to the other. Hence the chord of
an arch is a right line joining the extrem-
ities of that arch. Encyc.
CHORD, V. t. To string. Dryden.
CHORDEE', n. [See Chord.] In medicine
and surgery, an inflammatory or spasmod-
ic contraction of the f\-8enum, attending
gonorrhea and accompanied with pain.
Coxe. Encyc.
CHORE, n. [Eng. char.] In America, this
word denotes small work of a domestic
kind, as distinguished from the principal
work of the day. It is generally used in
the plural, chores, which includes the daily
or occasional business of feeding cattle
and other animals, preparing fuel, sweep-
ing the house, cleaning furniture, &e.
[See Char.-]
HC
Amhurst.
CIIO'RALLY, adv. In the manner of a
chorus. Mason
CHORD, n. [L. chorda ; Gr. zopS)?, an intes-
tine, of which strings were made. When
it signifies a string or small rope, in gen
eral, it is written cord. See Cord.]
CHOREPIS'COPAL, a. [Gr. jtupoj, place,
and iXinxoTtof, bishop.]
Pertainini' to the power of a suffragan or
local bishop. Fell.
CHORE' LIS, n. [Gr. xoptm-] In ancient po-
etry, a foot of two s} llables, the first long
and the second short ; the trochee.
CHOR'IAMB, ?„ [Gr. a;op"05, a trochee,
CHORIAM'BUS, \ 'and 10/1605, iambus.]
In ancient poetry, a foot consisting of four
syllables, of which the first and last are
long, and the others short ; that is, a cho-
reus or trochee and an iambus united ; as,
nobilitas, anrietas. Encyc.
CHORIAM'BIC, n. A choriamb.
CHORIAM'BIC, a. Pertaining to a rhori-
amb. Mason.
CHO'RION, n. [Gr. ;iopioi/, or a;"P">^' : tfji-
latter seems to be allied to Jrupt", to hold,
or contain.]
In anatomy, the exterior membrane which
invests the fetus in utero.
CHO'RIST, 71. [Fr. choiisle.] A singing man
choir.
CllOR'ISTER, n. [from chorus, choir.]
Literally, a singer ; one of a choir; a smgei
in a concert. Drydt n
2. One who leads a choir in church rnu^;^
Tliis is the sense in the United States.
CHOROG'RAPHER, n. [See Chorography. ,
A person who describes a particular re-
gion or country ; or one who forms a ma|)
or maps of particular regions or countries.
Encyc.
CHOROGRAPII'RAL, a. Pertaining to
chorography ; descriptive of particular re-
gions or countries ; laying down or mark-
ing the bounds of particular countries.
Encyc.
CHOROGRAPH'ICALLY, adv. In a cho-
rographical manner; in a manner descrip
tive of particular regions.
CHOROG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. z^poj, a phu •
or region, and ypaf w, to describe.]
The art or i.raciM-r ..f making a map v'
particular reiji r,HiMtry,or provmce ;
of markiii- u- limits bounds or posiii
Chorography dillLrs irom geography, asML.
dcscrii)tion of a p.-irlicular country diflcr^
C H O
0 H K
C H R
from that of tlie whole earth ; and from
iopo^raphi), as the description of a country
diflers from that of a town, city or district.
Encyc.
■eHO'ROID, n. [Gr. ji^op'O", a particular
membrane, and f iSoj, likeness.]
In anatomy, a term applied to several parts
of the body that resemble the chorion ; as
the inner membrane investing the brain
or the pia mater ; the second coat of the
eye ; the fold of the carotid artery in the
brain, in which is the pineal gland.
Coxe. Encyc
-CHO'RUS, n. [L. dMrus ; Gr. ;topo5 ; Sax,
chor ; Tr. chceur ; 1). choor or koor ; Sp. It,
coro ; Ir. cora ; W. cor. In Welsh, the word
signifies a round or circle, a choir. If the
primary sense is a circle, or a eompany
the word may be referred to the Ar. j \^
kaura, to go round, to collect, to bind, or to
j.^ kan-a, to return, to repeat. Class
Gr. No. :32. 34. If the radical sense is to
sing or shout, it may be allied to Gr. z<^V"-
The former is most probable.]
1. A number of singers ; a company of j)cr
sons singing in concert.
Dryden. Pope. Addison
2. The persons who are sujjposed to behold
what passes in the acts of a tragedy, and
sing their sentiments between the act.s.
Shak. Johnson.
3. The song between the acts of a tragedy,
Johnson.
4. Verses of a song in which the company
join the singer ; or the union of a compa
ny with a singer, in repeating certain
couplets or verses, at certain period;
song. Johnson. Encyc.
5. A musical composition of two or njore
parts.
6. Among the Greeks, a chorus consisted of
^ a number of singers and dance
CHOSE, n. [Fr. chose ; Sp. cosa, suit,
cause, thing ; It. cosa ; Port, coiisa ; L.
causa. See Cause. The primary sense
is, action, urging, prosecution. See Thing
and Cause.]
In latB, property in action ; a right to pos-
session ; or that which may be demanded
and recovered by suit or action at law.
TIius, money due on a bond or note is a
chose in action ; a recompense for damage
done is a chose in action ; the former pro-
ceeding from an express, the latter from
im implied contract. A contract executed
is a chose in possession ; a contract execu-
tory conveys only a chose in action. A
chose local is annexed to a place, as a mill i
or the like ; a chose transitory is a thing
which is movable. Blackstone. Encyc.
CHOSE, s as z, pret. and pp. of choose.
The Cornish chough is a fow 1 of the genus
Corvus, nearly of the size of the crow, and
mischievous, like the magpie. It is black,
except the bill, legs and feet, which are
red. It is a native of the west of England.
Diet. o/MU. Hist.
Chough is also applied to the jackdaw.
Cyc.
CHOULE. [SeeJoivl]
CHOUSE, V. t. [This word may be from
the root of cozen. Arm. couczein, or conche-
za. Ar. j_^l-i gausa, to deceive or de-
fraud ; Etli. (tM*! ® chaso, to lie, deceive
or cheat.]
To cheat, trick, defraud ; followed by of, in
Hudibra.^; but in America, by out of; as,
to chouse one out of his money. [It is now
vulgar.] Dryden. Swifl.
CHOUSE, n. One who is easily cheated ; a
tool ; a simpleton.
A trick ; sham ; imposition. Johnson.
CHOUSED, pp. Cheated ; defrauded ; im-
posed on.
CHOUS'ING, ppr. Cheating ; imposing on.
CHOWDER, n. In JVtw England, a d' '
offish boiled with biscuit, i\;c. In S));
ish, chode is a paste madr nC niilK. eg
sugar and flour. In the west of England,
chowder-beer is a liquor made by boiling
black spruce in water and mixing with it
melasses.
CHOSEN,
pp.
cho'zn. Selected from
number ; picked out ; taken in preference ;
elected ; predestinated ; designated to office.
2. a. Select ; distinguished by preference ;
eminent.
; drowned in the sea.
His chosen captains
Ex. XV.
Ye are a chosen generatio
hood. 1 Pet. ii.
royal priest-
•CHOUGH, n. chuff. [Fr. choueas ; Ir. cas ;
Sax. ceo or ceogh. This word may be the
same as jack, in jackdaw. It appears to
be a Cornisii word.]
Vol. 1.
CHOWDER, V. t. To make a chowder
CHOWTER, IN t. To grumble like a frog
or a froward child. Phillips
€HRISM, 71. [Gr. ;i;p«i/io, fi'om ;^ptu, tc
anoint.]
Unguent ; unction. In the Romish and
Greek churches, oil consecrated by the
bishop, and used in the administration of]
baptism, confirmation, ordination, and ex
treme unction. It is prepared on holy
Thursday with much ceremony, and in
some cases, mixed with balsam. Encyc.
€HRIS'M.\L, o. Pertaining to chrism.
Brevint.
€HRISi\lA'TION, n. The act of applying
the chrism, or consecrated oil ; in baptism,
by the priest ; in confirmation, by the
bishop. In ordination, it is usually styled
unction. Encyc.
CHRIS'MATORY, n. A vessel to hold the
oil for chrism.
€HRIS'OM, n. [See Chrism.] A child that
dies within a month after its birth ; so call-
ed from the chrisom-cloth, a linen cloth
anointed with holy oil, which was former-
ly laid over a child's face when it was
baptized. Also, the cloth itself Encyc.
CHRIST, n. [Gr. xp'^oi, anointed, from
Arpi", to anoint.]
The A.Noi.NTED ; an appellation given to the
Savior of the world, and synonymous with
the Hebrew Messiah, it was a custom
of antiquity to consecrate persons to the
sacerdotal and regal offices by anointing
them with oil.
€HR1S'TEN, f. «. kris'n. [Sax. cristnian ;
D. kerstenen. See Christ.]
1. To baptize, or rather to baptize and
name ; to initiate into the visible church of
Christ by the application of water; appli-
ed to persons. And as a name is given to
the person in the ceremony, lieiice,
37
2. To name ; to denominate ; applied to
things. Burnet.
€HRlS'TE.\DOM, n. kris'ndom. [Sax.
cristendom, cristen, christian, and dom,
power, judgment, rule, jurisdiction. See
Christ.]
1. The territories, countries or regions in-
habited by christians, or those who pro-
fess to believe in the chrisitian religion.
2. The whole body of christians. Hooker.
3. Christianity ; the christian religion ; ai>.
while c/im/enrfom prevailed. [Unustud.]
MUner.
CHRISTENED, ;)/).Am'n</. Baptized and
named ; initiated into Christianity.
CHRISTENING, ppr. kris'etiing. Bapti-
zing luid naming.
CHRISTENING, n. The act or ceremo-
ny of baptizing and naming ; initiation
into the christian religion.
CHRIS'TIAN, n. krysl'yan. [Gr. zpiyto^os:.
L. christianus ; Sax. cristen ; D. kristen ;
Fr. chrititn ; Sp. christiano ; Arm. cris-
ten ; W. cristian. See Christ.]
1. A belie* er in the religion of Christ.
2. A profes.sor of his belief in the religion of
Christ.
3. A real disciple of Christ; one who be-
lieves in the truth of the christian religioUj
and studies to follow the example, and
obey the precept.'--, of Christ ; a believer
in Christ who is characterized by real
piety.
In a general sense, the word christians in-
cludes all who are born in a christian
countrv or of christian parents.
CHRISTIAN, a. [See the Noun.] Pertain-
ing to Christ, taught by him, or received
from him ; as the christian religion ; chris-
tian doctrines.
2. Professing the religion of Christ ; as a
christian friend.
Belonging to tlie religion of Christ ; rela-
ting to Christ, or to his doctrines, precepts
and example ; as christian profession and
practice.
4. Pertaining to the church ; ecclesiastical ;
as courts christian. Blackstone.
CHRIS'TIAN, i: t. To baptize. [.Yot used.]
Fulke.
CHRIS'TIANISM, n. [Gr. ;tp^r'avi(T^05.
See Christ.]
1. The christian religion.
2. The nations professing Christianity.
Johnsan.
CHRIS'TIANITE, n. A newly discovered
Vesuvian mineral ; its primitive form is
that of an oblique rectangular prism ; its
colors brown, yellow or reddish.
Joum. of Science.
CHRISTIANITY, h. [See Christian, from
Chist.]
The religion of christians : or the system of
doctrines and precepts taught by Christ,
and recorded by the evangelists and apos-
tles.
Whilst politicians are disputing about mon-
archies, aristocracies, and republics, Christiani-
ty is alike applicable, useful and friendly to
them all. Paley.
CHRISTIANIZE, v. t. To make christian ;
to convert to Christianity ; as, to chiistian-
ize pagans.
CHRIS TIANLIKE, a. Becoming a cliris-
t'»"- Shak.
CHRIS'TIANLY, adv. In a christian man-
C H
ncr; in a manner becoming the principles
of the christian religion, or tlie profession
of that rehgion.
CHRIS'TIAN-NAME, n. Tlie name given
in baptism, as distinct from the gentiUtious
or surname.
CllRJSTIANOG'RAPHY, 71. A descrip
tion of christian nations. \JVot used.]
Pagltt
eHRIST'MAS, n. [Christ and mass. Sax
Aiassn, a holy day or feast ; D. hersmis.]
\. The festival of the christian church oh
served annually on the 25th day of ,Dc
cember, in memory of the birth of Christ,
and celebrated by a particular church ser-
vice. The festival includes twelve days.
9. riiiislriias-il.iv.
♦ 1 1 K 1ST AI \S-150X, n. A box in vi'hich lit-
tle |iris(iit-< are deposited at christmas.
CHRIST MAS-DAY, n. The twenty fiftli
day of December, when christmas is cel-
ebrated.
€HRISTMAS-FLOWER, n. Hellebore.
€HRIST'MAS-ROSE, «. A plant of the
genus Helleborus, producing beautiful
white flowers about (Uiristmas.
CHRiST'S-THORN, n. The Rhamniis
liurus, a deciduous shrub, a native of
lestine and the South of Europe. It has
two thorns at each joint, and is supposed
to have been the sort of which the crown
of thorns for our Savior was made.
Encyc. Hanhury
OHROAS'TACES, n. [Gr. jrpoa, color.] In
natural history, a genus of pellucid gems,
i;omprehending all those of variable colors,
as viewed in diftereut lights. [JVot techni-
cal.] Encyc.
CHRO'MATE, n. [See Chrome.] A salt or
compound formed by the chromic acid
with a base.
CHROMATIC a. [Gr. x9^t">^f<-»'>i, from
;i;pQ^a, color, from ;^p"?w, to color. Xpoa
Xfioi'i.^, seem to be a dialectical orthogra
jihy of the same word.]
1. Relating to color. Dryden.
1. Noting a particular species of music,
which proceeds by several semitones in
succession. Encyc. Busby.
f^HROMAT'IC, n. [Suj.ra.] A Idnd of mu-
sic that proceeds by several conseciuive
semitones, or scmitonic intervals.
Rousseau.
€IIR03IAT ICALLY, adv. In the chro-
matic maimer.
CHROMAT'IeS, ?!. The science of colors
that part of optics which treats of the pro-
l)erties of tlie colors of light and of natural
bodies. Encyc.
CHROME, n. [Gr. zpu^o, color.] A metal
consisting of a porous mass of agghitina
led grains, very hard, brittle, and of a gray-
ish white color. Its texture is radiated. In
its highest degree of oxydation, it passes!
into the state of an acid, of a ruby red
(••olor. It takes its name from the various
and beautiful colors which its oxyd and
acid communicate to minerals into whose
composition they enter. Chrome is em
])loyed to give a fine deep green to the en
amel of porcelain, to glass, &c.
The oxyd of Chrome is of a bright grass
green or pale yellow color. Cleaveland.
-CHRO'MIC, a. Pertaining to chrome, or
obtained from it : as chromic acid.
C H R
Chromic yellow, the artificial chromate of
lead, a beautiful pigment.
CHRON'IC, ? [Fr. chronique ; It. Sp.
ellRON'ICAL, 5 cronico ; Gr. arponxos,
from X9'»'°i, time, duration. See Ar. ^ »j» •
Class Rn. No. 15.]
Continuing a long time, as a disease. A
chronic disease is one which is inveterate
or of long continuance, in distinction from
an acute disease, which speedily termi
nates.
€HRON'l€LE,n. [See CAromc] A historic
al account of facts or events disposed in tin
order of time. It is nearly synonymous
with annals. In general, this species of
writing is more strictly confined to chron
ological order, and is less diffuse than thi
form of writing called history.
2. In a more general sense, a history.
On/den.
3. That which contains history.
' Europe — her very ruins tell the history of
times gone by, and eveiy moldering stone is a
chronicle. Irving.
4. Chronicles, plu. Two books of the Old
Testament.
CHRONICLE, r.t. To record in history
oiiicle ; to record ; to register.
Spenser. Shak.
CHRONICLER, n. A writer of a chronicle;
a recorder of events in the order of time;
a historian.
CHRONIQUE, n. chron'xh. A chronicle.
Addison
CHRON OGRAM,n. [Gr. ^ho.o;, time, anc
yfiafifia, a letter or a\ riting, from ypa^u, to
write.]
An inscription in which a certain date or
epoch is expressed by numeral letter!
in the motto of a medal struck bv Gusta-
vus A,l..l|.hu.-: in 1032.
< l,rl.t\ > n\ X : eiijo trlVMpliVs.
CHRoNtX.K \A1 MAT'IC, ? Belong
CHR0.\0(;HA\1.MVT'ICAL, \"- ingtoa
chronogram, or containing one.
CHRONOGRAM MATIST, n. A writer of
chronograms.
CHRONOG'RAPHER, ji. [Gr. a^po^oj, time,
and ypa^u, to describe.]
One who v^rites concerning time or the
events of time ; a chronologer. Tooke
CHROXOr; RAPIIY, n. The description
ofliiii.' |.a-t. [JJItle used.]
CHR()X()I.(»(,I;K, I [See Chronology.
CHRONOLOOIST, ^ "' A person who at
tempts to discover the true dates of past
events and transactions, and to arrauj
them under their proper years, or divi
ions of time, in the order in which they
happened.
2. One who studies chronology, or is versed
in the science.
CHRONOLOG'IC, I Relating to chro
CIIRONOLOG'ICAL, ^ "' nology ; contain
ing an account of events in the oi-dcr of
time ; according to the order of time.
CHRONOLOG'ICALLY, adv. In a chron
ological manner ; in a manner according
with the order of time, the series of events,
or rules of chronology.
CHR0N0L'06Y, n. [Gr. ;tpo>'0^oy.a ; ;tpcHO;
time, and Jioyoj, discourse or doctrine.]
The science of time; the method of measur
ing, or computing time hy rcgidar divis
C H U
ions or periods, according to the revolu-
tions of the sun, or moon ; of ascertaining
the true periods or years when past events
or transactions took place ; and arranging
them in their proper order according to
their dates.
If history without chronology is dark and
confused ; chronology without history is dry
and insipid. A. Holmes.
CHRONOM'ETER, n. [Gr. j^poros, time, and
fiitfiov, measure.]
Any instrument that measures time or that
divides time into equal portions, or that is
used for that purpose, as a clock, watch
or dial ; particularly an instrument that
measures time with great exactness.
Chronoscope is now rarely used.
CHRYS'ALID, n. [See Cht-ysalis.]
CHRYS'ALIS, n. [L. chrysalis, Gr. xf^aaXki.;,
grub, from its golden color, xpyi'oi, gold.]
Tlie particular form which butterflies, moths,
and some other insects assume, before
they arrive at their winged or perfect
state. It is called also aurelia, from aurum,
gold. In this form, the anunal is in a
state of rest or insensibility ; having no
organs for taking nourishment, nor wings,
nor legs. The external covering is car-
tilaginous, and usually smooth and glossy ;
sometimes hairy. The name is taken
from the yellow color of certain species ;
but they are of different colors, as green,
black, &c.
CHRYS'OBERYL, n. [Gr. ;rp«'ff<'5, gold, and
/3)jpi)»ioi', beryl.]
V siliceous gem, of a dilute yellowish green
color. Kincan.
Chrysoberyl, the cymophane of HaUy, is
a mineral usijally found in round pieces,
about the size of a pea; but it is also
found crystaUzed in eight-sided prisms.
It is next to the sapphire in hardness, and
emjiloyed in jewelry. Ure. Cleaveland.
CHRYS'OCOLLA, n. [Gr. xpvaoxena, glue
of gold, ;^pii5o; and xoMa ; a name given
by the Greeks to borax and to mountain
green.]
Carbonate of copper, of two subspecies, the
blue and the green ; formerly called blue
and green chrysocolla, also mountain blue
and mountain green. It occurs in crys-
tals, stalactites and other forms.
Fourcroy. Cleaveland.
CRYS'OLITE, n. [Gr. jtpvaos, gold, and
xtSoj, stone.]
A mineral, called by HaUy and Brongniart,
peridote, and by Jameson, jirismatic chrys-
olite. Its prevailing color is some shade
of green. It is harder than glass, but less
hard than quartz ; often transparent,
sometimes only translucent. It occurs
sometimes in crystals, sometimes in small
amorphous masses or grains, and some-
times in rolled pieces. Cleaveland.
CHRYS'OPRASE, n. [Gr. ;tpv(jortpa(5os ;
Xfrvaoi, gold, and rtpaaor, a leek.]
A mineral, a subs]>ecies of quartz. Its color
is commonly apple green, and often ex-
tremely beautiful. It is translucent, or
sometimes semi-transparent; its fracture
even and dull, sometimes a little splin-
tery, sometimes smooth and slightly con-
choidal; its hardness little inferior to that
of flint. Cleaveland.
CHUB, n. [This word seems to signify thick
head, or a muss or lunij). In Pcrs. chitb
C H U
C H U
C H U
or chob is a club. See Class Gb. No. 1
and 2.]
A river fish, called also cheven, of the genus
Cyprinus. The body is oblong, nearly
round ; the head and back, green ; the sides
silvery, and the belly white. It frequents
deep boles in rivers shaded by trees ; but
in warm weather floats near the surface,
and furnishes sport for anglers. It is in-
diflerent food. Did. JVat. Hist. Encyc.
CHUiJ'BED, I Like a chub ; short and
CHUBBY, i"- thick.
CHUB'-FACED, a. Having a plump round
face. Mdison.
CHUCK, V. i. To make the noise of a hen or
partridge, when she calls her chickens.
CHUCK, V. t. To call, as a hen her chick
ens.
CHUCK, V. i. To jeer; to laugh. [See
Chuckle.]
CHUCK, v.t. [Fr. cAo^uer ; Russ. chokayu,
to strike gently ; Port. Sp. chocar.]
1. To strike, or give a gentle blow ; as, to
chiick one under the chin.
2. To throw, with quick motion, a shor
distance ; to pitch. [Vulgar.]
CHUCK, n. The voice or call of a hen.
2. A sudden small noise.
3. A word of endearment, corrupted from
chick, chicken.
CHUCK-FARTHING, n. A play in whicli
a farthing is pitched into a hole.
CHUCK'LE, V. t. [from chuck.] To call, as
a hen her chickens.
2. To fondle ; to cocker. [Qu. W. cocru. See
Cocker.]
CHUCK'LE, V. i. [Ch. nin chuk or huk
to laugh. See Class Gk. No. 18. and
Giggle^
To laugh heartily, or convulsively ; to shake
with laughter, or to burst into fits of laugh
ter.
CHUCK'LE-HEAD, n. A vulgar word ir
Ameiica, denoting a person with a large
head, a dunce. Bailey says, a rattling,
noisy, empty fellow.
CHUD, V. t. To champ ; to bite. [JVot in
tise.] Stafford.
CHU'ET, n. Forced meat. Bacon
CHUFF, n. [Perhaps VV. cijf, a stock or
stem; cyfiaw, to become torpid.]
A clown; a coarse, heavy, dull or surly
fellow.
CHUFF'ILY, adv. In a rough, surly man-
ner ; clownishly.
CHUFF'INESS, n. Surliness.
CHUFF'Y, a. Blunt ; clownish ; surly ; an
gry ; stomachful. In N. England, this
word expresses that displeasure which
'•auses a swelling or surly look and gruni
bliug, rather than heat and violent e.\
pressious of anger.
CHUK, n. A word used in calling swine.
It is the original name of that animal,
which our ancestors brought with them
from Persia, where it is still in use, Pers,
chuk, Zend, chuk, a hog ; Sans, sugara.
Our ancestors, while in England, adopted
the Welsh hive, hog, biit chuck is retained
in our popular name of woodchuck, that is,
wood hog. This is a remarkable proof
of the original seat of the Teutonic na-
tions. I have taken chuk from Adclung
The French cochon may be the same
word.
CHU5I. n. [Arm. chmnni, or chommei)!,, or
ham, to dwell, stay, or lodge ; Fr. chtiMer,\
to rest. Qu. Sax. ham, home.] I
A chamber-fellow ; one who lodges or re-'
sides in the same room ; a word used in
colleges.
CHUMP, rt. A short, thick, heavy piece of
wood, less than a block. Johnson.'^
CHURCH, n. [Sax. circe, circ or cyric ;
Scots, kirk, which retains the Saxon pro-1
nunciation ; D. kerk ; G. kirche ; Sw. kurck-\
ia ; Dan. kirke ; Gr. xupiaxw, a temple of^
God, from xvfuaxos, pertaining to a Lord,!
or to our Lord Jesus Christ, from xipioj, a|
Lord ; Russ. tzerkov.] 1
1. A house consecrated to the worship of
God, among christians ; the Lord's housc._
This seems to be the original meaning of
the word. The Greek exxXifaia, from ex-|
xaXiu, to call out or call together, denotes:
an assembly or collection. But xvpioxos,'
xvpwLxm, are from xuptoj. Lord, a term ap-
plied by the early christians to Jesu^
Christ ; and the house in which they wor-
shipped was named from that title. So
xvpiaxa signifies church goods, bona ec-
clesiastica ; xvptaxjj, sc. ij/ufpa, the Lord's
day, dies dominica.
2. The collective body of christians, or of
those who profess to believe in Christ, and;
acknowledge him to be the Savior of man
kind. In this sense, the church is some
times called the Catholic or Universal
Church. Johnson. Encyc.
3. A particular number of christians, united
under one form of ecclesiastical govern-
ment, in one creed, and using the same
ritual and ceremonies ; as the Englisl
church ; the Galilean church ; the Presby
terian church ; the Romish church ; the
Greek church.
4. The followers of Christ in a particul,
city or province ; as the cAurcA of Ephesus,
or of Antioch.
5. The disciples of Christ assembled for
worship in a particular place, as in a pri-
vate house. Col. iv. [See No. 9.]
. The worshipers of Jehovah or the true
God, before the advent of Chi-ist ; as the
Jewish church.
. The body of clergy, or ecclesiastics, in
distinction from the laity. Hence, ecclesi-
astical authority. Encyc.
8. An assembly of sacred rulers convened in
Christ's name to execute his laws.
Cruden. Brown.
9. The collective body ofchristians, who have
made a public profession of the christian
reUgion, and who are united under the
same [>astor ; in distinction from those
who belong to the same parish, or eccle-
siastical society, but have made no pro-
fession of their faith.
CHURCH, V. t. To perform with any one the
office of returning thanks in the church
after any signal dehverance, as from tht
dangersof childbirth. Johnson.
CHURCH-ALE, n. A wake or feast com
memoratory of the dedication of the
church. Johnson
CHURCH-ATTIRE, n. The habit in which
men officiate in divine service. Hooker.
CHl'RCH-.MTHORITY, n. Ecclesiastical
power; spiritual jurisdiction. Atterbury.
CHURCH-BENCH, n. The seat m the porch
of a church.
CHURCH-BURIAL, n. Burial according to
the rites of th(! church. •Ayliffc.
CHI K< H-lJlSCll'l.INE, n. Discipline of
inch, ihti-iiilrd to correct the offense's
iri.-inlHT>.
Clll'RCli I>O.M, n. The government or au-
tliority of the church.
CHURCH-FOUNDER, n. He that builds or
endows a churcli. Hooker.
CnUR(MI-HISTORY, „. History of the
christian ( liiinh : ecclesiastical history.
CHURCH l:\<;, ii.'VUi- art of offering thanks
in chiiicli after rliildliirtli.
CIIUR( II LAND, I!. Lund belonging to a
liiMi-li. Yelverion.
(iiri{<'ll I.IKE, a. Becoming the churchi
('11UR(;H MAxV, n. An ecclesia.stic or cler-
gyman ; one who ministei-s in sacred
things.
2. An episcopalian, as distinguished from a
preslivtrrian or congregationalist, &c,
CIHRCIIMEM'BER, n. A member in
iiuiiiiii with a cliurch ; a professor of
CnURCli-AR; SIC, n. The service of sing-
ing or <-liaiiting in a church.
^. Music suited to church service.
CHURCH SHIP, n. Institution ofthechurclr.
South.
CHURCH- WARDEN, n. A keeper or guar-
dian of the church, and a representative of
the parish. Church-wardens are appoint-
ed by the minister, or elected by the parish-
ioners, to superintend the church, its i>rop-
erty and concerns, and the behavior of tlie
parishioners. For these and many othei-
purposes, they possess corporate powers.
Johnson. Encyc.
CIU'RCH -WAY, n. The way, street or
(piiil xUm loads to the church.
11 HCll -WORK, n. Work carried on
l,,«lv. Todd.
CHURCH- YARD, n. The ground adjoining
to a church in which the dead are buried ;
a cemetery. ohnson.
CHURL, n. [Sax. ceorl ; D. kaerel ; G. kerl ;
Dan. karl. It signifies primarily, a man,
or rather a male, for it was applied to
other animals, as a carl-cat, a male-cat ;
and males are named from their strength,
or the sex impUes it ; hence, cart-hemp
denoted strong hemp. Huscarla, a house-
carl, or servant; huscarla, a ship's-carl.
See Spelman. Hence the name, Charles,
Carolus.]
1. A rude, surly, ill-bred man. Sidney.
2. A rustic ; a countryman, or laborer.
Dryden.
3. A miser ; a niggard. Is. xxxii.
CHURL'ISH, a. Rude ; surly ; austere ; sul-
len ; rough in temper ; unfeeluig ; uncivil.
2. Selfish ; narrow-minded ; avaricious.
King.
3. [Of things.] Unpliant ; unyielding ; cross-
grained ; harsh ; unmanageable ; as churl-
ish metal. Bacon.
4. Hard ; firm ; as a churlish knot. Shak.
5. Obstinate ; as a churlish war. Bacon.
CHURLISHLY, arfu. Rudely; roughly; in
lurlish manner.
CHURLISHNESS, n. Rudeness of man-
ners or temper, but generally the word
refers to the temper or disposition of mind ;
sullenness ; austerity ; indisposition to kind-
ness or courtesv.
CHURL'Y, a. Riide ; boisterous.
C I c
C I D
C I M
I -HURME, or CHIRM, n. [Sax. ryrm, clam-
or; cyrman, to cry out ; W. gann.] Noise
clamor, or confused noise. Obs.
Bacon
CHURN, n. [Sax. ciern, cynn, or cerenc, i
churn; cerann, to cliurn ; D.kam,1uirne7i
Dan. Idenie, kienier.]
\ vessel in which cream or milk is agitated
for separating the oily part from the case
ous and serous parts, to make butter.
CHURN, V. t. To stir or agitate cream for
making butter.
9. To shake or agitate with violence or con
tinned motion, as in the operation of ma
king butter.
CHURN'ED, pp. Agitated ; made into
butter.
CHURN'ING, ppr. Agitating to make but
ter ; shaking ; stirring.
CHURN'ING, n. The operation of making
butter from cream by agitation; a shaking
or stirring.
2. As much butter as is made at one opera-
tion.
CHURN'-STAFF, n. The staff or instru-
ment used in churning.
CHURR'VVORM, n. [Sax. cyrrmi, to turn,
and worm.]
An insect that turns about nimbly, called
also a fancricket. Johnson. Bailey.
CHUSE, [See Choose.]
CHU'SITE, n. A yellowish mineral found
by Saussure in the cavities of porphyries
in the environs of Limbourg. Ure.
CHYLA'CEOUS, a. [See Chyle.] Belong-
ing to chyle; consisting of chyle.
CHYLE, n. [Gr. zv^-os, juice, humor.] In
animal bodies, a white or milky fluid sepa-
rated from aliments by means of digestion.
It is absorbed by the lacteal vessels, by
which it is conveyed into the circulation,
assimilated into blood, and converted into
nutriment. Encyc. Ouiiicy. Coxe.
CHYLIFA€'TION, n. [chyle and L./acio.]
The act or process by which chyle is form-
ed from food in animal bodies.
Arhuthnot.
€HYLIFA€'TIVE, a. Forming orchanging
into chyle ; having the power to make
CHYLOPOET'l€, adv. [Gr. ;ci*05, chyle,
and Ttoifu, to make.]
Chylifactive ; having the power to change
into chyle ; making chyle. .Irbufhnot.
CHY'LOUS, a. [from chyle.} Consisting of
chyle, or partaking of it. Arbulhnol.
CHYME, n. [Gr. ztiftoj, juice.] That par-
ticular modification which food assumes
after it has undergone the action of the
stomach. Cyc.
\mong the older authors, juice; chyle, or
the finest part of the chyle contained in
the lacteals and thoracic duct ; any humor
incrassated by concoction, whether fit or
unfit for preserving and nourishing the
body. Encyc. Coxe. Bailey.
€HYMIC,€HYMIST,€1IYMISTRY. [See
Chimical, Chimist, Chimistry.]
k:iBA'RIOUS, a. [L. cibaHus, from cibus,
food.]
Pertaining to food ; useful for food ; edible.
Johnson.
CIB'OL, 11. [Fr. ciboute ; L. cejmla.] A sort
of small onion.
CI€A'DA, )i. [L. See Cigar.] The frog-hop-
per, or flea locust ; a genus of insects of
many species.
CI€'ATRICLE, n. [L. cicatriciila, from cic
atrix.]
The germinating or fetal point in the em
bryo of a seed or the yelk of an egg ; as
"germinating cicatiicle." Barton.
CI€'ATRISIVE, «. Tending to promote
the formation of a cicatrix.
CICATRIX, > [L. cicatrir ; Fr. cica
CICATRICE, S trice.] A scar ; a litth
seem or elevation of flesh remaining after
a wound or ulcer is healed. Encyc.
CICATRIZANT, n. [from cicatrize.] A
medicine or application that promotes the
formation of a cicatrix, such as Armenian
bole, powder of tutty, &c. It is called
also an escharotic, epidotic, incarnative
agglutinant, &c. Encyc.
CICATRIZA'TION.n. The process of heal
ing or fornfmg a cicatrix ; or the state of
being healed, cicatrized or skinned over.
CICATRIZE, r. t. To heal, or induce the
formation of a cicatrix, in wounded or ul
cerated flesh ; or to apply medicines for
that purpose.
CICATRIZE, V. i. To heal or be healed ;
to skin over ; as wounded flesh cicalri
CICATRIZED, pp. Healed, as wounded
flesli ; having a cicatrix formed.
CICATRIZING, ppr. Heahng ; skinning
over ; forming a cicatrix.
CICELY, n. A plant, a species of Cha;ro
phyllum. Tlie sweet cicely is a species of
Scandix.
CICERO'NE, n. [from Cicero.] A guide
one wlio explains curiosities. Addison.
CICERO'NIAN, a. [from Cicero, the Roman
orator.]
Resembling Cicero, either in style or action ;
in style, diffuse and flowing ; in manner,
vehement.
CICERO'NIANISM, n. Imitation or resem-
blance of the style or action of Cicero.
CICHORA'CEOfJS, a. [from L. ciclwrium,
succory or wild endive.] Having the
quahties of succory. Floyer.
CICISBE'ISM, n. The practice of dangling
about females.
CICISBE'O, n. [It.] A dangler about
females. Smollett.
CI€' URATE, V. t. [L. cicur, tame ; cicuro,
to tame.]
To tame ; to reclaim from wildness. [Little
used.]
Cl€URA'TION, n. The act of taming wild
limals. [IaMc used.]
CI€U'TA, n. [L. cieuta; W. cegid ; Fr.
eigne ; Arm. chagud. The Welsh is from
ceg, a choking.]
Water-hemlock, a plant whose root is pois-
onous. This term was used by the an-
cients and by medical writers for the Coni-
um maculatum, or common hemlock, the
expressed juice of which was used as a
common poison. Socrates and Phocion
perished by it. It is now used medicinally
in moderate doses, with good effect.
CI'DER, n. [Fr. cidre or sidre ; It. sidro ;
Sp. sidra; Arm. cistr ; Port, cidra, a
citron and cider. This cannot be the
Gr. ijixffia, unless the radical letter has
been changed.]
The juice of apples expressed, a liquor used
for drink. The word was formerly used
to signify the juice of other fiuits, and
other kinds of strong liquor ; but it is now
appro jiriated to the juice of apples, before
and after fermentation.
CI'DERIST, n. A maker of cider.
^, ^„ Mortimer.
CI'DERKIN, n. The liquor made of the
gross matter of apples, after the cider is
pressed out, and a quantity of boiled water
is added ; the whole steeping forty eight
hours. Phillips.
[The two last words, I believe, are little
used in America.]
CIERGE, n. [Fr. Qu. L. cera.] A candle
carried in processions.
CIGAR', n. [Sp. cigarro, a small roll of
tobacco for smoking. In Sp. cigarra is
the L. cicada, the balm-cricket or locust.
Port, cigarra ; and in Sp. cigarron is a
large species of that animal, and a large
roll of tobacco.]
A small roll of tobacco, so formed as to be
tubular, used for smoking. Cigars are of
Spanish origin.
CIL'IARY, a. [L. cilium, the eye-lashes, or
edge of the eyelid.] Belonging to the eye-
_, 'ids. Ray.
CIL'IATED, a. [from L. cUium, as above.]
In botany, furnished or surrounded with
parallel filaments, or bristles, resembhng
the hairs of the eye-lids, as a ciliated lea^
&c. Encyc. Martyn.
CILI"CIOUS, a. [from L. cihum, whence
dlicium, hair cloth.] Made or consisting
of hair. Brown.
CIMA, [SeeCyma.]
CIM'BAL, n. [It. ciambclla.] A kind of
cake.
CIM'BRle, a. Pertaining to the Cimbri, the
inhabitants of the modern Jutland, in Den-
mark, which was anciently called the Cim-
bric Chersonese. Hence the modern names,
Cymru, Wales, Cambria ; Cymro, a Welsh-
man ; Cymreig, Welsh, or the Welsh lan-
guage ; names indicating the Welsh to be
a colony of the Cimbri or from tlie same
stock.
CIM'BRle, n. The language of the Cimbri.
CIM'ITER, n. [Fr. cimUeire ; Sp. and Port.
cimitarra ; It. scimitarra.]
A short sword with a convex edge or re-
curvated point, used by the Persians and
Turks. [This word is variously written ;
l)ut it is a word of foreign origin, and it is
not material which orthography is used,
provided it is uniform. I have adopted
that which is most sunple.]
CIMME'RIAN, a. Pertaining to Cimmetium.
a town at the mouth of the Palus Mreotis!
The ancients pretended that this country
was involved in darkness ; whence the
phrase Cimmerian darkness, to denote a
deep or continual obscurity. The country
is now called Crimea, or Krim-Tartary.
CIM'OLITE, n. [Gr. xt/.oiUa ; L. cimoliu, so
called by Pliny ; said to be from Cimolus,
an isle in the Cretan Sea, now Argentiera.]
A species of clay, used by the ancients, as a
remedy for erysijielas and other inflam-
rnations. It is white, of a loose, soft text-
ure, rnolders into a fine powder, and efler-
vesces with acids. It is useful in taking
spots from cloth. Another species, of a
purple color, is the steatite or soap-rock.
From another siiecios, found in the isle of
Wight, tobacco i)ipcs are made.
Pliny. Lib. 35. 17. Encyct
C I N
C I P
C 1 R
CINCHONA, n. The Peruvian bark, quin
quina, of which there are three varieties,
the red, yellow and pale.
CINe'TURE, n. [L. cindura, from cirtgo,U
surround, to gird ; It. cintura ; Fr. cein
ture.]
1. A belt, a girdle, or something worn
round the body. Pope-
2. That which encompasses, or incloses.
Bacon.
3. Li architecture, a ring or list at the top and
bottom of a column, separating the shaft
at one end from the base ; at the other,
from the capital. It is supposed to be in
imitation of the girths or ferrils anciently
used to strengthen coliunns. Chambers.
CIN'DER, n. chiefly used in the plu. cinders.
[Fr. cendre ; It. centre ; Sp. ceniza ; L.
oinis, ashes. In W. sindw, is the cinders
or scoria of a forge ; Sax. sinder, the scoria
of metals ; D. zindet ; Sw. sinder. Qu. Gr.
xoi/tf, xaiiia, dust, ashes.]
1. Small coals or particles of fire mixed with
ashes ; embers. [ This is the usual sense of
the word in America.]
2. Small particles of matter, remaining after
combustion, in which fire is e.xtinct ; i
the cinders of a forge.
[Ibelieve this word is never used assynoi
ymous vnlh ashes.]
CINDER-WENCH, > A woman wliose
CINDER- WOMAN, S "' business is to rake
into heaps of ashes for cinders.
[JVol known in America.] Johnson.
CINERA'TION, n. [from L. cinis, ashes.]
The reducing of any thing to ashes by
combustion.
CINE'REOUS, a. [L. cinereus, from cinis,^
ashes.] Like ashes ; having the color of
the ashes of wood. Marlyn.
CINERI'TIOUS, a. [L. cinericivs, from
cinis, ashes.] Having the color or i
sisteuce of ashes. Cheyne.
CIN'GLE, n. [Ir. rcangal ; L. cinguium,
from cingo, to gird.] A girth ; but the
word is little used. [See Surcingle.]
CINNABAR, »i. [Gr. xiwoSopt ; L.cinnaba-
Pers. A J
kanhar.]
Red sulphuret of mercury. JVative cinnabai
is an ore of quicksilver, moderately com
pact, very heavy, and of an elegant striated
red color. It is called native vermilion,
and its chief use is in painting. The inten-
sity of its color is reduced by bruising and
dividing it into small parts. It is found
amorjihous, or under some imitative form,
or crystalized. Factitious cinnabar
mixture of mercury and sulphur sublimed,
and thus reduced into a fine red glebe.
Encyc. Cleaveland. Hooper.
CIN'NABARINE, a. Pertaining to cinna-
bar; consisting of cinnabar, or containing
it ; as, cinnaharine sand.
Journ. of Science
CIN'NAIVION, n. [Gr. xiirafwv, or xtvmfianop ;
L. cinnamomum. Qu. It. cannella ;
candn ; D. kaneel ; Fr. cannelk. It is in the
Heb. pojp.]
The bark of two species of Laurus. Tli
true cinnamon is the inner bark of the
Laurus Cinnamomum, a native of Ceylon.
The base cinnamon is from the Laurus
Cassia. The tnie cinnamon is a most
grateful aromatic, of a fragrant smell, mod
erately pungent taste, accompanied with
some degree of sweetness and astringen
cy. It is one of the best cordial, carmina-
tive and restorative spices. The essential
oil is of great price. Encyc. Hooper.
Cinnamon stone, called by HaUy, Essonile, is
a rare mineral from Ceylon, of a hyacintTi
red color, yellowish brown or honey yel-
low ; sonjetimes used in jewelry.
Cleaveland.
Cinnamon-water, is made by distilling the
bark, first infused in barley water, in spirit
of wine, brandy or white wine.
Clove-cinnamon, is the bark of a tree growing
in Brazil, which is often substituted for
real cloves.
ffhite-cinnamon, or Winter's bark, is the bark
of a tree, growing in the West Indies, of
a sharp biting taste, like i)epper.
CINQUE, n. cink. [Fr. five.] A five
word used in games.
CINQUE-FOIL, n. [Fr. cinque, five, and
feuille, a leai^ L. foliiivi.] Five-leaved
clover, a species of Potentilla.
CINQUE-PACE, n. [Fr. cinque, five, and
pas, pace.] A kind of grave dance
Shak.
CINQUE-PORTS, n. [Fr. cinque, five, and
poHs.]
Five havens on the eastern shore of England,
towards France, viz. Hastings, Roniiiey
Hythe, Dover and Sandwicli. To these
ports, Winchelsea and Rye have been
added. These were anciently deemed of
so much importance, in the defense of the
kingdom against an invasion from France
that they received royal grants of particu-
lar privileges, on condition of providing a
certain number of ships in war at their
own expense. Over these is appointed a
warden, and each has a right to send two
barons to Parliament.
Cowel. Blackstone. Encyc.
CINQUE-SPOTTED, a. Having five spots
Shak.
CI'ON, n. [Fr. don or scion. Different modes
of spelling the same word are very incon
venient; and whatever may have been the
original orthography of this word, cion.
the most simple, is well estabUshed, and is
here adopted.]
1. A young shoot, twig or sprout of a tree, or
plant, or rather the cutting of a twig, in-
tended for ingrafting on another stock ;
also, the shoot or slip inserted in a stock
for propagation.
CI'PHER, n. [Fr. chiffre ; Arm. chyf or
cyfr ; It. cifera or cifra ; Sp. and Port.
m/)a ; D. cyffer ; G. zlffer ; Dan. ciffer ;
Sw.
Russ. tsiphir ; Ar. j.i
a name, engraved on a seal, box, plate,
coach or tomb ; a device ; an enigmatical
character. Anciently, merchants and
tradesmen, not being permitted to bear
family arms, bore, in lieu of them, their
cyphers, or mitials of their name-s artfully
interwoven about a cross. Encyc.
A secret or disguised manner of writing ;
certain characters arbitrarily invented and
agreed on by two or more persons, lo
stand for letters or words, and undei-stood
only by the persons who invent, or agree
to use them. This is a mode of commu-
nicating information by letters, in time of
war, with a view to conceal facts from an
enemy, in ca.se the letters should be inter-
cepted. This art has given rise to another
art, that of decyphering ; and hence cipher-
is used for a key to unravel the characters.
To have, or to ham a cipher, is to be able
to interpret it.
CI'PHER, I', i. In popular language, to use
figures, or to practice arithmetic.
CI'PHER, V. t. To write in occult charac-
ters. Hayward.
2. To designate ; to characterize. Shak.
CIPHERING, ppr. Using figures, or prac-
ticing arithmetic.
a. Waiting in occult characters.
CIP'OLIN, n. [Qu. It. cipolla, an onion, cip-
ollina, a shalot.]
A green marble from Rome, containing white
zones. It consists chiefly of carbonate of
lime, with quartz, shistus, and a small por-
tion of iron. Mcholson.
CIR€, [See Circus.]
CIRCE'AN, a. Pertaining to Cu-ce, the fa-
bled daughter of Sol and Perseis, who
was suppo.«ed to possess great knowledge
of magic and venomous herbs, by which
she was able to charm and fascinate.
Bryant.
CIRCEN'SIAN, a. [L. wVcenje*, games of
the circus.]
Pertaining to the Circus, in Rome, where
were practiced games of various kinds, as
running, wrestling, combats, &c. The Cir-
censian games accompanied most of the
feasts of the Romans ; but the grand games
were held five days, commencing on the
15th of September. Lempriere. Encyc.
CIR'CIN.\L, a. [L. circinus, a compass;
circino, to go round. See Circle.]
Rolled in spirally downwards, the tip occu-
pying the center ; a term in foUation or
leafing, as in ferns. Marlyn.
CIR'CINATE, V. t. [L. circino, to go round.]
To make a circle ; to compass.
CIRCINA TION, n. An orbicular motion.
[Xot used.] Bailey.
jCIR €LE, n. sur'kl. [Fr. cercle ; It. circolo ;
L. circidus, from circtis ; Gr. xifixoj ; Sp.
ccrco ; It. ccrchio ; from the Celtic, W. cyrc.
from CIO-, i
to go round.
J^
empty, and a cipher.]
In arithmetic, an Arabian or Oriental char-
acter, of this form 0, which, standing by
itself, expresses nothing, but increases or
diminishes the value of other figures, ac-
cording to its position. In whole num-
bers, when placed at the right hand of a
figure, it increases its value ten fold ; but
in decimal fractions, placed at the left hand
of a figure, it diminishes the value of that
figure ten fold.
2. A character in general. Raleigh. |j2. In popular use, the hue that comprehends
An intertexture of letters, as the initials of the figure, the plane or surface compre-
circle, a limit ; Ar.
Class Gr. No. 32. 34.]
1. In geometry, a plane figure comprehended
by a single curve fine, called its circum-
ference, evei-y pan of which is equally dis-
tant from a point called the center. Of
course all lines drawn from tlie center to
the circumference or periphery, are equal
to each other.
C I R
hended, and the whole body or solid mat-
ter of a round substance, are denominated
a circle ; a ring; an orb ; the earth.
He thatsitteth on the circle of the earth. Is. xl.
3. Compass; circuit; as the circle of the
forest. Shak.
4. An assembly sunounding the principal
person. Hence, any company, or assem-
bly ; as a circle of friends, or of beauties.
Hence the word came to signify indefi
nitely a number of persons of a particular
character, whether associated or not
a political circle ; the circle of one's
quaintance ; having however reference to
a primary association.
5. A series ending where it begins, and per-
petually repeated ; a going round.
Thus la a circle runs the peasant's pain.
Dryden
C. Circumlocution ; indirect form of words
Fletcher.
7. In logic, an inconclusive form of argu
ment, when the same terms are proved
in orbem by the same terms, and the parts
of the syllogism alternately by each other,
directly and indirectly ; or when the fore-
going proposition is proved by the follow-
ing, and the following is inferred from the
foregoing ; as, " that heavy bodies descend
by gravity, and that gravity is a quaUtyby
which a heavy bodv descends."
Encyc. Glanville. Watts
8. Circles of the sphere, are such as cut the
mundane sphere, and have their periphery
either on its movable surface, as the me-
ridians ; or in another immovable, conter
minous and equidistant surface, as the
ecliptic, equator, and its parallels.
9. Circles of altitude or almucantars, are
cles parallel to the horizon, having their
common pole in the zenith, and diminish-
ing as they approach the zenith.
10. Circles of latitude, are great circles per-
pendicular to the plane of the ecliptic
pasi>iiig through its poles and through ev-
ery stiir and planet.
11. Circles of longitude, are lesser circles
parallel to the ecliptic, diminishing as they
recede from it.
12. Circle of perpetual apparilion, one of the
lesser circles, parallel to the equator, des-
cribed by any point of the sphere touch-
ing the northern point of the horizon, and
carried about with the diurnal motion.
The stars within this circle never set.
13. Circle of perpetual occultation, another
lesser circle at a like distance from the
equator, which includes all the stars
which never appear in our hemisphere.
14. Diurnal circles, are immovable circles
supposed to be described by the several
stars and other points in the heavens, in
their diurnal rotation round the earth, or
rather in the rotation of the eartli round
its axis.
15. Horary circles, in dialing, are the lines
which show the hours on dials.
1(). Crcles of the empire, the provinces c
principalities of the German empire, whic
have a right to be present at the diets.
Maximilian I. divided the empire into six
circles at firsi, and afterwarils into ten
Austria, liiii-iiundy, I.iiwcr Hliiiio, Bn
varia, I iipcr Saxony, l-'iani'onia, Swa
bia, I'piM-i- Kliine, \\ fHtphalia, and Lower
Saxony.
C I R
17. Druidical circles, in British Topography,
are certain ancient inclosures formed by
rude stones circularly arranged ; as Stone-
henge near Sahsbury. Encyc.
CIR'€LE, V. t. To move round ; to revolve
round.
And other planets circle other suns. Pope.
2. To encircle ; to encompass ; to surround ;
to inclose. Prior. Pope.
3. To circle in, to confine ; to keep together,
Digby
CIR'€LE, V. i. To move circularly ; as, the
bowl circles ; the circling years.
CIR'€LED, pp. Surrounded ; encompass
ed ; inclosed.
CIR'€LED, o. Having the form of a circle
round ; as the moon's circled orb. Shak.
CIR'CLER, n. A mean poet, or circular
poet. B. Jonson.
CIR'CLET, n. A little circle ; a circle ; an
Pope.
ppr. Surrounding ; going
orb.
CIRCLING
round ; inclosing.
C1R'€LING, Ov Circular; round. Milton.
CIR'€OCELE, n. [Gr. xpisuos or xptso;, a di-
lated vein, and xip^, a tumor. But the
same Greek word seems to be written
xtpTOj, which would give the orthography
cirsocele.]
A varix, or dilatation of the spermatic vein;
varicocele ; hernia varicosa.
Ouincy. Coxe.
CIR'CUIT, n. sur'kit. [Fr. circuit; L. cir
cuitus; of circa, circum, and eo, to go.]
1. The act of moving or passing round; ai
the periodical circuit of the earth round
the sun, or of the moon round the earth.
Watts.
2. The space inclosed in a circle, or within
certain limits. Milton.
3. Any space or extent measured by trav-
eling round. Addison.
4. That which encircles ; a ring; a diadem
Shak.
5. In England, the journey of judges through
several counties or boroughs, for the pur-
pose of holding courts. In the United
States, the journey of judges through cer-
tain states or counties for the same pur-
])o.se.
0. The counties or states in which the same
judge or judges hold courts and adminis-
ter justice. It is common to designate a
certain number of counties to form a cir
cuit, and to assign one or more judges to
each circuit. The courts in the circuits
are called circuit courts. In the govern-
ment of the United States, a certain num-
ber of states form a circuit.
7. A long deduction of reason. Donne.
8. In law, a longer course of proceedings
than is necessary to recover the thing sued
for. Cowel. Encyc. Johnson
Bailey gives this as the definition of ciV-
cuity.
CIR'€UIT, V. i. To move in a circle ; to gr
1. Philips.
CIR'€UIT, V. t. To move or go round
Waiion
CIRClJITEE'R n. One that travels a cir-
Pope.
CIRCUI'TION, n. [h. circuitio.] The act
of going round; compass ; circumlocution
[Little used.] Hooker
•ii;/.f-iTiTr>iii:
C I R
in a circuit ; not direct ; as a circuitous
road or course.
CIR'€UITOUSLY, adv. In a circuit.
CIReU'ITY, n. A going round ; a course
not direct. Ash.
CIR'€ULAR, a. [L. circularis. See Circle.]
1. In the form of a circle; round; circum-
scribed by a circle ; spherical ; as, the sun
appears to be circular.
2. Successive in order ; always returning.
Roscommon.
3. Vulgar ; mean ; circumforaneous ; as u
circular poet. Dennis.
4. Ending in itself; used of a paralogism,
where the second proposition at once
proves the first, and is proved by it.
Johnson. Baker.
Addressed to a circle, or to a number of
])ersons having a common interest ; as a
circular letter.
Circular lines, such straight lines as arc
divided from the divisions made in the
arch of a circle ; as the lines of sines, tan-
gents and secants, on the plain scale and
sector. Johnson .
7. Circular numbers, are those whose powers
terminate in the roots themselves ; as Sand
G, whose squares are 25 and 36. Bailey.
CIRCUITOUS, a. eur'kilous. Going round'
Circular sailing, is the method of sailing
by tlie arch of a great circle. Encyc.
CIR'CULAR, 71. A circular letter, or paper.
CIRCULAR'ITY, n. A circular form.
CIR'CULARLY, adv. In a circular man-
ner; in the form of a circle ; in the form
of going and returning.
CIR'CULATE, V. i. sur'culate. [Fr. eircu-,
ler ; L. circulo.]
1. To move in a circle; to move or pass
round ; to move round and return to the
same point ; as, the blood circulates in the
body.
2. To pass from place to place, from person
to person, or from hand to hand ; to he
diffused ; as, money circulates in the
country ; a story circulates in town.
3. To move round ; to run ; to flow in veins
or channels, or in an inclosed place ; as,
the sa)) of plants circulates ; water aVc«-
lates in the earth, or aii- in a city or house.
CIRCULATE, V. t. To cause to pass from
place to place, or from person to person ;
to i)Ut about ; to spread ; as, to circulate
a report ; to circulate bills of credit.
CIReULA'TION, n. The act of moving
round, or in a circle, or in a course which
brings or tends to bring the moving body
to the point where its motion began ; as
the circulation of the blood in the body.
A series in which the same order is pre-
served and things return to the same state.
3. The act of going and returning ; or of
passing from place to place, or from per-
son to person ; as the circulation of
money.
t'urrency ; circulating coin, or notes or^
bills current for coin.
5. In chimislry, circulation is an operation
by which tlie same vapor, raised by fire,
falls back to be returned and distilled sev-
eral times.
CIRCULATO'RIOUS, a. Travelling in a
circuit, or from house to house. [lAttle
used.] Barrme.
CIR'€ULATORY, a. Circular ; as a ciVctt^
latory letter.
Circulating.
C I R
R
C I R
CIR'CULATORY, n. A cliimical vessel, ii
wliich that wliich rises from tlic vessel oi
the fire is collected and cooled in another
fixed upon it, and falls down again.
Johnson.
CIRCUMAM'BIENCY, n. [L. circum, a-
round, and ambio, to go about. See Am-
bienl.]
The act of surrounding, or encompassing.
Brown.
CIR€UMAM'BIENT, a. Surrounding ; en-
compassing ; inclo.sing or being on all
sides ; used j)articularly of the air about
the earth.
CIRCUMAM'BULATE, v. i. [L. circiimam-
bulo, to walk round ; circum and ambulo.] '
To walk round about. [IaUU used.]
CIRCUMAMBULA'TION, n. The act of
walking round. [Little itserf.l
CIRCUMCEL'LION, n. [L. circum, about,
and cella, a cell, or cellar. Hence, a va-
grant.]
In church history, a set ofilhterate peasants
that adhered to tlie Donatista in the fourth
century. Milner.
CIR'€UMCiSE, V. t. sur'cumcize. [L. cir-
cumcido, circum, aroiuid, and cido, to cut ;
Fr. circondre ; Sp. drcuncidar ; It. circon
ddere.]
To cut off" the prepuce or foreskin of males ;
a ceremony or rite in the Jewish and Mo-
hammedan religions. The word is appli-
ed also to a practice among some nations
of jjcrforming a like operation upon fe-
CIR'CUMCiSER, )i. One who performs
circumcision. Milton.
CIR€UMCIS'ION, »i. The act of cutting
off" the prepuce or foreskin,
CIReUMCURSA'TION, n. [L. circum, u-
bout, and curso, to run.]
Tlie act of running about. [JVot used.]
Barrow.
CIR€UMDU€T', v. t. [L. drcumduco ; cir-
cum, round, and duco, to lead.]
To contravene ; to iniUify ; a term of civil
laio. [Mtle u.ied.] %'#.
CIR€UMDU€ TION, n. A leading about.
[Little used.] Hooker.
2. All annulling ; cancellation. [Little used.]
Ayliffe.
eiR'CUMFER, V. t. [L. drctmfero.] To
bear or carry round. [JVot in use.]
Bacon.
CIRCUM'FERENCE,n. [L. circumfercitia,
from circum, round, and /ero, to carry.]
1. The line that bounds a circle ; the exte-
rior line of a circular body ; the whole
exterior surface of a round body ; a peri-
jihery. JVewton. Milton,
'i. The space included in a circle.
Milton. Dnjden.
3. An orb ; a circle ; any thing circular or
orbicular; as in Milton, speaking of a
shield.
The broad circumference
Hunp on his shoulders like the moon.
CIR€UM'FERENCE, v. t. To include in a
circular space. [JVot used.] Brown.
CIR€UMFEREN'TIAL, a. Pertaining to
the circumference. Parkhurst.
CIR€UMFEREN'TOR, n. An instrument
used by surveyors for taking angles. It
consists of a brass index, and circle, all of
a piece ; on the circle is a chart, divided
into 360 degrees. There are also two!
sights to screw on and sUdc up and down
tlie index ; also a spangle and socket
screwed on the back side of the circle to
put the head of the staff" in. Ena/c
C1R'€UMFLEX, n. [L. drcumflexus ; cir-
cum, round, and fecto, to bend.]
In grammar, an accent serving to note or
distinguisli a syllable of an intermediate
sound between acute and grave ; marked
in Greek thus -. It is a kind of undula-
tion in the voice, but not used in English.
CIR'€UMFLEX, V. t. To mark or pro-
nounce with the accent called a circum-
flex. Walker.
CIRCUM'FLUENCE, n. [L. drcumfluens ;
drcum, round, and^uo, to flow.]
A flowing round on all sides ; an inclosur(
of waters.
CIRCUMFLUENT, a. Flowing round
surrounding as a fluid ; as, circumfluent
waves. Pop
CIR€UM'FLUOUS, a. [L. circumfluus. See
Circumfluence.] Flowmg round ; encom
passing as a fluid ; circumfluent.
Milton. Pope.
CIR€UMFORA'NEAN, > [L.drcumfor-
CIR€UMFORA'NEOUS, ^ "• aneus ;
cum, around, and /om, a door, or abroad.]
Going about; walking or wandering from
iiouse to house ; as a drcumforaneous fidler
or piper ; drcumforaneous wits.
Addison, Sped. 47,
drcumforaneous musidans, male and female,
are daily seen at the doors of hotels, in
France ; and sometimes they enter the
room, where a company is dining, and
tertain them with music ; expecting a
franc or a few sous as a reward. VV
CIR€UMFU'SE, v. t. s as z. [L. circumfu
sus ; drcum and fundo, fusus, to pour.]
. To pour round ; to spread round, as a
fluid. Bacon
2. To sjiread round ; to suiTOund. Milton.
C1R€UMFU'SILE, a. [L. circum, and fu
sUis, that may be melted.]
That may be poured or spread round ; as,
circumfusile gold. Pope.
CIR€UMFU'SION, n. [See Circumfuse.]
The act of pouring or spreading round ; the
state of being poured round. Johnson.
CIReUMGESTA'TION, n. [L. circum and
gestaiio.] A carrying about. Taylor.
CIRCUM'GYRATE, ) , [L. circum, and
CIRCUMgY'RE, S gyrus, a turning
round.]
To roll or turn round. [Little used.] Ray.
CIR€UMciYRA'T10N, n. The act of turn-
ing, rolling or whirling roimd ; the turn-
ing of a limb in its socket.
(luincy. Cheyne.
CIRCUMJA'CENT, a. [L. circumjacens ;
drcum and jaceo, to lie.]
Lying round ; bordering on every side.
Johnson.
CIR€UMLIGA'TION, n. [L. circumligo,
to bind round ; drcum and ligo, to bind.]
The act of binding round ; the bond with
hich any thing is encompassed.
Johnson.
CIRCUMLO€U'TION, n. [h.drcwnlocutio:
circum and locutio, a speaking, loquor, to
speak.]
A circuit or compass of words ; a periphrase :
the use of a number of words to express
an idea, when a suitable term is not at
hand, or when a speaker chooses to avoid
the use of a single term, either from del-
icacy or respect, or with a view to soffen
the force of a direct exI)rcs.•^ion, or for
other reason.
CIRCUMLOCUTORY, a. Pertaining to
circumlocution; consisting or contained hi
a compass of words ; ])criphra.>itic.
Shenstone^
CIRCUMMU'RED, a. [L. drcum and mu-
rus, a wall.]
Walled round ; encompassed with a wall.
Shak.
CIRCUMNAV'IGABLE, a. [See Circum-
navigate.] That may be sailed round. .
Ray.
CIRCUMNAVIGATE, v. t. [L. circumnav-
igo ; drcum and nadgo, to sail, from nail's,
a ship.]
To sail round ; to pass round by water ; as, to
drcumnavigate the globe.
CIRCUMNAVIGATION, n. The act of
ing round. Arbuthnot.
CIRCUMNAVIGATOR, n. One who sails
round.
CIRCUMPLICA'TION, n. [h. ciratmplico ;
circum and plico, to fold.]
A folding, winding or wrapping round; or a
.state of being enwrapped. [Little used.]
Bailey.
CIRCUMPO'LAR, a. [L. circum, and Eng.
polar.]
About the pole ; an appellation given to
stars, which are so near the north pole, as
to revolve round it without setting. The
number of these depends on the latitud*;
of the spectator. We apply it to the north
polar region and stars, but the word is
applicable to either pole.
CIRCUMPOSI'TION.n. s as z. [L. drcum,
and positio.]
The act of placing in a circle ; or the state
of being so placed. Evelyn.
CIRCUJIRA'SION, n. s as z. [L. circumra-
sio ; drcum and rado, to shave.]
The act of shaving or paring round. [Little
used.]
CIRCUMRO'TARY, a. Turning, rolling or
whirling round. Shenstone.
CIRCUMROTA'TION, n. [L. drcum and
rotatio, rotation, from roto, to turn round.]
The act of rolling or revolving round, as a
wheel ; circumvolution ; the state of being
whirled round. Gregory.
CIRCUMSCRIBE, v. t. [L. circumscribo ;
circum and scribo, to draw.] Literally, to
draw a line round. Hence,
1. To inclose within a certain limit; to limit,
bound, confine.
Vou are above
The little forms which circumscribe your sex.
Suutheni.
2. To write round. [Little used.]
CIRCUMSCRIBED, pp. Drawn round as
a line ; hmited ; confined.
In geometry, this word is applied to a figure
which is drawn roimd another figure, so
that all its sides or planes touch the inscri-
bed figure. Encyc.
CIRCUMSCRIBING, ppr. Drawing a line
round ; inclosing ; limiting ; confining.
CIRCUMSCRIP TIBLE, a. That may be
circumscribed or limited by bounds.
CIRCUMSCRIPTION, n. The line that
hniits ; limitation ; bound ; confinement.
Shak.
2. In natural philosophy, the termination or
C I R
C I R
C I T
limits of a body ; the exterior line which
determines tlie form or magnitude of a
body. Ray-
3. A circular inscription. ,/lshmole.
CIIieUMSeRIP'TlVE, a. Defining the ex-
ternal form; marking or inclosing the
limits or superficies of a body. Grew.
CIR€UMS€RIP'TIVELY, adv. In a limit-
ed maimer. Monlagu
CIK'€UMSPE€T, a. [L. circumspedus ; cir-
cum and specio, to look.]
Literally, looking on all sides; lookiiij;
round. Hence,
Cautious ; prudent ; watchfid ou all sides ;
examining carefully all the circumstances
that may affect a determination, or a meas-
ure to be adopted. Boyle. Haywood
ClR€UMSPEe'TION, «. [L.drcumspectio.'
Caution ; attention to all the facts and cir-
cumstances of a case, and to the natural
or probable consequences of a measure,
with a view to a correct course of conduct,
or to avoid danger. Clarendon. Milton
CIR€UMSPE€'TIVE, a. Looking round
every way ; cautious ; careful of conse-
quences; watchful of danger. Pope
CIR€UMSPE€'TIVELY, adv. Cautiously
vigilantly ; heedfully ; with watchfulness
to guard against danger.
CIR'eUMSPE€TLY,arf«. Cautiously ; witi
watchfulness every way ; with attention
to guard against surprise or danger. Ray.
CIR'€UMSPE€TNESS, n. Caution ; cir-
cumspection ; vigilance in guarding a-
against evil from every quarter. Wotton
CIR'eUiVISTANCE, n. [L. circumslanlia
from circumstans, standing about ; circum
and sto, to stand.]
Literally, that which stands around or near
Hence,
1. Sometlnng attending, appendant, or rela-
tive to a fact, or case ; a particular thuig
which, thougli not essential to an action,
in some way aflfects it ; the same to a mor-
al action, as accident to a natural sub
stance ; as, the circumstances of time, place
and persons, are to be considered.
2. The adjuncts of a fact, which make it
more or less criminal, or make an accu
sation more or less probable ; accident
something adventitious ; incident ; event.
Johnson
3. Circumstances, in the plural, condition
in regard to worldly estate ; state of prop
erty ; as a man in low circumstances, or ii;
easy circumstances.
yiR'CUMSTANCED, pp. or a. Placed in a
particidar manner, with regard to attend
ing facts or incidents ; as, circumstanced
as we were, we could not escape.
CIR'€UMSTANT, a. Surrounding. [Little
used or not at all.]
CIR€UMSTAN'TIAL, a. Attending ; rela
ting to; but not essential.
ii. Consisting in or pertaining to circumstaii
cos, or to particular incidents.
The usual character of human testimony i
substantial tiutli under circumstantial variety
Paley.
3. Inciilcntal ; casual. Donne.
4. Aboimding with circumstances, or
iting all the circumstances ; minute ; par
ticular ; as a circumstantial account or re
cital.
5. In law, circumslmilinl evidence is tlia
wliich is obtained from circumstance?
which necessarily or usually attend facts
of a particular nature, from which arises
presumption. Blackstone.
CIReUMSTANTIAL'lTY, n. The appen-
dage of circumstances ; the state of any
thing as modified by circumstances.
Johnson.
2. Particularity in exhibiting circumstances ;
minuteness ; as the circumstantiality of a
story or description.
CIRCUMSTAN'TIALLY, adv. According
to circumstances ; not essentially ; acciden
tally. Glanville.
Minutely ; exactly ; in every circumstance
or particular. Broome
CIR€UMSTAN'TIATE, v. t. To place in
particular circumstances ; to invest with
particular accidents or adjuncts.
Bramhall.
2. To place in a particular condition with
regard to power or wealth. .Sioijl,
[This word is little tisecl.]
CIReUMTERRA'NEOUS, a. [eircMm,about
and terra, earth.] Around the earth.
Halywell.
CIR€UMVAL'LATE, r. t. To surround
with a ram])art. [hittle used.'\
CIR€UMVALLA'TION, n. [h. circtimvallo
to wall round ; circum, and vallo, to forti-
fy with a rampart.]
1. In the art of war, a surrounding with t
wall or rampart ; also, a wall, rampart, or
parapet with a trench, surrounding the
camp of a besieging army, to prevent
sertion, and guard the army against any
attempt of an enemy to relieve the place
besieged. Encyc.
2. Tiie rampart, or fortification surrounding
a besieged place.
[Note. This word, from the Latin, vallo, oi
vallum, vallus, denotes properly the tvall oi
rampart thrown up ; but as the rampart is form-
ed by entrenching, and the trench makes a pari
of the fortification, the word is applied to both
See Eng. Wall.]
CIR€UMVE€'TION, n. [L. circum, and
veho, to carry.] A carrying about. [J^ot
used.]
CIRCUMVENT', v. «. [L. circumvenio ; cir-
cum, and venio, to come.] Literally, tc
come round ; hence.
To gain advantage over another, or to ac-
complish a purpose, by arts, stratagem, or
deception ; to deceive ; to prevail over an-
other by wiles or fraud ; to delude ; to im-
pose on. Milton. Dryden
CIRCUMVENTED, pp. Deceived I)y craft
trataaem ; deluded.
CIReUMVENT'ING, ;>;)(•. Deceiving; im-
posing on.
CIReUMVEN'TION, n. The act of i)re
vailing over another by arts, address, or
fraud ; deception ; fi'aud ; imposture ; de-
lusion. South.
2. Pievention ; preoccupation Ohs. Shak.
CIRCUMVENT'IVE, «. Deceiving by arti-
fii-e.^ ; ih'luding.
CIRCUM VEST', v.l. [\.. circumvestio ; cir-
cum, and vestio, to clothe.]
To cover round, as with a garment.
fVolton.
CIRcrAIVOLA'TION, n. [L. circumvoto;
rin-i,,,,. .-nid vohj, to flv.]
Tlic art .,r (l\iiiir niund. [Little used.]
ClRCUMVOLl TION, n. Tlie act of roll-
ing ronnd ; tlie state of being rolled ; also,
the thing rolled round another.
Arbuthnot. Wilkint.
2. In architecture, the torus of the spiral line
of the Ionic order. Encyc.
CIRCUMVOLVE, v. t. circumvolv'. [L. cir-
cumvolvo ; circum, and volvo, to roll.]
To roll round ; to cause to revolve ; to put
into a circular motion. Glanville.
CIRCUMVOLVE, i'. i. To roll round ; to
revolve.
CIRCUMVOLV'ED, pp. RoUed round;
moved in a circular manner.
CIRCUMVOLV'ING, ppr. RolUng round ;
revolving.
CIRCUS, n. plu. circuses. [L. circus ; Fr.
cirque ; It. circa ; Sp. circo ; Gr. *if .toj ;
whence circle, which see.]
In antiquity, a round or oval edifice, used
for the exhibition of games and shows to
the people. The Roman circus was en-
compassed witli porticos, and furnished
with rows of seats, rising one above an-
ther for the accommodation of spectators.
The Circus Maximus was nearly a mile
in circumference. Adam. Encyc.
The open area, or space inclosed, in
which were exhibited games and shows ;
as wrestling, fighting with swords, staves
or pikes, running or racing, dancing,
quoits, &c. ^
3. In modern times, a circular inclo^Mtin'
the exhibition of feats of horsendflRp.
CIRL, n. An Italian bird abpntjp^^e of a
parrow. JjB^JVat. Hist.
CIRRIF'EROUS, a. [L. cirrus, a tendril,
dfero, to bear.]
Producing tendrils or claspers, as a plant.
CIR'ROUS, a. [L. ciirus, a curl.] Termi-
nating in a cirrus, curl or tendril ; as a
cirrous leaf. Jilartyn.
CISALP'INE, a. [L. cis, on this side, and
Alpes, Aljis, whence alpinus, alpine.]
On this side of the Alps, with regard to
Rome ; tliat is, on the south of the Alps ;
opposed to transalpine.
CIS'PADANE, a. [L. cis, on this side, and
Padus, the river Po, whence padanus.]
On this side of the Po, with regard to Rome ;
that is, on the south side. Stephens.
CISSOID', n. [Gr. xiaaoj, ivy, and t i«o{, form.]
A curve of the second order, invented by
Diodes. Bailey. Encyc.
CIST, n. A case. [See Cyst, the proijer or-
thography.]
CIST'ED, a. Inclosed in a cyst. [See
Cysted.]
CISTER'CIAN, n. [CiVeaux, in France.] A
monk, a reformed Benedictine.
CIS'TERN, n. [L. cistema ; cista, and Sax.
am, place, i-epository.]
1. An artificial reservoir or receptacle for
holding water, beer or other liquor, as in
domestic uses, distilleries, and breweries.
2. A natural reservoir ; a hollow place con^
taining water ; as a fountain or lake.
CISTIC, a. [See Cystic]
CIST'US, n. [Gr. xifos] The rock-rose, a
genus of i)lants of many species, most of
tliem natives of the southern parts of Eu-
rope. Sonic 111' tlirin are beautiful ever-
green fliiwi ring slinibs, and ornamental
in gardens. Encyc.
CIT, n. [contracted from citizen.] A citizen,
in a loie sen.ic ; an inhabitant of a city; a
pert townsman ; a pragmatical trader.
Popi.
C I T
CIT'ADEL, n. [Fr. cUadtlk ; It. dttuddla ;
Sp. ciudadela ; from tlie It. citta, city.]
A fortress or castle, in or near a city, intend-
ed for its defense ; a place of arms.
Johnson. Encyc
CI'TAL, n. [from die.] Reproof; impeach-
ment. [Lillk used.] Shak.
2. Summons ; citation ; quotation. [Little
used.] Johnson
CITA'TION, n. [L. cifalto, from dto, to dte
which sec.]
1. A .summons ; an official call or notice,
given to a person, to appear in a court,
and answer to a demand ; a call or notice
to appear, in various other cases, and tUe
paper ' containing such notice or call
i. Quotation ; the act of citing a passage
from a book ; or tiom another person, in
liis own words ; also, the passage or words
mioted. Watts. Atterhury.
3. Enumeration ; mention. Harvey.
CI'TATORV, a. Citing ; calling ; having
the power or form of citation ; as, letters
dtatonj. Miffe
CITE, V. t. [L. dto, to call ; Fr. dter; It. a-
tare ; Sp. Port, dtar ; Goth, haitan ; Sax
hatan, or halan, to call, order, command
G.helssui, whi-iu-e F,ng. behest ; D. heeten ;
Sw. httu ; 1>:iii. heder. The same word in
Dutch and I»;iiiish signifies to heat. The
sense tlicu is to rouse, push, drive, stimu
late. See E.rcite, Incite.]
1. To call upon officially, or authoritatively
to summon ; to give legal or official no
tice, as to a defendant to appear in court,
to answer or defend. Milton
a. To enjoin ; to direct ; to summon ; to or-
der or urge. Piior
3. To quote ; to name or repeat, as a pas-
sage or the words of another, either froir
a book or from verbal communication ; as,
to dte a passage from scripture, or to die
the very words a man utters.
Bacon. Dryden
4. To call or name, in support, proof or con-
firmation ; as, to cite an authority to prove
a point in law.
CI'TER, n. One who cites or summons into
court.
2. One who quotes a passage or the words
of another.
CIT'ESS, n. [See Cit.] A city woman.
C I T
enjoyd the freedom and privileges of the,
city in which he resides ; the freeman of a
city, as distinguished from a foreigner, or
one not entitled to its franchi.se.s.
|2. A townsman ; a man of trade ; not a gen-
tleman. Shak.
3. An inhabitant ; a dweller in any city,
town or place. Dryden.
In a general sense, a native or permanent
resident in a city or country ; as the dti-
zens o( Londoner Philadelphia; the citi-
tens of the United States.
5. In the U. States, a person, native or natu-
ralized, who has the privilege of exercising
the elective franchise, or the qualifications
which enable him to vote for rulers, and
to purchase and hold real estate.
If the citizens of the U. States sliould not be
free and happy, the fault will be entirely theii
own. Washington.
CIT'IZEN, a. Having the quaUtics of a cit-
CIT'IZENIZE, V. I. To make a citizen ; to
admit to the rights and privileges of a cit-
Talleyrand wa.s citizenized in Pennsylvania,
when there in the fomi of an emigrant.
Pickering.
CIT'IZENSIIIP, n. The state of being ve.^t-
ed with the rights and privileges of a cit-
izen. Bp. Home
CIT'RATE, »i. [L. citrus, a citron or lemon.]
In chimislry, a neutral salt, formed by a
union of the citric acid, or acid of lemons,
with a base.
The onion yields citrate of lime. Cre.
CIT'Rie, a. Belonging to lemons or limes :
as dtric acid.
CIT'RIL, Ji. Abeainiful songbird of Italy
Did. Mat. Hist.
CITRINA'TION, n. [See Citrine.] The
turning to a yellow green coloi-.
CIT'RINE, a. [L. citrinus.] Like a citron
or lemon ; of a lemon color ; yellow —
greenish yellow.
CIT'RINE, K. [L. dtnmis.] A species of
very fine .sprig crystal, of a beautiful yel-
low" color, found in columns, and termina-
ting in a hexangular pyramid.
Hill. Encyc.
CIT' RON, n. [Fr. a7ro?i ; L. dtreum, or ci-
C I V
This is the sense of the word in the United
States. In Great Britain, a city is said to
be a town corporate that lias a bishop and
a cathedral church ; but this is not always
the fact.
3. The collective body of citizens, or the in-
habitants of a city ; as when we say, the
dty voted to establish a market, and the
city repealed the vote.
CIT'Y, a. Pertaining to a city ; as dli/
ives ; a dlii feast ; city manners. Shak.
CITY-eOURl', n. The municipal court of a
city, consisting of the mayor or recorder
and aldermen. U. Stales.
CIVES. 71. [Fr. cive ; L. repa.] A species
of leek, of the gemis Allium.
CIVET, n. [Fr. dvette ; It. zibetto ; Per*.
\.j- zabad, the sweet seem of any beast :
nd civet ; si L j •, a
[Little used.
CITll
.'\RIS'T1C, a. [L. cithara, a harp or
lyre.]
Pertaining to or adapted to the harp ; or ap-
propriated to the accompaniment of the
harp. Mas. Did.
CITH'ERN, ?i. [L. dthara; It. dtara; Sp.
dtara ; D. cyter ; Gr. xiSofo..]
A stringed musical instrument, among the
ancients, the precise form of which is not
known, but it bore some resemblance
the modern guitar, the name of whicl
evidently from this ancient word.
CITICIS'M, n. [from cit.] The manners of
a cit or citizen. B. Johnson.
CIT'IED, a. Belonging to a city.
Drayton.
CIT ISIN, n. A substance of a yellow color,
obtained from the seeds of the Cytisus
Laburnum. M'ebster's Manual.
CIT'IZEN, n. cU'izn. [Fr. dtoyen ; It. dtta'
dino ; Sp. dudadano ; Port, cidadam ; from
It. dtta. Sp. dudad, a city. See City.^
1. The native of a city, or an inliabitant who
Vol I.
Ai
i Lj •. cream.
trum.]
The fruit of the citron tree, a large species
of lemon.
CIT RON-TREE, 7i. The tree which pro
duces the citron, of the genus Citrus. It
has an upright smooth stem, with a bran
chy head, rising from five to fifteen feet,
adorned with large, oval, spear-shaped
leaves. To the same genus belong the
lemon-tree, orange-tree, &c. Encyc.
CIT'RON-WATER, n. A liquor distilled
ith the rind of citrons. Pope.
CIT'RUL, n. The pompion or pumpkin, so
named from its yellow color. [/ believe
not used.]
CIT'Y, n. [Fr. dt^ ; It. dtta, ciltade or dt-
tate: Sp. dudad; Port, ddade; from the
Latin cimtas.]
1. In a general sense, a large to-*™ ; a large
number of houses and inhabitants, es
lished ui one place. _
2. In a more appropriate sense, a corporate
town ; a town or collective body of inhab-
itants, incorporated and governed by par-
ticular officer.-!, as a mayor aad aldeVnieii.
38
civet-cat. The Arabic verb signifies to
make butter, and this substance may be
named from its resemblance to it.]
\ substance, of the consistence of butter or
honey, taken from a bag under the tail of
the civet-cat. It is of a clear, yellowish,
or brownish color ; of a strong smell, and
offensive when undiluted, but agreeable
when a small portion is mixed with anoth-
er substance. It is used as a perfume.
Encyc.
CIV'ET-€AT, 71. The animal that produces
civet, a species of Viverra. This animal
bears a resemblance to a cat or to a fox ; it
is of a cinereous color, tinged with yellow,
marked with dusky spots disposed in rows.
It inhabits India, Guinea, Ethiopia, and
Madagascar. Encyc.
CIV'I€, a. [L. ddcus, from civis, a citizen.]
Literally, pertaining ito a city or citizen ;
relating to civil affairs or honors. Pope.
The dvic crown, in Roman affairs, was a
crown or garland of oak boughs, bestowed
on a soldier who had saved the Ufe of a
citizen in battle.
CIV'IL, a. [L. dvilis, from cids, a citizen ;
Fr. civil ; It. civile ; Sp. civil. Qu. the
Welsh cau, to shut, inclose, fence, hedge ;
for the rude inhabitants of antiquity forti-
fied their towns witli hedges, stakes or pal-
isades.]
1. Relating to the community, or to the pol-
icy and governtnent of the citizens and
subjects of a state ; as in the phrases, dvil
rights, dvil government, dml privileges,
civil war, ddl justice. It is opposed to
criminal; as a dvil suit, a suit between
citizens alone ; whereas a cnminal process
is between the state and a citizen. It is
distinguished from ecdesiastical, which
respects tlie church ; and from military,
which respects the army and na^-y.
2. Relating to any man as a member of a
community ; as cii'i7 power, dvil rights,
the power" or rights which a man enjoys
as a citizen.
3. Reduced to order, rule and government ;
under a regular administration ; implying
some refinement of manners ; not savage
or wild ; as dvil Ufe ; ddl society.
4. Civilized ; courteous; complaisant ; gen-
tle and obliging ; well-bred ; affable ; kind ;
having the manners of a city, as opposed
C I V
to the rough, rude, coarse maiinera of a
savage or clown.
flliere civil speech and soft persuasion hung.
Prior.
r>. Grave ; sober ; not gay or showy.
Till civil suited mora appear. JtrUton.
(j. Complaisant ; poUte ; a popular colloquial
use of the word.
7. Civil death, in law, is that which cuts off
a man from civil society, or its rights anc
benefits, as banishment, outlawry, ex
communication, entering into a monaste
ry, &c., as distinguished from natural
death.
-8. Civil law, in a general sense, the law of a
state, city or country ; but in an appropri-
ate sense, the Roman law ; the municipal
law of the Roman empire, comprised
the Institutes, Code and Digest of Just:
ian and the Novel Constitutions.
Blackslone.
9. Civil list, the officers of civil government
who are paid from tlie public treasury
also, the revenue appropriated to support
the civil government. Blackslone.
The army of James II. was paid out of lii?
civil list. Hamilton.
10. Civil state, the whole body of the laity ot
citizens, not included under the military,
maritime, and ecclesiastical states.
n. Civil loar, a war between people of the
same state or city; opposed to foreign
war.
1.^. Civil year, the legal year, or annual ac-
count of time which a government ap-
jioints to be used in its own dominions
as distinguished from tlie natural year
which is measured by the revolution of
the heavenly bodies. Bailey. Encyc.
is. Civil architecture, the architecture which
is employed in constructing buildings for
the purposes of civil life, in distinction
from military and naval architecture ;
private houses, palaces, churches, &c.
CIVIL'IAN, n. [from civU.] One who
skilled in the Roman law ; a professor
doctor of civil law. i'nci/c
2. In a more extended se7ise, one who is versed
ill law and government.
3. A student of the civil law at the univer-
sity. Graves.
CIV'"ILIST, n. A civilian. [.Vol in use.]
CIVILITY, n. [L. civilitas, from civilis,
civil ; It. civilita ; Sp. civUidad.]
1. The state of being civilized ; refinement
of manners ; applied to nations ; as distin
guished from the rudeness of barbarous
nations. [This sense is obsolescent or obso-
lete.] Spenser. Davies. Denham
'2. Good breeding ; poUteness ; complaisance
courtesy ; decorum of behavior in the
treatment of others, accompanied witl
kind ofKces, and attention to their wants
and desires. Civility respects manners or
external deportment, and in the plural
civilities denote acts of politeness.
Clarendon. South. Dryden
CIVILIZA'TION, n. [See CivUize.] The
act of civilizing, or the state of being civil
ized ; the state of being refined in man
ners, from the grossness of savage life,
and improved in arts and learning,
a. The act of rendering a criminal process
civil. [jYot used.]
CIVILIZE, V. t. [It. civilizzare ; Fr. civili-
ser ; Sj). Port, civilizar ; from civil.]
cr L A
C L A
new gaf-
To reclaim from a savage state ; to intro-i CLAD, pp. [See Clothe.] Clothed ; invested
duce civility of manners among a people,
and instruct them in the arts of regular
life. Locke. Holler. Denham.f
CIV'ILIZED, pp. Reclaimed from savage
life and manners ; instructed in arts, learn
ing and civil manners.
Such sale of conscience and duty In open;
market is not reconcilable with the present
state of civilized society. X Quincy.
CIV'ILIZER, n. One who civilizes; he that]
reclaims others from a wild and savage]
life, and teaches them the rules and cus
toms of civilitv.
2. That which reclaims from savageness.
CIVILIZING, ppr. Reclaiming from sav
age life ; instructing in arts and civility of
manners.
CIVILLY, adv. In a manner relating to
government, or to the rights or character
of a member of the community. Hooker.
2. In a manner relating to private rights;
opposed to criminally ; as a process civilly
commenced for the private satisfaction of
a party injured. -^yW;:.
3. Not naturally, but in law ; as a man civil-
ly dead.
4. I'olitely ; complaisantly ; gently ; with
due decorum; courteously; as, we were
civilly treated. Dryden. Prior.
Without gaudy colors, or finery ; as cham-
bers furnished civilly. Obs. Bacon.
CIV'ISM, 7!. [L. civis, a citizen.] Lov
country; patriotism.
CIZ'AR, V. t. To cUp with scissors. [Xot
nor correct.] Beaum.
CIZE, for size, is not in use.
eLAB'BERorBONNY-CLABBER.n.Milk
turned, become thick or inspissated. [G.
lab, D.?e6. rennet.]
€LACK, V. i. [Fr. claquer, to flap or snap ;
cliquct, a mill-clapper ; cliqueter, to clack ;
W. cleca, clegyr ; Ir. clagaim ; D. klak-
ken ; Sax. cloccan, to cluck, L. glocio.
Probably from the root of the Lat. loquor,
Gr. ^axu, ^rjxiui. See Cluck, and Class Lg,
No 27.]
1. To make a sudden sharp noise, as by
striking or cracking; to clink; to click.
2. To utter words rapidly and continually,
or witli sharp, abrupt sounds; to let
tongue run.
€LACK, n. [W. dec, a sharp noise, a crack,
tale-bearing ; cleca, clccian, clegyr, to clack,
to crack, to" tattle. See the Verb.]
1. A sharp, abrupt sound continually re
peated, su(th as is made by striking an
object, or by bursting or cracking ; continu
al talk ; as, we do not wish to hear his
clack ; a common expression. Hence the|
word is used for the tongue, the instru
ment of clacking. Butler. Prior.
2. The instrument that strikes the hopi)e
a grist-mill, to move or shake it, for dis-i
charging the corn. And according to^
Johnson, ab^ll that rings when more corn]
is required to be put in. '
To clack wool, is to cut off the sheep's mark,j
which makes it weigh less, and yield less
duty. [JVot used, I believe, in America.] j
eLACK'ER, n. One that clacks; that
which clacks.
eLACK'ING, ppr. Making a sharp, abrupt
sound, continually rejjeated ; talking con-
tinually ; tattling ; rattling with the tongue.
CLACKING, n. A prating.
covered as with a garment.
Jeroboam had clad himself with
;nt. 1 Kings xi.
The fields are clad in cheerful green.
CLAIM, V. t. [L. clamo, to cry out, to call
upon ; It. clamare, or chiamare ; Port, cla-
mor; Sp. llamar ; Sax. klemman ; Sw.
glamma ; Ir. glamaim.]
To call for ; to ask or seek to obtain, by
virtue of authority, right or supposed
right ; to challenge as a right ; to demand
as due ; as, to dorm a debt ; to claim obe-
dience, or respect.
2. To assert, or maintain as a right ; as, he
claims to be the best poet of the age.
3. To have a right or title to ; as, the heir
claims the estate by descent ; he claims a
promise.
4. To proclaim. Obs. Spenser.
5. To call or name. Obs.
CLAIM, n. A demand of a right or sup-
posed right ; a calling on another for
something due, or supi)osed to be due ; as
a claitn of wages for services. A claim
implies a right or supposed right in the
claimant to something which is in anoth-
er's possession or power. A claim may
be made in words, by suit, and by other
means. The word is usually preceded by
7nake or lay ; to make claim ; to lay claim.
A right to claim or demand ; a title to
any debt, privilege or other thing in pos-
session of another ; as, a prince has a
claim to the throne.
Homer's claims to the first rank among Epic
poets have rarely been disputed. .Anon.
.3. The thing claimed, or demanded.
4. A loud call. Spenser
[This original sense of the wprd is now
obsolete.]
CLA'IMABLE, a. That may be demanded
as due.
CLA'IMANT, n. A person who claims;
one who demands any thing as his right.
2. A person who has a right to claim, or de-
mand.
CLA'IMED, pp. Demanded as due ; chal-
lenged as a right ; asserted ; maintained.
CLA'IMER, n. A claimant ; one who de-
mands as due.
CLA'HIING, ppr. Demanding as due ;
challenging as a right; asserting; main-
taining' ; having aright to demand.
CLAIR-OBSCURE. [See Clare-obscure,]
CLAM, n. [See the Verb.] The popular
name of certain bivalvular shell-fish, of
many species.
CLAM'-SHELL, n. The shell of a clam.
CLAM, v. t. [Sax. clmnian, to glue; D.
klam, clammy ; lym, glue ; G. klamm,
close, clammy ; klemmen, to pinch ; Dan.
klammer, to cling ; klemmer, to squeeze, or
pinch ; Urn, glue ; timer, to glue ; limagtig,
clanmiy. Qu. W. clymu, to bind or tie a
kuot. "See Lime and Class Lm. No. 1. 5.
9. 13.]
To clog with glutinous or viscous matter.
UEstrange.
CLAM, V. i. To be moist. [Jjittle used.]
Dryden.
CLA'MANT, a. [Sec Claim.] Crying , be-
seechinff. Thomson.
CLAM'BER, v. i. [from climb, or D. klam-
pen, to grapple.]
C L A
C L A
C L A
To climb with difficulty, or with hands and
feet. Addison.
CLAM'BERING, ppr. CUmbing witli ctTort
and labor.
«LAM'MINESS, n. [See Clammy.] The
state of being viscous ; viscosity ; sticlii-
ness ; tenacity of a soft substance.
Moxon.
eLAM'MY, a. [See Chm.] Tiiick, viscous,
adlicsivo ; soft and sticky ; glutinous ; te-
nacious ; as, bodies clammy and cleaving.
Bacon.
Cold sweat, in clammy drops, \aa limbs o'er-
spread. Dryden.
CLAM'OR, n. [L. clamor; Fr.clameur; h:
glam ; Sax. hkm. See Claim.]
I. A great outcry ; noise ; exclamation ; vo-
ciferation, made by a loud human voice
continued or repeated, or by a multitude
of voices. It often expresses complaint
and urgent demand. Sliak. Prior.
9. Figuratively, loud and continued noise, as
of a river or other inanunate things.
Mdison.
€LAM'OR, V. t. To stun with noise.
Bacon.
To clamor bells, is to multiply the strokes.
H'arbuiion.
CL.\M'OR, V. i. To utter loud sounds, or
outcries ; to talk loud ; to utter loud voi-
ces repeatedly ; to vociferate, as an indi-
vidual ; to utter loud voice.", as a nnilti-
tude ; to complain ; to make importunate
demands. Shak. Bacon.
Those who most loudly clamor for liberty do
not most liberally grant it. Anon.
" C/anior your tongues" in Shakspeare, if in-
tended "to mean, " stop from noise," is not
English. Perhaps the word was clam, or
intended for a derivative.
€LAM'ORER, 71. One who clamors.
Chesterfield.
€LAM'ORING, ppr. Uttering and repeat-
ing loud words; making a great and con-
tinued noise ; particularly in complaint or
importunate demands.
•t'LAM'OROUS, a. Speaking and repeating
loud words ; noisy; vociferous; loud; tur-
bulent. Hooker. Pope. Swijl.
CLAM'OROUSLY, adv. With loud noise
or words,
CLAM'OROUSNESS, n. The state or qual-
ity of being loud or noi.sy.
CLAMP, rt. [D. klamp ; G. klammer, klem-
men ; Dan. klamp ; VV. clymu, to tie.]
1. In general, something that fastens or
binds ; a piece of timber or of iron, used
to fasten work together; or a particular
maimer of uniting work by letting boards
into each other.
2. In ship-building, a thick plank on tiro in-
ner part of a ship's side, used to sustain
the ends of the beams.
3. A smooth crooked plate of iron forelock-
ed on the trunnions of a cannon to keej) it
fast to the carriage. Clamps are also
used to strengtlicn masts, and to fasten
the masts and bowsprits of small vessels
and of boats. Mar. Diet.
■i. A pile of bricks laid up for burning, in
which the end of one brick is laid over an-
other, and a space is left between the
bricks for the fire to ascend. Encyc.
Clamp-irons, irons used at tlie ends of fires
10 keep the fuel from falling. Bailey.
Clamp-nails, nails used to fasten on clamps
in ships.
€LAMP, V. t. To fasten with clamps.
2. In joinery, to fit a piece of board with the
grain, to the end of another piece of board
across the grain ; as, to clamp a table to
prevent its warping. Moxon.
€LAMP'ED, pp. United or strengthened
with a clamp.
€LAMP'1NG, ppr. Fastening or strength
ening with a clamp.
CL.\N, n. [Ir. ctonn, or cfenrf, children, pos
tcrity ; a tribe, breed, generation, family
Erse, clan or klaan.]
. A race ; a family ; a tribe. Hence, an as
.sociation of persons under a chieftain.
Milt07i. Dryden
2. In contempt, a sect, society, or body of
persons closely united by stune common
interest or pursuit. Smft.
Note. In Russ. kolieno signifies a knee,
ami a family, race or tribe. Irish ghm, the
knee, and a generation.
CLAN'CULAR, a. [L. clancularius.] Clan
destine ; secret ; private ; concealed. [Ui
lie used.]
CLAN'CUI-ARLY, adv. Privately; secret
Iv. [Lillle used.]
CLANDESTINE, a. [L. clandestinus.] Se
cret ; private ; hidden ; withdrawn from
public view. It often bears an ill sense
as implying craft or deception, or evil de
CLANDES'TINELY, adv. Secretly ; pri
vatelv ; in secret.
CLANDES'TINENESS, «. Secrecy; a
state of concealment.
CLANG, r. t. [L. clango, to sound ; G.
klang ; D. klank ; Sw. klang ; Dan. klang j
Gr. xTMiyyu, xJxiJu, xXo^lu, ix^ayov. It ap-
pears from the Greek, that n is not radical
and tliat this word belongs to Class Lg,
coinciding with clink, clank, and probably
with clack.]
To make a shai-p, shrill sound, as by striking
metallic substances ; or to strike with a
sharp sound.
They clanged their sounding arms. Prior
CLANG, n. [L. clangor; G. klang; D.
klank. See the Verb'.]
A sharp, shrill sound, made by striking to-
gether metallic substances, or sonorous
bodies, as the clang of arms ; or any like
sound, as the clang of trumpets. Tl '
word implies a degree of harshness iii the
sound, or more harshness than clink.
Milton.
CLAN'GOR, n. [L.] A sharp, shrill, harsh
sound. [See Clang.] Dryden.
CLAN'GOROUS, a. Sharp, or harsh in
sound. Spectator.
CLAN'GOUS, a. Making a clang, or a
shrill, or harsh sound. ' Brown.
CLAN'ISH, a. Closely united, like a clan ;
disposed to adhere closely, as the members
of a clan.
CL.\N'1SHNESS, n. Close adherence or
disposition to unite, as a clan.
€LANK, n. [See Clang.] The loud, shrill,
sharp sound, made by a collision of metal-
lic or other sonorous bodies. Spectator.
€LANK, V. t. To make a sharp, shrill sound ;
to strike with a sharp sound ; as, the pris-
oners clank their chains.
CLAN'SIIIP, n. A state of union, as in 0
family, or clan ; an association under a
chieftain. Robertson. Encyc.
CLAP, V. t. pret. and pp. clapped or clapt.
[D. idappen, kloppen ; Dan. klapper ; Sw.
klappa ; G. kiappen or kla fen ; Russ. klep-
lyii. The Dutch and German words sig-
nify to clap or strike, and to talk, clatter,
prate. Sax. cleopian or clypian, to call, to
speak, whence ycleped, obs. W. clepian, to
clack, to babble, from Hep, a lapping,
Itepiaw, to lap, to lick. The sense is to
send, drive or strike, L. idapa, a slap.]
1. To strike with a quick motion, so as to
make a noise by the collision; to strike
with something broad, or having a flat
surface ; as, to clnp the hands ; to clap tlie
wings. Locke. Dryden.
2. To thrust ; to diive together; to shut has-
tily ; followed by to ; as, to clap to the door
or gate. Locke. Shak.
3. To thrust or drive together ; to put one
thing to another by a hasty or sudden mo-
tion ; followed by to, on or in ; as, to clap
the hand to tlie mouth ; to clap spurs to a
horse ; to clap on a saddle.
fVatts. Addison. Dryden.
1. To tlirust ; to put, place or send ; follow-
ed by in, into, uniler, over, &c. ; as, to clap
one vndtr the hatclies; to clap one into
Bedlam ; to clup a board oi'fr a pit.
Shak. Spectator.
5. To applaud ; to manifest approbation or
praise by striking the hands together; an,
to clap a performance on the stage.
6. To iniect with venereal poison.
ffiseman.
To clap up, to make or comi)lcte hastily ;
as, to clap up a peace. Sliak. Howel.
2. To imprison hastily, or with littls delay.
Sandys.
CLAP, V. t. To move or drive together sud-
denly with noise.
The doors around me clapt. Dryden.
2. To enter on with alacrity and briskness ;
to drive or thrust on ; as "we say to reap-
ers or mowers, clap in, or clap to, that is,
enter on the work, begin' without delay,
begin briskly.
3. To strike the hands together in applause.
Bid tfiem clap. Shak.
€L.\P, ji. A driving together ; a thrust and
collision of bodies with noise, usually
bodies with broad surfaces.
Give the door a clap. Swift.
2. A sudden act or motion ; a thrust.
Pay all debts at one clap. Suri/i.
3. A burst of sound; a sudden explosion ; as
a clap of thunder.
4. An act of applause ; a striking of hands
to express approbation. Addison.
5. A venereal infection. [Fr. clapoir ; D.
klapoor.] Pope.
i'l. With falconers, the nether part of the
beak of a hawk. Bailey.
€LAP'-BOARD, n. A thin narrow board
for covering houses. In England, accord-
ing to Bailey, a clapboard is also what in
America is called a stave for casks.
€LAP'-DISH, n. A wooden bowl or dish.
CLAP'-DOCTOR, n. One who is skilled in
healing the clap. Taller.
€LAP'-NET, n. A net for taking larks, imi-
ted with a looking glass. Bailey. Encyc.
CLAPPED, pp. Thrust or put on or to-
getlier ; applauded by striking the bands
C L A
together; infected with the venereal dis-
ease.
CLAP'PER, n. A person who claps, crap
plauds by clapping.
2. Tliat which strikes, as the tongue of i
bell, or the piece of wood that strikes ;
niill-liopper.
CLAP'PER-€LAW, v. t. [dap and claiv.]
To scold ; to abuse with the tongue ; to
revile. Shak. Hudibms.
CLAP'PING, ppr. Driving or putting on, in,
over, or under, by a sudden motion ; stri
king the hands together.
€LARE, n. A nun of the order of St. Clare.
Todd.
CLAR'ENCEUX, > ^^ In Great Britain, the
CLAR'ENCIEUX, ^ 'second king at arms,
so called from the dulte of Clarence, and
appointed by Edward IV. His office is to
marshal and dispose tlie funerals of all
baronets, knights and esquires, on the
south of the river Trent. Bailey. Eneyc.
€LARE-OBS€U'RE, n. [L. clarus, clear
and ohscurus, obscure.]
Light and shade in painting ; or the particu
lar distribution of the lights and shades of
a piece, with respect to the ease of the eye
and the effect of the whole piece ; also, i
design of two colors. Encyc
CLAR'ET, 7!. {Vr.dairet, from dair, clear
It. daretto.]
A species of French wine, of a clear pale red
color. Thomson.
eLAR'I€HORD, n. [L. dai-us, clear, and
chorda, a string. See Chord.]
A musical instrument in form of a spmet,
called also manichord. It has forty nine o
fifty stops or keys, and seventy strings
some of the latter being in unison. There
are several little mortises for passing the
jacks, armed with brass hooks, which stop
and raise the ciiords, mstead of the feath-
er used in virginals and spinets. The
chords are covered with pieces of clutli
■ which deaden the sound and render it
sweeter. Hence it is particularly used by
nuns. Encyc.
CLARIFICA'TION, n. [See Clarify.] The
act of clearing ; particularly tlie clearing
or fining of liquid substances from all fe-
culdut matter. Bacon.
-CLAR'IFIED, pp. Purified : made clear or
fine ; defecated.
CLAR'IFIER, n. That which clarifies or
purifies ; as, whites of eggs, blood and
isinglass are clarijiers of liquors. Edwards.
1. A vessel in which liquor is clarified.
Higeiyis, Med. Repos.
CLAR'IFV, v.t. [Fr. clarifier; It. chiari-
Jicare ; from L. clarus, clear, and fncio, to
make.[
To make clear ; to purify from fecident mat-
ter; to defecate; to fine ; applied particu-
larly to liquors ; as, to clarify wine, or syrup.
1. To make clear ; to brighten or illuminate ;
applied to the mind or reason. [Rarely used.]
South.
CLAR'IFY, r. i. To clear up; to grow clear
or briglit.
His understanding clarifies, in discoursing
with another. Bacon
2. To grow or become clear or fine ; to be
come pure, as liquors. Cider clarifies by
fermentation.
CLAR'IFYING, ppr. Making clear, pure or
bright ; defecating ; growing dear.
C L A
eLAR'INET, n. [Fr. clarinette.] A Wind
instrument of music.
eLAR'ION, n. [Fr. clairon ; Sp. darin ,
It. chiarina ; Port, clarim ; from L. clarus.
clear, from its shrill sound.]
A kind of trumpet, whose tube is narrower
and its tone more acute and shrill than
that of the common trumpet. Encyc.
€LAR'ITUDE, n. Clearness ; splendor.
[lAttle used.] Beaum.
CLAR'ITY, n. [Fr. darte; L. clarilas, from
clarus, clear.]
Clearness, brightness ; splendor. [Littlt
used.] Baton. Brown
€LAR' Y, V. i. To make a loud or shrill noise
[J\rot used.] Golding.
€LA'RY, n. A plant of the genus Salvia, or
sage.
€LA'RY-WATER, n. A composition of^
brandy, sugar, clary-flowers, and cuma-
mon, with a httle ambergris dissolved '
it. It is a cardiac and helps digestion.
Encyc.
CLASH, V. i. [D. kletsen; G. klatschen,
klifschen ; Dan. klatsker.]
To strike against ; to drive against with
force.
JVote. The sense of this word is simply to
strike against or meet with force ; but when two
sounding bodies strike together, the effect is
sound. Hence the word often implies, to strike
with a noise, as clashing arms. Denha
To meet in opposition ; to be contrary ;
to act in a contrary direction ; to interfere.
as opposing persons, minds, views, inter-
ests, &c.; as, the opinions of men dash ;
clashing interests. Soidh. Bacon.
Independent jurisdictions — could not fail to
clash. Dtvight's Theol.
CLASH, V. t. To strike one thing against
another, with sound. Dryden
CLASH, n. A meeting of bodies with vio-
lence ; a striking together with noise ; col-
lision, or noisy colUsiou of bodies ; as the
dash of arms. Pope. Denham.
2. Opposition ; contradiction ; as between
differing or contending interests, views,
purposes, &c. Atterbury. Denham.
CLASHING, ppr. Striking against with
noise ; meeting in opposition ; opposing ;
interfering.
CLASH'ING, n. A striking against ; colli-
sion of bodies; opposition. Howel.
CL'ASP, n. [Ir. dasba.]
1. A hook for fastening ; a catch ; a small
hook to hold together the covers of a book,
or the difteront parts of a garment
belt, &c. Addison.
8. A close embrace; a throwing of tlicarms
round. Shak.
CL'ASP, I'. /. To sliut or fasten together
with a clasp. Pope.
3. To catch and hold by twining ; to sur-
round and cling to ; as the clasping ivy.
Miltoji.
3. To inclose and hold in the hand ; oi
ply to inclose or encompass with tl
ers. Bacon.
/t,
4. To embrace closely ; to throw the arms
roimd ; to catch with the arms.
Milton. Dryden
.5. To inclose, and press.
CLASPED, pp. Fastened with a clasj);
siiut ; embraced ; ijiclosed ; encompassed
caugiit.
C L A
CL'ASPER, n. He or that which clasps;"
usually the tendril of a vine or other plants
%vhich twines round something for sup-
port.
CL ASPERED, n. Furnished with tendrils.
CL'ASPING,p;;r. Twining round ; catching
and holding; embracing; inclosing; shut-
ting or fastening with a clasp.
3. In botany, siuTOunding the stem at the
base, as a leaf. Martyn
CL'ASP-KNIFE, n. A knife which folds
into the handle. Johnson.
CL'ASS, n. [L. dassis, a class, a fleet, a
troop, that is, a collection ; It. classe ; Fr.
dasse ; Sp. close ; Arm. clafz, and sdafz ;
Dan. Masse, a class, and klase, a cluster, a
bunch. This seems to be a branch of the
root of L. cluudo, clausus.]
I. An order or rank of persons; a number of
persons in society, supposed to have some
resemblance or equality, in rank, educa-
tion, property, talents, and the like ; as in
hr
the phrase, all classes of men in society.
The readers of poetry may be distinguished
into three classes, according to their capacity of
judging. Dryden.
2. A number of students in a college or
school, of the same standing, or pursuing
the same studies. In colleges, the students
entering or becoming members the same
year, and pursuing the same studies. In
academies and schools, the pupils who
learn the same lesson, and recite together.
In some cases, students of different stand-
ings, pursuing the same studies and reci-
ting together, or attending the same pro-
fessor, or the same course of lectures.
3. Scientific division or arrangement ; a set
of beings or things, having something in
common, or ranged under a common de-
nomination. Hence in zoology, animals
are divided into classes ; as quadrupeds,
fowls, fishes, &c. So in botany, plants are
arranged in classes. Classes are natural
or artificial ; natural, when foimded on
natural relations, or resemblances ; artifi-
cial, when formed arbitrarily, for want of
a complete knowledge of natural relations.
Martyn.
CL'ASS, V. t. To arrange in a class or classes ;
to arrange in sets, or ranks, according to
some method founded on natural distinc-
tions ; to place together, or in one division,
men or things which have or are supposed
to have something in common.
To place iu ranks or divisions students
that are pursuing the same studies ; to form
into a class or classes.
CLAS'SIC, } [L. dassicus ; Fr. clas-
CLAS'SICAL, I "" sique ; It. dassico ; Sp.
dasico ; from L. classis, the first order of
Roman citizens.]
1. Relating to ancient Greek and Roman
authors of the first rank or estimation,
which, in modern times, have been and
still are studied as the best models of fine
writing. Tlius, Aristotle, Plato, Demos-
thenes, Thucydidcs, &c., among the
Greeks, and Cicero, Virgil, Livy, Sallust,
Cesar, and Tacitus, among the Latins, arc
dassical authors. Hence,
2. Pertaining to writers of the first rank
among the moderns ; being of the first or-
der; constituting the best model or au-
C L A
thority as an author ; as, Addison and
Johnson are Enghsh classical writers.
Hence classical denotes pure, chaste, cor-
rect, refined ; as a classical taste ; a classical
style.
At Liverpool, Roacoe is lilje Pompey s col
umn at Alexandria, towering alone in classic
dignity. ■fr"'"^'
3. Denoting an order of presbytenan assem-
blies. Millon. Mason,
CLAS'SIC, n. An author of the first rank^
a writer whose style is pure, correct, and
refilled ; primarily, a Greek or Roman au-
thor of this character ; but the word is
applied to writers of a hke character m any
nation. Pope.
2. A book written by an author of the farst
CLAS'SICALLY, adv. In the manner of
classes ; according to a regular order of
classes, or sets.
It would be impossible to bear all its specift
details in the memory, if they were not classic
ally airanged. ICeTrr's Lavoisier
2. In a classical manner ; according to the
manner of classical authors.
CLASSIF'IC, a. Constituting a c
classes ; noting classification, or the order
of distribution into sets.
Med. Repos. Hex. 2,
€LASSIFl€A'TION, n. [See Classify.]
The act of forming into a class or classes;
distribution into sets, sorts or ranks.
Enfield's Phil. Encyc.
■CLAS'SIFIED, pp. Arranged in classes;
formed into a class or classes.
€LAS'SIFY, t'. t. [L. classis, a class, and
facio, to make ; a word of modern coinage.]
To make a class or classes ; to distribute into
classes; to arrange in sets according to
some common properties or characters.
The diseases and casualties are not scien-
li&cMy classified. Tooke, Russ. Einp. i. 53\
See also, Jiikin's Letters. 106. Black' i
Chimistry.i.ms. fValsh.m.Ai. Stew-
art, El. Phil. 1.187.
CLAS'SIF-f ING, ppr. Forming a class oi
classes ; arranging in sorts or ranks.
CLAS'SIS, 71. Class ; order ; sort.
Claicndon
2. A convention or assembly. Milton.
€LAT'TER, v. i. [D. Materen, klctteren ; W
dewtiaw ; Sax. clatninge, a clattering. Qu.
Fr. tclater; L. lalro; Sax. hlyd,\o\xA. It
seems to be a diminutive.]
1. To make rattling sounds ; to make repeat
cd sharp sounds, as by striking sonorous
bodies ; as, to clatler on a shield. Drydt
■2. To utter continual or repeated sharp
soimds, or rattling sounds, by being struck
together ; as clattering arms.
3. To talk fast and idly ; to run on ; to rattle
with the tongue. Spenser.
€LAT'TER, v. t. To strike and make a rat-
tling noise.
You clatter still your brazen kettle. Swift.
2. To dispute, jar or clamor. [A low word.]
Martin
CLAT'TER, n. A rapid succession of abrupt,
sharp sounds, made by the coUision of me-
tallic or other sonorous bodies; rattling
sounds. Swift.
2. Tumultuous and confused noise ; a repe
tition of abrupt, sharp sounds.
Swifl. Shak
C L A
CLAT'TERER, n. One who clatters;
babbler.
CLATTERING, ppr. Making or uttermg
sharp, abrupt sounds, as by a collision ot
sonorous bodies ; talking fast with noise ;
ttUng.
€LAT'TERING, «. A rattling noise.
eLAUD'ENT, a. [L. claudens ; claudo, to
shut.] Shutting ; confining ; drawing
together ; as a claudent muscle. [Ldttle
used.]
eLAUD'ICANT, a. Halting ; limpmg.
[Little used.]
CLAUD'ICATE, V. i. [L. claudico, to limp,
from claudus, lame.] To halt or limp.
[Little used, or not at all.]
€LAUDlCA'TION, n. Ahahingorhmping.
[Ultleused.]
CLAUSE, n. s as z. [Fr. clause ; L. clausu-
ra, from claudo, to shut ; Gr. xXaw, xXafoj ;
W. claws; Eiig. close; Sax. hlidan, to
cover ; hlid, a cover, a lid, which
Class Ld. No. L 8. 'J.]
Literally, a close, or inclosure. Hi
that which is included, or contained, witliin
certain limits, ,
L In language or grammar, a member of a
period or sentence; a subdivision ofasen-j
tence, in which the words are inseparably
connected with each other in sense, andj
cannot, with propriety, be separated by a^
point ; as, " there is reason to think that he
afterwards rose to favor, and obtained
several lienors civil and military." In this
sentence are two clauses.
2. An article in a contract or other writing ;
a distinct part of a contract, will, agree-
ment, charter, commission, or other wri-
ting ; a distinct stipulation, condition, pro-
viso, grant, covenant, &c. South.
eLAUS'TRAL, a. [L. claustrum, an inclo-
sure, from claudo. See Clause.]
Relating to a cloister, or rehgious house ; as
claustral prior. Ayliffe.i
CLAUS'URE, n. s as z. [See Clause.] The
act of shutting up or confining ; confine-
ment. [Little used.] Geddes.
2. In anatomy, an imperforated canal.
Coxe. ^uincy.
CLAV'ATED, a. [L. clava; Eng. a club;
W. clwpa.^
-shav
C L A
CLAV'I6ER, n. [L. clavif, a key, and
g-fro, to carry.]
One who keeps the keys of any place.
Ch. Relig. Appeal.
CLAW, n. [Sax. claw ; G.klave ; D. klaauw ;
Dan. klov ; Sw. klof, or klo.]
The sharp hooked nail of a beast, bird or
other animal
1. Club-shaped; having the form of a club;
growing gradually thicker towards the top,
as certain parts of a plant. Mariyn.
2. Set with knobs. Woodward.
CLAVE, pret. of cleave.
CLAV'ELLATED, a. Clavellated ashes,
potash and pearlasli. Coxe.
CLAV'IARY, n. [L. clavis, a key; Gr.
x%iis, contracted from,x>^i6ou; L. claudo.]
A scale of lines and spaces in music.
Encyc. art. Clef.
CLAVICHORD, n. [L. clavis, a key, and
cAocfte, a string.] ^ ,, „ J
A musical instrument of an oblong figure, ot
the nature of a spinet. The strings are
j muflled with small bits of fine woolen
cloth, to soften the sounds ; used in nunne-
ries. [See Clarichord.] Encyc.
IcLAV'ICLE, Ji. [L. clavicula, a tendril, that
Iis a little key or fastener, from clavis, a key,
or lock.] I
The collar bone. There are two clavicles, or
channel bones, joined at one end to the^
scapula or shoulder bone, and at the other,i
to the sternum or breast bone. ^uincy.'
Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleavetli
the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud—
ye shall cat. Deut. xiv.
His nails were grown like birds claws. Dan.
iv.
The whole foot of an animal armed with
hooked nails.
3. The hand, in contempt.
CLAW, i;. «. [Sax. dau'en.] To pull, tear or
scratch with the nails. Shak. South.
2. To scratch or tear in general ; to tickle.
Shak. Hudibras.
3. To flatter. Obs. . Shak.
To claw off or away, to scold or rail at.
L'Estrange.
2. In seamanship, to turn to windward and
beat, to prevent falling on a lee shore.
3. In vulvar language, to scratch away ; to
get oft" or escape.
CLAW'BACK, n. [claw and back.] One
who flatters ; a sycophant ; a wheedler.
Jewel.
CLAWED, pp. Scratched, pulled or torn
with claws.
2. a. Furnished with claws. Grew.
CLAWING, ;)^r. Pulling, tearing or scratch-
ing with claws or nails.
CLAWLESS, a. Destitute of claws.
Joum. of Science.
CLAY, «. [Sax. cte^; G.klei; D.klei; W.
clai ; Dan. klwg, viscous, sticky.]
1. The name of certain substances which are
mixtures of silex and alumin, sometimes
with lime, magnesia, alkali and metallic
oxyds. A species of earths which are
firmly coherent, weighty, compact, and
hard when dry, but stiff", viscid and ductile
when moist, and smooth to the touch ; not
readily diff"usible in water, and when mix-
ed, not readily subsiding in it. They con-
tract by heat. Clays absorb water greed-
ily, and become soft, but are so tenacious
as to be molded into any shape, and hence
they are the materials of bricks and vari-
ous vessels, domestic and chimical.
Encyc. Cleavdand.
In poe«n/ and mscriptitre, ea^lh. in general.
Donnt.
I also am formed out of the clay. Job xxsiii.
3. Ill scriiiture, clay is used to express frailty,
liableness to decay and destruction.
They that dwell in houses of clay. Job iv.
CLAY, V. t. To cover or manure with clay.
Mortimer.
2. To purify and whiten with clay, as sugar.
Edwards, W. Ind.
CL.VY-COLD, a. Cold as clay or earth;
Ufeless. Rowe.
CLA'YED, pp. Covered or manured with
clay.
2. Purified and whitened with clay ; as clayed
sugar. Edwards.
CLAYES, n. plu. [Fr. claie, a hurdle ; W.
clwyd.]
la fortification, wattles or hurdles made with
stakes interwoven with osiers, to cover
lodgments. Chambers.
CLAYEY, a. Consisting of clay ; abound-
CLE
inn- with clay ; partaking of clay ; like
clav.
CLAY-GROUND, )!. Ground consisting of
clay, or abounding with it.
CLA'VISII, n. Partaking of the nature of
clay, or containing particles of it.
CLAY-LAND, } Land consisting of clay,
CLAY-SOIL, ^ "■ or abounding with it. I
CLAY-MAUL, :,. A whitish, smooth, chalky!
clay. Mortimer.
CLAY-PIT, n. A pit whore day is dug.
IVoodwitrd.
CLAY-SLATE, n. In mmtralogy, argillace-
ous shist ; argillitc.
CLAY-STONE, ». A mineral, the fftonsiein
of Werner, antl indurated day of Kirwan.
It resembles compact limestone or calca-
rious marl. Its texture is porous, compact
or slaty. Its color is gray, often tinged
with yellow or blue ; also rose or pale red,
or brownish red, and sometimes greenish.
Cleaveland.
CLEAN, a. [Sax. cldne ; W. glan, or glain ;
Ir. glan ; Ann. glan. The primai-y sense
seems to be, to open or to remove, toi
separate.] I
In a general sense, free from extraneous
matter, or whatever is injurious or oft'en-
sive; hence its signification depends on
the nature and qualities of the substances
to which it is ai)plied.
1. Free from dirt, or other-foul matter; as
dean water ; a dean cup ; a dean floor.
2. Free from weeds or stones ; as dean land ;
a clean garden or field.
3. Free from knots or branches; as dean
timber. In America, dear is generally
used.
4. Free from moral impurity ; innocent.
WTio can bring a clean thing out of an un-
clean ? Joh xiv. Acts xviii.
5. Free from ceremonial defilement. Lev.
X. Numb. xix.
C. Free from guilt ; sanctified ; holy. John
xiii. Ps. li.
7. That might be eaten by the Hebrews.'
Gen. vii. viii.
8. That might be used. Luke xi.
'J. Free from a foul disease ; cured of lepro-
sy. 2 Kings V. Math. viii.
10. Dextrous ; adroit ; not bungling ; free
from awkwardness ; as a dean feat ; a dean
boxer.
n. Free from infection ; as a cZean ship. A
dean bill of health is a certificate that a
ship is dean, or free from infection.
CLEAN, adv. Quite; perfectly; wholly;
entirely; fully; indicating separation or
complete removal of every part. " The
people passed dean o\'«r Jordan." Josh,
iii. " Is his mercy dean gone forever ?"
Ps. Ixxvii. Tills use of dean is not now
elegant, and not used except in vulgar
language.
2. Without miscarriage ; desirously.
Pope came off clean with Homer. Henley
CLEAN, V. t. [Sax. da^nan ; W. glanau.
See the Adjective.]
To remove all foreign matter from ; to sepa-
rate from any thing whatever is extrane-
ous to it, or whatever i;s foul, noxious, or
ofiensive, as dirt or filth from the hands,]
body or clothes, foul matter from a ves-
sel, weeds, shrubs and stones from a mead-
ow ; to purify. Thus, a house is cleaned
CLE
by sweeping and washing; a field is clean-
ed by plowing and hoeing.
CLEAN'LINESS, n. den'liness. [from
deanli/.] Freedom from dirt, filth, or any
foul, extraneous matter. Addison.
2. Neatness of person or dress; purity.
Sinfl.
CLEAN'LY, a. den'ly. [from dean.] Free
from dirt, filth, or any foul matter ; neat
carefully avoiding filth.
Dryden. Addison.
2. Pure ; free from mixture ; innocent
cleanly iioys. GlanvHte.
3. Cleansing ; making clean ; as cleanly pow-
der. Prior.
4. Nice; artful; dextrous; adroit; as a
cleanly play ; a cleanly evasion. Obs.
Sptnscr. L'Estrange.
CLEAN'LY, adv. den'ly. In a clean man-
ner ; neatly; without filth. Shak.
CLE'ANNESS, n. Freedom from dirt, filth,
and foreign matter; neatness.
2. Freedom from infection or a foul disease.
.3. Exaot4iess ; purity ; justness ; correctness ;
used of language or style; as, cleanness of
expression. Dryden.
4. Purity ; innocence.
In scripture, cleanness of hands denotes
iiocence. Cleanness of teeth denotes h
of provisions. Amos iv. 6.
CLEANS' ABLE, a. denz'able. That may be
cleansed. Shertoood.
CLEANSE, V. t. clenz. [Sax. clcensian, from
clane, clean.]
L To inirify; to make clean: to remove
filth, or foul matter of any kind, or by any
process whatever, as by washing, rub-
bing, scouring, scraping, purging, ventila
tion, &-C. ; as, to cleanse the hands or face
to cleanse a garment ; to cleanse the bow
els ; to cleanse a ship ; to cleanse an infect
ed house.
2. To free from a foul or infectious disease
to heal. Lev. xiv. 4. 8. Mark i. 42.
3. To free from ceremonial pollution, and
consecrate to a holy use. Numb. viii. 15.
Ezek. xliii. 20.
4. To purify from guilt. 1 John i. 7.
To remove ; as, to cleanse a crime.
Dryden.
CLEANS'ED,pp. clenz'ed. Purified; made
lean ; purged ; healed.
CLEANS'ER, n. clenz'er. He or that which
cleanses; in medicine, a detergent.
Arbuthnot.
CLEANS'ING, pp. cknz'ing. Purifying ;i
making clean ; purging ; removing foul or
noxious matter from; freeing from guilt.
CLEANS'ING, n.. cknz'ing. The act of pu-
rifying, or purging. Mark i. 44. Luke
CLE'AN-TIMBERED, n. Well-proportion-
ed. [jVot in use.] Shak.
CLEAR, a. [W. claer, clear, bright, from
llaer, a reflux, llaeru, to ebb, to clear, or
W. eghir, clear, from tlur, extended, [like
floor ;] Ir. gleair, tear, leir and glor ; Ami.
sclear ; L. clarus ; Fr. dair ; Sp. Port.j
claro ; It. chiaro ; D. klaar ; G. klar ; Sw.
and Dan. klar. See Glare and Glory.]
1. Open ; free from obstruction ; as a dear
plat of ground ; the way is clear.
2. Free from clouds, or fog ; serene ; as a
clear day.
3. Free fiom foreign matter ; mimixed ;
CLE
pure ; as clear water ; clear sand ; char
air ; clear glass.
4. Free from any thing that creates doubt or
uncertainty ; apparent ; evident ; manifest
not obscure ; conspicuous; that is, open
to the mind ; as, the reason is clear.
5. Unclouded ; luminous ; not obscured ; a'-
a clear sun; a clear shining after a rain
2 Sam. xxiii.
(3. Unobstructed ; iniobscured ; as a clca
view.
7. Perspicacious ; sharp ; as a dear sight.
8. Not clouded with care, or ruffled by pas-
sion ; cheerful ; serene ; as a clear aspect-
MiUon.
9. Evident ; undeniable ; indisputable ; a;-
the \-ictory was clear. Milton.
10. Quick to understand ; prompt ; acute.
Mother of science, now I feel thy power
AVithin me clear. Milton.
11. Free from guilt or blame ; innocent ; un-
spotted ; irreproachable. 2 Cor. vii.
In action faithful, and in honor clear. Pope.
12. Free from bias ; unprepossessed ; not
preoccupied; impartial; as a. dear judg-
ment. Sidney.
13. Free from debt, or obligation ; not liable
I to prosecution ; as, to be clear of debt or
responsibility. Gay.
14. Free from deductions, or charges ; as,
char gain or profit. Locke.
15. Not entangled ; unembarrassed ; free ;
as, the cable is dear. A ship is clear, when
she is so remote from shore or other ob-
ject, as to be out of danger of striking, or
to have sea room sufficient.
16. Open ; distinct ; not jarring, or harsh ; as
a clear sound ; a clear voice.
17. Liberated ; freed ; acquitted of charges ;
as. a man has been tried and got clear.
18. Free from spots or any thing that dis-
figures ; as a clear skin.
Clear is followed hy from or by of.
Thou shalt be clear from this my oath. Gen.
xxiv.
The air is clear of damp exhalations.
Temple.
CLEAR, adv. Plainly ; not obscurely ; man-
ifestly.
Clean ; quite ; entirely ; wholly ; indica-
ting entire separation ; as, to cut a piece
clear off; to go dear away ; but in this
sense its use is not elegant.
Clear or in the clear, among joiners and car-
penters, denotes the space within walls,
or length and breadth clear or exclusive <rf
the thickness of the wall.
CLEAR, V. t. To make clear ; to fine ; to
remove any thing foreign ; to separate
from any foul matter ; to piu-ify ; to clar-
ify ; as, to clear hquors.
To free from obstructions ; as, to dear the
road.
3. To free from any thing noxious or inju-
rious ; as, to clear the ocean of pirates ; to
clear the land of enemies.
4. To remove any incumbrance, or embar-
rassment ; often followed by q^or away f
as, to clear o^debts ; to clear away rubbish.
5. To free ; to liberate, or disengage ; to ex-
onerate ; as, to clear a man from debt, ob-
ligation, or duty.
6. To cleanse ; as, to clear the hands from
filth ; to clear the bowels.
To remove any thing that obscures, as
CLE
clouds or fog ; to make bright ; as, to cltar
the sky ; sometimes followed by up.
Druden. Milton.
S. To free from obscurity, perplexity or ambi-
guity ; as, to clear a question or theory ; to
clear up a case or point. Prior.
9. To purge from the imputation of guilt ;
to justify or vindicate.
How shall wc clear ourselves ? Gen. xliv.
That will by no means clear the guilty. Ex.
xxxiv.
10. In a legal sense, to acquit on trial, by
verdict ; as, the prisoner has been tried
and cleared.
n. To make gain or profit, beyond all ex
pcnsea and charges ; as, to clear ten per
cent, by a sale of goods, or by a voyage
12. To remove wood from land : to cut
down trees, remove or burn them, and
prepare land for tillage or pasture ; as, to
clear land for wheat.
To clear a ship at the custom house, is to
exliibit the documents required by law,
give bonds or perform other acts requisite,
and procure a permission to sail, and such
papers as the law requires.
To clear the land, in seamen's language,
is to gain such a distance from shore, as
to have open sea room, and be out of dan-
ger from the land.
To clear the liold, is to em])ty or unload a
ship.
To clear a ship for action, or to clear for
CKtion, is to remove all incumbrances from
the decks, and prepare for an engage-
ment.
■CLEAR, V. i. To beconje free from clouds
or fog ; to become fair ; often followed by
up, off, or away ; as, the sky clears ; the
weather clears up ; it clears aioay ; it clears
2. "To be disengaged from incumbrances,
distress or entanglements ; to become free
or disengaged.
He that clears at once will relapse. Bacon.
€LE'ARA6E, ji. The removing of any
thing. [Little itserf.]
€LE'ARANCE, ji. A certificate that a shi))
or vessel has been cleared at the custom
bouse ; permission to sail.
€LE'ARED, pp. Purified ; freed from for
eign matter, or from incumbrance ; made
nlauife^■t ; made luminous ; cleansed ; hb-
crated ; acquitted.
CLE'ARER, n. That which clears, purifies,
or enlightens ; that which brightens.
Mdison
CLE'ARING, ppr. Purifying ; removing
foul matter, incumbrances, or obstruc-
tions ; making evident, or luminous ;
cleansing ; liberating ; disengaging
quitting ; making gain beyond all costs
and charges.
CLE'ARING, n. A defense ; justification
vindication. 2 Cor. vii.
2. A place or tract of land cleared of wood
for cultivation ; a common itse of the word
in .Imeiica.
3. The act of making clear.
CLE'ARLY, adv. Plainly ; evidently ; fully ;
as, the fact is clearly proved.
2. Without obstruction ; luminously ; as, tc
shine clearly.
3. With clear discernment ; as, to under-
Stand clearly.
CLE
4. Without entanglement, or confusion.
Bacon.
Plainly ; honestly ; candidly.
Deal clearly and impartially with yourselves.
Tillotson.
6. Without reserve, evasion or subterfiige.
Davies.
CLE'ARNESS, n. Freedom from foul or
extraneous matter ; purity ; as the clear-
ness of water, or other liquor.
2. Freedom from obstruction or incum-
brance ; as the clearness of the ground.
3. Freedom from fogs or clouds ; openness ;
as the clearness ot the sky. It generally
expresses less than brightness or splen-
dor. Ex. xxiv.
Distinctness ; perspicuity ; luminouaness ;
as the clearness of reason, of views, of
arguments, of explanations.
Plainness, or plain deaUng ; sincerity ;
honesty ; fairness ; candor. Bacon.
Freedom from imputation of ill. Shak.
7. Freedom from s[)ots, or any thing that
disfigures ; as the clearness of the skin.
CLE'AR-SHINING, a. [clear and shine.]
Shitiing with brightness, or unobstructed
splendor. Shak.
CLE'AR-SIGHTED, a. [clear and sight.]
Seeing with clearness ; having acuteness
of sight ; discerning ; persjiicacious ; as
clear-sighted reason; Hclear-sighted judge.
CLEAR-SIGHTEDNESS, n. Acute dis-
cernment. Bp. Barlow.
CLE'AR-STARCH, v. I. [clear and starch.]
To stiffen and clear with starch, and by
clapping with the hands ; as, to clear-starch
muslin.
CLE'AR-STARCHER, n. One who clear-
starches.
CLE'AR-STARCHING, ppr. Stiffening and
clearing with starch.
n. The act of stiffening and clearing with
starch.
CLEAT, n. [Qu. the root ofL.claudo, Gr.
*Xfi9por, the fastener.]
■V piece of wood used in a ship to fasten
ropes upon. It is formed with one arm
or two, or with a hollow to receive a rope,
and is made fast to some part of a vessel.
Cleats are belaying-cleats, deck-cleats or
thiunb-cleats. Mar. Diet.
CLE'AVAtiE, n. The act of cleaving or
splitting.
2. In mineralogy, the manner of cleaving,
or of mechanical division. It is used in
relation to the fracture of minerals which
have natural joints and possess a regular
structure. Phillips
CLEAVE, V. i. prct. clave or cleaved. [Sax
cleqfian, cliofian, to spht and to adhere ;
chifian, to adhere ; D. klceven ; G. kleben or
kieiben; Dan. kla:ber, kleber ; Sw. klibba ;
Russ. lipna. The old preterit clave is ob-
solescent.]
I. To stick ; to adhere ; to hold to.
My bones cleave to my skin. Ps. cii.
Let my tongue cleave to tlie roof of my
mouth. Ps. cxxxvii.
Cleave to that which is good. Rom. xii.
Q. To unite aptly ; to it : to sit well on.
Skak.
3. To unite or be united closely in interest
or affection ; to adhere witlj strong at-
tachment.
A man shall leave father and mother, and
I cieare to his WTfc. Gen. ii. Math. six.
Cleave to Jehovah your God. Josh, xxiii
CLE
CLEAVE, r. t. pret. clej} : pp. clefl or cleav-
ed. The old pret. clove is obsolete ; dare
is obsolescent. The old participle, c/ortH,
is obsolescent, or rather used as an adjec-
tive. [Sax. cleqfian, or clifan ; D. klooven;
G. klieben ; Sw. klyfioa ; Dan. klover;
Russ. lopayu ; Gr. Xin^. This word Beems
to be connected with the L. liber, free,
and bark, book, libera, to free, Fr. livrer,
whence deliver.]
1. To part or divide by force ; to split or
rive ; to open or sever the cohering parts
of a body, by cutting or by the applica-
tion of force ; as, to cleave wood ; to cleave
a rock ; to cleave tlie flood. Ps. Ixxiv.
Milton. Dry den.
2. To part or open naturally.
Every beast that cleaveth the cleft into two
claws. Deut. xiv.
CLEAVE, V. i. To part ; to open ; to crack ;
to separate, as parts of cohering bodies ;
as, the ground cleaves by frost.
The mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst
thereof. Zech. xiv.
CLE'AVED, pp. Split ; rived ; divided.
CLE'AVELANDITE, n. [from Professor
Cleaveland.] A mineral, generally of a
white or grayish white color, sometimes
blue or bluish or reddish ; called also sili-
ceous felspar, or albite. Phillips.
CLE' AVER, n. One who cleaves; that
which cleaves ; a butcher's instnmient for
cutting animal bodies into joints or pieces.
Arlmthnot.
CLE'AVING, ppr. Sticking; adliering;
uniting to. Also, splitting ; dividing; ri-
ving.
CLECHE, n. In heraldry, a kind of cross,
charged with another cross of the same
figure, but of the color of the field. Encyc.
CLEDgE, n. Among miners, the upper
stratum of fuller's earth.
CLEF, n. [Fr. clef; L. clavis, a key, the
fastener.]
A character in music placed at the beginning^
of a stave, to determine the degree of
elevation occupied by that stave in the
I general claviary or system, and to point
' out the names of all the notes which it
contains in the line of that clef.
Rousseau.
CLEFT, pp. of cleave. Divided; split;
parted asunder. Milton.
CLEFT, 71. A space or opening made by
splitting ; a crack ; a crevice ; as the clefl
of a rock. Is. ii. 21. Addison.
2. A disease in horses ; a crack on the bought
of the pastern. Farriir's Diet.
3. A piece made by splitting ; as a deft of
wood.
[This word is sometimes written difl.]
CLEFT-GRAFT, v. t. [clefl and graft.]
To engraft by cleaving the stock and inser-
ting a cion. Mortimer.
CLEG, Ji. The horse fly ; Dan. klmg.
CLEM, V. t. [G. klemmen.] To starve.
[J^'bt in use.] Jonson.
CLEM'ENCY, n. [L. dementia, from Clem-
ens, mild, smooth ; whence Fr. demence.
It. demenza, Sp. demencia ; W. llim,
smooth ; Heb. onS to be soft, mild, gentle.]
1. 3Iildness ; sofuiess ; as the clemency of the
air. Dryden.
2. INIildness of temper ; gentleness or lenity
of disposition ; disposition to treat with fa-
vor and kindness.
CLE
CLE
C L I
I pray 'lie^ 'hat thou wouldcst hear lis of tliy
clemency a few words. Acts xxiv.
3. Mercy ; disposition to treat with lenity,
to forgive or to spare, as offenders ; ten-
derness in punishing ; opposed to severity,
harshness, or rigor. Mdison.
CLEM'ENT, a. Mild in temper and dispo-
sition ; gentle ; lenient ; merciful ; kind i
tender ; compassionate.
CLEM'ENTINE, a. Pertauiingto St. Clem-
ent, or to his compilations ; or to the con-
stitutions of Clement the fifth.
CLEM'ENTLY, adv. With mildness of
temper; mercifully. Taylor.
CLENCH. [See Clinch.]
CLEPE, V. t. or i. [Sax. clepan, cleopan, chj-
pan, to cry out ; W. clepiaie, to clack.]|
To call, or name. Obs. Skak.
€LEPSAM'MIA, n. [Gr. x^intu, to hide,
to steal, and o>t/io5, sand.]
An instrument for measuring time by sand,
like an hour glass. Brown
€LEP'SYDRA, n. [L. from Gr. *xt4i.«pa
xT^irtTu, to steal, to hide, and uSwp, water.]
1. A time piece used by the Greeks and Ro
mans, which measured time by the (lis
charge of a certain quantity of water.
Also, a fountain in Greece.
9. A chimical vessel.
€LER'GI€AL, a. Pertaining to the clergy.
[JVot used.] [See Clerical.] Milton
€LER'(iY, ?!. [Fr. clerg^ ; Norm, cler-
kus, clerex, clergy, or clerks, and cler-
gie, literature ; Arm. doer, the plural of
cloarecq, a clerk ; Corn, cloireg ; Ir. cleir,
clergy, and cleirioch, a clerk or clergyman ;
L. clerus, clericus, which would seem to
be from the Gr. x>.»?pof, lot or portion, in
heritance, estate, and the body of those
who perform sacred duties ; whence
x-Krifoa, to choose by lot, to make a clerk,
clericuni facere. In 1 Peter v. Z. the won"
in the plural seems to signify the churcl
or body of believers ; it is rendered God's
heritage. In W. cler signifies teachers or
learned men of thedruidical order; clerig,
belonging to the cler, clerical. It. Sp.
clero, from the Latin. The application
of this word to ministers or ecclesiastica'
teachers seems to have originated in their
possessions, or separate allotments of land ;
or from the Old Testament denomination
of the priests, for the tribe of Levi is there
called the lot, heritage, or inheritance
of the Lord.]
The body of men set apart, and consecrated
by due ordination, to the service of God,
in the christian church ; the body of eccle-
siastics, in distinction from the laity.
Hooker. Encyc.
y. The privilege or benefit of clergy.
If convicted of a clergyable felony, lie is enti
tied equally to his clergy after as before convic
tion. Blackstone
Benefit of clergy, in English law, originally
the exemption of the persons of clergymen
from criminal ]n-ocess before a secul
judge ; or a jirivilege by which a clerk
j)erson in orders claimed to be delivered
to his ordinary to piu-ge himself of felony.
But this privilege has been abridged and
modified by various statutes. See Black-
stone, B. 4. Ch. 98. In the United States,
no benefit of clergy exists.
€LER'tiYABLE, a'. Entitled to or admit-
ting the benefit of clergy ; as a rlergynhh
felonv. " Blackstone
CLER'GYMAN, n. A man in holy orders ;
a man licensed to preach the gospel, ac-
cording to the forms and rules of any par-
ticidardenomination of christians.
CLER'IC, n. A clerk or clergyman.
Horsley.
CLER'ICAL, a. [L. clericus ; Gr. xXi;ptxoi.
See Clergy and Clerk.]
Relating or pertaining to the clergy as cler-
ical tonsure ; clerical robes ; clerical duties.
Blackstone.
€LERK, n. [Sax. cleiic, clerc, clere ; L. cler-
ictis; Gr. x%^fii,xo;. See Clergy.]
1. A clergyman, or ecclesiastic ; a man in
holy orders. ^^yliff^-
2. A man that can read.
Every one that could read — being accounted
clerk. Blackstone.
.3. A man of letters ; a scholar. Sidney. South.
The foregoing significations are found
in the English laws, and histories of the
church ; as in the rude ages of the church,
learning was chiefly confined to the cler-
gy. In modern usage,
1. A writer ; one who is employed in the
use of the pen, in an oflice pubUc or pri
vate, for keeping records, and accounts ;
as the clerk of a court. In some cases
clerk is synonymous with secretary; but
not always. A clerk is always an officer
subordinate to a higher officer, board, cor-
poration or person ; whereas, a secretary
may be either a subordinate officer, or the
head of an office or department.
5. A layman who is the reader of respon
ses ill church service. Johnson.
€LERK'-ALE, n. [clerk and ale.] In Eng
land, the feast of the parish clerk. Warton.
€LERK'LIKE, a. Like a clerk ; learned.
Sl,ak.
€LERK'LY, a. Scholarlike. Cramner.
CLERK'LY, adv. In a learned manner.
Gascoigne.
eLERK'SHIP, n. A state of being in jioly
orders. Blackstone.
2. Scholarship. Johnson
3. The office or business of a clerk or wri-
ter. Swijl.
€LER'OMANCY, n. [Gr. *>.»;po;, lot, and
liavtiia, divination.]
A divination by throwing dice or Httle bones,
and observing the points or marks turneil
np. Bailey.
€LEVE, j) in the composition of names,
€L1F, > denote a jilace situated on or
€LIVE, ) near a chff; on the side of a
hill, rock or precipice ; as Cleveland,
Clifton.
CLE'V'ER, a. [I know not the radical let
ters of this word. If (he elements are clh.
or Ih. the affinities may be Russ. lovkie,
convenient, dextrous, ulovka, dexterity,
craft, lovlyu, to take or seize, as if allied
to Gothic lofa, Ir. lamh, W. Haw, the
hand. In Ir. hih is a thong or loop, a plait
or told, and craft, cunning; luhach, sly
crafty; luham to bend. In Eth. AOt
labuvvi, signifies ingenious, ready, skdful
and the verb, to understand, or be skilful
If V ill clever is from g-, as in many othci
words, the affinities may be Sax. gleaw
knowing, skilful, industrious, wise, whicl
is the G. king, D. kloek, Dan. klog, Sw
kink. Let the reader judge.]
Fit ; suitable ; convenient ; proper ; com
iiiodious. Pope
2. Dextrous ; adroit ; ready ; that iMrfornis
with skill or address. Addison.
3. In JVctt) England, good-natiu-ed, posses-
sing an agreeable mind or disposition.
In Great Britain, this word is applied to
the body or its movements, in its literal
sense ; in America, it is appUed chiefly to
the mind, temper, disposition. In Great
Britain, a clever man is a dextrous man,
one who performs an act with skill or ad-
dress. In JVeiv-Englatid, a clever man is a
man of a pleasing obliging disposition, and
amiable manners, but often implying a
moderate share of talents. Fitness, suit-
ableness, gives both senses analogically :
the former applied to the body ; the latter,
to the mind, or its qualities. It is a collo-
quial word, but sometimes found in res-
pectable writings.
In some of the United States, it is said
this word is applied to the intellect, deno-
ting ingenious, knowing, discerning.
eLEV'ERLY, adv. Fitly ; desirously ; hand-
somely. Butler.
CLEVERNESS, n. Dexterity; adroitness:
skill. Johnson.
2. Mildness or agreeableness of disposition ;
obligingness; good nature. J\nv England.
€LEV'Y, ) [Qii. L. Claris.] An iron
CLEVIS, ^ "■ bent to the form of an ox
bow, with the two ends perforated to re-
ceive a pin, used on the end of a cart-
neap to hold the chain of the forward
horse or oxen ; or a draft iron on a plow.
JVew England.
CLEW, n. [Sax. cleou; cliwe ; D. kluwen ; G.
kloben ; L. glohis. The word signifies a
ball or a lump. In ^Velsh, cloh is a knob
or boss ; clwpa is a club or knob ; clap is
a lump ; all from roots in lb; llob,a. lump,
a lubber.]
1. A ball of thread. Spenser.
2. The thread that forms a ball ; the thread
that is used to guide a person in a laby-
rinth. Hence, any thing that guides or
directs one in an intricate case. Watts.
3. The lower corner of a square sail, and
the aftmost corner of a stay sail. Mar. Did.
CLEW, V. t. In seamanship, to truss up to
the yard, by moans of clew-garnets or
clew-lines, in order to furling.
2. To direct.
CLEW-GARNETS, n. In marine language,
a sort of tackle, or rope and pulley, fasten-
ed to the clews of the main and foresails
to truss them up to the yard.
CLEW'-LINES, n. These are the same tac-
kle, and used for the like purpose as clew-
garnets, but are applied to the smaller
square sails, as the top-sail, top-gallant
and sprit-sails. Mar. Did.
CLICK, V. i. [D. klikken ; Fr. cliqueter, to
crack ; cliquet, a mill-clapper. See CUtck,
to tlie root of which this word belongs.]
Literally, to strike ; hence,
To make a small sharp noise, or rather a
succession of small sharp sounds, as by a
gentle striking.
The solemn death-watch clicked. (ray.
CLICK, n. In seamen's language, a small
piece of iron falling into a notched wheel
attached to the winches in cutters, &c.
Mar. Diet.
CLICK, 71. The latch of a door. [Locai.]
CLICK'ER, n. The servant of a salesman,
who stands at the door to invite custom-
C L I
C L I
C L I
ers ; a low word and not used in the United
States.
CLlCK'ET,n. The knocker of a door. [JM'ot
used in the United States.]
CLICKING, ppr. Making small sharp noi-
€LI'ENT, »i. [Fr.ciient; It. cliente; Sp. id.;
L. cliens.]
1. Among the Romans, a citizen who put
himself under tlie protection of a man of
distinction and influence, who, in respect
to that relation, was called his patron.
Hence in modern usage,
2. One who applies to a lawyer or counsel-
or for advice and direction in a question
of law, or commits his cause to his man-
agement in prosecuting a claim, or defend-
ing against a suit, iu a court of justice.
Bacon. Taylor.
3. A dependent. B. Joiison.
€LI'ENTAL, a. Dependent. [Unusual]
Burke.
CLI'ENTED, fl. Supplied with clients.
Carew.
CLI'ENTSHIP, n. The condition of a cli-
ent ; a state of being under the protection
of a patron. [Clientele is not used.]
Dn/den.
€LIFF, n. [Sax. clif, clvf, or clcof; D'. klif,
or klip ; G. and liau.'klippe ; Svv. kiippa ;
W. dip; L. clivus ; probably from cleaving.
Sax. Aifian, cleojkm.]
1. A steep bank; as the cliffs of Dover. So
in Saxon, the cliff's of the Red Sea.
Orosius, supposed by Alfred.
5. A liigh and steep rock ; any precipice.
Bacon. Dryden.
This word has been sometimes writteii clijt.
and if from cleaving, rending, coincides
with cleft in origin.
CLIFF, in nuisic. [See Clef.]
CLIFF'Y, a. Having cliffs ; broken ; crag-
gy. Harmar.
CLIFT'ED, a. Broken. Congreve.
CLlMAC'raR, n. [Gr. xxiiuoxfjyp, the stej
of a ladder, from xxtjuol, a ladder or scale ;
L. climacter.]
1. A critical year in human life ; but climac-
teric is more generally used.
2. A certain sjmce of time. [JVot used.]
Brown
CLIMACTERIC, a. [Gr. x\ifiaxTi;fixai : L
climactericus, from climax, a ladder. See
Climax.]
Literally, notmg a scale, progres^iion, or gra-
dation ; appropriately, denoting a critical
period of human life, or a certain nmnber
<jf yeai-s, at the end of which a great
■ liange is supposed to take place iii the
human constitution. [See the Noun.]
CLIMACTERIC, n. A critical period in
human life, or a period in which
great change is supposed to take place in
the human constitution. The critical pe-
riods are supjiosed by some persons to be
the years produced by multiplying 7 into
the odd numbers 3, 5, 7, and 9 ; to which
others add the 81st year. The 63d year
is called the grand climacteric. It has
been supposed that these periods are at-
tended with some remarkable change in
respect to health, life or fortune.
Brown. Dryden. Pope
CLIMATARCH'IC, a. [Gr. xUfia, climate,
and opj;);, dominion.] Presiding over cli-
mates. Patis. Trans. .\'otc.
Vol. r.
CLI'MATE, n. [Gr. *Jit/w» ; whence L. cH-
ma ,• It. Sp. clima ; Fr. cltTnat. (iu. from
Gr. itvi'M), to lean or incline, or the root ol
climax.]
1. In geography, a part of the surface of the
earth, bouiulcd by two circles parallel to
the equator, and of such a breadth that
the longest day in the parallel nearest the
pole is half an hour longer than that near-
est to the equator. The beginning of a
climate is a parallel circle in which the
longest day is half an hour shorter than
that at the end. The climates begin at
the equator, where the day is 12 hours
long ; and at the end of the first climate
the longest day is 124 hours long, and this
increase of half an hour constitutes a cli-
mate, to the polar circles; from whicii
climates are measured by the increase of
a montli. Johnson. Encyc.
2. In a popular sense, a tract of land, region
or country, differing from another in the
temperature of the an- ; or any region or
country with respect to the temperature
of the air, the seasons, and their peculiar
qualities, without any regard to the length
of the (lays, or to geographical position
Thus we say, a warm or cold climate ; a
moist or dry climate ; a happy climate
genial climate ; a mountainous climate.
CLI'MATE, V. i. To dwell ; to reside in a
particular region.
Shak. Hist, of St. Domingo.
[LilfJe used, and hardly legitimate.]
CLIMAT'IC, I Pertaming to a climate
!CLIMAT'ICAL, ^ "' or chmates ; limited
I bv a climate. .S. S. Smith.
CLi'MATURE, n. A chmate. [LiMe used.
Shak
CH'MAX, n. [Gr. x^Kl^lai^, a scale or ladder ;
L. climax ; perhaps from the root of the
W. llamu, to step, stride, leap. Ham, a
step, stride, leap, Ir. leimim, leim, or from
the root of climb.]
1. Gradation ; ascent ; a figure of rhetoric,
in which a sentence rises as it were, step
by step ; or in which the expression which
ends one member of the period, begins the
second, and so on, till the period is finish-
ed ; as in the following : " When we have
practiced good actions a while, they be-
come easy ; and when they are easy, we
begin to take pleasure in them ; and when
they please us, we do them frequently ;
and by frequency of acts, tliey grow into
a habit." Tillotson.
2. A sentence, or series of sentences, in
which the successive members or senten-
ces rise in force, importance or dignity, to
the close of the sentence or series.
Dryden.
CLIMB, V. i. clime, pret.' and pp. climbed,
or clomb, but the latter is not elegant.
[Sax. climan, or climhan ; D. klimmen ; G.
rrf. The corresponding word m Dan. is
klyver ; Sw. klifwa.]
1. 'to creep up by little and little, or step by
step; to mount or ascend, by means of the
hands and feet ; to rise on any fixed ob-
ject, by seizing it with the hands and hft-
ing the body, and by thrusting with the
feet ; as, to climb a tree or a precipice.
Ami he ran before anil climbed up into a syc-
aniore tree. Luke xLx.
2. To mount or ascend with labor and diffi-
rultv. Shak.
39
3. To rise or ascend with a slow motion.
Black vapors cUmb aloft. Vrydcn.
CLIMB, V. t. To ascend by means of the
hands and feet, implying labor, diflieulty
and slow progress ; as, to climb a wall, or
a steep mountain. Prior.
2. To mount or ascend, with labor or a slow
motion ; as, to climb the ascents of fame.
Prior.
CLIMBABLE, a. That may be climbed.
Sherwood.
CLIMBED, pp. Ascended by the use of the
hands and feet ; ascended with labor.
CLIMBER, n. One who chmbs, mounts or
rises, by the hands and feet ; one who ri-
ses by labor or effort.
2. A plant that creeps and rises on some
support. Mortimer.
CLIMBER, r. i. [from climb, or a different
orthography of clamber.]
To climb ; to mount with effort. [JVot used.]
Tusser.
CLIMBING, ppr. Ascending by the use of
the hands and feet ; ascending with diffi-
culty.
CLIM"BING, n. The act of ascending.
CLIME, n. [from climate, or directly from
Gr. and L. clima.]
A climate ; a tract or region of the earth ;
a poetical word, but sometimes used in
prose. [See Climate.]
Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms.
Milton.
CLINCH, V. t. [D. klinken, to clink or rivet ;
klink, a latch, a rivet ; Dan. klinke, a latch ;
Sw. klinka ; Fr. clenche ; allied to cling,
link, W. elided, a latch.]
1. To grij>c with the hand ; to make fast by
bending over, folding, or embracing close-
ly. Thus, to clinch a nail, is to bend the
point and drive it closely. To clinch the
hand or fist, is to contract the fingers
closely into the palm of the hand. To
clinch an instrument, is to close the fin-
gers and thumb round it, and hold it fast.
2. To fix or fasten ; to make firm ; as, to
clinch an argument.
CLINCH, ji. A word used in a double mean-
ing ; a pun ; an ambiguity ; a dupUcity of
meaning, with identity of expression.
Johnson.
Here one poor word a hundred clinches
makes. Pope.
j2. A witty, ingenious reply. Bailey.
3. In seamen's language, the part of a cable
which is fastened to the ring of an anchor ;
a kind of knot and seizings, used to fasten
a cable to the ring of an anchor, and the
britching of a gun to the ring bolts in a
ship's side. Mar. Diet.
CLINCH'ED, pp. Made fast by doubhng or
embracing closely.
CLINCH'ER, n. That which chnches ; a
cramp or piece of iron bent dowTi to fas-
ten any thing. Pope.
2. One who makes a smart reply. Bailey.
3. That which makes fast.
1 1. INCH F.K-r.lILT, } Made of chnch-
CMNK KIMil'ILT, ^ "• er work.
CLIMIl 1:R-W0RK, n. In shipbuilding,
the disposition of Uie planks in the side of
a boat or vessel, when the lower edge of
every plank overlays the next below it,
like slates on the roof a house.
.Mar. Diet.
C L
C L O
C L O
€LINCH'ING, ppr. Making fast by doub-
ling over or embracing closely ; griping
with the fist.
CLING, t'. I. ]>ret. and pp. clung. [Sax.
clh2gan, to adhere and to wither ; Dan.
klynger, to grow in clusters ; klynge, a
heap or cluster. See the transitive verb
below.]
1. To adhere closely; to stick to ; to hold
fast upon, especially by winding round or
embracing ; as, the tendril of a vine clings
to its support.
Two babes of love close clinging to her waist.
Pope.
9. To adhere closely ; to stick to ; as a vis-
cous substance. Wiseman.
n. To adhere closely and firmly, in interest
or aftection ; as, men of a party c/t?ig- to
their leader.
CLING, V. t. To dry up, or wither.
Till famine cling Uiee. Shak
III Saxon, clingan is rendered to fade or
wither, marcesco, as well as to cling. In
this sense is usedforclingan, pp. forclun-
gen. The radical sense then appears to
be, to eontract or draw together ; and dry-
ing, withering, is expressed by shrinking,
[The latter -use of the ivord is obsolete.]
CLING'ING, ppr. Adhering closely ; stick-
ing to ; winding round and holding to.
CLING' V, a. Apt to cling; adhesive.
CLIN'IC, ) [Gr. xT.ii'ixos, fi-om xJ-h)?, a
CLIN'ICAL, I "■ bed, froin xlwu, to recline.
See Lean.]
In a general sense, pertaining to a bed. A
rlinical lecture is a discourse delivered at
the bed-side of the sick, or from notes ta-
ken at the bed-side, by a physician, with a
view to practical instruction in the heal-
ing art. Clinical medicine is the practice
of medicine on patients in bed, or in hos-
pitals. A clinical convert is a convert on
his death-bed. Anciently persons receiv-
ing baptism on their death-beds were
called clinics. Coxe. Encyc. Taylor.
CLIN'le, Ji. One confined to the bed by
sickness.
CLINICALLY, adv. In a clinical manner ;
by the bed-side.
CLINK, V. t. [Sw. klinga ; Dan. hlinger,
klinker ; D. klinken ; G. klingen. This
seems to be a dialectical orthography of
clang, clank, L. clango, and if n is not rad-
ical, they coincide with clack, click, witl
the radical sense, to strike.]
To ring or jingle ; to utter or make a small
sharp sound, or a succesj^ion of such
sounds, as by striking small metallic or
other sonorous bodies together.
Prior. Gay.
€LINK, n. A sharp sound, made by the col-
lision of small sonorous bodies. Spenser
according to Johnson, uses the word for a
knocker.
■eLINK'ING, ppr. Making a small sharp
sound, or succession of sounds.
CLINK'STONE, n. [dink and stone, from
its sonorousness. See Phonolite.]
A mineral which has a slaty structure, and
is generally divisible into tabular ma!
usually thick, sometimes thin like those of
argillite. The cross fracture is commonly
splintery. Its colors are dark greenisl
gray, yellowish, bluish, or ash gray ; and
it is usually translucent at the edges,
sometimes opake. It occurs in extensive
masses, often composed of columnar or
tabular distinct concretions, more or less
regular. It is usually found among sec-
ondary rocks ; sometimes resting on ba-
salt, and covered by greenstone.
Cleaveland.
CLINOM'ETER, n. [Gr. x\wo>, to lean, and
fLitpov, measure.]
An instrument tor measuring the dip of min-
eral strata. Ure.
CLINa'UANT, a. [Fr.] Dressed in tinsel
finery. [M'ot English.] Shak.
CLIP, V. t. [Sax. clypan ; Dan. klipper ; Sw.
klippa. The sense seems to be, to strike,
to cut off by a sudden stroke. The Danish
word signifies not only to cut oft' with scis-
sors, but to wink or twinkle with the eyes.
In our popular dialect, a clip is a blow or
stroke ; as, to hit one a clip. Cut is used
in a like sense. The radical sense then
is, to strike or drive with a sudden effort,
thrust or spring.]
To cut off" with shears or scissors ; to sep-
arate by a sudden stroke ; especially to cut
off the ends or sides of a thing, to make it
shorter or narrower, in distinction from
shaving and paring, which are performec
by rubbing the instrument close to the
thing shaved ; as, to clip the hair ; to clip
wings.
But love had clipped his wings and cut
short. Dry den,
2. To diminish coin by paring the edge.
Locke.
3. To curtail ; to cut short. Mdison.
4. To confine, hmit, restrain, or hold ; to
ig. [Little used.] Shak.
To clip it, is a vulgar phrase in New England
for to run with speed. So cut is used :
cut on, run fast. This seems to be the
meaning in Dryden.
Some falcon stoops at what her eye designed,
And with her eagerness the quarry ndssed.
Straight flies at clieck, and clips it down the
wind.
This sense would seem to be allied to
that of leap.
CLIP, n. A blow or stroke with the hand ;
as, lie hit him a clip. JVew- England.
An embrace ; that is, a throwing the arms
round. Sidney
CLIPPED, CLIPT, pp. Cut off; cut short ;
curtailed ; diminished by paring.
CLIP'PER, n. One who clips ; especially
one who cuts oft' the edges of coin.
Mdiwn.
CLIP'PING, ppr. Cutting oft" or shortening
with shears or scissors ; diminishing coin
by parinc off the edges; curtailing.
CLIP'PING, n. The act of cutting off, cur-
tailing or diminishing.
i. That which is clipped off; a piece sepa-
rated by clipping. Locke.
CLIVERS, n. A plant, the Galium aparine ;
called also goose-grass, or hairiff. It has
a square, rough, jointed stem ; the joint.«
hairy at the base ; with eight or ten nar-
row leaves at each joint.
Encuc. Fam. of Plants.
CLOAK. [See Cloke.]
CLO'CHARD, n. [from clock, Fr. cloche.]
A belfry. [ATot ttsed.] ffeeV'
CLOCK, n. [Sax. clugga, clucga; D. klok ;
G. klocke; Dan. klokke; Sw. klocka ; Fi
clocht ; Arm. clock, or clech ; Ir. clog ; ^V
clue ; properly a bell, and uumed from its
sound, from striking. It coincides in ori-
gin with clack and cluck, L. ghcio, Ch. i )i.
Class Lg. No. 27. See Cluck.]
A machine, consisting of wheels moved
by weights, so constructed that by a uni-
form vibration of a pendulum, it measures
time, and its divisions, hours, minutes and
seconds, with great exactness. It indi-
cates the hour by the stroke of a small
hammer on a bell.
The phrases, what o'clock is it ? it is
nine o'clock, seem to be contracted from
j what of the clock'.' it is nine of the clock.
2. A figure or figured work in the ankle of
I a stockinff. Swift.
ICLOCK, t.. t. To call. [See Cluck.]
jCLOCK'-MAKER, n. An artificer whose
I occupation is to make clocks.
CLOCK'-SETTER, n. One who regulates
I the clock. [Al'ot used.] Shak.
CLOCK-WORK, n. The machinery and
movements of a clock; or that part of the
movement which strikes the hours on a
bell, in distinction from that part wh.ch
measures and exhibits the time on the face
or dial plate, which is called watch-work.
Encyc.
|2. Well adjusted work, with regular move-
j ment. Prior.
,CLOD, n. [D. kiuit, a clod ; G. Uots ; Dan.
I klods ; Sw. klot, a log, stock, or stump ;
Dan. klode, D. kloot, a ball ; G. loth, a ball;
D. lood, lead, a ball ; Sw. and Dan. lod, id.;
W. cluder, a heap. Clod and clot seem to
be radically one word, signifying a mass
or lump, from collecting or bringing to-
gether, or from condensing, setting, fix-
ing. In Sax. dud, a rock or hill, may be
from the same root. See Class Ld. No. 8.
9. 10. 16. 26. 35. 3G. 40. Qu. Gr. xJuoflu, to
form a ball.]
1. A hard lump of earth, of any kind ; a
mass of earth cohering. Bacon. Dryden.
2. A lump or mass of metal. [Little used.]
Milton.
3. Turf; the ground. Swift.
4. That which is earthy, base and vile, as
the body of nian compared to his soul.
Milton. Glanville. Burnet.
5. A dull, gross, stupid fellow ; a dolt.
Dniden.
6. Any thing concreted. Carew.
CLOD, V. i. To collect into concretions, or
a thick mass ; to coagulate ; as clodded
gore. Milton.
[See Clot, which is more generally used.}
CLOD, V. t. To pelt with clods.
CLOD'DY, o. Consisting of clods; abound-
ing with clods.
a. Earthy ; mean ; gross. Shak.
CLOD'HOPPER, n. A clown; a dolt.
CLOD'PATE, n. A stupid fellow ; a dolt ;
a Ihiokskull.
CLOD'PATED, o. Stupid; dull; doltish.
Jh-buthnot.
CLOD' POLL, 71. A stupid fellow; a dolt ; a
blockhead. Shak.
CLOG, V. t. [W. cleg, a limip ; dug, a swell-
ing, roundness; clog, a large stone; Uoc,
a monn<l, a dam ; Hog, an augment ; Uogi,
to make compact, to hire, h. loco; Ir. loc,
a stop ; locaim, to hinder. These coincide
with Eng. lock, in jirimary sense, or may
be from the same root. But dog, though
of the s-y.mo family, seems not to be direct-
ly dtri\ed from either of these words.]
I
C L O
1. To load or fill with something that retards
or hinders motion ; as, to clog tlie chan-
nel of a river ; to clog a passage.
9. To put on any thing that encumbers, with
a view to hinder or restrain leaping ; to
shackle ; as, to clog a beast.
3. To load with any thing that encumbers ;
to burden ; to embarrass ; as, to clog com-
merce with impositions or restrictions.
Mdison.
4. To obstruct natural motion, or render it
difficult; to hinder; to impede.
CLOG, V. i. To coalesce ; to unite and ad-
hero in a cluster or mass.
Move it sometimes with a broom, that the
pceds clog not together. Evelyn.
i. To form an accretion ; to be loaded or en-
cumbered with extraneous matter.
The teeth of the saw will begin to clog.
Sharp
CLOG, n. Any thing put ujion an animal to
hinder motion, or leaping, as a piece ot]
wood fastened to his leg.
2. An encumbrance ; that which Innders
motion, or renders it difficult ; hindrance
impediment
C L O
2. a. Solitary ; retired from the world. 1
Shak.\
3. Built with peristyles or piazzas ; inclosed.!
Wotlon.
CLOIS'TERING, ppr. Shutting uj) in a
monastery ; confining ; secluding from the
world.
CLOISTRESS, n. A nun ; a woman who
iias vowed religious retirement. [Littk
nie.d.] Shak.
CLOKE, n. [Sax. lack. In D. taken, Chau-
cer, lake is cloth.]
1. A loose outer garment worn over other
clothes both by men and women.
He was clad with zeal as a cloke. Is. lix.
2. A cover ; that which conceals; a disguise
or pretext ; an excuse ; a fair pretense.
Not using your liberty for a cloke of mali-
ciousness. 1 Peter ii.
They have no cloke for their sin. Johuxv.
CLOKE, ti. t. To cover with a cloke.
2. To hide ; to conceal ; to use a false cov-
ering. Spenser.
CLO'KE-BAG, n. A bag in which a cloke
or other clothes are carried ; a portman-
teau. Shak
CLO'KED, ;);). Covered with a cloke; con
aled under a cover.
3. [ Qu. Fr. claque ; Sp. Port, galocha ; Arm
gdoig.] A wooden shoe ; also, a sort of
patten worn by ladies to keep their feel
dry in wet weather.
CLOG'GED, pp. Wearing a clog ; shack
led ; obstructed ; loade.l with incum
brance. ^ , .
CLOG'GINESS, n. The state of bemg
clogged.
CLOG'GING, ppr. Putting on a clog ; load-
ing with incumbrance ; obstructing ; im-
peding.
CLOG'GY, a. That clogs, or has power to
clog ; thick ; gross.
CLOIS'TER, n. [Fr. cloltre; Sax. claustr,
or cluster ; Arm. claustr, or cloestr ; Sp
claustro ; It. ctaustro, or chiostro ; D. kloos-
Itr ; G. klosler ; Dan. and Sw. klostcr ; W.
claws, clwys; Ir. ctabhstur ; L. claustrum,
from clausus, pp. of claudo. See Eng
Close.]
1. Literally, a close; a close, or inclosed
place. A monastery or nunnery ; a house
inhabited by monks or nuns. In a more
limited sense, the principal part of a regu-
lar monastery, consisting of a square
erected between the church, the chapter-
house and the refectory, and over which
is the dormitory. The proper use of the
cloister is for the monks to meet in for con-
versation. The cloister is square, and has
its name from being inclosed on its four
sides with buildings. Hence in architec
ture, a building is said to be in the form
of a cloister, when there are buildings
on each of the four sides of the court.
Encyc
•2. A ])eristyle ; a piazza. Johnson.
CLOIS'TER, V. t. To confine
or monastery.
7. To shut up ; to confine closely within
walls; to immure ; to shut up in retire-
ment from the world. Bacon
CLOIS'TERAL, a. Confined to a cloister
retired from the world ; recluse.
CLOISTERED, pp. Shut up i
iuliabitlng a monastery.
CLO'KING, ppr. Covering with a cloke
hiding under an external covering.
CLOMB, prel. of climb.
CLONG, old part, of cling.
CLON'IC, a. [Gr. xXoioj, a shaking or ir-
regular motion.]
Shaking ; convulsive ; irregular ; as clonic
spasm. Coxe.
eLOOM, V. I. [Sax. cta:man.] To close witli
glutinous matter. [Local.] Mortimer
CLOSE, r. t. s as :. [Fr. clos ; Arm. verb
closa, or closein ; part, closet; from the L.
participle clausiis, of claudo, to shut; Fr.
clorre ; It. cliiudere,chiuso ; D. kluis, an m-
closure. The D. shiiten, G. schliessen,
schloss, Dan. stutter, Sw. sluta, are from the
same root, with a prefix. Gr. xXfiu, for
xJt«i6ou, wlience xXm, a key, clavis, that
which shuts or fastens ; W. claws, clunja, a
close, a cloister ; Sax. Idid, a lid, the
shutter ; htidan, to cover ; Ir. cteithim,
ctudaim. See Class Ld. No. 1. 8. 9. 10.]
To shut; to make fast, by pressing t
gether, or by stopping an ojien place, so as
to intercejit a passage, in almost any man-
ner ; as, to close the eyes ; to close a gate
door or window. In these and other ca
ses, cl^).nn^ is performed by bringing an
object before the opening. To close •■
book, is to bring the parts together.
The Lord hatli closed your eyes. Is. xxix.
He closed the book. Luke iv.
2. To end ; to finish ; to conclude ; to com-
plete ; to bring to a period ; as, to close a
bargain, or contract. '
One frugal supper did our studies close.
Di-yden.
[3. To unite, as the parts of a breach or frac-
ture ; to make whole ; to consolidate ; of-
ten followed by up.
The Lord closed up the flesh instead thereof.
Gen. ii.
4. To cover ; to inclose ; to encompass ; to
overwhelm.
The depths closed me round about. Jonah ii,
5. To inclose ; to confine. [See Indose.]
}y„tton.\\6- To move or bring together ; to unite sep-
a cloister ; "rate bodies or parts ; as, to dose the ranks
of an army.
C L O
CLOSE, V. i. s as 2. To unite ; to coalesce :
to come together ; as the parts of a wound
or fracture, or [larts separated; often fol-
lowed by on or upon.
The lal closed upon tlie blade. Judges iii.
The earth closed upon them. Num. xvi.
To end ; to termhiate, or come to a peri-
od ; as, the debate closed at six o'clock.
To close on or upon, to come to a mutual
agreement ; to agree on or join in.
France and Holland might close upon some
measures to our disadvantage. Temple.
To close with, to accede to ; to consent or
agree to ; as, to close with the terms propo-
sed. When followed by the person with
whom an agreement is made, to make an
agreement with ; to unite with ; as, to close
with an enemy.
He took the time when Richard was deposed.
And high and low with happy Harry closed.
Dry den.
In this sense, to close in u-ith is less ele-
gant.
To close with.
To close in untli., , „ . .
a contest; applied to wrestlers, when they
come to close embrace for scuffling.
CLOSE, n. a as :. An inclosed place ; any
place surrounded by a fence or other body
which defends or confines it, particularly
a field, or portion of land.
Conclusion ; termination ; final end ; as
the dose of life ; the dose of day or night.
3. A temporal^ finishing; a pause; rest;
cessation ; intermission.
At every close she made, th' attending throng
RepHed, and bore the burden of the song.
Drydeii
4. The manner of shutting.
The doors of plank were ; their close exqui-
site. Chapman.
to unite ; to join closely ;
ajiple, as persons in
5. A grapple in wrestling. Bacon.
CLOSE, a. Shut fast ; tight ; made fast, so
as to have no opening ; as a dose box ; a
dose vizard.
2. Having jiarts firmly united ; compact ;
dense ; applied to solid substances of any
kind ; as the close texture of wood or me-
tal.
3. Having parts firmly adhering ; viscous ;
tenacious ; as oil, or glue. fVitkins.
4. Confined ; stagnant ; without ventilation
or motion ; as dose air.
5. Confined ; retired.
While David kept hunseh close. 1 Chroii.
6. Hid ; private ; secret ; as, to keep a pur-
pose dose. Numb. v. Luke ix.
7. Confined within narrow limits ; narrow ;
as a dose alley.
|8. Near ; within a small distance ; as a dose
fight or action.
>. Joined ; in contact or nearly so ; crowd-
ed ; as, to sit close.
10. Compressed, as thoughts or words ;
hence, brief; concise ; opposed to loose or
diffuse.
Where the original is close, no version can
reach it in the same compass. Dryden.
11. Very near, in place or time ; adjoining,
or nearly so.
I saw him come close to the ram. Dan. viii.
They sailed close by Crete. Acts xxvii.
Some dire misfortune follows close behind.
Pope.
12. Having the quality of keeping secrets,
thoughts or designs; cautious; as a dose
C L O
C L O
C L O
iniiiister. Hence iii friendship, trusty ;
confidential. Shak.
13. Having an appearance of concealment ;
implying art, craft or wariness ; as a close
aspect. Shak.
U. Intent; fixed; attentive ; pressing upon
the object ; as, to give close attention.
Keep your mind or thoughts close to the bu-
siness or subject. Locke.
l.*). Full to the point ; home; pressing; as a
dose argument ; bring the argument close
to the question. Dryden.
1(). Pressing; earnest; warm; as a do«c de-
bate.
17. Confined; secluded from communica-
tion ; as a close prisoner.
18. Covetous; penurious; not liberal; as a
close man.
lit. Applied to the weather or air, close, in
popular language, denotes warm and
damp, cloudy or foggy, or warm and re-
laxing, occasioning a sense of lassitude
and depression. Perhaps originally, con-
fined air.
10. Strictly adhering to the original ; as a
close translation.
^l. In heraldry, drawn in a coat of arms
with the wings close, and in a standing
posture. Bailey.
CLOSE, adv. Closely; nearly; densely:
secretly ; pressingly.
Behind her deatli
C/osp foUoH-cd, pace tor pace. .Milton.
CLOSE-BANDED, a. Being in close order ;
closely united. Milton.
CLOSE-BODIED, a. Fitting the body ex-
actly ; setting close; as a garment.
.lyliffe.
eLOSE-eOMPACT'ED, a. Being in cjom-
pact order ; compact. Addison.
CLOSE-COUCHED, a. Quite concealed.
Milton.
CLOSE-CURTAINED, «. Inclosed or sur-
rounded with curtains. Milton.
CLOSE-FISTED, a. Covetous ; niggardly.
Berkeley.
CLOSE-HANDED, a. Covetous; penuri-
ous. Ucde.
CLOSE-HANDEDNESS, n. Covetousness.
Holyday.
CI,OSE-HAULED, a. In seajnanship, hav-
ing the tacks or lower corners of the sails
drawn close to the side to windward, and
the sheets hauled close aft, in sailing near
the wind. Encyc.
CLOSE-PENT, a. Shut close. Dryden.
CLOSE-QUARTERS, n. Strong barriers
of wood used in a ship for defense when
the ship is hoarded. Mar. Diet.
CLOSE-STOOL, n. A chamber utensil for
the conveAience of the sick and infirm.
CLOSE-TONGUED, a. Keeping silence ;
cautious in speaking. Shak
CLO'SED, pp. s as :. Shut ; made fast ;
ended ; concluded.
CLO'SELY, adv. In a close, compact man
ner ; with the parts united, or pressed to-
gether, so as to leave no vent ; as a cruci-
ble closely luted.
tj. Nearly ; with httle space intervening
applied to space or time ; as, to follow closely
at one's heels ; one event follows closely
upon another.
3. Intently ; attentively ; with the mind or
thoughts fixed ; with near inspection; as.
to look or attend closely.
4. Secretly f slyly. [JVo< much used.] Carew.
5. With near aflfection, attachment or inter-
est ; intimately ; as, men closely connected
in friendship ; nations closely allied by
treaty.
6. Strictly ; witliin close limits ; without
communication abroad ; as a prisoner close-
ly confined.
7. With strict adherence to the original ; as,
to translate closely.
CLO'SENESS, n. The state of being shut,
pressed together, or united. Hence ac-
cording to the nature of the thing to which
the word is appUed,
3. Compactness; soUdity; as the closeness of
texture in wood or fossils. Bacon.
3. Narrowness ; straitness ; as of a place.
4. Tightness in building, or in apai-tments ;
firmness of texture in cloth, &c.
5. Want of ventilation ; applied to a close
oni, or to the air confined in it. Sivift.
6. Confinement or retirement of a person ;
recluseness ; solitude. Shak.
7. Reserve in intercourse ; secrecy ; priva-
cy ; caution. Bacon.
Covetousness; penuriousness. Mdison.
9. Connection ; near union ; intimacy, wheth-
er of friendship, or of interest ; as the close-
ness of friendship, or of alliance.
10. Pressure; urgency; variously applied;
as the closeness of an agreement, or of de-
bate ; the closeness of a question or inquiry.
IL Adherence to an original ; as the close-
ness of a version.
CLO'SER, n. s as:. A finisher ; one who
concludes.
CLO'SER, a. comp. of close. More close.
CLO'SEST, rt. superl. of close. Most close.
In these words, * has its proper sound.
CLOS'ET, n. « as z. A small room or
apartment for retu-ement ; any room for
privacy.
Wlicn thou prayest, enter into thy closet.
Mat. vi.
2. An apartment for curiosities or valuable
thing.s. Dryden.
3. A small close apartment or recess in the
side of a room for repositing utensils and
furniture.
CLOS'ET, V. t. s as :. To shut up in a clo-
set ; to conceal ; to take into a private
apartment for consultation.
Herbert. Swift.
CLOS'ETED, pp. s as :. Shut up m a clos-
et ; concealed.
CLOS'ETING, ppr. s as z. Shutting up in
a private room ; concealing.
CLOS'ET-SIN, n. cloz'et-sin. Sm commit-
ted in privacy. Bp. Hall.
CLOSII, n. A disease in the feet of cattle,
called also the founder, Bailey.
CLO'SING, ppr. s as 2. Shutting; coales-
cing ; agreeing ; ending.
CLO'SING, a. s as z. That ends or con-
cludes ; as a closing word or letter.
CLO'SING, n. s as z. End ; period ; con-
clusion.
CLO'SURE, n. clo'zhur. The act of shut-
ting ; a closing. Boyle.
2. That which closes, or shuts ; that by
vvliich separate parts are fastened or made
to adhere. Pope.
3. Inclosure ; that which confines. Shak.
4. Conclusion. Shak.
CLOT, n. [See Clod.] A concretion, par-
ticularly of soft or fluid matter, which con-
cretes into a mass or lump ; as a clot of
blood. CVorf and clot appear to be radi-
cally the same word ; but we usually ap
ply clod to a hard mass of earth, and clot
to a mass of solter substances, or fluids
concreted.
CLOT, V. i. To concrete ; to coagulate, as
soft or fluid matter into a thick, inspissa-
ted mass ; as. milk or blood clots.
2. To form into clots or clods ; to adliere ;
as, clotted glebe. Philips.
CLOT-BIRD, n. The common cenanthe
or English ortolan.
CLOT'-BUR, n. [G. klette.] Burdock.
CLOTH, n. clawth. [Sax. clath; D. kleed,
cloth, and kleeden, to clothe ; G. khid, kleid-
en; Sw. klhde, klada ; Dan. kla:de, klceder.
The plural is regular, cloths ; but when it
signifies garments, it is written clothes.]
1. A manufacture or stuff of wool or hair, or
of cotton, flax, hemp or other vegetable
filaments, formed by weaving or intertex-
ture of threads, and used fijr garments or
other covering and for various other pur-
poses ; as woolen cloth, linen cloth, cotton
cloth, hair cloth.
2. Tlie covering of a table ; usually called a
tablecloth. Pope.
3. The canvas on which pictures arff drawn.
Dryden.
4. A texture or covering put to a particular
use ; as a cloth of state. Hayward.
5. Dress ; raiment. [See Clothes.]
I'll ne'er distrust my God for cloth and bread.
Quarles.
6. The covering of a bed. [JVot used.]
Prior.
CLOTHE. j>. t. pret. and pp. clothed, or clad.
[See Cloth.]
1. To put on garments ; to invest the body
with raiment ; to cover with dress, for con-
cealing nakedness and defending the body
from cold or injuries.
The Lord God made coats of skin and clothed
them. Gen. iii.
2. To cover with something ornamental.
Embroidered purple clothes the golden beds.
Pope.
But clothe, without the aid of otiier
words, seldom signifies to adorn. In this
example from Pope, it signifies merely to
cover.
3. To furnish with raiment ; to provide with
clothes ; as, a master is to feed and clothe
his apprentice.
4. To put on ; to invest ; to cover, as with a
garment ; as, to clothe thoughts with words.
I will clothe her priests with salvation. Ps.
cxxxii.
Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Prov. x-fiii.
Let them be clothed with shame. Ps. xxxv.
I. To invest ; to surround ; to encompass.
The Lord is clothed with majesty. Ps. xciii.
Thou art clothed with honor and majesty.
Ps. civ.
1. To invest ; to give to by commission ; as,
to clothe with power or authority.
'. To cover or spread over ; as, the earth is
clothed with verdure.
CLOTHE, V. i. To wear clothes.
Care no more lo clothe and eat Shak.
CLOTHED, pp. Covered with garments;
dressed ; invested ; furnished with cloth-
ing.
CLOTHES, n. phi. of cloth ; pronounced
cloze. Garments for the human body :
C L O
C L O
C L O
iress ; Tcstments ; vesture ; a general
term for whatever covering is worn, or
made to be worn, for decency or comfort.
If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be
whole. Mark v.
2. The covering of a bed ; bed-clothes.
Prior.
CLOTHIER, n. dothytr. In English au-
thors, a man who makes cloths ; a maker
of cloth. Johnson. In tin's sense, J believe
it is not used in the U. States ; certainly not
in JVew England.
Q. In America, a man whose occupation is to
full and dress cloth.
■CLOTHING, ppr. Covering with or putting
on vestments of any kind ; providing with
garments ; investing ; covering.
CLOTHING, n. Garments in general ;
clothes ; dress ; raiment ; covering.
As for me — my clothing was sackcloth. Ps.
XXXV.
2. The art or practice of making cloth. [Un-
usual.]
The king took measures to instruct the refu-
gees from Flanders in the art of clothing. Ray
CLOTH-SHEARER, n. One who shears
cloth, and frees it from superfluous nap.
CLOTH-WORKER, n. A maker of cloth
Scott.
CLOT'POLL, n. A thickskull ; a block-
head. [See Clod-poll.]
CLOT'TED, pp. Concreted into a mass
inspissated ; adhering in a lump.
CLOT'TER, V. i. [from clot.] To concrete
or gather into lumps. Dryden
CLOT'TING, pf)r. Concreting ; inspissa-
ting ; forming nito clots.
CLOTTY, a. [from clot.-] Full of clots, or
small hard masses ; fiill of concretions, or
clods.
CLOUD, n. [I have not found this word in
any other language. The sense is obvi-
ous— a collection.]
1. A collection of visible vapor, or watery
particles, suspended in the atmosphere, at
some altitude. A like collection of va-
pors near the earth is usually called /og-.
Locke.
I do set my bow in tlic cloud. Gen. ix.
Behold, a white cloud. Rev. xiv.
2. A state of obscurity or darkness.
Waller. Addison.
3. A collection of smoke, or a dense collec-
tion of dust, rising or floating in the air
as a cloud of dust.
A clowl of incense. Ezck. viii.
4. The dark or varied colors, in veins or
spots, on stones or other bodies, arc called
clouds.
o. A great multitude ; a vast collection.
Seeing wc are encompassed with so great
cloud of witnesses. Heb. xii.
CLOUD, V. i. To overspread with a cloud
or clouils ; as, the sky is clouded ; clouds
intercept the rays of the sun. Hence,
2. To obscure ; to darken ; as, to cloud thi
day, or truth, or reason.
3. To darken in veins or spots ; to variegate
with colors ; as clouded marble.
4. To make of a gloomy aspect ; to give the
appearance of sullenness.
What sullen fury clouds his scornful brow.
Pope.
5. To sully; to tarnish. Shak
CLOUD, V. i. To grow cloudy ; to become
obscure with clouds ; sometimes followed
by over ; as, the sky clouds over.
CLOUD-ASCEND'ING, a. Ascending to the
clouds. Sandys.
CLOUD'-BERRY, n. A plant, called also
knot-berry ; Rubus chamamorus.
CLOUD -BORN, a. Born of a cloud.
Dryden.\
CLOUD'-CAPT, a. [cloud and cap.] Capped!
with clouds ; touching the clouds ; lofty.j
The cloud-capt towers. Shak.
CLOUD-COMPELLER, n. He that col-i
lects clouds ; Jove.
CLOUD-COMPELLING, a. CoUecting
clouds ; or driving clouds ; as cloud-com-
pelling Jove. ff'aller. Dryden
CLOUD'-COVERED, a. Enveloped with
clouds. Young.
CLOUD-DISPEL'LING, a. Having i)ower
to disperse clouds. Dryden
CLOUD-ECLIP'SED, a. Eclipsed by f
loud. Shak
CLOUD'ED, pp. Overcast ; overspread with
clouds ; obscured ; darkened ; rendered
gloomy or sullen ; variegated with colored
spots or veins.
CLOUD' ILY, adv. [from cloudy.] With
clouds ; darkly ; obscurely. Dryden.
CLOUD'INESS, 71. The state of being over-
cast with clouds ; as the cloudiness of the
atmosphere. Harvey.
2. Obscurity; gloom; want of brightness.
3. Darkness of appearance ; variegation ol
colors in a fossil or other body.
4. Appearance of gloom or suUcnness ; as
cloudiness of aspect.
CLOUD'ING, ppr. Overspreading with
clouds ; obscuring ; giving an appearance
of gloom or sullenness.
CLOUD -KISSING, a. Toucliing the clouds.
Shak.
CLOUD'LESS, a. Being without a cloud ;
unclouded ; clear ; bright ; luminous ; as
cloudless skies. Pope
CLOUD-PIERCING, a. Penetrating or ri
sing above the clouds. Philips.
CLOUD'-TOPT, a. Having the top covered
with a cloud. Gray.
CLOUD'-TOUCHING, a. Touching the
clouds. Sandys.
CLOUD'Y, a. Overcast with clouds ; ob
scured with clouds ; as a cloudy day ; i
cloudy sky ; a cloudy night.
2. Consisting of a cloud or clouds ; as a
cloudy pillar. Ex. xxxiii. 9.
3. Obscure ; dark ; not easily understood ;
as cloudy and confused notions. Watts.
4. Having the appearance of gloom ; indica-
ting gloom, anxiety, sullenness, or ill-
nature ; not open or cheerful ; as cloudy
looks. Spenser. Shak.
5. Indicating gloom or sullenness ; as cloudy
wrath.
Marked with veins or spots of dark or va-
rious hues, as marble.
7. Not bright ; as a cloudy diamond. Boyle
CLOUGH, n. cluf. [Sax. dough, a cleft.] A
cleft in a hill. In commerce, an allow-
ance of two pounds in every hundred
weight, for the turn of the scale, that the
commodity may hold out in retailing. [JVbt
iised in America.]
CLOUT, n. [Sax. clut, a patch, a plaster,
plate, a scam or joint; Sw.klut; W.cM,
a patch, a clout ; dwtiaw, to patch ; Sax
geduted, sewed together, clouted, patched ;
gesceod mid gedudedum scon, shod with
clouted shoes. This undoubtedly signifies
patched shoes, for clut in Saxon does not
signify a nail. The word dout, a nail, may
be from the French, dou, douter, from L.
clavus, from the root of L. daudo, dudo.
Whether clouted brogues in Shakspeare sig-
nify patched shoes or shoes studded wiUi
nails, let the critic determine. Such shoes
are common in England, and were for-
merly worn in America. The primary
sense is, to thrust or put on ; hence the
sense of i/ou>.]
1. A patch ; a piece of cloth or leather, &c.,
to close a breach.
2. A piece of cloth for mean piuposes.
Spenser.
3. A piece of white cloth, for archers to shoot
at. [^rot now used.] Shak.
4. An iron plate on an axle tree, to keep it
from wearing.
5. [Fr. clou, douter.] A small nail.
0. In vulgar language, a blow with the hand.
M'ew- England. Todd.
CLOUT, V. t. To patch ; to mend by sewing
on a piece or patch ; as clouted shoon, iu
Milton. This is the sense as understood
by Johnson. Mason understands the word
clouted to signify nailed, studded with small
nails, from the French douter, and the
following words in Shakspeare, " whose
rudeness answered my steps too loud," give
some countenance to Mason's interpreta-
tion. In this case, the verb clout must sig-
nify, to nail, or fasten with nails; to stud.
2. To cover with a piece of cloth. Spenser.
2. To join clumsily ; as clouted sentences.
Asdiam,
4. To cover or arm with an iron plate.
5. To strike; to give a blow. Beauni.
Clouted cream, in Gay, is evidently a mis-
take for dotted cream.
CLOUT'ED, pp. Patched ; mended clum-
sily ; covered with a clout.
CLOUT'ERLY, a. Clumsy ; awkward.
.MoHimer.
CLOUTING, /jpr. Patching; covering with
a clout.
CLOVE, ore/, of cZearc. Obs. Spenser.
CLOVE,)!. [D. kloof. See Cleave.] A cleft;
a fissure; a gap; a ravine. This word,
though properly an appellative, is not often
used as such in Enghsh; but it is appro-
I)riatcd to particular places, that are real
clefts, or which appear as such ; as the
Clove of Kaaterskill, in the state of New-
York, and the Stony Clove. It is properly
a Dutch word. Journ. of Science.
CLOVE, n. [Sax.c/t//e; Fr. clou; Sp. clavo;
Port, cravo ; from L. claims, a nail ; so call-
ed from its resemblance to a nail. So in
D. kruidnagel, herb-nail, or spice-naU.]
1. A verj- pungent aromatic spice, the flow-
er of the clove-tree, Caryophyllus, a native
of the Molucca isles. The tree grows to
the size of the laurel, and its bark resem-
bles that of the olive. No verdure is seen
under it. At the extremities of its branch-
es are produced vast numbers of flowers,
which are at first white, then green, and
at last red and hard. These are called
cloves. E/icyc.
2. [fi-om cleave.] The parts into which gar-
Uc separates, when the outer skin is re-
moved. Tate.
3. A certain weight ; seven pounds of wool ;
eight pounds of cheese or butter. [JVot
used in America.]
C L O
C L U
C L U
CLOVE-GILLY-FLOWER, n. A species
of Dianthus, bearing a beautiful flower,
ruliivated in garileus ; called also Carna-
tion pink.
A''ote. Some writers suppose tliat gilly-
flower should be written Juty-floiver. But qu.
is it not a corruption of the French sirofle,
clou de girofle, cloves ; giroflie, a gilliflower ;
giroflier, a stock gilliflower ; L. caryophyllus.
ChdMcerv/roie cloue gilof re. Cant.Tales. 13692.
The Italians write garofano, prohahly lor garo-
falo ; Arm. genofles, gennflen. Johnson sup-
poses the plant so called from the smell of tlie
flower, resembling that of cloves ; but it is prob-
ably from its shape, the nail-flower, as in Dutch.
[See Clove.'\
€LO'VEN, p;j. o{ cleave. Divided ; parted :
pronounced clovn.
CLO'VEN-FOQTED, > , Having the foot
€LO'VEN-riQ0FED, \ "' or hoof divided
into two parts, as the ox ; bisulcous.
€LO'VER, X [Sax. clcefer-wyrt,
€LO'VER-GRASS, S "" clover-wort ; G.
klee ; D. klaver ; Dan. Mever or klee. The
Saxon word is rendered also marigold and
violet. The Dutch word signifies a club.
The name then signifies cluh-grass, club-
wort, L. clavn, from its flower.]
A genus of plants, called Trifolium, trefoil,
or three-leafed, Fr. trejle. The species
are numerous. The red clover is gene-
rally cultivated for fodder and for enrich-
ing land. The wliite clover is also excel
■ lent food for cattle, either green or dry
and from its flowers the bee collects iic
small portion of its stores of honey.
To live in clover, is to live luxuriously, or ii
abundance ; a phrase borrowed from the
luxuriant growth of clover, and the feeding
of cattle in clover.
CLO'VERED, a. Covered with clover.
Thomson
CLOWN, n. [L. colonus, a husbandman.]
A countryman ; a rustic ; hence, one who
jias the inanners of a rustic ; a churl ; a
man of coarse inanners ; an ill-bred man,
Sidney. Drifden. Swift.
•CLOWN'AgE, n. The manners of a clown.
[J^otin une.] B. Jonson.
€LOWN'ER Y, n. Ill-breeding ; rustic beha-
ior; rudeness of manners. [IMlle used.]
UEslrange.
■CLOWN'ISH, a. Containing clowns ; con-
sisting of rustics ; as a clownish neighbor-
hood. Dryden
2. Coarse ; hard ; rugged ; rough ; as clown-
ish hands. Spenser
3. Of rough manners; ill-bred; as a cloicnish
fellow.
4. Clumsy ; awkward ; as a clownish gait.
Prior
€LOWN'ISHLY, adv. In the manner of
clowns; coarsely; rudely.
€LOWN'ISHNESS, n. The manners of
clown ; rusticity ; coarseness or rudeness
of behavior; incivility; awkwardness.
Dryden. Locke
CLOY, V. t. [from Fr. clouer, or the root ot
the word, the L. cludo, claudo ; coinciding
in elements with glut.]
Strictly, to fill ; to glut. Hence, to satis-
fy, as the appetite ; to satiate. And as the
appetite when satisfied rejects additiona
food, hence, to fill to lothing ; to surfeit.
Wbo can cloy the hungry edge of appetite
By bare imagination of a feast ? Shak
3. To spike up a gun ; to drive a spike into
the vent. Bailey. Johnson.
3. In fariiery, to prick a horse in snoeing. Jlsh.
In the two latter senses, I believe the word
ittle used, and not at all in America.]
CLOY'ED, pp. Filled ; glutted ; filled to sa-
tiety and lothing ; .spiked ; pricked in
shoeing.
CLOYING, ppr. Filling; filling to satiety,
or disgust.
CLOY'LESS, a. That cannot cloy, or fill to
tiety.
CLOY'MENT, n. Surfeit ; repletion beyond
the demands of appetite. [Lilllr k.5«/.] Shfil.\
CLUB,w. [W.clopa, rhr,m. .■oinri.lni- \miI,
clap, a lump, and elob, rlnlnjn : >:. I,h,/i/'il :
D.klaver; Sw.klubba; Ihu,. I.ltihh, :' I. J
clava. The sense is i)robably a knob
lump, W. llwb, Hob, whence lubber.]
]. Properly, a stick or piece or wood with
one end "thicker and heavier than the other,
and no larger than can be wielded with
the hand.
'2. A thick heavy stick, that may be managed
with the hand, an(l used for beating, or
defense. In early ages, a club was aprin-
cipal instrument of war and death ; a fact
remarkably perpetuated in the accounts
which history relates of the achievemente
of Hercules with his club. Plin. Lib. 7
Ca. 56. This use of the club was the ori-
gin of the scepter, as a badge of royalty.
3. The name of one of the suits of cards ; so
named from its figure.
4. A collection or assembly of men ; usually
a select number of friends met for social
or literary purposes. Any small private
meeting of persons. Dryden.
5. A collection of expenses; the expenses of
a company, or unequal expenses of ind
viduals, united for the purpose of finding
the average or proportion of each indi-
vidual. Hence the share of each individu-
al in joint expenditure is called his club.
that is, his proportion of a club, or joint
charge.
6. Contribution ; joint charge. Hudibras.
CLUB, V. i. [W. clapiaw, to form into a
lump.]
1. To join, as a number of individuals, to the
same end ; to contribute separate powers
to one end, i)urpose or clTect.
Till grosser atoms, tumbling in the stream
Of fancy, madly met, and clubbed into a drear
Bryde.
2. To pay an equal proportion of a common
reckoning or charge.
CLUB, V. t. To unite diflTerent sums of ex-
pense, in a common sum or collection, U
find the average, that each contributor
may pay an equal share. Pope
2. In common parlance, to raise or turn up
permost the britcli or club of a musket
as, the soldiers clubbed their muskets.
CLUB'BED, pp. Collected into a sum and
averaged, as different expenses.
2. United to one end or effect.
3. Shaped like a club.
Asiat. Researches, v. 213.
4. Having the britch turned upwards, as
musket.
.5. Heavy like a club. Chance,
CLUH'BER, } One who belongs to
CLUB'BIST, I "• party, club or association-
Burke
CLUB'BING, ppr. Joining in a club ; uniting
to a common end.
CLUB'-FIST, n. A large heavy fist.
CLUB'-FISTED, a. Having a"large fist.
Howell.
CLUB'-FOQTED, a. Having short or crook-
ed feet.
CLUB-HEADED, a. Having a thick head.
Derham.
CLUB'-LAW, n. Government by clubs, or
violence ; the use of arms, or force, in place
of law; anarchy. Mdison.
CLl?B'-ROOM, 7!. The apartment in which
a club meets. Addison.
f LUB'-RUSH, n. A genus of plants, the
Scirpus. Muhlenberg.
CLUB'-SHAPED, a. Shaped hke a club ;
growing thicker towards the top ; clava-
ted. Marlyn.
CLUCK, v.i. [Sax. cloccan; T)an. khtkker ;
Sw. klycka ; G. glucken ; D. klokken ; VV.
clwcian, clocian ; Arm. clochat; h. glodo ;
It. chiocciare ; Sp. clocar, cloquear ; Ch. l'^i.
Class Lg. No. 27. See Clack and Clock.
The Gr. xXu^u seems to be the same word,
as it gives xXuyftof ; the guttural passing
into ^, as in many Greek verbs ; and henc«
Fr. glousser. Sec Brace.]
To make the noise, or utter the voice of the
domestic hen, when sitting on eggs for
hatching, and when conducting her chick-
ens. This voice, with the change of the
vowel, is precisely our word clack and
clock, and is probably an ouomatopy. [See
Clack and Clock.]
CLUCK, V. t. To call chickens by a particu-
lar sound. Shak.
CLUCKING, ppr. Uttering the voice of a
sitting hen ; calling chickens.
CLUE. [See Clew.]
CLUMP, )i. [G. klump ; D. klomp ; Sw.
klimp ; Dan. klump, a lump ; W. clamp. It
is lump with a prefix. It coincides with
plump, and L. plumbum, lead ; as the D.
lood, G. loth, Dan. tod, Eng. lead, coincide
with clod. It signifies a mass or collec-
tion. If m is the final radical, see Class
Lm. No. 1. 4. 5. 9. L. glomus.]
1. A thick, short piece of wood, or other solid
substance ; a shapeless mass. Hence
dumper, a clot or clod.
2. A cluster of trees or shrubs; formerly
written plump. In some parts of England,
it is an adjective signifying lazy, unhandy.
Bailey.
CLUMPS, n. [from clump.] A stupid fel-
low ; a numskull. Bailey.
CLUM'SILY,arfi). [from clumsy.] In a clumsy
manner; awkwardly ; in an unhandy man-
ner; without readiness, dexterity or grace.
CLUM'SINESS, n. The quality of being
short and thick, and moving heavily ;
awkwardness ; unhandiness ; ungainliness ;
want of readiness, nirableness or dexterity.
Cottier.
CLUM'SY, a. s as i. [from clump, lump.]
1. Properly, short and thick, like a clump or
lump. Hence,
2. Moving heavily, slowly or awkwardly ;
as clumsy fingers.
3. Awkward; ungainly; unhandy; artless;
without readiness, dexterity or grace ; as
a clumsy man ; a clumsy fellow.
4. Ill-made; badly constructed; Sls a clumsy
garment ; clumsy verse.
C L U
C O A
C O A
€LUNCH, n. Among jtiinera, indurated clay,
found in coal pits next to the coal.
Kirwan. Bailey.
€LUNG, prel. and pp. of cling, which see,
€LUNG, V. i. To shrink. LYot used.] See
€LU'NIAe, n. One of a reformed order of
Benedictine monks, so called from Oluni
in Burgundy.
eLUS'TER, n. [Sax. cluster. It seems to
be from the root of close, L. clausus,daus-
trum, claudo, a collecting or crowding to-
gether ; Sw. klasa, a cluster of grapes ;
Dan. klase. The latter in orthography
coincide nearly with class. In Welsh, clws\
is compact, neat ; clysa, to make compact
cluys is a close.]
1. A bunch ; a number of things of the same
kind growing or joined together ; a knot
as a ctMJiter of raisins.
2. A number of individuals or things collect-
ed or gathered into a close body ; as a clus-
ter of bees ; a cluster of people.
Milton. Dryden
3. A number of things situated near eaci
other ; as a cluster of governments in Italy
J. Mams.
CLUS'TER, v.i. To grow in clusters ; to
gather or unite in a bunch, or bunches ;
as, clustering grapes. Milton
2. To form into flakes; as, clustering snow
Thomson.
3. To collect into flocks or crowds.
eLUS'TER, V. t. To collect into a bunch or
close body.
€LUS'TERED, pp. Collected into a duster.
or crowd ; crowded.
€LUS'TER-GRAPE, n. A small black
frape. Mortimer
US'TERING, ppr. Growing in a cluster
or in bunches; uniting in a bunch, or in a
flock, crowd, or close body.
CLUS'TERY, a. Growing in clusters,
Johnson.
Full of clusters. Bailey.
CLUTCH, v.t. [This seems to be from the root
of Sax. Iceccan, to seize, whence gclaccan,
id. If not, I know not its origin. It may
ho allied to lock and latch.]
1. To double in the fingers and pinch or com
press them together; to clinch. [If ji ii
not radical in clinch, this may be from the
same root.]
2. To seize, clasp or gripe with the hand ;
as, to clutch a dagger ; to clutch proy.
Shak. Herbert.
•3. To seize, or grasp ; as, to clutch the globe
at a grasp. Collier.
€LUTCH, n. A griping or pinching with the
fingers ; seizure ; grasp.
CLUTCH'ES,;)/«. The paws or talons of a
rapacious animal, as of a cat or dog.
2. The hands, in the sense of rapacity or
cruelty, or of power.
Hudihras. Stillingfleet.
CLUT'TER, 71. [W. cluder, a heap or pile,
from cludaw, to bear, to bring together,
to heap. It has tlie elements of L. claudo.]\
1. A heap or assemblage of things lying in
confusion ; a word of domestic application.]
He saw what a clutter there was whh huge
pots, pans and spits. L'Estrans;e.\
2. Noise ; bustle. [This sense seems allied'
to clatter, but it is not the sense of the word!
in N. England.]
GLUT'TER, V. t. To crowd together in dis-l
order ; to fill with things in confusion
to clutter a room ; to clxUter the house.
CLUT'TER, V. i. To make a bustle, or fill
with confusion.
[The English lexicographers explain
this word by noise and bustle ; but proba-
bly by mistake.]
CLUT'TERED, pp Encumbered with
things in disorder.
CLUl'^TERING, ppr. Encumbering with
things in confusion.
CLVS'TER, n. [Gr. xw^rip, from xxv^u, to
wash or cleanse ; L. clyster ; D. klisteer ;
G.klystier; Fr. clistere; Dan. klisteer.]
An injection ; a liquid substance injected into
the lower intestines, for the purpose of
promoting alvine discharges, relieving
from costiveness, and cleansing the bow-
els. Sometimes it is administered to nour-
ish and support patients who caimot swal-
low aliment.
CLYSTER-PIPE, n. A tube, or pipe used
for injections.
CLYS'TERWISE, adv. In the manner of
a clyster.
CO, a prefix, signifying leith, in conjunction
[See Con.]
COACERV'ATE, v. t. [L. coacervo ; con and
acervo, to heap up ; acervus, a heap.] To
heap up; to pile. [Little used.']
COACERV'ATE, a. [I., coacervatus.] Heap
ed ; raised into a i)ile ; collected into t
crowd. [Little xised.] Bacon.
COACERVA'TION, n. The act of heaping,
or state of being heaped together. [Little
xised.] Bacon
COACH, n. [Fr. coche ; Arm. coich ; It.
cocchio, a coach or coach-box ; Sp. coche
a coach and a coasting barge ; Port, coche ,
D. koets, a coach and a couch ; G. kutsche
Tins word seems to be radically a couchor
bed, [Fr. couche, coucher,] a covered bed on
wheels, for conveying the infirm.]
A close vehicle for commodious travehng,
borne on four wheels, and drawn by horses
or other animals. It differs from a chariot
in having seats in front, as well as behind.
It is a carriage of state, or for pleasure, or
for travelling.
Hackney-coach, a coach kept for hire. In some
cities, they are licensed by authority, and
numbered, and the rates of fare fixed by
law.
Mail-coach, a coach that can-ies the public
mails.
Stage-coach, a coach that regularly conveys
passengers from town to town. [See
Stage.]
COACH or COUCH, ii. An apartment in a
large ship of war near the stern, the roof
of which is formed by the poop. Mar. Diet.
COACH, II. t. To carry in a coach. Pope.
COACH-BOX, n. The seat on which the]
driver of a coach .sits. ./Jrbuthnot.i
COACH-HIRE, n. Money paid for the use]
of a hired coacli. Dryden.
COACH-HORSE, ii. A horse used in draw-
ing coaches.
COACH-HOUSE, n. A house to shelter a
coach from the weather. Swift.
COACH-JIAKER, n. A man whose occu-
pation is to tnake coaches. Swift.
COACHMAN, ?i. The person who drives a
coach. Prior.
COACHMANSHIP, n. Skill in driving
coaches. Jenyns.l
COACT', I', i. To act together. [.Vol used.]
Shak.
COACT'ED, pp. or a. Forced ; compelled.
[JVotused.] B.Jonaon.
COAC'TION, n. [L. coactio, coactus, cogo ;
con and ago, to drive.]
Force ; compulsion, either in restraining or
impelling. ^ South.
COACT'IVE, a. Forcing ; compulsory ;
having the power to impel or restrain.
Raleigh.
2. Acting in concurrence. Shak.
CO.\CT'IVELY,arfv. In a compulsory man-
ner. BramhaU.
COADJU'TANT, a. [L. con and adjutans,
helping.]
Helping ; mutually assisting or operating.
PhUips.
COADJU'TOR, n. [L. ,o„ and adjutor, a
heljier ; adjuto, to help.]
1. One who aids another; an assistant; a
fellow-helper ; an associate in operation.
2. lu the canon law, one who is empowered
or appointed to perform the duties of an-
other. Johnson.
COADJU'TRIX,n. A female assistant.
Smoaet.
COADJU'VANCY, n. [L. con and adjuvans ;
adjuvo, to assist.]
Joint help; assistance; concurrent aid; co-
operation. [Little used.] Broum.
COAD'UN.\TE, a. [h. coadunalus ; con, ad
and unus.]
In botany, coadunate leaves are several uni-
ted at the base. The word is used also to
denote one of the natural orders of plants
in Linne's svstem. Martyn.
COADUNI"'riON, n. [L. con, ad and un{tio,
from unus, one.]
The union of different substances in one
mass. [Little used.] Hale.
COADVENT'URER, n. A fellow adven-
turer. Howell.
COAFFOR'EST, v. t. To convert ground
into a forest. Howell.
COA'gENT, n. An assistant or associate in
an act. Beaum.
COAGMENT', ji. /. [L. coagmcyUo, to join
or cement ; con and agmen, a compact
body, from ago, to drive.]
To congregate or heap together. [JVot used.]
GlanviUe.
COAGMENTA'TION, n. Collection into a
mass or united body; union ; conjunction.
[Little used.] B. Jonson.
COAGMENT'ED, a. Congregated ; heaped
together ; imited in one muss. [Little
iised.] GlanviUe.
COAGULABILITY, n. The capacity of be-
ing coagulated. Ure.
COAG'ULABLE, a. [See CoagiUate.] That
may be concreted ; capable of congealing
or changing from a liquid to an inspissated
state ; as coagulable lymph. Boyle.
COAG'ULATE, v. t. [L. coagulo ; Fr. coag-
vler ; It. coagxdare ; S^t. coagidar. Usually
considered as from cog-o, con and ago. But
probably the last component part of the
word is the W. ceulatc, to curdle, the root
of gelid and C07igeal.]
To concrete ; to curdle ; to congeal ; to
change from a fluid into a fixed stibstance,
or solid mass ; as, to coagulate blood ; ren-
net coagulates milk. This word is gene-
rally apphed to the change of fluids into
C O A
C O A
substances bke curd or butter, of a .node- COAL-SHIP, n. A .hip employed in trans-
rate consistence, but not hard or impene
(rable. Uacon. Arbuthnot.
eOAG'ULATE, v. i. To curdle or congeal;
to turn from a fluid into a consistent state,
or fixed substance; to thicken.
Bacon. Boyle.
COAG'ULATED, pp. Concreted; curdled
tOAG'ULATING.ppr. Curdling; congeal
ing.
COAGULA'TION, n. The act of changing
from a fluid to a fixed state ; concretion ;
the state of being coagidated ; the body
formed by coagulating. Arbuthnot.
COAG'ULATIVE, a. That has the power
to cause conrretion. Boyle.
COAG'ULATOR, n. That wliich causes co-
agulation. Arbuthnot
COAG'ULUM, Ji. Rennet; curd ; the clot
of blood, separated by cold, acid, &c.
Encyc. Coxe.
tOA'ITI, n. A species of monkey in South
America.
eOAK. [See Cok,.] , , , ^
COAL, n. [Sax. col or coll; G. kohk ; D.
kool ; Dan. kul ; Sw. kol ; Ir. gual ; Corn
kolan; Russ. ugol. Qu. Heb. '7nj. It is
from the sense of glowing, raging, for in
Dan. kvler signifies to blow strong.]
1. A piece of wood, or other combustible
substance, ignited, burning, or charred.
When burning or ignited, it is called a live
coal, or burning coal, or coal of fire. When
the fire is extinct, it is called charcoal.
2. In the language of chimists, any sub-
stance containing oil, which has been ex-
posed to a fire in a close vessel, so that its
volatile matter is expelled, and it can sus
tain a red heat without further decorapo
sition. Encyc.
3. In mineralogy, a solid, opake, inflamma-
ble substance, found in the earth, and by
way of distinction called fossil coal. It is
divided by recent mineralogists into three
species, anthracite or glance coal, black or
bituminous coal, and brown coal or lig-
nite ; under which are included many va-
rieties, such as cannel coal, bovey coal,
jet, &c.
-COAL, V. t. To burn to coal, or charcoal ; to
char. Careu: Bacon
2. To mark or delineate with charcoal.
Cavxden
[As a verb, this word is little used.]
COAL-BLACK, a. Black as a coal ; very
black. Dryden
COAL-BOX, n. A box to carry coal to the
fire. Swift.
COAL-FISH, n. A species of Gadus or cod,
named from the color of its back. It grows
to the length of two feet, or two and a
half, and weighs about thirty pounds.
This fish is found in great numbers about
the Orkneys, and the northern parts of
Britain. Diet. Mit. Hist.
COAL-HOUSE, n. A house or shed for
keeping coal.
COAL-MINE, n. A mine or pit in which
coal is dug.
COAL-MINER, ii. One who works in i
coal-mine.
COAL-MOUSE, n. A small species of tit
mouse, with a black head.
COAL-PIT, n. A pit where coal is dug. In
America, a place where charcoal is made
porting coal.
COAL-STONE, n. A kind of cannel-coal
COAL-WORK, 71. A coalery ; a place where
coal is dug, including the machinery fc ■
raising the coal.
COALERY, }^. A coal-mine, coal-pit, or
I place where coals are dug, with the en-
gines and machinery used in discharging
the water and raising the coal. Encyc.
COALESCE, r. i. coaless'. [L. eoalesco, from
coaleo ; con and alesco, from aleo or oleo, to
grow.]
L To grow together; to unite, as separate
bo<lies, or separate parts, into one body, as
separate bones in an infant, or the fingers
or toes. Encyc
3. To unite and adhere in one body or mass,
I by spontaneous approximation or attrac
I tion ; as, vapors coalesce. JVeivton.
.3. To unite in society, in a more genera
particles,
C O A
impurities; as coarse metal;
Shak.
unrefined : uncivil ; as
The Jews weve incapable of coalescing with
other nations. Campbell, Prelim. Dissert
eOALES'CENCE, n. The act of growing
together; the act of uniting by natural af-
finity or attraction ; the state of being uni
ted ; union ; concretion.
COALES'CING, ppr. Growing or cominj
together; uniting in a body or mass; uni
ting and adhering together.
SlK.R.h^-^"«^-]
CO'ALITE, V. t. To unite or coalesce. [Ml
in vsc] Bolingbroke.
eOALP'TION, n. Union in a body or mass ;
a coining together, as of separate bodies or
parts, and their union in one body or mass ;
as, a coalition of atoms or particles.
Bentley.
2. Union of individual persons, parties or
states.
CO-ALLY', 71. A joint ally ; as the subject
of a co-ally. ' Kent.
COALY, a. Like coal ; containing coal.
Milton
COAMINGS, 71. In ships, the raised borders
or edges of the hatches, made to prevent
water from running into the lower apart-
ments from the deck. Mar. Diet.
COAPPREHEND', v. t. To apprehend with
another. [Little used.] Brown.
COAPTA'TION, 71. [L. con and apto, to fit.]
The adaptation or adjustment of parts to|
each other. Boyle.
CO'ARCT, ? „ , [L. coarcto ; con and
CO>AReTATE, S ardo.]
1. To press together ; to crowd ; to straiten ;
ifine closely. Bacon.
2. To restrain : to confine. Ayliffe.
COARCTA'TION, ti. Confinement ; re-
straint to a narrow space. Bacon.
2. Pressure ; contraction. Ray.
3. Restraint of liberty. Bramhall.
COARSE, a. [This word may be allied to
gross, and the Latin crassus, for similar
transpositions of letters are not uncoin
Rude ; rough ;
:oarse manners.
5. Gross ; not delicate.
The coarser tie of human law. Thomson.
C. Rude ; rough ; unpolished ; inelegant ;
applied to language. Dryden.
7. Not nicely expert ; not accomplished by
art or education ; as o coarse practitioner.
Arbuthnot.
8. Mean ; not nice ; not refined or elegant ;
as a coarse perfume ; a coarse diet.
COARSELY, adv. Roughly ; without fine-
ness or refinement ; rudely ; inelegantly ;
uncivilly ; meanly ; without art or polish.
Brotcn. Dryden.
COARSENESS, n. Largeness of size ; thick-
ness; as the coarseness of thread.
2. The quahty of being made of coarse
thread or yarn ; whence thickness and
roughness; as the coarseness of cloth.
3. Unrefined state ; the state of being mixed
with gross particles or impurities ; as the
coarse7!ess of glass. Bacon.
4. Roughness ; grossness ; rudeness ; appli-
ed to manners ; as the coarseness of a clown.
Garth.
5. Grossness ; want of refinement or delica-
cy ; want of polish ; as the coarseness of
expression or of language. L'Estrange.
a. Meanness ; want of art in preparation ;
want of nicety ; as the coarseness of food
or of raiment.
COASSES'SOR, 7t. [See Assess.] A joint
mon.J
1. Thick; large or gross in bulk; compara-
tively of large diameter; as coarse thread
or yarn; coarse hair; coarse sand. This
seems to be the primary sense of the word ;
opposed to fine or slender. Hence,
2. Thick ; rough ; or made of coarse thread
or yarn ; as coarse cloth.
3. Not refined ; not separated from grosser
COASSU'ME, 71. /. [co7i and assutne.] To as-
sume something with another. Walsatl.
COAST, n. [L. cosla, a rib, side or coast ;
W. cost ; Fr. cute for cosle ; It. costa ; Sp.
cosla ; Port. id. ; D. kust ; G. kiiste. Hence
to accost. See Class Gs. No. 18. 25. 67.
The word properly signifies a side, limit,
border, the exterior part, from extension.]
1. The exterior hue, Hmit or border of a
country, as in Scripture. ''From the
river to the uttermost sea shall your
coast be." Deut. xi. " And ships shall
come from the coast of Chittira." Numb,
xxiv. Hence the word may signify the
whole country within certain limits. Ex.
X. 4.
2. The edge or margin of the land next to
the sea ; die sea-shore. This is the more
common application of the word ; and it
seems to be used for sea-coast, the border
of the sea. Hence it is never used for the
bank of a river.
3. A side ; applied to objects indefinitely, by
Bacon and JVewton. This is a correct use
of the loord, but now obsolete.
The country near the sea-shore ; as, pop-
ulous towns along the coast.
The coast is clear, is a proverbial phrase sig-
nifying, the danger is over; the enemies
have maiched ofl', or left the coast.
Dryden.
COAST, V. i. To sail near a coast ; to sail
by or near the shore, or in sight of land.
The ancients coasted only in their navigation.
Arbuthnot.
2. To sail from port to port in the same
country.
COAST, V. t. To sail by or near to; as, to
' coast the American shore.
C O A
COB
COB
2. To draw near ; to approach ; to follow.
Ohs. Spenser.
COASTED, pp. Sailed by.
COASTER, 71. One who sails near the
shore. Dryden.
2. A vessel that is employed in sailing along
a coast, or is licensed to navigate or trade
from jiort to port in the same country. In
the United States, coasting vessels of twen-
ty tuns burthen and upwards must be en-
rolled at the custom house.
COASTING, ppr. Sailing along or near a
COASTING-PILOT, n. A pilot who con-
ducts vessels along n coast-
COASTING-TRADE, n. The trade which
is carried on between the different ])orts
of the same country, or under the same
jurisdiction, as distinguished from foreign
trade.
COASTING-VESSEL, n. A vessel employ-
ed in coasting ; a coaster.
COAT, n. [Fr. cotte ; It. cotta ; Ir. cota ; Corn.
kotn ; Pol. kotz. It may be from tlie root
of the Russ.tetoyu, to cover, and be allied
to hut. The primary sense may be, that
which is spread over or put on. But such
woids are sometimes from verbs which
signify to strip, or to repel. The Gr.
xevBu has the like elements, but the sense
seems to be, to withdraw. I question
whether coal has any connection with the
Sliemitic jno. Gr. jKirw, a tunic. This
word in Ch. Syr. and Ar. signifies flax.]
1. An up])er garment, of whatever material
it may be made. The word is, in modern
times, generally applied to the garment
worn by men next over the vest.
God made coats of skin and clothed theni.
Oen. iii.
Jacob made Joseph a coat of many colors.
Gen. sxxvii.
He shall put on the holy linen coat. Levit.
Goliath was armed with a coot of mail. 1 Sam.
2. A petticoat; a garment worn by infants
or young children. Locke.
3. The habit or vesture of an order of men,
indicating the order or office.
Men of his coat should be minding their
prayers. Swift-
So we say, "men of his cloth."
4. External covering, as the fur or hair of a
beast, the skin of serpents, the wool of
sheep, &c. Milton.
5. A tunic of the eye ; a membrane that
serves as a cover ; a tegument. Derham.
0. The division or layer of a bulbous root ;
as the coats of an onion.
7. A cover ; a layer of any substance cov-
ering another ; "as a coat of tar, pitch or
varnish ; a coat of canvas roiuid a mast ;
a coat of tin-foil.
9. That on which ensigns armorial are por-
trayed ; usually called a coat of arms. An-
ciently kniglits wore a habit over their
arms, reaching as low as the navel, open
at the sides, with short sleeves, on which
were the armories of the knights, embroi-
dered in gold and silver, and enameled
with beaten tin of various colors. This
habit was diversified with bands and fil-
lets of several colors, placed alternately,
and called devises, as being di\-ided and
composed of several pieces sewed togeth-
Vol. I.
cr. The representation of these is still
called a coat of arms.
9. A coat of mail is a piece of armor, in form
of a shirt, consisting of a net-work of iron
rings.
10. A card ; a coat-card is one on which a
king, queen or knave is painted.
COAT, V. t. To cover or spread o»-er with a
layer of any substance ; as, to coat a retort ;
to con* a ceiling; to coat a vial.
2. To cover with cloth or canvas ; as, to coat
a mast or a pump.
COAT-ARMOR, n. A coat of arms ; armo-
rial ensigns. Blackstone. Shenstone.
COATED, pp. Covered with a coat ; lori-
cated ; covered or overspread with any
thing that defends ; clothed with a mem-
brane.
2. Having concentric coats or layers, as a
bulbous root. Martyn.
COATI, 71. An animal of South America
resembling the raccoon, but with a longer
body and neck, shorter fur and smalli
eyes ; the Viverra nasua of Linne.
COATING, ppr. Covering with a coat ;
overspreading.
COATING, n. A covering, or the act of cov-
ering ; lorication ; any substance spread
over for cover or defense ; as the coating
of a retort or of a vial.
2. Cloth for coats ; as, merchants advertise
an assortment of coatings.
COAX, V. t. [W. cocru, to fondle, to cocker ;
cocyr, a coaxing, indulgence ; Sp. cocar, to
make wry faces, to coax.]
To wheedle ; to flatter ; to soothe, appease
or persuade by flattery and fondling. [Jl
loio word.] UEstrange.
COAXED, pp. Soothed or persuaded by
flattery.
COAXER, n. A wheedler ; a flatterer.
COAXING, p;jc. Wheedling; flattering.
COB, n. [VV. coh or cop, a top or tuft, a
thump ; Gr. xvSrj ; G. kopf, the head ; D.
kop ; Sax. cop.]
1. The top or bead ; a covetous wretch ; a
foreign coin. Bailey.
[In these senses not used in America.]
2. In America, the receptacle of the maiz, or
American corn ; a shoot in form of a |)in
or spike, on which grows the corn in
rows. This receptacle, with the corn, is
called the ear.
.3. A sea-fowl, the sea-cob. [It. gabhiano,
cob, sea-mew or gull.]
4. A ball or pellet for feeding fowls.
Bailey.
5. In some ])arts of England, a spider. Old
Dutch, kop or koppe, a spider, retained in
koppespin, spinnekop, a spider.
0. A horse not castrated ; a strong poney.
COB, J), t. In seamen^s language, to punisli
by striking the breech with a flat i)iece of
wood, or with a board. Mar. Diet.
CO'BALT, n. [D. cobalt. This is said to be
the G. kobold, a goblin, the demon of the
mines; so called by miners, because co-
balt was troublesome to miners, and at
first its value was not known.]
A mineral of a reddish gray or grayish white
color, very brittle, of a fine close grain,
compact, but easily reducible to powder.
It crystalizes in bundles of needles, arran-
ged one over another. It is never found
in a pure state ; but usually as an oxyd, or
40
combined vnth arsenic or its acid, with
sulphur, iron, &c. Its ores are arranged
under the following species, viz. arsenical
cobalt, of a white color, ]>assing to steel
gray; its texture is granular, and when
heated it exhales the odor of garlic : gray
cobalt, a compound of cobalt, arsenic, iron,
and sulphur, of a white color, with a tinge
of red ; its structure is foliated, and its
crystals have a cube for their priniitivo
form : sulphuret of cobalt, compact and
massive in its structure : oxyd of cobalt,
brown or brownish black, generally fria-
ble and earthy : sulphate and arseniate of
cobalt, both of a red color, the former so-
luble in water. The impure oxyd of co-
balt is called zaffer ; but when fu.sed witli
three parts of siliceous sand and an alka-
line flux, it is converted into a blue glass,
called smalt. The great use of cobalt is to
give a pei-manent blue color to glass and
enamels ui)on metals, porcelain and car-
thern wares.
Fourcroy. Encyc. Cleaveland-
Cobalt-bloom, acicular ar-^eniate of cobalt.
Cfjbalt-crusl, earthy arseniate of cobalt.
COB.vLT'IC, a. Pertaining to cobalt, or con-
sisting of it ; resembling cobalt, or con-
taining it.
COB'BLE, \ [Eng. copple. This
COB'BLE-STONE, \ "■ seems to be of
Welsh origin, W. cub, a mass, a cube, or
cob, cop, head, top.]
A roundish stone ; a pebble ; supposed to be
a fragment, rounded by the attrition of
water. We give this name to stones of
various sizes, from that of a hen's egg or
smaller, to that of large paving stones.
These stones are called by the English
copple-stones and boiolder-stones or bowl-
ders. The latter name is among us known
only in books.
COB'BLE, r. <. [In Persic, jLj^f kobal,
is a shoemaker.]
1. To make or mend coarsely, as shoes ; to
botch. Shak.
2. To make or do clumsily or unhandily ; as,
to cobble rhymes. Dryden.
COB'BLER, n. A mender of shoes.
Addison.
2. A clumsy w orkman. Shak.
3. A mean jjerson. Dryden.
COBBLING, ppr. Mending coarsely.
COBBY, a. Stout ; brisk. [.Vot in use.]
Chaucer.
COB'CAL, n. A sandal worn by ladies in
the east.
COB'COALS, n. Large round coals.
COBELLIG'ERENT, a. [See Belligerent.]
Carrying on war iti conjunction with another
power.
COBELLIG'ERENT, n. A nation or state
that carries on war in connection with an-
other.
COBIRON, n. [See Cob.] An andiron with
a knob at the top. Bacon.
COBISH'OP, n. A joint or coadjutant bish-
op. Ayliffe.
CO'BLE, n. [Sax. cuopk.] A boat used in
the herring fishery.
COB'LOAF, n. A loaf that is irregular,
uneven or crusty. Qu. Is it not a round
loaf.5
COB'NUT, n. A boy's play, or a hazle-nut
c o c
c o c
c o c
so railed, used in play ; the conquering
nut. >flah. Barret
€OBOOSE, n. [See Caboose.]
eOB'STONE, n. [See Cobble.]
COB'SWAN, n. [eob, head, and swan.] The
head or leading swan. B. Jonson
COB'WEB, n. [cob or koppe, a spider ; D
spinnekop ; Sax. atter-coppa, poison spider.
In Ch. '30 is a spider's web.]
1. The line, thread or filament which a spi
der spins from its abdomen ; the net-work
spread by a spider to catch its prey,
Hence,
9. Any snare, implying insidiousness and
weakness. Johnson
In this sense it is used adjectively or in com
position, for thin, flimsy; as a cobweb law
Dryden. Smjl.
Or slender, feeble ; as the cobweb thread of
life. Buckminster.
COB'WEBBED, a. In ftotani/, covered with
a thick interwoven pubescence. Martyn.
2. Covered with cobwebs.
€0'€ALON, n. A large cocoon, of a weak
texture. Encyc.
€OCCIF'EROUS, a. [L. coccus, and fero,
to bear ; Gr. xoxxos, a beyry, grain or seed,
or a red berry used in dyeing ; VV. cac,
red.]
Bearing or producing berries ; as cocciferous
trees or plants. Quincy.
€0€'€OLITE, n. [Gr. xoxxo;, a berry, and
^tfio;, a stone.]
A variety of augite or pyroxene ; called by
Haay, granuliform pyroxene. Its color is
usually some shade of green. It is compo-
sed of granular distinct concretions, easily
separable, some of which present the ap-
pearance of crystals whose angles and ed-
ges have been obhterated.
Cleaveland. Dkl, Mit. Hist.
Cocculus Indicus, the fruit of the Menisper-
mum cocculus, a poisonous berry, often
used in adulterating malt liquors. Enci/c.
COCiriNEAL, ?i. [Sp. cochiniUa, a wood-
louse, and an insect used in dyeing ; It.
rocciniglia ; Fr. cochcnille ; from the Gr.
xoxKo;, as the cochineal was formerly
supposed to be the grain or seed of a plant,
and this word was formerly defined to be
the grain of the i/exg'^amK/era. See Greg-
oire's Armoric Diciionary.]
An insect, the Coccus cadi, of the genus Coc-
cus, a native of the w armer climates of
America, particularly of Oaxaca, in Mex-
ico. It is found on a plant called nopal
or Indian fig-tree. The female, which
alone is valued for its color, is ill-shaped,
tardy and stupid ; the male is small, slen-
der and active. It is of the size of a tick.
At a suitable time, these insects are gath-
ered and put in a pot, where they are
confined for some time, and then killed by
the application of heat. These insects
thus killed form a mass or drug, which is
the proper cochineal of the shops. It is
used in giving red colors, especially crim-
son and scarlet, and for making carmine.
It has been used in medicine, as a cardiac,
sudorific, alexipharmic and febrifuge ; but
is now used only to give a color to tinct-
ures, &c. Encyc.
€0€l!'LEARY, } [L. cochlea, a screw,
COCH'LEATE, S o. the shell of a snai
COCH'LEATED, S Gr. xox^s, from xox^,
to turn or twist.]
Having the form of a screw ; spiral ; turb
ated ; as a cochleate pod. Martyn.
CO€H'LITE, n. [Gr. xo^xmk, a snail.] A
fossil shell having a mouth hke that of a
snail. Morin
€OCK, n. [Sax. coc ; Fr. coq ; Arm. gocq ;
Sans, kuka ; Slav, kokosch. The sense '
that which shoots out or up ; It. cocca, the
tip of a spindle, the top or crown ; L. ca
Qumen.]
1. The male of birds, particularly of galli-
naceous or domestic fowls, which having
no appropriate or distinctive name, are
called dunghill fowls or barn-door fowls
2. A weather-cock ; a vane in shape of
cock. Shak.
[It is usually called a weather-cock.]
3. A spout ; an instrument to draw out oi
discharge Uquor from a cask, vat or pipe
so named from its projection.
4. The projecting corner of a hat. Addison
5. A small conical pile of hay, so shaped
for shedding rain ; called in England a cop.
When hay is dry and rolled together for
carting, the heaps are not generally called
cocks, at least not in New England. A
large conical pile is called a stack.
6. The style or gnomon of a dial. Chambers.
". The needle of a balance.
Bailey. Johnson.
. The piece which covers the balance in a
clock or watch. Bailey
9. The notch of an arrow. [It. cocca.]
Johnson.
10. The part of a musket or other fire arm,
to which a flint is attached, and which,
being impelled by a spring, strikes fire,
and opens the pan at the same time.
11. A small boat. [W. cwc, Ir. coca, D. and
Dan. kaag. It. cocca.] It is now called a
cock-boat, which is tautology, as cock itself!
is a boat.
12. A leader; a chief man.
Sir Andrew is the cock of the club. ..Iddison.
1.3. Cock-crowing ; the tima wiien cocks
crow in the morning. Shak.
Cock a hoop, or cock on the hoop, a phrase
denoting triunq)h; triumphant; exulting.
[Qu. Fr. coq a Inippe. Bailey.]
Camden. Shak. Hudibras.
Cock and a bull, a phrase denoting tedious
trifling stories.
COCK, V. t. To set erect ; to turn up ; as,
to cock the nose or ears. Mdison.
2. To set the brim of a hat so as to make
sharp corners or points ; or to set uj) with
an air of pertness. Prior.
3. To make up hay in small conical piles.
4. To set or draw back the cock of a gun,
in order to fire. Dryden
eOCK, J), i. To hold up the head ; to strut ;
to look big, ])ert, or menacing.
Dryden. Addison
2. To train or use fighting cocks. [Little
used.] B. Jonson
3. To cocker. [Ml in use.]
COCKA'DE, n. [Fr. cocarde; Sp. cocarda ;
Port, cocar, or cocarda.]
A ribin or knot of ribin, or something simi-
lar, worn on the hat, usually by ofticeri:
of the army or navy, sometimes by others.
It most usually designates the military
character; sometimes political parties.
COC KA'DED, a. Wearing a cockade. Young.
eOCK'AL, n. A game called buckle bone.
Kinder.
COCKATOO', 71. A bird of the parrot kind,
Herbert.
COCK'ATRICE, n. [Fr. cocatrii, from coc.
Junius mentions the word as in D. kocke-
tras. The Irish call it riogh-nathair, the
king-serpent, answering to basilisk.]
A serpent imagined to proceed from a cock's
egg. Bacon. Taylor. Is. xi. 8. Ux. 5.
COCK-BILL. In seamen's language, the
anchor is « cock-bill, when it is suspended
perpendicularly from the cat-head, ready
to be let go in a moment. Mar. Diet.
COCK'-BOAT, n. A small boat. [See
Cock, No. 11.]
COCK'-BRAINED, a. Giddy ; rash.
Mlton.
COCK-BROTH, n. Broth made by boil-
ing a cock. Harvey.
COCK'-CHAFFER, n. The May-bug or
dorr-beetle, a species of Scarabaeus.
COCK'-CROWING, n. The time at which
cocks crow ; early mornuig. Mark xiii.
COCK'ER, V. I. [W. cocru. See Coar.]
To fondle ; to indulge ; to treat with tender-
ness ; to pamper. Locke. SwiJI.
COCK'ER, n. One who follows cock-fight-
ing. JohnsoJi.
2. A sort of spatter-dash. Bp. Hall.
COCK'EREL, n. A young cock. Dryden.
COCK'ERING, n. Indulgence. Milton.
COCK'ET, a. Brisk ; pert. Sheru-ood.
COCK'ET, n. [Qu. Fr. cachet, Arm. cacheot,
a seal.]
A seal of the custom-house ; a royal seal ;
rather a scroll of parchment, sealed and
delivered by the ofiicers of the custom-
house, to merchants, as a warrant that
their merchandize is entered. The oflice
of entry. Spelman. Coioel. Encyc.
COCK'ET-BREAD, n. The finest sort of
wheat bread. Qu. stamped-bread.
COCK'-FIGHT, I ^, A match or con,
COCK'-FIGHTING, ^ "■ test of cocks; a
barbarous sport of the ancients, and mod-
erns, in which cocks are set to fight with
each other, till one or the other is con-
quered. Bacon. Addison.
COCK'-HORSE, a. On horse back ; trium-
phant ; exulting. Prior.
COCK'ING, n. Cock-figliting. Beaum.
COCK'LE, n. [Sax. coccel, cocel, or code;
Ir.cagal; Sp. and Port, joyo ; Fr. coque-
licot.]
A plant or weed that grows among com,
the cornrose, a species of Agrostemma.
It is also apphed to the Lolium or darnel.
COCK'LE, 71. [Fr. coque, coquille ; L. coch-
lea ; W. cocos, plu.; Gr. xox'>^of, xo;t>-'»5, from
xox'^.io, to turn or roll. Probably by giving
the X «i nasal soimd, Gr. xoyxr;, L. concha,
are from the same root, whence xoyx'^oi',
L. conchylium. It. conchiglia. See Conch.]
1. A small testaceous shell ; or rather a genus
of shells, the Cardium. The general char-
acteristics are ; shells nearly equilateral
and equivalvidar ; hinge with two small
teeth, one on each side near the beak, and
two larger remote lateral teeth, one on
each side ; prominent ribs running from
the hinge to the edge of the valve.
Cicmer. lAnne.
2. A mineral; a name given by the Cornish
miners to shirt or short. A"icholsoji.
3. A young cock. Obs. [See Cockerel.]
Spenser.
c o c
COCK'LE, V. i. or t. To contract into wrin
kles ; to shrink, pucker, or wrinkle, as
cloth. Bailey.
tOCK'LED, pp. Contracted into folds or
wrinkles ; winding.
2. Having shells.
■COCK'LER, 71. One that takes and sells
cockles. Gray.
COCK'LE-STAIRS, n. Winding or spiral
stairs. Chambers.
€0C;K'-L0FT, n. [Sec Cock.] The top-loft
the upper room in a house or other build-
ing ; a lumber room. Dryden. Swifl.
€OCK'-MASTER, n. One who breeds
game cocks. UEstrange.
€OCK'-MATCri, n. A match of cocks ; a
cock-fight. Addison.
eOCK'NEY, n. [Most probably from L.
coquina, a kitchen, or co<iuino, to cook
Vr. coquin, idle ; Fr. cocagne, It. cuccaena,
an imaginary country of idleness and lux-
ury. In some ancient poetry, the word
seems to signify a cook.
■'Audyetl say by ray soiil I have no salt bacon,
Ne no cokeney by CJliriste coloppes to make."
"At that feast were they served in rich array ;
Every five and five had a cokeney."
See note on Chaucer, Canterbury Tales,
Line, 4206. Edmburgh, 1789. Hence, a
citizen who leads an idle life or never
leaves the city.]
1. A native of London, by way of contempt.
Watts. Shak.
a. An effeminate, ignorant, despicable citi-
zen. Shak
€OCK'NEYLH<^E, a. Resembling the man-
ners of a cockney. Burton
COCK'-PADDLE, n. The lump fish or sea-
owl. Encyc.
•eOCK'PIT, n. A pit or area, where game
cocks fight. Shak.
2. In ships of war, a room or apartment, in
which the wounded men are dressed ; sit-
uated near the after-hatchway, under the
lower gun-deck. The fore-cockpit is a
place leading to the magazine passage and
the store room of the boatswain, gunner
and carpenter. Mar. Diet.
■COCK'ROACH, 71. A genus of insects, the
Blatta, of several species. They have
♦bur semicrustaceous wings, and resemble
the beetle ; the head is inflected towards
the breast ; the feelers are hard like bris-
tles ; the elytra and wings are plain and
resemble parchment. These animals are
very troublesome, as they enter chests of
clothes, meal-tubs, pantries, and infest
beds. They avoid the hght, and have a
very unsavory smell. Encyc.
COCKS'eOMB, ji. The caruncle or comb
of a cock.
2. A plant. This name is given to the Celo-
sia cristata, the Pedicularls or louse-tcort,
and the Rliinanthus, or yellow rattle.
Fam. of Plants. Lee.
3. A fop, or vain silly fellow. [See Coxcomb.]
€OCKS'HEAD, n. A plant, the Hedysarum
or sainfoin. Favi. of Plants.
eOCK'SHUT, n. The close of the day,
when fowls go to roost. Shak.
COCK'SPUR, n. Virginia hawthorn, a
species of medlar. Mille
€OCK'SURE, a. Confidently certain. [A
hw word.] Pope.
€OCK'SWAIN, ?!. contracted into coren.
[See Stcain.] An officer on board of a sliip
COD
who has the care of the boat and the boat's
crew. Mar. Diet.
COCK-WEED, 71. A plant called also dit
tandcr and pepperwort. Johnson.
COCOA, 71. co'co. [Sp. coco ; Port, coco, the
nut, and coqueiro, tlie tree ; It. cocco ; Fr.
coco.]
A tree belonging to the genus Cocas, of the
order of Palmar ; and the fruit or nut of
the tree. This tree grows in the warm
climates of both the Indies. It
the highth of 00 feet, and the stem is like
an apothecary's pestle, of equal thickness
at the ends, but somewhat smaller in the
middle. The bark is smooth, of a pale
brown color, and the tree often leans
one side. The leaves or branches are 14
or 15 feet long, about 28 in number, wing
ed, of a yellow color, straig-ht and taper
ing. The nuts hang in clusters of a dozen
each, on the top of the tree. The husk
of this nut consists of strong, tough,
stringy filaments, resembling coarse oak-
um. This covers a hard shell, which con-
tains a white kernel that is whftlesome
food, and a liquor which is a coohng bev-
erage, Encyc.
CO'COA-NUT, 71. The nut or fruit of the
ocoa-tree.
COCOON', n. [Fr. cocon.] An oblong ball
or case in which the silk-worm involves
itself, formed by threads which compose
silk.
COC'TILE, a. [L. coctilis, from coquo, to
cook.]
Made by baking, or exposing to heat, as a
brick.
COC'TION, n. [L. coctio, from coquo, to
cook.]
The act of boiling or exposing to heat
liquor. In medicine, that alteration in the
crude matter of a disease, which fits it for
a discharge ; digestion. Core. Encyc.
COD, ) A .species of fish, of the ge-
COD'FISH, I "■ nus Gadus, inhabiting nor-
thern seas, but particularly the banks ofl
Newfoundland, and the shores of New
England. [See Haddock.]
COD, 71. [Sax. codd ; W. cod, cwd ; G. hode.
Probably in a different dialect, Fr. cosse.
or eco«se.]
1. Any husk, envelop or case, containing the
seeds of a plant ; apod. Mortimtr.
2. A bag ; the scrotum.
3. A pillow. [JVot in use.]
COD'DED, a. Inclosed in a rod. Mortimer.
COD'DER, 71. A gatherer of cods or peas.
Johnson.
COD'DY, a. Husky. Sherwood.
CODE, n. [L. codex, or catidex ; Fr. code;
It. codice ; Sp. codi^o.^ The Latin word
signifies the stem ot a tree, and a board or
number of boards united, on which ac-
counts were kept. So the Greeks used
axi^f;, a board, for a like purpose, from
(j;t'?", to cut or split; whence L. scheda, a
sheet.]
1. A collection of the laws and constitutions
of the Roman emi)erors, made by order
of Justinian, containing twelve books.
The name is also given to otlier collections
of Roman laws ; as the Theodosian code
Hence in general,
2. Any collection or digest of laws.
Pope. Blackstone.
COD GER, v- [Sp. coger, to catch, says
C O E
Todd. Hence he defines the \ford by
7nwer. But the ])rimary sense is by no
means obvious. I take "it to be a corrup-
tion of cottager, Norm, cotier.]
A rustic ; a clown ; a miserly man.
COD'ICIL, n. [L. codiciUus, dim. of codex.]
A writing by way of supplement to a will.
Prior.
CODILLE, 71. codill'. [Fr. codille ; Sp. co-
dillo, the knee, a joint ; codo, the elbow,
that is, a turn or a fastening.]
A term at ombre, when the game is won.
Pope.
COD'LE, ? , . To parboil, or soften by
COD'DLE, S the heat of water.
COD'LE, V. t. To make much of. [Xof in
ttse.]
CODLING, i An apple codled ; or one
COD'LIN, J"" suitable for codling, or
used for that piirjjose. Bacon. Mortimer.
CODLING, 71. A young cod.
COEF'FICACY, n. [con and effcacy, L.
ejficio.]
Joint efJicacy; the power of two or more
things acting together to produce an effect.
Brown.
COEFFP'CIENCY, n. [con and efficiency,
L. efficio.]
Cooperation ; joint power of two or more
things or causes, acting to the same end.
GlanviUe.
COEFFP'CIENT, a. [con and L. efficiens.]
Cooperating ; acting m union to the same
end.
COEFFI'CIENT, n. That which unites in
action with something else to produce the
same effect.
2. In algebra, a number or known quantity
put before letters, or quantities, known or
unknown, and into which it is supposed
to be multiplied; as in 3i and a i, '3
and a are the coefficients of x.
3. In fluxions, the coefficient of any genera-
ting term is the quantity which arises from
the division of that term by the generated
quantity. Chambers. Bailey.
COEFFP'CIENTLY, adv. By cooperation.
CO-ELD'ER, n. An elder of the same rank.
Trapp.
CCE'LIAC, I [Gr. xoaiaxof, from xoaio,
CE'LIAC, l"- the belly; allied perhaps
to xoiXos, hollow.]
Pertaining to the belly, or to the intestinal
canal.
Ccetiac artery is the artery which issues from
the aorta just below the diaphragm.
£71 eye.
Cceliac passion, the lientery, a flux or diar-
rhoea of undigested food. Coxe.
Caliac vein, a vein of the intestinum rectum.
Core.
COEMPTION, 71. [L. coemptio ; con and
e7no, to bny.]
The act of purchasing the whole quantity
I of an V commodity. Bacon.
COENJOY', V. t. To enjoy together.
Howell.
COE'QUAL, a. [L. eoji and equalis, equal.]
Equal with another person or thing ; of
the same rank, dignity or power. Shak.
COE'QUAL, 71. One who is equal to an-
other.
COEQUAL'ITY, 71. The state of being
equal with another; equaUty in rank, dig-
nity or power.
C0E"'QUALLY, adv. With joint equality.
C O E
COERCE', V. t. coers'. [L. coerceo ; con and
arcco, to drive, or press.]
). To restrain l»y force; to keep from act-
ing, or transgressing, particularly by moral
force, as by law or authority ; to repress.
2. To compel ; to constrain.
These causes — coerced by those which pre-
ceded and coercing those which followed.
Dtvight, Theol.
COER'CED, pp. Restrained by force ; com-
pelled.
COER'CIBLE, a. That may or ought to be
restrained or compelled.
eOER'CING, ppr. Restraining by force
C O F
regularly followed by
Locke. Beniley.
[L. con and extendo.
€OER'CTON, n. Restraint, check, partic
ularly by law or authority ; compidsion ;
force. South
€OER'CIVE, a. That has powder to res-
train, particularly by moral force, as of
law or authority. Hooker. Diyden
2. Compulsory ; constraining ; forcing.
€OER'CIVELY, adv. By constraint.
eOESSEN'TIAL, a. [co7i and essential,
from L. esseHlialis. See Essence.]
I'artaking of the same essence.
We bless and magnify that coeasential spirit
eternally proceeding from the father and sou.
Hookt
COESSENTIAL'ITY, »i. Participation of
the same essence. Johnson.
COESSEN'TIALLY, adv. In a coessential
manner.
COESTAB'LISHMENT, Ji. Joint estab
lishment. Bp. of Lamlaff.
COETA'NEOUS, a. [L. coataneus ; con and
atas, age. Coctanean is rarely used.]
Of tlie same age with another ; beginning
exist at the same time ; with to. " Every
faidt has penal effects, coetaneous to the
act." But with may be preferable to tc
This word is sometimes used as synony
inous with cotcm-porary; but coetaneous
.seems properly to denote cotemporary in
origin, rather than coteniporary in e.xist-
ence at any other period. It may howevei
be used in both senses.
COETERN'AL, a. [L. con and alrrnus.]
Equally eternal with another. MUlon
COETEilN'ALLY, adv. With equal eter-
nity. Hooker
COETERN'ITV, n. Existence from eter-
nity equal with another eternal being
equal eternity. Hammond.
COE'VAL, a. [L. coavus; con and
age.]
Of the same age; beginning to exist at the
same time ; of equal age ; usually an
l)roiJerly followed by with.
Hale. Pope. Btntley.
COE'VAL, 11. One of the same age; one
who begins to exist at the same time. It
is not properly used as synonymous witl
cotemporary.
€OE'VOUS, o. The same as coeval, but not
used. ■So"''!
CO-EXECUTOR, n. A joint executor.
COEXIST', V. i. [L. con and exislo. See
Exist.\
To exist at the same time with another ;
followed by loilh. Hale. Locke.
eOEXIST^ENCE, n. Existence at the
same time with another ; followed regu
larly by with. Locke. Grew.
COEXIST'ENT, a. Existing at the same
time with another
tiAth.
eOEXTEND', v.i
See Extend.]
To extend through the same space or dura
tion with another ; to extend equally ; as
one line coextends with another ; or perhaps
in a transitive sense, to coextend a line
with another.
eOEXTEND'ED,;)/). Being equally exten-
ded. Grew.
COEXTEND'ING, ppr. Extending through
the same space or duration with another.
COEXTEN'SION, n. The act of extending
equally, or the state of being equally ex-
tended. Hale.
COEXTEN'SIVE, o. Equally extensive;
having equal extent.
COEXTENSIVENESS, n. Equal exten-
or extent.
eOF'PEE, n. [Fr. caffc ; It. caffe ; Sp. cafe ;
Port. id. ; G. kaffee ; D. koffy; Ar. cahuahr
The berry of a tree belonging to the genus
Coffea," growing in Arabia, Persia, and in
other warm chmates of Asia and America.
It will grow to the highth of 16 or 18 feet,
but its growth is generally stinted to five
feet, for the convenience of gathering the
fruit. The stem is upright, and covered
with a light brown bark ; the branches are
horizontal and opposite, crossing each
other at every joint, and forming a sort of
pyramid. The flowers grow in clusters
at the root of the leaves, and close to the
branches ; they are of a pure white and of
an agreeable odor. The fruit which is <
berry, grows in clusters, along the branch
es, under the axils of the leaves. Encyc
3. A drink made from the berry of the coffee
tree, by decoction. The berry is first
roasted, and then ground in a mill, and
boiled. The use of it is said to have been
introduced into Franco by Thevenot, the
traveler, and into England, in 1G52, by a
Greek servant, called Pasqua. The best
coffee is said to be the Mocha coffee from
Arabia Felix. Tlie coffee of Java, Bour
bon and the West Indies constitutes an
important article of commerce.
eOF'FEE-€UP, n. A cup from which coffee
is drank.
€OF'FEE-HOUSE, n. A house of enter-
tainment, where guests are supplied with
coffee and other refreshments, and where
men meet for conversation.
Prior. Swift.
A house of entertainment ; an inn ; which
in some cities is also an exchange where
merchants meet to transact business.
COF'FEE-MAN, n. One who keeps a cof-
house. Addison-
eOF'FEE-POT, n. A covered pot in which
coffee is boiled, or in which it is brought
\ipon the table for drinking
COF'FER, n, [Fr. coffre ; Arm. confr,
coffr ; Ir. cofra ; Sp. cofre ; Port. id. ; D. atul
G. koffer ; Dan. koffeH ; Sw. id ; W
fawr, from cof a hollow trunk. The same
French word coffre signifies a coffer, aw'
the trunk of the body, and a coffin. In Ai
yf.X3 is a chest or basket. The prima
ry sense is probably a holder, or a hoUov
place.]
. A chest or trunk ; and as a chest is cus
COG
tomarily used for keeping money, henco
2. A chest of money ; a treasure. Bacon.
3. In architecture, a square depression or
sinking in each interval between the mo-
dillions of the Corinthian cornice, ordin-
arily filled with a rose, a pomegranate or
other enrichment. Chambers. Encyc.
4. In fortificalion, a hollow lodgment across
a dry moat, from 6 to 7 feet deep and
from 16 to 18 broad ; the upper part made
of pieces of timber, raised two feet .ibove
the level of the moat ; which little eleva-
tion lias hurdles laden with earth for its
covering, and serves as a parapet with
embrasures. It is raised by the besieged
to repulse besiegers when they endeavor
to pass the ditch. Chambers. Encyc.
COF'FER, V. t. To reposit or lay up in a
coffer. Bacon.
COF'FERED, pp. Laid up in a coffer.
COF'FERER, n. The Cofferer of the king's
household in Great Britain, a principal offi-
cer of the court, next under the Control-
ler. He was also a white-staff officer,
and a member of the privy council. He
had the special charge and oversight of
the other officers of the household. This
office is now suppressed, and the business
is transacted by the lord steward and pay-
master of the household. Cowel. Encyc.
COF'FIN, 71. [Fr. coffre. See Coffer. In
French, coffin is a candle-basket ; Gr. xo^t-
voi; Norm. French, cojin, a basket; Sp.
cojln ; radically the same word as coffer.]
1. The chest or box in which a dead human
body is buried, or deposited in a vault.
2. A mold of paste for a pie. Johnson.
3. A paper case, in the form of a cone, used
by grocers. Johnson.
4. In farriery, the hollow part of a horse'.s
hoof; or the whole hoof above the coro-
net, including the coffin-bone, which is a
small spungy bone in the midst of the hoof^
and possessing the whole form of the hoof.
Bailey. Farrier's Diet.
COF'FIN, V. t. To put in or inclose in a
coftiii. Shak. Donne.
COF'FINED, pp. Inclosed in a coffin.
COFFIN-MAKER, n. One who makes, or
whose occupation is to malie coffins.
TaUer.
COFOUND'ER, n. A joint founder.
ff'eever.
COG, V. t. [W. coegiaw, to make void, to
deceive, from coeg, empty, vain.]
1. To flatter ; to wheedle ; to seduce or draw
frotn, by adidation or artifice.
I'll cog their hearts from them. Shak.
2. To obtrude or thrust in, by falsehood or
deception ; as, to cog in a word to serve a
purpose. Stillingfleet. Tillotson. Dennis.
To cog a die, to secure it so as to direct
its fall ; to falsify ; to cheat in playing dice.
Dryden. Swif.
COG, I', i. To deceive ; to cheat ; to lie.
Tusser. Shak.
2. To wheedle. , , ^
COG, n. [W. cocos, cogs of a wheel. Qu.
Sp. fog-cr, to catch, or Welsh coctf, a mass
or lump, cog, a mass, a short piece of
wood.] . .
The tooth of a wheel, by which it drives
another wheel or body. .
COG, V. t. To fix a cog ; to furnish with
cogs.
COG
COG
C O H
€OG, I A boat ; a fisliinfr boat. It is
COG'GLE, \ probably tlie \V. cwc, It.
com. [See Cock.]
CO'liENCY, n. [L. cogens, from cogo; con
and ago, to drive.]
Force ; strength ; power of compelling i
erally, urgency, or driving. It is used
chiefly of moral subjects, and in relation
to force or pressure on the mind ; as the
cogenci) of motives or arguments. Locke.
eOiJE'IVJIAL, for congenial. [JVot itstil.]
fVarion.
€0'(iENT, a. [Sec Cogency.]
1. Forcible, in o physical sense ; as the cogent
force of natiu-e. Prior.
2. Urgent ; pressing on the mind ; forcible ;
powerful ; not easily resisted ; as a cogent
reason, or argument.
The harmony of the universe furnishes coge/ii
proofs of a deity. Anon.
CO'tiENTLY, adv. With urgent force ;
with powerful impulse; forcibly. Locke.
€OCr'GED, pp. Flattered ; deceived ; cheat-
ed; thrust in deceitfully; falsified; furn-
ished with cogs.
eOG'GER, n. A flatterer, or deceiver.
€OG'GERY, n. Trick ; falsehood. H'alson
€OG'GING, ppr. Wheedling ; deceiving
cheating; inserting deceitfully; fixing
cogs.
COG'GING, n. Cheat ; deception ; fallacy ;
Beaum.
COG'ITABLE, a. [See CogUate.] That
may be thought on ; that may be medita-
ted on. Johnson.
COG'ITATE, v. i. [L. cog^o. Varro says
from cogo, quasi coagilo, to agitate in the
mind. But the Gothic hugyan, and Sax,
hogirm, signify to think.]
To think ; to meditate. [Little iised.]
COgITA'TION, n. The act of thinking ;
thought ; meditation ; contemplation.
Hooker. Bentley. Milton.
% Thought directed to an object ; purpose.
Bacon.
COG'ITATIVE, a. Thinking ; having the
power of thinking, or meditating ; as a
cogitative substance. Bentley.
2. Given to thought, or contemplation.
irotfon.
COG'NATE, a. [L. cognnlus ; con and nas-
cor, to be born.]
1. Allied by blood ; kindred by birth.
2. Related in origin ; proceeding from the
same stock ; of the same family ; as a
cognate dialect.
3. Allied in the manner of formation or ut
terance ; uttered by the same organs ; as a
cognate letter or sound.
COG'NATE, n. In Scots law, any male
relation through the mother. " Encyc.
COGNATION. 71. [L. cognatio. See Cog-
nate.]
1. Ja the civillaw, kindred or natural rela-
tion between males and females, both des-
cended from the same father ; as agnation
is the relation between males only descen-
ded from the same stock. Encyc.
'3. Kindred ; relation by descent from the
same original.
Pride and hardheartedness are of near cogna-
tion to ingratitude. Wotton.
;l. Relation ; participation of the same na-
ture. Brown.
€OGNI"TION, n. [L. cognitio ; cognosco,
cognitus; con and nosco, to know.]
Knowledge or certain knowledge, as from
personal view or experience.
Shak. Brown.
COG'NITIVE, a. Knowing, or apprehend-
ing by the understanding ; as cognitive
power. \Little used.] South.
COGN'IZABLE, a. con'izable. [Fr. connois
sable, from conno'dre, lo know; It. cognos-
cere ; Sp. conoeer, conocible ; Port, conhe-
cer ; from L. cognosco, con and nosco, to
know personally ; Gr. yivuaxu, id.]
That falls or may fall under judicial no.
tic« ; that may be heard, tried, and deter
mined ; as, a cause or action is cognizable
before the circuit court.
These wrongs are cognizable by the eccle
astical courts. Blackstone.
2. That falls or may fall under notice or ob-
servation ; that may be known, perceived
or api)rehended.
The cause of many phenomena is not cogm
zable hv the senses. Anon.
COGN'IZANCE, n. con'izance. [Fr. con
noissance ; It. cognoscenza ; Sp. conocen-
cia ; Port, cotihecenpa.]
I. Judicial notice or knowledge ; the hear-
ing, trying and determining of a cause or
action in court.
The court of king's bench takes cognizanct
of civil and criminal causes. Blaekstonc
In the United States, the district courts
have cognizance of maritime causes,
9. Jurisdiction, or riglit to try and determine
causes.
The court of king's bench has original juris-
diction and cognwowce of all actions of trespass
vi et armis. Blaekstone.
3. In law, an acknowledgment or confession ;
as in fines, the acknowledgment of the
cognizor or deforciant, that the right to the
land in question is in the plaintiff or cog-
nizee, by gift or otherwise ; in replevin,
the acknowledgment of the defendant,
that he took the goods, but alledging that
he did it legally as the bailiff of another
person who had a right to distrain.
Blaekstone.
4. A badge on the sleeve of a waterman or
servant, by which he is known to belong
to this or that nobleman or gentleman.
Encyc
5. Knowledge or notice ; perception ; obser-
vation ; as the cognizance of the senses.
6. Knowledge by recollection. Spenser.
COGNIZEE', n. conizee'. In law,
whom a fine is ackno^^•ledged, or the
plaintiff in an action for the assurance of
Iand-l)y fine. Blaekstone.
COGNIZOR', n. conizor'. One who ;
knowledges the right of the i)laiiitiff or
cognizee, in a fine ; otherwise called the
defendant or deforciant. Blaekstone.
COGNOM'INAL, a. [L. cognomen, a sur-
name ; con and nomen, name.]
1. Pertaining to a surname.
2. Having the same name. [Little used.]
Brown
COGNOMINA'TION, n. [L. cognomen.] A
surname ; tlic name of a family ; a name
given from any accident or quality ; as
Alexander the Great. Broicn
COGNOS'CENCE, n. [See Cognition.]
Knowledge ; the act or state of knowing.
[Little 7ised.]
COGNOS'CIBLE. a. That may be known.
[Little used.] Hale
COGNOS'CITIVE, a. Having the power
of knowing. Cudworth.
COGUAR, n. A carnivorous quadrur)ed of
America.
CO-GUARDIAN, n. A joint guardian.
Kent.
COHABIT, v.i. [L. con and haltito, to
dwell.]
1. To dwell with ; to inhabit or reside in
company, or in the same place, or country.
Stiles. SouVi.
2. To dwell or live together as husband and
wife ; usually or often apjtiied to jjersone
not legally married.
COHABITANT, n. One who dweUs with
another or in tlie same place.
Decay of piety.
COHABITA'TION, n. The act or state of
dwelhng together or in the same place
with another. Stiles, Elect. Senn.
2. The state of living together as man and
wife, without being legally married.
Bacon.
COHEIR, n. coa'ir. [L. cohmres ; con and
hmres, an heir. See Heir.]
A joint heir ; one who succeeds to a share
of an inheritance, which is to be divided
among two or more.
COHEIRESS, n. coa'iress. A female who
inherits a share of an estate, which is to
be divided among two or more heirs or
heiresses; a joint heiress.
COHERE, V. i. [h. cohwreo ; con and ft<r-
reo, to stick or cleave together.]
1. To stick together; to cleave ; to be uni-
ted ; to hold fast, as parts of the same
mass, or as two substances that attract
each other. Thus, particles of clay coliere ;
poUshed surfaces of bodies cohere.
2. To be well connected ; to follow regular-
ly in the natural order ; to be suited in
connection ; as the parts of a discourse,
or as arguments in a train of reasoning.
3. To suit ; to be fitted ; to agree. Shak.
COHERENCE, ) A sticking, cleaving or
COHERENCY, S hanging together ; u-
nion of parts of the same body, or a cleav-
ing together of two bodies, by means of
attraction ; applied to all substances, solid or
fluid. Locke. Bentley.
2. Connection ; suitable connection or de-
pendence, proceeding from the natural
relation of parts or things to each other,
as in the parts of a discourse, or of any
system ; consistency. Hooker. Locke.
COHE'RENT, o. Sticking together ; cleav-
ing ; as the parts of bodies, solid or fluid.
Arbuthnot.
2. Connected ; united, by some relation in
form or order ; followed by to, but rather by
tcHh. Locke.
3. Suitable or suited ; regularly adapted.
ShaJc,
4. Consistent ; having a due agreement of
parts ; as a coherent discourse. Or obser-
ving due agreement ; as a coherent thinker
or reasoner.
COHERENTLY, adv. In a coherent man-
ner ; with due connection or agreement
of parts.
COIIE'SION, 71. sas z. [It. coesione; from
E. coha:si, pret. of co?i^reo.]
I. The act of slicking together; the state of
being imited by natural attraction, as the
constituent particles of bodies which unite
C O I
c o
COL
in a mass, by a natural tendency ; one oH
the diffeient species of attraction.
JVewlon. Arbuthnot.
'i. Connection ; dependence ; as the cohesion
of ideas. But iii this sense, see Cohe-
rence. Locke.
COHE'SIVE, a. That has the power of
sticking or coliering ; tending to unite in
a mass, and to resist separation.
JVtcholson,
COHESIVELY, adv. With cohesion.
■COHE'SIVENESS, ji. The quality of being
cohesive ; the quaUty of adhering together.
us particles of matter.
CO'HOBATE, V. t. [Port, cohorar.]
Among chimists, to repeat the distillation of
the same liquor or that from the s
body, pouring the liquor back upon the
matter remaining in the vessel.
Bailey. Encyc.
CO'HOBATED, pp. Repeatedly distilled.
CO'HOBATING, ;);?r. Distilling repeatedly,
COHOBA'TION, n. [Sp. cohobacion.] The
operation of repeatedly distilhng the same
Uquor, or that from the same substance.
Encyc.
€OH0ES, or COHO'ZE, n. A fall of water
or falls ; a word of Indian origin in
America.
CO'HORT, n. [L.cohors; Fr. cohorte ; It
coorte ; Sp. cohorte ; Port, id.]
1. Among the Romans, a body of about five
or six hundred men ; each cohort consisted
of three maniples, and each maniple, of
two centuries; and ten cohorts constituted
a legion. Mam, Rom. Ant
2. In poetry, a band or body of warriors.
Milton.
■COHORT A'TION, n. Exhortation ; encour-
agement. [A/'ot used.] Diet.
COIF, n. [Fr. coiffe ; Arm. coeff; It. cuffia,
a cap ; Sp. cofa, a net of silk or thread
worn on the head ; Port, coifa, a caul.]
A kind of caul, or cap, worn on the head, by
sergeants at law, and others. Its chief
use was to cover the clerical tonsure.
Encyc.
COIF, V. t. To cover or dress with a coif.
■eOIF'ED, a. Wearing a coif
-COIF'FURE, n. [Fr.] A head-dress.
Addison.
€OIGNE, for coin. [See Coin, a corner.]
Sliak
COIGNE or COIN'Y, v.i. To Uve by extor-
tion. [An Irish tvord.] Bryskett
COIL, V. t. [Fr. cueillir; perhaps Or. tiUu.
or xv^M. See the roots, hhl and Snp,
Class Gl. No. 5. 48.] '
To gather, as a line or cord into a circular
form ; to wind into a ring, as a serpent, or
a rope.
COIL, n. A rope gathered into a ring
shipboard, a single turn or winding is called
a fake, and a range of fakes is called a
tier.
Q. A noise, tumult, bustle. [JVot used.]
Bailey. Johnson.
COIL'ED, pp. Gathered into a circular form,
as a rope or a serpent.
COII,'ING, ppr. Gathering or winding into
a ring or circle.
COIN, n. [Fr. coin, a corner, a wedge
Arm. coign ; Sp. esquina, a corner, and
Ciiha, a wedge ; Port, quina ; L. cuneus
Gr. -/uiHtt: Ir. rvinn( : W. gaing, or cyn
a wedge. The pronunciation of this word,
by our common people, is quine, or quoin
when appUed to a wedging stone, in ma
sonry. See the ne.xt word.]
1. A corner; a jutting point, as of a wall.
Shak.
Rustic coins, stones jutting from a wall
for new buildings to be joined to. Bailey.
2. A wedge for raising or lowering a piece
of ordnance. Bailey.
3. A wedge or piece of wood to lay between
casks on shipboard. Bailey.
COIN, 71. [Sp. cuha ; Port, cunho, a die to
stamp money ; Sp. acunar, to coin or im-
press money, to wedge; Port, cunhar ; It,
conio, a die ; coniare, to coin ; Fr. coin ; Ar,
• Li" to hanmier, forge or stamp. The
sense is, to strike, beat, or drive, coinciding
with the French coigner, or cogner. Hence
we see that coin, whether it signifies a cor
ner, a wedge or a die, is from the same
root, from thrusting, driving.]
Primarily, the die employed for stamping
money. Hence,
1. Money stamped ; apieceof metal, as gold
silver, copper, or other metal, converted
into money, by impressing on it marks,
figures or characters. To n)ake good
money, these impressions must be made
under the authority of government. That
which is stamped without authority is call
ed false or counterfeit coin. Formerly,
all coin was made by hammering ; but it
is now impressed by a machine or mill.
Current coin is coin legally stamped and
circulating in trade.
Ancient coins are chiefly those of the
Jews, Greeks and Romans, which are kept
in cabinets as curiosities.
2. In architecture, a kind of die cut diagona
ly, after the manner of a flight of a stair
case, serving at bottom to support columns
in a level, and at top to correct the incli-
nation of an entablature supporting a
vault. Encyc.
3. That which serves for payment.
The loss of present advantage to flesh and
blood is repaid in a nobler coin. Hammond
COIN, V. t. To stamp a metal, and converl
it into money ; to mint.
2. To make ; as, to coin words. Shak.
3. To make ; to forge ; to fabricate ; in an
ill sense ; as, to com a lie ; to coin a fable,
Hudibras. Dryden.
COIN'AtsE, ) The act, art or practice of|
COIN'ING, I ■ stamping money.
Arbuthnot
2. Coin ; money coined : stamped and legit-
lated metal for a circulating medium.
3. Coins of a particular stamp; as the coin-
age of George III.
4. The charges or expense of coining money
5. A making ; new production ; formation ;
as the coinage of words.
6. Invention ; forgery ; fabrication.
This is the very coinage of your brain.
Shak
COINCI'DE, V. i. [L. con and incido, to fall
on ; in and cado, to fall. See Cadence,
Case. Low L. coincido ; Sp. coincidir ;
Fr. coincider.]
1. To fall or to meet in the same point, as
two lines, or bodies ; followed by with.
If (he cijuator and the ecliptic had coincided
it would have rendered the annual revolution of
the earth useless. Cheyne.
2. To concur ; to be consistent with ; to
agree.
The rules of right judgment and of good rati-
ocination often coincide with each other.
Watte.
The judges did not coincide in opinion.
COIN'CIDENCE, n. The falhng or meeting
of two or more lines, surfaces, or bodies in
the same point. Bentley.
2. Concurrence ; consistency ; agreement ;
as the coincidence of two or more opin-
ions; ctnncirfence of evidences. Hale.
3. A meeting of events in time ; concurrence ;
a happening at the same time ; as coinci-
dence of events.
COIN'CIDENT, a. Falling on the same
point ; meeting as lines, surfaces or bodies :
followed by tvith. JSTewton.
2. Concurrent ; consistent ; agreeable to ;
followed by uith.
Christianity teaches nothing but what is per-
fectly coincident with the ruling principles of a
virtuous man. South.
COINCI'DER, n. He or that which coin-
cides or concurs.
COINCI'DING, ppr. Meeting in the same
from indico, to show.]
In medicine, a sign or symptom, which, with
other signs, assists to show the nature of
the disease, and the proper remedy ; a
concurrent sign or symptom.
COIN'ED, pp. Struck or stamped, as money ;
made ; invented ; forged.
COIN'ER, n. One who stamps coin ; a
minter ; a maker of money. Addison.
2. A counterfeiter of the legal coin; amaker
of base monej'.
3. An inventor or maker, as of words.
Camden.
COIN'ING, ppr. Stamping money ; making;
inventing ; forging ; fabricating.
COIN'QUINATE, v. t. [L. coinquino.] To
pollute. [.Vol used.]
COINQUINA'TION, n. Defilement. [Ab*
used.]
COIS'TRIL, n. [Said to be from kestrel, a
degenerate hawk.] A coward ; a runa-
way. Shak. Johnson.
2. A young lad. Bailey.
COIT, n. A quoit, which see.
COIT'ING. [See quoit.]
COr'TION, n. [L. coitio, from coeo, to come
together ; con and eo, to go.] A coming
together ; chiefly the venereal intercourse
of the sexes ; copulation. Grew.
COJOIN', V. t. [L. conjungo. See Conjoin.]
To join with another in the same oflfice.
[Little used.] Shak.
COJU'ROR, n. One who swears to another's
credibility. Wotton.
COKE, n. Fossil coal charred, or deprived
of its bitumen, sulphur or other extraneous
or volatile matter by fire, and thus pre-
pared for excithig intense heat.
Encyc. Cleavcland.
COL'ANDER, n. [L. colo, to strain ; Fr.
couler, to flow, to trickle dovm ; coulant,
. flowing ; couloir, a colander.]
A vessel with a bottom perforated with little
holes for straining liquors. In America,
this name is given, I believe, exclusively to
COL
a vessel of tin, or other metal. In Great
Britain, tlie name is given to vessels, like
sieves, made with hair, osiers or twigs.
May. Ray. Dryden.
OOLA'TION, n. The act of straining, or
purifying liquor, by passing it through
perforated vessel. [Little used.]
COL'ATURE, n. The act of straining ; the
matter strained. [Ldttle xised.]
COL'BERTINE, n. A kind of lace worn by
women. Johnson.
COL'COTHAR, n. The brown red oxyd of
iron which remains after the distillation of
' the acid from sulphate of iron ; used for
poUshing glass and other substances. It'
is called by artists crocus, or crocus^
martis. Enajc. Ure.\
The sulphate of iron is called colcothar or
chalcite, when the calcination has been
carried so far as to drive ott'a considerable
part of the acid. Fourcroy.l
[See Chalcite.]
€OLD, a. [.Sax. cald ; G. kail; D. koud, con-
tracted ; Goth, cakh ; Basque, gcddn ; Sw.
kail ; Dan. kold, and tlie noun, kulde. The
latter seems to be connected with kid, a
coal, and kuler, to blow strong. But the
connection may be casual. In Swedish,
kyla signifies to cool, and to burn ; thus
connecting cool, cold, with the L. caleo, to
be hot. Both cold and heat may be from
rushing, raging, and this word may he from
the same root as gale. If not, cool would
seem to be allied to L. gelo.]
1. Not warm or hot : gehd ; frigid ; a relative
term. A substance is cold to the touch,
when it is less warm than the body, and
when in contact, the heat of the body
passes from the body to the substance ; as
cold air ; a cold stone ; cold water. It denotes
a greater degree of the quality than cool.
[See the Noun.] I
2. Having the sensation of cold ; cliill ; shiv-
ering, or inclined to shiver; as, I am cold.
3. Having cold qualities ; as a cold plant.
Bacon.
4. Frigid ; wanting passion, zeal or ardor ;
indifferent ; unconcerned ; not animated,^
or easily excited into action ; as a cold\
spectator ; a cold christian ; a coU. lover,,
or friend; a coW temper.
Hooker. Addison.'
Thou art neither cold nor hot. Rev. iii.
5. Not moving ; unaffecting ; not animated ;|
not able to excite feeling ; spiritless ; i^ aj
cold discourse ; a cold jest. Mdison.]
C. Reserved ; coy ; not affectionate, cordial!
or friendly ; indicating indifference ; as a
cold look ; a cold return of civilities ; a cold
reception. Clarendon.
7. Not heated by sensual desire. Shak.
8. Not hasty ; not violent. Johnson.
9. Not affecting the scent strongly. Shak.
10. Not having the scent stronirly affected.
Shak)
€OLD, n. [Sax. cele, a/l, cyle ; D. koelle,
koude ; G. kiUte. See Cool.] j
1. The sensation produced in animal bodiesi
by the escape of heat, and the consequent
contraction of the fine vessels. Also, the
cause of that sensation. Heat expands]
the vessels, and cold contracts them ; ami
the transition from an expanded to a con-j
tracted state is accompanied with a senj
sation to which, as well as to the cause ofl
COL
It, we give the denomination of cold.
Hence cold is a privation of heat, or the
cause of it. Encyc. Bacon.
2. A shivering ; the effect of the contraction
of the fine vessels of the body; chilliness,
or chilliiess. Dryden.
3. A disease ; indisposition occasioned by
cold ; catarrh.
COLD-BLOODED, a. Having cold blood.
2. Without sensibility, or teehng.
COLD-l'INCH, n. A species of Motacilla,
a biril frequenting the west of England,
with the head and back of a brownish
gray, the belly white, and the quill feathers
and tail black. Did. J\iat. Hist.
COLD-UEARTED, a. Wanting passion or
feeling ; iiidiflerent.
COLD-HEARTEDNESS, n. Want of feel-
ing or .sensibility.
COLDLY, adu. In a cold manner ; without
warmth ; without concern ; without ardor
or aniuiation ; without apparent passion,
emotion or feeling; with indifference or
negligence ; as, to answer one coldly ; a
proposition is coldly received.
COLDNESS, n. Want of heat ; as the cold
7tess of water or air. When tlio heat or
temperature of any substance is less than
that of the animal body exposed to it, that
state or temperature is called coldness.
2. Unconcern ; indifference ; a frigid state of]
temper ; want of ardor, zeal, emotion, ani-
mation, or spirit ; negligence ; as, to re-
ceive an answer with coldyiess ; to listen
with coldness.
3. Want of apparent affection, or kindness ;
as, to receive a friend with coldness.
4. Coyness ; reserve : indiflereuce ; as, to re-
ceive addresses with coldness.
5. Want of sensual desire ; frigidity ; chas-
tity. Pope.
COLD-SHORT, a. Brittle when cold, as a
metal.
COLE, ?i. [Sax. cou/, caif/ or caiw/ ; L. cait-
lis ; Gr. xov^oj ; D. kool ; G. kohl ; Sw
k&l ; Dan. kaal ; W. catvl ; Ir. colis, coiiis .
It. cavolo; Sp. col; Port, couve ; Ann
caidin, colen ; Fr. chou.]
The general name of all sorts of cabbage or
brassica ; but we generally use it in its
compounds, cole-wort, cauliflower, &c.
CO'LE-MOUSE, n. [See Coal-mouse.]
COL'EOPTER, ) [Gr.xo>.fOf, a sheath,
COLEOP'TERA, S "• and rtTipoy, a wing.]
The colcopters, in Linne's system of ento-
mology, are an order of insects, having
crustaceous elytra or shells, which shut
and form a longitudinal suture along the
hack, as the beetle.
COLEOP'TERAL, a. Having wings cover-
ed with a case or sheatji, which shuts as
above.
CO'LE-PERCH, n. A small fish, less than
the common perch. Diet. .Xat. Hist.
eO'LE-SEED, 71. The seed of the navew,
napus sativa, or long-rooted, narrow-leafed
rapa ; reckoned a sjjecies of brassica or
cabbage. Encyc.
2. Cabbage seed. Mortimer.
CO'LE-WORT, n. [cole and wort. Sax.
wyrt, an herb.] A particular species of
cole, brassica, or cabbage.
COL'IC, 71. [L. colicus ; Gr. xuXtxof, from
xuxoi', the colon.]
In general, a severe pain in the bowels, of
which there are several varieties ; as bil
COL
ious coLc, hysteric colic, nervous colic and
many others. Coie. ^uincy.
COL'IC, ) Affecting the bowels.
COL'ICAL, i "• MUton.
COL'IN, n. A bird of the partridge kind,
found in America and the West Indies,
called also a quail.
COLL, I', t. To embrace. [Xot in use. See
Collar.] Spenser.
COLLAPSE, V. i. collaps'. [L. coUabor, col-
lapsus ; con and labor, to slide or fall.]
To fall together, as the two sides of a vessel ;
to close by falling together ; as, the fine
canals or vessels of the body collapse in
old age. Arbuthnot.
COLLAPSED, pp. Fallen together ; closed^
COLLAP'SION, n. .-V state of falling togeth-
er ; a state of vessels closed.
COL'LAR, 71. [L. coUare; Fr. coUier, collet;
Arm. colyer ; It. collare ; Sp. collar ; from
L. coUum, the neck.]
1. Something worn round the neck, as a
ring of metal, or a chain. The knights of
several orders wear a chain of gold, enam-
eled, and sometimes set with ciphers or
other devices, to which the badge of the
order is appended. Encyc.
2. The part of a gannent which surrounds
the neck. Job xxx. 18.
3. A part of a harness lor the neck of a horse
or other beast, used in draught.
4. Among seamen, the upper part of a stay ;
also, a roj)e in form of a wreath to which a
stay is confined. Mar. Diet.
To slip the collar, is to escape or get free ; to
disentangle one's self from difficulty, labor,
or engagement. Johnson.
A collar of brawn, is the quantity bound up in
one parcel. [Not used in America.]
Johnson:
COL'LAR, V. t. To seize by the collar.
2. To put a collar on.
To collar beef or other meat, is to roll it
up and bind it close with a string. [Eng-
lish.]
C0L'L.'\RAGE, n. A tax or fine laid for the
collars of wine-drawing horses. [Eiig.]
Bailey. Encye'.
COLLAR-BONE, ti. The clavicle.
COL'LARED, pp. Seized by the collar.
2. Haviiiff a collar on the neck.
COLLA'TE, t'. ?. [L. collatum, collalus ; cori
and latum, latus ; considered to be the
supine and participle offero, confero, but a
word of distinct origin.]
Literally, to bring or lay together. Hence,
1. To lay together and compare, by examin-
ing the points in which two or more things
of a similar kind agree or disagree ; appli-
ed parlicidarly to manuscripts and books ; as,
to collate copies of the Hebrew Scriptures.
2. To confer or bestow a benefice on a cler-
gyman, by a bishop who has it in his own
gift or patronage ; or more strictly, to pre-
sent and institute a clergyman in a bene-
fice, when the same person is both the or-
dinary and the patron ; followed by to.
If the patron neglects to present, the bishop
may collate his clerk to the chui-ch.
Slackstone.
3. To bestow or confer; but note seldom used,
except as in the second definition. TayUtr.
COLLA'TE, V. i. To place in a benefice, as
by a bishop.
If the bishop neglects to collate within six
COL
COL
COL
0. Not dii-ect, c
If by direct
7. Concurrent ;
mouths, the right to do it devolves on the arch-
bishop. Encyc.
■eOLLA'TED, pp. Laid together and com-
pared ; examined by comparing; presented
and instituted, as a clergyman, to a bene-
fice.
COLLAT'ERAL, a. [L. collateralis ; con
and lateralis, from lotus, a side.]
1. Being by the side, side by side, on the
.side, or side to side.
In his bright radiance and collateral light
Must I be comforted, not in his sphere.
Shak.
Collateral pressure is pressure on the
side. So we say, collateral circumstances,
circumstances which accompany a princi-
pal event.
'i. In genealogy, descending from the same
.stock or ancestor, but not one from the
other ; as distinguished from lineal. Lin-
eal descendants proceed one from another
in a direct line ; collateral relations spring
from a common ancestor, but from differ-
ent branches of that common stirps or
stock. Thus the children of brothers are
co//a/era/ relations, having different fathers,
but a common grandfather. Blackstone.
3. Collateral security, is security for the per-
formance of covenants or the payment of
money, besides the principal security.
4. Rimiiing parallel. Johnson.
5. Diffused on either side ; springing from
relations ; as, collateral love. Milton.
■ immediate.
ir collateral hand. .S/mAr.
as, collateral strength.
Jltterbtiry.
COLLAT'ERAL, n. A collateral relation or
kinsman.
COLLAT'ERALLY, adv. Side by side ; or
by the side.
■2. Indirectly. Dryden.
-3. In collateral relation ; not in a direct hne ;
not lineallv.
COLLAT ERALNESS, n. The state of
being collateral.
€OLLA'TING, ppr. Comparing ; present
ing and instituting.
€OLLA'TION, n. The act of bringing or
laying too;ether, and comparing ; a com
parison of one copy or thing of a like kind
with another. Pope
2. The act of conferring or bestowing ; a gift
Ray
3. In the canon law, the presentation of t
clergyman to a benefice by a bisliop, who
has it in his own gift or patronage. Col
lation includes both presentation and in
stitution. When the patron of a church is
not a bishop, he presents his clerk for ad
mission, and the bishop institutes hmi ; but
if a bishop is the patron, his presentation
and institution are one act and are called
collation. Blackstone.
4. In common law,\\\e presentation of a copy
to its original, and a comparison made by
examination, to ascertain its conformity ;
also, the report of the act made by the pro-
])er officers. Encyc.
.'>. In Scots law, the right which an heir has
of throwing the whole heritable and mo-
vable estates of the deceased into one mass,
and sharing it equally with others who are
of the same degree of kindred.
(.). A repast between full meals ; as a cold
collation.
Collation of seals, denotes one seal set on
the same label, on the reverse of another.
Encyc.
COLLA'TIVE, a. Advowsons are presenta-
tive, collaiive or donative. An advowson
collative is where the bishop and patron
are one and the same person ; in which
case the bishop cannot present to himself,
but he does, by one act of collation or con-
ferring the benefice, the whole that is
done, in common cases, by both presenta-
tion and institution. Blackstone
€OLLA'TOR, n. One who collates or com-
pares manuscripts or copies of books.
Mdison.
2. One who collates to a benefice, as when
the ordinary and patron are the same per-
son, -flyliffe.
eOLLAUD', V. t. [L. collaudo.] To unite in
praising. [Little used.] Howell.
eOL'LEAGDE, n. coVleeg. [L. collega ; Fr.
collegue ; It. collega ; Sp. colega ; L. con
and lego, to choose, or lego to send, or
ligo to bind. This word is differently ac-
cented by different speakers and lexicog-
raphers. I have followed the latest au-
thorities.]
A partner or associate in the same office
employment or commission, civil or eccle-
siastical. Milton. Swijl.
It is never used of partners in trade or
manufactures.
COLLE'AGUE, v. t. or i. collee'g. To unhe
ith in the same office.
COLLE'AGUED, pp. United as an ai
' !ite in the same office.
COL'LEAGUESHIP, «. Partnership
office. Milton.
COLLECT', V. t. [L. colligo, collectu
and lego, to gather ; Gr. Xiya.]
To gather, as separate persons or things,
into one body or place ; to assemble or
bring together ; as, to collect men into ai
army ; to collect ideas ; to collect particu
lars into one sum.
9. To gain by observation or information.
From all that can be collected, the publii
peace will not soon be interrupted.
. To gather from premises ; to infer as a
consequence.
Which consequence, I conceive, is ver>- il
collected. Locke
4. To gather money or revenue from debt
ors ; to demand and receive ; as, to collect
taxes ; to collect the customs ; to collect ae
counts, or debts.
5. To gather, as crops ; to reap, mow or
pick, and secure in proper repositorie
to collect hay, corn or fruits.
C. To draw together ; to bring into united
action ; as, to collect all the strength, or all
the powers of the mind.
7. To obtain from contribution.
To collect one's self, is to recover from sur
prise, or a disconcerted state ; to gain com
mand over the thoughts, when dispersed
over the passions, when tumultuous ; or
the mind, when dismayed. Shak. Milton.
COLLECT', V. i. To run together ; to ac-
cumulate ; as, pus collects in an abscess ;
sand or snow collects in banks.
COL'LECT, n. A short comprehensive
prayer ; a prayer adajited to a particular
ilay or occasion. Taylor.
2. A collection or gathering of money. [Lit-
I tie used.] Enryr.
COLLECTA'NEOUS, a. [L. coUectaneus.]
Gathered ; collected.
COLLECT'ED, pp. Gathered; assembled;
congregated ; drawn together.
2. a. Recovered from surprise or dismay ;
not disconcerted ; cool ; firm ; prepared.
COLLECTEDLY, adc. In one view ; to-
gether; in one bodv.
COLLECT'EDNESS, n. A collected state
of the mind ; recoverv from surprise.
COLLECT'IBLE, a. That may be collect-
ed or gathered ; that may be inferred.
2. That may be gathered or recovered ; as,
the debts or taxes are or are not collectible.
COLLECT'LNG, ppr. Gathering ; drawing
ogether ; assembling.
COLLECTION, n. The act of gathering,
assembling.
2. The body forined by gathering; an as-
semblage, or assembly ; a crowd ; as a
collection of men.
3. A contribution ; a sum collected for a
charitable purpose.
Now concerning tlie collection for the saints.
1 Cor. xvi.
4. A gathering, as of matter in an abscess.
5. The act of deducing consequences ; rea-
soning ; inference. [Little used.]
Johnson. Hooker.
6. A corollary ; a consectary ; a deduction
from premises ; consequence.
Johnson. Hooker.
7. A book compiled from other books, by
the putting together of parts; a compUa-
tion ; as a collection of essays or sennons.
COLLECT'IVE, a. [L. coUectivus ; Fr. col-
lectif; It. colleltivo.]
1. Formed by gathering ; gathered into a
mass, sum, or body ; congregated, or ag-
gregated, ff'atts. SwiJl.
Deducing consequences ; reasoning- ; in-
ferring. Brown.
3. In grammar, expressing a number or mul-
titude united ; as a collective noun or name,
which, though in the singular number it-
self, denotes more than one ; as, company,
army, troop, assembly.
COLLECTIVELY, adv. In a mass, or
body ; in a collected state ; in the aggre-
gate; unitedly; in a state of combination ;
as the citizens of a state coHech'rcii/ consid-
ered.
COLLECT IVENESS, n. A state of union ;
mass.
COLLECT'OR, n. One who coUeets or
gathers things which are scattered or sep-
arate.
2. A compiler; one who gathers and puts
together parts of books, or scattered pie-
ces, in one book. Addismi.
3. In botany, one who gathers plants, with-
out studying botany as a science. Encyc.
4. An officer appointed and commissioned to
collect and feceive customs, duties, taxes
or toll. Temple.
5. A bachelor of arts in Oxford, who is ap-
pointed to superintend some scholastic
proceedings in Lent. Todd.
COLLECT'ORSHIP, n. The office of a
collector of customs or taxes.
9. The jurisdiction of a collector.
^'isiat. Researches.
COLLEG'ATARY, n. [L. con and 7ego, to
send.]
In the civil law, a person who has a legacy
COL
left to him in common with one or more
other persons. Cliambers. Johnson.
COL'LEOE, n. [L. collegiuvi ; con and lego,
to gather.]
In its primary sense, a collection, or assem-
bly. Hence,
V In o general sense, a collection, assem-
blage or society of men, invested with cer-
tain powers and rights, performing cer-
tain duties, or engaged in some common
employment, or pursuit.
2. In a parlkular sense, an assembly for a
' • political or ecclesiastical purj'ose ; as the
coUege of Electors or their deputies at the
diet in Ratishon. So also, the college of
princes, or their deputies ; the college of
cities, or deputies of the Imperial cities ;
the college of Cardinals, or sacred college.
In Russia, the denomination, college, is
given to councils of state, courts or assem-
blies of men intrusted with the adminis-
tration of the government, and called Im-
perial colleges. Of these some are supreme
and others subordinate ; as the Supreme
Imperial College; the college of foreign af-
fairs ; the college of war ; the admiralty
college ; the college of justice ; tlie college
of commerce ; the medical college.
Tookeu.335. .35(!.
In Great Britain and the United States o/j
America, a society of physicians is called a
college. So also there are colleges of sur-
geons; and in Britain, a college of philoso-
phy, a college of heralds, a college of jus-
tice, &c. Colleges of these kinds are us-
ually incorporated or established by the
supreme power of the state.
3. An edifice appropriated to the use of stu
dents, who are acquiring the languages
and sciences.
4. The society of persons engaged in the
pursuits of literature, including the officers
and students. Societies of this kind arc
incorporated and endowed with revenues.
5. In foreign universities, a public lecture.
€OL'LEgE-LIKE, n. Regulated after the
manner of a college.
COLLE'GlAL, a. Relating to a college;
belonging to a college ; having the proper
ties of a college.
€OLLE'6IAN, »i. A member of a college,
particularly of a literary institution so call-
ed ; an inhabitant of a collesre. Johnson.
■eOLLE'filATE, a. Pertaining to a college :
as collegiate studies.
a. Containing a college ; instituted after the
manner of a college ; as a collegiate socie-
ty. Johnson.
X A collegiate church is one that has no
bishop's see ; but has the ancient retinue
of a bishoii, canons and prebends. Of
these some are of royal, others of ecclesi-
astical foundation ; and each is regulated
in matters of divine service, as a cathedral
Some of these were anciently abbeys
which have been seciilarizcd. Encyc.
COLLE'GIATE, n. The member of a col-
lege. Burton.
€OL'LET, n. [Fr. collet, a collar, or neck,
from L. coUum.]
J. Among jewelers, the horizontal face or
plane at the bottom of brilhants ; or the
part of a ring in which the stone is set.
Encyc. Johnson
2. In glass-making, that part of glass vessels
which sticks to the iron instrument used
Vol. I.
COL
in taking the substance from the melting-
pot. Encyc.
S. Anciently, a band or collar.
4. A term used by turners. Johnson.
€OLLET'l€, a.' Having the property i<(
gluing; agghitinant. Encyc.
€OLLET'I€, »i. [Gr. *oWk.;ftxof.] An agglu
tinant. Encyc.
COLLI'DE, V. i. [I., collido ; con and Mo,
to strike.]
To strike or dash against each other.
Brou-n.
COL'LIER, n. col'yer. [from coal] A dig-
ger of coal ; one who works in a coal-mine.
Joh7}son.
2. A coal-merchant or dealer in coal.
Ba
3. A coasting vessel employed in the coal
trade, or in transporting coal from the
ports where it is received from the mines,
to the ports where it is purchased for con
sumption.
COL'LIERY, n. col'yery. The place where
coal is dug. [See Coalenj.]
2. The coal trade. Qu.
€OLLIFLO\VER. [See Cauliflower.]
COL'LIGATE, v. t. [L. colligo ; con and li-
go, to bind.] To tie or bind together.
Tlie pieces of isinglass are colligated ir
rows. JVich. Diet.
COL'LIGATED, pp. Tied or bound to-
gether.
€OL'LIGATING, ppr. Binding together.
COLLIGA'TION, n. A binding together.
Brown.
eOLLIMA'TION, n. [L. collimo ; con and
limes, a limit. Ainsworth suggests that it
may be an error, and that collineo, con and
linea, is the real reading ; but collimo is in
perfect analogy with other words of like
signification. To aim is to direct to the
limit or end.]
The act of aiming at a mark ; aim ; the act
of levehng, or of directing the sight to t
fixed object. Asiat. Research
COLLINEA'TION, n. [L. collineo ; con and
linea, a line.]
The act of aiming, or directing in a line to a
fixed object. Johnson.
€OL'LING, n. [L. collum, the neck.] An
embrace ; dalUance. {JSfol used.]
Chaucer
COLLIQUABLE, a. [See CoUiquate.] That
may be litpiefied, or melted ; liable to melt,
grow soft, or become fluid.
eOLLIQ'UAMENT, n. The substance
formed by melting ; that which is melted,
Bailey. Johnson.
Q. Technically, the fetal part of an egg ; the
transparent fluid in an egg, contauiing the
first rudiments of the chick.
Coxe. Encyc.
3. Tlie first rudiments of an embryo in gen-
eration. Coxe.
eOL'LIQUANT, a. That has the power of
dissolving or melting. '
COL'LIQUATE, v. i. [L. colliqueo ; con
and liqueo, to melt. See Liquid.]
To melt ; to dissolve ; to change from sohd
to fluid ; to become hquid. Broten.
€OL'LIQUATE, v. t. To melt or dissolve
€OL'LIQUATED, pp. Melted ; dissolved ;
turned from a solid to a fluid substance.
Boyle. Harvey.
COL'LIQUATING, ppr. Melting ; dissol-
ving.
41
COL
eOLLIQUA'TION, n. Tlie act of melting.
Boyk.
2. A di.-solving, flowing or wasting ; applied
to the blood, when it does not readily
coagulate, and to the solid parts, wJieu
they waste away by excessive secretion,
occasioning fluxes and profuse, clammy
sweats. Coxe. Encyc. Quincy.
COLLIQUATIVE, a. Melting"; dissolving ;
appropriately indicating a morbid dis-
charge of the animal fluids ; as a colliqua-
tive fever, which is accompanied whh
diarrhcEa, or profuse sweats ; a colliquative
sweat is a profuse clanmiy sweat.
€OLLIQUEFA€'TION, n. [L. colliquefa-
cio.] A melting together; the reduction
of different bodies hito one mass by fusion.
Bacon.
COLLI'SION, n. s as :. [L. collisio, from
collido, eollisi ; con and lado, to strike or
liurt.]
1. The act of striking together; a striking
together of two hard bodies. Milton.
3. The state of being struck together ; u
clashing. Hence,
3. Opposition ; interference ; as a coUisioir
of interests or of parties.
4. A running against each other, as ships at
sea. Marshal on Insurance. ff'aUh.
COL'LOCATE, v. t. [L. colloco ; con and
loco, to set or place.] To set or place ; to
set ; to station.
eOL'LOCATE, a. Set ; placed. Bacon.
COLLOCATED, pp. Placed.
COL'LOCATING.jjpr. Setting; placing.
COLLOCA'TION, n. [L. collocatio.] A set-
ting ; the act of placing ; disposition in
place.
2. The state of being placed, or placed with
something else. Bacon.
COLLOCU'TION, n. [L. collocutio ; con
and locutio, from loquor, to speak.]
A speaking or conversing together ; confer-
ence; mutual discoiu-se.
Bailey. Johnson.
COLLOCU'TOR, n. One of the speakers
in a dialogue.
COLLOGUE, V. t. To wheedle. [JVot in
use.]
COL'LOP, n. A small shoe of meat; apiece
of flesh. Dryden.
2. In burlesque, a child. Shak.
In Job XV. 27. it seems to have the sense
of a thick piece or fleshy lump. " He ma-
keth collops of fat on his flanks." This is
the sense of the word in N. England.
COLLO'QUIAL, a. [See CoUoquy.] Per-
taining to common conversation, or to mu-
tual discourse ; as colloquial language ; a
colloquial phrase.
COL'LOQUIST, n. A speaker in a dialogue.
Malone.
COL'LOQUY, n. [L. colloquium; con and
loquor, to speak.]
Conversation ; mutual discourse of two or
more ; conference ; dialogue.
Milton. Taylor.
COLLOW. [See CoUy.]
COLLUC'TANCY, n. [L. colluctor ; con
and luctor, to struggle.]
A struggling to resist ; a striving against ;
resistance ; opposition of nature.
COLLUCTA'TION, n. A struggling to re-
sist ; contest ; resistance ; opposition ; con-
trariety. fVoodtcard.
COL
■COLLU'DE, V. i. [L. colludo : con and ludo,
to play, to banter, to mock.]
To playinto the hand of each other ; to con-
spire in a fraud ; to act in concert.
Johnson.
COLLU'DER, n. One who conspires in a
fraud.
<:OLhV'DlfsG,ppr. Conspiring with anotlier
in a fraud.
COLLU'DING, n. A trick; colhision.
fOLLU'SION, n. s as z. [L. collusio. S
Collude.]
\. In law, a deceitful agreement or compact
between two or more persons, for the one
party to bring an action against the other,
for some evil purpose, as to defraud a
third person of his right. Coivel.
A secret understanding between two
parties, who pleatl or proceed fiviudulently
against each other, to the prejudice of a
third person. Encyc.
3. In general, a secret agreement for a
fraudulent purpose.
eOLLU'SIVE, rt. Fraudulently concerted
between two or more ; as a collusive agree-
ment.
COLUI'SIVELY, adv. By collusion; by se-
cret agreement to defraud.
COLLU'SIVENESS, n. The quality of be-
ing collusive.
COLLU'SORY, a. Carrying on a fraud by
a secret concert ; containing collusion.
COL'LY, I [Supposed to be from coal.]
COL'LOW, \ "'The black grime or soot of
coal or burnt wood.
Woodward. Burton
COL'LY, V. t. To make foul ; to grime with
the smut of coal. Shak.
■eOL'LYRITE,Ji. [Gr. xompiov, infra.] A
variety of clay, of a wliite color, with
shades of gray, red, or yellow.
Cleaveland,
COLLYR'IUM, n. [L.; Gr. xo^Mptor. Qu
from xu^vu, to check, and piof, defluxion.]
Eye-salve ; eye-wash ; a topical remedy for
disorders of the eyes. Coxe. Encyc.
COL'MAR, ra. [Fr.] A sort of pear,
COL'OCYNTH, n. [Gr. xo^xvrOii.] The
coloquintida, or bitter apple of the shops.
a kind of gourd, from Aleppo and fi
Crete. It contains a bitter pulji, which is
a drastic purge. Encyc
COLOGNE-EARTH, n. A kind of lighi
bastard ocher, of a deep bro\vn color, not
a pure native fossil, but containing
vegetable than mineral matter ; sup
to be the remains of wood long buried in
the earth. Hill.
It is an earthy variety of lignite or brown
coal. Cleaveland.
COLOM'BO, n. A root from Colombo hi
Ceylon. Its smell is aromatic, and its
taste pungent and bitter. It is much es
teemed as a tonic in dyspeptic and biliou
diseases. Hooper.
CO'LON, n. [Gr. xuXor, the colon, a member
or limb.]
1. In anatomy, the largest of the intestines, or
rather the largest division of the intestinal
canal ; beginning at the csecum, and
cending by the right kidney, it passes un-
der the hoUow part of the liver, and the
bottom of the stomach, to the spleen
thence descending by the left kidney, itl
passes, in the form of an S, to the upper"
COL
part of the os sacrum, where, from its
straight course, the canal takes the name
of rectum. Encyc. (^uincy.
% In grammar, a point or character formed
thus [ : ], used to mark a pause, greater
than that of asemicolon, but less than that of
a period ; or rather it is used when the sense
of the division of a period is complete, so
as to admit a full point ; but something is
added by way of illustration, or the de-
scription is continued by an additional re-
mark, without a necessary dependence on
the foregoing members of the sentence.
Thus,
A brute arrives at a point of perfection he can
never pass : in a few years he has all the en
(lowments he is capable of. Spect. No. iii.
The colon is often used before an address,
quotation or example. "Mr. Gray wai
followed by Mr. Erskine, who spoke thus
' I rise to second the motion of my honor
able friend.' " But the propriety of tliis
depends on the pause, and this depends on
the form of introducing the quotation ; for
after say, said, or a like word, the colon is
not used, and seems to be improper. Thus
in our version of the scriptures, such mem
hers are almost invariably followed by a
comma. "But Jesus said to them, 'Ye
know not what ye ask.' "
The use of the colon is not uniform ; nor
is it easily defined and reduced to rides. In
deed the use of it might be dispensed with
without much inconvenience.
€OL'ONEL, ?i. cicr'nel. [Fr. colonel; It. col
onnello ; Arm. coronal ; Sp. coronet ; Port
coronet ; from It. colonna, Fr. colonne, a col
unm. It. colonnello, the column of a book.^
The cliief commander of a regiment of
troops, whether infantry or cavalry. He
ranks next below a brigadier-general. In
England, colonel-lieutenant is the com-
mander of a regiment of guards, of which
the king, prince or other person of emi-
nence is colonel. lAeutenant-colonel is the
second officer in a regiment, and com-
mands it in the absence of the colonel.
COLONELCY, n. cur'nelcy. } The of-
COLONELSHIP, n. cur'nelship. ^ fice,rank
or commission of a colonel.
Sivijl. Washington.
COLO'NIAL, a. [See Colony.] Pertaining
to a colony ; as colonial government ; colo-
nial rights. [Colonical is not in use.]
COL'ONIST, n. [See Colony.] An inhab-
itant of a colony.
Blackstone. Marshall, lAfe of Washington.
€OLONIZA'TION, n. The act of coloni-
zing, or state of being colonized.
COL'ONIZE, t).<. [See Colony.] To plant
or establish a colony in ; to plant or settle
a number of the subjects of a kingdom or
state in a remote country, for the purpose
of cultivation, commerce or defense, and
for permanent residence. Bacon
The Greeks colonized the South of Italy am
of France.
2. To migrate and settle in, as inhabitants.
English Puritans colonized New England.
COL'ONIZED, pp. Settled or planted with
a colony.
COL'ONiZING, ppr. Planting with a col
ony.
eOL'ONIZING, n. The act of establishing
a colony.
This state paper has been adopted as the ba
sis of all her later co^oni'iintrs. TuwAt, I. 622
COL
eOLONNA'DE, n. [It. colonnata, from c»-
lonna, a column ; Sp. colunata; Fr. colon-
nade. See Column.]
1. In architecture, a peristyle of a circular
figure, or a series of columns, disposed in
a circle, and insulated within side.
Builder'' s Diet. Addison.
2. Any series or range of columns. Pope.
A polystyle colonnade is a range of colunnis
too great to be taken in by the eye at a
single view ; as that of the palace of St.
Peter at Rome, consisting of 384 columns
of the Doric order. Encyc.
COL'ONY, n. [L. colonia, from colo, to cul-
tivate.]
1. A con)pany or body of people transplant-
ed from their mother country to a remote
province or country to cuhivate and in-
liahit it, and remaining subject to the ju-
risdiction of the parent state; as the Brit-
ish colonies in America or the Indies ; the
Spanish colonies in South America. When
such settlements cease to be subject to the
parent state, they are no longer denomi-
nated colonies.
The first settlers of New England were the
best of Englishmen, well educated, devout
christians, and zealous lovers of liberty. There
was never a colony formed of better materials.
Ames.
2. The country planted or colonized ; a plan-
tation ; ulso, the body of inhabitants in a
territory colonized, including the descend-
ants of the first planters. The people,
though born in the territory, retain the
name of colonists, till they cease to be sub-
jects of the parent .state.
3. A collection of animals ; as colonies of
shell-fish. ' Encyc.
eOL'OPHON, n. [from a city of Ionia.]
The conclusion of fi book, formerly con-
taining the place or year, or both, of its
publication. Warton.
COL'OPHONITE, n. [Supra, from the city
or its resin color.]
A variety of garnet, of a reddish yellow or
brown color, occurring in small amor-
phous granular masses. Diet. .Wat. Hist.
COLOPHONY, n. In pharmacy, black resin
or turpentine boiled in water and dried ;
or the residuum, after distillation of the
etherial oil of turpentine, being further
urged by a more intense and long contin-
ued fire. It is so named from Colophon
in Ionia, whence the best was formerly
bi-ought. A'icholson. Encyc.
COLOQUINTIDA, n. [Gr. xo'KoxmB^s; L.
colocynthis.]
The colocyuth or bitter apple, the fruit of a
plant of the genus Cucurais, a native of
Syria and of Crete. It is of the size of a
large orange, containing a pulp which is
violently purgative, but sometimes useful
as a medicine. Chambers.
COL'OR, n. [L. color; It. colore; Sp. Port.
color ; Fr. coule^ir.]
1. In physics, a property inherent in lighl,
which, by a difference in the rays and the
laws of refraction, or some other cause,
gives to bodies particular appearances to
the eye. The princi]jal colors are red, or-
ange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and vio-
let. HOiite is not properly a color ; as a
white body reflects the rays of light with-
out separating them. Black bodies, on
tlie contrary, absorb all the rays, or nearly
COL
COL
COL
ail, and therefore black, is no distinct col-|
or. But in common discourse, white and]
Itack are denominated colors; and all tliel
colors admit of many shades of difference.
2. Appearance of a hody to the eye, or aj
quality of sensation, caused by the rays of
light ; hue ; dye ; as the color of gold, or
of indigo. |
3. A red color ; the freshness or appearance
of blood in the face.
My cheeks no longer did their color boast.
Dry(lcn.\
4. Appearance to the mind; as, prejudice
puts a false color upon objects. I
5. Superficial cover ; palha'tion ; that whicl
serves to give an appearance of right ; as,l
their sin admitted no color or excuse. \
King Charles.
6. External appearance ; false show ; i)ro-
tense ; guise.
Under the cofor of commending him,
I have access my own love to prefer. Shak.]
[See Aetsxxvii. 30.] I
7. Kind ; species ; character ; complexion.
Boys and women are, for the most part, cat-!
tie of this coJor. Shak.'
8. That which is used for coloring ; paint :
as red lead, ocher, ori)imcnt, ciiuiabar, or'
vermilion, &.e. i
!>. Colors, with a plural termination, in the'
military art, a flag, ensign or standard,
borne in an army or fleet. [See Flag.\ j
10. In Imp, color in pleading is when the de-j
fendant in assize or trespass, gives to the^
plaintiff a color or appearance of title, by
stating his title specially ; thus removingi
the cause from the jury to the court. j
Blackstone.l
Water-colors are such as are used in painting!
with gum-water or size, without beini;!
mixed with oil. EncycJ
eOL'OR, t'. t. To change or alter the exter-
nal appearance of a body or substance ; to
dye ; to tinge ; to paint ; to slain ; as, to|
color cloth. Generally, to color is to change!
from white to some other color.
2. To give a specious appearance ; to set in
a fair light ; to palliate ; to excuse.
He colors the falsehood of jEneas by an ex-
press conunand of Jupiter to forsake the queen.
Dryden.
3. To make plausible ; to exaggerate in rep-
resentation. Addison)
To color a stranger^s goods, is when a free-
man allows a foreigner to enter goods at
the custom house in his name, to avoid
the alien's duty.
eOL'OR, V. i. To blush.
t'OL'ORABLE, a. Specious ; plausible ;
giving an appearance of right or justice ;
as a colorable pretense ; a colorable excuse
Spenser. Hooker
eOL'ORABLY, adv. Speciour^ly ; plausibly;
with a fair external appearance. Bacon.
COL'ORATE, a. [L. coloralus, from coloro,
to color.] *
Colored ; dved ; or tinged with some color.
[Little us'ed.] Rmi.
COLORA'TION, Ji. [L. coloro.] The art
or practice of coloring, or the state of be-j
ing colored. Bacon}
COL'ORATURE, n. In music, all manner'
of variations, trills, &c., intended to make
a song agreeable. Encyc.
COL'ORED, pp. Having the external ap-
pearance changed ; dyed ; tinged ; paint-
ed or stained.
2. Streaked ; striped ; having a diversity of]
hues. "
:1. Having a specious appearance.
Colored people, bl4ck people, Africans or
their descendants, mi.xed or unmixed.
eOLORIF'IC, o. [color, and L./«cto.] That
has the quality of tinging ; able to give
color, or tint to other bodi'-s. Kirwan.
COLOR'ING, ppr. Dying ; staining ; ting-
infj.
2. Giving a fair external appearance; pal
bating ; excusing.
COLORING, n. The act or art of dyeing;
the state of being colored ; color.
2. A specious appearance ; fair artificial rep
rescntation ; as, the story lias a coloring of
truth.
3. Among painters, the manner of applying
colors ; or the mixture of light and shade,
formed by the various colors employed.
eOL'ORIST, n. [Supra.] One who colors ;
a painter who e.xcels in giving the proper
colors to his designs. Dniden.
C0L'ORLESS,a. [Supra.] Destitute of" col-
or ; not distinguished by any hue ; trans-
parent ; as colorless water, glass or gas.
jYeivton.
COLOSSAL, I [See Colossus.] Like
COLOSSE'AN, S a colossus ; very large ;
huge : gigantic.
COLOS'SUS, n. [L. and Gr.] A statue of a
gigantic size. The most remarkable co-
lossus of antiquity was one at Rhodes, n
statue of Apollo, so high that it is said
ships might sail between its legs.
COLOS' SUS-WISE, adv. In the manner ofl
a colossus. Shak.
COL STAFF, n. A staff for carrying bur-
dens by two on their shoulders. [Local.]
COLT, n. [Sax. coll.] The young of the
equine genus of animals or horse kind.
In America, colt is equally applied to the
male or female, and this is imquestiona-
bly correct. The male is called a horse-
colt, and the female is called a flli).
2. A young foohsh fellow ; a person without
cxiierience or stability. Shak.
COLT, V. i. To frisk, riot or frolick, like a
colt ; to be hcentious. [J^'ot used.]
Spenser.
COLT, V. t. To befool. [JVot used.] STmk.
COLT'S-FQQT, n. A genus of plants, the
Tussilago. The name is also given to a
species of Cacalia. Fain, of Plants.
COLT'S-TOOTH, n. An imi)erfect or su-
perfluous tooth in young horses. Johnson
2. A love of youthful pleasure.
Well said. Lord Sands ;
Your coWs-toolh is not yet cast ? Shah
[Little used.]
COLTER, n. [L. culler, a colter or knife
thot is, the cutter; Yr.'coutre ; It. coltro .
W. ajlltaivr ; D. koufer ; G. kolter.]
The fore iron of a plow, with a sharp edge
that cuts the earth or sod.
COLTISH, a. Like a colt ; wanton ; frisky ;
gay. Chaucer.
COL'UBER, n. [L. a serpent or adder.] In
zoology, a genus of serpents, distinguished
by scuta or hard crusts on the belly, and
scales on the tail. Under this genus are
ranked many species, as tlie viper, black
snake, &.i:.
COL'UBRINE, a. [L. colubi-inus.] Relating
to the coluber, or to serjients ; cunning
crafty. [Little used.] Johnson
COL'L'MB.\RY, n. [L. columbarium, from
columba, a pigeon ; W. colomen ; Ir. cobn
or colum ; Ana. coulm ; Russ. golub, a pi-
geon or dove. In Russ. golubei signifies,
of a sky-blue, azure.]
A dove-cot ; a pigeon-house.
COLUM BATE, n. A salt or compound of
columbic acid, with a base.
COLUM'BIAN, a. Pertaining to the United
States, or to America, discovered by Co-
limibus.
COLUMBIC, a. Pertaining to columbium ;
as columbic acid.
COLUftlBIF'EROUS, a. Producing or con-
taining columbium. PhiUips.
COL'UMBINE, a. Like or pertaining to a
pigeon or dove ; of a dove-color, or like
the neck of a dove.
COL'UMBINE, n. [L. columUna.] Aquilc-
gia, a genus of plants of several species.
The Thalictrum or meadow-rue is also
called feathered columbine. Fam. of Plants.
COLUM'BITE, re. [See Columbium.] The
ore of columbium.
COLUMBIUM, 71. [from Columbia, Ame-
rica.]
A metal first discovered in an ore or oxyd,
found in Connecticut, at New-London,
near tlio house of Gov. Winthrop, and by
him tran.'imitted to Sir Hans Sloane, by
whom it was deposited in the British mu-
setun. The same metal was afterwards
discovered in Sweden, and called tanta-
lum, and its ore tanlalitc. Cleavcland.
COLUMBO. [See Colombo.]
COL'UMEL, 7!. In botany, the central col-
umn ui a capsule, taking its rise from the
receptacle, and having the seeds fixed to
it all roimd. Marlyn.
COL UMN, )i. colum. [L. columna, columen ;
W. colov, a stalk or stem, a prop ; colovyn,
a column ; Ir. colbh, a stalk, a column;
Arm. coit/oucnn; Pr. colonne ; It. colonna;
Sp. columna ; Port, columna or coluna.
This word is from the Celtic, signifying
the stem of a tree, such stems being the
first columns used. The primary sense is
a shoot, or that which is set.]
1. In architecture, a long round body of wood
or stone, used to support or adorn a build-
ing, composed of a base, a shafk and a cap-
ital. The shaft tapers from the base, in
imitation of the stem of a tree. There are
five kinds or orders of columns. 1. The
Tuscan, rude, simple and massy ; the highth
of which is fourteen semidiameters or
modules, and the diminution at the top
from one sixth to one eighth of the in-
ferior diameter. 2. The Doric, which is
next in strength to the Tuscan, has a ro-
bust, masculine aspect ; its highth is six-
teen modules. 3. The Ionic is more slen-
der than the Tuscan and Doric ; its higlith
is eighteen modules. 4. The Corinthian
is more delicate in its form and ppopor-
tions, and enriched with ornaments ; its
highth should be twenty modules. 5. The
Composite is a species of tlie Corinthian,
and of the same highth. Encyc.
In strictness, tlie shaft of a column con-
sists of one entire piece ; but it is often
composed of different pieces, so united, as
to have the appearance of one entire piece.
It difters in this respect from a pillar, which
primarily signifies a pile, composed of
small pieces. But the two things are lui-
COM
ibrtunately confounded; and a column
consisting of a single piece of timber is
absurdly called a pillar or pile.
2. Au erect or elevated structure resembhng
" a column in architecture ; as the aslronom-
kal column at Paris, a kind of hollow tower
with a spiral ascent to the top ; gnomonic
column, a cylinder on which the hour ot
the day is indicated by the shadow of a
style ; military column, among the Romans:
triumphal column ; &c.
3. Any body pressing perpendicularly on its
base, and of the same diameter as its base
!is a column of water, air or mercuiy.
4. In the military art, a large body of troop;
drawn up in order ; as a solid column.
5. Among printers, a division of a page ; i
perpendicular set of lines separated fron
another set by a line or blank space. In
manuscript books and papers, any sepa-
rate perpendicular line or row of words or
figures. A page may contain two or more
columns ; and in arithmetic, many columns
of figures may be added.
eOLUM'N AR, a. Formed in columns ; hav-
ing tlie fcrriiof columns; like the shaft ot
a riilmnii; as cofemnorspar.
tOLUftlNARlrili, a. Somewhat resem-
bling a column. [Abadword.]
Fam. of Plants. Vol. u. 4o4-
eOLU'RE, 11. [Gr. xo>,oi,po5 ; xoTlo;, mutila-
ted, and ovpa, a tail ; so named because a
part is always beneath the horizon.]
In astronomy and geography, the coliues
two great circles supposed to intersect
each other at right angles, in the poles of]
the world, one of thein passing througli
the solstitial and the other through the
equinoctial points of the ecUptic, viz. Can-
cer and Capricorn, Aries and Libra, divi-
ding the ecliirtic into four equal parts. The
points where these lines intersect the eclip-
tic are called cardinal points.
Encyc. Hams.
COM, in composition as a prefix, Ir. comh,
or coimh, W. cym or cj/v, h. com or cum,
denotes loith, to or against.
CO'MA, n. [Gr. x<^f«i, lethargy.] Lethargy;
dozing ; a preternatural propensity to
sleep ; a kind of stupor of diseased per-
sons. , , Co^e-
CO'MA, n. [L. from Gr. xo/iti, a head ot hair
In botany, a species of bracte, terminatmg
the stem of a plant, in a tuft or bush ; as in
crown-imperial. Martyn.
•3. In astronomy, hairiness ; the hairy appear-
ance that surrounds a comet, when the
earth or the spectator is between the comet
and the sun.
CO'MART, n. [con and mart.] A treaty
article ; agreement. Obs. Shak
CO'MATE, a. [L. comatus, from coma ; Ir
ciamh, ciabh.] Hairy ; encompassed with
a coma, or bushy appearance, like hair.
Shak.
€0-MA'TE, n. [co and mate.] A fellow-
mate, or companion. Shak.
CO'MATOSE, ) [See Coma.] Preter-
eO'MATOUS, I "■ naturally disposed to
sleep; drowsy; dozing, without natural
sleep ; lethargic. Coxe. Grew.
eOMB, n. [Sax.] A valley between hills or
mountains. [JSTot in use.] Brown.
eOMB, n. b silent. [Sax. camb, a comb;
cemban, to comb ; G. kamm ; D. kam ; Sw.
kamin : Dan. kam, a comb ; Ir. ciomaim, to
COM
comb or card. Qu. L. como, to dress, trim
or comb, which seems to be allied to the
Gr. xou^oj. But the noun may be the rad-
ical word in our language, and from
scratching, scraping; Eth. I^^^O gamea,
to shave or scrape.]
1. An instrument, with teeth, for separating,
cleansing and adjusting hair, wool, or flax,
Also, an instrument of horn or shell, for
keeping the hair in its place when dressed.
a. The crest, caruncle or red fleshy tiill,
iwing on a cock's head ; so called from
indentures which resemble the teeth of
growing
comb.
3. The substance in which bees lodge their
honey, in small hexagonal cells.
4. A dry measure of fuur bushels. [JVot used
in U. States.]
COMB, V. t. To separate, disentangle
cleanse, and adjust with a comb, as t(
comb hair ; or to separate, cleanse and lay
smooth and straight, as to comb wool.
COMB, V. i. In the language of seamen, to
roll over, as the top of a wave ; or to break
with a white foam. [Qu. Sp. combar, to
bend, or from the English comb.]
COMB-BIRD, n. A gallinaceous fowl of
Africa, of the size of a turkey-cock.
COMB-BRUSH, n. A brush to clean combs.
COMB-MAKER, n. One whose occupation
is to make combs.
COMBAT, V. i. [Fr. combattre, cojnand bat
tre, to beat with or against ; It. combattere ;
Sp. combatir ; Port, combater ; Arm. com-
badti or combatein. See Beat.]
1. To fight ; to struggle or contend with an
opposing force.
Pardon nie ; I will not combat in my shirt.
Shak.
This word is particularly used to denote
private contest, or the fighting of two per-
sons in a duel ; but it is used in a general
sense for the contention of bodies of men,
nations, armies, or any species of animals.
After the fall of the republic, the Romans
3. To act in opposition.
Milton
It is followed by unth before the person
and/or before the thing sought.
A combats tcith B for his right
COM'BAT, t>. «. To fight with; to oppose bj
force ; as, to combat an antagonist.
a. To contend against ; to oppose ; to resist
as, to combat arguments or opinions.
COM'BAT, n. A fighting ; a struggling to
resist, overthrow or conquer ; contest by
force ; engagement ; battle ; as the combat
of armies.
a. A duel; a fighting between two men;
formerly, a formal trial of a doubtful cause,
or decision of a controversy between two
persons, by swords or bastons.
COMBATANT, a. Contending ; disposed
to contend. B. Jonson
COM'BATANT, n. A person who combats
any jierson who fights with another, or ii
an army, or fleet. .
3. A duellist ; one who fights or contends in
battle, for the decision of a private quarrel
or difference ; a champion.
3. A person who contends with another
argument, or controversy.
COM'BATED,i)p. Opposed; "^s'^tcd.
COM
COM'BATER, n. One who fights or con-
tends. Shenvood,
COM'BATING,;)pr. Striving to resist ; fight-
ing; opposing by force or by argument-
COMBED, pp. Separated, cleaned, or dress-
ed with a comb.
COMBER, 71. One who combs ; one whose
occupation is to comb wool, &.C.
COM'BER, n. Incumbrance. [JVo< used.]
COM'BER, n. A long slender fish with a red
back, found in Cornwall, England.
COMBI'NABLE, a. Capable of combining.
ChesteifieU.
COM'BINATE, a. [See Combine.] Espous-
ed ; betrothed. [JVot used.] Sfiak.
COMBINA'TION, M. [Fr. comfcinawon. See
Combine.] In general, close union or con-
nection. Hence,
Intimate union, or association of two or
more persons or things, by set purpose or
agreement, for effecting some object, by
joint operation ; in a good sense, when the
object is laudable ; in an ill sense, when it
is illegal or iniquitous. It is sometimes
equivalent to league, or to conspiracy.
We say, a combination of men to overthrow
government, or a combination to resist
oppression.
2. An assemblage ; union of particulars ; as
a combination of circumstances.
Commixture; union of bodies or qualities
in a mass or compound ; as, to make nevr
compounds by new combinations. Boyle.
Chimical union ; union by aflSnity.
Mix dry acid of tartar with dry carbonate of
potash ; no combination will ensue, till water is
added. Henry.
5. In mathematics, the union of numbers or
quantities in every possible manner ; or the
variation or alteration of any number of
quantities, letters, sounds, or the hke, in all
the difterent manners possible. The nuin-
ber of possible changes or combinations is
found by multiplying the terms 1. 2. 3. 4. 5 .
continually into each other. Thus 1X2
=2: 2X3=6: 6X4=24: 24X5=120. &c.
So the permutations of five quantities
amount to 120. The change»that may be
rung on twelve bells anwunt to 479,001,600.
And the twenty four letters of the alpha-
bet admit of 62,044,840,173,323,943,936,000
changes or combinations. Encyc.
COMBI'NE, V. t. [Fr. combiner ; It. combi-
nare ; Sp. comUnar ; from the Low Latin
combino, of com and binus, two and two,
or double.]
1. To unite or join two or more things; to
link closely together.
Friendship combines the hearts of men.
2. To agree ; t
[M'ot usual.]
3. To join words or ideas together ; opposed
to analyze. Johnson.
4. To cause to unite ; to bring into union or
confederacy. .
The violences of revolutionary France combi.-
ned the powers of Europe in opposition.
COMBI'NE, V. i. To unite, agree or coa-
lesce.
Honor and policy combine to justify the meas-
ure.
2. To unite in friendship or design ; to league
together.
You with your foes combine. Dryclen.
3. To unite by aflinity, or natural attraction.
COM
Two substances which will not conibine of
tlieinselves, may be made to combine, by the
intervention of a third.
4. To confederate ; to unite as nations.
The powers of Europe coinbined against
France.
COMBI'NED, pp. United closely ; associa-
ted; leagued; confederated; chimically
united.
COMBING, ppr. Separating and adjusting
hair, wool, &.c.
COMBING, »i. Borrowed liair combed over
a bald part of the head. [Local.']
Bp. TayhT.
COMBI'NING, ppr. Uniting closely ; joining
in purpose ; confederating ; uniting by
chiniical affinity.
eOMBLESS, o. Without a comb or crest ;
as a combUss cock. *'««*•
COMBUST', a. [L. combustus, comburo.]
When a planet is in conjunction with tlie
sun or apparently very near it, it is said to
be combust or in combustion. The distance
withiii which this epithet is applicable to a
planet, is said by some writers to be 8i
degrees; others say, within the distance ot
half the sun's disk.
COMBUSTIBLE, o. [Fr. combMlible ; Sp.
id. ; from L. comburo, combustum.]
That will take fire and burn ; capable of|
catching fire ; thus, wood and coal are com-
bustible bodies.
COMBUST'IBLE, n. A substance that will
take fire and bum ; a body which, in its
rapid union with others, disengages heat
and light. Ure.
COMBUST'IBLENESS, > , The quality
COMBUSTIBILITY, J of taking fire
and burning ; the quality of a substance
which admits the action of fire upon it ;
capacity of being burnt, or combined with
oxygen. Lavoisier.
The quaUty of throwing out heat and liglit,
in the rai)!d combination of its substance
with another body. Ure
COMBUS'TION, n. combus'chun. [Low L
combustio. See Combtist.]
1. The operation of fire on inflammable sub-
stances ; or according to modern cliimistry,
the union of an infiamniable substance
with oxygen, attended with hght, and u
most instances, with heat. In the com
bustion of a substance, heat or caloric is
disengaged, and oxygen is absorbed.
Lavoisier.
This theory of Lavoisier being found
somewhat defective, the following defini-
tion is given. Combustion is the disen-
gagement ofrhcat and light which accom-
panies chimical combination. Ure
Combustion cannot be regarded as dependent
on any peculiar principle or form of matter, but
must be considered as a general result of intense
chimical action. Webster's Man. of Chim
% \n popular language, a. \innmi^; the |)ro-
cess or action of fire in consuming a body,
attended with heat, or heat and flame
the combustion of wood or coal.
3. Conflagration ; a great fire. Hence, from
the violent agitation of fire or flame,
4. Tumult ; violent agitation with hurry and
noise ; confusion ; uproar.
Hooker. Milton. Dryden.
COME, I!, t. prct. came, part. come. [Sax.
cuman, or eieiman ; Goth, amman, pret.
cwom ; D. /women, pret. kwam ; G. kom
€ O M
men ; Sw. komma ; Dan. kommer, to come
Qu. W. cam, Ir. cam, a step. And qu
theAr. A'i Heb. Ch. Dip to rise, or
stand erect; to set or establish ; to subsist
consist, remain ; to rectify-, or set in order ;
and in Arabic, to be thick, stiff or congealed.
The senses of the words appear to be very
different ; but we use come in the sense of
rising or springing, applied to corn ; the
corn co7ne3or comes up, G. keimen. So the
butter com£s, when it separates from the
wliey and becomes tliick or stiff. And is
not our conunon use of come, when we in-
vite another to begin some act, or to move,
equivalent to rise, being originally directed
to persons sitting or reclining, in the ori-
ental manner ? Coming impUes moving,
driving, shootmg along, and so we use set :
we say, to set forward ; the tide sets north-
erly.]
L To move towards ; to advance nearer, in
any manner, and from any distance. We
say, the men come this way, whether riding
or on foot ; the wind comes from the west
the ship comes with a fine breeze; light
cctmes from the sun. It is appUcal
haps to every thing susceptible of motion,
and is opposed to go.
2. To draw nigh ; to approach ; to arrive :
to be present.
Come thou and all thy house into the ark.
Gen. vii-
All my time vrill I wait, till my change come.
Job xiv.
When shall I come and appear before God ?
Ps. xlii-
Then shall the end come. Math. xxiv.
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done. Math
vi.
The time has come.
3. To advance and arrive at some state or
condition ; as, the ships came to action ; the
players came to blows ; is it come to this
His sons come to honor and he knoweth it
not. Job xiv.
I wonder how he came to know what
had been done ; how did he come by his
knowledge? the heir comes into possession
of his estate; the man will come in time to'
abhor the vices of his youth, or he will
come to be poor and despicable, or to
poverty.
In these and similar phrases, we observe!
the process or advance is applied to the
body or to the mind, indifl'erently ; and to
persons or events.
4. To happen or fall out; as, how comes
that? let co?rte what will. Hence when|
followed by an object or person, with to
or on, to befall ; to light on.
After all that has coine on us for our evil
deeds. Ezra ix.
All things come alike to .nil. Eceles. ix.
5. To advance or move into view ; to apoear ;
as, blood or color comes and goes in the
face. Spenser. Shak.
6. To sprout, as plants ; to spring. The
corn comes or comes up. " In the coming or
sprouting of malt, as it must not come too
little, so it must not come too much." Mor-
timer. So Bacon uses the word; and this,
use of it coincides nearly with the sense ofl
Dip, quoin, 2 Kings xix. 26. and in the
same chapter inserted in Isaiah xxsvii.
C O M
27. It is the G. keimen, Icelandic keima,
to bud, or germinate.
7. To become.
So canu I a widow. Shak.
8. To appear or be formed, as butter ; to ad-
vance or change from cream to butter ;
a common use of the word ; as, the butter
comes. Hudibras.
9. Come, in the imperative, is used to excite
attention, or to uivite to motion or joint
action ; come, let us go.
This is the heir ; come, let us kill him.
When repeated, it sometimes expresses
haste ; come, come. Sometimes it express-
es or introduces rebuke.
As the sense of come is to move, in al-
most any manner, in its various applica-"
tions, that sense is modified indefinitely by
other words used in connection with it.
Thus with words expressing approach, it
denotes advancing nearer; with words ex-
pressing departure, as/rom, of, out of, &c.,
it denotes motion from, &c.
To come about, to happen ; to fall out ; to
come to pass ; to arrive. How did these
things come about ? So the French venir it
bout, to come to the end, that is, to ar-
rive.
To come about, to turn ; to change ; to come
round. The wind will come about from
west to east. The ship comes about. It
is applied to a change of sentiments.
On better thoughts, and my urged reasons,
They are come about, and won to the true side.
B. Jonson.
To come again, to return. Gen. xxviii.
Lev. xiv.
To come after, to follow. Math. xvi. Also,
to come to obtain ; as, to come after a book.
To come at, to reach ; to arrive within
reach of; to gain ; to come so near as to
be able to take or possess. We prize those
most who are hardest to come at. To come
at a true knowledge of ourselves.
Addison.
Also, to come towards, as in attacking.
To come away, to depart from ; to leave ; to
issue from.
To come back, to return.
To come by, to pass near ; a popular phrase.
Also, to obtain, gain, acquire ; that is, to
come near, at or dose.
Examine how you came by all your state.
Dryden.
This is not an irregular or improper use
of this word. It is precisely equivalent
to possess, to sit by. [See Possess.] So in
Ger. bekommeji, D. bekoomen, to get or ob-
tain ; the by or 6e prefixed.
To come down, to descend.
The Lord will come down on mount Sinai.
Ex. xix.
Also, to be humbled or abased.
Vour principalities shall comedoum. Jer. xiii.
Come down from thy glory. Jer. xlviii.
To come for, to come to get or obtain ; to
come after.
To come forth, to issue or proceed from.
Gen. XV. Is. xi. Micah v.
Also, to depart from ; to leave. Mark ix.
Also, to come abroad. Jer. iv.
To come from, to depart from ; to leave.
In popular language, this phrase is equiva-
lent to, where is his native place or former
place of residence ; where did this man,
this animal or this plant originate.
To come home, that is, to come to home, or
COM
COM
COM
the liouse ; to arrive at the dwelling.
Hence, to come close ; to press closely ; to
touch the feelings, interest, or reason.
[See Home.]
To come in, to enter, as into an inclosiire.
Also, to comply ; to yield ; as, come in
:iiid submit.
Also, to arrive at a port, or place of ren-
dezvous ; as, the fleet has come in.
Also, to become fashionable ; to be
brought into use.
Silken garments did not come in till late.
.flrbtUhnol .
Also, to enter as an ingredient nr part
of a composition.
A nice sense of propriety comes in to lieiglit-
cn the character.
Also, to grow and produce ; to come to
maturity and yield. If the corn comes in
well, we shall have a supply, without im-
portation. Crops come in light.
Also, to lie carnally with. Gen. xxxviii
To come in for, to arrive in time to take
a share. Johnson says this phras
taken from hunting, where the slow dogs
take nothing. Qu. But the sense in
which we now use the phrase lias no refer-
ence to time or slow movement. It is, to
imite with others in taking a part.
The rest came infer subsidies. Swift.
To come into, to join with ; to bring help.
Also, and more generally, to agree to ;
to comply with ; to unite with others in
adopting ; as, to come into a measure or
scheme.
To come near, to approach in place. Hence
metaphorically, to approach in quality ; to
arrive at nearly the same degree in a qual-
ity, or accomplishment ; to resemble.
Temjile
To come nigh, is popularly used in like sen-
ses.
To come no near, in seamanship, is an order
to the helmsman not to steer so close to
the wind.
To come of, to issue from ; to proceed from,
as a descendant.
O/" Priam's royal race my niollier came.
Dryde,
Also, to proceed from, as an effect from
a cause.
TWs conies of judging by the eye.
L'Estrnnge.
\\Tience come wars — come they not of you
lusts .' James iv.
To come off, to depart from ; to remove from
on.
Also, to depart or deviate from a line or
point ; to become wider ; to dilate.
Bacon.
Also, to escape ; to get free.
Hence, to end ; to arrive at the final
•sue ; as, to come off with honor or disgrace.
To come off from, to leave ; to quit. Felton.
To come on, to advance ; to proceed ; as,
come on, brave boys ; night is coming on
So we say, the young man comes on well
in his studies, and the phrase often denotes
a prosperous advance, successful im-
provement. So we say of i)lants, they
come on well, they grow or thrive— that is,
they proceed.
Al.<!o, to fall on ; to happen to.
Lest that come on you, which is spoken of in
the prophets. Acts xiii.
Also, to invade ; to rush on.
To come over, to pass above or across, or
from one side to another. In distilla
tion, to rise and pass over, as vapor.
Also, to pass from one party, side or
army to another ; to change sides.
To come out, to depart or proceed from.
They shall come out with great substance
Gen. XV.
Also, to become public ; to escape from
concealment or privacy ; to be discovered ;
as, the truth is come out at last.
Also, to be published, as a book. The
work comes out in (piarto.
Also, to end or come to an issue ; as, how
will this afl'air come out ; he iias come out
well at last.
To come out of, to issue forth, as from
confinement, or a close place ; to proceed
or depart from.
Also, to issue from, as descendants,
Kings shall come out of thee. Gen. xv
To come out with, to give publicity to; to
lisclose. Boijle.
To come short, to fail; not to accomplish.
All have sinned and come short of the glory
God. Rom. iii.
To come to, to consent or yield. Swift.
Also, to amount to ; as, the taxes co?nf
to a large sum.
Also, to recover, as from a swoon.
To come together, to meet or as.semble.
To come to pass, to be ; to happen ;
fall out ; to be effected. The phrase
much used in the common version of the
scriptures, but is seldom found in modern
English writings.
Tu come up, to ascend ; to rise.
Also, to spring ; to shoot or rise above
the earth, as a plant. Ba
Also, to come into use, as a fashion.
To come up th^ capstern, in seamanship, is to
turn it the contrary way, so as to slacken
the rope about it.
To come up the tackle fall, is to slacken it
gently.
To come up to, to approach near.
Also, to amount to.
Also, to advance to ; to rise to.
To come up with, to overtake, in following
or pursuit.
To come upon, to fall on ; to attack or in
\iu\e.
To come, in futurity ; to happen hereaf-
ter. In times to come. Success is yet to
Take a lease for years to come. Loche.
Come is an intransitive verb, but the partici-
)(le come is much used with the .substan
tive verb, in the pas.sive form. "The end
of all flesh is come." I am come, thou
art come, he is come, we are come, &c.
This use of the substantive verb, for have.
is perhaps too well established to be reject
cd ; but have or ha^ should he used in such
phrases. In the phrase, '■^come Friday
come Candleinas," there is an elliiisis of
certain words, as when Fridai/ shall come.
Come, come, the repetition of come, ex-
presses haste, or exhortation to hasten.
Sometimes it introduces a threat.
€OME, n. A sprout. [Ml used.]
Moiilmer.
eOME-OFF, n. Means of escape ; cvasioa;
do not want tliis come-off.
Grellman, 172,
€OME'DIAN, Ti. [Sec Comedy.] An actor
or player in comedy ; or a player in gen-
eral, male or female. Camden.
2. A writer of comedy. Peacham.
COM'EDY, n. [L. comadia; Gr. *u;««8ia.
Qu. from xu/m;, a village, and wSij, or rath-
er atibu, to shig, and denoting that the
comedian was a strolling singer ; or
whether the first syllable is from xujuos, a
merry feast, whence comic, comical, the lat-
ter indicating that the comedian was
characterized by buffoonery. The latter
coincides in elements with the English
game.]
A dramatic composition intended to repre-
sent human characters, which arc to bo
imitated in language, dress and manner,
by actors on a stage, for the amuse-
ment of spectators. The object of come-
dy is said to be to reconmiend virtue and
make vice ridiculous ; but the real effect
is amusement.
eOMELILY, adv. cum'lily. In a suitable or
decent manner. [Littleu^ed.] Sherwood.
COMELINESS, n. cum'liness. [See Come-
ly.] That which is becoming, fit or suita-
ble, in form or manner. Comeliness of
person impUes symmetry or due propor-
tion of parts; comeliness of manner im-
plies deconiin and propriety. " It signi-
fies something less forcible than beauty,
less elegant than g)-ace, and less light than
prettiness." Johnson.
A careless comeliness with comely care.
Sidney.
He hath no form nor comeliness. Is. liii. 2.
eOMELY, a. cum'hj. [from come. The
sense of suitableness is often fiom meet-
ing, coming together, whence adjusting,
putting in order. So m Latin, conveniens,
from cojitienio.]
Properly, becoming ; suitable : whence, hand-
some ; graceful. Jlpptied to person or form,
it denotes symmetry or due proportion,
but it expresses less than beautiful or ele-
gant.
I have seen a son ol Jesse — a comely person.
I will not conceal his comely proportion.
Job xli.
3. Decent ; suitable ; proper ; becoming ;
suited to time, place, circumstances Or per-
sons.
Praise is comely for the upright. Ps. xxxiii.
Is it comely that a woman pray to God un-
covered ? 1 Cor. xi.
O what a world is this, when what is cfimely
Envenoms him that bears it. Shale.
COMELY, adv.cum'ly. Handsomely; grace-
fully. Ascham.
COMER, )!. One that comes ; one who aj)-
proaches ; one who has arrived and is
present.
COMESSA'TION, )). [L. comessalio.]
Feasting or reveling. /?«//.
COMESTIBLE, o. [Fr.] Eatable. [Ao£
used.] Wotton.
COMET, n. [l..cometa; Gr. xofirjtfjf ; from
xofir;, coma, hair ; a hairy star.]
An opake, spherical, solid body, like a planet,
but accompanied with a train of light, per-
forming revolutions about the sim, in an
elliptical orbit, having the sun in one of its
COM
foci. In its approach to its pcriiiclion, if
becomes visible, and niter passing its peri-
helion, it departs into remote regions and
disappears. In popular language, comets
are tailed, bearded or hmiy, but tlicse terms
are taken from the appearance of the light
which attends them, which, in diflerent
positions with respect to the sun, exhibits
the form of a tail or train, a beard, or a
border of hair. When the comet is west-
ward of the sun and rises or sets before it,
the light appears in the morning like a
train beginning at the body of the comet
and extending westward and diverging in
proportion to its extent. Thus the comet
of 1769, [which I saw,] when it rose in the
morning, presented a luminous train that
extended nearly from the horizon to the
meridian. When the comet and the sun
are op|)osite, the earth being between
them, the comet is, to the view, immersed
in its train and the light appears around
its body like a fringe or border of hair.
From the train of a comet, this body has
obtained the popidar name of a blazing star.
Herschel observed several comets, which
appeared to ha\'e no nucleus, but to be
merely collections of vapor condensed
about a center. C'yc.
€OM'ET, 71. A game at cards. Souther'ne.
COMETA'RIUM, ) A machine exhibiting
eOM'ETARY, S a" 'dea of the revolu-
tion of a comet round the sun. Encyc.
€OM'ETARY, o. Pertaining to a comet.
Cheyne.
COMET'le, a. Relating to a comet.
■COM'ET-LIKE, a. Resembling a comet.
Shak.
€OMETOG'RAPIIY, n. [comet and Gr.
ypa4>u, to describe.] A description or trea-
tise of comets.
COM'FIT, \ ^ [D. konfyt ; G. confed ;
COM'FITURE, I "• Dan. co7ifect ; Fr. conft,
confiture ; It. confetlo, confetlura, or con-
fezione ; Sp. confite ; Port, con/eito ; from
the L. confectura, confectus, conjicio, con and
facio, tamake.]
A dry sweet-meat ; any kind of fruit or root
preserved with sugar and dried. Johnson.
eOM'FIT, V. t. To preserve dry with sugar.
Cowley.
eOM'FIT-MAKER, n. One ivho makes or
prepares comfits.
eoM'FORT, t'. t. [Low L. cnnforto ; Fr.
conforter ; Arm. confoiii, or conforta ; It.
confortare ; Sp. and Port, confortar ; Ir.
comh-J'hurtach, comfort, and furtiichd, id.;
furlaighim, to relieve or help ; from the L,
'am and fortis, strong.]
1. To strengthen ; to invigorate ; to cheer oi
enliven.
Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of
men. Bacon.
Com/oi< ye your hearts. Gen.xviii.
2. To strengthen the mind when depressed
or enfeebled ; to console ; to give new vi-
gor to the spirits ; to cheer, orrelieve from
depression, or trouble.
His friends came to moum with liim and to
comfort him. Job ii.
3. In law, to relieve, assist or encourage, as
the accessory to a crime after the fact.
Blackstone.
COMFORT, n. Relief from pain ; ease ;
rest or moderate pleasure after pain, cold
or distress or uneasiness of body. Thei
COM
word signifies properly new strength, or
animation ; and rehef from pain is often the
cftect of strength. In a popular sense, the
word signifies ratlier negatively the ab-
.sence of pain and the consequent quiet,
than positive animation.
2. Relief from distress of mind ; the case
and quiet which is experienced when pain,
trouble, agitation or affliction ceases. It
implies also some degree of positive ani-
mation of the spirits ; or some pleasurea-
ble sensations derived from hope, and
agreeable prospects ; consolation.
Let me alone, that I may take comfort a little.
Job X.
Daughter, be of good comfort ; thy faith hath
made thee whole. Mat. ix.
3. Support ; consolation under calamitj', dis-
tress or danger.
Let thy merciful kindness be for my comfort.
Vs. cxix.
4. That which gives strength or support in
distress, difficulty, danger, or infirmity.
Pious children are the comfort of their aged
parents.
5. In law, support ; assistance ; counte-
nance ; encouragement ; as, an accessorj'
affords aid or comfort to a felon.
6. That which gives security from want and
furnishes moderate enjoyment ; as the
comforts of-life.
eOM'FORTABLE, a. Being in a state of
ease, or moderate enjoyment ; as a per-
son after sickness or pain. Thui is the
most common use of the word in the U. States.
2. Admitting comfort ; that may afford com-
fort.
WTio can promise him a coinforiable appear-
ance before his dreadful judge .' South.
3. Giving comfort ; affording consolation.
The word of my lord the king shall now be
comfortable. 2 Sam. xiv.
4. Placing above want and affording mode-
rate enjoyment ; as a comfortable provis-
ion for old age.
eOM'FORTABLENESS, n. The state of !
enjoying comfort.
COMFORTABLY, adv. In a manner to
give comfort or consolation.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. Is. xl.
2. With comfort, or clieerfulness ; without
despair.
Hope comfortably and cheerfully for God's
performance. Hammond.
COM'FORTED, pp. Strengthened ; conso-
led; encouraged.
COM'FORTER, n. One who administers
comfort or consolation ; one who strength-
ens and supports the mind in distress or
danger.
I looked for comforters, but found none. Ps.
Ixix.
Miserable comforters arc ye all. Job xvi.
2. The title of tlie Holy Spirit, whose office
it is to comfort, and sujtport the christian.
But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name — he shall teach
you all things. John xiv.
COM'FORTING, ppr. Giving strength or
spirits ; giving ease ; cheering ; encoura-
ging; consolinff.
COM'FORTLESS, a. Without comfort ;
without any thing to alleviate misfortune,
or distress.
I will not leave you comfortless. John xiv.
COM'FORTRESS, ji. A female that affords
li comfort.
COM
COM'FREY, I [Qu. L. conjirmo, equiva,
COM'FRY, S "• lent to consolida.] A genus
j of plants, the Symphytum.
COM'IC, a. [L. comicus ; Gr. xaittxoi. Sec
Comedy.]
1. Relating to comedy, as distinct from tra-
I gedy. ffaller.
,2. Raising mirth ; fitted to excite merriment.
Shak.
COM'ICAL, a. Relating to comedy ; comic.
i ^ Gau.
2. Exciting mirth ; diverting ; .sportive ; droll.
j Addison.
I We say, a buflToon is a comical fellow, or
I his story or his manners are comic.
€OM'l€ALLY, adv. In a manner befitting
I comedy.
2. In a comical manner; in a manner to
! raise mirth.
€OM'l€ALNESS, n. The quality of being
comical ; the power or quality of raising
mirth. Johnson.
COM'ING, ppr. [See Come.] Drawing nearer
or nigh ; approacliing ; moving towards ;
advancing.
2. a. Future ; yet to come ; as, in coming
ages.
3. Forward ; ready to come.
How coming to the poet every muse.
[The loiter sense is now unusual.]
Pope
eOM'ING, n. The act of coming; approach.
2. The state of being come; arrival.
The Lord hath blessed thee since my coming.
Gen. XXX.
€OM'ING-IN, n. Entrance.
I know thy going-out and thy coming-in.
2 Kings xi.\.
2. Beginning ; commencement ; as the com-
I mg--tn of the year. 2 Kings xiii.
3. Income; revenue. [JVot now used.]
I Shak.
4. Compliance ; submission. [J^ot in use,]
Massingcr.
€OMI"TIAL, a. [L. comitia, an assembly
of the Romans ; probably formed from
cum and eo, Ir. coimh, W. cym or cyv.]
1. Relating to the comitia or popular assem-
blies of the Romans, for electing officers
and passing laws. Middleton.
2. Relating to an order of presbyterian as-
semblies. Bp. Bancroft.
COMTTY, n. [L. comitas, from comes, mild,
affable ; Ir. caomh.]
Mildness and suavity of manners; courtesy ;
civility ; good breeding. Wellbred peo-
ple are characterized by comity of man-
ners.
€OM'MA. n. [Gr. xoft/ia, a segment, from
*o«ruj, to cut off.]
1. In uriting and printing, this point [ , ] de-
noting the shortest pause in reading, and
separatuig a sentence into divisions or
members, according to the construction.
Thus, " There is not a just man upon
eartli, that doeth good, and sinneth not."
" Virtue, wit, knowledge, are excellent
accomplishments." " Live soberly, right-
eously, and piously, in the present world."
2. In music, an enharmonic interval, being
the eighth part of a tone, or the difference
between a major and a minor semitone ;
a term used in theoretic music to show
the exact proportions between concords.
Encyc. Harris.
COM
COM
C O M
3, Distinction. L. Addison
COMM'AND, V. I. [It. comandare ; Sp.
mandar, mandar ; Arm. coumandi ; Fr.
commander ; con, or com, and L. mando, to
command, to commit to, Basque nanatu ;
literally, to send to, to send forth, from the
same root as commend, demand, and L,
moneo. See Class Mn.]
1. To bid ; to order ; to direct ; to charge
implying authority, and power to control,
and to require obedience.
We will sacrifice to the Lord our God, as li
shall command us. Ex. viii.
I know that he [Abraham] will command
his children and his household after him, ant
tlicy shall keep the way of the Lord. Gen
xviii.
2. To govern, lead or direct ; to have or to
exercise supreme authority over.
Lord Wellington commanded an army
Spain ; he commanded the army at the battle
of Waterloo.
3. To have in jiower ; to be able to
power or autiiority over ; as, a military post
commands the surrounding country ; a fort
commands the harbor.
5. To overlook, or have in the power of the
eye, without obstruction.
One side commands a view of the finest
garden in the world. Addison
5. ^Fo direct ; to send.
The Lord shall command the blessing oi
thee. Deut. xxviii.
The Lord will command his loving kindness
Ps. xlu.
C. To have or to exercise a controlling influ-
ence over.
A good magistrate commands the respect and
affections of the people.
eOMM^AND, D. i. To have or to exercise
supreme authority ; to possess the chie
power ; to govern ; as, the general fcom
mands with dignity and humanity. Wliat
general commands in Canada ?
eOMM'AJVD, n. The right or power of
governing with chief or exclusive author
ity ; supreme power ; control ; as, an offi
cer has a brigade under liis command
he takes command of the army in France ;
an appropriate military term.
2. The power of controlling ; governing in-
fluence; sway.
He assumed an absolute command over his
readers. Bryden.
3. Cogent or absolute authority.
Command and force may often create, but
can never cure, an aversion. Locke.
4. The act of commanding ; the mandate
uttered ; order given.
The captain gives command. Dryden.
5. The power of overlooldng, or surveying,
without obstruction.
The stcepy strand.
Which overlooks the vale with wide com-
mand. Dryden.
6. The power of governing or controlling by
force, or of defending and protecting.
Tlie fortress has complete command of tlie
port.
7. That which is commanded ; control ; as
a body of troops under command.
Marshall.
€OMM>ANDABLE, a. That may be com-
manded.
■eOMMANDANT', n. [Fr.] A commander;
a commanding officer of a place or of a
body of forces. Smollett.
j€OMlVrANDATORY, a. Having the force
I of a command.
iCOMM>ANDED, pp. Ordered; directed;
I governed ; controlled.
iCOMM'ANDER, n. A chief; one who has
supreme authority ; a leader ; the chief
officer of an army, or of any division of it,
j The term may also be applied to the ad
[ miral of a fleet, or of a squadron, or tc
I any supreme officer ; as the commander of
I the land or of the naval force ; the com
1 mander of a ship.
2. One on whom is bestowed a benefice o
j command ry.
,3. A heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used
I in paving, &c. [This gives us the primary
sense of L. mando, to send, to drive.]
|4. An instrument of siu-gery. IViseman.
eOMarANDERY, ^ [Fr. commanderie.]
€OMM>ANDRY, \ "• A kind of benefice
or fixed revenue, belonging to a military
order, conferred on knights of merit.
There are strict and regular commandries,
obtained by merit, or in order ; and others
are of grace and favor, bestowed by the
Grand Master. There are also command-
ries for the rehgious, in the orders of St,
JJernard and St. Anthony. Encyc.
€OMM>ANDING, ppr. Bidding ; ordering ;
directing with authority ; governing ;
bearing rule ; exercising supreme author-
ity ; having in power ; overlooking with
out obstruction.
3. a. Controlling by influence, authority, or
dignity ; as a man of commanding man
ners ; a commanding eloquence.
COMMANDINGLY, adv. In a command
ing maimer.
COMM>ANDMENT, »i. A command ; i
mandate ; an order or injunction given by
authority ; charge ; precept.
Why do ye transgress the commandment of
God. Math. xv.
This is the first and great commandment.
Math. xxii.
A new commandment I give to you, that ye
love one another. John xiii.
2. By way of eminence, a precept of the
decalogue, or moral law, written on tables
of stone, at Mount Sinai; one of the ten
commandments. Ex. xxxiv.
3. Authority; coercive power. Shah.
COMM^ANDRESS, n. A woman invested
with supreme authority. Hooker.
COM'MARK, n. [Fr. comarque; Sp. co-
marca.l The frontier of a country.
Shelton.
€OMMATE'RIAL, a. [con and material]
Consisting of the same matter with an-
other thing. Bacon.
€OMMATERIAL'ITY, n. Participation of
the same matter. Johnson.
eOM'MATISM, n. [from comma.] Brief-
ness ; conciseness in writing.
Bp. Horsley.
€OMMEAS'URABLE, a. [See Measure.]
Reducible to the same measure. Bin
commensurable is generally used.
€OM'MELINE, n. A genus of herbaceous
plants, Commelina, natives of warm cli-j
mates. This name was given to this ge-i
nus by Linne, in honor of the Commelins,!
distinguished botanists of Holland. These
plants have flowers with three petals, two
large and one small ; the large petals rep-
resenting John and Gaspard Commelin,|
who published catalogues of plants ; the
smaller petal representing another of the
name who pubhshed nothing.
Gloss, de Botanique, De Theis.
€OMMEM'ORABLE, a. Memorable ; wor-
thy to be remembered, or noticed with
honor. [See Memorable.]
COMMEMORATE, v. t. [L. commemoro ;
con and metnoro, to mention. See Mem-
ory.]
To call to remembrance by a solemn act ;
to celebrate with honor and solemnity ; to
honor, as a person or event, by some act of
respect or afteiction, intended to preserve
the remembrance of that person or event.
The Lord's supper is designed to commemo-
rate the suflerings and dying love of our Savior.
€OMMEM'ORATED,jb;). Called to remem-
brance by some act of solemnity.
€0MMEM'0RATING, ppr. Celebrating
with honor by some solemn act.
eOMMEMORA'TION, n. The act of call-
ing to remembrance, by some solemnity ;
the act of honoring the memory of some
person or event, by solemn celebration.
The feast of shells at Plymouth in Massa-
chusetts is an annual commemoration of
the first landing of our ancestors in 1620.
COMMEMORATIVE, a. Tending to pre-
serve the remembrance of something.
Atterbury.
COMMEM'ORATORY, a. Serving to pre-
serve the memory of.
COMMENCE, V. i. commens'. [Fr. commen-
cer ; Port, comecar ; Sp. comenzar ; It. co-
minciare ; Arm. coumanp. Perhaps com
and initio.]
To begin ; to take rise or origin ; to have
first existence ; as, a state of glory to com-
mence after this life ; this empire commen-
ced at a late period.
To begin to be, as in a change of char-
acter.
Let not learning too commence its foe. Pope.
To take a degree or the first degree in a
university or college. Bailey.
COMMENCE, V. t. To begin ; to enter up-
on ; to perforin the first act ; as, to com-
mence operations.
To begin ; to originate ; to bring ; as, to
commence a suit, action or process in law.
COMMEN'CED, pp. Begun ; originated.
COMMENCEMENT, n. commens'ment. Be-
ginning ; rise ; origin ; first existence ; as
t\\B commencement of New Style in 1752 ;
the commencement of hostilities in 1775.
2. The time when students in colleges com-
mence bachelors ; a day in which degrees
are publicly conferred on students who
have finished a collegiate education. In
Cambridge, Eng., the day when masters
of arts and doctors complete their degrees.
ti'orthington.
COJIMEN'CING, ppr. Beginning; enter-
ing on ; originating.
COMMEND', V. t. [L. commendo ; con and
mando ; It. commendare ; Port, encommen-
dar ; Fr. recommander; Sp. comandar, to
command, and formerly to commend. This
is the same word as command, difTerently
applied. The primary sense is, to send to
or throw ; hence, to charge, bid, desire or '
intreat.]
To represent as worthy of notice, regard,
or kindness ; to speak in favor of; to re-
commend.
COM
COM
COM
I cc^mmeTul to you Phebe our sister. Rom.
xvi.
3. To commit ; to entrust or give in charge.
Father, iato thy hands I commend my spirit.
Luke xxiii.
3. To praise ; to mention with approbation.
Tlie princes commended Sarai before Pha-
raoh. The Lord commended the unjust stew-
ard. Bible.
4. To make acceptable or more acceptable.
But meat commendeth us not to God. 1 Cor.
5. To produce or present to favorable no-
tice.
The choru-i had an occasion of commending
their voices to the king. Dryden.
6. To send or bear to.
These draw the chariot which Latinus 8en<l9,
And tlic ricli present to the prince commends.
Dryden.
COMMEND', n. Commendation. '[JSTot
used.] Shak.
eOMMEND'ABLE, a. [Fr. recommandable ;
It. eommendabile. Formerly accented im-
properly on the first sjllable.]
Tliat may be commended or praised ; wor-
thy of approbation or praise ; laudable.
Order and decent ceremonies in tlie church
are commendable. Bacon.
€OMMEND'ABLENESS, n. State of be-
ing commendable.
COMMEND' ABLY, adv. Laudably ; in a
praise-worthy manner.
COMMEND'AM, n. In ecclesiastical law, in
England, a benefice or living commended,
by the king or head of the church, to the
care of a clerk, to hold till a proper pas-
tor is provided. This may be temporary
or perpetual. Blackstone.
The trustor administration of the revenues
of a benefice given to a layman, to liolcfas
a deposit for six months in order to re-
pairs, &c., or to an ecclesiastic, to per-
form the pastoral duties, till the benefice
is provided with a regul ar incumbent.
Encyc.
COMMEND' AT.\IIY, n. [Fr. commenda-
taire ; It. commendatario, commendatore.]
One who holds a living in commendam.
COMMENDA'TION, n. [L. commendatio.]
The act of commending; praise; favora-
ble representation in words ; declaration
of esteem.
Need we, as some others, letters of comtnen-
datian. 2 Cor. xx\i.
2. Ground of esteem, approbation or praise ;
that which presents a person or thing to
another in a favorable light, and renders
worthy of regard, or acceptance.
Good-nature is tlie most godlike commenda-
tion of a man. Dryden.
8. Service ; respects ; message of love.
Shak.
COMMEND'ATORY, a. Which serves to
commend ; presenting to favorable notice
or recejjtion ; containing praise ; as a
commendatory letter. Bacon. Pope.
2. Holding a benefice in commendam ; as a
commendatort/ bishop.
COMMEND'ATORY, n. A commenda-
tion; eiilogv. South.
COMMEND'ED, pp. Praised ; represented
favorably ; committed in eliarge.
COMMEND'ER, n. One who commends
or jjraiscs.
COMMEND'ING, ppr. Praising ; represent
irig favorably ; committing, or delivering
■11 charge.
Vol. I.
Note. In imitation of the French, we arc ac-
customed to use recommendation, &.C., for
commendation. But in most instances, it is
better to use the word without the prefix re.
A letter of commendation, is the preferable
phrase.
COMMENS'AL, n. [L. con and mensa, ta-
ble.] One that eats at the same table. Obs.
Cliaucer.
COMftlENSAL'ITY, n. [Sp. conmensalia;
L. commensalis ; con and mensa, a table.] j
Fellowship at table ; the act or practice of
eating at the same table. [Little used.]
Brown. Gillies.
COMMENSURABIL'ITY, > [Fr. com-
COMMEN'SURABLENESS, ^ "• mensura-
bilite.] The capacity of being compared
with another in measure, or of being
measured by another, or of having a com-
mon measure. Brown. Hale.
COMMENSURABLE, a. [Fr. fi-om con
and L. meiisura, measure. See Measure.]
That have a comtnon measure ; reducible to
a common measure. Thus a yard and a
foot are commensurable, as both may be
measured by inches. Commensurable
numbers are those which may be measur-
ed or divided by another number without
a remainder ; as 12 and 18 which may be
measured by C and 3.
Commensurable surds are those which, being
reduced to their least terms, becottie true
figurative quantities of their kind ; and arc
therefore as a rational quantity to a ra-
tional one. Encyc.
COMMEN'SURATE, a. [It. commensurare ;
Sp. conmensurar, whence conmensurali-
vo ; con and L. mensura, measure.]
1. Reducible to one and the same common
measure.
3. Equal; proportional; having equal meas-
ure or extent.
We find nothing in this life commensurate to
our desires.
COMMEN'SURATE, v.t. To reduce to a
common measure.
COMMEN'SURATELY, adv. With the
capacity of measuring or being mea.sured
by some other thing. Holder.
2. With equal measure or extent.
COMMENSURA'TION, n. Proportion, or
in-oportion in measure; a state of having
a common measure.
All fitness lies in a particular commensuration,
or proportion, of one thing to another. South.
COM'MENT, V. 1. [L. commentor, to cast
in the mind, to think, to devise, to com-
pose ; from con and mens, mind, or the
same root. It. comentare ; Fr. commenter ;
Sp. C07nentar ; Fort, commentar. See
Mind.]
1. To write notes on the works of an au-
thor, with a view to illustrate his meaning,
or to explain particular passages ; to ex-
plain ; to expound ; to annotate ; followed
by on. We say, to comment on an author
or on his writings. Diyden. Pope.
2. To make verbal remarks, or observations,
either on a book, or writing, or on actions,]
events, or opinions. Sliak.
COM'MENT, V. t. To explain. Fuller.
2. To li^ign ; to devise. Obs. Spenser.
COM'MENT, n. A note, intended to illus-
trate a writing, or a diflicult passage in an
author ; annotation ; explanation ; exposi-
tion ; as the comments of Scott on the
Scriptures.
42
: meet
J bear its cotn.
ShttI:.
2. That which explains or il'ustrates ; a.s, a
man's conduct is the best comment on his
declarations. Poverty and disgi-ace are
very .significant comments on lewdness,
gambling and dissipation.
3. Remark ; observation.
In such a time as this, it is i
That every nice offense she
COM'MENTARY, n. A comment ; expo-
sition ; ex|)lanation ; illustration of diffi-
cult and obscure passages in an author.
2. A book of comments or annotations.
3. A historical narrative ; a memoir of partic-
ular transactions ; as the commentaries of
Cesar.
COM'MENTARY, v.t. To write notes up-
on. [lAtlle used.]
COM'MENTATOR, n. One who com-
ments ; one who writes annotations ; an
expositor; an annotator. [The accent on
the first syllable and that on the third are
nearly equal.]
COIMM ENTER, n. One that writes com-
iiH-iits : an annotator.
•>. Our uliH makes remarks.
COMMENTING, ppr. Making notes or
comments on something said or written.
COMMENTI"TIOUS, a. [L. commentUius.]
Invented; feigned; imaginary. Glanville.
COM'MERCE, n. [Fr. commerce; L. com-
mercium ; con and mercor, to buy ; merr,
mereo. See Class Mr. No. 3. It. comm^r-
cio ; Sp. eomercio ; Port, commercio. For-
merly accented on the second syllable.]
1. In a general sense, an interchange or mu-
tual change of goods, wares, productions,
or property of any kind, between nations
or individuals, either by barter, or by pur-
chase and sale ; trade ; traffick. Com-
merce is foreign or inland. Foreign com-
merce is the trade which one nation car-
ries on with another ; inland commerce, or
inland trade, is the trade in the exchange
of commodities between citizens of the
same nation or state. Active commerce.
[See Active.]
2. Intercourse between individuals; inter-
change of work, business, civilities or
amusements ; mutual dealings in common
life.
3. Familiar intercourse between the sexes.
4. Interchange ; reciprocal communications ;
as, there is a vast commerce of ideas.
D. Webster.
COM'MERCE, V. i. To UaiBck ; to carry on
trade. Raleigh.
2. To hold intercourse with.
. And looks commercing with the skies.
MUton.
COMMERCIAL, a. Pertaining to com-
merce or trade ; as commercial concerns ;
commercial relations.
2. Carrying on commerce ; as a commercial
3. Proceeding fi-om trade ; as commercial
benefits or profits.
COMMERCIALLY, adv. In a commercial
view. Burke.
COM MIGRATE, v.i. [L. commigro ; con
and migro, to migrate.]
To migrate together; to move in a body
from one country or place to another for
permanent residence. [Little used.]
COMMIGRA'TION, n. The moving of a
body of people from one country or place
COM
C O M
COM
to another with a view to pemianent res-
idonre. H'oodioard.
€OMMINA'TION, n. [L. comminatio ;
anil viinatio, a threatening, from minor, to
threaten. See Menace.]
1. A threat or tlireatening ; a denunciation of
punisliinent or vengeance.
2. The recital of God's threatenings on sta-
ted days; an office in the Liturgy of th«
Church of England, appointed to be read
on Ash Wednesday or on the first day of
Lent. Encyc.
COMMIN'ATORY, a. Threatening ; de-
nouncing punishment. B. Jonson.
COMMIN'GLE, v. t. [con and mingle.] To
mix together ; to mingle in one mass, oi
intimately ; to blend. [See Mingle.]
Shak
COMMIN'GLE, V. i. To mix or unite to-
gether, as different substances. Bacon.
€OMMlN'UATE, v. t. To grind. [JVot used.]
[See Comminute.]
COJ
)MMIN'UIBLE, a. Reducible to' pow-
der. Brown
eOM'MlNUTE, V. t. [L. comminuo ; con and
ininuo, to lessen, from the root of minor j
Ir. mion, min, fine, small, tender; W. main
Mn. No. 5.^
To make small or fine ; to reduce to
particles, or to a fine powder, by breaking,
pounding, rasping, or grinding ; to pulver-
ize ; to triturate ; to levigate. It is chiefly
or wholly applied to substances, not liquii"
Bacor,
COM'MINUTED, pp. Reduced to fine pat
tides ; pulverized ; triturated.
€OM'MINUTING, ppr. Reducing to fin
particles ; pulverizing ; levigating.
COMMINU'TION, n. The act of reducing
to a fine powder or to small particles ; pul-
verization. R"y- Beniley.
.9. Attenuation ; as comminniion ol" spirits.
Bacon.
■COMMIS'ERABLE, a. [See Commiserate.
Deserving of commiseration or pity ; piti
able : that may excite sympathy or soi-
This eomtniserable person, Edward.
[Little tised.] Baco/i.
COMMIS'ERATE, v. t. [L. commiseror; con
and miscreor, to pity. See Miserable.]
1. To pity ; to compassionate; to feel sor-
row, pain or regret for another in distress ;
applied to persons.
We sliould commiserate those vvlio groan be-
neath the weight of age, disease or want.
Denham
2. To regret ; to pity ; to be sorry fiir ; as.
to commiserate our mutual ignorance.
Locke.
C0MMIS'ERATED,7)/J. Pitied.
COMMIS'ERATING, ppr. Pitying ; com
passionating ; feeling sorrow for.
€OMMISERA'TION, n. Pity ; compas
sion ; a sympathetic suffering of pain or
sorrow for the wants, afflictions or
1 of another.
eOMMIS'ERATIVELY, adv. From com-
passion. Overbury.
COMMIS'ERATOR, n. One who pities.
Brown.
€OMMISSA'RIAL, a. [See Commissary.]
Pertaining to a commissary.
Smollett uses commissorial ; but this is
not regular nor authorized.
eOMMISSA'RIATE, n. [Sp. comisariato.
See Commissary.]
The office or etnployment of a commissary ;
or the wliole body of officers in the coni-
missarv's department.
Tooke, Buss. i. 575.
eOM'MISSARY, n. [Fr. commissaire ; It.
and Port, commissario ; Sp. comisario ; Low
L. commissaiius ; from commissus, com-
mitto ; con and mitto, to send.]
1. In a general sense, a commissioner ; one
to whom is committed some charge, duty
or oflice, by a superior power ; one wl
is sent or delegated to execute some office
or duty, in the place, or as the representa
live, of his superior.
2. In ecclesiastical law, an officer of the bish
0|), who exercises spiritual jurisdiction it
places of the diocese, so far distant from
the episcopal see, that the chancellor can
not call the people to the bishop's princi
pal consistory court, without putting them
to inconvenience. -^yliffe. Encyc.
In a military sense, an officer who has the
charge of furnishing provisions, clothing,
&c., for an army. Commissaries are dis-
tinguished by different names, according
to their duties ; as commissary-general,who
is at the head of the department of sup
plies, and has under him deputy commis-
saries, and issuing commissaries ; the latter
to issue or distribute the supplies.
4. An officer who musters the army, re-
ceives and inspects the muster-rolls, and
keeps an account of the strength of the
army. He is called, the commissary-gene-
ral of musters. The commissary of horses
has the inspection of the artillery horses ;
and the commissa)y of stores lias charge of
all tlie stores of the artillery. Encyc.
COM'MISSARYSHIP, n. The office of a
commissary. Ayliffe.
COMMIS'SION, n. [Fr. covimission ; It.
commisione ; Sp. comision ; L. commissio,
with a different application, from commit-
to ; con and mitto, to send.]
. The act of committing, doing, perform-
ing, or perpetrating ; as the commissiun of
a crime.
2. The act of committhig or sending to ; the
act of entrusting, as a charge or duty.
Hence,
3. The thing committed, entrusted or deliv-
ered ; letters patent, or any writing from
proper authority, given to a person as his
warrant for exercising certain powers, or
the performance of any duty, whetlier
civd, ecclesiastical, or military. Hence,
4. Charge ; order ; mandate ; authority
given.
He bore liis great commissio7i in Iiis look.
Dry den.
5. By a metonymy, a number of persons join-
ed in an office or trust.
C). The state of that which is entrusted, as
the great seal was put into commission ; oi
the state of being authorized to act or per-
form service, as a ship is put into com
mission.
7. In commerce, the slate of acting under au
thority in the purchase and sale of goods
To tri ■ - ■ ■
for another.
ratio or do business 07i
commission, is to buy or sell for another
by his authority. Hence,
8. The allowance made to a factor or com-
mission-merchant tor transacting busi-
ness, which is a certain rate per cent, of
the value of the goods bought or sold.
Commission of bankruptcy, is a commission
issuing from the Chancellor in Great Brit-
ain, and in other countries, from some prop-
er authority, appointing and empowering
certain persons to examine into the facts
relative to an alledged bankruptcy, and to
secure the bankrupt's lands and effects
for the creditors.
Commission of lunacy, is a commission issu-
ing frotn the court of chancerj', to author-
ize an inquiry whether a person is a luna-
tic or not.
Commission-officer, in the army or navy, is an
officer who has a commission, in distinc-
tion from subaltern officers.
COMMISSION-MERCHANT, n. A mer-
chant who transacts business as the agent
of other men, in buying and selling, and
receives a rate per cent, as his commis-
sion or reward.
COMMIS'SION, V. t. To give a commission
to ; to empower or authorize by commis-
sion. The president and senate appoint,
but the president commissions.
United Stales.
2. To send with a mandate or authority.
A chosen band
He first commissions to the Latian land.
Dryden
3. To authorize or empower.
Note. Commissionate, in a like sense, ha?
been used, but rarely.
COMMIS'SIONAL, > Appointed by
C03IMIS'SI0NARY, J "• warrant. [Ut-
ile used.]
COMMISSIONED, pp. Furnished with a
commission ; empowered ; authorized.
COMMIS'SIONER, n. A person who has
a commission or warrant from proper au-
thority, to perform some oflice, or execute
some business, for the person or govern-
ment which employs him, and gives him
authority ; as commissionejs for settling
the bounds of a stale, or for adjusting
claims.
COMMIS'SIONING, ppr. Giving a com-
mission to ; furnishing with a warrant ;
empowering by letters patent or other
writing ; authorizing.
COM'MISSURE,_ 71. [L. commissura, from
committo, commissus ; literally, a sending
or thrusting together.]
1. A joint, seam or closure ; the place where
two bodies or parts of a body meet and
unite ; an interstice or cleft between par-
ticles or parts, as between plates or la-
niellsB.
2. In architecture, the joint of two stones, or
application of the surface of one to that of
another. Encyc.
•3. In anatomy, a suture of the cranium or
skull ; articidation ; tlie corners of the lips.
Also, certain parts in the ventricles of the
brain, uniting the two hemispheres.
Coxe.
COMMIT', V. t. [L. committo, to send to, or
thrust together ; eon and mitto, to send ;
Fr. mettre, to put, set or lay ; commettre, to
cotnmit ; It. mettere, commettere ; Sp. meter,
cometer ; Port, meter, cometer.]
C O M
COM
C O M
Literally, to send to or upon ; to throw, put
or lay upon. Hence,
1. To give in trust ; to put into tlie bands or
power of another; to entrust; vvitli <o.
Commit thy way to the Lord. Ps. xxxvii.
The thing.s thou hast heard of me, commit to
faithful men. 2 Tim. ii.
2. To put into any place for preservation ;
to deposit ; as, to commit a passage in a
book to memory ; to commit the body to
the grave.
3. To put or send to, for confinement; as, to
commit an offender to prison. Hence for
the sake of brevity, commit is used for im-
prison. The sheriff has committed the of-
fender.
These two were committed, at least restrain-
ed of their liberty. Clarendon.
4. To do ; to effect or perpetrate ; as, to
commit murder, treason, felony, or tres-
pass.
Thou slialt not commit adultery. Ex. xx.
5. To join or put together, for a contest ; to
match ; followed by with ; a latinism.
How does Philopolis commit the opponent
with the respondent. [Little used.] More.
6. To place in a state of hostility or incon-
gruity. " Committing short and long
words." But this seems to be the same
signification as the foregoing.
7. To expose or endanger by a preliminary
step or decision whicli cannot be recalled ;
as, to commit the peace of a country by
pousing the cause of a belhgerent.
You might have satisfied every duty of polit-
ical friendship without committing the honor of
your sovereign. Junius.
8. To engage ; to pledge ; or to pledge by
imphcation.
The general — addressed letters to Gen. Gates
and to Gen. Heath, cautioning them against any
sudden assent to the proposal, which might pos-
sibly be considered as committing the faith of
the United States. Marshall.
And with the reciprocal pronoun, to
commit one's self, is to do some act, or make
some declaration, which may bind the
person in honor, good faith, or consisten-
cy, to pursue a certain course of conduct,
or to adhere to the tenor of that declara
9. To reter or entrust to a committee, or se-
lect number of persons, for their conside-
ration and report; a term of legislation ;
as, the petition or the bill is committed.
Is it the pleasure of the house to commit
the bill ?
•COMMITMENT, n. The act of committing ;
a sending to prison ; a putting into prison
imprisonment. It is equivalent to sending
or putting in simply ; as a commitment to
the tower, or to Newgate ; or for the sake
of brevity, omitting the name of the place,
it is equivalent to putting into prison .
the offender is secured by commitment.
•2. An order for confining in prison. But
more generally we use mittimus.
3. The act of referring or entrusting to e
committee for consideration ; a term in le
gislation ; as the commitment of a petition
or a bill to a select number of persons for
consideration and report.
4. The act of deUvering in charge or en
trusting.
5. A doing, or perpetration, as of sin or a
crime ; commission. Clarendon.
6 Tho act of pledging or engaging ; or the
act of exposing or endangering. [See the
Verb, No. 7 and 8.] Hamilton.
€OMMIT'TED, pp. Dehvered in trust ; giv-
en in charge ; deposited ; imprisoned ;
done ; perpetrated ; engaged ; exposed ;
referred to a committee.
eOMMIT'TEE, n. One or more persons
elected or appointed, to whom any mattei
or business is referred, either by a legisla-
tive body or either branch of it, or by a
court, or by any corporation, or by any
society, or collective body of men acting
together. In legislative bodies, a house
or branch of that body may resolve or
form itself into a committee, called a
committee of the whole house, when the
speaker leaves the chair, and one of the
members acts as chairman. Standing
committees are such as continue during
the e.xistence of the legislature, and to
these are committed all matters that fall
within the purposes of their appointment;
as the committee of elections, or of privile-
ges, &c. Special committees are appointed
to consider and report on particular sub-
jects.
COMMIT TEESHIP, n. The office and
cilil iir.-diMiiiitlees. Milton.
COMMIT 'I'l;!!, n. One who commits; one
liu (liifs (.1- pii|)etrates. South.
COMiMlT TIBLE, a. That may beconunit-
il. [Little used.] Brown.
COMMn"TING,;?pr. Giving in trust; de-
positing ; imprisoning ; perpetrating ; en-
gaging ; referring to a committee ; expo
sing.
COMMIX', r. t. [L. commiscco, commixtus ;
con and misceo, to mix. See Mix.]
To mi.x or mingle ; to blend ; to mix, as dif-
ferent substances. Bacon. JVcwton.
COMMIX', V. i. To mix ; to mingle. Shak.
COMMIX'ED,p». Mixed; blended.
COMMIX'ING, ppr. Mixing ; blending.
COMMIX'TION, n. Mixture; a blending of
different ingredients in one mass or com-
pound. Brown.
Mi.rioji is used by Shakspeare, but is
hardly legitimate.
eOMJIIX'TURE, 71. The act of mixing
the state of being mingled; the blending
of ingredients in one mass or compound.
Bacon
2. The mass formed by mingling different
things ; composition ; compound.
Bacon. SItak. Jfotton.
3. In Scots law, a method of acquiring prop-
erty, by blending different substances be-
longing to different proprietors. Encyc
COMMODE, n. [Fr. from L. commodus,
convenient ; con or com and modus, man-
ner. See Mode.]
A Icind of head dress formerly worn by la-
dies. Addison.
COIMMO DlOrS, a. [Fr. commode; It. co-
Dihi : S|i. ill. : L. commodus. See Mode.]
Convcniiiit; Miit;d)le; fit; proper; adapted
to its use or purpose, or to wants and i
cessities ; as a commodious house or room.
The haven was not commodious to winter
Acts xxvii. 12.
It is followed by /or before a noun ; as a
place commodious for a camp.
eOMMO'DIOUSLV, adv. Conveniently ; i
a commodious manner ; suitably ; in a
manner to afford ease, or to prevent im
easiness; as a house commodiously situ
3(1 ; we may pass life commodiously with ■
t the restraints of ceremony.
CO.MMO'DIOUSNESS, n. Convenience
fitness ; suitableness for its purpose ; as
the commodiousness of a house or an apart-
ment ; the commodiousness of a situation
for trade.
COMMODITY, n. [L. commoditas; It. co-
modita ; Fr. commodite ; Sp. comodidad ;
Port, commodidade. See Commode.]
1. Primarily, convenience ; profit ; advan-
tage ; interest. " Men seek their own
commoditu." In this sense it was used by
Hooker, Sidney, &c ; but this is nearly or
wholly obsolete.
That which affords ease, convenience or
advantage ; any thing that is useful, but
particularly in commerce, including every
thing movable that is bought and sold,
goods, ware-s, merchandize, produce of
land and manufactures. Unless perhaps
animals may be excepted, the word in-
cludes all the movables which are objects
of commerce.
Commodities arc movables, valuable by mo-
ney, the common measure. Locke.
The principal use of money is to save tlie com-
of more bullcy com»no(/i<ies.
Jlrbuthnol.
Staple commodities are those which are the
produce or manufacture of a countr), and
constitute the principal articles of expor-
tation. Thus flour is the staple commod-
ity of New-York and Pennsylvania ; flour
and tobacco, of Mainland and Virginia ;
cotton and rice, of S. Carolina and Geor-
gia ; cotton and sugar, of Louisiana.
COM MODORE, n. [This word is probably
a corruption of the Italian comandatore, a
commander ; or the Spanish comendador,
a superior of a monastery, or a knight « ho
holds a cominandry.]
The oflicer who commands a squadron or
detachment of ships, destined on a parti-
cular enterprise. In the British marine,
he bears the rank of a brigadier-general
in the array, and his ship is distinguished
by a broad red pendant, tapering to the
outer end, and sometimes forked. Encyc.
2. A title given by courtesy to the senior
captain, when three or more ships of war
are cruising in company. Mar. Did.
3. The convoy or leading ship in a fleet of
merchantmen, which carries a light m her
top to conduct the other ships.
COMMODULA'TION, n. [L. con and mod-
tda'io.] Measure ; agreement. [Little icsed.]
HakexL-iU.
COMMOIGNE, n. [Fr.] A monk of the
same convent. [.Vo< in use.] Selden.
COMMON, a. [L. communis; Fr. commun;
Arm. coumun ; It. comune ; Sp. comun ;
Port, commum; Goth, gamains ; Sax. g-e-
ma:n ; G.gemein; D.gemeen; Sw. gemen;
Dan. gemeen ; Ir. cumann ; Goth, gamana,
a fellow, fellowship. This word may
be composed of cum and nwn, men, the
plural men being equivalent to people
and vulgus. The last syllable is clearly
from the root of many, which seems to be-
long to the root of man, and mean is of the
same family. Hence we see the connec-
tion between common and mean, as vulgar,
from vtilgus, Eng./o/A«.]
1. Belonging equally to more than one, or to
many indefinitely ; as, life aad sense are
C O IM
COM
C O M
common to man and beast; the common
privileges of citizens ; the common wants
of men.
2. Belonging to the public ; having no sepa-
rate owner. The right to a highway is
common.
3. General ; serving for the use of all ; as the
common prayer.
4. Universal; belonging to all ; as, the earth is
said to be the common mother of mankind.
5. Public ; general ; frequent ; as common
report.
C. Usual ; ordinary ; as the commoii opera-
tions of nature ; the common forms of con-
veyance ; the common rules of civility.
7. Of no rank or superior excellence; ordi-
nary. Applied to men, it signifies, not noble,
not distinguished by noble descent, or not
distinguished hy office, character or tal-
ents ; as a common man ; a common sol-
dier. Applied to things, it signifies, not
distinguished by excellence or superiority ;
as a common essay ; a common exertion.
It however is not generally equivalent to
mean, which expresses something lower
in rank or estimation.
8. Prostitute ; lewd ; as a common woman.
'X In grammar, such verbs as signify both
action and passion, are called com7non ; as
aspernor, I despise or am despised ; also,
such nouns as are both masculine and
feminine, as parens.
10. A common bud, in botany, is one that
contains both leaves and flowers ; a covi-
mon peduncle, one that bears several flow-
ers ; a common perianth, one that incloses
several distinct fructifications ; a common
receptacle, one that connects several dis-
tinct fructifications. Martyn.
Common divisor, in mathematics, is a number
or quantity that divides two or more num-
bers or quantities without a remainder.
Common Law, in Great Britain and the Uni-
ted States, the unwritten law, the law that
receives its binding force from innnemo-
rial usage and universal reception, in dis-
tinction from the written or statute law.
That body of rules, principles and cus-
toms which have been received from our
ancestors, and by which courts have I
governed in their judicial decisions. The
evidence of this law is to be found in the
reports of those decisions, and the records
of the courts. Some of these rules may
have originated in edicts or statutes which
are now lost, or in the terms and condi-
tions of particular grants or charters ; but
it is most probable that many of them ori-
ginated in judicial decisions founded on
natural justice and equity, or i>u local cus
toms.
Common pleas, in Great Britain, one of the
king's courts, now held in Westminster
Hall. It consists of a chief justice and
three other justices, and has cognizance
of aU civil causes, real, personal or mixed
as well by original writ, as by removal
from the inferior courts. A writ of error
m the nature of an appeal, lies from this
court to the court of king's bench.
Blcukstone
In some of tlie American states, a court
of common pleas is an inferior court, whose
jurisdiction is limited to a county, and it is
sometimes called a eoimty court. This
court is variously constituted in diflereni
states, and its powers are defined by stat-
utes. It has jurisdiction of civil causes,
and of minor offenses ; but its final juris-
diction is very hraited ; all causes of mag-
nitude being removable to a higher Court
by a])peal or by writ of error.
Common prayer, the liturgy of the Church of
England, which all the clergy of the
Church are enjoined to use, under a pen-
alty. Encyc.
Common recovery, a legal process for recov-
ering an estate or barring entails.
Common time, in music, duple or double time,
when the semibreve is equal to two min-
In common, equally with another, or with
others ; to be equally used or participated
by two or more ; as tenants in common ;
to provide for children in common ; to as-
sign lands to two persons in rommmi, or to
twenty in common ; we enjoy the boun-
ties of providence in common.
eOM'MON, n. A tract of ground, the use
of which is not appropriated to an ind
vidual, but belongs to the public or fo
number. Thus we apply the word to an
open ground or sj)ace in a highway, re
served for public use.
'2. In law, an open ground, or that soil the
use of which belongs equally to the inhab-
itants of a town or of a lordship, or to a
certain number of proprietors ; or the pro-
fit which a man has in the land of anoth-
er; or a right which a person has to pas-
ture his cattle on land of another, or to
dig turf, or catch fish, or cut wood, or the
like; caWed common of pasture, of turbary,
of piscary, and of estovers.
Common, or right of common, is appen-
dant, appurtenant, because of vicinage, or
in gross.
Common appendant is a right belonging
to the owners or occupiers of arable land
to put commonable beasts upon the lord's
waste, and upon the lands of other persons
within the same manor. This is a mat-
ter of most universal right.
Common appurtenant may be annexed to
lands in other lordships, or extend to oth
er beasts, besides those which are gene
rally commonable ; this is not of common
right, but can be claimed only by unme
morial usage and prescription.
Cmnmon because of vicinage or neighbor
hood, is where the inhabitants of two town
ships, lying contiguous to each other, have
usually intercommoned with one another,
the beasts of the one straying into the oth-
er's fields ; this is a permissive right.
Common in gross or at large, is annexed
to a man's person, being granted to him and
his heirs by deed ; or it may be claimed by
prescriptive right, as by a parson of "a
church or other corporation sole.
Btackstone
COM'MON, v.i. To have a joint right will:
others in common ground. Johnson
2. To board together ; to eat at a table ii
common. Encyc.
COM'MON, adv. Commonly. Shak
COMMON-COUNCIL, n. The council of a
city or corporate town, empowered to
make by-laws for the government of the
citizens. The common council of Lon
don consists of two houses ; the upper
house, composed of the Lord Mayor and
Aldermen ; and the lower house, of the
common-council-men, elected by tlie sev-
eral wards. In most of the American
cities, the Mayor, Aldermen and common-
council-men constitute one body, called a
Court of Common-Council.
COMMON-CRIER, n. A crier whose oc-
cupation is to give notice of lost things.
COMMON-HALL, n. A hall or house iu
which citizens meet for business.
COMMON-LAWYER, n. One versed in
Common Law. Spelman.
COM'MONPLACE, n. A memorandum;
a common topic.
COM'MONPLACE, v. t. To enter in a com-
monplace-book, or to reduce to general
heads. Felton.
Commonplace-book, a book in which are
registered such facts, opinions or obser-
vations as are deemed worthy of notice
or remembrance, so disposed that any one
may be easily found. Hence common-
place is used as an epithet to denote what
is common or often repeated, or trite ; as
a commonplace observation.
COMMONABLE, a. Held in common.
Bacon.
2. That may be pastured on common land.
Commonable beasts are either beasts of the
o\v, or such as manure the ground.
Btackstone.
COMMONAGE, n. The right of pasturing
on a common ; the joint right of using any
tiling in connnon with others. Johnson.
COMMONALTY, n. The common people.
In Gi'eat Britain, all classes and conditions
of people, who are below the rank of no-
bility.
The commonalty, like the nobility, are divi-
ded into several degrees. £lackstone.
In the United States, commonalty has no
very definite signification. It is however
used to denote that part of the people who
live by labor, and are not liberally educa-
ted, nor elevated by office or professional
pursuits.
2. The bulk of mankind. Hooker.
eOM'MONEU, n. One of the lower rank,
or common people ; one under the degree
of nobility. Addison.
2. A member of the house of commons.
Sivifl.
3. One who has a joint right in common
ground. Bacon.
4. A student of the second rank in the uni-
versities in England ; one who eats at a
common table. Johnson.
5. A prostitute. Shak.
(3. A partaker. Fuller.
COMMONI"TION, n. [L. commonitio. See
Monition.] Advice ; warning ; instruction.
[Little used.]
COMMON'ITIVE, a. Warning; momtory.
[Little used.]
eOM'MONLY, ade. Usually; generally;
ordinarily ; frequently ; for the most part ;
as, confirmed habits commonly continue
through life.
COM'MONNESS, n. Frequent occurrence ;
a state of being common or usual.
2. Equal participation by two or more. [Lit-
tle used.]
COM'MONS, n. phi. The common people,
who inherit or possess no honors or titles ;
the vulgar. Chaucer. ShaJc. Dryden.
2. In England, the lower house of Parlia-
ment, consisting of the representatives of
C O M
cities, boroughs and counties, cliusen by
men possessed of the property or (|iiuh(i-
cations required by law. Tliis body is
called the House of Commons. The House
of Representatives in North Carolma bears
the same name.
3. Common grounds ; land
used l)y two or more persons in common,
[See Common.]
4. Food provided at a common table, as in
colleges, where many persons eat at the
same table or in the same hall.
Their commons, though but coarse, were
nothing scant. Dryden
Doctors Commons, in London, a college found-
ed by Dr. Harvey, for the professors of the
civil law, where the civilians common to-
gether. The house was consumed in the
great fire in l(HH\ but rebuilt in 1(J7'2. To
this college belong thirty four proctors.
Encyc,
€OM'MONTY, n. In Scots law, land be-
longing to two or more comtnon proprie-
tors ; or a heath or njuir, of which there
has been a promiscuous possession by pas-
turage. Encyc.
COMMONWEAL, ? „ [See JVeal and
COMMONWEALTH', \ "• ff'ealth.]
1. An estabUshed form of government, or
civil polity ; or more generally, a state ;
a body politic, consisting of a certain por-
tion of men united by compact or tacit
agreement, under one form of government
and system of laws. This term is applied
to the government of Great Britain, whicl]
is of a mixed character, and to other gov-
ernments which are considered as free oi
popular, but rarely or improperly, to an
absolute government. A commonwealtli
is properly a free state ; a popular or re-
presentative government ; a republic ; as
the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Tlie
word signifies strictly, the connmon good or
happiness; and hence, the form of govern-
ment supposed best to secure the public
good.
2. The whole body of people in a state ; the
public. Shnk.
.3. The territory of a state ; as, all the land
within the limits of the commonwealth.
Massach usetls.
COMMONWEALTH'S'MAN, n. One yvho]
favors the commonwealth, or a republican]
government.
€OM'MORANCE, } [L. co7nmorans, com-
COM'MORANCY, ^ "' moror ; con and mo-
ror, to stay or delay.]
A dwelling or ordinary residence in a place ;
abode ; Habitation.
Commorancy consists in usually lying there.
Blachstone.
COM'MORANT, a. Dwelling; ordinarily
residing ; inhabiting.
All freeholders within the precinct — and all
persons commorant therein — are obliged to at-
tend the court-leet. Blackstone.
COMMO'RIENT, a. [L. commoriens.] Dy-
ing at the same time.
■eOM'MOTHER, n. A godmother. [Little
used.]
■COMMO'TION, n. [L. commotio, comma
veo ; con and moveo. See Move.]
1. Agitation ; as the commotion of the sea.
8. Tumult of people ; disturbance ; disorder,
which may amount at times to sedition or
insurrection ; as the commotioiis of a state
C O i\I
When ye hear of wai-s and commotions, be
not lerrilied. Luke x.xi.
3. Agitation ; perturbation ; disorder of mind ;
heat ; excitement.
He could not debate without commotion.
Clarendon.
COMMO'TIONER, n. One who excites
commotion. [Little used.] Bacon.
COMM6VE, V. «. [L. comnwveo. SeeJMoue.]
To put in motion ; to disturb ; to agitate ;
to unsettle ; a poetic word. Thomson.
eOMMU'NE, V. i. [Fr. communier ; W.
cymunaw ; Arm. communya. The Welsh
word is by Oweu considered as a com-
pound of CI/, a prefix equivalent to co and
con in Latin, and ymun ; ym, noting iden-
tity, and unaw, to unite. If the word is
formed from cy or cum and unus, it is rad-
ically different from common. But the
Latin communico accords with this word,
and with common.]
1. To converse ; to talk together familiarly
to impart sentiments mutually, in private
or familiar discourse ; followed by tvith be
fore the person.
And there will I meet and commune with
thee. Ex. xxv.
2. To have intercourse in contemplation or
meditation.
Commune with your own heart on your bed
Ps. iv.
3. To partake of the sacrament or Lord':
supper; to receive the communion; i
nmoti use of the word in America, as it it
the Welsh.
COMMU'NE, n. A small territorial district
in France — one of the subordinate divis
ions of the country introduced in the late
revolution.
Communibus annis, one year with another ;
on an average.
Communibus locis, one place with another ;
on a medium.
eOMMUNICABIL'ITY, n. [See Communi-
cate] The quality of being commimica-
ble ; capability of being imparted from
one to another. Johnson.
eOMMU'Nl€ABLE, a. [Fr.]
That may be communicated ; capable of
being imparted from one to another ; as,
knowledge is communicable by words.
Lost bliss, to tliee no more communicable.
MUton.
Eternal life is communicable to all. Hooker.
■2. That may be recounted. Milton.
3. Connnunicative ; ready to impart. [ATot
u.ied.] B. Jonson.
COMMU'NI€ANT, n. One who communes
at the Lord's table ; one who is entitled to
partake of the sacrament, at the celebra-
tion of the Lord's supper.
Hooker. Alterbury.
€OMMU'NIC.\TE, v. t. [L. communico,
from communis, common; It. comunicare ,
Sp. comunicar ; Fr. communiquer.]
1. To impart ; to give to another, as a par-
taker ; to confer lor joint possession ; to
bestow, as that which the receiver is to
hold, retain, use or enjoy ; with to.
Where God is worshiped, there he com
municates his blessings and holy influences.
Taylor
Let him that is taught in the word cotnmu
nicate to him that teacheth in all good things
I Gal. vi.
|2. To impart reciprocally, or mutually ; tc
C O M
have or enjoy a share of; followed by
with.
Common benefits arc to be communicated
with all, but peculiar benefits with choice.
Bacon.
But Diomede desires my company.
And still communicates liis pn>ise with me.
Dryden.
3. To impart, as knowledge ; to reveal; to
give, as information, either by words, signs
or signals ; as, to communicate intelligence,
news, opinions, or facts.
Formerly this verb had unth before the
person receiving ; as, " he communicated
those thoughts only teith the Lord Digby."
Clarendon. But now it has to only.
4. To deliver, as to communicate a message ;
to give, as to communicate motion.
COMMUNICATE, v. i. To partake of the
I Lord's supper. Taylor.
Instead of this, in America, at least in
New England, commune is generally or al-
I ways used.
2. To have a communication or passage
from one to another ; to have the means
of passing from one to another ; as, two
houses communicate with each other ; a
fortress communicates with the country ;
the canals of the body communicate with
each other. Arbuthnof.
3. To have intercourse ; applied to persons.
4. To have, enjoy or suffer reciprocally ; to
have a share with another.
Ye have done well that ye did commu7iicate
with my affliction. Phil. iv.
COMMU'NICATED, pp. Imparted from
one to another ; bestowed ; delivered.
COMMU'NICATING,p;>r. Imparting; giv-
ing or bestowing; delivering.
[2. Partaking of the sacrament of the Lord's
supper.
3. Leading or conducting from place to
place, as a passage ; coimected by a pas-
sage or channel, as two lakes communica-
ting with each other.
4. Having intercourse by words, letters or
messages ; corresponding.
COMMUNICA'TION, n. The act of im-
parting, conferring, or dchvering, from one
to another ; as the communication of knowl-
edge, opinions or facts.
2. Intercourse by words, letters or messa-
ges ; interchange of thoughts or opinions,
by conference or other means.
Abner had coynmunication with the elders of
Israel, saying. Ye sought for David in times
past to be king over you. 2 Sam. iii.
Let your comtnunicatioii be, yea, yea ; nay,
nay. Mat. v.
In 1 Cor. XV. 33, " Evil communications
corrupt good manners," the word may
signify conversation, colloquial discourses,
or customary association and famiharity.
3. Intercourse "; interchange of knowledge ;
correspondence ; good understanding be-
tween men.
Secrets may be carried so far as to stop tho
communication necesisary among all/vho have
tlie management of affairs. Swift.
4. Connecting passage ; means of passing
from place to place ; as a strait or chan-
nel between seas or lakes, a road between
cities or countries, a gallery between
apartments in a house, an avenue be-
tween streets, &c.
Keep open a communkation with the besie:;
ed place.
C O M
COM
C O M
5. That which is communicated or impart
ed.
The house received a communication froii
the Governor, respecting the hospital.
6. In rhetoric, a trope by which a speaker or
writer takes his hearer or speaker as a
partner in his sentiments, and says ive, in-
stead of / or you. Beattie.
COMMU'NICATIVE, a. Inclined to com-
niiuiicate ; ready to impart to others. In
the sense of liberal of benefits, though legit-
imate, it is little u.scd.
2. Disposed to impart or disclose, as knowl-
edge, opinions, or facts ; free to communi-
cate ; not reserved.
We have paid for our want of prudence, and
determine for the future to be less communica-
tive. Swift.
<0MMU'NI€ATIVENESS, n. The quah-
ty of being communicative; readiness tn
impart to others ; freedom from reserve.
JVorris.'
COMMU'NlCATORY.a. Imparting knowl-
edge. Barrow
■eOMMU'NING, ppr. Conversing famihar-
ly; having familiar intercourse.
€OM'MUNING, n. Familiar converse : pri-
vate intercourse. E. T. Fitch
COMMU'NION, n. comviu'nyon. [L. com-
munio ; Fr. communion ; It. comunione .
Sp. comunion; Port, communham. See
Common.1
Fellowship ; intercourse between two per-
sons or more ; interchange of transac-
tions, or offices ; a state of giving and re-
ceiving ; agreement ; concord.
We are naturally led to seek communion and
t'cllowship with others. Hooker.
What communion hath light with darkm
2 Cor. vi.
The communion of the Holy Spirit be with
you all. 2 Cor. xiii.
2. Mutual intercourse or union in religious
worship, or in doctrine and discipline.
The Protestant churches have no communion
with the Romish church.
3. Tlie body of christians who have one
conuiion faitli and discipline. The three
grand communions into whicli tlie chris-
tian church is divided, are tho.se of the
Greek, the Romish and the Protestant
churches.
4. The act of communicating the sacrament
of the eucharist ; the celebration of th
Lord's supper ; the participation of the
blessed sacrament. The fourth council
of Lateran decrees that every believer
sliall receive the communion at least at
Easter. Encyc.
5. Union of professing christians in a partic-
ular church ; as, members in full commun-
Communion-service, in the liturgy of th<
Episcopal church, is tlie office for the ad-
ministration of the holy sacrament.
eOMMU'NITY, n. [L. communitas ; It.
comunita ; Sp. comunidad ; Fr. commu-
naute. See Commoyi.]
1. Properly, common possession or enjoy-
ment ; as a community of goods.
It is a coiitirmation of tlie original community
of all things. Locke.
a. A society of ppo]iln, havinir nnninmn rights
and privileges, (II- roll i n innii-i,, i-i\il,
political or eccli , i.i-ih-.J ; i.i li\,iiu iiinlcr
word may signily a r„Miiiioinv.-r.lth or
state, a body politic, or a particular soci-
ety or order of men within a state, as a
community of monks ; and it is often used
for the public or people in general, with-
out very definite limits.
3. Commonness ; frequency. 06s. Shak.
eOMMUTABIL'ITY, n. [See Comnmte.]
The quality of being capable of being e.\
clianged, or put, one in the place of the
other.
eOMMU'TABLE, a. [L. commutabilis. See
Commnte.]
That may be exchanged, or mutually chan
ged ; that may be given for another. In
philology, that may pass from one into
another ; as, the letter b is commutable with
V ; or in Celtic, h and mh are commutable.
COMMUTA'TION, n. [L. commutatio. See
Commute.]
1. Change ; alteration ; a passing from one
state to another. South
3. Exchange ; the act of giving one thinj
for another ; barter.
The use of money is to save the commuta
lion of more bulky commodities. Jlrbuthnol
3. In Imv, the change of a penalty or punish
ment from a greater to a less ; as banish
nient instead of death.
Suits are allowable in the spiritual courts foi
money agreed to be given as a commutation for
penance. Blackstone.
eOMMU'TATIVE, a. [Fr. commutatif; It.
commutafivo. See Comviute.]
Relative to exchange ; interchangeable ; mu
tually passing from one to another ; as
commutative justice, justice which is mu-
tually done and received, between men ir
society.
To cultivate an habitual regard to commuta-
tive \i\f lice. Burke
eOMMU'TATIVELY, adv. By way of re-
ciprocal exchange. Brown
€OMMU'TE, V. t. [L. commulo ; con and
muto, to change. See Mutable and Muta
Hon.]
1. To exchange ; to put one thing in the
place of another ; to give or receive one
thing for another ; as, to commute our la
bors ; to commute pain for pleasure.
2. In lata, to exchange one penalty or pun-
ishment for another of less severity; as, to
commute death for transportation.
€OMMU'TE, v.i. To atone; to compen
sate ; to stand in the place of; as, one pen
altv commutes for another.
COMMU'TUAL, a. [con and mutual] Mu
tual ; reciprocal ; used in poetry.
There, with commutual zeal, we both had
strove
In acts of dear benevolence and love. Pojie.
€OMPA€T', a. [L. compactus, compingo ;
con and pango, pactus, to thrust, drive, fix,
make fast or close ; antiq. pago, paco ; Gr.
7tr,yivu. See Pcxk] Literally, driven,
thrust or pressed together. Hence,
1. Closely and firmly united, as the particles
of solid bodies; firm; close; solid; dense.
Stone, iron and wood are compact bodies.
A compact leaf, in botany, is one having tlie
pulp of a close firm texture.
!. Composed ; consisting.
A wandering tire,
Compact of unctuous vapor. Milton. Shak.
This sense is not common. [See the
Verb.] Compact seems to be used for com-
pacted. So in the following example.
3. Joined ; held together. [Little used.]
A pipe of seven reeds, compact with wax te-
gether. Peacham.
4. Brief; close ; pithy ; not diffuse ; not ver-
bose ; as a compact discourse.
€OM'PA€T, n. [L. compactum.] An agree-
ment ; a contract between parties ; a word
that may be appUed, in a general sense, to
any covenant or contract between indi-
viduals; but it is more generally applied
to agreements between nations and states,
as treaties and confederacies. So the con-
stitution of the United States is a political
contract between the States ; a national
compact. Or the word is applied to the
agreement of the individuals of a commu-
nity.
The law of nations depends on mutual com -
pacts, treaties, leagues, &c. Blackstone.
In the beginnings of speech there was an im-
plicit compact, founded on common consetit.
€OMPA€T', 17. t. To thrust, drive or press
closely together ; to join firmly ; to con-
solidate ; to make close ; as the parts which
compose a body.
Now the bright sun compacts the precious
stone. Blaekmorc.
This verb is not much used. The parti-
ciple is more frequent ; as, the earth's com-
pacted sphere. Roscommon.
The solids are more strict and compacted.
Arbuthnot.
2. To unite or connect firmly, as in a sys-
tem.
The whole body fitly Joined together and
compacted. Eph. 4.
3. To league with.
Thou pernicious woman.
Compact with her that's gone. Shak.
4. To compose or make out of.
If he, compact of jars, grow musical. Shak.
In the two last examples, compact is used
for compacted.
COMPACTED, pp. Pressed close; firmly
united, or connected.
COMPACT'EDNESS, n. A state of being
compact ; fii-mness ; closeness of parts ;
density, wlience results hardness. Digby.
COMPACTING, ppr. Uniting closely ; con-
solidating.
COMPACTION, n. The act of making com-
pact ; or the state of being compact.
Bacoii.
COMPACT'LY, adv. Closely ; densely ; with
close union of parts.
COMPACT'NESS, »i. Firmness; close un-
ion of [jarts ; densitv. Senile.
COxMPACT'URE, «." Close union or con-
nection of parts ; structure well connect-
ed ; manner of joining. Spenser.
COMPA'UES, > ji [L.] Asystemorstruct-
COM'PAgES, ^ ■ ureofmany parts united.
Bay.
COMPAtilNA'TION, n. [h.compago. See
Compact.]
Union of parts ; structure ; connection ; con-
texture. [Little used.] Brown.
COM'PANABLE, a. Companionable. Obs.
Chaucer.
eOM'PANABLENESS, n. Sociableness.
Obs. Sidney.
COMPANTABLE, a. Social. Obs.
Bacon.
COMPAN'IABLENESS, n. Sociableness.
Obs. Bp. Hall.
COMPANION, n. compan'yun. [Fr. com-
COM
pagnon; Arm. compaignun ; It. compagno;
Sp. compahero ; Port, compaiilieiro ; Ir.
companach. See Company.]
1. One who keeps company with another ;l
one with whom a person frequently asso-j
ciates, and converses. " It differs from,
friend, says Johnson, as acquaintance from
confidence." The word does not«Mecessa-
rily imply friendship ; but a companion is^
often or generally a friend.
A companion of lools shall be destroyed.
Prov. xiii.
2. One who accompanies another; as two I
persons meeting casually and travehng
together are called companions. So sold-
iers are called companions in arms.
3. A partner ; an associate.
Epaphioditus, my brother, and comjianion in
labor, and fellow soldier. Pliil. ii.
4. A fellow ; a mate. Shak.
5. A soi-t of wooden porch placed over the
entrance or stair case of the cabin in mer-
chant ships. Hence the ladder by which
otRcers ascend to and descend from the
quarter deck is called the companion
ladder. Mar. Diet.
COMPAN'IONABLE, a. Fit for good fel-
lowship ; quaUfied to be agreeable in com-
pany ; sociable ; agreeable as a compan-
ion. Clarendon.
€OMPAN'IONABLY, adv. In a compan-
ionable manner.
€0MPAN'10NSHIP, n. Fellowship
ciation. Shak.
9. Company; train. Shak.
COM'PANY, n. [It. compagnia ; Sp.
paiiia ; Port, compankia ; Fr. compagnie ;
not from cum and panis, bread, a mess oi
number of men eating together, as is com
monly supposed; but from cum andpan-
nus, cloth, Teutonic /aftjie or vaan, a flag.
The word denotes a band or number of
men under one flag or standard. W'Ikh
decides this question is, the Spanish iiioili'
of writing the word with n tilde, titliil ".,
compnnia, forthis is the manner of writing
paiio, cloth ; whereas ;)ants, bread, is writ-
ten pan. The orthography of the word in
the other languages is confirmatory of
this opinion.]
1. In military affairs, the soldiers united un-
der the command of a captain ; a subdi-
vision of a regiment, consisting usually of
a number from 60 to 100 men. But the
number is indefinite.
2. Any assemblage of persons ; a collection
of men, or other animals, in a very indefi-
nite sense. It may be applied to a small
number, or any multitude whatever ; as in
scripture we read of a company of priests,
a company of prophets, and an innumera-
ble company of angels ; also, a company of
horses.
3. An assemblage of persons for entertain
ment or festivity ; a party collected by in
vitation or otherwise.
4. Persons that associate with others for
conversation or pleasure ; society ; as, let
your children keep good company.
5. The state of being a companion ; the act
of accompanying ; fellowship; society.
I will keep thee company. Dryden.
We cannot enjoy the company of licentious
6. A number of persons united for the same
purpose, or in a joint concern ; as a com-
COM
pany of mercliants or mechanics ; a i
pany of players. Tlie word is applicable
to p'rivale partnerships or to incori)orated
bodies of men. Hence it may signify a
firm, house or jiartnership ; or a corpora
tion, as the East India Company, a bank-
ing or insurance company.
7. Tlie crew of a ship, including the officers
also, a fleet.
To bear company, to accompany ; to attend
to go with ; denoting a temporary asso-
ciation.
His faithful dog shall bear hhn company.
Pope
To keep company, to accompany ; to attend ;
also, to associate with frequently or habitu
ally ; Iience, to frequent public houses.
Prov. xxix.
eOM'PANY, V. t. To accompany ; to attend ;
to go with ; to be companion to. [But
accompany is generally used.]
€OM'PANY, V. i. To a.ssociute with ; to fre-
quent the company of.
1 wrote you not to company with fornicators.
1 Cor. V.
2. To be a gay companion. Obs.
Spenser.
3. To have commerce with the other sex.
Bp. Hall.
eOM'PARABLE, a. [L. comparabilis. Sec
Compare.]
That may be compared ; worthy of compar-
ison ; being of equal regard ; that may be
estimated as equal.
There is no blessing of life comparable to the
enjoyment of a discreet and virtuous friend.
Addison.
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine
gold. Lam. iv.
€OM'PARABLY, adv. In a manner or de
grce worthy to be compared, or of equa
vfffard. Wolton
(•( >AI I'ARATES, n. In logic, the two things
(■(iiii|Kiri'd to one another.
<.t)Ml'AR ATIVE, n. [L. comparativus ; It,
comparativo; Fr. comparatif. See Com-
pare.]
1. Estimated by comparison ; not positive or
absolute. The comparative weight of a
body, is that which is estimated by com-
paring it with the weight of another body.
A body may be called heavy, when c
pared with a feather, which would be
called light, when compared with iron
So of comparative good, or evil.
2. Having the power of comparing different
things ; as a comparative faculty. Qu.
Glanville.
3. In grammar, expressing more or less. The
C07Hparah'i'e degree of an adjective express-
es a greater or less degree of a quantity,
or quality, than the positive ; as brighter,
or more bright ; smaller ; finer ; stronger ,
weaker.
Comparative anatomy, that branch of anato
my which treats of the anatomy of other
animals than man, with a view to cotn
pare their strucluro with tliat of huniai
bcinirs, and llms m illiiHtiatr the animal
fuiicticms, anil iiartit-uiiirly witli reference
to a more perfect knowledge of the fimc-
tions of several parts of the human body.
Encyc.
eOMPAR'ATIVE, n. One who is equal oi
pretends to be an equal. [Xot now used.]
Shak.
C O M
€OMPAR ATIVELY, adv. In a state of
comparison ; bv comparison ; according to
estimate made I'v ruiniiarisun ; not posi-
tively, absohit. I\ ..r in )t-.-lf A thing is
comparatively \n:\\\. \\liiii it is compared
with something less heavy. Paper is com-
paratively light or heavy ; light, when com-
pared with lead ; and heavy, when com-
jiared with air.
How few, comparatively, arc the instances of
a wise application of time and talents ! Anon.
eOMPA'RE, V. t. [L. compare, to [jrepare,
to i)rovide or procure, to make equal, to
compare ; con and paro, to prepare ; It.
parare, to dress, trim, adorn ; also, lo parry ;
Sp. parar, to prepare, to halt, to stop, to
jM-event, to detain, to stake at cards ; Port.
parar, to stop or cease to go forward ; to
meet or confine upon; to touch or be bound-
ed ; to tend ; to drive at some end ; to aim
at ; to come to ; to hinder ; to parry, or
ward off; to turn or change in inclination
or morals ; to lay or stake as a wager ;
Sp. parada, a halt, stop, pause ; a fold for
cattle ; a relay of horses or mules ; a dam
or bank ; a bet, stake or wager ; a parade,
I or place of exercise for troops ; Port. id.
I Ai-m. para ; W. parodi, to prepare. This
I seems to be the tn3 bara, of tlie Shemitic
languages. The primai-y sense is, to throw,
drive, or strike ; hence, to drive or force
off, to separate, to pare ; hence, to trim, or
dress, which may be from separating, as in
the French;?o)f r des cuirs, to dress or curry
leather ; or from setting off, as we express
the idea, that is, by enlargement, or dis-
play ; or from setting in order, as we say,
to fix. The sense of compare is allied to
the Portuguese apphcation of the word,
to come to, to meet ; and the L. par,
equal, belongs to the same root, and seems
to be included in comparo. One of the
principal significations is, to stop ; that is,
to set ; to fix. In fencing, it is to intercept
by thrusting the weapon aside. In gaming,
it is to lay or throw down. All llie senses
unite in that of extending, thrusting, or
driving. W. pur, that is contiguous, pre-
paredness, a pair, a fellow, Eng. peer,
L. par. The latter word seems to sig-
nify, extended, or reaching to, and to be
closely allied to the Portuguese sense of
contiguity.]
1. To set or bring things together in fact or
in contemplation, and to examine the re-
latic!is they bear to each other, with a view
to ascertain their agreement or disagree-
ment ; as, to compare two pieces of cloth,
two tables, or coins ; to compare reasons
and arguments ; to compare pleasure with
pain.
In comparing movable tilings, it is cus-
tomary to bring them together, for exam-
ination. In comjiaring things immovable
or remote, and alistract ideas, we bring
them together in the mind, as far as we
are able, and consider tliem in connection.
Comparison therefore is really collation,
or it includes it.
2. To liken ; to represent as similar, for the
j purjiose of illustration.
Solon compared the people to the sea, and
orators and counselors to the winds ; for that the
1 sea would be cahn and quiet, if the winds did
: not trouble it. Bacon.
I In this sense compare is followed by to.-
COM
3. To examine the relations of things t(
each otlier, with a view to discover theii
relative proportions, quantities or qualities
as, to compare two kingdonns, or two moun
tains mth each other ; to compare the nuni
ber ten with fifteen ; to compare ice with
crystal ; to compare a clown with a dancing
master or a dandy.
la this sense compare is followed by
loilh.
4. In grammar, to form an adjective in the!
degrees of comparison ; as blackish, black\
blacker, blackest.
i- To get ; to procure ; to obtain ; as in
J.atiii. Obs. Spenser.
t'OMPA'RE, V. i. To hold comparison ; to
be like or equal.
2. To vie. Obs. Spenser
■COMPA RE, n. The state of being com
pared; ootiiparative estimate; compari-
son ; possibility of entering into compari
son, or being considered as equal.
Their small gaUies may not hold compare
With our tall ships. Waller.
a. Simile ; similitude ; illustration by com
Parison- _ Johnson
J This noun is in ttse, bid cannot be con
ered as elegant.]
COMPA'RED, pp. Set together and exam
ined with respect to likeness or unlikeness.
agreement or disagreement ; likened ; rep
resented as similar.
COMPARER, n. One who compares or
makes a comparison.
eOMPA'RING, ppr. Examining the rela
tions of things to each other; likening.
eOMPAR'ISON, n. [It. comparazione ; Sp.
comparacion ; Fr. compuraison ; Port, com-
parafam ; L. comparatio. See Compare. ^
1. The act of comparing; the act of consid-
ering the relation between persons or
things, with a view to discover their agree
ment or resemblance, or their disagree
ment or diftereuce.
We learn to form a coiTect estimate of men
and their actions by comparison. Jhion
2. The state of being compared.
If we rightly estimate what we call good and
evil, we shall find it lies much in comparison.
Locke.
J. Comparative estimate ; proportion.
Who is left among you that saw this house in
its first glory ? And how do you see it now ':
Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as
nothing ? Hag. ii.
4. In grammar, the fonnation of an adjective
in its several degrees of signification ; as
strong, stronger, strongest ; greenish, green,
greener, greenest ; glorious, more glorious,
mostglonotis. In English, there are strict-
ly four degrees of comparison.
5. A simile, similitude, or illustration by si-
militude.
Whereto shall wc liken the kinjcdom of God ?
Or with what comparison shall we comiiare it '
Mark iv.
6. In rhetoric, a figure by which two things are
considered with regard to a third, which
is common to them both ; as, " a hero is
like a lion in courage." Here courage is
common to hero and lion, and constitutes
the point of resemblance. Encyc.
The distinction between similitude and com-
parison is, that the former has reference to the
quality ; the latter, to the quantity. Compar-
ison is between more and less ; similitude is be-
tween sooU and Iwd. Hannibal— liiiii"- like a
COM
tempest on the declivides of the Alps— is a like
ness by similitude. The sublimity of the scriptur
al prophets exceeds that of Homer, as much as
thunder is louder tlian a whisper — is a likeness
by comparison. J. Q. Adams. Lecture ix,
But comparison has reference to quaUty
as well as quantity.
eOMP'ART, v.t. [Tr. compartir ; lt.com-
partire ; Sp. compartir, con or com and par-
tir, L. ;)ar/io, to ilivide. See Port.]
To divide ; to mark out a plan or design into
its several parts, or subdivisions. Wotton
COMPARTED, pp. Divided into parts or
apartments.
COJIP'ARTIXG, ppr. Dividing or disposing
into parts.
eOMPARTI 'TION, n. The act of dividing
into parts. In architecture, the division or
disposition of the whole ground-plot of an
edifice, into its various apartments.
r,. . . Encyc.
Division ; part divided ; a separate part ;
as, amphitheaters needed no compartitions.
Wotton
COMP'ARTMENT, n. [Fr. compaHhnent.
It. compartimento.]
1. A division or .separate part of a general
design, as of a pictin-e, or of a ground-
I'lot- Pope. Peacham.
3. A design com])osed of several different
figures, disposed with symmetry, for orna-
ment ; as a compartment of tiles or bricks,
duly arranged, of various colors and var
nished, to decorate a building. In gar-
dening, compartments are assemblages of
beds, plots, borders, walks, &c. In her-
aldry, a compaHment is called also a par-
tition. Encyc.
eOMPARTNER, n. A sharer. Pearson
€OM'PASS, n. [Fr. compos ; Sp. compas
It. compasso ; Port, compasso ; con or com
and Fr. pas, Sp. paso. It. passo, a pace or
step, L. passus, which coincides with the
participle of pando, to open or stretch. See
Pace and Pass. A compass is a stepping
together. So in Spanish and Portuguese,
it signifies a beating of time in music]
1. Stretch ; reach ; extent ; the limit or
boimdary of a space, and the space inclu
ded ; applied to timt, space, sound, &c.
Our knowledge lies within a very narrow
compass. The universe extends beyond
the compass of our thoughts. So we say,
the compass of a year, "the compass of an
enqiire, tlie compass of reason, the compass
of the voice.
And in that coynpass all the world contains.
Dry den.
•2. A passing round ; a circular course ; a
circuit.
Time is come round ;
And where I did begin, there shall I end :
My life has run its compass. Shak.
They fetched a compass of seven days jour-
ney. 2Kingsiii. 2 Sam. v. Actssxviii.
S. Moderate bounds ; limits of truth; mod-
eration ; due limits.
In two hundred yeai-s, (I speak within com-
pass,) no such commission had been executed
Bavies.
This sense is the same as the first, and
the peculiar force of the phrase Ues in the
word xvithin.
The extent or limit of th
sound. [See No. 1.]
An instrument for directing or ascertain
ing the course of ships at sea, consisting of
COM
a circular hot, containing a paper card
marked with the thirty two points of di-
rection, fixed on a magnetic needle, that
always points to the north, the variation
excepted. The needle with the card turns
on a pin in the center of the box. In the
center of the needle is fixed a brass conical
socket or cap, by which the card hanging
on the pin turns freely round the center.
The box is covered with glass, to prevent
the motion of the card from being disturb-
ed by the wind. Encyc.
f). Compass or compasses, [or a pair of com-
passes, so named from its legs, but pair is
superfluous or improper, and the singular
nuriiber compass is the preferable name,]
an instrument for describing circles, meas-
uring figures, &c., consisting of two pointed
legs or branches, made of iron, steel or
brass, joined at the top by a rivet, on which
they move. There are also compasses ot
three legs or triangular compasses, cyhn-
drical and spherical compasses with four
branches, and various other kinds.
. Encyc.
7. An instrument used m surveying land,
constructed in the main Uke the mariner's
compass ; but with this difference, that the
needle is not fitted into the card, moving
with it, but plays alone ; the card being
drawn on the bottom of the box, and a cir-
cle divided into 360 degrees on the Hmb.
This instrument is used in surveying land,
and in directing travelers in a desert or
forest, miners, &c. Encyc.
Compass-saw, a saw with a broad edge and
thin back, to cut in a circular form.
Moron.
€OM'PASS, v.t. Literally, to measure with
a compass. Hence,
1. To stretch round ; to extend so as to em-
brace the whole ; hence, to inclose, encir-
cle, grasp or seize ; as, to compass with the
arms.
To surround ; to environ ; to inclose on
all sides ; sometimes followed by around,
round or about.
ssmgs
voice or of
Now all the bless;
Of a glad father compass thee about. "Shak.
With favor wilt thou compass him as with a
shield. Ps. v.
The willows of the brook compass him about.
Job 40.
3. To go or walk round.
Ye shall compass the city — and tlie seventh
day ye shall compass the city seven times.
Josh. vi.
For ye compass sea and land. Matli. xxiii.
4. To besiege ; to beleaguer ; to block up.
This is not a difterent sense, but a partic-
ular application.
Tliine enemies shall cast a trench about tliee,
and compass thee round, and keep thee in on
every side. Luke xix.
5. To obtain ; to attain to ; to procure ; to
bring within one's power ; to accompUsh.
If I can check my erring love, I will ;
If not, to compass her Pll use my skill.
Shak.
How can you hope to compass your de-
signs ? Denham,
Q. To purpose ; to intend ; to imagine ; to
plot ; to contrive ; as we say, to go about
to perform, but in mind only ; as, to com-
pass the death of the king.
COM
Compassing and imagining the death of the
king are synonymous terms ; coinpaas signify-
ing the purpose or design of the mind or will,
and not, as in common speech, the carrying
sucli design to efl'ect. Blackstone.
eOM'PASSED, ;)p. Embraced; surround-
ed; inclosed; obtained; imagined.
eOM'PASSING, ppr. Embracing; going
round ; inclosing' ; obtaining ; accomi)liiili-
ing ; imagining ; intending.
2. In ship-building, incurvated ; arclied.
Mar. Diet.
COMPAS'SION, n. [It. compassionc ; S[).
compasion ; Fr. compassion ; Low L. com-
passio, compatior; con and palior, passus,
to sufler. See' Patience.]
1. A suffering with another ; ])ainrul sympa-
thy ; a sensation of sorrow excited by tbo
distress or misfortunes of another; piiy ;
commiseration. Compassion is a mixed
passion, compounded of love and sorrow ;
at least some portion of love generally
attends the pain or regret, or is excited by
it. Extreme distress of an enemy even
changes enmity into at least temporary
aflFection.
He, being full of cotnpassion, forgave their
iniquity. Ps. Ixxviii.
His father had compassion, and ran, and fell
on his neck, and kissed him. Luke xv.
COMPAS'SION, V. t. To pity. [AV used.]
Shak.
■COMPAS'SIONABLE, a. Deserving of
pity. [lAtlle used.] Barrow.
eOMPAS'SIONATE, a. Having a temper
or disposition to pity ; inclined to show
mercy ; merciful ; having a heart that is
tender, and easily moved by the distresses,
sufferings, wants and infirmities of others.
There never was a heart truly great and gene
rous, that vvas not also tender and compassion-
ate. Soutli
■eOMPAS'SIONATE, i'. (. To pity; to
commiserate ; to have compassion for.
Compassionates my pains and pities mc.
Mdison.
€OMPAS'SIONATELY, udv. With com-
passion ; mercifidlv. Clarendon.
€OMPAS'SIONATENESS, n. The quality
of being compassionate.
•eOMPATERN'ITY, n. [con and palernitii.]
The relation of a godfather to the per.s'on
for whom he answers. Davies.
COMPATIBIL'ITY, n. [See Compatible.]
Consistency; the quality or power of coex-
isting with something else ; suitableness ;
as a compatibility of tempers.
COMPATIBLE, a. [Fr. compatible; Sj..
id. ; Port, compativel ; from the L. competo.
to sue or seek for the same thing, to
agree ; con and peto, to seek.]
1. Consistent ; that may exist with ; suita
ble ; not incongruous ; agreeable ; follow
ed by wiih ; sometimes by to, but less
properly.
The poets have joined qualities which by
nature are the most compatible. Broome
The office of a legislator and of a judge aie
deemed not compatible.
To pardon offenders is not always compaiible
with public safety.
COMPAT'IBLENESS, n. Consistency
fitness ; agreement ; the same as compati-
bUity, which is generally used.
COMPAT mL"V:, fulv. Fitly : .suitably ; con-
sistently.
voi: J.
COM
COMPA'TIENT, a. [L. con and paij
Suffering together. (Little iised.] Buck.
COMPATRIOT, K. [It. compatriolta ; Sp.
compatriota ; con or com and patriot.]
A fellow patriot ; one of the same country.
COMPATRIOT, a. Of the same country
Meiiside
COMPEE'R, n. [L. compar; con and par,
equal. See Peer.]
An equal ; a companion ; an associate ; a
mate. Philips.
COMPEE'R, V. t. To equal ; to match ; to
be equal with. Shak.
COMPEL', V. t. [L compello, cotnpellere ;
and pello, to drive ; Sp. compeler ; Port.
compellir. See Peal and Jlppecd.]
1. To drive or urge with force, or irresisti-
bly ; to constrain ; to oblige ; to necessi
tate, either by physical or moral force.
Thou shall not compel him to serve as a bond
servant. Levit. 2.'5.
And they compel one Simon — to bear li
cross. Mark xv.
Go out into the highways and hedges, and
compel them to come in, that my house may
be filled. Luke xiv.
Circumstances compel us to practice economy
2. To force ; to take by force, or violence
to seize.
The subjects' grief
Comes through commissions, which compel
from each
A sixth part of his substance. Shal
[This sense is harsh, and not very common
Johnson.
3. To drive together ; to gather; to unite in
a crowd or company. A Latinism, com-
pellere gregem.
In one troop compelled. Dryden.
4. To seize ; to overpower ; to hold.
And easy sleep their weary limbs compelled.
[ Unusual. ] Dryden
5. To call forth, L. compellare. Obs.
Spenser.
COMPEL'LABLE, «. That may be driv(
forced or constrained.
COMPEL'LABLY, adv. By compulsion,
COMPELLA'TION, n. [L. compcllalio ;
compello, compellare, the same word
the preceding, applied to the voice
scud or drive out the voice.]
.Style or manner of address ; the word ofl
salutation.
The compellation of the Kings of France
by sire. Teinph
COMPEL'LED, ;)p. Forced; constrained;
obliged.
COMPEL'LErJ, n. One who compels or
constrains.
COMPEL'LING, ppr. Driving by force
constrainine ; obliging.
COM'PEND,'^ } [h. compendium.] In
COMPEND'IUM, \ "• literature, an abri.Ig
ment ; a simmiary ; an epitome ; a brief
compilation or compo-sition, containing the
principal heads, or general principles, of a
larger work or system.
COMPENDIA'RIOUS, a. Short ; contract-
ed. [Little used.]
COMPEND'IATE, v. t. To sum or collect
together. [jVot used.]
COMPEND'IOUS, a. Short; summary
abridged ; comprehensive ; containing the
substance or general principles of a sub-
ject or work in a narrow compass ; as a
compendious system of chimistry ; a com-
pendious grammar.
13
C O M
2. Short; direct; near; not circuitous ; as a
compendious way to acquire science.
COMPENDIOUSLY, adv. In a short or
brief manner ; summarily ; in brief; in
ejiitome.
The substance of christian belief is compend-
iously expressed in a few articles. Anon.
COMPENU'lOl^NESS, n. Shortness ;
brevity ; coniprcliension in a narrow com-
pjuss. Bentley.
COMPENS'ABLE, a. [See Compensi^e.]
That may be compensated. [Little used.]
COM'PENSATE, v. t. [L. compenso ; con
and penso, to prize or value, from pendo,
to weigh, to value. See Pendent.]
1. To give equal value to; to recompense;
to give an equivalent for services, or an
amount lost or bestowed ; to return or
bestow that which makes good a loss, or
is estimated a suflicient remimeration ; as,
to compensate a laborer for his work, or a
merchant, for his losses.
2. To be equivalent in value or effect to ; to
counterbalance; to make amends for.
The length of the night and tlie dews do com-
pensate &ehcAto( the day. Bacon.
The pleasures of sin never compensate the
sinner for the miseries he suffers, even in this
life. Anon.
COM'PENSATE, v. i. To make amends :
to supply an equivalent : followed by for.
Notliing can compensate fur the loss of repu-
tation.
This word is generally accented on the sec-
ond syllable, most unfortunately, as any
ear will determine by the feebleness of
the last syllables in the participles, com-
pens'ated, compens'ating.
Each seeming want compensated of course.
Pope.
With the primary accent on the first sylla-
ble and the secondary accent on the third,
this defect and the difficulty of uttering
distinctly the last syllables are remedied.
COM'PENSATED,;)/*. Recompensed ; sup-
pUed with an equivalent in amount or ef-
fect; rewarded.
COMPENSATING, ppr. Giving an equiv-
alent ; recomi)ensing ; remunerating.
COMPENSATION, n. That which is giv
en or received as an equivalent for ser-
vices, debt, want, loss, or suffering ; a-
mends ; remuneration ; recompense.
All otlier debts may compensation find.
Dryden.
The pleasures of life are no compensation for
the loss of divine favor and protection.
2. In law, a set-off; the payment of a debt by
a credit of equal amount.
COMPENS'ATIVE, a. Making amends or
compensation.
COMPENSATORY, a. Serving for com-
pensation ; making amends.
COMPENSE, V. t. to recompense, is fotmd
in Bacon ; but is not now in use.
COMPE'TE, i>. i. [L. competo ; con and
peto.]
1. To seek, or strive for the same thing as
another; to carry on competition or ri-
valry.
Our manufacturers compete widi the English
in making cotton cloths.
2. To strive or claim to be equal.
The sages of antiquity will not dare to com-
pete with the inspired authors. Milner.
COM'PETENCE, ? [L. competens, compe-
COM'PETENCY, \ ""to, to be meet or fit ;
(I and peto, to seek ; properly, to pres.«,
COM
urge or come to.] Primarily, fitness ; suit-
ableness; convenience. Hence,
1. Sufficiency ; such a quantity as is suffi-
cient; property or means of subsistence
sufficient to furnish the necessaries and
conveniencies of hfe, without superfluity.
Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense,
Lie in three words, health, peace, and compe-
tence. Pope.
2. Sufficiency, applied to other things than
property ; but this application is less com-
mon.
3. Legal capacity or qualifications ; fitness ;
as the competence of a witness, which
consists in his having the qualifications
required by law, as age, soundness of
mind, impartiality, &c.
1. Right or authority ; legal power or capa
city to take cognizance of a cause ; as the
rompetence of a judge or court to examine
and decide. Kent.
.'>. Fitness ; adequacy ; suitableness ; legal
sufficiency; as the cojn/idejici/ of evidence.
Seivall
COM'PETENT, o. Suitable ; fit ; conveni-
ent ; hence, sufficient, that is, fit for the
purpose ; adequate ; followed by to ; as
competent supplies of food and clothing
a competent force ; an army competent to
the preservation of the kingdom or state ;
a competent knowledge of the world. This
word usually inqjlies a moderate supply,
a sufficiency without superfluity.
2. Qualified; fit; having legal capacity
power ; as a competent judge or court ; a
competent witness. In a judge or court, it
implies right or authority to hear and de
termine ; in a witness, it implies a legal
right or capacity to testify.
;?. Incident; belonging; having adequate
power or right.
That is the privilege of the infinite author o
things, who never slumbers nor sleeps, but h
not competent to any finite being. Locke.
It is not competent to the defendant
ledge fraud in the plaintiff.
rOai'FETENTLY, adv. Sufficiently; ade-
quately ; suitably : reasonably ; as, the
fact has been competently proved ; a cliurch
is competently endowed.
€OMPET'IBLE, a. [Not now used. Sec
Compaiihle.]
COMPE'TING, 7^)-. Striving in rivalry.
COMPETr'TION, n. [Low L. competiiio.
See Compete and Competence.]
1. The act of seeking, or endeavoring to
gain, what another is endeavoring
ffain, at the same time ; rivalry ; mutual
strife for the same object ; also, strife for
superiority; as the competition of two
candidates for an office, or of two poets
for superior reputation.
3. A state of rivalship ; a state of having
equal claims.
A portrait, with which one of Titian's coi
not come in competition. Drydi
a Double claim; claim of more than one
the same thing ; formerly with to, now
with/o)-. .
Competition to the crown there is none nor
can be. Bacon.
Tliere is no competition but for the second
place. Dryden
COMPET'ITOR, n. One who seeks and
endeavors to obtain what another seeks
or one who claims what another claims ;
a rival.
C O M
They cannot brook competitors in love.
Shak
3. An opponent. Shak
€0MPET'1T0RY, a. Rivahng ; acting ir
competition. Dangers of the country
COMPET'ITRESS, } A female compel
€OMPET'ITRIX, \ "" itor.
COMPILA'TION, n. [See Compile.]
1. A collection of certain parts of a book or
books, into a separate book or pamphlet.
2. A collection or assemblage of other sub-
stances ; or the act of collecting and form-
ing an aggregate. Woodward.
COMPILA'TOR, ». A collector. [Not
■used.] Chancer.
eOMPI'LE, I', t. [L. compilo, to pilfer or
plunder ; con and pilo, to pillage, to peel, and
to drive close; compilatio, a pillaging; It,
compUare ; Fr. compiler ; Sp. Port, compi-
lar. The L. pUo is the English, to peel
to strip ; but pilo, to make thick, or diive
together, is the Gr. rttxou, lanas cogo, co-
arcto, constipo Compile is probably fron
peeling, jiicking out, selecting and put
ting together.]
To collect parts or passages of books or
writings into a book or pamphlet ; to se
lect and put together parts of an author,
or to collect parts of ditiijrent authors; or
to collect and arrange .sejiarate papers,
laws, or customs, in a book, code or system.
To write ; to compose.
In poetry, they compile the praises of virtu
ous men and actions. Temple
To contain ; to comprise. [jVot used.]
Spenser
To make up ; to compose. [JVot used.]
Shak
5. To put together ; to build. [Ao< used.]
Spenser
eOMPI'LED, pp. Collected from authors
selected and put together.
COMPI'LEMENT, n. The act of piling to
gether or heaping ; coacervation. [Little
used.] Woodward.
€OJMPI'LER, n. A collector of parts of au-
thors, or of separate papers or accounts ;
one who forms a book or comiiosition
from various authors or separate papers.
Bacon. Swift.
COMPI'LING, ppr. Collecting and arran-
ging parts of books, or separate papers
ill a body or composition.
€OMPLA'CENCE, \ [h-complacens, com-
COMPLA'CENCY, ^ "^^ placeo ; con andp/a-
cfo, to please ; Fr. complaire, complaisant :
It. compiacere, compiacente ; Sp. compla
cer.]
Pleasure; satisfaction; gratification. It
is more than approbation, and less than
delight or joy.
Others proclaim the infirmities of a great mat
with satisfaction and complacency, if they dis
cover none of tlie like in themselves. Add'.soa
2. The cause of pleasure or joy. Milton.
3. Complaisance ; civihty ; softness of man
uers ; deportment and address that afford
pleasure.
Complacency, and truth, and manly
Dwell ever on his tongue, and smooth hi
thoughts. Addison
In the latter sense, complaisance, from tin
French, is now used. [See Complaisance.
€OMPLA'CENT, a. Civil ; complaisant.
They look up with a sort of complacent aw
to kings. Busici
COM
COMPLACEN'TIAL, a. iMarked by com-
placence ; accommodating.
Ch. Relig. Appeal.
COMPLA'CENTLY, adv. Softly ; in a com-
placent manner.
eOMPLA'IN, V. i. [Fr. complaindre; con or
co?rt and plaindre, plaint, to lament, to
bewail; Sp. planir; It. compiagnere, or
compiangere ; from the L. plango, to strike,
to lament. If n is not radical, the original
word was plago, coinciding with plaga,
Gr. riTiriyr;. But this is doubtful. The
primary sense is to drive, whence to strike
and to lament, that is, to strike the hands
or breasts, as in extreme grief, or to drive
forth the voice, as in appello.]
1. To utter expressions of grief; to lament.
I will complain m the bitterness of my spirit.
Job vU.
I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.
Ps. Ixxvii.
2. To utter expressions of censm-e or resent-
ment ; to munnur ; to find fault.
And when the people complained, it displeas-
ed the Lord. Num. xi.
3. To utter expressions of uneasiness, or
pain. He complains of thirst. He com-
plains of a head-ache.
4. To charge ; to accuse of an offense ; to
present an accusation against a person to
a proper officer.
To A B, one of the justices of the peace for
the county of S, complains C D.
This verb is regularly followed by of,
before the cause of grief or censure; as, to
complain o/ thirst, ^ignorance, o/ vice, of
an oflender.
5. To represent injuries, particularly in a
w rit of Audita Querela.
eOMPLA'IN, V. I. To lament ; to bewail.
They might the grievance inwardly complain .
This use of complain is uncommon, and
hardly legitimate. The phrase is proper-
Iv elliptical.
€OMPLA'INABLE, a. That may be com-
plained of [ATot in xise.] Feltham.
€OMPLA'INANT, n. [Ft. complaignant.]
A (irosecutor ; one who prosecutes by com-
plaint, or commences a legal process
against an offender for the recoverj' of a
right or penalty.
He shall forfeit one moiety to the use of the
town ; and the other moiety to the use of the
complainant.
Stat, of Massachusetts.
2. The plaintifl'in a writ of Audita Querela.
Ibm.
COMPLA'INER, n. One who complains,
or expresses grief; one who laments ; one
who finds fault ; a murmurer.
These arc murmurers, complainers, walking-
after iheir own lusts. Jude 16.
eOMPLA'INFUL, a. Full of complaint.
[M)t used.]
COMPLAINING, ppr. Expressing grief,
sorrow, or censure ; finding fault ; mur-
muring ; lamenting ; accusing of an of-
fense.
COMPLAINING, n. The expression of re-
gret, sorrow, or injury.
COMPLA'INT, Ji. [Fr. fo»i;)/aj'n(e ,- It. cow-
pianto.] Expression of grief, regret, pain,
censiu'e, or resentment ; lamentation ;
murmuring ; a finding fault.
Even to day is my complaint bitter. Job
xxili.
C O M
COM
COM
I mourn in my complaint and make a noise.
Ps. Iv.
The Jews laid many and grievous complaints
against Paul. Acts xxv.
I lind no cause of complaint. Hooker.
2. The cause or subject of complaint, or
murmuring.
Tlie poverty of the clergy hath been the com-
plaint of all who wish well to the church.
Swift.
3. The cause of complaint, or of i>ain and
uneasiness in tlie body; a malady; a dis-
ease ; usually applied to disorders not vi-
olent ; as a complaint in tlie bowels or
breast.
4. Accusation ; a charge against an offender,
made by a private person or informer to a
justice of the peace or other proper officer,
alledging that the offender has violated the
law, and claiming tlie penalty due to the
prosecutor. It differs from an informalion,
which is the prosecution of an offender by
the Attorney or Solicitor General; and
from a presentment and indictment, ^vhich
are the accusation of a Grand Jury.
5. Representation of injuries, in a general
sense; and appropriately, in a writ of Au-
dita Querela.
eOM'PLAlSANCE, n. eom'plazance. [Fr.
complaisance, from complaisant, the parti-
cii)le of complaire ; con or com and plaire,
to please, whence plaisant, pleasing, plai-
sir, pleasure, L. placeo, placere, the in-
finitive changed into plaire ; It. compiacen-
za, from compiacere, piacere ; Sp. compla-
cencia, complacer. This is the same word
as complacence ; the latter we have from
the Latin orthography. This word affords
an example of a change of a palatal let-
ter in the Latin into a sibilant in French,
c into ».]
1. A pleasing deportment ; courtesy ; that
manner of address and behaviour in so-
cial intercourse which gives pleasure
civility ; obliging condescension ; kind and
affable reception and treatment of guests
exterior acts of civility ; as, the gentleman
received Os with complaisance.
2. Condescension ; obliging compliance witl
the wishes or humors of others.
In complaisance poor Cupid mourned.
Prior,
3. Desire of pleasing ; disposition to oblige ;
the principle for the act.
Your complai.^aiice will not permit youi
euests to be incommoded. Anon.
COM'PLAISANT, o. com'plazant. Pleas-
ing in manners ; courteous; obliging; de-
sirous to please ; as a complaisant gentle
man.
'i. Civil ; courteous ; polite ; as complaisant
deportment or treatment.
eOM'PLAISANTLY, adv. com'plazantly.
In a pleasing manner; withcivihty ; with
an obliging, affable address or deport
ment. Pope.
eOM'PLAISANTNESS, n. Civility; com
:)laisance. [Little used.']
)M'PLANATE, > , [L,
S, [L. complano ;
and planus, plain.
€0
€OMPLA'NE,
See Plane and Plain.
To make level ; to reduce to an even surfiice.
Derham.
COMPLEMENT, n. [L. complementum,
from compleo, to fill ; con and pleo, to fill.
Literally, a filling.]
1. Fulness; completion ; whence, perfection.
Thty as they feasted had their fill,
For a full complement of all their ill.
Hub. nies.
2. Full quantity or number ; the quantity or
number limited ; as, a company has its
complement o{ men; a ship has its comple-
ment of stores.
3. That which is added, not as necessary, but
as ornamental; something adventitious to
the main thing ; ceremony. [See Compli-
ment.]
Garnished and decked in modeal complement.
Shak.
4. In g-«onie<r^, what remains of the quadrant
of a circle, or of ninety degrees, after any
arch has been taken from it. Thus if the
arch taken is thirty degrees, its comple-
ment is sixty. Bailey. Johnson.
5. In (istronomy, the distance of a star from
the zenith. Johnson.
Ci. Arithmetical complement of a logarithm, is
what the logarithm wants of-1 0,000,000.
Chambers
7. In fmlif cation, the complement of the cur-
' I is iliai |>:ut in the interior side whicli
kcsili,' (Iciiiigorge.
€O.MI'l.lvMi:.\T AL, «. Filling; supplying
rienrv ; completing.
COMPLEMENT' ARY, n. One skilled ii
compliments. [.\'ot in use.] B. Jonson.
COMPLE'TE, a. [L. completiis, from com-
pleo ; con and pleo, inusit., to fill ; It. com-
piere. The Greek has jiIm^, to ajiproacli,
to fill, contracted from rtfXau, the primary
sense of which is, to tlirust or drive ; and
if the Latin pleo is from the Greek, which
is probable, then the original orthography
was peleo, compeleo ; in which case, maa.
rtf%jiu, pleo, is the same word as the Eng-
lish fill. The Greek n%ri6u is said to be a
derivative. Literally, filled ; full.]
1. Having no deficiency; perfect.
And ye are complete in him who is the head
of all principality and power. Col. ii.
2. Finished ; ended ; concluded ; as, the edi
fice is complete.
This course of vanity almost complete.
Prior.
In strict pro])riety, this word admits of
no comparison ; for that which is complete,
caimot be more or less so. But as the
word, like many others, is used with some
indefiniteness of signification, it is custom
ary to qualify it with nwre, most, less and
least. More complete, most complete, less
complete, are common expressions.
i. In botany, a complete flower is one furnish-
ed with a calyx and corolla. Vaillant. Or
having all the parts of a flower. Marty.
COMPLE'TE, V. t. To finish ; to end ; to
perfect ; as, to complete a, bridge, or an edi
fice ; to complete an education.
2. To fill ; to accomplish ; as, to compleU
hopes or desires.
3. To fulfil; to accomplish ; to perform; a.s,
the pmphecy of Daniel is completed.
COMPLE'TED,p;). Finished; ended; per
feoted ; fidrilled ; accomplished.
COMPLE'TELY, adv. Fully; perfectly
entirelv. StdJI.
COMPLE'TEMENT, n. The act of com-
plotinff : a finishing. Dryden.
COMPLE'TENESS, n. The state of being
rompletc ; perfection. Watts
COMPLE'TING, ppr. Finishing : perfi
ing ; accomplisliing.
COMPLE'TION, 71. Fulfilment; accom-
l)liBhnient.
There was a full entire harmony and consent
in the divine predictions, receiving their com-
pletion in Chiist. SoiUh.
2. Act of completing ; state of being com-
plete ; utmost extent ; perfect state ; as,
the gentleman went to the university
for the completion of his education or
studies.
The completion of a bad character is to hate
a good man. Anon.
COMPLETIVE, a. Filling; making com-
Harris.
CO.M PLETORY, a. Fulfilling ; accom-
plishing. Harrow.
C(;M'PLET0RY, n. The evening service ;
the complin of the Romish church.
Hooper.
COM'PLEX, \ [L.com;jtou*, complex,
COMPLEX'ED, S embracing, from com-
plector, to embrace ; con and plecto, to
weave, or twist ; Gr. nxixu ; L. plico ; W.
plygu ; \rtn. plega; Fr.plier; It. piegare ;
'egar ; ii. ' "
double.]
Sp. plegar ; 1). plooijen, to fold, bend.
L Composed of two or more parts or things ;
composite ; not simple ; including two or
more particulars connected ; as a complex
being ; a complex idea ; a complex term.
Ideas n>ade up of several simple ones, I call
complex ; such as beauty, gratitude, a man, the
universe. Locke.
3. Involved ; diflicult ; as a complex subject.
COM'PLEX, n. Assemblage ; collection ;
complication. [Little used.]
This parable of the wedding supper compre-
hends in it the whole complex of all the bless-
ings and privileges of the gospel. South.
COMPLEX'EDNESS, n. Complication ;
involution of parts in one integral ; com-
pound state ; as the complexedness of moral
ideas. Locke.
COMPLEX'ION, n. complex yon. Involu-
tion ; a complex state. [Little used.]
Watts.
2. The color of the skin, particularly of the
face ; the color of the external parts of a
body or thing; as a ts.\r complexion ; a dark
complexion ; the complexion of the sky.
3. The temperament, habitude, or natural
disposition of the body ; the peculiar cast
of the constitution, which gives it a par-
ticular physical character ; a medical term,
but used to denote character, or description ;
as, men of this or that complexion.
'Tis ill, though different your complexions are,
The family of heaven for men should war.
Dryden.
COMPLEX'IONAL, a. Depending on or
pertaining to complexion ; as compltxional
efflorescencies ; complexional prejudices.
Broitm. Fiddes.
COMPLEX'IONALLY, adv. By complex-
ion. Brown.
COMPLEX'IONARY, a. Pertaining to the
complexion, or to the care of it. Taylor.
COMPLEX'JONED, a. Having a certain
temperament or state. Addison.
COMPLEX' ITY, n. The state of being
complex ; complexness. Burke.
COM PLEXLY, adv. In a complex man-
"ess
COMPLEXNESS, n. The state of being
complex or involved. Smith.
COM
C O M
COM
COMPLEX'URE, n. The involution or
complication of one thing with others.
COMPLI'ABLE, a. [See Comply.] That
can bend or yield. Milton.
eOMPLI'ANCE, J!. [See Comply.] The act
of complying ; a yiekUng, as to a request,
wish, desire, demand or proposal ; conces-
sion ; submission.
Let the king meet compliance in your looks,
A free and ready yielding to his vrishes.
Rowe.
2. A disposition to yield to others.
He was a man of few words and great com-
pliance. Clarendon.
3. Obedience ; followed by unth ; as compli-
ance with a command, or precept.
4. Performance ; e.xccution ; as a compliance
loith the conditions of a contract.
COMPLI'ANT, a. Yielding, bending; as
the compliant boughs. [See Pliant, which
is generally used.] Milton
3. Yielding to request or desire ; civil ; obli-
COMPLIANTLY, adv. In a yielding man-
ner.
€OM'PLleACY, n. A state of being com-
plex or intricate. Mitford.
COM'PLl€ATE, 1'. <. [h.complico; con and
plico, to fold, weave or knit. See Com-
plex.]
1. Literally, to interweave ; to fold and twist
together. Hence, to make complex ; to in-
volve ; to entangle ; to unite or connect
mutually or intimately, as different things
or parts ; followed by with.
Our offense against God hath been complica-
ted with injury to men. Tillots.on.
So we say, a complicated disease ; a com-
plicated aflfah'.
Commotion in the parts may complicate and
dispose them after the manner requisite to make
them stick. Boyle.
2. To make intricate.
€OM'PLI€ATE, a. Complex; composed
of two or more parts united.
Though the particularactionsof war are com-
plicate in fact, yet tliey are separate and distinct
in right. Bacon.
2. In botany, folded together, as the valves
of the glume or chaff in some grasses.
Martyn.
COM'PLI€ATED, pp. Interwoven ; en-
tangled ; involved ; intricate ; composed
of two or more things or parts united.
COM'PLleATELY, adv. In a complex
COM'PLIeATENESS, n. The state of be-
ing comphcated ; involution ; intricacy ;
perplexity. Hale.
COMPLICATING, ppr. Interweaving ; in-
folding ; uniting.
COMPLICATION, n. The act of inter-
weaving, or involving two or more things
or parts ; the state of being interwoven,
involved or intimately blended.
The notions of a confu.sed knowledge are al-
ways full of perplexity and complications.
UTlkins.
2. The integral consisting of many things
involved or interwoven, or mutually uni-
ted.
By admitting a complication of ideas — the
mind is bewildered. Walts
•eOM'PLICE, n. [It. complice; Fr. Port. Sp.
id. ; L. complico, complicitum, complices
See Complicate and Complex.]
One who is united with another in the com-
mission of a crime, or in au ill design ; an
associate or confederate in some unlawful
act or design ; an accomplice. The latter
is now used. [See Accomplice.]
Shak. Clarendon
COiMPLI'ED, pi-et. of comply.
COMPLl'ER, n. One who complies, yields
or obeys ; a person of ready compliance
a man of an easy, yielding temper.
Swijl.
eOM'PLIMENT, n. [Fr. id.; It. eomplimen-
to ; Sp. cumplimiento, completion, perfec-
tioii, compliment ; Port, comprimento.
length, fulfilment, compliment, obliging
words, from the verb comprir, to fulfil, to
perform ; Sp. cumplir ; It. compiere ; L.
compleo. See Complete.]
1. An expression of civility, respect or re-
gard ; as, to send, or make one's compli-
ments to an absent friend. In this appli-
cation, the plural is always used.
He observed few compliments in matter of
arms. Sidney,
3. A present or favor bestowed. My friend
made me a compliment of Homer's Iliad.
COM'PLIiMENT, v. t. To praise ; to flatter
by expressions of approbation, esteem or
respect.
Monarchs
Should compliment their foes, and shun their
friends. Prior
She compliments Menelaus very handsome-
ly. Pope
2. To congratulate ; as, to compliment a
prince on the birth of a son.
3. To bestow a present ; to manifest kind-
ness or regard for, by a present or other
favor.
He complimented us with tickets lor the ex-
hibition.
COM'PLIMENT, v. i. To pass comph-
ments ; to use ceremony, or ceremonious
language.
I make the interlocutors upon occasion com
pUment with each other. Boyle
COMPLIMENT' AL, a. Expressive of civil
ity or respect ; implying comphments.
Languages — grow rich and abundant in com-
plimental phrases, and such froth. fVotton.
COMPLIMENT' ALLY, adv. In the nature
of a compUment ; by way of civility, or
ceremony. Broome,
COM'PLIMENTER, n. One who compli-
ments ; one given to compliments ; a flat-
terer. Johnson.
COM'PLINE, I [Fr. complie ; It. compieta ;
eOM'PLIN, S "-from L. compleo, compter
do, completus.]
The last division of the Romish breviary ;
the last prayer at night, to be recited
after sun-set ; so called because it closes
the service of the day.
Johnson. Eneyc. Taylo,
COMPLISH, iov accomplish, is not now used.
Spenser.
COM'PLOT, n. [con or com and plot] A
plotting together ; a joint plot ; a plot ; a
confederacy in some evil design ; a con-
spiracy.
I know their complot is to have my life.
Shak.
COMPLOT', V. t. To plot together; to eon-
spire ; to form a plot ; to join in a secret
design, generally criminal.
We find them complotting together, and con-
triving a new scene of miseries to the Trojans
Pope
COMPLOT'MENT,n. A plotting together;
conspiracy. A'tng.
COMPLOT'TED, pp. Plotted together;
contrived.
COMPLOT'TER, n. One joined in a plot ;
a conspirator. Dniden.
COMPLOT'TING, ppr. Plotting together;
conspiring ; contriving an evil design or
crime.
COMPLY', V. i. pret. complied. [The ItaUan
compiacere, to humor, to comply, is the
Latin complaceo, Fr. complaire. The Sp.
cumplir is from compleo, for it is rendered,
to discharge one's duty, to provide or
supply, to reach one's birth day, to fulfil
one's protnise, to be fit or convenient, to
suffice. The Portuguese changes I into
r; comprir, to fulfil, to perform ; hence,
comprimento, a complement, and a compli-
ment. Comply seems to be from the Span-
ish cumplir, or L. compleo ; formed like
supply, from suppleo. It is followed by
with.]
1. To comply with, to fulfil ; to perfect or
carry into effct ; to complete ; to perform
or execute ; as, to comply with a j)rotnise^
with an award, with a command, with
an order. So to comply with one's expec-
tations or wishes, is to fulfil them, or com-
plete them.
3. To yield to ; to be obsequious ; to accord ;
to suit ; followed by with ; as, to comply
u'ith a man's humor.
The truth of things will not comply with our
conceits. Tillotson.
COMPLY'ING loith, ppr. Fulfilling; per-
forming ; yielding to.
COMPO'NE. I In heraldnj, a bordure
COMPO'NED. ^ compone is that formed
or composed of a row of angular pans or
checkers of two colors.
COMPO'NENT, o. [L. componens, compono ;
con and pono, to place.]
Literally, setting or placing together ; hence,^
coniiX)sing ; constituting ; forming a com-
pound ; as tlie component parts of a plant
or fossil substance ; the component parts of
a society.
COMPO'RT, V. i. [It. comportare ; Fr. com-
porter ; Sp. Port, comportar; con and L.
porta, to bear. See Bear. It is follow-
ed by with.]
To comport with, literally, to bear to or with ;
to can-y together. Hence, to agree with ;
to suit ; to accord ; as, to consider how
far our cliarity may comport tvith our pru-
dence. His behavior does not comport
with his station.
COMPO'RT, V. t. With the reciprocal pro-
noun, to behave ; to conduct.
It is curious to observe how lord Somers —
comported himself on that occasion. Burke.
[Little used.]
3. To bear ; to endure ; as in French, Span-
ish and Italian. [M)t used.] Daniel.
COMPORT, n. Behavior; conduct ; man-
ner of acting.
I knew them well, and marked their rude
comport. Dryden.
This word is rarely or never used, but
may he admissible in poeti-y. We now
use deportment. The accent, since Shak-
spcare's time, has been transferred to the
first syllable.
eOMPO'RTABLE, a. Suitable : consis*.
tent.
COM
We cast the rules of this art into some com-
■MTtahlc methoil. IVollon
COMPORT ANCE, n. Behavior; deport
ineiit. Obs. Spenser.
COiMPORTA'TION, n. An assemblage.
[^roi used.] Bp. Richardson.
COMPO'RTMENT, n. Behavior ; dcmeuii-
or ; mauncr of acting. \J^ol now used.]
Hale. Addison.
Compos mentis. [L. con nnd pos, from the
root of possu/n, potis.] Possessed of mind;
in a sound state of mind.
€OMPO'SE, V. I. s as :. [Fr. composer ;
Arm. composi ; from the particii)le of the L.
compono, compositus ; con and ]>ono,positus,
to set, put or lay, Fr. poser, ami in a dif-
ferent dialect, Eng. to put ; Sj). componer ;
It. comporre.] Literally, to place or set to-
gether. Hence,
1. To form a compound, or one entire body
or thing, by uniting two or more things,
parts, or individuals ; as, to compose an ar-
my of raw soldiers; the parliament of G
Britain is composed of two houses, lords
and commons; the senate of the U. States
is composed of two senators from eacli
state.
Zeal ought to be composed of the highest de-
grees of all pious affections. Spratt
2. To invent and put together words and
sentences ; to make, as a discourse or
writing ; to write, as an author ; as,
compose a sermon, or a book.
3. To constitute, or form, as parts of a
whole ; as, letters compose syllables, sylla-
bles compose words, words compose sen-
tences.
A few useful tilings, confounded with many
trifles, fill their memories, and compose their in-
tellectual possessions. Watts.
4. To calm ; to quiet ; to appease ; to tran-
quiUze ; that is, to set or lay ; as, to com-
pose passions, fears, disorders, or whatev-
er is agitated or excited.
5. To settle ; to adjust ; as, to compose differ-
ences.
6. To place in proper form, or in a quiet
state. '
In a peaceful grave my corpse compose.
Dryden.
7. To settle into a quiet state.
The sea composes itself to a level surface.
It requires about two days to compose it after a
gale.
8. To dispose ; to put in a proper state for
any purpose.
The army seemed well composed to obtain
that by their swords which tliey could not by
their pen. Clarendon.
9. In printing, to set types or characters in a
composing stick, from a copy, arranging
the letters in the proper order.
10. In music, to form a tune or piece of mu
sic with notes, arranging them on the
. stave in such a manner as when sung
produce harmony.
COMPO'SED, pp. Set together, or in due
order ; formed ; constituted ; calmed
quieted ; settled ; adjusted.
2. a. Calm ; sedate ; quiet ; tranquil ; free
from agitation.
The Mantiian there in sober triumph sat.
Composed his posture, and his look sedate.
Pope
■COMPO'SEDLY, adv. Calmly ; seriously ;
sedately.
The man very composedly answered, I am he
Clarendon
COM
COMPO'SEDNESS, n. A state of being
•omposed ; caUnness ; scdateness ; tran-
(uility. Wilkins.
COMPOSER, ji. One who composes ; one
who writes an original work, as distin-
guished from a compiler ; an author ; al-
so, one who forms tunes, whether he
adapts them to particular words or not.
. One who quiets or calms ; one who ad-
justs a diflerence.
€OMPO'SlNG, ppr. Placing together ;
forming ; constituting ; writing an
ginal work ; quieting ; settling ; adjust-;
ing ; setting types.
eOMPO'SING-STlCK, n. Among printers}
an instrument on which types arc set
from the cases, adjusted to the length ot^
the lines.
COMPOSITE, a. In architecture, the Com-|
posite order is the last of the five orders
of columns ; so called because its capital
is composed out of those of the other or-j
ders or columns, borrowing a quarter-
round from the Tuscan and Doric, a row
of leaves from the Corinthian, and vo-1
lutes from the Ionic. Its cornice has sim-'
pie modiUions or dentils. It is called also
the Roman or th» Italic order. Encyc.
Composite numbers are such us can be meas-'
ured exactly by a number exceeding uni-
ty, as 6 by 2 or 3 ; so that 4 is the lowest
composite number. Composite numbers
between themselves, are those which have
a common measure besides unity ; as 12
and 15, both which are measm-ed by 3. j
Enci/c'
COMPOSI'TION, n. s as z. In a general
sense, the act of composing, or that which
is composed ; the act of forming a whole
or integral, by placing together and unit-!
ing difi'erent things, parts or ingredients ;
or tlie whole body, mass or compound,
thus formed. Thus we speak of the com-^
position of medicine.', by mixing divers in-
gredients, and call the whole mixture a
composition. A composition of sand and
clay is used for luting chiniical vessek.
Vast pillars of stone, cased over with a coni-
position that looks Uke marble. Addison}
Heat and vivacity, in age, is an excellent
composition for business Bacon
2. In literature, the act of inventing or com-
bining ideas, clothing them with words,
arranging them in order, and in general,
committing them to paper, or otherwise
writing them. Hence,
3. A written or printed work ; a writing,
pamphlet or book. Addison.
4. In music, the act or art of forming tunes ;|
or a tune, song, anthem, air, or other mu-
sical piece.
5. The state of being placed together ; un-
ion ; conjunction ; combination.
Contemplate things first in tiicir simple na-
tures, and then view them in composition.
Trails.
6. The disposition or arrangement of figures
connected in a picture.
By composition is meant the distribution and
orderly placing of things, both in general andl
particular. Vryd'
7. Adjustment ; orderly disposition. Benj
Jonson speaks of the composition of ges-
ture, look, pronunciation and motion, in <
preacher.
8. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions'
C O M
for the settlement of a difference or con-
troversy.
Thus we are agreed ;
I crave our composition may be written.
Shak.
9. Mutual agreement for the discharge of a
debt, on terms or by means different from
those required by the original contract, or
by law, as by the payment of a different
sura, or by making other compensation.
Hence, the sum so paid, or compensation
given, in lieu of that stipulated or required.
A real composition is when an agreement is
made between the owner of lands and the par-
son or vicar, widi the consent of the ordinary and
the patron, that such lands shall (or the future be
disch;u-gcd from die payment of titJies, by rea-
son of some land or other real recompense giv-
en to the parson, in lieu and satisfaction thereof.
Blackstone.
A bankrupt is cleared by a commission
of bankruptcy, or by composition with his
creditors.
10. Consistency ; congruity. ^Little vsed.]
Shak.
11. The act of uniting simple ideas in a com-
plex idea or conception ; opposed to anal-
ysis. jYewlon.
12. The joining of two words in a com-
pound, as in book-case ; or the act of form-
ing a word with a prefix or aflix, which
varies its signification ; as return, from
turn i preconcert, from concert; endless from
end.
13. The synthetical method of reasoning ;
synthesis ; a method of reasoning from
known or admitted truths or principles, as
from axioms, postulates or propositions
previously demonstrated, and from these
deducing a clear knowledge of the thing
to be proved ; or the act of collecting scat-
tered parts of knowledge, and combining
them into a system, so tliat the understand-
ing is enabled distinctly to follow truth
through its different stages of gradation.
This method of reasoning is opposed to
analysis or resolution. It begins with
first principles, and by a train of reason-
ing from them, deduces the propositions or
truths sought. Composition or synthesis
proceeds by collecting or combining ; anal-
ysis or resolution, by separating or unfold-
ing. Harris. Encyc.
14. In printing, the act of setting types or
characters in the composing-stick, to form
lines, and of an-anging the hnes in a gal-
ley, to make a column or page, tmd from
this to make a form.
15. In chimist?-!/, the combination of different
substances, or substances of different na-
tures, by affinity ; from which results a
compound substance, differing in proper-
ties irom either of the component parts.
Thus water is a compucition of hydrogen
and oxvgen, which are invisible gases.
COMPOS'lTOR, n. s as z.. In printing, one
who sets types, and makes up the pages
and forms.
2. One who sets in order.
COMPOS'SIBLE, a. [con and possible.]
Consistent. [Xot used.] Chilhngworth.
COM'POST, 71. [It. composta; L. composi-
turn, from compono. See Compose.]
In agriculture, a mixture or composition of
various manuring substances for fertilizing
land. CompoBt may be made by almost
C O M
COM
C O M
every animal and vegetable substance in
nature, with lime or other earthy matter.
COM'POST, V. t. To manure with compost.
Bacon.
€OMPOS'TURE, n. Soil; manure. [JVbt
used.] Sha/f.
eOMPO'SURE, n. compozlmr. [See Com-
pose.]
1. The act of composinfr, or that which is
composed; a composition; as a form of
prayer of public composure ; a hasty com-
posure.
in the composures of men, remember you
are a man. Watts,
In this use, this word has giveu way to
composition.
2. Composition ; combination ; arrange
ment ; order. [Little used.]
When such a cojupostire of
word, is iuleuiled to signify a cer
letters, such a
tain thing.
Holder.
3. The form, adjustment, or disposition of
the various parts.
In composure of his face,
Lived a lair but manly grace. Crashaw.
The outward form and composure of the
body. Duppa.
4. Frame ; make ; temperament.
His composure must be rare indeed.
Whom these things cannot blemish. Shah.
5. A settled state of the mind ; sedateness
calmness ; tranquility.
Wlien the passions are silent, the mind en-
joys its most perfect composure. Watts
[This is the most common use of this
word.]
G. Agreement ; settlement of differences ;
composition. [lAttle used.]
The treaty at Uxbridge gave the fairest hopi
of a happy composure. JKng Charles
€OMPOTA'TION, n. [L. compotatio ; con
and potatio, from poto, to drink.]
The act of drinking or tippling together.
Brown. Philips.
eOM'POTATOR, n. One who drinks with
another. Pope.
COMPOUND', V. t. [L. compono ; con and
pono, to set or put ; Sp. coinponer ; It. com-
porre, for componerc ; Port, compor.]
1. To mix or unite two or more ingredients
in one mass or body ; as, to compound
drugs.
Whoever compoundeth any like it — slial
cut off from his people. Ex. xxx.
3. To unite or combine.
We have the power of altering and c
pounding images into all the varieties of
ture. Addi
[jVot used.]
Shak.
more words ;
to form one word of two or more.
.5. To settle amicably ; to adjust by agree-
ment ; as a difference or controversy.
Bacon. Shak.
[In this sense we now use compose.]
C. To pay by agreement ; to discharge, as a
debt, by paying a part, or giving an
equivalent different from that stipulated
or required ; as, to compound debts. Gay
But we now use, more generally, to
compound toith. [See the Verb Intransi-
tive.]
To compound felony, is for a person rob-
bed to take the goods again, or other com-
pens.ation, upon an aijreement not to pros-
3. To compose ; to constitute.
4. In grammar, to unite two ot
to form
ecute thetliief or robber. This offense is,
by the laws of England, punishable by
fine and imprisonment. Blackstone.
COMPOUND', !'. i- To agree upon conces-
sion ; to come to terms of agreement, by
abating something of the first demand ;
followed by for before the thing accepted
or reinitted.
They were glad to compound for his bare
commitment to the tower. Clarendon
To bargain in the lump ; to agree ; fol-
lowed by with.
Compound with tliis fellow by the year.
Shak.
:j. To come to terms, by granting something
on each side ; to agree.
Cornwall compounded to furnish ten oxen for
thirty pounds. Carew.
-Paracelsus and his admirers have compounded
with the Galenists, and brought into practice a
mixed use of chimical medicines. Temph
1. To settle with a creditor by agreement,
and discharge a debt by paying a part of
its amount ; or to make an agreement to
pay a debt by means or in a manner
different from that stipulated or required
by law. A bankrupt may compound mth
his creditors for ten shillings on the pound,
or fifty cents on the dollar. A man may
compound with a parson to pay a sum of
money in lieu of tithes. [See Composition,
No. 9.]
To compound trith a felon, is to take the
goods stolen, or other amends, upoai
agreement not to prosecute him.
Blackstone.
COMPOUND, o. Composed of two or more
ingredients.
Compound substances are made up of two or
more simple substances. Watts.
9. In grammar, composed of two or more
words. Ink-stand, writing-desk, careless-
ness, are compound words.
3. In botany, a compound flower is a species
of aggregate flower, containing several
florets, inclosed in a common perianth, on
a common receptacle, with the anthers
connected in a cylinder, as in the sun-
flower and dandelion. Martyn. Harris.
A compound stem is one that divides into
branches.
A compound leaf connects several leaf-
lets ill one petiole, called a common pe-
tiole.
A compound raceme is composed of seve-
ral racemules or small racemes.
A compound spike is composed of several
spicules or spikelets.
A compound corymb is formed of several
small corymbs.
A compound umbel is one which has all
its rays or peduncles bearing umbellules
or small umbels at the top.
A compound fructification consists of sev-
eral confluent florets ; opposed to simple.
4. Compound interest, is interest upon inter
est ; when the interest of a sum is added
to the princi]ial, and then bears interest ;
or when the interest of a sum is put upoi
interest.
.'>. Compound motion, is that which is effect
ed by two or more conspiring powers
acting in different but not in opposite di
rections.
6. Compound number, is that which may be
divided by some other niinibpr besides
unity, without a remainder ; as 18, which
may be divided by 2, 6 and 9.
7. Compound ratio, is that which the pro-
duct of tlie antecedents of two or more ra-
tios has to the product of their conse-
quents. Thus 6 to 72 is in a ratio
compounded of 2 to 6, and of 3 to 12.
8. Compound quantities, in algebra, are such
as are joined by the signs -f and — plus
and minus, and expressed by more letters
than one, or by the same letters unequally
repeated. Thus a-|-i — c, and bb — h, are
compound quantities. Bailey.
9. Compound larceny, is that which is accom-
panied with the aggravation of taking
goods from one's liouse or person.
Blackstone.
COM'POUND, n. A mass or body formed
by the union or mixture of two or more
ingredients or different substances ; the
result of composition.
Man is a compound of flesh and spirit.
South,
npound of lime, sand and
Capable of being
od.
Mortar is a (
water.
COMPOUND'ABLE,
compounded. Sherwood
COMPOUND'ED, pp. Made up of different
materials ; mixed ; formed by union of two
or more substances.
COMPOUND' ER, n. One who compounds
or mixes different things.
Oiie who attempts to bring parties to
terms of agreement. ILitlle used.]
Sivijl.
COMPOUNDING, ppr. Uniting different
substances in one body or mass; forming
a mixed body ; agreeing by concession, or
abatement of demands ; discharging a debt
by agreement to pay less than the origi-
nal sum, or in a different manner.
COMPREHEND', v. t. [L. comprehendo ; con.
and prehendo, to seize or grasp ; It. com-
prendere, prendere ; Sp. Port, comprehen-
der, prender ; Fr. comprendre, prendre.
This word is a compound of the Latin
con and pra, and the Saxon hendan or hen-
tan, to take or seize ; ge-hentan, id. Hence
forehend, in Spenser.]
Literally, to take in ; to take with, or to-
gether.
1. To contain ; to include ; to comprise.
The empire of Great Britain comprehends
England, Scotland and Ireland, with their de-
pendencies.
2. To imply; to contain or include by impli-
cation or construction.
If there be any other commandment, it is
briefly comprehended in this saying, thou shall
love thy neighbor as thyself. Rom. xiii.
3. To understand ; to conceive ; that is, to
tiike, hold or contain in the mind ; to pos-
sess or to have in idea ; according to the
])opular phrase, " I take your meaning."
God doeth great things, which we cannot
comprehend. Job xxxvii.
It is not always safe to disbelieve a proposi-
tion or statement, because we do not compre-
hend it.
eOMPHKIlF.MI'En, pp. Contained; in
cliidc-il ; Iiii|iIh'(I ; iinilerstood.
CO.Ml'RKilK.MH.NC;,;)/!)-. Including; com
prising ; Mn(hn>taii(hng ; implying.
COMPJIEIIEN'SIBLE, a. [L. comprehensi-
bilis.]
1. That may be comprehended, or included ;
pos.sjble to bo comprised.
C O M
COM
C U M
S. Capable of being understood; intelligible
conceivable by the mind.
COMPK EHEN'SIBLENESS, n. Capability
of being understood. More
€OMPR£HEN'.SIBLY, adv. With great
extent of embrace, or comprehension
with large extent of signification ; in s
manner to comprehend a large circuit.
Tlie words wisdom and righteousness arc com-
monly used very comprehe7mbly, so as to sig-
nify all religion and virtue. Tillotaon.
This word is rarely used. [See Com-
prehensively.]
COMPREIIEN'SION, 71. [L. comprehensio.]
The act or quality of comprehending, or
containing ; a comprising.
In tlie OUI Testament there is a close
prehension of the J\'ew ; in the J\'ew, an open
discovery of the Old. Hooker.
2. An including or containing within a nar-
row compass ; a summary ; an epitome or
compend.
This wise and religious aphorism in the text
is the sum and comprehension of all the ingre
dients of human happiness. Rogers
3. Capacity of the mind to understand; pow
er of the understanding to receive ane
contain ideas; capacity of knowing.
The nature of spirit is not within our cofnpre
hension.
4. In rhetoric, a trope or figure, by which the
name of a whole is |)ut for a part, or that
of a part for a whole, or a definite number
for an indefinite. Han-is.
eOMPREHEN'SIVE, a. Having the quali-
ty of comprising much, or including a great
extent ; extensive ; as a comprehensive char-
ity ; a comprehensive view. It seems some-
times to convey the sense of comprehend-
ing much in a small compass.
2. Having the power to comprehend or un-
derstand many things at once ; as a com-
prehensive head. Pope.
COMPREHEN'SIVELY, ndv. In a loni-
prehensive manner ; with great extent of
embrace.
€OMPREIIEN'SIVENESS, n. Tbequalily
of being comprehensive, or of including
much extent ; as the comprehensiveness of
a view.
2. The quality of including much in a few
words or narrow compass.
Compare the beauty and comprehensiveness
of legends on ancient roins. Addisnn.
eOMPREHEN'SOR, n. One who has ob-
tained knowledge. [jXol in xise.] Hall.
eOMPRESBYTE'RIAL, a. Pertaining to
thepresbytcrian form of ecclesiastical min-
istration. Milton.
COMPRESS', I', t. [L. compressiis, compri-
mo ; con and premo, pressus, to ))ress. But
the verb premo and participle pressus may
be from different roots. Fr. prcsser ; D.
pressen ; Sp. apretar, and prensar. See
Press.]
i. To press together by external force; to
force, urge or drive into a narrower com-
pass ; to crowd ; as, to compress air.
Tlie weight of a thousand atmospheres will
compress water twelve and a half per cent.
Perkins.
2. To embrace carnally. Pope.
3. To crowd; to bring within narrow hmiis
or space.
Events of centuries — compressed within the
compass of a single life. D. Webster.
■COM' PRESS, n. In surgery, a bolster of soft
linen cloth, with several folds, used by sur
geons to cover a plaster or dressing, V
keep it in its place and defend the part
from the external air. Encyc.
COMPRESS'ED, pp. Pressed or squeezed
together ; forced into a narrow or narrow-
er compass ; embraced carnally.
2. In botany, flatted ; having the two oppositf
lides ])lane or flat ; as a compressed stem.
Martyn
COMPRESSIBILITY, n. The quahtyof
being compressible, or yielding to press
ure ; the quality of being capable of com
pression into a smaller space or compass
as the compressibility of elastic fluids, or of
any soft substance.
COMPRESS'IBLE, a. Capable of being
forced or driven into a narrower compass ;
yielding to pressure ; giving way to a force
applied.
Elastic fluids are compressible. Water is
compressible in a small degree.
COMPRESS'IBLENESS, n. Compressibil-
ity ; the quality of being compressible.
eOMPRES'SION, n. The act of compress-
ing, or of pressing into a narrower com-
pass ; the act of forcing the parts of a body
into closer union, or density, by the appli-
cation of force.
2. The state of being compressed.
COMPRESSIVE, a. Having power to com-
I>ress. Smith.
COMPRES'SURE, n. The act or force of
one body pressing against another ; press-
ure. Boijle.
COM'PRIEST, n. A fellow priest. [.Vol in
ttse.] Milton.
COMPRINT', V. {. [See Print.] T.. print
together. It is taken, in law, for the il< -
ceitful printing of another's copy, or licdk,
to the prejudice of the projn-ietor. [LillU
used.] Philips
tOMPRI'SAL, n. The act of comprising 01
comprehending. Barrow.
COMPRI'Sf:, V. t. s as z. [Fr. compris, par-
ticiple of comprendre, L. comprehendo. See
Comprehend.]
To comprehend ; to contain ; to include ; as,
the substance of a discourse may be com-
pi-ised in a few words.
COMPRI'SED, pp. Comprehended; con-
tained.
COMPRI'SING, ppr. Containing ; inclu-
dnig ; comprehending.
COM PROBATE, v. i. To agree in appro-
ving ; to concur in testimony. Elyot.
COMJ'ROBA'TION, n. [L. comprobalio,
comproho ; con and probo, to prove.]
Proof; joint attestatioji. [Little used.]
Bn
COM'PROMISE, )i. s as z. [L. compromis-
sum, from compromitlo,' to give bond to
stand to an award ; con and promitio, to
promise ; It. compromesso ; Fr. compromis ;
Sp. compromiso. See Promise.]
4. A mutual promise or contract of two par-
ties in controversy, to refer their diflcren-
ces to the decision of arbitrators.
2. An amicable agreement between parties
in controversy, to settle their differences
by mutual concessions.
3. Mutual agreement ; adjustment.
Chipman.
[This is its usual sieni/ication.]
COM'PROMISE, V. t. To adjust and settle
a differcnre by mutual agreement, with
oncessions of claims by the i)arties ; to
onijiound.
2. To agree ; to accord. Shale.
3. To conimit ; to put to hazard ; to pledge
by some act or declaration.
[In this sense, see Conipromit, which is
frenernlly ii.sfi/J
COM PROjMISED, pp. Settled by agree-
COM'PROMISER, n. One who compro-
€OM'PROiMISING, ppr. Adjusting by
agreement.
COMPROMISSO'RIAL, a. Relating to a
comj>romise. Todd.
COM'PROMIT, J'. <. [Fr. compromcttre ; If.
cumpromcttere ; Sp. comprometer ; L. com-
promitto, com and promitto, to promise.]
To pledge or engage, by some act or decla-
ration, which may not be a direct promise,
but which renders necessary some future
act. Hence, to put to hazard, by some pre-
vious act or measure, which cannot be re-
called ; as, to compromit the honor or the
safeU' of a nation.
COM'PROMITED, pp. Pledged by some
previous act or declaration.
COM'PROMITING,/;;w. Pledging; expo-
sing to hazard.
COMPROVIN'CIAL, n. [con and provin-
cial.]
One belonging to the same province or archi-
episcopal jurisdiction. Jlyliffe.
COMPT, n. [Fr. compte, from computo.]
Account; comi)Utati(>n. Obs. Shak.
COMI'T, V. t. To compute. 06.5. [See
Count.]
COMPT, a. [h.comptus.] Neat; spruce.
[.\ht used.]
tOMPT'IBLE, a. Accountable; .subject:
submissive. Obs. Shak.
COJIPT'LY, adv. Neatly. [.\ot in use.]
Sherwood.
COMPT'NESS, 71. Neatness. [Ab< in use.]
Shenoooa.
COMP'TONITE, n. A newly discovered
mineral, found in drusy cavities of masses
ejected from Mount Vesuvius ; so called
from Lord Compton, who brought it to
England in 1818. Ure.
COMPTROLL, from Fr. compter, L. compu-
to, to count or com])ute, and rolle, a regis-
ter. If this word were of geimine origin,
both the verb and its derivative, compt-
roller, as applied to a public ofticer, would
not be sense. But there is no such legiti-
mate word in Engh.sh, nor in any other
known l,ini:iia<Te. [See Control.]
COMPl I,.S ATIVE, I [L. compulsus,
COMPILS'ATORY, P' Iroin compeUo ;
Low L. compulso. See Compel.]
CompeUing ; forcing ; constraining ; opera-
ting bv force. Shak.
COMPULS'ATIVELY, adv. By constraint
or coinpul.sion.
COMPUL'SION, n. [Low L. compulsiu.
See Compel.]
1. The act of driving or urging by force,
physical or moral ; force applied ; con-
straint of the will ; the application of a
force that is irresistible.
If reasons were as plenty as blackberries, I
would give no man a reason on compulsion.
Shak.
A man is excused for acts done through una-
v'oidable force and compulsion. £lackstone.
C O M
CON
CON
2. The state of being compelled or urged by
violence.
COMPUL'SIVE, a. Having power to com-
pel ; driving ; forcing ; constraining ; ap-
plying force.
Uniformity of opinions cannot be cITected by
compulsive lueasures.
eOMPUL'SlVELY, adv. By compulsion;
by force.
COMPUL'SIVENESS, n. Force; com-
pulsion.
COMPULS'ORILY, adv. In a compulsory
manner ; by force or constraint.
COMPULSORY, a. Having the power or
(juality of compelling ; applying force ;
driving by violence ; constraining.
In the correction of vicious propensities, il
may be necessary to resort to compulsory meas-
ures.
COMPUNCTION, n. [L. compimclio, com-
fungo ; con and pungo, to prick or sting;
t. compunzione, compugnere, or compun-
gere ; Sp. compuncion ; Fr. componction.
See Pungency.^
1. A pricking ; stimulation ; irritation ; sel-
dom used in a literal sense. Broion. I
2. A pricking of heart ; poignant grief or re-
morse proceeding from a consciousness of
guilt ; the pain of soitow or regret for
having offended God, and incurred his
wrath ; the sting of conscience proceeding
from a conviction of having violated a
moral duty.
He acknowledged bis disloyalty to the king,
with expressions of great compunction.
Clarendon.
COMPUN€'TIOUS, a. Pricking the con-
science ; giving pain for offenses commit-
ted.
Let no com/junf (io«s visiiings of nature
Sliake my fell purpose. Shak.
COMPUN€'TIVE, a. Causing remorse.
Johnson.
COMPU'PIL, n. A fellow-pupil. [Little
used.'] Walton.
€OMPURGA'TION, n. [L. compurgo ; con
and purgo, to purify.]
In law,the actor practice of justifying a man
by the oath of others who swear to their
belief of his veracity ; wager of law, in
which a man who has given security to
make his law, brings into court eleven of
his neighbors, and having made oath him-
self that he does not owe the plaintiff, the
eleven neighbors, called compurgators,
avow on their oaths that they believe in
their consciences he has affirmed the
truth. Blackslone.
€OMPURGA'TOR, n. One who bears tes-
timony or swears to the veracity or inno-
cence of another. [See Compurgation.]
COMPU'TABLE, a. [See Compute.] Capa-
ble of being computed, niunbered or reck-
oned. Hale.
COMPUTATION, n. [L. computatio, fionj
compuio. See Compute.]
1. The act of computing, numbering, reck-
oning or estimating ; the process by which
iVifferent sums or particulars are number-
ed, estimated, or compared, with a view to
ascertain the amount, aggregate, or other
result depending on such sums or particu-
lars. We find by computation the quan-
tity of provisions necessary to sujiport an
army for a year, and the amount of money
to i)ay them ; nuiking- the ration and pay
of each man the basis of the computation.
By computations of time or years, we ascer-
tain the dates of events.
2. The sum, quantity or amount asce4-tained
by computing, or reckoning.
We pass for women of fifty : many additional
years are thrown into femaJe compulations ofi
this nature. Addison.
3. Calculation.
COMPU'TE, v.t. [L.computo; con and puto,
to lop or prune ; to think, count, reckon ;
to cast up. The sense is probably to cast
or throw together.]
1. To number ; to count ; to reckon ; to cast
together several sums or particulars, to
ascertain the amount or aggregate. Com-
pute the quantity of water that will fill a
vessel of certain dimensions, or that will
cover the surface of the earth. Com-
pute the expenses of a campaign. Com-
pute time by weeks or days.
2. To cast or estimate in the mind; to esti-
mate the amount by known or supposed
data.
3. To calculate.
COMPU'TE, ?i. Computation. [ATot used.]
Brown.
COMPU'TED, pp. Counted ; numbered ;
"reckoned ; estimated.
COMPU'TER, n. One who computes ; a
reckoner ; a calculator. Suriji.
COMPU'TING,^;jr. Counting; numbering;
reckoning ; estimating.
A computer. [JVo< used.]
COM'PUTIST,'
ffotton
COM'RADE, 71. [Fr. camarade ; It. camera-
ta ; S[). camarada ; Vort. camarada ; from
camara, camera, a chamber.]
Literally, one who lodges in the same room.
Hence in a more general sense, a fellow, a
mate or companion ; an associate in occu-
pation.
COM'ROGUE, )i. A fellow rogue. [Ml in
use.] B. Jonson.'
CON. A Latin inseparable preposition orj
prefix to other words. Ainsworth re-j
marks that con and cum, have the same sig-
nification, but that cum is used separately,
and con in composition. Con and cum may)
be radically distinct words. The Irisli!
comh, or coimh, is equivalent to the Latinj
con ; and the Welsh cym, convertible into!
cyv, apjieai-s to be the same word, dcno-j
ting, says Owen, a mutual act, quality or|
effect. It is precisely equivalent to thel
Latin com, in comparo, compono, and the
Latin com, in composition, may be the Cel-j
tic comh or cym. But generally it seemsj
to be con, changed into cojn. Ainsworth;
deduces cum frou) the Greek ow ; for ori-
ginally it was written cyn. But this is;
probably a mistake. |
Con coincides in radical letters and in slg-l
nification with the Teutonic gaiii, gen,
gean, igen, igien, in the English again,l
against ; Sax. gean, ongean ; Sw. igen ;\
Dan. igien. Whatever m<iy be its origin
or affinities, the primary sense of the word|
is probably from some root that signifies^
to meet or oppose, or turn and meet ; to ap-,
proach to, or to be with. This is the radi-
cal sense of most prepositions of the like
import. Sec the Enghsh with, again. So
in Irish, coinne, a meeting ; os coinne, op-
posite.
Cov, in comjiounds, is changed into / before
/, as in colligo, to collect, aud into m before
a labial, as in comparo, to compare. Be-
fore a vowel or h, the n is dropped ; as in
coalesco, to coalesce, to cooperate ; cohibeo,
to restrain. It denotes union, as in cow
join ; or opposition, as in conflict, contend.
Qu. W. gan, with.
CON, [abbreviated from Latin contra.
against.] In the phrase, pro and con, for
and against, con denotes the negative side
of a question. As a noun, a person who
is in the negative ; as tlie pros and cons.
CON, II. t. [Sax. cennan, connan, cunnan, to
know, to be able, to be skilful or wise ; and
cennan, to bear or bring forth, Gr. yfi-vow:
and cunnian, to try, to attempt, to prove,
L. Conor ; whence cunning, skilfiil, expe-
rienced, or skill, experience ; the latter
word, cunnian, coincides in sense with
Sax. ctTigtnnaw, ong^nnara, to begin, to try.
to attempt, L. Conor. D. kcnnen, to know,
iniderstand or be acquainted ; kunnen, to
be able, can, to know or understand, to hold
or contain ; the last signification coinci-
ding with the W. ganu, to contain. G.
kennen, to know ; and konnen, to be able.
Dan. kan, to be able, pret. kunde, whence
kundskab, knowledge, skill, ex-jierience.
Sw. kiinna, to know ; kuna, to be able, to
be skilled, to know. The primary sense
is, to strain or stretch, which gives the
sense of strength, power, as in can, and of
holding, containing, comprehending, as
contain, from contineo, teneo, Gr. iitva, L.
tendo. And this signification connects
the.se words with gin, in its compounds,
begin, Sax. bcginnan, anginnan, &c., to
strain, to try, to stretch forward and make
an effort ; also with the Greek ytvvaa, L.
gignor, to beget or to bring forth. See
Class Gn. No. 29. 36. 40. 42. 45. 58. In
the sense of know, con signifies to hold or
to reach.]
1. To know: Obs.
" I conne no skill."' Spenser.
" I shall not co)i?!£ answer." I shall not
know or be able to answer. Chaucer.
2. To make one's self mpster of; to fix in the
mind or commit to memory-, as, to con a
lesson. jiliUon. Holder.
To con thanks, to be pleased or obhged, or
to thank. Obs. Chaucer. Shak.
CONA'TUS, n. [L.] Effort ; attempt.
Paley.
i. The tendency of a body towards any
l)oijit, or to pursue its course in the same
line of direction. Paley.
CONCAM'ER.\TE, v. t. [L. concamero, to
arch ; con and camera, an arch, arched
roof, or chamber.]
To arch over ; to vault ; to lay a conca\ e
over : as a concamerated bone. Grew.
CONCAM'ERATED, pp. Arched over.
CONCAMER A TION, n. An arching ; an
arch or vault. Glanville.
CONCAT'ENATE, i>. t. [It. concatenare, to
link together ; concatenato ; Low Lat. con-
catenatus ; con and catena, a chain ; Sp.
concadenar, and encadenar, from cadcna.
Fr. cadene, a chain.]
To link together ; to unite in a successive
series or chain, as things depending on
each other. Harris.
CONCAT'ENATED,;)/>. Linked together;
united in a series.
CONCATENATION, n. A series of links
CON
CON
CON
uiiited ; a successive series or order of]
things connected or depending on each
other ; as a concatenation of causes
■60NCAUSE, n. Joint cause. [Ao< used.]
Fotherbij.
C0N€AVA'T10N, n. [See Concave.] The
act of making concave.
CON'CAVE, a. [L. concavus ; con and ca-
vus, hollow. See Cave.]
1. Hollow, and arched or rounded, as the
inner surface of a spherical body ; opposed
to convex ; as a concave glass.
'i. Hollow, in a general sense ; as the cdncave
shores of the Tiber. Shak
3. In botany, a concave leaf is one whose
edge stands above the disk. Martyn.
CON'CAVE, n. A hollow; an arch, or
vault ; as the ethereal concave.
CON'€AVE, V. t. To make hollow. Setvard.
€ON'CAVENESS, n. Hollowness.
CON€AV'ITV, n. [It. concaiith ; Ft. con-
caviU ; Sp. concandad.]
Hollowness ; the internal surface of a hol-
low spherical body, or a body of other fig-
ure ; or the space within such bodv.
'H'oUon.
CON€A'VO-€ON'€AVE, a. Concave or
hollow on both surfaces.
<:ON€A'VO-€ON'VEX, a. Concav
one side, and convex on the other.
Convex.]
CONCA'VOUS, a. [L. concavus.] Concave,
which see.
CON€A'VOUSLY, adv. With hollowness;
in a manner to discover the internal sur-
face of a hollow sphere.
■CONCE'AL, v. t. [Low L. conceh ; con and
celo, to v.ithhold from sight ; Sax. helan.
hcdan, gekitlan, gehelan, to heal anti to
conceal ; G. hehlen, to conceal, and heilen,
to heal ; D. heden, to heal and to conceal
Dan. hmler, to conceal ; W. celtt, to hide
Fr.celer; It. celare ; Sp. collar, to keep
silence, to dissemble, to al)ate, to grow
oalm; Port, calar, to conceal or keep
close, to pull or let down, " cala a boca,"
hold your peace ; also intransitive, to be
still or quiet, to keep silence ; coinciding
in origin with whole, all, holy, hold, &c.
The primary sense is to strain, hold, stop,
restrain, make fast or strong, all from the
same root as the Shemitic So, nSj, Mc^
'n^!\, Gr. xuMu. Class Gl. No. 3a. .30.]
. To keep close or secret : to forbear to
disclose ; to withhold from utterance or
declaration ; as, to conceal one's thoughts
or opinions.
I have not concealed tlie words of tlie Holv
One. Job vi.
8. To hide ; to withdraw from observation ;
to cover or keep from sight.
What profit is it if we slay our brother anc
conceal his blood ? Gen. xxxvii.
A party of men concealed themselves be-
hind a wall. A mask conceals the face.
CONCE'ALABLE, a. That may be con-
cealed, hid or kept close. Brown
■eONCE'ALED, ;)jo. Kept close or secret;
hid ; withdrawn from sight ; covered.
CONCE'ALER, «. One who conceals; ai
the concealer of a crime. Clarendon
€ONCE'ALING, ppr. Keeping close or
secret; forbouriiig to disclose; hiding
covering.
Vol. I.
CONCE'ALING, n. A hiding ; a withhold
ing from disclosure.
eONCE'ALMENT, n. Forbearance of dis
closure; a keeping close or secret ; as th(
concealment of opinions or passions.
2. The act of hiding, covering, or withdraw-
ing from sight ; as the concealnunt of the
face by a mask, or of the i>crson by any
cover or shelter.
3. The state of being hid or concealed ; pri-
vacy ; as a project formed in concealment.
. The place of hiding ; a secret place ; re-
treat from observation ; cover from sight.
The cleft tree
Offers its kind concealment to a few,
Their food its insects, and its moss their nests.
Th,„„snn.
eONCE'DE, v. t. [L. concedo ; con and cedo.
to yield, give way, depart, desist ; It. ron-
cedere, cedere ; Sp. conceder, ccder ; Fr. con-
ceder, ceder ; Ir. ceadaighim ; W. gadael, and
gadaw, to quit or leave, to permit. The
preterite cessi indicates that this word ni.ny
be from a root in Class Gs. See that Class
No 67. Samaritan. Sec also Class Gd.,
Cede, and Cong'e.]
1. To yield ; to admit as true, just or proper ;
to grant ; to let pass undisputed ; as, this
must not be conceded without Umitation.
Boyle.
The advocate concedes the point in ques-
tion.
To allow ; to admit to be true.
We concede that their citizens were Ihosei
who lived under different forms. Burhe.'.
eONCE'DED, pp. Yielded ; admitted
granted ; as, a question, proposition, fact or
statement is conceded.
eONCE'DING, pi)r. Yielding; admitting
grantinir.
€ONCE'iT, 71. [It. concetto ; Sp. concepto ;
Von. concetto ; L. conceptus, froin concipio.
to conceive ; co7i and capio, to take oi
seize.]
1. Conception ; that which is conceived, hn-
agined, or formed in the mind ; idea ;
thought ; image.
In lau»;hing there ever precedeth a conceit
of somewhat ridiculous, and therefore it is prop-
er to man. Hacon
2. Understanding; power or faculty of con-
ceiving ; apprehension ; as a man of quick
conceit. [J\early antiquated.]
How often did her eyes say to me, that tlicy
loved ! yet I , not looking for such a matter, had
not my conceit open to understand them.
Sidney.
Opinion ; notion ; fancy ; imagination ;
fantastic notion ; as a strange or odd con-
ceit.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit ?
there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Prov. xxvi.
4. Pleasant fancy ; gayety of imagination.
On the way to the gibbet, a freak took hun in
the head to go off with a conceit. L'E.-itrange.
5. A striking thought ; aflected or unnatural
conception.
Some to conceit alone their works confine.
Pope.
fi. Favorable or self-flattering opinion ; a lofty
or vain conception of one's own person or
accomplishments.
By a little study and a great conceit of himself.
he has lost his religion. Bentley.
Out of conceit irith, not having a favorable
opinion of; no longer pleased with ; as, a'
44
man is out of conceit urith his dress. Hence
to pvt o)ie o!(/ of coticeit with, is to make
him indifl'iM-ent to a thing, or in a degrcn
displeased with it. TUlotson. .9ict/?.
CONCE'IT, r. ^ To conceive; to imagine;
j to think ; to fancy
The strong, by conceiting themselves weak,
I are thereby rendered inactive. South.
iCONCE'ITED, ;»;;. Conceived; imagined;
I fancied.
j2. part. a. Endowed with fancy, or ima-
I gination. Obs. KnoUts.
3. a. Entertaining a flattering opinion of
one's self; having a vain or too high con-
ception of one's own person or accom-
plishn)cnts; vain.
If you think me too conceited.
Or to passion quickly healed. Swifl.
Followed by of before the object of
conceit.
The Athenians were conceited of their own
wit, science and politeness. Bentley.
CONCEITEDLY, adv. In a conceited
manner; fancifully; whimsically.
Conceitedly dress her. Donne.
eONCE'ITE'DNESS, ji. The state of being
conceited; conceit ; vanity ; an overween-
ing fondness of one's own iierson or en-
dowments. Collier.
eONCE'ITLESS, a. Of dull conception ;
stupid; dull of apprehension. [Xotinuse.]
Shak.
CONCEIVABLE, a. [Fr. concevahk ; It.
concepibiie ; Sp. conceplible. See Conceive.]
1. That may be imagined, or thought j capa-
ble of being framed in the mind by the
fancy or imagination.
If it were possible to contrive an invention,
whereby any conceivable weight may be moved
by any conctivable power. Wilhins.
2. That may be understood or believed.
It is not conceivable, that it should be the
very person, whose shajje and voice it assumed.
Mterbury.
CONCE'IVABLENESS, n. The quality of
being conceivable.
CONCE'IVABLY, adv. In a conceivable or
intelligible manner.
CONCE'IVE, V. t. [Fr. concevoir ; It. conce-
pire ; Sp. concebir ; Port, conceber ; L. con-
cipio ; con and capio, to take.]
To receive into the womb, and breed ; to
begin the formation of the embryo or
fetus of an animal.
Then shall she be free and conceive seed.
Num. V. Heb. xi.
Elisabeth hath conceived a son in her old aec.
Luke i.
In sin did my mother conceive me. Ps. li.
2. To form in the mind ; to imagine; to de-
They conceive mischief and bring fortli vanitj .
Job XV.
Nebuchadnezzar hath conceived a purpose
against you. Jer. xlix.
3. To form an idea in the mind; to under-
stand ; to comprehend.
We cannot co7iceive the maimer in which
spirit operates upon matter.
4. To think ; to be of opinion ; to have an
idea ; to imagine.
You can hardly conceive this man to have
been bred in the same climate. Swift.
CONCEIVE, V. i. To have a fetus formed
m the womb ; to breed ; to become preg-
nant.
Thou shall conceive and bear a son. Judges
C O N
CON
CON
2. To think ; to have a conception or idea.
Conceive of things clearly and distinctly in
their own natures. Waits.
The grieved coinmous
Hardly conceive of inc. Shak.
ii. To untlerstand ; to cotnprehend ; to have
a complete idea of; as, I cannot conceive
by what means this event has been pro-
duced.
CONCE'IVED, pp. Formed in the womb ;
framed in liie mind ; devised ; imagined ;
understood.
€ONCE'IVER, n. One that conceives
one that comprehends.
CONCEIVING, ppr. Forming a fetus ii;
the womb; framing in the mind ; imagin-
ing; devi.sing ; tliinking; comprehending
CONCE'IVING, n. Apprehension ; concep-
tion. Slutk.
eONCEL'EBRATE, v. f. To celebrate to-
gether. [JVot used.] Sherwood.
CONCENT', n. [L. concentus, from concino,
to sing in accordance ; con and eano, to
sing.]
1. Concert of voices ; concord of sounds ;
harmony; as a concent of notes. Bacon.
2. Consistency ; accordance ; as, in concent
to a man's own principles. Alterhm-y.
eONCENT'ED, part. a. Made to accord.
Spenser.
CONCEN'TER, v. i. [Fr. concentrer; It.
concentrare ; Sp. and Port. concen(rar; con
and L. centrum, a center; Gr. xivtpoi', a
goad, a sharp point, a center; xivtiu, to
prick or goad. The primary sense is a
point.]
To come to a point, or to meet in a common
center; used of converging lines, or other
things that meet in a point.
All these are like so many lines drawn from
several objects, that iu some way relate to him,
and concenter in him. Hale.
CONCEN'TER, v. t. To draw, or direct to
a common center ; to bring to a point ; as
two or more lines or other things.
The having a part less to animate, will serve
to concenter the spirits, anil make them more
active in the rest. Decay of Piety.
CONCEN'TERED, pp. Brought to a com-
mon center ; united in a point.
CONCEN'TERING, ppr. Tending to a
common center ; bringing to a center.
CONCENT'FUL, a. Harmonious.
Fotherby.
eONCEN'TRATE, t'. t. [See Concenter.]
To bring to a common center, or to a closer
union ; to cause to approach nearer to a
point, or center ; to bring nearer to each
other; as, to concentrate particles of salt by
evaporating the water that holds them in
solution ; to concentrate the troops in an
army ; to concentrate rays of light into
focus.
CONCEN'TR.'VTED,^;). Brought to a point
or center ; brought to a closer union ; re
duced to a narrow compass ; collected into
a closer body.
€0NCEN'TR:ATING, ppr. Bringing to a
point or to closer union ; collecting into
a closer body, or narrow compass.
eONCENTRA'TlON, n. The act of con
centrating; the act of bringing nearer to
, gether; collection into a central point
compression into a narrow space ; the
state of being brought to a point.
Note. The verb conce7itrate is sometimes
tented on the first syllable. The reason
with the primary accent on the first syllabic
and a secondary accent on the third, the pro-
nunciation of the participles, concentrating,
concentrated, is much facilitated.
eONCEN'TRI€, a. [It. concentrico ; Fr
concentrique ; L. concenlricus ; con and cen
tram, center.]
Having a common center; as the concentnc]
coats of an onion ; the concentric orbits of]
the planets.
eONCENT'UAL, a. [from concent.] Har-
monious ; accordant. ff'arton.
€ONCEP'TA€LE, n. [L. concejitacuhim
from concipio. See Conceive.]
1. That ill which any thing is contained ; t
vessel ; a receiver, or receptacle.
Woodward.
2. In botany, a follicle ; a pericarp of one
valve, opening longitudinally on one side
and having the seeds loose in it. Martyn.
eONCEF'TIBLE, a. [See Conceivable.]
That may be conceived ; conceivable ; Intel
ligible. [JVot used.] Hale
eONCEP'TION, n. \\.. conceptio, from
concipio. See Conceive. It. cojicc: '
Sp. concepcion ; Fr. conception.]
1. The act of conceiving ; the first formation
of the embryo or fetus of an animal.
I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and tliycmi-
crption. Gen. iii.
2. The state of being conceived.
Joy had the like conception in our eyes.
Shak.
i. In pneiimatology, apprehension of any
thing by the mind ; the act of conceiving
in the mind; that mental act or combina-
tion of acts by which an idea or notion is
formed of an absent object of perception,
or of a sensation formerly felt. When we
sec an object with our eyes ojieu, we have
a perception of it; when the same object
is presented to the mind with the eyes
shut, in idea only or in memory, we have
a conception of it.
Kaims. Stewart. Encyc.
4. Conception may be sometimes used for
the power of conceiving ideas, as when
we say, a thing is not within our concep-
tion. Some writers have defined concep-
tion as a distinct faculty of the mind; but
it is considered by others as memory, and
perhaps with propriety.
5. Purpose conceived ; conception with ref-
erence to the performance of an act.
Shak.
G. Apprehension ; knowledge.
And as if beasts conceived what reason were.
And that conception should distinctly show.
Dailies
7. Conceit ; affected sentiment, or thought,
He is too full of conceptions, points of c])!-
gram, and witticisms. Dryden
€ONCEP'TIOUS, a. Apt to conceive;
fruitful ; pregnant. [.Vo< noie used.]
Shak
eONCEP'TIVE, a. Capable of conceiving
[lAttle used.'] Brown
CONCERN', V. t. [Fr. concerner ; It. con-
cernere ; Sp. eoncemir ; to concern, to re-
gard, to belong to ; L. Latin
con and cerno, to separate, sift, divide
see. If this is the true origin, as I sup-
pose, the primary sense is, to reach or
extend to, or to look to, as we use
gard.]
1. To relate or belong to.
Preaching the kingdom of God and teach
3. To relate or belong to, in an emphatical
manner; to affect the interest of; to be of
importance to.
Our wars with France have affected us in our
most tender interests, and concerned us more
than those with any other nation. Addison .
It much concerns us to secure the favor and
protection of God. Anon.
3. To interest or affect the passions ; to take
an mterest in ; to engage by feeling or
sentiment.
A good prince concerns liimself in the hap
piness of his subjects.
A kind parent concerns himself in the virtuour;
education of his children.
They tliink themselves out of the reach of
Providence, and no longer concerned to soli-
cit his favor. Sogers.
To disturb; to make uneasy. [Little
used.] Derhanu
5. To intermeddle.
We need not concern ourselves with the affairs
of our neighbors.
CONCERN', n. That which relates or be-
longs to one ; business ; affair ; a very gen-
eral term, expressing whatever occupies
the time and attention, or affects the inter-
ests of a person.
Intermeddle not in the private concerns
of a family. Religion is the main concern
of a rational being. We have no cojicfrn
in the private quarrels of our neighbor.s.
The industrious and prudent occupy their
time with their own concerns.
2. Interest ; importance ; moment ; tliut
which affects the welfare or happiness.
To live in peace, is a matter of no small con
cern to a nation.
Mysterious secrets of a high concern.
And weighty truths, solid convincing sense,
Explained by unaffected eloquence
3. Affection ; regard ; careful regard ; soli-,
citude; anxiety.
Why all this concern for the poor things of
this life?
O Marcia, let me hope thy kind concerns,
And gentle wishes, follow me to battle.
Addison.
An impenitent man feels no concern for his
soul. .inon.
4. Persons connected in business ; or their
aflairs in general ; as a debt due to the
whole concern ; a los-s affecting the whole
concern. Mercantile Usage.
CONCERN'ED, pp. or a. Interested ; enga-
ged ; having a connection with that which
may affect the interest, welfare or happi-
ness.
All men are concerned in the propagation of
truth.
We are concerned in the virtuous education
of our children.
2. Interested in business; having connection
in business ; as, A is concerned with B in
the East India trade. Of an advocate or
counselor we say, he is concerned in the
cause of A against B.
3. Regarding with care ; solicitous : anxious ;
as, we are concerned for the fate of our
fleet.
CONCERN'EDLY, adv. With affection or
interest. Clarendon.
CONCERNING, ppr. Pertaining to; re-
garding; having relation to.
The Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.
Num. X.
CON
1 have accepted thee cancerning lliis tiling
Gen. xix.
This word lias been considered as a jjrepo-
sition, but most improperly : concerning,
when so called, refers to a verb, sentence
or proposition ; as in the first example,
the word applies to the preceding affirma-
tion. The Lord hath spoken good, which
speaking good is concerning Israel. Con-
cerning, in this case, refers to the first
clause of the sentence.
CONCERNMENT, n. The thing in whic
one is concerned or interested ; concern ;
affair; business; interest.
To mix with tliy concernments I desist.
Anilon.
Propositions which extend only to the present
life, are small, compared with those that have ui-
lliieuce upon our everlasting concernments
The great concernment of )
Watts.
th men.
Loclie.
2. A particular bearing upon the interest or
happiness of one; importance; moment.
Experimental truths are matters of great con-
cernment to mankind. Boyle
3. Concern ; interposition ; meddling ; as, the
father had no concernment in the marriage
of his daughter. In this sense, we gener
ally use concern.
4. Emotion of mind ; solicitude ; as, their
ambition is manifijst in their concernment
In this sense, concern is generally used.
CONCERT', V. t. [It. concertare, to contrive
Sp. concertar, to agree, to adjust, to cov-
enant ; Port. id. ; Fr. concerter ; from L. con-
certo, to strive together ; con and certo, tc
strive. The primary sense is to set or act
together.]
To contrive and settle by mutual communi-
cation of opinions or propositions ; to set-
tle or adjust, as a plan or system to be pur-
sued, by conference or agreement of two
or more parties ; as, to concert measures ;
to concert a plan of operations,
CON'CERT, n. Agreement of two or more
in a design or plan ; union formed by mu-
tual communication of opinions and views :
accordance in a scheme ; harmony.
The allies were frustrated for want of concert
in their operations.
The Emperor and the Pope acted in concert.
2. A number or company of musicians, play-
ing or singing the same piece of music at
the same time ; or the music of a compa
ny of players or singers, or of both united
3. A singing in company.
4. Accordance ; harmony.
CONCERTA'TION, n. Strife; contention
[Little used.]
*i CONCERT'O, n. [It.] A piece of music for
a concert. Mason.
CONCES'SION, n. [L. concessio, from con-
cedo. See Cottcede.]
1. The act of granting or yielding; usually
implying a demand, claim, orrequest from
the party to wliom it is made, and thus
distinguisheil i'roiu giving, which is volun-
tary or spontaneou.s.
The concession of these charters was in a
p^irliameiitary way. Hale
2. Tlu! thing yielded ; as, in the treaty of
place, each power made large concessions.
vf. In rhetoric or debate, the yielding, grant
ing, or allowing to the opposite party some
4)oint or fact that may bear dispute, witli
a view to obtain something vvhicli cannot
CON
be denied, or to show that even admitting
the point conceded, the cause is not with
the adverse party, but can be maintained
by the advocate "on other grounds.
. Acknowledgment by way of apology ;
confession of a fault.
CONCES'SIONAUY, a. Yieldingby indul-
gence or allowance.
CONCESSIVE, a. Implying concession;
as a concessive conjunction. howlh.
CONCES'SIVELY, adv. By way of con-
cession or yielding ; by way of admitting
what may be disputable. Brouii.
CONCET'TO, n. [It. See Conceit.] Affect-
ed wit ; conceit. [JVot English, nor in use.]
Shenstone.
CONCH, n. [L. concha; Gt.xoyxri; U. con-
ca ; Sp. concha ; Fr. conque ; probably W.
cocos, cockles, and perhaps allied to cogiaw,
to frown, to knit the brows, that is, to
wrinkle. See Cancer.]
A marine shell.
Adds orient pearls, which from the conchs he
drew. Dryden.
CONClIIF'EROUS,a. {L. concha, shell, and
fero, to bear.] Producing or having shells.
CONClIITE, n. A fossil or petrified conch
or shell. N'al. Hist.
CONCHOID, n. [cmch, supra, and Gr.
60s, form.]
The name of a curve, gives to it by its in-
ventor Nicomedes.
CONClIOID'AL, a. In mineralogy, resem-
bling a conch or marine shell ; having con-
vex elevations and concave depressions,
like shells ; as a conchoidal fracture.^
Kirwan.
CONCHOLOG'ICAL, a. [See Conchotogy.]
Pertaining to conchology.
eONCHOL'.OGlST, n. One ver.sed in the
natural history of shells or shell-fisli; one
who studies tlie nature, properties and
habits of shells and their included ani-
mals.
CONCHOL'OciV, n. [Gr. xoy^^, a shell
and J.oyo5, discourse.]
The dwtrine or science of shells and shell-
fish.
eONCUOM'ETER, ?i. [Gr. xoyx^j, a she[],
and ^frpfw, to measure.]
An instrument for measuring shells.
CONCHY LA'CEOUS, a. [from conch.] Per-
taining to shells ; reseinbhng a shell ; as
conchijlaceoHS impressions. Kinvan,
CONcllYLIOLOuIST, ) from L. conchyli-
CONCHYLIOL'OgY, I U171, a shell-fish,
are sometimes used as synonyms of the
preceding words ; but they are words of
inconvenient length, and useless.
CON'CIATOR, n. In glais-icorhs, the per
son who weighs and proportions the salt
on ashes and sand, and who works and
tempers them. Encyc.
CONCIL'IABLE, n. [L. conciliabulum.] A
small assembly. [JVot in use.] Bacon.
CONCIL'IAR, a. [from L.fo?irt7tU7n, a coun-
cil.] Pertaining or relating to a council.
[Little used.] Baker.
CONCILIATE, V. t. [L. concilio, to draw
or bring together, to unite ; a compound of]
con and calo, Gr. xoUu, to call ; Ch. 'Sdn i)J
Aph., from 'So.xS^ or nSo, to hold orkeep.
to trust, to finish, to call, to thunder ; W.
galw. The primary sense of the root is to
CON
strain, stretch, drive or draw. Calling i>
a straining or driving of voice. See Class
Gl. No. :«. :3G. 48. 49. and see Coj(»t«7.]
1. To lead orilraw to, by moral influence or
power ; to win, gain or engage, as the af-
fections, favor or good will ; as, politeness
and hospitality conciliate affection.
2. To reconcile, or bring to a state of friend-
ship, as persons at variance. We say, an
attempt has been made to conciliate the
contending parties.
CONCIL'IATED, pp. Won ; gained ; en-
gaged by moral influence, as by favor or
affection ; reconcded.
CONCILIATING, ppr. Wiiming; enga-
ging; reconciling.
2. a. Winning ; having the quality of gahi-
iiig favor ; as a conciliating address.
CONCILIA'TION, n. The act of winning
or gaining, as esteem, favor or affection ;
reconciliation.
eONCILIA'TOR, n. One who conciliates
conciles.
CONCILIATORY, a. Tending to concili-
ate, or reconcile ; tending to make peace
between persons at variance ; pacific.
The GeaeK^-TTrxic-^conciliatory proposition?
to the insurgents.
The Legislature adopted conciliatory mea?-
CONCIN'NITY, n. [L. concinnitas, from
concinnus, fit, concinno, to fit or prepare :
either from con and cano, to .sound in ac-
cord ; or the hist constituent of the word
may be the Heb. and Ch. jO to fit or
adapt.]
1. Fitness ; suitableness ; neatness. [Littlf
used.]
•2. A jingling of words. Tynvhitt.
CONCIN'NOUS, a. [L. co7icimms. Set
Concinnity.]
Fit; suitable ; agreeable; becoming; pleas-
ant ; as a concinnous interval in music ; a
concinnous system. Encyc.
CONCIONA'TOR, n. [Infra.] A preacher.
[JVo< in use.]
CON'CIONATORY, a. [L. concionatorius.
from conci'o, an assembly.)
Used in preaching or discourses to public as-
semblies. Howel.
CONCI'SE, a. [L. concisus, cut off", brief,
from cona'rfo ; con and ccedo, to cut. See
Class Gd. No. 2. 4. 8. 49. 59.]
Brief; short, apjilied to language or stile ;
containing few words ; comprehensive ;
comprehending much in few words, or
the principal matters only.
The concise stile, which expresseth not
enough, but leaves somewhat to be understood.
B. Jonson.
Where the autlior is too brief and cmicise,
amplify a litUe. fVatts.
In Genesis, we have a concise account of the
CONCISELY, adv. Briefly ; in few words ;
comprehen.sively.
CONCISENESS, n. Brevity in speaking
or writing.
Conciseness should not be studied at the ex-
pense of perspicuity.
CONCISION, n. s as z. [Low L. concisio,
from concisum, concido, to cut off"; It. con-
cisione.] Literally, a cutting off". Hence,
In scripture, the Jews or those who adhered
to circumcision, which, after our SaWor's
death, was no longer a seal of the cove-
nant, but a mere cutting of the flesh.
C O N
C O N
CON
Beware of dogs ; beware of the concision.
Phil. iii.
CONCITA'TION, n. [L. concitatio, from
concito, to stir or disturb ; con and cito, to
The act of stirring up, exciting or putting in
motion. Broivn.
CONCl'TE, V. t. [L. concito.] To excite.
[jVo< in iMe.]
eON€LAMA'TION, ?!. [L. conclamatio,
from conclavio ; con and c/amo, to cry out.
See C7ojm.]
\n outcry or shout of many together. Diet.
eON'€LAVE, ji. [L. conclave, an inner
room ; con and clavis, a key, or from the
same root, to make fast.]
1. A private apartment, particularly the
room ui which the Cardinals of the Ro
raish church meet in privacy, for the clcc
tion of a Pope. It consists of a range of
small cells or apartments, standinj
line along the galleries and hall of the
Vatican. Encyc.
"2. The assembly or meeting of the Cardi-
nals, shut up for the election of a Pope.
Encyc.
o. A private meeting ; a close assembly.
GaHh
€ON€LU'DE, V. t. [L. concludo ; con and
claudo or cludo, to shut ; Gr. xl-iihoa, oi
xXiM, contracted ; It. conchiudere ; Sp. con
cluir ; Port. id. ; Fr. conclure. The sense i:
to stop, make fast, shut, or rather to thrust
together. Hence in Latin, claudo signifies
to halt, or limp, that is, to stop, as well
to shut. See Lid.]
1. To shut.
The very person of Christ — was only, touch-
ing bodily substance, concluded in the grave.
Hooker.
[This use of the word is uncommon.]
2. To include ; to comprehend.
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,
Kom. xi.
The scripture hath concluded all under sin.
Gal. iii.
The meaning of the word in the latter
passage may be to declare irrevocably or
to doom
3. To collect by reasoning ; to infer, as from
premises ; to close an argument by infer-
ring.
Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified
by faith without the deeds of the law. Rom. iii.
4. To decide ; to determine ; to make a final
judgment or determination.
As touching the Gentiles who believe, we
have written and concluded tliat they observe
no such thing. Rom. xi.
o. To end ; to finish.
I will conclude this part with the speech of a
counselor of state. Bacon.
6. To stop or restrain, or as in law, to estop
from further argument or proceedings ; to
oblige or bind, as by authority or by one"
own argument or concession ; generally
in the passive.
If they will appeal to revelation for their crea-
tion, they must be concluded by it. Hale.
The defendant is concluded by his ovra plea
I do not consider the decision of that motion
upon affidavits, to amount to a res judicata,
which ought to conclude the present inqmiy.
€ONeLU'DE, V. i. To infer, as a conse
quence ; to determine.
Itut tliis verb is really transitive. Tiiej
world will conclude that I had a guilty con-\
science — that is here the object, referring!
to the subsequent clause of the sentence.
[See Verb Transitive, No. 3.]
2. To settle opinion ; to form a final judg-
ment.
Can we conclude upon Luther's instability,
as our author has done. .itterhury .
To end.
A train of lies,
That, made in lust, conclude in perjuries.
Dryden
The old form of expression, to conclude of, is
no longer in use.
€ON€LU'DED, pp. Shut; ended; finish^
cd ; determined ; inferred ; comprehend
ed ; stopped, or bound.
CON€LU'DENCY, n. Inference ; logical
deduction from premises. Hale.
CONeLU'DENT, a. Bringing to a close
decisive. Bacon.
CONCLU'DER, n. One who concludes.
Mountagu.
€ON€LU'DING, ppr. Shutting ; ending
determining ; inferring ; comprehending
3. a. Final ; ending ; closing ; as the con
chiding sentence of an essay.
eON€LU'DINGLY, adv. Conclusively
with incontrovertible evidence. [Little
j(Sfrf.] Dightj.
€ON€LU'SIBLE, a. That may be conclu-
ded or inferred ; determinable. [Little
used.] Hammond.
€ONeLU'SION, n. s as z. [L. conclusio.'
End ; close ; the last part ; as the conclu
sion of an address.
2. Tlie close of an argument, debate or rea
soning ; inference that ends the discus
siou ; final result.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole mat-
ter ; fear God, and keep his commandments
for this is the whole of man. Eccles. xU.
3. Determination ; final decision.
After long debate, the house of commons
came to this conclusion.
4. Consequence ; inference ; that which is
collected or drawn from premises ; par
ticular deduction from propositions, facts,
experience, or reasoning.
5. The event of experiments ; experiment,
We practice all conclusions of grafting and
inoculating. {Little used.] Bacon
6. Confinement of the thoughts ; silence
[M)t used.] Shak.
eON€LU'S10NAL, a. Concluding. [M)t'
used.] Hooper.l
CONCLU'SIVE, a. [It. conclusivo.] Final;
decisive ; as a conclusive answer to a pro-
position.
2. Decisive ; giving a final determination ;
precluding a further act.
The agreeing votes of both houses were not,
bv any law or reason, conclusive to my judg-
ment. King Charles.
3. Decisive ; concluding the question ; put
ting an end to debate ; as a conclusive
argument.
4. Regularly consequential.
Men, not knowing the true forms of syllo-J
gisms, cannot know whether they are made in
right and conclusive modes and figures.
Locke
CON€LU'SIVELY, adv. Decisively ; witli
final detertnination ; as, the point of law is
conclusively settled.
CONCLU'SiVENESS, n. The quality oil
being conclusive, or decisive ; the power
of determining the opinion, or of settling
a question ; as the concl^isiveness of evi-
dence or of an argtmient. Hale.
€ON€OAG'ULATE, v. t. [con and coagu-
late.] To curdle or congeal one thing with
another. Boyle.
CONCOAG'ULATED, pp. Curdled ; con-
creted.
€ONeOAG'ULATING, ppr. Concreting;
curdling.
€ON€OAGULA'TION, n. A coagidatiug
together, as difierent substances, or bodies,
in one mass. Crystalization of different
salts in the same menstruum. Coxe.
[This word is little used.]
€ONCO€T', V. t. [L. concoquo, concoctum :
I co?i and coquo, to cook. See Cook.]
1. To digest by the stomach, so as to tun.
food to chyle or nutriment.
The vital fmictions are performed by genera!
and constant laws ; the food is concocted.
Cheyne.
2. To purify or sublime ; to refine by sepa
rating the gross or extraneous matter ; as,
concocted venom. Thomson.
To ripen.
Fruits and grains are half a year in concoct -
ing. Bacon .
CON€OCT'ED, pp. Digested ; purified ;
ripened.
€ON€0€T'ING, ppr. Digesting; purify-
ing ; ripening.
€ON€Oe'TION, [L. concoctio.] Digestion
or solution in the stomach ; the process by
which food is turned into chyle, or other^
wise prepared to nourish the body ; the
change which food undergoes in the stom-
ach. Coxe. Encyr.
2. Blaturation ; the process by which moi
bid matter is separated from the blood oi
humors, or otherwise changed and pre
pared to be thrown off. Coxe.
1. A ripening; the acceleration of any thing
towards perfection. Johnson.
€ONCO€'TIVE, a. Digesting ; having the
power of digesting or ripening. Milton.
€ONeoL'0R, a. Of one color. [jVot in
Broivn.
€ON€OM'ITANCE, ) [L. con and comi-
€ON€OM'ITANCY, ^ "' tor, to accomjiany,
from comes, a companion. See Count.]
A being together, or in connection with an-
other thing.
The secondary action subsisteth not alone,
but in concomitancy with the other. Brown.
CON€OM'ITANT, a. Accompanying ; con-
joined with ; concurrent ; attending.
It has pleased our wise creator to annex to
several objects — a concomitant pleasure.
Locke.
€ON€OM'ITANT, n. A companion ; a per-
son or tiling that accompanies another, or
is collaterally connected. It is seldom ap-
plied to persons.
The other concomitant of ingratitude is hard-
heartedness. South.
Reproach is a concomitant to greatness.
jlddison.
CONeOlM'ITANTLY, adv. In company
with others. Pearson.
CONCOM'ITATE, v. t. To accompany or
attend ; to be collaterally connected. [JVot
used.] Harvey.
CON'€ORD, n. [Fr. concorde ; h. Concordia,
from concors, of con and cor, cordis, the
heart. See Accord.]
CON
CON
J. Agreement between persons ; union ui CONCORPORA'TION, ». Union oi thin-sj
' in one mass or body.
eON'COURSE, n. [Fr. concours; Sp. con-\
cuTSo ; It. concorso ; L. concursus, from
co7u:urro, to run together ; con anil cuiro,\
to run.]
opinions, sentiments, views or interests ;
2
suitableness ;
Cor.
2. Agreement between things
harmony.
If, nature's concord broke,
.^jnoPK the constellations war were sprung.
" Milton
•3. In music, consent of sounds ; harmony
tlie relation between two or more sounds
which are agreeable to the ear. [See
The man who hath not music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet
sounds.
Is fit for treasons. Shale
4. A compact ; an agreement by stipulation ;
treaty. Davks.
5. In law, an agreement between the parties
in a fine, made by leave of the court
This is an acknowledgment from the de
forciants that the land in question is the
right of the complainant. Blackstone
6. In grammar, agreement of words in con
struction ; as adjectives with nouns in gen
der, number and case ; or verbs with nouni
or pronouns in number and person. Or
concord may signify the system of ruler
for construction called syntax.
Form of concord, in ecclesiastical history, is i
book among tlie Lutherans containing a
system of doctrines to be subscribed as a
condition of communion, composed at
Torgaw in 157C. Encyc
CONCORD' ANCE, n. [Fr. concorrfance; It
concordanza ; L. concordans, from concordo,
to agree. See Concord.]
1. Agreement. In this sense, accordai
generally used.
■2. In grammar, concord. [M)t used.]
;!. A dictionary in which the principal words
used in the scriptures are arranged alpha-
betically, and the hook, chapter and verse
in which each word occurs are noted ; de-
signed to assist an inquirer in finding any
passage of scripture, by means of any
leading word in a verse which he can "-
collect.
CONCORD'ANCY, n. Agreement.
Mouniagu.
<'OXCORD'ANT, a. Agreeing; agreeable;
correspondent ; harmonious. Brown.
L (JNCORD'ANT, n. That which is ac-
cordant. Mouniagu.
CONCORD'ANTLY, adv. In conjunction.
-CONCORD'AT, n. In the canon law, a com-
pact, covenant, or agreement concerning
some beneficiary matter, as a resignation,
permutation, promotion and the like. In
particular, an agreement made by a prince
with the Pope relative to the collation of
benefices ; such as that between the E
peror Frederic III., the German princes,
and the Pope's legate, A. D. 1448.
Encyc. Span. Diet. Lunier.
CONCORD'IST, 71. The compiler of a con
cordance. Ch. Observer, March, 1811.
CONCOR'PORATE, v. t. [L. concorporo,
of con and corpus, a body.]
To unite different things in one mass or
body ; to incorporate. [Little used.]
Tayl
CONCOR'PORATE, v. i. To unite in one
mass or body. Cleaveland.
1. A moving, flowing or running together ;
confluence ; as a fortuitous concourse of at-
oms ; a concourse of men.
2. A meeting ; an assembly of men ; an as-
semblage of things ; a collection fonned
by a voluntary or spontaneous moving and
meeting in one place. Acts xi.x.
3. The place or point of meeting, or a meet-
ing ; the jjoint of junction of two bodies.
The drop will begin to move towards thej
concourse of the glasses. A'ewton.
[This application is unustud.]
COXCREA'TE, v. t. [con and create; It.
cuncreare.]
To create with, or at the same time.
Dr. Taylor — Insists that it is inconsistent with
the nature of virtue, that it should be concreated
with any person. Edwards, Orig. Sin.
CONCREA'TED, pp. Created at the same
time, or in union with.
CONCRED'IT, n. «. To entrust. [J^Totused.
Barrow.
CONCREMA'TION, n. [L. concremo, to
burn together ; con and cremo, to burn.]
The act of burning difl'erent things together.
[Little used.]
eON'CREMENT, n. [Low L. concremen-
tum, from concresco, to grow together.
See Concrete.]
.\ growing together ; tlie collection or mass
formed by concretion, or natural union.
Hale
CONCRES'CENCE, n. [L. concrescentia
concresco. See Concrete.]
Growth or increase ; the act of growing or
increasing by spontaneous union, or the
coalescence of separate particles. Raleigh
CONCRES'CIBLE, a. Capable of concre
ting ; that may congeal or be changed
from a liquid to a solid state.
They formed a genuine, fixed, concrescible oil
Fourcroy.
eON'CRETE, a. [L. cojic)f<tis, from coii
cresco, to grow together ; con and cresco.
to grow. See Grow.]
1. Literally, united in growth. Hence, form
ed by coalition of separate particles in one
body ; consistent in a mass ; united in a
solid form. |
The first concrete state or consistent surface
of the chaos. Burnet.
2. In logic, applied to a subject; not ab-
stract ; as the whiteness of snow. Here
whiteness is used as a concrete term, as it
expresses the quahty of snow.
Concrete terms, while tliey express the qual-
ity, do also express, or imply, or refer to a sub-
ject to which Ihey belons- Watts
A concrete number expresses or denotes
a particular subject, as three men ; but
when we use a number without reference
to a subject, as three, or Jive, we use the
term in the abstract. Bailey.
CONCRETE, n. A compound ; a mass]
fonned by concretion, spontaneous union]
or coalescence of separate particles
matter in one body
CON
Soap is a factitious concrete. Encyc.
3. Ill /og'ic, a concrete term ; a temi t' • :-
eludes both the quality and :• i
which it exists ; as nigrum.
CONCRE'TE, 1.'. i. To unite orcoales. •
separate particles, into a mass or sol.d
body, chiefly by spontaneous cohesion, or
other natural process ; as, saline particles
concrete into crystals ; blood concretes in a
bowl. Apphed to some substances, it is
equivalent to indurate ; as, metallic matter
concretes into a hard body. Applied to
other substances, it is equivalent to con-
geal, thicken, inspissate, coagulate ; as in
the concretion of blooil.
Jlrbuthnot. IVoodward. J^Tewton.
CONCRE'TE, V. t. To form a mass by tlic
cohesion or coalescence of separate parti-
cles. Hale.
CONCRETED, pp. United into a solid
mass ; congealed ; inspissated ; clotted.
CONCRETELY, adv. In a concrete man-
ner ; in a manner to include the subject
with the predicate ; not abstractlv. J^'orris.
CONCRE'TENESS, n. A state" of being
concrete ; coagulation.
CONCRE'TING, ppr. Coalescing or con-
gealing in a mass ; becoming thick; mak-
ing solid.
COlilCRE'TION, n. The act of concreting;
the process by which soft or fluid bodies
become thick, consistent, soUd or hard ;
the act of growing together, or of uniting,
by other natural process, tlie small parti-
cles of matter into a mns.s.
2. The mass or solid matter formed by grow-
ing together, by congelation, condensa-
tion, coagulation or induration ; a clot ; a
lump ; a solid substance formed in the soft
parts or in the cavities of animal bodies.
eONCRE'TIVE, a. Causing to concrete ;
having power to produce concretion ; tend-
ing to form a solid mass from separate
particles; as, concceiiK« juices. Brown.
CONCRE'TURE, n. A mass formed by
concretion. [Not used.]
CONCREW, 1'. J. To grow together. [.Vo«
Mserf.] Spenser.
CONCU'BINAciE, n. [Fr. See Concubine.]
The act or practice of cohabiting, as man
and woman, in sexual commerce, without
the authority of law, or a legal marriage.
In a .-nore general sense, this word is used
to express any criminal or prohibited sex-
ual commerce, including adultery, incest,
and fornication.
In some countries, concubinage is a mar-
riage of an inferior kind, or performed
. witli less solemnity than a true or formal
marriage ; or marriage with a woman of
inferior condition, to whom the husband
does not convey his rank or quahty. Tliis
is said to be still in use in Germany.
Encyc.
In law, concubinage is used as an excep-
tion against her that sueth for dower ; in
which it is alledged that she was not law-
fully married to the man in whose lands
she seeks to be endowed, but tliat she was
his concubine. Cowel.
CONCU'BINATE, n. Whoredom; lewd-
a porous concrete. Bentley.\\ ness. [Xof in use.] Taylor.
2. In philosophy, a mass or compound body, €ON'CUBINE, n. [Fr. fi-om L. concuhina,
made up of iiflerent ingredients: a mixed from concumbo, to lie together; con and
body or masj. ' cvmbo, or cubo, to lie down.]
CON
CON
CON
1. A wunian who cohabits with a man, with-
out tJio authority of a legal marriage ; a
woman kept for lewd purposes ; a kept
mistress. Bacon. Shak. Dryden.
% A wife of inferior condition ; a lawful
wife, but not united to the man by the us-
ual ceremonies, and of inferior condition.
.Such were Hagar and Keturah, the con-
I'ubines of Abraham ; and such concu-
bines were allowed by the Roman laws.
Encyc. Cnidtn.
CONCUL'CATE, v. I. [L. conculco.] To
tread on ; to trample under foot.
Mountagu.
CON€UL€A'TION, n. A trampling under
foot. [AV much ustdJ]
CONCUPISCENCE, n. [L. concvpiscenfia,
from concvpisco, to covet or lust after ; con
and cupio, to desire or covet.]
Lust ; unlawful or irregular desire of sexual
pleasure. In a more general sense, the
coveting of carnal things, or an irregular
appetite for worldly good ; inclination for
unlawful enjoyments.
We know even secret concupiscence to be sin.
Hooker.
Sin, taking occasion by Uie commandment,
wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.
Rorn. vii.
CONCU'PISCENT, a. Desirous of unlaw-
ful pleasure ; libidinous. Shak.
CONeU'PISCIBLE, a. Exciting or impell-
ing to the enjoyment of carnal pleasure ;
inclining to the attainment of pleasure or
good ; as concupiscible appetite. South.
CONCUR', V. i. [L. concurro, to run togeth-
er ; con and curro, to run ; It. concorrere ;
Sp. concurrir ; Port, concorrer ; Fr. con-
courir.]
1. To meet in the same point ; to agree.
Reason and sense concur. Temple.
2. To agree ; to join or unite, as in one ac-
tion or opinion ; to meet, mind with mind :
as, the two houses of parliament concur in
the measure.
It has idth before the person with wlioni
one agrees.
Mr. Burke concurred ivith Lord Chatliam in
opinion. -
It has to before the effect.
Extremes in man concur to general use.
Pope.
3. To unite or be conjoined, with the conse-
quential sense, of aiding, or contributing
power or influence to a common object.
Various causes may concur in the changes of
temperature.
CONCUR'RENCE, n. A meeting or comin:
together ; union ; conjunction.
We liave no other measure but of our ow
ideas, with the concurrence of otlier probable
reasons, to persuade us. Locke
2. A meeting of minds; agreement in opin-
ion ; union in design ; implying joint appro-
bation.
Tarquin the proud was expelled by the uni-
versal concurrence of nobles and people.
Swift
, 3. A meeting or conjunction, whether casu-
al or intended ; combuiation of agents
circumstances or events.
Struck with these greal concurrences of things
C'rashaw
4. Agreement ; consent ; approbation. See
No. a.
5. Agreement or consent, implying joint aid
or contribution of power or influence.
From t'.inv ewtilimn iiri.itroi wo rolli'Ct the
■eatness of the work, and the necessity of the
vine concurrence to it. Rogers.
f(. A meeting, as of claims, or jiower ; joint
rights ; implying equaUty in different per-
sons or bodies ; as a concurrence of juris-
diction in two different courts.
CONCUR'RENC Y, n. The same as concur-
rence ; but little used.
CONCUR'RENT, a. Meeting ; uniting ; ac-
companying ; acting in conjuctiou ; agree-
ing in the same act ; contributing to the
same event or effect; operating with.
I join with these laws the personal presence
of the King's son, as a C07icurrent cause of tliis
reformation. Dacics.
All combined.
Your beauty, and my impotence of mind.
And his concurrent tlame, that blew my fire.
Dryden.
2. Conjoined ; associate ; cnncomitaut.
There is no difference between the concur-
rent echo and the iterant, but the quickness or
slowness of the return. Bacon.
3. Joint and equal ; existing together and
operating on the same objects. The courts
of the United States, and those of the
States have, in some cases, concurrent ju-
risdiction.
CONCUR'RENT, ji. That which concurs
joint or contributory cause.
To all affairs of importance there are three
necessary concurrents — time, industry and fac-
ulties. Decay of Piety.
CONCURRENTLY, adv. With concur-
rence ; unitedly.
CONCUR'RING, ppr. Meeting in the same
point ; agreeing ; running or acting to-
gether ; uniting in action ; contributing to
the same event or effect ; consenting.
A concurring figure, in geometry, is one
which, being laid on another, exactly
meets every part of it, or one which cor-
responds with it in all its parts.
CONCUSSA'TION, n. [See Concussion.] A
violent shock or agitation.
CONCUS'SION, n. [L. concussio, from con-
cutio, to shake, from con and quatio, quasso,
to shake or shatter. From the sense ot
discutio, and percutio, we may infer that
the primary sense is to beat, to strike, or
to beat in pieces, to bruise, to beat down,
Fr. casser, Eng. to quash, L. cwdo, cudo.
See Class Gd. No. 38. 40. 76. and Class
Gs. No. 17.]
1. The act of shaking, particularly and prop
erly, by the stroke or impulse of another
body.
It is believed that great ringing of bells, in
populous cities, hath dissipated pestilent
which may be from the concussion of the a
Ba
2. The state of being shaken; a shock; as
the concussion of the brain by a stroke. It
is used also for shaking or agitation in gen-
eral; as the concussion of the earth.
Woodward.
CONCUS'SIVE, a. Having the power or
quality of shaking. Johnson
COND, V. t. [Fr. conduire.] In seamen's Ian
guage, to conduct a ship; to direct the
man at helm how to steer.
Bailey. Encyc.
CONDEMN, V. t. condem'. [L. condemno ,
con and damno, to condemn, to disapprove
to doom, to devote ; It. condannare, dan-
narc ; Port, conrfejiar; Sp.trf. ; Fr. conrfom-
vcr : Arm. rnndnnni ; D. docmen, verdoem-
en ; G. verdammen ; Sw. doma, f&rd&ma ;
Dan. d6mmer,ford6mmer ; Sax. deman, for-
deman, to deem, to doom, to judge, to con-
demn. See Damn, Deem, Doom.]
1. To pronounce to be utterly wrong ; to
utter a sentence of disapprobation against ;
to censure ; to blame. But the word of-
ten expresses more than censure or blame,
and seems to include the idea of utter re-
jection ; as, to condemn heretical opinions ;
to condemn one's conduct.
We condemn mistakes with asperity, where
we pass over sins with gentleness.
Bttckminster.
2. To determine or judge to be wrong, or
guilty ; to disallow ; to disapprove.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we
have confidence towards God. 1 John iii.
.3. To witness against ; to show or prove ta
be wrong, or guilty, by a contrary prac-
tice.
Tlic men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment
with this generation, and shall condemn it.
Matth. xii.
4. To pronounce to be guilty ; to sentence
to punishment ; to utter sentence against
judicially ; to doom ; opposed to acquit or
absolve ; with to before the penalty.
The son of man shall be betrayed to the chief
priests, and to the scribes, and they shall con-
demn him to death. Matth. xx.
He that beUeveth on him is not condemned.
John iii.
To doom or sentence to pay a fine ; to
fine.
And the king of Egypt — condemned the
land in a hundred talents of silver. 2 Chron.
xxxvi.
6. To judge or pronounce to be unfit for use
or service ; as, the ship was condemned as
not sea-worthy.
7. To judge or pronounce to be forfeited ;
as, the ship and her cargo were con-
demned.
CONDEM'N.\BLE, a. That may be con-
denmed ; blamable ; culpable. Broic^n.
eONDEMNA'TlON, n. [L. condemnatio.\
The act of condemning ; the judicial act
of declaring one guilty, and dooming him
to punishment.
For the judgment was by one to condemna-
tion. Rom. v.
2. The state of being condemned.
Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the
ime condemnation. Luke xxiii.
3. The cause or reason of a sentence of con-
demnation. John iii.
CONDEMNATORY, a. Condemning ;
healing condenmationn or censure ; as
a condemnatory sentence or decree.
CONDEMNED, pp. Censured ; pronoun-
ced to be wrong, guilty, worthless or for-
feited ; adjudged or sentenced to punish-
ment.
CONDEM'NER, n. One who condemns or
censures. Taylor.
CONDEM'NING, ppr. Censuring ; disal-
lowing ; pronouncing to be wrong, guilty,
worthless or forfeited ; sentencing to pun-
ishment.
CONDENS'ABLE, a. [See Condense.] Ca-
pable of being condensed ; that niaj' be
compressed into a smaller compass, and
into a more close, compact state ; as, va-
por is condensable.
CONDENS'ATE, v. t. [See Condense.] To
condense ; to compress into a closer {o rm
CON
CON
C O j\
to cause to take a more compact state ; to
make more dense.
COIMDENS'ATE, v. i. To become more
dense, close or hard.
eONDENS'ATE, a. Made dense ; con-
densed ; made more close or compact
Peacham,
€ONDENSA'TION, a. [L. condensatio. See
Condense.]
The act of making more dense or compact
or the act of causing the parts that com
pose a body to approacli or unite more
closely, either by mechanical pressure, or
by a natural process ; the state of being
condensed. Dew and clouds are supposed
to be formed by the condensation of va
por. It is opposed to rarefaclion and ex
pansion. Condensation is applicable to
any compressible matter ; and from (
densation proceeds increased hardness,
lidity, and weight.
eONDENS'ATIVE, a. Having a power or
tendency to condense.
CONDENSE, V. t. condens'. [L. condenso ;
con and denso, to make thick or close ; It
condensare ; So. Port, condensar ; Fr. con
denser. See Dense.]
1. To make more close, thick or compact
to cause the particles of a body to aji-
proach, or to unite more closely, either by
their own attraction or affinity, or by me
chanical force. Thus, vapor is said to be
condensed into water by the application of
cold ; and air is condensed in a tube by
pressure. Hence the word is sometimes
equivalent to compress.
3. To make thick; to inspissate; applied to
soft compressible substances.
. To .
3. To compress into a smaller compass, or
into a close body ; to crowd ; applied to
separate individuals. Thus we say,
condense ideas into a smaller compass.
Dryden.
CONDENSE, V. i. condens'. To become
close or more compact, as the particles of
a body ; to approach or unite more close-
ly ; to grow thick.
Vapors condense and coalesce into small par-
eels. J\'ewton.
CONDENSE, a. condens'. Close in texture
or composition ; compact ; firm ; dense ;
condensated. [See Dense, which is gene-
rally used.] Mi'
•eONDENS'ED, pp. Made dense, or n
close in parts ; made or become compact ;
compressed into a narrower compass.
€ONDENS'ER, n. He or that which con-
denses; particularly a pneumatic engine
or syringe in which air may be compress-
ed. It consists of a cylinder, in which is
a movable piston to force the air into a
receiver, and a valve to prevent the air
from escaping. Encyc.
eONDENS'ITY, n. The state of being con-
densed; denseness ; density. [The latter
are generally used.]
€OND'ER, n. [Fr. condiiire; L. conduco.
See Cond.]
1. A person who stands upon a cliff, or ele-
vated part of the sea-coast, in the time of
the herring fishery, to point out to the
fishermen by signs, the course of the shoals
offish. Cowel.
2. One who gives directions to a lielmsman
how to steer the ship. Encyc.
CONDESCEND', v. i. [It. condescendere ;
Sp. condescender ; Fr. condescendre ; coi
and L. descendo. See Descend.]
1. To descend from the privileges of siipe
rior rank or dignity, to do some act to an
inferior, which strict justice or the ordina-
ry rules of civility do not require. Hence
to submit or yield, as to an inferior, im-
plying an occasional relinquishment of
distinction.
Mind not high things, but condescend to mei
of low estate. Rom. xii.
To recede from one's rights in negotia
tion, or common intercourse, to do some
act, which strict justice does not require.
Spain's mighty monarch,
In gracious clemency does condescend.
On these conditions, to become your friend.
Dryden
3. To stoop or descend ; to yield ; to submit
implying a relinquishment of rank, or dig
nity of character, and sometimes a sinking
into debasement.
Can they think me so broken, so debased.
With corporal servitude, that my mind ever
Will condescend to such absurd commands ?
MIton
CONDESCEND'ENCE, n. A voluntary
yielding or submission to an inferior.
You will observe [in the Turks] an insulting
condescendence which bespeaks tlieir contempt
of you. Et,
CONDESCEND'ING, ppr. Descending
from rank or distinction m the intercourse
of life; receding from rights or claims;
yielding.
a. Yielding to inferiors ; courteous ; ol
;ONfiii
ESCEND'INGLY, adv. By way of
yielding to inferiors ; with voluntary sub-
mission ; by way of kind concession ;
courteously. Atterbury.
CONDESCEN'SION, n. Voluntary descent
from rank, dignity or just claims; relin-
quishment of strict right ; submission to
inferiors in granting requests or perform-
ing acts which strict justice does not re-
quire. Hence, courtesy.
It forbids pride and commands humility, mod-
esty and condescension to otliers. Tillotson
Raphael, amidst his tenderness, shows such i
dignity and condescension in all his behavior,
as are suitable to a superior nature. Addison.
eONDESCEN'SIVE, a. Condescending;
Barroiv.
eONDESCENT', n. Condescension. [Ao/
Bp. Hall.
ondis
used
CONDI'GN, a. condi'ne. [L. conai^
con and dignus, worthy. See Dignity.]
1. Deserved : merited ; suitable ; applied usu-
-Uy to punishment ; as, the malefactor has
jffered condign punishment.
2. Worthy ; merited ; as .condign praise.
Spenser. Shak
[In the latter sense, seldom tised.]
CONDIG'NITY, n. Merit ; desert. In school
divinity, the merit of human actions which
claims reward, on the score of justice.
Milner.
CONDI'GNLY, adv. condi'ndy. According
merit.
eONDI'GNNESS, n. condi'neness. Agreea-
bleness to deserts ; suitableness.
CON'DIMENT, n. [L. condimentum, from
condio, to season, pickle or preserve.]
Seasoning ; sauce ; that which is used to give
reUsh to meat or other food, and to gratify
the taste.
As for radish and the like, tUcy are for con-
diments, and not for nourisliniont. Bacon.
CONDISCI'PLE, n. [L. condiscipulus ; con
and disciputus. See Disciple.]
A school fellow ; a learner in the same school,
or uniler the same in.structor.
CONDI'TE, V. t. [L. condio, conditum.] To
prepare and preserve with sugar, salt, spi-
ces, or the like ; to pickle ; as, to condite
pears, jilums, quinces, mushrooms, &c.
[Little used.] Crete. Taylor.
CONDI'TEMENT, n. A composition of
conserves, powders, and spices, in the form
of an electuary. [Little used.] Baileii.
'CONDI'TING, ppr. Preserving. [LUtle
used.] Grew.
€ONDI"TION, 71. [L. conditio, Com conrfo,
to build or make, to ordain ; properly, to
set or fi.\, or to set together or in order ;
con and do, to give ; properly, to send.]
1. State ; a particular mode of "being ; applied
to external circumstances, to the body, to the
mind, and to things. We speak of' a good
condition or a bad condition, in reference to
wealth and poverty ; in reference to health
and sickness ; in reference to a cheerful
or depressed disposition of mind ; and with
reference to a sound or broken, perishing
state of things. The word signifies a set-
ting or fixing, and has a very general and
indefinite application, coinciding nearly
with slate, fi-om sto, to stand, and denotes
that particular frame, form, mode or dispo-
sition, in which a thing exists, at any given
time. A man is in a good condition, when
he is thriving. A nation, with an exhaust-
ed treasury and burthened with taxes, ii»
not in a condition to make war. A poor
man is in a humble condition. Rehgion
affords consolation to man in every condi-
tion of Ufe. Exhortations should be adapt-
ed to the condition of tlie mind.
Condition, circumstance, is not the tiling ;
Bliss is the same in subject or in king. Fopc.
!. Quality ; property ; attribute.
It seemed to us a condition and property of
divine powers and beings to be hidden and un-
seen to others. Bacoii.
!. State of the mind; temjier; temperament;
com|)lexion. [See No. 1.] Shak.
I. Moral quality ; virtue or vice.
Raleigh. South.
[These senses however fall within thejirst
dejinition.]
). Rank, that is, state with respect to the
orders or grades of society, or to propertj" ;
as, persons of the best condition.
Clarendon.
6. Terms of a contract or covenant ; stipu-
lation ; that is, that which is set, fixed, es-
tablished or proposed. What are the con-
ditions of the treaty ?
Make our conditions with yon captive king.
JJryden.
He sendeth and desireth conditions of peace.
7. A clause in a bond, or other contract con-
taining terms or a stipulation that it is to
be performed, and in case of failure, the
penalty of the bond is to be incurred.
8. Terms given, or provided, as the ground
of something else ; that which is establish-
ed, or to be done, or to happen, as requisite
to another act ; as, I will pay a sum of mon-
ey, on condition yon will engage to refuntl
CON
A eondition is a clause of contingency, on the
happening of which the estate granted may be
defeated. Blackstone.
CONDI"TION, V. {. To make terras ; to
stipulate.
It is one thing to condition for a good office
and another to execute it.
CONDI"TION, V. f. To contract; to stipu-
late.
It was conditioned between Saturn and Titan
that Saturn sliould put to death all his male
children. Raleigh.l
€ONDI"TIONAL, a. Containing or depend-]
ing on a condition or conditions ; madej
wi'th limitations ; not absolute ; made or|
granted on certain terms. A conditional'
promise is one which is to be performed,]
when something else stipulated is done or!
has taken place. A conditional fee, in law,!
is one which is granted upon condition,
that if the donee shall die without such
particular heirs as are specified, the estate
sliall revert to the donor. Hence it is a
fee restrained to particular heirs, to the
exclusion of others.
9. In grammar and logic, expressing a condi-
tion or supposition ; as a conditional word,
mode, or tense ; a conditional syllogism.
€ONDI"TIONAL, n. A limitation.
Bacon.
CONDITIONAL'ITY, n. The quality ofj
being conditional, or limited ; limitation by
certain terms.
<;ONDI"TIONALLY, adv. With certain
limitations; on particular terras or stipu-
lations; not absolutely or positively.
We see large preferments tendered to him, but
rondiiionally, upon his doing wicked offices.
South.
ilONDI 'TIONARY, a. Conditional; stipu-
lated. [.Vo< used.] JVorris.
CONDI"TIONATE, a. Conditional ; estab-
lished on certain terms. [Not used.]
Hammond.
€ONDI"TIONATE, v. t. To qualify ; to
reg:ulatc. [.Votinuse.] Broivn.
tONDP'TIONED, pp. Stipulated; con-
taining terms to be performed.
2. a. Having a certain state or qualities.
This word is usually preceded by some
qualifying term; as good-conditioned ; iU-
conditioned ; best-conditioned.
C0ND1"T10NLY, adv. On certain terms.
[JVot used.] Sidney.
CONDO'LE, V. i. [L. condoleo ; con, with,
and doleo, to ache, or to grieve.]
To feel pain, or to grieve, at the distress or
misfortunes of another.
Your friends would have cause to rejoice
ratlier than condole with you.
It is followed by ivith before the person
for whom we feel grief
CONDO'LE, V. t. To lament or bewail witi
another, or on account of another's misfor
time. ( Umtsual.]
Why should our poet petition Isis for her safe
detiveiy, and afterwards condole her miscar-
riage? Dry den. Milton.
CONDO'LEMENT, n. Grief; pain of mind,
at another's loss or misfortune ; sorrow ;
mourning. Shak^
€ONDO'LENCE, n. Pain of mind, or grief
excited by the distress, or misfortune of
another. Jlrhuthnot.
CONDO'LER, n. One who condoles.
€ONDO'LlNG, ppr. Grieving at nnother'.-
distress.
CON
CONDO'LING, n. E.xpression of grief lor,
another's loss.
€ON'DOMA, «. An animalof the goat kind,]
as large as a stag, and of a gray color. j
Diet. JVat. Hist.-
It is a species of Antelope, the Jl. strep-
€ONDONA'TION, n. [h. condono.] The
art of pardoning. [Little used.]
eON'DOR, n. The largest species of fowl
hitherto discovered ; a native of South
America. Some naturaUsts class it with
the vulture ; others, with the eagle. The
wings of the largest, when expanded, arc
said to extend 15 or 18 feet ; and the fowl
has strength to bear off a calf or a deer.
Diet. J\rat. lllsl.
The size of the Condor has been greatly ex-
aggerated. It is about the size of the
Ldmmer-geyer or vulture of the Alps, which
it resembles in its habits. It is properly a
vulture. Humboldt. Cuvier.
€ONDU'CE, V. i. [L. conduco ; con and duco,
lead ; Sp. condudr ; It. condmre.]
To lead or tend ; to contribute ; followed by
to.
They may conduce to farther discoveries for
completing the theory of light. JVeii-ton
To conduce to includes the sense of aiding
tending to produce, or furnishing the
means; hence it is sometimes equivalent
to promote, advance, or further. Virtue
conduces to the welfare of society. Reli
gion conduces to temporal happiness. Tem
perance conduces to health and long life.
In the transitive sense, to conduct, it is not
authorized.
CONDU'CEMENT, n. A leading or tend-
ing to ; tendency. Gregory.
eONDU'CENT, a. Tending or contributing
Laud.
€ONDUCIBLE, a. [L. conducibilis.] Lead-
ing or tending to ; having the power of
conducing ; having a tendency to promote
or forward.
Our Savior hath enjoined us a reasonable
vice ; all his laws are in themselves conducible
to the temporal interest of them that observe
them. Sentley
[This word is less used than conducive.]
eONDU'CIBLENESS, n. The quality of
leading or contributing to any end.
More.
eONDU'CIVE, a. That may conduce or
contribute ; having a tendency to pro
mote.
An action, however conducive to the good ot
our country, will be represented as prejudici; "
to it. Addisoi
CONDU'CIVENESS, n. The quality of cor
ducing or tending to promote. Boyl
eON'DU€T, n. [Sp. conducta ; It. condotta ;
Fr. conduite ; from the L. conductus, but
with a different sense, from conduco, to
lead ; con and duco. See Duke.]
Literally, the act of leading ; guidance ;
command. So Waller has used it.
Conduct of armies is a prince's art.
The act of convoying, or guarding ; guid-
ance or bringing along under protection.
Shuk.
Guard on the way ; convoy ; escort.
Shah
[These senses are now umisual, though not
improper.]
4. In a general sense, personal behavior ;
oiirse of actions ; deportment ; applicable
CON
equally to a good or had course of actions;
as laudable conduct ; detestable conduct.
The word seems originally to have been
followed with life, actions, affairs, or other
term ; as the conduct of life ; the conduct of
actions ; that is, the leading along of life or
actions.
Young men in the coruluct and manage of
actions embrace more than they can hold.
Bacon.
What in the conduct of our life appears.
Dry den.
But by custom, conduct alone is now
nsed to express tlie idea of behavior or
course of life and manners.
Exact behavior ; regular hfe. [Unusual.]
Swift.
ftlanagement ; mode of carrying on.
Christianity has humanized the conduct of
war, Pahy.
7. The title of two clergymen appointed to
■ prayers at Eton College in England.
Mason,
€ONDU€T', V. t. [Sp. condutir ; Port, con-
duiir, to conduct, and to conduce; Fr.
conduire ; It. condurre ; L. conduco. Bus
the English verb is from the noun conduct,
or the Lat. participle.]
1. To lead ; to bring along ; to guide ; to
acconqiany and show the way.
And Judah came to Gilgal — to conduct the
king over Jordan. 2 Sam. xix.
2. To lead ; to direct or point out the way.
The precepts of Christ will conduct ua to
happiness.
3. To lead ; to usher in ; to introduce ; to
attend in civility.
Pray receive them nobly, and conduct them
Into our presence. Shak.
4. To give a direction to : to manage ; ap-
plied to things ; as, the farmer conducts his
affairs with prudence.
5. To lead, as a commander ; to direct ; to
govern ; to command ; as, to conduct an
army or a division of troops.
6. With the reciprocal pronoun, to conduct
one's self, is to behave. Hence, by a cus-
tomary omission of the pronoun, to con-
duct, in an intransitive sense, is to behave ;
to direct personal actions. [See the
Noun.]
7. To escort ; to accompany and protect on
the way.
€ONDU€T'ED, pp. Led ; guided ; directed ;
introduced ; commanded ; managed.
CONDUeT'ING, ppr. Leading ; escorting ;
introducing ; commanding ; behaving ;
managing.
€ONDU€'TION, n. The act of training up.
[JVot ill use.] B.Jonson.
€ONDU€TI "TIOUS, a. [L. conductitius,
from conduco, to hire.]
Hired ; employed for wages. J}yliffe.
€ONDU€T'OR, n. A leader ; a guide ; one
wlio goes before or accompanies, and
shows the way.
2. A chief; a commander; one who leads
an army or a people.
3. A director ; a manager. Addison.
4. In surgery, an instrument which serves to
direct the knife in cutting for the stone,
and in laying up sinuses and fistulas; also,
a machine to secure a fractured limb.
Coxe. Encyc.
5. In electrical e.rperimenlo, any body that re-
3 and conniiunicates electricity ; such
CON
■as metals and moist substances. Bodies
which repel it, or into which it will not
pass, are called non-conductors. Hence,
6. A metallic rod erected by buildings or in
ships, to conduct lightning to the earth or
water, and protect the building from its
effects.
CONDUeT'RESS, n. A female who leads
or directs ; a directress.
eON'DUIT, n. [Fr. conduit, the participle_of
conduirc, L. conducere, to conduct ;
conducto ; It. condotto ; Port. cMirfitcte.]
1. A canal or pipe for the conveyance of
water ; an aqueduct. Conduits are made
of lead, stone, cast iron, wood, &c., above
or below the surface of the eartli.
a. A vessel that conveys the blood or other
fluid.
The conduits of my blood. Shak
"3. A conductor.
These organs arc the nerves which arc th(
conduits to convey them from without to their
audience in the brain. Locke.
4. A pipe or cock for drawing off liquor.
Shak.
5. Any channel that conveys water or fluids ;
a sink, sewer or drain.
CONDU' PLICATE, a. [L. conduplicalus,
from conduplico, to double or fold ; con
and duplico. See Double.]
Doubled or folded over or together ; as the
leaves of a bud. Martyn.
CONDU' PLICATE, I'. <. To double; to fold
together.
-eONDU'PLICATED, a. Doubled; folded
together.
CONDUPLICA'TION, n. [L. conduplica-
iio.] A doubling ; a duplicate.
Johnson.
-eON'DYL, n. [L. condylus ; Gr. xov6vJ.o;.]
A protuberance on the end of a bone ; a
knot, or joint; a knuckle. Coxe.
CON'DYLOID, a. [Gr. xovSvXos, and iiSos,
form.]
The condyloid process is the posterior pro-
tuberance at the extremities of the under
jaw ; an oblong rounded head, wliich is
received into the fossa of the temporal
bone, forming a movable articulation.
The anterior is called the coronoid pro-
cess. Encyc.
CON'DYLOID, n. The apophysis of a bone ;
the projecting soft end, or process of a
bone. Coxe.
CONE, n. [Fr. cone ; It. and Sp. cono ; from
L. conus ; Gr. xuroj ; \V. con, that which
shoots to a point, from extending ; W.
connyn, a tail ; conyn, a stalk ; cono, a spruce
fellow. It coincides in radical sense with
the root of can and begin.]
1. A solid body or figure having a circle for
its base, and its to]) terminated in a point
or vertex, like a sugar loaf
S. In botany, the conical fruit of several ever-
green trees, as of the pine, fir, cedar and
cypress. It is com))osed of woody scales,
usually opening, and has a seed at the base
of each scale. Martyn.
A cone of rays, in optics, includes all the rays
of light which proceed from a radiant
point and fall upon the surface of a glass.
£»ic^c.
A right cone, is when its axis is perpendicu-
lar to its base, end its sides equal. It is
formed by the revolution of a right-angled
plane triangle about one of its sides.
Vol. I.
CON
A scalene cone, is when its axis is inclined to
its base and its sides unequal. Bailey.
CO'NEPATE or CO'NEPATL, n. An ani-
mal of the weasel kind in America, resem-
bling the pole-cat in form and size, and in
its fetid stench. Diet. JVat. Hist.
CONEY. [See Cony.]
CONFAB'ULATE, t'. i. [L. confabulor ; con
and fabulor, to tell. Sec Fable.]
To talk famiUarly together ; to chat ; to
prattle.
If birds confabulate or no. [Little used.]
Cowper.
CONFABULA'TION, n. [L. confabulalio.]
Familiar talk ; easy, unrestrained, uncere-
monious conversation. [.VoJ aii elegant
word, and litlU used.]
CONFAB'L'LATORY, a. Belonging to fa-
miliar talk. [Little xised.]
CONFAMIL'IAR, a. Very familiar. [jVol
in use.]
CONFARREA'TION, n. [L. confarreatio ;
con and farreo, to join in marriage with a
cake, from far, corn or meal.]
The solemnization of marriage among the
Romans, by a ceremony in which the
bridegooni and bride tasted a cake made
of flour with sah and water, called/ar or
panis farreus, in presence of the high priest
and at least ten witnesses.
Aylifft. Mam.
CONFA'TED, a. Fated together. [A'o< in
use. ]
CONFECT', V. t. To make sweetmeats.
[^rot used. See Comfit.]
CON'FECT, n. [L. confectus, conficio. See
Comfit.]
Something prepared with sugar or honey, as
fruit, herbs, roots and the like ; a sweet-
meat. Harvey.
CONFECTION, n. [L. confectio, from con-
ficio ; con and facio, to make.]
1. Any thing prepared with sugar, as fruit;
a sweetmeat ; something preserved.
Bacon. Encyc.
2. A composition or mixture. Bacon.
3. A soft electuary'. Encyc.
CONFECTIONARY, ) One whose oc-
CONFECTIONER, S cupation is to
make, or to sell sweetmeats, &c.
Boyle. Shak.
[The latter word is most generally used.]
CONFECTIONARY, n. A place for sweet-
meats ; a place where sweetmeats and
similar things are made or sold.
9. Sweetmeats in general ; things prepared
or sold by a confectioner.
CONFEC'TOR, n. [L.] An officer in the
Roman games, whose business was to kill
any beast that was dangerous. Milner.
CONFEC'TORY, a. Perttjiuing to the art of
making sweetmeats. Beaum.
CONFED'ERACY, n. [Low L. confadera-
tio ; con and fmderatio, from fadus, a league.
See Federal and ff'ed.]
1. A league, or covenant; a contract be-
tween two or more persons, bodies of men
or states, combined in support of each
other, in some act or enterprise ; umtual
engagement ; federal compact.
The friendships of the vf orld are oft
Confederacies in vice. Addison.
A confederacy of princes to check innova-
tion. Anon.
2. The persons, states or nations imited by a
league.
45
CON
Virgil has a whole confederacy against him
Dry den.
3. In law, a combination of two or more i)er-
sons to commit an unlawful act. Encyc.
CONFEDERATE, a. [Low L. confcede-
ratus.]
United in a leajjuo ; allied by treaty ; enga-
ged in a confederacy.
These were confederate with Abram. Gen-
xiv.
Syria is confederate with Ephraira. Is. vii.
CONFEDERATE, n. One who is united
with others in a league ; a person or nation
engaged in a confederacy ; an ally.
Shak. Dryden.
CONFED'ER.ATE, v. i. [Fr. confederer;
1 Low L. confadero. But the English verb
seems to bo dirwtly from the adjective.
supra.]
To unite in a league ; to join in a mutual
j contract or covenant.
By words men come to know one another's
minds ; by these they covenant and confederate
j South.
' The colonies of .\merica confederated in
! 1775.
j Several States of Europe have sometimes
! confederated for mutual safety.
CONFED'ERATE, v. t. To unite in a
j league ; to ally.
, Witli tliese the Picrcics them confederate.
j Daniel.
CONFEDERATED, pp. United in a
I league.
CONFED ERATING, ppr. Uniting in a
league.
CONFEDERATION, n. [Fr. confederation :
It. confederazione ; Low L. confaderatio ;
con ai\d faderalio.]
1. The act of confederating; a league; a
compact for mutual support ; alliance ;
particularly of princes, nations or states.
The three princes enter into a strict league and
confederatioiu Bacon.
2. The United States of America are some-
times called the confederation.
CONFER', V. i. [Fr. conferer ; It. conferire ;
Sp. conferir ; L. confero ; con and fero, to
bear, to bring forth, to show, to declare.
See Bear.]
To discourse ; to converse ; to consult to-
gether ; implying conversation on some
serious or important subject, in distinction
from mere talk or light familiar conversa-
tion ; followed by icith.
Adonijah conferred with Joab and Abiathar.
1 Kings i.
Festus conferred with the council. Actsxxv.
CONFER', V. t. To give, or bestow ; follow-
ed by on.
Coronation confers on the king no royal au-
thority. South.
This word is particularly used to express
the grant of favors, benefits and privileges
to be enjoyed, or rights which are to bo
permanent ; as, to confer on one the priv-
ileges of a citizen ; to confer a title or an
honor.
2. To compare ; to examine by comparison ;
literally, to bring together. [See Compare.]
If we confer these observations with others
of the like nature. Boyle.
[This sense, though genuine, is now obso-
lete.]
3. To contribute ; to conduce to ; that is, to
bring to. The closeness of parts confers
much to the strength of the union, or in-
CON
C O xN
CON
omewhat, ii
Gal. ii.
t Ratisbon.
transitively, confers to tlie strength of the
union. Obs. Glanville.
eON'FERENCE, n. [Fr. conference; Sp.
conferencia ; It. conferenza. See Confer.]
1. The act of conversing on a serious sub-
ject ; a discoursing between two or more,
for the purpose of instruction, consulta-
tion, or deliberation ; formal d"
oral discussion.
For they who seemed to be
conference added nothing to me.
The ministers had a conference
1. A meeting for consuhation,
instruction,
n. Comparison; examination of things by
comparison.
The mutual conference of observations. The
conference of different passages of scripture.
Hooker.
[This sense is, I believe, noio obsolete.]
CONFER'RED, pp. Given ; imparted ; be-
stowed.
CONFER'RER, n. One who confers; one
who converses; one who bestows.
CONFER'RING, ppr. Conversing together;
bestowing.
CONFER'RING, «. The act of bestowhig.
9. Comparison ; examination.
CONFESS', v.t. [Fr. confesser ; It. confes-
sare; Sp. confesar; Port, confessor; from
L. confiteor, confessum; con &r\A faleor, to
own or acknowledge ; Ir. faoisdin.]
1. To own, acknowledge or avow, as a
crime, a fault, a charge, a debt, or some-
rhing that is against one's interest, or rej)-
iitation.
Human faults with human grief confess.
Prior.
I confess the argument against me is good
and not easily refuted.
Let us frankly coi}fess our sins.
" Confess thee freely of thy sins," used by
Siiakspeare, is not legitimate, unless in the
sense of Catholics.
'2. In the Catholic Church, to acknowledge
sins and faults to a priest ; to disclose the
state of the conscience to a priest, in pri-
vate, with a view to absolution ; some-
times with the reciprocal pronoun.
The beautlpjl votary cmfessed herself to this
celebrated father. Addison.
3. To own, avow or acknowledge ; publicly
to declare a belief in and adherence to.
Whoever shall confess me before men.
Math. X.
4. To own and acknowledge, as true disci-
ples, friends or children.
Him will I confess before my father who is
in heaven. •''""•
5. To own ; to acknowledge ; to declare to
be true, or to admit or assent to in words ;
opposed to deny.
Then will I confess to thee, that thine own
sight hand can save thee. Job xl.
These— confessed that Ihey were strangers
and pilgrims on earth. Heb. xi.
ti. To show by the effect ; to prove
test.
Tall thriving trees confessed the fruitful mold.
Pope.
7. To hear or receive the confession of an-
other ; as, the priest confessed the nuns.
CONFESS', V. i. To make confession ; to
disclose faults, or the state of the con-
science ; as, this man went to the priest
to confess.
CONFESS'ANT, n. One who confesses to
a priest. Bacon.
CONFESS'ARY, n. One who makes a con-
fession. [JVot used.] Hall.
CONFESS'ED, pp. Owned ; acknowledg-
ed ; declared to be true; admitted in
words ; avowed ; admitted to disclose to a
priest.
CONFESS'EDLY, adv. By confession, or
acknowledgment ; avowedly ; uiidenia-|
bly. Demosthenes was confessedly the
greatest orator in Greece.
2. 'with avowed purpose ; as, his object was
confessedly to secure to himself a benefice.
CONFESSING, ;)pr. Owning; avowing;
declaring to be true or real ; granting or
admitting by assent ; receiving disclosure
of sins, or the state of the conscience of
another.
CONFES'SION, n. The acknowledgment
of a crime, fault or something to one's dis-
advantage ; open declaration of guilt, fail-
ure, debt, accusation, &c.
With the mouth confession is made to sal-
vation. Rom. X.
2. Avowal; the act of acknowledging; pro-
fession.
Who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good
confession. 1 Tim. vi.
3. The act of disclosing sins or faults to a
priest; the disburdening of the conscience
privately to a confessor ; sometimes called
auricular confession.
4. A formulary in which the articles of faith
are comprised ; a creed to be assented to
or signed, as a prehniinary to admission
into a church.
5. The acknowledgment of a debt by a
debtor before a justice of the peace, &;c.,
on which judgment is entered and execu-
tion issued.
CONFES'SIONAL, n. The seat where a
priest or confessor sits to hear confes-
sions ; a confession-chair.
eONFES'SIONARY, n. [Sp. confesiona-
rio.] A confession-chair, as above.
eONFES'SIONARY, a. Pertaining to au-
ricular confession.
eONFES'SIONIST, n. One who makes a
profession of faith. Mountagu.
€ONFESS'OR, ?i. [Fr. confesseur; Sp. con-
fesor.]
1. One who confesses ; one wlio acknowl-
edges his sins.
2. One who makes a profession of his faith
in the christian religion. The word is ap
propriately used to denote one who avows
liis religion in the face of danger, and ad
heres to it, in defiance of persecution and
torture. It was formerly used as synon-
ymous with martyr; afterwards it was ap
plied to those who, having been pcrsecu
ted and tormented, were permitted to die
in peace. It was used also for such chris-
tians as lived a good life, and died with the
reputation of sanctity. Enqjc.
3. A priest ; one who hears the confession:
of others, and has power to grant them
absolution. Romish Church
CONFEST', pp. [for confessed.] Owned
open ; acknowledged ; apparent ; not dis
puted.
CONFEST'LY, adv. [for confessedly.]
Avowedly ; indisputably. [Little used.]
eON'FlDANT, n. [See Confident.]
CONFI'DE, V. t. [L. confido ; con and fido,
to trust ; It. confidare ; Bp. Port, confi
Fr. confer ; Arm. fnyout. See Faith.]
To trust; to rely on, with a persuasion ©f
faithfulness or veracity in the person trust-
ed or of the reahty of a fact; to give cred-
it to ; to beheve in, with assurance ; fol-
lowed Ijy in. The prince confides in his
ministers. The minister confides in the
strength and resources of the nation. We
confide in the veracity of the sacred histo-
rians. We confide in the truth of a report.
CONFI'DE, V. t. To entrust ; to commit to
the charge oi, with a belief in the fidelity
of the person entrusted ; to deliver into
possession of another, with assurance of
safe keeping, or good management; fol-
lowed by to. We confide a secret to a
friend. The prince confides a negotiation
to his envoy. The common interests of the
United States are confided to the Congress.
They would take the property out of the
hands of those to whom it was confided by the
charter. Hopkinson.
Congress may, under the constitution, con-
fide to the circuit court, jurisdiction of all offen-
ses against the U. States. Story..
CONFI'DED, pp. Entrusted ; committed to
the care of, for preservation, or for per-
formance or exercise.
CON'FIDENCE, n. [L. confidentia ; It.
confidenza ; Sp. confianza ; Fr. confiance,
confidence. See Confide.]
1. A trusting, or reliance ; an assurance of
mind or firm belief in the integrity, stabil-
ity or veracity of another, or in the truth
and reality of a fact.
It is better to trust in the Lord, than to pur
confidence in man. Ps. cxviii.
I rejoice that I have confidence in you in all
things. 2 Cor. vii.
Mutual cmtfidence is the basis of social hai>-
piness.
I place confidence in a statement, or in aTi
official report.
2. Trust ; reliance ; applied to one's own alii
ities, orforlume ; belief in one's own com-
petency.
His times being rather prosperous than calm,
had raised his confidence by success. Bacon.
3. That in which trust is placed ; ground of
trust ; he or tliat which supports.
Israel was ashamed of Beth-el their confi-
dence. Jer. xlviii.
Jehovah shall be thy confidence. Prov. iii.
4. Safet}', or assurance of safety ; security.
They shall build houses and plant vineyards ;
yea, Ihey shall dwell with confidence. Ezek.
5. Boldness; courage.
Preaching Uie kingdom of God with all co7)fi-
dence. Acts xxviii.
6. Excessive boldness ;
proceed-
ing from vanity or a false opinion of one's
own abilities, or excellencies.
Their confidence ariseth from too much
credit given to their own wits. Hooker.
CON'FIDENT, n. Having full beUef; trust-
ing ; relying ; fully assured.
I am confident that much may be done to-
wards the "improvement of philosophy. Boyle.
The troops rush on, confident of success.
2. Positive ; dogmatical; as a con/5den< talker.
.3! Trusting ; without suspicion.
Rome, be as just and gracious unto me.
As 1 am confident and kind to thee. Shcik.
4. Bold to a vice ; having an excess of assu-
rance.
The fool rageth and is confident. Prov. xiv.
CON
CON
CON
eON'FIDENT, n. One entrusted with se
Crete ; a confidential or bosom friend.
Dryden. Coxe. Milford.
[This loord has been usually, but improp-
erly, wrilten confidant. / have followed the
regular English orthography, as Coxe and
Miford have done.]
CONfrlDEN'TIAL, a. Enjoying tlie confi-
dence of anotlier ; trusty ; that may be
safely trusted ; as a confidential friend.
2. That is to be treated or kept in confi-
dence ; private : as a coiMential matter.
3. Admitted to special confidence.
€ONFIDEN'TIALLY, adv. In confidence;
in reliance or secrecy.
CON'FIDENTLY, adv. With firm trust;
with strong assurance ; without doubt or
wavering of opinion ; positively ; as, to
believe confidently ; to assert confidently.
CON'FIDENTNESS, n. Confidence; the
quality or state of having full reliance.
eONFI'DER, 71. One who confides; one
who entrusts to another.
CONFIG'URATE, v. i. [L. ronfguro. See
Configure.]
To show hke the aspects of the planets to-
wards each other. Jordan.
CONFIGURA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. con-
figuro.]
1. External form, figure, shape ; the figure
which bounds a body, and gives it its ex-
ternal appearance, constituting one of the
principal differences between bodies.
Encyc.
2. Aspects of the planets ; or the face of the
horoscope, according to the aspects of the
planets toward each other at any time.
Bailey. Johnson.
3. Resemblance of one figure to another.
Baiky. Jones.
eONFIG'URE, V. t. [\.. configuro'; con and
figuro, to form ; figura, figure.]
To ibrm ; to dispose in a certain form, fig-
ure or shape. Bentley.
CONFI'NABLE, a. That may be confined
or limited. Bp. Hall.
eON'FINE, n. [L. confinis, at tlie end or
border, adjoining ; cotifinium, a limit ; con
and finis, end, border, limit ; It. confine,
confino ; Sp. confin ; Fr. Port. co»/7is.' Sec
Fine.]
Border ; edge ; exterior j)art ; the part of
any territory whicli is at or near the end
or extremity. It is used generally in the
plural, and applied chiefly to countries,
territory, cities, rivers, &c. We say, the
confines of France, or of Scotland, and
figuratively, the confines of light, of death,
or the grave; but never, the confines of a
book, table or small piece of land.
CON'FINE, a. Bordering on ; lying on the
border; adjacent; having a common boun-
dary. Johnson.
CON'FINE, v.i. [FT.confiner;&p.confinar;
It. coufinare.^
To border on ; to touch the limit ; to bo ad-
jacent or contiguous, as one territory,
kingdom or state to anotlier ; usually fol-
lowed by on ; sometimes by with. Eng-
land confines on Scotland. Connecticut
confines on Massachusetts, Now- York,
Rhode Island and the sound.
eONFI'NE, 1'. t. [Sp. confinar ; Fr. confi-
ner. See Supra.]
1. To bound or limit ; to restrain within
limits ; hence, to imprison ; to shut up ; to
restrain from escape by force or insur-
mountable obstacles, in a general sense;
as, to confine horses or cattle to an inclo-
sure ; to confine water in a pond, to dam ;
to confine a garrison in a town ; to confi
a criminal in prison.
2. To imnuire ; to keep close, by a voluntary
act ; to be much at home or hi retirement
as, a. man confines himself to his studies
or to his house.
3. To hmit or restrain voluntarily, in some
act or practice ; as, a man may coti^i
himself to the use of animal food.
4. To tie or bind ; to make fast or close ; as,
to confine air in a bladder, or corn in a bag
or sack.
5. To restrain by a moral force ; as, to
fine men by law.s. The constitution of tlie
United States confines the states to the ex
ercise of powers of a local nature.
eONFI'NED, pp. Restrained within limits
imprisoned ; limited ; secluded ; close.
eON'FINEI.ESS, a. Boundless ; unlimited ;
without end. Shak
CONFI'NEiMENT, n. Restraint withir
limits ; imprisonment ; any restraint of
liberty by force or other obstacle or neces-
sity ; as the confinement of a debtor or
criminal to a prison, or of troojis to a be
sieged town.
2. Voluntary restraint ; seclusion ; as the
confinement of a man to his house,
his studies.
3. Voluntary restraint in action or practice ;
confinement to a particular diet.
4. Restraint from going abroad by sickness,
particularly by cliild-birtli.
eONFI'NER, H. He or that which limit
or restrauis.
eON'FINER, n. A borderer; one who
lives on confines, or near tlie border ofii
country. Shak
2. He or that which is near the limit ; a near
neighbor ; he or that which is adjacent or
contiguous ; as confiners in art ; confincrs
between plants and animals, as oysters.
If'ollon. Bacon.
CONFI'NING, ppr. Restraining ; limiting ;
imprisoning.
CONFIN'ITV, n. [L. confinitas.] Contigu-
ity ; nearness ; neighborhood. Diet.
€ONlFIRM', v.t. conferm'. [I., corfirmo ;
con and firmo, to make firm. See Firm.]
1. To make firm, or more firm ; to add
strength to ; to strengthen ; as, health is
confirmed by exercise.
2. To fix more firmly ; to settle or establish.
Confirming the souls of the disciples. Acts
xiv.
I confirm thee in the priesthood. Maccabees.
Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs.
Shak.
3. To make firm or certain ; to give new
assurance of truth or certainty ; to put
past doubt.
The testimony of Christ was confirmed in
you. 1 Cor. 1.
4. To fix ; to radicate ; as, the patient has
confirmed dropsy.
5. To strengthen ; to ratify ; as, to confirm
an agreement, jiroraise, covenant or title.
6. To make more firm ; to strengthen ; as, to
confirm an opinion, a purpose or resolution.
7. To admit to tlie full privileges of a chris-
tian, by the imposition of hands. Johnson.
CONFIRM' ABLE, a. conferm'aUe. That
may be confirmed, estabhshed or ratified :
capable of l>eing made more certain.
Brown.
CONFIRM .VTION, n. The act of confirm-
ing or establishing ; a fixing, settling, es-
tablishing or making more certain or firm ;
establishment.
In the defense and confirmation of the gospel,
ye are all partakers of my grace. Phil. i.
2. The act of ratifying; as the confirmation
of a promise, covenant, or stipulation.
3. The act of giving new strength; as the
confirmation of health.
4. The act of giving new evidence ; as the
ifirmation of opinion or report.
5. That which confirms ; that which give?
new strength or assurance ; additional ev-
idence ; proof; convincing testimony ; as.
this fact or this argument is a confirma-
tion of what was before alledged.
G. In law, an assurance of title, by the con-
veyance of an estate or right tn esse, from
one man to another, by w-liich a voidable
estate is made sure or unavoidable, or a
particular estate is increased, or a jiosses-
sion made perfect. Blackstone.
7. In church affairs, the act of ratifying the
election of an archbishop or bishop, by
the king, or by persons of his appointment.
Blackstone.
8. The act or ceremony of laying on of
hands, in the admission of baptized per-
sons to the enjoyment of christian privi-
leges. The person to be confirmed brings
his godfather and godmother, and takes
upon himself the baptismal vows. This is
practiced in the Greek, Roman and Epis-
copal churches. Hammond. Encyc.
CONFIRM'ATIVE, a. conferm' alive. Having
the power of confirming ; tending to es-
tablish.
CONFIRMA'TOR, 7t. He or that which
confirms. Brotcn.
CONFIRM'ATORY, a. conferm' atory. That
serves to confirm ; giving additional
strength, force or stability, or additional
assurance or evidence.
2. Pertaining to the rite of confirmation.
Bp. Compton.
CONFIRM'ED,;);). conferm'ed. Made more
firm ; strengthened ; established.
2. Admitted to the fiiU privileges of the
church.
CONFIRM EDNESS, n. conferm'edness A
fixed state.
CONFIRM ER, n. conferm'er. He or that
which confirms, establishes or ratifies ;
one that produces new evidence ; an at-
tester. Shak.
CONFIRM'ING, ppr. confenn'ing. Slaking
firm or more firm ; strengthening ; ratify-
ing ; giving additional evidence or proof;
estabhshing.
CONFIRM'INGLY, adv. conferm'ingly. In
a manner to strengthen or make firm".
B. Jonson.
CONFISCABLE, a. [See Confiscate.] That
may be confiscated ; hable to forfeiture.
Browne.
CONFISC.VTE, v.t. [L. confisco ; con and
fiscus, a basket, hamper or bag ; hence,
revenue or the Emperor's treasure ; It.
confiscare ; Fr. confisquer ; Sp. confiscar.']
To adjudge to be Ibrfeited to the public
treasury, as the goods or estate of a traitor
or other criminal, by way of penalty ; or
C O N
CON
C O N
10 condemn private forfeited property to
public use.
The estate of the rebels was seized and con-
fiscated. Anon.
CON'FISCATE, a. Forfeited and adjudged
to the public treasury, as the goods of a
criminal.
€ON'FIS€ATED, pp. Adjudged to the pub-
fic treasury, as forfeited goods or estate.
CON'FISCATING, ppr. Adjudging to the
public use.
rONFISCA'TION, n. The act of condem-
ning as forfeited, and adjudging to the
public treasury ; as the goods of a crimi-
nal who has committed a public offense.
Ezra vii. 26.
CON'FIS€ATOR, ji. One who confiscates.
Burkt.
eONFIS'€ATORY, a. Consigning to for-
feiture. Burke.
CON'FIT, 71. A sweetmeat. [See Confect.]
CON'FITENT, n. [L. conftens. See Con-
fess.] One who confesses his sins and
faults. [jVb< much used.]
eON'FITURE, n. [Fr. from confre, conft;
L. confectura, conjicio ; con and facio. This
word is corrupted into comjit, which is now
used.]
A sweetmeat ; confection ; comfit. Bacon.
CONFIX', V. t. [L. configo, confixum ; con
and fgo, to fix, to thrust to or on. See
Fix.]
To fix down ; to fasten. Shak.
eONFIX'ED, pp. Fixed down or to ; fas-
tened.
eONFIX'ING, ppi: Fixing to or on ; fas-
tening.
CONFIX'URE, n. The act of fastening.
Mountagu.
eONFLA'GRANT, a. [L. conjlagrans, con-
fiagro ; con and flagro, to burn. See Fla-
grant.]
Burning together; involved in a common
flame. ' Milton.
CONFLAGRA'TION, n. [L. conjlagratio.
See Flagrant.]
1. A great fire or the burning of any great
mass of combustibles, as a house, but more
especially a city or a forest. Bentley.
2. The burning of the world at the consum-
mation of things, when " the elements
shall melt with fervent heat."
CONFLA'TION, n. [L. conjtatio, from con
Jlo ; co>)i and_^o, to blow. See Blow.]
1. The act of blowing two or more instru
ments together. Bacon
2. A melting or casting of metal. [Little
used.]
CONFLEX'URE, n. A bending. [J^ot
used.]
€0N'FLI€T, n. [L. confiictus, from conjli-
go ; con and Jligo, to strike, Eng. to Jlog,
to lick ; Sp. conjlicto ; It. conflitlo ; Fr. con-
flit.]
1. A striking or dashing against each other,
as of two moving bodies in opposition
violent collision of substances; as a conflict
of elements, or waves ; a conflict of part'
cles in ebullition.
2. A fighting ; combat, as between men,
and applicable to individuals or to armies ;
as, the conflict was long and desperate.
3. Contention ; strife ; contest.
In our last conflict, four of his five wits weni
hatting off, Shak,
4. A struggling with difficulties ; a striving,
to oppose, or overcome.
The good man has a perpetual conflict with
his evil propensities.
5. A struggling of the mind ; distress ; anxie-
ty. Col. ii.
i. The last struggle of life ; agony ; as the
conflict with death. Thomson.
7. Opposing operations ; countervailing ac-
tion ; collision ; opposition.
In exercising the right of freemen, the man
of religion experiences no conflict between his
duty and his inclination. J. Appleton.
CONFLICT', V. i. To strike or dash against ;
to meet and oppose, as bodies driven by
violence ; as conflicting waves or ele-
ments.
2. To drive or strike against, as contend-
g men, or armies ; tp fight ; to contend
ith violence ; as conflicting armies.
3. To strive or struggle to resist and over-
come ; as men coii/licling with difficulties.
4. To be in opposition or contradictory.
The laws of the United States and of the in-
dividual States, may, in some cases, cmtflicl
with each other. Ogden, fVheaton's Rep.
CONFLICT' ING, ppr. Striking, or dashing
together ; fighting ; contending ; strug-
gling to resist and overcome.
2. a. Being in opposition ; contrary ; contra-
dictory.
In the absence of all conflicting evidence.
Story.
eON'FLUENCE, n. [L. confluentia, from
confluo ; con and fluo, to flow. See Flow.]
1. A flowing together ; the meeting or junc-
tion of two or more streams of water, or
other fluid ; also, the place of meeting; as
the confluence of the Tigris and the Frat,
or of the Ohio and IVIississippi.
2. The running together of peo])le ; the act
of meeting and crowding in a j)lace ; a
crowd ; a concourse ; the latter word is more
generally used. Temple. Shak.
3. A collection ; meeting ; assemblage.
Boi/lc.
eON'FLUENT, a. [L. confluens.] Flowing
together ; meeting in their course, as two
streams ; as confluent streams.
Blackmore.
2. In medical science, running together, and
spreading over a large surface of the body ;
as the confluent small-pox. Encyc.
3. In botany, imited at the base ; growing in
tufts, as con^Hcnt leaves ; running into each
other, as confluent lobes. Martyn.
CON'FLUX, n. [Low L. confluxio, from con-
fluo. See Confluence.]
1. A flowing together ; a meeting of two or
more currents of a fluid. Shak
2. A collection ; a crowd ; a multitude col
lected ; as a general conflux of people.
Clarendon
CONFLUXIBIL'ITY, n. The tendency of
fluids to run together. [Little iiscd.]
Boyle.
CONFORM', a. [L. conformis ; con and
orma, form.]
ade to resemble ; assuming the same form ;
like ; resembling. [Little used.] Bacon.
CONFORM', V. f. [L. conformo ; con aiMl
formo, to form, or shape, from forma, form.]
1. To make like, in external appearance ; to
reduce to a like shape, or form, witl
something else ; with to ; as, to conforn
any thing to a model.
Mad
2. More generally, to reduce to a likeness »T
correspondence in manners, opinions or
moral quaUties.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did pre-
destinate to be conformed to the image of his
son. Rom. viii.
Be not conformed to this world. Rom. xii'.
3. To make agreeable to ; to square with a
rule or directory.
Demand of them why they conform not
themselves to the order of tlie church ?
Hooker.
CONFORM', V. i. To comply with or yield
to ; to live or act according to ; as, to con-
form to the fashion or to custom.
2. To comply with ; to obey ; as, to conform
to the laws of the state.
CONFORMABLE, a. Correspondent ; Lav-
ing the same or similar external form, or
shape ; hke ; resembling ; as an edifice
conformable to a model or draft.
2. Having the same or similar manners,
opinions or moral qualities.
The Gentiles were not made ccmforma1>U to
the Jews, in that which was to cease at the
coming of Christ. Hooker.
3. Agreeable ; suitable ; consistent ; as, na-
ture is conformable to herself. N'ewton.
4. Compliant ; ready to follow directions;
submissive ; obsequious ; peaceable ; dis-
posed to obey.
I have been to you a true and humble wife.
At all time to your will conformable.
Shak.
It is generally followed by to, but good
writers have used ivith. In its etymologi-
cal sense, that may be conformed, capable
of being conformed, it seems not to be used.
CONFORM'ABLY, adv. With or in con-
formity ; suitably ; agreeably.
Let us settle, in our own minds, what rules to
pursue and act conformably.
CONFORM A'TION, n.' The manner in
which a body is formed ; the particular
texture or structure of a body, or disposi-
tion of the parts which compose it ; form}
structure ; often with relation to some oth-
er body, and with adaptation to some pur-
pose or effect.
Light of different colors is reflected from
bodies, according to their different conforma-
tion. Varieties of sound depend on the con-
formation of the organs.
2. The act of conforming ; the act of produ-
cing suitableness, or conformity ; with to ;
as the coJi/ormah'on of our hearts and lives
to the duties of true religion. fVatts.
3. In medical science, the particular make or
construction of the body peculiar to an in-
dividual ; as a good or bad conformation.
Encyc.
CONFORMED, pp. Made to resemble;
reduced to a hkeness of; made agreeable
to ; suited.
CONFORM'ER, n. One who conforms;
one who complies with established forms
or doctrines.
CONFORM'ING, ppr. Reducing to a like-
ness; adapting; complying %vith.
CONFORM'IST, n. One who conforms or
comphes ; appropriately, one who com-
plies with the worship of the church of
England or of the established church, a&
distinguished from a dissenter, or noncon-
formist.
CONFORM'ITY, n. Likeness ; correspon-
dence with a model in form or manner ^
CON
resemblance ; agreement ; congruity witl:
something else ; followed by to or with.
A ship is constructed in conformity to a mo^
(lei, orin coj/ormiti/ t^itA a model.
True happiness consists in conformity of life
to the divine law.
8. Consistency ; agreement.
Many instances prove the conformity of the
essay ivith the notions of Hippocrates.
Arbuthnot
0. In theology, correspondence in manners
and principles ; compliance with customs.
Live not in conformity with the world.
Anon
eONFORTA'TION, n. [See Comfort.] The
act of comforting or giving strength. [JVot
used.] Bacon.
CONFOUND', V. t. [Fr. confondre ; L. con
/undo ; con and /undo, to pour out ; It. con
fondere ; Sp. Port, confundir. Literally, to
pour or throw together.]
1. To mingle and blend different things, so
that their forms or natures cannot be dis-
tinguished ; to mix in a mass or crowd, sc
that individuals cannot be distinguished
2. To throw into disorder.
Let us go down, and there confound theii
language. Gen. xi.
3. To mix or blend, so as to occasion a mis
take of one thing for another.
A fluid body and a wetting liquor, because
they agree in many things, are wont to be con-
founded. Boyle
Men may confound ideas with words.
4. To perplex ; to disturb the apprehension
by indistinctnes of ideas or words.
Men may confound each other by unintelli
gible terms or wrong application of words.
5. To abash ; to throw the mind into disor-
der ; to cast down; to make ashamed.
Be thou confounded and bear thy shame
Ezek. xvi.
Saul confounded tlie Jews at Damascus. Act
ix.
0. To perplex with terror ; to terrify ; to dis
may; to astonish; to throw into conster
nation ; to stupify with amazement.
So spake the Son of God ; and Satan stood
A while as mute, confounded what to say.
Araton.
The multitude came together and were con-
founded. Acts ii.
7. To destroy ; to overthrow.
So deep a malice to confound the race
Of mankind in one root. Milton.
CONFOUND'ED, pp. Mixed or blended in
disorder ; perplexed ; abashed ; dismay-
ed ; i)ut to shame and silence ; astonished
2. o. Enormous ; as a confounded tory
[Vuisctr.]
CONFOUND'EDLY, adv. Enormously;
greatly ; shamefully ; as, he was confound-
edly avaricious. [A low tvord.]
€ON'FOUND'EDNESS, n. The state of
being confounded. Milton.
■eONFOUND'ER, n. One who confounds
one who disturbs the mind, perplexes, re-
futeSj frustrates and puts to shame or si-
lence ; one who terrifies.
CONFOUND'ING, ppr. Mixing and blend-
ing ; putting into disorder ; peri)lexing
disturbing the mind; abashing, and put-
ting to shame and silence : astonishing.
CONFRATER'NITY, n. [It. confrate,-nita ;
Fr. confrateniM ; con and L. fratemitas,
fraternity, from frater, brother.')
A brothprhood ; a soeiery or body of men
CON
united for some purpose or in some pro-
fession ; as the confraternity of Jesuits.
CONFRl€A'TION, n. [It. confricazione.
friction ; L. confrico ; con unifnco, to rub.
See Friction.]
A rubbing against ; friction. Bacon.
eONFRI'ER, n. [Fr. confrere.] One of the
same religious order. H'eever.
CONFRONT', V. t. [It. confrontare ; Sp. Port.
ifrontar ; Fr. confronler ; con and front
the' forehead, or front, L. frons.]
face in full i '
view ; to face ;
To stand face to face
stand in front.
He spoke and then confronts the bull.
Drydi
2. To stand in direct opposition ; to oppose.
The East and West churches did both cor
front the Jews, and concur with them. Hooke
\\. To set face to face ; to bring into the
presence of; as an accused person and a
witness, in court, for examination and dis-
covery of the truth ; followed by vnth.
Tlic witnesses are confronted with the accu-
sed, the accused with one another, or the wit
nesses with one another. Encyc
4. To set together for comparison ; to com
pare one thing with another.
When I confront a medal witli a verse, I on
ly show you the same design executed by dif-
ferent hands. Addison
CONFRONTA'TION, n. The act of bring
ing two persons into the presence of eaclj
otlicr for examination and discovery of]
truth.
eONFRONT'ED, pp. Set face to face, or
in opposition ; brought into the presence
of
eONFRONT'ING, ppr. Setting or stand
g face to face, or in opposition, or ii
esence of.
CONFU'SE, V. I. 3 as z. [L. confusus ; Fr
confus ; from L. confundo. See Confound.]
1. To mix or blend things, so that they can-
not be distinguislied.
Stunning sounds and voices all confused.
Milton.
Every battle of the wanior is with confused
noise. Is. ix.
3. To tlisorder ; as, a sudden alarm confused
the troops ; a careless booklieeper has con-
fused the accounts.
3. To perplex ; to render indistinct ; as, the
clamor confused his ideas.
4. To throw the mind into disorder ; to cast
down or abash ; to cause to blush ; to agi-
tate by surprise, or shame ; to disconcert.
A sarcastic remark confused the gentleman
and he could not proceed in his argmnent.
Confused and sadly she at length repUed.
Pope.
CONFU'SED, pp. Mixed ; blended, so that
the things or persons mixed cannot be dis-
tinguished.
Some cried one thing, and some anotlier : for
the assembly was confused. Acts xix.
2. Perplexed by disorder, or want of system
as a confused accoimt.
3. Abashed ; put to the blush or to shame ;
agitated ; disconcerted.
CONFU'SEDLY, adv. In a mi.xed
without order or separation ; indistinctly ;
not clearly ; tuinultuously ; with agitation
of mind ; without regularity or system.
CONFU'SEDNESS, 21. A state of being
confused ; want of order, distinction or
clearness.
CON
Tlic cause of the confusedness of our n
CONFU'SION, n. In a general sense, a
mixture of several things promiscuously ;
hence, disorder ; irregularity ; as the con-
fusion of tongues at Babel.
2. Tumult; want of order in society.
The whole city was fdled with coiifusimi.
\cts xix.
God is not the author of confusion. 1 Cor.
siv.
3. A blending or confounding ; indistinct
combination ; opposed to distinctness or
perspicuity ; as a confusion of ideas.
4. Abashment; shame.
O Lord, let me never be put to collusion
Ps. Ixxi.
We lie in shame and our cnnfusinn covereth
5. Astonishment ; agitation ; pcrtubation :
distraction of mind.
Confusion dwelt in every face. Spectator
G. Overthrow ; defeat ; ruin.
The makers of idols shall go to confusion to-
getlier. Is. xlv.
7. A shameful blending of natures, a shock-
ing crime. Levit. xviii. 23. xx. 12.
CONFU'TABLE, a. [See Confute.] That
may be confuted, disproved or overthrown ;
that may be shown to be false, defective
or invaUd ; as, an argument or a course of
reasoning is confutable.
CONFU'TANT, n. One who confutes or
undertakes to confute. Milton.
eONFUTA'TION, n. The act of confu-
ting, disproving, or proving to be false, or
invalid ; refutation ; overthrow ; as of argu-
ments, opinions, reasoning, theory, or
CONFU'TE, V. I. [L. confuto ; con and ant.
futo ; Sp. confutar ; It. confutare. Cla.ss
Bd.]
L To disprove ; to prove to be false, defect-
ive or invalid ; to overthrow ; as, to confute
arguments, reasoning, theory, error.
2. To prove to be wrong ; to convict of error,
by argument or proof; a.«, to confute an
advocate at the bar; to confute a writer.
CONFUTED, ;>;). Disproved; proved to be
false, defective or unsound ; overthrown
by argument, fact or proof.
CONFU'TER, ;i. One who disproves, or
confutes. Morion.
CONFU'TING, ppr. Disproving ; proving to
be false, defective or invalid ; overthrow-
ing by argument or proof.
CON'CiE, n. con'jee. [Fr. congi, leave, per-
mission, discharge, contracted from con-
ged ; verb, congedier, to dismiss ; It. con-
gedo, leave, permission ; congedare, to give
leave ; Arm. congea. Tlie verb is a com-
pound of con and ged ; W. gadaiv, to quit,
to leave, to permit ; gad, leave. Gadaw is
the Celtic form of the L. cedo. Conged is
therefore concedo.]
1. Leave ; farewell ; parting ceremony.
Spenser.
2. The act of respect performed at the part-
ing of friends. Hence, the customary act
of civility, on other occasions ; a bow or a,
courtesy.
The captain salutes you with conge profound.
Swift.
CONgE', v. i. To take leave with the cus-
tomary civilities ; to bow or courtesy.
The preterite congeed is tolerable in En-
CON
CON
CON
glish ; but congeing will not be admitted,
and congeemg is an anomaly.
Conge (V etire, "in ecclesiastical affairs, the
king's license or permission to a dean and
chapter, to choose a bishop; or to an ab-
bey or priory of his own foundation, to
choose their abbot or jirior. The king ot
Great Britain, as sovereign patron, had
formerly the appointment of all ecclesias-
tical dignities ; investing by crosier and
ring, and afterwards i)y letters patent.
But now the king, on demand, sends his
conge (T elire to the dean and chapter, with
a letter missive, containing the nameof tlie
person he would have thera elect, and if
they delay the election twelve days, the
nomination devolves on the king, who may
appoint by letters patent.
Enciic. Vowel. Blachslone.
CON'UE, n. In architecture, a mold in form
of a quarter round, or a cavetto, which
serves to separate two members from one
another; such as that which joins the shaft
of the column to the cincture, called also
apophyge. Also, a ring or fernde, formerly
used on the extremities of columns to keep
them from splitting ; afterwards imitated
in stone-work. Encyc.
CONgE'AL, v. t. [L. congelo ; con and gelo,
to freeze ; Fr. congeler ; It. congelare ; Sp.
congelar ; Arm. caledi. This may be con-
nected with the W. ceulmv, to curdle or
coagulate, from caul, a calf's maw ; also,
rennet, cui-d and chyle. The li. gelo has
the elements of cooZ, but it may be a differ-
ent word.]
1. To change from a fluid to a solid state, as
by cold, or a loss of heat, as water in free-
zing, liquid metal or wax in cooling, blood
in stagnating or cooling, &c. ; to harden
into ice, or into a substance of less solidity.
Cold congeals water into ice, or vapor into
lioar frost or snow, and blood into a less
solid mass, or clot.
2. To bind or fix with cold. Applied to the
circulating blood, it does not signify abso-
lutely to harden, but to cause a sensation
of cold, a shivering, or a receding of the
blood from the extremities ; as, the fright-
ful scene congealed his blood.
€0NGE'AL, v. i. To grow liard, stiff or
thick ; to pass from a fluid to a solid state ;
to concrete into a solid mass. Melted lead
congeals ; water congeals ; blood cons:eats.
€ON'gE'ALABLE, a. That may be'con-
gealed; capable of being converted from a
fluid to a solid state. Bacon.
eON6E'ALED, p;?. Converted into ice, or
a solid mass, by the loss of heat or other
process ; concreted.
€ONGE'ALING, ppr. Changing from a h-
quid to a solid state ; concreting.
€ONgE'ALMENT, n. A clot or concretion
that which is formed by congelation. Also
congelation.
€ONgELA'TION, n. [L. congelatio.] The
process of passing, or the act of converting,
from a fluid to a solid state ; or the state
of being congealed ; concretion. It differs
from crystalization in this : in congelation
the whole substance of a fluid may become
solid ; in crystalization, when a salt is form
ed, a portion of liquid is left. But the con
gelation of water is a real crystalization.
Encyc.
CONgE'NER, n. [L. congener; con and
gencr, kind, race.]
A thing of the same kind or nature.
The cherry tree has been often grafted on tlic
laurel, to which it is a congener. Miller.
eONGE'NER, ? Of the same kind
CONgEN'EROUS, ^ "• or nature; aUied in
origin or cause ; as congeneroits bodies ;
congenerous diseases.
Brown. Arhullwol
CONt;EN'ERACY, n. Similarity of origin
€ONgENER'I€, a. Being of the same kind I
gmg into ice, or the state of being convert-
ed to ice ; a freezing ; congelation.
CONgEN'EROUSNESS, n. The quality ol
being from the same original, or of belong-
ing to the same class. Did
CONgE'NIAL, a. [L. con and genus
whence genialis, genial. See Generate.]
1. Partaking of the same genus, kind or na-
ture ; kindred ; cognate ; as congenial
souls.
3. Belonging to the nature ; natural ; agree
able to the nature ; usually followed by to ;
as, this severity is not congenial to hiin.
3. Natural; agreeable to the nature ; adapt
ed ; as a soil congenial to a plant.
CONGENIALITY, > Participation of
eONGE'NIALNESS, ^ "" the same genus,
nature or original ; cognation ; natural af-
finity ; suitableness. M'otton.
€ONgEN'ITE, I [L. congenilus; con
CONgEN'ITAL, S and genitus, born,
from gigno, to beget, gignor, to be born.]
Of the same birth ; born with another; con-
nate ; begotten together.
Many conclusions of moral and intellectual
truths seem to be congenite with us. Hale.
Native or congc/iital varieties of animals.
Lawrence.
€0N'GER, ?i. co7ig'gur. [L. conger or con-
grus ; Gr. xoyypo;, or -/oyyfjo; ; It. gongro ;
Fr. congre.]
The sea-eel ; a large species of eel, sometimes
growing to the length of ten feet, and
weighing a hundred jtounds. In Corn-
wall, England, it is an article of com-
merce, being shipped to Spain and Por-
tugal. Encyc.
CONgE'RIES, n. [L. from congero, to bring
together, to amass ; con and gero, to bear.]
A collection of several particles or bodies in
one mass or aggregate. Boyle.
CONGEST', V. i. [L. congero, congestuni ;
con and gero, to bear.]
To collect or gather into a mass or aggre-
gate. Rnieigh.
eONGEST'IBLE, a. That may be collected
into a mass.
CON6ES'TION, n. [L. congeslio.] A col
lection of humors in an animal body, hard
ened into a tumor. An accunnilation of
blood in a part. Encyc. Coxe
eON'GlARY, n. [L. congianum, from con-
gius, a measure ; Fr. congiaire.]
Properl}', a present made by the Roman em-
jierors to the people ; originally in corn oi
wine measured out to them in a congius, a
vessel holding a gallon or rather more.
In present usage, a gift or a donative
represented on a medal.
Encyc. Addison.
CONGLA'CIATE, v. i. [L. conglacio ; con
and glacio, to freeze ; glacics, ice.]
To turn to ice ; to freeze. Brown.
eONGLACIA'TION, n. The act of chan-
CONGLO'BATE, a. [L. conglobatus, from
conglobo ; con and globo, to collect or tn
make round ; globus, a ball. See Globe.]
Formed or gathered into a ball. A conglobati
gland is a single or lymphatic gland, a small
smooth body, covered in a fine skin, ad-
milting only an artery and a lymphatic,
vessel to pass in, and a vein and a lymph-
atic vessel to pass out. Parr. Coxe.
IjCONGLO'BATE, v. f. To collect or form
into a ball or hard, round substance.
Greic.
;C0NGL0'B.\TED, pp. Collected or formed
into a ball.
CONGLO'BATELY, adv. In a round or
roundish form.
€ONGLOBA'TION, n. The act of forming
into a ball ; a round body.
eONGLO'BE, V. t. [L. conglobo ; con and
globo, from globus, a round body.]
To gather into a ball ; to collect into a round
mass. Milton.
l€ONGLO'BE, v. i. To collect, unite or coa-
lesce in a round mass. Milton.
CONGLO'BED, pp. Collected into a ball.
eONGLO'BING, ppr. Gathering into a
round mass or ball.
eONGLOB'ULATE, v. i. To gather into a
little round mass, or globule. Johnson.
eONGLOM'ERATE, a. [L. conglomero ;
con and glomero, to wind into a ball, from
glomus, a ball, a clew. See Glomerate.]
1. Gathered into a ball or round body. A
conglomerate gland is composed of many
smaller glands, whose excretory ducts
unite in a common one, as the liver, kid-
neys, pancreas, parotids, &c. Each little
granulated portion furnislics a small tube,
which unites with other similar ducts, to
form the common excretory duct of the
gland. Coxe. Encyc.
2. In botany, conglomerate flowers grow on
a branching peduncle or foot stalk, on
short pedicles, closely compacted together
without order ; opposed to diffused.
Marty n.
3. Conglomerate rocks. [See Pudding-
stone.]
CONGLOMERATE, v. t. To gather into a
ball or round body ; to collect into a round
mass. Grew.
eONGLOM'ERATE, n. In mineralogy, a
sort of pudding-stone, or coarse sandstone,
composed of pebbles of quartz, flint, sili-
ceous slate, &c. Cleaveland.
eONGLOM'ERATED, pp. Gathered into
a ball or round mass.
CONGLOM'ER.'VTING, ppr. Collecting in-
to a ball.
€ONGLO.MERA'TION, n. The act of gath-
ering into a ball ; the state of being thus
collected : collection ; accumulation.
eONGLU'TINANT, a. [See Conglutinate.]
Gluing; uniting; healing. Bacon.
eONGLU'TINANT, n. A medichie that
heals wounds.
€ONGLU'TINATE, v. I. [L. congluUno ;
con and glutino, from gluten, glue. See
Glue.]
To glue together;
gill-
to unite by
tinous or tenacious substance.
2. To heal; to unite the separated parts of a
wound by a tenacious substance.
CON
CON
CON
eONGLU'TINATE, v. i. To coalesce ; toj
unite by the intervention of a cnlliis.
Johnson.]
CONGLU'TINATED, ;;;>. Glued together;
united by a tenacious substance.
€ONGLU'TINATING, ppr. Gluing togeth-
er ; uniting; or closing by a tenacious sub-
stance.
€ONGLUTINA'TION, n. The act of gluing
together ; a joining by means of some tena-
cious substance ; a healing by uniting the
parts of a wound ; union. Arhuthnol.
eONGLU'TINATlVE, a. Having the pow-
er of uniting by glue or other substance of
like nature.
eONGLU'TINATOR, n. That which has
the power of uniting wounds.
If'oodward.
CON'GO, n. cong'go. A species of tea from
China.
CONGRAT'ULANT, a. Rejoicing in parti-
cipation. Milton.
€ONGRAT'ULATE, v. t. [h. congratulor ;
con and gralutor, from grains, grateful,
pleasing. See Grace.]
To profess one's pleasure or joy to another
on account of an event deemed happy or
fortunate, as on the birth of a child, suc-
cess in an enterprise, victory, escape from
danger, &c.; to wish joy to another.
We congratulate the nation on the resto-
ration of peace.
Formerly this verb was followed by to.
" The subjects of England may congratu-
late to themselves." Dryden. But this use
of to is entirely obsolete. The use of ivith
after this verb, " 1 congratulate ivith my
country," is perhaps less objectionable,
but is rarely used. The intransitive sense
of the verb may therefore be considered as
antiquated, and no longer legitimate.
CON<iU AT I I.AI'MD, pp. Complimented
with i\|i!i s-hihs .it' joy at a hui)py event.
CON<;i; \ r I I.Al'LNG, ppr. Professing
one's Joy or ^^^tlslaction on account of
some lia|)py event, prosperity or success.
€ONGRATULA'TION, n. The act of pro
fessing one's joy or good wishes at the sue
cess or happiness of another, or on ae
count of an event deemed fortunate to both
parties or to the conmumity.
CONGRAT'ULATOR, n. One who offers
congratulation. Milton
€ONGRAT'UL.\TORY, a. Expressing joy
for the good fortune of another, or for an
event fortunate for both parties or for the
commimity.
CONGREE', V. i. To agree. [jVo< in use.]
Shak.
eONGREE'T, t'. t. To salute mutually.
Wot in tise.] Shak.
CON'GREGATE, v. I. [h. coyigrego ; con
apd grex, a herd, W. gre. See Grega-
To collect separate persons or things into an
assemblage ; to a.ssemble ; to bring into
one place, or into a crowd or united body
as, to congregate men or animals ; to coil-
gregate waters or sands.
Hooker. Milton. Shak
CON'GREGATE, v. i. To come together
to assemble ; to meet.
Equals with equals often congiegate.
Venham.
.-CON'GREGATE, a. Collected; compact;
close. [lAttle used.] Bacon.
CON GREGATED, pp. Collected ; assera-
s <;i! r,<;A'rii\G, ppr. Collecting; as-
, liihliML' ; coTMing together.
COiN(;|{|;<;.V TION, n. The act of bringing
together, or assembling.
2. A collection or assemblage of separate
things; as a congrcg-a/ionof vapors.
Shak.
3. More generally, an assembly of persons ;
and appropriately, an assembly of persons
met for the worship of God, and for reli-
gious instruction. Hooker
4. An assembly of rulers. Numb. xxxv.
An assembly of ecclesiastics or cardinals
appointed by the pope ; as the congrega-
tion of the holy office, &c. Also, a compa-
ny or society of religious cantoned out of
an order. Encyc.
6. An academical assembly for transacting
business of the university. England.
eONGREGA'TIONAL, a. Pertaining to m
congregation ; appropriately used of sucli
christians as hold to church government
by consent and election, maiutainiuj^ that
each congregation is independent of oth-
ers, and has the right to choose its own
pastor and govern itself ; as a congrega-
tional church, or mode of worship.
CONGREGATIONALISM, n. Ecclcsiast
ical goveinniciil in llie hands of eacl
churcli, as .in iiiili|)(ii(liMit body.
CONGRK<iA rioNAl.lST, n. One who
belongs to a cDngrrg.itional church
ciety ; one who holds to the independence
of each congregation or church of christ
ians, in the right of electing a pastor, and
in governing the church.
CON'GRESS, n. [L. congressus, from con
gredior, to come together ; con and gradior,
to go or step ; gradus, a steji. See Gradi
and Degree.]
1. A meeting of individuals ; an assembly of
envoys, commissioners, deputies, &c., par
ticularly a meeting of the representatives
of several courts, to concert measures for
their common good, or to adjust their mu
tual concerns. Europe
2. The assembly of delegates of the several
British Colonics in America, which united
to resist the claims of Great Britain in 1774,
and which declared tlie colonies independ-
ent.
3. The assembly of the delegates of the sev-
eral United States, after the declaration ut
Independence, and until the adoption of
the present constitution, and the organiza-
tion of the government in 1789. During
these periods, the congress consisted of
one house only.
4. The assembly of senators and representa-
tives of the several .states of North Ameri-
ca, according to the present constitution,
or political compact, by which they are
united in a federal republic ; the legislature
of the United States, consisting of two
houses, a senate and a house of representa-
tives. Members of the senate are elected
for six years, but the members of the house
of representatives are chosen for two years
only. Hence the united body of senators
and representatives for the two years, dur-
ing which the representatives "hold their
seats, is called one congress. Thus we say
the first or second session of tlie sixteenth
congress.
5. A meeting of two or more ]iersons in a
contest ; an encounter ; a conflict. Dryden.
a. The meetingof the sexes in sexual com-
merce.
eONGRES'SION, n. A company. [Mt in
use.]
eONGRES'SIONAL, a. Pertaining to a
congress, or to the congress of the United
States ; as congressional debates.
The congressional institution of .Amphictj-
ons in Greece. Barlow.
CONGRES'SIVE, a. Meeting, as the .sexes.
Brown .
2. Encountering.
CONGRU'E, r. 7. To agree. [Xot used.]
Shak.
CONGRUENCE,? [L. congruentia, from
CONGRU ENCy, ^ congruo, to agree, or
suit.]
Snitiitilctifs-i of one thing to another; o^rce-
iiifnt ; cnii-i-iency. More.
( ( >,N <Jl!ri',.\T, a. Suilalilc ; agreeing; cor-
rcs|i(p|:ilc-iit. Davtes.
CONGRU ITY, )i. Suitableness; the rela-
tion of agreement between things.
There is no congruUy between a mean sub-
ject and a lofty stjie ; but an obvious congruili/
between an elevated station and dignified de-
portment.
2. Fitness; pertinence.
A whole sentence may fail of its congruiti/
by wanting a particle. &dncy.
3. Reason ; consistency ; propriety.
Hooker.
4. In school divinity, the good actions which
are supposed to render it meet and equita-
ble that God should confer grace on those
who perform them. The merit of con-
gruity is a sort of imperfect qualification
for the gift and reception of God's grace.
Milner.
5. In geometry, figures or lines, which when
laid over one another, exactly correspond,
are in congndly. Johnson.
CON'GRUOUS, a. [L. congruus.] Suita-
ble ; consistent ; agreeable to. Light airy
music and a solemn or mournful occasion
are not congruous. Obedience to God is
congruous to the light of reason. Locke.
■3. Rational; fit.
I It is not congruous that (lod should be al-
! ways frightening men into au acknowledgment
! of the truth. Atterbury.
t()\ (iRUOUSLY, adv. Suitably ; perti-
nently ; ;iL;reeably; consistently. Boyle.
lOiV It', } [L. conicus ; Gr. »unxof.
CON RAL, S See Cone.]
1. Having the form of a cone ; round and
I decreasing to a point; as a co«ic figure;
[ a conical vessel.
2. Pertaining to a cone ; as conic sections.
Conic Section, a curve line formed by the in-
tersection of a cone and plane. The conic
sections are the parabola, hyperbola, and
ellipsis. Bailey.
CON'lCiVLLY, adv. In the form of a cone.
BoyU.
CON'ICALNESS, n. Tlie state or quality of
I being conical.
iCON'ICS, »i. That part of geometry which
treats of the cone and the curves which
arise from its sections. Johnsott.
CONIFEROUS, a. [L. conifer, coniferus ;
from eonus and fero, to bear.]
Bearing cones ; producing hard, dry, scaly
I seed-vessels of a conical figure, as the pine,
! fir, cypress and beech. Martyn. Encyc.
CON
■CO'NIFORM, a. [cone and /orm.] In form
of a cone; conical; as a coniform moun-
tain of Potosi. Kirwan
CO'NITE, n. [Gr. xows, dust.] A mineral
of an ash or greenish gray color, which
becomes brown by exposure to the air.
occurring massive or stalactitic ; found in
Saxony and in Iceland. Ure.
CONJE€T', V. t. To throw together, or to
tlu'ow. [JVot used.] Mounfagu.
€ON.rE€T', V. i. To guess. [Not used.]
Shak.
CONJE€'TOR, 71. [L. from conjido, to
cast together ; con and jado, to throw.]
One who guesses or conjectures. [See
Conjecture.] Swift.
CONJECTURABLE, a. That may be
guessed or conjectured.
€ON.IEC'TURAL, a. Depending on con-
jecture ; done or said by guess ; as a con-
jectural opinion.
CONJE€'TURALLY, adv. Without proof
or evidence ; by conjecture ; by guess ; as
this opinion was given conjecturally.
CONJEe'TURE, n. [L. conjectura ; Fr.
conjecture ; It. congettura, or conghieltura ;
Sp. conjetura ; Port, conjectura or conjei-
tura. See Conjector.]
\. Literally, a casting or throwing together
of possible or probable events ; or a cas
ting of the mind to something future, or
something past but unknown ; a guess
formed on a supposed possibility or prob-
ability of a fact, or on shght evidence ;
preponderance of opinion without proof
surmise. We speak of future or unknown
things by conjecture, and of probable or
imfoimded conjectures.
2. Idea ; notion. Shak.
CONJECTURE, v. t. To guess ; to judge
by guess, or by the probability or the pos-
sibility of a fact, or by very slight evi-
dence ; to form an opinion at random.
What will be the issue of a war, we may
conjecture, but cannot know. He con-
jectured that some misfortune had hap-
pened.
CONJECTURED, pp. Guessed ; surmised.
€ONJE€'TURER, «. One who guesses ; a
gucsser ; one who forms or utters an opin-
ion without proof. Addison.
•eONJEC'TURING, ppr. Guessing; sur-
mising.
CONJOIN', V. t. [Fr. conjoindre ; It. con-
giugnere, or congiungere ; L. conjungo ; con
and jungo, to join. See Join.]
1. To join together, without any thing in-
termediate ; to unite two or more persons
or things in close connection ; as, to
join friends ; to conjoin man and woman
in marriage. Drijden. Shak.
2. To associate, or connect.
Let that which he leams next be nearly con-
joined with what he knows already. Locke
CONJOIN', V. i. To unite; to join; to
league. Shak.
CONJOIN'ED, pp. Joined to or with; uni-
ted ; associated.
CONJOIN'ING, ppr. Joining together
uniting ; connecting.
CONJOINT', a. United ; connected ; asso
ciate.
Conjoint degrees, in music, two notes wliicl
follow eacli other immediately in the order
of the scale; as ut and re. John
Conjoint tetrachords, Uvo tetrachords
CON
fourths, where the same chord is the high
est of one and the lowest of the other.
Encyc
CONJOINT'LY, adv. Jointly; unitedly;
in union ; together. Dryden.
CON'JUGAL, a. [L. conjugalis, from conju-
gium, marriage ; conjugo, to yoke or cou-
ple ; con andjMgo, id. See Join and Yoke.]
1. Belonging to marriage ; matrimonial ;
connubial ; as conjugal relation ; conjugal
ties.
2. Suitable to the married state ; becoming
a husband in relation to his consort, <
consort in relation to her husband ; as
conjugal affection.
CON 'JUG ALLY, adv. Matrimonially ; con
nubiallv.
CON'JUGATE, tJ. t. [L. conjugo, conj^igatns
to couple ; con and nigo, to yoke, to marry
See Join and Yoke.]
1. To join ; to unite in marriage. [.Vo< noto
used.] fVotton
2. In grammar, to distribute the parts or in
flections of a verb, into the several voices,
modes, tenses, numbers and persons, so as
to show their connections, distinctions,
and modes of formation. Literally, to con-
nect all the inflections of a verb, according
to their derivation, or all the variations of
one verb. In English, as the verb under-
goes few variations, conjugation consist!
chiefly in combining the words which uni
tedly form the several tenses in the several
persons.
CON'JUG.-VTE, n. A word agreeing in de
rivation with another word, and therefore
generally resembling it in signification.
We have learned in logic, that coiiju^ates
are sometimes in name only, and not in deed.
Bramhall.
CON'JUGATE, a. In hotany, a conjugate
leaf is a pinnate leaf whicli has only one
pair of leaflets; a conjugate raceme has two
racemes only, united by a common pedun-
cle. Martyn.
Conjugate diameter or axis, in geometry, a
right line bisecting the transverse diame-
ter ; the shortest of the two diameters of
an ellipsis. Chambers. Encyc.
CONJUGA'TION, n. [L. conjugatio.] A
couple or pair ; as a conjugation of nerves.
[Little used.] Brown.
2. The act of uniting or compiling ; union ;
assemblage. Bentley. Taylor.
.3. In grammar, the distribution of the several
inflections or variations of a verb, in their
different voices, modes, tenses, numbers
and persons ; a connected scheme of all
the derivative forms of a verb.
CONJUNCT', a. [L conjundus, from con-
jungo. See Conjoin.]
Conjoined ; united ; concurrent. Shak.
CONJUNCTION, n. [L. conjunctio. See
Conjoin.]
1. Union ; connection ; association by treaty
or otherwise. Bacon. South.
2. In astronomy, the meeting of two or more
stars or planets in the same degree of the
zodiac ; as the conjunction of the moon
with the sun, or of Jupiter and S.iturn.
3. In grammar, a connective or connecting
word ; an indeclinable word which serves
to unite sentences or the clauses of a i
tence and words, joining two or more
simple sentences into one compound one
CON
and continuing it at the pleasure of the
writer or speaker.
This hook cost one dollar and ten cents.
God called the light day and the darkness
he called night.
Virtue and vice are not compatible.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness.
but the expectation of the wicked shall neri«h
Prov. X.
4. The copulation of the sexes.
Smith's Tour.
CONJUNCTIVE, a. Closely united. Shak.
^3. Uniting ; serving to unite.
•3. In gramrnar, the conjunctive mode is that
which follows a conjunction, or expresses
some condition, or contingency. It is
more generally called subjunctive.
CONJUNCTIVELY, adv. In conjunction.
or union ; together. Brown.
CONJUNCTIVENESS, n. The quality of
conjoining or uniting.
CONJUNCT'LY, adv. In union; jointly:
together.
CONJUNCTURE, n. [Fr. conjoncture. See
Conjoin.']
1. A joining ; a combination or union, as of
causes, events or circumstances ; as an un-
happy conjuncture of affairs.
2. An occasion ; a critical time, proceeding
from a union of circumstances. Junc-
ture is used in a like sense.
At that conjuncture, peace was very desi-
rable.
3. Union ; connection ; mode of union ; as
the conjunctures of letters in words.
Holder.
4. Connection ; union ; consistency.
1 was willing to grant to presbytery what with
reason it can pretend to in a conjuncture with
episcopacy. 'King Charles.
CONJURA'TION, n. [See Conjure.] The
act of using certain words or ceremonies
to obtain the aid of a superior being ; the
act of summoning in a sacred name ; the
practice of arts to expel evil spirits, allay
storms, or perform supernatural or extra-
ordinary acts.
CONJU'RE, D. t. [L. conjuro, to swear to-
gether, to conspire ; cmi and juro, to
swear ; It. congiurare ; Sp. conjuror ; Fr.
conjurer.]
1. To call on or summon by a sacred name,
or in a solemn manner ; to implore with
solemnity. It seems originally to have
signified, to bind by an oath.
I conjure you ! let him know,
■ftTiate'er was done against him, Cato did if.
jlddison.
2. To bind two or more by an oath ; to unite
in a conmion design. Hence intransi-
tively, to conspire. [JVot usual.] Milton.
CON'JURE, V. t. To expel, to drive or to
affect, in some manner, by magic arts, as
by invoking the Supreme Being, or by the
use of certain words, characters or cere-
monies toengage supernatural influence ;
as, to conjure up evil spirits, or to conjure
dotvn a tempest ; to conjure the stars.
Note. It is not easy to define this word,
nor any word of like import ; as the practices of
conjurors are little known, or various and in-
definite. The use of this word mdicates that
an oath or solemn invocation originally formed
a part of the ceremonies.
CON'JURE, V. i. To practice the arts of a
conjurer ; to use arts to engage the aid of
spirits in performing some extraordinary
act. Shak.
CON
CON
CON
2. In o vul/rar sense, to behave very strange-
ly ; to art like a witch ; to play tricks.
CONJli'RRI), pp. Bound by an oath.
CONJU'REMENT, n. Serious injunction ;
solemn demand. Milton.
eON'JURER, n. One who practices conju
ration ; one who pretends to the secret
art of performing things supernatural or
extraordinary, by the aid of superior pow-
ers ; an impostor who pretends, by un-
known means, to discover stolen goods,
&c. Hence ironically, a man of shrewd
conjecture ; a man of sagacity.
Addison. Prior.
CONJU'RING, ppr. Enjoining or imploring
solemnly-
€ONNAS"'CENCE, n. [L. con and nascor,
to be born.]
1. The common birth of two or more at the
same time ; production of two or more to
gether.
2. A being born or produced with another.
liroion.
3. The act of growing together, or at the
same time. Wisem
€ON'NATE, a. [L. con and natus, bo
from nascor.]
1. Born with another; being of the same
birth ; as connate notions. South.
2. In botany, united in origin ; growing from
one base", or united at their bases ; united
into one body ; as connate leaves or
thers. MaHyn.
CONNAT'URAL, a. [con and natural.]
1. Connected by nature ; united in nature ;
born with another.
These affections arc connatural to us, ami as
we grow up, so do they. L'Estrange.
2. Participating of the same nature.
And mix wUh our connatural dust. Milton.
CONNATURAL'ITY, n. Participation o(
the same nature ; natural union.
Johnson. Hale.
CONNAT'URALLY, ade. By the act of]
natin-e ; originallv. Hate.
€ONNAT'URALNESS, n. Participation of]
the same nature ; natural union.
Johnson. Pearson
■CONNECT', V. t. [L. conyiecto ; eon and
necto ; It. connetterc. See Class Ng. No.
33. 38. 40. 41.]
1. To knit or link together ; to tie or fasten
together, as by something intervening, or
by weaving, winding or twining. Hence,
2. To join or unite ; to conjoin, in almost
any manner, either by junction, by any
intervening means, or by order and rela-
tion. We conned letters and words in a
sentence ; we connect ideas in the mind ;
we connect arguments in a discourse. The
strait of Gibraltar co?ineefe the Mediterra-
nean with the Atlantic. A treaty connects
two nations. Tiie interests of agriculture
are connected with those of commerce.
Families are connected by marriage or by
friendship.
■CONNECT', I), i. To join, unite or cohere ;
to have a close relation. This argument
connects with anotlier. [This use is rare
and not well authorized.]
CONNECTION, ji. [L. conneMO ; It. con-
nessione. Sec Connect.]
The act of joining or state of being joined : a
state of being "knit or fastened together;
union by junction, by an intervening sub-
stance or medium, by dependence or rela-
Vol. I.
tion, or by order in a series ; a loord ofveiy
freneral import. There is a connection of
links in a chain ; a connection between all
parts of the human body; a connection be-
tween virtue and happiness, and between
this life and the future ; a connection be-
tween parent and child, master and ser-
vant, husband and wife ; between motives
and actions, and between actions and their
consequences. In short, the word is appli-
cable to almost every thing that ha.-> a de-
pendence on or relation to another thing.
CONNECTIVE, a. Having the power of
connecting.
CONNECTIVE, n. In gramviar, a word
that connects other words and sentences ;
a conjunction. Harris uses the word for
conjunctions and prepo.-^itions. Hermes.
CONNECTIVELY, adv. In union or con-
junction ; jointly. Swift.
CONNEX', v.t.'[L. connexum.] To link
together; to join. [JVbt in use.] Hall.
CONNEX'ION, n. Connection. But for
the sake of regular analogy, I have inser-
ted connection, as the derivative of the
English connect, and would discard con
nexion.
CONNEX'IVE, a. Connective ; having the
power to connect ; uniting ; conjunctive
as connexive panicles. [Little used.]
Watts.
CONNI'VANCE, ?i. [See Connive.] Prop-
erly, the act of winking. Hence^gura-
lively, voluntary blindness to an act ; inten-
tional forbearance to see a fault or othei
act, generally implying consent to it.
Every vice interprets a connivance to be ap-
probation. South
CONNI'VE, V. i. [L. conniveo, connivi or
connixi ; con and the root ofnicto, to wink.
Class Ng.]
To wink ; to close and open the eyelids
rapidly. Spectator.
In a figurative sense, to elose the eyes
upon a fault or other act ; to pretend igno^
ranee or blindness ; to forbear to see ; tc
overlook a fault or other act, and suffer it
to pass unnoticed, uncensured or impun^
ished ; as, the father connives at the vices
of his son.
CONNI'VENCY, n. Connivance, whicli
see. Bacon
CONNIVENT, a. Shutting the eyes; for-
bearing to see. Milton
2. In anatomy, the connivent valves are those
wrinkles, cellules and vascules, which are
found on the inside of the two intesTmes,
ilium and jejunum. Encyc
3. In botany, closely united ; converging to-
gether. Eaton.
eONNI'VER, n. One who connives.
CONNI'VING, ppr. Closing the eyes against
faults ; permitting faults to pass uncen
sured.
CONNOISSEU'R, ?i. connissu're. [Fr. from
the verb connoitre, from L. cognosco, to
know.]
A person well versed in any subject ; a skil-
ful or knowing person ; a critical judge or
master of any art, particularly of paint-
ing and sculpture.
CONNOISSEU'RSHIP, n. The skill of a
connoisseur.
CON'NOTATE, v. t. [con and note, L. nolo,
nota u«.]
46
To designate with something else ; to impl.\
[Utile used.] Hammond.
CONN6tA'TION, n. The act of making
known or designating with something ;
implication of something beside itself; in-
ference. [Little used.] Halt.
CONNO'TE, v. t. [L. con and nota ; noio,
to mark. See JVbte.]
To make known together; to imply ; to de-
note or designate ; to include. [lAtth
used.] South.
CONNU'BIAL, a. [L. connubiaiis, from
connubium; con and jiuto, to marry.]
Pertaining to marriage ; nuptial ; belonging
to the state of Imstianil and wife ; as, con-
nubial rite?; connubial love.
CONNLMERA'TION, n. A reckoning to
gether. Porson.
C()N'NIJSANCE, n. yFr.connoissance, from
connoitre, to know, L. coenosco.] Knowl-
edge. [See Cognizance.]
CON'NUSANT, a. Knowing: informed;
apprised.
A neutral vessel, breaking a blockade, is liable
to confiscation, if connusani of the blockade.
^rou' fir.
CON'NY, a. [W. C07w.] Brave ; fine. [Lo-
cal.] Grose.
CO'NOID, n. [Gr. xuroiiBr; ; xco.os, a cone,
and ftSos, form.]
In geometry, a solid formed by the revolu-
tion of a coni* section about its axis. If
the conic section is a parabola, the rcsuh-
ing solid is a parabolic conoid, or parabo-
loid ; if a hyperbola, the solid is a hyper-
bolic conoid, or hyperboloid ; if an ellipse,
an elliptic conoid, a spheroid, or an ellip-
soid. Edin. Encyc.
2. In anatomy, a gland in the third ventri-
cle of the Ijrain, resembling a cone or
pine-apple, and called the pineal gland.
Encyc.
CONOID'IC, ) Pertaining to a conoid;
CONOID'ICAL, I "■ having the form of a
conoid.
CONQUASSATE, v. t. [L. conquasso.] To
shake. [Little used.] Harvey.
CON'QUER, c. t. conker. [Fr. ronquerir,
from the L. conquiro ; con and qutero, to
seek, to obtain, to conquer ; Arm. conqeuri.
As queero is written, it belongs to Class
Gr. and its preterit to Class Gs. See Ar.
lj.3 Kr.rau or quarau, and Ileb. Ch. ipn
to seek. Class Gr. No. 51. 55.]
. To subdue ; to reduce, by physical force,
till resistance is no longer made ; to over-
come ; to vanquish. Alexander conquered
Asia. The Romans conquered Carthage.
2. To gain by force ; to win : to take posses-
sion by violent means ; to gain dominion
or sovereignty over, as the subduing of the
power of an enemy generally implies pos-
session of the person or thing subdued by
the conqueror. Thus, a king or an army
conquers a countr)', or a city, which is after-
ward restored.
3. To subdue opposition or resistance of the
will by moral force ; to overcome by ar-
gument, persuasion or other mfluence.
Anna conquers but to .^ave,
And governs but to bless. Smith.
He went forth conquering, and to conquer
Rev. vi.
4. To overcome, as difficulties ; to surmount,
obstacles ; to subdue whatever oppo-
CON
CON
CON
ses ; aS, to conquer the passions ; to con-
quer reluctance.
5. To gain or obtain by effort ; as, to con-
quer freedom ; to conquer peace ; a French
application of the word.
€ON'QUER, V. i. To overcome ; to gain the
victory.
The champions resolved to conquer or to die.
Waller.
€ON'QUERABLE, a. That may be con-
quered, overcome or subdued. South.
CON'QUERED, pp. Overcome ; subdued ;
vanquished ; gained ; won.
€ON'QUERESS, n. A female who con-
quers ; a victorious female. Fairfax.
CON'QUERING, ppr. Overcoming ; sub-
duing ; vanquishing ; obtaining.
CON'GIUEROR, n. One who conquers;
one who gains a victory ; one who sub-
due.s and brings into subjection or posses-
sion, by force or by influence. Tlie man
who defeats his antagonist in combat is a
conqueror, as is the general or admiral
who defeats his enemy.
CON'QUEST, n. [Fr. conquHe ; It. conquis-
ta ; Sp. id.; L. conquisifus, quwsitus, quas-
tus, from quaro, to seek. The L. quw-
sivi, qiuesitiis, coincides in elements with
the W. ceisiaw, Eth.'MUUJ. Class Gs.No.
35. The primary sense is to seek, to press
or drive towards.]
1. The act of conquering; the act of over-
coming or vanquishing opposition by
force, physical or moral. Applied to per-
sons, territory and the like, it usually implies
or includes a taking possession of; as the
conquest of Canada by the British troops.
So we speak of the conquest of the heart,
the passions, or tlie will.
2. Victory ; success in arms ; the overcom-
ing of opposition.
In joys of conqttest he resigns his breath.
.Addison
3. That which is conquered ; possession
gained by force, physical or moral ; as, Ja
inaica was a valuable conquest for Eng
land.
4. In o feudal sense, acquest ; acquisition
the acquiring of property by other means
than by inheritance, or the acquisition of
property by a number in community or by
one for all the others, lilackstone. Encyc.
5. In the law of nations, the acquisition of
sovereignty by force of arms.
The right of conquest is derfved from the
laws of war. Encyc.
(i. The act of gaining or regaining by effort ;
as the Conquest of liberty or peace ; «
French phrase.
<-.ONSANGUIN'EOUS, a. [L. consang^uine-
»«, infra.) Of the same blood ; related by
l)irth ; descended from the same parent oi
ancestor. Shak
fONSANGUIN'lTY, n. [L. consan^initas ;
con and sanguis, blood.]
The relation of persons by blood ; the rela
tion or connection of persons descended
from the same stock or common ancestor,
in distinction from affinity or relation by
marriage. It is lineal or collateral.
Blackstone
€ON'SCIENCE, n. con'shens. [Fr. from L,
conscientia, from conscio, to know, to be
privy to ; con and scio, to know ; It
enza, or coscienza ; Sp. conciencia.]
1. Internal or self-knowledge, or judgment of
right and wrong ; or the faculty, power or
principle within us, which decides on the
lawfuhiess or unlawfulness of our own ac-
tions and affections, and instantly ap-
proves or condemns them.
Conscience is called by some writers
the moral sense, and considered as an ori-
ginal faculty of our nature. Others ques-
tion the propriety of considering con-
science as a distinct faculty or principle.
They consider it rather as the general
principle of moral approbation or disap-
probation, applied to one's own conduct
and affections ; alledging that our notions
of right and wrong are not to be deduced
from a single principle or faculty, but from
various powers of the understanding and
will. Encyc. Hucheson. Reid.
Edin. Encyc.
Being convicted by their '
ing of obligation we experience, which precedes,
attends and follows our actions. E. T. Fitch.
Conscience is first occupied in ascertaining
our duty, before we proceed to action ; then in
judging of our actions when performed.
J. M. Mason.
9. The estimate or determination of con-
science; justice; honesty.
What you require cannot, in conscience, be
deferred. .Milton
3. Real sentiment ; private thoughts ; truth
as, do you in conscience believe the story ?
4. Consciousness ; knowledge of our own
actions or thoughts.
The sweetest cordial we receive at last,
Is cottscience of our virtuous actions past.
Denham.
[Thisprimary sense of the word is nearly,
perhaps wholly obsolete.]
5. Knowledge of the actions of others.
B. Jonson.
6. In ludicrous language, reason or reasona-
bleness.
Half a dozen fools are, in all conscience, a?
many as you should require. Swift
To make conscience or a matter of conscience.
is to act according to the dictates of con-
science, or to scruple to act contrary to
its dictates. Locke.
Court of conscience, a court established for
the recovery of small debts in London
and other trading cities and districts.
Blackstone.
eON'SCIENCED, a. Having conscience.
South.
CON'SCIENT, a. Conscious. [ATot used.]
Bacon.
eONSCIEN'TIOUS, a. Influenced by con-
science ; governed by a strict regard to
the dictates of conscience, or by the known
or supposed rules of right and wrong
a conscientious judge.
2. Regulated by conscience ; according to
the dictates of conscience ; as a conscien-
tious probity. L'Estrange.
eONSCIEN'TIOUSLY, adv. According to
the direction of conscience ; with a strict
regard to right and wrong. A man may
err conscientiously.
CONSCIEN'TlOilSNESS, n. A scrupulous
regard to the decisions of conscience ; a
sense of justice, and strict conformity to
its dictates. Locke.
All his conduct seemed marked with an exact
and imvarying conscientiousness.
J. L. Kingsley, Eulogy on Prof. Fisher.
€ON'SCIONABLE, a. According to con-
science ; reasonable ; just.
Let my debtors have conscionable satisfac-
tion. Wotton.
CON'SCIONABLENESS, n. Reasonable-
ness; equity. Diet.
eON'SCIONABLY, adv. In a manner
agreeable to conscience ; reasonably ;
justly. Taylor.
ON'SCIOUS, a. [L. conscius.] Possessing
the faculty or power of knowing one's
own thoughts, or mental operations. Thus,
man is a conscious being.
2. Knowing from memory, or without ex-
traneous information; as, I am not con-
scious of the fact.
The damsel then to Tancred sent.
Who, conscious of the occasion, feared the
event. Dryden.
3. Knowing by conscience, or internal per-
ception or persuasion ; as, I am not con-
scious of having given any offense. Some-
times followed by to ; as, I am not conscious
to myself
jEneas only, conscious to the sign.
Presaged the event. Dryden.
So we say, conscious of innocence, or of
ignorance, or of a crime.
€ON'SCIOUSLY, adv. With knowledge of
one's own mental operations or actions.
If these perceptions, with their conscious-
ness, always remained in (he mind, the same
thinking thing would be always consciously
present. Locke.
CON'SCIOUSNESS, n. The knowledge of
sensations and mental operations, or of
what passes in one's own mind ; the act
of the mind which makes known an inter-
nal object. Locke. Reid. Encyc.
Consciousness of our sensations, and con-
sciousness of our existence, seem to be simul-
taneous. Edin. Encyc.
Consciousness must be an essential attri-
bute of spirit. Watts.
2. Internal sense or knowledge of guilt or
innocence.
A man may betray his consciousness of g-uilt
by his countenance.
3. Certain knowledge from observation or
experience. Gibbon.
€ON'S€RIPT, a. [L. conscriptus, from coji-
scribo, to enroll ; con and scribo, to write.]
Written ; enrolled ; as conscript fathers, the
senators of Rome, so called because their
names were written in the register of the
senate,
€ON'S€RIPT, n. An enrolled soldier; a
word used in France.
€ONS€RIP'TION, «. [h. conscriptio.] An
enrolling or registering.
2. Soldiers or forces levied by enrolling.
€ON'SE€RATE, v. t. [L. consccro ; con and
sacro, to consecrate, from sacer, sacred.
See Sacred.]
1. To make or declare to be sacred, by cer-
tain ceremonies or rites ; to appropriate to
sacred uses ; to set apart, dedicate, or de-
vote, to the service and worship of God ;
as, to consecrate a church.
Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.
Ex. xxix.
All the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass
and iron, are consecrated to the Lord. Josh. vi.
2. To canonize ; to exalt to the rank of a
saint ; to enroll among the gcds, as a Ro-
man emperor.
.3. To set apart and bless the elements in
the eucharist.
CON
CON
CON
4. To render venerable ; to make respected
as, rules or principles consecrated by time
€ON'SE€RATE, a. Sacred ; consecrated ;
devoted ; dedicated.
They were assembled in that consecrate
place. Bacon.
[This word is now seldom used, unless in
poeiru.]
20NSE€
€ON'SECRATED, pp. Made sacred by cer
einonies or solemn rites ; separated from
a common to a sacred use ; devoted or
dedicated to the service and worship of
God ; made venerable.
CON'SE€R.\TING, ppr. 3Iaking sacred ;
appropriating to a sacred use ; dedicating
to the service of God ; devoting ; render-
ing venerable.
CONSECRA'TION, n. The act or ceremo-
ny of separating from a common to a sa-
cred use, or of devoting and dedicating a
per.son or thing to the service and wor-
ship of God, by certain rites or solemni-
ties. Consecration does not make a per-
son or thing really holy, but declares it to
be sacred, that is, devoted to God or to di-
vine service ; as the consecrcUion of the
priests among the Israelites ; the consecra-
tion of the vessels used in the temple; the
consecration of a bishop.
2. Canonization ; the act of translating into
heaven, and enrolling or numbering among
the saints or gods ; the ceremony of the
apotheosis of an emperor. Hale.
3. The benediction of the elements in tl
eucharist ; the act of setting apart and
blessing the elements in the communion.
Encyc.
CON'SECRATOR, n. One who conse-
crates ; one who performs the rites by
which a person or thing is devoted or ded-
icated to sacred purposes. Atterbiiry.
€Ox\'SECRATORY, a. Making sacred.
Bp. Morton
CON'SE€T.4RY, a. [L. consectarius, from
consector, to follow ; con and sector, sequor.
See Seek.]
Following; consequent; consequential; de-
ducible. Broicn.
€ON SECTARY, n. That which follows;
consequence ; ileduction from premises ;
corollary. Woodioard.
eONSEeU'TION, 71, [L. conseculio, from
consequor, to follow ; con and sequor,
follow. See Seek.]
1. A following or sequel ; train of conse-
quences from premises ; series of deduc-
tions. Hah
2. Succession ; series of things that follow
each other ; as a consecution of colors.
JVewton.
3. In astronomy, consecution month is the
space between one conjunction of the
moon with the sun and another.
BaUey.
CONSE€'UTIVE, a. [It. conseculivo ; Fr
conseculif. See Consecution.]
\. Following in a train ; succeeding one an-
other in a regular order ; successive ; un-
interrupted in course or succession ; as,
fifty consecutive years. Arhuthnot.
2. Following ; consequential ; succeeding ;
as, the actions of men consecutive to voli-
tion. Locke.
3. Consecutive chords, in music, imply a suc-
cession or repetition of the same conso-
nance in similar motion. Encyc.
CONSECUTIVELY, adv. By way of con-
si i|iii>iiic (.1- succession, in opposition to
anlniilntlhi nr casually. Diet.
€O.NSI;m;.~ CI^NCE, ? [L. consenesco,
€Oj\SI:m;^( I:NCY, S to grow old.]
A growing olil ; decay from age ; as the
consenescence of tho world. Ray.
eONSENSION, n. [L. consensio. See Con-,
sent.]
Agreement ; accord. [LilUe used.]
Bentley.\
CONSENT', n. [L. consensus; It. consenso ;\
Fr. consentement ; Sp. consentimiento ; from
L. consentio, to be of one mind, to agree ;!
con and sentio, to think, feel or perceive ;|
Sp. consentir ; Port. Fr. id. ; It. consentirci
See Sense and Assent.]
1. Agreement of the mind to what is propo-j
sed or stated by another ; accord ; hence,
a yielding of the mind or will to that which
is proposed ; as, a parent gives his consent
to the marriage of his daughter.
We generally use this word in cases
where power, rights and claims are con-
cerned. We give consent, when we yield!
that which we have a right to withhold ;
but we do not give consent to a mere opin-
ion, or abstract proposition. In this case,!
we give our assent. Bui assent is also used
in conceding what we may withhold. We
give our assent to the marriage of a daugh-
ter. Consequently, assent has a more
extensive application than consent. But thcj
distinction is not always observed. Con-
sent often amounts to permission. 1
Defraud ye not one another, except with co7i-
sent for a lime. 1 Cor. vii. !
2. Accord of minds ; agreement ; unity of
opinion.
All with one consent began to make excuse.'
Luke xiv. {
The company of priests murder by consent.,
Hos. vi.
3. Agreement ; coherence ; correspondence^
in parts, qualities, or operation. j
Such is the world's great harmony that springs
From union, order, full consent of things. !
Pope.
4. In the animal economy, an agreement, or
sympathy, by which on'e affected part of
tiie system affects some distant part. This'
consent is supposed to e.xist in, or be pro-
duced by the nerves ; and the affections
to be communicated from one part to an-
other by means of their ramifications and!
distribution through the body. Thus, the!
stone in the bladder, by vellicating the!
fibers, will produce spasms and colic ini
the bowels ; a shameful thing seen or'
heard will produce blushing in the cheeks.l
Qtdncy. Encyc\
But many facts indicate that other caus-i
es than nervous communication produce!
sympathy. j
CONSENT', V. i. [L. consentio. See thei
Noun.] I
Literally, to think with another. Hence, toi
agree or accord. More generally, to agree
in mind and will ; to yield to what one has,
the power, the right, or the disposition to^
withhold, or refuse to grant. [
If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Prov. i. I
And Saul was cmuenting to Stephen's death.
Acts viii. I
Only let us consent to them, and lliey willj
dwell with us. Gen. xxxiv. !
2. To agree.
Whun thou sawest a thief, Ibou consent-
edst witli him. Ps. 1.
3. To assent.
consent to the law thai it is good. Rom.
CONSENTA'NEOUS, a. [L. consentaneus.
See Consent.]
Agreeable ; accordant ; consistent with ; suit-
able.
The practice of virtue Ls not consentane-
ous to tlie unrenewed heart. Anon.
CONSENTANEOUSLY, adv. Agreeably;
lemly ; suitably.
CONSENTANEOUSNES3, n. Agreement :
accordance ; consistencv. Diet.
CONSENT'ER, ii. One who consents.
CONSEN'TIENT, a. [L. consentiens, con-
sentio.]
Agreeing in mind ; accordant in opinion.
The authority due to the consentient judg-
ment of the church. Pearsort.
CON'SEQUENCE, n. [L. consequentia, from
consequor ; con and sequor, to follow. Sec
Seek.]
1. That which follows from any act, cause,
jirinciple, or series of action.*. Hence, an
event or effect produced by some prece-
ding act or cause.
Shun the bitter consequence ; for know.
The day lliou eatest thereof, thou shall die.
Milton.
The consequences of intemperance arc dis-
grace, poverty, disease and premature death.
2. In logic, a proposition collected from the
agreement of other previous propositions ;
the conclusion which results from reason
or argument ; inference ; deduction.
Every rational being is accomitable to his
maker ; man is a rational being ; the conse-
quence then must be, that man is accountable
to his maker.
From this train of argument, the consequence
is obvious.
3. Connection of cause and effect ; conse-
cution.
I felt
That I must after thee, with this my son ;
Such fatal consequence unites us three.
Milton.
4. Influence ; tendency, as to effects. The
sense of consequence, in this use, is modifi-
ed by the words connected with it ; as,
" it is of little consequence," that is, of lit-
tle importance, small effects will follow ;
" it is of no consequence," of no moment,
no effect of importance will follow ; " it
is of great consequence," of great impor-
tance, great effects will follow.
5. Importance ; extensive influence : dis-
tinction ; as a man of great consequence in
society.
In consequence, by means of: as the effect of.
CON'SEQUENT, a. [L. consequens.] Fol-
lowing, -as the natural effect ; with to
or on.
The right w.is consequent to, and built on, an
act perfectly personal. Locke.
His poverty was consequent on his \ices.
2. Following by necessary inference or ra-
tional deduction ; as a proposition conse-
quent to other propositions.
CON'SEQUENT, n. Effect ; that which fol-
lows a cause.
Tliey were ill governed, which is always a
consejufni of inpayment. Davies.
CON
CON
CON
3. That which follows from propositions by
rational deduction ; that which is deduced
from reasoning or argumentation ; a con
elusion or inference.
CONSEQUENTIAL, a. Following as the
effect ; produced by the connection of ef-
fects with causes ; as a consequential evil.
9. Having the consequence justly connected
with the premises ; conclusive.
These arguments are highly consequential
and concludent to my purpose. Hale.
3. Important.
4. Conceited ; pompons ; applied to persons.
€ONSEaUEN'TIALLY, adv. With just
deduction of consequences ; with right
connection of ideas. Addison.
2. By consequence ; not immediately ; event-
ually. South.
3. In a regular series ; in the order of cause
and effect. Addison.
4. With assumed importance ; with conceit.
Campbell.
CONSEQUEN'TIALNESS, n. Regular
consecution in discourse. Did.
eON'SEQUENTLY, adv. By consequence ;
by necessary connection of efl'ects with
their causes ; in consequence of somfc-
thing.
€ON'SEQUENTNESS, n. Regular connec-
tion of propositions, following each other ;
consecution of discourse. [Little used.] I
Digby.l
eONSER'TION, n. [L. consero, conseHmn.]\
Junction ; adaptation. luMng'.|
€ONSERV'ABLE, a. [See Conserve.] That
may be kept or preserved from decay or
injury.
CONSERVANCY, 71. [L. conservans. See
Conserve.]
A court of conservancy is held by the Lord
Mayor of LondoTi, for the preservation of
the fishery on the Thames. Johnson.
CONSERV'ANT. a. Preserving ; having the
power or quality of preserving from decay
or destruction.
€ONSERVA'TION, n. [L. conservatio. See
Conserve.]
The act of preserving, guarding or protect-
ing ; preservation from loss, decay, injury,
or violation ; the keeping of a thing in a
safe or entire state ; as the conservation ofj
bodies from perishing ; the conservation ofj
the peace of society ; the conservation of
jn-ivilegcs.
CONSERVATIVE, a. Preservative ; hav
ing power to preserve in a safe or entire
state, or from loss, waste or injury.
Peacham.
OONSERVA'TOR, n. A pre.'ierver; one
who preserves from injury or violation.
Appropriately, an officer who has the
charge of preserving the public peace, as
judges and sheriffs ; also, an officer who
has the charge of preserving the rights
and privileges of a city, corporation or
community, as in catholic universities. It
is a word of extensive application.
% In Connecticut, a person appointed to su-
perintend idiots, lunatics, &c., manage
their propertv, and preserve it from waste.
eONSERVATORY, a. Having the quahty
of preserving from loss, decay or injury.
CONSERVATORY, n. A place for pre-
serving any thing in a state desired, as
from loss, decay, waste or injury. Thus
a fish-pond for keeping fish, a granary for'
corn, an ice-house for ice and other
things, a receptacle for water, &c., ar
called conservatories.
3. A large green-house for exotics, in which
the plants are planted in beds and bor-
ders, and not iu tubs or pots, as in the
common green-house.
CONSERVE, V. t. conserv'. [L. conservo ; con
and servo, to hold, keep or guard ; Fr. con
server ; It. conservare ; Sp. conservar. See
Class Sr. No. 34. 38. 39. 40. 45. and Class
Dr. No. 32.]
To keep in a safe or sound state ; to save ;
to preserve from loss, decay, waste, or in-
jury ; to defend from violation ; as, to con-
serve bodies from perishing ; to conserve
the peace of society ; to conserve fruits,
roots and herbs, with sugar, &c.
CON'SERVE, n. A sweetmeat made of the
inspissated juice of fruit, boiled with su
gar. Johnson
•2. In pharmacy, a form of medicine contri
ved to preserve the flowers, herbs, roots
or fruits of simples, as nearly as possible,
in their natural fresh state. Fresh vege-
tiibles and sugar of the consistence of
honey. Encyc. Coxe
3. A conservatory. [JVof usibal.] Evelyn
CONSERVED, >/». Preserved in a safe and
sound state; guarded ; kept; maintained ;
protected ; prepared with sugar.
CONSERVER, n. One who conserves ; one
who keeps from loss or injury ; one who
lays up for preservation ; a preparer of
conserves. Hayward. Temple
CONSERVING, /p;)r. Keeping in safety;
defending ; maintaining ; preparing with
sugar.
CONSES'SION, n. [L. consessio. See Ses-
sion.]
A sitting together. [Ldttle used.]
CONSES'SOR, n. One that sits with oth-
s. [Ldttle used.]
CONSID'ER, V. t. [L. considero, to consider
to view attentively, fiom consido or con
sideo, to sit by ; con and sedeo, to sit. See
Sit. The literal sense is, to sit by or close,
or to set the mind or the eye to; hence, to
view or examine with attention.]
1. To fix the mind on, with a view to a care
fill examination ; to think on with care ;
to ponder ; to study ; to meditate on.
Know, therefore, this day, and consider it in
thy heart. Dcut. iv.
Hast thou considered my servant Job .' Job i.
Consider the lilies of the field how they
gi-ow. Matth. vi.
To view attentively ; to observe and ex-
The priest shall consider (he leprosy. Lev. xiii.
3. To attend to ; to relieve.
Blessed is he that considercth the poor. Ps.
xli.
4. To have regard to ; to respect.
Let us consider one another, to provoke to
ove, and to good works. Heb. x.
5. To take into view in examination, or in-
to account in estimates.
In adjusting accounts, services, time, and ex-
pense ought to be considered.
6. In the imperative, consider is equivalent
to, think with care, attend, examine the
subject with a view to truth or the coiis(;-
quences of a measure. So we use see, ob-
serve, think, attejtd.
7. To requite ; to reward : particularly for
ffratuitous services.
CONSID'ER, V. i. To think seriously, ma-
turely or carefully ; to reflect.
None considereth in his heart, neither is there
knowledge or understanding. Is. xliv.
In tlie day of adversity consider. Eccles. vii.
2. To deliberate ; to turn in the inind; as in
the case of a single person ; to deliberate
or consult, as numbers ; sometimes follow-
ed by of; as, I will consider your case, or
of your case.
The apostles and elders come together to con-
sider of this matter. Acts xv.
3. To doubt ; to hesitate. Dniden.
CONSID'ERABLE, a. [Fr. Sp. See Con-
sider.] That may be considered ; that is
to be observed, remarked or attended to.
W'k considerable, \h3.t some urns have had
inscriptions on them, expressing tliat the lamps
were burninc;. Wilkins.
[This primary use of the word is obsoles-
cent or very rarely used.]
2. Worthy of consideration ; worthy of re-
gard or attention.
Eternity is infinitely the most considerable
duration. THllotson.
As that which is worthy of regard is in
some measure important, hence
3. Respectable ; deserving of notice ; of
some distinction ; applied to persons.
Men considerable in all worthy professions,
eminent in many ways of Ufe. Spratf.
4. Important; valuable; or moderately large,
according to the subject. Considerable.
aid was expected from the allies. A
man has a considerable estate in Norfolk.
A considerable sum of money was collect-
ed. Sometimes followed by to. He
thought his aid considerable to him.
CONSID'ERABLENESS, n. Some degree
of importance, moment or dignity ; a de-
gree of value or importance that deserves
notice.
The considerabkness of things is to be esti-
mated by their usefulness, or by their effects on
society.
CONSID'ERABLY, adv. In a degree de-
serving notice ; in a degree not trifling, or
unimportant.
And Europe still considerably gains
Both by their good examples and their pains.
Roscommon.
CONSID'ERANCE, n. Consideration ; re-
flection ; sober thought. [JYot used. See
Consideration.] Shak.
CONSID'ERATE, a. [L. consideratus. See
Consider.]
1. Given to consideration, or to sober reflec-
tion ; thoughtful ; hence, serious ; circum-
spect ; careful ; discreet ; prudent ; not
hasty or rash ; not neghgent.
jEncas is patient, considerate, and careful of
his people. Drydtn.
2. Having respect to ; regardful ; as, con-
siderate of praise. [Little used.]
3. Moderate ; not rigorous. Johnson.
CONSID'ERATELY, adv. With delibera-
tion ; with due consideration ; calmly ;
prudently. Bacon.
CONSID'ER ATENESS, n. Prudence ; calm
leliberation.
CONSIDERA'TION, n. [L. consideraiio.
See Consider.]
1. The act of considering ; mental view ; re-
gard ; notice.
Let us take into consideration the conse-
quences of a hasty decision.
2. Mature thought : serious dehbcration.
CON
Let us Uiink with consideration. Sidney
v'i. Contemplation ; meditation.
Tlie love you bear to Mopsa hath brought you
to the consideration of her virtues. Sidney
4. Some degree of importance ; claim to no-
tice, or regard ; a moderate degree of re-
spectability.
Lucan is an author of consideration among
the Latin poets. Addison.
-"». That whicli is considered ; motive of ac-
tion ; influence; ground of conduct.
He was obliged, antecedent to all other con-
siderations, to search an asylum. Dryden.
fj. Reason ; that wiiich induces to a deter-
mination.
He was moved by the considerations set be-
fore him.
7. In latv, the reason which moves a con-
tracting party to enter into an agreement
the material cause of a contract; the price
or motive of a stipulation. In all con-
tracts, each party gives something in ex-
change for what he receives.
A contract is an agreement, upon suf-
ficient consideration. Tliis consideration
is express or implied ; erpress, when the
thing to be given or done is specified ; i—
plied, when no specific consideration
agreed upon, but justice requires it and
the law implies it ; as when a man labo:
for another, without stipulating for wi
ges, the law infers that he shall receive a
reasonable consideration. A good consid-
eration is that of blood, or natural love ; a
valuable consideration is such as money
marriage, &c. Hence a consideration i:
an equivalent or recompense ; that which
is given as of equal estimated value with
that which is received.
eONSID'ERATIVE, a. Taking into con
deration. [Little used.]
CONSID'EREB, pp. Thought of will
pondered ; viewed attentively; del"
on ; examined.
eONSID'ERER, n. A thinker ; one who
considers; a man of reflection. [Consid-
erator is not in use.]
CONSID'ERING, ppr. Fixing the mind on
meditating on ; pondering ; viewing with
care and attention ; deliberating on.
Note. We have a peculiar use of this word,
which may be a corruption for considered, oi
which may be a deviation from analogy by an
insensible change in the structure of the phrase.
" It is not possible for us to act otherwise, con-
sidering the weakness of our nature." As a
participle, this word must here refer to us, oi
the sentence cannot be resolved by any rule ol
English syntax. It would be correct to say,
•' It is not possible for us to act othei-wise, tlie
weakness of our nature being considered ,-" or
■' We, considering the weakness of our nature,
cannot act other^vise." But the latter phrase is
better grammar, than it is sense. We use oth-
er participles in like manner ; as, " Allowing foi
tare, the weight could not be more than a hun-
lircd pounds." These and similar phrases are
anomalous. But considering is no more a kind
of conjunction, in such phrases, tli.iii it is a
CONSID'ERING, 71. The act of delibera-
ting, or carefully attending to ; hesitation
as, many mazed considerings. Sliak.
CONSID'ERINGLY, adv. With con.'iider-
tioii or deliberation. fVliote Duly of Man.
-CONSI'GN, V. t. consi'ne. [L. consigno, to
seal or sign ; con and signo, to seal 01
stamp ; signwn, a sign, seal or mark ; It
C O i\
consegnare, to d(!posit, deliver, consign :
Sp. consignor; Yr. consigner. See Sign.
The sense is to set to, to thrust or send^
1. To give, send or set over; to transfer or
deliver into the possession of another, or
into a different state, with the sense ofj
fixedness in that state, or permanence of
possession.
At the day of general account, good men are
to be consigned over to another state.
Atterbury
At death the body is consigned to the grave
2. To deliver or transfer, as a charge oi
trust; to commit ; as, to consign a youth
to the care of a preceptor; to consign
goods to a factor.
3. To set over or commit, for pennanent
preservation ; as, to consign a history to
writing. Addison
4. To appropriate. Dryden
eONSI'GN, V. i. consi'ne. To submit to the
same terms with another ; also, to sign ; to
agree or consent. Obs. Shak
CONSIGNA'TION, n. The act of consign-
ing ; the act of delivering or connnittins
to another person, place or state.
Despair is a certain consignation to eternal
ruin. Taylor. Park
[Little used. Sec Consignment.]
€ONSIGNATURE, n. Full signature
joint signing or stamping.
eONSI'GNED, pp. Delivered; committed
for keeping, or management ; deposited
in trust.
CONSIGNEE', n. The person to whom
goods or other things are delivered in trust,
for sale or superintendance ; a factor.
CONSIGNER, I The person who con
CONSI'GNOR, ^ ■ signs ; one who sends,
delivers, or commits goods to another
for sale, or a ship for si^perinteudeuce.
bills of lading, papers, &c.
eONSIGNIFICA'TION, n. [See Signify.]
Joint signification. Harris.
€ONSIGNIF'l€.\TIVE, a. [See Signify
Having a like signification, or jointly
significative. Valtancey, Gram. 57.
€0?*SIGNING, ppr. Delivering to another
in trust ; sending or committing, as ;
possessioh or charge.
CONSIGNMENT, n. The act of consign
ing ; consignation ; the act of sending or
committing, as a charge for safe-"
or management ; the act of depositing
with, as goods for sale.
■2. The thing consigned ; the goods sent or
delivered to a factor for sale ; as, A re
ceivcd a large coyisignment of goods irom
B.
3. The writing by which a-ny thing is con-
signed.
CONSIM'ILAR, a. Having common re
semblance. [Little used.]
CONSIMIL'ITUDE, n. Resemblance. [LU
tie used.]
CONSIST', v.i. [L.consisto; con and sislo,
to stand ; S]i. consistir ; It. consistere ; Fr,
consisler.]
1. To stand together ; to be in a fixed oi-
permanent state, as a body composed of
parts in union or connection. Hence, to
be ; to exist ; to subsist ; to be supported
and maintained.
He was before all things, and by him alli
things consist. Col. i.
CON
■l"o stand or be ; to lie ; to be contained ;
followed by in.
The beauty of epistolary writing consists in
ease and freedom.
3. To be composed ; followed by of.
A landscape should consist of a variety of
To consist together, to coexist ; to have be-
: concurrently.
Vecessity and election cannot consist togeth-
in the same act. Bramhall.
To consist ivith, to agree ; to be in accord-
ce with ; to be compatible.
Health consists with temperance alone.
Pope.
CONSIST'ENCE, > A standing togeth-
CONSIST'ENCY, S "' er ; a lieing fixed in
union, as the parts of a body ; that state
of a body, in which its component parts
remain fixed.
The co/isis/e;!cy of bodies is divers; dense,
rare, tangible, pneumalical, volatile, Sac.
Bacon.
2. A degree of density or spissitude, but in-
definite.
Let tlie juices or liquor be boiled into the con-
sistency of syrup. Arbuthnot.
3. Substance ; make ; firmness of constitu-
tion ; as, friendship of a lasting consisten-
cy ; resolutions of durable consistence.
South. Hammond.
4. A standing together, as the parts of a sys-
tem, or of conduct, &c. ; agreement or har-
mony of all parts of a complex thing
among themselves, or of the same thing
with itself at different times ; congruity ;
uniformity; as the consistency of laws, reg-
ulations or judicial decisions ; consistency of
opinions ; consistency of behavior or of
character.
There is haruiony and consistency in all
God's works. /. Lathrop.
5. A standing ; a state of rest, in whicli
tilings capable of growth or decrease, re-
main for a time at a stand. Cluimhers.
CONSIST'ENT, a. [L. consistens. See
Consist.] Fixed ; firm ; not fluid ; as the
consistent parts of a body, distinguished
from tUeJluid. Harvey.
2. Standing together or in agreement; com-
patible ; congruous ; uniform ; not contra-
dictory or opposed ; as, two opinions or
schemes are consistent ; let a man be con-
sistent leith himself ; the law is coTisislent
jotVA justice and ))oUcy.
So two consistent motions act Oie soul.
Pope.
CONSIST'ENTLY, adv. In a consistent
manner ; in agreement ; agreeably ; as, to
command confidence, a man must act
consistently.
CONSISTO'RIAL, } [See Consistory.]
CONSISTORY, S Pertaining or rela-
ting to a consistory, or ecclesiastical court
of an archbishop or bishop. Ayliffe.
Every archbishop and bishop of a diocese
hath a consistory court. Encyc.
CONSISTO'RIAN, a. Relating to an order
of presbyterian assemblies. Bp. Bancroft.
CONSIST'ORY, n. [L. consistorium, from
consisto. See Consist.] Primarily, a place
of meeting ; a council-house, or place of
justice. Hence,
1. A place of justice in the spiritual court,
or the court itself; the court of every dio-
cesan bishop, held in their cathedral
churches, for the trial of ecclesiastical
CONSO'CIATE, i: i. To i
CON
causes, arising within tlie diocese. Tlie
bishop's chancellor or his commissary is
the judge. Blackstone.
2. An assembly of prelates ; the college of
cardinals at Rome.
Piiif? was then hearing causes in consistory.
Bacon.
.3. A solemn assembly or council.
Milton. Pope.
4. A place of residence. [Not used.] Shak.
5. In the Reformed churches, an assembly
or council of ministers and elders.
CONSO'CIATE, n. [L. consociatus. See
the next word.]
An associate; a iiuitiicr or confederate; an
accomplice. Hayward.
tONSO'CIATE, r. I. [L. consociakis, from
consocio ; con and socio, to unite ; socius, a
companion. See Social.]
1. To unite ; to join ; to associate. Tf'otlon.
y. To cement, or hold in close union. Burnet.
3. To unite in an assembly or conventioi],
as pastors and messengers or delegates of
churches. Saybrook Platform.
1 unite ; to coalesce.
Bentley.
2. To unite, or meet in a body ; to forn:
consociation of pastors and messengers.
Saybrook Platform.
CONSOCIA'TION, n. Intimate unibn of
persons ; fellowship : alliance ; compan
ionship ; union of things. [This leord is
less iised than association.] Wotion
2. Fellowship or union of churches by theii
pastors and delegates ; a meeting of the
pastors and delegates of a number of con-
gregational churches, for aiding and sup-
porting each other, and forming an advi-
sory council in ecclesiastical affairs.
Trumbull, Hist, of Connecticut.
CONSOCIA'TIONAL, a. Pertaining to a
consociation. Trumbull.
€ON'SOL, n. [from consolidate.] Consols, in
England, are the funds or stocks formed
by the consolidation of different annuities.
Crabbe.
CONSO'LABLE, a. [See Console.] That
admits comfort ; capable of receiving con-
solation.
CON'SOLATE, i-. /. To comfort. Obs. [See
Console.]
€ONSOLA'TION, n. [L. consolatio. See
Console.]
1. Comfort ; alleviation of misery, or distress
of mind ; refreshment of mind or spirits ;
a comparative degree of happiness in dis-
tress or misfortune, springing from any
circumstance that abates the evil, or sup-
ports and strengthens the mind, as hope,
joy, courage and the like.
Against such craelties.
With inwaM consolations lecompens'd.
.Milton.
We have great joy ami consolation in thy
love. Philein. 7.
2. That which comforts, or refreshes the
spirits; the cause of comfort ; as the con-
solation of Israel. Luke ii.
CON'SOLATOR, n. One who comforts.
eONSOL'ATORY, a. [L. consolatorius.]
Tending to give comfort; refreshing to
the mind ; assuaging grief Howell.
€ONSOL'ATORY, )i. A speech or writing
containing topics of comfort. Milton
eONSO'LE, D. /. [L. ronsolor; h. conso
lare ; Sp. consolar ; Fr. consoler. The pri
CON
niary sense is either to set or allay, to give
rest or quiet, Ar. i)^^ , Heb. rh\tf; or the
sense is to strengthen, in which cai
coincides with the root of solid. The
ter is most probable.]
To comfort ; to cheer the mind in distress or
depression ; to alleviate grief, and giv<
freshment to the mind or spirits ; to give
contentment or moderate happiness by re
lieving from distress.
The promises of the gospel may well console
the christian in all the atiiictions of life.
It is a consoling reflection that the evils of
life are temporary.
I am much consoled by the reflection that
the religion of Christ has been attacked in vain
by all the wits and philosophers, and its triuiiiplj
has been complete. P. Henry.
eON'SOLE, n. [Fr.] In architecture, a
bracket or shoulder-piece ; or an orna-
ment cut upon the key of an arch, which
has a projecture, and on occasion se
to support little cornices, figures, busts
and vases. Encyc.
CONSO'LED, pp. Comforted ; cheered.
eOlNSO'LER, n. One that gives comfort.
eONSOL'IDANT, a. [See Consolidate.]
Having the quality of uniting wounds or
forming new flesh.
eONSOL'IDANT, n. A medicine that heali
or unites the parts of wounded flesh. Coxe.
eONSOL'IDATE, v. t. [It. consolidare ; Fr.
consolider ; Sp. consolidar ; con and L. soli-
dus, solid. See Solid.]
1. To make solid ; to unite or press together
loose or separate parts, and form a com
))act mass ; to harden or make dense and
firm.
He fixed and consolidated the earth above
the waters. Burnet.
2. To unite the parts of a broken bone or the
lips of a wound, by means of ajiplications.
Encyc.
3. To unite two parliamentary bills in one.
Johnson.
4. In laic, to combine two benefices in one.
Encyc.
eONSOL'IDATE, v. i. To grow firm and
hard ; to unite and become solid.
In hurts and ulcers of the head, dryness ma-
keth them more apt to consolidate. Bacon.
Moist elav consolidates bv di-ying.
CONSOLIDATE, a. Fonned into a solid
mass. Elyot.
eONSOL'IDATED, pp. Made solid, hard,
or compact ; united.
CONSOL'IDATING, ppr. Making solid;
uniting.
CONSOLIDA'TION, n. The act of making
or process of becoming solid ; the act of
forming into a firm compact mass, body
or system.
2. The annexing of one bill to another in
parliament or legislation.
3. The combining of two benefices in one.
Cowel.
4. The uniting of broken bones or wounded
flesh.
eON'SONANCE, n. [Fr. from L. consonan-
tia, consonans, from consono, to sound to-
gether ; con and sono, to sound. See
Sound and 7'o?ie.]
1. Accord or agreement of sounds. In mu-
sic, consonance is an accord of sounds
which produces an agreeable sensation in
the ear, as the third, fifth and eiiihlh.
CON
It denotes also the according intervals.
When the interval of a consonance is in-
variable, it is called perfect ; but when it
may be either major Or minor, it is termed
inqierfect. Busby.
2. Agreement ; accord ; congruity ; consist-
ency ; agreeableness ; suitableness ; as the
consonance of opinions among judges ; the
consonance of a ritual to tlie scriptures.
CON'SONANT, a. Agreeing; according;
congruous ; consistent ; followed generally
by to ; sometimes by unth ; as, this rule is
consonant to scripture and reason.
2. In music, composed of consonances ; a?
consonant intervals.
CON'SONANT, n. A letter, so named be-
cause it is considered as being sounded
only in connection with a vowel. But
some consonants have no sound, even
when united with a vowel, and othere have
a very imperfect sound. The consonants
are better called articulations, as they are
the names given to the several closings or
junctions of the organs of speech, which
precede and follow the openings of the or-
gans, with which the vowels are uttered.
These closings are perfect, and wholly in-
tercept the voice, as in the syllables ek, ep.
et ; or imperfect, and admitting some slight
sound, as in em, en. Hence some articu-
lations are called mutes, and others, semi-
voioels. The consonants begin or end syl-
lables, and their use is to determine the
manner of beginning or ending the vocal
sounds. These closings or configurations
of the organs being various, serve to diver-
sify the syllables, as in uttering ba, da, pa,
or ab, ad, ap ; and although b and p may
be considered as representing no sounds
at all, yet they so modify the utterance of
ab, ap, or ba, pa, that the slight difference
between these articulations may be percei-
ved as far as the human voice can be dis-
tinctly heard.
CON'SONANTLY, adv. Consistently; in
agreement.
CON'SONANTNESS, n. Agreeableness;
consistencv.
CON'SONOUS, a. [L. consonus.] Agreeing
in sound ; symphonious.
CONSO' PI ATE, 11. «. To lull asleep. [Xot
used.]
CONSOPIA'TION, n. A lulhng asleep.
[.Vo< iised.]
CON'S
SOPITE, ti.<. [h. consopio.] To com-
pose ; to lull to sleeji. [J^ot used.]
eON'SOPlTE, a. Calm ; composed. [JVot
used.] More.
CON'SORT, n. [L. consors ; con and sors,
sort, state, kind.]
1. A companion ; a partner ; an intimate as-
sociate ; particularly, a partner of the bed ;
a wife or husband.
He single chose to live, and shunn'd to wed,
\Vell pleased to want a consort of his bed.
I>ryden.
2. An assembly or association of persons,
convened for consultation. Spenser.
i. Union; conjunction; concurrence.
JUterbury.
4. A number of instruments played together ;
a symphony; a concert. In this sense, con-
cert is now used.
5. In navigation, any vessel keeping company
with another.
(^uecn consort, the wife of a lung, as disliu-
CON
guislied from a queen regent, who rules
alone, awd a queen, dowager, the widow of
a king. . .
CONSORT', V. i. To associate ; to unite in
company ; to keep company ; followed by
idth.
Which of tlie Grecian chiefs consorts wUh
thee. JDryden.
CONSORT', V. t. To join ; to marry.
With his consorted Eve. Milton.
2. To unite in company.
He begins to consort himself with men.
^ Locke.
3. To accompany. [JVot used.] Shak.
eONSORT'ABLE, a. Suitable. ffotton.
CONSORT' ED, pp. United in marriage.
CONSORT'ING, ppr. Uniting in company
with ; associating.
CONSOR'TION, n. Fellowship. [Mot vsed.]
Brotvn.
CON'SORTSHIP, n. Fellowship ; partner-
ship. Bp. Hall.
CON'SOUND, n. The name of several spe-
cies of plants.
CONSPICU'ITV, Ji. Conspicuousness ;
brightness. [Little used.] Shak.
CONSPICUOUS, a. [h. conspicuus, from
conspicio, to look or see ; con and specio, to
see. See Species.] .
1. Open to the vipw ; obvious to the eye
easy to be seen ; manifest ; as, to stand in
a conspicuotis place.
Or come 1 less conspicuous. Milton
2. Obvious to the mental eye ; clearly or ex-
tensively known, perceived or understood.
Hence, eminent ; famous ; distinguished ;
as a man of conspicuous talents ; a lady of
conspicuous virtues.
CONSPICUOUSLY, adv. In a conspicuous
manner ; obviously ; in a manner to be
clearly seen ; eminently ; remarkably.
CONSP"lC'UOUSNESS, »i. Openness orex
posure to the view ; a state of being visible
at a distance ; as the conspicuousiiess of
tower.
Eminence ; fame ; celebrity ; renown ;
state of being extensively known and di
tinguislied ; as the conspicuousness of an
author.
CONSPIR'ACY, n. [h. conspiratio, from
conspiro. See Conspire.]
I. A combination of men for an evil purpose
. an agreement between two or more per
sons, to commit some crime in concert
jjarticularly, a combination to commit trea-
son, or excite sedition or insurrection
against the government of a stale ; a plot ;
as a conspiracy against the life of a king ;
a conspiracy against the government.
More than forty had maJe this conspiracy
Acts xxiii.
3. Ill law, an agreement between two oi
more persons, falsely and maliciously tc
indict, or procure to be indicted, an inno-
cent person of felony. Blackstone
•3. \ concurrence; a general tendency of
two or more causes to one event.
Sidney.
CONSPI'RANT, a. [L. conspirans.] Con
spiring; plotting; engaging in a plot to
commit a crime. Shak.
CONSPIRATION, n. Conspiracy; agree
ment or concurrence of things to one end
CONSPIR'ATOR, n. One who conspires
one who engages in a plot to commit a
crime, particularly treason.
CON
2. In luu; one who agrees with another
fulM-K ami nialic-iously to indict an inno-
ci-iii |'..-i-,Hi nfirlony. By the Britisli stat-
nti-, ;i (n]i-|,ii:it(ji- is defined to he one who
bind- liiiii-. II' hy oath, covenant, or other
alliance, to assi.st another falsely and mali-
ciously to indict a person, or falsely to
maintain pleas. Encyc,
CONSPI'RE, V. i. [L. consviro, to plot ;
con and spiro, to breathe. But the priina-
ry sense is to throw, to wind ; hence spira,
a fold, circle, wreath orband ; and the sense
of the verb is, to breathe together, or more
probably, to wind or band together.]
To agree, by oath, covenant or otherwise,
to commit a crime ; to plot ; to hatch trea-
son.
The servants of Ammon conspired against
him, and slew the king in his own house. 2
Kings .Yxi.
They conspired against Joseph to slay him.
2. In law, to agree falsely and maliciously to
indict an innocent person of felony.
To agree ; to concur to one end.
The press, the pulpit, and the stage,
Conspire to censure and expose our age.
Roscommon.
All things conspire to make us prosperous.
CONSPI'RER, n. One who conspires or
plots ; a conspirator. Shak.
CONSPI'RING, ppr. Agreeing to commit a
crime ; plotting ; uniting or concurring to
one end.
2. In mechanics, conspiring powers are such
as act in a direction not ojiposite to one
another ; cooperating powers. Harris.
eONSPI'RINGLY, adv. In the manner of
conspiracy ; by conspiracy. .Milton.
CONSPISSA'TION, n. [L. conspissatus.]
The act of making thick or viscous; thick-j
ness. More.\
eONSPURCA'TION, n. [L. conspurco ; coii
and spurco, to defile.]
The act of defiling ; defilement; pollution.!
[JVot in use] Bp. Hall.l
CON'STABLE, n. [Sp. condestable ; Port.
id.; It. conestabile ; Fr. connetable ; Sp.
conde, It. conte, a count, and L. stabulum, a
stable ; L. comes stabuli, count of the stable.]
1. The Lord High Constable of England,
the seventh officer of the crown. He liadi
the care of the common peace, in deeds of I
arms, and matters of war; being a judge
of the court of chivalry, now called the
court of lienor. To this officer and to thej
Earl Marshal belonged the cognizance of:
contracts, deeds of arms, without the,
realm, and combats and blazonry within
the realm. The power of this officer was
so great and so improperly used, that it!
was abridged by the 13th Richard II., andi
was afterwards forfeited in the person of|
Edward Stafford, duke of Buckingham, in
1521. It has never been granted to any
jierson, since that time, except pro hac vice,
or on a particular occasion. Encyc.
2. An oflicer of the peace. In England,
there are high constables, petty constables,
and constables of London. The high con-
stables are chosen at the court leets of the
franchise or hundred over which they pre-
side, or in default of that, by the justices of
the quarter sessions, and are removable by
the same authority that appoints them.
The petty constables are chosen by the
CON
jury of the court leet, or if no court is held,
they are appointed by two justices of the
peace. In London, a constable is nomi-
nated in each precinct by the inhabitants,
and confirmed at the court of wardmote.
The duty of constables is to keep the peace,
and for this puri>ose they are invested with
the power of arresting and unprisoning,
and of breaking open houses.
In Ike United States,constables arc town
or city officers of the peace, with powers
similar to those possessed by the consta-
bles in Great Britain. They are invested
also with powers to execute civil as well
as criminal process, and to levy executions.
In JVew England, they arc elected by the
inhabitants of towns in legal meeting.
To overrun the constable, to sjjend more than
a man is worth or can pay ; a vulgar
phrase.
CON'STABLESIIIP, n. The office of a con-
stable.
CON'STABLEWICK, n. The district to
which a constable's power is limited.
Hale.
CON'STANCY, n. [L. constantia, from con-
sto ; con and sto, to stand.]
1. Fixedness ; a standing firm ; hence, ap-
plied to God or his works, immutability ;
unalterable continuance ; a i)ernianent
■ state. Hooker.
2. Fixedness or firmness of mind ; persevcr-
! ing resolution; steady, unshaken deter-
mination ; particularly applicable to firm-
ness of mind under sufferings, to steadiness
in attachments, and to perseverence in en-
terprise. Lasting affection; stabiUty in
love or friendship.
3. Certamty; veracity; reality.
Shak. Johnson.
CON'STANT, n. [L. constans.] Fixed;
fii'm ; o|)posed Xojluid.
To turn two fluid liquors uito a co«s(a;i( body.
Boyle.
[In this sense, not used.]
2. Fixed ; not varied ; unchanged ; perma-
nent ; immutable.
The world's a scene ofclianges, and to be
Constant, in nature were inconstancy.
Cowkij.
3. Fixed or firm in mind, purpose, affection
or principle ; unshaken ; unmoved ; as a
constant friend or lover.
4. Certain; steady; firmly adherent ; with
to ; as a man constant to his purpose, or to
his duties.
CONSTANTINOPOL'ITAN, a. Relating
to Constantinople, the metropolis of Tur-
key in Eurojie.
CON'STANTLY, adv. Firmly; steadily:
invariably ; continually ; perseveringly.
Rhoda constantly allirmcd that it was even
so. Acts xil.
Tliese things I will that thou aflirm constant-
ly. Tit.iii.
CONSTAT, n. [L. it appears.] In Eng-
land, a certificate given by the clerk of the
pipe and auditors of the exchequer, to a
person who intends to plead or move for
a discharge of any thing in that court.
The eflect of it is to show what appears
upon the record, respecting the matter in
question.
2. An exemplification under the great seal
of the enrollment of any letters patent.
Encyc.
CON
CON
eON'STELLATE, v. i. [Low L. consteUa-
lus; con and stello, to shine, Stella, a star.
To join luster; tosli
siatuo, to set. See Statue, Statute. Ii
constitxiire ; Sp. constituir ; Fr. constitutr.
AunYted radiancelll. To set; to fix; to enact; to establish
We must obey laws appointed and constituted
The several things which ^..^1.^^ —
tions shine forth and constellate in God
Boyle.
COiN'STELLATE, v. I. To unite several'
shining bodies in one splendor. [Irt'fWei
used. Brown.\
CON'STELLATED, pp. United in one
splendor. . Brou-n.V.^ '^^^ appoint, depute or elect to an office or
M. Starry; set or adorned with stars or con-|i p j' !,„ent; to make and empower.
stellations. •'• ^?';"'"';i! A. sheriff is con^fitufed a conservator of the
CONSTELLATION, n. A cluster oj fixed|j p^^^^
stars ; an asterism ; a number ot starsi. j^ has consiituted B his attorney oragent
Taylo
. To form or compose ; to give fornial ex
istence to ; to make a thing what it is.
Perspicuity constitittes the prime excellence
of style.
Truth and reason constitute that intellectual
gold that defies destrucUon. Johnson
which appear as if situated near each other
in the heavens, and are considered as form-
ing a particular division. The constella-
tions are reduced mostly to the figures of
certain animals or other known thing
the bear, the bull, the ram, the balance,
&c.
For (lie stars of heaven, and the constellations
thereof, shall not s^ive their light. Is
a. An assemblage of splendors or excellen-
(.igs_ Hammond.
CONSTERNA'TION, n. [L. ronsternatio,
from consferno ; con and sterna, to throw or
strike down.]
Astonishment; amazement or horror that]
confounds the faculties, and incapacitates
a person for consultation and execution
excessive terror, wonder or surprise.
South.
CON'STIPATE, V. I. [L. co7is/i>o ; con and
stipo, to crowd, or cram, Eng. to slvjj, to
stoT). See Stuff and Stop.]
1. To crowd or cram into a narrow com-
pass ; to thicken or condense. Bacon
2. To stop, by filhng a passage, and prevent
ing motion ; as, to constipate capillary ves
gglg Arbuthnot.
■ crowd the intestinal canal, and
CON'STITUTED, pp. Set; fixed; estab
lished ; made ; elected ; appointed.
CON'STITUTER, n. One who constitutes
or appoints.
€ON'STITUTING,;)p;-. Settmg; establish-
ing; composing; electing; appointing.
eONSTITU'TION, n. The act of consti-
tuting, enacting, establishing, or appoint-
ing.
2. The state of being; that form ofbein^
peculiar structure and connection of parts
which makes or characterizes a sys'
or body. Hence the particular frame or
temperament of the human body is called
its constitution. We speak of a robust or
feeble constitution ; a cold, phlegmatic,
sanguine or irritable constitution. We
speak of the constitution of the air, or other
substance ; the constitution o{ the solar sys-
tem ; the constitution of things.
3. The frame or temper of mind, affections
3. To fill I
make costive
CON
being constitutional ; the state of being in-
herent in the natural frame ; as the consti-
tutionality of disease.
Coxe. Med. Repository.
2. The state of being consistent with the
constitution or frame of government, or of
being authorized by its provisions.
The judges of the supreme court of the Uni-
ted States have the power of determining the
constitutionality of laws.
CONSTITUTIONALLY, adv. In consist-
ency with the constitution or frame of
government.
€ONSTITU'TIONIST, n. One who ad-
leres to the constitution of the country.
Bolinghrokt
eON'STITUTIVE, a. That constitutes,
forms or composes ; elemental; essential.
The constitutive parts of a schismatic, being
the esteem of himself and contempt of others.
Decay of Piety.
2. Having power to enact or establish ; in-
stituting.
CONSTRATN, v. t. [Fr. contraindre ;_ It.
constrignere, or costringere : Sp. constrcnir ;
Port, constringir ; from L. constringo : con
and stringo, to strain, to bind. See Strain.]
Broun
eONSTiPA'TION, n. The act of crowding
any thing into a less compass ; a pressing
together ; condensation ; as a close consti-
pation of particles. Bentley.
2. More generally, a crowding or filling to
hardness the intestinal canal, from defec-
tive excretion; costiveness; obstipation
Encyc. Co.te
eONSTIT'UENT, a. [L. constituens, con
stituo ; con and statuo, to set. See Statue.
StatiUe.]
Setting ; constituting : applied to vails of a
thing that are essential to it. Hence, ne-
cessary or essential ; elemental ; forming,
composing or making as an essential part
Body, soul, and reason, are the three constit-
uent parts of a man. Dryden
Oxygen and hydrogen are the constituent
narts of water.
CONSTIT'UENT, n. He or that which sets,
fixes or forms ; he or that which consti
tutes or composes.
Their first composure and origination requires
a hieher and nobler constituent than chance.
^ Hale.
9. That which constitutes or composes, as a
part, or an essential part.
The lymph in those glands is a necessary f on-
stituent of the aliment. Arbuthnot
3. One who appoints or elects another to ar
ofiice or employment. Burke.
CON'STITUTE,%-.«. {\.. constiluo ; con and
In a general sense, to strain ; to press ;
to urge ; to drive ; to exert force, physical
or moral, either in urging to action or in
restraining it. Hence,
1. To compel or force ; to urge with irresist-
ible power, or with a power sufficient to
produce the effect.
The spirit '"' "
xxxii.
I was constrained to appeal to Cesar. Acts
viUiin me constraineth i
Jot.
or passions.
The established form of government m a
state, kingdom or country ; a system of
fundamental rules, principles and ordinan
ces for the government of a state or na
tion. In free states, the constitution i
paramount to the statutes or laws enacted
by the legislature, limiting and controlling
its power ; and in the United States, the
legislature is created, and itspowers desig-
nated, by the constitution.
5. A particular law, ordinance, or regula
tion, made by the authority of any superior,
civil or ecclesiastical ; as the constitutioiis
of the churches; the novel cojistitulions of
Justinian and his successors.
6. A svstem of fundamental principles for
the "government of rational and social
beings.
The New Testament is the moral constitution
of modern societv. Grimke.
CONSTITUTIONAL, a. Bred or inherent
in the constitution, or in the natural frame
of body or mind ; as a constitutional in-
firmity ; constitutional ardor or didness.
2. Consistent with the constitution ; author-
ized by the constitution or fundamental
rules of a government ; legal.
An act of congress prohibiting the importation
of slaves into the United States is constitu-
tional.
3. Relating to the constitution ; as a consti-
tutional doubt. Palcy.
CONSTITUTIONALIST, n. An adherent
to the constitution of government.
2. An innovator of the old constitution,
framer or friend of the new constituti(
France. Burke
For the love of Christ cmistraineth us. 2
Cor. v.
2. To confine by force ; to restrain from o-
cape or action ; to repress.
Mv sire in caves constrains the winds.
Drydc,
3. To hold by force ; to press ; to confine.
How the strait stays the slender waist con-
strain. Gay.
4. To constringe ; to bind.
When winter frosts constrain the field with
cold. Dryden.
5. To tie fast ; to bind ; to chain ; to confine.
He binds in chains
The drowsy prophet, and his limbs constrains.
Dryden.
6. To necessitate.
Did fate or we the adulterous act constrain ?
Pope.
7. To force ; to ravish. [.M'ot used.] Shak.
8. To produce in opposition to nature ; as a
constrained voice ; constrained notes.
Waller.
CONSTRA'INABLE, a. That may be con-
strained, forced, or repressed; Uable to
constraint, or to restraint. Hooker.
CONSTRAINED, pp. Urged irresistibly or
powerfully ; compelled ; forced ; restrain-
ed ; confined ; bound ; imprisoned ; neces-
sitated.
CONSTRAINEDLY, adv. By constraint;
by compulsion. Hooker.
CONSTRA'INER, n. One who constrains.
CONSTRAINING, ppr. Urging with irre-
sistible or powerful force; compelling;
forcing; repressing; confining; holding
by force ; pressing ; binding.
CONSTRATNT, n. [Fr. contrainte.] Irre-
sistible force, or its effect ; any force, -
CONSTITUTIONALTTY, n. The state of| power, physical or moral, which compels
CON
CON
C O N
to act or to forbear action, or which ur
ges so strongly as to i)roduec its effect up-
on tlie body or mind ; compulsion ; res-
traint ; confinement.
Not by constraint, but by my choice, I came
Dryden
Feed tlie flock of God, taking the oversight
thereof, not by ccmstraint, but wUingly. 1
Pet. V.
€ONSTRA'INTIVE, a. Having power to
compel. [RL] Careiv.
CONSTRICT', V. t. [L. constringo, constric-
turn. See Constrain.]
To draw together ; to bind ; to cramp ; to
draw into a narrow compass ; hence, to
contract or cause to slirink. Arhuthnot.
€0NSTR1€T'ED, pp. Drawn together;
bound ; contracted.
€ONSTRIeT'ING,p;)r. Drawing together;
binding ; contracting.
CONSTRICTION, n. A drawing together
or contraction by means of some inlierent
power, or by spasm, as distinguished
from compression, or the pressure of ex-
traneous bodies ; as the constriction of a
muscle or fiber. It may perhaps be some-
times U6ed as synonymous wiili compres-
sion.
CONSTRICT'OR, n. That which draws
together or eonlracts. In anatomy, a mus-
cle which draws tog'ether or closes an ori-
fice of the body ; as the constrictor labiorum,
a muscle of the lips. Encyc.
2. A species of serpents, the black snake of
the United States. Encyc.
Also, the Boa constrictor, the largest of
known serpents.
CONSTRINtiE, V. t. constrinj'. [L. con-
stringo. See Co)istrain.]
To draw together ; to strain into a narrow
compass ; to contract ; to force to con-
tract itself.
Strong liquors constringe, liarden Uie fibers,
and coagulate the fluids. Arhuthnot.
CONSTRlN'6ED, pp. Contracted ; drawn
together.
CONSTRIN'gENT, a. Having the quality
of contracting, binding or compressing.
Bacon. Thomson.
CONSTRIN'GING, ppr. Drawing or com-
pressing into a smaller compass; contrac-
ting ; binding.
CONSTRUCT', V. t. [L. constnio, conslntc-
tuvi ; con and stnto, to lay, dispose or set
in order ; Sp. construir ; Fr. construirc ;
It. id. See Structure.]
1. To put together the parts of a thing in
their proper place and order ; to build ;
to form ; as, to cojistruct an edifice.
2. To devise and compose, as to construct
a new system ; or simply to frame or form,
as to construct a telescope. The word may
include the invention, with the formation,
or not, at the pleasure of the writer. A
man consti-ucts a ship according to a mod-
el; or a grammar by a new arrangement
of principles ; or a planetarium of a new
form.
3. To interpret or understand. [See Con
slrue.]
CONSTRUCT'ED,^;). Buih ; formed ; com
posed ; compiled.
CONSTRUCT'ER, n. One who constructs
or frames.
CONSTRUCT'ING, ppr. Building ; fram
ing ; composing.
CONSTRUCTION, n. [L. coiutnictio.]
Vol. I.
1. The act of building, or of devising and
forming ; fabrication.
2. The form of building ; the manner of put
ting together the parts of a building, <
machine, or a system; structure; confor-
mation.
The sailing of a ship and its capacity depend
chiefly on its construction.
3. In grammar, syntax, or the arrangement
and connection of words in a sentence,
according to established usages, or the
practice of good writers and speakers.
4. Sense ; meaning ; interpretation ; expla
nation ; or the maimer of understanding
the arrangement of words, or of under-
standing facts. Let us find the true con-
struction ; or let us give th(! autlior's words
a sound, rational, consistent construction
What construction can be put upon this
affair, or upon the conduct of a man.'
5. The manner of describing a figure oi
problem in geometry. Johnsoyi.
Tlie drawing of such lines, such figure,
&c., as are previously necessary for ma-
king any demonstration appear more plain
and undeniable. Encyc.
G. In algebra, the construction of equations
is the method of reducing a known equa
tion into lines and figures, in order to ;
geometrical demonstration. Johnson.
CONSTRUCTIONAL, a. Pertaining to
construction ; deduced from construc^tion
or inter()retation. [ Unusual.] IVaterland.
CONSTRUCTIVE, a. By construction;
created or deduced by construction, or
mode of interpretation ; not directly ex-
pressed, but inferred ; as constructive trea-
son. Blackstone.
.'stipulations, expressed or implied, formal or
contructive. Paleu.
CONSTRUCTIVELY, adv. In a construc-
tive manner; by way of construction or
intei'pretation ; by fair inference.
Chauncey. U. States.
A neutral must have notice of a blockade, ei-
ther actually by a fomial information, or con-
stniclicely by notice to his government. Kent.
CONSTRIJC'TURE, n. An edifice ; pile ;
fabric. [For this, structure is more gener-
ally used.] Blackmore.
CON'STRUE, I', t. [L. construo. See Con-
struct.] __
. To arrange words in their natural order ;
to reduce from a transposed to a natural
order, so as to discover the sense of a
sentence ; hence, to interpret ; and when
applied to a foreign language, to translate ;
to render into English ; as, to construe
Greek, Latin or French.
2. To interpret ; to explain ; to show or to
understand the meaning.
1 pray that I may not be so understood or
construed. Hooker.
Thus we are put to construe and paraphrase
our own words. Slillingfleet.
CON'STRUED, pp. Arranged in natural
order ; interpreted ; understood ; transla-
ted.
ICON'STRUING, ppr. Arranging in natural
order ; expounding ; interpreting ; trans-
lating.
CON'STUPRATE, t). <. [L. constupro ; con
and stupro, to ravish.] To violate ; to de-
bauch ; to defile.
CONSTUPRA'TION, n. The act of rav-
ishing ; violation ; defilement. Bp. Hall.
47
CONSUBSIST', v.i. To subsist together.
[Se<! Subsist.]
CONSUBSTAN'TIAL, a. [L. consubstanli-
alis ; con and substantia. See Substance.]
1. Having the same substance or essence :
co-essential.
The orthodox believe tlie Son to be eensub-
stantial with the Father. Encyc.
2. Of the same kind or nature.
It continuclh a body conaubstantial with
ours. Hooker.
CONSUBSTAN'TIALIST, ii. One who
believes in consubstantiation. Barrow.
CONSUBSTANTIAL'ITY, n. The exist-
ence of more than one in the same sub-
stance ; as, the co-eternity and amsubslan-
tiality of tlie Son with the Father.
Hammond.
2. Participation of the same nature.
Johnson.
CONSUB.STAN'TIATE, v. t. [L. con and
substantia, substance.]
To unite in one common substance or na-
ture. Johnson.
CONSUBSTAN'TLATE, v. i. To profess
consubstantiation. Dryden.
CONSUBSTANTIA'TION, n. The uiuon
of the body uf our blessed Savior with
the sacramental elements. The Luther-
ans maintain that after consecration of the
elements, the body and blood of Christ
are substantially "present with the sub-
stance of the bread and wine, which is
called consubstantiation or impanation.
Encyc.
CON'SUL, n. [L. consul, from consulo, to
consult.]
1. The chief magistrate of the Ancient Ro-
man Republic, invested with regal author-
ity for one year. There were two con-
suls, aimually chosen in the Campus Mar-
tins. In the first ages of Rome, they were
elected from Patrician families or noble-
men ; but in the year of Rome 388, the
people obtained the privilege of electing
one of the consuls from their own body,
and sometimes both were plebeians.
Encyc.
2. In modem usage, the name consul is given
to a person cotnmissioned by a king or
state to reside in a foreign country as an
agent or representative, to protect the
rights, commerce, merchants and seamen
of the state, and to aid the government in
any commercial transactions with such
foreign country.
3. An adviser. [J'l/bt well authorized.] Bacon.
CON'SULAGE, n. A duty laid by the Brit-
ish Levant Company on imports and ex-
ports for the support of the company's af-
fairs. Eton.
CON'SULAR, a. Pertaining to a consul;
as consular power ; consular dignity, or
privileges.
CON'SULATE, n. [L. consulatus.] The
ofiice of a consul. Addison.
[This is applicable to modem consiJs, as
well as to the Roman.l
2. The jurisdiction or extent of a consul's
authority. Kent.
CON'SULSHIP, n. The ofiice of a consul;
or the term of his ofiice ; applicable only to
Roman consids.
CONSULT', t'. {. [L. consulto, from consulo,
to consult, to ask counsel. The last syl-
C O N
CON
CON
lable may be from tlic Ar. _J L«, , Heb.Ch.
Sam. Eth. biW to ask.]
1. To seek the opinion or advice of another,
by a statement of facts, and suitable in-
quiries, for the purpose of directuig one's
own judgment ; followed by mth.
Rehoboam consulted with "the old men. ]
Kings xii.
David consulted with the captains of thou
sands. 1 Chron. xiii.
2. To take counsel together ; to seek opin-
ions and advice by mutual statements, en
quiries and reasonings; to dehberate in
common.
3. To consider with deliberation. Luke xiv.
CONSULT', V. t. To ask advice of; to seek
the opinion of another, as a guide to one'
own judgment ; as, to consult a friend or
parent.
2. To seek for information, or facts, in some-
thing; as by examining books or papers.
Thus, I consulted several authors on the
subject ; I consulted the official documents,
3. To regard ; to have reference or respect
to, in judging or acting ; to decide or to act
in favor of. We are to consult the neces-
sities, rather than the pleasures of life.
We are to consult public as well as |)rivate
interest. He consulted his own safety in
flight.
Ere fancy you ecmsult, eonsiilt your purse.
Franklin.
4. To plan, devi.se or contrive.
Thou hast consulted shame to thy house, by
cutting off many people. Hal), li.
[This sense is unusual and not to be
countenanced.]
CONSULT', n. The act of consulting; the
effect of consultation ; determination ; a
council, or dehberating assembly.
Dn/den. Bacon.
This word is, I believe, entirely obsolete,
except in poetry. It would be naturally
accented on the first syllable, but the
poets accent the last.
<:ONSULTA'TION, J^. The act of consult-
ing ; deliberation of two or more persons,
with a view to some decision.
The chief priests held a consultation with the
elders and scribes. Mark xv.
2. The persons who consult together; a
number of persons seeking mutually each
others opinions and advice ; a council for
deliberation ; as, a consultation of physi
cians was called. Wiseman
IVrit of consultation, in law, a writ award-
ed by a superior court, to return a cause,
which had been removed by prohibition
li-om the court christian, to its original
jurisdiction; so called because the judges
on consultation find the prohibition ill foun-
ded. Blackstone.
CONSULT' ATIVE, a. Having the privilege
of consulting. Bramhall.
CONSULT'ED, pp. Asked; enquired of,
for opinion or advice ; regarded.
CONSULT'ER, n. One who consults, oi
asks counsel or information ; as a consult
er with familiar spirits. Deut. xviii.
eONSULT'ING, ppr. Asking advice ; seek-
ing information ; deliberating and enquir-
ing mutually ; regarding.
CONSU'MABLE, a. [See Consume.] That
may be consumed ; possible to be destroy-
My flesh is consumed away. Job
5. To destroy ; to bring to utter ruin ;
ed, dissipated, wasted or spent ; as, asbes-
tos is not consumable by fire. H'ilkins.
The importation and exportation of
able commodities. Locke.
CONSU'ME, V. t. [L. consumo ; con and su
mo, to take. So in English we say, it
takes up time, that is, it consumes time.
Sp. consumir; It. consumare ; Fr.
mer. Class Sin.]
1. To destroy, by separating the parts of a
tiling, by decomposition, as by fire, or by
eating,_ devouring, and annihilating the
form of a substance. Fire consumes wood,
coal, stubble ; animals consume flesh and
vegetables,
3. To destroy by dissipating or by use ; to
expend ; to waste ; to squander ; as, to
consume an estate.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss
that ye may consume it upon your lusts. James
3. To spend ; to cause to pass away, ai
time ; as, to consume the day in idleness.
Their days did he fonsume in vanity. Ps.
4. To cause to disappear ; to waste slowly.
toex-
termniate.
Let me alone — that I may consume them
Ex. xxxii.
CONSU'ME, v.i. To waste away slowly;
to be exhausted.
Their flesh — their eyes — their tongue shall
consume away. Zech. xiv.
The wicked shall perish — they shall consume
Ps. xxxvii.
eONSU'MED, pp. Wasted ; burnt up ; des-
troyed ; dissipated ; squandered ; expen
ded.
CONSU'MER, n. One who consumes
spends, wastes or destroys ; that which
consumes.
CONSU'MING, ppr. Burning; wasting
destroying ; expending ; eating ; devour-
2. a. That destroys.
The Lord tliy God is a consuming fire
Deut. iv.
CON'SUMMATE, v. t. [L. consummo, con-
summatus ; con and summo, from summa.
sum ; Fr. consommer ; Sp. consumar. See
Sum.]
To end ; to finish by completing what was
intended ; to perfect ; to bring or carry to
the utmost point or degree.
He had a niiud to consummate the happiness
of (he day. Taller.
eONSUM'MATE, a. Complete; perfect;
carried to the utmost extent or degree ;
as consummate greatness or felicity.
CON'SUMMATED, pp. Completed ; per-
fected ; ended.
CONSUM'MATELY, adv. Completely ;
perfectly. H'aHon.
CON'SUMMATING, ppr. Compl
plishina ; perfecting.
CONSUMMA'TION, n. [L. consumtnatio.]
Completion ; end ; perfection of a work,
process or scheme. Mdison.
2. The end or completion of the present sys-
tem of things; the end of the world.
Hooker.
3. Death ; the end of life. Shak.
Consummation of marriage, the most inti-
mate union of the sexes, which completer
the connubial relation.
[L. consumptio. See
CONSUMPTION,
Consume.]
1. The act of consuming; waste; destruc-
tion by burning, eating, devouring, scat-
tering, dissipation, slow decay, or by pas-
sing away, as time; as the consumption
of fuel, of food, of commodities or estate,
of time, &c.
2. The state of being wasted, or diminished.
Etna and Vesuvius have not suffered any con-
siderable diminution or consumption.
Woodward.
3. In medicine, a wasting of flesh ; a gradual
decay or dnninution of the body ; o word
of extensive signification. But particular-
ly, the disease called phthisis pulmonalis,
pulmonic consumption, a disease seated
in the lungs, attended with hectic fever,
cough, &c.
CONSUMP'TIVE, o. Destructive; wast-
ing ; exhausting ; having the quality of
consuming, or dissipating ; as a long co?i-
sumptive war. Addison.
2. Affected with a consumption or pulmo-
nic disease, as consumptive lungs ; or in-
clined to a consumption ; tending to the
phthisis pulmonalis ; applied to the incipi-
ent state of the disease, or to a constitution
predisposed to it.
CONSUMP'TIVELY, adv. In a way tend-
ing to consumption. Beddocs.
CONSUMP'TIVENESS, n. A state of be-
ing consumptive, or a tendency to a con-
sumption.
CONTAB'ULATE, v. t. [L. contahulo ; coi<
and tabula.] To floor with boards.
Gayton.
CONTABULA'TION, n. The act of laying
with boards, or of flooring.
CON'TACT, n. [L. contactus, from conlin-
go, to touch ; con and tango, to touch,
originally tago. See Touch^
A touching ; touch ; close union or juncture -
of bodies. Two bodies come in contact,
when they meet without any sensible in-
tervening space ; the parts that touch are
called the points of contact.
CONTAC'TION, n. The act of touching.
Broii^n.
CONTA'GION, n. [L. contagio, from the
root of contingo, tango, primarily tago, to
touch.]
1. Literally, a touch or touching. Hence,
the communication of a disease by con-
tact, or the matter communicated. More
generally, that subtil matter which pro-
ceeds from a diseased person or body, and
comnumicates the disease to another per-
son ; as in cases of small pox, measles, an-
ginas, and malignant fevers ; diseases
which are communicated without contact.
This contagion proceeds from the breath
of the diseased, from the perspiration or
other excretions.
2. That which communicates evil from one
to another ; infection ; that which propa-
gates mischief ; as the confu^'oJi of vice or
of evil examples. Milton.
1. Pestilence ; a pestilential disease ; venom-
ous exhalations. Shak.
CONTA'GIOUS, a. Containing or genera-
ting contagion ; catching ; that may be
comnnmicated by contact, or by a subtil
excreted matter : as a contagious disease.
Poisonous ; pestilential ; containing con-
CON
tagion ; as contagious air ; contagious
clothing.
8. Containing mischief that may be propa-
gated ; as contagious example.
4. That may be communicated from one
to another, or may excite like affections
in otliers.
His genius rendered his courage more
tagwus.
Wirt
■eONTA'GlOUSNESS, n. Tlic quality of
beinju; contagious.
' €ONTA'IN, V. t. [L. contineo ; con and teneo,
to hold ; It. conitnere ; Fr. contenir ; Sp.
coniener. See Tenet, Tenure.]
1. To hold, as a vessel ; as, tlie vessel con
tains a gallon. Hence, to have capacity
to be able to hold ; applied to an empty
vessel.
2. To comprehend ; to hold within specified
limits.
Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens
cannot contain thee. 1 Kings viii.
3. To comprehend ; to comprise. Thehis-
tory of Livy contains a hundred and forty
books.
4. To hold within limits prescribed : to re-
strain ; to witlihold from trespass or dis-
order.
Tlie King's person contains the unruly people
from evil occasions. 06s. Spenser.
Fear not, my Lord, we can contain oursi'lves.
Shak.
5. To include. This article is not contained
in the account. This number does not
contain the article specified.
G. To inclose ; as, this cover or envelop con
tains a letter.
€ONTA'IN, V. i. To live in continence or
chastitv. Arbuthnot and Pope. 1 Cor. vii.
€ONTA'INABLE, a. Tliat may be contain-
ed, or comprised. Boyle.
CONTA'INED, pp. Held; comprehended;
comprised ; included ; inclosed.
CONTAINING, ppr. Holding ; having ca-
pacity to hold ; comprehending ; compris-
ing ; including ; inclosing.
eONTAM'INATE, v. t. [L. contamino ; con
and ant. tamino. Qu. Heb. Ch. Syr. Koa
to defile. Class Dm. No. 19.]
To defile ; to pollute ; usually in a figura-
tive sense ; to sully ; to tarnish ; to taint
Lewdness contamiiiates character ; cow-
ardice contaminates honor.
Shall wc now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes ?
Shak.
iVONTAM'INATE, a. Polluted ; defiled :
corrupt. Shak.
CONTAM'INATED,?/). Polluted; defiled;
tarnished.
CONTAMINATING, ppr. Polluting ; de-
filing ; tarnishing.
CONTAMINATION, n. The act of pollut-
C O N
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned.
Ps. XV.
3. To shght ; to neglect as unworthy of re-
gard ; to reject with disdain.
Wherefore do the wicked contemn God.
Ps. X.
They contemn the counsel of the Most High,
nig ; pollution ; defilement ; taint.
CON'TECK, »i. Quarrel; contention. [.Vo/
English.]
t'ONTEC'TION, n. [L. contego.] A cover-
ing. [J^ot used.] Sir T. Browne.
CONTEMN', V. t. contem'. [h.contemno ;con
and temno, to despise ; It. contennere ; Ar.
-Li to drive away, to despise. Class
Dm. No. 1. 4.]
1 . To desi)ise ; to consider and treat
and despicable ; to scorn.
CONTEMNED, pp. Despised ; scorned ;
slighted ; neglected, or rejected with dis-
dain.
CONTEM'NER, n. One who contemns ; a
despiser ; a scorner.
CONTEM'NING, ppr. Despising ; slighting
as vile or despicable ; neglecting or re-
jecting, as unworthy of regard.
CONTEM' PER, v. t. [Low L. contempero ;
con and tempera, to mix or temper. See
Temper.]
To moderate ; to reduce to a lower degree
by mixture with opposite or different qual-
ities; to temper.
The leaves qualify and contemper the heat.
Ray.
CONTEM'PERAMENT, n. Moderated or
qualified degree ; a degree of any quality
reduced to that of another ; temperament.
Derham.
CONTEM'PERATE, v. t. [See Contemper.]
To temper ; to reduce the quality of, by
mixing sometliing opposite or different ; to
moderate. Brown, fyiseman.
eONTEMPERA'TION, n. The act of re
ducing a quality by admixture of the con-
trary ; the act of moderating or tempering.
Brown.
Temperau)ent ; proportionate mi.xture
as the contemperaincnl of humors in differ
ent bodies. Hale.
[Inj^tead of these words, temper and temper-
ament are now generally used.]
eON'TEMPLATE, v. i. [L. conlemplor. If
m is radical, see Class Dm. No. 3. 4. 35.]
1. To view or consider with continued at
tention ; to study ; to meditate on. Thii
word expresses the attention of tlip mind
but sometimes in connection with i]i;ii (j
the eyes ; as, to contemplate the licavcns
More generally, the act of the niim
is intended ; as, to contemplate the
ders of redeinption ; to contemplate the
state of the nation and its future pros-
pects.
2. To consider or have in view, in reference
to a future act or event ; to intend.
A decree of the National Assembly of France,
June 26, 1792, contemplates a supply from tlie
United Slates of four millions of livres
There remain some paruculars to complete
the information contemplated by those resolu-
tions. Hamilton's Report.
If a treaty contains any stipulations which
contemplate a state of future war.
Kent's Commentaries.
eON'TEMPLATE, v. i. To think studi-
ously ; to study ; to muse ; to meditate.
He delights to contemplate on tlie works of
CON
Contemplation is keeping the idea, brought
0 the mind, some time actually in view.
Locke.
2. Holy meditation ; attention to sacred
things; a particular application of the fore-
going definition.
To have in contemplation, to intend or l)ur-
pose, or to have under consideration.
CONTEM'PLATIVE, a. Given to contem
plation, or continued application of the
mind to a subject ; studious ; thoughtful ;
as a contemplative philosopher, or mind.
2. Employed in study ; as a contemplative life.
Bacon.
3. Having the appearance of .study, or a stu-
dious habit ; as a contemplative look.
Denham.
4. Having the power of thought or medita-
tion ; as the contemplative faculty of man.
Ray.
CONTEMPLATIVELY, adv. With con-
templation ;attentively; thoughtfully ; with
deep attention.
CON'TEMPLATOR, n. One who contem-
jdates ; one employed in study or medita-
tion ; an inquirer after knowledge.
Raleigh. Brown.
CONTEMPORA'NEOUS, a. [See Cotem-
porary.] Living or being at the same
time.
CONTEMPORARY, a. [It. Sp. conlempora-
neo ; Fr. contemporain ; L. contemporalis :
con and temporalis, temporarius, from teni-
pus, time. For the sake of easier pro-
nunciation and a more agreeable sound,
this word is often changed to cotempo-
rary.]
Coetaneous ; living at the same time, appli-
ed to persons ; being or existing at the same
time, applied to things ; as contemporary
kings; contemporary events. [See Colem-
porary, the preferable word.]
CONTEMPORARY, n. One who lives at
the same time with another.
Socrates and Plato were contemporaries.
""'J CONTEMPORISE, v. t. To make contem-
' "'i; porary ; to place in the same age or time.
'"'^' ■ [.\ot used.] Brown.
"0 ^CONTEMPT', n. [L. contemptus. See Con-
temn "
CON'TE.MPLATEn, /;/'• Considered witl
atteiitif'ii ; iiii-iruiiii-il on; intended.
CON'TE.MIM, \'ri.\(;, ppr. Considering
with continued attention ; meditating on ;
musing.
CONTEMPLA'TION, n. [L. contemplaiio.
The act of the mind in considering with
attention ; nipditalinn ; study ; continued
attention of the mind to a particular sub-
ject.
1. The act of despising ; the act of viewing
or considering and treating as mean, vile
and worthless ; disdain ; hatred of what
is mean or deemed vile. This word is
one of the strongest expressions of a mean
opinion which the language affords.
Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the
contempt of which is great. Addison.
2. The state of being despised; whence in a
scriptural sense, shame, disgrace.
Some shall awake to everlasting contempt.
Dan. xii.
3. In law, disobedience of the rules and or-
ders of a court, which is a punishable of-
fense.
CONTEMPT'IBLE, a. [L. contemplilnlis.]
1. Worthy of contempt; that describes scorn,
or disdain ; despicable ; mean ; vile. In-
temperance is a contemptible vice. No
plant or animal is so contemptible as not to
exhibit evidence of the wonderful power
and wisdom of the Creator.
The pride that leads to duelling is a contempt-
ible passion.
2. Apt to despise ; contemptuous. [Not le-
gitimnfe.] Shak.
CONTEMPT'IBLENESS, n. The state of
CON
being contemptible, or of being despised ;
despicableness ; meanness ; vileness.
€ONTEMPT'IBLY, adv. In a contemirti
ble manner ; meanly ; in a manner de-
serving of contempt.
€ONTEMPT'UOUS, a. Manifesting or ex-
pressing contempt or disdain ; scornful ;
as contemptuous language or manner ; a
contemptuous opinion. Applied to men, apt
to despise ; haughty ; insolent ; as a na-
tion, proud, severe, contemptuous.
Milton.
CONTEMPT'UOUSLY, adv. In a con-
temptuous manner ; with scorn or disdain ;
despitefully.
The apostles and most eminent christains
were poor, and treated co)ttemptuously.
Tayh
€ONTEMPT'UOUSNESS, n. Disposition
to contempt ; act of contempt ; insolence
scorufulness ; hauglitiness.
■CONTEND', V. i. [h. contendo ; con and
tcndo, to stretch, from leneo, Gr. *sii'w
See Tend, Tenet]
1. To strive, or to strive against ; to strug
gle in opposition.
Distress not tlie Moabites, nor contend with
tliem in battle. Deut. ii.
% To strive ; to use earnest efforts to obtain,
or to defend and preserve.
Yoii sit above, and see vain men below
Contend for what you only can bestow.
Dryden.
Ye should earnestly contend for the faitli
once delivered to the saints. Jude 3.
3. To dispute earnestly ; to sti-ive in debate.
They that were of the circumcision contended
with him. Acts xi. Job ix.
4. To reprove sharply ; to chide ; to strive
to convince and reclaim.
Then contended I with the rulers. Neh. xiii.
5. To strive in opposition ; to punish.
The Lord God called to contend by fire. Amo
vii.
C. To (juarrel ; to dispute fiercely ; to wran
gle. The parties contend about trifles.
To contend for, to strive to obtain ; as
two competitors contend for the prize.
CONTEND', V. t. To dispute ; to contest.
■WTien Cai-thage shall contend the world with
Rome. Dryden.
This transitive use of contend is not
strictly legitimate. The phrase is ellipti-
cal, for being understood after contend;
but it is admissible in poetry.
CONTEND'ED, pp. Urged in argument or
debate ; disputed ; contested.
CONTEND'ENT, n. Au antagonist or op-
poser. UEstrange.
CONTEND'ER, n. One who contends ; a
combatant ; a champion. Locke. Watts.
CONTENDING, ppr. Striving ; struggling
to oppose ; debating ; urging in argument ;
quarreling.
'J. a. Clashing ; opposing ; rival ; as contend-
ing claims or interests.
(ONTEN'EMENT, n. [con and tenement]
Land, or freehold contiguous to a tene-
ment. Blackstone. JVorm. Diet
CONTENT', a. [L. contentus, from conli-
neor, to be held ; con and teneo, to hold.]
Literally, held, contained within limits;
hence, quiet ; not disturbed ; having a
mind at peace ; easy ; satisfied, so as not
10 repine, object, or oppose.
Content wilh science in the Vido of peace.
Pope.
CON
Having food and raiment, let us be therewith
content. 1 Tim. vi.
CONTENT', V. t To satisfy the mind ; to
make quiet, so as to stop complaint or op-
position ; to appease ; to make easy in any
situation ; xtsed chiefly with the reciprocal
pronoun.
Do not content yourselves with obscure and
confused ideas, where clearer are to be obtained.
Watts.
Pilate, willing to content the people, released
Barabbas. Mark xv.
2. To please or gratify.
It doth much content me,
hear him so inclined. Shak.
CONTENT', n. Rest or quietness of the
mind in the present condition ; satisfac-
tion which holds the mind in peace, re-
straining complaint, ojjjjosition, or furthei
desire, and often implying a moderate de-
gree of happiness.
A wise content his even soul secur'd ;
By want not shaken, nor by wealth allm-'d.
Smith.
2. Acquiescence ; satisfaction without exam
ination.
The style is excellent ;
Tlie sense they humbly take upon content.
Pope
3. The term used in the House of Lords in
England, to express an assent to a bill or
CON'TENT, n. often in the plural, contents.
That which is contained ; the thing
things held, included or comprehended
within a limit or line ; as the contents of a
cask or bale; of a room or a ship; the
contents of a book or writing.
3. In geometry, the area or quantity of mat-
space included in certain lines.
3. The power of containing ; capacity ; ex-
tent within limits ; as a ship of great con-
tent Bacon.
[But in this sense the plural is generally
used.]
CONTENTA'TION, )(. Content ; satisfac
tion. Obs. Arbuthnot
CONTENT'ED,;)^. or a. Satisfied; quiet;
easy in mind ; not complaining, opposing
or demanding more. The good man is
contented with his lot. It is our duty to be
contented with the dispensations of provi-
dence.
eONTENT'EDLY, adv. In a contented
manner ; quietly ; without concern.
CONTENT'EDNESS, n. State of resting
in mind ; quiet ; satisfiiction of mind with
any condition or event. Walton.
CONTENT'FUL, a. Full of contentment.
[JSfol used.] Barrow.
CONTEN'TION, ?!. [L. contentio. See
Contend.]
Strife ; struggle ; a violent effort to obtain
something, or to resist a person, claim or
injury; contest; quarrel.
Multitudes lost their Uves ia a tumult raised
by contention ainong the partizans of the seve-
ral colors. Mam.
3. Strife in words or debate ; quarrel ; an-
gry contest ; controversy.
Avoid fooUsh questions, and genealogies, and
contentions, and strivings about the law. Til. iii.
A fool's lips enter into contention. Prov. xviii.
3. Strife or endeavor to excel ; emulation.
Shak.
4. Eagerness ; zeal ; ardor ; velienieiKo of
endeavor. Obs.
CON
j This is an end worthy of our utmost conten-
tion to obtain. Movers
CONTEN'TIOUS, a. [Fr. contentieux; It
I contenzioso.]
il. Apt to contend ; given to angry debate ;
quarrelsome; perverse.
A continual dropping in a rainy day, and a
[ cmitmtious woman are alike. Prov. xxvii.
|2. Relating to contention in law ; relating to
litigation ; having power to decide causes
between contending parties ; as a court of
I contentious jurisdiction. Blackstone.
3. Exciting or ada|)ted to provoke conten-
tion or disputes ; as a contentious subject.
Milner.
eONTEN'TIOUSLY, adv. In a contentious
manner ; quarrelsomely ; perversely.
Brown.
CONTEN'TIOUSNESS, n. A disposition to
contend; proneness to contest; perverse-
ness; quarrelsomeness. Bentleu.
CONTENT'LESS, a. 'Discontented ; dis-
satisfied ; uneasy. Shak.
CONTENTLY, adv. In a contented way.
Obs.
CONTENT'MENT, n. [Fr. contentement]
1. Content ; a resting or satisfaction of mind
without disquiet; acquiescence.
Contentment, without external honor, is hu-
mility. Grew.
Godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Tim. vi.
2. Gratification.
At Paris the prince spent a day, to give liis
mind some contentment. Wotton.
CONTERM'INABLE, a. [L. con and termi-
nus.] Ca])able of the same bounds.
Wotton.
CONTERM'INATE, a. Having the same
bounds. B. Jonson.
eONTERM'INOUS, a. [L. conterminus ; con
and terminus, a border.]
Bordering upon ; toueliing at the boundary ;
contiguous ; as a people conterminous to
the Roman territory.
CONTERRA'NEAN, >
eONTERRA'NEOUS, I '
terra, country.]
Being of the same country
[L. conterrane-
us ; con and
[N'ot used.]
Did.
CONTEST', V. t [Fr. contester, to dispute.
The Sp. and Port, contestar, and L. con-
testor, have a different sense, being equiv-
alent to the Eng. attest. See Test]
\. To dispute ; to strive earnestly to hold or
maintain ; to struggle to defend. The
troops contested every inch of ground.
2. To dispute ; to argue in opposition to ; to
controvert ; to litigate ; to oppose ; to call
in question ; as, the advocate contested ev-
ery point.
None have contested the proportion of these
ancient pieces. Dryden.
CONTEST', V. i. To strive ; to contend ;
followed by with.
The difficulty of an argument adds to the plea-
sure of contesting with it, when there arc hopes
ofvictoiy. Burnet.
2. To vie ; to emulate.
Of man who dares in pomp with Jove con-
test. Pope.
CON'TEST, n. Strife ; struggle for victory,
superiority, or in defense ; struggle in
arms. Ail Europe engaged in the con-
test against France. The contest was fu-
rious.
CON
3. Dispute ; debate ; violent controversy
strife in argunieiit.
Leave all noisy contests, all immodest clam-
ors, and brawling language. Watts
CONTEST' ABLE, a. That may be disputed
or debated ; disputable ; controvertible
CONTEST' ABLENESS, n. Possibility of
being contested
CONTESTA'TION, n. Tlie act of contest-
ing ; strite ; dispute.
After years spent in domestic contestations.
she found means to withdraw. Clarendon.
2. Testimony ; proof by witnesses.
Barrow.
CONTEST'INGLY, adv. In a contending
manner. Mountagu.
CON'TESTLESS, a. Not to be disputed.
HiU.
CONTEX', V. t. To weave together. [JVot
used.] Boyle.
CON'TEXT, n. [L. contexlus, from contexo
con and lexo, to weave.]
The general series or composition of a dis
course ; more particularly, the parts of a
discourse which precede or fnllow the
sentence quoted; the passages of scrip
tare which are near the text, either before
it or afler it. The sense of a passage ol
scripture is often illustrated by the context
CONTEXT', a. Knit or woven together ;
clo.se ; firm. Derham
CONTEXT', V. t. To knit together, [mi
used.]
CONTEX'TURE, n. The manner of inter
weaving several parts into one body ; the
disposition and union of the constituent
parts of a thing, with respect to each oth-
er ; composition of parts ; constitution ;
as a silk of admirable contexture.
He was not of any delicate contexture ; hi:
limbs rather sturdy than dainty. Wotton
CONTEX'TURAL, a. Pertaining to con-
texture, or to the human frame. Smith
CONTIONA'TION, n. [L. contignatio ; con
and lignum, a beam.] A frame of beams
a story. Wotton.
2. The act of framing together, or uniting
beams in a fabi-ic. Burke.
CONTIGU'ITY, n. [See Contiguous.] Ac
tual contact of bodies ; a toucTiing. Hale.
CONTIG'UOU.S, a. ["L. contiguus ; con and
tango, tago, to toucli.]
Touching ; meeting or joining at the surface
or border ; as two contiguous bodies
not con-
Encyc
CON
Icmales. Scipio the younger exhibited
llie noblest example oi continence recorded
in Pagan history ; an example surpassed
only by that of Joseph in sacred history.
3. Forbearance of lawful pleasure.
Content without lawful vencry, is continence ;
without unlawful, is chastity. Grew.
4. Moderation in the indulgence of sexual
enjoyment.
Chastity is either abstinence or continence :
abstinence is that of virgins or widows ; cimti-
nence, that of married persons. Taylor.
5. Continuity ; uninterrupted course. [JVol
now used.] Mifft
CON'TliVENT, a. [L. continens.] Retrain
j ing from unlawtul sexual conmicrce, or
moderate in the indulgence of lawful
pleasure ; chaste.
2. Restrained ; moderate ; temperate.
Have a cmitinmit tbrbearance. Shale.
.3. Opposing; restraining. Shak.
4. Continuous ; connected ; not interrupted,
The Nortli East part of Asia, if not continent
with America — Brerewood
A continent fever. More generally we
now say a continued fever.
CON'TINENT, n. In geography, a great
extent of land, not disjoined or interrupt-
ed by a sea ; a connected tract of land of
great extent ; as the Eiistern and West
em continent. It differs from an isle only
in extent. New Holland may be denomi-
nated a continetit. Britain is called f
continent, as o])posed to the isle of Angle-
sey. Henry, Hist. Brit. i. 34
In Spenser, continent is used for ground
in general.
2. That which contains any thing. [JVot
used.] Shak.
CONTINENT'AL, a. Pertaining or rela-
ting to a continent ; as the continental pow-
ers of Europe. In America, pertaining to
the United States, as continental money,
in distinction from what pertains to the
separate states ; a word much used during
the revolution.
CON'TINENTLY, adv. In a contment
manner ; chastely ; moderately ; tempe-
rately.
CONTIN'GENCE, I [L. contingens ; con
CONTIN'tiENCY, <, "-Hugo, to fall or hap-
pen to ; con and tango, to touch. See
Touch.]
1. The quality of being contingent or casual ;
a happening ; or the possibility of coming
Tlic houses in ancient Rom
tiguirus.
Usually followed by to. Baci
with, but he has not been followed
CONTIG'UOUSLY, adv. In
touch ; without intervening space.
Dryden.
CONTIG'UOUSNESS, n. A state of con-
tact; close union of surfaces orbwders.
COxM'TINENCE, ) [L. continentia, from
CON'TINENCY, S "' contineo, to hold, or
withhold ; coji and teneo, to hold. See
Tenet.]
1. In a general sense, the restraint which t
person imposes upon his desires and pas-
sions ; self-command.
2. Appropriately, the restraint of the passion
for sexual enjoyment ; resistance of con
cupiscence ; forbearance of lewd pleas
ures ; lience, chastity. But the term is
usually applied to males, as chastity is to
C O N
Each prince furnishes his contingent of
nun, niDiiey and munitions.
CONTIX (;1:N ri,V, adv. Accidentally;
witlimit licsi^'M or foresight.
eONTlN (iKN'I'NESS, n. The state ofbc-
ing contingent ; fortuitousness.
CONTINUAL, a. [Fr. coiUinuel ; L. con-
linuus. See Continue.]
1. Proceeding without interruption or cessa-
tion ; unceasing ; not intennitt'uig ; used
in reference to time.
He that hath a merry heart hatli a continual
feast. Prov. xv.
1 have great heaviness and continual sorrow
of heart. Rom. ix.
2. Very frequent; often repeated; as, the
charitable man has continual applications
for alms.
3. Continual fever, or continued fever, a fe-
ver that abates, but never entirely inter-
mits, till it comes to a crisis ; thus distin-
guished from remitting and intermitting
fever.
4. Continual claim, in law, a claim that is
made from time to time within every year
or day, to land or other estate, the posses-
sion of which cannot be obtained without
hazard. Cowel.
5. Perpetual.
CONTIN'UALLY, adv. Without pause or
cessation ; unceasingly ; as, the ocean is
continually rolling its waves on the shore.
2. Very often ; in repeated succession ; from
time to time.
Thou shalt eat bread at mv table continually.
2 Sam. ix.
CONTIN'UALNESS, n. Permanence.
HaUs.
CONTIN'UANCE, n. [See Continue.] A
holding on or remaining in a particular
state, or in a course or series. Applied to
time, duration ; a state of lasting ; as the
continuance of rain or fair weather for a
day or a week. Sensual pleasure is of
short continuance.
2. Perseverance ; as, uo excuse will justify
a continuance in sin.
By patient continuance in well doing. Rom.
We are not to build certain rules on the con-
tingency of human actions. South.
2. Casualty ; accident ; fortuitous event.
The success of the attempt wiU depend
on contingencies. [See.^cn'rfe/tf and Cas-
ualti/.] I
CONtlN'GENT, a. Falling or coming by,
chance, that is, without design or expec-i
tation on our part ; accidental ; casual.
On oin- part, we speak of chance or coii-
tingendes ; but with an infinite being.i
nothing can be contingent. j
3. In law, depending on an uncertainty ;'
as a contingent remainder. Blacltstone!
CONTIN'tiENT, n. A fortuitous event ; that
wliicli conies without our design, foresight,
or expectation. |
2. That which falls to one in a division or'
apportionment among a number ; a quota ;!
an eqtial or suitable share ; proportion.!
5. Progression of time.
, during (
' contt
3. Abode ; residence ;
uance in Paris.
4. Succession uninterrupted ; continuation ;
a prolonging of existence ; as, the brute
regards the continuance of his species. _
Addison.
cxxxix.
In law, the deferring of a suit, or the giv-
ing of a day for the parties to a suit to ap-
pear. After issue or demurrer joined, as
well as in some of the previous stages of
proceeding, a day is continually given, and
entered upon record, for the parties to ap-
pear on from time to time. The giving of
this day is called a continvMnce.
Blackstont.
7. In tilt United States, tlie deferring of a
trial or suit from one stated term of the
court to another.
8. Continuity ; resistance to a separation of
parts ; a holding togetlier. [.Vo< used.]
Bacon.
CONTIN'UATE, v. t. To join closely to-
gether. Potter.
CON
CONTIN'UATE, o. [L. continuatus.] Im-
mediately united ; holding together. [Lit-
tle jised.] Hooker.
2. Uninterrupted ; unbroken. [Little used.]
Peacham.
eONTIN'UATELY, adv. With continuity ;
without interrujition. [Little Jtsed.]
IVilkins.
CONTINUA'TION, n. [L. continuatio.] Ex-
tension of existence in a series or line ;
succession uninterrupted.
These things must be the works of providence,
for the continuation of the species. Roy.
2. Extension or carrying on to a further
point; as the continuation of a story.
3. Extension in space ; production ; a carry-
ing on in length ; as the continuation of a
line in surveying.
eONTIN'UAtlVE, n. An expression no-
ting permanence or duration.
To these may be added continuatives : as,
Rome remains to this day ; which includes at
least two propositions, viz. Rome was, and
Rome is. Watts.
2. In grammar, a word that continues.
Harris.
CONTINUA'TOR, n. One who continues
or keeps up a series or succession.
■CONTIN'UE, V. i. [Fr. continuer ; L. contin-
uo ; con and teneo, to hold ; It. continuare ;
Sp. continuar. See Tenet.]
1. To remain in a state, or place ; to abide
for any time indefinitely.
Tlie multitude continue with me now three
days, and have nothing to eat. Matt. xv.
2. To last ; to be durable ; to endure ; to be
permanent.
Thy kingdom shall not continue. 1 Sam. xiii.
3. To persevere ; to be steadfast or constant
in any course.
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my
disciples indeed. John viii.
CONTIN'UE, V. t. To protract ; not to
cease from or to terminate.
O continue thy loving kindness to them that
know thee. Ps. xxxvi.
2. To extend from one thing to anotlier ; to
produce or draw out in length. Continue
the line from A to B. Let the line be con-
tinued to the boimdary.
3. To persevere in; not to cease to do or
use ; as, to continue the same diet.
4. To hold to or unite. [JSTot used.]
The navel continues the infant to its motlier.
Sroiim.
€ONTIN'UED, pp. Drawn out ; protract-
ed ; produced ; extended in length ; ex-
tended without interruption.
2. a. Extended in time without intermission ;
proceeding without cessation ; unceasing
as a continued fever, which abates bu
never entirely intermits. A continued base
is performed through the whole piece.
Continued proportion, in arithmetic, is where
the consequent of the first ratio is the
same with the antecedent of the sec-
ond, as 4 : 8 : : 8 : 16, in contradistinc-
tion from discrete proportion. Encyc.
CONTIN'UEDLY, adv. Without interrup-
tion ; without ceasing. N'orris.
eONTIN'UER, «. One who continues ;
one that has the power of perseveranc
Shak.
€ONTIN'UING, ppr. Remaining fixed or
permanent; abiding; lasting ; enduring ;
persevering; protracting; ])roducinj
Jengtli.
CON
2. a. Permanent.
Here we have no continuing city. Heb. xiii
eONTINU'ITY, n. [L. continuUas.] Con
nection uninterrupted ; cohesion ; close
union of j)arts ; unbroken texture.
Philosojjhers talk of the solution of contin-
uity.
eONTIN'UOUS, a. [L. continuus.] Joined
without intervening space ; as continuous
depth. Thomson.
CONTORT', V. t. [L. contorqueo, contorlus ;
con and torqueo, tortus.] To twist togeth-
er ; to writhe.
CONTORT'ED, pp. Twisted together. A
contorted corol, in botany, has the edge of
one petal lying over the next, in an ob-
lique direction. Martyn.l
CONTOR'TION, ? [Fr. contorsion ; L.
eONTOR'SION, I "• contortio.] \
1. A twisting ; a writhing ; a wresting ; aj
twist ; wry motion ; as the contorsion of j
the muscles of the face. SwiJlJ
In medicine, a twisting or wresting of a[
limb or member of the body out of its;
natural situation ; the iliac passion ; par-
tial dislocation ; distorted spine ; contract-'
ed neck. Encyc. Coxc.\
CONTOUR', n. [Fr. contour ; It. contorno ;
Sp. id. ; con and tour, torno, a turn.]
The outline ; the line that defines or termi-
nates a figure. Encyc. Johnson.
CONT6URNIATED, a. Having edges ap-
pearing as if turned in a lathe. Encyc.
eON'TRA. A Latin preposition signifying
against, in opposition, entering into the
composition of some English words. It
appears to be a compound of con an<l ira,
like intra ; Ira for W. tras. Fr. contre.
eON'TRABAND, a. [It. contrabbando, con-
trary to proclamation, prohibited ; Sp.
contrabando ; Fr. contrebande. See Ban.]
Prohibited. Contraband goods are such as
are prohibited to be imported or exported,
either by the laws of a particular kingdom
or state, or by the law of nations, or by
special treaties. In time of war, arms and
munitions of war are not permitted by
one belligerent, to be transported to the
other, but ai-e held to be contraband and
liable to capture and condemnation.
eON'TRABAND, n. Prohibition of trading
in goods, contrary to the laws of a state
or of nations.
2. Illegal traffick.
CON'TRABANDIST, n. One who traffickst
illegally.
CONTRACT', V. t. [L. contraho, contractum ;
con and traho, to draw; It. contrarre;
Sp. contraer ; Port, contrahir ; Fr. contrac-
ter. See Draw.]
1. To draw together or nearer; to draw into
a less compass, either in length or breadth;
to shorten ; to abridge ; to narrow ; to
lessen ; as, to contract an inclosiu'e ; to con-
tract the faculties ; to contract the period
of life; to contract the sphere of action.
2. To draw the parts together ; to wrinkle ;
as, to contract the brow.
3. To betroth ; to affiance. A contracted his
daughter to B. The lady was contracted'
tu a man of merit. I
4. To draw to; to bring on; to incur; to!
gain. We contract vicious habits by in-
dulgence. We contract debt by extrava-
gance. I
CON
5. To shorten by omission of a letter or syl-
lable ; as, to contract a word.
0. To epitomize ; to abridge ; as, to contract
an essay.
CONTRACT', v.i. To shrink; to become
shorter or narrower.
A hempen cord contracts by moisture.
2. To bargain ; to make a mutual agreement,
as between two or more persons. We
have contracted for a load of flour ; or we
have contracted with a farmer /or a quanti-
ty of provisions.
CONTRACT', for contracted, pp. Afiianced :
betrothed. Shal<.
CON'TRACT, n. An agreement or covc^
nant between two or more persons, in
which each party binds himself to do or
forbear some act, and each acqubes arighi
to what the other promises ; a mutual
promise upon lawful consideration or
cause, which binds the parties to a per-
formance; a bargain; a compact. Con-
tracts are executory oi- executed.
Sup. Court, Cranch's Rep.
2. The act by which a man and woman are
betrothed, each to the other. Shah:
3. The writing which contains the agree-
ment of parties with the tenns and condi-
tions, and which serves as a proof of the
obligation.
CONTRACT'ED, pp. Drawn together, or
into a shorter or narrower compass ;
shrunk ; betrothed ; incurred ; bargained.
2. a. Narrow ; mean ; selfish ; as a man of
a contracted soul or mind.
CONTRACT'EDLY, adv. In a contracted
manner. Bp. Mewton.
eONTRACT'EDNESS, n. The state of
being contracted.
2. Narrowness ; meanness ; excessive sel-
fishness.
CONTRACTIBIL'ITY, n. Pos.sibiUty of
being contracted ; quality of suffering con-
traction ; as the contraciibility and dilati-
bilityofair. Arbuthnot.
eONTRACT'IBLE, a. Capable of con-
traction.
Small air bladders, dilatable and contractible.
Arbuthnot.
eONTRACT'IBLENESS, n. The quality
of suffering contraction ; contraetibility.
Did.
CONTRACTILE, a. Tending to contract ;
having the power of shortening or of
drawinj; into smaller dimensions ; as the
contractile force- of certain elastic bodies.
CONTRACTILITY, n. The inherent qual-
ity or force by which bodies shrink or con-
tract. " Beddoes.
CONTRACT'ING, ppr. Shortening or nar-
rowing ; draw ing together ; lessening di-
mensions ; shrinkuig ; making a bargain ;
betrothing.
2. a. Making or having made a contract or
treaty ; stipulating ; as the contracting par-
ties to a league.
CONTRACTION, n. [L. contraclio.] The
act of drawing together, or shrinking ; the
act of shortening, narrowing or lessening
extent or dimensions, by causing the parts
of a body to ap])roach nearer to each oth-
er; the state of beinir contracted.
CON
Oil of vitriol will tlirovv the stomach into in-j
.oluntai-y contractions. Aibuthnot.
The cmitraction of the heart is called systole.
Some things induce a contraction of the
nerves. Bacon.
2. The act of shortening, abridging, or re-
ducing witliin a narrower compas.s by any
means. A poem uiay be improved by
omissions or contractions.
3. In grammar, tlie shortening of a word, by
the omission of a letter or syllable ; as,
can't for cannot ; burst for bursted or burst-
en ; Swedish and Danish ord, a word.
4. A contract ; marriage contract. [JVot
used.] Shak.
5. Abbreviation.
■eONTRACT'OR, n. One who contracts;
one of the parties to a bargain ; one who
covenants to do any thing for another.
Taylor.
9. One who contracts or covenants with a
government to furnish provisions or other
supplies or to perform any work or service
for the public, at a certain price or rate.
€ON'TRA-DANCE, > [Fr. contre-danse ;
COUN'TER-DANCE, ^"Tt. contraddanza ;
Sp. contradanza.]
A dance in which the partners are arranged
in opposition, or in opposite lines.
CONTRADICT', v. t. [L. contradico ; con
tra and dico, to spells.]
1. To oppose by words ; to assert the con-
trary to what has been asserted, or to
deny what has been affirmed.
It is not lawfiJ to contradict a point of histo
ry known to all the world. Dryden.
The Jews — spoke against those things which
were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blas-
pheming. Acts xiii.
2. To oppose ; to be directly contrary to.
No truth can contradict another truth.
Hooker.
CONTRADIeT'ED,;>p. Opposed in words;
opposed ; denied.
CONTRADICT'ER, n. One who contra-
dicts or denies ; an opposer. Suifl.
CONTRADlCT'ING, ppr. Affirming the
contrary to what has been asserted ; de
flying; opposing.
CONTRADICTION, n. [L. contradictio:
An assertion of the contrary to what has
been said or affirmed ; denial ; contrary
declaration.
2. Opposition, whether by words, reproach
es or attempts to defeat.
Consider him that endured such contradic
lion of sinners against himself. Heb. xii.
3. Direct opposition or repugnancy ;' incon
sistency with itself; incongruity or contra
riety of things, words, thoughts or propo
sitions. These theorems involve a contra-
diction.
If we perceive ti-uth, we thereby perceive
Vfhatevcr is false in contradiction to it.
Grew.
CONTRADIC'TIONAL, a. Inconsistent.
[JMot in use.] Milton.
CONTRADICTIOUS, a. Filled with con-
tradictions; inconsistent. Collier.
2. Inclined to contradict ; disposed to deny
or cavil.
3. Opposite ; inconsistent.
CONTRADICTIOUSNESS, n. Inconsist-
ency ; contrariety to itself Nbn-is.
2. Disposition to contradict or cavil.
CONTRADICT'ORILY, adv. In a contra-
C O N
dictory manner ; in a manner inconsistent
with itself, or opposite to others. Brown.
CONTRADICT'ORINESS, n. Direct op-
position ; contrariety in assertion or effect.
Baxter.
CONTRADICTORY, <i. Affirming the con-
trary ; iiiiplyirifj ;i drnlul of what has been
arserted ; :l^ aiidrudidurtj assertions.
2. Inconsistent; opposite; contrary; ascon-
tradictory schemes.
CONTRADICTORY, »i. A proposition
which denies or opposes another iu all its
terms ; contrariety ; inconsistency.
It is common with princes to will contradict-
ories. Bacon.
CONTRADISTINCT', a. Distinguished by
>p(isiti' i|iiMlities. Smith.
COKTUAIHSTINCTION, n. [con<ra and
dislini-lioii.] Distinction by opposite quali-
ties.
We speak of sins of infirmity, in contradis-
tinction to those of presumption. South.
CONTRADISTINCTIVE, a. Distinguish-
ing by opposites. Harris.
CONTRADISTIN'GUISH, v.t. [eon<ra and
distinguish.]
To distinguish not merely by differential, but
by opposite qualities.
These are our complex ideas of sou! and body,
as contradistliis;uished. Locke.
CONTRADIS TIN (UISIIED, pp. Distin-
c6n'tRA|'>V<T1a'gi'is:HING, ppr. Dis-
tinguishing by opposites.
CONTRAFIS'SURE, ,1. [contra and fissure.
In surgery, a fissure or fracture in th(
cranium, on the side opposite to that which
received the blow, or at some distance
from it. Coie. Encyc.
CONTRAIN'DleANT, n. A symptom that
li)rbids to treat a disorder in the usual way
Burke
CONTRAIN'DICATE, v. t. [contra and
indicate.] In medicine, to indicate some
method of cure, contrary to that which
the general tenor of the disease requires
or to forbid that to be done which the main
scope of the malady points out.
Harvey. Encyc.
CONTRAINDICATION, n. An indication,
from some pccuhar symptom or fact, that
forbids the method of ctu-e which the main
symptoms or nature of the disease re-
quires, •irbuthnot.
CON TRAMURE, »i. An out wall. [See
Co„„hr.„„n.]
€()N ri!A\ \ T I'RAL, a. Opposite to na
tur.'. [.'Jill, ii.^ed.] Bp. Rust.
CONTRA.M'TKNCY, v. [L. contra and
nitor, to strive.] Reaction ; resistance to
force.
CONTRAPOSF'TION, n. [contra and posi
lion.] A placing over against ; opposite
iiositioii.
CONTRAPUNTIST, n. One skilled in
counterpoint. Mason.
CONTRAREGULAR'ITY, ?i. [contra and
regulaiity.] Contrariety to rule, or to
regularity. jVorris.
CONTRA "RIANT, a. [Fr. from contrarier,
to contradict, or run counter.]
Contradictory ; opposite : inconsistent. [Lit-
tle used.] Ayliffe.
CON'TRARIES, >i.;);j«. [Qce Contrary.] In
logic, propositions which destroy each]
CON
other, but of which the falsehood of on«
does not establish the truth of the other.
If two universals differ in quality, they are
contrariea; as, every vine is a tree; no vitie is
a tree. These can never be both true together ;
hut they may be both false. fVatts.
CONTRARl'ETY, n. [L. contrarielas. See
Conlraiy.]
1. Opposition in fact, essence, quaUty or prin-
ciple ; repugnance. The expedition failed
by means of a con<raric<i/ of winds. There
is a contrariety in the nature of virtue and
vice; of love and hatred; of truth and
falsehood. Among men of the same pro-
fession, we find a con<rane<i/ of opinions.
2. Inconsistency ; quality or position des-
tructive of its opposite.
How can these contrarieties agree. Shatc.
CON'TRARILY, adv. In an opposite man-
ner ; in opposition ; on the other side ; in
opposite wavs.
CON'TRARINESS, n. Contrariety; oppo-
sition. Diet.
CONTRA'RIOUS, a. Contrary; opposite;
repugnant. Milton.
CONTRA'RIOUSLY, adv. Contrarily ; op-
i)ositely. Shai.
CONTRARIWISE, adv. [contrary and
icise, manner.]
On tlie contrary ; oppositely ; on the other
hand.
Not rendering evil for e^il, nor railing for
railing; but contrariwise, blessing. 1 Pet. ill.
CON'TRARY, a. [L. contrarius, from con-
tra, against ; Fr. contraire ; Sp. It. con-
Irario.]
1. Opposite ; adverse; moving against or in
an opposite direction ; as contrary winds.
2. Opposite ; contradictory ; not merely dif-
ferent, but inconsistent or repugnant.
The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the
spirit against the flesh ; and these are contrary,
the one to the other. Gal. v.
This adjective, in many phrases, is to be
treated grammatically as an adverb, or as
an adjective referring to a sentence or
affirmation ; as, this happened contrary to
my expectations The word here really
belongs to the affirmation or fact declared,
this happened ; for contrary does not, like
an adverb, express the manner of happen-
ing, but that the fact itself was contrary
to my expectation. According, agreeablt,
pursuant, antecedent, prior, anterior, ifc,
arc often used in the like manner.
CON'TRARY, n. A thing that is contrary
or of op])osite qualities.
No cmitraries hold mofe antipathy.
Than I and such a knate. Shak.
2. A |)roposition contrary to another, or a
fact contrary to what is alledged ; as, this
is stated to be a fact, but I will endeavor
to show the contrary.
On the contrary, in opposition ; on the other
side. SwiJJ.
To the contrary, to an opposite purpose, or
fact.
Tliey did it, not for want of instruction to the
contrary. Stillin^et.
He said it was just, but I told him to the con-
trary.
CON'TRARY, v.t. [Fr. contrarier.] To
contradict or oppose. Obs.
CONTRARY-MINDED, a. Of a different
mind or opinion. Hall.
CONTRAST', r. t. [Fr. contraster. Norm.
id., to contrast ; It. contrastare, Sp. Port.
CON
CON
CON
i:ontrastar, to resist, withstanti, strive, de-
bate, quarrel. The primary sense is to
set against, or to strain, to strive.]
1. To set in opposition two or more figures
of a like kind, vpith a vie w to show the dif-
ference or dissimilitude, and to manifest
the superior excellence of the one by the in-
feriority of the other, or to exhibit the ex-
cellence of the one and the defects of the
other in a more striking view ; as, to con-
trast two pictures or statues.
2. To exhibit differences or dissimilitude in
painting and sculpture, by position or atti-
tude, eitlier of the whole figure or of its
members ; or to show to advantage by
opposition or difference of position.
3. To set in opposition different things or
qualities, to show the superior excellence
of one to advantage.
To contrast the goodness of God with our
rebellion, will tend to make us humble and
thankful. Clark, Serm. July 4, 1814.
eON'TRAST, n. Opposition or dissimili-
tude of figures, by which one contributes
to the visibility or efiect of the other.
Johnson.
Contrast, in this sense, is applicable to
things of a similar kind. We never speak
of a co7itrast between a man and a
tain, or between a dog and a tree ; but we
observe the contrast between an oak an<l i
shrub, and between a palace and a cot-
tage.
2. Opposition, or difference of jiosition, atti-
tude, &c., of figures, or of their several
members ; as in painting and sculpture.
3. Opposition of things or qualities ; or the
placing of opposite things in view, to ex-
• hibit the superior excellence of one to more
advantage. What a contrast between
modesty and impudence, or between a
wellbred man and a clown !
CONTRAST'ED, pp. Set in opposition;
examined in opposition.
eONTRAST'ING,j3;))-. Placing in opposi-
tion, with a view to discover the difference
of figures or other things, and exhibit the
advantage or excellence of one beyond
that of the other.
€ON'TRA-TEi\OR, n. In music, a middle
part between the tenor and treble ; coun-
ter.
CON'TRATE-WHEEL, n. In watch-work,
the wheel next to the crown, the teeth and
hoop of which he contrary to those of the
other wheels, whence its name.
€ONTRAVALLA'TION, n. [L. contra and
vallo, to fortify ; Fr. contrevallation.]
In fortification, a trench guarded with a para-
pet, thrown round a place by the besiegers,
to secure themselves, and check the sallies
of the garrison.
■eONTRAVE'NE, D.«. [L. contravenio ; con-
tra and venio, to come.]
Literally, to come against ; to meet. Hence
to oppose, but used in a figurative or moral
sense; to oppose in principle or effect;
to contradict ; to obstruct in operation ; to
defeat ; as, a law may contravene the i)ro-
visions of the constitution.
CONTRAVE'NED, pp. Opposed ; ob
structed.
CONTRAVE'NER, »i. One who opposes.
CONTRAVE'NING, ppr. Opposing in prin
ciple or effect.
CONTRAVEN'TION, n. Opposition; ob-
struction ; a defeating of the operation or
effect.
The proceedings of the allies were in direct
contravention of the treaty.
€ONT RAVER SION,
versio, a turning.]
A turning to the opposite side ;
[L. contra and
I promote, m concur-
tistrophe.
Congreve.
CONTRAYER'VA, n. [Sp. contrayerba ;
Port, contraherva ; contra and yerha, herva,
an herl), L. hcrlya ; a counter herb, an anti-
dote for poison, or in general, an antidote.]
The genus of plants, Dorstenia ; all low
herbaceous plants, natives of the warm
climates of America, and useful as diapho-
retics. Encyc.
€ONTRE€TA'TION, n. [L. contrectatio,
tracto.] A touching or handUng.
Ferrand.
eONTRIB^UTARY, a. [See Contribute.]
Paying tribute to the same sovereign ; con-
tributing aid to the same chief or princi-
pal.
It was situated on the Ganges, at the place
where this river received a contrilnitary stream,
D'Anville, An. Geog.
eONTRIB'UTE, v. t. [L. contrihuo ; con and
tribuo, to grant, assign, or impart ; It. con-
tribuire ; Sp. contribuir ; Fr. contribuer.
See Tribe, Tribute.]
To give or grant in common with others;
to give to a common stock or for
mon purpose ; to pay a share.
England contributes much more than any
other of the allies. .iddison.
It is the duty of christians to contribute :
portion of their substance for the propagation o!
tlie gospel.
2. To impart a portion or share to a com
mon purpose.
Let each man contribute his influence to cor-
rect public morals.
eONTRlB'UTE, y. i. To give a part ; to
lend a portion of power, aid or influence ;
to have a share in any act or effect.
There is not a single beauty in the piece, to
which the invention must not contribute.
Pope.
€ONTRIB'UTED, pp. Given or advanced
to a common fund, stock orpurpose ; paid
as a share.
CONTRIB'UTING, ppr. Giving in common
with others to some stock or purpose ; im-
parting a share.
eONTRIBU'TION, n. The act of giving to
a common stock, or in common with oth-
ers ; the act of lending a portion of power
or influence to a common purpose ; the
payment of each man's share of some com-
mon ex])ense.
2. That which is given to a common stock
or purpose, either bj' an individual or by
many. We speak of the contribution of
one person, or the confn'iuh'on of a society.
Contributions are involuntary, as taxes and
imposts ; or voluntary, as for some under
taking.
3. In a military sense, impositions paid by a
frontier country, to secure themselves from
being plundered by the enemy's army ; or
impositions upon a country in the ])Ower
of an enemy, which are levied under vari-
ous ])retenses, and for various purposes,
usually for the support of the army.
eONTRIB'UTIVE, a. Tending to contrib-
ute ; contributing ; having the power or
quality of giving a portion of aid or influ-
ence ; lending aid
rence with others.
This measure is contribtUive to the same end.
Taylor.
CONTRIBUTOR, n. One who contrib-
utes ; one who gives or pays money to a
common stock or f imd ; one who gives aid
to a common purjjose in conjunction with
others.
eONTRIB'UTORY, a. Contributing to the
same stock or pur})ose; promoting the
same end ; bringing assistance to some
joint design, or increase to some common
stock.
€ONTRIS'TATE, t>. t. [h. contristo.] To
make sorrowful. [Mitused.] Bacon.
€ONTRISTA'TION, n. The act of making
sad. [M)t used.] Bacon.
€ON'TRlTE, a. [L. contritus, from contero,
to break or bruise ; con and tero, to bruise,
rub or wear. See Tnte.]
Literally, worn or bruised. Hence, broken-
hearted for sin ; deeply affected with grief
and sorrow forhaving offended God ; hum-
ble ; penitent ; as a contrite sinner.
A broken and a contrite heart, 0 God, thou
wilt not despise. Ps. li.
eON'TRITELY, adv. In a contrite manner ;
with |)enitence.
€ON'TRITENESS, n. Deep sorrow and
penitence for sin.
€ONTRI"TION, n. [L. contritio.] The act
of grinding or rubbing to powder.
Mwton.
Penitence ; deep sorrow for sin ; grief of
heart for having offended an infinitely holy
and benevolent God. The word is usually
understood to mean genuine j)enitence,
accompanied with a deep sense of ingrati-
tude in the sinner, and sincere resolution
to live in obedience to the divine law.
Fruits of more pleasing savor, from thy seed
Sown with contrition in his heart. Afitton.
Imperfc ct repentance is by some divines
called attrition.
eONTRI'VABLE, a. [See Confnre.] That
may be contrived ; capable of being plan-
ned, invented, or devised.
Perpetual motion may seem easily contriva-
ble. Wilkins.
€ONTRI'VANCE, n. [See Contrive.] The
act of inventing, devising orjilanning.
Tliere is no work impossible to these contri-
vances. Wilkins.
2. The thing invented or planned ; a scheme ;
))lan ; disposition of jiarts or causes by
design.
Our bodies are made according to the most or-
derly contrivance. Glanville.
3. Artifice ; plot ; scheme.
He has managed his contrivance well.
eONTRI'VE, J), f. [Fr. eonfr-ouuer; con and
trouver, to find ; It. conirovare.]
. To invent ; to devise ; to plan.
Our poet has always some beautiful design,
which he first establishes, and then contrives the
means which will naturally conduct him to his
end. Dryden.
. To wear out. Obs. Spenser.
[This must be from the L. contero, con-
trivi, and if the French controuver, and
Italian conirovare, ai-e the same word dif-
ferently applied, the primary sense is, to
invent by rubbing, that is, by ruminating ;
or to strike out, as in/o;ge. But the word
is probalily from trouver, to find.]
CON
CON
CON
CONTRIVE,
To form or design ;
■ shame
This verb is really transitive, but followed
III a verb, in the place of an object or name.
CONTRI'VED, pp. Inventea ; planned ;
devised.
CONTRI'VEMENT, n. Contrivance; in
vention.
CONTRI'VER, n. An inventor; one who
plans or devises ; a schemer.
Swifl. Shak.
CONTRIVING, ;>/>r. Plamiing; forming in
design.
CONTROL, I [Fr. controlle, a coun-
CONTUOLL, S ter-register ; contre am]
rolle, a roU, list or catalogue; Arm. coun-
ter roll]
1. Primarily, a book, register or account,
kept to correct or check another accoimt
or register; a counter- register. Hence,
check ; restraint ; as, to speak, or to act with
out control. The wind raged without con
trol. Our passions should be under the
control of reason.
'1. Power ; authority ; government ; com-
mand. Children should be under the con-
trol of their parents. The events of life
are not always under our control.
ft. He or that whicli restrains. Burke.
CONTROL, ? , To keep under check
CONTROLL, S "' I'y a counter-register or
double account. The proper officer con-
trols the accounts of the treasury.
2. To check ; to restrain ; to govern.
I feci my virtue struggling in my soul :
But stronger passion does its power control
Dryd,
n. To overpower ; to subject to authority ;
to counteract ; to have under command.
The course of events cannot be controlled
by human wisdom or power.
4. To direct or govern in opposition ; to have
superior force, or authority over.
A recital cannot control the plain words in the
granting part of a deed. Johnsmi's Reports
CONTROLLABLE, a. That may be con-
trolled, checked or restrained ; subject to
command.
Passion is the drunkenness of the mind, and
not always controllable by reason. South
CONTROLLED, p;). Checked; restrained
governed.
CONTROLLER, n. [Norm, countre-rouler.]
One who controls, or restrains ; one that
has the power or authority to govern or
control.
The great controller of our fate
Oeign'd to be man, and lived in low estate.
jyryden
'i. An officer appointed to keep a counter-
register of accounts, or to oversee, control
or verity the accounts of other officers; as
in Great Britain, the controller of the han-
aper, of the household, of the pipe, and
of the pells. In the United States, the
duty of the controller of the treasury is to
superintend the adjustment and preserva
tion of the public accounts ; to examiiK
all accounts settled by tlie auditor, and
certify to the register the balances due
thereon ; to countersign all warrants drawn
by tlie secretary of the treasury which
shall be warranted by law ; to report tc
the secretary the official forms of all pa-
pers to be issued in the different offices for
collecting the public revenue, and the
Vol. I.
manner and form of keeping and stating
the accounts of the persons employed in
them, &c. Stat, of United Stales.
CONTROLLERSHIP, n. The office of a
controller.
CONTROLMENT, ) The power or act
CONTROLLMENT, S "" ofcontrolling;the
ctate of being restrained ; control ; re-
straint.
2. Opposition ; resistance ; counteraction ;
refutation.
For this word, control is now generally
usc.l.
€().\ TKOVERSE, n. and v. Controversy,
and tc, .ll>|M,tc. Obs.
CON 'I'HOVKRSER, > A disputant. Obs.
CON 'TROV I;RS0R, ^ "■ Mountain.
CONTROVER'SIAL, a. [Sec Controvert,
Controversy.]
Relating to "disjiutes ; as a controversial dii
course.
CONTROVERSIALIST, n. One who ca:
ries on a controversy ; a disputant.
CON'TROVERSY, n. [L. controversia. See
Controvert.]
1. Dispute; debate; agitation of contrary
opinions. A dispute is commonly oral,
and a controversy in writing. Johnson.
Dispute is often or generally a debate of
short duration, a temporary debate ; i
controversy is often oral and sometime:
continued in books or in law lor months
or years.
This left no room for controversy, about the
title. Locke.
Without controversy, great is the mystery of
godliness. 1 Tim. iii.
2. A suit in law ; a case in which opposing
parties contentl for their respective claims
before a tribunal.
And by their word shall every controversy and
every stroke be tried. Deut. xxi.
3. Dispute ; opposition carried on.
The Lord hatli a controversy with the na
lions. Jer. xxv.
4. Opposition ; resistance.
.4nd stemming [the torrent] with hearts of
controversy. Shak
CON'TROVERT, I', t. [L. controverto, con-
troversor; contra and verto, verso, to turn.
Literally, to turn against.]
To dispute ; to oppose by reasoning ; to con-
tend against in words or writings ; to deny
and attempt to disprove or confute ; to
agitate contrarj' opinions ; as, to controvert
opinions, or principles ; to controvert the
justness of a conclusion.
CONTROVERTED, pp. Disputed ; oppo
sed in debate.
CON'TROVERTER, n. One who contro-
verts; a controversial writer.
B. Jonson.
CONTROVERT'IBLE, a. That may be
disputed ; disputable ; not too evident to
exclude difTerence of opinion ; as, this is
a controvertible jroint of law.
CON'TRO VERTING, pp. Disputing; de-
nying and attempting to refute.
CON'TROVERTIST, n. One who contro-
verts ; a disputant; a man versed or en-
gaged in controversy, or disputation.
How unfriendly is the spirit of the controverl-
ist to the discernment of the critic. Campbell.
CONTUMA'CIOUS, a. [L. contwnax, from
con and lumeo, to swell.]
1. Literally, swelling against ; haughty.
Hence, obstinate ; perverse ; stubborn ; in-
48
flexible; unyielding; disobedient; as u
contu7nacious child.
2. In latv, wilfully disobedient to the orders
of a court. Blackstone.
CONTUMA'CIOIJSLY, adv. Obstinately;
stubbornly ; perversely ; in disobedience
of orders.
CONTUMA'CIOUSNESS, n. Obstinacy :
perverseness ; stubbornness ; contumacy.
CON'TUMACY, n. [L. conlumada.] Stub-
bornness; unyielding obstinacy; inflexi-
bility. Milton.
2. In law, a wilful contempt and disobedi-
ence to any lawful summons or order of
court ; a refusal to appear in court when
legally summoned, or disobedience to its
rules and orders. Ayliffe.
CONTUME'LIOUS, a. [L. conlumeliosus.
See Contumely.]
1. Haughtily rejiroachful ; contemptuous;
insolent ; rude and sarcastic ; as contume-
lious language. SiviJJ.
2. Haughty and contemptuous ; disposed to
utter reproach, or to insult ; insolent ;
proudly rude ; as a contumelious person.
ShaJi.
3. Reproachful; shameful; ignominious.
Decay of Piety.
eONTUME'LIOUSLY, adv. In a contu-
melious manner ; with pride and con-
tempt; reproachfully; rudely; insolently.
CONTUME'LIOUSNESS, n. Reproach;
rudeness ; contempt.
CON'TUMELY, n. [L. contunulia, from
contumco ; con and tumeo, to swell.]
Rudeness or reproach compounded of
haughtiness and contempt; contemptuous-
ness ; insolence ; contemptuous language.
The oppressor's wrong ; the proud man's con-
tumely. Shak.
CONTUND', V. t. [L. contundo.] To beat ;
to bruise by beating. [Little used.]
Gayton.
CONTU'SE, I'. /. s as :. [L. contusus, con-
tundo.]
To beat ; to bruise; to injure the flesh or
substance of a living being or other thing
without breaking the skin or substance,
sometimes with a breach of the skin or
substance. Bacon.
CONTU'SION, n. s as z. [L. contusio, fi-oni
contimdo ; con and (undo, to beat.]
1. The act of beating and bruising, or the
state of being bruised.
2. The act of reducing to powder or fine
particles by beating. Bacon.
3. In surgery, a bruise ; a hurt or injury to
the flesh or some part of the body by a
blunt instrument, or by a fall.
CONUNDRUM, n. A low Jest; a mean
conceit.
CON'USANCE, n. [Fr. connoi^sance.] Cog-
nizance ; knowledge ; notice. [See Con-
nusance.]
CONUSANT, a. Knowing; having notice
of
CONVALESCENCE, > [L. convalesco,
CONVALES'CENCY, l"' to grow stron-
ger ; con and valesco, to get strength, valeo,
to be strong, Eng. weU. See fFell and
Avail.]
Renewal of health; the insensible recovery
of health and strength after disease ; the
state of a body renewing its vigor after
sickness or weakness.
CON
CON
CON
CONVALES'CENT, a. Recovering health
and stiongtli after sickness or debility.
€ON'VALLAllY, n. A genus of plants,
Convuiiaria. Muhlenberg.
eONVE'NABLE, a. [See Convene.] That
may be convened, or assembled.
Panoplist, May 1809.
2. Consistent. Obs. Spenser.
€ONVE'NE, V. i. [L. convenio ; con and ve-
nio, to come.]
1. To come together ; to meet ; to unite ; as
tilings?. [Unusual.]
The rays of light converge and convene in the
eyes. JYewton
2. To come together; to meet in the sam(
place ; to assemble ; as persons. Parlia
ment will convene in November. The two
liouses of the legislature convened at twelv<
o'clock. The citizens convened in tlie state
house.
eONVE'NE, V. t. To cause to assemble ,
to call together ; to convoke. The Presi-
dent has power to co7ivene the Congress,
on special occasions.
2. To summon judicially to meet or appear
By the papal canon law, clerks can be cim-
vened only before an ecclesiastical judge.
Jlyliffe
€ONVE'NED, pp. Assembled; convoked.
€ONVE'NER, n. One who convenes oi
meets with others ; one who calls together
CONVE'NIENCE, ) [L. convenientia,
eONVE'NIENCY, ^ from convenio.]
Literally, a coming together ; a meeting.
Hence,
1. Fitness; suitableness; propriety; adap-
tation of one thing to another, or to cir-
cumstances. Hooker.
1i. Commodiousness ; ease ; freedom from
difficulty.
Every man must want something for the coti-
venience of his life. Calamy
There is another convenience in this method
Swift
3. That which gives ease ; accommodation :
that which is suited to wants or necessi-
ty. A pair of spectacles is a great conve-
nience in old age.
4. Fitness of time or place. Sliak
CONVE'NIENT, a. Fit; suitable; proper;
adapted to use or to wants ; commodious ;
followed by to or for ; usually by for.
Some arts are peculiarly convenient to partic-
ular nations. Tillotson.
Feed me with food convenient for me. Prov.
XXX.
CONVE'NIENTLY, adv. Fitly ; suitably ;
with adaptation to the end or effect. That
house is not conveniently situated for i
tradesman.
9. Commodiously ; with ease ; without trou
blc or difficulty. He cannot conveniently
accept the invitation.
•CONVE'NING, ppr. Coining together; call-
ing together.
CONVE'NING, n. The act of coming to-
gether ; convention.
€ON'VENT, n. [L. convenius, from conve
nio, to assemble ; Fr. convent.]
^. An assembly of persons devoted to reh
gion ; a body of monks or nuns.
2. A house for persons devoted to religion
an abbey ; a monastery ; a nunnery.
CONVENT', V. t. [L. conventus, convenio.
To call before a judge or judicature.
ifhak. Bacon
CONVENT', V. i. To meet; to concur.]
[.Vo( used.] Beaum\
eONVENT'ICLE, n. [L. conventicidum.,\
iX\m. o( conventus.] \
1. An assembly or meeting ; usually applied[
to a meeting of dissenters from the estab-
lished church, for religious worship. In
this sense it is used by English writers
and in English statutes. Hence, an as-
sembly, in contempt. Atterbury.
In the United States, this word has noj
appropriate application, and is little used,
or not at all.
2. A secret assembly or cabal ; a meeting
for plots. Shak.
eONVENT'ICLE, v.i. To belong to a con-
venticle. South.
CONVENT'ICLER, n. One who supports
or frequents conventicles. Dryden.
CONVEN'TION, n. [L. conventio. See
Convene.]
1. The act of coming together; a meeting
of several persons or individuals. Boyle.
Union ; coalition.
3. An assembly. In this sense, the word in-
cludes any formal meeting or collection
of men for civil or ecclesiastical purposes;
particularly an assembly of delegates or
representatives for consultation on impor-
tant concerns, civil, pohtical or ecclesias-
tical.
In Great Britain, convention is the
name given to an extraordinary assembly
of the estates of the realm, held without
the king's writ ; as the assembly which
restored Charles II. to the throne, and that
which declared the throne to be abdicated
by James II.
In the United States, this name is given
to the assembly of representatives which
forms a constitution of government, or
political association ; as the convention
which formed the constitution of the Uni-
ted States in 1787.
4. An agreement or contract between two
parties, as between the commanders of
two armies ; an agreenient previous to a
definitive treaty.
CONVEN'TIONAL, a. [Fr. conventionnel.]
Stipulated ; formed by agreement.
Cotiventional services reserved by tenures on
grants, made out of the crown or knights ser-
vice. Hale.
CONVEN'TIONARY, a. Acting under
contract ; settled by stipulation ; conven
tional ; as conventionary tenants. Carew.
eONVEN'TIONER, n. One who belongs
to a convention.
CONVEN'TIONIST, n. One who makes a
contract. Sterne.
eONVEN'TUAL, a. [Fr. conventuel.] Be-
longing to a convent ; monastic ; as con-
ventual priors.
CONVEN'TUAL, n. One that lives in a
convent ; a monk or nun. Addison
CONVERGE, V. i. converj'. [Low L. con-
vergo ; con and vergo, to incline. See
Verge.]
To tend to one point ; to incline and ap-
proach nearer together, as two lines which
continually approach each other ; opposed
to diverge. Lines which converge in one
direction, diverge in the other.
The mountains converge into a single rlilge.
Jtfferson.
CONVERg'ENCE, ) The quality of cob-
€ONVER6'ENCY, < "• verging ; tenden-
Gregory.
Tending to one point ;
approaching each other, as they proceed
or are extending.
CONVERU'ING, ppr. Tending to one
point; approaching each other, as lines
e.^tended.
Converging rays, in optics, those rays of
light, which proceeding from different
points of an object, approach, meet and
cross, and become diverging rays. Encyc.
Converging series, in mathematics, is that
in which the magnitude of the several
terms gradually diminishes. Encyc.
CONVERS'ABLE, a. [It. conversabUe ; Fr.
conversable. See Converse.]
Qualified for conversation, or rather dispo-
sed to converse ; ready or inclined to mu-
tual communication of thoughts; sociable;
free in discourse. Addison.
CONVERS'ABLENESS, n. The quality
of being free in conversation; disposition
or readiness to converse ; sociability.
eONVERS'ABLY, adv. In a conversable
manner.
CON'VERSANT, a. [It. conversante. See
Converse.]
Keeping company ; having frequent or
customary intercourse ; intimately associ-
ating ; familiar by fellowship or cohabita-
tion ; acquainted.
But the men were very good to us — as long
as we were conversant with them. 1 Sam. xsv.
Never to be infected with delight.
Nor cotiversant with ease and idleness.
Shak.
2. Acquainted by familiar use or study. ^^' e
correct our style, and improve our taste,
by being conversant with the best classical
writers.
In the foregoing applications, this word
is most generally followed by with, accor-
ding to present usage. In "was formerly
used ; and both in and among may be
used.
Concerning; having concern, or relation
to ; having for its object ; followed by
about.
Education is co7iversant about children.
Wotton.
CONVERSA'TION, n. General course of
manners ; behavior ; deportment ; espe-
cially as it respects morals.
Let your conversation be as becometh the
gospel. Phil. i.
Be ye holy in all manner of conversation.
1 Pet. i.
2. A keeping company ; familiar intercourse ;
intiiniitc fellowship or association; com-
nii'i'i'i- ill snci:il life. Knowledge of men
and iiKiiiiK Ts is best acipiired by conversa-
tion \\ ith the best conijiany.
3. Intimate and familiar acquaintance; as
conversation witli books, or other object.
4. Familiar discourse ; general intercourse
of sentiments ; chat; unrestrained talk;
opposed to a formal conference.
What I mentioned in convei'satian was not a
new thought. Swifi.
[This is now the most general use of the
joord.]
OONVERSA'TIONED, a. Acquainted with
the manner of acthig iu life. [.Vof H,?erf.]
Beattin.
CON
CONVERS'ATIVE, a. Relating to an in
tercourse with men ; opposed to conletn
plative.
She chose to endue him with conversative
qualities of youth. Wotton.
CONVERSAZIO'NE, n. [It.] A meeting
of company. Gray.
CONVERSE, v.i. comers'. [L. conversor,
con and versor, to be turned ; Fr. convers-
er i It. conversare ; Sp. conversar. Liter-
ally, to be turned to or with ; to be turned
about.]
1. To keep company ; to associate ; to co-
habit ; to hold intercourse and be intimate-
ly acquainted ; followed by unth.
For him who lonely loves
To seek the distant hills, and there converse
With natuie. Thomson
2. To have sexual commerce. Guardian.
3. To talk familiarly ; to have free inter
course in mutual communication of
thoughts and opinions ; to convey thoughts
reciprocally ; followed by vnlh before the
person addressed, and on before the sub-
ject. Converse as friend with friend. We
have often conversed with each other on the
merit of Milton's poetry.
{This is now the most general use of the
iBord.]
CON' VERSE, n. Conversation: familiar
discourse or talk ; free interchange of]
thoughts or opinions.
Formed by thy converse happily to steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe
Pope.
2. Acquaintance by frequent or customary
intercourse ; cohabitation ; familiarity
In this sense, the word may include dis
course, or not ; as, to hold converse with
persons of different sects; or to hold eon-
verse with terrestrial things.
3. In maihemaiics, an opposite proposition
thus, after drawing a conclusion from some
thing supposed, we invert the order, ma
king the conclusion the supposition oi
premises, and draw from it what was first
supposed. Thus, if two sides of a triangf
are equal, the angles opposite the sides
are equal : and the converse is true ; if
these angles are equal, the two sides are
equal. Chambers. Bailey.
CON'VERSELY, adv. With change of or
der ; in a contrary order ; reciprocally.
Johnson.
CONVER'SION, 71. [L. conversio. See
Convert.}
1. In a general sense, a turning or change
from one state to another; with regard
to substances, transmutation ; as a conver-
sion of water into ice, or of food into chyle
or blood.
'2. In military affairs, a change of front, as
when a body of troops is attacked in the
flank, and they change their position to
face the enemy.
. 3. In a theological or moral sense, a change
of heart, or dispositions, in which the en-
mity of the heart to God and his law and
the obstinacy of the will are subdued, and
are succeeded by supreme love to God
and his moral government, and a reforma-
tion of life.
4. Change from one side or party to an-
other.
That conversion will be suspected that ap-
parently concurs with interest. Johnson
CON
5. A change from one religion to another
as the conversion of the Gentiles. Acts xv
6. The act of appropriating to private use ;
as in trover and conversion.
Conversion of equations, in algebra, the re-
duction of equations by multiplication, or
the manner of altering an equation, when
the quantity sought or any member of it is
a fraction ; the reducing of a fractional
equation into an integral one.
Encyc. Bailey. Johnson.
Conversion of propositions, in logic, is a chai
ging of the subject into the place of the
predicate, and still retaining the quality of
the proposition. Bailey.
Conversion of the ratios, in arithmetic, is the
comparing of the antecedent with the dif-
ference of the antecedent and consequent,
in two equal ratios or proportions.
Bailey.
CONVERT', V. t. [L. conveHo ; con and ver-
to, to turn J coinciding in elements and
signification with barter, and probably
from the root oi' vary, vario, veer, Sp. birar.
Port. inVor, to turn. Class Br.]
1. To change or turn into another substance
or form ; as, to convert gases into wate
water into ice.
2. To change from one state to another
to convert a barren waste into a fruitful
field ; to convert a wilderness into a gar
den ; to convert rude savages into civilized
men.
3. To change or turn from one religion to
another, or from one party or sect to an
other ; as, to convert pagans to Christianity ;
to convert royalists into republicans.
4. To turn from a bad life to a good one ; to
change the heart and moral character,
from enmity to God and from vicious ha
bits, to love of God and to a holy life.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out. Acts iii.
He that converteth a sinner from the error of
his way, shall save a soul from death. James v.
5. To turn toward a point.
Crystal will callify into electricity, and con-
vert the needle freely placed. [ Vnusual.]
Brown.
6. To turn from one use or destuiation to
another; as, to convert hberty into an en-
gine of oppression.
7. To appropriate or apply to one's own
use, or to personal benefit ; as, to convert
public property to our own use.
8. To change one proposition into another,
so that what was the subject of the first
becomes the predicate of the second ; as,
all sin is a transgression of the law ; but
every transgression of the law is sin.
Hale
9. To turn into another language.
B. Jonson.
CONVERT', V. i. To tiu-n or be changed :
to undergo a change.
The love of wicked friends converts to fear :
That fear, to hate. SAo/r,
CON'VERT, n. A person who is converted
from one opinion or practice to another
person who i-enounces one creed, religious
system or party, and embraces another
applied particularly to those who changi
their religious opinions, but applicable to
political or philosophical sects.
2. In a more strict sense, one who is tiu-ned
from sin to holiness.
CON
Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and
her converts with righteousness. Is. i.
3. In monasteries, a lay-friar or brother, ad-
mitted to the service of the house, without
orders, and not allowed to sing in the choir.
Encyc.
CONVERT' ED, pp. Turned or changed
from one substance or state to another ;
turned from one religion or sect to another ;
changed from a state of sin to a state of
holiness ; ap|)Ued to a particular use ; ap-
I>ropriated.
CONVERTER, ji. One who converts; one
who makes converts.
IcONVERTIHIL'lTY, n. [from conveHibk.]
1. The quality of being jiossible to be con-
verted or changed from one substance,
form or state to anotlier ; as the conver-
tibility of land into money. Burke
2. Thequality of being changeable from one
letter to another ; as the convertibility of m
with 6, or of d into /. Jls. Researches.
CONVERTIBLE, a. [Fr. from conrerftr.]
L That may be changed ; susceptible of
change ; transmutable ; transformable.
I Minerals are not convertible into another spe-
cies, though of the same genus. Harvey.
2. So much alike that one may be used for
j another. Usury and interest are not now
I convertible terms, though formerly they
I were.
3. That may be changed, as one letter for
I another; as 6, p and /are convertible let-
ters.
CONVERT'IBLY, adv. Reciprocally ; with
interchange of terras. South.
CON'VERTITE, n. A convert. [JVot in
e.]
CON'VEX, a. [L. convexus ; It. convesso.']
Rising or swelling on the exterior surface
into a spherical or round form ; gibbous ;
opposed to concave, which expresses a
round form of the interior surface ; as a
coniifx mirror or lens.
CON'VEX, n. A convex body ; as heaven's
convex. Ticket.
CON'VEXED, a. Made convex ; protube-
rant in a spherical form. Brown.
CONVEX'EDLY, adv. In a convex form.
CONVEX'ITY, n. [L. convexitas.} The°ex-
terior surface of a convex body ; a gibbous
or globular form ; roundness.
.Vfzf/on. Bentley.
CON'V^EXLY, adv. In a convex form; as a
body convexly conical.
CON'VEXNESS, n. Convexit)', which see.
JCONVEX'O-CON'CAVE, a. Convex on one
side and concave on the other ; having the
hollow on the inside corresponding to the
convex surface.
CONVEXO-CONVEX, a. Convex on both
sides.
CONVEY', V. t. [L. conveho ; con and veho,
to carry, Sax. wcegan, wegan, Eng. to
weigh. See Weigh and Way.}
1. To carr)', bear or transport, either by
land or water, or in air ; as, to convey a
letter or a j)ackage ; to convey goods from
England to France.
2. To pass or cause to pass ; to transmit ; as,
to convey a right or an estate from father
to son.
3. To transfer ; to pass a title to any thing
from one person to another, as by deed,
CON
assignment or otherwise ; as, to convey
lands by bargain and sale.
4. To cause to pass ; to transmit ; to carry,
by any medium; as, air conveys so mid ;
words convey ideas.
5. To manage ; to carry on. [JVot used.]
I will coneey tlie business as I shall find means.
Shak.
6. To impart ; to communicate.
CONVeY'ABLE, a. Tbat may be conveyed
or transferred. Burke on the Sublime.
CONVEY'ANCE, n. The act of conveying ;
the act of bearing, carrying, or transport-
ing, by land or water, or through any me-
dium.
2. The act of transmitting, or transferring,
as titles, estates or claims from one person
to another ; transmission ; transferrence ;
assignment.
3. The insti-ument or means of passing a
thing from place to place, or person to per-
son J as, a vehicle is a conveyance for per-
sons or goods; a canal or aqueduct is a
conveyance for water; a deed is a convey-
ance of land.
4. Removal; the act of removing or carry-
ing. Shak.
5. Management ; artifice ; secret practices.
[In this sense, obsolete.] Spenser.
CONVEY' ANCER, n. One whose occupa-
tion is to draAv conveyances of property,
deeds, &c.
eONVEY'ANCING, n. The act or practice
of drawing deeds, leases or other writings
for transferring the title to property from
one person to another.
CONVEY'ER, n. One \vho conveys; he or
that which conveys, carries, transports,
transmits or transfers from one person or
place to another.
2. A juggler. Shak.
CONVEY'ING, ppr. Carrying ; transport-
ing ; transferring.
CONVICIN'ITY, 71. Neighborhood ; vicin-
ity. IVartoa.
CONVICT', V. t. [L. convinco, convictum ;
con and vinco, to vanquish or subdue ; Sp.
convencer ; It. convincere ; Fr. convaincre.
See Convince. The verb vinco is allied to
vincio, to bind, the primary sense of which
is to strain, force, make fast, hence to sub
due ; and as n apjwars to be casual, the
root is Vg or Fc]
1. To determine the truth of a charge against
one ; to prove or find guilty of a crime
charged ; to determine or decide to be
guilty, as by the verdict of a jury, by con
fession, or other legal decision. The jury
convicted the prisoner of felony.
2. To convince of sin ; to prove or deter-
mine to be guilty, as by the conscience.
They who heaid it, being convicted by tlieii
own conscience, went out one by one. John viii.
3. To confute ; to prove or show to be false.
Ohs. Brown.
4. To show by proof or evidence. Obs.
Hooker.
CONVICT', pp. for convicted. Proved oi
found guilty. Shak
CON'VICT, n. A person proved or found
guilty of a crime alledged against him, ci
ther by the verdict of a jury or other legal
decision.
CONVICT'ED, pp. Proved or determined
to be guilty, eitlicr by venhct of a jury or
by the decision of conscience.
CON
CONVICT'ING, ppr. Proving or finding
guilty.
eONVIC'TION,n. The act of proving, find-
ing or determining to be guilty of an of-
fense charged against a person before a
legal tribunal ; as by confession, by the
verdict of a jury, or by the sentence of
other tribunal, as in the summary convic-
tions before commissioners of the revenue,
2. The act of convincing, or corajjelling onel
to admit the truth of a charge ; the act of
convincing of sin or sinfulness ; the state
of being convinced or convicted by
science ; the state of being sensible of
guilt ; as, the convictions of a sinner may
be temporary, or lasting and efficacious.
By conviction, a siimer is brought to re-
pentance. Men often sin against the con-
viction of their own consciences.
3. The act of convincing of error ; confuta-
tion ; the act of compelling one to ac-
knowledge his error, or the truth of what
is alledged ; as, the conviction of a heretic
may induce him to abandon his eiTors.
CONVIC'TIVE, a. Having the power to
convince or convict.
CONVIC TIVELY, adv. In a convmcing
manner. More.
CONVINCE, V. t. convins'. [L. convinco ; con
and vinco, to vanquish; Sp. convencer ; It.
convincere ; Fr. convaincre.]
1. To persuade or satisfy the mind by ev
dence ; to subdue the opposition of the
mind to truth, or to what is alledged, and
compel it to yield its assent
vince a man of his errors ; or to convince
him of the truth.
For he mightily convinced the Jews — show
ing by the sciiptuies that Jesus was the Christ
Acts xviii.
2. To convict; to prove guilty; to constrain
one to admit or acknowledge himself to
be guilty.
If ye have respect to persons, ye
and are convinced of [by] the law as transgres
sors. James ii.
To convince all that are ungodly among them
of all their ungodly deeds. Jude 15.
3. To envince ; to prove. Obs. Shi
To overpower; to surmount ; to vanqui;
Obs. Shak.
CONVIN'CED, pp. Persuaded in mind;
satisfied with evidence ; convicted.
CONVINCEMENT, n. convins' ment. Con-
viction. [Little xtsed.]
CONVIN'CER, n. He or that which con-
vmees ; that which makes manifest.
More.
CONVIN'CIBLE, a. Capable of coiivictioi
2. Capable of being disproved or refuted.
[Little used.]
o'
by evidence ; convicting.
2. a. Persuading the mind by evidence
pable of subduing the opposition of the
mind and corapellmg its assent. We
have convincing proof of the truth of tlie
scriptures, and of God's moral govern-
ment of the world.
CONVIN'CINGLY, adv. In a convincing
manner ; in a manner to leave no room to
doubt, or to compel assent. Clarendon.
CONVIN'CINGNESS, n. The power of
CON
CONVI'VE, v. t. To entertain ; to feast.
[.Yot in use.] Shak.
CONVIVIAL, a. [L. convivalis, from con-
viva, a guest, or convivo, to live or eat and
drink together ; con and vivo, to live. See
yictuals.]
Relating to a feast or entertainment ; festal ;
social ; jovial ; as a convivial meeting.
Denham.
CONVIVIAL'ITY, n. The good humor or
j mirth indulged at an entertainment.
2. A convivial spirit or disposition.
IcON'VOCATE, V. t. [L. convoco, to con-
i voke ; con and voco, to call. See Voice.]
To convoke ; to call or summon to meet ; to
assemble bv summons. [See Convoke.]
CONVOCA'tlON, re. [Y.. convocatio.] The
act of calling or assembling by summons.
2. An assembly.
In the first day there shall be a holy cmivoca-
tion. Ex. xii.
CONVI'TIOUS, a. [L. conwiior.}
proachful. Obs.
Re
3. In England, an assembly of the clergy,
by their representatives, to consult on ec-
clesiastical affairs. It is held during the
session of parliament, and consists of an
uj)per and lower house. In the upper
house sit the archbishops and bishops; in
the lower house sit the inferior clergy,
represented by their proctors, consisting
of all the deans and arch-deacons, of one
proctor for every chapter, and two for the
clergy of every diocese, in all one hun-
dred and forty-three divines, viz. twenty-
two deans, fifty-three arch-deacons, twen-
ty-four prebendaries, and forty-four proc-
tors of the diocesan clergy. Encyc.
4. An academical assembly, in which the
business of the university is transacted.
Lajid.
CONVO KE, v. t. [L. convoco; Fr. convo-
quer. See Voice.]
jTo call together ; to summon to meet ; to
' assemble by summons.
It is the prerogative of the President of the
U. States to convoke the senate.
CONVO'KED,^;). Summoned or assembled
by order.
CONVO'KING, ppr. Summoning to con-
vene; assembling.
CON'VOLUTE, I Rolled together, or
CON'VOLUTED, \ "' one part on anoth-
er ; as the sides or margins of nascent
leaves in plants, or as the petal.s and stig-
mas in Crocus. .Martipi. Lee.
CONVOLU'TION, n. [L. conmlnf'io.] The
act of rolling or winding together, or one
thing on another; the state of being roU-
I ed together.
'2. A winding or twisting ; a winding mo-
I tion ; as the convolution of certain vines ;
I the con j)o?!t<ion of an eddy. Thomson.
CONVOLVE, V. t. convolv'. [L. convolvo ; con
I and volvo, to roll. See Wallow.]
JTo roll or wind together; to roU one part
on another.
CONVOLVULUS, n. [L. from co7ivolvo.]
Bindweed, a genus of plants of many spe-
cies.
CONVOY', V. t. [Fr. convoyer ; It. conviare;
Sp. convoyar ; Port, comboyar ; con and
voie, via, way, or the same root ; or more
<lirectly from the root of L. veho, to carry,
Sax. tv(egan, ivegan, to bear or carry, to
bring along.]
JTo accompany on the way for protection, ei-
! tiler by sea or laud ; as, ships of war con-
coo
coo
coo
royed tlic Jamaica fleet ; the troops convoy-^
td the baggage wagons.
When persons are to be protected, the^
word escort is used.
CON'VOY, n. A protecting force accompa-
nying sliips or property on their way from
place to place, either by sea or land. By
sea, a ship or ships of war which accom-
pany mcri-haiitineii for protection from an!
eniniy. By land, any body of troops'
whicli accompany provisions, ammunition)
or other property for protection. I
9. The ship or fleet conducted and protect-]
ed ; that which is conducted by a protect-'
ing force; that which is convoyed. The
word sometimes includes both the protect-
ing and protected fleets. j
Admiralty RtjioHs. Anderson. Burchett]
Encyc. State Papers.
3. The act of attending for defense.
Shak. Milton.
4. Conveyance. Obs. Sluik.
eONVOV'ED, pp. Attended on a pas.sage
by a protecting force.
€ONVOY'ING,ppr. Attending on a voyage
or passage for defense from enemies ; at-
tending ajid guarding.
CONVULSE, V. t. convuW. [L. convello, con-
vulsum, convutsus ; con and vello, to pull or
pluck.]
1. To draw or contract, as the muscular
parts of an animal body ; to aftect by ir-
regular spasms ; as, the whole frame may
be convulsed by agony.
2. To shake ; to attect by violent irregular
action.
Convulsing heaven and earth. Thomson .
€ONVULS'ED, pp. Contracted by spasms ;
shaken violently.
€ONVULS'lNG,p;»-. Affecting by spasmod-
ic contractions ; shaking with violence.
€ONVUL'SION, n. [L. cotividsio.] A pre-
ternatural, violent and involuntary con-
traction of the muscular parts of an ani-
mal body. Encyc.
2. Any violent and irregular motion ; tumult ;
commotion ; as political convidsions.
€ONVUL'SIVE, a. That produces convul-
sion ; as convulsive rage ; convulsive sor-
row. Drydcn. Prior.
2. Attended with convulsion or spasms ; as
convulsive motions ; conmdsive strife.
Dryden. Hale.
CONVUL'SIVELY, adv. VVitli violent shak-
ing or agitation.
CO'NY, I [D. konyn ; G. kanin ; Sw
eO'NEY, S kanin; Ban. kanine ; Fr. co
nin or conil ; L. cuniculus ; It. conigtio ;
Sp. conejo ; Ir. cuinin ; W. civning. The
primary sense is a shoot, or a shooting
along.]
A rabbit ; a quadruped of the genus Lepus,
which has a short tail and naked ears. In
a wild state the fur is brown, but the color
of the domestic rabbit is various.
CO'NY-BURROW, n. A place where rab
bits burrow in the earth.
€0'NY-€ATCH, v. i. [cony and catch.] In
the cant of thieves, to cheat ; to bite ; to
trick. Shak
CO N V-CATCHER, n. A thief; a cheat ; t
sharper. Ohs.
CO NY-CATCHING, n. Banter. Obs.
Shak
COO, I', i. [probably from the sound.]
To cry, or make a low sound, as ])igeona or
doves. Thomson.
COO'ING, ppr. Uttering a low sound, as a
dove.
COO'ING, n. Invitation, as the note of the
dove. Young.
COOK, V. t. [Sax. gecocnian; Sw. koka;
Dan. koger ; D. kooken ; G. kochen ; It.
cuocere ; Sp. cocer, and cocinar ; Port.
cozinhar ; L. coquo.\
1. To prepare, as victuals for the table, by
boiling, roasting, baking, broiling, &c.
To dress, as meat or vegetables, for eat-
ing.
2. To prepare for any purpose. Shak.
3. To throw. [Ohs. or local] Grose.
COOK, v. i. To make the noise of the
cuckoo.
CQQK, «. [Sax. coc; D. kok ; G.koch; Sw.
kock ; Dan. kok ; It. cttoco ; Ir. coca ; L.
coquus.}
One whose occupation is to prepare victuals
for the table ; a man or woman who dress-
es meat or vegetables for eating.
€OQK'ED,pp. Prepared for the table.
CQOK'ERY, n. The art or the practice of
dressing and preparing victuals for the
table.
CPOK'ING, ppr. Preparing victuals for the
table.
CWK'MAID, n. [cook and maid.] A female
servant or maid who dresses provisions.
COOK'ROOM, n. [cook and room.] A room
for rookery ; a kitchen. On board of ships,
a galley or caboose.
COOL, a. [Sax. col ; D. koel; G. kuhl ; Sw.
kalt ; Dan. kold, cold ; kioler, to cool ;
kidde, chilliness ; kuler, to blow strong.]
1. Moderately cold ; being of a temperature
between hot and cold ; as cool air ; cool
water.
2. Not ardent or zealous ; not angry ; not
fond; not excited by passion of any kind;
indifferent ; as a cool friend ; a cool tem-
per ; a cool lover.
3. Not hasty ; deUberate ; calm ; as a cool
purpose.
4. Not retaining heat ; light ; as a cool dress
COOL, n. A moderate state of cold ; mode
rate temperature of the air between hot
and cold ; as the cool of the day ; the cool
of the morning or evening.
COOL, v.t. [Sax. colian, arolian; D. koelen;
G. kuhlen ; Dan. kiiiler.]
1. To allay heat ; to make cool or cold; to
reduce the temperature of a substance ;
as, ice cools water.
Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his
finger in water, and cool my tongue. Luke xvi.
2. To moderate excitement of temper ; to
allay, as passion of any kiud ; to calm, as
anger ; to abate, as love ; to moderate, as
desire, zeal or ardor ; to render inthffer-
ent.
COOL, t!. I. To become less hot; to lose
heat. Let tea or coffee cool to the temper-
ature of the blood, before it is drank.
2. To lose the heat of excitement or passion ;
to become less ardent, angry, zealous, or
affectionate ; to become more moderate.
Speak not in a passion ; fii-st let your tem-
per cool.
COOL-CUP, ji. A beverage that is cooling.
COOL'ED, pp. Made less hot, or less ardent.
COOL'ER, n. That which cools; any sub-
stance which abates heat or excitement ;
as, acids are coolers to the body.
2. A vessel in which Uquors or other things
are cooled.
COOL-HEADED, a. Having a temper not
easily excited ; free from passion.
Burke.
COOLING, ppr. Abating heat or excite-
ment ; making or becoming cool.
COOL'ISH, a. Somewhat cool.
Goldsmith.
COOL'LY, adv. Without heat or sharp cold.
2. In a cool or indift'erent manner ; not cor-
dially ; without passion or ardor. He was
coolly received at court.
3. Without haste ; calmly ; deliberately. The
design was formed coolly, and executed
with flrnmcss.
COOL'NESS, 71. A moderate degree of
cold ; a temperature between cold and
heat ; as the coolness of the summer's
evening.
2. A moderate degree, or a want of passion ;
want of ardor, or zeal ; indifference ; want
of affection ; as, they parted with coolness.
COOM, n. [Fr. cambouis ; Sw. kim, soot.]
Soot that gathers over an oven's mouth ;
also, the matter that w'orks out of the
naves or boxes of carriage wheels. In
Scotland, the useless dust which falls from
coals.
COOMB or COMB, n. [Qu. L. cumulus, or
Gr. xi>i8oj.]
A dry measure of four bushels, or half a
quarter.
COOP, n. [D. ktiip, a tub ; kuiper, a cooper ;
G. kufe ; Fr. cuve ; L. cupa, from bend-
ing, liollowness, or containing, holding.
Qu. Gr. xv^o;. The Latin cupa seems to
be both coop and cup. See Ctip.]
1. A bo.x of boards, grated or barred on one
side, fur keeping fowls in confinement. It
is usually applied to long boxes for keep-
ing poultry for fattening or conveyance
on board of ships, as cage is used for a
small box to keep singing birds in houses.
I do not know that it is ever used in Ame-
rica for a pen to confine other animals.
2. A pen ; an inclosed place for small ani-
mals. Johnson.
3. A barrel or cask for the preservation of
liquors. Johnson.
4. A tumbrel or close cart.
Encyc. Jamicson''s Did.
[The three last senses, not American.]
COOP, V. t. To put in a coop ; to confine iu
a coop. Hence, to shut up or confine in
a narrow compass ; usually followed by
up, to coop up ; sometimes by in.
The Trojans cooped unthin their walls.
Dryden.
Tliey are cooped in close by the laws of the
country. Locke.
COOP'ED, pp. Shut up in a coop ; confined
to narrow hmits.
CQOP'ER, »i. [from coop; D. kuiper; G. jtu-
fir.]
One whose occupation is to make barrek,
hogsheads, butts, tubs and casks of vari-
ous kinds.
COOP'ERAgE, n. The price paid for coop-
er's work : also, a place where cooper's
work is done.
CO-OPERATE, V. i. [L. con and opero, to
work ; Fr. cooperer ; It. cooperare ; Sp. co-
operar.]
COP
COP
COP
1. To act or operate jointly with another orij
others, to the same end ; to work or labor I
with mutual efforts to promote the same I
object. It has ttiith before the agent, and |
to before the end. Russia cooperated with\\
Great Britain, Austria and Prussia, to re-1
duce the power of Buonaparte. I
% To act together ; to concur in producing
the same effect. Natural and moral events |
cooperate in illustrating the wisdom of the I
Creator.
CO-OP'ERATING, ppr. Acting or opera- ;€OP^ARCENARY,
ting together.
CO-OPERA'TION, n. The act of working,
or operating together, to one end ; joint
operation ; concurrent effort or labor ; as
the cooperation of the combined powers:
the cooperation of the understanding and
the will.
€0-OP'ERATIVE, a. Operating jointly to
the same end.
€0-OP'ERATOR, n. One who endeavors
jointly with others to promote the same
end.
€0-OP'TATE, V. t. [L. coopto.] To choose,
or choose with another. [jYot used.]
CO-OPTA'TION, n. Adoption ; assumption.
Howell.
CO-OR'DINATE, a. [L. con and ordinatus,
from ordino, to regulate. See Order.]
Being of equal order, or of the same rank or
degree ; not subordinate ; as, two courts of
co-ordinate jurisdiction.
€0-OR'DlNATELY, adv. In the same or
der or rank ; in equal degree ; withou
subordination.
eO-OR'DINATENESS,n.The state of be
ing coordinate ; equality of rank and an
thority.
€0-ORDINA'TION, n. The state of hold
ing equal rank, or of standing in the same
relation to something higher.
In the high court of Parliament there is a
coordination of power. Howell.
COOT, n. [D. koet; W. cwliar, from cwta,
short, bob-tailed.]
A fowl of the genus Fulica, frequentinj
lakes and other still waters. The com
nion coot has a bald forehead, a black
body, and lobated toes, and is about fif-
teen inches in length. It makes its nest
among rushes, with grass and reeds, float
ing on the water.
COP, n. [Sax. cop, or copp ; W. cop, cob ; D.
kop; G.kopf; Fr. covpeau; Or. xiiISjj.]
The head or top of a thing, as in cob-castle
for cop-castle, a castle on a hill ; a tuft on
the head of birds. This word is little used
in America, unless cob, the spike of maize,
may be the same word. Chaucer.
COP'AIBA, n. [Sp. Port.] Balsam of copai-
ba or capivi, is a liquid resinous juice,
flowing from incisions made in the stem
of a tree called Copaifera officinalis, grow
ing in Spanish America, in the province of
Antiochia. This juice is clear, transi
rent, of a whitish or pale yellowish color,
an agreeable smell, and a bitterish pi
gent taste. It is of the consistence of oil,
or a little thicker. As a medicine,
corroborating and detergent. Encyc.
CO'PAL, n. [Mexican copalli, a generic
name of resins. Clavigero.]
The concrete juice of a tree growing in Me.x
ico or Nevv Spain, hard, shining, trans
parent, citron-colored, and odoriferous.
It is not strictly a gum nor a resin, as it
has not the solubility in water common to
gums, nor that in spirit of wine common
to resins. In these respects it rather re-
sembles amber. It may be dissolved by
digestion in lintseed ofl, with a heat little
less than sufficient to boil or decompose
the oik This solution, diluted with spirit
of turpentine, forms a beautiful transpa-
rent varnish. Encyc. Nicholson.
\co or con and Norm
parcenier, [)arcenary. See Coparcener.]
Partnership in inheritance ; joint heirship ;
joint right of succession or joint succes-
sion to an estate of inheritance.
€OP>ARCENER, n. [con and parcener,
from part, Fr. parti, L. pars, or the ver"
partir, to divide.]
A coheir ; one who has an equal portion of
the inheritance of his or her ancestor with
others.
All the coparceners together make but one
heir, and have but one estate among them.
Blackstone.
Coparceners take by descent ; joint-tenants,
by purchase. Id.
€OP>ARCENY, n. An equal share of ai
nheritance.
eOP'ARTMENT, Ji. The same as com
partment. [M)t in use.] Warton
eOP'ARTNER, n. [con and paHner. See
Coparcener.]
1. One who has a share in a common stock
for transacting business, or who is jointly
concerned with one or more persons, in
carrying on trade or other business ; a
partner ; an associate, particularly in trade
or manufactures.
2. A sharer ; a partaker ; as, copartners o£ nvx
loss. Milton
COPARTNERSHIP, n. Joint concern ii
business; a state of having a joint shan
in a common stock, or a joint interest and
concern in business, particularly in trade
and manufactures.
3. The persons who have a joint
CO'PATAN, n. [See Cop.] High raised
pointed. [jVb< in use.] Shak
COPE, n. [W. cob; Sax. cceppe ; D. kap ,
Dan. kappe, kaabe ; Svi. kajjpa or kapa.
Fr. chape, whence chapeau, a hat ; Sp.
capa; It. cappa ; Port, capa.]
A cover for the head.
2. A sacerdotal ornament or vestment worn
in sacred ministrations. An ornament
worn by chanters and subchanters, when
they officiate in solemnity. It reaches
from the shoulders to the feet.
3. Any thing spread or extended over the
head ; the arch or concave of the sky ; the
roof or covering of a house ; the arch over
a door, &c.
An ancient tribute due to the king or lord
of the soil, out of the lead mines in some
part of Derbyshire. Encyc.
COPE, 11. t. To cover as with a cope.
Mdison.
i2. To pare the beak or talons of a Iiawk.
Bailey.
4. To embrace. Obs. Shak.
COPE, V. i. [Dan. kiv, contention ; kives, to
strive ; kappes, to strive, to equal, to en-
vy ; Sw. kif, strife ; kifwa, to contend or
quarrel ; kappas, to strive, to ernidate
Ar. li^a kafaa, to turn back, to drive
away, to thrust, to oppose, to equal ;
i^, kafai, to be sufficient, to be
equal, to be like, to be a substitute. Class
Gb. No. 53. 55.]
. To strive or contend on equal terms, or
with equal strength ; to equal in combat ;
to match ; to oppose with success.
Their Generals have not been able to cope
with tlie troops of Athens. Jlddison.
Till Luther rose, no power could cope with
the pope. Z». A. Clark.
He was too open and direct in his conduct.
and possessed too little management — to cope
with so cool and skilful an adversary. IVirt.
I. To contend ; to strive or struggle ; to
combat.
Host cop'd with host, dire was the din of
war. Philips.
•3. To encounter ; to interchange kindness
or sentiments. Shak.
To make return ; to reward. Obs.
Shak.
5. To exchange, or barter. [JVot in use.]
Bailey.
CO'PEMAN, n. A chapman. [JVot used.]
Shak.
COPER'NICAN, a. Pertaining to Coper-
nicus, a Prussian by birth, who taught the
world the solar system now received,
called the Copernican system.
CO'PESMATE, n. [cope and mate.] A com
lanion or friend. Obs. Hubberd.
COP'IED, pp. [See Copy.] Taken off; writ-
ten or transcribed from an original or
form ; imitated.
COP'IER, } One who copies ; one who
COP'YIST, \ "■ writes or transcribes from
an original or form ; a transcriber ; an im-
itator ; also, a plagiary.
Addison. Dryden.
CO'PING, n. [See Cope, n.] The top or
cover of a wall, made sloping to carry off"
the water. 1 Kings vii. 9. A coping over,
is a projecting work beveling on its under
side.
CO'PIOUS, a. [Fr. copieux; It. copioso ;
Sp. id. ; L. copiosus, from copia, abundance,
Ir. coih. Qu. Ch. 33J to collect, gather,
accumulate; Ar. Lxi. jabau, id. Class
Gb. No 2. 5. 55.] ' ' '
1. Abundant; plentiful; in great quantities ;
full ; ample ; furnishing full supplies.
The tender heart is peace.
And kindly pours its copious treasures forth
In various converse. Thomson.
2. Furnishmg abundant matter; not barren;
rich in supplies.
Tlie redemption of man is a copious subject
of contemplation.
Hail, Son of God, Savior of men ! thy name
Shall be the copious matter of my song.
Milton.
CO'PIOUSLY, adv. Abundantly; plenti-
fully ; in large quantities.
2. Largely ; fully ; amply ; diffusely.
The remains of antiquity have been copiously
described by travelers. Addison.
CO'PIOUSNESS, 71. Abundance; plenty:
great quantity ; fiill supply.
2. Diffusiveness of style or "manner of treat-
ing a subject; as the copiousness of Ho-
mer. Dryden.
CO'PIST, n. A copier; an ill formed 'u-ord.
COP
COP
COP
COP'LAND, n. A piece of ground termi-
nating in a cop or acute angle. [JVot used
in America.] Did.
CO-PLANT', V. t. To plant together. [JVot
in use.] Howel.
€O-P0RTION, n. Equal share. [M>t used.]
Spenser.
COP'PED, ? [See Cop.] Rising to a
COP'PLED, \ "• point, or head.
Copped like a sugar loaf. Wiseman
€OP'PEL. [See Cupel.]
eOP'PER, n. [D. koper ; G. kupfer ; Sw,
koppar ; Ir. copar ; Corn, cober ; L. cu-
prum ; Fr. cuivre ; Sp. cobre ; Port, id.;
Arm. cuevr, coevr ; supposed to be so called
from Cyprus, an isle in the Mediterranean.
This opinion is probable, as the Greeks
called it ;ta»,xos xunpioj, Cyprian brass,
brass of Cyprus. In this case, copper was
originally an adjective.]
A metal, of a pale red color, tinged with yel-
low. Next to gold, silver and platina, it is
the most ductile and malleable of the met-
als, and it is more elastic than any metal, ex-
cept steel, and the most sonorous of all the
metals. It is found native in lamins or
fibers, in a gangue almost always quart
zous ; it is also found crystulized, and ii
grains or superficial lamins on stones or
iron. It is not altered by water, but
tarnished by exposure to the air, and is at
last covered with a green carbonated
oxyd. Copper in sheets is much used for
covering the bottoms of ship.s, for boilers
and other utensils : mixed with tin and
zink, it is used in enamel-painting, dyeing,
&c. : mixed with tin, it forms bell-metal
with a smaller proportion, bronze ; and
with zink, it forms brass, pinchbeck, &c.
When taken into the body it operates as
violent emetic, and all its preparations are
violent poisons. Fourcroy. Encyc. Hooper.
COP'PER, a. Consisting of copper.
Cleaveland.
€OP'PER, n. A vessel made of copper
particularly a large boiler.
2. Formerly, a small copper coin.
My friends filled my pocket with coppers.
Franklin
€OP'PER, V. t. To cover or sheathe witl
sheets of copper ; as, to copper a ship.
€OP'PERAS, n. [Fr. couperose; D. koper-
rood, that is, red copper, and kopetroest is
copper rust, verdigris ; Arm. couperosa, or
couperos.]
Sulphate of iron, or green vitriol ; a salt of a
peculiar astringent taste, and of various
colors, green, gray, yellowish, or whitish,
but more usually green. It is much used
in dyeing black and in making ink, and in
medicine, as a tonic. The copperas of
commerce is usually made by the decom-
position of iron pyrites. The term cop-
peras was formerly synonymous with vit-
riol, and included the green, blue and white
vitriols, or the sulphates of iron, copper
and zink. Cleaveland. Fourcroy.
COPPER-BOTTOMED, a. Having a bot-
tom sheathed with copper.
€OP'PERED, pp. Covered with sheets of
copper ; sheathed.
COPPER-FASTENED, a. Fastened with
copper bolts.
COP'PERISH, a. Containing copper; like
copper or partaking of it.
COPPER-NOSE, n. A red nose. Shak.
COP'PER-PLATE, n. A plate of copper
on whicli concave lines are engraved
corroded, according to some delineated
figure or design. This plate, when char-
ged with any colored fluid, imparts an im-
pression of the figure or design to paper
or parchment. Encyc,
COP'PER-SMITH, n. One whose occupa-
tion is to manufacture copper utensils.
COP'PER- WORK, n. A place where cop
per is wrought or manufactured.
Woodward.
COP'PER-WORM, n. A httle worm in
ships ; a worm that frets garments
worm that breeds in one's hand.
Ainsworlh
COP'PER Y, a. Mixed with copper; con
taining copper, or made of copper; like
copper in taste or smell. iVoodward.
COP'PICE, / [Norm, coupiz, from cou
COPSE, \ "• per, to cut, Gr. xortt^.]
A wood of small growth, or consisthig of
underwood or brushwood ; a wood cut
at certain times for fuel.
The rate of coppice lands will fall on the dis-
covery of coal-mines. Locke
COP'PLED,a. [from cop.] Rising to a point
conical. IVoodivard.
COP'PLE-DUST, n. Powder used in puri-
fvin'' metals.
COP'PLE-STONES, n. Lumps and frag
ments of stone broke from the adjacent
chffs, rounded by being bowled and tum-
bled to and again by the action of water
Johnson. Woodward.
In New England, we pronounce th
word cobble, cobble-stones, and if the word
is a diminutive of cob, cop, a head, (
heap, we follow the Welsh cob, as the
English do the same word, cop, in the
Saxon dialect. We apply the word to
small round stones, from the size of an
inch or two, to five or six inches or more
in diameter, wherever they may be found
COPSE, n. [See Coppice.]
COPSE, V. t. To preserve underwoods.
SmiJ^.
COP'SY, a. Having copses. Dyer.
COP'TIe, a. Pertaining to the descendants
of the ancient Egyptians, called Copts, or
Cophti, as distinct from the Arabians and
other inhabitants of modern Egypt. The
name is supposed to be taken from Cop
tos, the metropohs of the Thebaid ; a:
Egypt, Atyvnto;, is probably from that
name ; Sanscrit, agupta, inclosed, fortifi-
ed. So Misraim and Mazor are from Tiy
to inclose, to bind, to fortify. Whatev
may be the origin of Copt, the adjecti
Coptic now refers to the peojile called
Copts, who are christians, and to their
language. Hence,
COP'Tle, n. The language of the Copts
[See Class Gb. No. 8. 14.]
COP'ULA, n. [L. See Copulation and Cou-
ple.] In logic, the word which unites the
subject and predicate of a proposition,
Religion is indispensable to happiness.
Here is is the copula joining religion, the
subject, with indispensable to happiness, the
predicate.
COP'ULATE, a. .Toined. [Little used.]
COP'ULATE, v.t. [L. copulo, to couple;
Sp. copular ; It. copidare ; Fr. coupler.
See Couple.]
To unite ; to join in pairs. [Little used.]
COP'ULATE, v. i. To unite in sexual em
brace ; applied to animals in general.
COPULA'TION, n. [L. copulatio.] The act
of coupling ; the cndirace of the sexes in
the act of generation ; coition.
COP'ULATIVE, a. That unites or couples.
In grammar, the copulative conjunction
connects two or more subjects or predi-
cates, in an affirmative or negative propo-
sition ; as, riches and honors are tempta-
tions to pride ; the Romans conquered
Spain and Gaul and Britain ; neither
wealth nor honors will purchase immortal
happiness.
COP'ULATIVE, n. A copulative conjunc-
tion.
2. Connection. [JVot in use.]
COP'Y, n. [Fr. copie ; Arm. copy ; It. copia ;
Sp. and Port, copia ; Ir. coib, coiheadli.
This word is from the root of cope, in
the sense of likeness, resemblance, Ar.
i:S) to be like ; or it is from doub-
ling, and the root of cuff, Ar- ^^.
Class Gb. No. 50. See Cope and Cuff.]
Literally, a likeness, or resemblance of
any kind. Hence,
1. A writing like another writing ; a trans-
script from an original ; or a book printed
according to the original ; hence, any sin-
gle book, or set of books, containing a com-
jjosition resembling the original work ; as
the copy of a deed, or of a bond ; a copy
of Addison's works ; a copy of the laws ; a
copy of the scriptures.
2. The form of a picture or statue according
to the original ; the imitation or likeness
of any figure, draught, or almost any ob-
ject.
3. An original work ; the autograph ; the
archetype. Hence, that which is to be
imitated in writing or printing. Let the
child write according to the copy. The
copy is in the hands of the printer. Hence,
a pattern or example for imitation. His
virtues are an excellent copji for imitation.
4. Abundance. [L. copia.] 6bs.
COP'Y, v. t. To write, print or engrave, ac-
cording to an original ; to form a hke
work or composition by writing, printing
or engraving; to transcribe ; often follow-
ed by out, but the use is not elegant.
The men of Hezekiah copied certain proverbs
of Solomon.
2. To paint or draw according to an origi-
nal.
3. To form according to a model, as in arch-
itecture.
4. To imitate or attempt to resemble ; to
follow an original or pattern, in manners
or couree of life. Copy the Savior in his
humility and obedience.
COP'Y, V. i. To imitate or endeavor to be
like ; to do any thing m imitation of some-
thing else. A painter copies from the
life. An obedient child copies after his
parent.
They never fail, when they copy, to follow
the bad as well as the good. Dry den.
COP'YBQQK, 71. A book in which copies
are written or printed for learners to imi-
tate.
COP'YKD, pp. Transcribed; imitated; us-
ually written copied.
COR
COP'YER, n. One who copies or
scribes ; usually written copier.
COP'YHOLD, n. In England, a tenure of
estate by copy of court roll; or a tenure
for which the tenant hath nothing to show,
except the rolls maJe by the steward of
the lord's court. Blackstone.
COPYHOLDER, n. One wlio is possess-
ed of land in copyhold.
eOP'YIST, n. A copier ; a transcriber.
€OP' YRIGHT, n. The sole right which an
author has in liis own original Uterary com-
positions ; the exclusive right of an author
to print, publish and vend his own literary
works, for his own benefit; the hke right
in the hands of an assignee.
COQUAL'LIN, u. A stnall quadruped of
the squirrel kind, but incapable of climb-
ing trees. Did. ofJVat. Hist.
€0'QUELleOT, ? [Fr.] Wild poppy
CO'QUELleO, ^"- cornrose; hence, the
color of wild poppy.
COQUET', f [Fr. coqttet, a beau, a gen
COQUETTE, I "• eral lover, a cock-boat
coquette, a jilt; from the Welsh or Celtic
coegen, a vain saucy wench, a coquet,
from coeg, vain ; Sp. coqueta ; It. civetta, an
owl ; civettare, to play the wag, to trifle, to
coquet ; civeUeria, coquetry ; civettino, t
vain young fellow.]
A vain, airy, trifling girl, who endeavors tc
attract admiration and advances in love
from a desire to gratify vanity, and then
rejects her lover ; a jilt.
The light coquettes in sylphs aloft repair,
And sport and flutter in the fields of air.
Pope
Note. In French, coquet is masculine and
coquette feminine : but as our language has
such termination for gender, it may be better to
write coquet (ov both sexes, and for distinction
prefix male to the word when applied to a man.
COQUET', V. t. To attempt to attract no-
tice, admiration or love, from vanity ; to
entertain with compliments and amorous
tattle; to treat with an appearance of am-
orous tenderness.
You are coquetting a maid of honor. Swift.
COQUET', V. {. To trifle in love ; to act the
lover from vanity ; to endeavor to gaii
admirers.
COQUET'ISH, a. Practicing coquetry.
CO'QUETRY, n. [Fr. coquetterie.] Attempt:
to attract admiration, notice or love, from
vanity ; affectation of amorous advances ;
trifling in love. Addison.
COR'ACLE, n. [W. cxm-ivgle.] A boat used
in Wales by fishermen, made by covering
a wicker fi-ame with leather or oil-clotli
Johnson.
COR'ACOID, n. [Gr. xopol, a crow, and
!i8o5, form.]
A small sharp process of the scapida, shaped
like a crow's beak. Hooper.
COR'ACOID, a. Shaped like a beak.
BucJdand.
COR'AL, »i. [L. corallium ; Gr. xofaVkiov;
Fr. corail, or coral ; It. corallo ; Sp. coral
D. koraal ; G. koralle ; Dan. koral.]
1. In zoology, a genus belonging to the order
of vermes zooi>hyta. The trunk is radi-
cated, jointed and calcarious. The spe-
cies are distinguished by the form of their
branches, and are found in tlje ocean ad-
hering to stones, liones, shells, Arc. Co-
C O R
ral was formerly supposed to be a vegeta
ble substance, but is now known to be
composed of a congeries of animals. Co
ral is red, white and black. It is properly
the shells of marine animals of the polype
kind, consisting of calcarious earth com-
bined with gelatine and other animal mat-
ter. In the South Sea, tlie isles are most-
ly coral rocks covered with earth.
Encyc. J^icholson
Corals seem to consist of carbonate of|
lime and animal matter, in equal projjor
tions. Ure.
2. A piece of coral worn by children about
their necks.
COR'AL, a. Made of coral ; resemblinj
A genus of plants, Ery-
thrina, of several species, natives of Afri
ca and America. They are all shrubby
flowering plants, adorned chiefly with tri-
foliate or three-lohed leaves, and scarlet
spikes of papilionaceous flowers.
COR'AL- WORT, n. A genus of plants. Den-
taria, called also tooth-wort or tooth-violet
Fam. of Plants.
oral.
Like coral, or par-
CORALLA'CEOUS
taking of its qualiti
COR'ALLIFORM, n. [coral and form.] Re
sembling coral ; forked and crooked.
Kirwan.
COR'ALLINE, a. Consisting of coral ; hke
coral ; containing coral.
COR'ALLINE, n. A submarine plant-like
body, consisting of many slender, jointed
branches, resembling some species of
moss ; or animals growing in the form of
plants, having their stems fixed to other
bodies. These stems are composed of ca
pillary tubes, which pass through a calca
rions crust and open on the surface. In
the Linnean system, corallines are class
ed with the zoophytes. They have been
distributed by Ellis into vesiculated, fur
nished with small bodies like bladders ;
tubular, composed of simple tubes; cellife-
rous, which, when magnified, appear to he
fine thin cells, the habitations of small an-
imals ; and arlicidated, consisting of short
pieces of stony or cretaceous brittle mat-
ter, covered with pores or cells, joined by
a tough, membranous, flexible substance,
composed of many small tubes. But in
this arrangement of Ellis, the term coral-
line is synonymous with the more ancient
term lithophyta, including all the polype-
bearing animals, and nearly coincicling
with the zoophyta of Linne, and the poly-
piers of the French naturalists.
Encyc. Cyc.
COR'ALLINITE, n. A fossil polypier or
coralline. Did. Mtt. Histi
COR'ALLITE, n. A mineral substance or
petrifaction, in the form of coral ; or a fos-
sil polypier, larger than a coralhnite.
Kirwan. Did. jYat. Hist
COR'ALLOID, I [coral, and £1605,
CORALLOID'AL, ^ "■ form,;
Having the form of coral ; branching like
coral. Diet. Mit. Hist
COR'ALLOID, ?i. Eschara or hornwrack.
a species of coralline, resembling woven
cloth jn texture, consisting of arrange-
ments of very small cells. One species i
called narrow-leaved hornwrack ; anotli
er, the broad-leaved hornwrack. This
COR
name is given also to the keratophyta,
horn-plant, or sea-shrub, a species of Gor-
goma. Enciic,
CORANT', n. [Fr. courant, running ; courir.
to run, L. curro.]
A lofty sprightly dance. Johnson. Temple.
CORB, n. [L. corbis. See the next word.]
1. A basket used in coaleries.
a. An ornament in a building. Spenser
CORB' AN, n. [h. corbis; D. korf; G. korh :
Sw. korg ; Dan. kurv ; Fr. corbeiUe ; Eth.
Tl4n karbo, a wicker absket ; Rusa.kor-
han, a chuch box or chest, a treasmy.
But in Ethiopic, korban is an oblation,
that which is offered to God, a gilt, a
sacrifice, coinciding with the Heb. pnp,
from a^p to ajiproacb, to cause to ap-
proach, to bring or offer.]
L In Jeieish antiquity, an offering which had
life ; an animal offered to God ; in opposi-
tion to the mincha, which was an offerin"
without hfe. "
It is a gift, cnrban, by whatsoever thou
mightest be profiled by me ; that is, I have de-
voted that to God which you ask of me, and it is
no longer mine to give. Encyc.
2. An alms-basket ; a vessel to receive gifts
of charity ; a gift ; an alms ; a treasury of
the church, where offerings are deposited.
Calmd.
3. Among Mohammedans, a ceremony per-
formed at the foot of mount Arrarat in
Arabia, near 3Iecca. It consists in killing
a number of sheep, and distributing them
amotig the poor. Encyc.
CORBE, a. [Fr. rourbe.] Crooked. [J^ot
in use.] Spenser.
CORB'EIL, n. [Fr. corbeille ; It. corbello.
See Corban.]
In forliflcalion, a little basket, to be filled with
earth, and set upon a parapet, to shelter
men from the fire of besiegers. Johnson.
CORB'EL, n. [See the preceding words.]
1. In architecture, the representation of a
basket, sometimes set on the heads of ca-
ryatides.
3. The vase or tambour of the Corinthian
column ; so called from its resemblance to
a basket. Encyc.
CORB'EL, n. A short piece of timber in a
wall, jutting six or eight inches, as occa-
sion requires, in the manner of a shoulder-
piece ; sometimes placed for strength un-
der the semigirder of a platform. The
under part is sometimes cut into the form
of a houltin ; sometimes of an ogee, or of
a face, &c. Encyc. Johnson.
2. A niche or hollow left in walls for ima-
ges, figures or statues. Chambers.
eOR'BY, n. A raven. [Mt in use.]
CORCELET, I [Fr.corsekt,from
CORSELET, I"- "»"'''■ corps, L. corpus,
body.] .
In natural history, that jDart of winged in-
sects, which answers to the breast of oth-
er animals. Encyc.
CORC'ULE, } ^ [L. corcuhm, hut in a dif-
CORC'LE. ^ ■ ferent sense. It is a dimi-
nutive from cor, the heart.]
In botany, the heart of the seed, or rudiment
of a future plant, attached to and involved
in the cotyledons. It consists of the
plume or ascending part, and the rostel, or
radicle, the simple descending part.
Martyn.
COR
COR
COR
CORD, n. [W. cwd; Fr. corde; It. corda;
Sp. cuerda ; D. koord ; L. chorda ; Gr
a;op&i7. Accorilin},' to the Welsh, this word
signifies a twist, from cor, tlie root of cAo-
1. A string, or small rope, composeil of sev-
eral strands twisted together. Rahali
let down the spies by a cerd tlirough the
window. Josh. ii.
2. A quantity of wood, or other material,
originally measured with a cord or line.
The cord is a pile roiitaining 128 cubic
feet ; or a jtile eight feet long, four feet
high, and four feet broad.
3. In scripture, the cords of the wicked are
the snares with wliich they catch the un-
wary. I's. exxix.
The cords of sin are bad habits, or the con-
sequences of sin. Prov. v.
The cords of a man are the fair, gentle or
natural means of alluring men to obedi-
ence. Hos. xi.
The cords ofvaniti) are worldly vanities and
pleasures, profit or prcfcrmont ; or vain
and deceitful arguments and pretenses,
which draw men to sin. Is. v.
To stretch a line or cord about a city, is to lev-
el it, or utterly to destroy it. Lam. ii.
The cords of a tent denote stability. To
loosen or break the cords, is to weaken oi
destroy ; to lengthen the cords, is to en
large." Job XXX. I.s. liv. Jer. x.
CORD, I', t. To bind with a cord or rope
to fasten with cords.
2. To pile wood or other material for mcas
uremeiit and sale by the cord.
CORD'MAKER, ?i. One whose occupation
is to make ropes ; but in America, called
rope-mak€r.
CORD' WOOD, n. Wood cut and piled for
sale by the cord, in distinction from long
wood ; properly, wood cut to the length of
four feet ; but in this respect, the practice
is not uniform. In Scotland, cord-wood is
wood conveyed to market on board of|
vessels, in opposition to that which is
floated. Encyc,
CORD'AtiE, n. [Sp. cordage; Fr. id.; from
cord.]
All sorts of cords or ropes, used in the
iiing rigging of a ship, or kept in rcservej
to supply the place of that which may be
rendered unserviceable. In a more gene-
ral sense, the word includes all ropes and
lines used on board of ships.
CORD'ATE, ) [L. eorrfataj, with a dif-
CORD'ATED, S ftrent signification,
from cor, the heart.]
Having the form of a heart ; heart-shaped ;
a term used by naturalists ; as a cordate
leaf in botany, resembhng the longitiuiiiialjjCORDUROV
section of the heart. Hence, cordate-
iMong, heart-shaped lengthened ; cordate
lanceolate, heart-shaped, gi-adually tajjer-
with cords, or made of two pieces o:
wood. Encyc
CORDELIER, n. [Fr. from corde, a girdle
or cord worn by the order.]
A Franciscan friar; one of the order of reli
gious founded by St. Francis ; a gray fr
ar. The cordeliers wear a thick gray
cloth, a little cowl, a chaperon, and a
cloke, with a girdle of rope or cord, tied
with three knots. Encyc
CORDIAL, a. [Fr. and Sp. cordial ; It. cor-
diale ; from L. cor, the heart.]
1. Proceeding from the heart; hearty;
cere ; not hypocritical ; warm ; aflection
ate.
Whh looks of cordial love. .Milton.
V»'e (jive our fiiends a cordial reception.
2. Reviving the sjiirits ; cheering ; invigora
ting ; giving strength or spirits ; as cordial
waters. Wist
CORD'IAL, n. In medicine, that whicl
deuly excites the system, and iucrciscs
the action of the heart or circulatic
languid ; any medicine which increases
strength, raises the spirit.s, and gives life
and cheerfulness to a person when weal
and depressed.
2. Any thing that comforts, gladdens and ex
hilarates ; as, good news is a cordial to the
mind.
CORDIALITY, n. Relation to the heart
Vo< used.] Broum
2. "Sincerity ; freedom from hypocrisy ; sin
cere affection and kindness.
Our friends were received with cordiality.
CORD lALLY, adv. Heartily ; sincerely
without hypocrisy; with real affection.
The christian cordially receives the doctrine
of grace.
CORD'IERITE, n. The mineral called oth
iolite and dichroite.
CORD'IFORM, a. [L. cor, the heart, and
forma, form.]
Heart-shaped ; having the form of the hu
heart.
CORD'L\ER, 71. [J^'ot used. See Cord
loainer.]
CORDON, n. [Fr. Sp. cordon ; It. cordone
Port, cordam. See Cord.]
. In fortification, a row of stones jutting
before the rampart, and tlie basis of the
parapet ; or a row of stones between the
wall of a fortress which lies aslope, and
the parapet which is perpendicular; serv
ing ;is an ornament, and used only in for
tifications of stone-work.
Johnson. Encyc.
: In military language, a line or series of
milirarv posts; as a cordon of troops.
CORD'OVAN. n. Spanish leather.
V thick cotton stuft'ribbed
"a lance; cordate-sagittate, heart-shaped,!
but resembling the head of an arrow.
Martyn.l
CORD'ATELY, adv. In a cordate form. I
CORD'ED, pp. Bound or fastened with!
cords. )
2. Piled in a form for measurement by thej
cord.
3. Made of cords ; furnished with cords.
Shak.l
4. In heraldry, a cross corded ii! one wound
Vol. I.
eORD'WAl.N, II. [Sp. cordohan; Port
Fr. curdouan ; fr
Cordova, or
dovam
Cordoba, in Spain.]
Spanish leather; goat-skin tanned and dress-
ed. Spenser. Sp. Did.
CORD'WAINER, n. [from cordtcain.] A
shoemaker. This word was formerly
written cordiners. It is evidently from the
French cordouan, cordouannier ; properly
a worker in cord wain, or cordovan leather.
CORE, >i. [Fr. cffiur; Norm, core; Sp. cora-
zon ; Port, coracatn ; It. cuore : from L.
cor, the heart, "Gr. xtop. See Class Gr.]
1. The heart or inner part of a thing ; par-
ticularly, the central part offruit, contain-
49
ing the kernels or seeds ; as the core of an
ai)ple or quince. It was formerly applied
to place ; as, in the core of a square.
Raleigh.
2. The itnicr part of an ulcer or boil.
Dryden.
•i. A body. Fr. corps. [JVot used.] Bacon.
4. A disorder of .sheep, occasioned by worms
in the liver. Chambers.
CORED,'/. In the herrijig fishery, rolled
in salt and prepared for drying. .^s/i.
CO-RE (iENT, ji. A joint regent orruler.
ffraxall.
CORIA'CEOUS, a. [L. coriaceus, from cori-
um, leather.]
1. Consisting of leather, or resembling leath-
er ; tough ; as coriaceous concretions.
.^rbuthnot.
2. In botany, stiff, hke leather or parchment :
applied to a leaf, a calyx or capsule.
Martyn.
COJUAN'DER, n. [L. coriandrum ; Gr.
xopior, xofuivov.]
A genus of plants of two species. The seeds
of one species, the sativum, have a strong
smell, and in medicine are considered as
stomachic and carminative.
( f)|{l.\ DON, n. [See Corundmn.]
COR IiNTll, «. A city of Greece. Hence,
"i. A ^^mall fruit, now called currant, which
see. Philips. Broome.
CORINTH lAC, a. Pertaining to Corinth.
D'^ni-ille.
CORINTH'IAN, a. Pertaining to Corinth,
a celebrated city of Greece ; as Corinthian
column ; Corinthian order ; Corinthian
brass. The Corinthian order, in architec-
ture, is the most delicate of all the orders,
and enriched with a profiision of oma-
ments. The capital is usually adorned
with olive leaves or acanthus. Encyc.
CO-RI'VAL, n. [con and nVa/ ; written im-
properly corrival.]
A rival, or fellow rival ; a competitor.
Sliak.
CORI'VAL, V. I. To rival ; to pretend to
equal. Sliak.
CORK, n. [D. kurk; G. kork; Sw.korck;
Dan. kork ; Sp. corcho ; Russ. korka ; Fr.
ecorce ; L. cortex, bai'k, rind, shell, crust.]
1. A glandiferous tree, a species of Quercus,
growing in Spain and Portugal, having a
thick, rough, fungous, cleft bark.
2. The outer hark of the tree, or epidermis,
of which stopples for bottles and casks
ai-e made. This outer bark is taken off,
and a new epidermis is formed, which, in
six or seven years, becomes fit for use.
This bark is also burnt to make a kind of
light black, called Spanisli black.
3. A stopple for a bottle or cask, cut out of
cork.
CORK, r. t. To stop bottles or casks with
corks ; to confine or make fast with a
cork.
CORK'ING-PIN, n. A pin of a large size.
Swifl.
CORK'-SCREW, n. A screw to draw corks
from bottles.
CORK'Y, a. Consisting of cork ; resembling
cork: made of cork; tough.
CORMORANT, «. [Fr. cormoran; Sp. cor-
vrjon. Cormorant is supposed to be cor-
ru|)tcd from cormis marinas, sea raven.
The Welsh also call the fowl morvran,
sea crow.]
COR
COR
1. The water raven, a large fowl of the pel-| CORN'€RAKE, n. The crake or land rail ;
lean kind : the head and neck are black ;
the coverts of the wings, the scapulars and
the back are of a deep green, edged with
black and glossed with blue. The base of
the lower inaudible is covered with a na-
ked yellow skin, which extends under the
chin and forms a sort of pouch. This
fowl occupies the chfTs by the sea,
on tish, and is extremely voracious.
Enajc.
2. A glutton.
CORN, n. [Sax. com ; D. kown ; G. kom ;
Dan. Sw. kom. Not improbably this word
is the L. granum. Such transpositions
are not uncommon. The word signifies
not only the hard seeds of certain plants,
but hail and shot, L. grando, Ir. gran,
grain, hail, shot. Johnson quotes an old
Runic rhyme.
llagui er kaldastur korna.
Hail is the coldest com. See Grain.]
1. A single seed of certain plants, as wheat,
rye, barley and maiz; a grain. In this
sense, it has a plural ; as, three barley
corns make an inch. It is generally ap-
plied to edible seeds, which, when ripe,
are hard.
2. The seeds of certain plants in general, in
bulk or quantity ; as, com is dear or scarce.
In this sense, the word comprehends all
the kinds of grain which constitute the
food of men and horses. In Great Britain,
corn is generally ap])lied to wheat, rye,
oats and barley. In the United States, it
has the same general sense, but by cus-
tom, it is appropriated to maiz. We are
accustomed to say, the crop of wheat is
good, but the corn is bad ; it is a good
year for wheat and rye, but bad for corn.
In this sense, com has no plural.
3. The plants which produce corn, when
growuig in the field; the stalks and ears,
or the stalks, ears and seeds, after i-eaping
and before thrashing. We say, a field of
corn, a sheaf or a shock of corn, a load of
corn. The plants or stalks are included in
the term corn, until the seed is separated
from the ears.
4. In sitrgtry, a hard excrescence, or indu-
ration of tlie skin, on the toes or some
part of the feet, occasioned by the pres-
sure of the shoes ; so called from its hard-
ness and resemblance to a corn.
5. A small hard particle. [See Grain.]
CORN, V. t. To preserve and season with
salt in grains ; to sprinkle Avith salt ; as.
to com beef
2. To granulate ; to form into small grains.
CORN-BIND,?!. Climbing buck-wheat. [Lo-
cal.] Grose.
eORN'BLADE, n. The leaf of the maiz.
Cornblades are collected and preserved
as fodder, in some of the southern states
of America.
CORN'-CHANDLER, n. [Chandler, a deal-
er in candles, is supposed to be from the
French chandelier ; but what has this
word to do with corn and ship, in cor
chandler and ship-chandler"^ In these won
chandler seems to be a corruption of tlie
Teutonic handler, a trader ; Sw. homhand-
tare, a corn-dealer; Dan. handler; G.id.;
D. handelaar.] A dealer in corn
GORN'CLAD, a. Covered with growing
corn. Barlmi.
the corn-crow, for kr&ka, in Sw., and kra
ge, in Dan., is our word crow, and the name
is probably taken from its cry. The Dutch
kraai, a crow, is contracted from kraug,
and kraaijen is to crow, to vaunt, to tell
tales ; G. krahe, kriihen.
CORN'-CUTTER, n. [_com and cut.] One
who cuts corns, or indurations of the skin.
CORNFIELD, n. A field where corn is
growing.
ORN'FLAG, re. A genus of plants, the
Gladiolus, of several species, bearing red
or white flowers.
CORN FLOOR, n. A floor for corn, or for
thrashing corn. Is. xxi. Hos. ix.
CORNFLOWER, ?i. A flower or plant
growing among corn ; as the blue-bottle,
wild poppy, &c. Bacon.
CORN'HEAP, n. A heap of corn. Hall.
CORN'LAND, n. Land appropriated or suit-
able to the production of corn, or grain.
CORN'LOFT, ?!. An apartment for corn; a
granary. Sherwood.
CORN-MARYGOLD, n. A genus of i)lants,
the Chrysanthemum.
CORN'MASTER, n. One who cultivates
corn for sale. [Ab< rised.] Bacon.
CORN'METER,n. One who measures corn.
CORN'MILL, n. A mill for grinding corn,
generally called a grist-mill.
eORN'-PARSLEY, n. A genus of plants,
the Sison.
CORN'PIPE, n. A pipe made by slitting the
joint of a green stalk of corn. Johnson.
CORN'-ROCKET,7i. A genus of plants, the
Bunias.
CORN'ROSE, n. A species of poppy, or
Papaver.
CORN'-SALLAD, n. A plant, a species of
Valeriana, whose top leaves are said to be
a good sallad.
CORN'STALK, re. A stalk of corn, particu-
larly a stalk of the maiz. America.
CORN'-VIOLET, n. A species of Campanu-
la. Tate.
CORN'AGE, 11. [from Fr. come, L. cornu, a
horn.}
An ancient tenure of lands, which obliged
the tenant to give notice of an invasion by
blowing a horn. Blackstone.
CORN'EA, re. [from L. cornu, a horn.] The
transparent membrane in the fore-part of
the eye, through which the rays of hght
pass; situated in the sclerotica, and con-
sidered by some as a portion of it.
CORN'EL, } [L. cormis, from
CORN'EL-TREE, } re. cornu, a horn, or
CORNE'LIAN-TREE, ) its root, from
the hardness of the wood ; Sp. corno ; It.
corniolo ; Fr. comouiller.]
The cornelian cherry or dog-wood, a ge-
nus of plants of several species. Tl)e mas-
cula, or cornehan cherry tree, has a stem
of twenty feet high, branching and Ibrm-
ing a large head, garnished with oblong
leaves and small umbels of yellowii '
green flowers, succeeded by small, red,
acid, eatable, cherrv-like fruit. Encyc.
CORNELIAN. [See Carnelian.]
CORNEMUSE, ) [rr.cornemuse; come,
CORN'AMUTE, S "• a horn, and muse ; It.
comamusa.]
A kind of rustic flute. Drayton.
CORN'EuUS, a. [L. corneua, Worn cornu, a
horn. Sec Horn.]
COR
iHorny ; like horn ; consisting of a homy sub-
stance, or substance resembling horn ;
hard. Brown.
CORN'ER, re. [W. corntl, from com, a j.oint
or projection, a horn ; Corn, komal ; Arm.
corn ; Ir. ceama ; Sw. horn. See Horn
and Grain. Qu. Heb. Ch. Syr. Ar. ]-0
karan, to shoot. '
1. The point where two converging lines
meet ; properly, the external point ; an
angle ; as, we meet at the comer of the
state-house, or at the comer of two streets.
2. The interior point where two Unes meet ;
an angle.
3. The space between two converging hues
or walls which meet in a point. Hence,
4. An inclosed place ; a secret or retired
place.
This thing was not done in a comer. Acta
xxvi.
5. Indefinitely any part ; a part. They
searched every comer of the forest.
They exjilored all comers of the coun-
try.
t). The end, extremity or limit ; as the cor-
ner* of the head or beard. Lev. xxi. xix.
Comer-teeth of a horse, the foreteeth between
the middling teeth and the tushes, two
above and two below, on each side of the
jaw, which shoot when the horse is four
years and a half old. Farrier's Diet.
eORN'ERED, a. Having corners ; having
three or more angles.
CORN'ER-STONE, re. The stone which
lies at the corner of two walls, and unites
them ; the principal stone, and especially
the stone which forms the corner of the
foundation of an edifice.
Who laid the corner-stone thereof? Job
xxxviii.
Christ Iiimself being the chief comer -sione.
Eph. ii.
CORN'ER-WISE, adv. Diagonally ; with
the corner in front ; not parallel.
eORN'ET, re. [Fr. cornet, cornette; It. cor-
netta, cometto ; Sp. comela ; from L. cornu,
a horn. See Horn.]
1. An instrument of music, in the nature of
a trumpet, sounded by blowing with the
mouth. It was of a winding shape like a
liorn ; used in armies and on occasions of
joy-
David played before the Lord on comets. 2
Sam. vi.
2. In modern usage, an officer of cavalry,
who bears the ensign or colors of a troop.
He is the third officer in the company.
Encyc.
3. A company of cavalry ; a troop of horse.
[JVot used.] Clarendo7i. Bacon.
4. The cornet of a horse [coronet] is the
lowest part of his pastern, that runs roimd
the coffin and is distinguished by the hair
that joins and covei-s the upper part of the
hoof. Farrier's Did.
5. A little cap of jiaper in which retailers
inclose small wares.
6. A scarf anciently worn by doctors.
Did.
7. A head dress. Diet.
CORN'ETCY, n. The commission or rank
of a cornet. Chesterfield. Stephens.
CORN'ETTER, ? One who blows a cor-
CORN'ETER, $ "• net. HakeuiU.
COR'NICE, n. [It. cornice; Fr. corniche ;
Sp. cornisa; from L. coronis, Gi: xopun-
j:ofiu>')j, a sunmiit, a crouni.l
COR
COR
COR
1. In nrchitecture, the uppermost meinlier of
the entablature of a column, or the high-
est projecture ; that which crowns an or-
der. Johnson. Encyc.
2. A little projecture in joinery or masonry ;
as the cornice of a chinmey. Encyc.
Cornice-ring of a cannon, is the ring next
from the muzzle-ring backward. Encr/c.
CORN'l€LE, Ji, [L. corniculum, from cor-
nu, a horn.] A little horn. Brown.
CORNIC'ULATI-^ a. [from L. cornu,
horn.]
1. Horned ; having horns. More.
2. In botany, producing horned pods ; bear-
ing a little spur or horn. Chambers.
eORNlG'EROUS, a. [L.comtger; cornu, a
horn, and gero, to bear.]
Horned ; having horns ; as comigerovs ani-
mals. Brown.
€ORN'ING-HOUSE, n. A house or place
where powder is graniduted.
€ORN'ISH, a. Pertaining to Cornwall, in
England ; and as a noun, the language
of Cornwall.
•CORN'IST, n. A performer on the cornet
or horn.
eORN'LESS, a. Destitute of corn;
camkss dwelling places.
Tooke's Russia.
€ORNU€0'PIA, )!. [L. cornu, a horn, and
copia, plenty.]
1. The horn of plenty, an emblem of abun-
dance of fruits.
2. In architecture and sculpture, the figure of
a horn, from which fruits and flowers are
represented as jiroceeding.
CORNU'TE, V. t. [L. comutus, from cornu,
a horn.] To bestow horns; to cuckold.
Burton.
tORNU'TED, pp. or a. Grafted with horns ;
horned ; cuckolded.
'>. In botany, horn-shaped.
COllNU'TO, n. [It.] A man that wears
the horns; a cuckold.
COKNU'TOR, 71. A cuckold-maker.
Jordan.
iORN'Y, a. [L. cornu, a horn.] Horny ;
strong, stiff or hard like horn ; resembling
iKirn. Milton.
VORN'Y, a. [from corn.] Producing corn
containing corn. Prior. Dryden
COR'ODY, ) [It. con-crfo, provision ; cor
COR' ROD Y, \ "■ redare, to furnish.] An
allowance of meat, drink or clothing, due
to the king from au abbey or other reli-
gious house, for the sustenance of sucli
one of his servants, as he thinks good tci
bestow on it. An allowance for the main-
tenance of any of the king's servants liv-
ing in an abbey. Cowel.
Corodies are a right of sustenance, or to re-
ceive certain allotnrOnts of victuals and
provision for one's maintenance. In lieu
of which, a pension or sum of money is
sometimes substituted. Blachstone.
Tiic king is entitled to a corody out of ever)'
liisliopric, that is, to send one of his chap-
lains to be maintained by the bishop, or
lo have a pension allowed, till the bishop
jirninotes him to a benefice. [This has
fiillen into disuse.] Blachstone
Aiionling to the Italian, the latter word is
orrect orthography.
corolla, a little crown.]
botany, the inner gov-
The corol surrounds
Tiie correci urinogri
COIJ OL, l„ [L.
rOKOL'L.\,] "• In
oiing of a flower.
the parts of fructification, and is composed
of one or more flower leaves, called petals.
It is distinguished from the perianth, by
the fineness of its texture and the gayness
of its colors ; but there are many excep-
tions. It is sometimes inaccurately called
blossom and Jloiver.
Marlyn. Encyc. Darwin.
COROLLA'CEOUS, a. Pertaining to a co-
rol ; inclosing and protecting like a wreath.
A corrollaceous coveriug. Lee
COR'OLLARY, n. [L. coroUarium, a coro-
net, from corolla, a crown. Finis coronal
opus. Johnson. Fr. corollaire.]
1. A conclusion or consequence drawn from
premises, or from what is advanced or de-
monstrated. If it is demonstrated that a
triangle which has equal sides, has also'
equal angles, it follows as a corollary thav
a triangle which has three equal side.s, has
its three angles equal. Encyc.
A corollary is an inference from a preceding
proposition. J. Day.
2. A surplus. Shak.
eOR'OLLET, ) One of the partial flow-
COR'OLLULE, \ ""ers which make a com-
jwund one ; the floret in an aggregate
flower. Marlyn. Encyc.
CORO'NA, n. [L. a crown.] In architec-
ture, a large flat member of a cornice,
crowning the entablature, and the whole
order ; called by workmen the drip.
Chambers.
2. In ana^onii/, the upper surface of the mo-
lar teeth or grinders.
3. In botany, the circumference or margin
of a radiated compound flower. Encyc.
Also, the appendage to the top of seeds,
which enables them to disperse. Martyn.
4. In optics, a halo or luminous circle around
the sun, moon or stars. Encyc.
COR'ONAL, a. Belonging to the crown or
to]> of the head ; as the coronal suture.
€OR'ONAL, n. A crown ; wreath ; gar-
land. Spenser.
2. The first suture of the skull. Encyc.
€OR'ONARY, a. Relating to a crown ;
seated on the top of the head ; or placed
as a crown. Brown.
Coronary vesseh, in anatomy, certain vessels
which furnish the substance of the heart
with blood. Encyc.
Coronary arteries, two arteries which spring
from the aorta, before it leaves the peri-
cardium, and supply the substance of the
heart with blood. Coxe. Encyc.
Coronary vein, a vein diffused over the exte-
rior surface of the heart, receiving the
blood from the heart. Coxe. Enci/c.
Stomachic coronary, a vein inserted into the
trunk of the splenic vein, which, by uni-
ting with the mesenteric, forms the vena
porta. Encyc.
CORONA'TION, n. [from corona, a crown.]
The act or solemnity of crowning a king
or emi>eror ; the act of investing a prince
with (he insignia of royalty, on his suc-
ceeding to the sovereignty.
2. The pomp or assembly attending a coro-
nation. Pope.
Coronation-oath, the oath taken by a king at
his coronation.
€OR'ONEL, 71. kur'nel. [Sp. coronet ; Port.
id. ; Fr. colonel ; It. colonnetlo. We follow
the Sp. and Port, orthography in our pro-
nunciation.]
The oflicer who commands a regiment. Obs.
Spenser.
COR'ONER, 71. [Law Lat. corortalor, from
corona, a crown.]
An officer whose office is concerned princi-
pally with pleas of the crown. One chief
I)art of his duty is, when a person is slain
or dies suddenly or in prison, to inquire
into the manner of his death. This must
be done by a jurj-, on sight of the body,
and at the place wlierc the death happen-
ed. In England, the coroner is to inquire
also concerning .shipwrecks, and certify
whether wrecks or not, and who is in pos-
session of the goods; also concerning
treasure-trove. As a ministerial oflicer,
the coroner is the sheriff's substitute ; and
when an exception can be taken to the
sheriff, for suspicion of partiality, process
is awarded to the coroner. Blackstone.
In some of the States, in America, there is a
coroner, but his principal or only duty is
to inquire into the causes of untimely
death. In Connecticut there is no such
officer, the duty being performed by a con-
1 stable or justice of the peace.
CORONi^T, n. [from corona, a crown.]
An inferior crown worn by noblemen.
The coronet of a duke is adorned with
strawberry leaves ; that of a marquis has
leaves with pearls interposed; that of an
eurl raises the pearls above the leaves ;
that of a viscount is surrounded with
pearls only ; that of a baron has only four
pearls. Johnson.
2. In poetical language, an ornamental head
dress.
Coronet of a horse. [See Cornel.]
COR'ONIFORM, o "
and forma, form.]
crown.
COR'ONOID,
fi6o5, form.]
Noting the upper and anterior process of the
end of the lower jaw, called the coronoid
process. Coxe.
€OR'ONULE, 71. [from corona, a crown.]
A coronet or little crown of a seed ; the
downy tuft on seeds. Martyn.
eORTORAL, 71. [It. caporale ; Fr. caporal ;
Sp. cavoral ; from L. caput, head, or more
directly from the Celtic root of caput, Sp.
cabo. It. capo, Eng. cape. Our orthography
is a corruption.]
1. The lowest officer of a company of infan-
try, next below a sergeant. He has charge
over one of the divisions, places and re-
lieves sentinels, &c.
2. The corporal of a ship of war, is an officer
imder the master at arms, employed to
teach the sailors the use of small arms; to
attend at the gangways or entering jKirt^,
and see that no spirituous liquors are
brought, except by permission ; to extin-
"Tuish fire and candles, &c.
COR'PORAL, a. [L. corporalis, from corpus,
body.]
1. Belonging or relating to the body ; as cor-
pora/ pain, opposed to mental.
2. Material ; not spiritual. [See Corporeal.]
Shak.
CORPORAL, / A fine linen cloth, used
€OR PORALE, S to cover the sacred el-
ements in the eucharist, or in which the
sacrament is put. Paley. Todd.
Corporal oath, a soleijin oath, so called from
. [L. corona, a crown,
Havhig the form of a
[Gr. xopwi';;, a crow, and
COR
COR
COR
the ancient usage of touching the corpo-
rale, or clolli that covered the consecrated
elements. Palty.
•CORPORAL'ITY, n. The state of being a
body or embodied ; opposed to spirituality.
If this light hath any coiporality, it is most
subtile and pure. Raleigh.
COR'POllALLY, adv. Bodily ; iu or with
the body ; as, to be corporally present.
COR'PORALSHIP, n. [from corporal.] A
corporal's connnand in a Russian com-
pany, or a division of tv>'enty-three men.
Each squadron consists of two companies,
and each of these, of three corporalships or six-
ty nine men who come m the front. Tooke.
COR'PORAS, n. The old name of tlie cor-
poral or communion cloth.
COR'PORATE, a. [L. coiporatus, from cor-
poror, to be shaped into a body, from cor-
pus, body.]
1. United in a body, or community, as a
number of individuals, who are empower-
ed to transact business as an individual ;
formed into a body ; as a corporiUe. asseni-
bly, or society ; a coiporale town. Swijl.
2. United ; general ; collectively one.
They answer in a corporate voice. Shak.
€OR'PORATENESS, n. The state of a
corporate body. Dirl.
CORPORATION, n. A body politic or cor-
porate, formed and authorized by law to
act as a single person ; a society having'
the capacity of transacting business as an
individual. Corporations are aggregate or
sole. Corporations aggregate consist of
two or more persons united in a society,
which is preserved by a succession of
members, either forever, or till the corpo-
ration is dissolved by the power that for-
med it, by the death of all its members, by
surrender of its charter or franchises, oi-
by forfeiture. Such cor[)orations are the
mayor and aldermen of cities, the head
and fellows of a college, the dean and
chapter of a cathedral church, the stock-
holders of a bank or insurance company,
&c. A corporation sole consists of one
person only and liis sticres.sors, as a king
or a bishoij. Blackstone.
CORPORATOR, n. TJie member of a cor-
poration. Sergeant.
COR'PORATURE, ji. The state of being
embodied. [JVol in use.] More
CORPO'REAL, ) Having a body ; con-
CORPO'REOUS, I "-sisting of a niaterial
body ; niaterial ; opposed to .'spiritual or
immaterial : as our corporeal frame ; cor-
poreal substance
CORPO'REALIST, n. One who denies the
existence of spiritual substances.
eORPO'REALLY, adv. In body ; in a bod-
ily form or manner. Richardson.
COiaPORE'ITY, n. The state of having a
body, or of being embodied; materiality.
The one attributed cnrporeily to God.
StilUnfifteet.
CORPO'RIFY, V. I. To embody ; to form
into a body. [Not used.] - Bayk.
COR'POSANT, n. [Sp. cuerpo sanlo, holy
body.]
A name given by seamen to a luminous ap-
pearance often beheld, in dark tempestu-
ous nights, about the ilecks and rigginj!
of a ship, but particularly at the mast-
heads and yard-arms, supposed to be elec-
srieal. Mar. Diet.
CORPS, n. [Fr. from L. corpus, body. It is
pronounced kore, and is an ill word in En-
glish.]
1. "in military language, a body of troops ;
any cU vision of an army ; as a corps de re-
2. A body, in contempt, as used by Milton
and Dryden, but probably pronounced in
the English manner, as corpse.
3. A carcase ; a dead bodv. [See Corpse.]
Shak.
4. In architecture, any part that projects be-
yond a wall, serving as the ground of some
decoration. Encyc.
CORPSE, 71. corps. [L. corpus, a body ; Ir.
corp ; W. corv ; Arm. corf; It. corpo ; Sp.
cuerpo.] The dead body of a human be-
ing. Mdison.
COR'PULENCE, ? [L. corpulentia, from
COR'PULENCY, I "• corpus, body.]
J. Fleshiness; excessive fatness; a state of
being loaded with flesh ; as the body of a
human being. Arbutlmot.
2. Spissitude ; grossness of matter ; as corpx
Zence of water. [Uttle used.] Ray.
COR'PULENT, a.- Fleshy; having a great
or excessive quantity of fat or fiesh, in
jnoportion to the frame of the body; as a
corpulent child.
Corpus Chrisli. [Body of Christ.] A festival
of the church of England, kept on tl
next Tliiirsday after Trinity-Sunday, in
honor of the Eucharist. Encyc.
COR'PUSCl.E, n. [L. corpusculum, dim. of
corpus, body.]
A minute particle, or physical atom ; corpus-
cles are the very small bodies which com-
pose large bodies, not the eletnentary
principles of matter, but such small parti-
cles; simple or compound, as are not dis-
solveil or dissipated by ordinary heat.
It will add much to our satislaction, if those
corpuscles can be discovered by microscopes
JYewton
CORPUS' eULAR, a. Relating to corpus-
cles, or small particles, supposed to be the
constituent materials of all large bodies
The corpuscular philosophy attempts to
account for the phenomena of nature, by
the motion, figure, rest, position, &c., of
the mimite particles of matter. Encyc.
CORPUSeULA'RIAN, a. Corpuscidar, as
above.
CORPUSCULA'RIAN, n. An advocate for
the corpiiscular philosophy.
CORRADIA'TION, n. [L. eon and radialio.
See Ray.] A conjuuctioii of rays in one
point. Baron.
CORRECT', a. [L. correclus, from corrigo :
con and rego, to set right ; rectus, right,
straight, feee Rigid.]
Literally, set right, or made straight. Hence,
right; conformable to truth, rectitude or
jn-opriely, or conformable to a just stand-
ard ; not faulty ; free from error. A cor-
rect edition of a book is exactly according
to the original copy. Correct manners cor
respond with the rules of morality and re
ceived notions of decorum. Correct prin
ciples coincide with the truth. Con-ect
language is agreeable to established usage
CORRECT', V. t. [L. correclus, corrigo ; con
and rego. See Right.]
1. To make right ; to rectify ; to bring to the
standard of truth, justice, or propriety
to coircct manners or principles. Hen
2. To amend ; to remove or retrench &ult9
or errors ; to set right ; as, to correct a
book ; to correct a copy for the press ; or
in printing, to correct the press, or errors of
the press.
3. To bring back or attempt to bring back
to propriety in morals; to punish for
faults or deviations from moral rectitude ;
to chastise ; to discipline ; as, a child
should be corrected for lying.
Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest.
Prov. xxix.
4. To obviate or remove whatever is wrong
or inconvenient ; to reduce or change the
qualities of any thing by mixture, or other
application ; to counteract whatever is in-
jurious ; as, to correct the acidity of the
stomach by alkaline preparations ; to cor-
rect the relaxing quality of water by boil-
ing it with animal substances. Jtrbuthnot.
CORRECTED, pp. Set right ; freed from
errors; amended; punished.
CORRECT'ING, ppr. Bringing to the stand-
ard of truth, justice or propriety ; amend-
ing ; chastising.
CORRECTION,?!. [I., corrertio.] The act
of correcting ; the act of bringing back,
from error or deviation, to a just standard,
as to truth, rectitude, justice or propriety:
as the correction of opinions or maimers.
All scripture is protitable for correction. 2
Tim. iii.
2. Retrenchment of faults or errors; amend-
ment ; as the correction of a book, or of
the press.
3. That which is substituted in the place of
what is wrong; as the corrections of a
copy are numerous ; set the corrections in
the margin of a proof-sheet.
4. That which is intended to rectify, or to
cine faults ; punishment ; discipUne ; chas-
tisement ; that which corrects.
Withhold not correction from the child. Prov.
xxiii.
5. In scnptural language, wliatever tends to
correct the moral conduct, and bring back
from error or sin, as afflictions.
They liave refused to receive correction.
Jer. V.
My son, despise not the chastening of the
Lord, nor be weary of his correction. Prov. iii.
6. Critical notice; animadversion. Brown.
7. Abatement of noxious quahties ; the coun-
teraction of what is inconvenient or hurt-
ful in its effects ; as the correction of acidity
in the stom.nch.
House of correction, a house where disorderly
liersons are confined; a bridewell.
CORRECTIONAL, o. Tending to or in-
tended for correction. Walsh.
CORREC'TIONER, n. One that has been
in the house of correction. [.Vo< used.]
Shak.
eORRECT'IVE, a. Having the power to
correct ; having the quality of removing or
obviating what is wrong, or injm-ious ;
tending to rectify; as corrcchVe penalties.
Mulberries are pectoral, corrective of bilious
alkali. Arbuthnot.
CORRECT'IVR, n. That which has the
power of correcting ; that which has the
qnality of allcriiig or obviating what is
wrong, or injurious ; as, alkaKes are cor-
rectives of acids ; penalties are conietives
of immoral conduct.
2. Limitation ; restriction. \ZAttle used.]
COR
COR
COR
CORRECT'LY, adv. In a correct niaiiiicr
in coiilbrmity with truth, justice, rectitude
or propriety ; according to a standard
agreeable to a copy or original ; exactly ;
accurately ; without fault, or error ; as, to
behave correctly ; to write, sjieak or think
correctly ; to judge correctly.
eORRE€T'NESS, n. Conformity to truth,
justice, or propriety ; as the correctness of
opinions, of juuginent, or of manners.
2. Conformity to settled usages or rules ; as
correctness in writing or speaking.
3. Conformity to a co|)y or original ; as the
correctness of a book.
4. Conformity to established rules of taste or
proportion ; as the correctness of design in
painting, sculpture or architecture.
€ORREeT'OR, n. One who corrects ; one
who amends faults, retrenches error, and
renders conformable to truth or propriety,
or to any standard ; as a corrector of the
press ; a corrector of abuses.
■J. One who punishes for correction ; one
who amends or reforms by chastisernent,
reproof or instruction.
3. That which corrects ; that which abates
or removes what is noxious or inconveni-
ent ; an ingredient in a composition which
abates or counteracts the force of another;
as, an alkali is a corrector of acids.
Turpentine is a corrector of quicksilver.
Qiiincu
CORREG'IDOR, n. [Sp.] A Spanish ma
gistrate. Smollett
eOR'RELATE, n. [L. con and relate. See
Relate.]
One who stands in an opposite relatiou, as
father and son. South.
€0RRELA'TION, n. Reciprocal relation.
Paley.
CORREL'ATIVE, a. [L. con and relativiis.
See Relate and Relative.]
Having a reciprocal relation, so that the ex-
istence of one in a certain state depends
on the existence of another ; as father and
son, husband and wife, are correlative^
terms. The term son is correlative to that
offather.
CORREL'ATIVE, n. That which is oi)po-
sed to something else in a certain relation.
The son is the correlative of his father.
Darkness and light are correlatives. Rest is
the correlative of motion.
•eORREL'ATIVELY, adv. In a correlative
relation. 1
€ORREL'ATIVENESS, n. The state of|
being correlative. I
•eORREP'TION, Ji. [L. corripio.] Chiding;
reijroof; reprimand. Hammond.]
CORRESPOND', v.i. [It. corrispondere ;
Fr. correspondre ; Sp. corresponder ; from!
L. con and respondeo, to answer ; re and
spondeo, to promise. See Sponsor.]
1. To suit ; to answer ; to agree ; to fit ; to
be congruous ; to be adapted to. Levity
of manners docs not correspond with the
dignity of the clerical character. The
length of a room should correspond tvith the
breadth. Actions should correspond ivith
words.
2. To be equal ; to be adequate or pro}»r-
tioncd. Let the means of prosecuting a
war correspond with the magnitude of the
contest.
3. To communicate by letters sent and re-
ceived : to hold intercourse with a person
at a distance by sending and receiving let-|
ters. We delight to correspond with those
we love and respect.
CORRESPONDENCE,? Relation; fit-
CORRESPOND'ENCY I "' ness ; cougru-
ity ; mutual adaptation of one thing to
another. There is no correspondence be-
tween a ])olite education and clownish
manners.
2. Intercourse between persons at a distance,
by means of letters sent and answers re-
ceived. The ministers of the two courts
have had a correspondence on the subject of
commerce. Hence,
3. The letters which pass between corres-
pondents. The correspondence of the min-
isters is published.
4. Friendly intercourse ; reciprocal exchange
of offices or civiUties ; connection.
Let inililary persons hold good rnrrespond-
ence with the other great men in the state.
GORRESPOND'ENT,
congruous ; agreeable
Suitable ; fit ;
erablc ; adapt-
Let behavior be correspondent to pro-
fession, and both be correspondent to good
morals.
CORRESPOND'ENT, n. One who corres-
ponds ; one with w hom an intercourse is
carried on by letters or messages. When
A is the correspondent of B, B is the cor-
respondent of A.
CORRESPOND'ENTLY.adr. In a corres-
ponding manner.
CORRESPOND'ING,p;)r. Carrying on in-
tcrcoin-se by letters.
a. Answering ; agreeing ; suiting.
ORRESPON'SIVE, o. Answerable ;
adapted. Shale.
GOR'RIDOR, n. [Fr. ; Sp. corredor, from
correr, It. correre, L. citrro, to run, to flow.
The termination dor may perliaps be the
L. tor, as in curator, cursilor. Corridor sig-
nifies a runner; hence, a running, flowing,
or long line]
L \narchilritiiri',n gallery or long aisle round
a Imildiui:, hading to several chambers at
a distance from each other. Harris,
2. In fortiJiccUion, the covered way lying
round the whole compass of the fortifica-
tions of a place. Harris.
eOR'RKilBLE, a. [Fr. from L. corrlgo, to
. That may be set right, or amended ; as a
corrigible defect.
2. That may he reformed ; as, the young
man may be corrigible.
3. Punishable; that may be chastisecl fur
correction. He was adjudged corrigible
for abusive words.
CORRl'VAL, n. A fellow rival ; a compet-
itor. More correctlv co-rival, which see.
COR'RIVATE, u. «. (h. con and rivtis.] To
draw water out ot several streams into
one. [Litllc u.^ed.] Burton.
CORRIVA'TION, n. The running of diflfer-
ent streams into one. [JVot much used.]
Burton.
CORROB'ORANT, a. [See Corroborate.]
Strengthening ; having the power or qual-
ity of giving strength ; as a corroborant]
medicine. I
CORROBORANT, n. A medicine that!
strengthens the human body when weak.l
eORROB'ORATE, r. t. [L. corrobwo ; con
and robor
strength.
>, to .Ktrengtlii
Class Rb.]
robur
1. To strengthen ; to make strong, or to give
additional streiigtli to ; as, to corroborate
the nerves ; to corroborate the judgment,
authority or habits. IVaits. IVottmi.
2. To confirm ; to make more certain. The
news was doubtful, but is corroborated by
recent advices.
CORROBORATED, pp. Strengthened :
confirmed: rendered more certain.
CORROBORATING, ppr. Strengthening:
giving firmness or additional assurance.
CORROBORATION, n. The act of
strengthening, or confij-miug ; addition of
strength, assurance, or security ; confiniia-
tion ; as the corroboration of an argument,
or of intelligence.
CORROBORATIVE, a. Having the power
of giving strcnjjtli, or additional strength ;
tending to confirm.
CORROBORATIVE, n. A medicine that
strengthens; a corroborant.
CORRODE, V. t. [L. corrodo; con androdo,
to gnaw, Ar. ^^ \ aradha, to eat or
gnaw, [qu. raw and crude ;] It. corrodere,
rodcre ; Fr. corroder ; Sp. corroer ; W.
rhwliatv, to corrode, to nib or fret.]
1. To eat away by degrees ; to wear away,
or diminish, by gradually separating small
particles from a body, in the manner an
animal gnaws a substance. Thus, nitric
acid corrodes copper.
2. To wear away by degrees ; to prey upon ;
to impair ; to consume, or diminish "by slow
degrees. Jealousy and envy corrode the
constitution. Substances are corroded by
time. The anxious man is a victim to cor-
roding care.
CORRODED, pp. Eaten away gradually ;
worn, diminished, impaired, by slow de-
grees.
CORRODENT, a. Having the power of
corroiling, or wasting by degrees.
CORRO'DENT, n. Any substance or medi-
cine tliat corrodes. Coxe.
CORRODIBIL'ITV, n. Tlie quality of being
corrodible.
CORRO'DIBLE, a. That may be corroded.
Brown.
CORRODING, ppr. Eating away gradual-
ly ; impairing; wasting.
cdR'RODV. [See Corody.] But corrody ia
the iH'ist correct orthography.
{ (tl!l!<) .<II5LE, a. [See Corfodible.]
C( »l! !!( )SIHIL ITY, n. [See Con-odibaity.]
t'(»l>l!0 .-^iON, n. s as :. [from corrode.]
Tlie action of eating or wearing away by
slow degrees, as by the action of acids on
metals, by which the substance is gradu-
ally changed. This is cft'ected by the af-
finity of the menstruum with the" compo-
nent parts of the substance, in consequence
of which the two .substances unite and
fiirm new combinations.
CORRO'SIVE, a. Eating; wearing away;
having the power of gradually wearing,
consuming or impairing ; as corrosive sub-
limate : corrosive care ; a corrosive ulcer.
2. Having the quality of fretting or vexing.
Corrosive sublimate, the corrosive muriate
or perchloride of mercury.
CORRO'SIVE, n. That which has the
qualit)' of eating or wearing gradually.
COR
2. Tiiat which has the power of freltiiig'.
Hooker,
CORROSIVELY, adv. Like a corrosive
witli the power of corrosion ; in a corro-
sive manner.
CORRO'SIVENESS, n. The qiiahtyofcor
roding, eating away or wearing ; acri-
mony. Boyle.
COR'RUGANT, a. [See Corrugate.] H
ing the power of contracting into wi
COR'RUGATE, j'. t. [L. corrugo ; con and
rugo, to Wrinkle, in onr vulgar language
to ruck, W. rhy^u, to furrow.]
To wrinkle ; to draw or contract into folds
as, to corrugate the skin. Bacon.
COR'RUGATE, a. Wrinkled. You7ig.
€OR'RUGATED, pp. Wrinkled.
eOR'RUGATING, ppr. Contracting into
wrinkles.
€ORRUGA'TION, n. A wrinkling; con
traction into wrinkles.
€OR'RUGATOR, n. A muscle which con
tracts the skin of the forehead into wrin
kles. Coxe.
CORRUPT', V. t. [L. comiptus, from cor
rumpo ; con and rumpo, for rupo, to hreak
■ Fr. corrompre ; It. corrompert ; Sp. cor
romper. Class Rh.]
Literally, to break, separate or dissolve.
Hence,
1. To change from a sound to a putrid or
putrescent state ; to separate the compo-
nent parts of a body, as by a natural |)ro-
cess, which is accompanied by a fetid
smell.
2. To vitiate or deprave ; to change from
good to bad.
Evil communicalions corrupt good
1 Cor. XV.
3. To waste, spoil or consume.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt. Math. vi.
4. To defile or pollute. E.x. xxxii.
5. To entice from good and allure to evil.
2 Cor. xi.
C. To pervert ; to break, disobey or make
void. Mai. ii. j
7. To pervert or vitiate integrity ; to bribe ;>
as, to corrupt a judge. I
8. To debase or render impure, by altera-
tions or innovations ; as, to corrupt lan-
guage.
9. To pervert ; to falsify ; to infect with er-
rors ; as, to corrupt the sacred text.
CORRUPT', V. i. To become putrid ; to pu-
trefy ; to rot. Animal and vegetable sub-
stances speedily corrupt in a warm and
moist air.
2. To become vitiated ; to lose puritv.
CORRUPT', a. [L. comiptus ; It. c'orrotlo.]
1. Changed from a sound to a putrid state, as
by natural decomposition.
2. Spoiled ; tainted ; vitiated ; unsound ; as
corrupt air, or bread. Knolles.
3. Depraved ; vitiated ; tainted with wicked-
ness.
They are corrupt ; they have done abomina-
ble works. Ps. xiv.
The earth was corrupt before God. Gen. vi.
4. Debased ; rendered impure ; changed to
a worse state ; as corrupt language.
5. Not genuine ; infected with errors or mis-
takes. The text is corrupt.
CORRUPTED,
pp.
rfli-d :
I'itiatcd
COR
depraved ; spoiled ; marred ; bribed ; in-
fected with errors.
CORRUPT'ER, n. One who corrupts ; one
who vitiates, or taints ; as a corrupter ol
morals, or of Christianity.
2. One who bribes ; that which depraves oi
destroys integrity.
3. One who introduces errors.
CORRUPTIBIL'ITY, n. The possibility of|
being corrupted.
eORRUPT'IBLE, «. [Fr. corruptible ; It
corruttibilc]
L That may be corrupted; that may be-
come putrid ; subject to decay and des-
truction. Our bodies are corruptible.
2. That may be vitiated in qualities or prin-
ciples; susceptible of depravation. Man-
ners are corruptible by evil example.
CORRUPTIBLE, n. That which may de-
cay and perish ; the hmnan body.
This corruptible must put on iiicorrupUoii.
1 Cor. XV.
CORRUPT'IBLENESS, n. Susceptibility
of corrujition ; corruptibility.
CORRUPTIBLY, adv. In such a manner
as to be corrupted or vitiated.
CORRUPT'UMG, ppr. Putrefying; depi
ving; vitiating.
CORRUP'TION, n. [L. corruptio.] The
act of corrupting, or state of being corrupt
or putrid ; the destruction of the natural
form of bodies, by the separation of the
component parts, or by disorganization, in
the process of putrefaction.
Thou wilt not suffer thy holy One to see cor-
ruption. Ps xvi.
2. Putrid matter ; pus.
Putrescence ; a foul state occasioned by
putrefaction.
Depravity ; wickedness ; perversion or
deterioration of moral principles ; loss of
purity or integrity.
Having escaped the corru/ition that is in the
world through lust. 2 Pet. i.
Corruption in elections is the great enemy of
freedom. J. Adams.
5. Debasement ; taint ; or tendency to a
worse state.
Keep my honor from corruption. Shak.
G. Impurity ; depravation ; debasement ; as a
orruption of language.
7. Bribery. He obtained his suit by corrup-
tion.
In laiv, taint; impurity of blood, in conse-
quence of an act of attainder of treason or
felony, by which a person is disabled to
inherit lands from an ancestor, nor can
retain those in his possession, nor trans-
mit them by descent to his heirs.
Corruption of blood can be removed only by
act of parliament. Blackstone.
CORRUPT'IVE, a. Having the quality of
corruiHing, tainting or vitiating.
It should be endued wilh some corruptive
quality. May.
CORRUPT'LESS, a. Not susceptible of
corruption, or decay. Dryden.
eORRUPT'LY, adv. In a corrupt manner ;
with corruption ; viciously ; wickedly ;
without integrity.
We have dealt very corruptly against thee.
Neh. i.
2. By bribery. A judgment was obtained
corrtipthi.
CORRUPT'NESS, n. The state of bring
corrupt : putrid state or putrescence.
COR
2. A state of moral impurity ; as the cir-
ruplnesa of a judge.
3. A vicious state ; debasement ; impurity ;
as the corruptness of language.
CORRUPT'RESS, n. A female that cor
rupts others. Beaum.
eOR'SAIR, n. [Fr. corsaire ; Sp. cormno, a
cruising by a privateer ; corsear, to cruise ;
It. corsare, a. pirate, from cor«o, a course or
career, L. cursus, from curro, to nm.]
A pirate ; one who cruises or scours the
ocean, with an armed vessel, without a
commission from any prince or state, to
seize and plunder merchantmen.
COR'SAK, n. A species of fox. Pennant.
CORSE, n. [Fr. corps; L. corpus.] A
corpse ; the dead body of a hmnan being ;
a poetical loord. Addison.
CORSE-ENCUMBERED, a. Loaded with
dead bodies ; as the corse-encumbered
plains. Barlow.
CORSE-PRESENT, n. A mortuary or
present paid at the interment of a dead
body. Blackstone.
CORSELET, n. cors'let. [Fr. corselet; It.
corsaletto ; from corse.]
A little cuirass, or an armor to cover the
body for protection, worn formerly by
pike-men. Encyc.
[See Corcelet.]
CORSELET, V. t. cors'let. To encircle with
a corselet. Beaum.
CORS'ET, n. [Fr. from corse.] A boddiee ;
jumps; something worn to give shape to
the body ; used by ladies and dandies.
CORS'NED, n. [Sax. corsna:de, comp. of
corse, curse, and snmd, a mouthful, piece
or bit. It is called also ned-bread, need-
bread, bread of necessity.]
The morsel of execration, or curse ; a piece
of bread consecrated by exorcism, and to
be swallowed by a suspected person, as a
trial of his innocence. If guilty, it was
supposed the bread would produce con-
vulsions and paleness, and find no pas-
sage. If innocent, it was believed it would
turn to nourishment. Blackstone.
CORTE'GE, n. [Fr. from the It. corteggio,
from corte, court.] A train of attendants.
CORT'ES, n. plu. [from corte, court.] The
Spanish name of the States of the king-
dom, composed of nobility, clergy and
representatives of cities ; the assembly of
the States, answering, in some measure,
to the parliament of Great Britain.
COR'TICAL, a. [from L. corfcr, bark. See
Chart.] Belonging to bark ; consisting of
bark or rind ; resembling bark or rind ;
external ; belonging to the external cov-
ering ; as the cortical part of the brain.
Cheyne.
A cortical bud in |»lants proceeds from
the scales of the hark. Martyn.
COR'TICATE, I [L. corticatus, from
COR'TICATED, ^ "• cortex, bark.] Re-
sembling the bark or rind of a tree.
Brown.
CORTICIF'EROUS, o. [cortex and fero, to
produce.]
Producing bark, or that which resembles
it. Dicl.
CORTIC'IFORM, a. [cortex nmX form.] Re-
sembling biirk.
iCORT'ICO.-^F,, ) Barky; full of bark.
IcORT'ICOUS, ]"■ Diet.
COS
CORUND'UM, n. The corintlon-liarmo
pliane of HaUy, corindon udamantin of
Broiigniart, the korund of Werner, and
the adamantine spar of Kirwan. It is
octahedral, rhoniboidal or prismatic.
Ckaveland. Ure.
€ORUS'€ANT, a. [See Coruscate.] Flash-
ing ; glittering by flashes.
COR'USCATE, V. i. [L. eorusco, to flash.]
To flash ; to lighten ; to ghtter. Barlow.
eORUSCA'TION, n. [L. coruscatio.] A
flash ; a sudden burst of light in the clouds
or atmosphere. Bacon.
2. The light produced by the combustion of
imflammable gas in the earth. Newton.
Artificial coruscations are produced by phos-
porus and sulphuric acid, or by sulphuric
acid and iron tilings. Encyc.
eOR'VET, n. [Fr. corvette ; Sp. corveta, a
leap, a curvet, a boat.] A sloop of war ;
an advice boat.
eORV'US, n. [L. corvus, a raven.] In as-
tronomy, a constellation of the southern
hemisphere, containing nine stars.
3. A militaiy engine or gallery used by the
Romans for boarding ships in war. It
was a strong platform of boards at the
prow, movable as on a spindle, and thrown
over the side of the enemy's ^ essel, when
grappled. Encyc.
CORYBAN'TIe, a. Madly agitated ; in-
flamed like the Corybantes, the frantic
priests of Cybele. Cudworth.
eOR'YMB, n. [L. corymhus ; Gr. xvpvfieos.]
Primarily, a top, head or cluster. In mod-
em botany, a species of inflorescence, in
which the lesser or partial flower-stalks
are produced along the eoninion stalk on
both sides, and though of unequal length,
rise to the same higlith, so as to form an
even surface ; as in spirtea opulifolia, scur-
vy-grass, &c. Milne. Maiiyn.
eORYM'BIATED, a. Garnished with cor-
ymbs.
€ORYMBIF'EROUS, a. [L. corymbifer ;
corymhus and /cro, to bear.]
Producing corymbs ; bearing fruit or bciries
in clusters, or producing flowers in clus-
ters. Milne.
CORYM'BOUS, a. Consisting of corymbs;
in clusters. Barton. Lee.
eORYM'BlJLOUS, a. Having or consist-
ing of little corymbs. Barton.
€ORYPHENE, ji. A fish with a sloping
truncated head, and the dorsal fin extend-
ing the whole length of the back.
Pennant.
CORYPHE'US, n. [Gr.] The chief of a
chorus; the chief of a company. South.
€OSCINOM'ANCY, n. [Gr. «o«i.w, a
sieve, and fuivtaa, divination.]
The art or practice of divination, by suspend-
ing a sieve and taking it between two
fingers, or by fixing it to the point of a pair
of shears, then repeating a formula of
words, and the names of persons suspect-
ed. If the sieve trembles, shakes or turns,
wlien any name is repeated, the person is
deemed guilty. This divination is men-
tioned by Theocritus, and is said to be still
practiced in some parts of England. The
prai-tice and the name are strangers in
America.
CO-SE'€ANT, M. [SeeSecanf.] Ingeoynetry,
COS
the secant of an arc which is the comple-
ment of another to ninety degrees. Encyc.
CO'SIER, n. [Fr. cousu, coudre.] A botch-
er. [Not used.] Shak.
eOS'INAoE, n. s as z. [Fr. cousinage, kin-
dred. See Cousin.]
In law, a writ to recover possession of an es-
tate in lands, when a stranger has entered
and abated, after the death of the tresail,
or the grandfather's grandfather, or oth-
er collateral relation. Blackstone.
CO'-SINE, n. [Sec Hine.] Ingeometry, tliej
sine of an arc which is the complement of
another to ninety degrees. Encyc,
COSMET'IC, a. s as :. [Gr. xotr^jjf 1x05, from
xooiiOf, order, beauty.]
Beautifying ; improving beauty, particular-
ly the beauty of the skin.
COSMET'IC, n. Any preparation that ren-
ders the skin soft, pure and white, and
helps to beautify anil improve the com-
plexion. Encyc.
COS'MICAL, a. s as x. [Gr. xoij/tixoj, Irom
xoa/ios, order, the world.]
1. Relating to the world, or to the whole sy
tern of visible bodies, including the earth
and stars.
2. In astronomy, rising or setting with the
sun ; not acronical. Encyc.
COS'MICALLY, adv. With the sun at ri-
sing or setting ; a star is said to rise or set
cosmically, when it rises or sets with the sun.
COSMOG'ONIST, ji. [See Cosmogony.]
One who treats of the origin or formation
of the universe. Enfield.
COSMOG'ONY, n. s as z. [Gr. xoufioyoioa ;
xoo^oj, world, and ywi;, generation.]
The generation, origin or creation of the
worltl or universe. In physics, the science
of the origin or formation of the universe.
Enfield. Encyc.
COSMOG'RAPHER, n. [See Cosmogra-
phy.] One who describes the world or
universe, including the heavens and the
€()'sM(')(;H Al'Il'le, ) Relating
tOr^.MOC.KArH'ICAL, J "' the general
<lc,-(-ri|iiiiiii oltlie universe.
COSMOGRAPH'ICALLY, adv. In a man
ner relating to the science of describing
the universe, or corresponding to cosmog-
raphy.
COSMOG'RAPHY, n. sasz. [Gr. xoo^oypo^-
la ; xoBfioj, the world, and ypcKjiu, to des-
cribe.]
A description of the world or universe ; or
the art which teaches the construction of
the whole system of worlds, or the figure,
disposition and relation of all its parts,
and the maimer of repi-esenting them on a
plane. • Encyc.
COS'MOLABE, n. s asz. [Gr. xoa^o;, world,
and ^afiSwu, to take.]
An ancient instrument for measuring dis-
tances in the heavens or on earth, much
the same as the astrolabe, and called also
paiitacosm. Encyc.
COSMOL'ATORY, n. s as :. [Gr. xoa^oj,
world, and XaTpfiu, to worship.]
The worship paid to the world or its parts
by heathens. Cudworth.
COSJMOLOti'ICAL, a. [See Cosmologi/.]
Relating to a discourse or treatise of tlie
world, or to the science of the universe.
COSMOL'OgIST, n. One who describes
the universe.
COS
COSMOL'OtiY, n. 4 as :. [Gr. xo(j^o?.o)'io ;
xoafioj, the universe, and 7.0705, discourse.]
The science of the world or universe ; or a
treatise relating to the structure and parts
of the system of creation, the elements of
bodies, the modifications of material things,
the laws of motion, and the order and
course of nature. Encyc. Enfield.
COSMOPLAS'TIC, a. [Gr. xo^ixof, world,
and jixooou, to form.]
World-forming ; pertaining to the formation
of the world. HaUywell.
COSMOPOL'ITAN, \ [Gr. xoa^of,
COSMOPOLITE, ^ "• « as z. ^,^^,^,^ ^^j
jioXiTjjj, a citizen.]
A person who has no fixed residence ; one
who is no where a stranger, or who is at
home in every place ; a citizen of the
world. Howell.
COSS, n. A Hindoo measure of one Enghsh
mile and a quarter nearly. Asiat. Res.
COS'SACK, n. The Cossacks inhabit the
Ukraine, in the Russian empire.
COS'SAS, n. Plain India muslins, of vari
ous qualities and breadths.
COS'SET, n. [Qu. G. kossat, hke D. huis-
lam, and from the root of co<, or house ; It.
casiccio, from casa, a house.]
.\ lamb brought up by hand, or without the
aid of the dam.
COS'SIC, a. Relating to algebra. Bp. Hall.
COST, n. caust. [G. D. Sw. Dan. host ; Ir.
cosdas ; W. cost, coast and cost ; Fr. coiit :
Arm. const. See the Verb.]
1. The price, value or equivalent of a thing
purchased ; the amount in value paid,
charged or engaged to be paid for any
thing bought or taken in barter. The
word is equally applicable to the price in
money or connnodities ; as the cost of a
suit of clothes ; the cost of a house or farm.
2. Expense; amount in- value expended or
to be expended ; charge ; that which is
given or to be given for another thing.
1 will not oft'er burnt offerings without cost.
1 Chron. xxl.
Have wc eaten at all at the king's cost ? 2
Sam. xix.
The cost of maintaining armies is iimnense
ami often ruinous. Anon.
3. In law, the sum fixed by law or allowed
by the court for charges of a suit awarded
against the party losing, in favor of the
party prevailing, &c. The jury find that
the plaintiff' recover of the defendant ten
dollars with costs of suit or with his cost.
4. Loss or expense of any kind ; detriment ;
pain ; suffering. The vicious man indul-
ges his propensities at a great cost.
5. Sumptuousness ; great expense. Shak.
COST, V. t. pret. and pp. cost. [G. and
D. kosten ; Dan. koster ; Sw. kosta ; Fr.
couter, for coiister ; Arm. cousia, cotts-
tein ; W. costiaw ; It. costare ; Sp. costar ;
Port, cu.itar ; Ir. costiam. The noun cost
coincides in most of these languages with
coast and L. costa, a rib, the e.xterior part.
The i)rimary sense of the verb is, to throw
or send out, to cast, as we say, to lay out.
Qu. the Ar. and Pers.
.ILt.
bal-
ance, or pair of scales, from la^^j to
distribute. I call this a transitive verb.
In the phrase, a hat costs six dollars, the
C O T
sense is, it expends, lays out, or causes to
be laid out six dollars.]
I . To require to be given or expended in
barter or purchase ; to be bought for ; as,|
this book cost a dollar ; the army audi
navy cost four millions a year. j
f). To require to be laid out, given, bestow-,
e<l or employed ; as, Johnson's Dictionary
cost him seven years labor.
COT
word signifies a cot, a hovel or stye, ai
abrupt termination, a rump, a tail, a skirt
Cwlti, short, abrupt, bob-tailed ; ctotaii, to
shorten. This indicates that cot is from
cutting off, and hence defending.]
1. A small house ; a hut ; a mean habitation ;
also, a shed or inclosure for beasts. 2
Chron. xxxii.
|ia. A leathern cover for a sore finger.
y. To require to be borne or suffered. Our;
sins cost us many pains. A sense of in-|
gratitude to his maker costs the penitent,
sinner many ])angs and sorrows. j
COST'AL, a. [Fr. costal, from L. casta,'
a coast, side or rib ; Sp. costa, cost, and
a coast ; costenr, to pay costs, to coast
along. A coast or side is the extreme
part, a limit, from extending, throwing or
shooting out, Eng. to cast.] \
Pertaining to the side of the body or the ribs ;
as costal nerves.
€OST'ARD, «. A hoiul. [jVot xised.] Shil..
2. An apple, round and bulky, like the head.
Jolmsoii.
€OST'ARD-MUi\GF,R, ;
i. An abridgement otcotquean.
4. A cade lamb. [Local] Orosc.
5. A little boat.
€0-TAN'GENT, n. The tangent of an arc
which is the complement of another to
ninety i
Harris.
An appli'-sellcr
Burton.
eOST'ER-MONGER, n. An apple-seller.
CO.S'TIVE, a. [contracted from It. cosli-
paio, costipare, from the L. constipo, to
cram, to stvff; con and stipo, to cram.]
1. Literally, crowded, stuffed, as the intes-
tines ; hence, bound in body ; retaining fe-
cal matter in the bowels, in a hard and dry
state ; having the excrements obstructed,
or the motion of the bowels too slow.
2. Dry and hard ; as costive clay. [jVot used.]
Mortimer.
€OS'TIVENESS, n. A preternatural de-
tention of the iiT.il inatter of the bowels,;
with har.liir-s .in.l dryness ; an obstruc-;
tion or in-rii niaiural slowness of evacua-!
tions fioiii thr li..\v. Is. Medicine.'
€OST'LINl':S,-!, „, [Sep Coslhj.] Expen-'
siveness: .threat cnsf, or exiieiise ; sumptii-
ousness. Rev. xviii. 111. Sidney.
€OST'LErf.S, a. Costing nothing. lianow:
€OST'LY, a. [tiom cost.] Of a high price
sumptuous ; expensive ; purchased at
great expense ; as a costly habit ; coslhj
furniture.
Mai-y took a pound of spikenard, very costly.
John xii.
€OST'MARY, n. [Gr. ^tojoj, L. costus, an
aromatic plant, and Maiia. Ar. and Pers.j
k«.a kost.] j
A species of tansy, or Tanacetum ; alecost.l
■eOS'TREL, n. A bottle. [Mot in use.] j
€OS'TUME, n. [Fr. costume, custmn.] ]n|
painting, a rule or precept by which atij
artist is enjoined to make every person
and tiling sustain its proper character, ob-
serving tlie scene of action, the country or
l)lace, and making the habits, arms, man-l
ners, and proportions correspond. Hence,
the observance of this rule in execution.
Encyc.
9. An established mode of dress.
€0-SUF'FERER, n. One who suffers with,
another.
CO-SUPRE'ME, n. A partaker of suprem
acy. Shak
€0-SU'RETY, n. One who is surety withj
another. Mass. Rep'
eOT, } „ fSax. cot, cote, cyle ; G. koth; D
€OTE, )i. A sheepfold. [See Cot.]
COTE, V. t. To pass by and turn before ; to
gain ground in coursing and give a com-
petitor the turn. [Little tised.]
Shak. Chapman
COTEMPORA'NEOUS, a. [infra.] Living
or liciiii;- at the same time.
C( )T!',,M I'ORARY, a. [L. con, co, and tem
.cTot
Living or being at the same time ; as cotem-
porari/ authors. Josephus was cotempora-
rij with Vespasian. Locke. Blackstone
eOTEM'PORARY, n. One who lives a
the same time with another.
[I consider this word as preferable to
contemporary, as beii.'g more easily pro-
nomiced.]
€0-TEN'ANT, n. A tenant in common.
Kent.
COTERIE', n. [Fr.] A friendly party, <
.■ibic association.
COTIC'ULAR, a. [L. coticuht, from cos,
whetstone.]
Pertaining to whetstones ; like or suitable
for whetstones. Kirw
COTIL'LON, n. cotil'yun. [Fr. a petticoat.]
A brisk dance, performed by eight per
sons together ; also, a tune which regit
lates the dance.
COT'LAND, ?!. Land appendant to a cot
tage. Johnson.
COt'QUEAN, n. A man who busies him-
self with the affairs which properly be-
long to women.
CO-TRUSTEE', n. A joint trustee. Kent
COTS'WOLD, n. [Sax. cote and wold.]
Sheepcotes in an open country.
COTT, n. [Sax. cot, cnU; a bed. Qu. Gr
xoitri.] A small bed ; on In, arc! of ships, a
bed frame suspendi'il lioin to.' boams, for
the officers to sleep in, lirtwi^en the (leek:
a piece of canvas, extended by a frame.
Mar. Diet.
COT'TAGE, n. [from cot.] A cot ; a lint
a small mean habitation.
The sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages
for shepherds. Zeph.li.
COT'TAgED, a. Set or covered with cot
tages. Collins
COT'TAGER, n. One who lives in a hut or
ottage.
2. In law, one who lives on the common,
without paying any rent, or having land of
his own. Johnson.
COT'TER, cottar or COT'TIER, n.
A cottager.
COT'TON, p. coin. [Fr. colon ; It. colone ;
h: cadas; Sp. algodon, the cotton-plant oi
the wool; colon, i)riii1ed cotton ; Port, al
COTI
'• /,Y1
w.
rt. In Welsh, thej| godam ; B.kalnf}i: W. co/irm, cotton, (
COT
wool, as if from cot, a short tail. But it
G O J
seems to be an x\jrabic word, I^J, cor-
responding with a word in Ethiopic antl
Syriac, which signifies to be thin or fine.
And with a common dialectical variation,
it may coincide with the first syllable of
gossypiiim andg-o«samer.]
. A soft downy substance, resembling fine
wool, growing in the cap.siiles or pods of a
shrub, called the cotton-plant. It is tbe
material of a large proportion of clotli for
rel and furniture,
oth made of cotton.
Lavender-cotton, a genus of plants, Santolina.
of several species ; shrubs cultivated in
gardens. One species, the chamacyparys-
sus or abrotaniun foemina, female south-
ernwood, is vulgarly called brotany.
Encyc.
Philosophic cotton, flowers of zink, which re-
semble cotton.
Silk-cotton tree, a genus of plants, the Bom-
bax, growing to a ^reat size in the Indies,
and producing a kind of cotton in cap-
sules. Encyc.
COT'TON, a. Pertaining to cotton ; made
of cotton ; consisting of cotton; as cotton
cloth ; cotton stockings.
COT'TON, V. i. To rise with a nap.
Johnson.
2. To cement ; to unite with ; a cant word.
Swijt.
COT'TON-(';IN, n. A machine to separate
the seeds from cotton, invented by that
celehratcil iMivli.miriaii, E. Whitney.
COT'TON-Ci; \SS, ,1. A genus of plants,
the Erio]ilionwn. M^ihlenberg.
COTTOX-:\! ACMlNE, "- A machine for
COT'TdN-.MlLL, ». A mill or building,
with machinery for carding, roving and
spinning cotton, by the force of water or
steam.
COT'TON-PLANT, ? A plant or shrub of
COT'TON-SIIRFB, S "'the genus Gossyp-
ium, ofseveral species, all growing in warm
climates. The principal species are, J.
the liriliaci-ons <-ottoii, with smooth leaves
and mIIow Ho',-, ( r-, succeeded by round-
isi] caipsnlrs, lull olsccd.s and cotton;2. the
hairy American cotton, with hairy stalks
■ and leaves, and yellow flowers succeed-
ed by oval pods ; 3. the Barbadoes shrub-
by cotton, has a shrubby stalk, yellow
flowers and oval pods; 4. the arboreum
or tree cotton, with a woody perennial
stalk, bears yellow flowers and large jiods.
The first three species are annual plants ;
the last is perennial. Encyc.
In the southern states of America, the
cotton cultivated is distinguished into three
kinds ; the luntkeen ration, so called from
its color ; llir aran seed cotton, producing
white ciitton with green seeds. These
grow in ll]<' middle and upper country, and
are called short staple cotton. The" black
seed cotton, cultivated in the lower country
near the sea, and on the isles near the
shore, ])roduces cotton of a fine, white,
silky appearance, vei-y strong and of a
long staple. The seeds of the long sta-
ple Cotton are separated by roller-gins.
I The seeds of the short staple cotton av-
c o u
separated with more difficulty, by a saw-
gin invented by E. Wliitney.
Ramsay. Drayton.
eOT'TON-TlIISTLE, n. A plant, the Ono-
pordnm. MiMenherg.
COT'TON-WEED, n. A plant, the Filago.
The name is given also to the Gnaphaliuin,
cud-weed, or goldy-locks.
COTTONY, a. Downy ; nappy ; covered
with hairs or pubescence like cotton.
Martyn.
2. Soft like cotton.
€0'TYLE. n. [Gr. xotxfK^.] Tlie cavity
a bone which receives the end of another
in articulation.
eOTYL'EDON, n. [Gr. xotMkrjSuv, from
xorv^, a liollow or cavity.]
1. In botany, the perishable lobe or placent
of the seeds of plants. It involves and
nourishes the embryo plant, and then per-
ishes. Some seeds have two lobes ; oth-
ers one only, and others none.
Milnt. Martyn. Encyc.
2. In anatomy, a little plandular body adher-
ing to the chorion of some animals.
Coxe. Encyc.
3. A genus of plants, navel- wort, or kidney-
wort, of several species. Encyc.
€OTYLED'ONOUS, a. Pertaining to cotyl-
edons ; having a seed-lobe.
€OUCH, V. i. [Fr. couche, a bed ; coucher, to
lay down ; Norm, couche, a couch, and lai(
double; Sp. gacho, bent down, slouching
agacharse, to stoop, to crouch ; Port.
agacharse, acagaparse, to stoop, croucl:
squat ; Arm. coacha and scoacha, our
gar scooch ; D. hukken ; G. hoclten ; Dan.
huger. The primary sense is to lay or
throw down. See Class Cg. Gk. No. 7.
8.9.1
1. To lie down, as on a bed or place of re-
to stoop and
recline on the knees, as a beast.
Fierce tigers couched around. Dryden,
3. To lie down in secret or in ambush ; to
lie close and concealed.
The earl of Angus couched in a furrow.
Hayward
Judah couched as a lion. Gen. xlix.
4. To lie ; to lie in a bed or stratum.
Blessed of the Lord be liis land — for the dew,
and for the deep that coucheth beneath. Deut
5. To stoop ; to bend the body or back ; to
lower in reverence, or to bend under la-
bor, pain, or a burden.
Issachar is a strong ass, couching down be-
tween two burdens. Gen. xlix.
These couchings, and these lowly courtesies
Shak.
■eOUCH, V. t. To lay down ; to repose on a
bed or place of rest.
Where unbruised youth, %vith unstuffed brain
Doth couch his limbs. Shak.
3. To lay down ; to spread on a bed or floor :
as, to couch malt. MoHimer.
3. To lay close, or in a stratum.
The waters coucA themselves, as close a? may
be, to tlie center of the globe. Burnet.
4. To hide ; to lay close, or in another body.
It is in use at this day, to couch vessels in
walls, to gather the wind from the lop, and pass
it down in spouts into rooms. Bacon
5. To include secretely ; to hide ; or to ex-
Vol. I.
c o u
press in obscure terms, that imply what is
to be understood ; with under.
All this, and more, lies couched under this al-
legory. L'Estrange.
Hence,
To involve ; to include ; to comprise ; to
comprehend or express.
This great argument for a future state, wliich
St. Paul hath couched in the words read.
Jltterbury.
7. To lie close. Spenser.
8. To fix a spear in the rest, in the posture
of attack.
They couched their spears.
Milton. Dryden.
'. To depress the condensed crystaline hu-
mor or film that overspreads the pupil of
the eye. Johnson
To remove a cataract, by entering a nee-
dle through the coats of the eye, and
pu.shing the lens to the bottom of the vi
treous humor, and then downwards and
outwards, so as to leave it in the under
and outside of the eye. Encyc.
The true phrase is, to couch a cataract ;
but we say, to coicch the eye, or the patient.
€OUCIl, n. A bed ; a place for rest or sleep,
Milton. Dryden.
2. A seat of repose ; a place for rest and
ease, on which it is common to lie down
undressed. Milton. Dryden.
3. A layer or stratum ; as a couch of malt.
Moiiimer
4. In painting, a lay or impression of color,
in oil or water, covering the canvas, wall,
or other matter to be painted. Encyc
5. Any lay, or impression, used to make ii
thing firm or consistent, or to screen il
from the weather. Encyc
C. A covering of gold or silver leaf, laid on
any substance to be gilded or silvered.
Encyc.
COUCH' ANT, a. [Fr. See Couch.] Lying
down ; squatting. In heraldry, lying down
with the head raised, whichdistinguishes
the posture of couchant from that of dor-
mant, or sleeping ; applied to a lion or oth-
er beast. Encyc
Levant and couchant, in law, rising up and
lying down ; applied to beasts, and indi
eating that they have been long enough on
land to lie down and rise up to feed, or
one night at least. Blackstone.
COUCH'ED, pp. Laid down ; laid on ; hid ;
included or involved ; laid close ; fixed in
the rest, as a spear ; depressed or removed
as a cataract.
COUCH'EE, n. [Fr.] Bedtime: late visit-
ing at night. Drtjden.
COUCH'ER, n. One who couches cataract.s,
2. In old English statutes, a factor ; a resi-
dent in a country for traffick. Encyc.
3. A book in which a religious house regis-
ter their acts. Encyc.
COUCH'-FELLOW, n. A bed fellow ; j
companion in lodging.
COUCH'-GRASS, n. A species of grass, ve
ry injurious to other plants.
COUCH'ING, ppr. Lying down ; laying
down ; lying close ; involving ; includinj
expressing ; depressing a cataract.
COUCH'ING, n. The act of stooping or
bowiiiff. Shak
COUGH"; n. kauf. [Qu. D. kuch. The ele-
ments are not both of the same organ ; but
gh and / are sometimes interchanged, as
50
C O L
ill rough, ruff. See Class Cg. No. 21). 3(j.
InPers. ^Xi^ chaftah,and ^i^i cliafa.
is a cough.]
A violent effort of the lungs to throw offot-
fendmg matter; a violent, sometimes in-
voluntary, and sonorous expiration, sud-
deidy expelhng the air through the glot-
tis. The convulsion of the muscles serv-
ing for exspiration gives great force to
the air, while the contraction of the glot-
tis produces the sound. The air forced
violently carries along with it the phlegm
or irritating matter which causes the con-
vulsion or effort of the muscles. Encyc.
COUGH, t!. i. To have the lungs convulsed ;
to make a violent effort with noise to ex-
pel the air from the lungs, and evacuate
any offending matter that irritates the
j)arts or renders respiration difficult.
COUGH, V. t. To expel from the lungs by a
convulsive effort with noise ; to expecto-
rate ; followed by up ; as, to cough up
phlegm.
COUGH'ER, n. One that coughs.
COUGH'ING, ppr. Ex|)eHing from the lungs
by a violent effort with noise; expecto-
rating.
COULD, pron. COpD. [The past tense ofcaii,
according to our customary arrangement
in grammar ; but in reality a distinct word,
can having no past tense. Could, we re-
ceive through the Celtic dialects, W. gal-
lu. Corn, gaily. Arm. gallout, to be able ;
Heb. St, Ch. hr\2, Eth. '(\})f\ to be
able, to prevail ; L. caUeo. Either of the
Oriental verbs may be the root, and all
may be of one family. In the past tense,
couW signifies, was able, had power.]
1. Had sufficient strength or i)hysical pow-
er. A sick man could not lift" his hand.
Isaac was old and could not see. Alexan-
der could easily conquer the effeminate
Asiatics.
2. Had adequate means or instruments. The
I men could defray their own expenses.
I The country was exhausted and could not
support the war.
3. Had adequate moral power. We heard
the story, but could not believe it. The
intemperate man could have restrained bis
appetite for strong drink. He could have
refrained, if he would.
My mind could not be towards tliis people.
Jer. XV.
4. Had power or capacity by the laws of its
nature. The tree could not grow for want
of water.
5. Had competent legal power ; had right,
or had the requisite quahfications. For-
merly, a citizen cowW not vote for officers
of government without the possession of
some property. AB could not be elected
to the office of senator, for want of estate.
BC, not being of the blood of the ances-
tor, coitld not inherit his estate.
G. Had sufficient capacity. The world could
I not contain the books. John xxi.
7. Was capable or susceptible, by its nature
or constitution, as of some change. He
found a .substance that cokW not be fused.
8. Had adequate strength or fortitude ; as,
he could not endure the pain or the re-
proach.
9. Had motives sufficient to overcome oh-
COL
C O U
C O U
jections. He thought at first he could not
comply with the request ; but after
sitleration lie determined to comply.
10. Had competent knowledge or skill. He
could solve the most difficult problems.
COUL'TER. [See Colter.]
€OUN'CIL, n. [Fr. concile ; Sp. concilia ; It.
conciglio, concilio ; from L. concilium; con
and calo, to call, Gr. xa.\iu>, W. galw, Ch.
thj in Aph., to call. See Hold. Class Gl.
This word is often confounded with coun-
sel, with which it has no connection.
Council is a collection or assembly.]
1. An assembly of men summoned or con-
vened for consultation, deliberation and
advice.
The chief priests and all the council sought
false witness. Matth. xx.
The kings of England were formerly assisted
by a grand council of peers.
The word is applicable to any body of
men, appointed or convened for consulta-
tion antl advice, in important affairs ; as,
a council of divines or clergymen, with
their lay delegates; a council of war, con-
sisting of the principal officers, to advise
the commander in chief or admiral ; a
council of physicians, to consult and ad-
vise in difficult cases of disease.
2. A body of men specially designated to
advise a chief magistrate iu the adminis-
tration of the government, as in Great
Britain.
3. In some of the American states, a branch
of the legislature, corresponding with the
senate in other states, and called legisla-
tive council. JVew Jersey.
4. Anassembly of prelates and doctors, con-
vened for regulating matters of doctrine
and disciphne in the church.
5. Act of deliberation ; consultation of a
council. Millon.
Common-Council of a city. In London, a court
consisting of the lord mayor antl alder-
men in one house, and of representatives
of the several wards, called covimon-coun-
cil-men, in the other. But more generally
the conniion-council is considered as the
body of representatives of the citizens, as
distinct from the mayor and aldermen.
Thus iu Connecticut, the cities are incor-
porated by the name of "The Mayor, Al-
dermen, Common-Council and Freemen, of
the city of Hartford, New-Haven, &c."
Ecumenical Council, in church history,
general council or assembly of prelates
and doctors, representing the ' '
church ; as the council of Nice, o
sus, and of Chalcedou. Encyc.
Privy Council, a select council for advising
a king in the administration of the
ernment.
AuLic €ocscii-. [See Autic]
€OUN'CIL-BOARD, n. Council-table ; the
table round which a council holds consul-
tation. Hence, the council itself in delib-
eration or session.
COUN'CILOR, n. The member of a coun-
cil. [See Counselor.']
COUNCIL-TABLE, n. C(juncil-board.
€0-UNLTE, V. t. To unite. [JVol used.]
More
-COUN'SEL, n. [Fr. conseil; Arm. consailh
It. consiglio ; Sp. consejo ; Port, conselho
from L. consilium, from the root of con
sido, to consult, which is probably the
Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. Etii. hm, Ar. J 1.1
to ask. Class SI. No. 16. 42. The radical
sense of the verb, to ask, is to set upon,
urge, or press. Hence the Oriental verb
is probably the root of the L. salio, assilio,
or from the same root. See the like anal-
ogies in L. peto, to ask, to assail.]
1. Advice ; opinion, or instruction, given up-
on request or otherwise, for directing the
judgment or conduct of another ; opinion
given upon deliberation or consultation.
Every piujjose is established by counsel.
Prov. XX.
Thou hast not hearliened to my counsel.
2 Chron. xxv.
2. Consuhation ; interchange of opinions.
We took sweet counsel together. Ps. Iv.
3. DeUberation ; examination of consequen-
ces.
They all confess that, in the working of that
tirst cause, counsel is used, reason followed, and
a way observed. Hooker.
4. Prudence ; deliberate opinion or judg-
ment, or the faculty or habit of judging
with caution.
0 how comely is the wisdom of old men,
and understanding and counsel to men ol honor.
Ecckis. xxv. ^
The law shall perish from the priest, and
counsel from the ancients. Ezek. vii.
5. In a bad sense, evil advice or designs ;
art ; machination.
The counsel of tlie froward is carried head-
long. Job v.
6. Secresy ; the secrets entrusted in consul-
tation ; secret opinions or purposes. Let
a man keep his own counsel.
7. In a scriptural sense, purpose ; design ;
will ; decree.
what thy counsel determined before to be
done. Acts iv.
To show the immutability of his counsel.
Heb. vi.
8. Directions of God's word.
Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel. Ps.
Ixxiii.
9. The will of God or his truth and doc-
trines concerning the way of salvation.
1 have not sbunned to declare to you all the
counsel of God. Acts xx.
10. Those who give counsel in law; any
counselor or advocate, or any number of
counselors, barristers or Serjeants ; as the
plaintiff's counsel, or the defendant's coun
set. The attorney -general and solicitor
general are the king's counsel. In this
sense, the word has no plural ; but in the
singular numbei', is applicable to one or
more persons.
COUN'SEL, v. «. IL. consUior.] To give ad-
vice or deliberate opinion to another for
the government of his conduct ; to advise,
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the
five. Rev. iii.
2. To exhort, warn, admonish, or instruct.
We ought frequently to counsel our chil
dren against the vices of the age.
They that will not be counseled, cannot be
helped. Frankh
3. To advise or recommend ; as, to counsel a
crime. [Mil much used.] Druden
€OUN'SEL-KEEPER, n. One who cai
keep a secret. Shak
eOUN'SEL-KEEPING, a. Keeping se
crets. Shak
eOUN'SELABLE, a. Willing to receive
counsel ; disposed to follow the advice or
opinions of others. Clarendon.
eOUN'SELED, pp. Advised ; instructed ;
admonished.
eOUN'SELING, ppr. Advising ; instruct-
ing; admonishing.
COUNSELOR, n. Any person who gives
advice ; but properly one who is authoriz-
ed by natural relationship, or by birth, of-
fice or ])rofession, to advise another in re-
gard to his future conduct and measures.
Ahithophef was J)a.\'uVs counselor. His
mother was his counselor to do wickedly.
2 C'hron. xxii. In Great Britain, the peers
of the realm are hereditary counselors of the
2. The members of a counsel ; one appoint-
ed to advise a king or chief magistrate, in
regard to the administration of the gov-
ernment.
3. One who is consulted by a client in a law-
case; one who gives advice in relation to
a question of law ; one whose profession
is to give advice in law, and manage caus-
es for chents.
Privy Counselor, a m.inber of a prKy coun-
I sel.
€OUN'SELORSHIP, n. The office of a
counselor, or privy counselor.
COUNT, v.t. [Fr. conter; It. contare ; Sp.
Port, center ; Arm. cownte or conte'n. Qu.
the root. The Fr. has compter, also, from
the L. computo; the Sp. and Port, compu-
tar, and the It. computare. The Eng.
count is directly from conter ; and it may
be a question whether conter and contar
are from the L. computo.]
1. To number ; to tell or name one by one,
or by small numbers, for ascertaining the
whole number of units in a collection; as,
to count the years, days and hours of a
man's life ; to count the stars.
Who can count the dust of Jacob ? Njmb.
xxiii.
2. To reckon ; to preserve a reckoning ; to
compute.
Some tribes of mde nations count their years
by the coming of certam birds among them at
certain seasons, and leaving them at others.
Locke.
3. To reckon ; to place to an account ; to
ascribe or impute ; to consider or esteem
as belonging.
Abraham believed in God, and he counted it to
him for righteousness. Gen. xv.
4. To esteem ; to account ; to reckon ; to
think, judge or consider.
I co^int them my enemies. Ps. cxxxix.
Neither count I my life dear to myself. Acts
I count all things loss. Phil, iii,
5. To impute ; to charge. Rowe.
COUNT, V. i. To count on or upon, to reckon
upon ; to tbund an account or scheme on ;
to rely on. We cannot count on the friend-
ship of nations. Count not on the sincer-
ity of sycophants.
COUNT, n. [Fr. conie and compte ; Sp.
cuenta and cuento ; It. conto. The Span isli
has also computo, and the It. id.]
il. Reckoning ; the act of numbering ; as,
this is the number according to my count.
|2. Number. Spenso:
|3. In law, a particular charge in an imlirt-
nifut, or narration in pleading, setting
1 forth the cause of complaint. There may
c o u
c o u
c o u
be different counts in the same declara-
tion.
COUNT, n. [Fr. cointe ; It. conte ; Sp- conde
Port. id. ; Arm. condt ; from L. comes, comi
tis, a companion or associate, a fellow
traveler. Qu. con and eo.]
A title of foreign nobility, equivalent to the
English earl, and whose domain is a
county. An earl ; the alderman of a shire,
as the Saxons called him. The titles of
Enghsh nobility, according to their rank,
are Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and
Baron. Blackstone. Encyc
•COUNT-WHEEL, n. The wheel in a clock
which moves round and causes it to
strike.
COUNTABLE, a. That may be numbered.
Spenser.
COUNT'ED, pp. Numbered ; told
ed ; reckoned ; imputed.
COUN'TENANCE, n. [Fr. contenance,
from contenant, containing, from contenir,
to contain, L. contineo ; con and teneo, t<
hold.]
] . Literally, tlie contents of a body ; the out
line and extent which constitutes the
whole figure or external api)oarance.
Appropriately, the human face ; the whole
form of the face, or system of features ;
visage.
A lueriy heart maketh a cheerful countenance.
Prov. XV.
Be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad counte-
nance. Matt. vi.
'2. Air ; look ; aspect ; appearance of the
face ; as in the phrase, to change or alter
the countenance.
•3. The face or look of a beast ; as a horse
of a good countenance.
4. Favor ; good will ; kindness.
Thou hast made him glad with thy counte
nance. Ps. xxi.
Hence in scriptural language, the light
of God's countenance is his smiles or fa
vorable regards, his favor and grace ; and
to hide his face or countenance is
fest his displeasure, and withdraw his
gracious aids. So the rebuke of his counte-
twnce indicates his anger and frowns. Ps,
Ixxx.
This application of face or cou7itenanc(.
which seems to be of high antiquity, |)ro-
ceeded probably from the practice of turn-
ing away the face to express anger, dis-
pleasure and refusal; a practice still com-
mon, but probably universal among rude
nations. The opposite conduct would of
course express favor. The grant of a pe
tition is accompanied with a look directed
to the petitioner ; the refusal or denial,
with an averted face. Hence,
5. Support ; aid ; patronage ; encourage
ment ; favor in promoting and maintain
ing a person or cause.
It is the province of the magistrate, to give
countenance to piety and virtue. Jitlerlturij .
Let religion enjoy the countenance of tlie
laws.
Give no countenance to dolations of mora)
duty.
5. Show ; resemblance ; superficial ajipear
ance.
The election being done, he made countC'
nance of great discontent thereat. Msch
7. In km; credit or estimation. Couel.
To keep the countenance, is to preserve a
calm, composed or natural look, unruffled
by passion ; to refrain from expressing
laugliter, joy, anger or other passion, by
an unchanged countenance.
In countenance, in favor ; in estimation.
If the profession of religion were in counte-
nance among men of distinction, it would have
a happy effect on society.
To keep in countenance, to give assurance or
courage to ; to support ; to aid by favor ;
to prevent from shame or dismay.
To put in countenance, to give assurance ; tc
encourage ; or to bring into favor ; to sup-
port.
Out of countenance, confounded ; abashed ;
with the countenance cast down ; not bold
or assured.
To put out of countenance, to cause the coun-
tenance to fall ; to abash ; to intimidate ;
to di.sconcert.
COUNTENANCE, J). <. To favor; to
courage by opinion or words.
The design was made known to the
but he said nothing to countenance it. Jinon
2. To aid; to .support; to encourage; to
abet ; to vindicate ; by any means.
Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man
in his cause. Ex. xxiii.
3. To encourage : to appear in defense.
He countenanced the landing in his long
boat. Wottmi.
4. To make a show of
Each to these ladies love did countenance.
Spenser.
5. To keep an appearance. Shak.
COUNTENANCED, pp. Favored ; encour-
aged ; supported.
COUN'TENANCER, n. One who counte-
nances, favors or supports.
COUN'TENANCING, ppr. Favoring; en-
couraging ; supporting.
COUNT'ER, n. [from cotmt.] A false piece
of money or stamped metal, used as
of reckoning ; any thing used to keep an
account or reckoning, as in games.
2. Money, in contempt. Shak.
3. A table or board on which money is
counted ; a table on which goods in i
shop are laid for examination by piu-cha
scrs.
In lieu of this, we sometimes see written
the French comptoir, from compter, compu
to ; but counter is tlie genuine orthogra-
pi'y-
4. The name of certain prisons in London.
5. One that counts or reckons ; also, an au-
ditor.
G. Encounter. [.Yot used.]
7. In ships, an arch or vault, whose upper
part is terminated by the bottom of the
stern. The upper or second counter is
above the former, but not vaulted.
Counter of a horse, that part of a liorse's
forehand which lies between the shoulder
and under the neck. Farrier's Diet
COUN'TER, mlv. [Fr. conlre; L. contra;
Sp. It. contra; probably a compound of
con and fra, as in extra, tiltra.]
1. Contrary ; in opposition ; in an opposite
direction ; used chiefly with run or go
to run counter to the rides of virtue ; he
went counter to his own interest.
2. The wrong way ; contrary to the right
course. Shak.
3. Contrariwise ; in a contrary manner.
Locke.
4. The face, or at the face. [.Vot used.]
Sandys.
Thi.s word is prefixed to many other;-,
cliiefly verbs and nouns, expressing oppo-
sition.
COUNTERACT', v. t. [counter and ad.]
To act in op|)osition to ; to hinder, defeat
or frustrate by contrary agency. Good
precepts will sometimes counteract the ef-
fects of evil example ; but more generally
good precepts are counteracted by bad ex-
amples.
COUNTERACTED, pp. Hindered ; frus
trated ; defeated bv contrary agencj'.
COUNTERACTING, ppr. Hindering ; frus-
tratiiig.
COUNTERACTION, n. Action in opposi-
tion ; hindrance.
COUNTER-ATTRACTION, n. [counter
and attraction.] Opposite attraction.
Shenstone.
COUNTERBAL'ANCE, v. t. [counter and
balance.]
To weigh against ; to weigh against with an
equal weight ; to act against with equal
power or eflect ; to countervail. A col-
unni of thirty inches of quicksilver, and a
column of thirty-two feet of water, coun-
terbalance the weight of a like column of
the whole atmosphere. The pleasures of
sin never counterbalance the pain, misery
and shame which follow the commission
of it.
COUNTERBAL'ANCE, n. Equal weight,
power or agency acting in opposition to
any thing.
Money is the counterbalance of all things
purchasable. Locke.
COUNTERBALANCED, pp. Opposed by
cqu;il U(-ij;lil, |iiiwi-r or etmct.
COUN ri'.KI! AI. WCING, ppr. Opposing
bv 0(|ii;il wi-ivhl, |)cjwer or operation.
COUN 'J'EKBO.NO, n. [counter and bond.]
A bond to save harmless one who has giv-
en bond for another.
COUNTERBUFF', v. i. [counter and buff.]
To strike back or in an opposite direction ;
to drive back ; to stop by a blow or im-
pulse in front. Dryden.
COUN'TERBUFF, n. A blow in an o])po-
site direction ; a stroke that stops motion
or causes a recoil. Sidney.
COUNTERBUFF'ED, pp. Struck with a
blow in opposition.
COUN'TERCAST, n. Delusive contriv-
ance ; contrary cast. Spenser.
COUN'TERCASTER, n. [counter and cas-
ter.] A caster of accounts ; a reckoner ; a
bookkeeper, in contempt. Shak.
COUN'TERCHaNgE, n. [counter and
change.] Exchange ; reciprocation.
COUNTERCHA'N6E, v.t. To give and
receive ; or to cause to change places.
COUNTERCHA'NtiED, pp. Exchanged.
In heraldry, intermixed, as the colors of
the field and charge.
COUN'TERCHARM, >i. [counter and
charm.] That which has the power of
dissolving or opposing the effect of a
charm. Pope.
COUNTERCH'ARM, v. t. To destroy the
effect of enchantment.
COUNTERCHECK', v. t. [counter and
check.] To oppose or stop by some obsta-
cle : to check.
COUNTERCHECK, n. Check; stop; re-
buke ; or a censure to check a reprover.
Bculey.
c o u
c o u
c o u
COUNTEReUR'RENT, a. [counter and
current] Running in an opposite direction.
Kirwan.
€OUN'TER€URREi\T, n. A current in an
opposite direction.
€OUNTERDISTIN€'TION, n. CoiBtradis-
tinction. More.
COUNTERDRAVV, v.t. [counter anAdraiv.]
In painting, to copy a. design or painting,
by means of a fine linen cloth, an oiled
paper, or other transparent matter, where-
on the strokes appearing throvigh, tliey arej
traced with a pencil. The same is done
on glass, and with frames or nets divided
into squares with silk or thread, or by
means of instruments, as the parallello-
gram. Encyc.
eOUNTERDRAVV'ING, ppr. Copying by
means of lines drawn on some transpa-
rent matter.
€OUNTERDRAW'N, pp. Copied from lines
drawn on something else.
€OUNTER-EV'IDENCE, n. [counter and
evidence.] Opposite evidence ; evidence or
testimony wliich opposes other evidence.
Burnet.
COUNTERFEIT, t). <. coun'terfit. [fr.con-
trefaire, contrefait ; contre and /aire, to
make ; L. contra and facio ; It. contraffixre,
contraffatto ; Sp. contrahacer, contraheeho.]
1. To forge ; to cojiy or imitate, without au-
thority or right, and with a view to deceive
or defraud, by passing the copy or thing
forged, for that which is original or genu
ine ; as, to counterfeit coin, bank notes, ;
seal, a bond, a deed or other instrument
in writing, the hand writing or signature
of another, &c. To make a likeness or
resemblance of any thing with a view to
defraud.
2. To imitate ; to copy ; to make or put on a
resemblance ; as, to counterfeit the voice of
another person ; to counterfeit piety.
eOUN'TEREEIT, v. i. To feign ; to dis-
semble ; to carry on a fiction or deception.
Shak.
€OUN'TERFEIT, a. Forged; fictitious;
false; fabricated without right; made in
imitation of something else, with a view
to defraud, by passing the false copy for
genuine or original ; as counterfeit coin ; a
counterfeit bond or deed ; a counterfeit bill
of exchange.
2. Assuming the appearance of something;
false ; hypocritical ; as a counterfeit friend.
3. Having the resemblance of; false; not
genuine ; as counterfeit modesty.
eOUN'TERFEIT, n. A cheat ; a deceitful
person ; one who pretends to be what lie
is not ; one who personates another ; an
impostor.
% In law, one who obtains money or goods
by counterfeit letters or false tokens.
Encyc.
X That which is made in imitation of some-i
thing, but without lawful authority, and
with a view to defraud, by passing the
false for the true. We say, the note is a
counterfeit.
COUN'TERFEITED, pp. Forged; made
in imitation of something, with a view to
defraud ; copied ; imitated ; feigned.
COUNTERFEITER, n. One who coun-
terfeits ; a forger.
•3. One who copies or imitates ; one who as-
sumes a false appearance.
3. Onfi who endeavors to set ofl' a thing i
false colors.
eOUN'TERFEITLY, adv. By forgery
falsely ; fictitiously.
eOUNTERFER'MENT, n. [counter and
ferment.] Ferment opposed to ferment.
Addison
€OUNTERFE'SANCE, n. [Fr. contrefai-
sanee.] The act of forging ; forgery. Obs
COUNTERFOIL, i That part of a tal-
COUN'TERSTOCK, P- ly struck in the
Exchequer, which is kept by an oflicer in
that court, the other being delivered to
the person who has lent the king money
on tlie account, and is called the stock.
Bailey.
COUN'TERFORT, n. [counter and fort.]
A buttress, spur or pillar serving to sup-
port a wall or terrace subject to bulge.
Chambers.
COUN'TERGAGE, n. [cotmter and g'ige.]
In carpentry, a method used to measure
the joints, by transferring the breadth of a
mortise to the place where the tenon is to
be, in order to make them fit each other.
Chambers.
COUN'TERGUARD,n. [counter and guard.]
In fortification, a small rampart or work
raised before the point of a bastion, con-
sisting of two long faces parallel to the
faces of the bastion, making a salient an-
gle, to preserve the bastion. It is some-
times of a different shape, or differently
situatefl. Encyc.
COUNTER-INFLUENCE, v. t. To hin-
der by opposing influence. [lAttle used.]
Scott.
COUN'TERLIGHT, n. [counter and ligU.]
A light opposite to any thing, which makes
it appear to disadvantage. Chambers.
COUNTERM>AND, v. t. [Fr. contremander ;
contre and mander, L. inando, to com-
mand.]
1. To revoke a former command; or to give
an order contrary to one before given,
which annuls a former command and for-
bids its execution ; as, to countermand or-
ders.
3. To oppose ; to contradict the orders of
another. Hooker.
3. To prohibit. [Little used.] Harvey.
eOUN TERMAND, n. A contrary order ;
revocation of a former order or command.
Shak.
eOUNTERxMANDED, pp. Revoked; an-
nulled, as an order.
COUNTERM'ANDING, ppr. Revoking a
former order; giving directions contrary
to a former command.
COUNTERArARCH, v. i. [counter and
march.] To march back.
COUN'TERMARCH, n. A marching back ;
a returning. Collier,
2. A change of the wings or face of a battal-
ion, so as to bring the right to the left or
the front into the rear. Cyc.
3. A change of measures; alteration of con-
duct. Burnet.
COUN'TERMARK, n. [counter and mark.]
A second or third mark put on a bale of]
goods belonging to several .merchants, that
it may not be opened, but in the presence
of all the owners.
2. The mark of the goldsmiths' company, to
show the metal to be standard, added to
that of the artificer.
3. An artificial cavity made in the teeth ol
hordes, that have outgrown their natural
mark, to disguise their age.
4. A mark added to a medal, a long time
after it has been struck, by which its sev-
eral changes of value may be known.
Chambers.
COUNTERM'ARK, v. t. To mark the cor-
ner teeth of a horse by an artificial cavity,
to disguise his age. Farrier^s Diet.
COUN'TERMINE, n. [counter and mine.]
In military affairs, a well and gallery sunk
in the earth and running under ground, in
search of the enemy's mine, or till it meets
it, to defeat its effect. Military Diet.
2. Means of opposition or counteraction.
Sidney.
3. A stratagem or project to frustrate any
contrivance. L' Estrange,
COUNTERMI'NE, v. t. To sink a well and
gallery in the earth, in search of an ene-
my's mine, to frustrate his designs.
2. To counterwork ; to frustrate by secret
and opposite measures.
COUN'TER-MOTION, n. [counter and
motion.] An opposite motion ; a motion
counteracting another. Digbu. Collier.
COUN'TER-MOVEMENT, n. Amovemeut
in opposition to another.
COUN'TERMURE, n. [Fi: contremur ; con-
tre and tnur, L. murus, a wall.]
A wall raised behind another, to supply its
place, when a breach is made.
COUN'TERMURE, n. To fortify with a
wall behind another.
COUNTER-NATURAL, a. [counter and
natural.] Contrary to nature. Harvey.
COUNTER-NEGOTIA'TION, n. [counter
and negotiation.] Negotiation in opposi-
tion to other negotiation.
COUN'TERNOISE, n. [counter and noise.]
A noise or sound by which another noise
or sound is overpowered. Calamy.
COUNTER-OPENING, ,i. [counter and
opening.] An aperture or vent on the op-
posite side, or in a different place. Shai-p,
COUN'TERPACE, n. [counter and pace.]
A step or measure in opposition to anoth-
er ; contrary measure or attempt. Stvijt.
COUN'TERPALED, a. [counter and pale.]
In heraldry, is when the escutcheon is di-
vided into twelve pales parted perfesse,
the two colors being counterchanged ; so
that the upper and lower are of different
colors. Encyc.
COUN'TERPANE, n. A particular kind of
coverlet for a bed. [See Coiinterpoint.]
3. One part of an indenture. Obs.
B. Jonson.
COUN'TERPART, n. [counter and part.]
The correspondent part ; the part that an-
swers to another, as the two papers of a
contract or indentures ; a copy ; a dupli-
cate. Also, the part which fits another,
as the key of a cipher.
Addison. Johnson.
9. In music, the part to be applied to anoth-
er ; as, the base is the counterpart to the
reble. Bailey. Encyc.
COUNTERPAS'SANT, a. [counter and
passant] In heraldry, is when two hons in
a coat of arms are represented as going
contrary ways. Bailey. Encyc.
COUNTER-PETI "TION, n. A petition in
opposition to another. Clarendon.
c o u
C<">(iN'TERPLEA, n. [counter and plea.]
Ill law, a replication to a plea, or request
Cowel.
COUNTERPLOT', V. t. [counter and plot.]
To oppose one plot to another ;
tempt to frustrate stratagem by stratagein.
eOUN'TERPLOT, n. A plot or artifice op-
posed to another. L'E^trange.
eOUN'TERPLOTTING, n. A plotting in
opposition to u stratagem.
COUN'TERI'OINT, n. [Fr. contrepoiiUe ;
Arm. contrepoentenn ; contre and point.]
1. A coverlet ; a cover for a bed, stitclieil or
woven in squares ; written corruptly coim-
terpane.
1. In music, counterpoint is when the musi-
cal characters by which the notes in eacli
part are signified, are placed in such ii
maimer, each with respect to each, as ti:
show how the parts answer one to anoth-
er. Hence counterpoint in composition is
the art of combining and modulating con-
sonant sounds. Enci/c. Busby
3. An opposite point. Sandys.
COUNTERPOISE, v. t. s as :. [Fr. contre-
peser ; It. contrappesare ; Sp. contrapesnr ;
contre, contra, and peser, pesar, to weigh.
See Poise.]
1. To counterbalance ; to weigh against
with equal weight ; to be equiponderant
to ; to equal in weight.
The force and distance of weights counterpois-
I'ji^each other, ought to be reciprocal. Jiigby.
The heaviness of bodies must be counterpois-
ed by a plummet fastened about the pulley to
the axis. WUkins.
2. To act against \v\th equal power or ef-
fect ; to balance. The wisdom of the sen-
ate may be able to counterpoise the rash
impetuosity of a democratic house.
€OUN'TERPOISE, )i. [Fr. contrepoid^s ;
It. contrappeso ; Sp. contrapeso.]
1. Equal weight acting in opposition to
something ; equiponderance ; a weight
sufficient to balance another in the oppo-
site scale ; equal balance. Milton.
2. Equal power or force acting in opposi-
tion ; a force sufficient to balance another
force; equipollence.
The second nobles are a counterpoise to the I
higher nobility. Bacon.
3. In the manege, a position of the rider in
which his body is duly balanced in bis
seat, not inclined more to one side than
the other. Encyc.
COUN'TERPOISED, pp. Balanced by an
equivalent opposing weight, or by equal
power.
€OUN'TERPOISING, ppr. Balancing by
equal weight in the opposite scale, or by
equal power.
COUN'TERPOISON, n. s as r. [counter and
poison.] One poison that destroys the ef-
fect of another ; an antidote ; a medicine
that obviates the effects of poison.
Arbuthnot.
€OUNTERPRA€'TICE, n. Practice
position to another.
COUNTERPRESS'URE, n. [counter and
pressure.] Oj)posing pressure ; a force or
pressure that acts in a contrary dhection.
Blackmore.
COUN'TERPROJECT, n. [counter and
project]
A project, scheme or proposal, of one party,
lop-
c o u
given in opposition to another, before given
by the other party ; as in the negotiation
of a trcNity. Sivijl
COUN'TERPROOF, ?i. [counter ami proof .]
In rolling-press printing, a print taken ofl
from another fresh printed, which, by being
passed througli the press, gives the figure
ot' the former, but inverted. Encyc.
CODN'TERPROVE, v. t. [counter and
prove.']
To take off a design in black lead or red
chalk, by passing it through a rollin^
press with another piece of paper, both
being moistened with a sputige.
Chainbers.
cor VTF.R-R EVOLUTION,,!, a revolu-
i.'ii n|i|]ii-.il lo a former one, and restor-
I.,:. :i ruiirirr ,-tate of tilings.
t(tl XTl.a KKVOLU'TIONARY, a. Per-
taiiiing to a counter-revolution.
€OUXTER-REVOLU'TIONIST, n. One
Hi);i;aged in or befriending a counter-revo
Union.
COUN'TERROLL, n. [counter and roll.]
In law, a counterpart or copy of the rolls,
relating to appeals, inquests, &c. Bailey.
3. As a verb, this word is contracted into
control, which sec.
COUNTERRO'LMENT, n. A counter ac-
count. [See Control.]
COUNTER-SA'LIANT, a. [Fr. contre and
saillir, to leap.]
In heraldry, is when two beasts are borne in]
a coat leaping from each other. Bailey!
COUN'TERSCARP, n. [Fr. contrescarpe ■<
It. contrascarpa ; Sp. contraescarpa ; contre]
and escarpe, Scarpa, escarpa, a slope, from
the root of carve.]
In fortification, the exterior talus or slope of
the ditch, or the talus that supjiorts tliel
earth of the covered way: but it nftrn si^-'
nifies the whole covercil \v;iy, hiiIi its
parapet and glacis; as win n u l-^.^lll, ilic
enemy have lodged tli(iii~( U. < en the]
counterscarp. Harris. Encyc.l
COUN'TERSel'FFLE, n. Opposite sciif-j
fle: contest.
eOUN'TERSEAL, v.t. To seal with anotli-
Shak.l
€OTTNTER-SEeU'RE, v. t. [counter and'
secure.] To secure one who has given
securitv.
COUNTER-SE€U'RITY, n. Security given
to one who has entered into bonds or be-
come surety for another. Bailey.
€OUN'TERSENSE, n. Opposite meaning,
Hoicetl.
eOUN'TERSIGN, v. t. [counter and sign.
Literally, to sign on the opposite side o;
an instrument or writing'; hence, to sign
as secretary or other subordinate officer
a writing signed by a principal or superior
to attest the authenticity of the writing
Thus charters signed ''y a Icing are coun-
tersigned by a secretaiy. Bank notes
signed by the president are countersigned
bv the cashier.
COUNTERSIGN, n. A private signal, word
or phrase, given to soldiers on guard, with
orders to let no man pass unless he first
names that sign ; a military watchword.
Advance and give the countersign.
COUN'TERSIGNAL, n. A signal to answer
r correspond to another ; a naval term.
eOUNTER-SIG'NATURE, n. The name of
c o u
a secretary or other subordinate officer,
countersigned to a writing.
Below tlic Imperial name is commonly a
countersignature of one of the cabinet minis-
•ers- 7\>oke.
COUNTERSIGNED, pp. Signed by a sec-
retary or other subordinate officer.
COUNTERSIGNING, ppr. Attesting by
tlic sij;ii;iiiire of a subordinate officer.
COI.NTl.KSTAT'UTE, «. A contrary
statiiic. or ordinance. Miiton.
COIN TKKSTROKE, n. A contrary
stroke ; a stroke returned. Spenser.
COUNTER-SURETY, n. Acouoterbond,
or a surety to secure one that has given
.security.
eOUN'TERSWAY, n. Contrary sway ;
opposite influence. Miiton.
COUN'TERTALLY, n. A tally correspond-
ing to another.
COiiN'TERTASTE, n. [counter and taste.]
Opposite or false taste. ShenMoru.
COUNTERTEN'OR, ) [counter ami ten-
COUNTER, \ "■ or.] In music,
one ot the middle parts, between the tenor
and the treble ; high tenor.
COUN'TERTIDE, n. [counter and tide.]
do. Dryden.
COU.N TKRTIME, n. [counter and time.]
In the manege, the defense or resistance of
a horse that interrupts his cadence and
the measure of his manege, occasioned by
a bad horseman or the had temper of the
horse. Encyc.
9. Resistance; opposition. Drtiden.
COUN'TERTURN, n. The highth of a play,
which puts an end to expectation.
Dniden.
COUNTERVA'IL, v. t. [counter and L. valeo.
or be strong.]
To act against with equal force, or power :
to equal ; to act with o(|iiivalent effect
against any thing ; to balance ; to com-
pensate. -
The profit will hardly countervail tlic incon-
veniences.
Although tlie enemy could not countervail
the king's damage. Eslh. \ni.
eOUN'TERVAIL, n. Equal weight or
strength ; power or value sufficient to ob-
viate any effect ; equal weight or value ;
compensation ; requital.
Spenser. South.
COUNTERVAILED, pp. Acted against
with equal force or power; balanced;
compensated.
COUNTERVAILING, ppr. Opposijig with
equal strength or value ; balancing ; ob-
viating an effect.
COUN'TERVIEW, n. [cowiier and view.]
An ojiposite or opposing view ; opposition ;
a posture in which two persons front each
other. Milton.
2. Contrast ; a position in which two dissim-
ilar things illustrate each other by opposi-
Stcijl.
kote in oppo-
tion,
COUN'TERVOTE, v.t. To
sition ; to outvote. Scott.
COUNTERWEIGH, v. t. [See fVeigh.] To
weigh against ; to counterbalance.
^ischam.
COUN'TERVVHEEL, v. t. To cause tt)
wheel in an opposite direction.
COUN'TERWIND, n. Contrary wind.
COUNTERWORK'. [See ffork.] To vork
c o u
c o u
c o u
iii opposition to ; to counteract; to hinder
any effect by contrary operations.
That counterworks each folly and caprice.
Pope.
COUNTERWROUGHT, pp. counterraut' .
Counteracted ; opposed by contrary ac-
tion.
COUNT'ESS, n. [Ft: comiesse ; It. coniessa ;
Sp. condesa. See Count] The consort of
au earl or count.
COUNTING-HOUSE, ) [See Count, the
COUNTING-ROOM, ^ "• verb.]
The house or room appropriated by mer-
chants, traders and manufacturers to the
business of keeping their books, accounts,
letters and papers.
COUNT'LESS, a. [count txwl less.] That
cannot be counted ; not having tlie niuu-
ber ascertained, nor ascertainable ; innu-
merable. The sands of the sea-shore are
countless.
COUN'TRY, n. ku7i'tnj. [The correct or-
thography would be conlry, Fr. contrie,
It. contrada, contracted from L. conterra,
con and terra, land adjacent to a city.
Hence the citizen says, let us go into the
country. The Latin has conterraneus, a
countryman.]
1. Properly, the land lying about or near a
city ; the territory situated in the vicinity
of a city. Our friend has a seat in the
country, a few miles from town. See Mark
V. Liike viii. Hence,
•2. The whole territory of a kingdom or
state, as opposed to city. We say, tlie
gentleman has a seat in the country, at any
distance from town indefinitely. Hence,
3. Any tract of land, or inhabited land ; any
region, as distinguislied from other re-
gions ; a kingdom, state or lesser district.
We speak of all the countries of Europe or
Asia.
And they came into the country of Moab.
Ruth i.
4. The kingdom, state or territory in which
one is born ; tlie land of nativity ; or the
particular district indefinitely in which one
is born. America is my country, or Con-
necticut is my country.
Laban said, it must not be so done in our coun-
try. Gen. xxix.
5. The region in which one resides.
He sojourned in the land of promise, as in a
strange country. Heb. xi.
6. Land, as opposed to water ; or inhabited
territory.
The shipmen deemed that they drew near to
some country. Acts xxvii.
5. The inhabitants of a region.
AU the country wept with a loud voice. 2
Sam. XV.
8. A place of residence ; a region of i)erma-
nent habitation.
They declare plainly that they seek a country.
Hell. xi.
They desire a better country, a heavenlv.
Heb. xi.
9. In laiv, a jury or jurors ; as, trial by tlic
country, per pais.
COUN'TRY, a. Pertaining to the country
or territory at a distance from a city ; ru
ral ; rustic ; as a country town ; a country
seat ; a country squire ; a country life ; the
country party, as opposed to city party.
2. Pertaining or peculiar to one's own coun
He spoke in his country language.
Maccabees.
3. Rude ; ignorant. Dryden.
Country-dance, an erroneous orthography.
[See Contra-dance.]
COUNTRYMAN, n. One born in the same
coinitry with another. This man is my
countryman. [See 2 Cor. xi. 26.]
3. One who dwells in the country, as oppo-
sed to a citizen ; a rustic ; a farmer or lius-
bandman ; a man of plain unpolished man-
ners.
3. An inhabitant or native of a region.
What countryman is he .'
COUN'TY, n. [Fr. comt^ ; Sp. condado ; It.
contia ; L. comitatus. See Count]
1. Originally, an earldom ; the district or ter-
ritory of a count or earl. Now, a circuit
or particular portion of a state or king-
dom, separated from the rest of the terri-
tory, for certain purposes in the adminis-jl
tration of justice. It is called also a shire.\'
[See Sliire.] Each county has its sheriff
and its court, with other officers employed
in the administration of justice and the
execution of the laws. In England there
are fifty two counties, and in each is a
Lord Lieutenant, who has command of the
militia. The several states of America are
divided by law into counties, in each of
which is a county court of inferior jurisdic
tion ; and in each, the supreme court of
the state holds stated sessions.
2. A count ; an earl or lord. 06*. Shak.
County court, the court whose jurisdiction is
limited to a county, whose powers, in
America, depend on statutes. In Eng-
land, it is incident to the jurisdiction of the
sheriff.
County palatine, in England, is a county dis-
tinguished by particular privileges ; so
called a palafio, the palace, because the
owner had originally royal powers, or the
same powers in the administration of jus-
tice, as tlie king had in his palace; but
their powers are now abridged. The
counties palatine, in England, are Lan-
caster, Chester and Durham.
County corporate, is a county invested with
particular privileges by charter or royal
grant ; as London, York, Bristol, &c.
COUN'TY, a. Pertaining to a county ; as
county court.
eoUPEC, n. [Fr. couper, to cut.] A mo-
tion in dancing, when one leg is a little
bent and suspended from the ground, and
with the other a motion is made forward.
Chambers.
COUP'LE, n. kup'pl [Fr. couple ; L. copula ;
It. Sp. id.; Arm. couUe ; D. loppel ; G.
kuppel ; kw.koppel; Ban. kobbel ; Heb.
bSD ; Ch. id. and 'jSp to double or fold ;
Syr. id.; Sam. to shut.]
1. Two of the same species or kind, and i
in ))lace, or considered together ; as a
couple of men ; a couple of oranges. I have
planted a couple of cherry trees. We can
not call a horse and an ox a couple, unless
we add a generic term. Of a horse and
ox feeding in a pasture, we should say,
couple ofariimals. Among huntsmen and
soldiers, brace is used for couple ; i
?rtace of ducks; a trace of pistols. Couple
differs from pair, which implies strictly.
not only things of the same kind, but like-
ness, equality or customary association.
A pair is a cotiple ; but a couple may or
may not be a pair.
2. Two things of any kind connected or
linked together.
3. A male and a female connected by mar-
riage, betrothed or allied ; as a married
couple ; a young couple.
4. That which links or connects two things
together; a chain.
COUP'LE, X). «. [Fr. coupler; Ucopulo; Sp.
copular ; It. copulare.]
1. To link, chain or connect one thing with
another ; to sew or fasten together.
Thou shall couple the curtains with taches.
Ex. xxvi.
2. To mari-y ; to wed ; to unite, as husband
and wife. Swifl.
COUPLE, V. i. To embrace, as the sexes.
Dryden .
COUP'LED, pp. United, as two things :
linked ; married.
COUP'LEMENT, H. Union. Spenser.
COUP'LET, n. cup'plet [Fr.] Two verses:
a pair of rhymes.
2. A division of a hymn or ode in which an
equal number or equal measure of verses
is found in each pi:rt, called a strophe.
3. A pair ; as a couplet of doves. [JVot used.]
Shak.
COUP'LING, ppr. Uniting in couples ; last-
eningor connecting together; embracing.
COUP'LING, n. That which couples or con-
nects. 2 Chron. x.x.\iv.
2. The act of coupling.
COUR'AgE, n. kur'rage. [Fr. from fffi'/ .
L. cor, the heart; "Arm. couraich ; Sp.
corage; Port, coragem ; ll. coraggio.]
Bravery ; intrepidity; that quality of mind
which enables men to encounter danger
and difficulties with firmness, or without
fear or depression of spirits ; valor ; bold-
ness ; resolution. It is a constituent part
of fortitude ; but fortitude implies patience
to bear continued suffering.
Cowage that grows from constitution, often
forsakes a man when he has occasion for it ;
courage which arises from a sense of dut}% acts
in a uniform manner. .Addison.
Be strong, and of good courage. Deut. xxxi.
COURA'GEOUS, a. Brave ; bold; daring;
intrepid ; hardy to encounter difficulties
and dangers ; adventurous ; enterprising.
Be thou strong and courageous. Josh. i.
COURA'6EOUSLY, adv. With courage;
bravely ; boldly ; stoutly.
C0URA'GE0USNESS,«. Courage; bold-
ness; bravery; intrepidity; spirit; valor.
COURANT', I „ [Fr. co'urante, running.]
COURAN'TO, ^ A piece ofmusic in triple
time; also, a kind of dance, consisting of
a time, a step, a balance and a coupee.
Encyc.
2. The title of a newspaper.
COURAP', n. A distemper in the East In-
dies; a kind of herpes or itch in the arm-
pits, groin, breast and face. Encyc.
COURB, V. i. [Fr. courier.] To bend. [M>t
in use.]
COURB, a. Crooked. [J^U in use.]
COURBARIL, n. Gum anime, which flows
from the HyinensBa,a treeof South Amer-
ica ; used for varnishing. Fourcroy.
COUR'IER, ji. [Fr. courier, from courir, to
run, L. curro.]
c o u
c o u
c o u
^ messenger sent express, for conveying let-
ii'is or dispatches ou public business.
< OIRSE, n. [Fr. course; Sp. curso ; It
nirso ; Ir. cursa ; from L. cursus, from curro,
to run, W. gi/ni, Ens. hurry. See Class
Gr. No. 7. 1.1 aa. 34.]
1. In its freneral sense, a passing ; a moving,
or motion forward, in a direct or curving
line ; applicable to any body or substance,
bolid or fluid.
Applied to animals, a running, or walk-
ing ; a race ; a career ; a passing, or pass-
age, with any degree of swiftness indefi-
nitely.
Applied to fluids, u flowing, as in a stream
in any direction ; as a straight course, or
winding course. It is applied to water or
other liquids, to air or wind, and to light,
in the sense of motion or passing.
Applied to solid bodies, it signifies motion
or passing ; as the course of a rolling stone ;
the course of a carriage ; the course of the
earth in its orbit.
Applied to navigation, it signifies a pass-
ing or motion on water, or in balloons in
air ; a voyage.
2. The direction of motion ; line nf advan-
cing; point of compass, in wliirli iiintinn i-
directed; as, what course shall ilir |)il(j|
steer? In technical languafjc, (lie ai
contained between the nearest meridian
and that pointof compass on which a ship
sails in any direction. Mar. Diet.
3. Ground on which a race is run.
4. A passing or process; the progress of any
thing ; as the course of an argument, or of
a debate ; a course of thought or reflexion.
5. Order of proceeding or of passing from
an ancestor to an heir ; as the course of
descent in inheritance.
6. Order ; turn ; class ; succession of one to
another in office, or duty.
The chief fathers of every course. 1 Chron
xxvii.
Solomon appointed the courses of the priests
2 Chron. viii.
7. Stated and orderly method of proceeding ;
usual manner. He obtained redress in
due course of law. Lea\ e nature to Jiei
course.
8. Series of successive and methodical pro-
cedure ; a train of acts, or applications
as a course of medicine administered.
9. A methodical series, applied to the arts or
sciences ; a systemized order of principles in
arts or sciences, for illustration or instruc-
tion. We say, the author has completed
a course of principles or of lectures in phi-
losophy. Also, the order pursued by a
student ; as, he has completed a course of
studies in law or physics.
10. Manner of proceeding ; way of life or
conduct; deportment; series of actions.
That I might finish my course with joy.
Acts XX.
Their course is evil. Jcr. xxiil.
11. Lineof conduct ; manner of proceeding;
as, we know not what course to ])ursue.
12. Natural bent ; propensity ; uncontrolled
will. Let not a perverse child take his
own course.
13. Tilt; actof running in the lists.
14. Orderly structure ; system.
The tongue settcth on tiie the course of na-
• tare. J-ames iii. '
15. Any regular series. In architecture, a
continued range of s
! hightli, Ihrougli
level or ol tht
!• whole lengtl;
of the building, and not iiitcniipted by any
aperture. A laying (illiricks. &c.
IC. The dishes set on table at one time; ser-
vice of meat.
17. Regularity; order; regular
as, let the classes follow in course
18. Empty form ; as, coni|iliments are often
words of course.
Of course, by consequence ; in rcgula
natural order ; in the commou manner of
proceeding ; without special direction or
provision. This effect will follow of course
If the defendant resides not in the state.
lofc
the cause i.-s ci
€OURSEt^, n. ,
sails, as the njaiii >:iil, lijre sail, and mizen ;
sometimes the ntiriii' i.s given to the stay
sails on the lower masts; also to the main
stay sails of all brigs and schooners.
Mar. Did
2. Catamenia ; menstrual flux.
COURSE, V. t. To hunt ; to pursue ; tc
chase.
We coursed him at the heels. Shale
2. To cause to run ; to force to move with
sjieed. Ma;;.
■i. To run through or over.
The blood courses the winding arteries.
The bounding steed courses tlie dusty plain.
COURSE, v.i. To run ; to move with speed :
to run or move about ; as, the blood coxirses,
Shak
The grayhounds coursed through the fields.
COURSED, /ip. Hunted; chased; pursued;
caused to run.
COURSER, n. A swift horse; a runner; a
war-horse ; a tcord used chiefly inpoelry.
Dry den. Pope.
2. One who hunts; one who pursues the
sport of coursing hares. Johnson
3. A disputant. [Mt in use.] Wood.
COURSEY, n. Part of the hatches in a gal-
ley. Sherwood.
COVKBING, ppr. Hunting; chasing; run-
ning ; flowing; compelling to run.
COURSING, n. The act or sport of chasing
and hunting hares, foxes or deer,
COURT, n. [Sax. curt; Fr. four; Arm. court ;
It. corte ; Sp. corte ; Port, corte ; L. curia ; Ir.
cuirt. The primary sense and application
are not perfectly obvious. Most probably
the word is from a verb which signifies to
go round, to collect. W. cut, a circle ;
Ar. \^ to go round, to collect, to bind
Hence apphed to a yard or inclosure. See
Class Gr. No. 32. 34. It may i)ossibly be
allied to yard, Goth, gards ; or it may be
derived from a verb signifying to cut off
or separate, and primarily signify tl
fence that cuts off or excludes access. The
former is most probable.]
A place in front of a house, inclosed by a
wall or fence ; in popular language, a
court-yard. Bacon. Dryden.
2. A space inclosed by houses, broader than
a street ; or a space forming a kind of re-
cess from a public street.
3. A palace ; the place of residence of a king
or sovereign prince. Europe.
4. The hall, chamber or place where justice
administered.
St. Paul was brouglit into the highest court
in Athens. Mterlniry.
5. Persons who compose the retinue or
council of a king or emperor. Temple.
C. The persons or judges assembled for
hearing and deciding causes, civil, crimi-
nal, military, naval or ecclesiastical ; as a
court of law; a court of chancery ; a court
martial; a court of admiralty ; an ecclesi-
asticaT court; court baron ; &.c. Hence,
7. Any jurisdiction, civil, miUtary or eccle-
siastical.
8. The art of pleasing ; the art of insinua-
tion; civility; flattery ; address to gain fa-
vor. Hence the phrase, to make court, to
attempt to please by flattery and address.
9. In scnpture, an inclosed part of the en-
trance into a palace or house. The taber-
nacle had one court; the temple, three.
The first was the court of the Gentiles;
the second, the court of Israel, in which
the people worshiped ; the third was the
court of the ])riests, where the priests and
Le\ itcs exercised their ministry. Hence
places of public worship are called the
cotirts of the Lord.
10. In the U. Stales, a legislature consisting of
two houses; as the Genera/ Court of Alas-
saihusetts. The. original constitution of
Connecticut estabhshed a General Court
in 163i). B. Trumbull.
11. A session of the legislature.
COURT, V. t. In a general sense, to flatter ;
to endeavor to please by civilities and ad-
dress ; a use of the word derived from the
manners of a court.
a. To woo ; to solicit for marriage.
A thousand court you, though they court in
vain. Pope.
3. To attempt to gain by address ; to solicit ;
to seek ; as, to court connncndation or ap-
plause.
eOURT-BAR'ON, n. A baron's court; a
court incident to a manor. Blackstone.
COURT-BRED, a. [See Breed.] Bred at
court. Churchill.
COURT-BREEDING, n. Education at a
court. Milton.
COURT-BUBBLE, n. The trifle of a court.
COURT-CHAPLAIN, n. A chaplain to a
kins or prince.
COURT-CUPBOARD, n. The sideboard of
ancient days. Shak.
COURT-DAY, n. A day in which a court
sits to administer justice.
COURT-DRESS, n. A dress suitable for an
ppearance at court or levee.
COURT-DRESSER, n. A flatterer.
Locke.
COURT-FASHION, n. The fashion of a
court. Fuller.
€0URT-F.\VOR, n. A favor or benefit be-
stowed bv a court or prince. L'Estrange.
COURT-HAND, n. The hand or manner of
writing used in records and judicial pro-
ceedings. Shak.
COURT-HOUSE, n. A house in which es-
tablished courts are held, or a house ap-
propriated to courts and public meetings.
America.
COURT-LADY, n. A lady who attends or
is conversant in court.
COURT-LEET, n. A court of record held
onco a year, in a particular hundred, lord-
c o u
^lii]) or manor, before the steward of tlie
Ic't. Blackstone
eOURT-IVrARTIAL, n. A court consisting
of military or naval officers, for the trial of
offences of a military character.
COURTED, pp. Flattered ; wooed ; solicited
in marriage ; songht.
€OURT'EOUS, a. hirt'eous. [from court
Fr. courtois ; It. coriese; Sp. co)-/es.]
1. PoUte ; wellbred ; being of elegant man-
ners; civil; obliging; condescending ; a^-
plied to persons.
a. Polite ; civil : graceful ; elegant ; com-
plaisant ; applied to manners, &c.
€OURT'EOUSLY, adv. In a courteous
manner ; with obliging civility and con
descension ; complaisantly.
COURT'EOUSNESS, n. Civility of man
ners ; obhging condescension ; complai
COURTER, ?(. One who courts; one who
solicits in marriage. Sherwood.
€OURT'ESAN, n. kuH'ezan. [Fr. courtisane ;
Sp. corlesana ; from court.]
A prostitute ; a woman who prostitutes her-
self for hire, especially to men of rank.
€OURT'ESY, n. kurt'esy. [Fr. courtoisk ;
Sp. It. cortesia ; Port, cortezia ; from Fr.
courtois, Sp. cortes, courteous, from court.]
1. Elegance or politeness of manners ; espe-
cially, politeness connected with kindness ;
civility ; complaisance ; as, the gentleman
shows great courtesy to strangers ; he
treats his friends with great courtesy.
a. An act of civility or respect ; an act of
kindness or favor performed with polite
ness. Shah. Bacon.
3. The act of civility, respect or reverence,
performed by a woman ; a fall or inclina-
tion of the body, corresponding in design
to the bow of a gentleman. Dryden.
4. A favor ; as, to hold upon courtesy, that
is, not of right, but by indulgence.
Tenure by courtesy or curtesy, is where a
man marries a woman seized of an estate
of inheritance, and has by her issue born
alive, which was capable of inheriting her
estate ; in this case, on the death of hisj
wife, he holds the lands for his life, as ten-
ant by eurtesy. Blackstone.
eOURT'ESY, V. i. To perform an act of
civility, respect or reverence, as a woman.
Note. This word was formerly applied to
the other sex ; but is now used only of
the acts of reverence or civility, perform
ed by women.
COURT'ESY, i>. /. To treat with civility
[J^ot in use.]
COURTIER, n. ko'rtyur. [from court.] A
man who attends or frequents the courts
of princes. Bacon. Dryden.
2. One who courts or solicits the favor of
another ; one who flatters to please ; one
uho possesses the art of gaining favor by
address and complaisance.
There was not among all our princes a greater
courJierofthe people than Richard III. Suchling.
COURTIER Y, n. The manners of a court-
B. Jonson.
Flattering ; attempting to
i ; wooing ; soliciting in
C O V
COURTLING, ra. A courtier; a retainer to
a court. B. Jonson.
COURTLY, a. [couH and like.] Relating to
a court ; elegant ; polite with dignity ; ap-
plied to men and manners ; flattering, ap-
plied to language. Pope.
COURTLY, adv. In the manner of courts ;
elegantly ; in a flattering manner.
COURTSHIP, n. The act of soliciting favor.
Swifl.
2. The act of wooing in love ; solicitation of|
woman to marriage. Dryden.
3. Civility ; elegance of manners. Obs.
Donne.
COUSIN, n. kuz'n. [Fr. cousin. Qu. con-
tracted from L. consobrinus or consangui-
neus, or is it allied to the Persian
W^.)-
relatcd, kindred.]
[Afot used.]
ITI
COURTING, ppc
gain by addre
marriage.
COURTLIKE, a
COURTLINESS
gance of
ity ; complaisance with dignity. Digby.
Polite ; elegant. Camden
n. [See Courtly.] Ele-
gi'ace of mien ; civil
jl. In a general sense, one collaterallj' rela-
ted more remotely than a brother or sis-
ter. But,
3. .Ippropriately, the son or daughter of an
uncle or aunt; the children of brothers
and sisters being usually denominated
cousins or cousin-germans. In the second
generation, they are called second cous-
ins.
■i. A title given by a king to a nobleman,
particularly to those of the council.
Johnson.
COUSIN, a. kuz'n. Allied. Obs. Chaucer
COVE, 71. [Sax. cof, cofe, an inner room, c
den. Qu. Obs. L. covum. The Spanish
has the word with the Arabic prefix, ah
coba, an alcove ; Port, alcova ; It. alcovo.
It may be allied to cubby, W. civb, a hollow
place, a cote or kennel ; or to cave, Ar.
4_^3 to arch, or ^la to make hollow.]
A small inlet, creek or bay ; a recess in the
sea shore, where vessels and boats may
sometimes be sheltered from the winds
and waves.
COVE, V. t. To arch over; as a corerf ceiling.
Swinburne
CO'VENABLE, a. [Old Fr.] Fit ; suitable
~ Obs. Wickliffe.
COVENANT, n. [Fr. convenant, the parti-
ciple o^ convenir, to agree, L. convenio, con
and venio, to come ; Norm, conevence, a
covenant; It. convenzione, from L. con-
ventio. Literally, a coming together ;
meeting or agreement of minds.]
1. A mutual consent or agreement of two or
more persons, to do or to forbear some
act or thing; a contract; stipulation. A
covenant is created by deed in writing,
sealed and e.xecuted ; or it may be imphed
in the contract. Encyc. Blackstone.
2. A writing containing the terms of agree-
ment or contract between parties ; or the
clause of agreement in a deed containing
the covenant.
3. In theology, the covenant of works, is that
implied in the commands, 'prohibitions, and
promises of God ; the promise of God to
man, that man's perfect obedience should
entitle him to happiness. This do, and
live ; that do, and die.
The covenant of redemption,\s the mutual
agreement between the Father and Son,
respecting the redemption of siimers by
Christ.
C O V
The covenant of grace, is that by which
God engages to bestow salvation on man,
upon the condition that man shall beheve
in Christ and yield obedience to the terms
of the gospel. Cruden. Encyc.
4. In church affairs, a solemn agreement be-
tvveen the members of a church, that they
will walk together according to the pre-
cepts of the gospel, in brotherly affection
COVENANT, V. i. To enter into a formal
agreement ; to stipulate ; to bind one's
self by contract. A covenants with B to
convey to him a certain estate. When
the terms are expressed, it has /or before
the thing or price.
They covenanted with him for thirty pieces
of silver. Matth. xxvi.
COVENANT, V. t. To grant or promise by
covenant.
COVENANTED, pp. Pledged or promised
by covenant.
COVENANTEE', »^. The person to whom
covenant i;- made. Blackstoni .
COVENANTING, ppr. Making a cove
He who makes a cov
enant. Blackstont
CO' VENOUS, ) „ [See Covin.] Collusive ;
CO' VINOUS, <, "• fraudulent ; deceitful :
as a covenous lease of lands. Bacon.
COVER, V. t. [Fr. couvrir; Sp. Port, cubrir :
It. coprire; Norm, coverer and converer :
from L. cooperio.]
1. To overspreail the surface of a thing with
another substance ; to lay or set over ; as,
to cover a table with a cloth, or a floor with
a carpet.
The valleys are covered with com. Ps. l.xv.
The locusts shall cover the face of the earth .
Ex. X.
2. To hide ; to conceal by something over-
spread.
If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me—
Ps. cxxxix.
3. To conceal by some intervening object;
as, the enemy was covered from our sight by
a forest.
4. To clothe ; as, to cover with a robe or
mantle ; to cover nakedness. 1 Sam. xxviii.
14. Ex. xxviii. 42.
5. To overwhelm.
The waters covered the chariots and horse-
men. Ex. xiv.
Let them be covered with reproach. Ps.
Ixxi.
To conceal from notice or punishment.
Charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1
Pet. iv.
To conceal ; to refrain from disclosing or
confessing.
He that covereth his sin shall not prosper.
Prov. xxviii.
8. To pardon or remit.
Blessed is he whose sin is covered. Ps.
xxxii.
9. To vail, applied to women. 1 Cor. xi.
To wear a hat, applied to men. Be cov-
ered, sir.
10. To wrap, infold or envelop ; as, to cover
a |)ackage of goods.
11. To shelter; to protect; to defend. A
squadron of horse covered the troops on
the retreat.
.And the soft wings of peace cowec him around.
Cowlt-y.
2. To brood ; to incubate ; as, a hen cover-
ing her eggs. Addison.
C O V
C O V
c o w
J 3. To copulate with a feinale.
14. To equul, or be of equal extent ; to be
equivalent to ; as, the receipts do not cover
the expenses; a mercantile use of the word.
15. To djsguise ; to conceal hypocritically.
16. To include, embrace or comprehend,
This land was covei-ed by a mortgage.
Johnsori's Rep.
COVER, n. Any thing which is laid, set or
spread over another thing ; as the cover of
a vessel; the cover of a bed.
2. Any thing which vails or conceals ;
screen ; disguise ; superficial appearance.
Affected gravity may serve as a ewer for
a deceitful heart.
3. Shelter ; defense ; protection. The troops
fought under cover of the batteries.
4. Concealment and protection. The army
advanced under cover of the night.
5. Slielter ; retreat ; in hunting.
■eOV'ERCMIEF, 71. A covering for the
head. Obs. Chaucer.
€OV'ER€LE, n. [Fr.] A small cover; a lid,
COV'ERED, pp. Spread over ; hid ; con-
cealed; clothed; vailed; having a hat on ;
wrapped ; inclosed ; sheltered ; protected :
disguised.
COVERING, ppr. Spreading over ; laying
over ; concealing ; vailing ; clothing ;
wrapping ; inclosing ; protecting ; dis-
guising.
COVERING, n. That which covers; any
thing spread or laid over another, whether
for security or concealment.
Noah removed tlic covering of the ark. Gen.
He spread a cloud for a covering. Ps. cv.
Destruction hath no covering. Job xxvi.
2. A cover ; a lid.
Every open vessel that hath no covering.
Numb. xix.
3. Clothing ; raiment ; garments ; dress.
They cause the naked to lodge without cloth-
ing, that they have no covering in the cold.
Job xxiv.
COVERLET, n. [cover, and Fr. lit, a bed.]
The cover of a bed ; a piece of furniture
designed to be spread over all the other
covering of a bed. Dryden.
COVER-SHAME, n. Something used to
conceal infamy. Dryden.
COVERT, a. [Fr. couveH, participle of cou-
vrir, to cover.]
■1. Covered; hid; private; secret; conceal-
ed.
Whether of open war, or covert guile.
.Milton.
2. Disguised ; insidious.
3. Sheltered ; not open or exposed ; as a
covert alley, or place. Bacon. Pope.
4. Under cover, authority or protection ;
a feme-covert, a married woman who
considered as being under the influence
and protection of her husband.
COVERT, ?!. A covering, or covering place ;
a place whicli covers and shelters ; a shel-
ter ; a defense.
A tabernacle — for a covert from storm and
rain. Isa. iv.
I will trust m the covert of thy wings. Ps.
Ixi.
2. A thicket ; a shady place, or a hiding
place. I Sam. xxv. Job sxxviii.
COVERTLY, adv. Secretly ; closely ; in
private ; insidiously.
■. Among the poets, Persius covertly strikes at
Nero. Drydm.
Vol. I.
COVERTNESS, n. Secrecy ; privacy. ,
COVERTURE, n. Covering ; shelter ; de-|
fense. Milton. Bacon.l
2. In law, the state of a married woman, wliol
is considered as under coi'er, or the power
of her husband, and therefore called ul
feme-cnvert, or femme-couvert. The covert-
ure of a woman disables her from making'
contracts to the prejudice of herself or
husband, without his allowance or confir-
mation.
COVERT- WAY, n. In fortif cation, a space
of ground level with the field, on the edge
of the ditch, three or four fathoms broad,
ranging quite round the half moons or oth-
er works, towards the country. It has a
parapet raised on a level, together with its
banquets and glacis. It is called also the
corridor, and sometimes the counterscarp,
because it is on the edge of the scai-p.
Harris. Encyc.
COVET, V. t. [Fr. convoiler, to covet ; Norm.
coveitant, covetous ; covetise, greediness ;
\V. cybyz, a covetous man ; cybyzu, to cov-
et, riie Welsh word is pronounced cy-
bythu ; and cy has the power of con, and
may be a contraction of it. The last con-
stituent part of the word coincides in ele-
ments with the Latin peto, and more near-
ly with the Gr. ttoeto, to desire.]
1. To desire or wish for, with eagerness ; to
desire earnestly to obtain or possess ; in a
good sense.
Covet earnestly the best gifts. 1 Cor. xii.
2. To desire inordinately ; to desire that
which it is unlawful to obtain or possess ;
in a bad sense.
Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's house,
wife or servant. Ex. xx.
COVET, V. i. To have an earnest desire.
1 Tim. vi.
COVETABLE, a. That may be coveted.
COVETED, pp. Earnestly desired ; great
ly wisho<l or longed for.
COVETING, ppr. Earnestly desiring or
wishing for ; desiring inordinately to ob-
tain or possess.
COVETING, n. Inordinate desire. Sliak.
COVETISE, n. Avarice. [Ao< in use.}
1. A brood or hatch of birds; an old fowl
with her brood of young. Hence, a small
flock or number of fowls together : as a
covey of partridges. Addison.
2. A company ; a set.
CO'VIN, n. [Qu. Ar.
gabana
COV'ETOUS, a. [Fr. convoiteux.-] Very de
sirous ; eager to obtain ; in a good sense
as covetous of wisdom, virtue or leaming.
Taylor. Shak
2. Inordinately desirous ; excessively eager
to obtain and possess; directed to mon-
ey or goods, avaricious.
A bishop then must not be covetous. 1 Tim
COVETOUSLY, adv. AVith a strong or in-
ordinate desire to obtain and possess ; ea-
gerly; avaricioush'.
COVETOUSNESS, n. A strong or inor-
dinate desire of obtaining and possessing
some supposed good ; rtsurdly in a bad
sense, and applied to an inordinate desire of
wealth or avarice.
Out of the heart proceedeth covetousness
Mark vU.
Mortify your members— and covetoustiess
which is idolatr}\ Col. iii.
2. Strong desire ; eagerness. Shak
COV'EY, n. [Fr. couvee, a brood ; couver, to
sit on or brood, to lurk or lie hid ; It
covare ; Sp. cobijar, to brood, to cover ; L
cubo, incubo. See Clasa Gb. No. 14. 25
31. 36. 88.]
51
defraud. More probably this word be-
longs to some verb in Gb. signifying to
conceal, or to agree. In Norm. Fr. covyne
is a secret place or meeting.]
In law, a collusive or deceitful agreement
between two or more to prejudice a third
person. Encyc. Cotoel.
CO'VING, n. [See Cove.] In building, a
term denoting an arch or arched projec-
ture, as when houses are built so as to
project over the ground-plot, and the turn-
ed projecture arched with timber, lathed
and plastered. Harris. Johnson.
CO'VINOUS, a. Deceitful ; collusive ; fraud-
ulent.
COW, n. phi. cows; old plu. kine. [Sax.
cu ; D. koe ; G. kuh ; Sw. ko ; Dan. koe : L.
ceva ; Hindoo gaj, or gou : Pers. koh ;
Palilavi,g'ao ; Sans. go, a cow, and gau, an
ox; godama, a cowherd.]
The female of the bovine genus of animals;
a quadruped with cloven hoofs, whose
! milk furnishes an abundance of food and
profit to the farmer.
Sea-cow, the Manatus, a species of the Tri-
; chechus. [See Sea-coio.]
COW, V. t. [Qu. Ice. kufwa, or kuga, to de-
j press.] To depress with fear; to sink the
! spirits or courage ; to oppress with habit-
ual timidity. Shak.
JCOW'-BANE, n. [cow and bane.] A popu-
j lar name of the JEthusa cynapium.
C0W'H.\GE, ^ _ a leguminous plant of
COW-ITCH, p- the genus Z>o/kAo«, a na-
tive of warm climates. It has a fibrous
root and an herbaceous cUmbing stalk, with
red papilionaceous flowers, and legumin-
ous, coriaceous pods, crooked and cov-
ered with sharp hairs, which penetrate the
skin, and cause an itching. Encyc.
COWHERD, n. [See Herd.] One whose
occupation is to tend cows.
COW'-HOUSE, n. A house or builduig in
which cows are kept or stabled.
Mortimer.
COW-KEEPER, ji. One whose business
is to keep cows. Broome.
COW-LEECH, n. [See Leech.] One who
professes to heal the diseases of cows.
COW'-LEECHING, n. The act or art of
healing the distemi>ers of cows.
Mortimer.
COW'-LICK, n. A tuft of hair that
pears as if licked by
COW'-PARSNEP, n. A plant of the genus
Heracleum.
COW-PEN, n. A pen for cows.
COW-POX, >i. The vaccine disease.
COW-QUAKES, n. Quaking
Briza, a genus of plants.
COWSLIP, ) A plant of the genus Pri-
COW'S-LIP, ^ ■ mula, or primrose, of sev-
eral varieties. The American cowshp be-
longs to the genus Dodecatheon ; the Je-
rusalem and moimtaiu cowshp, to the ge-
nus Puhiionaiiu.
COW'S -LUNGWORT,
genus Verbascum.
ap-
grass, the
A plant of the
cow
C R A
C R A
€OW'-WEED, 71. A plain of the genus
Chffiro|)liylluni, or chervil.
COW-WHEAT, n. A plant of the genus
Melanipyrum.
eOW'ARD, n. [Fr. couard; Arm. couhard;
Sp. andPort. cobarde. The original French
orthography was culvert, and it has been
supposed to be from culum vertere, to turn
the tail. This suggestion receives coun-
tenance from the corresponding word in
Italian, codardo, codardia, which would
seem to be from coda, the tail ; and it de-
rives confirmation from the use of the
word in heraldry. In Welsh, it is cagan,
cafgi, from the same root as L. caco.]
1. A person who wants courage to meet
danger ; a poltroon ; a timid or pusillani-
mous man.
A coteard does not always escape with dis-
giace, but sometimes loses his life. South.
2. In heraldry, a term given to a lion borne
in the escutcheon with his tail doubled
between his legs. Encyc.
COW'ARD, a. Destitute of courage; timid;
base ; as a coward wretch.
3. Proceeding from or expressive of fear, or
timidity ; as coward cry : coward joy.
Shak. Prior.
COWARDICE, 71. [Fr. couardise ; Sp. co-
bardia.] Want of courage to face dan-
ger ; timidity ; pusillanimity ; fear of ex-
posing one's person to danger.
C'owctrdice alone is loss of fame. Dryden.
Did cowardice ; did injustice ever save a
sinking state. Ames.
COW'ARDLIKE, a. Resembling a cow-
ard ; mean.
COWARDLINESS, n. Want of courage
timidity ; cowardice.
COWARDLY, a. Wanting courage to
face danger ; timid ; timorous ; fearful
pusillanimous. Bacon
2. Mean ; base ; befitting a coward ; as a
cowardly action.
3. Proceeding from fear of danger ; as cow-
ardly silence. South
COWARDLY, adv. In the manner of a
coward ; meanly ; basely. Knolles.
COW'ARDOUS, 'a. Cowardly. [Mt used.]
Barret.
COWARDSHIP, n. Cowardice. [M>t
used.] Shak.
COWER, V. i. [W. cwrian, to squat, or
cower ; cwr, a circle ; G. kauern. See
Class Gr. No. 32. 34. 37.]
To sink by bending the knees ; to crouch
to squat ; to stoop or sink downwards.
Our dame sits cowering o"er a kitchen fire.
Dn/dei
COWER, V. I. To cherish with care. '[M'ol
used.] Spenser.
COW'ISH, a. Timorous; fearful; coward
ly. {Uttle used.] Shak
COWL, n. [contracted from Sax. cugle,
cugele ; L. cucullus ; Ir. cochal ; Sp. cogtdla
Port, cogula, citcxda.]
1. A monk's hood, or habit, worn by the
Bernardines and Benedictines. It is ei
ther white or black.
What differ more, you cry, than crown and
cowl ? Pope.
2. A vessel to be carried on a pole betwixt
two persons, for the conveyance of water
Johnson
COWL'-STAFF, Ji. A staff or pnle on
which a vessel is supported between two
persons. Sucklin
COWL'ED, a. Wearing a cowl ; hooded ;
in shape of a cowl, as a cowled leaf.
COW'LIKE, a. Resembling a cow. Pope.
CO-WORK'ER, n. One that works witli
another ; a co-operator.
COWRY, 71. A small shell, the Cyprwa mo-
neta, used for coin in Africa and the East
Indies.
COX'CO.'WB, n. [cock's comb.] The top of
the head. Shak.
2. The comb resembhng that of a cock,
which licensed fools wore formerly in
their caps. Shak.
3. A fop ; a vain showy fellow ; a superficial
pretender to knowledge or accomplish-
ments. Dryden. Pope.
4. A kind of red flower ; a name given to a
species of Celosia, and some other plants.
COX'COMBLY, a. Like a coxcomb. [JVo<
used.] Beawn.
COXCOM'ICAL, a. Foppish ; vain ; con
ceited ; a low word.
COY, a. [Fr. coi, or coy, quiet, still, con
tracted probably from the L. quietus or its
root, or from ca.uttis.]
Modest ; silent ; reserved ; not accessible ;
shy ; not easily condescending to familiar-
ity.
Like Daphne she, as lovely and as coy.
Waller.
COY, V. i. To behave with reserve ; to be
silent or distant ; to refrain from speech
or free intercourse. Dryden.
2. To make difficulty ; to be backward or
unwilling ; not freely to condescend.
Shak
3. To smooth or stroke. Shak.
COY, for decoy, to allure. [Aot in use.]
Shak.
eOY'ISH, a. Somewhat coy, or reserved.
eOY'LY, culv. With reserve; with dis'
clination to familiarity. Chapiih
COY'NESS, 71. Reserve ; unwillingness
become familiar; disposition to avoid free
intercourse, by silence or retirement.
When the kind nymph would coyness feign,
And hides but to be found again. Dryden
COYS'TREL, 7J. A species of degenerate
' awk. Drydtn
COZ. A contraction of cousin. Shak
COZ'EN, v.t. cuz'n. [Qu. Arm. cougzyeia
couchiein, concheza, to cheat, or to waste
and fritter away. In Russ. koznodei is a
cheat. Qu. chouse and cheat.]
1. To cheat ; to defraud.
He that suffers a government to be abused by
carelessness and neglect, does the same thing
w ith him that corruptly sets himself to cozen it .
L'Estrange.
2. To deceive ; to beguile.
Children may be cozened into a knowledge
of the letters. Locke.
COZ'ENAtiE, n. Cheat; trick; fraud; de-
ceit; artifice; the practice of cheating.
Dn/den. Sicijl.
COZ'ENED, pp. Cheated ; defrauded ; be-
guiled.
COZ'ENER, n. One who cheats, or de-
frauds.
COZ'ENING, ppr. Cheating ; defrauding ;
beguiling.
CRAB, n. [Sax. crabba and hrefen ;
krabba ; Dan. krabbe, krcsbs ; D. krab.
kreefl ; G. krabbe, krebs ; Fr. ecrevisse ; W
crav, claws; cravavc, a crab; cravu, U
scratdi ; Gr. xapagoj ; L. carabxis. It may
be allied to the Ch. 3-0 kerabh, to plow
Eng. to grave, engrave, L. scribo, Gr
ypoijju, literally, to scrape or scratch. See
Class Rb. No. 30. 18. &c.]
1. A crustaceous fish, the cray-fish. Cancer, a
genus containuig numerous species. They
have usually ten feet, two of which are
furnished with claws ; two eyes, pedun-
culated, elongated and movable. To this
genus belong the lobster, the shrimp, &c.
2. A wild apjile, or the tree j)roducing it ; so
named from its rough taste.
3. A peevish morose person. Johnson.
4. A wooden engine with three claws for
lanchiiig ships and heaving them into the
dock. Phillips.
5. A pillar used sometimes for the same pur-
se as a capstan. Mar. Did.
6. Cancer, a sign in tlie zodiac.
Crab's claws, in the materia medica, the tips
of the claws of the common crab; used as
absorbents. Encyc.
Crab's eyes, in pharmacy, concretions form-
ed in the stomach of "the cray-fisb. They
are rounded on one side, and depressed
and einuated on the other, considerably
heavy, moderately hard, and without
smell. They are absorbent, discussive
and diuretic. Encyc.
Crab-lice, small insects that stick fast to the
skin.
CRAB, a. Sour ; rough ; austere. [Qu
frail, supra, or L. acerbu^.]
CRAB'-APPLE, n. A wild apple. [See
Crab, No. 9.]
CRAB'-GRASS, 71. A genus of plants, the
Digitaria. Muhlenberg.
CRAB'-TREE, 77. The tree that bears
crabs. Shak.
CRAB'-YAWS, 77. The name of a disease
in the West Indies, being a kind of ulcer
on the soles of the feet, with hard callous
lips. Encyc.
CRAB'BED, a. [from crai.] Rough; harsh;
austere : sour ; peevish ; morose ; cynical ;
applied to the temper. Shak.
2. Rough ; harsh ; applied to things.
3. Diti;ciilt; perplexing; as a eroWerf author
subject. Dryden.
CRAB'BEDLY, adv. Peevishly ; roughly ;
morosely ; with perplexity. Johnson.
CRAB'BEDNESS, 7i. Roughness ; harsh-
ness.
2. Sourness ; peevishness ; asperity.
Difficulty ; perplexity.
CRAB'BY, a. Difficult. Moxon.
CRAB'ER, 71. The water-rat. H'allon.
CRACK, V. t. [Fr. craquer ; D. kraaken ; G.
krachen ; Dan. krakker ; It. croccare ; W.
rhecain ; Sp. rajar ; Port, rachar ; probably
from the root of break, tcreek, and coinci-
ding with the Gr. fpsixu, priyniu ; also with
Eng. creak, croak. The W. has also crig, a
crack, from rhig, a notch. Owen. See
Class Rg. No. 34.]
1. To rend, break, or burst into chinks ; to
break partially ; to divide the parts a lit-
tle from each other ; as, to crack a hoard
or a rock : or to break without an entire
severance of the parts ; as, to crack glass,
or ice.
2. To break in pieces ; as, to crack nuts.
3. To break with grief; to aflect deeply ; to
pain; to torture; as, to crack the heart.
We now use break, or 7e7irf. Shak.
4. To open and drink ; as, to crack a bottle
of wine. [Loic]
C R A
C R A
C R A
t>. To thrust out, or cast with smartness ; as,|
to crack a joke.
G. To snap ; to make a sharp sudden noise ;
as, to crack a whip.
7. To break or destroy.
8. To impair the regular exercise of the m-,
tcllectual faculties ; to disorder ; to uiake
crazy ; as, to crack tlie brain.
€RACK, V. i. To burst ; to open in chinks :
as, the earth cracks by frost : or to be mar-
red without an opening; as, glass cracks
by a sudden apphcation of heat.
2. To fall to ruin, or to be impaired.
The credit of the exchequer cracks, when lit-
tle comes in and much goes out. IJSTot ele-
gant.] Dryden.
3. To utter a loud or sharp sudden sound ;
as, the clouds crack ; the whip craclcs.
Shak.
4. To boast ; to brag ; that is, to utter vain,
pompous, blustering words ; with of.
The Ethiops of their sweet complexion crack.
\_JVot elegant.] Shak.
CRACK, n. [Gr. poyaj.] A disruption ; a
chinkor fissure ; a narrow breach ; a crev-
ice ; a partial separation of the parts of a
substance, with or without an opening ;
as a crack in timber, in a wall, or in glass.
2. A burst of sound ; a sharp or loud sound,
uttered suddeidy or vrith vehemence ; the
sound of any thing suddenly rent; a vio-
lent report ; as the crack of a falling house ;
the crack of bl whip.
3. Change of voice in puberty. Shak
4. Craziness of intellect ; or a crazy person
Addison
5. A boast, or boaster. [Low.'\
6. Breach of chastity ; and a prostitute
[Loiv.]
7. A lad ; an instant. [jVo< used."]
€RACK'-BRAINED, a. Having intellects
impaired ; crazy.
€RACK'E1), pp. Burster split; rent; bro-
ken ; partially severed.
2. Impaired ; crazy.
€RACK'ER, n. A noisy boasting fellow.
Shak
2. A rocket ; a quantity of gunpowder con-
fined so as to explode with noise.
3. A hard biscuit. America.
4. That which cracks any thing.
€RACK'-HEMP, > A wretch fated to th
CRACK' -ROPE, S gallows ; one who
deserves to be hanged. Shak.
CRACK'ING, ppr. Breaking or dividing
partially ; opening ; impairing ; snapping
littering a sudden sharp or loud sound
boasting ; casting jokes.
CRACK'LE, V. i. [dim. of crack.] To make
slight cracks ; to make small abrupt noises,
rapidly or frequently repeated ; to decrep-
itate ; as, burning thorns crackle.
■CRACK'LING, ppr. Making shght cracks,
or abrupt noises.
CRACK'LING, n. The making of small
abrupt cracks or reports, frequently re-
peated.
The crackling of thorns under a pot. Ecclcs.
vii.
CRACK'NEL, n. A hard brittle cake or
biscuit. 1 Kings xiv. 3.
CRA'DLE, n. [Sax. cradel ; W. cn/rf, a
, rocking or shaking, a cradle ; cryku, to
shake, or tremble ; cn/rfmn, crydiaw, id. ;
fi-om rhjjd, a moving": Ir. rreathnm, to
fdiake ; Gr. xpaioM, id. and to swing ;
Heb. Tin, to tremble or shake, to palpi-
tate ; Syr. in Ethp., to rub or scrape. With-
out the first letter, VV. rhyd, Heb. Ch. Eth.
TyT to tremble, to shake. In Ar. Ac ,
raada,to thunder, to impress terror, to trem-
ble ; and i I. ,
I hither and thither.
to move one way and the other, to trem
ble or shako. The Arabic j^s to
thunder, coincides with the Latin rurfo,
roar, and the W. grydiaw, to utter a rough
sound, to shout, whoop or scream, gri/dwst.
a murmur, from f^rt/d, a shout or whoop,
and this from rhyd ; so that crydiaw and
grydiaw are from tlic same root," atid from
this we have cry, and cry implies rough
ness, coinciding with the Syriac, supra, to
scrape, whence /grate, gride, &c. See
Owen's Welsh Dictionary, and Castle's
Heptaglot.]
1. A movable machine of various construe
tions, placed on circular pieces of board,
for rocking children or infirm persons to
sleep, for alleviating pain, or giving mod-
erate exercise.
Me let the tender office long engage.
To rock the cradle of reposing age. Pope.
2. Infancy. From the cradle, is from tlic
state of infancy ; in the cradle, in a state of
infancy.
3. That part of the stock of a cross-how.
where the bullet is put. Encyc.
4. In surgery, a case in which a broken leg
is laid, after being set. Encyc.
5. In ship-building, a frame placed under
the bottom of a ship for lanching. It sup-
ports the ship and slides down the timbers
or passage called the ways. Encyc.
6. A standing bedstead for wounded sea-
men. Mar. Diet.
7. In engraving, an instrument, formed of
steel, and resembling a chisel, with one
sloping side, used in scraping mezzotintos,
and preparing' the plate. Encyc.
8. In husbandry, a frame of wood, with long
bending teeth, to which is fastened a
sythe, for cutting and laying oats and oth
er grain in a swath.
CRA'DLE, V. t. To lay in a cradle ; to rock
in a cradle ; to compose, or quiet.
It cradles their fears to sleep. D. A. Clark.
3. To nurse in infancy. D. Webster.
3. To cut and lay with a cradle, as grain.
CRADLE, V. t."To lie or lodge in a cradle.
Shak.
CRA'DLE-eLOTHES, n. The clothes used
for covering one in a cradle.
CRA'DLED, pp. Laid orrocked in a cradle ;
cut and laid with a cradle, as grain.
CRA'DLING, ppr. Laying or rocking in a
cradle ; cutting and laying with a cradle
as grain.
CR'AFT, n. [Sax. crwfl, art, cunning, pow-
er, force ; G. Sw. Dan. krafl, power,
faculty ; W. crev, cryv, strong ; crevu, to
cry, to scream, to crave ; cryvau, to strength-
en, to wax strong ; craf, a clasp ; crafu,
to hold, to comprehend, to perceive ; cra-
fus, of quick perception. The primary
sense is to strain or stretch. Hence,
strength, skill, a crying out, holding, &c.'
1. Art; ability; dexterity; skill.
Poesy is t'le poet's skill or crafl of making—
B. Jonson.
2. Cunning, art or skill, in a bad sense, or
applied to bad purposes ; artifice ; guile ;
skill or dexterity employed to effect pur-
poses by deceit.
The chief priests and scribes sought how they
might take him by crafl, and put him to deatii.
Mark xiv.
3. Art ; skill ; dexterity in a particular man-
ual occupation ; hence, the occupation or
employment itself; manual art; trade.
Ye know that by this craft we have our
wealth. Actsxix.
4. All sorts of vessels employed in loading
or unloading ships, as lighters, hoys, bar-
ges, scows, &.C.
Small crafl is a term given to small vessels
of all hinds, as sloops, schooners, cutters,
&c.
CR'AFT, V. i. To play tricks. [jVo( in use.\
Shak.
CR AFTILY, adv. [See Crafty.] With craft,
cunning or guile ; artfully ; cunningly ;
with more art than honesty.
CRAFTINESS, n. Artfulness; dexterity
in devising and effecting a purpose ; cun-
ning ; artifice ; stratagem.
He takelh the wise in their own craflinesf
Job V.
Not walking in craftiness, nor handhng tlie
word of God deceitfully. 2 Cor. iv.
CRAFTSMAN, n. An artificer; a mechan-
ic ; one skilled in a manual occupation.
CRAFTSMASTER, n. One skilled in his
j craft or trade.
jCR'AFTY, a. Cunning; artful; skilful in
devising and pursuing a scheme, by de-
ceiving others, or by taking advantage of
their ignorance; wily; sly; fraudulent.
He disappointeth the devices of the crafty.
Job V.
2. Artful ; cunning ; in a good sense, or in a
laudable pursuit.
Being crafty, I caught you with guile. 2
Cor. xii.
CRAG, n. [W. Scot. Ir. craig ; Gaelic,
creag; Corn, karak ; Arm. garrecq ; prob-
ably Gr. pa;i;io, pajfij, from the root of pjpy-
nu, to break, like rupes,m Latin, from the
root of rumpo, rupi, and crepido, from cre-
po. See Crack. The name is taken from
breaking, L. frango, for frago ; and/rog-o-
sus, and craggy, are the same word with
different prefixes; Eng, ragged. The
Kpayoj in Cilicia, mentioned by Straho and
Pliny, retains the Celtic orthography.]
A steep iTjgged rock ; a rough broken rock,
or point of a rock.
CRAG, n. [Sax. hracea, the neck ; Scot,
crag-, or craig ; Gr. paxn. The same word
probably as the preceding, from il.-< rough-
ness, or break. We now call it rack.]
Tlie neck, formerly applied to the neck of a
human being, as in Spenser. We now
apply it to the neck or neck-piece of mut-
ton, and call it a rack of mutton.
CRAG'GED, a. Full of crags or broken
rocks ; rough ; rugged ; abounding with
prominences, points and inequaUties.
CRAG'GEDNESS, n. The state of abound-
ing with crags, or broken, pointed rocks.
CRAG'GINESS, n. The state of being
craggy. ^
CRAG'GY, a. Full of crags ; abounding
with broken rocks ; rugged with projec-
C R A
ting points of rocks ; as the craggy side
of a mountain; a craggi/ cliff.
CRAKE, n. A boast. [See Crack.]
Spenser.
€RAKE, n. [Qu. Gr. *p«l, fi-om xpsxu.] Tlie
corn-crake, a migratory fowl, is a species
of the rail, Ralhis, found among grass,
corn, broom or furze. Its cry is very sin-
gular, crek, crek, and is imitated by rub-
bing the blade of a knife on an indented
bone, by which it may be decoyed into a
net. Encyc.
CRAKE-BERRY, n. A species of Enipe-
trinn or berry-bearing heath.
CRA3I, V. t. [Sax. crammian ; Sw. krama :
coinciding in sense and probably in origin
with ram.]
1. To press or drive, particularly in filling
or thnisting one thing into another ; to
stuff; to crowd ; to fill to supei-fluity ; as,
to cram any thing into a basket or bag
cram a room with people ; to cram victuals
down the throat.
2. To fill with food beyond satiety ; to stuff.
Children would be more free from diseases, if
they were not crammed so much by fond
mothers. Locke.
3. To thrust in by force ; to crowd.
Fate lias crajnmed us all into one lease.
Lhydcn,
CRAM, V. i. To eat greedily or beyond sa-
tiety ; to stuff. ' Pope.
CRAM'BO, n. A rhyme; a play in which
one person gives a word to which' anoth-
er finds a rhyme. Swift.
CRAM'MED, 'pp. Stuffed; crowded; thrust
in ; filled with food.
CRAM'MING, ppr. Driving in ; stufling ;
crowding ; eating beyond satiety or suffi-
ciency.
CRAMP, n. [Sax. hramma; D. kramp ; G.
Dan. Sw. krampe ; It. rampone, a cramp-
iron. Qu. Ir. crampa, a knot. If jn is
radical, this word may accord with the
Cehic croin, G. knimm, crooked, from
shrinking, contracting. But '\{p is radical,
this word accords with the W. craf, a
clasp, a cramp-iron, crafu, to secure hold
of, to comprehend, Ir. crapadh, to shrink
or contract. The sense is to strain or
stretch.]
J . Spasm ; the contraction of a limb, or some
muscle of the body, attended with pain,
and sometimes with convulsions, or numb-
ness.
0. ilestraint ; confinement: that which hin-
ders from motion or expansion.
A narrow fortune is a. cramp to a great miad.
L'Estrange.
■',. A piece of iron bent at the ends, serving
to hold together pieces of timber, stones,
&c. ; a cramp-iron. [Fr. crampon; It.
rampone.]
CRAMP, V. t. To pain or affect with
i. To confine ; to restrain ; to hinder from
action or expansion ; as, to cramp the ex-
ertions of a nation ; to cramp the genius
3. To fasten, confine or hold with a cramp
or cramp-iron.
CRAMP, a. Difficult ; knotty. {Uttle used.]
Goodman
CRAMP'ED, pp. Affected with spasm ; con
vulsed ; confined ; restrained.
CRAMP'-FISH, n. The torpedo, or electric
ray, the touch of which aftects a person
C R A
like electricity, causing a slight shock and
producing numbness, tremor, and sickness
of the stomach.
CRAMP'ING, ppr. Affecting with cramp ;
eonfiuing.
CRAMP'-IRON, n. An iron used for fast-
enmg things together ; a cramp, which
see.
CRA'NAGE, n. [from crane. Low L. cran-
agium.]
The liberty of using a crane at a wharf for
raising wares from a vessel ; also, the mon-
ey or price paid for the use of a crane.
Cowel. Encyc.
CRAN'BERRY, n. [crane and herry.] A
species of Vaccinium ; a berry that grows
on a slender, bending stalk. Its botanical
name is oxycoccus, [sour berry,] and it is
also called moss-beriy, or moor-berry, as
it grows only on peat-bogs or swampy
land. The berry when ripe is red, and of
the size of a small cherry or of the haw-
thorn berry. These berries form a sauce
of exquisite flavor, and are used for tarts.
The cranberry of the United States is a
distinct species, the V. macrocarpon. [The
common pronunciation, cramberry, is erro-
iieous.]
CRANE, n. [Sax. cran ; G. krahn; D.
kraan ; Sw. kran, or trana ; Dan. krane, or
trane ; W garan ; Corn, kiuna ; Arm.g-a-
ran ; Gr. yjparoj, whence geranium, the
plant, crane's-bill. The word in Welsh
signifies a shank or shaft, a a-ane or heron.
This fowl then may be named from its
long legs. Qu. pp to shoot.]
1. A migratory fowl of the genus Ardea, be-
longing to the grallic order. The bill is
straight, sharp and long, with a fiu-row
from the nostrils towards the point ; the
nostrils are linear, and the feet have four
toes. These fowls have long legs, and a
long neck, being destined to wade and
seek their food among grass and reeds in
marshy grounds. The common crane is
about four feet in length, of a slender
body, with ash-coloured feathers.
2. A machine for raising great weights, con-
sisting of a horizontal arm, or piece of
timber, projecting fiom a post, and fur-
nished with a tackle or pulley.
.3. A siphon, or crooked pipe for drawing
liquors out of a cask.
CRA'NE'S-BILL, n. The plant Geranium,
of many species ; so named from an appen-
dage of the seed-vessel, which resembles
the beak of a crane or stork. Some of the
species have beautiful flowers and a fra-
grant scent, and several of them are valu-
ed for their astringent properties. [See
Crane.] Encyc.
A pair of pinchers used by surgeons.
CRA'NE-FLY, n. An insect of the genus
Tipula, of many species. The mouth is a
prolongation of the head ; the upper jaw
is arched ; the palpi are two, curved and
longer than the head ; the proboscis is
short. Encyc.
CRANIOG'NOMY, n. [Gr. xpavi.w, the
skull, and yrui^a, knowledge.]
The knowledge of the cranium or skull; the
science of the expression of human tem-
per, disposition and talents. Good.
CRANIOLOG'ICAL, a. Pertaining to cra-
niology.
C R A
CRANIOL'OgIST, n. One who treats oi
craniology, or one who is versed in tlic
science of the craniimi.
CRANIOL'OGY, n. [Gr. xpavm, the skull,
and >.oyos, discourse.]
A discourse or treatise on the craninm or
skull; or the science which investigates
the structure and uses of the skulls in va-
rious animals, particularly in relation to
their specific character and intellectual
powers. Ed. Encyc.
€RANIOM'ETER,re. [x(,mi.ov, the skull, and
fiirfxn, measure.]
An instrument for measuring the skulls of
animals.
CRANIOMET'RICAL, a. Pertaining to
craniometry.
CRANIOM'ETRY, n. The art of measur-
ing the cranium, or skulls, of animals, for
discovering their specific differences.
CRANIOS'COPY, n. [xporiw, supra, and
axoTtiu, to view.]
The science of the eminences produced in
the cranium by the brain, intended to dis-
cover the particular part of the brain in
which reside the organs which influence
particular passions or faculties.
Ed. Encyc.
CRA'NIUM, 71. [L. fi-om Gr. xpo..«.r.] The
skull of an animal ; the assemblage of
bones which inclose the brain.
CRANK, n. [This word probably belongs
to the root of cringe, krinkle, to bend. D.
krinkel, a curl ; kronkel, a bend or wind-
ing ; and krank, weak, is probably from
bending; Ir. freanc, to make crooked,
Qu. ;ro, or the root of a-ook.]
1. Literally, a bend or turn. Hence, an iron
axis with the end bent like an elbow, for
moving a piston, the saw in a saw-mill,
&c., and causing it to rise and fall at
every turn.
2. Any bend, turn or winding. Shak.
3. A twisting or turning in speech ; a con-
ceit which consists in a change of the
form or meaning of a word.
Quips and cranks, and wanton wiles. Milton.
4. An iron brace for various purposes.
Mar. Diet.
CRANK, a. [D. krank ; G. id., weak ; Sw.
krhncka, to affiict ; Dan. krxnker, id., or
krcenger, to careen a ship.]
In seamen''s language, liable to be overset,
as a ship when she is too narrow, or has
not sufficient ballast to carry full sail.
2. Stout; bold; erect; as a cock crowing
crank. Spenser.
CRANK, > , . [SeeCrnnk,n., and Crin-
CRANK'LE, 5 ^' *• kle.] To run in a wind-
ing course ; to bend, wind and turn.
See how this river comes me crankling in.
Shak.
CRANK'LE, V. t. To break into bonds,
turns or angles; to crinkle.
Old Vaga's stream
Crankling her banks. Philips.
CRANK'LE, M. A bend or turn ; a crinkle.
CRANK'NESS, n. Liability to be overset,
as a ship.
2. Stoutness ; erectness.
CRAN'NIED, a. [See Cranny.] Having
rents, chinks or fissures ; as a crannied wall.
Brown. Shak.
CRAN'NY, n. [Fr. cran; Arm. cran, a
notch ; L. crena ; from the root of
rend, Sax. hrendan or rendan ; Arm. ran-
C R A
C R A
C R A
jta, to split ; crenna, to cut off; W. rhanu,
to divide ; rhan, a piece ; Ir. roinnim, or
ndnnim, to divide; Gr. xpiru; L. ctmo.
See Class Rn. No. 4. 13. l(i.]
I. Properly, a rent ; but commonly, any small
nan-ow opening, fissure, crevice or chink,
as in a wall, or other substance.
In a firm buildiiis;, tile caviiics ought to be
filled with brick or stone, fitted to the crannies.
Dry den.
3. A hole ; a secret retired place.
He peepeil into every cranny. ^rh\ithnot.
3. In glass-making, an iron instrument for
fortnin;^ the necks of glasses. Encyc.
CRANTS, n. [G. kranz.) Garlands carried
before the bier of a maiden and hung over
her grave. Shak.
€RAPE, n. [Fr. cripe, and creper, to curl,
to crisp, to frizzle ; Arm. crrp ; Sp. cres-
pon, crape ; crespo, crisp, cinleil ; crespar,
to crisp or curl ; Port, crespam. Crape is
contracted from cresv, crisp. [D. krip, G.
krepp, Dan. krep.] bee Crisp.]
A thin transparent stuff, made of raw silk
gummed and twisted on the mill, woven
without crossing, and much used in mourn-
ing. Crape is also used for gowns and the
dress of the clergy.
A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn.
Pope.
CR.\PE, V. t. To cm-l ; to form into ring-
lets ; as, to crape the hair.
CRAP'LE, n. [W. crav.] A claw. Spenser.
CRAP'NEL, n. A hook or drag. Qu. grapnel.
CRAP'ULENCE, n. [L. crapula, a surfeit.
See Crop.]
Cropsickness ; drunkenness; a surfeit, or
the sickness occasioned by intemperance.
Did.
€RAP'ULOUS, a. Drunk ; surcharged with
liquor ; sick by intemperance. Diet.
CRASH, V. t. [Fr. ecraser, to crush. Crash
seems to be alUed to crush and to rush,
Sax. hreosan.]
To break ; to bruise. Shak.
CRASH, V. 7. To make the loud, clattering,
nmltifarious sound of many things falling
and breaking at once.
When convulsions cleave the lab'ring earth,
Before the dismal yawn appears, the ground
Trembles and heaves, the nodding hoi
crash. Sm
CRASH, n. The loud mingled sound of]
many things falling and breaking s
as the sound of a large tree falling and
its branches breakuig, or the sound of a
falling bouse.
CRASH'ING, n. The sound of many things
falling and breaking at once.
There shall be a great crashing from the hills.
Zeph. i.
CRA'SIS, n. [Gr. xpoms, from xspavvviii, oi
xfpou, to mix, to temper.]
1. The temper or healthy constitution of the
blood in an animal body ; the tempera-
ment which forms a particular constitu-
tion of the blood. Core.
'2. In grammar, a figure by which two dif-
ferent letters are contracted into one long
letter or into a diphthong ; as aJujSta into
<Af;8Tl ; tvxfoi into tvzmi.
■CRASS, a. [L. crassus, the same as gross,
which see.] Gross; thick; coarse; not
thin, nor fine ; applied to fluids and solids ;
as, a-ass and fumid exhalations. [LAttle
used.] Brown
€RASS'AMENT, n. The thick red part ol
the blood, as distinct from the serum, or
aqueous part ; the clot.
CRASS'lTUDE, n. [L. crassiludo.] Cross-
ness ; coarseness ; thickness ; applied to
liquids or solids. Bacon. It'oodward.
CRASS'NESS, ji. Grossnes.s. GlanvUle.
CRATCH, ,1. [Fr. crecAe.] A rack ; a grated
crib or manger.
[/ believe not used in JVew England.]
CRATCH. [See Scratch.]
CRATCH'ES, n. plu. [G. kralze, the itch,
cratches ; kratzen, to scratch.]
In the manege, a swelling on the jjastern,
under the fetlock, and sometimes under
the hoof of a horse,
JCRATE, n. [L. crates.] A kind of basket or
! hamper of wicker-work, used for the
transportation of chuia, crockery and sim
ilar wares.
CRA'TER, n. [L. crater, Gr. xpoT.;p, :
great cup.]
1. The aperture or mouth of a volcano.
2. A constellation of the southern bemi
sphere, said to contain 31 stars.
CR>AUNCH, 17. t. [D. schranssen ; Vulgai
scraunch.] '
To crush with the teeth ; to chew with vio-
lence and noise.
CR'AUNCHING, ppr. Crushing with the
I teeth with violence.
CRAVAT', n. [Fr. cravate ; It. cravatta ;
I Sp. corbata ; Port, caravata. In Dan.
j krage, and krave, is a collar, a cape, the
neck of a shirt, &c.]
A neck-cloth ; a piece of fine muslin or other
cloth worn by men about the neck.
CRAVE, V. t. [Sax. crafian, to crave, ask,
implore ; W. creuit, to cry, to cry for, to
crave ; creu, a cry, a scream ; Sw. kr'ajia ;
Dan. krmver ; Ice. krefa. See Class Rb. No.
2. 4. Syr. So also D. roepen. Sax. hreopen,
Goth, hropyan, to cry out, as our vulgar
phrase is, to rip out. The primary sense
is to cry out, or call.]
1. To ask with earnestness or importunity ;
to beseech ; to implore ; to ask with sub-
mission or humility, as a dependent ; to
beg ; to entreat.
As for my nobler friends, I crave tlieir par-
dons. Shak.'
Joseph — went in boldly to Pilate, and craved
the body of Jesus. Mark xv. j
2. To call for, as a gratification ; to long}
for ; to require or demand, as a passion
or appetite ; as, the stomach or appetite
craves food.
3. Sometimes intransitively, with for before
the thing sought ; as, I crave for mercy.
CRA'VED, pp. Asked for with earnestness ;
implored ; entreated ; longed for ; re-
quired.
CRA'VEN, } [Qu. from crave, that is,
CRA'VENT, > n. one who begs for his
CRA'VANT, ) life, when vanquished.]
1. A word of obloquy, used formerly by one
vanquished in trial by battle, and yielding
to the conqueror. Hence, a recreant ; a
coward ; a weak-hearted spiritless fellow.
Shak.
2. A vanquished, dispirited cock. Shak.
CRA'VEN, II. t. To make recreant, weak or
cowardly. Shak.
CRA'VER, n. One who craves or begs.
CRA'VING, ppr. Asking with importunity :
urging for earnestly ; begging ; entreating.
2. Calling for with urgency ; requiring ; de-
manding gratification ; as an appetite era-
ving food.
CRA'VING, n. Vehement or urgent desire,
or calling for; a longing for.
CRAW, n. [Dan. kroe ; Sw. kr&fva. This
word coincides in elements with crop ; W.
cropa ; Sax. crop ; D. krop ; G. kropf. The
Danish kroe signifies the craw, and a vict-
ualhng house, tavern or alehouse. It
seems to be named from gathering.]
The crop or first stomach of fowls. Ray.
CRAW-FISH, I ^ [Craw is contracted from
CRAY-FISH, ^"•fra6, or from the Welsh
crag, a shell ; pysgod cragen, shell-fish.
See Crab. Qu. is imtflsh, in these words,
from the last syllable of the French ecre-
visse ?]
A species of Cancer or crab, a crustaceous
fish, found in streams. It resembles the
lobster, but is smaller, and is esteemed
very delicate food.
CRAWL, V. i. [D. krielen ; Scot, crowl; Dan.
kravkr, to crawl up, to climb ; Sw. krbla,
to ciawl, to swarm ; D. grielen, to swarm;
grillen, to shiver or shudder ; Fr. grouiller,
to stir about, to crawl with insects ; It.
grillare, to simmer. Qu. Dan. kriller, to
itch.]
1. To creep; to move slowly by thrusting
or drawing the body along the ground,
as a worm ; or to move slowly on the
hands and knees or feet, as a human be-
ing. A worm crawls on the earth ; a boy
crawls into a cavern, or up a tree.
2. To move or walk weakly, slowly, or tim-
orously.
He was hardly able to crawl about the room.
.^rbuthnot.
3. To creep; to advance slowly and slyly;
to insinuate one's self; as, to crawl into fa-
vor. [This use is vulgar.]
4. To move about ; to move in any direc-
tion ; used in contempt.
Absurd opinions crawl about the world.
Sotilh.
5. To have the sensation of insects creeping
about the body ; as, the flesh crawls.
CRAWL, n. [Qu. D. kraal.) A pen or in-
closure of stakes and hurdles on the sea
coast for couiaining fish. Mar. Diet.
CRAWL'ER, n. He or that which crawls ;
a creeper ; a reptile.
CRAWL'ING,/>^r. Creeping; moving slow-
ly along the ground, or other substance ;
moving or walking slowly, weakly or timo-
rously ; insinuating.
CRAY or CRA'YER, n. AsmaUsea vessel,
[JVot in use.]
CRAY-FISH, n. The river lobster. [See
Craiv-fish.]
CRA'YON, n. [Fr. from craie, chalk, from
L. creta, Sp. greda.]
1. A general name for all colored stones,
earths, or other minerals and substances,
used in designing or painting in pastel or
paste, whether they have been beaten and
reduced to paste, or are used in their prim-
itive consistence. Red crayons are made
of blood-stone or red chalk ; black ones,
of charcoal or black lead. Encyc.
2. A kind of pencil, or roll of paste, to draw
lines with. Dryden.
3. A drawing or design done with a pencil
Oi- crayon. Johnson.
CRA'YON, V. t. To sketch with a crayon.
Hence.
C R E
9. To sketch ; to plan ; to commit to paper
one's first thoughts. Bolingbroke.
€RA'yON-PAINTING, n. The act or art
ofdrawhig with crayons.
■GRAZE, V. t. [Fr. ecraser ; Sw. krossa ; to
break or bruise, to crush. See Crush.]
1. To break; to weaken; to break or im-
pair the natural force or energy of.
Till length of years,
And sedentary numbness, craze my limbs.
Milton.
3. To crusli in pieces ; to grinJ to powder ;
as, to craze tin.
3. To crack the brain ; to shatter; to impair
the intellect ; as, to be crazed with love or
grief. Shak.
CRA'ZED, pp. Broken ; bruised ; crushed ;
impaired; deranged in intellect; decrepit.
CRA'ZEDNESS, >i. A broken state ; de-
crepitude ; an impaired state of the intel-
lect. Hooker.
€RA'ZE-M1LL, I A mill resembling a
CRA'ZING-MILL, $ "" grist mill, used for
grinding tin. Enct/c.
€RA'Z1LY, adr. [See Crazy.] In a broken
or crazv manner.
eRA'ZINESS, n. [See Crazy.] The state
of being broken or weakened ; as the era
ziness of a ship or of the limbs.
2. The state of being broken in mind; imbc
cility or weakness of intellect ; derange
ment.
€RA'Zy, a. [Fr. ecrasi.] Broken; de
crepit ; weak; feeble ; applied to the body,
or constitution, or any structure ; as a crazy
body; a crozj/ constitution ; acrozi/ship.
2. Broken, weakened, or disordered in Intel
lect ; deranged, weakened, or shattered in
mind. We say, the man is crazy.
•GREAGHT, n. [Irish.] Herds of cattle
[J\rot used.] Davies.
GREAGHT, v. i. To graze on lands. [JVol
used.] Dai '
■CREAK, V. i. [W. crecian, to scream,
crash ; crec, a scream, a shriek ; connected
with creg, cr^g-, rough, hoarse, harsh, from
rhyg, Eng. i-ye, -but the sense of which is
rough, rugged. Indeed this is radically the
same word as rough, L. raucus. The L.
rueio is probably fiom the same root, and
perhaps rugo. The Sax. cearcian, to
creak, may" be the same word, the letters
transposed ; as may the Sp. cruxir, to rus-
tle, Gr. xpzxa, to comb, scrape, rake, and
Russ. crik, a cry, krichu, to cry. On this
word are formed shriek and screech.
To make a sharp harsh grating sound, of
some continuance, as by the friction of
liard substances. Thus, the hinge of a
door creaks in turning; a tight firm shoe
creaks in walking, by the friction of the
leather.
GRE'AKING, ppr. Making a harsh grating
sound ; as creaking hinges or shoes.
GRE'AKING, n. A harsh grating sound.
CREAM, n. [Fr. crime; L. cremor ; G.
rahm ; Sax. ream ; Ice. riome ; D. room ;
Sp. crema. Class Rm.]
1. In a general sense, any part of a liquoi
that separates from the rest, rises and col-
lects on the surface. More particularly,
the oily part of milk, which, when the milk
stands unagitated in a cool place, rises and
forms a scum on the surface, as it is spe-
i-ifically lighter than the other part of the
liijuor. This by agitation forms butter
C R E
2. The best part of a thing ; as the cream of a
jest or story.
Cream of lime, the scum of lime water ; or
that part of lime which, after being dissol-
ved in its caustic state, separates from the
water in the mild state of chalk or lime-
stone. Encyc.
Cream of tartar, the scum of a boiling solu-
tion of tartar. Coxe.
The purified and crystahzed supertar-
trate of potash. C'A.'m.
GREAM, V. t. To skim ; to take off cream
by skinmiing.
To take off the quintessence or best part
of a thing.
GREAM, V. i. To gather cream ; to flower
or mantle.
2. To grow stiff, or formal. Shak.
GRE'AM-BOWL, n. A bowl for holding
cream.
GRE'AM-FACED, a. White ; pale ; having
a coward look. Shak,
GRE'AM-POT, n. A vessel for holding
cream.
GRE'AMY, a. Full of cream; like cream :
bavins the nature of cream ; luscious,
GRE'ANCE, ?i. [Fr. from L. credo, credens.]
l\\ falconry, a fine small hue, fastened to a
hawk's leash, when she is first lured.
Bailey.
GREASE, n. [Qu. G. kraxisen, Sw. krusa,
Dan. kruser, Scot, creis, to curl, to cris
Class Rd. No. 73. 83. ; or Fr. creuser, i
make hollow, from creux, hollow, Clai
Rg. See Cnsp.]
A line or mark made by folding or doubling
any thing ; a hollow streak, like a groove.
GREASE, II. t. To make a crease or mark
in a thing by folding or doubling.
CRE'AT, n. [Fr.] In (/le majifg-e, an usher
to a riding master. Encyc.
GREA'TE, I', t. [Fr. creer ; It. creare ; Sp
and Port, criar ; L. creo ; Ann. croui .,
Corn, gurei. In W. crUu signifies to create
and creu, to cry, to crave, to caw, to beg
W. creih and crez, constitution, temper
also, a trembling or shivering witli ookl.
Ir. croth or criith, form, shape : mithaighim,
to create, to prove, assert, maintain. From
the Celtic then it appears that the L. ereo
is contracted by the loss oCs. d or th. The
Welsh has also cri, a cry, and criatc, to
cry, both deduced by Owen from ere;
but ere is a contraction ofcrevu, to cry, or
otgryd, a crying or whooping, or cryd, a
shaking. In Welsh also cri signifies rough,
raw, crude; all which unite in the root of
cry, cradle, L. rudo, to bray. The primary
sense of create and of cry is the same, to
throw or drive out, to produce, to bring
forth, precisely as in the Shemitic N13.
But the Welsh creu and creu may perhaps
be from different roots, both however
with the same primary sense.]
1. To produce ; to bring into being from
nothing ; to cause to exist.
In the beginning, God created the heaven
and the earth. Gen. i.
a. To make or form, by investing with a new
character ; as, to create one a peer or bar-
on : to create a manor.
I create you
Companions to our person. Shak
3. , To produce ; to cause ; to be the occasion
of
C R E
Your eye i
Would create soldiers, and make women f
fiak
Long abstinence creates uneasiness in the
stomach ; confusion is created by hurry.
To beget ; to generate ; to bring forth.
The people which shall be created, shall
praise the Lord. Ps. cii.
To make or produce, by new combina-
tions of inatter already created, and by
investing these combinations with new
forms, constitutions and qualities ; to shape
and organize.
God created man in his own image. Gen. i.
G. To form anew ; to change the state or
character ; to renew.
Create in me a clean heart. Ps. li.
We are his workmanship, created in Ghrist
Jesus. Eph. ii.
GREA'TED, pp. Formed from nothing ;
caused to exist ; produced ; generated ;
invested with a new character; formed
into new combinations, with a pecuUar
shape, constitution and properties ; re-
newed.
GREA'TING, ppr. Forming fi-om nothing ;
originating ; producing ; giving a new
character; constituting new beings from
matter by shaping, organizing and invest-
ing with new properties ; forming anew.
GREA'TION, n. The act of creating; the
act of causing to exist ; and especially, the
act of bringing this world into existence.
Rom. i.
2. The act of making, by new combinations
of matter, invested with new forms and
properties, and of subjecting to different
laws ; the act of shaping and organizing :
as the creation of man and other animals,
of plant.s, minerals, &c.
3. The act of investing with a new charac-
ter; as the creation of peers in England.
4. The act of producing.
:,}. The things created ; creatures ; the world ;
the universe.
As subjects then the whole creation came.
j Denham.
<3. Any part of the things created.
Before the low creation swarmed with men.
Pamel.
7. Any thing produced or caused to exist.
A false creation.
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain.
Shal:.
GREA'TIVE, a. Having the power to cre-
ate, or exerting the act of creation; as
creative fancy ; creative power.
GREA'TOR, n. [L.] The being or person
that creates.
Remember thy creator in the days of thy
youth. Eccles. ,\ii.
2. The thing that creates, produces or
GREA'TRESS, n. A female that creates
anv thins. Spenser.
GRE'ATURE, n. [Fr.] That which is
created ; every being besides the Crea-
tor, or every thing not self-existent. The
sun, moon and stars; the earth, animals,
))lants, light, darkness, air, water, &c., are
the creatures of God.
2. In a restricted sense, an animal of any
kind ; a living being ; a beast. In a more
restricted sense, man. Thus we say, he
was in trouble and no creature was present
to aid him.
3. A human being, in contempt; as an idle
C R E
C R E
C R E
trtature ; a poor creature ; what a crea-
ture !
4. With words of endearment, it denotes a
hiiiiiaii being beloved; as a pretty creature;
a sweet creature.
5. That which is produced, formed or ima-
gined ; as a crtature of the imaginntiun.
C. A person who owes his rise and fortune
to another ; one who is made to be what
he is.
Great princes thus, when favorites they raise,
Tojustify their graee, their creattcres praise.
Drydeyi
7. A dependent ; a person who is subject v
the will or influence of another.
CRE'ATURELY, a. Having the qualities of,
a creature. [Little used.] Cheyre.
€RE'ATURF,SHIP, n. The state of a crea-
ture. [LAtUe used.] Core.
€RE'DENCE, n. [It. eredenza : Fr. aeance ;
from L. credens, from credo, to believe. See
Creed.]
1. Belief; credit ; reliance of the mind on
evidence of facts derived from other sour-
ces than personal knowledge, as from the
testimony of others. We give credence to
a historian of unsuspected integrity, or to
a story which is related by a man of known
veracity,
2. That which gives a claim to credit, belief
or confidence ; as a letter of credence, whicti
is intended to conimcinl the bearer to the
confidence ofa third person.
CREDEN'DA, n. [L. Sec Creed.]
In theologu, things to be believed ; articles of
faith ; uistiugiiislied from agenda, or prac-
tical duties. Johnson
•GRE'DENT, a. Believing; giving credit
easy of belief. Shak
9. Having credit ; not to be questioned.
Shak
[ This word is rarely used, and in the latter
sense is improper.]
€REDEN'TIALS, n. plu. [Rarely or nev(
xised in the singular.]
That which gives credit ; that which gives
title or claim to confidence ; the warrant
on which belief, credit or authority
claimed, among strangers ; as the letters
of commendation and power given by a
government to an embassador or envoy
•which give him credit at a foreign court
So the power of working miracles given
to the apostles may be considered as their
credentials, authorizing them to propagate
the gospel, and entitling them to credit.
eREDIBIL'lTY, n. [Fr. credibilite, from L-
credibilis.]
Credibleness ; the quality or state ofa thing
which renders it possible to be believed,
or which adtnits belief, on rational prin
pies ; the quality or state ofa thing which
involves no contradiction, or absurdity
Credibility is less than certainty, and great
er than possibihty ; indeed it "is less than
probability, but is nearly allied to it. [Si
Credible.]
CRED'IBLE, a. [L. credilnlis.] That may
be believed ; worthy of credit. A thing is
credible, when it is known to be possible,
or when it involves no contradiction or ab-
surdity : it is more crflible, when it is known
to come within the ii^ 11 nary laws or ope
rations of nature. WUh regard to the
Divine Being and his operations, everj'
thing is credible which is consistent withj
his perfections, and supported by evidence
or unimpeachable testimony, for his pow-
er is unlimited. With regard to human
affairs, we do not apply the word to things
barely possible, but to things which come
withhi the usual course of human conduct,
and the general rules of evidence.
2. Worthy of belief; having a claim to cred-
it : applied to persons. A credible person is
one of known veracity and integrity, or
whose veracity niuy be fairly deduced from!
circumstances. We believe the history of
Arisiides and Themistocles, on the au-
thoritv ot' credible historians.
€RED'iBLENFSS, 71. Credibility; worthi-
ness of belief; just claim to credit. [See
Creilihility.]
€RE1» IBLY, adv. In a manner that de-
serves belief; with good authority to sup-
pi irt htlief
CRED'IT, 71. [Fr. credit; h. credito ; Sp.
id.; L. creditum. See Creed.]
I. Belief; faith; a reUance or resting of the
mind on the truth of something said or
done. We give credit to a man's declara-
tion, when the mind rests on the truth of
it, without doubter suspicion, which is at-
tended with wavering. We give credit to
testimony or to a report, when we rely on
its truth and certainty.
"2. Reputation derived from the confidence of
others. Esteem ; estimation ; good opin-
ion founded on a belief of a man's veraci-
ty, integrity, abilities and virtue ; as a
physician in high credit with his brethren.
Hence,
.'?. Honor ; reputation ; estimation ; applied
to men or things. A man gains no credit
by profaneness ; and a poem may lose no
credit by criticism. The credit of a r
depends on his virtues; the credit of
writings, on their worth.
4. That which procures or is entitled to be-
lief; testimony ; authority derived from
one's character, or from the confidence of
others. We beUeve a story on the credit
of the narrator. We believe in miracles
on the cre(/?< of inspired men. We trust to
the credit of an assertion, made by a man
of known veracity.
."5. Influence derived from the reputation of
veracity or integrity, or from the good
opinion or confidence of others; interest;
power derived from weight of character,
from friendship, fidelity or other cause.
A minister may have great credit with a
prince. He may employ his credit to good
or evil purposes. A man uses his credit
with a friend ; a servant, with his master.
6. In covimerce, trust ; transfer of goods in
confidence of future payment. When the
merchant gives a credit, he sells his wares
on an expressed or implied promise that
the purchaser will pay for them at a future
time. The seller believes in the solvability
and probity of the purchaser, and delivers
his goods on that belief ortrust ; or he de
livers them on the credit or reputation of
the purchaser. The purchaser takes what
is sold, on credit. In like manner, money
is loaned on the credit of the borrower.
7. The capacity of being trusted ; ortherep-
utation of solvency and probity which en-
titles a man to be trusted. A ciistomerj
has good credit or no credit with a mer-l
chant. I
6. In book-keeping, the side of an account lU
which payment is entered ; opposed to
debit. This article is carried to one's credit,
and that to his debit. We speak of the
credit side of an account.
9. Public credit, the confidence which men
entertain in the ability and disposition ofa
nation, to make good its engagements with
its creditors ; or the estimation in which
individuals hold the public promises of
paynient, whether such promises are ex-
pressed or implied. The term is also
applied to the general credit of individuals
in a nation ; when merchants and others
are wealthy, and punctual in fulfilling en-
gagements"; or when they transact busi-
ness with honor and fidelity ; or when
transfers of property are made with ease
for ready payment. So we speak of the
credit of a bank, when general confidence
is placed in its ability to redeem its notes ;
and the credit of a mercantile house rests
on its supposed ability and probity, which
induce men to trust to its engagements.
Cherish /)uA/ic credit. IVashington.
When the public credit is questionable,
it raises the premium on loans.
10. The notes or bills which are issued by
the public or by corporations or individ-
uals, which circulate on the confidence of
men in the ability and disposition in those
who issue them, to redeem them. They
are sometimes called bills of credit.
11. The time given for payment for lands or
goods sold on trust ; as a long credit, or a
short credit.
12. A sum of money due to any person ; any
thing valuable standing on the creditor
side of an account. A has a credit on the
books of B. The credits are more than
balanced by the debits.
[In this sense the icord has the plural num-
ber.]
CRED'IT, V. t. [from the Noun.] To be-
lieve; to confide in the truth of ; as, to
credit a report, or the man who tells it.
2. To trust ; to sell or loan in confidence of
future payment ; as, to credit goods or
money.
3. To procure credit or honor; to do credit ;
to give reputation or honor.
May here her monument stand so.
To credit tliis rude age. Waller.
4. To enter upon the credit side of an ac-
ount ; as, to credit the amount paid.
5. To set to the credit of ; as, to credit to a
man the interest paid on a bond.
€RED'ITAPLE, a. Reputable ; that may
be enjoyed or exercised with reputation or
esteem"; estimable. A man pursues a
creditable occupation, or way of Uving.
^rbtUhnot.
CRF.D'ITABLENESS, ti. Reputation ; es-
timation. Johnson.
CREDITABLY, adv. Reputably; with
credit; without disgrace.
CREDITED,;);). Believed; trusted; pass-
ed to the credit, or entered on the credit
side of an account.
CREDITING, ppr. Believing; trusting;
entering to the credit in account.
CRED'ITOR, 71. [L. See Creed.] A person
to whom a sum of monej' or other thing is
due, by obligation, promise or in law ; pro-
perly, one who gives credit In commerce ;
but in a general aenae, one who has a just
C R E
C R E
C R E
claim for money; correlative to debtor. In
a figurative sense, one who Las a just claim
to services. Addison.
Creditors have better memories than debtors.
Pranklin.
9. One who believes. [JVb< used.'] Shak.
€RED'ITRIX, n. A female creditor.
GREDU'LITY, n. [Fr. creduliU, L. creduH-
tas, from credo, to believe. See Creed and
Credulous.]
Easiness of belief ; a weakness of mind by
which a person is disposed to believe, or
yield his assent to a declaration or propo-
sition, without sufficient evidence of the
truth of what is said or proposed ; a dis-
position to believe on slight evidence or
no evidence at all.
CRED'ULOUS, a. [L. credulus, from credo.
See Creed.]
Apt to believe without sufficient evidence ;
unsuspecting ; easily deceived.
CRED'ULOUSNESS, n. Credulity ; easi
ness of belief; readiness to believe with
out sufficient evidence.
Beyond all credulity is the credulousness of
atheists, who believe that chance could make
the world, when it cannot build a house.
S. Clarke.
CREED, n. [W. credo ; Sax. credo ; It. and
Sp. credo. This word seems to have been
introduced by the use of the Latin credo, I
believe, at the beginning of the Apostles"
creed, or brief system of christian faith.
L. credo ; W. credu ; Corn, credzhi ; Arm,
cridi ; Ir. creidim ; It. credere ; Sp. creer ;
Port, crer ; Fr. croire ; Norm, crere, criier.
The primary sense is probably to throw,
or to throw on ; or to set, to rest on. See
■Creed. Class Rd.]
1. A brief summary of the articles of chris-
tian faith ; a symbol ; as the Apostolic
creed.
2, Tliat which is believed ; any system ofi
principles which are believed or professed
as a political creed.
€REEK, V. t. To make a harsh sharp noise
[See Creak.] Shak.
CREEK, n. krik. [Sax. crecea ; D. kreek ;
Fr. criqiie ; W. crig, a crack ; crigyll, a
creek ; rhig, a notch or groove. See
Crack.]
1. A small inlet, bay or cove; a recess in the
shore of the sea, or of a river.
They discovered a certain creek with a shore.
Acts xxvii.
2. Any turn or winding. Shak.
3. A prominence or jut in a winding coast,
{This sense is probably not legitimate.]
Davies.
4. In some of the American Slates, a small
river. This sense is not justified by ety-
mology, but as streams often enter
creeks and small bays or form them, the
name has been extended to small streams
in general.
CREEKY, a. krik'y. Containing creeks ; full
of creeks ; winding. Spenser.
CREEP, V. i. pret. and pp. a-epl. [Sax,
creopan, cnfpan ; W. crepian, cropian ; D
krmpen ; Sw. krypa ; to creep ; Dan. krjj-
ben, a creeping ; Ir. dreapam ; Sp. aiid
Port, trepar ; L. repo ; Or. t prtu. The sense
is to catch, to grapple ; and the latter '
from the same root, Welsh crapiaw, allied
to L. rapio, and to W. cripian, to scrape or
scratch. Class. Rb.]
To move with the belly on the ground, or
the surface of any other body, as a worm
or serpent without legs, or as many in-
sects with feet and very short legs; to
crawl.
2. To move along the ground, or on the sur-
face of any other body, ui growth, as a
vine ; to grow along.
3. To move slowly, feebly or tintorou.sly ;
as an old or infirm man, who creeps about
his chamber.
1. To move slowly and insensibly, as time.
To morrow, and to morrow, and to morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
Shak.
5. To move secretly ; to move so as to es-
cape detection, or prevent suspicion.
Of this sort are they who creep into houses,
and lead captive silly women. 2 Tim. iii.
C. To steal in ; to move forward unheard
and unseen ; to come or enter unexpect-
edly or unobserved ; as, some error has
crept into the copy of a history.
7. To move or behave with serviUty ; to
fawn. 'Shak.
CREE'PER, n. One who creeps; that
which creeps ; a reptile ; also, a creeping!
plant, which moves along the surface of
tlie earth or attaches itself to some other
body, as ivy.
2. An"u-on used to slide along the grate in
kitchens. Johnson
•3. A kind of patten or clog worn by women.
Johnson.
4. Creeper or creepers, an instrument of
iron with hooks or claws, for drawing up
tilings from the bottom of a well, river or
harbor.
5. A genus of birds, the Certhia, or ox-eye,
of many species. These birds run along
the body or branch of a tree, and when
they observe a person near, they run
the side opposite, so as to keep out of sight.
Ejicyc
CREE'PHOLE, n. A hole into whicli ai
animal may creep to escape notice or dan-
ger ; also, a subterfuge ; an excuse.
Johnson.
CREE'PING, ppr. Moving on the belly, or
close to the surface of the earth or other
body ; moving slowly, secretly, or silently
moving insensibly ; stealing along.
CREE'PINGLY, adv. By creeping ; slow-
ly ; in the manner of a reptile. Sidney.
CREE'PLE. [Kotused.] [^qq Cripple.]
CREESE, n. A Malay dagger.
CREMA'TION, n. [L. crematio, from cremo,
to burn.]
A burning ; particularly, the burning of the
dead, according to the custom of many
ancient nations. " Encyc.
CRE'MOR, n. [L. See Cream.] Cream;
any expressed juice of grain ; yeast ;
scum ; a substance resembling cream.
Coie.
CRE'NATE, > [L. crena, a notch,
CRE'NATED, \ ' whence crejia<««, notcl
ed. See Cranny.]
Notched ; indented ; scolloped. In botany,
a crenate leaf has its edge, as it were, cut
with angular or circular incisures, not in
dining towards either extremity. When
the scallops are segments of small circles,
it is said to be obtusely crenated ; whei
the larger segments have smaller ones
upon them, a leaf is said to be doubly cre-
nate. MaHyn.
CREN'ATURE, n. A scoUop, like a notch,
in a leaf, or in the style of a plant.
Bigdow.
CRENKLE, I re. r< • 1 ^
CRENGLe! \ [^^^ Cnngle.]
CREN'ULATE, a. [dim. used by Unne.]
Having the edge, as it were, cut into very
small scollops. Martyn.
CRE'OLE, n. In the fVest Indies and Span-
ish America, a native of those countries
descended from European ancestors.
CREP'ANCE, ? [L. crepo, to burst.] A
CREP'ANE, \ 'chop or cratch in a horse's
leg, caused by the shoe of one hind foot
crossing and striking the other hind foot.
It sometimes degenerates into an ulcer.
Eneye.
CREP'ITATE, V. i. [L. crepito, to crackle,
from crepo, to crack, to burst with a sharp
sound : It. crepitare, crepare ; Fr. crever ;
Sax. hreopan ; Goth, hropyan ; D. roepen ; al-
Ued to Eng. rip, and probably from the root
ofrumpo, rupi, &c. See BTI and o j,.^
garafa. Class Rb. No 27. and No. 18. 2G.
30.]
To crackle ; to snap ; to burst with a small
sharp abrupt sound, rapidly repeated ; as
salt in fire, or iluring calcination. It dif-
fers from detonate, which signifies, to biu'St
with a single loud report.
CREP'ITATING, ppr. CrackUng ; snap-
ping.
CREPITA'TION, n. The act of bursting
with a frequent repetition of sharp sounds ;
the noise of some salts in calcination ;
crackling. Coxe. Encyc.
2. The noise of fractured bones, when moved
by a surgeon to ascertain a fracture.
Encyc.
CREPT, pret. and pp. of creep.
CREPUS'CLE, ) [L. crepusculum, from
CREPUSCULE, I "• crepo or its root, a lit-
tle burst or break of light, or broken light.
Creperus is from the same root.]
Twilight ; the light of the morning from the
first dawn to sunrise, and of the evening
from sunset to darkness. It is occasioned
by the refraction of the sun's rays.
CREPUSCULAR, ) „ Pertaining to twi-
CREPUSCULOUS, I "" light ; glimmering ;
noting the imperfect light of the morning
and evening ; hence, imperfectly clear or
luminous. Brown. Glanville.
CREPUSC'ULINE, a. Crepuscular. [JVot
used.]
CRES'CENT, a. [L. crescens, (comcresco, to
grow ; Fr. croissant. See Grow.]
Increasing ; growing ; as crescent horns.
Milton.
CRES'CENT, n. The increasing or new-
moon, which, when receding from the
sun, shows a curving rim of light, termi-
nating in pohits or horns. It is applied to
the older decreasing moon, in a like state,
but less properly. Dryden.
2. The figure or likeness of the new moon ;
as that borne in the Turkish flag or natio-
nal standard. The standard itself, and
figuratively, the Tinkish power. Gibbon.
3. In heraldry, a bearing in the form of a
half moon.
C R E
C R I
C R 1
4. The name of a military order, instituted
by Renatus of Aujou, king of Sicily; sc
called from its syiiiliol or badge, a cres-
cent of gold enameled. Encyc.
I'RES'CENT, V. t. To form into a crescent.
Seward.
CRESCENT-SHAPED, a. In botany, lu
nate ; lunated ; shaped like a crescent ; as
a leaf. Martyn.
CRES'CIVE, a. [L. msco, to grow.] In-
creasing ; growing. Shak
CRESS, n. [Fr. cresson ; It. crescione ; Arm
creczon ; D. kers ; G. kresse ; Sax. carse or
cressen. Qh. its alliance to grass, or to L,
cresco.]
The name of several species of plants, most
of them of the class tetradvnamia. Water-
cresses, of the genus Sisymbrium, are
used as a salad, and are valued in medi-
cine for their antiscorbutic qualities. The
leaves have a moderately j)ungent taste.
They grow on the brinks of rivulets and
in other moist grounds. The word is
erally used in the plural.
•CRESS'ET, n. [Fr. croiselte, dim. of croix,
cross, because beacons formerly had cross-
es on their tops. See Cross.]
A great light set on a beacon, lighthouse,
watch tower. Johnson. Skak.
2. A lamp or torch. Milton. Holinsked.
CREST, ji, [Fr. a-He; L. crista; It. cresta;
Sp. creston. This is probably, a growing
or shooting up, from the root of cresco,
Fr. croiire ; Norm, crtsl, it rises, it accr
Russ. rastu, or roslu, to grow; rost, growth,
size, talhiess.]
1. The plume of feathers or other material
on the top of the ancient helmet ; the hel-
met itself S
% The ornament of the helmet in heraldry.
Encyc.
3. The comb of a cock ; also, a tuft of feath-
ers on the head of other fowls.
4. Any tuft or ornament worn on the head
Dryden
5. Loftiness ; pride ; courage ; spirit ; a lofty
mien. Shak
CREST, V. t. To furnish with a crest ; to
serve as a crest for. Sht
2. To mark with long streaks.
CREST'ED, a. [from crest.] Wearing
crest ; adorned with a crest or plume ;
having a comb ; as a crested helmet ; a
crested cock.
2. In natural history, having a tuft like a
crest.
CREST'-FALLEN, a. Dejected ; sunk ;
bowed; dispirited; heartless; spiritless.
Shak. Howell.
2. Having the upper part of the neck han^
ing on one side, as a horse. Enaic.
CREST'LESS, o. Without a crest ; not
dignified with coat-armor ; not of an em-
inent family ; of low birth. Shak.
CRETA'CEOUS, a. [L. cretaceus, from cre-
ta, chalk. Sp. It. id. ; Fr. craic ; D. knit ;
G. kreide ; Sw. krita.]
Chalky; having the qualities of chalk; like
chaik ; abounding with chalk.
CRE'TIC, n. [Gr, xpij-fixos.] A poetic foot
of three syllables, one short between two
long syllables. Bentley.
CRE'TIN, n. A name given to certain de-
formed and helpless id'iots in the Alps.
CREVICE, n. [Fr. crevasse, from crever, to
Vol. I.
burst, to crack ; It. crepatura ; L. crepo, to
burst. See Crepitate and Rip.]
A crack ; a cleft ; a fissure ; a rent ; an
opening ; as a crevice in a wall. Addison.
CREVICE, V. t. To crack ; to flaw.
IVotlon.
CREVIS, n. The craw-fish. [Utile used.]
CHEW, n. [contracted from Sax. cread, or
crvlh, a croicd ; D. rot ; G. rotle ; Sw. rote ;
Eng. rout, an assembly, a collection, from
gathering or pressing. Class Rd.]
1. A company of people associated ; as a
noble crew ; a gallant crew.
Spenser. Chevy-Chase.
2. A company, in a lotv or bad sense, which is
now most usual; a herd; as a rebel crew.
Milton.
So we say, a miserable crew.
3. The company of seamen who man a ship,
vessel or boat ; the company belonging to
a vessel. Also, the company or gang of a
carpenter, gunner, boatswain, &.c. It is
appropriated to the comtnon sailors.
CREW, pret. oCcrow, but the regular pre-
terit and participle, crowed, is now most
commonly used.
CREWEL, n. [Qu. D. klewel] Yarn twist
ed and wound on a knot or ball, or two
threaded worsted. Johnson. Bailey.
CREWET. [See Cruet.]
CRIB, n. [Sax. crybb; D.krib; Sw.krubba;
Dan. krybbe ; Ir. grib. Qu. the root of
grapple, to catch.]
The manger of a stable, in which oxei
and cows feed. In America, it it distin-
guished from a rack for horses.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean. Prov
The manger for other beasts.
The ass knoweth his master's crib. Is. i.
2. A small habitation or cottage. Shak.
A stall for oxen.
A case or box in salt works. Encyc.
A small building, raised on posts, for stor-
ing Indian corn. U. States.
CRIB, V. t. To shut or confine in a narrow
habitation ; to cage. Shak.
CRIB'BAGE, n. 'A game at cards.
CRlB'BF.l), pp. Shut up; confined; caged,
ClUH'BI.K, ;(. [L. cribellutn, from cribrum.
and tills iVoin cribro, to sift ; Sp. criba, cri-
bar ; Port, crivo ; It. cribro, cribrare, and
crivello, crivellare ; Fr. crible, cribler ; W.
cribaw, to comb or card ; Arm. kribat ; Ir.
riobliar, a sieve ; allied to Eng. garble. See
Ch. Sa-O, Ar. J.j^i , Ch. Sai, to sift or
riddle. Class Rb. No. 30. 34. 46.]
1. A corn-sieve or riddle.
2. Coarse flour or meal. [JVot used in the U.
States.]
CRIB'BLE, V. t. To sift; to cause to pass
through a sieve or riddle.
CRIBRA'TION, n. [See Cribble.] The. act
of siftinsr or riddling ; used in pharmacy.!
CRIBRIFORM, a. [L. cribrum, a sieve, and'
forma, form.]
Resembling a sieve or riddle ; a term appli-
ed to the lamen of the ethmoid bone,
through which the fibers of the olfactory
nerve pass to the nose. Anal
CRICH'TONITE, ji. A mineral so called
from Dr. Crichton, physician to the Em-:
peror of Russia. It has a velvet black
color, and crystalizes in very acute smallj
53
rhomboids. It occurs in primitivo rocks
with octahedrite. Urc.
CRICK, n. [See Creak.] The creaking of a
door. [JVot used.]
2. A spasmodic affection of some part of tlie
body, as of the neck or back; local spasm
or cramp.
CRICK'ET, n. [D. krekel, from the root of
creak ; W. cricell, cricket, and cricellti, to
chirp or chatter ; crig, a crack.]
An insect of the genus Gryllus, belonging to
the order of Hemipters. There are seve-
ral species, so named probably on ac-
count of their creaking or chirping voice.
The cricket chirping in the heartli.
Goldsmith.
CRICK'ET, 71. [Qu. Sax. cricc, a stick.] A
play or exercise with bats and ball. Pope.
2. A low stool. [British kriget, a little ele-
vation. Whitaker. Qu. Sw. krycka, stilts
or crutches.]
CRICK'ETER, n. One who plays at crick-
et. Duncombe.
CRICK'ET-MATCH, n. A match at crick-
et. Duncombe.
CRI'ED, pret. and part, of en/.
CRl'ER, / ^ [See Cry.] One who cries ;
CRY'ER, ^ ■ one who makes proclama-
tion. The crier of a court is an officer
whose duty is to proclaim the orders or
commands of the court, to open or adjourn
the court, keep silence, &c. A crier is
also employed to give notice of auctions,
and for other purposes.
CRIME, n. [L. crimen; Gr. xpi^; It cn'me;
Port.trf. ; Sp. crimen ; Fr. crime ; Arm. crim ;
Norm, crisme. This word is from the root of
Gr. xptiu, L. cerno, to separate, to judge, to
decree, to condemn. But this verb seems
to be composed of two distinct roots, for
in Latin, the pret. is crevi, which cannot be
fortned from cerno ; and in Greek, the de-
rivatives, s!pi9u, xpcffif, xpitTji, cannot be
regularly formed from xpivu. The Gr.
xfii/M is undoubtedly a contraction, for in
Norman the word is crism. The root
then of these derivatives is the same as of
the Ir. criathar, a seive, W. rhidyll, Eng.
riddle ; W.rhidiaw,to secrete, to separate.
^Ve have screen, a riddle, from the root of
xpiru, and 7-iddle, from the Celtic root of
xpidij, xptrijs. To judge is to decide, to
separate or cut oft', hence to condemn ; a
cnme is that which is condemned.]
1. An act which violates a law, divine or
human ; an act which violates a rule of
moral duty ; an offense against the laws
of right, prescribed by God or man, or
against any rule of duty plainly implied in
those laws. A crime may consist in omis-
sion or neglect, as well as in commission,
or positive transgression. The command-
er of a fortress who suffers the enemy to
take possession by neglect, is as really
criminal, as one who voluntarily opens the
gates without resistance.
But in a more common and restricted
sense, a crime denotes an offense, or \io-
lation of public law, of a deeper and more
atrocious nature ; a public wrong ; or a
violation of the commands of God, and the
offenses against the laws made to preserve
the public rights; as treason, murder, rob-
bery, theft, arson, &c. The minor wrongs
committed against individuals or private
rights, are denominated trespasses, and the
C R I
minor wrongs against public rights are
called misdemeanors. Crimes and misde-
meanors are punishable by indictment, in-
formation or public prosecution ; tres|)ass-
es or private injuries, at the suit of the in-
dividuals injured. But in many cases an
act is considered both as a pubUc ofFeiif^e
and a trespass, and is punishable both by
the public and the individual injured.
1. Any great wickedness; iniquity; wrong.
No crime was thine, if 'tis no crime to love
Pope
Capital crime, a crime punishable with death
€RI'MEFUL, a. Criminal ; wicked ; par
taking of wrong ; contrary to law, right or
duty. S^"*
eUI'MELESS, a. Free from crime; iiino
C-RIM'INAL, a. Guilty of a crime ; applied
to persons.
2. Partaking of a crime ; involving ;
that violates public law, divine or human ;
as, theft is a cmiinaZ act.
8. That violates moral obligation ; wicked
4! Relating to crimes ; opposed to civil ; as a
rriminal code ; criminal law.
CRIM'INAL, n. A person who has commit
ted an offense against public law ; a vio
later of law, divine or human. More par-
ticularly, a person indicted or charged wit
a public offense, and one who is found
guilty, by verdict, confession or prool.
Criminal conversation, the illegal commerce
of the sexes; adultery.
CRIMINAL'ITY, ), The quality of be-
C.RIM'INALNESS, S ing criminal, or a
violation of law; guiltiness; the quality ol
being guilty of a crime.
This is by no means the only ciiteiion of
criminality. Blackstone, iv. ch. 17.
Panophst. Encyc.
€RIM'INALLY, adv. In violation of public
law ; in violation of divine law ; wickedly ;
in a wrong or iniquitous manuer.
CRIM'INATE, V. t. [L. criminor, crimina-
tus.] . ,
To accuse ; to charge with a crime ; to ai
ledge to be guilty of a crime, offense or
Oiu municipal laws do not require the offend
cr to plead guilty or criminate himself.
Scott on Lev. vi. Beloc's Herod.
Christ. Ob.
Accused ; charged
C R I
C R 1
The fowler— treads tlie crimp earth. iiCRIN'GER, n. One who cringes, (
Philips.n and flatters with servility.
boWr
Not consistent. [Qu. Da
or supra, easily broken.]
I. krum, crooked,|
[J^ot nsed.]
Arhuthnol
CRIMP, V. t. [W. crimpiaiv, to pinch, to
form into a ridge or rim.]
To catch ; to seize ; to pinch and hold. [See
Crimple.]
CRIMP, V. t. [Sax. gecrympt.] To curl or
frizzle ; as, to crimp the hair. This is
evidently tlie same word as the forego-
CRIMP, n. In England, an agent for coal
merchants, and for persons concerned m
shipping. Bailey
2. One who decoys another into the naval
or military service.
X A game at cards. Obs.
CRIMPLE, i>.<. [D.krimpen; G. id.; Sw.
krimpa ; Dan. krymper ; Scot, crimp ; W
oimpiau', to shrink, to pinch ; crwm, crom
curving, bending, shrinking; cnmu, t<
bend. See Crumple and Rumple, from th(
same root, W. rhimp, rim, a rim.]
To contract or draw together ; to shrink ; to
cause to shrink; to curl. fiiseman
CRIMP'LED, pp. Contracted ; shrunk
urlcd. , . , .
CRIMP'LING,;)^)-. Contracting ; shrinking ;
curhng; hobbhng. . . '^s^.
CRIM'SON, n. krim'zn. [It. cremisi, cremi-
sino ; Fr. rramoisi ; Sp. carmesi ; Arm.
earmonsy ; D. karmozyn ; G. karmosin ;
Sw. karmesin; Ban. karmesie ; from Ar,
• ^j.j .v..,...^v.>,, kermes, the eochincul
insect or berry.]
A deep red color ; a red tinged witl
also, a red color in general; as the virgin
crimson of modesty. '5'"'«'-
He made the vail of blue, and purple
crimson. 2 Chron. iii.
CRIM'SON, a. Of a beautiful deep red ; as
the ci-imson blush of modesty ; a crimson
stream of blood.
CRIM'SON, I', t. To dye with crimson ; to
dye of a deep red color ; to make red
CRIM'SON, V. i. To become of a deep red
color ; to be tinged with red ; to blush
CRIN'GING, ppr. Shrinking ; bowing ser-
vilely.
CRIN'GLE, n. cring'gl. [D. kring, krinkel,
kronkel, a bend, turn, ring, or twist. Sec
Crank and Cringe.]
1. A withe for fastening a gate. [Local]
2. In marine language, a hole in the bolt-
rope of a sail, formed by intertwisting the
division of a rope, called a strand, alter-
nately round itself, and through the
strand of the bolt-rope, till it becomes
three-fold, and takes the shape of a ring.
Its use is to receive the ends of the ropes
by which the sail is drawn up to its yard,,
or to extend the leech by the bow-line-
bridles.
Iron-cringles or hanks, are open rings run-
ning on the stays, to which the heads of
the stay sails are made fast. Mar. Did.
CRINKi'EROUS, o. [L. criniger ; crinis,
hair, and gero, to wear.] Hairy; over-
grown with hair. Did.
CRI'NITE, a. [L. crinitus, from crinis, hair.
Qu. W. crinaw, to parch, to frizzle.] Hav-
kin
Her cheeks crimsoned at the entrance of her
CRIMINATED, pi
with a crime. . „ ,
CRIM'INATING, ppr. Accusing ; ailed
to be guilty. . . .. ., „,
CRIMINA'TION, n. [L. cmnnatio.] I he
act of accusing ; accusation ; charge ot
having been guilty of a criminal act, of-
fense or wrong. Johnson.
CRIM'INATORY, a. Relating to accusa-
tion ; accusing. .
CRIM'INOUS, a. Very wicked ; hainous
involving great crime. {Kot used.]
Hammond.
CRIM'INOUSLY, adv. Criminally ; hain-
ously ; enormously. [JVot used^
CRIM'INOUSNESS, n. Wickedness; guilt:
criminality. [Kot used.] King Charles
CRIM'OSIN. [See Crimson.]
CRIMP, a. [Sax. ocn/mman, to crumble ; I).
kruim, a crum ; 'kruimelen, to crumble,
See Crumble.] ^^ .. ii„„t,vtai-.
1. Easily crumbled ; friable; brittle. [Li«-|leRINGL,
tie used.]
CRIM'SONED, pp. Dyed or tinged with a
deep red.
CRIM'SONING, ppr. Dyeing or tinging
with a deep red.
CRINC'UM, n. A cramp; a contraction ;
a turn or bend ; a whim. [A vulgar word.]
Hiidibras.
CRINGE, V. t. crinj. [probably from the root
of crank, crinkle, Heb. and Ch. ;?13; or
from the root of crook, with a nasal sound
of the last consonant; G. kriechen; V\ .
crycu, to curl.]
Properly, to shrink; to contract; to draw
together ; a popular use of the word. [Vul
garly, scringe.]
You see him cringe bis face. Shah
CRINGE, V. i. cnnj. To bow ; to bend witl
servility ; to fawn ; to make court by mean
compliances. . .
Flatterers are always bowing and cringing.
Arhuthnot
aim. A bow ; servile civihty.
Philips.
ng the appearance of a tuft of hair.
CRINK'LE, V. i. crink'l. [D. krinkelen, to
wind or twist. Qu. crank, and ring. Sax.
hring.]
To turn or wind ; to bend ; to wrinkle ; to
run in and out in Uttle or short bends or
turns ; as, the lightning crinkles.
CRINK'LE, V. t. To form with short turns
wrinkles ; to mold into inequalities.
CRINK'LE, n. A wrinkle; a winding or
turn ; siiuiositv.
CRl'NOSE, a. Hairy. [See Crinile.] [Little
nsed.]
ClUNOS'ITY, ?i. Hairiness. [Little used.]
CKIPTLK, n. crip't. [D. kreupel ; G. kriip-
pit: Diiu. krypHng, krbppel, and krobling,
from krOb, a creeping animal ; Ice. crypen,
to move crooked. It would seem that
this is from the root oi creep.]
A lame person ; primarily, one who creeps,
halts or hmps ; one who has lost, or never
enjoyed the use of his limbs. Acts xiv.
The word mav signify one who is par-
tially or totally disabled from using his
limbs. . , •
See the blind beggar dance, the cripple smg.
Pope.
CRIP'PLE, a. Lame. Shak.
CRIP'PLE, 1'. (. To lame ; to deprive of the
use of the Umbs, particularly of the legs
and feet.
2. To disable ; to deprive of the power of
exertion. We say, a fleet was crippled in
the engagement.
CRIP'PLED, pp. Lamed ; rendered impo-
tent in the limbs; disabled.
CRIP'PLENESS, n. Lameness.
CRIP'PLING, ppr. Laming; depriving ol
the use of the hmbs; disabling.
CRI'SIS, n. plu. cri'ses. [Gr. xpiois, L. crisis,
from the root of3£pww,to separate, to de-
termine, to decide. Sec Crim^.]
1. In medical science, the change of a disease
which indicates its event ; that change
which indicates recovery or death. It is
sometimes used to designate the excretion
of something noxious from the body, or of
the noxious fluids in a fever.
Encyc. Parr.
2. The decisive state of tilings, or the point
C R I
C R I
C R O
of time when an affair is aiTived to its
hightli, anj must soon terminate or sufler
a material change.
This hour's the very crisis of your fate.
Dryden.
■CRISP, a. \L. crispus; It. crespo ; G. kraus.
See the Verb.]
1. Curled ; formed into curls or ringlets.
3. Indented : winding ; us crisp channels.
3. Brittle ; friable ; easily broken or crum-
bled. Bacon.
€RIS1', V. t. [L. crispo ; It. crespare ; Sp.|
crcspar ; Fr. cr(per ; Dan. kruser ; Sw.j
krtisa ; W. ms, a crust ; crisb,^ a crisp
coating ; crisbin, crisp, friable ; from rhisj
broken into points, mince ; allied to cresu,\
crasu, to roast or parcli. From tlie Gothic,
dialects, we observe that p is not radical.'
Class Rd. No. 20. 73. Ar.] 1
1. To curl ; to twist ; to contract or form in-
to ringlets, as the hair ; to wreathe or iii-j
ter weave, as the branches of trees.
B. Jonson. Milton.
2. To indent. Johnson. To twist or eddy.
Mason.'
But the sense is, to curl ; to wrinkle in'
little undulations, as a fretted surface. I
I'rom that sapphire fount the crisped brooks,!
Rollinf; on orient pearl and sands of gold, I
Ran nectar, visiting each plant. Milton.,
€RISPA'TION, n. The act of curling, or
state of being curled. Bacon.
€RISP'ATURE, n. A curling; the state of
being curled. Lee. Botany!
CRISP'ED, pp. Curled ; twisted ; frizzled. !
€RISP'ING, ppr. Curling ; frizzling.
€RISP'ING-PIN, n. A curling-iron.
Isaiah.]
€RISP'NESS, n. A state of being curled -
also, brittleness. I
CRISP' Y, a. Curled; formed into ringlets ;
as crispy locks. Shak.\
a. Brittle ; dried so as to break short ; as a{
crispy cake.
€RIST'ATE, I [L. cristatus, from cris
CRIST' ATED, \ "" to, a crest.]
In botany, crested; tufted; having an ap-i
pendage like a crest or tuft, as some an-'
thers and flowers. Martijn:
CRITE'RION, )!. plu. criteria. [Gr. xpif w'"",!
from the root of xpiiu, to judge. See Cn'ntf .]
A standard of judging ; any established law,
rule, i)rinciple or fact, by which facts,
propositions and opinions are compared,
in order to discover their truth or false-
hood, or by which a correct judgment
mav be formed.
CRitH'OMANC Y, n. [Gr. xp<.6n, barley, and
ftwTfio, divination.]
A kind of divination by means of the dough
of cakes, and the meal strewed over the
victims, in ancient sacrifices. Encyci
CRIT'IC, n. [Gr. xpinxoj, from xpirjjs, a
judge or discerner, from the root of xptnj,'
to judge, to separate, to distinguish. See'
Crime.'] !
3. Aperson skilled in judging of the merit of
literary works ; one who is able to discern'
and distinguish the beauties and faults of
writing. In a more general sense, a per
son skilled in judging with propriety of
any combination of objects, or of "any
work of art ; and particularly of what are!
. denominated the Fine Arts. A critic is
oae who, from experience, knowledge,!
habit or taste, can perceive the diirerenco
between propriety and impropriety, in ob-
jects or works presented to his view ; be-
tween the natural and unnatural ; the high
and the low, or lofty and mean ; the con-
gruous and incongruous ; the correct and
incorrect, according to the established
rules of the art.
. An examiner ; a judge.
And make each day a critic on tlie last.
Pope.
3. One who judges with severity ; one who
censures or finds fault.
Pope. Watts. Swift.
CRIT'IC, a. Critical ; relating to criticism,
or the art of judging of the merit of a lite-
rary performance or discourse, or of any
work in the fine arts. [See Critical.]
CRIT'IC, V. i. To criticise ; to play the crit-
ic. [Little used.] Temple.
CRIT'ICAL, a. [L. criticua ; Gr. xpinxos.
See Critic]
1. Relating to criticism ; nicely exact ; as a
critical dissertation on Homer.
2. Having the skill or power nicely to dis-
tinguish beauties from blemishes ; as a
critical judge; a critical auditor; a critical
ear ; critical taste.
3. Making nice distinctions ; accurate ;
critical rules.
4. Capable of judging with accuracy ; dis-
cerning beauties and faults ; nicely judi
cious in matters of literature and the fine
arts ; as, Virgil was a critical poet.
5. Capable of judging with accuracy ; con
forming to exact rides of propriety ; ex
act ; particular ; as, to be critical in rite:
and ceremonies, or in the selection of
books.
6. Inclined to find fault, or to judge with se-
verity.
7. [See Cmis.] Pertaining to a crisis; mark-
ing the time or state of a disease wliicl
indicates its termination in the death oi
recovery of the patient ; as critical days, or
critical symptoms.
8. Producing a crisis or change in a disease ;
indicating a crisis ; as a critical sweat.
9. Decisive ; noting a time or state on which
the issue of things depends; important, as
regards the consequences ; as a critical
time or moment ; a critical juncture.
10. Formed or situated to determine or dc
cide, or having the crisis at command ;
important or essential for determining ; as
a critical post. Mitford.
CRIT'ICALLY, adv. In a critical manner ;
with nice discernment of truth or false-
hood, propriety or impropriety ; with nice
scrutiny ; accurately ; exactly ; as, to ex-
amine evidence critically ; to observe crit-
ically.
2. At the crisis ; at the exact time.
3. In a critical situation, place or condition,
so as to command the crisis ; as a town
critically situated. Mitford.
CRIT'ICALNESS, n. The state of being
critical ; incidence at a particular point of
time.
2. Exactness ; accuracy ; nicety ; minute
care in examuiation.
CRITICISE, V. i. s as -. To examine and
judge critically ; to judge with attention
to beauties and faults ; as, to criticise on a
literary work, on an argument or dis-
course.
3. To write remarks on the merit of a pi.r-
formance ; to notice beauties and faults.
Cavil you may, but never criticise. Pope.
3. To animadvert upon as faulty ; to utter
censure ; as, to criticise on a man's man-
ners, or his expenses. Locke.
CRITICISE, V. t. To notice beauties and
blemishes or faults in ; to utter or write
remarks on the merit of a performance ;
as, to criticise the writings of Milton.
2. To pass judgment on with respect to
merit or blame ; as, to criticise an author;
to criticise the conduct.
CRITICISED, pp. Examined and judged
with rc.'-pect to beauties and faults.
CRIT'ICISING, ppr. Examining and judg-
ing with regard to beauties and faults ; re-
marking on ; animadverting on.
CRIT'ICiSM, n. The art of judging with
propriety of the beauties and faults of a
literary performance, or of any production
in the fine arts; as the rules of criticism.
2. The act of judging on tlie merit of a per-
formance ; animadversion ; remark ou
beauties and faults; critical observation,
verbal or written. We say, the author's
criticisms arc candid, or they are severe.
CRITIQUE, I [Fr. critique.] A critical
CRIT'IC, S "■ e.xamination of the mer-
its of a performance ; remarks or animad-
versions on beauties and faults.
.•\ddison wrote a critique on Paradise
Lost.
2. Science of criticism ; standard or rules of
judging of the merit of performances.
If ideas and words were distinctly weighed,
and duly considered, they would afford us an-
other sort of logic and critic. Locke.
CRIZ'ZEL, I [See Crisp.] A kind
CRIZ'ZELING, I "• of roughness on the
surface of glass, which clouds its transpa-
rency. Encyc.
CROAK, v.i. [Sax. craceltan ; Goth, hruk-
yan ; L. crocio, crocito ; Sp. croaxar ; It.
crocciare ; Fr. croasser ; Arm. crozal ; G.
ki-dchzen ; D. kraaijen, to crow, and kruch-
gen, to groan ; Ir. grag, gragam ; coincid-
ing in elements with W.crfg-, cn/g-, hoarse,
crygu, to make rough or hoarse ; Sax.
hreog, rough, and hreoician, to rue ; Gr.
xfiu^u, xpajftof, and xfa^a, xpo/jtif. These
all appear to be of one family, and from
the root of rough, and creak, W. rhyg. See
Crow.]
1. To make a low, hoarse noise in the throat,
as a frog or other animal.
2. To caw ; to cry as a raven or crow.
3. To make any low, muttering sound, re-
sembUng that of a frog or raven ; as, their
bellies croak. Locke.
4. In contempt, to speak witli a low, hollow
voice.
CROAK, )i. The low, harsh sound uttered
by a frog or a raven, or a like sound.
CROAKER, ?i. One that croaks, murmurs
or grumbles ; one who complains unrea-
sonably.
CROAKING, ppr. Uttering a low, harsh
sounrl from the throat, or other similar
sound.
CROAKING, n. A low, harsh sound, as of a
frog, or the bowels.
CRO'ATS, n. Troops, natives of Croatia.
CRO'CALITE, n. [from crocus, saffron.]
A mineral, a variety of zeolite, of an or-
ange or brick red color. It is sometimes
C R O
C R O
C R O
found in reniform or globular masses, with
a radiated texture. Cleaveland,
CRO'CEOUS, a. [L. croctus, from crocus,
saffron.]
Like saffron ; yellow ; consisting of saffron.
€RO'CHES, n. Little buds or knobs about
the tops of a deer's horn. Bailey.
CROCITA'TION, n. [L. crocito.] A croak-
ing.
CROCK, n. [Sax. cruce, crocca ; D. kruik ; G.
krug ; D. krukke ; Svv. kruka ; Fr. crucli
W. cregen, an earthern vessel; crocan, a
pot.]
An earthern vessel ; a pot or pitcher; a cup,
Obs.
CROCK, n. [Qu. from crock, supra, or from
Cli. pn, Ar. 0^=. charaka, to burn.]
Soot, or the black matter collected from
combustion on pots and kettles, or in a
chimney. Rny.
CROCK, y.<.ort. To black with soot, or other
matter collected from combustion ; or to
black with the coloring matter of cloth.
JVew England.
CROCK'ERY, n. [W. crocaji, a boiler or
pot; crocemi, to make earthern vessels;
crocenyz, a potter. See Crock.]
Earthern ware ; vessels formed of clay, gla-
zed and baked. The term is applied to
the coarser kinds of ware ; the finer kinds
being usually called china or porcelain.
CROCODILE, n. [Gr. xpoxo8fao,- ; [qu.
jtpoxo;, saffron, and Siaoi, fearing ;] L. croc-
ndilus ; It. coccodrillo ; Sp. cocodrilo.]
An amphibious animal of the genus Lacerta
or lizard, of the largest kind. It has a
naked body, with four feet and a tail ; it
has five toes on the fore feet, and four on
the hind feet. It grows to the length of
sixteen or eighteen feet, runs swiftly on
land, but does not easily turn itself. It in-
habits the large rivers in Africa and Asia,
and lays its eggs, resembling those of a
goose, in the sand, to be hatched by the
heat of the sun. [See Alligator.]
Encyc.
■I. In rhetoric, a captious and sophistical ar-
gument contrived to draw one into a
CROCODILE, a. Pertaining to or like a
crocodile ; as crocodile tears, that is, false
or affected tears, hypocritical sorrow.
CRO'CUS, n. [Gr. xpoxos, from the Shemitic
pT , and its yellow color.]
i. Saffron, a genus of plants.
a. In chimistry, a yellow powder ; any metal
calcined to a red or deep yellow color.
Encyc.
CROFT, n. [Sax. crofl ; allied probably to
L. crypto, Gr. xpurt-ru, to conceal.]
A little close adjoining or near to a dwelling-
house, and used for pasture, tillage or other
purposes. Encyc.
CROISA'DE, n. [Fr. from croix, a cross.]
A holy war ; an expedition of christians
against the infidels, for the conquest of
Palestine. [See the more common word
Crusade.]
CROIS'ES, n. [See Cross.] Soldiers en
rolled under the banners of the cross.
Burke
2. Pilgrims who carry the cross.
CRO'KER, n. A fowl that inliabits the
Chesapeak and the large rivers in Virgin-
ia ; sometimes of three feet in length.
Penna7it.
CROM'LECH, J!. [W.cromlep; crom, bent,
concave, and llec, a fiat stone.]
Huge flat stones resting on other stones,
set on end for that purpose ; supposed to
be the remains of druidical altars.
Rowland, Mon. Anliq.
CRONE, n. [Ir. criona, old ; cnon, withered ;
crionaim, to wither, fade, decay ; W. crin-
aw, to wither, to become brittle ; Gr. yifiuv.
old.]
1. An old woman. Shak. Dryden
2. An old ewe. Tusser,
CRO'NET, n. [coronet.] The hair which
grows over the top of a horse's hoof
Johnso7i.
The iron at the end of a tilting spade.
Bailey
CRONICAL, CRONYCAL. [See Acroni-
cal.]
CRO'NY, n. [See Crone. But this word
seems to carry the sense of fellowship.
and is precisely the Ar. /, »]> karana, to
join, to associate ; whence its derivative,
.\n intimate companion ; an associate ; a
familiar friend.
To oblige your crony Swift,
Bring oui- dame a new year's gift. Swift
Hence an old crony is an intimate friend of
long standing.
CRQQK, n. [Sw. krok ; Dan. krog ; Fr. croc,
crochet ; Arm. crocq ; Ir. cruca ; W. crwg,
crwca, croca ; Goth, hrugg, a shepherd's
crook, which in Italian is rocco ; W. cnig,
a heap, a rick ; Sax. hric ; Eng. a ndge ;
G. riicken, the back, or ridge of an ani-
mal. These words appear to be connect-
ed with L. ruga, a wrinkle, Russ. kryg,
okrug, a circle. Wrinkling forms rough-
ness, and this is the radical sense of
hoarseness. It. roco, hoarse, L. raucus,
Eng. rough, W. cryg, rough, hoarse. The
radical sense of crook is to strain or draw
hence, to bend.]
1. Any bend, turn or curve ; or a bent or
curving instrument. We speak of a crook
in a stick of timber, or in a river ; and any
hook is a crook.
2. A shepherd staff, curving at the end ; a
pastoral staff. When used by a bishop or
abbot, it is called a crosier.
He left his crook, he Icit his flocks. Prior.
3. A' gibbet.
4. An artifice ; a trick. Cranmer.
CRQQK, t;. t. [Fr. crochuer ; Sw. kroka ;
Dan. kroger ; W. crwcau, crocau.]
1. To bend ; to turn from a straight line ; to
make a curve or hook.
9. To turn from rectitude ; to pervert.
Bacon.
•X To thwart. [Little used.]
CROOK, t'. i. To bend or be bent ; to be
turned from a right line ; to curve ; to
wind. Camden
CROQK'-BACK, n. A crooked back ; one
who has a crooked back or round slioul
ders. Shak
CRQOK'-BACKED, a. Having a round
back, or shoulders. Dryden
CRQQK'ED, p/). oro. Bent; curved; curv
ing ; winding.
'2. Winding in moral conduct; devious; fro
ward ; perverse ; going out of the path ot
rectitude ; given to obhquity or wander-
ing from duty.
They are a perverse and crooked generation.
Deut. xxxii.
CROOK'EDLY, adv. In a winding manner.
2. Uiitowardly ; not compliantly.
CROOK'EDNESS, n. A winding, bending
or turning ; curvity ; curvature ; inflection.
Hooker.
9. Perverseness ; imtowardness ; deviation
from rectitude ; iniquity ; obhquity of con-
duct.
3. Deformity of a gibbous body.
Johnson. Taylor.
CROOK'EN, V. t. To make crooked. [M>t
in use.]
e.RQQK'lNG,ppr. Bending; winding.
CRQQK'-KNEED, a. Having crooked
knees. Shak.
CROOK'-SHOULDERED, o. Having bent
shoulders.
CROOP, } ^^ [Scot.croup, crope,crupe, crowp,
CROUP, ^ ■ to croak, to cry or speak with
a hoarse voice ; Goth, hropyan ; Sax.
hreopan, to call out.]
The disease called technically cynanche Ira-
chealis, an affection of the throat accom-
panied with a hoarse difficult respiration.
It is vulgarly called rattles.
CROP, n. [Sax. crop, cropp, the crop of a
fowl, a cluster, ears of corn, grapes, grains
of corn ; D. krop ; G. kropf; W. crop, the
crop or craw ; cropiad, a gathering into a
heap, a creeping ; cropian, to creep. Here
we see that crop is a gathering, and that it
is connected with creep, whose radical
sense is to catch or take hold. Hence
crop coincides with L. carpo, carpus, and
perhaps with reap, rapio, as it does with
grapple. Hence we see how the crop of a
fovi'l, and a crop of grain or hay, are con-
sistently the same word.]
1. The first stomach of a fowl; the craw.
2. The top or highest part of a thing; the
end. [JVot in use.] Chaucer.
.3. That which is gathered ; the corn, or
fruits of the earth collected ; hai-vest. The
word includes every species of fruit or
produce, gathered for man or beast.
Corn and other cultivated plants while
growing ; a popular use of the word.
5. Any thing cut off or gathered.
C. Hair cut close or short.
CROP, v.t. To cut off the ends of any thing;
to eat oft'; to pull off; to pluck ; to mow;
to reap ; as, to crop flowers, trees, or grass.
Man crops trees or plants with an instru-
ment, or with his fingers ; a beast crops
with his teeth.
2. To cut off prematurely ; to gather before
it falls.
While force our youth, like fruits, untimely
crops. Denham.
CROP, V. i. To yield harvest. [M>t in use.]
Shak.
CROP'-Ex\R, n. [crop and ear.] A horse
whose ears are cropped. Shak.
CROP'-EARED, a. Having the ears crop-
ped. B. Jonson.
CROP'FUL, c. Having a full crop or belly ;
s.itiated. Milton.
CROP'PED, > Cut off ; plucked ; eaten
CROPT, I P^' off; reaped, or mowed.
CROP'PEB, 71. A pigeon with a large crop.
Johnson. Jf'altoti.
C R O
C R O
C R O
eROP'PING, ppr. Cutting off; pulling off
eating off; reaping, or mowing.
■CROP'PING, n. The act of cutting off.
2. The raising of crops.
€ROP'-SICK, a. Sick or indisposed from a
surcharged stoinacli ; sick with excess in
eating or drinking. Tale.
€ROP -SICKNKSS, n. Sickness from re-
pletion of the .stomach. L. crapula.
CRO'SIER, n. kro'zhur. [Fr. crosse, a cro-
sier, a bat or gaff-stick ; crasser, to playl
at cricket : Arm. cro^z ; from the root of
cross.]
1. A bishop's crook or pastoral staff, a sym^
bol of pastoral authority and care. It
consists of a gold or silver staff, crooked
at the top, and is carried occasionally be
fore bishops and abbots, and held in the
hand when they give solemn benedictions.
The use of crosiers is ancient. Originally
a crosier was a staff with a cross on the
top, in form of a crutch or T. Encyc
2. In astronomy, four stars in the southern
hemisphere, in the form of a cross.
Encyc.
CROS'LET, n. [See Cross.] A small cross
In heraldry, a cross crossed at a small dis-
tance from the ends. Encyc.
€ROSS, n. craus. [W. croes ; Arm. croaz ;
G. kreuz; Sw. kors ; Dan. kryds and kors ;
Russ. krest. Class Rd. But the English
cross would seem to be from the L. crur.
through the Fr. croix, croiier ; It. croce j
Sp. cruz; W. cr6g, coinciding with the Ir.
regh, riagh. Qu. the identity of these words,
The Irish has cros, a cross ; crosadh, cro-
saim, to cross, to hinder. If the last rad-
ical is g or c, this word belongs to the
root of crook. Chaucer uses croiiche for
cross.]
1. A gibbet consisting of two pieces of tim-
ber placed across each other, either in
form of a T or of an X. That on which
our Savior suffered, is represented on coins
and other monuments, to have been of the
former kind. Encyc
2. The ensign of the christian religion ; and
hence figuratively, the religion itself.
Roice
3. A monument with a cross upon it to e.\
cite devotion, such as were anciently set
in market places. Johnson. Shak.
4. Any thing in the form of a cross or gib
bet.
5. A line drawn through another. Johnson.
6. Any thing that thwarts, obstructs, or per-
plexes ; hindrance ; vexation ; misfortune ;
opposition; trial of patience.
Heaven prepares good men with crosses.
B. Jonson.
7. Money or coin stamped with the figure of
a cross. Dryden.
8. The right side or face of a coin, stamped
with a cross. Encyc.
9. The mark of a cross, instead of a signa-
ture, on a deed, formerly impressed by
those who could not write. Encyc.
10. Church lands in Ireland. Davies.\
11. In theology, the sufferings of Christ by
crucifixion.
That he might reconcile both to God in one
body by the cross. Eph. ii.
J12. The doctrine of Christ's sufferings and
of the atonement, or of salvation by
Christ.
The preaching of the cross is to them that
perish, foolishness. 1 Cor. i. Gal. v.
To take up the cross, is to submit to trou-
bles and afflictions from love to Christ.
13. In mining, two nicks cut in the surface
of the earth, thus -f.
Cross and pile, a play with money, at which
it is put to chance whether a coin shall
fall with that side up, which bears the
cross, or the other which is called pile or
reverse.
€ROSS, a. craus. Transverse ; oblique ;
passing from side to side ; falling athwart;
as a cross beam.
The cross refraction of a second prism.
J\'ewtoti.
2. Adverse ; opposite; obstructing; some-
times with to ; as an event cross to our in-
chnations.
3. Perverse ; untractable ; as the cross cir-
cumstances of a man's temper. South.
4. Peevish ; fretful ; ill-humored : applied to
persons or things ; as a cross woman or
liusband : a cross answer.
5. Contrary ; contradictory ; perplexing.
Contradictions that seem to lie cross and ui
couth. Sout
6. Adverse ; unfortunate.
Behold Uie cross and unlucky issue of my di
sign. Glanvill
7. Interchanged ; as a cross marriage, when
a brother and sister intermarry with two
persons who have the same relation to
each other. Bailey.
Noting what belongs to an adverse i)arty ;
as a cross interrogatory. Kent.
CROSS, prep. Athwart ; transversely ; over ;
from side to side ; so as to intersect.
And cross their limits cut a sloping way.
Dryden.
This is admissible in poetry, as an abbrevia-
tion of across.
€ROSS, II. /. To draw or run a line, or lay
a body across another ; as, to cross a word
in writing ; to cross the arms.
2. To erase ; to cancel ; as, to cross an ac-
count.
3. To make the sign of the cross, as catho-
lics in devotion.
1. To pass from side to side ; to pass oi
move over ; as, to cross a road ; to cross a
river, or the ocean. I crossed the English
channel, from Dieppe to Brighton, in a
steam-boat, Sept. 18, 1824. fK
5. To thwart; to obstruct; to hinder; to
embarrass ; as, to cross a purpose or de-
sign.
J. To counteract ; to clash or interfere with
to be inconsistent with ; as, natural appe
tites may cross our principles.
". To counteract or contravene ; to hinder
by authority ; to stop. [See No. 5.]
B. To contradict. . Bacon. Hooker.
9. To debar or preclude. Shak.
To cross the breed of an annnal, is to produce
young from different varieties of the spe-
cies.
€ROSS, V. 1. To lie or be athwart.
2. To move or pass laterally, or from one
side towards the other, or from place to
place, either at right angles or obliquely ;
as, to cross from Nantucket to New Bedford.
3. To be inconsistent ; as, men's actions do
not always cross with reason. [jVot used.]
Sidney.
€ROSS'-ARMED, a. With arms across.
In botany, brachiate ; decussated ; having
branches in pairs, each at right angles
with the next. Martyn.
CROSS'-BARRED, a. Secured by trans-
verse bars. Milton.
€ROSS'-BAR-SHOT, n. A bidlet with aii
iron bar passing through it, and standing
out a few inches on each side ; used in
naval actions for cutting the enemy's rig-
gii'ff- Encyc.
€ROSS-BEARER, n. In the Romish church,
tlie chaphiin of an archbishop or primate,
who bears a cross before him on solemn
occasions. Also, a certain officer in the
inquisition, who niakes a vow before the
intpiisitors to defend the Catholic faith,
though with the loss of fortune and life.
Encyc.
CROSS'-BILL, 71. In chancery, an original
bill by which the defendant prays relief
against the plaintiff. Blackstoru.
eROSS'-BILL, 71. A species of bird, the
Loxia curvirostra, the mandibles of whose
bill curve opposite ways and cross each
other. Encyc.
CROSS'-BITE, n. A deception ; a cheat.
UEstrange.
€ROSS'-BITE, V. t. To thwart or contra-
vene by deception. Collier.
€ROSS'-B0W, 7!. In archery, a missive
weapon formed by placing a now athwart
a stock. Baiky.
CROSS'-BOWER, n. One who shoots with
a cross-bow. Raleigh.
CROSSCUT, V. t. To cut across.
CROSSCUT-SAW, n. A saw managed
by two men, one at each end.
CROSS'ED, pp. Having a line drawn over;
canceled; erased; passed over; thwart-
ed ; opposed ; obstructed ; counteracted.
CROSS-EXAMINA'TION, n. The exam-
ination or interrogation of a witness called
by one party, by the opposite party or his
counsel.
CROSS-EXAMINE, v. t. To examine a
witness by the opposite party or his coun-
sel, as the witness for the plaintiff by the
defendant, and vice versa.
The opportunity to cross-examine the wit-
nesses has been expressly waived. Kent.
CROSS-EXAM'INED, pp. Examined or
interrogated bv the opposite partv.
CROSS'-FLOW", V. i. To flow across.
MMott.
CROSS'-GRAIXED, a. Having the grain
or fibers across or irregular ; as in timber,
where a branch shoots from the trunk,
there is a curling of the grain.
2. Perverse; untractable; not condescend-
ing.
CROSS'ING, ppr. Drawing; running or
passing a line over ; erasing ; canceOng ;
thwarting ; opposing ; counteracting ; pas-
sing over.
€ROSS'ING, n. A thwarting ; impediment;
vexation. Shak.
CROSS'-JACK, 71. cro-jeck. A sail extend-
ed on the lower yard of the mizen mast ;
but seldom used. Encyc.
CROSS'-LEGGED, a. Having the legs
across.
CROSSLY, adv. Athwart ; so as to inter-
sect something else.
2. Adversely; in opposition ; unfortunately.
3. Peevishly ; fretfully.
CROSS'NESS, 71. Peevisliness ; frctfulness;
ill humor; perverseness.
CROSS-PIECE, 71. A rail of timber extend-
ing over the windlass of a ship, furnished
C R O
C R U
C R O
with pins with which to fasten tlie rig-
ging, as occasion requires. Encyc
CROSS'-PURPOSE, n. A contrary pur-
pose ; contradictory system ; also, a con-
versation in which one person does or pre-
tends to misunderstand another's mean-
ing. An enigma ; a riddle. Mason.
€ROSS'-QUESTION, v. t. To cross exam-
ine. Killingbeck.
€ROSS'-R0W, n. The alphabet, so named
because a cross is placed at the beginning,
to show that the end of learning is piety.
Johnson. Shak.
2. A row that crosses others.
€ROSS'-SEA, n. Waves running across
others ; a swell running in different direc-
tions.
€ROSS'-STAFF, n. An instrument to take
the altitude of the sun or stars.
CROSS'-STONE, n. A mineral called also
harmotome, and staurolite. It is almost
always in crystals. Its single crystals are
rectangular four-sided prisms, "broad oi-
compressed, and terminated by four-sided
pyramids, witli rhombic faces, which
stand on the lateral edges. But this min-
eral is generally found in double crystals,
composed of two of the preceding crys-
tals, so intersecting each other, that the
two broader planes of one prism are per-
pendicidar to the broader planes of the
other, throughout their whole length. Its
color is a grayish white or milk white,
sometimes with a shade of yellow or red.
Cleaveland.
.€ROSS'-TINING, «. In husbandnj, a har-
rowing by drawing the harrow or draj;
back and "forth on the same ground.
Encyc.
CROSS'-TREES, n. In ships, certain pieces
of timber, supported by the cheeks and
trestle-trees, at the upper ends of the low-
er masts, to sustain the frame of the top.
and on the top masts, to extend the top-
gallant shrouds. Mar. Did,
€ROSS'-WAY, ) A way or road that
€ROSS'-ROAD, I crosses another road
or the chief road ; an obscure path inter
secting the main road. Johnson. Shiik
CROSS'-WIND, n. A side wind ; an unfa
vorable wind. Boyle
CROSS- WISE, adv. Across ; in the forn
of a cross.
CROSS'-WORT, )!. A plant of the genu:
Valantia.
CROTCH, n. [Fr. croc, a hook. See Crook
and Crutch.']
1. A fork or forking ; the parting of two
legs or branches ; as the crotch of a tree.
2. In ships, a crooked timber placed on tl
keel, in the fore and aft parts of a shij).
3. A piece of wood or iron, opening on the
top and extending two horns or arms, like
a half moon, used for supporting a boom,
a spare topmast, yards, &c. Mar. Diet.
CUOTCH'ED, a. Having a crotch ; forked,
CROTCH'ET, 71. [Fr. crochet, croche, from
croc. See Crook.]
1. In printing, a hook including words, a
sentence or a passage distinguished from
the rest, thus [ ].
2. In music, a note or character, equal in
time to half a minim, and the double of
quaver, thus •
0. A piece of wood resembling a fork, used
as a support in buildin".
4. A pecuUar turn of the mind ; a whim, or
fancy ; a perverse conceit.
AU the devices and crotchets of new inven-
tioDs. Howell.
CROTCH'ETED, a. Marked with crotch-
ets.
CROUCH, V. i. [G. kriechen, kroch, kroche,
to creep, to stoop, to cringe, probably al-
lied to crook, Fr. crochu, as cringe to
crank. Class Rg. Vulgarly, crooch,
scrooch.]
1. To bend down ; to stoop low ; to lie close
to the ground ; as an animal. A dog
crouches to his master ; a lion crouches in
the thicket.
3. To bend servilely ; to stoop meanly ; to
fawn ; to cringe.
Every one that is left in thine house shall
come and crouch to him for a piece of bread.
1 Sam. ii.
CROUCH, v.t. [See Cross.] To sign with
the cross ; to bless. [JSTot in use.]
Chaucer.
CROUCH'ING, ppr. Bending ; stooping ;
cringing-.
CROUP, ^ [Fr. croupe, a ridge, top, but-
CROOP, I "■ locks ; Sp. grupa ; Port, gam-
pa ; It. groppa ; W. crib : Russ. krivei,
crooked ; knvlyii, to bend.]
1. The rump of a fowl; the buttocks of a
horse, or extremity of the reins above the
hips.
2. [Scot, croup. See Croop.] The cyuanche
trachealis, a disease of the throat.
GROUPA'DE, I [from croup, or its root.]
CROOPA'DE, I "• In the manege, a leap in
which the horse pulls up his hind legs, as
if he drew them up to his belly. Encyc.
CROUT, I [G. kraut, cabbage, an herb ;
KROUT, I "■ D. kndd.] Sour crout is
made by laying minced or chopped cab-
bage in layers in a barrel, with a handful
of salt and caraway seeds between the
layers ; then ramming down the whole,
covering it, pressing it with a heavy
weight, and suffering it to stand, till it has
gone through fermentation. It is an effi-
cacious preservative against scurvy in long
voyages. Encyc.
GROW, n. [Sax. cratoe: Dan. krage ; Sw.
kr&ka ; D. tract ; G. krahe ; so named from
its cry, G. krahen, D. kraaijcn, Goth.
hruk, a croaking, hrukyan, to croak or crow,
L. crocio, Gr. xpafu, xpu|w, xexpaya. It
has no connection with L. corvus, butJ-ooAr
is of the same family.]
1. A large black fowl, of the genus Corvus ;
the beak is convex and eultrated, the nos-
trils are covered with bristly feathers, the
tongue is forked and cartilaginous. This
is a voracious fowl, feeding on carrion
and grain, particularly maiz, which it pulls
up, just after it appears above ground.
To pluck or pull a croiv, is to be industri-
ous or contentious about a triile, or thing
of no value. Johnson.
2. A bar of iron with a beak, crook or two
claws, used in raising and moving heavy
weights. Moxon.
•3. The voice of the cock. [See the Verb.]
CROW, t>. i. pret. and pp. croioed ; former-
ly, pret. crew. [Sax. crawan ; D. kraaijen ;
G. krahen ; Gr. xpa^u. See the Noun.]
1. To cry or make a noise as a cock, in joy,
gaycty or defiance.
2. To boast in triumph ; to vaunt; to vapor ;
to swagger. [^ popular, but not an elegant
use (^ the word.] Grandison.
CROW-BAR, n. A bar of iron sharpened at
one end, used as a lever for raising
weights.
CROW-BERRY, n. A plant of the genus
Empetrum, or berry-bearing heath. One
species bears the crow-crake berries.
Encyc.
CROW'S-BILL, n. In surgery, a kind of for-
ceps for extracting bullets and other things
from wounds. Encyc.
CROW'S-FEET, n. The wrinkles under the
eyes, which are the effects of age. Obs.
Chaucer.
CROW -FLOWER, n. A kind of campion.
CROW-FOQT, n. On board of ships, a com-
plication of small cords spreading out from
a long block ; u.sed to suspend the awn-
ings, or to keep the top sails from striking
and fretting against the tops. Encyc.
2. In botany, the Ranunculus, a genus of
plants.
CROW'S-FOOT, n. In the military art, a ma-
chine of iron, with four points, so termed
that in whatever way it falls, there is one
l)oint upwards, and intended to stop or
embarrass the approach or march of the
enemj's cavalry ; a caltrop.
Encye.
CROWING, ppr. Uttering a particular voice,
as a cock; boasting in triumph ; vaunting;
bragging.
CROW-KEEPER, n. A scarecrow. [JVot
used.] Shak.
CROW-NET, n. In England, a net for catch-
ing wild fowls ; the net used in New Eng-
land for catching wild pigeons.
CROW-SILK, n. A plant, the Confena
livalis. Fam. oj Plants.
CROW-TOE, n. A plant ; as the tufted
crow-toe. Milton.
CROWD, \ [Ir. emit ; W. cricth, a
GROWTH, \ "• swelling or bulging, a mu-
sical instrument.]
An instriunent of music with si.x strings ; a
kind of violin.
CROWD, )i. [Sax. cruth, eread. See
Crew.]
1. Properly, a collection ; a number of things
collected, or closely pressed together.
2. A number of persons congregated and
pressed together, or collected into a close
body without order ; a throng. Hence,
3. A multitude; a great number collected.
4. A number of things near together ; a
number promiscuously assembled or lying
near each other ; as a crowd of isles in the
Egean Sea.
5. The lower orders of people ; the popu-
lace ; the vulgar. Dryden.
CROWD, V. t. To press ; to urge ; to drive
together.
2. To fill by pressing numbers together with-
out order ; as, to crowd a room with peo-
ple ; to crowd the memory with ideas.
3. To fill to excess.
Volumes of reports crowd a lawyer's library.
4. To encumber by multitudes. Shak.
5. To urge ; to press by solicitation ; to dun.
G. In seamanship, to crowd sail, is to cany
an extraordinary force of sail, with a view
to accelerate the course of a ship, as in
chasing or escaping from an enemy ; to
carry a press of sail.
CROWD, 1'. J. To press in numbers ; as, the
C R O
C R U
C R U
multitude crowded through the gate or into
the room.
2. To press; to urge forward ; as, the man
crowded into the room.
3. To swarm or be numerous.
€ROWD'ED, pp. Collected and pressed;
pressed together ; urged ; driven ; filled
by a promiscuous multitude.
€ROWD'ER, rt. A fiddler; one who plays
on a crowd.
€ROWD'lNG, ppr. Pressing together ;
pushing ; thrustmg ; driving ; assembling
in a promiscuous multitude ; filUng ; ur-
CROWN, )i. [Fr. couronne ; Arm. curun ;
W. coron ; D. kroo7i ; G. krone ; Sw. krona ;
Dan. krone ; Ir. coroin ; L. corona ; Sp. It.
id.; Gr. xopui);. The radical letters appear
to be Cr, as corolla, without n, indicates
Qu. a top or roundness. See Chorus.]
1. An ornament worn on the head by king;
and sovereign princes, as a badge of imjie-
rial or regal power and dignity. Figura-
tively, regal power ; royalty ; kingly gov-
ernment, or executive authority.
2. A wreath or garland.
3. Honorary distinction ; reward.
They do it to obtain a corraptible crown ; we,
an incorruptible. 1 Cor. ix.
4. Honor ; splendor ; dignity.
The crown has fallen from our heads. Lam
V. Phil.iv.
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband,
Prov. xii.
5. The top of tlie head ; the top of a moun-
tain or other elevated object. The end of
an anchor, or the point from which the
arms proceed.
6. The part of a hat which covers the top of
the head.
7. A coin anciently stamped with the figure
of a crown. The English crown is five
shillings sterling. The French crown is a
hundred and nine cents. Other coins
bear the same name.
8. Completion ; accomplishment.
9. Clerical tonsure in a circular form ; a lit-
tle circle shaved on the top of the head,
as a mark of ecclesiastical office or distinc-
tion.
10. Among jewelers, tlic upper work of s
rose diamond.
11. In botany, an appendage to the top of a
seed, which serves to bear it in the wind,
CROWN, V. t. To invest with a crown or
regal ornament. Hence, to invest with
regal dignity and power.
2. To cover, as with a crown ; to cover the
top.
And peaceful olives crowned his hoary head.
Dryden.
3. To honor ; to dignify ; to adorn.
Tliou hast crowned him with glory and honor.
Ps. viii.
4. To reward ; to bestow an honorary re-
ward or distinction on ; as the victor
crowned with laurel.
5. To reward ; to recompense.
She'll crown a grateful and a constant flame
Jioscommon
6. To terminate or finish ; to complete ; to
perfect.
7. To terminate and reward ; as, our effort
were crowned with success.
CROWN ED, pp. Invested with a crown, o
with regal power and dignity ; honored
dignified ; regarded with a crown, wreath
garland or distinction ; recompensed ; ter-
miiiatcd ; completed ; perfected.
CROU N'ER, n. He or that which crowns
or completes.
CR0WN'P:T, n. A coronet, which see.
Shakspeare has used it for chief end or
last purpose ; but this sense is singular.
CROWN-GLASS, n. The finest sort of
English window-glass.
CROWN-IMPERIAL, n. A plant of the
genus Fritillaria, having a beautiful
tlower.
CROWN'ING, ppr. Investing with acrown,
or with royalty or su))renie power ; hon
oring with a wreath or with distinction
adorning; rewarding; finishing; perfect
ing.
CROWN'ING, 71. In architecture, the finish
ing of a member or any ornamental work.
3. In marine language, tlie finishing part of
a knot, or interweaving of the strands.
CROWN'-OFFICE, 71. In England, an of-
fice belonging to the court of King's
Bench, of which the king's coroner or at-
torney is commonly master, and in which
the attorney general and clerk exhibit in
formations for crimes and misdemeanors.
CROWN'-POST, n. In building, a post which
stands upright in the middle, between two
|)rincipal ratlers. Bailey.
CROWN'-SCAB, n. A scab formed round
the ciiriMis of a horse's hoof, acanceroiis
iiiid ii.-iiiiliil s(ii-o. Farrier's Diet.
t KuW N - rillSTLE, n. A flower.
CROW ,\ -W IIF.EL, n. In a watch, the up-
pciwlicci licM the balance, which drives
till- lialancc, :iM(l in royal pendulums, is call-
ed the fwiiig-u-heel.
CROWN'-WORK, n. In fortification, an out-
work running into the field, consisting ol
two demi-bastions at the extremes and an
entire bastion in the middle, with curtains.
It is designed to gain some hill or ndv£
tageous post, and cover the other works.
Diet.
CROYL'STONE, n. Crystalized cauk, in
which the crystals are small.
IVoodward. Johnson.
CRU'CIAL, a. [Fr. cruciale, from L. crux,
a cross.]
In surgery, transverse ; passing across
tersecting; in form of a cross ; as crucial
incision. Sha.
CRU'CIAN, n. A short, thick, broad fish, of
a deep yellow color. Diet, of .Vat. Hist
CRU'CI.\TE, V. t. [L. crude, to torture, from
crux, a cross.]
To torture ; to torment ; to afflict with ex-
treme pain or distress ; hut the verb is sel-
dom used. [See Excruciate.]
CRU'CIATE, a. Tormented. [Little used.]
CRUCIA'TION, 71. The act of torturin,
tormein. [Little used.] Hall.
CRU'CIBLE, n. [It. crogiuolo,anil crociuolo ;
Sp. msol ; Port, chrysol or crisol ; Fr.
creuset ; D. kroes, smeU-kroes. It is from
crux, a cross, as Lunier supposes, from
the figure of the cross, formerly attached
to it. But qu.]
1. A chimical vessel or melting pot, made of
earth, and so tempered and baked, as
endure extreme heat without melting. It
is used for melting ores, metals, &c.
3. .\ hollow place at the bottom of a chim
ical furnace. Fourcroy.
CRUCIF'EROUS, a. [h.crucifcr; crux, u
cross, and fero, to bear.] Bearing tho
cross. Diet.
CRU'CIFIER, n. [See Crucify.] A person
who crucifies ; one who puts another to
death on a cross.
CRU'CIFIX, n. [L. crucifius, from crucifigo,
to fix to a cross; crux and/g-o, to fix.]
1. A cro.ss on which the body of Christ is
fasteiied in efligy. Encyc.
2. A representation, in painting or statuary,
of oiu- Lord fastened to the cross.
Johnson.
3. Figuratively, the religion of Christ. [Lit-
tle used.] Taylor.
CRUCIFIX'ION, n. [See Crucifx.] Tho
nailing or fastening of a person to a cross,
for the purpose of putting him to death;
the act or punishment of putting a criminal
to death by naihng him to a cross.
Mdison.
CRUCIFORM, a. [L. crux, a cross, and
forma, form.] Cross-shaped.
In botany, consisting of four equal petals, dis-
posed in the form of a cross. Martyn.
CRU'CIFY, 17. t. [L. crucifigo; cntx, cross,
&m\figo, to fix ; Fr. erucifier; It. crocifig-
gere ; Sp. crucificar.]
1. To nail to a cross ; to put to death by nail-
ing the hands and feet to a cross or gibbet,
sometimes anciently, by fastening a crim-
inal to a tree, with cords. Encyc.
But tliey cried, crucify him, crucify him.
2. In scriptural language, to subdue ; to mor-
tify ; to destroy the power or ruling influ-
ence of.
They that are Christ's have crucifiedihe flesh,
with the aflbctions and lusts. Gal. v.
3. To reject and despise.
They crucify to themselves the Son of God
afresh. Heb. vi.
To be crucified leith Christ, is to become
dead to the law and to sin, and to have
indwelling corruption subdued. Gal. ii.
and vi.
4. To vex or torment. [JVot used.]
Burton.
CRU'CIFYING, ppr. Putting to death on a
cross or gibbet ; subduing; destroying the
life and power of
CRUD, n. Curd. [Sec Curd, the usual or-
thogra]>hy.]
CRUDE, o. [L. crudus ; Fr. crud, cru ; Sp.
It. crudo : Port, cru ; Arm. cnz ; W. en ;
D. ranuw ; Sax. hreaw ; G. roh ; Eng. raw ;
either from the root of cry, from rough-
ness, [W. cri, a cry and crude :] or from
_-£
the Ar. ^ji. \ to eat, to corrode, to ran-
kle, to become raw, L. rodo, rosi. Class
Rd. No. 35.]
\. Raw; not cooked or prepared by fire or
heat ; in its natural state ; undressed ; as
crude flesh ; crude meat. In this sense,
raw is more generally used.
2. Not changed from its natural state ; not
altered or prepared by any artificial pro-
cess; as crurfe salt; fn«/e alum.
3. Rough ; harsh ; unripe ; not mellowed by
air or other means ; as crude juice.
4. Unconcocted ; not well digested in the
stomach. Bacon.
|5. Not brought to perfection; unfinished;
I immature ; as the crude materials of the
I earth. Milton.
C R U
C R U
C R U
6. Having indigested notions. Milton.
7. Indigested ; not matured ; not well form-
ed, arranged, or prepared in the intellect
as, crude notions ; a crude plan ; a crude
theory. Milton.
CRU'DELY, adv. Without due preparation :
without form or arrangement ; without
maturity or digestion.
•GRU'DENESS, n. Rawness; miripeness
an undigested or unprepared state ; as the
cj-urfeness of flesh or plants, or of anybody
in its natural state.
2. A state of being unformed, or indigested ;
immatureness ; as the crudeness of ;
theory.
€RU'DITY, fl. [L. cruditas.] Rawness
crudeness. Among physicians, undigested
substances in the stomach ; or unconcoct
ed humors, not well prepared for expul
sion ; excrements. In the latter senses, it
admits of the plural. Coxe. Encyc.
€RUD'LE, V. t. To coagulate. Bui this
word is generally written curdle, which
see.
€RUD'Y, a. Concreted; coagulated. [jVo<
in use. See Curd.'\ Spen
S. Raw ; chill. [A/ot Jised. See Crude.]
SI
CRU'EL, a. [Fr. cruel ; L. crudelis ; It.
crudele. See Crude and Rude.]
1. Disposed to give pain to others, in body or
mind ; willing or pleased to torment, vex
or afflict ; inhuman ; destitute of pity,
compassion or kindness ; fierce ; fero-
cious; savage; barbarous; hardhearted;
applied to persons or their dispositions.
They are cruel, and have no mercy. Jer. vi.
% Inhuman ; barbarous ; savage ; causing
pain, grief or distress ; exertetlin torment-
ing, vexing or afflicting.
Cursed be their wrath, for it was cruel. Gen.
TTie tender mercies of the wicked ai
Prov. xii.
Others had trials of cruel mockings
: cruel
Heb.
€RU'ELLY, adv. In a cruel manner ; with
cruelty ; inhumanly ; barbarously.
Because he cruelly oppressed, he shall die in
his iniquity. Ezek. xviii.
2. Painfully ; with severe pain, or torture
as, an instrument may cut the flesh most
cruelly.
CRU'ELNESS, n. Inhumanity ; cruelty.
Spenser.
€RU'ELTY, n. [L. crudelitas ; Fr. cruaut^:]
1. Inhumanity ; a savage or barbarous dis-
position or temper, which is gratified in
giving unnecessary pain or distress to oth-
ers ; barbarity ; applied to persons ; as the!
crue% of savages ; the cruelty and envy of
the people. Shak
2. Barbarous deed ; any act of a human be-
ing which inflicts unnecessary pain; any
act intended to torment, vex or afflict, oi
which actually torments or afflicts, with
out necessity; wrong; injustice; oppres
sion.
With force and with cruelty have ye ruled
them. Ezek. xxxiv.
€RU'ENTATE, a. [L. cruentatus.] Smear-
ed with blood. [LAttle used.] Glanville.
€RU'ET, n. [Qu. Fr. creux, hollow, or cru-
chette, from cruche. See Cruse.]
A vial or small glass bottle, for holding vine-
gar, oil, &c.
|€RUISE, n. [See Cruse.]
'CRCISE, V. I. s as z. [D. krimsen, from
j kruis, a cross ; G. kreuzen ; Dan. krydsi
Fr. croiser. See Cross.]
To sail back and forth, or to rove on the
ocean in search of an enemy's ships for
capture, or for protecting commerce ; or
to rove for plunder as a pu-ate. The ad
miral cndsed between the Bahama isles
and Cuba. We cruised oft" Cape Finis
terre. A pirate was cruising in the gulf of|
Mexico.
€RUISE, n. A voyage made in a-ossing
courses ; a sailing to and fro in search o't
an enemy's ships, or by a pirate in search
of plunder.
CRUISER, 71. A person or a sliip that
cruises ; usually, an armed ship that sails
to and fro for capturing an enemy's ships,
for protecting the commerce of the coun-
try, or for plunder.
CRCISING, ppr. Saihng for the capture of
an enemy's ships, or for protecting com-
merce, or for plunder as a pirate.
€RUM, n. [Sax cruma ; D. kruim ; G.
krume ; Heb. Ch. D1J to gnaw, or break.
Class Rm. No. 14. 16. 19. 25. 26.]
A small fragment or piece ; usually, a small
piece of bread or otlier food, broken or cut
oft-.
Lazarus, desiring to be fed with the cnims
which fell from the rich man's table. Luke
CRUM, V. t. To break or cut into small pie-
ces ; as, to crum bread into milk.
CRUM'BLE, V. t. [D. kruimelen ; G. kriim-
eln.]
To break into small pieces ; to divide into
minute parts.
€RU3I'BLE, II. i. To fall into small pieces ;
to break or part into small fragments.
I a stone is brittle, it will crumble into
gravel. Arbuthnot.
2. To fall to decay; to perish; as, our flesh
shall crumble into dust.
CRUM'BLED, pp. Broken or parted into
small pieces.
CRUM'BLING, ppr. Breaking into small
fragments; falling into small pieces; de-
caying.
€RU'MENAL, n. [L. crumena.] A purse.
[jYot used.] Spenser.
CRUM'MY, a. Full of crums ; soft.
CRUMP, a. [Sax. crump; D. krom ; G.
krumm ; Dan. krum ; W. crom, crwm, crook-
ed ; Ir. crom, whence cromaim, to bend,
croman, the hip-bone, the rump. Crump,
rump, rumple, crumple, crimple, are doubt-
less of one family.]
Crooked ; as cru»(/;-shouldered.
CRUMP'ET, n. A soft cake.
CRUMP'LE, V. i. [from crump. See Rum-
ple, the same word without a prefix.]
To draw or press into wrinkles or folds ; to
rumple. Addison.
CRUMP'LE, v.i. To contract; to shrink.
Smith.
CRUMP'LED, pp. Drawn or pressed into
wrinkles.
CRUMP' LING, ppr. Drawing or pressing
into wrinkles.
CRUMP'LING, n. A small degenerate ap-
|)lo. Johnson
CRUNK, > . To crv like a crane
CRUN'KLE, I "• '• [JVot used.]
CRU'OR, n. [L.] Gore ; coagulated blood.
GreenhiU.
CRUP or CR6UP, n. The buttocks.
CR UP, a. Short; brittle. [.Vo< iVi ««.]
CRUP'PER, n. [Fr. croupiere; It. groppie-
ra ; Sp. grupera ; from croupe, groppa, gru-
pa, a ridge, the buttocks of a horse. See
Croup.]
1. In the manege, the buttocks of a horse;
the rump.
2. A strap of leather which is buckled to a
saddle, and passing under a horse's tail,
prevents the saddle from being cast for-
ward on to the horse's neck.
CRUPPER, v.t. To put a crupper on; as,
to crupper a horse.
CRURAL, a. [L. cruralis, from cms, cruris,
the leg.]
Belonging to the leg ; as the crural artery,
which conveys blood to the legs, and the
crural vein, which returns it. Encyc.
€RUSA'DE, n. [Fr. croisade; It. crociata;
Sp. cruzuda ; from L. crux, Fr. croix, Sp.
cruz. It. croce, a cross. Class Rg.]
A military expedition imdertaken by chris-
tians, for the recovery of the Holy Land,
the scene of our Savior's life and sufier-
ings, from the power of infidels or Mo-
hammedans. Several of these expedi-
tions were carried on from Europe, under
the banner of the cross, from which the
name originated.
CRUSA'DE, ?i. A Portuguese coin, stamp-
ed with a cross.
CRUSA'DER, n. A person engaged in a
crusade. Robertson.
CRUSE, n. [D. kroes. See Crucible.] A
small cup.
Take with thee a cruse of honey. 1 Kings
xiv.
In New England, it is used chiefly or
wholly for a small bottle or vial for vine-
gar, called a vinegar-cruse.
CRU'SET, n. [Fr. creuset, formerly croiaet.
See Crucible.]
A goldsmith's crucible or melting pot.
PhiUips.
CRUSH, II. t. [Fr. ecrascr ; Ir. scriosam. In
Sw. krossa, in Dan. kryster signifies, to
squeeze. In It. croscio is a crushing ; and
crosciare, to throw, strike, pour, or rain
hard. There are many words in the Shem-
itic languages which coincide with crush
in elements and signification. Cb. Heb.
Syr. D1J to break in pieces ; Ar. ijMj.sa.
id.;Eth. (\^a^ to grind, whence grtst;
Heb. and Ch. j'ln, and Ch. Syr. Heb. yyi to
break, to crush ; Ar. ^ the same. So
crash, in English, and Fr. biiser, Arm./reu-
sa, to bruise. See Class Rd. No. 16. 20. 22.
41. 48. and Syr. No. m. See Rush.]
1. To press and bruise between two hard
bodies ; to squeeze, so as to force a thing
out of its natural sha])e ; to bruise by pres-
sure.
Tlie ass — crushed Balaam's foot against the
wall. Numb. xxii.
To cmsh grapes or apples, is to squeeze
them till bintised and broken, so that the
juice escapes. Hence, to crush out, is to ' .
force out by pressure.
2. To pre.ss with violence ; to force together
nto a mass.
C R U
CRY
CRY
y. To overwhelm by pressure ; to beat or
force Jown, by an incumbent weight, with
breaking or bruising; as, the man wi
crushed by the fall of a tree.
To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
Drydei
Wio are crushed before the moth. Job iv.
"1. To overwhelm by power ; to subdue ; I
conquer beyond resistance ; as, to crush
one's enemies ; to crush a rebellion.
5. To oppress grievously.
Thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed al-
ways. Deut. xxvUi.
6. To bruise and brealc into fine particles by
beating or grinding; to comminute.
CRUSH, V. i. To be pressed into a smaller
compass by external weight or force.
CRUSH, n. A violent collision, or rushing
together, which breaks or bruises the
bodies ; or a fall that breaks or bruises in-
to a confused mass ; as the crush of a large
tree, or of a building.
The wrecks of matter, and the crush of worlds.
Addison.
CRUSH'ED, pp. Pressed or squeezed so as
to break or bruise ; overwhelmed or sub
dued by power ; broken or bruised by a
fall ; grievously oppressed ; broken or
brtiised to powder ; conmiitiuted.
CRUSHING, ppr. Pressing or squeezing
into a mass, or until broken or bruised ;
overwhelming ; subduing by force ; oj
pressmg ; comnnnutmg.
CRUST, n. [L. crusta ; Fr. croiUe ; It. cros
ta; D. koTst ; G. kruste ; W. crest, from
cresu, to parch or scorch, cres, a harden-
ing by heat. But the primary sense is
probably to shrink, contract, harden
whetlier by cold or heat, and it is prob-
ably alUed to crystal, freeze, crisp, &c.
See Class Rd. No. 19. 33. 73. 7G. 83. 85.
88.]
1. An external coat or covering of a tiling,
■which is hard or harder than the internal
substance ; as the crust of bread ; the crust
of snow ; the crust of d
a pie.
2. A piece of crust; a waste piece of bread.
Dryden. UEslrmige.
3. A shell, as the hard covering of a crab
and some other animals.
4. A scab.
5. Tlie superficial substances of the earth
are, in geologv, called its c
CRUST, V. t. To cover with a hard case or
coat ; to spread over the surface a sub
stance harder than the matter covered ;
to incrust ; as, to crust a thing with clay
to crust cake with sugar ; crusted with bark,
Mdison.
2. To cover with concretions. Sivift.
CRUST, V. i. To gather or contract into o
hard covering ; to concrete or freeze, as
See Crvstalosy.]
Fr. crustacee, from
sup
€RUSTACEOLO()Y.
CRUSTA'CEOUS, a.
L. cjT«<a.]
Pertaining to crust ; like crust ; of the na
ture of crust or shell. Crustaceous ani
nials, or Crustacea, have a crust or shell
composed of several jointed pieces, and in
their external form have a great resemb-
lance to insects ; but in their internal
structure and economy, they are quite dif-
ferent. They were arranged by Linne, in
the same class with the insect.s, but now
Vol. I.
form a class by themselves. They include
the crab, lobster, shritnp, &c. Ed. Encyc.
CRUSTA'(.'EOUSNESS, n. The quahty of
having a soft and jointed shell.
CRUSTALOti'lCAL, a. [See Cntstaiogy.]
Pertaining to crustalogv.
CRUSTAL'OtilST, n. One who describes,
or is versed in the science of crustaceous
animals.
eRUSTAL'06Y, n. [L. cn««a, a shell, and
I Gr. Myof, discourse.]
That part of zoology which treats of crusta-
j ceous animals, arranging them in orders,
j tribes and families, and describing their
I forms and habits.
'.[Crustaceology, the word sometimes u.sed,
is ill-formed, and its derivatives incon-
j veniently long. Who can endure such
I words as crustaceolo^cal?]
CRUST' ATED, a. Covered with a crust
i crustafed basalt. Encyc
CRUSTA'TION, n. An adherent crust ; m
CRUSTED, pp. Covered with a crust.
CRUST'ILY, adv. [from a-usty.] Peev
ly ; harshly ; morosely.
CRUST'INESS, n. The quality of crust;
hardness.
2. Peevishness ; moroseness ; surliness.
CRUST'ING, ppr. Covering with crust,
CRUST'Y, a. Like crust ; of the nature of
crust ; pertaining to a hard covering ;
hard ; as a crusty coat ; a critsty surface
or substance.
9. Peevish ; snappish ; morose ; surly ; a
word used in familiar discourse, but not
deemed elegant.
CRUTCH, n. [It. croccia, or gri^ccia ; D,
kruk ; G. krucke ; S. krycka ; Dan. krykke ;
radically the same as crotch and crook.]
1. \ staff with a curving cross piece at the
head, to be placed under the arm or
shoulder, to support the lame in walking.
2. Figuratively, old age. Shak.
CRUTCH, V. t. To support on crutches ; to
; the crust of I prop or sustain, with miserable helps, that
which is feeble.
Two fools that crutch their feeble sense o
verse. Dryder,
CRUX, 71. [L. enuc, a cross.] Any thing that
puzzles and vexes. [Little used.]
Dr. Sheridan.
CRU'YSHA6E, «. A fish of the shark kind,
Imving a triangular head and mouth.
Diet. A'at. Hist.
CRi', V. i. pret. and pp. cried. It ought to
he cryed. [Fr. crier. The Welsh has cri
a cry, and rough, raw, cnatt', to cry
clamor or weep ; and crevu, to cry, tc
crave ; both deduced by Owen from ere, i
combining cause, a principle, beginning or
first motion ; also, what pervades or pen-
etrates, a cry. This is the root of create,
or from the same root. Cre, Owen dedu-
ces from rhe, with the prefi,x cy : and rhe,
he renders a run or swift motion. This '
certainly contracted from rhed, a race, the
root of Virfe ; Owen to the contrarj'
withstanding. All the senses of these
words unite in that of shooting forth, dri
ving forward or producing. There is i
class of words a little different from th(
foregoing, which exactly give the sense ofl
cry. It. eridare ; Sp. and Port, gritar ;
Sax. grcedan ; Sw. grS'a ; Dan. grceder ;
D. krylen ; W. grydiaw, to utter a rough
53
sound, from rhyd, the Welsh root of eryr
du, to shake or tremble, whence cradle.
[VV. creih. a trembling or shivering with
cold, from cre ; also, constitution, disposi-
tion.] Tlie latter root rhyd, crydu, would
give cri, rough, raw, crude. Cry is a con-
tracted word ; but whether from the form-
er or latter class of roots, may be less ob-
vious— possibly all are from one source.
If not, I think cry is from the French cmr,
and this from gridare, gritar.]
I. To utter a loud voice ; to speak, call or
exclaim with vehemence ; I'ji a very gener-
al sense.
:. To call importunately ; to utter a loud
voice, by way of earnest request or prayer.
The people cried to Pharoah for bread. Gen.
xli.
The people cried to Moses, and he prayed.
Numb. xi.
1. To utter a loud voice in weeping ; to ut-
ter the voice of sorrow ; to lament.
But ye shall cry for sorrow of heart. Is. Ixv.
Esau cried with a great and bitter cry. Gen.
xxvii.
Also, to weep or shed tears in silence ; a
popular use of the word.
4. To utter a loud sound in distress; as,
Heshbon shall cry. Is. xv.
He pveth food to the young ravens which
cry. Ps. cxlvii.
5. To exclaim ; to utter a loud voice ; with
aut.
.^nd, lo, a spirit taketh hira, and he suddenly
crieth out. Luke ix.
6. To proclaim ; to utter a loud voice, in
giving public notice.
Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem. Jer. ii.
The voice of him that crieth In the wilderness.
Is. .xl.
'\7. To bawl ; to squall ; as a child.
8. To yelp, as a dog. It may be used for the
uttering of a loud voice by other animals.
To cry against, to exclaim, or utter a loud
voice, by way of reproof, threatening or
Arise, go to Nineveh, and cry agai7ist it.
Jonah i.
To cry out, to exclaim ; to vociferate ; to
scream ; to clamor.
2. To complain loudly.
To cry out against, to complain loudly, with a
view to censure ; to blame ; to utter cen-
To cry to, to call on in prayer ; to implore.
CRY, V. t. To proclaim; to name loudly and
publicly for giving notice ; as, to cry goods ;
to cry a lost child.
To cry dmim, to decry ; to depreciate by
words or in writing ; to dispraise ; to con-
demn.
Men of dissolute lives cry down religion, be-
cause they would not be under the restraints of
it. TUIotson.
2. To overbear.
Cry down this fellow's insolence. Shak.
To cry up, to praise ; to applaud ; to extol ;
as, to cry up a man's talents or patriotism,
or a woman's beauty ; to cry up the ad-
ministration.
2. To raise the price by proclamation ; as, to
cry up certain coins. [JVol in use.]
Temple.
To cry off, in the vulgar dialect, is to publish
intentions of marriage.
CRY, n. plu. cries. In a general sense, a
lound sound uttered by the mouth of an
C R Y
CRY
CUB
animal ; applicaljle to the voice of man
or beast, and aiticulate or inarticulate.
9. A loud or vehement sound, uttered in
weeping, or lamentation ; It may be a
shriek or scream.
And there shall be a great cry in all the land
of Egypt. Ex. xi.
3. Clamor; outcry; as, war, war, is the pub-
lic cry.
And there arose a great ciy. Acts xxiii.
4. Exclamation of triumph, of wonder, or of
other passion.
5. Proclaination ; public notice.
At midnight there was a cry made. Matt
x,xv.
6. The notices of hawkers of wares to be
sold in the street are called crks ; as the
cries of London.
7. Acclamaviou ; expression of jiopular fa-
vor.
The cry went once for thee. Shak
8. A loud voice in distress, prayer or request ;
importunate call.
He forgetteth not the cry of the humble. Ps.
There was a great cry in Egj-pt. Ex. xii.
9. Public reports or complaints ; noise ; fame.
Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is
great — I will go down, and see whether they
have done altogether according to the cry of it.
Gen. xviii.
10. Bitter complaints of oppression and in-
justice.
He looked for righteousness, and behold a
cry. Is. V.
11. The sound or voice of irrational animals ;
expi-ession of joy, fright, alarm, or want
as the cries of fowls, the yell or yelping of
dogs, &c.
12. A pack of dogs. Shak.
€RY'AL, n. [W. cregyr, a screamer.] The
heron. ,1inswm-th.
€RY'ER, n. A crier, which see.
€RY'ER, n. A kind of hawk, called the fal-
con gentle, an enemy to pigeons, and very
swift. jtinsworth.
CRY'ING, ppr. Uttering a louil voice ; pro-
claiming ; &c.
CRY'ING, a. Notorious ; common ; great ;
as a cn/iitg sin or abuse. jiddison.
CRY'ING, n. Importunate call ; clamor ;
outcry.
CRY'OLITE, n. [Gr. X|.vos, cohl, and uOo;,
stone, ice-stone.]
A fluatedf soda andalumin, found in Green-
land, of a pale grayish white, snow white,
or yellowish brown. It occurs in masses
of a foliated structure. It has a glistening,
vitreous luster. Jameson. Cleaveland.
CRYOPH'ORUS, n. [Gr. *pi.05, frost, and
fofieu), to bear.]
Frost-bearer ; an instrument for showing the
relation between evaporation at low tem-
peratures and the production of cold.
fVollaston.
CRYPT, n. [Gr. xpvXfu, to hide.] A sub-
terranean cell or cave, especially under a
church for the interment of persons ; also,
a subterranean chapel or oratory, and the
grave of a martyr.
CRYP'TIC, } [supra.) Hidden ; se
CRVP'TICAL, v"' cret ; occuk. fVatis
CRYP'TICALLY, adv. Secretly.
CRYP'TOGAM, n. [See Cryptogamy.\ In
botany, a [ilant whose stamens and pistils
are not distinctly visible.
CRYPTOGAM'IAN, a. Pertaining to plants
of the class Cryptogamia, including ferns,
mosses, sea- weeds, mushrooms, &c.
CRYPTOG'AMY, n. [Gr. xpvrtToj, conceal-
ed, and yo.aos, marriage.]
Concealed marriage ; a terra applied to
plants whose stamens and pistils are uoi
well ascertained, or too small to be num-
bered with certainty. Smith. Ed. Encyc.
CRYPTOGRAPHER, ji. One who writes
in secret characters.
CRYPTOGRAPH'ICAL, a. Written ii
cret characters or in cipher, or with sym-
pathetic ink.
CRYPTOGRAPHY, n. [Gr. xprxfoj, hid
den, and ypo^ju, to write.]
The act or art ot writing in secret charac-
ters ; also, secret characters or cypher.
CRYPTOL'OgY, n. [Gr. xpvrtTos, secret,
and "Koyoi, discourse.] Secret or enigmati-
cal language.
eRYS'TAL,~"?t. [L. crijslallus; Gr. xpvj'aT.^.o; ;
Fr. cristal ; Sp. cnstal ; It. crislalto ; D.
kristal ; G. krystaU ; W. crisial, from cris,
it is said, a bard crust. It is from the same
root as crisp, and W. cresu, to parch, crest,
a crust, crasu, to roast. The Greek, from
which we have the word, is composed of
the root of xpuof, frost, a contracted word,
probably from the root of the Welsh
words, supra, and si^%u, to set. The pri-
mary sense of the Welsh words is to
shrink, draw, contract ; a sense equally ap-
plicable to the effects of heat and cold.
Qu. Ar. u«j.ji karasa, Ch. tyip kerash,
to congeal. Class Rd. No. 83. 85.]
1. In chimistry and mineralogy, an inorganic
body, which, by the operation of affinity,
has assumed the form of a regular solid,
terminated by a certain number of j)lane
and smooth surfaces. Cleaveland.
9. A factitious body, cast in glass houses,
called crystal glass ; a species of glass,
more perfect in its composition and man-
ufacture, than conmion glass. The best
kind is the Venice crystal. It is called al-
so factitious crystal or paste.
Encyc. J'^cholson.
3. A substance of any kind having the form
of a crystal.
4. The glass of a watch-case.
Bock crystal, or mountain ciystal, a general
name for all the transparent crystals of!
quartz, particularly of limpid or colorless
quartz.
Iceland crystal, a variety of calcarious spar,j
or crystalized carbonate of hme, broughti
from Iceland. It occurs in laminated|
masses, easily divisible into rhombs, and is:
remarkable for its double refraction. |
Cleaveland.'
CRYS'TAL, a. Consisting of crystal, or
like ci-j'stal ; clear ; transparent ; lucid ;'
pellucid. 1
By crystal streams tl:;^t murmur through the'
meads. IhyiUn)
CRYS'TAL-FORM, a. Having the form of
crystal. Encyc'
CRYS'TALINE, a. [L. cnjslallinus ; Gr,
xpufaT.^ti'Oj.]
1. Consisting of crystal ; as a crystaline pal-
ace. Shak,
2. Resembling crystal ; pure ; clear ; trans-
parent ; pellucil ; as a cryslaline skv.
Milton
Cryslaline heavens, in ancient astronomy, two
spheres imagined between the primuni
mobile and the firmament, in the Ptole-
maic system, which supposed the heavens
to be solid and only susceptible of a single
motion. Encyc.
Crystaline humor, ) a lentiform pellucid body,
Crystaline lens, ^ composed of a very white,
transparent, firm substance, inclosed in a
membranous capsule, and situated in a de-
pression in the anterior part of the vitreous
liumor of the eye. It is somewhat con-
vex, and serves to transmit and refract the
rays of light to the vitreous humor.
Encyc. Hooper.
Cl^YS'TALIZABLE, a. [from cnjstalize.]
That may be crystalized ; that may form
or be formed into crystals.
Clavigero. Lavoisier.
CRYSTALIZA'TION, n. [from crystalize.J
The act or process by which the parts of
a solid body, separated by the intervention
of a fluid or by fusion, again coalesce or
unite, and form a solid body. If the
process is slow and undisturbed, the par-
ticles assume a regular arrangement, each
substance taking a determinate and regu-
lar form, according to its natural laws ;
but if the process is rapid or disturbed, the
substance takes an irregular form. This
process is the eflfect of refrigeration or
evaporation. Lavoisier. Kirwan.
2. The mass or body formed by the process
of crystalizing. Woodward.
CRYS'TALIZE, v. t. To cause to fomi
crystals.
Common salt is crystalized by the evapora-
tion of sea water.
CRYS'TALIZE, v. i. To be converted into
a crystal ; to unite, as the separate parti-
cles of a substance, and form a determi-
nate and regular solid.
Each species of salt crystalizes in a peculiar
form. Lavoisier.
CRYS'TALIZED,;7p. Formed into crystals.
CRYS'TALIZING, ppr. Causing to crys-
talize ; forming or uniting in crystals.
CRYSTALLITE, n. A name given to
whinstone, cooled slowly after fusion.
Hall. Thomson.
CRYSTALOG'RAPHER, n. [infra.] One
who describes crystals, or the manner of
their formation.
CRYSTALOGRAPH'le, ? Pertaining
CR YSTALOGRAPH'ICAL, ^ "to crystal-
jrapliy.
CRYSTALOGRAPH'ICALLY, adv. In the
manner of cry sialography.
CRYSTALOG'RAPHY, ' n. [crystal, as
above, and ypofTi description.]
1. The doctrine or science of crystalization,
teaching the principles of the process, and
the foriTisand structure of crystals.
■2. A discourse or treatise on crystalization.
CVB, n. [allied perhaps to Ir. caobh, a
branch, a shoot. But the origin of the
word is uncertain.]
1. The young of certain quadrupeds, as of the
bear and the fox; a puppy; a whelp.
Waller uses the word for the young of the
whale.
3. A young boy or girl, in contempt.
Shak. Cortgreve.
CUB, n. A stall for cattle. [.Vo« in use.']
CUB, V. t. To bring forth a cub, or cubs. la.
CUB
rontempt, to bring forth young, as a wo-
man. Dn/den.
•eUB, V. I. To sl.ut u{. or confine. [jVo< in
use.] Jiurlon.
■eUBA'TION, n. [L. ctibatio, from cubo, to
lie down.]
The act of lying down ; a reclining. Did.
■CU'BATORY, a. Lying down ; rechning ;
incumhent. Did.
CU'BATURE, n. [from cube.] The finding
exactly tlie solid or cubic contents of a
body. Harris.
CUBE, n. [Gr. xuSoj ; L. aibua, a die or
cube ; Fr. cube ; It. ctibo ; Sp. cubo ; Port.
cubo. In the two latter languages, it signifies
also a i)ail or tub, and in Port, the nave of
a wheel. W. cub, a bundle, .heap or aggre-
gate, a cube ; Cli. apy to s(iunrc, to form
into a cube ; N'3lp the game of dice, Gr.
xvStia, It seems to bo allied to L. cubo, to
set or throw down, and to signify tliat
which is set or laid, a solid mass.]
1. In geometry, a regular solid body, with six
equal sides, and containing equal angles.
2. In 'arithmetic, the product of a number
multiplied into itself, and that iirodiict
multiplied into tli<: same niuiiber ; or ii i-^
formed by iiuiltiplving any number Iwicr
by itself;" as, 4X4=1G, anil l()X4=tU, ih.
cube of 4.
The law of the planets is, that the squares of
the times of their revolutions arc in proportion
to the cubes of their mean distances.
Cube root, is the number or quantity, which,
multiplied into itself, and then into the
product, produces the cube ; or which,
twice multiplied into itself, produces the
number of which it is the root; thus, 3 is
the cube root c
and 3X9=27.
r side of 27, for 3X3=9,
CUBE-ORE, n.
Hexahedral olivenite, oi
arseniate of iro
color.
u, a mineral of a greenish
CU'BEB, n. [Ar.
*.U^. Class Gb. No.
45. Sp. cuicio.
'
The suiiill s[ticy berry of the Piper cubeba,
I Java and the other E. India isles.
cue
CU'BIFORM, a. Having the form of a cube.
Coie.
CU'BIT, n. [L. cubitus, the elbow ; Gr. xv-
Sifor ; probably allied to L. cubo, and sig-
nifying a turn or corner.]
1. In anatomy, the fore arm ; the ulna, a
bono of the arm from the elbow to the
wrist. Coxe. Encyc.
2. In mensuration, the length of a man's arm
from the elbow to the extremity of the
middle finger. The cubit among the an-
cients was of a different length among
different nations. Dr. Arbuthnot states
the Roman cubit at seventeen inches and
four tenths ; the cubit of the scriptures
at a httle less than 22 inches ; and the
English cubit at 18 inches. Encyc.
CU'BITAL, a. Of the length or measure of
a cubit. Broitm.
2. Pertaining to the cubit or ulna ; as the
cubital nerve ; cubital artery ; cubital mus-
cle. Hooper. Core.
eU'BITED, a. Having the measure of a cu-
bit. Sheldon,
€UBO-DOI)ECAHE'DRAL, a. Presenting
the two forms, a cubo and a dodecahe-
(Iniii. Cleavetand.
il lioll), a. Having the form of a cube, or
ilili; ring little from it.
(I UOID.AL, a. [Gr. xvSos, cube, and n8o5,
form.]
Cubiform ; in the shape of a cube ; as the
cuboidal bone of the foot. Walsh.
€UBO-OeTAHE'DRAL, a. [cube and octa-
hedral.']
Presenting a combination of the two forms,
a cube and an octahedron. Cleaveland.]
eUCK'INGSTOOL, n. [Qu. from choke.}
An engine for punishing scolds and re-
fractory women ; also brewers and bak-
ers ; called also a tumbrel and a trebuchet.
The culprit was seated on the stool and
thus immersed in water. Old Eng. Law.
eUCK'OLD, n. [Chaucer, cokewold. The
first syllable is Fr. cocu, which seems to
be the first .syllable oi coucou, cuckow ; W.
cog; Sw. ghk; Dan. giog. The Dutch
call a cuckold, hoorndraager, a. horn-wearer ;
and the Germans, hahnrei, from hahn, a
cock ; the Spaniards and Portuguese, cornu-
do, Ital. cornuto, horned ; Fr. comard,
obs. See Spelman's Glossary, voc. Jlrga.]
A man whose wife is fals-e to his bed ; the
from
It was formerly called, from its short!
stems, Piper caudatum, or tailed pepper.j
It resembles a grain .of pepper, but isj
somewhat longer. In aromatic warmth|| husband of an adidteress. Sidjl.
and pungency, it is far infermr to pepper. euCK'OLD, v. t. To make a man a cuckold
by criminal conversation with his wife
Coxe. Encyc.
■t;U'Bl€, > [L. cubicus, from cubus.
CU'BICAL,]"- See Cube.]
Having the form or properties of a cube ;
that may be or is contained within a cube.
A cubic foot of water is the water that may
be contained within six equal sides, each a
foot square.
Cubic number, is a number proilueed by mul-
■ tiplying a number into itself, and that pro-
duct by the same iiumhrv; or it is the
number arising from the niultiplic-ation ofi
a square number by its root. [See Cube.
€U'BI€ALNESS, n. The state or quality of
being cubical.
CUBle'IILAR. a. [L. cubiculum.] Belong-
ing to a chamber.
€UBI€'ULARY, a. [L. cubiculum, a bed-
room.]
Fitted for the posture of lying down. [Little
ipplied to the seducer. Shak.
2. To make a husband a cuckold by crimi-
nal conversation with another man ; ap-
plied to the wife. Dryden.
eUCK'OLDDOM, n. The act of adultery ;
the state of a cuckold. Johnson. Dn/den.,
eUCK'OLDLY, a. Having the qualities of
a cuckold ; mean ; sneaking. Shak.
eUCK'OLD-MAKER, n. One who has
criminal conversation with another man's
wif<- ; one who makes a cuckold. Dn/den.
eyCK'OO, n. [L. cuculus ; Gr. xoxxii': Fr,
coucou ; Arm. coitcoui/ ; Sax. geac ; Dan,
giog; Sw.gok; W.cog; D. koekoek; G,
kuckuck ; Sp. cuco or cuclUlo ; It. cuculo
See Gawk.]
A bird of the genus Cuculus, whose name isi
supposed to be called from its note. The!
note is a call to love, and continued onlyl
during the amorous season. It is said the!
CUD
cuckoo lays its eggs in a nest formed by
another bird, bv which thev are hatched.
CUCKOO-FLOWER, ( A plant, a spe-
CUCK'OO-BUD, l eies of Carda-
mine.
eyCK'OO-PINT, n. A plant, of the genus
Arum.
CUCK'OO-SPIT, f A dew or exu-
ciJCK'OO-SPITTLE, <, "• dation found on
plants, especially about the joints of lav-
ender and rosemary. Brown.
Or a froth or spume found on the leaves
of certain plants, as on white field-lychnis
or catcli-fiy, called sometimes spatling
poppy. Encyc.
CUC'CIUEAN, n. [Fr. coquine.] A vile lewd
woman. [JVolinuse.] B. Jonson.
eU'CULLATE, ( [L. cucuUalus, irom
CU'CULLATED, I"' cucuUus, a hood, a
cowl.]
1. Hooded | cowled ; covered as with a
hood.
2. Having the shape or resemblance of a
hood ; or wide at the top and drawn to a
point below, in shape of a conical roll of
paper ; as a cucullale leaf
CU'CUMBER, n. [Fr. coucombre, or concom-
bre, from L. cucumer or cucumis ; Sp. co-
hombro ; \). komkommer ; It. cucamhar.]
The name of a plant and its fruit, of the ge-
nus Cucumis. The flower is yellow and
bell-shaped ; and the stalks are long, slen-
der and trailing on the ground, or chmb-
ing by their clas])ers.
eU'CURBIT, n. [L. cucurbita, a gourd ; It.
id. ; Fr. cucurbite ; from L. curmtas.]
A chimical vessel in the shape of a gourd ;
but some of them are shallow, with a
wide mouth. It may be made of copper,
glass, tin or stoneware, and is used in dis-
tillation. This vessel, with its head or
cover, constitutes the alembic.
CUCURBITA'CEOUS, a. Resembling u
gourd ; as cucurbitaceous i)laiits, such as
the melon and pumi)kin or pompion.
Milne. Marty n.
CUD, n. [As this word is often vulgarly
pronounced ^utrf, I suspect it to be a cor-
ruption of the D. kaauwd, gekaauwd,
chewed, from kaauwen, to chew, Arm.
chaguein. Sax. ceowan. See Chew and
Jaw.]
1. The food which ruminating animals chew
at leisure, when not grazing or eating; or
that portion of it which is brought from
the first stomach and chewed at once.
2. A portion of tobacco held in the month
and chewed.
3. The inside of the mouth or throat of a
beast that chews the cud. Encyc.
CUD'DEN, I A clown ; a low rustic ; a
CUD'DY, (, "• dolt. [AW used.]
Dryden.
CUD'DLE, V. i. [Arm. cuddyo ; W. cuziaw, to
hide, to lurk, to cover or keep out of
sight ; Sax. cudele, the cuttle-fish. Qu. hide
and cheat. See Class Gd. No. 26. 30. 31. 38.]
To retire from sight ; to lie close or snug ; to
squat. Prior.
CUD'DY, n. In ships, an apartment; a cab-
in under the poop, or a cook-room. It is
applied to different apartments, in different
kinds of ships.
2. The cole-fish.
CUD'(5EL, Ji. [W. cogd, from cog, a mass,
lump, or short piece of wood. The Scot.
C U F
ntd, Teiit. kodde, kudse, ia a differentl
word ; dg in English being generally from
P-, as in pledge, bridge, alledge, &c.] |
A short thick stick of wood, such as may be;
used by the hand in beating. It diftersi
strictly'frora a club, which is larger at one;
end than the other. It is shorter than ai
pole, and thicker than a rod.
Di-yden. Locke.\
To cross the cudgels, to forbear the contest ;,
a phrase borrowed from the practice of;
cudgel-players, who lay one cudgel over;
another. Johnson]
CUD'GEL, v. t. To beat with a cudgel, or
thick stick. SidJlJ
9. To beat in general. Shak.i
eUD'GELLER, n. One who beats with a
cudgel.
CUD'GEL-PROOF, a. Able to resist a
cudgel ; not to he hurt by beating.
Hudibras.
€UD'LE, n. [Qu. Scot, cuddle.] A small
sea fish. C'af-ew.
€UD'WEED, J!. A plant of the genus Ona-
phalium, goldv-locks or eternal flower, ol
many species." The flowers are remarka-
ble for retaining their beauty for years, if,
gathered in dry weather. Encyc.
€UE, n. [Fr. queue ; L. cauda ; It. Sp. corfo.J
The tail ; the end of a thing ;_ as the long
curl of a wig, or a long roll of hair.
2. The last words of a speech, which a
player, who is to answer, catches and re-
gards as an intimation to begin. A hint
given to an actor on the stage, what or
when to speak. Johnson. Encyc.
3 A hint ; an intimation ; a short direction.
Swijl.
' in his
Shak
iVul-
4. The part which any man is to play i
turn.
Were it my cue to fight.
5. Humor ; turn or temper of mind.
C. A farthing, or farthing's worth. Beawn.
7. The straight rod, used in playing bU-
liards. , > i
CUER'PO, n. [Sp. cuerpo, L. corpus, body.]
To be in cuerpo, or to walk in cuerpo, are
Spanish phrases for being without a cloke
or upper garment, or without the formali-
ties of a full dress, so that tlie shape of the
body is exposed. Encijc.
CUFF, n. [Pers. Li» kafa, a blow ; Ch.
^IpJ id. ; Ar. i_iii nakafa, to strike
Heb. tpj, to strike oft', to sever by striking,
to kill. The Frencli coup coincides with
cuff in elements, but it is supposed to be
contracted from It. colpo, L. colaphus. Cuff
however agrees with the Gr. xo«tu.]
I A blow with the fist ; a stroke ; a bo.x
Shak. Swift.
•i. It is used of fowls that fight with their
talons. Johnson
To be atjlsty-cuffs, to fight with blows of the
fist.
CUFF, V. t. To strike with the fist, as a man ;
or with talons or wings, as a fowl.
Congreve. Dryden.
CUFF, V. i. To fight ; to scuffle. Drj/den.
CUFF, n. [This word probably signifies a
fold or doubling ; Ar. o ^ to double
C U L
the border and sew together; Ch. t^D to
bend ; Heb. t^2 ; Gr. xv?tr« ; Low L. dp-
pus. Class Gb. No. 65. 68. 75.]
The fold at the end of a sleeve ; the part
of a sleeve turned back from the hand.
Jhbuthnot.
CUIN'A6E, n. The making up of tin into
igs, &c., for carriage. Bailey. Coroel.
CUIRASS', n. kweras'. [Fr. cuirasse ; It. co-
; Sp. coraza ; Port, couraga ; W. cu-
Qu. from cor, the heart.]
A breast-plate ; a piece of defensive armor,
de of iron plate, well hammered, and
he body from the neck to the
irdle. Encyc.
ctflRASSIE'R, n. kwerassee'r. A soldier
armed with a cuirass, or breast-plate.
Milton
CUISH, n. kwis. [Fr. cuisse, the thigh or leg ;
W. coes; Ir. cos.]
Defensive armor for the thighs.
Shak. Dryden.
CUL'DEE, 71. [L. cullores dei, worshipers
of God.]
A monkish priest, remarkable for religious
duties. The Culdees formerly inhabited
Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Encyc.
CU'LERAgE, n. [Fr. cul.] Another name
of the arse-smart.
eU'LICIFORM, a. [L. culex, a gnat or flea,
anA forma, form.]
Of the form or shape of a flea ; resembling
a flea. Encyc.
CULINARY, a. [L. culinarius, from culina,
a kitchen, W. cyl. See Kiln.]
Relating to the kitchen, or to the art of
cookery ; used in kitchens ; as a culinary
fire ; a culinary vessel ; culinary herbs.
.(Vfic/OH.
CULL, V. t. [Qu. Fr. cueillir. It. coglien
gather; Norm, culhir ; It. scegliere. To
adl, is rather to separate, or to take.]
To pick out ; to separate one or more things
from others ; to select from many ; as, to
cull flowers ; to cidl hoops and staves for
market. Pope. Prior. Laws of Conn.
CULL'ED, pp. Picked out; selected from
y.
ER, n. One who who picks or choos
oiii many.
3. An inspector who selects merchantable
hoops and staves for market.
Laws of Mass. and Conn.
CULLIBIL'ITY, »i. [from cully.] Credulity
easiness of belief [jYot elegant nor used.
Stvift.
CDLL'ING, ppr. Selecting ; choosing fi
iny.
CULL'ION, 11. cuiyon. [It. coglione.] A mean
wretch. If from cully, one easily deceiv-
ed; a dupe. Dryden
2. A round or bulbous root; orchis. L. co-
leits.
CULL'IONLY, a. Mean; base. [A bad
Shak
couler, t(
CUL
To deceive ; to trick, cheat or impose on ;
to jilt.
CUL'LYISM, n. The state of a cully.
[Cully and its derivatives are not elegant
words.]
CULM, n. [L. culmus; Ir. colbh ; W. colov ;
a stalk or stem ; L. caulis ; D. kool. See
Quill and Haulm.]
1. In botany, the stalk or stem of corn and
grasses, usually jointed and hollow, and
supporting the leaves and fructification.
Martyn.
3. The straw or dry stalks of corn and
grasses.
3. A species of fossil coal, found in small
masses, not adhering when heated, difii-
cult to be ignited, and burning with little
flame, but yielding a disagreeable smell.
JVicholson. Journ. of Science.
CULMIF'EROUS, a. [L. culmus, a stalk,
and fero, to bear.]
Producing stalks. Culmiferous plants have
a smooth jointed stalk, usually hoUovv, and
wrapped about at each joint with single,
narrow, sharp-pointed leaves, and their
seeds contained in chafiy husks, as wheat,
rye, oats and barley. Mine. Quincy.
CUL'MINATE, v. i. [L. culmen, a top or
dge.]
To be vertical ; to come or be in the merid-
ian ; to be in the highest point of altitude ;
as a planet. Milton.
CULMINATION, n. The transit of a plan-
et over the meridian, or highest point of
altitude for the day. Eiicyc.
Top; crown.
CULPABILITY, n. [See Culpable.] Blam-
ableness ; culpableness.
CUL'PABLE, a. [Low L. culpabilis; Fr.
coupable ; It. colpabile ; from L. culpa, a
fault ; W. cwl, a fault, a flaggi:ig, a droop-
ing, like fault, from fail.]
Blamable ; deserving censure ; as the per-
son who has done wrong, or the act, eon-
duct or neghgence of the person. We
say, the man is culpable, or voluntary ig-
norance is culpable.
Sinful; criminal; immoral; faulty. But
generally, culpable is apjilied to acts less
atrocious than crimes.
Guilty of; as culpable of a crime. [JVot
word, and not used.]
CUL'LIS, n. [Fr. coulis,
strain.]
1. Broth of boiled meat strained. Beaum
2. A kind of jelly. Marston
CUL'LY, n. [See the Verb.] A person who
is meanly deceived, tricked or imposed on,
as by a sharper, jilt, or strumpet ; a mean
dupe. Hudibras.
CUL'LY, V. t. [D. kvUen, to cheat, to gull.]
used.] Spenser.
CUL'PABLENESB, Ji. Blamableness ; guilt ;
the quality of deservuig blame.
CUL'PABLY, adv. Blaniably ; in a faulty
manner ; in a manner to merit censure.
CUL'PRIT, n. [supposed to be formed from
cid, for culpable, and pnl, ready ; certain
abbreviations used by the clerks in noting
the arraignment of criminals ; the prison-
er is guilty, and the king is ready to prove
him so. Blackstone.]
1. A person arraigned in court for a crime.
Dnjden,
Any person convicted of a crime ; a crim-
inal.
CUL'TER, n. [L.] A colter, which see.
CUL'TIVABLE, a. [See Cultivate.] Capa-
ble of being tilled or cultivated.
Med. Bepos. Edwards, ff. Ind.
CUL'TIVATE, V. t. [Fr. cultiver ; Sp. Port.
cuUivar ; It. coltivare ; from L. colo, cultus,
to till, to dwell.]
1. To till ; to prepare for crops ; to manure,
plow, dies.", sow and reap ; to labor on.
C U L
CUM
C U N
manage and improve in husbandry ; as, to
cultivate land ; to cultivate a farm.
Sinclair.
2. To improve by labor or study ; to advance
the growth of; to refine and improve by
correction of faults, and enlargement of
powers or good qualities ; as, to cultivate
talents ; to cultivate a taste for poetry.
3. To study ; to labor to improve or ad-
vance ; as, to cuUivate philosophy ; to cul-
tivate the mind.
4. To cherish ; to foster ; to labor to pro
mote and increase ; as, to cultivate the love
of excellence; to cidlivale gracious affec-
tions.
5. To improve ; to meliorate, or to labor to
make better ; to correct ; to civilize ; as,
to cultivate the wild savage.
6. To raise or produce by tillage ; as, to cul-
tivate corn or grass. Sinclair.
€UL'TIVATED, pp. Tilled ; improved in
excellence or condition; corrected an('
enlarged ; cherished ; meliorated ; civili
zed ; produced by tillage.
CUL'TIVATING, ppr. Tilling ; preparing
for crops; improving in worth or good
qualities; meliorating; enlarging; cor
recting; fostering; civilizing; producing
by tillage.
CULTIVA'TION, »i. The art or practice
of tilling and preparing for crops; hus-
bandry; the management of land. Land
is often made better by cultivation.. Ten
acres imder g-ood cultivation will produce
more than twenty when badly tilled.
2. Study, care and practice directed to im-
provement, correction, enlargement or
increase ; the apphcation of the means of
improvement; as, men may grow wiser
by the cultivation of talents ; they may
grow better by the cultivation of the mind,
of virtue, and of piety.
3. The producing by tillage ; as the culliva
lion of corn or grass.
€UL'TIVATOR, n. One who tills, or pre-
pares land for crops ; one who manages a
farm, or carries on the operations of hus-
bandry in general ; a farmer ; a husband-
man ; an agriculturist.
3. One who studies or labors to improve, to
promote and advance in good qualities, or
in growth.
eUL'TRATED, a. [L. cullratus, from atlter,
a knife.]
Sharp-edged and pointed ; formed like a
knife ; as, the beak of a bird is convex and
cull rated. Encyc. art. Cormts.
CUL'TURE, n. [L. cultura, from coh. See
Cultivaie.^
1. The act of tilling and preparing the eartl
for crops ; cultivation ; the application of
labor or other means of improvement.
We ought to blame the culture, not the soil
Pope
2. The application of labor or other means
to improve good qualities in, or growth ;
as the culture of the mind; the culture of
virtue.
3. The application of labor or other means
in producing ; as the culture of corn, or
grass.
4. Any labor or means employed for im-
provement, correction or growth.
CUL'TURE, V. t. To cultivate. Thomson
CUL'VER, n. [Sax. culfer, culfra ; Arm
eolm ; L. colwnba.]
.'^o
A pigeon, or wood pigeon. Thomson.]
CULVER-HOUSE, n. A dove-cote.
Harmar.
CUL'VERIN, n. [Vr.couleuvrinc; It. colubri-
na ; Sp. culehrina ; from L. coluhrinus,
from coluber, a serpent.]
A long slender piece of ordnance or artillery,
serving to carry a ball to a great distance.
Encyc.
CUL'VERKEY, n. A plant or flower.
IValton.
CUL'VERT, n. A passage under a road
or canal, covered with a bridge ; an arch
ed drain for the passage of water. Cyc.
CUL'VERTAIL, ?i. [culver and taU.] Di
tail, in joinery and car|)entry.
CUL'VERTAILED, o. United or fastened,
as pieces of timber by a dove-tailed joint ;
a term used by shipwrights. Encyc.
eUM'BENT, a. [L.cumfto.] Lying down,
CUM'BER, V. t. [Dan. kummer, distress,
cumbrance, grief; D. kommeren ; G. kiim-
mern, to arrest, to concern, to trouble, to
; Fr. encnmbrer, to encumber.]
'o load, or crowd.
A variety of frivolous arguments cumbers tlie
memory to no purpose. Locke
2. To check, stop or retard, as by a load or
weight ; to make motion difficult ; to ob-
struct.
Why asks he what avails him not in fight.
And would but cumber and retard liis flight.
Dryden
;{. To perplex or embarrass ; to distract or
trouble.
Martha was cumbered about much serving.
Luke X.
4. To trouble ; to be troublesome to ; to
cause trouble or obstruction in, as any
thing useless. Thus, brambles cumber a
garden or field. [See Encumber, which
more generally used.]
€UM'BfcR, n. Hinderance ; obstructior
burdcnsomeness ; embarrassment ; di
turbance ; distress.
Thus fade thy helps, and thus thy cumbers
spring. Spenser.
VThis ivord is now scarcely tised.]
CUM'BERSOME, a. Troublesome; bur-
densome ; embarrassing ; vexatious ; as
cumbersome obedience. Sidney.
2. Unwieldy ; unmanageable not easily
borne or managed ; as a cumbersome load ;
a cumbersome machine.
eUM'BERSOMELY, adv. In a manner to
encumber. Sherwood
CUM'BERSOMENESS, n. Burdensome
ness ; the quality of being cumbersome
and troublesome.
eUM'BRANCE, n. That which obstructs,
retards, or renders motion or action dif-
ficult and toilsome ; burden ; encum-
brance ; hinderance ; oppressive load ;
embarrassment. Milton.
eUM'BROUS, a. Burdensome ; trouble-
some; rendering action difficult or toil-
some ; oppressive ; as a cumbrous weight
or charge. Milton. Dryde
2. Giving trouble ; vexatious ; as a cloud of
cumbrous gnats. Spenser.
3. Confused ; jumbled ; obstructing each
other ; as the cumbrous elements. Milton
eUM'BROUSLY, adv. In a cumbrous man-
A genus of pla
the
f^yinpliylum ; sometimes written comfrey,
comfn/, and comphry.
CUM LN, n. [L. cumxnU7n ; Gr. xviiifOf ; Ori-
ental [1D3 kamon. Tlie verb with which
this word seems to be connected, signifies,
in Ar. Ch. Syr. and Sam., to retire from
sight, to lie concealed.]
An annual plant of one species, whose
seeds have a bitterish warm taste, with
an aromatic flavor. Encyc.
CUMULATE, v.t. [L.cumulo; Russ. *om,
a mass or lump ; L. cumulus, a heap; Fr.
combler,cumuler ; Sp. cumulnr ; It. cumulare.]
To gather or throw into a heap ; to form a
heap ; to heap together. Woodward.
[jlccumulate is more generally used.]
CUMULA'TION, n. The act of heaping to-
gether ; a heap. [See ^ccumidation.]
CU'MULATIVE, a. Composed of parts in
a heap ; forming a mass. Bacon.
2. That augments by addition ; that is ad-
ded to something else. In law, that aug-
ments, as evidence, facts or arguments of
the same kind.
CUN, V. t. To know. [Xot used.] [See
Con.]
2. To direct the course of a ship. [See
Cond, the true orthography.]
CUNCTA'TION, n. [L. cunctor, to delay.]
Delay, [^'ot much used.]
CUNCTA'TOR, n. One who delays or lin-
gers. {^Little used.] Hammond
CUND, V. t. To give notice. [See Cond.]
CU'NEAL, a. [L. cuneus, a wedge. See
Coin.] Having the form of a wedge.
Cu'nEaIeD,!"- Wedge-shaped.
CU'NEIFORM, I [L. cuneus, a wedge, and
CU'NIFORM, i "■ forma, form.] Having
the shape or form of a wedge.
CUN'NER, n. [lepas.] A kind of fish, less
than an oyster, that sticks close to the
rocks. Ainsworth.
CUN'NING, a. [Sax. cunnan, connan ; Goth.
kunnan, to know ; Sw. kunna, to be able,
to know ; kunnig, known ; also, knowing,
skilful, cunning; D. kunnen, can, to be
able, to hold, contain, understand, or
know ; G. konnen. See Can.]
1. Knowing; skilful; experienced; well-in-
structed. It is applied to all kinds of
knowledge, but generally and appropri-
ately, to the skill and dexterity of artifi-
cers, or the knowledge acquired by expe-
rience.
Esau was a cunning hunter. Gen. xxiii.
I will take away the cunning artificer. Is.
A cunning workman. Ex. xxx\-iii.
2. Wrought with skill ; ciuious ; ingenious.
With cherubs of cunning work shalt thou
make them. Ex. xxvi.
[The foregoing senses occur frequently in
our version of the scriptures, but are nearly
or quite obsolete.]
3. Artful; shrewd; sly; crafty ; astute ; de-
signing ; as a cunning fellow.
They are resolved to be cunning ; let others
run the hazard of being sincere. South.
In this sense, the purpose or final end of
the person may not be illaudable ; but cun-
ning' implies the use of artifice to accom-
plish the purpose, rather than open, candid,
or direct means. Hense,
CUP
4. Deceitful ; irickisli ; employing stratagems
for a bad purpose.
Assumed with subtilty ; artful
it a
Sidney
tUN'NING, «. Knowledge; art; skill;
dexterity. Obs.
Let my right haml forget her cunning.
Vs. cxxxvii.
9. Art ; artifice ; artfulness ; craft ; shrewd-
ness ; the faculty or act of using strata-
gem to accomplish a purpose. Hence in
a bad sense, deceitfulness or deceit; fraud-
ulent skill or dexterity.
Discourage cunning in a child ; cunning is
the ape of wisdom. Locke.
CUN'NINGLY, adv. Artfully ; craftily ; with
subtilty ; with fraudulent contrivance.
We have not followed cunningly devised fa-
bles. 2 Pet i.
CUN'NINGMAN, n. A man who pretends
to tell fortunes, or teach how to recover
stolen or lost goods. Butter.
€UN'NINGNESS, n. Cunning ; craft ; de-
ceitfulness.
€UP, n. [Sax. cop, or cupp ; D. kop ; Dan.
id.; S\\. kopp ; Fr. coupe; Arm. coupen;
It. coppa ; Sp. copa ; Ir. capa, or capan ;
W. cwb, civpan ; L. cupa, cuppa, whence
cupella, a cupel, a little cup ; Ch. 3D ; Ar.
V>
f. Class Gb. No. 48. See also No. 6.
The primai-y sense may be, hollow, bend-
ing, Russ. k'opayu, or containing. See No.
50. 52. 68. and 'Coop.]
1. A small vessel of capacity, used common-
ly to drink out of. It is usually made of
metal; as a silver cup; a tin cup. But
the name is also given to vessels of like
shape used for otiier purposes. It is usu-
ally more deep than wide ; but tea-cups
and coffee-cups are often exceptions.
2. The contents of a cup; the liquor con-
tained in a cup, or that it may contain ; as
a cup of beer. See 1 Cor. xi.
3. In a scriptural sense, sufTerings and afUic-
tions ; that which is to be received or en-
dured.
0 my father, if it be possible, let tliis cup pass
from me. Math. .fxvi.
4. Good received ; blessings and favors.
My cup runneth over. Ps. xxiii.
Take the cup of salvation, that is, re-
ceive the blessings of deliverance and re-
demption with joy and thanksgiving.
Cruden. Broion.
5. Any thing hollow like a cup ; as the cup
of an acorn. The bell ofa flower, and a
calyx is called ajlower-cup.
6. A glass cup or vessel used for drawing
blood in scarification.
Cu^ ajirf can, familiar companions; the coh
being the large vessel out of which the cup
is filled, and thus the two being constantly
associated. Swi^.
Cups, in the plural, social entertainment in
drinking ; merry bout.
Thence from cups to civil broils. Milton
■CUP, V. i. lu surgery, to apjjly a cupjiing-
glass to procure a <li.'ichai-ge of blood from
a scarified part of the body. Encyc.
2. To supply with cu|)s. Obs. Shak.
€UP'BEaR'ER, n. An attendant of a prince
or at a .feast, wljo conveys wine or other
liquors to the guests; ;in officer of the
king's household. Neh. I.
CUR
eUP'BOARD, n. [cup and board.] Origin-
ally, a board or shelf for cups to stand on.
In modern houses, a small case or inclo-
Bure in a room with shelves destined to
receive cups, plates, dishes and the like.
Bacon. Dryden.
CUP'BOARD, V. t. To collect into a cup-
board ; to hoard. [JVot used.] Shak.
eUP'GALL, n. A singular kind of gall
found on the leaves of oak, &c. It contains
the worm ofa small fly. Encyc.
€UP'-ROSE, n. The poppy.
€U'PEL, n. [L. cupella, a little cup.] A
small cup or vessel used in refining metals.
It retains thein while in a metallic state,
but when changed by fire into a fluid
scoria, it absorbs them. Thus when a
mixture of lead with gold or silver is
heated in a strong fire, the lead is oxyda-
ted and vitrified, and sinks into the sub-
stance of the cupel, while the gold or sil-
ver remains pure. This kind of vessel is
made usually of phosphate of lime, or the
residue of burnt bones, rammed into a
mold, which gives it its figure.
Encyc. Lavoisier. JVicholson.
€UPELLA'TION, n. The refining of gold
or silver by a cupel or by scorification.
Lavoisier. JVicholson. Encyc.
€UPIDTTY, n. [L. cupiditas, from cupidus,
from cupio, to desire, to covet. See class
Gb. No. 22. 24.]
An eager desire to possess something; an
ardent wishing or longing ; inordinate or
unlawful desire of wealth or power. It is
not used, I believe, for the animal ajjpetite,
like lust or concupiscence, but for desire
of the mind.
No property Is secure when it becomes large
enough to tempt tlie cupidity of indigent pow-
er. Burke.
€U'POLA, n. [It. cupola ; Sp. cupula ; from
the root oi cup, or rather from W. cop, a
top or summit.]
In architecture, a spherical vault on the top
of an edifice ; a dome, or the round top of
a dome. Encijc.
€U'POLAlD, a. Having a cupola. [Mt
used.] Herbert.
eUP'PER, H. [from cup.] One wlio applies
a cupping-glass ; a scarifier.
eUP'PING, ppr. Applying a cupping-glass,
with scarification ; a drawing blood with
a cupping-glass.
€UP'PING-GLASS, n. A glass vessel like
a cup, to be apphed to the skin, before and
after scarification, for drawing blood.
eUTREOUS, o. [L. cupreus, from cuprum,
topper.]
Coppery ; consisting of copper ; resenihling
copper, or partaking of its qualities.
Encyc. Boyle.
eUPRIF'EROUS, a. [L. cuprum, copper,
and fero, to bear.]
Producing or affording copper; as cuprifer-
ous silver. Tooke, Ru.is,
€UR, n. [Qu. Lapponic coira ; Basque chau
irra ; Ir. ^yr, gaier, a dog.]
A degenerate dog ; and in reproach, a worth
less man. Addison. Shak. Dryden
ell'RABLE, a. [See Cure.] That may be
healed or cured ; admitting a remedy : a-^
a curable wound or disease ; ncurnhl' r\ I
Dr>/.h ■■
CU'RABLENESS, n. P.;ssibility of hvw-
cured, healed or remedied.
CUR
eU'RACY, > [See Ctire and Ctt-
CU'RATESHIP, <, "• rate.] The ofiice or
employment of a curate ; the employment
of a clergyman who represents the incum-
bent or beneficiary of a church, parson or
vicar, and officiates in his stead. Swift.
2. A benefice held by license from the
bishop.
eU'RATE, n. [h. curator, or curatus, from
ctira, care. See Cure.]
A clergyman in the church of England, who
is employed to perform divine service in
the place of the incumbent, parson or vic-
ar. He must be hcenced by the bishop-
or ordinary, and having no fixed estate in
the curacy, he may be removed at pleas-
ure. But some curates are peqietual.
Eyicyc.
2. One employed to perform the duties of
another. Dryden.
CU'RATIVE, a. Relating to the cure of
diseases ; tending to cure. Arbuthnot.
€URA'TOR, n. [L. See Cure.] One who
has the care and superintendence of any
thing. Swift.
2. A guardian appointed by law. Ayliffe.
•3. Among the Romans, a trustee of the af-
fairs and interests ofa person emancipa-
ted or interdicted. Also, one appointed to
regulate the price of merchandize in the
cities, and to superintend the customs and
tributes. Encyc.
4. In the United Provinces, or Holland, the
Curator of a University superintends the
affairs of the institution, the administra-
tion of the revenues, the conduct of the
professors, &c. Encyc.
€URB, n. [Fr. courber, to bend ; Russ. kor-
ohlyu, to bend, to draw in, to straiten.]
1. In the manege, a chain of iron made fast
to the upper part of the branches of the
bridle, in a hole called the eye, and running
over the beard of the horse. It consists
of three parts ; tlie hook, fixed to the eye
of the branch ; the chain or links ; and the
two rings or mails. Encyc.
2. Restraint ; check ; hinderance.
Rehgion should operate as an effectual cur6
to the passions.
3. A frame or a wall round the mouth ofa
well.
4. [Fr. courbe ; It. corba, a disease and a
basket.] A hard and callous swelling on
the hind part of the hock ofa horse's leg,
attended with stiffness, and sometimes
pain and lameness. Encyc.
A tumor on the inside ofa horse's hoof.
Joh7}son.
A swelling beneath the elbow of a
horse's hoof Bailey.
CURB, I', t. To restrain ; to guide and man-
age ; as a horse. Milton.
2. To restrain ; to check ; to hold back ; to
confine ; to keep in subjection ; as, to curb
the passions.
And wisely loam to curb thy sorrows wild.
jniton.
3. To furnish or surroimd with a curb, as a
well.
4. To bend. [Xot 7ised.]
i\'U}','V,T),pp. Restrained; checked ; kept
ill -iiliipction; furnished with a curb.
(I IM; IXG, ppr. Holding back; checking;
M-ii. lining.
flKBlNG, J). A check.
CUR
CURB'-STONE, it. A stone placed at the
cilge of a pavement, to liolil the work to-
f ether. It is written sometimes kerb or
irb.
tURD, n. [Ir. cruth ; Scot, cnids. Some-
times in English, crud. The primary sense
is to congeal or coagulate. See Crystal.]
The coagulated or thickened part of milk,
which is formed into cheese, or, in some
countries, eaten as common food. The
word may sometimes perhaps be used for
the coagulated part of any liquor.
° Bacon
€URD, V. t. To cause to coagulate ; to turn
to curd. '^I'"!'-
eURD'LE, V. {. [sometimes written crudle.
See Curd.]
1. To coagulate or concrete; to thicken, or
change into curd. Milk curdles by a mix-
ture of runnet.
2. To thicken; to congeal; as, the blood cur-
dies in the veins.
eURD'LE, V. t. To change into curd ; tt
cause to thicken, coagulate, or concrete.
Runnet or brandy curdles milk.
At Florence they curdle their milk with arti-
choke flowers. Encyc.
2. To congeal or thicken. The recital cur-
dled my blood.
€URD'LED, /^;). Coagulated; congealed.
€URD'LING, ppr. Concreting; coagulating,
CURD'Y, a. Like curd; full of curd ; coag-
ulntcil. Arbuthnol.
€URE, n. [L. cura ; Fr. cure ; L. citro, to cure,
to take care, to prepare ; W. cur, care, a
blow or stroke, aftliction ; curaw, to beat,
throb, strike ; curiaw, to trouble, to vex, to
pine or waste away ; Fr. curer, to cleanse
" se curer les dents,'" to pick the teeth ; It.
cura, care, diligence ; curare, to cure, attend,
protect ; also, to value or esteem ; Sp. cura
cure, remedy, guardianship ; curar, to ad
minister medicines; to salt, as meat; tt
season, as timber; to bleach thread or liii
en ; to take care ; to recover from sick
ness ; curioso, curious, neat, clean, hand
some, fine, careful. The radical sense of
this word is, to strain, stiotoh, extend,
which gives tho snisc nf lieiiliii;.', that is
making strong, iind nl" cure, .^iiiicrlutend-
ence. But the Welsh hastlie sense ofdri
ving, a moditiod appliealicni dI' extending
and this gives the sense of sei)aration and
purification. In its application to hay,
ber, provisions, &c., the sense may be to
make right, as in other cases ; but of this
I am not confident.]
1. A healing; the act of healing ; restora
tion to health from disease, and to sound
ness from a wound. We say, a medicine
will effect a cure.
i. Remedy for disease ; restorative ; that
which heals.
Colds, hunger, prisons, ills without a cure.
I>ryJen
',i. The employment of a curate ; the core ot
souls ; spiritual charge,
CURE, V. t. [L. c^iro. Sec the Noun.] To
heal, as a person diseased or a woundei
limb ; to restore to health, as the body, or
to soundness, as a limb.
The cliild was cured from that very hour.
Math. xvii.
2. To subdue, remove, destroy or put an end
to ; to heal, as a "
CUR
Christ gave his disciples power to cure di:
eases. Luke ix.
When the person and the disease ai
both mentioned, cure is followed by o/bi
fore the disease. The physician cured the
man of lus fever.
3. To remedy ; to remove an evil, and restore
to a good state.
Patience will alienate calamities, which it
cannot cure.
4. To dry ; to prepare for preservation ; as,
to cure hay : or to ))repare by salt, or in
any manner, so as to prevent speedy pu
trefaction ; as, to cure fish or beef.
€U'RED, pp. Healed ; restored to health or
soundness ; removed, as a disease ; reme
died ; dried, smoked, or otherwise prepar
ed for ijreservation.
eU'RELESS, a. That cannot be cured or
healed ; incurable ; not admitting of
remedy ; as a cureless disorder ; a cureless
Dryden
a physician ; one
Harvey.
e-feu, cover-fire.]
• bells at night, as a
Bacon.
[L. curialis, from curia, a
II,
eU'RER, n. A healer
who licals.
eUR'FEW, n. [Fr. CO
The ringing of a bell (
signal to the inhabitants to rake up tlieir
fires and retire to rest. This practice ori-
ginated in England from an order of ^Vil
liam the conqueror, who directed that a
the ringing of the hell, at ei^rhr o'clock
every one should |ini mit \u< lejlit and go
to bed. This woni is ii..t ii-r,l in Auier
ca; although the praetii-e ot'iiriiiiiig a lie
at nine o'clock, coiirinues in many place
and is considered in New England, as
signal for people to retire from conii)ai
to their own abodes ; and in general, the
signal is obeyed
A cover for a fire ; a fire-plate. [.Vo/
used.] "
CURIAL'ITY
t-]
The privileges, prerogatives, or retinue of a
court. [A'ot used.] Bacon.
eU'RING, ppr. Healing ; restoring to health
or sountlness ; removing, as an evil ; pre-
paring for preservation.
CU'RING-HOUSE, n. A building in which
sugar is drained and dried.
Edtoards, W. Ind.
CURI0L06'le, a. [Gr. xrptoJioyia, propriety
of speaking.]
Designating a rude kind of hieroglyphics, in
which a thing is represented by its picture.
}Varhurton .
CURIOSITY, n. [L. curiositus. Sec C-
1. A strong desire to sec something iinMl.or
to discover something iinknoun, i iili( i li\
research or inquiry ; a desiretn i:iaiit\ tli-
senses with a sight of whai i- mw . r un-
usual. Or to gratify tin' nun,! v,i,:iinu
discoveries; inquisitiv< n, \ i ■'-
?-ios5<i/ leads him to vicns ,1 I'.il-
bec, to investigate the oiiL;;n 1 I: ,' 1, te
discover the component parts uf a iiiiner-
al, or the motives of another's actions.
2. Nicety; delicacy. Shak
3. Accuracy ; exactness ; nice performance ;
euriousness ; as the curiosity of workman-
ship. Ray.
4. A nice experiment ; a thing unusual or
)rthy of curiosity.
There hath been practiced a curiosity
CUR
a tree on the north side of a wall, and at a little
height, to draw it through tlic wall, &.C.
Bacon ■
5. An object of curiosity; that which excites
a desire of seeing, or deserves to be seen,
as novel and extraordinary.
We took a ramble together to see the curios-
ities of this great town. Mdison .
[The first and the last senses are chief y
used.]
CURIO'SO, n. [It.] A curious i>erson ; a
virtuoso.
eU'RIOUS, a. [L. curiosus, from cuj-a, care.
See Cure.]
1. Strongly desirous to see what is novel, or
to discover what is unknown ; solicitous to
see or to know ; inquisitive.
Be not curious in unnecessary matters, nor to
pry into the concerns of your neighbors.
2. Habitually inquisitive; addicted to re-
search or enquii-y ; as a man of a curious
turn of mind : sometimes followed by ajler,
and sometimes by of.
Curious after things elegant and beautiful ;
curious of antiquities.
Woodward. Dryden.
Accurate ; careful not to mistake ; solicit-
ous to be correct.
Men were not curious what syllables or par-
ticles they used. Hooker.
4. Careful ; nice ; solicitous in selection ;
difficult to please.
A temperate man is not curious 0/ delicacies.
Taylor.
5. Nice ; exact ; subtile; made with care.
Both these senses embrace their objects — with
more curious discrimination. Holder.
G. Artful; nicely diligent.
Each ornament about her seemly lies.
By curious chance, or careless art, composed.
Fairfax.
7. W'rought with care and art ; elegant;
neat; finished; as a cunoui girdle ; curi-
ous work. Ex. xxviii. xxx.
8. Requiring care and nicety; as curious
arts. Acts xix.
9. Rigid : severe ; i)articular. [Little used.]
Shak.
10. Rare; singular; as a cunous fact.
eU'RIOUSLY, adv. With nice inspection ;
inquisitively ; attentively.
I saw nothing at first, but obsei-ving it more
curiously, the spots appeared. A'ewton.
2. With nice care and art ; exactly ; neatly ;
elegantly. Ps. cxxxix.
.!. In a -iii'jidnrmanner; unusually.
< I Klol SNKSS, n. Fitness to excite ctiri-
cisity ; e\:ielticss of workmanship.
■,;. rsingulariiy of contrivance.
i.S. Curiosity.
eURL, !'. /. [D.kruUen; Dan. krdller ; to
i-url, to crisp; Corn. A'nViia.]
I. To turn, bend or form into ringlets ; to
el isp : as the hair.
•.'. To writhe; to twist; to coil ; as a scr-
3. To dress with curls.
The snaky locks
That eurUd Mcgaera. Milton.
4. To raise in waves or undulations ; to
iisbinzaii'
Dryden.
Seas would be pools, without the brushir
To curl the waves.
CURL, V. i. To bend in contraction ; to
shrink into ringlets. Boyle.
2. To rise in waves or undulations ; to rip-
ple ; and particulariy, to roll over at the
summit : as a curling wave.
CUR
CUR
CUR
;>. To rise in a winding current, and to roll
over at the ends ; as curling smoke.
4. To writhe ; to twist itself.
Then round her slender waist he curled.
Dryden .
0. To shrink ; to shrink back ; to bend and
sink. He curled down into a corner.
■eURL, n. A ringlet of hair, or an)' thing of]
a hke form.
2. Undulation ; a waving ; sinuosity ; flex
ure. JVewton.
3. A winding in the grain of wood.
CURL'ED, pp. Turned or formed into ring
lets ; crisped ; twisted ; undulated.
CUR'LEW, n. [Fr. courlis or corlieu.] An
aquatic fowl of the genus Scolopax and the
grallic order. It has a long bill; its color
is diversified with ash and black ; and the
largest species spread more than three feet
of wing. It frequents the sea shore in
winter, and in summer, retires to the
mountains.
2. A fowl, larger than a partridge, with Ion
ger legs, which frequents the corn-fields in
Spain" Trevour.
€URL'INESS, n. A state of being curly.
€URL'ING, ;)/fr. Bending; twisting; form-
ng into ringlets.
€URL'ING-IRONS,
An instrument
"■ for curling the
€URL ING-TONGS
hair.
CURL' Y, a. Having curls ; tending to curl
full of ripples.
eURMUD'GEON, n. [Fr. cmtir, heart, and
mechaiit, evil. JVares. Qu.]
An avaricious churlish fellow; a miser ; s
niggurd ; a churl. Hudibras.
eURMUD'GEONLY, a. Avaricious; covet-
ous ; niggardly ; churlish. L'Estrange
CUR'RANT, II. [from Corinth.] The fruit
of a well known shrub belonging to the
genus Ribes, of which Grossularia is now
considered a species ; the grossberry or
gooseberry and tlie currant falling under
the same genus. Currants are of various
species and varieties ; as the common redj
and white currants, and the black currant.i
2. A siBall kind of dried grape, imported|
from the Levant, chiefly fi-om Zante and
Cephalonia ; used in cookery
€UR'RENCV, n. [See Current.] Literally, n
flowing, running or passing ; a continuec'
or uninterrupted course, like that of i
stream ; as the currency of time.
^ijliffe
2. A continued course in public opinion, be
lief or reception ; a passing from persoi
to person, or from age to age ; as, a re
port has had a long or general curre?ia/.
Johnson.
3. A continual passing from hand to
as coin or bills of credit ; circulatio
the currency ofcents, or of English crowns;
the currency of bank bills or treasury
notes.
4. Fluency ; readiness of utterance : but in
this sense we generally use Jlucncy.
5. General estimation ; the rate at which any
thing is generally valued
He takes greatness of kingdoms according to
their bulk and currency, and not after intrinsic
value. Bacon,
6. That which is current or in circulation.
as a medium of trade. The word may be
nppliedto coins, or to bills issued bv'au-
thority. It is often applied to bank notes,]
and to notes issued by government.
Crmvford.
CUR'RENT, a. [L. cmrens, from curro, tc
flow or run ; Fr. courir, whence courier
and discourir, to discourse, concomir, tc
concur, &c.; It. correre ; Sp. Port, correr,
to run ; W. gyru, to drive, or run ; Eng
hurry. It seems to be connected with tlie
roo t of car, cart, chariot, like currus. See Ar.
j«^ and ^y^. Class Gr. No. 7. 33.
15.] " ' ,,
1. Literally, flowing, running, passing, j
Hence, passing from person to person, or
from hand to hand ; circulating ; as cur-
rent opinions ; current coin. Hence, com-
mon, general or fashionable ; generally
received ; popular ; as the current notions
of the day or age ; current folly.
ft'atts. Swift. Pope,
2. Established by common estimation ; gen-
erally received ; as the current value of
coin.
.3. Passable : that may be allowed or admit-
te.l. Shak.
Now jfassing ; present in its course ; as
the current month or year.
CUR'RENT, n. A flowing or passing ; a
stream ; applied to JJuids ; as a current of
water, or of air. The gulf stream is a re-
markable current in the Atlantic. A current
sets into the Mediterranean.
2. Course ; progressive motion, or move-
ment ; continuation ; as the current of
time.
3. A connected series; successive course;
the current of events.
4. General or main course ; as the current
of opinion.
eUR'RENTLY, a. In constant motion ;
with continued progression. Hence, conj-
monly; generally; popularly; with gen-
eral reception ; as, the story is currently
reported and believed.
CUR'RENTNESS, n. Currency; circula
tion ; general reception.
2. Fluency; easiness of pronunciation. [.Yot
much used.]
CUR'RICLE, n. [L. curriculum, from curro,
to run.]
1. A chaise or carriage, with two wheel
drawn by two horses abreast.
2. A chariot. [JVot in use.]
3. A course. [JVot in use.]
CUR'RIED, pp. [See Curry.] Dressed by
currying; dressed as leather; cleaned;
prepared.
CUR'RIER, n. [L. curiarius ; Fr. corroyeur.
See Curry.]
\ man who dresses and colors leather, after
it is tanned.
CUR'RISH, a. [See Cur.] Like a cur ; hav
ing the qualities of a cur; brutal; malig
nant; snappish; snarling; churUsh; in
tractable ; quarrelsome.
Sidney. Fairfax. Shak.
CUR'RISHLY, adv. Like a cur ; in a brutal
manner.
CUR'RISHNESS, n. Moroseness; churl
islmess. Feltham
CUR'RY, V. t. [Fr. corroyer ; Arm. courreza ;
Sp. curtir ; Port, cortir. The French and
Armoric word seems to be compounded of
L. corivm. a hide, and tlie root of rado, to
scrape, or of a word of like signification.
The Sp. and Port, word seems to be allied
to cortex, bark, from stripping , or to L.
cuiius, short, from cutting. But the L.
corium is probably from a root signifying
to scrape, or to peek See Class Gr.'No.
5 and 8.]
1. To dress leather, after it is tanned ; to
soak, pare or scrape, cleanse, beat and
color tanned hides, and prepare them for
use.
2. To rub and clean with a comb ; as, to
curry a horse.
3. To scratch or claw ; to tear, in quarrels.
By setting brother against brother, '
To claw and curry one another. Butler.
To rub or stroke; to make smooth; to
tickle by flattery ; to humor. But gener-
ally used in the phrase,
To curry favor, to seek or gain favor by flat-
tery, caresses, kindness, or officious civili-
ties. [JVot elegant.] Hooker.
CUR'RY-COMB, n. [See Comb.] An iron
Instrument or comb, for rubbing and clean-
ing horses.
CURRYING, ppr. Scraping and dressing ;
cleaning; scratching.
CURSE, V. t. pret. and pp. cursed or curst.
[Sax. cursian, corsian ; Arm. argarzi. Qu.
Ar. ^j^.J
, To utter a wish of evil against one; to
imprecate evil upon ; to call for mischief
or injury to fall upon ; to execrate.
Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people.
Ex. xxU.
Bless and curse not. Rom. xii.
Curse me this people, for they are too mighty
for mc. Num. xxii.
. To injure; to subject to evil; to vex, har-
ass or torment with great calamities.
On impious realms and barbarous kings impose
Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons as
those.
3. To devote to evil.
CURSE, V. i. To utter imprecations ; to af-
firm or deny with imprecations of divine
vengeance.
Then began he to curse and to swear. Math.
CURSE, n. Malediction ; the expression of
a wish of evil to another.
Shimei — who cursed me with a grievous
curse. 1 Kings ii.
2. Imprecation of evil.
They entered into a curse, and into an oath.
Neb. X.
3. Affliction ; torment ; great vexation,
rtill make this city a curse to all nations,
xxvi.
4. Condemnation ; sentence of divine ven-
geance on sinners.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of die
law. Gal. iii.
5. Denunciation of evil.
CURSED, pp. Execrated ; afflicted ; vexed ;
tormented ; blasted by a curse.
2. Devoted to destruction.
Thou art cursed from the earth. Gen. iv.
3. a. Deserving a curse ; execrable ; hateful ;
detestable ; abominable.
4. a. Vexatious ; as a cursed quarrel ; cursed
thorns. Dryden. Prior.
CURS'EDLY, adv. In a cursed manner ;
Pope.
CUR
enormously ; miserably ; in a manner to
be cursed or detested. [Jl low word.]
■CURS'EDNESS, n. The state of being uu
der a curse, or of being doomed to execra
lion or to evil.
■CURS'ER, n. One who curses, or utters a
curse.
CUR'SHIP, n. [See Cur.] Dogship; mean-
ness ; ill-nature. Hudibras.
CURS'ING, ppr. Execrating ; imprecating
evil on ; denouncing evil ; dooming to evil,
misery, or vexation.
CURS'ING, n. Execration ; the uttering of
a curse ; a dooming to vexation or misery.
CUR'SITOR, n. [from the L. curso, cursilo,
to run.]
In England, a clerk in the court of chan-
cery, whose business is to make out origin-
al writs. In the statute 18 Edward III.
the cursitors are called clerks of course.
They are twenty four in number, and are
a corporation among themselves. To each
are assigned certain counties, to which he
issues writs. Encyc
eUR'SIVE, a. [It. corsivo, running. Set
Course and Current.]
Running ; flowing. Cursive hand is a run
ning hand. Fry.
eUR'SORARY, a. Cursory ; hasty. [JVot
in use.] ShaA:
ClJR'SORILY, a. [See Cursory.] In a run
ning or hasty manner ; slightly ; hastily
without attention ; as, I read the paper
cursorily.
CUR'SORINESS, n. Slight view or atten
tion.
CUR'SORY, a. [L. cursorius, from cursus.
See Course.]
1. Running ; hasty ; slight ; superficial ; care-
less ; not with close attention ; as a cur-
sory reading ; a cursory view.
2. Running about; not stationary.
CURST, pp. of curse. [See Cursed.]
CURST, o. Hateful ; detestable ; froward
tormenting ; vexatious ; peevish ; malig
nant ; mischievous ; malicious ; snarling
a word however whicli can be hardly said
to have a definite signification. It is ap
plied to any thing vexatious. In some of
its applications in old authors, it appears
to be the Dutch korst, crust, and to signify
crusty, crabbed, surly.
CURST'NESS, 71. Peevishness; malignity;
frowardness ; crahbedness ; surliness.
CURT, a. [L. cuHus.] Short. [Rarely used
and nM elegant] Broiim
CURTA'IL, V. t. [composed of L. curtus.
Fr. court, short, and tailler, to cut ; taillc.
edge.]
To shorten ; to cut oft" the end or apart ; as-
to curtail words. Hence in a more gene-
ral sense, to shorten in any manner ; tc
abridge ; to diminish ; as, to ciirtail our
privileges. It is followed by q/" before the
thing shortened. His name was curtailed
o/'threc letters. We are curtailed of our
rights.
CUR'TAIL-DOG, n. A dog whose tail is
cut off", according to the forest laws, and
therefore hindered from coursing. Shak.
CURTA'ILED, pp. Cut short or shorter;
abridged.
€URTA'ILING,p;)r. Cuttingsliort or short-
er; abridging.
CURTA'ILING, 71. Abridgment; abbrevi-
ation. Suift.
Vol. I.
CUR
CUR'TAIN, n. kur'tin. [It. cortina; Low
L. Sp. Port. id. ; D. gordyn ; Fr. cour-
tine, in fortification. This word tnay
be from the root of court, and from the
sense of separating. I think it is not a
contraction of the It. coperlina.]
1. A cloth hanging round a bed, or at a win-
dow, which may be contracted, spread or
drawn aside at jjleasure ; intended for or-
nament, or for use. Also, the hangings
about the ark, among the Israehtes.
2. A cloth-hanging used in tiieaters, to con
ceal the stage from the spectators. This
is raised or let down by cords. Hence
the phrases, to drop the curtain, to close
the scene, to end ; to raise the curtain or
the curtain idll rise, to denote the opening
of the play. And to draw the curtain, is to
close it, to shut out the light or to conceal
an object ; or to open it and disclose the
object. Behind the curtain, in conceal
ment, in secret.
3. In fortification, that part of the rampart
which is between the flanks of two bas-
tions, bordered with a parapet five feet
high, behind which the soldiers stand to
fire on the covered way and into the moat.
Encyc.
4. In scripture, tents ; dwellings. Hab. iii. 7.
CUR'TAIN, V. t. To inclose with curtains
to furnisli with curtains. Shak
eUR'TAIN-LECTURE, tj. Reproof given
in bed by a wife to her husband.
Jlddison
CURT'AL, n. A horse with a docked tail.
B. Jonson.
CURT'AL, a. Short; abridged; brief.
Milton
CURT' ATE, a. [L. curtains, from curto, u
shorten.]
The curtate distance, in astronomy, is the
distance of a planet from the sun to that
point, where a perpendicular let fall from
the planet meets with the echptic.
Encyc.
Or the intei-val between the sun oi
earth, and that point where a perpendicu-
lar, let fall from the planet, meets the eclip-
tic. Cyc.
CURTA'TION, 77. [See Curtate.] The '
terval between a planet's distance from
the sun and the curtate distance.
Chambers.
CURT'ILAuE, 71. In law, a yard, gard
inclosure or field near and belonging to a
messuage. [This is probably from court
or the same radix.]
CURT'LY, adv. Briefly. [Mtinuse.]
CU'RULE, a. [L. cunUis, from currus, a
chariot.]
Belonging to a chariot. The curide chair or
seat, among the Romans, was a stool with-
out a back, covered with leather, and
made as to be folded. It was conveyed in
a chariot, and used bv public officers.
CURV'ATED, a. [See Curve.] Curved
bent in a regular form.
CURVATURE, 71. [L. curvatura. See
Curi'f.]
A bending in a regular form ; crookedness,
or the manner of bending ; flexure by
which a curve is formed. Encyc.
CURVE, a. citrv. [L. currji.i, bent, crooked
cxtrro, to bend, turn or wind ; Fr. courbe,
courbcr ; It. curro, curvare : Sp. curvo, cor-
var. If 6 is not r:idical, this word belongs
54
C U S
to Class Gr, W. cor, a circle ; but qu., lor
in Russ. it is krivei.]
Bending; crooked; inflected in a regular
form, and forming part of a circle ; as a
curi'e line, which may be cut by a right
lino in more points than one. Encyc.
A curve line is that which is neither a
straight line, nor composed of straight
lines. Cyc.
CURVE, n. A bending In a regular form,
or without angles ; that which is bent; a
flexure ; part of a circle. In geometry, a
line which may be cut by a right line in
more [joints than one. Encyc.
CURVE, V. t. [L. curvo ; Fr. courier ; Russ.
krivlyu.] To bend ; to crook ; to inflect.
CURV'ED, pp. Bent ; regularlv inflected.
CURVET, 71. [It. corvetta; Fr. courbette;
S|). corveta. See Curve.]
1. In the 7nanege,a particular leap of a horse,
when he raises both his fore legs at once,
equally advanced, and as his fore legs are
falling, he raises his hind legs, so that all
his legs are raised at once. Encyc.
2. A prank ; a frolic.
CURVET, V. i. [It. corvcttare ; Fr. courbet-
ter ; Sp. corvetear.]
1. To leap ; to bound ; to spring and form a
curvet.
2. To leap and fi-isk.
CURVILIN'EAR, ? [L. curvus, bent, and
|CURVILIN'EAL, <, "" titiea, a line.]
Having a curve line ; consisting of curve
lines ; bounded by curve lines ; as a cur-
vilinear figure.
CURVILINEAR'ITY, ti. The state of be-
ing curvilinear, or of consisting in curve
lines. Guth. quinctilian. Pref.
CURVING, j5i;)r. Bending in a regular form ;
crooked.
CURVITY, 71. [L. curvitas.] A bending in
a regular form ; crookedness. Holder.
CUSHAT, 7t. The ring-dove or wood-
pigeon. Scott.
CySH'ION, 7t. cush'in. [Fr. coussin ; It.
cuscino ; D. kussen ; G. kusstn
Port, coxim ; Arm. coufztn-
sj.^^, , Ch. <03 keesi, a little cushion
for the elbow.]
1. A [jillow for a seat ; a soft pad to be pla-
ced on a chair ; a bag, stuff"ed with wool,
hair or other soft material.
2. A bag of leather filled with sand, used by
engravers to support the plate.
3. In gilding, a stuffing of fine tow or wool,
covered by leather, on a board ; used for
receiving the leaves of gold from the pa-
per, in order to its being cut into proper
sizes and figures. Encyc.
Lady^s cushion, a plant, a species of Saxifra-
ga. Lee.
Sea cushion, sea pink or thrift, a species of
Statice. Lee.
CUSHION, V. t. To seat on a cushion.
CUSHIONED, o. Seated on a cushion;
supported by cushions. Johnson.
CySH'IONET, 71. A little cushion.
Beaum.
CUSK'IN, 71. A kind of ivory cup. [Aotin
use.] Bailey.
CUSP, 71. [L. aispis, a point.] The point or
horn of the moon or other luminary.
Encyc.
Qu. Ar.
c u s
CUT
CUT
CUSP'ATED, a. [L. ciispis, a point.] roiiit-
ed; emliiig in a jioiiit.
CUSP'IDAL, a. Ending in a point.
More
€USP'ID;\TE, I [L. cuspidalus, from
€USP'1DATED, S cuspis, a point.]
Having a sharp end, like the point of a spear ;
terminating in a bristly point ; as a cus-
pidate leaf. Martyn
CUS'TARD, n. [Cymbric nostard. Junius.
I snspect the first syllable to be W. c
curd, cheese.]
A composition of milk and eggs, sweetened
and baked or boiled, forming an agreeable
kind of food.
CUSTARD-APPLE, n. A plant, a species
of Annona, growing in the West Indies,
whose fruit is of the size of a tennis ball,
of an orange color, containing a yellowish
pulp, of the consistence of custard.
Encyc.
CUSTO'DIAL, a. [from custody.] Relating
to custody or guardianship.
CUS'TODY, n. [L. custodia ; It. and Sp.
id.; from L. custos, a watchman, a kee|)er.
This word has the elements of castle., W.
cas, the primary sense of which is to sepa-
rate, to drive off; hence, to defend, to hold.
See Chaste]
1. A keeping ; a guarding ; care, watch, in-
spection, for keeping, preservation or se-
curity.
Uuder the custody and charo;e of the sons of
Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle
Num. lii.
The prisoner was committed to the custodi/
of the sheriff. Hence,
2. Imprisonment ; confinement ; restraint of
liberty.
3. Defense from a foe ; preservation ; secu-
rity.
There was prepared a fleet of thirty ships for
the custody of the narrow seas. Bucon.
tUS'TOM, n. [Fr. coutume, for coustume;
It. costum ft, costume; Sp. coslumbre ; Port.
costume ; Arm. custum. Qu. L. consuetiis.]
1. Frequent or common use, or pi-nctice ; a
frequent repetition of the same act ; hence,
way ; estabhshed manner ; habitual prac-
tice.
The priest's custom with the people was —
1 Sam. ii.
We have no such custom. 1 Cor. xi.
The customs of the people are vain. Jer. x.
2. A buying of goods; ))ractice of frequent-
ing a shop and purchasing or procuring to
be done.
Let him have your custom, but not your
votes. Addison.
The shopkeeper has extensive custom,
or a good run of custom. A mill or a man-
ufacturer has extensive custom, or little
custom.
3. In law, long established practice, or usage,
which constitutes the unwritten law, and
long consent to which gives it authority.
CustoiTisare general, which extend over a
state or kingdom, and particular, which
are limited to a city or district. Encyc.
CUS'TOM, II. t. To make familiar, [r
Accustom, which is the word used.]
2. To give custom to. Bacon.
CUS'TOM, n. [Fr. coutume, from cm'dei; for
couster, to cost.]
Tribute, toll or tax ; that is, cost or charge
paid to the public.
Render custom to whom custom is due.
Rom. xiii.
Customs, in the plural, the duties imposed
by law on merchandize imported or ex-
ported. In Great Britain and the U. States,
this word is limited to these species of duties.
eUS'TOM-HOUSE, n. The house where
vessels enter and clear, and where the
customs are paid or secured to be paid.
CUS'TOMABLE, a. Common; habitual;
frequent. Johnson
2. Subject to the payment of the duties call-
ed customs. Law of Massachusetts
CUS'TOMABLENESS, n. Frequency ; con-
formity to custom. [lAjtle used.]
CUS'TOMABLY, adv. According to cus-
tom ; in a customary manner. Hayward.
eUS'TOMARILY, adv. [See Customary.]
Habitually ; commonly. Ray-
CUS'TOMARINESS, n. Frequency ; com-
monness ; habitual use or practice.
CUS'TOMARY, a. [Fr. coutumier.] Ac-
cording to custom, or to established or
common usage ; as a customary dress
customary compliments.
i. Habitual ; in common practice ; as ctts-
tomary vices.
3. Hokling by custom ; as customary ten-
ants, who are copyholders.
4. Held by custom"; as a customary free-
)ld.
CUS'TOMARY, n. [Fr. coutumier, coustu-
mier.] A book containg laws and usages,
or customs ; as the customary of the PTor-
raans. Coivel.
CUS'TOMED, a. Usual; common; to which
we are accustomed. [See Accustomed.]
Shal,-.
2. Furnished with customers. Bacon.
CUS'TOMER, n. One who frequents any
place of sale for the sake of purchasing
goods ; one who purchases goods or wares.
2. One who frequents or visits any place
for procuring what he wants. We say,
mill has many customers. Hence a person
who receives supplies is called a customer
the smith, the shoemaker and the tailor
have their customers ; and the coffee-house
has its customers.
3. A toll-gatherer. Obs.
CUS'TOS, n. [L.] A keeper ; as custos lirc-
vium, the principal clerk ol the conmion
pleas; custos rotulorum, kecjier of the
rolls and records of the sessions of tlie
peace. England.
CUS'TREL, n. [Qu. Old Fr. coustiUier,
from L. scutum.]
A buckler-bearer. Also, a vessel for holding
wine. [JVot in 2ise.]
CUT, V. t. pret. and pp. cut. [Norm, cotu,
cut. This word coincides in elements
with the W. cat, a piece, cateia, to cut,
cwta, sliort, cwtau, to shorten, and with
ysgythru, to cut off, to lop, to shred, to
carve, which Oweji deihiccs from y.<<u:ii-th.
U'l
is derived to u.s from the Wel^h or iM.t
may be a question ; but 1 have not found
the word in any of the Gothic or Teuton-
ic languages. It is obviously from a com-
mon root with the L. ccedo and cudo, and
the primary sense is to thrust, to drive, to
strike ; and to exit off is primarily to strilu
off. We have proof of this in our own
language ; for a stroke with a whip is call-
ed a cut, and our common people, when
they urge a person to ride or run with
haste, cry out, cut on, cut on. The fact is
the same with many other words which
now signify, to separate with an edged
tool. See Class Gd. No. 2. 4. 8. 43. 49.
5G. 59. and in a different dialect. Class Gs.
No. 5. & 28. 32. 40. 41. 42. (>;.]
1. To separate the parts of any body by an
edged instrument, either by striking, as
with an ax, or by sawing or rubbing ; to
make a gash, incision or notch, which sep-
arates the external part of a body, as to
cut the flesh. It signifies also, to cut into
pieces ; to sever or divide ; as, to cut timber
in the forest. But when an entire separa-
ration of the body is intended, it is usually
followed by off, down, asunder, in two, in
pieces, or other word denoting such sever-
ance.
" Ye shall not cu< yourselves," that is, ye
shall not gash your flesh. Deut. xiv.
2. To hew.
Tliy servants can skill to ctit timber. 2 Chron
3. To carve, as meat ; to carve or engrave
in sculpture. Addison.
4. To divide ; to cleave, by passing through ;
as, a ship cuts the briny deep.
5. To penetrate ; to j)ierce ; to affect deej)-
ly ; as, a sarcastn cuts to the quick.
(5. To divide, as a pack of cards ; as, to cut
and shuffle.
7. To intersect ; to cross. One line cuts an-
other at right angles. The ecliptic cuts the
equator.
8. To castrate.
To cut across, to pass by a shorter course, so
as to cut off an angle ordi.stance.
To cut asunder, to cut into pieces ; to divide ;
to sever.
He bath cut asunder the cords of the wick-
ed. Ps. cxxix.
To cut down, to fell ; to cause to fall by sev-
ering.
Ye shall cut down their groves. Ex. xxxiv.
Hence, to depress ; to abash ; to hum-
ble ; to shame ; to silence ; as, his elo-
quence cuts doion the finest orator.
Addison.
[This phrase is not elegant, but is in pop-
ular use.]
To cut off', to separate one part from anoth-
er ; as, to cxU off a finger, or an arm ; to
cut off the right hand figure; to cut off a
letter or syllable.
2. To destrov ; to extirpate ; to put to death
untimely. "
Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord 1
ICincs xviii.
Evil doers shall be cut off. Ps. xxxvu.
3. To separate ; to remove to a distance, or
to prevent all intercourse. A man in an-
otlier coiuitry or in prison is cut off from
lii.-i I'ciunlry or his friends.
1. To iinen-ii|)t ; as, to cut o_^"communication.
5. To separate ; to remove ; to take away ;
as, to exit o/ten years of life.
6. To intercept; to liinder from retin-n, or
union. The troops were cut off from the
ships.
7. To end ; to finish; as, to cut off all con-
troversy.
8. To prevent or preclude ; as, to cutoffsdl
occasion of blame.
CUT
CUT
CYC
9. To preclude or shut out. The sinner cuis
)iiniself 0/ from the benefits of Christianity.
10. To stop, interrupt or silence.
The judge cul off the counsel very short.
Bacon.
To cut on, to hasten ; to run or ride with the
utmost speed ; a vulgar phrase.
2. To urge or drive in striking ; to quicken
blows ; to hasten.
To cut out, to remove a part by cutting or
carving ; as, to cut out a piece from a board ;
to cut out the tongue. Hence,
2. To shape or form by cutting ; as, to cut
out a garment ; to cut out an image ; to
cut out a wood into walks. Hence,
3. To scheme ; to contrive ; to prepare ; as,
to cut out work for another day. So we
say, to strike out.
4. To shape ; to adapt. He is not cut out
for an author. [JVot elegant.]
5. To debar. [JVot common.] Pope.
6. To take the preference or precedence of;
as, to cut out a prior judgment creditor.
Kent.
7. To step in and take the place of, as in
courting and dancing. [A vulgar phrcise.]]
8. To interfere as a horse, when the shoe of
one foot beats off the skin of the pastern
joint of another.
To cut sliort, to hinder from proceeding by
sudden interruption.
Achilles cut liirn short. Dryden.
2. To shorten ; to abridge ; as, to cut short
of provisions or pay ; to cut the matter
short.
To cut up, to cut in pieces; as, to cut up beef
2. To eradicate ; to cut off; as, to cut up
shrubs.
CUT, V. i. To pass into or through and sev-
er ; to enter and divide the parts ; as, an
instrument cuts well.
2. To be severed by a cutting instrument ;
as, this fruit cuts easy or smooth.
S. To divide by passing.
The teeth are ready to cut. Arhuthnot.
4. To perform a surgical operation by cut-
ting, especially in lithotomy.
He saved lives by cutting for the stone.
Pope.
5. To interfere, as a horse.
To cut in, to divide, or turn a card, for de-
termining who are to play.
•CUT, pp. Gashed ; divided ; hewn ; carved ;
intersected ; pierced ; deeply affected ; cas-
trated.
Cut and dry, prepared for use ; a metaphor
from heivn timber.
CUT, n. The action of an edged instrument:
a stroke or blow, as with an ax or sword,
2. A cJefY ; a gash ; a notch ; a wound ; the
opening made by an edged instrument,
distinguished by its length from that made
by perforation with a pointed instrument,
3. A stroke or blow with a whip.
4. A cliannel ma<le by cutting or digging ; a
ditch ; a groove ; a furrow ; a canal.
5. A part cut off from the rest ; as a good cut
of beef; a cu/ of timber. Also, any small
piece or shred.
6. A lot made by cutting a stick ; as, to draw
cuts. Sidney.
7. A near passage, by which an angle is cut
ofT; as a shorter cut.
8. A picture cut or carved on wood or metal
anci imjiresscd from it. Brown.
9. The stamp on which a picture is carved,
and by which it is impressed.
10. Tlie act of dividing a pack of cards.
Also, the right to divide ; as, whose cut
is it?
11. Manner in which a thing is cut ; form;
shape ; fashion ; as the cut of a garment ;
the cut of his beard. StMingfleet.
12. A fool ; a cully ; a gelding. [jVot in use.]
Cut and long tail, men of all kinds; a pro-
verbial expression borrowed from dogs.
CUTA'NEOUS, a. (_See Cuticle.] Belonging
to the skin, or cutis ; existing on, or aftec-
ting the skin; as a cutaneous disease ; cu-
taneous eruption.
CUTH, in Saxon, signifies known, or fa
mous. Hence, Cuthwin, a famous con
queror; Cuthred, a famous or knowing
counselor ; Cuthbert, known bright, or fa-
mous for skill. Gibson.
CU'TICLE, n. [L. cuticula, dim. of cutis,
skin, the same as hide, which see.]
1. The scarf-skin ; the thin exterior coat of
the skin, which rises in a blister ; a thin
pellucid membrane covering the true skin.
2. The thin external covering of the bark of|
a plant. Darwin
•3. A thin skin formed on the surface of li-
quor. JVewton.
CUTIC'ULAR, a. Pertaining to the cuticle
or external coat of the skin.
eUT'LAS, n. [Fr. coutelas; Arm. contelag
zen ; It. coltellacdo ; Port, cutelo. Th'i:
word seems to be from the L. cultellus, a
least the Italian and French are so ; and
71 in the Armoric is casual, as in other
words in that dialect. The curteleaxe
or curtelax of some authors, and curt
oj:, seem to be t;orriipted, or they are from
Sp. corlar, L. curto, to cut. Cutlas is the
more correct orthography.]
A broad curving sword ; a hanger ; used by
soldiers in the cavalry, by seamen, &,c.
CUT'LER, n. [Fr. coutelier;'Korm. coteller;
Arm. conteller or coutellour ; Port, cutileiro ;
It. collellinaio ; from L. culler, a knife.]
One whose occupation is to make knives;
and other cutting instruments. 1
CUT'LERY, n. The business of making
knives ; or more generally, knives and otiier
edged instruments in general.
CUT'LET, n. [Fr. cutelette, a little side or
rib ; cute, side.]
A small piece of meat for cooking ; as a
veal cutlet.
CUT'PURSE, n. [cut and purse.] One who
cuts purses for stealing them or their con
tents ; a practice said" to have been com
mon when men wore purses at their gir
dies. One who steals from the person ; a
thief; a robber. Shak. Bentley.
ICUT'TER, n. One who cuts or hews.
2. An instrument that cuts ; as a straio-cutter.
3. X fore tooth, that cuts meat, as distin-
guished from a grinder.
4. A small boat used by ships of war. Also
a vessel with one mast and a straight run-
ning bowsprit, which may be run in upon
deck ; rigged nearly like a sloop.
Mar. Diet.
5. An officer in the exchequer that provides
wood for the tallies.
(i. A ruffian ; a bravo; a destroyer. Obs.
CUT' -THROAT, n. A murderer ; an assas-
sin; a ruffian. South. Dryden.
CUT'-THROAT, a. Rlurderous ; cruel ; bar-
barous. Careie.
CUT'TING, ;)pr. [See Cut.] Dividing by
an edged instrument ; cleaving by the
stroke or motion of an edged instrument,
as by a knife, ax, or saw; hewing; carv-
ing; intersecting; piercing.
2. a. Piercing the heart ; wounding the feel-
ings ; deeply affecting with shame or re-
morse ; pungent ; piquant ; satirical ; as a
culling reflection.
CUT'TING, »i. A separation or division ; a
piece cut off; a slip ; as the cuttings of
2. The operation of removing a stone from
the hlad<ler.
CUT'TLE, I [Sax. cudele, from the
CUT'TI.E-FISH, \ "-sense of withdrawing
or hiding, allied to cuddle, VV. cuziaw, to
hide. Arm. cutoff, or cuddyo, to hide.]
1. A genus oi' mollusca, called Sepia. They
have small arms, with serrated cups, by
which they lay fast hold of any thing. They
have also two tentacula longer than the
arms ; the mouth is in the center of the
arms, and is horny, and hooked like the bill
of a hawk. They fee<l on sprats, lobsters
and other shell-fish. They have a little
bladder under the throat, [near the liver,
Cuvier,] from whicli, when pursued, they
throw out a black liquor that darkens the
water, by which means they escape.
Hence cuttle is used for a foul-mouthed
fellow ; one who blackens the character
of another. Encyc. Shak.
2. A knife. [.Vot in use.] Shak.
CUT'-WATER, n. The fore part of a ship's
prow, or knee of the head, which cuts the
water. Also, a water-fowl, a species of
gull; or rather, the Rynchops, or razor-
bill.
CUT'-WORK, n. Embroidery. [JVot in use.]
B. Jonson.
CY'ANITE, n. [Gr. xvavoi, sky-colored.] \
mineral of a Berhn blue color, passing into
gray and green ; called bv HaQy, disthene.
CYAN'OuEN, n. [Gr. ivmoj, blue, and
yivrau, to beget.]
Carljureted azote, or carburet of nitrogen,
the compound base of Prussic acid ; oth-
erwise called Prussine. lire.
CYATHIFORM, a. [L. cyathus, a cup;
Gr. xiu9o5.]
In tlie form of a cup, or drinking glass, a
little widened at the top. Lee.
CYC'LADES, n. plu. [Gr. xuxXoj, a circle.]
A number of isles arranged round the isle
of Delos, in the Grecian Sea, in the form
of a circle.
CYCLE, n. [Gr. *vx>.o{, L. cyclus, an orb
or circle ; Ir. ciogal. Q.u. Eng. gig ; Ch.
Heb. Jin. Class Gk. No. 13. 16.]
1. In chronology, a period or series of num-
bers, which regularly proceed from first to
last, and then return to the first, in a per-
petual circle. Hence,
,2. The cycle of the moon, or golden number,
I or Metonic cycle, so called from its invent-
] or Meton, is a period of nineteeu years,
C Y L
which being completed, tlie new and lull
moons return on the same days of tl
month.
3. The cycle of the sun, is a period of twenty
eiglit years, which having elapsed, the
dominical or Sunday letters return to their
former place, and proceed in the former
order, according to the Julian calendar.
4. Cycle of indiction, a period of fifteen years,
at the end of which the Roman empe-
rors imposed an extraordinary tax, to pay
the soldiers who were obliged to serve in
the army for that period and no longer.
5. A round of years, or period of time, in
which the same course begins again ; a
jjeriodical space of time. Holder.
6. An imaginary orb or circle in the heav
Milton.
CYC'LOGRAPH, n. [xDxJ.05, circle, and
ypc^ito, to describe.]
An instrument for describing the arcs of
circles.
CYCLOID, n. [xvx'Koi, circle, and eiio; form.]
A geometrical curve on wliich depends
the doctrine of pendulums ; a ligure
made by the upper end of the diameter of
a circle, turning about a right line
Bailey.
The genesis of a cycloid maybe conceived by
imagining a nail in the circumference of i
wheel ; the line which the nail describe
in the air, while the wheel revolves in 1
right line, is tlie cycloid. Johnson
CYCLOID' AL, a. Pertaining or relating ti
a cycloid ; as, the cycloidal space is the
space contained between the cycloid and
its substance. Cham.be.
Or the space contained between the
curve or crooked line and the subtense of
the figure. Bailey.
CYC'LOLITE, n. A name given to Madre-
pores. "Diet. JVai. Hist.
CYeLOM'ETRY, n. [Gr. xvx%o;, circle, and
/tfTpfu, to measure.] The art of measur-
ing cycles or circles. IVallis
CYCLOPE'AN, a. [from Cyclops.) Pei--
taining to the Cyclops : vast ; terrific.
Hall.
CYCLOPE'DIA, } [Gr. xrx^oi, circle, and
( JY'CLOPEDE, <, "• rtaiSfia, discipline, eru
dition.]
The circle or compass of the arts and scien-
ces ; circle of human kuowledge. Hence,
the book or books that contain treatises
on every branch of the arts and sciences,
arranged under proper heads, in alpha-
betical order. [See Encyclopedia.]
CY€LOP'IC, a. Pertaining to the Cyclops :
gigantic ; savage. Bryant.
CY'€LOPS, n. [Gr. xvx-Ku^ ; xuxJto;, a circle,
and u4., an eye.]
In fabulous history, certain giants, the sons of
Neptune and Amphitrite, who had but one
circular eye in the midst of the forehead.
They inhabited Sicily, and assisted Vulcan
in making thunderbolts for Juiriter.
Lempriere
CYDER. [See Cider.]
CYG'NET, n. [L. cygnus, cycnus, a swan
Gr. xvxvoi.] A young swan. ii'hak.
CYL'INDER, n. [Gr. xAivSpot, from xvXu
5u, to roll, from xv%iu, id. ; L. cylindnis ;
C Y N
Sp. ciUndro ; It. id. ; Fr. cylindre ; Heb. Ch.
'jSj, Ar. jL:=.toroll.]
In geometry, a solid body supposed to be
generated by the rotation of a parallelo
gram round one of its sides ; or a long cir
cular body of uniform diameter, and its
extremities forming equal parallel circles.
Encyc. Bailey.
CYLINDRA'CEOUS, a. Cyhndrical. [Lit-
tle used.] Lee. Bot.
CYLIN'DRIC, ) Having the form of
CYLIN'DRICAL, ^ "" a cylinder ; or parta-
king of its properties.
CYLIN'DRIFORM, a. [cylinder and form.]
Having the form of a cylinder.
CYL'INDROID.n. [cylinder ami ^liof, form.]
A solid body, approaching to the figure
of a cylinder, but differing in some res-
pects, as having the bases elliptical, but
parallel and equal. Encyc.
CYMAR', n. A slight covering; a scarf;
roperly, simar.
CYMA'TIUai, ? ^^ [L.; Gr. xv^Larwp, a lit-
CY'MA, I "' tie wave, from xviaa, a
wave.]
Ill archiltcture, a member or molding of the
cornice, the profile of which is waving,
that is, concave at the top and convex at
bottom.
CYM'BAL, 71. [L. cymbalum ; Gr. xv/iSa'Kov
It. cembalo.]
1. A musical instrument used by the an
cients, hollow and iriade of brass, some
what like a kettle-drum ; but the precise
form is not ascertained.
A mean instrument used by gypsies anc
vagrants, made of a steel wire, in a trian-
gular form, on which are passed five rings,
which are touched and shifted along the
triangle with an iron rod held in the left
hand, while it is supported in the right by
a ring, to give it free motion. Encyc.
CYM'BIFORM, a. [L. cymba, a boat, and
forma, form.] Shaped like a boat.
Martyn
CY'ME, I [Gr. xvfia, fetus, from xvu, to
CY'MA, ^ ■ swell.] Literally, a sprout, par-
ticularly of the cabbage. Technically, an
aggregate flower composed of several flo-
rets sitting on a receptacle, producing all
the pi-imary peduncles from the same
point, but having the partial peduncles
scattered and irregular ; all fastigiate,
forming a flat surface at the top. It is
naked or with bractes. Martyn.
CYM'LING, n. A squash. Virginia.
CYM'OPHANE, n. [Gr. xv^^a, a wave, and
(jiatwj, to appear.]
V mineral, called also chrysoberyl. Its color
is green of difixjreut shades ; its fracture
conchoidal or undulated, and in hardness
it ranks next to the sapphire.
Haiiy. Cleavdand.
CYMOPH' ANGUS, a. Having a wavy
floating light ; opalescent ; chatoyant.
CY'MOSE, I Containing a cyme ; in the
CY'MOUS, \ ''' form of a cyme. Martyn.
CYNAN'CHE, n. [Gr. xv^ayzv, a dog-col-
lar, angina ; xvm; a dog, and oyj;M,to press
or bind, to sufibcate.]
C Y R
A disease of the throat, attended with in-
flammation, swelling, and difficulty of
breathing and swallowing. It is of several
kinds and comprehends the quinsy, croop
and mahgnant sore throat.
CYNAN'THROPY, n. [Gr. xv^v, adog, and
avdpunoi, man.]
A kind of madness in which men have the
qualities of dogs.
CYNAR€TOM'ACHY, n. [Gr. xvu>i>, a dog,
apxtos, a bear, and ftaztj, a fight.]
Bear-baiting with a dog. [^ barbarous word.]
Hudibras.
CYN'IC, } [Gr. xvvi,xo{, canine, from
CYN'I€AL, ^ "• xv^v, a dog.] Having the
(jualities of a surly dog ; snarling ; cap-
tious ; surly ; currish ; austere.
Cynic spasm, a kind of convulsion, in which
the patient imitates the howfing of dogs.
Encyc.
CYN'IC, re. A man of a canine temper ; a
surly or snarling man or philcsoplier ; a
follower of Diogenes ; a misanthrope.
Shak.
CY'N'ICALLY, adv. In a snarling, captious
or morose manner. Bacon.
CYN'ICALNESS, n. Moroseness ; con-
tempt of riches and amusements.
CYN'ICS, re. la ancient history, a sect of phi-
losophers, who valued themselves on their
contempt of riches, of arts, sciences and
amusements. They are said to owe their
origin to Antisthenes of Athens. Encyc.
CYN'OSURE, n. [Gr. xwosovpa, the tail of
the dog, Ursa minor, the little bear.]
The constellation near the north pole, con-
sisting of seven stars, four of which are
disposed like the four wheels of a chariot,
and three lengthwise, like the beam ; hence
called the chariot or Charles's wain. As
seamen are accustomed to steer by this
constellation, it is sometimes taken for
that which directs or attracts attention.
Encyc. Milton.
CYON. [See Cion.]
CYPHER. [See Cipher.]
CY'PRESS, re. [L. cupressjis ; Gr. xnrtoptsffoj.]
A genus of plants or trees. The most re-
markable arc the sempervirens or com-
mon cypress, the evergreen American cy-
press or white cedar, and the disticha or
deciduous American cypress. The wood
of these trees is remarkable for its dura-
bility. The coffins in which the Athenian
heroes and the mummies of Egypt were
deposited, are said to have been njade of
the first species. Encyc.
2. The emblem of mourning for the dead,
cypress branches having been anciently
used at funerals.
Had success attended the AmericaDs, the
death of Warren would have been sufficient to
damp the joys of victory, and the cypress would
have been united with the laurel.
Eliot's Biog.
CYP'RIN, a. Pertainiug to the fish of the
genus Cyprinus.
CY'PRUS. re. A thin transparent black stuff.
Shak.
CY'RIOLOG'IC, a. [Gr. xupios, chief, and
>.oyo5, iliscourse.] Relating or pertaining
to capital letters. Encyc.
DAB
DAD
DAG
CYST, n. [Gr. xv;ii, a bladder.] A bag or
tunic which includes morbid matter in an-
imal bodies. Encyc
CYST'I€, a. Pertaining to a cyst, or con-
tained in a cyst. The cystic duct is the
membranous canal that conveys the bile
from the hepatic duct into the gall-bla<l-
der. Tin; cystic artery is a branch of the
hepatic;. Hooper.
Cystic oxyd, a name given to a peculiar sub
stance, supposed to be generated in the
bladder or rather in the kidnevs. IJrt
CYS'TOCKLE, n. [Gr. xv;h, a bladder, and
rfl.ri, a tumor.]
lernia or rupture formed by the protru-
ion of the urinary bladder. Hooper.
CYSTOT'OMY, n. [Gr. xv^j, a bladder, and
ttfivu, to cut.]
The act or practice of opening encysted tu-
mors, for the discharge of morbid matter.
CYT'ISUB, n. A shrub or tree. Also, a gc-
js of trees ; tree-trefoil.
CZAR, n. A king; a chief; a title of tlie
emperor of Russia ; i>ronounced tzar, and
so written by good authors.
CZARINA, n. A title of the empress of
Russia.
CZ'ARISII, a. Pertaining to the czar of
Russia.
D.
Jj, in the English alphabet, is the fourth
letter and the third articulation. It holds
the same jilace in the English, as in the
Clialdee, Syriac, Hebrew, Samaritan,
Greek and Latin alphabets. In the Arabic,
it is the eighth ; in the Russian, the fifth ;
and in the Ethiopic, the nineteenth letter
D is a dental articulation, formed by i>lacing
the end of the tongue against the gum
just above the upper teeth. It is nearly
allied to T, but is not so close a letter, or
rather it does not interrupt the voice so
suddenly as T, and in forming the articu-
lation, there is a lingual and nasal sound,
which has induced some writers to rank
D among the lingual letters. It has but
one sound, as in do, din, bad; and is i
er quiescent in English words, except in a
rapid utterance of such words as hand-
kerchief.
As a numeral, D reprcsents_^i'c hundred, am
when a dash or stroke is placed over it,
thus D, it denotesyiDC thousand.
As an abbreviation, D stands for Doctor ; as
M. D. Doctor of Medicine ; D. T. Doctor
of Theology, or S. T. D. Doctor of Sacred
Theology ; D. D. Doctor of Divinity, or
dono dedit ; D. D. D. dat, dicat, dedi
cat ; and D. D. D. D. dignutn Deo donuii
dedit.
Da Capo. [It. from the head.] In inusic
these words signify that the first part oti
the tune is to be repeated fi-om the begin-
ning.
DAB, V. t. [Fr. dauber, or from the same
root. It has the elements of dip, dub audi
tap, Gr. tvnru, and of daub. Class Db.
No. 3. 21. 28. 58.] j
1. To strike gently with the hand ; to slap :
to box. BaiJey.\
2. To strike gently with some soft or moist
substance; as, to dab a sore with lint. '
Sharp!
D.\B, n. A gentle blow with the hand.
2. A small lump or mass of any thing soft:
or moist.
3. Something moist or slimy thrown on one.
4. In lato language, an expert man. [See
Dabster.]
5. A small flat fish, of the genus Pleuronec-
tes, of a dark brown color.
DAB'CHICK, n. [dab or dip and chick.] A
small water-fowl. [
DAB'BLE, r.<. [Heb. hsa tnhal, or frotn
the root of dip, Goth, davpijan, Belgici
dabben or dabbekn. See Dip.] \
Literally, to dip a little or often ; hence, to
wet ; to moisten ; to spatter ; to wet by lit-
tle dips or strokes ; to sprinkle.
Simfl. IViseman.
DAB'BLE, v.i. To play in water; to dip
the hands, throw water and splash about
to play in mud and water.
2. To do any thing in a slight or superficial
manner; to tamper; to touch here and
there.
You have, I think, been dabbling with the
text. Atterbury
3. To meddle ; to dip into a concern.
D.^B'BLER, n. One who plays in water or
mud.
2. One who dips slightly into any thing ; on<
who meddles, without going to the bot
torn ; a superficial meddler ; as a dabblei
in politics.
DABBLING, ppr. Dipping superficially or
often ; playing in water, or In mud ; med
dling.
DAB'STER, n. [Qu. from adept, with ster.
Sax. steoran, to steer.]
One who is skilled ; one who is expert
master of his business. [Not an elegant
word. See Dapper.]
DACE, n. [D. daas. Qu. Fr. vendoise.] A
fish, the Ciwrinus leuciscus ; a small river
fish, resembling the roach. JValton.
DA€'TYL, n. [Gr. iaxruXof, a finger ; L,
dactylus ; probably a shoot. See Digit.]
A poetical foot consisting of three syllables,
the first long, and the others short, like
the joints of a finger; as, tegmln(, carmine.
DAC'TYLET, n. A dactyl. Bp. Hall.
DAC'TV'Lle, a. Pertaining to or consisting
of dactyls; as dactylic verses; a dactylic
flute, a flute consisting of unequal inter-
vals. Encyc,
DAC'TYLIST, n. [from dactyl.] One who
writes flowing verse. , H'arton
DACTYLOL'OGY, n. [&axiVKoi, finger, and
'Koyof, discourse.]
The act or the art of communicating idi
or thoughts by the fingers. Deaf and
dumb persons acquire a wonderful dex-
terity in this art.
DAD, } yw.tad; iT.taid; Ann-tad,
DAD'DY, \ ' Corn, tad or taz ; ancient L,
lata ; Port, taita ; Gypsey, dad, dada ; Sans
tada ; Hindoo, dada; Russ. tiatia; Finn,
taat.]
Father ; a word xtsed by infants, from whom
it is taken. The first articulations of '
fants or young children are dental or la-
bial; dental, in tad, dad, and labial, in
mamma, papa.
DAD'DLE,t). i. To walk with tottering, like
a child or an old man. [Little userf.j
DADE, V. t. To hold up by leading strings.
[Little used.] Drayton.
D'ADO, 71. [Ital. a die.] The plain part of a
column between the base and the cornice ;
the die. Did.
Or a cubical base of a column.
Thomson.
D^'DAL, a. [L. Da:dalus, Gr. ^aiia-Kos, an
ingenious artist.]
1. Various; variegated. Spenstr.
a. Skilfiil.
D^DALIAN. [See Dedalian.]
DAFF, { [Ice. dauf, allied to deaf] A
DAFFE, I "■ stupid blockish fellow. Obs.
Chaucer.
DAFF, V. t. To daunt. [Local.] Grose.
DAFF, V. t. To toss aside ; to put off. [See
Doff.] Shak.
DAF'FODIL, n. [D. affodilk ; G. d<rppelte
norcis«e, double narcissus ; It. asfodillo ; Fr.
asphodele ; L. asphodelus ; Gr. aaijjoStXoj.]
A plant of the genus Narcissus, of several
species. These have a bulbous root, and
beautiful flowers of various colors, white,
yellow and purple. Encyc.
DAG, n. [Fr. dague, from thrusting.] A
dagger ; a hand-gun ; a pistol. [A'ot in
use.] Burton.
DAG, ji. Dew. [JVb/ in use.]
DAG, n. [Sax. dag.] A loose end, as of
locks of wool ; called also dag-locks.
Bailey.
2. A leathern latchet.
DAG, V. t. To daggle. [Mot in use.]
2. To cut into slips. Obs. Chaucer.
DAG'GER, n. [Fr. dague ; D. dagge ; Arm.
dager ; Sp. daga ; Port, adaga ; It. dc^a ;
Ir. daigear. In G. and D. degen is a
sword.]
A short sword ; a poniard. Sidney.
2. In fencing schools, a blimt blade of iron
with a basket hih, used for defense.
3. With printers, an obelisk, or obelus, a
mark of reference in the form of a dag-
ger ; thus f.
DAG'GER, V. t. To pierce with a dagger ;
DAG'GERS-DRAWING, n. The act of
drawing daggers ; approach to open at-
tack or to violence ; a quarrel. Swifl.
DAG'GLE, V. t. [probably from dag, dew,
or its root.]
D A 1
To trail in mud or wet grass ; to befoul ; to:
dirty, as the lower end of a garment. I
DAG'GLE, I', i. To run through mud and^
DAG'GLED, pp. Dipped or trailed in mud
or fuul water ; befouled. ;
DAG'GLE-TAIL, a. Having the lower ends;
of garments defiled with mud. 1
DAG'GLING, ppr. Drawing along in mud
or foul water.
DAG'-SWAIN, )!. [dag, a shred.] A kind|
of carpet. Harrison.',
DAG'-TAILED, a. The same as daggk-
tail ; trailed in mud.
DA'ILY, a. [Sax. dteglic, from dag, day.]
Happening or being evei^ day ; done day
by day ; bestowed or enjoyed every day ;
as daily labor ; a daily allowance.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Lord's Prayer.
DA'ILY, adv. Every day ; day by day ; as, a
thing happens daily.
DA'INTILY, adv. [from dainty.] Nicely
elegantly; as a hat daintily inade.^[jVo<
legitimate, nor in use.]
2. Nicely ; fastidiously ; with nice regard to
what is well tasted ; as, to eat daintily.
3. Deliciously ; as, to fare daintily.
4. Cerenioniotislv ; scrupuloush'.
DAINTINESS,"?!. Delicacy ; softness; ele
gance ; nicety ; as the daintiness of the
limbs. Obs. B. Jonson.
2. Delicacy ; deliciousness ; applied to food ;
as the (/aiH<tnc«s of provisions.
3. Nicety in taste ; squeamishness ; fastidi
ousness ; as the daintiness of the taste.
Wotton.
4. Ceremoniousness ; scruptdousness ; nice
attention to manners. Obs.
DA'INTREL, n. A delicacy. [J^ot in use.]
DA'INTY, a. [W. deintiaiz ; Scot, dainty ;j
from dnnt, daint, the teeth, L. dens, Gr.
oSoii;, Sans, danta.]
1. Nice; pleasing to the palate; ofe.xquisite
taste ; delicious ; as dainty food.
His soul abhorreth dainty meat. Job xxxiii.
2. Delicate; of ac\ite sensibility ; nice in se-
lecting what is tender and good ; squeam-
ish ; soft ; luxurious ; as a dainty taste or
palate ; a dainty people.
3. Scrupulous in manners ; ceremonious.
Shak.
ef-
D A L
Grounds were turned much in England either
to feeding or dairy ; and this advanced the
trade of English butter. Temple.
2. The place, room or house, where milk is
set for cream, managed, and converted
into butter or cheese. Dn/dtn.
3. Milk-farm. Bacon.
DA'IRYHOUSE, ) A house or room ap-
DA'IRYROOM, ^ "' propriated to the man-
agement of milk.
DA'IRYMAID, n. A female servant whose
business is to manage milk. Addison.
DA'ISIED, a. [See i>a%.] Full of daisies;
adorned with daisies. Shak
DA'ISY, n. s as z. [Sax. dmges-ege, day's
eye.]
A plant of the genus Bellis, of several varie
ties. The blue daisy belongs to the genus
Globularia, as does the globe daisy ; the
greater or ox-eye daisy belongs to the ge-
nus Chrysanthemum ; and the middle dai-
sy, to the Doronicum. Fam. of Plants.
DA'KER-HEN, n. A fowl of the gallina-
ceous kind, somewhat like a patridge or
quail. Diet. JVaf. Hist.
The corn-crake or land-rail, a bird of
the grallic order of Linne. Ed. Encyc.
DA'KIR, n. In English statutes, ten hides,
or the twentieth part of a last of hide
Encyc.
DALE, Ji. [Goth, dalei ; Dan. and Sw. dal
G. tJiul : D. dal ; W. ddl ; Russ. dol, udol,
and doline ; allied perhaps to dell. The
Welsh dot signifies a winding, bend or
meander, and a dale through which a riv
er runs; a band, a ring, &c. In D. daalen
signifies to descend, to sink.]
.\ low place between hills ; a vale or valley ;
poetic word.
DAL'LIANCE, n. [See Dally.] Literally,
delay ; a lingering ; api)ropriately, acts of
fondness; interchange of caresses ; toj
ing, as males and females ; as youthti
dalliance. J^HUo
2. Conjugal embraces ; commerce of tl
sexes. Millo
3. Delay. Ohs. Shak.
DAL'LiER, n. One who fondles; a triflcr
as a dallier with jileasant words.
.ischan
4. Elegant ; tender ; soft ; pure ; neat
feminately beautiful ; as dainty hands or
limbs. jMilion. Shak.
'). Nice ; affectedly fine ; as a dainty speak-
er. Prior.
DA'INTY, Ji. Something nice and delicate
to the taste ; that which is exquisitely de-
licious ; a delicacy.
Be not desirous of dainties, for they are de-
ceitful meat. Prov. xxiii.
2. A term of fondness. [.Vo( much used.]
Why, that's my dainty. Shak.
DA'IRY, n. [This word I have not found in|
any other language. In Russ. doyu _
fies to mill;, and Junius mentions dey, an|
old wf)rd for milk, and Icelandic deggia,
to milk. It may be, and probably is, a
contracted word.]
1. Milk, and all tliat concerns it, on a farm ;
or the business of managing milk, and of
making butter and cheese. The whole es-
tablishment respecting milk, in a family,
' pr on a farm.
DAL'LY, V. i. [W. did or dala, to hold, hear,
keep, stop ; Arm. dalea, to stop or retard ;
Ir. dail, delay ; Russ. dlyu. Tlie sense of
holding is oYten connected with that oil
e.xtending, drawing out in time ; Ar
^LJs to prolong, to delay. Class Dl. No,
20. See also No. 24. 29.]
1. Literally, to delay; to linger; to wait
Hence,
2. To trifle; to lose time in idleness and tri-
fles; to amuse one's self with idle play.
It is madness to dally any longer.
Calamy.
3. To toy and wanton, as man and woman;
to interchange caresses ; to fondle.
Shak.
4. To sport ; to play.
She dallies with the wind. Shak.
DAL'LY, «.«. To delay; to defer; to put
off; to amuse till a proper opportunity
as, to dally off the time. [.Vo< much used.]
Knolles.
DAL'LYING, ppr. Delaying ; procrastinat-
DAM
ing; trifling; wasting time in idle amuse-
ment ; toying ; fondling.
DAM, n. [supposed to be from dame, which
I. A female parent ; used of beasts, particu-
larly of quadruped.s.
i. A human mother, in contempt. Shak.
3. [Fr. dame, the queen ; Sp. dama.] A
crowned man in the game of draughts.
DAM, n. [D. dam ; G. £imm ; Sw. id. ; Dan.
dam, a pond. See the Verb.]
A mole, bank or mound of earth, or any
wall, or a frame of wood, raised to ob-
struct a current of water, and to raise it,
for the purpose of driving millwheels, or
for other purposes. Any work that stops
and confines water in a pond or bason, or
causes it to rise.
DAM, V. t. [Sax. demman ; G. dammen ; D.
dummen ; Dan. dcemmer ; Ch. Dl£3 to stop,
to shut; Ileb. Ch. DOS, Ar. ^is\ to
stop or shut. Qu. Ch. DBD, Ar. ^^Ism.
id. This is the root of rfumi. See Class
Dm. No. 17. 18. 33. 39.]
1 . To make a dam, or to stop a stream of
water by a bank of earth, or by any other
woik ; to confine or shut in water. It is
conmion to use, after the verb, in, up, or
out ; as, to dam in, or to dam up, the water,
and to dam out is to prevent water from
entering.
2. To confine or restrain froin escaping ; to
shut in ; used by Shakespeare of fire, and by
Milton of light.
DAM'AGE, n. [Fr. dommage; Arm. dou-
maich ; Norm, damage ; Sax. dem ; L.
damnum ; Sp. daho ; Port, dano ; It. dan-
no ; Ir. damaisfe. This word seems to be
allied to the Greek ^r^fiM, a fine or mulct,
Ch. nnt or 'DI to impose a fine. But qu. .
See Damn.]
1. Any hurt, injury or harm to one's estate ;
any loss of property sustained ; any hin-
derance to the increase of property ; or
any obstruction to the success of an enter-
prise. A man suffers damage by the de-
struction of his corn, by the burning of
his house, by the detention of a ship which
defeats a profitable voyage, or by the fail-
ure of a profitable undertaking. Damage
then is any actual loss, or the prevention
of profit. It is usually and properly apph-
cd to property, but sometimes to reputa-
tion and other things which are valuable.
But in the latter case, injury is more cor-
rectly used.
2. The value of what is lost ; the estimated
equivalent for detriment or injury sustain-
ed ; that which is given or adjudged to re-
pair a loss. This is the legal signification
of the word. It is the province of a jury
to assess damages in trespass. In this
sense,' the word is generally used in the
plural.
DAM'AgE, v. t. [It. danneggiare; but Norm.
damager is to oppress.]
To hurt or harm; to injure; to impair; to
lessen the soundness, goodness or value
of. Rain may damage corn or hay ; a
storm may damage a ship ; a house is of-
ten damaged by fire, when it is not destroy-
ed ; lieavy rains dajnage roads.
DAM
DAM'ACiE, u. i. To receive liariii ; to be in
jiired or impaired in soundness, or value
as, green corn will damage in a mow or
stack.
DAMAtiE-FEASANT, a. dam' age-fez' ant.
[Fr. faisant, from /aire,]
Doing injury ; trespassing, as cattle.
Blackstone.
DAMAGEABLE, a. That may be injured
or impaired ; susceptible of damage ; as
damagealAif goods.
2. Hurtt'nl; ix'rnicious. [Rare.]
DAM'A(';EI), pp. Hurt; impaired; injured.
DAM'AgIXG, /;/>r. Injuring; impairing.
DAMASCENE, n. [L. damascenus, from
Damascus.]
1. A particular kind of plum, now pronoun-
ced damson, which see.
2. It may be locally applied to other species
of plums.
DAM'ASK, n. [It. dommasco ; Fr. damas ;
Sp. damasco ; from Damascus, in Syria.]
1. A silk stuff, having some parts raised
above the ground, representing flowers
and other figures ; originally from Damas-
cus.
2. A kind of wrought linen, made in Flan-
ders, in imitation of damask silks.
3. Red color, from the damask-rose.
Fairfax, j
Damask-sleel, is a fine steel from the Lev
chiefly from Damascus, used for sword
and cutlas blades.
DAM'A!*K, V. t. To form flowers on stufl's;
also, to variegate ; to diversify ; as, a bank
damasked with flowers. Milton.
2. To adorn steel-work with figures. [See
Damaskeen.]
DAM'ASK-PLUM, n. A small black plum.
DAM'ASK-ROSE, n. A species of rose
which is red, and another which is white.
DAM'ASKEN, ) , [Fr. damasquiner.
DAMASKEE'N, ^ /• _■ .Sea Damask.]
To make incisions in iron, steel, &c., and
fill them with gold or silver wire, for orna-
ment ; used chiefly for adorning sword-
blades, guards, locks of pistols, &c.
Chambers.
DAMASKEE'NED, ;);). Carved into figures
and inlaid witli gold or silver wire.
DAMASKEE'NING, ppr Engraving and
adorning with gold or silver wire inlaid.
DAMASKEE'NING, n. The act or art of
beautifying iron or steel, by engraving and
inlaying it with gold or silver wire. Th'
art partakes of the mosaic, of engravinj
and of carving. Like the mosaic, it lu
inlaid work; like engraving, it cuts the
metal into figures; and as in chasing, gold
and silver is wrought in relievo. Enciic
DAM'ASKIN, n. A saber, so called trmi
the manufacture of Damascus.
DAME, n. [Fr. dame; Sp. Port. It. dfrmrr
from L. domina, a mistress or governess
from domo, Gr. Sajicuo, to subdue, Eng. to
tame. Class Dm. No. 3. 4. 23. 24.]
Literally, a mistress ; hence, a lady : a title
of honor to a woman. It is now genondly
applied to the mistress of a family in tin
common ranks of life; as is its compound
madam. In poetry, it is applied to a wo-
man of rank. In short, it is applied witli
propriety to any woman who is or has
been the mistress of a family, and it some
times comprehends women in general.
D A M
DAME'S- VIOLET, ) „ A plant of the gc-|2. To Imr
DAME-WORT, S nus Hesperis;call-I' Mr /-;«
ed also queen's gilUflower, or rocket. It l>\M Ml
is remarkable for its fragrant odor, ami nii| .m ii
ladies are fond of having it in their apart- DA Al ^
ments.
DA'MIANISTS, in chicrch history, a sect
who denied any distinction in the God-
head ; believing in one single nature, yet
calling God, the Father, Son, and Holy
D A M
to injure; to impair; applied lo
Spenser.
I NO, ppr. Hurting; injuring;
Spirit. Encyc.
DAMN, V. t. dam. [L. damno ; Fr. damner ;
Arm. dauna ; It. dannare; Sp. daiiar ;
Port, danar. The Portuguese word is
rendered to hurt, to damnify, to corrupt
or spoil, to undo or ruin, to bend, to
crook, to make mad. The latter sense
would seem to be from the L. demens, and
damnum is by Varro referred to demendo,
demo, which is supposed to be a compound
of de and emo. But qu., for damno and con-
demno coincide with the English doom.]
To sentence to eternal torments in a fu-
ture state ; to punish in hell.
He that belicveth not shall be damned. Mark
2. To condemn ; to decide i
worthy of punishment ;
reprobate.
o be wrong or
to censure ; to
He that doubtcth is damned if he <
Rom
3. To condemn ; to explode ; to decide to be
bad, mean, or disjileasing, by hissing or
any mark of disapprobation ; as, to damn
a play, or a mean author.
4. A word used in profaueness ; a term of
execration.
DAMNABLE, a. That may be damned or
condenmed ; deserving damnation ; wor-
thy of eternal punishment. More gene-
rally, that which subjects or renders hable
to damnation ; as damnable heresies. 2
Pet. ii.
2. In a low or ludicrous sense, odious, detest-
able, or pernicious. Shak.
DAM'NABLENESS, n. The state or quali-
tv of deserving damnation.
DA'M'NABLY, adv. In a manner to incur
eternal punishment, or so as to exclude
mercy. South.
2. In a low sense, odiously ; detestably ; some-
times, excessively.
DAMNA'TION, n. [L. damnatio.] Sentence
or condeumation to everlasting punish-
ment in the future state ; or the state of
eternal torments.
How can ye escape the damnation of hell.
Matt, xxlii.
2. Condeumation. Taijloi:
DAM'NATORY, a. Containing a scntcncr
ir.it
l>A.M'M-l». ///;. 8rntenoed i.. cs., !,,-i::.^
2. 'r'ilah'na\''dcI.'sIal.U^^''!d»>l.'n''nl i'l-T './
word chiejly used in pmfuneness by persons
of vulgar manners.
DAMNIF'IC, a. [Sec Dammfy.'] Procurnig
loss : niisi-hipvous.
HAM Nllli:i>./</'. [See Damnify.] Injur-
0.1: cll.hll.Ki-r.l.
DAM Ml'\. r. t. [L. damnifico; damnum
I VLwdfucio ; It. dannifcare.]
1. To cause loss or damage to; to hurt in
1 estate or interest ; to injure ; to endam-
' age ; as, to damnify a man in his goods or
, estate.
ppr. Dooming to endless pun-
isnmcnt ; coiKlenming.
2. a. That condemns or exposes to damna-
tion ; as a damning sin.
DAM'NINGXESS, n. Tendency to bring
danuiation. Hammond.
DAMP, a. [G.dampf; Ji.damp; Sw.damb;
Dan. damp, steam, vapor, log, smoke ;
perhaps steam is from the same root, from
wasting ; Sans, dhuma. See Class Dm.
No. :i3.]
Moist; humid; being in a state between dry
and wet ; as a damp cloth ; damp air :
sometimes, foggy ; as, the atmosphere is
damp ; but it may be damp without visible
vapor.
2. Dejected ; sunk ; depressed ; chilled.
[Unusual.] Milton.
D.^MP, n. Moist air ; humidity ; moisture ;
log. Milton.
2. Dejection ; depression of spirits ; chill.
We say, to strike a damp, or to cast a damp,
on the spirits. Milton.
3. Damps. ;;/«. Noxious exhalations issuing
from ihc earth, and deleterious or fatal to
animal htb. These are often known to
exi^t in wells, which continue long covered
and not u.«ed, and in mines and coal-pits ;
and sometimes they issue from the old lavas
of volcanoes. These damps are usually
the carbonic acid gas, vulgarly called choke-
damp, which instantly suffocates ; or some
inflammable gas, called /rc-damD.
DAMP, v.t. To moisten; to make humid,
or moderately wet.
2. To chill; to deaden ; to depress or deject;
I to abate ; as, to damp the spirits ; to damp
the ardor of passion. Sift/?.
3. To weaken ; to make dull ; as, to damp
sound. Bacon.
[4. To check or restrain, as action or vigor ;
to make languid ; to discourage ; as, to
1 damp industry. Bacon.
DAMPED, pp. Cliilled ; depressed ; abated ;
weakened ; checked ; discouraged.
DAMPER, Ji. That which damps or checks ;
a valve or sliding plate in a furnace to stop
or lessen the quantity of air admitted, and
thus to regulate the heat or extinguish the
fire. Edwards, If. Ind. Rumford.
2. A part of a piano-forte, by which the sound
is deadened.
DAMP'ING. />/»•. Chilling; deadening; de-
icctiri:: ; idiniing; checking; weakening.
DAMP ISIl. 11. Moderately damp, or moist.
D \ M I ' I S 1 1 .\ ESS, 11. A moderate degree of
iliini 11 --. cir moistness ; slight humidity.
DNMI'M.SS, li. Moisture; foggiuess ;
iiMi-tii. -~ ; moderate humidity; as the
(fini-jiiii .ws (if the air, of the ground, or of
DAMPS,' 71. [Sec Damp.]
DAMP'Y. a. Dejected ; gloomy. [Little
used.] Hayward.
DAM'SEL, n. * as :. [Fr. damoiseUe and
demoiselle, a gentlewoman, and damoiseau,
a spark or beau ; Norm, damoisells, or dem-
icelles, nobles, sons of kings, princes,
1 knights, lords, ladies of quality, and dam-
oyseles, damsels, female infants ; Sp. dam-
isola, a young gentlewoman, any girl not
of the lower class. The Aim. ma-mesell,
DAN
DAN
DAP
va-mesell, or man-viesell, a woman or mad-
am, seems to indicate that the first syllable
is a prefix, and mesell, Eng. miss, a distinct
word. But damoiselle, Norm, demicelk,
from which we liave damsel, is doubtless
from the Italian damigella, a diminutive
formed from dama, like the L. domicilium,
from domus, and penicillus, from the root
ofpenna. Tlie Italian damigdlo, in the mas-
culine gender, shows the propriety of the
ancient application of damsel to males.]
A young woman. Formerly, a yoimg man
or woman of noble or genteel extraction :
as Damsel Pepin ; Damsel Richard, prince
of Wales. It is how used only of young
women, and is applied to any class of
young unmarried women, unless to the
most vulgar, and sometimes to country
girls.
With her train of damsels she was gone.
Drf/den.
Then Boaz said, whose damsel is this ?
Ruth ii.
This word is rarely used in conversation,
or even in prose writings of the present
day ; but it occurs frequently in tiie scrip-
tures, and in poetry.
DAM'SON, n. dam'zn. [contracted from
damascene, the Damascus plum.]
The fruit of a variety of the Prunus domes-
tica ; a small black plum.
DAN, »!. [Sp. rfoji. Q,u. from dominus, orAr.
• li to be chief, to judge, Heb. Ch.
Syr. Eth. jn. Class Dn. No. 2. 4.]
A title of honor equivalent to master ; used
by Shakspeare, Prior, &c., but now obso-
lete.
D'ANCE, J), t. dans. [Fr. danser ; S]^. dnn-
:ar; Port, dan car ; Arm. dangzal ; It. dan-
zare ; G. tarizen ; Sw. dansa ; Dan. dand-
ser ; D. danssen ; Basque daniza ; Russ.
tantzyu. Qu. the radical letters, and the
Oriental yr\, with a casual n.]
1. Primarily, to leap or spring ; hence, to leap
or move "with measured steps, regulated
by a tune, sung or played on a musical in-
strument ; to leap or step with graceful
motions of the body, corresponding with
the sound of the voice or of an instru-
ment.
There is a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
Eccles. iii.
2. To leap and frisk about ; to move nimbly
or up and down.
To dance attendance, to wait with olisequi-
ousness ; to strive to please and gain favor
by assiduous attentions and officious civili-
ties ; as, to dance attendance at court.
D'ANCE, V. t. To make to dance ; to move
up and down, or back and forth; to dan-
dle ; as, to dance a child on the knee.
Bacon.
D'ANCE, n. In a general sense, a leaping
and frisking about. Appropriately, a leap-
ing or stepping with motions of the body
adjusted to the measure of a tune, particu-
larly by two or more in concert. A lively
brisk exercise or amusement, in which the
movements of the persons are regulated by
art, in figure, and by the sound of instru-
ments, in measure.
2. A time by which dancing is regulated, as
the minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, &c.
D'ANCER, n. One who practices dancing,
or is skilful in the performance.
D^ANCING, ppr. Leaping and stepping to
the soundof the voice or of an instrument ;
moving in measured steps ; frisking about.
D ANCING-MASTER, n. One who teaches
the art of dancing.
D'ANCING-SeHOOL, n. A school in which
the art of dancing is taught.
DAN'DELION, n. [Fr. dent de lion, lion's
tooth.]
A well known plant of the genus Leontodon,
having a naked stalk, with one large
flower.
DAN'DIPRAT, n. [Fr. rfanA'n, a ninny ; It.
dondolone, a loiterer ; dondolo, any thing
swinging; dondolare, to swing, to loiter.
The Sp. and Port, tonlo, a dolt, may be of
the same family. Qu. prat.}
A little fellow; an urchin ; a word of fondness
or contempt. Johnson.
DAN'DLE, V. t. [G. tiindeln, to toy, to trifle,
to lounge, to dandle ; Fr. dandiner, to jog ;
It. dondolare, to swing, to loiter ; Sp. and
Port, tontear, to dote, to talk nonsense ;
Scot, dandill, dander. These words seem
to lie alhed.]
1. To shake or jolt on the knee, as an infant :
to move up and down in the hand ; liter-
ally, to amuse by play.
Ye shall be dandled on her knees. Is. Ixvi.
2. To fondle ; to amuse ; to treat as a child ;
to toy with.
I am ashamed to be dandled tlnis.
Jlddis&n .
•3. To delay ; to protract by trifles. Obs.
Spenser.
DAN'DLED, pp. Danced on the knee, or in
the arms; fondled; amused by trifles or
pi a v.
DAN'DLER, n. One who dandles or fondles
children.
DAN'DLING, ppr. Shaking and jolting on
the knee ; moving about in play or for
amusement, as an infant.
DANDRUFF, n. [Qu. Sax. tan, a scab, tet-
ter, and drof, sordid ; or Fr. teigne. Arm.
tign, or taign.]
A scurf which forms on the head, and comes
oft' in small scales or particles.
DAN'DY, n. [Qu. Scot, dandie. See Dan-
diprat.]
In modern usage, a male of the human spe-
cies, who dresses himself like a doll, and
who carries his character on his back.
DAN'DYISM,n. The manners and dress of
a dandy.
DANE, n. A native of Denmark.
DA'NEGELT, n. [Dane and gelt, geld,
money.]
In England, an annual tax formerly laid on
the English nation, for maintaining forces
to oppose the Danes, or to furnish tribute
to procure peace. It was at first one shil-
ling, and afterwards two, for every hide of
land, except such as belonged to the
church. Encyc.
DA'NEWORT, n. A plant of the geiius
Sambiicus ; a species of elder, called
dwarf-elder or wall-wort.
DANGER, n. [Fr. Arm. Scot, danger;
Norm, datingerous, dubious. This word
in Scottish, according to Jamieson, signi-
fies peril, power, or dominion, doubt, hesi-
tation. In Chaucer, it signifies peril, and
coyness, sparingness or custody. In old
English laws, it denotes a payment in
money by forest tenants, to their lord, for
permission to plow and sow in the time of
pannage or mast-feeding. The primary
sense is not obvious. Spenser has the fol-
lowing couplet.
Valiant he should be as fire.
Showing danger more than ire.]
Peril; risk; hazard ; exposure to injury, loss,
pain or other evil.
Our craft is in danger to be set at nought.
Acts xix.
It is easy to boast of despising death, when
there is no danger.
DANGER, V. t. To put in hazard ; to expose
to loss or injury. Shak. But rarely used.
[See Endanger, which is generally used.]
DAN6ERLESS, a. Free from danger ;
without risk. [I/ittle used.] Sidney.
DANGEROUS, a. Perilous ; hazardous ;
exposing to loss ; unsafe; full of risk; as a
dangerous voyage ; a dangerous experi-
ment.
2. Creating danger ; causing risk of evil ; as
a dangerous man ; a dangerous conspiracy.
DANGEROUSLY, adv. With danger ; with
risk of evil ; with exposure to injury or
ruin : hazardously ; perilously ; as, to be
dangerously sick ; dangerously situated.
DANgEROUSNESS, n. Danger ; hazard ;
peril ; a state of being exposed to evil ; as
the dangerousness of condition, or disease.
DAN' GLE, V. i. [Dan. dingier, to swing to
and fro. Qu. dandle or Cb. Syr. bpn.]
1. To hang loose, flowing, shaking or wa-
ving ; to hang and swing.
He'd rather on a gibbet dangle. Hudibras.
2. To hang on any one ; to be a humble, of-
ficious follower ; with ajler or about ; as, to
dangle aboxd a woman ; to dangle afler a
minister for favors.
DAN'GLER, n. One who dangles or hangs
about.
DAN'GLING, /jp'. Hanging loosely ; busily
or ofticiously adhering to.
DA'NISH, a. Belonging to the Danes or
Denmark.
DA'NISH, n. The language of the Danes.
DANK, a. [Qu. G. /unfan, to dip.] Damp;
moist ; humid ; wet.
DANK, n. Moisture ; humidity.
Milion. Shak.
DANK'ISH, a. Somewhat damp.
DANK'ISHNESS, n. Dampness; humid-
itv.
DA'OURITE, n. A mineral, called rubellite,
i"esembling shorl, but diflfering from it in
chimical characters. Its color is red of
various shades. Cleaveland.
DAP, V. i. [Goth, daupyan, to dip.] To drop
or let fall into the water; o word used by
anglers. Walion.
DAPH'NATE, n. A compound of the bitter
principle of the Daphne Alpina with a
base.
DAPH'NIN, n. The bitter principle of the
Daphne Alpina, discovered by Vauquelin.
It is obtained in small crystals, hard, trans-
parent, of a grayish color and a bitter taste.
DAP'IFER, n. [L. dapes, feast, and/ero, to
hear.]
One who brings meat to the table. Former-
ly, the title or office of the grand-master of
a king's household. It still subsists in
Germany. Encyc.
DAP'PER, a. [D. dapptr,hraye, vaUant ;
D A R
D A R
Sw. and Dan. tapper; G. tapfer. See
Class Db. No. 1.3. US.]
Active ; nimble ; brisk ; or little and active ;
neat ; tight ; as a dapper fellow ; a dapper
spark. L'Estrangc.
DAP'PERUNG, n. A dwarf; a dandiprat.
DAP'l'LE, a. [most probably allied to tabby,
and from dipping, or to W. rfornu, to drop.
The word signifies spotted, atid spots are
often from dropping or sprinkling.]
Marked with spots ; spotted ; variegated with
spots of difterent colors or shades of color,
as a dapple-bay or dapple-gray ; applied to
a horse or other beast. It may sometmies
express streaked, but this is not its true sig-
nification.
DAP'PLE, V. t. To spot ; to variegate with
spots.
The gentle day
Dapples the drowsy east with spots of gray.
Shale.
Tlie ilnppleU pink, and blushing rose. Prior.
DAP'PLED, pp. Spotted; variegated with
spots of difterent colors or shades of color.
DAP'PLING, ]tpi: Variegating with ."^pol.s.
DAR, ^ A fish found in the Sev
DART, I "• BaUey.
DARE. V. i. \net. durst. [Sax. dearran, dur-
ran ; D. darren, durven ; G. durfen ; Sw,
dierf, hold ; dierfvas, to dare, and tbras, to
dare ; Dan. tiir, to dare, and tor, dry, tor-
rid, L. torrco ; Dan. forked, dryness, bar-
renness; iorstig, thirsty. The German
durfen, compounded, be'diirfen, signifies,
want, to need, to lack, and this in Dutch
is derven. The Sw. d&re, rash, mad, sot-
tish, d&ra, to infirtuate, t)an. daarer, may
be of the same family. The Gr. eopptu,
and Russ. derzayu, to dare, are evidently
the same word. Ar. ,Li to be bold,
audacious ; to 1)6 angry, or averse ; to be
terrified, to flee. So in Sw. darra, to trera
ble. The sense of boldness, daring, is some
times from the sense of advancing ; but
some of the senses of these words indicate
the sense of receding.]
To have courage for any purpose ; to have
strength of mind or hardihood to uiidrr
take any thing; to be bold enough ; ticM li
be afraid ; to venture ; to be advent us
I dare do all that may become a man. .SVinA
Dare any of you go to law before the unjust
1 Cor.vi.
None of his disciples durst ask him, who ar
thou. John xxi.
In this intransitive sense, dare is not gen-
erally followed by the sign to before anoth
er verb in the infinitive ; though to may be
use<l with propriety. In German, the verb
is numbered among the auxiliaries. In
tlie transitive form, it is regular: thus,
DARE, V. t. pret. and pp. dared. To chal
lenge ; to provoke ; to defy ; as, to dare a
man to fight.
Time, I dare tlice to discover
Such a youth, and such a lover. Drydi
To dare larks, to catch them by means of a
looking glass, or by keeping a bird of prey
hovering aloft, which keeps them in amaze
till caught ; to terrify or amaze.
Johnson. Dryden
DARE, 7!. Defiance; cliallenee. [jSTot used.]
Shak.
DARE, n. A small fish, the same as the rfacc.
Encyc. Johnson.
Vol. I.
DA'RED, pp. Challenged ;
DA'REFUL, ( "
defied. I
Full of defiance. [M'olused.].
Shak.
DA'RER, n. One who dares or defies.
DAR'le, n. A gold coin of Darius the Mede,
value about 556 cents.
DA'RING, ppr. Having courage suflicient
for a purpose; challenging; defying.
2. a. Hold ; courageous ; intrepid ; fearless
adventurous ; brave ; stout.
Grieve not, O daring prince, that noble heart.
Pope.
3. Audacious; impudently bold and defying;
as in heaven-daring, defying Almighty
power.
DA'RINGLY, adv. Boldly; courageously;
fearlessly ; impudently.
The principles of our holy religion arc dar-
ingly attacked from tlie press. JInon.
DA'RINGNESS, n. Boldness; courageous-
ness ; audaciousness.
D>ARK, a. [Sax. rfcorc; \r. dorcUa ; Pors.
V*
^j tirah, dark; *25CjjL.J
tarik, dark.
darkness. See Class Dr. No. 15.]
1. Destitute of light; obscure. A dark al
mosphere is one which prevents vision.
2. Wholly or partially black ; having the
quality opposite to white; as a dark color
or substance.
.3. Gloomy ; disheartening ; having unfavor-
able prospects ; as a dark time in ]>olitical
aftairs.
There is in every tnie woman's heart a spark
of heavenly fire, which beams and blazes i;
dark hour of adversity. Irving.
4. Obscure ; not easily understood or ex-
|ilained ; as a dark passage in an author
a dark saying.
5. Mysterious ; as, the ways of Providence
are often dark to human reason.
6. Not enlightened with knowledge; desti
tute of learning and science ; rude ; igno
rant ; as a dark age.
7. Not vivid ; partially black. Lev. xiii.
8. Blind. [A"o< in use.] Dryden.
Gloomy ; not cheerful ; as a dark tem-
])er. Mdison.
. Obscure; concealed; secret; notiuider-
sKHul ; as a dark design.
. Iiuloan; foi;I. MUlon.
12. Opake. But dark and opake are not sy-
nonymous. Chalk is opake, but not dark.
13. Keeping designs concealed.
The dark unrelenting Tiberius. Gibbon.
D^ARK, n. [Sans. <are4i.] Darkness; ob-
scurity ; the absence of light. We say,
we can hear in the dark.
Shall thy wondere be known in tlie dark ?
Ps. Ixxxviii.
2. Obscurity ; secrecy ; a state unknown ;
as, things done in the dark.
3. Obscurity ; a state of ignorance ; as, we
are all in the dark.
D'ARK, i). /. To darken ; to obscure. Obs.
DARK-BROWED, a. Stern of aspect;
frowning ; as dark-browed Hotspur.
Percy''s Masque.
D-ARKEN, V. t. darkn. [Sax. adeorcian.]
1. To make dark; to deprive of light; as,
close the shutters and darken the room.
2. To obscure ; to cloud.
His confidence seldom darkened his fore-
sight. Bacon
3. To make black.
The locusts darkened the land. Ex. x.
55
DAR
4. To make dim; to deprive of vision.
Let llieir eyes be darkened. Rom. xi.
5. To reinler gloomy ; as, all joy is dark-
ened. Is. xxiv.
G. To deprive of intellectual vision ; to ren-
der ignorant or stupid.
Their foolish heart was darkened. Rom. i.
Having the understandixig darkened. Eph.
iv.
7. To ob.scure; to perplex; to render less
clear or intelligible.
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words
without knowledge ? Job xxxviii.
8. To render less white or clear ; to tan ; as,
a burning sun darkens the complexion.
9. To sully ; to make foul. Tillotson.
D'ARKEN, V. I. To grow dark or darker ;
Iso, to grow less white or clear.
DARKENED, pp. Deprived of lirfit; ob-
scured ; rendered dim; made black; made
ignorant.
D'ARKENING, ppr. Depriving of light;
obscuring ; making black or less white or
clear; cloudiiig.
DARK-HOUSE, n. An old word for amad-
house. Shak.
DARKISH, a. Dusky: somewhat dark.
DARKLING, a. Being in the dark, or
without light ; a poetical word.
Milton. Shak.
D'ARKLY, adv. Obscurely ; dimly ; blindly;
uncertaiidy ; with imperfect light, clearness
or knowledge.
They learn only what tradition has darkly
conveyed lo them. Antm.
D>ARK'NESS, n. Absence of light.
And darkness was on the face of the deep.
2. Obscurity ; want of clearness or perspi-
cuity ; that quahty or state which renders
any thing difficult to be understood ; as
the darkness of counsels.
3. A state of being intellectually clouded ;
ignorance.
Men loved darkness rather than light. John
place ; secrecy ; privacy,
tell you in darkness, that speak yc
hell ; as utter darkness.
A privc
What
light. Matt. X
Infernal gloom
Matt. xxri.
Great trouble and distress; calamities;
perplexities.
A day of clouds and thick darkness. Joel ii.
Is. viii.
7. Empire of Satan.
WTio hath delivered us from tlie power of
darkness. Col. i.
Opakeness.
Land of darkness, the grave. Job x.
D'ARKSOME, <i. Dark ; gloomy ; obscure ;
as a darksome bouse; H darksome cloud.
MUlon. Dn/den.
D-ARK-WORKIXG, a. Working in dark-
ness or ill secrecy. Shak.
D'ARLING, a. [Sax. deorling ; dear, dear,
and ling, which primarily denotes likeness,
and in some words, is a diminutive. So in
G. liebling, leveling, D. tieveling. See
Dear.]
Dearly beloved ; favorite ; regarded with
great kindness and tenderness ; as a dar-
ling child ; a darling science. fVatts.
D^.^RLING, )!. One much beloved ; a favor-
ite ; as, that son was the darling of his
father.
DAS
DARX, v.t. [W.dam; Ami. dam ; Fr.
diirne ; a piece or ))atcli.]
To iiieiid a rent or hole, by imitating the
texture of the cloth or stuff with yarn or
thread and a needle ; to sew together with
yarn or thread. It is used particularly of
stockings. Gay. Swifl.
DARN, H. A place mended by darning.
D>ARNEL, 71. A plant of the genus /«oZwm,
a kind of grass ; the most remarkable spe-
cies are the red darnel or rye-grass, and
the wliite darnel.
D'ARNER, n. One who mends by darning.
D'ARNING, ppr. Mending in imitation of
tlie original texture ; sewing together
torn stocking, or cloth.
D^ARNING, n. The act of mending,
hole in a garment.
DAR'RAIN, V. t. [Norm, dareigner, derener,
dereigner, dcraigner, to prove, to testify, to
clear himself, to institute ; noun, darrein
or derene, or d'reigne, proof ; also, derrei-
ner, to endeavor. In Chaucer, the wore
is interpreted to contest.
But for thou art a worthy gentil knight,
And wilnest to darraine hire by bataille.
The word is probably componnd. But
neither the origin nor the signification ==
obvious.]
To prepare, or to order ; or to try ; to e
deavor ; to prove ; to apply to the contest.
Ohs. Carew. 'Spenser. Sliak.
DART, n. [Fr. dard ; Arm. dared or dard
It. Sp. Port, dardo ; Russ. drot. In Sw.
darl is a dagger. The word is from some
verb signifying to throw or thrust. In Gr.
6opu is a spear or lance.]
1. A pointed missile weapon to be thrown
by the hand ; a short lance. Dryden.
2. Any missile weapon ; that which pierces
and wounds.
And from about her shot darls of desire
D^ART, V. t. To throw a pointed instru-
ment with a sudden thrust ; as, to dart a
javelin. Dryden.
'i. To throw suddenly or rapidly ; to send ;
to emit ; to shoot ; applied to smaU objects,
inhich pass with vdocily ; as, the sun darts
his beams on the earth.
Or what ill eyes malignant glances dart.
Pope.
D ART, r. i. To fly or shoot, as a dart ; to
fly rapidly.
2. To spring and run with velocity ;
suddenly and '' ' " '""
the thicket.
D^ARTED, pp. Thrown or hurled as a
pointed instrument ; sent with velocity.
DARTER, ir. One who throws a dart.
D>ARTING, ppr. Throwing, as a dart
hurling darts ; flying rajHdly.
DASH, V. t. [In Dan. dask signifies a blow;
in Sw. dosha, to strike ; in Scot, dusch, to
rush. In Persic • \.j is an assault on an
enemy. See Class Ds. No. 3. 4. 5. 14. 22.
30. 31. 40.]
. To strike suddenly or violently, whether
throwing or falling ; as, to dash one stone
against another. Bacon.
Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Matt. iv.
I. To strike and bruise or break ; to break
by collision ; but usually with the words, in
pieces.
DAS
Thou shalt dash them in pieces, as a potter's
essel. Ps.u.
3. To throw water suddenly, in separate
portions ; as, to dash water on the head.
4. To bespatter ; to sprinkle ; as, to dash a
garment. Shak.
5. To strike and break or disperse.
At once the brushing oars and brazen prow
Dash up the sandy waves, and ope the dcplh
below. Dryden.
To mix and reduce or adulterate by
throwing in another subtance ; as, to dash
wine with water ; the story is dashed with
fables.
7. To form or sketch out in haste, careless-
ly. [Unusual.] Pope.
1. To erase at a stroke ; to strike out : to
blot out or obliterate ; as, to dash out a line
or word. Pope
Q. To break ; to destroy ; to frustrate ; as, to
dash all their schemes and hopes.
10. To confound ; to confuse ; to put to
shame ; to abash ; to depress by shame or
fear ; as, he was dashed at the appearance
of the judge.
Dash the proud gamester in his gilded car. Pope.
DASH, V. i. To strike, break, scatter and
fly off; as, agitate water and it will dash
over the sides of a vessel ; the waves rfas/i-
ed over the side of the ship.
To rush, strike and break or scatter ; as,
the waters dash down the precipice.
3. To rush with violence, and breakthrough
as, he dashed into the eneiriy's ranks ; or hi
dashed through thick and thin.
DASH, 71. Collision; a violent striking of
two bodies; as the dash of clouds.
TTiomson.
3. Infusion ; admixture ; something thrown
into another substance ; as, the wine has
a dash of water.
Innocence, with a dash of folly. ..Addison.
3. Admixture ; as, red with a dash of pur\>]e.
4. A rushing, or onset with violence ; as, to
make a dash upon the enemy.
5. A sudden stroke ; a blow ; an act.
She takes upon her bravt-ly at fiist dash.
Shak
6. A flourish ; blustering ])arade ; as, th«
young fop made a dash. [Vulgar.]
A mark or line in writing or printing
noting a break or stop in the sentence
as in Virgil, quos ego — : or a pause ; or
the division of the sentence.
DASH'ED, pp. Struck violently ; driven
against ; bruised, broken or scattered by
collision ; besprinkled ; mixed or adultera
ted ; erased, blotted out ; broken ; cast
down ; confounded ; abashed.
DASH'ING, ppr. Driving and striking
against; striking suddenly or violently
breaking or scattering by collision ; infu
sing; mixing; confounding; blotting out
rushing.
2. a. Rushing; driving; blustering; as a
dashing fellow.
3. a. Precipitate; rushing carelessly
Btirke.
D.\S'TARD, 71. [In Sax. adastrigan is to
frighten, to deter.]
A coward ; a poltroon ; one who meanly
shrinks from danger. Dryden.
DAS'TARD, a. Cowardly ; meanly shrink-
ing from danger.
Curse on their dastard souls. ./Iililison.
DAS'TARD, V. t. To make cowardly; to
intimidate ; to dispirit. Drydt
D A T
DAS'TARDIZE, v. t. To make cowardly.
HowdL
DAS'TARDLINESS, n. [ixom dastardly.l
Cowardliness. Barrett.
DAS'TARDLY, a. Cowardly ; meanly tim-
id ; base ; sneaking. Herbert.
DAS'TARDNESS, n. Cowardhuess ; mean
timorousness.
DAS'TARDY, n. Cowardliness ; base timid-
ity.
DATA, n. plu. [L. data, given.] Things
given, or admitted ; quantities, princi-
ples i.r facts given, known, or admitted, by
which to find things or results unknown.
DA'TARY, n. An officer of the chancery
of Rome, who affixes the datum Romm
to the pope's bulls.
2. The employment of a datary.
DATE, n. [Fr. date ; It. Sp. data ; L. daium,
given, from do, to give. Sans, da, datu.]
1. That addition to a writing which specifies
the year, month and day when it was giv-
en or executed. In letters, it notes the
time when they are written or sent ; in
deeds, contracts, wills and other papers, it
specifies the time of execution, and usual-
ly the time from which they are to take ef-
fect and operate on the rights of persons.
To the date is usually added the name of
the place wliere a writing is executed,
and this is sometimes included in the term
date.
2. The time when any event happened,
when any thing was transacted, or when
any thing is to be done ; as the date of a
battle ; the daie of Cesar's arrival in Bri-
tain.
3. End; conclusion. [Unusual.]
W'liat time would spare, from steel receives
its date. Pope.
4. Duration ; continuance ; as, ages of end-
less date. Milton.
DATE, V. t. To write or note the time when
a letter is written, or a writing e.xecuted ; to
express, in an instrument, the year, month
and day of its execution, and usually the
place ; as, to date a letter, a bond, a deed,
or a charter.
2. To note or fix the time of an event or
transaction. Historians daie the fulfillment
of a prophecy at different periods.
To note thetime when something begins ;
as, to date a disease or calamity from a
certain cause.
DATE, V. i. To reckon.
2. To begin ; to have origin.
The Batavlan republic d^tes from the suc-
sses of the French arms. E. Everett.
DATE, 71. [Fr. datte, for dacte ; It. dattero ;
Sp. datil; L. dactylus ; Gr. 6axrii?.05.]
Tlie fruit of the great palm-tree, or date-
tree, the Phoenix dactylifera. This fruit
is somewhat in the shape of an acorn,
composed of a thin light glossy membrane,
somewhat pellucid and yellowish, contain-
ing a soft pulpy fruit, firm and sweet, es-
culent and wholesome, and in this is in-
closed a hard kernel. Encyc.
D A'TE-TREE, n. The tree that bears dates ;
the great palm-tree.
DA'TED, pp. Having the time of writing or
execution spec-ified ; having the time of
happening noted.
D A U
DAW
DAY
DA'TELESS, a. Having no date; hnviiigj
no fixed term. Shak.l
DA'TER, n. One that dates. |
DA'TING, ppr. Expressing the time of wri-
ting or of executing a paper or instru
ment ; noting the time of happening, or
originating.
DA'TIVE, a. [L. dalivus, from do, to give.]
In grammar, the epithet of the case of
nouns, which usually follows verbs that
express giving, or some act directed to
an object. Thus, datur tibi, it is given
to you ; niissum est illi, it was sent to
him ; fecit mihi, he made or did to or for
me ; loquebatur illis, he spoke to them. It
also follows other words expressing some-
thing to be given to a person or for liis ben-
efit ; as, utiUs vobis, useful to you. In
English, this relation is expressed by to or
Dative Executor, in law, one appointed by the
judge of probate; an administrator.
DAT'OLITE, I The siliceous borate of
DATH'OLITE, \ ""Ume, a mineral of two
subspecies, the common and tlie botry
dal. The common is of a white color, of
various shades, and greenish gray. It oc
curs in granular distinct concretions, and
crystalized. The botryoidal occurs in
mammillary concretions, or in botryoidal
masses, white and earthy. It is named
from its want of transparency.
Ure. Phillips.
DA'TUM, n. [L.] Something given or ad-
mitted. [See Data.]
DATU'R.\, n. A vegeto-alkali obtained from
Datura stramonium.
DAUB, V. t. [W. dwbiaw, to daub; dwb,
mortar ; Ir. dobhaimh, to daub ; doib, plas-
ter ; allied probably to Fr. dauber, to strike,
that is, to throw or put on,' and the root of]
this word probably occurs contracted in
the L. induo.]
1. To smear with soft adhesive matter; to
plaster ; to cover with mud, slime, or oth
er soft substance.
She took for him an ark of bulrushes, anrt
daubed it with slime and with pitch. Ex
I will break down the wall ye have daubed
with untempered mortar. Ezek. xiii.
2. To paint coarsely.
If a picture is daubed with many bright
colors, the vulgar admire it. Watts
3. To cover with something gross or spe-
cious ; to disguise witli an artificial cover-
ing.
So smooth he daubed his vice with show of
virtue. Shak
4. To lay or put on without taste ; to deck
awkwardly or ostentatiously, or to load
with aftected finery.
Let him. be daubed with lace — Drydcn.
5. To flatter grossly.
Conscience will not daub nor flatter.
South.
DAUB, V. i. To practice gross flattery ; to
play the hypocrite. Shak.
DAUB'ED, pp. Smeared with soft adhesive
matter ; plastered ; painted coarsely ; dis-
guised ; loaded with ill chosen finery.
D.AUB'ER, ?!. One who daubs ; a coarse
])ainter ; a low and gross flatterer.
D.^ r I'.' I \ G, ppr. Plastering : painting coarse-
ly ; 'iiisiru sing clumsily; decking ostenta
tiour^lt ; flattering grossly.
DAUBING, It. Plastering ; coarse painting
gross flattery.
DAUB'RY, I A daubing ; any thing art-
DAIJB'ERY, S"- ful. Shak.
DAUB'Y, a. Viscous ; glutinous ; slimy
idliesive. Dryden
DAUGHTER, n. daw'ler. [Sax. dohter ; D
dorter; G. tochter ; Sw. and Dan. dotter ;
Gr. euyorijp ; Goth, dauldar; Russ. dock
Pers.
.^ dochtar, a daughter; also
^Aiii docht, daughter, and a virgin ; al
so, strength, jiower ; Sans, dugida. Th«
latter words coincide with the Sax. dugan
to avail, to be good ; dugoth, strength
grace, L. decus. See Decency.]
1. The female offspring of a man or woman ;
a female child of any age.
2. A daughter in law ; a son's wife. Ruth iii.
A woman ; plu. female inhabitants.
Dinah went out to see the daughters of the
land. Gea. xxxiv.
4. A female descendant; lineage of females.
Luke i.
5. The female penitent of a confessor.
Shiik.
This word is used in scripture for the
inhabitants of a city or country, male and
female. Is. xvj. 2. Matt. xxi. Also as a
term of affection or kindness.
Daughter, be of good comfort. Matt. i.";.
DAUGH'TERLINESS, n. The state of a
daughter. More.
The conduct becoming a daughter.
DAUGH'TERLY, a. Becoming a daughter;
dutitid. Cavendish.
D'AUNT, V. t. [In Scot, dant, danton, signi-
fy to subdue. In Dan. daaner, Sw. d&na.
signifies to faint or swoon. Qu. h.domito.
Fr. dompter, contracted.]
To repressor subdue courage ; to intimidate
to dishearten ; to check by fear of danger
It expresses less than fright and terrify.
D'AUNTED, pp. Checked by fear ; intimi
latrd.
D'AUNTLNG, ppr. Repressing courage
intimidating ; (lisheartening.
D' AUNTLESS, a. Bold ; fearless ; intrepid ;
not timid ; not discouraged ; as a daunt-
less hero ; a dauntless spirit.
D'AUNTLESSNESS, n. Fearlessness ; in-
treiiiditv.
DAU'PHLV, If. [Fr. dauphin, a dolphin ; L
delphin, delpliinus ; Gr. SfX^nv ; It. delfino ,
Sp. del/in.]
The eldest son of the king of France, and
presumptive heir of the crown.
DAU'PHINESS, n. The wife or lady of the
dauphin.
DAVINA, n. Anew Vesuvian mineral of a
hexahedral form and laminar texture
called in honor of Sir H. Davy.
Journ. of Science.
DAVIT, n. A beam used on board of ships,
as a crane to hoist the flukes of the an
clior to the top of the bow, without inju
ring the sides of the ship ; an operation
called _^/i{ng- the anchor.
DAW, n. A word tliat is fcmnd in the com
poimd names of many species of birds; as
the jackdaw ; the blue daw ; the puiyli
daw.
DAW, r. i. To dawn. [Xot in use. See
Dawn.]
DAW DLE, V. i. To waste time ; to trifle.
Obs.
DAWDLER, n. A trifler. Obs.
DAWK, n. A hollow, rupture or incision in
timber. [Local.] Moxon.
DAWK, V. t. To cut or mark with an inci-
sion.
[/ know not that this word is used in
Jlmerica.]
DAWN, V. i. [Sax. dagian ; G. tagen : D.
daagen ; Sw. dagas ; from the root of day,
which see. The primary sense is to shoot,
as rays; hence, to open or expand, to shine.
We observe in this word, the n of the Sax-
on infinitive is retained.]
1. To begin to grow light in the morning ; to
grow light; as, the day dawns ; the morn-
ing dawns*
It began to dawn towards the first day of the
week. Matt, xxviii.
2. To begin to open or expand ; to begin to
show intellectual light, or knowledge ; as,
the genius of the youth begins to dawn.
When life awakes and dawns at every line.
Pope.
H. To glimmer obscurely. Locke.
4. To begin to open or appear. Dryden.
DAWN, n. The break of day; tlie first ap-
pearance of light, in the morning.
They arose about the dawn of the day. Josh.
The word may express the whole time
from the fii-st appearance of light to sun-
rise.
2. First opening or expansion ; first appear-
ance of intellectual light ; as the daum of
genius, intellect, or mental powers.
3. Beginning; rise; first appearance; as
the dawn of time. Shak.
4. A feeble or incipient light ; first beams.
These tender circumstances diffuse a dawn
of serenity over the soul. Pope.
DAWN'ING, ppr. Growing fight; first ap-
pearing luminous ; opening ; as the dawn-
ing day.
2. 0{)ening ; expanding ; beginning to show
intellectual light ; beginning.
DAWN'ING, n. The first appearance of
light in the morning.
2. The first opening or appearance of the in-
tellectual powers ; beginning; as the first
dawning of notions in the understanding.
Locke.
DAY, n. [Sax. dteg, deg, dag ; Goth, dags ;
D. dag ; G. tag ; Sw. dag ; Dan. dag. See
Dawn.]
1. That part of the time of the earth's revo-
lution on its axis, in which its surface is
presented to the sun ; the part of the twen-
ty four hours when it is light ; or tlie space
of lime between the rising and setting of
the sun ; called the artificial da.y.
And God called the light day. Gen. i.
2. The whole time or period of one revolu-
tion of the earth on its axis, or twenty
four hoin-s ; called the natural day.
And the evening and tlie morning were the
first day. Gen. i. ,
In this sense, the day may commence at
any period of the revolution. The Baby-
lonians began the day at sun-rising : the
Jews, at sun-setting ; the Egyptians, at
midnight, as do several nations in modern
times, the British, French, Spanish, Amer-
ican, &c. This day, in reference to civil
transactions, is called the dvil day. Thus
DAY
D E
D E A
with us ihe day when a legal instrument
is Hated, begins and ends at niidniglit.
3. Light ; sunshine.
Let us walli honestly as in llie day. Ro
4. Time specified ; any period of time d
tinguislied from other time ; age ; time,
with reference to tlie existence of a per-
son or tiling.
He was a useful man in his day.
In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt
surely die. Gen. ii.
In this sense, the plural is often used ; as,
from the days of tlie judges ; in the days of
our fathers. In this sense also, the word
is often equivalent to life, or earthly exis-
tence.
5. The contest of a day; battle; or day of
combat.
The day is his own.
He won the day, that is, he gained tlie
victory.
G. An appointed or fixed time.
If my Jebtors do not keep their day. Dryden.
7. Time of cotnnieniorating an event; anni-
versary ; the same day of the month, in
any future year. We celebrate tlie day of
our Savior's birth.
Day by day, daily; every day; each day in
succession ; continually ; without inter-
mission of a day.
Dai/ by day, we magnify thee.
Commnii Prayp-.
Bui or only from day to day, without certain-
ty of continiuince ; temporarily. Shak.
To-day, adv. [Sax. to-daig.] On the present
day ; this day ; or at the present time.
Days of grace', in theology, the time when
mercy is offered to sinners.
To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not
your hearts. Ps. xcv.
Days of grace, in law, are days granted by
the court for delay, at the prayer of the
plaintiff or defendant. Encyr.
Three days, beyond the day named in the
writ, in whicli the person summoned may
appear and answer. Blackstont.
Days of grace, in commerce, a. customary
number of days, in Great Britain and
America, three, allowed for the payment
of a note or bill of exchange, after it be-
comes due. A note due on the seventh of
the month is payable on the tenth.
The days of grace are different in d:
ferent countries. In France, they are ten ;
at Naples, eight ; at Venice, Amsterdam
and Antweri>, six; at Hamburg, twelves
in Spain, /oiirteera ; in Genoa, thirty.
Encyc.
Days in bank, in England, days of appear-
ance in the court of common bench.
Blackstone
DA'YBED, n. A bed used for idleness, in-
dulgence, or rest during the day. Shak
DA'YBOOK, "• A journal of accounts ; a
book in which are recorded the debts and
credits or accounts of the day.
UA'YBREAK, n. The dawn or first ap-
pearance of light in the morning.
DA'Y€OAL, n. A name given by miners to
the upper stratum of coal. Encyc
DA'YDREAM, n. A vision to the waking
senses. Mason
DA'YFLOWER, n. A genus of plants, the
Commelina. Muhlenberg,
DA'YFLY, n. A genus of insects that
one day only, or a very short time, called
Ephemera. The species are numerous,
some of which live scarcely an hour, oth-
ers, several days. Encyc.
DA'YLaBOR, n. Labor hired or performed
by the day.
DAYLABORER, n. One who works by
the day.
DAY'LIGHT, n. The light of the day ; the
light of the sun, as opposed to that of the
moon or of a lami) or candle.
DA'Y-LILY, n. The same with asphodel.
Johnson.
A species of IlenierocalUs. Bol.
DA'YLY, a. The more regular orthography
of daily.
DA'YSMAN, n. An umpire or arbiter; a
mediator.
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us.
Job ix.
DA'YSPRING, n, The dawn; the begin-
ning of the day, or first appearance of
light.
Whereby the dayspring from on high hath
visited us. Luke i.
DA'YSTAR, n. The morning star, Lucifer,
Venus; the star which precedes the morn-
ing ligiit. Milton.
DA'YTIIVIE, n. The time of the sun's light
on the earth ; opposed to night.
D.VYWEARIED, a. Wearied with the la-
bor of the day. Shak.
DA'YWORK, Ii. Work by the day ; dayla-
bor.
DA'Y'S-WORK, n. Tlie work of one day.
Among seamen, the account or reckon-
ing of a shiji's course for 34 hours, from
noon to noon. _ Encyc.
DAZE, V. t. [Qn. Sax. dwa:s, dysi, dysig, Eng.
dizzy. See Dazzle.]
To overpower with light; to dim or blind
by too strong a light, or to render the siglit
unsteady. [JVot now used, unless in poetry.]
Dryden.
DAZE, n. Among miners, a glitteritig stone,
DAZ'ZLE, i>. t. [In Sax. divws is dull, stu-
pid, foolish ; dwa:scan, to extinguish ; dysi
or dysig, dizzy.]
1. To overpower with light ; to hinder dis-
tinct vision by intense light ; or to cause to
shake ; to render unsteady, as the sight
We say, the brightness of the sun dazzles
the eyes or the sight.
2. To strike or surprise with a bright or in
tense light ; to dim or blind by a glare of
light, or by S[)lendor, in a literal or figu
rative sense ; as, to be dazzled by resplend
ent glory, or by a brilliant e.xpression.
DA'ZZLE, V. i. To be overpowered by light
to shake or be unsteady ; to waver, as the
sight.
I dare not trast these eyes ;
They dance in mists, and dazzle with sur
prise. Dryden
DAZ'ZLED, pp. Made wavering, as the
sight ; overpowered or dimmed by a
strong light.
DAZ'ZLEMENT, n. The act or power of
dazzling. [M)t used.] Donne.
DAZ'ZLING, ppr. Rendering unsteady or
wavering, as the sight ; overjiovvering by
a strong light ; striking with splendor.
DAZ'ZLINGLY, adv. In a dazzling man
ner.
DE, a Latin prefix, denotes a moving from,
separation ; as in debark, decline, decease.
deduct, d'camp. Hence it often expresses
negative ; as in derange. Sometimes it
augments the sense, as in deprave, despoil.
It coincides nearly in sense with the
French des and L. dis.
DEA€ON, n. de'kn. [L. rfiaconus, from Gr.
Siaxami, a minister or servant ; Sia, by, and
xocfu;, to serve ; Fr. diacre ; Arm. diagon ;
It. Sp. diacono ; D. diaken.]
A person in the lowest degree of holy orders.
TheofSce of deacon was instituted by the
apostles, Acts ti, and seven persons were
chosen at first, to serve at the feasts of
christians and distribute bread and wine
to the communicants, and to minister to
the wants of the poor.
In the Rmiiish Church, the office of the
deacons is to incense the ofliciating priest ;
to lay the corporal on the altar ; to receive
the cup from the subdeacon and present
it to the person officiating ; to incense the
choir ; to receive the pax from the officia-
ting prelate, and carry it to the subdea-
con ; and at the pontifical mass, to put the
miter on the bisliop's head. Encijc.
In the church of England, the office of
deacons is declared to be to assist the
priest in administering the holy comminu-
nion ; and their office in presbyterian and
independent churches is to distribute the
bread and wine to the communicants. In
the latter, they are elected by the mem-
bers of the church.
2. In Scotland, an overseer of the poor, and
the master of an incorporated company.
DE'AtONESS, n. de'kness. A female dea-
con in the primitive church. Encyc.
DE'ACONRY, I The office, dignity or
DE'ACONSHIP, S "■ ministry of a deacon
or deaconess. Encyc.
DEAD, a. ded. [Sax. dead, probably con-
tracted from deged ; D. dood ; G. todt ;
Sw. dH: Dan. dod. See Die.]
1. Deprived or destitute of life ; that state of
a being, animal or vegetable, in which the
organs of motion and life have ceased to
perform their functions, and have become
incapable of performing them, or of being
restored to a state of activity.
The men are dead who sought thy life. Ex.
iv.
It is sometimes followed by o/" before the
cause of death ; as, dead o/" hunger, or of a.
fever.
2. Having never had life, or having been de-
prived of vital action before birth; as, the
child was born dead.
.3. Without life : inanimate.
All, all but truth, drops dead-bom from the
press. Pope.
4. Without vegetable life ; as a dead tree.
5. Imitating death; deep or sound; as a
lead sleep.
6. Perfectly still ; motionless as death ; as a
dead calm ; a dead weight.
7. Empty ; vacant ; not enlivened by variety ;
as a dead void space ; a dead plain.
Dryden.
We say also, a dead level, for a pertijctly
level surface.
8. Unemployed ; useless ; unprofitable. A
man's faculties may lie dead, or his goods
remain dead on his hands. So dead capital
or stock is that which produces no profit.
9. Dull : inactive ; as a dead sale of com-
I modities.
D E A
D E A
D E A
10. Dull; gloomy; still; not enlivened; as
a dead winter ; a dead season. Mdisun.
11. Still ; deep ; obscure ; as the dead dark-
ness of the night.
12. Dull ; not lively ; not resembling life ; as
the dead coloring of a piece ; a dead eye.
13. Dull ; heavy ; as ii dead sound. Boyle.
14. Dull ; frigid ; lifeless ; cold ; not anima-
ted ; not affecting ; used of prayer.
Addison.
15. Tasteless ; vapid ; spiritless ; used of li-
quors.
Ifi. Uninhabited ; as dead walls. Arbuthnot.
17. Dull ; without natural force or efficacy ;
not lively or brisk ; as a dead tire.
18. In a state of spiritual death; void of
grace; lying under the power of sin.
19. Impotent ; unable to procreate. Rom
20. Decayed in grace.
Thou hast a name that thou livest, anil art
dead. Rev. iii.
21. Not proceeding from spiritual life ; not
producing good works; as, faith without
works is dead. James ii.
22. Proceeiling from corrupt nature, not
from spiritual life or a gracious principle;
as dead works. Heb. ix. 14.
23. In law, cut off from the rights of a citi-
zen : deprived of the power of enjoying
the rights of property ; as one banished or
becoming a monk is civilly dead.
Blackstone.
Dead language, a language which is no lon-
ger spokfii or in common use by a people,
and known only in writings ; as the He-
brew, Greek ami Latin.
Dead rising or rising line, the parts of a
ship's floor or bottom throughout her
length, where the floor timber is termina-
ted on the lower futtock. Mar. Diet.
DEAD, n. ded. The dead signifies dead men.
Ye shall not make cuttings for the dead.
Lev. xix.
2. The state of the dead ; or death.
This is .lohn ilic Baptist ; he is risen from the
dead. Matt. xiv.
This may be understood thus, he is risen
from among the dead.
DEAD, 71. ded. The time when there i
remarkable stillness or gloom ; depth ;
in the midst of winter or of night. The
dead of winter, the dead of night, are fa-
miliar expressions.
DEAD, V. I. ded. To lose life or force.
[Obs.] Bacon.
DEAD, V. t. ded. To deprive of life, force or
vieor. [Obs.] Bacon.
DE.\D'-DolNG, a. Destructive ; killing,
f Obs.] Speiiser.
DEAD DRUNK, a. So drunk as to be in-
caple of helping one's self.
DEAD'EN, V. t. ded'n. [D. dooden ; G. todt-
en.]
1. To deprive of a portion of vigor, force or
sensation ; to abate vigor or action ; as,
deaden the force of a ball ; to deaden the
natural powers or feelings.
2. To blunt : to render less susceptible or
feeling ; a.s, to deaden the senses.
8. To retard ; to lessen velocity or motion
as, to deaden the motion of a ship or of
the wind.
4. To diminish spirit ; to make vapid or spir-
itless ; as, to deaden wine or beer.
DEAD'-EYE, n. ded'-eye. [dcrd-man^s ei/e.'
Among .^eumen, a round flatfish wooden
block, encircled by a rope, or an iron band,
and pierced with holes, to receive the lan-
iard, used to extend the shrouds and stays,
and for other purposes.
DEAD'-HEARTED, a. Having a dull, faint
heart. Hall.
DKADIIi: AllTKDNESS, n. Pusillanimity.
I)i; AD' 1,11"!', n. A lieavy weight ; a hope-
less cMiic iicv. Hudibras.
DEAD -LKiliT, n. ded'-light. A strong
wooden port, made to suit a cabin win-
dow. In which it is fixed, to prevent the
water from entering a ship in a storm.
DEAD'LHIgoD, 71. The state of the dead.
Pearson.
DEADLINESS, 77. dediiness. The quality
loainy.
, a. ded'l
DEAD'LY, a. ded'ly. That may occasion
death; mortal; fatal; destructive; as t
deadly blow or wound.
2. iWortal ; im))lacnble ; aiming to kill or de
stroy ; as a deadly enemy ; deadly malice ;
a deadly feud.
DEAD'LY, adv. ded'ly. In a manner resem-
bling death ; as deadly pale or wan. Shak.
2. Mortally.
With groanings of a deadly wounded man.
Ezek. XXX.
3. Implacably ; destructively.
4. In a vulgar or ludicrous sense, very ; ex-
tremely ; as a deadly cunning man.
Arbuthnot.
DEADLY-CARROT, ?7. A plant of the ge-
nus Thapsia.
DEADLY-NIGHTSHADE, 77. A plant of
the genus Atropa.
DEAO'NESS, 71. ded'ness. Wantofnatura
life or vital power, in an animal or plant
as the deadness of a limb, of a body, or of
a tree.
2. Want of animation ; dullness ; langi
as the deadness of the eye.
3. Want of warmth or ardor; coldness;
frigidity ; as the deadness of the affections
.3. Vapidness ; want of spirit ; as the dead-
ness of Iii|uors.
4. State of being incapable of conception
according to the ordinary laws of nature.
Rom. iv. 19.
5. Indifference ; mortification of the natural
desires ; alienation of heart from tempo-
ral pleasures; as deadness to the world.
DEAD'NETTLE, 71. A plant of the genus
Lamium, and another of the genus Gale-
opsis.
DEAD PLEDGE, 71. A mortgage or pawn-
ing of things, or thing pawned. Bailey.
DEAD-RECKONING, 71. In navigation,
the judgment or estimation of the place ol
a ship, without any observation of tlie
heavenly bodies; or an account of the
distance she has run by the log, am'
the course steered by the compass, and
this rectified by due "allowances for drift,
lee-wav, &c. .Mur. Diet.
DEAD'STRUCK, a. Confounded ; struck
with horror. Hall.
DEAD'WATER, 71. The eddy water clo
sing in with a ship's stern, as she passes
throuu'h the water.
DEADAVQOD, 71. Blocks of timber laid
the keel of a ship, particularly at the (
tremities.
DEAD'VVORKS, 77. The parts of a ship
which are above the surface of the jvater,
when she is balanced for a voyage.
Mar. Diet
DEAF, 71. deef. [Sax. dwf; Ice. dauf; D
doof; G. taub ; Dan. dov ; Sw. dqf; D.
dooven, to quench or stifle ; Dan. dover, to
deafen ; coinciding with Cb. K3B, to ex-
tinguish, L. stipo, Fr. etovffer, to stuff".
Hence we say, thick of hearing. The true
English pronunciation of this word is
detj] as appears from the poetry of Chau-
cer, who uniformly makes it rhyme with
leaf; and this j)roof is confirmed by poe-
try in the works of Sir W. Temple. " Such
was the pronunciation which our ances-
tors brought from England. The word
is in analogj- with leaf, sheaf and the long
sound of the vowels naturally precedes the
semi-vowel/. Def from the Danish and
Swedish pronunciation, is an anomaly in
English of a singular kind, there being
not another word like it in the language.
See Chaucer's Wife of Bath's Prologue.]
1. Not perceiving sounds; not receiving im-
pressions from sonorous bodies through
the air; as a deaf var.
2. Wanting the sense of hearing; having or-
gans which do not perceive sounds ; as a
deaf i\\a.u. It is followed by to before that
which ought to be heard ; as deaf to the
voice of the orator.
3. In a metaphorical sense, not listening ; not
regarding; not moved, persuaded or con-
vinced; rejecting; as deaf to reason or
aigunienls. Men are deaf to the calls of
th.; g<,s|K.l.
4. Without the ability or will to regard spir-
itual things ; unconcerned ; as, hear, ye
deaf. Is. xlii.
.5. De|)rived of the power of hearing; deaf-
ened ; as deaf with clamor.
(). Stifled ; imperfect ; obscurely heard ; as
a deaf noise or murmur. Dryden.
DEAF, V. t. to deafen, is used by Dryden,
but is obsolete, uidess perhaps in poeti-j-.
DE'AFEN, V. t. deefn. To make deaf; to
deprive of the power of hearing ; to im-
pair the organs of hearing, so as to render
them unimpressible to sounds.
2. To stun ; to render incapable of perceiv-
ing sounds distinctly; as deafened with
clamor or tunmlt.
DE'AFLY, adv. dee'fly. Without sense of
sounds; obscurely heard.
DE'AFNESS, 71. deefness. Incapacity of
perceiving sounds ; the state of the organs
which ])revents the impressions which
constitute hearing; as the rfeq/Hcss of the
«!ars : hence, applied to persons, want of
the sense of hearing.
2. Unwillingness to hear and regard; volun-
tary rejection of what is addressed to the
ear and to the understanding.
King Charles.
DEAL, V. t. pret. and pp. dealt, pron. delt.
[Sax. dalan, bcdwlan, gedcdan ; Goth.
dailyan ; Sw. dela ; Dan. deeler ; G. theil-
en ; D. dcelen, bedeelen ; Russ. delyu ; W.
dyduli, to separate ; dy and tawl, separa-
tion, a throwing off, tawlu, to throw off,
to separate ; Ir. and Gael, dailim, to give ;
dail, a part, Eng. dole ; Heb. and Ch. Sl3
to separate, or divide ; Ar. Jjvj badala,
to exchange, or give in exchange ; J Jsj
badhala, to give, to yield. [Qu. W. gozolx,
to endow.] There is a remarkable coin-
D E A
D E A
D E A
cidence between the Shemitic word and
the Sax. and Dutch, hedmlan, bedeelen. The
Welsli tawlu gives the true original seuse.J
To divide ; to part; to separate; hence,
to divide in portions ; to distribute ; often
followed by out.
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungi-y ? Is.
Iviii.
And Rome deals out her blessings and her
gold. Ticket.
2. To scatter ; to throw about; as, to deal out
feathered deaths. Dryden.
3. To throw out in succession ; to give one
after another ; as, to deal out blows.
4. To distribute the cards of a pack to the
players.
DEAL, V. i. To traffick ; to trade ; to nego-
tiate.
They buy and sell, lliey deal and traffick.
South.
2. To act between man and man ; to inter-
vene; to transact or negotiate between
men.
He that deals hetvieen man and man, raiseth
his own credit Vifith both. Bacon.
3. To behave well or ill ; to act ; to conduct
one's self in relation to others.
Thou shalt not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie.
Lev. xix.
4. To distribute cards.
To deal by, to treat, either well or ill; as, to
deal well hy domestics.
Such an one deals not fairly by his own mind.
Locke.
To deal in, to have to do with ; to be en-
gaged in ; to |)ractice.
They deal in political matters ; they deal in
low humor.
9. To trade in ; as, to deal in silks, or in cutlery.
To deal with, to treat in any manner ; to
use well or ill.
Now will we deal worse tvilh tliee. Gen.
xix.
Return — and I will deal well ivith thee. Gen.
xxxii.
2. To contend with ; to treat with, by way
of opposition, check or correction; as, he
has turbulent passions to deal with.
3. To treat with by way of discipline, in
clesiastical affairs ; to admonish.
DEAL, n. [Sax. dwl, dal, gedal; Ir. dal;
D. deel; G. theil; Dan. deel ; Sw. del
Russ. dolia. See the Verb.]
1. Literally, a division ; a part or portion
hence, an indefinite quantity, degree or
extent ; as a deal of time and trouble
deal of cold ; a deal of space. Formerly
it was limited by some, as some deal ; but
this is now obsolete or vulgar. In gener-
al, we now qualify the word with great,
as a great deal of labor ; a great deal of
time and pains ; a great deal of land. In
the phrases, it is a great deal better or
worse, the words, great deal, serve as mod-
ifiers of the sense of better and worse
The true construction is, it is, by a great
deal, better ; it is better by a great deal,
that is, by a great part or difference.
2. The division or distribution of cards; the
art or practice of dealing cards.
The deal, the shuffle, and the cut. Swift.
3. The division of a piece of timber made by
sawing ; a board oj- plank ; a sense much
more used in Englwid than in the U. Slates.
DEAL'BATE, v. t. [L. dealbo ; de and albus,
white.l To whiten. [Link used.]
DEALBA'TION, n. The act of bleaching :!
a whitening. I
DE'ALER, n. One who deals; one who'
has to do with any thing, or has concern;
with ; as a dealer in wit and learning I
Swift.]
2. A trader: a trafficker; a shopkeeper ; al
broker ; a merchant ; a word of very ex-
tensive use ; as a dealer in dry goods ; a
dealer in hardware ; a dealer in stocks ; a,
dealer in leather ; a dealer in lumber ; a
dealer in linens or woolens ; a small dealeA
in groceries ; a money-dealer. ]
3. One who distributes cards to the players,
DE'ALING, ppr. Dividing; distributing;
throwing out.
2. Trading ; trafficking ; negotiating.
■i. Treating ; behaving.
DE'ALING, n. Practice ; action ; conduct
behavior ; as, observe the dealings of the;
men who administer the government.
But it is now more generally used of the
actions of men in private fife. j
2. Conduct in relation to others ; treatment ;1
as the dealings of a father with his cliil-|
dren. God's dealings with men are the,
dispensations of his providence, or moral
government.
3. Intercourse in buying and selling ; traf-
fick ; business ; negotiation. American
merchants have extensive dealings with
the merchants of Liverpool. j
4. Intercourse of business or friendship ;'
concern. |
Tlie Jews have no dealings with the Samari-i
tans. John iv.
DEAM'BULATE. v. i. [L. deambulo.] To
walk abroad. [JVot used.] \
DEAMBULA'TION, n. The act of walking:
abroad. Elyot.
DEAM'BULATORY, a. Pertaining ' to!
walks. I
DEAM'BULATORY, n. A place to walk in.
DEAN, n. [Fr. doyen, the eldest of a cor-
poration ; Arm. dean ; Sp. dean, decano ;
Port, deam, decano ; It. decano ; from L.
decanus, the leader of a file ten deep, the
head of a college, from decern, Gr. Ssxa,
W. deg, ten ; so named l'3cause originallyj
he was set over ten canons or prebenda-
ries. Ayliffe.]
In England, an ecclesiastical dignitary in
cathedral and collegiate churches, and the
head of a chapter ; the second dignitary
of a diocese. Ancient deans are elected
by the chapter in virtue of a conge d'elire
fiom the king and letters missive of rec-
ommendation ; but in the chapters found-
ed by Henry VIII., out of the spoils of dis-
solved monasteries, the deanery is dona-
tive, and the installation merely by the
king's letters patent. Emyc'
2. An officer in each college of the universi-
ties in England. Witrton.
3. In the U. States, an officer in a medical
school.
DE'ANERY, n. The office or the revenue
of a dean. Clarendon. Swift.
2. The house of a dean. Shak.
3. The jurisdiction of a dean.
Each archdeaconry is divided into rural dean-
eries, and each deanery is divided into parishes.
Slackstone.
Rural dean, or arch-presbyter, had original-
ly jurisdiction over ten churches; but af-
terwards he became oidy the bishop's sub-
stitute, to grant letters of administratioo.
probate of wills, &c. His office is now
lost in that of the archdeacon and chan-
cellor. E'icyc.
Dean of a Monastery, a superior established
under the abbot, to ease him in taking care
often monks. Hence his name. Encyc.
Dean and Chapter, are the bishop's council,
to aid him with their advice in affairs of
religion, and in the temporal concerns of
his see. Encyc.
DEAN'SIIIP, n. The office of a dean.
DEAR, a. [Sax. deor; G. theuer, dear, rare ;
theure or theurung, dearness, scarcity,
dearth ; D. duur, dear ; duurte, dearth ; Sw.
dyr, dear ; dyrhet, dearth ; Dan. dyre, dyrtid,
id. It seems that the primary sense is
scarce, rare, or close, narrow ; this is ob-
vious from deailh. So in L. cams, caritas.]
Class Dr. No. 7. 8. 19. and Class Sr. No.
4. .34. 47.]
1. Scarce; not plentiful. Obs. Shak.
2. Bearing a high price in comparison of the
usual price; more costly than usual; of a
higher price than the customary one.
Wheat is dear at a dollar a bushel, when
the usual price is seventy five cents. This
sense results from the former, as dearness
is the effect of scarcity and demand.
3. Of a high value in estimation ; greatly
valued ; beloved ; precious.
And the last joy was dearer than the rest.
Pope
Be ye followers of God, as dear children.
Epb. v.
DEAR, n. [Sax. derian, to hurt; Scot, dere
deir, to annoy, and dere, to fear.]
Flm-tful ; grievous ; hateful. Obs. Shak.
DEAR, V. t. To make dear. [JVot used.]
Shelton.
DEAR, n. A darling ; a word denoting ten-
der affection or endearment ; as, my dear.
DE'ARBOUGHT, a. [See Bought.] Pur-
chased at a high price ; as dearbought ex-
perience ; dearbought blessings.
DE'ARLING. [See Darling.]
DE'ARLOVED, a. Greatly beloved. Shak.
DE'ARLY, adv. At a high price; as, he
pays dearly for his rashness.
2. With great fondness ; as, we love our
children dearly ; dearly beloved.
DEARN, a. [Sax. deoni.] Lonely ; solitarj- ;
melancholy. Obs. Shak.
DE'ARNESS, n. Scarcity ; high price, or a
higher price than the customary one; as
the dearness of corn.
2. Fondness ; nearness to the heart or affec-
tions ; great value in estimation ; precious-
ness ; tender love ; as the dearness of
friendship.
DE.\RNLY, adw. Secretly; privately. Obs.
[See Dcrnly.]
DEARTH, M. rfer(^. [See Dear.] Scarcity;
a dearth of corn.
2. Want ; need ; famine. Sh/ik.
?. Barrenness; sterihty; as a dearth of \)\ot .
Dryden.
DEARTIe'ULATE, v. t. To disjoint. [.Vol
used.]
DEATH, n. dcth. [Sax. death; D. dood ; G.
tod ; Sw. dod ; Dan. dod. See Die and
Dead.]
1. That state of a being, animal or vegetable,
but more particularly of an animal, in which
there is a total and permanent cessation of
all the vital functions, when the organs
D E A
DEB
D E JJ
have not only ceased to act, but liavo lost
the susceptibility of renewed action. Tims
the cessation of respiration and circulation
in an animal may not be death, for during
hybernation some animals become entire-
ly torpid, and some animals and ve-fcta-
bles may be subjected to a fixed state by
frost, but being capable of revived activi-
ty, they are not dead.
2. The state of the dead; as the gates of
death. Job xxxviii.
3. The manner of dying.
Thou shall <lie the deaths of them that are
slain in the midst of the -teas. Ezek. xxviii.
Let me die the death o( tlie righteous. Numb.
xxiii.
4. The image of mortality represented by a
skeleton ; as a death's head. Shak.
5. Murder ; as a man of death. Bacon.
Cause of death.
O thou man of God, there is death in the pot.
2 Kings iv.
We say, he caught his death.
7. Destroyer or agent of death ; as, he will
be the death of his poor father.
8. In poetry, the means or instrument of
death; as an arrow is called the feathered
death ; a ball, a leaden death.
Deaths invisible come winged with fire.
Dryden.
9. In theology, perpetual separation from
God, and eternal torments ; called the sec-
ond death. Rev. ii.
10. Separation or alienation of the soul from
God; a being under the dominion of sin,
and destitute of grace or divine life ; called
spiritual death.
Wc know that we have passed from death to
life, because we love the brethren. 1 John iii.
Luke i.
Civil death, is the separation of a man
from civil society, or from the enjoyment
of civil rights ; as by banishment, abjura-
tion of the realm, entering into a mnnas-
terv, &c. Blackstone.
DEATH'-BED, n. deth'-hed. The bed on
which a person dies or is confined in his
last sickness.
DEATH'-BODING, a. Portending death.
Shak.
DEATH'-DARTING, a. Darting or inflict-
ing death. Shak.
DEATH'S-DOOR, n. A near approach to
death ; the gates of death. Taylor.
DEATII'FyL, a. Fidl of slaughter ; niur-
derous ; destructive.
These eyes behold
The deathful scene. Pope.
DEATH'FULNESS,n. Appearance of death.
Taylor.
DEATH'LESS, a. Immortal ; not subject
to death, destruction or extinction ; as
deatlUess beings ; deathless fame.
DEATH'LIKE, a. Resembling death ;
gloomy ; still ; calm ; quiet ; peaceful ;
motionless ; like death in hoi-ror or in still-
ness ; as deathlike slumbers.
2. Resembling death ; cadaverous.
DEATH'S-MAN, n. An executioner; a
hangman. Shak.
DEATH'-SHADOWED, a. Surrounded by
the shades of death. More.
DEATH'-TOKEN, n. That which indicates
approaching death. Shak
DEATH'WARD, adv. Toward death. .
DEATH'-WATCH, n. A small insect whose
ticking is weakly sujjposed, by supersti
tious and ignorant people, to prognosticate
death. Gay.
DEAU'RATE, v. I. [L. deauro.] To gild
[Little used.]
DEAU'RATE, a. Gilded.
DEBACLE, n. [Fr.] A breaking or burst-
ing forth. Buckland.
The geological deluge, which is suppos-
ed to have swept the surface of the earth,
and to have conveyed the fragments of
rocks, and the remains of animals and
vegetables, to a distance from their native
localities. Ed. Encyc.
DEB'AR, V. t. [de and bar.] To cut ofl" from
entrance ; to preclude ; to hinder from ap-
proach, entry or enjoyment ; to shut out
or exclude ; as, we are not debarred from
any rational enjoyment ; religion debars
us from no real |)leasure.
DEB' ARK, V. I. [Fr. dtbarquer ; de am
barque, a boat or vessel.]
To land from a ship or boat ; to remove from
on board any water-craft, and ])lace on
land ; to disembark ; as, to debark artillery.
[It is less used, esjjecially in a transitive
sense, than disembark.]
DEB-ARK, v.i. To leave a ship or boat and
pass to the land ; as, the troops debarked at
four o'clock.
DEBARKA TION, n. The act of
barking.
DEBARKED, pp. Removed to land from
on boanl a ship or boat.
DEBARKING,^/))-. Removing from ash
to the land ; going from on board a vesst
DEB-ARRED,™. [from debar.] Hindered
from a|)proach, entrance or possession.
DEB'ARRING, ppr. Preventing from ap-
proach, entrance or enjoyment.
DEBA'SE, V. t. [de and base.] To reduce
from a higher to a lower state or rank, ii
estimation.
The drunkard debases himself and his charac-
ter.
Intemperance and debauchery deiasf menal
most to a level with beasts.
3. To reduce or lower in quality, purity, or
value ; to adulterate ; as, to debase gold or
silver by alloy.
3. To lower or degrade ; to make mean or
despicable. Religion should not be de-
based by frivolous disputes. Vicious hab
its debase the mind, as well as the charac-
ter.
I. To sink in purity or elegance ; to vitiatf
by meanness ; as, to debase stj'le by the
use of \ ulgar words.
DEBA'SED,/!/). Reduced in estimated rank ;
lowered in estimation ; reduced in purity
fineness, quality or value ; adulterated ; de
graded ; rendered mean.
DEBA'SEMENT, n. The act of debasing
degradation ; reduction of purity, fineness,
quality or value ; adulteration ; a state of||
being debased ; as debasement of charac-
ter, of our faculties, of the coin, of style.
&c.
DEBA'SER, »i. One who debases or lowers
in estimation, or in value ; one who de
grades or renders mean ; that which de-
bases.
DEB.\'SI\G, ;);)r. Reducing in estimation
or worth ; adulterating ; reducing in pu-
rity or elegance ; degrading ; rendering
mean.
2. a. Lowering; tending to debase or de-
grade ; as dtbasing vices.
DEBATABLE, a. [See Debate.] Tliat may
be debated ; disputable ; subject to contro-
versy or contention ; as a debatable ques-
DEBATE, H. [Fr. debat; Sp. debate; Port.
id. ; de and battre, to beat.]
1. Contention in words or arguments; dis-
cussion for elucidating truth ; strife in ar-
gument or reasoning, between persons of
different opinions, each endeavoring to
prove his own opinion right, and that of
liis opposer wrong ; dispute ; controversy ;
as the debates in parliament or in con-
gress.
2. Strife ; contention.
Beholil, ye fast for strife and debate. Is. Iviii.
3. The power of being disputed ; as, this
question is settled beyond debate ; the sto-
ry is true beyond debate.
4. Debate or debates, the published report of
arguments fiir and against a measure ; as,
the debates in the convention are printed.
DEBA'TE, «. /. [Fr. debaUre ; Sp. dcbatir;
Port, debater. See Beat and Mate.]
To contend for in v»ords or arguments ; to
strive to maintain a cause by reasoning ; to
dis])ute ; to discuss; to argue; to contest,
as opposing i)anies ; as, the question was
debated till a late hour.
Debate tliy cause with thy neighbor himself.
Prov. XXV.
DEBA'TE, V. i. To debate on or in, to dehb-
erate ; to discuss or examine different ar-
guments in the mind. Shak.
2. To disi)ute. Tatler.
3. To engage in combat. [.Yot in use.]
DEBA'TED, pp. Disputed ; argued ; dis-
cussed.
DEBATEFUL, a. Of things, contested ; oc-
casioning contention. Spenser.
2. Of persons, quarrelsome ; contentious.
[Little used.]
DEBA'TEFyLLY,<w/u. With contention.
Sheneood.
DEBA'TEMENT, 71. Controversy; deUbe-
ration. [Little used.] Shak.
DEBATER, n. One who debates ; a dispu-
tant ; a controvertist.
DEBA'TING, ppr. Disputing ; discussing ;
contending by arguments.
DEBAUCH, D. e. [Fr. debaucher ; Arm. di-
baucha. This is said by Lunier, to be
compounded of de and an old French
word, signifying a shop, [hauche,] and that
its primary sense is to draw or entice one
from his shop or work, and in this sense it
is still used. Hence embaucher is to help
a journeyman to employment, and to en-
list as a soldier. The general sense then
of debauch, in English, is to lead astray,
like seduce.]
1. To corrupt or vitiate ; as, to debauch a
prince or a youth ; to debauch good princi-
ples.
2. To corrupt with lewdness ; as, to debauch
a woman.
3. To seduce from duty or allegiance ; as,
to debauch an army.
DEBAUCH', n. [Fr. debauche; Arm. rf{-
bauch.]
Excess in eating or drinking ; intemperance ;
drunkenness ; gluttony ; lewdness.
DEB
DEC
DEBAUCH'ED, pp. Corrupted ; vitiated in
morals or purity of character.
DEBAUCU'EDLY, adv. In a profligate
inamier. Cowley.
DEBAUCH'EDNESS, )i. Intemperance.
Bp. Hall
DEB.\UCHEE', n. A man given to intern
perance, or bacclianalian excesses. But
chiefly, a man liabitually lewd.
JIEBAUCH'EK, n. One who debauclies or
corrupts others ; a seducer to lewdness, or
to any dereliction of duty.
DEBAUC:il'ERY, n. E.xcess in the pleas-
ures of the table ; gluttony ; intemperance
But chiefly, habitual lewdness ; excessive
unlawful indulgence of lust.
2. Corruption of fidelity ; seduction from du-
ty or allegiance.
The republic of Paris will endeavor to com-
plete tlie debauchery of the army. Burke
DEBAUCII'MENT, n. The act of debauch-
ing or corrupting ; the act of seducin"
from virtue or duty. Taylor.
1)EBEL'L.\TE. v. l [h. debello.] To sub-
due. [.Yut used.] Bacon.
DEBELLA'TION, n. The act of conquer
ins or sididuing. [J^/ot used.] .More.
DEBEN TURE,'^ n. [¥i: from L. debeo, ti
owe. Class Db.]
1. A writing acknowledging a debt ; a writ
ing or certificate signed by a public officer,
ns evidence of a debt due to some person,
This paper, given by an oflicer of the cui
tonis, entitles a merchant exporting good
to the receipt of a bounty, or a drawbac
of duties. When issued by a treasiuer,
entitles the holder to a sum of money fron
the state.
3. In the customs, a certificate of drawback
a writing which states that a i)erson is en-
titled to. a certain sum from the govern
ment, on the exportation of specified goods,
the duties on which had been paid,
PEBEN'TURED, a. Debentured goods are
those for which a debenture has been giv
en, as being entitled to drawback.
DEB'ILE, a. [h.dcMlis; Fr. debile ; It.de
bile ; Sp. debil. See Class Db. No. 1. 2. 3.
5. 7. 15. 47. 51.]
Relaxed ; weak ; feeble ; languid ; faint ;
without strength. Shak.
DEBIL'ITATE, v. t. [L. debilito, from deb-
ilis.]
To weaken; to impair the strength of; tc
enfeeble ; to make faint or languid. In-
tem])erance debilitates the organs of diges-
tion. Excessive indulgence debilitates the
system.
DEBIL'ITATED, ;jp. Weakened; cnfee
!)lrd ; relaxed.
DEBIL'ITATING, ppr. Weakening; en
feeliliug; impairing strength.
DEBIMTA'TION, n. The act of weaken
iiiL' ; relaxation.
DEBIT.'ITY, n. [L. debilitas, from debilis.
Relaxation of the solids; weakness; fee-
bleness : languor of body ; faintness ; im-
becility : as, niiirbid sweats induce de6i7iXv
[It may he applied to the mind, hit this is
Ze*.« common.]
DEBIT, n. [L. dcbihim, from debeo, to owe,
Fr. devoir, Sp. deber. It. dovere. Sei
Duty. The sense is i)robably to piess or
bind ; Gr. «tco.]
Debt. It is usually written debt. But it is
used in mercantile language, as the debit
side of an account.
DEBIT, D.<. To charge with debt; as, to
debit a purchaser tlie amount of goods
sold.
2. To enter an account on the debtor side of
a book ; as, to debit the sum or amount of
goods sold.
DEBITED, pp. Charged in debt; made
debtor on account.
2. Charged to one's debt, as money or goods.
DEBITING, ppr. Making debtor on ac-
count, as a person.
2. Charging to the debt of a person, as
goods.
DEB'ITOR, n. A debtor. Shak.
DEBOISE, DEBOISH, for debauch. [jVVj
in use.]
DEBONNA'IR, a. [Fr.] Civil ; wellhred ;
complaisant; elegant. Milton.
DEBOUCH, V. i. [Fr. deboucher ; de and
bouche, mouth.]
To issue or march out of a narrow place, or
from defiles, as troops.
DEBRIS, n. dehree'. [Fr.] Fragments; rub-
bish ; ruins ; applied particularly to the
fragments of rocks. Buckland.
DEBT, n. del. [L. debitum, contracted ; Fr.
dctte ; Sp. It. debito. See Debit.]
1. That which is due from one person tc
another, whether money, goods, or servi-
ces ; that which one person is bound to
pay or perform to a?iother ; as the debts of
a bankrupt ; the debts of a nobleman. It
is a common misfortune or vice to be in
debt.
When you run in debt, you give to another
jiower over your liberty. Franklin.
2. That which any one is obliged to do or to
suffer.
Your son, my lord, lias paid a soldier's debt.
Shak.
Hence death is called the rfc6i of nature.
3. In latv, an action to recover a debt. This
is a customary ellipsis. He brought debt,
instead of an action of debt.
4. Jn scripture, sin ; trespass ; guilt; crime;
that which renders liable to punishment.
Forgive us our debts. Lord's Prayer.
DEBT'ED, pp. defied. Indebted ; obliged t...
\jXot used.} Shak.
DEBTEE', n. deltee'. A creditor ; one to
whom a debt is due. Bluckstone.
DEBT'LESS, a. det'less. Free from debt.
Chaucer.
DEBT'OR, n. det'tor. [L. debitor.] Tlie per-
son who owes another either money,
goods or services.
In Athens an insolvent debtor became slave
to his creditor. Mltford.
2. One who is under obligation to do some-
thing.
I am debtor to the Greeks and barbaiians
Rom. i.
He is a debtor to do the whole law. Gal. v.
:1 The side of an accoutit in which debts
are charged. [See Debit.]
DE€'A€HORD, ? [Gr. iixa, ten, and
DECA€HORD'ON, \ "• zop«^, string.]
1. A musical instrument often strings.
2. Something consisting often parts.
Watson.
DEf.'ADAL, a. Pertaining to ten ; consist-
D E C
consisting often ; as a decade of years ; the
decades of Livy.
DECaScy";!"- Decay. [See Decay.]
DE€'AGON, n. [Gr. icxa, ten, and yt^m, a
corner.]
In geometry, a plane figure having ten sides
and ten angles.
DECAGRAM, n. [Gr. ^ixa, ten, and gram,
a weight.]
A French weight often grams, or 154 grains,
44 decimals, equal to ti penny weights, 10
grains, 44 decimals, equal to 5 drams, 65
decimals, avoiniupoise.
DE€' AOYN, n. [Gr. bixa, ten, and ywij, a fe-
le.] In botany, a plant having ten pistils.
DE€AgYN'IAN, a. Having ten pistils.
DECAHEDRAL, a. Having ten sides.
DECAHE'DRON, n. [Gr. «£xa, ten, and
fApa, a base.] In geometry, a figure or
body having ten sides.
DECALITER, V. [Gr. Stxa, ten, and liter.]
A French measure of capacity, containing
ten liters, or 610.28 cubic inches, equal to
two gallons and 64.44231 cubic inches.
DECAL'OGIST, n. | See Decalogue.] One
who explains the decalogue. Gregory.
DECALOGUE, n. dec'alog. [Gr. isxa, ten,
and xoyos, speech.]
The ten commandments or precepts given
by God to Moses at mount Sinai, and ori-
ginally written on two tables of stone.
DECAMETER, ?i. [Gr. Stxa, ten, and
/.titpov, measure.]
A French measure of length, consi-sting of
ten meters, and equal to 393 English inch-
DEC'ADE, n. [L. decas, decadis ; Fr. decade :
Sp. decada ; from Gr. Stxa, ten. See Ten.]
The sum or number of ten ; an aggregate
DECAMP', v.i. [Fr. decamper ; Sp. decam-
par ; de and camp.]
To remove or depart from a camp ; to march
off; as, the army decamped at six o'clock.
DECAMF'MENT, n. Departure from a
camp ; a marching ofl^
DECANAL, n, [See Dean.] Pertaining to
a deanery.
DECAN'DER, n. [Gr. bixa, ten, and owjp, a
le.] In botany, a plant having ten sta-
DECAN'DRIAN, a. Having ten stamens.
DECAN'GULAR, a. [Gr. hixa,, ten, and an-
gular.] Having ten angles. Lee.
DECANT', V. t. [L. decanto ; de and canto,
losing; literally, to throw; Fr. decanter,
to poiir off; Sp. decantar; It. decantare.
See Cant.]
To pour oflT gently, as liquor from its sedi-
ment; or to jioiir from one vessel into an-
other : as, to decant wine.
DECANTA'TION, n. The act of pouring
liquor gently from its lees or sediment, or
from one vessel into another.
DECANT'ED, pp. Poured ofl", or from one
vessel into another.
DECANT'ER, n. A vessel used to decant
liquors, or for receiving decanted liquors.
A glass vessel or bottle used for holding
wine or other liquors, for filling the drink-
ing glasses.
2. One who decants liquors.
DECANT'ING, ppr. Pouring off, as liquor
from its lees, or from one vessel to another.
DECAP'ITATE, v. t. [L. decapito ; de and
caput, head.] To behead ; to cut off the head.
HECAPITA'TION, n. The act of beheading.
DECAPH'YLLOUS, a. [Gr. Sexa, ten, and
^xTlo*', a leaf ] Having ten leaves. Martyn.
DEC
DEC
DEC
DECARBONIZE, v. t. [de anil carbonizt.
To deprive of carbon ; as, to decarbonize
steel. Chimistry.
DEC'ARBONIZED.pp. Deprived ofcarhon.
DE€ ARBONIZING, ppr. Depriving of car-
bon.
DE€'ASTI€II, n. [Gr. 6f*a, ten, and fij:o«,
a verse] A poem consisting of ten lines.
DEC'ASTYLE, n. [Gr. «fxa, ten, and s'i>?.o«,
a column.]
A building with an ordnance often columns
in front. Encyc.
DE€A'Y, V. i. [Fr. dechoir, from L. de and
cado, to fall, or decedo ; It. acadere ; Sp.
decaer; Port, descahir.]
1. To pass gradually from a sound, prosper-
ous, or p«;rfect state, to a less perfect state,
or toveards destruction ; to fail ; to decline
to be gradually impaired. Our bodies de-
cay in old age; a tree decays; buildings
decay ; fortunes decay.
9. To become weaker ; to fail ; as, oui
strength decays, or hopes decay.
DE€A'Y, V. t. 'To cause to fail ; to impair;
to bring to a worse state.
Infirmity, that decays the wise, doth ever
make better the fool. Shak
[The transitive sense of the verb is now
rarely used.]
DECA'Y, n. Gradual failure of health,
streiigth, sotmdness, prosperity, or any
species of excellence or perfection ; de-
cline to a worse or less perfect state ; ten-
dency towards dissolution or extinction ;
a state of depravation or d iminution. Old
men feel the decay of the body. We per-
ceive the decay of the faculties'in age. We
lament the decay of virtue and patriotism
in the state. The northern nations inva-
ded the Roman Empire, when in a state of
decay.
2. Declension from })rosperity ; decline of
fortune.
If thy brother be waxen poor, anil fallen in
decay. Lev. xxv.
3. Cause of decay. [J^'ot usual]
He tliat plots to be the only figure among
ciphers, is tlie decay of tlie wliole age.
Baco7t.
DE€A'YED, pp. Having fallen from a good
or sound state ; impaired ; weakened ;
diminished.
DECA'YEDNESS, n. A state of being im-
paired ; decaved state.
DECA'YER, I'l. That which causes decay.
Shak.
DE€A'YING, ppr. Failing; declining ; pass-
ing from a good, prosperous or sound state,
to a worse condition ; perishing.
DECA'YING, n. Decay ; decline.
DECE'ASE, n. [L. dccrss^is, from decedo,
to depart ; de and cedo, to withdraw ; Fr.
deces)
Literally, departure ; hence, departure from
this life ; death ; applied to human beings
only.
Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory, and
spoke of his decease, which he should accom-
plish at Jerusalem. Luke ix.
DECE'ASE, V. i. To depart from this life ;
to die.
Gen. Washington deceased, December 14,
Itao, in the 68th year of his age.
DECE'ASED, pp. or a. Departed from life.
This is used as a passixe participle. He
is deceased, for he has deceased ; he teas
deceased, for he had deceased. This use
Vol. I.
I of the participle of an intransitive verb is
not infrequent, but the word omitted is
really has. He has deceased. It is prop-
I erlv an adjective, like dead.
DECE'ASING, ppr. Departing from hfe;
i dying.
iDECE'DENT, n. [h. decedens.] A deceased
I person. Latvs of Penn.
DECE'IT, n. [Norm. rfecci((, contracted from
i L. deceplio. See Deceive.]
1. Literally, a catching or ensnaring. Hence,
I the misleading of a person ; the leading of
I another person to believe what is false, or
I not to believe what is true, and thus to en
snare him ; fraud; fallacy; cheat; arix
i declaration, artifice or practice, which ujI--
! leads another, or causes him to belies e
what is false.
My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my
I tongue utter rfecei^. Jobxxvii.
2. Stratagem ; artifice ; device intended to
I mislead.
I They imagine deceits all the day long. Ps.
j xx.xviii.
•3. In scripture, that which is obtained by
guile, fraud or oppression.
Their houses are full of deceit. Set. v.
Zeph. i.
■!. In law, any trick, device, craft, collusion,
shifV, covin, or underhand practice, used
to defraud another. Cowel.
DECE'ITFUL, a. Tending to mislead, de-
ceive or ensnare ; as deceitful words ; de-
ceitful practices.
Favor is deceitful. Prov. xxxi.
,2. Full of deceit ; trickish ; fraudulent ;
I cheating ; as a deceitful man.
jDECE'ITFULLY, adv. In a deceitful man-
ner ; fraudulently ; with deceit ; in a man-
I ner or with a view to deceive.
j The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and
i Hamor his father deceitfully. Gen. xxxiv.
jDECE'ITFULNESS, n. Tendency to mis-
! lead or deceive ; as the decciffalness of
'2. The quality of being fraudulent ; as the
j deceitfulness of a man's practices.
•3. The disposition to deceive ; as, a man's
deceitful ne.is may be habitual.
DECE'lTLESS, a. Free from deceit.
Hall.
DECE'IVABLE, <i. [See Deceive.] Subject
to deceit or imposition ; capable of being
misled or entrapped ; exposed to impos-
tiu-e ; as, young persons are very deceiva-
ble.
2. Subject or apt to produce error or decep-
tion ; deceitflil.
Fair promises often prove deceivdble.
Milton. Hayward.
[The latter use of the ivord is incorrect, and
I belt ere, not now used.]
DECE IVABLENESS, »i. Liableness to be
deceived.
2. Liableness to deceive.
The deceivableness of unrighteousness. 2
Thc.^s. ii.
DECE'IVE, t). «. [L. decijno, to take aside,
to ensnare; de and capio : Fr. decevoir ;
Arm. deeevi. Sec Capable.]
1. To mislead the mind ; to cause to err ; to
cause to believe what is false, or disbe-
lieve what is true; to impose on ; to de-
lude.
Take heed that no man deceive you. Matt,
xxiv.
56
If we say we have no sin, we deceice our-
selves. 1 John i.
2. To beguile ; to cheat.
Your fother hath deceived me, and changed
ray wages ten times. Gen. xxxi.
3. To cut off from expectation; to frustrate
or disappoint ; as, his hoi)es were deceitied.
Dryden.
4. To take from ; to rob.
Plant fruit trees in large borders, and set
therein fine flowers, but thin and sparingly, lest
tlicy deceive the trees. [The literal sense, but
not now iMfrf.] Bacon.
])\'.('\. Wl'.U, pp. Misled; led into error ;
liririiili .i ; cheated; deluded.
IMK'i; i\ lill, n. One who deceives; one
wlio leads into error; a cheat ; an impos-
tor.
I shall seem to my father as a deceiver. Gen.
xxvii.
DECE'IVING, ppr. Misleading ; ensnaring ;
beguiling ; cheating.
DECEM'BER, n. [L. december, from decern,
ten ; this being the tenth month among the
early Romans, who began the year in
March.]
The last month in the year, in which the suii
enters the tropic of Capricorn, and makes
the winter solstice.
DECEMDEN'TATE, a. [L. decern, ten, and
dentatus, toothed.] Having ten points or
teeth.
DEC'EMFID, a. [L. decern, ten, and /?</o, to
divide.]
Ten-cleft ; divided into ten parts ; having
ten divisions. Martyn.
DECEMLOC'ULAR, a. [L. decern, ten, and
loculus, a little bag or cell.] Having ten
cells for seeds. Martyn.
DEC'EMPEDAL, «. [L. decern, ten, and pes,
a foot.] Ten feet in length.
DECEMVIR, n. [L. decern, ten, and mr, a
man.]
One of ten magistrates, who had absolute
authoritv in ancient Rome.
DECEM'VIRAL, a. Pertaining to the de-
cemvirs in Rome. Encyc.
DECEM yiRATE, n. [h. decemviratus. See
Decemvir.]
1. The office or term of office of the decem-
virs or ten magistrates in Rome, who had
absolute authority for two years.
2. A bodv often men in authoritv.
DE'CENCY, n. [Fr. decence ; L. decentia,
from decens, deceo, to be fit or becoming ;
Sp. decencia ; It. decenza. The L. deceo
coincides in elements with the G. taugen,
to be good, or fit for ; D. deugen, to be
good or virtuous ; Sax. dugan, to avail, to
be strong, to be worth ; diiguth, virtue,
valor ; dohtig, doughty ; dohter, daughter ;
W. tygiaiv, to prosper, to befit, to suc-
ceed. The Teutonic and Welsh words
have for their radical sense, to advance or
proceed, to stretch forward. In Welsh
also, teg signifies clear, fair, smooth, beau-
tiful ; tegu, to make smooth, fair, beautiful,
which would seem to be allied to deceo,
whence decu^, decoro. See Class Dg. No
18. 25.] ^
1. That which is fit, suitable or becoming, in
words or behavior ; propriety^ of forin, iu
social intercourse, in actions or discourse ;
proper formality ; becoming ceremony.'
It has a special reference to behavior : as
decency of conduct ; decency of worship.
DEC
But it is used also in reference to speech
as, he discoursed with decency.
Tliose thousand decencies, that daily flow
From all her words and actions. ./Wilton
9. Suitableness to character ; propriety.
3. Propriety in speech ; modesty ; opposed
!o ribaldry, or obscenity.
Want of decency is want of sense.
Pope.
It may be also used for propriety of
speech, opposed to rudeness, or disrespect-
ful language ; iind for propriety in dress,
opposed to raggedness, exposure of naked-
ness, filtliiiiess, &c.
DECENNARY, n. [L. decennis,decennmm.
from decent, ten, and annus, a year.]
1. A period of ten years.
'?. A tithing consisting often freeholders and
their families. Blackslone.
DECEN'NIAL, a. [L. decennalis, as above.]
Continuing for ten years ; consisting of ten
years ; or happening every ten years ; as a
decennial period ; decennial games.
PEC'ENNOVAL, ? [L.rfecem,ten,and
DECEN'NOVARY, S "' mvem, nine.]
Pertaining to the number nineteen ; designa
ting a period or circle of nineteen years.
[lAttle used.] Holder.
DE'CENT, «. [L. decens ; Fr. decent. See
Decency.]
1. Becoming; fit; suitable, in words, be
havior, dress and ceremony; as decent Ian
guage; rfecc»ii conduct or actions; decent
ornaments or dress.
9. Comely ; not gaudy or ostentatious.
A sable stole of Cyprus lawn
O'er the decent shoulders drawn. Jifdton.
.3. Not immodest.
4. In popular language, moderate, but com
petent ; not large ; as a rfecent fortune. So
a decent pei-son is one not highly accom-
plished, nor offensively rude.
DE'CENTLY, adv. In a decent or beconi
ing manner ; with propriety of behavior
or speech.
2. Without immodesty.
Past hope of safety, 'twas his latest care.
Like falling Csesar, decently to die.
Drydi
DE'CENTNESS, n. Decency.
DECEPTIBIL'ITY, n. The quality or state
of beiiig capable cr liable to be deceived.
GlanviUe.
DECEP'TIBLE, a. That may be deceived.
Brown.
DECEP'TION, )i. [I,, dcceptio, from decipio.
See Deceive.]
\. The act of deceiving or misleading.
All deception is a misapplication of the estab-
lished signs used lo communicate thoughts.
Jlnon
2. The state of being deceived or misled.
Incautious and inexperienced youth is pe
culiarly exposed to deception.
3. Artifice practiced ; cheat ; as, a scheme
is all a deception.
DECEP'TIOUS, a. Tending to deceive;
deceitful. '^'''«*
DECEP'TIVE, a. Tending to deceive; hav
ins; power to mislead, or impress false opin
ioiis; as a deceptive countenance or ap
pearance.
DECEPTORY, a. Tending to deceive;
containing fjualities or means adapted
mislead.
DEC
[L. decerptus.] Cropped.
[L. decerpo, to pluck
DECERPT', a.
[.\o( used.]
DECERP'TION,
off; de and carpo.
.\ pulling or plucking off; a cropping.
GlanviUe.
DECERTA'TION, n. [h. decertcdio ; rfe and
ccrlo, to strive.] j
Strife ; contest for mastery. [Little used.]
Broicn.\
DECES'SION, n. [L. decessio ; de and cerfo,j
s.] Departm-e. [Little used.]
DECH^ARM, ti. t. [Fr. decharmer. See
Charm.] \
To remove a spell or enchantment ; to dis-
encliant. Harvey.
DECH> ARMED, pp. Disenchanted.
DECir ARMING, ppr. Removing a spell.
DEeHRIS'TIANIZE, v. t. [de and chris-
tianizc]
To turn from Christianity ; to banish chris-
tian belief and principles from.
/. P. Smith.
DECI'DABLE, a. That may be decided.
Jones.]
DECI'DE, V. t. [L. dccido ; de and co-rfo, to|
strike, to cut.] Literally, to cut off, and
thus to end. Hence,
I. To end ; to determine, as a controversy
by verdict of a jury, or by a judgment of
cmn-t. We say, the court or the jury deci-i
ded the cause in favor of the plaintiff, or of
the defendant.
3. To end or determine, as a dispute or
quarrel.
To end or determine a combat or battle ;
as, a body of reserve, brought to the charge.
decided the contest.
To determine; to fix the event of.
The fate of the bill is decided.
5. In general, to end ; to terminate.
DECI'DE, V. i. To determine ; to form t
definite opinion ; to come to a conclusion.
We cannot decide how far resistance is lawful
court decided In favor of the defendant.
DECrDED,^;;. Determined; ended; con
eluded.
DECT'DED, a. That implies decision; clear
unequivocal; that puts an end to doubt.
I find much cause to reproach myself, that I
have lived so long, and have given no decided
and public proofs of my being a christian.
P. Henry, Wirt's Sketches
DECI'DEDLY, adv. In a decided or deter
mined manner; clearly; indisputably; ii
a manner to preclude doubt.
DECl'DENCE, n. [L. decidens.] A falling
off. [Mdinuse.] Brown
DECT'DER, n. One who determines a cause
or contest.
DECI'DING, ppr. Deterniining; ending
concluding.
DECID'UOUS, a. [h. deciduus, decido ; de
and cado, to fall.]
Falling ; not perennial or permanent. In
botany, a deciduous leaf is one which falls
in autimin ; a deciduous calyx, is that which
falls after the corol opens ; distinguished
from permanent. Martyn
DECIDUOUSNESS, )i. The quality of fall
ing once a year.
DECIGRAM, n. A French weight of one
tenth of a gram,
~ "" ■ position of two'
IdE'CIL, ji.^An aspect
DEC
planets, when they are distant from eac&
other a tenth part of the zodiac. Encyc.
DECILITER, n. A French measure of ca-
pacity equal to one tenth of a liter.
DECIMAL, a. [L. decimus, tenth, from
decern, ten ; Gr. btxa ; Goth, tig, ten, Sax.
a tie.]
Numbered by ten ; as decimal progress-
ion. Locke.
2. Increasing or diminishing by ten ; as de-
cimal numbers ; decimal arithmetic ; deci-
mal fractions.
3. Tenth ; as a decimal part.
DECIMAL, n. A tenth.
DECIMALLY, arfi). By tens; by means of
decimals.
DECIMATE, t>. t. [L. decimo, from decern,
ten.]
To tithe ; to take the tenth part.
2. To select by lot and punish with death
every tenth man ; a practice in armies, for
punishing mutinous or unfaithful troops.
?. To take every tenth. Mitford.
DECIMA'TION, n. A tithing ; a selection
of every tenth by lot.
2. The selecting by lot for punishment every
tenth man, in a company or regiment, &c.
DECIMATOR, ?i. One who selects every
tenth man for punishment. South.
DECIM'ETER, n. A French measure of
length equal to the tenth part of a meter,
or 3 inches and 03710 decimals.
DECIMO-SEXTO, n. [L.] A book is in
decimo-sexto, when a sheet is folded into
sixteen leaves. Taylor.
DECI'PHER, v.t. [Fr. dechiffrer; de and
chiffre, a cipher ; It. deciferare ; Sp. descif-
rar ; Port, decijrar. See Cipher.]
To find the alphabet of a cipher ; to ex-
plain what is written in ciphers, by finding
what letter each character or mark repre-
sents ; as, to decipher a letter written in
ciphers.
2. To unfold; to unravel what is intricate;
to explain what is obscure or difiicult to be
understood ; as, to decipher an ambiguous
speech, or an ancient manuscript or in-
scription.
3. To write out ; to mark down in charac-
ters. [This use is now uncommon, and per-
haps improper.] Locke.
4. To stamp ; to mark ; to characterize.
[Unusual] Shak.
DECI'PHERED, ;)j). Explained; unravel-
led ; marked.
DECI'PHERER, n. One who explains what
(ten in ciphers.
DECIPHERING, /)/))■. Explaining; detect-
ic letters represented by ciphers;
lint' ; marking.
DECI.~'10N, n. s as 2. [L. decisio. See
Decide.]
1. Determination, as of a question or doubt ;
final judgment or opinion, in a case which
has been under deliberation or discussion ;
as the decision of the Suprente Court. He
has considered the circumstances of the
case and come to a decision.
2. Determinatien of a contest or event ; end
of a struggle ; as the decision of a battle
by arms.
3. In Scotland, a narrative or report of the
proceedings of the Court of Sessions.
Johnson.
4. Report of the opinions and determinations
DEC
DEC
DEC
of any tribunal. We say, read the decis-
ions of the Court of King's Bencli.
">. Act of separation ; division. [JVot used.]
OECI'SI VE, a. Having the power or quaHty
of determining a question, doubt, or any
subject ofdeliberation ; final; conclusive;
])utting an end to controversy ; as, the
opinion of the court is decisive of the
(juustion.
2. Having the power of determining a con-
test or event ; as, the victory of the allies
was decisive.
t)ECl'SIVELY, adv. In a conclusive man-
ner ; in a manner to end deliberation, con-
troversy, doubt or contest. Chesterfield.
DECI'SIVENESS, n. The power of an ar-
gument or of evidence to terminate a dif-
ference or doubt ; conclusiveness.
2. Tlie power of an event to put an end to
a contest.
DECrSORY, a. Able to decide or deter-
mine. Sherwood.
DECK, v.t. [D. dekken; G.decken; Sw.
i'uckia; Dan. Imkher ; Sax. gedecan, and
thecan and theccan ; L. lego, to cover
whence tectum, a roof, Fr. toit. The Gr.
has rsyoj, a roof, but the verb has a prefix,
ftyu, to cover. Hence L. tegula, a tile.
The Ir. teach, a house, contracted in Welsh
to ti/, may be of the same family. In
Ger. dach is a roof, anil thatch may be
also of this family. Class Dg. No. 2. 3.
10. The primary sense is to put on, tc
throw over, or to press and make close.]
1. Primarily, to cover ; to overspread ; to put
on. Hence,
2. To clothe ; to dress the person ; but usu-
ally, to clothe with more than ordinary ele-
gance ; to array ; to adorn ; to embellish,
The (lew with spangles decked the ground.
Drf/den
3. To furnish with a deck, as a vessel.
DECK, n. The covering of a ship, whicli
constitutes a floor, made of timbers and
plank«. Small vessels have only one deck
larger ships have two or three decks. A
flush deck is a continued floor from stem
to stern, on one line.
2. A pack of cards piled regularly on eac
other. Gretv.
DECK'ED, pp. Covered ; adorned ; fur
nishetl with a deck.
DECK'ER, n. One wlio decks or adorns ; :
coverer ; as a table-decker.
2. Of a ship, we say, she is a two-decker or a
three-decker, that is, she has two decks or
three decks.
DECK'ING, ppr. Covering ; arraying
adorning.
DECK'ING, rt. Ornament; embellishment
Homilies
DECLA'IM, v. t. [L. declamo ; de and clamo
to cry out. See Claim and Cli
1. To speak a set oration in public; to speak
rhetorically ; to make a formal speech, or
oration ; as, the students declaim twice a
week,
2. To harangue ; to speak loudly or earnestly
to a public body or assembly, with a viev
to convince their minds or move their
passions.
DECLA'IM, V. t. To s|)eak in public.
2. To speak in favor of; to advocate. [JVot
in use.]
DECLAIMANT,
DECLAIM ER,
One who declaim:
; speaker in public
one who attempts to convince by a har-
angue.
2. One who speaks clamorously.
DE€LA'IMING,fipr. Speaking rhetorical
ly; haranguing.
DECLAIMING, n. A harangue.
Bp. Taylor
DECLAMATION, n. [L. declamatio.] A
speech made in public, in the tone and
manner of an oration ; a discourse address-
ed to the reason or to the passions ; a set
speech ; a harangue. This word is appli
ed especially to the public speaking am
speeches of students in colleges, practiced
for exercises in oratory. It is applied also
to public speaking in the legislature, and
in the puljiit. Very often it is used for a
noisy harangue, without solid sense orar
gument ; as, mere declamation ; empty decla
mation.
2. A piece spoken in public, or intended for
the public.
DECLAMA'TOR, n. A dcclaimer. [Ao(
used.] Taylor
DECLAM'ATORY, a. [L. declamalorius.
1. Relating to the jjractice of declaiming
pertaining to declamation ; treated in the
manner of a rhetorician ; as a declamatory
theme. fVotton.
Appealing to the passions ; noisy ; rhet-
orical without solid sense or argument :
as a dcclamatonj way or stvle.
DECLARABLE, a. [See'Declare.] That
may be declared, or proved.
DECLARA'TION, n. [L. declaratio.) An
affirmation ; an open expression of facts
or oi)inions; verbal utterance ; as, he de
clared his sentiments, and I rely on his
declaration.
3. Expression of facts, opinions, promises,
predictions, &c., in writings ; records or re-
ports of what has been declared or uttered.
The scriptures abound in declarations of mer-
cy to penitent sinners.
3. Pubhcatioii ; manifestation ; as the declara-
tion of thu gvealucss of Mordecai. Esth. X.
.5. A public annunciation ; proclamation; as
the Declaration of Independence, July 4,
177C.
In law, that part of the process or plead-
ings in which the plaintiff" sets forth at
large his cause of complaint ; the narra-
tion or count.
DECLAR'ATIVE, a. Making declaration
explanatory ; making show or manifesta-
tion; as, the name of a thing may be rfe-
claratioe of its form or nature. Grew
2. Making proclamation, or publication.
DECLAR'ATORILY, adv. By declaration,
or exhibition.
DECLAR'ATORY, a. Making declaration,
clear manifestation, or exhibition ; express-
ive ; as, this clause is declaratory of the
will of the legislature. The declaratory
part of a law, is that which sets forth and
defines what is right and what is wrong.
A declaratory act, is an act or statute which
sets forth more clearly and explains the
intention of the legislature in a former act.
DECLA'RE, I', t. [L. declaro ; de and claro,
to make clear ; Ir. gluair, or gleair ; W.
eglur, dear, bright ; egluraiv, to make clear
or plain, to manifest, to explain. Fr. de-
clarer ; Sp. declarar ; It. dichiarare. See
Clear and Glory. The sense is to open,
to separate, or to spread.]
L To clear; to free from obscurity ; to make
plain. Boylr.
[In this literal sense, the word is no longer
in use.]
2. To make known ; to tell explicitly ; to
manifest or communicate plainly to others-
by words.
1 will declare what he hath done for my soul.
Ps. Ixvi.
3. To make known ; to show to the eye or
to the understanding ; to exhibit ; to man-
ifest by other means than words.
The heavens declare the glory of God. P?.
xix.
4. To publish ; to proclaim.
/JtrJare his glory among the heathen. 1 Chron.
;vi.
Declaring the conversion of the Gentiles.
Acts XV.
5. To assert ; to affirm ; as, he declares the
story to be false.
To declare one's self, to throw off" reserve
and avow one's opinion ; to show openly
what one thinks, or which side he espouses.
DECLA'RE, v.i. To make a declaration ;
to proclaim or avow some opinion or res-
olution in favor or in opposition ; to make
known explicitly some determination ; with
for or against ; as, the prince declared for
the allies ; the allied powers declared
against France.
Like fawning courtiers, for success they wail ;
And then come smiling, and declare for fate.
Vryden.
2. In law, to recite the causes of complaint
against the defendant ; as, the plaintiff" rfe-
clares in debt or trespass.
3. To show or manifest the issue or event ;
to decide in favor of; as, victory had not
declared fur either party.
DECLA'RED, ;)ijj. Made known; told ex-
plicitly ; avowed ; exhibited ; manifested ;
published ; proclaimed ; recited.
DECLAREDLY, adv. Avowedly; expli-
citly.
DECLARER, n. One who makes known
or publishes; that which exhibits.
DECLARING, ppr. Making known by
words or by otfier means ; manifesting ;
publi.-ihing ; affirming ; reciting the cause
of complaint.
DECLA'RING, n. Declaration; proclama-
tion.
DECLEN'SION, n. [L. declinalio, from dc-
clino. See Decline.]
\. Literally, a leaning back or down ; hence,
a falling or declining towards a worse
state ; a tendency towards a less degree of
excellence or perfection. The declension
of a state is manifested by corruption of
morals. We speak of the declension of
virtue, of manners, of taste, of the
sciences, of the fine arts, and sometimes
of life or years ; but in the latter apphca-
tion, decline is more generally used.
2. Declination; a decUning ; descent ; slope;
as the declension of the shore towards the
sea. Burnet.
9. In grammar, inflection of nouns, adjec-
tives and pronouns ; the declining, devi-
ation or leaning of the termination of a
word from the termination of the nomi-
tive case; change of termination to form
the oblique cases. Thus from rex in the
nominative case, are formed regis in the
genitive, regi in the dative, regem in the
accusative, and regt in the ablative.
DEC
DEC
DEC
DEeLI'NABLE, a. That may be declined
changing its ternihiation in the obhque
cases ; as a declinable nouu.
DEC'LINATE, a. [L. declinatus-l I" hotany,
bending or bent downwards, in a curve
declining. Martyn
DECLINA'TION, n. A leaning ; the act of
bending down ; as a declination of the
iiead.
3. A declining, or falling into a worse state
change from a better to a worse condition
decay ; deterioration ; gradual failure or
diminution of strength, soundness, vigor
or excellence.
3. A deviation from a right line, in a literal
sense ; oblique motion ; as the declination
of a descending body. Bentley,
4. Deviation from rectitude in behavior or
morals ; obliquity of conduct ; as a decli-
nation from the path of integrity.
5. In astronomy, a variation from a fixed
point or hue. The distance of any celes-
tial object from the equinoctial line, or
equator, either northward or southward.
Encyc.
fj. Declination of the compass or needle, is the
variation of the needle from the true me-
ridian of a place. Encyc.
7. In dialing, the declination of a wall or
plane, is an arch of the horizon, contained
between the plane and the prime vertical
circle, if reckoned from the east or west,
or between the meridian and the plane, if
you reckon from the north or south.
Bailey.
8. In grammar, declension ; or the inflection
of a nouu through its various terminations.
Johnson.
DECLINA'TOR, ) An instrument for
PEeLIN'ATORY, S "" taking the declina-
tion, or inclination of a plane ; an instru-
ment in dialling. Encyc. Chambers
Declinatory plea, in law, a plea before trial or
conviction, intended to show that the par-
ty was not liable to the penalty of the law
or was specially exempted from the juris-
diction of the court. The plea of benefit
of clergy is a declinaiory plea. Blaclistone.
DEeLI'NE, V. i. [L. dechno ; de and clino, to
lean. See Lean.]
1. To lean downward ; as, tlie head declines
towards the earth.
2. To lean from a right line ; to deviate ;
o literal sense.
3. To lean or deviate from rectitude, ii
moral sense ; to leave the path of truth or
justice, or the course prescribed.
Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
Vs. cxix. 157.
4. To fall ; to tend or draw towards the
close ; as, the day declines.
5. To avoid or shun ; to refuse ; not to com
ply ; not to do ; as, he declined to take any
part in the concern.
6. To fall ; to fail ; to sink ; to decay ; to be
impaired ; to tend to a less perfect state ; as,
tlie vigor of youth declines in age ; health
declines ; virtue declines ; religion declines ;
national credit and prosperity decline, un-
der a corrupt administration.
7. To sink ; to diminish ; to fall in value ;
as, the prices of land and goods decline at
the close of a war.
DEeLI'NE, V. t. To bend downward ; to
bring down.
In melancholy deep, with head declined.
Thomscm.
2. To bend to one side ; to move from a fix-
ed point or right line.
3. To shun or avoid ; to refuse; not to en-
gage in ; to be cautious not to do or in-
terfere ; not to accept or comply with ;
as, he declined the contest; he declined the|
oH'er ; he declined the business or pursuit-!
4. To inflect ; to change the termination of
a word, for forming the oblique cases ;
as, Dominiis, Domini, Domino, Dominum,
Domine.
DEeLI'NE, n. Literally, a leaning from ;
hence, a falhng oft'; a tendency to a worse
state ; diminution or decay ; deterioration ;
as the decline of hfe ; the decline of
strength ; the decline of virtue and reli-
gion; the rfecft'ree of revenues ; the decline
of agricidture, commerce or manufactures ;
the decline of learning.
DEeLl'NED, ^/). Bent downward or from ;
inflected.
DEeLl'NING, ppr. Leaning ; deviating ;
falling; failing; decaying; tending to a
worse state; avoiding; refusing; inflect-
ing.
DECLIVITY, n. [L. declivitas, from decli-
ris, sloping ; de and clivus. See Cliff.]
Declination from a horizontal line ; descent
of land ; inclination downward ; a slope ;
a gradual descent of the earth, of a rock
or other thine : chiefly used of the earth,
and opposed to acclivity, or ascent ; the
same slope, considered as descending, being
a declivity, and considered as asce7iding,
an acclivity.
DECLI'VOIIS, ) Gradually descend-
DE€LIV'ITOUS, J "• ing ; not precipitous ;
sloping.
DE€OeT', V. t. [L. decoquo, decoctum ; de
and coquo, to cook, to boil.]
1. To prepare by boiling ; to digest in hot or
boihng water. Bacon.
2. To digest by the heat of the stomach ; to
prepare as food for nourishing the body.
Davies.
3. To boil in water, for extracting the prin-
ciples or virtues of a substance. Bacon.
4. To boil up to a consistence ; to invigo-
rate. Shak.
[This verb is Utile used, and in its last sense,
is hardly proper.]
DEeOCt'lBLE, a. That may be boiled oi
gested.
DE€0€'TION, n. [Fr. decoction; It. dc
cozione. See Decoct.]
. The act of boihng a substance in water
for extracting its virtues.
9. The liquor in which a substance has been
boiled ; water impregnated with the prin-
ciples of any animal or vegetable sub-
stance boiled in it ; as a weak or a strong
decoction of Peruvian bark.
DEeOeT'IVE, a. That may be easily de-
cocted.
DEeOeT'URE, n. A substance drawn by
decoction.
DE'€OLLATE, i'. /. [L. decollo.] To be-
head. Burke.
DE'eOLLATED, pp. Beheaded.
DECOLLA'TION, n. [L. decollaiio, from
decollo, to behead ; de and collum, the
neck.]
The act of beheading; the act of cutting oftl
the neck of an animal, and severing the
head from the body. It is especially used
of St. John the Baptist, and of a painting
which represents fiis beheading.
DEeOLOKA'TION, n. [L. decoloratio.] Ab-
sence of color. Ferrand.
DE'COMPLEX, a. [de and complex.] Com-
pounded of complex ideas.
Gregory. Locke.
DECOMPOSABLE, a. s as z. [See De-
compose.]
That may be decomposed; capable of being
resolved into its constituent elements.
Davy.
DECOMPO'SE, V. t. s as z. [Fr. decompo-
ser; de and composer, to compose, from L.
compono, compositus.]
To separate the constituent parts of a body
or substance; to disunite elementary par-
ticles combined by affinity or chimical at-
traction ; to resolve into original elements.
DECOMPO'SED, pp. Separated or resolv-
ed into the constituent parts.
DE€OMPO'SING,;)j>r. Separating into con-
stituent parts.
DECOMPOS'lTE, a. decompoz'it. [L. de
and compositus. See Co7npose.]
Compounded a second time; compounded
with things already composite. Bacon.
DE€OMPOSI"TION, n. Analysis; the act
of separating the constituent parts of a
substance, which are chimically combined.
Decomposition differs from mechanical
division, as the latter effects no change
in the properties of the body divided,
whereas the parts chimically decomposed
have properties very different from those
of the substance itself.
2. A second composition. [In this sense, not
now used.] Boyle.
DECOMPOUND', v. t. [dc and compound.]
To compoimd a second time ; to com-
pound or mix with that which is already
compound ; to form by a second compo-
sition. Boyle. Locke. JVeivton.
To decompose. [Little used, or not at all.]
DECOMPOUND', a. Composed of things
or words already compounded ; com-
pounded a second time. Boyle.
2. A decompound leaf, ui botany, is when the
primary petiole is so divided that each part
forms a compound leaf. A decompound
flower is formed of compound flowers, or
containing, within a common calyx, small-
er calyxes, common to several flowers.
Martyn.
DECOMPOUNDABLE, a. That may be
decompounded.
)MPOUND'El», pp. Lorn]
second time ; composed of things already
DECOMPOUND'ED, pp. Compounded a
compounded.
DECOMPOUNDING, ppr. Compounding
a second time.
DECORATE, i'. t. [L. decora, from decus,
decor, comeliness, grace. See Decency.]
\. To adorn ; to beautify ; to erabelUsh ;
used of external ornaments or apparel ;
as, to decorate the person ; to decorate an
edifice; to decorate a lawn with flowers.
2. To adorn with internal grace or beauty;
to render lovely ; as, to decorate the mind
with virtue.
3. To adorn or beautify with any thing agree-
able ; to embellish ; as, to decorate a hero
with honors, or a lady with accomplish-
ments.
DEC
DE€'ORATED, pp. Adorucd ; beautified ;
embellished.
DECORATING, ppr. Adorning; embel-
lishing ; rendering beautiful to the eye, or
lovely to the mind.
DECORA'TION, n. Ornament; embellish-
ment ; any tiling added which renders
more agreeable to the eye or to the intel-
lectual view.
2. In architecture, any thing whit^h adorns
and enriches an edifice, as vases, paint-
ings, figures, festoons, &c.
3. In tlieaters, the scenes, which are changed
as occasion requires.
DECORATOR, n. One wlio adorns or em-
bellishes.
DECOROUS, a. [L. deconis. See Decency.]
Decent ; suitable to a character, or to the
time, place and occasion ; becoming; prop-
er ; befitting ; as a decorous speech ; deco-
rous behavior ; a decorous dress for a
judge.
DECOROUSLY, adv. In a becoming man-
ner.
DECORTICATE, v. I. [L. decortico ; de
and corte.r, bark.]
To strip otF bark ; to peel ; to husk ; to take
off the exterior coat ; as, to decorticate bar-
ley. Arhiitlmot.
DECOR'TICATED, jyp. Stripped of bark ;
peeled : husked.
DEeOR'TICATlNG, ppr. Stripping ofi"
bark or the external coat ; peeling.
DECORTICA'TION, n. The act of strip-
ping off bark or husk.
DECO'RUM, n. [L. from dcceo, to become.
See Decency.]
1. Propriety of speech or behavior; suitable-
ness of speech and behavior, to one's own
character, and to the characters present,
or to the place and occasion ; seemliness;
decency ; opposed to rudeness, licentious-
ness, or levity.
To speak and behave with decorum is essen-
tial to good breeding.
2. In architecture, the suitableness of a build-
ing, and of its parts and ornaments, to its
place and uses.
DECOY', V. t. [D. kooi, a cabin, birth, bed,
fold, cage, decoy ; kooijen, to lie, to bed.]
To lead or lure by artifice into a snare, with
a view to catch ; to draw into any situa-
tion to be taken by a foe ; to entrap by
any means which deceive. The fowler
decoys ducks into a net. Troops may be
decoyed into an ambush. One ship decoys
another within reach of her shot.
DECOY', n. Any thing intended to lead in-
to a snare ; any lure or allurement that
deceives and misleads into evil, dange
the power of an enemy.
2. A place for catching wild fowls.
DEeOY'-DUCK, ji. A duck employed to
draw others into a net or situation to be
taken.
DECOY'ED, pp. Lured or drawn into a
snare or net ; allured into danger by de
ception.
DECOY'ING, ppr. Luring into a snare or
net by deception ; leading into evil or dan
ger.
DECOY'-MAN, n. A man employed in de
coying and catching fowls.
DECRE'ASE, V. i. [L. decresco : de and
cresco, to grow ; Fr. decroitre ; It. decres-
DEC
cere; Sp. decrecer ; Arm. digrisgi. See
Grow.]
To become less ; to be diminished gradually,
in extent, bulk, quantity, or amount, or in
strength, quahty, or excellence ; as, the
days decrease in length from June to De-
cember.
He must increase, hut I must decrease. John
DECRE'ASE, v. t. To lessen ; to make
smaller in dimensions, amount, quality orl
excellence, &c. ; to diminish gradually or
by small deductions ; as, extravagance de-
creases the means of charity ; every pay-
ment decreases a debt; intemperance de-
creases the strength and powers of life.
DECRE'ASE, n. A becoming less; grad-
ual diminution ; decay ; as a decrease of
revenue ; a rfecrease of strength.
2. Tlie wane of the moon ; the gradual dim-
iiiutiiiM i]f the visible face of the moon from
thi- I'lill to th.> change.
Dl'U Kl. ASl',1), pp. Lessened ; diminished.
DECKE .V^IiNG, ppr. Becoming less ; di-
minishing ; waning.
DECREE', n. [L. decretum, from decemo, to
judge; rfe and cemo, to judge, to divide ;
Fr. decret ; It. and Sp. decreto.]
1. Judicial decision, or determination of .i
litigated cause ; as a decree of the conn
of chancery. "The decision of a court of
equity is called a decree ; that of a conn
of law, a judgment.
2. In the civil taio, a determination or judg-
ment of the emperor on a suit between
parties. Eiicj/c.
3. An edict or law made by a council for
regulating any business within their juris-
diction ; as the decrees of ecclesiastical
councils. Encyc.
4. In general, an order, edict or law made
by a superior as a rule to govern inferiors.
There went a decree from Cesar Augustus,
that all the world should be taxed. Luke ii.
5. Established law, or rule.
He made a decree for the rain. Job xxviii.
6. In theology, predetermined purpose of
God ; the purpose or determination of ar
immutable Being, whose plan of opera-
tions is, like himself, unchangeable.
DECREE', I', t. To determine judicially ;
to resolve by sentence ; as, the court de
creed that the property should be restored ;
or they decreed a restoration of the proper
t.V-
2. To determine or resolve legislatively ; to
fix or appoint ; to set or constitute by
edict or in purpose.
Thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall be es-
tablished. Job x-xii.
Let us not be solicitous to know what God
has rfecreed concerning us. .dnon.^^
DECREE'D,p^. Determined judicially ; re-[
solved ; appointed ; established in purpo.^c.
DECREE'ING, ppr. Determining ; resolv-
ing ; appointing; ordering.
DECREMENT, n. [L. decrementiim, IVoiii
decresco. See Decrease.] '
1. Decrease ; waste ; the state of becoming
less gradually.
Rocks and mountains suffer a continual de-\
crement. JVondward.\
2. The quantity lost by gradual diminution,!
or waste.
3. In /lernWn/, the wane of the moon. |
A. In crystalography, a successive diminution'
DEC
of the lamens of molecules, applied to the
faces of the [jrimitive ibrm, by which the
secondary forms are supposed to be pro-
duced. Iiaiiy.
DECREP'IT, a. [L. decrepitus, from de and
crepo, to break.]
Broken down with age ; wasted or worn by
the infirmities of old age; being in the
last stage of decay ; weakened by age.
Milton. Pope.
DECREPITATE, v. t. [L. dccrepo,to break
or burst, to crackle ; de and crepo.]
To roast or calcine in a strong beat, with a
continual bursting or crackling of the sub-
stance ; as, to decrepitate salt.
DECREPITATE, v. i. To crackle, as salts
when roasting.
DECREPITATED, pp. Roasted with a
crackling noise.
DECREP ITATING, ppr. Crackling ; roast-
ing with a crackUng noise ; suddenly burst-
ing when exposed to heat.
DECREPITATION, n. The act of roast-
ing with a continual crackling ; or the
separation of j)arts with a crackling noise,
occasioned by beat.
DECREP'ITN'ESS, ) [See DecrepU.] The
DKt K F.P ITIDE, \ "• broken, crazy state
lil' thi- ImiiIv, produced by decay and the
ii,llr„,.i..->ofage.
DIX Ki:s CIC.NT, a. [1.. decrescens. See
Decrease.]
Decreasing ; becoming less by gradual dimi-
nution ; as a decrescent moon.
DECRE'TAL, a. [See Decree.] Appertain-
ing to a decree ; containing a decree ; a.s
a decretal e))istle. .'lyliffe.
DECRE'TAL, n. A letter of the pope, de-
termining some point or question in ec-
clesiastical law. The decretals form the
second part of the canon law. Eneyc.
2. A book of decrees, or edicts ; a body of
laws. Spenser.
3. A collection of the pope's decrees.
Howell.
DECRE'TION, n. [See Decrease.] A de-
creasinff. [JVbt used.] Pearson.
DECRE'TIST, n. One who studies or pro-
fes-ses the knowledge of the decretals.
DECRETO RILY, adv. In a definitive man-
ner. Goodman.
DECRETORY, a. Judicial; definitive ; es-
tablished by a decree.
The decretory rigors of a condemning sen-
tence. South.
2. Critical; determining; in which there is
some definitive event ; as, critical or rfccre-
' tory (lays. Brown.
DECREW, v.i. To decrease. [.Vot in use.]
DECRI'AL, n. [Seel>ecry.] A crying down;
a clamorous censure ; condemnation by
censure.
DECRIED, pp. Cried down; discredited;
I'riiiiL'ht into disrepute.
DIUKl I'.H. (1. One who decries.
Dl'.llM »\\\', V. t. [de and crown.] To de-
pii\e of a crown. [Little used.]
Overbury.
DECRY', v. t. [Fr. deciier ; de and crier, ti>
cry.] To cry down ; to censure as faulty,
mean or worthless ; to clamor against ; to
discredit by finding fault ; as, to decry a
poenf.
2. To cry down, as improper or unnecessa-
ry ; to rail or clamor against : to bring in-
D ]•. C
D E D
DEE
to (Hsropute ; as, to derni lIiH measures of
administration.
DECUBA'TION, Ji. [L. deciimho.] The act
of Ivinj; down. Evelyn.
DE€UM'15ENCR, ? [L. decumhens, from
DEeUM'liENCY, S "' </«:umio, to lie down ;
de and cumbo, to lie down.]
The act of lying down ; the posture of lying
down. Brown.
DEeUM'BENT, a. In hoiamj, declined or
bending down ; having the stamens and
pistils bending down to the lower side ;
as a decumbent flower. Mniiyn.
DEeUM'BITURE, n. The time at which
a person takes to his bed in a disease.
2. In astrology, the sclieme or aspect of the
heavens, by which the prognostics of re-
covery or death are discovered.
DECUPLE, a. [L. deciiplus ; Gr. &(xa7fKovs,
from Scxa, ten.] Tenfold ; containing ten
times as many.
I>E€'UPLE, 71. A number ten times
peated.
DECU'RION, ji. [L. decurio, from decent, Gr.
»ixa, ten.]
An officer in the Roman arm}', who com-
manded a decuria, or ten sokliers, which
was a third part of the turraa, and a
tiiirtieth of the legion of cavalry.
Encyc. Temple.
DECUR'RENT, a. [L. decurrens, from rfe-
curro, to run down ; de and curro, to run.]
Extending downwards. A decurrent leaf is a
sessile leaf having its base extending
downwards along the stem. Marlyn.
DEeUR'SION, n. [L. decursio, from decur-
ro ; de and curro, to run.]
The act of running down, as a stream.
Hale.
DECUR'SIVE, a. Running down.
Decursively pinnate, in botany, applied to :i
leaf, having the leaflets decurrent or run-
ning along the petiole.
DE€URT', V. t. [L. dccurlo.] To shorten by
cutting ofi^. [Mbl in use.]
DECURTA'TION, n. [L. dccnrto, to sbor-
ten ; de and curto,] The act of sliorten-
ing, or cutting short.
DEe'URY, n. [L. decwia, from decern, Gr.
Sixa, ten.] A set often men under an of-
ficer called decurio.
DE'eUSSATE, II. t. [L. dccasso, to cut or
strike across.]
To intersect at acute Migles, thus X ; or in
general, to intersect ; to cross ; as lines,
rays, or nerves in the body. Encyc
DE'eUSSATE, > Crossed ; intersected
DE'€USSATED, ^ "' In botany, decussated
leaves and branches, are such as grow in
jiairs which alternately cross each other
at right angles, or in a regular manner.
Martyn. Lee.
In rhetoric, a decussated period is one tli
consii-ts of two rising and two falling clau-
ses, placed in alternate opposition to eaci
other. For example, " If impudence
could effect as much in courts of justice,
as insolence sometimes does in the coun-
try, Cfesina would now yield to the impu-
dence of Ebutius, as he then yielded to
his insolent assault." J. Q. Adams, Led.
DE'CUeiSATIXC, ppr. Intersecting at
DE€USS A'TK )N, h. The act of crossing
.al unrquid ui.glLs; ilie crossing of two
lines, rays or nerves, which meet in a
point and then proceed and diverge.
Encyc.
DEDA'LIAN, a. [from Da:dalus, the Athe-
nian, who invented sails or wings.] Vari-
ous ; variegated ; intricate ; complex ; ex-
pert.
DED'ALOUS, a. [from Dadalus.] Ha-
ving a margin with various windings and
turnings; of a beautiful and delicate tex-
ture ; a term applied to the leaves of plants.
Martyn. Lee.
DEDEC'ORATE, r. t. [L. dedecoro.] To
disgrace. [JVot used.]
DEDE€ORA'TION, n. A disgracing. [JVot
used.]
DEDENTI"TION, n. [de and dentition.]
The shedding of teeth. Brown
DEDICATE, V. t. [L. dedico ; de and dico
dicare, to vow, promise, devote, dedicate.
See Class Dg. No. 12. 15. 45. The sense
is to send, tothrow ; hence, to set, to ap-
point.]
1. To set apart and consecrate to a divine
Being, or to a sacred purpose ; to devot(
to a sacred use, by a solemn act, or by re
ligious ceremonies ; as, to dedicate vessels,
treasures, a temple, an altar, or a church,
to God or to a religious use.
Vessels of silver, of gold, and of brass, whicli
king David did dedicate to the Lord. 2 Sam.
2. To appropriate solemnly to any person or
purpose ; to give wholly or chiefly to. The
ministers of the gospel dedicate thetnselves,
their time and their studies, to the service
of Christ. A soldier dedicates himself to
the profession of arms.
3. To inscribe or address to a patron ; as, to
dedicate a hook.
DEDICATE, a. Consecrated; devoted;
appropriated. Shnk.
DEDICATED, pp. Devoted to a divine
Being, or to a sacred use ; consecrated ;
appropriated ; given wholly to.
DEDICATING, ppr. Devoting to a divine
Being, or to a sacred purpose; consecra-
ting ; appropriating ; giving wholly to.
DEDICA'TION, n. The act of
ting to a divine Being, or to a sacred
often with religious solemnities ; solemn
appropriation ; as the dedication of Solo-
mon's temple.
2. The act of devoting or giving to.
3. An address to a patron, prefixed to a
book, testifying respect and recommend-
ing the work to his protection and favor.
Pope
DEDICATOR, n. One who dedicates ; om
who inscribes a book to the favor of a pat-
ron. Pope.
DED'ICATORY, a. Composing a dedica-
tion ; as an epistle dedicatory.
DEDL'TION, n. [L. deditio, from dedo, tc
yield.]
The act of yielding any thing ; surrendry.
Hale
DED'OLENT, a. [h. dedolco.] Feeling nc
compunction. [M)t used.]
DEDU'CE, V. 1. [L. deduco : de and duco, to
lead, bring or draw. The L. duco is the
Sax. teogan, teon, Eng. to tug, to tow, G
Ziehen : hence L. dux, Eng. duke. See Duke.
Class Dg. No. 5. 12. 1.5. 37. C2. 64.]
1. To draw from ; to bring from.
O goddess, say, shall I deduce my rhymes
From the dire nation in its early times .'
Pop^.
3. To draw from, in reasoning; to gather a
truth, o])inion or proposition from premi
ses ; to infer something from what pre-
cedes.
Reasoning is nothing but the faculty of dedu-
cing unknown truths from principles already
known. Locke.
3. To deduct. [JVot in use.] B. Jonson.
4. To transplant. [JVot in use.] Selden.
DEDUCED, pp. Drawn from; inferred;
as a consequence from principles or prem-
ises.
DEDU'CEMENT, n. The thing drawn from
or deduced ; inference ; that which is col-
lected from premises. Dryden.
DEDU'CIBLE, a. That may be deduced ;
inferable ; collectible by reason from
premises; consequential.
The properties of a triangle are deducible
from the complex idea of three lines including
a space. Locke.
DEDU'CING, ppr. Drawing from ; infer-
ring ; collecting from principles or facts
already established or known.
DEDU'CIVE, a. Performing the act of de-
duction. [Little used.]
DEDUCT', V. t. [L. deduco, deduclum. See
Deduce.]
To take from ; to subtract ; to separate or
remove, in numbering, estimating or cal-
culating. Thus we say, from the sum of
two numbers, deduct the lesser number ;
from the amount of profits, deduct the char-
ges of freight.
DEDUCT'ED, pp. Taken from ; subtracted.
DEDUCT'ING, jipr. Taking from; sub-
tracting.
DEDUCTION, n. [L. deductio.] The act
of deilucting.
2. Tliat which is deducted ; sum or amount
taken from another ; defalcation ; abate-
ment ; as, this sum is a deduction from the
yearly rent.
•3. That which is drawn from premises ; fact,
opinion, or hypothesis, collected from \mn-
ciples or I'acts stated, or established data ;
inference ; consequence drawn ; conclu-
sion ; as, this opinion is a fair deduction
from the principles you have advanced.
DEDUCTIVE, a. Deducible; that is or
may be deduced from premises.
All knowledge is deductive. Glanville.
DEDUCT'IVELY, adv. By regular deduc-
tion ; by way of inference ; by conse-
quence. Brown.
DEED, ft. [Sax. d(xd ; D. daad ; G. that;
Dan daad ; the participle of Sax. don,
Goth, tauyan, G. thun, 1). doen, to do;
probably a contracted word.]
1. That which is done, acted or eflected ;
an act; a fact ; a word of extensive appli-
cation, including whatever is done, good
or bad, great or small.
And Joseph said to them, what deed is this
which ye have done ? Gen. xliv.
We receive the due reward of our deeds.
Luke XXV.
2. Exploit ; achievement ; illustrious act.
Whose deeds some nobler poem shall adorn
Dryden.
.3. Power of action; agency.
Willi will und deed created free. Milton.
4. A writing containing some contract or
agreement, and the evidence ofitsexecu-
DEE
DEE
D E F
tion ; particularly, an instrument on paper
or parchment, conveying real estate to a
purchaser or donee. This instrument
must be executed, and the execution attes-
ted, in the manner prescribed by law.
Indeed, in fact ; in reahty. These words
are united and called an adverb. But
sometimes they are separated by very, in
very deed ; a more emphatical expression.
Ex. ix.
DEED, V. I. To convey or transfer by deed;
a popular use of the tvord in America ; as,
he deeded all his estate to his eldest son.
DEED-ACIIIE'VING, a. That accom-
plishes great deeds.
DEE'DLESS, a. Inactive; not performing
or having performed deeds or exploits.
Pope.
DEED-POLL, 71. A deed not indented, tliat
is, shaved or even, made by one party
only. Blackstone.
DEEM, ti. t. [Sax. deman ; D. doemen ;
Sw. doma; Dan. ditmmer ; whence doom.
Russ. dumayu, to think, reflect, reckon,
believe ; duma, a thought or idea, a
privy council ; dnmnoi, a privy counselor.
See Class Dm. No. 5. 36. 39. and Class
Sm. No. 5.]
1. To think ; to judge ; to be of opinion ; to
conclude on consideration ; as, he deems i(
prudent to be silent.
For never can 1 deem him less than god.
Jbryden.
The shi|)nicn deemed that they drew near to
some country. Acts xxvii.
2. To estimate. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEEM, n. Opinion; judgment; surmise.
pp. Thought ; judged ; suppo-
[Obs.]
)EE'MED,
DEE'MING, ppr. Thinking; judging; be-
lieving.
DEE'MSTER, n. [deem and ster. See Steer.]
A judge in the Isle of Man and in Jersey.
Johnson.
DEEP, n. [Sax. deop, dypa; D. diep ; G.
tie/; Sw. diup ; Dan. dyb. It seems to be
allied to dip and dive, whose radical sense
is to thrust or plunge. Qu. W. dwvyn.]
1. Extending or being far below the surface ;
descending far downward ; profound ; o|)-
posed to shallow ; as deep water ; a deep
pit or well.
2. Low in situ.ition ; being or descending far
below the adjacent land ; as a deep valley.
3. Entering far ; piercing a great way. A
tree in a good soil takes deep root. A
spear struck deep into the flesh.
4. Far from the outer part ; secreted.
A spider deep ambushed in her den.
Dryden.
5. Not superficial or obvious ; hidden ; se-1
cret.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness.
Job xii.
C. Remote from comprehension. i
O Lord, thy thoughts are verj' deep. Ps.
xcii.
7. Sagacious : penetrating ; having the pow-j
er to enter far into a subject ; as a man of^
rfee;) thought; a (ice/) divine.
8. Artful ; contriving ; concealing artifice ;
insidious ; designing ; as a friend, deep,'
hollow, treacherous.
9. Grave in sound; low; as the rfef/) tones'
of an organ. 1
10. Very still ;
I ; profound ; as deep
5. Witli a dark
IL Thick : black ; not to be penetrated by
the sight.
Now deeper darkness brooded on the ground.
Hoole.
12. Still ; sound ; not easily broken or dis-
turbed.
The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on
Adam. Gen. ii.
13. Depressed ; sunk low, metaphorically ;
as deep jroverty.
14. Dark ; intense ; strongly colored ; as a
deep brown ; a deep crimson ; a deep blue.
15. Unknown ; unintelligible.
A people of deeper speech than thou canst
perceive. Is. xxxiii.
10. Heart-felt ; penetrating ; affecting ; as a
deep sense of guilt.
17. Intricate ; not easily understood or un-
raveled ; as a deep plot or intrigue.
This word often qualifies a verb, like an ad-
verb.
Drink deep, or taste not tlie Pierian spring.
DEEP, n. The sea; the abyss of waters;
pot. Job
2. A lake ; a great collection of water.
Lanch out into the deep, and let down your
ts. Luke v.
3. That which is profound, not easily fath-
omed, or incomprehensible.
Thy judgments are a great deep. Ps. xxxvi.
4. The most still or solemn part; the midst;
as, in deep of night. Shak. Philips.
DEE'P-DRAWING, a. Sinking deep into
the water. Shak.
DEE'PEN, v. t. dee'pn. To make deep or
deeper; to sink lower; as, to deepen the
channel ofa river or harbor; to deepen o.
well.
2. To make dark or darker ; to make more
thick or gloomy ; as, to deepen the shades
of night; to deepen ',^\oom.
3. To give a darker hue, or a stronger color ;
as, to deepen a color ; to deepen a red, blue
or crimson color.
4. To make more poignant or distressing ;
as, to deepen grief or sorrow.
5. To make more frightful; as, to deepen
the horrors of the scene.
6. To make more sad or gloomy ; as, to deep-
en the murmurs of the flood.
7. To make more grave ; as, to deepen the
tones of an organ.
DEE'PEN, V. i. To become more deep ; as,
the water deepens at every cast of the
lead.
DEE'PENED, pp. Made more deep.
DEE'PENING, ;);)r. Siijiing lower; ina-
king more deep.
DEE'PLY, adv. At or to a great depth ; far
below the surface ; as a passion deeply root-
ed in our nature ; precepts deeply eiigi-a-
ven on the heart.
3. Profoundly ; thoroughly ; as deeply skill-
ed in ethics or anatomy.
3. To or from the imnost recesses of the
heart ; with great sorrow ; most feelingly.
He 6is;hcd defply in his spirit. Mark viii.
He was rfccp^y affected at the sight. .9non.
4. To a great degree ; as, he has deeply of-
fended, j
They have deeply corrupted themselves.
Ho-, ix. '
iig color; as
deeply red liijuor ; deeply colored.
fi. Gi-avely ; as a deeply toned instrument.
7. With profound skill ; with art or intrica-
cy ; as a deeply laid plot or intrigue.
This word cannot easily be defined in all its
various applications. In general it gives
emphasis or intensity to the word which
it qualifies.
DEE'P-I\10UTHED, a. Having a hoarse,
loud, hollow voice; as a deep-mouthed Ao^.
Shak.
DEE'P-Mi:SL\G,a. Contemplative ; think-
inj^ closely or profoundly. Pope.
DEE'PNESS, 71. Depth ; remoteness from
tlie surface in a descending line ; interior
distance from the surface ; profundity.
And forthwith they sprung up, because they
had no deepness of earth. Matt. xiii.
2. Craft; insidiousness. [Unusual.]
DEEP-READ, a. Having fully read; pro-
foundlv versed. U Estranee.
DEEP-REVOLVING, a. Profoundly revol-
ving or meditating. Shak.
DEE'P-THROATED, a. With deep throats.
MUton.
DEEP-TONED, a. Having a very low or
grave tone.
DEEP-VAULTED, a. Formed like a deep
vault or arch. MUton.
DEE'P-WAISTED, a. Having a deep waist,
as a ship when the quarter deck and fore-
castle are raised from four to six feet
above the level of the main deck.
Mar. Did.
DEER, n. sing, and plu. [Sax. denr ; D.
dier; G. thier ; Sw. diur ; Dan. dyr ; Po-
lish zwiers ; Gr. 9);p, a wild beast. The
]>rimary sense is simply roving, wild, un-
tamed ; hence, a wild beast.]
A quadruped of the genus Cervus, of several
species, as the stag, the fallow deer, the
roe-buck, the rane or rane-deer, &c.
These animals are wild and hunted in the
forest, or kept in jiarks. Their flesh called
veni;.on, is di cincd excellent food.
DEE'I! .-^'ri'.AI.KU.H. One who steals deer.
DEE'K sri: Al.l.Nt;, «. The actor crime
ofst(:ilir,gdci-r.
DE'ESS, n. [Ft. decsse.] A goddess.[ Not
in use.] Croft.
DEFA'CE, v.t. [Arm. di/afza ; de andL.
facio ; Fr. defaire, to undo' or unmake.]
1. To destroy or mar the face orsurface ofa
thing; to injure the superficies or beauty ;
to disfigure ; as, to deface a monument ; to
deface an edifice.
2. To
injure any thing ; to destroy, spoil or
mar ; to erase or obliterate ; as, to deface
letters or writing ; to deface a note, deed
or bond ; to deface a record.
."1. To injure the appearance ; to disfigure.
DEF.'V'CED, pp. Injured on the surface ;
disfigured ; marred ; erased.
DEFA'CEMENT, n. Injury to the surface
or beauty ; rasure ; obliteration ; that
which mars beauty or disfigures.
DEFA CER, n. He or that which defaces ;
one who injures, mars or disfigures.
DEFA'CING, /)/)r. Injuring the face or sur-
tace ; marring ; disfiguring ; erasing.
De facto. [L.] actually; in fact; existing;
as a king de facto, distinguished from a
king rfe jure, or bv right.
DEFA'ILANCE, n. [Fr. See FaU.] FaU-
ure; miscarriage. Ols. Taylor.
D E F
DEFAL'€ATE, v. t. [Fr. defalquer; It. de-
falcare; Sp. desfalcar ; Port, desfalcar ;
from L. defidco; de and /a/co, from /air, a
sickle.]
To cut off; to take away or deduct a part ;
used chiefly of money, accounts, rents
income, &c.
DEFALCATION, n. The act of cutting
off, or deducting a part ; deduction ; dim
inution ; abaten'ient ; as, let him have the
amount of his rent without defalcation.
9. That which is cut off; as, this loss is i
defalcation from the revenue.
DEFALK, v. t. To defalcate. [JVo( in use:
Bp.Hall
DEFAMATION, n. [See Defame.] The
uttering of slanderous words with a viev
to injure another's reputation ; the mali
cious uttering of falsehood respecting an-
other which tends to destroy or impair his
good name, character or occupation : slan
der ; calumny. To constitute defamation
in law, the words must be false and spo-
ken maliciously. Defamatory vvords writ-
ten and pubUshed are called a libel.
Blackstone.
DEFAM'ATORY, a. Calumnious; slander-
ous; containing defamation ; false and in-
jui-ious to reputation : as defamatory
words ; defamatory reports or writings.
DEFA'ME, V. t. [Fr. diffamer ; It. diffamare ;
Sp. disfamar ; from L. diffamo ; de or dis
andfama, fame.]
1. To slander; falsely and maliciously to
utter words respecting another which tend
to injure his reputation or occupation ; as
to say, a judge is corrupt; a man is per-
jured ; a trader is a knave.
2. To speak evil of; to dishonor by false re-
ports ; to calumniate; to libel; to impair
reputation by acts or words.
Bein? defamed, we entreat. 1 Cor.
DEFA'MED, pp. Slandered ; dishonored or
injiu'ed by evil reports.
DEFA'MER, »!. A slanderer; a detractor;
a calumniator.
DEFA'MING, ppr. Slandering ; injuring
the character by false reports.
DEFA'MING, n. Defamation ; slander.
Jeremiah.
DEFAT'JGABLE, a. Liable to be wearied.
[JVot much used.] Glanville.
DEFAT'IGATE, v. t. [L. defatigo ; de and
fatigo, to tire. See Fatigue.] To weary
or tire. [Dittle used.] Herbert.
DEFATIGA'TION, n. Weariness. [Litik
used.] Bi
DEFAULT', n. [Fr. defaut, for default, fi-om
defnillir, to fail; de and faillir, to fail. See
Fail and Fault.]
1. A failing, or failure; an omission of tl
which ought to be done ; neglect to do
what duty or law requires; as, this evil
has happened through the governor's de-
faidt. A default or fault, may be a crime,
a vice, or a mere defect, according to the
nature of the duty omitted.
2. Defect ; want ; failure.
Cooks could make artificial birds, in default ol
real ones. Jlrliuthnot.
3. In law, a failure of ajipearance in court at
a day assigned, particidarly of the defend-
ant in a suit when called to make answer.
It maybe applied to jurors, witnesses, &c. ;
but a plaintiff's failing to appear by him-
D E F
self or attorney, is usually called a non
appearance.
To suffer a default, is to permit an action tt
be called without apjiearing or answer
ing ; applied to a defendant.
DEFAULT, V. i. To fail in performing a con
tract or agreement. Johnson.
DEFAULT', V. t. In law, to call out a de
fendant, [according to the common ex
pression.] To call a defendant officially,
to appear and answer in court, and on his
failing to answer, to declare him in de
fault, and enter judgment against him ; as
let the defendant be defaulted.
No costs are to be awarded for such (own, if
defaulted. Mass. Imws.
2. To call out a cause, in which the defend-
ant docs not appear, and enter judgment
on the default ; as, the cause was defaulted.
.3. To fail in performance. Milton.
DEFAULT, V. t. To ofl^end. Obs.
DEFaULT'ED, pp. Colled out of court, as
defendant or his cause.
2. a. Having defect.
DEFAULT'ER, n. One who makes default ;
one who fails to ai)pear in court when
called.
3. One who fails to perform a public duty ;
particularly, one who fails to account for
pidjlic money entrusted to his care ; a de-
linquent.
DEFAULT'ING,p;)r. Failing to fulfil a con-
tract ; delinquent.
Failing to perform a duty or legal require-
ment ; as a defaulting creditor. Walsh.
3. Calling out of court, and entering judg-
ment against for non-appearance, as a de-
fendant.
DEFE'ASANCE, n. s as z. [Norm, defe-
sauce ; Fr. defesant, from defaire, to undo ;
de and /aire, h.facio.]
1. Literally, a defeating ; a rendering null ;
the preventing of the operation of an in-
strument.
2. In laiB, a condition, relating to a deed,
which being performed, the deed is de-
feated or rendered void ; or a collateral
deed, made at the same time with a feoff-
ment or other conveyance, contahiing
conditions, on the performance of which
the estate then created may be defeated.
A defeasance, on a bond, or a recogni-
zance, or a judgment recovered, is a con-
dition which, when performed, defeats it.
A defeasance differs from the connnon
condition of a bond, in being a separate
deed, whereas a common condition is in-
serted in the bond itself Blachstone.
3. The writing containing a defeasance.
4. Defeat. Obs. Spenser
DEFE'ASIBLE, a. s as z. That may be de
feated, or annulled ; as a defeasible title
a defeasible estate.
DEFE'ASIBLENESS, n. The quality of|
being defeasible.
DEFE' AT, n. [Fr. defaite, from defaire, to
I luido; de and /aire.]
1. Overthrow; loss of battle; the check,
rout, or destruction of an army by the vie
tory of an eneiriy.
2. Successtid resistance ; as the defeat of ai
attack.
3. Frustration ; a rendering null and void
astbprfp/taiofa title.
4. Frustration ; prevention of success ; ai
the defeat of a plan or desiirn.
D E F
DEFE' AT, 11. /. To overcome or vanquisli,
as an army ; to check, disperse or ruin by
victory ; to overthrow ; applied to an ar-
my, or a division of troops ; to a fleet, or to
a commander.
The English army defeated the French
on the plains of Abraham. Gen. Wolf rfe-
feated Montcalm. The French defeated
the Austrians at Marengo.
2. To frustrate ; to prevent the success of;
to disappoint.
Then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel
of Aliithophel. 2 Sam. xv. and xvii.
We say, our dearest hopes are often de-
feated.
3. To render null and void ; as, to defeat a
title or an estate.
4. To resist with success ; as, to defeat an
attempt or assault.
DEFE'ATED, pp. Vanquished ; eftectuaUy
resisted ; overthrown ; frustrated ; disap-
pointed ; rendered null or inoperative.
DEFE'ATING, ppr. Vanquishing ; subdu-
ing; opposing successfully; overthrow-
ing ; frustrating ; disappointing ; render-
ing null and void.
DEFE'x\TURE, n. Change of feature.
Shak.
2. Overthrow ; defeat. Obs. Beaum.
DEF ECATE, v. t. [L. defa:co ; de and
fu:x, dregs.]
. To pmify ; to refine ; to clear from dregs
or impurities ; to clarify ; as, to defecate
liquor.
2. To purify from admixture ; to clear ; to
pin-ge of extraneous matter.
DEF'ECATED,;);?. Purified; clarified; re-
fined.
DEF'ECATING, ppr. Purifying ; purging
of lees or impurities.
DEFECA'TION, n. The act of separating
from lees or dregs ; purification from im"
purities or foreign matter.
DEFECT', n. [L. defectus ; It. difetto; Sp.
defecto ; from L. deficio, to fail ; de and
faeio, to make or do.]
1. Want or absence of something necessary
or useful towards perfection ; fault ; im-
perfection.
Errors have been corrected, and defects sup-
plied. Davies.
We say, there are numerous defects in
the plan, or in the work, or in the execu-
tion.
2. Failing ; fault ; mistake ; imperfection in
moral conduct, or in judgment.
A deep conviction of the defects of our lives
tends to make us humble.
Trust not yourself ; but, your defects to know,
Make use of every friend and every foe.
Pope.
3. Any want, or imperfection, in natural ob-
jects ; the absence of any thing necessary
to perfection ; anything unnatural or mis-
placed ; blemish ; deformity. We speak
of a defect in the organs of seeing or hear-
ing, or in a limb ; a defect in timber ; a de-
fect in an instrument, &c.
DEFECT', V. i. To be deficient. [M>t in
use.] Brown.
DEFECTIBIL'ITY, ??. Deficiency; imper-
fection. [Little tised.] Digby. Hale.
DEFECT'IBLE, a. Imperfect ;' deficient ;
wanting. [Little used.] Hale.
DEFECTION, n. [L. defectio. See Defect.]
1. Want iir failure of duty; particularly, a
falling away ; apostasy ; the act of aban-
D E F
D E F
D E F
Ooning n person or cause to wliich oi
bound by allegiance or duty, or to whicli
one has attached himself. Our defection
from God is proof of our depravity. The
cause of the king was rendered desperate
by the defection of the nobles.
2. Revolt ; used of nations or slates.
DEFECT'IVE, a. [L. defective. See Defect.
1. Wanting either in substance, quantity or
niiality, or in any thing necessary; impcr-
tect ; as a defective limb ; defective timber ;
a defective copy or book; a defective ac-
count. Defective articulation, in speaking,
renders utterance indistinct.
3. Wanting in moral qualities ; faulty ; blam-
able ; not conforming to rectitude or rule ;
as a defective character.
3. In grammar, a defective noun is one which
wants a whole number or a particular
case ; an indeclinable noun.
4. A defective verb, is one which wants some
of tlie tenses.
DEFECT'IVELY, adv. In a defective man-
DEFECT'IVENESS, n. Want ; the state
of being imperfect ; faultiness.
DEFEetUOS'ITY, n. Defectiveness ; fault-
iness. [J^ot used.] Montagu.
DEFECT'UOUS, a. Full of defects. j^LUtle
used.] IVorihington.
DEFEUA'TION, n. Pollution. [J^ol in
use.] Bentlcy.
DEFEND', V. t. [L. defendo ; de and obs.
fendo ; Fr. defendre ; It. difendere ; Sp. de-
fender ; Port, id.: Arm. difenn or diven 7i ;
W. difyn ; Norm, fendu, struck ; defender,
to opjiose, to prohibit. The primary sense
is to strike, thru.st or drive off; to repel.]
). To drive from ; to thrust back ; hence, to
deny ; to repel a demand, charge, or accu-
sation ; to oppose ; to resist ; the effect of
which is to maintain one's own claims.
2. To forbid; to prohibit; that is, to drive
from, or back. Milton calls the forbidden
fruit, the defended fruit.
The use of wine in some places is defended
by customs or laws. Temple.
[This application is nearly obsolete.]
3. To drive back a foe or danger ; to repel
• from any thing that which assails or an-
noys ; to protect by opposition or resist-
ance; to support or maintain; to prevent
from being injured, or destroyed.
There arose, to defend Israel, Tola the son of
Puah. Judges x.
4. To vindicate ; to assert ; to uphold ; to
maintain uninjured, by force or by argu-
to defend our cause ; to defend
) defe
rivilej
rights and privileges ; to defend reputation,
5. To secure against attacks or evil; to for-
tify against danger or violence ; to set ob-
stacles to the approach of any thing that
can annoy. A garden may be defended by
a grove. A camp may be defended by a
wall, a hill or a river.
DEFEND', V. i. To make opposition ; as,
the party comes into court, defends and
says.
DEFEND'ABLE, a. That may he defended.
DEFEND' ANT, a. [French participle of rfc-
fendre.] Defensive ; proper for defense.
Shak.
2. Makinw defense ; being in the character
of a (Jetendant. tfhealon's Rep.
DEFEND' ANT, n. He that defends against
Vol. I.
an assailant, or against the ai)proacli oi
evil or danger.
2. In law, the party that opposes a complaint
demand or charge ; he that is summoned
into court, and defends, denies or opposes
the detnnnd or charge, and maintains hi
own right. It is applied to any party of
whom a demand is made in court, wheth
er the party denies and defends, or admits
the claim and suffers a default.
DEFF;ND'ED, pp. Opposed ; denied ; pro
hibited ; maintained by resistance ; vindi
cated ; preserved uninjured ; secured.
DEFEND'ER, n. One who defends by op
position ; one who maintains, supports,
protects or vindicates; an assertor
dicator, either by arms or by arguments;
a champion or an advocate.
DEFEND'ING, ppr. Denying; opposinj
resisting; forbiflding ; maintaining nni
jured by force or by reason ; securing from
evil.
DEFENS'ATIVE, n. Guard ; defense ; a
bandage, i)la.ster, or the like, to secure
a wound from external injurj'. Johnson.
DEFENSE, n. defens'. [L. defcnsio.] Any
thing that opposes attack, violence, dan-
ger or injury ; any thing that secures the
person, the rights or the possessions of
men ; fortification ; guard ; protection ; se-
curity. A wall, a parapet, a ditch, or a
garrison, is the defense of a city or fortress
The Almighty is the defense of the right-
eous. Ps. lix.
2. Vindication ; justification ; apology ; thai
which repels or disproves a charge or ac-
cusation.
Men, breUiren, fathers, hear ye my defense
Acts xxii.
3. In too, the defendant's rejily to the plain-
tiff's declaration, demands or charges.
4. Prohibition. Obs. Temple.
5. Resistance ; opposition. Shak.
. The science of defending against enemies ;
military skill.
7. In fortification, a work that flanks aj
other.
DEFENSE, v. I. defens'. To defend by fo
fir;uion. Obs. Fairfax.
DKFFAS'F.I)./)/). Fortified.
DF.FKNr^KLKSS, a. defens'less. Being
vvilli(uit defense, or without means of re
pelling assault or injury ; applied to a town
it denotes unfortified or ungarrisoned :
open to an enemy ; applied to a person, it
denotes naked ; unarmed ; nni)rotected ;
unprepared to resist attack ; weak ; una-
ble to oppose ; uncovered ; unsheltered.
DEFENSELESSNESS, n. defens'lessness.
The state of being unguarded or unpro-
tected.
DEFENS'IBLE, a. That may be defended ;
a defensible city.
2. That may be vindicated, maintained or
justified ; as a defensible cause.
DEFENS'IVE,a. [Fr. defensif] That serves
to defend ; proper for defense ; as defen-
sive armor, which repels attacks or blows,
opposed to offensive arms, which are used
in attack.
Carried on in resisting attack or aggres-
sion ; as defensive war, in distinction from
offen.nre war, which is aggressive.
3. In a state or posture to defend. Milton.
DEFENS'IVE, n. Safeguard ; that which
defends.
57
DEI
Wars preventive, upon just fears, are nue d<
femives. Bacon.
To be on the defensive, or to stand on the de-
fensive, is to be or stand in a state or pos-
ture of defense or resistance, in opposition
to aggression or attack.
DEFENS'lVELY.arfr. In a defensive man-
ner; on the defensive ; in defense.
DEFER', V. I. [L. differo ; dis, from, and/ero,
to bear.]
1. To delay ; to put off; to postpone to a
future time ; as, to defer the execution of
a design.
When thou vowest a vow, defer not to pay i(.
Eccles. V.
Hope d(ferred makelh the heart fi<;k. Prov.
xiil.
2. To refer; to leave to another's judgment
and determination. liacon.
[In this sense, refer is now used.]
FER', V. i. To yield to another's opin-
ion ; to submit in opinion ; as, he defers to
the opinion of his fatlier.
DEF'ERENCE, n. A yielding in opiniou ;
suliiiiission of judgment to tlie opinion or
judgment of another. Hence, regard ;
respect. We often decline acting in op-
position to those for whose wisdom we
have a great deference.
2. Coini>laisance ; condescension. Locke.
■i. Submission. Addison.
DEF'ERENT, a. Bearing; can-ying ; con-
ying. [Little used.] Bacon.
DEF'ERENT, n. That which carries or
conveys. The deferent of a planet, is an
imaginary circle or orb in the Ptolemaic
system, that is supposed to carry about the
body of the planet. Bailey.
2. A vessel in the human body for the con-
eyance of fluids. Chamhers.
DEFEREN'TIAL, a. Expressing deference.
DEFER'MENT, n. Delay. Suckling.
DEFER'RER, »i. One who delays or puts
off. ^ B. Jonson.
DEFER'RING, npr. Dela3'ing ; postponing.
DEFI'^VNCE, n. [French, in a different
sense. See Defy.]
1. A daring; a challenge to fight ; invitation
to combat ; a call to an adversary to en-
counter, if he dare. Goliath bid defiance
to the army of Israel.
2. A challenge to meet in any contest ; a call
upon one to make good any assertion or
charge ; an invitation to maintain any
cause or point.
.3. Contempt of opposition ordanger; a dar-
ing or resistance that implies the contempt
of an adversary, or of any opposing pow-
er. Men often transgress the law and act
ill defiance of authority.
DEFI'ATORY, a. Bidding or bearing defi-
ance. Shelford.
DEFI"CTENCY, I [L. deflciens, ftam de-
DEFI'CIENCE, ^ "• fcio, to fail ; de and
facio, to do.]
1. A failing ; a falling short ; imperfection ;
as a defciency in moral duties.
2. Want; defect; something less than is ne-
cessary : as a defciency of means : a def-
ciency of revenue; a deficiency of blood.
DEFI "CIENT, o. Wanting; defective ; im-
perfect ; not sufficient or adequate ; as de-
ficient estate ; deficient strength.
2. Wanting; not having a full or adequate
sujiply ; as, the country may be deficient
in the means of carrying on war.
D E F
D E F
D E F
Deficient numbers, in arithmetic, are those
numbers, whose parts, added togetlier,
inake less than tlie integer, whose parts
they are. Johnson.
DEF'ICIT, n. Want ; deficiency ; as a deji-
cit in the taxes or revenue.
DEFI'ER, n. [See Defy.] A challenger;
one who dares to combat or encounter;
one who braves ; one who acts in con-
tem|)t of opposition, law or authority ; as
a defer of the laws.
DEFIGURA'TION, n. A disfiguring. [Xot
in use.] Hall.
DEFIG'URE, V. I. To delineate. [J\ol hi
tise.] ff'eevcr.
DEFl'LE, V. t. [Sax. afi/lan, befylan, gefi/lan,
afulan, from ful, fula, foul. See Foid.
The Syr. ^.a.^ is almost precisely the
English word. Cast. 1553.]
1. To make unclean ; to render foul or dirty ;
in a general sense.
2. To make impure ; to render turbid ; as,
the water or liquor is defied.
3. To soil or sully ; to tarnish ; as reputation.
&c.
He is among the greatest prelates of the age.
however his character may be defiled by dirty
hands. Swifi.
They sliall defile thy brightness. Ezek
xxviii.
4. To pollute ; to make ceremonially un
clean.
That which dieth of itself, he shall not eat, to
defile himself tlierewith. Lev. xxii.
5. To corrupt chastity ; to debauch ; to vio-
late ; to tarnish the purity of character by
lewdness.
Schechem defiled Dinah. Gen. xxxiv.
6. To taint, in a moral sense ; to corrupt ;
to vitiate ; to render impure with sin.
Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt.
Ezeli. XX.
He hath defiled the sanctuary of the Lord.
DEFl'LE, v. i. [Fr. defler ; de aiu]fle, a row
or line, from L.ftum, a thread.]
To march oflf in a line, or file by file ; to file
off. Roscoe.
DEFl'LE,;?!. [Fr. defle, from f I, fie, a
thread, a line.]
A narrow passage or way, in which troops
may maj'ch only in a file, or with a nar-
row front ; a long narrow i)ass, as be-
tween hills, &c.
DEFI'LED, p/». Made dirty, or foul; pol-
luted ; soiled ; corrupted ; violated ; vi-
tiated.
DEFI'LEMENT, n. The act of defiling, or
state of being defiled ; foulness; dirtiness;
vmcleanness.
2. Corruption of morals, princii)!es or char-
acter; impurity; pollution by sin.
The chaste cannot rake into such filth with-
ont danger of defilement. Addison.
DEFI'LER, n. One who defiles; one who
corrupts or violates; that which pollutes
DEFI'LING, ppr. Polluting ; making im
pure.
2. Marching in a file, or with a narrow front.
DEFI'NABLE, a. [See Define.] Literally
that may be limited, or have its' limits as-
certained. Hence, capable of having its
extent ascertained with precision; capablt
of being fixed and determined. The ex
tent of the Russian empire is hardly dtfn-
able. The limits are hardly definable.
2, That may be defined or described ; capa
ble of having its signification rendered cer-
tain, or expressed with certainty or pre-
cision ; as definable words.
3. That may be fixed, determined or ascer-
tained ; as, the time or period is not defina-
ble.
DEFI'NE, V. t. [L. defnio ; de and fnio, to
end, to limit, from finis, end ; Fr. defnir ;
•Sp. defnir ; It. defnire.]
1. To determine or describe the end or lim-
it; as, to define the extent of a kingdom or
country.
2. To determine with precision ; to ascer-
tain; as, to define the limits of a kingdom,
3. To mark the limit; to circumscribe; to
bound.
4. To determine or ascertain the extent of
the meaning of a word ; te ascertain the
signification of a term ; to explain what a
word is understood to express ; as, to de
fine the words, virtue, courage, belief, or
charity.
5. To describe ; to ascertain or explain the
distinctive properties or circumstances of
a thing ; as, to define a line or an angle.
DEFI'NE, V. i. To determine ; to decide.
[N'ol used.] Bacon.
DEFI'NED, pp. Determined ; having the
extent ascertained ; having the significa
tion determined.
2. Having the precise limit marked, or hav
ing a determinate limit ; as, the shadow of
a body is well defined.
DEFI'NER, 7!. He who defines ; he who as
certains or marks the limits ; he who de
termiues or explains the signification of a
word, or describes the distinctive jjroper-
ties of a thing.
DEFI'NING, ppr. Determining the limits
ascertaining the extent ; explaining the
meaning ; describing the properties.
DEF'INITE, a. [L. defnitus.] Having cer
tain limits ; bounded with precisi<)n ; de
terminate ; as a definite extent of land
definite dimensions ; definite measure.
2. Having certain limits in signification ; de-
terminate ; certain ; precise ; as a definite
word, term or expression.
3. Fixed ; determinate ; exact j precise ; as
a definite time or period.
4. Defining ; limiting ; determining the ex-
tent; as a definite word.
DEF'INITE, n. Thing defined. Ayliffe.
DEF'INITENESS, n. Certainty of e.xtent :
certainty of signification ; determinate-
DEFINr'TION, fl. [L. d-^finitio. Sec
Define.]
1. A brief description of a thing by its prop-
erties; as a definition of wit or of a circle.
2. In logic, the explication of the essence of
a thing by its kind and difierence.
3. In lexicography, an explanation of the sig
nification of a word or term, or of what i
word is understood to ex|)ress.
DEFIN'ITIVE, a. [L. definitimts.] Limit
ing the extent ; determinate ; positive
express ; as a definitive term.
2. Limiting; ending; determining; final;
opposed to conditional, provisional, or inler-
Ineuton/ ; as a definitive sentence or decree.
DEFIN''ITIVE, n. In grammar, an adjec
live used to define or limit the extent of
the signification of an appellative or (
mon noun. Such are the Greek o, r,
the Latin hie, ilk, ipse ; the, this and that,]
in English ; le, la, les, in French ; il, la, lo,
in Italian. Thus tree is an appellative or
connnon noun ; the tree, this tree, that tree,
designate a particular tree, determinate or
known. Homo signifies man ; hie homo,
ille homo, a particular man, &c. But in
some languages, the definitives have lost
their original use, in a great degree ; as in
the Greek and French. Thus " La force
de la vertu," must be rendered in Eng-
lish, the force of virtue, not the force of tte
virtue. The first la is a definitive ; the
last has no definitive etiect.
DEFINITIVELY, adv. Determinately ;
positively ; expressly.
2. Finally ; conclusively ; unconditionally ;
as, the points between the parties are de-
finitively settled.
DEFIN'iTIVENESS, n. Determinateness ;
decisiveness ; conclusiveness.
DEFIX', V. t. [L. dejigo.] To fix ; to fasten.
[J^ot used.] Herbert.
DEFLAGRABIL'ITY, n. [See Deflagrate.]
Combustibility; the quality of taking fire
and burning away, as a metallic wire ;
a chimical term. Boyle.
DEFLA'GRABLE, a. Combustible ; having
the quality of taking fire and burning, as
alcohol, oils, &c. Boyle.
DEFLAGRATE, v. t. [L. deflagro ; de and
fiagro, to burn.]
To set fire to ; to burn ; to consume ; as, to
deflagrate oil or sijirit.
DEFLAGRA'TION, n. A kindling or set-
ting fire lo a substance ; burning ; com-
bustion.
The strength of spirit is proved by deflagra-
tion. Encyc.
A rapid combustion of a mixture, at-
tended with much evolution of flame and
vapor, as of niter and charcoal. Cyc.
This term is also applied to the rapid
combustion of metals by galvanism.
DEF'LAGRATOR, n. A galvanic instru-
ment for producing combustion, particu-
larly the combustion of metallic substan-
ces. Hare.
DEFLECT', V. i. [L. deficcto ; de and feclo,
to turn or bend.]
To turn from or aside ; to deviate from a
true course or right line ; to swerve.
The needle deflects from the meridian. Brown.
DEFLECT', V. t. To turn aside ; to turn or
bend from a right line or regular course.
DEFLECT'ED,}?;). Turned aside, or from
a direct line or course. In botany, bending
downward archwise.
DEFLECT'ING, ;)/)r. Turning aside; turn-
ing from a right line or regular course.
DEFLECTION, n. Deviation; the act of
tinning aside ; a turning from a true line
or the regular course.
2. The departure of a ship from its true
course.
3. A deviation of the rays of light towards
the surface of an opake body ; inflection.
Hooke.
DEFLEX'URE, n. A bending down; a
turning aside ; deviation.
DEF'LORATE, a. [L. defloralus, from def-
toro, todeflour; de and foreo, flos. See
Flower.]
In bolKin/, liaviiiL'- ra?t its farin, pollen, or
fccundiilinif (lii.-l. Martyn.
DKFLOKA'TlOiN, n. [Fr. See /)f>«r.]
1. The act of dcHouriiig; the act of depri-
D E F
D E F
D E F
\ing of tlifi flower or prime beauties ; par-
tiriilMrly,the act of taking away a woman's
virginity.
2. A selection of the flower, or of tliat which
is most valuable.
The laws of Normandy are, in a great meas-
ure, the defloration of the English laws.
Hale.
DEFLOUR', D. t. [L. defloro ; de and floreo,
orjlos, a flower ; Fr. deflorer ; It. defiorare,
or dejiorare ; Sp. desjlorar. See Flower.]
1. To deprive a woman of her virginity,
either by force or with consent. When by
force, it may be equivalent to ravish or
violate.
2. To take away the prime beauty and grace
of any thing.
The sweetness of his soul was defloured.
Taylor.
3. To deprive of flowers. Montagu.
DEFLOUR'ED, pp. Deprived of maiden-
hood ; ravished ; robbed of prime beauty.
DEFLOUR'ER, n. One who deprives "a
woman of her virginity.
DEFLOUR'ING ppr. Depriving of virgin-
ity or maidenhood ; robbing of ])rime
beauties.
DEFLOW, V. i. [L. dejluo.] To flow down.
[Not in use.] Brown.
DEF'LUOUS, a. [L. dejluus; de mwAJluo, to
flow.] Flowing down ; falling off. [Lit-
tle used.]
DEFLUX', )i. [L. dejluius; de and Jluo,
fluius. See Flow.]
A flowing down ; a running downward ; as
a defui of humors. [See Dejluxion.]
Bacon.
DEFLUX'ION, n. [L. defluxio, from defuo,
to flow down ; de and Jluo, to flow. See
Floxv.]
1. A flowing, runningorfallingof bumors or
fluid matter, from a superior to an inferior
part of the botly ; properly, an inflamma-
tion of a part, attended with increased
secretion.
2. A discharge or flowing off of humors; as
a dejluxion from the nose or liead in
catarrh.
DEF'LY, adv. Dextrously ; skilfully. Ohs.
[Sec Deft.] Spenser.,
DEFOLIA'TION, n. [L. de anA foliatio,
foliage, froniyb/ium, a leaf, or folior. fen'.
Folio.] I
Literally, the fall of the leaf or shedding of
leaves ; but technically, the time or season!
of shedding leaves in autiunn ; applied to\
trees and .ihrubs. lAnne.l
DEFO'RCE, V. t. [de and force.] To dis-|
seize and keep out of lawful possession of
an estate; to withhold the possession nf
an estate from the rightful owner ; applied
to any possessor whose entry was origin-
ally lawful, but whose detainer is become
unlawful. Blackstone.
DEFO'RCED, pp. Kept out of lawful pos-
DEFO'RCEMENT, n.The holding of lands
or tenements to which another person has
a right ; a general terra including abate-
ment, intrusion, disseisin, discontinuance,
or any other species of wrong, by which
he that hath a right to the freehold is kept
out of possession. Blackstnne.
2. In Scotland, a resisting of an officer in the
execution of law.
DEFOR'CIANT, n. He that keeps out of
possession the rightful owner of an estate
he against whom a fictitious action is
brought in fine and recovery. Blackstone
DEFO'RCING, ppr. Keeping out of lawful
possession.
DEFORM', ti. /. [L. dcformo ; de and forma,
form; Sp. rfcs/ormar; It. deformare.]
1. To mar or injure the form; to alter that
form or disposition of parts which is nat
ural and esteemed beautiful, and thus to
render it displeasing to the eye ; todisfig
ure; as, a hump on the back deforms the
body.
2. To render ugly or displeasing, by exterior
applications or appendages; as, to deform
the face by paint, or the person by unbe
coming dress.
3. To render displeasing.
Wintry blasts deform the year. Thomson
4. To injure and render displeasing or dis
gusting ; to disgrace ; to disfigure moral
beauty ; as, all vices deform the character
of rational beings.
5. To dishonor ; to make ungraceful.
Drydeti.
DEFORM', a. [L. deformis.] Disfigured;
being of an unnatural, distorted, or dispro-
portioned form ; displeasing to the eye.
Spemer.
Sight so deform what heart of rock could long
Dry-eved behold .' Milton.
DEFORMA'TION, n. A disfiguring or de-
facing.
DEFORMED, pp. Injured in the form; dis-
figured ; distorted ; ugly ; wanting natural
beauty, or symmetry.
2. Base ; disgraceful. B. Jonson
DEFORM'EDLY, adv. In an ugly manner.
DEFORM'EDNESS, n. Ugliness; a disa-
greeable or unnatural forin.
DEFORM'ER, n. One who deforms.
DEFORM'ING, ppr. Marring the natural
form or figure; rendering ugly or dis-
pleasing; destroying beauty.
DEFORM'ITY, ;i. [L. defirmitas.] Any
unnatural state of the shape or form :
want of that uniformity or symmetry
which constitutes beauty ; distortion ; ir-
regularity of shape or features ; dispro-
portion v)f limbs ; defect ; crookedness,
&c. Hence, ugliness; ashod'dy deformiti/.
2. Any thing that destroys beauty, grace or
propriety ; irregularity ; absurdity ; gross
deviation from order, or the established
laws of propriety. Thus we speak of rfe-
formity in an edifice, or deformity of char-
acter.
DEFO'RSER, n. [from force.] One that
casts out by force. [Ill formed and not in
use.] Blount.
DEFRAUD', V. t. [L. defrnudo ; de and
fraudo, to cheat, fraus, fraud ; It. de-
fraudare ; Sp. dejraudar.]
I. To deprive of right, either by obtaining
something by deception or artifice, or by
taking something wrongfully without the
knowledge or consent of the owner ; to
cheat ; to cozen ; followed by of before
the thing taken ; as, to defraud a man oj
his right.
We have corrupted no man, we have de-
frauded no man. 2 Cor. vii.
The agent who embezzles public property,
defrauds the slate.
The man who by derepdon obtains n price
for a comiiiodity above its value, dejrauds the
piu-chaser.
2. To withhold wrongfiilly from another
what is due to him. Utfraud not the hire-
ling o/'his wages.
3. To prevent one wrongfully from obtaining
what he may justly claim.
A man of fortune who permits his son to con-
.sume the season of education in hunting, shoot-
ing, or in frequenting horse-races, assemblies,
{ic,, defrauds the comnmnity of a benefactor,
and bequeaths them a nuisance. Paley.
4. To defeat or frustrate wrongfully.
By the duties deserted — by the claims de-
frauded. Paley.
DEFRAUDED, pp. Deprived of property
or right by trick, artifice or deception; in-
jured by the withholding of what is due.
DEFRAUD'ER, n. One who defrauds; one
who takes from another his right by de-
ce|)tion, or withholds what is his due; a
cheat ; a cozener; an embezzler; a pecu-
DEFR AUD'ING, ppr. Depriving another of
his property or right by deception or arti-
fice ; injuring by withholding wrongfully
what is due.
DEFRAUD'MENT, n. The act of defraud-
ing. MiUon.
DEFRA'Y, r./. [Fr. defrayer ; de and/raw,
fraix, expense ; Arm. defraei.]
1. To pay; to discharge, as cost or ex-
pense ; to bear, as charge, cost or expense.
It is followed chiefly by expense, charge or
cost. The acquisitions of war seldom de-
fray the cx|)enses. The profits of a voy-
age will not always defray the charges, or
even the cost of the first outfits.
2. To satisfy ; as, to defray anger. Obs.
Spenser.
3. To fill ; as, to defray a bottle. Obs.
Spenser.
DEFRA' YED, pp. Paid ; discharged ; as ex-
pense, or cost.
DEFRA'YER, n. One who pays or dischar-
ges expenses.
DEFRA'Yl.VG, ppr. Paying; discharging.
DEFRA'YMENT, n. Payment. Shellon.
DEFT, a. [Sax. daft.] Neat ; handsome ;
spruce ; ready ; dextrous ; fit ; convenient.
Obs. Shak. Dryden.
DEFT'LY, adv. Neatly ; dextrously ; in a
skilful manner. 04s. Shak. Gray.
DEFT'NESS, n. Neatness; beauty. Obs.
Drayton.
DEFUNCT', a. [L. defuncius, from defungor,
to perform anil discharge ; de aadfungor,
id.] Having finished the course of life;
dead ; deceased. Shak.
DEFUNCT', n. A dead person ; one de-
ceased. Shak.
DEFUNC'TION, n. Death. [.Yot used.] '
Shak.
DEFY', 11. t. [Fr. defter; de, des, from, and
fier, to trust ; It. sfidare ; Sp. desafiar ; des
Midfiar ; Port, id.; Arm. difyal ; Low L.
diffidare, and diffidnciare, fromfdo, to trust.
See Faith. The word diffidare seems ori-
ginally to have signified, to di.ssolve the
bond of allegiance, as between the lord
and his vassal ; opposed to affidare. Spd-
man, ad voc. Ilence it came to be used for
the denunciation of enmity and of war.
Hence, to challenge. If we understanil
defer to signify to dislrust, tlien to defy
is to call in question the courage of anoth-
D E G
D E G
D E G
cr, according to the popular pliraae, "you
dare not fight me."]
] . To dare ; to provoke to combat or strife,
by ajjpealiiig to the courage of another ;
to invite one to contest ; to challenge ; as,
Goliath defied the armies of Israel.
9. To dare ; to brave ; to offer to hazard a
conflict by manifesting a contempt of op-
position, attacker hostile force ; as, to dcfi)
the arguments of an opponent ; to defy the
power of the magistrate.
Were we to abolish the common law, it would
rise triumphant above its own ruins, deriding
and defying its impotent enemies.
Duponceau.
3. To challenge to say or do any thing.
DEFY', n. A challenge. [Not used.]
Dryden.
nEFY'ER. [See Defer.]
DEG'ARNISH, v. t. [Fr. dcganiir ; de and
gantir, to furnish. See Garnish.]
1. Tounfuruish; to strip of furniture, orna-
ments or apparatus.
2. To deprive of a garrison, or troops neces-
sary for defense; as, to degarnish a city
fort. Washington's Letter. ^VoD. 11. 17
DEG>ARNISHED, pp. Stripped of furni-
■ . ■ ed of in
defense.
tiire or apparatus ; deprived
roops for
DEG^ARNISIIING, ppr. Stripping of fur-
niture, dress, apparatus or a garrison.
DEG^ARNISHMENT, n. The act of depri-
ving of furniture, apparatus or a garrison.
DEgEN'DER, v.i. To degenerate. [J^otin
use.] Spenser.
DEgEN'ERACY, n. [See Degenerate, the
Verb.]
1. A growing worse or inferior ; a decline
in good qualities; or a state of being less
valuable ; as the degeneracy of a plant.
2. In morals, decay of virtue; a growing
worse ; departure from the virtues of an-
cestors; desertion of that which is good.
We speakof thedcg-encrac^of men in mod-
ern times, or of the degeneracy of man-
ners, of the age, of virtue, &c., sometimes
without reason.
;^. Poorness ; meramess; as a degeneracy of
spirit.
r)E6EN'ERATE, v. i. [L. degenero, from
degener, grown worse, ignoble, base ; de
and gene.r, genus ; Fr. degencrer ; Sp.
degenerar.]
1. To become worse ; to decay in good qual-
ities; to pass from a good to a bad or
worse state ; to lose or suffer a diminution
of valuable qualities, either in the natural
or moral world. In the natural world,
plants and animals degenerate when they
grow to a less size than usual, or lose a
part of the valuable qualities which belong
to the species. In the moral world, men
degenerate when they decline in virtue, or
other good qualities. Manners degenerate
when they become corrupt. Wit may de-
generate into indecency or impiety.
DEGEN'ERATE, a. Having fallen from a
perfect or good state into a less excellent
or worse state ; having lost something of
the good qualities possessed ; having de-
clined in natural or moral worth.
The degenerate plant of a strange vine. Jer.
2. Low ; base ; mean ; corrupt ; fallen from
primitive or natural excellence ; having
lost the good qualities of the species. Man
is considered a rfeg'encrafe being. A coward
is a man of degenerate spirit.
DEgEN'ERATELY', adv. In a degenerate
or base manner. Milton.
DEgEN'ERATENESS, n. A degenerate
state ; a state in which the natural good
qualities of the species are decayed or lost.
DEgENERA'TION, n. A growing worse,
or losing of good qualities; a decline from
the virtue and worth of ancestors; a de-
cay of the natural good qualities of the spe-
cies; a falling from a more excellent state
to one of less worth, either in the natural
or moral world.
2. The thing degenerated. Brown.
DEgEN'EROUS, a. Degenerated; fallen
from a slate of excellence, or from the
tue and merit of ancestors. Hence,
2. Low ; base ; mean ; unworthy ; as a de-
fenerous passion. Drydi
GEN'EROUSLY, adv. In a degenerous
manner ; basely ; meanly.
DEGLU'TINATE, v.t. [h. deglutino ; de
and glutino, to glue. See Glue.]
To unglue ; to loosen or separate substances
glued together. Scott.
DEGLUTl"TION, n. [L. deglutio, to swal-
low ; de and glutio. See Glutton.]
1. The act of swallowing ; as, deglutition is
dirticult.
2. The power of swallowing; as, deglutition
is lost.
DEGRADA'TION, «. [Fr. See Degrade.]
1. A reducing in rank ; the act of depriving
one of a degree of honor, of dignity, or of
rank ; also, deposition ; removal or di:
mission from otfice ; as the degradation of
a peer, of a knight, or of a bishop, in
England.
2. The state of being reduced from an eleva-
ted or more honorable station, to one that
is low in fact or in estimation ; baseness ;
degeneracy.
Deplorable is the degradation of oui- nature.
South.
3. Diminution or reduction of strength, effi-
cacy or value.
4. In painting, a lessening and obscuring of
the appearance of distant objects in a
landscape, that they may appear as they
would do to an eye placed at a distance.
Johnson. Encyc.
5. Diminution; reductionof altitude or mag-
nitude. Journ. of Science.
DEGRA'DE, v. t. [Fr. degrader; Sp. Port.
degradar; It. degradare ; L. de and gradus,
a step, a degree. See Grade]
1. To reduce from a higher to a lower rank
or degree; to deprive one of any office or
dignity, by which he loses rank in society ;
to strij) of honors ; as, to degrade a noble-
man, an archbishop or a general officer.
2. To reduce in estimation ; to lessen the
value of; to lower ; to sink. Vice degrades
a man in the view of others ; often in his
own view. Drimkenness degrades a man
to the level of a beast.
3. To reduce in altitude or magnitude.
Altliougli the ridge is still there, the ridge it-
self has been degraded. Journ. of Science.
DEGRA'DED, pp. Reduced in rank ; depri-
ved of an office or dignity ; lowered ; sunk ;
reduced in estimation or value.
DEGRA'DEMENT, n. Deprivation of rank
or otfice. Mitlon.
DEGRA'DlNG,p;)r. Reducing in rank ; de-
priving of honors or offices ; reducing lu
value or estimation ; lowering.
a. Dishonoring ; disgracing the character ;
as degrading obsequiousness.
The inordinate love of money and of fame are
base and degrading passions. Wirt.
DEGRA'DINGLY, adv. In a degrading
manner, or in a way to depreciate.
DEGREE', n. [Fr.degre; Norm. degreJ;
from li. gradus, Sp. and iLgrado, W. rhaz,
Syr. j , ; radah, to go. See Grade and
Degrade.]
1. A step ; a distinct portion of space of in-
definite extent ; a space in progression ;
as, the army gained the hill by degrees ; n
balloon rises or descends by slow degrees ;
and figuratively, we advance in knowl-
edge by slow degrees. Men are yet in the
first degree of improvement. It should be
their aim to attain to the furthest degree,
or the highest degree. There are degrees
of vice and virtue.
2. A step or portion of progression, in eleva-
tion, quafity, dignity or rank; as a man of
great degree. Spenser.
We speak of men of high degree, or of
low degree ; of superior or inferior degree.
It is supposed there are different degrees
or orders of angels.
They purchase to themselves a good degree.
1 Tim. iii.
3. In genealogy, a certain distance or remove
in the line of descent, determining the
proximity of blood ; as a relation in the
third or fourth degree.
4. Measure ; extent. The light is intense to
a degree that is intolerable. We suffer an
extreme degree of heat or cold.
5. In geometry, a division of a circle, inclu-
ding a three hundred and sixtieth part
of its circumference. Hence a degree of
latitude is the 3G0tl) part of the earth's sur-
face north or south of the equator, and a
degree of longitude, the same part of the
sin-faee east or west of any given me-
ridian.
6. In music, an interval of sound, marked by
a line on the scale. Rousseau. Bushy.
7. In arithmetic, a degree consists of three
figures; thus, 270, 300, compose two de-
gi-ees.
8. A division, .space or interval, marked on a
mathematical or other instrument ; as on a
thermometer, or barometer.
E). In colleges and universities, a mark of dis-
tinction conferred on students, as a testi-
mony of their proficiency in arts and sci-
ences ; giving them a kind of rank, and
entitling them to certain privileges. This
is usually evidenced by a diploma. De-
grees are conferred pro vieritis on the
alumni of a college; or they are honorary
tokens of respect, conferred on strangers
of distinguished reputation. The frst de-
gree is that of Bachelor of Arts; the second,
that of Master of Arts. Honorary degrees
are those of Doctor of Divinity, Doctor of
Laii's, &c. Physicians also receive the
degree of Doctor of Medicine.
By degrees, step by step ; gradually ; by lit-
tle and little ; by moderate advances.
Frequent drinking fi)rms by degrees a con-
fij-med habit of intenqicrance.
DEGUSTA'TION, n. [L. degusto.] A tas-
ting. Bp. Hall.
D E I
DEHIS'CENCE, n. [L. dehiscens, dthtsco
to gapu ; de and hiKO, id.]
A gaping. In botany, tlie opening of cap'
sales ; the season wlien capsules open.
Martyn.
DEHIS'CENT, a. Opening, as tlie capsule
of a plant. Eaton.
DEHOIIT', V. t. [L. dehorlor, to dissuade ;
dt and horlor, to advise.]
To dissuade ; to advise to the contrary ; to
counsel not to do nor to undertake.
Wilkins. Ward.
DEHORTA'TION, n. Dissuasion ; advice
or counsel against something.
DEHORT'ATORY, a. Dissuading ; belong-
DEHORT'ER, n. Adissuader; an adviser
to the contrary.
DEHORT'ING, ppr. Dissuading.
DE'ICIDE, n, [It. deiddio ; L. deus, God,
and casdo, to slay.]
1. The act of putting to death Jesus Christ,
our Savior. Prior.
2. One concerned in putting Christ to death
DEIF'Ie, a. [L. deus, god, and facio, to
make.] Divine; pertainnig to the gods.
Trans, of Pausanias.
2. Making divine.
DEIFl€A'TION, n. [See Deify.] The acl
of deifying; thcactof exalting to the rank
of, or enrolling among the heathen deities.
DEIFIED, pp. Exalted or ranked among
the gods ; regarded or praised as divine.
DE'IFIER, n. One that deifies.
DE'IFORM, a. [L. deus, a god, and forma,
form.] Like a god ; of a godlike form.
These souls exhibit a deiform power.
Trans, of Pausanias.
DE'IFY, V. t. [L. deus, a god, and facio, to
make.]
1. To make a god ; to exalt to the rank of
a heathen deity ; to enroll among the dei-
ties ; as, Julius Cesar was deified.
2. To exalt into an object of worship ; to
treat as an object of supreme regard ; as,
a covetous man rfet^es his treasures. Prior.
3. To exalt to a deity in estimation ; to rev-
erence or praise as a deity.
The pope was t'oriucrly extolled and deified
by his votaries.
DE'IP?ING, ppr. Exalting to the rank of a
deity ; treating as divine.
DEIGN, i;. i. dane. [Fr. daifciier ; It. deg
nare ; Sp. dignarse ; Port. id. ; L. dignor,
from dignus, worthy.]
To think wortliy ; to vouchsafe ; to conde-
scend.
0 deign to visit our forsaken seats. Pope.
DEIGN, V. t. dane. To grant or allow ; to
condescend to give to.
Nor would we deign him burial of his men.
Sluilc.
DEIGNING, ppr. da'ning. Vouchsafing:
thinking worthy.
DEIN'TEGRATE, v. t. To disintegrate.
[M)t used. See Disintegrate.]
DEIP'AROUS, a. [L.deiparus.] Bearing or
bringing forth a god ; an epithet applied to
t/ie Virgin Mart/.
DEIPNdSOPH iST, n. [Gr. Snrtvov, a feast,
and oo^is'ijs, a sophist.]
One of an ancient sect of philosophers, who
were famous for their learned conversa-
tion at meals. Ash. Observer.
DE'ISM, n. [Fr. deisme ; Sp. deismo ; It.
id. ; from L. deus, God.]
D E J
The doctrine or creed of a deist ; the belief
or system of religious opinions of those
who acknowledge the existence of one
God, but deny revelation: or deism is the
belief in natural religion only, or those
truths, in doctrine and practice, which
man is to discover by the light of reason,
independent and exclusive of any revela-
tion from God. Hence deism implies in-
fidelity or a disbelief in the divine origin
of the scriptures.
The view which the rining greatness of our
country presents to my eyes, is greatly tarnish-
ed by the general prevalence of deism, which,
with ine, is but another name for vice and de-
pravity. P. Henry, Wirt's Sketches.
DE'ISt, n. [Fr. deiste ; It. deisla.] One who
believes in the existence of a God, but de
nies revealed religion; one who profess
es no form of religion, but follows the light
of nature and reason, as his only guides
ill doctrine and practice ; a freethinker.
DKI.ST'IC, t Pertaining to deism or to
DEIST'IC-\L, <( 'deists; embracing deism,
a deistical writer ; or containing deism,
a deistical book.
DE'ITY, n. [Fr. diite ; It. deitd ; Sp. dei-
dad ; L. deitas, from deus, Gr. Stoj, God ;
W. duw ; Ir. dia ; Arm. doue ; Fr. dieu ; It,
dio, iddio ; Sp. dios ; Port, deos ; Gypsey,
dewe, dewel; Sans. deva. The lattoi- or-
thography coincides with the Gr. 8to{, ?nj,
Jupiter, and L. divus,ii god, and dium, th(
open air, or hght. So in VV. dyw, is day
Hindoo, diw ; Gypsey dimes, day. Uu.
Chinese Ti. The word is probably con-
tracted from dg, and may coincide witi
day, Sa.x. dceg, the primary sense of which
is to open, expand, or to shoot forth
the morning light. But the precise \m-
tuary meaning is not certain.]
I. Godhead; divinity; the nature and
setice of the Supreme Being; as, the deity
of the Supreme Being is manifest in his
works.
a. God ; the Supreme Being, or infinite self-
existing Spirit.
3. A fabulous god or goddess ; a superior
beiug supposed, by heathen nations, tc
exist, and to preside over particular de-
Ijartments of nature ; as Jupiter, Juno.
.Ipollo, Diana, &c.
1. The supposed divinity or divine qualities
of a i)agan god. Spenser. Raleigh.
DEJECT', v.t. [L. dejicio; de and jaci'o,
to throw.]
. To cast down ; usually, to cast down the
countenance; to cause to fall with grief ;
to make to look sad or grieved, or to e.x
press discouragement.
But gloomy were his eyes, dejected was his
lace. ' Dry den
2. To depress the spirits ; to sink ; to dis-
pirit; to discourage ; to dishearten.
Nor think to die dejects my lofty mind.
Pupe
DEJECT', a. [L. dejeclus, from dejicio.]
Cast down ; low-spirited. S!iak
DEJECT'ED, pp. Cast down; depressed;
grieved ; discouraged.
Di2JECT'EDLY, adv. In a dejected man
ner; sadiv; heavily. Bacon
DEJECT'EDNESS, n. The state being
cast down ; lowness of spirits.
DEJECTING, ppr. Casting down; de
pressing; dispiriting.
DEL
DEJECTION, n. A casting down; deprcs
sion of mind ; melancholy ; lowness oi'
spirits, occasioned by grief or misfortune.
MUlon.
2. Weakness; as dyec/ion of appetite. [Un-
imial.] Arbulhnol.
3. Tlie act of voiding the excrements ; or
the matt(T ejected. Ray.
DEJECT'l.Y, adv. In a downcast manner.
DEJECT ORY, a. Having power or tend-
ing to ca.-^t down, or to promote evacua-
tions hv stof.l. Ferrand.
DEJECT'URE, n. That which is ejected;
excrements. Arbuthnol.
DELACRYMA'TION, n. [L. delacrymatio ;
de and tacrymatio, a weeping.]
\ preternatural discharge of watery humors
from the eves ; waterishness of the eves.
Did.
DELACTA'TION, n. [L. detaclatio.] A
weaning. [JVol used.] Diet.
DELAPSA'TION, n. A falling down.
Ray.
DELAPSE, V. i. delaps'. [L. delabor, delap-
sus ; de and labor, to slide.] To fall or
slide down.
DELAP'SION, n. A falling down of the
uierus, anus, &,c.
DELAPS' ED, pp. Fallen down.
DELA'TE, V. t. [L. delalus ; de and laius,
part, of fero, to bear.]
1. To carry ; to convey. [Little used.]
Bacon.
2. To accuse ; to inform against ; that is, to
bear a charge against. B. Jonson.
DELA'TION, 71. Carriage ; conveyance ;
as the delation of sound. [Little used.]
Baco7t.
2. Accusation ; act of charging with a crime ;
a term of the civil law.
DELA'TOR, n. [L.] An accuser ; an in-
former. Sandys.
DELA'Y, V. t. [Fr. delai, delay ; Sp. dila-
tar. Port, irf., to delay ; It. dilata, delay;
dilatare, to dilate, to spread ; fi-om L. dila-
tus, differo. We see that delay is fi-oin
eading, extending. See Dilate.]
prolong the time of acting, or proceed-
ing; to put off"; to defer.
My lord delayeth his coming. Matt. xxiv.
2. To retard ; to stop, detain or hinder for
a time; to restrain motion, or render
it slow ; as, the mail is delayed by bad
roads.
Thyrsls, whose artful strains have oft delayed
The huddling brook to hear his madrigal.
.miton.
3. To allay. [JVot in use, nor proper.
.T,
Spenter.
DEL.\'Y, V. i. To linger ; to move slow ; or
to stop for a time.
There are certain bounds to the quickness
and slowness of the succession of ideas, beyond
which they can neither delay nor hasten.
Locke.
DELA'Y, n. A lingering ; stay ; stop.
2. A putting off or deferring ; procrastina-
tion ; as, the delay of trial is not to be im-
puted to the plaintiff.
3. Hinderance for a time.
DEL.\'YED, pp. Deferred ; detained ; hin-
dered for a time ; retarded.
DELAYER, n. One who defers; one who
lingers.
DELAYING, ;)pr. Putting ofl!"; deferring j
procrastinating; retarding; detaining.
DEL
DELA'YMENT, n. Hinderance. Gower.
DE'LE, V. t. [L. imperative oF deleo.] Blot
out ; erase.
DEL'EBLE, a. [L. ddehilis.] Tliat can be
blotted out. More.
DELE€'TABLE, a. [L. ddecUiUlis, ivom
ddedor, to delight. See Delight]
Delightful ; highly pleasing ; that gives great
iov or pleasure ; as a detectable gardeu.
•' ^ ' Milton.
DELEC'TABLENESS. n. Delightfuhiess.
Barret.
DELEC'TABLY, adv. Delightfully.
DELE€TA'T10N, n. Great pleasure; de-
light. More.
DEL'EGACY, n. A number of persons
delegated. Laud.
[We now use delegation.]
DEL'EGATE, v. t. [L. delcgo ; de and lego,
to send. See Legate.]
1. To send away ; appropriately, to send ot
an embassy ; to send with power to trans
act business, as a representative. The
President delegated three commissioners
to the court of St. Cloud.
2. To entrust ; to commit ; to deliver to an
other's care and exercise ; as, to delegate
authority or power to an envoy, repre
sentative or judge.
DEL'EGATE, n. A person appointed and
sent by another with powers to transact
business as his representative; a deputy;
a commissioner ; a vicar. In the United
States, a person elected or appointed to
represent a state or a district, in the Con
gress, or in a Convention for forming or
altering a constitution.
2. In Great Britain, a commissioner appoint
ed by the king, under the great seal, to
liear and determine appeals from the ec-
clesiastical court. Hence the Court of
Delegates is the great court of appeal in all
ecclesiastical causes. It is used also for
the court of appeals from that of the a
miralty. Blackstor
3. A layman appointed to attend an ecclei
astical council.
DEL'EGATE, a. Deputed ; sent to act for
or represent another ; as a ddegate judge
Tai/lor
DEL'EGATED, pp. Deputed ; sent with i
trust or commission to act for another ;
appointed a judge ; committed, as author-
DEL'EGATING, ppr. Deputing; sending
with a commission to act for another ; ap-
pointing ; committing; entrusting.
DELEGA'TION, n. A sending away ; the
act of putting in commission, or investing
with authority to act for another ; the ap-
pointment of a delegate. Burke.
The duties of religion cannot be performed by
delegation. S. Mdlei:
2. The persons deputed to act for another
or for others. Thus, the representatives
of Massachusetts in Congress are called
the delegation, or whole delegation.
3. In the civil law, the assignment of a deli
to another, as when a debtor appoints hi
debtor to answer to the creditor in liis
place.
DELE'TE, V. t. [L. deleo.] To blot out
[jVot used.] Fulle
DELETE'RIOUS, o. [L. dektei-ius, froi
blot out or destroy, \V. diieaw
[L. deletio, from deleo, to
DEI.
1. Having the quality of destroying, or ex
tinguishing life ; destructive ; poisonous ;
as a deleterious plant or quality.
2. Injurious ; pernicious.
DEL'ETERY, a. Destructive ; poisonous.
Hudibras.
DELETION
blot out.]
\. The act of blotting out or erasing.
2. Destruction. [Lillle Mserf.] Hale
DEL'ETORY, n. That which blots out.
Taylor
DELF, n. [Sax. delfan, to delve, to dig.] A
mine; a quarry ; a pit dug. [Rarely used.]
Ray.
2. Earthern ware, covered with enamel or
white glazing in imitation of China ware
or porcelain, made at Delft in Holland ;
pro])erly, Delji-ware.
DEL'IBATE, v. t. [L. delibo ; de and libo,
to taste.] To taste ; to take a sip. [Littlt
used.]
DELIBA'TION, n. A taste ; an essay.
[Lillle used.] Berkeley.
DELIB'ERATE, v. i. [L. delibero ; de and
DEL
In councils, the bishops have a deliberative
voice. Encyc.
3. Apt or disposed to consider. Bv. Barlow.
DELIB'ERATIVE, n. A discourse in which
a question is discussed or weighed and ex-
amined. A kind of rhetoric employed in
|)roving a thing and convincing others
of its truth, ill order to persuade them to
adopt it. Encyc.
DELIB'ERATIVELY, adv. By delibera-
tion. Burke.
DEL'I€ACY, n. [Fr. delicalesse ; Sp. delica-
deza ; It. ddicatezza ; but more directly from
delicate, which see.]
In a general sense, that which delights or
pleases. Hence,
1. Fineness of texture; smoothness; soft-
ness ; tenderness ; as the delicacy of the
skin; and nearly in the same sense, appli-
cable to food ; as the delicacy of flesh,
meat or vegetables. Hence,
2. Daintiness ; pleasantness to the taste.
3. Elegant or feminine beauty ; as delicacy
of form.
4. Nicety ; minute accuracy ; as the delicacy
deleo,
diU
Qu. Ir. dalUiim, to blind
libra, to weigh, It. libi
To weigh in the mind ; to consider and ex
amine the reasons for and against a meas
ure ; to estimate the weight or force of ar
guments, or the probable consequences of
a measure, in order to a choice or deci-
sion ; to pause and consider. A wise
prince will deliberate before lie wages war.
The woman that deliberates h lost.
Mdison.
DELIB'ERATE, v. t. To balance in the
mind ; to weigh ; to consider. Laxid.
DELIB'ERATE, a. Weighing facts and
arguments with a view to a choice or de-
cision ; carefully considering the probable
consequences of a step ; circumsjiect
slow in determining; applied to persons
as a deliberate judge or counselor.
2. Formed with deliberation ; well advised
or considered ; not sudden or rash
deliberate opinion ; a deliberate measure, or
result.
Slow ; as a deliberate death or echo.
[Hardhi legitimate.] Bacon.
DELIB'ERATELY, adv. With careful con-
sideration, or deliberation ; circumspectly
not hastily or rashly ; slo%vly. This pur-
pose was deliberately formed.
Dryden. Goldsmith
DELIB'ERATENESS, n. Calm consider
atiou ; circumspection ; due attention to
the arguments for and against a measure
caution. K. Charles.
DELIBERA'TION, [L. delibcratio.] The
act of deliberating; the act of weighing
and examining the reasons for and against
a choice or measure ; consideration. We
say, a measure has been taken with delib-
eration.
2. Mutual discussion and examination of the
reasons for and against a measure ; as tht
ddiberalions of a legislative body or conn
cil.
DELIB'ERATIVE, a. Pertaining to delih
eration ; proceeding or acting by delibera
tion, or by mutual discussion and exunii
nation ; as, the legislature is a ddiberativ
body.
2. Having a right or jrower to deliberate o
discuss.
. See Librate.]^ o<"c"loring.in P'
„„o„i„,. „,.,i ^.._ 5. Neatness in di
nting.
ress ; elegance proceeding
from a nice selection and adjustment of
the several parts of dress. Spectator.
i. Softness of manners; civility or polite-
ness proceeding from a nice observance of
propriety, and a desire to please ; as deli-
cacy of behavior.
7. Indulgence ; gentle treatment ; as delica-
cy of education.
8. Tenderness ; scrupulousness ; the quality
manifested in nice attention to right, and
care to avoid wrong, or offense.
Bp. Taylor.
9. Acute or nice perception of what is pleas-
ing to the sense of tasting ; lience figura-
tively, a nice perception of beauty and de-
formity, or the faculty of such nice percep-
tion.
Delicacy of taste tends to invigorate the so-
cial affections, and moderate those that are sel-
fish. Kanies.
10. That which delights the senses, particu-
larly the taste ; applied to eatables ; as, the
peach is a great delicacy.
11. Tenderness of constitution ; weakness ;
that quality or state of the animal body
which renders it very impressible to inju-
ry; as delicacy of constitution or frame.
3. Smallness; fineness; slenderness; ten-
uity ; as the delicacy of a thread, or fiber.
13. Tenderness ; nice susceptibility of im-
pression ; as delicacy of feeling.
DEL'ICATE, a. [Fi: ddicat ; Sp. ddicado ;
It. delicaio ; L. delicatus, connected with
ddicice, delight, delecto, to delight ; proba-_
biy a compound of de, with the root of
like. See Delight and Like.]
1. Of a fine texture; fine; soft; smooth;
clear, or fair ; as a delicate skin.
2. Nice; pleasing to the taste; of an agree-
able flavor; as delicate food; a delicate
dish.
3. Nice in perception of what is agreeable ;
dainty; as a delicate taste ; and figurative-
ly, nice and discriminating in beauty and
deformity.
Nice ; accurate ; fine ; soft to the eye ; as
a delicate color.
Ij J. Nice in forms ; regulated by minute ob-
" servaiice of propriet}', or by condescension
DEL
and attention to tlio wishes and feelings of
others; as delicate behavior or maimer
delicate address.
6. Pleasing to the senses; as a delicate
flavor.
7. Fine; slender; minute; as a delicate
thread.
8. That cannot be handled without injury
or danger ; that must be touched with
care ; as a delicate point or topic ; a deli-
cate question.
9. Composed of fine threads, or nicely inter-
woven ; as delicate texture ; hence, soft
and smooth to the touch ; as delicate silk.
10. Tender ; eflfeminate ; not able to endure
hardship ; very impressible to injury ; as a
delicate frame or constitution.
11. Feeble ; not sound or robust ; as delicate
health.
DEL'ICATE, n. Any thing nice ; a nicety-
Obs. Jer. li. 34. Dryden.
DELICATELY, adv. In a delicate man-
ner ; with nice regard to propriety and
the feelings of others.
2. Daintily ; luxuriously.
They that live delicately are in kings' courts
Luke vii.
3. With soft elegance ; as an expression del-
icately turned.
4. Tenderly ; with indulgence in ease, ele-
gance and luxury. Prov. xxix.
DEL'ICATENESS, n. The state of being
delicate ; tenderness ; softness ; eft'emina
cy. Dent, xxviii.
DELI"CIOUS, a. [Vr. delici^ux ; L. delica
tus, delicio! ; Sp. delicioso; It. delizioso.]
1. Highly pleasing to the taste ; most sweet
or grateful to the senses ; affording ex
quisite pleasure ; as a delicious viand ; de
Hcious fruit or wine.
2. Most pleasing to the mind ; very gratefid :
yielding exquisite delight ; as, this pocn^
affords a delicious entertainment.
DEL1"CI0USLY, adv. In a delicious man
ner ; in a manner to please the taste or
gratiiy the mind; sweetly; pleasantly
delightfully ; as, to feed deliciously ; to b(
deliciousUi entertained.
DELI"CIOUSNESS, n. The quality of he
ing delicious, or very grateful to (he taste
or mind ; as the deliciousness of a repnsf
2. Delight ; great pleasure.
DELIG.VTION, n. [L. deligatio, deh'sro ;
de and ligo, to l)ind.] In surgery, a bind
ing up; a bandaging.
DELI'GHT, n. deUtc. [Fr. dclicc ; Sp. deli
cia ; It. delizia ; L. delicia:, connected
•with detector ; probably allied to En?,
like.]
1. A high degree of pleasure, or satisfaction
of mind ; joy.
His delight is in the liiw of the Lord. Pi
2. That which gives great pleasure ; that
which affords delight.
Titus was the delight of human kind.
Zhyde:
I was daily his delight. Prov. viii.
Delphi is a more permanent pleasure than
joy, and not dependent on sudden excite
ment.
DELI'GHT,, r. «. [Sp. deleytar; Port, deki
tar ; L. detector ; Fr. dele'cter. See Delight
and Like.]
1. To affect with great pleasure ; to please
highly ; to give or afford high satisfaction
or joy ; as, a beautiful laiidsca])o deOgkts the
DEL
eye; harmony delights the car ; the good
conduct of children, and especially their
piety, delighls their parents.
I will delight myself in thy statutes. Ps.
cxix.
2. To receive great pleasure in.
I delight to do thy will. Ps. xl.
DELIGHT, II. i. To have or take great
pleasure ; to be greatly pleased or rejoic-
ed ; followed by in.
I delight in the law of Ood after the inward
man. Rom. vil.
DELl'GHTED, pp. Greatly pleased ; rejoic-
ed ; followed by with.
That ye may be delighted with tlie abund-
ance of her glory. Is. Ixvi.
2. a. Full of delight. Shah.
DELI'GHTER, n. One who takes delight.
Barrow.
DELI'GHTFUL, a. Highly pleasing; af-
fording great pleasure and satisfaction ;
as a delightful thought ; a delightful pros-
pect.
DELIGHTFULLY, adv. In a manner to
receive great pleasure ; very agreeably ;
as, we were delightfully employed, or en-
tertained.
2. In a (leliL'litfnl lununi'r ; di.armingly ; in
a manner U< atU.r.l ^TiMt plrasure ; us, the
lady sii]f;s and plavs d>tighlfi(l!i/.
DELI'GIITFULXESS, n. TliJ quality of
being delightlul, or of affording great pleas
ure ; as the delightfulness of a prospect,
or of scenery.
2. Great ])leasiue ; delight. [Less proper.]
DELI'GHTLESS, a. Affording no i>leasun
or delight. Thomson
DELI'GHTSOME, a. Very pleasing ; do
ghtful. Grew.
DELI'GHTSOMELY, adv. Very pleasant
ly ; in a delightful manner.
DELI'GHTSOMENESS, n. Delightfulness
ideasantncss in a high degree.
DELIN'EAMENT, n. [infra.] Represen
tation by delineation. Selden.
DELIN'EATE, ti. t. [L. delineo ; de and li
7teo, from linca, a line.]
1. To draw the lines which exhibit the fort
of a thing; to nuirk out with lines; to
make a draught ; to sketch or design ; as.
to delineate the form of the earth, or a dia-
gram.
2. To paint; to represent in picture; to
draw a likeness of; as, to delineate Nestoi
like Adonis, or time with Absalom's head.
Brown.
3. Figuratively, to describe ; to represent to
the mind or understanding ; to exhibit a
likeness in words; as, to delineate the
character of Newton, or the virtueof A
tides.
DELIN'EATED,/);). Drawn ; marked with
lines exhibiting the form or figure ;
sketched ; designed ; painted ; described.
DELIN'EATING, ppr. Dra^ying the form
sketching; painting; describins.
DELINEA'TION, n. [L. delineatio.] First
draught of a thing ; outline ; representa-
tion of a form or figure by lines ; sketch ;
design.
9. Representation in words; description;
the delineation of a character.
DELIN'EATURE, n. Delineation. [Aot
xt.ie.]
DELIN'IMENT, n. [L. ddinimentum.]
I Mitigation. [Ao/ »«(/.]
DEL
DELINQUENCY, n. [L. ddinquo, to fell
or omit duty ; de and linquo, to leave.]
Failure or onussion of duty ; a fault; a mis-
deed ; and jwsitively, an offense ; a crime.
It is particidarly, but not exclusively ap-
plied to neglect of duty in officers of public
trust.
DELIN'QIIENT, a. Failing in duty ; offend-
ing by n(tglcct of dutv.
DKLINUlJFNT, n. One who fails to per-
form lii.s duty, particularly a public officer
w ho neglorts liis duty ; an offender ; one
who commits a fault or crime.
A delinquent oiight to be cited in the place
or jurisdiction where the delinquency was com-
mitted, .dyliffe.
DEL KH'A IK, v.t. or i". [L. deliqueo, to
nil h] 'I'll null or be dissolved. [See
D(li.li„.srr and Ddiquiate.]
UELUiU.V'TlON, H. A melting. [See Deli-
quescence and Deliquiation.]
DELIQUESCE, v. t. deliques'. [L. deli^iues-
CO, to melt ; de and liqiiesco, from liqueo, to
melt or become soft. See Liquid.]
To melt gradually and become liquid by at-
tracting and absorbing moisture from the
air ; as certain salts, acids and alkalies.
DELKiUE.S'CENCE, n. Spontaneous li-
quefaction in the air; a gradual melting
or becoming liquid by absorption of water
from the atmosphere. Fourcroy.
DELIQUES'CENT, a. Liquefying in the
air; capable of attracting moisture from
the atmosphere and becoming liquid ; as
diUqncsant salts. Fourcroy.
DKLKilMATE, JJ.J-. [See Df%«o/e.] To
niilt and become liquiil by imbibing wa-
ter from the air. [See Deliquesce.] Fourcroy.
DELIQUIATION, n. A melting by attract-
ing water from the air.
'DELIQ'UIUM, n. [L.] In chimistn/, a
I melting or dissolution in the air, or' in a
] moist place. Encyc.
2. A liquid state ; as, a salt falls into a deli-
1 quium. Fourcroy.
■i. In HifrfiVinc, a swooning or fainting; call-
ed also .■ii/iirope. Encyc. Coze.
OELIR AMKNT, n. A wandering of the
mind ; loolish fancv. [Little used.]
DELIR'IOUS, o. [L: delirus. See Delirium.]
Roving in mind ; light-headed ; disordered
in intellect ; having ideas that are wild,
' irre;;nlar and nii.'onnected.
DELIK lOlSNKr^S, n. The state of being
dcliriims; (lilii-iuiu. Johnson.
DELIR'll M, >:. IL. from deliro, to wander
I in mind, to rave ; de and lira, to make
balks in plowing, that is, to err, wander,
j miss. ]
A state in which the ideas of a person are
' wild, irregular and unconnected, or do
j not correspond with the truth or with
external objects; a roving or wandering
of the mind ; disorder of the intellect.
Fevers often ])roduce delirium.
An alienation of inind connected with
fever. Cyc.
Symptomatic derangement, or tha"t
which is dependent on some other dis-
ease, in distinction from idiopathic de-
rangement or mania.
DKLITK-'JCENCE, n. [L. delitesceniia ; de
and lalio.] Retirement ; obscurity. Johnson.
DKI.IV'KK, r. t. [Fr. detiirer ; de and fe-
re/-, to deliver; Sp.librar; fort, livrar ;
L. liber, free, disengaged ; ddibro, to free.
DEL
to peel : Arm. delivra. See Liberal, Libra-
ry, Librate.]
1. To free; to release, as from restraint; to
set at liberty ; as, to deliver one from cap-
tivity.
a. To rescue, or save.
Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the
wicked. Ps. Ixxi.
3. To give, or transfer; to put into another's
hand or power ; to commit; to pass from
one to another.
Thou sholt deliver P)]or;ioh"s cup into his
hand. Gen. xl.
So wc say, to deliver goods to a carrier i^
to deliver a letter ; to deliver possession of
an estate.
4. To surj'endcr ; to yield ; to give up ; to
resign ; as, to deliver a fortress to an ene-
my. It is often followed by up ; as, to de-
liver up the city ; to deliver up stolen
goods.
Th' exalted mind
All sense of woe delivers to the wind. Pope.
5. To disburden of a child.
6. To utter ; to pronounce ; to .«]jeak ; to
send forth in woi-ds ; as, to deliver a ser-
mon, an address, or an oration.
7. To exert in motion. [A'b< in use.]
To deliver to the jvind, to cast away ; to re-
ject.
To deliver over, to transfer ; to give or pass;
from one to another ; as, to deliver overl
goods to another. j
2. To surrender or resign ; to put into an-j
other's power ; to commit to the disci-etion
of; to abandon to.
Deliver me not over to the will of my ene-
mies. Ps. sxvii.
To deliver up, to give up ; to smrcnder.
DELIVER, a. [L. liber.] Free; nimble.
Obs. Chaucer.
DELIVERABLE, a. That may be or is to
be delivered.
A bill of lading may state that the goods are
deliverable to a particular person therein named.
Mer. Usage. Jlmer. Review.
DELIVERANCE, n. [Fr. delivrance.] Re-
lease from captivity, slavery, oppression,
to preach deliverance to the captives. Luke iv.
2. Rescue from danger or any evil.
God sent me to save your lives by a great
deliverance. Gen. xlv.
3. The act of bringing forth children.
4. The act of giving or transferring from
one to another.
5. The act of speaking or pronouncing; ut-
terance. Slaik.
[In the three last senses, delivery is now
used.]
C. Acquittal of a prisoner, by the verdict of
a jury. God send you a good deliverance.
DELIV'ERED, pp. Freed ; released ; trans-
feried or transmitted ; passed from one to
another ; committed ; yielded ; surrender-
ed : rescued ; uttered ; pronounced.
DELIVERER, n. One who delivers; one
who releases or rescues ; a preserver.
The Lord raised up a deliverer to Israel,
Judges iii.
2. One who relates, or communicates.
Boyle,
DELIVERING, ppr. Releasing; setting
free ; rescuing ; saving ; surrendering
giving over ; yieliiiiig; resigning.
DEL
DELIVERY, n. The act of delivering.
2. Release ; rescue ; as from slavery, res
traint, oppression or danger.
.3. Surrender ; a giving up.
4. A giving or passing from one to another
as the delivery of goods, or of a deed.
5. Utterance ; pronunciation ; or manner of
speaking, lie has a good delivery. I was
charmed with his graceful delivery.
6. Childbirth. Is. x\y\.
7. Free motion or use of the limbs. [Ob,$.]
Sidney. fVotton.
DELL, V. [Qu. dale, or W. dell, a cleft orl
rift ; or is it contracted from Sax. degle '?]
A pit, or a hollow place ; a cavity or narrow
opening. Spenser. Milton.
DELPH. [See Del/. No. 2.]
DELPH'IA, I A vegetable alkali latelv
DELPHIN'IA, ^"-discovered in the Del-
phinium staphysagria. It is crystaline
when wet, but it becomes opake when ex-
posed to air. Its taste is bitter and acrid.
When heated it melts, but on coohng
becomes hard and brittle like resin.
Ure. Webster''s Manual.
DELPIl'IAN, I [from Delphi, a town of
DELPHIC, ^"- Phocis in Greece.] Rela-
ting to Delphi, and to the celebrated ora-
cle of that place.
DELPH'INE, a. [L. dclphinus.] Pertaining
to the dolphin, a genus of fishes.
3. Pertaining to the dauphin of France ; as
the delphine edition of the classics.
DELPH'INITE, n. A mineral called also
pistacrte and epidole. Ure.
DllL'TOID, n. [Gr. Jath, the letter A, and
fiSoj, form.]
1. Resembling the Gr. A ; triangular ; an
ej)itliet applied to a muscle of the shoulder
which moves the arm forwards, upwards
and backwards. Coxe.
2. In botany, shaped somewhat like a delta
or rhomb, having four angles, of which
the lateral ones are less distaijt from the
base than the others ; as a deltoid leaf.
Linne. Marlyn.
Trowel-shaped, having three angles, of
which the terminal one is mucli further
from the base than the lateral ones.
Smith.
DELU'DABLE, a. [See Delude.] That may
be deluded or deceived ; liable to be im-
posed on. Brown.
DELU'DE, V. t. [L. deludo; de and ludo, to
play, to mock ; Ch. and Heb. vh. Class
Ls. No. 3. 5. 30. 4C.]
1. To deceive ; to impose on ; to lead from
truth or into error; to mislead the mind
or judgment ; to beguile. Cheat is gen-
erally applied to deception in bargains;
delude, to deception in opinion. An artful
man deludes his followers. We are often
deluded by false appearances.
2. To frustrate or disappoint.
DELU'DE D, pp. Deceived ; misled ; led into
error.
DELU'DER, n. One who deceives ; a de-
ceiver ; an imposter ; one who holds out
false pretenses.
DELU'DING, ppr. Deceiving ; leading as-
tray ; misleading the opinion or judgment.
DELU'DING, n. The act of deceiving ;
fiilschnod. Prideavx.
DEL'UuE, n. [Fr. deluge; Arm. diluich:
Sp. dihirio: h. id. ; h. diluvie.i, diluvium,
DEM
from diluo, diluvio ; di and /mo, lavo, to
wash. If deluge and diluvium are the
same word, of which there can be little
doubt, the fact proves that luo, lavo, is
contracted or changed from lugo, and
that the primitive word was Ivgo ; and it
is certain that the radix of fiuo is ftueo.
See Flow.] "^ ^
. Any overflowing of water ; an inundation :
a flood ; a swell of water over the natural
banks of a river or shore of the ocean,
spreading over the adjacent land. But
apjjropriately, the great flood or overflow-
ing of the earth by water, in the days of
Noah ; according to the common chronol-
ogy, Aimo Mundi, I65G. Gen. vi.
2. A sweeping or overwhelming calamity.
DEL'UgE, v. t. To overflow with water :
to inundate ; to drown. The waters delu-
ged the earth and destroyed the old world.
2. To overwhelm ; to cover with any flow-
ing or moving, spreading body. The
Northern nations deluged the Roman em-
pire with their armies.
•3. To overwhelm ; to cause to sink under
the weight of a general or spreading ca-
lamity ; as, the land is deluged with corrup-
tion. "
DEL'UgED, pp. Overflowed; inundated:
overwhehiicd.
DEL'UgING, ppr. Overflowing ; inunda-
ting ; overwhelming. ,
DELU'SION, n. s as z. [L. delusio. See
Delude.] The act of deluding ; deception ;
a misleading of the mind. We are all ha-
ble to the delusions of artifice.
2. False representation ; illusion ; error or
mistake proceeding from false views.
And fondly mourn'd the dear delusion gone.
Prior.
DELU'SIVE, o. Apt to deceive; tending to
n)islead the mind ; deceptive ; beguiling ;
as delusive arts ; delusive appearances.
DELU'SIVENESS, n. The quality of being
delusive ; tendency to deceive.
DELU'SORY, a. Apt to deceive ; decep-
tive. Glanville.
DELVE, V. t delv. [Sax. del/an ; D. delven ;
Russ. dolUyu ; to dig. Qu. Arm. toxMa, to
dig or make a hole, W. twll, a hole, and
L. talpa, a mole, perhaps the delver.]
1. To dig ; to open the ground with a spade.
Delve of convenient depth your thrashing
floor. Dryden.
2. To fathom; to sound; to penetrate. [JVot
used.]
I cannot rf('?!'C him to the root. Shalt.
DELVE, n. delv. A place dug : a pit ; a pit-
full; a ditch; a den; a cave. [JVbt note
used.] Spenser.
Delve of coals, a quantity of fossil coals dug,
\,\'ot used or local.]
DELVER, n. One who digs, as with a
siiade.
DELVING, ppr. Digging.
DEM'AGOGUE, )i. dem'agog. [Gr. S>]im-
yuyo;, from irmos, the populacc, and a/yu, to
lead.]
1. A leader of the people ; an orator who
pleases the populace and influences them
to adhere to him.
2. Any leader of the populace ; any factious
man who has great influence with the
great body of people in a city or commu-
nitv.
DEM
D E M
DEM
DEMA'IN, n. [Norm, demaimr. This migbt
be froii) L. dominium, Fr. domaine. But
in old law books it is written demesne, as
if derived from meisan, maison, house. In
Norman, it is written also demaygne, de-
meigne, as well as demeine.]
I. A manor-house and the land adjacent or
near, which a lord keeps in his own hands
or immediate occupation, for the use of
his family, as distinguished from his tene
mental lands, distributed among his ten
.ints, called book-land, or charter-land, and
folk-land, or estates held iu villenage, froii
which sprung copyhold estates.
Blackstone,
2. Estate in lands. Shak.
DEM'AND, v.t. [Fr. demander; Sp. Port.
demandar; It. domandare or dimandare
Arm. mennal ; de and L. mando, to com
mand. The L. mando signifies to send ;
hence, to commit or entrust. To ask is to
press or urge. Sw. mana, Dan. maner, to
put in mind, to urge, press, dun ; to ad-
monish, L. moneo. It ajipears that mando.
moneo and mens, mind, are all of one fam-
ily; as also Ir. muinim, to teach ; W. my-
nu, to will, to seek or procure, to insist
to obtain or have ; Sax. manian ; G. mah-
nen. See Class Mn. No. 7. 9.]
1. To ask or call for, as one who has a claim
or right to receive what is sought ; tt
claim or seek as due by right. The cred
itor demands principal and interest of his
debt. Here the claim is derived from law
or justice.
2. To ask by authority; to require; to seek
or claim an answer by virtue of a right or
supposed right in the interrogator, deri
ved from his office, station, power or au
thority.
The officers of the children of Israel — were
beaten, and demayuieJ, wherefore have y
fulfilled your task in making brick. Ex. i
3. To require as necessary or useful ; as, the
execution of this work demands great in-
dustry and care.
4. To ask; to question ; to inquire.
The soldiers also demanded of liiin, sayinf;.
what shall we do .' Luke iii.
5. To ask or require, as a seller of goods ; as,
what price do you demand?
G. To sue for; to seek to obtain by legal pro-
cess ; as, the plaintiff, in his action, de-
mands unreasonable damages.
In French, demander generally signifies sim-
ply to ask, request, or petition, when the
answer or thing asked for, is a matter
of grace or courtesy. But in English, de-
niand is now seldom used in that sense,
and rarely indeed can the French rfejn«nrf-
er be rendered correctly in English by de-
mand, except in the case of the seller of
goods, who demands, [asks, requires,] a
certain price for his wares. The common| DEMF-'ANlfRE, n. Behavior. [
expression, "a kingsenttorfemnnrfuiK.ilicr! DlvAII'.NCy, n. [L. dementia.
king's daughter in marriage," isimpni|nr. \.\'of in use.]
goods offered for sale ; as, I cannot agree
to his demand.
3. That which is or may be claimed as due
debt ; as, what are your demands on thr
estate .'
4. The calling for in order to purchase ; de-
sire to ])ossess ; as, the demand for the Bi-
ble has been great and extensive ; copies
are in great demand.
5. A desire or a seeking to obtain. We say,
the company of a gentleman is in great
demand ; the lady is in great demand or
request.
6. In law, the asking or seeking for what is
due or claimed as due, either expressly
by words, or by implication, as by seizure
of goods, or entry into lands.
DEM-ANDABLE, a. That may be demand
ed, claimed, asked for, or required ; as
payment is demandahle at the expiration of
the credit.
DEM'ANDANT, n. One who demands ; the
plaintiff in a real action ; any plaintiff.
DEMANDED, pp. Called for ; claimed
challenged as due ; requested ; required
interrogated.
DEMANDER, ii. One who demands; one
who requires with aiuhority; one who
claims as due; one who asks; one who
seeks to obtain.
DEM'ANDING, ppr. Claiming or calling
for as due, or by authority ; requiring ;
asking ; pursuing a claim by legal process ;
interrogating.
DEM'ANDRESS, n. A female demandant.
DEM>ARCH, ji. [Fr. demarche.] March;
walk ; gait. Ohs.
DEMARKA'TION, n. [Sp. demareaeion,
from demarcar ; de and murcar, to mark,
marca, a mark ; Port, demarcar. See
Mark.]
1. The act of marking, or of ascertaining
and setting a limit.
2. A limit or bound ascertained and £ixe('
line of .separation marked or determined
The speeulative line of demorkulion, wher(
obedience ousjht to end and rcsistanre bcijin. i;
faint, oliseure, and not easily dohnablo. Burke
DEME'AN, I', t. [Fr. dementr; Norm, de
mesner, demener, to lead, to manage, t<
govern, to stir ; It. menare; Sp. meneac]
1. To behave ; to carry ; to conduct ; tvith the
reciprocal pronoun ; as, it is our duty to de
mean ourselves with humility.
2. To treat. Spenser.
DEME'AN, V. t. [de and mean.] To debase ;
to undervalue. [JYot used.] Shak
DEME'AN, n. Behavior ; carriage ; de-
Obs. Spenser.
2. Mien. Obs. Ibm
DEME'ANOR, 7i. Behavior; carriage; de
portment ; as decent demeanor ; sad de
Milton.
DEM>AND,n. An asking for or claim mad.
by virtue of a right or supposed right t(
the thing sought ; an asking with author-
ity ; a challenging as due ; as, the demand
of the creditor was reasonable ; the note
is payable on demand.
He that has confidence to turn liis wishes in-
to demands, will be but a little way from think-
ing he ought to obtain them. Locke.
2. The asking or requiring of a price for I ail-.
Vol. I.
.Yot in tise.]
Madness.
Skelton.
DK.MF.N TATE, a. Mad; infatuated.
Hatnmond.
DEMEN'TATE, v. t. [L. demento ; rfe and
mens.] To make mad. Burton.
DEMENTA'TION, n. The act of making
frantic. Whithck.
DEMEPHITIZA'TION, n. [See Demephit-
ize.]
The act of purifying from mephitic or foul
Med. Repository.^
58
DEMEPH'ITIZE, v. t. [de and mtphilis, foul
air, or ill smell.] To purify from foul un-
wliolesniiK' air.
DEMEl'lllTIZED,/);). Purified ; freed from
foul air.
DEMEPH ITIZING, ppr. Purifying from
foul air.
DEMER'IT, n. [Fr. demerite ; de and merite,
merit, L. meritum, from mereo, to earn or
deserve. The Latin demereo is used in a
good sense. See Merit.]
1. That which deserves punishment, the op-
posite ofTTUrU ; an ill-deserving ; that which
is blamabic or punishable in moral con-
duct ; vice or crime.
Mine is the merit, the demerit thine. Dryden.
2. Anciently, merit ; desert ; in a good sense.
Shak.
DEMER'IT, v.t. To deserve blame or pun-
ishment. [/ believe not in tise.]
DEMERS'ED, a. [L. demersus.] Plunged;
situated or growing under water.
DEMER'SION, n. [L. demersio, from demer-
go, to plunge or drown.]
A plunging into a fluid ; a drowning.
Trans, of Pausanias.
2. The state of being overwhehned in wa-
ter or earth. Ray.
3. The putting of a medicine in a ilissolving
iquor. Diet.
DEMESNE.. [See Z)emam.]
DEM'I, a prefix, Fr. demi, from the 1.. di-
midium, signifies half. It is used only in
composition.
DEMI-BRIGADE, ».. A half-brigade.
DEMI-CADENCE, n. In music, an imper-
fect cadence, or one that falls on any oth-
er than the key note. Busby.
DEM'I-CANNON, »t. A cannon of difiereiit
sizes ; the lowest carries a ball of thirty
pounds weight, and six inches diameter ^
the ordinary is twelve feet long, and car-
ries a shot of six inches and one-sixth di-
ameter, and thirty two pounds weight ;
that of the greatest size is twelve feet
long, and carries a ball of six inches and
five eighths diameter, and thirty six
pounds weight. Diet.
DEM'I-€ROSS, n. An instrument for tak-
ing the altitude of the sun and stars.
DEMI-€UL'VERIN, n. A large gun, or
piece of ordnance ; the least is ten feet
long, and carries a ball of nine pounds
weight and four inches diameter ; that of
ordinary size carries a ball of four inches
and two eighths diameter, and ten pounds
eleven ounces ui weight ; the largest size
is ten feet and a third in length, and car-
ries a ball four inches and a half in diame-
ter, and of twelve pounds eleven ounces
in weight. Johnsoti. Eticuc.
DEMI-DEVIL, n. Half a devil. Shak.
DEMI-DISTANCE, n. In fortif cation, ihv
distance between the outward polygons
and the flank.
DEM'I-DITONE, n. In music, a minor
third. Bushy.
DEM'I-GOD, n. Haifa god; one partaking
of the divine nature; a" fabulous hero, pro-
duced by the cohabitation of a deity with
a mortal. Milton. Pope.
DEM'I-GORgE, ji. in fortif cation, that part
of the polygon which remains after the
flank is raised, and goes from the curtain to
the angle of the polygon. It is half of the
vacant space or entrance into a bastion.
Encyc.
DEM
DEM
D E M
DEM'I-G ROAT, n. A lialf-groat. Shenstone
DEM'l-I.ANCE, n. A liglit lance ; a short
spear; a half-pike. Drydm.
DEM'I-LUNE, n. A half-moon.
DEM'I-MAN, n. Half a man ; a term of re-
proach. Knolles.
DEM'l-NATURED, a. Havinghalf the na-
ture of anotlier animal. Shak.
DEMI-PREMISES, n. phi. Half-premises.
Hooker.
DEMI-QUAVER, ii. A note in music, of
half the li'iijj;th of the quaver.
DEM IREP, ?(. A woman of suspicious chas-
tity. [Dtnii-reputalion.]
DEMI-SExMI-CiUAVER, n. The shortest
note in music, two of which are equal loa
semi-quiiver.
DEM'I-TONE, n. In mime, an interval of
half a tone ; a semi-tone.
DEM'I-VILL, n. A half-vill, consisting of
five freemen or frank pledges.
Spelman. Blacksione.
DEMI-VOLT, n. [demi an(\ Do«,Da«i<.] One
of the seven artiticial motions of a horse,
in which he raises bis fore legs in a parti-
cular manner.
DEM'I-WOLF, n. Haifa wolf; a mongrel
dog between a dog and a wolf; lycisca.
Shak.
DEMIGRATE, DEMIGRATION. [JVot
used. See Migrate.]
DEMISABLE, a. s as 2. [See Dem
That may he leased ; as an estate demisable
by copy of court roll. Blacksione.
DEMI'SE, n. s asi. [Fr. demis, demise, from
demettre, L. demillo, demissio ; de and miilo,
Fr. mettre. Liteially, a laying down, or
sending from ; a removing.]
1. In England, a laying down or removal,
applied to the crown or royal authority.
The demise of the crown, is a transfer of
the crown, royal authority or kingdom to a
successor. Thus when Edward fourtli
was driven from his throne for a few
months by the house of Lancaster, tliis
temporary transfer of his dignity was call-
ed a demise. Hence the natural death of
a king or queen came to be denominated
a demise, as by that event, the crown is
transferred to a successor. Blacksione.
2. A conveyiuice or transfer of an estate, by
lease or will.
Demise and redemise, a conveyance where
there are mutual leases made from one to
another of the same land, or something
out of it. Encyc.
DEMI'SE, V. t. s as :. To transfer or convey ;
to lease.
2. To bequeath ; to grant by will. Swift,
DEMIS'SION, )!. Alowering; degradation;
depression. VEstrange.
DEMISS'IVE, > Humble. [Little used.]
DEMISS', S Slienslone.
DEMISS'LY, ade. In a humble manner.
Wot used.] Shencood.
DEMIT', V. i. [L. demitto.] To let fall ; to
depress ; to submit. [JVot used.]
DEM'IURGE, )1. [Or. Srniiovypoi ; S»!/«»os, a
public servant, and ipyov, work.]
In the mythology of Eastern Philosophers, an
eon employed in the creation of the world ;
a subordinate workman. Enajc.
DEMIUR'Gle, a. Pertaining to a demiurge,
or to creative power. Trans. ofPausanias.
DEMOCRACY, n. [Gr. «.7;«oxpar<a ; V>5
people, and xpartu, to possess, to govern.]
Government by the people ; a form of go
ernment, in which the supreme power is
lodged in the hands of the people collec-
tively, or in which the people exercise
the powers of legislation. Such was the
government of Athens.
DEM'0€RAT, n. One who adheres to a
governinent by the people, or favors the
extension of the right of suftVage to all
classes of men.
DEMO€RAT'IC, } Popular ; pertain-
DEMOeRAT'I€AL, \ "• ing to democracy
or government by the people ; as a demo-
cratical form of government.
DEaiO€RAT'l€ALLY, adv. In a demo-
cratical manner. Sidney.
DEMOL'ISH, V. t. [Fr. demolir, dem^lissant ;
Sp. demoler ; It. demolire ; L. demolior ; de
and molior, to build. Class Ml. No. 12. 15.]
To throw or pull down ; to raze ; to destroy,
as a heap or structure ; to separate any
collected mass, or the comiected parts of
a thing ; to ruin ; as, to demolish an edi-
fice, or a mound ; to demolish a wall or
fortification.
DEMOLISHED, pp. Pulled down ; thrown
down ; razed ; destroyed, as a fabric or
structure.
DEMOL'ISHER, n. One who pulls or
throws down ; one who destroys or lays
waste ; as a demolisher of towns.
DEMOLISHING, /)/)r. Pidlingor throwing
down ; destroving.
DEMOL'ISHMENT, n. Ruin; overthrow.
Beaujii.
DEMOLP'TION, n. The act of overthrow-
ing, pulling down or destroying a pile or
structure ; ruin ; destruction ; as the de-
molition of a house, or of military work.s.
DE'MON, n. [L. dtemon ; Gr. Satfiur ; Sp. It.
demonio ; Fr. demon ; Ir. deamal or dea-
mon. The origin and primary sense of
this word I have not been able to ascer-
tain. Qu. A
■•■ r^
i dahima, daima, to
fall suddenly, to rush, to overwhelm, to
obscure, to blacken ; whence misfortune,
black, blackness, evil, a monster: or is
it a compound of dca, dia, deus, and man,
a word signifying evil, from the Persian .' 1
place little confidence in these conjectures.]
L spirit, or immaterial being, holding a mid-
dle ])lace between men and the celestial
deities of the Pagans. The ancients be-
lieved that there were good and evil de-
mons, which liad influence over the minds
of men, and that these beings carried on
an intercourse between men and gods,
conveying the addresses of men to the
gods, and divine benefits to men. Hence
demons became the objects of worship.
It was suppossd also that human si)irits,
after their departure from the body, be-
came demons, and that the souls of vir-
tuous men, if highly purified, were exalted
from demons into gods. In the scriptures,
the English word is not used, but the
Greek Sai/iur is rendered devil, and some-
times at least improperly ; for nothing is
more certain than that different beings are
intended by SiaSoyxif and Sat/^wi'. The de-
mons of the New Testament were sujipos-
ed to be spiritual beings which vexed and
tormented men. And in general, the
word, in modern use, signifies an evil spir-
it or genius, which hifluences the conduce
or directs the fortunes of mankind. [See
Campbell's Dissert.]
DE'MONESS, n. A female demon. Medc.
DEMONIAC, ) „ . .
DE.MONI'ACAL, V a. l^ertainmg to demon?
DEMO'NIAN, S ""^ «^'' SP"-"^-
From thy demoniac holds. Milton .
2. Influenced by demons ; produced by de-
mons or evil spirits.
Demoniac phrensy. Milton.
DEMO'NIAe, n. A human being possessed
by a demon ; one whose volition and oth-
er mental faculties are overpowered, re-
strained, or disturbed, in their regular op-
eration, l>y an evil sijirit, or by a created
spiritual being of superior power. Encyc.
DEMO'NIACS, n. In church history, a
brancli of the Anabaptists, whose distin-
guishing tenet is, that at the end of the
world the devil will be saved. Enctic.
DEMONO€'RACy, 11. [Gr. «at,.ur, demon,
and xfiartu, to hold.] The power or gov-
ernment of demons.
DEMONOL'ATRY, n. [Gr. aat^uwr, demon,
and Xarpfia, worship.] The worship of
demons, or of evil spirits.
DEMONOL'OGY, n. [Gr. Soi^uv, demon,
and >.oyo5, discourse.]
A discourse on demons ; a treatise on evil
spirits. So King James entitled his book
concerning witches.
DEMON'OMIST, n. [Gr. «at;uw, demon,
and vojioi, law.]
One that lives in subjection to the devil, or
to evil spirits. Herbert.
DEMON'OMY, n. [supra.] The dominion
of demons, or of evil spirits. Herbert.
DE'MONSHIP, n. The state of a demon.
Mede.
DEMON'STRABLE, a. [See Demonstrate.-]
That may be demonstrated ; that may be
proved beyond doubt or contradiction ; ca-
pable of being shown by certain evidence,
or by evidence that admitsof no doubt ; as,
the iirinciples of geometry are demonstrable.
DEMON'STRABLENESS, n. The quality
of being demonstrable.
DEMON'STRABLY, adv. In a manner to
preclude doubt ; beyond the possibility of
contradiction.
DEM'ONSTRATE, v. t. [L. demonstro ; de
and mo)!«fco, to show ; Fr. demontrer; Sp.
Port, demostrar ; It. dimostrare. See Mttster.]
1. To show or prove to be certain ; to prove
beyond the possibility of doubt ; to prove
in such a manner as to reduce the contra-
ry position to evident absurility. We
demonstrate a problem in geometry, or a
proposition in ethics, by showing that the
contrary is absurd or impossible.
3. In anatomy, to exhibit the parts when dis-
sected.
DEMONSTRATED, pp. Proved beyond
the pos.^ibility of doubt; rendered certain
to the mind.
DEM'ONSTRATING, ppr. Proving to be
certain ; evincing beyond the possibility of
doubt.
DEMONSTRATION, n. The act ofdcm-
onstr;iting, or of exhibiting certain proof.
9. The highest degree of evidence ; certain
proof exhibited, or such proof as establish-
es a fact or proposition beyond a possibil-
ity of doubt, or as shows the contrary po-
sition to be absurd or impossible.
DEM
DEN
DEN
'). liiduliitablc evidence of tlie senses, or of
reason ; evidence which satisfies the mind
of the certainty of a fact or proposition,
Tlius we hold that the works of nature ex-
liihitrfe»non«<rn<io)iofthe existence ofa God,
■1. In logic, a series of syllogisms, all whose
premises are either definitions, self-evident
truths, or propositions already established.
Encyc.
5. Show; exhibition. Mitford.
0. In anatomy, the exhibition of parts di.s-
sected.
DF.MOiN'riTRATIVE, a. Showing or prov-
ing,' by ccrtiiin evidence ; having the pow-
er (if demonstration ; invincibly conclu-
sive ; as a demonstralive argument, or dem-
onstrative reasoning.
'-*. Having tlie power of showing with clear-
ness and certainty; as a demonstrative
figure in painting. Dryden
DEMON'STRATIVELY, adv. With cer-
tain evidence ; with proof which cannot
be questioned; certainly; clearly; con-
vincingly.
DKM'ONSTRATOR, n. One who demon
strates; one who proves any thing witl
certainty, or with indubitable evidence.
2. In anatomy, one who exhibits the parts
when dissected.
DEMON'STRATORY, a. Tending to dcm
onstrate; having a tendency to prove be
yond a possibility of doubt.
DfiMORALIZA'TION, n. [See Demoralize. _
The act of subverting or corrupting morals ;
destruction of moral principles.
DEMORALIZE, v. t. [de and moralize or
moral.]
To corrupt or undermine the morals of; to
destroy or lessen the efl'ect of moral prin-
ciples on ; to render corrupt in morals.
The elTect would be to demoralize mankind
Grattan on Catholic Petition
The native vigor of the soul must wholly dis
appear, under the steady intluence and the de
moralizing example of profligate power and
prosperous crime. IValsh, Letters on France.
DEMOR'ALIZED,^/). Corrupted in morals
DEMOR'ALiZING, ppr. Corrupting or de
stroying morals or moral jirinciples.
'i. a. i'ending to destroy morals or moral
principles.
DEMULCE, t'. t.demith'. [L. demulceo.] To
sooth ; to soflen or pacify. [JVot used.]
DEMUL'CENT, a. [h. demukens, demulceo
de and muiceo, to stroke, to soften ; allied
perhaps to mollis, mellow.]
.Softening ; mollifying ; lenient ; as, oil is de
mulcent.
IkEMUL'CENT, n. Any medicine which
lessens acrimony, or the eflfects of stimulus
on the solids ; that which softens or moUi
lies ; as gimis, roots of marsh-mallows,
and other mucilaginous substances.
Cum. Encyc. Hooper
DEMUR', v. i. [Fr. demeurer ; Sp. demorar ;
Port, demorar ; It. dimorare ; L. demoror ;
de and wioror, to stay or delay, mora, de-
lay ; Arm. miret, to hold ; Sax. merran.
miprran, to hiniler ; allied to L. miror, and
Eng. to moor, Sp. amarrar.]
1. To stop; to pause; to hesitate; to
pend proceeding ; to delay determination
or conclusion.
On receiving this information, the minister de-
murred, till he could obtain fiirther instructions.
2. In laio, to stop at any point in the plead-
ings, and rest or abide on that point in law
for a decision of the cause. Tlius,the de-
fendant may demur to the plaintiff's dec-
laration, alledging it to be insufficient in
law ; the plaintift" may demur to the de-
fendant's plea, for a like reason.
DEMUR', V. t. To doubt of. [Mil legiti-
mate.] Muton.
DEMUR', n. Stop ; pause ; hesitation as to
the propriety of proceeding ; suspense of
proceeding or decision.
All my demurs but double his attacks.
Pope.
DEMU'RE, a. [perhaps from demur, that is,
set, fi.xed, stayed, silent.]
Sober ; grave ; modest ; downcast ; as a rft-
viure countenance ; a demure abasing of
the eye. Bacon.
DEMU'RE, V. i. To look with a grave coun-
tenance. \JVot used.] Shak.
DEMU'RELY, adv. With a grave, solemn
countenance ; with a fi.xed look ; with a
solenm gravity.
Esop's damsel sat demurely at the board's
end. Bacon
DEMU'RENESS, n. Gravity of counte-
nance ; soberness ; a modest look.
Sidney,
DEMUR RA6E, n. [See Demur.] An al-
lowance made to the master of a trading
vessel, for delay or detention in port be-
yond the appointed time of departure.
This expense is paid by the merchant who
causes the detention.
DEMUR'RER, n. One who demurs.
2. In law, a stop at some point in the plead
ings, and a resting of the decision of the
cause on that point ; an issue on matter
of law. A dennirrer confesses the fact
facts to be true, but denies the sufiiciency
of the facts in point of law to support tl
claim or defense. A demurrer may be
tendered to the declaration, to the plea. It
the replication, to the rejoinder, &c.
Blackslone
DEMUR'RING, ppr. Stopping ; pausing
ispending proceedings or decision ; rest
g or abiding on a ])oiiit in law.
DEMY', Ji. [Fr. demi, half] A particular size
of paper : a kind of paper of small size.
3. A half fellow at iMagdalen college, Ox-
ford.
DEN, n. [Sax. den, dene, denn, a valley ; It.
tana ; Fr. taniere ; Ir. tainnedhe.]
1. A cave or hollow place in the earth ; usu
ally applied to a cave, pit, or subterrane
ous recess, used for concealment, shelter,
protection or security ; as a lion's den ; a
den of robbers or thieves.
The beasts go into dens. The children of Is
rael made themselves dens. Job xxxvii. Judge;
vi.
2. As a termination, in names of places, it
denotes the place to be in a valley or
a wood.
DEN, i». i. To dwell as in a den.
DEN'AR€OTlZE, v. t. [de and narcotic.-]
To deprive of narcotine; to depurate from
the principle called narcotine.
Journ. of Science
DEN'ARY, a. [L. denarius.] Containing ten
DEN'ARY, n. The mmiber ten. Digby.
DENA'TIONALIZE, v. t. [rfe and nation]
To divest of national character or rights,
by transferrence to the service of another
nation. A ship built and registered in the
United States, is denatimmtized by being
employed in the service of another nation
and bearing its flag.
Frencli Decrees. Dec. of the Prince Regent.
DENA'Y,?!. Denial; refusal. Ohs. Shak.
DENA'Y, V. t. To deny. Obs. Spenser.
DEN'DRA€HATE, n. [Gr. «f^«po.', a tree,
and cia;af»;{, agate.]
Arborescent agate ; agate containing the fig-
ures of shrubs or parts of plants. Enci/c.
DENDRITE, n. [Gr. btvbpvr^s, from ««-
6poi', a tree.]
.\ .stone or mineral on or in which are the
fi;;uris (if shrubs or trees; an arborescent
iiuiicr.d. Fourcroy.
l»l',.\ni{| T IC, ) Containing the fig-
DENDUiTlcAL, p- mcs of shrubs or
;es.
DEN'DROID, a. [Gr. Stvifw, a tree, and
iSo{, form.] Resembling a shrub.
DEN'DROIT, n. A fossil which has some
resemblance in form to the branch of a
tree. Did. ofj^at. Hist.
DEN'DROLITE, n. [Gr.&ivb(,ov, a tree, and
uOof, a stone.]
V petrified or fossil shrub, plant, or part of a
plant. Did. of . Vat. Hist.
DENDROL OGY,n. [Gr. Stvipov, a tree, and
xoyof, a discourse.]
A discourse or treatise on trees ; the natural
history of trees. Diet.
DENDROM'ETER, n. [Gr. Sti-Spov, tree,
and iiirpiu, to measure.]
An instrinnent to measure the highth and
diameter of trees. Encyc.
DEN'EGATE, v. «. [h. denego.] To deny.
[M)t \ised.]
DENEGA'TION, n. Denial. [JVot in use.]
DENI'ABLE, a. [See Deny.] That may be
denied, or contradicted. Brown.
DENI'AL, n. [See Deny.] An affirmation
to the contrary ; an assertion that a decla-
ration or fact stated is not true ; negation ;
contradiction. It is often expressed by no
or 7iot, simply.
2. Refusal to grant ; the negation of a re-
quest or petition ; the contrary to grant,
allowance or concession; as, his request
or application met with a direct denial.
3. A rejection, or refusing to acknowledge ;
a disowning ; as a denial of God : or a re-
fusing to receive or embrace ; as a denial
of the faith or the truth.
4. A denial ofone^s self, is a declining of some
gratification ; restraint of one's appetites
or propensities.
DENI'ER, n. One who denies, or contra-
dicts ; one who refuses, or rejects ; a dis-
owner ; one who does not own, avow or
acknowledge ; as a denier of a fact, or of
the faith, or of Christ.
DENIER, 71. [Fr. from L. denarius; It.
danaio, danaro ; Sp. dinero.]
A small denomination of French money, the
twelfth part of a sol ; a small copper coin.
DEN'IGRATE, v. t. [L. denigro; de and
nigra, from niger, black.] To blacken ; to
make black. Boyle.
DENIGRATION, n. The act of making
black ; a blackening.
DENITRA'TION, n. A disengaging of ni-
tric acid. Obs.
DENIZATION, n. [See Denizen.] The act
of making one a denizen, subject or citi-
zen. This in England is done by the
king's letters patent.
DEN'IZEN, n. dtn'izn. [In W. dinaiicr is
DEN
DEN
DEN
a citizen, from dinas, din, a fortress or for-
tirieti town, a city. But in denizen, the
last syllable seems to be the same as in
citizen.]
1. In England, an alien who is made a sub-
ject by tlie king's letters patent, holding a
middle state between an alien and a nat-
ural born subject. He may take land by
purchase or devise, which an alien cannot ;
but he cannot take by inheritance.
Encyc. English Law.
2. A stranger admitted to residence and cer-
tain rights in a foreign country.
Ve gods,
Natives, or denizens, of blest abodes.
Dryden.
3. A citizen.
DEN'IZEN, v.t. To make a denizen; to
admit to residence with certain rights and
privileges; to infranchise.
DENOM'INABLE, a. [See Denominate.]
That maybe denominated, or named.
Broum.
DENOM'INATE, v, t. [L. denomino ; de and
nomino, to name. See JVame.]
To name; to give a name or epithet to; as,
a race of intelligent beings denominated
MAN. Actions are denominated virtuous,
or vicious, according to their character.
DENOM'INATED,»o. Named; called.
DENOM'INATING, ppr. Naming.
DENOMINA'TION, n. The act of naming.
2. A name or appellation; a vocal sound,
customarily used to express a thmg or a
quality, in discourse ; as, all men fall un-
der the denomination of sinners ; actions
fall under the denomination of good or bad.
3. A class, society or collection of individ-
uals, called by the same name ; as a de-
nomination of christians.
DENOM'INATIVE, a. That gives a name ;
that confers a distinct appellation.
DENOM'INATOR, n. He that gives a
name.
2. In arithmetic, that number placed below
the line in vulgar fractions, which shows
into how many parts the integer is divided.
Thus in |, 5 is the denominator, showing
that the integer is divided into five parts ;
and the numerator 3 shows how many
parts are taken, that is, three fifths.
DENO'TABLE, u. That may 'be denoted,
or marked. Brown.
DENOTA'TION, 7(. [L. denotatio. See
Denote.] The act of denoting.
Hammond.
DENO'TATIVE, a. Having power to
denote.
DENO'TE, V. t. [L. denoto ; de and nolo, to
note or mark ; Fr. detwter ; Sp. denotar
It. denotare.]
1. To mark ; to signify by a visible sign ; to
indicate ; to express. The character X
denotes mnltipUcation. Day''s Algebra.
2. To show ; to betoken ; to indicate ; as, a
quick pulse denotes fever.
DENO'TED, /jp. Marked; signified, iud
cated.
DENO'TEMENT, n. Sign ; indication.
Shak.
DENO'TING, ppr. Marking; expressing
indicating.
DENOUEMENT, n. [Fr. from Anouer, to
untie ; de and nouer, to tie, L. nodo.]
The unraveling or discovery of a plot. [jVof
English.} IFarton.
DENOUNCE, u. <. denouns'.^ [Fr. denoncer ;
Sp. dtnunciar ; It. denunziare ; h. denun-
cio ; de and nuncio, to tell, or declare, from
nomen or its root.]
1. To declare solemnly ; to proclaim in a
threatening manner ; to announce or de-
clare, as a threat.
I denounce to you this day, that ye shall surely
perish. Deut. xxx.
So we say, to denounce war ; to denounce
wrath.
2. To threaten by some outward sign, or
:pression.
His look denounced revenge. Milton.
3. To inform against ; to accuse ; as, to de-
nounce one for neglect of duty.
DENOUN'CED, pp. Threatened by open
declaration ; as, punishment is denounced
against the ungodly.
2. Accused ; proclaimed ; as, he was denoim-
ced as an enemy.
DENOUNCEMENT, n. denouns'ment. The
declaration of a menace, or of evil ; denun-
ciation. Broum.
DENOUN'CER, n. One who denoiuices, or
declares a menace.
Here comes the sad denouncer of ray fate.
Dryden.
DENOUN'CING, ppr. Declaring, as a
threat; threatening; accusing.
DENSE, a. dens. [L. densus ; Fr. dense ; Sp.
It. denso. Qu. Or. Saavq, n being casual.]
Close ; compact ; having its constituent
parts closely united ; applied to solids or
fluids; as a dense body ; dense air.
2. Thick ; as a dense cloud, or fog.
DENSENESS, n. dens'ness. The same as
density.
DENS'lTY, n. [L. densitas.] Closeness of
constituent parts ; compactness. Density
is opposed to rarity ; and in philosophy,
the density of a body indicates the quantity
of matter contaitied in it, under a given
bulk. If a body of equal bulk with anoth-
er is of double the density, it contains
double the quantity of matter.
2. Thickness ; as the density of fog.
DENT, n. [Arm. danta, to gap or notch. It
seems to be from dant, a tooth ; Fr.
dent ; L. dens ; Gr. o&ms ; W. dant ; It.
dente ; Sp. diente, whence dentar, endeniar.
to tooth; Port, dente; Pers. • ^^xii
dandan ; Gypsey and Hindoo, dant, danda.
Hence Fr. denteler, to dent or indent, to
jag or notch.]
Literally, a tooth or projecting point. But
it is used to e.xpress a gap or notch, or
rather a depression or small hollow in
solid body ; a hollow made by the pressure
of a harder body on a softer ; indentation.
In this sense, it is in customary use in the
United States.
2. A stroke. Spenser.
DENT, V. t. To make a dent or small hol-
low. [See Indent.]
DEN'TAL, a. [L. dentalis.] Pertaining tc
the teeth. In grammar, formed or pio
nounced by the teeth, witli the aid of the
tongue ; as, D and T are dental letters.
DEN'TAL, n. An articulation or letter form-
ed by placing the end of the tongue agains
the up]jer teeth, or against the gum that
covers tlie root of the upper teeth, as D,
T, and Th.
2. A genus of shell-fish., Dentahum, of scv
eral species. The shell consists of one
tubulous straight valve, open at both ends.
Encyc.
DEN'TALITE, n. A fossil shell of the ge-
nus Dentalium.
DEN'TATE, ) [L. dentatus, rrom dci^s.]
DEN'TATED, ^ Toothed ; notched.
In botany, a dentated root is one that con-
sists of a concatenation of joints, resem-
bling a necklace.
A dentate leaf is one that has horizontal
points, with a space between each, or
points in the plane of the disk, or having
points like teeth on the margin. Marlyn.
DENTATO-SIN'UATE, a. Having points
like teeth with hollows about the edge.
DEN'TED, a. Indented; impressed with
little hollows.
DENTEL'LI, n. [It. dentello. See Dentil.]
Modillions. Spectator.
DEN'TI€LE, n. [L. denticulus.] A small
tooth or projecting point. Lee.
DENTICULATE, ) [L. denticulatus^
DENTICULATED, \ "' from dens, a
tooth.]
Having small teeth or notches ; as a denticu-
late leaf, calv.v or seed. Botany.
DENTIeULA'TION, n. The state of being
set with small teeth, or promuiences or
points, resembling the teeth of a saw.
Grew.
DEN'TIFORM, a. [L. dens, a tooth, and
forma, form.] Having the form of a tooth.
Kirwan.
DEN'TIFRICE, n. [Fr. from L. dens, a
tooth, and yi'ico, to rub.]
A powder or other substance to be used in
cleaning the teeth. Burnt shells and char-
coal pulverized make an excellent den-
lifi-ice.
DEN'TIL, n. [L. dens, a tooth.] In archi-
tecture, an ornament in cornices bearing
some resemblance to teeth ; used particu-
larly in the Ionic and Corinthian order.
DEN'TIST, 71. Oiie whose occupation is to
clean and extract teeth, or rejjuir the loss
of them.
DENTF'TION, n. [L. dentitio, from dentio,
to breed teeth, from dens.]
1. The breeding or cutting of teeth hi
infancy.
2. The time of breeding teeth.
DEN'TIZE, V. t. To renew the teetli, or
have them renewed. Bacon.
DEN'TOID, a. [L. dens, a tooth, and Gr.
uSo;, form.] Having the form of teeth.
BaHon.
DENU'DATE, ? , [L. denude; de and
DENU'DE, ^^•'- nudo, to make bare;
nudus, naked.]
To strip; to divest of all covering; to make
bare or naked. Ray. Sharp.
DENUDA'TION, ?'.. The act of stripping off
covering ; a making bare.
2. In geology, the act of -washing away the
surface of the earth hy the deluge or other
flootl. Buckland.
DENU'DED, p;). Stripped; divested of cov-
ering ; laid bare.
DENU'DING, ppr. Stripping of covering ;
making baie.
DENUN'CIATE, v. t. [L. denuncio.] To
denouncK, which see.
DENUNCIA'TION, n. [L. demmeiatio,.
from denuncio. See Denounce.]
1. Publication; pvoclanuition; anmmciaiiou;
DEO
D E P
D E P
preaching; as a faitliiul denunciation ot
the gospel. Milner.
2. Solemn or formal declaration, accompa-
nied with a menace ; or the declaration of
intended evil ; proclamation of a threat ;
a puhlic menace ; as a denunciation of war,
or of wrath.
DENUNCIA'TOR, n. He that denounces ;
one who publishes or proclaims, especially
intended evil ; one who threatens.
2. An accuser; one who informs against
another. -^ylifff-
DENY', V. t. [Fr. denier ; L. denego ; de and
nego, to deny, Sw. neka, W. nacu. Hence
nay, Dan. nfj. The sense is to thrust
from.]
1. To contradict ; to gainsay; to declare a
statement or position not to be true. We
deny what another says, or we deny a
pro|)osition. We deny the truth of an as-
sertion, or the assertion itself The sense
of this verb is often expressed by no or
nay.
2. To refuse to grant ; as, we asked for bread,
and the man denied us.
3. Not to afford ; to withhold.
Who finds not Providence all good and wise.
Alike in what it gives, and what denies ?
Pope.
4. To disown ; to refuse or neglect to ac-
knowledge; not to confess.
He that denieth me before men, shall be de-
nied before the angels of God. Luke xii.
5. To reject; to disown; not to receive or
embrace.
He liatli denied tlie faith, and is worse than an
infidel. 1 Tim. v.
Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. Tit.
(i. Not to afford or yield. Kirwan.
To deny oiie'« self, is to decline the gratifica-
tion of appetites or desires ; to refrain
from ; to abstain. The temperate man
denies himself the free use of spirituous
liquors. I denied myself the pleasure of
your company.
" God cannot deny himself." He cannot act
in contradiction to his character and i)romises.
He cannot be unfaithful. 2 Tim. ii.
DEOBSTRUCT', i'. t. [L. de and obstnio, to
stop ; ob and sfruo, to pile.]
To remove obstructions, or impediments to a
passage ; to clear from any thing that hin-
ders the passage of iiuids in the proper
ducts of the body ; as, to deobstruct the
pores or lacteals.
DEOBSTRU€TED, pp. Cleared of obstruc-
tions ; opened.
DEOBSTRUCT'ING, ppr. Remo>ing im-
pediments to a passase.
DEOB'STRUENT, n.'^ Removing obstruc-
tions ; having power to clear or open the
natural ducts of the fluids and secretions
of the body ; resolving viscidities ; aperi-
ent. Coxe. Encyc.
DEOB'STRUENT, n. Any medicine which
removes obstructions and opens the nat-
ural passages of the fluids of the body, as
the pores and lacteal vessels ; an aperient.
Calomel is a powerful deobstruent.
DE'ODAND, )!. [L. Deo dandus, to be given
to God.]
In England, a personal chattel which is the
immediate occasion of the death of a ra-
tional creature, and for that reason, given
to God, that is, forfeited to the king, to be
applied to pious uses, and distributed in
alms by his high almoner. Thus, if a carl
runs over a man and kills him, the cart is
I'orfeited as a deodand.
Blackslone. Eng. Law.
DEON'ERATE, v. t. [L. deonero ; de and
onus.] To unload. LVoJ used.]
DEOP'PILATE, V. t. [L. de and oppilo.]
To free from obstructions ; to clear a pas-
sage. [Little u.ied.]
DEOPPILATION, n. The removal of ob-
structions. [Little used.] Brown.]
DEOP'PILATIVE, a. Deobstruent ; aperi-
ent. Harvey.'
DEORDINA'TION, n. [L. de and ordina-\
tio.] Disorder. [JVot in use.] Rnwley.
DEOS'CUL.\TE, v. t. [L. deosculor.] To;
kiss. LVo/ in use.] i
DEOSeULA'TION, n. A kissitig. [.Ybt in
use.] Slillingfleet.
DEOX'YDATE, v. t. [de and orydate, from
Gr. o|vs, acid.] j
To deprive of oxygen, or reduce from the;
state of an oxyd. Cliimistry!
DEOX'YDATED, pp. Reduced from the
state of an oxvd.
DEOX'YDATING,;)pr. Reducing from the
state of an oxyd. [
DEOXYDA'TION, n. The act or process of
reducing from the state of an oxyd.
DEOXYDIZA'TION, n. Deoxydation.
DEOX'YDIZE, V. t. To deoxjdate.
DEOX'YDIZED, ;>;>. Deoxvdated.
DEOX'YDIZING, ;);)r. Deoxydating.
Note. Deoxydate and deoxydize are synon-,
ymous ; but the former is preferable, on account
of the length of the word deoxydization.
DEOX'YGENATE, v. t. [de and oxygenate.]
To deprive of oxygen.
Davy. Med. Rep.
DEOX'YgENATED, v.t. Deprived of oxy-
would not depart tiorn his purpose, reso-
lution, or demand.
5. To be lost ; to perish ; to vanish ; as, his
departed.
6. To die ; to decease ; to leave this world.
Lord, now Ictiest thou thy servant depart in
peace, accordiii'^ lo thy word. Luke ii.
To depart this life is elliptical, from be-
undcrstood.
DEOX'YgENATING, ppr. Depriving of
oxygen. ^ [
DEOXYgENA'TION, n. The act or opera-'
tion of depriving of o.xygen. 1
DEPA'INT, v. f. [Fr. depeindre, depeint ; de
and peindre, L. pingo, to paint.] [
\. To paint ; to picture ; to rejjresent in col-j
ors, as by painting the resemblance of ,
Spenser:.
2. To describe in words. Guy.'
DEPA'INTED, /);>. Painted ; represented in
"bed. I
lors; describ
DEPA'INTER, n. A painter.
Douglas.
DEPA'INTING,;)^-. Painting; represent
ing in colors; describing.
DEP'ART, v. i. [Fr. departir ; de and parHr,
to separate ; Sp. departir. See Pail.]
1. To go or move from.
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting
fire. Matt. xxv.
It is followed by from, or from is implied
before the place left. j
" 1 will depart to my own land," tiiat is, 1 will
depart yi-om this place to my own land. Num. x.
2. To go Com ; to leave ; to desist, as from!
a practice. Jehu departed not from the'
sins of Jeroboam. Jehoshaphat departed
not from tlie way of Asa his father. \
3. To leave ; to deviate from ; to forsake ;'
not to adhere to or follow ; as, we cannot
depart from our rules.
I have not departed from thy judgments. Ps.
cxix.
4. To desist : to leave ; to abandon ; as, he
'.T^
leave ; to forsake ; to abandon ;
5, to
depart from evil.
8. To cease.
The prey departeth not. Nah. iii.
9. To deviate ; to vary from.
If the plan of the convention be found to de-
part from republican principles — Madison .
10. To vary ; to deviate from the title or de-
fense in pleading. Blackstone.
11. To part with. [Mitin use.] Shak.
To depart from God, is to forsake his service
and live in sin ; to apostatize ; to revolt ;
to desert his government and laws.
God depaiis from men, when he abandons
them to their own sinful inclinations, or
ceases to be.stow on them his favor.
Hosca ix.
DEPART, V. t. To divide or separate ; to
part. [J\'ot used.] Shak. Spenser.
DEP^ART, n. The act of going away;
death. [jVot used.] Shak.
2. Division ; separation. [JVot tised.]
Bacon.
DEPARTER, n. One who refines metals
by spjjaration. [.\'ol used.]
DEPARTING, ;)/>r. Going from; leaving;
ilesistiiifr; forsaking; vanishing; dying.
DEPARTING, n. A going away ; separa-
tion. Shak.
DEPARTMENT, n. [Fr. departement; Sp.
departimiento.]
1. Literally, a s-eparation or division ; hence,
a separate part, or portion ; a division of
territory ; as the departments of France.
2. A separate allotment or part of business ;
a distinct province, in which a class of du-
ties are allotted to a particular person ; as
the department of state, a.^signed to the
secretary of state ; the treasury departmeni ;
the department of war.
3. A separate station ; as, the admirals had
their respective departments. Nearly in
this sense, dming war, were used in Amer-
ica, tlie terms, Nortliern and Southern
departments.
DEPARTMENTAL, a. Pertaining to a de-
partment, or division.
DEPARTURE, n. The act of going away ;
a moving from or leaving a place ; as a
departure from London.
2. Efeath ; decease ; removal fi-om the pres-
ent life.
The time of my departureis at hand. 2 Tim.
3. A forsaking; abandonment; as a depart-
ure from evil.
4. A desisting ; as a departure from a pur-
pose.
5. Ruin ; destruction. Ezek. xxvi.
6. A deviation from tlie title or defense in
pleading. Blackstone.
In navigation, the distance of two places
on the same parallel, counted in miles of
the equator. Mar. Diet.
DEPAS'CENT, a. [L. depaseens, depascor ;
rfe and pascor, to feed.] Feeding.
D E
D E P
D E P
DEP'ASTURE, v. t. [L. depascor, supia.J
To eat up; to consume. Spenser.
DEP'ASTURE, v. i. To feed ; to graze.
If a man takes in a horse, or other cattle, to
graze and (Ujwsture in liis grounds, whicli the
law calls agistment — Blackstone.
DEP'ASTURING, ;>;))•. Feeding; grazing:
eating up.
DEPAU'PERATE, v. I. [L. depaupero ; de
and paupero, to beggar, from pauper,
poor ; Sp. empobrecer.]
To make poor ; to impoverish ; to deprive of
fertility or richness; as, to depauperate the
soil or the blood. Mortimer. Arhuthnot.
DEPAU PERATED, pp. Impoveri.shed ;
made poor.
DEPAU'PERATING, ppr. Impoverishing;
making poor.
DEPEC'TIBLE, a. [L. depedo, to comb.]
Tough; thick. {JVot used.]
DEPEIN€T', u. «. [Udcpingo.] To paint.
[JVot used.] Spenser.
DEPEND', D.t. [Udependeo; deanApendeo,
to hang; Sp. depender; It. dipendere ; Fr.
dependre ; Arm. depanta.]
1. To hang; to be sustained by being fasten-
ed or attached to something above ; fol-
lowed hy from.
From the frozen beard
Long icicles depend. Dryden
2. To be connected with any thing, as the
cause of its existence or of its operation
and effects ; to rely on ; to have such eon
nection with any thing as a cause, tha
without it, the effect would not be prodii
ced ; followed by on or upon. We de-
pend on God for existence ; we depend on
air for respiration ; vegetation depends on
heat and moisture ; the infant depends on
its parents for support; the peace of soci
ety depends on good laws and a faithful
adtninistration.
3. To adhere ; to hold to ; to be retained
[See Dependent] Shak
4. To be in suspense; to be undetermined ;
as, the cause still depends. But the verb
is seldom used in this sense. We use the
j)arf iciple ; as, the suit is still depending
court. [See Pending.]
5. To rely ; to rest with confidence ;
trust ; to confide ; to have full confidence
or belief. We depend on the word or as
surance of our friend-i. We depend on
the arrival of the mail at the usual hour.
Depend on it, the knave will deceive us.
To depend on or upon, to rely ; to trust hi,
with confidence.
DEPEND'ABLE, a. That may be dei)cnd-
ed on ; as dependable friendships. [JVb/ in
use] Pope.
DEPEND'E>fCE, ) A state of hanging
DEPEND'ENCY, \ "" down from a su
porter.
2. Any thing hanging down ; a series of
tilings hanging to another.
And made a long dependence from the bough
Dryden
3. Concatenation ; connection by which one
thing is sustained by another, in its place
ojieratioiis or effects, or is affiicted by it
But of this frame the bearings and the lies
The strong connections, nice dependenries—
Pupi
4. A state of being at the disposal of ;ui
other; a state of being subject to the wil
ni an intrlligpiit c-ii;';!', <\y Xn the power
and operation of any other cause ; inability
to sustain itself without the aid of.
We ought to feel our dependence on God for
life and support. The child should be sensible
of his dependence on his parents. In the natural
and moral world, we observe the dependence of
one thing on another.
5. Reliance ; confidence ; trust ; a resting
on ; as, we may have a firm dependence on
the promises of God.
C. Accident ; that of which the existence
jiresupposes the existence of something
else ; that which pertains to something
else ; as modes which are considered as
dependencies or affections of substances.
iMcke.
7. That which is attached to, but subordin-
ate to something else ; as this earth and
its dependencies. Burnet.
8. A territory remote from the kingdom or
state to which it belongs, but subject to
its dominion ; as distant isles or countries.
Great Britain has its dependencies, in Asia,
Africa and America.
DEPEND'ENT, a. Hanging down ; as a
dependent leaf
The furs in the tails were dependent.
Peacham.
2. Subject to the power of; at the disposal
of; not able to exist or sustain itself with-
out the will or jiower of. Tlius, we are
dependent oil God and his providence ; an
effect maybe dependent on some unknown
cause.
3. Relying on for support or favor; unable
to subsist or to perform any thing, with-
out the aid of
Children are dependent on their parents for
food and clothing. The pupil is dependent on
his preceptor for instruction.
DEPEND'ENT, n. One who is at the dis-
posal of another ; one who is sustained by
another, or who relies on another for sup-
port or favor; a retainer; as, the ]>rince
was followed by a numerous train of rfe-
pen dents.
DEPEND'ER, n. One who depends ; a de-
(icndent. Sliak.
DEPEND'ING, ppr. Hanging down ; rely-
ing.
2. a. Pending; undecided; as a suit or
question.
DEPER'DIT, a. [L. deperditus.] That
which is lost or destroved. Pahy.
DEPERDI"TION, n. Loss ; destriirtiun.
[See Perdition.] Brown.
DEPHLEG'MATE, v. t. [de and Gr. ^Xcy-
fia, phlegm, from iJ>>,fyo, to burn.]
To deprive of superabundant water, as by-
evaporation or distillation, u.sed of spirit
and acids ; to clear spirit or acids of aque-
ous matter ; to rectify. Co.ve. Encyc.
[Dephlegm is used by Boyle.]
DEPHLEGMA'TION, n. The operation of
separating water from spirits and acids
liyrv.L|inr:uioi] iiricpeated distillation ;cal
lJ,l .iNd idun iilnil'wn. particularly wlur
aci.ls :,rr ll.r -nh|,'rt. Enryr
DEPlll.i:*; AII'.DNESS, n. A state of !»■
ing freed from water. [J^'otused.] Bnyh
DEPHLOGlS'TleATE, v. t. [de and Gr
^j-oytfo;, burnt, inflammable, from t^oy
ifw, to burn. Hri> Phlogiston.]
To cli|.ri\c '<( |ihl.ii;iston, or the supposed
liriiiriplc di' iiilliiniMiability. Piiestlcy.
DKI'IILor.lS'rU' ATED, pp. Deprived ol
phlou'iston. Dipklogislicrtted air, is an elas-
tic fluid capable of supporting animal life
and flame much longer than common air.
It is now called oxygen, oxygen gas, or iii-
tal air.
DEPICT', v.t. |L. depingo, depictum; de
and pingo, to paint.]
To paint ; to portray ; to form a likeness in
colors ; as, to depict a lion on a shield.
Taylor.
2. To describe ; to represent in words ; as,
the poet depicts the virtues of his hero in
glowing language.
DEPICTED,"^;). Painted; represented in
colors ; described.
DEPICTING, ppr. Painting ; representing
in colors, or in words.
DEPICTURE, V. t. [de and picture.] To
paint ; to iiicture ; to represent in colors.
[See Depict.] Weever.
DEPILATE, V. I. [L. depilo ; de and pihig,
hair.] To stri]) of hair.
DEPILA'TION, n. The act of pulling off'
the hair. Dryden.
DEPILATORY, a. Having the quality or
power to take off' hair and make bald.
DEPILATORY, n. Any application which
is used to take off the hair of an animal
body ; such as lime and orpiment. Encyc.
DEP'iLOUS, a. Without hair. [ATot used.]
DEPLANTA'TION, n. [L. deplanto.] The
act of taking up plants from beds.
DEPLE'TION, )i. [L. depleo ; de and pleo,
to fill.]
The act of emptying ; particularly, in the
medical art, the act of diminishing the
quantity of blood in the vessels by vene-
.section ; bloodletting.
DEPLORABLE, a. [See Deplore.] That
may he deplored or lamented ; lamenta-
ble ; that demands or causes lamentation ;
hence, sad; calamitous; grievous; miser-
able ; wretched ; as, the evils of life are
deplorable ; the Pagan world is in a deplo-
rable condition.
Deplorate, in a like sense, is not used.
2. In popular use, low ; contemptible ; piti-
able ; as deplorable stupidity.
DEPLO'RABLENESS, n. The state of
being deplorable ; misery ; wretchedness ;
a miserable state.
DEPLORABLY, adv. In a manner to be
deplored ; lamentably ; miserably ; as,
manners are deplorabtt) corrupt.
DEPLORA'TION, n. The act of lament-
ing. In music, a dirge or mournful strain.
DEPLO'RE, V. t. [L. deploro ; de and ploro,
to howl, to wail ; Fr. deplorer ; It. deplo-
rare ; Sp. deplorar, llorar.]
To lament ; to bewail ; to mourn : to feel or
express deep and poignant grief for. We
deplored the death of Washington.
DEPLO'RED, pp. Lamented; bewailed;
deeply regretted.
DKPLO'REDLY, adv. Lamentably. [M>t
us-rj.] Taylor.
DKI'I.O'RER, n. One who deplores," or
ilccpiv laments; a deep mourner.
DEPLORING, ppr. Bewailing ; deeply la-
DEPLOY', V. t. [Fr. dephyer; de and ployer,
or plier, to fold ; L. plico ; Gr. rtXixa ; Arm.
ptega ; Sp. plegar ; It. piegare ; W. plygu.
Hence Sp. desplegar, to display; It. spie-
gare. Deploy is only a different orthogra-
phy of dcplicr, Sp. 'desplegar, to display.]
D E P
D E P
D E P
To display : to open ; to extend ; « militury
term.
DEPLOY', V. i. To open ; to extend ; to
form a more extended front or lino.
DEPLOY'ING, ppr. Opening ; extending ;
displaying.
DEPLUMA'TION, n. [See Deplume.] Tl.
stripping or falling oft' of plumes or feath-
ers.
2. A tumor of the eye-lids with loss of hair,
Coxe.
DEPLU'ME, V. t. [L. deplumo ; de and plu-
mo, a feather ; Sp. desplumar ; It. spiu-
mare.]
To strip or pluck off feathers ; to deprive of
plumage. Hayivard.
DEPLU'MED, pp. Stripped of feathers or
plumes.
DEPLU'MING, ppr. Stripping off plumes
or feathers.
DEPO'LARIZE, v. t. To deprive of polari-
ty. [See Polarity.] lire.
DEPO'NE, V. t. [L. depono.] To lay down
as a pledge ; to wage. [JVot in use.]
Hudibras.
DEPO'NENT, a. \L. deponens, depono; de
and pono, to lay.] Laying down.
9. A deponent verb, in the Latin Grammar, is
a verb which has a passive termination,
with an active signification, and wauts
one of the passive participles ; as, loijuor.
to speak.
DEPO'NENT, n. One who deposes, or gives
a deposition under oath ; one who gives
written testimony to be used as evidence
in a court of justice. With us in New
England, this word is never used, I be
lieve, for a witness who gives oral testi
niony in court. In England, a deponent is
one who gives answers under oath to in
terrogatorles exhibited in chancery.
2. A deponent verb.
DEPOP'ULATE v. t. [L. depopulor ; rfe and
popular, to ravage or lay waste, from
popidiis, people ; Sp. de^poblar ; It. spopo
lore ; Fr. depeupler.]
To dispeople; to unpeople ; to deprive of in-
habitants, whether by death, or by expul-
sion. It is not synonymous with laying
waste or destroying, being limited to the
loss of inhabitants : as, an army or a famine
may depopulate a country. It rarely ex
presses an entire loss of inhabitants, but
often a great diminution of their numbers.
The deluge nearly depopulated the earth.
DEPOP'ULATE, v. i. To become dispeo-
pled.
DEPOP'ULATED, pp. Dispeopled ; depri-
ved of inhabitant^.
DEPOP'ULATING, ppr. Dispeopling ; de-
priving of inhabitants.
DEPOPULATION, n. The act of dispeo-
pling; destruction or expulsion of inliabi-
tants.
DEPOP'ULATOR, n. One who depopu-
lates ; one who destroys or expels the in-
habitants of a city, town or country ; a
dispeopler.
DEPO'RT, I', t. [Fr. deporter; Sp.deportar;
L. dcporto ; de and porta, to carry.]
1. With the reciprocal pronoun, to carry ; to
demean ; to behave.
Let an embassador deport ?umself in the
most graceful manner before a prince. Pope.
2. To transport ; to carry away, or from one
country to another.
Hi: told US, he had been deported to Spain
with a hundred others like himself. IVatsh
DEPO'RT, n. Behavior; carriage; demean-
or ; deportment ; as goddess-hke deport.
Ul poetic word.] Milton.
DEPORTATION, n. Transportation; a
carrying away ; a removal from one coun
try to another, or to a distant place
exile ; banishment. -lyliffe.
DEPORTED, pp. Carried away; trans
ported ; banished.
DEPORTING, ppi: Carrying away ; remo
ving to a distant place or country ; trans-
porting ; banishing.
DEPO'RTMENT, n. [Fr. deporfement.]
Carriage; manner of acting in relation to
the duties of life ; behavior ; demeanor
conduct ; management. Sivijl.
DEPO'SABLE, a. That may be depo.sed, or
deprived of office. Howell.
DEPO'SAL, n. The act of deposing, or di
vesting of office. Fox
DEPO'SE, V. t. s as z. [Fr. deposer ; L. de-
pono, depositum ; de and pono, to lay or put
Sp. deponer ; It. deporre.]
1. To lay down; to throw; to let fall ; a.s,
the ^ooA deposed fine particles of earth
the bank of the river. In this sense, we
now use deposit. IVoodward.
2. To reduce from a throne or other higli
station; to dethrone; to degrade; to di-
vest of office ; as, to depose a king or s
pope.
3. To give testimony on oath, especially to
give testimony which is committed to wri-
ting ; to give answers to interrogatories,
intended as evidence in a court.
4. To lay aside. Barrow.
5. To take away ; to strip ; to divest. [Not
use.] Sliak.
6. To examine on oath. [JVot in use.] Shak.
DEPO'SE, V. i. To bear witness. Sidney.
DEPO'SED, pp. Dethroned; degraded
testified.
DEPO'SER, n. One who deposes or de
griides from office.
DEPOSING, ppr. Dethroning ; degrading
bearing witness.
DEPO'SING, ji. The act of dethroning.
Selden.
DEPOS'IT, v.t.svLS z. [L. depositum, from
depono.]
To lay down ; to lay ; to throw down
A crocodile deposits her eggs in the sand
A bird deposits eggs in a nest. An inun-
dation deposits particles of earth on a
meadow.
2. To lay up ; to lay in a place for preserva
tion. We deposit the produce of the earth
in barns, cellars or storehouses. We de
posit goods in a warehouse, and books in .•
library.
3. To lodge in the hands of a person for
safe-keeping or other purpose ; to commit
to the care "of; to entrust; to commit to
one as a pledge. We say, the bond is de
posited in the hands of an attorney ; mo
ney is deposited as a pledge, or security.
4. To lav aside. [Little used.]
DEPOS'IT, n. That which is laid or thrown
down ; any matter laid or thrown down,
or lodged.
The deposit already formed affording to the
succeeding portions of the charged fluid, a ba-
sis. Kirwan.
Any thing entrusted to the caie of auoth-
ledge ; a pawn ; a thing given as
y, or for preservation : as, these pa-
pers are committed to you as a sacred de-
posit ; he has a deposit of money in his
hands.
3. A place where things are deposited ; a de-
|)ositor}'.
4. A city or town where goods are lodged
for safe-keeping or for reshipment. [Fr.
depot.]
In deposit, in a state of ])ledge, or for safe
keeping.
DEPOSITARY, v. [Fr. depositaire ; Low
L. depositarius.]
A person with whom any thing is left or
lodged in trust ; one to whom a thing is
committed for safe keeping, or to be used
for the benefit of the owner; a trustee ; a
guardian. The Jews were the deposita-
ries of the sacred writings.
DEPOSITING, p/)r. Laying down; pledg-
ing ; repositing.
DEPOSI"T10N, )i. [L. depositio.] The act
of laying or throwing ilown ; as, soil is
formed by the deposition of fine particles,
during a flood.
2. That which is thrown down ; that which
is lodged : as, banks are sometimes depo-
sitions of alluvial matter.
3. The act of giving testimony under oath.
4. The attested written testimony of a wit-
ness; an affidavit.
5. The act of dethroning a king, or the de-
grading of a person from an office or sta-
tion ; a divesting of sovereignty, or of
office and dignity ; a depriving of clerical
orders. A deposition differs from abdica-
tion ; an abdication being voluntary, and a
deposition, compulsory.
DEPOS'ITORY, n. A place where any
thing is lodged for safe-keeping. A ware-
house is a depository for goods ; a clerk's
office, for records.
DEPOS'ITUM, n. A deposit. [Not En^^-
lish, nor in use.]
DEPOT. [K French word. See Deposit.]
DEPRAVATION, n. [L. depravalio. See
Deprave.]
1. The act of making had or worse; the
act of corrupting.
2. The state of being made bad or worse ;
degeneracy ; a state in which good quali-
ties are lost, or impaired. We speak of
the depravation of morals, manners or
government ; of the heart or mind ; of na-
ture, taste, &c.
3. Censure ; defamation. [Not used.] Shak.
DEPRA'VE V. t. [L. depravo ; de and pravus,
crooked, perverse, wicked.]
1. To make bad or worse ; to impair good
qualities ; to make bad qualities worse ; to
vitiate ; to corrupt ; as, to deprave manners,
morals, government, laws; to deprave the
heart, mind, will, understanding, taste,
principles, &c.
2. To defame ; to vilify. [Not now used.]
Shak. Spenser.
DEPRA'VED, pp. niade bad or worse;
vitiated ; tainted ; corrupted.
2. a. Corrupt; wicked ; destitute of holiness
or good principles.
DEPRA'VEDLY, adv. In a corrupt man-
ner.
DEPRA'VEDNESS, n. Corruption ; taint ;
a vitiated state. Hammond.
D E P
DEPRA'VEMENT, n. A vitiated state.
Broicn.
DEPRA'VER, n. A corrupter ; he wlio vi-
tiates ; a vilifier.
DEPRA'VING, ppr. Making bad ; corrupt-
ing.
DEPRA'VING, n. A traducing. Obs.
DEPRAVITY, n. Corruption ; a vitiated
state ; as the dqiravHy of manners and
morals. Burke.
2. A vitiated state of the heart ; wickedness ;
corruption of moral principles ; destitution
of hohness or good j>rinciples.
DEP'RE€ATE, v. t. [L. deprecor ; de and
precor, to pray. See Pray and Preach.]
1. To pray against ; to pray or intreat that
a present evil may be removed, or an ex-
pected one averted.
The judgments wc would deprecate arc not
removed. Smallridge.
We should all deprecate the return of war.
3. More generally, to regret ; to have or to
express deep sorrow at a present evil, or at
one that may occur. This word is seldom
used to express actual prayer: but it ex-
presses deep regret that an evil exists or
may exist, which implies a strong desire
that it may be removed or averted.
2. To implore mercy of. [Improper.] Prior.
DEP'RE€ATED, pp. Prayed against ; deep-
ly regretted.
DEPRECATING, ppr. Praying against;
regretting.
DEPRE€A'TION, n. A praying against ; ti
praying that an evil may be removed oi
prevented. Milton
2. Intreaty; petitioning; an excusing; £
begging pardon for. Johnson.
DEP'RECATOR, n. One who deprecates.
DEP'RECATORY, ) That serves to dep
DEP'RE€ATIVE, ^ "' recate ; tending to
remove or avert evil by prayer ; as depri
calory letters. Bacon.
2. Having the form of prayer.
DEPRE'CIATE, v. t. [Low L. depretio ; de
and prctium, price; Fr. depriser. See
Price.]
1. To lessen the price of a thing ; to cry
down the price or value.
2. To undervalue ; to represent as of little
value or merit, or of less value tlian '
commonly supposed ; as, one aiuhor is apt
to depreciate the works of another, or to
depreciate their worth.
3. To lower the value. The issue ofasu
perabundance of notes depreciates them,
or depreciates their value.
DEPRE'CIATE, v.i. To fall in value; to
become of less worth. A paper currency
will depreciate, unless it is convertible into
specie. Estates are apt to depreciate
the hands of tenants on short leases. Con-
tinental bills of credit, issued by the con-
gress, during the revolution, depreciated
to the one hundredth part of their nominjil
value.
DEPRECIATED, pp. Lessened in value
or price ; imdervafued.
DEPRECIATING, ppr. Lessening the
price or worth ; undervaluing.
2. Falling in value.
DEPRECIA'TION, n. The act of lessen-
ing or crying down price or value.
2. The falling of value; reduction of worth;
as the depreciation nCliilli of credit.
DEP
DEP'REDATE, v. t. [L. deprccdor
pritdor, to plunder, prceda, prey.]
To plunder ; to rob ; to pillage ; to take
the property of an enemy or of a foreign
country by force ; as, the army depredated
the enemy's country.
That kind of war''which depredates and dis-
tresses individuals. Marshall.
9. To prey upon ; to waste ; to spoil. Bacon.
3. To devour ; to destroy by eating ; as, wild
animals depredate the corn.
DEP'REDATE, v. i. To take plunder or
prey ; to commit waste ; as, the troops
depredated on the country.
DEP'REDATED, pp. Spoiled ; plundered ;
wasted ; pillaged.
DEP'REDATING, ppr. Plundering ; rob-
bing ; pillaging.
DEPREDATION, n. The act of plunder-
ing ; a robbuig ; a pillaging.
2. Waste ; consiunption ; a taking away by
any act of violence. The sea often makes
depredations on the laud. Intemperance
commits depredations on the constitution,
DEPREDATOR, n. One who plunders,
or pillages ; a spoiler ; a waster.
DEP'REDATORY, a. Plundering; spoil-
ing ; consisting in pillaging. Encyc
DEPREHEND', v. t. [L. deprehendo ;' de
and prehendo, to take or seize.]
1. To catch ; to take unawares or by sur-
prise ; to seize, as a person committing an
unlawful act. More. Hooker
3. To detect ; to discover ; to obtain the
knowledge of. Bacon
DEPREHEND'ED, pp. Taken by surprise
caught ; seized ; discovered.
DEPREHEND'ING,;)/)r. Taking unawares;
catching; seizing; discovering.
DEPREHEN'SIBLE, a. That may be
caught, or discovered.
DEPREHEN'SIBLENESS, n. Capabl
ness of being caught or discovered.
DEPREHEN'SION, n. A catching or sei
ing ; a discovery.
[Deprehend and its derivatives are little
used.]
DEPRESS', V. t. [L. depressus, deprimo ; de
and pressus, premo, to press.]
1. To press down ; to press to a lower state
or position ; as, to depress the end of a
tube, or the muzzle of a gun.
2. To let fall ; to bring down ; as, to depress
the eye.
3. To render dull or languid ; to hmit or di
minisli ; as, to depress commerce.
4. To sink ; to lower ; to deject ; to make
sad ; as, to depress the spirits or the mind,
5. To humble ; to abase ; as, to depress pride
6. To sink in altitude ; to cause to apjjear
lower or nearer the horizon ; as, a man
sailing towards the equator depresses the
pole.
7. To impoverish ; to lower in temporal es
tate ; as, misfortunes aud losses have de
pressed the mercljants.
8. To lower in value ; as, to depress the price
I of stock.
iDEPRESS'ED,pp. Pressed or forced down
I lowered ; dejected ; dispirited ; sad ; hum
I bled ; sunk ; rendered languid.
|2. In botany, a depressed leaf is hollow in the
middle, or having the disk more depress-
ed tlian the sides ; xised of succulent leaves
' and opposed to convex. Martyn
DEP
and DEPRESS'ING, ppr. Pressing down ; low-
ering in place ; letting fall ; sinking ; de-
jecting ; abasing ; impoverishing ; render-
ing languid.
DEPRES'SION, n. The act of pressing
down ; or the state of being pressed down ;
a low state.
2. A hollow ; a sinking or falling in of a sur-
face ; or a forcing inwards ; as roughness
consisting in little protuberances and de-
pressions ; the depression of the skull.
.3. The act of humbling ; abasement ; as the
depression of pride; the depression of the
nobility.
4. A sinking of the spirits ; dejection ; a state
of sadness ; want of courage or anima-
tion ; as depression of the mind.
5. A low state of strength ; a state of body
succeeding debility in the formation of dis-
ease. Coze.
G. A low state of business or of property.
The sinking of the polar star towards the
horizon, as a person recedes from the pole
towards the equator. Also, the distance
of a star from the horizon below, which is
measured by an arch of the vertical circle
or azimuth, passing through the star, in-
tercepted between the star and the hori-
zon. Bailey. Encyc.
In algebra, the depression of an equation,
is the bringing of it into lower and more
simple terms by division. Bailey.
DEPRESSIVE, a. Able or tending to de-
pi'ess or cast down.
DEPRESSOR, 71. He that presses down :
oppressor.
2. In anatomy, a muscle that depresses or
draws down the part to which it is attach-
ed ; as the depres.mr of the lower jaw, or
of the eyeball. It is called also deprimenl
or deprimens.
DEPRI'VABLE, a. [See Deprive.] That
may be deprived.
A chaplain shall be deprivable by the founder,
not by the bishop. Encyc.
[See Deprive, No. 4.]
DEPRIVA'TION, n. [See Deprive.] The
act of depriving ; a taking away.
2. A state of being deprived ; loss ; want ;
bereavement by loss of friends or of goods.
3. In law, the act of divesting a bishop or
other clergyman of his spiritual promotion
or dignity ; the taking away of a prefer-
ment ; deposition. This is of two kinds ; a
benejicio, and ab officio. The former is the
deprivation of a minister of his living or
preferment ; the latter, of his order, and
otherwise called deposition or degradation.
Encyc.
DEPRI'VE, V. t. [L. de and privo, to take
away, Sp. privar. It. privare, Fr. priver.
See 'Private.]
To take from ; to bereave of something
possessed or enjoyed ; followed by of; as,
to deprive a man o/" sight; to deprive one of
strength, of reasbn, or of property . This has
a general signification, applicable to a law-
ful or unlawful taking.
God hath deprivedher of wisdom. Job xxxix.
2. To hinder from possessing or enjoying ;
to debar.
From his face I shall be hid, deprived
Of his blessed countenance. Milton.
[This use of the word is not legitimate,
but common.]
3. To free or release from. Spenser.
D E P
4. To divest of an ecclesiastical prefennent,
dignity or office ; to ilivest of orders; as a
bishop, prebend or vicar.
DEPRIVED, pp. Bereft ; divested ; hinder-
ed ; stripped of office or dignity ; deposed ;
degraded.
DEPRI'VEMENT, n. The state of losing
or being deprived.
DEPRI'VER, n. He or that which deprives
or bereaves.
DEPRl' VING, ppr. Bereaving ; taking away
what is possessed ; divesting ; hindering
from enjoying ; deposing.
DEPTH, n. [from deep.] Deepness
distance or measure of a thing from the
surface to the bottom, or to the extreme
part downwards or inwards. The depth
of a river may be ten feet. The depth of
the ocean is unfathomable. The depth of
a wound may be an inch. In a vertical di
rection, depth is opposed to highth.
3. A deep place.
3. The sea, the ocean.
The depth closed me round about. Jonah ii
4. The abyss ; a gulf of infinite profundity.
When he set a compass on the face of the
depth. Prov. vili.
5. The middle or liighth of a season, as the
depth of winter ; or the middle, the dark
est or stillest part, as the depth of night
or the inner part, a part remote from the
border, as the depth of a wood or forest.
6. Abstruseness ; oKscurity ; that which is
not easily explored ; as the depth of a
science.
7. Unsearchableness ; infinity.
0 the depth of the riches both of (he wisdom
and knowledge of God. Rom. xi.
8. The breadth and depth of the love of Christ,
are its vast extent.
9. Profoundness ; extent of penetration, or
of the capacity of penetrating; as depth of
understanding; depth of skiW.
10. The depth of a squadron or battalion, ii
the number of men in a file, which form:
the extent from the front to the rear ; a;
a depth of three men or six men.
11. Depth of a sail, the extent of the square
sails from the head-rope to the foot-rope,
or the length of the afler-leech of a stay-
sail or boom-sail. Mar. Diet.
DEPUL'SION, n. [h.depulsio; de and pel-
lo, to drive.]
A driving or thrusting away. [See Repul-
sion.}
DEPUL'SORY, a. Driving or thrusting
away ; averting.
DEP'CRATE, v.t. [Fr. depmer ; It. depu-
rare ; Sp. depurar ; fromde and pu^, puns.]
To purify : to free from impurities, lietero-
geneous matter or feculence ; a chimical
term.
DEP'URATED, pp. Purified from hetero
geneous matter, or from impurities.
E. Stiles.
DEP'URATING, ppr. Purifying ; freeing
from impurities.
DEPURA'TION, n. The act of purifying
or freeing fluids from heterogeneous mat-
ter. This is done by decantation, when
the feculent matter "is deposited on the
bottom of the vessel ; or by de.spumation,
effected by boiling or fermentation, and
skimming ; or by filtration ; or by finin
or clarification. Parr.
■ Vol. I.
D E P
2. The cleansing of a wound from impure
matter.
DEP'URATORY, a. Cleansing; purifying;
or tending to purify. A depuratory lever,
is a fever that expels morbid matter by a
free (icrspiration. Sydenham.
DEPU'RE, v.t. To depurate. [J^totused.]
DEPUTA'TION, 7!. [Fr. id. ; It. deputazi-
one ; Sp. diputacion. See Depute.]
1. The act of appointing a substitute or re-
presentative to act for another ; the act of
appointing and sending a deputy or sub-
stitute to transact business for another, as
his agent, either with a special commis-
sion and authority, or with general pow-
ers. This word may be used for the elec-
tion of representatives to a legislature ; but
more generally it is employed to express
the appointment of a special agent or com-
missioner, by an individual or public body,
to transact a particular business.
2. A special commission or authority to act
as the substitute of another ; as, this man
acts by deputation from the sheriff.
3. The person deputed; the person or per-
sons authorized and sent to transact busi-
ness for another ; as, the Genenil sent i
deputation to the enemy to offer terms of
peace.
DEPU'TE, v.t. [Fr. deputer; It. deputare ;
Port, deputar ; Sp. diputar ; L. depulo, but
differently applied ; de and puto. The
primary sense of puto is to thrust, throw,
send ; but it has various applications. See
Class Bd. No. 13. 10.]
To appoint as a substitute or agent to act
for another; to appoint and send will
special commission or authority to transact
business in another's name. The sheriff
deputes a man to serve a writ.
There is no man deputed by the king to hear.
2 Sam. XV.
The bishop may depute a priest to administer
Oie sacrament. -iytifft
DEPUTED, pp. Appointed as a substitute
appointed and sent with special authority
to act for another.
DEPU'TING, ppr. Appointing as a substi
tute ; appointing and sending with a spe
cial commission to transact business for
another.
DEPUTIZE, V. t. To appoint a deputy; tc
empower to act for another, as a sheriff.
DEP'UTY, n. [Fr. deputl] A person ap
pointed or elected to act for another, es
pecially a person sent with a special com
mission to act in the place of another ; i
lieutenant ; a viceroy. A prince sends a
deputy to a diet or council, to represent
him and his dominions. A sheriff ap
points a deputy to execute the duties of hi;
office. The towns in New England send
deputies to the legislature. In the latter
sense, a deputy has general powers, and it
is more common to use the word represent-
ative.
3. In law, one that exercises an office in an-
other's right, and the forfeiture or misde-
meanor of such deputy shall cause the
person he represents to lose his office.
Phillips.
DEPUTY-€OLLE€TOR, n. A person ap-
pointed to perform the duties of a collec-
tor of the customs, in place of the coUec-
59
D E R
DEPUTY-MARSHAL, n. One appointed
to act in the place of the marshal.
DEPUTY-POST-MASTER, ... A person
who is appointed to act as post-master, in
subordination to the Post-Master General.
DEPUTY-SHERIFF, n. A person deputed
or authorized to perform the duties of the
sheriff, as his substitute. In hke manner,
we use deputy-commissary, deputy-pay-
master, &c.
DER, prefixed to names of places, may be
from Sax. deor, a wild beast, or from dur,
water.
DERACINATE, v. i. [Fr. deradner ; de
and radne, a root.]
To pluck up by the roots; to extirpate.
[Liltle used.] Shale.
DERAC INATED. pp. Plucked up by the
roots ; extirpated.
DERACiN.VTING, />/>.•. Tearing up by the
roots ; extirpating.
DERA'IGN, } , [Norm, derener, dereign-
JDERA'IN, I ' ' er, deraiffner, or derainer.]
To prove ; to justify ; to vindicate, as an as-
sertion; to clear one's self [.In old lair
tenn, now ditused.]
DERA'IGNMENT, { „ The act of derain-
DERA'INMENT, S '"S ; proofi justifi-
cation.
A like word was formerly used in the
sense of disordering, derangement, a dis-
charge from a profession, or departure
from a religious order. [Fr. deranger; de
and ranger.]
DER.INCE, v.t. [Fr. deranger; de and ran-
ger, to set in order, from rang, rank ; Arm.
direncqa.]
1. To put out of order ; to disturb the regu-
lar order of; to throw into confusion ; as,
to derange the plans of a commander, or
the affairs of a nation.
I had long supposed that nothing could de-
range or interrupt the course of putrefacdon.
Lavoisier, Tran.
2. To embarrass ; to disorder ; as, his pri-
vate affairs are deranged.
3. To disorder the intellect ; to disturb the
regular operations of reason.
4. To remove from place or office, as the
personal staff of a principal niilitai-y offi-
cer. Thus when a general officer resigns
or is removed from office, the personal
staff appointed by himself are said to be
deranged. tf. H. Sumner.
DERANGED, pp. Put out of order ; dis-
turbed ; embarrassed ; confused ; disor-
dered in mind ; delirious ; distracted.
DERAN(5E.MENT, ... A putting out of or-
der ; disturbance of regularity or regular
course ; embarrassment. Washington.
2. Disorder of tlie intellect or reason ; deli-
rium ; insanity ; as a derangement of the
mental organs. Paley.
DERANliING, ppr. Putting out of order;
disturbing regularity or regular course ;
embarrassment ; confusion. Hamilton.
2. Disordering the rational powers.
DERA'Y, r. /. [fi-ora the French.] Tumult:
disorder ; merriment. [A'ot in use.]
Douglas.
DERE, V. t. [Sax. derian.] To hurt. Obs.
|DER'ELI€T, a. [L. dereiictus, derdinquo :
de and relinqito, to leave, re and linquo, id.
Class Lg.] Left ; abandoned.
DERELICT, n. In late, an article of goods.
D E R
or any commodity, tlirovvii away, reli
quislied or abandoned by tbe owner.
2. A tract of land left dry by tbe sea, and fit
for cultivation or use. ,.,.-, ^,
DERELICTION, n. [L. derehctio.] The
act of leaving with an intention not to re-
claim ; an utter forsaking ; abandonment.
2 The state of being left or abandoned.
Hooker.
3 A leaving or receding from ; as the derelic-
' ' Hon of tlie sea. Blackstont
DEllI'DE, V. t. [L. derideo ; de and rideo, to
laugh ; It. deridere. In Fr. derider is tc
unwrinkle, from ride, a wrinkle. Proba
bly the primary sense of L. rideo is tc
wrinkle, to grin.]
To laugh at in contempt ; to turn to ridicule
or make sport of; to mock ; to treat with
scorn by laughter.
The Pharisees a\so— derided him. Luke xvi.
Some, who adore Newton for his fluxions,
ile'ride him for his religion. Berkeley.
DERI'DED, pp. Laughed at in contempt ;
mocked ; ridiculed.
DERl'DER, n. One who laughs at anoth-
er in contempt ; a mocker; a scoffer.
Hooker.
2. A droll or buffoon.
DERI'DIMG, ppr. Laughing at with con-
tempt; mocking; ridiculing.
DERI'DINGLY, adv. By way of derisioi
or mockcrv. . . ^
DERI'SION, n. s as :. [L. densto. See
Deride.\
1 The act of laughing at in contempt.
2. Contempt manifested by laughter ; scorn.
I am in derision daily. Jcr. XX.
3. An object of derision or contempt ; a
laughing-stock.
I was a derision to all my people
D E R
the
humors from the eye, by a blister
The thing derived or deduced. Glanville.
DERIVATIVE, a. Derived; taken or bav-
in" proceeded from another or something
preceding ; secondary ; as & derivative per-
fection ; a derivative conveyance, as a re-
lease. . Blaekstone
2. A derivative chord, in music, is one derived
from a fundamental chord.
DERIVATIVE, n. That which is derived;
a word which takes its origin in another
word, or is formed from it. Thus, depr^
itii is a derivative from the L. dtpravo, and
acknowledge, {vom knowledge, and this from
know, the "primitive word.
2. In music, a chord not fundamental.
DERIVATIVELY, adv. In a derivatne
manner; by derivation. _
DERI'VE, V. t. [L. derivo ; de and nvus, a
stream; Fv. deriver ; Sp. derivar ; It. deri
rare.]
1. To draw from, as in a regular course oi
channel ; to receive from a source by a
regular conveyance
Lam.
derision ; mock
ridiculing.
Shajlesbunj.
DERI'SIVE.a. Containing
ing ; ridiculing.
Derisive taunts.
DERI'SIVELY,arft'. With
tempt.
DERI'SORY.a. Mocking;
DERI' VABLE, a. [See Derive.] That may be
derived ; that may be drawn, or receive_d,
as from a source. Income is derivable
from land, irioney or stocks.
2. That may be received from ancestors
as an estate derivable from an ancestor.
3 That may be drawn, as from premises
' deducible ; as an argument derivable from
facts or preceding propositions.
4 That may be drawn from a radical word ;
as a word derivable from an Oriental root.
DER'IVATE, n. [L. derivatus.] A word
derived from another. Stuart.
DERIVA'TION, n. [L. derivatio.] 'The aci
of deriving, drawing or receiving from a
source ; as the derivation of an estate from
ancestors, or of profits from capital, or of]
truth or facts from antiquity.
2. In grammar, the drawing or tracing of a
word from its root or original ; as, deriva-
tion is from the L. derivo, and the latter
firom rivus, a stream.
3. A drawing from, or turning aside from, a
natural course or channel ; as the deriva-
tion of water from its channel by lateral
drahis.
4. A drawing of humors from one part of
the body to another ; as the derivation of
to yo
Felto
Tlie heir derives an
estate from his ancestors. We derive from
Adam mortal bodies and natures prone to
. To draw or receive, as from a source or
origin. We derive ideas from the senses,
and instruction from good books.
3 To deduce or draw, as from a root, or
' primitive word. A hundred words are
often derived from a single monosyllabic
root, and sometimes a much greater num-
ber. ,.
4. To turn from its natural course ; to di-
vert; as, to derive water from the main
channel or current into lateral rivulets.
5. To communicate from one to anotlier by
descent. , ■ , ,
An excellent disposition is derived to
lordship from your parents.
C. To spread in various directions ; to cause
to flow.
The streams of justice were derivedinto every
part of the kingdom. Dmies
DERI'VE, V. I. To come or proceed from
[.Not cammon.]
Power from heaven derives. Prior
DERI'VED, pp. Drawn, as from a source
deduced ; received ; regularly conveyed
descended ; communicated ; transmitted
DERI'VER, n. One who derives, or draws
from a source. Soidh.
DERI'VING, ppr. r?rawing ; receiving ; de-
ducing ; communicating ; diverting or
turning into another channel.
DERM'AL, a. [Or. 8fpf<a, skin.] Pertaining
to skin ; consisting of skin. Fleming.
DERiW'OID, a. [Or. 6fpf<a, and ciSoj.l Per-
taining to the skin ; a medical term.
DERN, a. [Sax. dearn.] Solitary, sad;
cruel. Obs.
DERN'FUL, a. Sad ; mournful. Obs.
DERNIE'R, a. [Fr.] Last; final ; ultimate ;
as the dernier resort. [I know not that it
used in any other phrase ~
DERN'LY, adv. " "
D E S
To repeal, annul or destroy the force and
eftectof some part of a law or established
rule ; to lessen the extent of a law ; distin-
guished from abrogate.
By several contrary customs, many of the
civil and canon laws are controlled and dero-
gated. Hale
2. To lessen the worth of a person or thing ;
to disparage.
[In the foregoing senses, the word is now
seldom used.]
DEROGATE, v. i. To take away ; to de-
tract ; to lessen by taking away a part ; as,
say nothing to derogate from the merit or
reputation of a brave man. [The word is
generally used in this sense.]
12. To act beneath one's rank, place or birth.
I [Unusual.] Shak.
iDER'OGATED, pp. Diminished in value :
I degraded; damaged. [Shakspeare uses
derogate in this sense.]
IDER'OGATELY, adv. In a manner to les-
I sen or take from. Shak.
DER'OGATING, ppr. Annulling a part :
lessening by taking from.
IDEROGA'TION, n. The act of annuUmg
or revoking a law, or some part of it.
More generally, the act of taking away or
destroying the value or effect of any thing,
or of limiting its extent, or of restraining
its operation ; as, an act of parliament is
passed in derogation of the king's preroga-
tive ; we cannot do any thing in deroga-
tion of the moral law.
2. The act of taking something from merit,
reputation or honor ; a lessening of value
or estimation; detraction ; disparagement ;
v/hhfrom or of; as, I say not this in rfcro-
gation o/ Virgil; let nothing '- —'" '-
said
Sadly; mournfully. Obs.
jMore.
DER'OGATE, v. t. [L. derogo ; de and rogo
to ask, to propose. In ancient Rome,
iog-o was used in proposing new laws, and
derogo, in repealing some section of a law.
Hence the sense is to take from or annul a
part. Class Rg.]
derogation from his merit,
DEROG'ATIVE, a. Derogatory. [The latter
is mostly used.]
DEROG'ATORILY, adv. In a detracting
The quality of
being derogatory.
DEROGATORY, a. Detracting or tending
to lessen by taking something from ; that
lessens the extent, effect or value : with to.
■ Let us entertain no opinions derogatory to
the honor of God, or his moral govern-
ment. Let us say nothing derogatory to
the merit of our neighbor.
>. A derogatory clause in a testament, is a
sentence or secret character inserted by
the testator, of which he reserves the
knowledge to himself, with a condition
that no will he may make hereafter shall
be valid, unless this clause is inserted word
for word ; a precaution to guard against
later wills extorted by violence or obtained
bv suggestion. Encyc.
DER'RING, a. Daring. [Xot in use.]
Spenser.
DER'VIS, n. [Persian.] A Turkish priest
or monk, who iirofesses extreme poverty,
and leads an austere life. Encyc.
DES'CANT, n. [Sp. discante, discantar ;
dis and L. canto, to sing. See Cant. The
Fr. dechanter has a different sense.]
tl. A song or tune composed in parts.
A song or tune with various modulations.
The wakeful nightingale
.\lli
3. A discourse ; discussion ; disputation ;
D E S
D E S
D E S
nliitnadversion, comment, or a series ol
comments.
4. The art of composing music in several
parts. Descant is plain, figurative and
douhk.
Plain descant is the ground- work of musical
compositions, consisting ill the orderly <lis-
]>osition of concords, answering to siini)le
counterpoint.
Figuralivt ov florid descant, is that part of an
air in which some discords are concerned.
Double descant, is when the parts arc so con-
trived, that the trehlc may be made the
base, and the base the treble.
Bailey. Encyc.
DESC.WT', V. i. To run a division or vari-
ety with the voice, ou a musical ground in
true measure ; to sing. Bailey. Johnson.
9. To discourse ; to comment ; to make a
variety of remarks ; to animadvert freely.
A virtuous man sliould be pleased to find peo-
ple deseantins on his actions. Addison.
DES€ANT'ING, ppr. Singing in parts or
witli various modulations ; discoursing
freely ; commenting.
DESeANT'lNG, n. Kcmark ; conjecture.
Burmt.
DESCEND', V. i. [L. descendo ; de and scando,
to climb ; W. discynu, from cynu, to rise,
cwn, top ; It. discendere ; Fr. descendre ;
Sp. descender ; Ann. disgenn. The root
cwn is from extending, shooting, thrusting,
as gin in begin.'\
1. To move or pass from a higher to a lower
place ; to move, come or go downwards ;
to fall ; to sink ; to run or flow down ; ap-
plicable to any kind of motion or nf body.
vVe descend on the feet, on wheels, or by
falling. A torrent descends from a moun-
tain.
The rains descended, and the floods came.
Matt. vii.
2. To go down, or to enter.
He shall descend ioto battle and perish. 1
Sam. x.vvi.
3. To come suddenly ; to fall violcntlj .
And on the suitors let thy wrath dcscaul.
Pope.
4. To go in ; to enter.
He, with honest meditations fed.
Into himself descent/erf. .^^lUon.
a. To rush ; to invade, as an enemy.
Tiie Grecian fleet descending on Uie town.
Dryden.
C. To proceed from a source or original; to
be derived. The beggar may descend from
a prince, and the prince, from a beggar.
7. To proceed, as from fatlier to son ; to pa.*;?
from a preceding possessor, in the ortlerof
lineage, or according to the laws of sue
cession or inheritance. Thus, an inherit
ance descends to the son or next of kin
a crown descends to the heir.
8. To pass from general to particular con
siderations ; as, having explained the gen-j
eral subject, we will descend to particulars.
9. To come down from an elevated or hon-|
orable station ; in a figurative sense. Fla-;
vius is an honorable man ; he cannot de-
scend to acts of meanness.
10. In music, to fall in sound ; to pass from
any note to another less acute or shrill, or{
from sharp to flat. Rousseau.
DESCEND', i>. t. To walk, move or pass
downwards on a declivity ; as, to descend a
Jjill ; to descend an inclined plain. [But
this may be considered as elliptical ; ou
along being understood.)
DESCENDANT, n. [Fr. descendant; h.
descendens.]
Any person proceeding from an ancestor
any degree ; issue ; offspring, in the line of
generation, ad infinitum. We are all the
descendants of .Vrlam and Eve.
DESCEND'ENT, a. Descending ; falling ;
sinking.
2. Proceeding from an original or ancestor.
Pope
DESCENDIBIL'ITY, n. The quality of
being descendible, or capable of being
transmitted from ancestors ; as llie de
scendibilily of an estate or of a crown.
Blackstone.
DESCENDIBLE, a. That may be descend
ed. or passed down ; as, the hill is descend-
ible.
2. That may descend from an ancestor to an
heir ; as a descendible estate.
DESCEN'SION, n. [L. descensio.] The act
of going downwards; descent; a falUng
or sinking ; declension ; degradation.
2. Ill astronomy, right descension is an
of the equinoctial, intercepted between
the next equinoctial point and the intersec-
tion of the meridian, passing through the
center of the object, ut its setting, in a right
sphere. Encyc
Oblique descension, is an arch of thceiininoo
tial, intercepted between the next equi-
noctial point and the horizon, passing
through the center of the object, at its set
ting, in an oblirjue sphere. Encyc
Oblique descension, is an ai-ch of the equator
which descends with the sun below tli
horizon of an oblique sphere. Bailey.
Descension of a sign, is an arch of the eqii
tor, wliic:li sets with such a sign or part ot
the zodi.ao, or any planet in it. Bailey.
Right descension of a sign, is an arch of the
equator, which descends with the sign be-
low the horizon of a right sphere; or the
time the sign is setting in a right sphere.
Bailey.
DESCEN'SIONAL, a. Pertaining to de-
DI ',S( ■ I : \ ~ 1 \ 1 ",, a. Tending downwards ;
li:i\iiii: |>o\\ri' to descend. Sherwood.
l)K,-^( i;.\ T . </. [Vr. descente ; L. descensus.]
1. Tlieaci oi'descending; the act of passing
from a higher to a lower place, by any
form of motion, as by walking, riding, roll-
ing, sliding, sinking or falling.
2. Inclination downward ; obliquity ; slope ;
declivity ; as the descent of a iiill, or a
roof.
3. Progress downward; as the rfcsc( /if from
higher to lower orders of beings. Locke
4. Fall from a higlier to a lower state or sta-
tion. Milion.
5. A landing from ships ; invasion of troops
from the sea ; as, to make a descent on
Cuba.
6. A passing from an ancestor to an heir;
transmission by succession or inheritance
as the descent of an estate or a title fron
the father to the son. Descent is lineal,
when it proceeds directly from the father
to the son, and from the son to the grand
son; collateral, when it proceeds from ;
man to his brother, nephew or other col
lateral representative.
7. A proceeding from an original or progeni
tor. The Jews boast of their dtscent from
Abraham. Hence,
8. Birth ; extraction ; lineage ; as a noble
descent.
9. A generation ; a single degree in the scale
of genealogy ; distance from the common
ancestor.
No man is a thousand descents from Adam,
Hooker.
10. Oflspring ; issue ; descendants.
The care of our descent perplexes most.
Mdton.
11. A rank in the scale of suborilination.
MUton.
12. Lowest place. Shak.
13. In music, a passing from a note or sound
to one more grave or less acute.
DESCRIiJABLE, a. That may be descri-
bed ; capable of description.
DESCRIBE,!'.*, [h.describo; de and scribo,
to write ; Sp. describir ; It. descrivere ; Fr.
decrire ; Ann. discriva. See Scribe.]
1. To delineate or mark the form or figure ;
as, to describe a circle by the compa.sses.
2. To make or exhibit a figure by motion ;
as, a star describes a circle or an ellipsis in
tiie heaveiLS.
3. To show or repiesent to others in words ;
to communicate the resemblance of a thing,
by naming its nature, form or properties.
Tlie ]>oet describes the Trojan hor.se. The
historian describes the battle of Pharsalia.
The moralist describes the effects of cor-
rujit manners. The geographer describes
countries and cities.
4. To represent by signs. A deaf and dumb
man may describe a distant object. Our
passions "may be described by external mo-
tions.
To draw a plan ; to represent by lines and
other marks on paper, or otlier material ;
as, to describe the surface of the earth by a
map or chart.
6. To define laxlv. Gray.
DESCRIBED, p/). Represented in form by
marks or figures ; delineated ; represented
by words or signs.
DESCRI'BER, n. One who describes by
marks, words or signs.
DESCRI'BING, ppr^ Representing the form
or figure of, by lines or marks ; communi-
cating a view of, by words or signs, or by
naming llie nature and properties.
DESeRl'ED, pp. [See Descry.] Espied;
discovered ; seen.
DESCRI'ER, n. [See Descry.] One who
espies, or discovers ; a discoverer ; a de-
tecter. Crashaw.
DESCRIPTION, n. [L. descriplio.] The
act of delineating, or representing llie fig-
ure of any thing by a plan, to be presented
to the eye.
The figure or apjiearance of any thing de-
lineated, or represented by visible Unes,
marks, colors, &c. ; as the description of a
country, or of Solomon's temple.
3. The act of representing a thing by words
or by signs, or the passage containing such
representation ; a representation of names,
nature or properties, that gives to another
a view of the thing. Homer abounds with
beautiful and striking descriptions. Hence,
4. A definition. All definitions must be
less perfect descriptions of a material thing,
than a visible figure or delineation.
D E S
2. To leave, without permission, a military
band, or a ship, in which one is enlisted ;
to forsake the service in which one is enga-
ged, in violation of dnty; as, to desert the
army ; to desert one's colors ; to desert a
ship.
DESERT', r. i. To run away; to quit a ser
vice without permission ; as, to desert from
the army.
DESERT',?!, [from deserve.] A deserving;
tliat wliich gives a right to reward or de
mands, or which renders liable to punish
ment ; merit or demerit ; that which enti
ties to a recompense of equal value, or de
niands a punishment equal to the oflense
good conferred, or evil done, which merits
an equivalent return. A wise legislature
will reward or punish men according to
their deseHs.
That which is deserved ; reward or pun
ishment merited. In a future hfe, every
man will receive his desert.
DESERT'ED, pp. Wholly forsaken ; aban-
doned ; left.
DESERT'ER, n. A person who forsake:
his cause, his post, or his party or friend
particularly, a soldier or seaman who quits
the service without permission, and in vio
lation of his engagement.
DESERT'FUL, «. High in desert ; merito-
rious. Beaum.
DESERT'ING, ppr. Forsaking utterly
abandoning.
DESER'TION, n. The act of forsaking or
abandoning, as a party, a friend, a country,
an army or military band, or a ship ; the
act of quitting, with an intention not to
return.
2. The state of being forsaken by God ; spir-
itual despondency.
The agonies of a soul under desertion.
South
DESERT'LESS, a. Without merit or claim
or or reward. Dryden,
DESERT'LESSLY, adv. Undeservedly
Beaum.
DESERT'RICE, ^ A female who deserts,
DESERT'RIX, ^ "• Milton.
DESERVE, V. t. dezerv'. [L. deservio ; de and
servio, to serve. Tlic Fr. deservir
used.] j
1. To merit ; to be worthy of; applied to.
good or evil.
2. To merit by labor or services ; to have a
just claim to an equivalent for good con-
ferred. The laborer deserves liis wages ;
he deserves the value of his services.
3. To merit by good actions or qualities in
general ; to be worthy of, on account of
excellence. The virtuous man deserves es-
teem and commendation. A work of val-
ue deserves praise.
4. To be worthy of, in a bad sense ; to merit
by an evil act ; as, to deserve blame or pun-
J ishment.
God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity
dcserveth. Job xi.
upp..vu iv7 .vu ui......u.j,i^>.,.v,„....j V, ,, DESERVE, V. i. dezerv'. To merit; to be
with wood. worthy of or deserving ; as, he deserves]
DESERT', V. t. [Fr. deserter, from the adjcc- well or ill of his neighbor,
tive, and this from the L. deseiius, rfesero, DESERVED, pp. Merited ; worthy of.
to forsake.] DESERVEDLY, mlv. Justly ; according to]
]. To forsake ; to leave utterly ; to abandon ; desert, whether of good or evil. A mat
to quit with a view not to return to ; as, to may be deservedly praised, blamed or pun
desert a friend ; to desert our country ; to | ished.
desert a. cause. I'DESERV'ER, n. He who deserves or mer
D E 8
5. Tlie qualities expressed in a representa-
tion; tis, a. man of this description. Burke.
Hence,
C. The persons Iiaving the qualities express-
ed ; a class of persons to whom a descrip-
tion is apphcable, or who are in a similar
condition.
The secretary proceeds to examine, whclhei
a difference ought to be permitted to remain be-
tween them and another description of pubHc
creditors. Hamilton.
Persons of diflerent descriptions. Scott.
DESCRIP'TIVE, o. Containing description ;
tending to describe ; having the quality of
representing ; as a descriptive figure ; a
descriptive narration ; a story descriptive of
the age.
DESCRY', t>. <. [Norm, descrier or discriver,
and discever, to discover.]
1 . To espy ; to explore ; to examine by oh-
.servation.
The house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel
Judges i.
3. To detect ; to find out ; to discover any
thing concealed
3. To see ; to behold ; to have a sight of
from a distance ; as, the seainen descried
land.
4. To give notice of something suddenly
discovered. [.Voi in use.] Hall.
DESCRY', n. Discovery ; thing discovered.
[Unusual.] Sliak.
DESCRY'ING, ppr. Discovering; espying.
DES'ECRATE, v. t. [L. desecro ; de and
sacro, to consecrate, from sacer, sacred.]
1. To divert from a sacred purpose or appro
priation ; oi)posed to consecrate ; as, to dese-
crate a donation to a church.
2. To divest of a sacred character or office.
The clergy — cannot suffer corporal panish-
ment, without l)eiug previously desecrated.
Tooke's Russia.
DES'ECRATED, pp. Diverted from a sa-
cred purpose or appropriation ; divested of
a sacred character or office.
DES'ECR.\TING, ppr. Diverting from
purpose to which a thing is consecrated :
divested of a sacred character or office,
DESECRA'TION, n. The act of diverting
from a sacred purpose or use to which e
thing had been devoted ; the act of divert
ing from a sacred character or office.
DES'ERT, o. s as z. [L. desertus, desero ; de
and sero, to sow, plant or scatter ; F
dcscii ; Sp. desierto.]
1. Literally, forsaken ; hence, uninhabited ;
as a desert isle. Hence, wild ; untilled ;
waste ; uncidtivatcd ; as a desert land or
country.
2. Void; empty; unoccupied.
Full many a flower is bom to blush unseen,
And VF.iste its sweetness on the desert air.
Gray
DES'ERT, n. [L. desertum.] An uninhab-
ited tract of land ; a region in its natiual
state ; a wilderness ; . a solitude ; particu-
larly, a vast sandy plain, as the deserts ol
Arabia and Africa. But the woid may be
D E S
its ; one who is worthy of; used generaHif
in a good sense. Dryden.
DESERVING, ppr. Meriting; having ajust
claim to reward ; justly meriting punish-
ment.
2. a. Worthyof reward or praise; meritori-
ous ; possessed of good qualities that enti-
tle to approbation ; as a deserving officer.
DESERVING, n. The act of meriting ; de-
If ye have done to him according to the de-
serving of his hands. Judges ix.
DESER V'INGLY, arfi). Meritoriously; with
t just desert.
DESHABILLE, ) . , . •„ [Fr. from de
DESHABIL, \ "■ '''*^**' • knd habiller,
to clothe. I have restored the true or-
thography.]
An imdress ; a loose morning dress ; hence,
any home dress ; as, the lady is in desha-
bille. [It would be well to anglicize the or-
thography.^
DESIC'CANT, a. [See Desiccate.] Drying.
DESI€'€ANT, n. A medicine or apphca-
tion that dries a sore. Wiseman.
DES'ICCATE, V. t. [L. desicco ; de and sicca,
to dry.]
To dry ; to exhaust of moisture ; to exhale
or remove moisture from.
DES'lecATE, ti.z. To become dry.
Bacon. Hale.
DESICCATED, pp. Dried.
DES'IeCATING, ppr. Drying ; exhausting
inoisture.
DESICCA'TION, n. The act of making dry ;
the state of being dried. Bacon.
DESIC'CATIVE, a. Drying; tending to
; that has the power to dry.
DESID'ERATE, v. t. [from the L.] To
want ; to miss. [N'ot m use.]
DESIDERA'TUM, n. plu. desiderata. [L.
desideratus — urn, from desidero, to desire.]
That which is desired ; that which is not
possessed, but which is desirable ; any
perfection or improvement which is want-
ed. The longitude is a desideratum in
navigation. A tribunal to settle national
disputes without war is a great desidera-
tum.
DESI'GN, V. t. desi'ne. [L. designo; de and
signo, to seal or stamp, that is, to set or
throw ; Sp. designar, disehar ; It. desig-
nare, disegnare ; Fr. designer, dessiner.]
1. To delineate a form or figure by drawing
the outline ; to sketch ; as in painting and
other works of art.
To plan ; to form an outline or represen-
tation of any thing. Hence,
3. To project ; to form in idea, as a scheme.
Hence,
4. To purpose or intend ; as, a man desigiis
to write an essay, or to study law.
5. To mark out by tokens. [JVbt i««rf.]
6. To intend to apply or appropriate ; with
for ; as, we design this ground for a gar-
den, and that for a park. The word de-
sign may include an adapting or planning
a thing for a purpose, or mere intention or
scheme of the mind, which implies a plan.
The father desigiis his son for the profes-
sion of the law, or for the ministry. It
was formerly followed by to, but this use
is now uncommon.
DESI'GN, n. [Fr. dessein.] A plan or repre-
sentation of a thing by an outline ; sketch ;
D E S
D E S
D E S
general view ; first idea represented byj
visible lines ; as in painting or architecture.
2. A scheme or plan in the mind. A wise
man is disthiguished by the judiciousness
of his designs.
3. Purpose ; intention ; aim ; implying a
scheme or plan in the mind. It is my de-
sign to educate my son for the bar.
4. The idea or scheme intended to be ex-
pressed by an artist ; as the designs of
medals. Addison.
5. In manufactories, the figures with which
workmen enrich their stuffs, copied from
painting or draughts. Encyc.
C). In mime, the invention and conduct of
the subject ; the dis|)osition of every part,
and the general order of the wliole.
Rousseau.]
UESI'GNABLE, a. Capable of being de-
signed or marked out.
2. Distinguishable. ^igf>!l-
DES'IGNATE, v. t. [L. designo, designa-
tum.]
1. To mark out or show, so as to make
known; to indicate by visible lines, marks,
description or something known and de-
terminate ; as, to designate the limits of a
country ; the limits are designated on the
map ; designate the spot where a star ap-'
pears in the heavens; designate the place!
where our ancestors first landed. I
2. To point out ; to distinguish from others;
by indication ; as, to be able to designate'
every individual who was concerned in a
riot. j
3. To appoint ; to select or distinguish for a
■ particular purpose ; to assign ; with for,\
as to designate an officer/or the conunand:
of a station ; or with to, as this captain
was designated to that station.
DES'IGNATE, a. Appointed ; marked out.
[Little lined.]
DES'IGNATED, pp. Marked out; indica-
ted ; shown ; pomted out ; appointed.
DES'IGNATING, ppr. Marking out ; indi-
cating ; pointing out ; appointing.
DESIGN A'TION, n. The act of pointing or
marking out by signs or objects ; as the
designation of an estate by boimdaries.
2. Indication ; a showing or pointing ; a dis-
tinguishing from others.
3. Appointment ; direction ; as, a claim to a
throne grounded on the designation of a
predecessor.
4. Appointment ; a selecting and appoint-
ing; assignment; as the designation o( an
officer to a particular command.
5. Import ; distinct application.
Finite and infinite are primarily attributed in
their first designation to things which have
parts. Locke.
DES'IGNATIVE, a. Serving to designate
or indicate. Pritchard.
DES'IGNATOR, n. A Roman officer who
assigned to each person his rank and place
in public shows and ceremonies.
DESI'GNED, pp. Marked out ; delineated ;
planned ; intended.
DESIGNEDLY, adv. By design ; purpose-
ly i intentionally ; opposed to accidentally,
ignorantly, or inadvertently.
DESI'GN£;R, 71. One who designs, marks
out or plans ; one who frames a scheme
or project ; a contriver.
2. One who plots ; one who lays a scheme ;
in an ill sense. ' I
DESI'GNFULNESS, n. Abundance of de-
sign. [JVot used.] Barrow.
DESrGNING,;>/>r. Forming a design ; plan-
ning; delineating the outline; drawing
figures on a plane.
2. o. In an ill sense, artful ; insidious ; in-
triguing ; contriving schemes of mischief
hence, deceitful. Designing men are al-
ways liahle to suspicion.
DESI'GNING, ?i. The art of delineating ob
jects. Berkeley.
DESI'GNLESS, a. Without design or in-
tention ; inadvertent.
DESI'GNLESSLY, adv. Without design;
inadvertently ; ignorantly.
DESI'GNMENT, n. Design ; sketch ; de-
lineation. Dryden.
2. Design ; purpose ; aim ; intent ; scheme,
GlanvUle. Shak.
[This word is now tittle used.]
DES'INENCE, n. [L. desino.] End ; close-
Bp. Hall
DES'INENT, a. Ending ; extreme ; lower-
most. B. Jonson.
DESIP'IENT, o. [L. deaipiens, desipio
dote ; de and sapw, to be wise.] Trifling ;
foolish ; playful.
DESl'RABLE, a. s as :. [See Desire.] Wor-
thy of desire ; that is to be wished for with
sincerity or earnestness. An easy address
IS a. desirable accomplishment; real virtue
is still more desirable.
2. Pleasing; agreeable.
All of them desirable J'oung men. E-^ek,
xxiii.
DESI'RABLENESS, ji. The quality of be-
ing desirable. Goodman.
DESI'RE, n. s as z. [Fr. desir ; It. desio ,
Sp. deseo ; Vort.desejo; Arm. desir. Qu
W. dais.]
1. An emotion or excitement of the mind,
directed to the attainment or possession ol
an object from which pleasure, sensual,
intellectual or spiritual, is expected ; a
passion excited by the love of an object,
or uneasiness at tlie want of it, and direct-
ed to its attainment or possession. Desire
is a wish to possess some gratification or
source of happiness which is supposed to
be obtainable. A wish may exist for some
thing that is or is not obtainable. Desire,
when directed solely to sensual enjoy
ment, differs little from appetite. In oth
er languages, desire is expressed by long-
ing or reaching towards, [Gr. opf-/a>, L. ap
peto,] and when it is ardent or intense, it
approaches to longing, but the word in
English usually expresses less than long
ing.
We endeavored — to see your face with great
desire. 1 Thess. ii.
Thou satisfiest the desires of every living
thing. Ps. cxlv.
Desire is that internal act, which, by influ
encing the wll, makes us proceed to action.
El. of CYaici!>m
2. A prayer or request to obtain.
He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him
Ps. cxlv.
3. The object of desire; that which is desir-
ed.
The desire of all nations shall come. Hag. ii
4. Love ; affection.
His desire is towards me. Cant. vii.
5. Appetite ; lust .
Fulfilling the desires of the flesh. Eph. ii.
DESI'RE, V. I. [Fr. desirer ; Arm. desira ;
It. desiare, or desirare; Sp. desear ; Port.
desejar : supposed to be contracted from L.
destdero ; but qu. for the Spanish deseo.
It. desio, Port, deseju, appear to be the W.
dais, supra.]
1. To wish for the possession or enjoyment
of, with a greater or less degree of ear-
nestness ; to covet. It expresses less
strength of affection than longing.
Neither shall any man desire thy land. Ex.
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifl^-
1 Cor. xiv.
2. To express a wish to obtain ; to ask ; to
request ; to petition.
Then she said, did I desire a son of my Lord .'
2 Kings iv.
3. To require. [A'ot in use.] Spenser.
DESIRED, pp. Wished for ; coveted ; re-
quested ; entreated.
DESI'RELESS, a. Free from desire.
Donne.
DESIRER, ji. One who desires or asks ;
one who wishes.
DESIRING, ppr. Washing for ; coveting;
asking; ex-pressing a wish ; soliciting.
DESI'ROUS, a. Wishing for; wishing to
obtain ; coveting ; solicitous to possess and
enjoy.
Be not desirous of his dainties. Prov. xxiii.
Jesus knew they were desirous to ask him.
John xvi.
DESI'ROL'SLY, adv. With desire ; with
earnest wishes.
DESI'ROUSNESS, n. The state or affec-
tion of being desirous.
DESIST', V. i. [L. desisto ; de and sisto, to
stand.]
To stop ; to cease to act or proceed ; to for-
; with from ; as, he desisted from Lis
purpose ; let us desist.
DEfc- -
SIST'ANCE, II. A ceasing to act or pro-
ceed ; a stopping. Boyle.
DESIST'ING, ppr. Ceasing to act or pro-
ceed.
DES'ITIVE, a. [L. desUus.^ Final ; conclu-
sive. Obs. WatU.
DESK, n. [D. disch, a table, a dish ; Sax.
disc; G. tiscU; Dan. Sw. disk ; Russ. dos-
ka ; L. discus ; Gr. 610*05. See Dish.]
1. An inclining table for the use of writers
and readers; usually made with a box or
drawer underneath, and sometimes with a
book-case above. Pope.
2. The pulpit in a church, and figuratively
the clerical profession. The man appears
well in the desk. He intends one son for
the bur, and another for the desk.
DESK, I'. /. To shut up in a desk ; to treas-
ure. /. HaU.
DES'jAIINE, n. A mineral that crystalizes
in little silken tuffs, which accompany spi-
nellane in the lava of extinct volcanoes on
the banks of the Rhine. Lucas.
DESOLATE, a. [L. desolalus. See the
Verb.]
L Destitute or deprived of inhabitants ; de-
sert; uninhabited; denoting either stripp-
ed of inhabitants, or never having been in-
habited ; as a desolate isle ; a desolate wild-
erness.
I will make the cities of Judah desolate, with-
out an inhabitant. Jer ix.
2. Laid waste ; in a ruinous condition ; ne-
glected ; destroyed ; as desolate altars ; des-
olate towers. Ezek. Zcph.
D E S
3. Solitary ; without a companion ; afflicted.
Taiuar leinained desolate in Absalom's house.
Have mercy on me, for I am desolate. Vs
4. Deseitoil of God ; deprived of comfort.
My heart within me is desolate. Ps. cxliii.
DES'OLATE, v. I. [L. desolo, dcsolatus ; de
and solo, to lay waste, solus, alone ; Sp.
desolar; Fv. d'esokr ; It. desolure.]
1. To deprive of inhabitants ; to make des-
ert. The earth was nearly desolated by
the flood.
2. To lay waste ; to ruin ; to ravage ; to des-
troy improvements or works of art. An
inundation desolates fields. Whole coun
tries have been desolated by armies.
DESOLATED, pp. Deprived of inhabit
ants ; wasted ; ruined.
DES'OLATELY, adv. In a desolate man
ner.
DES'OLATER, n. One who lays waste or
desolates ; that widch desolates.
DES'OLATING,;>/)r. Depriving of inhabi
ants; wasting; ravaging.
DES'OL.ATION, n. The act of desolatmi
destruction or expulsion of inhabitant;
destruction; ruin; waste.
Every kingdom divided against itselt
brought to desolation. Matt. xii.
2. A place deprived of inhabitants, or other-
wise wasted, ravaged and ruined.
How is Babylon become a desolation among
the nations. Jer. 1.
3. A desolate state; gloominess; sadness
destitution. Shak. Thomson
The abomination of desolation, Roman armies
which ravaged and destroyed Jerusalem.
Matt. xxiv.
DES'OLATORY, a. Causing desolation.
DESPA'IR, n. [Fr. ilesespoir. See the Verb.]
1. Hoi)elessness ; a hopeless state ; a destitu-
tion of hope or expectation.
We are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Cor,
D E S
D E S
a i.crson urged by furious passions; onellDESPI'SING.yjpr. Contemning; scorni
feirless, or. regardless of safety. ^ . _ LS'sTIg, n. Contempt
DES'PERATE, a. [h. desperatus, from des-
pero, to despair.] Without hope.
I am desperate of obtaining her. Shak
1. Without care of safety ; rash ; fearless of
danger ; as a desperate man. Hence,
3. Furious, as a man in despair.
Hopeless; despaired of; lost beyond hope
of recovery ; irretrievable ; irrecoverable ;
forlorn. We speak of a desperate case ot
disease, desperate fortunes, a desperate sit-
uation or condition.
5. In a popular sense, great in the extreme
as a desperate sot or fool. Pope
DES'PERATELY, adv. In a desperate man-
ner ; as in despair; hence, furiously; with
rage ; madly ; without regard to danger
or safety ; as, the troops fought desperately.
2. In a popidar sense, greatly ; extremely ;
violently.
She fell desperately in love with hiin.
.idJ.ison.
DES'PERATENESS, n. Madness ; fury ;
rash precipitance.
DESPERA'TION, n. A despairing ; a giv-
ing up of hope ; us desperation of success.
Hammond.
All safety in despair of safety placed
Denham
that of vvliicl
2. That which causes despa
there is no ho])e.
The mere despair of surgery, he cures.
Shak
3. Loss of hope in the mercy of God.
Sprat.
DESPA'IR, 1). i. [Fr. desesperer ; des and es-
perer, to hope ; It. disperare ; Sp. desespe-
rar ; Arm. disesperi ; from L. despero ; d(
and spero, to hope.]
To be without hope; to give up all hope oi
expectation ; followed by of.
We despaired even of We. 2 Cor. i.
Never despair of God's blessings liere, or q/
his reward hereafter. Wake.
DESPA'IRER, n. One without hope.
Dry den
DESPA'IRFUL, a. Hopeless. Sidney.
DESPA'lRING,;)/)r. Giving up all hope or
expectation. . .
DESPA'IRINGLY, adv. In a despairing
manner ; in a manner indicating hopeless
ness ; as, he speaks despairingly of the sicl
man's recovery.
DESPATCH. [See Dispatch.]
DESPEe'TION, n. [L. despectio.] A look-
ing down ; a despising. [Little itscrf.]
DESPERA'DO, n. [from desperate.'] A des-
perate fellow ; a furious m;in ; a madman ;i
2. Hopelessness ; despair ; as, the men were
■ a. itale of desperation. Hence,
3. Fury ; rage ; disregard of safety or dan
ger ; as, the men fought with desperation
thev were urged to desperation.
DES'PICABLE, a. [Low L. despicabihs,
from dcspicio, to look down, to despise ; de
and specio, to look.]
That may be or deserves to be despised
contemptible ; mean ; vile ; worthless : ap-
plicable equally to persons and things; as
a despicable man ; despicable company ; a
despicable gift.
DES'PICABLENESS, n. The quahty or
state of being despicable ; meanness; vile-
ness ; worthlessness.
DES'PleABLY, adu. Meanly; vilely; con-
temptibly ; as despicably poor.
DESPI"CIENCY, n. [L. despicio.] A look-
ins down ; a despising. [Little used.]
Mcde.
DESPI'SABLE, a. Despicable ; contempti-
ble.
DESPI'SAL, n. Contempt. Obs.
DESPI'SE, V. t. despite. [I doubt whether
this word is formed from the L. dcspici'
In Sp. and Port, ^tsar is to tread dow
and to despise. It appears to be of differ-
ent oriijin from despite, and to be formed
on tlie'ruot of the Spanish word. W'
probably see its affinities in Sp. pison,
rammer, and the L. piso, to stamp, whence
pistillum, Eng. pestle, piston, &c. The
primary sense then is to thrust, drive, and
hence to cast oft" or tread down, to d"°
I'ise.] .
1. To contemn; to scorn; to disdain;
have the lowest opinion of.
Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Pi
;mpt.
DESPI'SINGLY, adv. With contempt.
DESPI'TE, n. [Fr. depit ; Norm, despite ;
Arm. despcd; It. despetto, spile, malice.
Qu. from L. despectus, despicio. See Spite.]
1. Extreme malice; violent hatred; malig-
nity ; malice irritated or enraged ; active
malignitv ; angry hatred.
With all thy despite against the land of Israel.
Kzek. xxv.
Thou wretch ! despite o'erwhelm thee. Shak. ■
2. Defiance with contempt, or contempt of
opposition. [See Spite.]
He will rise to fame in despite ol bis ene-
3. An act of malice or contempt; as a. des-
pite to the Most High. Milton.
DESPI'TE, V. t. To vex; to offend ; to tease.
Raleigh.
DESPI'TEFUL.o. Full of spite ; malicious :
mahgnant; as a despiteful enemy.
King Charles.
Haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters
Rom. i.
DESPI'TEFULLY, adv. With despite ; ma-
liciously ; contemptuously.
Pray for tliem that despitefiUly use you.
Matt. v.
DESPI'TEFULNESS, n. Malice ; extreme
hatred ; malignity.
DESPIT'EOUS, a. Malicious. Obs.
Milton.
DESPIT'EOUSLY, adv. Furiously. Obs.
Spenser.
DESPOIL', V. t. [L. despolio ; de and spolio,
to spoil: Fr.depouiller; It. spogliare ; Sp.
despojar ; Port. id. See Spoil.]
1. To strip; to take from by force ; to rob ;
to deprive ; followed by of; as, to despoil
one o/arms; to despoil of honors; to des-
poil of innocence.
2. To strip or divest by any means.
Woodward.
DESPOIL'ED, pp. Stripped; robbed; be-
reaved ; deprived.
DESPOIL'ER, 71. One who strips by force ;
hinderer.
DESPOIL'ING, jipr. Depriving ; stripping ;
robbing.
DESPOLIATION, n. The act of despoil-
ing; a strippiiiff.
DESPOND', V. i. [L. despondeo ; de and
spondeo, to promise ; literally, to throw to
or forward.]
1. To be cast down ; to be depressed or de-
jected in mind ; to fail in spirits.
I should despr^ '— -' ■''• — '
Else he will hold
other. Matt. vi.
2. To abhor.
DESPISED, pp.
abhorred.
DESPI SEDNES:
DESPI'SER, n. A contemner
I despis
Contemned ; disdaii
, n. The state of being
least despond.
Scott's Letters.
2. To lose all courage, spirit or resolution ;
to sink by loss of hope.
Others depress their own minds, and despond
at the first difficulty. Locke.
Note. The distinction between despair and des-
pond is well marked in the foregoing pas-
sage from Scott. But although despair imphes
a tolal loss of hope, which despcmd does not,
at least in everv case, yet despondency is fol-
lowed by the abandonment of effort, or cessa-
tion of action, and despair sometimes impels to
violent action, even to rage.
DESPOND'ENCY, n. A sinking or dejec-
tion of spirits at the loss of hope ; loss ot
courage at the failure of hope, or in deep
a llliction, or at the prospect of insurmount-
able ditJiciihies.
J)ESPOND'ENT, a. Losing courage at the
D E S
J) E S
D E S
loss of liope ; sinking into dejection ; de
pressed and inactive in despair.
Bentley. Thomson.
DESPOND'ER, n. One destitute of hope.
DESPOND'ING, ppr. Losing courage t<
act, in consequence of loss of liope, or of
deepcalamity, or of difficulties deemed in
surmountable ; sinking into dejection
despairing, with depression of spirits.
DESPOND'INGLY, adv. In a desponding
manner ; with dejection of spirits ; des
pairingly.
DESPONS'ATE, v. t. [L. desponso.] To
betroth. [JVot in use.]
DESPOMSA'TION, n. A betrothing. [AV
DES'POT, »i. [Gr. Sfunottji, a master or
lord; lldespoto; Fr. despote ; Si>. dcspoto.]
An emperor, king or prince invested witli
absolute power, or ruling without any
control from men, constitution or laws.
Hence in a general sense, a tyrant. Burke.
DESPOTIC, ) Absolute in power '
DESPOT'IeAL, S dependent of control
from men, constitution or laws; arbitrary
in the exercise of power; as a despotic
prince.
2. Uidimited or unrestrained by constitution,
laws or men ; absolute ; arbitrary ; as des-
potic authority or power. Addison. Swift.
3. Tyrannical.
DESPOT'ICALLY, adv. With unlimited
power ; arbitrarily ; in a despotic manner.
Blackstone.
DESPOT'ICALNESS, n. Absolute or ar-
bitrary authority.
DES'POTISai, n. [Sp. despotismo ; Fr. des-
potisme.]
1. Absolute power ; authority unlimited and
uncontrolled by men, constitution or laws,
and depending alone on the will of tlic
prince ; as the despotism of a Turkisli
sultan.
2. An arbitrary government, as that of Tur-
key and Persia.
DES'PUMATE, v. i. [L. despumo ; de and
spuma, froth or scum.]
To foam ; to fioth ; to tbrm froth or scum.
DESPUMA'TION, n. The act of throwing
off excrementitious matter and forn)iug a
froth or scum on the surface of liquor ;
clarification ; .scumming. Coxe
DESQUAMA'TION, n. [L. desquamo ; de
and squama, a scale.]
A scaling or exfoliation of bone : the separa-
tion of the cuticle in small scales. Coxe.
DESS, for desk. [JVol in use.]
Chaucer. Spenser.
DESSERT', n. dezzeH'. [Fr. dessert, from
desservir, to clear the table ; de and servir,
to serve.]
A service of fruits and sweetmeats, at the
close of an entertainment ; the la.st course
at the table, after the meat is removed.
Dryden.
DES'TINATE, v. t. [L. deslino, desiinatus.]
To design or appoint. [Seldom used. See
Destine!]
DES'TINATE, a. Appointed ; destined ;
determined. Morton.
DESTINA'TION, n. [L. destinalio.] The
act of destining, or appointing.
2. The purpose for which any thing is in-
tended or appointed; end or ultimate de-
sign. Every animal is fitted for its desti-
nation.
3. The place to which a thing is appointed,
as the ship left her destination ; l)ut it is
more usual to say, the place of lier desti-
nation.
DES'TINE, V. t. [L. destino ; probably de
and stino or stano. There seems to have
been a root of this orthography, different
from L. sto, which we find in obstinate,
ohstino, praslino, and in Russ. stanovlyu
is to set or place, stan is stature, and we
liave stanchion, and stone. Sax. stan, per-
haps from the same root. The words
beginning with st, as stable, steady, stage,
stand, signify to set, but the difierence of|
final articulation seems to indicate a dif-
ference of roots — stab, stad, stag, stan.]
1. To set, ordain or appoint to a use, pur-
pose, state or place. We destine a son to
the ministerial ofiicc ; a house for a place
of worship; a ship for the London trade
or to .Lisbon ; and we are all destined to a
future state of happines or misery.
2. To fix unalterably, as by a divine decree ;
as the destined hour of death.
3. To doom ; to devote ; to appoint unalter-
ably. Prior.
DES'TINED, pp. Ordained ; appointed by
l)revious determination ; devoted ; fixed
unalterably.
DES'TLNING, ;;/*r. Ordaining; appointing.
DES'TINY, n. [Fr. destin ; U. destino ; S\).
id.] State or condition appointed or pre-
determined ; ultimate fate ; as, men are
solicitous to know their future destiny,
which is however liappily concealed from
them.
2. Invincible necessity ; fate ; a necessity
or fixed order of things established by
a divine decree, or by an indissoluble con-
nection of causes and efiects.
But who can turn the stream of destiny ?
denser.
Destinies, the fates, or supposed powers
which preside over human life, spin it out,
and determine it ; called by the Latins,
parca;.
DES'TITUTE, a. [L. destituttts, destUuo;
de and statuo, to set. Literally, set from or
away.]
1. Not having or possessing ; wanting : as
destitute of virtue, or of i)iety ; destitute of
food and clothing. It differs from deprived,
as it does not necessarily imply previous
possession.
2. Needy ; abject ; comfortless ; friendless.
He will regard the prayer of the destitute.
Ps. cii.
DES'TITUTE, n. One who is without
friends or comfort.
DES'TITUTE, r. <. To forsake. [JSTotused.]
Foiherby.
i. To deprive. [JVot used.] Bacon.'
DESTITUTION, n. Want ; absence of ai
thing : a state in which something is want-l
ed or not possessed ; poverty.
Hooker. Taylor:
DESTROY', V. t. [L. destmo; de and s'tnto,]
to pile, to build ; Fr. detruire ; It. distrug-
gere ; Sp. Port, destruir. See Structure.]
1. To demolish ; to pull down ; to separate^
the parts of an edifice, the union of which
is necessary to constitute the thing ; as, to
destroy a house or temple ; to destroy a for-
tification. ]
2. To ruin ; to annihilate a thing by deraol-
shing or by burning ; as, to destroy a city.
3. To ruin ; to bring to naught ; to annihi-
late ; as, to destroy a tlieory or scheme ; to
lestroy a government; to destroy influ-
4. To lay waste ; to make desolate.
Go up against tliis land, and destroy it. Is.
[xvi.
3. To kill ; to slay; to extirpate ; applied to
~-n or other animals.
Ye shall destroy all this people. Num. xsxii.
All the wicked will he destruy. Ps. cxlv.
fi. To take away ; to cause to cease ; to put
an etid to ; as, pain destroys happiness.
That the body of sin might be destroyed.
Rom. vi.
7. To kill ; to eat ; to devour ; to consume.
Birds destroy insects. Hawks destroy
chickens.
8. In general, to put an end to ; to annihi-
late a thing or the form in which it exists.
An army is destroyed by slaughter, cap-
ture or disjjersion ; a forest, by the ax, or
by fire ; towns, by fire or inundation, &c.
9. In chimistry, to resolve a body into its
parts or elements.
DESTROY'ABLE, a. That may be de-
stroyed.
Plants scarcely destroyable by the weather.
ILittle used.] Derham.
DESTROY'ED, pp. Demolished; pulled
down ; ruined ; annihilated ; devoured ;
swept away ; &c.
DESTROY'ER, n. One who destroys, or
lays waste ; one who kills a man, or an
animal, or who ruins a countn', cities, &e.
DESTROY'ING, ;;;(r. Demolishing; laying
waste ; killing ; annihilating ; putting an
end to.
DESTROY'ING, n. Destruction. MMon.
DESTRUCT, for destroy, is not used.
DESTRUCTIBIL'ITY, n. The quality of
being capable of destruction.
DESTRUCTIBLE, a. [L. destmo, deslrur-
tum.'] Liable to destruction ; cajiable of
being destroyed.
DESTRUCTION, n. [L. deslructio. See
Destroy.]
1. The act of destroying ; demolition ; a pul-
ling down ; subversion ; ruin, by whatever
means ; as the destruction of buildings, or
of towns. Destruction consists in the an-
nihilation of the form of any thing ; that
form of parts which constitutes it what it
is ; as the destruction of grass or herbage
by eating ; of a forest, by cutting down
the trees : or it denotes a total annihila-
tion ; as the destruction of a particular gov-
crmnent ; the destruction of happiness.
2. Death ; murder ; slaughter ; massacre.
There was a deadly destruction throughout
all die citj'. 1 Sam. v.
3. Ruin.
Destruction and misery are in their way.
Rom. 3.
4. Eternal death.
Broad is tlie way that leadeth to destruction.
Matt. vii.
5. Cause of destruction ; a cousOming
plague ; a destroyer.
The destruction thut wastelh at noon-dav.
Ps. xci.
DESTRU€ TIVE, a. Causing destruction ;
having the quality of destroying ; ruinous;
mischievous ; pernicious ; with of or to;
as a destructive lire or famine. Litemper-
ance is destructive of health ; evil exam-
ples are destructive to tlie morals of youth.
D E T
D E T
D E T
DESTRUCTIVELY, adv. With destruc-
tion ; ruinously ; mischievously ; with
power to destroy ; as destructively lewd or
intemperate.
DESTRU€'TIVENESS, n. The quality of
destroying or ruining.
DESTRU€'TOR, n. A destroyer ; a consu-
mer. [JVot used.] Boyle
DESUDA'TION, n. [L.desudo; de and su
do, to sweat.]
A sweating; a profuse or morbid sweating,
succeeded by an eruption of pustules, cal
led heat-pimples. Coxe. Encyc
DES'UETUDE, n. [L. desueludo, from dc-
suesco ; dc and sucsco, to accustom one's
self]
The cessation of use ; disuse ; discominu
ance of practice, custom or fashion. Ha
bit is contracted by practice, and lost by
desuetude. Words in every language are
lost by desuetude.
DESUL'PHURATE, v. t. [de and sulphu-
rate or sulphur.] To deprive of sulphur.
Chimistry.
DESUL'PIIURATED, pp. Deprived of sul-
phur.
DESUL'PHURATING, ;)pr. Depriving of
sulphur.
DESULPHURA'TION, 71. The act or ope
ration of depriving of sulphur.
DES'ULTORILY, adv. [See Desultory.] In
a desuhory manner ; without method
loosely.
DES'ULTORINESS, n. A desultory man
ner ; unconnectedness ; a passing from
one tiling to another without order or
method.
DES'ULTORY, a. [L. desultorius, from de-
silio : de and salio, to leap.]
1. Leaping; jiassing from one thing or sub
ject to another, without order or natural
connection ; unconnected ; immethodical ;
as a desultory conversation.
2. Coming suddenly ; started at the moment ;
not proceeding from natural order or con-
nection with what precedes ; as a desultonj
thought.
DESIJ'ME, V. t. [L. desumo.] To take from ;
to borrow. [.Vo< in use.] Hale
DETACH', t>. /. [Fr. detacher ; Arm. disla
ga ; Sp. Port, destacar ; It. staccare ; de
and the root of Eng. tack. See Aliuch.]
1. To separate or disunite ; to disengage ;
to part from ; as, to detach the coats of a
bulbous root from each other ; to detach a
man from the interest of the minister, or
from a party.
2. To separate men from their companies or
regiments ; to draw from companies or re-
giments, as a party of men, and send
them on a particular service.
3. To select ships from a fleet and send
them on a separate service.
DETACH'ED, ;>;). Separated; parted from;
disunited ; drawn and sent on a separate
service.
2. a. Separate ; as detached parcels or por
DETACII'ING, ppr. Separating; parting
from ; drawing and sending on a separ
emplovment.
DETACH'MENT, n. The act of detach
or separating.
2. A body of trno]).=, selected or taken from
the main army, and employed on s
special service or e.vpedilion.
3. A number of ships, taken from a fleet, and
sent on a separate service.
DETA'IL, V. t. [Fr. detailler, to cut in pie-
ces ; de and taiUer, to cut, Sp. tallar, It.
tagliare.]
1. To relate, report or narrate in particulars;
to recite the particulars of; to particular-
ize; to relate minutely and distinctly; as
he detailed all the facts in due order.
3. To select, as an officer or soldier from a
division, brigade, regiment or battalion.
Law of Massachusetts.
DETA'IL, n. [Fr.] A narration or report of]
particulars ; a minute and particular ac-
count. He related the story in detail.
He gave a detail of all the transactions.
9. A selecting of officers or soldiers from the
rosters.
DETA'ILED, pp. Related in particular
minutely recited ; selected.
DETA'ILER, n. One who details. -
DETA'ILING, ppr. Relating minutely;
telling the particulars.
2. Selecting fi-om the rosters.
DETA'IN, V. t. [L. detineo ; de and teneo, to
hold ; Fr. detenir ; Sji. detener. See Tenant.]
1. To keep back or from ; to withhold ; to
keep what belongs to another. Detain not
the wages of the hireling. Taylor.
2. To keep or restrain from proceeding, ei-
ther going or coming ; to stay or stop.
We were detained by the rain.
Let us detain thee, till we have made reaily
a kid. Judges xiii.
3. To hold in custody. Blackstone.
DETA'INDER, n. A writ. [See Deiin
DETA'INED, ;3p. Withheld; kept back';
prevented from going or coining ; held ;
restrained.
DETA'INER, n. One who withholds what
belongs to another ; one who detains,
stops or ])revents from going.
2. In law, a holding or keeping possession of
what belongs to another ; detention of
what is another's, though the original ta-
kiiiff may be lawful. Blackstone.
DETA'INiNG, ppr. Withholding what be-
longs to another; holding back; restrain
ing from going or coming ; holding in
custody.
DETA'IN MENT, n. The act of detainin;
detention. Black-stone.
DETECT', V. t. [L. detego, delectus ; de and
tego, to cover, W. toi, Eng. to deck, which
see.] ♦
Literally, to uncover; hence, to discover; to
find out : to bring to light ; as, to detect the
ramifications and inosculations of the fine
vessels. But this word is especially ap-
plied to the discovery of secret crimes
and artifices. We detect a thief, or the
crime of stealing. We detect the artifices
of the man, or the man himself. We de-
tect what is concealed, especially what is
concealed by design.
DETEeT'ED, pp. Discovered; found out
laid open ; brought to light.
DETE€T'ER, n. A discoverer; one who
finds out what another attempts to con-
ceal.
DETECT'ING, ppr. Discovering; finding
out.
DETE€'TION, n. The act of detecting :
discovery of a person or thing attempted
to be concealed ; as the rfc<fC/)'on of a thief
or liiirglarian ; the detection of fraud or
forgei7 ; the detection of artifice, device or
a plot.
2. Discovery of any thing before hidden, or
unknown.
The sea and rivers are instrumental to the de-
tection of amber and other fossils, by washing
away tlie earth that concealed them.
Woodward.
DETEN'EBRATE, t..<. [L.rfeand tenebra.]
To remove darkness. [JVot in use.]
Broivn.
DETENT', n. [L. detentus ; Fr. detente.] A
stop in a clock, which by being lifted up
or let down, locks and unlocks the clock in
striking. Encyc.
DETEN'TION, n. [See Detain.] The act
of detaining; a withholding from another
his right ; a keeping what belongs to an-
other, and ought to be restored.
Blackstone.
2. Confinement ; restraint ; as detention in
custody.
3. Delay from necessity ; a detaining ; as the
detention of the mail by bad roads.
DETER', V. t. [L. deteneo; de and terreo, to
frighten.]
1. To discourage and stop by fear ; to stop
or prevent from acting or proceeding, by
danger, difficulty or other consideration
which disheartens, or countervails the
motive for an act. We are oflen deterred
from our duty by trivial difficulties. The
state of the road or a cloudy sky may de-
ter a man from undertaking a journey.
A iiiiilion of frustrated hopes will not deter us
from new experiments. /. M. Mason.
2. To prevent by prohibition or danger.
Mitford.
DETERGE, V. t. deterj'. [L. detergo ; de
aud tergo, to wipe or scour.]
To cleanse ; to purge away foul or offend-
ing matter, from the body, or from an
ulcer. Wiseman.
DETER'UED, pp. Cleansed ; purged.
DETER'GENT, a. Cleansing ; purging.
DETER'GENT, n. A medicine that has the
power of cleansing the vessels or skin front
ofltnding matter.
DETER'GING, ppr. Cleansing; carrying
oft' obstructions or foul matter.
DETERIORATE, v.i. [Fr. deteriorer ; It.
deteriorare ; Sp. deteriorar, from deterior,
worse, L. deterior.]
To grow worse ; to be impaired in quality ;
to degenerate ; ojiposed to meliorate.
DETERIORATE, v. t. To make worse ;
to reduce in quality ; as, to deteriorate a
race of men or their condition.
Hayley. Paley.
DETE'RIORATED, ;;;?. Made worse ; im-
paired in (jualitv.
DETE'RIOKATlNG,;);)r. Becoming worse
or inferior in quality.
DETERIORATION, n. A growing or ma-
king worse ; the state of growing worse.
DETERIOR'ITY, n. Worse state or qual-
ity ; as deteriority of diet. Ray.
DETER'MENT, n. [See Deter.] The act of
deterring ; the cause of deterring ; that
which deters. Boyle.
DETERM'INABLE, a. [See Determine.]
1. That may be decided with certainty. Boyle.
2. That may end or be determined.
DETERM'iNATE, a. [L. determiyiatus.]
I. Limited ; fixed ; definite ; as a determinate
iiiiantity of matter.
D E T
D E T
D E T
9.. Establislied ; settled ; positive ; as a deter
minale rule or order.
The determinate counsel of God. Acts ii.
3. Decisive ; conclusive ; as a delerminate
resolution or judgment.
4. Resolved on. Shak
T>. Fixed ; resolute. Sidnei/.
DETERMINATE, v. t. To limit. [JVot
used. See Determine.]
DETERM'INATELY, adv. With certain
0'-
The principles of religion are determinately
true or false. mtotson.
'i. Resolutely; with fixed resolve. [Unus-
ual.] Sidney.
DETERM'INATENESS, n. The state of|
being determinate, certain, or precise.
DETERMINATION, «. Tlie act of deter
mining or deciding.
2. Decision of a question in the mind ; firm
resolution ; settled purpose ; as, they hav
acquainted me with their determination.
■ i. Judicial decision; the ending of a coi
troversy or suit by the judgment of
court. Justice is promoted by a speedy
determination of causes, civil and criminal
I. Absolute direction to a certain end.
Reniissness can hy no means consist with z
constant determination of the will to the great-
est apparent good. Locke
.5. An ending; a putting an end to; as thf
determination of a will. Blackstone
DETERM'INATIVE, a. That uncontrolla-
bly directs to a certain end.
The determinative power of a just cause.
Bramhall
'2. Limiting ; that limits or bounds ; as, a
word may be determinative and limit the
subject. " ff'atts.
DETER M'INATOR, n. One who deter-
mines. Brown.
DETERM'INE, v. t. [L. determine ; de and
termino, to bound ; terminus, a boundary
or limit ; W. tervyn, an extremity, or limit ;
terv, outward, extreme ; lervynu, to fix a
bound, to limit, to determine; term,a. term,
extreme point ; lermiaw, to limit ; Ir. teora,
a border or limit ; Gr. ■cifiw,, tip/tav. See
Term.]
1. To end ; particularly, to end by the deci-
sion or conclusion of a cause, or of a'
doubtful or controverted point ; applica-j
ble to the deei.sions of the niind,or to judi-)
lial decisions. We say, I had determined]
this question in my own mind; the court!
has determined the cause. j
a. To end and fix ; to settle ultimately ; as,|
this event determined his fate. I
:J. To fix on ; to settle or establish ; as, to
determine the proper season for planting
seeds.
(Jod — hath determined the times before ap-
pointed. Acts xvii.
•1. To end ; to limit ; to bound ; to confine.
Yonder hill ddermines our view. Knowl
edge is determined by the sight. Bacon
.5. To give a direction to ; to influence th(
choice ; that is, to limit to a particular
purpose or direction ; as, this circumstance
determined him to the study of law. Also,
to give a direction to material bodies
their course ; as, impulse may determini
moving body to this or that point.
C. To resolve", that is, to end or settle a
point in the mind, as in Definition first.
1 determined this with mj'self. 2 Cor. ii.
Vol. r.
Paul had determined to sail by Ephesiis
Acts XX.
7. To destroy. [JVot tmd.] Shak
8. To put an encl to ; as, to determine a will.
Blackstone.
9. To settle or ascertain, as something
certain.
The character of the soul is determined by
the character of its God. /. Edwards
DETERM'INE, v. i. To resolve ; to con-
clude ; to come to a decision.
He shall pay as the judges determine. Ex
xxi.
It is indiflTerenl how the learned shall deter-
mine concerning this matter. Anon
2. To end ; to terminate. The danger de-
termined by the death of the conspirators.
Revolutions often determine in setting u|:
tyranny at home, or in conquest from
abroad.
Some estates may determine, on future con-
tingencies. Blackstone.
DETERMINED, /jp. Ended; concluded;
decided ; limited ; fixed ; settled ; resolv-
ed ; directed.
2. a. Having a firm or fixed purpose, as c
determined man ; or manifesting a firm res-
olution, as a rfc<cr»!J7ie(/ countenance.
DETERMINING, ppr. Ending ; deciding ;
fixing ; settling ; resolving ; limiting ; di-
recting.
DETERRA'TION, n. [L. de and teira,
earth.] The uncovering of any thing
which is buried or covered with earth ; a
taking from out of the earth. Woodward.
DETERRED, pp. [See Deter.] Discoura-
ged or prevented from proceeding or act-
ing, by fear, difticulty or danger.
DETER'RING, ppr. Discouraging or influ-
encing not to proceed or act, by fear, diffi-
culty, danger, or prospect of evil.
^. a. Discouraging ; frightening. ,9sh.
DETER'SION, n. [L. detersus, deterge. See
Deterge.] The act of cleansing, as a sore.
Ifiseman
DETER'SIVE, a. [It. detersivo ; Fr. deter
sif. See Deterge.]
Cleansing ; having power to cleanse from
offending matter.
DETER'SIVE, n. A meiUcine which has
the power of cleansing idcers, or carrjing
off find matter.
DETEST', v.t. [L. detestor ; de tmA testor,
to aflirm or bear witness ; It. detestare ;
Sp. deleslar ; Fr. delester. The primary
sense of testor is to set, throw or thrust.
To detest is to thrust away.]
To abhor ; to abominate ; to hate extremely
as, to detest crimes or meanness.
DETEST'ABLE, a. Extremely hateful ;
abominable ; very odious ; deserving ab
horreuce.
Thou hast defiled my sanctuarj' witli all tb;
detestable things. Ezek. v.
DETEST'ABLENESS, n. Extreme hate
fulness.
DETEST' ABLY, adi: Very hatefully;
abominablv.
DETESTA'TION, n. Extreme hatred ; ab-
horrence ; with of. The good man en-
tertains uniformly a detestation of sin.
DETEST'ED, pp. Hated extremely; ab-
horred.
DKTEST'ER, n. One who abhors.
DETEST'ING, ppr. Hating extremely ; ab-
horring ; abominating.
60
DETHRONE, v. t. [Fr. delrbner ; Sp. des-
tronar ; ;It. slronare ; de and throne, L.
thronus.]
1. To remove or drive from a throne ; to de-
pose ; to divest of royal authority and dig-
nity.
2. To divest of rule or power, or of supreme
power.
The protector was dethroned. Hume.
DETHRONED, pp. Removed from a
throne ; deposed.
DETHRONEMENT, ji. Removal from a
throne ; deposition of a king, emperor or
prince.
DETHRO'NER, n. One who dethrones.
DETHRONING, ppr. Driving from a
throne ; depriving of regal power.
DET'INUE, n. [Fr. detenu, detained ; dele-
nir, to detain.]
In law, a writ of detinue is one that lies
against him who wrongfiilly detains goods
or chattels delivered to him, or in his jios-
session. This writ hcs for a thing certain
and valuable, as for a horse, cow, sheep,
plate, cloth, &c., to recover the thing itself
or damages for the detainer. Blackstone.
DET'ONATE, v.t. [L. detojio; de and /o-
no, to thunder.]
In chimistry, to cause to explode ; to burn or
I inflame with a sudden report.
DET'ONATE, v. i. To explode ; to burn
with a sudden report. Niter detonates with
sulphur.
DETONATED,;)/). Exploded; burnt with
explosion.
DETONATING, ppr. Exploding; infla-
minff with a sudden report.
DETONATION, n. An exjjlosion or sud-
den re|)ort made by the inflammation of
certain combustible bodies, as fulminating
gold. Detonationjs not decrepitation.
DETONIZA'TION, n. The act of explo-
ding, as certain combustible bodies.
DET'ONIZE, i;. t. [See Detonate.] To cause
to explode ; to burn with an explosion ; to
calcine with detonation.
DET'ONIZE, V. i. To explode ; to burn
with a sudden report.
Tills precipitate — detonizes with a consider-
able noise. Fourcroy.
DET'ONIZED, pp. Exploded, as a com-
bustible body.
DET'ONIZING, ppr. Exploding with a
sudden report.
DETOR'SION, n. A turning or wresting;
perversion.
DETORT', V. t. [L. deloHus, of delorqueo ;
de and torqueo, to twist.]
To twist ; to wrest ; to pervert ; to turn
from the original or plain meaning.
Dry den.
DETORT'ED, pp. Twisted ; wrested ; per-
verted.
DETORT ING, »;)»•. Wresting; perverting.
DETol'R', n. [Fr.] A turning ; a circuitous
way.
DETRACT', r. t. [L. detraetum ; detredo ;
detraho ; de and traho, to draw ; Sp. de-
trattar ; It. detrarre ; Fr. detracter. See
Draw and Drag.]
1. Literally, to draw from. Hence, to take
away from reputation or merit, through
envy, malice or other motive ; hence, to
detract from, is to lessen or depreciate rep-
utation or worth ; to derogate from.
D E U
D E V
D E V
Never circulate reports that detract from tlio
reputation or honor of your neiglibor, without
obvious necessity to justify tlie act. Anon.
9. To take away ; to withdraw, in a literal
sense. Wotton. Boyle.
DETRACTION, n. [L. detractio.] The act
of taking somethitig from the reputation
or wortli of another, with the view to les-
sen him in estimation; censure ; a lessen-
ing of worth ; the act of depreciating an-
other, from envy or malice. Detraction
may consist in representing merit, as less
than it really is ; or in the imputation of
faults, vices or crimes, which impair repu-
tation ; and if such imputation is false, it
is slander or defamation.
DETRAC'TIOUS, a. Containing detrac-
tion ; lessening reputation. [Not in use.]
DETRACT'IVE, a. Having the quality or
tendency to lessen the worth or estima-
DETRACT'OR, n. One who takes away
or impairs the reputation of another inju-
riously ; one who attempts to lessen the
worth or honor of anotlier.
DETRA€T'ORY, a. Derogatory ; defuma-
atoiy by denial of desert; with/jwn.
Johnson. Boyle.
DETRACT'RESS, n. A female detractor ;
a cunsorious woman.
DETRECT', V. I. [L. deireclo.] To refuse.
[Not in «sc.] Fotherby.
DET'RIMENT, n. [L. delrimenlum. Qu.
deter, worse, or detero, detrilum, worn off.]
Loss; damage; injury; mischief; harm;
diminution. We speak of detriment to in-
terest, property, religion, morals, reputa
lion, and to land or buildings. /( is a word
ofven/ general application.
DETRIMENT' AL, a. Injurious ; hurtful ;
causing loss or damage.
A spirit of speculation may be detrimental U
regular commerce. Anon
DETRI"TION, n. [L. detero.] A wearing
otV. Stevens,
UETRI'TUS, n. [h. detritus, worn; detero,
to wear.]
in geolos^y, a mass of substances worn oft' or
detached from solid bodies by attrition :
as diluvial detrittis. Buckland.
UETRU'DE, v.t. [h-dctrudo; de and trtido,
to thrust.] To thrust down ; to push down
with force. Locke. Tliomson
DETRU'DED, pp. Thrust or forced down.
DETRU'DING, p}rr. Tlirusting or forcing
down.
I>ETRUN€'ATE, v.t. [h. detninco ; de and
Irunco, to cut shorter; <rmicu«, cut short ;
Fr. trancker ; Arm. troucha, or traincha.
Hee Treyich.] To cut ofl'; to lop ; to short-
en by cutting.
I>ETRUN€A'T10N, ». The act of cutting
off.
DETRU'SION, n. s as :. [See Detrude.]
The act of thrusting or driving down.
DETURP'ATE, v. t. [L. detxirpo.] To de-
file. [Little iised.] Taylor.
DEUCE, n. [Fr. deux, two.] Two ; a card
with two spots; a die with two spots
term used in gaming.
DEUCE, n. A demon. [See Duse.]
DEUTEROG'AMIST, 71. [infra.] One who
marries the second time. Goldsmith,
DEUTEROG'AMY, n. [Gr. 8(v«po5, second,
and ytt^joj, marriage.]
A second marriage after the death of the^
first husband or wife. Goldsmith.^
DEUTERON'OMY, n. [Gr. i(vTipos,secoud,
and vo/A.oi, law.]
The second law, or second giving of the law
by Moses; the name given to the fifth
book of the Pentateuch.
DEUTOX'YD, n. [Gr. Sftirtpos, second, and
oryd ; strictly, deuteroxyd.]
In chimistry, a substance o.xydized in the
second degree.
DEVAPORA'TION. n. [de and L. vapora-
tio.] The change of vapor into water, as
in the generation of rain. Darwin.
DEV>AST, I', t. [L. devasto.] To lay waste ;
to plunder. [.Vo< in use.] Sandys.
DEVASTATE, v. t. [L. devasto ; de and
vasto, to waste ; Fr. devaster ; Sp. devastar;
It. devastare. See H'^aste.]
To lay waste ; to waste ; to ravage ; to des-
olate ; to destroy improvements.
DEVASTATED, ;;/>. Laid waste ; ravaged.
DEVASTATING, ppr. Laying waste ; des-
olating.
DEVASTA'TION.n. [h.devastatio.] Waste ;
ravage; desolation; destruction of works
of art and natural productions which are
necessary or usefid to man; havock; as
by armies, fire, flood, &c.
2. In law, waste of the goods of the deceas-
ed by an executor, or administrator.
Blackstone.
DEVEL'OP, t'. /. [Fr.developper; It. svilnp-
pare, to unfold, to display ; viluppo, a
jjacket or bundle, intricacy.]
To uncover; to unfold ; to lay open ; to
disclose or make known something con-
cealed or withheld from notice.
The General began to develop the plan of his
operations.
These serve to develop its tenets. Milner.
i. To unravel ; to unfold what is intricate ;
as, to develop a plot.
DEVEL'OPED, ;)/;. Unfolded; laid open;
unraveled.
DEVELOPING, ppr. Unfolding; disclos-
ing ; unraveling.
DEVEL'OPMENT, n. An unfolding; the
discovering of something secret or with-
held from the knowledge of others ; dis-
closure ; ftill e.xhibition.
2. The unraveling of a plot.
DEVEST', V. t. [Fr. devetir ; de and vetir,
to clothe, L. vestio, id., vestis, a vest, i
garment. Generally written divest.]
1. To strip; to deprive of clothing or arms
to take off. Denham
•2. To deprive ; to take away ; as, to devest a
man or nation of rights. [See Divest.]
3. To free from ; to disengage.
4. In law, to alienate, as title or right.
DEVEST', V. i. In laiv, to be lost or alicna
ted, as a title or an estate.
[This word is generally written divest,
except in the latter and legal sense.]
DEVEST'ED, ;)0. Stripped of clothes; di
prived ; freed from ; alienated or lost, as
title.
DEVEST'ING, ppr. Stripping of clothes ;
depriving; freeing from ; alienating.
DEVEX', a. [L. devexus.] Bending down
[Not in use.]
DEVEX'ITY, n. [L. devexitas, from de and
veho, to carry.]
A bending downward; a sloping; incur
tion downward. " Dav
DE'VIATE, v.i. [It. deviare ; Sp. desviarse ;
L. devius ; de, from, and via, way.]
1. To turn aside or wander from the com-
mon or right way, course or line, either
in a literal or figurative sense ; as, to devi-
ate from the common track or path, or
from a true course.
There nature deviates, and here wanders will.
Pope.
2. To stray from the path of duty ; to wan-
der, in a moral sense ; to err ; to sin.
DEVIA'TION, n. A wandering or turning
aside from the right way, course or line.
2. Variation from a common or established
ule, or from analogy.
3. A wandering from the path of duty ; want
of conformity to the rules prescribed by
God ; error ; sin ; obliquity of conduct.
4. In commerce, the voluntary departure of a
ship, without necessity, from the regular
and usual course of the specific voyage
insured. This discharges the underwri-
ters fi-om their responsibilitv. Park.
DEVI'CE, n. [Fr. devis, devise ; It. divisa ;
from L. diidsus, divido.]
1. That which is formed by design, or in-
vented ; scheme ; artificial contrivance ;
stratagem ; project ; sometimes in a good
sense ; more generally in a bad sense, as ar-
tifices are usually employed for bad purposes.
In a good sense :
His device is against Babylon, to destroy it.
Jer. li.
In a bad sense :
They imagined a mischievous device. Ps. xxi.
3. An emblem intended to represent a fami-
ly, person, action or quahty, with a suita-
ble motto; used in painting, sculpture and
heraldry. It consists in a metaphorical
similitude between the things represent-
ing and represented, as the figure of a
plow representing agriculture.
Knights-errant used to distingidsh tliemselves
by devices on their shields. Addison.
3. Invention; genius; faculty of devising;
as a man of noble device. Shak.
4. A spectacle or show. Obs. Beaum.
DEVI'CEFUL, a. Full of devices ; invent-
ive. Spenser.
DEVI'CEFULLY, adv. In a manner curi-
ously contrived. Donne.
DEVIL, 71. dev'l. [Sax. diafol ; D. duivcl;
G. teufel ; Sw. diefvul ; Dan. dia-vel; Russ.
diavol ; Tartar, diof; L. diabolus ; Gr.
hia.So'Kof, said to be from iiaSaVKu, to ca-
lunmiate ; Fr. diable ; Sp. diablo ; Port.
diaho ; ll. dimolo. The Armoric is rfiaw? ;
W. diaicl, which Owen supposes to be
romijouniled of di, a negative, and awl,
light — one without light, [prince of dark-
ness.] The Irish is diabhail, which, ac-
cording to O'Brien, is composed of dia,
deity, and bhal, air, [god of the air.] If
these Celtic words are justly explained,
they are not connected with diabolus, or
the latter is erroneously deduced.]
1. In the christian theologj/, an evil spirit or
being ; a fallen angel, expfclled from heaven
for rebellion against God ; the chief of the
apostate angels ; the implacable enemy
and tempter pf the human race. In the
New Testament, the word is frequently
and erroneously used for demon.
2. A very wicked person, and in ludicrous
D E V
D E V
D E V
language, any great evil. In profane Ian
guage, it is an expletive expressing won
der, vexation, &o.
3. An idol, or false god. Lev. xvii. 2 Cbron.
DEV'ILING, n. A young devil. [JVoti;
use.] Beaum
DEVILISH, o. Partaking of the qualities
of the devil ; diaholical ; very evil and
mischievous ; malicious ; as a devilish
scheme ; devilish wickedness. Sidney.
2. Having communication with the devil ;
pertaining to the devil. Shnk
3. Excessive ; enormous ■,in a vulgar and lu-
dicrous sense ; as a devilish cheat.
Addison.
DEV'ILISHLY, adv. In a manner suiting
the devil; diabolically; wickedly. South.
2. Greatly: excessively ; in a vulgar sense.
DEV'ILISHNESS, n. The qualities of the
devil.
DEV'ILISM, n. The state of devils. [JVot
used.] Bp. Hall.
DEV'ILIZE, V. i. To place among devils.
U^ot used.] Bp. Hall.
DEV'ILKIN, n. A little devil. Clarissa.
DEV'ILSHIP, n. The character of a devil.
DE'VIOUS, a. [L. devius ; de and via, way.]
Out of the common way or track ; as a
devious course.
9. Wandering; roving; rambling.
To bless the wildly devious mornins walk.
Tlwrnson.
3. Erring ; going astray from rectitude or
the divine precepts.
One devious step at first may lead into a
course of habitual vice. Anon.
DEVIR'GINATE, i'. t. [Low L. devirgino.]
To deflour. Sandys.
DEVISABLE, a. s as :. [See the Verb.]
1. Tliat maybe bequeathed or given by will.
Blaekstone
2. That can be invented or contrived.
Sadler
DEVI'SE, V. t. s as :. [Fr. deviser, to talk or
interchange thoughts; Il.rftmare, to think,
divide or share ; from L. divisus, divido.]
1. To invent ; to contrive ; to form in the
mind by new combinations of ideas, ne
applications of principles, or new arrang
luent of parts ; to excogitate ; to strike
out by thought ; to plan ; to scheme ; t(
j)roject ; as, to devise an engine or ma
chine; to devise a new mode of writing;
to devise a plan of defense ; to devise ar-
guments.
To devise curious works in gold and silver
Ex. x.xxv.
In a bad sense :
Devise not evil against thy neighbor. Prov
2. To give or bequeath by will, as land or
otiier real estate. Blaekstone.
DEVI'SE, v.i. To consider; to contrive;
to lay a plan ; to form a scheme.
Devise how you will use him, when he comes.
Shak.
Formerly followed by of; as, let us de-
vise of ease. Spenser.
DEVI'SE, re. Primarily, a dividing or divis-
ion ; hence, the act of bequeathing by will ;
the act of giving or distributing real es-
tate by a testator. Blaekstone.
2. A will or testament.
3. A share of estate bequeathed.
DEVI'SE, n. Contrivance ; scheme invent-
ed. Obs. Hooker.
DEVI'SED, pp. Given by will ; bequeath-
ed ; contrived.
DEVISEE', n. The person to whom a de-
vise is made ; one to whom real estate is
bequeathed.
DEVI'SER, n. One who contrives or in-
vents; a contriver; an inventor. Gretv.
DEVrsiNG, ppr. Contriving ; inventing ;
forming a scheme or plan.
2. Giving by will ; bequeathing.
DEVI'SOR, n. One who gives by will ; one
who bequeaths lands or tenements.
Blaekstone.
DEV'ITABLE, «. Avoidable. > [jYot in
DRVITA'TION, n. An escaping. \ use.]
DEVOCA'TION, n. [L. devocatio.] A call-
ing away ; seduction. [JVbt in use.]
Hallywell.
DEVOID', a. [de and void, Fr. vuide, vide.
See Void.]
1. Void; empty; vacant; applied to place.
Spenjier.
2. Destitute ; not possessing ; as devoid of
understanding.
3. Free from ; as devoid of fear or shame
DEVOIR', 71. [Fr. rfewotV; It. dovere; from
L. debeo, to owe.]
Primarily, service or duty. Hence, an act of
civility or respect ; respectful notice due
to another ; as, we paid our devoirs to the
queen, or to the ladies.
DEVOLU'TION, ji. [L. devolutio.] The act
of rolling down ; as the devolution of earth
into a valley. IVoodward.
2. Removal from one person to another ; a
passing or falling upon a successor.
Hale
DEVOLVE, v. t. devolv'. [L. devolvo ; de and
volvo, to roll, Eng. to wallow.]
1. To roll down ; to pour or flow with wind
ings.
Through splendid kingdoms he devolves hi:
maze. Thomson
2. To move from one person to another ;
deliver over, or from one
successor.
; devolved
Ormond.
Temple. Gibbon.
DEVOLVE, V. i. devolv'. Literally, to roll
down ; hence, to pass from one to another;
to fall by succession from one possessor to
his successor. In the absence of the coin
mander in chief, the command devolved oi
the next officer in rank. On the death of
the ])rince, tlie crown devolved on his eld-
est son.
DEVOLVED, pp. Rolled down ; passed
over to another.
DEVOLV'ING, ppr. Rolling down ; falling
to a successor.
DEVO'TARY, n. A vottiry. [.Vol in use.]
Gregory.
DEVOTE, v. t. [I., deroveo, devotus ; (/e and
I'oveo, to vow ; Fr. devouer.]
1. To appropriate by vow ; to set apart '
dedicate by a solemn act ; to consecrate.
No devoted thing that a man shall devote
the Lord — shall be sold or redeemed. Every
devoted thing is most holy to the Lord. Lev
xxvii.
2. To give up wholly; to addict; to direct
the attention wholly or chiefly ; to attach:
as, to devote one's self to science ; to devote
ourselves to our friends, or to their interest
or pleasure.
3. To give up; to resign; as, aliens were rfe-
worship
DEVO'TING, ppr. Giving or ap]H-opriating
valid to rapine ; the city was devoted to the
flames.
4. To doom ; to consign over ; as, to devote
one to ilestruction.
5. To execrate; to doom to evil. Roice.
DEVOTE, a. Devoted. MUlon.
DEVO'TE, n. A devotee. Sandys.
DEVO'TED, pp. Appropriated by vow ; sol-
ennily set apart or dedicated ; consecrated ;
addicted ; given up ; doomed ; consigned.
DEVO'TEDNESS, n. The state of being
devoted or given ; addictedness ; as devo-
<crf(ics.s to religion. Grew. Mitner.
DEVOTEE', n. [Fr. devot.] One who is
wholly devoted ; particularly, one given
wholly to religion ; one who is supersti-
tiously given to religious duties and cere-
monies ; a bigot.
DEVO'TEMENT, n. Devotedness ; devo-
tion. Mem. of Buchanan.
2. Vowed dedication. Mason.
DEVO'TER, n. One that devotes ; also, a
worshipe
cvo'Tir
by vow ; solemrdy setting apart ordedica-
ting ; consecrating ; giving wholly ; ad-
dicting ; dooming ; consigning.
DEVO TION, n. The state of being dedica-
ted, consecrated, or solemnly set apart for
a particular purpose.
2. A solemn attention to the Supreme Being
in worship; a yielding of the heart and
affections to God, with reverence, faith
and piety, in religious duties, particularly
in prayer and meditation ; devoutness.
3. External worship; acts of religion ; per-
formance of religious duties.
As I passed by and beheld your devotions.
Acts xvii.
4. Prayer to the Supreme Being. A christ-
ian will be regular in his morning and
evening devotions.
5. An act of reverence, respect or ceremony.
Shak.
6. Ardent love or affection ; attachment man-
ifested by constant attention ; as, the duke
was distinguished by his devotion to the
king, and to the interest of the nation.
Clarendon.
7. Earnestness ; ardor ; eagerness.
He seeks their hate with greater depo/t'on than
they can render it him. Shak.
8. Disposal; power of disposing of ; state of
dependence.
Arundel castle would keep that rich comer of
the counUy at liis majesty's devotion.
Clarendon.
DEVO'TIONAL, a. Pertaining to devotion ;
used in devotion ; as a devotional posture ;
devotional exercises.
2. Suited to devotion ; as a devotional frame
of mind.
DEVO TIOXALIST, ) A person given
DEVO'TIOXIST, ^ "• to devotion ; or
one superstitiously or formally devout.
Spectator.
DEVO'TO, n. [It.] A devotee. [.Yot in use.]
Spenser.
DEVO'TOR, n. One who reverences or
worships. Obs. Beaum.
DEVOUR', V. t. [L. devoro ; de and I'oro, to
eat; It. vorare, divorare ; Sp.devorar; Fr.
devorer ; Arm. devori ; W. pori, to feed ;
Gr. ,3opo, pasture ; Heb. Ch. "yj, to con-
sume. Class Br. No. 6.]
1. To eat up ; to eat with greediness ; to eat
D E V
D E X
D I A
lavenously, as a beast of prey, or as a hun-
gry man.
Wc will say, some evil beast halh devoured
him. Gen. xxxvii.
In the morniug he shall devour the prey.
Gen. xlix.
2. To destroy; to consume with rapidity and
violence.
I will send a fire into the house of Hazael,
which shall devour the palaces of Ben-Hadad.
Amos i.
Famine and pestilence shall devour him. Ez.
vii.
.■?. To destroy ; to anniliilate ; to consume.
He seemed in swiftness to devour the way.
Shak.
4. To waste ; to consume ; to spend in dissi-
pation and riot.
As soon as this thy son had come, who hath
devoured thy living with harlots. Luke xv.
5. To consume wealth and substance by
fraud, oppression, or illegal exactions.
Ye devour widows' houses. Matt, xxiii.
6. To destroy spiritually ; to ruin the soul.
Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketli about, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Pet. V.
7. To slay.
The sword shall devour the young lions.
Nah. li.
8. To enjoy with avidity.
Longing they look, and gaping at the sight.
Devour her o'er and o'er with vast delight.
Dryden.
DEVOUR'ED, pp. Eaten; swallowed with
greediness ; consumed ; destroyed ; wast-
ed; slain.
DEVOUR'ER, n. One who devours; he or
that which eats, consumes or destroys; he
that preys on.
DEVOUR'ING,ppc. Eating greedily ; con-
suming ; wasting ; destroying ; annihila-
ting.
DEVOURINGLY, mh. In a devouring
manner.
DEVOUT', a. [ll.devolo; Fr.devol; h. de-
votus. See Dcvoie.]
I . Yielding a solenni and reverential atten-
tion to God in rehgious exercises, particu-
larly in prayer.
We must be constant and devout in the wor-
ship of God. Rogers.
3. Pious ; devoted to religion ; religious.
Simeon was a just man and devout. Luke ii.
Devout mea carried Stephen to his burial.
Acts viii.
;?. Expressing devotion or piety ; as, with
eyes devout. Milton.
I. Sincere ; solemn ; earnest ; as, you have
my devout wishes for your safety.
DEVOUT', n. A devotee. [JVotused.]
.Sheldon
DEVOUT'LESS, a. Destitute of devotion.
DEVOUT'LESSNESS, n. Want of devo-
tion. Bp. of Chichester.
DEVOUT'LY, adv. With solemn attention
and reverence to God ; with ardent devo
tion.
He was devoutly engaged in prayer.
Anon.
f2. Piously ; religiously ; with pious thoughts
as, he viewed the cross devoutly.
3. Sincerely ; solenndy ; earnestly ; as, a con-
summation devoutly to be wished.
DEVOUT'NESS, n. The quality or state ofl
being devout. Glanville.
DEVOW, V. t. To give up. [Ml in use.]
B. Jonson
DEW, n. [Sax. deatv ; D. dauw ; G. thau ;
Sw. dagg; Dan. dugg. See Class Dg.
No. 24. tiO. 62. 63. It ia probably from
the same primary root as thaw ; G. thau,
dew, thauen, to thaw.]
The water or moisture collected or deposited
on or near the stu-face of the earth, during
the night, by the escape of the heat which
held the water in solution.
DEW, V. t. To wet with dew ; to moisten.
Milton. Dryden.
DEW'BENT, a. Bent by the dew.
Thomson.
DEW'-BERRY, n. The fruit of a species of
brier or bramble, that creeps along the
ground, of the genus Rulms.
DEW-BESPAN'GLED, a. Spangled with
dew-drops. Gray.
DEW-BESPRENT', a. Sprinkled with dew
Ohs. Milton.
DEW-BESPRINK'LED, a. Sprinkled with
dew. Shensto7ie.
DEW-DROP, n. A drop of dew, which
kles at sinnise ; a spangle of dew.
Milton.
DEW -DROPPING, a. Wetting as witl
lew. Thomson
DEWED, no. Moistened with dew.
DEW-IMPEARL'ED, «. [See PeaW.] Gov
■ with de^v-drops, like i)earls.
Drayton.
DEWING, ppr. Wetting or moistening witl:
dew.
DEW-LAP, n. [dciv and lap, to lick.] The
flesh that hangs from the throat of oxen,
which laps or licks the dew in grazing
Jlddison.
2. In Shakspeare, a lip flaccid with age.
DEW'-LAPT, a. Fui-nished with a d'ew-laj).
DEW-WORM, ?!. A worm, called other-
wise earth-worm, a species of Lunibricus
which lives just under the surface of the
ground. It is of a pale red color, and does
no injury to plants.
DEW'Y, a. Partaking of dew; hkedew; as
dewy mist.
2. Blo'ist with dew ; as dexcy fields.
His deify locks distilled
Ambrosia. Milton.
DEX'TER,a. [L.deMer; Gr.«t|ios; Ir. rfeaj.]
Right, as opposed to left; a term used in
heraldry, to denote the right side of a
shield or coat of arms ; as, bend-de.rtcr ;
dexter-point. Encyc.
DEXTER'ITY, n. [L. dexteritas, from (fcr-
ter, right, fit, prompt.]
1. Readiness of limbs; adroitness; activity;
expertness ; skill ; that readiness in per
forming an action, which proceeds from
experience or practice, imitcd with activity
or quick motion. We say, a man handl
an instrument, or eludes a thrust, with
dexterity.
2. Readiness of mind or mental facidties, as
in contrivance, or inventing means to ac-
complish a purpose ; promptness ia devi-
sing expedients; quickness and skill in
managing or conducting a scheme of ope-
rations. We say, a negotiation is con
ducted with dexterity. Gibbon,
DEX'TRAL, a. Right, tis opposed to left.
Broum
DEXTRAL'ITY, n. The state of being
the right side.
DEXTROR'SAL, a. [dexter and versus,
versus, from verto, to turn.]
Rising from right to left, as a spiral hne or
helix. Henry.
DEX'TROUS, a. Ready and expert in the
use of the body and limbs; skilful and ac-
tive in manual employment; adroit; as a
dextrous hand ; a dextrous workman.
2. Ready in the use of the mental faculties ;
prompt in contrivance and management ;
expert ; quick at inventing expedients ; as
a dextrous manager.
3. Skilful ; artful ; done with dexterity ; as
dextrous management.
DEX'TROUSLY, adv. With dexterity:
expertly ; skilfully ; artfully ; adroitly :
l)romptly.
DEX'TROUSNESS, n. Dexterity; adroit-
ness.
DEY, n. The title of the governor or sove-
reign of Algiers, under the protection of
the Grand Seignior. Encyc.
|DI, a prefix, a contraction of dis, denotes
from, separation or negation, or two.
'DIA, Greek, a prefix, denotes through.
DI'ABASE, M. Another name of greenstone.
Cleaveland.
DIABATE'RIAL, «. [Gr. atoffo.m.] Bor-
der-passing. Mitford.
DIABE'TES, n. [Gr. «io«>;t»j;, from hmeiuv^,
s through ; Ski and 8aivu, to go or pass.]
A long continued increased quantity of
mine ; an excessive and morbid discharge
of urine. Coxe. Encyc.
DIABET'IC, a. Pertaining to diabetes.
DIABOL'Ie, > [L.rfiaioius, the devil.]
DIABOL'ICAL, ^ Devilish ; pertaining
to the devil; hence, extremely malicious;
impious ; atrocious ; nefarious ; outrage-
ously wicked ; partaking of any quality
ascribed to the devil ; as a diabolical tem-
per ; a diabolical scheme or action.
DIABOL'ICALLY, adv. In a diabolical
manner ; very wickedly ; nefariously.
DIABOL'IeALNESS, n. The quahties of
the devil.
DIAB'OLISM, n. The actions of the devil.
Possession by the devil. Warburton.
DIA€AUS'TIC, a. [Gr. Siaxoiu, to burn or
inflame.]
Belonging to curves formed by refraction.
Bailey.
DIACH'YLON, n. [Gr. S«i and ;t>"«>5.] An
llient plaster.
DIAe'ONAL, a. [L. diaconus.] Pertaining
to a deacon.
DIA€OUS'Tle, a. [Gr. «iaxoico, to hear ;
and axTOu, to hear.]
Pertaining to the science or doctrine of re-
fracted sounds.'
DIACOUS'TI€S, n. The science or doctrine
of refracted sounds ; the consideration of
the properties of sound refracted by pass-
ing through different mediums ; called
also diaphonics. Encyc.
DIACRITICAL, a. [Gr. 6iaxpiti.xo; . Sm-
xftvu, to separate ; Sm and xptvu, to sepa-
rate.]
Tliat separates or distinguishes ; distinctive ;
as a diacritical point or mark.
The short vowel is never signified by any
diacritical mark. Encyc.
DI'ADELPH, n. [Gr. 5tj, 6i, twice, and
aieXfo;, a brother.]
In botany, a plant vvliose stamens are united
into two bodies or bimdles by their fila-
ments.
B I A
D 1 A
DiADELPH'lAN, a. Having its stamens
utiiteil into two bodies by thoir tilanients.
Dl'ADEM, n. [Gr. biabr^fia., from ««»5ju, to
gird ; Sia and *fu, to bind ; L. diadema.]
1. Anciently, a head-band or fillet worn by
kings as a badge of royalty. It was made
of silk, linen or wool, and tied round the
temples and foreliead, the ends being tied
behind and let fall on the neck. It was
nsiially white and plain ; sometimes em-
broidered with gold, or set with pearls and
precious stones.
2. In modern usage, the mark or badge of
royalty, worn on the head ; a crown ; and
figuratively, empire ; supreme power.
Gibbon.
3. A distinguished or principal ornament.
A diadem of beauty. Is. xxviii.
DI'ADEMED, a. Adorned with a diadem ;
crowned ; ornamented. Pope.
DI'ADROM, n. [Gr. 6ia6po^»j, a running
about ; StaSfofitu ; &ut, and Sfii/iu, to run.]
A course or passing; a vibration ; the time
in which the vibration of a pendulutn i.si
performed. Locke.\
DIAGNOS'Tl€, a. [Gr. Siayruf cxo; ; 610-!
■/wuaxi^ ; 61a and yivunxu, to know.]
Distinguishing ; characteristic ; indicating
the nature of a disease.
DIAGNOS'TIC, n. The sign or .symptom;
by which a disease is known or distinguish-
ed from others. Diagnostics are of two
kinds ; the adjunct, or such as are coinnion
to several diseases ; and the pathognomonic,
which always attend the disease, and dis-
tinguish it from all others. Entyc.
BIAG'ONAL, a. [Gr. Siojumoj; Sm and
ywHa, a corner.]
I. In geometry, extending from one angle to
another of a quadrilateral figiu-e, and divi-
ding it into two equal parts.
'i. Being in an angular direction.
niAG'ONAL, n. A right line drawn from
angle to angle of a quadrilateral figure, as
a square or parallelogram, and dividing it
into two equal parts. It is sometimes call-
ed the diameter, and sometimes the diame-
Irtd. Eneyc.
DIAG'ONALLY, adv. In a diagonal direc
tion.
OI'AGRAIM, 71. [Gr. Siaypo^i^a ; Sta and
■ypoufu, to write.]
In geometry, a figure, draught or scheme de
lineated for the purpose of demonstrating
the properties of any figure, as a square,!
triangle, circle, &c. Anciently, a musical
scale.
UIAGRAPII IC, ^ [Gr. Sia and ypa$«,
DIAGKAPH'ICAL, ] "■ to describe.] Des-
criptive.
01' AL, n. [Ir. diail ; probably from day, dies.]
An instrument for measuring time, by the
aid of the sun ; being a plate or plain' sur-
face, on which lines are drawn in euch a
manner, that the shadow of a wire, or of
the upper edge of another plane, erected
perpendicularly on the former, may show
the true time of the day. The edge of the
plane, which shows the time, is called the
stile of the dial, and this must be parallel
to the axis of the earth. The line on
which this plane is erected, is called the
stibstile ; and the angle included between
the substile and stile, is called the elevation
or highth of the stile. A dial may be hori-
zontal, vertical, or inclining. Encyc.l
DI'AL-PLATE, n. The plate of a dial on|jDrALOGUE-WRITER, «. Awriterofdiu
which the lines are drawn, to show the ' logiies or feignid conversations,
hour or time of the day. I Df Al. ^SI,-^, /(. |Gr. iiaMioii; 6u0.vio, to dis-
Dr.\LE€T, n. [Gr. iia'KfxTo; ; Sui and i»^7w,| siil\<- : Aiu and Vlu, to dissolve.]
to speak ; It. diaietto ; Fr. dialede ; Sp.jAniark in wriliiig or printing, consisting of
dialecto.] two [wints placed over one of two vowels,
1. The form or idiom of a language, pecul- to dissolve a diphthong, or to show that
iar to a province, or to a kingdom or state ; the two vowels are to be separated in pro-
consisting chierty in dittercnccs of orthog- 1 nmiciation ; as, afr, mosaic.
raphy or proimnciation. The Greek lan-
guage is remarkable for four dialects, the
Attic, Ionic, Doric and EoHc. A dialect
is the branch of a parent language, with
such local alterations as time, accident and
revolutions may have introduced among
descendants of the same stock or family,
living in separate or remote situations.
But in regard to a large portion of words,
many languages, which are considered as
distinct, are really dialects of one common
language.
2. Language ; speech, or manner of speak-
ing. South.
DIALECTICAL, a. Pertaining toadialect,
or dialects ; not radical.
2. Logical; argumental. lioyti.
DIALEC'TI€ALLY, adv. In the mannei-of
dialect.
DIALECTP'OIAN, n. A logician ; area-
soner.
DIALECTICS, n. That brancli of logic
which teaches the rules and modes of
reasoning. Encyc.
DI'ALING, n. The art of constructing dials,
or of drawing dials on a plane. The scia-
teric science, or knowledge of showing the
time by shadows. Johnson. Encyc.
DI'ALIST, n. A constructer of dials ; one
skilled in dialing.
DI'ALLAgE, n. [Gr. Sia?.>.ayi;, difference,
alluding to the difference of luster between
its natural joints.]
A mineral, the smaragdite of Saussiu-e, of
a lamellar or foliated structure. Its sub-
species are green diallagc, metalloidal di-
allage and bronzitc. Ckaveland.
The metalloidal subspecies is called schiller
stein, or shiller spar.
DIAL'OGIS M, n. A feigned speech botsveen
two or more. Fulke.
DIAL'06IST, n. [Sec Dialogue.] A speak-
er in a dialogue ; also, a writer of dialogues.
Johnson.
DL-\LOgIST IC, «. Having the form of a
dialosrne.
DIALOuIST'ICALLY, adv. In the manner
of dialogue.
DIAL'0(iiZE,i;.i. [^es Dialogue.] To dis-
course in dialogue. Fotherby.
DI'ALOGUE, n. di'alog. [Fr. dialogue ; I't.
dialogo ; Sp. id. ; from Gr. BuAoyof, from
SiaY-fyo/iai, to dispute ; iia and Xtyu, to
speak.]
1. A conversation or conference between
two or more persons ; particularly, a for-
mal conversation in theatrical performan-
ces ; also, an exercise in colleges and
schools, in which two or more persons
carry on a discourse.
2. A written conversation, or a composition
in which two or more persons are repre-
sented as conversing on some topic ; as the
dialogues of Cicero (Je Oratore, and de
Natm-a Deorum.
DI'ALOGUE, I', r. To discourse together;
to confer. [jVot used.] Shak.
2. In medicine, debility ; also, a s^alution of
continnitv. Pan:
DIAMA.N tliNE, for adamantine. [JVol in
use.]
jDIAM'ETER, n. [Gr. S<o/.trp«;, «<« an.l
^tffiot; measure through.]
[1. A right line jiassing through the center of
a circle or other curvilinear figure, termi-
nated by the circumference, and dividing
I the figure into two equal parts.
2. A right line passing through the center of
I a i)iece of timber, a rock or other object,
■ from one side to the other ; as the diame-
ter of n xrcc, or of a stone.
1)1 A.M'l'.'i'K.M,, a. Diametrical, which see.
1)1 AM l/l-KALLY, adv. DiametricaUy.
I>i \.MI7r lilCAL, a. Describing a diameter.
2. t)hr^trving the direction of a diameter ; di-
I reet ; as diametrical opposition.
DIAHIET RICALLY, adv. In a diametrical
I direction ; directly ; as diametrically oppo-
DIA:\I0ND, n. di'mond. [Fr. diamant; It.
and Sp. diamante ; G. and D. diamant ; L.
adamas ; Gr. aia/tai, aiafiai-rcs, whence arf-
amant, from the Celtic ; W. ehedvaen, mo-
ving stone ; ehed, to fly or move, and
maen, stone ; a name first given to the load-
stone. See Mamant.]
1. A mineral, gem or precious stone, of the
most valuable kind, remarkable for its
hardne.^s, as it scratches all other minerals.
When pure, the diamond is usually clear
and transparent, but it is sometimes col-
ored. In its rough state, it is commonly in
the form of a roundish pebble, or of octa-
hedral crystals. It consists of carbon, and
when heated to 14° VVedgewood, and ex-
posed to a current of air, it is gradually,
but completely combustible. VVhen pure
and transparent, it is said to be of the first
water. Encyc. Kinvan. Cleaveland.
2. A very small printing letter.
:i. A figure, otherwise called a rhombus.
DIAMOND, a. Resembhng a diamond, as a
diamond color ; or consisting of diamonds,
as a diamond chain.
DIAMONDED, a. Having the figure of an
oblique angled parallelogram, or rhombus.
FuUer.
DIAMOND-MINE, n. A mine in which di-
amonds are found.
DIAN'DER, n. [Gr. 615, St, twice, and otijp,
a male.] In botany, a plant having two
stamens.
DIAN'DRIAN, a. Having two stamens.
DI'APASftI, n. [Gr. Scortawco, to sprinkle.]
A perfume. Obs. B. Jonson,
DIAPA'SON, ) ^^ [Gr.«M»rta(!ui., through all.]
DI'APASE, ^ 'In );iu*if, the octave or ui-
terval which includes all the tones.
2. Among musical instrument-makers, a rule
or scale by which they adjust the pipes of
organs, the holes of flutes, &c., in due pro-
portion for expressing the several tones
and semitones. Busby.
B I A
D I A
D I C
Diapdson-diapen'te, a compound consonance
in a triple ratio, as 3 to 9, consisting of 9
tones and a semitone, or 19 semitones ; a
twelftli. Encyc. Busby.
D'mpason-dialts'saron, a compound concord,
founded on the proportion of 8 to 3, con-
sisting of eight tones and a semitone.
Diapason-ditone, a compound concord, whose
terms are as 10 to 4, or 5 to 2.
Diapason-semiditone, a compound concord,
whose terms are in the proportion of 12
to 5. Encyc.
DIAPEN'TE, n. [Gr. S^a and rtf.rt, five.]
1. A fifth ; an interval making the second of
the concords, and with the diatessaron, an
octave. Encyc.
2. In medicine, a composition of five ingre-
dients. Core.
DI'APER, n. [Fr. diapr^, diapered ; said to
be from Ypres, in the Netherlands
Jlnderson
Figured linen clotli ; a cloth wove in flow
crs or figures ; much used for towels or
napkins. Hence, a towel or napkin.
DI'APER, V. I. To variegate or diversify, as
cloth, with figures ; to flower.
Spenser. Hotuel.
DI'APER, V. i. To draw flowers or figures,
as upon cloth.
If you diaper on folds. Pearham.
DI'APHANED, a. Transparent. [Little
used.]
DIAPHANE'ITY, n. [Gr. Su»tarHa ; Siotai
j-u, to shine through ; 8ia and fawu, u
shine.]
The power of transmitting light ; transpa
rency ; pellucidness. Ray
DIAPHAN'IC, a. [Gr. Sta^vr;;. See supra.]
Having power to transmit light ; trans|)a
rent. Raleigh
DiAPH'ANOUS, a. [See supra.] Having
power to transmit rays of light, as gl
pellucid ; transparent ; clear.
DIAPHORE'SIS, n. [Gr. 6m4>op»?8.5; 6«x^o-
pfu, to carry through ; 6ia and topsc
carry.]
Augmented perspiration ; or an elimination
of the humors of the body through the
poresof the skin. ' Co.re. Encyc.
DTAPIIORET'I€, a. [supra.] Having the
])ower to increase perspiration ; sudorific
DIAPHORETIC, n. A
promotes perspiration ;
medicine whicl:
a sudorific.
Coxe. Encyc
Diaphoretics differ from sudorifics ; the
former only increase the insensible per
spiration ; the latter excite the sensible
discharge called sweat. Parr
DI'APHRAGM, n. di'afram. [Gr. 6M^.pay«a
hia. and $par!9cj, to break off, to defend.]
1. In anatomy, the midriff, a muscle separa
ting the chest or thorax from the abdomen
or lower belly. Coxe. Encyc.
2. A partition or dividing substance.
Woodward.
DIAPOR'ESIS, n. [Gr. Siartopi^cts : h
pfu, to doubt.] In rhetonc, doubt ; hesita
tion. Bailey.
DIAR'ESIS, ) [Gr. Staipftfij, a division ;
DIAR'ESY, <"• 6iaip£u; 6mi and atpfu, to
take away.]
The dissolution of a diphthong ; the mark •
j)laced over one of two vowels, denotin;
that they are to be pronounced separate-
ly, as distinct letters ; as aer.
DIA'RIAN, a. [See Diary.] Pertaining to a
diary ; daily.
DI'ARIST, n. One who keeps a diary.
DIARRHE'A, n. [Gr. Sioppoia; Stappfu, to
flow througli ; S«i and psu, to flow.]
Purging or flux ; a fre<(uent and copious
evacuation of excrement by stool.
Encyc.
DIARRHET'I€, a. Promoting evacuation
bv stool ; purgative.
DI'ARY, n. [L. diarium, from dies, a day.]
An account of daily events or transactions ;
a journal ; a register of daily occurren
ce.s or observations ; as a diary of the
weather.
A diary fever is a fever of one dav
DI'AS'€HISM, n. [Gr. bianx''<'l^a,' a piece cut
oft'; 4ia5;ti?u ; 6ia and o;s'f", to cut off.]
In music, the diflerence between the com-
ma and enharmonic diesis, commonly call-
ed the lesser comma. Encyc.
DI'ASPORE, n. [Gr. «io5rt»pu, to disperse.]
.\ mineral occurring in lamellar concre-
tions, of a pearly gray color, and infusible
A small fragment, placed in the flame of a
candle, almost instantly decrepitates, and
is dispersed ; whence its name. It is a
mineral httle known.
Haiiy. Brongniart. Ckaveland.
DIASTAL'Tle, a. [Gr. Sia;a.\Tixoi, dilating.^
Dilated ; noble ; bold ; an epithet given by
the Greeks to certain intervals in music,
as the major third, major sixth and major
seventh. Busby.
DI'ASTEM, ?i. [Gr. 6tar;;ua.] In music, a
simple interval.
DIAS'TOLE, )^ [Gr. 8iafo/i, ; 6ta and
DIAS'TOLY, ^ iirKu, to set or send
from.]
1. Among physicians, a dilatation of the
heart, auricles and arteries ; opposed to
systole or contraction. Encyc.
l2. In grammar, the extension of a syllable ;
or a figure by which a syllable naturally
short is made long.
DI'ASTYLE, n. [Gr. 5'.o and fuXo?.] An ed
ifice in which three diameters of the col
umns are allowed for intercolumniations.
Harris.
DIATES'SARON, n. [Gr. 6'.a and rsoffapa,
four.]
Among musicians, a concord or harmonic in-
terval, composed of a greater tone, a le.ss-
er tone, and one greater semitone. Its
i proportion is as 4 to 3, and it is called a
perfect fourth. Harris.
DIATON'IC, a. [Gr. bia, by or through, and
roi'oj, sound.]
Ascending or descending, as in sound, or
! from sound to sound. This ei)ithet is giv-
en to a scale or gammut, to intervals of a
certain kind, or to music composed of
these intervals ; as a diatonic series ; a di-
atonic interval ; diatonic melody or har-
mony. It is applied to ordinary music,
containing only the two greater and lesser
tones, and the greater semitone.
Encyc. Harris.
DI'ATRIBE, )i. [Gr. SiarpiSs;.] A continued
discourse or disputation. Bailey.
piAZEU'TI€,a. [Gr. ««»f tuyw/u, to disjoin.]
A diazeutic
disjoined two fourt
ancient Greek i
one on each side <
it, and which, being joined to either, madt
a fifth. This is, in our music, from A
to B. Harris.
DIBBLE, n. [probably from the root of top.
tip, a point, and denoting a little sharji
point ; or allied to dip, to thrust in.]
A pointed instrument, used in gardening ami
agriculture, to make holes for plantini;
seeds, &c.
DIB'BLE, V. t. To plant with a dibble ; or b-
make holes for planting seeds, &c.
DIB'BLE, V. i. To dibble or dip; a term ir
angling.
DIB'STONE, n. A httle stone which chil
dren throw at another stone. Lockr
DIeAC'ITY, n. [L. dicacitas.] Pertiies^,
[I/ittle used.] Graves
DrCAST, n. [Gr. Sixa;r;{, from ««»?■«, tn
judge, from Sixjj, justice.]
In ancient Greece, an officer answering near
ly to our juryman. JVKlford.
DICE, n. plu. of die ; also, a game with dice.
DICE, V. i. To play with dice. Shak.
DI'CE-BOX, 71. A box from which dice are
thrown in gaming. Addison.
DI'CE-MAKER, n. A maker of dice.
DICER, n. A player at dice.
DieHOT'OMIZE, v.t. [See the next word.]
To cut into two parts ; to divide into
pairs.
Dl€HOT'OMOUS, a. [Gr. St;to, doubly, by
pairs, and tf^vu,, to cut.]
In botany, regularly dividing by pairs from
top to bottom; as a dicholomous stem.
Marty n.
Dl€HOT'OMOUS-€ORYMBED, o. Com-
jiosed of corymbs, in which the pedicles
divide and subdivide by pairs. Martyn.
DICHOTOMY, n. [Gr. «i;toTo^ia, a division
into two parts ; St;^" and nuvu,, to cut.]
1. Division or distribution of ideas by pairs.
[lAttle used.] Wails.
2. In astronomy, that phase of the moon in
which it appears bisected, or shows only
half its disk, as at the quadratures.
Encyc.
DieH'ROIT, n. [See Mite.]
DI'CING-HOUSE, n. A house where dice
is played ; a gaming house. [Little used.]
DICK'ER, n. [probably from Gr. Stxa, ten,
W. deg, L. decern.]
In old authors, the number or quantity of
ten, particularly ten hides or skins ; but
applied to other things, as a. dicker of
gloves, &c. [/ believe not used in America.]
DICOC'COUS, a. [Gr. «<{ and xox>:o5, L.
cocctis, a grain.] Two-grained ; consist-
ing of two cohering grains or cells, with
one seed in each ; as a dicoccous capsule.
Martyn.
DieOTYL'EDON, n. [Gr. Sa, two, and
'7.r,Sav, a cavity.]
A plant whose seeds divide into two lobes in
■germinatinff. Martyn.
DICOTYLEDONOUS, «. Having two
lobes. A dicotyledonous plant is one whose
seeds have two lobes, and consequently
rise with two seminal leaves. Milne.
DICTATE, I', t. [L. dicto, from dico, to
speak ; Sp. dictar ; It. dettare ; Fr. dieter ;
Ir. deachtaim. Class Dg.]
1. To tell with authority ; to deliver, as an
order, command, or direction; as, what
God has dictated, it is our duty to believe.
2. To order or instruct what is to be said or
D I D
DIE
D I E
written ; as, a general dictates orders to Lis
troops.
■1. To suggest ; to admonish ; to direct by
impulse on the mind. We say, the spirit
of God dictated the messages of the proph-
ets to Israel. Conscience often dictates to
ineu the rules by which they are to gov-
ern their conduct.
DICTATE, n. An order delivered ; a com-
mand.
2. A rule, maxim or precept, delivered with
authority.
I credit what the Grecian dictates say.
Prior.
3. Suggestion ; rule or direction suggested
to the mind ; as the dictates of reason or
conscience.
DICTATED, pp. Delivered with authority ;
ordered ; directed ; suggested.
DICTATING, ppr. Uttering or delivering
with authority ; instructing what to say or
write ; ordering ; suggesting to the mind.
DleTA'TION, n. The act of dictating; the
actor practice of prescribing.
It affords security against the dictation of
laws. Paley
DIeTA'TOR, n. [L.] One who dictates
one who prescribes rules and maxims for
the direction of others.
2. One invested with absolute authority. In
ancient Rome, a magistrate, created in
times of exigence and distress, and invest-
ed with unlimited power. He remained
in office six months.
DieTATO'RIAL, a. Pertaining to a dicta-
tor ; absolute ; unlimited ; uncontrollable.
3. Imperious; dogmatical; overbearing ; as,
the officer assumed a dictatorial tone.
DICTATORSHIP, n. The office of a dic-
tator ; the term of a dictator's office.
2. Authority ; imperiousness ; dogmatism.
Diyden.
Die'TATORY, a. Overbearing; dogmati-
cal. Milton.
DICTATURE, n. The office of a dictator ;
dictatorship.
2. Absolute authority ; the power that dic-
tates. Tooke.
DIe'TION, n. [L. dictio, from dico, to speak.
Class Dg.]
Exjjression of ideas by words ; style ; man-
ner of expression. Lhtjden.
DI€'TIONARY, v. [Fv. diciionnaire ; It.
dizionario; Sp. diccionario ; from L. dic-
lio, a word, or a speaking.]
A book containing the words of a language
arranged in alphabetical order, with ex-
planations of their meanings ; a lexicon.
Johnson.
T>l\),pret. of do, contracted froin doed. I did,
thou didst, he did ; we did, you or ye did,
they did.
Have ye not read what David did when he
was hungry ? Matt. xii.
The proper signification is, made, exe-
cuted, performed ; but it is used also to
express the state of health.
And Mordecai walked ever)' day before the
court of the women's house, to know how Es-
ther did. Esth. ii.
Did is used as the sign of the past
tense of verbs, particularly in interroga-
tive and negative sentences; as, did he
command you to go ? He did not com-
mand me. It is also used to express em-
phasis ; as, I did love liim beyond meas
ure.
DIDACTIC, I [Or. S.iaxttxoi, from
DIDACTICAL, p- ii8a<jxw, to teach.]
Adapted to teach ; preceptive ; contahiing
doctrines, precepts, principles or rules;
intended to instruct ; as a didactic poem
or essay.
DIDACTICALLY, adv. In a didactic man-
ner ; in a form to teach.
DI'DAPPER, n. [from dip.] A bird that
dives into the water, a species of Coiym-
bus.
DIDAS'CALIC, a. [Gr. SiScKixoXtxos, from
iiSaaxa, to teach.]
Didactic ; preceptive ; giving precepts. [Lit-
tle used.] Prior.
DID'DER, v.i. [Tent, diddern; qu. titter,
totter.] To shiver with cold. [.Mot used.]
Shenvood.
DIDDLE, V. i. To totter, as a child in
walking.
DIDECAHE'DRAL, a. [di and decahedral.]
In crystalography, having the form of a
decahedral prism with pentahedral sum-
mits. Cleavetand.
DIDODECAHE'DRAL, a. [di and dodecahe-
dral.] In cnjstatography, having the form
of a dodecahedral prism with hexahedral
summits. Cleaveland.
DIDRACH'MA, n. [Gr.] A piece of money,
the fourth of an ounce of silver.
DIDUCTION, 71. [L. diductio ; di and duco,
to draw.]
Separation by withdrawing one ])art from
the other. " Boyle.
DID'YNAM, n. [Gr. 6<, 615, and Sv.a^iiij,
power.]
In botany, a plant of four stamens, disposed
in two pairs, one being shorter than the
other.
DIDYNAM'IAN, a. Containing four sta-
mens, disposed in pairs, one shorter than
the other.
DIE, V. i. [Sw. d5 ; Dan. doer. This ap-
pears to be a contracted word, and the
radical letter lost is not obviou.s. The
word dye, to tinge, is contracted from Dg,
and the Arabic root signifies not only to
tinge, but to perish ; which circumstance
would lead one to infer that they are radi-
cally one word, and that the primary sense
is to plunge, fall or sink. The Saxon deadian
is evidently a derivative of the participle
dead. See Dye.]
1. To be deprived of respiration, of the cir-
culation of blood, and other bodily func-
tions, and rendered incapable of resuscita-
tion, as animals, either by natural decay,
by disease, or by violence ; to cease to live ;
to expire ; to decease ; to perish ; and with
respect to man, to depart from this world.
All the first born in the land of Egypt shall
die. Ex. xi.
The fish (hat is in the river shall die. Ex. vii.
This word is followed by of or by. Men
die 0/ disease; 0/ a fever; of sickness; of
a fall; of grief. They die by the sword;
by famine ; by pestilence ; by violence ; by
sickness; by disease. In some cases, cus-
tom has established the use of the one, to
the exclusion of the other ; but in many
cases, either by or of may be used at the
pleasure of the writer or speedier. The
use of for, he diedybr thirst, is not elegant
nor common.
2.' To be punished with death ; to lose life
for a crime, or for the sake of another.
I will relieve my master, if I die for ii.
riirist died for the ungodly. Rom. v.
Christ died for our slus. 1 Cor. xv.
3. To come to an end ; to cease ; to be lost ;
to perish or come to nothing ; as, let the
secret die in your own breast.
4. To sink; to taint.
His heart died within him, and he became as
stone. 1 Sam. xxv.
5. To languish with pleasure or tenderness ;
followed by away.
To sounils of heavenly harps she dies away.
Pope.
6. To languish with affection.
The young men acknowledged that they died
for Rebecca. Tatter.
7. To recede as sound, and become less dis-
tinct ; to become less and less ; or to van-
ish from the sight, or disappear gradual-
ly. Sound or color dies away.
8. To lose vegetable life ; to wither ; to per-
ish; as plants or seeds. Plants die for
want of water. Some plants die annually.
9. To become vapid or spiritless, as liquors ;
mostly used in the participle ; as the cider
or beer is dead.
10. \n theology, to perish everlastingly; to
suffer divine wrath and punishment in the
future world.
11. To become indifferent to, or to cease tobc
under the power of; as, to die to sin.
12. To endure great danger and distress.
I die daily. 1 Cor. xv.
To die away, to decrease gradually ; to cease
to blow ; as, the wind dies away.
DIE, n. plu. rftce. [Fr.di; It. dado; Sji. Port.
id. ; Arm. di^z ; Ir. disk.]
1. A small cube, marked on its faces witli
numbers from one to six, used in gaming,
by being thrown from a box.
He ventured his all on the cast of a die.
2. Any cubic body ; a flat tablet. fVatis.
3. Hazard ; chance.
Such is the die of war. Spenser.
DIE, n. plu. dies. A stamp used in coining
money, in founderies, &c.
DIE'CIAN, n. [Gr. its, two, and 01x05, house.]
In botany, one of a class of plants, whose
male and female flowers are on different
plants of the same species.
DIER. [See Dyer.]
DI'ESIS, n. [Gr. Sums, a division.] In mwic,
the division of a tone, less than a semi-
tone ; or an interval consisting of a less or
imperfect semitone. Encyc.
Dl'ET, n. [h.diwta; Gr. Situfa, manner of
living, mode of life prescribed by a physi-
cian, food, a room, parlor or bed room ;
Sp. dieta ; Fr. dUle ; It. dieta. In the mid-
dle ages, this word was used to denote the
provision or food for one day, and for a
journey of one day. Spelman. Hence it
seems to be from dies, day, or its root ;
and hence the word may have come to
signify a meal or supper, and the room
occupied for eating.]
1. Food or victuals ; as, milk is a wholesome
diet ; flesh is nourishing diet.
2. Food regulated by a physician, or by med-
ical rules ; food prescribed for the preven-
tion or cure of disease, and limited in kind
or quantity. I restrained myself to a reg-
ular diet of flesh once a day.
3. Allowance of provision.
For his diet there was a continual diet given
him by the king. Jer. lii.
D 1 F
D I F
ity. Difference may be total or partial,
and exist in the nature and essence of|
things, in the form, the qualities or de
grees. There is a difference in nature be
tween animals and plants ; a difference ii
4. Board, or boarding ; as, to pay a certain
sum for diet, washing and lodging.
DI'ET, n. [D. ryksdag; G. reichstag ; Sw.
riksdag; Ban. rigsdag ; empire's day, im-
perial diet. These words prove that diet
is from dies, day. So in Scots law, diet of
appearance.]
An assembly of the states or circles of the
empire of Germany and of Poland ; a con-
vention of princes, electors, ecclesiasti-
cal dignitaries, and representatives of free
cities, to deliberate on the affairs of the
empire. There are also diets of states and
cantons. Encyc.
DI'ET, v.t. To feed; to board; to furnish
provisions for ; as, the master diets his ap-
prentice.
2. To take food by rules prescribed ; as, an
invalid shoidd carefully diet himself.
3. To feed ; to furnish aliment ; as, to diet
revenge. Shah:
DI'ET, V. i. To cat according to rules pre-'- t\. . ..
scribed. ° ' 7. Distinction.
2. To eat ; to feed ; as, tlic students diet in! There is no difference between the Jew and
commons. the Greek. Rom. x.
DI'ETARY, a. Pertaining to diet or the! 8. In ma«;iema(tc«, the remamderof asum
rules of diet. 'j quantity, after a lesser sum or quantity
DI'ET-DPilNK, n. Medicated liquors ;j; subtracted.
drink prepared with medicinal ingredients. i9. In logic, an essential attribute, belongmg
DI'ETED, p/). Fed: boarded; fed by pre 'I
form between the genera and species of upon ; not readily yielding ; not compl
aniinals ; a difference of quality in paper
and a difference m degrees of heat, or of
light.
2. The quality which distinguishes one
thing from another.
3. Dispute; debate; contention; quarrel
controversy.
WTiat was the difference 7 It was a conten-
tion in public. Shak
4. The point in dispute ; ground of contro-
versy. ShalL
.5. A logical distinction.
6. Evidences or marks of distinction.
The marks and dfferences of sovereignly
Davies
scribed rides.
DI'ETER, n. One who diets ; one who
I)rescribes rules for eating ; one who pre-
pares food by rules.
DIETET'I€, } [Gr. Siatriffix^,] Per-
DIETET'I€AL, ^ "• taming to diet, or tc
the rules for regulating the kind and quan-
tity of food to be eaten.
DI'ETINE, n. A subordinate or local diet
a cantonal convention.
DI'ETING, ppr. Taliing food ; prescribing
rules for eating ; taking food according to
prescribed rules.
DIFFARREA'TION, «. [L. dis and farrea-
lio.] The parting of a cake ; a ceremony
among the Romans, at tlie divorce of man
and wife. Encyc.
DIF'FER, r. i. [L. differo, dis arid fero, Jo
bear or move apart ; It. differire ; Fr. dif-
ferer. See Bear.]
1. Literally, to be separate. Hence, to be un-
like, dissimilar, distinct or various, in na-
ture, condition, form or qualities ; followed
by y»om. Men differ from brutes; a stat
lie differs from a picture ; wisdom diggers',
from tolly.
One slar differeth from another star in gloiy.
2. To disagree ; not to accord ; to be of ai
contrary opinion. We are all free to differ
in opinion, and sometimes our sentiments
differ less than we at first suppose.
3. To contend ; to be at variance ; to strive
or debate in words ; to dispute ; to quar-
rel.
We
ffer widi
DIF'FER, V. t. To
various. A different dialect and pronun-
ciatioD differs persons of divers countries.
Derham-
[This transitive use of the verb is not
common, nor to be commended.]
DIF'FERENCE, ji. The state of being un
like or distinct ; distinction ; disagreement ;
want of sameness ; variation ; dissimilar-
to some species, and not found in the ge
nus ; being the idea tliat defines the spe
cies. Encyc.
10. In heraldry, a certain figure added to a
coat of arms, serving to distinguish one
family from another, or to show how dis
tant a young-er branch is from the elder or
principal branch.
DIF'FERENCE, v. t. To cause a differ
ence or distinction. A regular adminis
tration of justice according to fixed laws
differences a civilized from a savage state.
DIF'FERENT, a. Distinct ; separate ; not
the same ; as, we belong to different chur
ches or nations.
2. Various or contrary ; of various or con
trary natures, forms or qualities; unlike;
dissimilar; as different kinds of food or
drink ; different states of liealth ; different
shapes; different degrees of excellence.
DIFFEREN'TIAL, a. An epithet applied
to an infinitely small quantity, so small as
to be less than any assignable quantity.
This is called a differential quantity. The
differential method is applied to "the doc-
trine of infinitesimal.-i, or infiiiitily sukiI!
quantities, called iIm- ^iritlimciir .il' Hu\-
ions. It consists in dor. i,. I i?il .hh!] \\ imic
quantities to their iiiliiiirc-l\ .-m.-ill ■iili'rn n-
ces, and comparing tlicm. Jlcnce it i^^
called the differential calcidus, or analysis
of infinitesimals. Encyc. Han-is.
DIF'FERENTLY, adv. In a different mun-
ner ; variously. Men are dfferently affect-
ed with the same eloquence.
DIF'FERIIVG, ppr. Being unlike or distinct;
I crowded pit. i| disagreeing ; contending.
ifou-f. DIFFICILE, a. [L. diffkilis.] Difficult
to be different or' hard ; scrupulous. [Not used.] Bacon.
D I F
our task is difficult. It is difficult to per-
suade men to abandon vice. It is diffi-
cult to ascend a steep hill, or travel a bad
road.
2. Hard to be pleased ; not easily wrought
DIF'FICILENESS, n. Difficulty to be per-
suaded. [JVo< used.] Bacon
DlF'FleULT, a. [L. difficilis ; dis and facl
lis, easy to be made or done, from facio,
to make or do ; Sp. dificultoso ; It. diffi
coltoso.]
1. Hard to be made, done or performed ; no
easy ; attended with labor and pains ; as
ant ; unaccommodating ; rigid ; austere ;
not easily managed or persuaded ; as a
difficult man ; a person of a difficult temper.
3. Hard to be ascended as a hill, traveled
as a road, or crossed as a river, &c. We
say, a difficidt ascent ; a difficult road ; a
difficult river to cross ; &c.
DIF'FIeULTY, n. [Fr. difficult^; It. diffi-
coltd ; Sp. dificultad ; L. difficultas.]
,1. Hardness to be done or accomplished;
the state of any thing which renders its
jierforinance laborious or perplexing ; op-
posed to easiness or facility ; as the
diffictdty of a lask or enterprise; a work
of labor and difficulty.
2. That which is hard to be performed or
surmounted. We often mistake difficid-
ties for impossibilities. To overcome dif-
ficulties is an evidence of a great mind.
3. Perplexity; embarrassmen't of affairs;
trouble ; whatever renders progress or
execution of designs laborious. We lie
under many difficulties, by reason of bad
' markets, or a low state of trade.
4. Objection ; obstacle to behef ; that which
cannot be easily understood, explained or
believed. Men often raise difficxdties con-
cerning miracles and mysteries in religion,
which i;andid research will remove.
5. In a popular sense, bodily complaints ; iii-
1 disposition.
iDIFFI'DE, V. i. [L. diffido;dis and fido, U'
S trust.]
|To distrust ; to have no confidence in. [LAl-
i tie used.] Dryden.
'DIF'FIDENCE, n. [It. diffidanza ; Sp. difi-
] dencia ; from L. dffidens, diffulo ; dis and
j fido, to trust. See Faith.]
'1. Distrust; want of confidence ; any doubt
of the power, ability or disposition of oth-
ers. It is said there was a general diffi-
dence of the strength and resources of the
nation, and of the sincerity of the king.
2. More generally, distrust of one's self;
want of confidence in our own power,
competency, correctness or wisdom; a
doubt respecting some personal qualifica-
tion. We speak or write with diffidence,
when we doubt our ability to speak or
write correctly or to the satisfaction of
others. The effect of diffidence is some
degree of reserve, modesty, timidity or
bashfulness. Hence,
3. Modest reserve ; a moderate degree of
timidity or bashfulness ; as, he addressed
t)ie audience or the prince with diffidence.
DIFFIDENT, a. Distrustful; wanting con-
fidence ; doubting of another's power, dis-
jioshion, sincerhy or intention.
Be not diffident of wisdom. Milton.
Be diffident in dealing with strangers. Jlnon.
i2. Distrustful of one's self; not confident ;
doubtful of one's own power or compe-
1 tenry.
I Distress makes the humble lieart diffident.
Clarissa.
3. Reserved ; modest ; limid ; as a diffident
I vouth.
iDiF'FlDENTLY, adv. With distrust ; in a
I distrusting manner; modestly.
D I F
DIF'FLUENCE, ? „ [L. diMuo.] A flowing
DIF'FLUENCY, S or falling away on all
sides. Broim.
DIF'FLUENT, a. Flowing away on all
sides ; not fixed.
DIF'FORM, a. [L. dis and forma. But it
appears to have been adopted from the
French or Italian, difforme, which we write
deform.]
1. Irregular in form ; not uniform ; anoma-
lous ; as a difform flower or corol, the parts
of wliich do not correspond in size or jiro-
portion ; so difform leaves. Marlyn.
2. Unlike ; dissimilar.
The unequal refractions of difform rays.
J\rewton.
DIFFORM'ITY, n. Irregularity of form ;
want of uniformity. Brown.
DIFFRAN'CHISE. ? [See Disfran-
DIFFRAN'CHISEMENT. S chise, which is
the word in use.]
DIFFU'SE, V. t. diffu'ze. [L. diffusus : dif-
fundo ; dis and Jundo, to pour, to spread.
Ifn is casual, as it probably is, the root
belongs to Class Bd or Bs.]
1. To pour out and spread, as a fluid ; to
cause to flow and spread.
The river rose and dffused its waters over
the adjacent plain.
2. To spread ; to send out or e.\tend in all
directions; to disperse. Flowers diffuse
their odors. The fame of Washington is
diffused over Europe. The knowledge of
the true God will be diffused over the
earth.
DIFFU'SE, a. Widely spread ; dispersed.
2. Copious ; prolix ; using many words ;
giving full desoriptions ; as, Livy is a dif-
fuse writer.
3. Copious ; verbose ; containing full or par-
ticular accounts ; not concise ; as a dif-
fuse style.
)IF
DIFFU'SED, pp. diffu'zed. Spread; dis-
persed.
2. Loose ; flowing ; wild. Shak.
DIFFU'SEDLY, adv. diffu'zedty. In a dif-
fused manner ; with wide dispersion.
DIFFU'SEDNESS, n. diffu'zedness. The
state of being widelv spread. Shenvood.
DIFFU'SELV, adv. Widely ; extensively.
2. Copiously ; ^^ ith many \vords ; fully.
DIFFUSIBIL'ITY, n. diffuzibil'ity.' The
finality of being diifusible, or capable of
beingspread ; as the diffusibilily of clay in
water. Kirtcan.
DIFFU'SIBLE, a. diffu'zible. That may
flow or be spread in all directions ; that
may be dispersed ; as diffusible stimuli.
Brown.
DIFFU'SIBLENESS,!!. sas z. Diffiisibility.
DIFFU'SION, n. s »s z. A spreading or
flowing of a liquid substance or fluid, in a
lateral as well as a lineal direction ; as the
diffusion of water ; the diffusion of air or
light.
2. A spreading or scattering ; dispersion ;
as a rfi/fimore of dust or of seeds.
3. A spreading ; extension ; propagation ;
as the diffusion of knowledge, or of good
principles.
4. Copiousness; exuberance, as of stvle.
[Little used.]
DIFFU'SIVE, a. Having thequaDty of dif-
fusing, or spreading by flowing, as liquid
substances or fluids ; or of dispersing, as
Vol. I.
DIG
minute particles. Water, air and light ;
dust, smoke and odors, are diffusive sub-
stances.
2. Extended ; spread widely ; extending in
all directions ; extensive ; as diffusin
charity or benevolence.
DIFFUSIVELY, adv. Widely; extensive-
Iv ; every wav.
DIFFU'SIVENESS, n. The power of diflii-
sing, or state of being diffused ; dispersion
2. Extension, or extensiveness ; as the diffu-
siveness of benevolence.
3. The quality or state of being diffiise, as
an author or his style ; verboseness ; copi-
ousness of words or expression.
Mdison.
DIG, V. t. pret. digged or dug ; pp. digged
or dug. [Sw. dika ; Dan. diger, to dig, tc
ditch; Sw. dike, a ditch, Dan. dige; D
dyk, a dike ; G. deich, Sax. die, id. ; Sax
dician, to ditch; Eth. J?rhP, dachi
Class Dg. No. 14. The Irish, tochlaim
tachlaim, to dig, may be from the same
root.]
1. To open and break or turn up the earth
with a spade or other sharp instrument.
Be first to dig the groimd. Dryden
2. To excavate ; to form an opening in the
earth by digging and removing the loose
earth ; as, to dig a well, a pit or a mine.
3. To pierce or ojien with a snout or by otii
er means, as swine or moles.
4. To pierce with a pointed instrument ; to
thrust in.
Still for the growing liver digged his breast.
Dryden.
To dig down, is to undermine and cause
to fall by digging ; as, to dig down a wall,
To dig out, or to dig from, is to obtain by
digging ; as, to dig- coals/rom a mine ; to
dig out fossils. But the preposition
often omitted, and it is said, the men are
digging coals, or digging iron ore. In
such phrases, some word is understood :
They are digging out ore, or digging fot
coals, or digging ore from the earth.
To dig up, is to obtain something frorr
the earth by opening it, or uncovering
the thing with a spade or other instru-
ment, or to force out from the earth by a
bar ; as, to dig up a stone.
DIG, r. i. To work with a spade or other
piercing instrument ; to do servile work
I caunot dig ; I am ashamed to beg. Luke
xvi.
2. To work in search of; to search.
They dig for it, more than for hid treasures
Job iii.
To dig in, is to pierce with a spade or
other pointed instrument.
Son of man, dig now in the wall. Ezek
To dig through, to open a passage through ;
to make an opening from one side to the
other.
DIGAM'IMA, n. [Gr. St; and yafxfia, double
gamma.]
The name of F, most absurdly giv
that letter, when first invented or used by
the Eolians, on account of its figure. A
letter should be named from its sound, and
not from its shape. The letter is
DIG'AMY, Ji. Second marria]
u.ie.] Herbert.
DIGASTRIC, a. [Gr. «t{ and yaf.jp, belly.]
Having a double belh' ; an epithet given
to a muscle of the lower jaw. Bailey.
61
[Xol
Herb
D I G
DiG'ERENT, a. [L. digercns.] Digesting.
IJVol in use.]
DftiEST, n. [L. digeslus, put in order.] A
collection or body of Roman laws, diges-
ted or arranged under proper titles by or-
der of the Emperor Justinian. A pan-
dect.
2. Any collection, compilation, abridgment
or summary of laws, disposed under prop-
er heads or titles ; as the digest of Com-
DiciEST', v. t. [L. digestum, from rfig-cro,
to distribute, or to dissolve ; di or dis and
fero, to bear, carry, or wear ; Fr. digerer ;
t. digerire ; Sp. digerir.]
I. To distribute into suitable classes, or un-
der proper heads or titles ; to arrange in
convenient order; to dispose in due meth-
od ; as, to digest the Roman laws or the
2. To arrange methodically in the mind ;
to form with due arrangement of parts ;
as, to digest a plan or scheme.
3. To separate or dissolve in the stomach,
as food ; to reduce to minute parts fit to
enter the lacteals and circulate ; to con-
coct ; to convert into chyme.
Coie. Encyc.
4. In chimistry, to soften and prepare by
heat; to expose to a gentle heat in a boil-
er or matrass, as a preparation for chimi-
cal operations.
5. To bear with patience ; to brook ; to re-
ceive without re.sentment ; not to reject ;
as, say what you >>ill, he will digest it.
Shak.
G. To prepare in the mind ; to dispose in a
manner that shall improve the understand-
ing and heart ; to prepare for nourishing
practical duties ; as, to digest a discoiu-se
or sermon.
7. To dispose an ulcer or wound to suppu-
rate.
8. To dissolve and prepare for manure, as
plants and other substances.
DIGEST', v. i. To be prepared by heat.
2. To suppurate ; to generate laudable pus ;
as an ulcer or wound.
■3. To dissolve and be prepared for manure,
as substances in compost.
DIGESTED, pp. Reduced to method ; ar-
ranged in due order ; concocted or pre-
pared in the stomach or by a gentle heat ;
received without rejection ; borne ; dispo-
sed for use.
DIGESTER, n. He that digests or dispo-
ses in order.
2. One who digests his food.
-3. A medicine or article of food that aids
digestion, or strengthens the digestive
power of the stomach.
4. A strong vessel contrived by Papin, in
which to boil bony substances with a
strong heat, and reduce them to a fluid
state, or in general, to increase the solvent
power of water.
DIgEST'IBLE, a. Capable of being digest-
ed. Bacon.
DIGESTING, ppr. Arranging in due order,
or under proper heads; dissolving and
preparing for circulation in the stomach ;
softening and preparing by heat ; dispo-
sing for practice; disposing to generate
pus ; brooking ; reducing by heat to a fluid
state.
DIGES'TION, Ti. [L. digesiio.] The con-
i> 1 G
veisiuii of food into cliyine, or the process
of dissolving aliment in tlie stomach and
preparing it for circulation and nourish-
ment. A good digestion is essential to
health.
2. In chimisiry, the operation of exposing
bodies to a gentle heat, to prepare them
for some action on each other ; or the
slow action of a solvent on any substance.
3. The act of methodizing and reducing to
order ; the maturation of a design.
Temple.
4. The process of maturing an ulcer or
wound, and disposing it to generate pus ;
or the generation of matter.
5. The process of dissolution and prepara-
tion of substances for manure, as in com-
post.
DIGESTIVE, a. Having the power to
cause digestion in the stomach ; as a di-
gestive preparation or medicine.
2. Capable of softening and preparing by
heat.
3. Methodizing ; reducing to order ; as di-
gestive thought. Dryden.
4. Causing maturation in wounds or ulcers.
5. Dissolving.
DIgEST'IVE, ji. In medicine, any prepara-
tion or medicine whicli increases the tone
of the stomach, and aids digestion ; a stom-
achic ; a corroborant.
2. In surgery, an application which ripens
an nicer or wound, or disposes it to su])-
purate.
Digestive salt, the muriate of potash.
DIgEST'URE, n. Concoction; digestion.
[Little used.] Harvey.
DIG'GED, pret. anApp. of dig.
DIG'GER, n. One who digs ; one who
opens, throws up and breaks the earth
one who opens a well, pit, trench or ditch
DiGHT, V. t. dite. [Sax diht, disposition,
order, command ; dihtan, to set, establish,
prepare, instruct, dictate. This seems tc
be from the same source as the L. dico
dicto.]
To prepare ; to put in order ; hence, to dress,
or put on ; to array ; to adorn. [Obsolete,
or used only in poetry.] Milton.
DIG'IT, JI. [L. digitus, a finger, that is,
shoot ; Gr. SaxtvlMf.]
1. The measure of a finger's breadth, o
three fourths of an inch. Boyh
;). The twelfth part of the diameter of the
.-iun or moon ; a term used to express the
quantity of an eclipse ; as, an eclipse of
six digits is one which hides one half of
the disk.
3. In arithmetic, any integer under 10 ; so
called from counting on the fingers. Thus,
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. are called digits.
DIGITAL, a. [L. digit(dis.] Pertaining to
the fingers, or to digits.
DIG'ITATE, ? In botany, a digitate leaf
DIG'ITATED, S is one which branches
into several distinct leaflets like fingers
or when a simple, undivided petiole con-
nects several leaflets at the end of it.
Martyn.
DIGLA'DIATE, v. t. [L. digladior.] To
fence ; to quarrel. [Little used.]
DiGLADIA'TION, n. A combat with
swords; a quarrel. B. Jonson.
D 1 G
DIGNIFICA'TION, 7). [See Dignify.] The
act of dignifying ; exaltation ; promotion.
Jf'alton.
DIG'NIFIED, pp. [See Dignify.] Exalted ;
honored ; invested with dignity ; as the
dignified clergy.
a. Marke'
nified conduct, or manner.
To the great astonishment of the Jews, the
manners of Jesus are familiar, yet dignified.
Buckminster.
DIG'NIFy, v.t. [Sp. dignifcar; L.dignus,
worthy, und facio, to make.]
1. To invest with honor or dignity ; to ex-
alt in rank ; to promote ; to elevate to a
high oflice.
2. To honor ; to make illustrious ; to dis-
tinguish by some excellence, or that which
gives celebrity.
Your worth will dignify our feast.
£. Jonson.
DIG'NITARY, n. An ecclesiastic who holds
a dignity, or a benefice which gives him
some pre-eminence over mere priests and
canons, as a bishop, dean, archdeacon,
prebendary, &c. Encyc. Simfl.
DIG'NITY, n. [L. dignitas, from dignus
worthy ; Sj). d\gno ; It. degno ; Fr. digne ,
Arm. dign or din. Qu.its relation to Sax.
dugan, to be good, to avail, to be worth,
to be profitable. It is probable that g and
n are not both radical ; but it is uncertain
which,
1. True honor; nobleness or elevation of
mind, consisting in a iiigh sense of propr
ety, truth and justice, with an abhorrence
of mean and sinful actions ; opposed
meanness. In this sense, we speak of the
dignity of mind, and dig»ii/i/ of sentiments.
This dignity is based on moral rectitude ;
all vice is incompatible with true dignity
of mind. The man who dehberately in-
jures another, whether male or female,
has no true dignity of soul.
2. Elevation ; honorable place or rank of
elevation ; degree of excellence, either in
estimation, or in the order of nature. Man
is superior in dignity to brutes.
3. Elevation of aspect; grandeur of mein
is a man of native rfig-uiY^/.
Elevation of deportment ; as dignity of
manners or behavior.
5. An elevated oflice, civil or ecclesiastical
giving a high rank in society ; advance
nient ; preferment, or the rank attached
to it. We say, a man enjoys his dignity
with moderation, or without haughtiness.
Among ecclesiastics, dignify is oflice or
preferment joined with power or jurisdic
tion. Bailey. Johnson.
(j. Tlie rank or title of a nobleman.
Encyc
7. In oratory, one of the three parts of elocn
tion, consisting in the right use of trope;
and figures. Encyc.
8. In astrology, an advantage which a planet
has on account of its being in some part'
ular place of the zodiac, or in a particular
station in respect to other planets.
Bailey.
9. A general maxim, or jirinciple. [JVol
tised.] Broivn.
DIGNO'TION, n. [L. dignosco.] Distin
guishing mark ; distinction. [JVot in use.]
Brown.
DIG'ONOUS, a. [Gr. Sis and y^vM, an an
D I K
gle.] In botany, having two angles, as a
stem. Lee.
DIGRAPH, n. [Gr. 615 and ypatu, to write.]
A union of two vowels, of which one only
is pronounced, as in head, breath.
Sheridan.
DIGRESS', V. i. [L. digressus, digredior ;
di or dis anA gradior, to step. See Grade.]
1. Literally, to stej) or go from the way or
road ; hence, to depart or wander from the
main subject, design or tenor of a dis-
course, argument or narration ; used only
of speaking or writing.
In the pursuit. of an argument there is hard-
ly room to digress into a particular definition,
as often as a man varies the signification of any
term. Locke.
2. To go out of the right way or common
track ; to deviate ; in a literal sense. [JVot
now in use.] Shak.
DIGRESSING, ppr. Departing from the
main subject.
DIGRES'SION, n. [L. digressio.] The act
of digressing ; a departure from the main
subject under consideration ; an excur-
sion of speech or writing.
2. The part or passage of a discourse, argu-
ment or narration, which deviates from
the main subject, tenor or design, but
which may have some relation to it, or be
of use to it.
3. Deviation from a regular course ; as, the
digression of ihe sun is not equal. [lAttle
used.] Brown.
DIGRES'SIONAL, a. Pertaining to or con-
sisting in digression ; departing from the
main purpose or subject.
Warton. Adams'' Led.
DIGRESSIVE, a. Departing from the
main subject ; partaking of the nature of
digression. J. Q. Mams.
DIGRESS'IVELY, adv. By way of digress-
n.
DIgYN, ?i. [Gr. 615, two, and yvr^, a female.]
In botany, a plant having two pistils.
DIgYN'IAN, a. Having two pistils.
DIHE'DRAL, a. [Gr. H supra, and f Spa, a
seat or face.] Having two sides, as a
figure.
DIHE'DRON, n. [supra.] A figure with
wo sides or surfaces.
DillEXAHE'DRAL, a. [di and hexahedral.]
In crystalography, having the form of a
hexahedral prism with trihedral summits.
Cleaveland.
DIJU'DICATE, t). «. [L.dijudico.] To judge
determine by censure. Hales.
DIJUDICATION, n. Judicial distinction.
DIKE, n. [Sax. die; Sw. dike; Dan. dige;
D. dyk ; G. deich ; Ir. diog ; Scot, dike,
dyk ; Fr. dipie ; Sp._ diqiie ; from digging.
See Dig. It is radically the same word
as ditch, and this is its primary sense ; but
by an easy transition, it came to signify al-
so the bank formed by digging and throw-
ing up earth. Intrenchment is sometimes
used both for a ditch and a rampart.]
A ditch ; an excavation made in the earth
by digging, of greater length than breadth,
intended as a reservoir of water, a drain, or
fiir other purpose. Dryden. Pope.
2. A mound of earth, of stones, or of other
materials, intended to prevent low lands
from being inundated by the sea or a river.
The low countries of Holland are thus de-
fended by dikes.
D I L
3. A vein of basalt, greenstone or other stony
substance. Ckavdand.
DIKE, «. (. To surround with a dike
secure by a bank.
DIKE, V. i. To dig. [ATot in use.]
DILAC'ERATE, v. t. [L. dUacero ; rft and
lacero, to te^r.]
To tear ; to rend asunder ; to separate by
force. Brotcn
DILAC'ERATED, pp. Tom; rent asun
der.
DILAC'ERATING, ppr. Tearing ; rending
DILACERA'TION, n. The act of rendiri_
asunder ; a tearing, or rending. [In lieu
of these words, lacerate, laceralion, are gen
erally used.]
DILA'NIATE, v. t. [L. dilanio ; di and la-
nio, to rend in pieces.]
To tear ; to rend in pieces ; to mangle
[Little used.] Howell.
DILANIA'TION, n. A tearing in pieces
DILAPIDATE, v. i. [L. dUapido ; di a
lapido, to stone, from lapis, a stone. It
seems originally to have signified to pull
down stone-work, or to suffer such work
to fall to pieces.]
To go to ruin ; to fall by decay.
DILAP'IDATE, v. t. To pull down
waste or destroy ; to suffer to go to ri
If the bishop, parson, or vicar, &c., d
dates the buildings, or cuts down the timber of
the patrimony of the church — Blackstone.
2. To waste ; to squander.
DILAP'IDATED, pp. Wasted ; ruined :
pulled down ; suffered to go to ruin.
DILAP'IDATING, ppr. Wasting ; pulling
down ; suffering to go to ruin.
DILAPIDATION, n. Ecclesiastical waste ;
a voluntary wasting or suffering to go to
decay any building in possession of an in
cumbent. Dilapidation is voluntary or ac
live, when an incumbent pulls down i
building ; permissive or passive, when he
suffers it to decay and neglects to repair it
Dilapidation extends to the waste or de-
struction of wood, and other property of
the church. Blackstone.
2. Destruction; demolition ; decay; ruin,
Bn/ant.
'.i. Peculation. • Stephens.
DILAP'IDATOR, n. One who causes di
lapidation.
DILATABIL'ITY, n. [See Dilate.] TIk
quality of admitting expansion by the
elastic force of the body itself, or of an-
other elastic substance acting upon it ; op-
posed to contraclibility.
DILA'TABLE, a. Capable of expansion ;
possessing elasticity ; elastic. A bladder
is dilatable by the force of air ; air is dila-
table by heat. It is opposed to contracti-
ble.
DILATA'TION, n. The act of expanding:
expansion ; a spreading or extending in all
directions ; the state of being expanded
opposed to contraction. Dilatation differs
from extension, as the latter is applied to
lines and surfaces ; the former to bodies
that spread, open or enlarge in all direc-
tions. A line or a plain is extended; a
bladder, an arterv, a balloon is dilated.
DILA'TE, V. t. [L. dUato ; di and latus.
wide ; Fr. dilater ; It. dilalare ; Sp. dila-
tor. See Delay.]
I. To expand ; to distend ; to enlarge or ex-
D I L
tend in all directions ; opposed to contract.
The air dilates the lungs ; air is dilated by
rarefaction.
2. To enlarge; to relate at large; to tell co
piously or diffusely ; as, to dilate upon the
policy of a measure. In this sense, it is
generally used intransitively. Spenser
and Shakspeare have used it in a tro
tive sense ; as, to dilate a theme.
DILA'TE, I', i. To widen; to expand; to
swell or extend in all directions.
His heart dilates and glories in his strength
.Addison
2. To speak largely and copiously ; to dwell
on in narration.
Au advocate may weaken his argument by
dilating on trivial circumstances.
DILA'TE, a. Expanded ; expansive.
DILA'TED, pp. Expanded ; distended ; en
larged so as to occupy a greater space.
DILATER, n. One who enlarges ; that
which expands.
DILA'TING, ppr. Expanding; enlarging
speaking largely.
DILATOR, n. That which widens or ex
pands ; a muscle that dilates.
DILATORILY, adv. With delay ; tardily
DIL'ATORINESS, n. [from dUaiory.] The
quality of being dilatory or late ; lateness
slowness in motion ; delay in proceeding
tardiness.
DIL'ATORY, a. [_Fr. dilatoire ; It. dilatorio ;
Low L. dilalonus, from differo, dilatus
See Delay and Dilate.]
1. Literally, drawing out or extending ir
time ; hence, slow ; late ; tardy ; applied to
things ; as dilator;/ councils or measures.
2. Given to procrastination ; not proceeding
with diligence ; making delay ; slow ; late
applied to persons ; as a dilatory messen
ger. A man is dilatory, when he delays
attendance, or performance of business,
beyond the proper time.
3. In law, intended to make delay ; tending
to delay ; as a dilatory |)lea, which is de-
signed or which tends to delay the trial of
a cause. Blackstone
DILECTION, n. [L. dUeclio.] A loving.
Martin
DILEM'MA, n. [Gr. harmiw,, a syllogisr
which strikes on each side ; 615 and 'Kriftju
an assumption, from >/xfi6ar«, to take.]
In logic, an argument equally conclusiv
by contrary suppositions. A young rheto-
rician said to an old sophist : " Instruct me
in pleading, and I will pay you, when I
gain a cause." The master sued for the
reward, and the scholar endeavored to
elude the claim by a dilemma. " If I gain
my cause, I shall withhold your ])ay, be-
cause the award of the judge will be
against you. If I lose it, I may withhold
it, because I shall not yet have gained a
cause." The master replied : " If you
gain your cause, you must pay me, because
you are to pay me, when you gain a cause
if you lose it, you must pay me, because
the judge will award it." Johnson.
A difficult or doubtful choice ; a state of
things in which evils or obstacles present
themselves on every side, and it is difficult
to determine what course to pursue.
A strong dilemma in a desperate case !
To act with infamy, or quit the place.
D I L
lights in promoting science or the line
arts. Burke.
DILIGENCE, n. [L. diligentia, from dili-
go, to love earnestly ; di and lego, to
choose.]
1. Steady application in business of any
kind ; constant effort to accomplish what
is undertaken ; exertion of body or mind
without unnecessary delay or sloth ; due
attention ; industry ; assiduity.
Diligence is the philosopher's stone tliat turns
every thing to gold.
Brethren, give diligence to make your calling
and election sure. 2 Pet. i.
Care ; heed ; heedfulness.
Keep thy lieart with all diligence. Prov. iv.
The name of a stage-coach, used in
France.
DIL'ItiENT, o. [L.diligens.] Steady in ap-
plication to business ; constant in effort or
exertion to accomplish what is underta-
ken ; assiduous ; attentive; industrious;
not idle or negligent ; applied to persons.
Scest thou a man diligent in his business .'
he shall stand before kings. Prov. xxii.
2. Steadily applied ; prosecuted with care
and constant effort ; careful ; assiduous ;
as, make diligent search.
Tlie judges shall make diligent inquisition.
Judges xix.
DILIGENTLY, adv. With steady applica-
tion and care ; with industry or assiduity ;
not carelessly ; not negligently.
Ye shall diligently keep the commandmenCs
of the Lord your God. Deut. vi.
DILL, n. [Sax. dil, dile ; Sw. diU ; Dan.
dild ; D. dUle ; G. dUL]
An annual plant of the genus Anethum, the
seeds of which are moderately warming.
DILETTANTE,
[It.] One who
pungent and
DILU'CID, o. [UdUucidus.] Clear. [Xotin
use.]
DILU'CIDATE, v. t. To make clear. [Xot
in use. See Elucidate.]
DIL'UENT, a. [L. dUnens. See DUute.]
3Iaking liquid or more fluid ; making thin ;
attenuating.
2. Weakening the strength of, by mixture
with water.
DIL'UENT, n. That which thins or atten-
uates ; that which makes more liquid.
2. That which weakens the strength of; as
water, which, mixed with wine or spirit,
reduces the strength of it.
DILU'TE, V. t. [L. diluo, diliUus ; di, dis,
and lavo, luo, to wash, contracted from./a-
g-o or lugo. See Deluge.]
Literally, to wash ; but appropriately, to
render liquid, or more liquid ; to make thin,
or more fluid. Thus sirup or melasses is
made thin or more liquid by an admixture
with water ; and the water is said to dilute
it. Hence,
2. To weaken, as spirit or an acid, by an ad-
mixture of water, wliicli renders the spirit
or acid less concentrated. Thus, we dilute
spirit, wine or a decoction by adding to it
water.
3. To make weak or weaker, as color, by
mixture. .Veu)<on.
4. To weaken ; to reduce the strength or
standard of; as, to dilute virtue. MUner.
DILU'TE, a. Thin ; attenuated ; reduced
in strength, as spirit or color. JVewton.
DILU'TED, pp. Made liquid ; rendered
more fluid ; weakened, made thin, as
liquids.
DIM
DILU'TER, n. That which makes thin, orj
more hquid. |
DILU'TING, ppr. Making thni or more,
liquid ; weakening.
DILUTION, n. The act of making thin,
weak, or more hqnid. Opposite to dilu-\
Hon is coagulation or thickening.
Jlrhuthnot.]
DILU'VIAL, > [L. diluvium, a deluge,
DILU'VIAN, I "• from dUuo. See Dilute.]',
1. Pertaining to a flood or deluge, more es-|
peeially to the deluge in Noah's days.
2. Effected or produced by a deluge, ])artic-J
ularly by the great flood in the days ot;
Noah. Buckland.
DILU'VIATE, J>. i. To run as a flood, [^rol
much used.] Sandys]
DILU'VIUM, 71. [L.] In geology, a deposit
of superficial loam, sand, gravel, &c., caus-
ed by the deluge. Buckland.
DIM, a. [Sax. dim; Dan. dxim, dark, ob-
scure, dim, and dumb ; dummer, to dim ;
dummes, to grow dim or dull, to stupify,
Eng. dumps, dumpish. ; Sw. dimba, fog.
mist, a cloud ; Ir. deimhc, d:akness; Rass
tumxin, fog; <em«fi', dark, obscure; Sans,
tamo, black, Fiini. himnui. It seems to
be allied to damp, vapor, lluss. dim or
dtim. See Damp. If dim and dimh are
of the same family, the sense is close,
thick.]
1. Not seeing clearly ; having the vision ob-
scured and indistinct.
Wlien Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim.
Gen. xxvii.
2. Not clearly seen ; obscure ; imperfectly
seen or discovered ; as a dim prospect.
3. Somewhat dark ; dusky ; not luminous ;,
as a dim shade. Spenser.
4. Dull of apprehension ; having obscurej
concept
The understanding is dim. Rogers.]
5. Having its luster obscured ; sullied; tarn-!
ished.
How is the gold become dim ? Lam. iv.
DIM, V. I. To cloud ; to impair the powers'
of vision ; as, to rfJOT the eyes. I
2. To obscure ; as, to dim the sight ; to dim
the prospect.
3. To render dull the powers of conception.
4. To make less bright; to obscure.
Eacli passion dimmed his face. Milton.
5. To vender less bright ; to tarnish or sully ;
as, to dim gold.
DIM'BLE, n. A bower; a ceil or retreat,
[JVot in use.] B. Jonson
DIME, n. [Fr. contracted from dii-ieme or
disme. Norm, dieme, tenth.]
A silver coin of the United States, of the
value of ten cents ; the tentli of a dollar
DIMEN'SION, n. [L. dimensio, from dime
tior, to measure ; di or dis and metior, tc
melc ; Gr. futfifu. See Mele and Measure.]
In geometry, the extent of a body, or length,
breadth and thickness or depth. A line
has one dimension, or length ; a superfi
cies has two dimensions, length and
breadth ; and a solid has three dimensions,
length, breadth and thickness or depth.
The word is generally used in the plural.
; the wholf
D I iVl
DIMEN'SIONLESS, o. Without any defi
nite measure or extent ; boundless.
Mlton.
DIMEN'SITY, n. Extent; capacity.
Howell.
DIMEN'SIVE, a. That marks the bounda-
ries or outlines.
Wlio can draw the soul's dimensive lines ?
Dames
DIM'ETER, a. [L.] Having two poetical
measures. Tyrwhitt.
DIM'ETER, n. A verse of two measures.
DIMID'IATE, J). «. [L.dimidio.] To divide
into two equal parts.
DIMID'IATED, a. [L. dimidiaius; di and
medius, middle.] Divided into two equa'
parts ; halved.
DIMIDIA'TION, h. The act of halving; di
,'ision into two equal parts.
DIMIN'ISH, V. t. [L. diminuo ; di and
viinuo, to lessen ; minor, less ; It. dimin-
uire; Fr.diminuer; &i>. divmiuir ; Ir.min
fine ; mion, small ; W. main, meinw, small,
slender; Russ. mensfce, less ; umxnshayu.
to diminish ; Ar. _^
to weaken, to dinii
manna, to cut ol
Class Mu. No.
; made
D I N
than that of the lower
cujiied by
and denotes the whole space
a body, or its capacity, size, measure
the dimensions of a room, or of a s
the dimensions of i
fce.
farm, of a kingdom.
To lessen ; to make less or smaller, by any
means ; opposed to increase and augment
as, to diminish the size of a thing by con
traction, or by cutting off" a part ; to dimin
ish a number by subtraction ; to diminish
the revenue by limiting commerce, or re
ducing the customs ; to diminish strength
or safety ; to diminish the heat of
It is particularly applied to bulk and quan
tity, as shorten is to length.
2. To lessen ; to impair ; to degrade.
I will diminish them, that they shall no more
rule over the nations. Ezek. xxix.
3. In music, to take from a note by a sharp,
flat or natural.
To diminish from, to take away some-
thing. Obs.
Neither shall you diminish aught from it.
Deut. iv.
DIMIN'ISH, V. i. To lessen; to become or
appear less or smaller. The size of an
object diminishes, as we recede from it.
DIMIN'ISHED, pp. Lessened ; made small-
er ; reducetl in size ; contracted ; degra-
ded.
DIMIN'ISHING, ppr. Lessening ; contract-
ing; degrading.
DIMIN'ISHINGLY, adv. In a manner to
lessen reputation. Locke.
DIMIN'UENT, a. Lessening. [Liltle iised.]
Sanderson.
DIM'INUTE, a. Small. [M>t in use.]
Gorges.
DIMINU'TION, n. [L. diminutio.] The act
of lessening; a making smaller; opposed
to augmentation ; as the diminution of s'
of wealth, of power, of safety.
2. The state of becoming or appearing U
opposed to increase ; as the diminution of
the apparent diameter of a receding body.
3. Discredit; lossof dignity ; degradation
Philips.
4. Deprivation of dignity ; a lessening of
estimation. Addison.
5. In architecture, the contraction of the up-
I per part of a column, by which its dianie-
part.
5. In music, the imitation of or reply to a sub-
ject in notes of half the length or value of
those of the subject itself. Busby.
DIMIN'UTIVE, a. [Fr.diminutif; It. di-
ininuitivo ; Sp. diminutivo.]
Small; little; narrow; contracted; as a di-
minutive race of men or other animals ; a
diminutive thought.
DIMIN'UTIVE, n. In grammar, a word
formed from another word, usually an ap-
pellative or generic term, to express a Uttle
thing of the kind ; as, in Latin, lapillus, a
little stone, from lapis ; ctllula, a little cell,
from cella, a cell ; in French, maisonnette, a
little house, from maison, a bouse ; in En-
glish, manikin, a little man, from man.
DIMINUTIVELY, adv. In a diminutive
manner; in a manner to lessen; as, to
speak diminutively of another.
DIMIN'UTIVENJ:SS,n. Smallness; little-
want of hulk; want of dignity.
DIM'ISH, a. [from dim.] Somewhat dim,
or obscure.
DIM'ISSORY, a. [L. dimissorius. See
Dismiss.]
Sending away ; dismissing to another ju-
risdiction. A letter dimissory, is one given
by a bishop to a candidate for holy orders,
having a title in his diocese, directed to
some other bishop, and giving leave for
the bearer to be ordained by him.
Encyc.
2. Granting leave to depart. Prideaux.
DIMIT', V. t. [L. dimitto.] To permit to go ;
to grant to farm ; to let. [JVot in use.]
DIM'ITY, n. [D.diemit.] A kind of white
cotton cloth, ribbed or figured.
DIM'LY, adv. [See Dim.] In a dim or ob-
scure manner; with imperfect sight.
2. Not brightly, or clearly ; with' a faint
light.
DIMMING, p;))-. Obscuring.
DIM'MING, n. Obscurity. Shak.
DIM'NESS, Ji. Dullness of sight ; as the
dimness of the eyes.
2. Obscurity of vision ; imperfect sight ; as
the dimness of a view.
3. Faintness; imperfection; as the dimness
of a color.
4. Want of brightness; as the dimness of
gold or silver.
5. Want of clear apprehension ; stupidity ;
as the dimness of perception.
Diai'PLE, n. [Qu. G. taumeln, to reel, to
uident.]
A small natural cavity or depression in the
cheek or other part of the face. Prior.
DIM'PLE, v.i. To form dimples; to sink
into depressions or little inequalities.
And smiling eddies dimpled on the main.
Ihydcn.
DIM'PLED, a. Set with dimples ; as a dim-
pled cheek.
DIM'PLY", a. Full of dimples, or small de-
pressions ; as the dimply flood. Warton.
DIM'-SIGHTED, a. Having dim or obscure
vision. Addison.
DIN, n. [Sax. dyn, noise ; dyna, to sound ;
Ice. dyna, to thunder ; L. tinnio, tonus, tono.
This word probably belongs to the root of
tone and thunder, and denotes a rumbling
or rattling noise. Sax. eorth-dyne, an earth-
quake.]
Noise ; a loud sound ; particularly, a rattlbig.
D I IN
clattering or rumbling sound, long contin-
ued ; as the din of arms ; the din of war.
DIN, V. t. To strike with continued or con-
fused sound ; to stun with noise ; to harass
with clamor ; as, to din the ears with cries ;
to din with clamor.
DINE, D.r. [Sax. rfi/nan, to dine. The Fr.
diner, is supposed to be contracted from
It. desinare, to dine, L. desino, to cease ;
in which case, dinner must liave been so
named from the intermission of business.
The Saxon and the French, in this case,
are probably from different sources. The
Gr. has Saivvfiai, and flowou, to feast.]
To eat the chief meal of the day. This meal
seems originally to have been taken about
the middle of the day, at least iu northern
climates, as it still is by laboring people.
Among people in the higher walks of life,
und in conunercial towns, the time of di-
ning is from two to five or six o'clock in
the afternoon.
DINE, V. t. To give a dinner to ; to furnish
with the principal meal; to feed; as, the
landlord dined a hundred men.
DINET'ICAL, a. [Gr. «».^r«o{.] Whirling
round. [JVot used.] Brown.
DING, «. <. pret. dung or dinged. [Sax. denc-
gan, to beat ; Scot, diitg, to drive or
strike.]
To thrust or dash with violence. [Little
used.] J^/ash. Marston.
DING, v.i. To bluster; to bounce. [Alow
word. ] Arhuthnot.
DING-DONG. Words used to express the
sound of bells. Shak.
DIN'6INESS, n. [See Dingy.] A dusky
or dark hue ; brownness.
DIN'GLE, n. A narrow dale or valley be-
tween hills. • Milton.
DINGLE-DANGLE. Hanging loosely, or
something dangling. fVarton.
DIN'CiY, a. Soiled ; sullied ; of a dark col-
or ; brown ; dusky ; dun.
DI'NING, ppr. Eating the principal meal in
the day.
DI'NING-ROOM, n. A room for a family
or for company to dine in ; a room for en-
tertainments.
DIN'NER, n. [Fr. diner; Ir. dinner. See
Dine.]
1. The meal taken about the middle of the
day ; or the principal meal of the day, eat-
en between noon and evening.
2. An entertainment ; a feast.
Behold, 1 have prepared my dinner. Matt.
xxii.
DINNER-TIME, n. The usual time of din-
ing. Pope.
DINT, 71. [Sax. dynt, a blow or striking. It
may be connected with din and ding".]
1. A blow ; a stroke. Mittonj
2. Force ; violence ; power exerted ; as, toj
win by dint of arms, by dint of war, by'
dint of argument or importunity.
3. The mark made by a blow ; a cavity or
impression made by a blow or by pres-
sure on a substance ; often pronounced dent.
His hands had made a dint. Dryden.
DINT, V. t. To make a mark or cavity on a
substance by a blow or by pressure. [See
Indent.] Donne.
BmT'ED, pp. Marked by a blow or by pres-
sure ; as deep-dinted furro\vs. Spenser.l
DINT'ING, ffr. Impressing marks or cavi-
ties. . I
D I O
DiNUMERA'TION.n. The act of number
ing singly. [Diltk used.]
DI'OCESAN, a. [See Diocese. The accent
on the first and on the third syllable is
nearly equal. The accent given to this
word in the English books is wrong, al-
most to ridiculousness.] Pertaining to a
diocese.
DrOCES,\N, n. A bishop ; one in posses-
sion of a diocese, and having the ecclesi-
astical jurisdiction over it.
DI'OCESE, n. [Gr. Siovxtivis, administra-
tion, a province or jurisdiction ; ita and
otxijoif, residence ; oixi^, to dwell ; oixoj, a
house. Diocess is a very erroneous or-
thography.]
The circuit or extent of a bishop's jurisdic-
tion ; an ecclesiastical division of a king-
dom or state, subject to the authority of a
bishop. In England there are two prov
inces or circuits of archbishop's jurisdic
tion, Canterbury and York. The prov
ince of Canterbury contains twenty-one
dioceses, and that of York three, besidi
the isle of Man. Every diocese is divided
into archdeaconries, of which there are
sixty ; and each archdeaconry, into rural
deaneries ; and every deanery, into parisl
es. Blackslone.
A diocese was originally a division of]
the Roman empire for the purpose of civi
government, a prefecture. But the tern
is now exclusively appropriated to ecclesi
astical jurisdiction. Enctjc.
DIOeTAIIE'DRAL, a. [dis and octahedral.
In crystalography, having the form of an
octahedral prism with tetrahedral summits,
Cleaveland.
DI'ODON, n. The sun-fish ; a genus offish
es of a singular form, appearing like the
fore part of the body of a deep fish ampu-
tated in the middle. Diet. JVaf. Hist.
DI'OMEDE, n. An aquatic fowl of the web
footed kind, about the size of a conuuon
domestic hen, but its neck and legs much
longer. Diet. J^Tat. Hist.
DIOP'SIDE, n. [Gr. 5«4i5.] A rare mine
ral, regarded by HaUy as a variety of au
gite, and called by Jameson a subspecies
of oblique-edged augite, occurring in pris-
matic crystals, of a vitreous luster, and of
a pale green, or a greenish or yellowish
white. The variety with four-sided
prisms has been called Mussite, from Mus-
sa in Piedmont. It resembles the Sah-
lite. Cleaveland.
DIOP'TASE, n. Emerald copper ore, o
translucent mineral, occurring crystalized
in six-sided prisms. Cyc.
DIOP'TRIC, ) [Gr. iiortr'pixoj, from
DIOP'TRICAL, I "■ Siontofiai, to see
througli ; 6ia and ottto^uu, to see.]
1. Affording a medium for the sight; assist-
ing the sight in the view of distant objects ;
as a dioptric glass. Boyle.
2. Pertaining to dioptrics, or the science of
retracted light.
DIOP'TRleS, n. That part of optics which
treats of the refractions of Ught passing
through different mediums, as through
air, water or glass. Harris.
DI'ORISM, n. [Gr. «iof,i(jua.] Definition
[Rarely used.] More.
DIORIS'TIC, a. Distinguishing ; defining.
[Rarely used.]
D I P
DIORIS'TICALLY, adv. In a distinguish-
ing nian?ier. [Rarely used.]
DIP, V. t. pret. and pp. dipped or dipt. [Sax.
dippun ; Goth, daupyan ; D. doopcn ; G.
tup/en ; Sw. dlipa, doppa ; Dan. dypper ;
It. tuffare; Kuss. toplyu ; Gr. ivnru; allied
probably to dive, Ileb. Ch.;r30. The pri-
mary sense is to thrust or drive, for the
same word in Syr. and Ar. signifies to
stamp or impress a mark, Gr. rvrtou,
whence type ; and nnru, to strike, Eng.
lap, .seem to be of the same family. Class
Db. No. as.]
1. To plunge or immerse, for a moment or
short time, in water or other liquid sub-
stance ; to put into a Huid and withdraw.
The prie?t shall dip his finger in the blood.
Lev. iv.
Let him dip Ms foot in oil. Deut. xxxiii.
One dip the pencil, and one suing the lyre.
Pope.
2. To take with a ladle or other vessel by
immersing it in a fluid, as to dip water
from a boiler ; often with out, as to dip
out water.
',i. To engage ; to take concern ; used in-
transitively, but Ihe passive participle is
used.
He was a Utile dipt in the rebellion of the
commons. Drydcn
4. To engage as a pledge ; to mortgage.
[Utile used.] Dryden.
5. To moisten ; to wet. [Unusual.^
Milton.
G. To baptize by immersion.
DIP, V. i. To sink ; to immerge in a liquid.
Lt' Estrairgt.
2. To enter ; to pierce. Granville.
3. To engage ; to take a concern ; as, to dip
into the funds.
4. To enter shghtly ; to look cursorily, or
here and there ; as, to dip into a volume of
history. Pope.
5. To choose by chance ; to thrust and take.
Dryden.
C. To incline downward ; as, the magnetic
needle dips. [See Dipping.]
DIP, n. Inclination downward ; a sloping ;
a direction below a horizontal line ; de-
pression ; as the dip of the needle.
The dip of a stratum, in geology, is its great-
est inchnation to the horizon, or that on
a line perpendicular to its direction or
course ; called also the pitch. Cyc.
DIP-CHICK, n. A small bird th.-it dives.
DIPET'ALOUS, a. [Gr. Sa and jtrroOo^, a
leaf or /7efa/.]
Having two flower-leaves or petals; two-
pctaled. Martyn.
DIPHTHONG, n. [Gr. iuf9oyyoi; «if and
(}i9oyyo!, sound ; L. diphthongus.]
A coalition or uniou of two vowels pro-
nounced in one syllable. In uttering a
diphthong, both vowels are pronounced ;
the sound is not simple, but the two
sounds are so blended as to be considered
as forming one syllable, as in joy, noise,
bound, out. [The pronunciation dipthong
DIPHTHONG'AL, a. Belonging to a diph-
thong ; consisting of two vowel sounds
pronounced in one svllable.
DIPH'YLLOUS, a. [Gr. &^ and $v?ixo*, a
leaf] In botany, having two leaves, as a
calyx, &c.
DIP'LOE, J!. [Gr. fii^Xonf, double.] The
D I P
D I R
D 1 R
bolt meditullium, medullary substance, or
porous part, between the plates of the skull.
Coxe. Encyc.
DIPLO'MA, n. [Gr. Sito^jjia., from 6i«^u, to
double or fold. Anciently, a letter or other
composition written on paper or parch-
ment and folded ; afterwards, any letter, lit-
erary monument, or public document.]
A letter or writing conferring some power,
authority, privilege or honor. Diplomas
are given to graduates of colleges on their
receiving the usual degrees; to clergymen
who are licensed to exercise the ministe-
rial functions ; to physicians who are li-
censed to practice their profession ; and
to agents who arc authorized to transact
business for their principals. A diploma
then is a writing or instrument, usually
under seal and signed by the proper per-
son or officer, conferring merely honor,
as in the case of graduates, or authority,
as in the case of physicians, agents, &c.
DIPLO'MACY, n. [This word, like suprema-
cy, retains the accent of its original.]
1. The customs, rules and privileges of em-
bassadors, envoys and other representa-
tives of princes and states at foreign
courts; forms of negotiation.
2. A diplomatic body ; the whole body of
ministers at a foreign court.
3. The agency or management of ministers
at a foreign court. Cevallos.
DIP'LOMATED, a. Made by diplomas.
Keimet.
DIPLOMATIC, a. Pertaining to diplomas ;
privileged.
2. Furnished with a diploma; authorized
letters or credentials to transact business
for a sovereign at a foreign court. Minis
ters at a court are denominated a dtpto
matic body.
3. Pertaining to ministers at a foreign court
or to men authorized by diploma ; as a di
plomatic character ; diplomatic manage
ment.
DIPLOMAT'le, n. A minister, official agent
or envoy to a foreign court.
DIPLOMAT'IeS, n. The science of diplo
mas, or of ancient writings, literary and
public documents, letters, decrees," char
ters, codicils, &c., which has for its object
to decipher old writings, to ascertain their
authenticity, their date, signatures, &c.
Encyc. Lunier.
DIP'PER, 11. One that dips; he or that
which dips.
2. A vessel used to dip water or other li
quor ; a ladle.
DIP'PING,/)pr. Plunging or immersing into a
liquid and speedily withdrawing, as to as-
certain the temperature of water by dipping
the finger in it; baptizing by immersion
2. Engaging or taking a concern in.
3. Looking into here and there ; examining
in a cursory, slight or hasty manner
4. Inclining downward, as the magnetic
needle.
5. Breaking; inclining; as a vein of
DIP'PING, n. The act of plunging or
mersing.
2. The act of inclining towards tlie eartli ;
inclination downwards ; as the dipping of
the needle.
3. The interruption of a vein of ore, or stra
turn of a fossil, in a mine ; or a slopinj
downwards.
4. The act of baptizing by the immersion of
the whole body in water.
DIPPING-NEEDLE, n. A needle that
dips; a magnetic needle which dips or in-
chnes to the earth ; an instrument which
shows the inclination of the magnet, at the
different points of the earth's surface. In
the equatorial regions, the needle takes a
horizontal position ; but as we recede
from the equator towards either pole, it
dips or inchnes one end to the eartli, the
north end, as we proceed northward, and
the south end, as we proceed southward,
and the farther north or south we pro-
ceed, the greater is the dip or inclination.
This is on the supposition that the poles of
the earth and the magnetic poles coincide,
which is not the case. The above state-
ment is strictly true, only of the magnetic
equator and its poles. Cavallo. Cyc.
DIPRISMAT'l€,a. [diandprismatic] Doub-
ly prismatic. Jameson.
DIP'SAS, n. [Gr. Jt^as, dry, thirsty ; 614.au, to
thirst.]
A serpent whose bite produces a mortal
thirst. See Deut. viii.
DIP'TER, I [Gr. 815 and ttttfsov, a
DIP'TERA, $"• wing.]
The dipters are an order of insects having
only two wings, and two poisers, as the
fly. Encyc
DIPTERAL, a. Having two wings only.
DIP'TOTE, n. [Gr. from «ts and ftmru, to
liill.]
In grammar, a noun which has only two ca
ses ; as, suppetits, suppetias. Encyc.
DIP'TYeH, 71. [Gr. 8irtT-u;to5 ; 815 and ttrvaau,
rtrvico, to fold.]
A public register of the names of consuls
and other magistrates among pagans ; and
of bishops, martyrs and others, among
christians ; so called because it consisted
of two leaves folded, but it sometimes
contained three or more leaves. The sa
cred diptych was a double catalogue, ii
one of which were registered the names of
the living, and in the other the names of
the dead, which were to be rehearsed
during the office. Encyc.
DIPY'RE, n. A mineral occurring in minute
prisms, either single or adhering to each
other in fascicidar groups. Before the
blowpipe, it melts with ebullition or intu
mescence, and its i)owder on hot coal
phosphoresces with a feeble light. Its
name, from Gr. Svo, two, and rtip, fire, in
dicates the double effect of fire, in produ
cing fusion and phosphorescence.
Cleaveland.
DIRE, a. [L. dirus. If the primary
terrible, this word may belong to the root
of terreo. But it may be great, wonderful
Syr. ) 01 Z, ther, to wonder ; or it may be
raging, furious, as in L. dira;.]
Dreadful ; dismal ; horrible ; terrible ; evil
in a great degree.
Dire was the tossing;, deep the gro;
Milton
DIRECT', a. [L. directus, from dirigo ; d,
and rego, rectus, to make straight. See
Right.]
1. Straight ; right ; as, to pass in a direct line
from one body or place to another. It is
opposed to crooked, icinding, oblique. It
also opposed to refracted ; as a direct r
I of light.
2. In astronomy, appearing to move forward
in the zodiac, in the direction of the sign.
opposed to retrograde ; as, the motion of a
planet is direct.
.3. In the line of father and son ; opposed t.
collateral ; as a descendant in the direa
line.
Leading or tending to an end, as by a
straight line or course ; not circuitous.
Thus we speak of direct means to effect an
object ; a direct course ; a direct way.
5. Open ; not ambiguous or doubtful.
Bacon.
6. Plain ; express ; not ambiguous ; as, he
said this in direct words; he made a. direct
acknowledgment.
7. In music, a direct interval is that which
forms any kind of harmony on the funda-
mental sound which produces it ;■ as the
fifth, major third and octave. Rousseau.
Direct tax, is a tax assessed on real estate,
as houses and lands.
DIRECT', V. t. [L. directum, directus, from
dirigo.]
1. To point or aim in a straight line, to-
wards a place or object ; as, to direct an
arrow or a piece of ordnance ; to direct
the eye ; to direct a course or flight.
2. To point ; to show the right road or
course ; as, he directed me to the left hand
road.
?. To regulate ; to guide or lead ; to govern ;
to cause to proceed in a particular man-
ner ; as, to direct the aflfairs of a nation.
Wisdom is profitable to direct. Eccles. x.
To prescribe a course ; to mark out a
way. Job xxxvii.
5. To order ; to instruct ; to point out a
course of proceeding, with authority ; to
command. But direct is a softer term than
command.
DIRECT', n. In music, a character placed
at the end of a stave to direct the per-
former to the first note of the next stave.
Busby.
DIRECT'ED, pp. Aimed ; pointed ; guided ;
egulated ; governed ; ordered ; instructed.
DIRECT'ER, n. A director, which see.
DIRECT'ING, ppr. Aiming ; pointing ;
guiding ; regulating ; governing ; order-
ing.
DIRECTION, n. [L. direclio.] Aim at a
certain point ; a pointing towards, in a
straight line or com-se ; as, the direction of
good works to a good end. Smalridge.
2. The line in which abody moves by im-
pulse ; course. 3Iatter or body cannot al-
ter the direction of its own motion.
3. A straight line or course. A star appear-
ed in the direction of a certain tower. The
ship sailed in a .south-easterly direction.
. The act of governing ; administration ;
management ; guidance ; superintendence ;
as the direction of public affairs ; direction
of domestic concerns ; the direction of a
bank.
5. Regularity ; adjustment.
All chance, direction which thou cans! not
see. Pope.
(>. Order; prescription, either verbal or writ-
ten ; instruction in what manner to pro-
ceed. The employer gives directions to
liis workmen ; the physician, to his patient.
7. The superscription of a letter, including
the name, title and place of abode of llie
person for whom it is intended.
D I R
8. A body or board of directors.
DIREeT'IVE, a. Having the power of di-
rection ; as a directive rule. Hooker.
2. Informing ; instructing; shewing the way.
DIRECTLY, adv. In a straight line or
course ; rectilineally ; not in a winding
course. Aim rfirec% to the object. Grav-
ity tends directly to the center of the earth.
As a direct line is the shortest course,
hence
2. Immediately ; soon ; without delay ; as,
he will be with us directly.
3. Openly ; expressly , without circunilocu
tion or ambiguity, or without a train of
inferences.
No man hath been so impious, as directly lo
condemn prayer. Hooker.
DIRECTNESS, n. Straightness; a straight
course; nearness of way. Bentley.
DIRECT'OR, n. One who directs ; one who
superintends, governs or manages; one
who prescribes to others, by virtue of au-
thority ; an instructor ; a counselor.
3. That which directs ; a rule ; an ordinance,
3. One appointed to transact the affairs of a
company ; as the director of a bank, or of
the India Company.
4. That which directs or controls by influ
ence.
Safety from external danger is the most pow-
erful director of national conduct.
Federalist, Hamilton
5. In surgery, a grooved probe, intended to
direct the edge of the knife or scissors '
opening sinuses or fistulse ; a guide for an
incision-knife. Encyc. Coie.
DIRECTO'RIAL.a. Pertaining to directors
or direction ; containing direction or com-
mand.
DIRECT'ORY, a. Containing directions
enjoining ; instructing.
DIRECT'ORY, n. A guide; a rule to di
rect ; particularly, a book containing di
rections for public worship, or religious
services. The Bible is our best directory,
in faith and practice.
2. A book containing an alphabetical list of
the inhabitants of a city, with their places
of abode.
3. The supreme council of France, in the
late revolution.
4. A board of directors.
DIRECT'RESS, n. A female who directs
or manages.
DIRECT'RIX, n. A female who governs or
directs.
DI'REFUL, a. [See i>ire.] Dire; dreadful;
terrible ; calamitous ; as direful fiend ; a
direful misfortune.
Spenser. Dnjden. Pope.
DI'REFULLY, adv. Dreadfully; terribly;
wofully.
DIREMP'TION, n. [L. diremptio.] A sepa-
ration. Bp. Hall.
DI'RENESS, ji. Tcrriblencss ; horror; dis-
malness. Shak
DIREP'TION, ?i. [L. direplio.] The act of
plundering.
DIRGE, n. durj. [Usually supposed to be a
contraction of L. dirige, a word used in
the funeral service. In Sw. dyrka, Dan,
dyrker, signifies to worship, honor, rever-
ence.]
A song or tune intended to express grief,
sorrow and mourning ; as a funeral dirge
D I S
DIR IgENT, \ „ [See Direct.] In gtome-
DIRECT'RIX, \ try, the line of motion
along wliich the describent hue or surface
is carried in the generation of any plane
or solid figure. Encyc.
DIRK, n. durk. [Scot, durk.] A kind of dag-
ger or ponianl.
DIRK, a. durk. Dark. Ohs. Spenser.
DIRK, V. t. durk. To darken. Obs.
Spenser.
2. To poniard; to stab.
DIRT, n. durt. [Sax. gedritan ; D. dryten ;
Ice. drit, cacare.]
. Any foul or filthy substance ; excrement ;
earth ; mud ; mire ; dust ; whatever ad
hering to any thing, renders it foul or un
clean.
The fat closed, and the dirt came out. Judge
Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. Is. Ivii,
2. Meanness ; sordidness. [JVot in use.]
DIRT, V. I. durt. To make loul or filthy ; tc
soil ; to bedaub ; to pollute ; to defile.
Swijl.
DIRT'ILY, adv. duH'Uy. [from dirty.] In i
dirty manner ; foully ; nastily ; filthily.
2. Meanlv ; sordidly ; by low means.
DIRT'INESS,n, rfuri'tncM. Filthinoss ; foul
ness ; nastincss.
2. Meanness ; baseness ; sordidness.
DIRT'Y, a. duH'y. Foul; nasty ; filthy ; not
clean ; as dirty hands.
2. Not clean ; not pure ; turbid ; as dirty
water.
3. Cloudy ; dark ; dusky ; as a dirty white.
Mean ; base ; low ; despicable ; groveling ;
js a dirty fellow ; a dirty employment.
DIRT'Y, V. t. duH'y. To foul ; to make
filthy ; to soil ; as, to dirty the clothes or
hands.
To tarnish ; to sully ; to scandalize ; ap-
plied to reputation.
DIRUP'TION, Ji. [L. diruptio ; dirumpo, to
burst.] A bursting or rending asunder.
[See Disruption.]
DIS, a prefi.x or inseparable preposition,
from the Latin, whence Fr. des, Sp. dis,
and de may in some instances be the same
word contracted. Dis denotes separation,
a parting from ; hence it has the force of a
privative and negative, as in disarm, diso-
blige, disagree. In some cases, it still signi-
fies separation, as in distribute, disconnect
DISABIL'ITY, n. [from disable.] Want
of competent natural or bodily power,
strength or ability ; weakness ; impotence
as disability arising from infirmity or bro
ken limbs.
2. Want of competent intellectual power or
strength of mind ; incapacity; as the dis
ability of a deranged person to reason or
to make contracts.
3. Want of competent means or instru
ments. [In this sense, inability is general-
ly used.]
4. Want of legal qualifications ; incapacity ;
as a disability to inherit an estate, when
the ancestor has been attainted. [In this
sense, it has a plural.] Blackstone.
Disability differs from inability, in denoting
deprivation of ability ; whereas inability
denotes destitution of ability, either by de-
privation or otherwise.
plSA'BLE, V. t [dis and able.] To render
unable ; to deprive of competent natural
' strength or power. A man is disabled to
D I S
walk by a broken or paralytic leg, by sick-
ness, &,c.
3. To deprive of mental power, as by de-
stroying or weakening the understanding.
3. To deprive of adequate means, instru-
ments or resources. A nation may be dis-
abled to carry on war by w ant of money.
The loss of a ship may disable a man to
prosecute commerce, or to pay his debts.
4. To destroy the strength ; or to weaken
and impair so as to render incapable of
action, service or resistance. A fleet is
disabled by a storm, or by a battle. A ship
is disabled by the loss of her masts or
spars.
5. To destroy or impair and weaken the
means which render any thing active, ef-
ficacious or useful ; to destroy or diminish
any competent means.
C. To deprive of legal qualifications, or com-
petent power ; to incapacitate ; to render
incapable.
An attainder of the ancestor corrupts the
blood and disables his children to inherit.
Kng. Law.
DISA'BLED, pp. Deprived of competent
power, corporeal or intellectual ; rendered
incapable; deprived of means.
DISABLEMENT, n. Weakness ; disability ;
legal impediment. Bacon.
DISA'BLING, ppr. Rendering unable or
incapable ; depriving of adequate power
or capacity, or of lecal qualifications.
DISABU'SE, t'. t disabu'7c. [Fr. desabuscr.
See Muse]
To free from mistake ; to undeceive ; to dis-
engage from fallacy or deception ; to set
right. It is our duty to disabuse ourselves
of false notions and prejudices.
If men are now suthciently enlightened to
disabuse themselves of artifice, hypocrisy and
superstition, they will consider this event as an
era in tlieir history. /. Mams.
DISABU'SED, pp. disabu'zed. Undeceived.
DISABU'SING,;);)r. disabu'zing. Uudeceiv-
DISACCOM MODATE, v. t. [dis and ac-
commodoh.] To put to inconvenience.
DISACCOMMODA'TION, ji. [dis and ac-
commodation.]
A state of being unaccommodated ; a state
of being unprepared. HaU.
DISACCORD', V. i. [dis and accord.] To
refuse assent. [JVot used.] SpeTiser.
DISACCUS'TOM, v. t [dis and accustom.]
To neglect familiar or customary practice ;
to destroy the force of habit by disuse.
DISACCUS'TOMED,;)/). Disused; having
neglected practice or familiar use.
Tooke.
DISACKNOWL'EDCE, v. t [dis and ac-
knowledge.] To dcnv ; to disown.
Soiifh.
DISACKNOWL'EDuED, pp. Denied ; dis-
owned.
DISACKNOWL'ED6lNG, ppr. Denying ;
disowning.
DISACQUA'INT, D. /. [See Acquaint.] To
di.ssolve acquaintance. [Little used.]
DISACQUA'INTANCE, n. Neglect or dis-
use of familiarity, or familiar knowledge
of. South.
DISADORN', 1'. /. To deprive of omamenta.
I Congreve.
jDISADV^ANCE, r. (. or i. To check ; to
' halt. [«Vof in use.] Spenser.
D I S
D I S
D I S
DISADV>ANTAgE, n. [Fr. desavuntage.]
Tliat which prevents success, or renders
it difficult ; a state not favorable to suc-
cessfid operation. The army commenced
an attack on the enemy, notwithstanding
the disadvantage of its position.
2. Any unfavorable state ; a state in which
some loss or injury may be sustained
Hence,
3. Lo.ss; injury; prejudice to interest, fame,
credit, profit or other good ; as, to sell
goods to disadvantage.
DISADVANTAGE, v. t. To injure in inter-
est ; to prejudice.
DISADV'ANTAGEABLE, a. Not advan
tageous. [JVoi in use.] Bacon
DISADVANTA'GEOUS, a. Unfavorable tc
or prosperity; inconvenient; not
adapted to promote interest, reputation or
other good ; as, the situation of an army
is disadvantageous for attack or defense
We are apt to view characters in the most
disadvantageous lights.
DISADVANTA'GEOUSLY, adv. In a ma
ner not favorable to success, or to interest,
profit or reputation ; with loss or incon
veniencc.
DISADVANTA'GEOUSNESS, n. Unfavor
ableness to success ; inconvenience ; loss
DISADVENT'URE, n. Misfortune. [JSTot
used.] Raleigh.
DISADVENT'UROUS, a. Unprosperous.
[JVot used.] Spenser.
DISAFFE€T',i'.<. [dis anA affect.] To alien-
ate aflTection ; to make less friendly to : tn
make less faithful to a person, party or
cause, or less zealous to support it ; to
make discontented or unfriendly ; as, an
attempt was made to disaffect the army.
2. To disdain, or dislike. Hall.
.3. To throw into disorder. Hammond.
DISAFFE€T'ED,;)/>. or«. Having the af
fections alienated ; indisposed to favor or
support ; unfriendly ; followed by ujith or
to ; as, these men are disaffected with the
government, or disaffected to the king, or
to the administration.
DISAFFE€T'EDLY, adv. In a disaffected
manner.
DISAFFE€T'EDNESS, n. The quality of
being disaffected.
DISAFFECT'ING, ppr. Alienating the af-
fections ; making less friendly.
DISAFFE€'TI0N, ji. Alienation of a
tion, attachment or good will ; want of
affection; or more generally, positive enmi-
ty, dislike or unfriendliness ; disloyalty-
It generally signifies more than indiffer-
ence ; as the disaffection of people to their
prince or government ; the disaffection of
allies ; disaffection to religion.
2. Disorder ; bad constitution ; in a physical
sen.$e. [lAtUe used.^ Jf'iseman.
DISAFFEC'TIONATE, a. Not well dispo-
sed ; not friendly. Blount.
DISAFFIRM', V. t. disafferm'. [dis and af-
firm.] To deny ; to contradict. Davies.
2. To overthrow or annul, as a judicial de
cision, by a contrary judgment of a supe
rior tribunal.
DISAFFIRMANCE, n. Denial ; negation
disproof; confutation. Hale
2. Overthrow or annulment, by the decision
of a superior tribunal ; as disaffi
judgment-
DISAFFIRM'ED, pp. Denied ; contradict-
ed ; overthrown.
DISAFFIRM'ING, ppr. Denying; contra-
dicting; annulling.
DISAFFOR'EST, v. t. [dis and aff'orest.] To
reduce from the privileges of a forest to
the state of common ground ; to strip of
forest laws and their oppressive privileges.
By Charter 9. Hen. lU. many forests were
disafforested. Blackstone.
DISAFFOR'ESTED, pp. Stripped of forest
privileges.
DISAFFOR'ESTING, ppr. Depriving oil
forest privileges.
DISAG'GREGATE, v. t. [dis and aggre-
gate.]
To separate an aggregate mass into its com-
ponent parts. Dispensatory.
DISAG'GREGATED, pp. Separated, as an
aggregate mass.
DISAG'GREGATING,^;))-. Separating, as
the parts of an aggregate body.
DISAGGREGA'TION, n. The act or ope-
ration of separating an aggregate body in-
to its component parts.
DISAGREE', V. i. [dis and agree.] To dif-
fer; to be not accordant or coincident; to
be not the same ; to be not exactly simi-
lar. Two ideas disagree, when they are
not the same, or when they are not exact-
ly alike. The histories of the same fact
often disagree.
2. To differ, as in opinion ; as, the best judg-
es sometimes disagree.
"Who shall decide wlien doctors disagree ?
Pope.
3. To be unsuitable. Medicine sometimes
disagrees tinth the patient ; food often dis-
agrees with the stomach or the taste.
4. To differ ; to be in opposition.
Men often reject the plainest sense of scrip-
ture, because it disagrees with their reason or
preconceived opinions. Anon.
It is usually followed by with. But we
say, I disagree to your proposal. The use
of from affer disagree is not common.
DISAGREE'ABLE, a. Contrary; unsuita-
ble ; not conformable ; not congruous.
[lAttle iised.]
This conduct was disagreeable to her natu-
ral sincerity. Broome.
2. Unpleasing ; offensive to the mind, or to
the senses ; but expressing less than dis-
gusting and odious. Behavior may be dis-
agreeable to our minds ; food may be disa-
greeable to the taste ; many things are dis-
agreeable to the sight ; sounds may be
disagreeable to the ear, and odors to the
smell. Wliatever is disagreeable gives
some pain or uneasiness.
DISAGREE'ABLENESS, n. Unsuitable-
ness ; contrariety.
2. Unpleasantness ; bffensiveness to the
mind, or to the senses ; as the disagi-eea-
bleness of anotlier's manners ; the disa-
Sreeableness of a taste, sound or smell.
DiSAGREE'ABLY, adv. Unsuitably ; un-
pleasantly ; offensively.
DISAGREE'ING, ppr. Differing; not ac-
cording or coinciding.
DISAGREE'MENT, n. Difference, either
in form or essence; dissimilitude; diver-
sity ; as the disagreement of two ideas, of
two pictures, of two stories or narrations.
|2. Difference of opinion or sentiments.
I Hooker.
3. Unsuitableness.
DISALLIE'gE, v. t. To alienate from alle-
giance. [Uotinuse.] Milton.
DISALLOW', D. t. [dis and allow.] To re-
fuse permission, or not to permit; not to
grant ; not to make or suppose lawliil
not to authorize ; to disapprove. God dis-
allows that christians should confonn to
the immoral practices of the world. A
good man disaWou;s every kind of profane -
2. To testify dislike or disapprobation ; to
reliise assent.
But if her father shall disallow her in the day
tliat he heareth, not any of her vows or her
bonds — shall stand. Num. xxx.
3. Not to approve ; not to receive ; to re-
ject.
To whom coming, as to a living stone, disal-
lowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and
precious. 1 Pet. ii.
4. Not to allow or admit as just ; to reject ;
as, to disallow an account or charge.
DISALLOW'ABLE, a. Not allowable; not
to be suffered.
DISALLOWANCE, n. Disapprobation ; re-
fusal to admit or permit ; prohibition ; re-
jection.
DISALLOWED, pp. Not granted, permit-
ted or admitted ; disapproved ; rejected.
DISALLOWING, ppr. Not permitting ; not
admitting; disapproving; rejecting.
DISALLY', V. t. [dis and aUy.] To form an
improper alliance. Milton.
DISAN'€HOR, v. t. [dis and ajichor.] To
force from its anchors, as a ship.
DISAN(5EL'I€AL, a. Not angelical. [JVot
tised.] Coventry.
DISAN'IMATE, v. t. [dis and animate.] To
deprive of life. [JSTot iised.]
2. To deprive of spirit or courage ; to dis-
courage ; to dishearten ; to deject.
Boyle.
DISAN'IMATED, pp. Discouraged ; dis-
pirited.
DISAN'IMATING,;)pr. Discouraging; dis-
heartening.
DISANIMA'TION, n. The act of discour
aging ; depression of spirits.
2. Privation of hfe. [JVot used.] Broken.
DISANNUL', V. t. [dis and annul. In this
instance, the jirefix dis is improperly used,
and of no effect. But its use is well es-
tablished.]
To annul; to make void; to deprive of au-
thority or force ; to nullify ; to abolish; as,
to disannul a law or an ordinance.
DISANNUL'LED, pp. Annulled; vacated;
made void.
DISANNULLING, ppr. Making void; de-
priving of authority or binding force.
DISANNUL'MENT, n. The act of making
void ; as the disannulment of a law or de-
cree.
Disannul differs from repeal, as the genus
from the species. A repeal makes a law-
void by the same power that enacted it.
.Annulment or disannulment destroys its
force and authority by repeal or by other
DISANOINT', v.t. To render consecration
invalid. Milton.
DISAPPAR'EL, V. t. To disrobe ; to strip
D
D I S
D I S
DISAPPE'AR, V. i. [dis and appear.] To
vanish from the sight ; to recede from the
view; to become invisible by vanishing
or departing, or by being enveloped in
any thing that conceals, or by the interpo-
sition of an object. Darkness disappears
at the access of light, and light disappears
at the approach of darkness. A ship dis-
appears by departure to a distance ; the
sun disappears in a fog, or behind a cloud,
or in setting.
2. To cease; as, the epidemic has disap-
peared.
3. To withdraw from observation. The
debtor disappears when he absconds.
DISAPPE'ARANCE, n. Cessation of ap
pearance ; a removal from sight.
DISAPPE'ARING, ppr. Vanishing; rece
ding from the sight ; becoming invisible.
DISAPPE'ARINO, n. A vanishing or re
moval from sight.
DISAPPOINT', v.t. [dis and appoint ; prop
cily, to unfix or unsettle.]
1. To defeat of expectation, wish, hope, de
sire or intention ; to frustrate ; to balk ;
to hinder from the possession or enjoy-
ment of that which was intended, desired
hoped or expected. We say, a man is dis-
appointed of his hopes or expectations, oi
his ho|)es, desires, intentions or expecta-
tions are disappointed. A bad season dis-
appoints the farmer of his crops ; a defeat
disappoints an enemy of his spoil. The
man promised nie a visit, but he disap
pointed me.
Without counsel purposes are disappointed
Prov. XV.
a. To frustrate ; to prevent an effect intend-
ed.
The retiring foe
Shrinks from the wound, and disappoints the
blow. Mdison.
DISAPPOINT'ED, pp. Defeated of expec-
tation, linpe, desire or design ; frustrated.
DISAPPOINTING, ppr. Defeating of ex-
pectation, hope, desire or purpose ; frus-
trating.
DISAPPOINT MENT, n. Defeat or failure
of expectation, hope, wish, desire or in
tention; miscarriage of design or plan.
We are apt to complain of the disappoint
ment of our hopes and schemes, but disoppoinl
7nents often prove blessings and save us from
calamity or luin. Anon.
DISAPPRE'CIATE, v. i. [dis and appre-
ciate.] To undervalue ; not to esteem.
DISAPPROBA'TION, n. [dis and approba-
tion.] A disapproving ; dislike ; the act
of the mind wliich condemns what is sup-
posed to be wrong, whether the act is ex-
pressed or not. We often disapprove
when we do not express disapprobation.
DISAPPROBATORY, a. Containing dis-
approbation ; tending to disapprove.
DISAPPRO'PRIATE, a. [dis and appro
priate.] Not appropriated, or not having
appropriated church property ; a disappro-
priate church is one from which the ap-
propriated parsonage, glebe and tithes arc
severed.
The appropriation may be severed and tlie
church become disappropriate, two xvays.
Blackstone.
DISAPPRO'PRIATE, v. t. To sever or
separate, as an appropriation ; to withdraw
from an appropriate use.
Vol. I.
The appropriations of tlie several parsonages
would have been, by the niles of the common
law, disajipropriated. Blaclcstone.
2. To deprive of appropriated property, as a
church.
DISAPPROVAL, «. Disapprobation ; dis-
like.
DISAPPROVE, V. t. [Fr. dcsapprouver ; dis
and approve.]
1. To dishke ; to condemn in opinion or
judgment ; to censure as wrong. We often
disapprove the conduct of others, or pub-
lic measures, whether we express an o])in-
ion or not. It is often followed by of; as,
to disapjrrove of behavior. But modern
usage itichnes to omit of.
2. To manifest dislike or disapprobation ; to
reject, as disliked, what is proposed for
sanction.
The sentence of the court-martial was disap-
proved by the commander in chief.
DISAPPROVED, pp. Disliked; condemn-
ed ; rejected.
DISAPPROVING, ppr. Disliking ; con-
demning ; rejecting from dislike.
DIS'ARD, n. [Sax. dysig, foolish.] A prat-
tler ; a boasting taliter. Obs.
DIS'ARM, V. «. s as z. [Fr. desarmer ; Sp
Port, desarmar ; dis and arm.]
1. To deprive of arms ; to take tlie arms or
weapons from, usually by force or author-
ity ; as, he disarmed his foes ; the prince
gave orders to disarm his subjects. Witl
o/ before the thing taken away ; as, to dis
arm one q/"his weajions.
2. To deprive of means of attack or defense
as, to disarm a venomous serpent.
3. To deprive of force, strength, or means of
annoyance ; to render harmless ; to quell
as, to disarm rage or passion.
4. To strip ; to divest of any thing injurious
or threatening ; as, piety disarms death of
its terrors.
DIS' ARMED, pp. Deprived of arms ; stri|
ped of the means of defense or annoyance ;
rendered harmless ; subdued.
DIS' ARMING, ppr. Stripping of arms or
weapons ; subduing ; rendering harmless.
DISARRANGE, v. t. [dis and arrange.] To
put out of order ; to unsettle or disturb the
order or due arrangement of parts. [See
Derange, which is more generally used.]
jyarton.
DISARRANGEMENT, n. The act of dis-
turbing order or method ; disorder.
Baxter.
DISARRA'Y, v. t. [dis and array.]
dress ; to divest of clothes.
2. To throw into disorder ; to rout, i
To
SpeTiser.
s troops
Milton
DISARRA'Y, n. Disorder; confusion; loss
or want of array or regular order.
Dnjden.
2. Undress. Spenser.
DISARRA'YED, pp. Divested of clothes or
array ; disordered.
DISARRA' YING, ppr. Divesting of clothes :
throwing into disorder.
DISASSlbU'ITY, n. Want of assiduity or
care. [.Vot used.] Woiton.
DISASSO'CIATE, v. t. To disunite ; to dis-
connect things associated.
DISASTER, 71. rfi:'a««er. [Fr. desastre ; Sp.
Port. id. : It. disastro ; dis and astre, Gr.
ofrp, a star; a word of astrological oiigin.]
62
1. A blast or stroke of an unfavorable pluiict.
Obs. Shak.
2. Misfortune ; mishap ; calamity ; any un-
fortunate event, es|)ecially a sudden mis-
fortune ; as, we met with many disasters
on the road.
DISASTER, V. t. To blast by the stroke of
an unlucky planet : also, to injure ; to af-
flict. ShaJi. Thomson.
DIS'ASTERED, y*;;. Blasted ; injured ; af-
flicted.
DIS ASTROUS, a. Unlucky ; unfortunate ;
calamitous; occasioning loss or injury;
as, the day was disastrous ; the battle pro-
ved disastrous ; their fate was disastrous.
Fly the pursuit of my disastrous love.
Dryden.
2. Gloomy ; dismal ; threatening disaster.
The moon.
In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds.
MUton.
DIS'ASTROLSI.Y, adv. Unfortunately; in
a dismal manner.
DIS'ASTROUSNESS, n. L'nfortunateness ;
calamitousness.
DISAU'THORIZE, v.t. [dis and authorize.]
To deprive of credit or authority. [LilUe
used.] fVotton.
DISAVOUCII', V. t. [dis and avouch. See
Voiv.] To retract profession ; to deny ; to
ilisown. [Little used.] Davies.
DISAVOW', v.t. [dis and avow. Sec Fow.]
To deny ; to disown ; to denj' to be true, as
a fact or charge respecting one's self; as,
he was charged with embezzlement, but
he disavows the fact. A man may disa-
voie his name or signature ; he may disa-
vow a knowledge of a fact, or his concern
in a transaction. Opposed to own or ac-
knowledge.
2. To deny ; to disown ; to reject.
3. To dissent from ; not to admit as true or
justifiable ; not to vindicate.
The Envoy disavowed some parts of the
President's proclamation.
DISAVOWAL, n. Denial ; a disowning.
A disavowal of fear often proceeds from fear.
Clarissa.
2. Rejection ; a declining to vindicate.
DISAVOW ED, pp. Denied ; disowned.
DISAVOW'ING, ppr. Denying ; disown-
ing ; rejecting as something not to be
maintained or vindicated.
DISAVOW'MENT, n. Denial ; a disown-
ing. Wotton.
DISBAND', jj. <• [dis ixnA band ; Ft. dehand-
er.] To dismiss fi-om military service ; to
break up a band, or body of men enlisted ;
as, to disband an amiy or a regiment ; to
disband troops.
2. To scatter ; to disperse. Tfoodward.
DISBAND', V. i. To retire from military
service ; to separate ; to break up ; as, the
army, at the close of the war, disbands.
2. To sei)arate ; to dissolve connection.
Human society may disband. [ Improper. 1
Tillotson.
3. To be dissolved. [JVot used.]
When both rocks and all things shall disband.
Herbert.
DISBANDED, pp. Dismissed from mihta-
ry service : separated.
DISBAND'ING, ppr. Dismissing from mili-
tary service ; separating ; dissolving con-
nection.
DISB'ARK, r.t. [Fr. debarquer, orrfisand
bark ; a word not well formed, and Utile
D I S
used. We now use debark and disembark.]
To land from a ship ; to put on shore.
Pope.
DISBELIE'F, n. [dis and belief.] Refusal
of credit or faith; denial of belief.
Our belief or disbelief o( a thing docs not al-
ter the nature of the thing. Tillotson.
DISBELIE'VE, v. t. [dis and believe.] Not
to believe ; to hold not to be true or not to
exist ; to refuse to credit. Some men dis-
believe the inspiration of tlic scriptures, and
the iunnortality of the sold.
DISBELIEVED, pp. Not believed ; dis-
credited.
DISBELIE'VER, n. One who refuses be-
lief; one who denies to be true or real
Watts.
DISBELIE'VING, ppi: Wilhliolding be-
hef; discrediting.
DISBENCII', v.t. [dis and bnieh.] To drive
from a bencli or seat. Shak.
DISBLA'ME, V. t. To clear from blame
LVot used.] Chaucer.
D1SB0D'1T;D, o. Disembodied, ic/ijc/usifte
ItlSBvOWi:!., r. (. [dis and bowel.] To take
out tin: iiitesliiies. Spenser.
DISBR>ANCH, v. t. [dis and branch.] To
cut off or separate, as the branch of a tree,
[Little used.]
2. To deprive of branches^. [Little xtsed.]
Evelyn
DISBUD', )'. (. To deprive of In ids or shoots.
Gardeners.
DISBURD'EN, v. t. [dis and burden. See
Burden.] To remove a burden from ; to
unload ; to discharge. Milton,
'i. To throw oft" a burden ; to disencumber ;
to clear of any thing weighty, trouble-
some or cumbersome ; as, to disburden
one's self of grief or care ; to disburden of
superfluous ornaments.
DISBURD'EN, v. i. To ease tlie mind
be relieved. Milt07i.
DISBURDENED, pp. Eased of a burden;
unloaded ; disencumbered.
DISBURD'ENING, ppr. Unloading ; dis
charging ; throwing off a burden ; disen
cumbering.
DISBURSE, V. t. disburs'. [Fr. debourser
de or dis and iouraf, a purse.]
To pay out, as money ; to spend or lay out
primarily, to pay money from a public
chest or treasury, but ai)plicable to a pri
vate purse. , ,
DISBURS'ED, pp. Paid out : expended.
DISBURSEMENT, ». disburs'ment. [Fr.
deboursement.]
I. The act of paying out, as money Ir
public or private chest,
ii. The money or sum paid out ; as, tli
nual disbursements exceed the income.
DISBURS'ER, 11. One who pays out or dis-
burses money.
DISBURS'ING, ppr. Paying out, or ex
pending.
DIS€, n. [L. discus. See Disk.] The face
or breadtli of the sun or moon ; also, the
width of the aperture of a telescope gl;
DIS€AL'CEATE, v. t. [L. discalceatus ; dis
and calceus, a shoe.] To pull ofl'the shoes
or sandals.
DIS€AL'CEATED, pp. Stripped of shoes,
DISeALCEA'TION, ?i. The act of pulling
ofl"thc sliocs or sandals. Brozcn
D I S
DISCAN'DY, V. i. [dis and candy.] To
melt ; to dissolve. Shak.
DIS€>ARD, V. t. [Sp. dcscartar ; Port, td.;
dis and card.]
. To throw oiU of the hand such cards as
are useless.
2. To dismiss from service or employment,
or from society ; to cast oflT; as, to discard
spies and informers ; to discard an old ser-
vant ; to discard an associate.
To thrust away ; to reject ; as, to discard
prejudices.
DISC~ARDED, pp. Thrown out ; dismissed
om service ; rejected.
DIS€'ARD1NG, ppr. Tlirowing out; dis-
missing from employment; rejecting.
DISe^ARNATE, a. [dis and L. caro,
flesh.) Stripped of flesh. Glanville.
DISeA'SE, J), t. [dis and case.] To take ott
covering from ; to strip ; to undress.
Shak.
DISCEPTA'TOR, n. [L.] One who arbi-
or decides, [.'^'ol used.]
DISCERN', v.t. stisz. [h. discemo ; dis and
cerno, to separate or distinguish, Gr. xptvu ;
It. discernere ; Sp. discernir ; Fr. discerner ;
Eng. screen. The sense is to separate.]
To separate by the eye, or by the under-
standing. Hence,
2. To distinguish ; to see the difference be
tween two or more things ; to discrimin
ate ; as, to discern the blossom-buds from
the leaf-buds of plants. Boyh
JJiscein thou what is thnie— Gen. xxxi.
3. To make the difference. Obs.
For
else ilis
■IIS tlie virtue or the
£. Jonson
to distinguish by
4. To discover ; t
the eye.
I discerned among the yo-atlis, a young tnaii
void of understanding. Prov. vii.
5. To discover by the intellect ; to distin-
guish; hence, to have knowledge of; to
judge.
So is my lord the king to discern good and
bad. 2 Sam. xiv.
A wise man's heart discemeth time and judg
ment. Eceles. viii.
DISCERN', V. i. To see or understand the
difference; to make distinction
discern between good and evil, truth and
falsehood.
2. To have judicial cognizance. Obs.
Bacon.
DISCERN'ED, pp. Distinguished ; seen
discovered.
DISCERN'ER, n. One who sees, discov
ers or distinguishes ; an observer.
2. One who knows and judges; one who
has the power of distinguishing.
He was a great observer and discerner of
men's natures and humors. Clarendon.
3. That which distinguishes ; or that whicl
causes to understand.
The word of God is quick and powerful— i
discerner of the thoughts and intents of tin
heart. Heb. iv.
DISCERNIBLE, a. That may be seen dis
tinctly ; discoverable by the eye or the un
derstanding; distinguishable. A star is
discernible by the eye ; the identity or dif-
ference of ideas is discernible by the un-
derstanding.
DISCERN'IBLENESS, n. Visibleness.
DISCERN'IBLY, adv. In a manner to be
discerned, seen or discovered ; visibly.
Hammond.
DISCERN'ING, ppr. Distinguishing; see-
ing; discovering; knowing; judging.
2. a. llaving power to discern ; capable of
seeing, discriminating, knowing and judg-
ing ; sharp-sighted ; penetrating ; acute ;
as a discerning man or mind.
DISCERN'ING, »i. The act of discerning ;
ment. Spectator.
DISCERN'INGLY, adv. With discernment ;
ly ; with judgment ; skilfully.
Garth.
DISCERN'MENT, n. The act of discern-
ing ; also, the power or faculty of the
mind, by which it distinguishes one thing
from another, as truth from falsehood,
virtue from vice ; acuteness of judgment ;
power of perceiving differences of things
or ideas, and their relations and tenden-
cies. The errors of youth often jiroceed
from the want of discernment.
DISCERP', t'. t. [L. discerpo.] To tear in
pieces ; to se])arate. [Ab< used.]
DISCERPIBIL'ITY, n. Capability or lia-
i to be torn asunder or disunited.
DISCERP'IBLE, a. [L. discerpo ; dis and
carpo, to seize, to tear. In some diction-
aries it is written discerplible, on the author-
ity of Glanville and More ; an error in-
deed, but of little consequence, as the
word is rarely or never used.]
That may be torn asunder ; separable ; ca-
l)able of being disunited by violence.
DISCERP'TION, n. The act of puUing to
pieee.s, or of separating the parts.
DISCES'SION, n. [L. discessio.] Depar-
ture. [jVbi used.] Hall.
DISCIPARgE,' v. I. [Fr. dechargcr; Sp.
descargar ; It. scaricare ; dis and charge or
cargo, from car, a cart or vehicle.]
1. To unload, as a ship ; to take out, as a
cargo ; applied both to the ship and the load-
ing. We say, to discharge a ship ; but
more generally, to discharge a cargo or
the lading of the ship.
2. To free from any load or liurden ; to
throw off or exonerate ; as, discharged of
business. Dryden.
3. To throw off' a load or charge ; to let fly ;
to shoot ; ap])lied to fire-aims ; as, to dis-
charge a pistol or a cannon ; or to discharge
a ball or grape-shot.
4. To pay ; as, to discharge a debt, a bond, a
note.
5. To send away, as a creditor by payment
of what is due to him. He discharged his
creditors.
C. To free from claim or demand ; to give
an acquittance to, or a receipt in full, as
to a debtor. The creditor discharged his
debtor.
7. To free from an obligation ; as, to dis-
charge a man from further duty or service ;
to discharge a surety.
i.. To clear from an accusation or crime ;
to acquit ; to absolve ; to set free ; with of;
as, to discharge a man o/"all blame.
Hooker.
). To throw oflf or out ; to let fly ; to give
vent to ; as, to discharge a horrible oath ;
to discharge fury or vengeance.
Shak. Pope.
10. To perform or execute, as a duty or
office considered as a charge. One man
discharges the office of a sheriiT; another
that of a priest. We are all bound to dis-
D I S
charge the duties of piety, of benevolence
and cliarity.
11. To divest of an office or employment ;
to dismiss from service ; as, to discharge a
steward or a servant ; to discharge a sol-
dier or seaman ; to discharge a jury.
13. To dismiss; to release; to send away
from any business or appointment.
Discharge your powers to their several coun-
ties. *'''"*•
13. To emit or send out ; as, an ulcer dischar-
ges pus ; a pipe discharges water.
14. To release ; to liberate from confine-
ment ; as, to discharge a prisoner.
15. To put away ; to remove ; to cleai- from ;
to destroy. In general, to throw off" any
load or incumbrance; to free or clear.
DISCH^ARgE, v. i. To break up.
The cloud, if it were oily or fatty, would not
discharge. Bacon.
DISCir.\R(5E, n. An unloading, as of a
ship ; as the discharge of a cargo.
2. A throwing out ; vent ; emission : applied
to a Jluid, a flowing or issuing out, or a
throwing out ; as the discharge of ^vater
from a spring, or from a spout : applied to
JUre-arms, an explosion ; as a discharge of
cannon.
3. That which is thrown out; matter emit-
ted ; as a thin serous discharge ; a puru-
lent discharge.
4. Dismission from office or service ; or the
writing which evidences the dismission.
The general, the soldier, obtains a dis-
charge.
5. Release from obligation, debt or penalty;
or tlie writing which is evidence of it
acquittance ; as, the debtor has a discharge.
C. Absolution from a crime or accusation
D I S
(■quittance.
South.
7. Ransom ; liberation ; price paid for de
liverance. Milton
S. Performance; execution ; applied to an
office, trust or duty. A good man is faith-
ful in the discliarge of liis duties, public
and private.
9. Liberation ; release from imprisonment
or other confinement.
10. Exemption ; escape.
There is no discharge in that war. Eecles
1 1. Pavmcnt, as of a debt.
DISCH^ARtiED, pp. Unloaded ; let off:
shot ; thrown out ; dismissed from ser-
vice ; paid ; released ; acquitted ; freed
from debtor penalty ; liberated ; perform
ed ; executed.
DISCHARGER, n. He that discharges in
any manner.
2. One who fires a gun.
3. In electricity, an instruinent for discharg-
ing a Leyden phial, jar, &c., by opening £
communication between the two surfaces
Cyc.
DISCH'ARgING, ppr. Unlading; letting
fly ; shooting ; throwing out ; emitting
dismissing from service ; I'aying ; releas
iiig from debt, obligation or claim ; ac
quitting ; liberating ; performing ; execu
ting.
DISCHURCH', v. t. To deprive of the rank
of a church. Hall
DISCI'DE, v. t. To divide ; to cut in pie-
ces. [JVotused.'
INCT',
Discir
Ungirded.
DISCIND', v. t. To cut
two. f.\o/ u.ied.]
Boyle.'
DISCI'PLE, n. [L. discipulus, from rfisco,;
to learn.] j
1. A learner ; a scholar ; one who reccivesj
or professes to receive instruction from
another ; as the disciples of Plato.
■2. A follower ; an adherent to the doctrines
of another. Hence the constant uttend-j
ants of Christ were called his disciplcH ;
and hence all christians are called his dis-\
ciples, as they profess to learn and receive
his doctrines and precepts.
DISCI'PLE, v.t. To teach; to train, or
bring up. Shalc.\
3. To make disciples of; to convert to doc-
trines or principles.
This authority lie employed in sending mis-
sionaries to disciple all nations.
E. D. Griffin.
3. To punish ; to disciiiliiie. [JVbt in use.]
Spenser.
DISCI'PLED,;);). Taught; trained; brought!
up; made a disciple.
DISCI'PLE-LIKE, a. Becoming a disciple.
Milton.
DISCI'PLESHIP, n. The state of a disci-
ple or follower in doctrines and precejits.
Hammond.
DISCIPLINABLE, a. [See Discipline.]
1. Capable of instruction, and improvement
";arning.
2. That may be subjected to discipline ; as
a disciplinable offense, in church govern-
ment.
3. Subject or liable to discipline, as the
member of a church.
DISCIPLINABLENESS, n. Capacity of
receiving instruction by education.
Hcde.
9. The state of being subject to discipline.
DIS'CIPLINANT, n. One of a religious or-
der, so called from their practice of scour-
ging themselves, or other rigid discipline.
Smollett.
DISCIPLINA'RIAN, a. Pertaining to dis-
pline. Glanville.
DISCIPLINA'RIAN, n. One who di.sci-
plinos ; one ver.sed in rules, principles
and practice, and who teaches them with
precision ; particularly, one who instructs
in military and naval tactics and maneu-l
vers. It IS chiefly used in the latter sense,
and especially for one who is well versed
in, or teaches with exactness, military ex-
ercises and evolutions.
2. A puritan or presbyterian ; so called from
his rigid adherence to religious discipline.
[/ believe not now tised.] Sanderson.
DISCIPLINARY, a. Pertaining to disci-
pline; intended for discipline or govern-
ment ; promoting disciphne ; as, certain
canons of the chmch me disciplinary.
3. Relating to a regular course of education ;
intendeil for instruction. Milton.
The evils of life, p.iin, sickness, losses, sor-
rows, dangers and disappointments, are discipli-
nary and remedial. Buckminster.
DIS'CIPLINE, n. [L. disdplina, from disco,
to learn.]
1. Education ; instruction ; cultivation and
improvement, comprehending instruction
in arts, sciences, correct sentiments, mor-
als and manners, and due subordination
to authority.
2. Instruction and government, comprehend-
D I S
iiig the communication of knowledge and
the regulation of practice; as niiUtary dis-
cipline, which includes instruction in man-
ual exercise, evolutions and subordina-
tion.
Rule of government ; method of regula-
ting principles and jiractice ; as the disci-
pline prescribed for the cluircli.
4. Subjection to laws, rules, order, precepts
or regulations ; as, the troops are under
excellent discipline ; the passions should
be kept under strict discipline.
. Correction ; chastisement ; punishment
intended to correct crimes or errors ; as
the discipline of the strap. Addison.
6. In ecclesiastical affairs, the execution of
the laws by which the church is governed,
and infliction of the penalties enjoined
against offenders, who profess the religion
of Jesus Christ. Encyc.
7. Chastisement or bodily punishment in-
flicted on a delinquent in the Romish
Church ; or that chastisement or external
mortification which a religious person in-
flicts on hiiiKself. ^Taylor. Encyc.
DISCIPLINE, ji. t. To instruct or educate ;
to inform the mind ; to prejiare by instruct-
ing in correct principles and habits; as, to
discipline youth for a profession, or for fu-
ture usefulness.
3. To instruct and govern; to teach rules
and practice, and accustoin to order and
subonliiiution ; as, to discipline troops or
an army.
3. To correct ; to chastise ; to punish.
4. To execute the laws of the church on of-
fenders, with a view to bring them to re-
pentance and reformation of life.
5. To advance and prepare by instruction.
MUfon.
DIS'CIPLINED,o;). Instructed; educated;
subjected to rules and regulations ; cor-
rected; chastised; punished; admon-
ished.
DISCIPLINING, ppr. Instructing ; educa-
ting ; subjecting to order and subordina-
tion ; correcting; chastising; admonish-
ing; punishing.
DISCLA'IM, V. t. [dis and claim.] To dis-
own ; to disavow ; to deny the possession
of; to reject as not belonging to one's self.
A man disclaims all knowledge of a par-
ticular transaction ; he disclainis every pre-
tension to eloquence; he disclaims any
right to interfere in the affairs of his neigh-
bor ; he disclaims all pretensions to mili-
tary skill. It is opposed to claim or chal-
lenge.
2. To renounce ; to reject ; as, to disclaim
the authority of the pope.
3. To deny all claim. A tenant may rfw-
claim to hold of his lord. Eng. Law.
DISCLAIM, V. i. To disavow all part or
share. [Unusual.]
Nature disclaims in tliec. Shak.
DISeLAiaiA'TION, n. The act of dis-
claiming; a disavowing. [JVotused.] Scott.
DISCLA'IMED, pp. Disowned ; disavowed ;
rejected ; denied.
DISCLAIMER, n. A person who disclaims,
disowns or renounces.
3. In latv, an express or imphed deaial by a
tenant that he holds an estate of his lord ;
a denial of tenure, by plea or otherwise.
Blackstone.
D I S
DISCLAIMING, ppr. Di
vowing; denying; renouncing. 1
DISeLO'SE, V. t. disclo'ze. [dis and close ;\
deelorre, dedos ; L. disdudo. See
D I S
DISCOL'ORING, ppr. Altering the color or
hue; staining; changing the complexion.
DlSeOM'FIT, V. t. [Fr. deconfire, deconfit ;
F
Close.] I
1. To uncover; to open; to remove a coveri
from, and lay open to the view.
The sliells beuig broken, the stone included!
in them is disdosed. Woodward.]
■J. To di.scover ; to lay open to the view ; to|
bring to light. Events have disdosed thel
designs of the ministry.
;3. To reveal by words ; to tell; to utter; as,
to disclose the secret thoughts of the heart.
4. To make known ; to show in any man-
ner. A blush may disclose a secret j)as-
sion in the breast.
5. To open ; to hatch. [JVol used.]
The ostrich layeth lier eggs under sand,
where the heat of the sun discloseth them.
Bacoti.
DISCLO'SE, n. Discovery. Young.
DISCLO'SED, pp. Uncovered ; opened to
view ; made known ; revealed ; told
vittered.
DISCLO'SER, )i. One who dl.scloscs or
reveals.
DISCLO'SING, p^r. Uncovering; openinj
to view ; revealing ; making known
teUing.
DISeLO'SURE, II. disclo'zhur. The act of
disclosing: an uncovering and opening to
view ; discovery. Bacon.
% The act of reveahng; utterance of what
was secret ; a teUing.
3. The act of making known what was con
ccaled.
4. That which is disclosed or made known
DISeLU'SION, n. disdu'zhun. [h.disdusus,
disdudo ; dis and dmido.]
An emission; a throwing out. [Little nsed.]
More.
DISeOAST, V. i. To depart from ; to quit
the coast. UVot used.]
niS€OHE'RENT, a. Incoherent. Tlie latter
is generally used.
mS'€OID, n. [discus and fiSos.] Some-
thing in form of a discus or disk.
DIS'COID, I „ Having the form of a
UISeOlD'AL, T' disk.
Discoid or discous flowers, are compound
flowers, not radiated, but the florets all
tubular, as the tansy, southern-wood, &c.
Cyc. Smith.
DISCOL'OR, v.t. [L. discoloro; dis and
coloro, from color.]
1. To alter the natural hue or color of; to
stain ; to tinge. A drop of wine will dis
color a glass of water ; silver is discolored
by sea-water.
3. To change any color, natural or artificial
to alter a color partially. It differs from
color and dye, in denoting a partial altera-
tion, rather than an entire change of color.
3. Figuratively, to alter the complexion ; to
change the appearance; as, to discolor
ideas. Watts.
DlSeOLORA'TION, n. Tlie act of altering
the color ; a staining.
2. Alteration of color; stain; as spots and
disco^orafion^ of the skin.
3. Alteration of complexion or appearance
DISCOLORED, pp. Altered in color
stained.
2. fl. Variegated; being of divers colors.
Spenser
It. sconflggere, sconfitta ; from dis and tl
L. configo, to fasten, to nail ; con audfgo,
to fix.]
To rout ; to defeat ; to scatter in fight ; to
cause to flee ; to vanquish.
Joshua discomfited Amalek and his peoph
with the edge of the sword. Ex. xvii.
He, fugitive, declined superior strength.
Discomfited, pursued. Philips
DISCOM'FIT, n. Rout; dispersion ; defeat
overthrow.
DISCOM'FITED, pp. Routed; defeated
overthrown.
DISCOM'FITING, ppr. Routing; defeat
DISeOM'FITURE, Ji. Rout; defeat in bat
tie; dispersion; overthrow.
Every man's sword was against his fellow
and there was a very great discomfiture.
Sam. xiv.
2. Defeat ; frustration ; disappointment.
DISeOM'FORT, ?i. [dis and comfort.] Un
easiness ; disturbance of peace ; jiain ;
grief; inquietude. Shak. South.
DISCOM'FORT, 1'. t. To disturb peace or
happiness ; to make uneasy ; to pain ; to
grieve ; to sadden ; to deject. Sidney.
DISCOM'FORTABLE, a. Causing uneasi-
ness ; unpleasant ; giving pain ; making
sad. [Little used.] Sidney.
2. Uneasy ; melancholy ; refusing comfort.
[Xot ^lsed.] Shak
[Instead of this word, uncomfortable it
used.]
DISCOM'FORTED, pp. Made uneasy ; dis-
turbed ; pained ; grieved.
DISCOM'FORTING, ppr. Disturbing peace
and happiness ; making uneasy ; grieving.
DISCOMMEND', v. t. [dis and commend.]
To blame ; to censure; to mention with
disapprobation.
I do not discommend the lofty style in tra-
gedy. Dryden.
DISCOMMENDABLE, a. Blamable ; cen-
surable ; deserving disapprobation.
Ayliffe.
DlSeOMMEND'ABLENESS, n. Blama-
bleness ; the quality of being worthy of
disapprobation.
DISCOMMENDATION, n. Blame ; cen-
ure ; reproach. -Aylijfe
DISCOMJIEND'ER, n. One who discom-
mends; a dispraiser. Johnson
DISCOMMEND'ING, /)/»•. Blaming; cen-
suring.
DISCOMMO'DE, v. t. [dis and commode,
To put to inconvenience ; to mcoinmode ;
to molest ; to trouble. [Discommodate is
not used.]
DISCOMMO'DED, pp. Put to inconveni-
ence ; molested ; incommoded.
DISCOMMO'DING,ppr. Putting to incon-
venience ; giving trouble to.
DISeOMMO'DIOUS, a. Inconvenient ;
troublesome. Spenser.
DISCOMMOD'ITY, n. Inconvenience
trouble; hurt; disadvantage. Bacon.
DISCOM'MON, V. t. [dis and common.] To
appropriate conmion land : to separate
and inclose common. Cowel
DIS
2. To deprive of the privileges of a place.
Hartox.
DISCOMPLEX'ION, v. t. To change the
complexion or color. [M)t used.]
Benum.
DISCOMPO'SE, i;. t. discompo'ze. [dis and
compost.]
1. To unsettle ; to disorder ; to disturb ; ap-
plied to things.
2. To disturb peace and quietness ; to agi-
tate ; to ruffle ; applied to the temper or
mind ; expressing less agitation than fret
and Dei, or expressing vexation with deco-
rum. Sioift.
3. To displace ; to discard. [M>t in use.]
Bacon.
DISCOMPOSED, pp. Unsettled ; disor-
dered ; ruffled ; agitated ; disturbed.
DISCOMPO'SING, ppr. Unsettling; put-
ting out of order ; ruffling ; agitating ; dis-
turbing tranquility.
DISCOMPOSI'TlbN, n. Inconsistency.
[JVot used.]
DISeOMPO'SURE, ?!. discompo'zhur. Dis-
order ; agitation ; disturbance ; perturba-
tion ; as discomposure of mind.
Clarendon.
DISCONCERT', v. t. [dis and concert.] To
break or interrupt any order, plan or har-
monious scheme ; to defeat ; to frustrate.
The emperor disconcerted the plans of his
enemy. Their schemes were disconcerted.
To unsettle the mind ; to discompose ; to
disturb ; to confuse. An unexpected ques-
tion may disconcert the ablest advocate in
his argument.
DISeONCERT'ED, pp. Broken; inter-
rupted; disordered; defeated; unsettled;
discomposed ; confused.
DISCONCERT'ING,;)pr. Disordering; de-
feating ; discomposing ; disturbing.
DISCONCER'TION, n. The act of discon-
certing. Federalist, Hamilton.
DISCONFORM'ITY, n. [dis and cmfvnn^
ity.] Want of agreement or conluniiity :
inconsistency. Hukeu-iU.
DISCONGRU'ITY, n. [dis and coitgruity.]
Want of congruity; incongruity; disa-
greement ; inconsistency. Hale.
DISCONNECT',!)./, [dis ani conned.] To
separate ; to disunite ; to disi^olve connec-
ealth would, in a few genera-
tions, crumble away, be disconnected into the
dust and powder of individuality — Burke.
This restriction disconnects bank paper and
the precious metals. Walsh.
DISCONNECT'ED, pp. Separated ; disuni-
ted. This word is not synonymous with
unco7inected, though often confounded with
it. Disconnected implies a previous con-
nection ; unconnected does not necessarily
im|)ly any previous union.
DISc6NNECT'ING,p;)r. Separating; dis-
uniting.
DISCONNECTION, n. The act of separa-
ting, or state of being disunited ; separa-
tion ; want of union.
Nothing was therefore to be left in all the
subordinate members, but weakness, disconnec-
tion and confusion. Burke.
DISCONSENT', v. i. [dis and consent.] To
differ ; to disagree ; not to consent.
Milton.
iDISCON'SOLATE, «. [dis and L. consola^
ius. See Console.]
D I S
D I S
D I S
1. Destitute of comfort or consolation ; sor-
rowful ; hopeless or not expecting com-
fort; sad; dejected; melancholy; as a
parent, bereaved of an only child and dis-
consolate.
2. Not affording comfort ; cheerless ; as the
disconsolate darkness of a winter's night.
Ray.
DISCON'SOLATELY, adv. In a disconso-
late mniiner; without comfort. J
DIS€ON'SOLATENESS, n. The state cl
being disconsolate or comfortle.-s. |
DISCONSOLA'TION, n. Want of comfort.
Jackson.l
DISCONTENT', n. [dis an^ content.] Want'
of content ; uneasiness or inquietude ol"
mind ; dissatisfaction at any present state;
of things. I
DISCONTENT', a. Uneasy ; dissatisfied. [
Hayward.l
DISCONTENT', v. I. To make uneasy atl
the present state ; to dissatisfy. I
DISCONTENT'ED, pp. or a. Uneasy in
mind ; dissatisfied ; unquiet ; as, discon-\
tented citizens make bad subjects.
DISCONTENT' EDLY, adv. In a discon-
tented manner or mood.
DISCONTENT' EDNESS, )i. Uneasiness!
of mind; inquietude ; dissatisfacti(
Addison.]
DISCONTENTING, a. Giving uneasiness.
DISeONTENT'MENT, n. The state
being uneasy in mind ; uneasiness; inquie-
tude; discontent. Hooker. Bacon.]
DlSeONTIN'UANCE, n. [See Z>i«con«mue.]!
1. Want of continuance; cessation; inter-j
mission ; interruption of continuance ; as
a discontinuance of conversation or inter-
coui'se. Atterbuiy.
2. Want of continued connection or cohesion
of parts; want of union; di.*ruption.
Bacon.]
3. In law, a breaking off or interruption of
possession, as where a tenant in tail
makes a feoffment in fee-.'iimple, or for the
life of the feoffee, or in tail, which he has
not power to do ; in this case, the entry of
the feoffee is lawful, during the life of the
feoffor ; but if he retains possession after
the death of the feoffor, it is an injury
which is termed a discontinuance, the legal
estate of the heir in tail being discontinued.
till a recovery can be had in law.
Blackstone.
4. Discontinuance of a suit, is when a plain-
tiff leaves a chasm in the proceedings in
his cause, as by not continuing the pro-
cess regularly from day to day ; in which
case the defendant is not hound to attend.
Formerly the demise of the king caused a
discontinuance of all suits ; but this is
remedied by statute 1. Ed. VI.
Blackstonc.
DISCONTINUA'TION, n. Breach or inter-
ruption of continuity ; disruption of parts ;
separation of parts which form a connected;
series. J^ewton
DISCONTIN'UE, I', t. [dis and continue.]
1. To leave off; to cause to cease, as a prac-^
tice or habit ; to stop ; to put an end to ;
as, to discontinue the intemperate use of
spirits. Inveterate customs are not dis-
continued without inconvenience.
The depredations on our commerce were nol
to be discontinued. T. Pickering
2. To break off; to interrupt.
3. To cease to take or receive ; as, to discon-
nie a daily paper.
DISCONTIN'UE, v.i. To cease ; to leave
the po.sscssion, or lose an established or
long enjoyed right.
Thyself shall discontinue from thine heritage.
Jer. xvii.
2. To lose the cohesion of parts ; to suffer
disruption or separation of substance.
[Little tised.] Bacon.
DIS€ONTIN'UED,;;/». Left off ; interrupt-
ed ; broken off.
DISCONTIN'UER, Jt. One who discontin-
s a rule or practice.
DISCO.\Tl.>f'UING, ppr. Ceasing; inter-
riipliii.;; lirr:,l<ing oil.
Dl.^CO.NI'IM ITY, n. Disun
Broke
Milton.
DI.<t ON TIN lOU
iipted.
2. Separated ; wide ; gaping.
DISCONVE'NIENCE, n. [dis and conve-
nience.] Incongruity ; disagreement. [JJt-
ileused.] Bra mhcdl.
DISCONVE'NIENT, a. Incongruous.
Reynolds.
DIS'CORD, n. [L. discordia ; Fr. discorde ;
from L. discors ; dis and cor.]
Disagreement among persons or things.
Between persons, difference of opinions ;
variance; opposition; contention; strife;
any disagreement which produces angry
passions, contest, disputes, htigation or
war. Discord may exist between families,
parties and nations.
2. Disagreement ; want of order ; a clashing,
of parts ;
.Yewton.
3. In music, disagreement of i
Pope
jnds ; disso-
nance ; a union of sounds which is inhar
monioas, grating and disagreeable to the
ear; or an interval whose extremes do not
coalesce. Thus the second and the seventh,
when sounded together, make a discord
The term discord is applied to each of the
two sounds which form the dissonance,
and to the interval ; but more properly to
the mixed sound of dissonant tones. It '
opposed to concord and harmony.
DISCORD', V. i. To disagree ; to jar ; to
clash ; not to suit ; not to be coincident.
[.Yot in use.] Bacon.
DISeORD'ANCE, ? [L. discordans.] Dis-
DISCORD'ANCY, S agreement ; opposi-|
tion ; inconsistency ; as a discordance of
opinions, or of sounds.
DISCORDANT, a. [L. discordans.] Disa-
greeing ; incongruous ; contradictory ; be-
ing at variance; as discordant opinions;
discordant rules or principles.
2. Opposite ; contrarious-; not coincident ;
as the discordant attractions of comets, or
of different planets. Cheyne.
3. Dissonant ; not in unison ; not harmoni-
ous ; not accordant ; harsh ; jarring ; as
discordant notes or soimds.
DISCORDANTLY", adv. Dissonantly ; in
a discordant manner; inconsistently; in
a maimer to jar or clash ; in disagreement
with another, or with itself.
DISCORD'FUL, a. Quarrelsome ; conten-
tious. Spenser.
DISCOUNSEL, V. t. To dissuade. [.Vot in
use.] Spenser.
DIS'COUNT, n. [Fr. deconte or decompte ;
or dis aind compte ; It. sconto ; Sp. des-\
cucnto ; Arm. discount or digont. See Count.
Literally, a counting back or from.]
1. A sum deducted for prompt or advanced
payment ; an allowance or deduction from
a sum due, or from a credit ; a certain rate
per cent deducted Irom the credit price
of goods sold, on account of proinpt pay-
ment; or any deduction from the custom-
ary price, or from a sum due or to be due
at a future time. Thus the merchant
who gives a credit of three months will
deduct a certain rate per cent for payment
in hand, and the holder of a note or bill of
exchange will deduct a certain rate per
cent of the amount of the note or bill for
advanced payment, which deduction is
called a discount.
2. Among bankers, the deduction of a sum
for advanced payment; particularly, the
deduction of the interest on a sum lent,
at the time of lending. The discounts
at banking institutions are usually the
amount of legal interest paid by the bor-
rower, and deducted from the sum bor-
rowed, at the commencement of the credit.
Hamillon''s Report.
3. The sum deducted or Refunded ; as. the
discount was five per cent.
4. The act of discounting. A note is lodged
in the bank for discount. The banks have
suspended discounts.
DIS'COUNT, v.t. [Sp. descontar; Port, id.;
Fr. decompter ; Arm. discounla, digontein ;
It. scontare. In British books, the accent
is laid on the last syllable. But in Amer-
ica, the accent is usually or always on the
first.]
1. To deduct a certain sum or rate per cent
from the principal sum. Merchants dis-
count five or sLx per cent, for prompt or
for advanced payment.
2. To lend or advance the amount of, de-
ducting the interest or other rate per cent
Irom the principal, at the time of the loan
or advance. The banks discount notes
and bills of exchange, on good security.
Tlie first rule — to discount only unexception-
able paper. Walsh.
DIS'COUNT, V. i. To lend or make a prac-
tice of lending money, deducting the in-
terest at the time ofthe loan. ■ The banks
discount for sixty or ninety days, some-
times for longer terms.
DISCOUNT' ABLE, a. That may be dis-
counted. Certain forms are necessary to
render notes discountable at a bank. A
bill may be discountable for more than
si.xty days.
DIS'COUNT-DAY, n. The day of the week
on which a bank discounts notes and
bills.
DISCOUNTED, pp. Deducted from a prin-
cipal sum ; paid back ; refunded or allow-
ed ; as, tlie sum of five per cent was dis-
counted.
2. Having the amount lent on discount or
deduction of a sum in advance ; as, the
bill was discounted for sixtv days.
DISCOUNTENANCE, v. t. [dis and coun-
tenance.] To abash ; to ruffle or discom-
I»ose the countenance ; to put to shame ;
to put out of countenance. [JVot used.]
How would one look from his majestic
brow
Discountenance her despised. Milton.
D I S
D I S
D I S
2. To (iiscoiirage ; to check ; to restrain by
frowns, censure, arguments, opposition,
or cold treatment. Tlie gQod citizen will
discountenance vice by every lawful means.
DISeOUN'TENANCE, n. Cold treatment ;
unfavorable aspect ; unfriendly regard ;
disapprobation ; whatever tends to check
or discourage.
He thought a little discmmienance on those
persons would suppress that spirit. Clarendon.
DISCO UN'TENANCED, pp. Abashed ;
discouraged ; checked ; frowned on.
DISeOUN'TENANCER, n. One who dis-
courages by cold treatment, frowns, cen-
sure or expression of disapprobation ; one
who checks or depresses by unfriendly re-
gards.
DISeOUN'TENANCING, ppr. Abashing;
discouraging; checking by disapproba
or unfriendly regards.
DIS'eOUNTER, n. One who advances
money on discounts. Burke.
DIS'edUNTING, ppr. Deducting a
for prompt or advanced payment.
2. Lending on discoinit.
DIS'eOUNTING, n. The act or practice of
lending money on discounts.
Tlie profitable business of a bank consists i
discounting. Honutfoi\
DIS€0UR'AgE, v. t. discur'age. [dis an(
courage ; Fr. decouragcr ; Arm. diguuragi
It. scoraggiare. The Italian is from f,r and
coraggio. See Coxtrage.]
1. To extinguish the courage of; to dis
hearten ; to depress the spirits ; to deject
to deprive of confidence.
Fathers, provoke not your children, lest they
be discouraged. Col. iii.
2. To deter from any thing ; wahfrom.
Why discourage ye the hearts of the chil
of Israel from going over into the land which
the Lord hath given them .' Num. xxxii.
3. To attempt to repress or prevent ; to dis-
suade from ; as, to discourage an effort.
DISCOUR'AGED, pp. discur'aged. Dis-
heartened; deprived of courage or confi-
dence ; depressed in spirits ; dejected ;
checked.
DISCOUR'AgEMENT, n. discur' agement.
The act of disheartening, or depriving of
courage ; the act of deterring or dissua-
ding from an undertaking ; the act of de-
pressing confidence.
2. That which destroys or abates courage ;
that which depresses confidence or hope ;
that which deters or tends to deter from
an undertaking, or from the prosecution
of any thing. Evil examples are great
discouragements to virtue. Tlie revolution
was commenced under every possible dis
couragcment.
DISCOUR'AgER, n. discur'ager. One who
discourages ; one who disheartens, or de-
presses the courage ; one who impresse
diffidence or fear of success ; one who
dissuades from an undertaking.
DISCOUR'AGING, ppr. discur'aging. D
heartening ; depressing courage.
2. a. Tending to disheaiten, or to depress
the courage ; as discouraging prospects.
DISCOURSE, n. discors. [Fr. discours; L,
discursus, from discurro, to ramble ; dis
and curro, to rim ; It. discorso.}
1. The act of the understanding, by which it
passes from premises to con.seriuences
the act which connects propositions, and
deduces conclusions from them.
Johnson. Glanville.
[TViis sense is now obsolete.]
2. Literally, a running over a subject in
speech ; hence, a communieation of
thoughts by words, either to individuals,
to companies, or to public assemblies. Dis-
course to an individual or to a small com-
pany is called conversation or talk ; inutua
interchange of thoughts ; mutual inter-
course of language. It is applied to the
familiar communication of thoughts by an
individual, or to the mutual communica-
tion of two or more. We say, I was pleas-
ed with his discourse, and he heard our
discourse.
The vanquished party with the victors joined.
Nor wanted sweet discourse, the banquet of
the mind. Dryden:
3. Effusion of language ; speech. Locke.
4. A written treatise ; a fbrmal dissertation ;
as the discourse of Plutarch on garrulity ;
of Cicero on old age.
5. A sermon, uttered or written. We say,
an extemporaneous discourse, or a written
discourse.
DISCOURSE, v. i. To talk ; to converse ;
but it expresses rather more formality
than talk. He discoursed with us an hour
on the events of the war. We discoursed]
together on our mutual concerns.
2. To communicate thoughts or ideas in a
formal manner ; to treat upon in a solemn,
set manner ; as, to discourse on the proper-
ties of the circle ; the preacher discoursed
on the nature and effects of faith.
3. To reason ; to pass from premises to con-
sequences. Davies.
DISCOURSE, V. t. To treat of: to talk over ;
to discuss. [JVot used.]
Let us discourse our fortunes. Shok.
DISCOURSER, n. One who discourses ; ;i
speaker; a harangner.
2. The writer of a treatise or dissertation.
Swifl.
DISCOURSING, ppr. Talking ; conversing
preaching; discussing; treating at* some
lensth or in a fbrmal manner.
DISCOURSIVE, a. Reasoning; passin,
from premises to consequences. Milton.
2. Containing dialogue or conversation ; in-
terlocutory.
The epic is interlaced with dialogue or dis-
coursive scenes. Dryden.
DISCOUR'TEOUS, a. discur'teous. [dis and
courteous.] Uncivil ; rude ; uncomplaisant ;
wanting in good manners ; as discourte-
ous knight.
DISCOUR'TEOUSLY, adv. discur' teovshj.
In a rude or imcivil manner ; with iiiciv-
ilitv.
DISCOUR'TESY, it. discur'tesy. [dis and
courtesy.] Incivihty ; rudeness of behavior
or language ; ill manners ; act of disres-
pect.
Be cahn in arguing ; for fierceness makes
Eiror a fault, and truth discourtesy. Herbert.
DISCOURTSHIP, )!. Want of respect. Obs.
B. Jonson
DISCOUS, a. [from L. discus.] Broad
flat ; wide ; used of the middle plain and
flat part of some flowers. (^uincy.
DISCOVER, t'. t. [Fr. decoumir ; de, for
des or dis, and eouvrir, to cover; Sj). des-
cubrir; Port, descobrir ; It. scoprire. See
Cover.]
1. Literally, to uncover ; to remove a cover-
ing. Is. xxii.
2. To lay open to the view ; to disclose ; to
show ; to make visible ; to expose to view-
something before unseen or concealed.
Go, draw aside the curtains and discover
The several caskets to this noble prince.
Shak.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness.
Job xii.
Law can discover sin, but not remove.
Milton.
3. To reveal ; to make known.
We will discover ourselves to them. 1 Sam.
Discover not a secret to another. Prov. xxv.
4. To espy ; to have the first sight of; as, a
man at mast-head discovered land.
When we had discovered Cyprus, we left if
on the left hand. Acts xxi.
To find out ; to obtain the first knowledge
of; to come to the knowledge of some-
thing sought or before unknown. Co-
lumbus diacovered the variation of the
magnetic needle. We often discover our
mistakes, when too late to prevent their
evil effects.
G. To detect ; as, we discovered the artifice :
the thief, finding himself discovered, at-
tempted to escape.
Discover differs frotn invent. We discover
what before existed, though to us un-
known ; we invent what did not before
exist.
DISCOVERABLE, o. That may be discov-
ered ; that may be brought to light, or ex-
posed to view.
2. That may be seen ; as, many minute ani-
mal.* are discoverable only by the help of
the micro-scope.
3. That may be found out, or made known :
as, the scriptures reveal many things not
discoverable by the light of reason.
4. Apparent ; visible ; exposed to view.
Nothing discoverable in the lunar surface is
ever covered. Bentley.
DISCOVERED, pp. Uncovered ; disclosed
to view ; laid oj)en ; revealed ; espied or
first seen ; found out ; detected.
DISCOVERER, n. One who discovers;
one who first sees or espies ; one who
finds out, or first comes to the knowledge
of something.
2. A scout ; an explorer. Sliak.
DISCOVERING, ppr. Uncovering ; disclo-
sing to view ; laying open ; revealing ;
making known ; espying ; finding out ;
detecting.
DISCOVERTURE, n. [Fr. decouveH, un-
covered.]
A state tjf being released from coverture ;
freedom of a woman from the coverture
of a husband.
DISCOVERY, n. The action of disclosing
to view, or bringing lo light ; as, by the
discovery of a plot, tlie public peace is pre-
served.
2. Disclosure ; a tnaking known ; as, a bank-
rupt is bound to make a full discovery of
his estate and eftects.
3. The action of finding something hidden :
the discovery of lead or silver in the
1. Th.
or comms to tl
D I S
D I S
D 1 S
knowledge of; as tlie discovery of truth
the discovery of magnetism.
5. The act of espying ; first sight of; as the
discovery of America by Columbus, or of
the Continent by Cabot.
6. That which is discovered, found out or
revealed ; that which is first brought to
light, seen or known. The prfjperties of
the magnet were an important discovery.
Redemption from sin was a discovery be-
yond the power of human philosophy.
7. In dramatic poetry, the unraveling of a
jilot, or the manner of unfolding the plot
or fable of a comedy or tragedy.
DISCRED'IT, n. [Fr. discredit; Sp. desered-
ito ; it. scredilo. See the Verb.]
1. Want of credit or good reputation ; some
degree of disgr.ice orreproach ; disesteeni
applied to persons or things. Frauds in
manufactures bring them into discredit.
It is the duty of every christian to be con-
cerned for the reputation or discredit his life
may bring on his profession. Sogers.
3. Want of belief, trust or confidence; dis-
behef ; as, later accounts have brought the
story into discredit.
DISCRED'IT, v.f. [Fr. decrediter; dc, des,
dis, and credit.]
1. To disbelieve; to give no credit to ; not
to credit or believe ; as, t4ie report is dis
credited.
2. To deprive of credit or good reputation
to make less reputable or honorable ; to
bring into disesteeni ; to bring into some
degree of disgrace, or into disrepute.
He least discredits his travels, who returns
the same man he went. IVotton.
Our virtues will be often discredited with the
appearance of evil. Rogers.
3. To deprive of credibility. Shak.
DISCREDITABLE, a. Tending to injure
credit ; injurious to reputation ; disgrace-
ful ; disreputable. Blair.
DISCRED'ITED, pp. Disbelieved ; brought
into disrepute ; disgraced.
DISCREDITING, jo^j;-. Disbelieving; not
trusting to ; depriving of credit : disgra-
cing.
DISeREE'T, a. [Fr. disa-et; Sp. discreto ;
It. id ; L. discretiis, the participle assign-
ed to discemo, dis and cemo, hut proba-
bly from the root of riddle, W. rhidyll,
from rhidiaw, to secrete, as screen is from
the root of secerno, or excemo, Gr. xpuu,
L. cemo ; Gr. SiaxpiTij. Class Rd. I
sometimes written disaete ; the distinction
between discreet and discrete is arbitrary,
but perhaps not entirely useless. The
literal sense is, separate, reserved, wary,
hence discerning.]
1. Prudent ; wise in avoiding errors or evil,
and in selecting the best means to accom
plish a purpose ; circumspect ; cautious ;
wary ; not rash.
It is the discreet man, not the witty, nor the
learned, nor the brave, who guides the conver-
sation, and gives measures to society. JUldison .
Let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and
wise. Gen. xli.
DISCREE'TLY, adv. Prudently ; circum-
spectly ; cautiously ; with nice judgment
of what is best to" be done or omitted.
DISCREETNESS, n. The quality of being
DISCREP'ANCE, > „ [L. discrepanlia, dis-
PISCREP'ANCY, \ "• crepans, from dis-
j crepo, to give a different sound, to vary
to jar ; dis and crepo, to creak. See Crep
I itate.]
|Diflerence ; disagreement ; contrariety ; up
plicable to facts or opinions.
There is no real discrepancy between these
[ two genealogies. Faber.
piSCREP'ANT, a. Different ; disagreeing
1 contrary.
DISCRE'TE, a, [L. discrttus. See Dis
creet.]
1. Sejjarate ; distinct; disjunct. Discrete
proporlion'is when the ratio of two or more
pairs of numbers or quantities is the same,
but there is not the same proportion be
tween all the numbers ; as 3 : 6 : : 8 : 16, 3
bearing the same proportion to G, as i
does to 1(). But 3 is not to C as 0 to 8
It is thus opposed to continued or contin
ual proportion, as 3 : ti : : 12 : 24. Harris
2. Disjunctive ; as, I resign my liie, but not
my honor, is a discrete proposition.
Johnson
DISCRE'TE, V. t. To separate ; to discon-
tinue. [JVot used.] Brown
DISCRE'TION, n. [Fr. discretion; It
discrezione ; Sp. discrecion ; from the L,
discretio, a separating ; discrelus, discemo.
See Discreet.]
1. Prudence, or knowledge and jirudence ;
that discernment which enables a person
to judge critically of what is correct and
proper, united with caution ; nice discern-
ment and judgment, directed by circum-
spection, and primarily regarding one's
own conduct.
A good man — will guide his affairs with discre-
tion. Ps. cxii.
My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion
Prov. iii.
2. Liberty or power of acting without other
control than one's own judgment ; as, the
management of affairs was left to the dis
cretion of the prince ; he is left to his owr
discretion. Hence,
To surrender at discretion, is to surren
der without stipulation or terms, and com
mit one's self entirely to the power of the
conipieror.
3. Disjunction ; separation. [JVot much used.'
Mede.
DISCRE "TIONARY, ) „ Left to discre
DISCRE"TIONAL, J "• tion ; unrestrain
ed except by discretion or judgment; that
is to he directed or managed by discretioi
only. Thus, the President of the U. States
is, in certain cases, invested with discre-
tionary jiowers, to act according to cir-
cumstances.
DISCKF.' TIONARILY, > , At discre
nI^•(■|!K TIONALLY, .^ "'"'• tion; ac
DlSclilT'l'IVi:, a. [See Discreet mu\ Dis-
crete.] Disjunctive ; noting separation oi
opposition. In logic, a discrelive jiroposi-
lion expresses some distinction, opposition
or variety, by means of but, though, yet, &c.;
as, travelers change their climate, but not
their temper ; Job was patient, though
his grief was great.
2. In grammar, discretive distinctions are such
as imply opposition or difference ; as, not
a man, but a beast. Johnson.
3. Separate ; distinct.
DISCRE'TIVELY, adv. In a discretive
manner.
DlSCRlM'INABLi:, a. That may he dis-
criminated.
DISCR1M'1NATE,».<. [h. discrimino, from
discrimen, difference, distinction ; dis and
crimen, differently applied ; coinciding with
the sense of Gr. ^taxpti'u, xpiiu, L. cemo.]
1. To distinguish ; to observe the difference
Isetween ; as, we may usually discriminate
true from false iiiorlesty.
2. To separate ; to select from others ; to
make a distinction between ; as, in the last
judgiucMt, the righteous will be discrimi-
nattd III III ilii- w ii-Ui'd.
3. To ni.iil, Willi iiMiis ('f difl'crcnce ; todis-
tuigui>li l.\ -(.MM- iiMie or mark. We dis-
crimiiuili iiiainuU by names, as nature has
discriminated them by different shapes and
habits.
DISCRIMINATE, t;. i. To make a differ-
ence or distinction ; as, in the application
of law, and the punishment of crimes, the
judge should rfrscrmino/e between degrees
of guilt. ^
2. To ol).«erve or note a difl^erence ; to dis-
tinguish ; as, in judging of evidence, we
should be carefiil to discriminate between
probabililv .■md slight presumption.
DISCRIM INATK, a. Distinguished; hav-
ing III!' ilili'rirrin- marked. Bacon.
DISCK I M UNA 11 ; I >,/;/;. Separated ; distin-
guished.
DISCRIM'INATELY, adv. Distinctly ; with
minute distinction ; particularly.
Johnson.
DISCRIM'INATENESS, n. Distinctness;
marked difference. Did.
DISCRIMINATING, ;>;»■. Separating ; dis-
tinguishing; marking with notes of differ-
ence.
2. a. Distinguishing ; peculiar ; character-
ized by peculiar differences ; as the dis-
criminating doctrines of the gospel.
3. a. That discriminates ; able to make nice
distinctions ; as a discriminating mind.
Joum. of Science.
DISCRIMINATION, n. The act of distin-
guishing; the act of inaking or observing
a difference; distinction ; as the discrimi-
nation between right and wrong.
2. The state of being distinguished.
StUlingfeel.
3. Mark of distinction. K. Charles.
DISCRIMINATIVE, a. That makes the
mark of distinction; that constitutes the
mark of difference ; characteristic ; as the
discriminative features of men.
2. That observes distinction ; as discrimina-
tive providence. More.
DISCRIM'INATIVELY, adv. With dis-
crimination or distinction. Foster.
DISCRIM'INOUS, a. Hazardous. [JVot
used.] Harvey.
DISCU'BITORY, a. [L. discuhitorius ; dis-
cumbo ; dis and cubo, to lie down or lean.]
Leaning ; inclining ; or fitted to a leaning
posture. Brotpn.
DISCULP'ATE, V. t. [Fr. disculper; Sp. dis-
culpar ; dis and L. culpa, a fault.]
To free from blame or tiiult ; to exculpate ;
Neitlier does this effect of the independence
of nations disculpate the author of an unjust
war. Trans, of Valtet. Hist . of California.
DISCULP'ATED, j>p. Cleared from blame ;
exculpated.
D I a
D I S
D I 8
DISCULP'ATING, ppr. Freeing from
blame ; excusing.
DISeUM'BENCY, n. [L. discumbens. See
Discubitory.]
Tlie act of leaning at meat, according to the
manner of the ancients. Broiim.
DIS€UM'BER, v. l. [dis and cumbtr.] To
luiburden ; to throw off any thing cum-
bersome ; to disengage from any trouble-
some weight, or impediment ; to disen-
cumber. [The latter is generally used.]
Pope.
DIS€U'RE, V. t. To discover ; to reveal.
[M)t used.] Spenser.
DISCUR'RENT, a. Not current. [JVot ttsed.]
Sandys.
DISCUR'SION, n. [L. discurro ; dis and
curro, to run.] A running or rambling
about. Bailey.
DISeURS'IST, n. [See Discourse.] A dis-
puter. [JVot in use.] L. Mdison.
DlSeURS'IVE, a. [Sp. discursive, from L.
discurro, supra.] Moving or roving about ;
desultory. Bacon.
2. Argumentative ; reasoning ; proceeding
regularly from premises to consequences;
sometimes written discoursive. Whether
brutes have a kind of disctirsive faculty.
Hale.
DlSeURS'lVELY, adv. Argumentatively ;
in the form of reasoning or argument.
Hale.
DISeURS'IVENESS, n. Range or grada-
tion of argument.
DISeURS'ORY, a. Argumental ; rational.
Johnson.
DISCUS, 71. [L. See Eng. Dish and Disk.]
1. A quoit ; a piece of iron, copper or stone,
to be thrown in plaj' ; used by the ancients.
2. In botany, the middle plain part of a radi-
ated compound flower, generally consist-
ing of small florets, with a hollow regular
petal, as in the marigold and daisy.
Bailey. Encyc.
3. The face or surface of the sun or moon.
[See Disk.]
DISCUSS', V. t. [L. discutio, discussmn ; dis
and quatio ; Fr. di^cuter ; Sp. discxdir.
Qualio may be allied to quasso, and to cu-
do and ca:do, to strike. See Class Gs. No.
17. 28. 08. 79. and Class Gd. No. 38. 40.
76.] .
Literally, to drive ; to beat or to shake in
pieces ; to separate by beating or shaking.
1. To disperse; to scatter; to dissolve; to
repel ; as, to discuss a tumor ; a medical
use of the word.
2. To debate ; to agitate by argument ; to
clear of objections and difficulties, with a
view to find or illustrate truth ; to sift ; to
examine by disputation ; to ventilate ; to
reason on, for the purpose of separating
truth from falsehood. We discuss a sub
ject, a point, a problem, a question, tin
propriety, expedience or justice of a mea
sure, &c.
3. To break in pieces. [The primary sense,
but not used.] Bn
4. To shake off. [JVot in use.] Spenser.
DISCUSS'ED, pp. Dispersed ; dissipated ;
debated ; agitated ; argued.
DISCUSS'ER, n. One who discusses ; ont
who sifts or examines.
DIS€USS'ING, ppr. Dispersing ; resolving
scattering ; deliating ; agitating ; examin
ing by argument.
DISCUSS'ING, n. Discussion ; examina-
tion.
DISeUS'SION, n. In surgery, resolution;
the dispersion of a tumor or any coagu-
lated matter. Coie. Wiseman.
2. Debate ; disquisition ; the agitation of a
point or subject with a view to ehcit truth ;
the treating of a subject by argument, to
clear it of difficulties, and sej)arate trutl
from falsehood.
DISeUSSTVE, a. Having the power to dis-
cuss, resolve or disperse tumors or coag-
ulated matter.
DIS€USS'IVE, n. A medicine that
es ; a discutient.
DIS€U'TIENT, a. [L. discutlens.] Discuss-
ing ; dispersing morbid matter.
DISeU'TIENT, n. A medicine or applica-
tion which disperses a tumor or any co-
agulated fluid in the body ; sometimes it is
equivalent to carminative. Coxe.
DISDA'IN, V. t. [Fr. dedaigner ; Sp. desdeii-
ar ; It. sdegnare ; Port, desdenhar ; L.
dedignor ; de, dis, and dignor, to think
worthy ; dignus, worthy. See Dignify.]
To think unworthy ; to deem worthless ; to
consider to be unworthy of notice, care,
regard, esteem, or unworthy of one's cha-
racter ; to scorn ; to contemn. The man
of elevated mind disdains a mean action
he disdains the society of profligate, worth
less men ; he disdains to corrupt the inno
cent, or insult the weak. Goliath disdain
ed David.
Whose fathers I would have disdained to se
with the dogs of my flock. Job xxx.
DISDA'IN, n. Contempt ; scorn ; a passioi
excited in noble minds, by the hatred or
detestation of what is mean and dishonor
able, ami implying a consciousness of su
periority of mind, or a supposed superior
ity. In ignoble minds, disdain may spring
from unwarrantable pride or haughtiness,
and be directed toward objects of worth,
It implies hatred, and sometimes anger.
How my soul is moved with just disdain.
Po2,e
DISDA'INED, pp. Despised ; contemned
scorned.
DISDA'IN FUL, a. Fidl of disdain ; as dis-
dainful soul. I
2. Expressing disdain ; as a disdainful look.
3. Contemptuous; scornful; haughty; in-
dignant. Hooker. Drydcn.
DISDA'INFULLY, adv. Contemptuously;
with scorn ; in a haughty manner.
South.
DISDA'INFULNESS, ?!. Contempt ; con-
teinptuousness; haughty scorn. Sidney.
DISDA'INING, ppr. Contemning ; scorn-
g.
DISDA'INING, n. Contempt ; scorn.
DISDIACLAS'Tle, a. An epithet given by
Bartholine and others to a substance sup-
posed to be crystal, but which is a fine
pellucid spar, called also Iceland eiyst
and by Dr. Hill, from its shape, parallelo-
pipedum. Encyc
DISDIAPA'SON, ? „ rs,^„ n;.^n.,.« t
BISDIAPA'SON, I "• [^'^^ Diapason.]
In music, a compound concord in the quad
ruple ratio of 4 : 1 or 8 : 2.
Disdiapason diapente, a concord in a sextu
pie ratio of 1 : 6.
Disdiapason scmi-diapente, a comjjound con
cord in the proportion of 10 : 3.
Disdiapason ditone, a compound consonance
in the proportion of 10: 2.
Disdiapason semi-ditone, a compound con-
cord in the proportion of 24 : 5. Encyc.
DISE'ASE, n. dize'ze. [dis and case.] In
its primary sense, pain, uneasiness, distress,
and so used by Spenser ; but in this sense,
obsolete.
2. The cau.se of pain or uneasiness ; distem-
per ; malady ; sickness ; disorder ; any
state of a living body in which the natural
functions of the organs are interrupted or
disturbed, either by defective or preternat-
ural action, without a disrupture of parts
by violence, which is called a wound. The
first effect of disease is uneasiness or pain,
and the ultimate effect is death. A dis-
ease may aflect the whole body, or a par-
ticular limb or part of the body. We say,
a diseased limb ; a disease in the head or
stomach ; and such partial affection of the
body is called a local or topical disease.
The word is also applied to the disorders
of other animals, as well as to those of
man ; and to any derangement of the ve-
getative functions of plants.
The sliafts of disease shoot across our patli
in such a variety of courses, that the atmos-
phere of human life is darkened by their num-
ber, and the escape of an individual becomes al-
most miraculous. Buckminster.
3. A disordered state of the mind or intel-
lect, bjr which the reason is impaired.
In society, vice ; corrupt state of morals.
Vices are called moral diseases.
A wise man converses with the wicked, as a
physician with the sick, not to catch the dis-
ease, but to cure it. JUaxiin of Antisthenes .
5. Political or civil disorder, or vices in a
state ; any practice which tends to disturb
the peace of society, or impede or prevent
the regular administration of government.
The instability, injustice and confusion intro-
duced into the public councils have, in truth,
been the mortal diseases under which popular
governments have every where perished.
Federalist, Madison.
DISE'ASE, V. t. dize'ze. To interrupt or im-
pair any or all the natural and regular
functions of the several organs of a liv-
ing body ; to afflict with pain or sickness ;
to make morbid ; used chiefly in the pas-
sive ijarticiple, as a diseased body, a dis-
eased stomach ; but diseased may liere be
considered as an adjective.
2. To interrupt or render imperfect the reg-
ular functions of the brain, or of the intel-
lect ; to disorder ; to derange.
3. To infect ; to communicate disease to, by
contagion.
4. To pain ; to make tmeasy. Locke.
DISE'ASED,p;>. or a. dize'zed. Disordered ;
distempered ; sick.
DISE'ASEDNESS, n. dize'zedness. The
state of being diseased ; a morbid state :
sickness. Burmt.
DISE'ASEFUL, a. dize'zeful. Abounding
with disease; producing diseases; as a
diseaseful climate.
2. Occasioning uneasiness.
DISE'ASEMENT, n. dize'zement. Unea^-
I ness ; inconvenience. Bacon.
iDISEDg'ED, o. [dis and edge.] Blunted :
made <hill. Shak.
IDISIOMB ARK, V. t. [Dis and cmbm-k ; Fr.
I dc.'icmbarquer.]
'To land ; to debark ; to remove from on
D I S
D I S
D I S
board a sliip to the land ; to put on sliore
applied particularly to the landing of
troops and military apparatus ; as,
general disembarked the ti-oops at sun-i
DISEMBARK, V. i. To land: to debark;
to quit a ship for residence or action on
shore ; as, the light infantry and cavalry
disembarked, and marched to meet the en-
emy.
DISEMBARKED, pp. Landed; put on
shore.
DISEMBARKING, ;j;)r. Landing; remov-
ing from on board a ship to land.
DISEMB'ARKMENT, n. The act of dis-
embarking.
DISEMBAR'RASS, v. t. [dis and embar-
rass.] To free from embarrassment or
perplexity ; to clear ; to extricate.
Maso,
DISEMBARRASSED, pp. Freed from
embarrassment ; extricated from diffi-
culty.
DISEMBARRASSING, ppr. Freeing from
embarrassment or perplexity ; extricating.
DISEMBAR'RASSMENT, n. The act of
extricating from perplexity.
DISEMBA'Y, V. t. To clear from a bay.
Sherburne.
DISEMBIT'TER, v. t. [dis and embitter.]
To free from bitterness ; to clear from ac-
rimony ; to render sweet or pleasant.
Mdisoyi,
DISEMBODIED, a. [dis and embodied.]
Divested of the body ; as disembodied spir
its or souls.
2. Separated ; discharged from keeping in a
body. Mililia Act. Geo. HI.
DISEMBOD' Y, i-. t. To divest of body ; to
free from flesh.
2. To discharge from military array.
DISEMBO'GUE, v.t. disembog. Uis and the
root of Fr. bouche, mouth. The French
has emboucher and debouquer. Sp. boca.
tnouth, Port, id., It. bocca. See Voice.]
To pour out or discharge at the mouth, as
a stream ; to vent ; to discharge into the
ocean or a lake.
KoUing down, the steep Timavus raves,
And through nine channels disembogues hi;
waves. Mdison
DISEMBO'GUE, v. i. To flow out at the
mouth, as a river; to discharge waters
into the ocean, or into a lake. Innumera'
ble rivers disembogue into the ocean.
2. To pass out of a gulf or bay.
DISEMBO'GUEMENT, n. "Discharge of
waters into the ocean or a lake. Mease.
DISEMBOSOM, V. t. To separate from the
bosom. Young.
DISEMBOWEL, v. t. [dis and embowel]
To take out the bowels : to take or draw
from the bowels, as the web ol'a spider.
DISEMBOWELED, pp. Taken or drawn
from the bowels.
Disemboweled web. PMlivs
DISEMBOWELING ppr. Taking or draw-
ing from the bowels.
DISEMBR.\N'GLE, v. t. To free from liti-
gation. [J^ot used.]
DISEMBROIL', t). <. [dis and emhroii] To
disentangle ; to free iiom perplexity ; to ex-
tricate from confusion. Dniden. Mdison.
DISEMBROIL'ED, pp. 'Disentangled ;
cleared from perplexity or confusion.
DISEMBROIL'ING, ppr. Discntanglino- ;
freeing from confusion. "
Vol. I.
DISENA'BLE, v. I. [dis and enable.] To de-
prive of power, natural or moral; to disa-
ble ; to deprive of ability or means. A
man may be disenabled to walk by lame-
ness ; and by poverty he is disenabled to
sup|)ort his family.
DISENABLED, pp. Deprived of power,
ability or means.
DISENA'BLING, ppr. Depriving of power,
ability or means.
DISENCI1>ANT, jj. t. [dis and enchant.] To
free from enchantment; to deliver from
the power of charms or spells.
Haste to tliy work ; a noble stroke or two
Ends all the channs, and disenchants the
grove. Dry den.
DISENCHANTED, pp. Dehvercd from en-
chantment, or the power of charms.
DISENCH'ANTING, ppr. Freeing from
enchaiitniciit, m- the inlhR'Mce nf charms.
DISENCt'M'HF.i;. ,■. /. [dis and (nn,ml„r.]
To t\c>- fn iirimilinuirc ; to .l.liv.T
from clogs and iiMpiMliiMeiils; to di.-;
den ; as, to disencumber troops of their
baggage ; to disencumber the soul of "
body of clay ; to disencumber the mind of
its cares and griefs.
2. To free from any obstruction ; to free
from any thing heavy or unnecessaiy ;
a disencumbered building. Mdison.
DISF.NCI M BERED, pp. Freed from in
DlSI'.NtrM liERlNG, ppr. Freeing from
DISENCUM BRANCE, n. Freedom or de
liverauce from incumbrance, or any thing
burdensome or troublesome. Spectator.
DISENGA'(>E, V. t. [dis and engage.] To
separate, as a substance from any thing
with which it is in union ; to free '
loose ; to liberate ; as, to disengage a ii
from extraneous substances.
Caloric and light must be disengaged during
the process. Lavoisier.
2. To .separate from that to which one ad
heres, or is attached ; as, to disengage a
man from a party.
3. To disentangle; to extricate; to clear
from impediments, difficulties or perple
ties ; as, to disengage one from broils
controversies.
4. To detach ; to withdraw ; to wean ; as,
to disengage the heart or affections from
earthly pursuits.
3. To free from any thing that conmiands
the mind, or employs the attention ; as, to
disengage the mind from study ; to disen-
gage one's self from business.
G. To relea.se or liberate from a promise or
obligation ; to set free by dissolving an en-
gagement ; as, the men, who were enlist-
ed, are now disengaged ; the lady, who
had i)roinised to give her hand in mar-
riage, is disengaged.
Let it be observed that disengaged prop-
erly implies previous engagement ; and is
not to be confounded with unengaged,
which does- not always imply prior en-
gagement. This distinction is sometimes
carelessly overlooked.
DISENGA'gED, ;)p. Separated; detached;
set free ; released ; disjoined ; disentan-
gled.
2. a. Vacant; being at leisure ; not particu-
larly occupied ; not having the attention
confined to a particular "object. [This
63
word is thus used by mistake for unen-
gaged, not engaged.]
DISENGA'GEDNESS, n. The quality or
state of being disengaged ; freedom from
connection ; disjimction.
2. Vacuity of attention.
DISENGA'GEMENT, ,i. A setting free :
separation ; extrication.
It is easy to render this disengagement of
caloric and light evident to the senses.
Lavoisier.
i. 1 he act of separating or detaching.
3. Liberation or release from obligation.
4. Freeilom from attention ; vacancy ; leis-
ure.
DISENGA'GING, ppr. Separating; loos-
ing ; settnig free ; detacliing ; liberating ;
relciising fron) obligation.
DISENNO'BLE, v. t. To deprive of title, or
of that which ennobles. Guardian.
I ) I. S ENROLL, V. i. To erase from a roll or
ni.-^ENSLA'VE, V. t. To free from bomUge'.
DISENTAN'GLE, v. t. [dis and entangle.]
1. To unravel; to unfold; to untwist; to
loose, separate or disconnect things which
are interwoven, or united without order ;
as, to disenta7igle net-work ; to disentangle
a .skain of yarn.
2. To free ; to extricate from perplexity ; to
disengage from complicated concerns ; to
set free from impediments or difliculties ;
as, to disentangle one's self from business,
from political affairs, or from the cares
and temptations of life.
3. To disengage ; to separate.
DISENTANGLED, pp. Freed from en-
tanglement; extricated.
DISENTAN'GLING, ;,;,,•. Freeing from
entanglement; extricating.
DISENTER'. [See Disiyder.]
DISENTHRO'lV^E, v. t. [dis and enthrone.]
To dethrone ; to depose from sovereign
authority ; as, to disenthrone a king.
Milton.
DISENTHRO'NED, pp. Deposed ; depri-
ved of sovereign power.
DISENTHRO'MNG, ppr. Deposing ; de-
privine of royal authority.
DISENTITLE, V. t. To deprive of title.
South.
DISENTR-ANCE, v.t. [dis and entrance.]
To awaken from a trance, or from deep
sleep ; to arouse from a reverie.
Hudibras.
DISENTR'ANCED,;,;>. Awakened from a
trance, sleep or reverie.
DISENTR'ANCING,;>/)r. .\rousing from a
trance, sleep or reverie.
DISESPOUSE, v.t. disespou-J. [dis and
espouse.]
To separate after espousal or plighted faith •
to divorce. MUfon.
DISESPOUS'ED, pp. Separated after es-
pousal ; released from obligation to nlarr^•
DISESPOUS'ING, ppr. Separating after
plighted faith.
DISESTEE'M, ti. [dis and esteem.] Want
of esteem ; slight dislike ; disregard. It
expresses less than hatred or contempt.
Locke.
DISESTEE'M, v. t. To dislike in a moder-
ate degree; to consider with disregard,
disapprobation, dishke or slight contempt :
to slight.
D I S
But if this sacred gift you disesteem.
Denham
DISESTEE'MED, pp. Disliked ; sliehtcd
DISESTEE'MING, ppr. Disliking; slight
Disesteem ; bad
DISESTIMA'TION,
repute.
DISEX'ERCISE, v. t. To deprive of excr
cise. [Jl bad iford.] Milton.
DlSFAK'CY,v.t. To dislike. [J\roluscd.]
Hammond.
DISFA'VOR, n. [dis and favor.] Dislike;
slight displeasure ; discountenance ; unfa
vorable regard ; disesteem ; as, the con
duct of the minister incurred the disfavor
of his sovereign.
2. A state of unacceptableness ; a state
which one is not esteemed or favored, or
not patronized, promoted or befriended
as, to be in disfavor at court.
3. An ill or disobhgmg act ; as, no generous
man will do a disfavor to the meanest of
his species.
DISFA'VOR, v. t. To discountenance
withdraw or withhold from one, kindness,
friendship or support ; to check or oppose
by disapprobation ; as, let the nuin be
countenanced or disfavored, according to
his merits.
DISFA'VORED, pp. Discountenanced ; noi
favored.
DISFA'VORER, n. One who discounte
nances. Bacon.
DISFA'VORING, ppr. Discountenanchig
DISFIGURA'TION, n. [See Disfigure.
The act of disfiguring, or tnarring exter
nal form.
2. The state of being disfigured ; some de
gree of deformity.
DISFIG'URE, I', t. [dis and figure.] To
change to a worse form ; to mar external
figure ; to impair shape or form and ren-
der it less perfect and beautiful ; as, the
loss of a Umb disfigures the body.
2. To mar ; to impair ; to injure beauty,
symmetry or excellence.
UISFIG'URED, pp. Changed to a worse
form ; impaired in form or appearance.
DISFIG'UREMENT, n. Change of exter-
nal form to the worse ; defacement of
beauty. Milton. Suckling.
DISFIG'URER, n. One who disfigures.
DISFIG'URING,;);)r. Injuring the form or
shape ; impairing the beauty of form.
DISFOREST. [See Disafforest.]
DISFRAN'CHISE, i;. t. [dis am] franchise.]
To deprive of the rights and privileges of
a flee citizen ; to deprive of chartered
rights and immunities; to deprive of any
franchise, as of the right of voting in elec-
tions, &,c. Blackstone.
DISFRAN'CHISED, pp. Deprived of the
rights and privileges of a free citizen, or of
some particular franchise
DISFRAN'CHISEMENT, n. The act of
disfranchising, or depriving of the privi
leges of a free citizen, or of some particu-
lar immunity.
DISFRAN'CHISING, ppr. Depriving of the
privileges of a free citizen, or of some par-
ticular immunity.
DISFRIAR, v.t. [dis and friar.] To de-
prive of the state of a friar. [jVo< used.]
Sandys.
nuure or apparatus.
DISGAL'LANT, r. t. To deprive
lantry. [jYot used.] B. Jonson.
DISG^ARNISH, v. t. [dis and garnish
D I S
DISFUR'NISH, V. t. [dis and fu
deprive of furniture; to strip of apparatus,
habiliments or equipage. Shak. Knolles.
DISFUR'NISHED, pp. Deprived of furni-
us.
Depriving of fur-
f ga
101
To
ture ; stripped of apparatus.
^'NISHING,;7;)r. "
DISFUR'l
divest of garniture or ornaments.
2. To deprive of a garrison, guns and mili-
tary apparatus ; to degarnish.
DISGAR'RISON, v. t. To deprive of a gar
rison. Hewyt
DISGAV'EL, D. «. [See Gavelkind.] To take
away the tenure of gavelkind.
Blackstone
DISGAV'ELED,;);). Deprived of the tenure
by gavelkind.
DISGAV'ELING, ppr. Taking away tenure
by gavelkind. Btacksteme.
DISGLO'RIFY, v. t. [dis and glorify.] To
deprive of glory ; to treat with indignity.
Tiie participle disglorified is used by
Milton ; but the word is little used.
DISGORtiE, i>. t. disgorj'. [Fr. degorger;
de, dis, and gorge, the throat.]
1. To eject or dischai-ge from the stomach,
throat or mouth; to vomit.
2. To throw out with violence ; to discharge
violently or in great quantities from a con-
fined place. Thus, volcanoes are said to
disgorge streams of burning lava, ashes
and stones. Milton's infernal rivers dis
gorge their streams into a burning lake.
DISGORG'ED, pp. Ejected ; discharged
from the stomach or mouth ; thrown on
with violence. and in great quantities.
DISGORGEMENT, n. disgorj' ment. Tli
act of disgorging ; a vomiting. Hall.
DISGORG'ING, ppr. Discharging from the
throat or mouth ; vomiting ; ejecting with
violence and in great quantities.
DISGOS'PEL, V. i. [dis and gospel] To
differ from the precepts of the gos|)el.
[JVot used.] Milton.
DISGRA'CE, 11. [dis and grace.] A state
of being out of favor ; disfavor ; dises-
teem ; as, the minister retired from court
in disgrace.
2. State of ignominy ; dishonor; shame.
3. Cause of shame ; as, to turn the back to
the enemy is a foul disgrace ; every i ice
is a disgrace to a rational being.
4. Act of unkindness. [Molused.] Sidney.
DISGRA'CE, V. t. To put out of favor; as,
the minister was disgraced.
3. To bring a reproach on ; to dishonor; as
an agent. Men are apt to take pleasure in
disgraeingan enemy and his performances.
3. To bring to shame ; to dishonor ; to sink
in estimation; as a cause; as, men often
boast of actions which disgrace them.
DISGRA'CED, pp. Put out of favor;
brought under reproach ; dishonored.
DISGRA'CEFUL, a. Shameful; reproach-
ful ; dishonorable ; procuring shame ; sink-
ing reputation. Cowardice is disgraceful
to a soldier. Intemperance and profane-
ness are disgraceful to a man, but more
disgraceful to a woman.
DISGRA'CEFULLY, adv. With disgrace
The senate have cast you forth disgracefully
B. Jonson
2. Shamefully ; reproachfully ; ignominious-
DIS
ly ; in a disgraceful manner ; as, the troops
fled disgracefully.
DISGRA'CEFULNESS, n. Ignominy;
shamefulness.
DISGRA'CER, n. One who disgraces ; one
who exposes to disgrace ; one who brings
into disgrace, shame or contempt.
DISGRA'ClNG,ppr. Bringing reproach on :
dishonoring.
DISGRA'CIOUS, a. [dis and gracious.]
Ungracious ; unpleasing. Shak
DIS'GREGATE, v. t. To separate ; to dis-
perse. [Little used.] More
Dl»GVVSE,v.t. disgi'ze. [Fr. deguiser ; de,
dis, and guise, manner.]
1. To conceal by an unusual habit, or mask.
Men sometimes disguise themselves for
the purpose of committing crimes without
danger of detection. They disguise their
faces in a masquerade.
2. To hide by a counterfeit appearance ; to
cloke by a false show, by false language,
or an artificial manner ; as, to disguise an-
ger, sentiments or intentions.
3. To disfigure ; to alter the form, and ex-
hibit an unusual appearance.
They saw the faces, which too well they knew,
Though then disguised in death. Dryden.
I. To disfigure or deform by liquor; to in-
toxicate. Spectator.
DISGUI'SE, n. A counterfeit habit ; adress
intended to conceal the person who wears
it.
By the laws of England, persons doing un-
lawful acts in disguise are subjected to Jieavy
penalties, and in some cases, declared felons.
2. A false appearance"; a counterfeit show ;
an artificial or assumed appearance in-
tended to deceive the beholder.
A treacherous design is often concealed un-
der the disguise of great candor.
3. Change of manner by drink ; intoxica-
t'O'i- Shak.
msam'SET), pp. Concealed by a counter-
feit habit or appearance ; intoxicated.
DISGUI'SEMENT, n. Dress of conceal-
ment ; false appearance.
DISGUI'SER, n. One who disguises himself
or another.
2. He or that which disfigures.
DISGUI'SING,/?pr. Concealing by a coun-
terfeit dress, or by a false show ; intoxica-
ting.
DISGUI'SING, n. The act of giving a false
appearance.
2. Theatrical mummery or masking.
DISGUST', n. [Fr. degout; de, dis, and gout,
taste, L, gustus.]
1. Disrelish ; distaste ; aversion to the taste
of food or drink; an unpleasant sensation
excited in the organs of taste by something
disagreeable, and when extreme, produ-
cing loatrdng or nausea.
2. Dislike ; aversion ; an unpleasant sensa-
tion in the mind excited by something
offensive in the manners, conduct, lan-
guage or opinions of others. Thus, obscen-
ity in language and clownishness in be-
havior excite disgitst.
DISGUST', v. t. To excite aversion in the
stomach ; to offend the taste.
2. To displease ; to ofiend the mind or moral
taste ; with at or u'ith ; as, to be disgusted
at foppery, or u-ith vulgar manners. To
disgust from is unusual and hardly legiti-
mate.
D I S
D I S
D I S
DISGUST'ED, pp. Displeased ; offended.
DISGUST'FUL, a. Offensive to the taste;
nauseous ; exciting aversion in the natural
or moral taste.
DISGUST'ING, ppr. Provoking aversion
offending the taste.
2. a. Provoking dislike ; odious ; hateful; as
dissusline servility.
DISGUSTINGLY, adv. In a manner to
give disgust. Siinnbume.
DISH, n. [Sax. disc, a dish, and dixas,
dishes ; L. discus ; Gr. Smxo^ ; Fr. disq.
Arm. disg ; VV. dysgyl ; Sp. It. disco. It
is the same word as disk and desk, and
, seems to signify something flat, plain or
extended.]
1. A broad open vessel, made of various ma-
terials, used for serving up meat and vari-
ous kinds of food at the table. It is some-
times used for a deep hollow vessel for
liquors. Addison. Milton.
9. The meat or provisions served in a dish.
Hence, any particular kind of food.
I have here a dish of doves. Shak.
We say, a dish of veal or venison ; a cold
disk ; a warm dish ; a delicious dish.
3. Among miners, a trough in which ore is
measured, about 28 inches long, 4 deep
and 6 wide. Encyc.
DISH, i>. /. To put iu a dish ; as, tlie meat is
all dished, and ready for the table.
DISH'-€LOTn, ) A cloth used for wash-
DISH'-CLOUT, ^"- iug and wiping dishes
Swift
DISH'-WASHRR. n. The name of a bird,
the mergus. Johnson.
DISH'-WATER, n. Water in which dishe;
are washed.
DISHABILLE, ) [Fr. deshabille ; des and
DISHABIL', < "• hahUler, to dress. See
Habit.]
An undress ; a loose negligent dress for the
morniug. But see Deshabille, the French
and more correct orthography.
Dryden uses the word as a participle
" Queens are not to be too negligently
dressed or dishabille." In this use, he is
not followed.
DISHAB'IT, V. t. To drive from a habita-
tion. [JVot in use.] Shak
DISHARMO'NIOUS, a. Incongruous. [See
Unharmonious.] Hallywell.
DISHAR'MONY, n. [dis and harmony.]
Want of harmony ; discord ; incongruity,
[jVot used.]
DISHEARTEN, v. t. dishart'n. [dis and
heart.]
To discourage ; to deprive of courage ;
depress the spirits; to deject ; to impress
with fear ; as, it is weakness to be dis-
heartened by small obstacles.
DISHEARTENED, pp. dishart'ned. Dis-
couraged ; depressed in spirits ; cast
down.
DISHEARTENING, ppr. dishaH'ning
Discouraging ; depressing the spirits.
DISH'ED,;)^. Putin a dish or dishes.
DISHEIR, V. i. diia're. To debar from
inheriting. Wotiyiiise.] Dryden
DISHER'ISON, n. [See Disherit.] The act
of disinheriting, or cutting off from inher-
itance. Bp. Hall.
DISHERIT, v.t. [Fr. desheriter ; des, dis,
and heriter ; Arm. disenln ; It. diseredare ;
Sp. dtsheredar. See Heir.]
To disinherit; to cut off from the possession
or enjoyment of an inheritance. [See Dis-
inherit, which is more generally used.]
DISHER'ITANCE, n. The state of disher-
iting or of being disinherited. Beaum
DISHERITED, pp. Cut off from an inher
itance or hereditary succession.
DISIIER'ITING,;)pr. Cutting off from an
inheritance. Spenser.
DISHEVEL, v.t. [Fr. decheveler ; de,dis,
and cheveu, hair, chevelu, hairy, L. capiUus.
Class Gb.]
To spread the hair loosely ; to suffer the hair
of the head to hang negligently, and to
flow without confinement ; used chiefly in
the passive participle.
DISllEV'EL, V. i. To spread in disorder,
DISHEVELED, pp.
Herbert.
a. Hanging looselj
and negligently without confiii
flowing in disorder ; as disheveled locks.
DISHEVELING, ppr. Spreading loosely.
DISH'ING, ppr. [See Dish.] Putting in a
dish or dishes.
2. a. Concave ; having the hollow form of a
dish. Mortimer.
DISHON'EST, a. dizon'est. [dis and hon-
est.]
1. Void of honesty; destitute of probity, in-
tegrity or good faith ; faithless ; fraudu-
lent; knavish; having or exercising a dis-
I)osition to deceive, cheat and defraud ;
applied to persons ; as a dishonest man.
2. Proceeding from fraud or marked by it ;
fraudulent ; knavish ; as a disho7iest trans-
action.
3. Disgraced ; dishonored ; from the sense in
Latin.
Dishonest with lopped arras the youth ap-
pears. Dryden.
4. Disgraceful ; ignominious ; from the Latin
sense.
Inglorious triumphs, and dishonest scars.
Pope.
.5. Unchaste ; lewd. Shak.
DISHON'ESTLY, adv. dizon'esthj. In a
dishonest manner ; without good ftiith,
probity or integrity ; with fraudulent
views ; knavishly. Shak.
2. Lewdly ; unchastely. Ecclesiastiats.
DISHONESTY, n. dizon'esty. Want of
probity, or integrity in principle ; faithless-
ness ; a disposition to cheat or defraud,
or to deceive and betray ; applied to per-
sons.
2. Violation of trust or of justice ; fraud ;
treachery ; any deviation from probity or
integrity; applied to acts.
3. Unchastity ; incontinence ; lewdness.
Shak.
4. Deceit ; wickedness ; shame. 2 Cor. iv.
DISHON'OR, n. dizon'or. [dis and honor.]
Reproach ; disgrace ; ignominy; shame;
whatever constitutes a stain or blemish in
the reputation.
It was not meet for us to see the king's rfis-j
honor. Ezra iv. I
It may express less than ignominy
infamy.
DISHON'OR, v.t. To disgrace; to bring
reproach or shame on ; to stain the char-'
acterof; to lessen reputation. The duel-
ist rfis/ionori himself to maintain his honor.
The impimily of the crimes of great men dis-
honors the administration of the laws.
2. To treat with indignity. Dryden.
3. To violate the cha.sity of; to debauch.
Dryden.
DISHON'OR ABLE, a. Shameful ; reproacli-
ful ; base ; vile ; bringing shame on ; stain-
ing the character, and lessening reputa-
tion. Every act of meanness, and every
vice is dishonorable.
2. Destitute of honor ; as a dishonorable
man.
3. In a state of neglect or disesteem.
He that is dishonorable in riches, how much
more in poverty .' Ecclesiasticus.
DISHONORABLY, adv. Reproachfully;
in a dishonorable manner.
DISHON'ORARY, a. dizon'orary. Bringing
dishonor on ; tending to disgrace ; lessen-
ing' ii'imliition. Holmes.
l)l.-^lln\ oUKD, pp. Disgraced; brought
llil'i ili,^]r|iute.
niSIION ORER, n. One who dishonors or
disgraces ; one who treats another with
indignity. Milton.
DISHONORING, ppr. Disgracing ; bring-
ing into disrepute ; treating with indig-
nity.
DISHORN', V. t. [dis and horn.] To deprive
of horns. Shak.
DISHORN'ED, pp. Stripped of horns.
DISHU'MOR, n. [dis and humor.] Peevish-
ness ; ill humor. [Little \ised.]
Spectator.
DISIMPARK', V. t. [dis, in and ^ark.]
To free from the barriers of a park ; to
free from restraints or seclusion. [Little
xtscd.] Spectator.
DISIMPR6VEMENT, n. [dis and improve-
ment.]
Reduction from a better to a worse state :
the contrary to improvement or meliora-
tion; as the disimprovement of the earth.
[Little used.] ATorris. Sunft.
DISINCARCERATE, v. t. [dis and incar-
cerate.]
To liberate from prison ; to set free from
confinement. [J^ot much used.]
Harvey.
DISINCLINA'TION, n. [dis and inclina-
tion.]
Want of inclination ; want of propensity, de-
sire or afl'ection ; slight dislike ; aversion ;
e.\prcssing less than hate.
Disappointment gave him a disinclination to
the fair sex. Arbuthnot.
DISINeLI'NE, V. t. [dis and incline.] To
excite dislike or shght aversion ; to make
disaffected; to alienate from. His timidity
disinclined him from such an arduous en-
terprise.
DISINCLINED, pp. Not inclined ; averse.
DlSINCLI'NING,ppr. Exciting dislike or
slight aversion.
DISINCORPORATE, t>. t. To deprive of
corporate powers ; to disunite a corporate
body, or an established society. Hume.
2. To detach or separate from a corporation
orsocietv. Baton.
DISINCORPORA'TION, n. Deprivation of
the rights and privileges of a corporation.
fVarfon.
DISINFECT', V. t. [dis and infect.] To
cleanse from infection ; to purify from con-
tagious matter.
DISINFECTED, pp. Cleansed from infec-
tion.
DISINFECTING, ppr. Purifying fi-om in-
fection.
D I f<
D I S
D I S
DISINFECTION, n. Purification from in-
fecting matter. Med. Repos.
DISINgENU'ITY, n. [dis and ingenuity.]
Meanness of artifice ; unfairness ; disin-
penuousness ; want of candor. Clarendon.
[Tliis word is little used, or not at all, in the
sense here ex[)lained. See Ingenuity.
We now use in lieu of it disingenuous-
ness.]
DISINGEN'UOUS, a. [dis and ingenuous.^
Unfaij- ; not open, fi-ank and candid ;
meanly artful ; illiberal ; applied to per-
sons.
2. Unfair ; meanly artful ; unbecoming true
honor and dignity ; as disingenuous con-
duct ; disingenuous schemes.
DISINGEN'UOUSLY, adv. In a disingenu-
ous manner ; unfairly ; not openly and
candidly ; with secret management.
DISINGEN'UOUSNESS, n. Unfairness;
want of candor ; low craft ; as the disin-
genuousness of a man, or of his mind.
2. Characterized by unfairness, as conduct
or practices.
DISINHERISON, n. [dis and inherit]
The act of cutting off from hereditary
succession ; the act of disinheriting.
Bacon. Clarendon.
9. The state of being disinherited. Taylor.
DISINIIER'IT, V. t. [dis and inheril.] To
cut off from hei-editary right ; to deprive
of an inheritance; to prevent as an heir
from coining into possession of any prop-
erty or right, which, by law or custom,
would devolve on him in the course of
descent. A father sometimes disinherits
his children by will. In England, the
crown is descendible to the eldest son,
who cannot be disinherited by the will of
his father.
DISINHER'ITED, pp. Cut oflTroni an in-
heritance.
DISINHERITING, ppr. Depriving of an
hereditary estate or right.
DISIN'TEGR.\BLE, a. [dis and integer.]
That may be separated into integrant
parts ; capable of disintegration.
Argillo-calcite is readily disintegrable by ex-
posure to the atmosphere. Kirwan.
DISIN'TEORATE, v. t. [dis and integer.]
To separate the integrant parts of.
Marlites are not disintegrated by exposure
to the atmosphere, at least in six years.
Kirwan.
DISIN'TEGRATED, pp. Separated into
integrant parts without chimieal action.
DISINTEGRA'TION, n. The act of sepa-
rating integrant parts of a substance, as
distinguished from decomposition or the
separation of constituent ])arts. Kirwan.
DISINTER', V. t. [dis and inter.] To take
out of a grave, or out of the eartli ; as, to
disinter a dead body that is buried.
2. To take out as from a grave ; to bring
from obscurity into view.
The philosopher — may be concealed in a ple-
beian, which a proper education might have
disinterred. [ Unusual.] Addison
DISINTERESSED. > [See Disinterest
DISI.MTERESSMENT. <, ed, &c.]
DISJN'TEREST, n. [dis and interest.]
What is contrary to the interest or adva
tagc; disadvantage; injury. [Little used
or not at all.] Glanville.
9. Indifference to profit ; want of regard to
private advantage. Johnson.
IDISIN'TEREST, v. t. To disengage from
private interest or persona! advantage.
[Little used.] Fettham.
DISIN'TERESTED, a. Uninterested ; in-
different; free from self-interest ; having
no personal interest or private advantage
in a question or affair. It is important
that a judge should be perfectly disinter-
ested.
2. Not influenced or dictated by private ad-
vantage ; as a disinterested decision.
[This word is more generally used than un-
interested.]
IDISIN'TERESTEDLY, adv. In a disin-
terested manner.
DISINTERESTEDNESS, n. The state or
quality of having no personal interest or
private advantage in a question or event ;
freedom from bias or prejudice, on ac-
count of private interest ; indifference.
Broum.
DISIN'TERESTING, a. Uninteresting.
[The hitter is the tiord now used.]
DIStNTER'MENT, n. The act of disinter-
ring, or taking out of the earth.
DISINTER'RED, pp. Taken out of the
I earth or grave.
DISINTER'RING, ;>;);■. Taking out of the
earth, or out of a grave.
DISINTHRALL', v. t. [dis and enthrall.]
To liberate from slavery, bondage or ser-
vitude ; to free or rescue from oppression.
South.
DISINTHRALL'ED, pp. Set free from
bondage.
DISINTHRALL'ING, /);)?•. DeUvering from
slavery or servitude.
DISINTHRALL'MENT, n. Liberation from
bondage ; emancipation from slavery.
E' Kott.
DISINU'RE, v.t. [dis and inure.] To de-
prive of familiarity or custom. Milton.
DISINVI'TE, V. t. To recall an invitation.
Finett.
DISINVOLVE, V. t. disinvolv'. [dis and in-
volve.] To uncover ; to unfold or unroll ;
to disentangle. More.
DIS.IOIN', v.t. [dis and Join.] To part; to
disunite; to separate ; to sunder.
DISJOIN'ED, pp. Disunited ; separated.
DISJOIN'ING, ppr. Disuniting ; severing.
DISJOINT', V. t. [dis and Join*.] To sepa-
rate a joint ; to separate parts united by
joints ; as, to disjoint the limbs ; to disjoint
bones ; to disjoint a fowl in carving.
j2. To put out of joint ; to force out of its
socket ; to dislocate.
3. To separate at junctures; to break at the
part where things are united by cement ;
as disjointed columns.
4. To break in pieces ; to separate united
parts ; as, to diyoint an edifice ; the dis-
jointed parts of a ship.
. To break the natural order and relations
of a thing ; to make incoherent ; as a
disjointed speech.
DISJOINT', V. i. To fall in pieces. Shak.
DISJOINT', a. Disjointed. Shall.
DISJOINT'ED, pp. Separated at the joints :
parted limb from limb; carved; put out
of joint ; not coherent.
DISJOINT'ING, ppr. Separating joints;
disjoining limb from Umb ; breaking at the
seams or junctures; renderiug incohe-
rent.
DISJOINT'LY, adv. In a divided state.
Sandys:
DISJUDICA'TION, n. [L. dijudicatio.]
Judgment ; determination. [Mit used.]
Boyle.
DISJUNCT', a. [L. disjunctus, disjungo :
dis and jungo, to join.] Disjoined ; sepa-
rated.
DISJUNCTION, n. [L. diyunctio.] The
act of disjoining ; disunion ; separation ; a
parting ; as the disjunction of soul and
body.
DISJUNCTIVE, a. Separating; disjoin-
ing.
2. Incapable of union. [Unusual.] Grew.
•i In grammar, a disjunctive eonjimction or
connective, is a word which unites senten-
ces or the parts of discourse in construc-
tion, but disjoins the sense, noting an al-
ternative or opposition ; as, I love him, or
I fear him ; I neither love him, nor fear
4. In logic, a disjunctive proposition, is one
in which the parts are opposed to each
other, by means of disjunctives ; as, it is
either day or night.
A disjunctive syllogism, is when the ma-
jor proposition is disjunctive ; as, the earth
moves in a circle, or an ellipsis ; but it does
not move in a circle, therefore it moves
in an ellipsis. Watts.
DISJUNCTIVE, n. A word that disjoins,
as or, nor, neither.
DISJUNCTIVELY, adv. In a disjunctive
manner ; separately.
DISK, n. [L. discus. See Dish and Desk.]
The body and face of the sun, moon or a
planet, as it appears to us on the earth ;
or the body and faee of the earth, as it
appears to a spectator in the moon.
JVewton. Dryden.
2. A quoit; a piece of stone, iron or copper,
inclining to an oval figure, which the an-
cients hurled by the help of a leathern
thong tied round the person's hand, and
put through a hole in the middle.
Some whirl the disk, and some the jav'lin
dart. Pope.
3. In botany, the whole surface of a leaf;
the central part of a radiate compound
flower. Martyn.
DISKI'NDNESS, n. [dis and kindness.]
Want of kindness; unkindness; want of
affection.
2. Ill turn ; injury ; detriment. Woodward.
DISLI'KE, n. [dis and like.] Disapproba-
tion ; disinclination ; displeasure ; aver-
sion ; a moderate degree of hatred. A
man shows his dislike to measures which
he disapproves, to a proposal which he is
disinclined to accept, and to food which he
does not relish. All wise and good men
manifest their dislike to folly.
2. Discord ; disagreement. [Aod in use.]
Fairfax.
DISLI'KE, v.t. To disapprove ; to regard
with some aversion fir displeasure. We
dislike proceedings which we deem wrong ;
we dislike persons of evil habits ; we
dislike whatever gives us pain.
2. To disrelish ; to regard with some dis-
gust ; as, to dislike particular kinds of food.
DISH'KtCD, ;)p. Disapproved; disrelished.
DISLI'KEFUL, «. Disliking; disaffected.
[JVbt used.] Spenser.
D I S
D I S
D I S
DISLI'KEN, V. t. To make unlike. Sliak
DISLI'KENESS, 71. [dis and likeness.] Vn
likeness; want of resemblance ; dissimili
tude. Locke.
DISLI'KER, n. One who disapproves, or
disrelishes.
DISLI'KING, ppr. Disapproving ; disrel-
ishing.
DISLIMB', V. t. dislim'. To tear the limbs
from. Did.
DISLIMN', V. t. dislim'. To strike out of a
picture. [JVot in use.] ShaJc.
DIS'LOeATE, V. t. [dis and locate, L. locus,
place ; Fr. disloquer ; It. dislocare.]
To displace ; to put out of its proper place ;
particularly, to put out of joint; to disjoint;
to move a bone from its socket, cavity or
place of articulation.
DIS'LOCATED, pp. Removed from its
proper place ; j)ut out of joint.
DIS'LOeATlNG, ppr. Putting out of its
proper place or out of joint.
DISLOCA'TION, n. The act of moving
from its proper place ; particularly, the
act of removing or forcing a bone from its
socket; luxation. Encyc.
2. The state of being displaced. Burnet.
3. A joint displaced.
4. In geology, the displacement of parts of
roclis, or portions of strata, from the situ-
ations which they originally occupied.
Cyc.
DISLODGE, V. t. dislodj'. [dis and lodge.]
To remove or drive from a lodge or place
of rest ; to drive from the place where a
thing naturally rests or inhabits. Shells
resting in the sea at a considerable depth,
are not dislodged by storms.
2. To drive from a place of retirement or
retreat ; as, to dislodge a coney or a deer
3. To drive from any place of rest or hab-
itation, or from any station ; as, to dislodge
the enemy from their quarters, from a hill
or wall.
4. To remove an army to other quarters.
Shak.
DISLODGE, V. i. To go from a place of
rest. Milton.
DISLOD6'ED, pp. Driven from a lodge or
place of rest ; removed from a place of
habitation, or from any station.
DISLODg'ING, ppr. driving from a lodge,
from a place of rest or retreat, or from
any station.
DISLOY'AL, a. [dis and loyal ;Fr. delayed;
Sp. dcsleal.]
1. Not true to allegiance; false to a sove-
reign ; faithless ; as a disloyal subject.
2. False ; i)erfidious ; treacherous ; as a dis-
loyal knave. Shak.
3. Not true to the marriage-bed. S'liak.
4. False in love ; not constant. Johnson.
DISLOY'ALLY, adv. In a disloyal man-
ner; with violation of faith or duty to a
sovereign ; faithlessly ; perfidiously.
DISLOY'ALTY, n. Want of fidehty to a
sovereign ; violation of allegiance, or duty
to a prince or sovereign authority.
2. Want of fidelity in love. Skak.
DIS'MAL, a. s as :. [I am not satisfied
with the etymologies of tliis word which
I have seen.] Dark ; gloomy ; as a dis-
mal shade.
2. Sorrowful ; dire ; horrid ; melancholy ;
calamitous; unfortunate; as a dismal ac-
cident ; dismal effects. Milton
2. Frightful ; horrible ; as a dismal scream.
DIS'MALLY, adv. Gloomily ; horribly ; sor-
rowfully ; uncomfortably.
DIS'MALNESS, n. Gloominess; horror.
DISMANTLE, v. t. [dis and mantle; Fr.
dema7iteler.]
1. To deprive of dress ; to strip ; to divest.
South.
2. To loose ; to throw open. Shak.
3. More generally, to deprive or strip of ap-
paratus, or furniture ; to unrig ; as, to dis-
mantle a ship.
4. To deprive or strip of military furniture ;
as, to dismantle a fortress.
5. To deprive of outworks or forts
dismantle a town.
(). To break down ; as, his nose dismantled.
Dnjdi
DISMAN'TLED, pp. Divested ; stripped of
furniture ; unrigged,
DISMAN'TLING, ppr. Stripping of dress ;
depriving of apparatus or furniture.
DISM'ASK, V. t. [dis and mask ; Fr. demas-
quer.]
To strip off a mask ; to uncover ; to remove
iliar which conceals. Shak. Jf'otton.
Dl!<M ASKKD, pp. Divested of a mask ;
stripped of covering or disguise ; tmcov-
ered.
DISM'ASKING, ppr. Stripping of a mask
or covering.
DISM AST, V. t. [dis and mast ; Fr. demdt-
er.]
To deprive of a mast or masts ; to break
and carry away the masts from ; as, a
storm dismasted the ship.
DISM^ASTED, pp. Deprived of a mast or
masts.
DISM>ASTING, ppr. Stripping of masts.
DISM^ASTMENT, n. The act of dismast-
ing ; the state of being dismasted.
Marshall.
DISM A' Y, v.t. [Sp. desmaxjar; Port, des-
maiar; probably fbrmed by des and the
Teutonic magan, to be strong or able.
The sense then is to deprive of strength.
Sp. desmayarse, to faint ; It. smagarsi, to
despond.]
To deprive of that strength or firmness of
mind which constitutes courage ; to dis-
courage ; to dishearten ; to sink or depress
the spirits or resolution ; hence, to affright
or terrify.
Be strong, and of a good courage ; be not
afraid, neither be thou dismayed. Josh. i.
DISMA'Y, n. [Sp. desmayo. Port, desmaio,
a swoop or fainting fit.]
Fall or loss of courage ; a sinking of the
spirits ; depression ; dejection ; a yielding
to fear ; that loss of firmness which is ef-
' yi'
terror felt.
And each
In otlier's countenance read his own dismay.
Milton.
DISMAYED, pp. Disheartened ; deprived
of courage.
DISMA'YEDNESS, n. A state of being
dismayed; dejection of courage : dispirit-
edness. [►*? useless word, and not used.]
Sidney
DISMAYING, ppr. Depriving of courage
DISME, I , [French.] A tenth part ; s
DIME, r tithe. Ayliffe.
DISMEM'BER, v. t. [dis and member.] To
divide limb from limb ; to separate a mem-
ber from the body ; to tear or cut in pie-
ces ; to dilacerate ; to mutilate.
Fowls obscene dismembered his remains.
Pope.
2. To separate a i)art from the main body ;
to divide ; to sever ; as, to dismember an
empire, kingdom or republic. Poland
was dismembered by the neighboring
powers.
DISMEMBERED, pp. Divided member
from member; torn or cut in pieces; di-
vided by the separation of a part from the
main hodv.
DlSME.AIliERING, ppr. Separating a limb
or limbs from the body ; dividing by ta-
king a part or pa/ts from the body.
DISMEM'BERING, n. Mutilation.
Blackstone.
DISMEMBERMENT, n. The act of sev-
ering a limb or limbs from the body ; the
act of tearing or cutting in pieces: muti-
lation; the act of severing a part from the
main body ; division ; separation.
He pointed out tlie danger o{ a dismember-
ment of the republic.
Hist, oj Poland. Encyc.
DISMET'TLED, a. Destitute of fire or
spirit. [.Vo( much used.] Llewellyn.
DISMISS', V. t. [L. dimissus, dimitto ; di,
dis, and mitto, to send ; Fr. demettre.]
1. To send away ; properly, to give leave of
departure ; to ])erniit to depart ; implying
authority in a person to retain or keep.
The town clerk dismissed the assembly.
Acts.
2. To discard ; to remove from office, ser-
vice or employment. The king dismisses
his ministers; the master dismisses his
servant ; and the employer, his workmen.
Officers are dismissed from service, and
students from college.
3. To send ; to dispatch.
He. dismissed embassadors from Pekin to
Tooshoo Loomboo. [Improper.} Encyc.
4. To send or remove from a docket ; to dis-
continue; as, to dismiss a bill in chancery.
DISMISS', J!. Discharge ; dismission. [^Vo*
7i.sed.]
DISMISSAL, n. Dismission.
DISMISS'ED, pp. Sent away; permitted
to depart ; removed from office or em-
ployment.
DISMISSING, ppr. Sending away ; giving
leave to depart ; removing from office or
service.
DISMIS'SION, n. [L. dimissio.] The act
of sending away; leave to depart; as the
dismission of the grand jury.
2. Removal from office or employment; dis-
charge, either with honor or disgrace.
3. An act requiring departure. [.Vot usual.]
Shak.
4. Removal of a suit in equit)-.
DISMISSIVE, a. Giving dismission.
DISMORTGAGE, v.t. dismor'gage. To
redeem from mortgage. Howell.
DISMOUNT', 1-. i. [dis and mount : Fr.
demonter ; Sp. desmontar : It. smontare.]
1. To alight from a horse; to descend or
get off, as a rider from a beast ; as, the
officer ordered his troops to dismount.
2. To descend from an elevation. Spenser.
DISMOUNT', V. t. To throw or remove
from a horse ; to unhorse ; as, the soldier
dismounted his adversary.
D I S
D I S
D I S
3. To throw or briug down from auy eleva-
tion. SackviUe.
3. To throw or remove cannon or other ar-
tillery from their carriages ; or to break
the carriages or wheels, and render guns
DISMOUNT'ED, p;>. Thrown from a horse,
or from an elevation ; unhorsed, or re-
moved from horses by order ; as dismount-
ed troops. Applied to horses, it signifies
unfit for service.
2. Thrown or removed from carriages.
DISMOUNT'ING, ppr. Throwing from a
horse ; unhorsing ; removing from an ele-
vation ; throwing or removing from car-
DISNAT'URALiZE, v. t. To make alien ;
to deprive of the privileges of birth.
DISNA'TURED, a. Deprived or destitute
of natural feelings ; unnatural. Shak
DISOBE'DIENCE, n. [dis and obedience.]
Neglect or refusal to obey ; violation of a
command or prohibition ; the omission of
that which is commanded to be done,
the doing of that which is forbid ; breach
of duty prescribed by authority.
By one man*s disobedience, many were made
sinners. Rom. v.
2. Non-compliance.
This disobedience of the moon. Blackmore
DISOBE'DIENT, a. Neglecting or refu-
sing to obey ; omitting to do what is com-
manded, or doing what is prohibited
refractory ; not observant of duty or rules
prescribed by authority; as children dis-
obedient to parents ; citizens disobedient to
the laws.
I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision
Acts xxvi.
2. Not yielding to exciting force or power.
Medicines used unnecessarily contribute to
shorten life, by sooner rendering peculiar part:
of the system disobedient to stimuli.
Darwin
DISOBEY', V. t. [dis and obey.] To neglect
or refuse to obey ; to omit or refuse to do
what is commanded, or to do what
forbid ; to transgress or violate an order
or injunction. Refractory children
hey the'ir parents ; men disobey thei
ker and the laws ; and we all disobey the
precepts of the gospel. [The word is ap
plicuble both to the command and to the per
son commanding.]
DISOBF.Y'ED, pp. Not obeyed ; neglected ;
transgressed.
DISOBEY'ING, ppr. Omitting or refusing
to obey ; violating ; transgressing, as au-
thoritv or law.
DISOBLIGA'TION, n. [dis and obligation.
The act of disobliging ; an offense ; cause
of disgust. Clarendon
DISOB'LIGATORY, a. Releasing obliga
tion. K. Charles.
DISOBLI'gE, v. t. [dis and oblige.] To do
an act which contravenes the will or de
sires of another ; to offend by an act of
unkindness or incivility ; to injure
slight degree ; a term by tohich offense is
tenderly expressed.
My plan has ^iven offense to some gentle
men, whom it would not be very sale to diso
blige. Jtddison
2. To release from obligation. [Kot used.]
lip. Hall.
DISOBLI'GED, ;)p. Offended; slightly in-|!2. Tumultuous; irregular; as ihe disorderly
jured
DISOBLI'gER, n. One who disobliges.
DISOBLI'GING, ppr. Offending ; contra-
vening the wishes of; injuring slightly.
2. a. Not obhging ; not disposed to gratify
the wishes of another; not disposed to
please ; unkind ; . offensive ; unpleasing ;
unaccommodating ; as a. disobliging coach-
man.
DISOBLI'gINGLY, adv. In a disobliging
manner ; offensively.
DISOBLIGINGNESS, n. Offensiveness ;
disposition to displease, or want of readi-
ness to please.
DISOPIN'ION. ?!. Difference of opinion.
[Jl bad tvord and not used.] Bp. Reynolds.
DISORB'ED, a. [dis and orb.] Thrown
out of the proper orbit ; as a star disorbed.
Shak.
DISOR'DER, Ji. [dis and order ; Fr. desor-
dre ; Sp. desorden ; It. disordine.]
Want of order or regular disposition
irregularity ; immethodical <Iistribution
confusion ; a word of general application ;
as, the troops were thrown into disorder
the papers are in disorder.
2. Tumult ; disturbance of the peace of sc
ciety ; as, the city is sometimes troubled
with the disorders of its citizens.
3. Neglect of rule ; irregularity.
From vulgar bounds with brave disorder
part,
And snatch a grace beyond tiie reach of art
Pope
4. Breach of laws ; violation of standing
rules, or institutions.
5. Irregularity, disturbance or interruption
of the functions of the animal economy
disease ; distemper ; sickness. [See Dis
ease.] Disorder however is more frequent-
ly used to express a slight disease.
Discomposure of the mind ; turbulence of
passions.
7. Irregularity in the functions of the brain
derangement of the intellect or reason.
DISOR'DER, V. t. To break order ; to de-
range ; to disturb any regular dispositior
or arrangement of things ; to put out of
method ; to throw into confusion ; to con
fuse ; applicable to every thing susceptible of
order.
2. To disturb or interrupt the natural func
tions of the animal economy ; to produce
sickness or indisposition ; as, to disorder
the head or stomach.
3. To discompose or disturb the mind ; to
uffle.
4. To disturb the regular operations of ren
son ; to derange ; as, the man's reason i
disordered.
5. To depose from holy orders. [Unusual.
Dryde,
DISORDERED, pp. Put out of order ; de-
ranged ; disturbed ; discomposed ; confu
sed ; sick ; indisposed.
DISORDERED, a. Disorderly; irregular;
vicious; loose ; unrestrained in behavior.
Shak
DISOR'DEREDNESS, n. A state of dis
order or irregularity ; confusion.
DISOR'DERLY, o. Confused ; immethod-
ical ; irregular ; being without proper
order or disposition ; as, the books and pa-
pers are in a disorderly state.
motions of the spirit;
3. Lawless ; contrary to law ; violating or
disposed to violate law and good order;
as disorderly people ; disorderly assemblies.
4. Inclined to break loose ftom restraint :
unruly ; as disorderly cattle.
DISOR'DERLY, adv. Without order, rule
or method ; irregularly ; confusedly ; in
a disorderly manner.
Savages fighting disorderly with stones.
Raleigh.
2. In a manner violating law and good or-
der ; in a manner contrary to rides or es-
tablished institutions.
Withdraw from every brother that walketh
disorderly. 2 Thess. iii.
DISOR'DiNATE, a. Disorderly; living ir-
regularly. Milton.
DISOR'DINATELY, adv. Inordinately ; ir-
regularly ; viciously.
DISORGANIZATION, n. [See Disorgan-
ize.] The act of disorganizing ; the act of
destroying organic structure, or connect-
ed system ; the act of destroying order.
The state of being disorganized. We
speak of the disorganization of the body,
or of government, or of society, or of an
army.
DISORGANIZE, v. t. [dis and organize.
See Organ.] To break or destroy organ-
ic structure or connected sj'stem; to dis-
solve regular system or union of parts; as,
to disorganize a government or society ;
to disorganize an army.
Every account of the settlement of Plymouth
mentions the conduct of Lyford, who attempt-
ed to disorganize the church.
Eliot's Siog. Diet.
DISORGANIZED, pp. Reduced to disor-
der ; being in a confused state.
DISOR'GANIZER, n. One who disorgan-
izes ; one who destroys or attempts to in-
terrupt regular order or system ; one who
introduces disorder and confusion.
DISORGANIZING, ppr. Destroying regu-
lar and connected system ; throwing into
confusion.
2. a. Disposed or tending to disorganize ; as
a disorganizing sjjirit.
DISOWN, V. t. [dis and own.] To deny ; not
to own ; to refuse to acknowledge as be-
longing to one's self. A parent can hard-
ly disown his child. An author will some-
times disown his writings.
2. To deny ; not to allow.
To disown a brother's better claim. Drydeit.
DISOWNED, pp. Not owned ; not ac-
knowledged as one's own ; denied ; disal-
lowed.
DISOWNING, ppr. Not owning ; denying ;
disallowing.
DISOX'YDATE, D. ?. [dis and oxydate.] To
reduce from oxydation ; to reduce from
the state of an oxyd, by disengaging oxy-
gen from a substance ; as, to disoxydate
iron or copper.
DISOX'YDATED, pp. Reduced from the
DISOX VI) ATlNG, ppr. Reducing from
ll„-st.-,tr,,raMO,xyd
DISOXVDA 'I'lON, n. The act or process
of freeing from oxygen and reducing from
the state of an o.xyd. Med. Repos.
[This word seems to be preferable to deox-
ydate.]
D I S
DISOX'YgENATE, v. t. [dli and oxyge-
nate.] To deprive of oxygen.
DISOX'YGENATED, /-/;. Freed from ox
DfeOX'YGENATING, ppr. Freeing from
oxygen.
DISOXYGENA'TION, n. The act or pro
cess of separating oxygen from any sub-
stance containing it.
DISPA'CE, V. i. [dis and spalior, L.] To
range about. Obs. Spenser.
DISPA'IR, V. t. [dis and pair.] To sepa-
rate a pair or couple. Beaum.
DISPAND', V. t. [L. dispando.] To display,
[JVot in use.] Did.
DK
ISPAN'SJON,
di.sjilaying. [JStot in use.
DISPAR'ADISED, a
. The act of spreading or
[dis and paradise.]
Removed from parad
DISPAR'AGE, V. t. [Norm, desperager ; des,
dis, and parage, from peer, par, equal.]
1 . To marry one to another of inferior con-
dition or rank ; to dishonor by an unequal
match or man-iage, against the rules of
decency.
2. To match unequally ; to injure or dishon
or by union with something of inferior ex-
cellence. Johnson.
3. To injure or dishonor by a comparison
with something of less value or excellenc
4. To treat with contempt ; to undervalue ;
to lower in rank or estimation ; to vilify :
to bring reproach on ; to reproach ; to de-
base by words or actions ; to dishonor.
Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arras.
Milton.
DISPAR'AgED, pp. Married to one be-
neath his or her condition ; unequally
matched ; dishonored or injured by com-
parison with .something inferior; under-
valued ; vilified ; debased ; reproached.
DISPAR'A6EMENT, n. The matching of
a tiiiin or woman to one of inferior rank or
condition, and against the rules of decen-
cy. Enaje. Cowel.
2. Injury by union or comparison with some-
thing of inferior excellence. Johnson.
3. Diminution of value or excellence; re-
proach; disgrace; indignity; dishonor;
followed by to.
It ought to be no disparagement to a slai
that it is not the sun. South.
To be a hiunble clitistian is no disparage-
ment to a prince, or a nobleman. v*no«,
DIPPAR'AgER, n. One who disparages
or dishonors ; one who vihfies or disgra
DISPAR'AgING, ppr. Marrying one to an
other of inferior condition ; dishonoring
by an unequal union or comparison ; dii
gracing ; dishonoring.
DISPAR'AGINGLY, adv. In a manner
to disparage or dishonor.
DIS'PARATE, a. [L. disparata, things un-
like ; dispar; dis and par, equal.]" Une-
qual ; unlike ; dissimilar. Rohison.
DIS'PARATES, Ji. plu. Things so unequal
or unlike that they cannot be compared
with each other. Johnson.
DISPAR'ITY, n. [Fr. dispariU ; Sp. dis-
paridad ; It. disparitb, ; from L. dispar,
unequal ; dis and par, equal.]
1. Irregularity ; difference in degree, in
age, rank, condition or excellence ; as a
dxsparity of years or of age ; disparity of
;liout pas
The company shall stone Ihem with stones,
nil dispatch them with their swords. Ezek^
xiii.
3. To perform ; to execute speedily ; to fin-
ish ; as, the business was dispatched in due
time.
DISPATCH', V. i. To conclude an affair
with another ; to transact and finish. [.Yoi
now used.']
They have dispatched with Pompey. Shak
DISPATCH', n. Speedy performance ; ex-^
D I S
condition or circumstances: followed by
of or in. We say, disparity in or of years.'
2. Dissimilitude ; unlikeness. I
DISP'ARK, V. t. [rfw and park.] To throw'
ojien a park ; to lay open. ShakJ
2. To set at large ; to release from inclo-j
sure or confinement. IValler.]
DISP'ART, D. «. [dis and part; Fr.departir;]
L. dispartior. See Part. Dis and part
both imply separation.] \
To part asunder ; to divide ; to separate ; to
sever ; to burst ; to rend ; to rive or split
as disparted air ; disparted towers ; dis-
parted chaos. [Jin elegant poetic icord.'
Milton.
DISP'ART, V. i. To separate ; to open
cleave.
DISPART, ji. In gunnery, the thickness of
the metal of a piece of ordnance at th
mouth and britch. Bailey.
DISP'ART, V. t. In gunnery, to set a mark
on the muzzle-ring of a piece of ordnance,
so that a sight-hne from the top of the
base-ring to the mark on or near the muz-
zle may be parallel to the axis of tlie bore
or hollow cylinder. Encyc
DISPARTED, pp. Divided ; separated ;
parted ; rent asunder.
DISPARTING, ppr. Severing ; dividin
bursting ; cleaving.
DISPAS'SION, n. [dis anA passion.] Frc
dom from passion ; an undisturbed state
of the mind ; apathy. Temple
DISPAS'SIONATE, a. Free from passion
calm ; composed ; im|)artial ; moderate
temperate ; unmoved by feelings ; applied
to persons; as dispassionate men or judges,
2. Not dictated by passion ; not proceeding
from temper or bias; impartial; applied to
things ; as dispassionate proceedings
DISPAS'SIONATELY, adv. Withou
sion ; calmly ; coolly,
DISPATCH', v.t. [Fr. depecher; Sp. despa
cluir ; Port, id.; It. dispacciare ; Arm. di
bech, disbachat. In It. spacciare signifies
to sell, put off", speed, dispatch ; spaccio,
sale, vent, dispatch, expedition. This
word belongs to Cla.ss Bg, and the prima-
ry sense is to send, throw, thrust, drive
and this is the sense of pack, L. pnngo,
pactus. Hence our vulgar phrases, to pack
0^, and to budge. The same word occurs
in impeach.]
1. To send or send away ; particularly ap
plied to the sending of messengers, agents
and letters on special business, and often
implying haste. The king dispatched an
envoy to the court of Madrid. He dis-
patched a messenger to his envoy in
France. He dispatched orders or letters
to the commander of thfe forces in Spain.
The president dispatched a special envoy
to tlie court of St. James in 1794.
2. To send out of the world ; to put to death.
DIS
ecution or transaction of business with due
diligence. Bacon.
2. Sjjced ; haste ; expedition ; due diligence ;
as, the business was done v/hh dispatch ;
go, but make dispatch.
3. Conduct ; management. [.Vot used.]
Shak.
4. A letter sent or to be sent with expedi-
tion, by a messenger express ; or a letter
on some affair of state, or of public con-
cern ; or a packet of letters, sent by some
public officer, on public business. It is
often used in the plural. A vessel or a
messenger has arrived with dispatches for
the American minister. A dispatch was
immediately sent to the admiral. The
secretary was |)reparing his dispatches.
DISPATCH'ED, pp. Sent with haste or by
a courier express ; sent out of the world ;
put to death ; performed ; finished.
DISPATCH'ER, n. One that dispatches:
one that kills.
2. One that sends on a special errand.
DISPATCH'FUL, a. Bent on baste ; indi-
cating haste ; intent on speedy execution
of business; as dispatchful looks. Milton.
DISPATCH'ING, ppr. Sending away in
ha.ste ; putting to death ; executing ; fin-
ishing.
DISPAUPER, J., t. [dis and pauper.] To
deprive of the claim of a pauper to public
support, or of the capacity of suing in
forma pauperis ; to reduce back from the
state of a pauper.
A man is dispaupered, when he has lands
fallen to him or property given him. Encyc.
DISPEL , V. t. [L. dispetlo ; dis and pello, to
drive, Gr. liaMM. See " ■ - ■
ee Jippeal, Peal, Puise
and Bawl.]
To scatter by driving or force ; to disperse ;
to dissipate ; to banish ; as, to dispel va-
pors ; to dispel darkness or gloom ; to dis-
pel fears ; to dispel cares or sorrows ; to
dispel doubts.
DISPEL'LED, pp. Driven away ; scatter-
ed ; dissipated.
DISPEL' LING, ppr. Driving away ; dis-
persing ; scattering.
DISPEND', V. f. [L. dispendo ; dis and pen-
do, to weigh.]
To spend; to lay out; to consume. [See
Expend, which is generally used.]
Spenser.
DISPEND'ER, 71. One that distributes.
DISPENS'ABLE, a. That may be dispens-
ed with. More
DISPENS'ABLENESS, «. The capability
of being dispensed with. Hammond.
DISPENS'.ARY, n. A house, place or store,
in which medicines are dispensed to the
poor, and medical advice given, gratis.
DISPENSA'TION, n. [L. dispensatio. See
Dispense.]
1. Distribution ; the act of dealing out to
different persons or places ; as the dispen-
sation of water indifferentlv to all parts of
the earth. " Ifoodward.
2. The deahng of God to his creatures ; the
distribution of good and evil, natural or
moral, in the divine government.
Neither are God's methods or intentions dif-
ferent in his dispensations to each private man.
Rogers.
3. The granting of a license, or the license
itself, to do what is forbidden by laws or
canons, or to omit sometliing which is
D I S
commanded ; that is, the dispensing with
a law or canon, or tlie exemption of a par
ticular person from the obligation to com
ply with its injunctions. The pope has
power to dispense with the canons of the
church, but has no right to grant dispen-
sations to the injury of a third jjersou.
A dispensation was obtained to enable Dr.
Barrow to marry. TVard.
4. That which is dispensed or bestowed ; a
system of principles and rites enjoined ; as
the Mosaic dispensation ; the gospel dis-
pensation ; including, the former the Levit-
ical law and rites ; the latter the scheme
of redemption by Christ.
DISPENS'ATIVE, a. Granting dispeusa-
DISPENS'ATIVELY, adv. By dispensation
Jfotton.
DISPENSA'TOR, n. [L.] One whose em-
ployment is to deal out or distribute ; a
distributor ; a dispenser : the latter word
is generally used.
DISPENS'ATORY, a. Having power to
grant dispensations.
DISPENS'ATORY, n. A book containing
the method of preparing the various kinds
of medicines used in pharmacy, or con
taining directions for the composition o
medicines, with the proportions of the in
gredients, and the methods of preparinj
them.
DISPENSE, D. «. dispens'. [Ft: dispenser ;
Sp. dispensar ; It. dtspensare ; from L. dis-
penso ; dis and penso, from pendo, to weigh,
primarily to move ; and perhaps the orig-
inal idea of expending was to weigh off,
or to distribute by weight.]
1. To deal or divide out in parts or portions ;
to distribute. The steward dispenses pro
visions to every man, according to his di
rections. The society dispenses medicines
to the poor gratuitously or at first cost.
God dispenses his favors according to his
good pleasure.
2. To administer ; to apply, as laws to par-
ticidar cases ; to distribute justice.
While you dispense the laws and guide the
state. Dryden.
To dispense with, to permit not to take effect ;
to neglect or pass by ; to suspend the op-
eration or application of something requir-
ed, established or customary ; as, to dis-
pense with the law, in favor of a friend ; I
cannot dispense with the conditions of the
covenant. So we say, to dispense with
oaths ; to dispense with forms and
nies.
2. To excuse from ; to give leave not to do
or observe what is required or command-
ed. The court will dispense rvith your at-
tendance, or ii/ith your compliance.
5. To permit the want of a thing which is
useful or convenient ; or in the vulgar
phrase, to do without. I can dispense with
your services. I can dispense with my
■ cloke. In this application, the phrase has
an allusion to the requisitions of law or
necessity ; the thing dispensed with being
supposed, in some degree, necessary or re"
quired.
I could not dispense xmth myself from ma-
Idng a voyage to Caprea. [^JVut to be imitated.]
Addison.
Canst thou dispense with heaven for such an
oath ? [A'u( Irffiihnnfe.] Sliak
DIS
[DISPENSE, n. dispens'. Dispensation. [Not
i used.] Milton.
[2. Expense ; profusion. [Not in use.]
I Spenser.
IDISPENS'ED, pp. Distributed; adminis-
! tered.
jDISPENS'ER, n. One who dispenses ; one
who distributes; one who administers;
I as a dispenser of favors or of the laws.
[DISPENS'ING, ppr. Distributing ; admin
I istering.
.3. a. That may dispense with ; granting dis-
pensation ; that may grant license to omit
what is required by law, or to do what the
law forbids ; as a dispensing power.
[DISPEOPLE, v.t. [dis and people.] To de
populate ; to empty of inhabitants, as by
destruction, expulsion or other means.
Milton. Pope
DISPEOPLED, pp. Depopulated ; deprived
of inhabitants.
DISPEOPLER, n. One who depopulates ;
a depopulator ; that which deprives of in
habitants.
DISPEOPLING, ppr. Depopulating.
DISPERgE, v. t. disperj'. [L. dispergo.] To
sprinkle. [Not in use.]
DISPERM'OUS, a. [Gr. 6.^, 6ts, and ««.,,
seed.] In botany, two-seeded ; containing
two seeds only ; as, umbellate and stellate
plants are dispermous.
iDISPERS'E, V. t. dispers'. [L. dispersus
j from dispergo ; di, dis, and spargo, to scat-
I ter ; Fr. disperser.]
■ 1. To scatter; to drive asunder; to cause to
separate into different parts ; as, the Jews
I are dispersed among all nations.
j9. To diffuse ; to spread.
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge
;3. To dissipate ; as, the fog or the cloud is
[ dispersed.
4. To distribute. Bacon.
DISPERSE, V. i. dispers'. To be scattered ;
to separate ; to go or move into different
2. To be scattered ; to vanish ; as fog or
DISPERS'ED, pp. Scattered ; driven apart
diffused; dissipated.
DISPERS'EDLY, adv. In a dispersed man
I ner; separately. Hooker
DISPERS'EDNESS, n. The state of being
dispersed or scattered.
DISPERSENESS, n. dispers' ness. Thin-
ness ; a scattered state. [Little used.]
Brerewood.
DISPERS'ER, n. One who disperses; as
the disperser of libels. Spectator.
DISPERS'ING, ppr. Scattering; dissii)a-
ting.
DISPER'SION, n. The act of scattering.
2. The state of being scattered, or separated
into remote parts; as, the Jews, in their
dispersion, retain their rites and ceremo-
nies.
3. By way of eminence, the scattei-ing or sep
aration of the human family, at the build
ing of Babel.
4. In optics, the divergency of the rays of
light, or rather the separation of the ' "
ferent colored i-ays, in refraction, ari
from their different refrangibilities.
Tlie point of dispersion, is the point
where refracted rays begin to diverge.
D I S
5. In medicine and surgery, the removing of
inflammation from a part, and restoring it
to its natural state.
DISPERSIVE, a. Tending to scatter or
dissipate. Qreen
DISPIR'IT, V. t. [dis and spirit.] To de-
press the spirits ; to deprive of courage :
to discourage ; to dishearten ; to deject ;
to cast down. We may be dispirited by
afflictions, by obstacles to success, by
poverty, arid by fear. When fear is the
cause, dispirit is nearly equivalent to in-
timidate or terrify.
3. To exhaust the spirits or vigor of the
body. [Not usual.] Collier
DISPIRITED,;);?. Discouraged ; depressed
in spirits ; dejected ; intimidated.
DISPIR'ITEDNESS, ji. Want of courage ;
depression of spirits.
DISPIRITING, ppr. Discouraging; dis-
heartening; dejecting; intimidating.
DISPIT'EOUS, a. Having no pity ; cruel;
furious. [Not used.] Spenser.
DISPLA'CE, V. I. [dis and place ; Yr.depla-
cer; Arm. diblacza.]
1. To put out of the usual or proper place ;
to remove from its place ; as, the books in
the library are all displaced.
2. To remove from any state, condition, of-
fice or dignity ; as, to displace an officer of
the revenue.
3. To disorder.
You liave displaced the mirth. Shak.
DISPLACED, pp. Removed from the prop-
er place ; deranged ; disordered ; i-emoved
from an office or state.
DISPLA'CEMENT, n. [Fr. deplacement.}
The act of displacing; the act of removing
from the usual or proper place, or from a
state, condition or office.
The displacement of tlie centers of the circles.
Asiat. Researches, v. 185.
Unnecessary displacement of funds.
Hamilton's Rep. ii.
DISPLA'CENCY, n. [L. displicentia, from
displiceo, to displease ; dis and placeo, to
jilease.J
Incivility ; that which displeases or disobli-
S^s- Decay of Pittv.
DISPLA'CING, ppr. Putting out of the
usual or proper place ; removing from an
office, state or condition.
DISPLANT', V. t. [dis mdplant.] To pluck
up or to remove a plant.
2. To drive away or remove from the usual
place of residence ; as, to displant the peo-
ple of a country. Bacon.
3. To strip of inhabitants ; as, to displant a
country. Spenser.
DISPLANTA'TION, n. The removal of a
plant.
2. The removal of inhabitants or resident
people. Raleigh.
DISPLANT'ED, pp. Removed from the
place where it grew, as a plant.
2. Removed from the jilace of residence :
applied to persons.
3. Deprived of inhabitants ; applied to a
country.
DISPLANT'ING,/)Bc. Removing, as a iilaiit.
DISPLANT'ING, n. Removal trom a fi.xed
place.
DISPLAT', V. t. [dis and plat.] To untwist ;
lo uiicur]. Hakewill.
DISPLA'Y, V. t. [Fr. deployer, and deploy is
the same word. It is a different orthog-
D I S
D I S
D I S
raphy of deplier, to unfold ; Ann. displega ;
Sp. desplegar ; It. spiegare ; dis and Fr.
plier, Sp. plegar, It. piegare, to fold
plico, W. plygu, Gr. «».f*u; and ort^ooj,
cwtMu, to unfold, may be from the same
root.]
1. Literally, to unfold ; hence, to open ; to
spread wide ; to expand.
The northern wind his wings did broad display
Spemer.
2. To spread before the view ; to show ; to
exhibit to the eyes, or to the mind; to
make manifest. The works of natiu-e dis-
play the power and wisdom of the Su-
preme Being. Christian charity displays
the effects of true piety. A dress, simple
and elegant, displays female taste and
beauty to advantage.
3. To carve ; to dissect and open.
He carves, displays, and cuts up to a wonder.
Spectator.
4. To set to view ostentatiously. Shak.
5. To discover. [JVbt in use.] Spenser.
6. To open ; to unlock. [JVot used.]
B. Jonson.
DISPLA'Y, t'. i. To talk without restraint;
to make a great show of words. Shak
DISPLA'Y, Ji. An opening or unfolding ;
an exhibition of any thing to the view.
% Show ; exhibition ; as, they make a great
display of tioops ; a great display of mag-
nificence.
DISPLA'VED, pp. Unfolded ; opened ;
spread ; expanded ; exhibited to view ;
manifested.
DISPLA'YER, n. He or that which dis-
plays.
DISPLA'YING, ppr. Unfolding ; spreading ;
exhibiting ; manifesting.
DISPLE'ASANCE, n. [Fr. deplalsance.]
Anger ; discontent, [^ol used.]
Spenser.
DISPLEAS'ANT, a. displez'ant. [See Dis-
please.]
Unpleasing; offensive; unpleasant. [The
latter word is generally ttsed.]
DISPLE'ASE, V. t. displeze. [dis and
please.]
1. To offend ; to make angry, sometimes in
a slight degree. It usually expresses less
than anger, vex, irritate and provoke. A])-
plied to the Almighty in scripture, it may
be considered as equivalent to anger.
God was displeased witli this thing ; there-
fore he smote Israel. 1 Chron. xxi.
2. To disgust ; to excite aversion in ; as,
acrid and rancid substances displease the
taste.
3. To offend ; to be disagreeable to. A dis-
torted figure displeases the eye.
DISPLE'ASED, pp. Offended ; disgusted.
DISPLE'ASEDNESS, n. Displeasure ; un-
easiness. Mountague.
DISPLE'ASING, ppr or a. Offensive to the
eye, to the mind, to the smell, or to the
taste ; di.sgusting ; disagreeable.
DISPLE'ASINGNESS, n. Offensi
the quality of giving some degree of dis
eust.
DiSPLEAS'URE, n. displezh'ur. Some irri
tation or uneasiness of the mind, occasion
ed by any thing that counteracts desire or
command, or which opposes justice and s
sense of propriety. A man incurs the dis
pleasure of another by thwarting his views
or schemes; a servant incurs the displeas
Vol. I.
ure of his master by neglect or disobedi-
ence ; we experience displeasure at any
violation of right or decorum. Displeas-
ure is anger, but it may be slight anger.
It implies disapprobation or hatred, and
usually expresses less than vexation and
indignation. Thus, slighter offenses give
displeasure, although they may not excite
a violent passion.
2. Offense; cause of irritation.
Now shall I be more blameless than the Phi-
hstines, though I do them a displeasure. Judges
I XV.
3. State of disgrace or disfavor.
He went into Poland, being in displeasure
with the pope for overmuch familiarity.
Peacham.
DISPLEAS'URE, v. I. To displease. [.4n
unnecessary word, and not used.] Bacon.
DIS'PLICENCE, n. [L. displicentia.] Dis-
like. [JVot in use.] Mountague.
DISPLO'DE, V. t. [L. displodo ; dis and
plaudo, to break forth.]
To vent, discharge or burst with a violent
sound.
In posture to displode tlicir second tire
Of thunder. Milton.
DISPLO'DE, V. i. To burst with a loud re-
port ; to explode ; as, a meteor disploded
with a tremendous sound.
DISPLODED, pp. Discharged with a loud
report.
DISPLO DING, pp-. Discharging or burst-
ing with a loud report.
DISPLO'SION, n. s as z. The act of dis-
ploding ; a sudden bursting with a loud
report; an explosion.
DISPLO'SIVE, a. Noting displosion.
DISPLU'ME, i>. <. [dis and plume.] To strip
or deprive of plumes or feathers ; to strip
of badges of honor. Burke.
DISPLU'MED. pp. Stripped of plumes.
DISPLU'MING, ;7pr. Depriving of plumes.
DISPON'DEE, n. In Greek and Latin po-
etry, a double spondee, consisting of four
long syllables. Encyc.
DISPORT, n. [dis and sport.] Play; sport;
pastime ; diversion ; amusement ; merri-
ment. Milton. Hayward.
DISPO'RT, V. i. To play ; to wanton ; to
move lightly and without restraint ; to
move in gayety ; as lambs disporting on
the mead.
^\■here light disports in ever mingling dyes.
Pope.
DISPO'RT, V. t. To divert or amuse ; as,
he disports himself. Shak.
DISPO'RTING, ;);)r. Playing; wantoning.
DISPO'SABLE, a. [See Dispose.] Subject
to disposal ; not previously engagetl or
employed ; free to be used or employed as
occasion may require.
The whole disposable force consisted in a re-
giment of light infantry, and a troop of cavalry.
DISPO'SAL, JI. [See Dispose.] The act of
disposing ; a setting or arranging.
This object was etfccted by Uie disposal of
the troops in two lines.
2. Regulation, order or arrangement
things, in the moral government of God ;
dispensation.
Tax not divine disposal. Milton.
3. Power of ordering, arranging or distribu-
ting ; government ; management ; as, an
agent is appointed, and every thing is left
to his disposal. The effects in my hands
are entirely at niv disposal.
'64
4. Power or right of bestowing. Certain of-
fices are at the disposal of the president.
The father has the disposal of his daughter
in marriage.
5. The passing into a new state or into new
hands.
DISPO'SE, V. I. dispo'ze. [Fr. disposer ; dis
and poser, to place ; Arm. disposi ; L.
dispositus, dispono. But the Latin posui,
positus, is probably from a different root
from pono, and coinciding with Eng. put,
with a dialectical change of the last articu-
lation. Pono belongs to Clai=s Bn, and
posui, to Class Bs or Bd. The literal sense
is to .ut ajyart.]
1. To set ; to place or distribute ; to arrange ;
used xvith reference to order. The ships
were disposed in the form of a crescent.
The general disposed his troops in three
lines. The trees are disposed in the form
of a quincunx.
2. To regulate ; to adjust ; to set in right
order. Job xxxiv. and xxxvii.
The knightly forms of combat to dispose.
Dry den.
3. To apply to a particular purpose ; to
give ; to place ; to bestow ; as, you have
disposed much in works of pulilic i)iety.
In this sense, to dispose of'w more generally
used.
4. To set, place or turn to a particular end
• consequence.
Endure and conquer ; Jove will soon dispose
To future good our past and present woes.
Dnjden.
5. To adapt ; to form for any purpose.
Then must thou thee dispose another way.
Hubberd's Tale.
6. To set the mind in a particular frame ; to
incUne. Avarice disposes men to fraud
and oppression.
Suspicions dispose kings to tyranny, husbands
to jealousy, and wise men to irresolution and
melancholy. Bacon.
He was disposed to pass into Achaia. Acts
xviii. 1 Cor. x. 27.
To dispose of, to part with ; to alienate ; as,
the man has disposed of his bouse, and
removed.
2. To part with to another ; to put into
another's hand or power ; to bestow ; as,
the father has rfispojcrfo/" his daughter to a
man of great worth.
3. To give away or transfer by authority.
A rural judge disposed o^beauty's prize.
Waller.
4. To direct the course of a thing. Prov.
5. To place in any condition ; as, liow will
you dispose of your son ?
6. To direct what to do or what course to
pursue ; as, they know not how to dispose
o/ themselves.
7. To use or employ ; as, they know not
how to dispose of their time.
8. To put away. The stream supplies more
water than can be disposed of.
DISPO'SE, r. i. To bargain ; to make terms.
Obs. Shak.
DISPO'SE, n. Disposal; power of dispo-
sing ; management. Obs. Shak.
2. Dispensation ; act of government. Obs.
Milton.
3. Disposition; cast of behavior. Obs.
Shak.
4. Disposition ; cast of niLnd ; inclination.
Obs. Shak.
D I S
DISPOSED, pp. Set in order ; arrangeJ
placed ; adjusted ; applied ; bestowed ;
inclined.
DISPO'SER, n. One who disposes ; a dis-
trihutor ; a bestower ; as a disposer of
gilts.
2. A director ; a regulator.
The Supreme Being is the rightful dispose
of all events, and of all creatures.
3. That which disposes. Piior
DISPO'SING, ppr. Setting in order ; arran
ging; distributing; bestowing; regula
tuig ; adjusting ; governing.
DISPO'SING, „. The act of arranging ;
regulation ; direction. Prov. xvi. 33.
DISPOSl"TION, n. [L. disposMo.] The
act of disposing, or state of being dispo
sed.
2. Manner in which things or the parts oft
complex body are placed or arranged
order ; method ; distribution ; arrange-
ment. We speak of the disposition of the
infantry and cavalry of an army ; the dis-
position of tlie trees in an orchard ; tlie
disposition of the several parts of an edi-
fice, of the parts of a discourse, or of the
D I S
figures in painting.
.^. Na ■ -
Natural fitness or tendency. The refran-
gibility of the rays of light is their disposi-
tion to be refracted. So we say, a disposi-
tion in plants to grow in a direction up-
wards ; a disposition in bodies to putrefac-
tion.
4. Temper or natural constitution of the
mind ; as an amiable or an irritable dis-
position.
5. Inclination; propensity; the temper oi
frame of mind, as directed to particular
objects. We speak of the disposition of a
person to undertake a particular work ;
the dispositions of men towards each other ;
a disposition friendly to any design.
C. Disposal ; alienation; distribution; agi
ing away or giving over to another; a ,
he has made disposition of his effects ; he
has satisfied }iis friends by the judicious
disposition of his property.
UlSPOS'ITIVE, «. That implies disposal.
[A'ot used.] Miffe
DISPOS'lTIVELY, adv. In a dispoiit.v(
manner; distributively. [.Vot used.]
Brown
DISPOS'ITOR, «. A disposer; in astrolo-
gy, the planet which is lord of the sign
where another planet is. [JSfot ttsed.]
DISPOSSESS', V. t [dis and possess.] To
put out of possession, by any means ; to
deprive of the actual occupancy of a thing
particularly of land or real estate ; to dis-
seize.
Ye shall dispossess the inhahitauts of the land,
and dwell therein. Num. xxxiii.
Usually followed by of, before the thing
taken away ; as, to dispossess a king of his
crown.
DISPOSSESS'ED, pp. Deprived of possess-
ion or occupancy.
DISPOSSESS'ING,;)pr. Depriving of pos-
DISPOSSES'SION,'?!. The act of putting
out of possession. Hall.
DISPO'SURE, n. dispo'zhur. [See Dispose.]
Disposal ; the power of disposing ; man-
agement; direction. Samli/s.
[The use of this word is superseded bv
tliat o{ disposal]
2. State ; posture ; disposition. [JVot wed.]
IVoUon.
DISPRA'ISE, n. dispra'ze. [dis and praise.]
Blame ; censure. Be cautious not to speak
in dispraise of a competitor.
2. Reproach ; dishonor.
The general has seen Moors with as had
faces ; no dispraise to Bertran's. JJrydi
DISPRA'ISE, V. t. To blame ; to censure ;
to mention with disapprobation, or some
degree of reproach.
I dispraised him before the wicked. Shak
DLSPRA'ISED,^;). Blamed; censured.
DISPRA'ISER, n. One who blames or dis-
praises.
DISPRA'ISING, ppr. Blaming ; censuring,
DISPRA'ISINGLY, adv. By way of dis-
praise ; with blame or some degree of
reproach.
DISPREAD, D. <. dispred'. [dis and spread.
See Spread.]
To spread in different ways ; to extend oi
flow in ditrerent directions.
Spenser. Pope.
DISPREAD', V. i. To expand or he ex-
tended. Thomson.
DISPREAD'ER, n. A publisher; a divul-
ge'"- Milton
DISPRI'ZE, V. t. To undervalue.
Cotton
DISPROFESS', V. i. To renounce the pro-
'1 of. Spenser.
DISPROF'IT, n. [dis and prof t.] Loss;
detriment ; damage. [lAttle used.]
DISPROOF', n. [dis and proof ] Confuta
tion ; refiitation ; a proving to be false o:
erroneous; as, to offer evidence m disproof
of a fact, argument, principle or allega
tion.
DISPROP'ERTY, v. t. To deprive of prop
erty ; to dispossess. [A'ot used.] Shak.
DISPROPORTION, n. [dis and propor-
tion.]
1. Want of proportion of one thing to anoth-
er, or between the parts of a thing; want
of sy nmietry. We sjjcak of the dispropor-
tion of a man's arms to his body ; of the
disproportion of the length of an edifice to
its highth.
2. Want of proper quantity, according to
rules prescribed; as, the disproportion of
the ingredients in a coni|)Ound.
Want of suitableness or adequacy ; dis
parity ; inequality ; unsuitableness ; as
the disproportion of strength or means to
an object.
DISPROPO'RTION, v. t. To make unsuit
able in form, size, length or quantity ; to
violate symmetry in ; to mismatch ; to join
unfitly.
To shape my legs of an unequal size,
To disproportion me in every part. Shak.
DISPROPO'RTIONABLE, a. Dispropor-
tjonal ; not in proportion ; unsuitable in
form, size or quantity to something else ;
inadequate. [Note. The sense in which
this word is used is generally anomalous
In its true sense, that may be made dispro
portional, it is rarely or never used. The
regular word which ought to be used is
disproportional, as used by Locke.]
DISPROPO'RTIONABLENESS, n. Want
of proportion or synunetry ; unsuitable-
ness to something else.
DISPROPO'RTIONABLY, adv. With want
D I S
ofproportion or symmetry; ui3suitably to
something else. TUlotonv
DISPROPO'RTIONAL, a. Not having due
proportion to something else ; not liaving
proportion or symmetry of parts ; unsuit-
able in form or quantity ; unequal ; inad-
equate. A disproportional limb cousiitutes
deformity in the body. The studies of
youth should nor be disproportional to
their caiiacities. [This is the word which
ought to be used for disproportionable.]
DISPROPOKTIONAL'ITY; n. The slate
being disproportional.
DISPROPO'RTIONALLY, adv. Unsuita-
bly with respect to form, quantity or val-
ue ; inadequatel\ ; unequally.
DISPROPO'RTIONATE, a. Not propor-
tioned ; unsymmetrical ; unsuitable to
something else, in bulk, form or value ;
inadequate. In a perfect form of the body,
none of the limbs are disproportionate. It
is wisdom not to undertake a work with
disproportionate means.
DISPROPORTIONATELY, adv. In a dis-
proportionate degree; unsuitably; inade-
quately.
DISPROPO'RTIONATENESS, n. Un-
suitableness in form, bulk or value; inad-
equacy.
DISPRO'PRIATE, v. t. To destroy appro-
priation ; to withdraw from an appropri-
^te use. Anderson.
[See Disappropriate, which is more regularly
formed, and more generally used.]
DISPRoV'ABLE, a. Capable of being dis-
proved or refuted. Boyle.
DISPROVE, V. t. [dis and prove.] To prove
to be false or erroneous ; to confute ; as,
to disprove an assertion, a statement, an
argument, a proposition.
2. To convict of the practice of error. [Abi
in use.] Hooker.
3. To disallow or disapprove. [Not in use.]
Hooker.
DISPROVED, pp. Proved to be false or
erroneous ; refuted.
DISPRoV'ER, n. One that disproves or
confines.
DISPROVING, ppr. Proving to he false or
erroneous; confuting; refuting.
DISPUNCE, V. t. [dis and spunge.] To ex-
punge ; to erase ; also, to discharge as
from a spunge. [Ill formed and little used.]
Motion. Shak.
DISPUN'ISIIABLE,a. [dis and puni.<:haUe.]
Without penal restraint ; not punishable.
Swirt.
DISPURSE, for rfis4ur«e. [Not in use.]
Shak.
DISPURVEY, V. t. To unprovide. [Not in
use.]
DISPURVEY ANCE, n. Want of provisions.
[Not in use.] Spenser.
DIS'PUTABLE, a. [See Dispute.] That
may be disputed ; liable to be called in
question, controverted or contested ; con-
trovertible ; of doubtful certainty. We
speak of disputable opinions, statements,
propositions, arguments, points, cases,
questions, &c.
DISPUTANT, n. One who disputes ; one
who argues in opposition to another; a
controvertist ; a reasoner in opposition.
DISPUTANT, a. Disputing; engaged in
coutrover.sy. MUton.
D I S
D I S
D I S
DISPUTA'TION, n. [L. dispuiatio.] The
act of disputing ; a reasoning or argumen-
tation in opposition to something, or on
opposite sides ; controversy in words ;
verbal contest, respecting tlie truth of
some fact, opinion, proposition or argu-
ment.
2. An exercise in colleges, in which parties
reason in opposition to each other, on
some question proposed.
DISPUTA'TIOUS, a. Liclined to dispute;
apt to cavil or controvert ; as a disputa-
tious person or temper.
The christian doctrine of a future life was no
recommendation of the new religion to the wits
and philosophers of that disputatious period.
Suckminster.
DISPU'TATIVE, a. Disposed to dispute;
inclined to cavil or to reason in opposition ;
as a disputative temper. ffatts.
DISPU'TE, V. i. [L. dispulo ; (lis and pulo.
The primary sense o( puto is to throw,
cast, strike or drive, as we see by iniputo,
to impute, to throw on, to charge, to
ascribe. Amputo, to prune, is to strike off,
to throw off from all sides ; computo, to
compute, is to throw together, to cast.
Dispute then is radically very similar to
debate and discuss, both of which are
from beating, driving, agitation.]
1. To contend in argmnent ; to reason or
argue in ojjposition ; to debate ; to alter-
cate ; and to dispute violently is to wran-
gle. Paul dispelled with the Jews in the
synagogue. The disciples of Christ dis-
puted among themselves who should be
the greatest. Men often dispute about
trifles.
2. To strive or contend in opposition to a
competitor ; as, we disputed for the prize.
DISPU'TE, V. t. To attempt to disprove by
arguments or statements ; to attemjit to
prove to be false, unfoiuided or erroneous;
to controvert ; to attempt to overthrow by
reasoning. We dispute assertions, opin-
ions, arguments or statements, when we
endeavor to prove them false or unfound-
ed. We dispute the validity of a title or
claim. Hence to dispute a cause or case
with another, is to endeavor to maintain
one's own opinions or claims, and to
overthrow those of his opponent.
2. To strive or contend for, either by words
or actions ; as, to dispute the honor of the
day ; to dispute a prize. But this phrase
is elliptical, being used for dispute for, and
primarily the verb is intransitive. See the
Intransitive Verb, No. 2.
3. To call in question the propriety of; to
oppose by reasoning. An officer is never
to dispute the orders of his superior.
4. To strive to maintain ; as, to dispute ever)'
inch of ground.
DISPU'TE, ;i. Strife or contest in words or
by arguments ; an attempt to jirove and
maintain one's own opinions or claims,
by arguments or statements, in opposi-
tion to the opinions, arguments or claims
of another ; controversy in words. They
had a dispute on the lawfulness of slaveiy,
a subject which, one would think, could
admit of no dispute.
Dispute is usually applied to verbal contest ;
controversy may be in words or writing.
Dispute is between individuals; debate
and discussion are applicable to public
bodies.
2. The possibility of being controverted ; as
in the j)brase, this is a fact, beyond all dis-
pute.
DISPUTED, pp. Contested ; opposed by
words or arguments ; litigated.
DISPU'TELESS, a. Admitting no dispute ;
incontrovertible.
DISPU'TER, n. One who disputes, or who
is given to disputes ; a controvertist.
Where is the dispuler of this world
Cor. i.
DISPUTING, ppr. Contending by words
or arguments ; controverting.
DISPU'TING, n. The act of contending by
words or arguments ; controversy ; alter
cation.
Do all things without murmurings or dispu
tings. Phil. ii. I
DISQUALIFICA'TION, n. [See Disqual-]
ify.] The act of disqualifying ; or that|
which disqualifies ; that which renders
unlit, unsuitable or inadequate ; as, sick-
ness is a disqualification for labor or
study.
2. The act of depriving of legal power or
capacity ; that which renders incapable
that which incapacitates in law ; disabil-
ity. Conviction of a crime is a disqualifica-
tion for office.
3. Want of qualification. It is used in this|
sense, though improperly. In strictness,
disqualification implies a previous qualifi-'
cation ; but careless writers use it for the
want of quaUfication, where no previous!
qualification is supposed. Thus, I musti
still retain the consciousness of those dis-
qualifications, which you have been pleas-l
ed to overlook.
Sir John Shore, Asiat. Res. 4. 1
DISQUaL'IFIED, pp. Deprived of qualili-|
cations ; rendered unfit.
DISUUAL'IFY, j;. t. [dis and qualify.] To
make unfit ; to deprive of natural power,
or the qualities or properties necessary
for any purpose ; with for. Indisposition
disqualifies the body for labor, and the
mind for study. Piety disqualifies a per-!
son for no lawful employment.
2. To deprive of legal capacity, power or
right ; to disable. A conviction of perjury
disqualifes a man for a witness. A direct
interest in a suit disqualifies a person to be
a juror in the cause.
DISQUALIFYING, ppr. Rendering unfit ;
disabling.
DISQU.\N'TITY, v. t. To diminish. [JVot
in use.] Shak.
DISQUI'ET, a. [dis and quiet.] Unquiet ;
restless ; uneasy. [Seldom used.'] Shak}
DISQUI'ET, n. Want of quiet; uneasiness;;
restlessness ; want of tranquiUty in bodyl
or mind ; disturbance ; anxiety. I
Su-ifl. Titlotson.^
DISQUI'ET, V. t. To disturb ; to deprive of
peace, rest or tranquility ; to make unea-
sy or restless ; to harass the body ; t(
fret or vex the mind.
That he may disquiet the inhabitants of Bab-
ylon. Jer. 1.
Why hast thou disquieted me. 1 Sam. xxviii
0 niv soul, why art thou disquieted within
me? "Ps. xlii.
DISQUI'ETED, pp. Made uneasy or rest
less ; disturbed ; harassed.
DISQUI'ETER, n. One who disquiets ; he
or that which makes uneasy.
DISQUI'ETFUL, a. Producing inquietude.
Barrou:
DISQUIETING, ppr. Disturbing : making
uneasy ; depriving of rest or peace.
2. a.Tendingto disturb the mind ; as dis-
quieting apprehensions.
DISQUI'ETLY, adv. Without quiet or rest ;
in an uneasy state ; uneasily ; anxiously ;
as, he rested rfw^uiVWi/ that night. [Unu-
sual.] Wiseman.
DISQUI'ETNESS, n. Uneasiness ; restless-
ness ; disturbance of peace in body or
mind. Hooker.
DISQUI'ETOUS, a. Causing uneasine.ss.
[J^ot used.] MiUon.
DISQUIETUDE, n. Want of peace or tran-
quility ; uneasiness ; disturbance ; agita-
tion ; anxiety. It is, I beUcvc, most fre-
quently used of the mind.
Religion is our best security from the dis-
quietu3e.i that embitter life.
DISQUISI "TION, n. [L. disquisitio ; dis-
quiro; dis and quxro, to seek.]
A formal or systematic inquiry into any sub-
ject, by arguments, or discussion of the
facts and circumstances that may eluci-
date truth ; as a disquisition on govern-
ment or morals ; a disquisition concerning
the antediluvian earth. Woodward.
[It is usually applied to a icritten treatise.]
DISRANK', V. t. To degrade from rank.
[Xot used.]
2. To throw out of rank or into confu.sion.
Decker.
DISREG'ARD, n. [dis and regard.] Neg-
lect ; omission of notice ; slight ; implying
indiffijrence or some degree of contempt ;
as, to pass one with disregard.
DISREGARD, V. t. To omit to take notice
of; to neglect to observe ; to slight as un-
worthy of regard or notice.
Studious of good, man disregarded fame.
Blackmore.
We are never to disregard the wants of the
poor, nor the admonitions of conscience.
DISREG- ARDED, pp. Neglected ; slighted ;
unnoticed.
DISREG-ARDFUL, a. Neglectful; negli-
gent ; heedless.
DISREG'ARDFULLY, adv. Neghgently ;
heedlesslv.
DISREL'ISH, n. [dis and relish.] Distaste ;
dislike of the palate; some degree of dis-
gust. Men generally have a disrelish for
tobacco, till the taste is reconciled to it by
custom.
2. Bad taste ; nauseousness. Milton.
3. Distaste or dislike, in a ^gurative sense;
dislike of the mind, or of the facidty by
which beauty and excellence are perceiv-
ed.
DISREL'ISH, V. I. To dislike the taste of;
as, to disrelish a particidar kind of food.
2. To make nauseous or disgusting ; to in-
fect with a bad taste. [In this sense, I be-
lieve, the icord is little used.] Milton.
3. To dislike ; to feel some disgust at ; as,
to disrelish vulgar jests.
DISRELISHED, pp. Not relished ; disli-
ked ; made nauseous.
DISRELISHING, ppr. Disliking the taste
of; experiencing disgust at : rendering
nauseous.
D I S
D I S
D I S
DISREPUTABLE, a. [dis and reputahk.]
1. Not reputable; not in esteem ; not hon-
orable ; low ; mean ; as disreputable com-
pany.
2. Dishonorable ; disgracuig the reputation ;
tending to impair the good name, and
bring into disesteera. It is disreputable to
associate familiarly with the mean, the
lewd and the profane.
DISREPUTA'TION, n. [dis and reputation.
Loss or want of reputation or good name ;
disrepute ; disesteem ; dishonor ; disgrace
discredit. Ill success often brings an en
terprising man, as well as his project, into
disreputation.
DISREPU'TE, n. [dis unil repute.] Losso
want of reputation ; disesteem; discredit
dishonor. The alehimist and his books
have sunk into disrepute.
DISRESPECT', n. [dis and respect.] Want
of respect or reverence ; disesteem. Dis-
respect often leads a man to treat another
with neglect or a degree of contempt.
2. Jls an act, incivility ; irreverence ; rude-
ness.
DlSRESPEeT'FUL, a. Wanting in res-
pect ; irreverent ; as a disrespectful thought
or opinion.
2. Manifesting disesteem or want of res-
|)ect ; uncivil ; as disrespectful behavior.
DISRESPECTFULLY, adv. In a disres-
pectful manner ; irreverently ; uncivilly.
DISRO'BE, !'. /. [dis and robe.] To divest
of a robe ; to divest of garments ; to un-
dress.
2. To strip of covering ; to divest of any
surrounding appendage. Autumn disrobes
the fields of verdure.
These two peevs were disrobed of their glory.
Wotton.
DISRO'BED, pp. Divested of clothing;
stripped of covering.
DISRO'BER, n. One that strips of robes or
clothing.
DISRO'BING, ppr. Divesting of garments ;
stripping of any kind of covei-ing.
DISROOT', V. t. [dis and root] To tear up
the roots, or by the roots.
2. To tear from a foundation ; to loosen or
undermine.
A piece of ground diarooicd from its situation
Iiy subterraneous Inundations. Goldsmith
DISRQQT'ED, pp. Torn up by the roots ;
undermined.
DISRQQT'ING, ppr. Tearing up by the
roots ; undermining.
DISRUPT', a. [L disrvptus ; dis and rum-
po, to burst.]
Rent from ; torn asunder; severed by rend
ing or breaking.
DISRUP'TION, n. [L. disruptio, from dis
rumpo.]
1. The act of rending asunder ; the act of
bursting and separating.
2. Breach ; rent ; dilaceration ; as the disrup-
tion of rocks in an earthquake ; the dis-
ruption of a stratum of earth ; disruption
of the flesh.
DISRUP'TURE, V. t. [dis and rupture.] To
rend ; to sever by tearing, breaking or
bursting. [Unnecessary, as it is synony
mous ivith rupture.]
DISRUP'TURED, pp. Rent asunder; sev
ered by breaking. Med. Repos.
mSRUP'TURING, ppr. Rending asunder
severing.
DISSATISPA€'TION, n. [dis and satis-
faction.] The state of being dissatisfied ,
discontent; uneasiness proceeding fmm
the want of gratification, or from disap-
pointed wishes and expectations.
The ambitious man is subject to uneasiness
and dissatisfaction. Addison.
DISSATISFAG'TORINESS, n. Inability
satisfy or give content ; a failing to give
ntent.
DISSATISFA€'TORY, a. Unable to give
content. Johnson.
Rather, giving discontent ; displeasing.
To have reduced tlie different qualifications,
in the different stales, to one uniform rule,
would probably have been as dissatisfactory to
some of the states, as difficult for the conven-
tion. Hamilton. Mitford.
DISSAT'ISFIED, ;>;). Made discontented;
displeased.
3. a. Discontented ; not satisfied ; not pleas-
ed ; offended. Locke.
DISSAT'ISFY, V. t. To render discontent-
ed ; to displease ; to excite uneasiness by
frustrating wishes or expectations.
DISSAT'ISFYING, ppr. Exciting uneasi-
ss or discontent.
DISSE'AT, V. t. To remove from a seat.
Skak.
DISSECT', v.t. [L. disseco, dissectus; dis
d seco, to cut ; Fr. dissequer.]
1. To cut in pieces ; to divide an animal
body, with a cutting instruinent, by sepa-
rating the joints ; as, to dissect a fowl.
Hence appropriately.
To cut in pieces, as an animal or vegeta-
ble, for the purpose of examining the
structure and use of its several parts ; to
anatomize. Also, to open any part of a
body to observe its morbid appearances,
or to ascertain the cause of death or the
seat of a disease.
3. To divide into its constituent parts, for
the purpose of examination ; as, dissect
your mind ; dissect a paragraph.
Roscommon. Pope,
DISSECT'ED, pp. Cut in pieces ; separated
by parting the joints ; divided into its con
stituent parts ; opened and examined.
DISSECT'ING, ppr. Cutting in pieces ; di
vidiug the parts ; separating constituent
parts for minute exaniuiation.
DISSECTION, n. [L. dissectio.] The act
of cutting in pieces an animal or vegeta-
ble, for the purpose of examining the
structure and uses of its parts; anatomy
Dissection was held sacrilege till tiie time of
Francis I. Encyc.
The act of separating into constituent
parts, for the purpose of critical examina-
tion.
DISSECT'OR, n. One who dissects; an
anatomist.
DISSE'IZE, v.t. [dis and seize; Fr. des
saisir.] In law, to dispossess wrongfully ;
to deprive of actual seizin or possession
followed by of; as, to disseize a tenant of
his freehold.
he is not so.
DISSE'IZED, pp. Put out ot possession
wrongfully or by force ; deprived of actual
possession.
DISSEIZEE', n. A person put out of pos-
session of an estate unlawfully.
DISSE'IZIN, n. The act of disseizing ; an
uidawful dispossessing of a person of his
lands, tenements, or incorporeal heredita-
ments ; a deprivation of actual seizin.
Blackstone.
DISSE'IZING, ppr. Depriving of actual sei-
zin or possession ; putting out of ]
DISSE'IZOR, n. One who puts another out
of possession wrongfully; he that dispos-
sesses another. Blackstone.
DISSEM'BLANCE, n. [dis and semblance.]
Want of resetnblance. [Little used.]
Osborne.
DISSEM'BLE, v. t. [L. dissimulo ; dis and
simulo, from similis,\\ke; Fr. dissimider;
It. dissimulare ; Sp. disimular; Arm. dip-
zuvutla.]
1. To hide under a false appearance ; to
conceal ; to disguise ; to pretend that not
to be which really is ; as, I will not dis-
semble the truth ; I cannot dissemble my
real sentiments. [This is the proper sense
ofthis ivord.]
2. To pretend that to he which is not ; to
make a false appearance of. This is the
sense of simulate.
Your son Lucentio
Doth love my daughter, and she loveth him.
Or both dissemble deeply their affections.
Sliak.
DISSEM'BLE, v. i. To be hypocritical ; to
assume a false appearance ; to conceal the
real fact, motives, intention or sentiments
under some pretense.
Ye have stolen and dissembled also. Josh,
vii.
He that hatetli, dissembleth with his lips.
Prov. xxvi.
DISSEMBLED, pp. Concealed under a
false appearance ; disguised.
DISSEMBLER, n. One who dissembles;
a hypocrite ; one who conceals his opin-
ions or dispositions under a false appear-
ance.
DISSEMBLING, ppr. Hiding under a
false appearance ; acting the hypocrite.
DISSEM'BLINGLY, adv. With dissimula-
tion ; hypocritically ; falsely. Knolles.
DISSEMINATE, v. t. [L. dissemino ; dis
and semino, to sow, frotn semen, seed.]
1. Literally, to sow ; to scatter seed ; but sel-
dom or never used in its literal sense.
But hence,
2. To scatter for growth and propagation,
like seed ; to spread. Thus, principles,
o])inions and errors are disseminated, when
they are spread and propagated. To dis-
seminate truth or the gospel is highly
laudable.
To spread ; to difftise.
A uniform heat disseminated through the
body of the earth. Woodward.
4. To spread ; to disperse.
The Jews are disseminated through all the
trading parts of the world. Jiddison.
[The second is the most proper applica-
tion of the word, as it -should always in-
clude the idea of growth or taking root.
The fourth sense is hardly vindicable.]
DISSEM'INATED, pp. Scattered, as seed ;
propagated; spread.
2. In mineralogy, occurring in portions less
than a hazel nut ; being scattered.
DISSEM'INATING, ppr. Scattering and
I propagating; spreading.
D I S
D I S
D I S
DISSEMINATION, n. The act of scatter-
ing and propagatini,', like seed ; the act of
spreading for growth and perinaneiu-e.
We trust tlie world is to be reformed by
the dissemination of evangelical doctrines.
DISSEM'INATOR, n. One who dissemi-
nates ; one who sj)readB and propagates.
DISSEN'SION, 71. [L. dissensio ; dis and
senlio, to think ; Fr. dissension.]
Disagreement in opinion, usually a disa-
greement which is violent, producing
warm debates or angry words; conten-
tion in words ; strife ; discord ; quarrel ;
breach of friendship and union.
Debates, dissensions, uproars are thy joy.
Dry den.
Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension
with tlicm. Acts xv.
We see dissensions in church and state,
in towns, parishes, and families, and the
word is sometimes applied to differences
which produce war ; as the dissensions
between the houses of York and Lancas-
ter in England.
DISSEN'SIOUS, a. Disposed to discord ;
quarrelsome ; contentious ; factious. [Lit-
tle usedA Shak. Jlscham.
DISSENT", II. i. [L. dissensio ; dis and sen-
tio, to think.]
1. To disagree in opinion ; to differ ; to think
in a different or contrary manner ; with
from. There are many opinions in which
men dissent from us, as they dissent from
each.other.
2. To differ from an estabUshed church, in
regard to doctrines, rites or government.
3. To differ ; to be of a contrary nature.
Less proper.] Hooker.
NT', n. Difference of opinion ; dis-
agreement.
9. Declaration of disagreement in opinion ;
as, they entered their dissent on tlie jour-
nals of the house.
3. Contrariety of nature ; oi)posite quahty-
[JVol in use.] Bacon.
DISSENTA'NEOUS, a. Disagreeable ; con-
trary.
DIS'SENTANY, a. Dissentaneous ; incon-
sistent. [Not used.] Milton.
DISSENT'ER, n. One who dissents ; one
who differs in opinion, or one who declares
his disagreement.
•3. One who separates from the service and
worship of any established church. The
word is in England particularly applied to
those who separate from, or who do not
unite with, the church of England.
DISSEN'TIENT, a. Disagreeing; declar-
ing dissent.
DISSEN'TIENT, n. One who disagrees
and declares his dissent.
DISSENT'ING, ppr. Disagreeing in opin
ion ; separating from the communion of
an established church. It is used as at
adjective ; as a dissenting minister or con
gregation.
DISSEN'TIOUS, a.
ment or discord.
DISSEP'IMENT, «. [L. dissepimentnm ; dis-
sepio, to separate ; dis and sepio, to inclose
or guard.]
In botany, a partition in dry seed-vessels, as
in capsules and pods, which separates the
fruit into cells. Enci/c.
DISSERT', V. i. [L. dissero, diserto.] To
discourse or dispute. [Little in use
^k
Disposed to disagree-
DISSERTA'TION, n. [L. dissertatio, from
disserto, to discourse, from dissero, id. ; dis
and sero, to sow, that is, to throw. Disse-
ro is to throw out, to cast abroad.]
1. A discourse, or rather a format discourse,
intended to illustrate a subject.
2. A written essay, treatise or disquisition ;
as Plutarch's dissertaiion on the poets ;
Newton's dissertations on the prophecies.
DIS SERTATOR, »j. One who writes a
(lisscriauon ; one who debates. Boyle.
DISSERVE, V. t. disserv'. [dis and serve.]
To injure; to hurt; to harm; to do inju-
ry or inisohief to.
He took the firat opportunity to dinservehim.
Clarendon.
Too much zeal often disserves a good cause.
^no7J.
DISSERV ED, pp. Injured.
DISSERVICE, n. Injury ; harm ; mischief;
as, violent remedies otYen do a disservice.
DISSERVICEABLE, a. Injurious; hurt-
ful.
DISSERVaCEABLENESS, n. The quali-
ty of being injurious ; tendency to harm.
.Yorris.
DISSET'TLE, v.t. To unsettle. [.Yotused.]
More.
DISSEVER, V. t. [dis and sever. In this
word, dis, as in dispart, can have no effect,
imless to augment the signification,
dis and sever both denote separation.]
To dispart: to part in two ; to divide asun-
der ; to separate ; to disunite, either by
violence or not. When with force, it is
equivalent to j-end and burst. It may de-
note either to cut or to tear asunder. In
beheading, the head is dissevered from the
body. The lightning may dissever a
branch from the stem of a tree. Jealousy
dissevers the bonds of friendship. The
reformation dissevered the catholic church ;
it dissevered protestants from catholics.
DISSEVERANCE, n. The act of lUsse
erin£ ; separation.
DISSEVERED, pp. Disparted ; disjoined ;
se|)arated.
DISSEVERING, ppr. Dividing asunder ;
separating ; tearing or cutting asunder.
DISr^EVERING, n. The act of separating ;
separation.
DIS'SIDENCE, n. [infra.] Discord.
DIS'SIDENT, a. [L. dissideo, to disagree ;
dis and sedeo, to sit.] Not agreeing.
DIS'SIDENT, n. A dissenter; one who
separates from the established religion ; a
word applied to the members of the Lu-
theran, Calvinistic and Greek churches in
Poland. Encyc.
DISSILIENCE, n. [L. dissilio; dis and
salio, to leap.] The act of leaping or
starting asunder.
DISSIL'IENT, a. Starting asunder ; burst-
ing and opening with an elastic force, as
the dry pod or capsule of a plant ; as a
dissilient pericarp. Martyn.
DISSILI"TION, n. The act of bursting
open ; the act of starting or springing dif-
ferent wavs. Boyle.
DISSIM'ILAR, a. [dis and similar.] Un-
like, either in nature, properties or exter-
nal form ; not similar ; not having the
resemblance of; heterogeneous. Newton
denominates dissimilar, the rays of light
of different refrangibility. The tempers
of men are as dissimilar as their features.
DISSIMILARITY, n. UnUkeness ; want
of resemblance ; di.ssimilitude ; as the rfw-
similariiy of human faces and forms.
DlSSni'lLE, n. disaim'Uy. Comparison or
illustration by contraries. [Little used.]
DISSIMIL ITUDE, n. [L. dissimUitudo.]
Unlikeiicss ; want of resemblance ; as a
dissimililude of form or character.
DISSIMLL.VTIOiN, n. [L. dissimuloHo ;
dis and simulalio, from simulo, to make
like, similis, like.]
The act of dissctnbling ; a hiding under a
false appearance ; a feigning ; false pre-
tension ; hypocrisy. Dissimulation may
be simply concealment of the opinions,
sentiments or purpose ; but it includes
also the assuming of a false or counterfeit
apiiearance which conceals the real opin-
ions or purpose. Dissimulation among
statesmen is sometimes regard(;d as a ne-
cessary vice, or as no vice at all.
Let love be without dissimulation. Rom.
xii.
DISSIM'ULE, V. t. To dissemble. [Not in
use.] Elyot.
DIS'SIPABLE, a. [See Dissipate.] Liable
to be dissipated ; that may be scattered or
dispersed.
The heat of those plants is very dissipable.
Bacon.
DISSIPATE, V. t. [L. dissipalus, dissipo ;
dis ami an obsolete verb, sipo, to throw.
We perhaps see its derivatives in siphon,
prosapia and sept, and sepio, to inclose,
may be primarily to repel and thus to
guard.]
1. To scatter ; to disperse ; to drive asunder.
Wind dissipates fog ; the heat of the sun
dissipates vapor; m'inU dissipates care and
anxiety ; the cares of life tend to dissipate
serious reflections.
Scatter, disperse and dissipate are in ma-
ny cases synonymous ; but dissipate is
used appropriately to denote the disper-
sion of^ things that vanish, or are not af-
terwards collected ; as, to dissipate fog, va-
por or clouds. We say, an army is scat-
tered or dispersed, but not dissipated. Trees
are scattered or dispersed over a field, but
not dissipated.
2. To expend ; to squander ; to scatter pro-
perty in wasteful extravagance ; to waste ;
to consume ; as, a man has dissipated his
fortune in the pursuit of pleasure.
3. To scatter the attention.
DIS'SIPATE, V. i. To scatter ; to disperse ;
to separate into parts and disappear ; to
waste away ; to vanish.
A fog or cloud gradually dissipates, before
the rays or heat of the sun . The heat of a body
dissipates ; the fluids dissipate.
DIS'SIPATED, pp. Scattered ; dispersed ;
wasted ; consumed ; squandered.
2. a. Loose ; irregular ; given to extrava-
gance in the expenditure of property ; de-
voted to pleasure and vice ; as a dissipa-
ted man ; a dissipated life.
DISSIPATING, ppr. Scattering ; dispers-
ing ; wasting ; consuming ; squandering ;
vanishing.
DISSIPATION, n. The act of scattering;
dispersion ; the state of being dispersed ;
as the dissipation of vapwr or heat.
2. In physics, the insensible loss or waste of
the minute parts of a body, which fly off,
D I S
by w hich means the body is diminished or
consumed. , . , ,•
3. Scattered attention ; or tliat which diverts
" and calls off the mind from any subject.
Swift.
4. A dissolute, irregular course of life ; a
wandering from object to object in pursuit
of pleasure ; a course of life usually at-
tended with careless and exorbitant ex-
penditures of money, and indulgence in
vices, which impair or ruin both health
and fortune.
What! is it proposed then to reclaim the
spendthrift from his dissipation and extrava-
gance, by filling his pockets with money ?
P. Henry, Wirt's Sketches.
DISSO'CIABLE, a. [See Dissociate.] Not
well associated, united or assorted,
They came in two and two, though matched
in the most dissociable manner.
Spectator. No. 4.
DISSO'CIAL, a. [dis md social] Unfriend-
ly to society ; contracted ; selfish ; as a
dissocial passion. Kames.
DISSO'CIATE, V. t. [L. dissociatiis, disso-
cio ; dis and socio, to unite, socius, a com-
panion.]
To separate ; to disunite ; to part ; as, to dis-
sociate the particles of a concrete sub-
stance. J5oyie
DISSO'CIATED, pp. Separated; disuni-
ted.
DISSO'CIATING, ppr. Separating; dis-
uniting.
DISSOCIA'TION, n. The act of disuni
ting ; a state of separation ; disunion.
It will add to tlie dissociation, distraction and
confusion of these confederate republics.
Burke
from dis-
DISSOLUBIL'ITY, n. Capacity of being
dissolved by heat or moisture, and con
verted into a fluid.
DIS'SOLUBLE, a. [L. dissolubilis. See
Dissolve.]
2. Cai>able of being dissolved ; that may be
melted ; having its parts separable by heat
or moisture ; convertible into a fluid.
Woodiaard.
2. That may be disunited.
DIS'SOLUTE, a. [L. dissohtt
solvo.]
1. Loose in behavior and morals; given to
vice and dissipation ; wanton; lewd ; lux-
urious ; debauched ; not under the re-
straints of law ; as a dissolute man ; disso-
lute company.
2. Vicious ; wanton ; devoted to pleasure
and dissipation ; as a dissolute life.
DIS'SOLUTELY, adv. Loosely ; wanton
ly ; in dissipation or debauchery ; without
restraint ; as, to live dissolutely.
DIS'SOLUTENESS, n. Looseness of man-
ners and morals ; vicious indulgences ii
pleasure, as in intemperance and debauch
ery ; dissipation ; as dissoluteness of life oi
manners.
DISSOLU'TION, II. [L. dissolutio, troni
dissolvo.]
In a general sense, the separation of the'
parts of a body which, in the natura'
structure, are united ; or the reduction o:
concrete bodies into their smallest parts,
without regard to solidity or fluidity. Thu;
we speak of the dissolution of salts inj
water, of metals in nitro-muriatic acid,
and of ice or butter by heat; in which ca
ses, the dissolution is effected by a men-
struum or particular agent. We speak al-
so of the dissolution of flesh or animal
bodies, when the parts separate by putre-
faction. Dissolution then is.
The act of liquefying or changing from a
solid to a fluid state by heat ; a melting ;
a thawing; as the dissolution of snow and
ice, which converts them into water.
2. The reduction of a body into its smallest
parts, or into very minute parts, by a dis-
solvent or menstruum, as of a metal by ni-
tro-muriatic acid, or of salts in water.
3. The separation of the parts of a body by
putrefaction, or the analysis of the natural
structure of mixed bodies, as of animal oi
vegetable substances ; decomposition.
4. The substance fon>ied by dissolving i
body in a menstruum. [This is now call
ed a solution.] Bacon.
5. Death ; the separation of the soul and
body. Milton.
6. Destruction ; the separation of the parts
which compose a connected system, or
body ; as the dissolution of the world, or of
nature ; the dissolution of government.
7. The breaking up of an assembly, or the
putting an end to its existence.
Dissolution is the civil death of parliament.
BInckstone.
Looseness of manners; dissipation.
Taylor. South.
In this latter sense the word is obso-
lete, dissoluteness being substituted.
9. Dissolution of the blood, in medicine, that
state of the blood, in which it does not
readily coagulate, on its cooling out of the
body, as in malignant fevers. Cyc
DISSOLVABLE, a. dizzolv'able. [See Dis
solve.] That may be dissolved ; capabli
of being melted; that may be converted
into a fluid. Sugar and ice are dissolvable
bodies.
DISSOLVE, v.t. dizzolv'. [L. dissolve; dts
and solvo, to loose, to free.]
1. To melt ; to liquefy ; to convert from a
solid or fixed state to a fluid state, by
means of heat or moisture.
To dissolve by Keat, is to loosen the
parts of a solid body and render then
fluid or easily movable. Thus ice is con
verted into water by dissolution.
To dissolve in a liquid, is to separate
the parts of a solid substance, and cause
them to mix with the fluid ; or to reduce
a solid substance into minute parts which
may be sustained in that fluid. Thus
water dissolves salt and sugar.
2. To disunite ; to break ; to separate.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dis
olved, what manner of persons ought ye to be
n all holy conversation and godliness ? 2 Pet. iii
3. To loose ; to disunite.
4. To loose the ties or bonds of any thing
to destroy any connected system ; as, ti
dissolve a" government ; to dissolve a cor-
poration.
To loose ; to break ; as, to dissolve a
league; to dissolve the bonds of friendship,
C. To break up ; to cause to separate ; to put
an end to ; as, to dissolve the parliament r
to dissolve an assembly. .
To clear ; to solve ; to remove ; to dissi-
pate, or to explain ; as, to dissolve doubts
D I S
We usually say, to solve doubts and diffi-
culties.
8. To break ; to destroy ; as, to dissolve a
charm, spell or enchantment. Milton.
J. To loosen or relax ; to make languid ; as
dissolved in pleasure.
10. To waste away ; to consume ; to cause
to vanish or perish.
Thou dissoloest my substance. Job xxx.
11. To annul ; to rescind ; as, to dissolve an in-
unction. Johnson^s Rep.
DISSOLVE, V. i. dizzolv'. To be melted;
to be converted from a soUd to a fluid
state ; as, sugar dissolves in water.
3. To sink away ; to lose strength and firm-
Shak.
3. To melt away in pleasure; to become
soft or languid.
4. To fall asunder ; to crumble ; to be bro-
ken. A government may dissolve by its
own weight or extent.
To waste away ; to perish ; to be decom-
posed. Flesh dissolves by putrefaction.
6. To come to an end by a separation of
parts.
DISSOLVED, pp. Melted ; liquefied ; dis-
united ; parted ; loosed ; relaxed ; wasted
away ; ended.
Dissolved blood, is that which does not readily
ulate.
DISSOLVENT, a. Having power to melt
or dissolve ; as the dissolvent juices of the
stomach. Rt^y-
DISSOLVENT, n. Any thing which has
the power or quality of melting, or con-
verting a solid substance into a fluid, or of
separating the parts of a fixed body so
that they mix with a liquid ; as, water is a
dissolvent of salts and earths. It is other-
wise called a menstruum.
In medicine, a remedy supposed capable
of dissolving concretions in the body, such
as calculi, tubei-cles, &c. Parr.
DISSOLVER, n. That which dissolves or
has the power of dissolving. Heat is the
most powerful dissolver of substances.
DISSOLVING, ppr. Melting; making or
becoming liquid.
DIS'SONANCE, n. [Fr. dissonance, from
L. dissonans, dissono, to be discordant ; dis
and sono, to sound.]
1. Discord; a mixture or union of harsh, un-
harmonious sounds, which are grating or
unpleasing to the ear ; as the dissonance
of notes, sounds or numbers.
2. Disagreement.
DIS'SONANT, a. Discordant; harsh; jar-
ring ; unharmonious ; unpleasant to the
ear ; as dissonant notes or intervals.
2. Disagreeing ; incongruous ; usually with
from ; as, he advanced propositions very
dissonant from truth.
DISSUA'DE, V. t. [L. dissuadeo ; dis and
suadeo, to advise or incite to any thing.]
1. To advise or exhort against ; to attempt
to draw or divert from a measure, by rea-
son or offering motives to ; as, the minister
dissuaded the prince from adopting the
measure ; he dissuaded him from his pur-
2. To represent as unfit, improper or dan
gerous.
War therefore, open or concealed, alike
My voice dissuades.
This phraseology
MIton.
probably elliptical,
D I S
and merely poetical ; from being under-
stood.
DlSSUA'DED,p;>. Advised against; coun-
seled or induced by advice 111)1 todosome-
thine ; diverted from a purpose.
DISSUA'DliK, n. lie tliat dissuades; a de-
liorter.
DlHSUA'DlNG,/);)r. Exlioning against ; at-
tempting, by advice, to divert from a pur-
j)ose.
DISSUA'SION, n. disua'zhun. Advice or
exhortation in opposition to something;
the oct of attempting, by reason or motives
offered, to divert from a purpose or meas-
ure ; dehortation. Boyle.
DISSUA'SIVE, a. Tending to dissuade, or
divert from a measure or purpose ; dehor-
tatory.
DISSUA'SIVE, n. Reason, argument, or
counsel, employed to deter one from a
measure or purpose ; that whicli is used
or which tends to divert the mind from
any purpose or pursuit. The consequen-
ces of intemperance are powerful dissua-
sives from indulging in that vice.
DISSUN'DER, V. t. [dis and sunder ] To
separate ; to rend. Chapman.
DISSWEE'TEM, v. t. To deprive of sweet-
ness, f JVbe used.] Bp. Richardson.
DlSSYLLAB'Ie, a. Consisting of two syl-
lables only ; as a dissuUabic foot in poetry.
DISSYL'LABLE, n. [Gr. hLnaVK-Ka^o( ; in,
two or twice, and avVKoSoi, a syllable.]
A word consisting of two syllables only ; as,
paper, whiteness, virtue.
DIS'TAFF, n. [The English books refer
this word to the Saxon distaf; but I have
not found the word in the Saxon Diction-
ary.]
1. The staff of a spinning-wheel, to which a
bunch of flax or tow is tied, and from
which the thread is drawn.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her
hands hold the distaff. Piov. xxxi.
2. Figuratively, a woman, or the female sex.
His ciown usurped, a distaff on the throne.
Dryden.
DIS'TAFF- THISTLE, n. A species of this-
tle ; a name of the Atraclylis, and of the
Carthamus, or false saffron.
DISTA'IN, V. I. [dis and stain. This seems
to be from the French deteindre, from the
L. tingo ; but see Stain.]
1. To stain ; to tinge with any different color
from the natural or proper one ; to discol-
or. We speak of a sword distained with
blood ; a garment distained witli gore. It
has i)recisely the signification of stain, but
is used chiefly or appropriately in poetry
and the higher kinds of prose.
2. To blot ; to sully ; to defile ; to tarnish.
She distained her honorable blood.
Spenser.
The wortliiness of praise distains his worth.
Shrilc.
DISTA'INED, pp. Stained ; tinged ; discol-
ored; blotted; sullied.
DISTA'INING, ppr. Staining ; discoloring ;
blotting ; tarnishing.
DIS'TANCE, n. [Fr. distance ; Sp. distan-
cia ; It. distanza ; L. distanlia, from disto,
to stand aj)art ; dis and sto, to stand.]
1. An interval or space between two objects
the length of the shortest line which inter-
venes between two things that are sepa-
rate ; as a great or small distance. Dis-
D I S
fance may be a line, an inch, a mile, or any
indefinite length ; as the distance between
the sun and saturn.
2. Preceded by at, remoteness of [jlace.
He waits at distance till he hears from Cato
.Addison
3. Preceded by thy, his, your, her, their, a
suitable space, or such remoteness as is
common or becoming; as, let him keej)
his distance ; keep your distance. [See
No. 8.]
4. A space marked on the course where
horses run.
This horse ran the whole field out of dis-
tance. L'Estrange.
5. Space ef time ; any indefinite length of
time, past or future, intervening between
two periods or events ; as the distance of
an hour, of a year, of an age.
6. Ideal s|)ace or separation.
Qualities that affect our senses are, in the
things themselves, so united and blended, thai
there is no distance between them. Locke
7. Contrariety; opposition.
Banquo was your enemy.
So he is mine, and in such bloody distance—
Shak
8. The remoteness which respect requires
hence, respect.
I hope your modesty
Will know what distance to the crown is due,
Dryden
'Tis by respect and distance that authority is
upheld. Atterbury
[See No. 3.]
9. Reserve; coldness; alienation of heart.
On the part of heaven
Now alienated, distance and distaste.
Milton
10. Remoteness in succession or relation
as the distance between a descendant and
his ancestor.
11. In music, the interval between two
notes ; as the distance of a fourth or sev
enth.
DIS'TANCE, V. t. To place remote ; to
throw off from the view. Dryden
'i. To leave behintl in a race ; to win the
race by a great superiority.
3. To leave at a great distance behind.
He distanced the most skilful of liis cotem-
poraries. Milner.
DIS'TANCED, pp. Left far behind; cast
out of the race.
DIS'TAJNT, a. [L. distans, standing apart _
1. Separate ; having an intervening space of
any indefinite extent. One point may be
less than a line or a hair's breadth dis-
tant from another. Saturn is supposed to
be nearly nine hundred million miles dis-
tant from the sun.
2. Remote in place ; as, a distant object ap-
pears under a small aiigle.
3. Remote in time, past or future ; as a dis-
tant age or period of the world.
4. Remote in the line of succession or des-
cent, indefinitely ; as a distant descend-
ant ; a distant ancestor ; distant posterity.
5. Remote in natural connection or consan-
liinity ; as a distant relation ; distant kin-
red ; a distant collateral line.
6. Remote in nature ; not aUied ; not agree-
ing with or in conformity to ; as practice
very distant from principles or profession.
7. Remote in view ; slight ; faint ; not very
likely to be realized ; as, we have a dis-
tant hope or prospect of seeing better
limes.
DIS
8. Remote in connection ; slight ; faint ; in-
direct ; not easily seen or understood ; as
a di.^tant hint or allusion to a person or
subjert. So also we say, a distant idea ; a
distant thought; a distant resemblance.
9. Re.served ; shy ; implying hatightiness,
coldness of affection, indifference, or dis-
respect ; as, the manners of a person are
distant.
DIS'TANTLY, adv. Remotely ; at a dis-
tance; with reserve.
DISTASTE, n. [dis and taste.] Aversion of
the taste ; dislike of food or drink ; disrel-
ish ; disgust, or a slight degree of it. Dis-
taste for a particular kind of food may be
constitutional, or the effect of a diseased
stomach.
2. Dislike ; uneasiness.
Prosperity is not without many fears and dis-
tastes, and adversity is not williout comfort and
hopes. Bacon.
3. Dislike ; displeasure ; alienation of affec-
tion. Milton. Pope.
DISTASTE, V. «. To disrelish; to dislike;
to lothe ; as, to distaste drugs or poisons.
2. To offend ; to disgust.
He thought it no policy to distaste the Eng-
lish or Irish, but sought to please them.
Davies.
3. To vex ; to displease ; to sour. Pope.
[The two latter signifcations are rare.]
DISTA'STEI), pp. Disrelished; disliked;
offended ; displeased.
DISTA'STEFUL, a. Nauseous; unpleas-
ant or disgusting to the taste.
2. Offensive ; displeasing ; as a distasteful
truth. Dryden.
3. Malevolent ; as distasteful looks. Shak.
DISTA'STEFULNESS, n. Disagreeable-
ness ; dislike. ffTiitlock.
DISTA'STING, ppr. Disrelishing ; dislik-
ing_; offending ; displeasing.
DISTA'STIVE, n. That w^hich gives dis-
relish or aversion. IfTiittock.
DISTEM'PER, n. [dis and temper.] Literal-
ly, an undue or unnatural temper, or dis-
proportionate mixture of parts. Hence,
2. Disease ; malady ; indisposition ; any mor-
bid state of an animal bodj', or of any part
of it; a state in which the animal econo-
my is deranged or imperfectly carried on.
[See Disease.] It is used of the shghter
diseases, but not exclusively. In general,
it is synonymous with disease, and is par-
ticularly applied to the diseases of brutes.
3. Want of due temperature, api)lied to cli-
mate ; the literal sense of the word, but not
now used.
Countries under the tropic of a distemper \id-
inhabitable. Raleigh.
4. Bad constitution of the mind; undue pre-
dominance of a passion or ajipetite.
Shak.
■5. Want of due balance of parts or opposite
qualities and principles ; as, the temper and
distemper of an empire consist of contra-
ries. [J^ot now used.] Bacon.
6. Ill humor of mind ; depravity of inclina-
tion. [J\rot used.] King Charles.
7. Political disorder ; tumult. Walkr.
8. Uneasiness ; ill humor or bad temper.
There is a sickness.
Which puts some of us in distemper. Shak.
9. In painting, the mixing of colors with
something besides oil and water. When
colors are mixed with size, whites of eggs,
or other unctuous or glutinous matter, and
D I S
not with oil, it is said to be done in dis-
temper. Encyc.
DISTEMPER, V. t. To disease; to disor-
der ; to derange the functions of the body
or mind. Shak. Boyle.
2. To disturb ; to ridHe. Dryden.
3. To deprive of temper or moderation.
Dryden.
4. To make disaffected, ill humored or ma-
lignant. Shak.
This verb is seldom used, except in the
participles.
DISTEM'PERANCE, n. Distemperature.
niSTEM'PERATE, a. Immoderate. [Lit-
tle used.] Raleigh.
DISTEMPERATURE, n. Bad tempera-
ture ; intemperateness ; excess of heat or
cold, or of other qualities ; a noxious
state ; as the distemperature of the air or
climate,
2. Violent tumultuousness ; outrageousness.
Johnson.
3. Perturbation of mind. Shak.
4. Confusion ; commixture of contrarieties
loss of regularity ; disorder. Shak.
5. Slight illness ; indisposition. Brewer.
DISTEM'PERED, pp. or a. Diseased in
body, or disordered in mind. We speak of a
disteviperedhody, a distempered limb, a dis-
tempered head or brain.
2. Disturbed; ruffled; as distempered pas-
3. Deprived of temper or moderation ; im-
moderate ; as distempered zeal. Dryden.
4. Disorded ; biased ; prejudiced ; pervert-
ed; as minds distempered by interest oi
passion.
The imagination, when completely distem-
pered, is tlie most incurable of all disordered
faculties. Buckminster
5. Disaffected ; made malevolent.
Distempered lords. Shak
DISTEM'PERING, ppr. Affecting with dis-
ease or disorder ; disturbing ; depriving of]
moderation.
DISTEND', V. t. [L. distendo ; dis and tendo,
to tend, to stretch, from the root of teneo,
to hold, Gr. ttwu, to stretch. Class Dn.'
1. To stretch or spread in all directions ; to
dilate ; to enlarge ; to expand ; to swell ;
as, to distend a bladder ; to distend the bow-
els ; to distend the lungs. [This is the
appropriate sense of the icord.]
2. To spread apart ; to divaricate ; as, to dis-
tend the legs. We seldom say, to distend
a plate of metal, and never, I believe, to
distend a line ; extend being used in both
cases. We use distend chiefly to denote
the stretching, spreading or expansion of
any thing, by means of a substance inclos-
ed within it, or by the elastic force of
something inclosed. In this case the body
distended swells or spreads in all direc-
tions, and usually in a spherical form. A
bladder is distended by inflation, or by the
expansion of rarefied air within it. The
skin is distended in boils and abscesses, by
matter generated within them. This ap
propriation of the word has not ahvayi
been observed.
DISTEND'ED, p;?. Spread; expanded; di
lated by an inclosed substance or force.
DISTEND'ING, ppr. Stretching in all direc-
tions ; diluting ; expanding.
DIS
DISTENSIBIL'ITY, n. The quality or ca-
pacity of being distensible.
DISTEN'SIBLE, a. Capable of being dis-
tended or dilated.
DISTENT', a. Spread. [Not in use.]
Spenser.
DISTENT', n. Breadth. [JVot used.]
Wotlon
DISTEN'TION, n. [\^. distentio.] The ac
of distending ; the act of stretching ii
breadth or in all directions ; the state of
being distended ; as the distention of the
lungs or bowels.
2. Breadth ; extent or space occupied by the
thing distended.
3. An opening, spreading or divarication ; as
the distention of the legs.
DISTERM'INATE, a. [L. disterminatus.]
Separated by bounds. Ohs. Hale.
DISTERMINA'TION,n. Separation. Obs.
Hammond.
DIS'THENE, n. [Gr. &(■;, two, and aSivos,
force.]
A mineral so called by HaUy, because its
crystals have the property of being elec
trifled both positively and negatively. It
is the sappare of Saussure, and the cya-
nite or kyanite of Werner.
Liinier. Cleaveland.
DISTHRO'NIZE, v. t. To dethrone. [Not
used.] Spenser.
DIS'Tlell, n. [L. dislichon ; Gr. 615 and
^ixoit a verse.]
A couplet ; a couple of verses or poetic
lines, making complete sense ; an epigram
of two verses. Johnson. Encyc.
DIS'Tl€llOUS, ? Having two rows, or
DIS'TI€H, \ "■ disposed in two rows,
Lee.
A distichous spike has all the flowers point-
ing two ways. Martyn.
DISTILL', V. i. [L. distilio ; dis and slillo, to
drop, stilla, a drop ; Fr. distiller ; It. dis-
tillare; Sp. destilar ; Gr. ja^oo.] To drop;
to fall in drops.
Soft showers distill'd, and suns grew
in vain. Pope.
2. To flow gently, or in a small stream.
The Euphrates distilleth out of the nioun
ns'of Armenia. Raleigh
3. To use a still ; to practice distillation.
Shak.
DISTILL', V. t. To let fall in drops
throw down in drops. The clouds distill
water on the earth.
The dew, whicli on the tender grass
The evening had disiilled. " Drayton
2. To extract by heat ; to separate spirit 01
essential oils from liquor by heat or evap-
oration, and convert that vapor into a li
quid by condensation in a refrigeratory
to separate the volatile parts of a sub-
stance by heat; to rectify; as, to distill
brandy from wine, or spirit from melasses.
3. To extract spirit from, by evaporation
and condensation ; as, to distill cyder or
melasses ; to distill wine.
4. To extract the pure part of a fluid ; as, to
distill water.
5. To dissolve or melt. [Unusual.]
Swords by the lightning's subtle force dis-
I tilled. Addison
DISTIL'LABLE, a. That may be distilled ;
fit for distillation. Sherwood.
DISTILLA'TION, n. The act of falling in
drops, or the act of pouring or throwing
down in drops.
D I S
3. Tlie vaporization and subsequent con-
densation of a liquid by means of an alem-
bic, or still and refrigeratory, or of a retort
and receiver ; the operation of extract-
ing spirit from a substance by evaporation
and condensation ; rectification.
The substance extracted by distillmg.
Shak.
4. That which falls in drops. Johnson.
DISTIL'LATORY, a. Belonging to distiUa-
tion ; used for distilling ; as distillatory
vessels. Hooper.
DISTIL'LED, pp. Let fall or thrown down
in drops ; subjected to the process of dis-
tillation ; extracted by evaporation.
DISTIL'LER, n. One who distills ; one
whose occupation is to extract spirit by
evaporation and condensation.
DISTIL'LERY, n. The act or art of dis-
tilling.
The building and works where distilling
is carried on.
DISTIL'LING, ppr. Dropping ; letting fall
■ " ■ ;bydistilla'
T, n.
by di&tillation. Shak.
in drops ; extracting Dy (
DISTILL'MENT, n. That which is drawn
DISTINCT', a. [L. distindus, from distin-
giio. See Distinguish.']
1. Literally, having the difference marked ;
separated by a visible sign, or by a note or
mark ; as a place distinct by name.
Milton.
Different ; separate ; not the same in num-
ber or kind ; as, he holds two distinct offi-
ces ; he is known by distinct titles.
3. Separate in place ; not conjunct ; as, the
two regiments marched together, but had
distinct encamjiments.
4. So separated as not to be confounded
with any other thing ; clear ; not confus-
ed. To reason correctly we must have
distinct ideas. We have a distinct or in-
distinct view of a prospect.
5. Spotted ; variegated.
Tempestuous fell
His arrows from the fourfold-visag'd four,
Distinct with eyes. Milton.
DISTINCT , V. t. To distinguish. [Not in
use.] Chaucer.
DISTINCTION, n. [L. distinctio.] The act
of separating or distinguishing.
2. A note or mark of difference. [Seldom
used.]
3. Difference made ; a separation or disa-
greement in kind or qualities, by which
one thing is known from another. We
observe a distinction between matter and
spirit ; a distinction between the animal
and vegetable kingdoms ; a distinction be-
tween good and evil, right and wrong ;
between sound reasoning and sophistry.
Difference regarded ; separation ; prefer-
ence ; as in the phrase, ivithout distinction,
which denotes promiscuously, all together,
alike.
Maids, women, wives, without distinction fall.
Dryden.
4. Separation; division; as the distinction
of tragedy into acts. Dryden.
[In this sense, division would be pref-
erable.]
5. Notation of difference ; discrimination ;
as a distinction between real and apparent
good.
In classing the qualities of actions, it is ne-
cessary to niake accurate distinctions. -Inoti.
D I S
D I S
D I S
a. Eminence; superiority ; elevation of rank
in society, or elevation of character ; hon-
orable estimation. Men who hold a higl;
rank by birth or office, and men who are
eminent for their talents, services or worth
are called men oC distinction, as being rais-
ed above others by positive institutions or
by reputation. So we say, a man of note.
7. That which confers eminence or superi-
ority ; office, rank or public favor.
8. Discernment ; judgment. Johnson.
DISTIN€T'IVE, a. That marks distinction
or difference ; as distinctive names or titles.
2. Having the power to distinguish and dis-
cern. [Less proper.] Brmim.
DISTIN€T'1VELY, wlv. With distinction
plainly.
DISTINCT'LY, adv. Separately ; with dis
tinctness ; not confusedly ; without the
blending of one part or thing with anotl
er ; as a proposition distinctly understood ;
a figure disnnctly defined. Hence.
2. Clearly ; plainly ; as, to view an object
distinctly.
DISTIN€T'NESS, n. The quality or state
of being distinct ; a separation or diffi^r-
ence that prevents confusion of parts or
things; as the distinctness of two ideas, or
of distant objects.
2. Nice discrimination ; whence, clearness ;
precision ; as, he stated his arguments
with great distinctness.
DISTIN'GUISH, r. /. [L. distingue; dis
and stingo or stinguo, n not radical. Tl
seems to be Gr. fiC", fl", for the second
future is ytyu, and the derivatives prov«
the primary elements to be stg, as in yiytij.
gvyfia., ftxroj. Hence also L. stigo, whence
instigo, to instigate. The primary sense is,
to prick, to pierce with a sharp point, to
thrust in or on ; and we retain the pre
word in the verb, to stick, which see. The
practice of making marks by puncturing,
or sticking, gave rise to the applications
of this word, as such marks were used to
note and ascertain different things, to dis-
tingtiish them. See E.rtinguish, and Class
Dg. No. 31.]
1. To ascertain and indicate difference by
some external mark. The farmer distin-
guishes his sheep by marking their ears.
The manufacturer distinguishes pieces of
clolli by some mark or impression.
y. To separate one thing from another by
some mark or quality ; to know or ascer-
tain difference.
First, by sight ; as, to distinguish one'.s
own children from others by their fea-
tures.
Secondly, by feeling. A blind man dis
tinguishes an egg from an orange, but
rarely distinguishes colors.
Thirdly, by smell ; as, it is easy to distin-
guish the smell of a peach from that of an
apple.
Fourthly, by taste ; as, to distinguish a
pluMi from a pear.
Fifthly, by hearing ; as, to distinguish the
sound of a drum from that of a vioUn.
Sixthly, by the understanding ; as, to
distinguish vice from virtue, truth from
falsehood.
3. To separate or divide by any mark, or
quality which constitutes ilifference. \V
distinguish sounds into high and low, soft
and harsh, lively and grave. We distin
Vol. I.
guish causes into direct and indirect, iui
mediate and mediate.
4. To discern critically ; to judge.
Nor more can you distinguish of a man,
Tlian of his outward show. Shak
5. To separate from others by some mark ol
honor or preference. Homer and Virgil
arc distinguished as poets ; Demosthenes
and Cicero, as orators.
fi. To make eminent or known. Johnson.
DISTIN'GUISH, V. i. To make a distinc-
tion ; to find or show the difference. It
is the province of a judge to distingtiish
between cases apparently similar, but dif
fering in principle.
DISTIN'GUISHABLE, a. Capable of being
distinguished ; that may be separated,
known or made known, by notes of diver-
sity, or by any difference. A tree at a dis-
tance is distinguishable from a shrub. A
simple idea is not distinguishable into dif-
ferent ideas.
2. Worthy of note or special regard.
Stvijl.
DISTINGUISHED, pp. Separated or
known by a mark of difference, or by dif-
ferent qualities.
a. Separated from others by superior or
extraordinary qualities ; whence, eminent ;
extraordinary ; transcendent ; noted ; fa
nious ; celebrated. Thus, we admire dis
tinguished men, distinguished talents or
virtues, and distinguished services.
DISTIN'GUISHER, n. He or that which
I distinguishes, or that separates one thing
from another by marks of diversity.
I Brown.
2. One who discerns accurately the differ-
ence of things; a nice or judicious observ
er. Dn/den.
DISTIN'GUISHING,;);)r. Separating from
others by a note of diversity ; ascertainiu;
difference by a mark.
2. Ascertaining, knowing or perceiving ;
difference.
3. a. Constituting difference, or distinction
from every thing else ; peculiar ; as the
distinguishing doctrines of Christianity.
DISTIJ^'GUISHINGLY, adv. With distinc-
tion ; with some mark of preference.
Pope.
DISTIN'GUISHMENT, n. Distinction ; ob-
servation of difference. Craunt.
DISTI'TLE, V. t. To deprive of right.
B. Joiison
DISTORT', t'. t. [L. distoHus, distorqueo ;
dis anti torqueo, to twist, Fr. tordre, Sp.
torcer.]
To twist out of natural or regular shape ;
as, to distort the neck, the limbs or the
body ; to distort the features.
2. To force or put out of the true posture or
irection.
Wratli and malice, envy and revenge distort
he understanding. Tillotson
3. To wrest from the true meaning ; to per-
vert ; as, to rfw/orf passages of scripture, or
their meaning.
DISTORT', a. Distorted. Spenser.
DISTORT'ED, pp. Twisted out of natural
or regidar sha])e ; wrested ; perverted.
DIST09,T'ING, ppr. Twisting out of shape ;
wresting ; perverting.
DISTORTION, «. [h. distortio.] The act
of distorting or wresting; a twisting out
of regular shape ; a twisting or writhing
65
m ; as the distoiiions of the face or
2. The state of being twisted out of shape ;
deviation from natural shape or jMsition ;
crookedness ; grimace.
3. A perversion of the true meaning of
words.
DISTRACT', V. I. [L. distraclus, distraho ;
dis and traho, to draw. See Draw and
Drag. The old participle distraught is
obsolete.]
1. Literally, to draw apart; to pull in differ-
ent directions, and separate. Hence, to
divide ; to separate ; and hence, to throw
into confusion. Sometimes in a literal
sense. Contradictory or mistaken orders
may distract an army.
2. To turn or draw from any object ; to divert
from any point, towards another point or
toward various other objects; as, lo dis-
tract the eye or the attention.
If he cannot avoid the eye of the obser\'er, he
hopes to distract it by a multiplicity of the
object. South.
'J'o draw towards different objects ; to fill
with different considerations ; to perplex ;
to confound; to harass; as, to distract the
mind with cares ; you distract me with
your clamor.
While I sufl'er thy terrors, I am distracted.
Ps. Ixxxviii.
To disorder the reason ; to derange the
regular ojierations of intellect ; to render
raving or furious ; most frequently used in
the ])artici])le distracted.
DISTRACT', «. Wad. [Mot in use.]
DISTRACT'ED, pp. Drawn apart ; drawn
in different directions; diverted from its
object ; perplexed ; harassed ; confounded.
2. a. Deranged ; disordered in intellect; ra-
ving; furious; mad; frantic. Locke.
D1STRA€T'EDLY, adv. Madly ; furiously;
wildly. Shak.
DISTRACT'EDNESS, n. A state of being
mad ; madness. Bp. Hall.
DISTRACT'ER, n. One who distracts.
More.
DISTR ACTING, ppr. Drawing apart ; sep-
arating; diverting from an object; per-
plexing; harassing; disordering the intel-
DISTRAC'TION, n. [L. distractio.] The
act of distracting; a drawing apart; sepa-
ration.
2. Confusion from a multiphcity of objects
crowding on the mind and calling the at-
tention different ways ; perturbation of
[See 1 Cor. vii.]
Confusion of affairs ; tumult ; disorder ;
as political distractions.
Never was known a night of such distraction.
Dry den.
Madness ; a state of disordered reason ;
franticness; furiousness. [He usually ap-
ply this word to a state of derangement which
produces raving and violence in the patient.]
5. Folly in the extreme, or amounting to in-
sanity.
On the supposition of the truth of the birth,
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, irreligioQ
is nothing better tli>ui distraction.
Buckminster.
DISTRACT'IVE, a. Causing perplexity;
as distractive cares. Dryden
DISTRA'IN, f. <. [h. distringo ; dis ani
D I S
D I S
See Str
Blackstoiie writes
shingo.
distreiii.]
1 . To seize for debt ; to take a personal chat-
tel from the possession of a wrong-doer
into the possession of the injured party, to
satisfy a demand, or compel the perform-
ance of a duty ; as, to distrain goods tor
rent, or for an amercement.
2. To rend ; to tear. Ohs. Spenser.
DISTRA'IN, V. i. To make seizure of
goods.
On whom I cannot distrain for debt.
Camden
For neglecting to do suit to the lord's court,
or other personal service, the lord ''■"' '
distressful
Shak.
' distrain
of common right. JSlackstone.
[In this phrase however some word
seems to be understood ; as, to distrain
soods ,
niSTRA'INABLE, a. That is liable to be
taken for distress. Blaclcstone.
DISTRA'INED, pp. Seized for debt or to
compel the performance of duty.
DISTRAINING, ppr. Seizing for debt, or
for neglect of suit and service.
DISTRA'INOR, n. He who seizes good;
for debt or service. Blackstone
DISTRAUGHT'. Obs. [Seo Distract.]
DISTRE'AM, D. i. [dw and s;rca7n.] 1o
spi"ead or flow over.
Yet o'er that '
that
into classes,
necessities of the saints
DISTRESS', n. [Fr. ddressc ; Norm, id.;
from the Celtic, W. trais, violence, treis-
iaxo, to strain or force. Sec Stress.]
1. The act of distraining ; the taking of any
personal chattel from a wrong-doer, to
answer a demand, or procure satisfaction
for a wrong connnittcd. Blackstone.
2. The thing taken by distraining ;
which is seized to procure satisfaction,
A distress of household goods sliall be
pounded under cover. If the lessor does not
find sufflcient distress on tlic premises, &,c.
Blaclcstone.
3. Extreme pain; anguish of body or mind:
as, to suflSer great distress from the gout, or
from the loss of near friends.
4. Affliction; calamity; misery.
On earth distress of nations. Lul<e xxi
5. A state of danger ; as a ship in distress,
from leaking, loss of spars, or want of pro-
visions or water, &c.
DISTRESS', V. t. To pain ; to afVlict with
pain or anguish ; applied to the body or the
mind. [Literally, to press or strain.]
a. To afflict greatly; to harass; to r -
with calamity ; to make miserable.
Distress not the Moabites. Deut. ii.
We are troubled on every side, but not dis
tressed. 2 Cor. iv.
3. To compel by pain or sufiering.
There are men who can neither be distressed^
nor won into a sacrifice of duty.
Federalist, Hamittmi.
DISTRESS'ED, pp. Suffering great pain or
torture ; severely afflicted ; harassed ; op-
pressed with calamity or misfortune.
DISTRESS'EDNESS, n. A state of being
greatly pained. Scott.
DISTRESS'FUL, a. Inflicting or bringing
distress ; as a distressful stroke. Shalt.
2. Indicating distress ; proceeding from pain
or anguish; as distressful cries. Pope.\
3. Calamitous; as a distressful exenl.
Watts.
4. Attended witl
bread.
DISTRESS'ING, ;>;"•. Giving severe pain
oppressing with affliction.
3. a. Very afflicting ; affecting with sever
pain ; as a distressing sickness.
DISTRIB'UTABLE, a. [See Distribute.]
That may be distributed ; that may be as-
signed in portions. Ramsay.
DISTRIB'UTE, v. t. [L. dislribuo ; dis and
tribuo, to give or divide.]
|l. To divide among two or more ; to deal ;
to give or bestow in parts or portions.
Moses distributed lands to the tribes of
Israel. Christ distributed the loaves to his
disciples.
To dispense; to administer; as, to dis-
tribute justice.
|3. To divide or separate,
orders, kinds or species.
1. To give in charity.
Distributing to th<
Rom. xii. , ,
5. In printing, to separate types, and place
them in their proper cells in the cases.
DISTRIB'UTED, pp. Divided among i
number; dealt out ; assigned in portions ;
separated ; bestowed.
DISTRIB'UTER, n. One who divides or
deals out in parts ; one who bestows in
portions ; a dispenser.
DISTRIB'UTING, ppr. Dividing among a
number; dealing out; dispensing.
DISTRIBU'TION, n. [h. distribxUio.] The
act of dividing among a number ; a deal-
ing in parts or portions ; as the distribu-
tion of an estate among heirs or children.
2. The act of giving in charity ; a bestow-
I parts. Bacon. Atterbury.
3. Dispensation ; administration to num-
bers; a rendering to individuals; as the
distribution of justice.
4. The act of separating into distinct i)arts
or classes; as the distribution of plants
into genera and species.
5. In architecture, the dividing and disposing
of the several parts of the building, ac-
cording to some plan, or to the rules of the
G. In rhetoric, a division and enumeration oi
the several qualities of a subject.
7. In general, the division and disposition ol
the parts of any tiling.
8. In printing, the taking a form apart; the
separating of the types, and placing each]
letter in its proper cell in the
per ceil in me eases.
oppressllDlSTRIB'UTIVE, a. That distributes; that|
divides and assigns in portions ; that dealsi
to each his proper share ; as distributive
justice.
2. That assigns the various species of a gen-
eral term.
3. That separates or divides ; as a distnbu-i
Ijective. I
DISTRIB'UTIVE, n. In grammar, a word
that divides or distributes, as each and;
every, which represent the individuals of;
a collective number as separate.
DISTRIB'UTIVELY, adv. By distribution ;
singly; not collectively.
"^ Hooker. IVatts.
DISTRIB'UTIVENESS, n. Desire of dis-
tributing. [Utile used.] Fell
DIS'TRIeT, n. [h. districlus, from distnngo
to press hard, to biiirt ; It. distretto. Set
1 Distrain.]
D I S
1. Properly, a limited extent of country ; a
circuit within which power, right or au-
thority may be exercised, and to which it
is restrained ; a word applicable to an)
portion of land or country, or to any part
of a city or town, which is defined by law
or agreement. A governor, a prefect, or
a judge may have his district. Some of
the states are divided into districts for the
choice of senators, representatives or elec-
tors. Cities and towns are divided into
districts for various purposes, as for
schools, &c. The United States are divi-
ded into districts for the collection of the
revenue.
2. A region ; a tei-ritory within given lines ;
as the district of the earth which lies be-
tween the tropics, or that which is north
of a polar circle.
3. A region ; a country ; a portion of terri-
tory without very definite limits; as the
districts of Russia covered by forest.
DIS'TRIeT, V. t. To divide into districts
or limited portions of territory. Legisla-
tures district states for the choice of sena-
tors. Ill New England, towns are dis-
tricted for the purpose of establishing and
managing schools.
DIS'TRICT-€OURT, n. A court which has
cognizance of certain causes within a dis-
trict defined by law. The district-courts
of the United States are courts of subordi-
nate jurisdiction.
DIS'TUICT-JUDgE, n. The judge ofa dis-
ourt. U. Slates.
DIS'TRIeT-SeHOOL, n. A school within
a certaiu district ofa town. JV. England.
DISTRICTED, pp. Divided into districts or
definite portions.
DIS'TRICTING, ;);)(•. Dividing into limited
or definite portions.
DISTRIC'TION, n. Sudden display. [Unu-
sual.] Collier.
DISTRIN'GAS, n. In law, a writ command-
ing the sheriff to distrain a person for debt,
or for his appearance at a certain day.
DISTRUST', V. t. [dis and trust. The Danes
have mistroster ; the Swedes, misstrbsta.
See Mistrust.]
1. To doubt or suspect the truth, fidelity,
firmness or sincerity of; not to confide in
or rely on. We distrust a man, when we
question his veracity, &c. We may often
distrust our own firmness.
2. To doubt ; to suspect not to be real, true,
sincere or firm. We distrust a man'.s
courage, friendshij), veracity, declarations,
intentions or promises, when we question
their reality or sincerity. We cannot dis-
trust the declarations of God. We often
l>a^■e reason to distrust our own resolu-
tions.
DISTRUST', n. Doubt or suspicion of re-
ality or sincerity ; want of confidence,
faith or reliance. Sycophants should be
heard with distrust. Distrust mars the
pleasures of friendship and social inter-
course.
2. Discredit ; loss of confidence. Milton.
DISTKUST'ED, pp. Doubted ; suspected.
DISTRUST'FUL, a. Apt to distrust; sus-
picious. Boyle.
2. Not confident ; diffident ; as distrustful of
ourselves.
3. Diffident ; modest.
Pope.
D I S
D I S
D I T
5)ISTRUST'FyLLY, adv. In a distrustful
manner ; witii doubt or suspicion.
Milton.
DISTRUST'FULNESS, n. The state of
being distrustful ; want of confidence.
DISTRUST'ING, ppr. Doubting the reality
or sincerity of; suspecting ; not relying
on or confiding in.
DISTRUST'LESS, a. Free from distrust or
suspicion. Shenstone.
DISTU'NE, V. 1. To put out of tune. [JVot
used.] JVotton.
mSTURB', V. t. [Sp dislurbar ; It. distur-
bare ; L. disturbo ; dis and turbo, to
trouble, disorder, discompose ; turba, a
crowd, a tumult ; Gr. TtipS^ or avpStj, a
tumult; 9opi.8o{, id. The primary sense
sectns to be to stir, or to turn or whirl
round. The word trouble is probably
from tlic L. turbo, by transposition. If
Ir arc the primary elements, as I suppo>i-,
the word coincides in origin with tour
and turn. If i is a prefix, the word !"•-
longs to Class Rb, coinciding with the
Swedish rubba, to remove, to trouble.
See Class Rb. No. 3. 4. 34. and Class Dr.
No. 3. 25. 27.]
1. To stir ; to move ; to discompose ; to ex-
cite from a state of rest or tranquillity.
We say, the man is asleep, do not disturb
him. Let the vessel stand, do not move
the liquor, you will disturb the sediment.
Disturb not the jiublic peace.
2. To move or agitate; to disquiet; to ex-
cite uneasiness or a slight degree of anger
in the mind ; to move the passions ; to
ruffle. The mind may be disturbed by an
offense given, by misfortune, surprise,
contention, discord, jealousy, envy, &c.
a. To move from any regular com-se or op-
eration ; to interrupt regular order ; to
make irregular. It has been supposed
that the approach of a comet may disturb
the motions of the planets in their orbits.
An unexpected cause may disturb a chim
ical operation, or the operation of med
icine.
4. To interrupt ; to hinder ; to incommode.
Care disturbs study. Let no person dis-
turb my franchise.
.'). To turn otr from any direction; with /rom.
[Unusual.]
And disturb
His inmost counsels from their destin'd aim.
Jifitton
DISTURB', n. Confusion ; disorder. [jVot
used.] Milton.
DISTURB'ANCE, n. A stirring or excite
ment ; any disquiet or interruption of
peace ; as, to enter the church without ma
king disturbance.
2. Interruption of a settled state of things ;
disorder; tumult. Wc have read much
at times of disturbances in Spain, England
and Ireland.
3. Emotion of the mind ; agitation ; excite
ment of passion ; perturbation. The raer
chant received the news of his losses with
. out apparent disturbance.
4. Disorder of thoughts; confusion.
They can survey a variety of complicated
ideas, without fatigue or disturbance. fValts
5. In law, the hindering or disquieting of a
person in the lawful and peaceable en-
joyment of his right ; the interruption of
a right ; as the disturbance of a franchise.
of common, of way.s, of tenure, of patron-
age. " Blackstone.
DISTURB'ED, pp. Stirred ; moved ; exci
ted ; discomposed ; disquieted ; agitated :
DISTURB'ER, n. One who disturbs or
disquiets; a violator of peace; one who
causes tumults or disorders. .
2. He or that which excites passion or agita-
tion ; he or that which causes perturba-
tion. Shak.
3. In iato, one that interruptsor incommodes
another in the peaceable enjoyment of his
right.
DISTURB'ING, ppr. Moving; exciting;
rendering uneasy ; making a tumult ; in-
terrupting peace ; incommoding the quiet
enjoyment of
DISTURN', V. t. [dis and turn.] To turn
aside. r-V"' '»■ use] Daniel.
I»ISI NII'ORM, a. disyu'niform. Not uni-
i;m]ii. [.V„t In use.] Coventry.
DI.Sli ,\|(»\', ». disyuhiion. [dis and union.]
Separation ; disjunction; or a state of not
being united. It sometimes denotes a
breach of concord, and its effect, conten-
tion.
DISUNI'TE, V. t. disiiuni'le. [dis and xmile.]
To separate; to disjoin; to part ; as, to
disunite two allied countries; to disunite
particles of matter; to rf(«t?uVc friends.
DISUNI'TE, V. i. To part ; to fall asunder ;
to become separate. Particles of matter
may spontaneouslv disunite.
DISUNl'TED, pp. Separated ; disjoined.
DISUNI'TER, n. He or that which dis-
joins.
DiSUNI'TING, ppr. Separating; parting.'
DISU'NITY, n. disyu'nity. A state of sepa-
ration. More.
DISU'SAgE, n. disyu'zage. [dis and usage.]
Gradual cessation of use or custom ; neg-
lect of use, exercise or practice. We lose
words by disusage.
DISU'SE, n. disyu'se. [dis and use.] Cessa-
tion of use, practice or e.xercise ; as, the
limbs lose their strength and pliability by
disuse ; language is altered by the disuse
of words.
2. Cessation of custom ; desuetude.
DISU'SE, V. t. disyu'ze. [dis and use.] To
cease to use ; to neglect or omit to prac-
tice.
2. To disaccustom ; with from, in or to ; as
disused to toils ; dim sed from pain.
DISU'SED, pp. disyu'zed. No longer used ;
obsolete, as words, &c.
Priam in arms disused. Drydi
2. Disaccustomed.
DISU'SING, ppr. disyu'zing. Ceasing to
use ; disaccustoming.
DISVALUA'TION, n. [See Disvalue.] Dis-
esteem ; disreputation.
DISVALUE, V. t. [dis and value.] To un-
dervalue ; to disesteem. Shak.
DISVAL'UE, 71. Disesteem ; disregard.
B. Jonson.
DIS VOUCH', V. t. [dis and vouch.] To dis-
credit ; to contradict. Shak.
DISWARN', V. t. [dis and warn.] To direct
bv previous notice. [.\'ot u,sfrf.]
DISWIT'TED, a. Deprived of wits or un-
derstanding. Drayton.
DISVVONT', V. t. [dis and icon*.] To wean
to deprive of wonted usage. Bp. Hall
DISWoR'SHIP, n. [dis and worship.] Cause
of disgrace. Barret.
DIT, n. A ditty. [A/ot used.] Spenser.
DIT, V. t. [Sax. dyttan.] To close up. [Xot
used.] More.
DITA'TION, n. [L. dilatus.] The act of
making rich. [AJ'ot used.] Bp. Hall.
DITCH, n. [Sax. die, a ditch ; D. dyk, a
dike; G. deich, a dike; deicher, a ditcher;
D. digc, a ditch, a. dike ; Sw. dike; Fr.
digue ; FAh. Ji (hP dachi, to dig. Class
Dg. No 14. The primary sense is a dig-
ging or place dug. After the practice of
embanking commenced, the word was
used for the bank made by digging, the
dike.]
1. A trencii in the earth made by digging,
particularly a trench for draining wet land,
or for making a fence to guard inclosurcs,
or for preventing an enemy from approach-
ing a town or fortress. In the latter sense,
it is called also afoss or moat, and is Aug
round the rampart or wall between the
scarp and counterscarp. Encyc.
2. Any long, hollow receptacle of water.
DITCH, V. i. To dig or make a ditch or
ditclies.
DITCH, V. t. To dig a ditch or ditches in :
to drain by a ditch ; as, to ditch moist land.
2. To siu-romid with a ditch. Barrel.
DITCH-DELIVERED, a. Brought forth
in a ditch. Shak.
DITCHER, )!. One who digs ditches.
DITCHING, ppr. Digging ditches; also,
draining by a ditch or ditches; as ditching
a swanqt.
DITETRAHE'DRAL, a. [dis and fetrahe-
dral.] In crystalogrnphy, having the form
of a tetrahedral prism with dihedral sum-
niit.s. Cleaveland.
DITH'YRAMB, ? [Gr. 8i9vpa,.(?05, a ti-
DITHYRAMB'US, ^ "' tie of Bacchus, the
signification of which is not settled. See
Heder. Lex. and Bochart De Phocn. Col.
Lib. 1. Ca. 18.]
In ancient poetry, a hymn in honor of Bac-
chus, full of transport and poetical rage.
Of this species of writing we have no re-
mains. Encyc.
DITHYRAMB'IC, n. A .song in honor of
Bacchus, in which the wildness of intoxi-
cation is imitated. Johnson.
2. Any poem written in wild enthusiastic
strains. fValsh.
DITHYRAMB'IC, a. Wild ; enthusiastic.
Cowley.
DI"TION, »i. [L. ditio.] Rule; power;
government; dominion. Evelyn.
DI'TONE, n. [Gr. 8i« and rovos, tone.] lu
music, an interval comprehending two
tones. The proportion of the sounds that
form the ditone is 4:5, and that of the
senii.litone, 5:C. Encyc.
DITRIHK'DRIA, n. [Gr. «■$, fpaj ami (8po,
twice three sides.]
In mineralogy, a genus of spars with six
sides or planes; being formed of two tri-
gonal pyramids joined base to base, with-
out an intermediate column. Encyc.
DITTAN'DER, n. Pepper-wort, Lepidium,
a genus of plants of many species. The
common dittander has a hot biting taste,
and is sometimes used iu lieu of pepper.
Encyc.
D
D I V
DIT'TANY, n. [L. didamnus ; Gr. Sixfau-
vos, or SixTauov.]
The white dittany is a plant of the genus
Dictamiius. Its leaves are covered with a
white down ; in smell, they resemble lem-
on-thyme, but are more aromatic. When
fresh, they yield an essential oil.
The dittany of Crete is a species of Origa-
num, and the bastard dittany is a species
of Marrubium. Encyc. Fam. of Plants.
DIT'TIED, o. [See Ditty.] Sung ; adapt
ed to music.
He, with his soft pipe, and smooth dittied
song. Milton.
DIT'TO, contracted into do, m books of
accounts, is the Italian detto, from L. dic-
tum, diclus, said. It denotes said, aforesaid,
or the same thing ; an abbreviation used
to save repetition.
DIT'TY, n. [supposed to be from the D.
dicht, a poem. Sax. diht, diMnn. If so,
it coincides in origin with the L. dico,
diclvm.]
A song ; a sonnet or a little poem to be
sung.
Ami to the waibling lute soft ditties sing.
Saiidys.
DIT'TY, V. i. To sing ; to warble a little
tune. Herbert.
DIURET'I€, a. [Gr. Smm-c-xo;, from «toi>i)f u,
Sta and ovptu, luinam reddo, oupoi', urine."
Having the power to provoke urine ; tend-
ing to produce discharges of urine. Core.
DIURET'le, n. A medicine that provokes
urine, or increases its discharges.
DILRN'AL, a. [h. diurnus, da\\y;\V.diii>r-
nod, a day. The word is a compound of
diw, dies, day, and a word which I do not
understand.]
1. Relating to a day ; pertaining to the day-
time ; as diurnal heat ; diurnal hours.
2. Daily ; happening every day ; performed
in a day ; as a diurnal task.
3. Performed in 24 hours ; as the diurnal
revolution of the earth.
4. In medicine, an epithet of diseases whose
exacerbations are in the day time ; as j
diurnal fever. Parr
DIURN'AL, n. A day-book ; a journal. [Set
Journal, wliich is mostly used.]
DIURN'ALIST, n. A journalist. [Mt in
use] Hall.
DIURN'ALLY, adv. Daily ; everv daj'.
DIUTURN'AL, a. Lasting ; being of long
continuance. Milton
DIUTURN'ITY, n. [L. diuturnilns, from
diuturnus, of long continuance, from diu,
dies.] Length of time ; long duration.
Brown
To open ; to fork ; to part into two branch-llDI'VERS, o.sasz. [Fr. divers; L. diversus,
Woodward. \ from diverto ; di, dis, and verto, to turn.J
DIVAN', n. [Ar. Pcrs.
o'>:?-
diwan. The
Arabic verb • li is rendered, to be low,
mean, vile, contemptible, [qu. doum,] and
also, to write on a white table. Hence
divan is a register or table of names or
accounts, and hence it came to signify a
court or council assembled, as we use
board and exchequer.]
1. Among the Turks and other orientals, a
court of justice, or a council.
2. A council-chamber ; a hall ; a court.
3. Any council assembled. Pope. Milton
DIVAR'ICATE, v. i. [L. divaricatus, di
varico ; di, dis, and vanco, to straddle.]
DIVARICATE, V. t. To divide into two
branches. Greio.
DIVAR'ICATE, a. In ftoteny, .standing out
wide. A divaricate branch forms an ob-
tuse angle with the stem. It is applied
also to panicles, peduncles and petioles.
Martyn.
DIVAR'ICATED, pp. Parted into two
branches.
DIVAR'ICATING, ppr. Parting into two
branches.
DIVARICA'TION, n. A parting; a fork-
ing ; a separation into two branches.
2. A crossing or intersection of fibers at
different angles. Coie.
DIVE, v.i. [Sax. dyfan, ge-dufian ; Gr.
Svrttio ; It. tuffare ; coinciding with dip,
Heb. Ch. yD£3. The same word in Syr.
and Ar. signifies to stamp, strike, print,
impress. Class Db. No 28. The sense
then is, to thrust or drive.]
1. To descend or plunge into water, as an
animal head first ; to thrust the body into
water or other liquor, or if already in wa-
ter, to plunge deeper. In the pearl fishe-
ry men are employed to dive for shells.
2. To go deep into any subject ; as, to dive
into the nature of things, into arts or sci-
ence. Dryden.
3. To plunge into any business or condition,
> as to be thoroughly engaged in it.
Shak.
4. To sink ; to penetrate.
Dive, thoughts, down to my soul. Shak.
DIVE, V. t. To explore by diving. [Rare.]
The Curtii bravely rfitifd the gull' of fame.
Denham.
DI'VEL, n. A large cartilaginous fish, with
a bifurcated snout ; the sea duvvil of Nieu-
hoff. Pennant.
DIVEL'LENT, a. [L. divellens, divello ; dis
and vello, to pull.] Drawing asunder;
separating.
DIVEL'LICATE, v. t. To pull in pieces.
DI'VER, n. One who dives ; one who plun-
ges head first into water ; one who sinks
by eftbrt ; as a diver in the pearl fishery.
2. One who goes deep into a subject, or en-
ters deep into study.
3. A fowl, so called from diving. The name
is given to several species of the genus
C'olynd)us.
DI'VERB, n. A jnoverb. [jYct in use.]
Burton.
DIVERGE, v. i. diver}'. [L. diverge; di, dis,
and vergo, to incline.]
To tend from one point and recede from
each other ; to shoot, extend or proceed
from a point in different directions, or not
in parallel Unes. Rays of light proceed
fi-om the sun and continually diverge. It
is opposed to converge.
DIVERG'ENCE, n. A receding from each
other ; a going farther apart ; as the di-
vergence of linos, or the angle of divergence.
Gregoni.
DlVERli'ENT, a. Departing or receding
from each other, as lines which proceed
from the same point ; opposed to converg-
ent.
DIVER(i'ING, ppr. Receding from each
other, as they ])roceed.
DIVER6'INGLY, adv. In a diverging man-
ner. 1
I. Different ; various.
Nor let thy cattle gender with divers kinds.
ev. xix.
[This is now generally written diverse.]
2. Several ; sundry ; more than one, but not
a great number. We have divers exam-
ples of this kind.
[This word is not obsolete even in com-
mon discourse, and is much used in law-
DI'VERS-COLORED, a. Having various
colors. Shai.
DI'VERSE, a. [L. diversus.] Different ; dif-
fering.
Four great beasts came up from the sea, di-
verse one from another. Dan. vii.
2. Different from itself; various ; multiform.
Eloquence is a diverse thing. £. Jonson.
.3. In different directions.
And with tendrils creep diverse. Philips
DIVERSE, V. i. divers'. To turn aside.
[jVo< used.] Spenser.
DIVERSIFICATION, n. [See Diversify.]
\. The act of changing forms or qualities, or
of making various. Boyle.
2. Variation ; variegation.
3. Variety of forms. Hale.
4. Change ; alteration.
DIVERS'IFIED, pp. Made various in form
or qualities ; variegated ; altered.
2. a. Distinguished by various forms, or by
a variety of objects ; as diversified scenery ;
a diversified landscape.
DIVERS'IFORM, a. [diversus and forma.]
Of a different form; of various forms.
Diet.
DIVERSIFY, V. t. [Fr. diversifier ; Sp. di-
versificar ; L. diversus and/ado.]
1. To make different or various in form or
qualities ; to give variety to ; to variegate j
as, to diversify the colors of a robe ; to di-
versify a landscape with mountains, plains,
trees and lakes.
2. To give diversity to ; to distinguish by
different things ; as a council dieersified by
different characters.
•3. In oratory, to vary a subject, by enlarging
on what has beeii briefly stated, by brief
recapitulation, by adding new ideas, by
transposing words or periods, &c.
DIVERS'IFYING, ppr. Making various in
form or qualities ; giving variety to ; vari-
egating.
DIVER'SION, n. [Fr. from L. diverto^ to
divert.]
1. The act of turning aside from any course ;
as the diversion of a stream from its usual
channel ; the diversion of a purpose to an-
other object ; the diversion of the mind
from business or study.
2. That which diverts ; that which turns or
draws the mind from care, business or
study, and thus relaxes and amuses ;
sport ; play ; pastime ; whatever unbends
the mind ; as the diversions of youth.
Works of wit and humor furnish an agree-
able diversion to the studious.
.3. In war, the act of drawing the attention
and force of an enemy from the point
where the principal attack is to be made,
as by an attack or alarm on one wing of
an army, when the other wing or center
D I V
is intended for tlie principal attack. Tl)e
enemy, if deceived, is tlius induced to
withdraw a part of his force from the part
where his foe intends to make tlie main
impression.
DIVERS'ITY, n. [L. diversHas ; Fr. diver-
site ; from L. diversus, diverlo.]
1. Difference ; dissimilitude ; unlikeness.
There may he diversity without contrariety.
There is a great diversity in iiuiiian con-
stitutions.
2. Variety ; as a diversity of ceremonies in
churches.
3. Distinct being, as opposed to identity.
Locke.
4. Variegation.
Blushing in bright diversities of day. Pope.
DI'VERSLV, adv. [from diverse.] In dif-
ferent ways ; differently ; variously ; as, a
passage of scripture diversly interpreted
or understood.
2. In different directions ; to lUfferent points.
On life's vast ocean diversly we sail. Pope.
DIVERT', V. t. [L. diverto ; di, dis, and verto,
to turn ; Fr. divertir ; Sp. id. ; It. divertire.]
1. To turn off trom any course, direction or
intended application ; to turn aside ; as,
to divert a river from its usual channel ;
to divert commerce from its usual course
to divert apjjropriated money to other ob-
jects ; to divert a man from his purpose.
2. To turn the mind from business or study ;
hence, to please ; to amuse ; to entertain ;
to exhilarate. Cliildren are diverted with
sports; men are diverted with works of
wit and humor ; low minds are diverted
with buffoonery iu stage-playing.
3. To draw the forces of an enemy to a dif-
ferent point. Davies.
4. To subvert. [jVol in use.] Shak.
DIVERT'ED, pp. Turned aside ; turned or
drawn from any course, or from the usual
or intended direction ; pleased ; amused ;
entertained.
DIVERT'ER, n. He or that which diverts,
turns off, or pleases.
DIVERT'IeLE, n. [L. diveHicidum.] A
turning ; a by-way. [J^Jot used.] Hale.
DIVERT'ING, ;>;))■. Turning off from any
course ; pleasing ; entertaining.
2. a. Pleasing ; amusing ; entertaining ; as
a diverting scene or sport.
DIVERTI'SE, V. t. s as :. [Fr. divertir, di-
vertissant.] To divert ; to please. [Xoi
used.] Dryden.
DIVER'TISEMENT,'ji. Diversion. [LitUe
used.] Originally, a certain air or dance
between the acts of the French opera, or
a musical composition.
DIVERT! VE, a. Tending to divert ; amus-
ing. Rogers.
DIVEST', v. t. [Fr. devetir; de and vetir, to
clothe, L. vestio. It is the same word as
devest, but the latter is appropriately used
as a technical term in law.]
1. To strip of clothes, arms or equipage ; op-
posed to invest.
2. To deprive ; as, to divest one of his rights
or privileges ; to divest one of title or prop-
erty.
3. To deprive or strip of any thing that cov-
ers, surrounds or attends ; as, to divest one
of his glory ; to divest a subject of decep-
tive appearances, or false ornaments.
WVEST'ED, pp. Stripped ; undressed ; de-
prived.
D I V
DIVEST'ING,/)p-. Stripping; putting off
depi'
DIVEST'URE,
puttmg
off.
de-
1 priving. tsoyie. Encyc.
DIVI'DABLE, a. [See Divide.] That may
be divided.
12. Separate; parted. [M>t itsed nor primer.]
DIVI'DE, V. t. [L. divido; di or dis and
iduo, that is, vidua, to part. The Greek,
iSiof, liuojxa, tiiurjjs, are from the same
root, as is the L. individuus, viduus, vidua,
Eng. widow, and vnde and void. See the
latter words.]
1. To part or separate an entire thing; to
part a thing into two or more pieces.
Divide the living child in two. 1 Kings iii.
2. To cause to be separate ; to keep apart
by a partition or by an imaginary line or
limit. A wall divides two houses. The
eciuator divides the earth into two hemis-
pheres.
Let tlie firmament divide the waters from the
waters. Gen. i.
3. To make partition of, among a number.
Ye shall divide the laud by lot. Num. xx.\iii.
4. To open ; to cleave.
Thou didst divide the sea. Neh. ix.
5. To disunite in opinion or interest ; to
make discordant.
There shall be five in one house divided,
three against two — Luke xii.
To distribute ; to separate and bestow ir
parts or shares.
And he divided to them his living. Luke xv
7. To make dividends ; to apportion the in-
terest or profits of stock among proprie-
tor ; as, the bank divides six per cent.
8. To separate into two parts, for ascertain-
ing opinions for and against a measure
as, to divide a legislative house, in voting.
DIVI'DE, V. i. To part ; to open ; to cleave.
ja. To break friendship; as, brothers divide.
1 Shak.
3. To vote by the division of a legis
I liouse into two parts.
The emperors sat, voted and divided with
1 their equals. Gibbon.
DIVIDED,;)?). Parted; disunited; distrib-
uted.
DIVI'DEDLY, adv. Separately.
KnatchbuU.
DIVIDEND, n. A part or share ; particu-
larly, the share of the interest or profit of
stock in trade or other employment, whichj
belongs to each proprietor according to
his proportion of the stock or capital.
2. In aritlwietic, the number to be divided
into equal parts.
DIVI'DER, n. He or that which divides ;
that which separates into parts.
2. A distributor ; one who deals out to each
his share.
Who made me a judge or divider over you.
Luke .'sii.
'3. He or that which disunites. Swijl.
'4. A kind of compasses.
DIVrDING,;);)r. Parting; separating; dis-
tributing ; disuniting ; apportioning to
each his share.
2. a. That indicates separation or difference ;
as a dividing line.
DIVIDING, .i. Separation.
DIVID'UAL, a. [h. dividuus, from divido.]
Divided, shared or participated in com-
mon with others. [LittU used.] Milton.
D I V
DIVINA'TION, n. [h. divinatio, from di-
vino, to foretell, from divinus. See Di-
vine.]
1. The act of divining ; a foretelling future
events, or discovering things secret or ob-
scure, by the aid of superior beings, or by
other than human means. The ancient
heathen philosophers divided divination
into two kinds, natural and artificial. JVat-
ural divination was supposed to be ettiict-
ed by a kind of inspiration or divine affla-
tus; artificial divination was effected by
certain rites, experiments or observations,
as by sacrifices, cakes, flour, wine, obser-
vation of entrails, flight of birds, lots, vers-
es, omens, position of the stars, &c.
Encyc.
2. Conjectm-al presage ; prediction. Shak.
DIV'INATOR, n. One who pretends to di-
vination.
DIVIN'ATORY, a. Professing divination.
DIVI'NE, a. [L. divinus, from divus, a god,
coinciding in origin with deus, eto;.]
1. Pertaining to the true God ; as the divine
nature ; divine perfections.
2. Pertaining to a heathen deity, or to false
gods.
3. Partaking of the nature of God.
Half human, half divine. Dryden .
4. Proceeding from God ; as divine judg-
ments.
5. Godlike ; heavenly ; excellent in the high-
est degree ; extraordinary ; apparently
above what is human. In this application
the word admits of comparison ; as a di-
vine invention ; a divine genius ; the divin-
est mind. Davies.
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king.
Prov. xvi.
6. Presagcful ; foreboding ; prescient. ^M)l
used.] MiUon.
7. Appropriated to God, or celebrating his
praise ; as divine service ; divine songs ;
divine worship.
DIVI'NE, n. A minister of the gospel ; a
priest ; a clergyman. Sunft.
The first divines of New England were sur-
passed by none in extensive erudition, personal
sanctity, and diligence in tlie pastoral office.
/. IVoodbridge.
2. A man skilled in divinity ; a theologian ;
as a great divine.
DIVI'NE, V. I. [L. divino.] To foreknow; to
Ibretell ; to presage.
Dar'st thou divine his downfall ! Shak.
a. To deify. [ATot in use.] Spenser.
DIVI'NE, V. i. To use or practice divina-
tion.
2. To utter presages or prognostications.
The prophets thereof divine for money. Mi-
cah iii.
3. To have [iresages or forebodings.
Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts —
Shak.
4. To guess or conjecture.
Could you divine what lovers bear.
Granville.
DIVINELY, adv. In a divine or godlike
manner ; in a manner resembling deity.
2. By the agency or influence of God ; as a
prophet divinely inspired ; divinely taught.
3. Excellently ; in the supreme degree ; as
divinely fair ; divinely brave.
DIVI'NtNESS, n. Divhiity ; participation
of the divine nature ; as the divineness of
the scriptures. [Little used.]
D I V
D I V
D O
2. Excellence in the supreme degree.
Shak
DIVI'NER, n. One who professes divina-
tion ; one who pretends to predict events,
or to reveal occult things, by the aid of su-
perior beings, or of supernatural means.
These nations hearkened to diviners. Deut
2. One who guesses ; a conjecturer. Locke
DIVI'NERESS, n. A female diviner ; a wo-
man professing divination. Dryden
DI'VINGj/jpr. [See Dive] Plunging or sink-
ing into water or other liquid ; applied to
animals only.
2. Going deep into a subject.
DI'VING-BELL, n. A hollow vessel in form
of a truncated cone or pyramid, with the
smaller base close, and the larger one
open, in which a person may descend into
deep water and remain, till the inclosed
air ceases to be respirable.
DIVIN'ITY, n. [L. divinilas ; Fr. iHvimU- ;
It. divinita ; Sp. divinidad ; from divinus,
divus.]
1. The state of being divine; Deity; God-
head ; the nature or essence of God.
Christians ascribe divinity to one Supreme
Being only.
2. God ; the Deity ; the Supreme Being.
'Tis the Divinity that stirs within us.
Addison
3. A false God ; a pretended deity of pa-
gans.
Beastly divinities, and droves of gods.
Prior
4. A celestial being, inferior to the Supreme
God, but superior to man. Many nations
believe in these inferior divinities.
5. Soraetliing supernatural.
They sav there is divinity in odd numbers.
Shak
6. The science of divine things ; the science
which unfolds the character of God,
laws and moral government, the duties of
man, and the way of salvation; theology
as the study of divinity ; a system of di
vinity.
DIVISIBIL'ITY, n. j;r'r. divinbiliie, from L.
divisibilis. See Divide.]
The quality of being divisible ; tlie property
of bodies by which their parts or compo-
nent particles are capable of separ
Locke.
DIVIS'IBLE, a. s as z. [L. dinsibilis, from
divide. See Divide.]
Capable of division ; that may be separated
or disunited ; separable. Matter is divisi
hie indefinitely.
DIVIS'IBLENESS, n. Divisibility ; capa-
city of being separated.
DIVI"SION, n. s as z. [L. divisio, from di
vido, divisi. See Divide.]
1. The act of dividing or separating inti
parts, any entire body.
2. The state of being divided.
3. That which divides or separates ; that
which keeps apart ; partition.
4. The ])art separated from the rest by a
partition or line, real or imaguiary ; as the
divisions of a field.
5. A separate body of men ; as, communi
ties and divisions of men. Addison.
C. A part or distinct portion ; as the divis-
ions of a discourse.
7. A part of an army or militia ; a body con
.sisting of a cortain iinnibi'r of brigades.
usually two, and commanded by a major-
general. But the term is often applied to
other bodies or portions of an army, as to
a brigade, a squadron or a platoon.
8. A part of a fleet, or a select number of
ships under a commander, and distin-
guished by a particular flag or pendant.
Disunion ; idiscord ; variance ; difference.
There was a division among the people. John
10. Space between the notes of music, or
the dividing of the tones.
Johnson. Bailey.
11. Distinction.
1 will put a division between my people and
thy people. Ex. viii.
12. The separation of voters in a legislative
house.
13. In arithmetic, the dividing of a number
or quantity into any parts assigned ; or the
found how many times
itained in another.
Pertaining to divis-
] "■ ion ; noting or mak-
divisional line.
rule by which
one number is ci
DIVI'SIONAL,
DIVI'SIONARY,
g division ; as
DIVI"SIONER, n. One who divides. [JVot
used.] Sheldon.
DlVrSIVE, a. Forming division or distri-
bution. Mede.
2. Creating division or discord. Burnet.
DIVI'SOR, n. In arithmetic, the number by
which the dividend is divided.
DIVORCE, n. [Fr. divorce ; Bp. divorcio ; It.
divorzio ; L. divortium, from divorto, a dif-
ferent orthography of diverto, to turn
away. See Divert.]
1. A legal dissolution of the bonds of matri-
mony, or the separation of husband and
wife by a judicial sentence. This is prop-
erly a divorce, and called technically, di-
vorce a vinculo matrimonii.
2. The separation of a married woman from
the bed and board of her husband, o
mensa et thoro.
3. Separation ; disunion of tilings closely
united.
4
The sentence or writing by which mar-
riage is dissolved.
.5. The cause of any penal separation.
The long di'uorfe of steel falls on me.
fHiak
DIVORCE, v. t. To dissolve the marriage
contract, and thus to separate husband
and wife.
2. To separate, as a married woman from
the bed and board of her husband.
3. To separate or disunite things closely
connected ; to force asunder.
Hooker. Shak.
4. To take away ; to put away. Blackmore.
DIVORCED, pp. Separated by a dissolution
of the marriage contract ; separated from
bed and board ; parted ; forced asund
DIVORCEMENT, n. Divorce ; dissolution
of the marriage tie.
Let him write her a bill a{ divorcement. Deut.
xxiv.
DIVORCER, n. The person or cause that
produces divorce. Drummond
2. One of a sect called divorcers, said tc
have sprung from Milton.
DIVORCING, ppr. Dissolving the marriage
contract ; separating from bed and board ;
disunitimr.
DIVORCIVE, a. Having power to divorce.
Milton.
DIVUL'GATE, a. Published. [Little used.]
DIVULGA'TION, n. The act of divulging
or publishing.
DIVULGE, v.t. divulj'. [h.divulgo; di or
dis and vulgo, to make public, from vul-
gus, the common people, as publish, pub-
lic, from L. populus, people.]
1. To make ])ublic ; to tell or make known
something before private or secret ; to re-
veal ; to disclose ; as, to divulge the secret
sentiments of a friend ; to divulge the pro-
ceedings of tlie cabinet. Divulge is more
generally applied to verbal disclosures,
and publish to printed accounts. But they
may be used synonymously. We ma}'
publish by words, and divulge by the press.
2. To declare by a public act ; to proclaim.
[Unusual.] Milton.
DIVULG'ED, pp. Made public ; revealed ;
disclosed ; published.
DIVULG'ER, n. One who divulges or re-
veals.
DIVULG'ING, ;)/»•. Disclosing; publishing;
revealing.
DiyUL'SION, n. [L. divulsio, from divellor :
di, dis, and vello, to pull.]
The act of pulling or plucking away ; a rend-
ing asunder.
And dire divulsions shook the changing world.
/. Barlow.
DIVUL'SIVE, a. That pidls asimder ; that
rends. Kirwan.
DIZ'EN, V. t. diz'n. To dress gayly ; to deck.
Swift.
This word is not esteemed elegant, and
is nearly obsolete. Its compound bedizen
is used in burlesque.
DIZZ, v. t. [See Dizzy.] To astonish ; to
puzzle ; to make dizzy. [JVot used.]
Gayton.
DIZ'ZARD, n. [See Dizzy.] A blockhead.
[JVot used.]
DIZ'ZINESS, n. [See Dizzy.] Giddiness ;
whirling in the head; vertigo.
DIZ'ZY, a. [Sax. dysi or dysig, foolish ; dy-
signcsse, folly ; dysian, to be foolish ; gedi-
sigan, to err ; G. dusel, dizziness ; duselig,
dizzy ; D. deuzig, stupid ; dyzig, misty,
hazy ; Dan. taasse, a foolish person ; qu.
doser, to make sleepy.]
1. Giddy ; having a sensation of whirling iu
the head, with instability or proneness to
fall ; vertiginous.
2. Causing giddiness ; as a dizzy higlith.
3. Giddy ; thoughtless ; heedless ; as the
dizzi) multitude. Milton.
DIZ'ZY, i>. t. To whirl round; to make gid-
ly ; to confuse. Shak.
Do, V. t. or auxiliary ; prct. did ; pp. done,
pronounced dun. This Verb, when trans-
itive, is formed in the indicative, ]n-esent
tense, thus, 1 do, thou doest, he does or
doth ; when auxiliary, the second person
is, thou dost. [Sax. don ; D. doen ; G. thun ;
Goth, tauyan ; Russ. deyu or dUiyu. This
is probably a contracted word, for in Say.
dohte signifies made or did, as if the pret.
of this verb. If the elements are dg, it
coincides in elements with Sax. dugan, to
ho able, and with teagan, to taw, as
leather.]
1. To perform; to execute ; to carry into ef-
fect ; to exert labor or power for bringing
desired, or to com-
any thing to the state
pletion ; (
We say.
pletion ; or to bring any thing to pass.
tliis man does his work well ; he
D O
does more in one Uay tin
do in two days.
In six days thou shall d
n some men %vill
all thy
Ex
work. Ex.
I will teach you what ye shall do
1 the Lord do all these things. Is,
2. To practice ; to perform ; as, to do good
or evil.
3. To perform for the benefit or injury of
another ; with for or to ; for, when the
thing is beneficial ; to, in either case.
Till I know wliat God will do for me. 1 Sam
But
Do to him neither good nor e\
to is more generally omitted. Do
ther good nor harm.
4. To execute; to discharge; to convey ; as,
do a message to tlie king.
5. To perform ; to practice ; to ol)serve.
We lie and do not the trutli. 1 John i.
6. To exert.
Do thy diligence to come shortly to me
2 Tim. iv.
7. To transact ; as, to do business with an-
other.
8. To finish ; to execute or transact and
bring to a conclusion. The sense of com-
pletion is ol\en implied in this verb ; as,
•we will do the business and adjourn; we
did the business and dined.
9. To perform in an exigency ; to have
course to, as a consequential or last
fort ; to take a step or measure ; as, in this
crisis, we knew not what to do.
What will ye do in the day of visitation
Is. x.
1^0. To make or cause.
Nothing but death can do mc to respire. Obs
Spenser.
11. To put. Obs.
Who should do the duke to death ? Shall.
12. To answer the purpose.
I'll make the songs of Durfey rfo.
To have to do, to have concern with.
What have I to do with you? 2 Sam. xvi.
What have I to do any more with idols .' Hos
xiv.
To do tinth, to dispose of; to make use
of; to employ. Commerce is dull ; we
know not what to do rcitli our ships. Idle
men know not what to do with their time
or with themselves.
Also, to gain ; to effect by infli
A jest with a sad brow will do with a fellow
who never had the ache in his shoulders. SJuik.
I can do nothing with this obstinate fellow.
jlnon
Also, to have concern with ; to have
business ; to deal. [See No. 12.]
T^j do away, to remove ; to destroy ; as
to do away imperfections ; to do away pre-
judices.
Do, V. i. To act or behave, in any manner
well or ill; to conduct one's self.
They fear not the Lord, neither do they after
the law and commandment. 2 Kings x
2. To fare ; to be in a state with regard to
sickness or health.
How dost thou? Shak
We asked him how he did. How do
you do, or how do you .'
3. To succeed ; to accomplish a purpose.
We shall do without him. Will this plan
do? Addison
Also, to fit ; to be adapted ; to answer
the design ; with /or; as, this piece of tim
DOC
her will do for the corner post ; this tenon
will do for the mortise ; the roa<l is repair-
ed and will do for the present.
To have to do tcith, to have concern or bu-
siness with ; to deal with. Have little to
do with jealous men.
Also, to have carnal commerce with.
Do is used for a verb to save the repeti-
tion of it. I shall probably come, but if I
do not, you must not wait ; that is, if I do
not come, if I come not.
Do is also used in the imperative, to ex-
press an urgent request or connnand ; as,
do come ; help me, do ; make haste, do.
In this case, do is uttered with emphasis.
As an auxihary, do is used in asking ques-
tions. Do you intend to go ? Does lie wish
come?
Do is also used to express emphasis. She
is coquetish, but still I do love her.
Do is sometimes a mere expletive.
This Just reproach their virtue does excite.
Dryden.
Expletives their feeble aid do join. Pope.
[The latter use of do is nearly obso-
lete.]
Do is sometimes used by way of opposition ;
as, I did love him, but he has lost my af-
fections.
DOAT. [See Dote.]
DO'CIBLE, a. [See Docile.] Teachable
docile ; tractable ; easily taught or mana-
ged. Milton
DOCIBIL'ITY, ? Teachableness; do
DO'CIBLKNESS, $"-cility ; readiness to
earn. Walton
DO'CILE, a. [L. docilis, from doceo, to
teach. Doceo and leach are the same word
See Teach.]
Teachable ; easily instructed ; ready to
learn ; tractable ; easily managed. Some
children are far more docile than others.
Dogs are more docile than many other an-
imals.
DOCIL'ITY, n. Teachableness ;
to learn ; aptness to be taught.
cilHii of elephants is remarkable.
DO'CIMACY, n. [Gr. ioxi/xa^io. See the
next word.]
The art or practice of assaying metals ; me-
tallurgy. Med. Repos.
DOCIMAS'Tle, a. [Gr. Joxt^ftxoj, from
6oj(i/ia^(j, to try, essay, examine, from
6oxi;ko5, proved, from Soxtu, to prove
pn. Class Dg. No. 9.]
Properly, essaying, proving by experiments,
or relating to the assaying of metals. The
dociniastic art is otherwise called metal-
lurgy. It is the art of assaying metals, or
the art of separating them from foreign
matters, and determining the nature and
quantity of metallic substance contained
in any ore or mineral. La
DOCK, n. [Sax. docce ; L. dancus ; Gr.
Savxoj ; from Ar. Syr. Class Dg. No. 9.]
A genus of plants, the Rumex, of several
species. Its root resembles a carrot
DOCK, V. t. [W. tociaw, and twciaw, to clip,
to cut oft"; whence docket and ticket. Class
Dg. No. 19. 47.]
1. To cut off, as the end of a thing ; to cur
tail; to cut short ; to clip ; as, to dock the
tail of a horse.
2. To cut off a part ; to shorten ; to deduct
1 from ; as, to dock an account.
readiness
The do-
Ch.
DOC
3. To cut off, destroy or defeat ; to bar ; as,
to dock an entail.
4. To bring, draw or place a sliip in a dock.
DOCK, ». The tail of a beast cut short or
clipped ; the stump of a tail ; the solid
part of the tail.
2. A case of leather to cover a horse's dock.
Encyc.
DOCK, n. A broad deep trench on the side
of a harbor, or bank of a river, in which
ships are built or repaired. A dry dock has
flood-gates to admit the tide, and to pre-
vent the influx, as occasion may require,
ffe/ docks have no flood-gates, but ships
may be repaired in them during the recess
of the tide. fVet docks are also construct-
ed with gates to keep the water in at ebb
tide, so that vessels may lie constantly
afloat in them. Mar. Diet. Cyc.
In America, the spaces between wharves
are called docks.
DOCK'-YARD, n. A yard or magazine
near a harbor, for containing all kinds of
naval stores and timber.
DOCK'ET, n. [W. tociaw, to cutoff, to clip,
to dock ; hence docket is a piece.]
1. A small piece of paper or parchment, con-
taining the heads of a writing. Also, a
subscription at the foot of letters patent,
by the clerk of the dockets. Bailey.
2. A bill, tied to goods, containing some di-
rection, as the name of the owner, or the
place to which they arc to be sent. [See
Ticket.] Bailey.
3. An alphabetical list of cases in a court, or
a catalogue of the names of the parties
who have suits depending in a court. In
some of the states, this is the principal or
only use of the word.
DOCK'ET, v. t. To make an abstract or
summary of the heads of a writing or wri-
tings; to abstract and enter in a book; as,
judgments regularly docketed. Blackstone.
3. To enter in a docket ; to mark the con-
tents of papers on the back of them.
3. To niark with a docket. Chesterfield.
DOCK'ING, ppr. Clipping ; cutting ofl" the
end ; placing in a dock.
DOCK'ING, n. The act of drawing, as a
ship, into a dock. Mar. Diet.
DOCTOR, n. [L. from doceo, to teach.] A
teacher.
There stood up one in the council, a Phar-
isee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law.
Acts v.
2. One who has passed all the degrees of a
faculty, and is empowered to practice and
teach it, as a doctor in divinity, in physic,
in law ; or according to modern usage, a
person who has received the highest de-
gree in a faculty. The degree of doctor
is conferred by universities and colleges,
as an honorary mark of literary distinc-
tion. It is also conferred on physicians,
as a professional degree.
3. A learned man ; a man skilled in a pro-
fession ; a man of erudition.
Dryden. Digby.
4. A physician ; one whose occupation is to
cure diseases.
5. The title, doctor, is given to certain fathers
of the church whose opinions are receiv-
ed as authorities, and in the Greek church,
it is given to a particular officer who in-
terprets the scriptures. Encyc.
DOC
D O D
DOG
Doctors' Commons, the college of civilians in
London.
DO€'TOR, V. t. To apply medicines for the
cure of diseases. [A popular use of this
word, but not elegant.]
DO€'TOR, V. i. To practice physic. [JVbf
elegant.]
DOe'TORAL, a. Relating to the degree of
a doctor. Johnson.
DO€'TORALLY, adv. In the manner of a
doctor. Hakewill.
DO€'TORATE, n. The degree of a doctor.
Encyc.
DO€'TORATE, v. t. To make a doctor by
conferring a degree. Warton.
DO€'TORLY, a. Like a learned man.
Bp. HaU.
DOC'TORSHIP, 71. The degree or rank of
a doctor. Clarendon.
[Doctorate is now generally used.]
DO€'TRINAL, a. [See Doctrine.] Pertain-
ing to doctrine ; containing a doctrine ori
something taught; as a rfoc<rinaZ observa-
tion ; a doctrinal proposition.
2. Pertaining to the act or means of teach-
ing.
The word of God serveth no otherwise, than
in the nature of a doctrinal instrument. Hooker.
DOCTRINAL, n. Something that is a part
of doctrine. South.
DOe'TRINALLY, adv. In theformof doc-|
trine or instruction ; by way of teaching
or positive direction. Ray.
DOCTRINE, n. [L. doctrina, from doceo,
to teach.] I
1. In a general sense, whatever is taught.
Hence, a principle or position in any sci-
ence; whatever is laid down as true by an
instructor or master. The doctrines of thej
gospel are the principles or truths taught;
by Christ and his apostles. The doctrines
of Plato are the principles which he taught.
Hence a doctrine may be true or false ; it
may be a mere tenet or opinion.
2. The act of teaching.
He taught them many things by parables, and
said to Ihem in his doctrine. Mark iv.
3. Learning ; knowledge.
Whom shall he make to understand doctrine ?
Is. xxviii.
4. The truths of the gospel in general.
That they may adorn thi
Savior in all things. Tit. i
5. Instruction and confirmation in the truths
of the gospel. 2 Tim. :
DOCUMENT, Ji. [L. documentum, from
rfoceo, to teach.]
1. Precept ; instruction ; direction.
Bacon. Watts
2. Dogmatical precept; authoritative dog-
3. More generally, in present usage, written
instruction, evidence or proof; any official
or authoritative paper containing instruc-
tions or proof, for information and the
establishment of facts. Thus, the presi-
dent laid before congress the report of the
secretary, accompanied with all the rfocu-
ments.
DO€'UMENT, V. t. To furnish with docu-
ments ; to furnish with instructions and
proofs, or with papers necessary to estab-j
lish facts. A ship should be documented\
according to the directions of law. I
: doctrine of God ou
To teach ; to instruct ; to direct. Dryden.
DO€UMENT'AL, a. Pertaining to instruc-
tion or to documents ; consisting in or
derived from documents ; as documental
testimony.
Court Martial on Gen. Wtlkinson.
DO€UMENT'ARY, a. Pertaining to writ-
ten evidence ; consisting in documents.
DOD'DER, «. [G. dotter.] A plant of the
genus C'uscuta, one species of which is
called hell-weed. It is almost destitute of
leaves, parasitical, creeping and fi.\ing it-
self to some other plant, as to hops, flax
and particularly to the nettle. It decays
nt the root, and is nourished by the plant
that supports it, by means of little vesicles
or papillfE, which attach themselves to tlie
stalk. Hill. Encyc.
DODDERED, a. Overgrown with dodder ;
covered with supcrcrescent plants.
Johnson. Dryden.
DODECAGON, n. [Gr. SuStxa, twelve, and
yijvia, an angle.] A regidar figure or poly-
gon, consisting of twelve equal sides and
angles. Encyc.
DODEC'AgYN, n. [Gr. SuSsxo, twelve, and
yvvr;, a female.] In botany, a plant having
twelve pistils.
DODECAGYN'IAN, a. Having twelve pis-
tils.
D0DE€AIIE'DRAL, a. [infra.] Pertain-
ing to a dodecahedron ; consisting oftwelve
equal sides.
D0DE€AHE'DR0N, n. [Gr. Su&ixa, twelve,
and iSpa, a base.]
regular solid contained under twelve
equal and regular pentagons, or having
twelve equal bases. Chambers
D0DE€AN'DER, n. [Gr. i^Ssxa, twelve,
and arrift, a male.]
In botany, a plant having twelve stamens
one ol"" the class dodecandria. But this
class includes all plants that have any
number of stamens from twelve to nine
teen inclusive. Linne
D0DE€AN'DRIAN, a. Pertaining to the
plants or class of plants that have twelve
stamens, or from twelve to nineteen. Lee
D0DE€ATEM0'RI0N, n. [Gr. composed
of 6io6txoTo;, twelfth, and /lopioi, part.] A
twelfth part. [Little x(.sed.] Creech.
DODE€ATEM'ORY, n. A denomination
sometimes given to each of the twelve
signs of the zodiac. Burton
DODGE, V. i. doj. [from some root signify-
ing to shoot, dart or start.]
1. To start suddenly aside ; to shift place by
a sudden start. Milton
2. To play tricks ; to be evasive ; to ust
tergiversation ; to play fast and loose ; to
raise expectations and disappoint them
to ipiibble. Hale. Addison
DODgE, t'. t. To evade by a sudden shift
of place ; to escajjc by starting aside ; as,
to dodge a blow aimed ; to dodge a can-
non ball.
[This is a common word, very expressive
and useful, but not admissaUe in solemn
discourse or elegant composition.]
DODG'ER, n. One who dodges or evades.
DODG'ING, pp: Starting aside ; evading.
DOD'KIN, n. [doit, D duit, and kin.] A
little doit ; a small coin.
DOD'MAN, n. A fish that casts its shell,
like the lobster and crab. Bacon.
DO'DO, 71. The Didus, a genus of fowls of
the gallinaceous order. The hooded do-
do is larger than a swan, with a strong
hooked bill. The general color of the
plumage is cinereous ; the belly and thighs
whitish. The head is large, and seems as
if covered with a hood. The solitary do-
do is a large fowl, and is said to weigh
sometimes forty five pounds. The plu-
mage is gray and brown mixed. Encyc.
DOE, 71. rfo. [Sax. rfo ; Dan. daa.] Ashe deer;
the female of the fallow-deer. The male
is called a buck.
DOE, n. A feat. [ATot used.] Hudibras.
D6ER, 71. [from rfo.] One who does ; one
who performs or executes ; an actor ; an
agent.
2. One who performs what is required ; one
ho observes, keeps or obeys, in practice.
The doers of the law shall be justified. Rom.
DOES, the third person of the verb do, in-
dicative mode, present tense, contracted
from docth.
DOFF, V. t. [Qu. do-off. Rather D. doffen,
to push, to thrust. Class Db. No 17. 18.]
To put off, as dress.
And made us doff our easy robes of peace.
Shak.
To strip or divest ; as, he doffs himself.
Crashaw.
To put or thrust away ; to get rid of.
To rfn^ their dire distresses. Shak.
4. To put off; to shift off; with a view to
delay.
Every day thou doffst me with some device.
ShaJs.
[This tvord is, I believe, entirely obsolete
in discourse, at least in the U. States, but is
retained in poetry.]
DOG, 71. [Fr. dogue, a bidl dog or mastiff;
se doguer, to butt; Arm. dog or dogttes; D.
dog ; probably, the runner or starter.]
A species of quadrupeds, belonging to the
genus Canis, of many varieties, as the
mastiff, the hound, the spaniel, the shep-
herd's dog, the terrier, the harrier, the
bloodhound, &.c.
It is used fbr male, when applied to seve-
ral other animals ; as a dog-fox ; a dog-ot-
ter ; dog-ape. Dryden.
It is prefixed to other words, denoting
what is mean, degenerate or worthless ; as
dog-rose. Johnson.
3. An andiron, so named from the figure of
a dog's bead on the top. [Russ. tagan.]
4. A term of reproach or contempt given to
a man.
5. A constellation called Sirius or Canicula.
[See Dog-day.]
G. An iron hook or bar with a sharp fang,
used by seamen. Mar. Diet.
7. An iron used by sawyers to fasten a log
of timber in a saw-pit.
3. A gay young man ; a buck. [M>t in use.]
Johnson.
To give or throw to the dogs, is to throw away,
as useless.
To go to the dogs, is to be ruined.
DOG, v.t. To hunt: to follow insidiously
or indefatigably ; to follow close ; to urge ;
to worry with importunity.
I have been pursued, dogged and way-laid.
Pope.
DO'GATE, 71. [See Doge.] The office or
dignity of a doge. Encyc.
DOG
DOG'BERRY, n. Tlie berry of the dog-
wood.
DOG'BERRY-TREE, n. The dogwood.
DOG'BRIER, )i. The brier that bears the
hip ; the cyiiosbaton. Johitson.
D0G'-eABBA6E, n. A plant growing in
tlie south of Europe, the cynocramlie, con-
stituting the genus Thehgonum. £nci/c
DOG'CHEAP, a. Cheap as dog's meat, or
offal ; very cheap. Johnson.
DOG'DAY, n. One of the days when Sir-
ius or the dogstar rises and sets with the
sun. The dogdays commence the latter
jiart of July, and end the beginning of
September.
DOG' DRAW, n. A manifest deprehension
of an offender against the venison in the
forest, when he is found drawing after tlie
deer by the scent of a hound led by the
Imnd. Eng. Law. Cowel.
DOtiE, n. [It. ; L. dux ; Eng. duke ; from
L. rfitco, to lead ; Sax. toga, teoche.] The
chief magistrate of Venice and Genoa.
DOCFIGHT, n. A battle between two
DOG'FISH, n. A name given to scvera
species of shark, as the spotted shark or
greater dogfish, the piked dogfish, &c.
Encyc. Cyc
DOG'FL^, n. A voracious, biting fly.
Chapman.
DOGGED, pp. Pursued closely ; urged fre-
quently and importunately.
2. a. Sullen ; sour ; morose ; surly ; severe
Shak. Hudibras
DOG'GEDLY, adv. Sullenly; gloomily;
sourly ; morosely ; severely.
DOG'GEDNESS, n. SuUenness ;
ness.
DOG'GER, Ji. A Dutch fishing vessel used
in the German ocean, particularly in the
herring fishery. It is equipped with two
masts, a main-mast and a mizen-mast,
somewhat resembling a ketch. Encyc.
DOG'GEREL, a. An epithet given to a
kind of loose, irregular measure in bur-
lesque poetry, like that of Hudibras ; as
doggerel verse or rhyme.
Dryden. Mdison
DOG'GEREL, n. A loose, irregular kind of
poetry ; used in burlesque.
Dryden. SwiJI.
DOG'GERM.\N, n. A sailor belonging to
dogger.
DOG'GERS, n. In English alum toorks,
sort of stone found in the mines with the
true alum-rock, containing some alum.
Encyc.
DOG'GING, ppr. [from dog.] Hunting;
pursuing incessantiv or importunately.
DOG'GISH, a. Like a dog ; churlish ;
growling ; snappish ; brutal.
DOG'HEARTED, a. Cruel ; pitiless ; mah-
cious. Shak.
DOG'HOLE, n. A place fit only for dogs ;
a vile, mean habitation. Dn/dtn. Pope.
DOG'HOUSE, n. A kennel for dogs.
Overbury.
DOG'KENNEL, n. A kennel or hut for
dogs. Dryden.
DOG'LEACIT, n. A dog-doctor. Beaum
DOG'LOUSE, Ji. An insect that is found on
dogs.
DOG'LY, a. Like a dog. [JVot in use.]
DOG'-MAD, a. Mad as a dog.
Vol. I.
DOG
DOG'MA, n. [Gr. 6oyjuo,irom Soxtu,, to think ;
L. dogma.]
A settled opinion ; a principle, maxim or
tenet : a doctrinal notion, particularly in
matters of faith and philosophy ; as the
dogmas of the church ; the dogmas of
riato.
CompUnjent my dogma, and I will compli-
ment i/ours. J. M. Mason.
DOGMAT'Ie, I Pertaining to a dog-
DOGMAT'ICAL, J ma, or to settled ophi-
ion.
2. Positive ; magisterial ; asserting or dispo-
se<l to assert with authority or with over-
bearing and arrogance ; applied to per-
sons; as a dogmatic schoolman or phi-
losopher. Boyle
3. Positive; asserted wuh authority; au-
thoritative ; as adogmaiical opinion.
4. Arrogant ; overbearing in asserting and
maintaining opinions.
DOGMAT'I€ALLY, adv. Positively ; in a
magisterial manner ; anogantly.
UOGMAT'ICALNESS, n. The quality of
being dogmatical; positiveness.
DOGMATISM, n. Positive assertion ; arro-
gance ; positiveness in opinion.
DOG'MATIST, »i. A positive assertcr ; t
magisterial teacher; a bold or arrogant
advancer of princi|)Ie.«. Halts
DOGMATIZE, v. i. To assert positively
to teach with bold and undue confidence
to advance with arrogance.
Men often dogmatize most, when they are
least s-jpported by reason. Anon
DOG'MATIZER, >i. One who dogmatizes
a bold asscrtor ; o magisterial teacher.
Hammond.
DOGMATIZING, ppr. Asserting with ex-
ss of confidence.
DOG'ROSE, n. The flower of the hip.
Derham.
DOG'S'-B.\NE, n. [Gr. ortoxwo..] A genus
of plants, the Apocynum, of several spe-
cies ; also, the Asclepias.
DOG'S'-EAR, ?!. The corner of a leaf in a
book turned down like a dog's ear.
Gray.
DOG'SICK. a. Sick as a dog.
DOG'SKIN, a. Made of the skin of a dog.
Taller.
DOG'SLEEP, n. Pretended sleep.
Mdison.
DOG'S-MEAT, n. Refuse ; offal; meat for
dogs. Dryden
DOG'S -RUE, n. A plant, a species of Scro
phularia.
DOG'STAR, n. Sinus, a star of the first
magnitude, whose rising and setting with
the sun gives name to the dogdays.
nOG'STONES, n. A plant, the Orchis or
fool-stones.
DOG'TOOTH, n. plu. dogteeth. A shari
pointed human tooth growing between the
foreteeth and grinders, and resembhng
a dog's tooth. It is called also an eye
tooth.
DOGTOOTH-VIOLET, n. A plant, the
Erythronium.
DOG'TRICK, Ji. A currish trick ; bmtal
treatment. Dryden,
DOG TROT, 71. A gentle trot like that of a
I ''og.
pOG'VANE, n. Among seamen, a small
vane composed of thre.id, cork and feath-
ers, fastened to a half pike and placed on
66
DDL
the weather gun-wale, to assist in steering
a ship on the wind. Mar. Did.
DOGWATCH, JI. Among seajnen, a watch
of two hours. The dogwatches are two
reliefs between 4 and 8 o'clock, P. M.
DOG' WEARY, a. Quite tired; much
fatigued.
DOG'WQQD, Ji. A common name of dif-
ferent si)ecies of the Cornus or cornelian
cherry.
DOG WqOD-TREE, ji. The Piscidia ery-
tlirina, a tree growing in Jamaica.
Encyr.
DOI LV, 71. A sjiecies of woolen sluft', said
to be so called from the first maker.
Congreic.
2. Linen made into a small napkin.
Mason.
DOING, ppr. [See Do.] Performing ; e.\e-
(Miting.
Doings, ji. plu. Things done; transac-
tions ; feats ; actions, good or bad.
Behavior ; conduct.
3. Stir; bustle.
DOIT, n. [D.duit; G.deut. Qu. Fr. rfoig/,
a finger, a point, L. digitus.]
A small i)iecc of money. Pope.
2. A trifle. Hence our vulgar phrase, I care
not a doit. It is used adverbially and
commonly pronounced </i(c.
DOLAB'RiFORM. a. [L. dolahra, an a,\.
ii forma, form.]
Having the form of an ax or hatchet.
Marty II ■
DOLE, JJ. [Sax. dal ; Russ. dolia, a part or
portion; Ir. dail ; from the root of deal.
See Deal.]
1. The act of dealing or distributing ; as the
power of dole and donative. [JVo( rji U3e.'\
Bacon.
2. That which is dealt or distributed ; a pan,
share or portion. Shak.
3. That which is given in charity ; gratuity.
Dryden.
4. Blows dealt out. Milton.
5. Boundary. [jStot in use.]
C. A void si)ace left in tillage. [Local.]
DOLE, Ji. [I., dolor, pain, grief] Grief;
sorrow. Obs. Milton.
DOLE, V. I. To deal ; to distribute. [Aot
used.]
DOLEFUL, a. [dole and full.] Sorrowful;
expressing grief ; as a doleful w hine ; a
doleful cry.
2. Melancholy ; sad ; aflUcted ; as a duUful
sire. Sidney.
3. Dismal ; impressing sorrow ; gloomy ; as
doleful shades. Milton.
DOLEFULLY, adv. In a dolefiil manner;
sorro^vfully ; dismally ; sadly.
DO'LEFULNESS, n. Sorrow ; melancholy ;
querulousness ; gloominess ; dismalness.
DO LENT, n. [h. dolens.] Sorrowful. [M>t
in use.]
DO'LESOME, a. Gloomy ; dismal; sorrow-
ful ; doleful.
The dolesome passage to th' infernal sky.
Pope.
DO'LESOMENESS, n. Gloom; dismal-
ness.
DOLL, 71. [W. delw, form, image, re-
semblance, an idol, a false god ; dull, ,
form, figure ; Arm. dailh, or tailh, which '
seems to be the L. talis. Also Ir. dealhh,
an image. But qu. Gr. ctduxot', an idol.,
from tiiu, to see.]
D O M
D O M
DOM
A puppet or baby for a child ; a small image
in the human form, for the amusement of
little girls.
DOL'LAR, n. [G. thaler; D. daalder ; Dan.
and Svv. 6(a/er ; Sp. dalera ; Russ. later;
said to be from Dale, the town where it
was first coined.]
A silver coin of Spain and of the United
States, of the value of one hundred cents,
or four shillings and sixpence sterling.
The dollar seems to have been originally a
German coin, and in different parts of
Germany, the name is given to coins of
diflerent values.
DOL'OMITE, n. A variety of magnesian
carbonate of lime, so • called from the
French geologist Uolomieu. Its struc-
ture is sraiuilar. Cyc.
DO'LOR; n. [L.] Pain ; grief; lamenta
tion. Sidney. Shak.
DOLORIF'EROUS, a. [L. dolor, pain, and
/era, to produce.'] Producing pain.
mUaker.
DOLORIF'Ie, a. [L. dolorificus ; dolor and
facio.]
1. That causes pain or gri.-f.
2. Expressing pain or irrief.
DOL'OROUS, a. [I,, r/o/w, p.-.iii, grief.] Sor-
rowful ; doleful ; dismal ; impressing sor-
row or grief; as a dolorous object ; a dol-
orous region. Hooker. Milton.
2. Painful ; giving pain.
Their dispatch is quick, and less dolorous than
the paw of the bear. More.
3. Expressing pain or grief; as dolorous
sighs.
DOL'OROUSLY, adv. Sorrowfully ; in a
manner to express pain.
DOL'PHIN, n. [L. delphin or delphinus ;
.Gr.StKfiv; h: deilf; Pi: daiiphiti ; Sp.
deljin ; It. del/mo ; Arm. dnofin, dolfm ; W.
dolfyn, from dolf, a curve or winding.]
1. A genus of cetaceous fish, with teeth in
both jaws, and a pipe in the head, compre-
hending the doli)hin, the porpess, the
grampus and the beluga. But the tish to
which seamen give this name, is the Cory-
phsena liippmis of Liiine. It has a flat
roundisli Miout ;:iiil a tapering body, with
a fin runiiiiiii aion^ ilie back from the head
to the tail, consisting of a coriaceous mem-
brane with soft spines.
Did. ofJ\rat. Hist.
2. In ancient Greece, a machine suspended
over the sea, to be dropped on any vessel
passing under it. Mitford.
DOL'PHINET, n. A female dolpliin.
Spenser.
DOLT, n. [G.tijlpel; Sax. dol ; W. dol. Qu.
dull. The Gothic has dwala, foolish, stu-
pid ; Sax. dwolian, to wander. The Sw.
has dvala, to sleep or be drowsy ; Dan.
dvale, sound sleep ; D. doolen, and dwaal-
ej!, to wander.]
A heavy, stupid fellow ; a blockhead ; a
thick-skull. Sidney. Siififl.
DOLT, V. i. To waste time foolishly ; to be-
have foolishly.
DOLTISH, a. Dull in intellect ; stupid ;
blockish ; as a doltish clown. Sidney.
DOLTISIINESS, ii. Stupidity.
■ DOM, used as a termination, denotes juris-
diction, or property and jurisdiction ; pri-
marily, doom, judgment; as in kingdom,
earldom. Hence it is used to denote state,
condition or quality, as in msdom, free-
dom.
DOMA'IN, n. [Fr. domaine ; Arm. domany.
This would seem to be from L. dominium.
Qu. is it the same word as demain, which
is from the Old French demesne. The lat-
ter caimot be regularly deduced from do-
minium, domino. The Norman French
has demesner, to rule, to demean ; and the
phrase, " de son demainer," in his demain,
would seem to be from a different source.
Mainor, in Norman, is tenancy or occiii)a-
tion, froiri main, the hand. Domain seems
to be the L. dominium, and to' have been
confounded with demain, demesne.]
1. Dominion ; empire ; territory governed,
or under the government of a sovereign ;
as the vast domains of the Russian empe-
ror ; the domains of the British king.
2. Possession ; estate ; as a portion of the
king's domains. Dryden.
3. The land about the mansion house of a
loifi, and in his immediate occupancy. In
this sense, the word coincides with demain,
demesne. Shensto
DO'MAL, a. [L. domus.] Pertaining to
house ill astrology. Addison.
DOME, n. [Fr. dome ; Arm. dom ; L. domus ;
Gr. 80U05 ; Ir. dom ; Russ. rfoj»; supposed
to be from 6ff«u, to build. The Greek has
also 6u/ta, a house, a plain roof Qu. Sax
timhrian, Goth, timbryan, to build.]
L A building ; a house ; a fabric ; used in
poetry. Pope.
2. A cathedral. Burnei.
3. In architecture, a spherical roof, raised
over the middle of a building ; a cupola.
Encyc.
4. In chlmistry, the upper part of a furnace,
resembling a hollow hemisphere or small
dome. This form serves to reflect or re-
verberate a part of the flame ; hence these
furnaces are called reverberating liu-naces.
Encyc.
DOMESDAY. [See Doomsday.]
DO'MESMAN, n. [See Doom.] A judge;
an umiiire. Obs.
DOMES'Tle, a. [L.domesticus, from domus,
a house.]
1. Belonging to the house, or home ; per-
taining to one's place of residence, and to
the family ; as domestic concerns ; domestic
life ; domestic duties ; domestie affairs ; do-
mestic contentions ; domestic happiness ;
domestic worshij).
2. Remaining much at home ; living in re
tiremont ; as a domestic man or woman.
3. Living near the habitations of man ; tame ;
3t wild ; as domestic animals.
4. Pertaining to a nation considered as :
family, or to one's own country ; intest
ine: not foreign ; as domestic troubles;
domestic dissensions.
5. Made in one's own house, nation or coun-
try ; as domestic manufactures.
DOMES'TIC, n. One who lives in the fam
ily of another, as a chaplain or secretary
Also, a servant or hired laborer, residing
with a family.
DOMES'TICALLY, adv. In relation to do
mestic affairs.
DOMES'TICATE, j;. t. To make domestic ;
to retire from the public ; to accustom
remain much at home ; as, to domesticate
one's self.
2. To make familiar, as if at home.
Chesterfield.
3. To accustom to Uve near the habitations
of man ; to tame ; as, to domesticate wild
animals.
DOMESTl€A'TION, n. The act of with-
drawing from the public notice and living
nmch at home.
2. The act of taming or reclaiming wild
animals.
DOM'ICIL, n. [L. domicilium, a mansion.]
An abode or mansion ; a place of perma-
nent residence, either of an individual or
family ; a residence, anima manendi.
Story. Hopkinson.
DOM'ICIL, i . Toestahhshafixed
DOMICILIATE, ^ "• '• residence, or a resi-
dence that constitutes habitancy. Kent.
DOM'ICILED, ) Having gained a
DOMICILIATED, I PP' permanent resi,
deuce or inhabitancy.
DOMICIL'IARY, a. Pertaining to an abode,
or the residence of a person or family. A
domiciliary visit is a visit to a private dwell-
ing, jjarticularly for the purpose of search-
ing it, under authority.
DOMICILIA'TION, n. Permanent resi-
dence : inhabitancy.
DOMICILING, > Gaining or ta-
DOMICIL'IATING, I PP''- king a perma-
I nent residence.
DOM'IFY, 11. t. [L. domus, a house, and
facio, to make.]
1. In astrology, to divide the heavens into
twelve houses, in order to erect a theme
or horoscope, by means of six great circles,
called circles of position. Obs. Encyc.
2. To tame. [jVot in use and improper.]
DOM'INANT, «. [L. dotninans, from dom-
inor, 10 rule; dominus, lord, master; either
from domus, a. house, or from domo, So/jom,
to overcome, to tame, to subdue, W. dovi.
Both roots unite in the sense, to set, to
press, to fix. See Class Dm. No. 1. 3.]
1. Ruling; prevailing; governing; predom-
inant ; as the dominant party, or faction.
ileid. Tooke.
2. In music, the dominant or sensible chord
is that which is practiced on the dominant
of the tone, and which introduces a per-
fect cadence. Every perfect major chord
becomes a dominant chord, as soon as the
seventh minor is added to it.
Rousseau. Encyc.
DOM'INANT, »!. In music, of the three
notes essential to the tone, the dominant
is that which is a fifth from the tonic.
Ibm.
DOM'INATE, r. t. [L. dominatus, dominor.
See Dominant.]
To rule ; to govern ; to prevail ; to predom-
inate over.
We every where meet with Slavonian nations
either dominant or dominated.
Tooke, Suss.
DOM'INATE, V. i. To predominate. [Lit-
tle v.sed.]
DOMINATED, p/). Rided ; governed.
DOM'INATING, ;);?r. RuUug; prevailing;
predominating.
DOMINA'TION, n. [L. dominatio.] The
j exercise of power in ruling ; dominion ;
1 government. Shak.
,2. Arbitrary autl'.ority ; tyranny.
|3. Oi\e highly exalted in power ; or the
I fourth order of angelic beings.
DON
Tlironcs, dominations, princedoms, virtues
' powers. Milton
DOM'INATIVE, a. Governing ; also, impe-
rious. Sandys.
DOM'INATOR, n. A ruler or ruling power
the presiding or predominant power.
Jupiter and Mars are dominatars for Ihii
northwest part of the world. Camden
2. An absolute governor.
DOMINEE'R, V. i. [L. dominor ; Fr. domi-
ner; S[).dominar; It. dominare. See Dom-
inant.]
1. To rule over with insolence or arbitrary
sway.
To domineer over subjects or servants is evi-
dence of a low mind. Anon
2. To bluster ; to hector ; to swell with con-
scious superiority, or haughtiness.
Go to the feast, revel and domineer.
Shak
DOMINEE'RING, ppr. Ruling over with
insolence ; blustering; manifesting haughty
superiority.
2. a. Overbearing.
DOMIN'IC.\L, a. [Low h. dominicalis, from
dominieus, from dominus, lord.]
1. That notes the Lord's day or Sabbath
The Dominical letter is the letter which, ir
almanacks, denotes the sabbath, or dies
domini, the Lord's day. The first seven
letters of the alphabet are used for this
purpose.
2. Noting the prayer of our Lord. Howell.
DOMIN'leAL, n. [infra.] The Lord's day.
Hammond.
DOMIN'ICAN, a. or n. [from Dominic, the
founder.]
The Dominicans, or Dominican Friars, are an
order of religious or monks, called also Ja-
cobins, or Predicants, preaching friars ; ar
order founded about the year 1215.
Encyc
DOMIN'ION, Ji. [L. dominium. See Dom-
inant.]
1. Sovereign or supre'me authority ; the
power of.governing and controlling
The dominion of the Most High is a
lasting dominion. Dan. iv.
2. Power to direct, control, use and dispose
of at pleasure; right of possession and use
without being accountable ; as the private
dominion of individuals. Locke.
.3. Territory under a government ; regi
country ; district governed, or within the
limits of the authority of a prince or state
as the British dominions.
4. Government ; right of governing. Ja
maica is luider the domtnion of Great
Britain.
5. Predominance ; ascendant. Drydt
(5. An order of angels.
Whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers. Col. i.
7. Persons governed.
Judah was his sanctuary ; Israel his domi
ion. Ps. cxiv.
DOM'INO, n. A kind of hood; a long dress ;
a masquerade dress.
DO'MITE, n. A mineral named from Dome
in Auvergne, in France, of a white or gray'
ish white color, having the aspect and
gritty feel of a sandy chalk. Phillips.
DON. A title in Spain, formerly given to
nohlonicn and gentlemen only, but now
common to all classes. It is commonly
supposed to be contracted from dominus.
dom, and the Portuguese dojio, the master
DON
or owner of any tiling, gives some coun-
tenance to the opinion. It coincides nearly
with the Heb. pn, and |nx, a judge, ruler,
or lord. It was formerly used in England,
and written by Chaucer Dan. [See Spel-
7nan.]
Dona, or dueiia, the feminine of don, is
the title of a lady, in Spain and Portugal.
DON, V. t. [To do on ; opposed to doff.] To
put on ; to invest with. Ot>s.
Shak. Fairfax
DO'NACITE, n. A petrified shell of the gc
nus Donax. Jameson
DO'NARY, n. [L. donarium, from dono, to
give.]
A thing given to a sacred use. [Little rtsed.]
Johnson.
DONA'TION, n. [L. donatio, frotn dono, to
give, Fr. donner.]
1. The act of giving or bestowing ; a grant.
Th.at right we hold by his donation.
Milton.
2. In law, the act or contract by which n
thing or the use of it is transferred to a
person, or corporation, as a free gift. T<i
be valid, a donation supposes capacity both
in the donor to give, and donee to take,
and requires consent, acceptance and
delivery.
3. That which is given or bestowed ; that
which is transferred to another gratui
tously, or without a valuable considera
tion ; a gift ; a grant. Donation is usually
applied to things of more value than
present.
Mr. Boudinot made a donation of ten thou
sand dollars to the American Bible Society.
DO'NATISM, n. The doctrines of the Do
natists.
DO'NATIST.n. One of the sect founded by
Donatus. They held that theirs was the
only pure church, and that baptism and
ordination, unless by their church, were
invalid. Encyc.
DONATIS'TIe, a. Pertaining to Donatism.
DO'NATIVE, n. [Sp. Ital. rfona/u'o; L. rfo-
natiimm, from dono, to give.]
1. A gift ; a largess ; a gratuity ; a present ;
1 dole.
The Romans were entertained with show.-
and donatives. Dry den
2. In the canon law, a benefice given and col-
lated to a person, by the founder or pat-
ron, without either presentation, institu-
tion or induction by the ordinary. Encyc
DO'NATIVE, a. Vested or vesting by do-
nation ; as a donative advowson.
Btackstone
DONE, pp. dun. [See Do.] Performed
executed ; finished.
2. A word by which agreement to a propo
sal is expressed ; as in laying a wager, ai
offer being made, the person accepting or
agreeing says, done ; that is, it is agreed,
I agree, I accept.
DONEE', n. [from L. dono, to give.] The
person to whom a gift or donation
made.
2. The person to whom lands or tenements
are given or granted ; as a donet in fee-
simple, or fee-tail. Btackstone,
DONJON or DONgEON. [See Dungeon
DON'NAT, n. [do and naught.] An idle
I fellow. [JVo/ in use.] Granger.
IDO'NOR, ji. [from L. dono, to give.] Oi
D O O
who gives or bestows ; one who con(t;rs
any thing gratuitously ; a benefactor.
One who grants an estate ; as, a condi-
tional fee may revert to the donor, if the
donee has no heirs of his body.
DON'SIIIP, n. [See Don.] The quality or
rank of a gentleman or knight. Hudibras.
DON'ZEL, 71. [It.] A young attendant ; a
page. Butler.
DOODLE, ji. A trifler; a simple fellow.
[Qu. dote, Fr. radoter ; Port, doudo, mad,
foolish.]
DOOLE, [See Dole.]
DOOM, V. t. [Sax. dom, judgment ; demon,
to deem ; gedeman, to judge ; D. doemen, lo
doom, to condemn ; Dan. diimmer ; Sw.
dima. Doom is from the root of deem,
which seems to coincide also with L. es-
timo, to esteem, and perhaps with the root
of condemn. See Deem.]
1. To judge. [Unusual.]
Thou didst not doom so strictly. Milton.
2. To condemn to any punishment ; to con-
sign by a decree or sentence ; as, the crimi-
nal is doomed to chains.
•3. To pronounce sentence or judgment on.
Absolves the just, and dooms the guilty souls.
Dry den.
4. To command authoritatively.
Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death.
Shak.
5. To destine ; to fix irrevocably the fate or
direction of; as, we are rfoomcrf to suflfer for
our sins and errors.
6. To condemn, or to punish by a penalty.
DOOM, n. [Sax. dom ; D. doem ; Dan. Sw.
dom.] Judgment ; judicial sentence.
To Satan, first in sin, his tloom applied.
Milton.
Hence the fnal doom is the last judg-
ment.
Condemnation ; sentence ; decree ; deter-
mination affecting the fate or future state
of another ; usually a determination to in-
flict evil, sometimes otherwise.
Revoke that doo?n of mercy. Shak.
•3. The state to which one is doomed, or
destined. To suffer misery is the doom of
sinners. To toil for subsistence is the
doom of most men.
Ruin ; destruction.
From the same foes, at last, both felt their
doom. Pope.
Discrimination. [jVo< used.]
DOOM'AtiE, n. A penalty or fine for neg-
lect. A". Hampshire.
DOOM'ED, pp. Adjudged ; sentenced ; con-
demned ; destined ; fated.
DOOM'FUL, a. Full of destruction.
Drai/ton.
DOOM'ING, ppr. Judging; sentencing;
idemning ; destining.
DOOMSDAY, n. [doom and day.] The
day of the final judgment ; the great day
when all men are to be judged and con-
signed to endless happiness or misery.
Shak. Dryden.
2. The day of sentence or condemnation.
Shak.
DOOMSDAY-BOQK, > ., A book compi-
DOMESDAY-BWK, \ "• led by order of
William the Conqueror, containing a sur-
vey of all the lands in England. It con-
sists of two volumes ; a large folio, and a
quarto. The folio contains 382 double
DOR
DOR
DOT
pages of vellum, written in a small but
plain character. The quarto conthins 450
double pages of vellum, written in a large
fair character. Encyc.
DOOR, n. [Sax. dora, dur, dure; G. thur;
D.dtur; Sw. dor; Dan. diir ; Gr. Ovpa;
W.d6r; Jr. doras; Arm. dor; Basque,
, dorrea; Russ.dver; Persic ^ dar; Sans.
dura ; Armenian, turn ; Ch. jnn or N;>in ;
Syr. l^iA ; Ar. n^^ys. It is also in the
Slavonic languages, Polish, Bohemian,
Carinthian, &c. The verb^n, ^'iiZ.,in
Cli. and Syr. signifies to tear or cut open,
to open or break open ; in Syr. also, to
pray, to supplicate, to liurst, to crack ; in
Ar. to rush headlong, to drive, to crowd,
to fill. In Dutch, door is through, G. durch.
In Tartar, thurne is a door. Class Dr.
No. 42. The Hebrew "li'iv, a gate, seems
to be the same word dialectically varied,
and the verb coincides in sense with the
Arabic, supra, to rush. The primary sense
of the verb is to pas.s, to drive, to rush.
Hence a door is a passage, or break.]
1. An opening or passage into a house, or
other building, or into any room, apart-
ment or closet, by which persons enter.
Such a passage is seldom or never called
a gate.
•2. The frame of boards, or any piece nf
board or plank that shuts the opening ol
a house or closes the entrance into ;iii
apartment or any inclosure, and usuallj'
turning on hinges.
3. In familiar language, a house ; often in
the plural, doors. "3Iy house is the first
door from the corner. We have also the
phrases, within doors, in the house ; with-
out doors, out of the house, abroad.
4. Entrance ; as the door of life. Drydcn.
5. Avenue; passage; means of approach or
access. An iniforgiving temper shuts the
door against reconciliation, or the door of
reconciliation.
I am the door ; by mc if any man enter in, he
j^hall be saved. John x.
A door was opened to me of the Lord.
Cor. ii.
To lie at the door, in a figurative sense, is
be imputable or chargeable to one. If the
thing is wrong, the fault ties at my door.
JVext door to, near to ; bordering on.
A riot unpunished is but next do^n- to a tu-
mult. L'Estrange.
Out of door or doors, quite gone ; no more
to be found. [JVo< now used.] Drydcn.
/n rfoorjt, within the house; at home.
DOOR-eASE, n. The frame which incloses
a door.
DOORING, n. A door-case. [.Yot used.]
Milton,
DOOR-KEEPER, n. A porter; one who
guards the entrance of a house or apart-
ment.
DOOR-NAIL, )i. The nail on which tlie
knocker fonnerly struck.
•DOOR-1'OST, n. The post of a door.
DOOR-STEAD, n. Entrance or place of i
door. Warhurton
DOQ'UET, n. dok'et. A warrant ; a paper
granting license. [See Docket.] Bacon
DOR, } jj [Qu. Ir. dord, humming, buz-
DORR, i ■ zing, also rough.]
The naime of the black-beetle, or the hedge-
chafer, a species of Scarabaeus. We usu-
ally say, the dor-beetle.
DORA' DO, w. [Sp. dorado, gilt, from dorar.
to gild.]
1. A southern constellation, containing six
stars, called also xiphias; not visible in
our latitude. Enryr.
2. A large fish resembling the dolphin.
Did. ofMit. Hist.
DOREE', n. A fish of the genus Zeus. It
is called also faber, and gallus marinus.
Tlie body is oval and greatly compressed
on the sides ; the bead is large and the
snout long.
DO'RIAN, a. Pertaining to Doris in Greece.
[See Doric]
DOR'l€, a. [from Doris in Greece.] In
general, pertaining to Doris, or the Dori-
ans, in Greece, who dwelt near Parnassus.
In architecture, noting the second order of
columns, between the Tuscan and Ionic.
The Doric order is distinguished for sim
plicity and strength. It is used in the
gates of cities and citadels, on the outside
of churches, &c.
The Doric dialect of the Greek language was
the dialect of the Dorians, and httle dif-
ferent from that of Lacedemon. Encyc.
The Doric mode, in music, was the first of
the authentic modes of the ancients. Its
character is to be severe, tempered with
' ffifuity and joy. Encyc.
i>i)]l H'l^M,) A phrase of the Doric
ItU KIS.M, ^"- dialect.
DOR'JIANCY, n. [infra.] Quiescence.
Horsley.
DOR'MANT, a. [Fr. from dormir, L. dor-
mio, to sleep.]
1. Sleeping ; hence, at rest ; not in action ;
as dormnnt passions.
2. Being in a sleeping posture ; as the lion
dormant, in heraldrj'.
.3. Neglected ; not used ; as a dormant title ;
dormant privileges.
4. Concealed; not divulged; pri\'ate. [t/i
rtsual.] Baco.
C). Leaning ; inclining ; not perpendicular ;
as a. dormant window, supposed to be so
called from a beam of that name. This
now written ihrraer or dormar.
DOR'MANT, n. A beam ; a sleeper.
DORMAR, n. A beam ; a sleeper.
DOR'IMAR, I A window in
DOR'MAR-WINDOW, ^"- the roof of a
hiiiise, or above the entablature, being
raised u)ion tlie rafters. Encyc.
DOR'MJTIVE, n. [L. dormio, to sleep.] A
medicine to promote sleep ; an opiate.
Arbuthnol.
DOR;\IITr>PiY, n. [L. dormitorium, from
dormio, to slr.-p.]
1. A place, Imilding or room to sleep in.
2. .'V gallery in convents divided into several
cells, where the religious sleep. Encx/c.
3. A burial place. •iyliffe-
DOR'MOUSE, n. plu. dormice. [L. dormio,
to sleep, and mouse.]
An animal of the mouse kind, which makes
a bed of moss or dry leaves, in a hollow
tree or under shrubs, lays in a store of
nuts or other food, and on tlie approach
of cold weather, rolls itself in a ball and
sleeps the greatest part of the winter.
Diet, of JVal. Hist.
DORN, n. [G. dorn, a thorn.] A4sh.
Carew.
DO'RON, n. [Gr. Supov, a gift; ^uptu, Russ.
dariyu, to give.] A gift ; a present. [Mit
2. A measure of three inches. .Ssk.
DORP, n. [G.dorf; M.dorp; Sw. Dan
torj,; W.trev. See Trihe.] A small vil-
lage.
DORR. [See Dor.]
DORR, t.. t. To deafen with noise. [Uot in
use.]
DOR'RER, n. A drone. [JVol in use.]
DOR'SAL, a. [from L. dorsum, the back.]
Pertaining to the back ; as the dorsal fin
of a fish ; dorsal awn, in botany.
DORSE, ji. A canopy. Sutton
DOR'SEL, n. [See Dosser.^
DORSIFEROUS, / [L. dorsum, the back,
DORSIP'AROUS, I "• and fero or pario, to
bear.]
In hotany, bearing or producing seeds on the
back of their leaves ; an epithet given to
ferns or plants of the capillary kind with-
om stalks. ' Encyc.
DOR'SUM, 5!. [L.] The ridge of a bilk
Walton.
DOR'TURE, n. [contraction of dormilure.^
A dormitory. [Not in use.] Bacon.
DOSE, n. [ri: dose; ll.dosa; Gr. 8osif,
that which is given, from SiSujtw, to give;
W. dodi, to give.]
The quantity of medicine given or pre-
scribed to be taken at one time. Quincy.
2. Anything given to be swallowed ; any
thing nauseous, that one is obhged to take.
South.
3. A quantity ; a portion. Granville.
4. As much as a man can swallow.
Johnson .
DOSE, V. I. [Fr. doser.] To proportion a
medicine properly to the patient or (fis-
ease ; to form into suitable doses.
Derham.
2. To give in doses ; to give medicine or
physic.
i. To give any thing nauseous.
DOS'SER, n. [Fr. dos, the back ; dossier;
a bundle.]
\ pannier, or basket, to be carried on the
shiuddcrs of men. Encyc.
DOS'SIL, n. In surgery, a pledget or por-
tion of lint made into a cylindric form, or
the shape of a date. Encyc.
DOST, the second person of do, used in the
solemn style ; thou dost.
DOT, )i. [I know not the origin and affini-
ties of this word. It would be naturally
deduced from a verb signifying to set, or
to prick, like punctum, point. It coincides
in elements with tatoo, and with W. dodi.
to give, that is, to thrust or cause to pass.]
\ small point or spot, made with a pen or
other pointed instrument ; a speck ; used
in markine a writing or other thing.
DOT, V. t. To mark with dots.
2. To mark or diversify with small detach-
ed objects ; as a landscape dotted with cot-
tages, or clumps of trees.
DOT, !'. i. To make dots or spots.
DO'TAGE, n. [from dote.] Feebleness or
imbecility of understanding or mind, par-
ticularly in old age ; childishness of old
age ; as a venerable man now in liis do-
tage.
D O U
2. A doting ; excessive fondness. Dn/den.
3. Deliriousness. fSoc the verb, to rfo/c.J
DO'TAL, a. [Fr. from L. dotalis, from dos,
dower.]
Pertaining to dower, or a woman's marriage
portion ; constituting dower or comprised
in it ; as a dotal town. Garth.
DO'TARD, n. [dote and ard, kind.] A man
whose intellect is impaired by age ; one in
his second childhood.
The sickly dotard wants a wife. Prior.
2. A doting fellow ; one foolishly fond.
DO'TARDLY, a. Like a dotard ; weak.
More.
DOTA'TION, n. [L. dotatio, from do.s, dow-
er, doto, to endow.]
1. The act of endowing, or of bestowing a
marriage portion on a woinan.
2. Endowment ; establishment of funds for
support ; as of a hospital or eleemosynary
corporation. Blackstone.
DOTE, D. i. [D. dulten, to dote, to doze ;
W. dotiaw, to i)ut out, to cause to mis-
take, to err, to dote ; dotian, to be con-
fused ; Fr. radoter, to rave, to talk idly or
extravagantly. The French word is ren-
dered in Arnioric, rambreal, which seems
to be our ram.hle.^^
1. To be delirious ; to have the intellect im
paired by age, so that the mind wanders
or wnvers ; to be silly.
Time ha^ made you dote, and vainly tell
Of arms imagiued in your lonely cell.
Urydc
2. To be excessively in love ; usually with
on or upon : to dote on, is to love to excess
or extravagance.
What dust we dote on, when 'lis man we
love. Pope.
Aholah doted an her lovers, the Assyrians.
Ezek. xxiii.
3. To dacny, Hoicson.
DO'TER, n. One who dotes ; a man whose
tmderstanding is enfeebled by age ; a do-
tard. Burton.
2. One who is excessively fond, or weakly
in love. Boyk.
DO'TING, ppr. Regarding with excessive
fondness.
DO'TINGLY, ado. By excessive fondness.
Dryden
DOT'TARD, n. A tree kept low by cutting
Bacon.
DOT'TED, pp. Marked with dots or small
spots ; diversified with small detached
objects.
2. In botany, sprinkled with hollow dots or
points. Martyn.
DOT'TEREL, n. The name of difJerent
species of fowls, of the genus Charudrius
and the grallic order ; as the Alexandrine
dotterel, the ringed dotterel, and the Mo-
rincllus ; also, the turnstone or sea dotter-
el, a species of the genus Tringa.
Encyc. Ed. Encyc.
DOT'TING, ppr. Marking with dots or
spots ; diversifying with small detached
objects.
DOUANIE'R, n. [Fr.] An officer of the
customs. Grai/.
DOUB'LE,a. dub'l. [Fr. double; Arm. doubl;
Sp. doble ; Port, dobre ; It. doppio ; W.
dybtyi^ ; D. dubbel ; G. doppdt ; Dan. dob-
belt) Sw. dubbel; L. dnplus. dupkx; Gr.
BmiXooj; compounded of dtio, two, and
j»Kco, to fold, plcxu.<i, a fold. See Tivo.]
D O U
1. Twoof a sort together; one corresponding
to the other ; being in pairs ; as double
chickens in the same egg; double leaves
connected by one petiole.
2. Twice as much ; containing the same
quantity or length repeated.
Take douhle money in your hand. Gen.
xliil.
Let a doul/le portion of thy spirit be on me.
2 Kings il.
With to ; as, the amount is double to what
I expected.
3. Having one added to another ; as a dou-
ble chin.
4. Twofold; also, of two kinds.
Darkness and tempest make a double night.
Dryden.
5. Two in number ; as double sight or sound.
[See No. 1.] Davies.
6. Deceitful ; acting two parts, one openly,
the other in secret.
And with a double heart do they speak. Ps.
xii.
DOUB'LE, adv. dub'l. Twice.
I was double their age. Swift
DOUBLE, in composition, denotes, two
ways, or twice the number or quantity.
DOUBLE-BANKED, a. lu seamanship,
having two opposite oars managed by
rowers on the same bench, or having two
men to the same oar. Mar. Diet
DOUBLE-BITING, a. Biting or cutting on
either side ; as a double-biting ax. Dryden
DOUBLE-BUTTONED, a. Having two
rows of buttons. Gay
DOUBLE-CHARGE, v. t. To charge or in
trust with a double portion. Shak.
DOUBLE-DEALER, n. One who acts two
ditferent parts, in the same business, or
at the same time ; a deceitful, trickish per-
son ; one who says one thing and thinks or
intends another ; one guilty of duplicity.
UEstrange.
DOUBLE-DEALING, n. Artifice; duplici
ty ; deceitful practitM; ; the profession of
one thing and the practice of another.
Shak. Broome.
DOUBLE-DtE, v. t. To dye twice over.
Dryden
DOUBLE-EDGED, a. Having two edges.
DOUBLE-ENTENDRE, n. [Fr.] Double
meaning of a word or expression.
DOUBLE-EYED, a. Having a deceitful
countenance. Spenser
DOUBLE-FACE, n. Duplicity ; the acting
of different parts in the same concern.
DOUBLE-FACED, a. Deceitful : hypocrit
ical; showing two faces. Milton
DOUBLE-FORMED, a. Of a mixed form.
Milton.
DOUBLE-FORTIFIED, a. Twice fortifi-
ed ; doubly strengthened.
DOUBLE-FOUNTED, a. Having two sour-
ces. Milton.
DOUBLE-GILD, v. t. To gild with do-ible
coloring. Shnk
DOUBLE-HANDED, a. Having two hands
deceitful. Glanville.
DOUBLE-HEADED, «. Having two heads.
2. Having the flowers growing one to anoth-
er. Mortimer.
DOUBLE-HE.\RTED, a. Having a talse
heart ; deceitful ; treacherous.
DOUBLE-LOCK, v. I. To shoot the bolt
twice ; to fasten with double securitv. j
Taller:
D O U
DOUBLE-MANNED, a. Furnished with
twice the complement of men, or with two
men instead of one.
DOUBLE-MEANING, a. Having two
meanings.
DOUBLE-MINDED, a. Having different
minds at different times; un.-^ettled; wa-
vering ; uiisljililc ; undetermined. James i.
DOUBLE-MOUTHED, a. Having two
mouths. Milton.
DOUBLE-NATURED, a. Having a two-
foUl nature. Young-.
DOUBLE-OCTAVE, n. In music, an inter-
val composed of two octaves or fifteen
notes in diatonic progression ; a fifteenth.
Encyc.
DOUBLE-PLEA, n. In law, a plea in which
the defendant alledges two different mat-
ters in bar of the action. Cowel.
DOUBLE-QUARREL, »i. A complaint of a
clerk to the archbishop against an inferior
ordinary, for delay of justice. Cowel.
DOUBLE-SHADE, v. t. To double the nat-
ural darkness of a place. Milton.
DOUBLE-SHINING, a. Shining with dou-
ble luster. Sidney.
DOUBLE-THREADED, a. Consisting of
two thrcarls twisted together.
DOUBLE-TONGUED, a. Making contra-
ry declarations on the same subject at dif-
ferent times ; deceitful.
The deacons must be grave, not douUe-
ton^ued. 1 Tim. iii.
DOUB'LE, t;. t. dub'l. [Fr. doubter; Arm.
doubla ; S|>. doblar ; Vort. dobrar ; ll.dop-
piare; D.dubbelen; G.doppeln; Dan. rfoi-
lerer ; Sw. dublera ; Ir. dublaighim ; W.
dyblygu ; L. duplico ; Gr. 6trt>.o«.]
1. "To fold ; as, to double the leaf of a book ;
to double down a corner. Prior.
2. To increase or extend by adding an equal
sum, value, quantity or length ; as, to dou-
ble a sum of money ; to double the amount ;
to double the quantity or size of a thing ;
to double the length ; to double dishonor.
3. To contain twice the sum, quantity or
length, or twice as much ; as, the enemy
double.i our army in numbers.
4. To repeat ; to add ; as, to double blow on
blow. Dryden.
5. To add one to another in the same order.
Thou shalt double the sixth curtain in tlie
fore-front of the tabernacle. Ex. xxvi.
C. In navigation, to double a cape or point, is
to sail round it, so that the cape or point
shall be between the ship and her former
situation. Mar. Diet.
7. In military a^ffdirs, to unite two ranks or
files in one.
To double and twist, is to add one thread to
another and twist them together.
To double upon, in tactics, is to inclose be-
tween two fires.
DOUB'LE, V. i. To increase to twice the
sum, number, value, quiuitity or length ;
to increase or grow to twice as much. A
sum of money doubles by compound inter-
est in a little more than eleven years. The
inhabitants of the United States double in
about twenty five years.
2. To enlarge a wager to twice the sum laid.
I am resolved to double till I win. Drydett.
3. To turn back or wind in running.
Doubting and tuaiing like a hunted hare.
Hryden.
4. To play tricks; to use sleights. Johnson.
D O U
DOUB'LE, n. Twice as much ; twice the!
number, sum, value, quantity or length.
If the thief be found, let him pay double. Ex
2. Ai
1 ninnuig to escape pursuers.
Blackmore.
3. A trick ; a shift ; an artifice to deceive.
Addison.
DOUB'I-ED, pp. Folded ; increased by ad-
ding an equal quantity, sum or value ; re-
peated ; turned or passed round.
DOUB'LENESS, n. The state of being
doubled. Shak.
2. Duplicity.
DOUB'LER, n. He that doubles.
2. An instrument for augmenting a very
small quantity of electricity, so as to ren-
der it manifest by sparks or the electrome-
ter. Cyc.
DOUB'LET, n. [Ir. didUead ; Fr. doublet.]
1. The inner garment of a man ; a waist-
coat or vest.
2. Two ; a pair. Gretv.
3. Among lapidaries, a counterfeit stone com-
posed of two pieces of crystal, with a color
between them, so that they have the same
appearance as if the whole substance of|
the crystal were colored. Encyc.
DOUB'LETS, n. A game on dice within
tables.
2. The same number on both dice. Encyc.
3. A double meaning. Mason
DOUB'LING, ppr. Making twice the sum,
number or quantity; repeating; passing
round ; turning to escape.
DOUB'LING, n. The act of making double ;
also, a fold ; a plait ; also, an artifice ; .
shift.
DOUBLOON', Ji. [Fr. douUon ; Sp. doblon
It. dobblone.]
A Spanish and Portuguese coin, being double
the value of the pistole. Encyc.
DOUB'LY, adv. In twice the quantity ; to
twice the degree ; as doubly wise or good
to be doubly sensible of an obligation.
Drydei^
DOUBT, 1'. t. dout. [Fr. douter ; L. dubtto ;
It. dubiiare ; Sp. dudar ; Arm. doueli.
According to Ainsworth, this is composed
of dtio and bito, to go. It is evidently from
the root of dubius, and of two ; but the
manner of formation is not clear. So D.
twyffden, to doubt, G. zweifeln, Sw. tvifli
D. tvivler, are from two.]
1. To waver or fluctuate in opinion : to hes-
itate ; to be in suspense ; to be in
tainty, respecting the truth or fact ; to be
undetermined.
Even in matters divine, concerning some
things, we may lawfully doubt and suspend
our judgment. Hooker
So we say, I doubt whether it is proper
1 doubt whether I shall go ; sometimes
with of, as we doubt of a fact.
2. To fear ; to be apprehensive ; to suspect.
I doubt there's deep resentment in his mind,
Otway
DOUBT, V. t. dout. To question, or hold
questionable ; to withhold assent from
hesitate to believe ; as, I have heard the
story, but I doubt the truth of it.
2. To fear ; to suspect.
If they turn not back perverse
But that I doubt. Milton
3. To distrust ; to withhold confidence from
as, to doubt our ability to execute an office
D O U
T'admire superior sense, and doubt their own.
Pope.
4. To fill with fear. Obs. Beaum.
DOUBT, n. dout. A fluctuation of mind
respecting truth or propriety, arising from
defect of knowledge or evidence; uncer-
tainty of mind ; suspense ; unsettled state
of o])inion ; as, to have doubts respecting
the theory of the tides.
Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. Gen.
2. Uncertainty of condition.
Thy life shall hang in doubt before thee.
Deut. xxviii.
3. Suspicion; fear; apprehension.
I stand in do«6« of you. Gal. iv.
4. Difficulty objected.
To evei-y doubt your answer is tlie same.
Blackmore.
5. Dread ; horror and danger. Obs.
DOUBT' ABLE, a. That may be doubted.
Sherwood.
DOUBT'ED, pp. Scrui)led ; questioned :
not certain or settled.
DOUBT'ER, n. One who doubts ; one
whose opinion is unsettled ; one who scru
pies.
OUBT'FUL, a. Dubious ; not settled ii
opinion ; undetermined ; wavering ; hesi
tating ; applied to persons ; as, we art
doubtful of a fact, or of the propriety of a
measure.
2. Dubious ; ambiguous ; not clear in its
meaning ; as a doubtful expression
3. Admitting of doubt ; not obvious, clear or
certain ; questionable ; not decided ; i
doubtful case ; a doubtful proposition
is doubtful what will be the event of the
war.
4. Of uncertain issue,
have sustained one day in doubtful fi<;ht.
Milton.
5. Not secure ; suspicious ; as, we cast a
doubtful eye. Hooker.
6. Not confident ; not without fear ; indica-
ting doubt.
With doubtftd feet, and wavering resolution
Milton
7. Not certain or defined ; as a doubtful hue
Milton.
DOUBT'FULLY, adv. In a doubtful man
ner; dubiously. Spenser.
2. With doubt ; irresolutely.
3. Ambiguously ; with uncertainty of mean
ing.
Nor did the goddess doubt/ulli/ declare.
Dryden
4. In a state of dread. 06s. Spenser
DOUBT'FULNESS, n. A state of doubt or
uncertainty of mind ; dubiousness;
pense ; instability of opinion. Watts.
2. Ambiguity; imcertainty of meaning.
Locke.
3. Uncertainty of event or issue ; uncertain-
ty of condition. Johnson.
DOUBT'ING, ppr. Wavering in mind; call-
ing in question ; hesitating.
DOUBT'INGLY, adv. In a doubting man-
ner ; dubiously ; without confidence.
DOUBT'LESS, a. Free from fear of dan-
ger; secure. Obs.
Pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure.
D O V
DOUBTLESSLY, adv. Unquestionably.
DOUBT'LESS, adv. Without doubt or
question ; unquestionably.
The histories of Christ by the evangelists are
doubtless authentic.
D6UCED, n. [from Fr. douce.] A musical
instrument. [JVot in use.] Chaucer.
DOUCET, n. [Fr.] A custard. [ATot in use.]
DOUCEUR, n. [Fr. from doux, sweet, L.
dulcis.] A present or gift; a bribe.
D6UCINE, 71. [Fr.] A molding concave
above and convex below, serving as a
cymatium to a delicate cornice ; a gula.
Encyc.
DOUCK'ER, 77. [See Duck.] A fowl that
s or dives in water. Ray.
DOUGH, n. do. [Sax. dah ; D. deeg ; Sw.
deg ; Dan. dej ; G. teig. Probably a sotl
mass, and perhaps allied to thick. See
Class Dg. No. 8. 17. 21. 22. 36.]
Paste of bread; a mass composed of flour or
meal moistened and kneaded, but not ba-
ked.
My cake is dough, that is, my undertak-
ing has not come to maturity. Shak.
DOUGH-BAKED, a. Unfinished ; not hard-
ened to perfection ; soft. Donne.
DOUGH-KNEADED, a. Soft ; like dough.
JI/t7<o«.
DOUGH-NUT, 7!. [dough and nut.] A small
roundish cake, made of flour, eggs and
sugar, moistened with milk and boiled in
lard.
DOUGHTINESS, 7t. dou'tiiiess. [See Dough-
ty.] Valor ; bravery.
DOUGHTY, a. dou'ty. [Sax. dohdg, brave,
noble ; Dan. dygtig, able, fit ; Sax. dugan,
to be able or strong, to be good ; D. deu-
gen ; G. taugen ; Sw. duga ; Dan. duer ;
hence Sax. dugoth, valor, strength or vir-
tue ; Ir. deagh, diagh, good ; allied propa-
bly to L. deceo. See Decent.]
rave ; valiant ; eminent ; noble ; illustri-
ous; as a doughty hero. Pope.
It is now seldom used except in irony
or burlesque.
DOUGHY, a. doy. Like dough ; soft ; yield-
ing to pressure ; pale. Shak.
DOUSE, t>. t. [Tliis word seems to accord
with dowse, or rather with the Gr. 6vo,
iuotj.]
1. To thrust or plunge into water.
2. In seamcn^s language, to strike or lower
in haste ; to slacken suddenly. Douse the
top-sail. Mar. Diet.
DOUSE, v. i. To fall suddenly into water.
Hudibras.
DOUT, v. t. [Uu. do out.] To put out ; to
tinguish. Shak.
DOUT'ER, )i. An extinguisher for candles.
DOUZEAVE, )!. doo'zeve. [Fr. dmtze,
twelve.] In music, a scale of twelve de-
grees. •^' M- Fisher.
DOVE, n. [Sax. duua; Goth, dubo; Ji.duif;
G.taube; Ttan. due ; Sw. dufva ; Ice. du-
fa ; Gypsey, tovadei ; Hindoo, tubbeter ;
Scot, dow, probably from cooing, Heb.
33T to murmur, or Ar. ^X^ hatafa, to
coo, as a dove.]
I. The oenas, or domestic ingeon, a species
of Columba. Its color is a deep bluish
ash color ; the breast is dashed with a fine
changeable green and purple ; the sides of
the neck, with a copper color. In a wild
state, it builds its nest in holes of rocks or
in hollow trees, but it is easily domesti-
DOW
cated, and forms one of the luxuries of
the table.
2. A word of endearment, or an emblem of
innocence. Cant. ii. 14.
DOVE-COT, -n. A small building or box
which domestic pigeons breed.
DOVE'S-FQOT, Ji. A plant, a species of
Geranium.
DOVE-IIOUSE, n. A house or shelter for
dove.s.
DOVELIKE, a. ResemWing a dove.
Milton.
DOVESIIIP, n. The oualitiesofadove.
Hall.
DOVE-TAIL, n. In carpevlry, the manner
of fastening boards and timbers together
by letting one piece into another in the
form of a dove's tail spread, or wedge re-
versed, so that it cannot be drawn out.
This is the strongest of all the fastenings
or jointings.
DOVE-TAIL, V. t. To unite by a tenon in
form of a pigeon's tail spread, let into a
board or timber.
DOVE-TAILED, pp. United by a tenon in
form of a dove's tail.
DOVE-TAILING, ppr. Uniting by a dove-
tail.
DOVISH, a. Like a dove ; innocent. [Ml
in use.'\
DOVV'ABLE, a. [Seo Dowtr.] That may be
endowed ; entitled to dower.
DOW
DOW'AtiER, n. [Fr. douairiere, from dou-
aire, dower.]
A widow with a jointure ; a title particular-
ly given to the widows of princes and
persons of rank. The widow of a king is
called queen dowager.
DOW'CETS, n. The testicles of a hart or
stag. B. Jonson.
DOW'DY, }i. [Scot, dawdie, perhaps from
daw, a sluggard, or its root. Jamieson.]
An awkward, ill-dressed, inelegant woman.
Shak. Dryden.
DOW'DY, a. Awkward. Gatj.
DOVV'ICR, n. [W. daivd, a gift ; dawni, to
endow ; Fr. dounire, from douer, to endow.
Supposed to be from L. dos, dotis, dotatio ;
(Jr. Suf, a girt, from 6i6ufti, to give, W. do-
di, L. do. It is written in the Latin of the
middle ages, dodarium, dolaiium, douari-
um. Spelman. In Ir. diohhadlh is dow-
er.]
J. That portion of the lands or tenements of
a man which his widow enjoys during her
hfe, after the death of her husband. [This
is the usual present signijiratioii of the word.]
Blackstone.
2. The property which a woman brings to
her husband in marriage. Dryden.
3. The gift of a husbandfor a wife.
Ask me never so much doivry and gift. Gen.
xxxiv.
4. Endowment ; gift.
How great, how plentiful, how ricli a dowei\
DOWERED, a. Furnished with dower, or
a portion. Shak.
DOW'ERLESS, a. Destitute of dower ;
having no portion or fortune. Shak.
DOWER Y.] A difterent spelling of dower,
DOWRY. I but little used, and they may
well be neglected.
DOWLAS, n. A kind of coarse linen cloth.
Shak.
DOWLE, n. A feather. [Mtinuse.] Shak.
DOWN, 71. [Sw.rfuii; l). dons ; Ihm. dun n;
Ice. id. In Sw. dyna is a feather-bed, or
cushion ; Dan. dyne. Arm. dum, down
Qu. Class Dn. No. 25. But the primitive
orthography and signification are uncer-
tain.]
1. The fine .soft feathers of fowls, particu-
larly of the duck kind. The eider duck
yields the best kind. Also, fine hair; as
the rfoimof the chin.
2. The pubescence of plants, a fine hairy
substance.
3. The pappus or little crown of certain
seeds of plants ; a fine featheiy or hairy
substance by which seeds are conveyed to
a distance by the wind ; as in dandelion
and thistle.
'4. Any thing that soothes or mollifies.
Thou bosom softness ; down of all my cares.
Southern.
DOWN, n. [Sax. dun ; D. duin, a sandy
hill ; G. dune ; Fr. dune, plu. dunes; Arm.
dunenn, or tunenn. In French dunette is
the highest part of the poop of a ship, and
as this appears to be a diminutive of dune,
it proves that the primary sense is a hill or
elevation.]
_ A bank or elevation of sand, thrown up
I by the sea. Encyc.
'. A large open plain, primarily on elevated
land. Sheep feeding on the downs.
Milton.
DOWN, prep. [Sax. dun, adun. In W.
dwvyn is deep. Corn, doun. Arm. doun,
Ir. 'domhain ; and in Welsh, dan is under,
beneath. In Russ. tonu is to sink.]
1. Along a descent; from a higher to a low
er place ; as, to run down a hill ; to fall
down a jirecipice ; to go down the stairs.
2. Toward the mouth of a river, or toward
the place where water is discharged into
the ocean or a lake. We sail or swim
down a stream ; we sail doicn the sound
from New York to New London. Hence
figuratively, we pass down the current of
life or of time.
Down the sound, in the direction of the ebb
tide towards the sea.
Down the country, towards the sea, or to
wards the part where rivers discharge
their waters into the ocean.
DOWN, adv. In a descending direction
tending from a higher to a lower place ;
as, he is going down.
2. On the ground, or at the bottom ; as, he is
down; hold him rfoicd.
3. Below the horizon ; as, the sun is down
4. In the direction from a higher to a lower
condition ; as, his reputation is going rfott*n.
5. Into disrepute or disgrace. A man may
sometimes preach down error; he may
write down himself or his character, or
run down his rival; but he can neither
preach nor write doton folly, vice or fashion.
6. Into subjection ; into a due consistence ;
as, to boil down, in decoctions and culinary
processes.
7. At length ; extended or prostrate, on the
ground or on any flat surface ; as, to lie
doion ; he is lying doim.
Up and dawn, here and there; in a rambling
It is sometimes used without a verb, as
down, down ; in which cases, the sense is
known by the construction.
DOW
Down with a building, is a command to pull
it down, to demolish it.
Doivn tnth him, signifies, throw him.
Down, down, may signify, come down, or go
down, or take down, lower.
It is often used by seamen, dotim with the
fore sail, &c.
Locke uses it for go down, or be received ;
as, any kind of food will down : but the use
is not elegant, nor legitimate.
Sidney uses it as a verb, " To down proud
hearts," to subdue or conquer them ; but
the use is not legitimate.
D0WN'-15|:D,«. a bed of down.
DOWN'CA.ST, a. Cast downward ; direct-
ed to th( ground ; as a downcast eye or
look, indicating bashfulness, modesty or
dejection of mind.
DOVVN'CAST, n. Sadness ; melancholy
look. Obs. Beaum.
DOWN'ED, a. Covered or stuffed with
down. Young.
DOWN'FALL, n. A falling, or body of
things falling ; as the downfall of a flood.
Dryden.
2. Ruin ; destruction ; a .sudden fall, or ruin
by violence, in distinction from slow de-
cay or declension ; as the downfall of the
Roman empire, occasioned by the con-
quests of the Northern nations ; the down-
fall of a city.
3. The suddeu fall, depression or ruin of
reputation or estate. We speak of the
downfall of |»ride or glory, and of distin-
guished characters.
DOWN'FALLEN, a. Fallen ; ruined.
Carew.
DOWN'gYVED, a. Hanging down like
the loose cincture of fetters. Steevens.
DOWN'-HAUL, n. In seaman^s language, a
rope passing along a stay, through the
cringles of the stay-sail or jib, and made
fast to the upper corner of the sail, to haul
it down. Mar. Did.
DOWNHEARTED, a. Dejected in spirits.
DOWN'HILL,n. Declivity; descent ; slope.
And though 'tis downhill all. Zhydeit.
DOWN'HILL, a. Declivous ; descending ;
sloi)ing.
A downhill greensward. Congreve.
DOWN'LOOKED, a. Having a downcast
countenance ; dejected ; gloomy ; sullen ;
as jealousy doumlooked. Dryden.
DOWN'LYING, n. The time of retiring to
rest; time of repose. Cavendish.
DOWN'LYING, a. About to be in travel
of childbirth. Johnson.
DO WN'RIGHT, adv. Right down ; straight
down ; perpendicularly.
A giant cleft downright. Hudibras.
2. In plain terras ; without ceremony or cir-
cumlocution.
We shall cliide downright. Shak.
3. Completely; without stopping short ; as,
she fell downright into a fit. Arhuthnot.
DO\VN'RIGHT, a. Directly to the point ;
plain ; open ; artless ; undisguised ; as
doivnright madness ; downright nonsense ;
downright wisdom ; downright falsehood ;
doivnright atheism.
2. Plain ; artless ; unceremonious ; blunt ;
as, he spoke in his downright wav.
DOWN'RIGHTLY, adv. Plainly;" in plain
terms; bluntly. Barrow.
DOWN'-SITTING, »i. The act of sitting
down ; repose ; a resting.
D O Z
D R A
D R A
Thou knowest my down-sitting and myup-
DOWN'TROD,
DOWNTRODDEN,
Trodden down ;
trampled down.
Shak.
DOWN'WARD, >„., [Sax. duneweard.
DOWN'WARDS, <, See Ward.]
1. From a higher place to a lower ; in a des-
cending course, whether directly toward
the center of the earth, or not ; as, to tend
downward ; to move or roll downwards ; to
look downward ; to take root downwards.
2. In a course or direction from a head,
spring, origin or source. Water flows
downward toward the sea ; we sailed
doiimward on the stream.
3. In a course of lineal descent from an an-
CHstor, considered as a head ; as, to trace
successive generations doionward from Ad-
am or Abraham.
4. In the course of faUing or descending from
elevation or distinction.
DOWN'WARD, a. Moving or extending
from a higher to a lower place, as on a
slope or declivity, or in the ojien air; tend-
ing towards the earth or its center ; as a
downward course ; he took his way with
doionward force. Dryden.
9. Declivous ; bending ; as the downward
heaven. Dryden.
3. Descending from a head, origin or source.
4. Tending to a lower condition or state ; de-
pressed ; dejected; && downward \.\\o\\^\t\.s.
Sidney.
DOWN'WEED, n. Cottonweed, a downy
plant. Barret.
DOWN'Y, a. [See Down.] Covered with
down or nap ; as a downy feather ; downy
wings.
2. Covered with pubescence or soft hairs, as
a plant.
3. Made of down or soft feathers ; as a
downy pillow.
4. Soft, calm, sootliing ; as rfoiCTii/ sleep.
5. Resembling down.
DOWRY, n. [See Dower. This word dif
fers not from dower. It is the same word
difierently written, and the distinction
made between them is arbitrary.]
1. The money, goods or estate which a wo
man brings to her husband in marriage
the portion given with a wife.
Shak. Dryden.
9. The reward paid for a wife. Cowley.
3. A gift ; a fortune given. Johnson.
DOWSE, V. t. [Sw. daska.] To strike on tl
face. [JVoi in use.] Bailey.
DOWST, n. A stroke. [JSTol in use.]
Beauni
DOXOLOti'IeAL, a. Pertaining to doxol-
ogy ; giving praise to God. Howdl.
DOXOL'OgY, n. [Gr. «o|oj.oyia ; 6o|a, praise,
glory, and 'kiyu, to speak.]
In christian worship, a hymn in praise of the
Almighty ; a particular form of giving glo
ry to God.
DOX'Y, n. [Qu. Sw. docka, a baby, doll or
plaything.] A prostitute. Shak.
DOZE, V. i. [Dan. doser, to stifle, suppress
or quiet ; to make heavy, sleepy or drowsy ;
dysser, to lull to sleep. The Saxon has
dwKs, dwes, dull, stupid, foolish, D. dwaas
The Saxon dysig is rendered foolish oi
dizzy. See Dote, and Class Ds. No. 1. 3.]
I. To slumber : to sleep lightly.
If he happened to doze a little, the jolly cob-
waked him. L' Estrange.
2. To live in a state of drowsiness ; to be
dull or half asleep ; as, to doze away the
time ; to doze over a work. Dryden. Pope.
DOZE, V. I. To make dull; to stupify. Dry-
den uses the participle dozed, " Dozed
with his fumes ;" but the transitive verb
is seldom or never used.
DOZ'EN, a. duz'n. [Fr. douzaine ; Arm.
dovgzenn ; from Fr. douze, twelve ; Norm.
Fr. dudzime, a dozen ; Sp. doce, twelve ;
docena, a dozen ; Port, duzia, dozen ; It.
dozzina, id. ; D. dozyn ; G. dxizend, or dut-
zend ; Sw. dxLSsin ; Dan. dusin. Qu. two
and ten, G. xehn. The composition of the
word is not obvious.]
Twelve in number, applied to things of the
same kind, but rarely or never to that
number in the abstract. We say, a dozen
men ; a dozen pair of gloves. It is a word
much used in common discourse and in
light compositions ; rarely in the grave or
elevated style.
DOZ'EN, n. The number twelve of things
of a like kind ; as a dozen of eggs ; twelve
dozen of gloves ; a dozen of wine.
DO'ZER, Ji. One that dozes or slumbers.
DO'ZINESS, n. [from dozy.] Drowsiness ;
heaviness ; inclination to sleep. Locke.
DO'ZING, ppr. Slumbering.
DO'ZING, n. A slumbering; sluggishness.
Chesterfield.
DOZY, a. [See Doze.] Drowsy ; heavy ; in-
clined to sleep ; sleepy ; sluggish ; as a do-
zy head. Dryden.
DRAB, n. [Sax. drabbe, lees, dregs ; D. drabbe.
dregs. This seems to be the Dan. draabe,
a drop.]
1. A strumpet ; a prostitute. Shak. Pope
2. A low, sluttish woman. [This seejns to be
the sense in which it is generally used ii
JVew England.]
A kind of wooden box, used in salt work:
for holding the salt when taken out of the
boiling pans. Its bottom is shelving
inclining that tlie water may drain oft'.
Encyc.
DRAB, n. [Fr. f7ra;>, cloth ; It. drappo ; Sp.
trapo, and without the prefix t, ropa, clotli,
Port, roupa, whence robe. From the French
we have draper, drapery, as the SpanisI
have ropage, for drajjery. This word
seems allied to the L. trabea.] A kind of
thick woolen cloth.
DRAB, a. Being of a dun color, like the
cloth so called.
DRAB, V. i. To associate with strumpets.
Beaum.
DRAB'BING, ppr. Keeping company with
lewd women.
DRAB'BING, n. An associating with st
l)ets. . Beaum.
DRABBLE, v. <. To draggle; to make dirty
by drawing in mud and water ; to wet and
befoul ; as, to drabble a gown or cloke.
JV. England.
In Scottish, this word signifies to dirty
by slabbering, as if it were allied to dribble,
drivel, from the root of drip, which coin-
cides with drop.
DRAB'BLE, v. t. To fish for barbels with a
long line and rod. Encyc.
DRAB'BLING, a. Drawing in mud or wa
ter ; angling for barbels.
DRAB'BLING, n. A method of angling foi
barbels with a rod and a long line passed
through a piece of lead. Encyc.
DRAB'LER, n. In seaman's language, a
small additional sail, sometimes laced to
the bottom of a bonnet on a square sail,
in sloops and schooners. It is the same
to a bonnet, as a boimet is to a course.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
DRA€H'MA, n. [L. from Gr. Spaxitri ; Fr.
dragme ; It. dramma, by contraction, Eng.
dram.]
A Grecian coin, of the value of seven
pence, three farthings, sterling, or nearly
fourteen cents.
2. The eighth part of an ounce, or sixty
rains, or three scruples ; a weight used
y apothecaries, but usually written dram.
DRA'CO, n. [See Dragon.] In astronomy, a
constellation of the northern hemisphere,
containing, according to Flamstead, eighty
stars.
2. A luminous exhalation from marshy
grounds. Encyc.
3. A genus of animals of two species. [See
Dragon.]
DRA€ON'TI€, a. [L. draco.] In astronomy,
belonging to that space of time in which
the moon performs one entire revolution.
Bailey.
DRACUN'CULUS, n. [from L. draco, drag-
on.] In botany, a plant, a species of Arum,
with a long stalk, spotted like a serpent's
belly.
2. In medicine, a long slender worm, bred in
the muscular parts of the arms and legs,
called Guinea worm. These are trouble-
some in tropical climates, and are usually
extirpated by the point of a needle. Encyc.
DRAD, cf. Terrible. Obs. [See Bread.] This
was also the old pret. of dread.
DR-AFF, n. [D. draf, droef, dregs, grains.
Shake,«pear wrote rfj-nug/i, and the French
have drogue, grains. The latter coincides
in elements with draw, drag.]
Refuse ; lees ; dregs ; the wash given ti>
, or grains to cows ; waste matter.
Milton. Dryden.
DRAFFISII, a. Worthless.
DR'AFFY, a. Dreggy ; waste ; worthless.
DR'AFT, n. [corrupted from draught, from
drag, draw, but authorized by respectable
use.] A drawing; as, this horse is good
for draft. In this sense, draught is per-
haps most common.
3. A drawing of men from a military band ;
a selecting or detaching of soldiers from
an army, or any part of it, or from a mili-
tary post. Sometimes a drawing of men
from other companies or societies.
Several of the Stales had supplied the defi-
ciency by drafts to serve for the year.
Marshall.
These important posts, m consequence of
heavy drafts, were left weakly defended.
An order from one man to another di-
recting the payment of money ; a bill of
exchange.
I thought it most prudent to defer the drojls,
till advice was received of tlie progress of tlie
loan. Hamilton.
4. A drawing of lines for a plan ; a figure
described on paper; delineation; sketch;
plan delineated. [See Draught.]
5. Depth of water necessary to float a sljip.
[See Draught]
p. A writing composed.
D R A
D R A
D R A
DR>AFT, V. I. To draw the outline ; to de
lineate.
2. To compose and write ; as, to drajl a me-
morial or a lease.
3. To draw men from a military band or
post ; to select ; to detach.
4. To draw men from any company, collec-
tion or society.
This Cohen-Caph-El was some royal semina-
ry in Upper Egypt, from whence they drafted
novices to supply their colleges and temples.
Holwell's Diet.
DR' AFT-HORSE, n. A horse employed in
drawing, particularly in drawinij heavy
loads or in plowing.
DR'AFT-OX, n. An ox employed in draw-
ing.
DR^AFTED, pp. Drawn ; delineated; de-
tached.
DR'AFTING, ppr. Drawing; delineating;
detaching.
DR'AFTS, n. A game played on checkers.
DRAG, V. t. [Sax. dragan ; W. dragiaw;
D. draagen ; Sw. draga ; Dan. drager ; G.
tragen ; also Dan. trekker ; D. trekken
Sax. dreogan ; L. Iraho ; Fr.traire; Ma
layan, tarek ; It. treggia, a sled or drag ;
Sp. trago, a draught ; tragar, to swallow,
Eng. to drink. See Drink and Drench.
The Russ. has dergayu, and forgayu, to
draw, as truck is written torgiiyu. See
Class Rg. No. 27. 37. 56.]
1. To pull ; to haul ; to draw along the
groimd by main force ; applied particular-
ly to drawing iieavy things with labor,
along the ground or other surface ; as, to
drag stone or timber ; to drag a net in
fishing. John sxi. 8.
2. To break land by drawing a drag or har-
row over it ; to harrow ; a common use of
this word in JVe?c England.
3. To draw along slowly or heavily ; to draw
any thing bunlensome ; as, to drag a ling-
ering life. Dryden.
i. To draw along in contempt, as unworthy
to be carried.
He drags me at his chariot-wheels.
Stillingjlert.
To drag one in chains. .Milton.
5. To pull or haul about roughly and forci
bly. Dryden
In seamen's language, to drag an anchor, ii
to draw or trail it along the bottom wlieu
loosened, or when the anchor will not hold
the ship,
DRAG, V. i. To hang so low as to trail on
the ground.
2. To fish with a drag ; as, they have been
dragging for fish all day, with little suc-
cess.
3. To be drawn along ; as, the anchor drags.
4. To be moved slowly ; to proceed heavily ;
as, this business drags.
5. To hang or grate on the floor, as a door.
DRAG, n. Something to be drawn along the
ground, as a net or a hook.
a. A particular kind of barrow.
3. A car ; a low cart.
4. In sea-language, a machine consisting ot a
eharp square frame of iron, encircled with
a net, used to take the wheel off from the
filatform or bottom of the decks.
Mar. Did. Encyc.
5. Whatever is drawn ; a boat in tow ; what-
ever serves to retard a ship's way.
jGrtfyc.
Vol I.
DRAGGED, pp. Drawn on the ground;
drawn with labor or force ; drawn along]
slowly and heavily ; raked with a drag or
harrow.
DRAG'GING, ppr. Drawing on the ground ;
drawing with labor or by force ; drawing
slowly or heavily ; raking with a drag,
DRAG'GLE, v. t. [dim. of drag.] To wet
and dirty by drawing on the ground or
mud, or on wet grass ; to drabble. Gray.
DRAG'GLE, v. i. To be drawn on the
ground ; to become wet or dirty by being
drawn on the mud or wet grass.
DRAG'GLE-TAIL, n. A slut. Shenoood.
DRAG'GLED, pp. Drawn on the ground :
wet or dirtied by being drawn on the
ground or mire.
DRAG'GLING,ppr. Drawing on the ground
making dirty by drawing on the ground
or wet grass.
DRAG'MAN, n. A fisherman that uses t
dragnet. Hale
DRAGNET, n. A net to be drawn on the
bottom of a river or pond for taking fish.
Dryden. Halts.
DRAGOMAN, DRO'GMAN, n. [It. drag-
omanno ; Fr. trucheman ; Sp. Irujaman ;
Ch.
[DJiin,
Ar.
oU-
?J^"
from DJIH;
Ch. Ar. Syr. Eth. to interpret.]
.4n interpreter ; a term in general use in the
Levant and other parts of the East.
DRAG'ON, n. [L. draco; Gr. Sfaxuf, It.
dragone ; Fr. dragon ; D. draak ; G.
drache ; Ir. draic or draig ; W. draig ; Sw.
drake ; Dan. drage. The origin of this
word is not obvious. In Ir. rfrag- is fire :
in VV. dragon is a leader, chief or sove-
reign, from dragiaw, to draw. In Scotch,
the word signifies a paper kite, as also in
Danish ; probably from the notion of fly-
ing or shooting along, like a fiery meteor.
In Welsh, draig is rendered by Owen a
procreator or generating principle, a fiery
serpent, a dragon, and the Supreme ; and
the plural dreigiau, silent lightnings, drei
giaw, to lighten silently. Hence I infer that
the word originally signified a shooting
meteor in the atmosphere, a fiery meteor
and hence a fiery or flying serpent, from
a root which signified to shoot or draw
1. A kind of winged serpent, much celebra-
ted in the romances of the middle ages.
Johnson.
2. A fiery, shooting meteor, or imaginary
Tpent.
Swift, swift, ye dragons of the night '. that
dawning
May hear the r.-iven's eye. Shak
3. A fierce, violent person, male or female
as, this man or woman is a dragon.
4. A constellation of the northern hemis
phere. [See Draco.]
In scripture, dragon seems sometimes to sig-
nify a large marine fish or serpent. Is.
xxvii. where the leviathan is also men-
tioned ; also Ps. Ixxiv.
Sometimes it seems to signify a venom-
ous land serpent. Ps. sci. Tlie dragon
shalt thou trample under foot.
It is often used for the devil, who is
called the old serpent. Rev. xx. 2.
DR.-VG'ON, re. A genus of animals, the
Draco. They have four legs, a cylindri
67
cal tail, and membran.iccous wings, radia-
ted like the fins of a flying-fish. Encyc.
DRAG'ONET, n. A httic dragon. Spenser.
2. .\ fish with a slender round body, color-
ed with yellow, blue and white ; the head
is large and depressed at the top and has
two orifices, through which it breathes
and ejects water, hke the cetaceous tribe.
DRAG'ON-FISH, n. A species of Tra-
chinus, called the weaver. This fish is
about twelve inches in length ; it has two
or three longitudinal lines of a dirty yel-
low on the sides, and the belly of a sil-
very hue. The wounds of its spines oc-
casion inflammation. It buries itself in the
sand, except its nose. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
DRAGON-FLY, n. A genus of insects, the
Libella or Libellula, having four extended
wings ; they are furnished with jaws ; the
antennae are shorter than the thorax ; and
the tail of the male is terminated by a
kind of hooked forcep.s. There are many
species, with a great diversitj' of colors.
Did. of .Vat. Hist.
DRAG'ONISH, a. In the form of a dragon ;
dragonliko. Shak.
DRAG'ONLIKE, a. Like a dragon ; fiei7 ;
furious. Sliak,
DRAGONS, 71. A genus of plants, the Dra-
contium, of several species, natives of the
Indies.
DRAG'ON'S-BLOOD, »i. [Sax. dracan-
blod.] A resinous substance, or red juice,
extracted from the Dracaena draco, and
other trees of a similar nature. It comes
from the East Indies, in small flat cakes or
round balls, or in oval drojis, wrapped in
leaves, and knotted like a chaplet. It has
no sensible smell or taste. It has been
considered as an astringent medicine, hut
is now little used for medicinal purposes.
A solution of it in spirit of wine is used
for staining marble, to which it gives a
red tinge. Fourcroy. Encyc.
DRAG'ON'S-HEAD, n. A genus of plants,
the Dracocephalum, of many species, most
of them herbaceous, annual or perennial
plants. Encyc.
Dragon's Head and Tail, in astronomy, are
the nodes of the planets, or the two points
in which the orbits of the planets intei-sect
the ecliptic. Encyc.
DRAGON-SHELL, re. A species of con-
camerated patella or limpet. The top is
much cursed, and of an ash-color on the
outside, but internally, of a bright flesh
color. It is found adhering to larger shells,
or to the hack of the tortoise, as common
limpets do to the sides of rocks.
DRAG'ON'S-WATER, re. A plant, the Cal-
laor African Arum. Fam. of Plants.
DRAG'ON'S-WORT, re. A plant, a species
of Artemisia. Fam. of Plants.
DRAG'ON-TREE, n. A species of palm.
Johnson.
DRAGOON , re. [Fr. dragon ; Sp. id.; Port.
dragam, a dragon and dragoon ; It. dra-
gone; G.dragoner; D.dragonder; Dan.
dragon ; Sw. id. ; L. draconarius, an en-
sign bearer, from draco, drsigon ; an ap-
pellation given to horsemen, perhaps for
their rapidity or fierceness.]
A soldier or musketeer who ser^'es on horse-
back or on foot, as occasion may require.
Their arms are a sword, a musket and a
bayonet. Encyc.
D R A
D R A
D R A
DRAGOON', V.
oniug a place
To persecute by aband-
i the rage of soldiers.
Johnson.
2. To enslave or reduce to subjection by
soldiers.
3. To harass ; to persecute ; to compel to
submit by violent measures ; to force.
[This is the more usual sense.]
The colonies may be influenced to any thing,
hut they can be dragooned to nothing. Price.
DUAGOONA'DE, n. The abandoning of a
place to the rage of soldiers. Burnet.
DRx\GOON'ED, pp. Abandoned to the vio-
lence of soldiers ; persecuted ; harassed.
DRAGOON 'ING, ppr. Abandoning to the
rage of soldiers ; persecuting ; harassing ;
ve.ving.
DRAIL, 11. «. Totrail. [Not in use.] More.
DRAIL, V. i. To draggle. [Mot in use.]
So^Uh.
DRA'IN, II. I. [Sax. drehnigean, to drain, to
strain. This may be a derivative froin the
root of draw. Qu. Sax. drygan, to dry.]
1. To filter ; to cause to pass through some
porous substance.
SaXtwiler, drained through twenty vessels of
earth, hath become fresh. Bacon
2. To empty or clear of liciuor, by causing
the liquor to drop or run off slowly ; as,
to drain a vessel or its contents.
3. To make dry ; to exhaust of water or other
liquor, by causing it to flow off in channels,
or through porous substances ; as, to drain
land ; to drain a swamp or marsh.
4. To empty ; to exhaust ; to draw off grad-
tially ; as, a foreign war drains a country
of specie.
DRAIN, V. i. To flow ofi" gradually ; as, let
the water of low ground drain off.
2. To be emptied of liquor, by flo^
dropping; as, let the vessel stand and
drain ; let the cloth hang and drain.
DRAIN, n. A channel through which wa
or other bquid flows off; particularly
trench or ditch to convey water from wet
land ; a watercourse ; a sewer ; a siidf
DRA'INABLE, a. Capable of being drain-
g(j. Sherwood,
DRA'INAgE, n. A draining; a gradual
flowing oft' of any liquid.
DRAINED, pp. Emptied of water or
liquor l>y a gradual discharge, flowing or
droppinff; exhausted; drawn off.
DRA'INliSlG, ppr. Emptying of water or
other liquor by filtration or flowinj
small channels.
DRAKE, n. [G.enterich; Itan. andrik ;
andrak. It is compounded of cnte, and.
Sax. ened, L. anas, a duck, and a word
which I do not understand.]
1. The male of the duck kind.
2. [L. draco, dragon.] A small piece of ar-
tillery. Clarendon.
3. The"drake-fly.
DRAM, n. [contracted from drachma, which
see.] .
1. Among druggists and physicians, a weight
of the eighth part of an ounce, or sixty
grains. In avoirdupois weight, the six-
teenth part of an ounce.
2. A small quantity ; as no dt
ment.
3. As much spirituous liquor i
once ; as a dram of brandy
the slow poison of life.
4. Spirit ; distilled liquor.
n of judg
Dryden
is drank a
Drams art
Swijl.
DRAM, V. i. To drink drams ; to indulge in
the use of ardent spirit. [A low ivord ex-
pressing a lota practice.]
DRAM'-DRINKER, n. One who habitual-
ly drinks spirits.
DR'AMA, n. [Gr. Sfafna, from 8paa, to
make.]
A poem or coirposition representing a pic-
ture of human life, and accommodated to
action. The principal species of the dra
ina are tragedy and comedy ; inferior
species are tragi-comedy, opera, &c.
Encyc
DRAMAT'Ie, I Pertaining to the dra
DRAMAT'I€AL, ^ "' ma ; represented by
action ; theatrical ; not narrative.
Bentley.
DRAMATICALLY, a. By representation ;
in the manner of the drama. Dryden.
DRAM'ATIST, n. The author of a dra-
matic composition ; a writer of plays.
Burnet
DRABI'ATIZE, v. t. To compose in the
form of the drama; or to give to a com-
position the form of a play.
At Riga in 1204 was acted a prophetic play
that is, a dramatized extract from the history of
the Old and New Testaments.
Tooke's Russia
DRANK, pret. and pp. of drink.
DRANK, n. A term for wild oats. Encyc
DRAPE, V. t. [Fr. draper.] To make cloth
also, to banter. Obs.
DRA' PER, n. [Fr.drapier; draper, to make
cloth ; from drap, cloth.]
One who sells cloths ; a dealer in cloths
as a linen-draper or woolen-draper.
DRA'PERY, n. [Fr. druperie ; It. drappe-
ria ; from drap, drappo ; Sp. ropage, from
ropa, cloth.]
1. Clothwoik; the trade of making cloth.
Bacon
3. Cloth; stuflsof wool. Arbuthnot
3. In sculpture and painting, the representa-
tion of the clothing or dress of human
figures; also, tapestry, hangings, curtains,
&c. Encyc.
DRA'PET, n. Cloth; coverlet. [jYotinuse.'
DRAS'TI€, a. [Gr. ifa;i.xos, from 8pau,, u
make.]
Powerful ; acting with strength or violence
efficacious ; as a drastic cathartic.
DRAIIGII. [See Draff.]
DRAUGHT, n. draft, [from draw, drag.] _
1. The act of drawing ; as a horse or ox fit
for draught.
2. The quality of being drawn ; as a cart or
plow of easy draught.
3. The drawing of liquor into the mouth
and throat; the act of drinking.
4. The quantity of liquor drank at once.
5. The act of "deUneating, or that which is
delineated ; a representation by lines, as
the figure of a house, a machine, a fort
&c., described on paper. [Qu. Ir. dreach
W. dnjc.] Encyc.
6. Representation by picture; figure paint
ed, or drawn by the pencil. Dryden
7. The act of drawing a net ; a sweeping
for fish.
8. That which is taken by sweeping with a
net ; as a draught of fishes. Luke v
9. The drawing or bending of a bow ; the
act of shooting with a bow and arrow.
Camden
Pope. 10. The act of drawing men from a military
band, army or post ; also, the forces dtawn ;
a detachment. [See Draft, which is more
generally used.]
11. A sink or drain. Matt. xv.
12. An order for the payment of money; a
bill of exchange. [See Draft.]
13. The depth of water necessary to float a
ship, or the depth a ship sinks in water,
especially when laden ; as a ship of twelve
feet draught.
14. In England, a small allowance on weigh-
able goods, made by the king to the im-
porter, or by the seller to the buyer, to
insure full weight. Encyc.
1.5. A sudden attack or drawing on an ene-
my. [Query.] Spenser.
IC. A writing composed.
17. Draughts, a kind of game resembling
chess.
DRAUGHT, V. t. To draw out; to call
forth. [See Draft.] Addison.
DRAUGHT'-HQOKS, n. Large hooks of
iron fixed on the cheeks of a cannon car-
riage, two on each side, one near the trun-
nion hole, and the other at the train ; used
in drawing the gun backwards and for-
wards by means of draught ropes.
Encyc.
DRAUGHT-HORSE, n. A horse used in
drawing a plow, cart or other carriage, as
distinguished from a saddle horse.
DRAUGHT'-HOUSE, n. A house for the
;eption of filth or waste matter.
DRAUGHTSMAN, n. A man who draws
writings or designs, or one who is skilled
in such drawings.
2. One who drinks drams ; a tippler.
Taller.
DRAVE, the old participle of drive. We
now use drove.
DRAW, V. t. pret. drew ; pp. drawn. [Sax.
dragon ; L. traho. It is only a dialectical
spelling of drag, which see.]
1. To pull along; to haul ; to cause to move
forward by force apphed in advance of
the thing moved or at the fore-end, as by
a rope or chain. It differs from drag only
in this, that drag is more generally applied
to things moved along the ground by sli-
ding, or moved with greater toil or diffi-
culty, and draw is applied to all bodies
moved by force in advance, whatever may
be the degree of force. Draw is the more
general or generic term, and drag, more
specific. We say, the horses draw a coach
or wagon, but they drag it through mire ;
yet draw is properly used in both cases.
2. To pull out, as to draw a sword or dag-
ger from its sheatli; to unsheathe.
Hence, to draw the sword, is to wage war.
3. To bring by compulsion; to cause to
come.
Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you
before the judgment seat ? James ii.
4. To pull up or out; to raise froin any
lepth ; as, to dratv water from a well.
To suck ; as, to draw the breasts.
6. To attract ; to cause to move or tend to-
wards itself; as a magnet or other at-
tracting body is said to draie it.
7. To attract; to cause to turn towards it-
self; to engage ; as, a beauty or a popular
speaker draws the eyes of an assembly, or
draws their attention.
D R A
D R A
D R A
8. To inliale ; to take air into the lungs ; as,
tliere I first drew air ; I draw the sultry
air. Milton. Addison.
a To pull or take from a spit, as a piece of
meat. Dryden.
10. To take from a cask or vat ; to cause or
to sutler a liquid to run out ; as, to draw
wine or cider.
11. To take a liquid from the body ; to let
out ; as, to draw blood or water.
12. To take from an oven; as, to draiv
bread.
1.3. To cause to slide, as a curtain, either in
closing or unclosing ; to open or unclose
and discover, or to close and conceal.
To draw the curtain is used in both senses.
Dryden. Sidney.
14. To extract ; as, to draw spirit from grain
or juice.
15. To produce ; to bring, as an agent or
efficient cause ; usually followed by a
modifying word ; as, piety draws down
blessings ; crimes drato down vengeance ;
vice draiva on us many temporal evils ;
war draws after it a train of calamities.
16. To move gradually or slowly ; to extend.
They drew themselves more westerly.
Raleigh.
17. To lengthen ; to extend in length.
How long her face is drawn. Shak.
In some similes, men draw their compari-
sons into minute particulars of no importance.
Felton.
18. To utter in a lingering manner; as, to
draw a groan. Dryden.
19. To run or extend, by marking or form-
ing ; as, to draw a hne on paper, or a Ime
of circumvallation. Hence,
20. To represent by lines drawn on a plain
surface ; to forni a picture or image ; as,
to dratc the figure of a
face. Hence,
to dratc the figure of a man ; to draw the
21. To describe ; to represent by words ;
the orator drew an admirable picture of
human misery.
23. To represent in fancy ; to image in the
mind. Shak.
23. To derive ; to have or receive from some
source, cause or donor ; as, to draw the
rudiments of science from a civilized na-
tion ; to dratc consolation from divine
promises.
24. To deduce ; as, to draw arguments from
facts, or inferences from circumstantial
evidence.
25. To allure ; to entice ; to lead by persua-
sion or moral influence ; to excite to mo-
tion.
Draw me ; we will run after thee. Cant. i.
Men shall arise, speaking perverse thinjs, to
draw away disciples after them. Acts xx.
20. To lead, as a motive ; to induce to move.
My purposes do draw me much about.
Shak.
27. To induce ; to persuade ; to attract to-
wards ; in a very general sense.
28. To win ; to gain ; a metaphor from ga-
ming. Shak.
29. To receive or take, as from a fund ; as,
to draw money from a bank or from stock
in trade.
.30. To bear ; to produce ; as, a bond or note
dratcs interest from its date.
31. To extort ; to force out ; as, his eloquence
drew tears from the audience; to dratc
sighs or groans.
•32. To wrest ; to distort ; as, to draw the
scriptures to one's fancy. M'hitgift
33. To compose ; to write in due form ; to
form in writing ; as, to draw a bill of ex
change ; to' draw a deed or will.
34. To take out of a box or wheel, as tickets
in a lottery. We say, to dratv a lottery
or to draw a number in the lottery.
'. To receive or gain by drawing ; as, tc
draw a prize. \Ve say also, a number
draws a prize or a blank, when it is drawn
at the same time.
36. To extend ; to stretch ; as, to draw wire ;
to dratc a piece of metal by beating, &.C.
37. To sink into the water ; or to require a
certain depth of water for floating ; as, a
ship draivs fifteen feet of water.
38. To bend ; as, to dratc the bow. Is. Ixvi.
39. To eviscerate ; to pull out the bowels ;
as, to dratv poultry. King.
40. To withdraw. [JVot used.] Shak.
To drato back, to receive back, as duties on
goods for exportation.
To draw in, to collect ; to apply to any pur
pose by violence.
A dispute, in which every thing is drawn in
to give color to the argument. Locke
2. To contract; to pull to a smaller com
pass ; to pull back ; as, to dratc in the
reins. Gay.
•3. To entice, allure or inveigle ; as, to draw
in others to support a measure.
To draw off, to draw from or away ; also, to
withdraw ; to abstract ; iis, to dratc offtbe
mind from vain amusements.
2. To draw or take from ; to cause to flow
from ; as, to drato off wine or cider from a
vessel.
3. To extract by distillation. Addison.
To dratc on, to allure ; to entice ; to per-
suade or cause to follow.
The reluctant may be dratcn on by kindnosi
2. To occasion ; to invite ; to bring on ; to
cause.
Under color of war, which either his negli-
gence drew oti, or his practices procured, he
levied a subsidy. Hayward.
To draw over, to raise, or cause to coine
over, as in a still.
2. To persuade or induce to revolt from an
opposing party, and to join oneV own
party. Some men may be dratcn over by
interest ; others by fear.
To draw out, to lengthen ; to stretch by
force ; to extend.
2. To beat or hammer out; to extend or
spread by beating, as a metal.
3. To lengthen in time: to protract; to cause
to continue.
Tliy unkiiidness shall his death draw out
To lingering sufferance. . Shak
Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all genera-
tions ? Ps. Ixxxiv.
4. To cause to issue forth ; to draw off; as
liquor from a cask.
5. To extract, as the spirit of a substance.
6. To bring forth ; to pump out, by question
ing or address ; to cause to be declared, or
brought to light ; as, to draw out facts from
a witness.
7. To induce by motive ; to call forth.
This was an artifice to draw out from us an
accusation. Anmi.
8. To detach ; to separate from the main
body ; as, to dratv out a file or party of
9. To range in battle ; to array in a line.
To draw together, to collect or be collected.
To dratv up, to raise ; to lift ; to elevate.
2. To form in order of battle ; to array.
Dryden.
3. To compose in due form, as a writing ;
to form in writing ; as, to draw up a deed ;
to draiv up a paper. SwiJI,
In this use, it is often more elegant to
omit the modifying word. [See No. 33.]
DRAW, V. i. To pull ; to exert strength in
drawing. We say, a horse or an ox dratcs
well.
2. To act as a weight.
Watch the bias of the mind, that it may not
draw too much. Addison.
3. To shrink ; to contract into a smaller com-
pass. Bacon.
4. To move ; to advance. The day dratcs
towards evening.
."5. To be filled or inflated with wind, so as
to press on and advance a ship in her
course ; as, the sails dratc.
G. To unsheathe a sword. His love drew to
defend him. In this phrase, sword is un-
derstood.
7. To use or practice the art of delineating
figures ; as, he dratcs with exactness.
8. To collect the matter of an ulcer or ab-
scess ; to cause to suppurate ; to excite to
inflammation, maturation and discharge ;
as, an epispastic dratcs well.
To dratc back, to retire ; to move back ; to
withdraw.
2. To renounce the faith ; to aiwstatize.
Heb. X.
To drato near or nigh, to a])proacb ; to come
near.
To draw off, to retire ; to retreat ; as, the
company dreio off by degrees.
To draw on, to advance ; to approach ; as,
the day dratcs on. Dryden.
2. To gain on ; to approach in pursuit ; as,
the ship dreic on the chase.
3. To demand payment by an order or bill,
called a draught.
He drew on his factor for the amount of tlie
shipment.
Vou may dratc on me for the expenses of
yourjourney. Jay.
To draw up, to form in regular order ; a.%
the troops dreiv tip in front of the palace ;
the fleet dretc tip in a semicircle.
Dratc, in most of its uses, retains some
shade of its original sense, to pull, to
move forward by the application of force
in advance, or to extend in length. And
Johnson justly observes, that it express-
es an action gradual or continuous, and
leisurely. We pour liquor quick, but
we drato it in a continued stream. We
force compUance by threats, but we draw
it by gradual prevalence. We write a let-
ter with haste, but we dratc a bill with
slow caution, and regard to a precise form.
We draw a bar of metal by continued
beating.
DRAW, n. The act of drawing.
2. The lot or chance drawn.
DRAW' ABLE, a. That may be drawn.
More.
DR.\W'BACK, n. Money or an amount
paid back. Usually, a certain amount of
fluties or customs, paid or bonded by an
importer, paid back or remitted to him on
the exportation of the goods ; or a certain
D R A
D R E
D R E
amount of excise paid back or allowed on
the exportation of home manufactures.
2. In a popular sense, any loss of advantage,
or deduction from profit.
DRAW-BRIDGE, n. A bridge which may
be drawn up or let down to admit or hin-
der communication, as before the gate of
a town or castle, or in a bridge over a nav-
igable river. In the latter, the draw-bridge
usually consists of two movable platforms,
which may be raised to let a vessel pass
througli.
DRAW-NET, n. A net for catching the
larger sorts of fowls, made of pack-thread,
with wide meshes.
DRAW-WELL, n. A deep well, from
which water is drawn by a long cord or
pole. Grew.
DRAWEE, n. The person on whom an
order or bill of exchange is drawn ; the
payer of a bill of exchange.
DRAW'ER, n. One who draws or pull
one who takes water from a well ; one
who draws liquors from a cask.
2. That which draws or attracts, or has the
power of attraction. Swift.
3. He who draws a bill of exchange or an
order for the payment of money.
4. A sliding box in a case or table, which is
drawn at pleasure.
5. Drawers, in the plural, a close under gar-
ment worn on the lower limbs.
DRAWING, ppr. Pulling; hauhng ; at-
tracting ; delineating.
DRAWING, n. The act of pulling, hauhng
or attracting.
9. The act of representing the appearance
or figures of objects on a plain surface, by
means of fines and shades, as with a pen
cil, crayon, pen, compasses, &c.; delinea
tion.
DRAWING-MASTER, n. One who teach
es the art of drawing.
DRAWING-ROOM, n. A room appropria
ted for the reception of company ; a room
in which distinguished personages hold
levees, or private persons receive parties.
It is written by Coxe, unthdraunrtg-room
a room to which company withdraws from
the dining-room.
2. The company assembled in a drawin
room.
DRAWL, V. t. [D. dranltn, to linger.] To
utter words in a slow lengthened tone.
DRAWL, V. i. To speak with slow utter
ance.
DRAWL, n. A lengthened utterance of the
voice.
DRAWL'ING, ppr. Uttering words .slowly
DRAWN,;);;. [See Draw.] Pulled ; hauled ;
allured ; attracted ; delineated ; extended ;
extraeted ; derived ; deduced ; written
3. Equal, where each party takes his own
stake ; as a drawn game.
t3. Having equal advantage, and neither
party a victory ; as a drawn battle.
4. With a sword drawn. Shak.
5. Moved aside, as a curtain ; unclosed, or
closed.
6. Eviscerated ; as a drawn fox. Shak.
7. Induced, as by a motive ; as, men are
drawn together by similar views, or by
motives of interest.
Drawn and quartered, drawn on a sled, and
cut into quarters.
DRAY, n. [Sax. drccge, L. trahta, from
draw, traho.]
. A low cart or carriage on wheels, drawn
by a horse. Mdison.
. sled.
Encyc.
DRA'Y-eART, n. A dray.
DRA' Y-HORSE, 71. A horse used for draw-
ing a dray Taller.
DRA'Y-MAN, n. A man who attends a
dray. South.
DRA'Y-PLOW, n. A particular kind of
plow. Mortimer.
DRAZ'EL, n. draz'l. A dirty woman ; a
slut. [This is a vulgar word ; in New-
England pronounced droz'l, and I believe
always applied to a female.]
DREAD, n. dred. [Sax. dra:d. Qu. from the
root of the L. terreo, or that of Sw. rMrf,
fearful, rhdas, to dread, Dan. rwd, fear-
ful, Sp. arredrar, to terrify, or Ir. cratham,
to tremble. If rf is a prefix, see Class Rd.
No. 14. 19. 23. 25. 60. 78. The primary
sense is probably to tremble, or to shrink.]
1. Great fear, or apprehension of evU or dan-
ger. It expresses more than fear, and less
than terror or fright. It is an uneasiness
or alarm excited by expected pain, loss
other evil. We speak of the dread of evil ;
the dread of suffering ; the dread of the
divine displeasure. It differs from terror
also in being less sudden or more t
tinned.
2. Awe ; fear united with respect.
a Terror.
Shall not his dread fall on yoii. Job xiii
The cause of fear ; the person or the thing
dreaded.
Let him be your dread. Is. viii.
DREAD, a. Exciting great fear or appr
hension. Shak.
3. Terrible; frightful. Shak.
3. Awful ; venerable in the highest degree ;
as dread sovereign ; dread majesty ; dread
tribunal.
DREAD, V. t. To fear in a great degree ; as,
to dread the approach of a storm.
DREAD, V. i. To be in great fear.
Dread not, neither be alVaiJ of them. Deut. i
DREAD'ABLE, a. That is to be dreaded
[JYot used.]
DREADED, p;?. Feared.
DREAD'ER, n. One that fears, or lives in
fear. Swift.
DREAD'FUL, a. Impressing great fear ;
terrible ; formidable ; as a dreadful storm,
or dreadful night.
The great and dreadful day of the Lord
Mai. iv.
2. Awful ; venerable.
How dreadful is this place. Gen. xlviii.
DREAD'FULLY, adv. Terribly ; in a man
ner to be dreaded. Dryden.
DREAD'FULNESS, n. Terribleness ; the
quality of being dreadful ; frightfiilness.
DREAD'LESS, a. Feariess ; bold ; not in-
timidated ; undaunted; free from fear or
terror; intrepid. Milton.
DREAD'LESSNESS, n. Feariessness ; un-
dauntedness ; freedom from fear or terror ;]
boldness. Sidney.
DREAM, n. [D. drown ; G. traum ; Svv.l
drom ; Dan. drom. In Russ. dremlyu is to
sleep. But I take the primary sense to he,
to rove, and the word to be allied to Gr.
Spofijj, a running, which seems to be from
the root of roam, ramble. If not, it mtiy
signify to form images and be alUed to
frame.]
I. The thought or series of thoughts of a
person in sleep. We apply dream, in the
singular, to a series of thoughts, which
occupy the mind of a sleeping person, in
which he imagines he has a view of real
things or transactions. A dream is a se-
ries of thoughts not under the command
of reason, and hence wild and irregular.
Stewart.
3. In scripture, dreams were sometimes im-
pressions on the minds of sleeping per-
sons, made by divine agency. God came
to Abimelech in a dream. Joseph was
warned by God in a dream. Gen. xx.
Math. ii.
3. A vain fancy ; a wild conceit ; an un-
founded suspicion.
DREAM, V. i. pret. dreamed or dreamt. [D.
droomen ; G. trdumen ; Sw. drbmma; Dan.
driimmer.]
1. To have ideas or images in the mind, in
the state of sleep ; with of before a noun ;
as, to dreavi of a battle ; to dream of an
absent friend.
2. To think ; to imagine ; as, he little dream-
ed of his approaching fate.
3. To think idly.
They dream on in a course of reading, with-
out digesting. Loclce
4. To be sluggish; to waste time in vain
thoughts ; as, to drea7n away life.
DREAM, V. t. To see in a dream.
And dreamt the future fight. Dryden.
It is followed by a noun of the like sig-
nification ; as, to dream a dream.
DRE'AMER, n. One who dreams.
3. A fanciful man ; a visionary ; one who
forms or entertains vain schemes ; as a
political dreamer. Marshall.
3. A man lost in wild imagination ; a mope ;
a sluggard.
DRE'AMFUL, a. Full of dreams.
Johnson.
DRE'AMING, ppr. Having thoughts or
ideas in sleep.
DRE'AMLESS, a. Free from dreams.
Camden.
DREAMT, pp. dremt. From dream.
DREAR, n. Dread ; dismalness. Ohs.
Spenser.
DREAR, a. [Sax. rfreong, dreary.] Dismal;
gloomy with solitude.
A drear and dying sound. Milton.
DRE'ARIHEAD, n. Dismalness; gloomi-
ness. [JVbt in use.] Spenser.
DRE'ARILY, adv. Gloomily ; dismally.
Spenser.
DRE'ARIMENT, n. Dismalness ; terror.
Obs.
DREARINESS, n. Dismalness; gloomy
tude.
DRE'ARY, a. [Sax. dreong.] Dismal;
gloomy ; as a dreaiy waste ; dreary
shades. This word implies both solitude
and gloom.
3. Sorrowful ; distressing ; as dreary shrieks.
Spenser.
DRED6E, 71. [Fr. drege ; Arm. drag, as in
English.]
1. A dragnet for taking oysters, &c.
Carete.
2. A mixture of oats and barley sown
together.
D R E
DREDciE, V. t. To take, catch or gather
with u dredge. Caretv.
DRED(iE, V. t. [This seems to be connected;
witli the Fr. drague, grains, dragit, sugar
plums, small shot, mesUn.] To sprinkle
flour on roast meat.
DREDti'ER, n. One who fishes with a
dredge ; also, an utensil for scattering flour
on meat while roasting.
DRED6'ING-BOX, n. A box used for
dredging meat. I
DRED(i'ING-MAcHiNE, n. An engine
used to take up mud or gravel from the
bottom of rivers, docks, Stc. CyA
DREE, V. t. [Sax. dreah.] To suffer. [J^ot,
used.] Ray-\
DREG'GINESS, n. [from rfreg'gT/.] Fufi-;
ness of dregs or lees ; foulness ; teculence.j
DREG'GISH, a. Full of dregs; foul with;
lees; feculent. Harvey.
DREG'GY, a. [See Dregs.] Containing
dregs or lees; consisting of dregs; foul;|
muddy ; feculent. Boyle.
DREGS, n. plu. [Sw. dr&gg ; Dan. drank ;
Gr. T'pfS, rpuyia. That which is drained
or thrown off, or that which subsides. Sec
Class Rg. No. 8. 28. 58.]
1. The sediment of Uquors ; lees ; grounds ;i
feculence ; any foreign matter of liquors
that subsides to the bottom of a vessel. |
8. Waste or worthless matter ; dross ; sweep-
ings ; refuse. Hence, the most vile and
despicable part of men ; as the dregs of
society.
Dreg, in the singular, is found in Spenser,
but is not now used. j
DREIN. [See Drain.] '
DRENCH, V. t. [Sax. drencean, to drench,!
to soak, to inebriate, and drencan, to drink,\
to give drink ; drenc, drench, and drink ;1
D. drenken ; G. trdnken, to water, to soak ;'
Sw. dr&nckia, to plunge, to soak ; Scot.l
drouk ; W. froci. Drench, drink, drown,'
and probably drag, are from the same root.
See Drink and l>rag-.]
1. To wet thoroughly; to soak; to fill or
cover with water or other liquid ; as gar-
ments drenched in rain or in the sea ; the
flood has drenched the earth ; swords
drenched in blood.
2. To saturate with drink. Shak.
3. To purge violently. Morlimer.
DRENCH, n. A draught ; a swill ; also, a
portion of medicine to purge a beast, par-
ticularly a horse. Hence, a violent dose of
physic to be forced down the tliroat.
DRENCH'ED, pp. Soaked ; thoroughly
wet ; purged with a dose.
DRENCH'ER, n. One who wets or steeps ;
one who gives a drench to a beast.
DRENCH'ING, ppr. Wetting thoroughly ;
soaking; purging.
DRENT,;)p. Drenched. [Xot in use.]
Spenser.'
DRESS, V. t. pret. and pp. dressed or drest.
[Fr. dresser, to make straight, to set up,|
to erect ; Arm. drep.a, dregzein ; It.j
riszare, to erect, to make straight ; dirix-\
zare, to direct, to address ; Sp. enderezar.
Port, enderefar, to direct ; Norm, adresctr,
to redress. The primary sense is, to make
straight, to strain or stretch to straight
ness. The It. rizzare is supposed to be
formed from riito, straight, upright, L.
trectus, rectus, from erigo, rego.]
D R E
1. To make straight or a straight line ; to
adjust to a right line. We have the pri-
mary sense in the military phrase, dress
your ranks. Hence the sense, to put in
order.
2. To adjust ; to put in good order ; as, to
dress the beds of a garden. Sometimes, to
till or cultivate. Gen. ii. Deut. xxviii.
3. To put in good order, as a wounded hmb ;
to cleanse a wound, and to apply medica-
ments. The surgeon dresses the Umb or
the wound.
4. To prepare, in a general sense ; to put in
the condition desired ; to make suitable
fit ; as, to dress meat ; to dress leather or
cloth ; to dress a lamp : but we, in the lat-
ter case, generally use trim. To dress hemj;
or flax, is to break and clean it.
5. To cuiry, rub and comb ; as, to dress a
horse : or to break or tame and prepare
for service, as used by Dryden ; but this
is unusual.
6. To put the body in order, or in a suitable
condition ; to put on clothes ; as, he dress-
ed himself for breakfast.
7. To put on rich garments ; to adorn ; to
deck ; to embellish ; as, the lady dressed
herself for a ball.
To dress up, is to clothe pompously oi
elegantly ; as, to dress up with tinsel.
The sense of dress depends on its applica-
tion. To dress the body, to dress meat,|
and to dress leather, are very different
ses, but all uniting in the sense of preparing
or fitting for use.
DRESS, V. i. To arrange in a hne ; as, look
the right and dress.
2. To pay particular regard to dress or rai
ment. Bramston.
DRESS, n. That which is used as the cov
ering or ornament of the body ; clothes
garments; habit ; as, the dress of a lady is
modest and becoming ; a gaudy dress ir
evidence of a false taste.
. A suit of clothes ; as, the lady has pur
chased an elegant dress.
. Splendid clothes ; habit of ceremony ; a;
a full dress.
. Skill in adjusting dress, or the practice of
wearing elegant clothing ; as men of
dress. Pope
DRESS'ED, pp. Adjusted ; made straight ,
put in order; prepared; trimmed; tilled;
clothed; adorned; attired.
DRESS'ER, n. One who dresses; one who
is employed in putting on clothes and
adorning another ; one who is employed
in preparing, trimming or adjusting any
thing.
2. [Fr. dressoir.] A sideTboard ; a table or
bench on which meat and other things are
dressed or prepared for use.
DRESS'ING, ;)yr. Adjusting to aline ; put-
ting in order; preparing; clotliing; em-
bellishing ; cultivating.
DRESS'ING, )i. Raiment; attire.
B. Jonson.
2. That which is used as an application to a
ound or sore.
3. That which is used in preparing land for
a crop ; manure spread over land. When
it remains on the surface, it is called a
top-dressing.
4. In popular language, correction ; a flog-
ging, or beating.
D R I
DRESSING-ROOM, n. An apartment ap-
l)ropriated for dressing the person.
RESS'-MAKER, n. A maker of gowne,
orsimilar garments; a niantuamaker.
DRESS'Y, a. Showy in dress; wearing rich
or showy dresses.
DREST, ;);>. of dress.
DREUL, V. i. [Qu. drivel, or Ar. J 1^ to
slaver.]
To emit saliva; to suffer sahva to issue and
flow down from the mouth.
DRII5, i'. t. [Qu. from dribble, but the word
is not elegant, nor much used.] To crop
or cut off"; to defalcate. Dryden.
DRIB, n. A drop. [jYot used.] Swijl.
DRIB'BLE, V. i. [A diminutive from dnp,
and properly dnpple.]
1. To fall in drops or small drops, or in a
quick succession of drops ; as, water drib-
bles from the eaves.
2. To slaver as a child or an idiot.
3. To fall weakly and slowly ; as the drib-
ting dart of love. Shak.
DRIB'BLE, f. f. To throw down in drops.
Smfl.
DRIBBLET, n. IW. rhib.] A small piece
or part ; a small sum ; odd money in a
sum ; as, the money was paid in dribblets.
DRIB'BLING, ppr. Falling in drops or small
drops.
DRIB'BLING, n. A falling in drops.
DRI'ED, pp. of dry. Free from moisture or
sap.
DRI'ER, n. [from dry.] That which has the
quality of drying ; that which may expel
or absorb moisture; a desiccative. The
sun and a northwesterly wind are great
driers of the earth.
DRIFT, n. [Dan. drijt; from drive.] That
which is driven by wind or water, as drift
seems to be primarily a participle. Hence,
2. A heap of any matter driven together; as
a drijl of snow, called also a snow-drijl ; a
rfci/Jof sand.
3. A driving ; a force inipelUng or urging
forward ; impulse ; overbearing power or
influence ; as the drift of a passion.
4. Course of any thing ; tendency ; aim ;
main force ; as the driJl of reasoning or
argument ; the driJl ol a discourse.
5. Any thing driven by force, as a drijt of
dust ; a log or a raft driven by a stream of
water, without guidance. " Dryden.
6. A shower ; a number of things driven at
once ; as a drift of bullets. ShaL
7. In mining, a passage cut between shaft
and shaft ; a passage within the earth.
Encyc. Fourcroy.
8. In navigation, the angle which the line of
a ship's motion makes with the nearest
meridian, when she drives with her side to
the wind and waves, and is not governed
by the helm. Also, the distance which the
ship drives on that line. Encyc.
9. The drift of a cuiTcnt, is its angle and ve-
locity. Mar. Did.
DRIFT, V. i. To accumulate in heaps by
the force of wind ; to be driven into heaps ;
as, snow or sand drifts.
2. To float or be driven along by a current
of water; as, the ship drifted astern; a raft
drifted ashore.
DRIFT, V. t. To drive into heaps ; as, a cur-
rent of wind drifts snow or sand.
D R
D K I
DRIFTED, VP- Driven along; driven into|2. To take spirituous liquoi
hea )s intemoerate in the use of
DRIFT'ING, ppr. Driving by force ; dri-
ving into heaps.
DRJFT'-SAIL, n. In navig-a^ion, a sail used
under water, veered out right ahead by|
sheets. Encyc.\
DRIFT'-WAY, n. A common way for dn-|
viug cattle in. Cou'ei.j
DRIFT'-WIND, n. A driving wind ; ai
wind that drives things into heaps.
Beaum.\
DRILL, V. t. [Sax. tUrlian ; G. and D. dril-^
len; Dan. driller; Sw. drilla ; to turn,
■wind or twist ; W. rhill, a row or drill :i
rhilliaw, to drill, to trench ; trulimv, to drill,|
as a hole ; troel, a whirl ; troelli, to turn or
whiri. The latter is evidently conuected
with roll. Class Rl. No. 4.]
1. To pierce with a drill ; to perforate by
turning a sharp pointed instrument of a
particular form ; to bore and make a hole
by turning an instrument. We say, to drill
a hole through a piece of metal, ■ *- '""
to drill
2. To draw on ; to entice ; to amuse au(
put off.
She drilled h
elegant.'\
3. To draw on from step to step-
gant.]
4. To draw through ; to drain ; as, waters
drilled through a sandy stratum
[.Vol ele-
South
Thomson.
5. In a militani sense, to teach and train raw
soldiers to their duty, by frequent exer-
cise ; a common and appropriate use of thi
word.
6. In husbandry, to sow grain in rows, drills
or channels.
DRILL, V. t. To sow in drills.
2. To flow gently.
3. To muster, for exercise. Beau,
DRILL, n. A pointed instrument, used for
boring holes, particularly in metals and
other hard substances. Moxoii.
3. An ape or baboon. Locke.
3. The act of training soldiers to their duty,
4. A small stream ; now called a rill.
Sandys.
[Drill is formed on the root of rill, G.
rille, a channel.]
5. In husbandry, a row of grain, sowed by a
drill-plow.
DRILL'ED, pp. Bored or perforated with
a drill ; exercised ; sown in rows.
DRILLTNG, ppr. Boring with a drill
training to military duty ; sowing in drills
DRILL-PLOW, n. A plow for sowing grain
in drills.
DRINK, V. i. pret. and pp. drank. Old pret.
and pp. drunk ; jip. drunken. [Sax. drin-
can, drican, drycian ; Goth, dragyan, to
give drink ; D. drinken ; G. trinken ; Sw.
dricka; Dan. rfriJtcr, to drink; Sp.irago
Port, id., to swallow; trago, a draught
The latter, and probably drink, is fron;
drawing, or the latter may be more nearly
alUed to W. trochi, or trop, to plunge,
bathe, immerse. Drink and drench are
radically the same word, and probably
drown. We observe that n is not radical.]
\. To swallow liquor, for quenching tliirst or
other purpose ; as, to drink of the brook.
Ye shall indec J drink of my cup. Matt, xx
to excess ; to bel
intemperate in the use of spirituous liquors ;
to be a habitual drunkard. Pope.\
3. To feast ; to be entertained with liquors.
Shak.l
To drink to, to salute in drinking ; to invitej
to drink by drinking first ; as, I drink to'
your grace. Shak.\
2. To wish well to, in the act of taking the
p. Shak.l
DRINK, V. t. To swallow, as hquids ; to
receive, as a fluid, into the stomach ; as, to
drink water or wine.
2. To suck in ; to absorb ; to imbibe.
.\nd let the purple violets drink the stream.
Dryden.
To take in by any inlet ; to hear ; to see ;
as, to drink words or the voice.
Shak. Pope.
I drink delicious poison from thy eye.
Pope.
To take in air ; to inhale.
To drink down, is to act on by drinking:
to reduce or subdue ; as, to drink down un-
kindness. Shak
To drink o^, to drink the whole at a draught
to drink off a cup of cordial.
To drink in, to absorb ; to take or receive
nto any inlet.
To drink up, to drink the whole.
To drink health, or to the health, a custom-
ary civility in which a person at taking
a glass or cup, expresses his respect or
kind wishes for another.
DRINK, n. Liquor to be swallowed ; any
fluid to be taken into the stomach, for
quenching thirst, or tor medicinal purpos-
es ; as water, wine, beer, cider, decoc-
tions, &c.
DRINK'ABLE, n. That may be drank ; fit
suitable for drink ; potable.
DRINK'ABLE, n. A liquor that may be
•ank. Steele.
DRINKER, n. One who drinks, particular-
ly one who practices drinking spirituous
liquors to excess ; a drunkard ; a tipler.
DRINK'ING,ppr. Swallowing hquor; suck
absorbing.
DRiNK'ING, n. the act of swallowing li
qnors, or of absorbing.
2. The jiractice of drinking to excess. We
say, a man is given to drinking.
DRINK'ING-HORN, n. A horn cup, such
as our rude ancestors used.
DRINK'ING-HOUSE,n. A house frequent
ed by tiplers ; an alehouse.
DRINk'LESS, a. Destitute of drink.
Chaucer.
DRINK'-MONEY, n. Money given to buy
iquor for drink.
DRIP, V. i. [Sax. drypan, driopan, dropiar,
to drip, to drop ; D. druipen ; G. tnefen
Sw. drypa ; Dan. drypper. This seems to
be of "the same family as drop. Hence
dribble, dripple, drivel. The Ar. has the
D R I
Drip, v. t. To let fall in drops.
The thatch drips fast a shower of rain.
■.(/?.
So we say, roasting flesh drips fat.
DRIP, n. A falling in drops, or that which
falls in drops.
In building, avoid the drip of your neighbor's
iiouse.
The edge of a roof; the eaves ; a large
flat member of the cornice.
Bailey. Chambers.
DRIPPING, ppr. Falling or letting fall in
drops.
DRIPPING, n. The fat which falls from
meat in roasting ; that which falls in drops.
DRIPPING-PAN, »i. A pan for receiving
the fat which drips from meat in roast-
ing.
DRIPPLE, fl. Weak or rare. [Motinuse.]
DRIVE, V. t. pret. drove, [formerly drave ;]
pp. driven. [Sax. drifan ; Goth, dreiban ;
Tf.dryven; G. treiben; Sw. drifva ; Dari.
driver ; also Sax. dryfan, to vex ; adri-
fan, to drive. From the German we have
thr
See Ar. Oj-ls tarafa, to drive,
precise word t__X i tharafa, to drop or
distil. Qu. f);?1 Heb. and Ar. to drop,
The Persic has •d^t.jSyS tirabidan, to
exude. See Class Rb. No. 1 1 . 35.]
1. To fall in drops ; as, water drips froir
eaves.
3. To have any liquid falhng from it ir
drops ; as, a wet garment drips.
Class Rb. No. 29. and Heb. Syr. Ar. an
id. No. 4.]
1. To impel or urge forward by force ; to
force ; to move by physical force. We
drive a nail into wood with a hammer ;
the wind or a current drives a ship on the
2. To compel or urge forward by other
means than absolute physical force, or by
means that compel the will ; as, to drive
cattle to market. A smoke drives compa-
ny from the room. A man may be driven
by the necessities of the times, to abandon
his country.
Drive thy business ; let not thy business drive
thee. Franklin.
To chase ; to hunt.
To drive the deer with hound and horn.
Clievy Chase
4. To impel a team of horses or oxen to
move forward, and to direct their course :
hence, to guide or regulate the course of
the carriage drawn by them. We say, to
drive a team, or to drive a carriage drawn
by a team.
5. To impel to greater speed.
6. To clear any place by forcing away what
To drive the country, force the swains away.
Dry den .
7. To force ; to compel ; in a general sense.
To hurry on inconsiderately ; often with
on. In this sense it is more generally in-
transitive.
0. To distress ; to straighten ; as desperate
men far driven. Spenser.
10. To impel by the influence of passion.
Anger and lust often drive men into gross
crimes.
11. To urge ; to press ; as, to drive an argu-
ment.
12. To impel by moral influence ; to compel;
as, the reasoning of his opponent drove him
to acknowledge" his error.
13. To carry on ; to prosecute ; to keeji in
motion ; as, to drive a trade ; to drive busi-
14. To make light by motion or agitation ; as,
to drive feathers.
His thrice driven bed of down. Shak
D R I
D R O
D R O
Tlic sense is probably to heal : but T do
not recollect this application of the word
in America.
To drive away, to force to remove to a
distance ; to expel ; to dispel ; to scatter.
To drive off, to compel to remove from a
place ; to expel ; to drive to a distance.
To drive out, to expel.
DRIVE, v. i. To be lorced along ; to be im
pelled ; to be moved by any physical force
or agent ; as, a ship 'drives before the
wind.
2. To rush and press with violence ; as, a
storm drives against the house.
Fierce Boreas drove against his flying sails
Dryden
3. To pass in a carriage ; as, he drove to Lou-
don. Tliis phrase is elliptical. He drove
his horses or carriage to London.
4. To aim at or tend to ; to urge towards
point ; to make an effort to reach or ob-
tain ; as, we know tlie end the author
driving at.
5. To aim a blow ; to strike at with force.
Dn'tie, in all its senses, implies forcible
or violent action. It is opposed to lead.
To drive a body is to move it by ap])lying
a force behind ; to lead is to cause to mov
by applying the force before, or forward
of the body.
DRIVE, n. Passage in a carriage.
Boswtll.
DRIVEL, V. i. driv'l. [from the root ofl
drip.]
1. To slaver; to let spittle drop or flow from
the mouth, like a cliild, idiot or dotard.
Sidney. Grew.
2. To be weak or foolish ; to dote ; as a
driveling hero ; driveling love.
Shak. Dryden.
DRTV'EL, n. Slaver ; saliva flowing from
the mouth. Dryden.
2. A driveller ; a fuol ; an idiot. [Aot used.]
Sidney.
DRIVELER, n. A slaverer ; a slabbercr ;
an ideot ; a fool. Swill.
DRIVELING, ppr. Slavering ; foolish.
DRIVEN, pp. driv'n. [from drive.] Urged
forward by force ; impelled to move ; con-
strained by necessity.
DRI'VER, n. One who drives ; the person
or thing that urges or compels any thing
else to move.
2. The person who drives beasts.
3. The person who drives a carriage ; one
who conducts a team.
4. A large sail occasionally set on tho
yard or gaff, the foot being extended over
the stern by a boom. Mar. Diet.
DRI'VING, ppr. Urging forward by force ;
impelling.
DRI'VING, n. The act of impelling.
2. Tendency.
DRIZ'ZLE, V. i. [G. rieseln. The sense ._
probably to sprinkle, or to scatter. Qu.l
L. ros, dew, and Fr. arroser. See Heb.
Ch. DD1, Ar. ^J„ Class Rs. No. IG.
28.]
"To rain in small drops ; to fall as water from
the clouds in very fine particles. We
say, it drizzles ; drizzling drops ; drizzling
rain ; drizzling tears. Addison
DRIZ'ZLE, I', t. To shed in small drops or
piirtick'S.
The air cloth drizzle dew. ' Shak.
Winter's drizzled snow. Shak.
DRIZZLED, pp. Shed or thrown down in
small drops or jiarticles.
DRIZ'ZLING, ppr. Falling in fine drops or
particles ; shedding in small drops or par-
ticles.
DRIZ'ZLING, n. The falling of rain or
snow in small drops.
DRIZ'ZLY, a. Shedding small rain, or
small particles of snow.
The winter's drizzly reign. Dryden.
DROGMAN. [See Dragoman.]
DROIL, v. i. [D. drutlen, to mope.] To
work sluggishly or slowly ; to plod. [Not
much used.] Spenser.
DROIL, Ji. A mope ; a drone ; a sluggarii ;
a drudge. [Little iwerf.]
DROLL, a. [Fr. drdte ; G. drollig ; D. id.;
Sw. troll, a satyr ; trolla, to use magic arts ,
to enchant. Qu. its alliance to roll, troll.]
Odd ; merry ; facetious ; comical ; as a droll
fellow.
DROLL, 71. One whose occupation or prac-
tice is to raise mirth by odd tricks ; a jest-
er ; a buflbon. Prior.
2. A farce ; something exhibited to raise
mirth or sport. Swifl.
DROLL, V. i. To jest ; to play the biiflbi)ii.
South.
DROLL, I', t. To cheat. ^Estrange.
DROLLER, n. A jester; a buffoon.
Glanville.
DROLLERY, n. Sportive tricks; buflbon-
ery ; comical stories ; gestures, manners
or tales adapted to raise mirth.
A puppet-sliow. Shak.
DROLLING, n. Low wit ; buffoonery.
DROLLINGLY, adv. In a jesting manner.
DROLLISH, a. Somewhat droll.
DROM'EDARY, n. [Fr. dromadaire ; Sp.
dromedario ; Port. It. iV.; Ir. rfcoman; Gr.
bfio/tas; perhaps from swiftness, running,
Gr. 8po/io;, iSpcLfiop, ipifiu. This explana-
tion sujiposes tho word to be of Greek
origin.]
A species of camel, called also the Arabi
camel, with one bunch or protuberance
the back, in distinction from the Bactrian
camel, which has two bunches. It ha:
four callous protuberances on tlie fore
legs, and two on the hind ones. It is a
common beast of burden in Egypt, Syria,
and the neighboring countries. Encyc.
DRONE, n. rSax. drane, drwn; G. drohne,
whence drohnen, to tinkle, to shake, to
tingle. See Ar. No. 4. and 7. Class Kn.]
1. The male of the hotiey bee. It is smaller
than the queen bee, bdt larger than tli
working bee. The drones make no honey,
but after living a few weeks, they are kill-
ed or driven from the hive. Encyc.
Hence,
2. An idler ; a sluggard ; one who earns
nothing by industry. Addison.
3. A humming or low sound, or the instru-
ment of humming. Milton.
4. The largest tube of the bag-pipe, which
emits a continued deep note.
DRONE, v. i. To live in idleness ; as a
droniitg king. Drydt
2. To give a low, heavy, dull sound ; as the
cymbal's droning sound. Drydi
DRONE-FLY, «. A two-winged insect,
senililiiij: the drone-bee. Ena/c.
DRO'NlNi;, ppr. Living in idleness ; giving
a dull sound.
DRO'NISH, a. Idle; sluggish; lazy; indo-
ciit ; inactive ; slow. Howe.
DROOP, V. i. [Sax. drepan ; Ice. driupa.
This word is probably from the root of the
L. torpeo, the letters being transposed ; or
from the root of drop, D. druipen, to drip,
drop or droop. Indeed all may be of one
family,]
. To sink or hang down ; to lean down-
wards, as a body that is weak or languish-
ing. I'lams droop for want of moisture ;
the human body droops in old age or in-
firmity.
'. To languish from grief or other cause.
Sandys.
3. To fail or sink ; to decline ; a.s, the cour-
age or the spirits droop.
4. To faint ; to grow weak ; to be dispirited ;
as, the soldiers rfroop from fatigue.
DROOP'ING, ppr. Sinking ; hanging or
leaning downward ; declining ; languish-
ing ; failing.
DROP, 7!. [Sax. dropa, a drop ; dropian, to
drop ; G. tropfen ; D. drop ; Sw. droppe ;
Dan. drciahe. Heb. r|^n, Ar. v_i£ , and
Oji to drop. ClassRb.No.il. Heb.
TV id.]
1. A small portion of any fluid in a spherical
form, which fafls at once from any body,
or a globule of any fluid which is pendent,
as if about to fall ; a small portion of
water falling in rain ; as a drop of water ;
a drop of blood ; a drop of huidanum.
2. A diamond hanging from the ear ; an
earring ; something hanging in the form of
a drop.
3. A very small quantity of liquor ; as, be
had not drank a drop.
4. The part of a gallows which sustains the
criminal before he is executed, and which
is suddenly dropped,
DROPS, 71. plu. In medicine, a liquid reme-
dy, the dose of which is regulated by a
certain number of drops. Encifc.
DROP, V. t. [Sax. dropian ; D. druipen; G.
traufen or tropfen ; Sw.drypa; Uan.dryp-
per ; Russ. krapayu.]
1. To pour or let fall in small portions or
globules, as a fluid ; to distill.
The heavens shall drojy down dew. Deut.
xxxiii.
2. To let fall as any substance ; as, to drop
the anchor ; to drop a stone.
3. To let go ; to dismiss ; to lay aside ; to
quit ; to leave ; to permit to subside ; as,
to drop an affair ; to drop a controversy ;
to drop a pursuit.
4. To utter slightly, briefly or casually ; as,
to drop a word in favor of a friend.
5. To insert indirectly, incidentally, or by
way of digression ;"as, to drop a word of
instruction in a letter.
6. To lay aside ; to dismiss from possession ;
as, to drop these frail bodies.
7. To leave ; as, to drop a letter at the post-
office,
8. To set down and leave ; as, the coach
I dropped a passenger at the inn.
D K O
D R O
D R U
9. To quit ; to suffer to cease ; as, to rfrop an
acquaintance.
10. To let go ; to dismiss from association ;
as, to drop a companion
11. To suffer to end or come to nothing; as,
to drop a fashion.
12. To bedi'op ; to speckle ; to variegate,
if by sprinkUng with drops ; as a coat
dropped with gold. Milton.
13. To lower ; as, to drop the muzzle of a
gun.
DROP, V. i. To distill ; to fall in small por
tions, globules or drops, as a liquid. Wa-
ter drops from the clouds or from the
eaves.
2. To let drops fall ; to discharge itself iii
drops.
The heavens dropped at the presence of God
Ps. Ixvui.
3. To fall ; to descend suddenly or abruptly.
4. To fall spontaneously ; as, ripe fruit drops
from a tree.
5. To die, or to die suddenly. We see one
friend after another dropping round us.
They drop into the grave.
6. To come to an end ; to cease ; to be ne-
glected and come to nothing ; as, the af-
fair dropped.
7. To come unexpectedly ; with in or ir^to ;
as, my old friend dropped in, a moment.
8. To fall short of a mark. [A^ot usual]
Often it drops or overshoots. Collier.
9. To fall lower; as, the point of the spear
dropped a little.
10. To be deep in extent.
Her main top-sail drops seventeen yards.
Mar. Diet.
To drop astern, in seamen's language, is
to pass or move towards the stern ; to
move back ; or to slacken the velocity of a
vessel to let another pass beyond her.
To drop down, in seamen's language
to sail, row or move down a river, or
ward the sea.
PROP-SERE'NE, n. [gutta serena.] A
disease of the eye ; amaurosis, or blind-
ness from a diseased retina.
Milton. Co.Te.\
DROP'-STONE, n. Spar in the shape of)
drops. Woodward.
DROP'-WORT, M. The name of a plant,
the Spirceajilipendula.
The hemlock drop-wort, and the water
drop-wort, are species of CEnanthe.
DROP'LET, n. A little drop. Shak.
DROP'PED, pp. Let fall ; distilled ; laid
aside ; dismissed ; let go ; suffered to sub-
side ; sprinkled or variegated.
DROP'PING, ppr. Falhng in globules ; dis-
tiUing ; falling ; laying aside ; dismissing
quitting ; suffering to rest or subside ; va-
riegating with ornaments like drops.
DROP'PING, n. The act of dropping ; a dis-
tilling ; a falling.
2. Tliat which drops.
DROP'SICAL, a. [See Dropsy.] Diseased
with dropsy ; hydropical ; inclined to the
drojisv ; applied to persons.
2. Partaking of the nature of the dropsy ; ap
plied to disease.
DROP'SIED, a. Diseased with dropsy.
Shak
DROPSY, }i. [L. hydrops ; Gr. vSfo^, eroit)
vSup, water, and u4, the " "
written hydropisy ;
dropsy.]
Formerly
hence by contraction.
In medicine, an unnatural collection of water,
in any part of the body, proceeding from
a greater effusion of serum by the exha-
lant arteries, than the absorbents take up.
It occurs most frequently in persons of
lax habits, or in bodies debilitated by dis-
ease. The dropsy takes different names,
according to the part affected ; as ascites,
or dropsy of the abdomen ; hydrocephalus,
or water in the head ; anasarca, or a wat-
tery swelling over the whole body; &c.
Encyc.
DROSS, n. [Sax. dros ; D. droes, G. druse,
strangles, glanders ; D. droessem, G. dru-
sen, dregs ; perhaps from rejecting or
throwing off.]
1. The recrement or despumation of metals;
the scum or extraneous matter of metals,
thrown off in the process of meltin
2. Rust ; crust of metals ; an incrustation
formed on metals by oxydation.
Addisi
3. Waste matter ; refuse ; any worthless
matter separated from the better part ; im-
pure matter.
The world's glory is but dross unclean.
Spenser
DROSSTNESS, n. Foulness ; rust ; impu-
ity ; a state of being drossy. Boyh
DROSS'Y, a. Like dross ; pertaining to
2. Full of dross ; abounding with scorious
or recrementitious matter ; as drossy gold
3. Worthless ; foul ; impuie. Donne
DROTCH'EL, n. An idle wench ; a slug-
ard. [JVot in jise.]
DROUGHT. [See Drouth.]
DROUGHT'INESS, n. Drouthiness.
DROUGIIT'Y, a. Drouthy.
DROUM'Y, a. Troubled; dirty. Obs. Bacon
Chaucer has drovy.
DROUTH,?!, [contracted from Sax. drugothe,
D. droogte, from drigan or drygan, to dry.
See Dry. This is usually written drought,
after the Belgic dialect ; but improperly.
The word generally used is now, as it was
written by Bacon, drouth or drowtk ; its
regular termination is th.]
1. Dryness; want of rain or of water ; par-
ticularly, dryness of the weather, which af-
fects the earth, and prevents the growth
of plants; aridness; aridhy.
Temple. Bacon
2. Dryness of the throat and mouth ; thirst
want of drink. Milfon.l
DROUTH'INESS, n. A stato of dryness of]
the weather; want of rain,
DROUTH Y, a. Dry, as the weather; arid ;
wanting rain.
2, Thirsty ; dry ; wanting drink.
DROVE, pret. of drixe.
DROVE, n. [Sax. draf; from dnve.] A col
lection of cattle driven ; a number of ani
mals, as oxen, sheep or swine, driven in a
body. We speak of a Aerrf of cattle, and
Jlock of sheep, when a number is collected ;
but properly a drove is a herd or flock driv
en. It is applicable to any species of
brutes. Hence,
2. Any collection of irrational animals, mov-
ing or driving forward ; as a finny drove
Milton.
3. A crowd of people in motion.
Where droves, as at a city gate, may pass.
Driid(
4. A road for driving cattle, [English,]
DRO'VER, n. One who drives cattle or
sheep to market. Usually in New Eng-
land, a man who makes it his business to
purchase fat cattle and drive them to mar-
ket.
. A boat driven by the tide. Spenser.
DROWN, V. t. [Dan.drugner ; 8w.drlinckia;
Sax. adrencan, to drown, to drench ; from
the root o{ drench and drink.]
Literally, to overwhelm in water ; and ap-
propriately, to extinguish life by immer-
sion in water or other fluid ; applied to an-
imals : also, to suspend animation by sub-
mersion.
2. To overwhelm in water ; as, to drotcn
weeds.
3. To overflow ; to deluge ; to inundate ; as,
to drown land.
, To immerse ; to plunge and lose ; to over-
whelm ; as, to drown one's self in sensual
pleasure.
5. To overwhelm ; to overpower.
My private voice is drowned amid the senate.
.Addison.
DROWN, V. i. To be suffocated in water or
other fluid; to perish in water.
Methought what pain It was to drotcn.
Shak.
DROWNED, pp. Deprived of Ufe by im-
mersion in a fluid ; overflowed ; inunda-
ted ; overwhelmed.
DROWN'ER, )!. He or that which drowns.
DROWNING, ppr. Destroying life by sub-
mersion in a liquid ; overflowing ; over-
whelming.
DROWSE, V. i. drowz. [Old Belgic, rf;-ooMrt.l
L To sleep imperfectly or unsoundly; to
slumber ; to be heavy with sleepiness.
MUton.
To look heavy ; to be heavy or dull.
DROWSE, V. t. To make heavy with sleep ;
make dull or stupid. Milton.
DROW'SIHED, n. Sleepiness. Obs.
Spenser.
DROWSILY, adv. Sleepily; heavily; in a
dull sleepy manner. Dryden.
2. Sluggishly ; idly ; slothfully ; lazily.
Raleigh.
DROWSINESS, n. Sleepiness ; heaviness
with sleep ; disposition to sleep.
Milton. Lockt.
2. Sluggishness; sloth; idleness ; inactivity.
Bacon.
DROWSY, a. Inclined to sleep ; sleepy ;
heav}' with sleepiness ; lethargic ; coma-
tose. Bacon. Dryden.
Dull ; sluggish ; stupid. Atterhury.
3. Disposing to sleep ; lulling ; as a drowsy
couch.
DROW'SY-HEADED, a. Heavy ; having
sluggish disposition. Fotherhy,
DRUB, v. t. [Sw. drabha, to touch, hit, beat ;
tr'ajja, to hit, touch, reach, find ; Dan.
dneber, to kill ; treffer, to hit ; G. D, treffen;
Gr, -rpiSu, to beat ; Sax, tribulan, trifelan ;
It, trebbiare ; L. iribula. These worda
seem to be from the same root as the Fr.
trouver, to find, that is, to hit, to strike on,
and attraper and frapper, Eng. to rap.
But perhaps there may be two different
roots. See Class Rb. No. 4. 28. 29. 37. 39.
Drubbing is a particular form of driving.'\
l"o boat with a stick ; to thrash ; to cudgel.
The little thief had been soundly drubbed
with n cudgel, VEstransre
DRV
DRUB, n. A blow with a stick or cudgel ; a
tliump; a knock. Addison.
DRUBBED, pp. Beat with a cudgel ; beat
soundly.
DRUB'BING, ppr. Beating with a cudgel ;
beating soundly.
DRUB'BING, n. A cudgeling; a sound
beating.
DRUDGE, V. i. druj. [Scot, drug, to drag, to
tug, to pull with force; whence dnig-
gare, drudging ; Ice. droogur, a drawer or
carrier ; Ir. drugaire, a drudge or slave.
This seems to be a dialectical form of drag,
rfraii'.] /
To work hard ; to labor in mean offices ; to
labor with toil and fatigue.
In merriment did drudge and labor.
Hudibrax.
DRUDgE, n. One who works hard, or la-
bors with toil and fatigue ; one who la-
bors hard in servile employments ; a slave.
Mlton.
DRUD(i'ER, re. A drudge.
2. A drudging-box. [See Dredging-box.]
DRUDu'ERY, 11. Hard labor ; toilsome
work; ignoble toil; hard work in servile
occupations.
Paradise was a place of bliss — without drudg-
ery or sorrow. Locke.
DRUDti'ING, ppr. Laboring hard ; toiling.
DUUD(J'ING-BOX. [See Dredging-bor.]
DRUDti'INGLY, adv. With labor and fa-
tigue ; laboriously.
DRUG, Ji. [Fr. drogue ; Arm. droguerezou ;
Sp. Port. It. droga. In Dutch, droogery is
a drug and a drying place, so that drug is
a dry substance, and from the root of dry,
Junius supposes it to have signified, origi-
nally, spices or aromatic plants. See the
verb, to dry.]
1. The general name of substances used in
medicine, sold by the druggist, and com
pounded by apothecaries and physicians ;
any substance, vegetable, animal or
ral, which is used in the composition or
preparation of medicines. It is also appf
ed to dyeing materials.
2. Any commodity tliat lies on hand, or is
not salable ; an article of slow sale, or in
no demand in market.
3. A mortal drug, or a deadly drug, is-poison,
4. A drudge. [Scot, drug.] Shak
DRUG, V. J. To prescribe or administer drug.«
or medicines. B. Jonson
DRUG, V. t. To season with drugs or ingre-
dients. Sliak
2. To tincture with something offensive.
Milton.
DRUG'GEB, n. A druggist. [JVot used.]
Burton.
DRUG'GET, n. [Fr. droguet; Sp. droguele
It. droghetto.]
A cloth or thin stuff of wool, or of wool and
thread, corded or plain, usually plain.
Encyc.
DRUG'GIST, n. [Fr. droguisle ; Sp. drogu
ro ; It. droghiere ; from drug.]
One who deals in drugs ; properly, or
whose occupation is merely to buy and
sell drugs, without compounding or prep-
aration. In America, the same person
often carries on the business of the drug-
gist and the apothecarv.
DRUG'STER, n. A druggist. [A*o< used.]
Boyle.
DRU'ID, n. [Ir. draoi, formerly drni, a ma-
Vol. I.
D R U
gician, a druid ; plu. draoilhc ; Sax. dry,
magician ; W. derwyz, [denoylh,] which
Owen supposes to be a compound of dar,
derw, an oak, and gwyz, knowledge, pres-
ence. The Welsh derivation accords with
that of Pliny, who supposes the druids
were so called, because they frequented or
instructed in the forest, or sacrificed un-
der an oak. But some uncertainty rests
on this subject.]
A priest or minister of religion, among the
ancient Celtic nations in Gaul, Britain and
Germany. The Druids possessed some
knowledge of geometry, natural philoso-
phy, &c., superintended the affairs of re-
ligion and morality, and performed the of-
fice of judges. Owen. Encyc.
DRUID'IC, I Pertaining to the Dru-
DKIUDICAL, S °" ids.
DRU'IDISM, n. The system of religion,
philosophy and instruction taught by the
Druids, or their doctrines, rites and cere-
monies. fVhitaker. Christ. Observer.
DRUM, n. [D. trom, trommel; G. trommel;
Sw. trumma ; Dan. tromme ; Ir. druma ;
probalily from its sound, and the root of
rumble, Gr. f3pf>iu, L. fremo. See Class
Rm. No. 10. 11.]
1. A martial instrument of music, in form of
n hollow cylinder, and covered at the ends
with vellum, which is stretched or slack-
ened at pleasure.
2. In machinery, a short cylinder revolving
on an axis, generally for the purpose ofl
turning several small wheels, by means of]
straps passing round its periphery. Cyc.
.3. The drum of the ear, the tympanum, or
barrel of the ear; the hollow part of the
ear, behind the membrane of the tympa-
num. The latter is a tense membrane,
which closes the external passage of the
ear, and receives the vibrations of the air.
Hooper.
DRUM, V. i. To beat a drum with sticks ; to
beat or play a tune on a drum.
2. To beat with the fingers, as with drum
sticks ; to beat with a rapid succession of
strokes ; as, to drum on the table.
3. To beat as the heart. Dryden
DRUM, V. t. To expel with beat of drum.
Military phrase.
DRUM'BLE, V. i. To drone ; to be sluggish.
[JVot in use.] Shak.
DRUM'-FISH,n. A fish, found on the coast
of N. America.
DRUM'LY, a. [W. trom, heavy.] Thick;
stagnant ; muddy. [JVot in Mse.]
DRUM-MAJOR, n. The chief or first drum
mer of a regiment.
DRUM-MAKER, n. One who makes
drums.
DRUM'MER, n. One whose office is to beat
the drum, in iniUtary exercises and march
ins ; one who drums.
DRilM'-STICK, n. The stick with which a
dimn is beaten, or shaped for the purpose
of beating a drum.
DRUNK, a. [from drunken. See Drink.]
1. Intoxicated ; inebriated ; overwhelmed oi
overpowered by spirituous liquor ; stupi
fied or inflamed by the action of spirit on
the stomach and brain. It is brutish to be
drunk.
Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess.
St. Paul.
68
DRY
2. Drenched, or saturated with moisture or
liquor.
I will make my arrows drunk with blood.
Deut. xxxii.
[Note. Drunk was formerly used as the par-
ticiple of dn'Tift ; as, he had drunfe wine. But
in modem usage, drank lias taken its place ; and
drunk is now used chiefly as an adjective.]
DRUNK'ARD, n. One given to ebriety or
an excessive use of strong liquor ; a per-
son who habitually or frequently is drunk.
A drunkard and a glutton shall come to pov-
erty. Prov. xxiii
DRUNK'EN, a. drunk'n. [participle of
drink, but now used chiefly as an adjec-
tive, and often contracted to drunk.]
1. Intoxicated ; inebriated with strong liquor.
2. Given to drunkenness ; as a drunken but-
ler.
}. Saturated with liquor or moisture ; drench-
ed.
Let the eartli be drunken with our blood.
Shak.
4. Proceeding from intoxication ; done in a
state of drunkenness ; as a drunken quar-
rel. Swijl.
A drunken slaughter. Shak.
DRUNK'ENLY, adv. In a drunken man-
■. [Little used.] Shak.
DRUNKENNESS, n. Intoxication; ine-
briation ; a state in which a person is
overwhelmed or overpowered with spirit-
uous liquors, so that his reason is disor-
<lered, and he reels or staggers in walk-
ing. Drunkenness renders some persons
stu])id, others gay, others sullen, others
furious.
Let us walk honestly as in the day ; not in
rioting and drunkenness. St. Paul.
2. Habitual ebriety or intoxication. fVatts.
3. Disorder of the faculties resembling in-
toxication by liquors ; inflammation ; fren-
DRUPE, n. [L. drupw, Gr. Sfmramn, ol-
ives ready to fall; Gr. Spus, a tree, and
niTtru, to fall.]
In botany, a pulpy pericarp or fruit without
valves, containing a imt or stone with a
kernel ; as the plum, cherry, apricot, peach,
almond, olive, &c. Martyn.
DRUPA'CEOUS, a. Producing drupes ; as
drupaceous trees.
2. Pertaining to drupes ; or consisting of
drnpes ; as drupaceous fruit ; drupaceous
follicles. .Isiat. Researches.
DRUSE, n. [G. druse, a gland, glanders.]
Among miners, a cavity in a rock having
its interior surface studded with crystals,
or filled with water.
DRU'SY, a. s as z. Abounding with very
minute crystals ; as a drusy surface.
Kirwan.
DRY, a. [Sax. rfn, drig, or dryg ; D. droog ;
G. trocken. See the Verb.]
Destitute of moisture ; free from water or
wetness ; arid ; not moist ; as dry land ;
dry clothes.
dry*
Not
iny ; free from rain or mist ; as dry
weatlier ; a dry March or April.
3. Not juicy ; free from juice, sap or aque-
ous matter ; not green ; as dry wood ;
dry stubble ; dry hay ; dry leaves.
4. Without tears ; as dry eyes ; dry mourn-
ing. Dryden.
5. Not giving miUv ; as, the cow is dry.
DRY
DUB
D U C
tj. Thirstj-; craving drink.
7. Barren; jejune; plain; iinenibellished;
destitute of patiios, or of that which amuses
and interests ; as a dry style ; a dry sub-
ject ; a dry discussion.
8. Severe ; sarcastic ; wiping ; as a dry re-
mark or repartee ; a dry rub. Goodman.
9. Severe ; wiping ; as a dry blow ; a dry
basting. See the Verb, which signifiesj
properly to wipe, rub, scour. Bacon.\
10. Dry goods, in commerce, cloths, stuff's,]
silks, laces, ribins, &c., in distinction from
groceries.
J)Ry, V. t. [Sax. drigan, adrigan, or drygan,
adrygnn, adrugan, gedrigan ; D. droogen ;
G. Irocknen, to dry, to wipe ; Gr. TpvytM) ;
L. tergo, tergeo ; Fr. torcher ; Sw. torcka.
The German has also diirr, Sw. iorr,
Dan. tor, but these seem to be connected]
with L. torreo, Russ. obterayu or oterayu.\
Class Dr. Whether drigan and dry are
derivatives of that root, or belong to Class
Rg, the root of rake, is not certain. See
Dry, Class Rg. The primary sense is to
joipe, rub, scour.]
1. To free from water, or from moisture of
any kind, and by any means ; originally
by wiping, as to dry the eyes ; to exsic-
cate.
2. To deprive of moisture by evaporation or
exhalation; as,the sun rfne* acloth ; wind
drits the earth.
3. To deprive of moisture by exposure to
the sun or open air. We dry cloth in the
sun.
4. To deprive of natural juice, sap or green-
ness ; as, to dry hay or plants.
5. To scorch or parch with thirst; with up.
Their honorable men are famished, and their
muhitude dried up with thirst. Isa. v.
C. To deprive of water by draining ; to
drain ; to exhaust ; as, to dry a meadow.
To dry up, to deprive wholly of water.
DRY, V. i. To grow dry ; to lose moisture ;
to become free from moisture or juice.
The road dries fast in a clear windy day.
Hay will dry sufficiently in two days.
9. To evaporate wholly ; to be exhaled ;
sometimes with up ; as, the stream dries or
dries up.
DRY'AD, n. [L. dryades, plu. from Gr. 6pv5,
a tree.]
In mythology, a ileity or nymph of the woods ;
a nymph supposed to preside over woods,
DRY'ED, pp. oUnj. [See Dried.]
DRY'ER, n. He or that which dries; that
which exhausts of moisture or greeimess
DRY'EYED, a. Not having tears in the
eyes.
DRY'FAT, n. A dry vat or basket.
DRY'FQQT, n. A dog that pursues game
by the scent of the foot. Shak
DRY'ING, ppr. Expelling or losing moist-
ure, sap or greenness.
DRY'ING, n. The act or process of depri-
ving of moisture or greenness.
DRY'ITE, n. [Gr. ipi.;, an oak.] Frag-
ments of petrified or fossil wood in which
the structure of the wood is recognized.
Diet.
DRY'LY, adv. W ithout moisture.
2. Coldly ; frigidly ; without affection. Bacon.
3. Severely ; sarcastically.
4. Barrenly ; without embelhshment ; with-
out any thing to enliven, enrich or enter-
tain. Pope
DRY'NESS, n. Destitution of moisture
want of water or other fluid ; siccity ; a
ridity ; aridness ; as the dryness of a soil ;
dryness of the road.
Want of rain ; as dryness of weather
3. Want of juice or succulence ; as dryness
of the bones or fibers. Arbulhnot.
4. Want of succulence or greenness; as the
dryness of hay or corn.
5. Barrenness ; jejuneness; want of orna-
ment or pathos ; want of that which enli-
vens and entertains ; as the dryness of
style or expression ; the rfn/nc«« of a sub-
ject.
Want of feeling or sensibility in devotion ;
want of ardor ; as dryness of spirit.
Taylor.
DRY'NURSE, n. A nurse who attends and
feeds a child without the breast.
2. One who attends another in sickness.
DRY'NURSE, v. i. To feed, attend and
bring up without the breast. Hudibras.
DRY'RUB, V. t. To rub and cleanse with-
out wetting. Dodsley's Poems.
flYSAl.T'ER, n. A dealer in salted or
dry meats, pickles, sauces, &c. Fordyce.
DRY'SHOD, a. Without wetting the feet.
Is. xi. 15.
DU'AL, a. [L. dualis, from duo, two.] Ex-
jiressing the number two ; as the dual
number in Greek.
DUALIS'Tle, a. Consisting of two. The
dualistic system of Anaxagoras and Plato
taught that there are two principles in na-
ture, one active, the other passive.
Enfield.
DIJALTTY, n. That which expresses two
in number. Hales.
2. Division ; separation. Davits.
3. The state or quality of being two.
Hayley.
DUB, V. i. [Sax. dubban ; coinciding with
Gr. ivTttu, and Eng. tap. Class Db.j Lit
erally, to strike. Hence,
1. To strike a blow w ith a sword, and make
a knight.
Se cyng — dubhade his sunu Henric to ri-
dere.
The King dubbed his son Henry a knight.
Sa.x. Chron. An. 1085
2. To confer any dignity or new character,
nan of wealth is dubb'd a man of worth
DUB, V. i. To make a quick noise. Beaum.
DUB, n. A blow. [Utile used.] Hudibras
2. In Irish, a puddle.
DUB'BED, pp. Struck; made a knight.
DUB'BING, ppr. Striking ; making a knight,
DUBI'ETY, n. [See Doubt.] Doubtfulness
[Little used.] Richardson
DU'BIOUS, a. [L. dubius. See Doidd. The
primary sense is jirobably to turn or to
1. Doubtful ; wavering or fluctuating ir
opinion ; not settled ; not determined ; as
the mind is in a dubious state.
2. Uncertain; that of which the tnith is nol
ascertained or known ; as a dubious ques-
tion.
.3. Not clear ; not plain ; as dubious light.
Milton.
4. Of uncertain event or issue.
In dubmis battle. .Milton
DU'BIOUSLY, adv. Doubtfully ; uncertain
ly ; without any determination. Suijl
DU'BIOUSNESS, n. Doubtfulness ; a state
of wavering and indecision of mind ; as,
he speaks with dubiousness.
2. Uncertainty ; as the dxtbiousness of the
question.
DU'BITABLE, a. [L. dubito. See Doubt],
Doubtful; uncertain. [Little used.] But
the derivative indubitable is often used.
DU'BITANCY, n. Doubt ; uncertainty.
[Little used.]
DUBITA'TION, n. [L. dubitatio, from du-
bito, to doubt.] The act of doubting ;
doubt. [Little used.] Brown. Grew.
DU'€AL, a. [Fr. Sp. Fort, from duke.] Per-
taining to a duke ; as a ducal coronet.
Johnson.
DUCAT, n. [from duke.] A coin of sever-
al countries in Europe, struck in the do-
minions of a duke. It is of sUver or gold.
The silver ducat is generally of the value
of four shillings and sixpence sterling,
equal to an American dollar, or to a French
crown, and the gold ducat of twice the
value. Encyc.
DUCATOON', 71. [Fr. ducaton ; Sp.id; from
ducat.]
A silver coin, struck chiefly in Italy, of the
value of about four shillings and eight
pence sterling, or nearly 104 cents. The
gold ducatoon of Holland is worth twenty
florins. Encuc.
DUCHESS, n. [Fr. duchesse, from due,.
duke.]
The consort or widow of a duke. Also, a
lady who has the sovereignty of a duchy.
DUCH'Y, ji. [Fr. duch^.] The territory or
dominions of a duke; a dukedom ; as the
djjcfo/ of Lancaster. Blarkstone.
DUCli'Y-€OURT, n. The court of the
duchy of Lancaster in England.
DUCK, n. [Sw. duk, a cloth ; Dan. duug ; G.
tuch ; D. doek ; allied perhaps to L. toga,
and to tego, to cover, or texo, to weave.]
A species of coarse cloth or canvas, used
for sails, sacking of beds, &c.
DUCK, n. [from the verb, to duck.] A wa-
ter (owl, so called from its plunging.
There are many species or varieties of the
duck, some wild, others tame.
2. An inclination of the head, resembling
•'— ■ ■"*■ — of a duck in water. Milton.
i. A stone thrown obliquely on the water,
so as to rebound ; as in duck and drake.
Johnson.
DUCK, n. [Dan. dukke, a baby or puppet.]
A word of endearment or fondness.
Shak.
DUCK, V. t. [G. ducken, and tauchen ; D.
duiken, pret. dook, to stoop, dive, plunge.
Qu. Sax. theachan, to wash, and its alli-
ance to tingo and dye. Class Dg.]
1. To dip or plunge in water and suddenly
withdraw ; as, to duck a seaman. It dif-
fers from dive, which signifies to plunge
one's self, without immediately emerging.
2. To i)lunge the head in water and imme-
diately withdraw it ; as, duck the boy.
?. To bow, stoop or nod.
DUCK, V. i. To plunge into water and im-
mediately withdraw ; to dip ; to plunge
the head in water or other liquid.
In Tiber ducking thiice by break of day.
Dryden.
2. To drop the head suddenly ; to bow ; to
cringe.
Suck with French nods. Shak.
DUCK'ED, pp. Plunged ; dipped in water.
DUE
DUE
D U L
DUCK'ER, a. A plunger ; a diver ; a
cringer.
DUCKING, ppr. Plunging ; thrusting sud-
denly into water and withdrawing ; dip-
DUCK'ING, n. The act of plunging or put-
ting in water and withdrawing. Ducking
is a punishment of offenders in France,
and among English seamen, it is a penalty
to which sailors are subject on passing,
for the first time, the equator or tropic.
DUCKING-STOOL, n. A stool or cliair in
which common scolds were formerly tied
and plunged into water. Blackstone.
DUCK'-LEGGED, a. Having short legs,
like a duck. Drydcn.
DUCK'LING, n. A young duck. Ray.
DUCK'-MEAT, / A plant, the Lemna,
DUCK'S-MEAT, \ "• growing in ditches
and shallow water, and serving for food
for ducks and geese. Enci/c.
The stari7 duck's-meat is the Callitriche."
Fam. of Plants.
DUCKOY. [See Decoy.]
DUCK'S-FOOT, 71. A plant, the Podophyl-
lum ; called also May-apple.
Fam. of Plants.
DUCK' -WEED, n. The same as duck-meat.
DU€T, n. [L. ductus, from duco, to lead.
See Lhtke.]
1. Any tube or canal by which a fluid or
other substance is conducted or conveyed.
It is particularly used to denote the ves-
sels of an animal body, by which the
blood, chyle, lymph, &c., are carried from
one part to another, and the vessels of
plants in which the sap is conveyed.
2. Guidance ; direction. [Little used.]
Hammond.
DU€'TILE, a. IL. ductilis, from duco, to
lead.]
1. That may be led ; easy to be led or drawn ;
tractable ; complying ; obsequious ; yield
ing to motives, persuasion or instruction ;
as the ductile minds of youth ; a ductile
people. Philips. Addison.
3. Flexible; pliable.
The ductile rind and leaves of radiant gold.
Dryden
3. That may be drawn out into wire or
threads. Gold is the most ductile of the
metals.
4. That may be extended by beating.
DUC'TILENESS, n. The quality of suffer-
ing extension by drawing or percussion ;
ductility. Donne.
DUCTIL'ITY, n. The property of solid bod-
■ ies, particularly metals, which renders'
them capable of being extended by draw-!
ing without breaking ; as the ductility of
cold, iron or brass.
2. Flexibility ; obsequiousness ; a disposi-
tion of mind that easily yields to motives
or influence ; ready compliance. Roscoe.
DUe'TURE, n. [L. duco.] Guidance. [jXot
in use.] South.
DUDG'EON, n. [G. degen.] A small dag-
ger. Hudihras.
DUDG'EON, n. [W. dygen.] Anger ; re-
sentment ; malice ; ill will ; discord.
VEstrange. Hudihras.
DUDS, Ji. [Scot, dud, a rag ; duds, clothes,
or old worn clothes.]
Old clothes ; tattered garments. [A vulgar
word.]
DUE, a. du. [Fr. du, pp. of devoir, L. de-
heo, Sp. deher, II. dovcre. Qu. Gr. «fu, to
bind. Class Dl). It has no connection
with owe.]
Owed ; that ought to be paid or done to
another. That is due from me to another
which contract, justice or propriety re-
quires me to pay, and which he may just-
ly claim as his right. Reverence is rfu<
to the creator ; civility is due from one
man to another. Money is due at the ex-
piration of the credit given, or at the pe-
riod promised.
9. Proper ; fit ; appropriate ; suitable ; be
coming ; required by the circumstances ; as,
the event was celebrated with due solem-
nities. Men seldom have a due sense of
their depravity.
3. Seasonable ; as, he will come in due time.
4. Exact ; proper ; as, the musicians keep
due time.
5. Owing to ; occasioned by. [Little used.]
Boyle.
(>. That ought to have arrived, or to be pres-
ent, before the time specified ; as, two mails
are now due.
DUE, adv. Directly ; exactly ; as a due east
course.
DUE, n. That which is owed ; that which
one contracts to pay, do or perform to an-
other ; that which law or justice requires
to be paid or done. The money that I
contract to pay to another is his due ; the
service which I roveuant to perform to
another is his due ; reverence to the crea-
tor is his due.
2. That which office, rank, station, social re-
lations, or established rules of riglit or de-
corum, require to he given, paid or done
Respect and obedience to parents and
magistrates are their due.
3. That which law or custom requires ; as
toll, tribute, fees of office, or other legal
perquisites. Addison.
4. Right ; just title.
The key of this infernal pit by due —
I keep. Milton
DUE, i>. /. To pay as due. [Xol used.]
Shak
DU'EL, n. [L. dueUurn ; Fr. duel ; It. dutllo ;|
Port. id. ; Sp. duelo. In Armoric, the word
is dufell, or duvell, and Gregoire supposes!
the word to be compounded of dou, two,
and hell, bellum, war, combat. So in Dutch,'
tweegevegt, two-fight; in G. zweikampf, id.]
1. Single combat ; a premeditated combat
between two persons, for the purpose oi
deciding some private difference or quar-
rel. A sudden fight, not premeditated, is
called a rencounter. A duel is fought with
deadly weapons and with a purpose to
take life.
2. Any contention or contest. Milton.
DU'EL, V. i. To fight in single combat.
South.
DUEL, V. t. To attack or fight singly.
Milton.
DU'ELER, n. A combatant in single fight. j
DU'ELING, ppr. Fighting in single combat.
DU'ELING, 71. The act or practice of fight-j
ing in single combat.
DU'ELIST, n. One who fights in single
combat. Dryden.\
The due/i.*/ values liis honor above the life of
his antagonist, his own life, and the happiness
of his family. I
2. One who professes to study the rules of
honor.
DUELLO, n. Duel; or rule of dueling.
[jVot used.] Shak.
DU'ENESS, n. du'ness. [See Due.] Fit-
ness ; propriety ; due quahty.
DUEN'NA, n. [Sp. dueha, fern, of dueno ;
Fr. duegne ; the same as dona, the femi-
nine of don. 0,11. W. dyn, Ir. duine, man,
a per.son. See Don.]
An old woman who is kept to guard a
younger; a governess. Arbuthnot.
DUET', ) [Ital. duetto, from duo, two.]
DUET'TO, I ■ A song or air in two parts.
DUG, n. [Ice. deggia. This word corres-
ponds with the root of L. digitus, Eng.
toe. Norm, doy, a finger, signifying a
shoot or point.]
The pap or nipple of a cow or other beast.
It is applied to a human female in con-
tempt, but seems to have been used for-
merly of the human breast without re-
proach.
From lender dug of common nurse.
Spenser.
DUG, pret. and pp. of dig ; as, they dug- a
ditch ; a ditch was dug.
DUKE, 71. [Fr. due; Sp. Port, dujue ; It.
duca ; Arm. dug or doug ; Sax. teoche,
and in composition, toga, toge, as in here-
toga, an army leader, a general ; D. her-
tog; G.herzog; Dan. hertug ; Sw. hertig;
Venetian, dog-e ; L. dur, from duco, to lead,
as in Saxon, tiogan, teon, to draw, to (ug- ;
Gr. rayo{ ; Tliessalian, lagus. Class Dg.
No. 5. 14.]
1. In Great Britain, one of the highest or-
der of nobility ; a title of honor or nobility
next below the princes ; as the Duke of
Bedford or of Cornwall.
3. In some countries on the Continent, a
sovereign prince, without the title of king ;
as the Duke of Ilolstein, of Savoy, of
Parma, &c.
2. A chief; a prince ; as the dukes of Edom.
Gen. xxxvi.
DU'KEDOM, n. The seignory or possess-
ions of a duke ; the territory of a duke.
Shak.
2. The title or quality of a duke. Ibid.
DUL'BRAINED, a. [diM and brain.] Stu-
pid ; doltish ; ofdull intellects. [See DuU-
brained.] Shak.
DUL'CET, a. [L. dulcis, sweet.] Sweet to
the taste ; luscious.
She tempers dulcet creams. Milton.
2. Sweet to the ear ; melodious ; harmoni-
ous ; as dulcet sounds ; dulcet symphonies.
MUton.
DULCIFICA'TION, 71. [See Dulcify.] The
act of sweetening ; the act of freeing from
acidity, saltness or acrimony. Boyle.
DUL'CiFIED, pp. Sweetened ; purified
from salts.
Dulcifed spirits, a term formerly applied to
the different ethers ; as dulcifed spirits of
niter and vitriol, nitric and sulphuric
ethers. Dispensatory.
DULCIF-f , I', t. [Fr. dulcifer, from L. duicis,
sweet, and facia, to make.]
To sweeten ; to free from acidity, saltness
or acrimony. Wiseman.
DUL'CIMER, 71. [It. dolcimelh,fTom dolcc,
sweet. Skinner.]
D U L
D U M
An instrument of music played by striking
brass wires witli little sticks. Daniel iii. 5.
Johnson.
DUL'CINESS, n. [L. dulcis.] Softness;
easiness of temper. [JVot used.] Bacon.
DUL'CORATE, v. t. [L. dulcis, sweet; Low
L. didco, to sweeten.] To sweeten. Bacon.
2. To make less acrimonious.
Johnson, fflseman.
nUL€ORA'TION, n. The act of sweeten-
ing. Bacon.
DU'LIA, n. [Gr. bm^na, service.] An infe-
rior kind of worship or adoration. [Not
an English word.] Stillingjlcet.
DULL, a. [W. dol, did j Sax. dol, a wan-
deriTig ; also dull, foolish, stupid ; D. dol,
mad ; G. toll, and tolpel, a dolt ; Sax.
du'olian, to wander, to rave. Qu. Dan.
dvceler, to loiter ; Sw. dvalias, id., or dvala,
a trance.]
1. Stupid; doltish; blockish ; slow of under-
standing; as a lad of dull genius.
9. Heavy; sluggish; without life or spirit;
as, a surfeit leaves a man very dull.
3. Slow of motion ; sluggish ; as a dull
stream.
4. Slow of hearing or seeing ; as dull of hear-
ing ; dull of seeing.
5. Slow to learn or comprehend ; unready ;
awkward ; as a dull scholar.
fi. Sleepy ; drowsy.
7. Sad ; melancholy.
8. Gross ; cloggy ; insensible ; as the dull
earth.
9. Not pleasing or delightful ; not exhilara-
ting ; cheerless ; as, to make dictionaries
is dull work. Johnson
10. Not bright or clear; clouded; tarnish
ed ; as, the mirror is (f«(i.
IL Not bright; not briskly burning ; as a
dull fire.
12. Dim ; obscure ; not vivid ; as a dull
light.
13. Blunt; obtuse; having a thick edge ;
a dull knife or ax.
13. Cloudy ; overcast ; not clear ; not en
vening ; as didl weather.
15. With seamen, being without wind ; as,
ship has a dull time.
16. Not lively or animated ; as a didl eye.
DULL, V. t. To make dull ; to stupify ; as, to
didl the senses. Shak.
2. To blunt ; as, to dull a sword or an ax.
3. To make sad or melancholy.
4. To hebetate ; to make insensible or slow
to perceive ; as, to dull the ears ; to dull
the wits. Spenser. Aschani.
5. To damp; to render lifeless; as, to dull
the attention. Hooker.
6. To make heavy or slow of motion; as, to
dull industry. Bacon
7. To sully ; to tarnish or cloud ; as, the
breath dulh airiirror.
DULL, I', i. To become dull or blunt ; t(
become stupid.
DULL'-BRAINED, a. Stupid ; of dull huel
lect.
DULL -BROWED, a. Having a gloomy
look. (Quarks.
DULL-DISPO'SED, a. Inclined to dullness
or sadness. B. Jonson
DULL'-EYED, a. Having a downcast look.
Shak
DULL'-HEAD, n. A person of didl under-
standing ; a doll ; a blockhead.
. Having imperfect
Having a dull intel-
DULL-SIGHTED,
sight ; i)urblind.
DULL-WITTED,
lect; heavy.
DULL'ARD, a. Doltish ; stupid. Hall.
DULL'ARD, n. A stupid person ; a dolt ; a
blockhead ; a dunce. Shak.
DULL'ED,;>i). Made dull; blunted.
DULL'ER, n. That which makes dull.
DULL'ING,j9;?r. Making dull.
DULL'NESS, n. Stupidity; slowness of
comprehension ; weakness of intellect ;
indocility ; as the dullness of a student.
South
2. Want of quick perception or eager de-
sire.
Heaviness ; drowsiness ; inclination tc
sleep.
4. Heaviness ; disinclination to motion.
5. Sluggishness ; slowness.
Dimness; want of clearness or luster.
Bluntness ; want of edge.
Want of brightness or vividness ; as dull
ness of color.
DUL'LY, adv. Stupidly ; slowly ; sluggish
ly; without life or spirit.
DU'LY, adv. [from due.] Properly ; fitly ;
in a suitable or becoming manner ; as, let
the subject be duly considered.
2. Regularly ; at the proper time ; as, a man
duly attended church with his family.
DUIVIB, a. dum. [Sax. dumb ; Goth, dumis,
dumba ; G. dumm ; D. dom ; Sw. dumm or
dumbe ; Dan. dum ; Heb. Ch. DH, to be
silent ; Ar. ^ \ i to continue or be per-
manent, to appease, to quiet. Class Dm,
No. 3. In this word, b is improperly
added.]
. Mute; silent; not speaking.
I was dumb with silence ; I held my peace
Ps. xxxix.
3. Destitute of the power of speech ; unable
to utter articulate sounds; as the dumb
brutes. The asylum at Hartford in Con-
necticut was the first institution in Ameri
ca for teaching the deaf and dumb to reac
and write.
3. Mute ; not using or accompanied with
speech ; as a dumb show ; dumb signs.
To strike dumb, is to confound ; to astonish
to render silent by astonLshment ; or it
mav be, to deprive of the power of speech
DUMB, V. t. To silence. Shak
DUMB'LY, adv. dum'ly. Mutely; silently
without words or speech.
DUMB'NESS, n. dum'ness. Muteness : si
lence or holding the peace ; omission of
speech. This is voluntary dumbness.
2. Incapacity to speak ; inability to articu
late sounds. This is involuntai-y dumb-
ness.
DUM'FOUND, f.i. To strike dumb; to con
fuse. [A low word.] Spectator
DUM'MERER, n. One who feigns dumb
ness. [JVot in use.]
DUMP, n. [from the root of dumb ; D. dom
G. dumm.]
1. A dull gloomy state of the mind ; sadness;
melancholy ; sorrow ; heaviness of heart.
In doleful dumps. Gay.
2. Absence of mind ; reverie. Locke.
3. A melancholy tune or air. Shak
[This is not an elegant word, and in
America, I believe, is always used in the
plural ; as, the woman is in the dumps.'
DUN
DUMP'ISH, a. Dull; stupid ; sad; melan-
choly ; depressed in spirits ; as, he lives a
dumpish life.
DUMP'ISHLY, adv. In a moping manner.
DUMP'ISHNESS, n. A state of being dull,
heavy and moping.
DUM PILING, n. [from dump.] A kind of
pudding or mass of paste iti cookery ; usu-
ally, a cover of paste inclosing an apple and
boiled, called apple-dumpling.
DUMP'Y, a. Short and thick.
DUN, «. [Sax. rfunn; W.diim; Ir.donn;
qu. tan, tatvny. See Class Dn. No. 3. 24.
28. 35.]
1. Of a dark color ; of a color partaking of
a brown and black ; of a dull brown color ;
swarthy.
2. Dark ; gloomy.
In the dun air sublime. Milton.
DUN, v. t. To cure, as fish, in a manner to
give them a dun color. [See Dunning.]
DUN, V. t. [Sax. dynan, to clamor, to din.
See Din. Qu. Gr. 6o«u.]
1. Literally, to clamor for payment of a debt.
Hence, to urge for payment ; to demand a
debt m a pressing manner ; to urge for pay-
ment with importunity. But in commoD
usage, dun is often used in a milder sense,
and signifies to call for, or ask for pay-
ment.
2. To urge importunately, in a general sense,
but not an elegant word.
DUN, n. An importunate creditor who urges
for payment. Philips. Arbuthnol.
2. An urgent request or demand of payment
in writing ; as, he sent his debtor a dun.
. An eminence or mound. [See Down and
Town.] ,
DUNCE, n. duns. \G.duns. Qu.Pers- j^i;>
a stupid man.]
A person of weak intellects ; a dullard ; a
dolt; a thickskuU.
I nevei- knew this town without dunces of
figure. Swifi.
DUN'CERY', n. Dullness ; stupidity.
Smith.
DUN'CIFY, V. t. To make stupid in intel-
* lect. [M)t used.] Warburion.
DUN'DER, n. [Sp. redundar, to overflow ;
L. redundo.]
Lees ; dregs ; a word used in Jamaica.
The use of dunder in the making of ram an-
swers the purpose of yeast in the fermentation
of flour. Edwards, JV. hid.
DUNE, n. A hill. [See Doion.]
DUN'-FISH, 71. Codfish cured in a partic-
ular manner. [See Dunning.]
DUNG, n. [Qax. dung, ov dincg, ov dinig ;
G. dung, danger ; Dan. dynd ; Sw.
dynga.] The excrement of animals.
-Bacon.
DUNG, r. I. To manure with dung.
Dry den.
DUNG, r. i. To void excrement.
DUNG'ED, »/). Manured with dung.
DUN'GEON, 71. [Fr. dongeon, or donjon, a
tower or platform in the midst of a castle,
a turret or closet on the top of a house.
In one Armoric dialect it is domjou, and
Gregoire suggests that it is compounded
of rfom, lord or chief, and jou, Jupiter, Jove,
an elevated or chief tower consecrated to
Jupiter. In Scottish, it is written dounge-
oun, and denotes the keep or strongest
tower of a fortress, or auinner tower sur-
DUO
rounded by a ditch. Jamieson. It was
used for confining jjrisoners, and lience its
application to prisons of eminent strength.]
1. A close prison ; or a deep, dark place of
confinement.
And in a dungeon deep. Spensei'.
They brought Joseph hastily out of the du7i-
geon. Gen. \U.
2. A subterraneous iilace of close confine-
ment. Jtremiah.
DUN'GliON, v.t. To confine in a dungeon.
Hall.
DUNG'FORK, n. A fork used to throw
dung from a stable or into a cart, or to
spread it over land.
DUNG'HILL, n. A heap of dung.
2. A mean or vile abode. Dryden
3. Any mean situation or condition.
Ho lifteth the beggar from the dunghill. 1
Sam. ii.
4. A term of reproach for a man meanly
born. [JVot used.] Shak
DUNG'HILL, a. Sprung from the dunghill
mean ; low ; base ; vile. Shak.
DUNG' Y, a. Full of dung; filthy; vile.
D U R
DUODEC'UPLE, a. [L. duo, two, and decu
plus, tenfold.] Consisting of twejv
[L.] The
Arbuthnot.]
first of the
DUNG' YARD, n. A yard or iuclosure where
dung is collected. Mortimer.
DUN'LIN, n. A fowl, a species of sandpiper.
Pennant.
DUNNAGE, Ji. Faggots, boughs or loose
wood laid on the bottom of a ship to raise
heavy goods above the bottom.
Mar. Did.
DUN'NED,p/>. [fromd«H.] Importuned to
pay a debt ; urged.
DUNr—
See
NER, n. [from dun.] One employed
in soliciting the payment of debts.
Speclator.
DUN'NING, ppr. [from rfuJi.] Urging f.
payment of a debt, or for the grant of
some favor, or for the obtaining any
quest ; importuning.
DUN'NING, ppr. or n. [from dun, a color.]
The operation of curing codfish, in such a
manner as to give it a particular color and
quality. Fish for dunning are caught
early in spring, and often in February
At the Isles of Shoals, oflf Portsmouth, in
New Hampshire, the cod are taken in deep
water, split and slack-salted ; then laid in
a pile for two or three months, in a dark
store, covered, for the greatest part of the
time, with salt-hay or eel-grass, and press-
ed with some weight. In April or May,
they are opened and piled again as close
as possible in the same dark store, till July
or August, when they ai-e fit for use
J. Haven.
DUN'NISH, a. Inclined to a dun color
somewhat dun. Ray.
DUN'NY, a. Deaf; dull of apprehension,
[Local.] Grose.
DD'O, n. [L. two.] A song in two parts.
DUODECAHE'DRAL. ) [See Dodecahe-
DUODECAHE'DRON. ^ dral, Dodecahe-
dron.]
DUODEC'IMFID, a. [L. duodecim, twelve,
and/jirfo, to cleave.] Divided into twelve
parts.
DUODECIMO, a. [L. duodecim, twelve
Having or consisting of twelve leaves to
sheet ; as a book of duodecimo form or
DUOD'ENUM, n
intestines. I
DU<JLIT'ERAL, a. [L.rfito, two, and litera,\
a letter.] Consisting of two letters only ;
biliteral. Stuart.]
DUPE, n. [Fr.dtipe. See the Verb.] A per-]
son who is deceived; or one easily led
astray by his credulity ; as the dupe of a
DUPE, V. t. [Fr. duper ; Sw. iubba. Qui
Sp. and Port, eslafar.]
To deceive ; to trick ; to mislead by impo-
sing on one's credulity ; as, to be duped
by flattery.
DU'PION, n. A double cocoon, formed by
two or more silk-worms. Encyc.
DU'PLE, a. [L. duplus.] Double. Dujple ra-
tio is that of 2 to 1, 8 to 4, &:.c. Sub-dttple
ratio is the reverse, or as 1 to 2, 4 to 8, &c
DU'PLICATE, a. [L. duplicatus, from du-
plico, to double, from duplex, double,
told ; duo, two, and phco, to fold.
Double.] Double ; twofold.
Duplicate proportion or ratio, is the propor-
tion or ratio of squares. Thus in geomet
rical proportion, the first term to the third is
said to be in a duplicate ratio of the first to
the second, or as its square is to the square
of the second. Thus in 2. 4. 8. 16, the
ratio of 2 to 8 is a duplicate of that of 2 to
4, or as the square of 2 is to the square of 4.
DU'PLICATE, n. Another corresponding to
the first ; or a second thing of the same kind.
2. A copy ; a transcript. Thus a second let
ter or "bill of exchange exactly like the
first is called a duplicate.
DU'PLICATE, D.f. [h.duplico.] To double;
to fold.
DUPLICA'TION, n. The act of doubhng
the multiplication of a number by 2.
a. A folding ; a doubling ; also, a fold ; as
the duplication of a membrane.
DU'PLICATURE, n. A doubling ; a fold
In anatomy, the fold of a membrane or
vessel. Encyc.
DUPLICITY, n. [Fr. dupliciti ; Sp. du
plicidad ; It. duplicita; from L. duplex
double.]
I. Donbleness ; the number two. ff'atts.
3. Donbleness of heart or speech ; the act or
practice of exhibiting a diflferent or contra-
ry conduct, or uttering different or con-
trary sentiments, at different times, in re-
lation to the same thing ; or the act of
dissembling one's real opinions for the
purpose of concealing them and mislead
ing persons in the conversation and inter
course of life ; double-dealing ; dissimu-
lation; deceit.
3. In laiv, duplicity is the pleading of two oi
more distinct matters or single pleas.
Blackstone
DURABILITY, n. [See Durable.] The
power of lasting or continuing, in any)
given state, without perishing; as the rfu-j
rability of cedar or oak timber; the dura
bilily of animal and vegetable life is verj-
hmited.
DU'RABLE, a. [L. durahUis, from duro,
last, durus, hard ; W. dur, steel ; durair, to
harden.
D U ?^
ing out; as durable timber; durable tloih ;
durable happiness.
DU'RABLENESS, n. Power of lasting;
durability ; as the durableness of honest
fame.
DU'RABLY, adv. In a lasting manner ; with
long continuance.
DU'RANCE, n. [from Fr. dur, durer, L.
duro.]
Imprisonment; restraint of the person;
custody of the jailer. Shak.
2. Continuance ; duration. [See Endu-
Drydeii.
DURANT', n. A glazed w oolen stuff; called
by some everlasting.
DURA'TION, n. Continuance in time ;
length or extension of existence, indefi-
nitely ; as the duration of life ; the duration
of u partnership ; the duration of any given
period of time; everlasting rfuraU'on. This
holding on or continuance of time is divi-
ded by us arbitrarily into certain portions,
as minutes, hours and days ; or it is meas-
ured by a succession of events, as by the
diurnal and annual revolutions of the earth,
or any other succession ; and the interval
between two events is called a part of rfu-
ration. This interval may be of any indefi-
nite length, a minute or a century.
2. Power of continuance. Rogers.
DURE, 11. 1. [L.rfuro; Vr. durer; Sp. rfurar;
It. durare. See Durable.]
To last ; to hold on in time or being ; to con-
tinue ; to endure. [This word is obsolete ;
endure being substituted.]
DU'REFUL, a. Lasting. Obs. Spenser.
DU'RELESS, a. Not lasting ; fading.
Raleigh.
DURESS', n. [Norm, duresse, durette, from
dur, hard, grievous ; L. duriiies, durus.
See Durable.]
Literally, hardship ; hence, constraint.
Technically, duress, in law, is of two kinds;
duress of impiisonment, wliich is imprison-
ment or restraint of personal liberty; and
duress by menaces or threats [per minas,]
when a f>erson is threatened with loss of
life or limb. Fear of battery is no duress.
Duress then is imprisonment or threats in-
tended to compel a person to do a legal
act, as to execute a deed ; or to commit an
offense ; in which cases the act is voidable
or excusable. Blackstone.
2. Imprisonment; restraint of liberty.
DU'RING, ppr. of dure. Continuing; last-
ing ; holding on ; as during life, that is,
life continuing ; during our earthly pil-
grimage ; during the space of a year ; du-
ring this or that. These phrases are the
case absolute, or independent clauses ;
durante vita, durante hoc.
DU'RITY, 71. [Fr. durete, from dur, L. du-
rus, duro.]
Hardness; firmness.
DUODECIMO, n. A book in which a sheet
is folded into twelve leaves.
Having the quality of lasting or continuing] in yo
long in being, without penahing or wear-!lDUSK
L
2. Hardness of mind; harshness. [Little
tised.]
DU'ROUS, a. Hard. [.Yot used.] Smith.
DUR'RA, )i. A kind of millet, cultivated
inN. Africa.
DURST, prel. of dare. [D. dorst.]
DUSE, n. A demon or evil spirit. " Quos-
dani dajmones quos dusios Galli nuncu-
pant." August. De Civ. Dei, 15. 23.
1 What the duse is the matter ? The duse is
[Vulgar.]
[D. duister ; G. diister ; Russ
D U T
task, tarnish; tusknu, to tarnish, to be-
come dull or obscure. Q,u. Gr. Saavj.]
1. Tending to darkness, or moderately dark,
2. Tending to a dark or black color ; mode-
rately black. Milton
DUSK, n. A tending to darkness ; incipient
or imperfect obscurity ; a middle degree
between light and darkness ; twilight ; as
the dusk of the evening.
2. Tendency to a black color ; darkness of
color.
Whose dusk set off the whiteness of the skin.
Dryden
DUSK, V. t. To make dusky. [LitUe used.]
DUSK, V. i. To begin to lose light or white-
ness ; to grow dark. [Little used.]
DUSK'ILY, adv. With partial darkness;
with a tendency to blackness or darkness.
Sherwood.
DUSK'INESS, n. Incipient or partial dark-
ness; a slight or moderate degree of dark-
ness or blackness.
DUSK'ISH, a. Moderately dusky ; partially
obscure ; slightly dark or black ; as dusk-
ish smoke. Spenser,
Duskish tincture. Wotton.
DUSK'ISHLY, adv. Cloudily ; darkly.
Bacon
DUSK'ISHNESS, n. Duskiness; approach
to darkness. More
DUSK'Y, a. Partially dark or obscure ; nol
luminous ; as a dusky valley. Dryden.
A dusky torch. fihak
2. Tending to blackness in color ; partially
black ; dark-colored ; not bright ; as a
dusky brown. Bacon
Dusky clouds. Dryden.
3. Gloomy ; sad.
This dusky scene of horror. BentUy
4. Intellectually clouded ; as a dusky sjirite.
Pope.
DUST, n. [Sax. dust, dyst ; Scot, dust ; Teut.
doest, duyst, dust, fine flour.]
1. Fine dry particles of earth or other mat-
ter, so auenuated that it may be raised
and wafted by the wind ; powder ; as
clouds of dust and seas of blood.
3. Fine dry particles of earth ; fine earth.
The peacock warmeth her eggs in the dust.
Job xxxix.
.3. Earth ; unorganized earthy matter.
Dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return.
Gen. iii.
4. The grave.
For now shall I sleep in the dust. Job vii.
o. A low condition.
God raiseth the poor out of the dust. 1 Sam
DUST, V t. To free from dust ; to brush,
wipe or sweep away dust ; as, to dust a ta
ble or a floor.
9. To sprinkle with dust.
3. To levigate. Sprat
DUST'-BRUSH, n. A brush for cleanin
rooms and furniture.
DUST'ER, n. An utensil to clear from dust:
also, a sieve.
DUSTINESS, n. The state of being dusty.
DUST'-MAN, n. One whose employment ii^
to carry awav dirt and filth. Gay
DUST'Y, a. Filled, covered or sprinkled
with dust ; clouded with du.st. Dryde
2. Like dust ; of the color of dust ; as
dusty white : a dusty red.
DUTCH, n. The people of Holland; also,
their language.
D U U
DUTCH, a. Pertaming to Holland, or to its
inhabitants.
DU'TEOUS, a. [from duty.] Performing
that which is due, or that which law, jus-
tice or propriety requires ; obedient ; re-
spectful to those who have natural or le-
gal authority to require service or duty ;
as a duteous child or subject.
2. Obedient ; obsequious ; in a good or bad
sense.
Duteous to the vices of thy mistress. Shak.
Enjoined by duty, or by the relation ot
one to another ; as duteous ties. [Little
used.] Shak.
DU'TIABLE, a. [See Duty.] Subject to
the imposition of duty or customs; asdu
tiable goods. Supreme Couii, U. S.
DU'TIED, a. Subjected to duties or cus-
toms, .imes.
DU'TIFUL, a. Performing the duties or ob-
ligations required by law, justice or pro-
priety ; obedient ; submissive to natural oi
legal superiors ; resi)ectful ; as a dutiful
son or daughter ; a dutiful ward or ser-
vant ; a dutiful subject.
2. Expressive of respect or a sense of duty
respectful ; reverential ; required by duty
as dutiful reverence ; dutiful attentions.
DU'TIFULLY, adv. In a dutiful manner
with a regard to duty ; obediently ; sub
missively ; reverently ; respectfully.
Swifl.
DU'TIFULNESS, n. Obedience ; submis-
sion to just authority ; habitual perform
ance of duty ; as dutifubiess to parents.
Dryden
2. Reverence ; respect. Taylor.
DU'TY, n. [from due, Fr. du.] That which
a person owes to another ; that which a
person is bound, by any natural, moral or
legal obligation, to pay, do or perform.
Obedience to princes, inagistrates and the
laws is the duty of every citizen and sub
ject; obedience, respect and kindness t(
parents are dtUies of children ; fidelity to
friends is a duty; reverence, obedience
and prayer to God are indispensable du
ties ; the government and religious in
struction of children are duties of parents
which they cannot neglect without guilt
2. Forbearance of that which is forbid by
morality, law, justice or propriety. It is
our duty to refrain from lewdness, intem-
perance, profaneness and injustice.
.3. Obedience; submission.
Act of reverence or respect.
They both did duty to their lady. Spenser
5. The business of a soldier or marine on
guard ; as, the company is on duty. It is
applied also to other services or labor.
0. The business of war ; military service
is, the regiment did duty in Flanders.
7. Tax, toll, impost, or customs; excise
any sum of money required by govern
ment to be paid on the importation, ex
portation, or consumption of goods. An
impost on land or other real estate, and
on the stock of farmers, is not called a
duty, but a direct tax: U. States,
DU'UMVIR, n. [L. duo, two and vir, man.]
One of two Roman officers or magistrates
united in the same public functions.
DUUM'VIRAL, a. Pertaining to the d
virs or duumvirate of Rome.
DUUM'VIRATE, n. The union of two men
in the same office ; or the office, dignity or
D W E
government of two men thus associated;
as in ancient Rome.
DWALE, n. In heraldry, a sable or black
color.
2. The deadly nightshade, a plant or a
sleepy potion. Chaucer.
DWaRF, n. [Sax. dwerg, dweorg ; D. du>erg ;
Sw. id. ; Dan. dvarg.]
1. A general name for an animal or plant
which is much below the ordinary size of
the species or kind. A man that never
grows beyond two or three feet in hightb,
is a dwarf. This word when used alone
usually refers to the human species, but
sometimes to other animals. When it is
applied to plants, it is more generally used
in composition ; as a dwarf-tree ; dwarf-
cider.
2. An attendant on a lady or knight in ro-
mances, denser.
DWARF, !'. t. To hinder from growing to
the natural size ; to lessen ; to make or
keep small. Addison.
DWARFISH, a. Like a dwarf; below the
common stature or size ; very small ; low ;
petty ; despicable ; as a dwarfish animal ;
a dwarfish shrub. Dryden.
DWARF'ISHLY, adv. Like a dwarf
DWaRF'ISHNESS, n. Smallness of sta-
littlenessof size.
DWAUL, v. i. [Sax. dtvelian, dwolian, to
wander.] To be delirious. 04s. Junius.
DWELL, V. i. pret. dwelled, usually con-
tracted into dwelt. [Dan. dvceler, to stay,
wait, loiter, delay; Sw. dvala, a trance;
dvalias, to delay, abide, remain or linger.
Teut. dualla; Ice. duelia; Scot, duel, dwell.
Qii. W. attal, dal, to hold, stop, stay, and
Ir. tuilim, to sleep. This word coincides
nearly with dally, in its primitive significa-
tion, and may he of the same family. Its
radical sense is probably to draw out in
time ; hence, to hold, rest, remain. We
see like senses united in many words, as
in teneo, tiipu, continue. See Dally and
Class Dl. No. 3. 5. 6. 21.]
. To abide as a permanent resident, or to
inhabit for a time ; to live in a place ; to
have a habitation for some time or per-
manence.
God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell
in the tents of Shem. Gen. ix.
Dwell imports a residence of some con-
tinuance. We use abide for the resting of
a night or an hour ; but we never say, he
dwelt in a place a day or a night. Dwell
may signify a residence for life or for a
much shorter period, but not for a day.
In scripture, it denotes a residence of sev-
en daj's during the feast of tabernacles.
Ye shall dwell in booths seven days. Lev.
xxiii.
The word was made flesh, and dwelt among
us. John i.
2. To be in any state or condition ; to con-
tinue.
To dwell in doubtful joy. Shak.
3. To continue; to be fixed in attention ; to
hang upon with fondness.
The attentive queen
Dwelt on liis accents. Smith.
They stand at a distance, dwelHng on his
looks and language, fixed in amazement.
Buekminster.
4. To continue long ; as, to dwell on a sub-
ject, in speaking, debate or writing; to
dwell on a note in music.
E A C
'&well, as a verb transitive, is not used.
We who dwell this wild, in Mihon, is not a
legitimate phrase.
DVVELL'ER, n. An inhabitant ; a resident
of some continuance in a place. Dnjden.
DWELL'ING, ;);jr. Inhabiting; residing;
sojourning ; continuing with fixed atten-
tion.
DWELL'INO, 71. Habitation; place of res
idence; abode.
Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons. Jer
xlix.
2. Continuance ; residence; state of life.
Thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the
field. Dan. iv.
DWELL'ING-HOUSE, n. The house in
which one lives.
DWELL'ING-PLACE, n. The place of
residence.
DWIN'DLE, V. i. [Sax. dwinan, to pine, to
vanish ; Sw. tvina ; G. schwinden. 1 sup
pose, formed on the root of vain, vanish.
1. To diminish ; to become less ; to shrink
to waste or consume away. The body
dwindles by pining or consumption ;
estate dwindles by waste, by want of
dustry or economy ; an object dwindles in
size, as it recedes from view ; an army
dwindles by death or desertion.
Our drooping days have divindled down lo
naught. Thorn
•2. To degenerate ; to sink ; to fall away,
Religious socieues may dwindle into
iHKis clubs. Su-i/i.
DWIN'DLE, v.t. To make less; to bring
low. Thomson.
2. To break ; to disperse. Clarendon.
DWIN'DLED,o. Shrunk ; diminished in size.
DWINDLING, ppr. Falling away ; be
coming less ; pining; consuming; niolder
ing away.
DVF,, v.t. [&ax. deagan ; h. lingo, for tigo
»;r. rtyyu; Fr. teindre, whence tint, taint
(itlaint; Sp. tehir ; Vort. tingir; It. tignere
Ar. —lis taicha, to rfye and to die. Class
E5 the second vowel and the fifth letter of
the English Alphabet, seems to be the an-
cient Phenician and Hebrew 3 inverted,
corresponding nearly with the Chaldaic
and later Hebrew n. Its long and natural
sound in EngUsh coincides with the sound
of i in the Italian and French languages,
and is formed by a narrower opening of
the glottis than that of a. It has a long
sound, as in here, mere, me ; a short sound,
as in met, men ; and the sound of o open or
long, in there, prey, vein. As a final letter,
it is generally quiescent; but it serves to
lengthen the sound of the preceding vow
el, or at least to indicate that the prece
ding vowel is to have its long sound, as ii
mane, cane, plume, which, without the final
e, would be pronoimced num, can, plum
After c and g, the final e serves to change
these letters from hard to soft, or to indi
Dg. No. 40. The primary sense is to
throw down, to dip, to plunge.]
To stain ; to color ; to give a new and per-
manent color to ; appUed particularly to
cloth or the materials of cloth, as wool,
cotton, silk and linen ; also to hats, leath-
er, &c. It usually expresses more or a
deeper color than tinge.
DY'ED, j^. Stained; colored.
DY'EING, ppr. Staining; giving a new
and permanent color.
DY'EING, n. The art or practice of giving
new and permanent colors ; the art of
coloring cloth, hats, &c.
DY'ER, 71. One whose occupation is to dye
cloth and the like.
DY'ING, ppr. [from die.] Losing life ; per-
ishing ; expiring; fading away; languish-
ing.
2. a.Mortal;destinedtodeath;asrfi/tng-bodies.
DYNAM'ETER, n. [Gr. Swafii-s, strength,
and jujrpfw, to measure.]
An instrument for determining the magnify-
ing power of telescopes. Ramsden.
DYNAMET'RI€AL. a. Pertaining to a dy
nameter.
DYNAM'ICAL, a. [Gr. iwann, power.;
Pertaining to strength or power.
DYNAMOMETER, n. [See Dynameter.
An instrument for measuring the relative
strength of men and other animals.
Ed. Encyc.
DY'NAST, n. [See Dynasty.] A ruler; a
governor; a prince ; a government.
DYNAST'IC, a. Relating to a dynasty or
fine of kings.
DY'NASTY, n. [Gr. «waf»o, pow.
reignty, from 5waf»js, a lord or cliief, from
Swafuu, to be able or strong, to prevail
Ir. tanaiste. The W. dyn, man, is proba
bly from the same root. Class Dn.]
Government ; sovereignty ; or rather a race
or succession of kings of the same line or
family, who govern a particular country ; as
the dynasties of Egypt or Persia. Encyc,
The obligation of treaties and contracts is
allowed to survive the change o( dynasties.
E. Everett.
DYS'CRASY, n. [Gr. ivaxpaoto ; Jvj, evil,
and xpa3i(, habit.]
In medicine, an ill habit or state of the hu-
mors; distemperature of the juices.
Coxe. Encyc.
DYSENTER'IC, a. Pertaining to dysente-
ry ; accompanied with dysentery ; pro-
ceeding from dysentery.
2. Afflicted with dysentery ; as a dysenteric
patient.
YS'ENTERY, n. [L. dysenieria ; Gr. iv-
fffiTfp<a; 8v?, bad, and (vrtpov, intestines.]
A flux in which the stools consist chiefly of
blood and mucus or other morbid matter,
accompanied with griping of the bowels,
and followed by tenesmus. Encyc.
DY'S'ODILE, n. A species of coal of a
greenish or yellowish gray color, in mass-
es composed of thin layers. When burn-
ing, it emits a very fetid odor.
Haity. Cleaveland.
DYS'OREXY, 7!. [Gr. «v«,bad, and op.«c{,
appetite.] A bad or depraved appetite ; a
want of appetite. Colt.
DVSPF.P SV, n. [Gr. «rcirtf4<a ;«!-{, bad, and
ni.trco, tocimcoct.] Bad digestion ; indiges-
ti(in,oi (litliculty ofdigestion. Encyc. Core.
DYSPEPTlf, a. Aftiicted with indiges-
tion ; as a dyspeptic person.
2. Pertaining to or consisting in dyspepsy ;
as a dyspeptic complaint.
DYS' PHONY, 71. [Gr. «v5t«^«i; 6v$, bad,
hard, and ijiutij, voice.]
A difficulty of speaking, occasioned by an
ill disposition of the organs of speech.
Diet.
DYSPNOEA, 71. [Gr. Svsrttoia.] A difficul-
ty of breathing. Coxe.
DYS'URY, n. [Gr. iuootpMi ; Svf and ovfov,
urine.]
Difficulty in discharging the urine, attended
with pain and a sensation of heat. Encyc.
E.
cate that c is to be pronounced as s, and g,
as j. Thus without the final c, in mace
[mase,] this word would be pronounced
Tnac [rnak,] and rage [raj] would be pro-
nounced rag. In a numerous class of
words, indeed in almost every word, ex-
cept a few from the Greek, the final e is
silent, serving no purpose whatever, un-
less to show from what language we have
received the words, and in many cases, it
does not answer tliis purpose. In words
ending in ire, as active ; in He, as futile ;
in iiif , as in sanguine, examine ; in ite as in
definite ; e is, for the most part, silent. In
some of these words, the use of e is bor-
rowed from the French ; in most or all
cases, it is not authorized by the Latin
originals; it is worse than useless, as it
leads to a wrong pronunciation ; and the
retaining of it in such words is, beyond
measure, absurd.
When two of this vowel occur together,
the sound is the same as that of the single
e long, as in deem, esteem, need ; and it oc-
curs often with a and i, as in mean, hear,
siege, deceive, in which cases, when one
vowel only has a sound, the combination
I call a digrnph [double icrilien.] In these
coinbinalions, the sound is usually that of
c long, but sometimes the short sound of e,
as in lead, a metal, read, pret. of read,
and sometimes the sound of a long, as in
rein, feign, pronounced rane,fane. Irregu-
larities of this kind are not reducible to
rules.
As a numeral, E stands for 250. In the
calendar, it is the fifth of the dominical
letters. As an abbreviation, it stands for
East, as in charts ; E. by S., East by
South.
EACH, a. [Scot. eik. This word is either
a contraction of the Sax. ale, elc, D. elk, or
E A G
the Ir. ceach, or gach, Basque, gucia, Fr.
rhaque, with the loss of the first articula
tioii. With the Celtic corresponds the
Russ. kajdei, each. 1 am inclined to be-
lieve both the English and Scottish words
to be contractions of the Celtic ceach.]
Every one of any number separately con
sidered or treated.
To all of them he gave each man changes of
raiment. Gen. xlv.
And the princes of Israel, being twelve men,
each one was for the house of his fathers
-Num. i.
Simeon and Levi took each man his sword
Gen. xxxiv.
The emperor distributed to each soldier in his
army a liberal donative.
To each corresponds other. Let each es-
teem other better than himself. It is our
duty to assist each other; that is, it is our
duty to assist, each to assist the other.
E'.\CHWHeRE, adv. Every where. Ohs
EAD, ED, in names, is a Saxon word signi-
fying happy, fortunate ; as in Edward, hap-
py i)reserver ; Edgar, hajjpy power ; Ed-
win, happy conqueror ; Eadulph, happy
assistance ; like Macarius and Eupolenms
in Greek, and Fausta, Fortunatus, Felicia-
nus, in Latin. Gibson.
E'AGER, a. [Er. au;re ; Arm. egr ; W. egyr ;
It. agro ; Sp. agrio ; L. acer, fierce, brisk,
sharp, sour. If r is radical, this word be
longs to Class Or. Ir. gear, geire, sharp;
Ger. gier. Otherwise, it coincides with
L. acus, Eng. edge, Sax. ecg'.]
1. Excited by ardent desire in the pursuit of
any object ; ardent to pursue, perform or
obtain ; inflamed by desire ; ardently wish-
ing or longing. The soldiers were eager
to engage the enemy. Men are eager in
the pursuit of wealth. The lover is eager
to possess the object of his affections.
2. Ardent ; vehement ; impetuous ; as ea-
ger spirits ; eager zeal ; eager clamors.
3. Sharp ; sour ; acid ; as eager droppings
into milk. {Little used.] Shale.
4. Sliarp ; keen ; biting ; severe ; as eager
air ; eager cold. [Ldttle used.]
Shak. Bacon.
o. Brittle ; inflexible ; not ductile ; as, the
gold is too eager. [Local.] Locke.
E'AGERLY, adv. With great ardor of de-
sire ; ardently ; earnestly ; warmly ; with
prompt zeal ; as, he eagerly flew to the as-
sistance of his friend.
•2. Hastily; impetuously.
3. Keenly; sharply.
E'AGERNESS, n. Ardent desire to do,
pursue or obtain any thing ; animated
zeal; vehement longing; ardor of inclina-
tion. Men pursue honor with eagerness.
Detraction is often received with eagerness.
With eagerness the soldier rushes to bat-
tle. The lover's eagerness often disap-
points his hopes.
2. Tartness; sourness. Obs.
E'AGLE, ji. [Fr. aigle ; Sp. aguila; It.
aquila ; L. aquila. Qu. from his beak,
Ch. Heb. SpJ? to be crooked, [see Bux-
torf,] or Pei-s. y^\.]
1. A rapacious fowl of the genus Falco.
The beak is crooked and furnished with
a cere at the base, and the tongue is clo-
ven or bifid. There are several species.
EAR
as the bald or white-headed eagle, the
sea eagle or ossifrage, the golden eagle,
&c.
The eagle is one of the largest species of
fowls, has a keen sight, and preys on small
animals, fish, &c. He lives to a great
age ; and it is said that one died at V
na, after a confinement of a hundred and
four years. On account of the eleva
and rapidity of his flight, and of his great
strength, he is called the king of birds.
Hence the figure of an eagle was marie
the standard of the Romans, and a spread
eagle is a principal figure in the arms of
the United States of America. Hence al-
so in heraldry, it is one of the most noble
bearings in arnioiy.
2. A gold coin of the United States, of the
value of ten dollars, or forty-five shillings
sterling.
3. A constellation in the northern hemis-
phere, having its right wing contiguous to
the equinoctial. Encyc.
E'AGLE-E'f ED, a. Sharpsighted as an ea-
gle ; having an acute sight. Dryden.
3. Discerning ; having acute intellectual vis-
ion.
EAGLE-SIGHTED, a. Having acute sight.
Shak.
E'AGLE-SPEED, n. Swiftness like that of
an eagle. P
E'AGLESS, »i. A female or lien eagle.
E AGLE-STONE, n. Etite, a variety of ar-
gillaceous oxyd of iron, occurring in mass-
es varying from the size of a walnut to
that of a man's head. Their form is spher-
ical, oval or nearly reniform, or some-
times like a parallelepiped with rounded
edges and angles. They have a rough
surface, and are essentially composed of
concentric layers. These nodules often
embrace at the center a kernel or nu-
cleus, sometitnes movable, and always
differing from the exterior in color, densi
ty and fracture. To these hollow nodules
the ancients gave the aame of eagle-stones,
from an oi)inion that the eagle transported
them to her nest to facilitate the laying of
her eggs. Cleaveland.
E'AGLET, n. A young eagle or a diminu
five eagle.
E'AGLE-WINGED, a. Having the wings
of an eagle ; swift as an eagle. Milton.
EAGRE, n. A tide swelling above another
tide, as in the Severn. Dryden.
EALDERMAN. [See Mderman.]
EAME, n. [Sax. earn.] Uncle. Obs.
Spenser.
EAN, V. I. or i. To yean. [See Yean.]
E'ANLING, n. A lamb just brought forth.
[JVot used.]
E'AR, n. [Sax. ear, eare ; T). oor ; Svv. ora ,•
DaD.6re,■ G.ohr or iihr; L. auris, whence
auricula, Fr. oreille, Sp. oreja. Port, orelha,
It. orecchio. The sense is probably a
shoot or limb. It may be connected with
hear, as the L. audio is with the Gr. ovj,
uto;.]
1. The organ of hearing ; the organ by wliicli
sound is perceived; and in general, both
the external and internal part is under-
stood by the term. The external ear is !i
cartilaginous funnel, attached, by liga
ments and muscles, to the temporal bone
Encyc
2. The sense of hearing, or rather the pow-
EAR
er of distinguishing sounds and judging of
harmony ; the power of nice perception
of the differences of sound, or of conso-
nances and di.ssonances. She has a deli-
cate ear for music, or a good ear.
3. In the plural, the head or person.
It is better to pass over an affront from one
scounthel, than to draw a herd about one's
cars. L'Estrange.
4. The top, or highest part.
The cavalier was up to the ears in love.
[Low.'\ L'Estrange.
5. A favorable hearing ; attention ; heed ;
regard. Give no ear to flatterj'.
I cried to God — and he gave ear to me. Ps.
Ixxvii.
He could not gain the prince's ear.
6. Disposition to like or dislike what is
heard ; opinion ; judgment ; taste.
He laid his sense closer— according to the
style and ear of those times. Denham.
7. Any part of a thing resembling an ear; a
projecting part from the side of any thing ;
as the ears of a vessel used as bandies.
8. The spike of corn ; that part of certain
plants which contains the flowers and
seeds; as au ear of wheat or maiz.
To he by the ears, 'i rt \ r
To fall together by the ears, i «° ''f'" "' ^"f
Togo together by the ears, ^^''>^° quarrel.
To set by the ears, to make strife ; to cause to
quarrel.
EAR, V. i. To shoot, as an ear ; to form ears,
as corn.
EAR, v. t. [L. f<ro.] To plow or till. Obs.
E'ARABLE, a. Used to be tilled. Obs.
Barret.
EARACHE, n. [See Ache.] Pain in the ear.
E'ARAL, a. Receiving by the ear. [JVbf
used.] Hewyt.
EAR-BORED, a. Having the ear perfo-
rated- Hall.
EAR-DEAFENING, a. Stunning the ear
with noise. Shak.
E'ARED, /)/). Having ears; having spikes
formed, as corn.
EAR-ERE€T'ING, a. Setting up the ears.
Co^oper.
E'ARING, n. In seamen's language, a small
rope employed to fasten the upper corner
of a sail to its yard.
E'ARING, n. A plowing of land. Gen. xliv.
E'ARLAP, 71. The tip of the ear.
E'ARLOCK, n. [Sax. ear-loca.] A lock or
curl of hair, near the ear.
E'.^RMARK, n. A mark on the ear, by
which a sheep is known.
EARMARK, i'. t. To mark, as sheep by
cropping or slitting the ear.
E'ARPICK, 71. An instrument for cleans*
ing the ear.
EAR-PIERCING, a. Piercing the ear, as a
shrill or sharp sound. Shak.
E'ARRING, 71. A pendant ; an ornament,
sometimes set with diamonds, pearls or
other jewels, worn at the ear, by means of
a ring passing through the lobe.
E'ARSHOT, 71. Reach of the ear ; the dis-
tance at which words may be heard.
Dryden.
E'ARWAX, 71. The cerumen ; a thick vis-
cous substance, secreted by the glands of
the ear into the outer passage. Encyc.
E'ARWIG, 71. [Sax. ear-wigga, ear-wicga ;
ear and worm or grub.]
A genus of insects of the order of Coleop-
ters. The antenna; are bristly ; the ely-
tie
EAR
tra dimidiated ; the wings covered ; and the
tail forked. This animal is called in Latin
forjicula, from the forceps at the end of
the abdomen. The English name was
given to it from an ill founded notion that
the animal creeps into the ear and causes
injury.
In New England, this name is vulgarly
given to a species of centiped.
E'AR-VVITNESS, n. One who is able to
give testimony to a fact from his own
hearing. ff^atts.
EARL, n. erl. [Sax. eorl; Ir. iarla, an earl ;
earlamh, noble. This word is said to have
been received from the Danes, although
not now used in Denmark. Formerly this
title among the Danes was equivalent to
the English alderman. Spelman.]
A British title of nobility, or a nobleman,
the third in rank, being next below a mar-
uis, and next above a viscount. The ti-
e answers to count [compte] in France,
and graaf in Germany. The earl formerly
had the government of a shire, and was
called shireman. After the conquest earls
were called counts, and from them shires
have taken the name of counties. Earl is
now a mere title, unconnected with terri-
torial jurisdiction. Spelman. Encyc.
EARLDOM, n. crl'dom. The seignory, juris-
diction or dignity of an carl.
EARL-M'ARSHAL, n. An officer in Great
Britain, who has the superintendence of
raihtary solemnities. He is the eighth
great officer of state. The office was
originally conferred by grant of the king,
but is now hereditary in the family of the
Howards. Enctjc.
EARLES-PENNY, n. Money given in part
payment. [Qu. L. arrha.] [M'ol in use.]
E'ARLESS, a. Destitute of ears ; disinclined
to hear or listen.
EARLINESS, n. tr'liness. [See Early and
Ere.]
A state of advance or forwardness ; a state
of being before any thing, or at the be-
ginning ; as the earliness of rising in the
morning is a rising at the dawn of the
morning, or before the usual time of ris-
ing. So we speak of the earliness of
spring, or the earliness of plants, to ex-
press a state somewhat in advance of the
usual time of spring, or growth of plants.
EARLY, a. er'ly. [from Sax. rer, er, before
in time, Eiig. ere, which indicates the
root of the word to signify, to advance, to
pass along or shoot up. It is probably
connected with the D. eer, G. ehre, Sw.
dhra, Dan. cere, honor, denoting the high-
est point.]
1. In advance of something else; prior in
time ; forward ; as early fruit, that is, fruit
that comes to maturity before other fruit :
early growth ; early manhood ; early old
age or decrepitude, that is, premature old
age. So an early spring ; an early harvest.
2. First ; being at the beginning ; as early
dawn.
8. Being in good season ; as, the court met
at an early hour.
EARLY, adv. er'ly. Soon ; in good season
betimes ; as, rise early ; come early ; begin
early te instill into children principles of
piety.
Those who seek me early shall find me
Prov. viii.
Vol. I.
EAR
EARN, V. t. em, [Sax. carnian, (crnian, f(e-
arnian, to earn, to merit. It is connected
in origin with earnest and yearn, which
see. 'I'he primary sense is to strive or
urge, ini|)lying an effijrt to advance or
stretch forward.]
1. To merit or deserve by labor, or by any
performance ; to do that which entitles
to a reward, whether the reward is re-
ceived or not. Men often earn money or
honor which they never receive.
Ear7i money before you spend it, and spend
less than you earn.
2. To gain by labor, service or performance ;
to deserve and receive as compensation ;
as, to earn a dollar a day ; to earn a good
living ; to earn honors or laurels.
EAKNl'J), pp. em'ed. Merited by labor or
]if'rformance ; gained.
EARNEST, a. ern'est. [Sax. earnest, or geor-
nest, from georn, desirous, studious, dili-
gent, assiduous, whence gcornian,gT/r»ia7z,
to desire, to yearn ; Dan. gieme, willinglj',
freely, gladly, cheerfully ; gierning, a deed,
act, exploit; Ger.erns't; D.emst; W. em,
earnest-money. The radical sense is to
strive to advance, to reach forward, to
urge, to strain.]
1. Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager
to obtain ; having a longing desire ; warm-
ly engaged or incited.
They are never more earnest to disturb us,
than when they see us most earnest in tliis
duty. JJtippa.
2. Ardent ; warm ; eager ; zealous ; anima-
ted ; importunate ; as earnest in love ; earn-
est in prayer.
3. Intent; fixed.
On that prospect strange
Their earnest eyes were fixed. Afilton.
4. Serious; important ; that is, really intent
or engaged ; whence the phrase, in earn-
est. To be in earnest, is to be really urg-
ing or stretching towards an object ; in-
tent on a piu'suit. Hence, from fixed at-
tention, comes the sense of sei-iousness in
the pursuit, as opposed to trifling or jest.
Are you in earnest or in jest ?
EARNEST, «. ern'est. Seriousness ; a real-
ity ; a real event ; as opposed to jesting or
feigned appearance.
Take heed that this jest do not one day turn
to earnest. Sidney.
And given in earnest what I bcgg'd in jest.
Shak.
2. First fruits; that which is in advance,
and gives promise of something to come.
Early fruit may be an earnest of fruit to
follow. The first success in arms may be
an earnest of future success. The chris-
tian's peace of mind in this life is an earn-
est of future peace and happiness. Hence
earnest or earnest-money is a first payment
or deposit giving promise or assurance of
full payment. Hence the practice of giv
ing an earnest to ratify a bargain.
This sense of the word is primary, de
noting that which goes before, or in ad
Vance. Thus the earnest of the spirit is
given to saints, as a pledge or assurance of
their future enjoyment of God's presence
and favor.
EARNESTLY, adv. em'estly. Warmly ;
zealously; importunately; eagerly; with
real desire.
69
i: A R
That ye should earnestly contend for tlie
faith once delivered to the saints. Jude 3.
2. With fixed attention ; with eagerness.
A certain maid looked earnestly upon hini.
Luke xxii.
EARNESTNESS, n. em'estness. Ardor or
zeal in the pursuit of any thing; eager-
ness ; animated desire ; as, to seek or ask
with earnestness ; to engage in a work
with earnestness.
2. Anxious care ; solicitude ; intenseness of
desire. Dryden.
i. Fixed desire or attention ; seriousness ;
as, the charge was maintained with a show
of gravity and earnestness.
EARNFUL, a. ern'ful. Full of anxiety. [JVot
used.] Fletcher.
EARNING, ppr. em'ing. Meriting by ser-
cos; gaining by laborer performance.
EARNING, n. em'ing. plu. earnings. That
which is earned ; that which is gained or
merited by labor, services or performance ;
wages; reward. The folly of young men
is to s|)end their earnings in dissipation or
extravagance. It is wise for the poor to
invest their earnings in a productive fund.
EARSH, n. [See Ear, to plow.] A plowed
field. [JVot in use.] May.
EARTH, n. erth. [Sax. card, eoHh, yrth ; D.
aarde; G. erde; S\v.iord,jord ; Dan. iord;
Scot, erd, yerd,yerth ; Turk, jerda; Tarta-
ric, yirda. It coincides with the Heb. |nx.
The Ar. fjo,\ aratza, from which the
Arabic and Hebrew words corresponding
to the Teutonic above, are derived, signi-
fies to eat, gnaw or corrode as a worm, or
the teredo. It is obvious then that the
primary sense of earth is fine particles,
like mold. The verb may be from yyi to
break or bruise. The Ch. and Syr. ^g,nx
earth, may be contracted from the same
word. See Corrode. It is by no means
improbable that aro, to plow, may be con-
tracted from the same root.]
1. Earth, in its primary sense, signifies the
particles which compose the mass of the
globe, but more jiarticularly the particles
which form the fine mold on the surface
of the globe ; or it denotes any indefinite
mass or i)ortion of that matter. We throw
up earth with a spade or plow ; we fill a
pit or ditch with earth ; we form a ram-
part with eaHh. This substance being
considered, by ancient philosophers, as
simple, was called an element ; and in
popular language, we stilF hear of the
four elements, /re, air, earth and water.
2. In chimistry, the term earth was, till late-
ly, employed to denote a simple elementa-
ry body or substance, tasteless, inodorous,
uninflammable and infusible. But it has
also been applied to substances which
have a very sensible alkaline taste, as
lime. The primitive earths are reckoned
ten in number, viz., silei, alumin, lime,
magnesia, baryle, sirontian, zircon, glucin,
yttria and thorina. Recent experiments
prove that most or all of them are com-
pounds of oxygen with bases, some of
which appear to possess the properties of
metals. In this case the earths are to be
considered as metallic oxyds.
Davy. Siiliman. Phillips.
EAR
E A S
E A S
3. Tlie terraqueous globe which we inhabit
The earth is nearly spherical, but a little
flatted at the poles, and hence its figure
is called an oblate spheroid. It is one ol'
the primary planets, revolving round the
sun in an orbit which is between those of
Venus and Mars. It is nearly eight thou
sand miles in diameter, and twenty fiv
thousand miles in circumference. Its dis
tance from the sun is about ninety five
millions of miles, and its annual revolu
tion constitutes the year of 365 days, .'>
hours, and nearly 49 minutes.
4. The world, as opposed to other scenes of
existence. Shak
.'». The inhabitants of the globe.
The whole earth was of one language. Gen
xi.
6. Dry land, opposed to the sea.
God called the dry land earth. Gen. i.
7. Country ; region ; a distinct part of the
globe. Dryden.
In this sense, land or soil is more gene-
rally used.
In scripture, earth is used for a part of
the world. Ezra i. 2.
8. The ground; the surface of the earth.
He fell to the eaHh. The ark was lifted
above the earth.
In the second month — was the earth dried.
Gen. viii.
9. In scripture, things on the earth, are car-
nal, sensual, temporary things ; opposed
to heavenly, spiritual or divine things.
10. Figuratively, a low condition. Rev. xii.
n. [from ear, Sax. erian, L. aro, to plow.]
The act of turning up the ground in til-
lage. [JVot vsed.] Tusser.
EARTH, V. t. To hide in the earth.
The fox is corrtfJ. Dryden.
2. To cover with earth or mold. Evelyn.
EARTH, V. i. To retire under ground ; to
burrow. Here foxes earthed.
EARTH'BAG, 7!. A bag filled with earth,
used for defense in war.
EARTH'BANK, li. A bank or mound of
earth.
EARTH'BOARD, n. The board of a plow
that turns over the earth ; the mold-board.
EARTH-BORN, a. Born of the earth ; ter-
rigenous ; springing originally from the
earth ; as the fabled earthborn giants.
2. Earthly ; terrestrial.
All earthborn cares are wrong. Goldsmith.
EARTH'BOUND, a. Fastened by the pres-
sure of the earth. Shak.
EARTH'BRED, a. Low ; abject ; grovel-
EARTH-€REA'TED, a. Formed of earth.
Yomig.
EARTH'EN, a. erth'n. Made of earth ; made
of clay ; as an earthen vessel ; earthen
ware.
EARTH'FED, a. Low ; abject. B. Jonson
EARTH'FLAX, n. Amianth; a fibrous,
flexile, elastic mineral substance, consist-
ing of short interwoven, or long parallel
filaments. Encyc.
I'.ARTH'INESS, n. The quality of being
earthy, or of containing earth ; grossness
Johnson
EARTH'LINESS, n. [from earlUy.] The
quahty of being earthly; grossness.
9. Worldhness ; strong attachment to world
ly things.
.EARTH'LING, n. An inhabitant of the
earth ; a mortal ; a frail creature.
Drummond.
EARTHLY, a. Pertaining to the earth, or
to this world.
Our earthly house of this tabernacle. 2 Cor. v.
2. Not heavenly ; vile ; mean.
This earthly load
Of death called life. .miton.
i. Belonging to our present state ; as earthly
objects ; earthly residence.
4. Belonging to the earth or world; carnal;
vile i as opposed to spiritual or heavenly,
Whose glory is in their shame, who mind
earthly tilings. Phil. iii.
5. Corporeal ; not mental. Spenser.
EARTHLY-MINDED, a. Having a mind
devoted to earthlv things.
EARTHLY-MINDEDNESS, n. Grossness;
sensuality ; extreme devotedness to earth-
ly objects. Gregory.
EARTH'NUT, n. The groundnut, or root
of the Arachis ; a small round bulb or knob,
like a nut. This root or bulb is formed
from the germen, which becomes a pod
and is thrust into the ground by a natural
motion of the stalk. Encyc.
It is properly the fruit of the plant, and
differs from other fruit only in the cireuni
stance of ripening in the earth.
EARTH'NUT, n. The pignut, or hunium ;
a globular root, somewhat resembling ir
taste a chesnut, whence it is called hulbo-
castanum. Encyc.
EARTH'QUAKE, n. A shaking, trembling
or concussion of the earth ; sometimes a
slight tremor ; at other times a violent
shaking or convulsion ; at other times a
rocking or heaving of the earth. Earth-
quakes are usually preceded by a rattling
sound in the air, or by a subterraneous
rumbUng noise. Hence the name, earth-
din, formerly given to an earthquake.
EARTH'SHAKING, a. Shaking the earth ;
having power to shake the earth. Milton.
EARTH'WORM, n. The dew worm, a spe-
cies of Lumbricus ; a worm that lives un-
der ground. Encyc.
2. A mean sordid wretch.
EARTH' Y, a. Consisting of earth ; as earthy
matter.
2. Resembling earth ; as an earthy taste or
smell.
3. Partaking of earth; terrene. Milton.
4. Inhabiting the earth ; terrestrial ; as earthy
spirits. Dryden.
5. Relating to earth ; as an eaiihy sign.
Dryden.
6. Gross ; not refined ; as an earthy conceit.
Shak.
7. Earthy fracture, in mineralogy, is when
the fracture of a mineral is rough, with
minute elevations and depressions.
Cleaveland.
EASE, n. s as z. [Fr. aise ; Arm. aez ; W.
haw: ; Corn, hedh ; Sax. a:th or eath, easy :
L. otiuni ; It. ag-io ; Ir. easgaidh.]
1. Rest; an undisturbed state. ^9pplied to the
body, freedom from pain, disturbance, e
citement or annoyance. He sits at his
ease. He takes his ease.
2. Applied to the mind, a quiet state ; tran
quillity ; freedom from pain, concern, anx
iety, solicitude, or any thing that frets oi
ruffles the mind.
His soul shall dwell at ease. Ps. xxv.
Wo to them that are at ease in Zion. Amos
vi.
3. Rest from labor.
4. Facility ; freedom from difficulty or great
labor. One man will perform this service
with ease. This author writes with ease.
5. Freedom from stiffness, harshness, forced
expressions, or unnatural arrangement;
as the ease of style.
Freedom from constraint or formality ;
imaifectedness ; as ease of behavior.
At ease, in an undisturbed state ; free from
pain or anxiety.
EASE, V. t. To free from pain or any dis-
quiet or annoyance, as the body; to re-
lieve ; to give rest to ; as, the medicine
has eased the patient.
2. To free from anxiety, care or disturb-
ance, as the mind; as, the late news has
eased my mind.
3. To remove a burden from, either of body
or mind ; to relieve ; with of. Ease me
q/" this load; ease them of their burdens.
4. To mitigate ; to alleviate ; to assuage ;
to abate or remove in part any burden,
pain, grief, anxiety or disturbance.
Ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude
of thy father. 2 Chron. x.
5. To quiet ; to allay ; to destroy ; as, to
ease jiain.
To ease off or ease atoay, in seamen's lan-
guage, is to slacken a rope gradually.
To ease a ship, is to put the helm hard a-
lee, to prevent her pitching, when close
hauled. Mar. Diet.
E'ASEFUL, a. Quiet; peaceful; fit for
rest. Shak.
E'ASEFULLY, adv. With ease or quiet.
Sherwood.
E'ASEL, n. The frame on which painters
place their canvas.
Easel-pieces, among painters, are the smaller
pieces, either portraits or landscapes,
wliich are painted on the easel, as distin-
guished from those which are drawn on
walls, ceilings, &c. Encyc. Chalmers.
E'ASEMENT, n. Convenience ; accommo-
dation ; that which gives ease, rehef or
assistance.
free lodging, and
Swift.
2. In law, any privilege or convenience
which one man has of another, either by
prescription or charter, without profit ; as
a way through his land, &c.
Encyc. Cowel.
E'ASILY, adv. [from easy.] Without diffi-
culty or great labor ; without great exer-
tion, or sacrifice of labor or expense ; as,
this task may be easily performed ; that
event might have been easily foreseen.
2. Without pain, anxiety or disturbance ; in
tranquillity ; as, to pass life well and ea-
sily. Temple.
3. Readily ; without the pain of reluctance.
Not soon provoked, she easily forgives.
Prior.
4. Smoothly; quietly; gently; without tu-
mult or discord.
5. Without violent shaking or jolting ; as, a
carriage moves easily.
E'ASIN'ESS, n. Freedom from difliculty;
ease.
Easiness and difficulty are relative terms.
IHllotson.
•2. Flexibility ; readiness to comply ; proinpt
E A S
compliance; a yielding or disposition to
yield without opposition or reluctance.
Give to him, and he shall but laugh at your
South.
So we say, a man's easiness of temper is
remarkable.
3. Freedom from stiffness, constraint, effort
or formality ; applied to manners or to the
style of writing. Roscommon.
4. Rest ; tranquillity ; ease ; freedom from
pain. ^?y-
5. Freedom from shaking or jolting, as of a
moving vehicle.
6. Softness ; as the easiness of a seat.
EAST, n. [Sax. cast ; D. oost, oosten ; G.
ost ; Sw. ost, osten ; Dan. osl, osten ; Fr. est.
If the radical sense coincides with that of
the L. oriens, this word may belong to the
root of hoise, hoist.]
]. The point in the heavens, where the
is seen to rise at the equinox, or when it
is in the equinoctial, or the corresponding
point on the earth ; one of the four car
dinal points. The east and the west are
the points where the equator intersects
the horizon. But to persons under the
equinoctial line, that hne constitutes eas
and west.
a. The eastern parts of the earth ; the re
gions or countries which lie east of Eu
rope, or other country. In this indefinite
sense, the word is apphed to Asia Minor,
Syria, Chaldea, Persia, India, China, &c.
We speak of the riches of the east, the
diamonds and pearls of the east, the kings
of the east.
The gorgeous east, with richest hand.
Pours on herkings baibaiic, pearl and gold.
Milti
EAST, a. Towards the rising sun ; or i
wards the point where the sun rises, when
in the equinoctial ; as the east gate ; the
east border ; the east side. The east wind
is a wind that blows from the east.
E' ASTER, n. [Sax. caster ; G. ostem ; sup ,
posed to be from Eostre, the goddess of
love or Venus of the north, in honor of
whom a festival was celebrated by our
pagan ancestors, in Ai)ril ; whence this
month was called Eostermonath. Eostcr
is supposed by Beda and others to be the
Astarle of the Sidonians. See Beda, Clu-
ver, and the authorities cited by Cluver,
and by Jamieson, under Paysyad. But
query.]
A festival of the christian church observed in
commemoration of our Savior's resurrec
tion. It answers to the pascha or passo
ver of the Hebrews, and most nation
still give it this name, pascha, pask, paque.
E'ASTERLING, n. A native of
country eastward of another. Spenser
2. A species of waterfowl. Johnson
E'ASTERLY, a. Coming from the east'
ward ; as an easterly wind.
2. Situated towards the east ; as the eastcrh
side of a lake or country.
3. Towards the east ; as, to move in an east-
EAT
kings ; eastern countries ; eastern nations.
2. Situated towards the east ; on the east
part ; as the eastern side of a town or
church ; the eastern gate.
3. Going towards the cast, or in the direc-
tion of east ; as an eastern voyage.
E'ASTVVARD, adv. [east and toard.) To-
ward the east ; in the direction of east
from some point or place. New Haven
lies eastward from New York. Turn your
eyes eastward.
E'ASY, a. s as z. [See Ease.] Quiet ; be
ing at rest ; free from pain, disturbance
or annoyance. The patient has slept well
and is easy.
2. Free from anxiety, care, solicitude or
peevishness; quiet; tranquil; as an
mind.
3. Giving no pain or disturbance ; as an ea-
st/ posture ; an easy carriage.
4. Not difficult ; that gives or requires no
great labor or exertion ; that presents no
great obstacles ; as an easy task. It is of-
ten more easy to resolve, than to execute
Knowledge is easy to him that understand
eth. Prov. xiv.
Not causing labor or difficulty. \n easy
with a
erly direction.
4. Looking towards the east ; as an
sterly]
n the d
exposure.
E'ASTERLY, adv. On the east
rection of east. |
E' ASTERN, a. [Sax. eastern.] Oriental :!
being or dweUiug in the east ; as eastern
ascent or slope, is a slope risin,
small angle.
C. Smooth ; not uneven ; not rough or very
hilly ; that may be traveled with case ; as
an easy road.
7. Gentle ; moderate ; not pressing ; as a
lip under easy sail.
8. Yielding with little or no resistance ; com-
plying ; credulous.
With such deceits he gained their easy hearts
Dryden
Ready ; not unwilling ; as easy to forgive
Dryden.
10. Contented; satisfied. Allow hired men
wages that will make them easy.
11. Giving ease ; freeing from labor, care or
the fatigue of business ; furnishing abun-
dance without toil ; affluent ; as easy cir-
cumstances ; an easy fortune.
12. Not constrained ; not stiff or formal; as
easy manners; an easy address; easy
movements in dancing.
13. Smooth ; flowing ; not harsh ; as an eo
sy style.
14." Not jolting; as, the horse has an easy
gait.
15. Not heavy or burdensome.
My yoke is easy, and my burden light
Matt. xi.
EAT, t'. t. pret. ate ; pp. eat or eaten. [Sax.
hitan, ealan, ytan and etan ; Goth, ttan ;
Dan. Older ; Sw. bla ; D. eeten, pp. _ge-
geeten ; G. essen, pp. gegessen ; Russ. ida,
lada, the act of eating ;L. edo, esse, esum
Gr. («u ; W. ysu ; Ir. ithim, itheadh; Sans
ada. The Dutch and German, with the
prefix ge, form the pass. part, gegeeten, ge-
gessen, which indicates that the original
■was geeten, gessen. Class Gd or Gs, in
which there are several roots from which
this word may be deduced. Etch is from
the same root.]
1. To bite or chew and swallow, as food-
Men eat flesh and vegetables.
They shall make thee to eat grass as oxen
Dan. iv.
2. To corrode ; to wear away ; to separate
parts of a thing gradually, as an animal
EBB
by gnawing. We say a cancer eats the
flesh.
3. To consume ; to waste.
Wlien goods increase, they are increased thai
eat them. Ecc. v.
4. To enjoy.
if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat
the goodof the land. Is. i.
To consume ; to oppress.
Who eat up ray people as they cat bread.
Ps. xiv.
To feast.
Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall
die. Is. xxii.
scripture, to e^il the flesh of Christ, is
to believe on him and be nourished by
faith.
To eat one'* words, is to swallow back ; to
take back what has been uttered ; to re-
tract. Hudibras.
EAT, V. i. To take food; to feed ; to take a
meal, or to board.
He did eat continually at the king's table.
2 Sam.
Why eatelh your master with publicans and
sinners. Matt. ix.
To take food ; to be maintained in food.
To eat, or to eat in or into, is to make
way by corrosion ; to gnaw ; to enter by
gradually wearing or separating the parts
of a substance. A cancer eats into the
Their word will eat as doth a canker. 2
Tim. ii.
To eat out, to consume.
Their word will eat out the vitals of religion,
corrupt and destroy it. .inon.
E'ATABLE, a. That may be eaten; fit to
be eaten ; proper for food ; esculent.
E'ATABLE, »!. Any thing that may be eat-
en ; that which is fit for food ; that which
is used as food.
E'ATEN, pp. ee'tn. Chewed and swallow-
ed ; consumed ; corroded.
EATER, n. One who eats; that which
eats or corrodes ; a corrosive.
EATH, a. easy, and adv. easily. Obs.
E'ATING, ppr. Chewing and swallowing;
consuming ; corroding.
E'ATING-HOUSE, n. A house where pro-
visions are sold ready dressed.
EAVES, n. plu. [Sax. efese. In English
the word has a plural ending ; but not in
Saxon.]
The edge or lower border of the roof of a
building, which overhangs the walls, and
casts oft' the water that falls on the roof
E'AVES-DROP, V. i. [eaves and drop.] To
stand under the eaves or near the win-
dows of a house, to listen and learn what is
said within doors. Milton.
E'AVES-DROPPER, n. One who stands
under the eaves or near the window or
door of a house, to listen and hear what
is said within doors, whether from curi-
osity, or for the purpose of tattling and
making mischief. Shak.
EBB, n. [Sax. f66e, ebba ; G. and D. ebbe ;
Dan. id. ; Sw. ebb.]
The reflux of the tide ; the return of tide-
water towards the sea ; opposed to Jlood
or flowing.
2. Decline ;~^decay ; a falling from a better to
a worse state ; as the ebb of life ; the e66 of
prosperity.
EBB, I', i. f Sax. ebban ; D. ebben ; W. eb, to
go from.]
E B U
To flow back ; to return as the water ot a
tide towards the ocean ; opposed to fioui.
Tiie tide Ms and flows twice in twenty
four liours.
2. To decay ; to dechne ; to return or tall
back from a better to a worse state.
Shak. Halifax
EBBING, ppr. Flowing back ; dechning ;
decaying.
EBB'ING, 11. The reflux of the tide.
EBB'TIDE, n. The reflux of tide-water ;
the retiring tide.
EB'IONITE, n. The Ebionites were here
tics who denied the divinity of Christ and
rejected many parts of tlie scriptures.
EB'ON, o. [See Ebony.'] Consisting of ebo
ny ; like ebony ; black.
EB'ONIZE, V. t. [See Ebony.] To make
black or tawny ; to tinge with the color
of ebony; as, to ebonize the iairest com-
plexion. Walsh.
EB'ONY, n. [I,, ebenus; Gv. iStioi or tSao;
Fr. ebene ; It. and Sp. ebuno ; D. ebben
hout ; G. ebenholz.]
A species of hard, heavy and durable wood,
which admits of a fine polish or gl
said to be brought from Madagascar. The
most usual color is black, red or gr
The best is a jet black, free from veins
and rind, very heavy, astringent and of ai
acrid pungent taste. On burning coals it
yields an agreeable perfume, and wheu
green it readily takes fire from its abund-
ance of fat. It is wrought into toys, and
used for mosaic and inlaid work. Encyc.
EB'ONY-TREE, ii. The Ebemis, a small
tree constituting
Crete and other :
Encyc
EBRAe'TEATE, a. [e priv. and bmctea.]
In botany, without a bractea or floral leaf.
Martyn.
EBRI'ETY, n. [L. ebrietas, from ebrius, in-
toxicated. It ap[)ears by the Spanish em-
briagar, and the It. imbriacarsi, that ek-iiis
is contracted by the loss of a palatal, and
hence it is obvious that this word is from
the Gr. lifiz'^, to moisten, to drench. S(
drunk is from the root of drench.]
Drunkenness ; intoxication by spirituous li
quors. Brown
EBRIL'LADE, n. [Fr.] A check given to a
horse, by a sudden jerk of one rein, wheu
he refuses to turn.
EBRIOS'ITY, n. [L. cbriositas.] Habitual
drunkenness. Brown
EBUL'LIENCY, n. [See Ebullition.]
E C H
as in the mixture of an acid with a carbon- 1
ated alkali.
E€AU'DATE, a. [ e priv. and L. cauda, a
tail.] In botany, without a tail or spur.
E€CEN'TRIC, ) [L. eccenlricus ; ex,
E€CEN'TR1€AL, $ from, and centrum,
center.]
1. Deviating or departing from the center.
In geometry, not having the same center ;
a term applied to circles and spheres
which have not the same center, and
consequently are not parallel ; in opposi-
tion to concentric, having a common cen-
ter. . -Enc2/c.
Not terminating in the same point, nor
directed by the same principle. Bacon,
Deviating from stated metliods, usual
practii
tuu^^i.iui.i.g ^ genus, grow.-„ ...
and other isles of the Archipelago
. established forms or laws ;
._,^-.„ ; anomalous; departing from the
usual course ; as eccentric conduct ; eccen-
tric virtue ; an eccentric genius.
ECCEN'TRI€, n. A circle not having the
same center as another. Bacon.
2. That which is irregular or anomalous.
Hajiimond.
ECCENTRICITY, n. Deviation from a
center.
•3. The state of having a center diflereni
from that of another circle. Johnson
3. In astronomy, the distance of the center of
a planet's orbit from the center of the
sun; that is, the distance between the
center of an ellipsis and its focus
Encyc.
4. Departure or deviation from that which
is stated, regular or usual ; as the eccen-
tricity of a man's genius or conduct.
Excursion from the proper sphere.
IFotton.
In
boihng over.
Cudworth.
EBUL'LIENT, a. Boiling over, as a hquor.
Young.
EBULLF'TION, n. [L. ebidlitio, from ebul-
lio, bullio, Eng. to boil, which see.]
1. The operation of boiling; the agitation of
a liquor by heat, which throws it up in
bubbles ; or more properly, the agitation
produced in a fluid by the escape of
portion of it, converted into an aerifor
state bv heat. EbuDition is produced by
the heat of file directly applied, or by the
heat or caloric evolved by any substance
in mixture. Thus, in slaking lime, the
caloric set at liberty by the absorption of
water, produces ebullition.
2. Effervescence, which is occasioned by fer-
mentation, or by any other process which
causes the extrication of an aeriform fluid,]
E€€HYM'OSIS, n. [Gr. txxviiuai;.
medicine, an appearance of hvid spots on
the slcin, occasioned by extravasated blood.
Wiseman.
E€€LESIAS'TES, n. [Gr.] A canonical
book of the old testament.
E€€LESIAS'TI€, } [L. ; Gr. ixxXt;
E€€LESIAS'TI€AL, <, "" ma^ixoi, from tx
x7.r,6i.a, an assembly or meeting, wlienre a
church, from ixx<Ak^, to call forth or con-
voke ; ix and xaT-w, to call.]
Pertaining or relating to the church ; as ec-
clesiastical discipline or government ; ec-
clesiastical affairs, history or polity ; eccle-
siaslical courts.
Ecclesiastical State, is the body of the clergy.
E€€LESIAS'TIC, n. A person in orders,
or consecrated to the service of the church
and the ministry of religion.
EC€LESIAS'TI€US, n. A book of the
apocrypha.
E€€OPROT'I€, a. [Gr. tx, 4, out or from,
and xoTtpoi, stercus.]
Having the quality of promoting alvine dis-
charges ; laxative ; loosening ; gently ca-
thartic. Coxe. Encyc.
EC€OPROT'I€, n. A medicine which pur-
ges gently, or which tends to promote
evacuations by stool ; a mild cathartic.
Co.te. Encyc.
ECHELON', n. [French, from echeUc, a lad-
der, a scale.]
In militanj tactics, the position of an army
in the form of steps, or with one division
more advanced than another.
Wellington
E C L
ECH'INATE, > [L. echinus, a hedge-
E€H'INATED, S"' hog.] Set with prick-
les ; prickly, like a hedgehog ; having
sharp points ; bristled ; as an echinated per-
icarp. Martyn.
Echinated pyrites, in mineralogy.
Woodward,
ECH'INITE, n. [See Echinus.] A fossil
found in chalk pits, called centronia ; a pet-
rified shell set with prickles or points ; a
calcarious petrifaction of the echinus or
sea-hedgehog. Encyc. Ure.
EeH'INUS, n. [L. from Gr. ix^m-] A
hedgehog.
2. A shell-fish set with prickles or sphies.
The Echinus, in natural history, forms a
genus of MoUusca. The body is round-
ish, covered with a bony crust, and often
beset with movable prickles. There are
several species and some of them eatable.
Encyc.
.3. With botanists, a prickly head or top of a
plant ; an echinated pericarp.
4. In architecture, a member or ornament
near the bottom of Ionic, Corinthian or
CoiTiposite capitals, so named from its
roughness, resembling, in some measure,
the spiny coat of a hedgehog.
Johnson. Encyc.
ECH'O, n. [L.echo; Gr. tix^, from ijxos,
sound, r^xsu, to sound.]
1. A sound reflected or reverberated from
a solid body ; sound returned ; repercus-
sion of sound ; as an echo from a distant
hill.
The sound must seem an echo to the sense.
Pope.
a. In fabulous history, a nymph, the daugh-
ter of the AirandTellus, who pined into a
sound, for love of Narcissus.
Lempriere. Johnson.
3. In architecture, a vault or arch for redoub-
hng sounds. Encyc.
ECH'O, I', i. To resound ; to reflect sound.
Tlie hall echoed with acclamations.
2. To be sounded back ; as echoing noise.
Blackmore.
ECH'O. V. i. To reverberate or send back
sound ; to return what has been uttered.
Those peals are echoed by the Trojan tliron^.
Dryden.
ECH'OED, pp. Reverberated, as sound.
ECH'OING, ppr. Sending back sound ; as
echoing hilis.
ECHOM'ETER, n. [Gr. tjxoi, sound, and
/ijrpor, measure.]
Among musicians, a scale or rule, with sev-
eral lines thereon, sei-ving to measure the
duration of sounds, and to find their inter-
vals and ratios. Encyc.
ECIIOM'ETRY, n. The art or act of meas-
uring the duration of sounds.
2. The art of constructing vaults to produce
echoes.
ECL.-V'IRCISE, V. t. [Fr. eclaircir, from clair,
clear. See Clear.]
To make clear ; to explain ; to clear up what
is not understood or misunderstooil.
ECLA'IRCISSEMENT, n. [Fr.] Explana-
tion ; the clearing up of any thing not be-
fore understood. Clarendon.
ECLAMP'SY, n. [Gr. txxau-^n, a shining ;
ix'>.afiytu, to shine.]
A flashing of light, a symptom of epilepsy.
Hence, epilcjisy itself Med. Repos.
ECLAT, J!. ccUt. [French. The word sig-
E C L
nities a bursting forth, a crack, and bright-
ness, splendor ; edater, to split, to crack,
to break forth, to shine.]
1. Primarily, a burst of applause ; acclama-
tion. Hence, applause ; approbation ; re-
nown.
2. Splendor; show; pomp. Pope.
ECLKC'Tle, o. [Or. ixXixrixoi ; t| and Uyu,
to chi30se.]
Selecting ; choosing ; an epithet given to
certain philosophers of antiquity, who did
not attach themselves to any particular
sect, but selected from the opinions and
principles of each, what they thought solid
and good. Hence we say, an eclectic phi-
losopher ; the eclectic sect. Encrjc.
ECLE€'Tle, n. A philosopher who select-
ed from the various systems such opinions
and princi|)les as he judged to be sound
and rational. Enfield.
2. A christian who adhered to the doctrines
of the Eclectics. Also, one of a sect o"
physicians.
EeLE€'TI€ALLY, adv. By way of choos-
ing or selecting ; in the manner of the]
eclectical philosophers. Enfield.
ECLEGM', n. [Gr. ix and xtijiu.] A med'
cine made by the incorporation of oils with
•syrups. Qidncy.
ECLIPSE, n.eclips'. [L.eclipsis; Gv. fxT^ti^^i,
defect, from ixXiMu, to fail ; (| and ?.ftrtu>,
to leave.]
. Literally, a defect or failure ; hence in cis-
tronomy, an interception or obscuration of
the liglit of the sun, moon or other lumi
nous body. An eclipse of the sun is caused
by the intervention of the moon, which
totally or partially hides the sun's disk ;
an eclipse of the moon is occasioned by
the shadow of the earth, which falls on it
and obscures it in whole or in part, but
does not entirely conceal it.
2. Darkness ; obscuration. We say, his glory
has sutiered an eclipse.
All the posterity of our first parents suffered
a perpetual eclipse of spiritual life. Raleigh
ECLIPSE, V. i. eclips'. To hide a luminous
body in whole or in part and intercept its
rays ; as, to eclipse the sun or a star.
2. To obscure ; to darken, by interceptin
the rays of light which render luminous;
as, to eclipse the moon.
3. To cloud ; to darken ; to obscure ;
edtpsc the glory of a hero. Hence,
4. To disgrace. Milton.
5. To extinguish.
Bom to eclipse thy life. Shak
ECLIPSE, V. i. eclips'. To suffer an eclipse
MUton
ECLIPS'ED, pp. Concealed ; darkened
obscured ; disgraced.
ECLIPS'ING, p/)r. Concealing; obscuring
darkening ; clouding.
ECLIP'Tle, n. [Gr. fxXHrtnxos, from ix
jiH««, to fail or be defective ; L. eclipiicus
linea eclijnica, the ecliptic line, or line in
which eclipses are suffered.]
ECO
in its orbit appears to describe, to an eye
placed in the sun. Harris. Encyc.
2. In ^eographj, a great circle on the terres-
trial globe, .inswering to and falling within
the plane of the celestial ecliptic.
Encyc.
ECLIPTIC, a. Pertaining to or described
by the ecliptic. Blackmore.
2. Suffering an eclipse. Herbert.
ECLOGUE, n. ec'log. [Gr. fxJ^ij, choice ;
x7.iyu, to select.]
Literally, a select piece. Hence, in poetry
a pastoral composition, in which shepherds
are introduced conversing with each oth-
er, as the eclogues of Virgil ; or it is a little
elegant composition in a simple natural
style and manner. An eclogue differs from
an idyllion, in being appropriated to pieces
in which shepherds are introduced.
Encyc.
ECONOM'IC, I [See Economy.] Per
ECONOM'ICAL, $"• taining to the regu
lation of household concerns; as the econ
omic art. Davies
Managing domestic or public pecuniary
concerns with frugality ; as an economical
housekeeper ; an economical minister or
administration.
■3. Frugal ; regulated by frugality ; not w
ful or extravagant ; as an economical use of
money.
ECONOMICALLY, adv. With economy
with frugalitj".
ECONOMIST, n. One who manages do-
mestic or other concerns with frugality ;
one who expends money, time or labor
judiciously, and without waste.
2. One who writes on economy ; the writer
of a treatise on economy.
ECON'OMIZE, V. i. To manage pecuniary
concerns with frugality ; to make a pru
dent use of money, or of the means of sa
ving or acquiring property. It is our duty
to economize, in the use of public money
as well as of our own.
ECON'OMIZE, V. t. To use with prudence ;
to expend with frugality ; as, to
1. A. great circle of the sphere
be drawn through the middle of the zodiac,
making an angle vi-ith the equinoctial of
23° 30', which is the sun's greatest decli.
nation. The ecliptic is the apparent path
of the sun, but as in reality it is the earth
which moves, the ecliptic is the path or
way among the fixed stars which the earth
E D A
The Jews already had a sabbath, which, as
citizens and subjects of that economy, they were
obliged to keep, and did keep. Paley.
G. The regular operations of nature in the
generation, nutrition and preservation of
animals or plants ; as auimal economy ;
vegetable economy.
7. Distribution or due order of things.
[ Blackmore.
8. Judicious and frugal management of pub-
1 lie affairs ; as political economy.
9. System of management ; general regula-
tion and disposition of the atfuirsof astatc
or nation, or of any department of govern-
ment.
ECPHRAC'TIC, a. [Gr. tx and $porr«.] In
medicine, deobstruent ; attenuating.
ECPHRAC'TIC, n. A medicine which dis-
solves or attenuates viscid matter, and re-
obstructions. Coxe. Quincy.
En rap-
To manage and economize the use of circula-
ting medium. IValah
ECON'OMIZED, pp. Used with frugality.
ECONOMIZING, ppr. Using with frugality
ECON'OMY, n. [L. o:conomia ; Gr. oixoio
^la ; oixoj, house, and ronos, law, rule.]
1. Primarily, the management, regulation
and government of a family or the con
cerns of a household. Taylor.
2. The management of pecuniary concerns
or the expenditure of money. Hence
3. A frugal aiul judicious use of money ; that
manngcmcut which expends money to
vantage, and incui-s no waste ; frugality in
the necessary expenditure of money. It
difl'ers from parsimony, which implies an
improper saving of expense. Economy
includes also a prudent management of all
the means by which property is saved or
accumulated ; a judicious application of
ECSTASIED, a. [See Ecstasy.] l:;nrap-
tm-ed ; ravished ; transported ; delighted.
Morris.
ECSTASY, n. [Gr. fxfoais, from f?tr'?^i-,- f?
and t^jjA", to stand.]
'1. Primarily, a fixed state ; a trance; a state
' in which the mind is arrested and fixed, or
as we say, lost ; a state in which the func-
tions of the senses are suspended by the
contemplation of some extraordinary or
supernatural object.
Whether what we call ecstasy be not dream-
ing witli our eyes open, I leave to be examined.
Locke.
2. Excessive joy ; rapture ; a degree of de-
light that arrests the whole mind ; as a
pleasing ecstasy ; the ecstasy of love ; joy
may rise to ecstasy.
3. Enthusiasm ; excessive elevation and ab-
sorption of mind ; extreme delight.
He on the tender grass
Would sit and hearken even to ecstasy.
Milton.
4. E.xcessive grief or auxiet}'. [.Vo/userf.]
Shak.
5. Madness ; distraction. [.Vo/ used.]
' Shak.
|6. li\ medicine, a species of catalepsy, when
the person remembers, after the paroxysm
is over, the ideas he had during the fit.
Encyc.
ECSTASY, I'. /. To fill with rapture or en-
thusiasm.
ECSTAT'IC, I Arresting the mmd ;
ECSTAT'ICAL, \ "' suspending the sen-
ses ; entrancing.
In pensive trance, and anguish, and ecstatic fit.
Milton.
2. Rapturous ; transporting ; ravishing ; de-
lightful beyond measure ; as ecstatic bliss
or joy.
3. Tending to external objects. [.Vot used.]
] ATorris.
EC'TyPAL, a. [infra.] Taken from the
original. Ellis.
EC'TyPE, n. [Gr. fxrvxcj.] A copy. [Mot
icsed.] Locke.
lECUMEN'IC, I [Gr. oixovfui>ixoi, from
iECUMEN'ICAL, S^oixou/MV'!, the habita-
4. The disposition or arrangement of any
work ; as the economy of a poem.
Dry den. B. Jonson
5. A system of rules, regulations, rites and
ceremonies ; as the Jewish economy
ble world.]
time, of labor, and of the instruments of|:General; universal; as a.ii ecumenical coun-
labor.
EC'URIE, II. [Fr.] A stable ; a covered
place for horses.
EDA'CIOUS, a. [L. edax, from edo, to eat.]
j Eating ; given to eating ; greedy ; vera-
E D G
EDI
E D I
EDACITY, n. [L. edacitas, from edax, edo, to
eat.]
Greediness ; voracity ; ravenousness ; rapa-
city. Bacon
ED'DER, n. [Qu. Sax. eder, a hedge.] In
husbandry, such wood as is worked into
tlie top of hedge-stal{es to bind them to-
gether. Mason.
ED'DER, V. t. To bind or make tight by cd-
der ; to fasten the tops of hedge-stakes, by
interweaving eddcr. England.
ED'DISH, ? The latter pasture or grass
E'ADISH, I "■ that comes after mowing or
reaping ; called also eagrass, earsh, etch.
[Not used, I believe, in America.] Encyc.
VjU'DOES, I A name given to a variety
ED'DERS, S of the Arum esculentum,
an esculent root. Mease. Encyc.
ED'DY, n. [I find this word in no other lan-
guage. It is usually considered as a com-
pound of Sax. erf, backward, and ea,
water.]
1. A current of water running back, or in a
direction contrary to the main stream.
Thus a point of land extending into a river,
checks the water near the shore, and turns
it back or gives it a circular course. The
word is applied also to the air or wind mo-
ving in a circular dii'ection.
2. A whirlpool ; a current of water or air in
a circular direction.
And smiling eddies dimpled on the main.
Di-yden.
■Wheel through the air, in circling eddies play.
Addison.
EDDY, 1'. i. To move circularly, or as an
eddy.
ED'DY, a. Whirling; moving circularly.
Dtyden.
ED'DY- WATER, n. Among seamen, the
water which falls back on the rudder of a
ship under sail, called dead-water. Encyc.
ED'DY-WIND, n. The wind returned or
beat back from a sail, a mountain or any
thing that hinders its passage. Encyc.
ED'ELITE, ?(. A siliceous stone of a light
gray color. Kirwan.
EDEM'ATOUS, a. [Gr. oi8,;i«i, a tumor ;
oiStu, to swell.]
Swelling with a serpus humor ; dropsical.
An edematous tumor is white, soft and in-
sensible, ^uincy.
E'DEN, n. [Heb. Ch. ',!}} pleasure, de-
light.]
The country and garden in which Adam and
Eve were placed by God himself.
E'DENIZED, a. Admitted into paradise.
Davies
EDEN'TATED, a. [L. edmtalus, e and
dens.] Destitute or deprived of teeth. Diet.
EDuE, n. [Sax. ecg ; Dan. eg ; Sw. e^g ;
G. ecke, ege; L. acies, acus ; Fr. atgu,
whence aignUle, a needle ; Gr. axrj ; W,
uwc, au'g, edge.]
1. \xi a general sense, the extreme border or
point of any thing; as the edge of the
table; the eci^e of abook ; the erfg-c of clotli
It coincides nearly with border, brink,
margin. It is particularly applied to the
sharp border, the thin cutting extremity of
an instrument, as theedg'eofan ax, razor
ktiife or sythe ; also, to the point of an in-
strument, as the edge of a sword.
2. Figuratively, that which cuts or pene
trates; that which wounds or injures; as
the edge of slander. Shak.
3. A narrow part rising from a broader.
Some harrow their gronnd over, and then plow
upon an edge. Mortimer.
4. Sharpness of mind or appetite ; keenness ;
intenseness of desire; fitness for action or
operation; as the edge of appetite or hun-
ger.
Silence and solitude set an edge on the ge-
nius. Zhryden.
5. Keenness ; sharpness ; acrimony.
Abate the edge of traitors. Shak.
To set the teeth on edge, to cause a tingling or
grating sensation in the teeth. Bacon.
EDGE, v.t. [W.hogi; Sax. eggian ; Dan.
egger.]
1. To sharpen.
To edg-e her champion's sword. Dryden.
;2. To furnish with an edge.
Aswordciiged with flint. Dryden.
To border ; to fringe.
A long descending train,
Witii rubies edged. Dryden.
4. To border ; to furnish with an ornamental
border ; as, to edge a flower-bed with box.
5. To sharpen ; to exasperate ; to embitter.
By such reasonings, the simple were blinded,
and the malicious edged. Hayward.
G. To incite ; to provoke ; to urge on ; to in-
stigate ; that is, to push on as with a sharp
jioint ; to goad. Ardor or passion will edge
a man forward, when arguments fail.
[This, by a strange mistake, has been
sometimes written egg, from the Sax. eg-
gian, Dan. egger, to incite ; the writers not
knowing that this verb is from the noun
ecg, eg, an edge. The verb ought certain-
ly to "follow the noun, and the popular use
is correct.]
7. To niove sideways ; to move by little and
little ; as, edge your chair along.
EDciE, V. i. To move sideways ; to inove
gradually. Edge along this way.
2. To sail close to the wind. Dryden.
To edge away, in sailing, is to decline grad
ually from the shore or from the line of
the course. Mar. Diet.
To edge in with, to draw near to, as a ship in
chasing. Cyc.
EDG'ED, pp. Furnished with an edge or
border.
:2. Incited; instigated.
]3. a. Sharp ; keen.
EDgELESS. a. Not sharp; blunt; obtuse ;
unfit to cut or penetrate ; as an edgeless
sword or weapon. Shuk.
EDgETOOL, Ji. An instrument having a
sharp edge. Moxon.
EDGEWISE, adv. [edge and wise.] With
the edge turned forward, or towards a par-
ticular point ; in the direction of the edge.
|2. Sideways ; with the side foremost.
EDG'ING, ppr. Giving an edge ; furnishing
with an edge.
2. Inciting; urging on; goading; stimula-
ting; instigating.
3. Moving gradually or sideways.
4. Furnishing with a border.
EDG'ING, n. That which is added on the
border, or which forms the edge ; as lace,
fringe, trimming, added to a garment for
ornament.
Bordered with a rosy edging. Dryden.
■2. A narrow lace.
3. In gardening, a row of small plants set
along the border of a flower-bed ; as an
edging o[ box. Encyc.
ED'IBLE, a. [from L. (do, to eat.] Eata-
ble ; fit to be eaten as food ; esculent.
Some flesh is not edible. Bacon.
E'DleT, n. [L. edictum, from edico, to utter
or proclaim ; e and dico, to speak.]
That which is uttered or proclaimed by au-
thority as a rule of action ; an order issued
by a prince to his subjects, as a rule or law
requiring obedience ; a proclamation of
command or prohibition. An edict is an
order or ordinance of a sovereign prince,
intended as a permanent law, or to erect
a new office, to establish new duties, or
other temporary regulation ; as the edicts
of the Roman emperors ; the edicts of the
French monarch.
ED'IFICANT, a. [infra.] Building. [Lit-
tle used.]
EDIFI€A'TION, n. [L. cedificatio. See
Edijy.]
1. A building up, in a moral and religious
sense ; instruction ; improvement and pro-
gress of the mind, in knowledge, in morals,
or in faith and holiness.
He that prophesieth, speaketh to men to edi-
fication. 1 Cor. xiv.
2. Instruction ; improvement of the mind in
any species of useful knowledge.
Addison.
ED'IFI€ATORY,a. Tending to edification
Haa.
ED'IFICE, n. [L. wdificium. See Edify.\
A building ; a structure ; a fabric ; but ap-
pro])riately, a large or splendid building.
The word is not applied to a mean build-
ing, but to temples, churches or elegant,
mansion-houses, and to other great struc-
tures. Milton. Addison.
EDIFI"CIAL, a. Pertaining to edifices or
to structure.
ED'IFIED, ;>;>. Instructed; improved in lit-
erary, moral or religious knowledge.
ED'IFIER, n. One that improves another
by instructing him.
ED'IFY, v.t. [h.(edifico; Fr.edifier; Sp.
edijicar ; It. edificare ; from L. cedes, a house,
and/ac)o, to make.]
1. To build, in a literal sense. [JVbt now
used.] Spenser.
j2. To instruct and improve the mind in
I knowledge generally, and particularly iu
moral and religious knowledge, in faith
and holiness.
Edify one another. 1 Thess. v.
3. To teach or persuade. [JYot used.]
Bacon.
ED'IFYING, ppr. Building up iu christian
knowledge ; instructing ; improviaig the
mind.
ED'IFYINGLY, adv. In an edifying man-
ner.
E'DILE, n. [L. mdilis, from cedes, a build-
'"g-l
A Roman magistrate whose chief business
was to superintend buildings of all kinds,
- more especially public edifices, temples,
bridges, aqueducts, &c. The ediles had
also the care of the highways, public pla-
ces, weights and measures, &c. Encyc.
E'DILESHIP, n. The office of Edile in an-
cient Rome. Gray.
ED'IT, V. t. [from L. edo, to publish ; e and
do, to give.]
1. Properly, to publish ; more usually, to su-
perintend a publication ; to prepare a book
or paper for the public eye, by writing,
correcting or selecting the matter.
E D U
Those who know how volumes of the fathers
are generally edUed. Christ. Observer.
2. To publish.
Abelard wrote many philosophical treatises
which have never been edited. Enfield
ED'ITEl), »/). Published; corrected; pre-
pared ancl published.
ED'ITING,;)/?r. Publishing; preparing for
publication.
EDP'TION, n. [L. editio, from edo, to pub
lish.]
1. The publication of any book or writing
as the first edition of !i new work.
2. Republication, sometimes with revision
and correction ; as the second edition of a
work.
3. Any publication of a book before publisli
ed ; also, one impression or the whole
number of copies published at once ; as
the tenth edition.
ED'ITOR, 71. [L. from edo, to publish.] A
publisher ; particularly, a person who su-
perintends an impression of a book ; the
per.son who revises, corrects and prepare;
a book for publication ; as Erasmus, Sea
liger, &c.
2. One who superintends the publication of
a newspaper.
El)lTO'RlAL,a. Pertaining to an editor, as
editorial labors ; written by an editor, ai
editorial remarks.
EI) ITORSHIP, n. The business of an ed-
itor ; the care and sujierintendence of a
publication. ifahh.
EDIT'lJATE, V. t. [Low L. adituor, from
cedes, a temple or house.]
To defend or govern the house or temple.
[JVot in use.] Gregory.
ED'UCATE, V. t. [L. educo, educare; e and
rfiiro, to lead ; It. educare; Sp. educar.]
To bring up, as a child ; to instruct ; to in
form and enlighten the understanding ; t(
instill into the mind principles of arts, sci
ence, morals, religion and behavior. T<
educate children well is one of the mos.
important duties of parents and guardians.
EDUCATED,;)^. Brought up; instructed;
furnished with knowledge or principles;
trained; disciplined.
ED UCATING, ppr. Instructing ; enlight-
ening the understanding, and forming the
manners.
KI)U€A'TION, n. [h. educatio.] The bring-
ing up, as of a child; instruction; forma-
tion of manners. Education comprehends
all that series of instruction and discipline
which is intended to enhghten the under-
standing, correct the temper, and form the
manners and habits of youth, and fit them
for usefulness in their future stations. To
give children a good education in manners,
arts and science, is important ; to givi
tl]em a religious education is indispensa
ble ; and an immense responsibility rest
'in parents and guardians who neglect
tlicse duties.
E F F
Th' eternal art educing good from ill.
Pope.
EDUCED, pp. Drawn forth ; extracted
produced.
EDU'CING, ppr. Drawing forth; produ-
E'DUCT, n. [L. eductum, from educo.] E.\-
tracted matter ; that which is educed ;
that wliich is brought to hglit, by separa-
tion, analysis or decomposition.
We must consider tlie educts of its analysis
by Bergman, &c. Kirwan
EDUCTION, n. The act of drawing out oi
bringing into view.
EDU€T'OR, n. That which brings forth
elicits or extracts.
Stimulus must be called an eductor of vita
ether. Darwin
EDULCORATE, v. t. [Low L. edulco, from
d\dcis, sweet ; Fr. tdulcorer.]
1. To purify ; to sweeten. In chimistry, to
render substances more mild, by freeing
them from acids and salts or other solu-
ble impurities, by washing. Encyc.
2. To sweeten by adding sugar, sirup, &c.
Encyc
EDUL'eORATED, ;>;?. Sweetened; purifi
ed from acid or saline substances, and ren
dered more mild.
EDUL'€ORATING,;)pr. Sweetening ; ren
dering more mild.
EDUL€ORA'TION, n. The act of sweet
ening or rendering more mild, by freeing
from acid or saline substances, or from
any soluble impurities.
The act of sweetening by admixture of
some saccharine substance.
EDUL'CORATIVE, a. Having the quality
of sweetening.
EEK. [See Eke.]
EEL, ji. [Sax. eel ; G. aal ; D. aal ; Dan. id. ;
Sw. 81 ; Gypsey, alo ; Turk. ilan. The
word, in Saxon, is written precisely like
awl.]
A species of Muriena, a genus of fishes be-
longing to the order of apodes. The head
is smooth ; lliere are ten rays in tlie
brane of the gills ; the eyes are covered
with a common skin ; the body is cylin-
drical and slimy. Eels, in some respects
resemble reptiles, particularly in their
manner of moving by a serpentine wind-
ing of the body ; and they often creep up
on land and wander about at night ii
search of snails or other food. In winter
thev lie buried in mud, being very impa
tieiit of cold. They grow to- the weight of
15 or 20 pounds ; and the conger eel is
said to grow to a hundred pounds in
weight, and to 10 feet in length. They
are esteemed good food. Encyc.
EE'L-FISIIING, n. The act or art of catch-
ing eels.
EE'LPOT, n. A kind of basket used for
ins eels.
EE'LPODT, 71. A species of Gadus, some-
what resembling an eel, but shorter in
proportion, seldom exceeding a foot in
length. It
E F F
EF'FABLE, a. [L. effabilis, from effor ; ex
and/or, to speak.]
Utterable ; that may be uttered or spoken.
[This word is not used; but ineffable is in
common use.]
EFFA'CE, V. t. [Fr. effacer, from the L. ez
and/ado or facies.]
1. To destroy a figure on the surface of any
thing, whether painted or carved, so as to
render it invisible or not distinguishable ;
as, to efface the letters on a monument.
2. To blot out ; to erase, strike or scratch
out, so as to destroy or render illegible ;
as, to efface a writing ; to efface a name.
.3. To destroy any impression on the mind ;
to wear away ; as, to efface the image of a
person in the mind; to efface ideas or
thoughts ; to efface gratitude. Dryden.
To deface is to injure or impair a figure ;
to efface \s to rub out or destroy, so as to
render invisible.
EFFA'CED, pp. Rubbed or worn out ; de-
stroyed, as a figure or impression.
EFFA'CING, ppr. Destroying a figure, cha-
racter or impression, on any thing.
EFFECT', 71. [L. effectus, from ejicio ; ex
and/acio, tomake; It. ejfetto; Fr. effet.]
1. That wliich is produced by an agent or
cause ; as the effect of luxury ; the effect of
intemperance.
Poverty, disease and disgrace are the natural
effects of dissipation.
Consequence ; event.
To say that a composition is imperfect, is in
effect to say tlie author is a m-an. Anon.
3. Purpose ; general intent.
They spoke to her to that effect. 2 Chron.
xxxiv.
4. Consequence intended ; utility ; profit ;
advantage.
Christ is become of no effect to you. Gal. v.
5. Force; validity. The obligation is void
and of no effect.
6. Completion ; perfection.
Not so worthily to be brought to heroical ef-
fect by fortune or necessity.
.UI'CA'TIONAL, a. Pertaining to educa
tiuii; derived from education; as educa-\\ length. It is a delicate fish.
tiunal habits. Smith.]] Encyc. Diet. jVW. Hist.\
EDUCATOR, 71. One who educates. EE'LSKIN, 7i. The skin of an eel.
Reality ; not mere appearance ; fact.
No other in eff'ect than what it seems.
Denham.
8. In the plural, effects are goods ; movables ;
personal estate. The people escaped from
the town with their effects.
EFFECT', V. t. [from the Noun.] To pro-
duce, as a cause or agent ; to cause to be.
The revolution in France effected a great
change of property.
2. To bring to passs ; to achieve ; to accom-
plish ; as, to effect an object or purpose.
EFFECT'ED, pp. Done ; performed ; ac-
complished.
EFFECT'IBLE, a. That may be done or
achieved ; practicable ; feasible. Broum.
EFFECT'ING, ppr. Producing; perform-
ing ; accomplishing.
EFFECTIVE, a. Having the power to
cause or iiroduce ; efficacious.
They are not effective of any thing. Bacon.
2. Operative ; active ; having the quality of
producing effects.
Time is not effective, nor are bodies destroyed
by it. Brown.
JScrfrfoes. g£,Lgp£y^li^ „_ A forked instrument used 3. Efficient; causing to be; as an ejerftrr
cause. Taylor.
4. Having the power of active operation ;
able ; as effective men in an army ; an effect-
ive force.
EDU'CE, !'. /. [L. educo, edui-i; e and duco,n for stabbing eels.
to lead.] lE'EN, contracted from even, which see.
To bring or draw out; to extract; to pro- p I have f'cn done with you. V Estrange.
duce from a Slate of occultation. lEFF, ii, A '
lizard.
E F F
E F F
E F F
EFFE€T'1VELY, adv. With eflect ; pow-
erfully ; vvitli real operation.
Tliis effectively resists the devil. Taylor.
[In this sense, effectually is generally
used.]
EFFE€T'LESS, a. Without effect ; with-
out advantage ; useless. Shak.
EFFECT'OR, n. One who effects ; one wl
produces or causes ; a maker or creator.
Derham.
EFFE€T'UAL, a. Producing an effect, or
the effect desired or intended ; or having
adequate power or force to produce the
effect. The means employed were ef-
fectual.
According to the gift of the grace of God giv-
en me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph. iii.
2. Veracious ; expressive of facts. [M>tused.]
Shak.
3. Effectual assassin, in Mitford, is unusual
and not well authorized.
EFFECT'UALLY, adv. With effect ; effi-
caciously ; in a manner to produce the in-
tended effect ; thoroughly. The weeds on
land for grain must be effectually subdued.
The city is effectually guarded.
EFFECT' UATE, v. t. [Fr. effectiLcr. See
Effect.]
To bring to pass ; to achieve ; to accom-
plish ; to fulfil ; as, to effectuate a purpose
or desire. Sidney.
EFFECT'UATED, pp. Accomplished.
EFFECT' UATING, ppr. Achieving ; per-
forming to effect.
EFFEM'INACY, n. [from effeminate.] The
softness, dehcacy and weakness in men,
which are characteristic of tiie female sex,
but which in males are deemed a re-
proach ; unmanly delicacy ; womanish
softness or weakness. Milton.
2. Voluptuousness ; indulgence in unmanly
pleasures ; lasciviousness. Taylor.
EFFEM'INATE, a. [L. effaminatus, from
effwminor, to grow or make womanish,
i'tomfmmina, a woman. See Woman.]
1. Having the qualities of the female sex
soft or delicate to an unmanly degree
tender; womanish ; voluptuous.
The king, by his voluptuous life and mean
maniage, became effeminate, and less sensible
of honor. Bacon
2. Womanish ; weak ; resembling the prac-
tice or qualities of the sex ; as an effemi-
nate peace ; an effeminate life.
3. Womanlike, tender, in a sense not re-
l)roachful. Shak.
EFFEM'INATE, v.t. To make womanish ;
to unman ; to weaken ; as, to effeminate
children. Locke
EFFEM'INATE, v. i. To grow womanish
or weak ; to melt into weakness.
In a slothful peace courage will effeminate.
Pope.
EFFEM'INATELY, adv. In a womanish
manner ; weakly ; softly.
2. By means of a woman ; as effeminately
vanquished. Milton
EFFEM'INATENESS, n. Unmanhke soft
EFFEMINA'TION, n. The state of one
grown womanish; the state of being weak
or unmanly. [Little tised.] Bacon
EFFERVESCE, v.i. efferves'. [L. effervesco.
from fen'co, to be hot, to rage. See Fer-
vent.]
To he in natural cuuunotic n, like liquor when
gently boiling ; to bubble and hiss, as fer-
menting liquors, or any fluid, when some
part escapes in an elastic form ; to work,
as new wine.
EFFERVES'CENCE,?!. A kind of natural
ebullition ; that commotion of a fluid, which
takes place, when some part of the mass
flies off in an elastic form, producing innu-
merable small bubbles ; as the effervescence
or working of new wine, cider or beer ; the
effervescence of a carbonate with nitric acid.
EFFERVES'CENT, a. Gently boiling or
bubbling, by means of the disengagement
of an elastic fluid. Encyc
EFFERVES'CIBLE, a. That has the qual-
ity of effervescing ; capable of producing
effervescence.
A small qiianlity of efferveseible matter.
EFFERVES'CING,j5pr. Boiling; bubbling,
by means of an elastic fluid extricated in
tlie dissolution of bodies.
EFFE'TE, a. [L. effatus, effetus ; ex and foe-
tus, embryo.]
1. Barren ; not capable of producing young,
as an animal, or fruit, as the earth. An
animal becomes effete by losing the power
of conception. The earth may be render
ed effete, by drouth, or by exhaustion of
fertility. Ray. Bentley.
2. Worn out with age ; as effete sensuality.
South.
EFFICA'CIOUS, a. [L. efficax, from effcio.
See Effect.]
Effectual ; productive of effects ; producing
the effect intended; having power ad
quate to the purpose intended ; powerful ;
as an efficacious remedy for disease.
EFFIeA'CIOUSLY, adv. Effectually
such a manner as to produce the effect
desired. We say, a remedy has been effi
caciously applied.
EFFICA'CIOUSNESS, n. The quality of
being eflicacious. Mi
EF'FIeACY, n. [Sp. It. cfficacia ; Fr. eff.-
cace ; from L. efficax.]
Power to produce effects ; production of the
effect intended ; as the efficacy of the g>
pel in converting men from sin ; the f^
cy of prayer ; the efficacy of medicine in
counteracting disease ; the efficacy of ma-
nure in fertilizing land.
EFFI"CIENCE, ? „ [L. efficiens, from effi-
EFFI"CIENCY, <, "' cio. See Effect.]
1. The act of producing effects; a causing
to be or exist ; effectual agency.
The manner of this divine efficiency is far
above us. Hooker.
Gravity does not proceed from the efficiency
of any contingent or unstable agent.
Woodward.
2. Power of producing the effect intended
active competent power.
EFF1"CIENT, a. Causing effects ; produ
cing ; that causes any thing to be what it
is. The efficient cause is that which pro-
duces ; the final cause is that for which it
is produced.
EFFI"CIENT,7!. The agent or cause which
produces or causes to exist.
2. He that makes.
EFFI"CIENTLY, adv. With effect ; effect-
ively.
EFFIERCE, j).<. effers'. To make fierce or
furious. [JVot used.] Spenser.
EF'FlCiY, n. [L. effigies, from effingo, to
fashion ; ex and fngo, to form or devise ;
Sp. It. Fr. effigie. See Feign.]
1. The image or likeness of a person ; re-
semblance ; representation ; any substance
fashioned into the shape of a person.
2. Portrait ; likeness ; figure, in sculpture or
painting.
3. On coins, the print or impression repre-
senting the head of the prince who struck
the coin.
To burn or hang in effigy, is to burn or hang
an image or picture of the person intended
to be executed, disgraced or degraded.
In France, when a criminal cannot be ap-
prehended, his picture is hung on a gal-
lows or gibbet, at the bottom of which is
written his sentence of condemnation.
Encyc.
EFFLA'TE, i'. t. [h. effio.] To fill with
breath or air. [Little used.]
EFFLORESCE, f.i. effiores'. [L. effioresco,
from florcsco,Jloreo, to blossom,^os, a flow-
er.
See Flotoer.]
foi
1. In chimistry, to form a mealy powder on
the surface ; to become pulverulent or
dusty on the surface. Substances efflor-
esce by losing their water of crystalization.
Those salts whose crystals effloresce, belong
to the class which is most soluble, and crystal-
izes by cooling. Fourcroy.
2. To form saline vegetation on the surface;
I or rather to shoot out minute spicular
! crystals ; as the effiorescencc of salts on
plaster.
iEFFLORES'CENCE, n. In botany, the time
of flowering ; the season when a plant
j shows its first blossoms. Mariyn.
i2. Among physicians, a redness of the skin ;
eruptions ; as in rash, measles, small pox,
scarlatina, &.c.
3. In cMmistry, the formation of small white
threads, resembling the subhmated mat-
ter called flowers, on the surface of cer-
tain bodies, as salts. This is properly a
shooting out of minute spicular crystals,
called sometimes a saline vegetation, as
that of the sulphate of magnesia on the
deserts of Siberia, and of natron in
Egypt. In butter much salted, the salt
shoots in spiculfe, and an efflorescence
is often seen on walls formed with plas-
ter. In some species of salts, as in
sulphate and carbonate of soda, the ef-
florescence consists of a fine white dust.
This kind of efl^orescence is the contrary
of deliquescence. In the latter, the saline
crystals decompose the air, or rather ab-
stract moisture from it ; in the former, the
atmosphere decomposes the saline crystals,
and the water of crystahzation is abstract-
ed from the salts.
Fourcroy. Encyc. Diet. Nat. Hist.
EFFLORES'CENT, a. Shooting into white
threads or spicute; forming a white dust
on the surface. Fourcroy.
EF'FLUENCE, n. [L. effiuens, effiuo; ex
and fuo, to flow. See Flow.]
A flowing out ; that which flows or issues
from any body or substance.
Bright effluence of bright essence increate.
Milton.
EFFLU'VIUM, n. plu. effiuvia. [L. from
effiiio, to flow out. See Flotv.]
The minute and often invisible particles
which exhale from most, if not all terres-
trial bodies, such as the odor or smell of
E F F
E G I
E G Y
' plants, and the noxious exhalations from
diseased bodies or putrefying animal
vegetable substances.
EF'FLUX, n. [L. efflums, from effluo, to
flow out.]
1. The act of flowing out, or issuing in
stream ; as an effiux of matter trom an ii
cer. Harvey.
2. Effusion ; flow; as the first f^wr of men's
piety. Hammond.
3. That which flows out ; emanation.
Light— cj^w divine. Thomson.
EFFLUX', V. i. To run or flow away. [Kot
userf.J Boyk.
EFFLUXION, n. [L. effluxum, from effluo.]
1. The act of flowing out. Brmmi.
2, That which flows out ; efiluvium ; ema-
nation. Bacon.
EFFO'RCE, V. t. [Fr. efforcer, from force.]
1. To force ; to break tlirough by violence.
Spenser.
2. To force ; to ravish. Spenser.
3. To strain ; to exert with effort. Spenser.
[This word is now rarely used ; perhaps
never, except in poetry. We now use
force.]
EFFORM', i'. t. [from form.] To fashion;
to shape. Taylor.
^ JFor thisjwe now use form.]
" " Tiie act of giving
Ray.
EFFORM.\'TION,
shape or form.
[vVe now use formation.
EF'FORT, n. [Fr. efoH ; It. .iforzo ; from
fori, strong, L.forhs. See Force]
A straining; an e.\ertion of strength; en
deavor ; strenuous exertion to accomplish
an object ; applicable to ph/sical or intellec-
tual power. The army, by great efforts,
scaled the walls. Distinction in science '
eained by continued efforts of the mind.
EFFOS'SION, n. [L. effossus, from effod.
to dig out.]
The act of digging out of the earth ; as the
passion of coins. Arbuthnot.
EFFRA'Y, t». t. [Fr. effrayer.] To frighten.
[Mit in use.] Spens
EFFRA'YABLE, a. Frightful ; dreadful
jyVbf in use.] Harvey.
EFFRENA'TION, n. [L. effrwnalio, fron:
frxnum, a rein.]
Unbridled rashness or licence ; unruliness.
[^rotinuse^
EFFRONT'ERY, n. [Fr. effronterie, fron:
front] Impudence ; assurance ; shame-
less boldness ; sauciness ; boldness trans-
gressing the bounds of modesty and deco
rum. Effrontery is a sure mark of ill-
breeding.
EFFULgE, v. i. effutj'. [L. effulgeo ; ex and
fulgeo, to shine. J^
To send forth a flood of light; to shine with
splendor.
EFFUL'(iENCE, n. A flood of light ; great
luster or brightness ; splendor ; as the ef-
fulgence of divine glory. It is a word of
superlative signification^ and applied, witi
peculiar propriety, to the sun and to the
Supreme Being.
EFFUL'GENT, a. Shining ; bright ; splen
did ; diffusing a flood of hght ; as the efful
sent sun.
EFFUL'GING, ppr. Sending out a flood of
light. Savage.
EFFUMABIL'ITY, n. The quahty of fly-
ing off in fiimes or vapor. Boyle.
Vol. I.
EFFU'ME, V. t. To breathe out. [Mt
used.] Spenser.
EFFU'SE, V. t. effu'ze. [L. effusus, from
effundo ; ex and fundo, to pour.]
To pour out as a fluid ; to spill; to shed
Willi pushing blooil effused. Milton
EFFU'SE, a. Dissipated ; profuse. [J^ot
use.] Richardson
EFFU'SED, pp. effu'zed. Poured out ; shed
EFFU'SING, ppr. effu'zing. Pouring out
bedding.
EFFU'SION, 71. effu'zhon. The act of pour-
ing out as a liquid.
2. The act of pouring out; a .shedding or
spilling ; wa.ste ; as the effusion of blood
:. The pouring out of words. Hooker
4. The act of pouring out or bestowing di
vine influence ; as the effusions of the Ho
ly Spirit; fusions of grace.
That which is poured out.
Wash me with that precious effusion, and I
shall be whiter than snow. King Charles.
6. Liberal donation. [Abi used.]
Hammond.
EFFU'SIVE, a. Pouring out; that jmurs
forth largely.
Th' effimne south. Thomson.
EFT, n. [Sax. efela.] A newt ; an evet ; the
common lizard. Encyc.
EFT, adv. [Sax.] After ; again ; soon ; quick
ly. Obs. Spenser.
EFTSOONS', adv. [Sax. ejl, after, and so
na, sones, soon.] Soon afterwards ; in i
short time. Obs. Spenser
E. G. [exempli gratia.] For the sake of an
example ; for instance.
EGAD', eiclam. Qu. Ch. lia a lucky star-
good fortune, as we say, my stars!
E'GER or E'AGRE, ji. An impetuous
flood ; an irregular tide. Brown
E'GERAN, n. [from Eger, in Bohemia.]
A subspecies of pyramidical garnet, of i
reddish brown color. It occurs massiv(
or crystalized. Ure
EGERiSl'INATE. [.Vol used. See Germi
7iate.]
EtiEST', V. t. [L. egestum, from eg-ero.] To
cast or throw out ; to void, as excrement
Bacon
EgES'TION, n. [L. egestio.] The act of
voiding digested matter at the natural
vent. Hale.
EGG, n. [Sax. ffg-; G.andD. ei; Sw.hg^
Dan. eg-. Qu. L. ovum, by a change of g-
into V. VV. wy ; Arm. oy ; Ir. ugh ; Russ.
ikra, eggs, and the fat or calf of the leg.]
A body formed in the females of fowls and
certain other animals, containing an em-
bryo or fetus of the same species, or the
substance from which a like animal is
produced. The eggs of fowls when laid
are covered with a shell, and within is the
white or albumen, which incloses the yelk
or yellow substance. The eggs of fish
and some other animals are united by
a viscous substance, and called spawn.
Most insects are oviparous.
Egg, to incite, is a mere blunder. [See
Edge.]
EGG'BIIID, n. A fowl, a species of tern.
Cook''s Voyages.
E6ILOP I€AL, a. Affected with the egi-
lops.
E'GILOPS, n. [Gr.o.yi>^.] Goat's eye ; an
abscess in the inner canthus of the eye :
fistula lachrvmalis. Coxe.
70
EGLAND'ULOUS, a. [e neg. and glandn-
lotis. See Gland.] Destitute of elands.
EG'LANTINE, n. [Fr. eglantier; D. ege-
lanlier.] A species of rose ; the sweet
brier ; a plant bearing an odoriferous
flower.
E'GOIST, n. [from L. ego, I.] A name giv-
en to certain followers of Des Cartes, who
held the opinion that they were uncertain
of every thing except their own existence
and the operations and ideas of their own
minds. Rdd.
EGO'ITY, n. Personality. [J^ol authorized.]
Swift.
E'GOTISM, n. [Fr. egoisme; 8p. egoismo;
from L. ego, I.J
Primarily, the practice of too frequently
using the word /. Hence, a speaking or
writing much of one's self; Belf-j)raise ;
self-commendation ; the act or practice of
magnifying one's self, or making one's
self of inii)ortance. Spectator.
A deplorable egotism of character.
Dwight on Dueling.
EGOTIST, n. One who repeats the word
/ very oflen in conversation or writing ;
one who speaks much of himself, or mag-
nifies his own achievements ; one who
makes himself the hero of every tale.
EGOTlST'I€, a. Addicted to egotism.
2. Containing egotism.
E'GOTIZE, V. i. To talk or write much of
one's self; to make jjretensions to self-im
portance.
EGRE'tilOUS, a. [L. egregius, supposed to
be from e or ex grege, from or out of or
beyond the herd, select, choice.]
1. Eminent ; remarkable ; extraordinary ;
distinguished ; as egregious exploits ; an
egregious prince. But in this sense it is
seldom applied to persons.
2. In a bad seTise, great ; extraordinary ; re-
markable ; enormous ; as an egregious
mistake ; egregious contempt. In this
sense it is often apphed to persons ; as an
egregious rascal ; an egregious murderer.
EGRE'tilOUSLY, adv. Greatly; enor-
mously ; shamefully ; usually in a bad
sense ; as, he is egregiously mistaken ; they
were egregiotisly cheated.
EGRE'6IOlJSNESS, n. The state of being
great or extraordinary.
E'GRESS, n. [L. egressus, from egredior ; e
and gradior, to step, Sw. resa, Dan. rej-
ser.]
he act of going or issuing out, orthe power
of departing from any inclosed or confined
place.
Gates of burning adamant,
Barr'd over us, prohibit all egress. JtriUon.
EGRESSION, n. [L. egressio.] The act
of going out from any inclosure or place
of confinement. Pope.
E'GRET, n. [Fr. aigrette.] The lesser white
heron, a fowl of the genus Ardea ; an ele-
gant fowl with a white body and a crest
on the head. Encyc.
2. In botany, the flying featliery or liairy
crown of seeds, as the down of the thistle.
E'GRIOT, n. [Fr. aigre, sour.] A kind of
sour chem'. Bacon.
EgYP TIAN, a. [from Egypt, Gr. Aiyvittos ;
supposed to be so called from the name
Coptos, a principal town, from gupta,
guarded, fortified. Asiat. Res. iii. 3W. 335.
E I T
E J U
E L A
So Mmt, Mazor, Heb. iisd,_ whence Mis-
raim, signifies a fortress, from fi to biml
or inclose.] Pertaining to Egypt in Afri-
ca.
EciYP'TIAN, n. A native of Egypt; also, a
gypsey. Blackstone.
EI'DER, n. [G. Sw. eider.] A species of
duck.
EI'DER-DOWN, n. Down or soft feathers
of the eider duck.
EIGH, exclam. An expression of sudden
delight.
EIGHT, a. ait. [Sax. cehta, eahta or ehta
G. acht ; D. agt ; Sw. otta ; Dan. otte ;
Goth, ahtau ; L. octo ; Or. oxtu ; It. otto ;
Sp. ocho ; Port, oito ; Fr. huit ; Arm. eih
oreiz; Ir.ocht; W. uyth or tm/th ; Corn.
eulh ; Gypsey, ochto ; Hindoo, attte.]
Twice four; expressing the number twice
four. Four and four make eight.
EIGHTEEN, a. dteen. Eight and ten t
ted.
EIGHTEENTH, a. dteenth. The next
order after the seventeenth.
EIGHTFOLD, o. dtefold. Eight times the
number or quantity.
EIGHTH, a. aitth. Noting the number
eight ; the number next after seven ; the
ordinal of eight.
EIGHTH, n. In music, an interval compo-
sed of five tones and two semitones.
Encyc.
EIGHTHLY, adv. diUhUj. In the eighth
jjlace.
EIGHTIETH, a. dtieth. [fromeighly.] The
next in order to the seventy ninth ; ih
eighth tenth.
EIGHTS€ORE, a. or n. dtescore. [eight
and score ; score is a notch noting twenty."
Eight times twenty ; a hundred and sixty
EIGHTY, a. dty. Eight times ten ; four-
score.
EIGNE, «. [Norm.awrae.] Eldest; an epithet
used in law to denote the eldest son ; as
bastard eigtie. Blackstone
2. Unalienable ; entailed ; belonging to the
eldest son. [JVol used.] Bacon.
E'ISEL, n. [Sax.] Vinegar. [,Vot in use]
More.
EI'SENRAHM, n. [G. iron-cream.] The
red and brown eisenrahni, the scaly red
and brown hematite. Cleaveland.
E'lTHER, a. or pron. [Sax. agther, egther ;
D.yder; G.jeder; Ir.ceachtar. This word
seems to be compound, and the first sylla-
ble to be the same as each. So Sax. dghivwr,
each tchere, every where. Sax. Chron,
An. 1114. 1118.]
I. One or another of any number. Here
are ten oranges ; take either orange of the
whole number, or take either of them. In
the last phrase, either stands as a pronoun
or substitute.
Q. One of two. This sense is included in
the foregoing.
Lepidus flatters both.
Of both is flattered ; but he neither love
Nor either cares for him. Shak
3. Each ; every one separately considered,
On either side of the liver. Rev. xxii.
4. This word, when applied to sentences or
propositions, is called a distributive or
conjunction. It precedes the first of two
or more alternatives, and is answered by
or before the second, or succeeding alter
natives.
Either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he
is on a journey, or perhaps he sleepeth,
Kings xviii.
In this sentence, either refers to each of
the succeeding clauses of the sentence.
EJACULATE, v. t. [L. ejaculor, fi-om jac
ulor, to throw or dart, jaculum, a dart
fromjaao, to throw.]
To throw out ; to cast ; to shoot ; to dart
as rays of light ejaculated. Blackmore
It is now seldom used, except to express
the utterance of a short prayer ; as, he
ejacidated a few words.
EJA€ULA'TION, n. The act of throwing
or darting out with a sudden force and
rapid flight; as the ejaculation of hght.
Bacon.
[This sense is nearly obsolete.]
2. The uttering of a short prayer; or a short
occasional prayer uttered. Tayh
EJA€'ULATORY, a. Suddenly darted out ;
uttered in short sentences; as an ejacula-
tory prayer or petition.
2. Sudden ; hasty ; as ejacxdatory repent-
ance. UEslrange.
3. Casting; throwing out.
EJECT', v.t. [L. ejicio, ejectum ; e and jacio,
to throw, Fr. Jeter, L.jacto.]
. To throw out ; to cast forth ; to thrust
out, as from a jdace inclosed or confined.
Sandys. South.
3. To discharge through the natural passa-
ges or emunctories ; to evacuate.
Encyc.
3. To throw out or expel from an office ; to
dismiss from an office ; to turn out ; as, to
eject a clergyman.
. To dispossess of land or estate.
5. To drive away ; to expel ; to dismiss with
hatred. Shak.
6. To cast away ; to reject ; to banisli ; as, to
eject words fi-om a language. Swift.
EJECT ED, pp. Thrown out ; thrust out ;
discharged ; evacuated ; expelled ; dismis
sed ; dispossessed ; rejected.
EJEeT'ING, ppr. Casting out ; discharg-
ing; evacuating; expelling; dispossess
ing ; rejecting.
EJECTION, 71. [L. ejectio.] The act of
casting out ; expulsion.
2. Dismission from oflice.
3. Dispossession ; a turning out from pos-
session by force or authority.
4. The discliargc of any excrementitious
matter through the pores or other emunc
tories ; evacuation ; vomiting.
5. Rejection.
EJECT'MENT, n. Literally, a casting out
a dispossession.
2. In law, a writ or action which lies for the
recovery of possession of land from which
the owner has been ejected, and for trial of
title. Ejectment may be brought by the
lessor against the lessee for rent in arrear,
or for holding over bis term ; also by tlie
lessee for years, who has been ejected be-
fore the expiration of his term. Encyc.
EJECT'OR, n. One who ejects or dispos-
sesses another of his land. Blackstone.
EJULA'TION, n. [h. ejulatio, from ejulo, to
cry, to jell, to wail. Perhaps j represents
g, and this word may be radically one witl
yell. Sax. giellan, gyllan.]
Outcry ; a wailing ; a loud cry expressive
of grief or pain ; mourning; lamentation
Philips.
EKE, V. t. [Sax. eacan ; Sw. oka ; Dan. oger.
The primary sense is to add, or to stretch,
extend, increase. Qu. L. augeo. The lat-
ter seems to be the Eng. to wax.]
1. To increase ; to enlarge ; as, to eke a store
of provisions. Spenser.
2. To add to ; to supply what is wanted ; to
eidarge by addition ; sometimes with out :
as, to eke or eke out a piece of cloth; to eke
Old a performance. Pope.
3. To lengthen; to prolong; as, to eke out
the time. Shak.
EKE, adv. [Sax. eac ; D. ook ; G. auch;
Sw. och: Dan. og ; W. ac ; L. ac, and.
also. This seems to be the same word as
the verb, and to denote, add, join, or addi-
tion. Ch. nnx to join.]
Also; hkewise ; in addition.
'Twill be prodigious hard to prove,
That this is eke the throne of love. Prior.
[This word is nearly obsolete, being used
only in poetry of the familiar and ludicrous
kind.]
EKEBERG'ITE, n. [from Ekeherg.] A
mineral, supposed to be a variety of scapo-
lite. Cleaveland.
E'KED, pp. Increased; lengthened.
E'KING, ppr. Increasing ; augmenting ;
lengthening.
E'KING, n. Increase or addition.
ELAB'ORATE, v. t. [L. elaboro, from la-
boro, labor. See Labor.]
1. To produce with labor.
They in full joy elaborate a sigh. Young.
2. To improve or refine by successive ope-
rations. The heat of the sun elaborates the
juices of plants and reudersthe fi-uit more
perfect.
ELAB'ORATE, a. [L. elaboratus.] Wrought
with labor ; finished with great diligence ;
studied ; executed with exactness ; as an
elaborate discourse ; an elaborate perform-
Drawn to the life in each elaborate page.
Waller.
ELABORATED, pp. Produced with labor
or studv ; improved.
ELABORATELY, adv. With great labor
or study ; with nice regard to exactness.
ELABORATENESS, n. The quality of
being elaborate or wrought with great la-
bor. Johnson.
ELABORATING, ppr. Producing with la-
bor ; improving ; refining by successive
operations.
ELABORATION, n. Improvement or re-
finement by successive operations. Ray.
ELA'IN, n. [Gr. rto.rof, oily.] The oily or
liquid principle of oils and fats. Chevreul.
ELAMP'ING, a. [See Lamp.] Shining.
[ A*o< in use.]
EL'ANCE, V. t. [Fr. elancer, lancer, from
lance or its root.] To throw or shoot ; to
hurl; to dart.
WTiile thy unerring hand elanced — a dart.
Prior.
E'LAND, n. A species of heavy, clumsy
antelope in Africa. Barrow.
ELA'OLITE, n. [Gr. rtaia, an olive.] A
mineral, called also fettstein [fat-stone]
from its greasy appearance. It has a crys-
taliue structure, more or less distinctly fo-
liated in directions parallel to the sides of
a rhombic prism, and also in the du-ection
of the shorter diagonals of the bases. Its
fracture is uneven, and sometimes imper-
E L A
fectly conchoidal. Some varieties are
slightly chatoyant. It is fusible by the
blow-pipe into a while enamel. Its colors
are greenish or bluish gray, greenish blue
and flesh red, and it is more or less trans-
lucent. Cleaveland.
ELAPSE, V. i. daps'. [L. dapsus, from tla-
bor, labor, to sUde.]
To slide away ; to slip or glide away ; to
pass away silently, as time ; applied chiefly
or wholly to lime.
[Instead of elapse, the noun, we use
lapse.]
ELAPS'ED, pp. Shd or passed away, as
time.
ELAPS'ING, ppr. Sliding away ; gliding or
passing away silently, as time.
ELAS'TIe, ) [from the Gr. t^afptu, to
ELAS'TIeAL, 5 impel, or iXom, or tXawu,
to drive ; Fr. elastiqve ; It. Sp. elastico.]
Springing back ; having the power of re-
turning to the form from which it is bent,
extended, pressed or distorted ; having tlie
inherent property of recovering its former
figure, after any external pressure, which
has altered that figure, is removed ; re-
bounding ; flying back. Thus a bow is
elastic, and when the force which bends it
is removed, it instantly returns to its form-
er shape. The air is elastic ; vapors are
elastic ; and when the force compressing
them is removed, they instantly expand or
dilate, and recover their former state.
ELAS'TICALLY, adv. In an elastic man-
ner; by an elastic power; with a spring.
Lee.
ELASTICITY, n. The inherent property
in bodies by which they recover their
former figure or state, after external pres-
sure, tension or distortion. Thus elastit
gum, extended, will contract to its natural
dimensions, when the force is removed
Air, when compressed, will, on the remo-
val of the compressing force, instantly di
late and fill its former space.
ELA'TE, a. [L. datus.] Raised; eleva
ted in mind ; flushed, as with success.
Whence, lofty ; haughty; as elate with vie
tory. [It is used chiejly in poetry.]
ELA'TE, t'. t. To raise or swell, as th
mind or spirits ; to elevate with
to pufl" up ; to make proud.
2. To raise ; to exalt. [Unusual.]
Thomson.
ELA'TED, pp. Elevated in mind or spirits
puffed up, as with honor, success or pros-
perity. We say, elated with success; ela
ted with pride. [This is used in prose.]
ELA'TEDLY, adv. With elation.
ELATE'RIUM, n. A substance depo.«ited
from the very acrid juice of tlie Momord'
ca elaterium, wild cucumber. It is in thi
cakes of a greenish color and bitter taste,
and is a powerful cathartic.
Webster's Manual.
EL'ATERY,n. [Gr. fXatttpa.] Acting force
or elasticity ; as the elatery of tlie air.
[Unusual.] Ray.
EL'ATIN, n. The active principle of the
elaterium, from which the latter is suppo-
sed to derive its cathartic power.
Webster''s Manual.
ELA'TION, n. An inflation or elevation of
mind proceding from self-approbation ;
self-esteem, vanity or pride, resulting from
ELD
succes.s. Hence, haughtiness ; pride of
prosperity. AUerbury.
EL'BOW, n. [Sax. dnboga, or elnebof^a ; ul-
na, the arm, the ell, and boga, bow ; con-
tracted into dboga, elbow ; G. elbogen ; D.
dleboog ; Scot, elbock, elbuck.]
. The outer angle made by the bend of the
arm. Encyc.
Tlie wings that waft our riches out of sight
Grow on the gamester's elbows. Cmvper.
2. Any flexure or angle ; the obtuse angle of
a wall, building or road. Encyc.
To be at the elbow, is to be very near; to be
by the side ; to be at hand.
EL'BOW, V. t. To push with the elbow.
Dryden.
2. To push or drive to a distance ; to en-
croach on.
He'll elbow out his neighbors. Dryden
EL'BOW, V. i. To jut into an angle ; to pro-
ject ; to bend.
ELBOW-CHAIR, n. A chair with arms to
support the elbows; an arm-chair. Gay.
ELBOW-ROOM, n. Room to extend the
elbows on each side ; hence, in its usu.il
acceptation, perfect freedom from confine-
ment ; ample room for motion or action.
South. Shak.
ELD, n. [Sax. eld, or wld, old age. See
Old.] Old age ; decrepitude. Obs.
Spenser.
2. Old people ; persons worn out with age.
Chapnmn.
[This ipord is entirely obsolete. But its
derivative elder is in use.]
ELD'ER, a. [Sax. ealdor, tlic comparative
degree of eW, now written old. See Old.^
1. Older ; senior ; having lived a longer
time ; born, produced or formed before
something else ; opposed to younger.
The elder shall serve the younger. Gen
XXV.
His elder son was in the field. Luke xv.
2. Prior in origin ; preceding in the date of
a commission ; as an elder officer or magis
trate. In this sense, we generally use
ELD'ER, n. One who is older than another
or othei-s.
2. All ancestor.
Carry your head as your elders have done be
fore you. L'Estrangi
3. A person advanced in life, and who, o
account of his age, experience and wis
dom, is selected for office. Among rude
nations, elderly men are rulers, judges,
magistrates or counselors. Among the
Jews, the seventy men associated with
Moses in the government of the people,
were elders- In the first christian church-
es, elilers were persons who enjoyed offi-
ces or ecclesiastical functions, and the
word includes apostles, pastors, teachers,
presbyters, bishops or overseers. Peter
and John call themselves elders. The first
councils of christians were called presby-
teria, councils of elders.
In the modern jirasbyterian churches,
elders are officers vv-ho, with the pastors or
ministers and deacons, compose the con-
sistories or kirk-sessions, with authority to
inspect and regulate matters of religion
and discipline.
In the first churches of New England
the pastors or ministers were called elders
or teaching elders.
E L E
ELD ER, n. [Sax. ellarn ; Sw. hyU or hyUt-
tr'a; Dan. hyld or hylde-trw, G. holder or
hohlunder. It seems to be named irom
hollotcness.]
A tree or genus of trees, the Sambucus, of
several species. ' The common elder of
America bears black berries. Some spe-
cies bear red berries. The stem and bran-
ches contain a soft pitli.
ELDERLY, a. Somewhat old ; advanced
beyond middle age ; bordering on old
age ; as elderly people.
ELDERSHIP, n. Seniority ; the state of
being older. Dryden.
2. The office of an elder. Eliot.
3. Presbytei-y ; order of elders. Hooker.
ELD'EST, a. [Sax. ealdesl, superlative of
dd, old.]
Oldest ; most advanced in age ; that was
born before others ; as the eldest son or
daughter. It seems to be always applied
to persons or at least to animals, and not
to things. If ever apphed to things, it
must signify, that was first formed or pro-
duced, that has existed the longest time.
But applied to things we use oldest.
ELDING, n. [Sax. a:lan, to burn.] Fuel.
[Local.] Grose.
ELEAT'IC, a. An ciiithet given to a cer-
tain sect of philosophers, so called from
Elea, or Velia, a town of the Lucani ; as
the Eleatic sect or philosophy. Encyc.
ELE€AMPA'NE, n. [D. alant; G. alant
or alanlwurzd; L. helenium, from Gr.
iXivMv, which signifies this plant and a
feast in honor of Helen. Pliny informs us
that this plant was so called because it
was said to have sprung from the tears of
Helen. The last part of the word is from
the Latin campana ; inula campana.]
A genus of plants, the Inula, of many spe-
cies. The common elecampane has a
perennial, thick, branching root, of a
strong odor, and is u.sed in medicine. It
is sometimes called yellow star-wort. The
Germans are said to candy the root, like
ginger, calling it German spice.
Encyc. HiU.
ELE€T', V. t. JL. dectus, from eligo ; e or
ex and lego, Gr. >jyw, to choose ; Fr. dire,
from eligere; It. deggere ; Sp. degir ;
Port, eleger.]
1. Properly, to pick out ; to select fi-om
amon" two or more, that which is prefer-
red. Hence,
2. To select or take for an office or employ-
ment ; to choose from among a number ;
to select or manifest preference by vote or
designation ; as, to elect a representative
by ballot or viva voce ; to ded a president
or governor.
3. In theology, to designate, choose or select
as an object of mercy or favor.
4. To choose ; to prefer ; to determine in
favor of.
ELECT', a. Chosen ; taken by preference
from among two or more. Hence,
2. Jn theology, chosen as the object of mer-
cy ; chosen, selected or designated to eter-
nal life ; predestinated in the divine coun-
sels.
3. Chosen, but not inaugurated, consecra-
ted or invested with office ; as bishop
ded ; emperor dect ; governor or mayor
E L E
elect. But in the scriptures, and in theolo-
gy, this word is generally used as a noun
ELE€T', n. One chosen or set apart ; ap-
plied to Christ.
Behold my servant,, whom I uphold ; mini
elect, in whom my soul delighteth. Is. xlii.
2. Chosen or designated by God to salva-
tion; predestinated to glory as the end,
and to sanctification as the means ; i
ally with a plural signification, the elect.
Shall not God avenge his c
elect? Luke
If it were possible, they shall deceive the
very elect. Matt. xxiv.
He shall send his angels — and they shall
gather his elect from the four winds. Matt,
xxiv.
3. Chosen ; selected ; set apart as a peculiar
churcli and people ; applied to the Israelites.
Is. xlv.
ELECT'ED, pp. Chosen ; preferred ; desig-
nated to office by some act of the constit-
uents, as by vote ; chosen or predestina-
ted to eternal life.
ELECT'ING, ppr. Choosing; selecting
from a number ; preferring ; designating
to office by choice or preference ; desij
nating or predestinating to eternal salvi
tion.
ELE€'TION, n. [L. electio.] The act of|
choosing ; choice ; the act of selecting
or more from others. Hence appropriately,
9. The act of choosing a person to fill an
office or emi)loyment, by any manifesta
tion of preference, as by ballot, uplifted
hands or viva voce ; as the election of a
king, of a president, or a mayor.
Cormption in elections is the great enemy oft
freedom. J- .idams
3. Choice ; voluntary preference ; free will
liberty to act or not. It is at his election
to accept or refuse.
4. Power of choosing or selecting.
5. Discernment ; discrimination ; distinction.
To use men with much difference and elec-
tion is good. Bacon
a. In theology, divine choice ; predetermina-
tion of God, by which persons are distin-
guished as objects of mercy, become sub-
jects of grace, are sanctified and prepared
for heaven.
There is a remnant according to the election
of grace. Rom. xi.
7. The public choice of officers.
8. The day of a public choice of officers,
9. Those who are elected.
The election hatli obtained it. Rom. xi.
ELECTIONEE'R, v. i. To make interest
for a candidate at an election ; to use arts
for securing the election of a candidate.
ELECTIONEE'RING, ppr. Using influ-
ence to procure the election of a person
ELECTIONEE'RING, n. The arts c
practices used for securing the choice of
one to office.
ELECT'IVE, o. Dependent on choice, as
an elective monarchy, in which the k'
raised to the throne by election ; opposed
to hereditary.
2. Bestowed or passing by election
office is elective.
3. Pertaining to or consisting in choice or
right of choosing ; as elective franchise.
4. Exerting the power of choice ; as an eke
tive act.
E L E
5. Selecting for combination ; as elective at-
traction, which is a tendency in bodies to
unite with certain kinds of matter in pref-
erence to others.
ELEeT'IVELY, adv. By choice; with
preference of one to another. ■
ELEeT'OR, n. One who elects, or one who:
has the right of choice ; a person who
has, by law or constitution, the right of vo-l
ting for an officer. In free govertmients,'
the people or such of them as possess cer-'
tain qualifications of age, character and
property, are the electors of their repre-i
sentatives, &c., in parUament, assembly,!
or other legislative body. In the United|
States, certain persons are appointed orj
cliosen to be electors of the president or
chief magistrate. In Germany, certain!
princes were formerly electors of the em-
peror, and elector was one of their titles,|
as the elector of Saxony.
ELECT'ORAL, o. Pertaining to election or!
electors. The electoral college in Germany
consisted of all the electors of the empire,
being nine in number, six secular princes
and three archbishops.
ELE€TORAL'ITY, for electorate, is not
used.
ELECT'ORATE, n. The dignity of an!
elector in the German empire.
2. The territory of an elector in the German'
empire.
ELEC'TRE, n. [L. eledrum.] Amber.
[Bacon used this word for a compound!
or mixed metal. But the word is not now
used.] I
ELECT'RESS, n. The wife or widow of
elector in the German empire.
Chesterfield
ELECTRIC, ( [Fr. electrique ; It. elet-
ELECTRICAL, S trico : Sp. etectrico ,
from L. electriun, Gr. jjwtxrpor, amber.]
1. Containing electricity, or capable of ex-
hibiting it when excited by friction ; as
an electric body, such as amber and glass ;
an electric substance.
2. In general, pertaining to electricity ; as
electric power or virtue ; electric attrac
tion or repulsion ; electric fluid.
3. Derived from or produced by electricity ;'
as electrical effects ; electric vapor ; electric
shock.
4. Communicating a shock like electricity ;
the electric eel or fish.
ELECTRIC, n. Any body or substa
pable of exhibiting electricity by means of
friction or otherwise, and of resisting the
passage of it from one body to another.
Hence an electric is called a non-conductor,
an electric per se. Such are amber, glass
rosin, wax, gum-lac, sulphur, &c.
ELECTRICALLY, adv. In the manner oi
electricity, or by means of it.
ELECTRP'CIAN, n. A person who studies|
electricity, and investigates its properties,
by observation and experiments ; one
versed in the science of electricity.
ELECTRICITY, n. The operations of
very subtil fluid, which appears to be dif-
fused through most bodies, remarkable
for the rapidity of its motion, and one ofj
the most powerful agents in nature. The
name is given to the operations of this,
fluid, and to the fluid itself. As it exists!
in bodies, it is denominated a property of]
E L E
those bodies, though it may be a distinct
substance, invisible, intangible and impon-
derable. When an electric body is rub-
bed with a soft dry substance, as with
woolen cloth, silk or fur, it attracts or re-
pels light substances, at a greater or less
distance, accorduig to the strength of the
electric virtue ; and the friction may be
continued, or increased, till the electric
body will emit sparks or flashes resem-
bhng fire, accompanied with a sharp
sound. When the electric fluid passes
from cloud to cloud, from the clouds to
the earth, or from the earth to the clouds,
it is called lightning, and produces thun-
der. Bodies which, when rubbed, exhibit
this property, are called electrics or non-
conductors. Bodies, which, when excited,
do not exhibit this property, as water and
metals, are called non-electrics or conduc-
tors, as they readily convey electricity from
one body to another, at any distance, and
such is the rapidity of the electric fluid
in motion, that no perceptible space of time
is required for its passage to any known
distance. Cavallo. Encyc.
It is doubted by modern philosophei-s wheth-
er electricity is a fluid or material sub-
stance. Electricity, according to Profes-
sor Silliman, is a power which causes re-
pulsion and attraction between the masses
of bodies under its influence; a power
which causes the heterogeneous particles
of bodies to separate, thus producing chini-
ical decomposition ; one of the causes of
magnetism.
ELECTRIFIABLE, a. [from electrify.]
Capable of receiving electricity, or of be-
ing charged with it ; that may become
electric. Fourcroy.
2. Capable of receiving and transmitting
the electrical fluid.
ELECTRIFICATION, n. Tbeact of elec-
trifying, or state of being charged with
electricity. Encyc, art. Bell.
ELECTRIFIED, pp. Charged with elec-
ity. Encyc.
ELEC'TRIF-f , V. t. To communicate elec-
tricity to ; to charge with electricity.
Encyc. Cavallo.
2. To cause electricity to pass through ; to
aflect by electricity ; to give an electric
shock to.
3. To e-xcite suddenly ; to give a sudden
shock ; as, the whole assembly was elect-
rified.
ELECTRIFY, V. i. To become electric.
ELECTRIFYING, ppr. Charging with
electricity ; affecting with electricity ; giv-
ing a sudden shock.
ELECTRIZA'TION, n. The act of electri-
zing. Ure.
ELECTRIZE, v.t. [Fr. eledriser.-] To
electrify : a word in popular use.
ELECTRO-CHIM'ISTRY, n. That science
wliich treats of the agency of electricity
and galvanism in effecting chimical chan-
ges.
ELECTRO-MAGNETTC, a. Designating
what pertains to magnetism, as connected
with electricity, or affected by it. Electro-
magnetic phenomena. Henry.
ELECTRO-MAG'NETISM, n. That sci-
ence which treats of the agency of elec-
E L E
E L E
tricity and galvanism in communicating ,In its primary sense, this word signifies
' tliat which is choice or select, as distin-
[L. eledrtim, Gr.
jjXfxrpoi', amber, and ^trpew, to measure.]
An instrument for measuring the quantity or
intensity of electricity, or its quahty : or
an instrument for discharginj; it from a
jar. Encyc. Henry. Ure.
ELEeTROMET'RieAL, a. Pertaining to
an electrometer ; made by an electrome
ter ; as an electrometrical experiment.
ELECTRO-MO'TION, »i. The motion of
electricity or galvanism, or the passing of
it from one metal to another, by the at-
traction or influence of one metal plate in
contact with another. yotta.
ELECTRO-MOTIVE, a. Producing elec-
tro-motion ; as tledro-molive power.
Henry.
ELECTROMOTOR, n. [eledrum and mo-
tor.] A mover of the electric fluid ; an in-
strument or apparatus so called. Volta.
ELE€'TRON, n. Amber ; also, a mixture
of gold with a fifth part of silver. Coxe.
ELECTRO-NEG'ATIVE, a. Repelled by
bodies negatively electrified, and attracted
by those positively electrified. Henry.
ELEC'TROPHOR, ) [eledrum and
ELECTROPH'ORUS, J fPf", to bear.]
An instrument for preserving electricity a
long time. Did. JVat. Hist.
ELECTRO-POS'ITIVE, a. Attracted by
bodies negatively electrified, or by the
negative pole of the galvanic arrange-
ment. Henry.
ELEe'TRUM, n. [L. amber.] In mineralo-
gy, an argentiferous gold ore, or native
alloy, of a pale brass yellow color. Did.
ELECTUARY, n. [Low L. eledarium, eke
tuarium ; Gr. fx^tyiwa, or exT^cxtov, fron
Uix'^, to lick. Vossius.]
In pharmacy, a form of medicine composed
of powders, or other ingredients, incorpo-
rated with some conserve, honey or sirup,
and made into due consistence, to be ta-
ken in doses, like boluses.
Quincy. Encyc.
ELEEMOS'YNARY, a. [Gr. turnto^sxivyi,
alms, from fXftu, to pity, eXsoj, compas-
sion ; W. elus, charitable ; dusen, alms,
benevolence. See Mms. It would be
well to omit one e in this word.]
. 1. Given in charity ; given or appropriated
to support the poor ; as eleemosynary rents
or taxes. Encyc
2. Relating to charitable donations; intend-
ed for the distribution of alms, or for the
use and management of donations, wheth-
er for the subsistence of the poor or for
the support and promotion of learning; as
an eleemxisynary corporation. A hospital
founded by charity is an eleemosynary in-
stitution for the support of the poor, sick
and impotent; a college founded by do
nations is an eleemosynary institution for
the promotion of learning. The corpora
tion entrusted with the care of such insti
unions is eleemosynary.
ELEEMOS'YNARY, n. One who subsist!
on charity. South
EVEGANCE,) [L. elegantia; Fr. tie-
EL'EGANCY, I "'gance ; It. eleganza. Prob
ably from L. eligo, to choose, though ir-
regularly formed.]
guished from what is common.
, " The beauty of propriety, not of great-
ness," says Johnson.
Jlpplied to manners or behavior, elegance
is that fine polish, politeness or grace,
which is acquired by a genteel education,
and an association with wellbred compa-
ny-
Applied to language, elegance respects the
mannt-r of speaking or of writing. Ele-
gance of speaking is the propriety of dic-
tion and utterance, and the gracefulness of
action or gesture ; comprehending correct,
appropriate and rich expressions, deliver-
ed in an agreeable manner. Elegance
composition consists in correct, appropriate
and rich expressions, or well chosen words,
arranged in a happy manner. Elegance
implies neatness, purity, and correct, per-
spicuous arrangement, and is calculated
to please a delicate taste, rather than to
excite admiration or strong feeling. Ele-
gance is applied also to form. Elegance
in architecture, consists in the due sym-
metry and distribution of the parts of an
edifice, or in regular proportions and ar-
rangement. And in a similar sense, the
word is applied to the person or human
body. It is applied also to penmanship,
denoting that form of letters which is
most agreeable to the eye. In short, in a
looser sense, it is applied to many works
of art or nature remarkable for their beau
ty ; as elegance of dress or furniture.
2. That which pleases by its nicety, synime
try, purity or beauty. In this sense it has
a plural ; as the nicer elegancies of art.
Spectator.
EL'EGANT, a. [L. elegans.] Polished ; po-
lite ; refined ; graceful ; pleasing to good
taste ; as elegant manners.
2. Polished ; neat; pure ; rich iji expressions
correct in arrangement ; as an elegant
style or composition.
3. Lttcring or delivering elegant language
with propriety and grace; as an elegant
speaker.
4. Symmetrical ; regular ; well formed in its
parts, proportions and distribution ; a
elegant structure.
Nice; sensible to beauty; discriminating
beauty from deformity or imperfection ;
as an elegant taste. [This is a loose ap-
plication of the word ; elegant being used
for delicate.]
G. Beautiful in form and colors ; pleas
; an elegant flower.
7. Rich ; costly and ornamental ; as elegant
furniture or equipage. .
EL'EGANTLY, adv. In a manner to please ;
with elegance ; with beauty ; with pli
ing propriety ; as a composition elegantly
written.
2. With due symmetry; with well formed
and didy proportioned parts ; as a house
elegantly built.
3. Richly ; with rich or handsome materials
well disposed ; as a room elegantly furn
ished ; a woman degantly dressed.
ELE'GIAC, a. [Low L. elegiacus. See El-
egy.] Belonging to elegy ; plaintive ; ex-
pressing sorrow or lamentation ; as an
elegiac lay ; elegiac strains. Gay.
E L E
2. Used in elegies. Pentameter verse is ele-
giac. Roscommon.
EL'EgIST, n. A writer of elegies. Goldsmith.
ELE'OIT, n. [L. cligo, elegi, to choose.]
A writ of execution, by which a defend-
ant's goods are apprized, and delivered to
the plaintiff' and if not sufficient to satisfy
the debt, one moiety of his lands are de-
livered, to be held till the debt is paid by
the rents and profits.
2. The title to estate by elegit. Blackstone.
EL'E6Y, II. [L. elegia; Gr. lUyiwv, tUyos,
supposed to be from y.!yu, to sjieak or
utter. Qu. the root of the L. Ittgeo.
The verbs may have a common ori-
gin, for to speak and to cry out in wail-
ing are only modifications of the same act,
to throw out the voice with morC or less
vehemence.]
1. Amournfulorplaintivepoera, or a funeral
song ; a poem or a song expressive of
sorrow and lamentation. Shak. Dryden.
2. A short poem without points or affected
elegancies. Johnson.
EL'EMENT, n. [L. elemeiUum; Fr. element;
It. and Sp. elemento ; Arm. elfenn ; W. el-
ven, or dvyz. This word Owen refers to
elv or el, a moving principle, that which
has in itself the power of motion; and el
is also a spirit or angel, which seems to be
the Sax. celf, an elj". Vossius assigns ele-
tnentu7n to eleo, lor oleo, to grow. See
W-^
The first or constituent principle or minu-
test part of any thing ; as the elements of
earth, water, salt, or wood ; the ehitents
of the world ; the dements of animal or
vegetable bodies. So letters are called
the elements of language.
2. An ingredient ; a constituent [part of any
composition.
In a chimical sense, an atom ; the minu-
test particle of a substance ; that which
cannot be divided by chimical analysis,
and therefore considered as a simple sub-
stance, as oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, &c.
An dement is strictly the last result of
chimical analysis ; that which cannot be
decomposed by any means now employed.
An atom is the last result of mechanical
division ; that which caimot be any
farther divided, without decomposition :
hence there may be botli elementary and
compound atoms.
4. In the plural, the first rules or principles
of an art or science; rudiments; as the
elements of geomelry ; the elements of mu-
sk ; the elements of painting ; the dements
of a theory.
In popidar language, fire, air, earth and
water, are called the four ekments, as for-
merly it was supposed that these are sim-
ple bodies, of which the world is composed.
Later discoveries prove air, earth and
water to be compound bodies, and fire to
be only the extrication of hght and heat
during comhustioyi.
G. Element, in the singular, is sometimes
used for the air. Shak.
7. The substance which forms the natural
or most suitable habitation of an animal.
Water is the proper dement of fishes; air,
of man. Hence,
8. The proper state or sphere of any thing ;
he state of things suited to one's temper
E L E
or habits. Faction is the element of a
demagogue.
9. Tlie matter or substances which compose
the world.
The elements shall melt with fervent heat.
2 Pet. iii.
10. The outhne or sketch ; as the elements
of a plan.
1 1. Moving cause or principle ; that which
excites action.
Passions, the elements of life. Pope.
EL'EMENT, v, t. To compound of elements
or first principles. Boyle.
2. To constitute ; to make as a first princi-
ple. Donne.
[This word is rarely or never used.]
ELEMENT'AL, a. Pertaining to elements.
2. Produced by some of the four supposed
elements ; as elemental war. Dryden.
3. Produced by elements ; as elemental .strife.
Pope.
4. Arising from first principles. Brown.
ELEMENTAL'ITY, n. Composition of
principles or ingredients. Jiliillock
ELEMENT' ALLY, adv. According to ele
ments ; literally ; as the words, " Take,
eat ; this is my body," elementally under-
stood. Milton.
ELEMENTAR'ITY, ) The state of
ELEMENT' ARINESS, \ "' being element-
ary ; the simplicity of nature ; uncom-
pounded state. Brown
ELEMENT' ARY, o. Primary ; simple ;
uncompounded ; uncombined ; having only
one principle or constituent part ; as ar
elementary substance. Elementary parti
cles are those into which a body is resol
ved by decomposition.
2. Initial ; rudimental ; containing, teaching
or discussing first principles, rules or rudi-
ments ; as an elementary treatise or dis-
quisition. Reid. Blackstone.
3. Treating of elements ; collecting, tUgest-
ing or explaining principles; as an ele-
mentary writer.
EL'EMI, n. The gum elemi, sp called; but
said to be a resinous substance, the prod
uce of the Amyiis elemifera,a small tree or
shrub of South America. It is of a whi-
tish color tinged with green or yellow.
ELEN€H', n. [L. elenchus ; Gr. fXtyxof,
from Aiyx'^, to argue, to refute.]
1. A vicious or fallacious argument, whicli_
is apt to deceive under the appearance of
truth ; a sophism. [Little used.] Broion.
2. In antiquity, a kind of earring set with
pearls. Encyc.
ELEN€H'I€AL, a. Pertaining to an elench.
ELENCH'ICALLY, adv. By means of an
elench. LVb< in use.] Brown.
ELENell'IZE, v.i. To dispute. [Mit in
itse.] B. Jonsoi
EL'EPHANT, n. [Sax. tip, yip ; Gr. at^a? ;
L. elephas, elephantus ; probably from the
Heb. t|Sx, a leader or chief, the chief
great animal.]
1. The largest of all quadrupeds, belonging
to the order of Bruta. This animal has no
foreteeth in either jaw ; the canine-teeth
are very long; and he has a long probo
cis or trunk, by which he conveys food and
drink to his mouth. The largest of these
animals is abom 16 feet long and 14 feet
high ; but smaller varieties are not more
than seven feet high. The eyes are small
ELE
and the feet short, round, clumsy, and dis-
tinguishable only by the toes. The trunk is
a cartilaginous and muscular tube, extend-
ing from the upper jaw, and is seven or
eight feet in length. The general shape of
his body resembles that of swine. His skin
is rugged, and his hair tliin. The two large
tusks are of a yellowish color, and ex-
tremely hard. The bony substance of
these is called ji>o»-^. The elephant is 30
years in coming to his full growth, and he
lives to 150 or 200 years of age. Ele-
I)hants are natives of the warm climates
of Africa and Asia, where they are em-
ployed as beasts of burden. They were
formerly used in war. Encyc.
2. Ivory ; the tusk of the elephant.
Drydeti.
ELEPHANT-BEETLE, n. A large species
of Scarabaeus, or beetle, found in South
America. It is of a black color; the body
covered with a hard shell, as thick as that
of a crab. It is nearly four inches long.
The feelers are horny, and the proboscis
an inch and a (juarter in length. Encyc.
ELEPHANT'S-FOOT, n. A plant, the Ele-
phantopus. Muhlenberg.
ELEPHANTI'ASIS, n. [L. and Gr. from
^.fijias, elephant.]
A species of leprosy, so called from cover-
ing the skin with incrustations, hke those
of an elephant. It is a chronic and conta-
gious disease, marked by a thickening and
greasiness of the legs, with loss of hair and
feeling,aswellingof the face, and a hoarse
nasal voice. It afiects the whole body ;
the bones, as well as the skin, are covered
with spots and tumors, at first red, but
afterwards black. Coxe. Encyc.
ELEPHANT'INE, a. Pertaining to the ele-
phant ; huge ; resembling an elephant : or
perhaps white, like ivory.
2. In antiquity, an appellation given to cer-
tain books in which the Romans registered
the transactions of the senate, magistrates,
emperors and generals ; so called perhaps,
as being made of ivory.
ELEUSIN'IAN, a. Relating to Eleusis in
Greece ; as Eleusinian mysteries or festi-
vals, the festivals and mysteries of Ceres.
EL'EVATE, v.t. [L. elevo ; e and leva, to
raise ; Fr. elever ; Sp. elevar ; It. elevare ;
Eng. to lift. See Lijl.]
1. To raise, in a literal and general sense ;
to raise from a low or deep place to a
higher.
2. To exalt ; to raise to higher state or sta-
tion ; as, to elevate a man to an office.
3. To improve, refine or dignify ; to raise
from or above low conceptions; as, to ele-
vate the mind.
4. To raise from a low or common state ; to
exalt ; as, to elevate the character ; to ele-
vate a nation.
5. To elate with pride. Milton.
G. To excite ; to cheer ; to animate ; as, to
elevate the spirits.
7. To take from ; to detract ; to lessen by
detraction. [JVot used.] Hooker.
8. To raise from any tone to one more acute ;
as, to elevate the voice.
9. To augment or swell ; to make louder, as
sound.
EL'EVATE, a. [L. elevatus.] Elevated ;
raised aloft. Milton.
EL'EVATEO, pp. Raised; e.xalted : digni-
E L F
I fied ; elated ; excited ; made more acute
i or more loud, as sound.
ELEVATING, ppr. Raising; exalting;
dignifying ; elating ; cheering.
ELEVA'TION, n. [L. elevatit,.] The act of
raising or conveying from a lower or deep-
er place to a higher.
2. The act of exalting in rank, degree or con-
dition ; as the elevation of a man to a
throne.
3. Exaltation ; an elevated state ; dignity.
Angels, in their several degrees of elevation
above us, may be endowed with more compre-
hensive faculties. Locke.
4. Exaltation of mind by more noble con-
ceptions ; as elevation of mind, of thoughts,
of ideas. A/orris.
5. Exaltation of style ; lofty expressions ;
words and phrases expressive of lofty con-
ceptions. Wotton.
6. Exaltation of character or manners.
7. Attention to objects above us ; a raising
of the mind to superior objects. Hooker.
8. An elevated place or station.
9. Elevated ground ; a rising ground ; a hill
or mountain.
10. A passing of the voice from any note to
one more acute ; also, a swelling or aug-
mentation of voice.
11. In astronomy, altitude; the distance of a
heavenly body above the horizon, or the
arc of a vertical circle intercepted between
it and the horizon.
12. In gunnery, the angle which the chace
of a cannon or mortar, or the axis of the
hollow cylinder, makes with the plane of
the horizon. Bailey.
13. In dialling, the angle which the style
makes with the substylar line. Bailey.
Elevation of the Host, in Catholic countries,
that part of the mass in which the priest
raises the host above his head for the peo-
ple to adore. Encyc.
ELEVATOR, n. One who raises, Ufts or
exalts.
2. In anatomy, a muscle which serves to
raise a part of the body, as the lip or the
eye.
3. A surgical instrument for raising a de-
pressed portion of a bone. Coxe.
EL'EVATORY, ji. An instrument used in
trepanning, for raising a depressed or frac-
tured part of the skull. Coxe. Encyc.
ELE'VE, n. [Fr.] One brought up or pro-
tected liy another. Chesterfield.
ELEV'EN, a. elev'n. [Sax. a:ndlefene,endleof,
endlufa ; Sw. elfva ; Dan. elleve ; G. and
D. elf; Isl. ellefu. Qu. one left after ten.]
Ten and one added ; as- eleven men.
ELEVENTH, «. [Sax. a;ndlyfla, endlefla;
Sw. elfle ; Dan. ellevte ; D. elfde ; G. elfle.]
The next in order to the tenth ; as the
eleventh chapter.
ELF, n. plu. elves. [Sax. lelf, or elfenne, a
spirit, the night-mar ; a ghost, hag or
witch ; Sw. lUfyer. In W. el is a moving
principle, a spirit ; elv is the same ; elu is
to move onward, to go ; elven is an ope-
rative cause, a constituent part, an ele-
ment; and elf is what moves in a simple or
pure state, a spirit or demon. From these
facts, it would seem that elf is from a verb
signifying to move, to flow ; and Mf or'elf
in Swedish, elv in Danish, is a river, whence
Elbe. So spirit is from blowing, a flowing
of air. In Saxon eel is oil and an eel, and
E L I
fclan is to kindle ; all perhaps from the
sense of moving, flowing or shooting along.
The elf seems to correspond to tlie devion
of the Greeks.]
1. A wandering spirit ; a fairy ; a hobgoh-
lin ; an imaginary being whicli our rude
ancestors supposed to inhabit unfrequent-
ed places, and in various ways to afl^ect
mankind. Hence in Scottish, elf-shot is an
elf-arrow; an arrow-head of flint,_suppo-
sed to be shot by elfs ; atid it signifies alsc
a disease supposed to be produced by the
agency of spirits.
Every elf, and fairy sprite,
Hop as light as bird from brier. Shak
2. An evil spirit ; a devil. Drydeti
3. A diminutive |)erson. Shenstone,
ELF, V. t. To entangle hair in so intricate a
manner, that it cannot be disentangled.
This work was formerly ascribed to elves.
Johnson. Shak.
ELF'-ARROW, n. A name given to flints
in the shape of arrow-heads, vulgarly sup-
posed to be shot by fairies. Enryc.
ELF'-LOCK, n. A knot of hair twisted by
elves. Shak.
ELF'IN, a. Relating or pertaining to elves.
Spenser.
ELF'IN, n. A little urchin. Shenslone.
ELF'ISH, a. Resembling elves; clad in
disguise. Mason.
ELIC'IT, t;. t. [L. elicio ; e or ex and lacio,
to allure, D. lokken, G. locken, Sw. locka
Dan. lokker. Class Lg.]
1. To draw out; to bring to light ; to deduce
by reason or argument ; as, to elicit truth
2. To strike out ; as, to elicit sparks of fire by
collision.
ELICIT, a. Brought into act ; brought from
possibility into real existence. [LUtU
used.] Johnson
ELICITA'TION, n. The act of eliciting ;
the act of drawing out. Bramhall.
ELICITED, pp. Brought or drawn out ;
struck out.
ELICITING, /(^r. Drawing out ; bringing
to light ; striking out.
ELI'DE, V. /. [L. eli4o; e and Iwdo.] To
break or dash in pieces ; to crush. [JVot
used.] Hooker.
2. To cut off a syllable. Brit. Crit.
ELIGIBIL'ITY, ji. [fvoia eligible.] Wor-
thiness or fitness to be chosen ; the state
or quality of a thing which renders it pref-
erable to another, or desirable.
2. The state of being capable of being cho-
sen to an office. U. States.
EL'IGIBLE, a. [Fr. from L. eligo, to
choose or select; e and lego.]
1. Fit to be chosen ; worthy of choice ;
preferable.
In deep distress, certainty is more eligible
than suspense. Clarissa.
2. Suitable ; proper ; desirable ; as, the house
stands in an eligible situation.
3. Legally qualified to be chosen ; as, a man
is or is not eligible to an ofiice.
EL'IGIBLENESS, n. Fitness to be chosen
in preference to another; suitableness;
desirableness.
EL'ItilBLY, adv. In a manner to be worthy
of choice ; suitably.
ELIMINATE, f. <. [L. eliinino ; eorerand
limen, threshhold.]
1. To thrust out of doors. Lovelace.
ELK
2. To expel; to thrust out ; to discharge, or
throw off; to set at liberty.
This detains secretions whicli nature finds it
necessary to eliminate. Med. Repos.
ELIMINATED, pp. Expelled ; thrown off:
discharged.
ELIM'INATING,;)Br. Expelling; dischar-
ging ; throwing off.
ELIMINA'TION, n. The act of expelling
or throwing oft'; the act of discharging, or
secreting by the pores.
ELIQUA'TION, n. [L. eliquo, to melt
and liquo.]
In chimislry, the operation by which a more
fusible substance is sei)arated from
that is less so, by means of a degree of
heat suflicient to melt the one and not the
other ; as an alloy of copper and lead.
Encyc. Ure.
ELI'SION, n. s as :. [L. elisio, from elido,
to strike off; e and terfo.]
1. In grammar, the cutting off or suppression
of a vowel at the end of a word, for the
sake of sound or measure, when the next
word begins with a vowel ; as, th' etnbat
tied plain ; th' empyreal sphere.
2. Division ; separation. [Not xised.]
Bacon.
ELI'SOR, n. s as z. [Norm, eliser, to chuse
Fr. elire, elisant.]
In law, a sheriff's substitute .for returning i
jury. When the sherifi' is not an indiffer
ent person, as when he is a party to a suit
or related by blood or affinity to either of
the parties, the venire is issued to the core
ners ; or if any exception lies to the coro-
ners, the venire shall be directed to two
clerks of the court, or to two persons of
the county, named by the court, and
sworn ; and these, who are called elisors or
electors, shall return the jury.
Blackstone.
ELIX'ATE, V. t. [L. elixo.] To extract by
boiling.
ELIX.\'TION, n. [L. elixiis, from elixio, to
boil, to moisten or macerate, from lixo, lir.]
1. The act of boiling or stewing; also, con-
coction in the stomach ; digestion.
Brown.
2. In pharmacy, the extraction of the virtues
of ingredients by boihng or stewing ; also,
lixiviation. Bailey. Encyc.
ELIX'IR, n. [Fr. Sp. Port. e/in> ; It. elisire ;
from L. elixus, elirio. liio, lix, or as others
alledge, it is from the Arabic al-ecsir,
chimistry.]
1. In medicine, a compound tincture, ex-
tracted from two or more ingredients. A
tincture is drawn from one ingredient ; an
elixir from several. But tincture is also
applied to a composition of many ingredi-
ents. An elixir is a liquid medicine made
by a strong infusion, where the uigredients
are almost dissolved in the menstruum, and
give it a thicker consistence than that of a'
tincture. Encyc. QtiincyJ
2. A liquor for transmuting metals into gold.'
Donne.\
.3. Quintessence ; refined .spirit. South}^
Any cordial ; that substance which invig-
orates. Milton.]
ELK, 71. [Sax. elch ; Sw. elg ; L. alee, alces
Dan. els-dyr. This animal is described by
Cesar and Pausanias.]
A quadruped of the Cervine genus, with pal-
mated horns, and a fleshy protuberance on
E L IM
the throat. The neck is sliort, wiili a
short, thick, upright mane ; the eyes are
small ; the ears long, broad and slouching ;
and the upper lip hangs over the under lip.
It is the largest of the deer kind, being
seventeen hands high and weighing twelve
hundred pounds. It is found in the north-
ern regions of Europe, Asia and America.
In the latter country it is usually called
Moose, from the Indian name mnsu.
ELK-NUT, n. A plant, the Hamilionia,
called also oil-nut. Muhlenberg.
ELL, n. [Sax. elite ; Sw. aln ; D. ell, elle ; G.
elle ; Fr. aune ; Ann. goalen ; L. xdna ;
Gr. uXtvrj ; VV. elin, an elbow, and glin, the
knee. Qu.]
A measure of different lengtJis in different
countries, used chiefly for measuring cloth.
The ells chiefly used in Great Britain are
the English and Flemish. The Enghsh ell
is three feet and nine inches, or a yard and
a quarter. The Flemish ell is 27 inches,
or three quarters of a yard. The English
is to the Flemish as five to three. In Scot-
land, an ell is 37 j% English inches.
Encyc.
ELLIPSE, n. ellips'. An ellipsis.
ELLIP'SIS, n. plu. ellip'ses. [Gr. i%Xn-^ti,
an omission or defect, from i7Xurtu, to
leave or pass by, t-iirtu, to leave.]
1. In geometry, an oval figure generated from
the section of a cone, by a plane cutting
both sides of it, but not parallel to the
base. Bailey. Encyc. Harris.
2. In grammar, defect; omission; a figure of
syntax, by which one or more words are
omitted, which the hearer or reader may
supply ; as, the heroic virtues I admire, for
the heroic virtues which I admire.
ELLIPSOID, n. [ellipsis and Gr. aSos,
form.]
In conies, a solid or figure formed by the
revolution of an ellipse about its axis ; an
elliptic conoid ; a spheroid.
Edin. Encyc.
ELLIPSOID'AL, a. Pertaining to an elUp-
soid ; having the form of an ellipsoid.
ELLIPTIC, I Pertaining to an ellip-
ELLIP'TICAL, ^ "• sis; having the form of
an ellipse ; oval.
The planets move in elliptical orbits, haling
the sun in one focus, and by a radius from the
sun, tliey describe equal areas in equal times.
Cheyne.
2. Defective ; as an elliptical phrase.
ELLIPTICALLY, adv. According to Uie
figure called an ellipsis.
2. Defectively.
ELM, )i. [Sax.e/m,orK/)H-/r«oi(; D.olm; G.
ulme ; Sw. aim, or alm-tru, elm-tree ; Dan.
aim ; L. ulmus ; Sp. olmo, and alamo ;
Corn, elau; Russ. ilema, ilma, or Uina.
Qu. W. llwyv, a platform, a frame, an dm,
from extending.]
A tree of the genus Ulmus. The common
eini is one of the largest and most majestic
trees of the forest, and is cuhivated for
shade and ornament. Another species,
the fulva, is called slippery elm, from the
quality of its inner bark. One specieo
seems to have been used to support vines.
The treaty which William Pcnn made witli
the natives in 1682 was negotiated under a large
Elm which grew on the spot now called Ken-
sington, just above Philadelphia. It was pros-
E L O
E L O
E L U
<iated by a storm in 1810, at which time its stem
measured 24 feet in circumference.
Memoirs of Hist. Soc. Perm.
ELM'Y, a. Abounding with elms. Warton.
ELO€A'TION, n. [L. doco.] A removal
from the usual place of residence.
Bp. Hall.
2. Departure from the usual method ; an
ecstasy. Fotherby.
ELOeU'TION, n. [L. elocutio, from eloqm
e and loquor, to speak, Gr. X»jxfu, ^axiu.]
1. Pronunciation ; the utterance or delivery
of words, particularly in public discourses
and arguments. We say of elocution, it
is good or bad ; clear, fluent or melodi-
Elocution, which anciently embraced style
and the whole art of rhetoric, now signifies man-
ner of delivery. E. Porter.
2. In rhetoric, elocution consists of elegance,
composition and dignity ; and Dryden
uses the word as nearly synonymous with
eloquence, the act of expressing thoughts
with elegance or beauty
Milton.
4. In ancient treatises on oratory, the wording
of a discourse ; the choice and order of
words; composition; the act of framing a
writing or discourse.
Cicero. Quinctilian.
ELOeU'TIVE, a. Having the power of elo-
quent speaking.
EL'OgIST, n. An eulogist. [JVot used.]
EL'OGY, I [Pr. eloge ; L. elogiwn. ;
ELO'GIUM, I "• Gr. Xoyoj. See Eulogy.]
The praise bestowed on a person or thing ;
panegyric. [But we generally use eulogy.]
rVotton. Holder.
ELGIN', V. t. rPr, eloigner, to remove far
off.]
1. To separate and remove to a distance.
Spenser. Donne.
2. To convey to a distance, and withhold
from sight.
The sheriff may return that the goods or beasts
are eloined. Blackstone.
ELOIN'ATE, V. t. To remove. Howell.
ELOIN'ED, pp. Removed to a distance ;
carried far off.
ELOIN'ING, ppr. Removing to a distance
from another, or to a place unknown.
ELOIN'MENT, n. Removal to a distance ;
distance.
ELONG', V. t. [Low L. elongo.] To put far
off; to retard. Obs. Shenstoiie.
ELON'GATE, v. t. [Low L. elongo, from
longus. See Lo7ig.]
1. To lengthen ; to extend.
2. To remove farther off. Brown.
ELON'GATE, v. i. To depart from ; to re-
cede ; to move to a greater distance ; ])ar-
ticularly, to recede apparently from the
sun, as a planet in its orbit.
ELON'GATED,/)^. Lengthened; removed
to a distance.
ELON'GATING, ppr. Lengthening ; ex-
tending.
2. Receding to a greater distance, particu-
larly as a planet from the sun in its orbit.
ELONGA'TION, n. The act of stretching
or lengthening ; as the elongation of a fiber,
Arhuthnot.
2. The state of being extended.
3. Distance ; space which separates one
thing from anotlier. Glanvilie.
4. Departure ; removal ; recession.
5. Extension ; continuation.
May not the mountains of Westmoreland and
Cumberland be considered as elongations of
these two chains. Pinkerton.
G. In astronomy, the recess of a planet from
the sun, as it appears to the eye of a spec-
tator on the earth ; apparent departure of
a ])lanet from the sun in its orbit ; as the
elongation of Venus or Mercury.
7. In surgery, an imperfect luxation, o
sioned by the stretching or lengthening ofl
the ligaments ; or the extension of a part
beyond its natural dimensions.
Encyc. Coxe.
ELO'PE, V. i. [D. loopen, tvegloopen ; G
laufen, entlaufen ; Sw. lopa ; Dan. lober ;
Sax. hleapan ; Eng. to leap. In all the di-
alects, except the English, leap signifies tc
run. Qu. Heb. tjbn. Class Lb. No. 30.]
1. To run away ; to depart from one's prop-
er place or station privately or without
permission ; to quit, without permission
or right, the station in which one is placed
by law or duty. Particularly and appro
priately, to run away or depart froin a bus
band, and live with an adulterer, as a mar
ried woman ; or to quit a father's house
privately or without permission, and mar
ry or live with a gallant, as an unmarried
woman.
2. To run away ; to escape privately; tode
part, without permission, as a son from a
father's house, or an apprentice from
master's service.
ELO'PEMENT, n. Private or unlicensed
departure from the place or station
which one is assigned by duty or law ; as
the elopement of a wife from her husband
or of a daughter from her father's house,
usually with a lover or gallant. It is some-
times applied to the departure of a son or
an apprentice, in like manner.
ELO'PING, /)pr. Running away; departing
)rivately, or without permission, from a
lusband, father or master.
E'LOPS,n. [Gr.e%-Ko^.] A fish, inhabiting the
seas of America and the West Indies, with
a long body, smooth head, one dorsal fin,
and a deeply furcated tail, with a horizon
tal lanceoiated spine, above and below, at
its base. Pennant.
2. The sea-serpent. Diet. JVat. Hist.
EL'OQUENCE, n. [h. eloqiientia, from elo-
quor, loquor, to speak ; Gr. ^»;xfw, 'Ka.xw, to
crack, to sound, to speak. Thej primary
sense is probably to burst with a sound,
for the Gr. has tjixii, a fissure, from the
same root ; whence >.axi?u, to open or
split ; whence L. lacero, to tear ; and hence
perhaps Eng. a leak. Qu. the root of clack.
See Class Lg. No. 51. 27.]
1. Oratory ; the act or the art of speaking
well, or with fluency and elegance. Elo-
quence comprehends a good elocution or
utterance ; correct, appropriate and rich
expressions, with fluency, animation and
suitable action. Hence eloquence is ada))t-
ed to please, affect and persuade. Demos-
thenes in Greece, Cicero in Rome, lord
Chatham and Burke in Great Britain
were distinguished for their eloquence ii
declamation, debate or argument.
2. The power of speaking with fluency and
elegance.
3. Elegant language, uttered with fluency
and animation.
She uttereth piercing eloquence. Shak.
4. It is sometimes applied to written lan-
guage.
EL'OQUENT, a. Having the power of ora-
tory ; speaking with fluency, propriety,
elegance and animation ; as an eloquent
orator ; an eloquent preacher.
2. Composed with elegance and spirit ; ele-
gant and animated ; adapted to please, af-
fect and persuade ; as an eloquent address ;
an eloquent petition or remonstrance ; an
- eloquent history.
EL'OQUENTLY, adv. With eloquence; in
an eloquent manner ; in a manner to
please, atlt-ct and persuade.
ELSE, fl. or pron. els. [Sax. elles ; Dan. ti-
lers, from eller, or ; L. aliits, alias. See
Jllien.]
Otlier ; one or something beside. Who else
is coming ? What else shall I give ? Do
you expect any thing else ? [This word, if
considered to be an adjective or pronoun,
never precedes its noun, but always fol-
lows it.]
ELSE, adv. els. Otherwise ; in the other
case ; if the fact were different. Thou de-
sirest not sacrifice, else would I give it ;
that is, if thou didst desire sacrifice, I
would give it. Ps. v. 16. Repent, or else I
will come to thee quickly ; that is,repent,or
if thou shouldst not repent, if the case or
fact should be different, I will come to
thee quickly. Rev. ii. 5.
2. Beside ; except that mentioned ; as, no
where else.
ELSEWHERE, adv. In any other place ; as,
these trees are not to be found elseiohere.
2. In some other place ; in other places in-
definitely. It is reported in town and else-
where.
ELU'CIDATE, v. f. [Low L. elucido, from
eluceo, luceo, to shine, or from lucidus,
clear, bright. See LAght.]
To make clear or manifest ; to explain ; to
remove obscurity from, and render intelli-
gible ; to illustrate. An example will elu-
cidate the subject. An argument may elu-
cidate an obscure question. A fact rela-
ted by one historian may elucidate an ob-
scure passage in another's writings.
ELU'CIDATED, pp. Explained ; made
plain, clear or intelligible.
ELUCIDATING, ppr. Explaining ; making
clear or intelligible.
ELUCIDATION, n. The act of explaining
or throwing light on any obscure subject ;
explanation ; exposition ; illustration ; as,
one example may serve for an elucidation
of the subject.
ELU'CIDATOR, n. One who explains ; an
expositor.
ELU'DE, V. t. [L. eludo; e and ludo, to play ;
Sp. eludir; It. eludere ; Fr. eluder. The
Latin verb forms bisi, lusum ; and this may
be the Heb. Ch. Ar. m to deride. Class
Ls. No. 5.]
1. To escape ; to evade ; to avoid by arti-
fice, stratagem, wiles, deceit, or dexterity ;
as, to ehide an enemy ; to elude the sight ;
to elude an ofiicer ; to elude detection ; to
elude vigilance ; to elude the force of an
argument ; to elude a blow or stroke.
2. To mock by an unexpected escape.
E M A
E M A
E M B
Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain.
Then, hid in shades, eludes her eager swain.
Pope
3. To escape being seen ; to remain unseen
or undiscovered. The cause of magnet-
ism has liitherto eluded the researches of
philosophers.
ELU'DIBLE, o. That maybe eluded or es-
caped. Swifl.
ELU'SION, n. s as :. [L. elusio. See Elude.]
An escape by artifice or deception ; eva-
sion. Brown.
ELU'SIVE, a. Practising elusion ; using arts
to escape.
Elusive of the bridal day, she gives
Fond hopes to all, and all with hopes de-
ceives. Pope.
ELU'SORINESS, n. The state of being elu-
sory.
ELU'SORY, a. Tending to elude ; tending
to deceive ; evasive ; fraudulent ; falla
cious; deceitful. Brown
ELU'TE, V. t. [L. eluo, elutum ; qu. e and
lavo. See Elutriate.] To wash off; to
cleanse. Arbuthnot.
ELU'TRIATE, v. t. [L. dulrio ; Sw. lutra,
luttra, to cleanse, to defecate ; Dan. lutter.
pure ; Sax. lutter, pure ; Indian, to purify ;
G. lauter ; D. louter, pure ; Ir. gleilh. Qu.
Class Ls. No. 30.]
To purify by washing ; to cleanse by separa-
ting foul matter, and decanting or strain-
ing off the liquor. In chimistry, to pulver-
ize and mix a solid substance with water,
and decant the extraneous lighter matte:
that may rise or be suspended in tlie wa
ter. Coxe. Encyc.
ELU'TRIATED, pp. Cleansed by washing
and decantation.
ELU'TRIATING, ppr. Purifying by wash
ing and decanting.
ELUTRIA'TION, >i. The operation of pul
verizing a solid substance, mixing it with
water, and pouring off the liquid, while
the foul or extraneous substances are float-
ing, or after the coarser particles hav
subsided, and while the finer parts are
suspended in the liquor.
ELUX'ATE, V. t. [L. eluxatus.] To dislo
cate. (See Luxate.]
ELUXA'TION, n. The dislocation of a
bone. [See Luxation.]
ELVELOCKS. [See Elf-lock.]
ELVERS, n. Young eels ; young congei
or sea-eels.
ELVES, p/u. of elf.
ELVISH, a. More properly elfsh, which
see.
ELYS'IAN,a.e;i/2A'un. [L. ehjsiiis.] Pertain
ing to elysium or the seat of delight ; yield
ing the highest pleasures ; deliciously
soothing ; exceedingly delightful ; as elys-
ian fields.
ELYS'IUM, n. elyzh'um. [L. tlysium ; Or,
IJ^VSIOV.]
In ancient mythology, a place assigned to hap-
py souls after death ; a place in the lower
regions, furnished with rich fields, groves,
shades, streams, &c., the seat of future
happiness. Hence, any delightful place.
Encyc. Shak
'EM, A contraction of the7n.
Ttey took 'em. Hudibras
EMAC'ERATE, v. t. To make lean. [JVot in
use.]
EMA'CIATE, I', i. [L. emacio, from macto,
Vol. I.
or jnacer, lean; Or. luxxot, fiixpoi, small;
Fr. maigre ; Eng. meager, meek ; It. Sp.
Port, magro ; D. Sw. Dan. G. mager ; Ch.
1KD, to be thin. Class Mg. No. 2. 9. 13.]
To lose flesh gradually ; to become lean by
pining with sorrow, or by loss of appe-
tite or other cause ; to waste away, as
flesh ; to decay in flesh.
EMA'CIATE, r. t. To cause to lose flesh
gradually ; to waste the flesh and reduce
to leanness.
EMA'CIATE, a. Thin ; wasted.
Shenstone.
EMA'CIATED, pp. Reduced to leanness
by a gradual loss of flesh ; thin ; lean.
EMA'CIATING, ppr. Wasting the fle.sh
gradually ; making lean.
EMACIA'TION, n. Tlieact of making lean
or thin in flesh ; or a becoming lean by a
gradual waste of flesh.
2. The state of being reduced to leanness.
EMAC'ULATE, v. t. [infra.] To take spots
from. [Little uxed.]
EMACULA'TION, n. [L. emaculo, from c
and macula, a spot.]
The act or operation of freeing from spots.
[Little used.]
EM'ANANT, a. [L. emanans. See Ema
nate.] Issuing or flowing from. Hate.
EM'ANATE, i;. i. [L. emano ; e and mono,
to flow; Sp. emanar ; Fr. emantr ; It.
emanare. Class Mn. No. 11. 9.]
1. To issue from a source ; to flow from ; ap-
plied to fluids ; as, light emanates from the
sun ; perspirable matter, from animal bod
ies.
2. To proceed from a soin-ce or fountain ; as
the powers of government in republics
emanate from the people.
EM'ANATING, ppr. Issuing or flowing
from a fountain.
EMANA'TION, n. The act of flowing or
proceeding from a fountain-head or or
igin.
2. That which issues, flows or proceeds from
any source, substance or body ; efilux ;
eflluvium. Light is an emanation from
the sun ; wisdom, from God ; the auth(
itv of laws, from the supreme power.
EM"'ANATIVE, a. Issuing from another.
EMAN'CIPATE, v. t. [L. emancipo, from c
and mancipium, a slave ; manus, hand, and
capio, to lake, as slaves were anciently
prisoners taken in war.]
1. To set free from servitude or slavery, by
the voluntary act of the proprietor ; to lib-
erate ; to restore from bondage to free-
dom ; as, to emancipate a slave.
2. To set free or restore to' hberty ; i»i a gen-
eral sense.
3. To free from bondage or i-estjaint of any
kind ; to liberate from subjection, controll-
ing power or influence ; as, to emancipate
one from prejudices or error.
4. In ancient Rome, to set a son free from
subjection to his father, and give him the
capacity of managing his affairs, as if he
was of age. Encyc.
EMAN'CIPATE, a. Set at liberty.
Cowper.
EMAN'CIPATED,;^;). Set free from bond-
age, slavery, servitude, subjection or de-
pendence ; liberated.
71
EMAN'CIPATING, ppr. Setting free from
bondage, servitude or dependence ; libe-
rating.
EMANCIPA'TION, n. The act of setting
free from slavery, servitude, subjection or
dependence ; deliverance from bondage or
coiitrolhu]^' influence ; liberation ; as the
emancipation of slaves by their proprietors ;
the emancipation of a son among the Ro-
mans ; tlic emancipation of a person from
prejudices, or from a servile subjection to
authority.
EMANCIPATOR, n. One who emanci-
pates or hberatcs from bondage or re-
straint.
EMA'NE, I', i. [L. emano.] To issue or flow
from. Enfield.
lint this is not an elegant word. [See
Emanate.]
EM>AR(ilNATE, > [Fr. marge; L.
EMARtilNATED, \ "' margo, whence
emarginu.]
1. In botany, notched at the end ; applied to
the leaf, corol or stigma. Martyn.
2. In mineralogy, having all the edges of the
primitive form truncated, each by one
face. Cleaveland.
EM AR(5INATELY, adv. In the form of
notches. Ealon.
EM-ASCULATE, v. t. [Low L. emasculo,
from e and mascidus, a male. See Male.]
1. To castrate ; to deprive a male of certain
parts which characterize the sex ; to geld ;
to deprive of virility.
2. To deprive of mascidine strength or vig-
or ; to weaken ; to render effeminate ; to
vitiate by unmanly softness.
Women emasculate a monarch's reign.
Dry den.
To emasculate the spirits. Collier.
EM^ASCULATE, a. Unmanned; deprived
of vigor. Hammond.
EMASCULATED, pp. Castrated; weak-
ened.
EMASCULATING, ppr. Castrating ; geld-
ing; depriving of vigor.
EMASCULATION, n. The act of depriv-
ing a male of the parts which character-
ize the sex; castration.
2. The act ofdeprivingof vigor or strength;
effeminacv ; unmanly weakness.
EMBA'LE,'f. <. [Ft. emhaller ; Sp. embalar;
It. imballare; em, im, for en or in, and balla,
balle, bale.]
1. To make up into a bundle, bale or pack-
age ; to pack.
2. To bind ; to inclose. Spenser.
EMB'ALM, V. t. emb'am. TFr. embaumer,
from baume, balm, from balsam ; It. tTtibid-
samare ; Sp. embalsamar.]
1. To open a dead body, take out the intes-
tines, and fill their place with odoriferous
and desiccative spices and drugs, to pre-
vent its putrefaction.
Joseph commanded his servants, the physi-
cians, to embalm his father : and the physicians
embalmed Israel. Gen. I.
2. To fill with sweet scent. MUton.
3. To preserve, with care and affection,
from loss or decay.
The memory of my beloved daughter is em-
balmed in my heart. J^. W.
Virtue alone, with lasting grace.
Embalms the beauties of the face.
Trumbull.
EMB ALMED, pp. Filled with aromatic
E M B
E M B
E M B
plants for preservation ; preserved from
loss or destruction.
EMB'ALMER, n. One who embalms bod
ies for pieservation.
EMB'ALMING, ppr. Filling a dead body
with spices for preservation ; preserving
witli care from loss, decay or destruci
EMB'AR, V. t. [en and bar.] To shut, close
or fasten with a bar ; to make fast.
2. To inclose so as to hinder egress or es-
cape.
Wliere fast emban'd iu mighty brazen wall.
Spenser.
3. To stop; to shut from entering; to hin-
der ; to block up.
He embarred all further trade. Bacon.
EMBARCA'TION, 71. Embarkation, which
EMb' ARGO, n. [Sp. embargo ; Port. Fr. id.
This is a modern word from the Spanish
and Portuguese. In Portuguese, embara-
gar, which the Spanish write embaraxar,
is to embarrass, entangle, stop, hinder ;
Port, embarago, impediment, embarrass-
ment, stop, liinderance. The palatal be-
ing changed into 2 and s, we have embar-
rass from this word ; but embargo retains
the palatal letter.]
In commerce, a restraint on ships, or proliibi-
tion of sailing, either out of port, or into
port, or both ; which prohibition is by pub-
lic authority, for a limited time. Most gen-
erally it is a proiiibition of ships to leave a
port.
EMB'ARGO, v. I. [S|). Port, embargar.] To
hinder or prevent ships from sailing out of
port, or into port, or both, by some" law or
edict of sovereign authority, for a limited
time. Our ships were for a time embar-
goed by a law of congress.
2. To stop ; to hinder from being prosecuted
by the departure or entrance of ships.
The commerce of the United States has
been embargoed.
EMB'ARGOED, pp. Stopped ; hindered
from sailing ; hindered by public author-
ity, as siiips or commerce.
EMB>ARGOING, ppr. Restraining from
sailing by public authority ; hindering.
EMB' ARK, V. t. [Sp. embarcar ; Port, id.; It.
, imharcare ; Fr. embarquer ; en and barco,
a boat, a barge, a bark.]
1. To put or cause to enter on board a ship
or other vessel or boat. The general em-
barked his troops and their baggage.
2. To engage a person in any affair. This
projector embarked his friends in the de-
sign or expedition.
EMB' ARK, V. i. To go on board of a ship,
boat or vessel ; as, the troops embarked for
Lisbon.
9. To engage in any business ; to undertake
in ; to take a share in. The young man
embarked rashly in sjjeculation, antl was
ruined.
EMBARKA'TION, n. The act of putting
on board of a ship or other vessel, or the
act of going aboard.
2. That which is embarked ; as an embarka-
tion of Jesuits. Smollett.
3. [Sp. embarcacion.] A small vessel, or boat.
[Unusual] Anson's Voyage.
EMB'ARKED, pp. Put on shipboard ; en-
gaged in any affair.
EMB'ARKIN"G,;7/)r. Putting on board of e
ship or boat ; going on shipboard.
EMBAR'RASS, t'. t. [Fr. embarrasaer ; Port.
tmbaracar ; Sp. embarazar ; from Sp. em-
barazo,' Port, embarago, Fr. embarras, per-
plexity, intricacy, hinderance, impediiuent.
In Spanish, formerly embargo signified em-
barrassment, and embarrar is to perplex.]
1. To perplex ; to render intricate ; to en-
tangle. We say, pubUc affairs are embar-
rassed ; the state of our accounts isembar-
rassed; want of order tends to embairass
2. To perplex, as the mind or intellectual
faculties ; to confuse. Our ideas are some
times embarrassed.
3. To perplex, as with debts, or demands, be
yond the means of payment ; applied to a
person or his affairs. In mercantile Ian
guage, a man or his business is embarrass
ed, when he cannot meet his pecuniary
engagements.
4. To perplex ; to confuse ; to disconcert
abash. An abrupt address may embarrass
a young lady. A young man may be too
much embarrassed to utter a word.
EMBAR'RASSED,;);?. Perplexed; render
ed intricate ; confused ; confounded.
EMBAR'RASSING, ^pr. Perplexing; en
tangling ; confusing ; confounding ; abash-
EMBAR'RASSMENT, n. Perplexity; in
tricacy; entanglement.
2. Confusion of mind.
3. Perplexity arising from insolvency, or
from temporary inability to discharge
debts.
4. Confusion ; abashment.
EMBA'SE, V. t. [en and base.] To lower in
value ; to vitiate ; to deprave ; to impair.
The virtue — of a tree embased by the ground
Bacon.
I have no ignoble end — that may embase my
poor judgment. Wotton
2. To degrade ; to vilify. Sjienser.
[This word is seldom used.]
EMBA'SEMENT, n. Act of depraving
depravation ; deterioration. South.
EM'BASSADE, n. An embassy. Obs.
Spenser.
EMBAS'SADOR, n. [Sp. embaxador ; Port.
id. ; Fr. ambassadeur ; It. ambasciadore ;
Arm. ambagzador ; Norm, ambaxeur. Spel
man refers this word to the G. ambacl,
which Cesar calls ambactus, a client or re-
tainer, among the Gauls. Cluver. Ant.
Ger. 1. 8. favors this opinion, and mentions
that, in the laws of Burgundy, ambascia
was equivalent to the Ger. ambact, service
now contracted to atnt, D. ampt, Dan.
ambt, Sw. embeie, olTice, duty, funct:
employment, province. The butch has
umbagt, trade, handicraft, a manor, a lord
ship, and ambagtsman, a journeyman or
mechanic, which is evidently the Sw. em-
betesman. The Danish has also embede,
office, employment. In Sax. embeht, ym
beht, is office, duty, employment; embehtan,
to serve ; embehtman, a servant ; also am-
beht, collation ; ambyht, a message or lega-
tion, an embassy ; ambyhtsecga, a legate
or envoy [a message-sayer.] The word w
Gothic is andbahts, a servant ; andbahtyan
to serve. The German has amtsbote, a
messenger. The first syllable em is fron
emb, ymb, appi, about, and the root of am-
bact is Bg. See Pack and Dispatch.]
1. A minister of the highest rank, employed
by one prince or state, at the court of an-
other, to manage the public concerns of
his own prince or state, and representing
the power and dignity of his sovereign.
Embassadors are ordinary, when they re-
side permanently at a foreign court ; or
extraordinary, when they are sent on a
special occasion. They are also called
ministers. Envoys are ministers employ-
ed on special occasions, and are of less
dignity. Johnson. Eneyc.
2. In ludicrous language, a messenger. Ash
EMBAS'SADRESS, n. The consort of an
embassador. Chesterfield.
3. A woman sent on a public message.
EM'BASSAGE, an embassy, is not used.
EM'BASSy, n. [Sp. Port, embaxada; Fr.
ambassade.]
1. The message or public function of an em-
bassador ; the charge or employment of a
pubhc minister, whether ambassador or
envoy ; the word signifies the message or
commission itself, and the person or per-
.sons sent to convey or to execute it. We
say the king sent an embassy, meaning an
envoy, minister, or ministers ; or the king
sent a person on an embassy. The embas-
sy consisted of three envoys. The embas-
sy was instructed to inrjuire concerning
the king's disposition. Mitford.
2. A solemn message. Taylor.
Eighteen centuries ago, the gospel went
forth from Jerusalem on an embassy of mingled
authority and love. B. Dickenson.
3. Ironically, an errand. Sidney.
[The old orthography, ambassade, am-
bassage, being obsolete, and embassy estab-
lished, I have rendered the orthography of
embassador conformable to it in the initial
letter.]
EMBAT'TLE, v. t. [en and battle.] To ar-
range in order of battle ; to array troops
lor battle.
On their embattled ranks the waves return.
Jitilton.
2. To furnish with battlements.
EMBAT'TLE, v. i. To be ranged i
of battle. Shak.
EMBATTLED, pp. Arrayed in order of
battle.
2. Furnished with battlements; and in he
raldry, having the outline resembling a
battlement, as an ordinary.
Cyc. Bailey.
2. a. Having been the place of battle; as an
embattled plain or field.
EMBAT'TLING, ppr. Ranging in battle
array.
EMBA'Y, V. t. [en, in, and bay.] To inclose
in a bay or inlet ; to land-lock ; to inclose
between capes or promontories.
Mar. Diet.
2. [Fr. baigner.] To bathe ; to wash. [J\ot
used.] Spenser.
EMBA'YED, pp. Inclosed in a bay, or be-
tween points of land, as a ship.
EMBED', V. t. [en, in, and bed.] To lay as
in a bed ; to lay in surrounding matter ; as,
to embed a thing in clay or in sand.
EMBED'DED, pp. Laid as in a bed ; de-
posited or inclosed in surrounding matter ;
as ore embedded in sand.
EMBED'DING, ppr. Laying, depositing or
forming, as in a bed.
EMBELLISH, v. t. [Fr. embeUir, from
belle, L. bellus, pretty.]
Cyc.
1 ordei
E M B
E M B
E M B
1. To adorn ; to beautify ; to decorate ; to
make beautiful or elegant by ornaments ;
applied to persons or things. We embellish
the person with ricli apparel, a garden
with shrubs and flowers, and style with
metaphors.
2. To make graceful or elegant ; as, to em
hellish manners.
EMBEL'LISHED, pp. Adorned ; decora
ted ; beautified.
EMBEL'LISHING, ppr. Adorning; deco
rating ; adding grace, ornament or ele-
gance to a person or thing.
EMBEL'LISIIMENT, n. Tlie act of adorn
ing.
2. Ornament ; decoration ; any thing that
adds beauty or elegance ; that which i
ders any thing pleasing to the eye
agreeable to the taste, in dress, furniture,
manners, or in the fine arts. Rich dresses
are embellishmenls of the person. Virtue is
an embellishment of the mind, and liberal
arts, the embellishments of society.
EMBER, in ember-days, ember-weeks, is the
Saxon emb-ren, or ymb-ryne, a circle,
cuit or revolution, from ymb, o,u4>i, arouijd,
and ren, or ryne, course, from the root of
run. Ember-days are the Wednesday
Friday and Saturday, after Quadragesima
Sunday, after Whitsunday, after Holy
rood day in September, and after St. Lu
cia's day in December. Ember-days are
days returning at certain seasons ; Ember-
weeks, the weeks in which these days fall
and formerly, our ancestors used the words
Ember-fast and Ember-tide or season.
Lye. Encyc. LL. Alfred. Sect. 39,
EM'BER-GOOSE, n. A fowl of the genus
Colymbus and order of ansers. It
larger than the common goose ; the head
is dusky ; the back, coverts of the wings
and tail, clouded with lighter and darker
shades of tlie same ; the primaries and
tail are black ; the breast and belly silvery.
It inhabits the northern regions, about
Iceland and the Orkneys. Encyc
EM'BERING, n. The ember-days, supra
[Obs.] Tusser
EM'BERS, n. plu. [Sax. cemyrian ; Scot.
ameris, aumers ; Ice. einmyria.]
Small coals of fire with ashes ; the residuum
of wood, coal or other combustibles not
extinguished ; cinders.
He rakes hot embers, and renews the fires.
Dry den
It is used by Colebrooke in the singular,
He takes a lighted ember out of the covered
vessel. Miat. Res. vii. 234
EMBER-WEEK. [See Ember, supra.]
EMBEZ'ZLE, i> t. [Norm, embeasiler, to
filch ; beseler, id. The primary sense
not quite obvious. If the sense is to strip,
to peel, it coincides with the Ar. Vxaj
to strip, or Heb. Ch. Syr. SsS- In Heb.
Ch. Syr. Sam. lU or nt3 signifies to plun-
der. See Class Bs. No. 2. 21. 22. Perhaps
the sense is to cut off. No. 21. 54.]
1. To appropriate fraudulently to one's own
use what is entrusted to one's care and
management. It difltrs from stealing and
robbery" in this, that the latter imply a
■wrongful taking of another's goods, "bu
embezzlement denotes the wrongful ap
propriation and use of what came intt
by right. It is not uncommon
"for men entrusted with public money to
• embezzle it.
2. To waste ; to dissipate in extravagance.
When thou hast embezzled all tliy store.
Dry den.
EMBEZ'ZLED, pp. Appropriated wrong-
fully to one's own use.
EMBEZ'ZLEMENT, n. The act of fraud-
ulently appropriating to one's own use.
the money or goods entrusted to one's care
and management. An accurate account
of the embezzlements of public money
would form a curious history.
2. The thing appropriated.
EMBEZZLER, n. One who embezzles.
EMBEZ'ZLING, ppr. Fraudulently apply-
ing to one's own use what is entrusted to
one's care and employment.
EMBLA'ZE, I'. /. [Fr. blasonner; Sp. bla
sonar ; Port, blazonar, brazonar ; allieil to
G. blasen, D. blaazen, to blow, and F
blaser, to burn, Eng. blaze. The sense is
to swell, to eidarge, to make showy.]
1. To adorn with glittering embellishments.
No weejjing orphan saw his father's stores
Our shrines irradiate, or emblaze the floors.
Pope.
2. To blazon ; to paint or adorn with figures
armorial.
The iiiipcriul ensign, sti-caming to the wind,
With gems and golden luster rich emblazed.
Milton.
EMBLA'ZED, pp. Adorned with shining
ornaments, or with figures armorial.
EMBLA'ZING, ppr. Embellishing witi
glittering ornaments, or with figures ar
morial.
EMBLA'ZON, v. t. emUa'zn. [Fr. blason
ner. See Emblaze.]
1. To adorn with figures of heraldry or en-
signs armorial. Johnson.
2. "To deck in glaring colors ; to display
pompously.
We find Augustus — emblazoned by the poets.
Hakewill.
EMBLA'ZONED, pp. Adorned with fig-
ures or ensigns armorial ; set out pomp-
ously.
EMBLA'ZONER, n. A blazoner ; one that
emblazons ; a herald.
2. One that publishes and displays with
pomp.
EMBLA'ZONING, ppr. .\dorning with en-
signs or figures armorial ; displaying with
An emblazoning.
Rosroe.
EMBLA'ZONRY, ?i. Pictures on shiel.ls;
display of figures. Milton.
EM'BLEM, 71. [Gr. efi8>.>ifia, from {juffawuj,'
to cast in, to insert.]
1. Properly, inlay; inlayed or mosaic work ;
something inserted in the body of anoth-
2. A picture representing one thing to the
eye, and another to the understanding ; a
painted enigma, or a figure representing
some obvious historj-, instructing us in
some moral truth. Such is the image of
Scsevola holding his hand in the fire, with
these words, "agere et pati fortiter Roma-
num est," to do and to suffer with forti-
tude is Roman. Encyc.
3. A painting or representation, intended
to hold forth some mora] or political in-
struction ; an allusive picture ; a typical
designation. A balance is an emblem of
justice ; a crowii is the emblem of royalty ;
a scepter, of power or sovereignty.
4. That which represents another thing in
its predominant qualities. A white robe
in scripture is an emblem of purity or right-
eousness ; baptism, of purification.
EM'BLEM, V. t. To represent by similar
qualities. Fellham.
EMBLEMAT'IC, \ Pertaining to or
EMBLEM AT'ICAL, \ "' comprising an em-
blem.
2. Representing by some allusion or cus-
tomary connection ; as, a crown is em-
blematic of royalty, a crown being worn
by kings.
3. Representing by similar qualities ; as,
whiteness is emblematic oC purity .
4. Using emblems ; as emblematic worship.
EMBLEMAT'ICALLY, adv. By way or
means of emblems ; in the manner of em-
blems ; by way of allusive representation.
Sieijl.
EMBLEM'ATIST, n. A writer or inven-
tor of emblems. Broipn.
EM'BLEMENT, n. used mostly in the plu-
ral. [Norm, emblear, emblements ; embleer,
to sow ; Fr. emblaver ; Norm, bleer, to sow
with corn, from bU, bled, corn.]
The produce or fruits of land sown or plant-
ed. This word is used for the produce of
land sown or planted by a tenant for life
or years, whose estate is determined sud-
deidy after the land is sown or planted
and before harvest. In this case tlie ten-
ant's executors shall have the emblements.
Emblements comprehend not only corn, hut
the produce of any annual plant. But the
produce of grass and perennial plants be-
longs to the lord, or proprietor of the land.
Blackstone.
To represent by an
Represented by an
EM'BLEMIZE, v
emblem.
EM BLEiMIZED, pp.
emblem.
EM'BLEMiZIXG,;);)r. Representing by an
emblem.
EMBLOOM', V. t. To cover or enrich with
bloom. Good.
EMBODIED, pp. [See Embody.] Collect-
ed or formed mto a body.
EMBOD'Y, V. t. [en, in, and body.] To form
or collect into a body or united mass ; to
collect into a whole ; to incorporate ; to
concentrate ; as, to embody troops ; to em-
body detached sentiments.
EMBOD'YING, ppr. Collecting or forming
into a body.
EMBOGUING, n. The mouth of a river or
place where its waters are discharged in-
to the sea. [.'Jn ill formed tvord.]
EMBOLDEN, v. t. [en and bold.] To give
boldness or courage ; to encourage. 1
Cor. viii.
EMBOLDENED, pp. Encouraged.
EMBOLDEN L\G, ppr. Giving courage or
boldness.
EM'BOLISM, n. [Gr. if,8oU^fxos, from i^-
eaw.u, to throw in, to insert.]
1. Intercalation ; the insertion of days,
months or years, in an account of time,
to produce regularity. The Greeks made
use of the lunar year of 354 days, and to
adjust it to the solar year of 365, they ad-
E M B
E M B
ded a lunar month every second or third
year, which additional month they called
emboliriKeus. ■ Encyc.
2. Intercalated time.
EMBOLIS'MAL, o. Pertaining to interca-
lation ; intercalated ; inserted.
The embolismal months are either natural or
civil. Eneyc.
EMBOLIS'Ml€, a. Intercalated ; inserted.
Twelve lunations foi-m a common year ; am!
thirteen, the emboUsmic year.
Grosier's China.
EM'BOLUS, n. [Gr. t^fSo^s, from tiiSaVKu,
to thrust in.]
Something inserted or acting in another;
that which thrusts or drives ; a piston.
Jlrbuthnot.
EMBOR'DER, v. t. [Old Fr. emborder.] To
adorn with a horder.
EMBOSS', V. t. [en, in, and boss.] In arch
lecture and sculpture, to form bosses c
protuberances ; to fashion in relievo or
raised work ; to cut or form with promi
nent figures.
2. To form with bosses ; to cover with pro
tuberances. Mlton
3. To drive hard in hunting, till a deer
foams, or a dog's knees swell. He
EMBOSS', V. t. [Fr. emboiter, for emboister,
from boite, boiste, a box.]
To inclose as in a box ; to include ; to cover.
[JVot used.] Spenser.
EMBOSS', V. t. [It. imboscare, from bosco.
a wood.]
To inclose in a wood ; to conceal in a thick-
et. [JVot used.] Milton
EMBOSS'ED, pp. Formed with bosses oi
raised figures.
EMBOSS' ING, ppr. Forming with figures
in rehevo. Bacon
EMBOSS'MENT, n. A prominence, hke a
boss ; a jut.
2. Relief; figures in relievo ; raised work.
Mdiso:
EMBOT'TLE, v. t. [en, in, and bctlle.] To
put in a bottle ; to bottle ; to include or
confine in a bottle.
EMBOT'TLED, pp. Put in or included in
bottles. Philips.
EMBOW, V. t. To form like a bow ; to arch
to vault. Spenser
EMBOWEL, V. t. [en, in, and bowel.] To
take out the entrails of an animal body ;
to eviscerate. Shak
2. To take out the internal parts.
Fossils and minerals that the emboweled
earth
Displays. Phibrs
3. To sink or inclose in another substance.
Spenser.
EMBOWELED, pp. Deprived of intes-
tines ; eviscerated ; buried.
EMBOWELER, n. One that takes out the
bowels.
EMBOWELING, ppr. Depriving of en
trails ; eviscerating ; burying.
EMBOWER, V. i. [from bower.] To lodge
or rest in a bower. Spenser.
EMBRA'CE, V. t. [Fr. embrasser, from en
and bras, the arm ; Sp. abrazar, from brazo,
the arm ; It. abhracciare, imbracciare, from
fcraccio, the arm ; Ir. umhracaim, from 6rac.
the arm. See Brace.]
1. To take, clasp or inclose in the arms ; to
press to the bosom, in token of aflfection.
Paul called to him the disciples and embraced
them. Acts xx.
2. To seize eagerly ; to lay hold on ; to re'-
ceive or take with wilhngness that which
is offered ; as, to embrace the christian re-
ligion; to embrace the opportunity of doing
a fav
3. To comprehend ;. to include or take m ;
as, natural philosophy embraces many sci-
ences. Johnson,
4. To comprise ; to inclose ; to encompass ;
contain ; to encircle.
Low at his feet a spacious plain is placed,
Between the mountain and the stream
braced. Oenh
5. To receive ; to admit.
What is there that he may not embrace for
truth ? Locke.
6. To find ; to take ; to accept.
Fleance— must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Shak
7. To have carnal intercourse with.
R. To put on. Spenser.
0. To attempt to influence a jury corruptly.
Blackstone.
EMBRA'CE, V. i. To join in an embrace.
Shak.
EMBRA'CE, n. Inclosure or clasp with the
arms ; pressure to the bosom with the
arras.
[2. Reception of one thing into another.
3. Sexual intercourse ; conjugal endearment
EMBRA'CED, pp. Inclosed in the arms
clasped to the bosom ; seized ; laid hold
on ; received ; comprehended ; included ;
contained ; accepted
Influenced corruptly; biassed; as a juror.
Blackstone.
EMBRA'CEMENT, n. A clasp in the arms
a hug ; embrace. Sidney.
2. Hostile hug ; grapple. [Little used.
Sidney.
Comprehension ; state of being contain
ed ; inclosure. [Little used.] Bacon
E M B
EMBRA'VE, V. t. [See Brave.] To embet-
lisli ; to make showy. Obs. Spenser.
2. To inspire with bravery ; to make bold.
Beaum.
EMBROCATE, v. t. [Gr. fftSptz", S9^X<^j
to moisten, to rain ; It. emfrroceare.]
In surgery and medicine, to moisten and rub
a diseased part of the body, with a liquid
substance, as with spirit, oil, &c., by
means of a cloth or spunge.
Coxe. Encyc.
EMBROCATED, pp. Moistened and rub-
bed with a wet cloth or spunge.
EM'BROCATING, ppr. Moistening and
rubbing a diseased part with a wet cloth
4. Conjugal endearment ; sexual commerce.
Shak.
5. Willing acceptance. [Little tised.]
EMBRA'CER, n. The person who embra-
ces. Howel.
2. One who attempts to influence a jury
corruptly.
EMBRA'CERY, ji. In law, an attempt to
influence a jury corruptly to one side, by
promises, persuasions, entreaties, money,
entertainments, or the like. Blackstone.
EMBRA'CING, ppr. Clasping in the arms ;
pressing to the bosom ; seizing and hold-
ing; comprehending; including; receiv-
ing ; accepting ; having conjugal inter-
course.
2. Attempting to influence a jury corruptly.
Blackstone.
EMBRA'ID, v.t. To upbraid. [A''otinuse.]
Elyot.
EMBRASU'RE, n. s as z. [Fr. from '
«er, to widen. Lunier. If Lunier isright,
this coincides with the Sp. abrasar. Port.
ahrazar, to burn, Sp. to squander or dissi-
pate.]
1. An opening in a wall or parapet, through
which camion are pointed and discharged,
2. In architecture, the enlargement of the
aperture of a door or window, on the in-
side of the wall, for giving greater play
for the opening of the door or casement,
or for admitting more light. Encyc.
EMBROeA'TION, n. The act of moisten-
ing and rubbing a diseased part, with a
cloth or spunge, dipped in some liquid sub-
stance, as spirit, oil, &c. Coxe. Encyc.
2. The liquid or lotion with which an affect-
ed part is rubbed or washed.
EMBROID'ER, v. I. [Fr. broder ; Sp. Port.
6orrfar ; W. brodiaw, to embroider, to make
compact, to darn. Qu. border.]
To border with ornamental needle-work, or
figures ; to adorn with raised figures of
needle-work ; as cloth, stuffs or muslin.
Thou shalt embroider the coat of tine linen.
Ex. xxviii.
EMBROID'ERED, pp. Adorned with fig-
ures of needle-work.
EiMBROID'ERER, n. One who embroid-
ers.
EMBROID'ERING, ppr. Ornamenting
with figured needle-work.
EMBROID'ERY, n. Work in gold, silver
or silk thread, formed by the needle on
cloth, stuffs and nmslin, into various fig-
ures; variegated needle-work.
Pope. Encyc.
Variegation or diversity of figures and
colors ; as the natural embroidery of mead-
„\vs. Spectator.
EMBROIL', v.t. [Fv. embrouiller, brouiller ;
It. imbrogliare, brogliare ; Sp. embrollar ;
Port, embrulhar ; properly to turn, to stir
or agitate, to mix, to twist. See Broil.]
1. To perplex or entangle; to intermix in
confusion.
The christian antiquities at Rome — are em-
broiled with fable and legend. Mdison.
2. To involve in troubles or perplexities; to
disturb or distract by connection with
something else ; to throw into confusion
or commotion ; to perplex.
The royal house embroiled in civil war.
Dryden.
EMBROIL'ED, pp. Perplexed ; entangled ;
intermixed and confused ; involved iu
trouble.
EMBROIL'ING, ppr. Perplexing; entang-
ling ; involving in trouble.
EMBROIL'MENT, n. Confusion ; disturb-
ance Maundrell.
EMBROTH'EL, v. t. [See Brothel.] To
inclose in a brothel. Donne.
EM'BRYO, I [Gr. luSfvw ; L. embryon ;
EM'BRYON, I "• from Gr. i" and (3pvo, to
shoot, bud, germinate. The Greek word
is contracted probably from (SpuSu, for it
gives ,i5pusi5; and if so, it coincides in ele-
ments with Eng. brood and breed.]
In physiology, tlie first rudiments of an an-
imal in the womb, before the several
E M E
members are distinctly formed ; after
which it is called a fetus. EncxjC.
2. The rudiments of a plant.
3. The beginn]:i>; or first state of any thing
not fit for ^reduction ; the rudiments of
any thing yet itupeifectly formed.
The compnny little suspected what a noble
work 1 had then in embryo. Swift.
EM'BRYO, \ Pertaining to or noting
EM'BRYON, 5 "any thing in its first ru-
diments or unfinished state ; as an embrxj-
on bud. Darwin.
EMBRYOTOMY, n. [embryo and Gr.
to/irj, a cutting, from ti/xiu, to cut.]
A cutting or forcible separation of the fetus
in utero. Coxe.
EMBUSY, V. t. To employ. [;Vo( used.]
EMEND', V. t. To amend. [jYot used.]
EMEND'ABLE, a. [L. emendabilis, from
emendo, to correct ; e and menda, a spot or
blemish.] Capable of being amended or
corrected. [See Amendable.]
EMENDA'TION, n. [L. emendaiio.] The
act of altering for the better, or correcting
what is erroneous or faulty ; correction ;
applied particularly to the correction of errors
in writings. When we speak of life and
manners, we use amend, amendment, the
French orthography.
2. An alteration for the better ; correction
of an error or fault.
The last edition of the book contains many
emendalio7is.
EMENDA'TOR, n. A corrector ot errors
or faults in writings ; one who corrects oi
improves.
EMEND' ATORY, a. Contributing to eraen
dation or correction. Warton.
EM'ERALD, n. [Sp. esmeralda ; Port. id. ;
It. smeraldo ; Fr. emeraude ; Arm. emernu-
denn ; G. D. Dan. smaragd ; L. smarag
dus ; Gr. jtopoySoj and u^uapcvyios ; Ch
njini ; Syr. ] ^ ^^^1 ' A'"- -^j-oj ^' '^
probable that the European words ai'e
from the oriental, though much altered.
The verb nOT signifies to sing, to call, to
amputate, &c. ; but the meaning of eme-
rald is not obvious.]
A mineral and a precious stone, whose col-
ors are a pure, lively green, varj'ing to a
pale, yellowish, bluish, or grass green.
It is always crystahzed, and almost al-|
ways appears in regular, hexahedral
prisms, more or less perfect, and some-
times slightly modified by truncations on
the edges, or on the sohd angles. It is a
little harder than quartz, becomes electric
by friction, is often transparent, sometiines
only translucent, and before the blowpipe
is fusible into a whitish enamel or glass.
The finest emeralds have been found in
Peru.
The subspecies of emerald are the pre-
cious emerald and the beryl.
Kirivan. Cleaveland.
EMERCJE, ti. i. emerj'. [L. emergo ; e, ex, and
mergo, to plunge.]
1. To rise out of a fluid or other covering or
surrounding substance ; as, to emerge from
the water or from the ocean.
Thetis — emerging from the deep. Dryden.
We say, a planet emerges from the sun's
light ; a star emerging from chaos. It is
opposed to immerge.
E M E
2. To issue; to proceed from. .Vewton.
3. To reappear, after being eclipsed ; to
leave the sphere of the obscuring object.
The sun is said to emerge, when the moon
ceases to obscure its hght ; the satellites
of Jupiter emerge, when they appear be- 1
yond the limb of the planet.
To rise out of a state of depression or ob-
scurity ; to rise into view ; as, to emerge
from poverty or obscurity ; to emerge
from the gloom of despondencj'.
EMERti'ENCE, I The act of rising out
EMERti'KNCY, \ "' of a fluid or other cov
ering or surrounding matter.
2. The act of rising or starting into view ;
the act of issuing from or quilting.
The wliite color of all refracted light, at its
first emergence — is compounded of various col-
ors. JVewton
3. That which comes suddenly ; a sudden
occasion ; an unexpected event.
Most of our rarities have been found out by
casual emergency. Glanmlle.
4. Exigence ; any event or occasional com-
bination of circumstances which calls for
immediate action or remedy ; pressing ne
cessity.
In case of emergency, [or in an emergency]
the whole wealth of his cm-
Mdison
EMERO'ENT, a. Rising out of a fluid or
any thing that covers or surrounds.
The mountains huge appear emergent.
Milton
2. Issuing or proceeding from. South
3. Ri.sing out of a depressed state or from
obscurity.
4. Coming suddenly ; sudden ; casual ; un-
expected ; hence, calhng for immediate
action or remedy : urgent ; pressing
an emersent occasion. Clarendon.
EMER'ITED, a. [L. emeritus.] Allowed tc
have done suflicient public service.
Evelyn
EM'ERODS, n. with u plural termination
[Corrupted from hemorrhoids, Gr. aL/ioft-
potSf 5, from aijBoppoju, to labor imder a flow
ing of blood ; a(|Ua, blood, and piu, to flow.'
Hemorrhoids ; piles ; a dilatation of the|
veins about the rectum, w ith a dischargej
of blood.
The Lord will smite thee — with the emernds.l
Deut. xxviii. I
EMER'SION, ». [frotu L. emergo. Seej
Emerge.] \
1. The act of rising out of a fluid or other
covering orsurrotmding substance ; oppo-
sed to immersion.
aploy
E M 1
The lapidaries cut ordinary gems on their
wijeels, by sprinkling them with the moist-
ened powder of emery ; but it will not cut
the diamond. HUi. Cleaveland.
EMET'Ie, a. [It. Sp. emetico ; Fr. emetique ;
from Gr. f^itu, to vomit.]
Inducing to vomit; exciting the stomach to
discliarge its contents by the cesophagus
and mouth.
EMET'Ie, n. A medicine that provcAes
vomiting.
EMET'ICALLY, adv. In such a manner as
to excite vomiting. Boyle.
EM'ETIN, rt. [See Emetic] A substance
obtained from the root of ipccacuana, half
a grain of which is a powerful emetic.
Ure.
E'MEW, n. A name of the Cassowary.
EMICA'TION, n. [L. emicalio, emico, from
e and mico, to sparkle, that is, to dart.]
A sparkling ; a flying off in small particles,
as from heated iron or fermenting liquors.
EMI€'TION, n. [L. mingo, mictum.] The
discharging of urine ; urine ; what is
voided by the urinary passages. Harvey.
EM'IGRANT, a. [See Emigrate.] Remo-
ving from one place or country to another
distant place with a view to reside.
EM'IGRANT, n. One who removes his
habitation, or quits one country or region
to settle in another.
EM'IGRATE, v. i. [L. emigro; e and mi-
gro, to migrate.]
To quit one country, state or region and set-
tle in another ; to remove from one coun-
try or state to another for the purpose of
residence. Germans, Swiss, Irish Emd
Scotch, emigrate, in great numbers, to
America. Inhabitants of New England
emigrate to the Western States.
EM'IGRATING, ppr. Removing from one
country or state to another for residence.
EMIGRA'TION, n. Removal of inhabitants
from one country or state to another, lor
the purpose of residence, as from Europe
to America, or in America, from the At-
lantic States to the Western.
The removal of persons from house to
house in the same town, state or kingdom
is not called emigration, but simply remoi'a/.
EM'INENCE, } [L. eminentia, from emi-
EM'INENCY, I "■ nens, emineo, to stand or
show itself above ; e and minor, to threat-
en, that is, to stand or push forward. See
Class Mn. No. 9. 11.]
1. Elevation, highth, in a literal sense ;
but usually, a rising ground ; a hill of
moderate elevation above the adjacent
ground.
2. In astronomy, the reappearance of a heav-
enly body after an eclipse ; as the emersion
of the moon from the shadow of the | The temple of honor ought to be seated on an
earth : also, the time of reappearance. j eminence. Burke.
3. The reappearance of a star, which has i2. Summit; highest part. Ray.
been hid by the effulgence of the sun's JS. A part rising or projecting beyond the
light.
. Extrication.
EMERY, 71. [Fr. emeril, e
D. ameiil ; G. schmergel .
Black,
leri ; S]). csmeril ;
Gr. and L. smi-
i mineral, said to be a compact variety of
corundum, being equal to it in hardness.!
It is always amorphous ; its structure fine-
ly granular; its color varying from a deep:
gray to a bluish or blackish gray, some-
times brownish. This is almost indispen-
sable in polishing metals and hard stones.'
rest, or above the suriace. We speak of
emiiiences on any plain or smooth sur-
face.
4. An elevated situation among men ; a
place or station above men in general, ei-
ther in rank, office or celebrity. Merit may
place a man on an eminence, and make
him conspicuous. Eminence is always
exposed to envy.
5. Exaltation ; high rank ; distinction ; ce-
lebrity; fame; preferment; conspicuou;-
ness.
EMI
E M O
E M P
OfBce, rank and great talents give
to men in society.
Where men cannot arrive at eminence, reli
gion may make compensation, by teaching con-
tent. Tillotson
fi. Supreme degree. Milton.
7. Notice ; distinction. Shak.
8. A title of honor given to cardinals and
others. Encyc.
EM'INENT, a. [L. eminens, from cmineo.]
1. High; lofty; as an eminent place. Ezek.
xvi.
2. Exalted in rank ; high in office ; dignifi
ed ; distinguished. Princes hold eminent
stations in society, as do ministers, judges
and legislators.
3. High in public estimation ; conspicuou.s
distinguished above others; remarkable;
as an eminent historian or poet ; an emi-
nent scholar. Burke was an eminent ora-
tor ; Watts and Cowper were eminent for
their piety.
EM'INENTLY, adv. In a high degree ; in
a degree to attract observation ; in a de-
gree to be conspicuous and distinguished
from others ; as, to be eminently learned
or useful.
speak, Ch. Syr. Sam. id.]
A title of dignity among the Turks, denoting
a prince ; a title at first given to the Ca-
hphs, but when they assumed the title of
Sultan, that of Emir remained to their
children. At length it was attributed to
all who were judged to descend from Mo-
hammed, by his daughter Fatimah.
Encyc.
EM'ISSARY, n. [L. emissarius, from emitto;
e and viitlo, to send ; Fr. emissaire ; Sp.
emisario ; It. emissario.]
A person sent on a mission ; a missionary
employed to preach and propagate the
gospel.
If one of the four gospels be genuine, we
have, in that one, strong reason to believe, that
we possess the accounts which the original
emissaries of the religion delivered.
Paley, Emd. Christ.
[This setise is now unusual.]
2. A person sent on a private message or
business ; a secret agent, employed to
sound or ascertain the opinions of others,
and to spread reports or propagate opinions
favorable to his employer, or designed to
defeat the measures or schemes of his
opposers or foes ; a spy ; but an emissary
may differ from a spy. A spy in war is
one who enters an enemy's camp or terri-
tories to learn the condition of the enemy ;
an emissary may be a secret agent em-
ployed not only to detect the schemes of
an opposing party, but to influence their
councils. A spy in war must be conceal-
ed, or he suffers death ; an emissary may
in some cases be known as the agent of
an adversary, without incurring similar
hazard. Bacon. Swifl.
3. That which sends out or emits. [JVot
used.] Jlrbuthnot.
Emissari/ vessels, in anatomy, the same as
excretory.
EM'ISSARY, a. Exploring; spying.
B. Jonson.
EMIS'SION, n. [L. emissio, from emitto, to
send out.] The act of sending or throw-
ing out ; as the emission of light from the
sun or other luminous body; the emis
of odors from plants ; the emission of heat
from a fire.
2. The act of sending abroad or into circu
lation notes of a state or of a private cor-
poration ; as the emission of state notes, oi
bills of credit, or treasury notes.
3. That which is sent out" or issued at one
time ;.an impression or a number of notes
issued by one act of government. We say,
notes or bills of various emissions were in
circulation.
EMIT', V. t. [L. emitto ; e and mitto, to
send.]
1. To send forth ; to throw or give out ; as,
fire emits heat and smoke ; boiling water
emits steam ; the sun and moon emit light ;
animal bodies emit perspirable matter ;
putrescent substances emit offensive or
noxious exhalations.
|2. To let fly ; to discharge ; to dart or shoot ;
emi< an arrow. [Unusual.] Prior.
3. To issue forth, as an order or decree.
[ Unusual] Ayliffe.
4. To issue, as notes or bills of credit ; to
print, and send into circulation. The Uni-
ted States have once emitted treasury
notes.
No state shall emit bills of credit.
Const. United States.
EMMEN'AGOGUE, n. [Gr. tju^^vos, men-
struous, or tf, in, and /itjv, month, and »yw,
to lead.]
A medicine that promotes the menstrual dis-
charge. Encyc.
EBI'MET, n. [Sax. mmet, wmette; G.ameise.]
An ant or pismire.
EMMEW', V. t. [See Mew.] To mew ; to
coop up ; to confine in a coop or cage.
Shak.
EMM6VE, V. t. To move ; to rouse ; to ex-
cite. [JVot used.] Spenser.
EMOLLES'CENCE, n. [L. emoltescens,
softening. See Emolliate.]
In metallurgy, that degree of softness in a
fusible body which alters its shape ; the
first or lowest degree of fusibility.
Kirwan.
EMOL'LIATE, v. t. [L. emollio, moUio, to
soften ; mollis, soft ; Eng. mellow, mild ;
Russ. miluyu, to pity ; umiliayus, to repent.
See Mellow.]
To soften ; to render effeminate.
EmoUiated by four centuries of Roman domi-
nation, the Belgic colonies had forgotten their
pristine valor. Pinkerton, Geog.
[This is a new word, though well formed
and applied ; but what connection is there
between so^ening' and forgetting 9 Lost is
here the proper word for forgotten.]
EMOL'LIATED, pp. Softened ; rendered
eflfeminate.
EMOL'LIATING, ppr. Softening; render-
ing effeminate.
EMOL'LIENT, a. Softening ; making sup-
ple ; relaxing the solids.
Barley is emollient. Jlrbuthnot.
EMOL'LIENT, n. A medicine which soft-
ens and relaxes, or sheaths the solids;
that which softens or removes the asper-
ities of the humors. Qxtincy. Core.
EMOLLI"TION, n. The act of softening
or relaxing. Bacon.
EMOL'UMENT, n. [U emolumentum, from
emolo, moto, to grind. Originally, toll taken
for grinding. See Mill.]
1. The profit arising from office or employ-
ment ; that which is received ^s a com-
pensation for services, or which is annex-
ed to the possession of office, as salary,
fees and i>erquisites.
2. Profit ; advantage ; gains in general.
EMOLUMENT'AL, a. Producing profit;
useful ; profitable ; advantageous.
Evelyn.
Emongst, for among, in Spenser, is a mistake.
EMO'TION, n. [Fr. from L.emotio; emoveo,
to move from ; It. emozione.]
1. Literally, amoving of the mind or soul;
hence, any agitation of mind or excitement
of sensibility.
2. In a philosophical sense, an internal mo-
tion or agitation of the mind which passes
away without desire ; when desire follows,
the motion or agitation is called a passion.
Karnes' EL of Criticism.
3. Passion is the sensible effect, the feeling
to which the mind is subjected, when an
object of importance suddenly and impe-
riously demands its attention. The state
of absolute passiveness, in consequence of
any sudden percussion of mind, is of short
duration. The strong impression, or vivid
sensation, immediately produces a reaction
correspondent to its nature, either to ap-
propriate and enjoy, or avoid and repel
the exciting cause. This reaction is very
properly distinguished by the term emo-
tion.
Emotions therefore, according to the gen-
uine signification of the word, are prin()i-
pally and primarily applicable to the sen-
sible changes and visible eflfects, which
particular passions produce on the frame,
in consequence of this reaction, or partic-
ular agitation of mind.
Cogan on the Passions.
EMPA'lR,t).<. To impair. Obs. [See /m-
EMPA'LE, v.t. [?on. empalar ; Sp.irf.,-It.
impalare ; Fr. empaler ; en, in, and L. palus.
It. Sp. palo, a stake, a pale.]
1. To fence or fortify with stakes ; to set a
line of stakes or posts for defense.
All that dwell near enemies empale villages,
to save themselves from surprise. Raleigh.
[We now use stockade, in a like sense.]
3. To inclose ; to surround.
Round about her work she did empale.
With a fair border wrought of sundry flow-
ers. Spenser.
3. To inclose; to shut in.
Impenetrable, empal'd with circling fire.
Miltcm.
4. To tlirust a stake up the fundament, and
thus put to death ; to put to death by
fixing on a stake ; a pimishment formerly
practiced in Rome, and still used in Turkey.
Addison. Encyc.
EMPA'LED, pp. Fenced or fortified with
stakes ; inclosed ; shut in ; fixed on a
stake.
EMPA'LEMENT, n. A fencing, fortifying
or inclosing with stakes ; a putting to
death by thrusting a stake into the body.
2. In botany, the calyx or flower-cup of a
E M P
E M P
E JM P
plant, which surrounds the fructification,
like a fence of pales. MaHyn.
3. In heraldry, a conjunction of coats of arms,
pale-wise. Warlon.
EMPA'LING, ppr. Fortifying with pales or
stakes ; inclosing ; putting to death on a
stake.
EMPAN'NEL, n. [Y'r.panmau; En^. pane,
a square. See Pane and Pannel.]
A list of jurors ; a small piece of paper or
parchment containing the names of the
jurors summoned hy the sheriff. It is now
written pannel, which see.
EMPAN'NEL, v. I. To form a list of jurors.
It is now written impannel, which see.
EMP'ARK, V. t. [in and park.] To inclose
as with a fence. King.
EMPAR'LANCE, n. [See Imparlance.]
EMPASM, 71. empaztn'. [Gr. e/xnatau, to
sprinkle.]
A powder used to prevent the bad scent of
the body. Johnson
EMPAS'SION, V. t. To move with pas-
sion ; to affect strongly. [See Impassion.'
Mitton
EM PEACH. [See Impeach.]
EMPE'OPLE, V. t. empee'pl. To form into
a people or community. [Little used.]
Spenser.
EM'PERESS. [See Empress.]
EMPER'ISHED, a. [See Pemft.] Decayed.
[J\rot in use.] Spenser.
EM'PEROR, n. [Fr. empereur ; Sp. em-
perador ; It. imperadore ; L. imperator, from
impero, to command, W. peri, to conmiand,
to cause.]
Literally, the commander of an army. In
modern times, the sovereign or supreme
monarch of an empire ; a title of dignity
superior to tliat of king ; as the emperor
of Germany or of Russia.
EM'PERY, n. Empire. Obs. Shak
EM'PHASIS, n. [Gr.ififanti; iv and ^aertj.]
In rhetoric, a particular stress of utterance,
or force of voice, given to the words or
parts of a discourse, whose signification
the speaker intends to impress specially
upon his audience ; or a distinctive utter-
ance of words, specially significant, with a
degree and kind of stress suited to convey
their meaning in the best manner.
Encyc. E. Po
The province of emphasis \s so mucli more
iraportaut than accent, that the customary sea
of the latter is clianged, wlien the clahns of chi
phasis require it. E- Porter
EMPHAT'le, I „ Forcible ; strong ; im-
EMPHAT'I€AL, ^ "" pressive ; as an em-
phatic voice, tone or pronunciation ; en
phatical reasoning.
2. Requiring emphasis ; as an emphatical
word.
3. Uttered with cmphasis.i We remonstrated
in emphatical terms.
4. Striking to the eye ; as emphatic colors.
Boyle.
EMPHAT'leALLY, adv. With emphasis;
strongly; forcibly; in a striking manner.
2. According to appearance. [JVbt used.]
Brown.
EMPIIYSE'MA, > [Gr. ffifvarjfxa, fi-om
EM'PHYSEM, \ "• >u^vsa.u, to inflate.]
In surgery, a puffy timior, easily yielding to
pressure, but returning to its former state,
as soon as that pressure is removed. A
swelling of the integuments, from tiie ad
of air into the cellular membrane.
Hiseman. Coxe.
EMPlIYSEM'ATOUS,a. Pertaining to em
phy.sema ; swelled, bloated, but yielding
easily to pressure.
EMPHYTEUTIC, a. [Gr. i/i, tv, &ndpvti
8ij, a planting, ^vrivu, to plant.]
Taken on hire ; that tor which rent is to be
paid ; as emphyteutic lands. Blackstone.
E]VIPIERCE,v.i(. empers'. [em, i?!, and/*tcrce.j
To pierce into ; to penetrate. [Abf used.]
Spenser.
EMPIGHT, a. [from pight, to fix.] Fixed.
Ohs. Spenser.
EM'PIRE,n. [Fr. from L. imperium ; Sp. It.
imperio. See Emperor.]
1. Supreme power in governing ; supreme
dominion ; sovereignty ; imperial power,
No nation can rightfully claim the empire
of the ocean.
2. The territory, region or countries under
the jurisdiction and dominion of an empe-
ror. An empire is usually a territory of
greater extent than a kingdom, which
may be and often is a territory of small
extent. Thus we say, the Russian
pire ; the Austrian empire; the sovereigns
of which are denominated emperors. The
British dominions are called an empire,
and since the union of Ireland, the parlia-
ment is denominated the imperial parlia-
ment, hut the sovereign is called king.
By custom in Europe, the empire means
the German empire; and in juridical acts,
it is called the holy Roman empire. Hence
we say, the diet of the empire; the circles
of the empire ; &c. But the German em-
pire no longer exists ; the states of Germa-
ny now form a confederacy.
3. Supreme control ; governing influence ;
rule ; sway ; as the empire of reason, or
of truth.
4. Any region, land or water, over which do-
minion is extended ; as the empire of tht
sea. Shak
EM'PIRI€, n. [Gr. e/Jrtftpixoj; iv and nn
ptuj, to attempt ; L. empiricus ; Fr. empi
rique ; Sp. It. empirico. See Peril and
Pirate.]
Literally, one who makes experiments
Hence its appropriate signification is, a
physician who enters on practice with-
out a regular professional education, ant
relies on the success of his own experi
cnce. Hence the word is used also for a
quack, an ignorant pretender to medical
skill, a charlatan. Encyc.
EMPIR'IC, ) Pertaining to experi
EMPIRICAL, i "• ments or experience.
2. Versed in experiments ; as an empiric al-
chimist.
3. Known only hy experience ; derived from
experiment ; used and applied without
science ; as empiric skill ; empiric rente
dies. Dryden
I have avoided that empirical morality tha
cures one vice by means of another
EMPIR'ICALLY, adv. By experiment ; ac
cording to experience ; without science ;
in the manner of quacks. Brown
EMPIR'ICISM, n. Dependence of a physi-
cian on his experience in practice, with-
out the aid of a regular medical educa-
tion.
2. The practice of medicine without a med-
ical education. Hence, quackery ; the
l)retensions of an ignorant man to medi-
cal skill.
Shudder to destroy life, cither by the naked
knife, or by the surer and safbr medium of em-
piricism. Dwight.
EM PL' ASTER, n. [Gr. f/.nxorpo.-, a pfewter. J
[See Plaster, which is now used.]
EM PL' ASTER, v. t. To cover with a plas-
ter. Mortimer.
EMPL'ASTIe, a. [Gr. fM«^y«oj. SeePto-
ter, Plastic]
Viscous; glutinous; adhesive; fit to be ap-
plied as a plaster; as emplastic applica-
tions. Arhuihnol.
EMPLE'AD,t).(. [em &ni plead.] To charge
with a crime ; to accuse. But it is now
written implead, which see.
EMPLOY', v.t. [Vr. employer ; XTtn.impli-
gea or impligein ; Sp. emplear ; Port, em-
pregar ; It. impiegare ; em or en and ploy-
er, plier ; W.plygu ; L. plico ; Gr. nuxu ;
U. pleegen. See Apply, Display, Deploy.]
. To occupy the time, attention and labor
of; to keep busy, or at work ; to use. We
employ our hands in labor; we emp/oy our
heads or faculties in study or thought;
the attention is employed, when the mind
is fixed or occupied upon an object ; we
employ time, when we devote it to an ob-
ject. A portion of time should be daily
employed in reading the scriptures, medita-
tion and prayer ; a great portion of life is
employed to Uttle profit or to very bad pur-
))()ses.
2. To use as an instrument or means. We
employ pens in writing, and arithmetic in
keeping accounts. We employ medicines
in curing diseases.
3. To use as materials in forming any thing.
We employ timber, stones or bricks, in
building ; we employ wool, linen and cot-
ton, in making cloth.
4. To engage in one's service ; to use as an
agent or substitute in transacting busi-
ness ; to commission and entrust with the
management of one's affairs. The presi-
tlent employed an envoy to negotiate a
treaty. Kings and States employ embas-
sadors at foreign courts.
5. To occupy ; to use ; to apply or devote to
an object; to pass in business; as, toem-
ploy time ; to employ an hour, a day or a
week ; to employ one's life.
To etnploy one's self, is to apply or devote
one's time and attention ; to busy one's
self.
EMPLOY', n. That which engages the
mind, or occupies the time and labor of a
person ; business ; object of study or in-
dustry ; employment.
Present to grasp, and future still to find.
The whole employ of body and of mind.
Pope.
2. Occupation, as art, mystery, trade, pro-
fession.
3. Public office ; agency ; service for an-
other.
EMPLOY' ABLE, a. That may be employ-
ed ; capable of being used ; fit or proper
for use. Boyle.
EMPLOY'ED, pp. Occupied; fixed or en-
gaged ; applied in business ; used in
agency.
EMPLOYER, n. One who employs; one
EMI
E M O
E M P
Office, rank and great talents give
) men in society.
Where men cannot arrive at eminence, reli
6. Supreme degree. Milton.
7. Notice ; distinction. Shak.
8. A title of honor given to cardinals and
others. Encyc.
EMINENT, a. [L. eminens, from emineo.]
1. High ; lofty ; as an eminent place. Ezek
xvi.
2. Exalted in rank ; high in office ; dignifi-
Princes hold eminent
i do ministers, judges
ed ; distinguished
stations in society,
and legislators.
3. High in public estimation ; conspicuous
distinguished above others ; remarkable ;
as an eminent historian or poet ; an emi-
nent scholar. Burke was an eminent ora-
tor ; Watts and Cowper were eminent for
their piety.
EM'INENTLY, adv. In a high degree ; in
a degree to attract observation ; in a de-
gree to be conspicuous and distinguished
from others ; as, to be eminently learned
or useful.
5 t
E'MIR, n. [Ar. ^^^1 Emir, a command-
er, from j,^ I to command, Heb. nnx to
speak, Ch. Syr. Sam. id
A title of dignity among the Turks, denoting
a prince ; a title at first given to the Ca
liphs, but when they assumed the title of
Sultan, that of Emir remained to their
children. At length it was attributed to
all who were judged to descend from Mo-
hammed, by his daughter Fatimah.
Encyc.
EM'ISSARY, n. [L. emissarius, from emitto ;
e and mitto, to send ; Fr. emissaire ; Sp.
emisario ; It. emisaario.]
A person sent on a mission ; a missionary
employed to preach and propagate the
gospel.
If one of the four gospels be genuine, we
have, in that one, strong reason to believe, th
we possess the accounts which the original
emissaries of the religion delivered.
Palei/, Evid. Christ
[This sense is now unusual.'^
2. A person sent on a private message or
business ; a secret agent, employed to
sound or ascertain the opinions of others,
and to spread reports or propagate opinio
favorable to his employer, or designed
defeat the measures or schemes of his
opposers or foes ; a spy ; but an emissan/
may differ from a spy. A spy in war is
one who enters an enemy's camp or terri-
tories to learn the condition of the enemy
an emissary may be a secret agent em-
ployed not only to detect the schemes of
an opposing party, but to influence their
councils. A spy in war must be conceal-
ed, or he suffers death ; an emissary may
in some cases be known as the agent of
an adversary, without incurring similar
hazard. Bacon. Swifl.
3. That which sends out or emits. [Not
used.] ' Jlrbulhnot.
Emissary vessels, in anatomy, the same
excretory.
EM'ISSARY, a. Exploring; spying.
B. Jonson
EMIS'SION, n. [L. emissio, from emitto, to
send ovit.] The act of sending or throw
ing out ; as the emission of light from the
sun or other luminous body ; the emission
of odors from plants ; the emission of heat
from a fire.
2. The act of sending abroad or into circu-
lation notes of a state or of a private cor
poration ; as the emission of state notes, or
bills of credit, or treasury notes.
.3. That which is sent out or issued at one
time ;.an impression or a number of notes
issued by one act of government. We say,
notes or bills of various emissions were in
circulation.
EMIT', V. t. [L. emitto; e and mitto, to
send.]
1. To send forth ; to throw or give out ; as
fire emits heat and smoke ; boiling wate
emits steam ; the sun and moon emit light
animal bodies emit perspirable matter ;
putrescent substances emit offensive or
noxious exhalations.
2. To let Ay ; to discharge ; to dart or shoot ;
as, to cnu'i an arrow. [Umisual.] Prior.
3. To issue forth, as an order or decree,
[ Unusual] Jlyliffe.
^. To issue, as notes or bills of credit ; to
print, anti send into circulation. The Uni
ted States have once emitted treasury
notes.
No state shall emit bills of credit.
Const. United States
EMBIEN'AGOGUE, n. [Gr. i)^!^r,voi, men-
struous, or fv, in, and juijv, month, and oiyu,
to lead.]
A medicine that promotes the menstrual dis-
charffe. Encyc.
EM'MET, n. [Sax. a:met, lemette; G. ameise.]
An ant or pismire.
EMMEW, V. t. [See Meio.] To mew ; to
coop up ; to confine in a coop or cage.
Shak.
EMMoVE, I!, t. To move ; to rouse ; to ex-
cite. [Not used.] Spenser.
EMOLLES'CENCE, n. [L. emollescens.
softening. See Etnolliate.]
In metnllurffy, that degree of softness in a
fusible body which alters its shape ; the
first or lowest degiee of fusibility.
Kirwan.
EMOL'LIATE, v. t. [L. emollio, mollio,^ to
soften ; mollis, soft ; Eng. mellow, mild
Russ. miluyu, to pity ; umiliayus, to repent.
See Mellou'.]
To soften ; to render effeminate.
Emolliated by four centuries of Roman domi-
nation, the Belgic colonies had forgotten their
pristine valor. Pinkerton, Geog.
[This is a new word, though well formed
and applied ; but what connection is there
between softening and forgetting? Lost is
here the proper word for /org'oHen.]
EMOL'LIATED, pp. Softened ; rendered
ffeminate.
EMOL'LIATING, ppr. Softening; render-
ing effeminate.
EMOL'LIENT, a. Softening ; making sup-
ple ; relaxing the solids.
Barley is emollient. Jlrhuthnot.
EMOL'LIENT, n. A medicine which soft-
ens and relaxes, or sheaths the solids;
that which softens or removes the asper-
ities of the humors. Qtiincy. Core
EMOLLI"TION, n. The act of softening
or relaxing. Bacon.
EMOL'UMENT, n. [L. emolumentum, from
emolo, molo, to grind. Originally, toll taken
for grinding. See Mill.]
1. The profit arising from office or employ-
ment ; that which is received as a com-
pensation for services, or which is annex-
ed to the possession of office, as salarj-,
fees and ])erquisites.
2. Profit ; advantage ; gains in general.
EMOLUMENT'AL, a. Producing profit;
useful ; profitable ; advantageous.
Evelyn.
Emongst,for among, in Spenser, is a mistake.
EMO'TION, n. [Fr. from L. emotio ; emoveo,
to move from ; It. emozione.]
1. Literally, amoving of the mind or soul;
hence, any agitation of mind or excitement
of sensibility.
2. In a philosophical sense, an internal mo-
tion or agitation of the mind which passes
away without desire ; when desire follows,
the motion or agitation is called a passion.
Kames^ El. oj Criticism.
3. Passion is the sensible effect, the feeling
to which the mind is subjected, when an
object of importance suddenly and impe-
riously demands its attention. The state
of absolute passiveness, in consequence of
any sudden percussion of mind, is of short
duration. The strong impression, or vivid
sensation, immediately produces a reaction
correspondent to its nature, either to ap-
propriate and enjoy, or avoid and repel
the exciting cause. This reaction is very
properly distinguished by the term emo-
tion.
Emotions therefore, according to the gen-
uine signification of the word, are prin^-
pally and primarily applicable to the sen-
sible changes and visible effects, which
particular passions produce on the frame,
in consequence of this reaction, or partic-
ular agitation of mind.
Cogan on the Passions.
EMPA'IR,t).<. To impair. 06s. [See Im-
pair.]
EMPA'LE, V. t. [Port. empaUr ; Sp.id.; It.
impalare ; Fr. empaler; en, in, and L. palus.
It. Sp. palo, a stake, a pah.]
1. To fence or fortify with stakes ; to set a
Une of stakes or posts for defense.
All that dwell near enemies empale villages,
to save themselves from surprise. Raleigh.
[We now use stockade, in a like sense.]
2. To inclose ; to surround.
Round about her work she did empale.
With a fair border wrought of sundry flow-
ers. Spenser.
3. To inclose ; to shut in.
4. To thrust a stake up the fundament, and
thus put to death ; to put to death by
fixing on a stake ; a punishment formerly
practiced in Rome, and still used in Turkey.
Mdison. Encyc.
EMPALED, pp. Fenced or fortified with
stakes ; inclosed ; shut in ; fixed on a
stake.
EMPA'LEMENT, n. A fencing, fortifying
or inclosing with stakes ; a putting to
death by thrusting a stake into the body.
2. In botany, the calyx or flower-cup of a
E M P
E M P
E M P
))lant, which surrounds the fructification,
liite a fence of pales. MaHyn.
y. In htraldnj, a conjunction of coats of arms,
pale-wise. IVarlon.
EMPA'LIJVG, ppr. Fortifying with pales or
stakes ; inclosing ; putting to death on a
EMPAN'NEL,n. [Ft.panneau; Eng.pane,
a square. See Pane and PanneL]
A list of jurors ; a small piece of paper or
parchment containing the nanies of the
jurors summoned by the sherifl'. It is now
written pannel, which see.
EMPAN'NEL, v. t. To form a list of jurors.
It is now written impannd, which see.
EMP'ARK, V. t. [in and park.] To inclose
as with a fence. King.
EMPAR'LANCE, n. [See Imparlance.]
EMPASM, n. enipazm'. [Gr. curtanau, to
sprinkle.]
A powder used to prevent the bad scent of
the body. Johnson.
EMPAS'SION, V. t. To move with pas-
sion ; to affect strongly. [See Impassion.]
Milton.
EMPEACH. [See Impeach.]
EMPE'OPLE, V. t. empee'pl. To form into
a people or community. [Little used.]
Spenser.
EM'PERESS. [See Empress.]
EMPER'ISHED, a. [See Perish.] Decayed,
[JSTot in use.] Spenser
EM'PEROR, n. [Fr. empereur ; Sp. em-
perador ; It. imperadore ; L. imperator, from
impero, to command, W. peri, to command
to cause.]
Literally, tlie commander of an army. In
modern times, the sovereign or supreme
monarch of an empire ; a title of dignity
superior to that of king ; as the emperor
of Germany or of Russia.
EM'PERY, 71. Empire. Obs. Shak
EM'PIIASIS, n. [Gr. e/i^aai; ; iv and ^aoij.]
In rhetoric, a particular stress of utterance,
or force of voice, given to the words or
parts of a discourse, whose signification
the speaker intends to impress specially
upon his audience ; or a distinctive utter
ance of words, specially significant, with a
degree and kind of stress suited to convey
their meaning in the best manner.
Encyc. E. Porter.
The province of emphasis is so nmcii more
important than accent, that the customary seal
of the latter is changed, when the claims of cm-
phasis require it. £. Porter.
EMPHAT'I€, I Forcible ; strong ; im-
EMPHAT'I€AL, I "' pressive ; as an em-
phatic voice, tone or pronunciation ; em-
phatical reasoning.
2. Requiring emphasis ; as an emphalical
word.
3. Uttered with emphasis., We remonstrated
in emphatical terms.
4. Striking to the eye ; as emphatic colors.
Boyle
EMPHAT'ICALLY, adv. With emphasis
strongly ; forcibly ; in a striking manner.
2. According to appearance. [JVb< used.]
Brown.
EMPHYSE'MA, > [Gr. fMt>""?A«', fi-oni
EM'PHYSEM, S "■ '."$vffao, to inflate.;
In surgery, a puffy tumor, easily yielding to
pressure, but returning to its former state,
as soon as that pressure is removed. A
swelling of the integuments, from the ad
of air into the cellular membrane.
Wiseman. Coxe.
EMPlIYSEM'ATOUS,a. Pertaining to em-
physema ; swelled, bloated, but yielding
EMPhVtEU'TIC,^. [Gr. i/x, tv, a.mi(tvttv-
oi{, a planting, ^xnivu, to plant.]
Taken on hire ; that for which rent is to be
paid ; as emphyteutic lands. Blackstone.
EMPIERCE,!!. <. empers'. [em, in, and pierce. 1
To pierce into ; to penetrate. [M)t used.]
Spenser.
EMPIGHT, a. [from pig-W, to fix.] Fixed.
Obs. Spenser.
EM'PIRE.n. [Fr. from L.imperium ; Sp. It.
imperio. See Emperor.]
1. Supreme power in governing ; supreme
dominion ; sovereignty ; imperial power.
No nation can rightfully claim the empire
of the ocean.
2. The territory, region or countries under
the jurisdiction and dominion of an empe-
ror. An empire is usually a territory of
greater extent than a kingdom, which
may be and often is a territory of small
extent. Thus we say, the Russian em-
pire ; the Austrian empire ; the sovereigns
of which are denominated emperors. The
British dominions are called an empire,
and since the union of Ireland, the parlia-
ment is denominated the imperial parlia-
ment, but the sovereign is called king.
By custom in Europe, the empire means
tlie German empire; and in juridical acts,
it is called the holy Roman empire. Hence
we say, the diet of the empire ; the circles
of the empire ; &c. But the German em-
pire no longer exists ; the states of Germa-
ny now form a confederacy.
3. Supreme control ; governing infiuence
rule ; sway ; as the empire of reason, or
oftrutli.
4. Any region, land or water, over which do-
minion is extended ; as the empire of the
sea. Shak.
EM'PIR1€, n. [Gr. s/irtfiptxos; iv and ttti-
pau, to attempt ; L. empiricus ; Fr. empi-
rique ; Sp. It. empirico. See Peril and
Pirate.]
Literally, one who makes experiments
Hence its appropriate signification is, a
physician who enters on practice with-
out a regular professional education, and
relies on the success of his own experi
ence. Hence the word is used also for a
quack, an ignorant pretender to medical
skill, a charlatan. Encyc.
EMPJR'IC, } Pertaining to experi-
EMPIR'leAL, J ■ nients or experience.
2. Versed in experiments ; as an empiric al-
chimist.
3. Known only by experience ; derived fioni
experiment ; used and applied without
science ; as empiric skill ; empiric reme
dies. Dryden
I liave avoided that empirical morality tlmt
cures one vice by means of another.
Jiambler.
EMPIRICALLY, adv. By experiment ; ac-
cording to experience; without science;
in the manner of quacks. Brown
EMPIRICISM, 71. Dependence of a physi-
cian on his experience in practice, with-
out the aid of a regular medical educa-
tion.
2. The practice of medicine without a med-
ical education. Hence, quackery ; the
pretensions of an ignorant man to medi-
cal skill.
Shudder to destroy life, either by the naked
knife, or by the surer and safer medium of e»»-
piricinm. Dwight.
EMPL'ASTER, 7i. [Gr. ffiroorpoi., a pfa<<er.]
[See Plaster, which is now used.]
EM PL- ASTER, v. t. To cover with a plas-
ter. Mortimer.
EMPL-ASTI€,a. [Gr. i^nxasixoi. SeePlas-
ter. Plastic]
Viscous; glutinous; adhesive; fit to be ap-
l)lied as a plaster; as emplastic applica-
tions. Arbuihnot.
EMPLE'AD,«.<. [e77i and ;)/carf.] To charge
with a crime; to accuse. But it is now
written implead, which see.
EMPLOY', v.t. [Fr. employer ; Arm. impli-
gea or impligtin ; Sp. empkar ; Port, em-
pregar ; It. impiegare ; em or e7i and play-
er, plier; W.plygu; L. plico ; Gr.
' ' . See Apply, Display, Dtplt
1. To occupy the time, attention and labor
D. pleegen.
of; to keep busy, or at work ; to use. We
employ our hands in labor; we employ fnir
heads or faculties in study or thought ;
the attention is employed, when the mind
is fixed or occupied upon an object ; we
employ time, when we devote it to an ob-
ject. A portion of time should be daily
employed in reading the scriptures, medita-
tion and prayer ; a great portion of life ia
employed to Cttle profit or to very bad pur-
|>oses.
2. To use as an instrument or means. We
employ pens in writing, and arithmetic in
keeping accounts. We employ medicines
in curing diseases.
3. To use as materials in forming any thing.
We employ timber, stones or bricks, in
building ; we employ wool, Unen and cot-
ton, in making cloth.
4. To engage in one's service ; to use as an
agent or substitute in transacting busi-
ness ; to commission and entrust with the
management of one's affairs. The presi-
dent employed an envoy to negotiate a
treaty. Kings and States employ embas-
sadors at foreign courts.
5. To occupy ; to use ; to apply or devote to
an object; to pass in business; as, to em-
ploy time ; to employ an hour, a day or a
week ; to employ one's life.
To employ one''s self, is to apply or devote
one's time and attention ; to busy one's
self.
EMPLOY', 71. That which engages the
mind, or occupies the time and labor of a
person ; business ; object of study or in-
dustry ; employment.
Present to grasp, and future still to find.
The whole employ of body and of mind.
Pope.
2. Occupation, as art, mystery, trade, pro-
fession.
3. Public office ; agency ; service for an-
other.
EMPLOYABLE, a. That may be employ-
ed ; capable of being used ; fit or proper
for use. Boyle.
EMPLOY'ED, pp. Occupied ; fixed or en-
gaged ; applied in business ; used in
agency.
EMPLOYER, 7!. One who employs; one
E M P
who uses ; one who engages or keeps in
service.
EMPLOYING, ppr. Occupying ;
keeping busy.
EBIPLOY'MENT, n. The act of employing
or using.
2. Occupation ; business ; that wliich en-
gages the head or hands ; as agricultural
employments ; mechanical employments.
Men, whose employment is to make sport
and amusement for others, are always
despised.
3. Office ; pubhc business or trust ; agency
or service for another or for the public
The secretary of tlie treasury has a labo
rious and responsible employment. He is
in the employment of eovernnient.
EMPLUN(5E. [See Plunge.^
EMPOIS'ON, V. t. s as z. [Fr. empoison-
ver. See Poison.]
1. To poison ; to administer poison to ; tc
destroy or endanger life by givhig or caus-
ing to be taken into the stomach any nox-
ious drug or preparation. [In this sense,
poison is generally used ; but empoison may
be used, especially in poetry.]
Sidney. Bacon
9. To taint with poison or venom ; to ren
der noxions or deleterious by an admix
ture of poisonous substance. [This may
be used, especially in poetry.]
3. To embitter; to deprive of sweetness
to empoison the joys and pleasures of life.
EMPOIS'ONED, pp. Poisoned ; tainted
with venom ; embittered.
EMPOIS'ONER, n. One who poisons ; one
who administers a deleterious drug ; he or
that which embitters.
EMPOIS'ONING, ;>;//•. Poisoning; embit
tering.
EMPOIS'ONMENT, n. The act of adnrin-
istering poison, or causing it to be taken
the act of destroying life by a deleterious
drug.
EMPO'RIUM, n. [L. from the Or. tfirtopm,
iiom i/XTtofisvofiai., to buy ; ev and rtopjv'o^ai,
to pass or go, Sax./ara)(.]
1. A place of merchandize ; a town or city
of trade ; particularly, a city or town of
extensive commerce, or in which the com-
merce of an extensive country centers, or
to which sellers and buyers resort from
different countries. Such are London,
Amsterdam and Hamburg. New York
will be an emporium.
2. In medicine, the common sensory in the
brain. Coxe.
EMPOV'ERISH. [See Impoverish.]
EMPOWER, V. t. [from en or in and
power.]
1. To give legal or moral power or author
ity to ; to authorize, either by law, com
mission, letter of attorney, natural right,
or by verbal license. The supreme court
is empowered to try and decide all cases,
civil or criminal. The attorney is empow
ered to sign an acquittance and discharge
the debtor.
2. To give physical power or force ; to ena-
ble. [In this sense the use is not frequent,
and perhaps not used at all.]
EMPOWERED, pp. Authorized ; having
legal or moral right.
EMPOWERING, >j9r. Authorizing ; giving
power.
One that empties or ex-
E M P
EM'PRESS, n. [contracted from tmperess.
See Emperor.] The consort or spouse of
an emperor.
2. A female who governs an empire ; a fe-
male invested with imperial power or
sovereignty.
EMPRI'SE, n. s asz. [Norm. ; em, en, and
prise, from prendre, to take.]
An undertaking ; an enterprise.
Spenser. Pope.
[ This word is now rarely or never used,
except in poetry.^ i
EMPTIER, n.
liausts.
EMP'TINESS, n. [from empty.] A state of
being empty ; a state of containing noth-'
ing except air ; destitution ; absence of^
matter; as the entpiincis of a vessel.
2. Void space ; vacuity ; vacuum. Dryden}
3. Want of solidity or substance ; as th
emptiness of light and shade. Dryden.
4. Unsatisfactoriness ; inability to satisfy d
sire ; as the emptiness of earthly things.
5. Vacuity of head ; want of intellect or
knowledge. Pope.\
EMP'TION, n. [L. emptio, from emo, to buy.]
The act of buying ; a purchasing. [JVbt'
much used.] Arhuthnot.
EMP'TY, a. [Sax. mmtig or amli, from
mmlian, to be idle, to be vacant, to evacu-
ate, eemta, -ease, leisure, quiet.]
1. Containing nothing, or nothing but air;
as an empty chest ; empty space ; an empty
purse is a serious evil.
i. Evacuated ; not filled ; as empty shackles.
^ ^ Spenser.
3. Unfurnislied ; as an empty room.
Void ; devoid.
In civility thou seeniest so empty. f
5. Void; destitute of solid matter; as empty
empty
6. Destitute of force or effect
words.
7. Unsubstantial ; unsatisfactorj' ; not able
to fill the mind or the desires." The pleas-
ures of life are empty and unsatisfying.
Pleased with empty praise. Pope.
8. Not supplied ; having nothing to carry.
They beat him, and sent him away empty
Mark xii.
9. Hungry.
My falcon now is sharp and passing empty.
Shak.
10. Unfurnished with intellect or knowl-
edge ; vacant of head ; ignorant ; as an
empty coxcomb.
11. Unf • - ■
fruitful ; producing nothing.
Israel is an empty vine. Hosea x,.
Seven empty ears blasted with the east wind.
Gen. xli.
12. Wanting substance ; wanting solidity ;
as empty dreams.
13. Destitute ; waste ; desolate.
Nineveh is empty. Nah. ii.
14. Without effect.
The sword of Saul returned not empty.
2 Sam. i.
15. Without a cargo ; in ballast ; as, the ship
returned empty.
EMP'TY, V. t. to exhaust ; to make void or
destitute ; to deprive of the contents ; as,
to empty a vessel ; to empty a well or a
cistern.
2. To pour out the contents.
The clouds empty themselves on the earth.
Eccles. xi.
Rivers empty themselves into the ocean.
EMU
3. To waste ; to make desolate. Jer. li.
EMP'TY, V. i. To pour out or discharge its
contents.
The Coimecticut empties into the Sound.
2. To become empty.
EMPTYING, ppr. Pouring out the con-
tents; iiiuking void.
EMPTYINGS, n. The lees of beer, cider,
&c.
EMPUR'PLE, V. t. [from purple.] To tinge
or dye of a purple color ; to discolor with
purple.
The deep empurpled ran. Philips.
EMPUR'PLED, pp. Stained with a purple
color.
EMPUR'PLING, ppr. Tinging or dyeing of
a purple color.
EMPU'SE, n. [Gr. lu^tmaa.] A phantom or
specter. [M'ot used.] Bp. Taylor.
EMPUZ'ZLE. [See Puzzle.]
EMPYR'EAL, a. [Fr. empyrie; Sp. It. em-
pireo ;
from Gr. s jurtupoj ;
[Gr. from
Milton.
and itvf.
and Tti'p, fire.
1. Formed of pure fire or light; refined be-
yond aerial substance ; pertaining to the
highest and purest region of heaven.
Go, soar with Plato to the empyreal sphere.
Pope.
2. Pure ; vital ; dephlogisticated ; an epithet
given to the air, or rather gas, now called
oxygen. Higgins.
EMPYREAN, a. Empyreal. Menside.
EMPYRE'AN, >i. [See Empyreal] The
highest heaven, where the pure element
of fire has been sup
The empyrean rung
With halleluiahs.
E3IPYREU'MA, n
fire.]
In chimistry, a disagreeable smell produced
from bunit oils, in distillations of animal
and vegetable substances.
Nicholson. Encvc.
EMPYREUMAT'IC, > Having the
EMPYREUMAT'I€AL, $ "' taste or smell
of burnt oil, or of burning animal and veg-
etable substances.
EMPYR'ICAL, a. Containing the combus-
tible principle of coal. Kirwan.
EMPYRO'SIS, n. [Gr. t^rtvpou, to burn.] A
general fire ; a conflagration. {Little used.]
Hale.
EMRODS. [See Emerods.]
E'MU, n. A large fowl of S. America, with
wings unfit for flight.
This name properly belongs to the Cas-
sowary, but has been erroneously applied,
by the Brazilians, to the Rhea or S. Amer-
ican ostrich. Cuvier
EM'ULATE, V. t. [L.wmulor; Sp.emular;
It. emulare. Qu. Gr. o^iMio, strife, con-
test.]
1. To strive to equal or excel, in qualities or
actions ; to imitate, with a view to equal
or excel ; to vie with ; to rival. Learn
early to emulate the good and the great.
Emxdate the virtues and shun the vices of
distinguished men.
2. To be equal to.
Thy eye would emulate the diamond. Shak.
3. To imitate; to resemble. [Unusual.]
Convulsion emulating the motion of laugh-
ter. " Arbuthnot.
EM'ULATE, a. Ambitious. [Utile used.]
Shak.
EM'ULATED,;>/7. Rivaled; imitated.
E N
EM'ULATING, jrpr. Rivaling ; attempting
to equal or excel ; imitating ; resembling.
EMULA'TION, n. The act ot attempting to
equal or excel in qualities or actions ; ri-
valry ; desire of superiority, attended >vith
effort to attain to it ; generally in a good
sense, or an attempt to equal or excel oth-
ers in that which is praise-worthy, with-
out the desire of depressing otliers. Rom.
xi. In a bad sense, a striving to equal or
do more than others to obtain carnal fa-
vors or honors. Gal. v.
2. An ardor kindled by the praise-worthy
examples of others, inciting to imitate
them, or to equal or excel them.
A noble emutodon heats your breast. Dryden.
3. Contest ; contention ; strife ; conripetition ;
rivalry accompanied with a desire of de-
pressing another.
Such tactions emulations sliall arise. Shak.
EM'ULATIVE, a. Inclined to emulation ;
rivaling; disposed to competition.
EM'ULATOR, n. One who emulates; a
rival ; a competitor.
EM'ULATRESS, n. A female who emu-
lates another.
EMU'LE, V. t. To emulate. [JVot ttsed.]
EMULfi'ENT, a. [L. emulgeo ; e and mulgeo,
to milk out.]
Milking or draining out. In anatomy, the
emulgent or renal arteries are those which
supply the kidneys with blood, being some-
times single, sometimes double. The emut-
gtnt veins return the blood, after the urine
is secreted. This the ancients considered
as a milking or straining of the serum,
whence the name.
Encyc. Harris. Quincy. Parr.
EMULG'ENT; n. An emulgent vessel.
EM'ULOUS, a. [L. mmuhis.] Desirous or
eager to imitate, equal or excel another ;
desirous of like excellence with another ;
with of; as emtUous of another's example
or virtues.
2. Rivaling ; engaged in competition ; as
emulous Carthage. B.Jonson.
3. Factious; contentious. Shak.
EM'ULOUSLY, adv. With desire of equal-
ing or excelling another. Granville.
EMl'L'SION, 71. [Fr. from L. emutsus, emul-
geo, to milk out.]
A soft liquid remedy of a color and con-
sistence resembling milk; any milk-like
mixture prepared by uniting oil and water,
by means of another substance, saccharine
or mucilaginous. Encyc. lire.
EMUL'SIVE, a. Softening; milk-like.
2. Producing or yielding a milk-like sub-
stance ; as emulsive acids. Fourcroy.
EMUN€'TORY, 7i, [L. emunctonum, from
emuncius, emungo, to wipe, to cleanse.]
In anatomy, any i)art of the body which
serves to carry off excrenientitious matter ;
a secretory gland ; an excretory duct.
Encyc. Coxe.
The kidneys and skin are called the com-
mon emunctories. Cyc.
EMUSCA'TION, n. [L. emuscor.] A freeing
from moss. [JStol muck itscrf.] Evelyn.
EN, a prefix to many English words, chiefly
borrowed from the French. It coincides
with the Latin, in, Gr. (v, and some Eng-
lisli words are written indifferently with
en or in. For the case of pronuBciation,
it is changed to em, particularly before a
labial, as in employ, empower.
Vol. I.
E N A
En was formerly a plural termination of
nouns and of verbs, as in houstn, escapen.
It is retained in oxen and children. It is
also still used as the termination of some
verbs, aa in hearken, from the Saxon infini-
tive.
ENA'BLE, v.t. [Norm, enhabler ; en and
habit, able. See Able.]
1. To make able ; to supply with power,
physical or moral ; to furnish with suS\-
ficient power or ability. By strength a
man is enahled to work. Learning and in
dustry enable men to investigate the laws
of nature. Fortitude enables us to bear
pain without murmuring.
2. To supply with means. Wealth enables
men to be charitable, or to live in luxury,
3. To furnish with legal ability or competen-
cy ; to authorize. The law enables us to
dispose of our property by will.
4. To furnish with competent knowledge
or skill, and in general, with adequate
means.
ENA'BLED, pp. Supplied with suflicient
power, physical, moral or legal.
ENA'BLEMENT, 7i. The act of enabling;
ability. Bacon.
ENA'BLING, ppr. Giving power to ; sup-
plying with suflicient power, ability or
means ; authorizing.
EN.'VeT', I', t. [en and act.] To make, as a
law ; to pass, as a bill into a law; to per-
form the last act of a legislature to a bill,
giving it validity as a law ; to give legis-
lative sanction to a bill.
Shall this bill pass to be enacted?
T. Bigelow.
2. To decree ; to establish as the will of
the supreme power.
3. To act ; to perform ; to effect. [Not
used.] Spejiser.
4. To represent in action. [M>t used.]
Shak.
ENA€T'ED, pp. Passed into a law ; sanc-
tioned as a law, by legislative authority.
ENA€T'ING, ppr. Passing into a law ; giv-
ing legislative sanction to a bill, and estab-
Ushing it as a law.
2. a. Giving legislative forms and sanction ;
as the enacting clause of a bill.
ENA€T'MENT, ?i. The passing of a bill
into a law ; the act of voting, decreeing
and giving validity to a law.
Christian Observer. Walsh.
ENA€T'OR, n. One who enacts or passes
a law ; one who decrees or establishes, as
a law. Merbury.
2. One who performs any thing. [JVot itsed.]
Shak.
ENA€'TURE, n. Purpose. [Not in use.]
Shak.
ENAL'L.^GE, n. enal'lajy. [Gr. traway^,
change ; iva3Aatr>i, to change ; iv and
aMarta.]
A figure, in grammar, by which some change
is made in the common mode of speech, or
when one word is substituted for another;
as exercitus victor, for victoriosus ; scelus,
for scelfstus. Encyc.
ENAM'BUSH, V. t. [en and ambush.] To
hide in ambush.
2. To ambush. Chapman
ENAM'BUSHED, pp. Concealed in am-
bush, or with hostile intention ; am-
bushed.
ENAM'EL, n. [en and Fr. emaU, Sp. es-
72
E N C
malle, It. smalto, G. schmelz, from the
root of melt.]
1. In mineralogy, a substance imperfectly
vitrified, or matter in which the granular
appearance is destroyed, and having a vit-
reous gloss.
In the arts, a substance of the nature of
glass, differing from it by a greater degree
of fusibility or opacity. " Ed. Encyc.
Enamels have for their basis a pure crys-
tal glass or frit, ground with a fine oxyd
of lead and tin. These baked together are
the matter of enamels, and the color is va-
ried by adding other substances. Oxyd of
gold gives a red color ; that of copper, a
green ; manganese, a violet ; cobalt, a blue :
and iron, a fine black.
Encyc. Ntcholson.
2. That which is enameled; a smooth,
glossy surface of various colors, resem-
bling enamel.
3. In anatomy, the smooth hard substance
which covers the crown of a tooth.
Cyc.
ENAM'EL, It. I. To lay enamel on a metal,
as on gold, silver, copper, &c.
2. To paint in enamel. Encyc.
3. To form a glossv surface like enamel.
ENAM'ELAR, a." Consisting of enamel ;
resembling enamel ; smooth ; glossy.
ENAM'ELED, pp. Overiaid with enam-
el ; adorned with any thing resembhng
I enamel.
ENAM'ELER, n. One who enamels ; one
whose occupation is to lay enamels, or in-
lay colors.
ENAMELING, ppr. Laying enamel.
ENAMELING, n. The act or art of laying
enamels.
ENAM'OR, v.t. [from the French a/nour,
L. amor, love.]
To inflame with love ; to charm ; to capti-
vate ; with of before the person or thing ;
as, to be enamored of a lady ; to be enam-
ored of books or science.
[But it is now followed by with.]
ENAMOR.VDO, 7i. One deeplv in love.
Herbert.
ENAMORED, pp. Inflamed with love :
I charmed ; delighted.
ENAM'ORING, ppr. Inflaming with love :
charming ; captivating.
EN^\RMED, a. In heraldry, having arms,
that is, horns, hoofs, &.c. of a different
I color from that of the body.
ENARRA'TION, 7i. [L. enarro, narro, to
relate.]
Recital ; relation ; account ; exposition. [Lit-
tle used.]
[Gr. fWifSpuotf;
ENARTHRO SIS, i
and ofSpoc, a joint.]
In anatomy, that species of articulation which
consists in the insertion of the round end
of a bone in the cup-Uke cavity of another,
forming a movable joint ; tie ball and
socket. Quincy.
ENA'TE, a. [L. enatus.] Growing out.
Smith.
ENAUN'TER, adv. Lest that. Obs.
EN€A'(5E, v. t. [from cage.] To shut up or
confine in a cage ; to coop.
Shak. Donne.
ENCA'gED, pp. Shut up or
cage.
E N C
EN€A'(iING, ppr. Cooping ; confining in ;
ENCAMP', V. i. [from camp.] To pitch
tents or form huts, as an army ; to halt on
a march, spread tents and remain for i
night or for a longer time, as an army oi
company.
They encamped in Etham. Ex. xiii.
The Levites shall encamp about the taberna
cle. Num. i.
2. To pitch tents for tlie purpose of a siege
to besiege.
Encamp against the ci(y and take it. 2 Sam
xii.
ENCAMP', V. t. To form into a camp ; to
place a marching army or company in a
temporary habitation or quarters.
ENCAMP'ED, pp. Settled in tents or huts
for lodging or temporary habitation.
EN€AMP'ING, ppr. Pitching tents or form-
ing huts, for a temporary lodging or rest,
ENeAMP'MENT, n. The act of pitching
tents or forming huts, as an army or travel-
ing company, for temporary lodging
rest.
2. The place vvliere an army or company
encamped; a camp ; a regular order of
tents or huts for the accommodation of a
E N C
chanter, to sing ; L. incanto ; in and canto,
to sing. See Chant and Cant.]
1. To practice sorcery or witchcraft on any
thing ; to give efficacy to any thing by
songs of sorcery, or fascination.
Aiid now about the cauldron sing.
Like elves and fairies in a ring.
Enchanting all that you put in.
2. To subdue by charms or spells.
i. To dehght to the highest de
charm ; to ravish with pleasure
Shak.
Sidney.
as, the
we were
; to canker.
Shelton
ENCA'SE, V. I. To inclose or confine in a
case or cover. Beav.m.
ENeAUS'TIe, a- [Gv. iv and xavj-wo?, cans
tic, from xaiu, to burn.]
Pertaining to the art of enamelmg, and t(
painting in burnt wax. Encaustic paint-
ing, is a method in which wax is employed
to give a gloss to colors. Encyc.
ENCAUS'TIO, n. Enamel or enameling.
2. The method of painting in burnt wax.
Encyc.
ENCA'VE, V. t. [from cave.] To hide in a
cave or recess. Shak.
ENCE'INT, n. [Fr. from enceindre ; en and
ceindre, L. cingo, to gird.]
In fortification, inclosure ; the wall or ram-
part which surrounds a place, sometimes
composed of bastions and curtains,
sometimes only flanked by round or square
towers, which is called a Roman wall.
Encyc.
ENCE'INT, a. Iti law, pregnant ; with
p|,il(). " Blackstone.
ENCHA'FE, V. t. [en and chafe, F
chauffer.]
To chafe or fret ; to provoke ; to enrage ; to
irritate. [See Chafe.] Shak
ENCIIA'FED, pp. Chafed ; irritated ; enra-
ged.
ENCHA'FING, ppr. Chafing ; frettmg ; en-
raging.
ENCHA'IN, V. t. [Fr. enchainer. Sec
Chain.]
1. To fasten with a chain ; to bind or hold
in chains; to hold in bondage.
2. To hold fast ; to restrain ; to confine.
Dry den.
3. To Unk together ; to connect. Howell.
ENCHA'INED,^;). Fastened with a chain;
held in bondage ; held fast ; restrained :
confined.
ENCIIA'INING, ppr. Making fast with a
chain ; binding ; holding in chains
fining.
ENCH'ANT, V. t. [Fr. enchanter; en and
description enchants me
chanted with the music.
ENCPr ANTED, pp. Aflfected by sorcery :
fascinated ; .subdued by charms ; delight-
ed beyond measure.
2. Inhabited or possessed by elves, witches,
or other imaginary mischievous spirits
as an enchanted castle.
ENCH^ANTER, n. One who enchants ; i
sorcerer or magician ; one who has spirits
or demons at his command ; one who
practices enchantment, or pretends to pe
fortn surprising things by the agency of
demons.
2. One who charms or delights.
Enchanter's nightshade, a genus of plants
the Circa^a.
ENCH> ANTING, ppr. Af&cting with sor-
cery, charms or spells.
2. Delighting highly ; ravishing with deligh
charming.
3. a. Charming ; delighting ; ravishing ; ;
an enchanting voice ; an enchanting face.
Simplicity in manners has an enchanting
effect. Karnes.
ENCH'ANTINGLY, adv. With the power
of enchantment; in a manner to delight or
charm ; as, the lady sings enchantingly.
ENCH'ANTMENT, n. The act of produ-
cing certain wonderful effects by the "
cation or aid of demons, or the agency of
certain supposed spirits; the use of magic
arts, spells or charms ; incantation.
The magicians of Egypt did so with theii
chantments. Ex. vii.
2. Irresistible influence; overpowering ii
ence of delight.
The warmth of fancy— which holds the heart
of a reader under the strongest enchantment.
Pope
ENCHANTRESS, 71. A sorceress
man who pretends to effect wonderful
things by the aid of demons ; one
pretends to practice magic. Tatler.
2. A woman whose beauty or excellencies
give irresistible infl
From this enchatitrtss all these ills are come.
Brydt
ENCIPARGE, v. t. To give in charge or
trust. [JVot in use.] Bp. Hall.
ENCHA'SE, D. <. [¥r. tnchasser ; S;
gastar, or encaxar, from caxa, a box, a
chest ; Port, encastoar, encaxar; It. incas-
tonare ; Fr. chassis, a frame ; Eng. a cose.]
1. To infix or inclose in another body so as
to be held fast, but not concealed.
Johnson.
2. Technically, to adorn by embossed work
to enrich or beautify any work in metal,
by some design or figure in low relief, as
a watch case. Encyc.
3. To adorn by being fixed on it.
To drink in bowls which glittering gems en-
chase. Ihjjden
4. To mark by incision. Fairfax.
5. To delineate. Spenser.
E N C
ENCHA'SED, pp. Enclosed as in a frame
or in another body ; adorned with em-
bossed work.
ENCHA'SING, ppr. Inclosing in another
bodv ; adorning with embossed work.
ENCHE'ASON, n. [Old Fr.] Cause ; oc-
casion. Obs. Spenser.
ENCHIRIDION, n. [Gr. iv and ZHp, the
hand.]
A manual ; a book to be carried in the hand.
[Mot used.]
ENCIN'DERED, a. Burnt to cinders.
Cockeram,
ENCIR'€LE, v.t. ensur'cl. [from circle.]
1. To inclose or surround with a circle or
ring, or with any thing in a circular form.
Luminous rings encircle Saturn.
2. To encompass ; to surround ; to environ.
To embrace ; as, to encircle one in the
arms.
ENCIR'CLED, pp. Surrounded with a cir-
cle ; encompassed ; environed ; embraced.
ENCIR'CLET, n. A circle ; a ring.
Sidney.
ENCIR'CLING, ppr. Surrounding with a
circle or ring; encompassing; embra-
EN€L1T'IC, a. [Gr. tyxutixof, inclined j
eyxjiti'u, to incline.]
Leaning; inclining, or inclined. Ingrom-
mar, an enclitic particle or word, is one
which is so closely united to another as to
seem to be a part of it ; as que, ne, and ve,
in virumque, nonne, aliusve.
2. Throwing back the accent upon the fore-
going syllable. Harris.
EN€LIT'IC, n. A word which is joined to
the end of another, as que, in virumque,
which may vary the accent.
2. A particle or word that throws the accent
or emphasis back upon the former sylla-.^
ble. Harris.
EN € LIT' I C ALLY, adv. In an enclitic
manner ; by throwing the accent back.
Walker.
EN€LIT'ICS, a. In grammar, the art of
declining and conjugating words.
ENCLOSE. [See Inclose.] "
ENCLOUD'ED, a. [tvom cloud.] Covered
with clouds. Spenser.
EN€OACH,v.<. To carry in a coach. Davies.
ENCOF'FIN, V. t. To put in a coflin.
ENCOF'FINED, pp. Inclosed in a coflin.
Spenser.
ENCOM'BER. [See Encumber.]
ENeOM'BERMENT, n. Molestation. [yVo?
used.] Spe7iser.
ENeO'MIAST, n. [Gr. lyxufna;,,!.] One
ho praises another ; a panegyrist ; one
ho utters or writes commendations.
ENCOMIAS'TIC, I Bestowing praise;
ENCOMIAS'TICAL, ^ "' praising ; com-
mending ; laudatory ; as an encomiash'e ad-
dress or discourse.
ENeOMIAS'Tle, Ji. A panegyric.
ENCO'MIUM, n. plu. encomittms. [L. from
Gr. lyxufuon,]
Praise ; panegyric ; commendation. Men
are quite as willing to receive as to bestow
ENCOM'PASS, V. t. [from compass.] To
encircle ; to surround ; as, a ring encom-
passes the finger.
2. To environ ; to inclose ; to surround ; to
shut in. A besieging army encompassed
the city of Jerusalem.
E N C
E N C
E N C
3. To go or sail round ; us, Drake eyicom-
passed the globe.
ENCOM'PASSED,;)jB. Encircled ;8urround-
ed; inclosed ; shut in.
EN€OM'PASSING, ppr. Encircling ; sur-
rounding ; confining.
EN€OM'PASSMENT, n. A surrounding.
A going round ; circumlocution in speak-
ing. Shak.
EN€0'RE, a French word, pronounced
nearly ongkore, and signifying, again, once
more ; used by the auditors and spectators
of plays and other sports, wlien they call
for a repetition of a particular part.
ENCO'RE, V. t. To call for a repetition of a
particular part of an entertainment.
ENeOUNT'ER, n. [Fr. encontre, en and
contre, L. contra, against, or rather ren-
contre ; Sp. encuentro ; Port, enconiro ; It.
incontro.]
. A meeting, particularly a sudden or acci-
dental meeting of two or more persons.
To shun th' encounter of the vulgar crowd.
Pope.
2. A meeting in contest ; a single combat,
on a sudden meeting of parties; some
times less properly, a duel.
3. A fight ; a conflict ; a skirmish ; a battle
but more generally, a fight between a
small number of men, or an accidentaF
meeting and fighting of detachments, rath-
er than a set battle or general engage-
ment.
4. Eager and warm conversation, eitlier in
love or anger. Shak.
5. A sudden or unexpected address or
costing. Shak.
G. Occasion; casual incident. [Unusual.]
Pope
ENeOUNT'ER, v. t. [Sp. Port, eiicontrar ,
It. incontrare ; Fr. rencontrer.]
1. To tneet face to face ; particularly, to
meet suddenly or unexpectedly.
[This sense is now uncommon, but still
in use.]
2. To meet in opposition, or in a hostile man
ner ; to rush against in conflict ; to engage
with in battle ; as, two armies encounter
each other.
3. To meet and strive to remove or sui
mount ; as, to encounter obstacles, imped
meuts or difiiculties.
4. To meet and oppose ; to resist ; to attack
and attempt to confute ; as, to encounter
the arguments of opponents. Acts xvii
18.
5. To meet as an obstacle. Which ever
way the infidel turns, he encounters clear
evidence of the divine origin of the scrip-
tures.
6. To oppose ; to oppugn. Hale.
7. To meet in mutual kindness. [Littl(
used.] Shak
ENeOUNT'ER, I), t. To meet face to face
to meet unexpectedly. [Little used.]
2. To rush together in combat ; to fight ; to
conflict. Three armies encountered at Wa-
terloo.
When applied to one party, it is some-
times followed by with ; as, the chi-istian
army encountered with the Saracens.
3. To meet in >
;p.p?
•debate.
ENeOUNT'ERED, pp. Met face to face ;
met in opposition or hostility ; opposed.
ENeOUNT'ERER, n. One who encount-
ers ; an opponent ; an antagonist. Atterbury.
ENCOUNT'ERING,/);)r. Meeting ; meeting
in opposition, or in battle ; opposing ; re-
sisting.
ENCOUR'AtiE, v.t. enkur'rage. [Fr. en-
courager ; en and courage, from caur, the
heart ; It. incoraggiare.]
To give courage to ; to give or increase con-
fidence of success ; to inspire with cour-
age, spirit, or strength of mind ; to em-
bolden ; to animate ; to incite ; to inspirit.
But charge Joshua, and enco^trage him.
Deut. iii.
EN€OUR'A6ED,p;>. Emboldened; inspir-
ited ; animated ; incited.
ENCOUR'AgEMENT, n. The act of giving
courage, or confidence of success ; incite-
ment to action or to practice ; incentive
We ought never to neglect the encourage-
ment of youth in generous deeds. The
praise of good men serves as an encour-
agement to virtue and heroism.
2. That which serves to incite, support
promote or advance, as favor, counte-
nance, rewards, profit. A young man at-
tempted the practice of law, but found lit-
tle encouragement. The fine arts find little
encouragement among a rude people.
ENfOrU A(;1',R, n. One who encourages,
iiicilc s iir suriiiilatcs to action; one who
supplies iiicii.-moiits, either by counsel, re-
WMnl (jr iMiMiis of execution.
The pope is a master of polite learning and a
great eneourager of arts. Addison.
EN€OUR'A6iNG,;>;?r. Inspiring with hope
and confidence ; exciting courage.
3. a. Furnishing ground to hope for success
as an encouraging prospect.
EN€0UR'A6INGLY, adv. In a manner t(
give courage, or hope of success.
ENCRA'DLE, v. t. [en and cradle.] To lay
in a cradle. Spenser.
ENCRIM'SON, v. I. s as z. To cover witi
a crimson color.
ENCRIM'SONED, pp. Covered with i
crimson color.
EN'CRINITE, n. [Gr. xpiror, a lily.] Stone
lily ; a fossil zoophyte, formed of many
joints, all perforated by some starry form.
Edin. Encyc
ENCRISP'ED, a. [from crisp; Sp. encres-
par.] Curled ; formed in curls. Skelton.
ENCROACH, V. i. [Fr. accrocher, to catch.
to grapple, from croc, a hook, W. crog,
Eng. crook.] Primarily, to catch as with
a hook. Hence,
To enter on the rights and possessions ofj
another ; to intrude ; to take possession ofj
what belongs to another, by gradual ad
vances into his limits or jurisdiction, and
usurping a part of his rights or f
tives; with on. The farmer who runs a
fence on his neighbor's land, and incloses
a piece with his own, encroaches on
neighbor's property. Men often encroach,
in this manner, on the highway. The
is said to encroach on the land, when it
wears it away gradually ; and the land
encroaches on the sea, when it is extended
into it by alluvion. It is important to pre
vent one branch of government from en
croaching on the jurisdiction of another.
2. To creep on gradually without right.
Superstition — a creeping and encroaching
evil. Hooker.
i. To pass the proper bounds, and enter on
another's rights.
Exclude th' encroaching cattle from thy
ground. thyden.
ENeROACHER, n. One who enters on
and takes possession of what is not his
own, by gradual steps. Sivijl.
2. One who makes gradual advances be-
yond his rights. Clarissa.
ENCROACIflNG, ppr. Entering on and ta-
king possession of what belongs to anoth-
er.
ENCRO.\CHING, a. Tending or apt to en-
croach.
The encroaching spirit of power. Madison.
ENCROACIIINGLY, adv. By way of en-
croachment. Bailey.
ENCROACHMENT, n. The entering grad-
ually on the rights or possessions of an-
other, and taking posses-sion ; unlawfiil in-
trusion ; advance into the territories or
jurisdiction of another, by silent means,
or without right.
Milton. Atterbury. Addison.
2. That which ia taken by encroaching on
another.
3. In law, if a tenant owes two shillings rent-
service to the lord, and the lord takes
three, it is an encroachment. Cowel.
ENCRUST', V. I. To cover with a crust.
It is written also incrust.
ENCUMBER, I'. I. [Fr. encombrer. See
Incumber.]
1. To load ; to clog ; to impede motion with
a load, burden or any thing inconvenient
to the limbs ; to render motion or opera-
tion difiicult or laborious.
2. To embarrass; to perplex; to obstruct.
3. To load with debts; as, an estate is en-
cumbered with mortgages, or with a wid-
ow's dower.
ENCUM'BERED, pp. Loaded ; impeded
in motion or operation, by a burden or
difficulties; loaded with debts.
ENeUM'BERING,;)pr. Loading ; clogging ;
rendering motion or operation difficult ;
loading with debts.
ENCUM'BRANCE, n. A load ; any thin-
that imnedes motion, or renders it diffi-
cult and laborious ; clog ; impediment.
2. Useless addition or load.
Strip from the branching Alps their piny load,
The huge encumbrance of horrific wood.
Thomson.
Load or burden on an estate ; a legal
claim on an estate, for the discharge of
which the estate is liable.
ENCYCLICAL, a. [Gr. fyxvx>u«of ; tv and
*vx>/)5, a circle.]
Circular ; sent to many persons or places :
intended for many, or for a whole order of
men. [This word is not used. We now
use circular.] Stillingfieet,
ENCYCLOPEDIA, ? [Gr. iv, in, xvxxof,
ENCYCLOPE'DY, ^ "• a circle, and xiuSita,
instruction ; instruction in a circle, or cir-
cle of instruction.]
The circle of sciences ; a general system of
instruction or knowledge. More particu-
larly, a collection of the principal facts,
principles and discoveries, in all branches
of science and tlie arts, digested under
proper titles and arranged in alphabetical
order ; as the French Encyclopedia ; the
Enaidopedia Brittannica.
ENCYCLOPE'DIAN, a. Embracing the
whole circle of learning.
END
ENCYeLOPE'DIST, n. The compiler of
an Encyclopedia, or one who assists in
such compilation.
ENCYST'ED, a. [fronii cyst.] Inclosed in a
bag, bladder or vesicle; aa an encysted tu-
mor. Sharp.
END, n. [Sax. end, ende, or cende ; G. ende ;
D. eind ; Sw. hnde ; Dan. ende ; Goth, an-
dei; Basque, ondoa ; Sans, anda or anta ;
Per. ^\jyi\ andan.]
1. The extreme point of a line, or of any thing
that has more length than breadth ; as the
end of a house ; the endol a table ; the end
of a finger; the end of a chain or rope.
When bodies or figures have equal dimen-
sions, or equal length and breadth, the ex-
tremities are called sides.
2. The extremity or last part, iu general ; the
close or conclusion, applied to time.
At the end of two months, she returned
Judges xi.
3. The conclusion or cessation of an action
Of the increase of his government there sliall
be no end. Is. ix.
4. The close or conclusion ; as the end of a
chapter.
5. Ultimate state or condition ; final doom.
Mark the perfect man, and behold the u|
right, for the end of that man is peace. P
xxxvii.
6. The point beyond which no progression
can be made.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunk-
en man, and are at their wit's end. Ps. cvii.
7. Final determination ; conclusion of de-
bate or deliberation.
My guilt be on my head and there's an end !
Shak.
8. Close of Ufe ; death ; decease.
Unblanied through life, lamented in thy end.
Pope.
9. Cessation; period; close of a particular
state of things; as the eiid of the world.
10. Limit ; termination.
There is no mrf of the store. Nahum ii.
11. Destruction. Amos viii.
The en<J of all flesh is come. Gen. vi.
12. Cause of death ; a destroyer.
And award
Either of you to be the other's end. Shak
13. Consequence ; issue ; result ; conclusivi
event ; conclusion.
The end of these things is death. Rom. vi
14. A fragment or broken piece.
Old odd ends. Shah.
15. The ultimate point or thing at which one
aims or directs his views ; the object in-
tended to be reached or accomplished by
any action or scheme ; purpose intended ;
scope ; aim ; drift ; as private ends ; pub-
lic ends.
Two things 1 shall propound to you, as ends.
Suckling
The end of the commandments is charity. ]
Tim. i.
A right to the end, implies a right to tlie
means necessary for attaining it. Lai
IC. Jin end, for on end, upright ; erect ; as,
his hair stands an end.
17. The ends of the earth, in scripture, are
the remotest parts of the earth, or the in-
habitants of those parts.
END, V. t. To finish ; to close ; to conclude
to terminate ; as, to end a controversy ; t(
end a war.
END
On the seventh day God ended his work
Gen. ii.
2. To destroy ; to put to death.
King Harry, thy sword hath ended him.
END, V. i. To come to the ultimate point
to be finished ; as, a voyage ends by the
return of a ship.
To terminate ; to close ; to conclude
The discourse ends with impressive words.
To cease ; to come to a close. Winter
ends in March, and summer in September.
A good life ends in peace.
END-ALL, n. Final close. [Ml used.]
Shak
ENDAM'AGE, v. t. [from damage.] To
bring loss or damage to ; to harm ; to in-
jure ; to mischief; to prejudice.
The trial hath endamaged thee np way.
Milton
So thou Shalt endamage the revenue of the
kiags. Ezra iv.
ENDAMAGED, pp. Harmed ; injured
ENDAMAGEMENT, n. Damage; losss
injurv.
ENDAM'AGING, ppr. Harming ; injuring
ENDANGER, v. t. [from danger.] To put
in hazard ; to bring into danger or peril ;
to expose to loss or injury. We dread
any tiling that endangers our life, our
peace or our happiness.
2. To incur the hazard of [Unusual.]
Bacon
ENDANGERED, pp. Exposed to loss or in-
jury.
ENDANGERING, ppr. Putting in hazard ;
exposing to loss or injury.
ENDANGERING, n. Injury ; damage.
Milton.
END.\N6ERMENT, n. Hazard ; danger.
Spenser.
ENDE'AR, V. t. [from dear.] To make dear ;
to make more beloved. The distress of a
friend endears him to us, by exciting our
sympathy.
.. To raise the price. [JVot in use.]
ENDE'ARED, pp. Rendered dear, beloved,
or more beloved.
ENDE'ARING, ppr. Making dear or more
beloved.
ENDE'ARMENT, »i. The cause of love
that which excites or increases affection
j)articularly that which excites tendernes;
of affection.
Her first endearments twining round the soul
Thomson
3. The state of being beloved ; tender aflfec
ion. South
ENDEAVOR, n. endev'or. [Norm, devoyer,
endeavor ; endevera, he ought ; endeyveni.
they ought. It seems to be from Fr.
[endevoir] devoir, to owe or be indebted,
and hence it primarily signifies duty, from
the sense of bindmg, pressure, urgency.
Hence our popular phrase, I will do my
endeavor. In Ir. dibhirce is endeavor.]
AneflTort; an essay ; an attempt; an exer
tion of physical strength, or the intellec
tual powers, towards the attainment of an
object.
The bold and sufficient pursue their game
with more passion, endeavor and appUcation,
and therefore often succeed. Temph
Imitation is the endeavor of a later poet t
write like one who has written before him o
the same subject. Drydei
END
Labor is a continued endeator, or a sueces-
)n of endeavors. Anon.
ENDEAVOR, v.i. endev'or. To exert phys-
ical strength or intellectual power, for the
accomplishment of au object ; to try ; to
essay ; to attempt. In a race, each man
endeavors to outstrip his antagonist. A
poet may endeavor to rival Homer, but
without success. It is followed by after
before a noun ; as, the christian endeavors
after more strict conformity to the exam-
ple of Christ.
2. V. i. To attempt to gain ; to try to effect.
It is our duty to endeavor the recovery of
these beneficial subjects. Chatham.
ENDEAVORED, pp. Essayed; attempted.
ENDEAVORER, n. One who makes an
effort or attempt.
ENDEAVORING, ppr. Making an effort
or efforts; striving; essaying; attempt-
ing.
ENDECAGON, n. [Gr. fi^, «exo and ywio.]
A plain figure of eleven sides and angles.
Bailey. Johnson.
ENDEI'€TIC, a. [Gr. trSfixw/i^ to show.]
Showing ; exhibiting. An endeictic dia-
logue, in the Platonic philosophy, is one
which exhibits a specimen of skill.
Enfield.
ENDEM'IC, } [Gr. rr V"? ; '" a"d
ENDEM'I€AL, > a. Sij^toj, people.] Pecul-
ENDE'MIAL, ) iar to a people or na-
tion. An endemic disease, is one to which
the inhabitants of a particular country are
peculiarly subject, and which, for that rea-
son, may be supposed to proceed from lo-
cal causes, as bad air or water. The epi-
thet is also applied to a disease which
prevails in a particular season, chiefly or
whollv in a particular place.
ENDEN'IZE, V. t. [from denizen, or its
root.] To make free; to naturalize; to
admit to the privileges of a denizen.
[Liitle used.] Camden.
ENDEN'IZEN, v. t. [from denizen.] To
naturalize. B. Jonson.
ENDI€T, ENDI€TMENT. [See Indict,
Indictment.]
ENT)'ING, ppr. [from end.] Terminating;
closing ; concluding.
END'ING, n. Termination ; conclusion.
2. In grammar, the terminating syllable or
letter of a word.
ENDITE. [See Indite.]
EN'DIVE, n. [Fr. endive; It. endivia; Sp.
endibia ; L. inlybum ; Ar. ,_,^x^ hin-
dabon.]
A species of plant, of the genus Cichoriuin
or succory ; used as a salad.
END'LESS, a. [See End.] Without end ;
having no end or conclusion ; applied to
length, and to duration ; as an endless line ;
endless progression; en<Wcss duration ; end-
less bliss.
2. Perpetual ; incessant ; continual ; as end-
less praise ; endless clamor.
END'LESSLY, adv. Without end or ter-
mination ; as, to extend a line endlessly.
2. Iiiressantly ; perjietually ; continually.
END'LESSNESS, n. Extension without
end or limit.
2. Perpetuity; endless duration.
END'LONG, adv. In a line; with the end
1 forward. [LUtleused.] Drydtn.
END
ENDOC'TRINE, v. I. To teach ; to indoc-
trinate. [See the latter word.] Donne.
j ENDORSE, ENDORSEMENT. [See In-
I dorse. Indorsement.]
ENDOSS', V. t. [Fr. endosser.] To engrave
or carve. Spenser.
ENDOW', I'. /. [Norm, endouer ; Fr. douer.
Qii. from L. dos, doto, or a different
Celtic root, for in Ir. diobhadh is dower.
The sense is to set or put on.]
1. To furnish with a portion of goods or es-
tate, called dower; to settle a dower on, as
on a married woman or widow.
A wife is by law entitled to be endowed of all
lands and tenements, of which her husband was
seized in fee simple or fee tail during llie cover-
ture. Blackstone.
2. To settle on, as a. permanent provision ;
to furnish with a permanent fund of pro-
perty ; as, to endow a church ; to endoio a
college with a fund to support a professor.
3. To enrich or furnish with any gift, quali-
ty or faculty ; to indue. Man is endowed
by his maker with reason.
ENDOWED, pp. Furnished with a por
tion of estate ; having dower settled on ;
supplied with a permanent fund ; indued.
ENDOW'ING, ppr. Settling a dower on
furnishing with a permanent fund ; indu
ing.
ENDOVV'MENT, n. Tlie act of settling
dower on a woman, or of settling a fund
or permanent provision for the support of
a parson or vicar, or of a professor, &c.
8. That which is bestowed or settled on ;
property, fund or revenue permanently aji
propriated to any object ; as the endow-
ments of a church, of a hospital, or of a
college.
3. That which is given or bestowed on th(
person or mind by the creator; gift of na
lure; any quality or faculty bestowed by
the creator. Natural activity of hmhs is
an endowment of the body ; natural vigor
of intellect is an endowment of the mind.
Chatham and 15urke, in Great Britain, and
Jay, Ellsworth and Hamilton, in Ameri
ca, possessed uncommon endowments of]
mind.
ENDRUDiiE, V. t. endnij'. To make
drudge or slave. [JVol u.ted.] Hall.
ENDU'E, V. t. [Fr. enduire ; L. indito.] To
indue, which see.
ENDU'RABLE, a. That can be borne or
suffered.
ENDU'RANCE, n. [See Endure] Contin-
uance ; a state of lasting or duration ; last-
ingness. Spenser.
2. A bearing or suffering ; a continuing un-
der pain or distress without resistance, or
without sinking or yielding to the pres-
sure ; sufferance ; patience.
Tlieir fortitude was most admirable in their
[presence and endurance of al! evils, of pain, and
of deatli. Temple.
3. Delav ; a waiting for. [.Yot used.] Sliak.
ENDU'RE, v.{. [Fr. endurer ; en and durer,
to last, from dur, L. durus, duro ;
durar. The primary sense of rfunw, hard,
is set, fixed. See Durable.]
1. To List; to continue in the same state
without perishing; to remain ; to abide.
The Lord shall endure forever. Ps. ix.
E N E
2. To bear ; to brook ; to suffer without re-
sistance, or without yielding.
How can I endure to see the evil that shall
come to my people ? Esther viii.
Can thy heart endure, or thy hands be strong .'
Ezek. xxii.
ENDU'RE, V. t. To bear ; to sustain ; to
support without breaking or yielding to
force or pressure. Metals endure a cer-
tain degree of heat without melting.
Both were of shining steel, and wrought so
pure,
As might the strokes of two such arms en-
dure. Dryden.
3. To bear with patience ; to bear withoutj
opposition or sinking under the pressure.
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's
sake. 2 Tim. ii.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with
you as with sons. Heb. xii.
.'J. To undergo ; to sustain.
' wish to die, yet dare not death endure.
Dryden.
4. To continue in. [JSTol used.] Brown.
ENDU'RED, pp. Borne; suffered; sustain-
ed.
ENDU'RER, n. One who bears, suffers or
su.stains.
'2. He or that which continues long.
ENDU'RING, ppr. Lasting; continuing
without perishing ; bearing ; sustaining ;
supporting with patience, or without op-
position or yielding.
2. a. Lasting long ; permanent.
END'WISE, adv. On the end ; erectly ; in
upright position.
2. With the end forward.
EN'ECATE, f./. [L. eneco.] To kill. [JSTot
in use.] Harvey.
E'NEID, n. [h.JEneis.] A heroic poem, writ-
ten by Virgil, in which jEneas is the hero.
EN'EMY, n. \Fr. ennemi; Sp. enemigo ; It.
nemico ; Ir. namha ; from L. inimicus ; in
iieg. and amicus, friend.]
1. A foe; an adversary. A private enemy is
one who hates another and wishes him in
jury, or attempts to do him injury to grat
ify his own malice or ill will. A public
enemy or foe, is one who belongs to a na-
tion or party, at war with another.
I say to you, love your enemies. Matt. v.
Enemies in war ; in peace friends.
Declaration of Independence
3. One who hates or dislikes ; as an enemy
to truth or falsehood.
3. In theology, and by way of eminence, the
nemy is the Devil ; the archfiend.
4. In military affairs, the opposing army or
naval force in war, is called the e
ENERGETIC, I [Gr. ivipyrjuxos, from
ENERtiET'ICAL, (, "■ ivipyr^!,iv(pyiu;i,mu\
tf)yov, work. See Energy.]
1. Operating with force, vigor and effect
forcible ; powerful ; efficacious. We say
the public safety required energetic meas
ures. The vicious inclinations of men can
be restrained only by energetic laws. [£i
ergic is not used.]
2. Moving ; working ; active ; operative. We
must conceive of God as a Being eternally
ENERgET'ICALLY, adv. With force and
; with energv and effect.
EN'ERGIZE, r. i. "[from energy.] To act
with force ; to operate with vigor ; to
in producing an effect.
Harris. Trans, of Pausanias.
E N F
EN'ER(iIZE, V. t. To give strength or force
to ; to give active vigor to.
EN'ERtilZED, pp. Invigorated.
EN'ERgIZER, n. He or that which gives
energy ; he or that which acts in produ-
cing an effect.
ENERGIZING, ppr. Giving energy, force
igor ; acting with force.
EN'ER6V, n. [Gr. iwp^twi ; ip and jpyo,,
ork.]
1. Internal or inherent power ; the power of
operating, whether exerted or not ; as,
men possessing energies sometimes suffer
them to lie inactive. Danger will rouse
the dormant energies of our natures into
action.
2. Power exerted ; vigorous operation ;
force; vigor. God, by his Almighty en-
ergy, called the universe into existence.
The administration of the laws requires
energy in the magistrate.
3. Effectual operation ; efficacy ; strength or
force producing the effect.
Beg the blessed Jesus to give an energy to
your imperfect prayers, by his most powerful
intercession. Smalridge.
4. Strength of expression ; force of utter-
ance ; life; spirit; emphasis. The lan-
guage of Lord Chatham is remarkable for
its energy.
ENERVATE, a. [infra.] Weakened;
weak ; without strength or force.
Johnson. Pope.
ENERVATE, v. t. [L. enervo; e and ner-
vus, nerve.]
1. To deprive of nerve, force or strength ;
to weaken ; to render feeble. Idleness
and voluptuous indulgences enervate the
body. Vices and luxury enervate the
strength of states.
2. To cut the nerves ; as, to enervate a horse.
Encyc.
EN'ERVATED, pp. Weakened ; enfeebled ;
emasculated.
EN'ERVATING,p;)r. Depriving of strength,
force or vigor ; weakening; enfeebhng.
ENERVA'TION, n. The act of weakening,
or reducing strength.
3. The state of being weakened ; effemi-
nacy.
ENERVE, v. t. enerv'. To weaken ; the same
as enervate.
ENFAM'ISH, V. t. To famish. [See Fam-
ish.]
ENFEE'BLE, v. t. [from feeble.] To de-
prive of strength ; to reduce the strength
or force of; to weaken ; to debilitate ; to
enervate. Intemperance enfeebles the body,
and induces premature infirmity. Exces-
sive grief and melancholy enfeeble the mind.
Long wars enfeeble a state.
ENFEEBLED, pp. Weakened ; deprived
of strength or vigor.
ENFEE'BLEMENT, n. The act of weak-
ening ; enervation. Spectator.
ENFEEBLING, ppr. Weakening; debiU-
tating; enervating.
ENFEL'ONED, a. [See Felon.] Fierce;
cruel. Spenser.
ENFEOFF, V. t. enfeff. [Law L. feoffo,
feoffare, from fief, which see.]
1. To give one a feud ; hence, to invest with
a fee ; to give to another any corporeal
hereditament, m fee simple or fee tail, by
livery of seizin. Coictl. Blackstone.
E N F
E N G
E N G
2. To surrender or give up. [JVot used.]
Shak.
ENFEOFF'ED, pp. Invested with the fee
of any corporeal liereditament.
ENFEOFFING, ppr. Giving to one the
fee simple of any corporeal hereditament.
ENFEOFF'MENT, n. The act of giving
the fee simple of an estate.
2. Tlie instrument or deed by which one is
invested with the fee of an estate.
ENFETTER, v. t. To fetter; to bind in
fetters. Shak.
ENFE'VER, V. t. To excite fever in.
Seioard.
ENFIERCE, V. t. enfers'. To make fierce.
[J\rot in use.]
■ENFILADE,
ENFILA'DE, n. [Fr. a row, from en and
Jil, a thread, L. Jilum, Sp. hiio.]
A hne or straight passage ; or the situation
of a place which may be seen or scoured
with shot all the length of a line, or in the
direction of a hne. Johnson. Bailey.
ENFILA'DE, v. t. [from the noun; Sp.
enjilar.]
To pierce, scour or rake with shot, in the
direction of a line, or through the whole
length of a line.
In conducting approaches at a siege, care
should be taken that the trenches be not enfila-
ded. Encye.
In a position to enfilade the works at Fort
Isle. Washington.
ENFILA'DED, pp. Pierced or raked in a
line.
ENFILA'DING, ppr. Piercing or sweeping
in a hne.
ENFI'RE, V. t. To inflame ; to set on fire
{J^ot used.] Spenser
ENFO'RCE, V. t. [Fr. en/ordr; en and
1. To give strength to ; to strengthen ; to in-
vigorate. [See Def. 5.]
2. To make or gain by force ; to force ; as,
to enforce a passage.
3. To put in act by violence ; to drive.
Stones enforced from the old Assyrian slings.
Shak.
4. To instigate ; to urge on ; to animate.
Shak.
5. To urge with energy ; to give force to ; to
impress on the mind ; as, to enforce re-
marks or arguments.
6. To compel ; to constrain ; to force.
Davies.
7. To put in execution ; to cause to take ef-
fect ; as, to enforce the laws.
8. To press with a charge. Shak.
8. To prove ; to evince. [Little used.]
Hooker.
ENFO'RCE, v.i. To attempt by force.
UYot used.]
ENFO'RCE, n. Force ; strength ; power.
[JVot used.] Milton.
ENFO'RCEABLE, a. That may be enfor
ceu.
ENFO'RCED, pp. Strengthened; gained
by force ; driven ; compelled ; urged ; car
ried into effect.
ENFORCEDLY, adv. By violence ; not by
choice. Shak
ENFORCEMENT, n. The act of enfor
cing ; compulsion ; force applied.
Raleigh.
2. That which gives force, energy or eflfect
sanction. The penalties of law are en-
forcements. Locke.
3. Motive of conviction ; urgent evidence.
Hammond.
4. Pressing exigence ; that which urges or
constrains. Shak.
5. In a general sense, any thing which com-
pels or constrains ; any thing which urges
either the body or the mind.
6. A putting in execution ; as the enforce-
ment of law.
ENFO'RCER, J^. One who compels, con-
strains or urges ; one who eflfects by vio-
lence ; one who carries into effect.
ENFO'RCING, ppr. Giving force or
strength ; compelling ; urging ; constrain-
ing ; putting in execution.
ENFORM', V. t. To form ; to fiishion. [See
Form.]
ENFOUL'DERED, a. [Fr. foudroyer.] Mi.x-
ed with lightning, [JVbt in use.] Spenser.
ENFRAN'CHISE, v. t. s as :. [from fran-
chise.] To set free ; to liberate from sla-
very. Bacon.
2. To make free of a city, corporation oi-
state ; to admit to the privileges of a free-
man. The English colonies were enfran-
chised by special charters. Davies. Hale.
3. To free or release from custody. Shak.
4. To naturalize ; to denizen ; to receive as
denizens; as, to enfranchise foreign words.
JVatts.
ENFRAN'CHISED, pp. Set free ; released
2. Admitted to the rights and privileges of
freemen.
ENFRANCHISEMENT, n. Release from
slavery or custody. Shak.
2. The admission of persons to the freedom
of a corporation or state ; investiture with
the privileges of free citizens; the incor
porating of a person into any society or
body politic.
ENFRAN'CHISER, n. One who enfran
ENFRANCHISING, j9;7r. Setting free from
slavery or custody ; admitting to the rights
and privileges of denizens or free citizens
in a state, or to the privileges of a free
man in a corporation. Coivel.
ENFRO'WARD, v. t. To make froward or
perverse. [Aoi used.] Sandys.
ENFRO'ZEN, a. Frozen ; congealed, [^rot
used.] Spenser
ENGA'GE, v. t. [Fr. engager : en and ga-
ger, to lay, to bet, to hire ; Arm. ingagi.
See Gage and Wage.]
1. To make liable for a debt to a creditor
to bind one's self as surety. Shak.
2. To pawn ; to stake as a pledge.
Hudihras
3. To enlist ; to bring into a party ; as, to
engage men for service ; to engage friends
to aid in a cause.
To embark in an affair ; as, be not has(y
to engage yourself in party disputes.
5. To gain ; to win and attach ; to draw to.
Good nature engages every one to its pos-
0. To unite and bind by contract or promise
Nations engage themselves to each othei
by treaty. The young often engage them-
selves to their sorrow.
7. To attract and fix ; as, to engage the at-
tention.
8. To occupy ; to employ assiduously. We
were engaged in conversation. The na-
tion is engaged in war.
9. To attack in contest ; to encounter. The
army engaged the enemy at ten o'clock.
The captain engaged the ship, at point
blank distance.
ENGA'GE, V. i. To encounter; to begin to
fight ; to attack in conflict. The armies
engaged at Marengo, in a general battle.
2. To embark in any business ; to take a
concern in ; to undertake. Be cautious
not to engage in controversy, without in-
dispensable necessity.
3. To promise or pledge one's word ; to bind
one's self; as, a friend has engaged to sup-
ply the necessary funds.
ENGA'GED, pp. or a. Pledged ; promised ;
enhsted ; gained and attached ; attracted
and fixed ; embarked ; earnestly employ-
ed ; zealous.
ENGA'GEDLY, adv. With earnestness:
with attachment.
ENGA'GEDNESS, n. The state of being
seriously and earnestly occupied ; zeah
animation. Flint's Massillon. Panoplist.
ENGA'GEMENT, n. The act of pawning,
pledging or making liable for debt.
2. Obligation by agreement or contract.
3Ien are often more ready to make en-
gagements than to fulfil them.
3. Adherence to a paity or cause ; partiality.
Siinft.
4. Occupation ; employment of the atten-
tion.
Play, by too long or constant engagement,
becomes like an employment or profession.
Bogeis.
6. Employment in fighting ; the conflict of
armies or fleets ; battle ; a general action ;
appropriately the conflict of whole armies
or fleets, hut applied to actions between
small squadrons or single ships, rarely to
a fight between detachments of land for-
ces.
6. Obligation ; motive ; that which engages.
Hammond.
ENGA'gER, n. One that enters into an
engagement or agreement.
ENGA'GING, ppr. Pawning ; making Hable
for debt ; enlisting ; bringing into a jiarty
or cause; promising; binding; winning
and attaching ; encountering ; embarking.
2. a. Winning ; attractive ; tending to draw
the attention or the aflfections ; pleasing ;
as engaging manners or address.
ENGA'6iNGLY, adv. In a manner to win
the affections.
ENGAL'LANT, v. t. To make a gallant of.
i [Not used.] B. Jonson.
iENG.\OL, V. t. enja'le. To imprison. [JVot
1 used.] Shak.
.ENG'ARBOIL, I', t. To disorder. [JVot in
1 tise.]
jENG'ARL.AND, v. t. To encircle with a
garland. Sidney.
lENGAR'RISON, v.t. To furnish with a
garrison ; to defend or protect by a garri-
son. Bp. Hall.
lENGAS'TRIMUTH, n. [Gr. f^, yayw and
j fivSog.] A ventriloquist. [JVot in use.]
EN(>EN'DER, v.t. [Fr. engendrer; Arm.
e7tguehenta ; Sp. engendrar ; from the L.
gener, genero, geno, gigno. See Gener-
I ate.]
E N G
E N G
E N G
2. To beget between the different sexes ; to
form in embryo.
3. To produce ; to cause to exist ; to cause
to bring forth. Meteors are engendered in
the atmosphere; worms are sometimes
engendered in the stomach ; intemperanci
engenders fatal maladies ; angry words en
gender strife.
ENgEN'DER, v. i. To be caused or produ
ced.
Thick clouds are spread, and storms engender
there. Dryde,
ENGEN'DERED, pp. Begotten ; caused ;
produced.
EN6EN'DERER, n. He or that which en
genders.
ENGEN'DERING, ppr. Begetting ; caus-
ing to be ; producing.
ENGILD', V. t. To gihl ; to brighten. Shak.
EN'(5INE, n. [Fr. engin; Sp. ingenio ; Port.
engenho ; Arm. iugin ; from L. ingenium ;
so called from contrivance.]
1. In mechanics, a compound machine, or
artificial instrument, composed of differ-
ent parts, and intended to produce some
effect by the help of the ipechanical pow-
ers; as a pump, a windlas, a capstan, a
fire engine, a steam engine.
2. A military machine ; as a battering ram,
■3. Any instrument ; that by which any ef-
fect is produced. An arrow, a sword, a
musket is an engine of death.
4. A machine for throwing water to extin-
guish fire.
5. Means; any thing used to effect a pur-
pose.
6. An agent for another ; usually in an ill
sense.
EN(iINEE R, n. [Fr. ingenieur.] In the
I), eng, W. ing, strait, narrow, L. ango,
from the sense of pressing, depression,
laying, which gives the sense of level.
The English are the descendants of the
Jngcevones of Tacitus, De Mor. Germ. 2 ;
this name being composed of ing, a plain,
and G. ivohnen, D. woonen, to dwell. Tin-
Ingajvones were inhabitants of the level
country.] Belonging to England, or to
its inhabitants.
ENGLISH, n. The people of England.
2. The language of England or of the Eng-
lish nation, and of their descendants m
India, America and other countries.
ENGLISH, V. t. To translate into the Eng-
lish language. Bacon.
ENGLISHED, pp. Rendered into English.
ENGLISHRY, n. The state or privilege of
being an Englishman. [.Vo/ used.]
Cou'el.
ENGLUT', v.t. [Fr. englmitir; L. glvlio.]
1. To swallow. Shak.
2. To fill ; to glut. Spenser. Aacham.
[This word is little used. See Glul.]
ENGO'RE, V. I. To pierce ; to gore. [See
Gore.] Spenser.
ENGORGE, V. t. engori'. [Fr. engorger,
from gorge, the throat.]
To swadow ; to devour ; to gorge ; proper-
ly, to swallow with greediness," or in large
quantities. Spenser.i
ENGOR6E, r. t. engorj'. To devour ; to
feed with eagerness or voracity. Mtllon.]
ENGORGED, pp. Swallowed with gree-
diness, or in large draughts. i
ENGORGEMENT, n. engorj'ment. Thej
act of swallowing greedily ; a devouring!
with voracity.
ENGORGING, ppr. Swallowing with vo-
racity. I
ENGR' AFT, r. I. To ingraft, v-hich see
of morality be engraved on the mind in
early years.
4. To bury ; to deposit in the grave ; to in-
ter ; to 'inhume. [J\ot now used.]
Spenser.
FNGRAVIJ). ? Cut or marked, as with
L\*iK\ \1A, ^ ""■ a chisel or graver ; im-
|iiiiii i| ; ■!■ i|ilv iifipresi-ed.
K.M.l; A \l .\li;'NT, n. Engraved work;
act of engraving.
ENGRA'VER, n. One who engraves; a
cutter of letters, figures or devices, on
stone, metal or wood; a sculptor; a car-
ver.
ENGRA'VERY, n. The work of an engra-
ver. [LAllle vaed.]
ENGRA'VING, pjtr. Cutting or marking
stones or metals, with a chisel or graver ;
imprinting.
ENGRA'VING, n. The act or art of cutting
stones, metals and other hard substances,
and representing thereon figures, letters,
characters and devices; a branch of sculp-
ture.
ENGRIE'VE, f. I. To grieve ; to pain. [See
Grieve.] Spenser.
ENGRO'SS, ti. t. [from gross, or Fr. ^704-
sir, engrossir, grossoyer ; Sp. engroiar. Seo
Cross.]
1.
Primarily, to make thick or gross ; U)
thicken. [.Vol now used.] Spenser.
2. To make larger ; to increase in bulk.
[JVol used.] fVoUon.
3. Te seize in the gross ; to take tlie whole ;
as, worldly cares engross the attention of
most men, but neither business nor amuse-
ment should engross our whole time.
4. To purcha.se, with a view to sell again,
either the whole or large quantities of
commodities in market, for the purpose
of making a profit by enhancing the price.
Engrossing does not necessarily imply the
purchase of the whole of any commodity,
but such quantities as to raise the price,
I by diminishing the sujiplies in ojien mark-
et, and taking advantage of an increased
demand.
5. To copy in a large hand ; to write a fair,
correct copy, in large or distinct, legible
characters, for preservation or duration ;
... _ . as records of public acts, on jiafier or
Millon ^nin-ained carpew. J parchment,
artillen ; instru- EvJ^gy'Vi't^' ^- /'>«''°? '" ^f f^i"'«- To take or assume in undue quantities or
.W//on. ,;*'■, ^.°7' S'''^pp^-i ^ol, degrees ; as, to engroM fKjwer.
Shenstont.
surround :'
military art, a person skilled in maihemat-l'E^Qp^'jL j.. t.
ic5 and mechanics, who forms plans of]( gresle hail'.l
works for offense or defense, and marks; i,, heraldry, to variegate •
ttlie ground for fortifications. Engineers hail ; to indent or make
[Fr. engriler, from grUe,\
spot as with
,- , . . , ,. . - , , — gped at the ed
are also employed in dehneatmg plans ggg, as if broken with hail; to indent in
grapple ;to^i2e and hold; to close in and.EXGjiO'SSED, fo.Made thick; taken in
hold fast. [See Grapple, which is general-,] the ^j.olc ; purcha«.d in lar^'e quantities
and superintending the construction of ^urve lines. Johnson. Chapman. EncycX
other pubhc works, as aqueducts and ca- ENGRAILED, pp. Variegated ; spotted. |
nals. The latter are called ciru erigineeri. rx-r-D 4, IV- .re ■ ^ rr, , . '
2. One who manages engines or artillery. ' ENGRA IN, r t. [from graxn.] To dve in^
^' = PA,-)-„. 1 grain, or in the raw material ; to dve deep.
FVYIVT-RV „ .„^r.„. Ti.„ =-. /f^f ENGRAINED, mi. Dyed in tlie grain ;
ENGINERY, n.en^CTnry. The act of man- ,„„„,„,^ ,,,^^C ^ ^
aging enguies or artillery.
2. Engines in general
ments of war.
3. Machinatioii.
ENGIRD . r. f. [See CtVc/.j x« cui.«u..u,, .. ^
to encircle : to encompass. Shak.\r'3r-^ki-D , re -. m • '! '*"' ^'^ 5 written in large Cur charactem.
^°-- ; rvr-D . i-r . ' J market as to rai*e the price.
, cause' tNOK.\ Vh., r. t. pret. engraved ; pp. fn- -2. One who copies a writing in large, fair
erared or en^aren.JFr. graver; f-i,.gra- eharacters. - 6.
Urr It. graffiare: VT. cravu O. STa4*n ; excROSSLNG, »«■. taking the whole;
^^ ,. _ „ D.|T<«ir^;Gr vfc^-. see6rar«.] Lit- hmying cornmodi^L in sucfTrinantitie. ai^
ENGLOO), n. [See £n^i»A-] j erally, to scratch or scrape. Hence, || to raise the price in rnarket-
ENGLISH, a. ing'giith. [Sa.T. fn^Itfc, from: 1- To cut, as metals, stones or other hard '2. Writing correct copies in large, &ir cbar-
Engits. AngUs. a tribe of Gennaiis who. subetancea, with a chisel or graver; to cuti acters.
. settled in Britain, and gave it the name of i fignres, letters or devices, on stone or •EXGEO'SSMENT, n. Tlie act of engro«-
Engiand. The name seems to be derived metal ; to mark by incisions. ij ing ; the act of taking the whole,
from eng, ine. a meadow or plain, a level- Thoo fbaJt »««« the two Mooes with thcig. The appropriation of things in the grom,
country: Sai. xng ; Ue. tinge: Dan.' Mine,- of the eh2dr«i of IsaeL Ex. 28. ^ or in exorbitant quantities :'exr/rbitant^
tng; Goth, leinga ; all which seem to be 2. To fActtae or represent by incisioDg. ^> quisition. Surlfl
the same word a= the Sax. wong. wmg, a a To imprint ; to impress deeper ; to infix. ENGU ARD, r. L [See Cvard.] To guard ;
plain, and to coincide wiUi the G. enge,. Let the laws of God aiid the i«iociples. to de&nd. .Shak
ENGLAD ,
To make glad ;
a. Furred ; clami
[AW.i
E N J
E N K
E N L
ENGULF', V. t. To throw or to absc
gulf.
ENGULF'ED, /);). Absorbed in a whirlpool,
or in a deep abyss or gull".
ENGULF'MENT, n. An absorption in a
gulf, or deep cavern, or vortex.
ENH^ANCE, V. t. enh^ans. [Norm, en-
hauncer, from hauncer, to raise. Qu
Norm, tnhauce, hauz, haulz, high.]
1. To raise ; to lift ; applied to material things
by Spenser, but this application is entirely
obsolete.
2. To raise ; to advance ; to highthen ; ap
plied to price or value. War enhances the
price of provisions ; it enhances rents, and
the value of lands.
3. To raise ; applied to qualities, quantity,
pleasures, enjoyments, &c. Pleasure is en-
hanced by the difficulty of obtaining it,
4. To increase ; to aggravate. The guilt of
a crime may be enhanced by circumstan-
ces.
ENH'ANCE, v.i. enh'ans. To be raised
swell ; to grow larger. A debt enhances
rapidly by compound interest.
ENH'ANCED, pp. Raised ; advanced ;
highthened ; increased.
ENirANCEMENT, n. Rise ; increase ; aug-
mentation ; as the enhancement of value,
price, enjoyment, pleasure, beauty.
2. Increase ; aggravation ; as the enhance-
ment of evil, grief, punishment, guilt oi
ENH'ANCER, n. One who enhances ; he
or that which raises price, &c.
ENirANCING, ppr. Raising; increasing;
augmenting ; aggravating.
ENH> ARBOR, v.i. To dwell in or inhabit.
Browne
ENH'ARDEN, v. t. To harden ; to encour-
age. Howell,
ENHARMON'le, a. [from harmonic, har-
mony.]
In music, an epithet applied to such species
of composition, as proceed on very small
intervals, or smaller intervals than the di-
atonic and chromatic. An enharmonic in-
terval is the eighth of a tone. Encyc.
ENIG'MA,?!. [L.miigma; Gr. aiioyfia, from
amiiaaofiai-, to hint.]
A dark saying, in which some known thing
is concealed under obscure language ; ar
obscure question ; a riddle. A question
saying or painting, containing a hidden
meaning, which is proposed to be guessed.
Johnson. Encyc.
ENIGMAT'IC, I „ Relating to or con-
ENIGMAT'I€AL, S taining a riddle ;
obscure ; darkly expressed ; ambiguous.
2. Obscurely conceived or apprehended.
ENIGMAT'ICALLY, adv. In an obscure
manner; in a sense different from that
which the words in common acceptation
imply.
ENIG'MATIST, n. A maker or dealer ir
enigmas and riddles. Addison
ENIG'MATIZE, v. i. To utter or form cnig-
mas ; to deal in riddles.
ENIGMATOG'RAPHY, ? , TGr. a»ty^a
ENlGMAT0L'06y, S andypotw,
>.oyos.]
The art of making riddles ; or the art of
solving them.
ENJOIN', V. t. [Vr.enjoindre; en andjotn-
dre, to join ; It. ingiugnere ; L. injungo ;
in and jungo. See Join. We observe
that the primary sense of join is to set, ex-
tend or lay to, to throw to or on ; other-
wise the sense of order or command
could not spring from it. To enjoin is to
set or lay to or on.]
1. To order or direct with urgency ; to ad-
monish or instruct with authority ; to
command. Says Johnson, " this word is
more authoritative than direct, and less im-
perious than command." It has the force
of pressing admonition with authority ; as,
a parent enjoins on his children the duty
of^obedienee. But it has also the sense of
command ; as the duties enjoined by God
in the moral law.
2. In law, to forbid judicially ; to issue or di-
rect a legal injunction to stop proceed-
ings.
This is a suit to enjoin the defendants from
disturbinu the plaintifis. Kent.
ENJOIN'ED, pp. Ordered; directed ; ad-
monished with authority ; commanded.
ENJOIN'ER, n. One who enjoins.
ENJOINING, ;)pr. Orderuig; directing.
Brown.
ENJOIN'MENT, n. Direction; command;
authoritative admonition.
ENJOY', r. <. [Yr.jouir; Arm. jouifza; It.
gioire. See Joy.]
1. To feel or perceive with pleasure ; to
take pleasure or satisfaction in the posses-
sion or experience of. AVe enjoy the dain-
ties of a feast, the conversation of friends,
and our own meditations.
enjoy
pangi
of death.
And smile in a^ony. .Addison.
To possess with satisfaction ; to take
pleasure or delight in the possession of.
Thou shall beget sons, but thou shalt not en-
joy them. Deut. xxviii.
3. To have, possess and use with satisfac-
tion ; to have, hold or occupy, as a good
or profitable thing, or as something desir-
able. We enjoy a free constitution and in-
estimable privileges.
That the children of Israel may enjoy every
man the inheritance of his fathers. Num.
XXX vi.
The land shall cti/oi/ her sabbaths. Lev. xxvi.
To enjoy one's self, is to fee! pleasure or sat-
isfaction in one's own mind, or to relish
the pleasures in which one partakes ; to
be happy.
ENJOY', V. i. To live in happiness. [Unus-
ual.] Milton.
ENJOY'ABLE, a. Capable of being enjoy-
ed. Pope.
ENJOY'ED,^/). Perceived with pleasure or
satisfaction ; possessed or used with pleas-
ure ; occu|>ied with content.
ENJOY'ER, n. One who enjoys.
ENJOY'ING, ppr. Feeling with pleasure;
possessing with satisfaction.
ENJOY'MENT, n. Pleasure ; satisfaction ;
agreeable sensations ; fruition.
2. Possession with satisfaction ; occupancy
of any thing good or desirable ; as the en-
joyment of an estate; the e»i/o)/me»it of civil
and religious privileges.
ENKIN'DLE, v. t. [from kindle.] To kin-
dle ; to set on fire ; to infJame ; as, to en-
kindle sparks into a flame. In this literal
sense, kindle is generally used.
2. To excite ; to rouse into action ; to in-
flame ; as, to enkindle the passions into a
flame ; to enkindle zeal ; to enkindle war
or discord, or the flames of war.
ENKIN'DLED, pp. Set on fire ; inflamed :
roused into action ; excited.
ENKIN'DLING, ppr. Setting on fire ; iu-
flauiing ; rousing ; excituig.
ENL>ARD, V. t. To cover with lard or
grease ; to baste. Shak.
ENL>ARgE, v. t. enlarj. [from large.] To
make greater in quantity or dimensions ;
to extend in limits, breadth or size ; to ex-
pand in bulk. Every man desires to en-
large his possessions ; the prince, his do-
minions ; and the landholder, his farm.
The body is enlarged by nutrition, and a
good man rejoices to enlarge the sphere of
his benevolence.
God shall enlarge Japhet. Gen. ix.
2. To dilate ; to expand ; as with joy or love.
O ye, Corinthians, our mouth is open to you,
our heart is enlarged. St. Paul.
3. To expand ; to make more comprehen-
ve. Science enlarges the mind.
4. To increase in appearance ; to magnify to
the eye ; as by a glass.
5. To set at liberty ; to release from confine-
ment or pressure. Shak.
6. To extend in a discourse ; to diffuse in el-
oquence.
They enlarged themselves on this subject.
Clarendon.
In this application, the word is general-
ly intransitive.
7. To augment; to increase ; to make large
or larger, in a general sense ; a word of gen-
eral application.
To enlarge the heart, may signify to open and
expand in good will ; to make fi'ee, liberal
and charitable.
ENL'AR6E, v. i. enlarj. To grow large or
larger ; to extend ; to dilate ; to expand.
A plant enlarges by growth ; an estate en-
larges by good management ; a volimie of
air enlarges by rarefaction.
2. To be diflFtise in speaking or writing ; to
expatiate. I might enlarge on this topic.
3. To exaggerate. Swifl.
ENL'ARgED, pp. Increased in bulk ; ex-
tended in dimensions ; expanded ; dilated ;
augmented; released from confinement or
straits.
ENL'ARgEDLY, adv. With enlargement.
Mountagu.
ENLARGEMENT, n. Increase of size or
bulk, real or apparent ; extension of
dimensions or limits ; augmentation ;
dilatation ; expansion. The enlargement
of bulk may be by accretion or addition;
of dimensions, by spreading, or by addi-
tions to length and breadth ; of a sum or
amount, by addition, collection or accu-
mulatiori.
2. Expansion or extension, applied to the
mind, to knowledge, or to the intellectual
powers, by which the mind comprehends
a wider range of ideas or thought.
3. Expansion of the heart, by which it be-
comes more benevolent and charitable.
4. Release from confinement, servitude, dis-
tress or straits. Esther iv. Shak.
5. Diffusiveness of speech or writing ; an
expatiating on a particular subject; a wide
range of discourse or argument.
Clarendon.
ENL'ARGER, n. He or that which enlarg-
es, increases, extends or expands ; an am-
plifier. Brown.
ENL\\RGlNG,;);>r. Increasing in bulk ; ex-
E N M
tending in dimensions ; expanding ; mak
ing free or liberal ; speaking diffusively.
ENLARGING, n. Enlargement.
ENLl'GHT, v.t. enli'te. To illuminate ; to
enlighten. Pop^
[See Enlighten. Enlisht is rarely used.]
ENLI'GHTEN, v. I. erdi'tn. [from lighl ,
Sax. enlihian, onlihian.']
1. To make light ; to shed light on ; to sup-
ply with light ; to illuminate ; as, the sun
enlightens the earth.
His lighmings enlightened the world. Ps
xcvii.
2. To quicken in the faculty of vision ; to en-
able to see more clearly.
Jonathan's — eyes were enlightened. I Sam
xiv.
3. To give light to; to give clearer views
to illuminate ; to instruct ; to enable to see
or comprehend truth ; as, to enlighten the
mind or understanding.
4. To illuminate with divine knowledge, or
a knowledge of the truth.
Those who were once enlightened. Heb. vi
ENLI'GHTEN ED, pp. Rendered light ; il
laminated ; instructed ; informed ; fur
nished with clear views.
ENLI'GHTENER, n. One who illumin
ates ; he or that which communicates
light to the eye, or clear views to the
mind. Milton
ENLI'GHTENING, ppr. Illuminating ; giv-
ing light to ; instructnig.
ENLINK', V. t. [from link.[ To chain to ; tc
connect. Shak
ENLIST', V. t. [See List.] To enroll ; to re-
gister ; to enter a name on a list.
2. To engage in public service, by entering
the name in a register ; as, an officer en-
lists men.
ENLIST', V. i. To engage in public service
by subscribing articles, or enrolling one's
name.
ENLIST'MENT, n. The act of enlisting
the writing by which a soldier is bound.
ENLI'VEN, V. t. enli'vn. [from life, live.
Literally, to give life. Hence,
1. To give action or motion to ; to make vig
orous or active ; to excite ; as, fresh fuel
enlivens a fire.
2. To give spirit or vivacity to ; to animate
to make sprightly. Social mirth and good
humor enliven company ; they enli:
dull and gloomy.
3. To make cheerful, gay or joyous.
ENLI'VENED, pp. Made more active ; ex
cited; animated ; made cheerful or gay.
ENLI'VENER, n. He or that which enli
vens or animates ; he or that which in
vigorates.
ENLI'VENING, ppr. Giving life, spirit or
animation; inspiriting; invigorating; ma-
king vivacious, sprightly or cheerful.
ENLU'MINE, V. t. To illumine ; to enlight-
en. [See the latter words.]
ENMAR'BLE, v. I. To make hard as mar-
ble ; to harden. Spenser
ENMESH', V. t. [from mesh.] To net ; to en-
tangle ; to entrap. Shak
EN'MITY, n. [Fr. inimiti^ ; in and amitie,
friendship, amity. See Enemy.]
1. The quality of being an enemy ; the op-
posite of friendship; ill will ; hatred ; un
friendly dispositions ; malevolence. It ex-
presses more than aversion and less than
malice, and differs from displeasure in de
Vol. I.
E N O
noting a fixed or rooted hatred, wbercasi
displeasure is more transient.
1 will put enmity between tliee and the wo-
man. Gen. iii.
The carnal mind is enmity against God.
Rom. viii.
A state of opposition.
The friendship of the world is e7imily witli
God. Jaines iv.
ENNEAeONTAHE'DRAL, a. [Gr. fuvttr,-
xo>.Ta and fSpa.] Having ninety faces.
Cleaveland.
EN'NEAGON, Ji. [Gr. iwia, nine, and ywna,
angle,]
In geometry, a polygon or figure with nine
sides or nine angles.
ENNEAN'DER, n. [Gr. f^»a, nine, and a«jp,
a male.] In botany, a plant having nine
stamens.
ENNEAN'DRIAN, a. Having nine sta-
ENNEAPET'ALOUS, a. [Gr. iwia, nine,
and rttta'Kov, a leaf] Having nine petals
or flower-leaves.
ENNEAT'I€AL, a. [Gr. fwia, nine.] En
neatical days, are every ninth day of a dis
ease. Enneatical years, are every ninth
year of a man's life. Johnson.
ENNEW, v. t. To make new. [JVot in use.]
Skelton.
ENNO'BLE, v. t. [Fr. ennohlir. See M)ble:
1. To make noble ; to raise to nobility ; as,
ennoble a commoner.
3. To dignify; to exalt; to aggrandize; to
elevate in degree, qualities or excellence.
What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or cowards i
3. To make famous or illustrious. Bacon.
ENNO'BLED, pp. Raised to the rank of
bility; dignified; exalted in rank, excel-
lence or value.
ENNOBLEMENT, n. Tlie act of advanc
ing to nobility. Bacon.
2. Exaltation ; elevation in degree or excel
lence. Glanville
ENNO'BLING, ppr. Advancing to the rank
of a nobleman; exalting; dignifying.
ENNUI, n. [Fr. weariness ; It. not«, whence
noiare, annoiare, to tire,to vex, Fr. ennuyer
Class Ng.] Weariness; heaviness; las
situde of fastidiousness.
ENODA'TION, n. [L. enodatio, from enodo.
to clear from knots ; c and nodus, a knot.]
1. The act or operation of clearing of knots,
or of untying.
2. Solution of a difficulty. [Little used.]
ENO'DE, a. [L. enodis; e and nodus, knot.]
In botany, destitute of knots or joints :
knotlcss.
ENOM'OTAR€H, n. The commander of an
enomotv. Mitford.
ENOM'OTY, n. [Gr. tvunotia ; iv and ofim-
fu, to swear.]
In Lacedssmon, anciently, a body of soldiers,
supposed to be thirty two ; but the precise
number is uncertain. Mitford.
ENORM', a. [JVot used. See Enoiinous.]
ENOR'MITY, n. [L. enormitas. See Enor-
mous.]
1. Literally, the transgression of a rule, or
deviation from right. Hence, any wrong,
irregular, vicious or sinful act, either in
government or morals.
We shall speak of the enormities of the gov-
ernment. Spenser
This law will not restrain llie enormity.
Hooker
73
E N O
2. Atrocious crime ; flagitious villainy ; u
crime which exceeds tlie common meas-
ure. Sivift.
3. Atrociousness ; excessive degree of crime
or guilt. Punishment should be propor-
tioned to the enormity of the crime.
ENOR'MOUS, a. [L. enormia; e and norma,
a rule.]
1. Going beyond the usual measure or ride.
Enormous in their gait. Milton.
2. Excursive; beyond the limits of a regular
figure.
The enormous part of the light in the circum-
ference of every lucid point. JVewton.
3. Great beyond the common measure ; ex-
cessive ; as enormous crime or guilt.
, Exceeding, in bulk or highth, the common
measure ; as an enormous form ; a man of
enormous size.
5. Irregular; confused; disordered; unusu-
al. Shak.
ENOR'MOUSLY, adv. Excessively ; beyond
measure ; as an opinion enormously absurd.
ENOR'MOUSNESS, n. The state of being
enormous or excessive ; greatness beyond
measure.
ENOUGH', a. envf. [Sax. genog, genoh;
Goth, ganah ; G. genug,gnug ; D. genoeg ;
Sw. nog ; Dan. nok ; Sax. genogan, to mul-
tiply ; G. geniigcn, to satisfy ; D. genoegen,
to satisfy, please, content. The Swedes
and Danes drop the prefix, as the Danes
do in nogger, to jjnaw. This word may
be the Heb.Ch. Syr. Sam. Eth.nu to rest,
to be quiet or satisfied. Class Ng. No. 14.]
That satisfies desire, or gives content ; that
may answer the purpose ; that is ad-
equate to the wants.
.She said, we have straw and provender
enough. Gen. xxiv.
How many hired servants of my father have
bread enough, and to spare. Luke xv.
[Note. This word, in vulgar language, is
sometimes placed before its noun, like most oth-
er adjectives. But in elegant discourse or com-
position, it always follows the noun, to which it
refers ; as, bread enough ; money etumgh.]
ENOUGH', n. enuf. A sufficiency ; a quan-
tity of a thing which satisfies desire, or is
adequate to the wants. We have enough
of this sort of cloth.
And Esau said, I have enough, my brother.
Gen. xxxili.
Israel said, it is enough; Joseph is yet alive.
Gen. xlv.
2. That which is equal to the powers or Jibil-
ities. He had enough to do to take care of
himself
ENOUGH', adv. enuf. Sufficiently ; in a
quantity or degree that satisfies, or is equal
to the desires or wants.
The land, behold, it is large enough for them.
Gen. xxxiv.
Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount.
Deut. i.
3. Fully ; quite ; denoting a slight augment-
ation of the positive degree. He is ready
enough to embrace the offer. It is pleas-
ant enough to consider the different no-
tions of different men respecting the same
thing.
3. Sometimes it denotes diminution, deli-
cately expressing rather less than is desir-
ed : such a quantity or degree as com-
mands acquiescence, ratlier than full
satisfaction. The song or the perform-
ance is well enough.
E N R
4. An exclamation denoting sufficiency.
Enough, enough, I'll hear no more.
ENOUNCE, v.t. mouns'. [Fr. enoncer; L.
ennncio ; e and nuncio, to declare.]
To utter ; to pronounce ; to declare. [Little
used.]
ENOUN'CED, pp. Uttered ; pronounced.
ENOUN'CING, ppr. Uttering ; pronoun-
cing.
ENOW, the old plural of enough, is nearly
obsolete.
En passant. [Fr.] In passing ; by the way.
ENQUICK'EN, i'. t. To quicken; to make
alive. [Not used.']
ENQUIRE, usually written jn^uiVe, which
see and its derivatives.
ENRA'CE, V. t. To implant. [Aoi used.]
Spenser.
ENRA'gE, v. t. [Fr. enrager. See Rage.]
To excite rage in ; to exasperate ; to pro-
voke to fury or madness ; to make furi-
ous.
ENRA'GED, ;);). Made furious ; exaspera-
ted ; provoked to madness.
ENRA'GING, ppr. Exasperating ; provok-
ing to madne.ss.
ENRA'NgE, v. t. To put in order ; to rove
over. [JVot in use.] Spenser.
ENRANK', v. t. To place in ranks or order.
Shak.
ENRAP'TURE, v.t. [from rapture.] To
transport with pleasure; to delight beyond
measure. Enrapt, in a like sense, is little
used, and is hardly legitimate.
ENRAP'TURED, pp. Transported with
pleasure ; highly delighted.
ENRAP'TURING, ppr. Transporting witli
pleasure ; highly dehghting.
ENRAV'ISH, V. t. [from ravish.] To throw
into ecstasy ; to transport with delight ; to
enraptine. Spenser.
ENRAV'ISHED, pp. Transported with de-
light or pleasure ; emaptured.
ENRAV'ISHING, ppr. Throwing into ec-
stasy ; highly delighting.
ENRAV'ISHMENT, n. Ecstasy of delight;
rapture. Glanville.
ENREt'ISTER, I'. /. [Fr. enregislrer.] To
register ; to enroll or record. Spenser.
ENRHEUJI, 1-. i. [Fr. enrhumer.] To have
rheum through cold.
ENRICH', V. t. [Fr. enrichir, from riche,
rich.]
1. To make rich, wealthy or opulent; tc
supply with abundant property. Agricul-
ture, commerce and manufactures enrich
a nation. War and plunder seldom emich,
more generally they impoverish a country.
2. To fertilize ; to supply with the nutriment
of plants and render productive ; as, to en
rich land by manures or irrigation.
3. To store ; to supply with an abundance of
any thing desirable ; as, to enrich the mind
with knowledge, science or useful obser-
vations.
4. To supply with any thing splendid or or
namental ; as, to enrich a painting with
elegant drapery ; to enrich a poem or ora-
tion with striking metajdiors or images ;
to enrich a garden with flowers or shrub-
bery.
ENRICHED, pp. Made rich or wealthy
fertilized ; supplied with that which is de-
sirable, useful or ornamental.
ENRICH'ER, «. One that enriches.
ENS
ENRICII'ING.ppr. Making opulent ; ferti-
lizing ; supplying with what is splendid,
useful or ornamental.
ENRICH'MENT, »i. Augmentation of
wealth ; amplification ; improvement ; the
addition of fertility or ornament.
ENRIDgE, V. /. enrij'. To form into ridges.
Shak.
ENRING', v. t. To encircle ; to bind.
Shak.
ENRI'PEN, v. t. To ripen ; to bring to per-
fection. Donne.
ENRI'VE, v. t. To rive ; to cleave.
Spenser.
ENROBE, i>. (. [from rohe.] To clothe with
rich attire ; to attire ; to invest. Shak.
ENROBED, pp. Attired; invested.
ENRO'BING,j);)r. Investing; attiring.
ENROLL, V. t. [Fr. enroler, from role, rolle, a
roll or register.]
1. To write in a roll or register; to insert a
name or enter in a list or catalogue ; as,
men are enrolled for service.
2. To record ; to insert in records ; to leave
riting. Milton. Shai
3. To wrap ; to involve. [Not now used.]
Spense
ENROLLED, pp. Inserted in a roll or regis-
ter; recorded.
ENROLLER, n. He that enrolls or regi
ters.
ENROLLING, ppr. Inserting in a register ;
recording.
ENROLLMENT, n. A register ; a record ;
a writing in which any thing is recorded.
2. The act of enrolling.
IJNRQOT', V. t. [from root.] To fix by the
root ; to fix fast ; to imi)lant deep. Shak.
ENROOT'ED, pp. Fixed by the root ; plant-
ed or fixed deep.
ENRQQT'ING, ppr. Fixing by the root;
planting deep.
ENROUND', i>.<. To environ; to surround ;
to inclose. [Not ttsed.] Shak.
ENS, n. [L. ens, part, present of esse, to be.]
Entity; being; existence. Among the
old chimists, the power, virtue or efficacy
which certain substances exert on our bod
ies ; or the things which are supposed to
contain all the quahties or virtues of the
ingredients they are drawn from, in little
room. [Little used.] Encyc. Johnson
ENSAM'PLE, n. [Irregularly formed fron;
example or sample. It. esempio, L. exem-
plum.]
An example ; a pattern or model for imita-
tion.
Being ensamj^les to the flock. 1 Pet. v.
ENSAM'PLE, V. t. To exemphfy ; to shew
by example. This word is seldom used,
either as a noun or a verb. [See Exam
ph.]
;nsaN'GUIne,
ENSAN'GUINE, v. t. [L. sanguis, blood
Eng. sanguine.]
To stain or cover with blood ; to smear witi
gore ; as an ensanguined field. Milton
ENSAN'GUINED, pp. SuflTused or stained
with blood.
EN'SATE, a. [L. enm, a sword.] Havin;
sword-shaped leaves.
ENSCHED'ULE, v. t. To insert in a sched
ule. [See Schedule.] Shak.
ENSCONCE, V. t. enscons'. [from sconce.]
To cover, or shelter, as with a sconce or
fort ; to protect ; to secure.
1 will ensconce me behind the arras. Shak
ENS
ENS€ON'CED,i;);). Covered, or sheltered,
as by a sconce or fort ; protected ; se-
cured.
ENSCON'CING, ppr. Covering, or shelter-
ing, as by a fort.
ENSE'AL, V. t. [from seal] To seal ; to fix
a seal on ; to impress.
ENSE'ALED, pp. Impressed with a seal.
ENSE'ALING,/)^'. Sealing; affixing a seal
n. The act of affixing a
[from seam.] To sew up ;
" lie-
to.
ENSE'ALING,
seal to.
ENSE'AM, v.t.
to iticlose by a seam or juncture of needl
work. Camden
ENSE'AMED, a. Greasy. [Not in use.]
ENSE'AR, v.t. [frotn sear.] To sear; to
cauterize ; to close or stop by burning to
hardness. Snak.
ENSEARCH', v. i. enserch'. To search for ;
to try to find. [Not used.] Elyot.
ENSEM'BLE, n. [Fr.] One with another ;
on an average.
ENSHIE'LD, V. t. [from shield.] To shield :
to cover ; to protect. Shak.
ENSHRI'NE, v.t. [from shrine.] To in-
close in a shrine or chest; to deposit for
safe-keeping in a cabinet. Milton.
ENSHRI'NED, pp. Inclosed or preserved
in a shrine or chest.
2. Inclosed ; placed as in a shrine.
Wisdom enshrined in beauty. Percival.
ENSHRI'NING,;)^-. Inclosing in a shrine
or cabinet.
ENSIF'EROUS, a. [L. ensis, sword, and
fero, to bear.] Bearing or carrying a
sword.
EN'SIFORM, a. [L. ensiformis ; ensis,
sword, a.w\ forma, form.]
Having- the shape of a sword ; as the ensi-
form or xiphoid cartilage ; an ensiform leaf.
(luincy. Martyn.
EN'SIGN, n. en'sine. \Fr. enseigne; la-in-
signe, insignia, from signum, a mark im-
pressed, a sign.]
1. The flag or banner of a military band ; a
banner of colors; a standard; a figured
cloth or piece of silk, attached to a staff,
and usually with figures, colors or arms
thereon, borne by an officer at the head of
a company, troop or other band.
2. Any signal to assemble or to give notice.
He will lift up an ensign to the nations. Is.
Ye shall be left as an ensign on a hill. Is.
XXX.
.3. A badge ; a mark of distinction, rank or
office ; as ensigns of power or virtue.
fValler. Dryden.
4. The officer who carries the flag or colors,
being the lowest commissioned officer in a
company of infantry.
5. Navai ensign, is a large banner hoisted on
a staff" and carried over the poop or stern
of a ship; used to distinguish ships of dif-
ferent nations, or to characterize different
squadrons of the same navy. Mar. Diet.
EN'SIGN-BEARER, n. He that carries the
flag ; an ensign.
EN'SIGNCY, n. The rank, office or com-
mission of an ensign.
ENSKI'ED, a. Placed in heaven ; made
immortal. [Not in use.] Shak.
ENSLA'VE, v. t. [from slave.] To reduce
to slavery or bondage ; to deprive of hherty
E N T
and subject to the will of a master. Bar
barous nations enslave their prisoners of
war, but civilized men barbarously and
wickedly purchase men to enslave them.
2. To reduce to servitude or subjection.
Men often suffer their passions and appe-
tites to enslave them. They are enslavedi^
to lust, to anger, to intemperance, to ava
rice.
ENSLA'VED, pp. Reduced to -slavery or
subjection.
ENSLA'VEMENT, n. The state of being
enslaved ; slavery ; bondage ; servitude.
South!
ENSLA'VER, n. He who reduces anotherj
to bondage. Smjl.
ENSLA'VING, ppr. Reducing to bondage ;
depriving of liberty.
ENSNARE. [See Insnare.]
ENSO'BER, V. t. [from sober.] To make
sober. Taylor.
ENSPHE'RE, V. t. [from sphere.] To place
in a sphere. Hall.
2. To make into a sphere. Carew.'
ENSTAMP', «.«. [from stamp.] To impress|
as with a stamp ; to impress deeply.
God emtainped his image on man.
Enfield.
ENSTAMP'ED, pp. Impressed deeply.
ENSTAMP'ING,;)pr. Impressing deeply, i
ENSTY'LE, t'. *. To style ; to name ; to
call. [Little used.] Drayton}
ENSU'E, II. t. [Fr. ensuivre ; Norm, ensuer ;
Sp. seguir ; It. seguire ; L. sequor, to fol
low. See Seek.]
To follow ; to pursue.
Seek peace, and ensue it. 1 Pet. iii.
[In this sense, it is obsolete.]
ENSU'E, V. i. To follow as a consequence
of premises ; as, from these facts or this]
evidence, the argument will ensue.
2. To follow in a train of events or course of;
time ; to succeed ; to come after. He
spoke and silence ensued. We say, the'
ensuing age or years ; the ensuing events.'
ENSUING, ppr. Following as a
quence ; succeeding.
5Ng .. - .
ENSURE, and its derivatives. [See Insure.'
ENSWEE'P, I', t. To sweep over ; to pass;
over rapidly. Thomson.
ENTAB'LATURE, ) , [Sp. entahlamento ;\
ENTAB'LEMENT, ^ "• l-V. entablement
Sp. entablar, to cover with boards, from
L. tabula, a board or table.]
In architecture, that part of the order of a
column, which is over the capital, inclu-
ding the architrave, frieze and cornice,
being the extremity of the flooring.
Encyc. Harris.
ENTACK'LE, v. t. To supply with tackle.]
[M)t used.] Skelt,
ENTA'IL, ?!. [Fr. cntailler, to cut, lie
tailler. It. tagliare, id. Feudum talliatum,
a fee entailed, abridged, curtailed, limitc<l.]
1. An estate or fee entailed, or limited in!
descent to a particular heir or heirs. Es-!
tates-tail are general, as when lands and
tenements are given to one and the heirs!
of his body begotten ; or special, as when'
lands and tenements are given to one and,
the heirs of his body by a particular wife.]
2. Rule of descent settled for an estate. i
3. Engraver's work ; inlay. Obs. Spenser.'
ENTA'IL, V. t. To settle the descent of lands'
and tenements, by gift to a man and to*
E N T
certain heirs specified, so that neither tlj
donee nor any subsequent possessor can
alienate or bequeath it; as, to entail a
manor to AB and to his eldest son, or to
his heirs of his body begotten, or to his
heirs by a particular wife.
2. To fix unalienably on a person or thing,
or on a person and his descendants. By
tlie apostasy misery is supposed to be cii-
tailed on mankind. The inteinperate often
entail inhrinities, diseases and r
their children.
[from the French verb.] To cut ; to carve
for ornament. [06«.] Spenser.
ENTA'ILED, pp. Settled on a man and
certain heirs specified.
2. Settled on a person and his descendants.
ENTA'ILING,/»;)r. Settling the descent of
an estate ; giving, as lands and tenements,
and prescribing the mode of descent; set-
tling unalienably on a person or thing.
ENTA'ILMENT, n. The act of giving, as
an estate, and directing the mode of de-
scent, or of limiting the descent to a par-
ticular heir or heirs.
2. The act of settling unalienably on a man
and his heirs.
ENTA'ME, V. I. [from tame.] To tame ; to
subdue. Goioer.
ENTAN'GLE, v. t. [from tangle.] To twist
or interweave in such a manner as not to
be easily separated ; to make confused or
disordered ; as, thread, yarn or ropes may
be entangled ; to entangle tlie hair.
2. To involve in any thing compHcated, and
from which it is diflicult to extricate one's
self; as, to entangle the feet in a net, or i:i
briers.
3. To lose in numerous or complicated invo-
lutions, as in a labyrinth.
4. To involve in difficulties ; to perplex ; to
embarrass ; as, to entangle a nation in alli-
5. To puzzle ; to bewilder ; as, to entangle
the understanding. Locke.
To insnarc by captious questions ; tc
catch ; to i)erplex ; to involve in contra
dictions.
The Pharisees took counsel how they might
entangle him in his talk. Matt. xxii.
7. To perplex or distract, as with cares.
No man that warreth en(an^Ze(/i himself with
the affairs of this life. 2 Tim. ii.
B. To multiply intricacies and diflicultics.
ENTAN'GLED,;>p. or a. Twisted together;
interwoven hi a confused manner ; intri-
cate ; perplexed ; involved ; embarrassed ;
insnared.
ENTAN'GLEMENT, n. Involution ; a con-
fused or disordered state ; intricacy ; per-
ph'xity. Locke.
F.NT AX (JLER, n. One who entangles.
I',.\TA.\ GLING, ppr. Involving; inter-
wciivjjig or interlocking in confusion ; per-
plexing ; insnaring.
ENTEN'DER, v. t. To treat with tend
ness or kindness. Young.
EN'TER, V. t. [Fr. entrer, from entre, be
tween, h. inter, intra, whence intra, t<
enter ; It. entrare ; Sp. entrar. The L.
inter seems to be in, with the terminatioi
ter, as in subter, from sub.]
I. To move or pass into a place, in any man
ner whatever ; to come or go in ; to walk
or ride in ; to flow in ; to pierce or pene
trate. .\ man enters a house ; an army
E N T
enters a city or a camp ; a river enters the
sea ; a sword enters the body ; the air
enters a room at every crevice.
2. To advance into, in the progress of life ;
a.s, a youth has entered his tenth year.
3. To beghi in a business, employment or
service ; to enlist or engage in ; as, the
soldier entered the service at eighteen years
of age.
4. To become a member of; as, to enter col-
lege ; to enter a society.
5. To admit or introduce ; as, the youth was
entered a member of College.
6. To set down in writing ; to set an account
in a book or register ; as, the clerk entered
the account or charge in the journal ; he
entered debt and credit at the time.
7. To set down, as a name ; to enroll ; as, to
e»t(er a name in the eidistment.
8. To lodge a inanifest of goods at the cus-
tom-house, and gain admittance or per-
mission to land ; as, to enter goods. We
say also, to enter a ship at the custom-
house.
EN'TER, V. i. To go or come in ; to pass
into ; as, to enter into a country.
2. To flow in ; iis, water enters into a ship.
3. To pierce ; to penetrate ; as, a ball or an
enters into the body.
4. To penetrate mentally ; as, to enter into
the principles of action.
To engage in ; as, to enter into business
or service ; to enter into visionary projects.
0. To be initiated in ; as, to enter into a taste
of pleasure or magnificence. Addison.
7. To be an ingredient ; to form a constitu-
ent part. Lead enters into the composition
of pewter.
EN'TERDEAL, n. Mutual deaUngs. [.Vo<
in use.] Spenser.
EN'TERED,;?^. Moved in; come in ; pier-
ced ; penetrated ; admitted ; introduced ;
set down in writing.
EN'TERING, ppr. Coming or going in ;
flowing in ; piercing ; penetrating ; setting
down in writing ; enlisting ; engaging.
EN'TERING, n. Entrance ; a passing in.
1 Thes. i.
ENTERLACE. [See Interlace.]
EN'TEROCELE, n. [Gr. ivtipov, intestine,
and x>;>.i7, tumor.]
In surgen/, intestinal hernia ; a rupture of
the intestines. Coxe.
ENTEROL'OOiY, n. [Gr. oT'jpo.., intestine,
and J.oyo{, discourse.]
A treatise or discourse on the bowels or in-
ternal parts of the body, usually including
the contents of the head, breast and belly.
Quincy.
ENTEROM'PHALOS, n. [Gr. «f(po., in-
testine, and ofiijHxXoj, navel.] Navel rup-
ture ; umbilical rupture.
ENTERP'ARLANCE, n. [Fr. entre, be-
tween, and parler, to speak.]
Parley ; mutual talk or conversation ; con-
ference. Hayward.
ENTER PLEAD. [See Interplead.]
ENTERPRISE, n. s as :. [Fr. from enire-
prendre, to undertake ; entre, in or between,
and prendre, to take, prise, a taking.]
That which is undertaken, or attempted to
be performed ; an attempt : a project at-
tempted ; particularly, a bold, arduous or
hazardous undertaking, either physical or
moral. The attack on Stoney-Point was
a bold, but successful enterprise. The at-
E N T
tempts to evangelize the heathen are noble
enterpiises.
Their hands cannot perform their enterprise
Job V.
ENTERPRISE, v. t. To undertake ; to be-
gin anil attempt to perform.
The business must be enterjn-ised this night.
Drydeii.
EN'TERPRISED, pp. Undertaken ; at-
tempted ; essayed.
EN'TERPRISER, n. An adventurer; one
who undertakes any projected scheme,
pecially a bold or hazardous one ; a person
who engages in important or dangerous
designs. Haymard.
EN'TERPRISING, ppr. Undertaking, es-
pecially a bold design.
2. a. Bold or forward to undertake ; reso-
lute, active, or prompt to attempt great
or untried schemes. Enterprising men
often succeed beyond all human proba-
bility.
ENTERTA'IN, v. I. [Fr. enlretenir ; entre,
in or between, and tenir, to hold, L. teneo.]
1. To receive into the house and treat with
hospitality, either at the table only, or with
lodging also.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers ; for
thereby some have entertained angel:
Heb. xiii.
S. To treat with conversation ; to
instruct by discourse ; properly, to engage!
the attention and retain the company of
one, by agreeable conversation, discourse
or argument. The advocate entertained
his audience an hour, with sound argu-
ment and brilliant displays of eloquence.
3. To keep in one's service ; to maintain
He entertained ten domestics.
You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred
Shall.
[This original and French sense is obso
lete or little used.]
4. To keep, hold or maintain in the mind
with favor ; to reserve in the mind
harbor ; to cherish. Let us entertain the
most exalted views of the Divine charac
ter. It is our duty to entertain charitable
sentiments towards our fellow men
5. To maintain ; to support ; as, to entertain
a hospital. Obs.
(j. To please ; to amuse ; to divert. David
entertained himself with the meditation of
God's law. Idle men entertain themselv
with trifles.
7. To treat; to supply with provisions and
liquors, or with provisions and lodging, for
reward. The innkeeper entertains a great
deal of company.
ENTERTA'IN, n. Entertainment. [JVot
use,] Spe7iser.
ENTERTA'INED, pp. Received with hos
pitaUty, as a guest ; amused ; pleased and
engaged ; kept in the mind ; retained.
ENTERTA'INER, n. He who entertains
he who receives company with hospitality
or for reward.
2. He who retains others in his service.
3. He that amuses, pleases or diverts.
ENTERTAINING, ppr. Receiving with
hospitality ; receiving and treating with
provisions and accommodations, for re-
ward ; keeping or cherishing with favor ;
engaging the attention; amusing.
2. a. Pleasing ; amusing ; diverting ; as an
entertaining discour.se ; an entertaining
fneud.
E N T
ENTERTAININGLY, adv. In an amusing
manner. Warton
ENTERTA'INMENT, n. The receiving
and accommodating of guests, either witl
or without reward. The hospitable mar
delights in the entertainment of his friends,
2. Provisions of the table; hence also, ;i
feast ; a superb dinner or supper.
3. The amusement, pleasure or instruction,
derived from conversation, discourse, ar-
gument, oratory, music, dramatic perform-
ances, &c.; the pleasure which the mind
receives from any thing interesting, and
which holds or arrests the attention. We
often have rich entertainment, in the con
versation of a learned friend.
4. Reception ; admission. Tillolson.
.5. The state of being in pay or service. [JVb<
iised.] Shak
G. Payment of those retained in service,
Ohs. Davies
7. That which entertains; that which serves
for amusement ; the lower comedy ; farce,
Gay.
ENTERTIS'SUED, a. [Fr. entre anAtissii.]
Interwoven ; having various colors inter-
mixed. Shak.
ENTHEAS'TIC, a. [Gr. tv and 9.of, God.]
Having the energy of God.
ENTHEAS'TIeALLY, adv. According to
deific energy. Trans, of Pausanias.
EN'THEAT,a. [Gr. ^rSto;.] Enthusiastic.
[JVot in use.]
ENTHRALL', v. t. To enslave. [See In-
thrall.]
ENTHRILL', v. t. To pierce. [See Thnll.]
ENTHRO'NE, v. t. [from throne.] To place
on a throne ; to exalt to the seat of royalty.
Beneatli a sculptured arch he sits enthroned.
Pope.
2. To exalt to an elevated place or seat.
Shak.
3. To invest with sovereign authority.
Ayliffe.
ENTHRO'NED, pp. Seated on a throne ;
exulted to an elevated place.
ENTHKO'NING, ppr. Seating on a throne
aising to an exalted seat.
ENTHUN'DER, v. i. To make a loud noisa
ke thunder.
ENTHU'SIASM, n. enihu'ziazm. [Gr. iv-
dovaiarsfioi, from ffSotisiai^io, to infuse a di-
vine spirit, from tvSwi, ivSiOf, inspired, di-
vine ; IV and Sio^, God.]
1. A belief or conceit of private revelation ;
the vain confidence or opinion of a per
son, that he has special divine communica
tionsfrom the Supreme Being, or familiar
intercourse with him.
Enthusiasm is founded neither on re
divine revelation, but rises from the conceits of
a warmed or overweening imagination.
Locke.
2. Heat of imagination ; violent passion or
excitement of the mind, in pursuit of some
object, inspiring extravagant hope and
confidence of success. Hence the same
heat of imagination, chastised by reason
or experience, becomes a noble passion,
an elevated fancy, a warm imagination
an ardent zeal, that forms sublime ideas,
and prompts to the ardent pursuit of laud
able objects. Such is the enthusiasm of
the poet, the orator, the painter and the
sculptor. Such is the enthusiasm of the
patriot, the hero and the christian.
E N T
Faction and enthicsiasm are the instramenta
by which popular governments are destroyed.
ENTHU'SIAST, n. enthu'ziast. [Gr. sv-
Sovuia^Tji.]
1. One who imagines he has special or su-
pernatural converse with God, or special
communications from him.
2. One whose imagination is warmed ; one
whose mind is highly excited with the love
or in the pursuit of an object ; a person of
ardent zeal ; as an enthusiast in poetiy or
music.
3. One of elevated fancy or exalted ideas.
Dniden.
ENTHUSIAS'TIe, > Filled with en-
ENTHUSIAS'TI€AL, \ "■ thusiasm, or the
conceit of special intercourse with God or
revelations from him.
2. Highly excited ; warm and ardent ; zeal-
ous in pursuit of an object ; heated to ani-
mation. Our author was an enthusiastic
lover of poetry and admirer of Homer.
•3. Elevated ; warm ; tinctured with enthu-
siasm. The speaker addressed the audi-
ence in enthusiastic strains.
ENTHUSIAS'TI€ALLY, adv. Withenthu-
ENTHYMEMAT'ICAL, a. Pertaining to
an enthymeme ; including an enthymeme.
EN'THYMEME, n. [Gr. ,v9v^ir,l«>.f{rom
iv$vixto/iai,, to think or conceive ; ev and
dv/ios, mind.]
In rhetoric, an argument consisting of only
two propositions, an antecedent and a con-
sequent deduced from it ; as, we are de-
pendent, therefore we should be humble.
Here the major proposition is suppres-
sed ; the complete syllogism would be,
dependent creatures shoidd be humble ;
we are dependent creatures ; therefore we
should be humble.
ENTI'CE, V. t. [This word seems to be the
Sp. atizar. Port aticar, Fr. atti^er, Arm.
attisa, from Sp. tizon, It. tizzone, Fr. tison,
L. litio, a firebrand. The sense, in these
languages, is to lay the firebrands togeth-
er, or to stir the fire ; to provoke ; to in-
cense. The sense in English is a httle
varied. If it is not the same word, I know
not its origin.]
L To incite or instigate, by exciting hope or
desire ; usually in a bad sense ; as, to en-
tice one to evil. Hence, to seduce ; to lead
astray ; to induce to sin, by promises or
persuasions.
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou
not. Prov. i.
2. To tempt; to incite; to urge or lead
astray.
Every man is tempted, when he is drawn
away by his own lust, and enticed. James i.
3. To incite; to allure ; in a good sense.
Enfield.
ENTICED, pp. Incited ; instigated to evil ;
seduced by promises or persuasions ; per-
suaded ; alliu-ed.
ENTI'CEMENT, «. The act or practice of
inciting to evil ; instigation ; as the entice-
ments of evil companions.
2. Means of inciting to evil ; that which se-
duces by exciting the passions. Flattery
often operates as an enticement to sin.
3. Allurement.
E N T
E N T
E N T
prove.
Who founds her greatness i
love.
ENTI'CER, n. One virho entices ; one who
incites or instigates to evil ; one who se-
duces.
ENTI'CING, ppr. Inciting to evil ; urging
to sin by motives, flattery or persuasion ;
alluring.
2. a. Having the qualities that entice or al-
lun;.
ENTI'CINGLY, adv. Charmingly ; in a
winning manner.
She shigs most enticingly. Addison.
ENTl'RE, a. [Fr. entier ;' Sp. enlero ; Port.
inteiro ; It. intero ; Arm anterin ; L. in-
teger, said to be in neg. and tango, to
touch. Qu.]
1. Whole ; undivided ; unbroken ; complete
in its parts.
2. Whole ; complete ; not partici()ated with
others. This man has the entire control
of the business.
.3. Pull ; complete ; comprising all requisites
in itself.
An action is entire, when it is complete in all
its parts. Spectator.
4. Sincere ; hearty.
He run a course more entire with the king of
AiTagon. Bacon.
5. Firm ; solid ; sure ; fixed ; complete ; un-
disputed.
Entire and sure the monarch's rule must
her subjects'
Prior.
6. Unniingled ; unalloyed.
In thy presence joy entire. Milton.
7. Wholly devoted ; firmly adherent ; faith-
ful.
No man had a heart more entire to the king.
Clarendon.
8. In full strength ; unbroken. Spenser.
9. In botany, an entire stem is one without
branches; an entire leaf is without any
opening in the edge, not divided. Martyn.
ENTl'RELY, adv. Wholly; completely;
fully ; as, the money is entirely lost. *
9. In the whole ; without division.
Euphrates — falls not entirely into the Persian
sea. Raleigh.
',i. With firm adherence or devotion ; faith-
fully. Spenser.
ENTI'RENESS, n. Completeness; full-
ness ; lotaUty ; unbroken form or state ; as
the entircness of an arch or a bridge.
2. Integrity; wholeness of heart ; honesty.
ENTIRETY, n. Wholeness; complete-
ness; as entirely of interest. Blackstone.
■2. The whole. Bacon.
EN'TITATIVE, a. [from entity.] Consid-
ered by itself. [This word, and entitatively.
rarely or never used.]
ENTI'TLE, v.l. [Fr. intitider; Sp. inlitu-
lar ; It. intitolare ; from L. titulus, a title.]
1. To give a title to ; to give or prefix a
name or appellation ; as, to entille a book,
Conmientaries on the laws of England
2. To superscribe or prefix as a title. Hence
as titles are evidences of claim or proper
ty, to give a claim to ; to give a right to
demand or receive. The labor of the ser
vant entitles him to his wages. Milton i
entitled to fame. Our best services do not
entitle us to heaven.
3. To assign or appropriate by giving a
title.
4. To qualify ; to give a claim by the pos
session of suitable qualifications ; as, an
officer's talents entitle him to command.
5. To dignify by a title or honorable appel-
lation. In this sense, title is often used.
6. To ascrilie. Obs. Burnet.
ENTI'TLED, pp. Dignified or distinguish-
ed by a title ; having a claim ; as, every
good man is entitled to respect.
ENTI'TLING, ppr. Dignifying or distin-
guishing by a title ; giving a title ; giving
a claim.
EN'TITY, n. [Low L. entitas; Fr.entiU;
Sp. entidad; It. entitit; from ens, esse, to
be.] Being; existence.
Fortune is no real entity. Bentley.
2. A real being, or specie-s of being.
ENTOIL', V. t. [See Toil.] To take with
toils ; to ensnare ; to entangle. Bacon.
ENTOMB, V. t. entoom'. [from tomb.] To
deposit in a tomb, as a dead body.
Hooker,
2. To bury in a grave ; to inter.
P^NToMBED, pp. Deposited in a tomb ;
buried ; interred.
ENTOMBING, ppr. Depositing in a tomb ;
burying ; interring.
ENTOMBMENT, n. Burial. Barrotv.
EN'TOMOLITE, n. [Gr. trfofui, insect, and
^i9oj, stone.]
A fossil substance bearing the figure of an
insect, or a petrified insect. Ed. Encyc,
ENTOMOLOti'ICAL, a. Pertaining to tijc
science of insects.
ENT0M0L'0(5IST, n. One versed in the
science of insects.
ENTOMOL'OtiY, n. [Gr. evtofxa, insect,
from rf/tTO, to cut, and ^.oyoj, discourse.]
That part of zoology which treats of insects ;
the science or history and description of
insects.
ENTORTILA'TION, 7^. [Fr. entortillement.
A turning into a circle. Donne.
EN'TllAIL, > [Fr.entraiUes; Arm.
EN'TRAILS, l^-traUhou; Gr. frrtpa.
Enter.]
1. The internal parts of animal bodies; par
ticularly, the guts or intestines ; the bow
els ; used chiefly in the plural.
2. The internal parts; as the entrails of the
earth.
The dark entrails of America. Locke.
ENTRA'IL, V. t. [It. intralciare; Fr. treillis,
treillisser.] To interweave ; to diversify.
[jYot in vse.] Spenser.
ENTRAM'MELED, a. [from trammel]
Curled ; frizzed. [jYot used.]
EN'TRANCE, n. [L. intrans, intra ; or from
Fr. entrant. See Enter.]
1. The act of entering into a place; as the
entrance of a person into a house or an
apartment.
2. The power of entering. Let the porter
give no entrance to strangers.
Where diligence opens tde door of Uie under-
standing, and impartiality keeps it, truth is sure
to find an entrance and a welcome too.
.South,
3. The door, gate, passage or avenue, by
which a place may bo entered.
Tliey said, show us the entrance into the
city. Judges i.
4. Commencement ; initiation ; beginning.
A youth at his entrance on a difiicult sci-
ence, is apt to be discouraged.
5. The act of taking possession, as of land ;
as the entrance of an heir or a disseizor
into lands and tenements.
6. The act of taking possession, as of an of-
See
ficc. Magistrates at their entrance intt>
office, usually take an oath.
7. The net of enteiing a ship or goods at the
custom-house.
8. The beginning of any thing.
S(. Augustine, in the entrance o( one of his
discourses, makes a kind of apology.
HaketoiU.
ENTR^ANSE, v. I. or i. [from tranae, Fr.
transe, Arm. Ireand. Qu. L. transeo. The
Armoric is from tre, across, and antren,
to enter, or It. andare, to go.]
1. To i)ut in a transe; to withdraw the soul,
and leave the body in a kind of dead sleep
or insensibility ; to make insensible to pre-
sent obj(-cts. The verb is seldom used,
but the participle, entransed, is common.
2. To put in an ecstasy ; to ravish the soul
with delight or wonder.
And 1 80 ravish'd with her heavenly note,
I stood entransed, and had no room for
thought. Dryden.
ENTR'ANSED, pp. Put in a transe ; ha-
ving the soul withdrav^-n, and the body
left in a state of insensibility ; enraptured ;
ravished.
ENTR'ANSING, ppr. Carrying away the
soul ; eiu-apturing ; ravishing.
ENTRAP', v.<. yPr. attraper ; h.attrappare.
Sec Trap.]
To catch as in a trap ; to insnare ; used
chiejly or wholly in a Jigurative sense. To
catch by artifices ; to involve in difficul-
ties or distresses ; to entangle ; to catch
or involve in contradictions; in short, to
involve in any difficulties from which an
escape is not easy or possible. We are
entrapped by the devices of evil men. We
are sometimes entrapped in our own
words.
ENTRAPPED, pp. Ensnared ; entangled.
ENTRAP'PING, p;)r. Ensnaring; involv-
ing in difficulties.
ENTRE'AT, v. t. [Fr. en and traiter. It.
tratlnrc, Sp. Port, tratar, from L. tracto, to
handle, feci, treat, use, manage.]
1 . To ask earnestly ; to beseech ; to ])etition
or pray with urgency ; to supplicate ; to
solicit pres.singly ; to importune.
Isaac entreated Jehovah for his wife. Gen.
XXV.
2. To prevail on by prayer or solicitation.
Hence in the passive form, to be prevailed
on ; to yield to entreaty.
It were a fruitless attempt to appease a power,
whom no prayers could entreat. Rogers.
."?. To treat, in any manner ; properly, to use
or manage ; but I believe, entreat is al-
ways applied to persons, as treat is to per-
sons or things. Applied to persons, to en-
treat is to use, or to deal with ; to mani-
fest to others any particular deportment,
good or ill.
I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well.
Jcr. XV.
The Egyptians evi\-entreated us. Deut.
xxvi.
[In this application, the prefix en is now
dropped, and treat is used.]
4. To entertain ; to amuse. Obs. Shak.
5. To entertain ; to receive. Obs. Spenser.
ENTRE'AT, v. i. To make an earnest peti-
tion or request.
The Janizaries entreated for them, as valiant
men. Khoioles.
2. To ofler a treaty. [JVot used.]
Maccabees.
E N U
3. To treat ; to discourse. [jVot used.]
Hakewill.
ENTRE'ATANCE, n. Entreaty; solicita-
tion. Obs. Fairfax.
ENTRE'ATED, pp. Earnestly supplicated,
besought or solicited ; importuned ; ur-
gently requested.
2. Prevailed on by urgent solicitation ; con-
senting to grant what is desired.
3. Used ; managed. Obs.
ENTRE'ATER, n. One that entreats, or
asks earnestly.
ENTRE'ATING, ppr. Earnestly asking;
pressing with request or prayer ; imi)ortu-
ning.
2. Treating ; using. Obs.
ENTRE'ATIVE, a. Pleading ; treating.
Brewer.
ENTRE'ATY, n. Urgent prayer; earnest
petition ; pressing solicitation ; supplica-
tion.
The poor useth entreaties ; but the rich
answereth roughly. Prov. xvili.
Praying with much entreaty. 2 Cor. viii.
ENTREMETS, n. [Fr. entre and mets, or
L. intromissam, It. tramcsso.]
Small plates set between the principal dish-
es at table, or dainty dishes.
Mortimer. Fr. Bid.
ENTREPOT, n. [Fr. enlre and put, for
post, positunu]
A warehouse, staple or magazine, for the
deposit of goods.
ENTRICK', V.I. [from trirk.] Totiick; to
deceive ; to entangle. Obs. Chaucer.
EN'TROCHITE, n. [Gr. tfioxo(, a wheel.]
A kind of extraneous fossil, usually about
an inch in length, and made up of round
joints, which, when separated, are called
trocMtes. These seem to be composed of
the same kind of substance as the fossil
shells of the echini. They are striated
from the center to the circumference and
have a cavity in the middle. They ap-
pear to be the petrified arms of the sea-
star, called Stella arborescens.
Nicholson. Encyc.
EN'TRY, n. [Fr. entrie. See Enter.] The
passage by which persons enter a house
or other building.
2. The act of entering ; entrance ; ingress ;
as the entry of a person into a house or
city ; the entry of a river into the sea or a
lake ; the entry of air into the blood ; the
entry of a spear into the flesh.
.3. The act of entering and taking possession
of lands or other estate.
4. The act of committing to writing, or of
recording in a book. Make an entry of
every sale, of every debt and credit.
5. The exhibition or depositing of a ship's
papers at the custom house, to procure
license to land goods ; or the giving an
account of a ship's cargo to the officer of
the customs, and obtaining his permission
to land the goods.
ENTU'NE, V. t. [from tune.] To tune.
Chaucer
ENTWINE, V. I. [from twine.] To twine :
to twist round.
ENTWIST', 1'. t. [from twist.] To twist or
wreath round.
ENU'BIl.ATE, V. t. [L. e and 7iubila, mist,
clouds.]
E N V
To clear from mist, clouds or obscurity.
[jVot in use.] Did.
ENU'BILOUS, o. Clear from fog, mist or
clouds.
ENU'€LEATE, v. t. [L. enucleo ; e and nu-
cleus, a kernel.] Properly, to take out the
kernel. Hence,
1. To clear from knots or lumps ; to clear
from intricacy ; to disentangle. Tooke.
2. To open as a nucleus ; hence, to explain ;
to clear from obscurity ; to make manifest.
Good.
ENU'€LEATED, pp. Cleared from knots ;
disclosed ; explained.
ENU'CLEATING, ppr. Clearing from
i knots; explaining.
ENUCLEA'TION, n. The act of clearing
from knots ; a disentangling.
Neither air, nor water, nor food seem directly
to contribute any thing to the enucleation of
this disease [the plica Polonica.'] Tooke.
2. Explanation ; full e.xjiosition.
ENU'MERATE, v. t. [L. enumero ; e and
numero, numerus, number.]
To count or tell, number by number ; to
reckon or mention a number of things,
each separately ; as, to enumerate the
stars in a constellation ; to enumerate par-
ticular acts of kindness ; we cannot enu-
merate our daily mercies.
ENU'MERATEb, pp. Counted or told,
number by number; reckoned or men-
tioned by distinct particulars.
ENU'MERATING, ppr. Counting or reck-
oning any number, by the particulars
which compose it.
ENUMERA'TION, n. [L. enumeratio.] The
act of counting or telling a number, by
naming each particular.
2. An account of a number of things, in
which mention is made of every particu-
ar article.
3. In rhetoric, a pari of a peroration, in which
' the orator recapitulates the principal
points or heads of the discourse or argu-
ment.
ENU'MERATIVE, a. Counting; reckon-
ing up. Bp. Taylor.
ENUN'CIATE,r.<. [L. cnuncio ; e and nun-
cio, to tell.]
To utter ; to declare ; to proclaim ; to relate.
Bp. Barlow.
ENUN'CIATED, pp. Uttered; declared;
pronounced ; jiroclahned.
ENUN'CIATING, ppr. Uttering; declaring;
pronouncing.
ENUNCIA'TION, n. The act of uttering or
pronouncing ; expression ; manner of ut-
terance. In a public discnurse, it is im-
portant that the enuncmdon should be clear
and distinct.
2. Declaration; open proclamation; pidilic
attestation. Taylor.
3. Intelligence ; information. Hale.
ENUN'CIATIVE, a. Declarative; expres-
sive. ■Ayliffe.
ENUN'CIATIVELY, adv. Declaratively.
ENUN'CIATORY, a. Containing utterance
or sound. Jt'ilson's Heb. Gram
ENVAS'SAL, V. t. [from vassal.] To reduce
vassalage.
2. To make over to another as a slave.
More.
ENVEL'OP, V. t. [Fr. envelopper ; It. invil-
, uppare, awiiuppare, to wrap ; viluppo, a
bundle, intricacy.]
E N V
1. To cover by wrapping or folding; to in-
wrap ; to invest with a covering. Animal
bodies are usually enveloped with skin ; the
merchant envelops goods with canvas ; a
letter is enveloped with paper.
2. To surround entirely ; to cover on all
sides ; to hide. A ship was enveloped in
fog ; the troops were enveloped in dust.
To line ; to cover on the uiside.
His iron coa.i— enveloped with gold.
Spenser.
ENVEL'OP, n. A wrapper; an inclosing
cover; an integument ; as the envelop of a
letter, or of the heart.
hi foHification, a work of earth, in form
of a parapet or of a small rampart with a
parapet. Encyc.
ENVELOPED, pp. Inwrapped ; covered
in all sides ; surrounded on all sides ; in-
lo.sed.
ENVEL'OPING, ppr. Inwrapping ; fold-
ing around ; covering or surrounding on
all sides, as a case or integument.
ENVEL'OPMENT, n. A wrapping ; an in-
closing or covering on all sides.
ENVEN'OM, v. t. [from venom.] To poi-
son ; to taint or impregnate with venom,
or any substance noxious to hfe ; never
applied, in this sense, to persons, but to meat,
drink or weapons ; as an envenomed arrow
or shaft ; an envenomed potion.
2. To taint with bitterness or malice ; as
the envenomed tongue of slander.
3. To make odious.
0 what a world is this, when what is comely
Envenoms him that bears it .' Shdk.
To enrage ; to exasperate. Dryden,
ENVEN'OMED, pp. Tainted or impreg-
nated with venom or poison ; embittered ;
exasperated.
ENVENOMING, ppr. Tainting with ven-
om ; poisoning ; embittering ; enraging.
ENVER'MEIL, «.«. [Vr.vermeU.] To dye
red.- Milton.
EN'VIABLE, a. [See Envy.] That may ex-
cite envy ; capable of awakening ardent
desire of possession. The situation of
men in office is not always enviable.
EN'VIED, pp. [See Envy, the verb.] Sub-
jected to envy.
EN'VIER, n. One who envies another ;
one who desires what another possesses,
and hates him because his condition is
better than his own, or wishes his down-
fall.
EN'VIOUS, a. [Fr. envieux. See Envy.]
Feeling or harboring envy ; repining or
feeling uneasiness, at a view of the excel-
lence, prosperity or happiness of another ;
pained by the desire of possessing some
superior good which another possesses,
and usually disposed to deprive him of that
good, to lessen it or to depreciate it in
common estimation. Sometimes followed
by against, but generally and properly by
at, before the person envied.
Neither be thou envious at the wicked. Prov.
xxiv.
It is followed by of before the thing.
Be not envious of the blessings or prosperi-
ty of others.
2. Tinctured with envy ; as an envious dis-
position.
3. Excited or directed by envy ; as an eni-i-
ou.» attack.
EN'VIOUSLY, adv. With envy; with ma-
E N V
EON
E P H
lignity excited by the excellence or pros-
perity of another.
How enviously the la<lies look,
When they surprise nie at my book. Swifl.
ENVI'ROiV, V. t. [Ft. environner, from en-
viron, thereabout"; en and mron, from vi-
rer, to turn, Sp. fciror, Eng. to veer. Class
Br.]
1. To surround ; to encompass; to encircle;
as a plain environed with mountains.
2. To involve ; to envelop ; as, to environ
with darkness, or with difficulties.
3. To besiege ; as a city environed with
That soldier, that man of iron.
Whom ribs of horror all environ.
Cleaveland.
ENVI'RONED, pp. Surrounded ; encom-
passed ; besieged ; involved ; invested.
ENVI'RONING, ppr. Surrounding; encir-
cling ; besieging ; inclosing ; involving ;
investing. The appropriation of different
parts of the globe to some particular spe-
cies of stone environing it.
ENVI'RONS, n. plu. The parts or places
which surround another place, or lie in its
neighborhood, on different sides ; as the
environs of a city or town. Chesterfield.
EN'VOY, ji. [Fr. envoys, an envoy, from en-
voyer, to send. The corresponding Italian
word is inviato, an envoy, that is, sent ;
and the verb, inviare, to send. The Span-
ish is enviado ; and the verb, enviar, to
send. Port. id. Hence envoy is from the
root of L. via, Eng. tvay, contracted from
viag, vag, or wag ; It. viaggiare, to travel
Sp. viage, way, voyage. Class Bg.]
1. A person deputed by a prince or govern-
ernment, to negotiate a treaty, or transact
other business, with a foreign prince or
government. We usually apply the word
to a public minister sent on a special oc-
casion, or for one particular purpose ;
hence an envoi/ is distinguished from an
embassador or permanent resident at a
foreign court, and is of inferior rank. But
envoys are ordinary and extraordinary, and
the word may sometimes he applied to
resident ministers.
2. A common messenger. [Ao< i)i use.]
Blackmore.
3. Formerly, a postscript sent with compo-
'arlon.
EN'VOYSHIP, n. The office of an envoy.
Coventri).
EN'VY, V. I. [Fr.envier; Arm. aria; from
L. invideo, in and video, to see against,
that is, to look with enmity.]
1. To feel uneasiness, mortification or dis-
content, at the sight of superior excel-
ence, reputation or happiness enjoyed by
another ; to repine at another's prosperi-
ty ; to fret or grieve one's self at the real
or supposed superiority of another, and to
hate him on that account.
Envy not thou the oppressor. Prov. iii.
Whoever envies another, confesses his supe-
rioiity. Rambler.
2. To grudge ; to withhold maliciously.
Dryden.
To envy at, used by authors formerly, is
obsolete.
Who would envy at the prosperity of the
wicked > Taylor
EN'VY, n. Pain, uneasiness, mortification
or discontent excited by the sight of an-
other's superiority or success, accompa-
nied with some degree of hatred or nia-
hgnity, and often or usually with a desire
or an eflbrt to depreciate the person, and
with pleasure in seeing him depressed.
Envy -springs from pride, ambition or love,
mortified that another has obtained what
one has a strong desire to possess.
Envy and admiration are the Scylla and Cha-
rybdis of authors. Pope.
All human virtue, to its latest breath.
Finds envy never conquered, but by death.
Pope.
Emulation differs from envy, in not being
accompanied with hatred and a desire to
depress a more fortunate person.
Envy, to which th' ignoble mind's a slave,
Is emulation in the leam'd or brave. Pope
It is followed by of or to. They did this
in envy q/" Cesar, or in envy to his genius.
The former seems to be preferable.
2. Rivalry ; competition. [LAttle used.]
Dryden.
3. Malice ; malignity.
You turn the good we offer into envy.
Shak.
4. Public odium ; ill repute ; invidiousness.
To discharge the king of the envy of that
opinion. Bacon.
EN'VYING, ppr. Feeling uneasiness at the
superior condition and happiness of anoth
er.
EN'VYING, n. 3Iortification experienced
at the supposed prosperity and happiness
of another.
2. Ill will at others, on account of some sup-
posed superiority. Gal. v. 21.
ENWAL'LOWED, a. [from tvatloio.] Be-
ing wallowed or wallowing. Spenser
ENVVHEE'L, v. I. [from wheel.] To encir-
cle. Shak.
ENVVI'DEN, v. t. [from ivide.] To make
wider. [JVot used.)
ENWOMB, V. t. enivoom'. [from womb.] To
make pregnant. [JVot used.] Spenser
2. To bury ; to hide as in a gulf, pit or cav-
ern. Donne
ENWoMBED, pp. Impregnated ; buried in
a deep gulf or cavern.
ENWRAP', V. t. enrap'. To envelop. [Set
Inwrap.]
ENWRAP'MENT, n. A covering; a wrap
ping or wrapper.
EO'LIAN, } Pertaining to jEolia or ^olis,
EOL'le, I "• in Asia Minor, inhabited by
Greeks.
The £o/ic dialect of the Greek language,
was the dialect used by the inhabitants of
that country.
Eoiian lyre or harp, is a simple stringed in-
strument that sounds by the impulse of
air, from Mollis, the deity of the winds.
EOL'IPILE, n. [.^olus, the deity of the
winds, and pila, a ball.]
A hollow ball of metal, with a pipe or slen-
der neck, used in hydraulic experiments,
The ball being filled with water, is heated,
till the vapor issues from the pipe with
great violence and noise, exhibiting the
elastic power of steam. Kncyt
E'ON, n. [Gr. oiui-, age, duration.] In the
Platonic philosophy, a virtue, attribute orj
perfection. The Platonists represented
the Deity as an assemblage of eons. The'
Gnostics considered eons as certain sub-
stantial p<iwers or divine natures emana-
ting iiom the Supreme Deity, and per-
forming various parts in the operations of
the univer.se. Encxfc. Enfield.
EP, EPI, Gr. ffti, in composition, usually
signifies on.
E'PA€T, n. [Gr. t«axro{, adscitilious, from
frtayu, to adduce or bring ; f/ttand wyu, to
drive.]
In chronology, the excess of the solar month
above the lunar synodical month, and of
the solar year above the lunar year of
twelve synodical months. The epacta
then are annual or menstrual. Su|)pose
the new moon to be on the first of Janua-
ry ; the month of January containing 31
days, and the lunar month only 29 days,
12h. 44' 3", the diflerence, or 1 day, 1 Ih.
15' 57', is the menstrual epact. The an-
nual epact is nearly eleven days ; the so-
lar year being 365 days, and the lunar
year 3.54. Encyc.
EP'ARCII, "• [Gr. trtofxii; "" and <H>;t7,
dominion.] The governor or prefect of a
province. ^h.
EP'AR€HY, n. [Gr. tnofx'-a, a province ;
itti. and ofx^-i government.]
A province, prefecture or territory under
the jurisdiction of an eparch or governor.
Tooke.
EPAULET, n. [Fr. epaulette, from epaide,
the shoulder. It. spaUa, Sp. espaUa.]
A shoulder-piece ; an ornamental badge
worn on the shoulder by military men.
Officers, military and naval, wear epaulets
on one shoulder, or on both, according to
their rank.
EPAUL'MENT, n. [from Fr. epaule, a shoul-
der.]
\n fortification, a side-work or work to cover
sidewise, made of gabions, fascines or
bags of earth. It sometimes denotes a
semi-bastion and a square orillon, or mass
of earth faced and lined with a wall, de-
signed to cover the cannon of the case-
mate. Harris.
EPENET'I€, a. [Gr. tsaniji-.xos.] Lauda-
tory ; bestowing praise. Phillips.
EPEN'THESIS, > [Gr. t«ti'9f«s ; t Jtt, fv,
EPEN'THESY, I "' and nSij^i, to put.]
The insertion of a letter or syllable in the
middle of a word, as alituum' for alitum.
EPENTHETIC, a. Inserted in the midjfe
of a word. .1/. Stuart.
E'PHA, n. [Heh. nSN, or nS'N, properly a
baking.]
A Hebrew measure of three pecks and three
pints, or according to others, of seven gal-
lons and four pints, or about 15 solid in-
dies. Johnson. Encyc.
EPHEM'ERA, n. [L. from Gr. i^intfoi,
daily ; tm. and >?/»fpa, a day.] A fever of
one day's continuance only.
2. The D"ay-fly : strictly, a fly that fives one
day only ; but the word is applied also to
insects that are very short-lived, whether
they live several days or an hour only.
There are several species.
EPHEMERAL, \ „ Diurnal ; beginning
EPHEM'ERIC, \ "• and ending in a day ;
continuing or existing one day only.
2. Short-Hved ; existing or continuing for a
short time only. [Ephemeral is generally
E P I
used. Ephemeroiis is not analogically
formed.]
EPHEM'ERIS, n. plu. ephemer'ides. [Gr.
f^JJflfpiS.]
1. A journal or account of daily transac-
tion.s ; a diary.
2. In astronomy, an account of the daily state
or positions of the planets or heavenly
orbs ; a table, or collection of tables, ex-
hibiting the places of all the planets every
day at noon. From these tables are cal-
culated echpses, conjunctions and other
aspects of the planets. Encvc,
'Hr"'""'"-" - ■ • ■
E P I
EPHEM'ERIST,
Oh
vho studies the
daily motions and positions of the planets ;
an astrologer. Howdl.
EPHEM'ERON-WORM, n. [See Epheme-
ra-l A worm that lives one day only.
Derham.,
EPIIE'SIAN, a. s as z. Pertaining to Ephe-
sus, in Asia Minor. As a noun, a native
of Ephesus.
EPHIAL'TES, n. [Gr.] The night-mar.
EPH'OD, n. [Heb. lax, from nijx to bind.
In Jemsh antiquity, a part of the sacerdo
tal habit, being a kind of girdle, which
was brought from behind the neck over the
two shoulders, and hanging down before,
was put across the stomach, then carried
round the waist and used as a girdle to
the tunic. There were two sorts ; one of
plain Unen, the other embroidered for the
high priest. On the part in front were
two precious stones, on which were en
graven the names of the twelve tribes of
Israel. Before the breast was a square
piece or breastplate. Encyc. Calmet
EPH'OR, n. [Gr. ifo^iof, from f^opou, to in-
spect.]
In ancient Spaila, a magistrate chosen by
the people. The epbors were five, anil
they were intended as a check on the re-
gal power, or according to some writers,
on the senate. Encyc. Mitford.
EPH'ORALTY, «. The office or term of
office of an ephor. Mitford.
EP'I€, a. [L. epicus, Gr. utixoi, from frtoj, a
song, or f rtu, iirtu, to speak.]
Nan-ative ; containing narration ; rehearsing
An epic poem, otherwise called heroic, is a
poem which narrates a story, real or ficti-
tious or both, representing, in an elevated
style, some signal action or series of
tions and events, usually the achievements
of some distinguished hero, and intended
to form the morals and affect the mind
with the love of virtue. The matter of
poem includes the action of the fable, the
incidents, episodes, characters, morals and
machinery. The form includes the man-
ner of narration, the discourses introdu-
ced, descriptions, sentiments, style, versi-
fication, figures and other ornaments. The
end is to improve the morals, and inspire
a love of virtue, bravery and illustrious
actions. Encyc.
EP'ICEDE, n. [Gr. tjtixjjSios.] A funeral
song or discourse.
EPICE'DIAN, a. Elegiac ; mournful.
EPICE^DIUM, n. An elegy.
EP'ICENE, a. [Gr. frtixowos ; fXt and xoiroj,
common.] Common to both sexes ; of
both kinds.
EPICTE'TIAN, (I. Pertaining to Epictetus,
the Grecian writer. Arhuthnot.
EP'ICURE, n. [L. epicurus, a voluptuary.
from Epicurus.]
Properly, a follower of Epicurus ; a man de-
voted to sensual enjoyments ; hence, one
who indulges in the luxuries of the table.
[The word is now used only or chiefly in the
latter sense.]
EPICU'REAN, ) „ [L. epicureus.] -Pertain
EPICURE' AN, S ing to Epicurus ; as the
Epicurean philosophy or tenets. Reid.
2. Luxurious ; given to luxury ; contribu-
ting to the luxuries of the table.
EPICU'REAN, I A follower of Epicu-
EPICURE'AN, I "■ rus.
Encyc. Shaftesbuni.
EPICUREANISM, n. Attachment to the
doctrines of Epicurus. Harris.
EP'ICURISM, n. Luxury ; sensual enjoy-
ments ; indulgence in gross pleasure ; vo-
luptuousness. Shak.
2. The doctrines of Epicurus.
Warton. Bailey.
EP'ICURIZE, V. i. To feed or indulge like
an epicure ; to riot ; to feast. Fuller.
2. To profess the doctrines of Epicurus.
Cudworth.
EP'ICYCLE, n. [Gr. ixi and xvxxo;, a cir-
cle.] A little circle, whose center is in the
circumference of a greater cu-cle ; or £
small orb, which, being fixed in the defer
ent of a planet, is carried along with it,
and yet by its own peculiar motion, car-
lies the body of the planet fastened toil
round its proper center. Harris.
EPICYCLOID, n. [Gr. trt«i>:?.ofta^; ; inc
xvxf.0;, and itSoi, foini.]
In geometry, a curve generated by the revolu
tion of the periphery of a circle along tin
convex or concave side of the periphery oil
another circle. Encyc. Harris.
A curve generated by any point in tl
plane of a movable circle which rolls on
the inside or outside of the circumference
of a fixed circle. Ed. Encyc.
EPICYCLOID'AL, a. Pertaining to the
epicycloid, or having its properties.
Encyc
EPIDEM'IC, I [Gr. ini and «.;uos, peo
EPIDEM'ICAL, \ "■ pie.] Common to ma
ny people. An epidemic disease is one
which seizes a great number of people, at
the same time, or in the same season
Thus we speak of epidemic measles ; epi
demic fever; epidemic catarrh. It is used
in distinction from endemic or local. In-
temperate persons have every thing to
fear from an epidemic influenza.
i. Generally prevailing ; affecting great num
bers ; as epidemic rage ; an epidemic evil.
EPIDEM'IC, n. A popular disease : a dis
ease generally prevailing. The influenza
of October and November 1789, that of
March and Ai)ril 1790, that of the winter
1824—5, and that of 1825—0, were very
severe epidemics.
Pertaining to the cu
tide ; covering the
EPIDERMIC,
EPIDERM'IDAL,
skin.
S-ir
[Gr. iniSipiiii
and
The epiderm
EPIDERMIS,
P^a, skin.]
In anatomy, the cuticle or scarf-skin of the
body ; a thin membrane covering the skir
of animals, or the bark of plants.
Encyc. Martyn.
EPI
EP'IDOTE, n. [from Gr. irtM^f^t ■ so na-
med from the apparent enlargement of the
base of the prism in one direction. It is
called by Werner, pistazit, and by Haus-
mann, thallit.]
A mineral occurring in lamellar, granular or
compact masses, in loose grams, or in
prismatic crystals of six or eight side,*, and
sometimes ten or twelve. Its color is
commonly some shade of green, yellowish,
bluish or blackish green. It has two va-
rieties, zoisite and arenaceous or granular
epitlote. Jameson. Cleaveland.
Epidote is granular or manganesian.
Phillips.
EPIGAS'TRIC, a. [Gr. mc and yaj^p, bel-
ly.] Pertaining to the upper part of the
abdomen ; as the epigastric region ; the
epigastric arteries and veins. Quincv
EPIGEE or EPIGEUM. [See Pei-igee.]
EP'IGLOT, } j^ [Gr.iMvyTMttis •,(»(, aud
EPIGLOT'TIS, 5 ■ y7.wrra, the tongue.]
In anatomy, one of the cartilages of the
larynx, whose use is to cover the glottis,
when food or drink is passing into the
stomach, to jnevent it from entering the
larynx and obstructing the breath.
vv>/ Qiiincy.
EP'IGRAM, n. [Gr. tniypa/tfia, inscription ;
fTti and ypofijua, a writing.]
A short poem treating only of one thing, and
ending with some lively, ingenious and
natural thought. Conciseness and point
form the beauty o{ epigrams.
Epigrams were originally inscriptions on
tombs, statues, temples, triumphal arches,
^c- Encuc.
EPIGRAMMATIC, ) Writing epi-
EPIGRAMMAT'ICAL, ^ "• grams i deal-
ing in epigrams ; as an epigrammatic poet.
2. Suitable to epigrams ; belonging to epi-
grams ; like an epigram ; concise ; point-
ed ; poignant ; as epigrammatic style or
wit.
EPIGRAM'MATIST, n. One who compo-
ses epigrams, or deals in them. Martial
was a noted epigrammatist.
EP'IGRAPH, n. [Gr. ,«.ypa^; ,rt, and
ypafu, to write.]
Among antiquaries, an inscription on a build-
ing, pointing out the time of its erection,
the builders, its uses, &c. Encyc
EP'ILEPSY, n. [Gr. £«a,4«)i, from maift'-
Sowu, to seize.]
The falling sickness, so called because the
patient falls suddenly to the ground ; a
disease accompanied with spasms or con-
vulsions and loss of sense. Quincv
EPILEP'TIC, a. Pertaining to the fallirrg
sickness ; affected with epilepsy ; consist-
ing of epilepsy.
EPILEP'TIC, n. One affected with epilep-
EP'ILOgISM, n. [Gr. iTtfKoyiafW!.] Compu-
'"'' --:-- Gregory.
epilogue ;
tation ; enumeration
EPILOgIS'TIC, o. Pertaininj
of the natur
of an epilogue.
EP'ILOGUE, n. ep'ilog. [L. epilogus, from
Gr. {jtaoyos, conclusion ; ijtaiyw, to con-
clude ; frtt and }.cyu, to speak.]
1. In oratory, a conclusion ; the closing part
of a discourse, in which the principal mat-
ters are recapitulated. Encyc.
2. In the drama, a speech or short poem ad-
dressed to the spectators by one of the ac-
tors, after the conclusion of the play.
E P I
E P I
E P I
EP'ILOGUIZE, I ■ To pronounce an ep
EP'ILOgIZE. \ "■ '• iloguc.
EP'ILOGUIZE, V. t. To add to, in the man
ner of an epilogue.
EPINI"CION, n. [Or. frtiwxior ; «rti and
nxou, to conquer.J A song of triumph,
jJYot in use.] Warton.
EPIPII'ANY, n. [Gr. ira^auM, appearance ;
ini^aivu,, to ajjpear; uti and $airu.]
A christian festival celebrated on the sixth
day of January, the twelfth day after
Christmas, in commemoration of the ap
pearance of our Savior to the magians or
philosophers of the East, who came to
adore him with presents ; or as othei-s
maintain, to commemorate the appearance
of the star to tlic inagiuns, or the mani-
festation of Clirist to the Gentiles. Je-
rome and Chrysostoni take the epiphany
to be the day of our Savior's baptisi7i,
from 1
when s
I heaven declared, "Tlii
is my beloved son, in whom 1 am
pleased." The Greek fathers use tlie «i .
for the appearance of Christ in tlie wor
the sense in which Paul uses the word, 2
Tim. i. 10. Encyc.
EPIPH'ONEM, ), [Gr. frtt$Q«?;«(i, excla-
EPIPHONE'MA, \ "• malion ; £«i4.u»u, to
cry out ; f«t aixl ^um u.]
In oralonj, an exclamation ; an ecphonesis ;
a vehement utterance of the voice to ex-
press strong passion, in a sentence not
closely coimected with the general strain
of the discourse ; as, O mournful day
Miserable fate ! Admirable clemency !
Johnson. Encyc
EPIPirORA, n. [Gr. trti and tfp«, to bear.;
The watery eye ; a disease in which tht
tears, from increased secretion, or an nh-
struction in the lachrymal duct, accinnii
late in front of the eye and trickle over iIji
cheek. Cyc. Parr
EPIPHYLLOSPERM'OUS, a. [Gr. frti
^vM.ov, a leaf, and crtsp^a, seed.]
In botany, bearin" their seeds on the back of
the leaves, as ferns. Harris.
EPIPH'YSIS, ? , [Gr. e«i^ai5;trtiand4.vio,
EPIPH'YSY, i togrow.] Accretion ; the
growing of one bone to another by simple
contiguity, without a proper articulation.
Qih'hct/.
The spongy extremity of a bone ; ail\
portion of a bone growing on another, but
separated from it by a cartilage. Coxe
Epiphysis are appendixes of the long
bones, forthe purpose of articulation, form-
ed from a distinct center of ossification, and
in the young subject connected with I he
larger bones by an intervening cartilage,
which in the adult is obliterated. Parr.
EPIP'LOCE, I „ [Gr. £7tt«Xox^, implica-
EPIP'LOCY, S "• tion ; i>ti and rCKixu, to
fold.]
A figure of rhetoric, by which one aggrava-
tion, or striking circumstance, is added in
due gradation to another ; as, •' He not
only spared his enemies, but continued
them in employment ; not only continued
them, but advanced them." Johnson.
EPIP'LOCELE, n. [Gr. trtirt^^ox^?.^ ; m,-
rtXooi', the caul, and jtjjXj;, a tumor.] A rup-
ture of the caul or omentum. Coxe.
EPIP'LOIe, a. [Gr. frt.7t;uwi, the caul.]
Pertaining to the caul or omentum.
Vol. I.
EPIP'LOON, n. [Gr. otirCKoov ; cm and
ro-fu.] The caul or omentum.
EPIS'COPACY, n. [L. episcopaliis ; Sp.
obispado ; Port, bispado ; It. episcopato ;
from the Gr. £«i«ortfu), to inspect ; tfti and
axortju, to see. See Bishop.]
Government of the church by bishops ; that
form of ecclesiastical government, in which
diocesan bishops are established, as dis-
tinct from and superior to priests or jires-
bylers. Encyc.
EPiS'COPAL, a. Belonging to or vested in
bishops or prelates; as yji'scopa/ jurisdic-
tion ; episcopal authority.
2. Governed by bishops ; as the episcopal
church.
EPISCOPALIAN, a. Pertaining to bish-
ops or government by bishops; episcopal.
EPISCOPALIAN, n. One who belongs to
an ejiiscopal church, or adheres to the
episcopal form of church government and
(lisc-ipiiiie.
EPIS COPALLY, adv. By episcopal au-
thority ; in an episcopal manner.
EPISCOPATE, ji. A bishopric ; the office
and dignity of a bisho]).
2. The order of bishops.
EPIS'COPATE, I', i. To act as a bishop ;
to fill the office of a prelate.
Harris. MUner.
EPIS'COPY, n. Survey ; superintendence :
search. Milton.
EP'ISODE, JI. [from the Gr.] In poetry, a
separate incident, story or action, intro,
duced for the purpose of giving a greater
variety to the events related in the poem :
an incidental narrative, or digression, sep-
arable from the main subject, but natural-
ly arising from it. Johnson. Encyc.
EPISODIC, I Pertaining to an e"| '
EPISODICAL, S .sode; contained in::
episode or digression. Dryde
EPISPAS'TIC, a. [Gr. t7tiarta;ixa, "from
irtionau, to draw.]
In j«c(/icnie, drawing ; attracting the liumors
to the skin ; exciting action in the skin ;
blistering.
EPISPAS'TIC, n. A topical remedy, apphed
to the external part of the body, for the
purpose of drawing the humors to the
part, or exciting action in the skin ; a blis
ter. Encyc. Coxe.
EPISTIL'BITE, n. A mineral, said to be
the same as the heulandite.
Jourti. of Science.
EPIS'TLE,n. epis'l. [L. epistola, Gr. fjicyox,,
from frtiCfW.u, to send to ; ini. and ftTJiu, to
send, G. stellen, to set.]
A writing, directed or sent, communicating
intelligence to a distant person ; a letter ;
a letter missive. It is rarely used in fa-
miliar conversation or wl-itings, but chief-
ly in solemn or formal transaetinns. It is
used paiticidarly in speaking of the letters
of the Apostles, as the epistles of Paid ; and
of other letters written by the ancients, as
the epistles of Pliny or of Cicero.
EPIS'TLER, n. A writer of epistles. [LUlle
U.Sfrf.]
2. Formerly, one who attended the com-
munion table and read the epistles.
EPIS'TOLAKY, a. Pertaining to epistles
or letters ; suitable to letters and corres-
pondence; familiar; as an episio/ary style.
2. Contained in letters ; carried on by letters ;
an epistolary correspondence.
74
EPISTOL'IC, I Pertaining to letter.*
EPISTOL'ICAL, I "■ or epistles.
2. Designating the method of representing
ideas by letters and words. M'arbttrion.
EPIS'TOLIZE, V. i. To write epistles or
letters. Howell.
EPIS'TOLIZER, n. A writer of epistles.
Howell.
EPISTOLOGRAPII IC, a. Pertaining to
the writing of letters.
EPISTOLOG RAPIIY, n. [Gr. .,-«<ro>.i;, a
letter, and yt^u, to write.]
The art or practice of writing letters.
Encyc.
EPIS'TROPHE, ) [Gr.,;tcfpot>;;frt.and
EPIS'TROPHY, \ "rpo,}..;, a return.]
A figure, in rhetoric, in which several suc-
cessive sentences end with the same word
or affirmation. Bailey. Ash.
EP'ISTYLE, n. [Gr. jrti and riooj, a col-
umn.]
In ancient architecture, a term used by the
Greeks for what is now called the archi-
trave, a massive piece of stone or wood
laid immediately over the capital of a col-
umn or pillar. Encyc.
EPITAPH, n. [Gr. trti and ra^os, a sepul-
cher.]
1. An inscription on a monument, in honor
or memory of the dead.
The epitaphs o( the present day are crammed
with fulsome compliments never merited.
Encyc.
Can yoii look forward to the honor of a dec-
orated coffin, a splendid funeral, a towering
monument — it may be a lying epitaph.
W. B. Sprague.
2. An eulogy, in prose or verse, composed
without any intent to be engraven on a
monument, as that on Alexander:
" Sufficit huic tumulus, cui non suffice-
ret orbis." Encyc.
EPITAPH'IAN, a. Pertaining to an epitaph.
Milton.
EPITHALA'MIUM, ) [Gr. f«c9aiu.|U«>'' :
EPITHAL'AMY, \ "• ,«> and SoXauof,
a bed-chamber.]
A nuptial song or poem, in praise of the
bride and bridegoom, and praying for their
prosperity.
The forty fifth Psalm is an epithalamium to
Christ and the church. Burnet.
EP'ITHEM, n. [Gr. tn^r^pa. ; im and rtS^jut,
to place.]
In pharmacy, a kind of fomentation or poul-
tice, to be applied externally to strengthen
the part. Encyc.
Any external application, or topical
medicine. The term has been restricted
to liquids in which cloths are dipped, to be
applied to a part. Parr. Turner.
EPITHET, n. [Gr. tTtiOitov, a name added,
from frti anil tiSriiu, to place.]
An adjective expressing some real quahty of
the thing to which it is applied, or an at-
tributive expressing some quality ascribed
to it ; as a verdant lawn ; a brilliant ap-
pearance ; a just man ; an accurate descrip-
tion.
It is sometimes used for title, name,
phrase or expression ; but improperly.
EPITHET, V. t. To entitle ; to describe by
pithets. Hotton.
EPITHET'IC, a. Pertaining to an epithet
or epithets.
2. Abounding with epithets. A stj'le or com-
position may be too epithetic.
E P O
EPITHUMET'lC, ? [Gr. frti9r;x)jr<xos.]
EPITHUMET'leAL, S Inclined to lust;
pertaining to the animal passion.
Brotim
EPIT'OME, ) [Gr. irtiron,}, from im anc
EPIT'OMY, S "' Tifivu, to cut, rofir„ a cut
ting, a section.}
An abridgment; a brief summary or abstract
of any book or writing ; a compendium
containing the substance or principal mat
ters of a book.
Epitomes are helpful to the memory.
Wolton
EPIT'OMIST, n. An epitomizer.
EPIT'OMIZE, V. t. To shorten or abridge,
as a writing or discourse ; to abstract, in a
summary, the principal matters of a book;
to contract into a narrower compass
Xiphiiin epitomized Dion's Roman History
2. To diminish ; to curtail. [Less proper.]
EPIT'OMIZED, p;). Abridged; shortened;
contracted into a smaller compass, as a
book or writing.
EPITOMIZER, n. One who abridges; a
writer of an epitome.
EPIT'OMiZING,^^)-. Abridging; shorten-
iug ; making a summary.
EP'ITRITE, n. [Gr. Ertirpif oj ; « rti and fpiroj,
third.]
In prosody, a foot consisting of three long
syllables and one short one ; as salutantes,
concitati, incantare. Encyc.
EPIT'ROPE, I [Gr. trtifportjj, from I'rti-
EPIT'ROPY, I "• Tpjrtu, to permit.]
Ill rhetoric, concession ; a figure by which
one thing is granted, with a view to obtain
an advantage ; as, I admit all this may be
true, but what is tliis to the purpose ? I
concede the fact, but it overthrows your
own argument. Encyc.
EPIZOOT'IC, a. [Gr. nn and ^coor, ani-
mal.]
In geology, an epithet given to such moun-
tains as contain animal remains in their
natural or in a petrified state, or the im-
pressions of animal substances.
Epizootic mountains are of secondary forma-
tion. Kiruyan.
EPIZO'OTY, n. [supra.] A murrain or
pestilence among irrational animals.
Ed. Encyc.
E'POeH, n. [L. epochn ; Gr. inoxf;, reten-
tion, delay, stop, from f?tf;t"^ to inhibit ;
eH(. and (x^, to hold.]
1. In chronology, a fixed point of time, from
which succeeding years are numbered ; a
point fi'om which computation of yeare
begins. The Exodus of the Israelites from
Egypt, and the Babylonish captivity, are
remarkable epochs in their history.
a. Any fixed time or period ; the period
when any thing begins or is remarkably
prevalent ; as the epoch of falsehood ; the
epoch of woe. Donne. Prior.
The fifteenth century was the unhappy epoch
of militaiy establishments in tiuie of peace.
.Madison.
EP'ODE, n. [Gr. srtua^ ; f?fi and uSij, ode.]
In lyric poetry, the thinl or last pai-t of the
ode ; that which follows tjie strophe and
antistrophe ; the ancient ode being divid-
ed into strophe, antistrophe and epode.
The word is now used as the name of any
little verse or verses, that follow one or
more great ones. Tims a pentameter af-
ter a hexameter is an epode. Encyc.
E a u
EPOPEE', n. [Gr. frtoj, a song, and xouu, to
make.]
An epic poem. More properly, the history
action or fable, which makes tlie subjet
of an epic poem. Encyi
E'POS, n. [Gr. irtof.] An epic poem, or its
fable or subject.
Epsom salt, the sulphate of magnesia, a ca-
thartic.
EP'ULARY, a. [L. epularis, from epulmn,
feast.] Pertaining to a feast or banquet
Bailey.
EPULA'TION, n. [L. epulatio, from epulor,
to feast.] A feasting or feast. Brown.
EPULOT'l€, a. [Gr. frtwXur«a, from tjtw-
J.OU, to heal, to cicatrize : ini, and ouJijj, a
cicatrix, oi*u, to be sound, oi^Xot, whole.]
Healing ; cicatrizing.
EPULOTTC, n. A medicament or applica
tion which tends to di7, cicatrize and heal
wounds or ulcers, to re|)ress fungous flesh
and dispose the parts to recover sound
ness. Coxe. Quiticii.
EaUABIL'ITY, n. [See Equable.] Equality
in motion ; continued equahty, at all times,
in velocity or movement ; uniformity ; as
the equability of the motion of a heavenly
body, or of the blood in the arteries and
veins.
3. Continued equality ; evenness or uniform
ity ; as the equability of the temperature
of the air ; the equability of the mind
E'Q,UABLE, a. [L. cequabilis, from (equus,
equal, even, wquo, to equal, to level.]
1. Equal and uniform at all times, a:
tion. An equable motion continues the
same in degree of velocity, neither accel
crated nor retarded.
i. Even; smooth; having a uniform surface
or form ; as an equable globe or plain.
Bentley.
E'QUABLY, adv. With an equal or uniform
motion ; with continued uniformity ; even
ly ; as, bodies moving equably in concen
trie circles. Cheyne.
E'QUAL, a. [L. cequalis, from cequus, equal,
even, aqtto, to equal, perhaps Gr. sixo;,
similar ; Fr. egal ; Sp. igual ; Port. id. ; It.
eguale.]
1. Having the same magnitude or dimen-
sions ; being of the same bulk or extent ;
as an equal quantity of land ; a house ot
equal size ; two persons of equal bulk ; an
equal line or angle.
2. Having the same value ; as two commod-
ities of equal price or worth.
.3. Having the same qualities or condition ;
as two men of equal rank or excellence ;
two bodies of equal hardness or softn
4. Having the same degree ; as two
of equal velocity.
5. Even; uniform; not variable; as an c^tia/
temper or mind.
Ye say, the way of the Lord is not equal.
Ezek. xvi.
6. Being in just proportion ; as, my commen-
dation is not equal to his merit.
7. Inipartial; neutral; not biased.
Equal and unconcerned, I look on all.
Dryden.
8. Indifferent ; of the same interest or con-
cern. He may receive them or not, it is
equcU to me.
9. Just; equitable ; giving the same or sim-
ilar rights or advantages. The terms and
conditions of the contract are equal.
E a u
10. Being on the same terms ; enjoying the
same or similar benefits.
They made the married, orphans, widows,
yea and the aged also, equal in spoils with
themselves. Maccabees
11. Adequate ; having competent power,
abihty or means. The ship is not equal to
her antagonist. The army was not equal
to the contest. We are not equal to the
undertaking.
E'CiUAL, n. One not inferior or superior to
another ; having the same or a similar age,
rank, station, office, talents, strength, &c.
Those who were once his equals, envy and
defame him. Addismi.
It was thou, a man my equal, my guide. Ps.
Iv. Gal. i.
E'QUAL, V. t. To make equal ; to make one
tiling of the same quantity, dimensions or
quality as another.
3. To rise to the same state, rank or estima-
tion with anotlier; to become equal to.
Few officers can expect to equal Wash-
ington in fame.
3. To be (
equal to.
One whose all not equals Edward's moiety.
Shak.
4. To make equivalent to ; to recompense
fully; to answer in full proportion.
He answer'd all her cares, aniequaVd all her
love. Dryden.
5. To be of like excellence or beauty.
The gold and the crystal cmnot equal it.
Job xxviii.
EQUAL'ITY, n. [L. cequalitas.] An agree-
ment of things in dimensions, quantity or
quality; likeness; similarity in regard to
two things compared. We speak of the
equality of two or more tracts of land, of
two bodies in length, breadth or thickness,
of virtues or vices.
2. The same degree of dignity or claims; as
the equality of men in the scale of being ;
the equality of nobles of the same rank ;
an equality of rights.
3. Evenness ; uniformity ; sameness in state
or continued course ; as an equality of tem-
per or constitution.
4. Evenness ; plainness ; uniformity ; as an
equality of surface.
EQUALIZATION, n. The act of equaliz-
ing, 01 state of being equalized.
E'QUALIZE, V. I. To make equal ; as, to
equalize accounts ; to equalize burdens or
taxes.
E'QUALIZED, pp. Made equal ; reduced
equality.
E'QUALIZING, ppr. Making equal.
E'QUALLY, adv. In the same degree with
another ; alike ; as, to be equally taxed ; to
be equally virtuous or vicious; to be equally
impatient, hungry, thirsty, swift or slow;
to be equally furnished.
2. In equal shai-es or proportions. The es-
tate is to be equally divided among the
heirs.
3. impartially ; with equal justice. Shak.
E'QUALNESS, n. Equality; a state of be-
ing equal. Shak.
2. Evenness; unifonnity; as the equalness
of a surface.
EQUAN'GULAR, a. [L. a^quus and angu-
lus.] Consisting of equal angles. [See
Eqviangular, which is generally used.]
EQUANIM'ITY, n. [L. mquanimitas ; cequus
and animus, an equal mind.]
Evenness of mind ; that calm temper or
E Q U
firmness of mind which is not easily elated
or depressed, which sustains prosperity
without excessive joy, and adversity with-
out violent agitation of the passions or de
pressioii of spirits. The great man bears
misfortunes with equanimity.
EQUAN'IMOUS, a. Of an even, composed
frame of mind ; of a steady temper ; not
easily elated or depressed.
EQUA'TION, ;(. (L. mqualio, from i^quo, to
make equal or level.]
1. Literally, a making equal, or an equal di
vision.
2. In algebra, a. proposition asserting the
equality of two quantities, and expressed
by the sign =: between them ; or an ex
pression of the same quantity in two dis-
similar terms, but of equal value, as
t3s=36d, or x=6+?n— r. In the latter
case, X is equal to b added to m, with r
subtracted, and the quantities on tlie right
hand of the sign of equation are said to be
the value oCx on the left hand.
Encyc. Johnson.
3. In astronomy, the reduction of the appa-
rent time or motion of the sun to equable,
mean or tnie time. Encyc.
4. The reduction of any extremes to a mean
proportion. Harris
FAIUA'TOR, n. [L. from cequo, to make
equal.]
In astronomy and geography, a great circle
of the sphere, equally distant from the two
poles of the world, or having the same
poles as the world. It is called equator,
because when the sim is in it, the days
and nights are of equal length ; hence it is
called also the equinoctial, and when drawn
on maps, globes and planispheres, it
called the equinoctial line, or simply the
line. Every point in the equator is 90 de-
grees or a quadrant's distance from the
poles ; hence it divides the globe or sphere
into two equal hemispheres, the northern
and southern. At tlie meridian, the equa
tor rises as much above the horizon as u
the complement of the latitude of the
place. Encyc. Harris.
EQUATO'RIAL,a. Pertaining to the equa
tor ; as equatorial climates. The equato
rial diameter of tlie earth is longer than
the polar diameter.
E'QUERY, n. [¥"1: ecuyer, for esciiyer ; It
scudiere ; Low L. scutariits, from scutum
a shield. See Esquire.]
1. An officer of princes, who has the care
and management of his horses.
2. A stable or lodge for horses.
EQUES'TRIAN, a. [L. equester, equeslris,
from eques, a horseman, from equus,
hnr.sc.]
1. Pertaining to horses or horsemanshi]
performed with horses ; as equestrian
feats.
2. Being on horseback ; as an equestrian
lady. Spectator
3. Skilled in horsemanship.
4. Representing a person on horseback ; a
an equestrian statue.
5. Celebrated by horse-races; as equestrian
games, sports or amusements.
C>. Belonging to knights. Among the Ro
mans, the equestrian order was the order
, of knights, equites ; also their troopers or
horsemen in the field. In civil life, the
Unights stood contra-distinguished from
E a u
the senators ; in the^ieW, from the infant-
ry. Encyc.
EQUIAN'OIILAR, a. [L. u:quus, equal, and
angulus, an angle.]
In geometry, consisting of or having equal
angles ; an epithet given to figures whose
angles are all equal, such as a square, an
equilateral triangle, a parallelogram, &c.
EQUIBAL'ANCE, n. [L. a:quus and bi-
lanx.] Equal weight.
EQUIBAL'ANCE, v. t. To have equal
eight with something.
Ch. Relig. Jlppeal.
EQUIeRU'RAL, a. [L. mquus, equal, and
cms, a leg.] Having legs of equal length.
2. Having equal legs, but longer than the
base ; isosceles ; as an equicrural triangle.
Johnson.
EQUIDIF'FERENT, a. Having equal dif-
ferences ; arithmetically proportional.
In crystalography, having a different numl)er
of faces presented by the prism and by
each summit; and these three numbers
form a series in arithmetical progression,
as 6.4.2. Cleaveland.
EQUIDIS'TANCE, n. Equal distance.
Hall.
EQUIDISTANT, a. [L. cequus, equal, and
(/js/o»i5, distant.]
Being at an equal distance from some point
or ulare.
EQUIDIS'TANTLY, adv. At the same or
an equal distance. lirown
EQUIFORM ITY, n. [L. a;qmis, equal, and
forma, form.] Uniform equality. Brown
EQUILAT'ERAL, a. [L. aquus, equal, and
lateralis, from latus, side.]
Having all the sides equal ; as an equilateral
triangle. A square must necessarily be
equilateral.
EQUILAT'ERAL, ji. A side exactly cor
responding to others. Herbert.
EQUILI'BRATE, v. t. [L. (Equus and libra,
to poise.]
To balance equally two scales, sides or ends;
to keep even with equal weight on each
side.
The bodies of fishes are equilibrated with th(
water. Ariuthnot
EQUILIBRATED, pp. Balanced equally
on both sides or ends.
EQUILI'BRATING,;);)r. Balancing equal
ly on both sides or ends.
EQUILIBRA'TION, ». Equipoise; the aci
of keeping the balance even, or the state
of being equally balanced.
Nature's laws of equilibration. Derham.
EQUILIB'RIOUS, a. Equally poised.
EQUILIB'RIOUSLY, adv. In equal poise.
EQUIL'IBRIST, n. One that balances
equallv.
EQUILlB'RITY, n. [L. mquilibritas.] The
state of being equally balanced ; equal
balance on both sides ; equilibrium ; as the
theory o( equUibrity. Gregory.
EQUlLIB'RIUM,n. [L.] In mechanics, equi-
pose ; equality of weight ; the state of the
two ends of a lever or balance, when both
are charged with equal weight, and they
maintain an even or level position, paral-
lel to the horizon. Encyc.
2. Equality of powers.
Health consists in the equilibrium between
those two powers. Mrbuthnot.
3. Equal balancing of the mind between mo-
E Q U
lives or reasons ; a state of indifference
or of doubt, when the mind is suspended
ill indecision, between different motives,
or the different forces of evidence.
EQUIMULTIPLE, a. [L. a^juus and mul-
iiplico or multiplex.] Multiplied by the
same number or quantity.
EQUIMULTIPLE, n. In arithmetic and
geometry, a number multiplied by the
same number or quantity. Hence equi-
multiples are always in the same ratio to
each other, as the simple numbers or
quantities before multiplication. If 6 and
9 are multiplied by 4, the multiples, 24
and 30, will be to each other as 6 to 9.
Encyc.
E'QUINE, a. [L. equinus, from equus, a
horse.] Pertaining to a horse or to the
genii«.
The slioulders, body, tliighs and mane arc
equine ; the head completely bovine.
Barrow^s IVavel^.
EQUINEC'ESSARY, a. [L. mquus and Jif-
cessari/.]
Necessary or needful in the same degree.
Hudibras.
EQUINOCTIAL, a. [L. aquus, equal, and
nox, night.]
1. Pertaining to the equinoxes; designating
m equal length of day and night ; as the
quinoctial line.
2. Pertaining to the regions or climate of the
C()uinoctial line or equator ; in or near that
line; as equinoctial heat; an equinoctial
sun ; equinoctial wind.
3. Pertaining to the time when the sun en-
ters the equinoctial points ; as an equinoc-
tial gale or storm, which happens at or
near the equinox, in any part of the world.
4. Equinoctial flowers, flowers that ojien at a
regular, stated Iiour. Martyn.
EQUINOCTIAL, n. [(or equinoctial Urn.]
In astronomy, a great circle of the sphere,
under which the equator moves in its diur-
nal course. This should not he confound-
ed with the equator, as there is a differ-
ence between them ; the equator beuig
movable, and the equinoctial immovable ;
the equator being drawn about the convex
surface of the sphere, and the equinoctial
on the concave surface of the magnus
orbis. These words however are often
confounded. When the sun, in its course
through the ecliptic, comes to this circle,
it makes equal days and nights in all parts
of the globe. The equinoctial then is the
circle which the sun describes, or appears
to describe, at the time the days and nights
are of equal length, viz. about the 21st of
March and 2.3d of September. Encyc.
Equinoctial points, are the two points where-
in the equator and ecliptic intersect each
other ; the one, being in the first point of
Aries, is called the ttenial point or equi-
nox ; the other, in the first point of Libra,
the autumnal point or equinox. Encyc.
Equinoctial dial, is that whose plane lies par-
allel to the equinoctial. Encyc.
EQUINOC'TIALLY, adv. In the direction
of the equinox. Brown.
E'QUINOX, n. [L. cequus, equal, and nox,
night.]
The precise time when the sun enters one of
the equinoctial points, or the first point of
Aries, about the 21st of March, and the
first point of Libra, about the 23d of Sejj-
E U U
teiiiber, maldiig the day and the night of
equal length. These are called the vernal
and autumnal equinoxes. These pointi
are found to be moving backward or west
ward, at the rate of 50" of a degree in !
year. This is called the precession of the
equinoxes. Encyc
EaUINU'MERANT, a. [L. aquus, equal,
and mimerus, number.]
Having or consisting of the same number
[Little used.] Jlrbutlmol
EQUIP', V. t. [Fr. equiper ; Arm. aqipa,
aqipein ; Sp. equipar ; Ch. t]p', Aphel tj'pN
to surround, to gird ; perhaps the same
rootasEth. (tl + di [ t^pn ] to embrace.]
1. Properly, to dress; to habit. Hence,
furnish with arras, or a complete suit of
arms, for military service. Thus we
to eqttip men or troops for war ; to equip
a body of infantry or cavalry. But the
word seems to include not only arms, but
clothing, baggage, utensils, tents, and all
the apparatus of an army, particularly
when applied to a body of troojis. Hence
to furnish with arms and warlike appara-
tus ; as, to equip a regiment.
2. To furnish with men, artillery and muni-
tions of war, as a ship. Hence, in com-
mon language, to fit for sea ; to furnish
with whatever is necessary for a voyage
EQ'UIPAgE, n. The furniture of a miUtary
man, particularly arms and their appen
dages.
2. The furniture of an army or body of
troops, infantry or cavalry ; including
arms, artillery, utensils, provisions, anc
whatever is necessary for a military expe
dition. Camp equipage includes tents, and
every thing necessary for accommodation
in camp. Field equipage consists of arms,
artillery, wagons, tumbrils, &c.
fi. The furniture of an armed ship, or the
necessary preparations foi' a voyage ;
eluding cordage, spars, provisions, &c
4. Attendance, retinue, as persons, liorses,
carriages, &c.; as the equipage of a prince.
5. Carriage of state ; vehicle ; as celestial
equipage. Milton.
6. Accoutermouts ; habiliments ; ornament-
al fmniture. Piior.
EQ'UIPAgED, a. Furnished with equi-
page; attended with a splendid retinue.
Cowper. Spenser.
EQUIPEN'DENCY, n. [L. wquus, equal,
and pendeo, to hang.]
The act of hanging in equipoise ; a being not
inclined or determined either way.
South.
EQUIPOL'LENCE, i [h. tequus and pol-
EQUH'OL'LENCY, I "• lentia, power, pol-
teo, to be able.]
1. Equality of power or force.
2. In logic, an equivalence between two or
more propositions; that is, when two pro-
positions signify the same thing, though
diflerently expressed. Encyc.
EQUIPOLLENT, a. [supra.] Having
equal power or force ; equivalent. li
logic, having equivalent signification.
Bacon
EQUlPON'DERANCE,n. [L. cequus,eqwi\
and pondus, weight.] Equahty of weight
EQUIP'MENT, n. The act of equipping, or
fitting for a voyage or e.vpedition.
9. Any thing that is used in equipping ; fur-
niture ; habihmeuts ; warlike apparatus ;
necessaries for an expedition, or for a voy-
age ; as the equipments of a ship or an
army.
E'QUIPOISE, n. s as z. [L. mqims, equal,
and Fr. poids, or rather W. pivys, weight
See Poise.]
Equality of weight or force ; hence, equilib-
rium ; a state in which the two ends oi
sides of a thing are balanced. Hold the
scales in equipoise. The mind may be in
a state of equipoise, when motives are of
equal weight.
;. [supra.] Being
Locke.
i. [L.ff^KM^, equal.
of the same weight.
EQUIPONDERATE,
and pondero, to weigl
To be equal in weight ; to weigh as much as
another thing. ffilkins.'
EQUIPON'DIOUS, a. Having equai weight
on both sides. Glanville.
EQUIP'PED, pp. Furnished with habili
ments, arms, and whatever is necessary for
a military expedition, or for a voyage or
cruise.
EQUIPPING, ppr. Furnishing with habili
ments or warlike apparatus; supplying
with things necessary for a voyage.
EQUISO'NANCE, n. An equal sounding ;
a name by which the Greeks distinguished
the consonances of the octave and double
octave. Busby.
EQ'UITABLE, n. [Fr. equitable, from L.
mquitas, from mquus, equal.]
1. Equal in regard to the rights of persons;
distributing equal justice; giving each his
due ; assigning to one or more what law
or justice demands; just; impartial. The
judge does justice by an equitable deeision.
The court will make
equitable distribu
tion of the estate.
2. Having the disposition to do justice, or
doing justice ; impartial ; as an equitable
judge.
3. Held or exercised in equity, or with chan
eery powers ; as the equitable jurisdiction
of a court. Kent
EQ'UITABLENESS, n. The quahty of
being just and impartial; as the equitable
ness of a judge.
2. Equity ; the state of doing justice, or dis
tributing to each according to his legal or
just claims ; as the equitableness of a de-
cision or distribution of property.
EQ'UITABLY, adv. In an equitable man-
ner ; justly ; impartially. The laws should
be equitably administered.
EQ'UITANT, a. [L. equitans, eqxiito, to ride,
from eques, a horseman, or equus, a liorse.]
In botany, riding, as equitant leaves : a term
of leafing or foliation, when two opposite
leaves converge so with their edges, that
one incloses the other; or when the inner
leaves are inclosed by the outer ones.
Marlyn.
EQUITA'TION, n. A riding on horseback.
BarroiD.
EQ'UITY, n. [L. (Equitas, from avptus, equal,
even, level ; Fr. eqidli ; It. crjuitii.]
Justice; right. In |ir;ii t
•c, ((luitv is the
impartial distribution nf
insure, or the
doing that to another \vl
irli Ihr laws ol
God and man, and of rea
sou, give him a
E Q U
right to claun. It is the treating of a per-
son according to justice and reason.
With righteousness shall he judge the poor,
and reprove vpith equity. Is. xi.
2. .lustice ; impartiality ; a just regard to
right or claim ; as, we must, in equity, al-
low this claim.
3. In law, an equitable claim. " I consider
the wife's equity to be too well settled to
be shaken." Kent.
4. In jurisprudence, the correction or qualifi-
cation of law, when too severe or defect-
ive ; or the extension of the words of the
law to cases not expressed, yet coming
within the reason of the law. Hence a
court of equity or chancery, is a court
which corrects the operation of the literal
text of the law, and supplies its defects, by
reasonable construction, and by rules of
proceeding and deciding, which are not
admissible in a court of law. Equity then
is the law of reason, exercised by the chan-
cellor or judge, giving remedy in cases to
which the courts of law are not compe-
tent. Blackstone.
Equity of redemption, in law, the advan-
tage, allowed to a mortgager, of a reasona-
ble time to redeem lands mortgaged, when
the estate is of greater value than the sum
for which it was mortgaged.
Blackstone.
EQUIVALENCE, n. [L. ceqiius, equal, and
valens, from valeo, to be worth.]
. Equality of value; equal value or worth.
Take the goods and give an equivalence in
corn.
2. Equal power or force. [To equivalence,
a verb, used by Brown, has not gained
currency.]
EQUIVALENT, a. Equal in value or
worth. In barter, the goods given are
supposed to be equivalent to the goods re-
ceived. Equivalent in valtie or tvorlh, is
tautological.
2. Equal in force, power or effect. A steam
engine may have force or power equiva-
lent to that of thirty horses.
3. Equal in moral force, cogency or effect on
the mind. Circumstantial evidence may
be almost equivalent to full jiroof.
4. Ofthe same import or meaning. Friend-
ship and amity are equivalent terms.
For now to serve and to minister, servile and
ministerial, are terms equivaleirt. South.
Equivalent propositions in logic arc
called also equipollent.
5. Equal in excellence or moral worth.
Milton.
EQUIVALENT, n. That which is equal in
value, weight, dignity or force, with some-
thing else. The debtor cannot pay his
creditor in money, but he will pay him an
equivalent. Damages in money cannot be
an equivalent for the loss of a limb.
2. In chimistry, equivalent is the particular
weight or quantity of any substance which
is necessary to saturate any other with
which it can combine. It is ascertained
that chimical combinations are definite,
that is, the same body always enters into
combination in the same weight, or if it can
combine with a particular body in more
E R
ERA
ERE
• than one proportion, the higher proportion
is always a multiple of the lower.
Silliman.
EQUIV'ALENTLY, adv. In an equal man-
ner.
EaUIV'OCACY, n. Equivocalness. [Mt
used.] Brown.
EQUIV'OCAL, a. [Low L. mquivocus ;
uequus, equal, and vox, a word ; Fr. equi-
voque ; It. equivocale. Sec Vocal.]
1. Being of doubtful signification; that may
be understood in different senses ; capable
of a double interpretation ; ambiguous ;
as equivocal words, terms or senses. Men
may be misled in their opmions by the use
of e^uiwca/ terms.
2. Doubtful; ambiguous; susceptible of dif-
ferent constructions; not decided. The
character of the man is somewhat equivo-
cal. His conduct is equivocal.
a. Uticertain ; proceeding from some un-
known cause, or not from the usual cause.
Equivocal generation is tlie production of
animals without the intercourse of the
sexes, and of plants without seed. This
doctrine is now exploded.
EQUIV'OCAL, n. A word or term of
doubtful meaning, or capable of different
mearnngs.
Dennis.
EQUIVOCALLY, adv. Ambiguously ; in a
doubtful sense; in terms susceptible of
different senses. He answered the ques-
tion equivocally.
2. By uncertain birth ; by equivocal genera-
tion. Bentleu.
EQUIVOCALNESS, n. Ambiguity ; double
meaning. JVorris.
EQUIVOCATE, i'. i. [It. equivocate; Fr.
equivoquer. See Equivocal.]
To use words of a doubtful signification ; to
express one's opinions in terms which ad
mit of different senses ; to use ambiguoui
exi)ressions. To equivocate is the dishon
orable work of duplicity. The upright
man will not equivocate in his intercourst
with his fellow men.
EQUIVOCATING, ppr. Using ambiguoui
woiils or phrases.
EQUIVOeA'TION,n. Ambiguity of speech
the use of words or expressions thai art
susceptible of a double signification. Hyp
oorites are often guilty oi equivocation, and
bv this means lose the confidence of their
fellow men. Equivocation is incompatible
with the christian character and profes
sion.
EQUIVOCATOR, n. One who cquivo
cates; one who uses language which i;
ambiguous and may be interpreted in dif-
ferent ways ; one who uses mental reser-
E' QUI YOKE, n. [Fr. equivoque.) An am^
biguous tenn ; a word susceptible of dif
ferent significations.
2. Equivocation.
EQUIVOROUS, a. [L. equus, horse, and
niiincs of places, er signifies a man of the
place ; Londoner is the same as London-
man.
There is a passage in Herodotus, Melpo
mene, 110, in wliich the word iver, vir, a
man, is mentioned as used by the Scythi
ans ; a fact proving the affinity of the
Scythian and the Teutonic nations. Taj
6f Auafwaj xaT^ovai. Xxv6a.i Oiopjtara. /\v-
varcu St to owojia rovto xaf' E>.?.a8a yhJd-
flat' avb^toxtofot. Otop -yap xaXfOvnt tov av8pa,
TO it rtora, xtiivhv. " The Scythians call
the Amazons Oiorpata, a word wliich
may be rendered, in Greek, mtnkil-
lers ; for oior is the name they give to man.
pata signifies to kill." Pata, in the Bur-
man language, signifies to kill ; but it is
probable that this is really the English
beat.
E'RA, n. [L. a:ra ; Fr. ere ; Sp. era. The
irigiii of the term is not obvious.]
1. In chronology, a fixed point of time, from
which any number of years is begun to be
counted ; as the Christian Era. It differs
from epoch in this; era is a point of time
fixed by some nation or denomination of
men ; epoch is a point fi.xed by historians
and chronologists. The christian era be-
gan at the epoch of the birth of Christ.
Encyc.
2. A succession of years proceeding from
fixed point, or comprehended between two
fixed points. The era of the Seleucides
ended with the reign of Antiochus.
Rollin
ER A'DIATE, v. i. [L. e and radio, to beam
To shoot as rays of light ; to beam.
ERADIA'TION, n. Emission of rays or
beams of light ; emission of light or spl<
dor. King Charles.
ERADICATE, v. t. [L. eradico, from radix,
root.]
. To pull up the roots, or by the roots,
Hence, to destroy any thing that grows ;
to extirpate ; to destroy the roots, so that
the plant will not be reproduced ; as, to
eradicate weeds:
2. To destroy thoroughly ; to extirpate ; as,
to eradkate errors, or false principles, or
ERADICATED, pp. Plucked up by tli
roots; extirpated; destroyed.
ERAD'ICVTING, ppr. Pulling up the roots
of any thing; extirpating.
ERADiCA'TlON, n. The act of pluckiuj
I by the roots ; extirpation ; excision ;i
tal destruction. j
2. The state of being plucked up by tlic
roots.
ERAD'ICATIVE, a. That e.xtirpates ; that
cures or destroys thoroughly.
ERAD'ICATIVE, n. A medicine that cf-
fect.s a radical cure. Jf'hitlock.
ERA'SABLE, a. That may or can be era-
sed.
ERA'SE, I', t. [L. erado, erasi; e and rado,
to scrape, Fr. raser, Sp. raer. It. raschiare,
acters written, engraved or painted ; to
efface ; as, to erase a word or a name.
'. To ol)literate ; to expunge ; to blot out ;
as with pen and ink.
3. To efface ; to destroy ; as ideas in the
mind or memory.
4. To destroy to the foundation. [See
Raze.]
ER.A'SED, pp. Rubbed or scratched out :
obliterated; effaced.
ERA'SEMENT, n. The act of erasing; a
rubbing out ; expunction ; obliteration ;
destruction.
ERA'SING, ppr. Rubbing or scraping out ;
obliterating ; destroying.
ERA'SION, (I. 3 as z. The act of erasing ;
ubbing out ; obliteration.
Black, Chim.
ERAS'TIAN, n. A follower of one Erastus,
the leader of a religious sect, who denied
the power of the church to discipline its
members. Chambers.
ERAS'TIANISM, n. The principles of the
Erastians. Leslie.
ERA'SURE, n. era'zhur. The act of era-
sing ; a scratching out ; obliteration.
2. The place where a word or letter has
been erased or obliterated.
ERE, arfw. [Sax.ffir; G.eher; D. eer ; Goth.
air. This is the root of early, and (cr, in
Saxon, signifies the morning. Before ever,
we use or, " or ever." Let it be observed,
that ere is not to be confounded with e'er,
for ever.]
Before ; sooner than.
Ere sails were spread new oceans to explore.
Dry den.
The nobleman saith to him. Sir, come down
ere my child die. John iv.
In these passages, ere is really a prepo-
sition, followed by a sentence, instead of a
single word, as below.
ERE, prep. Before.
Our fruitful Nile
Flow'd ere the wonted season. Dryden.
E'RELONG, adv. [ere and long.] Before a
long time had elapsed. [06a. or little
used.]
He mounted tlic horse, and following the
stag, erelong slew him. Spenser.
3. Before a long time shall elapse ; before
long. £re?o)ig' you will repent ofyour folly.
The world erelong a world of tears must w eep.
.\fUtmt.
E'RE.VOW, adv. [ere and noiv.] Before
this time. Dryde
.] Son
before a
Feeding or subsisting on liorse flesh.
Equioorous Tartar.^. Quart. Rev.
ER, the termination of many English words,
is the Teutonic form of the Latin or ; the
one contracted from wer, the other from
vir, a man. It denotes an agent, original-
ly of the masculine gender, but now ap-
plied to men or things indifferently ; as in!
hater, farmer, heater, grater. At the eudof|ll. To rub or scrape out, as letters or char-|
Arm. raza. See Ar. ^jiA to corrode,
Ch. TlJ to scrape, Heb. tnn a graving tool,
and A
Sv
garata.
scrape
Class Rd. No :35. 38 and 58.]
nne ago ;
E'REVVHILE, } , [ere and while.] Some
E'REWHILES, i; '""^■- ti " "
little while. Obs.
I am as fair now as I was erewhile. Shak.
ER'EBUS, n. [L. erebus; Gr.fpfSoj; Orien-
tal T\y evening, the decline of the sun,
whence darkness, blackness.]
In mythology, darkness ; hence, the region of
the dead ; a deep and gloomv place ; hell.
Shak. Milton.
ERECT', a. [L. erectus, from erigo, to set
upright ; c and rego, to stretch or make
straight, right, rectus ; It. ereffo. See
Right.]
1. Upright, or in a perpendicular posture ;
as, he stood erect.
2. Directed upward.
.\nd suppliint hands, to heaven erect.
Philipt.
3. Upright and fum ; bold; unshaken.
ERE
E R O
ERR
Let no vain fear thy generous ardor tame ;
But stand erect. Granville.
4. Raised ; stretched ; intent ; vigorous ; as
a vigilant and erect attention of mind in
prayer. Hooker.
5. Stretched ; extended.
6. In botany, an erect stem is one which is
without support from twining, or nearly
perpendicular ; an erect leaf is one which
grows close to the stem ; an erect flower
has its aperture directed upwards.
Martyn.
ERECT', V. t. To raise and set in an upriglit
or perpendicular direction, or nearly such :
as, to erect a pole or flag-staff.
To erect a perpendicular, is to set or form
one line on another at right angles.
2. To raise, as a building; to setup; to
build; as, to erect a house or temple ; to
erect a fort.
3. To set up or establish anew ; to found ;
to form ; as, to erect a kingdom or com-
monwealth ; to erect a new system or
theory.
4. To elevate ; to exalt.
I am far from pretending to infallibility : that
would be to erect myself into an apostle.
Loclte.
5. To raise ; to excite ; to animate ; to en-
courage.
Why should not hope
As much erect our thoughts, as fear deject
them ? Denham.
6. To raise a consequence from premises.
[Little used.]
Malebranche erects this proposition. Locke.
7. To extend ; to distend.
ERECT', V. i. To rise upright. Bacon.
ERECT' ABLE, n. Tiiatcan be erected ; as
an erectable feather. Montagu.
ERECT'ED, pp. Set in a straight and per-
pendicular direction ; set upright ; raised ;
built ; established ; elevated ; animated ;
extended and distended. |
ERECT'ER, n. One that erects; one that
raises or builds.
ERECT'ING, ppr. Raising and setting up-
right ; building ; founding ; establishing ;
elevating ; inciting ; extending and dis-
tending.
ERECTION, n. The act of raising and set-
ting perpendicular to the plane of the ho-
rizon ; a setting upright.
2. Tlie act of raising or building, as an edi-
fice or fortification ; as the erection of a
wall, or of a house.
3. The state of being raised, built or eleva-
ted.
4. Establishment ; settlement ; formation ;
as the erection of a commonwealth, or of
a new system ; the erection of a bishop-
rick or an earldom.
5. Elevation; exaltation of sentiments.
Her peerless height my mind to high erection
draws up. Sidney.
6. Act of rousing ; excitement; as the erec-
tion of the s\)\ms. Bacon.
7. Any thing erected ; a building of anv
kind. O. ffolcol't.
8. Distension and extension.
ERECT'IVE, a. Setting upright ; raising.
ERECT'LY, adv. In an erect posture.
Broum.
ERECT'NESS, n. Uprightness of posture
or form. |
ERECT'OR, n. A muscle that erects ; one
that raises.
ER'EMITA6E, n. [See Hermitage.]
ER'EMITE, )!. [L. eremita; Gr. (piiii.tri(,
from fpjjfios, a desert.J
One who lives in a wilderness, or in retire-
ment, secluded from an intercourse with
men. It is generally written her7nit, which
see. Raleigh. Milton.
EREMIT'ICAL, a. Living in solitude, or inj
seclusion from the world.
EREP'TION, n. [L. ereptio.] A taking or
snatching away by force.
ER'GAT, V. i. [L. ergo.] To infer ; to draw
conclusions. [JVot used.] Hewyt.
ER'GO, adv. [h.] Therefore.
ER GOT, n. [Fr. a spur.] In farriery, a
stub, like a piece of soft horn, about thc|
bigness of a chestnut, situated behind and
below the pastern joint, and commonly!
hid under the tuft of the fetlock. I
2. A morbid excrescence in grain ; a dark-
colored shoot, often an inch long, from the
ears of grain, particularly of rye.
ER'GOTISM, n. [L. ergo.] A logical infer-]
ence ; a conclusion. Brown.
ER'IACII, n. [Irish.] A pecuniary fine.
ER ItilBLE, a. That may be erected. [/«j
formed and not used.] Shaw's Zool.
EKINGO. [See£;-i/)ie-o-]
ERIST'IC. I [(5r. fpt;, contention ;
ERIST'ICAL, I "■ tptf^os, contentious.]
Pertaining to disputes ; controversial. [J/bl
ERKe!' n. [Gr. atpyof.] Idle ; slothful.
[JVot in use.] Chaucer.
ERMELIN. [See Ermin.]
ER'MIN, \ [Fr. hermine ; It. armellino ;
ER'MINE, I "• Sp. armino ; Port, arminho ;
Ann. erminicq ; D. hermelyn ; G. Dan. Sw.
hermelin.]
1. An animal of the genus Mustela, an in-
habitant of northern climates, in Europe
and America. It nearly resembles the
martin in shape, but the weasel, in food
and maimers. In winter, the fur is en-
tirely white : in summer, the upper part
of the body is of a pale tawny brown col-
or, but the tail is tipped with black. The
fur is much valued.
2. The fur of the ermin.
ER'MINED, a. Clothed with ermin ; adorn-
ed with the fur of the ermin ; as ermined
Pope.
Saxon word, signify-
ing a place or receptacle, forms the term-
ination of some English words, as well as
Latin ; as in barn, lantern, taverti, taberna.
ERO'DE, V. t. [L. erodo ; e and rodo, to
pride ; ermined pomp.
ERNE, or .ERNE, "
gnaw, Sp. roer. It. rodere, Ar. qoA
to gnaw. Class Rd. No. 35.]
To eat in or away ; to corrode ; as, canker
erodes the flesh.
The blood, being too sharp or thin, erodes
the vessels. Wiseman.
ERO'DED, pp. Eaten ; gnawed ; corroded.
ERO'DING,/)/)r. Eating into ; eating away ;
corroding.
ER'OGATE, v.l. [h. erogo.] To lay out;
to give ; to bestow upon. [JVot iised.] |
Elyoi:
EROGA'TION, n. The act of conferring.
[M>t used.] Elyot.l
ERO'SE, a. [L. erosus.] In botany, an erosc
leaf has small sinuses in the margin, as if
gnawed. ^Martyn.
ERO'SION, n. s as z. [L. erosio.] The act
or operation of eating away.
2. The state of being eaten away ; corro-
sion ; canker.
EROT'IC, I [Gr. tpco;, love.] Pertain-
EROT'ICAL, $ ' 'ing to love; treating of
love. Encyc.
EROT'IC, n. An amorous composition or
poem. Encyc.
ERPETOL'OGIST, n. [Gr. fprttfoj, reptile,
and ^oyos, discourse.]
One who writes on the subject of reptiles,
or is versed in the natural history of rep-
tiles. Ch. Observer.
ERPETOL'OtiY, n. [supra.] That part of
natural history which treats of reptiles.
Diet, of JVat. Hist.
ERR, V. i. [L. erro; Fr. errer; Sp. errar ; It.
errare ; G. iiren ; Sw. irra ; Dan. irrer.]
1. To wander from the right way ; to devi-
ate from the true course or purpose.
But errs not nature from this gracious end.
From burning suns when livid deaths des-
cend ? Pope.
2. To miss the right way, in morals or reli-
gion ; to deviate from the path or line of
duty ; to stray by design or mistake.
We have erred and strayed like lost sheep.
Com. Prayer.
;?. To mistake ; to commit error ; to do
wrong from ignorance or inattention. Men
err in judgment from ignorance, from
want of attention to facts, or from previ-
ous bias of mind.
4. To wander ; to ramble.
A storm of strokes, well meant, with furv
flies.
And errs about their temples, ears, and eyes.
ER'RABLE, a. Liable to mistake ; fallible."
[l/iltle xised.]
;ne
Liableness to mis-
ER'RABLENESS,
take or error.
We may infer from the errableness of our na-
ture, the reasonableness of compassion to the
seduced. Decay of piety.
ER'RAND, n. [Sax. mrend, a message,
mandate, legation, bu.siness, narration ;
wrendian, to tell or relate ; Sw. hrende ;
Dan. (erinde.]
1. A verbal message ; a mandate or order ;
something to be told or done ; a commu-
nication to be made to some person at a
distance. The servant was sent on an er-
rand; he told his errand; he has done the
errand. These are the most common
modes of using this word.
I have a secret errand to thee, 0 King.
2. Any sjiecial business to be transacted by
a messenger.
ER'RANT, a. [Fr. erraiit ; L. errans, from
erro, to err.]
\. Wandering ; roving ; rambling ; applied
particularly to knights, who, in the middle
ages, wandered about to seek adventures
and display their heroism and generosity,
called knights errant.
2. Deviating from a certain course. Shak.
3. Itinerant. Obs.
Errant, for arrant, a false orthography. [See
..irrant.]
ERRANTRY, n. A wandering; a roving
or rambling about. Addison.
ERR
E R U
ESC
a. The employment of a knight errant.
ERRAT'Ie, a. [L. erralicus, from erro, to
wander.] Wandering ; having no certain
course ; roving about witliout a fixed des-
tination. Pope.
2. Moving ; not fixed or stationary ; applied
to the planets, as distinguished from the
fixed stars.
3. Irregular; mutable. Harvey.
ERRAT'ICALLY, adv. Without rule, order
or establislied method ; irregularly.
Brown.
ERRA'TION, n. A wandering. [.\ot used.]
ERRA'TUM, n. plu. errata. [See Err.] An
error or mistake in writing or printing.
A list of the errata of a book is usually
printed at the beginning or end, with ref-
erences to the pages and lines in which
they occur.
ER'RHINE, a. er'rine. [Gr. tppwoi' ; iv and
piv, the nose.]
Affecting the nose, or to be snuffed into the
nose ; occasioning discharges from the
ER'RHINE, n. er'rine. A medicine to be
snuffed up the nose, to promote dischar-
ges of nnicus. Coxe. Encyc.
ER'RING, ppr. Wandering from the truth
or the right way ; mistaking ; irregular.
ERRO'NEOUS, a. [L. erroneus, from erro,
to err.]
1. Wandering ; roving ; unsettled.
They roam
Erroneous and discoiii'olatc. Philips.
2. Deviating; devious; irregular; wander-
ing from the right course.
Erroneous circulation of blood. Arbuthnot.
[The foregoing applications of the tvord
are less common.]
3. Mistaking ; misled ; deviating, by mistake
from the truth. Destroy not the eironeous
with the malicious.
4. Wrong ; false ; mistaken ; not conforma-
ble to truth; erring from truth or justice;
as an erroneous opinion or judgment.
ERRO'NEOUSLY, adv. By mistake ; not
rightly; falsely.
ERRO'NEOUSNESS, ji. The state of being
erroneous, wrong or false ; deviation fr(
right ; inconformity to truth ; as the er
neousness of a judgment or proposition,
ER'ROR, n. [L. error, from erro, to wander.]
A wandering or deviation from the truth ;
a mistake in judgment, by which men as-
sent to or believe what is not true. Er-
ror may be voluntary, or involuntary. Vol-
untary', when men neglect or pervert the
])roper means to inform the mind : invol-
untary, when the means of judging cor-
rectly are not in their power. An error
committed through carelessness or haste "
a blunder.
Charge home upon error its most tremendous
consequences. /• M. Mason.
2. A mistake made in writing or other per-
formance. It is no easy task to correct
the en-ors of the press. Authors some-
times charge their own en-ors to the prin-
ter.
3. A wandering ; excursion ; irregular
course.
Driv'n by the winds and errors of the sea.
JJrydcn
[This sense is unusual and hardly legiti-
mate]
4. Deviation from law, justice or right ;
oversight ; mistake in conduct.
Say not, it was an error. Eccles. v.
5. In scripture and theology, sin ; iniquity ;
transgression.
Wlio can understand his errors ? cleanse
thou me liom secret faults. Ps. xix.
6. In law, a mistake in pleading or in judg-
ment. A writ of error, is a writ Ibunded
on an alledged error in judgment, which
carries the suit to another tribunal for re-
dress. Hence the following verb,
ER'ROR, V. t. To determine a judgment of
court to be erroneou.s.
[The use of this verb is not well author-
ized.]
ERSE, n. The language of the descend-
ants of the Gaels or Celts, in the high-
lands of Scotland.
ERST, adv. [Sax. cerest, superlative o((er.
See Ere.]
1. First; at first ; at the beginning.
2. Once ; formerly ; long ago.
3. Before ; till then or now ; hitherto.
[This word is obsolete, except in poetry.]
ERSTWHILE, adv. Till then or now ; for-
merly. Obs. Glanville.
ERUBES'CENCE, n. [L. erubescens, em-
besco, from rubeo, to be red.]
A becoming red ; redness of the skin or sur-
face of any thing; a blushing.
ERUBES'CENT, a. Red, or reddish ; blush-
ing.
ERU€T', I , [L. enicto, rudor, coin-
ERUCT'ATE, S ciding in elements with
Ch. pn Heb. pT to spit. Qu. yerk.]
To belch ; to eject from the stomach, as
wind. [Little itsed.] Howell.
ERU€TA'TION, ji. [L. eruclatio.] The act
of belching wind from the stomach ; a
belch.
2. A violent bursting forth or ejection of
wind or other matter from the earth.
fVoodtvard.
ER'UDITE, a. [L. eruditus, from erudio, to
instruct. Qu. e and rudis, rude. Rather
Ch. Syr. Sam. rm redah, to teach. Class
Rd. No. 2.] Instructed ; taught ; learned.
Chesterfield.
ERUDI"TION, n. Learning; knowledge
gained by study, or from books and in-
struction ; particularly, learning in litera-
ture, as distinct from the sciences, as in
history, antiquity and languages. The
Scaligers were men of deep erudition.
The most useful erudition for republicans is
that which exposes the causes of discords.
J. Mams.
ERU'GlNOUS, a. [L. teniginosus, from
aii-ugo, rust.]
Partaking of the substance or nature of cop-
per or the rust of copper.; resembling ru.>«t.
ERUPT', V. i. To burst forth. [J\'ot used.]
ERUP'TION, »i. [L. eruptio, from erumpo,
enipi ; e and rumpo, lor rupo ; Sp. romper ;
Fr. Tompre. See Class Rb. No. 2G. 27.
29.]
1. The act of breaking or bursting forth
from inclosure or confinement ; a violent
emission of any thing, particularly of
flames and lava from a volcano. The
eruptions of Hecla in 1783, were extraor-
dinary for the quantity of l.iva discharged.
2. A sudden or violent rushing forth of men
or troops for invasion ; sudden excursion.
Incensed at such eruption bold. Milton.
ERUPTIVE,
3. A burst of voice ; violent exclamation.
[LitUe used.] South.
4. In medical scietice, a breaking out of hu-
mors ; a copious excretion of humors on
the skin, in pustules ; also, an efflores-
cence or redness on the skin, as in scarla-
tina ; exanthemata; petechise ; vibices ; as
small pox, measles and fevers.
P'TIVE, a. Bursting forth.
The sudden dance
Appears far south eruptive Uirougli Oie cloud.
Thomson.
2. Attended with eruptions or efflorescence,
or producing it ; as an eruptive fever.
ERYN'GO, n. [Gr. ^pvyy.o^.] The sea-hollj-,
En/ngium, a genus of plants of several
sjiecies. The flowers are collected in a
round head ; the receptacle is paleaceous
or chaffy. The young shoots are esculent.
Enojc.
ERYSIP'ELAS, ,i. [Gr. tpimxixo.!.] A dis-
ease called St. Anthony's fire ; a diffused
inflammation with fever of two or three
days, generally with coma or delirium ;
an eruption of a fiery acrid humor, on
some part of the body, but chiefly on the
face. One species of erysipelas is called
shingles, or eruption with small vesicles.
Coxe. Encyc. Quincy.
ERYSIPEL'ATOUS, a. "Eruptive; resem-
bling erysipelas, or partaking of its na-
ture.
ES€ALA'DE, n. [Fr. id. ; Sp. escalada ; It.
scalata ; from Sp. escala. It. scala, L. scata,
a ladder, Fr. echelle. See Scale.]
In the military art, a furious attack made by
troops on a fortified place, in which lad-
ders are used to pass a ditch or mount a
rampart.
Siu enters, not by escalade, but by cunniag
or treachery. Buckminster.
ESCALA'DE, v. t. To scale ; to mount and
pass or enter by means of ladders ; as,
to escalade a wall. Life of yVellinglon.
ES€AL'OP, n. skid'lup. [D. schulp, a shell.]
A family of bivalvular shell-fish, whose
shell is regularly indented. In the center
of the top of the shell is a trigonal sinus
with an elastic cartilage for its hinge.
2. A regular curving indenture in the margin
of any thing. [See Scallop and Scollop.]
ESCAPA'DE, n. [Fr. See Escape.] The
fling of a horse. In Spanish, night, es-
cape.
ESCA'PE, V. t. [Fr. echapper ; Norm, eche-
ver; Arm. achap ; It. scappare ; Sp. Port.
escapar ; probably from L. capio, with a
negative prefix, or from a word of the
same family.]
1. To flee from and avoid ; to get out of the
way; to shun ; to obtain security from;
to pass without harm ; as, to escape dan-
ger.
A small number, that escape the sword, shall
return. Jer. xUv.
Having escaped the corruption tliat is in the
world through lust. 2 Pet. i.
2. To pass unobserved ; to evade ; as, the
fact escaped my notice or observation.
3. To avoid the danger of; as, to escape the
sea. Acts xxviii.
Note. This verb is properly intransitive, and in
strictness should be followed by from; but
usage sanctions the omission of it.
ESeA'PE, V. 1. To flee, shun and be secure
from danger ; to avoid an evil.
ESC
ESC
ESC
Escape for thy life to the mountains,
xix.
2. To be passed without liarm. The balls
whistled by me, my comrades fell, but J
escaped.
ES€A'PE, n. Flight to shun danger or in
jury ; the act of fleeing from danger.
I would hasten my escape from the windy
storm. Ps, Iv.
2. A being passed without receiving injury
as when danger conies near a person, but
passes by, and the person is passive. Ev-
ery soldier who survives a battle has had
such an escape.
3. Excuse ; subterfuge ; evasion. Raleigh
4. In law, an evasion of legal restraint or the
custody of the sheriff, without due course
of law. Escapes are voluntary or invol-
untary ; voluntary, when an officer per-
mits au offender or debtor to
quit
tody, without warrant ; and involuntary.
or negligent, when an arrested person
quits the custody of the officer against his
will, and is not pursued forthwith and re-
taken before the pursuer hath lost sight
of him.
5. Sally ; flight ; irregularity. [Little used.]
Shak.
6. Oversight ; mistake. [Little used, or im-
proper.]
ES€A'PEMENT, n. That part of a clock
or watch, which regulates its movements,
and prevents their acceleration.
Ed. Encyc.
ESCA'PING, }}pr. Fleeing from and avoid-
ing danger or evil ; being passed unobser-
ved or unhurt; shunning; evading; se-
curing safety; quitting the custody of the
law, without warrant.
ESCA'PING, )(. Avoidance of danger. Ez-
ra ix.
ES€>ARGATOIRE, n. [Fr. from escargot,
a snail.] A nursery of snails. Addison.
ESe'ARP, V. t. [Fr. escarper, to cut to a
slope ; It. Scarpa, a slope. See Cane.]
To slope ; to form a slope ; a military term.
Carkton.
ESCARPMENT, n. A slope ; a steep des-
cent or declivity. Buckland.
ESCHALOJ, n. shallo'te. [Fr. echalote.] A
species of small onion or garlic, belonging
to the genus Allium ; the c^calonicum.
Encyc.
ES'CIIAR, n. [Gr. t(i;tapa-] In surgery, the
crust or scab occasioned by burns or caus-
tic applications. Encyc.
2. A species of Coralline, resembling a net
or woven cloth.
ESCHAROT'IC, a. Caustic; having the
power of searing or destroying the flesh
Coxe. Encyc
ESCHAROT'le, n. A caustic apphcatio'n ;
a medicine which sears or destroys flesh.
Core
ESCHE'AT, n. [Fr. echeoir, echoir, choir.
Norm, cschier, eschire, eschever, to fall, to
happen to, to escheat. The Pr. echoir,
seems to be the Sp. caer, which is contrac-
ted from the L. cado, cadere.]
1. Any land or tenements which casually
fall or revert to the lord within his manor,
through failure of heirs. It is the deter-
mination of the tenure or dissolution of
the nmtual bond between the lord and
tenant, from the extinction of the blood
of the tenant, by death or natural means
or by civil means, as forfeiture or cor-
ruption of blood. Blackstone.
2. In the U. States, the faUing or passing of
lands and tenements to the state, through
failure of heirs or forfeiture, or in cases
where no owner is found.
Stat, of Mass. and Connecticut.
3. The place or circuit within which the
king or lord is entitled to escheats.
England.
4. A writ to recover escheats from the per-
Blackstone. Cowel. Encyc.
5. The lands which fall to the lord or state
by escheat.
0. In Scots law, the forfeiture incurred by a
man's being denounced a rebel.
ESCHE'AT, V. i. In England, to revert, as
land, to the lord of a manor, by means of
the extinction of the blood of the tenant.
3. In America, to fall or come, as land, to the
state, through failure of heirs or owners,
or by forfeiture for treason. In the feu-
dal sense, no escheat can exist in the Uni-
ted States ; but the word is used in stat-
utes confiscating the estates of those who
abandoned their country, during the re
ohuion, and in statutes giving to the state
the lands for which no owner can be
found.
ESCHE'AT, V. t. To forfeit. [JVot used.]
Bp. Hall.
ESCHE'ATABLE, a. Liable to escheat.
ESCHE'AT AGE, n. The right of succeding
to an escheat. Sherwood.
ESCHE'ATED, pp. Having fallen to the
lord through want of heirs, or to the state
for want of an owner, or by forfeitin'e.
ESCHE'ATING,;3;)r. Reverting to the lord
through failure of heirs, or to the state for
want of an owner, or by forfeiture.
ESCHE'ATOR, n. An officer who observes
the escheats of the king in the county
whereof he is escheator, and certifies
them into the treasury. Camden.
ESCHEW, v.t. [Norm, eschever; Old Fr.
escheoir ; G. scheuen ; It. schivare ; Fr. es-
quiver ; Dan. skyer ; to shun. The G.
scheu, Dan. sky. It. schifo, is the Eng. shy.
In Sw. the corresponding words are «%§■§•
and skyggia, which leads to the opinion
that the radical letters are Kg or Skg ;
and if so, these words correspond with
the G- scheuchen, to frighten, to drive
away, which we retain in the word shoo,
used to scare away fowls.]
To flee from ; to shun ; to avoid.
He who obeys, destiuction shall eschew.
Sandys.
Job— feared God and eschewed evil. Job 1.
ESCHEW'ED, pp. Shunned ; avoided.
ESCHEWING, j)/»-. Shunning; avoiding.
[This word is nearly obsolete, or at least
little used.]
ESCO'CHEON, n. [Fr.] The shield of the
family. Warton.
ES'eORT, n. [Fr. escorte ; It. scoHa, a
guard, and scortare, to escort, to abridge,
to shorten. From this Italian word, we
may infer that escort is from the root of
short, which signifies curtailed, cut off;
hence the sense is a detachment or small
party, or a cutting off, a defense. The
Si>. and Port, word is escolta, r being
changed into I. See Short.]
A guard ; a body of armed men which at-
tends an officer, or baggage, provisions
or munitions conveyed by land from place
to place, to protect them from an enemy,
I or in general, for security. [This word is
! rarely, and never properly used for naval
I protection or protectors; the latter we
[ call a convoy. I have found it applied to
j naval protection, but it is unusual.]
i ESCORT', V. t. To attend and guard on a
I journey Vjy land ; to attend and guard any
thing conveyed by land. General Wash-
j ington arrived at Boston, escorted by a de-
tachment of di-agoons. The guards ejcor-
j ted Lord Wellington to London.
ESeORT'ED, p2>. Attended and guarded
by land.
ESCORT'ING, ppr. Attending and guard-
ing by laud.
ESeOT. [See Scot.]
ESCOUADE. [See Squad.]
ESCOUT. [SeeScoui.]
ESCRITO'IR, ». [Sp. escntorio ; It. scri«o-
io ; Fr. ecritoire, from ecrire, ecrit, to write,
from the root of L. scribo, Eng. to scrape.]
A box with instruments and conveniences
for writing ; sometimes, a desk or chest
of drawers with an apartment for the
instruments of writing. It is often pro-
nounced scrutoir.
ES'CROW, 7t. [Fr. ecrou. Norm, escrover, es-
crowe, a scroll, a contraction of scroll, or
otherwise from the root of ecrire, ecrivons,
to write.]
In law, a deed of lands or tenements deliver-
ed to a third person, to hold til] some
condition is performed by the grantee, and
which is not to take effect till the condi-
tion is ])erformed. It is then to be deliv-
ered to the grantee. Blackstone.
ES'CUAgE, n. [from Fr. ecu, for escu, L.
scutum, a shield.]
In feudal law, service of the shield, called
also scutage ; a species of tenure by knight
service, by which a tenant was bound to
follow his lord to war ; afterwards ex-
changed for a jjecuniary satisfaction.
Blackstone.
ESCIILA'PIAN, a. [from .Esculapius, the
physician.]
Medical ; pertaining to the healing art.
Young.
ES'CULENT, a. [L. esculentus, from esca,
food.]
Eatable ; that is or may be used by man
for food ; as esculent plants ; esculent fish.
ES'CULENT, n. Something that is eatable;
that which is or may be safely eaten by
man.
ESeU'RIAL, n. The palace or residence of
the King of Spain, about 15 miles North
West of Madrid. This is the largest and
most superb structure in the kingdom,
and one of the most splendid in Europe.
It is built in a dry barren spot, and the
name itself is said to signify a place full of
rocks. Encyc.
The Escurial is a famous monastery built
by Philip II. in the shape of a gridiron,
in honor of St. Laurence. It takes its
name from a village near 3Iadrid. It
contains the king's palace, St. Laurence's
church, the monastery of Jerenomites, and
the free schools. Port. Diet.
ESP
ESP
ESS
ESeUTCH'EON, n. [Fr. rmsson, for escus-
son, from L. scutum, a shield, It. saido,
Sp. escudo, Ann. scoeda.]
The shield on which a coat of amis is re-
presented ; the shield of a family ; the pic-
tm-e of ensigns armorial.
Encyc. Johnson.
ESeUTCH'EONED, a. Having a. coat of
arms or ensign. Young.
ESLOIN', V. I. [Fr. eloigner.] To remove.
[jVol in use.]
ESOPIIAGOT'OMY, n. [esophagus and
ro^t;, a cutting.]
In surgery, the operation of making an incis
ion into the esophagus, for the purpose of]
i-emoving any foreign substance that ob-
structs the passage. Joum. of Science.
ESOPH'AGUS, n. [Gr. oiao^ayoi.] Tlie gul-
let ; the canal through which food and
drink pass to the stomach.
ESO'PIAN, a. [from .^sop.] Pertaining to
JEaSO}) ; composed by him or in his man
ner. Warlon.
ESOT'ERI€, a. [Gr. fauTtpoj, interior, from
fSu, within.]
Private ; an eiiithct applied to the pr
instructions and doctrines of Pythagoras;
opposed to exoteric, or public. Enfield.
ESOT'ERY, n. Mystery ; secrecy. [Little
used.]
ESPAL'lER, 71. [Fr. espalier ; Sp. espalera;
It. spulliera ; from L. palus, a stake
pole.]
A row of trees planted about a garden or
hedges, so as to inclose quarters or sepa-
rate parts, and trained up to a lattice of
wood-work, or fastened to stakes, forming
a close hedge or shelter to protect plants
against injuries ti-om wind or weather.
Encyc.
ESPAL'lER, V. t. To form an espalier, ot
to protect by an espalier.
ESPAR'CET, n. A kind of sainfoin.
Mortimer.
ESPE"CIAL, a. [Fr. special ; L. speciulis,
from specie, to see, .species, kind.]
Principal; chief; particular; as, in an espe
cial manner or degree.
ESPE"CIALLY, adv. Principally ; chiefly
particularly ; in an uncommon degree ; it
reference to one person or thing in partic
iilar.
ESPE'CIALNESS, n. The state of being
especial.
ES'PERANCE, n. [Fr. from L. spero, to
hope.] Hope. [ATot English.] Shak.
ESPI'AL, n. [See Spy.] A spy ; the act of
espying. Elyot.
ES'PINEL, n. A kind of ruby. [See Spi-
nel.]
ES'PIONAgE, n. [Fr. from espionner, to
spy, espion, a spy.]
The practice or employment of spies ; the
practice of watching the words and con
duct of others and attempting to make dis-
coveries, as spies or secret emissaries ; the
practice of watching others without being
suspected, and giving intelligence of dis-
coveries made.
ESPLANA'DE, n. [Fr. id. ; Sp. esplanada ;
It. spionnta; from h. planus, plain.]
1. In fortijicaiion, the glacis of the counte
scnrp. or the sloping of the parapet of il
covered-way towards the countrv ; or the
Vol. I.
void space between the glacis of a citadel,
and the first houses of the town.
Encyc. Baiiey.
2. In gardening, a grass-plat.
ESPOUS'AL, a. espouz'al. [See Espouse.]
Used in or relating to the act of espousing
or botrotliiiig. Bacon.
ESPOUS'AL, n. The act of espousing or
betrothing.
2. Adoption ; protection. Ld. Orford.
ESPOUS'ALS, n.plu. The act of contract-
ing or affiancing a man and woman to
each other ; a contract or mutual iiromise
of marriage.
I remcnibcr thee, the kindness of thy youth
the love of thine espousals. .ler. ii.
ESPOUSE, v.l. espovz'. [Fr. epouser ; It
sposare; Port, dcsposar ; Sp. aesposar, to
marry ; desposarse, to be betrothed. If
this word is the same radically as the L.
spondeo, .sponsus, the letter n, in the latter,
must be casual, or the modern languages
have lost the letter. The former is most
probable; in which case, spondeo was pri-
marily spodeo, sposus.]
1. To betroth.
When iis his mother Mary was espoused to
Josepli. Matt. i.
2. To betroth ; to promise or engage in mar
riagc, by contract in writing, or by some
pledge ; as, the king espoused his daughter
to-» tai-eigii piince. Usually anil properly
followed by to, rather than ivith.
3. To marry ; to wed. Shak. Milton.
4. To unite intimately or indissolubly.
I have espoused you to one husband, that I
may present you as a chaste virgin to Clirist.
5. To embrace ; \p take to one's self, with a
view to maintain ; as, to espouse the quar-
rel of another ; to espouse a cause.
Dryden.
ESPOUS'ED, pp. Betrothed ; affianced ;
promised in marriage by contract ;
ried ; united intimately; embraced.
ESPOUS'ER, n. One who espouses
who defends the cause of another.
ESPOUS'ING, ppr. Betrothing ; promising
in marriage by covenant ; marrying ; uni
ting indissolubly ; taking part in.
ESPY', 1^ <. [Fr. epier, espier ; Sp. espiar ;
It. spiare ; D. bespieden, from spiede, a
spy ; G. spahen, to spy ; Sw. speia ; Dan.
speider ; W. yspiaw, and yspeithiaw, from
yspaith, paith. See Spy. The radical let-
ters seetii to be Pd ; if not, the word
contraction from the root of L. specio.
1. To see at a distance; to have the first
sight of a thing remote. Seamen esp
land as they approach it.
2. To see or discover something intended to
be hid, or in a degree concealed and not
very visible ; as, to espy a man in a crowd,
or a thief in a wood.
3. To discover une,xpectedly.
As one of them opened his sack, he espied
his money. Gen. xlii.
4. To inspect narrowly ; to e.\amine and
make discoveries.
Moses sent nie to e.ipy out the land, and I
brought him word again. Josh. xiv.
ESPY', V. i. To look narrowly ; to look
about ; to watch.
Stand by the way and espy. Jer. xlviii.
[This word is often pronounced spy,
which .see.]
75
ESPY', 71. A spy ; a scout.
ESQUI'RE, n. " [Fr. ecuyer ; It. scudiere ;
Sp. escudero ; Port, escudeiro ; from L. scu-
tum, a shield, from Gr. axvtoi, a hide, of
which shields were anciently made, or
from the root of that word, Sax. sceadan.
See Shade.]
Projierly, a shield-hearer or armor-bearer,
scutifer; an attendant on a knight. Hence
in modern times, a title of dignity next in
degree below a knight. In England, this
title is given to the younger sons of noble-
men, to officers of the king's courts and of
the household, to counselors at law, jus-
tices of the peace, while in commission,
sheriffs, and other gentlemen. In the Uni-
ted States, the title is given to public offi-
cers of all flegrees, from governors down
to justices and attorneys. Indeed the ti-
tle, in addressing letters, is bestowed on
any person at pleasure, and contains no
definite description. It is merely an expres-
.sion of respect.
ESQUIRE, V. I. To attend ; to wait on.
ESSA'Y, v.t. [Fr. essaijer ; Norm, essoyer ;
Arm. (Bczaca ; D. zoeken, to seek ; bezoeken,
verzoeken, to essay ; G. suchen, to seek ;
versuchen, to essay ; Dan. forsoger ; Sw.
forshkia ; Sp. ensayar ; Port, ensaiar ; It.
saggiare, assaggiare. The jirimary word is
seek, the same as L. sequor. See Seek.
The radical sense is to press, drive, urge,
strain, strive, Ch. pON. Class Sg. No. 46.]
L To try ; to attempt ; to endeavor ; to ex-
ert one's power or faculties, or to make an
effort to perform any thing.
While I Uiis unexampled task essay.
Blackmore.
2. To make experiment of
3. To try the value and purity of metals. In
this application, the word is now more
generally written assay, which see.
ES'SAY, n. A trial ; attempt ; endeavor ;
an effort made, or exertion of body or
mind, for the performance of any thing.
We say, to make an essay.
FruiUess our hopes, diough pious our essays.
Smith.
9. In literature, a composition intended to
prove or illustrate a particular subject;
usually shorter and less methodical and
finished than a system ; as an essay on the
hfe and writings of Homer; an essay on
fossils : an essay on commerce.
3. A trial or experiment ; as, this is the first
essay.
Trial or experiment to prove the quali-
ties of a metal. [In this sense, see Jlssay.]
First taste of any thing. Dryden.
ESSA'YED, pp. Attempted ; tried.
ESSA'YER, n. One who writes essays.
.Iddison.
ESSA'YING, ppr. Trying; making an ef-
fort : attempting.
ESSA'YIST, n. A writer of an essay, or of
essays. Butler.
ES'SENCE, 71. [L. essentia ; Fr. essence ;
It. essenza ; Sp. esencia ; from L. esse, to
be; Sw.vhsende; Goth, tmsands, from tins-
an. Sax. wesan, to be, whence icas. The
sense of the verb is, to set, to fL\, to he
permanent.]
1. That which constitutes the particular na-
ture of a being or substance, or of a genus,
and which distinguishes it from all others.
ESS
Mr. Locke makes a Jistinction between
nominal essence and real essence. The
nominal essence, for example, of gold, is
that complex idea expressed by gold; the
ceaZ essence is the constitution of its insen-
sible parts, on which its properties depend,
which is imknown to us.
The essence of God bears no relation to place.
E. D. Origin.
9. Formal existence ; that which makes any
thing to be what it is; or rather, the i)e-
culiar nature of a thing; the very sub-
stance ; as the tssence of Christianity,
n. Existence ; the quality of being.
I could have resigned my very essence.
Sidney
4. A being ; an existent person ; as heavenly
essences. Milton.
5. Species of being. Bacon.
6. Constituent substance ; as the pure es-
sence of a spirit. [Locke's real essence
supra.] Milton
7. The predominant qualities or virtues of
any plant or drug, extracted, refined or
rectified from grosser matter ; or more
strictly, a volatile essential oil ; as the es-
sence of mint.
8. Perfume, odor, scent ; or the volatde mat-
ter constituting perfume.
Nor let th' iaipiisoned essences exhale.
Pojie.
ES'SENCE, V. I. To perfume ; to scent.
ES'SENCED, pp. Perfumed; as cssenced
fops. Mdison
ESSE'NES, n. Among the Jews, a sect re
markable for their strictness and absti
nence. .
ESSEN'TIAL, a. [L. essenludis.] JNecessa
ry to the constitution or existence of a
thing. Piety and good works are essential
to the christian character. Figure and
extension are essential properties of bodies.
And if each system in gradation roll,
ial to the amazing whole—
Pope.
EST
I. An excuse ; the alledging of an excuse
for him who is summoned to appear m
court and answer, and who neglects to ap-
pear at the day. In England, the three
first days of a term are called essoin-days,
as three days are allowed for the appear-
ance of suitors.
Blackstone. Coivel. Spelman.
•2. Excuse; exemption. Spenser.
3. He that is excused for non-a|)pearance in
court, at the day appointed. Johnson.
ESSOIN', V. t. To allow an excuse for non-
appearance in court; to excuse for ab-
sence. Cowel.
ESSOIN 'ER, n. An attorney who suffi-
ciently e.xcuses the absence of another.
ESTAB'LISH. v. t. [Fr. etablir ; Sp. estab-
teccr ; Port, estabelecer ; It. stabilire ; L.
stabitio ; Hcb. 2T or 3X: ; Ch. Syr. id. ; Ar,
wK/aJ to set, fix, estabhsh. Class Sb
No. 37. and see No. 35. See also Ar.
,_^i- Ch. 3n" to settle, to place, to dwell,
Clasi Db. No. 53. 54.]
1. To set and fix firmly or unalterably ; to
settle permanently.
EST
His excellency — might gradually lessen your
establishment. Swifi.
6. That which is fixed or established ; as a
permanent military force, a fixed garrison,
a local government, an agency, a factory,
&c. The king has establishments to sup-
port, hi the four quarters of the globe.
G. Britain.
The episcopal form of religion, so called
in England.
8. Settlement or final rest.
set up our hopes and establishment here.
Wake.
ESTAFET', n. [Sp. estafeta.] A military
courier. [See Staff.]
ESTA'TE, n. [Fr. etat, for eslat ; D. staat ;
G. staat ; Arm. stad ; It. stato ; Sp. estado ;
L. status, from sto, to stand. The roots stb,
sld and slg, have nearly the same significa-
tion, to set, to fix. It is probable that the
L. sto is contracted from stad, as it forms
steti. See Ar. jv *s , Class Sd. No. 46.
Alike esseniK
2. Important in the highest degree
ore essential to a gci
neral than
Denham
Judgmei
courage.
3. Pure ; highly rectified. Essential oils are
such as are drawn from plants by distilla-
tion in an alembic with water, as distin
gnished from empyreumatic oils, which an
raised by a naked fire without water.^
Etiryc
ESSEN'TIAL,)!. Existence; being. [Lit-
tle used.] Mdton.
2. First or constituent principles ; .ns the es-
sentials of religion.
3. The chief point; that which is most nii-
portant. ., .
ESSENTIAL'ITY, n. The quality ol being
essential; first or constituent principles.
Swijl.
ESSEN'TIALLY, adv. By the constitution
of nature ; in essence ; as, minerals and
plants are essentially different.
2. In an important degree ; in effect. The
two statements diflfer, but not essentially.
ESSEN'TIATE, v. i. To become of the
same essence. B. Jonson
ESSEN'TIATE, i>. t. To form or constitute
the essence or being of. Boyle
ESSOIN', n. [Norm, exon, excuse ; Law L.
cxom'a, sonium ; Old Fr. exonier, essonier,
to excuse. Spelman deduces the word
from ex and soing, care. But qu '
ill establish my covenant with him for an
everlasting covenant. Gen. xvii.
J. To found permanently; to erect and fi
or settle ; as, to establish a colony or an en
3. To enact or decree by authority and for
permanence ; to ordain ; to appoint;
to establish laws, regulations, institutions,
rules, ordinances, &.c.
4. To settle or fix ; to confirm ; as, to estab-
lish a person, society or corporal'
iiossessions or privileges.
5. To make firm ; to confirm ; to ratify what
has been previously set or made.
Do we then make void the law through faith ?
God forbid : yea, we establish the law. Rom. iii
!. To settle or fix what is wavering, doubt
ful or weak ; to confirm.
So were the churches established in the faith.
Acts xvi.
To the end he may establish your hearts un-
blamable in holiness. 1 Thess. iii.
7. To confirm ; to fulfill ; to make good.
Establish thy word to thy servant. Ps. cxix
?. To set up in the place of another and con-
firm.
Who go about to establish their own right-
eousness. Rom. X.
ESTAB'LISHED, pp. Set ; fixed firmly
founded ; ordained ; enacted ; ratified
confirmed.
ESTAB'LISHER, n. He wlio establishes
ordains or confirms.
ESTAB'LISHING, ppr. Fixing; settling
permanently; founding; ratifying; con-
firming ; ordaining.
ESTABLISHMENT, n. [Fr. etabhsse
ment.] The act of establishing, founding,'
ratifying or orilaining. i
Settlement ; fixed state. Spenser.l
3. Confirmation ; ratification of what has
been settled or made. Bacon.\
Settled regulation ; form ; ordinance ; sys-
tem of laws; constitution of government.!
Bring in that establishment by which all nienl
should be contained in duty. Spenser.l
Fixed or stated allowance for subsistence ;|
income ; salary. '
and Class Dd. No. 22. 2.3. 24.]
L In a general sense, fixedness ; a fixed con-
dition ; now generally written and pro-
nounced state.
She cast us headlong from our high estate.
Dryden.
2. Condition or circumstances of any person
or thing, whether high or low. Luke i.
3. Rank ; quality.
Who hath not heard of the greatness of your
estate ? Sidney.
4. In law, the interest, or quantily of inter-
est, a man has in lands, tenements, or oth-
■ er effects. Estates are real or personal.
Real estate consists in lands or freeholds,
which descend to heirs ; personal estate
consists in chattels or movables, which go
to executors and administrators. There
are also estates for life, for years, at will,
&c.
5. Fortune ; possessions ; property in gene-
ral. He is a man of a great estate. He
left his estate unincumbered.
The general business or interest of gov-
ernment ; hence, a political body ; a com-
monwealth ; a republic. But in this sense,
we now use State.
Estates, in the plural, dominions; posses-
sions of a prince.
2. Orders or classes of men in society or
government. Herod made a supper for
his chief cs/a(es. Mark vi.
In Great Britain, theesto<es of the realm
are the king, lords and commons ; or rath-
er the lords ami commons.
ESTA'TE, V. t. To settle as a fortune.
[Little used.] Sha!:.
2. To establish. [Little used.-]
ESTA'TED, pp. or a. Possessing an estate.
Swifl.
ESTEE'M, v.t. [Fr. estimer; It. estimare;
Sp. Port, estimar ; Arm. istimout, istimein ;
L. (estimo ; Gr. fis-i//aouot ; tts and tipau,,
to honor or esteem. See Class Dm. No.
1. To set a value on, whether high or low ;
to estimate ; to value.
Then he forsook God who made him, ami
lightly esteemed t\ie rock of his salvation. Deut.
"They that despise me shall be lighUy esteem-
ed. 1 Sam. ii.
2. To prize ; to set a high value on ; to re-
EST
gard with reverence, respect or friendship.
When our minds are not biased, we al-
ways esteem the industrious, the generous,
the brave, the virtuous, and the learned.
Will he esteem thy riches ? Job xxxvi.
3. To hold in opinion ; to repute ; to think.
One man esteemetli one day above another ;
another esteemetli every day alike. Rom. xiv.
4. To compare in value ; to estimate by pro-
portion. [LUtle used.] Davies.
ESTEE'M, n. Estimation; opinion or judg-
ment of merit or demerit. This man is of
no worth in my esteem.
2. High value or estimation ; great regard
favorable opinion, founded on supposed
worth.
Both those poets lived in much esteem will
good and holy men in orders. Dryden
ESTEE'MABLE, a. Worthy of esteem
estimable.
ESTEE'MED, pp. Valued ; estimated
highly valued or prized on account of
worth ; thought ; held in opinion.
ESTEE'M ER, n. One who esteems; one
who sets a high value on any thing
A proud esteemer of his own parts. Locke.
ESTEE'MING, ppr. Valuing ; estimating
valuing highly ; prizing; thinking; deem
ing.
ES'TIMABLE, a. [Fr. ; It. eslimxvoh.]
1. That is capable of being estimated or val-
ued ; as estimable damage. Paley.
2. Valuable ; worth a great price.
A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man.
Is not so estimable or profitable. Shak.
3. Worthy of esteem or respect ; deserving
our good opinion or regard.
A lady said of her two companions, that one
was more amiable, the other more estimable.
Temple
ES'TIMABLE, n. That which is worthy of
regard. Brown
ES'TIMABLENESS, n. The quality of de-
serving esteem or regard. R. j^Jewton
ES'TJMATE, v.t. [h.teslimo. Sec Esteem.]
1. To judge and form an opinion of the value
of; to rate by judgment or opinion, witli
out weighing or measuring either value
degree, extent or quantity. We estimate
the value of cloth by inspection, or the ex
tent of a piece of land, or the distance of
a mountain. We estimate the worth of i
friend by his known qualities. We esti
mate the merits or talents of two differen
men by judgment. We estimate profits,
loss and damage. Hence,
2. To compute ; to calculate ; to reckon.
ES'TIMATE, n. A valuing or rating in the
mind ; ajudgment or opinion of the value,
degree, extent or quantity of any thing,
without ascertaining it. We form esti-
mates of the expenses of a war, of the
probable outfits of a voyage, of the com
parative strength or merits of two men, ofl
the extent of a kingdom or its population.
Hence estimate may be equivalent to cal-
culation, computation, without measuring
or weighing.
2. Value. Shak.
ES'TIMATED, pp. Valued ; rated in opin-
ion or judgment.
ES'TIMATING, ppr. Valuing; rating
forming an opinion or judgment of thr
value, extent, quantity, or degree of worlli
of any object; calculating; computing.
EST
ESTIMA'TION, n. [L. (tslimatio.] The act
of estimating.
2. Calculation ; computation ; an opinion or
judgment of the worth, extent or quantity
of any thing, formed without using pre-
cise data. We may differ in our estima-
tions of distance, magnitude or amount,
and no less in our estimation of moral
regard ; favorable opinion
qualities.
3. Esteem
honor.
I shall have estimation among the multitude
and honor with the ciders. Wisdom
ESTIMATIVE, a. Having the power of
comparing and adjusting the worth or
preference. [Little used.] Hale. Boyle.
2. Imaginative.
ESTIMATOR, n. One who estimates or
alues.
ES'TIVAL, a. [L. (Bstivus, from ccstas, sum
mer. See Heat.]
Pertaining to summer, or continuing for tin
ES'TIVATE, V. i. To pass the smnmer.
ESTIV.V'TION, n. [L. mstivatio, from as
tas, smniner, testivo, to pass the summer.]
1 . The act of passing the summei-. Bacon
2. In botany, the disposition of the petals
within the floral gem or bud ; 1. convolute
when the petals are rolled together like a
scroll ; 2. imbricate, when they lie over
each other like tiles on a roof; .3. condu
plicate, when they are doubled together at
the midrib ; 4. valvate, when as they are
about to expand they are placed like the
glumes in grasses. Martyn.
ESTOI", V. t. [Fr. etouper, to stop. See Stop.]
In laiv, to impede or bar, by one's own
act.
A man shall always be estopped by his own
deed, or not permitted to aver or prove any
thing in contradiction to what he has once sol-
emnly avowed. Blackstone.
ESTOP'PED, pp. Hindered ; barred ; pre-
cluded by one's own act.
ESTOPPING, ppr. Impeding; barring by
one's own act.
ESTOP'PEL, n. In law, a stop ; a plea in
bar, grounded on a man's own act or
deed, which estops or precludes him from
averring any thing to the contrary.
If a tenant for years levies a fine to another
person, it shall work as an estoppel to the co?-
nizor. Blackstone.
ESTO'VERS, n. [Norm, estoffer, to store,
stock, furnish ; estitffeures, stores; Fr. e<o/-
fer, to stuff. See Stuff.]
In law, necessaries, or supplies ; a reasona-
ble allowance out of lands or goods for the
u,«e of a tenant ; such as sustenance of
felon in prison, and for his family, during
his im|)risoninent ; alimony for a woman
divorced, out of her husband's estate
Common of estovers is the liberty of taking
the necessary wood for the use or furni-
ture of a house or farm, from another's es-
tate. In Saxon, it is expressed by bole,
which signifies more or sujiply, as house-
bote, plow-bole, f re-bole, cart-bole, &c.
Blackstone.
ESTRA'DE,>i. [Fr.] An even or level place.
Diet.
ESTRANtiE, V. t. [Fr. etranger. See
Strange.]
1. To keep at a distance ; to withdraw; to
cease to frequent and be famiUar with.
ETC
Had we estranged ourselves from them iu
tilings indifferent. Hooker.
1 tlms estrange my person from her bed.
Dryden.
2. To alienate ; to divert from its original
use or possessor ; to apply to a purpose
foreign from its original or customary one.
'Hiey have estranged this place, and burnt
incense in it to other gods. Jer. xix.
3. To alienate, as the affections ; to turn
from kindness to indifference or malevo-
lence.
I do not know, to this hour, what it is that
has estranged him from me. Pope.
To withdraw ; to withhold.
Wc must estrange our belief from what is not
clearly evidenced. Glamille.
ESTRANtiED, pp. Withdrawn ; withheld ;
alienated.
ESTRANGEMENT, n. Alienation ; a keep-
ing at a distance ; removal ; voluntary ab-
straction ; as an ci/rang'e/ntnt of affection.
An estrangement of desires from better things.
South.
ESTRAN(iING,;);>r. Alienating; withdraw-
g ; keeping at or removing to a distance.
ESTRAPA'DE, n. [Fr. strappado.] The de-
fense of a horse that will not obey, and
which, to get rid of his rider, rises before
and yerks furiously with his hind legs.
Farrier^s Did.
ESTRA'Y, V. i. To stray. [See Stray.]
ESTRA'V, n. [Norm, cslrayer, probably al-
lied to straggle, and perhai)s from" the
root of W. Irag, beyond.]
A tame beast, as a horse, ox or sheep, which
is found wandering or without an owner;
a beast supposed to have strayed from the
power or inclosure of its owner. It is
usually written stray. Blackstone.
ESTRE'AT, n. [Norm, estraite or eslreile.
from L. exlradum, extraho, to draw out.]
In law, a true copy or duplicate of an origi-
nal writing, especially of amercements or
penalties set down in the rolls of court to
be levied by the bailiff or other officer, ou
every offender. Cowel. Encyc.
ESTRE'AT, I', i. To extract ; to copy.
Blackstone.
ESTREATED, pp. Extracted ; copied.
ESTRE'PEMENT, n. [Norm, estreper, es-
Iripper, to waste ; Eng. to strip.]
In law, spoil ; waste ; a stripping of land by
a tenant, to the prejudice of the owner.
Blackstone. Cowel.
ES'TRICH, n. The ostrich, which see.
ES'TUANCE, n. [L. cestus.] Heat. [J\ot in
rise.] Brown.
ES'TUARY, n. [L. mstuarium, from irs/i/o,
to boil or foam, cestus, heat, fury, storm.]
1. An arm of the sea ; a frith ; a narrow pas-
sage, or the mouth of a river or lake,
where the tide meets the current, or flows
and ebbs.
2. A vapor-bath.
ES'TUATE, I', i. [L. lestuo, to boil.] To
Iwil ; to swell and rage ; to be agitated.
ESTU.A'TION, n. A boiling ; agitation ;
commotionof a fluid. Brown. .\'orris
ES'TURE, ji. [h.astuo.] Violence ; conmio-
tion. jjVotused.] Chapman.
ESU'RIENT.a. [L. esuriens, esurio.] Inclin-
ed to eat ; hungry. Diet.
ES'URINE, a. Eating; corroding. [Little
used.] ff'iseman.
ET CETERA, and the contraction e(c.,de-
E T E
H
E T I
note the rest, or others of the kind ; and
so on ; and so forth.
ETCH, V. t. [G. eken, D. ttatn, to eal. See
Eat.]
\. To make prints on copper-pUite by means
of lines or strokes first drawn, and then
eaten or corroded l)y nitric acid. The
plate is first covered with a proper varnisi
or ground, which is capable of resisting
tlie acid, and the groimd is then scored or
scratched by a needle or similar instrii
inent, in the places where the hatching.-
or engravings are intended to be ; the
plate is tlien covered with nitric acid
wliich corrodes or eats the irietal in the
lines thus laid bare. Enri/'
8. To sketch ; to delineate. [.Voi in use]
Lock
ETCH' ED, pp. Marked and corroded by
nitric acid.
ETCH'ING, ;>;)/■. Marking or making prints
with nitric acid.
ETCH'ING, n. The impression taken from
an etched copper-plate.
ETEOS'TIe, »i. [Gr. fffo;, true, and ^ixoi,
a verse.]
A chronogrammatical composition.
B. Jonson.
ETERN', a. Eternal ; perpetual ; endless.
[Xot used.] Shak.
ETER'NAL, o. [Fr. efeniel ; L. wlernus,
composed of cevum and temus, aimtenius.
Varro. The origin of the last component
part of the word is not oIjWoiis. It occurs
in duUurnus, and seems to denote contin-
1. Without beginning or end of existence.
The eternal God is thy refuse. Dent, xxxiii.
2. Without beginning of existence.
To know whether there is any real being,
whose duration has been eternal. Locke.
3. Without end of existence or duration ;
everlasting; endless; immortal.
That they may obtain the salvation which is
in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Tim. ii.
What shall I do, that I may have eternal life ?
Matt. xix.
Suflbring the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude
7.
4. Perpetual ; ceaseless ; continued without
intermission.
And fires eternal in thy temple shine.
Ih-ifden.
5. Unchangeable; existing at all times with-
out change ; as eternal truth.
ETER'NAL, ji. An appellation of God.
Hooker. Milton.
ETER'NALIST, n. One who holds the past
existence of tlie worlil to be infinite.
Burnet.
ETER'NALIZE, v. t. To make eternal ; to
give endless duration to. [We now use
eternize.]
ETER'NALLY, adv. Without beginning or
end of duration, or without end only.
2. Unchangeably ; invariably ; at all times.
That which is morally good must be eternal-
ly and unchangeably so. South.
3. Perpetually ; without intermission ; at all
times.
ETER'NITY, n. [L. leternitas.] Duration oi
continuance without beginning or end.
By repeating the idea of any length of dura
tion, with the endless addition of Jiumbci", we
tome by the idea o( eternity- Lock:
The high and lofty one who inhabiteth eter
nily. Is. Ivii.
We speak of eternal duration preceding
the present time. God has existed from
eternity. We also speak of endless or ev-
erlasting duration in future, and dating
from present time or tlie present state of
tilings. Some men doubt the eternity of
future punishment, though they have "
difiiculty in admitting the eternity of future
rewards.
ETER'NIZE, D./. [Fr.elerniser ; Sp. eteml
zar ; It. cternare ; Low L. ceterno.]
1. To make endless.
3. To conlinue the existence or duration of
indefinitely; to perpetuate; as, to eternize
woe. Milton.
So we say, to eternize fame or glory.
■i. To make forever famous ; to imtnortalize ;
as, to eternize a name ; to eternize exploits.
ETER'NIZED,^/). Made endless; immor-
talized.
ETER'NIZING, ppr. Giving endless dura-
tion to ; immortalizing.
ETE'SIAN, a. ete'zhan. [L. etesius ; Gr. ihtj-
«o;, from fro{, a year. Qu. Eth. 0©^
owed, awed, a circuit or circle, and the
verb, to go round.]
Stated ; blowing at stated times of the year;
periodical. Etesian winds are yearly or
anniversary winds, answering to the mon-
soons of the East Indies. The word is
applied, in Greek and Roman writers, to
the periodical winds in the Mediterrane-
an, from whatever quarter they blow.
Encyc.
ETHE, a. Easy. Obs. Chakcer.
E'THEL.a. Noble. Obs.
E'THER, n. [L. wther ; Gr. at9>ip, atOu, to
burn, to shine ; Eug. loeather; Sax. wceder,
the air; D. weder; G. wetter ; Sw. vader.]
1. A thin, subtil matter, much finer and rar-
er than air, which, some philosophers sup-
pose, begins from the limits of the atmos-
phere and occupies the heavenly space.
Mwton.
There fields of light and liquid ether flow.
JJryden.
2. In chimistry, a veuy light, volatile and in-
flammable fluid, produced by the distilla-
tion of alcohol or rectified spirit of wine,
with an acid. It is lighter than alcohol,
of a strong sweet smell, susceptible of
great expansion, and of a pungent taste.
It is so volatile, that when shaken it is dis-
sipated in nn instant. Enajc. Fourcroy.
ETKE'REAL, a. Formed of ether; con-
taining or filled with ether ; as ethereal
space ; ethereal regions.
2. Heavenly ; celestial ; as ethereal messen-
ger.
3. Consisting of ether or spirit.
Vast chain of being, which from God began,
Natures ethereal, human, angel, man.
Pope.
ETHE'REOUS, a. Formed of ether ; heav-
enly. Milton.
E'THERIZE, V. t. To convert into ether.
Med. Repos.
E'THERIZED, pp. Converted into ether.
E'THERIZING, ppr. Converting into ether.
ETH'IC, } [L. ethicus ; Gr. jjSixoj, from
ETH'ICAL, S "■ l^oi, manners.]
Relating to manners or morals; treating of
morality; delivering precepts of morality ;
as ethic discourses or epistles.
ETH'ICALLY, adv. According to the doe-
trines of morality.
ETH'I€S, n. The doctrines of morahty or
social manners; the science of moral phi-
losophy, which teaches men their duty and
the reasons of it. Foley. Encyc.
2. A system of moral principles; a system
of rules for regulating the actions and
manners of men in society.
Ethiops martial, black oxyd of iron ; iron in
the form of a verj- fine powder, and in the
first stage of calcination.
Ethiops mineral, a combination of mercury
and sulphur, of a black color ; black sul-
phuret of mercury.
Thomson. JViclwlson.^
ETH'MOID, I [Gr. .76^05, a sieve, and
ETHMOIDAL, S ^Sos.form.] llesembUng
a sieve.
ETH'MOID, n. A bone at the top of the
root of the nose.
ETH'Nie, I [L. ethnicus ; Gr. tSfixo,,
ETH'NICAL, ^ ""from tdroi, nation, from
the root of G. heide, heath, woods, whence
lieathen. See Heathen.]
Heathen ; pagan ; pertaining to the gentiles
or nations not converted to Christianity ;
opposed to Jewish and Christian.
ETH'NIC, n. A heathen ; a pagan.
ETH'NICISM, n. Heathenism; paganism;
idolatry. B. Jonson.
ETHNOL'OtiY, n. [Gr. tews, nation, and
f-oyoi, discourse.] A treatise on nations.
ETHOLOG'IeAL,a. [See Ethology.] Treat-
ing of ethics or morality.
ETHOL'OtilST, n. One who writes on the
subject of manners and morality.
ETHOL'OgY, tt. [Gr. lOo;, or ^do^, man-
ners, morals, and J-oyoj, discourse.]
A treatise on morality or the science of
ethics. Owen. Lunier.
E'TIOLATE, v. i. [Gr. (»?«, to shine.] To-
become white or whiter; to be whitened
by excluding the hght of the sun, as plants.
E'TIOLATE, V. t. To blanch ; to whiter
bv excluding the sun's rays.
E'tlOLATED, pp. Blanched ; whitened by
excluding the sun's rays.
E'TIOLATING,;)pr. Blanching ; whitening,
by excluding the sun's rays.
ETIOLA'TION, n. The operation of being
whitened or of becoming white by exclud-
ing the light of the sun. "Fourcroy. Darwin..
Ingardening, the rendering plants white,
crisp and tender, by excluding the action
of light from them. " Cyc.
ETIO'LO(i'I€AL, a. Pertaining to etiology.
.irbuthnot.
ETIOL'OdY, n. [Gr. airca, cause, andJ^oyo,-,
discourse.]
An account of the causes of any thing, par-
ticularly of diseases. Qutncy.
ETIQUET', n. clAkeV. [Fr. etiquette, a ticket;
W. tocxjn, a little piece or slip, from iociaiv,
to cut off, Eng. to dock. Originally, a lit-
tle piece of paper, or a mark or title, afiix-
ed to a bag or bundle, expressing its con-
tents.]
Primarily .'1 • n 1 ^ fi eremonies. Hence
inpri^.n; I i-^ (if ceremony or de-
corum ; ih I. ,11 I 111- h are observed to-
wards ji;ir!i ;il 11 j iii:s, or in particular'
places, esiicci;dly in courts, levees, and on
public occasions. From the original sense
of the word, it may be inferred that it was
formerly the custom to deliver cards con-
E U C
E U P
E t R
taiiiiiig orders for regulating cer
on public occasions.
E'TITE, n. [Gr. aitof, an eagle.] Eagle-
stone, a variety of bog iron. [See Eagle-
stone.]
ETNE'AN, a. [from Mna.] Pertaining to
Etna, a volcanic mountain in Sicily.
ET'TIN, n. A giant. Obs. lieaum.
ET'TLE, V. t. To earn. [Xol in use.]
Boucher.
ETUI, ) [Vr. etui, a case.] A
ETWI'IE', > n. case for pocket in-
ETVVEE'-CASE, ) strnments.
ETYM0L'06ER, n. An etymologist. [JVot
in u.te.] GriJUli
ETYMOLOG'leAL, a. [See Etymology.]
Pertaining to etymology or the derivation of
words ; according to or by means of ety-
mology. Locke.
ETYMOLOgTCALLY, adv. According to
!tymology.
L'YMOL'Oi
ETYMOL'OlilST, n. One versed in ety-
mology or the deduction of words from
their originals ; one who searches into the
original of words.
ETYMOL'OOIZE, v. i. To search into the
origin of words ; to deduce words from
their simple roots. Encyc.
ETYMOL'OOY, n. [Gr. (tviiof, true, and
^.oyos, discourse.]
1. That part of philology which explains the
origin and derivation of words, with a
view to ascertain their radical or primary
signification.
In grammar, etymology comprehends
the various inflections and modifications
of words, and shows how they are formed
from their simple roots.
2. The deduction of words from their origi
nals; the analysis of compound words in
to their primitives.
ET'Y'MON, n. [Gr. ceviiov, from itvfiof, true.
An original root, or primitive word.
EU'eUARIST, n. [Gr. ivxafl>.;ia, a giving of
thanks ; iv, well, and x<H>^i, favor.]
1. The sacrament of the Lord's supper; the
solemn act or ceremony of commemorat-
ing the death of our Redeemer, in the use
of bread and wine, as emblems of his flesl:
and blood, accompanied with appropriate
prayers and hymns.
2. The act of giving thanks.
EUeSARli'TlcAL,^- Containing ex-
pressions of thanks. Broini
2. Pertaining to the Lord's supper.
Euehloric gas, the same as ciichlorine. Davy.
EUeHLO'RIN E, n. [See Chlorine.] In chim.
istrif, protoxxM of chlorine. Davy. Ure.
EUeftOL'OuV, »l. [Gr. ivxo'f.oywv ;
prayer or vow, and >j>yof, discourse.]
A formulary of prayers ; the Greek ritual, in
which are prescribed the order of cereino-
nie.s, sacraments and ordinances. Encyc.
EU'€HYMY, n. [Gr. ivx^jiio..] A good state
of the blood and other fluids of the body.
EU€HYSID'ERITE, n. A mineral, consid-
ered as a variety of augite. Pliillips
EU'€LASE, n. [Gr. (v and x?.au, to break ;
easily broken.]
A mineral, a species of emerald, prismatic
emerald, of a greenish white, appli
mountain green, bluish green, or dark sky
blue color. It is a rare mineral, and re
luarkably brittle, whence its name.
Cteaveland. Jameson,
EU'CRASY, n. [Gr. tv, well, and xfjaois, tem-
perament.]
In medicine, such a due or well proportioned
mixture of qualities in bodies, as to con-
stitute health or soundness.
Quiney. Encyc.
ral of a brownish
EU'DIALYTE,n. A minera
red color. Jameson
EUDIOM'ETER, n. [Gr. tvSioj, serene, h
id ito{, .love, air, and fttrpor, measure.]
An instrument for ascertaining the purity of
the air, or the quantity of oxygen it con
tains. Encyc. Ure.
EUDIOMET'RIC, > , Pertaining to ar
EUDIOMET'RI€AL, ^"- eudiometer; per
formed or ascertained by an eudiometer ;
as eudiometrical experiments or results,
EUDIOM'ETRY, n. The art or practice ofl
scertaining the purity of tlie air by the
udiometer.
EU'tiE, n. Applause. [JVnt used.]
Hammond.
EUGH, a tree. [See Yeto.]
EUHARMON'Ie, a. [Gr. tv, well, and har-
Producing harmony or concordant sounds ;
as the enharmonic organ. Listo.
EUK^AIRITE, n. [Gr. tuxoipos, opportune.]
Cupreous seleniuret of silver, a mineral of
a shining lead gray color and granidar
structure. Ckaveland.
EULOti'IC. \ [See Eulogy.] Contain-
EULO(i'I€AL, S ing praise ; conuncnda-
EU'LOGIST, n. [See Eulogy.] One who
praises and commends another; one
writes or speaks in commendation of|
another, on account of his excellent (piali
ties, exploits or performances.
EULO'tilUM, n. An eulogy.
EU'LOGIZE, v.t. [See Eulogy.] To praise
to speak or write in commendation of an
other ; to extol in speech or writing.
EU'LOgIZED, ^. Praised; commended.
lEU'LOGlZING,;);)r. Commending ; writhig
or speaking in praise of
EU'LOgY, n. [Gr. ivXoym; iv and Xoyoj.]
Praise ; encomium ; panegyric ; a speecli
or writing in commci>dation of a person,
on account of his valuable quahties, or ser
vices.
EU'NOMY, ji. [Gr. mio/jio ; iv and lo.uo.
law.]
Equal law, or a well adjusted constitution of
government. MUford.
EU'NCCH, n. [Gr. twmixoi ; (vvr„ a bed, and
(X^, to keep.] A male of the human spe
cies castrated.
EU'NC€HATE, v. t. To riiake a eunuch ; to
castrate.
EU'NC€11ISM, 1!. The state of being an
eunuch.
EU'PATH Y, n. [Gr. ivnaJetux..] Right feeling.
Harr^.
EU'PATORY, n. [L. eupalorium; Gr. fu«o-
topim:] The plant hemp agrimony.
[EUPEP'SY', n. [Gr. ti^t+co; ft. and nt+cs,
I concoction.]
IGood concoction in the stomach ; good di-
1 gestion.
EUPEP'TIC, a. Having good digestion.
EU'PHEMISM, n. [Gr. iv^r^m'^ij^oi; iv, well,
i and $r^c, to speak.]
A representation of good qualities; particu-
larly in rhetoric, a figure in which a harsh
or indelicate word or expression is soften-
ed, or rather by which a delicate word or
expression is substituted for one which is
offensive to good manners or to delicate
ears. ^sh. CampheU.
EUPHONIC, I [SceEuplujny.] Agree-
EUPHON'lCAL, S"'al.le in sound; pleas-
ing to the ear; as euphonical orthography.
Colebrooke.
The Greeks adopted many cliangcs in the
comliinatioii of syllables to render their lan-
guage euphonic, by avoiding such collisions.
E. Porter.
EU'PHONY, 71. [Gr. (vt""*; ^^ and <^pr„
voice.]
An agreeable sound ; an easy, smooth enun-
ciation of sounds; a pronunciation of let-
ters and syllables which is pleasing to the
ear.
EUPIIOR'IUA, n. [Gr. fv^opfiMi, with a dif-
ferent signiflc-ation.]
In holuinj, spurge, or bastard spurge, a genus
of plaijts iif liiiiny species, mostly shrubby
herb;[i-i-iii|v >ui riikiits, some of them arm-
ed uiili ilioi-n^. Encyc.
EUPIlOi! HUM, n. [L. fromGr.fvi.op«io.,
Ar.
)>^^^-
torbion.]
In the materia medica, a gummi-resinous sub-
stance, exuding from an oriental tree. It
has a sharp biting taste, and is vehemently
acrimonious, inflaming and ulcerating the
fauces. Encyc.
EU'PHOTIDE, n. A name given by the
French to the aggregate of diallage and
saussurite. Cteaveland.
EU'PHRASY, n. [According to De Tlieis,
this word is contracted from euphrosyne,
(ii^poanc;;, joy, pleasure; a name given to
the platil on account of its wonderful ef-
fects in curing disorders of the eyes.]
Eyebright, a genus of ])lants, Euphrasia,
called in French casse-lunette.
EU'RIPUS, n. [Gr. fi.pi«oj; L. Euripus.]
A strait ; a narrow tract of water, where the
tide or a current flows and reHows, as that
in Greece, between Enboea and Attica, or
Euboea and Boi-otia. It is .sometimes used
for a strait or frith much agitated.
Burke.
EU'RITE,?!. The white stone [weiss stein]
<if Werner ; a very small-grained granite,
witli the parts intimately blended, and
hence often apparently compact. It is
gray, red, &c., according to the color of
the felspar, of which it is principally com-
posed. Geo/. Primer.
Whitestone is a finely granular felspar,
containing grains of quartz and scales of
mica. Cteaveland.
EUROC'LYDON, n. [Gr. tipoj, wind, and
x%vSm; a wave.]
[A tempestuous wind, which drove ashore,
on Malta, the ship in which Paul wassail-
I ing to Italy. It is supposed to have blown
I from an easterly point. Acts .\xvii.
Encyc.
EU'ROPE, n. [Bochart supposes this word
to be com]>osed of S3x im white face, the
land of white people, as distinguished from
the Ethiopians, black-faced people, or
tawny inhabitants of .\sia and Africa.]
Tlie great quarter of the earth that lies be-
EVA
EVA
EVA
tween the Atlantic ocean ami Asia, and
between the ftlediteiraneaii sea and the
North sea.
EUROPE'AN, a. Pertaining to Europe.
EUROPE'AN, 71. A native of Europe.
EU'RIIS, n. [L.] The east wind.
EU'RYTHMY, n. [Gr. ,v and pvOi^o;, ryth-
mus, number or proportion.]
In architecture, painting and sculpture, ease
majesty and elegance of the parts of a
body, arising from just proportions in the
composition. Encyi
EUSE'BIAN, n. An Arian, so called from
one Eusehius.
EU'STYLE, n. [Gr. tv and ruJioj, a column.;
In architecture, a sort of building in whicl
the columns are placed at the most con-
venient distances from each other, the in-
terrolumniations being just two diameters
and a quarter of the column, except those
in the middle of the face, before and be-
hind, which are three diameters distant.
Encyc.
EU'THANASY, n. [Gr. .vSamsio. ; iv and
eaiuros, death.] An easy death.
Jirbuthnot.
EUTYCH'IAN, n. A follower of Eutycli-
ius, who denied the two natures of Christ.
EUTY€H'IANISM, n. The doctrines of Eu-
tychius, who denied the two natures of
Christ.
EVA'eATE, V. t. [L. vaco.] To empty.
UVot in use.] Harvey.
EVA€'UANT, a. [L. evacuans.] Empty-
ing; freeing from.
EVA€'UANT, n. A medicine wliich pro-
cures evacuations, or promotes the natural
secretions and excretions.
EVA€'UATE, V. t. [L. evacuo ; e and vacuus,
from vaco, to empty. See Vacant.]
1. To make empty ; to free from any thing
contained ; as, to evacuate the church.
Hooker.
2. To throw out ; to eject ; to void ; to dis-
charge ; as, to evacuate dark-colored mat-
ter from the bowels. Hence,
3. To empty ; to free from contents, or to
diminish the quantity contained ; as, to
evacuate the bowels ; to evacuate the vessels
by bleeding.
4. To quit ; to withdraw from a place. The
British army evacuated the city of New-
York, November 25, 178.3.
5. To make void; to nullify; as, to evacuate
a marriage or any contract. [In thi.^
sense, vacate is now generally used.]
EVA€'UATED, pp. ' Emptied ; cleared :
freed from the contents; quitted, as by an
army or garrison ; ejected ; discharged :
vacated.
EVACUATING, ppr. Emptying ; making
void or vacant; withdrawins frnni.
EVAeUA'TION, n. The act ofemptying or
clearing of the contents ; the act of with
drawing from, as an army or garrison.
9. Discharges by stool or other natural
means ; a diminution of the fluids of an
animal body by cathartics, venesection, or
other means. Qutnry.
3. Abolition ; nullification.
EVACUATIVE, a. That evacuates.
EVAC'UATOR, n. One that makes void.
Hammond.
EVA'DE, V. t. [L. evado ; e and vado, to go ;
Sp. evadir ; Fr. evader.]
1. To avoid by dexterity. The man evaded
the blow aimed at his head.
2. To avoid or escape by artifice or strata
gem ; to slip away ; to elude. The thief
evaded his pursuers.
3. To elude by subterfuge, sophistry, address
or ingenuity. The advocate evades an ar
gument or the force of an argument.
4. To escape as imperceptible or not to be
reached or seized. South
EVA'DE, v. i. To escape ; toshp away ; for
merly and properly with //'om; as, to evade
from perils. But/rom is now seldom used.
2. To attempt to escape ; to practice artifice
or sophistry for the purpose of eluding.
The ministers of God are not to evade and
take refuge in any such ways. South.
EVA'DED, pp. Avoided ; eluded.
EVA'DING, ^^r. Escaping; avoiding ; elu-
ding; slipping away from danger, pursuit
or attack.
EVAGA'TION, n. [L. evagatio, evagor ; e
and vagor, to wander.]
The act of wandering ; excin-sion ; a roving
or rambling. Ray.
E'VAL, a. [L. tevum.] Relating to time or
duration. [ATot in use.]
EVANES'CENCE, n. [L. evanescens, from
evanesce ; e and vanesco, to vanish, from
vanus, vain, empty. See Vain.]
1. A vanishing ; a gradual departure from
sight or possession, either by removal to a
distance, or by dissipation, as vapor.
2. The state of being liable to vanish and
escape possession.
EVANES'CENT, a. Vanishing ; subject to
vanishing ; fleeting ; passing away ; liable
to dissipation, like vapor, or to become
imperceptible. The pleasures and joys of
life are evanescent.
EVAN'GEL, n. [L. evangelium.] The gos-
pel. [JVot in use.] Chaucer.
EVANgE'LIAN, a. Rendering thanks for
favors. Mitford.
EVANgEL'I€, ) [Low L. evangelicus,
EVANgEL'I€AL, ^ ■ from evangelium,the
gospel ; Gr. ti'ay75>.ixo5, from ivayyeUov ;
ID, well, good, and ayyiXXa, to announce,
Ir. agalla, to tell, to speak, Ar. ^1.5
to tell. Class Gl. No. 49, or Ch. i^D, 'SoN
to call. No. 36.]
1. According to the gospel ; consonant to the
doctrines and precepts of the gospel, pub-
lished by Christ and his apostles ; as evitn-
gelical righteousness, obedience or piety.
2. Contained in the gospel; as an evangelical
doctrine.
3. Sound in the doctrines of the gospel ; or
thodox ; as an evangelical preacher.
EVANGEL'leALLY, adv. In a maimer ac
cording to the gospel.
EVAN'gELISM, n. The promulgation of
the gospel. Bacon.
EVAN'gELIST, n. A writer of the history,
or doctrines, precepts, actions, life and
death of our blessed Savior, Jesus Christ;
.is the four evangelists, Matthew, Blark,
Luke and John.
2. A preacher or publisher of the gospel of
Jesus Christ, licensed to preach, but nol
having charge of a particular church.
EVAN'gELISTARY, n. A selection of pas-
sages from the gospels, as a lesson in di-
vine service. Gregory.
EVANGELIZA'TION, n. The act of evan-
gelizing.
EVAN'GELIZE, v. t. [Low L. evangelizo.]
To instruct in the gospel ; to preach the
gospel to, and convert to a belief of the
gospel ; as, to evangelize heathen nations ;
to evangelize the world.
Milner. Buchanan.
EVAN'GELIZE, v. i. To preach the gospel
EV.\N'GELIZED, pp. Instructed in the gos-
pel; converted to a belief of the gospel, or
to Christianity.
EVAN'GELIZING, ppr. Instructing in the
doctrines and precepts of the gospel; con-
verting to christianitv.
EVAN'gELY, n. Good .tidings; the gospel.
U^ot in use.] ' Spenser.
EVAN'ID, a. [L. evanidus. See Vain.]
Faint ; weak ; evanescent ; liable to van-
ish or disappear ; as an evanid color or
smell. Bacon. Encyc.
EVAN'ISH, V. i. [L. cvanesco. See Vain.]
To vanish ; to disappear ; to escape from
sight or perception. [ Vanish is more gen-
erally used.]
EVAN'ISHMENT, VI. A vanishing; disap-
pearance. Barton.
EVAP'ORABLE, a. [See Evaporate.] That
may be converted into vapor and pass off
in fumes ; that may be dissipated by evapo-
ration. Grew
EVAP'ORATE, v.i. [L. evaporo ; e and
vaporo, from vapor, which see.]
1. To pass off in vapor, as a fluid ; to escape
and be dissipated, either in visible vapor,
or in particles too minute to be visible.
Fluids when heated often evaporate in
visible steam ; but water, on the surface of
the earth, generally evaporates in an im-
perceptible manner.
2. To escape or pass off without effect ; to
be dissipated ; to be wasted. Arguments
evaporate in words. The spirit of a writer
often evaporates in translating.
EVAP'ORATE, v. t. To convert or resolve
a fluid into vapor, which is specifically
lighter than the air; to dissipate in fumes,
steam, or minute particles. Heat evapo-
rates water at every point of temperature,
from 32° to 212°, the boiling point, of
Fahrenheit. A north west wind, in New
England, evaporates water and dries the
earth more rapidly, than the heat alone of
a summer's day.
2. To give vent to ; to pour out in words or
■sound. fVotton.
EVAP'ORATE, o. Dispersed in vapors.
EVAPORATED, pp. Converted into va-
por or steam and dissipated ; dissipated in
insensible particles, as a fluid.
EVAP'ORATING,^;)r. Resolving into va-
por ; dissipating, as a fluid.
EVAPORATION, n. The conversion of
a fluid into vapor specifically lighter than
the atmospheric air. Evaporation is in-
creased by heat and is followed by cold.
It is now generally considered as a solu-
tion in the atmosphere.
2. The act of flying off in fumes ; vent ; dis-
charge.
3. In phannacy, the operation of drawing off
a portion of a fluid iii steam, that the re-
mainder may be of a greater consistence,
or more concentrated.
EVAPOROM'ETER, n. [L. evaporo, and
Gr. fisrpoi', measure.]
EVE
An instrument for ascertaining the (iiiantity
of n fluid evaporated in a given time; an
atmometer. Journ. of Science.
EVA'SION, n. s as z. [L. evasio, from evado,
evasi. See Evade.]
The act of eluding or avoiding, or of esca-
ping, particularly from the pressure of an
argument, from an accusation or charge,
from an interrogatory and the like ; ex-
cuse ; subterfuge ; equivocation ; artifice
to elude ; shift. Evasion of a direct an-
swer weakens the testimony of a witness.
Thou by evasions thy crime uncovei'st more.
JirMon.
EVA'SIVE, a. Using evasion or artifice to
avoid; elusive; shuflling; equivocating.
He — answered evasive of the sly request.
Pope.
2. Containing evasion ; artfully contrived to
elude a question, charge or argument';
an evasive answer ; an evasive argument or
reasoning.
EVASIVELY, adv. By evasion or suhter
fuge ; ehisively ; in a manner to avoid i
direct reply or a charge.
EVA'SIVENESS, n. The quaUty or state
of being evasive.
EVE, n. The consort of Adam, and mother
of the human race ; so called by Adam
because she was the mother of all liv
ing. In this case, the word would pro
pcrly belong to the Heb. ri'n. But th<
llebrew name is mn havali or chuvah
coinciding with the verb, to shew, to dis
cover, and Parkhurst hence denominates
Eve, the manifester. In the Septuagint
Eve, in Gen. iii. 20, is rendered Zutj, life
but in Gen. iv. 1, it is rendered Evw, Euan
or Evan. The reason of this variation is
not obvious, as the Hebrew is the same in
both passages. In Russ. Eve is Ewa. In
the Chickasaw language of America, a
wife is called awah, says Adair.
EVE€'TION, n. [L. evefio, to carry away.]
A carrying out or away ; also, a lifting oi
extolling ; exaltation. Pearson,
E'VEN. I „ ,„„ [Sax. aftn, efen ; D. avond ,
EVE, ■ ^ "• ' ""• G. abend : Sw. a/Ion ; Dan
a/ten ; Ice. ajilan. Qu. Ch. X'Jfl, fromnji)
fanab, to turn, to decline. The evening
the decline of the day, or fall of the sun.
I. The decline of the sun ; the latter part or
close of the day, and beginning of the night
Eve is used chiefly in poetry. In prose
we generally use evening.
Winter, oft at ere, resumes the breeze.
Thomson
They, like so many Alexander
Have in these parts from morn till evei
fought.
•i. Eve is used also for the fast or the eve-
ning before a holiday ; as Christmas Eve.
Johnson.
E'VEN-SONG, n. A song for the evening;
a form of worship for the evening.
Milton
2. The evening, or close of the day. Dn/den
E'VEN-TIDE, n. [even and Sax. tid, time.]
Literally, the time of evening ; that is,
evening.
Isaac went out to meditate in tlie field at the
even-tide. Gen. xxiv.
This word is nearly obsolete ; tide being
useless addition to even.
EVE
E'VEN, a. e'vn. [Sax. f/V ii ; D. et^cn ; G.
eben ; Sw. efven ; Pers. • . ^ hovan.
The sense is laid or pressed down, level.]
1. Level ; smooth ; of an equal surface ; flat ;
not rough or waving ; as an even tract of
land ; an even country ; an even surface.
2. Uniform ; equal ; calm ; not easily ruffled
or disturbed, elevated or depressed ; as an
even temper.
3. Level with; parallel to.
And shall lay thee even with the ground.
Luke xix.
Not leaning.
He could not carry his honors eucH. .S7i«/f.
5. Equally favorable ; on a level in advan-
tage ; fair. He met the enemy on even
ground. The advocates meet on even
ground in argument.
6. Owing nothing on either side ; having
accounts balanced. We have settled
counts and now arc even.
Settled ; balanced ; as, our accounts are
even.
Equal ; as even nimibers.
Capable of being divided into equal parts,
without a remainder ; opposed to odd.
4. 6. 8. 10. are even numbers.
Let him tcl! me whether the number of the
stars is even or odd. Tal/I^
E'VEN, v. t. e'vn. To make even or level ;
to level ; to lay smooth.
This will even all inequalities. Evelyn.
This temple Xerxes evened with the soil.
Raleigh.
2. To place in an equal state, as to obliga-
tion, or in a state in which nothing is due
on either side ; to balance accounts.
Shak.
E'VEN, I'. ;. To be equal to. [Ao« used.]
Carew
E'VEN, adv. e'vn. Noting a level or equality,
or emphatically, a like manner or degree.
As it has been done to you, even so shall it
be done to others. Thou art a soldier ewen
to Cato's wishes, that is, your qualities, a
a soldier, are equal to his wishes.
2. Noting equahty or sameness of time
hence emphatically, the very time. I knew
the facts, even when I wrote to you.
3. Noting, emphatically, identity of jjcrson.
And behold I, even I, do bring a flood of
waters on the earth. Gen
Likewise ; in like
Here all their rage, and ev n tiieir murmurs
cease. Popt
5. So much as. We are not even sensible of
the change.
6. Noting the application of somethiMg tc
that which is less probably included in tht
phrase; or bringing something within f
description, which is unexpected. Tht
common people are addicted to this vice
and even the great are not free from it
He made several discoveries which are
new, even to the learned.
Here also we see the sense of equality,
bringing to a level. So in these phrases,
I sliall eveii let it pass, I shall even do
more, we observe the sense of bringing
the mind or will to a level with what is tc
to he done.
EVE'NE, V. i. [L. evenio.] To happen
LVof in use.] Heuijl
E'VENED, pp. Made even or level.
EVE
E'VENER, n. One that makes even.
E'VKNMAND, 71. Equality. Bacon.
E'VENHANDED, a. Impartial ; etjuitable ;
just. Skak.
E'VENING, n. [See JSue, £rcn.] The lat-
ter part and close of the day, and the be-
ginning of darkness or night ; properly,
the decline or fall of the day, or of the sun.
The evening and the morning were the first
day. Gen. i.
The precise time when evening begins,
or when it ends, is not ascertained by
usage. The word often includes a part at
least of the afternoon, and indeed the
whole afternoon ; as in the phrase, " The
morning and evening service of the sab-
bath." In strictness, eve7nng commences
at the setting of the sun, and continues
during twilight, and night commences with
total darkness. But in customary lan-
guage, the evening extends to bed-time,
whatever that time may he. Hence we
say, to spend an evening with a friend ; an
evening visit.
2. Thedeclineor latter part of life. We say,
the evening of life, or of one's days.
3. The decline of any thing ; as the evening
of glorv.
E'VENING, a. Being at the close of day ;
as tlie evening sacrifice.
E'VENING HYMN,? A hymn or song
E'VENING SONG, ^ "• to be sung at eve-
ning.
EVENING-STAR, n. Hesperus or Vesper ;
Venus, when visible in the evening.
E'VENLY, adv. e'vnly. With an even, level
or smooth surface ; without roughness,
elevations and depressions ; as things e»eH-
iw spread.
2. Equally ; uniformly; in an equipoise ; as
evenly balanced.
3. In a level position ; horizontally.
The surface of the sea is eveitly distant from
the center of tire earth. Brerewood.
4. Impartially ; without bias from favor or
enmity. Bacon.
E'VENNESS, 71. The state of being even,
level or smooth ; equality of surface.
2. Uniformity ; regularity ; as evenness of
motion.
3. Freedom from inclination to either side ;
equal distance from either extreme.
Hale.
4. Horizontal position ; levelncss of surface;
as the evenness of a fluid at rest.
5. ImpartiaUty between parties; equal re-
spect.
G. Calmness; equality of temper; freedom
from perturbation ; a state of mind not
subject to elevation or depression ; equa-
niniity. Atlerburu.
EVENT', n. [L. evenlus, evenio ; e and eeTiio,
to come ; Fr. evenement ; It. and Sp. evento ;
Ar.
At. Class Bn. No. 21.
That which comes, arrives or happens ;
that which falls out; anv incident good or
bad.
There is one event to the righteous and to the
wicked. Eccles. ix.
2. The consequence of any thing; the issue;
conclusion ; end ; that in wliicb an action,
operation, or series of operations termi-
nates. The event of the campaign was to
bring about a negotiation for peace.
EVENT', V. i. To break forth. [Xot used.]
EVE
EVE
E V I
EVENT'ERATE, v. t. [Fr. evenlrer, froiij
the L. e and venter, tlie belly.]
To open the bowels; to rip open ; to disem-
bowi'l. Brown.
EVENT'ERATED, pp. Having the bowels
opened.
EVENT'ERATING, ;;;)/■. Opening the bow-
els.
EVENTFUL, a. [from event] Full of
events or incidents ; producing numerous
or great changes, either in public or private
affairs ; as an eventful period of history ;
an eventful period of life.
EVEN'TILATE, v. t. To winnow ; to fan ;
to discuss. [Sec Ventilate.]
EVENTILA'TION, n. A fanning; discus-
EVENT'UAL, a. [from event.] Coming or
happening as a consequence or result of
anything; consequential.
2. Final; terminating; ultimate. Burke.
Eventual provision for the payment of the
public secuiities. Hamilton.
EVENTUALLY, idv. In tlie event; in the
final result or issue.
EVENT'UATE, v. i. To issue ; to come to
an end ; to close ; to terminate. J. Lloyd.
EVENTUATING, ppr. Issuing; termina-
ting.
EVER, adv. [Sax. a/re, efre.] At any time ;
at any period or point of time, past or fu-
ture. Have you ever seen the city of Paris,
or shall you ever see it ?
No man ever yet hated his ovfn flesh. Eph. v
2. At all times ; always ; continually.
He shall ever love, and always be
The subject of my scorn and cruelty.
Dryden
He will ever be mindful of his covenant. Ps
Ei'cr learning, and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth. 2 Tim. iii.
3. Forever, eternally ; to perpetuity ; during
everlasting continuance.
This is my name/oreticr. Ex. iii.
In a more lax sense, this word signifies
continually, for an indefinite period.
His master shall bore his ear through with an
awl, and he shall sei-ve \i\m forever. Ex. xxi.
' Tliese words are sometimes repeated,
for the sake of emphasis ; forever and ever,
or forever and forever. Pope. Shak.
4. Ever and anon, at one time and another ;
now and then. Dryden.
5. In any degree. No man isei'ecthe richer
or happier for injustice.
Let no man fear that creature ever the less,
because he sees the apostle safe from his poi-
son. Hall.
In modern usage, this word is used for
never, but very improperly.
And all the question, wrangle e'er so long.
Is only this, if God has placed huu wrong.
Pope.
This ought to be, ne'er so long, as the
l>hrase is always used in the Anglo-Saxon,
and in our version of the scriptures, that
is, so long as never, so long as never
before, to any length of time indefinitely.
Ask me never so much dowry. Charmers,
charming never so wisely. These are the
genuine English phrases. Let them
charm so wisely as never before.
(). A word of enforcement or emphasis
thus, as soon as ever he had done it ; as
like him as ever he can look.
They broke all their bones in pieces or <
(hey came to the boUoni of ihe deu. Dan,
The latter phrase is however anoma-
lous ; or ever being equivalent to before, and
or may be a mistake for ere.
7. In poetry, and sometimes in prose, ever is
contracted into eVr.
Ever in composition signifies always or con-
tinually, without intermission, or to eter-
nity.
EVERBUB'BLING, a. [ever and bubbling.]
Continually boiling or bubbling.
Crashaiv.
EVERBURN'ING, a. [ever and btirning.]
Burning continually or without intermis-
sion ; never extinct ; as an everburning
lamp ; everburning sulphur. Milton.
EVERDU'RING, a. [ever and during.] En-
during forever ; continuing without end ;
as everduring gloi-y. Raleigh.
EVERGREEN, a. [ever and green.] Al-
ways green ; verdant throughout the year.
The pine is an evergreen Wee.
EVERGREEN, n. A plant that retains its
verdure through all the seasons ; as a gar-
den furnished with evergreens.
EVERHON'ORED, a. [ever and honored.]
Always honored ; ever held in esteem ; as
an everhonorcd name. Pope.
EVERLASTING, a. [ever and lasting.]
Lasting or enduring for ever ; eternal ;
existing or continuing without end ; im-
mortal.
The everlasting God, or Jehovah. Gen. xxi.
Everlasting fire ; everlasting punishment.
Matt, xviii. xxv.
'2. Perpetual ; continuing indefinitely, or du-
ring the present state of things.
I will give thee, and thy seed after thee, the
land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession.
Gen. xvii.
The everlasting hills or mountains. Genesis.
Habakkuk.
.3. Iw popular usage, ewAXess; continual ; un-
intermitted ; as, the family is disturbed
with everlasting disputes.
EVERL^ASTING, n. Eternity ; eternal du-
ration, past and future.
From everlasting to everlasting, thou art
God. Ps. xc.
2. A plant, the Gnaphalium; also, the Xcr-
uithemuni. Fam. of Plants.
EVERL^-^STINGLY, adv. Eternally ; per-
petually ; continually. Swift.
EVERL^ASTINGNESS, n. Eternity; end-
less duration ; indefinite duration. [Little
used.] Donne.
EVERLASTING-PEA, n. A plant, the
Laihyrus Uitifolia.
EVERLIVING, a. [ever and living.] Liv-
ing without end ; eternal ; immortal ; ha-
ving eternal existence; as the everliving
God.
2. Continual; incessant; unintermitted.
EVERMO'RE, adv. [ever and more.] .Al-
ways; eternally.
Religion piefers the pleasures which flow
from the presence of God for evermore.
Tillotson.
2. Always; at all times ; as evemiore guided
by truth.
EVERO'PEN, a. [ever and open.] Always
open ; never closed. Taylor.
EVERPLE'ASING, a. [ever and pleasing.]
Always pleasing ; ever giving delight.
The everpleasing Pamela. Sidney.
EVERSE, v. t. evers'. [L. eversus.] To
overthrow or subvert. [JVbt used.]
Glanvilte.
EVER'SION, n. [L. eversio.] An over-
throwing; destruction. Taylor.
Eversion of the eye-lids, ectro])ium, a disease
in which the eye-lids are turned outward,
so as to expose the red internal tunic.
Good.
EVERT', v. t. [L. everto ; e and verto, to
turn.]
To overturn; to overthrow; to destroy.
[Little used.] Jtyliffe.
EVERWA'KING, a. [ever and ivaking.]
Always awake.
EVERWATCH'FUL, a. [evere.nAwaiehful.]
I Always watching or vigilant ; as ever-
\ watchful ej es. Pope.
iEVERY, a. [Old Eng. everich. Chaucer.
I It is formed from ever. The Scots write
everich and everilk ; the latter is the Sax.
I (efre and ale, each. The former may be
I enc, eaca, addition, or the common termi-
nation ich, ig, like.]
Each individual of a whole collection or ag-
gregate luimber. The word includes the
whole number, but each separately stated
[ or considered.
Every man at his best state is altogether van-
I ity. Ps. xxxix.
jEVERYDAY, o. [every and day.] Used or
being everyday; common; usual; as eu-
I eryday wit ; an everyday suit of clothes.
EVERYWHERE, arfr. [See Where,vih\eh
signifies place.] In every place ; in all
places.
EVERYOUNG, a. [ever and yming.] Al-
ways young or fresh ; not subject to old
age or decay ; undecaying.
Joys everyoung, unmixed with pain or fear.
Pope.
E'VES-DROP. [See Eaves-drop, the usual
spelling.]
E'VES-DROPPER, n. One who stands un-
der the eaves or at a window or door, to
listen privately to what is said in the
house. [See Eaves-dropper.]
EVES'TIGATE, v.t. [JVot inuse.] [See
Investigate.]
EVI'BRATE, [J<<rotm use.) [See Vibrale.]
EVICT', V. t. [L. evinco,evictum ; e and vinco,
conquer.]
1. To dispossess by a judicial process, or
course of legal proceedings ; to recover
lands or tenements by law.
If either party be evicted for defect of the
other's litle. Blackstone.
2. To take away by sentence of law.
King Charles.
3. To evince ; to prove. [JVot used.]
Cheyne.
EVICT'ED, pp. Dispossessed by sentence
of law; applied to persons. Recovered by
legal process ; applied to things.
EVICT'ING, ppr. Dispossessing by course
of law.
EVICTION, n. Dispossession by judicial
sentence ; the recovery of lands or tene-
ments from another's possession, by due
course of law.
2. Proof; conclusive evidence. L'Estrangc.
EVIDENCE, n. [Fr. from L. evidentia.
from video, to see. Class Bd.]
1. That which elucidates and enables the
mind to see truth ; proof arising from our
own perceptions by the senses, or from
the testimony of others, or from inductions
of reason. Our senses fiu'iiish cvidenci
E V I
E V I
E V O
of the existence of matter, of solidity, of|
color, of heat and cold, of a difference i
the qualities of bodies, of figure, &c. Tl
declarations of a witness furnish evidence
of facts to a court and jury; and reason
ing, or the deductions of the mind from
facts or arguments, furnish evidence of
truth or falsehood.
2. Any instrument or writing which contains
proof
I delivered the evidence of the purchase to
Baruch. Jer. xxxii.
I subscribed the evidence and sealed it. Jer.
xxxii.
3. A witness ; one who testifies to a fact.
This sense is improper and inelegant,
though common, and found even in John
son's writings.
EVIDENCE, V. t. To elucidate ; to prove ;
to make clear to the mind ; to show in
such a manner that the mind can appro
hend the truth, or in a manner to convince
it. The testimony of two witnesses is usu
ally sufficient to evidence the guilt of an
offender. The works of creation clearly
evidence the existence of an infinite first
cause.
EV'IDENCED, pp. Made clear to the mind ;
proved.
EVIDENCING, ppr. Proving clearly ; man-
ifesting.
EVIDENT, a. Plain ; open to be seen ;
clear to the mental eye ; apparent ; mani-
fest. The figures and colors of bodies are
evident to the senses ; their qualities may
be made evident. The guilt of an offender
cannot always be made evident.
EVIDEN'TIAL, a. Aflbrding evidence ;
clearly proving. Scott.
EVIDfiNTLY, adv. Clearly; obviously:
plainly ; in a manner to be seen and un
derstood ; in a manner to convince the
mind ; certainly ; manifestly. The evil of
sin may be evidently proved by its mischie-
vous effects.
EVI(5ILA'TION, n. [L.evigilatio.] A wa-
king or watching. [Little used.]
E'VIL, a. e'vl. [Sax. efel, ijfel, or hyfcl ; D.
euvel ; G. iibel ; Arm. fail, goall. Qu. W.
gwael, vile ; Ir. feal. The Irish word is
connected with feallaim, to fail, which
may be allied to fall. Perhaps this is from
a. different root. Uu. Heb. Ch. Syr. Si;? to
be unjust or injurious, to defraud, Ar.
^Ic to decline, and jLi to fall or
invade suddenly.]
1. Having bad qualities of a natural kind ;
mischievous ; having qualities which tend
to injury, or to produce mischief
Some evil beast halh devoured him. Gen.
XXX vii.
2. Having bad qualities of a moral kind ;
wicked ; corrupt ; perverse ; wrong ; as
evil thoughts ; evil deeds ; evii speaking ;
an evil generation. Scripture
3. Unfortunate; unhappy; producing sor-
row, distress, injury or calamity ; as evil
tidings ; evil arrows ; evil days. Scripture.
E'VIL, n. Evil is natural or moral. JVatu-
ral evil is any thing which produces pain,
distress, loss or calamity, or which in any
way disturbs the peace, impairs the hap
piness, or destroys the perfection of natu-
ral beings.
Moral evil is any deviation of a moral
Vol. I.
agent from the rules of conduct prescri
lied to him by God, or by legitimate hu-
man authority ; or it is any violation of the
plain principles of justice and rectitude,
There are also evils called civil, which
affect injuriously the peace or prosperity
of a city or state ; and political evils, which
injure a nation, in its public capacity.
All wickedness, all crimes, all violations
of law and right are moral evils. Diseases
are natural evils, but they of\en proceed
from moral evil.^.
2. Misfortune ; mischief; injury.
There shall no evil befall thee. Ps,
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth
himtelf. Prov. xxii.
3. Depravity; coiTuption of heart, or disp
sition to commit wickedness ; malignity
The heart of the ."ions of men is full of evil.
Eccles. ix.
4. Malady ; as the king's evil or scrophula
E'VIL, adv. [generally contracted to t'tt.]
I. Not well ; not with justice or propriety ;
unsuitably.
i;m7 it beseems tlice. Shak.
3. Not virtuously ; not innocently.
3. Not happily ; unfortunately.
It went evil with his house. Deut
4. Injuriously ; not kindly.
The Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted
us. Deut.
In composition, evil, denoting something bad
or wrong, i.s often contracted to ill.
EVIL- AFFECTED, a. Not well disposed
unkind ; now ill-affected.
EVILDOER, II. [evil and doer, from do.
One who does evil ; one who commits
sin, crime, or any moral wrong.
They speak evil against you as evildoers
Pet. ii.
E'VILEVED, o. [evil and eye.] Looking
with an evil eye, or with envy, jealousy
or bad design.
EVIL-FA'VORED, a. [evil and favor.] Ha-
ving a bad countenance or external ap-
pearance ; ill-favored. Bacon
EVIL-FA'VOREDNESS, n. Deformity.
Deut.
E'VILLY, adv. Not well. [Little used.]
Bp. Tayloi
EVIL-MINDED, a. [evil and mind.]
ving evil dispositions or intentions ; dispo-
sed to mischief or sin; mahcious; malig
nant ; wicked. Slanderous reports an
propagated by evil-minded persons. [This
word is in common use.]
E'VILNESS, n. Badness ; viciousness ; ma
lignity ; as evilness of heart ; the evibiess
of sin.
EVILSPE'AKING, n. [evil and speak.]
Slander ; defamation ; calumny ; censori
ousness. 1 Pet. ii.
EVILWISH'ING, a. [eiil and msh.] Wish
ing hann to ; as an evilunshing mind.
Sidney.
EVILWORK'ER, n. [evil and work.] Oiie
who does wickedness. Phil
EVINCE, )). t. evins'. [L. evinco, to van-
quish, to prove or show ; e and vinco, to
conquer.]
1. To show in a clear manner ; to prove be-
yond any reasonable doubt ; to manifest ;
to make evident. Nothing evinces the
depravity of man more fully than his u
willingness to believe himself depraved.
2. To conquer. [.Yot in use.]
EVIN'CED, pp. Made evident ; proved.
76
EVIN'CIBLE, a. Capable of proof; de-
monstrable. Hale.
EVIN'CIBLY, adv. In a manner to demon-
strate, or force conviction.
EVIN'CIVE, a. Tending to prove ; having
the power to demonstrate.
E'VIRATE, v. t. [L. t-ir, eviratus.] To
emasculate. [JVot in use.] Bp. Hall.
EVIS'CERATE, v. t. [L. eviscero;e and
viscera, the bowels.]
To embowel or disembowel ; to take out the
entrails ; to search the bowels.
Johnson. Griffdh.
EVIS'CERxVTED, pp. Deprived of the
bowels.
EVISCERATING, ppr. Disemboweling.
EV'ITABLE, a. [L. evilabilis. Sec Evitale.]
That may be shunned ; avoidable. [Little
iised.] Hooker.
EVITATE, t'. /. [L.evito; c and vito, from
'le root ot'void, uride.]
To shun ; to avoid ; to escape. [Little used.]
Shak.
EVITA'TION, ji. An avoiding; a shun-
ning. [Little used.] Bacon.
EVITE, V. t. [L. evito.] To shun. [A'oi
used.] Drayton.
I . [L. ei'oco ; e and
I "■'•call.] To call ft
I deity
forth.
0, to
EVOCATE,
EVO'KE,
Neptune is a deity wlio evocaies tilings
progression. Paus. TVans.
3. To call from one tribunal to another; to
remove.
The cause was evoked to Rome. Hume.
[Evoke is the preferable word.]
EVO€A'TION, Ji. A calling fonh ; a call-
ing or bringing from concealment.
Brown.
2. A calling from one tribunal to another.
3. Among the Romans, a calling on the gods
of a besieged city to forsake it and come
over to the besiegers ; a religious ceremo-
ny of besieging armies. Encyc.
EVbLA'TION, n. [L.evolo; e and i-o/o, to
fly.] The act of flying away. Bp. Halt.
EV'OLUTE, n. An original curve from
which another curve is described ; the ori-
gin of the evolvent. Ash.
EVOLU'TION, n. [L. evolutio.] The act of
unfolding or unrolling. Boyle.
3. A series of things unrolled or unfolded ;
as the evolution of ages. Moore.
3. In geometry, the unfolding or opening of
a curve, and making it describe an evol-
vent. T?he equable evolution of the peri-
phery of a circle, or other curve, is such a
gradual approach of the circumference to
rectitude, as that its parts do all concur,
and equally evolve or unbend; so that the
same line becomes successively a less arc
of a reciprocally greater circle, til! at last
they change into a straight hne. Harris.
4. In algebra, evolution is the extraction of
roots from powers ; the reverse of involu-
tion. _ Harris. Encyc.
5. In military tactics, the doubling of ranks
or files, wheeling, countermarching or
other motion by which the disposition of
troops is changed, in order to attack or
defend with more advantage, or to occupy
a different post Encyc.
EVOLVE, I', t. evolv'. [L. evoho ; e and
volvo, to roll, Eng. to u'allow.]
1. To unfold; to open and expand.
The animal soul sooner evolves itself to its full
orb and extent than the human soul. Hale.
E X A
E X A
E X A
2. To tliiovv out ; to emit. Pnor.
EVOLVE, v.i. To open itself; to disclose
itself. Prior.
EVOLVED, ^;>. Unfolded; opened; ex-
panded ; emitted.
EVOLVENT, ?». In gcomelry, a curve for-
med by the evolution of another curve ;
the curve described from the evolute.
J,
EVOLV'ING, ppr. Unfolding; expanding;
emitting.
EVOMr'TION, n. A vomiting. Sioift.
EVULGA'TION, n. A divulging. [JVot iv
use.]
EVUL'SLON, n. [h. cvulsio, from evello ; e
and velto, to pluck.]
Tlie act of plucking or pulling out by force.
Brown.
EWE, 11. yu. [Sax. eowa, eowe ; D. ooi ; Ir.
««■ or 01 ; Sp. oveja. It seems to be the L.
ovis.]
A female sheep ; the female of the ovine
race of animals.
EWER, n. yu're. [Sax. huer or hzoer.] A
kind of pitcher with a wide spout, used to
bring water for washing the hands.
Shak. Pope.
EW'RY, n. yu'ry. [from eiver.] In England,
an otKce in the king's household, where
they t.'.ke care of the linen for the king':
table, lay the cloth, and serve up water in
ewers after dinner. Did.
EX. A Latin preposition or prefix, Gr. eI or
ix, signifying out of, out, proceeding from
Hence in composition, it signifies some-
times Old of, as in exhale, exclude ; some-
times off, from or out, as in L. excindo, to
cut off or out ; sometimes beyond, as '-
excess, exceed, excel. In some words it
merely emphatical ; in others it has httle
effect on the signification.
EXACERB'ATE, v. t. [L. exacerbo, to irri
tate ; ex and acerbo, frotu acerbus, severe,
bitter, harsh, sour, G. herbe. See Har-
vest.]
1. To irritate ; to exasperate ; to mflamc an-
gry passions ; to inibitter ; to increase ma-
hgnant qualitie.=.
2. To increase the violence of a disease.
Med. Repos.
EXACERBA'TION, n. The act of exas-
perating ; the irritation of angry or malig-
nant passions or qualities ; increase of
malignity.
2. Among physicians, the increased violence
of a disease ; hence, a paroxysm, ■- •■■
the return of an intermitting fever.
This term is more generally restricted
to the periodical increase of remittent and
continued fevers, where there is no abso-
lute cessation of the fever. Cyc
3. Increased severity; as violent exacerba-
tions of punishment. [Unusual.] Paley.
EXACERBES'CENCE, n. [L. exacerbcsco.]
Increase of irritation or violence, particu-
larly the increase of a fever or disease.
Dariein.
EXACT', a. egzacl'. [L. exactus, from exigo,
to drive ; ex and ago, Gr. ay", to drive, urge
or press.]
1. Closely correct or regular ; nice ; accu-
rate ; conformed to rule ; as a nian exact
in his dealings.
AU this, exact to rule, were brought about.
Pope.
2. Precise; not different in the least. This is
the exact sum or amount, or the f,rad time.
We have an exact model for imitation.
3. Methodical ; careful ; not negligent ; cor-
rect ; observing strict method, rule or or-
der. This man is very exact in keeping
his accounts.
Punctual. Every man should be exact in
paying his debts when due ; he should be
exact in attendance on appointments.
5. Strict. We should be exact in the perform-
ice of duties.
The exacfest vigilance cannot maintain a sin-
gle day of unmingled innocence. Rambler.
EXA€T', r. t. egzacl'. [L. exigo, exactum ;
Sp. crigir ; It. esigere ; Fr. exiger. See
the Adjective.]
1. To force or compel to pay or yield ; to
demand or require authoritatively ; to ex-
tort by means of authority or without pity
or justice. It is an offense for an officer
to exact illegal or unreasonable fees. It is
customary for conquerors to exact tribute
or contributions from conquered coun-
tries.
2. To demand of right. Princes exact obe-
dience of tlieir subjects. Tlie laws of God
t.Tact obedience from all men.
3. To demand of necessity ; to enforce a
yielding or compliance ; or to enjoin with
pressing urgency.
Duty,
Anil justice to my father's soul, exact
Thiscruel piety. Denham.
EXA€T', 11. i. To practice extortion.
The enemy shall not exact upon him. Ps
Ixxxix.
EXA€T'ED, pp. Demanded or required by
authority ; extorted.
EXA€T'ING, ppr. Demanding and com-
peUing to pay or yield under color of au
thority ; requiring authoritatively ; de
manding without pity or justice ; extort
ing ; compelling by necessity.
EXA€'T10N, n. The act of demanding
with authority, and compelling to pay or
yield ; authoritative demand ; a levying or
drawing from by force ; a driving to com-
pliance ; as the exaction of tribute or of
obedience.
3. Extortion ; a wresting from one unjustly ;
the taking advantage of one's necessities,
to compel him to pay illegal or e.xorbitant
tribute, fees or rewards.
Take away your exactions from my people
Ezek. xlv.
3. That which is exacted ; tribute, fees, re
wards or contributions demanded or levi
ed with severity or injustice. Kings may
be enriched by exactio-ns, but their power
is weakened by the consequent disaffec-
tion of their subjects.
EXA€T'ITUDE, n. Exactness. [Little
used.]
EXAeT'LY, adv. Precisely according to
rule or measure ; nicely ; accurately
tenon should be exactly fitted to the j
tise.
2. Precisely according to fact. The story
exactly accords with the fact or event.
3. Precisely according to principle, justice
or right.
EXA€T'NESS, n. Accuracy ; nicety ; pre-
cision ; as, to make experiments with ex-
acfness.
2. Regularity ; careful conformity to law or
rides of propriety ; as exactness of deport-
i. Careful observance of method and con-
formity to truth ; as exactness in accounts
or business.
EXAeT'OR, n. One who exacts ; an offi-
;er who collects tribute, taxes or customs.
I will make thine officers peace, and thine
exactors righteousness. Isa. Is.
3. An extortioner; one who compels anoth-
er to pay more than is legal or reasonable ;
one who demands something without pity
or regard to justice. Bacon.
3. He that demands by authority ; as an ex-
actor of oaths. Bacon.
4. One who is unreasonably severe in his in-
junctions or demands. TiUotson.
EXACT'RESS, n. A female who exacts or
severe in her injunctions. B. Jonson.
EXAC'UATE, V. I. [L. eraeuo.] To whet or
sharpen. [JVot in use.] B. Jonson.
EXAG'gERATE, t). <. [L. exag-g-e7-o; ex and
aggei-o, to heap, from agger, a heap.]
1. To heap on ; to accumulate. In this lite-
al sense, it is seldom used ; perhaps never.
2. To highthen; to enlarge beyond the
truth ; to amplify ; to represent as greater
than strict truth will warrant. A friend
exaggerates a man's virtues ; an enemy ex-
aggerates his vices or faults.
3. In painting, to highthen in coloring or
design. Encyr.
EXA6'GERATED, pp. Enlarged beyond
the truth.
EXA6'(iERATING, ppr. Enlarging or am
plifying beyond the truth.
EXAGGERA'TION, n. A heaping togeth-
en; heap ; accumulation. [Little used.]
Hale.
2. In rhetoric, amplification ; a representa-
tion of things beyond the truth ; hyperbol-
ical representation, whether of good or
evil.
In painting, a method of giving a repre-
sentation of things too strong for the life.
EXAG'gERATORY, a. Containing exag-
geration.
EXAG'ITATE, !>.«. [L.exagito.] To shake;
to agitate ; to reproacli. [Little used or
obs.] Arbuthnot.
EXALT', V. I. tgzoW. [Fr. exalter ; Sp. ex-
altar ; It. esaltare ; Low L. exalto ; ex and
altus, high.]
1. To raise high ; to elevate.
2. To elevate in power, wealth, raidc or dig-
nity ; as, to exalt one to a throne, to the
chief magistracy, to a bishopric.
3. To elevate with joy or confidence ; as, to
be exalted with success or victory. [We
now use elate.]
4. To raise with pride ; to make undue pre-
tensions to power, rank or estimation ; to
elevate tQO high or above others.
He that cvalteth himself shall be abased.
Luke xiv. Matt, xxiii.
5. To elevate in estimation and praise ; to
magnify ; to praise ; to extol.
He is my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Ex. .\v.
0. To raise, as the voice ; to raise in opposi-
tion. 2 Kings xix.
7. To elevate in diction or sentiment ; to
make sublime ; as exalted strains.
8. Li physics, to elevate ; to purify; to sub-
E X A
E X A
E X A
lilize ; to refiae ; as, to exalt tlie juices or
the qualities of bodies.
EXaLTA'TION, n. The act of raising
high.
2. Elevation to power, office, rank, dignity
or excellence.
3. Elevated state ; state of greatness or dig-
nity.
I wondered at my flight, and change
To this high exaltation. Milton.
4. In pharmacy, the refinement or subtiliza-
tion of bodies or their qualities and vir-
tues, or the increase of their strength.
5. In astrology, the dignity of a planet in
which its i)o\vors are increased. Johnson.
EXaLT'ED, pp. Raised to a lofty highth
elevated ; iionored with oflice or rank ; ex
tolled ; magnified ; refined ; dignified ;
sublime.
Time never fails to bring every exalted rep-
utation to a strict scrutiny. Jlmes
EX^LT'EDNESS, n. The state of being
elevated.
9. Conceited dignity or greatness.
EX^LT'ER, n. One who exalts or raises
to dignity.
EXaLT'ING, ppr. Elevating ; raising to
an eminent station ; praising ; extollin
magnifying ; refining.
EXA'MEN, n. egza'men. [L. ejramoi, the
tongue, needk: or beam of a balance. It
signifies also a swarm of bees. Sp. en-
xambre, a swarm of bees, a crowd ; Port.
enxame ; It. sciamo ; Fr. essaim. From its
use in a balance, it came to signify exami-
nation.]
Examination ; disquisition ; enquiry. [Lit-
tle used.] ' Brown
EXAMINABLE, a. [Sec Examine.] That
may be examined; proper for judicial ex-
amination or inquiry.
S. Court, U. States.
EXAM'INANT, n. One who is to be ex-
amined. [JVot legitimate.] Prideaux.
EXAM'INATE, n. The person examined.
Bacon.
EXAMIN A'TION, n. [L. examinatio. See
Examen.]
1. The act of examining; a careful search
or inquiry, with a view to discover truth
or the real state of things; careful and
accurate inspection of a thing and its parts ;
as an examination of a house or a ship.
2. Mental inquiry ; disquisition ; careful con
sideration of the circumstances or facts
which relate to a subject or question ; a
view of qualities and relations, and an es-
timate of their nature and importance.
3. Trial by a rule or law.
4. In judicial proceedings, a careful inquiry
into facts by testimony ; an attempt to as-
certain truth by inquiries and interrogato-
ries ; as the examination of a witness or
the merits of a cause.
5. In seminaries of learning, an inquix-y into
the acquisitions of the students, by ques-
tioning them in literature and the sciences,
and by hearing their recitals.
6. In chimistry and other sciences, a searching
for the nature and qualities of substances,
by experiments ; the practice or applica-
tion of the (lociinastic art.
EXAM'INATOR, n. An examiner. [JVot
used.] Brown
EXAM'INE, V. t. egzam'in. [L. examina
from examen.]
To inspect carefully, with a view to dis
cover truth or the real state of a thing
as, to examine a ship to know whether she
is sea-worthy, or a house to know whcth
er rejiairs are wanted.
2. To search or inquire into facts and.cir
cumstances by interrogating ; as, to exam
ine a witness.
3. To look into the state of a subject ; t(
view in all its aspects ; to weigh arguments
and compare facts, with a view to form a
correct opinion or judgment. Let us ex-
amine this proposition ; let us examine this
subject in all its relations and bearings
let us examine into the state of this ques-
tion.
4. To inquire into the improvements oi
qualifications of students, by interrogato
ries, proposing problems, or by hearing
their recitals ; as, to examine the classes in
college ; to examine the candidates for a
degree, or for a license to preach or to
practice in a profession.
5. To try or assay by experiments ; as, to ex
amine minerals.
6. To try by a nile or law.
Examine yourselves whether ye are in thi
faith. 2 Cor. xiii.
7. In general, to search ; to scrutinize ; to
explore, witli a view to discover truth ; as
to examine ourselves; to examine the ex-
tent of human knowledge.
EXAM'INED, pp. Inquired into ; searched ;
inspected ; interrogated ; tried by experi
ment.
EXAM'INER, n. One who examines, tries
or inspects ; one who interrogates a wit-
ness or an offender.
2. In chancery,\n Great Britain, the Examin
ers are two officers of that court, who ex
amine, on oath, the witnesses for the par
tics. Encyc
EX.\M'1NI\G, ppr. Inspecting carefully
s'tin-liiiif,' in- inquiring into; interrogating
trviiii; or ,-i^-i.-vying bv experiment.
EXAMPLAKY, a. [from example.] Serv-
ing for example or pattern ; proposed for
imitation. [It is now written exemplary.]
Hooker.
EXAMTLE, n. egzam'pl. [L. exemplum
Fr. exemple ; It. esempio ; Sp. exempli
Qu. from ex and the root of simUis, Gi
ofxaXoi.]
L A pattern ; a copy ; a model ; that which
is proposed to be imitated. This word,
when applied to material things, is now
generally written sample, as a sample of
cloth ; but example is sometimes used.
Raleigh
2. A pattern, in morals or manners; a copy
or model ; that which is proposed or is
proper to be imitated. •
I have given you an example, that you should
do as I have done to you. John xiii.
Example is our preceptor before we can rea
son. Kblloek
3. Precedent ; a former instance. Buona
parte furnished many examples of success-
ful bravery.
4. Precedent or former instance, in a bad
sense, intended for caution.
Lest any man fall after the same example of
unhcliof. Heb. iv.
Sodom and Gomorrah — are set forth for an
example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire
Jude 7.
A person fit to be proposed for a pattern :
one whose conduct is worthy of imitation.
Be thou an example of the believers. 1 Tim. iv.
6. Precedent which disposes to imitation.
Example has more effect than precept.
Instance serving for illustration of a rule
or precept ; or a particular case or propo-
sition illustrating a general rule, position
or truth. The principles of trigonometry
and the rides of grammar are illustrated
by examples.
In logic, or rhetoric, the conclusion of one
singular jioint from another ; an induction
of what may happen from what has hap-
pened. If civil war has produced calami-
ties of a particular kind in one instance, it
is inferred that it will produce like conse-
quences in other cases. This is an exam-
ple. Bailey. Encyc.
EXAM'PLE, V. t. To exemplify ; to set an
exam])Ic. [JVot used.] Shak.
EXAM'PLELESS, a. Having no examplc-
JVbt used.] B. Jonson.
EX.'\M'PLER, n. A pattern ; now sample or
sampler.
EXAN'GUIOUS, a. Having no blood. [.Vot
used. See Eisanguious.]
EX.VN'IMATE, a. egzan'imate. [L. exani-
nuttus, exanimo ; ex and anima, hfe.]
Lifeless ; spiritless ; disheartened ; depress-
ed in spirits. Thomson.
EXANIMATE, v. I. To dishearten ; to dis-
courage. Coles.
EXANIMA'TION, n. Deprivation of life or
of s|)irits. [Little used.]
EXAN'IMOUS, a. [L. exanimis ; ex and
anima, Wfe.] Lifeless; dead. [Little used.]
EXAN'THEMA, n. plu. exanthem'ata. [Gr.
from i^avOtu, to blossom ; i^ and ovSof, a
flower.]
Among physicians, eruption ; a breaking out ;
pustules, petechiiB, or vibices ; any efflo-
rescence on the skin, as in measles, small
pox, scarlatina, &c.
This term is now limited by systematic
nosologists, to such eruptions as are ac-
compariicil will] fever. Good.
EXANTIII'.M AT If. } Eruptive; ef-
EXAN'l'lir.M AT(jrS, ^"- florescent ; no-
ting morbid redness of the skin. The mea-
sles is an eianthematoxis disease. Tooke
uses exanthematic.
EXANT'LATE, v. t. [L. exantlo.] To draw
out ; to exhaust. [JVot used.] Boyle.
EXANTLA'TION, n. The act of drawing
out ; exhaustion. [JVot iised.] Brown.
EXARA'TION, n. [L. ejraro ,- ex and arc]
The act of writing. [.Vo/ u.serf.] Z>ic/.
EX'ARCH, ?i. [Gr. from apxo!, a chief.] A
prefect or governor under the eastern em-
perors. Also, a deputy or legate in the
Greek church.
EX'ARCHATE, n. The office, dignity or
.administration of an exarch. Taylor.
EXARTIeULA'TION, n. [ex and articula-
tion.] Luxation ; the dislocation of a joint.
Quincy.
EX'ASPERATE, r. t. [L. cxaspero, to irri-
tate ; ex and aspero, from asper, rough,
harsh.]
L To anger ; to irritate to a high degree ;
to provoke to rage ; to enrage ; to excite
anger, or to inflame it to an extreme de-
gree. We say, to exasperate a person, or
to exasperate the passion of anger or re-
sentment.
E X C
E X C
E X C
9. To aggravate ; to embitter ; as, to exas-
perate enmity.
3. To augment violence ; to increase malig-
nity ; to exacerbate ; as, to exasperate paiu
or a part inflamed. Baeon.
EX' ASPERATE, a. Provoked ; embitter-
ed ; inflamed. Sliak.
EX' ASPERATED, pp. Highly angered or
irritated ; provoked ; enraged ; embitter-
ed ; increased in violence.
EX'ASPERATER, n. One who exaspe-
rates or inflames anger, enmity or vio-
lence.
EX' ASPERATING, p;>r. Exciting keen re-
sentment ; inflaming anger ; irritating ;
increasing violence.
EXASPERA'TION, n. Irritation; the act
of exciting violent anger; provocation.
9. Extreme degree of anger ; violent pas-
sion.
3. Increase of violence or malignity ; exa-
cerbation.
EXAU€'TORATE, ) „ , [L. exaucturo
EXAU'THORATE, S and auctoro, to
hire or bind, from auctor, author.]
To dismiss from service ; to deprive of a
benefice. ■^i/liff't
EXAUCTORA'TION, ? Dismission from
EXAUTHORA'TION, \ "• service ; depri
vation ; degradation ; the removal of <
person from an oflice or dignity iu the
church. ^yliff'
EXAU'TIIORIZE, v. t. To deprive of au
thority. Sclden.
EX€AL'CEATED, a. [L. excakeo, to pull
oflfthe shoes ; ex and calceus, a slioe.] De
prived of shoes ; unshod; barefooted.
EXCANDES'CENCE, n. [L. excandescen
tia, excandesco ; ex and candesco, candeo, to
glow or be hot, from caneo, to be white, to
shine.]
1. A growing hot ; or a white heat ; glowing
heat.
9. Heat of passion ; violent anger ; or
growing angry.
EX€ANDES'CENT, a. White with heat.
EX€ANTA'TION, n. [L. excanto, but with
an opposite signification.]
Disenchantment by a counterchann. [Little
used.] Bailey.
EX€'ARNATE, V. /. [L. w and caro. " ' ;
To deprive or clear of flesh. Grew.
EX€ARNIFl€A'TION, n. [L. excarnijico.,
to cut in pieces, from caro, flesh.]
The act of cutting ofi" flesh, or of depriving
of flesh. Johnson
EX'CAVATE, V. t. [L. excavo ; ex and c
vo, to hollow, cavus, hollow. See Cave.
To hollow ; to cut, scoop, dig or wear o
tlie inner part of any thing and make it
hollow ; as, to excavate a ball ; to excavate
the earth ; to excavate the trunk of a tree
and form a canoe.
EX'CAVATED, pp. Hollowed y made hol-
low.
EX'€AVATING, ppr. Making hollow.
EX€AVA'TION, n. The act of making
hollow, by cutting, wearing or scoopirig
out the interior substance or part of
thing.
2. A hollow or a cavity formed by removing
the interior substance. Many animals
burrow in excavalions of their own form-
ing.
EX'CAVATOR, n. One who excavates.
EX'CECATE, V. t. [L. cxcceco.] To makel
blind. [ATot used.] \
EXCECA'TION, n. The act of making!
blind. Richardson.]
EXCE'DENT, n. Excess. [J^ot aulhonzed.]
EXCEE'D, V. t. [L. excedo ; ex and cedo,
to pass.]
1. To ]iass or go beyond ; to proceed be-
yond any given or supposed limit, meas-
ure or quantity, or beyond any thing else ;
used equally iu a physical or moral sen.se.
One piece of cloth exceeds the customary
length or breadth ; one man exceeds an-
other in bulk, stature or weight ; one of-
fender exceeds another in villainy.
3. To surpass ; to excel. Homer exceeded
all men in epic poetry. Demo.stbenes and
Cicero exceeded their cotemporaries in ora-
tory.
King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the
earth For riches and for wisdom. 1 Kings x.
EXCEE'D, V. i. To go too far ; to pass the
lu-oper bounds ; to go over any given hmit,
number or measure.
Forty stripes may he give him, and not ex-
ceed. Dent. XXV.
3. To bear the greater proportion ; to be
more or larger. Dryden.
[This verb is intransitive only by ellip-
sis.]
EXCEE'DABLE, a. That may surmount
or exceed. [111.] Sho-wood.
EXCEE'DED, pp. Excelled; surpassed;
outdone.
EXCEE'DER, n. One who exceeds or
passes the bounds of fitness. Mountagu.
EXCEE'DING, ppr. Going beyond; sm--
passing ; excelling ; outdoing.
3. a. Great in extent, quantity or duration ;
very extensive.
Cities were built an exceeding space of ti
before the flood. IThis sense is unusual.]
Raleigh.
3. adv. In a very great degree ;
as exceeding rich.
The Genoese were exceeding powerful by
sea. Raleigh.
I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great re-
ward. Gen. XV.
EXCEE'DING, n. Excess; superfluity.
Smollett.
EXCEEDINGLY, adv. To a very great
degree ; in a degree beyond wliat is us
ual ; greatly ; very much.
Isaac trembled exceedingly. Gen. xxvii.
EXCEE DINGNESS, n. Greatness in quan
tity, extent or duration. [JVbt used.]
EXCEL', V. i. [L. excello, the root of which
cello, is not in use. In Ar. ^ I. j> signifie:
to lift, raise, excel ; also, to speak, to
strike, to beat. So we use heat in the
sense of surpass. See Class Gl. No. 31
and 49.]
]. To go beyond; to exceed; to surpass ii
good quahties or laudable deeds ; to out-
do.
Excelling others, these were great ;
Thou greater still, must tliese excel. Prior
Many daughters have done virtuously, but
tliou excellest them all. Prov. xxxi
9. To exceed or go beyond
or deeds.
bad qualities
3. To exoeed ; to
EXCEL', V. i. To have good qualities, or to
perform meritorious actions, in an unusual
degree ; to be eminent, illustrious or dis-
tinguished.
Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel io
strength. Ps. ciii.
We say, to excel in mathematics ; to ex-
cel in painting; to excel in heroic achieve-
ments.
EXCEL'LED, pp. Surpassed ; outdone ;
exceeded in good qualities or laudable
achievements.
EX'CELLENCE, ^ „ [Fr. from L. exceUen-
EX'CELLENCY, (, "' tia.] The state of pos-
sessing good qualities in an unusual or
eminent degree; the state of excelling
in any thing.
3. Any valuable quality ; any thing highly
laudable, meritorious or virtiious, in per-
sons, or valuable and esteemed, in things.
Purity of heart, uprightness of mind, sin-
cerity, virtue, piety, are excellencies of
character ; symmetry of parts, strength
and beauty are excellencies of body ; an ac-
curate knowledge of an art is an excellence
in the artisan ; soundness and durability are
excellencies in timber ; fertility, in land ; el-
egance, in writing. In short, whatever
contributes to exalt man, or to render him
esteemed and happy, or to bless society,
is in him an excellence.
3. Dignity; high rank in the scale of beings.
Angels are beings of more excellence than
men ; men are beings of more excellence
than brutes.
4. A title of honor formerly given to kings
and emperors, now given to embassa-
dors, governors, and other persons, be-
low the rank of kings, but elevated above
the common classes of men.
EX'CELLENT, a. Being of great virtue
or worth ; eminent or distinguished for
what is amiable, valuable or laudable ; as
an excellent man or citizen ; an excellent
judge or magistrate.
2. Being of great value or use, applied to
things ; remarkable for good properties ;
as excellent timber ; an excellent farm ; an
excellent horse ; excellent fruit.
.3. Distinguished for superior attainments ;
as an excellent artist.
4. Consummate ; complete ; tra an ill sense.
Elizabeth was an excellent hypocrite.
Hume.
EXCELLENTLY, adv. In an excellent
manner ; well in a high degree ; in an em-
inent degree ; in a manner to please or
command esteem, or to be useful.
EXCEPT', v.t. [Fr. excepter ; It. eccettare ;
from L. excipio ; ex and capio, to take. See
Caption, Capture.]
1. To take or leave out of any number spe-
cified ; to exclude ; as, of the thirty per-
sons present and concerned in a riot, we
must except two.
3. To take or leave out any particular or
particulars, from a general description.
When he saith, all things are put under him,
it is manifest that he is excepted who did put all
things under him. 1 Cor. xv.
EXCEPT', V. i. To object ; to make an ob-
jection or objections ; usually followed by
"to ; sometimes by against. I except io a
witness, or to his testimony, on account of
his interest or partiality.
EXCEPT', pp. contracted from excepted.
Taken out; not included. All were in-
volved in this afl!air, cccept one : that ia,
E X C
E X C
E X C
one excepted, tbe case absolute or indepen-
dent clause. Except ye repent, ye shall
all likewise perish ; that is, except this
fact, tliat ye repent, or this fact being ex-
cepted, removed, taken away, ye shall alli
likewise perish. Or except may be con-
sidered as the imperative mode. Excepti
thou or ye, this fact, ye shall all likewise
perish. Hence except is equivalent to:
leithout, unless, and denotes exclusion.
EXCEPTED, pp. [See Except.]
EXCEPTING, ppr. Talung or leaving out ;|
excluding. I
2. This word is also used in the sense o(ex-\
cept, as above explained. The prisoners;
were all condemned, excepting three. This:
is an anomalous use of the word, unless,!
in some cases, it may be referred to a pro-;
noun. Excepted would be better: three
excepted ; three being excepted. 1
EXCEP'TION, n. The act of excepting, or
excluding from a number designated, or
from a description ; exclusion. All ihe^
representatives voted for the bill, with the'
exception of five. All the land is in tillage,!
with an exception of two acres. j
2. Exclusion fi-om what is comprehended in
a general rule or proposition. |
3. That which is excepted, excluded, or
separated from others in a general de-[
scription ; the person or thing si)ecified as
distinct or not included. Almost every
general rule has its exceptions. j
4. An objection ; that which is or may be of-
fered in opposition to a rule, proposition,
statement or allegation ; with to ; some-l
times with against. He made some ex-
emptions to the argument.
5. Objection with dislike ; offense ; slight
anger or resentment ; with at, to or against^
and commonly used with take ; as, to take
exception at a severe remwk ; to take ex-\
ception to what was said. 1
Roderigo, thou hast taken against ine an ex-
ception. Shak.
But it is more generally followed by at.
6. In law, the denial of what is alledged and
considered as valid by the other party,
either in point of law or in pleading ; or
an allegation against the sufficiency of an
answer. In law, it is a stop or stay to an
action, and it is either dilatory or peremp-
tory. Blackstone
7. A saving clause in a writing.
BUI of exceptions, in law, is a statement of
exceptions to evidence, filed by the party
and which the judge must sign or seal.
EXCEP'TIONABLE, a. Liable to objec
tion. I
This passage I look upon to be the most ex-\
ceptionable in the whole poem. .iddison.
EXCEP'TIOUS, a. Peevish ; disposed or!
apt to cavil, or take exceptions. [Little,
used.] SouthJ
EXCEP'TIOUSNESS, n. Disposition to'
cavil. Barroio.\
EXCEPTIVE, a. Including an exception i
as an exceptive preposition. fVattsi
2. Making or being an exception. Milton.
i:\(EPT'LESS, a. Omitting all exception.
{.Vol in use.] Shak.
EXCEPT'OR, n. One who objects, or makes
exceptions. Burnet.
EXCERN', V. t. [L. excerno ; ex and cei-no,
Gr. xftvu, to separate.]
To separate and emit through the pores, oi
through small passages of the body ; to
strain out ; to excrete ; as, fluids are ex-
cerned in perspiration. Bacon
EXCERN'ED, pp. Separated; excreted
emitted through the capillary vessels of the
body.
EXCERN'ING, ppr. Emitting through the
small passages ; excreting.
EXCERP', V. t. [L. excerpo.] To pick out.
[Ldttle used.] Hales.
EXCERPT', V. t. [L. excerpo ; ex and carpo,
to take.] To select. [JVot used.] Barnard.
EXCERP'TION, n. [L. excerptio.] A pick-
ing out ; a gleaning ; selection, [ldttle
used.]
2. That which is selected or gleaned. [Lit-
tle used.] Raleigh.
EXCERP'TOR, n. A picker ; a culler.
Barnard.
EXCERPTS', n. Extracts from authors.
[A bad word.]
EXCESS', n. [L. excessus, from excedo. See
Exceed.]
1. Literally, that which exceeds any measure
or limit, or which exceeds something else,
or a going beyond a just line or point.
Hence, superfluity ; that which is beyond
necessity or wants ; as an excess of provis-
ions ; excess of light.
2. That which is beyond the common mea-
sure, proportion, or due quantity ; as the
excess of a limb ; the excess of bile in the
.system.
3. Superabundance of any thing. JVewton.
4. Any transgression of due hniits.
Alterhury.
5. In jiiorafe, any indulgence of appetite, pas-
sion or exertion, beyond the rules of God's
word, or beyond any rule of propriety ;
intemperance in gratifications ; as excess
in eating or drinking ; excess of joy ; excess
of grief; excess of love, or of anger; excess
of labor.
6. In arithmetic and geometry, the difference
between any two unequal numbers or
quantities ; that which remains when the
lesser number or quantity is taken from
the greater.
EXCESS'IVE, a. Beyond any given de-
gree, measure or limit, or beyond the com-
mon measure or proportion ; as the excess-
ive bulk of a man ; excessive labor ; excess-
ive wages.
2. Beyond the established laws of morality
and religion, or beyond the bounds of jus-
tice, fitness, propriety, expedience or util-
ity ; as excessive indulgence of any kind.
Excessive ball shall not be required.
£ill «f Mights.
3. Extravagant ; unreasonable. His expen-
ditures of money were excessive.
4. Vehement ; violent ; as excessive passion.
EXCESSIVELY, adv. In an extreme de-
gree ; beyond measure ; exceedingly ; as
excessively impatient ; excessively grieved.
2. Vehemently; violently ; as, the wind blew
excessively.
EXCESS'iVENESS, «. The state or quality
of being excessive ; excess.
EXCH.\NtiE, v.t. [Fr. echanger ; Arm.
eceinch ; from changer, ceincA, to change.]
I. In commerce, to give one thing or com-
modity for another ; to aUenate or transfer
the property of a thing and receive in com-
pensation for it something of supposed
equal value ; to barter; and iii vulgar lan-
guage, to swap ; to truck. It diflers from
sell, only in the kind of compensation. To
sell is to alienate for inone^ ,• to exchange
is to alienate one commodity for another ;
as, to exchange horses ; to exchange oxen
for corn.
2. To lay aside, quit or resign one thing,
state or condition, and take another in the
place of it ; as, to exchange a crown for a
cowl ; to exchange a throne for a cell or a
herinitage ; to exchange a life of ease for a
life of toil.
3. To give and receive reciprocally; to give
and receive in compensation the same
thing.
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Ham-
let. Siak.
4. To give and receive the like thing ; as, to
exchange thoughts ; to exchange work ; to
exchange blows ; to exchange prisoners.
It has with before the person receiving the
thing given, and /or before the equivalent.
Will you exchange horses teith me ? Will
you exchange your hoi-se_/br mine .'
EXCHANGE, n. In commerce, the act of giv-
ing one thing or commodity for another ;
barter ; traffick by permutation, in which
the tiling received is supposed to be equiva-
lent to the thing given.
Joseph gave them bread in exchange for
horses. Gen. xlvii.
2. The act of giving up or resigning one
thing or state for another, without con-
tract.
3. The act of giving and receiving recipro-
cally ; as an exchange of thoughts ; an ea-
change of civilities.
4. The contract by which one commodity is
transferred to another for an equivalent
commodity.
The thing given in return for something
received ; or the thing i-eceived in return
for what is given.
There's my exchange. ShaJc.
In ordinary busines.s, this is called
clia/ige.
6. The form of exchanging one debt orcredit
for another ; or the receiving or paying of
money in one place, for an equal sum in
another, by order, draft or bill of exchange.
.4 ill London is creditor to B in New York,
.nud C in London owes D in New York a
like sum. Jl in London draws a bill of ex-
change on B in New York ; C in London
purchases the bill, by which .•? receives his
debt due from fi in iVcw York. C trans-
mits the bill to D in New York, who re-
ceives the amount from B.
Bills of exchange, drawn on persons in a
foreign country, are called /oreigTi bills of
exchange ; the like bills, drawn on persons
in different parts or cities of the same coun-
try, are called inland bills of exchange.
.\ bill of exchange is a mercantile con-
tract in which lour persons are primarily
concerned.
7. In mercantile language, a bill drawn for
money is called exchange, instead of a bill
of exchange.
8. The course of exchange, is the current
price between two places, which is above
or below par, or at par. Exchange is at
par, when a bill in New York for tlie pay-
ment of one hundred pounds Eterliog iu
London, can be purchased for one hundred
pounds. If it can be purchased for less,
E X C
E X C
E X C
exchange is under par. If the purchaser!
is obliged to give more, exchange is above
par.
9. In law, a mutual grant of equal interests,
the one in consideration of the other. Es-
tates exchanged must be equal in quantity,
as fee simple for fee simple. Blackslone.
10. The place where the merchants, brokers
and bankers of a city meet to transact
business, at certain hours ; often contract-
ed into change.
EXCHANGEABILITY, n. The quality or
state of being exchangeable.
Though the law ought not to be contravened
by an express article admitting the exchangea-
bility of such persons. JVashington
EXCHANGEABLE, a. That may he ex-
changed ; capable of being exchanged ;
fit or proper to be exchanged.
The officers captured with Burgoyne were
exchangeable within the powers of Gen. Howe.
Marshall.
Bank bills exchangeable for gold or silver.
Rainsay.
EXCHANGED, pp. Given or received for
something else ; bartered.
EXCHANGER, n. One who exchanges;
one who practices exchange. Matt, xxv
EXCHANdiING, ppr. Giving and receivinj
one commodity for another; giving and
receiving mutually ; laying aside or rel'
quishing one thing or state for another.
EXCHEQ'UER, n. exchek'er. [Fr. echiquier,
checker-work, a chess-board. See Chess
and Checker.]
In England, an ancient court of record, in-
tended principally to collect and superin
tend the king's debts and duties or i-eve
nues, and so called from scaccharium, or
from the same root, denoting a checkered
cloth, which covers the table. It consists
of two divisions : the receipt of the excheq
tier, which manages the royal
and the judicial part, which is divided
a court of law and a court of equity. The
court of equity is held in the exchequer
chamber, before the lord treasurer, tl
chancellor of the exchequer, the chief'
baron and three inferior barons. The
common law court is held before the bar-
ons, without the treasurer or chancellor.
BlacksU)ne
Exchequer-hills, in England, bills for money,
or promissory bills, issued from the ex-
chequer ; a species of paper currency emit-
ted under the authority of the government
and bearing interest.
EXCHEQ'UER, v. t. To institute a process
against a person in the court of exchequer.
Pegge.
EXCI'SABLE, a. s as z. Liable or subject
to excise ; as, coffee is an excisable
modity.
EXCT'SE, n. s as z. [L. excisum, cut off,
from excido; D. accys ; G. accise.]
An inland duty or impost, laid on commodi-
ties consumed, or on the retail, which is
the last stage before consumption ; as ai
excise on coffee, soap, candles, which i
person consumes in his family. But many
articles are excised at the manufactories,
as spirit at tlie distillery, printed silks and
linens at the printer's, &c. Encyc.
EXtJl'SE, V. f. s as z. To lay or impose a
duty on articles consumed, or in the hands
of merchants, manufacturers and retail
ers ; to levy an excise on.
EXCI'SED, pp. Charged with the duty of|
excise.
EXCrSEMAN, n. An officer who inspects
commodities and rates the excise duty on
them. Johnson.
EXCI'SING, ppr. Imposing the duty of
excise.
EXCIS'ION, »i. sasz. [h.eicisio.] hi sur-
gery, a cutting out or cutting off any part
of the body; extirpation; amputation.
3. The cutting off of a person from his peo-
ple ; extirpation ; destruction.
The rabbins reckon tliree kinds of excision.
Encyc.
EXCITABIL'ITY, n. [from excite.] The
quality of being capable of excitement ;
susceptibility of increased vital action by
the force of stimulants. Broion.
EXCI'TABLE, a. Having the quality of
being susceptible of excitement ; capabh
of increased action by the force of stimu-
lants.
2. Capable of being excited, or roused into
action.
EXCI'TANT, n. That which produces or
may produce increased action in a livin
body ; a stimulant.
EX'CITATE, V. t. To excite. {Kol in use.
Bacon.
EXCITA'TION, n. The act of exciting oi
putting in motion ; the act of rousing oi
awakening. Bacon. Walls
EXCI'TATIVE, a. Having power to excite.
Barroxc
EXCI'TATORY, a. Tending to excite
containing excitement. Miller.
EXCI'TE, V. t. [L. excUo ; ex and cito, to
cite, to call or jn-ovoke.]
1. To rouse; to call into action ; to animate
to stir up; to cause to act that which i:
dormant, stupid or inactive ; as, to excite
the spirits or courage.
2. To stimulate ; to give new or increased
action to ; as, to excite the human system
to excite the bowels.
3. To raise ; to create ; to put in motion
as, to excite a mutiny or insurrection.
4. To rouse ; to inflame ; as, to excite the
passions.
EXCI'TED, pp. Roused ; awakened ; ani
mated ; put in motion ; stimidated ; iufla
ined.
EXCl'TEMENT, n. The act of exciting
stimulation.
2. Tlie state of being roused into action, or
of having increased action. Stimulants
are intended to produce excitement in the
animal system,
3. Agitation ; a state of being roused
action ; as an excitement of the people
4. That which excites or rouses ; that which
moves, stirs, or induces action ; a mo
Shak.
EXCI'TER, n. He or that which excites
he that puts in motion, or tlie cause which
awakens and moves.
2. In medicine, a stimulant.
EXCI'TING, ppr. Calling or roirsing into
action ; stimulating.
Exciting causes, in medicine,are those which
immediately produce disease, or those
which excite the action of prcdisponent
causes. Parr.
EXCI'TING, 71. Excitation. Herbert
EXCLA'IM, tl. t. [L.exclamo; ex und clam n.
cry out. See Claim, Clamor.]
1. To utter the voice with vehemence ; tu
cry out; to make a loud outcry in words :
as, to exclaim against oppression ; to ex-
claim with wonder or astonishment ; to
exclaim with joy.
2. To declare with loud vociferation.
-That thus you do exclaim you'll go with him.
Shak.
EXeL.^'IMER, n. One who cries out with
vehemence ; one who speaks with heat,
passion or much noise ; as an exclaimer
against tyranny. Alterbury.
EX€LA'IMING, ppr. Crying out ; vocifera-
ting ; speaking with heat or passion.
EX€LAIMA'TION, n. Outcry ; noisy talk ;
clamor ; as exclamations against abuses in
government.
2. Vehement vociferation.
Thus will I drown your exclmnations.
Shak.
Emphatical utterance ; a vehement exten-
sion or elevation of voice ; ecphonesis ;
as, O dismal night !
A note by which emphatical utterance or
outcry is marked : thus !
5. In grammar, a word expressing outcry ;
an interjection ; a word expressing some
passion, as wonder, fear or grief.
EX€LAM'ATORY, a. Using exclamation ;
as an exclamatory speaker.
2. Containing or expressing exclamation ;
as an exclamatory phrase.
EXeLU'DE, V. i. [L. excludo ; ex and claudo,
to shut, Gr. x%ii.iou, xXiiu,.] Properly, to
thrust out or eject ; but used as synony-
mous with preclude.
1. To thrust out ; to eject ; as, to exclude
j'oung animals from the womb or from
eggs.
2. To hinder from entering or admission ;
to shut out ; as, one body excludes another
from occupying the same space. The
church ought to exclude immoral men from
the communion.
3. To debar ; to hinder from participation or
enjoyment. European nations, in time of
peace, exclude our merchants from the
commerce of their colonies. In some of
the states, no man who pays taxes is exclu-
ded from the privilege of voting for repre-
sentatives.
4. To except ; not to comprehend or include
in a privilege, grant, proposition, argu-
ment, description, order, species, genus,
&c. in a general sense.
EX€LU'DED, pp. Thrust out ; shut out ;
hindered or prohibited from entrance or
admission ; debarred ; not included or
comprehended.
EXCLU'DING, ppr. Ejecting; hindering
from entering ; debarring ; not compre-
hending.
EXCLU'SION, n.s as I. The act of exclu-
ding, or of thrusting out ; ejection ; as
the exclusion of a fetus.
2. The act of denying entrance or admission ;
a shutting out.
3. The act of debarring from participation
in a privilege, benefit, use or enjoyment.
Bumef.
4. Rejection ; non-reception or admission,
a general sense. Addison.
5. Exception. Bacon.
E X C
(J. Ejection ; that which is emitted or thrown
out. Broum.
EX€LU'SIONIST, n. One who would pre-
clude another from some privilege. Fox.
EX€LU'SIVE, a. Having the power of pre-
venting entrance ; as exclusive bars.
Milton.
2. Debarring from participation ; posses-sed
and enjoyed to the exclusion of others
as an exclusive privilege.
3. Not taking into the account ; not inclu
ding or comprehending; as, the general
had five thousand troops, exclusive of ar-
tillery and cavalry. He sent me all the
numbers from 78 to 94 exclusive; th
all the numbers between 78 and 94, but
these numbers, the first and last, are ex-
cepted or not included.
EXCLU'SIVELY, adv. Without admission
of others to participation; with the exclu
sion of all others ; as, to enjoy a privilege
exclusively.
2. Without comprehension in- an account or
number ; not inclu.sively.
EXCLU'SORY, a. Exclusive; excluding;
able to exclude. [Little used.] IValsh.
EXCOCT', V. t. [L. excoctus.] To boil. [JVot
in use.] Bac
EXCO(i'ITATE, V. t. [L. excogilo ; ex a
cogito, to think.]
To invent ; to strike out by thinking ; tc
contrive. More. Hale
EXCOcilTA'TION, n. Invention ; contri
vance ; the act of devising in the thoughts
EX-eOM'MISSARY, n. [ex and commissa
ry.] A commissary disnnssed from office
one formerly a conmiissary.
EXCOMMU'NE, V. t. To exclude. [JVot
used.] Gayton.
EXeOMMUNICABLE, a. [See Excommu-
nicate.] Liable or deserving to be excom-
municated. Hooker
EXCOMMUNICATE, v. t. [L. ca-.and corn-
To expel from communion ; to eject from
the communion of the church, by an ec
clesiastical sentence, and deprive of spirit
ual advantages ; as, to excommunicate no-
torious offenders.
EXCOMMU'NICATED, pp. E.xpclled or
separated from comnmnion witli a church,
and a participation of its ordinances^
rights and privileges.
EXCOMMU'NICATING, ppr. Expelling
from the communion of a cluirch, and de
priving of spiritual advantages, by an ec
clesiastical sentence or decree.
EXCOMMUNICATION, n. The act of
ejecting from a church ; expulsion from
the communion of a church, and depriva
tion of its rights, privileges and advanta
ges; an ecclesiastical penalty or punish
nient inflicted on oftenders. Excommu
nication is an ecclesiastical interdict, of
two kinds, the lesser and the greater ; the
lesser excommunication is a separation or
suspension of the offender from partaking
of the eucharist ; the greater, is an abso-
lute separation and exclusion of the offen-
der from the church and all its rites and
advantages. Encvc
EXeO'RIATE, V. t. [Low L- excorio; ex
and corium, skin, hide.]
To flay; to strip or wear off the skin ; to
abrade ; to gall ; to break and remove the
E X C
cuticle in any manner, as by rubbing, beat-
ing, or by the action of acrid substances.
EXCORIATED,/)/). Flayed ; galled ; strip-
ped of skin or the cuticle ; abraded.
EXCO'RIATING, ppr. Flaying; galling;
stripping of the cuticle.
EXCORIA'TION, n. The act of flaying, or
the operation of wearing off the skin or
cuticle ; a gaUing ; abrasion ; the slate of
being galled or stripped of skin.
2. Plunder; the act of strijjping of posses-
sions. [Little used.] Howell.
EXCORTICA'TION, n. [L. ex and cortex,
bark.] The act of strii)ping off bark.
Coxe.
EX'CREABLE, a. That may be discharged
by spitting. [Little used.]
EX' CREATE, v. t. [L. excreo,
hawk and spit.]
To hawk and spit ; to discharge from the
throat by hawking and spitting.
EXCREA'TION, n. A spitting out,
EX'CREMENT, n. [L. excremenlum, from
excerno, excretus ; ex and cenio, to seiiarate,
Gr. xptno.]
Matter excreted and ejected; that which is
discharged from the animal body alter di-
gestion ; alvine discharges.
EXCREMENT'AL, a. E.xcreted or ejected
by the natural passages of the body.
EXCRKMENTI "TIAL, a. Pertaining to or
consisting; in rxiionic iit. Fourcrou.
EXCREMllNI'l Tiol S, a. Pertaining to
excreniciit: (•i.Mtaiiiiug excrement; con-
sisting ill mutter evacuated or proper to
be evacuated from the animal body,
Bacmi. Harveii.
EXCRES'CENCE, n. [L. excrescens, froi,
excresco ; ex and cresco, to grow.]
In surgery, a preternatural protuberance
growing on any part of the body, as a
wart or a tubercle; a superfluous part.
Encyc.
2. Any preternatural enlargement of a plant,
like a wart or tumor; or something grow-
ing out from a plant. Bentley.
3. A preternatural production. Toiler.
EXCRES'CENT, a. Growing out of some
thing else, in a preternatural manner ; su
perfluous ; as a wart or tumor.
Expuivge the whole or lop the excrescent
P»it'- Pope.
EXCRE'TE, V. t. [L. excretus, infra.] To
separate and throw off; to discharge ; as,
to excrete urine.
EXCRE'TION, n. [L. excretio, from excerno,
to separate.]
1. A separation of some fluid from the blood,
by means of the glands ; a throwing ofi'or
discharge of animal fluids from the body.
2. That which is excreted ; fluids sep.-tiated
from the body by the gkmds and called ex-',
crement. Bacon
Tiie term excretion is more usiially
plied to those secretions which are diroet'ly
discharged from the body. It is also ap-
plied to the discharges from the bowels,
■which are called almne excretions. Cyc.
EX'CRETIVE, a. Having the power of]
separating and ejecting fluid mutter from
the body.
Excretive faculty. Harvey.
EX'CRETORY, a. Having the quality of
excreting or throwing off excrementitious
matter bv the glands.
EXCRETORY, n. A little duct or vessel.
E X C
destined to receive secreted fluids, and to
excrete them ; also, a secretory vessel.
The excretories are nothing but slender slips
cf the arteries, ilerivlng an appropriated juice
from the blood. Ctteyne.
EXCRU'(MAIJLE, a. [infra.] Liable to tor-
ment. [Little used.]
EXCRU'CIATE, v. t. [L. excrucio ; ex and
crucio, to torment, from crux, a cross.]
To torture ; to torment ; to inflict most se-
vere pain on ; as, to excruciate tiie heart or
the body. Chapman.
P:XCKUC1ATED, pp. Tortured ; racked ;
tormenti.'d.
EXCRUCIATING, ppr. Torturing ; tor-
menting ; putting to most severe pain.
2. a. Extremely painful ; distressing ; as
excruciating fears.
EXCUBA'TION, n. The act of watching all
night. [Little used.] IMct.
EXcUL'PATE,t.«. [It. scolpare ; L. ex and
culpa, to blame, culpa, fault.]
To clear by words from a charge or imputa-
tion of fault or guilt ; to excuse. How
naturally are we inclined to exculpate our-
selves and throw the blame on others.
Eve entleavored to exculpate herself for
eating the Ibrbidden fruit, and throw the
blame on the serpent ; Adam attempted
to exculpate himself and tlirow the blame
on Eve.
EXCUl/PATED, pp. Cleared I>y word.s
from the imputation of fault or guilt.
EXCUL'PATING, ppr. Clearing by words
from the charge of fault or crime.
EXCULPA'TION, »i. The act of vindica-
ting from a charge of fault or crime ; ex-
EXCUL'PATORY, a. Able to clear from
the charge of fault or guilt ; excusing ; con-
taining excuse. Johnson.
EXCUR'SION, n. [L. excursio, excurso, from
cursus, from curro, to run.]
1. A rambling ; a deviating from a stated or
settled path.
She in low luinibers short excursions tries.
Pope.
Progression beyond fixed limits ; as, the
excursions of the seasons into the extremes
of heat and cold. Jlrbuthnot.
Digression ; a wandering from a subject
or main design. Atterbury.
An expedition or journey into a distant
part ; any rambling from a point or place,
and return to the same point or place.
EXCUR'SIVE, a. Rambling; wandering;
deviating ; as an excursive fancy or imag-
ination.
EXCUR'SIVELY, adv. In a wandering
manner. Boswell.
XCIR .SIVENESS, n. The act of wan-
f: or of passing usual limits.
(inincy.lF.XcV ^.\BUi, a. s as z. [See JExcu^e.,
That may be e.xcused ; pardonable; as,
the man is excusable.
2. Admitting of excuse or justification ; as
an excusable action.
EXCU'SABLENESS, n. s as z. The state
of being excusable : pardonableness ; the
quality of admitting of excuse. Boyle.
EXcUSA'TION, n. s as z. Excuse ; apolo-
gy. [Little used.] Bacon
EXCUSA'TOR, n. s as z. One who makes
or is authorized to make an excuse or car-
ry an apology. fjume.
EXCUSATORY, a.sasz. Makms excuse -.
EXE
containing excuse or apology; apologet
ical ; as an excusatory plea.
EXeU'SE, V. t. sasz. [h. excuso; ex and
causor, to blame. See Cause.]
1. To pardon ; to free from the imputat:
of fault or blame ; to acquit of guilt. We
excuse a person in our own minds, when
we acquit him of guilt or blame ; or we
excxise him by a declaration of that acquit
tal.
2. To pardon, as a fault ; to forgive entire
iy, or to admit to be little censurable, and
to overlook. We excuse a fault, wliicli ad-
mits of apology or extenuation ; and w(
excuse irregular conduct, when extraordi
nary circumstances appear to justify it.
3. To free from an obligation or duty.
I pray thee have me excused. Luke xiv.
4. To rennt ; not to exact ; as, to excuse f
forfeiture. Johnson.
5. To pardon ; to admit an apology for.
i^xcuse some courtly strains. Popi
6. To throw off an imputation by apology.
Think you that we excuse ourselves to you ?
2 Cor. xii.
7. To justify ; to vindicate.
EXeU'SE, ji. A plea offered in extenuation
of a fault or irregular deportment ; apolo
gy. Every man has an excuse to offer for
his neglect of duty ; the debtor makes e.r
discs for delay of payment.
2. The act of excusing or apologizing.
3. That which excuses ; that which extenu
ates or justifies a fault. His inability to
comply with the request nnist be his ex
cuse.
EXeU'SELESS, a. Having no excuse ; that
for which no excuse or apology can be of
fered. [Ldttle used.]
EXeU'SER, n. s as z. One who offers ex
cuses or pleads for another.
2. One who excuses or forgives another.
EX€U'SING,^/)r.sasz. Acquitting of guili
or fault ; forgiving ; overlooking.
EX€USS', V. t. [L. excussus.] To shake off'
also, to seize and detain by law. [JVot
used.]
EX€US'SION, n. A seizing by law. [J^oi
used.] •^yliff'f.
EX-DIRE€T'OR, «. One who has been a
director, but is displaced.
EX'E€RABLE, a. [L. execrabitis. See Ex-
ecrate.]
Deserving to be cursed ; very hateful ; detest-
able ; abominable ; as an execrable wretch.
EX'ECRABLY, arfi). Cursedly; detestably.
EX'E€RATE, V. t. [L. eiecror, from ex and
sacer, the primary sense of which is to sep-
arate. See Sacred.]
Literally, to curse ; to denounce evil against,
or to imprecate evil on ; hence, to detesi
utterly ; to abhor ; to abominate.
Temple.
EXECRA'TION, n. The act of cursing
curse pronounced ; imprecation of evil ;
utter detestation expressed. Milton.
Cease, gentle queen, these execrations.
Shak
EX'ECRATORY, n. A formulary of exe-
cration. L. Addison
EXECT', V. t. [L. extco, for exseco.] To cut
off or out; to cut aw;iy. [Little used.]
Harvey.
EXE
EXECTION, n. A cutting offer out. [Lit
He used.]
EX'ECUTE, V. t. [Fr. executer; It.eseguire,
Sp. executar ; L. exequor, for exsequor ; ex
and sequor, to follow. See Seek.]
1. Literally, to follow out or through. Hence,
to perfoi-m ; to do ; to effect ; to carry in
to complete effect ; to complete ; to finish
We execute a purpose, a plan, design or
scheme ; we execute a work undertaken
that is, we pursue it to the end.
2. To perform ; to inflict ; as, to execwfe judg-
ment or vengeance. Scripture.
3. To carry into effect ; as, to execute law or
justice.
4. To carry into effect the law, or the judg
ment or sentence on a person ; to in
flict capital punishment on ; to put to
death ; as. to execute a traitor.
5. To kill. ■ Sh,
6. To complete, as a legal instrument ;
perform what is required to give validity
to a writing, as by signing and sealing ; as,
to execute a deed or lease.
EX'EeUTE, V. i. To perform the proper
office ; to iiroduce an effect.
EX'E€UTED, pp. Done ; performed ; ac
complished ; carried into effect ; put t(
death.
EX'ECUTER, n. One who performs or car
■ ito effect. [See Executor.]
EX'ECUTING,/!/))-. Doing ; performing ; fin
ishing; accomplishing ; inflicting ; carry
ing into effect.
EXECU'TION, n. Performance ; the act of
completing or accomplishing.
The excellence of the subject contributed
much to the happiness of the execution.
Dryden.
2. Li law, the carrying into effect a sentence
or judgment of court ; the last act of the
law in completing the process by which
justice is to be done, by which the pos-
session of land or debt, damages or cost, is
obtained, or by which judicial punishment
is inflicted.
The instrument, warrant or official order,
by which an officer is empowered to carry
a judgment into effect. An execution is-
sues from the clerk of a court, and is lev-
ied by a sheriff, his deputy or a consta-
ble, on the estate, goods or body of the
debtor.
4. The act of signing and sealing a legal in-
strument, or giving it the forms required
to render it a valid act ; as the execution
of a deed.
5. The last act of the law in the punishment
of criminals ; capital punishment ; death
inflicted according to the forms of law.
6. Effect ; something done or accomplished.
Every shot did execution.
7. Destruction ; slaughter. Shak.
It is used after do, to do execution ;
never after make.
8. Performance, as in music or other art.
EXEeU'TIONER, ?!. One who executes;
one who carries into effect a judgment of
death ; one who inflicts a capital punish
ment in j)ursuance of a legal warrant. It
is chiefly used in this sense.
2. He that kills; he that murders. Shak.
3. The instrument by which any thing is
performed. Crashaw.
EXECUTIVE, a. egzec'utive. Having the
quality of executing or performing ; as ex-
EXE
eculive power or authority; an executive
officer. Hence, in government, executive
is used in distinction from legislative and
judicial. The body that deliberates and
enacts laws, is legislative; the body that
judges, or appUes the laws to particular
cases, is judicial; the body or person who
carries the laws into effect, or superin-
tends the enforcement of them, is exec-
utive.
It is of the nature of war to increase the ex-
ecutive, at the expense of the legislative author-
ity- Federalist, Hamilton.
EXECUTIVE, n. The officer, whether
king, president or other chief magistrate,
who superintends the execution of the
laws ; the person who administers the
government ; executive power or author-
ity in government.
Men most desirous of places in the executive
gift, will not expect to be gratified, except by
their support of the executive. J. Quinty.
EXECUTOR, n. The person appointed by
a testator to execute his will, or to see it
carried into effect.
EXECUTO'RIAL, a. Pertaining to an ex-
ecutor; executive. Blackstone.
EXE€'UTORSHIP,n. The office of anex-
EXEC'UTORY, a. Performing official du-
ties. Burke.
2. In laic, to be executed or carried into ef-
fect in future ; to take effect on a future
contingency ; as an executory devise or re-
mainder. Blackstone.
EXEC'UTRESS, } „ A female executor ; a
EXE€'UTRIX, i"- woman appointed by
a testator to execute his will. [The latter
ivord is generally used.]
EXEUE'SIS, n. [Gr. i^nyv^if, from f%fo;i«»t,
to explain, from f| and tiyfofiai, to lead.]
1. Exposition ; explanation ; interpretation.
:2. A discourse intended to explain or illus-
trate a subject. Encyc.
EXEgET'ICAL, a. Explanatory ; tending
to unfold or illustrate ; expository.
.fFalker.
EXEgET'I€ALLY, adv. By way of explan-
ation.
EXEM'PLAR, ji. egzem'plar. [L. See Ex-
ample.]
. A model, original or pattern, to be copied
or imitated.
3. The idea or image of a thing, formed in
the mind of an artist, by which he con-
ducts his work ; the ideal model which he
attempts to imitate. Encyc.
EX'EMPLARILY, adv. In a manner to de-
serve imitation ; in a worthy or excellent
manner.
She is exemplarily loyal. Howell.
2. In a manner that may warn others, by
way of terror ; in such a manner that oth-
ers may be cautioned to avoid an evil ; or
in a manner intended to warn others.
Some he punished exemplarily in this world.
Hakewill.
EX'EMPLARINESS, n. The state or qual-
ity of being a pattern for imitation.
EX'EMPLARY, a. [from exemplar.] Serv-
ing for a pattern or model for imitation ;
worthy of imitation. The christian should
be exemplarij in his life, as well as correct
in his doctrines.
2. Such as may serve for a warning to oth-
such as may deter from crimes or vi-
EXE
CE3 ; 33 exemplary justice ; exemplary puri'
ishment.
3. Such as may attract notice and imitation
When any duty has fallen into general ne-
glect, the most visible and exemplary perform-
ance is required. Rogers
4. Illustrating. Fuller.
EXEMPLIFICA'TION, n. [from exemplify.]
1. The act of exemplifying; a showing or
illustrating by example.
5. A cojiy ; a transcript ; an attested copy ;
as an exemplification of a deed, or of letter:
patent.
EXEM'PLIFIED, pp. Illustrated by exam
pie or copy.
EXEM'PLIITER, n. One that exempliliei
by following a pattern.
EXEM'PLIFY, V. t. egzem'pli/y. [from ex
emplar ; Low L. exemplo ; It. esemplijicare ;
Sp. exemplijicar.]
1. To show or illustrate by example. Tlie
life and conversation of our Savior exem-
plified his doctrines and precepts.
2. To copy ; to transcribe ; to take an attest-
ed copy.
3. To prove or show by an attested copy.
EXElM'PLIFYlNG, ppr. Illustrating by ex
ample ; transcribing ; taking an attested
copy ; proving by an attested copy.
EXEMPT', t;. «. egzem.t'. [Fr. exempter ; Sp.
exentar ; It. esentare ; from L. eximo, ex-
emptus ; ex and emo, to take.]
Literally, to take out or from ; hence, to free,
or permit to be free, from any charge, bur-
den, restraint, duty, evil or requisitfon, to
which others are subject ; to privilege ; to
grant immunity from. Officers and stu
dents of colleges are exempted from milita
ry duty. No man is exempted from pain
and suffering. The laws of God exempt
no man from the obligation to obedience.
Certain abbeys claimed to be exempted from
the jurisdiction of their bishops.
Henry, Hint. Brit
EXEMPT', a. Free from any service,
charge, burden, tax, duty, evil or requl
sition, to which others are subject ; not
subject ; not liable to ; as, to be exempt
from military duty, or from a poll tax ; to
be exempt from pain or fear. Peers in G,
Britain are exempt from serving on in-
quests.
2. Free by privilege ; as exempt from the ju-
risdiction of a lord or of a court.
3. Free ; clear ; not included.
4. Cut off from. \JVot used.] Shak
EXEMPT', n. One who is exempted or
freed from duty ; one not subject.
EXEMPT' ED, fip. Freed from charge, du-
ty, tax or evils, to which others are sub-
ject ; privileged ; not subjected.
EXEMPT'IBLE, a. Free ; privileged. [Mit
in use.]
EXEMPT'ING, ppr. Freeing from charge
duty, tax or evil ; granting immunity to.
EXEMPTION, n. The act of exempting
the state of being exempt.
2. Freedom from any service, charge, burden,
tax, evil or requisition, to which others an
subject; uriinunity; privilege. 3Iany cit
ies of Europe purchased or obtained ex
emptions from feudal servitude. No raai
can claim an exemption from pain, sorrow
or death.
EXEMPTI"TIOUS, «. Separable ; that
may be taken from. [.Vol used.] More.
Vol. I.
EXE
EXEN'TERATE, v. «. [l..exenUro; ex and
Gr. ivrifiov, entrails.]
To take out the bowels or entrails; to em-
bowel, lirotim.
EXENTERA'TION, n. The act of taking
out the bowels.
EXEQIIA'TUR, n. [L.] A written recogui
tion of a person in the character of consul
or commercial agent, issued by the gov-
ernment, and authorizing him to exercise
his powers in the country.
EXE'QUIAL, a. [L. exequialis.] Pertaining
to funerals. Pope.
EX'EQUIES, n. plu. [L. exequice, from exe-
quor, that is, exsequor, to follow.]
Funeral rites; the ceremonies of burial ; fu-
neral procession. Dryden.
EXER'CENT, a. [L. exercens. Sec Exer-
cise.']
Using ; practising ; following ; as a calling
or profession. [Little used.] -'iylijc.
EX'ERCISABLE, a. s as :. That may be
exercised, used, employed or exerted.
Z. SiviJI.
EX'ERCISE, n. s as z. [L. exercitium, from
exerceo ; ex and the root of Gr. tpyof, Eng.
work ; Fr. exercice ; Sp. exercicio ; It. eser-
cizio.] In a general sense, any kind of
work, labor or exertion of body. Hence,
1. Use ; practice ; the exertions and move-
ments customary in the performance of
business ; as the exercise of an art, trade,
occupation, or profession.
2. Practice ; performance ; as the exercise of]
rehgion.
3. Use ; employment ; exertion ; as the exer-
cise of the eyes or of the senses, or of any
power of body or mind.
4. Exertion of the body, as conducive to
health ; action ; motion, by labor, walking,
riding, or other exertion.
The wise for cure on exercise depend.
Dryden
a. Exertion of the body for amusement, or
for instruction ; the habitual use of the
limbs for acquiring an art, dexterity
grace, as in fencing, dancing, riding ; or
the exertion of the muscles for invigora-
ting the body.
G. Exertion of the body and mind or facul-
ties for improvement, as in oratory, in
painting or statuary.
7. Use or practice to acquire skill ; prepara
tory practice. Military exercises consist
in using arms, in motions, marches and
evolutions. Naval exercise consists in the
use or nianngement of artillery, and in the
evolutions of fleets.
8. Exertion of the mind; application of the
mental powers.
9. Task ; that which is appointed for one to
perform. • Milton
10. Act of divine worship. Shak
11. A lesson or example for practice.
EX'ERCTSE, V. t. [L. exerceo ; Fr. exercer ,
It. esercere ; Sp. exercer. See the Noun.]
1. In a general sense, to move ; to e.\ert ; to
cause to act, in any manner ; as, to exercise
the body or the hands ; to exercise the
mind, the powers of the mind, the reason
or judgment.
2. To use ; to exert ; as, to exercise authori-
ty or power.
3. To use for improvement in skill ; as, to
I exercise arms.
77
EXE
4. To exert one's powers or strength; to
practice habitually ; as, to exercise one's
self in speaking or music.
5. To practice ; to perform the duties of; as,
to exercise an office.
6. To train to use ; to discipline ; to cause
to perform certain acts, as preparatory
to service ; as, to exercise troops.
7. To task ; to keep employed ; to use efforts.
Herein do I exercise myself, to have always
a conscience void of offcose towards God and
men. Acts xxiv.
To use ; to employ.
9. To busy ; to keep busy in action, exertion
or emploj'ment.
10. To pain or afflict ; to give anxiety to; to
make uneasy.
EX'ERCISE, V. i. To use action or exer-
tion ; as, to exercise for health or amuse-
ment. [Elliptical.]
EXERCISED, pp. Exerted ; used ; train-
ed ; disciplined ; accustomed ; made skil-
ful by use; employed ; practiced ; jiained ;
afflicted ; rendered uneasy.
EX'ERCISER, n. One who exercises.
EXERCISING, ppr. Exerting; using ; em-
ploving; training; practicing.
EXERCITA'TION, n. IL. exercUalio, from
exerceo. See Exercise.] Exercise ; prac-
tice ; use. Brown. Felton.
EXER'GUE, n. [Gr. t% and fpyw, work.]
A little space around or without the fig-
ures of a medal, lef> for the inscription, ci-
pher, device, date, &,c. Encyc.
EXERT', V. t. egzert'. [L. exero, for exsero ;
ex and sero, to throw, to thrust, for this is
the radical sense otsero.]
1. Literally, to thrust forth ; to emit ; to push
out. Dryden.
Before the gems exert
Their feeble heads. Philips.
[Jin unusual application.]
2. To bring out ; to cause to come forth ; to
produce. But more generally,
S. To put or thrust forth, as strength, force
or ability ; to strain ; to put in action ; to
bring into active operation ; as, to exert
the strength of the body or limbs ; to exert
efforts; to exert powers or faculties; to
exert the mind.
4. To put forth ; to do or perform.
When the will has exerted an act of commaml
on any faculty of the soul. South.
To exert one's self, is to use efforts ; to strive.
EXERT ED, pp. Thrust or pushed forth ;
put in action.
EXERT'ING, ppr. Putting forth ; putting
in action.
EXER TION, n. The act of exerting or
straining ; the act of putting into motion
or action ; effort ; a striving or struggling ;
as an exertion of strength or power ; an
exertion of the limbs, of the mind or fac-
ulties. The ship was saved by great exer-
tions of the crew. No exertions will sup-
press a vice which great men counte-
nance.
EXE'SION, n.sesz. [L. exesus, exedo ; ex
and edo, to eat.]
The act of eating out or through. [Little
used.] Brown.
EXESTUA'TION, ii. [L. extestuatio ; ex
and a-stv^, to boil.]
A boiling ; ebulhtion ; agitation caused by
heat ; eftervescence. Boytr.
E X H
E X H
E X H
EXFOLIATE, v. i. [L. ex/olio ; ex and fo-
lium, a leaf.]
In surgery and mineralogy, to separate and
come off in scales, as pieces of carious
bone ; to scale off, as the lamins of a min-
eral.
EXFO'LIATED, pp. Separated in thin
scales, as a carious bone.
EXFO'LIATING,;>pr. Separating and com-
ing off in scales.
EXFOLIA'TION, n. The scaling of a
bone ; the process of separating, as pieces
of unsound bone from the sound part ; des-
fiuamation. Coxe.
EXFO'LIATIVE, a. That has the power
of causing exfoliation or the desquamation
of a bone.
EXFO'LIATIVE. n. That which has the
power or quality of procuring exfoliation.
EXHA'LABLE, a. [See Exhale.] That may
be exhaled or evaporated. Boyle.
EXHALA'TION, n. [L. exhalatio. See Ex-
hale.]
1. The act or process of exhaling, or send-
ing forth fluids in the form of steam or va-
por ; evaporation.
2. That which is exhaled ; that which is
emitted, or which rises in the form of va-
por ; fume or steam ; effluvia. Exhala-
tions are visible or invisible. The earth
is often dried by evaporation, without vis-
ible exhalations. The smell of fragrant
(ilants is caused by invisible exhalations.
EXHA'LE, v.t. egzha'le. [h. eahalo ; ex and
halo, to breathe, to send forth vapor; Ir.
gal, gail, vapor ; gailim, to evaporate.]
1. To send out; to emit ; as vajjor, or mi-
nute particles of a fluid or other sub-
stance. The rose exhales a fragrant odor.
The earth exhales vapor. Marshes exhale
noxious effluvia.
2. To draw out ; to cause to be emitted in
vapor or minute particles; to evaporate.
The sun exhales the moisture of the earth.
EXHA'LED. ;)/). Sent out; emitted, as va-
por ; evaporated.
EXHA'LEMENT, n. Matter exhaled ; va-
por. Brown.
EXHA'LING, ppr. Sending or drawing out
in vapor or effluvia.
EXHAUST', v.t. egzhausl'. [L. exhaurio,
exhavsltim ; ex and haurio, to draw, Gr.
1. To draw out or drain off the whole of
any thing; to draw out, till nothing of the
matter drawn is left. We exhaust the wa-
ter in a well, by drawing or pumping; the
water of a marsh is exhausted by draining ;
the moisture of the earth is exhausted by
evaporation.
3. To empty by drawing out the contents.
Venesection may exhaust the veins and
arteries.
3. To draw out or to use and expend the
whole ; to consume. The treasures of
the prince were exhausted; his means or
his resources were exhausted. The strength
or fertility of land may be exhausted.
4. To use or expend the whole by exertion ;
as, to exhaust the strength or spirits ; to
exhaust one's patience. Hence this phrase
is equivalent to tire, weary, fatigue
EXHAUST', o. Drained ; exhausted. [Lit-
tle used.] "
EXHAUST'ED, pp. Drawn out; drained
oft'; emptied by drawing, draining or evap-
oration ; wholly used or expended ; con-
sumed.
EXHAUSTER, n. He or that which ex-
hausts or draws out.
EXHAUSTIBLE, a. That may be exhaust-
ed or drained off.
EXHAUST'ING, p/ir. Drawing out ; drain-
ing off; emptying; using or expending
the whole ; consuming.
2. a. Tending to exliaust ; as exhausting
labor.
EXHAUST'ION, n. The act of drawing
out or draining off; the act of emptying
completely of the contents.
2. The state of being exhausted or empti-
ed ; the state of being deprived of strength
or spirits.
3. In mathematics, a method of proving the
equality of two magnitudes by a reductio
ad ahsurdum, or showing that if one is
supposed either greater or less than the
other, there will arise a contradiction.
Encyc.
EXHAUST'LESS, a. Not to be exhausted
not to be wholly drawn off or emptied
inexhaustible ; as an exhaustless fund or
store.
EXIIAUST'MENT, n. Exhaustion ; drain.
EXHER'EDATE, v. t. [infra.] To disin-
herit.
EXHEREDA'TION, n. [L. exhceredalio, ex-
hceredo ; ex and ha;res, an Iiei r.]
In the civil law, a disinheriting ; a father's
excluding a child from inheriting any part
of his estate. Encyc.
EXHIB'IT, V. t. egzhih'it. [L. exhiheo ; ex
and habeo, to have or hold, as we say, to
hold out or forth.]
1. To offer or present to view ; to present
for inspection ; to show ; as, to exhibit
paintings or other specimens of art; to
exhibit papers or documents in court.
2. To show ; to display ; to manifest public-
ly ; as, to exhibit a noble example of bra-
very or generosity.
3. To present ; to offer publicly or officially ;
as, to exhibit a charge of high treason.
EXHIB'IT, n. Any |)aper produced or pre-
sented to a court or to auditors, referees
or arbitrators, as a voucher, or in ])roof of
facts ; a voucher or document produced.
2. In chancery, a deed or writing produced
in court, sworn to by a witness, and a
certificate of the oath indorsed on it by the
examiner or commissioner. Encyc.
EXHIB'ITED, pp. Offered to view ; pre-
sented for inspection ; shown ; displayed.
EXniB'ITER, n. One who exhibits ; one
who presents a petition or charge. Shak
EXHIB'ITING,/(/)r. Offering to view ; pre-
senting; showing; displaying.
EXHIBI"TION, n. [L. exhibilio.] The act
of exhibiting for inspection ; a showing
or presenting to view ; display.
2. The oftering, producing or showing of
titles, authorities or papers of any kind
before a tribunal, in proof of facts.
3. Public show ; representation of feats
actions in public ; display of oratory
public ; any public show.
4. Allowance of meat and drink ; pension ;
salary ; benefaction settled for the main
tenance of scholars in universities, not de-
pending on the foundatioii.
Sivifl. Bacon. Encyc.
5. Payment ; recompense. Shak.
EXHIBP'TIONER, n. In English univer-
sities, one who has a pension or allow-
ance, granted for the encouragement of
learning.
EXHIB'iTIVE, a. Serving for exhibition ;
representative. Morris.
EXIIIB ITIVELY, adv. By representation.
fVaterland.
EXHIB'ITORY, a. Exhibiting; showing;
displaying.
EXHIL'ARATE, v. t. egzhiV arate. [L. ex-
hilaro ; ex and hilaro, to make merry, hila-
ris, merry, jovial, Gr. Oapot.]
To make cheerful or merry ; to enliven ; to
make glad or joyous ; to gladden ; to cheer.
Good news exhilarates the mind, as good
wine exhilarates the animal spirits.
EXHIL'ARATE, v. i. To become cheerful
or joyous. Bacon.
EXHIL'ARATED, pp. Enlivened ; anima-
ted ; cheered ; gladdened ; made joyous
or jovial.
EXHIL'ARATING, ppr. Enlivening ; giv-
ing life and vigor to the spirits ; cheering ;
gladdening.
EXHILARATION, n. The act of enliven-
ing the spirits ; the act of making glad
or cheerful.
2. The state of being enlivened or cheerful.
Exhilaration usually expresses less than
joy or mirth, but it may be used to express
both.
EXHORT', v.t. egzhort'. [L. exhmtor; ex
and hortor, to encourage, to embolden, to
cheer, to advise ; It. esortare ; Fr. exhorter ;
Sp. exhortar. The primary sense seems
to be to excite or to give strength, spirit
or courage.]
L To incite by words or advice ; to animate
or urge by arguments to a good deed or
to any laudable conduct or course of ac-
tion.
I exhort you to be of good cheer. Acts
xxvii.
Tit. u.
2. To advise ; to warn ; to caution.
To incite or stimulate to exertion.
Goldsmith.
EXHORT', v. i. To deliver exhortation ; to
use words or arguments to incite to good
deeds.
EXHORTA'TION, n. The act or practice
of exhorting; the act of inciting to lauda-
ble deeds ; incitement to that which is
good or commendable.
2. The form of words intended to incite and
encourage.
3. Advice ; counsel.
EXHORT'ATIVE, a. Containing exhorta-
tion.
EXHORT' ATORY, a. Tending to exhort;
serving for exhortation.
EXHORT'ED, pp. Incite.l by words to
good deeds ; animated to a laudable course
of conduct; advised.
EXHORT'ER, n. One who exhorts or en^
coiu-ages.
E X I
EXHORT'ING, ppr. Inciting to good deeds
by words or arguments ; encouraging ;
counseling.
EXHUMA'TION, n. [Fr. from exhumer, to
dig out of tlie ground ; Sp. exhumar ; L.
e.t and humus, ground.]
I. The digging up of a dead body interred;
the disinterring of a corpse.
a. The digging up of any thing buried.
Goldsmith.
EXI€€ATE, EXle€ATION. [See Ex-
siccate.]
I'^X'IGENCE, \ [L. exigens from exigo, to
i:X'l6ENCY, S exact ; ex and ago, to
drive.]
1 . Demand ; urgency ; urgent need or want.
We spealc of tlie exigence of the case ; the
exigence of the times, or of business.
2. Pressing necessity; distress; any case
which demands immediate action, supply
or remedy. A wise man adapts his meas-
ures to his exigencies. In the present ex-
igency, no time is to be lost.
EX'IgENT, n. Pressing l>usiness; occa-
sion that calls for immediate help. [JVot
used.] [See Exigence.] Hooker.
2. In law, a writ which lies where the de-
fendant is not to be found, or after a re-
turn of non est inventus on former writs ;
the exigent or exigi facias then issues,
which requires the sheriff to cause the
defendant to be proclaimed or exacted, in
five county courts successively, to ren-
der himself; and if he does not, he is out-
lawed. Blackstone.
.3. End ; extremity. [Xol used.] Shak.
EX'I(iENTER, n. An officer in the court
of Common Pleas in England who makes
out exigents and proclamations, in cases
of outlawry. Encyc.
EX'IOIBLE, <J. [See Exigence.] That may
be exacted ; demandable ; requirable.
EXIGU'ITY, n. [L. exiguilas.] Small ness ;
slenderness. [Little used.] Boyle.
EXIG'UOUS, a. [L. exiguus.] Small ; slen-
der ; minute ; diminutive. [Little used.]
Harvey.
EX'iLE, n. e^'zile. [L. exilium, extil ; Fr.
exit; It. esilio. The word is probably
compounded of ex and a root in SI, signi-
fying to depart, or to cut off, to separate,
or to thrust away, perhaps L. salio.]
1. Banishment ; the state of being expelled
from one's native country or place of
idence by authority, and forbid to return,
either for a hmited time or for perpetuity
2. An abandonment of one's country, or re
moval to a foreign country for residence,
through fear, disgust or resentment, or
for any cause distinct from business, i;
called a voluntary exile, as is also a separa
tion from one's counti^ and friends by
distress or necessity.
3. The person banished, or expelled fron
Ills country by authority ; also, one who
abandons "his country and resides in an-
other ; or one who is separated from hi:
country and friends by necessity.
EX'ILE, V. t. To banish, as a person from
his country or from a particular jurisdic-
tion by authority, with a prohibition of re-
turn ; "to drive away, expel or transport
from one's country.
2. To drive from one's coimtry by misfor
lune, necessity or distress.
E X I
To exile oiie's self, is to quit one's country
witli a view not to return.
EX'ILE, a. eg'zil. [L. exilis.] Slender; thin:
fine. Bacon.
EX'ILED, pp. Banished ; expelled from
one's country by authority.
EX'ILEMENT, n. Banishment.
EXILING, ppr. Banishing; expelling from
one's country by law, edict or sentence ;
voluntarily departing from one's country,
and residing in another.
EXILI'TION, n. [L. e.Hlio, for exsalio, to
leap out.]
A sudden springing or leaping out. [Little
tised.] Brown.
EXIL'ITY, n. [L. exilitas.] Slenderness ;
fineness ; thinness.
EXIM'IOUS, a. [L. erimius.] Excellent.
[Little used.] Bacon.
EXIN'ANITE, V. t. [L. exinanio.] To make
empty ; to weaken. [JVot used.] Pearson.
EXINANI'TION, n. [L. exinanitio, from
exinanio, to empty or evacuate ; ex andl
inanio, to empty, inanis, empty, void.]
An emptying or "evacuation ; hence, priva-
tion ; loss ; destitution. [Little used.]
EXIST', v.i. egzisV. [L. existo ; ex and
sisto, or more directly from Gr. if", i;wh
to set, place or fix, or fau, L. sto, to stand,
Sp. Port, estar. It. stare, G. stehen, D. staan,
Russ. stoyu. The primary sense is to set,
fix or be fixed, whence the sense of per-
manence, continuance.]
1. To be ; to have an essence or real being:
applicable to matter or body, and to spiritu-
al substances. A supreme being and first
cause of all other beings must have existed
from eternity, for no being can have ere
ated himself.
3. To live ; to have life or animation. Men
cannot exist in water, nor fishes on lam '
.3. To remain; to endure; to continue in
behig. How long shall national enmities
exist?
EXIST'ENCE, n. The state of being or
having essence ; as the existence of body
and of soul in union; the separate exist-
ence of the soul ; immortal existence ; tem-
|)oral existence.
2. Life; animation.
3. Continued being ; duration ; continuation.
We speak of the existence of troubles or
calamities, or of happiness. During the
existence of national calamities, our pious
ancestors always had recourse to prayer
lor divine aid.
EXIST'ENT, a. Being; having being, es-
sence or existence.
The eyes and mind are fastened on objects
which have no real being, as if they were truly
existent. Dryden.
EXISTEN'TIAL, a. HavJng existence.
Bp. Barlow.
EX'IT, n. [L. the 3d person of exeo, to go
out.] Literally, he goes out or departs.
Hence,
1. The departure of a player from the stage,
when he has performed his part. This is
also a term set in a play, to mark the time
of an actor's quitting "the stage.
2. Any departure ; the act of quitting the
stage of action or of life ; death ; decease
Swift.
3. A way of departure; passage out of a
place. Woodward.
4. A going out ; departure. Glanville.
E X O
I [L. exitialis.] Destructive
', ' to life. Homilies.
EXI'TIAL,
EXI'TIOUS,
EX-LE(i ISLA'TOR, n. One who has been
a legislator, but is not at present.
EX-MINISTER, n. One who has been
or, hut is not in ofiice.
EX'ODE, »!. [Gr. fio&un>. See Exodus.] In
the Grttk drama, the concluding part of a
]>lay, or the part which comprehends all
that is said after the last interlude.
.'Inacharsis.
EX'ODUS, } ^j [Gr. fSoSos ; (S and oJof,way.]
EX'ODY, ^ ■ Departure from a place ; par-
ticularly, the departure of the Israelites
from Egypt under the conduct of Moses.
2. The second book of the Old Testament,
which gives a history of the departure of
the Israelites from Egypt.
Ex officio, [L.] By virtue of office, and with-
out special autliority. A justice of the
peace n)ay ex officio take sureties of the
peace.
EX'OGLOSS, n. [Gr. f|- and yTiwouo,
tongue.]
A genus of fishes found in the American
seas, whose lower jaw is trilobed, and the
middle lobe protruded performs the of-
fice of a tongue.
EXOLE'TE, a. [lu.exolelus.] Obsolete. [Ao<
in use.]
EXOLU'TION, n. Laxatiou of the nerves.
[JVot in use.] Broicn.
EXOLVE, V. t. To loose. [A'ot in tise.]
EXOM'PHALOS, n. [Gr. t? and o^iijiaxos.]
A navel rupture.
EXON'ERATE, v. t. egzon'erate. [L. ex-
ontro ; ex and onero, to load, oni/«, a load.]
1. To unload; to disburden.
The vessels exontrate themselves into a com-
mon duct. Say.
But more generally, in a figurative
2. To cast off, its a charge or as blame rest-
ing on one ; to clear of something that lies
upon the character as an imputation ; as,
to exonerate one's self from blame, or from
the charge of avarice.
3. To cast off, as an obligation, debt or duty :
to discharge of responsibihty or liabihty ;
as, a surety exonerates himself by produ-
cing a man in court.
EXONERATED, pp. Unloaded ; disbur-
dened; freed from a charge, imputation
or responsibility.
EXON'ERATING, ppr. Unloading; dis-
burdening ; freeing from any charge or
imputation.
EXONERATION, n. The act of disbur-
dening or discharging : the act of freeing
from a charge or imputation.
EXON'ERATIVE, a. Freeing from a bur-
den or obligation.
EX'ORABLE, o. [L. ejora6t/i«,from ci-oro;
p.r and oro, to pray.]
That may be moved or persuaded by entrea-
ty. Harrington.
EXORB'ITANCE, ? egzorb'itance. [L. ex-
EXORB'ITANCY, j "' orbitans, from fjand
orbita, the track of^ a wheel, orbis, an orb.]
Literally, a going beyond or without the
track or usual limit. Hence, enormity ;
extravagance : a deviation from rule or
the ordinary limits of right or propriety ;
as the exorbitances of the tongue, or of de-
portment.
E X O
The reverence of my presence may be a curb
to your exorbitancies. Dryden.
EXORB'ITANT, a. [L. exorbitans.] Lite-
rally, departing from an orbit or usual
track. Hence, deviating from the usual
course ; going beyond the appointed rules
or established Hmits of right or propriety;
hence, excessive ; extravagant ; enormous
We speak of exorbitant appetites and pas
sious ; exorbitant demands or claims ; ex
orbitant taxes.
2. Anomalous ; not comprehended in a set
tied rule or method.
The Jews were inured with causes exorbitant
Hooker
EXORB'ITANTLY, adv. Enormously ; ex-
cessively.
EXORB'ITATE, v. i. To go beyond the
usual track or orbit ; to deviate from the
usual limit. Bentley.
EX'ORCISE, V. i. s as z. [Gr. E?opxt?co, to
adjure, from opxtja, to bind by oath, from
opxoi, an oath.]
1. To adjure by some holy name; but chief-
ly, to expel evil spirits by conjurations,
prayers and ceremonies. To exorcise a
person, is to expel from him the evil spirit
suijposed to possess him. To exorcise a
demon or evil spirit, is to cast him out or
drive him from a person, by prayers or
other ceremonies. Encj/c.
9. To purify from unclean spirits by adjura-
tions and ceremonies ; to deliver from the
influence of malignant spirits or demons ;
as, to exorcise a bed or a house.
EX'ORCISED, pp. Expelled from a person
or place by conjurations and prayers
freed from demons in like manner.
EX'ORCISER, n. One who pretends to
cast out evil spirits by adjurations and
juration.
EX'ORCISING, ppr. Expelhng evil spirits
by prayers and ceremonies.
EX'ORCISM, n. [L. exorcisnms ; Gr. il
OpxtffjUOJ,]
The expulsion of evil spirits from persons oi
places by certain adjurations and ceremo-
nies. Exorcism was common among the
Jews, and still makes a part of the super-
stitions of some churches. Encyc
EX'ORCIST, n. One who pretends to ex-
pel evil spirits by conjuration, prayers and
ceremonies. Acts xix.
EXORD'IAL, a. [infra.] Pertaining to the
exordium of a discourse ; introductory.
EXORDIUM, n. plu. exordiums. [L. from
exordioT ; ex and ordior, to begin. See
Order.]
In orato7-y, the beginning ; the introductorv
part of a discourse, which prepares the
audience for the main subject ; the pre-
face or proemial part of a composition.
The exordium may be formal and delibe-
rate, or abrupt and vehement, according
to the nature of the subject and occasion.
EXORNA'TION, n. [L. exomatio, from ex-
orno ; ex and onio, to adorn.] Ornament ;
decoration ; embellishment.
Hale. Hooker.
EXORT'IVE, a. [L. exortivus ; ex and nr.
lus, a rising.] Rising ; relating to th^
EXOS'SATED, a. [infra.] Deprived ofl
bones.
EXOS'SEOUS, a. [L. ex and ossa, bones.]
EXP
Without bones ; destitute of bones ; at
exosseous animals. Brown.
EXOT'ERl€, a. [Gr. flcoffpoj, exterior.]
External ; public ; opposed to esoteric oi
secret. The exoteric doctrines of the an-
cient philosophers were those which were
openly professed and taught. The esoteric]
were secret, or taught only to a few cho
sen disciples. Enjleld. Enaic.
EX'OTERY, n. What is obvious or com-
"ion- Search.
EXOT'Ie, a. [Gr. f?urtxos, from f|«, with-
out.] Foreign ; pertaining to or produ
ced in a foreign country ; not native ; ex
traneous ; as an exotic plant ; an exotic tenr
or word.
EXOT'IC, 71. A plant, shrub or tree not na-
tive ; a plant produced in a foreign coun-
«'T- Addison.
2. A word of foreign urigin.
EXPAND', V. t. [L. expando ; ex and pan-
do, to open, or s)iread ; It. spandere, tn
pour out ; coinciding with Eng. span, D.
span, spannen, Sw. sphnna, Dan. spmider.
SeeAr. ^|.j Class Bn. No. 3. The pri-
mary sense is to strain or stretch, and this
seems to be the sense of bend, L. pan-
dus.] ^
1. To open ; to spread ; as, a flower expands
its leaves.
■2. To spread ; to enlarge a surface ; to dif-
fuse ; as, a stream expands its waters over
a plain.
3. To dilate ; to enlarge in bulk ; to distend ;
expand the chest by inspiration;
heat expands all bodies ; air is expanded
EXP
3. Extent ; space to which any thing is en-
larged ; also, pure space or distance be-
tween remote bodies.
4. Enlargement ; as the expansion of the
heart or affections.
EXPANS'IVE, a. [Fr.] Having the power
to expand, to spread, or to dilate ; as the
expansive force of heat or fire. Gregory.
•2. Having the capacity of being expanded ;
as the expansive quality of air ; the expan-
sive atmosphere. Thomson.
3. Widely extended; as expansive benevo-
lence.
EXPANSTVENESS,
itig expansive.
Ex parte, [L.] On one part ; as a hearing or
a council ex parte, on one side only.
EXPA'TIATE, V. i. [L. expatior; ex and
spatior, to wander, to enlarge in discourse,
spatium, space, probably allied to pateo, to
The quality ofbe-
open. Class Bd.]
To move at '
large ; to rove without pre-
i-ribed limits ; to wander in space with-
ut restraint.
He bids his soul expatiate in the skies.
by rarefaction.
4. To enlara
to extend ; as, to expand the
sphere of benevolence ; to expand the
heart or affections.
EXPAND', V. i. To open ; to spread. Flow
ers expand in spring.
2. To dilate ; to extend in bulk or surface.
Metals ej:pand by heat. A lake expands,
when swelled by rains.
•3. To eidai-ge ; as, the heart expands with
joy-
EXPANDED, pp. Opened ; spread ; ex
tended ; dilated ; enlarged ; diffused.
EXPAND'ING, ppr. Opening; spreading
extending; dilating; diffiising.
EXPANSE, n. expans'. [L. expansum.] A
spreading; extent; a wide extent of space
or body; as the expanse of heaven.
The smooth expanse of crystal lakes. Pone
EXPANSIBIL'ITY, n. [from expansible.]
The capacity of being expanded; capacity
of extension in surface or bulk ; as the ex-
pansibility of air.
EXPANS'iBLE, a. [Fr. from expand.] Ca-
pable of being expanded or spread ; capa-
ble of being extended, dilated or diffused.
Bodies are not expansible in proportion to
their vveiglit. , G,.f„,
EXPANS'ILE, a. Capable of expanding,
or of being dilated.
EXPAN'SlbN, n. [L. expansio.] The act
of expanding or spreading out.
2. The state of being expanded ; the en-
largement of surface or bulk ; dilatation.
We a])ply expansion to surface, as the ex-
pansion of a sheet or of a lake, and to
bulk, as the expansion of fluids or metals
by heat ; but not to a line or length with-
out breadth.
Pope.
2. To enlarge in discourse or writing ; to be
copious in argument or discussion. On
important topics the orator thinks himself
at liberty to expatiate.
EXPATIATING, ppr. Roving at large ;
moving in space without certain hmits or
restraint ; enlarging in discourse or wri-
tini;.
EXPA'TIATOR, n. One who enlarges or
amphfies in language.
EXPATRIATE, v. t. [Fr. expatrier ; It.
spatriare ; from L. ex and patna, country.]
In a general sense, to banish.
To expatriate one's self, is to quit one's coun-
try, renouncing citizenship and allegiance
in that country, to take residence and
become a citizen in another country.
The right to expatriate one's self is denied
in feudal countries, and much controver-
ted in the U. States.
EXPAT'RIATED, pp. Banished ; removed
from one's native country, with renuncia-
tion of citizenship and allegiance.
EXPAT'RIATING, ppr. Banishing ; aban-
doning one's country, with renunciation of
allegiance.
EXPATRIATION, n. Banishment. More
generally, the forsalcing one's own coun-
try, with a renunciation of allegiance, and
with the view of becoming a permanent
resident and citizen in another country.
EXPECT', V. t. [L. expecto ; ex and specto,
to look, that is, to reach forward, or to fix
the eyes.]
1. To wait for.
The giiaids.
By me encamp'd on yonder hill, expect
Their motion. Milton.
[This sense, though often used by Gib-
bon, seems to be obsolescent.]
2. To look for ; to have a previous appre-
hension of something future, whether
good or evil ; to entertain at least a slight
belief that an event will happen. We ex-
pect a visit that has been promised. We
expect money will be paid at the time it is
due, though we are often disappointed.
Expect, in its legitimate sense, always re-
EXP
fers to a future event. Tlio common
phrase, / expect it was, is as vulgar as it is
may he expected.
EXI'K€T'ANCF,, / The act or state of
EXl'ECT'ANCY, ^ "-expecting ; expecta-
tion. Milton. Shak.
2. Something exjiected. Shak.
3. Hope ; a looking for with pleasure.
Shak.
EXPE€T'ANCY, n. In law, a state of|
waiting or suspension. An estate in expect
ancy is one which is to take efi'ect or com
meuce afler tlie determination of another
estate. Estates of this kind are remain
ders at\d reversions. A remainder, ores
tate in remainder, is one which is limited
to take effect and be enjoyed after anotl
er estate is determined. Thus when
grant of land is made to A for twenty
years, and after the determination of that
term, to B and his heirs forever ; A is ten
ant for years, remainder to B in fee. In
this case, the estate of B is in expectancy,
that is, waiting for the determination of
the estate for years. A reversion is the
residue of an estate letV in the grantor, to
commence in possession after the deter-
mination of a particular estate granted out
by him. As when A leases an estate to
B for twenty years ; after the determina-
tion of that period, the estate reverts to the
lessor, but during the term the estate ot
the lessor is in expectanci/. Blackstone.
EXPECT' A NT, a. Waiting ; looking for.
Sitnft.
2. An expectant estate, is one which is sus-
pended till the determination of a particu-
lar estate. Blackstone.
EXPECT'ANT, n. One who expects ; one
who waits in expectation ; one held in de-
pendence by his belief or hope of receiv-
ing some good. Those who have the gift
of offices are usually surrounded by e,r-
jiectants.
EXPE€TA'TION, n. [L. expeclatio.] The
act of expecting or looking forward to j
future event with at least some reason tc
believe the event will happen. Expecta-
tion differs from hope. Hope originates ii
desire, and may exist with little or nc
ground of belief that the desired event will
arrive. Expectation is founded on some
reasons which render the event probable.
Hope is directed to some good ; expectation
is directed to good or evil.
The same weakness of mind whicli indulges
absurd expectations, produces petulance in dis-
appointment. Ii-ving
2. The state of expecting, either with hope
or fear.
3. Prospect of good to come.
My soul, wait thou only on God, for my
pectation is from him. Ps. Isii.
4. The object of expectation ; the expected
Messiah. Milton
5. A state or qualities in a person which ex-
cite expectations in others of some future
excellence ; as a youth of expectation
Sidney. Otway.
We now more generally say, a youth of
promise.
6. In chances, expectation is applied to con
tingent events, and is reducible to compu
EXP
tation. A sum of money in expectation,
when an event happens, has a determinate
value before that event happens. If the
chances of receiving or not receiving a
hundred dollars, when an event arrives,
ore C()ual ; then, before the arrival of the
event, the expectation is worth half the
money. Encyc.
EXPECT' ATIVE, n. That which is ex-
pected. [JSTot used.]
EXPECT'ER, n. One who expects ; one
who waits for something, or for another
person. Swift. Shak.
EXPECT'ING, ppr. Waiting or looking for
the arrival of.
EXPECTORANT, a. [See Expectorate.]
Having the quality of promoting dischar-
ges from the lungs.
EXPECTORANT, n. A medicine which
promotes discharges from the lungs.
EXPECTORATE, v. t. [L. expectoro ; Sp.
expectorar ; Fr. expectorer ; from L. ex and
pectus, the breast.]
To eject from the trachea or lungs ; to dis-
charge phlegm or other matter, by cough-
ing, hawking and spitting. Coxe.
EXPECTORATED, pp. Discharged from
the lungs.
EXPECTORATING, ppr. Throwing from
the lungs by hawking and spitting.
EXPECTORA'TION, n. The act of dis-
charging phlegm or mucus from the lungs,
by coughing, hawking and spitting,
Encyc.
EXPECTORATIVE, a. Having the qual
ty of promoting expectoration.
EXPE'DIATE, V. t. To expedite, [mt i
use,]
EXPE'DIENCE, ? [See Speed, Expedient
EXPE'DIENCY, \ ""and Expedite.]
1. Fitness or suitableness to effect some good
end or the purpose intended ; ])ropriety
under the particular circumstances of a
case. The practicability of a measure is
often obvious, when the expedience of it is
uestionable.
quesi
!. Exp
edition ; adventure. [JVo< now used.
Shak
3. Expedition ; haste ; dispatch. [JVot now
used.] Shak.
EXPE'DIENT, a. [L. expediens ; expedio
to hasten ; Eng. speed ; Gr. ff«f vSw.]
1. Literally, hastening ; urging forward
Hence, tending to promote the object pro-
posed ; fit or suitable for the purpose ;!
proper under the circumstances. Manyj
things may be lawful, which are not expe-
dietit.
2. Useful ; profitable.
3. Quick ; expeditious. [JVot used.] Shak
EXPE'DIENT, n. That which serves tc
promote or advance ; any means which
may be employed to accomplish an end
Let every expedient be employed to effectj
an important object, nor let exertions
cease till all expedients fail of pioducingi
llie effect.
2. Shift ; means devised or employed in an'
exigency. Dnjden.i
EXPE'DIENTLY, adv. Fitly ; suitably ;;
conveniently.
2. Hastilv ; quickly. [06*.] Shak.
EXPED'IT.VTE, v. t. [L. ex aad pes, foot.]
In the forest laws of England, to cut out the
EXP
balls or claws of a dog's fore feet, for the
preservation of the king's game.
EXPEDITA'TION, n. The act of cutting
the balls or claws of a dog's fore feet.
Encyc.
EX'PEDITE, o. <. [L. expedio ;Sp.expedtr;
Fr. expedier ; It. spedire ; Ar. ,yi\ to
hasten, or J<.i^ to send, to move hastily,
to be suitable ; Eng. speed. Expedio is
compound. We see the same root in im-
pedio, to hinder, to send against, to move
in opposition.]
. To hasten; to quicken; to accelerate mo-
tion or progress. The general sent or-
ders to expedite the march of the army.
Artificial heat may expedite the growth of
plants.
2. To dispatch ; to send from.
Sucli charters arc expedited of course.
Bacon.
3. To hasten by rendering easy. See No. 1.
EX'PEDITE, a. [L. expeditus.] Quick ;
speedy ; expeditious ; as expedite execution.
[Ldttle used.] Sandys.
2. Easy ; clear of impediments ; unencum-
bered ; OS, to make a way plain and expe-
dite. [Unusual.] Hooker.
3. Active ; nimble ; ready ; prompt.
The more expedite will be the soul in its op-
erations. [Unusutil.] Tillotson.
4. Light-armed. [.Vot used.] Bacon.
EX'PEDITELY, adv. Readily; hastily;
speedily ; pronii)tIy. Grew.
EXPEDi "TION, n. [L. expeditio.] Haste ;
speed ; quickness ; dispatch. The mail is
conveyed with expedition.
2. The march of an army, or the voyage of
a fleet, to a distant place, for hostile pur-
poses ; as the expedition of the French to
Egypt ; the expedition of Xerxes into
Greece.
3. Any enterprize, undertaking or attempt
by a number of persons ; or the collective
body which undertakes. We say, our
government sent an expedition to the Pa-
cific ; the expedition has arrived.
EXPEDP'TIOUS, a. Quick ; hasty ; speedy ;
as an expeditious march.
2. Nimble ; active ; swift ; acting with ce-
lerity ; as an expeditious messenger or run-
ner.
EXPEDP'TIOUSLY, adv. Speedily; has-
tilv ; with celerity or dispatch.
EXPED'ITIVE, a. Performing with speed.
Bacon.
EXPEL', V. t. [L. expello ; ex and pello, to
drive, Gr. /JoXXu ; It. espellare; W. yspe-
liaio ; and from the L. participle, Fr. ei-
pulser. Class Bl.]
1. To drive or force out from any inclosed
place ; as, to expel wind from the stomach,
or air from a bellows. [The word is appli-
cable to any force, physical or moral.]
2. To drive out ; to force to leave ; as, to ex-
pel the inhabitants of a country ; to expel
wild beasts from a forest.
3. To eject ; to throw out. Dn^den.
4. To banish ; to exile. Pope.
5. To reject ; to refuse. [Little used.]
And would you not poor fellowship expel ?
Hub. Tak.
G. To exclude ; to keep out or off. Shak.
7. In college government, to command to
leave ; to dissolve the connection of a stu
EXP
Jent -, to interdict him from further con-
nection.
EXPEL'LABLE, a. That may be expelled
or driven out.
Acid expellable by heat. Kirwan.
EXPEL'LED, pp. Driven out or away ; for-
ced to leave ; banished ; exiled ; excluded.
EXPEL'LER, n. He or that which drives
out or away.
EXPEL'LING, ppr. Driving out ; forcing
away ; compelling to quit or depart; ban-
ishing ; excluding.
EXPEND', V. t. [L. expcndo; ex and pernio,
to weigh ; Sp. expender ; Fr. depenser, from
L. dispendo ; It. spendere ; properly, to!
weigh off; hence, to lay out.] j
1. To lay out ; to disburse ; to spend ; to de-'
liver or distribute, either in payment or;
in donations. We expend money for'
food, drink and clothing. We expend a;
little in charity, and a great deal in idle,
amusements. [
2. To lay out ; to use ; to employ ; to con-,
suroe ; as, to expend time and labor. I
hope the time, labor and money expended
on this book will not be wholly misem-
ployed. I
3. To use and consume ; as, to expend hay|
in feeding cattle.
4. To consume ; to dissipate ; to waste ; as,[
the oil of a lamp is expended in burning ;'
water is expended in mechanical opera-'
tions. I
EXPEND', v.t. To be laid out, used or
consumed.
EXPEND'ED, pp. Laid out; spent; dis
bursed ; used ; consumed.
EXPEND'ING,ppr. Spending; using; em-
ploying ; wasting.
EXPEND'ITURE, n. The act of expend
ing ; a laying out, as of money ; disburse
roent. A corrupt administration is known]
by extravagant expenditures of public mo-
ney:
National income and expenditure. Price
2. Money expended ; expense.
The receipts and exjienditures of this exten-
sive country. Hamilton
EXPENSE, n. erpens'. [L. cxpensuin.] A
laying out or expending ; the disbursing of
money, or the employment and consump-
tion, as of time or labor. Great enterpri-
ses are accomplished only by a great ex-
pense of money, time and labor.
2. Money expended ; cost ; charge ; that
which is disbursed in payment or in char-
ity. A prudent man limits his expenses by
his income. The expenses of war are rare-
ly or never reimbursed by the acquisition
either of goods or territory.
3. That which is used, employed, laid out or
consumed ; as the expense of time or la-
bor.
EXPENSEFUL, a. expens'ful. Costly; ex-
pensive. [Little used.] ff'otton.
EXPENSELESS, a. expens'less. Without
cost or expense. Milton
EXPENS'IVE, a. Costly; requiring much
expense ; as an expensive dress or equip
age ; an expensive family. Vices are usu-
ally more expensive than virtues.
2. Given to expense ; free in tlie use of mo-
ney ; extravagant ; lavish ; applied to per-
sons. Of men, some are frugal and indus-
trious; others, idle and expensive.
Temple.
EXP
.3. Liberal ; generous in tlie distribution of
property.
This requires an active, expensive, indefatiga-
ble goodness. Spratt.
EXPENS'IVELY, adv. With great expense ;
great cost or charge. Swift.
EXPENS'IVENESS, n. CostUness ; the
quality of incuning or requiring great ex-
penditures of money. The expensiveness
of war is not its greatest evil.
Addictedness to expense ; extravagance
applied to persons.
EX.PE'RIENCE, n. [L. experientia, from
experior, to try; ex and ant. perior; Gr.
rtf ipou, to attempt, whence pirate ; G
fahren, from fahren, to move, to go, to
drive, to ferrij ; D. ervaaren, from vaaren.
to go, to move, to sail ; Sw. fbrfara, fara ;
Dan. furfarerfjarer ; Sax. and Goth.^ron j
Eng. to fare. The L. periculum, Eng
pent, are from the same root. We ses
the root of these words is to go, to fare, to
drive, urge or press, to strain or stretch
forward. See Class Br. No. 3. Ar. No. 4
19. 23.]
. Trial, or a series of trials or experiments
active effort or attempt to do or to prove
something, or repeated efforts. A man at
tempts to raise wheat on moist or clayey
ground ; his attempt fails of success ; e.r-
perience proves that wheat will not flour-
ish on such a soil. He repeats the trial-
and his experience proves the same fact,
A single trial is usually denominated an
experiment; experience maybe a series of
trials, or the result of such trials.
. Observation of a fact or of the same facts
or events happening under like circura
stances.
3. Trial from suffering or enjoyment ; suf-
fering itself; the use of the senses ; as the
experience we have of pain or sickness. We
know the effect of light, of smell or of
taste by experience. We learn the insta-
bility of human affairs by observation or
l)y experience. We learn the value of in-
tegrity by experience. Hence,
4. Knowledge derived from trials, use, prac-
tice, or from a series of observations.
EXPERIENCE, v. t. To ti^ by use, by
suffering or by enjoyment. Thus we all
experience pain, sorrow and pleasure ; we
experience good, and evil ; we often ex-
perience a change of sentiments and views.
2. To know by practice or trial ; to gain
knowledge or skill by practice or by a se-
ries of observations.
EXPE'RlENCED,pp. Tried; used; prac-
ticed.
a. Tauglit by practice or by repeated ob-
servations ; skilful or wise by means of
trials, use or obsarvation ; as an experi-
enced artist ; an experienced physician.
EXPE'RIENCER, n. One who makes tri-
als or experiments.
EXPE'RIENCING.ppr. Making trial ; suf-
fering or enjoying.
EXPER'IMENT, n. [L. expenmentum, from
experior, as in experience, which see.]
A trial ; an act or operation designed to dis-
cover some unknown truth, principle or
effect, or to establish it when discovered.
Experiments in chimistry disclose the qual
ities of natural bodies. A series ofexperi
ments proves the uniformity of the laws of|
matter. It is not always safe to trust to
EXP
single experiment. It is not expedient to
try many experiments in legislation.
A political experiment cannot be made in a
laboratory, nor determined in a few hours.
J. Adams.
EXPER'IMENT, v. i. To make trial ; to
make an experiment ; to operate on a body
in such a manner as to discover some un-
known fact, or to establish it when known.
Philosophers experiment on natural bodies
for the discovery of their qualities and
combinations.
2. To try ; to search by trial.
3. To experience. [.Vo< used.] Locke.
EXPER'IMENT, v. t. To tiy ; to know by
trial. [Little used.] Herbert.
EXPERIMENT'AL, a. Pertaining to ex
periment.
2. Known by experiment or trial ; derived
from experiment. Experimental knowl-
edge is the most valuable, because it is
most certain, and most safely to be trusted.
Built on experiments ; founded on trial
and observations, or on a series of results,
the effects of operations ; as experimental
jjhilosophy.
4. Taught by experience ; having personal
experience.
Admit to the holy communion such only as
profess and appear to be regenerated, and ex-
perimental christians. H. Humphreys.
5. Known by experience ; derived from ex-
perience ; as experimental religion.
EXPERIMENT' ALIST.n. One who makes
experiments. Burgess.
EXPERIMENT'ALLY, adv. By experi-
ment ; by trial ; by operation and observa-
tion of results.
2. By e.xperience ; by suffering or enjoy-
ment. We are all experimentally acquaint-
ed with pain and pleasure.
EXPERIMENTER, n. One who makes
experiments: one skilled in experiments.
EXPERIMENTING, ppr. JIaking experi-
ments or trials.
EXPERT', a. [L. expertus, from experior, to
try. See Experience.]
Properly, experienced ; taught by use,
practice or experience ; hence, skilful ; well
instructed ; having familiar knowledge of;
as an expert philosopher.
2. Dextrous; adroit; ready; prompt; hav-
ing a facility of operation or perfor
from practrce ; as an erpert operator m
surgery. It is usually followed by in ; as
expert in surgery ; expert in performance
on a musical instrument. Pope uses ex-
pert of arms, but improperly.
EXPERT'LY, adv. In a skilful or dextrous
manner ; adroitly ; with readiness and ac-
curacy.
EXPERT'NESS, n. Skill derived from prac-
tice ; readiness ; dexterity ; adroitness ; as
expertness in musical performance ; ex-
pertness in war or in seamanship ; expeii-
7iess in reasoning.
EXPE'TIBLE, o. [h.expetibilis.] That may
be wished for ; desirable. [JVot used.]
EX'PIABLE, a. [L. expiahihs. See Expi-
ate.]
Tliat may he expiated ; that may be atoned
for and done away; as an eipiaiie offense ;
expiable guilt.
EX'PIATE, V. t. [L. expio ; ex and pio, to
worship, to atone ; pius, pious, mild. The
primary sense is probably to appease, to
EXP
EXP
EXP
pacify, to allay resentment, which is tin
usual sense of atone in most language
which 1 have examined. Pio is probably
contracted from pica, and from the root of
paco, the radical sense of which is to lay,
set or fix ; the primary sense of peace,
pax. Hence the sense of mild in pius. But
this opinion is offered only as probable.]
1. To atone for ; to make satisfaction for
to extinguish the guilt of a crime by sub-
sequent acts of piety or worship, by which
the obligation to punish the crime is can
celed. To expiate guilt or a crime, is t(
perform some act which is supposed to
purify the person guilty ; or some act
which is accepted by the offended party
as satisfaction tor the injury ; that is, some
act by which Ids wrath is appeased, and
his forgiveness procured.
2. To make reparation for; as, to expiate an
injury. Clarendon.
3. To avert the tlireats of prodigies. Johnson.
EX'PIATED, pp. Atoned for; done away
by satisfaction offered and accepted.
EX'PIATING, ppr. Making atonement or
satisfaction for ; destroying or removing
guilt, and canceling the obligation to pun
ish.
EXPIA'TION, n. [L. expiatio.] Tlie act oi
atoning for a crime ; the act of making
satisfaction for an offense, by which the
guilt is done away, and the obligation of
the offended person to punish the crime
is canceled ; atonement ; satisfaction.
Among pagans and Jews, expiation was
made chiefly by sacrifices, or washing:
and purification. Among christians, expi
atioii for the sins of men is usually consid
ered as made only by the obedience and
.sufferings of Christ.
2. The means by wliieh atonement for
crimes is made ; atonement ; as sacrifices
and purification among heathens, and the
obedience and death of Christ among
christians.
3. Among ancient heathens, an act by which
the threats of prodigies were averted.
Hayward.
EX'PIATORY, a. Having the power to
make atonement or expiation ; as an ex-
piatory sacrifice. Hooker.
EXPILA'TION, n. [L. expUatio, from expi-
lo, to strip ; er and pilo, to peel.]
A stripping ; the act of committing waste on
lanil ; waste. [Little used.]
EXPI'RABLE, a. [from expire.] That may
expire ; that may come to an end.
EXPIRA'TION, n. [L. txpiralio, from ex-
piro. See Expire.]
1. The act of breathing out, or forcing the
air from the lungs. Respiration consists
of expiration and inspiration.
2. The last emission of breath ; death.
Rambler.
3. The emission of volatile matter from any
substance ; evaporation ; exhalation ; as
the expiration of warm air from the earth.
4. Matter expired ; exhalation ; vapor ; fume.
Bacoti.
5. Cessation ; close ; end ; conclusion ; ter-
mination of a limited time ; as the expira-
tion of a month or year ; the expiration of
a term of years ; the expiration of a lease ;
the expiration of a contract or agreement.
EXPl'RE, v.t. [L. expiro, for exspiro ; ex and
spiro, to breathe.]
1. To breathe out ; to throw out the breatl
from the lungs ; opijosed to inspire. We
expire air at every breath.
1. To • •
fluid or volatile matter. The earth
p exhale ; to emit in minute particles
expires a damp or warm vapor ; the body
expires fluid matter from the pores ; plants
expire odors.
|3. To conclude. Obs.
EXPl'RE, V. i. To emit the last breath, as
an animal ; to die ; to breathe the last.
\2. To perish ; to end ; to fail or be destroy-
ed ; to come to nothing ; to be frustrated
With the loss of battle all his hopes of em-
pire expired.
3. To fly out ; to be thrown out with force
[^Unusual.]
Tlie ponderous ball expires. Dryden
4. To come to an end ; to cease ; to termi-
nate ; to close or conclude, as a given pe-
riod. A lease will expire on the first of
May. The year expires on Monday. Tl
contract will expire at Michaelmas. The
days had not expired.
When forty years had expired. Acts vii.
EXPI'RING, ppr. Breathing out air from
tlie lungs; emitting fluid or volatile mat-
ter; exhaling; breathing the last breath ;
dying ; ending ; terminating.
a. a. Pertaining to or uttered at the time oi
dying; as expiring words ; er/jimig- groans.
J. Lathrop.
EXPLA'IN, V. t. [L. explano ; ex and pla-
nus, plain, open, smooth ; Sp. explanar; It.
spianare. See Plain.]
To make plain, manifest or intelligible ; to
clear of obscurity; to expound; to illui
trate by discourse, or by notes. The first
business of a preacher is to explain his
text. Notes and comments are intended
to explain the scriptures.
EXPLA'IN, V. i. To give explanations.
EXPLA'IN ABLE, a. That may be cleared
of obscurity ; capable of being made plain
to the understanding ; capable of being in-
terpreted. Brown.
EXPLA'INED, pp. Made clear or ob
ous to the understanding; cleared of
doubt, ambiguity or obscurity ; expound-
ed; illustrated.
EXPLA'INER, n. One who explains; an
expositor ; a commentator ; an interpreter.
Harris.
EXPLA'INING, ppr. Expounding; illus-
trating ; interpreting : opening to the un-
derstanding; clearing of obscurity.
EXPLANA'TION, n. [L. exptanatio.] The
act of explaining, expounding or interpre-
ting; exposition; illustration; interpreta-
tion ; the act of clearing from obscurity
and making intelligible ; as the explanation
of a passage in scripture, or of a contract
or treaty.
2. The sense given by an expounder or in-
terpreter.
3. A mutual exposition of terms, meaning
or motives, with a view to adjust a misun-
derstanding and reconcile differences.
Hence, reconciliation, agreement or good
understanding of jiarties who have been
at variance. The parties have come to an
explanation.
EXPLAN'ATORY, a. Serving to explain ;
containing explanation ; as explanatory
EXPLE'TION, n. [L.expletio.] Accomplish-
ment ; fulfilment. [Little used.]
KUlingbeck.
EXPLETIVE, a. [Fr. expletif, from L. ex-
pleo, to fill.] FilUng; added for supply
or ornament.
EX'PLETIVE, n. In language, a word or
syllable inserted to fill a vacancy, or for
ornament. The Greek language abounds
with expletives.
EX' PLI CABLE, a. [L. explicalAlis. Sec
Explicate.]
1. Explainal)le ; that maybe unfolded to the
mind; that may be made intelligible. Ma-
ny difficulties in old authors are not expli-
cable.
2. That may be accounted for. The con-
duct and measures of the administration
are not explicable, by the usual rules of
judging.
EXPLICATE, V. t. [L. explico, to unfold ;
ex and plico, to fold ; Fr. expliquer ; Sp. ex-
plicar ; It. spiegare.]
1. To unfold ; to expand ; to open. "They
explicate the leaves." [In this sense, the
word is not common, and hardly admissi-
ble.] Blackmore.
'i. To unfold the meaning or sense ; to ex-
plain ; to clear of difficulties or obscuritj- ;
to interpret.
Tlie last verse of his last satyr is not yet sul'-
ficicDtly explicated. Dryden.
EX'PLICATEU, pp. Unfolded ; explained.
EX'PLICATING, ppr. Unfolding ; exjilain-
ing; interpreting.
EXPLICA'TION, n. The act of opening or
unfolding.
2. The act of explaining ; explanation; ex-
position ; interpretation ; as the explica-
tion of the parables of our Savior.
3. The sense given by an expositor or inter-
preter. Johnson.
EXPLICATIVE, \ Serving to unfold or
EX'PLICATORY, <, "■ explain ; tending to
lay open to the understanding. IVatts.
EX'PLIC ATOR, n. One who unfolds or ex-
plains ; an expounder.
EXPLICIT, a. [L. explicitiis, part, of ej-
plico, to unfold.]
1. Literally, unfolded. Hence, plain in lan-
guage ; open to the understanding ; clear,
not obscure or ambiguous; express, not
merely implied. An explicit proposition or
declaration is that in which the words, iu
their common acceptation, express the
true meaning of the person who utters
them, and iu which tlierc is no ambiguity
or disguise.
2. Plain; open; clear; unreserved; having
no disguised meaning or reservation ; ap-
plied to persons. He was explicit in his
terms.
EXPLICITLY, adr. Plainly: expressly;
without duplicity; without disguise or res-
ervation of meaning; not by inference or
implication. He explicitly avows his in-
tention.
EXPLICITNESS, n. Plainness of lan-
guage or expression; clearness; direct
expression of ideas or intention, without
reserve or ambiguity.
EXPLO'DE, V. i. [h. explodo ; ex and plau-
do, to utter a burst of sound, from the root
of loud.]
Properly, to burst forth, as sound ; to utter
a report with sudden violence. Hence, to
EXP
EXP
EXP
burst and expand with force and a violent
report, as an elastic fluid. We say, gun
powder explodes, on the application of
fire ; a volcano explodes ; a meteor ex-
plodes.
EXPLO'DE, V. I. To decry or reject with
noise ; to express disapprobation of, with
noise or marks of contempt ; as, to explode
a play on the stage. Hence,
2. To reject with any marks of disapproba-
tion or disdain ; to treat with contempt,
and drive from notice ; to drive into disre-
pute ; or in general, to condemn ; to reject ;
to cry down. Astrology is now exploded.
3. To drive out with violence and noise-
[Little used.]
The kindled powder exploded the ball.
Blackmore
EXPLO'DED, pp. Driven away by hisses
or noise ; rejected with disajjprobation
contempt; condemned; cried dowu.
EXPLO'DER, n. One who explodes; i
hisser ; one who rejects.
EXPLO'DJNG, ppr. Bursting and expand-
ing with force and a violent report ; reject-
ing with marks of disapprobation or con-
tempt ; rejecting ; condemning.
EXPLOIT', n. [Fr. exploit ; Norm, exploit,
esploil, dispatcli ; expleiter, to be dispatch-
ed, exercised or employed ;^toi<, dispatch ;
Arm. espied, espledi, explef ^
1. A deed or act ; more especially, n heroic
act ; a deed of renown ; a great or noble
achievement ; as the exploits of Alexan-
der, of Cesar, of Washington. [Exploi-
ture, in a like sense, is not in use.]
2. In a ludicrovs sense, a great act of wick-
edness.
EXPLOIT', V. f. To achieve. [J^ot in use.]
Camden.
EXPLO'RATE, v. t. To explore. [.Vo<
used. See Explore.]
EXPLORA'TION, n. [See Explore.] The
act of exploring ; close search ; strict or
careful examination. Boyh
EXPLORA'TOR, n. One who explores;
one who searches or examines closely.
EXPLO'RATORY, a. Serving to explore ;
searching ; examining.
EXPLO'RE, V. t. [L. exploro ; ex and ploro,
to cry out, to wail, to bawl. The com-
pound appears to convey a very different
sense from the simple verb ploro; but the
primary sense is to stretch, strain, drive ;
applied to the voice, it is to strain or press
out sounds or words ; applied to the eyes,
it is to stretch or reach, as in prying curi-
osity.]
1. To search for making discovery ; to view
with care ; to examine closely by the eye.
Moses sent spies to explore the land of
Canaan.
9. To search by any means ; to try ; as, to
explore the deep by a plummet or lead.
3. To search or pry into ; to scrutinize ; to
inquire with care ; to examine closely with
a view to discover truth ; as, to explore the
depths of science.
EXPLORED, ;?p. Searched; viewed; ex-
amined closely.
EXPLO'REMENT, n. Search; trial. [Lit-
tle used.] Brown.
EXPLO'RING, ppr. Searching; viewing;
examining with care.
EXPLO'SION, ji. s as i. [from explode.]
]. A bursting with noise ; a bursting or sud-
den expansion of any elastic fluid, with
force and a loud report ; as the explosion
of powder.
2. The discharge of a piece of ordnance with
1 loud report.
3. The sudden burst of sound in a volcano,
&c.
EXPLOSIVE, a. Driving or bursting out
with violence and noise ; causing explo-
sion ; as the explosive force of gun-powder-
Woodward.
EXPOLIA'TION, n. [L. expoliatio.] A
spoiling ; a wasting. [See Spoliation.]
EXPOLJSH, for polish, a useless word.
EXPO'NENT, JI. [L. exponens ; expono, to
expose or set forth ; ex and pono, to place.]
1. In algebra, the number or figure which,
placed above a root at the right hand, de-
notes how often that root is repeated, or
how many multiphcations are necessary
to produce the power. Thus, as denotes
the second power of the root a, or aa :
denotes the fourth power. The figure is
the exponent or index of the power.
Day's Algebra.
2. The exponent of the ratio or proportion
between two immbers or quantities, is the
quotient arising when the antecedent is
divided by the consequent. Thus six is
the exponent of the ratio ofthiily to Jive.
Bailey. Harris. Encyc.
EXPONEN'TIAL, a. Exponential curves
are such as partake both of the nature of
algebraic and transcendental ones. They
partake of the former, because they con-
sist of a finite number of terms, though
these terms themselves are indeterminate ;
and they are in some measure transcen-
dental, because they cannot be algebra-
ically constructed. Harris.
EXPO'RT, v.<. [\..exporto; exanipoiio, to
carry. Poiio seems allied to fero, and Eng.
bear. Class Br.]
To carry out ; but appropriately, and per-
haps exclusively, to convey or transport,
in traflick, produce and goods from one
country to another, or from one state or
jurisdiction to another, either by water or
land. We export wares and merchandize
from the United States to Europe. The
Northern States export manufactures to
South Carolina and Georgia. Goods are
exported from Persia to Syria and Egypt
on camels.
EX'PORT, n. A commodity actually con-
veyed from one country or state to ano-
ther in traflick, or a commodity which
may be exported ; used chiefly in the plu-
ral, expoiis. We apjjy the word to goods
or produce actually carried abroad, or to
such as are usually exported in commerce.
EXPO'RTABLE, o. That may be exported.
EXPORTATION, n. The act of export-
ing ; the act of conveying goods and pro-
ductions from one country or state to ano-
ther in the course of commerce. A coun-
try is benefited or enriched by the exporta-
tion of its surplus productions.
2. The act of carrying out.
EXPO'RTED, pp. Carried outof a country
or state in traflick.
EXPO'RTER, n. The person who exports :
the person who ships goods, wares and
merchandize of any kind to a foreign coun-
try, or who sends them to market in a dis-
tant country or state ; opposed to impoHer.
jEXPO'RTING, ppr. Conveying to a foreign
j country or to another state, as goods,
j produce or manufactures.
EX'PORT-TRADE, n. The trade which
I consists in the exportation of commodi-
j ties.
EXPO'SAL, n. Exposure. [J^ot in use.]
I Swift.
jEXPp'SE, V. t. s as 2. [Fr. exposer ; L. ex-
I positum, from expono ; ex and pono, to
place ; It. esporre, for exponere. The radi-
cal sense of pono is to set or place, or
rather to throw or thrust down. To ex-
pose is to set or throw open, or to thrust
forth.]
1. To lay open ; to set to public view ; to
disclose ; to uncover or draw from con-
cealment ; as, to expose the secret artifices
of a court ; to expose a plan or design.
2. To make bare ; to uncover ; to remove
from any thing that which guards or pro-
tects ; as, to expose the head or the breast
to the air.
3. To remove from shelter ; to place in a
situation to be affected or acted on ; as, to
expose one's self to violent heat.
4. To lay open to attack, by any means ; as,
to expose an army or garrison.
5. To make liable ; to subject ; as, to expose
one's self to pain, grief or toil; to expose
one's self to insult.
6. To put in the power of; as, to expose one's
self to the seas.
7. To lay open to censure, ridicule or con-
tempt.
A fool miglit once himself alone expose.
Pope.
. To lay open, in almost any manner ; as,
to expose one's self to examination or scru-
tiny.
9. To put in danger. The good soldier never
shrinks from exposing himself, when duty
10. To cast out to chance; to place abroad,
or in a situation unprotected. Some na-
tions expose their children.
L To lay open ; to make public. Be care-
ful not unnecessarily to expose the faults
of a neighbor.
12. To offer ; to place in a situation to in-
vite purchasers ; as, to expose goods to
sale.
13. To offer to inspection ; as, to expose
))aintings in a gallery.
EXPO'SED, pp. Laid open; laid bare; un-
covered ; unprotected ; made liable to at-
tack ; offered for sale ; disclosed ; made
pubhc ; offered to view.
EXPO'SEDNESS, «. A state of being ex-
posed, open to attack, or unprotected; as
an exposedness to sin or temptation.
EXPO'SER,?!. One who exposes.
EXPO'SING, ppr. Lying or laying open;
making bare ; putting in danger ; disclo-
sing; placing in any situation without pro-
tection ; offering to inspection or to sale.
EXPOSI"TION, n. A laying open ; a set-
ting to public view.
2. A situation in which a thing is exposed or
laid open, or in which it has an unob-
structed view, or in which a free passage
to it is open ; as, a house has an easterly
exposition, an exposition to the south or to
a southern prospect. The exposition gives
EXP
EXP
EXP
;i free access to tlie air or to the sun s ray
^rhuthnot.
'S. Explanation ; interpretation ; a laying
open the sense or meaning of an author,
or of any passage in a writing. Dryden.
EXI'OS'ITIVE, a. Explanatory; laying
open. Pearson.
EXPOS'ITOR, n. [L.] One who expounds
or explains; an interpreter. South.
2. A dictionary or vocabulary which ex-
plains words. Encr/c.
EXPOS'ITORY, a. Serving to explain;
tending to illustrate. Johnso7i.
Ex post facto. [L.] In law, done after ano-
ther thing. An estate granted may be
made good by matter ex post facto, wliich
was not good at first.
An ex post facto law, in criminal cases, con-
sists in declaring an act penal or criminal,
which was innocent when done; or in
raising tlie grade of an offense, making it
greater than it was when committed, or
increasing the punishment after the com-
mission of the offense ; or in altering the
rules of evidence, so as to allow different
or less evidence to convict the offender,
than was required when the offense
committed. Sergeant.
An ex post facto law is one that renders ai
act punishable in a manner in which i
was not punishable at the lime it was com
niitted. Cranch, Repoiis.
This definition is distinguished for its com-
prehensive brevity and precision.
KenCs Commentaries.
In a free government, no person can be sub-
jected to punishment by an f,r post facto
law.
EXPOS'TULATE, v. i. [L. expostulo ; ex
and postnlo, to require, ]n-obably from the
root otposco.]
To reason earnestly with a person, on some
impropriety of his conduct, representing
the wrong he has done or intends, and nr
ging him to desist, or to make redress ; fol
lowed by loith.
The emperor's embassador expostulated will
the kiiip, that he had broken the league with
the emperor. Hayward.
EXPOS'TULATE, v. t. To discuss; to ex-
amine. hWotused.^
EXPOSTULATING, ppr. Reasoning or
urging arguments against any improper
conduct.
EXPOSTULATION, n. Reasoning with a
pei-son in opposition to his conduct ; the
act of pressing on a person reasons or ar-
guments against the impropriety of his
conduct, and in some cases, demanding
redress or urging reformation.
2. In rhetoric, an address containing expos-
tulation. Encyc.
EXPOS'TULATOR, n. One who expostu-
lates.
EXPOS'TULATORY, a. Containing ex
postnlation ; as an expostulatory address
or debate.
EXPO'SURE, n. s as z. [from expose.] The
act of exposing or laying open.
1i. The state of l)eing laid open to view, to
danger or to any inconvenience ; as expo-
sure to observation ; exposure to cold, or to
the air ; exposure to censure.
3. The situation of a place in regard to points
of compass, or to a free access of air or
light. We say, a building or a garden or
Vol. I.
a wall has a northern or a southern expo-
sure. We speak of its exposure or exposi-
tion to a free current of air, or to the access
of light.
EXPOUND', V. t. [L.expono; ex and pono,
to set.]
To explain ; to lay open the meaning; to
clear of obscurity ; to interpret ; a.s, to ex-
pound a text of scripture ; to expound a
law.
|2. To lay open ; to examine ; as, to expound
piicket. [JVot used.] Hudibras,
EXPOUND'ED, p;). Explained; laid open ;
interjirPtod.
EXPOUND'ER, n. An explainer; one who
interprets or explains the meaning.
EXPOUND'ING, ppr. Explaining; laying
open ; making clear to the understanding ;
interpreting.
EX-PRE'FE€T, n. A prefect out of oflice
one who has been a prefect and is displa
ced.
EX-PRESIDENT, n. One who has been
president, but is no longer in the office.
EXPRESS', V. t. [Sp. expresar; Port, expres-
sar ; L. expressum, eiprimo ; ex and premo,
to press. See Press.]
1. To press or squeeze out ; to force out by
]ircssure ; as, to express the juice of grapes
or of apples,
2. To utter ; to declare in words ; to speak.
He expressed his ideas or his meaning with
precision. His views were expressed in
very intelligible terms.
3. To write or engrave ; to represent in writ
ten words or language. The covenants ir
the deed are wc\\ expressed.
4. To represent ; to exhibit by copy or re
semblance.
So kids and whelps their sires and dams ex
press. Dryden
5. To represent or show by imitation or the
imitative arts ; to form a Hkeness ; as in
painting or sculpture.
Each skillul artist shall express thy form.
Smith
':. To show or make known ; to indicate.
A downcast eye or look may express hu
mility, shame or guilt.
7. To denote ; to designate.
Moses and Aaron took these men, who arc
expressed by their names. Num. i.
8. To extort ; to elicit. [Little used.]
B. Jon-son
EXPRESS', a. Pl.iin ; clear; expressed
direct; not ambiguous. We are informed
in express terms or words. The terms of]
the contract are express.
2. Given in direct terms ; not implied or left
to inference. This is the express covenant
or agreement. We have his express con-
sent. We have an express law on the sub-
ject. Express warranty ; express malice.
3. Copied ; resembling ; bearing an exact
representation.
His face express. Milton.
4. Intended or sent for a particular purpose,
or on a particular errand ; as, to send a
messenger express.
EXPRESS', n. A messenger sent on a par-
ticular errand or occasion ; usually, a
rier sent to communicate information of To upbraid ; to censure as reproachful
an important event, or to deliver impor-
tant dispatches. It is apphed also to boats
or vessels sent to convey important infor-
Clarendon. Dryden.
78
2. A message sent. King Charle-i.
.3. A declaration in plain terms. [JVot in
u.ie.] jVorris.
EX PRESS' ED, pj). Squeezed or forced
out, as juice or liquor; uttered in words :
set down in writing or letters ; declared ;
represented ; shown.
EXPRESSIBLE, a. That may be express-
ed ; that may be uttered, declared, shown
or represented.
2. That may be squeezed oiu.
EXPRESS'ING,;);>r. Forcing out by press-
ure ; uttering ; declaring ; showing ; repre-
senting.
EXTRES'SION, n. The act of expressing ,
the act of forcing out by pressure, as juices
and oils from plants.
2. The act of uttering, declaring or repre-
senting; utterance; declaration; repre-
sentation ; as an expression of the pubUc
will.
3. A phrase, or mode of speech ; as an old
expression ; an odd expression.
4. In rhetoric, elocution ; diction ; the pe-
cidiar manner of utterance, suited to the
subject and sentiment.
No adequate description can be given of (he
nameless and ever varying shades of expression
which real pathos gives to the voice.
Porter's Analysis.
5. In painting, a natural and lively repre-
sentation of the subject ; as the expression
of the eye, of the countenance, or of a par-
ticular action or passion.
a. In music, the tone, grace or modulation of
voice or sound suited to any particular
subject; that manner which gives hfe and
reality to ideas and sentiments.
7. Theatrical expression, is a distinct, sono-
rous and pleasing pronunciation, accom-
panied with action suited to the subject.
EXPRESSIVE, o. Serving to express;
serving to utter or represent; followed by
of. He sent a letter couched in terras ex-
pressive o/his gratitude.
Each verse so swells expressive of her woes.
Tickel.
2. Representing with force ; empbatical.
These words are very expressive.
3. Showing ; representing ; as an expressive
sign.
EXPRESS'IVELY, adv. In an expressive
manner ; clearly ; fully ; with a clear re-
presentation.
EXPRESS'IVENESS, n. The quality of
being expressive ; the power of expres-
sion or representation by words.
2. The power or force of representation ;
the quality of presenting a subject strongly
to the senses or to the mind ; as the ex-
pressiveness of the eye, or of the features,
or of sounds.
EXPRESS'LY, adv. In direct terms ;
plainly.
EXPRESS'URE, n. Expression ; utterance ;
representation ; mark ; impression. [Lil-
tlc used.] Shak.
EX'PROBRATE, r. t. [L. exprobro ; ex and
prohrum, deformity, a shamefiil act.]
blame : to condemn.
EXPROBRA'TION, n. The act of chargin
or censuring reproachfully ; reproaci
accusation ; the act of upbraiding.
S
EXP
No need such boasts, or exprobrations false
Of cowardice. Philips.
KXPROBRA'TIVE, a. Upbraiding; ex-
pressiiiif reproach. Sherleu.
EXPRO'I'RIATE, i>. t. [L. ex and proprius,
own.]
To disengage from appropriation ; to hold
no longer as one's own ; to give up a claim
to exclusive property. Boyle
EXPROPRIA'TION, n. The act of discard
ing appropriation, or declining to hold ai
one's own ; thesurrender of a claim to ex-
^ elusive property. jyalsh
EXPU'GN, V. t. evpu'ne. [L. expugno; ex
and pugno, to fight.] To conquer ; to take
by assault. Johnson
EXPU'GNABLE, a. That may be forced.
EXPUGNA'TION, n. Conquest; the act of
taking by assault. Sandys.
EXPU'GNER, n. One who subdues.
Sherivood.
EXPULSE, V. t. expuW. [Fr. expulser, from
L. expulsus, eipeUo ; ex and pello, to drive.]
To drive out ; to expel. [Little used.]
Shak. Bacon.
EXPUL'SION, n. The act of driving outer
expelUng ; a driving away by violence ;
as the expulsion of the thirty tyrants from
Athens, or of Adam from paradise.
9. The Slate of being driven out or away.
EXPUL'SIVE, a. Having the power of dri-
ving out or away; serving to expel.
JFiseman.
EXPUNC'TION, n. [See Expunge.] The
act of expunging; the act of blotting out
or erasing. Milton.
EXPUNGE, V. t. expunj'. [I., expungo ; ex
and pungo, to thrust, to prick.]
J. To blot out, as with a pen; to rub out; to
efface, as words ; to obliterate. We ex-
punge single words or whole lines or sen-
tences.
2. To efface ; to strike out ; to wipe out or
destroy ; to annihilate; as, to expunge an
offense. Sandys.
Expunge the whole, or lop tlie excrescent
parts. Pope.
EXPUN'tiED, pp. Klotted out ; iibliterated ;
destroved.
EXPUN'(ilNG,ppr. Blotting out; erasing;
effacins ; dcstroving.
EX'PURGATE, k «. [L. expurgo; er and
purgo, to cleanse.]
To purge ; to cleanse^ to purify from any thing
noxious, offensive or erroneous. Faber.
EX'PURGATED, pp. Purged ; cleansed ;
purified.
EX'PURGATING, jopc. Pm-ging : cleansing ;
purifying.
EXPURGA'TION, n. Tlie act of purging
or cleansing ; evacuation. Wiseman.
2. A cleansing ; purification from any thing
noxious, offensive, smfid or erroneous.
Broion.
EX'PURGATOR, n. One who expurgates
or purifies.
EXPURG'ATORY, a. Cleansing ; purify-
ing ; serving to purify from any thing nox-
ious or erroneous; as the expicrgatory in-
dex of the Romanists, which directs the
expunction of passages of authors con-
trary to their creed or principles.
Expurgatory animadversions. Bruum.
EXPURgE, v. t. expuTJ'. [L. expurgo.] To
purge away. [JVot m use.] Milton.
E X S
EXQUI'RE, v. t. [L. exqulro.] To search.into
or out. [JVot in use.] Sandys.
EX'QUISITE, o. sasz. [L. ei^umtes, from
exquiro ; ex and quairo, to seek.] Lite
rally, sought out or searched for with care ;
whence, choice ; select. Hence,
1. Nice; exact; very excellent ; complete
as a vase of exquisite workmanship.
2. Nice ; accurate ; capable of nice percep-
tion ; as exquisite sensibility.
3. Nice; accurate; capableof nice discrimi-
nation ; as exquisite judgment, taste or
discernment.
4. Being in the liigliest degree ; extreme ;
as, to relish pleasure in an exquisite degree.
So we say, exquisite pleasiue or pain.
The most exquisite of human satisfactions
flows from an approving conscience.
/. M. Mason.
5. Very sensibly felt ; as a painful and ex-
quisite impression on the nerves. Cheyne.
EX'QUIHITELY, arfi). Nicely; accurately;
with great perfection ; as a work exqui-
sitely finished ; exquisitely written.
2. With keen sensation or with nice percep-
tion. We feel pain more exquisitely when
nothing diverts our attention from it.
We see more exquisitely with one eye shut.
Bacon.
EX'QUISITENESS, n. Nicety; exactness;
accuracy ; completeness ; perfection ; as
the exquidteness of workmanship.
2. Keenness ; sharpness ; extremity ; as tlie
exquisitene.<is of pain or grief.
EXQUIS'ITIVE, a. Curious ; eager to dis-
cover. [JVot in use.]
EXQUIS'ITIVELY, adv. Curiously ; mi-
nutely. [JVot in use.] Sidney.
EX-REPRESENT'ATIVE, n. One who
has been formerly a representative, but is
no longer one.
EXSAN'GUIOUS, a. [h. c.rsanguis ; ex and
sanguis, blood.]
Destitute of blood, or rather of red blood, as
an animal. Encyc.
EXSCIND', V. t. [L. exscindo.] To cut 6ff.
[LitUe used.]
EXSCRI'BE, t). «. [L. exscriho.] To copy;
to transcribe. [JVot in use.] B. Jonson.
EX'SeRIPT, n. A copy ; a transcript. [.Vo<
used.]
EX-SE€'RETARY, n. One who has been
secretary, but is no longer in oflice.
EXSEC'tlON, n. [L. exscctio.] A cutting
off, or a cutting out. Darwin.
EX-SEN'ATOR, n. One who has been a
senator, but is no longer one.
EXSERT', I „ [L. exsero ; ex and sero.
EXSERT'ED, ^ "• See ExeH.] Standing
out; protruded from the corol; as stamens
exsert. Eaton.
A small portion of the basal edge of the shell
exserted. Barnes.
EXSERT'lLE, a. That may be thrust out
or protruded. Fleming.
EXSI€'eANT, a. [Sec Exsiccate.] Drying;
evaporatii»g moisture ; having the quality
of drying.
EX'SI€eATE, V. t. [L. exsicco ; ex and sicco,
to dry.]
To dry ; to exhauster evaporate inoislurc.
Brown. Mortimer.
EX'SI€€ATED, pp. Dried.
EX'SICCATING, ppr. Drying; evapora-
ting moisture.
EXT
EXSl€€A'TION, n. The act or operatioii
of drymg; evaporation of moisture; dry-
ness. Brown
EXSPUl"TION, I [L. expuo for exspuo.]
EXPUI'TION, I "■ A discharge of salivi
by spittuig. Darwin.
EXSTIP'ULATE, a. [L. ex and stipula,
straw.] In botany, having no stipules.
Martyn.
EXSU€'€OUS, a. [L. exsuccus; ex and suc-
c«*, juice.] Destitute of juice; dry.
Brown.
EXSUC'TION, n. [L. exvgo, exsugo, to suck
out ; sugo, to suck.] The act of sucking
out. Boyle.
EXSUDA'TION, n. [h. exudo, for exsudo.]
A sweating ; a discharge of humors or
moisture from animal bodies by sweat or
I extillation through the pores.
j2. The discharge of the juices of a plant,
moisture from the earth, &c.
EXSU'DE, V. t. [supra.] To discbarge the
moisture or juices of a living body through
the pores; also, to discharge the liquid
matter of a plant by incisions.
Our forests exude turpentine in the greatest
abundance. Dwight.
EXSU'DE, V. i. To flow from a living body
through the pores or by a natural dis-
charge, as juice.
EXSU'UED, pp. Emitted, as juice.
EXSU'DING, ppr. Discharging, as juice.
EXSUFFLA'TION, n. [L. ex and sufflo, to
blow.]
1. A blowing or blast from beneath. [Ldttle
used.] Bacon.
2. A kind of exorcism. Fulke.
EXSUF'FOLATE, a. Contemptible. [JVot
in use.] Shak.
EXSUS'CITATE, v. t. [L. exsusdto.] To
rouse; to excite. [JVot used.]
EXSUSCITA'TION, n. A stirring up ; a
rousing. [JVot used.] Hallywell.
EX'TANCE, n. [L. exlans.] Outward exis-
tence. [JVot used.] Brown.
EX'TANCY, n. [L. exstans, eitans, stand-
ing out, from exsto; ex and sto, to stand.]
1. The state of rising above others.
2. Parts rising above the rest ; opposed to
depression. [Little used.] Boyle.
EX'TANT, a. [L. exstans, exlans, supra.]
Standing out or above any surface ; pro-
truded.
That part of the teeth which is extant above
the gums. Ray.
A body partly immersed io a fluid and partly
extant. Bentley..
2. In being ; now subsisting ; not suppres-
sed, destroyed, or lost. A part only of
the history of Livy, and of the writings
of Cicero, is now extant. Socrates wrote
.Tiucli, but none of bis writings are extant.
The ex-tant works of orators and philoso-
pliers. Miiford.
EXT.\SY, EXTATI€. [See Ecstasy, Ec-
static]
EXTEM'PORAL, «. [L. exiemporalis; ex
and tempus, time.J Made or uttered at
the moment, without premeditation ; as
an extemporal discourse. Hooker. Wotton.
2. Speaking without premeditation.
B. Jonson.
Instead of this word, extemporaneous and ex-
temporary are now used.
EXTEM'PORALLY, adv. Without pre-
meditation, Shak,
EXT
EXT
EXT
EXTEMPORA'NEAN, a. [Ml used. See
Extemporaneous.]
EXTEMPORA'NEOUS, a. [L. extempora-
neus ; ex and tenipus, lime.]
Composed, performed or uttered at the time
the subject occurs, without previous study ;
unpremeditated ; as an extemporaneous ad-
dress ; an extemporaneous production ; an
extemporaneous prescription.
EXTESiPOUA'NEOUSLY, adv. Without
previous study-
EXTEM'PORARILY, adv. Without previ-
ous study.
EXTEM'PORARY, a. [L. ex and lempora-
rius, from tempus, time.]
Composed, performed or uttered without
previous study or preparation. [See Ex-
temporaneous.]
EXTEM'PORE, adv. exltm'pory. [L. abl.]
1. Without previous study or meditation ;
without preparation ; suddenly ; as, to
write or speak extempore.
2. It is used as an adjective, improperly, at
least without necessity ; as an extempore
dissertation. Addison.
EXTEM'PORINESS, n. The state of being
unpremeditated ; the state of being com-
posed, performed or uttered without pre-
vious study. Johnson.
EXTEM'PORIZE, v. i. To speak extem-
pore ; to speak without previous study
or preparation. To extemporize well re-
quires a ready mind well furnished with
knowledge.
2. To discourse without notes or written
composition.
EXTEM'PORIZER, n. One who speaks
without previous study, or without writ-
ten composition.
EXTEMPORIZING, ppr. Speaking with-
out previous study, or preparation by wri-
ting.
The extemporizing faculty is never more out
of its element than in the pulpit. South.
EXTEND', V. t. I L. extendo ; ex and tendo,
from Gr. rtino, L. teneo ; Fr. ctendre; It.
stendere ; Sp. extender ; Arm. astenna ; W.
estyn, from tynu, to pull, or tyn, a pull, a
stretch.]
1. To stretch in any direction ; to carry for-
ward, or continue in length, as a line ; to
spread in breadth ; to expand or dilate in
size. The word is particularly applied to
length and breadth. We extend lines in
surveying ; we extend roads, limits, bounds ;
we extend metal plates by hanniiering.
2. To stretch ; to reach forth ; as, to extend
the arm or hand.
3. To spread ; to expand ; to enlarge ; to
widen ; as, to extend the capacities, or in-
tellectual powers ; to extend the sphere of
usefulness ; to extend commerce.
4. To continue ; to prolong ; as, to extend
the time of payment ; to ex(endthe season
of trial.
5. To communicate ; to bestow on ; to use
or exercise towards.
He hath extended mercy to me before the
king. Ezra vii.
C. To impart ; to yield or give.
I will extend peace to her like a river. Is.
Ixvi.
7. In law, to value lands taken by a writ of
extent in satisfaction of a debt ; or to
levy on lands, as an execution.
The execution was delivered to the sheriff,
who extended the same on certain real estate.
Mass. Rep.
EXTEND', V. i. To stretch ; to reach ; to
be continued in length or breadth. The
state of Massachusetts extends west to the
border of the state of New York. Con-
necticut river extends from Canada to the
sound. How far will your argument or
pro]»osition extend? Let our charities extend
to the heathen.
EXTEND'ED, pp. Stretched; spread; ex-
panded ; eidarged ; bestowed on ; commu-
nicated ; valued under a writ of extendi
facias ; levied.
EXTEND'ER, n. He or that which extends
or stretches.
EXTEND'IBLE, a. Capable of being ex-
tended ; that may be stretched, extended,
enlarged, widened or expanded.
2. That may be taken by a writ of extent
and valued.
EXTEND'ING, ppr. Stretching ; reaching ;
continuing in length ; spreading ; enlar-
ging ; valuing.
EXTEND'LESSNESS, n. Unlimited ex-
tension. UVot used.] Hale.
EXTENS'IBILITY, n. [from extensible.]
The capacity of being extended, or of suf-
fering extension ; as the extensibility of a
fiber, or of a plate of metal. Grew.
EXTENS'IBLE, a. [from L. extensus.]
That may be extended ; capable of being
stretched" in length or breadth ; susceptible
of enlargement. Holder.
EXTENS'IBLENESS, n. Extensibility,
which see.
EXTENSILE, a. Capable of being exten-
ded.
EXTEN'SION, 71. [L. exlensio.] The act
of extending ; a stretching.
2. The state of being extended ; enlarge-
ment in breadth, or continuation of length.
3. In philosophy, that projierty of a body by
which it occupies a ))ortion of space.
EXTEN'SIONAL, a. Having great extent.
[.\"ot used.] More.
EXTENS'IVE, a. Wide; large; having
great enlargement or extent ; as an e.r-
tensive farm ; an extensive field ; an exten-
sive lake ; an extensive sphere of opera-
tions ; e.rtensive benevolence.
2. That may be extended. [.Vb< used.]
Boyle.
EXTENS'IVELY, adv. Widely ; largely ;
to a great extent ; as, a story is extensively
circulated.
EXTENS'IVENESS, n. Wideness ; large-
ness ; extent ; as the extensiveness of the
ocean.
2. Extent ; diffusiveness ; as the extensive-
ness of a man's charities or benevolence.
3. Capacity of being extended. [Little used.]
Hay.
EXTENS'OR, Ji. In anatomy, a muscle
wliich serves to extend or straighten any
part of the body, as an arm or a finger ;
opposed to flexor. Coxe. Cyc.
EXTENT', a. Extended. Spenser.
EXTENT', n. [L. extentus. It is frequently
accented on the first syllable.]
1. Space or degree to which a thing is ex-
tended ; hence, compass ; bulk ; size ; as
a great extent of country, or of body.
2. Length ; as an extent of line.
3. Communication ; distribution.
The extent of equal justice. Shal,
4. In law, a writ of execution or extendi
facias, commanding a sheriff to value the
lands of a debtor; or extent is the act of
the sheriff or conmiissioncr in making the
valuation. Encyc.
EXTEN'UATE, v. t. [L. extenuo ; ex and
tenuo, to make thin ; Sp, cxtenuar ; It, sten-
uare. See Thin.]
1. To make thin, lean or slender. Sickness
extenuates the body. Encyc.
2. To lessen ; to diminish ; as a crime or
guilt.
But fortune there extenualeit the crime.
Dryden.
3. To lessen in representation ; to palliate ;
opposed to aggravate.
4. To lessen or diminish in honor. [Little
used.] Milton.
a. To make thin or rare ; opposed to con-
dense. [Little used.] Bacon.
EXTEN'CATE, a. Thin ; slender. [M,t
used.]
EXTEN'UATED, pp. Made thin, lean or
slender; made smaller; lessened; diniin-
isiieu ; painateu ; maue r>ire.
EXTEN'lIATING, ppr. Making thin or
slender ; lessening ; diminishing ; pallia-
ting ; making rare.
EXTENUATION, n. The act of making
thin ; the process of growing thin or lean ;
the losing of flesh.
2. The act representing any thing less
wrong, faulty or criminal than it is in
fact ; palliation ; opposed to aggravation ;
as the extenuation of faults, injuries or
crimes.
3. Mitigation ; alleviation ; as the extenua-
tion of punislitnent. [.Vol common.]
AUerbury.
EXTERIOR, a. [L. from exterus, foreign ;
Fr. exterieur ; It. esteriore.]
1. External ; outward ; applied to the out-
side or outer surface of a body, and op-
posed to interior. We speak of the exterior
and interior surfaces of a concavo-con-
vex lens.
2. External ; on the outside, with reference
to a person ; extrinsic. We speak of an
object exterior to a man, as opposed to that
which is within or in his mind.
3. Foreign ; relating to foreign nations ; as
the exterior relations of a state or king-
dom.
EXTERIOR, tj. The outward surface;
that which is external.
2. Outward or visible deportment ; appear-
ance.
EXTERIORLY, adv. Outwardly ; exter-
nally. [An HI formed u}ord.] Shak.
EXTERIORS, n. plu. The outward parts
of a thing. Shak.
2. Outward or external deportment, or forms
and ceremonies ; visible acts ; as the exte-
riors of religion.
EXTERM'INATE, v. t. [L. extermino; ex
and terminus, limit.] Literally, to drive
from within the limits or borders. Hence,
1. To destroy utterly ; to drive away ; to ex-
tirpate ; as, to exterminate a colony, a
tribe or a nation ; to exterminate inhabi-
tants nr a race of men.
2. To eradicate ; to root out ; to extirpate ;
as, to exterminate error, heresy, infidelity
or atheism ; to exterminate vice.
EXT
3. To root out, as plants ; to extirpate ; as,
to exltrmiiiate weeds.
4. In algebra, to take away ; as, to extermi-
' nate surds or unknown quantities.
EXTERMINATED, pp. Utterly driven
away or destroyed ; eradicated ; extirpa-
ted.
EXTERMINATING, ppr. Driving away
or totally destroying ; eradicating ; extir-
EXTERMINA'TION, n. The act of exter-
minating ; total expulsion or destruction ;
eradication; extirpation; excision "
the extermination of inhabitants or tribes,
of error or vice, or of weeds from a field
2. In algebra, a taking away.
EXTERM'INATOR, n. He or that which
exterminates.
EXTERMINATORY, a. Serving or tend-
ing to exterminate. Burke.
EXTERM'INE, v. t. To exterminate. [JVot
used.] Shak
EXTERN', a. [L. ertenms.] External ; out-
ward ; visible. Shak.
2, Without itself : not inherent; not intrinsic
[Little used.] ' Dighy.
EXTERN'AL, cf. [h. exiernus ; It. esiemo ;
Sp. externa.]
1. Outward; exterior; as the external sur-
face of a body ; opposed to internal.
2. Outward ; not intrinsic ; not being within ;
as external objects ; external causes or ef-
fects.
3. Exterior; visible; apparent; as external
deportment.
4. Foreign ; relating to or connected with
foreign nations ; as external trade or com-
merce ; the external relations of a state or
kingdom.
External taxes, are duties or imposts laid on
goods imported into a country. Federalist.
EXTERNALITY, n. External perception.
./;. SmUh.
irdlv ; on the
EXTERN'ALLY, adv. Oatwai
outside.
2. In appearance ; visibly.
EXTERN'ALS, n. phi. The outward parts
exterior form.
Adam was no less glorious in his externals
he had a beaiitiXul body, as well as an immortiJ
soul. Sovih
2. Outward rites and ceremonies; visible
forms; as the externals of religion.
EXTERRA'NEOUS, a. [L. exterranens
ex and terra, a land.]
Foreign ; belonging to or coming from
abroad.
EXTER'SION, II. [L. exler.fio, from exter-
geo ; ex and (crg-eo, to wipe.] The act of
wiping or rubbing out.
EXTILL', V. i. [L. extillo ; ex and stillo, to
drop.] To drop or distil from.
EXTILLA'TION, n. The act of distilli
from, or falling from in drops.
EXTIMULATE. [.Vo« in use.] [See Stim
ulate.]
EXTIMULATION. [Sec Slimulation. _
EXTlNeT', a. [\.. exlinctus. See Extm
guish.]
1. Extinguished; put out ; quenched ; as,
fire, Ught or a lamp is extinct.
2. Being at an end ; having no survivor ; a
a family or race is extinct.
3. Being at an end ; having ceased. Th
enmity between the families is extinct.
My days are extinct. Job xvii.
EXT
4. Being at an end, by abolition or disuse ;
having no force ; as, the law is extinct.
EXTINCTION, n. [L. extinctio. See Ex-
tinguisk.]
1. The act of putting out or destroying light
or fire, by quenching, suffocation or oth-
erwise.
2. The state of being extinguished, quench-
ed or suffocated ; as the extinction of fire
or of a candle.
3. Destruction ; excision ; as the extinction
of nations.
4. Destruction ; suppression ; a putting an
end to ; as the extinction of life, or of a
family ; the extinction of feuds, jealousiei
or enmity ; the extinction of a claim.
EXTIN'GUISH, V. t. [L. exlinguo ; ex an(
stingo, stinguo, or the latter may be a con
traction ; Gr. ftf u for f tyu, to prick, tha
is, to thrust ; or more directly from tingo,
to dip, to stain; both probably allied to
tango, for tago, to touch. Fr. eteindre ; It
estinguere ; Sp. extinguir. See Class Dg
No 19. 31. 40.]
1. To put out ; to quench ; to suffocate; to
destroy ; as, to extinguish fire or flame.
2. To destroy ; to put an end to ; as, to e.r
tinguish love or hatred in the breast ; to
extinguish desire or hope ; to extinguish a
claim or title.
3. To cloud or obscure by superior splendor.
Shak
4. To (uit an end to, by union or consolida-
tion. [See Extinguishment.]
EXTIN'GUISHABLE, a. That may be
quenched, destroyed or suppressed.
EXTIN'GIJISHED, pp. Put out ; quench-
ed ; stifled ; suppressed ; destroyed.
EXTIN'GUISHER, n. He or that which
extinguishes.
2. A hollow conical utensil to be put on b
candle to extinguish it.
EXTIN'GUISHING, ppr. Putting out
quenching; suppressing; destroying.
EXTIN'GUISHMENT, ?i. The act of put
ting out or quenching ; extinction ; sup
pression ; destruction ; as the extinguish-
ment of fire or flame ; of discord, enmity
or jealousy ; or of love or affectiou.
a. Abolition ; nullification.
Divine laws of cliristian church polity may
not be altered by extinguishment. Hooker.
3. Extinction ; a putting an end to, or a
coming to an end ; termination ; as the
extinguishment of a I'ace or tribe.
The putting an end to a right or estate, by
consolidation or union.
If my tenant for life makes a lease to .3. for
life, remainder to B and his heirs, and I release
to A ; this release operates as an extinguish-
ment of my right to the reversion,
Blackstone.
EXTIRP', V. t. To extirpate. [_J^ol used.]
Spenser.
EXTIRP' ABLE, a. That may be eradica-
ted. Evelyn.
EX'TIRPATE, v.t. [L. exlirpo ; ex and
stirps, root ; It. estirpare.]
1. To pull or pluck up by the roots ; to root
out; to eradicate; to destroy totally; as,
to extirpate weeds or noxious plants from
a field.
2. To eradicate; to root out; to destroy
wholly ; as, to extirpate error or heresy ; to
extirpate a sect.
EXT
3. In surgery, to cut out ; to cut off; to eaf
out ; to remove ; as, to extirpate a wen.
EX'TIRPATED, pp. Plucked up by the
roots; rooted out; eradicated; totally
destroyed.
EX'TIRPATING, ppr. Pulling up or
by the roots ; eradicating ; totally
ins:.
EXTIRPATION, n. The act of rooting
out ; eradication ; excision ; total destruc-
tion ; as the extirpation of weeds from
land ; the extirpation of evil principles
from the heart ; the extirpation of a race
of men ; the extirpation of heresy.
EX'TIRPATOR, n. One who ro'ots out ; a
destrover.
EXTOL', V. I. [L. exiollo ; ex and tollo, to
raise, Ch. '7n, or Heb. and Ch. SbJ. Class
Dl. No. 3. 18. 28.]
To raise in words or eulogy ; to praise ; to
exalt in commendation ; to magnify. We
extol virtues, noble exploits, and heroism.
Men are too much disposed to extol the
rich and despise the poor.
Extol him that rideth upon the heavens by
his name Jah. Ps Ixviii.
EXTOL'LED, ppr. Exalted in commenda-
tion ; praised ; magnified.
EXTOL'LER, n. One who praises or mag-
nifies ; a praiser or magnifier.
EXTOL'LING, ppr. Praising ; exalting by
praise or commendation ; magnifying.
EXTORS'IVE, a. [See ExtoH.] Serving
to extort : tending to draw from by com-
pulsion.
EXTORS'IVELY, adv. In an extorsive
manner ; by extortion.
EXTORT', V. t. [L. extorlus, from extorqueo,
to wrest from ; ex and torqueo, to twist ;
Fr. extorquer.]
1. To draw from by force or corapul.sion;
to wrest or wring from by physical force,
by menace, duress, violence, authority, or
by any illegal means. Conquerors extort
contributions from the vanquished ; tyran-
ical princes extort money from their sub-
jects ; officers often extort illegal fees ; con-
fessions of guilt are extorted by the rack.
A promise extorted by duress is not bind-
2. To gain by violence or oppression.
Spenser.
EXTORT', V. i. To practice e.xtortion.
Spenser. Davies.
EXTORT'ED, pp. Drawn from by compul-
sion ; wrested from.
EXTORT'ER, n. One who extorts, or
practices extortion. Camden.
EXTORT'ING, ppr. Wresting from by
force or undue exercise of power.
EXTOR'TION, n. The act of extorting;
the act or practice of wresting any thing
from a person by force, duress, menaces,'
authority, or by any undue exercise of
power; illegal exaction ; illegal compul-
sion to pay money, or to do some other
act. Extortion is an offense punishable at
common law.
9. Force or illegal compulsion by which any
thing is taken from a person.
King Charles.
EXTORTIONER, n. One who practices
extortion.
Extortioners shall not inlierit the kingdom ot
God. 1 Cor. vi.
EXT
EXT
EXT
EXTOR'TIOUS, a. Oppressive ; violent ;
unjust.
RXTRA, a Latin preposition, denoting be-
yond or excess ; as extra-work, ertra-pay,
work or pay beyond what is usual or
agreed on.
EXTRACT', V. t. [L. extractu.i, from extra-
ho ; ex and traho, to draw. See Draw and
Drag. Sp. exlraer ; It. estrarre ; Fr. ex-
traire.]
1. To draw out ; as, to extract a tooth.
2. To draw out, as the juices or essence of a
substance, by distillation, solution or oth-
er means; as, to extract spirit from the
juice of the cane ; to extract salts from
ashes.
3. To take out ; to take from.
Woman is her name, of man
Extracted. Milton.
4. To take out or select a part ; to take a
passage or passages from a book or wri-
ting.
I have extracted from the pamphlet a few no-
torious falsehoods. Swift.
5. In a general sense, to draw from by any
means or operation.
EX'TRACT, n. That which is extracted or
drawn from something.
1. In literature, a passage taken from a book
or writing. Camden.
9. In pharmacy, any thing drawn from a sub-
stance, a-s essences, tinctures, &.c. ; or a
solution of the purer parts of a nii.ved
body inspissated by distillation or evapo-
ration, nearly to the consistence of lioney.
Encyc. Quincy.
Any substance obtained by digesting
vegetable substances in water, and evapo-
rating them to a solid consistence.
Webster's Manual.
3. In chimistry, a peculiar principle, supposed
to form the basis of all vegetable extracts;
called also the extractive principle.
li'ebster's Manual.
4. Extraction ; descent. [.Vol now used.]
South.
EXTRA€T'ED, pp. Drawn or taken out,
EXTRA€T'ING, ppr. Drawing or taking
out.
EXTRA€'TION, ?i. [L. exlractio.] The act
of drawing ont ; as the extraction of i
tooth ; the extraction of a bone or an ar
low from the body; the extraction of a fe-
tus or child in midwifery.
3. Descent ; lineage ; birth ; derivation ol
persons from a stock or family. Hence
the stock or family from whicli one ha;
descended. We say, a man is of a noble
txtraction.
3. In pharmacy, the operation of drawing
essences, tinctures, &c. from a substance.
Encyc.
4. In arithmetic and algebra, the extraction
of roots is the operation of finding the
root of a given number or quantity; also,
the method or rule by which the operation
is performed.
EXTRACT'IVE, a. That may be extract-
ed. Kirwan.
EXTRACT'IVE, n. The proximate prin-
ciple of vegetable extracts. Parr.
EXTRACT'OR. n. In midwifen/. a forceps
or instrument for extracting children.
EXTRADIC'TIONARY, oT [L. ej:tra and
dictio.] Consisting not in words, but in re-
alities. [.Vot used.] Brown.
EXTRAPOLIA'CEOUS, a. [L. extra, on
the outside, and folium, a leaf.]
In botany, growing on the outside of a leaf;
as extrafoliaceous stipules. Martyn.
EXTRAoE'NEOUS, a. [V.. extra and genus,
kind.] Belonging to another kind.
CTAL
[extra,
EXTRAJUDl CTAL
e.nd judicial.]
Out of the proper court, or the ordinary
course of legal procedure. Encyc.
EXTRAJUDl "CIALLY, adv. In a manner
out of the ordinary course of legal pro-
ceedings. Ayliffe.
EXTRALIM'ITARY, a. [extra and Iwnl.]
Beingbeyond the limit or bounds ; as ex-
tralimitary land. Mitford.
EXTRAMIS'SION, n. [L. extra and mitto,
to send.] A sending out ; emission.
Brown
EXTRAMUN'DANE, a. [L. extra and mun-
dus, the world.] Beyond the limit of the
material world. Glanvitle.
EXTRA'NEOUS.a. [L.erfraneuj.] Foreign
not belonging to a thing ; existing with-
out; not intrinsic; as, to separate gold
from extraneous matter.
Relation is not contained in the real exis-
tence of things, but is extraneous and superin-
duced. Locke
Extraneous fossils, organic remains ; exuvia
of organized beings, imbedded in the
strata of the earth. Ciic
EXTRAOR'DINARIES, n. plu. Thing;
which exceed the usual order, kind or
method. Rarely used in the singular.
EXTRAOR'DINARILY, adv. extror'dina
rily. [Sec Extraordinary.]
In a manner out of the ordinary or u«ua
method ; beyond the common course, lini
its or order ; in an imcommon degree ; re
markably ; particularly ; eminently.
The temple of Solomon was extraordinarily
magnificent. Wilkins.
EXTRAOR'DINARINESS, n. Uncom-
monness ; remarkableness.
EXTRAORDINARY, a. eitror'dinary. [L.
extraordinarius ; extra and ordinarius,
ual, from ordo, order.]
1. Beyond or out of the common order or
method; not in the usual, customary or
regular course ; not ordinary. Extraordi-
nary evils require extraordinary remedies
3. Exceeding the common degree or meas
ure ; hence, remarkable ; uncommon ;
rare ; wonderful ; as the extraordinary tal-
ents of Shakspeare ; the exfroorrftnan/ pow-
ers of Newton ; an edifice o[ extraordinary
grandeur.
3. Special ; particular ; sent for n s|)ecial
purpose, or on a particular occasion ; as
an extraordinary courier or messenger ; aiij
embassador extraordinary ; a gazette ex
traordinary.
EXTRAPA^O'CHIAL, a. [extra and paro
chiaL] Not within the limits of any par-
ish. Blackstone.l
EXTRAPROFES'SIONAI>, a. [extra and
professional.]
Foreign to a profession ; not within the or-
dinary limits of professional duty or busi-l
Molina was an ecclesiastic, and these studies
were extraprofessional. Med. Sepos.t
EXTRAPROVIN'CIAL, a. [extra and pro]
vincial.] Not within the same province ;'
not within the juri.^diction of the saint
archbishop. Auliffe.
EXTRAREG'ULAR, a. [extraand regular.]
Not comprehended within a rule or rules.
Taylor.
EXTRATERRITORIAL, a. Being befond
or without the limits of a territory orpar-
ticular jurisdiction.
Hunter, JVhealon's Rep.
EXTHAI (;ilT. ..1,1 ;,;,. of extract. Obs.
EXTliW \(;\\( i:. ^ [L. extra and va-
EXTItW \(.\\i\.<f"-gans; vagor, to
wand.T. rin: k'ague.]
1. Literally, a wandering beyond a limit;
an excursion or sally from the usual way,
course or limit. Hammond.
3. In uniting or discourse, a going beyond
the limits of strict truth, or probability ;
as extravagance of expression or descrip-
tion.
3. Excess of aflection, passion or appetite ;
as extravagance of love, anger, hatred or
himger.
4. Excess in expenditures of property ; the
expending of money without necessity, or
beyond what is reasonable or proper ; dis-
sipation.
The income of tliree dukes was not enough to
supply her extravagance. Jlrbulhnot .
5. In general, any excess or wandering from
prescribed limits; u-regularity ; wildness;
as the extravagance of imagination ; f.r-
travagance of claims or demands.
EXTRAVAGANT, a. Literally, wander-
ing beyond limits. Shak.
3. Excessive ; exceeding due bounds ; un-
reasonable. The wishes, demands, <le-
sires and passions of men are often exlrav-
Znt.
egular; wild; not within ordinary lim-
its oftruth or probability, or other usual
bounds ; as extravagant "flights of fancy.
There is something nobly wild and extrava-
gant in great geniuses. .addison.
4. Exceeding necessity or proi)riety ; waste-
ful ; prodigal ; as extravagant expenses ;
an extravagant mode of livmg.
5. Prodigal ; profuse in expenses ; as an ex-
travagant man.
He that is extravagant will quickly become
poor, and poverty will enforce dependence, and
invite corruption. Rambler.
EXTRAVAGANT, n. One who is confi-
ned to no general rule. L'Estrange.
EXTRAVAGANTLY, adv. In an extrava-
gant manner; wildly; not within the lira-
its of truth or probability. Men often
write and talk extravagantly.
3. Unreasonably ; excessively. It is prudent
not to praise or censure extravagantly.
3. In a manner to use property without ne-
cessity or propriety, or to no good pur-
pose ; expensively, or profusely to an un-
justifiable degree ; as, to live, eat, drink,
or dress extravaganilu.
EXTRAVAGANTNESS, n. Excess ; ex-
travagance. [Little used.]
EXTRAVAGANTS, n. In church history,
certain decretal epistles, or constitutions
of the popes, which were published after
the Clementines, and not at first arranged
and digested with the other papal consti-
tutions. They were afterward inserted in
the body of the canon law. Encuc.
EXTRA VACATE, v. t. To wander Be-
yond the limits. [j\bt used.] H'arb'irton.
EXT
EXT
E X U
EXTRAVAGA'TION, n. Excess ; a wan-
dering beyond limits. Smollet.
EXTRAV'ASATED, a. [L. extra and vasa,
vessels.] Forced or let out of its proper
vessels; as extravasakd \}\ood. Arbulhnot.
EXTRA VASA'TION, n. The act of for-
cing or letting out of its proper vessels or
ducts, as a fluid ; the state of being forced
or let out of its containing vessels ; effu-
sion ; as an extravasation of blood after a
rupture of the vessels.
EXTRA VE'NATE, a. [L. extra and vena,
vein.] Let out of the veins. [J^olinuse.]
Glanville.
EXTRA VER'SION, n. [h. extra and ver-
sio, a turning.] The act of throwing out ;
the state of being turned or thrown out.
[Littte used.] Boyle.
EXTRE'AT, 71. Extraction. Obs.
Spenser.
EXTRE'ME, a. [L. extrenms, last.] Outer-
most ; utmost ; farthest ; at the utmost
jjoint, edge or border ; as the extreme
verge or point of a thing.
2. Greatest ; most violent ; utmost ; as f j-
trenie pain, grief, or suffering ; extreme joy
or pleasure.
3. Last ; beyond which there is none ; as au
extreme remedy.
4. Utmost ; worst or best that can exist or
be supposed ; as an extreme, case.
5. Most pressing ; as extreme necessity.
Extreme unction, among the Romanists, is
the anointing of a sick person with oil,
when decrepit with age or affected with
some mortal disease, and usually just be-
fore death. It is applied to the eyes, ear.«,
nostrils, mouth, hands, feet and reins of
penitents, and is supposed to represent the
grace of God poured into the soul.
Encyc.
E.rtreme and mean proportion, in geometry, is
when a line is so divided, that the whole
line is to the greater segment, as that seg-
ment is to the less ; or when a line is so
divided, that the rectangle under the whole
line and the les.ser segment is equal totlie
square of the greater segment. Euclid.
EXTRE'ME, n. The utmost point or verge
of a thing; that part which terminates a
body ; extremity.
2. Utmost point ; furthest degree ; as the
extremes of heat and cold ; the extremes of
virtue and vice. Avoid extremes. Ex
tremes naturally beget each other.
There is a natural progression from the ex
treme of anarchy to the extreme of tyranny.
Washington
3. In hgic, the extremes or extreme terms of
a syllogism are the predicate and subject
Thus, "Man is an animal : Peter is a man,
therefore Peter is an animal ;" the word
animal is the greater extreme, Peter the
less extreme, and man the medium.
Encyc.
4. In mathematics, the extremes are the first
and last terms of a proportion ; as, when
three magnitudes are proportional, the
rectangle contained by the extremes is
equal to the square of the mean. Euclid.
EXTRE'MELY,arfi'. In the utmost degree ;
to the utmost point. It is extremely hot or
cold ; it is extremely i)ainful.
2. In famihar language, very much ; great
'y-
EXTREM'ITY, n. [L. extremitas.] The
utmost point or side ; the verge ; the point
or border that terminates a thing ; as the
extremities of a country.
2. The utmost parts. The extremities of the
body, in painting and sculpture, are the
head, hands and feet ; but in anatomy, the
term is applied to the limbs only.
Encyc. Cyc.
3. The utmost point ; the highest or furthest
degree ; as the extremity of pain or suffer-
ing; the f,r<rf(m7_i/ of cruelty. Even char-
ity and forbearance may be carried to ex-
tremity.
4. E.xtrenie or utmost distress, straits or dif-
ficulties ; as a city besieged and reduced
to extremity.
.5. The utmost rigor or violence. The Greeks
have endured oppression in its utmost ex-
tremity.
6. The most aggravated state.
The world is running after farce, the extremi-
ty of bad poetry. Dryden
EX'TRI€ABLE, a. [infra.] That can be
extricated.
EX'TRIe.VTE, j;. «. [L. e.rtnVo. The pri-
mary veib Irico is not in the Latin. VVe
probably see its affinities in the Gr. epi|,
ffi-xoi, hair, or a bush of hair, from inter-
weaving, entangling. I suspect that ■tfm
and three are contracted from this root ;
three for threg, folded, or a plexus. The
same word occm-s in intricate and intrigue ;
Fr. trichcr, to cheat ; tricoter, to weave ;
Eng. trick ; It. treccia, a lock of hair. Class
Rg. No. 35.]
1. Properly, to disentangle ; hence, to free
from difficulties or perplexities ; to disem-
barrass ; as, to extricate one from compli-
cated business, from troublesome alliances
or other connections ; to extricate one's self
from debt.
2. To send out ; to cause to be emitted or
evolved.
EX'TRICATED, pp. Disentangled ; freed
from difiiculties and perplexities ; disem-
barrassed ; evolved.
EX'TRICATING, ppr. Disentangling ; dis-
embarrassing ; evolving.
EXTRI€A'TION, n. The act of disenlan-
gling; a freeing from perplexities ; disen-
tanglement.
2. The act of sending out or evolving ; a.s
the extrication of heat or moisture from a
substance.
EXTRIN'SIC. ? , [L. extrinsecus.] Ex-
EXTRIN'SICAL, \ "' ternal ; outward ; not
contained in or belonging to a body. Mere
matter cannot move without the "impulse
oi&n extrinsic agent. It is opposed to i?i-
irinsic.
EXTRIN'SICALLY, adv. From without ;
externally.
EXTRU€t',u. <. [I., extrno, extructus.-] To
build ; to construct. [JVo* in use.]
EXTRUC'TION, n. A building, [mt used.]
EXTRUCT'IVE, a. Forming into a struc-
ture. Fulke.
EXTRUCT'OR, n. A builder ; a fabricator ;
a contriver. []Vot used.]
EXTRU'DE, V. t. [L. extrudo; ex and trudo,
to thrust. Class Rd.]
1. To thrust out ; to urge, force or press out;
to expel; as, to extrude a fetus.
2. To drive away ; to drive off.
Jf'oodward.
ip.
or away ; expelled.
EXTRU'DING, ppr. Thrusting out ; dri-
ving out ; expelling.
EXTRU'SION, n. * as :. The act of thrust-
ing or throwing out; a driving out; ex-
pulsion.
EXTU'BERANCE, ^ [L. exiuberans, ex-
EXTU'BERANCY, p-teicro; ev and tu-
ber, a puff.]
1. In medicine, a swelling or rising of the
flesh ; a protuberant part. Encyc.
2. A knob or swelhng part of a body.
Moxon.
EXTU'BERANT, a. Swelled ; standing
out.
EXTU'BERATE, r. i. [L. exlubero.] To
swell. [M'ot in use.]
EXTUMES'CENCE, n. [L. extumescens,
extumesco ; ex and tumesco, tumeo, to swell.]
A swelling or rising. [Little used.]
EXU'BERANCE, ) , [L. exuberans, exube-
EXU'BERANCY, I "■ ro ; ex and ubero, to
fatten ; uber, a pap or breast, that is, a
swelling or mass.]
1. An abundance ; an overflowing quantity ;
richness ; as an exuberance of fertility or
fancy.
2. Superfluous abundance ; luxuriance.
3. Overgrowth ; superfluous shoots, as of
trees.
EXU'BERANT, a. Abundant ; plenteous ;
icb ; as exuberant fertility ; exuberant good-
2. Over-abundant ; superfluous ; luxuriant.
•3. Pouring forth abundance ; producing in
plenty; as entieranf spring. Thomson.
EXU'BERANTLY, adv. Abundantly ; very
copiously ; in great plenty ; to a superflu-
ous degree. The earth has produced exu-
beranth/.
EXU'BliRATE, v. i. [L. exubero.] To
abound ; to be in great abundance. [Ldt-
tle xised.] Bmile.
EX'UDATE, ? J, ; j,„j ; [See Exsude, Ihe
EXU'DE, S ' ■ " preferable or-
thography.]
EXUDA'TION n. [See Exsudalion.]
EXU'DED, pp. [See Exsuded.]
EXU'DING, ppr. [See Exsuding.]
EXUL'CERATE, v.t. [h.exuleero; ex and
ulcero, to ulcerate, ulcus, an ulcer.]
To cause or produce an ulcer or ulcers.
Arbulhnot. Encyc.
2. To afflict ; to corrode ; to fret or anger.
Milton.
EXUL'CERATE, v. i. To become an ulcer
or ulcerous. Bacon.
EXUL'CERATED, pp. Affected with ul-
cers ; having become ulcerous.
EXUL'CERATING, ppr. Producing ulcers
on; fretting; becoming ulcerous.
EXULCERA'TION, n. The act of causing
ulcers on a body, or the process of becom-
ing ulcerous ; the beginning erosion which
wears away the substance and forms an
"leer. Encyc. quincy.
2. A fretting ; exacerbation ; corrosion.
Hooker.
EXUL'CERATORY, a. Having a tenden-
cy to form ulcers.
EXULT'.r. I egzuW. [L. exulto ; ex and sal-
to, salio, to leap ; It. esidtare.]
Properly, to leap for joy; hence, to rejoice
in triumph; to rejoice exceedingly, at sue-
EYE
EYE
E Y R
cess or victory ; to be glad above iiioasi
ure ; to triutnpb. It is natural to mail tt
exult at the success of his schemes, and tc
exult over a fallen adversary.
EXULT'ANCE, ( „ Exultation. [jVo<Jwerf.]
EXULT'ANCY, <, "• Hammond.
EXULT' ANT, a. Rejoicing triumphantly.
More.
EXULTA'TION, n. The act of exulting
lively joy at success or victory, or at any
advantage gained ; great gladness ; rap-
turous delight ; triumph. £)xultation usu-
ally springs from the gratification of our de-
sire of some good ; particularly of distinc-
tion orsuperiority, or of that which confers
distinction. It often springs from the grat
ification of pride or ambition. But exulta
lion may be a lively joy springing from
laudable causes.
EXULT'ING, ppr. Rejoicing greatly or
triumph.
EXUN'DATE, v. i. To overflow. [jVo<
used.]
EXUNDA'TION, n. [L. erundatio, from
exundo, to overtlow ; ex and undo, to rise
in waves, unda, a wave.]
An overflowing abundance. [Little used.]
Ra,j.
EXU'PERATE, v. t. To excel ; to
[JVot used, nor Us derivatives.]
EXUS'TION, )i. [L. exustus.] Tlie act or
operation of burning up.
KXU'VI^, n. plu. [L.] Cast skins, shells
or coverings of animals ; any parts of
mals which are shed or cast oft" as the
skins of serpents and caterpillars, th
shells of lobsters, &c. Ency(
2. The spoils or remains of animals found ii
the earth, supposed to be deposited there
at the deluge, or in some great convulsion
or change which the earth has undergone,
in past periods. Cuvier.
EY, in old writers; Sax. ig, sio;nifies an isle.
EY'AS, n. [Fr. niais, silly.] A young hawk
just taken from the nest, not able to prey
for itself. Hanmer. Shak
EY'AS, a. Unfledged. [JVot used.]
Spenser
EY'AS-MUSKET, n. A young imfledged
male hawk of the musket kind or sparrow
hawk. Hanmer. Shak
EYE, n. pronounced as I. [Sax. eag, eah ;
Goth, auga ; D. oog ; G. auge ; Sw. oga ;
Dan. owe ; Russ. oko ; Sans, akshi ; h. ocu-
hiS, a. diminutive, whence Fr. ait, Sp. ojo,
It. occhio, Port. olho. The original v/ord
must have been ag, eg, or hag or heg, co-
inciding with egg. The old English plu-
ral was eyen, or eyne.]
1. The organ of sight or vision ; properly,
the globe or ball movable in the orbit.
The eye is nearly of a spherical figure, and
composed of coats or tunics. But in the
term eye, we often or usually include the
ball and the parts adjacent.
2. Sight ; view : ocular knowledge ; as, I
have a man now in my eye. In this sense,
the plural is more generally used.
Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evi-
ilently set forth, crucified among you. Gal. iii.
3. Look; covmtenance.
rU say yon gray is not the inoruing's eye.
Shak.
4. Front; face.
Her shall you hear disproved to your eyes.
■ flhak
5. Direct opposition ; as, to sail in the wind't
eye.
6. As|)ect ; regard ; respect ; view.
Booksellers mention with respect the authon
they have printed, and consequently have an
eye to their own advantage. Addison
7. Notice ; observation ; vigilance ; watch.
After this jealousy, he kept a strict eye upon
hirn. L'' Estrange.
8. View of the mind ; opinion formed by ob-
servation or contemplation.
It liath, in tlieir eye, no great affinity with
the form of tlic church of Rome. Hook
9. Sight ; view, cither in a literal
tivc sense.
figura
10. Something resembling the eye in form ;
as the eye of a peacock's feather.
J^eiDton
11. A small hole or aperture ; a perforation ;
as the eye of a needle.
12. A small catch for a hook ; as wc say
hooks and eyes. In nearly the same sense,
the word is applied to (-ertain fastenings
in the cordage of ships.
13. The bud of a plant ; a shoot. Encyc
14. A small shade of color. [Little used.]
Red with an eye of blue makes a purple
Hoyle
15. The power of perception.
The eyes of your understanding being cullglil-
cned. Eph. i.
16. Oversight; inspection.
The eye of the master will do more work tlian
both his hands. Franklin,
The eyes of a ship, are the ])arts which lie
near the hawse-holes, particularly in the
lower apartments. Mar. Diet.
To set the eyes on, is to sec ; to have a sight of.
To find favor in the eyes, is to be graciously
received and treated.
EYE, «. A brood; as an c^e of pheasants,
EYE, V. t. To fix the eye on ; to look on ; to
view ; to observe ; particularly, to observe
or watch narrowly, or with fixed atten-
tion.
Eye nature's walks, shoot folly as it flics.
Pope.
EYE, V. i. To appear ; to have an appear-
ance. Shak.
EY'EKALL, n. The ball, globe or apple of
the eve.
EY'EBEAM, n. A glance of the eye.
Shak.
EY'EBOLT, n. In ships, a bar of iron or
bolt, with an eye, formed to be driven into
the deck or sides, for- the purpose of hook-
ing tackles to. Mar. Diet.
EY'EBRIGHT, n. A genus of plants, the
Euphrasia, of several species.
EY'E-BRIGHTENING, n. A clearing of the
sight. Milton.
EY'EBROW, n. The brow or hairy arch
above the eye.
EY'ED, pp. Viewed ; observed ; watched.
2. a. Having eyes ; used in composition, as
a dull-eyed man, ox-eyed Juno.
EY'EDRbP, n. A tear. Shak.
EY'EGLANCE, n. A glance of the eye; a
rapid look. Spenser.
EY'EGLASS, n. A glass to assist the sight;
spectacles. Shak.
In telescopes, the glass next the eye; and
where there are several, all except the ob-
ject glass are called eye-glasses. Cyc.
EY'E-GLUTTNIG, n. A feasting of the eyes.
[JVol in use.] Spenser.
EY'ELASH, n. The line of hair that edges
the eyelid. Johyison.
EY'ELESS, a. Wanting eyes ; destitute of
sight. Milton. Addison.
EY'ELET, 71. [Fr. a:illet, a little eye, from
ceil, eye.]
A small hole or perforation, to receive a lace
or small rope or cord. We usually say,
eyelet-hole.
EY'ELIAD, n. [Fr. ailUide.] A glance of
the eve. Shak.
EY'ELID, ?!. The cover of the eye ; that
portion of movable skin with which an
animal covers the eyeball, or imcovers it,
at pleasure.
EYE-OFFENDING, a. That hurts the eyes.
Shak.
EY'E-PLEASING, a. Pleasing the eye.
Davies.
EY'ER, n. One w ho eyes another.
Gayton.
EY'E-SALVE, n. Ointment for the eye.
Revelation.
EYE-SERVANT, n. A servant who attends
to his duty only when watched, or under
the eye of his master or enn)loyer.
EY'E-SERVICE, n. Service performed only
under inspection or the eye of an em-
ployer.
Not with eye-sevvice, as mcn-pleasers ; but in
singleness of heart, fearing God. Col. iii.
EY'ESHOT, n. Sight ; view ; glance of the
eve. Dryden.
E Y'ESIGIIT, n. The sight of the eye ; view ;
observation. Ps. xviii.
Josephus sets this down from his own eye-
sight. IVUki'ns.
2. The sense of seeing. Ilis eyesight fails.
EY'ESORE, n. Something oflensive to the
eye or sight.
Mordecai was an eyesore to Haman.
L'Estrange.
EY'KSPLICE, Ji. In seaman's language, a
sort of eye or circle at the end of a rope.
Mar. Diet.
EY'ESPOTTED, a. Marked with spots like
eyes. Spenser.
EY'ESTRING, n. The tendon by which
the eye is moved. Shak.
EY'ETOOTH, n. A tooth midcr the eye ; a
pointed tooth in the upper jaw next to the
grinders, called also a canine tooth ; a.
fang. Ray.
EY'EWINK, «. A wink, or motion of the
eyelid; a hint or token. Shak.
EY'E-WITNESS, n. One who sees a thing
done ; one who has ocular view of any
thing.
We were eye-witnesses of his majesty. 2
Pet. i.
EY'OT, n. A little isle. Blackstone.
EYRE, n. ire. [Old Fr. from I,, iter.] Lite-
rally, a joiu-ney or circuit. In England,
the justices in eyre were itinerant judges,
who rode the circuit to hold courts in the
difierent counties.
2. A court of itinerant justices. Blackstone.
EY'RY, n. The place where birds of prey
construct their nests and hatch. It is
written also eyrie. [See Aerie.]
The eagle and tlie stork
On cliffs and cedar-tops their eyries build.
Afiltoii.
FAB
F. the sixth letter of ihe Englisli Alphabet,
is a labial articulation, formed by placing
the upper teeth on the initler lip, and ac-
companied with an emission of breath. Its
kindred letter is v, which is chiefly distin-
guished from/by being more vocal, or ac-
companied with more sound, as may be
perceived by pronoimcing ef, ev. This
letter may be derived from the Oriental l
ran, or from 3 pe or phe ; most probably
the former. The Latins received the let-
ter from the Eolians in Greece, who wrote
it in the form of a double g-, F, j[ ; whence
it has been called most absurdly diga
ma. It corresponds in jmwer to the Greek
^ phi, and its proper name is ef.
As a Latin numeral, it signifies 40, and with
a dash over the top f, forty thousand.
In the civil law, two of these letters together
ff, signify the pandects.
In English criminal law, this letter is brand-
ed on felons, when adinitted to the benefit
of clergy ; by Stat. 4. H. VII. c. 13.
In medical prescriptions, F stands for Jiat, lei
it be made ; F. S. A. Jiat secundum artem.
V stands also for Fellow ; F. R. S. Fellow of
the Royal Society.
For fa, in music, is the fourth note rising in
this order in the gamut, ut, re, mi, fa. It
denotes also one of the Greek keys ii
music, destined for the base.
F in English has one uniform sound, as in
father, after.
FABA'CEOUS, a. [Low L./a6oceus, from
faba, a bean.]
Having the nature of a bean ; like a bean
[Lillle used.]
FA'BIAN, a. Delaying ; dilatory ; avoiding
battle, in imitation of Q. Fabius Maxi
a Roman general who conducted military
operations against Hannibal, by declining
to risk a battle in the open field, but bar
assing the enemy by marches, counter
marches and ambuscades.
FA'BLE, n. {\..fabula; Fr. fable; It. favo
la; Ir. fabhal; Sp. fabula, from the Latin
but the native Spanish word is habla,
speech. Q,u. W. hebu, to speak ; Gr.
The radical sense is that which is spoken
or told.]
1. A feigned story or tale, intended to
struct or amuse ; a fictitious narration
tended to enforce some useful truth or
precept.
Jotham's/oii/e of the trees is tlie oldest extant,
and as beautiful as any made since. Addison.
2. Fiction in general ; as, the story is all a
fable.
3. An idle story ; vicious or vulgar fictions.
But refuse profane and old Wives' fables.
Tim. iv.
4. The plot, or connected series of events, in
an epic or dramatic poem.
FAB
The moral is the first business of the poet ;
tliis being formed, he contrives such a design or
fable as may be most suitable to the moral.
Dryden.
5. Falsehood; a softer term for a lie.
Mdison.
FA'BLE, V. i. To feign ; to write fiction.
Vain now the tales wh\chfabli7ig poets tell.
Prior.
3. To tell falsehoods; ,is, he fables not.
Shak.
FA'BLE, 1!. t. To feign ; to invent ; to de-
vise and speak of, as true or real.
The liell thouya6/es(. Milton.
FA'BLED, pp. ' Feigned ; invented, as sto-
ries.
Told or celebrated in fables.
HaW, fabled grotto. Ticket
FA'BLER, n. A writer of fables or fictions ;
dealer in feigned stories. Johnson
FA'BLING, ppr. Feigning; devising, as
stories ; writing or uttering false stories.
FAB'RI€, n. [L. fabrica, a frame, fron
faber, a workman ; Fr.fabriqiie.]
. The structure of any thing ; the manner
in which the parts of a thing are united by
art and labor; workmanship; texture.
This is cloth of a beautiful/aftWc.
9. The frame or structure of a building; con-
struction. More generally, the building
itself; an edifice ; a house ; a temple ; a
church ; a bridge, &c. The word is usu
ally applied to a large building.
3. Any system composed of connected parts
as the fabric of the universe.
4. Cloth manufactured.
Silks and other fine fabrics of the east.
Henry.
FABRIC, V. I. To frame ; to build ; to cor
struct. [Little used.] Philip.
FAB'RICATE, v. t. [L. fabrico, to frame,
from faber, su|)ra.]
1. To frame; to build; to construct ; to form
a whole by connecting its parts ; as, t(
fabricate a bridge or a ship.
3.' To form by ait and labor ; to nianufac
ture ; as, to fabricate woolens.
3. To invent and form ; to forge ; to devise
falsely ; as, to fabricate a lie or story.
Our books were not fattricated with an
commodation to prevailing usages. Paley
4. To coin ; as, to fabricate money. [Unx
sual] Henry, Hist
FAB'RICATED,;);;. Framed; constructed
built; manufactured; invented; devised
falsely ; forged.
FAB'RI€ATING,pjpc. Framing ; construct-
ing ; manufacturing ; devising falsely ;
forging.
FABRICA'TION, n. The act of framing or
constructing ; construction ; as the fabri-
cation of a bridge or of a church.
2. The act of manufacturing.
3. The act of devising falsely ; forgery.
4. That which is fabricated ; a falsehood.
The story is doubtless a fabrication.
FABRICATOR, ji. One that constructs or
makes.
F A C
FAB'RILE, a. [L. fabrilis.] Pertaining to
andicrafts. [JVot used.]
FAB'ULIST, 71. [from fable.] The inventor
writer of fables. GarricJ;.
FAB'ULIZE, V. t. To invent, compose or
elate fables. Faber.
FABULOS'ITY, n. Fabulousness; fullness
'fables. [Little iised.] Abbot.
FAB'ULOUS, o. Feigned, as a story ; devi-
sed ; fictitious ; as a fabulous story ; a
fabulous description.
3. Related in fable ; described or celebrated
in fables ; invented ; not real ; as a fabu-
lous hero ; thefabidous exploits of Hercu-
les.
. The fabulous age of Greece and Rome,
was the early age of those countries, the
accounts of which are mostly /afrii/ojw, or
in which thefabidous achievments of their
heroes were performed ; called also the
adv. In fable or fiction ;
Brown.
The quality of being
FABULOUSLY,
in a fabulous i
FABULOUSNESS, n
fabulous or feigned.
FACADE, n. fassa'de. [Fr.] Front.
WaHon.
FACE, n. [Fr. /ace; It. faccia; Sp.faz, or
haz ; Arm. /op; L. /acres, from /acio, to
make.]
1. In a general sense, the surface of a thing,
or the side which presents itself to the view
of a spectator ; as the face of the earth ;
the/ace of the waters.
A part of the surface of a thing; or the
plane surface of a solid. Thus, a cube or
die has six/ace.s; an octahedron has eight
faces.
3. The surface of the forepartof an animal's
head, particulariy of the human head ; the
visage.
In the sweat of thy /ace shalt thou eat bread.
Gen. iii.
Joseph bowed himself with his face to the
earth. Gen. xhiii.
4. Countenance; cast of features ; look; air
of the face.
We set the best face on it we could.
Dryden.
5. The front of a thing ; the forepart ; the
flat surface that presents itself first to view ;
as the /ace of a house. Ezek. xli.
6. Visible state ; appearance.
This would produce a new /ace of things in
Europe. Addison.
Appearance ; look.
Nor heaven, nor sea, their former/ace retained.
IValler.
His dialogue has the/ace of probability.
Saker.
8. State of confrontation. The witnesses
were presented /oce to face.
9. Confidence ; boldness ; impudence ; a
bold front.
He has the face to charge others with false
citations. TUlotsan.
10. Presence ; sight ; as in the phrases, be-
F A C
F A C
F A C
Jore the face, in the face, to the face, from the
11. The person.
I liad not thouglit to see thy/ace. Gen. xlviii.
12. In scripture, face is used for anger or
favor.
Hide us from the face of him that sitleth on
the throne. Rev. vi.
Malte tliy face to shine on thy servant. Ps.
\x.\i.
How long wilt thou hide thy face from me !
I's. xiii.
Hence, to seek the face, tliat is, to pray
to, to seek the favor of.
7\) act the face against, is to oppose.
To accept one's face, is to show him fa-
vor or grant his request. So, to entreat the
face, is to ask favor ; but these phrases are
nearly obsolete.
13. A distorted form of the face ; as in the
phrase, to make faces, or to make wry
faces.
Face to face, when both parties are present ;
as, to have accusers face to face. Acts
XXV.
2. Nakedly ; without the interposition of any
other body.
Now wc see tliroiie;h a glass, darkly ; hut then
face to face. 1 Cor. xiii.
FACE, v.t. To meet in front; to oppose
with firmness ; to resist, or to meet for the
purpose of stopping or opposing ; as, to
face an enemy in the field of battle.
I'll /ace
This tempest, and deserve the name of king.
Dryden.
2. To stand opposite to ; to .stand witii the
face or front towards. The colleges in
New Haven /nee the public square.
i\. To cover with additional superficies ; to
cover in front ; as a fortification faced will
marble; to /ace a garment with silk.
To face down, to oppose boldly or impu-
dently.
FACE, I', i. To carry a false appearance ; to
play the hypoerite.
To lie, toyace, to forge. Hubberd's Tale.
2. To turn the face ; as, to /ace to the right
or left.
FA'CECLOTH, ?i. [/ace and c?ott.] A cloth
laid over the face of a corpse. Brand.
FA'CED, pp. Covered ill front. In compo-
sition, denoting the kind of face ; as full-
faced. Bailey.
FA'CELESS, a. Without a face.
FA'CEPAINTER, n. A painter of por-
traits; one who draws the likeness of the
face.
FA'CEPAINTING, n. The act or art of
painting portraits. Dryden.
FACET, ji. [Fr. facette, from face ; Sp,
A little face ; a small surface ; as the facets
of a diamond.
FACE'TE, a. [L.fucctus.] Gay ; cheerful.
[JVot in use.] Burton.
FACE'TENESS, n. Wit ; pleasant repre-
sentation. [JVot used.] Hales.
FACE'TIOUS, a. [Fr. facitieux; Sp.face-
cioso ; It. faceto ; L. facetus ; facetia, or
plu. Qu. Ar.
to be merry.]
. Merry; sportive; jocular; sprightly will
wit and good humor ; as a facetious com
panion.
Vol. r.
2. Witty ; full of pleasantry playful ; exci-
ting laughter; as a/aceh'ou* story ; a face-
tious reply.
FACE'TIOUSLY, adv. Merrily ; gayly ;
wittily; with pleasantry.
FACE'TIOUSNESS, n. Sportive humor
pleasantry; the quality of exciting laugh
ter or good humor.
FA"CIAL, a. [L. fades, face.] Pertaining
to the face ; as the facial artery, vein
or nerve.
Facial angle, in anatomy, is the angle con-
tained by a line drawn horizontally from
the middle of the external entrance of the
ear to the edge of the nostrils, and another
from this latter point to the superciliary
ridge of the frontal bone ; serving to mea-
sure the elevation of the forehead.
Ed. Encyc.
FACILE, a. [Fr. facile; Sp.facil; L./oci-
lis, from facio, to make.]
. Properly, easy to be done or performed ;
easy ; not difficult ; performable or attain-
able with little labor.
Order — will render the work facile and de-
lightful. Evelyn.
2. Easy to be surmounted or removed ; ea-
sily conquerable.
Theyaci7e gates of hell too slightly barred.
Milton.
3. Easy of access or converse; mild; cour-
teous ; not haughty, austere or distant.
I mean she should be courteous, _/act7e, sweet.
B. Jonson.
Pliant ; flexible ; easily persuaded to good
or bad ; yielding ; ductile to a fault.
Since Adam, and his facile consort Eve,
Lost Paradise, deceived by me. Milton
FACILELY, adv. Easily. [Littk u.sed.]
Herbert
FACILENESS, n. Easiness to be persua-
ded. Beaum
FACILITATE, v. t. [Fr. fadliter, from fa-
cility, h.facililas, from facilis, easy.]
To make easy or less difficult ; to free from
difficulty or impediment, or to diminish it ;
to lessen the labor of Machinery facili
trilrs manual labor and operations. Pio
niiM's ina\ fiicHilnte the march of an army
F A( I L' ITATKD, pp. Made easy or easier.
FACIL'IT.'VTING, /);))•. Rendering easy or
easier.
FACILITA'TION, n. The act of making
easy. Johnson.
FACiL'ITY, 71. [Fr.facim; L. facilitas,
from facilis, easy.]
1. Easiness to be performed ; freedom from
difficulty ; ease. He performed the work
or operation with great facility.
Thousih facility and hope of success might
invite some other choice. Bacon
2. Ease of performance ; readiness proceed
ing from skill or use ; dexterity. Practice
gives a wonderful faciliiy in executing
works of art.
3. Pliancy; ductility; easiness to be persua-
ded ; readiness of compliance, usually
a bad sense, implying a disposition to yield
to solicitations to evil.
It is a great error to take/aci7i7i/ for good na-
ture : tenderness without discretion, is no betle
than a more pardonable folly. L' Estrange
4. Easiness of access ; complaisance; con
descension ; affability.
He oflcrs himself to the visits of a friend with
facility. South
FACIL'ITIES, 11. plu. The means by which
79
the performance of any thing is rendered
easy ; convenient opportunities or advan-
tages.
FA'CING,p;)r. [from face.] Fronting ; ha\-
ng the face towards; opposite.
Covering the fore part.
Turning the face.
FA'CTNG, n. A covering in front for orna-
ment or defense; as the/aaHg'of a fortifi-
cation 1)1- (it'll •;.inucnt.
FACl.N <)l!()l .-^, It. [[..facinus.] Atrocious-
ly wirk.-.l. I /.////, used.] Shak.
FACINUKO I. S.NESS, n. Extreme or
atrocious wickedness.
FACSIM'ILE, n. [L. facio, to make, and
similis, like. See Simile.]
An exact copy or likeness, as of liandwri-
ting.
FA€T, n. [L. factum, from facio, to make or
do ; Fr. fait ; U.fatto ; Sp. hecho.]
1. Any thing done, or that comes to pass ;
an act ; a deed ; an effijct produced or
achieved; an event. Witnesses are intro-
duced into court to prove a fact. Facts
are stubborn things. To deny a fact
knowingly is to lie.
2. Reality; truth; as, in fact. So we say,
indeed.
FAC'TION, n. [Fr. from L.factio, from fa-
cio, to make or do.]
1. A party, in political society, combined or
acting in union, in opposition to the prince,
government or state ; usually applied to a
minority, but it may be applied to a major-
ity. Sometimes a state is divided wlo fac-
tions nearly equal. Rome was almost al-
ways disturbed hy factions. Republics are
jiroverbial for factions, and factiojis in mon-
archies have often effected revolutions.
A feeble government produces more factions
tlian an oppressive one. Jlmes.
By a faction, I understand a number of citi-
zens, whether amounting to a majoiity or mi-
nority of the whole, who are united and actua-
ted by some common impulse of pa-ssion, or of
interest, advci-se to the riglits of other citizens,
or to the permanent and aggregate interests of
the community. Federalist, Madison.
2. Tinnult ; discord ; dissension.
Clarendon.
FA€'TIONARY, n. A party man; one of a
faction. [Little used.] Shak.
FAC'TIONER, n. One of a faction. [.\ot
use.] Bancroft.
FAC'TIONIST, n. One who promotes fac-
tion. Mountagu.
FACTIOUS, a. [Fr. factieux; L.factiosus.]
1. Given to faction ; addicted to form par-
ties and raise dissensions, in opposition to
government ; turbulent ; prone to clamor
against public measures or men. No state
is free froni/ac<io«s citizens.
2. Pertaining to faction ; proceeding from
faction ; as factious tumults ;/ac/iou« quar-
rels. Dryden.
FA€'TIOUSLY, adv. In a factious manner;
by means of faction; in a turbulent or dis-
orderly manner.
FA€'TIOUSNESS, n. Inclination to form
parties in opposition to the government,
or to the public interest ; disposition to
clamor and raise opposition ; clamorous-
ness for a party.
FA€TI"TIOU.S; a. [L.faclitius, from facio.]
Made by art, in distinction from what is
produced by nature ; artificial ; as facti-
F A C
FAD
F A H
liuus i-iniiabiu- ; faditiotis stones ; faditiousi
air.
TACTIVE, a. Making ; having power to
make. [JVot used.] Bacon.
I'Ae'TOR, n. [L.fador; Fr. fadeur ; lt.\
fattore ; from h./acio.] !
1. In commerce, an agent employed by iner-[
chants, residing in other places, to buy andi
sell, and to negotiate bills of exchange, or
to transact other business on their ac-
count.
2. An agent ; a substitute.
."i. In arithmetic, the multiplier and multipli-
cand, from the multiplication of which
proceeds the product.
FA€'TORAgE, n. The allowance given to
a factor by his employer, as a comjjensa-
tiou for his services ; called also a com-
mission. This is sometimes a certain sum
or rate by the cask or package ; more gen-
erally it is a certain rate per cent, of the
value of the goods, purchased or sold.
FACTORSHIP, «. A factory; or the busi-
ness of a factor. Shenvood.
FACTORY, n. A house or place where
factors reside, to transact business fur
their employers. The Enghsh merchants
have factories in the East Indies, Turkey,
Portugal, Hamburg, &c.
U. The body of factors in any place ; as a
chaplain to a British _/«c<on/. Guthrie.
.1. Contracted from manufactory, a building
or collection of buildings, appropriated to
the manufacture of goods ; the jilace
where workmen are employed in fabrica-
ting goods, wares or utensils. v
FA€TO'TUM, n. [L. do evci-y thing.] A
servant employed to do all kinds of work.
B. Jonson.
PAC'TURE, )i. [Fr.] The art or manner of
making. Bacon
FAe'ULTY, n. [Yr. facuU<' ; L. facullas
irom facio, to make.]
I . That power of the mind or intellect whicl
enables it to receive, revive or modify per
ceptions ; as the faculty of seeing, of hear
ing, of imagining, of remembering, &c. :
or in general, the faculties may be called
the powers or capacities of the mind.
'i. The power of doing any thing ; ability.
There is no faculty or power in creatures,
which can rightly perform its functions,
without the perpetual aid of the Supreme
Being. Hooker
S. The power of performing any action, nat-
ural, vital or animal.
The vitA\ faculty is that by which life is pre-
served. Quincy
4. Facility of performance; the peculiar skill
ilerived from practice, or practice aided
by nature; habitual skill or ability; dex
terity ; adroitness ; knack. One man has
a remarkable faculty of telling a story ;
another, of inventing excuses for iniscon
duct ; a third, of reasoning ; a fourth, of]
preaching.
5. Personal quality ; disposition or habit,
good or ill. Shak
This]
Hath borne his/acu/(!(
I so meek. Shak
[Hardly legitimate.
7. Mechanical jiower ; as the faculty of the
wedge. [M)t used, nor legitimate^
Wilkins
8. Natural virtue ; efficacy; as the/acitWy of
simples. [JVol used, nor legitimate.]
Milton.
'J. Privilege ; a right or power granted to a
person by favor or indulgence, to do what
by law he may not do ; as the faculty of
marrying without the bans being first pub-
lished, or of ordaining a deacon underage.
The archbishop of Canterbury has a court
of faculties, for granting such privileges or
dispensations. Encyc.
10. In colleges, the masters and professors of
the several sciences. Johnson.
One of the members or departments of
a university. In most universities there
are four faculties ; of arts, including hu-
manity and philosophy ; of theology ; of
medicine; and of law. Encyc.
In America, the faculty of a college or
university consists of the president, pro-
fessors and tutors.
The faculty of advocates, in Scotland, is a
respectable body of lawyers who plead in
all causes before the Courts of Session,
Justiciary and Exchequer. Encyc.
FACUND, n. [L. _/ac«nrfMS, supposed to be
from the root of for, fari, to speak. If so,
the original word was faco, or facor.] Elo-
quent. [Little used.]
FACUNDITY, n. [h. facunditas.] Elo-
quence; readiness of speech.
FAD'DLE, V. i. To trifle ; to toy ; to play.
[A low ivord.]
FADE, a. [Fr.J Weak ; slight ; faint. [M'ol
in use.] Berkeley.
FADE, i'. i. [Fr. fade, insipid, tasteless.
Qu. L. vado.
Ar. 4Xi5
afeeda, to
vanish, Syr. to fail, to err. See Class Bd.
No. 48. and 39. 44.]
1. To lose color ; to tend from a stronger or
brighter color to a more faint shade of the
same color, or to lose a color entirely. A
green leaf /arfes and becomes less green
or yellow. Those colors are deemed the
best, which are least apt to fade.
2. To wither, as a plant ; to decay.
Ye shall be as an oak, whose "leaf fadeth.
Is. i.
3. To lose strength gradually ; to vanish.
When the memory is weak, ideas in the mind
quickly yufie. Locke.
To lose luster; to grow dim.
The stars shall fade away. Jiddison.
5. To decay ; to perish gradually.
We all do fade as a leaf. Is. Ixiv.
An inheritance Ihat fadclh not away. 1 Pet. i.
6. To decay; to decline; to become poor
and miserable.
The rich man shall fade away in his ways.
James i.
7. To lose strength, heahh or vigor ; to de-
cline ; to grow weaker. South.
8. To disappear gradually ; to vanish.
FADE, V. t. To cause to wither ; to wear
away ; to deprive of freshness or vigor.
No winter could his laurels fade. Vryden
This is a man, old, wrinkled, /aded, witheied
Shak
FA'DED, pp. Become less vivid, as color ;
withered : decayed ; vanished.
FADGE, V. i. faj. [Sax. fa-gen, gefegen, to
unite, to fit together ; G.fugen ; D. voegen ,
S w. foga ; Dan. fuge, a seam or joint ; VV
fag, a meeting in a point. It coincides
with L. pango, pegi, pepegi, Gr. Ttiyu, r<ry
mu, L. figo. See p3T Class Bg. No. 33.
See also No. 34. 35. ' Of this word fay is
a contraction.]
1. To suit ; to fit ; to come close, as the parts
of things united. Hence, to have one part
consistent with another. Shak.
2. To agree ; to live in amity. [Lmdicrous.]
Hudibras.
3. To succeed ; to hit. VEstrange.
[This word is now vulgar, and improper in
elegant writing.]
FA'DING, ppr. [See Fade.] Losing color ;
becoming less vivid ; decaying ; declining :
withering.
2. a. Subject to decay ; liable to lose fresh-
ness and vigor; liable to perish ; not dur-
able; transient; as a/arfing- flower.
FA'DING, n. Decay ; loss of color, fresh-
ness or vigor. Sherwood.
FA'DINGNESS, n. Decay ; hableness to
decay. Mountagu.
FA'DY, a. Wearing away ; losing color or
strength. Shenstone.
F^eAL, a. [See Fecal.]
FjE'CES, n. [L.] Excrement ; also, set-
tUngs ; sediment after infusion or distilla-
tion. Quincy.
FAF'FEL, V. i. To stammer. [JVot in use.]
Barret.
FAG, V. t. To beat. [M)t in use.]
FAG, n. A slave ; one who works hard.
[JVot in use.]
FAG, V. i. [Scot. faik. Qu. Heb. Ch. Syr.
J13 to fail, to languish. See Class Bg. No.
44. 60. 70.]
To become weary ; to fail in strength ; to be
faint with weariness.
The Italian began to fag. JUackemie.
[Jl vulgar loord.]
FAG, n. A knot in cloth. [.Vo« in use.]
FAGEND', n. [fag and end. See Fag, v.i.
supra.]
1. The end of a web of cloth, generally of
coarser materials. Johnson.
2. The refuse or meaner part of any thing.
CoUier.
3. Among seamen, the untwisted end of a
rope ; hence, to fag out, is to become un-
twisted and loose. JWar. Did.
We observe that the use of this word
among seamen leads to the true sense of
the verb, as well as the noun. The sense
is, to ojien by receding, or to yield and be-
come lax, and hence weak.
FAG'OT, Ji. [W.fagod; Gr.^xiiXor, con-
nected with W. fag, that which unites or
meets ; fagiad, a gathering round a point ;
Scot, faik, to fold, to grasp ; fake, in sea-
men's language, a coil ; allied to Sax. fce-
gan, gefegan, to unite. See Fadge. The
sense is a bundle or collection, like pack.]
1. A bundle of sticks, twigs or small branches
of trees, used for fuel, or for raising bat-
teries, filling ditches, and other purposes
in fortification. The French use fascine,
from the h. fascis, a bundle; a term now
adopted in English.
2. A person hired to appear at musters in a
company
full and hide the deficiency.
Encyc.
FAG'OT, V. t. To tie together; to bind in a
bundle ; to collect promiscuously.
Dry den.
F'AHLERZ, n. Gray copper, or gray cop-
per ore, called by Jameson tctrahedral
F A I
F A I
F A I
roppev pyrite. This mineral is easily bro
ken, ami its fracture usually uneven, but
sometimes a little conchoidal. It is found
amorphous and in regular crystals.
Ckaveland,
F'AHLUNITE, n. [from Fahlun, in Swe-
den.]
Automalite, a subspecies of octahedral co-
rundum, lire.
FAIL, V. i. [Fr. faillir ; W. faelu, or paU.
and aballu ; Scot. faUye ; It. fallire ; Sj).
falir, /altar ; Port. /attar ; L. /a«o,- Ir.
Jeallam ; Gr. ^liXiu, ^njxou, whence tfalAu ;
D. fiilen, faalen ; G. fehlen ; Sw. fda ;
Dan. ftjler ; Arm. fallaat, ftllel, whence
fallom, wickedness. Rug. felony. It seems
to be allied to fall, fallow, pale, and man
other words. See Class Bl. No. C. 7. i
13. 18. 21. 28.]
1. To become deficient; to be insuflicient;
to cease to be abundant for supply ; or to
be entirely wanting. We say, in a dry
season, the springs and streams/ai7, or are
failing, before they are entirely exhaust-
ed. VVe say also, the springsyui7crf, wlicn
they entirely ceased to flow. Crops fait
wholly or partially.
2. To decay ; to decline ; to sink ; to be d
minished. We say of a sick person, his
strength fail^ daily.
3. To decline ; to decay ; to sink ; to become
weaker; as, the patientyazVs every hour.
4. To be e.vtinct ; to cease ; to be entirely
wanting ; to be no longer produceil.
Help, Lord, for the godly man ce,i<ielli ; for
the faithiul/ai/ from among the cliildren of men.
Ps. xii.
5. To be entirely exhausted ; to be wanting;
to cease from supply.
Money failed in the land of Egjpt. Gen.
xlvii.
C>. To cease ; to peri.sh ; to be lost.
Lest the remembrance of )iis grief shou)d/a!7.
Addison.
7. To die.
They shall all/ui7 together. Isaiah xxxi.
8. To decay ; to decline ; as, the sight /ai7s in
old age.
9. To become deficient or wanting ; as, the
heart or the cour&ge fails.
10. To miss ; not to produce the effect. The
experiment was made with care, but/ot7-
erf, or failed to produce the effect, or failed
of the effect.
11. To be deficient in duty; to omit or ne-
glect. The debtor/oi^erf to fulfil his prom-
ise.
12. To miss ; to miscarry ; to be frustrated
or disappointed. The enemy attacked the
fort, but failed in his design, or failed of
success.
1.3. To be neglected ; to fall short ; not to be
executed. The promises of a man of prob-
ity seldom /atZ.
The soul or the spirit_/ai7^,-when a per-
son is discouraged. The eyes fail, when
the desires and expectations are long de-
layed, and tlie person is disappointed.
14. To become insolvent or bankrupt.
When merchants and traders fail, they
arc said to become bankrupt. When oth-
er men /at7, they are said to become insol-
vent.
FAIL, r. I. To desert ; to disappoint ; to
cease or to neglect or omit to afford aid,
. supply or strength. It is said, fortune nev-
er /«i7j; the brave. Our friends sometimes
yat7 us, when we most need them. Tli
aged attempt to walk, when their limbs
fail them. In bold enterprises, courage
should never fail the hero.
2. To omit ; not to perform.
The inventive God, who never faih his part
Dryden
3. To be wanting to.
There shall never fail thee a man on the
throne. 1 Kings ii.
[In the transitive use of this verb, there is
really an ellipsis of from or to, or other
word. In strictness, the verb is not trans-
itive, and the passive participle is, I be
lieve, never used.]
FAIL, n. Omis.sion ; non-performance.
He will without fail drive out from before
you the Canaanites. Josh. iii.
Miscarriage; failure; deficience ; want;
death, [/(i these senses little used.]
FA'ILANCE, n. Fault; failure. Obs.
FA'ILING, ppr. Becoming deficient or in
sufficient; becoming weaker; decaying;;
dechning ; omitting ; not executing or per-
forming ; miscarrying ; neglecting ; want-
ing ; becomin" bankrupt or insolvent.
FA'ILING, n. The act of failing; deficien-
cy ; imperfection ; lapse ; fault. Failings.
in a moral sense, are minor faults, pro-
ceeding rather from weakness of intellect
or from carelessness, than from bad mo-
tives. But the word is often abusively ap-
plied to vices of a grosser kind.
2. The act of failing or becoming insolvent,
FA'ILDRE, n. fa'ilyur. A failing; defi-
cience ; cessation of supply, or total defect
as the failure of springs or streams ; fail
ure of rain ; failure of crops.
2. Omission ; non-performance ; as the/at7
ure of a promise; a man's failure in tlie
execution of a trust.
Decay, or defect from decay ; as the fail
ure of memory or of sight.
4. A breaking, or becoming insolvent. At the
close of a war, the prices of commodities
fall, and immmerable_/ui7urej succeed.
.5. Afaihng; a slight fault. [Little used.]
FAIN, a. [Sax. fagen,fcegan, glad ; fagnian,
Goth.faginon, to rejoice ; Sv/.fagen. Class
Bg. No. 3. 43. 77.]
1. Glad ; pleased ; rejoiced. But the appro-
priate sense of the word is, glad or pleased
to do something under some kind of ne
cessity ; that is, glad to evade evil or se
cure good. Thus, says Locke, " The learn
ed Castalio was fain to make trenches at
Basil, to keep himself from starving." This
appropriation of the word, which is mod-
ern, led Dr. Johnson into a mistake in de-
fining the word. The ■ proper significa-
tion is glad, joyful.
FAIN, adv. Gladly ; with joy or pleasure.
He would fain flee out of his hand. Job
xxvii.
He would fain have filled his belly
husks. Luke xv.
FAIN. I', i. To wish or desire. [Xot used.]
FA'INING, ppr. Wishing ; desiring fondly,
In his faining eye. Spenser
FAINT, a. [Ir. faine, a weakening ; fann.
weak; fanntais, weakness, inchnation to
faint ; anbhfaine, fainting ; Fr. faineant,
idle, sluggish. This word is perhaps alli-
ed to Fr. faner, to fade, wither, decay, to
make hay, /oi)i, L.fmium; and to vain,
L. vanus, whence to vanish, Ar. ^-jii
fani, to vani.sh, to fail, Eng. to wane, Sax.
fynig, musty. Class Bn. No. 2,5.]
1. Weak ; languid ; inclined to swoon ; as,
to be rendered faint by excessive evacua-
tions.
j2. \Veak; feeble; languid; exhausted; as
I faint with fatigue, hunger or thirst.
3. Weak, as color ; not bright or vivid ; tiot
I strong; as a faint color; a faint red or
I blue ; a faint light.
|4. Feeble ; weak, as sound ; not loud ; as a
faint sound ; a faint voice.
.5. Imperfect ; feeble ; not striking ; as a faint
resemblance or image.
G. Cowardly; timorous. A /ainHieart nev-
er wins a fair lady.
7. Feeble ; not vigorous ; not active ; as a
faint resistance ; n faint exertion.
8. Dejected ; depressed ; dispirited.
My heart is faint. Lam. I.
FAINT, V. i. To lose the animal functions;
to lose strength and color, and become
senseless and motionless; to swoon ; some-
times with away. He fainted for loss of
blood.
On hearing the honor intended her, she
fainted away. Guardian.
2. To become feeble ; to decline or fail in
strength and vigor ; to be weak.
If I send them away fasting to their own
houses, they will/ain( by the way. Mark viii.
3. To sink into dejection ; to lose courage
or spirit.
Let not your hearts /ajn(. Deut. xx.
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy
strength is small. Prov. xxiv.
4. To decay ; to disappear ; to vanish.
Gilded clouds, while we gaze on them, faint
before the eye. Pope.
FAINT, V. t. To deject; to depress; to
weaken. [Unusual.] Shak.
FAINTHE.\RTED, a. Cowardly; timor-
ous ; dejected ; easily depressed, or yield-
ing to fear.
Fear not, neither iie fainthearted. Is. vii.
FAINTHEARTEDLY, adv. In a cowardly
FAINTHEARTEDNESS, n. Cowardice ;
timorousness; want of courage.
FA'INTING, ppr. Falling into a swoon ;
failing ; losing strength or courage ; be-
coming feeble or timid.
FA'INTING, »i. A temjjorary loss of
strength, color and respiration ; syncope ;
dehquium ; leipothymy ; a swoon.
fUseman.
FA'INTISH, a. Slightly faint.
FA'INTISHNESS, n.'\ slight degree of
faintness. Arbuthnot.
FA'INTLING, a. Timorous; feeble-mind-
ed. [^rot used.] Arbuthnot.
FA'INTLY, adv. In a feeble, languid man-
ner ; without vigor or activity ; as, to at-
tack or defend/atn%.
2. With a feeble flame ; as, a torch burns
faintly.
3. With a feeble light; as, the candle burns
faintly.
4. With little force ; as, to breathe/ajn%.
5. Without force of representation ; imper-
fectly ; as, to describe faintly what wc
have seen.
F A I
li. Ill a low tone ; witli a feeble voice ; as,
to speak faintly.
7. Without spirit or courage ; timorously.
He/aintly now declines the fatal strife.
Denham
FA'INTNESS, n. The state of being faint ;
loss of strength, color and respiration.
2. Feebleness; languor; want of strength.
Hooke. .
:X Inactivity; want of vigor. Spenser}
4. Feebleness, as of color or light. j
a. Feebleness of representation; as faintness]
of description.
G. Feebleness of mind; tiniorousness ; de-
jection ; irresolution.
I will send a faintness into Uieir hearts.
Lev. xxvi.
FAINTS, 71. plu. The gross fetid oil remain-i
ing after distillation, or a weak spirituous
liquor that runs from the still in rectifyingi
the low wines after the proof spirit is;
drawn off; also, the last runnings of all;
spirits distilled by the alembic.
Encyc. Edwards, fV. Iiid.^
FA'INTY, a. Weak ; feeble ; languid.
Dryden.'
FAIR, a. [Sax. fceger; Sw.fager; Daii./a
ver. If the sense is primarily to open, toi
clear, to separate, this word may belong
to the root of Sw./«;a, Dan. fejer, D.veeg-
en, G. fegen, to sweep, scour, furbish.]
1. Clear; free from spots; free from a dark
liue ; white ; as a fair skin ; a fair com-
plexion. Hence,
1. Beautiful ; handsome ; properly, having a
handsome face.
Thou art a fair woman to look upon. Gen
xii. Hence,
3. Pleasing to the eye ; handsome orbeauti
fid in general.
Thus was he fair in his greatness, in tliej
length of his branches. Ezek. xxxi. !
4. Clear ; pure ; free from feculence or e\-\
traneous matter ; as fair water. j
.5. Clear ; not cloudy or overcast ; as fair
weather ; a fair sky. j
li. Favorable; prosperous; blowing in a di-
rection towards the place of destination ;
as a fair wind at sea.
7. Open ; direct, as a way or passage. You
are in a fair way to promotion. Hence,
likely to succeed. He stands as fair to
succeed as any man.
.S. Open to attack or access; unobstructed:
as a fair mark ; a fair butt ; fair in sight •
in/air sight ; afair view.
!1. Open ; frank ; honest ; hence, equal ; just ;
equitable. My friend is a fair man ; his
offer is fair ; his propositions are /air
honorable.
10. Not effected by insidious or unlawful;
methods ; not foul.
He died a fair and natural death. Temple
11. Frank ; candid ; not sophistical or insid
ious; as a /air disputant.
12. Honest; honorable; mild; opposed to
insidious and compulsory ; as, to accom
phsh a thing by fair means.
13. Frank ; civil ; pleasing ; not harsh.
When fair words and good counsel will no
prevail on us, we must be frighted Jnto
F A I
1.5. Liberal: not narrow; as a fair liveh-
hood. Carew.
16. Plain; legible; as, the letter is written
in a fair hand,
F A I
8. Completely ; without deficience. His an-
tagonist fought till he was fairly defeated.
9. Softly ; gently. Milton.
-'—&8S, n.
FA'IRNES
Clearness ; freedom from
17. Free from stain or blemish ; unspotted ; spots or blemishes ; whiteness ; as the
untarnished ; as a fair character or fame, fairness of skin or complexion.
FAIR, adv. Openly ; frankly ; civilly ; com- 2. Clearness ; purity ; as the fairness of
aisantly. I water.
'y^
L'Estrange
14. Equitable ; just ; merited.
His doom is /air,
That dust I am, and shall to dust return.
Milto
One of the company spoke liim Jair.
L'Estrange.
2. Candidly ; honestly ; equitably. He prom-
sed fair.
3. Happily ; successfully.
Now fair befall thee. Shak.
4. On good terms ; as, to keep/air with the
world ; to stand fair with one's compan
To bid fair, is to be likely, or to have a fair
prospect.
Fair and square, just dealing ; honesty.
FAIR, n. Elliptically, a fair woman
handsome female. Tlie fair, the female
sex.
2. Fairness ; applied to things or persons
[Mot in ttse.]
FAIR, Ji. [Fr. foire ; W. fair ; Artn. foar
foer.feur, or for ; 1,. forum, or feria. The
It. flera, and Sp. feria, a fair, are the L.
feri(e, a holiday, a day exempt from labor ;
Q.feier, whence /eicni, to rest from labor.
11' fair is from forum, it may coincide in or-
igin with Gr. itofivu, f/t«opti>o^at, to trade
whence tfutopiov, emporium, the primary
sense of which is to pass. In Norman
French we find fair awAfeire. IC fair is
from/eriffi, it is so called Irom being held
in places where the wakes or feasts at
the dedication of churches were held, or
from the feasts themselves. It is a fact
that Sundays were formerly market
days.]
A stated market in a particular town or
city ; a stated meeting of buyers and
lers for trade. A fair is annual or more
frequent. The privilege of holding fairs is
granted by the king "or suprenie power.
Among the most celebrated fairs in Eu-
rope are those of Francfort and Leipsic in
Germany ; of Novi in the Milanese ; of
Riga and Archangel in Russia; of Lyons
and St. Germain '^in France. In Great
Britain many towns enjoy this privilege.
Encyc.
FA'IR-HAND, a. Having a fair appearance.
Shak.
FA'IRING, n. A present given at afair.
Gay
FA'IRLY, adv. Beautifully; handsomely
[Little used.]
2. Commodiously ; conveniently ; as a town
fairly situated 'for foreign trade.
3. Frankly ; honestly ; justly ; equitably
without disguise, fraud or prevarication.
The question was fairly stated and argued
Let us dea\ fairly with all men.
4. Openly ; ingenuously ; plainly. Let ui
deal fairly with ourselves or our own
hearts.
5. Candidly.
I interpret /air/;i/ your design. Dryden
Without perversion or violence ; as, ar
inference may he fairly deduced from th(
premises.
7. Without blots ; in plain letters ; plainly
legibly ; as an instrument or record fairly
written.
3. Freedom from stain or blemish ; as the
/ainiesjf of character or reputation.
4. Beauty ; elegance ; as the fairness of
form.
5. Frankness; candor; hence, honesty ; in-
genuousness ; as faii-ness in trade.
6. Openness ; candor ; freedom from dis-
guise, insidiousness or prevarication ; as
the fairness of an argument.
7. Equality of terms ; equity ; as the fair-
ness of a contract.
8. Distinctness ; freedom from blots or ob-
scurity ; as the fairness of hand-writing ;
the fairness of a copy.
FAIR-SPOKEN, a. Using fair speech ;
bland; civil; courteous; plausible.
Alius, di fair-spoken man. Hooker.
FA'IRY, n. [G. fee ; Fr. fee, whence fier,
to enchant, feerie, a fairy land ; It. fata.
The origin of this word is not obvious,
and the radical letters are uncertain. The
conjectures of Baxter, Jamieson and oth-
ers throw no satisfactory light on the sub-
1. A. fay ; an imaginary being or spirit, sup-
posed to assume a human form, dance in
meadows, steal infants and play a variety
of pranks. [See Elf and Demon.]
Locke. Pope.
2. An enchantress. Shak.
Fairy of the mine, an imaginary being sup-
posed to inhabit mines, wandering about
in the drifts and chambers, always em-,
ployed in cutting ore, turning the wind-
lass, &c., yet effecting nothing. The Ger-
mans believe in two species ; one fierce
and malevolent ; the other gentle. [See
Cobalt.] Encyc.
Fairy ring or circle, a phenomenon observed
in fields, vulgarly supposed to be caused
by fairies in their dances. This circle is
of two kinds ; one about seven yards in
diameter, containing a round bare path, a
foot broad, with green grass in the mid-
dle; the other of different size, encompas-
sed with grass. Encyc.
FATRY, a. Belonging to fairies ; as fah-y
land. Shak.
2. Given by fairies; as fairy money or fa-
vors. Dryden. Locke.
FA'IRYLIKE, a. Imitating tlie manner of
fairies. Shak.
FA'IRYSTONE, n. A stone found in grav-
el pits. Johnson.
The fossil echinite, abundant in chatk
))its. Cyc.
FAITH, n. [W. fyz ; Arm, fei: ; L. fdes ;
It. fede ; Port, and Sp. fe ; Fr. foi ; Gr.
rtifti ; L. fido, to trust ; Gr. «f iSu, to per-
suade, to draw towards any thing, to
conciliate ; TdiSo/jai, to believe, to obey.
In the Greek Lexicon of Hederic it is
said, the primitive signification of the
verb is to bind and draw or lead, as rtjiaa
signifies a rope or cable, as does jtsio^o.
But this remark is a little incorrect. The
sense of the verb, from which that of rope
F A I
F A I
F A L
and binding is derived, is to strain, to
draw, and thus to bind or make fast. A
rope or cable is tliat wlii<'h makes fast.
Qh. Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. noa. Class Bd.
No. 16.]
. Belief; tlie assent of the mind to the truth
of wliat is declared by another, resting on
his authority and veracity, without other
evidence; the judgment that what anoth-
er states or testifies is the truth. I have
strong failh or no faith in the testimony
of a witness, or in what a historian nar-
rates.
2. The assent of the mind to the truth of a
proposition advanced by another; belief,
on probable evidence of any kind.
3. In theology, the assent of the mind or un-
derstanding to the truth of what God has
revealed. Simple belief of the scriptures,
of the being and perfections of God, and
of the existence, character and doctrines
of Christ, founded on the testimony of the
sacred writers, is called historical or specu-
lative faith ; a faith little distinguished
from the belief of the existence and achiev-
inents of Alexander or of Cesar.
4. Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith, is
the assent of the mind to the truth of di-
vine revelation, on the authority of God's
testimony, accompanied with a cordial as-
sent of the will or approbation of the
heart ; an entire confidence or trust in
God's character and declarations, and in
the character and doctrines of Christ,
with an unreserved surrender of the will
to his guidance, and dependence on his
merits for salvation. In other words, that
firm belief of God's testimony, and of the
truth of the gospel, which influences the
will, and leads to an entire reliance ou
Christ for salvation.
Being justified by faith. Rom. v.
Vfithoai faith it is impossible to please God.
Heb. xi.
For we walk by faith, and not by sight. 2
Cor. V.
With the heart man believeth to righteous-
ness. Rom. X.
The faith of the gospel is diat emotion of the
mind, which is called trust or confidence, exer-
cised towards the moral character of God, and
particularly of (he Savior. Dwis;ht.
Faith is an affectionate practical confidence
in the testimony of God. /. Haives.
Faith is a firm, cordial belief in the veracity
of God, in all the declarations of his word ; or a
full ami affectionate confidence in the certainty
of those things which God has declared, and
because he has declared them. L. TVoods.
Tt. The object of belief; a doctrine or sys-
tem of doctrines believed ; a system of re-
vealed truths received by christians.
They heard only, that he who persecuted us
in times past, now preacheth tlie faith which
once he destroyed. Gal. i.
0. The promises of God, or his truth and
faithfiilness.
Shall their unbelief make the faith of God
without effect ? Rom. Hi.
7. An open profession of gospel truth.
Your faith is spoken of throughout lli
whole world. Rom. i.
8. A persuasion or belief of the lawfidness
of things indifferent.
Hast thou faith 7 Have it to thyself before
God. Rom. xiv.
9. Faithfulness ; fidelity ; a strict adherence
to duty and fulfillmeut of promises.
Her failing, while her faith to me remains,
I would conceal. Mtltun.
Children in whom is no faith. Deut. xxxii.
10. Word or honor pledged ; promise given ;
fidelity. He violated his plighted /aitt.
For you alone
i broke my faith with injured Palamon.
Dryden.
11. Sincerity; honesty; veracity; faitliful-
ness. We ought, in good faith, to fulfill
all our engagements.
12. Credibility or truth. [Unusual.]
The faith of the foregoing narrative.
Mtford.
FA'ITII-BREACH, n. Breach of fidelity ;
lisloyalty; perfidy. Shak.
FA'ITHED, a. Honest ; sincere. [.Mot
used.] Shak.
FA'ITHFUL, a. Firm in adherence to the
truth and to the duties of religion.
Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give
thee a crown of life. Rev. ii.
2. Firmly adhering to duty ; of true fidelity ;
loyal ; true to allegiance ; as a faithful
subject.
3. Constant in the performance of duties or
services ; exact in attending to commands
as a faithful servant.
Observant of compact, treaties, contracts,
vows or other engagements; true to one'.-
word. A government should be faithful
to its treaties ; individuals, to their word.
5. True ; exact ; in conformity to the letter
and spirit ; as a faithful execution of
will.
(5. True to the marriage covenant ; as a
faithful wife or husband.
7. Conformable to truth ; as a faithful nar-
rative or representation.
8. Constant ; not fickle ; as a faithful lover
or friend.
9. True; worthy of belief 2. Tim. ii.
FA'ITIIFULLY, adv. In a faithful manner;
with good faith.
2. With strict adherence to allegiance and
duty ; applied to sutjects.
3. With strict observance of promises, vows,
covenants or duties ; without failure of
performance ; honestly ; exactly. The
treaty or contract was'faitbfuUy executed.
4. Sincerely ; with strong assurances ; he
faithfully promised.
Honestly ; truly ; without defect, fraud,
trick or ambiguity. The battle was faith-
fully described or represented.
They suppose the nature of things to be
faithfully signified by their names. South.
6. Confidently ; steadily. Skak.
FA'ITHFULNESS, n. Fidelity; loyalty;'
firm adherence to allegiance and duty ;l
as the faithfulness of a subject.
2. Truth; veracity; as tire faithfulness of
God.
3. Strict adherence to injunctions, and to
the duties of a station ; as the failhfuliuss
of servants or ministers.
4. Strict performance of promises, vows or
covenants ; constancy in affection ; as the
faithfulness of a husband or wife.
FAITHLESS, a. Without belief in the re
vealed truths of religion ; unbelieving.
O faithless generation. Matt. xvii.
2. Not believing ; not giving credit to.
3. Not adhering to allegiance or duty ; dis
loyal; perfidious; treacherous ; aa a faith-
less subject.
4. Not true to a master or employer; neg-
lectful ; as a faithless servant.
5. Not true to the marriage covenant; false ;
as afailUess husband or wife.
6. Not observant of promises.
7. Deceptive.
Vondfr/ai/A/ej» phantom. Goldsmith.
FA'ITULESSNESS, n. Unbelief, as to re-
vealed religion.
2. Perfidy ; treachery ; disloyalty ; as in sub-
jects.
3. Violation of promises or covenants ; in-
constancy ; as of husband or wife.
FA'ITOUR, n. [Norm, from L. factor.] An
evildoer; a scoundrel ; a mean fellow.
Obs. Spenser.
FAKE, n. [Scut, faik, to fold, a fold, a lay-
er or stratum ; perhaps Sw. vika, vickla,
to fold or involve. The sense of fold
may be to lay, to fall, or to set or throw
together, and this word may belong to
Sax. fcegan, fegan, to unite, to suit, to
fadgo, that is, to set or lay together.]
One of the circles or windings of a cable or
hawser, us it lies in a coil; a single turn
or coil. Mar. Diet.
PAKIR, ) [This word signifies in Ara-
F".\QU1R, J ■ bic, a poor man ; in Ethiop-
ic, an iHterpreter.]
A monk in India. The fakirs subject them-
selves to severe austerities and mortifi-
cations. Some of them condemn them-
selves to a standing posture all their lives,
supported only by a stick or rope under
their arm-pits. Some mangle their bodies
with scourges or knive.s. Others wander
about in companies, telling fortunes, and
these are said to be arrant villains.
Encyc.
FALCA'DE, n. [L. falx, a sickle or sythe.]
A horse is said to make a falcade, when
he throws himself on his haunches two or
three times, as in very quick curvets ; that
is, a falcade is a bending very low.
Harris.
FALG'ATK, > [L. /afca to, from /air, a
FALCATED, ^ "• sickle, sythe or reaping-
hook.]
Hooked ; bent like a sickle or sythe ; an epi-
thet apiilied to the new moon. Bailey
FALCA'TION, n. Crookedness ; a bending
ill the form of a sickle. Brown.
FAL'CHION, n. fal'chun. a is pronounced
as in fall. [Fr. fauchon, from L. falx, a
reaping-hook.]
A short crooked sword ; a cimiter.
Dn/den.
FAL'CIFORJI, a. [L.falx, a reaping-hook,
and form.]
In the shape of a sickle ; resembling a reap-
ing-hook.
FAL'eON, )i. sometimes pron./aiccon. [Fr.
faucon; It. falcons; L.falco,a hawk; W.
gwcdc, a crested one, a hero, a hawk, that
which rises or towers. The falcon is prob-
ably so named from its curving beak or
talons.]
1. A hawk ; but appropriately, a hawk train-
ed to sport, as in falconry, which see. It
is said that this name is, by sportsmen,
given to the female alone ; for the male is
smaller, weaker and less courageous, and
is therefore called tircelet or tarsel.
Encyc.
This term, in ornithology, is applied to
a division of the genus Faico, with a short
F A L
F A L
F A L
iiooked beak and very long wings, the
strongest armed and most courageous spe-
cies, and tlierefore used in falconry.
Cuvier, Ed. Encyc.
2. A sort of cannon, whose diameter at the
bore is five inches and a quarter, and car-
rying shot of two pounds and a half.
Harris.
FAL'CONER, n. [Fr. fauconnier.] A per-
son who breeds and trains hawks for ta-
king wild fowls; one who follows the
sport of fowling with hawks. Johnson.
FAL'eONET, n. [Fr. falcone.tte.] A small
cannon or piece of ordnance, whose diam-
eter at the bore is four inches and a quar-
ter, and carrying shot of one pound and
a quarter. Harris.
FAL'€ONRY, n. [Fr. fauconnerie, from L.
falco, a hawk.]
1. The art of training hawks to the exercise
of hawking.
3. The practice of taking wild fowls by
means of hawks.
FALD'AGE, n. a as in all. [W./a/rf, afold ;
Goth. faldan; Sax. fealdan, to fold; Law
h.fatdagium.]
In England, a privilege which anciently sev-
eral lords reserved to themselves of setting
np folds for sheep, in any fields within
their manors, the better to manure them.
Harris.
FALD'FEE, Jf. A fee or composition paid|
anciently by tenants for the privilege ofj
faldage. Didi
FALD'ING, n. A kind of coarse cloth. Obs.
Chaticer.
FALD'STOOL, n. [fald or fold and stool.]
A kind of stool placed at the south side of
the altar, at which the kings of England
kneel at their coronation. Johnson
2. The chair of a bishop inclosed by the rail
hig of the altar.
3. An arm-chair or foldiiig chair, .flshmole.
FALL, V. {. pret. fill ; pp. fallen. [Sax.
feallan; G. fallen; D. vallen ; Sw. falUi
Dan. falder; allied probably to Jj.fallo, to
fail, to deceive, Gr. afa^^M ; Sp. hallar, to
find, to fall on ; Fr. affaler, to lower. Set
Class Bl. No. 18. 28. 43. 49. 53. Fall co-
incides exactly with the Shemitic ^3J
Heb. Ch. Syr. and Sam. to fall. Fail
agrees better with the Heb. '73J, and San,
but these words may have had one prim
itive root, the sense of which was to move,
to recede, to pass. As these words are
unquestionably the same in the Shemitic
and Japhetic languages, they afford deci-
sive evidence that the i or "first letter of
the Shemitic words is a prefix. The
Chaldee sense of S3J is to defile, to make
foul. See Foul. The same verb in Ar.
J>A J signifies to shoot, to drive or throw
an arrow, Gr. fia>.\u.'\
1. To drop from a higher place ; to descend
by the power of gravity alone. Kam falls
from the clouds ; a man falls from his
horse ; ripe fruits fall from trees ; an ox
falls into a pit.
I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luke X.
2. To drop from an erect posture.
I/eH at his feet to worship him. Rev. xix.
3. To disembogue ; to pass at the outlet ; to
flow out of its chiumcl into a pond, lake or]
sea, as a river. The Rhone falls into the
Mediterranean sea. The Danube /aZ/s in
to the Euxine. The Mississippi falls int(
the gulf of Mexico.
4. To depart from the faith, or from recti
tilde; to apostatize. Adamfellhy eating
the forbidden fruit.
Labor to enter into that rest, lest any man
fall after the same example of unbelief. Heb
5. To die, particularly by violence.
Ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall
faU before you by the sword. Lev. xxvi.
A thousand shall fall at thy side. Ps. xci.
6. To come to an end suddenly ; to vanish
to perish.
The greatness of these Irish lords suddenly
fell and vanished. Dames.
7. To be degraded ; to sink into disrepute
or disgrace ; to be plunged into misery
as, to fall from an elevated station, or from
a prosperous state.
8. To decline in power, wealth or glory ; to
sink into weakness; to be overthi
ruined. This is the renowned Tyre ; but
oh, how fallen.
Heaven and earth will witness.
If Rome niust/aW, that we are innocent.
Addison.
9. To pass into a worse state than the for-
mer ; to come ; as, to fall into difficulties ;
to fall under censure or imputation ; to fall
into erroror absurdity ; to/o/Hnto a snare.
In these and similar phrases, the sense of
suddenness, accident or ignorance is often
implied; but not always.
10. To sink ; to be lowered. The mercury
in a thennometer rises and falls with the
increase and diminution of heat. The
water of a river rises and falls. The tide
rails.
. To decrease ; to be diminished in weight
or value. The price of goods falls with
plenty and rises with scarcity. Pliny tolLs
us, the as fell from a pound to tvvo oun-
ces in the first Punic war. Arbuthnot.
12. To sink ; not to amount to the full.
The greatness of finances and revenue doth
fall under computation. Bacon.
13. To be rejected ; to sink into disrepute.
This book must stand or fall with thee.
Locke.
14. To decline from violence to calmness,
from intensity to remission. The wind
falls and a calm succeeds.
At length her (my fell. Dri/den.
15. To pass into a new state of body or
mind ; to become ; as, to fall asleep ; to falli
distracted ; to fall sick ; to fall into rage
or ])assion ; to fall in love ; to fall into
temptation.
1. To sink into an air of dejection, discon-
tent, anger, sorrow or shame ; applied to
the couiitenance or look.
Cain was very wroth, and his countenance
fell. Gen.iv.
I have observed of late thy looks are fallen.
Addison.
17. To happen ; to befall ; to come.
Since this fortune /oHs to you. Shak.
8. To light on ; to come by chance.
The Romans/ea on this "model by chance.
Swift.
9. To come ; to rush on ; to assail.
Fear and dread shall/aH on them. Ex. xv.
And (ear fell on them all. Acts xix.
20. To come ; to arrive.
The vernal equinox, which at the Nicene
council fell on the 21st of March, falls now
about ten days sooner. Holder.
21. To come unexpectedly.
It happened this evening that we fell into a
pleasing walk. Addison.
22. To begin with haste, ardor or vehe-
mence ; to rush or hurry to. They fell to
blows.
The mixt muIlifude/eH to lusting. Num. xi.
23. To pass or be transferred by chance, lot,
distribution, inheritance or "otherwise, as
possession or pro|ierty. The estate or the
province/e« to his brother. The kingdom
Jfetl into the hands of his rival. A large
estate fell to his heirs.
24. To become the property of; to belong or
ppertain to.
If to her share some female errors fall.
Look in her face, and you'll forget them all.
Pope.
25. To be dropped or uttered carelessly.
Some expressions fell from him. An un-
guarded expression/cM from his lips. Not
a word fell from him on the subject.
26. To sink ; to languish ; to become feeble
or faint. Our hopes and fears rise and fall
with good or ill success.
27. To be brought forth. Take care of
lambs when they first fall. Mortimer.
28. To issue ; to terminate.
Sit still, my daughter, till thou knowest how
the matter will /aH. Ruth iii.
To fall aboard of, to strike against another
ship.
To fall astern, to move or be driven back-
ward ; or to remain behind. A ship falls
astern by the force of a current, or when
outsailed by another.
To fall away, to lose fJesh ; to become lean
or emaciated ; to pine.
2. To renounce or desert allegiance ; to re-
volt or rebel.
5. To renounce or desert the faith ; to apos-
tatize ; to sink into wickedness.
These for awhile believe, and in time of
temptation /aH aioay. Luke viii.
4. To perish ; to be ruined ; to be lost.
How can the soul— /a// away into nothing.
Addison.
5. To decline gradually ; to fade ; to lan-
guish, or become faint.
One color falls away by just degrees, and
another rises insensibly. Addison.
To fall back, to recede ; to give way.
2. To fail of performing a promise or pur-
pose ; not to fiilfill.
To fall calm, to cease to blow ; to become
calm.
To fall down, to prostrate one's self in wor-
hip.
Alt nations shall fall down before him. Ps.
Ixxii.
2. To sink ; to come to the ground.
Down fell the beauteous youth. Dryden.
•3. To bend or bow as a suppliant. Isaiah
xlv.
4. To sail or pass towards the mouth of a
iver, or other outlet.
To fall foul, to attack ; to make an assaidt.
To fall from, to recede from ; to depart ; not
to adhere ; as, to fall from an agreement or
engagement.
2. To depart from allegiance or duty ; to re-
volt.
To fall in, to concur; to agree with. The
ire falls in with popular opinion.
F A 1.
•2. To comply ; to yiekl to.
You will find it ilifficvilt to peri
men io fall in with vour jjiojects.
3. To come in ; to join ; to enter. Fall into
the ranks ; fall in on tbe right.
To fall in iintk, to meet, as a ship; also,
<liscover or come near, as land.
To fall off, to withdraw ; to separate ; to be
broken or detached. Friends fall off it)
adversity.
I.ovc cools, friendship falh off, brothers di-
vide. Shair
2. To perish ; to die away. Wonls fall off
by disuse.
, To apostatize ; to forsake ; to withdraw
from the faith, or from allegiance or duty,
Those captive tribes /e« off
From God to worship calves. Milton
4. To forsake ; to abandon. His subscribers
fell off.
5. To drop. Fruits fall off when ripe.
0. To depreciate ; to depart from former ex
cellence ; to become less valuable or in
teresting. The magazine or the review
faUs off; it has fallen off.
7. To deviate or depart from the course di-
rected, or to which the head of the shi|
was before directed ; to fall to leeward.
To fall on, to begin suddenly and eagerly.
Fall on, and try thy appetite to eat. Dryden
2. To begin an attack ; to assault ; to assail.
Fall on, fall oji, and hear him not. Dryden.
3. To drop on ; to descend on.
To fall out, to quarrel ; to begin to contend.
A soul exasperated in \\\s, falls out
With every thing, its friend, itself—
Mdison.
2. To happen ; to befall ; to chance.
There fell out a bloody quarrel betwixt the
frogs and the mice. V Estranf^e .
To fall over, to revolt ; to desert from one
side to another.
2. To fall beyond. Shak.
To fall short, to be deficient. The coin falls
short. We all fall short in duty.
To fall to, to begin hastily and eagerly.
Fall to, with eager joy, on homely food.
Dryden.
2. To apply one's self to. He will never af-
ter fall to labor.
They fell to raising money, under pretense of
the relief of Ireland. ' Clarendon
To fall under, to come under, or within the
limits of; to be subjected to. They fell
under the jurisdiction of the emperor,
2. To come under ; to become the subject
of This point did not fall under the cog-
nizance or deliberations of the court.
These things do not fall under human
sight or observation.
3. To come within ; to be ranged or reck-
oned with. These substances /aW under
a different class or order.
To fall upon, to attack. [See to fall on.]
a. To
do
II pt.
3. To rush against.
Fall primarily denotes descending motion,
either in a perpendicular or inclined direc
lion, and in most of its apphcations, im-
plies literally or figuratively velocity, haste,
suddenness or violence. Its use is so va
rious and so much diversified by modify
ing words, that it is not easy to enumerate
its senses in all its applications.
FALL, V. t. To let fall ; to drop. And fall
F A L
tliy edgi'less sword. I am willing to full.
this urgument. Shak. Dryden
[This application is obsolete.]
2. To sink ; to depress ; as, to raise or fall
the voice.
3. To diminish ; to lessen or lower ; as, tt
fall the price of commodities. [LittU
used.]
4. To bring forth ; as, to fall lambs. [Little
used.] Shak
.^. To fell ; to cut down ; as, to fall a tree
[This use is now common in America,
and felt and fall are j)robably from a com-
mon root.]
FALL, n. The act of dropping or descend
ing from a liigher to a lower place by
gravity; descent; an a. fall from a horse
or from the yard of a ship.
2. The act of dropping or tutnbling from an
erect posture. He was walking on ice
and had a fall.
3. Death ; destruction ; overthrow.
Our fathers had a great fall before our ene-
mies. Jxidith.
4. Ruin ; destruction.
They conspire thy fall. Denham.
5. Downfall; degradation; loss of greatness
or office ; as the fall of cardinal Wolscy.
Behold thee glorious only in thy fall. Puju.
G. Declension of greatness, power or (lorniii-
ion ; ruin ; as the fall of the Roman em-
pire.
7. Diminution; decrease of price or value;
depreciation ; as the fall of prices; the fall
of rents; the /a/< of interest.
8. Declination of sound ; a sinking of tone ;
cadence ; as the fall of the voice at the
close of a sentence.
9. Declivity ; the descent of land or a hill ;
a slope. Bacon.
10. Descent of water ; a cascade ; a cata-
ract; a rush of water down a steep place ;
usually in the plural ; sometimes in the
singular; as the falls of Niagara, or the
Mohawk ; the fall of the Hoosatonuc at
Canaan. Fall is applied to a perpendicu-
lar descent, or to one that is very steep.
When the descent is moderate, we name
it rapids. Custom however sometimes de-
viates from this rule, and the rapids of riv-
ers are catted falls.
n. The outlet or discharge of a river or
current of water into the ocean, or into a
lake or pond ; as the fall of the Po into
the gulf of Venice. Addison
12. Extent of descent; the distance which
any thing falls ; as, the water of a pond
has a/(i(/ of five feet.
13. Tiie fall of the leaf; the season when
leaves/uM from trees ; autumn.
14. That which falls; a falling; as a fall o(
rain or snow.
15. The act of felling or cutting down ; as
thc./;r// of timber.
1(!. Full, or till fall, hy way of distinction, the
ii|insl;i.«y ; till' art of our first parents in
eating ihe lorliidden fruit; also, the apos
tasy of the rebellious angels.
17. Formerly, a kind of vail. B. Jon son
18. In seamen's language, the loose end of a
tackle. _ Mar. Diet.
19. In Great Britain, a term applied to sev-
eral measures, linear, superficial and so-
lid. Cyc.
FALLA'CIOUS, a. [Fr. fallacieux ; h. fal-
lar, from fallo, to deceive. See Fail.]
F A L
1. Deceptive ; deceiving ; deceitful ; wear-
ing a false appearance; misleading; pro
during error or mistake ; sophistical ; a/t-
plied to things only ; as a fidlacious argu-
ment or proposition ; a falUxciov.s appear-
ance.
2. Deceitful; false; not well founded ; pro-
lucing disappointment ; mocking expecta-
ion ; as a fallacious hope.
FALLACIOUSLY, adv. In a fallacious
maimer ; deceitfully ; sophistically ; with
l)urpose or in a manner to deceive.
We have seen how fallaciously the author
lias stated the cause. Mdiaun.
FALLA'CIOUSNESS, n. Tendency to de-
ceive or tnislead ; inconclusiveness ; as
the fallaciousness of an argument, or of
appearances.
FAL'LACY, n. [L. fallacia.] Deceptive
or false appearance ; deceitfulness ; that
which misleads the eye or the mind. De-
tect the fallacy of the argument.
2. Deception ; mistake. This appearance
may be all a fallacy.
I'll entertain the favored /oZ/acy. Shak.
FALL'EN, pp. or a. Dropped ; descended ;
dcgradrd ; decreased ; ruined.
FAL'I.KNCV, ».. Mistake. Obs.
IWl.L i;i!, n. One that falls.
I'.\1,I,1I!ILITV, n. [h. fallibilitii. See
Fatliblc]
1. Liableness to deceive ; the quality of be-
ing falhble ; uncertainty ; possibility of be-
ing erroneous, or of leading to mistake ;
as the faUihility of an argument, of rea-
soning or of testimony.
2. Liableness to err or to be deceived in
one's own judgment ; as the fallibility of
men.
FAL'LIBLK, a. [It. fallibile ; ^p. falibk ;
from L.fallo, to deceive.]
1. Liable to fail or mistake ; that may err or
be deceived in judgment. All men arc
fallible.
2. Liable to error ; that may deceive. Our
judgments, our faculties, our opinions are
fallible ; our hopes arc fallible.
FALL'ING, ppr. Descending; dropping;
disemboguing ; ajiostatizing ; declining ;
decreasing ; sinking ; coming.
FALL'ING, ) An indenting or hol-
FALL'ING IN, ^ " low ; opposed to rising
or prominence. Addison.
Falling atvay, aposta.sy.
Falling off, ae])arture from the hue or course ;
declension.
FALL'ING-SICKNESS, n. The epilepsy ;
a disease in which the patient suddenly
loses his senses and falls.
FALL'ING-STAR, n. A luminous meteor,
suddenly appearing and darting through
the air.
FALL'ING-STONE, )i. A stone falling
from the atmosphere ; a meteorite ; an
aerolite. Cyc.
FAL'LOW, a. [Sax. falewe,falu or fealo ;
D. vaal; G. /a/6, fahl ; Fr. fauve, for
falve ; L. fulvus ; qu. helvus, for felvus.
This word may be from the root of fail,
fallo ; so called from the fading color of
autumnal leaves, or from failure, wither-
ing. Hence also the sense of unoccupied,
applied to land, which in Spanish is bal-
dio.]
1. Pale red, or pale yellow ; as ayaWoicdeer.
2. Unsowed ; not tilled ; left to rest after a
F A L
year or moio of tillage ; as faltoiv groiinJ ;
Si fallow field.
Break up youv fallow ground. Jer.iv.
3. Left unsowed after plowing. The word
is applietl to the land after plowing.
4. Un plowed ; uncultivated.
Tooke. Shak.
5. Unoccupied ; neglected. [JVot in use.]
Let the cause lie fallov>. Hudibras.
FAL'LOW, n. Land that has lain a year or
more untillcd or unseeded. It is also call-
ed fallow when plowed without being
sowed.
F A L
2. The plowing or tilling of land, without
sowing it, for a season. Summer /aWotc
properly conducted, has ever been found a
sure method of destroying weed:
By a complete summer fallow,
liered tender and mellow. The fallow gives it
ii better tilth, than can be given by a fallov'
crop. Sinclair.
A green fallout, in England, is that where
land is rendered mellow and clean from
weeds, by means of some green crop, as
turiieps, potatoes, &c. Cyc.l
FAL'LOW, v.i. To fade; to become yel-
low. Ohs.
FAL'LOW, v.«. To plow, harro%v and break
land without seeding it, for the \nir-\
pose of destroying weeds and insects, and]
rendering it mellow. It is found for the
interest of the farmer to fallow cold, strong,]
clayey land.
FAL'L0W-€ROP, n. The crop taken from|
fallowed ground. Sinclair.
FAL'LOWED, pp. Plowed and harrowed!
for a season, without being sown.
FAL'LOW-FINCH, n. A small bird, thel
oenanthe or wheat-car.
FAL'LOWING, ppr. Plowing and harrow-
ing land without sowing it.
FAL'LOWING, n. The operation of plow-
ing and harrowing land without sowing it.
Fallowing is found to contribute to the de-||
structiou of snails and other vermin
Sinclair.',
FAL'LOWIST, n. One who favors the prac-
tice of fallowing land.
On this subject, a controversy has arisen be-
tween two sects, Ihe fallowists and the anti-fal-
lowists. [ Umtsual.] Sinclair.
FAL'LOWNESS, n. A fallow state ; bar-
renness ; exemption from bearing fruit,
Substituted for another; succedaneous ;
jupposititious ; as a false bottom.
5. Counterfeit ; forged ; not genuine ; as
false coin ; a. false bill or note.
6. Not solid or sound ; deceiving expecta-
tions; as a /a/se foundation.
False and slippeiy ground. Dryden.
7. Not agreeable to rule or propriety; as
false construction in language.
8. Not honest or just; not fair; as false play .
0. Not faithful or loyal ; treacherous ; per
tidious; deceitful. The king's subjects
may prove false to him. So we say
false heart.
10. Unfaithful ; inconstant ; as a/a/se friend ;
a false lover ; false to promises and vows.
The husband and wife proved /ate to each
other.
11. Deceitfid; treacherous; betraying se-
crets.
13. Counterfeit; not genuine or real; as £
false diamond.
13. Hypocritical; feigned; made or assum
ed for the purpose of deception ; as false
tears ; false modesty. The man appears
in false colors. The advocate gave the
subject a false coloring.
False f re, a blue flame, made by the burning
of certain combustibles, in a wooden tube ;
used as a signal during the night.
Mar. Diet
False imprisonment, the arrest and imprison-
ment of a person without warrant or cause,
or contrary to law ; or the unlawful de-
taining of a person in custody.
FALSER adv. Not truly ; not honestly :
■falsely. -S^ai,
FALSE, V. t. To violate by failure of vera-
F A L
The prince is in no danger of being betrayed
by the falseness, or cheated by the avarice of
such a^ervant. Hogers.
FALS'ER, n. A deceiver. Spenser.
FaLSET'TO, n. [It.] A feigned voice.
Burke.
FaLS'IFIABLE, a. [from falsify.] That
may be falsified, counterfeited or cor
ru}.
ted.
FALSIFICA'TION, n.
1
Johnson.
[Fr. from falsifier.]
city ; to deceive.
2. To defeat ; to balk ;
FALSE-HEART,
FALSE-HEARTED,
perfidious. [Thefo
Donne.
FaLS'ARY, n. [See False.] A falsifier o
evidence. [JVot in use.] Sheldon
FALSE, a. [L.falsus, f\om fallo, todeceiv
Sp.falso; It. id.; Fr. faux, fausse ; Sj
false ; D. valsch ; G.falsch ; Sw. and Dan.
fulsk ; W.fals ; Ir. falsa. See Fall and Fail.]
1. Not true ; not conformable to fact ; ex-
pressing what is contrary to that which
exists, is done, said or thought. A falsi
report communicates what is not done or
said. A false accusation imputes to a per
son what he has not done or said. A false
witness testifies what is not true. A false
opinion is not accorditig to truth or fact,
The word is applicable to any subject,
physical or moral.
2. Not well founded ; as a false claim.
3. Not true; not according to the lawful
standard ; as a false weight or measure.
Spcn.
to evade. Ohs.
Spenser.
Hollow ; treache-
"■ rous ; deceitful ;
mer is not used.]
Bacon.
FaLSE-HEARTEDNESS, n. Perfidious-
treachery. Stillingfleet
FALSEHOOD, n. fols'hood. [false and
hood.]
Contrariety or inconformity to fact or
truth ; as the falsehood of a report.
2. Want of truth or veracity ; a lie ; an un
true assertion.
Want of honesty ; treachery ; deceitful
ness ; perfidy. Milton.
But falsehood is properly applied to
things only. [See Falseness.]
Counterfeit ; false appearance ; impos-
ture. Milton.
FALSELY, adv. fols'ly. In a manner con-
trary to truth and fact; not truly ; as, to
speak or swear /aW?/ ,• to testify /ate/j/,
2. Treacherously ; perfidiously.
Swear to me— that thou wilt not den] falsely
with me. Gen. xxi.
3. Erroneously ; by mistake. Smallridge
Falseness, n. fols'ness. Want of intcg
rity and veracity, either in principle or ii
The act of making false ; a counterfeit-
ing; the giving to a thing an appearance
of something which it is not ; as the falsifi-
cation of words. Hooker.
2. Confutation. Broome.
FaLSIFICA'TOR, Ji. A falsifier.
j Bp. Morton.
FaLS'IFIED,p;>. Counterfeited.
FaLS'IFIER, n. One who counterfeits, or
gives to a thing a deceptive appearance ;
or one who makes false coin. Boyle.
2. One who invents falsehood ; a liar.
L'Estrange.
3. One who proves a thing to be false.
FaLS'IFY, v. t. [Fr. falsifier, from false.]
l.To counterfeit; to forge ; to make some-
thing false, or in imitation of that which is
true"; as, to falsify coin.
The Irish bards use to falsify every thing.
Spenser.
To disprove ; to prove to be false ; as, to
falfify a record.
3. To violate ; to break by falsehood ; as, to
falsify one's faith or word. Sidney.
4. To show to be unsound, insufiicientornot
proof. [JVot in use.]
His ample shield is falsified. Dryden.
FALS'IFY, V. i. To tell lies ; to violate the
It is universally unlawful to lie and falsify.
South.
FALS'IFYING, ppr. Counterfeiting; for-
cing ; lying ; proving to be false ; viola-
FALS'ITY,n. [h. falsitas.] Contrariety or
inconformity to truth ; the quality of being
false.
Probability does not make any alteration,
either in the truth or falsity of things. Soiith.
2. Falsehood ; a lie ; a false assertion. [This
sense is less proper.] GlanviUe.
FAL'TER, v. i. [Sp. faltar, to be deficient,
from falla, fault, defect, failing, from falir,
to fail, /a/te, fault, defect ; Port, faltar, to
want, to miss; from L./oi/o, the primary
sense of which is to fall short, or to err, to
miss, to deviate.]
1. To hesitate, fail or break in the utterance
of words ; to speak with a broken or trem-
bling utterance ; to stammer. His tongue
falters. He speaks with a /rtWcriug- tongue.
'He falters at the question.
2. To fail, tremble or yield in exertion ; not
to be firm and steady. His legs falter.
Wiseman.
3. To fail in the regular exercise of the un-
derstanding. We observe ideots to falter.
Locke.
FAL'TER, V. t. To sift. [M'ot in use.]
I ■ Mortimer.
FAL'TERING, ppr. Hesitating; speaking
I "with a feeble, broken, trembling utterance ;
failii
act ; as the falseness of a man's heart
his falseness to his word.
2. Duplicity; deceit; double-deatog.^^^^^^^J — -j^j^^,^^ ^ Feebleness ; deficiency,
3. Unfaithfiilness ; treachery ; perfidy ; trai-|
torousness.
FAL'TERINGLY, adv.
Killingbeck.
With hesitation ;
F A M
■with a trembling, broken voice ; with diffi-
culty or feebleness.
FAME, n. [L. fama ; Fr. fame ; Sp. It.
fama ; Gr. ^afia, ^firi, from t<*"> to speak.
I suspect this root to be contracted from
^loyu, or ifoxu, Class Bg. See No. 48. G2.
and t^acimd.]
\. Public rejKirt or rumor.
The fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's
house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come.
Gen. xlv.
2. Favorable report ; report of good or great
actions ; report that exalts the character ;
celebrity; renown ; as the/amc of Howard
or of Washington ; the fame of Solomon.
And the fmne of Jesus went throughout all
Syiia. Matt. iv.
FAME, V. t. To make famous. B. Jonson.
2. To report. Buck.
FA'MED, a. Much talked of; renowned ;
celebrated ; distinguished and exalted by
favorable reports. Aristides was famed for
learning and wisdom, and Cicero for elo-
quence.
He is famed for mildness, peace and prayer.
Shuk.
FA'ME-GIVING, a. Bestowing fame.
FA'MELESS, a. Without renown.
Beaum.
FAMIL'IAR, a. famil'yar. [L. famitiaris ;
Vr.familier; Sp. familiar; from L.familia,
family, which see.]
1. Pertaining to a family ; domestic. Pope.
2. Accustomed by frequent converse ; well
acquainted with; intimate; close; as a
familiar friend or companion.
3. Affable ; not formal or distant ; easy in
conversation.
Be thou/ami/i'ar, but by no means vulgar.
Shak.
4. Well acquainted with ; knowing by fre-
quent use. Be familiar with the scrip-
tures.
5. Well known ; learnt or well understood
by frequent use. Let the scriptures be
familiar to us.
6 Unceremonious ; free ; unconstrained
easy. The emperor conversed with the
gentleman in the most familiar manner.
7. Common; frequent and intimate. By fa
miliar intercourse, strong attachments are
soon fornied.
*!. Easy; unconstrained; not formal. His
letters are written in Sl familiar style.
He sports in loose familiar strains. Addison
9. Intimate in an unlawful degree.
A poor man found a priest familiar with his
wife. Camden.
FAMIL'IAR, n. An intimate ; a close com-
panion ; one long acquainted ; one accus-
tomed to another by free, unreserved con-
verse.
All my familiars watched for my halting.
Jer. XX.
2. A demon or evil spirit supposed to attend
at a call. But in general we say, a familiar
spirit. Shak.
3. In the court of Luiuisition, a person who
assists in apprehending and imprisoning
the accused. Encyc
FAMILIAR'ITY, n. Intimate and frequent
converse, or association in company. The
gentlemen lived in remarkable familiar-
ity. Hence,
2. Easiness of conversation ; affability ; free-
dom from ceremony.
Vol. I.
F A M
3. Intimacy; intimate acquaintance ; uncon-
strained intercourse.
FAMILIARIZE, v. t. To make familiar or
intinuite ; to habituate; to accustom; to
make well known, by practice or converse ;
as, to familiarize one's self to scenes of dis-
tress.
2. To make easy by practice or customary
use, or by intercourse.
To bring down from a state of distant su-
periority.
The genius smiled on me with a look of com-
passion anil affability that familiarized him to
my imagination. Addison.
FAMIL'IARIZED, pp. Accustomed; ha-
bituated ; made easy by practice, custom
or use.
FAMIL'IARIZING, pjor. Accustoming; ren-
Icring easy by practice, custom or use.
FAMIL'IARLY, adv. In a familiar manner;
unceremoniously ; without constraint ;
without formality.
Commonly; frequently; with the ease
and unconcern that arises from long cus-
tom or acquaintance.
FAM'ILISM, n. The tenets of the familists.
FAM'ILIST, n. [irom family.] One of the
religious sect called the family of love.
FAM'ILY, n. [L. Sp./amtVia; Fr./amt'tfe;
It. famiglia. This word is said to have
originally signified servants, from the
Celtic /amuZ ; but qu.]
The collective body of persons who live
in one house and under one head or
manager ; a household, including parents,
children and servants, and as the case may
be, lodgers or boarders.
Those who descend from one common
progenitor ; a tribe or race ; kindred ; line-
age. Thus the Israelites were a branch of
the family of Abraham ; and the descend-
ants of Reid>eu, of Manasseb, &c., were
called their families. The whole human
race are the family of Adam, the human
family.
3. Course of descent ; genealogy ; line of
ancestors.
Go and complain thy faiytily is young.
Pope
4. Honorable descent ; noble or respectable
stock. He is a man of family.
5. A collection or union of nations or states
The states of Europe were, by the prevailing
maxims of its policy, closely united in one
family. B. Everett
6. In popular language, an order, class or
genus of animals or of other natural pro-
ductions, having something in common,
by which they are distinguished from
others ; as, quadrupeds constitute a family
of animals, and we speak of the family or
families of plants.
FAM'INE, n. [Fr. famine, from /am; L.
fames; It. fame ; Sp.fame or hambre; Port.
fame.]
1. Scarcity of food; dearth; a general want
of provisions sufficient for the inhabitants
of a country or besieged place.
There was a famine in the land. Gen. xxvi
Famines are less frequent than formerly
A due attention to agriculture tends tc
prevent famine, and commerce secures a
country from its destructive effects.
3. Want"; destitution; as a /amine of the
word of life.
FAM'ISH, v.t. [Fr. a/amer, from/utm, 1
80
ger, L.fam
hambrear.]
I. To starve;
FAN
I ; It. affamire, affamare ; Sp.
to kill or destroy with hunger.
Shak.
2. To exhaust the strength of, by hunger or
thirst; to distress with hunger.
The pains oi famished Tantalus he'U feel.
Dry dm.
3. To kill by deprivation or denial of any
thing necessary for life. Milton.
FAM'ifSH, V. i. To die of hunger.
More generally,
2. To suffer extreme hunger or thirst; to be
exhausted in strength, or to come near to
perish, for want of food or drink.
You are all resolved rather to die, than to
famish. Shak.
3. To be distressed with want ; to come near
to perish by destitution.
The Lord will notsufferthe righteous to fam-
ish. Prov. X.
FAMISHED, pp. Starved; exhausted by
want of sustenance.
FAM'ISHING, ppr. Starving; killing; per-
ishing by want of food.
FAMISHMENT, n. The pain of extreme
hunger or thirst ; extreme want of suste-
nance. Hakeieill.
FA'MOUS, a. [L. famosiis ; Fr. fameui.
Sec fame.]
1. Celebrated in fame or public report ; re-
nowned ; much talked of and praised ; dis-
tinguished in story.
Two hundred and fifty princes of the assem-
bly,/oihoms in the congregation. Num. xvi.
It is followed by for. One man isfi-
moiw/or erudition ; another,/or eloquence ;
and another,/or military skill.
2. Sometimes in a bad sense ; as
counterfeiter; a/amous pirate.
FA'MOUSED, a. Renowned.
formed word.]
FA'MOUSLY, adv. With great i
celebration.
Then this land was /amous/y enriched
With politic grave counsel. Shak.
FAMOUSNESS, n. Renown; great fame;
celebrity. Boyle.
FAN, n. [Sax. fann; Sw. vanna; D. icon;
G. wanne ; L. vannus ; Fr. van ; Sp. Port.
abano. The word, in German and Swe-
dish, signifies a fan and a tub, as if from
opening or spreading ; if so, it seems to
be allied to pane, pannel. Class Bn.]
1. An iiLstrument used by ladies to agitate
the air and cool the face in warm weather.
It is made of feathers, or of thin skin, pa-
per or taffety mounted on sticks, &c.
2. Something in the form of a woman's fan
when spread, as a peacock's tail, a win-
dow, &c.
J. An instrument for winnowing grain, by
moving which the grain is thrown u]) and
agitated, and the chaff is separated and
blown away.
4. Something by which the air is moved ; a
wing. Dryden.
5. An instrinnent to raise the fire or flame :
as a fan to inflame love. Hooker.
FAN-LIGHT, n. A window in form of an
open fan.
FAN, V. t. To cool and refresh, by moving
the air with a fan ; to blow the air on the
face with a fan.
2. To ventilate ; to blow on ; to affect by air
put in motion.
a famous
[An ill
Shak.
FAN
FAN
FAN
The fanning wind upon her bosom blows ;
To meet the/anning wind the bosom rose.
Dry den.
Calm as the breath which fans our eastern
groves. Vryden.
3. To move as with a fan.
The air— fanned with plumes. JiTilton
4. To winnow ; to ventilate ; to separate
chaff from grain and drive it away by a
current of air; as, to/a?i wheat.
FANAT'IC, } [L. fanaticus, phanali
FANAT'ICAL, ] "' cus, from G. fairo^uat, to
appear ; literally, seeing visions.]
Wild and extravagant in opinions, particu
larly in refigioiis opinions; excessively en
thusiastic ; possessed by a kind of frenzy
Hence we say, fanatic zeal ; fanatic no
tions or opinions.
FANAT'l€, f A person affected by
FANAT'I€AL, ij "" excessive enthusiasm,
particularly on religious subjects ; one who
indulges wild and extravagant notions of
religion, and sometimes exhibits strange
motions and postures, and vehement vo-
ciferation in religious worship. Fanatics
sometimes affect to be inspired or to have
intercourse with superior beings.
FANAT'leALLY, adv. With wild enthusi
asm.
FANAT'IeALNESS, n. Fanaticism.
FAN AT'ICISM, n. Excessive enthusiasm ;
wild and extravagant notions of relig:
reljo-ioiis frenzy. Rogers.
FANAT'ir;iZE, V. t. To make fanatic.
FAN'CIED, pp. [See Fancy.] Imagined
conceived; liked. Stephens.
FAN'CIFUL, a. [See Fauci/.] Guided by
the imagination, rather than by reason and
experience; subject to the influence of
fiincy; whimsical; applied to persons. *
fanciful man forms visionary projects.
3. Dictated by the imagination ; full of wild
images ; chimerical ; whimsical ; ideal ;
visionary ; applied to things ; as
scheme ; a fanciful theor-
FAN'CIFULLY, adv. In a
fanciful
3. Taste ; conception.
The litt'.e chapel called the salutation is very
neat, and built with a pretty /anci/. Addison.
4. Image ; conception ; thought.
How now, my lord, why do you keep alone ;
Of sorriest/ancies your companions making ?
Shak
5. Inclination ; hking. Take that which
suits your fancy. How does this strike
your fancy i
H\s fancy lay to travelling. V Estrange
6. Love.
Tell me where is fancy bred. Shak
7. Caprice ; humor ; whim ; as an odd oi
strange /aney.
True worth shall gain me, that it may be said
Desert, not fancy, once aw
8. False notion.
9. Something that pleases
without real use or value.
Dryden.
Bacon.
entertains
which the prey is seized and held ; a point-
ed tooth. Bacon.
2. A claw or talon.
3. Any shoot or other thing by which hold
is taken.
The protuberant /angs of the Yuca. Evetyn.
FANG'ED, a. Furnished with fangs, I
ed
something long and pointed ; as a fang-
adder. Shak.
Chariots /an^erf with sythes.
fill manner ;
Idly ; whimsically.
2. According to fancy.
FAN'CIFULNESS, n. The quahiy of being
fanciful, or influenced by the imagination,
rather than by reason and experience ; the
habit of following fancy ; applied to per-
sons. ,. , , .
2. The quality of bemg dictated by imagi-
nation ; applied to things.
FAN'CY, n. [contracted from /(tniasy, L.
phantasia, Gr. ^avraeia, from $ovraJu, to
cause to appear, to seem, to imagine, front
aaiTO, to show, to appear, to shine, fht
primaiy sense seems to be to open, or to
shoot forth. Ar. ^U to open, to ap
pear; or xi to open or expand. Clas^
Bn. No. 3. 28.]
1. The faculty by which the nnnd form;
images or representations of things a
pleasure. It is often used as synonymous
with imagination; but imagination h
rather the power of combining and modify
ing our conceptions. Stewart
2. An opinion or notion.
1 have always had a fancy, that learning mightj
be made a play and recreation to childr
FAN'CY, V. i. To imagine ; to figure to
one's self; to believe or suppose without
proof. All may not be our enemies whom
we fancy to be so.
If our search has reached no farther than simile
and metaphor, we taiher fancy than know.
Loch
FAN'CY, r. t. To form a conception of; to
portray in the mind ; to imagine.
He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express.
Drydi
2. To like ; to be pleased with, particularly
on account of external appearance or
manners. We fancy a person for beauty
and accomplishment. We sometimes/an
cy a lady at first sight, whom, on acquaint
aiice, we cannot esteem.
FAN'CYFRAMED, a. Created by the fan
ey. Crashato
FANCYFREE, a. Free from the power of]
love. Shak.
FAN'CYING, ppr. Imagining; conceiving;
liking.
FAN'CYMONGER, n. One who deals in
tricks of imagination. Shah.
FAN'CYSICK, a. One whose imagination
is unsound, or whose distemper is in his!
own mind. UEstrange.
FAND, old pret. of find. Ohs. Spenser.
FANDAN'GO, n. [Spanish.] A lively
dance. Sp. Diet.
FANE, 5!. [L. fanum.] A temjile ; a pli _
consecrated to religion ; a church ; used in\
poetry.
From men their citip?, and from gods their
fanes. Pope.
FAN'FARE, ji.. [Fr.] A coming into the^
sts with sound of trumjiets; a flourish ot"!
riMiipcts.
FAN'FAUON, n. [Fr.favfaron; Sp./un/ai-
Vorufanfarram.]
A bully; a hector; a swaggerer; an emiity]
boaster ; a vain pretender. Dryden.
FANFARONA'DE, n. A swaggering ; vain
boasting; ostentation; a bluster. Swijl.
FANG, V. t. [Sax. fengan, to catch, seize
or take, to begin ; D. vangen ; G.fangen ;
J)an.fanger;Sw. f&nga. See Finger.]
To catch ; to seize ; to lay hold ; to gripe ;
to clutch. Obs. Shak.
FANG, n. [Sax. fang: D. vang ; G. fang,
a seizing.]
1. The tusk of a boar or other animal liy
FAN'GLE,7i./ang-'g-«. [from Sax./eng-an, to
begin.]
A new attempt ; a trifling scheme. [JVot
used.]
P'AN'GLED, a. Properly, begun, new
made ; hence, gawdy ; showy ; vainly dec-
orated. [Seldom used, except with new.
See JVho-fangled.] Shak.
FANG'LESS, a. Having no fangs or tusks ;
toothless; as a fangless Hon.
FAN'GOT, »i. A quantity of wares, as raw
silk, &c., from one to two hundred weight
and three quarters. Did.
FAN'ION, n. fan-yon. [Fr. from Goth, fana,
L. pannits, G. fahnc, a cloth, a flag, a ban-
l [f '■• funon ; Goth, fana, su-
\ ' pra.] A sort of ornament
In armies, a small flag carried with the bag-
gage. Encyc.
FAN'NED, pp. Blown with a fan ; winnow-
ed ; ventilated.
FAN'NEL, (
FAN'ON,
like a scarf, worn about the left arm of a
mass-priest, when he officiates. Diet.
FAN'NER, n. One who fans. Jeremiah.
FAN'NING, ppr. Blowing ; ventilating.
FAN'TASIED, a. [from fantasy, fancy.]
Filled with fancies or imaginations ;
whimsical. [JVot used.] Shak.
FAN'TASM, »!. [Gr. favtan/xa, from ^ouru,
appear. Usually written phantasm.]
That which appears to the imagination ; a
phantom ; something not real.
FANTAS'TIC, > [Fr. /anto/i^ue ; It.
FANTAS'TICAL, S "' fantastico ; from Gr.
^avfaeio, vision, fancy, from $airw, to ap-
pear.]
1. Fanciful; produced or existing only in
imagination ; imaginary ; not real ; chi-
merical. South.
2. Having the nature of a phantom ; appa-
■ent only. Shak.
3. Unsteady ; irregular. Prior.
4. Whimsical ; capricious ; fanciful ; indul-
ging the vagaries of imagination; as fan-
tastic minds; a fantastic mistress.
5. Whimsical ; odd.
FANTAS'TICALLY, adv. By the power of
imagination.
2. In a fantastic manner ; capriciously ; un-
steadily.
Her scepter so fantastically borne. Shak.
3. Whimsically ; in compliance with fancy.
Grew.
FANTAS'TICALNESS, n. Compliance
with fancy; hiimorousness; whimsical-
ness ; unreasonableness ; caprice.
Johnson.
FAN'TASY, n. Now written fancy, which
Is not this something more than/aji«a«j/ ?
FAN'TOM, n. [Fr. fantume, probably con-
tracted from L. phantasma, from the Greek.
See Fancy.]
FAR
FAR
FAR
Something that appears to the imagination ;
also, a specter ; a ghost ; an apparition. It
is generally wrkten phantom, which see.
TAP, a. Fuddled. [JYot in use.] Shak.
KAQUIIl, [See Faktr.]
F'AR, a. [Sax./eor,/or ovfyr; D. ver, verre;
G.Jern, and in composition, ver; Sw.fier-
ran ; Dan. Jierii ; L. porro ; Gr. xoppo ;
connected vvitli rtopoj, a way, a passing,
rtopivu, riopcvofMu, to pass or go, Sax. and
Golh. Jarav, G. fahren, D. vaaren, Dan
farer, Sw./nro, Eng. lo fare. See Pare.]
1. Distant, in any direction ; separated by
a wide space from the place where one is,
or from any given place remote.
They said," we arc come from a far country.
Josh. ix.
The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling
into afar country. Matt. xxv.
The nations /ar and near contend in choice
Dry den
2. Figuratively, remote from purpose ; con-
ti-ary to design or wishes; as, far be il
from me to justify cruelty.
3. Remote in afiection or obedience ; at en-
mity with ; alienated ; in a spiritual sense.
They that are Jar from tliee shall perish. Ps
Ixxiii.
4. More or most di.stant of the two; as the
far side of a horse. But the drivers of
teams in New England generally use off
ns the offsulc, or off horse or ox.
F'AR, atlv. To a great extent or distance
of space; as the /«/• extended ocean ; we
are separated far from each other.
Only ye shall not go very far away
vUi.
9. Figuratively, distantly in time from any
point ; remotely. He pushed his research-
es very far into antiquity.
3. In interrogatories, to what distance or
tent. How far will such reasoning lead
us ?
4. In great part ; as, the day is far spent.
5. In a great proportion ; by many degrees
very much.
Who can find a virtuous woman ? for her
price isfar above rubies. Prov. xxxi.
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having
sire to depart, and to be with Christ, wl)
far better. Phil. i.
(I. To a certain point, degree or distance.
This argument is sound and logical, asfar
as it goes.
Answer them
How /ar forth you do like their articles.
Shak
From far, from a great distance ; from a re
mote place.
Far from, at a great distance ; as far from
home ; far from hope.
Far off, at a great distance.
They tarried in a place that was far off.
Sam. XV.
2. To a great distance.
Lo then would I wander far off, and remain
in the wilderness. Ps. Iv.
:?. In o .?/)tn<U(iZ «e;i*c, alienated ; at enmity
in a state of ignorance and alienation.
Ye, who were sometime far off, are made
nigh by the blood of Christ. Eph. ii.
Far other, very different. Pope.
EAR-ABOUT', n. A going out of the way
[M>t in use.] FUU
F'AR-FAMED, a. Widely celebrated.
Poj
F'AR-FETCH, n. A deep laid stratagem
[Little used.] Hudibras
FAR-FETCHED, a. Brought from a
mote place.
Whose pains have earned the far-fetched spoil.
MUton.
2. Studiously sought ; not easily or naturally
deduced or introduced ; forced ; strained.
York with all hinfar-fetched policy. Shak.
So we say, far-fetched arguments ; far-fetched
rhymes ; far-fetched analogy. [Far-fit, the
same, is not used.]
FAR-PIER'CING, a. Striking or penetra-
ting a great way; as afar-piercing eye.
Pope
FAR-SHOOTING, a. Shooting to a great
distance.
Great Jove, he said, and the far-shooting
god. Dryden.
F'AR, n. {ii»x.fiErh,fearh. See Farroio.]
The young of swine ; or a litter of pigs.
[Local.] Tusser.
F'ARCE, v.t./itrs. [L. /arcio, Fr. /araV,
stuff, Arm. farsa.]
1. To stuff; to till with mingled ingredients.
[Little used.]
The iirst principles of religion should not be
farced with school points and private tenets.
2. To extend ; to swell out ; as the farced
title. [Little used.] Shak.
F'ARCE, n.fars. [Fr. farce; It. farsa; Sp.
id. ; from farcio, to stufi'. Literally, sea-
soning, stuffing or mixture, like the stuf-
fing of a roasted fowl ; force-meal.]
A dramatic composition, originally exhib-
ited by charlatans or buffoons, in the open
street, for the amusement of the crowd,
but now introduced upon the stage. Il
is written without regularity, and filled
with ludicrous conceits. The dialogue is
usually low, the persons of inferior rank
and the fable or action trivial or ridicu-
lous. Encyc.
Farce is thai in poetry which grotesque is in
a picture : the persons and actions of a farce
are all unnatural, and the manners false.
Ihyden.
F'ARCICAL, a. Belonging to a farce ; ap-
propriated to farce.
They deny the characters to he. farcical, be-
cause lliey are actually in nature. (ioy.
2. Droll ; ludicrous ; ridiculous.
3. Illusory ; deceptive.
F'ARCICALLY, adv. In a manner suited
to farce ; hence, ludicrously.
F'ARCILITE, n. [from farce.] Pudding-
stone. The calcarious farcilite, called
amenla, is formed of rounded calcarious
pebbles, agglutinated by a calcarious ce-
ment. Kirwan, Geol.
F'ARCIN, ? „ A disease of horses, sonie-
F'ARCY, ^ ■ times of oxen, of the nature
of a .scabies or mange. Encyc
FARCING, n. Stuffing composed of mix
ed ingredients. Carew
F>ARCTATE, a. [L. farctics, stuffed, fi-om
farcio.]
In botany, stuffed ; crammed, or full ; with-
out vacuities ; in opposition to tubular or
hollow ; as a farctate leaf, stem or peri-
carp. Martyn.
F>ARD, V. t. [Fr.] To paint. [.Yot used.]
Shenstone.
F'ARDEL, H. [It. fardello ; Fr. fardeau ;
S[i. fardel, fardo : Arm. fardell; probably
from the root of L./ero, to bear, or of^ar
cio, to stuff.] A bimdle or little pack.
Sliak
FARDEL, I'. I. To make up in bundles.
FitUr.
FARE, V. i. [Sax. and Goth, faran, to go ;
D. vaaren ; (i. fahren; Sw.fara ; Ttan. fa-
rer. This word may be connected in ori-
gin with the Heb. Cli. Syr. Sam. tzy, -Vr.
»xc abara, to go, lo pass; or \\itli j.i\
afara, to pass, or pass over, which seems
to be radically the same word as .i j
nafara, lo flee. This coincides with the
Etii. ©<<^4 wafar, to go, to pass, Gr.
«opfvu, Ir. bara. Class Br. No. 2:i. 37. 41.]
1. To go; to pass; to move forward; to
travel.
So on he fares, and to the border comes
Of Eden. Milton.
[In thii literal sense the word is not in
common use.]
2. To be in any state, good or bad ; to be
attended with any circumstances or train
of events, fortunate or unforlimate.
So fares the stag among th' enraged hounds
Denham.
So fared the inight between two foes.
Hudibras.
He fared very well ; he fared very ill.
Go further and fare worse. The sense is
taken fromgoi)ig, having a certain course ;
hence, being subjected to a certain train
of incidents. The rich man /ore</ sumptu-
ously every day. He enjoyed all the pleas-
ure which wealth and luxury could aflbrd.
Luke xvi.
3. To feed ; to be entertained. We fared
well ; we had a good table, and courteous
treatment.
4. To proceed in a train of consequence.-',
good or bad.
So fares it when with trulli falsehood con-
tends. Mdtoii.
th it imperson-
ally.
him.
FARE, n. The price of passage or going;
the sum paid or due, for conveying a per-
son by land or water; as the/are for cros-
sing a river, called also ferriage; the fare
for conveyance in a coach ; stage^rf.
The price of conveyance over the ocean ■
is now usually called the passage, or pas-
sage money. Fare is never used for the
price of conveying goods ; this is called
freight or transportation.
2. Food ; provisions of the table. We lived
on coarse /are, or we had delicious /are.
3. The person conveyed in a vehicle. [.Vol
in use in U. States.] Drummond.
FAREWELL, a compoun.l of /are, in the
imperative, and well. Go icell ; originally
applied to a person departing, but by cus-
tom now applied both to those who de-
part and those who remain. It expresses
a kind wish, a wish of happiness to those
who leave or those who are left.
The verb and adverb are often separated
by tlie pronoun ; fare you welt ; I wish
you a happy departure ; may you be well
in your absence.
It is sometimes an expression of separation
only. Farewell the year ; farewell ye sweet
groves ; that is, 1 take my leave of you.
5. To happen well or ill ;
We shall see how it will fare with
FAR
FAR
FAR
FAREWELL, n. A wish of happiness or
welfare at parting; the parting compli-
ment; adieu.
3. Leave ; act of departure.
And takes het farewell of the glorious sun.
Shak.
jeot.
Addison.
FAR'IN, I [L. farina, meal.] lu botany,
FARI'NA, ^ "■ the pollen, fine dust or pow-
der, contained in the antliers of plants, and
which is supposed to fall on the stigma,
and fructify the plant.
2. In chimistry, starch or fecula, one of the
proximate principles of vegetables.
Fossil farina, a variety of carbonate of lime,
in thin white crusts, light as cotton, and
easily reducible to powder. Cleaveland.
FARINA'CEOUS, a. [from L. farina,
meal.]
L Consisting or made of meal or flour ; as a
farinaceous diet, which consists of the meal
or flour of the various species of corn or
grain.
2. Containing meal ; as farinaceous seeds.
3. Like meal ; mealy ; pertaining to meal ;
as a farinaceous taste or smell.
FARM, n. [Sax. fanna, fcarm, or feorm,
food, provisions, board, a meal, a dinner
or supper, hospitality, substance, goods,
use, fruit. Hence, feormian, to supply
provisions, to entertain ; also, to purge or
purify, to expiate, to avail, to profit. Arm.
firm, or fiurm ; in ancient lavvs,_^rairt ; Fr.
ferme, a farm, or letting to farm, whence
affermer, to hire or lease. The sense of
feorm seeins to be corn or provisions, in
which formerly rents were paid. The
radical sense oi feorm, provisions, is prob
ably produce, issues, from one of the verbs
in Br; produce and purification both'
plying separation, a throwing oflT or out.]
1. A tract of land leased on rent reserved
ground let to a tenant on condition of hi;
paying a certain sum annually or other
wise for the use of it. A farm is usually
such a portion of land as is cultivated by
one man, and includes the buildings and
fences. Rents were formerly paid in pro-
visions, or the produce of land ; hut now
they are generally paid in money.
This is the signification of farm m Great
Britain, where most of the land is leased
to cultivators.
2. In the United States, a portion or tract of
land, consisting usually of grass land,
meadow, pasture, tillage and woodland,
cultivated by one man and usually owned
by him in fee. A like tract of land under
lease is called a farm ; but most cultiva-
tors are projjrietors of the land, and called
farmers.
A tract of new land, covered with for-
est, if intended to be cuhivated by one
man as owner, is also called a fimn. A
man goes into the new States, or into
the unsettled country, to buy a farm, that
is, land for a farm.
3. The state of laud leased on rent reserved ;
a lease.
It is great wilfulness in landlorcis to make
any longer yarms to their tenants. Spenser.
F>ARM, V. t. To lease, as land, on rent re-
served ; to let to a tenant on condition of
paying rent.
We are enforced to farm ourroyo! realm.
Shak.
[In this sense, I believe, the word is not
used in America.]
2. To take at a certain rent or rate. [JVo<
used in America.]
3. To lease or let, as taxes, impost or other
duties, at a certain sum or rate per cent.
It is customary in many countries for the
prince or government to farm the reve-
nues, the taxes or rents, the imposts and
excise, to individuals, who are to collect
and pay them to the government at a cer-
tain percentage or rate per cent.
4. To take or hire for a certain rate per
cent.
5. To cultivate land.
To farm let, or let to farm, is to lease on
rent.
FARMHOUSE, n. A house attached to
farm, and for the residence of a farmer.
F' ARM-OFFICE, n. Farm-offices, are the
out buildings pertaining to a farm.
FARMYARD, n. The yard or inclosure
attached to a barn ; or the inclosure sur-
rounded by the farm buildings.
F'ARMABLE, a. That may be farmed.
Shenvood.
F'ARMED, pp. Leased on rent; let out
a certain rate or price.
F'ARMER, n. In Great Britain, a tenant ;
a lessee ; one who hires and cultivates i
farm ; a cultivator of leased groimd.
Shak
2. One who takes taxes, customs, excise or
other duties, to collect for a certain rate
per cent ; as a farmer of the revenues.
3. One who cultivates a farm ; a husband-
man ; whether a tenant or the proprietor.
United Slates.
4. In mining, the lord of the field, or one
who farms the lot and cope of the king.
Encyc,
F' ARMING, ppr. Letting or leasing land on
rent reserved, or duties and imposts at a
certain rate per cent.
Taking on lease.
3. Civltivating land ; carrying on the busi
ness of agriculture.
F'ARMING, n. The business of cultivating
land.
FARMOST, a. [/<
tant or remote.
F'ARNESS, n. [fi
moteness.
FARRAGINOUS,
ure, from /or, me
Formed of various materials ; mixed ; as a
farraginous mountain. Kirwan.
FARRA'GO, «. [L. from far, meal.] A
mass composed of various materials c
fusedly mixed ; a medley.
FARREATION. [See Confarreation.]
FAR'RIER, n. [Fr.ferrant ; li.fer
herrador; L. ferrarius, from ferrum, non,
Fr. ferrer ; It. ferrare, to bind with iron
" ferrare un cavallo", to shoe a horse. Fer-
rum is probably from hardness ; W. fir
dense, solid ; feru, to harden, or congeal
feris, steel. A farrier is literally a work-
er in iron.]
1. A sheer of horses; a smith who shoes
horses.
2. One who professes to Qure the
of horses.
ind most.] Most dis-
Dryden.
<\ far.] Distance ; re-
Carew.
[L. farrago, a mixt-
&p
FAR'RIER, V. i. To practice as a farrier.
FAR'RIERY, n. The art of preventing,
curing or mitigating the diseases of hor-
ses. Encyc.
This is now called the veterinary art.
FAR'ROW, n. [Sax. fearh, fcerh ; D. var-
ken; G.firkel.] A fitter of pigs. Shak.
FAR'ROW, v.t. To bring forth pigs. J l/«rf
ofsidne only.] Tusstr.
FAR'ROW, a. [D.vaare; " een vaare koe,"
a dry cow; Scot, firry cow. Qu. the
root of bare, barren.]
Not producing young in a particular season
or year; applied to cows only. If a cow
has had a calf, but fails in a subsequent
year, she is said to be farrow, or to go
farrow. Such a cow may give milk
through the year. JVew England.
F'ARTHER, a. comp. [Sax. farther, from
feor, far, or rather from forth, from the
root of faran, to go ; D. verder.]
1. More remote; more distant than some-
thing else.
Let me add ^farther truth. Dryden.
Longer ; tending to a greater distance.
Before om farther way the fetes alloiv.
Dryden.
F ARTHER, adv. At or to a greater dis-
tance ; more remotely ; beyond. Let u»
rest with what we have, without looking
farther.
2. Moreover ; by way of progression in a
subject. Farther, let us consider the prob-
able event.
F' ARTHER, v. t. To promote ; to advance;
to help forward. [Little used.]
FARTHERANCE, n. A helping forward;
promotion. [JVot used.]
FURTHERMORE, aOv. Besides; more-
over. [Little used.]
Instead of the last three words, we now use
furtherance, furthermore, further ; which
see.
F'ARTHEST, a. superl. [Sax. feorrest; D.
verst. See Fwihesl.]
Most distant or remote ; as the farthegt de-
gree.
F'ARTHEST, ado. At or to tlie greatest dis-
tance. [See Fuiihesl.]
F ARTHING, n. [Sax. feorthung, from
fiorth, fourth, from feower, four.]
1. The fouiih of a penny ; a small copper
coin of Great Britain, being the fourth of
a penny in value. In America we have
no coin of this kind. We however use
the word to denote the fourth part of a
penny in value, but the penny is of difier-
cnt value from the English penny, and
difl'erent in different states. It is becom-
ing obsolete, with the old denominations
of money.
2. Farthings, in the plural, copper coin.
Gay.
3. Very small price or value. It is not worth
a farthing, that is, it is of very little worth,
or worth nothing.
4. A division of land. [JVot note used.]
Thirty acres make a farthingAaaA ; nine^ar-
things a Cornish acre ; and fom- Cornish acres
a knight's fee. Carew.
F'ARTHINGALE, n. [This is a com-
pound word, but it is not easy to analyze
it. The French has vertugadin ; the Sp.
verdugado ; Port, verdugada ; which do
not well correspond with the English
word. The Italian has guardinfanle, in-
FAS
FAS
FAS
fant-guard ; and it has been said that the
hoop petticoat was first worn by pregnant
women.]
A hoop petticoat ; or circles of hoops, form-
ed of wlialebono, used to extend the petti-
coat.
F'ARTHINGSWORTII, n. As much as is
sold for a farthing. Arbuihnot.
FAS'CES, n. ]}lu. [L. /ascis, W. fasfr, a
bundle ; fascia, a band. See Class Bz.
No. 24. 35. W.]
In Roman antiquity, an ax tied up with a
bundle of rods, and borne before the Ro-
man magistrates as a badge of their au-
thority. Dryden.
FAS'CIA, n. fash'ia. [L. a band or sash.]
1. A band, sash or fillet. In archilecture,
any flat member with a small projecture,
as the band of an architrave. Also, in
brick buildings, the jutting of the bricks
beyond the windows in the several sto-
ries except the highest. Encyc.
2. In astronomy, the belt of a planet.
3. In surgery, a bandage, roller or ligature.
Parr.
4. In anatomy, a tendinous expansion or
aponeurosis ; a thin tendinous covering
which surrounds the muscles of the limbs,
and binds them in their places.
Parr. Cyc.
FAS'CIAL, a. fash'ial.. Belonging to the
FAS'CIATED, a. fash'iated. Bound with a
fillet, sa.sh or bandage.
FASCIA'TION, n. fashia'tion. The act or
manner of binding up diseased parts ;
bandage. ff'iseman.
F'AS'CICLE, n. [L. fasciculus, from fascis,
a bundle.]
In botany, a bundle, or little bundle ; a spe-
cies of inflorescence, or manner of flow-
ering, in which several upright, parallel,
fastigiate, approximating flowers are col-
lected together. Marlyn.
FASCICULAR, a. [L.fasdcularis.] United
in a bundle ; as a fascicular root, a root of
the tuberous kind, with the knobs collect-
ed in bundles, as in Pteonia. Martyn.
FASCI€'ULARLY, adv. In the form of
bundles. Kirwan.
FaIcII'ULATC^L. f'>om/a,ac.i.,,
FAS'CleLED, ^ ^"'"^"-J
Growing in bundles or bunches from the
same point, as the leaves of the Larix or
larch. Martyn.
FASCIC'ULITE, n. [supra.] A variety of
fibrous hornblend, of a fascicular struct-
ure. Hitchcock.
FAS'CINATE, v. t. [h. fascino ; Gr. /3a«-
xaivu.]
I. To bewitch ; to enchant ; to operate on
by some powerful or irresistible influence ;
to influence the passions or affections in
an incontrollable
None of the affections have been noted to
fascinate and bewitch, but love and envy.
£acon.
3. To charm; to captivate; to excite and al-
lure irresistibly or powerfully. The young
are fascinated by love; female hcauly fas-
cinates the unguarded youth ; gaming is a
fascinating^ vice.
FAS'CINATED, pp. Bewitched; enchant-
ed ; charmed.
FAS'CINATING, ppr. Bewitching; en-
chanting ; charming ; captivating.
FASCINA'TION, n. The act of bewitch-
ing or enchanting ; enchantment ; witch-
craft ; a powerful or irresistible influence
on the aflections or passions ; unseen
explicable influence. The ancients speak
of two kinds of fascination ; one by the
look or eye ; the other by words.
The Turks hang old rags on their fairest hors-
es, to secure them against fascination.
Waller
FAS'CiNE, n. [Fr.from U fascis, a bundle.]
In fortification, a fagot, a bundle of rods
or small sticks of wood, bound at botli
ends and in the middle ; used in raising
batteries, in filling ditches, in strengthen-
ing ramparts, and making parapets. Some-
times being dipped in melted pitch or tar.
they are used to set fire to the enemy's
lodgments or other works. Encyc
FAS'C'INOUS, a. Caused or acting by witch-
craft. [jYot used.'] Harvey
FASH'ION, n. fash' on. [Vt. f agon ; Arm.
facfzoun ; Norm, facion ; from fairc, tc
make ; L. facio, fades.]
1. The make or form of any thing; the state
of any thing with regard to its external
appearance; shape; as the fashion of the
ark, or of the tabernacle.
Or let me lose the fashion of a man. Shak
The fashion of his countenance was altered
Luke ix.
2. Form ; model to be imitated ; pattern.
King Ahaz sent lo Urijah the priest the fash-
m of the altar. 2 Kings xvl.
3. The form of a garment; the cut or shape
of clothes; as the fctshion of a coat or of a
bonnet. Hence,
4. The prevailing n-.ode of dre.ss or orna-
ment. We import fashions from England,
as the English often import them from
France. What so changeable as fashion
5. Manner ; sort ; way ; mode ; applied to
actions or behavior.
Pluck Casca by the sleeve,
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded. Shak.
G. Custom ; prevaihng mode or practice.
Fashion is an inexorable tyrant, and most
of the world its willing slaves.
It was the fashion of the age to call every
thhig in question. Tillolson.
Few enterprises are so hopeless as a contest
with/osAion. Rambler.
7. Genteel life or good breeding ; as men of
fashion.
8. Any thing worn. [.Vof used.] Shak.
9. Genteel company.
10. Workmanshi[). Overburi/.
FASH'ION, V. t.fa3h'on. [Fr.fagonntr.] to
form ; to give shape or figure to ; to mold,
Here the loud hammer fashions female toys
Gay
Asmnjashiuned the calf with a graving tool
Ex. xxxii.
Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it,
what makest thou ? U. xlv.
2. To fit ; to adapt ; to accommodate ; with
to.
Laws ought to be fashioned to the manners
and conditions of the people. Spenser
3. To make according to the rule prescribed
by custom.
Fashioned plate sells for more than its weight
Locke
4. To forge or counterfeit. [JVot used.]
Shak.
FASHIONABLE, a. Made according to
the prevailing form or mode; as a fash-
ionable dress.
2. Established by custom or use ; current ;
prevailing at a particular time ; as the
fashionable philosophy ; fashionable opin-
3. Observant of the fashion or customary
mode ; dressing or behaving according to
the prevailing fashion ; as a fashionable
man. Hence,
4. Genteel ; well bred ; as fashionable com-
being fashionable ; modish elegance ; such
ajjpearance as is according to the prevail-
ing custom. Locke.
FASH'IONABLY, adv. In a manner ac-
cording to fashion, custom or prevailing
|)ractice ; with modish elegance ; as, to
dress/fl«/iiono6/y.
FASH'IONEI),/^}). Made ; formed ; shaped ;
fitted ; adajited.
FASHIONER, n. One who forms or gives
shape to.
FASH'IONING, ppr. Forming; giving
shape to ; fitting ; adapting.
FASH'ION-M0NGER,n. One who studies
the fashion ; a fop.
Fashion-pieces, in ships, the hindmost tiin-
bei-s which terminate the breadth, and
form the shape of the stern. Mar. Diet.
FAS'SAITE, ji. A mineral, a variety of au-
gite, found in the valley of Fassa, in the
Tyrol.
F'AST, a. [SaTi. fa;sl,fest ; G. fest ; D. vast ;
Sw. and Dan. fast ; from pressing, bind-
ing. Qu. Pers. .,a*».j bastan, to bind,
to make close or fast, to shut, to stop ; Ir.
fosadh, or fos, a stop. See Class Bz. No.
24.35. 41.G0. 6G. 86.]
1. Literally, set, stopi)ed, fixed, or pressed
close. Hence, close ; tight ; as, make fast
the door; take fast hold.
2. Firm ; immovable.
Who, by liis strength, settctli /as< the moun-
tains. Ps. Ixv.
3. Close; strong.
Robbers and outlaws — lurking in wooils and
fast places. SpeTlser.
4. Firmly fixed ; closely adhering ; as, to
stick /a,s/ in mire ; to make fast a rope.
5. Close, as sleep ; deep ; sound ; as a fast
fast
hak.
C. Firm in adherence ; as a fast friend.
Fast and loose, variable ; inconstant ; as, i
play fast and loose.
F-AS-r, a
adv. Firmly ; immovably.
We will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into
their h,ind. Judges xv.
Fast by, or fast beside, close or near to.
Fast by the tlirone Q^sequious fame resides.
Pope.
F'AST, a. [W.fesl, fast, quick -.festu, to has-
ten ; L. feslino. If /is not written for A,
as in haste, see Class Bz. No. 44. 45. 46.
The sense is to press, drive, urge, and it
may be from the same root as the prece-
ding word, with a different application.]
Swift ; moving rapidly ; quick in motion ;
as a fast horse.
F'AST, adv. Swiftly; rapidly; with quick
steps or progression ; as, to run fast ; to
move fast through the water, as a ship ;
the work goes oafast.
FAS
F AST, 11. t. [Shx. fiEslan ; Goth. /u*ten, to|
liist, to keep, to observe, to hold ; G. fas-
ten ; D. vast, firm ; vasten, to fast ; Sw.
fasta ; ironi the same root as fast, firm.
'The sense is to liold or stop.]
1. To abstain from food, beyond the usual
time : to omit to take the usual meals, for
a time ; as, lo/a^t a day or a week
3. To abstain from food voluntarily, for the
■ mortification of the body or appetites, or
as a token of ^rief, sorrow and affliction.
Thou didst /irsi and weep for the child
2 Sam. xii.
When ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a
sad countenance. Matt. vi.
3. To abstain from food partially, or from
j)articular kinds of food; as, the Catholics
fast in Lent.
F"AST, n. Abstinence from food ; properly
a total abstinence, but it is used also for
an abstinence from particular kinds of
food, for a certain time.
Happy were our forefathers, who broke their
fasts with herbs. Taylor.
2. Voluntary abstinence from food, as a reli-
gious mortification or humiliation ; either
total or partial abstinence from customary
food, with a view to mortify the appetites,
or to express grief and affliction on ac
count of some calamity, or to deprecate
an expected evil.
3. The time of fasting, whether a day, week
or longer time. An annual fast is kept in
New England, usually one day in the
spring.
The /as( was now already past. Acts xxvii.
F'AST, n. That which fastgns or holds.
F>AST-DAY, n. The day on which fasting
is observed.
F'ASTEN, V. t.fasn.[S!ix.fa^tnian; Sw.
fastna; D.vesfen; Dan. faster ; It. foslu-
gadh, fostughim.]
1. To fix firmly ; to make fast or close ; as,
to fasten a chain to the feet, or to fasten
the feet with fetters.
2. To lock, bolt or bar ; to secure ; as, to
fasten a door or window.
3. To hold together ; to cement or to link
to unite closely in any manner and by any
means, as by cement, hooks, pins, nails
cords, &c.
4. To affix or conjoin.
The words Whio- and Tory have been press
cd to the service of many successions of parties,
with different ideas fastened to them. \_jVot
common.'] Swift
5. To fix ; to impress.
Thinking;, by this face,
To fasten in our thoughts tliat they have cour-
age.
C. To lay on with strength.
Could he fasten a blow, or make a thrust,
when not suffered to approach .' Drydi
F^ASTEN, V. i. To fasten on, is to fix on-
self; to seize and hold on : to clinch.
The leech will hardly fasten on a fish.
Brown. 1
F'ASTENED, pp. Made firm or fust ; fixed
firmly ; impressed.
F-ASTENER, n. One that makes last or
firm.
P'ASTENING, ppr. Making fast.
FASTENING, n. Any thing that binds and
makes fast ; or that wiiich is intended for
that purpose.
F' ASTER, «. One wli.. abstains from food.l
SItak
FAT
F> AST-HANDED, a. Closehanded ; cov-|
etous ; closefisted ; avaricious. Bacon.l
FASTIDIOSTTY, n. Fastidiousness. [JVol]
used.] Siififl.'
FASTIDTOUS, a. [L. fastidiosus, from /as-
tidio, to disdain, from fastus, haughtiness.
See Heb. m. Class Bz. No. 2. 3. and 10.
30.]
Disdainful ; squeamish ; delicate to a fault ;l
over nice ; difficult to please ; as a fu.itid-\
io^is mind or taste. |
2. Squeamish; rejecting what is common
or not very nice; suited with difficulty :
as a fastidious appetite.
FAST'ID'IOUSLY, adv. Disdainfully ;
squeamishly ; contemptuously. They
look fastidioushj and speak disdainfully.
FASTIDIOUSNESS, n. Disdainfulness;
conteinptuousness ; squeamishness of
mind, taste or appetite.
FASTltiTATE, ? [\j.fusligiatas, point
FASTIG'IATED, <, "" ed, from fasligio, to
point, fastigiuin, a top or peak.]
1. In botany, a fastigiate stem is one whose
branches are of an equal highth. Pedun
cles are fastigiate, when they elevate the
fructifications in a bunch, so as to be
equally high, or when they form an even
surface at the top. Martyn.
2. Roofed ; narrowed to the top.
F'ASTING, ppr. Abstaining from food.
F'ASTING, n. The act of abstaining from
food.
F>ASTING-DAY, n. A day of fasting
fast-day ; a day of religious mortification
and liumiliation.
F'ASTNESS, n. [Sax. fceslenesse, from fast.]
'. Tlie state of being fast and firm; firm ad
Iierence.
. Strength ; security.
The places of fas'ttiess are laid open. I
Davies)
3. A strong hold ; a fortress or fort ; a place!
fortified ; a castle. The enemy retired to
their fastnesses.
Closeness ; conciseness of style. [JVol
used.] Ascham.
FAS'TUOUS, a. [h. fasluosus, from fastus,
haughtiness.]
Proud ; haughty ; disdainfid. Barrow.
FAT, a. [Ba\.fiZl,fett; G.fett ; D. vet ; Sw.
fet; Dan. feed; Basque, tc/ea.]
1. Fleshy ; plump; corpulent ; abounding
with an oily concrete substance, as an
mal body ; the contrary to lean ; as a fat
man ; a fat ox.
Coarse ; gross.
Nay, added fat pollutions of our own.
Dry den
3. Dull ; heavy ; stupid ; unteacliable.
Make the heart of this people fat. Is. vi.
4. Rich ; wealthy ; affluent.
These are terrible alarms to persons ^rowr
fat and wealthy. South
5. Rich ; producing a large income ; as a fat
benefice.
G. Rich ; fertile ; as a fat soil : or rich ; nour
ishing ; as/a( pasture.
7. Abounding in spiritual grace and comfort
They (the righteous) shall be fat and flour
ishing. Ps. xcii.
FAT, n. An oily concrete substance, depos
ited in the cells of the adipose or cellulai
membrane of animal bodies. In mos
parts of the body, the fat lies immediately!
under the skin. Fat is of various degrees
FAT
of consistence, as in tallow, lard and oil.
It has been recently ascertained to consist
of two substances, stearine and elaine, the
former of which is solid, the latter hquid,
at common teinperatures, and on the dif-
ferent proportions of which its degree of
consistence depends.
Encyc. ff'ebsler^s Manual.
2. The best or richest part of a thing.
Abel brought of the fat of his flock. Gen. iv.
FAT, V. t. To make fat; to fatten; to make
plump and fleshy with abundant food ; as.
to fat fowls or sheep. iMcke. Shak.
F.\T, V. i. To grow fat, plump and fleshy.
An old ox fats as well, and is as good, as a
young one. Mortimer.
FAT, \ [Sax. feet, fat, fet ;D. vat; G.fass;
VAT, i""Sw.fat; Dan. fad. It seems to be
connected with D. vatten, G. fassen, Sw.
fatta, Dan. fatter, to hold. Qu. Gr. fttSoj.]
A large tub, cistern or vessel used for various
purposes, as by brewers to run their wort
in, by tanners for holding their bark and
hides, &c. It is also a wooden vessel con-
taining a quarter or eight bushels of grain,
and a pan for containing water in salt-
works, a vessel for wine, &c.
The fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
Joel ii.
FAT, n. A measure of capacity, but indefi-
FA'TAL, a. [L. fafalis. See Fate.] Pro-
ceeding from fate or destiny ; necessary ;
■ able.
These things are fatal and necessary.
Tillotson.
•2. Appointed by fate or destiny.
It wift fatal to the king to figlit for his money.
Bacon.
In the foregoing senses the word is now little
used.
3. Causing death or destruction ; deadly ;
mortal ; as a fatal wound ; a fatal disease.
Destructive ; calamitous ; as a fatal day ;
a fatal event.
FA'TALISM, n. The doctrine that all things
are subject to fate, or that they take place
by inevitable necessity. Rtish.
FA'TALIST, n. One who maintains that
II things happen by inevitable necessity.
ffatts.
FATAL'ITY, 7i. [Fr. fatam, from fate.]
. A fixed unalterable course of things, inde-
pendent of God or any controlling cause ;
an invincible necessity existing in things
themselves ; a doctrine of the Stoics.
South.
1. Decree of fate. King Charles.
3. Tendency to danger, or to some great or
hazardous event. Brown.
4. Mortality. Med. Repos.
FA'TALLY, adv. By a decree of fate or des-
tiny; by inevitable necessity or determi-
nation. Bentley.
2. Mortally ; destructively ; in death or ru-
in. This encounter ended fatally. The
prince was fatally deceived.
FA'TAI,NESS. n. Invincible necessity.
FAT'BRAINED, a. Dull of apprehension.
Shak.
FATE, n. [L. fatum, from for, fan, to
speak, whence _/a<iis.]
1. Primarily, a decree or word pronounced
by God ; or a fixed sentence by which the
order of things is prescribed. Hence, in-
evitable necessity ; destiny depending on
FAT
a superior cause and uucontrollubic. Ac-
cording to the Stoics, every event is <lcter-
inined by fate.
Necessity or chanco
Approach not me ; and what I will is fale.
Milton.
2. Event predetermined ; lot ; destiny. It
is our fatf to meet vVitli disappointments.
It is the fate of mortals.
Tell me what fates attend the duke of Suf-
folk ? Shak.
3. Final event; death; destruction.
Yet still he chose the longest way to fate.
Uryden.
The whizzing arrow sings,
And bears thy fate, Antinous, on its wings.
Pope.
4. Cause of death. Drydcn calls an arrow
a feathered fate.
Divine fate, the order or determination of
God; providence. Encyc.
FA'TEU, a. Decreed by fate ; doomed ; des-
tined, lie was fated to rule over a fac-
tious people.
2. Modelled or regulated by fate.
Her awkward fove indeed was oddly /a<ed.
Priur.
3. Endued with any quality by fate.
Drxiden
4. Invested with the power of fatal deter-
mination.
Thc/o<e(J sky
Gives us free scope. Shak
The two last senses are hardly legitimate.
FA'TEFUL, a. Bearing fatal power ; pro-
ducing fatal events.
The fateful steel. J. Barlotv
FATES, n. plu. In mythology, the destinies
or parcx ; goddesses supposed to preside
over the birth and life of men. They were
three in number, Clotho, Lachesis and
Atropos. Lempriere
F'.\T1IER, Ji. [Sax./ffirfer, /c(/er; G. voter;
D. vader ; Ice. Sw. and Van. fader ; G
rtaf>;p ; L. pater ; Sp. padre ; It. padre ;
Port, pai, or pay ; Fr. ptre, by contraction ;
Pers
Russ. balia ; Sans.
and Bali, pi(a; Zend, fedrc ; Syr. \\..^Ci
batara. This word signifies the begetter,
from the verb, Sw. foda, Dan. foder, to
beget, to feed ; Goth. fodya7i ; Sas.fedan
D. voeden, to feed ; whcnce/orfrfer, G. fnt
tcr, fiittem. The primary sense is olivi
ous. See Class Bd. No. 54. 55. The
Goth, atta, Ir. aithir or athair, Basqiii
aita, must be from a different root, unless
the first letter has been lost.]
1. He who begets a child ; in L. genilor or
generator.
The father of a fool hath no joy. Piov. xvii
A wise son maketh a ^Vid father. Prov. x.
2. The first ancestor ; the progenitor of a
race or family. Adam was the father of
the human raee. Abraham was the father
of the Israelites.
3. The appellation of an old man, and a term
of respect.
The king of Israel said to Elisha, my father^
shall I smite them ? 2 Kings vi.
The servants of Naaman call him fa-
ther. Ibin. V. Elderly men are called
fathers ; as the fathers of a town or city,
In the church, men venerable for age, learn
ing and piety are called fathers, or rever
eudfather.1.
FAT
Tlie grandfather, or more remote ances-
tor. Nebuchadnezzar is called the father
of Belshazzar, thougli he; was his grand-
father. Dan. v.
15. One who feeds and supports, or exerci.scs
paternal care over another. God is called
the/a(/ier of the fatherless. Ps. Ixviii.
1 was a father to the poor. Job xxix.
6. He who creates, invents, makes or com-
poses any thing ; the author, former or
contriver; a founder, director or instruct-
or. God as creator is the father of all
men. John viii. Jabal was the father of
such as dwell in tents ; and Jubal of mu-
sicians. Gen. iv. God is the father of
spirits and of lights. Homer is consider
ed as the father of epic poetry. Wash
ington, as a defender and an affectionate
and wise counselor, is called the father of
his country. And see 1 Chron.ii. ""
14.— ix. 35. Satan is called the /afAtr ofl
lies ; he introduced sin, and instigates
men to sin. John viii. Abraham is call-
ed the father of believers. He was an
early believer, and a pattern of faith and
obedience. Rom. iv.
Fathers, in the plural, ancestors.
David slept with his fathers. I Kings ii.
A father in law. So Heli is called the fa-
ther of Joseph. Luke iii.
9. The appellation of the first person in the
adorable Trinity.
Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, bap
tizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Matt, xx
10. The title given to dignitaries of the
church, su|)eriors of convents, and to po-
pish confessors.
11. The appellation of the ecclesiastical wri-
ters of the first centuries, as Polycarp, Je
rome, &c.
12. The title of a senator in ancient Rome
as conseript_/afAers.
Adoptive father, he who adopts the childrei
of another, and acknowledges them as hii
own.
Vattiral father, the father of illegitimate
children.
Putative father, one who is only reputed to
be the father ; the supposed father.
F^ATHER-IN-LAW, »•.. Thefather of one's
husband or v\'ife ; and a man who
a woman who has children by a former]
husband is called the/a(Acr in lair or step-
fitther of those children.
FEATHER, V. t. To adopt; to take the chiM
of another as one's own. Shak.
2. To adopt any thing as one's own ; to pro-
fess to be the author.
Men of wit
Often father'd what he writ. Suifl.
3. To ascribe or charge to one as his off-
spring or production : with on.
My name was made use of by several persons,
one of whom was pleased to father on me a new
set of productions. Swift.
FEATHERED, pp. Adopted; taken as one's
; ascribed to one as the author.
9. Having had a father of particular quali-
ties.
I am no stronger than my sex.
Being so father'd and so husbanded. [Ivi-
usual.'i Shak.
F'ATHERHOOD, n. The state of being a
father, or the character or authority of a
father.
FAT
We might have had an entire notion of this
fatherhood, or fatherly authority. Locke.
FATHERING, ppr. Adopting ; taking or
acknowledging as one's own ; ascribing to
the father or author.
FWTHERLASHER, n. A fish of the ge-
nus Cottu.s or bull-head, called scorpius or
scalping. The head is large and its spines
forniidahle. It is found on the rocky
coasts of Britain, and near Newfoundlanil
and Greenland. In the latter country it
is a great article of food.
Encyc. Pennant.
FATHERLESS, a. Destitute of a living
father ; as a fatherless child.
Without a known author.
F'ATHERLESSNESS, »,. The state of be-
ing williout a father.
F>AT1IERLI\ESS, n. [See /"oMer/i/.] The
qualities of a father; parental kindness,
care and tenderness.
F ATHERLY, a. [father and like.] Like a
father in affection and care ; tender; pa-
ternal ; protecting ; careful ; as fatherly
care or aflfection.
2. Pertaining to a father.
F> ATHERLY, adv. In the maimer of a fa-
ther.
Tims .\<Uni, fatherly displeased. [A'ot pro-
7'fr.] Millo.t.
FATH'OM, n. [Sax. falhem ; Ir. fead ; G.
faden ; D. vadem. Qu. Dan. favn. The
German word signifies a thread, a fathom,
and probably thread or line is the real sig-
nification.]
1. A measure of length containing six feet,
the space to which a man may extend his
arms ; used chiefly at sea for measuring
cables, cordage, and the depth of the sea
in sounding by a line and lead.
2. Reach; penetration; depth of thought or
contrivance. ShaJi.
FATH'OM, f. t. To encompass witJi the
arms extended or encircling.
2. To reach ; to master ; to comprehend.
Leave to fathom such high points as these.
Vrydm.
3. To reach in depth ; to sound ; to try the
depth.
Our depths who fathoms. Pope.
4. To penetrate ; to find the bottom or ex-
tent. I cannot /o/AoHi his design.
FATH OMED, pp. Encompassed with the
arms ; reached ; comprehended.
FATH O.MER, ,i. One who fathoms.
FATH O.AIING, ppr. Encompassing with
the arms ; reaching ; comprehending ;
sounding: penetrating.
FATH OxAILESS, a. That of which no bot-
tom can be found ; bottomless.
2. That cannot be embraced, or encompass-
ed with the arms. Shak.
.3. Not to be penetrated or comprehended.
FATID'ICAL, a. [L. fatidicus ; fatum and
dico.] Having power to foretell future
events; prophetic. Hoieell.
FATIF'EROUS, a. [L. fatifer ; fatum and
fero.] Deadly ; mortal ; destructive.
Diet.
FAT'IGABLE, a. [See rafigTi*.] That may
be wearied ; easily tired.
FAT IGATE, v. t. L. fatigo.] To weary :
to tire. [Little used.]
FAT'IG,\TE, «. Wearied; tired. [LitUe
used.] Elyol.
FAT
FATIGA'TION, n. Weariness. IV. Mount.
FATIGUE, n. fatee'g. [Fr. U. ; Arm. fa-
ticq; It.fatica; S\>. faliga ; from L. fall-
go. It seems to be allied to L. falisco ; if
so, the sense is a yielding or relaxing.]
1. Weariness with bodily labor or mental ex-
ertion ; lassitude or exhaustion of strength.
We suffer fatigue of tlie mind as well
of the body.
2. The cause of weariness ; labor ; toil ; as
the /a<igTtc« of war.
3. The labors of military men, distinct from
the use of arms ; as a party of men on fa-
FATiGUE, v.t.fatee'g. [h.fatigo; It. futi-
care ; Sp.faligar.]
1. To tire ; to weary with labor or any bodi-
ly or mental exertion ; to harass with toil ;
to exhaust the strength by severe or long
continued exertion.
2. To weary by importunity ; to harass.
FATIGUED, 'pp. fatee'ged. Wearied ; ti-
red; harassed.
FATIGUING, ppr. fatet'ging. Tiring ; wea-
rying ; harassing.
2. a. Inducing weariness or lassitude; as
fatiguing services or labors.
FATIS'CENCE, n. [L. faiisco, to open, to
gape.] A gaping or opening ; a state of
being chinky. Did. Kirwan.
FATKID'NEYED, n. [jfat and kidney.]
Fat ; gross ; a ivord used in contempt.
Shak.
FAT'LING, n. [from fat.] A lamb, kid
other young animal fattened for slaughter ;
a fat animal ; applied to quadrupeds ivhose
flesh is used for food.
David sacrificed oxen and fallings. 2 Sam
vi.
FAT'LY, adv. Grossly ; greasily.
FAT'NER, 71. That which fattens; that
which gives fatness or richness and fertil
ty. Arhulhnol.
FAT'NESS, n. [from fat.] The quality of
being fat, phimp, or full fed ; corpulency :
fullness of flesh.
Their eyes stand out with/ateess. Ps. Ixxiii
2. Unctuous or greasy matter. _ Bacon.
3. Unctuousness ; sliminess ; applied to earth :
hence richness ; fertility ; fruitfulness,
God give thee of the dew of heaven, am
fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and
wine. Gen. xxvii.
4. That which gives fertility.
Thy paths drop/a(?Jfss. Ps. Ixv.
The clouds drop/u(ness. Philips.
5. The privileges and pleasures of religi(
abundant blessings.
Let your soul delight itself in fatness. Is. Iv.
FAT'TEN, V. t. fat'n. To make fiit ; to feed
make
or plumj
to enrich
lelds with
Dryden
Dryden
for slaughter
with fat.
2. To make fertile and fruitful
as, to fatten land ; to fatten
blood.
3. To feed grossly ; to fill.
FAT'TEN, V. i. fat'n. To grow fat or cor
pulent ; to grow plump, thick or fleshy ;
to be pampered.
And villains fatten with the brave man's la-
bor. Otway.
Tigers and wolves shall in the ocean breed,
The whale and dolphin/aHm on the mead.
GlanviUe
FAT'TENED, pp. fat'nd. Made fat, plump
or fleshy.
FAT'TENER, n. [See Fatne:
F A U
FAT'TENING, ppr. fat'ning. Making fat ;
growing fat ; making or growing rich and
fruitful.
FAT'TINESS, n. [from fatty.] The state
of being fat ; grossness ; greasiness.
Sherwood.
FAT'TISH, a. Somewhat fat. Sherwood.
FAT'TY, a. Having the qualities of fat ;
greasy ; as a fatty substance, ^rbuthnot.
FATU'ITY, n. [Fr. fatuM ; L. fatuitas.]
Weakness or imbecility of mind ; feeble-
ness of intellect ; foolishness. Arbuthnot.
FAT'UOUS, a. [h.fatuus. Class Bd. No.
2. 6. 63.]
1. Feeble in mind ; weak ; silly ; stupid ;
foolish. Glanville.
2. Impotent ; without force or fire ; illuso-
ry ; alluding to the ignis falxms.
Thence fatuotis fires and meteors take their
birth. Denham.
FAT'WITTED, a. [fat and uit.] Heavy ;
dull ; stupid. Shak.
FAU'CET, n. [Fr. fausset, probably con-
tracted from falset.] A pipe to be insert
ed in a cask for drawing liquor, and stop
ped with a peg or spiggot. These are
called tap and faucet.
FAUCIIION. [See Falchion.]
FAU'FEL, n. [said to be Sanscrit.] The
fruit of a species of the palm-tree.
FAULT, n. [Fr. faute, for faulte; Sp.falta;
Port. id. ; It. fallo ; from fail. See Fail.]
1. Properly, an erring or missing ; a failing
hence, an error or mistake ; a blunder ; i
defect ; a blemish ; whatever impairs ex
cellence ; applied to things.
2. In mo7-als or depoHment, any error or de
feet ; an imperfection ; any deviation from
propriety ; a slight oftense ; a neglect of
duty or propriety, resulting from inatten-
tion or want of jjrudence, rather than from
design to injure or offend, but liable to
censure or objection.
I do remember my faults this day. Gen. xli
If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye, who art
spiritual, restore such on one in the spirit ol
meekness. Gal. vi.
Fault implies wrong, and often some de-
gree of criminality.
3. Defect ; want ; absence. [JVot now used.
See Default.]
I could tell to thee, as to one it pleases mc
(ov fault of a better, to call my fi-iend. Shak
4. Puzzle ; difficulty.
Among sportsmen, when dogs lose the
scent, they are said to be at fault. Hence
the phrase, the inquirer is at fault.
5. In mining, a fissure in strat.i, causing a
dislocation of the same, and thus inter-
rupting the course of veins. (' ;c.
To find fault, to express blame ; to coni-
Thou wilt say then, why doth he yet find
fault ? Rom. ix.
To fnd fault with, to blame ; to censure ; as,
to find fault loith the times, or with a neigh-
bor's conduct.
FAULT, V. i. To fail ; to be wrong. [ATot
used.] Spenser.
Fault, v. t. To charge with a fault ; to
accuse.
For that I will not fmill thee. Old Song.
IFAULT'ED, pp. Charged with a fault ; ac-
cused.
FaULT'ER, n. An offender; one who com
I mits a fault. Fairfax
F A V
FAULT'-FiNDER, n. One who censures
or objects.
FAULT'FUL, a. Full of faults or sins.
Shak.
FaULT'ILY, adv. [from fatdty.] Defective-
ly ; erroneously ; imperfectly ; improper-
Hooker.
not de-
ly; wrongly.
FaULT'INESS, n. [from/au%.] The stale
of being faulty, defective or erroneous :
defect.
2. Badness ; vitiousness ; evil
as the fauUiness of a person.
3. Delinquency ; actual offenses.
FAVLT'lfiG, ppr. Accusing.
FaULT'LESS, «. Without fault
fective or imperfect ; free from blemish ;
free from incorrectness ; perfect ; as a
faultless poem or picture.
2. Free from vice or imperfection ; as a
faultless man.
FaULT'LESSNESS, n. Freedom from
faidts or defects.
FAULTY, a. Containing faults, blemishes
or defects ; defective ; imperfect ; as a
faulty composition or book; a faulty plan
or design ; a faulty picture.
2. Guilty of a fault or of faults; hence, bla-
mable ; worthy of censure.
The king doth speak this thing as one who
is faulty. "2 Sam. xiv.
3. Wrong ; erroneous ; as a faulty polity.
Hooker.
4. Defective ; imperfect ; bad ; as a faulty
helmet. Bacon.
FAUN, Ji. [L. faunns.] Among the Ro
mans, a kind of demigod, or rural deity,
called also sylvan, and differing little from
satyr. The fauns are represented as half
goat and half man. Encyc.
FAUN'IST, n. One who attends to rural
disquisitions; a naturahst. fVhite.
FAU'SEN, n. A large eel. Chapman.
FAU'TOR, n. [L. See Favor.] A favorer:
a yiatron ; one who gives countenance or
support. [Little used.] B. Jonson.
FAU'TRESS, n. A female favorer ; a pat-
roness. Chapman.
FAVIL'LOUS, a. [L.favilla, ashes.] Con-
sisting of or pertaining to ashes. Brown-
's. Resembling ashes.
FA'VOR, 71. [L. favor; Fr. faveur ; Arm.
faver ; Sp. favor; It. favore ; from L. fa-
veo ; Ir. fabhar, favor ; fabhraim, to favor.]
1. Kind regard ; kindness ; countenance ;
propitious aspect ; friendly disposition.
His dreadful navy, and his lovely mind,
Gave him the fear and /auor of mankind.
Waller.
The king's favor is as dew on the grass.
Prov. xix.
God gave Joseph favor and wisdom in the
sight oi Pharaoh. Acts vii.
Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain. Prov.
sxxi.
, Support ; defense ; vindication ; or dis-
position to aid, befriend, support, promote
or justify. To be in favor of a measure, is
to have a disposition or inclination to sup-
port it or carry it into effect. To be in fa-
vor of a party, is to be disposed or inclined
to support it, to justify its proceedings,
and to promote its interests.
3. A kind act or office; kindness done or
granted ; benevolence shown by word or
deed ; any act of grace or good will, as
distinguished from acts of justice or re-
F A V
F A W
F E A
iwinoration. To pardon the guilty is n
favor ; to punish them is an act of justice,
4, Lenity; mildness or mitigation of punish-
ment.
I coulcl not discover the lenity and favor of
this sentence. Stvifi.
5. Leave ; good will ; a yielding or conces-
sion to another ; pardon.
But, with yonr favor, I will treat it here.
l>ryden.
G. The object of kind regard ; the person or
thing favored.
All tliese his wondrous works, but chiefly
man
His chief delight and favor. Milton.
7. A gift or present ; something bestowed as
an evidence of good will ; a token of love :
a knot of ribitis ; something worn as a to-
ken of affection.
Bacon. Spectalor. Shale.
8. A feature : countenance. [JVot lued.]
Shak.
9. Advantage ; convenience afforded for
success. The enemy approached under
favor of the night.
10. Partiality ; bias. A challenge to the favor,
in law, is the challenge of a juror on ac-
count of some supposed partiality, by rea-
son of favor or malice, interest or connec-
tion.
FA'VOR, J'. /. To regard with kindness; to
support ; to aid or have the disposition to
aid, or to wish success to ; to be propitious
to ; to countenance ; to befriend ; to en-
courage. To favor the cause of a party,
may be merely to wish success to it, or it
may signify to give it aid. by counsel, or by
active exertions. Sometimes men profes-
sedly favor one party and secretly favor
another.
The lords favor thee not. 1 Sam. xxix.
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy on Zion;
for the time to favor her, yea, the set time is
come. Ps. cii.
0 happy youth ! and favored of the skies.
Pope.
5. To afford advantages for success ; to fa-
cilitate. A weak place in the fort favored
the entrance of the enemy ; the darkness
of the nightyai'orrrf his approach. A fair
w'md favors a voyage.
3. To rn.scmble in features. The child fa-
vors his father.
4. To ease ; to spare. A man in walking
favors a lame leg.
FA'VORABLE, a. [L. favorahitis ; Fr. fa-
vo)-able; Sp. id.; It. favorabile, or favorc-
role.]
1. Kind; propitious; friendly; affectionate.
Lend favorable ear to our request. Shak.
Lord, thou hast been /ai'oraftte to thy laml.
Ps. Ixxxv.
2. Palliative ; tender ; averse to censure.
None can have Ihe favorable thoiipht
Tliat to obey a tyriuil's will they fought.
Dryden.
3. Conducive to ; contributing to ; tending
to promote. A salubrious climate and
plenty of food are favorable to population.
4. Convenient ; advantageous ; affording
means to facilitate, or affording facilities.
The low price of labor and provisions is
favorable to the success of manufactures.
"The army was drawn up on faVQrable
ground. The ship took a station /aroro-
ble for attack.
Vol. I.
5. Beautifid ; well favored. Obs. Spenser.
FA'VORABLENESS, n. Kindness; kind
dispo.-^ition or regard.
2. Convenience ; suitableness ; that slate
which affords advantages for success; con-
duciveuess ; as the favorableness of a sea-
son for crops ; the favorableness of the
times for the cultivation of the sciences.
FA'VORABLY, adv. Kindly ; with friend,
ly dis])Ositions ; with regard or affection ;
with an inclination to favor ; as, to judge
or think favorably of a measure ; to think
favorably of those we love.
FA'VORED, pp. Countenanced ; support-
ed ; aided ; supplied with advantages ;
eased ; spared.
2. a. Regarded with kindness ; as a favored
friend.
3. With well or ill prefixed, featured.
Well-favored is well-looking, having a
good countenance or appearance, fleshy,
plump, handsome.
Ill-favored, is ill-looking, having an ugly
appearance, lean. See Gen. xxxix. xli.
&c.
Well-favoredly, with a good appearance.
[Little used.]
Ul-favoredly, with a bad appearance.
[Utile used.]
FA'VOREDNESS, n. Appearance. Deut.
FA'VORER, n. One who favors; one who
regards with kindness or friendship ; a
wellwisher ; one who assists or promotes
success or prosperity. Hooker. Shak.
FA'VORING, ppr. Regarding with friend
ly dispositions ; countenancing ; wishing
well to ; contributing to success ; facilita-
ting.
FA'VORITE, n. [Fr.favori, favorite ; It./o-
vorito.]
A person or thing regarded with peculiar fa-
vor, preference and affection ; one greatly
beloved. Select /ai'orites from among the
discrete and the virtuous. Princes are of-
ten misled, and sometimes ruined by fa-
vorites. Gaveston and the Spensers, the
favorites of Edward IL, fell a sacrifice to
public indignation.
FA'VORITE, a. Regarded with particular
kindness, affection, esteem or preference ;
asayiironVe walk; a ynronVe author ; a fa
vorite child.
FA'VORITISM, n. The act or practice ofl
favoring, or giving a preference to one
over another.
2. The disposition to favor, aid and promote
the interest of a favorite, or of one person
or family, or of one class of men, to the
neglect of others having equal claims.
It has been suggested that the proceeds of
the foreign bills — were calculated merely to in-
dulge a spirit of favoritism to the bank of the
United States. Hamilton.
Which consideration imposes such a necessi-
ty on the crown, as hath, in a great measure,
subdued the influence o{ favoritism. Paley.
.3. Exercise of power bv favorites. Burke.
FA'VORLESS, a. Unfavored ; not regard-
ed with favor; having no patronage or
coinitenance.
2. Not favoring ; unpropitious. Spenser.
FAV'OSITE, 71. [L.favus, a honey-comb.]
A genus of fos.'iil zoophytes.
FAWN, n. [Fr. fao7i, fawn. Qu. W. fynu,
to produce.]
81
A young deer ; a buck or doe of the first
year. Bacon. Pope.
FAWN, V. i. [Fr. faonner.] To bring forth
n fawn.
FAWN, V. i. [Sax. fa^enian. See Fain.]
1. To court favor, or show attachment to,
by fri.sking about one ; as, a dog /nii-ns on
his master.
2. To soothe ; to flatter meanly ; to blan-
dish ; to court servilely ; to cringe and
bow to gain favor; as a fawning favorite
or minion.
My love, forbear lofaten upon their frowns.
SliaJe.
FAWN, n. A servile cringe or bow ; mean
flattery.
I'AWN" rn, I,. One who fuwus; one who
.iiM-i- ;hhI iliiiters meanly.
I"\\\ \ l\(;, jipr. Courting servilely; flat-
ti'iiii;; liy cringing and meanness; bring-
ing forth a fawn.
FAWNING, 77. Gross flattery. Shak.
FAWN'INGLY, adv. In a cringing servile
wav ; with mean flattery.
FAX'ED, a. [Sax. /cax, hair] Hairy. [Xoi
in use.] Camdtn.
FAY, 71. [Fr. fee.] A fairy ; an elf.
Milton. Pope.
FAY, V. i. [Sax. fagan ; Sw. foga ; D.
voegen. See Fadgel]
To fit ; to suit ; to unite closely with. [This
is a contraction of the Teutonic word, and
the same as fadge, which see. It is not
an elegant word.]
FEAGITE, V. t. feeg. [G.fegen.] To beat or
whip. [J\rot in use.] Buckingluim.
FE'AL, a. Faithful. [Infra.]
FE'ALTY. 77. [Fr. feal, trusty, contracted
from L. ^elis ; It. fedelta ;' Fr. _fidelilt ;
Sp.fe, faith, contracted from fides ; hence,
fel, faithful ; feldad, fidelity.]
Fidelity to a lord ; faithful adherence of a
tenant or vassal to the superior of whom
he holds his lands ; loyalty. Under the
feudal system of tenures, every vassal or
tenant was bound to be true and faithfid to
his lord, and to defend him against all his
enemies. This obligation was called his
fidelity or fealty, and an oath of fealty wan
required to betaken by all tenants to their
landlords. The tenant was called a liege
man ; the land, a liege fee ; and the supe-
rior, liege lord. [See Liege.]
FEAR, n. [See the Verb.] A painful emo-
tion or passion excited by an expectation
of evil, or the apprehension of im|>ending
danger. Fear expresses less apprehension
than dread, and dread less than terror and
fright. The force of this passion, begin-
ning with the most moderate degree, may
be thus expressedj/car, dread,terror, fright.
Fear is accompanied with a desire to avoid
or ward off the expected evil. Fear is an
uneasiness of mind, upon the thought of
future evil likely to befall us. ff'ails.
Fear is the passion of our nature which ex-
cites us to provide for our security, on the ap-
proach of evil. Rogers.
2. Anxiety; solicitude.
The principal /ear was for the holy temple.
Maccabees.
3. The cause of fear.
Thy angel becomes 3 fear. Shaft.
4. The object of fear.
Except the God of Abraham, and the fear ol
Isaac, had been with me. Gen. xxxi.
F E A
F E A
F E A
5. Something set or hung up to terrify wild
animals, by its color or noise. Is. xxiv.
Jer. xlviii.
G. In scripture, fear is used to express a fil-
ial or a slavish passion. In good men, the
fear of God is a holy awe or reverence of
God and his laws, which springs from a
just view and real love of the divine char-
acter, leading the subjects of it to hate
and shun every thing that can oftend such
a holy being, and inclining them to aim at
perfect obedience. This isfilial fear.
I will put my /ear in their hearts. Jer. xxxii.
Slavish fear is the effect or consequence
of guilt ; it is the painful apprehension
of merited punishment. Rom. viii.
The love of God casteth out /car. 1 John iv.
7. The worship of God.
I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Ps.
xxxiv.
8. The law and word of God.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for
ever. Ps. xix.
9. Reverence ; respect ; due regard.
Render to all their dues ; fear to whom /ear.
Rom. xiii.
FEAR, V. t. [Sax. fmran, afaran, to impress
fear, to terrify ; D. vaaren, to put in fear,
to disorder, to derange ; L. vereor. In
Saxon and Dutch, the verb coincides in
elements with fare, to go or depart, and
the sense seems to be to scare or drive
away. Qu. Syr. and Ar. ^iJ nafara,
to flee or be fearful. See Class Br. No 4G.
and 33.]
1. To feel a painful apprehension of somi
inipending evil ; to be afraid of; to con
sider or expect with emotions of alarm or
solicitude. We fear the approach of an
enemy or of a storm. We have reason to
fear the punishment of oin- sins.
I wiliyeor no evil, for thou art with me. Ps.
xxiii.
2. To reverence ; to have a reverential awe ;
to venerate.
This do, anil li\e : for I fear God. Gen.
xlii.
.3. To affright; to terrify; to drive away or
prevent approach by fear, or by a scare-
crow. [This seems to be the primary
meaning, but now obsolete.]
We must not make a scarecrow of the law,
Setting it up to fear the birds of prey. Shak.
FEAR, V. i. To be in apprehension of evil ;
to be afraid ; to feel anxiety on account of
some expected evil.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the seriient
beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your
minds should be corrupted from the simplicity
that is in Christ. 2 Cor. xi.
Fear not, Abrain : I am thy shield, and thy
exceeding great reward. Gen. xv.
FEAR, n. [Sax./era, gefera.] A companion.
\M)t in use. See Peer.] Spenser.
FE'ARED, pp. Apprehended or expected
with painfid solicitude ; reverenced.
FE'ARFUL, a. Affected by feai-; feeling
pain in expectation of evil; apprehensive
with solicitude; afraid. I am fearful of the
consequences of rash conduct. Hence,
2. Timid ; timorous ; wanting courage.
What man is there that is jearful and faint
hearted ? Deut. xx.
3. Terrible ; impressing fear ; frightful ;
dreadful.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands ol
le living God. Heb. x.
4. Awful ; to be reverenced.
O Lord, who is like thee, glorious in holi
ness, fearful in praises .' Ex. xv.
That thou niayest fear this glorious and feai
ful name, Jehovah, thy God. Deut. xxviii.
fear.
FE'ARFIJLLY, adv. Timorously
In such a night
Did Thisbe fearfully o'ertrip the dew. Shak.
'2. Terribly ; dreadfully ; in a manner to im-
press terror.
There is a cliff, whose high and bending head
Looks fearfully on the confined deep.
Shak.
3. In a manner to impress admiration and
astonishment.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Ps.
cxxxix.
FE'ARFULNESS, n. Timorousness ; timid-
ity-
•2. State of being afraid; awe; dread.
A third thing that makes a government des-
pised, is /ear/u/ness of, and mean compliances
with, bold popular offenders. South.
3. Terror; alarm; apprehension of evil.
Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites
Is. xxxiii.
FE'ARLESS, a. Free from fear ; as fearless
of death ; fearless of consequences.
3. Bold ; courageous ; intrepid ; undaunted ;
as a fearless hero ; a fearless foe.
FE'ARLESSLY, adv. Without fear; in a
bold or courageous manner ; intrepidly
Brave mcn_/ca)-/e««/i/ expose themselves tc
the most formidable dangers.
FE'ARLESSNESS, n. Freedom from fear
courage; boldness; intrepidity.
He gave instances of an invincible courage
and fearlessness in danger. Clarendon
FEASIBIL'ITY, n. saaz. [See Feasible.
The quality of being capable of execution
practicability. Before we adopt a plan,
let us consider its feasibility.
FE'ASIBLE, a. s as :. [Fr. faisable, from
faire, to make, L.facere ; It. faltibile ; Sp.
faclible.]
That may be done, performed, executed or
effected ; practicable. We say a thing is
feasible, when it can be efiected by human
means or agency. A thing may be possi-
ble, but not feasible.
9. Tliat maybe used or tilled, as land.
B. Trumbull.
prac
that which can be performed by human
means.
FE'ASIBLENESS, n. Feasibility ; practi-
cability. Bp. Hall.
FE'ASIBLY, adv. Practicably.
FEAST, )i. [h.festum ; Fr. fete ; Sp. fiesta ;
Itfesta; Ir.feasda; D.feesl; G.fest]
1. A sumptuous repast or entertainment, ofl
which a number of guests partake ; par
ticularly, a rich or splendid public enter
tainment.
On Pharaoh's birth day, he made a feast t<
all his servants. Gen. xl.
9. A rich ordeUcious rejtast or meal; some
thing dehcious to the palate.
3. A ceremony of feasting ; joy and thanks
giving on stated days, in commemoratioi
of some great event, or in honor of some
distinguished personage ; an anniversary,
periodical or stated celebration of some
event; a festival; as on occasion of the
games in Greece, and the feust of the pass-
over, the feast of Pentecost, and the feasl
of tabernacles among the Jews.
4. Something delicious and entertaining to
the mind or soul ; as the dispensation of
the gospel is called a feast of fat things.
Is. XXV.
5. That which delights and entertains.
He that is of a meri-y heart hath a contmual
feast. Prov. xv.
In the English church, feasts are immovable
or movable : immovable, when they occur on
the same day of the year, as Christmas-
day, &c. ; and movable, when they are not
confined to the same day of the year, as
Easter, which regulates many others.
FEAST, V. i. To eat sumptuously ; to dine
or sup on rich provisions ; particularly in
large companies, and on public festivals.
And his sons went ^nd feasted in their houses
Jobi.
|2. To be highly gratified or delighted.
FEAST, V. t. To entertain with sumptuous
provisions ; to treat at the table magnifi-
cently ; as, he was feasted by the king.
Hayward.
2. To delight ; to pamper ; to gratify luxu-
riously ; as, to feast the soul.
Whose taste or smell can bless the feasted
sense. Dryden.
FE'ASTED, pp. Ejitertained sumptuously f
delighted.
FE' ASTER, n. One who fares deliciously.
Taylor.
2. One who entertains magnificently.
Johnson,
FE'ASTFUL, a. Festive ; joyful ; as a
feastful day or friend. Milton.
2. Sumptuous ; luxurious ; as feastful rites.
Pope.
FE'ASTINGj ppr. Eating luxuriously ; far-
ing sumptuously.
2. Delighting ; gratifying.
3. Entertaining with a sumptuous table.
FE'ASTING, n. An entertainment.
FE'ASTRITE, n. Custom observed in en-
tertainments. Philips
FEAT, n. [Fr. fait; It. fatto; L. factum,
from facio, to perform.]
1. An act; a deed; an e.xploit ; as a bold
feat ,- a noble/ea< ; feats of prowes.s.
2. In a subordinate sense, any extraordinary
act of strength, skill or cunning, as feats
of horsemanship, or of dexterity ; a trick.
FEAT, a. Ready ; skilful ; ingenious.
Never master had a page — so feat. Obs.
Shak.
FEAT, V. t. To form ; to fashion. Obs.
Shak.
FE'ATEOUS, a. Neat ; dextrous.
FE'ATEOUSLY, arfv. Neatly; dextrously.
Obs. Spenser.
FEATII'ER, ? , [Sax.fether; G.feder; D.
FETH'ER, \"-veder; Dan. fiwr ;'8w.fie-
allied probably to Ttnpov, and rtsTcaoy,
from
to open or expand. Th&
inost correct orthography is fether.']
1. A plume; a general name of the cover-
ing of fowls. The smaller fethers are
used for the filling of beds ; the larger
ones, called quills, are used for ornaments
of the head, for writing pons, &c. Th©
fether consists of a shaft or stem, corne-
ous, round, strong and hollow at the low-
er part, and at the upper part, filled with
pith. On each side of tlio shafl are the
vanes, broad on one side and narrow ott
F E A
\he other, consisting of thin lamins. The
fothers which cover tlie body are called
the plumage; the fathers of the wings are
adapted to flight.
2. Kind; nature; species; from the prover-)
bial phrase, " Birds ofafether," that is, of
the same species. [Unxtsual.]
I iim not of that feather to shake off
My friend, when he most needs me. Shale.
3. An ornament ; an empty title.
4. On a horse, a sort of natural frizzling of
the hair, which, in some places, rises
above the lying hair, and there makes a
figure resembling the tip of an ear of
wheat. Far. Did.
Afelher in the cap, is an honor, or mark of]
distinction.
J'EATH'ER, ? , , To dress in fethers
FKTH'ER, I S fit with fethers, or to
cover with fethers.
2. To tread as a cock. Drydt
3. To enrich ; to adorn ; to exalt.
The king cared not to plume his nobility and
people, to feather himself. Bacon
To /ether one's nest, to collect wealth, par
ticularly from emoluments derived from
agencies for others ; a proverb taken from
birds which collect fethers for their nests.
FEATII'ER-BED, I A bed filled with
FETH'ER-BED, ^ "• fethers; a soft bed.
FEATHER DRIVER, > , One who beat
FETH'ER-DRIVER, S fethers to make
them light or loose. Derham
FEATHERED, ) „„ Covered with feth-
FETH'ERED, ^ PP' ers ; enriched.
52. a. Clothed or covered with fethers. A
fowl or bird is a fethered animal.
Rise from the ground XxVe feathered Mercury
Shak
3. Fitted or furnished with fethers ; as c
felhered arrow.
4. Smoothed, like down or fethers. Scott.
5. Covered with things growing from the
substance; as land/cWiererf with trees.
Coxe.
FEATH'EREDgE, ? „ An edge like a feth-
FETH'EREDtiE, ^ er.
A board that has one edge thinner than the
otlier, is csMed featheredge stuff. Moxon
FEATH'ERED6ED, \ „ Having a thin
FETHERED6ED, \ "' edge.
FEATH'ER-FEW, a corruption of fever
FEATHER-GRASS, \ „ A plant, gramen
FETH'ER-GRASS, \ "' plumosum.
Johnson
FEATH'ERLESS, \ „ Destitute of fethers
FETH'ERLESS, ^ °- unfledged. Hotoel.
FEATH'ERLY, > Resembling fethers.
FETll'ERLY, \ "" [mtused.] Bro.
FEATHER-SELLER,^ One who s
F ET 1 1 'ER -SELLER, \ "■ fethers for beds
KF.ATH'ERY, > Clothed or covered witl
IKTll'ERY, p-fetliers. Milton,
•'.. I! isembling fethers.
II.ATLY, adv. [from /<;««.] Neatly ; dex
trously; adroitly. [Little used.]
Shak. Dryden.
KF, ATNESS, n. [from /mf.] Dexterity
.idroitness; skilfulness. [lattle itsed.]
rv. ATURE, n. [Norm. /aidire ; L. factura
(I making, from facio, to make; It. fat
' . 'I'lie make, form or cast of any part of the
Uicc ; any single lineament. We si)eak of
F E C
large features or small features. We see
a resemblance in the features of a parent
and of a child.
2. The make or cast of the face.
Report the feature of Octavia, her years.
Shak.
3. The fashion ; the make ; the whole turn
or cast of the body.
. The make or form of any part of the sur-
face of a tiling, as of a country or land-
.scapc.
5. Lineament; outline; prominent parts; as
the features of a treaty.
FE'ATURED, a. Having features or good
features ; resembling in features. Shak.
FEAZE, V. I. To untwist the end of a rope.
Ainsworth.
FEB'RIFACIENT, a. [h. fehris, a fever,
and facio, to malie.] Causing fever.
Beddoes.
FEB'RIFACIENT, n. That which produ-
ces fever. Beddoes.
FEBRIF'Ie, a. [L. febris, fever, and facio,
ill.
FEB'RIFUtiE, n. [L.'febris, fever, and/u-
to make.] Producing fever ; feverish
go, to drive away.]
Any medicine that mitigates or removes fe-
ver. Encyc
FEB'RIFUciE, a. Having the quality of|
mitigating or subduing fever; antifebrile.
Arbuthnot
FE'BRILE, a. [Fr. from L. febrilis, from
febris, fever.]
Pertaining to fever; indicating fever, or de-
rived from it ; as febrile symptoms ; febrile
action.
FEB'RUARY, n. [L. Februarius ; Fr. Fev-
rier ; It. Febbraio ; Sp. Febrero ; Arm.
Fevrer ; Port. Fevereiro ; Ir. Feabhra ;
Russ. Phcbral. The Latin word is said
to be named from februo, to purity by
sacrifice, and thus to signify the month of
purification, as the people were, in this
month, purified by sacrifices and obla-
tions. The word februo is said to be a
Sabine word, connected with ferveo, fer-
beo, to boil, as boiling was used in purifi-
cations. Varro. Ovid.
This practice bears a resemblance to
that of making atonement among the
Jews ; but the connection between ferveo
and February is doubtful. The W. givevral,
February, Arm. heuvrer. Corn, huevral, is:
from W. fwevt/r, violence ; the severe
month.]
The name of the second month in the year,]
introduced into the Roman calendar by
Numa. In common years, this niontji
contains 28 days ; in the bissextile or leap
year, 21) days.
FEBRUA'TION, n. Purification. [See
February.] . Spenser.
FE'€AL, a. [See Fieces.] Containing or con-
sisting of dregs, lees, sediment or excre-
ment.
FE'CES, 71. plu. [L. faces.] Dregs ; lees ;
sediment; the matter which subsides in
casks of liquor.
2. Excrement. Arbuthnot.
FE'CIAL, a. [L.fecialis.] Pertaining to her-
alds and the denunciation of war to an
enemy ; as fecial law. Kent.
FE€'IILA, ?i. The green matter of plants;
chlorophyl. Ure.
3. Starch or farina ; called also amylaceous
fecula.
FED
This term is applied to any pulverulent mat-
ter obtained from plants by simply break-
ing down the texture, washing with wa-
ter, and subsidence. Hence its applica-
tion to starch and the green fecula, though
entirely different in chimical properties.
Cyc.
FECULENCE, > [L. faculentia, from
FE€'ULENCY, \ "' facula, faces, far,
dregs.]
1. Muddiness; foulness; the quality of be-
ing foul with extraneous matter or lees.
2. Lees ; sediment ; dregs ; or rather the
substances mixed with liquor, or floating
in it, which, when separated and lying at
the bottom, are called lees, dregs or sedi-
ment. The refining or fining of liquor is
the separation of it from its feculencies.
FECULENT, a. Foul with extraneous or
impure substances; muddy; thick; tur-
bid; abounding with sediment or excre-
mentitious matter.
FE€'ULUM, n. [from faces, supra.] A dry,
dusty, tasteless substance obtained from
plants. Fourcroy, Trans.
[This should be fecula.]
FE'eUND, a. [L.facundus, from the root of
fiBtus.] Fruitful in children ; prolific.
Graunt.
FE'€UND.\TE, v. t. To make fruitful or
prolific.
2. To im))regnate ; as, the pollen of flowers
fecundates the stigma.
Anacharsis, Trans.
FE'CUNDATED,;>/). Rendered prolific or
fruitful ; impregnated.
FE'CUN DATING, /)/)r. Rendering fruitful :
impregnating.
FECUNDA'TION, n. The act of making
fruitful or prolific ; impregnation.
FECUND'IFY, V. t. To make fruitful ; to
fecundate. [Little used.]
FE€UND'ITY, n. [h.facunditas.] Fruit-
fuhiess ; the quality of producing fruit :
particularly, the quality in female animals
of producing young in great numbers.
2. The power of producing or bringing
forth. It is said that the seeds of some
plants retain their fecundity forty years.
Ray.
3. Fertility ; the power of bringing forth in
abundance; richness of invention.
FED, pret. and pp. of feed, which see.
FED'ERAL, a. [from L. /ffirfi/s, a league,
allied perhaps to Eng. wed. Sax. iceddian,
L. vas, vadis, vador, vadimonium. See Heb.
Ch. Syr. 02y to pledge. Class Kd- No. 2.5.]
1. Pertaining to a league or contract ; deri-
ved from an agreement or covenant be-
tween parties, particularly between na-
tions.
The Romans, contrary to federal right, com-
pelled them to part with Sardinia. Grew.
2. Consisting in a compact between parties,
particularly and chiefly between states or
nations ; founded on alliance by contract
or mutual agreement ; as a federal govern-
ment, such as that of the United States.
3. Friendly to the constitution of the United
States. [See the Noun.]
FED'ERAL, > , An appellation in
FEDERALIST, I "' America, given to
the friends of the constitution of the Uni-
ted States, at its formation and adoption,
and to the political party which favored
FEE
the administration of President Washing-
ton.
FED'ERARY, ? A partner; a confede-
FED'ARY, ^ ■ rate ; an accomplice,
[JVot used.] Shak.
FED'ERATE, a. [L. fcederatus.] Leagued;
united by compact, as sovereignties, states
or nations; joined in confederacy; as Jed
erate nations or powers.
FEDERA'TION, n. Tlie act of uniting in a
league.
9. A league ; a confederacy. Burke.
FEDERATIVE, a. Uniting ; joining in a
league ; forming a confederacy.
FE'DlTY,n. [U/mditas.] Turpitude; vile-
ness. [ATot in use.] Hall.
FEE, n. [Sax. feo,feoh; D. vee ; G.vieh;
Sw. Ja; Dan. fwe ; Scot, fee, fey, or fie,
cattle ; L. pecu, pecus. From the use of
cattle in transferring property, or from
barter and payments in cattle, the word
came to signily money ; it signified also
goods, substance in general. The word
belongs to Class Bg, but the primary sense
is not obvious.]
1. A reward or compensation for services
recompense, either gratuitou.s, or establish
ed by law and claimed of right. It is ap-
plied particularly to the reward of profe
ional services ; as theyef* of lawyers and
physicians; the/ecsof office ; clerk's /ces;
sheriff's /ees ; marriage/c««, &c. Many of
these are fixed by law ; but gratuities to
professional men are also calledyce*.
FEE, n. [This word is usually deduced from
Sax. feoh, cattle, property, and fee, a re
ward. Thisis a mistake. Fee, in land, ii
a contraction oC feud or fief, or from th«
same source ; ll.fede, Sp. fe, faith, trust
Fee, a reward, from feoh, is a Teutonic
word ; h\i\. fee, feud, fief, are words wholly
unknown to the Teutonic nations, who
use, as synonymous with them, the word
which, in English, is loan. This word,
fee, in land, or an estate in trust, origina
ted among the dei5cendants of the northeri
conquerors of Italy, but it originated in the
south of Europe. See Jfeurf.]
Primarily, a loan of land, an estate in trust,
granted by a prince or lord, to be held by
the grantee on condition of personal ser-
vice, or other condition ; and if the grantee
or tenant failed to perform the conditions
the land reverted to the lord or donor
called the landlord, or lend-lord, the lord of
the loan. A fee then is any land or tene
nient held of a superior on certain condi
tions. It is synonymous with/e/'and/eiwi.
All the land in England, except the crown
land, is of tliis kind. Fees are absolute or
limited. An absolute fee or fee-simple is
land which a man holds to himself and his
heirs forever, who are called tenants in fee
simple. Ilencejn modern times, the term
fee or fee simple denotes an estate of inhe-
ritance ; and in America, where lands arc
not generally held of a superior, a fee or
fee-simple is an estate in which the owner
"has the whole property without any cond
tion annexed to the tenure. A limited fee
is an estate limited or clogged with cer-
tain conditions ; as a qtialified or base fee,
which ceases with the existence of certain
conditions; and a conditional fee, which is
litnited to particular heirs.
Blackstone. Encyc.
FEE
In the U. States, an estate \nfee or fee-simpU
is vvliatis called in English law an allodia
estate, an estate held by a person in his
own right, and descendible to the heirs in
general.
FEE'-FARM, n. [fee and /am.] A kind oi
tenure of estates without homage, fealty oi
other service, except that mentioned in the
feoffment, which is usually the full rent.
The nature of this tenure is, that if the rent
is in arrear or unpaid for two years, th
feoffor and his heirs may have an action
for the recovery of the lands. Encyc.
FEE'-TAIL, n. An estate entailed ; a condi-
tional fee.
FEE, V. t. To pay a fee to ; to reward
Hence,
2. To engage in one's service by advancing
a fee or sum of money to ; as, to fee a
lawyer.
To hire ; to bribe. Shak.
4. To keep in hire. Shak.
FEE'BLE, «. [Fr. foible; Sp.feble; Norm
id.; It. fievole. I know not the origin of
the first syllable.]
1. Weak ; destitute of much physical
strength ; as, infants are feeble at their
birth.
2. Infirm ; sickly ; debilitated by disease.
3. Debilitated by age or decline of life.
4. Not full or loud ; as a feeble voice or
sound.
5. Wanting force or vigor ; as feeble efforts.
6. Not bright or strong ; faint ; imperfect ;
as feeble light ; feeble colors.
7. Not strong or vigorous; as^cei/e powers
of mind.
3. Not vehement or rapid ; slow ; as feeble
motion.
FEE'BLE, t-. /. To weaken. [JVot used
See Enfeeble.]
FEEBLE-MINDED, a. Weak in mind :
wanting firmness or constancy ; irresolute,
Comfort the feeble-minded. 1 Thess. v.
FEE'BLENESS, n. Weakness of body or
mind, from any cause ; imbecility ; infirm-
ity ; want of strength, physical or intel-
lectual ; as feebleness of the body or limbs ;
feebleness of the mind or understanding.
2. Want of fullness or loudness ; as feeble-
ness of voice.
3. Want of vigor or force ; as feebleness of
exertion, or of operation.
4. Defect of brightness ; as_/ie6/eness of light
or color.
FEE'BLY, adv. Weakly ; without strength ;
as, to movefeebhj.
Thy gentle numbers /cfi/y creep. Drydcn
FEED, V. I. pret. and fp.fed. [Sax.fedan
Dan. Joder, Sw. foda, to feed and to be-
get ; Golh. fodyan ; D. voeden, to feed ; G
fuller, fodder ■,fiUtern, to feed ; Norni.ybrffr,
to feed and to dig, uniting with feed the
h.fodio; Ar. Llai fata, to feed, and con-
gressus fuit cum foemina, soepius concu-
buif. Class Bd. No. 14. See Father. In
Russ. petayu, is to nourish ; and in W. buyd
is foo(l, and buyta, to eat ; Arm. boela ; 1
fiadh, food.]
1. To give food to ; as, to feed an infant ; to
feed horses and oxen.
2. To supply with provisions. We have
flour and meat enough to feed the army
a month.
FEE
.3. To supply ; to furnish with any thing of
which there is constant consumption,
waste or use. Springs feed ponds, lakes
and rivers ; ponds and streams/eerf canals.
Mills are fed from hoppers.
4. To graze ; to cause to be cropped by feed-
nig, as herbage by cattle. If grain is too
forward in auturan,/eerf it with sheep.
Once in three years feed your mowing lands.
Mortimer.
5. To nourish ; to cherish ; to supply with
nutriment ; as, to feed hope or expecta-
tion ; to feed vanity.
6. To keep in hope or expectation ; as, to
feed one with hope.
7. To supply fuel ; as, to feed a fire.
8. To dehght; to supply with something de-
sirable ; to entertain ; as, to feed the eye
with the beauties of a landsca{>e.
9. To give food or fodder for fattening ; to
fatten. The county of Hampshire, in Mas-
sacluksetts, feeds a great number of cattle
for slaughter.
10. To supply with food, and to lead, guard
and protect ; a scriptural sense.
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd. Is.
FEED, V. i. To take food ; to eat. Shak.
2. To subsist by eating ; to prey. Some
birds /eerf on seeds and berries, others oa
flesh.
3. To pasture ; to graze ; to place cattle to
feed. Ex. xxii.
4. To grow fat. Johnson.
FEED, 71. Food ; that which is eaten ; pas-
ture ; fodder ; applied to that which is eaten
by beasts, not to the food of men. The hills
of our country furnish the best feed for
sheep.
2. Meal, or act of eating.
For such pleasure till that hour
At/eed or fountain never had I found.
Milton.
FEEDER, n. One that gives food, or sup-
plies nourishment.
2. One who furnishes incentives ; an en-
courager.
The feeder of my riots. Shah:
3. One that eats or subsists ; as, small birds
are feeders on grain or seeds.
One that fattens cattle for slaughter.
U. States.
A fountain, stream or channel that sup-
phes a main canal with water.
Feeder of a vein, in mining, a short cross vein.
Cyc.
FEE'DING, ppr. Giving food or nutriment ;
furnishing provisions ; eating ; taking food
or nourishment ; grazing; supplying wa-
ter or that which is constantly consumed ;
nourishing ; supplying fuel or iticentives.
FEE'DING,)!. Rich pasture. Drayton.
FEEL, v.t. pret. and pp.^H. [Sax.felan,
fadan, gefelan ; G.fiiMen; D.voelen; alli-
ed probably to L.palpo. Qii. W. pwyllaw,
to impel. The primary sense is to touch,
to pat, to strike gently, or to press, a.s is-
evident from the L. palpito, and other de-
rivatives of palpo. If so, the word seems
to be allied to L. pello. See CUiss Bl. No.
1. To perceive by the touch ; to have sen-
sation excited by contact of a thing with
the body or litnbs.
Sutler me thot I may/eeZ the pillars. Judges
FEE
I niiy feel thee,
my son. Gen. xxvii.
2. To have the sense of; to suflfer or enjoy j
as, to/ce/pain ; tojeei pleasure.
3. To experience ; to suffer.
Whoso keepeth the couimandments ahaU feel
no evil thing. Eccles. viii.
3. To be affected by ; to perceive mentally ;
as, to feel grief or woe.
Mould I had never trod this English earth,
Otfelt the flatteries that grow upon it.
Shale
^. To know ; to be acquainted with ; to have
a real and just view of.
For then, and not till then, he felt himself.
Shak.
tj. To touch ; to handle ; with or without of.
Feel this piece of silk, or feel of it.
To feel, or to feel out, is to try ; to sound ;
to search for ; to explore ; as, to feel or
feel out one's opinions or designs.
To feel after, to search for; to seek
find ; to seek as a person groping in tlie
dark.
If haply they inight/ec( after liiiii, and find
him. Acts xvii.
FEEL, t;. i. To have perception by the
touch, or by the contact of any substance
with the body.
3. To have the sensibility or the passions
moved or excited. The good man feels
for the woes of others.
Man, who feela for all mankind. Pope.
.^. To give jicrception ; to excite sensation.
Blind men say black feels rough, and white
feels smooth. Ihydcii.
So we say, a thing feels soft or bard,
or itfeels hot or cold.
4. To have perception mentally; as, to feel
hin-t ; to feel grieved ; to feel unwilling.
EEEL, n. The sense of feeling, or the per-
ception caused by the touch. The differ-
enre of tumors maybe ascertained by the
feel. Argillaceous stones may sometimes
be known by the feel. [In America,/cd-
ing is more generally used ; but the use
of feel is not uncommon.]
FEELER, n. One who feels.
3. One of the palpi of insects. The feelers
of insects are usually four or six, and situa
ted near the mouth. They are filiform
and resemble articulated, movable anten
nae. They are distinguished from antennse
or horns, by being short, naked and placed
near the month. They arc used in search-
ing for food. Enci/c
This term is also applied to the antennw
or horns of insects.
FEE'LING,;);>r. Perceiving by the touch;
having perception.
2. a. Expressive of great sensibility ; affect
ing ; tending to excite the passions. He
made a feeling representation of liis
wrongs. He spoke viith feeling eloquence
3. Possessing great sensibility ; easily affect
ed or moved ; as a feeling man ; a feeling
heart.
4. Sensibly or deeply affected ; as, I had a
feeling sense of his favors. [This lise is
not analogical, hit common.]
FEE'LING, n. The sense of touch ; the
sense by which we perceive external ob-
jects which come in contact with the bodj',
and obtain ideas of their tangible qualities ;
one of the five senses. It is by feeling we
know that a body is hard or soft, hot or
cold, wet or dry, rough or smooth.
PEL
2. Sensation ; the effect of perception.
The apprehension of the good
Gives but the grcater/ee/i/tg to the worse.
Shak.
3. Facuhy or power of perception ; sensi-
bility.
Their king, out of a princely feeling, was
sparing and compassionate towards his subjects.
Bacon.
Nice sensibility ; as a man of feeling.
5. Excitement ; emotion.
FEE'LINGLY, adv. With expression of
great sensibility ; tenderly ; as, to speak
feelingly.
2. So as to be sensibly felt.
These are counselors.
That feelingly persuade me what I am.
FEESE, n. A race. [J^Tot in use.] Barret.
FEET, 71. plu. of foot. [See Foot.]
FEE'TLESS, a. Destitute of feet ; asfeel-
le.is birds. Camden.
FfiIGN, V. t. fane. [Vr.feindre ; 8l>. Jingir ;
h.Jingere, or fgnere ; L. Jingo ; D. veimen ;
Arm. feinta, fincha. The Latin forms fic-
tum,fictus, yNhenw.figura, figure. Hence
it agrees with W.fugiaiv, to feign or d
semble •,fug, feint, disguise ; also L.fucus.]
1. To invent or imagine ; to form an idea or
conception of something not real.
There are no such things done as thou say
est, but thou feignest them out of thine own
heart. Neh. vi.
2. To make a show of; to pretend ; to as
sume a false appearance ; to counterfeit.
I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourne
2 Sam. xiv.
She feigns a laugh. Pope.
3. To represent falsely; to pretend ; to for
and relate a fictitious tale.
The poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones,
and floods. Shak.
4. To dissemble ; to conceal. Obs.
Spenser
FEIGNED, pp. Invented ; devised ; inia
gined ; assumed.
FEIGNEDLY, adv. In fiction ; in pretense
"not really. Bacon
FEIGNEDNESS, ji. Fiction ; pretense
deceit. Harmar.
FEIGNER, n. One who feigns ; an invent
or ; a deviser of fiction. B. Jonson
FEIGNING, ppr. Imagining ; inventing
pretending ; making a false show.
FEIGNING, n. A false appearance ; artfu
contrivance. B. Jonson.
FEIGNINGLY, adv. With false appear
ance.
FEINT, n, [Fr.feinte, from feindre.] An
assumed or false appearance ; a pretense
of doing something not intended to be
done.
Courtley's letter is but z feint to get off.
Spectator
2. A mock attack; an appearance of aiming
at one part when another is intended to be
struck. In fencing, a show of making a
thrust at one part, to deceive an antago-
nist, when the intention is to strike another
part. Prior. Encyc
FEINT, a. or pp. Counterfeit ; seeming
[Not used.] Loch
FE'LANDERS, n. [See Fdanders.]
Ainsioorlh
F E L
[G.feld, field, and
spar. It is written
FELDSPAR,
FEL'SI'AK,
FELD Sl'.vrH, C "• by some authors
FEL'SP/VTH, > fdspar, which is
rock-.yiar, or fil is a contraction of feld.
Spath in Gorman signifies spar.]
A ininpnil widely distributed and usually of
a fi)iiulc(l structure. When in crystals or
crysialinc masses, it is very susceptible of
mechanical division at natural joints. Its
hardness is a little inferior to that of quartz.
There are several varieties, as common
feldspar, the adularia, the siliceous, the '
glassy, the ice-spar, the opalescent, aven-
turine feldspar, petuntze, the granular,
and the coiiii)act. Cleaveland.
FELDSPATIl'IC, a. Pertaining to feldspar,
or consisting of it. Joum. of Science.
FELICITATE, t.. <. [Fr. feliciler ; Sp./e/i-
cilar; It. felicitare ; L. felicito, irota felir,
happy.]
1. lo make very happy.
What a glorious entertainment and pleasure
would fill and felicitate his spirit, if he could
grasp all in a single survey. IVatts.
More generally,
2. To congratulate ; to express joy or plea-
sure to. We felicitate our friends on the
acquisition ol good, or an escape from
evil.
FELICITATE, a. Made very happy.
SJiak.
FELICITATED, pp. Made very happy;
congratulated.
FELICITATING, ppr. Making very hap-
py ; congratulating.
FELICITA'TION, n. Congratulation.
Did.
FELICITOUS, a. Very happy; prosper-
ou.s; delightful. Did.
FELICITOUSLY, a(/r. Happily. Did.
FELICITY, n. [L. felicitas, from felix,
liapjjy.]
1. Happiness, or rather great happiness ;
blessedness ; blissfulness ; appropriately,
the joys of heaven.
2. Prosperity ; blessing ; enjoyment of good.
The felicities of her wonderful reign may be
complete. Atterbury.
Females — who confer on life its finest /f/ic(-
ties. Jiawle.
FE'LINE, a. [L. felinus, from felis, a cat.
Hu.felt, fierce.]
Pertaining to cats, or to their species ; like
a cat; noting the cat kind or the genus
Felis. We say, the feline race ; felijie ra-
pacity.
FELL, pret. of fall.
FELL, a. [Snx.fell; D.fel.] Cruel ; bar-
barous ; inhuman.
It seemed furj', discord, madness /t//.
Faiifax.
2. Fierce ; savage ; ravenous ; bloody.
More fell than tigeis on the Libyan plain.
Pope.
FELL, 71. [Sax./e«; G. id.; V. vel ; t. pel-
lis ; Fr. peau ; probably from peeling.]
A skin or hide of a beast ; used chiefly in
composition, as icoot-fell.
FELL, n. [G.feb.] A barren or stony hill.
[Local.] Gray.
FELL, I', f. [D.vellen; G. fallen; Sw.fMa;
Dan. /aider; probably from the root ot"
fall.]
To cause to fall ; to prostrate ; to bring to
the ground, cither by cutting, as to fell
trees, or by striking, as to fell an ox.
F E I.
F E L
F E L
FELLED, /)^. Knocked or cut down.
FELL'EK, n. One who hews or knocki
down. Is. xiv.
FELLIF'LUOUS, a. [L. ftl, gall, and /ho,
to flow.] Flowing with gall. Did.
FELL'ING, ppr. Cutting or beating to the
ground.
FELL'MONGER, n. [fell &nA vion get:] A
dealer in hides.
FELL'NESS, n. [See Fell, cruel.] Cruelty ;
fierce barbarity ; rage. Spenser.
FELL'OE. [See Ftlly.]
FEL'LOW, n. [Sax.felaw ; Scot, fidow. Qu.
from follow. More probably, lleb. h2l2
Cli. San to tie or connect, to be joined oi
associated. Cla.ss Bl. No. 46. 53.]
1. A companion; an associate.
In youth I had twelve /("//oit's, like myself.
^scham
Each on hif felloto for assistance calls.
Dryden
2. One of the same kind.
A shepherd had one favorite dog : he fed him
with his own hand, and took more care of him
than of his /eZ/o«'s. L'Estrang:
3. An equal.
Awake, O sword, ae;ainst my shepherd, and
against the man that is my/(7to«', saitli Jehovah
of hosts. Zech. xiii.
4. One of a pair, or of two things used to-
gether and suited to each other. Of t
pair of gloves, we call one the fellow of the
other.
5. One equal or like another. Of an artist
we say, this man has not his /cWomj, that is,
one of like skill.
C. An appellation of contempt; a man with-
out good breeding or worth ; an ignoble
man ; as a mean felloic.
Worth makes the man, and want of it the
fellow. Pope.
7. A member of a college that shares its
revenues; or a member of any incorpora-
ted society. Johnson.
8. A member of a corporation ; a trustee.
U. Slates.
FEL'LOW, V. t. To suit with ; to pair with ;
to match. [Little itscd.] Shak.
In compositioii,/e//ou; denotes community of
nature, station or employment.
FELLOW-CIT'IZEN, n. A citizen of the
same state or nation. Eph. ii.
FELL0W-€OM'MONER, n. One who has
the same right of common.
2. In Cambridge, England, one who dines
with the fellows.
FELLOW-eOUN'SELOR, n. An associate
in council. Shak.
FELLOW-CRE'ATURE, n. One of li,
same race or kind. Thus men are all
called fellow-creatures. Watts uses the
word for one made by the same creator.
" Reason by which we are raised above our
fellow-creatures, the brutes." But the word
is not now used in this sense.
FELLOW-FEE'LING, n. Sympathy ; ;
like feeling.
2. Joint interest. [JVot in use.]
FELLOW-HEIR, n. A co-heir, or joint
heir; one entitled to a share of the same
inheritance.
That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs
Eph. iii.
FELLOW-HELPER, n. A coadjutor ; one
who concurs or aids in the same bus'
jiess. 3 John 8.
FELLOW-LA'BORER, n. One who labors
in the same business or design.
FEL'LOWLIKE, a. Like a companion
companionable ; on equal terms. Careiv
FELLOW-MAIDEN, n. A maiden who it
an associate. Shak.
FELLOW-MEMBER, n. A member of the
same body.
FELLOW-MINISTER, n. One who offi
ciates in the same ministry or calling.
Shak
FELLOW-PEER, n. One who has the like
privileges of nobility. Shak
FELLOW-PRISONER, «. One imprison
ed in the same place. Rom. xvi.
FELLOW^-RA'KE, n. An associate in vice
and profligacy. ^irmstrong.
FELLOW-SellOL'AR, n. An associate in
studies. Shak.
FELLOW-SERVANT, n. One who has
the same master. Milton.
FEL'LOWSIIIP, n. Companionship; soci-
ety ; consort ; mutual association of per-
sons on equal and friendly terms ; familiar
intercourse.
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness. Eph. v.
Men are made for society and mutual /e//otc-
ship. Calamy.
2. Association ; confederacy ; combination.
Most of the other christian princes were
drawn into the fellowship of that war. [ Unu-
sual.'\ Knolles.
Partnership; joint interest ; as fellowship
in pain. Milton.
Company ; a state of being together.
The great contention of the sea and skies
Parted om fellowship. Shak.
Frequency of intercourse.
In a gre.it town friends are scattered, so that
there is not that fellowship which is in less
neighborhoods. , Bacon
Fitness and fondness for festive entertain-
ments; with g-oorf prefi.xed.
He hail by his good fellowship — made himself
popular, with all the officers of the army.
Clarendon.
7. Communion ; intimate familiarity. 1
John i.
8. In arithmetic, the rule of proportions, by
which the accounts of partners in busi-
ness are adjusted, so that each partner
may have a share of gain or sustain a
share of loss, in proportion to his part of
the stock.
An establishment in colleges, for the
maintenance of a fellow.
FELLOW-SOLDIER, n. One who lights
under the same commander, or is enga-
ged in the same service. Ofiicers often
address their companions in arms by this
FELLOW^STRE'AM, n. A stream in the
vicinity. Shenstone.
FELLOW-STUDENT, n. One who stud-
ies in the same company or class with
another, or who belongs to the same
FELLOW-SUBJECT, n. One who is sub-
ject to the same government with another.
Swijl.
FELLOW-SUFFERER, n. One who
shares in the same evil, or partakes of the
same sufferings with another.
FELLOW-TRAVELER, «. One who
travels in company with another.
FELLOW- WRITER, n. One who writes
at the same time. Addison.
FELLOW-WORK'ER,n. One employed in
the same occupation.
FEL'LY, adv. [See Fell, cruel.] Cruelly ;
fiercely; barbarously. Spenser
FEL'LY, n. [Sax. falge ; Dan. id. ; D
velge; G. felge.]
The exterior part or rim of a wheel, sup-
ported by the spokes.
Felo de se, in laiv, one who commits felony
by suicide, or deliberately destroys his
own life.
FEL'ON, n. [Fr. felon ; Low L. felo :
Arm. fellon ; It. fetlo or fellone, a thief. I
accord with Spelman in deducing this
word from the root of fail, the original
signification being, a vassal who failed in
his fidelity or allegiance to his lord, and
committed an offense by which he forfeited
his feud. Hence in French,/cW is traitor-
ous, rebellious. So the word is explained
and deduced in Gregoire's Armoric Dic-
tionary. The derivation from/ce and Ion
in Spelman, copied by Blackstone, is un-
natural.]
1. In laiv, a person who has committed feN
ony. [See Feloity.]
2. A wliitlow ; a painful swelling formed in
the periosteum at the end of the finger.
fViseman.
FEL'ON, a. Malignant; fierce; malicious;
proceeding from a depraved heart.
Vain shows of love to vail his felon hate.
Pope.
2. Traitorous ; disloyal.
FELONIOUS, a. Malignant; malicious;
indicating or proceeding from a depraved
heart or evil purpose ; villainous ; traitor-
ous ; perfidious ; as a felonious deed.
2. In law, proceeding from an evil heart or
purpose; done with the deliberate pur-
pose to commit a crime ; as felonious hom-
icide.
FELO'NIOUSLY, adv. In a felonious man-
ner ; with the deliberate intention to com-
mita crime. Indictments for capital offen-
ses must state the fact to be done feloni-
ously.
FEL'ON- WORT, n. A plant of the genus
Solanum. Fam. of plants.
FEL'ON Y, n. [See Felon.] In common law,
any crime which incurs the forfeiture of
lands or goods. Treason was formerly
comprised under the name of felony, but
is now distinguished from criiries thus de-
nominated, although it is really a felony.
All offenses punishable with death are fel-
onies; and so are some crimes not thus
punished, as suicide, homicide by chance-
medley, or in self-defense, and petty larce-
ny. Capital punishment therefore does
not necessarily enter into the true idea or
definition of felony ; the true criterion of
felony being forfeiture of lands or goods.
But the idea of felony has been so gene-
rally connected with that of capital pun-
ishment, that law and usage now confirm
that connection. Thus if a statute makes
any new offense a felony, it is understood
to mean a crime punishable with death.
Blackstone.
FEL'SITE, n. [See Feldspar.] A species
of compact feldspar, of an azure blue or
green color, found amorphous associated
witli quartz and mica. Kirwan.
F E M
FEN
FEN
FELT, pret. of feel.
FELT, »i. [S-Ax. felt; G.filz; D. vUt ; Fr.
feutre, for feiiUre ; Ann. fellr, ov feullr ; It.
feltro. This may be derived naturally
from the root o{ fill or fall, to stuff and
make thick, or from the root of L. pellis,
Eng. fell, a skin, from plucking or strip-
ping, L. vello, vellus, Eng. wool. In Ir.
folt, W. gwalll, is hair.]
1. A cloth or stuff made of wool, or wool
and hair, fulled or wrought into a com-
pact substance by rolling and pressure
with lees or size. Encyc.
2. A hat made of wool.
3. Skin.
To know whether shpcj) are sound or not,
see that Ihefelt be loose. Mortimer.
FELT, V. t. To make cloth or stuff of wool,
or wool and hair, by fulling. Hale.
FELT'ER, V. t. To clot or meet together
like felt. Fairfax.
FELT'MAKER, n. One whose occupation
is to make felt.
FELUCCA, re. [It. feluca ; Fr. felouque ;
S|>. faluca.]
A boat or vessel, with oars and lateen .«ails,
used in the Mediterranean. It has this
peculiarity, that the helm may be applied
to the head or stern, as occasion requires.
Mar. Diet. Encyc.
FEL'WORT, n. A plant, a species of Gen-
tian.
FE'MALE, n. \Fr. femclle ; L. femella;
Arm. femell; Fr. femme, woman. See
Feminine.]
1. Among animals, one of that sc.\ which
conceives and brings forth young.
2. Among platils, that which produces fruit;
that which bears the pistil and receives
the pollen of the male flowers.
FE'MALE, a. Noting the sex which produ-
ces young ; not male ; as a female bee.
2. Pertaining to females ; as a female hand
or heart ; female tenderness
To the generous decision of a female mind,
we owe the discovery of Auierica. Belknap
3. Feminine ; soft ; delicate ; weak.
Female rhymes, double rhymes, so called
from the French, in which language they
end in e feminine.
FEMALE-FLOWER, n. In botany, a flow
er which is furnished with the pistil, poin-
tal, or female organs.
FEMALE-PLANT, n. A plant which pro
duces female flowers.
FEMALE-SCREW, n. A screw witi
grooves or channels.
FEME-COVERT, ) [Fr.] A married
FEMME-COVERT, (,"■ woman, who is
under covert of her baron or husband.
FEME-SOLE, (
FEMME-SOLE, $
Femme-sole merchant, a woman who uses a
trade alone, or without her husband.
FEMINAL'ITY, n. The female nature.
Brotvi
FEM'INATE, a. Feminine. [.Yot in nse
Ford'.
FEM'ININE, a. [Fr. feminin ; L. femini
nus, from femiiia, woman. The first syl
■ n. An unmarried woman.
lable may be and probably is from we'mb
or womb, by the use of/ for w ; the 6 not
being radical. The last part of the word
ii) probably from man. quasi, fern
worob-man.l
. Pertaining to a woman, or to women, or
to females ; as the female sex.
2. Soft ; tender ; delicate.
Her heavenly form
Angelic, but more soft and/eminine. Milton.
3. Effeminate ; destitute of manly qualities.
Raleigh.
4. In grammar, denoting the gender or
words which signify females, or the ter-
minations of such words. Words are said
to be of the feminine gender, when they
denote females, or have the terminations
proper to express females in any given
language. Thus in L. dominus, a lord, is
masculine ; but domina, is mistress, a fe-
male.
Milton uses feminine as a noun, for female.
FEMIN'ITY, n. The quality of the female
sex. [.Vo< used.] Spenser.
FEM'INIZE, V. t. To make womanish.
LVot used.] More.
FEM'ORAL, a. [L. femoralts, from femur,
the thigh.]
Belonging to the thigh ; as the femoral ar-
tery.
FEN, n. [Sax. /en or/e»!n ; D. veen ; Arm
fenna, to overflow; W.fynu, to abound
to produce ; hence L. /oii», Eng. foun-
tain.]
Low land overflowed, or covered wholly or
partially with water, but producing sedge,
coarse grasses, or other aquatic plants ;
boggy land ; a moor or marsh.
A long canal the muddy fen divides.
.Addison.
FEN'-BERRY, n. A kind of blackberry.
Skinner.
FEN'-BORN, a. Born or produced in a fen,
Milton.
FEN'-CRESS, n. [Sax. fen-cerse.] Cress
growing in fens.
FEN'-CRICKET, re. [Gryllotalpa.] An in-
sect that digs for itself a little hole in the
giound. Johnson,
FEN'-DUCK, n. A .species of wild duck.
FEN'-FOWL, ?i. Any fowl that frequents
fens.
FEN'-LAND, n. Marshy land.
FEN'-SUCKED, a. Sucked out of marshes
as fen-sucked fogs. Shak
FENCE, n. fens. [See Fend.] A wall,
hedge, ditch, bank, or line of posts and
rails, or of boards or pickets, intended to
confine beasts from straying, and to guard
a field from being entered by cattle, or
from other encroachment. A good far-
mer has good fences about his farm ; an
insutHcient fence is evidence of bad man
agement. Broken windows and poor/en-
ces are evidences of idleness or poverty or
of both.
2. A guard ; any thing to restrain entrance
that which defends from attack, approach
or injury ; security ; defense.
A/ence betwixt us and the victor's wrath.
Mdison
3. Fencing, or the art of fencing ; defense
Shak.
4. Skill in fencin? or defense. Shak
FENCE, !•. t. feu's. To inclose with a hedge
wall, or any thing that prevents the es-
cape or entrance of cattle; to secure by ar
inclosure . In JVeto England, farmers, for
the most part,/eHce their lands with post-
and rails, or with stone walls. In Eng-
land, lands are usually /e«ce(i with hedges
and ditches.
He huh fenced my way that I cannot pa«>.
Job xix.
2. To guard ; to fortify.
So much of adder's wisdom I have learnt.
To fei>ce my car against Ihy sorceries.
ABltoti.
FENCE, V. i. To practice the art of fencing;
to use a sword or foil, for the purj)ose of
learning the art of attack and defense.
Ilo fence well is deemed a useful accom-
plishment for military gentlemen.
2. To fight and defend by giving and avoid-
ing blows or thrusts.
They fence and push, and, pushing, loudly
roar.
Their dewlaps and their sides arc bathed in
gore. Dryden.
.3. To raise a fence ; to guard. It is difficult
to fence agahist unruly cattle.
FENCED, pp. Inclo.scd with a fence;
guarded ; fortified.
FENCEFLTL, a. fensful. Affording de-
fense. Congreve.
FENCELESS, a. fens'less. Without a
fence ; uninclosed ; unguarded.
2. Open ; not inclosed ; as the fenceless
ocean. Rowe.
FENCE-MONTH, re. The month in which
hunting in any forest is prohibited.
Bullokar.
FEN'CER, 71. One who fences; one who
teaches or practices the art of fencing
with sword or foil. Dighu.
FEN'CIBLE, a. Capable of defense.
Spenser. Addison.
2. n. A soldier for defense of the country ;
as a regiment of fencibles.
FEN'CING, ppr. Inclosing with fence ;
guarding ; fortifying.
FEN'CING, n. The art of using skilfully a
sword or foil in attack or defense ; an art
taught in schools.
2. The materials offences for farms.
A*". England.
FENCING-MASTER, re. One who teach-
es the art of attack and defense with
sword or foil.
FENCING-SCHOOL, n. A school in which
the art of fencing is taught.
FEND, V. t. [The root of defend and ojcnd.
The primary sense is to fall on, or to
strike, to repel.]
To keep off; to prevent from entering ; to
ward off; to shut out.
With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold.
Dryden.
It is usually followed by off; as, to ferid off
blows.
To fend off a boat or vessel, is to prevent its
running against another, or against a
wharf, &c., with too much violence.
FEND, V. i. To act in opposition ; to resist;
to parry ; to shift off. Locke.
FEND'ED, pp. Kept off; warded off; shut
out.
FEND'ER, re. That which defends; an
utensil employed to binder coals of fire
from rolling forward to the floor.
2. A piece of timber or other thing hung
over the side of a ves.sel to prevent it
from striking or rubbing against a wharf,
also to preserve a small vessel from being
injured by a large one.
FEND'ING, D;>r. Keeping or warding off.
FEN'ERATE, v. i. [L. fanero.] To put to
use : to lend on interest. [SVot used.]
FENERA'TION, n. The act oflending- on
F E R
F E R
F E R
use ; or the irueiest or gain of that which
is lent.
FENES'TRAL, a. []..fenestmUs, from fen
estra, a window.] Pertaining to a win
dow. JVicholson.
FEN'NEL, n. [Sax. fenol ; G. fenchel ; D
venkel ; Sw. fenkal ; Dan. fennikel ; W.
fenigyl ; Fr.fenouil ; Sp. hincjo ; It.Jinoc-
chio ; Ir. feneul ; L. fanicvlum, f Vom fa-
mim, hay.]
A fragrant plant of tlie genus Ancthmn, culti-
vated in gardens.
FEN'NEL-FLOWER, n. A plant of thi;
genus Nigella.
FEN'NEL-GlANT, n. A plant of the genus
Ferula.
FEN'NY, a. [from fm.] Boggy; marshy:
moorish. Moxon.
2. Growing in fens ; as fenny brake. Prior.
3. Inhabiting marshy ground ; as a fenny
snake. Sliak.
FENNYSTONES, )i. A plant.
FEN'OWED, «. Corrupted ; decayed. [jVot
in use.]
FEN'CJGREEK, n. [L. fanum giwcum.] A
plant of the genus Trigonella.
FE'OD, n. A feud. So written by Black-
stone and other authors ; but more geuer-
ally,/e»f/, which see.
FE'ODAL, a. Feudal, which see.
FEODAL'ITY, n. Feudal tenures; the
feudal system. Burke.
FE'ODARY, n. One who holds lands of a
superior, on condition of suit and service.
[Little used.] [See Feudatory.]
FEODATORY. [See Feudatory.]
FEOFF, II. /. feff. [Norm, feffre ; Fr.feffer,
fronifef. The first syllable is the It./erfe,
Sp./e, contracted from fides, faith ; the last
syllable I am not able to trace.]
To invest with a fee or feud ; to give or
grant to one any corporeal hereditament.
The compoimd infeoff is more generally
used.
FEOFF, a fief. [See Fief]
FEOFFEE, 71. feffee'. A person who is in-
feoffed, that is, invested with a fee or
corporeal hereditament.
FEOFFER, ? f fl. One who infeoffs or
FEOFFOR, < "• ■'^■V "■ grants a fee.
FEOFFMENT, n. feffmenf. [Law L. feoff-
amentuni.] The gift or grant of a fee or
corporeal hereditament, as land, castles,
honors, or other inunovable thing ; a
grant in fee simple, to a man and his heirs
forever. When in writing, it is called a
deed of feoffment. The primary sense is
the grant of a feud or an estate in trust.
[See Feud.]
FERA'CIOUS, a. [L. ferax, from fero, to
bear.] Fruitful; producing abundantly.
Thomson.
FERAC'ITY, n. [L. feracitas.] Fruitful-
ness. [Little used.]
FE'RAL, a. [L. feralis.] Funereal; per-
taining to funerals; mournful. Burton.
FERE, n. [Sax. fera, or gefera, with a pre-
fi.\.] A fellow ; a mate ; a peer. Obs.
Chaucer.
FER'ETORY, n. [L. feretrum, a bier.] A
place in a church for a bier.
FE'RIAL, a. [L. ferialis.] Pertaining to
hohdays, or to common days. Gregon/.
FERIA'TION, n. [L.feriatio, from ferice, va-
cant days, holidays ; G. fcier, whence fe-
icrn, to rest from labor, to kcc|) holiday
D. vieren.]
The act of keeping holiday ; cessation from
work. Brown
FE'RINE, a. [h.ferinus, from ferus, wild.
probably from the root of Sax. faran, tc
go, to wander, or a verb of the same fam-
ily.]
[Wild ; untamed ; savage. Lions, tigers,
! wolves and bears are/cmic beasts. Hale
FE'RINENESS, n. Wildness ; savageness,
Hale.
FER'ITY, n. [L. fenlas, from ftrus, wild.]
Wildness ; savageness ; cruelty.
Woodtvard.
FERM, n. A farm or rent ; a lodging-house,
06*. [See Farm.]
FER'MENT, n. [\^. fermerdum, from ferveo,
to boil. See Fervent.]
1. A gentle boiling ; or the internal motion
of the constituent parts of a fluid.
[In this sense it is rarely used. See
Fermentation.]
2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agita-
tion ; as, to put the passions in a ferment ;
the state or people are in a ferment.
Subdue and cool the ferment of desire.
Rogers.
3. That which causes fermentation, as yeast,
barm, or fennenting beer.
FERMENT', v. t. [L.fermento; Fr.fermen
ter ; Sp. fermentar ; It. fermentare.]
To set in motion ; to excite internal motion ;
to heat ; to raise by intestine motion.
Wh\\e youth ferments the blood. Pope.
FERMENT', v. i. To work ; to effervesce ;
to be in motion, or to be excited into sen-
sible internal motion, as the constituent
particles of an animal or vegetable fluid.
To the vinous fermentation we apply the
term, ^vork. We say that new cider, beer
or wine ferments or works. But work is
not applied to the other kinds of fermenta-
tion.
FERMENT'ABLE, a. Capable of fermen-
tation ; thus, cider, beer of all kinds, wine,
and other vegetable liquors, txrefermentable.
FERMENTA'TION, n. [L. fertnentatio.]
The sensible internal motion of the con-
stituent particles of animal and vegetable
substances, occasioned by a certain degree
of heat and moisture, and accompanied
by an extrication of gas and heat. Fer-
mentation is followed by a change of
properties in the substances fermented,
arising from new combinations of their
principles. It may be defined, in its most
general sense, any spontaneous change
which takes place in animal or vegetable
substances, after life has ceased. It is of
three kinds, vinous, acetous and putrefac-
tive. The term is also applied to other
processes, as the panary fermentation, or
the raising of bread ; but it is limited, by
some authors, to the vinous and acetous
fermentations, which terminate in the
production of alcohol or vinegar. Fer-
mentation differs from effervescence. The
former is confined to animal and vegeta-
ble substances ; the latter is applicable to
mineral substances. The former is spon-
taneous ; the latter produced by the mix-
ture of bodies. Encyc. Parr. Thomson.
FERMENT'ATIVE, a. Causing or having
l)ower to cause fermentation ; as ferment-
ative heat.
IS ; rapacious ; as a ferocious lion,
barbarous ; cruel ; as ferocious
2. Consisting in fermentation ; as fermenla-
I tive process.
FERMENT'ATIVENESS, n. The state of
! being fermentative.
•FERMENT'ED, /^jo. Worked; having un-
i dergone the process of fermentation.
FERMENT'ING, ppr. Working; efferves-
I cing.
[FERN, n. [Sax. fearn ; G. farn-kraut ; D.
j vaaren.]
jA plant of several species constituting the
I tribe or family of Filiees, which have their
fructification on the back of the fronds or
leaves, or in which the flowers are borne
on footstalks which overtop the leaves.
The stem is the common footstalk or rath-
er the middle rib of the leaves, so that
most icrns want the stem altogether. The
ferns conftitute the first order of crypto-
gams, in the sexual system.
Milne. Encyc.
FERN-OWL, n. The goatsucker.
FERN'Y, a. Abounding or overgrown with
fern. Barret.
FEROCIOUS, a. [Fr. feroee ; Sp. feroz ;
It. feroee ,- L. ferox ; allied to ferus, wild,
fera, a wild animal.]
1. Fierce ; savage ; wild ; indicating cruelty ;
as a ferocious look, countenance or fea-
tures.
2. Raven
j3. Fierce
I savage
FEROCIOUSLY, adv. Fiercely ; with sav-
age crueltv.
FERO'CIOUSNESS, n. Savage fierceness;
cruelty ; ferocity.
FEROCITY, n. [L.ferocitas.] Savage wild-
ness or fierceness ; fury ; cruelty ; as the
1 ferocity of barbarians.
j2. Fierceness indicating a savage heart ; as
ferocity of countenance.
FER'REOUS, a. [L. ferretts, from ferrum,
iron, Fr. fer, Sp. hierro, from the Celtic ; .
W.Jfer, solid ; feru, to concrete.]
Partaking of iron ; pertaining to iron ; like
j iron ; made of iron. Brown.
FER'RET,»i. [D.vret;Fr.furet; G. freit, or
fretlchen, or freiiwiesel ; W.fured; Ir. fir-
ead ; Sp. huron ; It. furetto. Fur in W. is
subtil, penetrating, cunning.]
1. An animal of the genus Mustela, or Wea-
sel kind, about 14 inches in length, of a
pale yellow color with red eyes. It is a
native of Africa, but has been introduced
into Europe. It cannot however bear
cold, and cannot subsist even in France,
except in a domestic state. Ferrets are
used to catch rabbits. Encyc.
2. A kind of narrow woolen tape.
3. Among glass makers, the iron used to try
the melted matter, to see if it is fit to work,
and to make the rings at the mouths of
bottles. Encyc.
FERRET, V. t. To drive out of a lurking
place, as a ferret does the coney.
Johnson. Heylin.
FER'RETED, pp. Driven from a burrow
or lurking ])lace.
FER'RETER, »i. One that hunts another
in his private retreat.
FER'RETING, ppr. Driving from a lurk-
[ ing place.
FER'RIAGE, )i. [Sec Ferry.] The price or
1 fare to be paid at a ferry ; the compensa-
F E R
tion established or paid for conveyancp
over a river or lake in a boat.
FER'RIe, a. Pertaining to or extracted
from iron. Ftrric acid is the acid of iron
saturated with oxygen. Lavoisier.
FERRl-CAL'CITE, n. [L.ferrum, iron, and
calx, lime.]
A species of calcarious earth or limestone
combined with a large portion of iron,
from 7 to 14 per cent. Kirwan.
FERRIF'EROUS, a. [L. ferrum and/fro.]
Producing or yielding iron. Phillips.
FER'RILITE, n. [L. fernm, iron, and Gr.
%i9oi, a stone.]
Rowley ragg ; a variety of trap, containing
iron in the state of oxyd. Kirwan.
FERRO-CY'ANATE, n. A compound of the
ferro-cyanic acid with a base.
FERRO-CYAN'l€,a. \h. ferrum, iron, and
cyanic, which see.] The same as Jerro-
prvssic.
FERRO-PRUS'SIATE, n. A compound of
the ferro-prussic acid with a base.
FERRO-PRyS'SI€,a. [h. ferrum, iron, and
prussic] Designating a pecidiar aricl
formed of prussic acid and protoxyd ol
iron. Coxc
FERRO-SIL'l€ATE, n. A compound oil
ferro-silicic acid with a base, forming a
substance analogous to a salt.
FEBRO-SILIC'I€, a. [L./cmim, iron, and
sitex.] Designating a compound of iron
and silex.
FERRU'UINATED, a. [infra.] Having the
r.olor or properties of the rust of iron.
FERRU'GINOUS, a. [L. ferrvgo, rust of|
iron, from ferrum, iron.]
1. Partaking of iron; containing particles of
iron.
2. Of the color of the rust or oxyd of iron
[Ferrugineous is less used.]
FER'RULE, n. [Sp. birola, a ring or cap foi
a cane.]
A ring of metal put round a cane or other
thing to strengthen it.
FER'RY, V. t. [Sax. feran, ferian ; G.fuh-
ren ; Gr. $fpw ; h.fero; allied to bear, and
more nearly to Sax. faran, to pass. Sec
Bear and Fare, and Class Br. No. 33. 35.]
To carrj' or transport over a river, strait or
other water, in a boat. We ferry men,
horses, carriages, over rivers, for a mode-
rate fee or price called fare or ferriage.
FER'RY, V. i. To pass over water in a boat.
Millon.
FER'RY, n. A boat or small vessel in which
passengers and goods are conveyed over
rivers or other narrow waters ; sometimes
called a ivherry. This application of the
uvrd is, I believe, entirely obsolete, at least in
America.
2. The place or passage where boats pass
ver water to convey passengers.
3. The right of transporting passengers over
a lake or stream. A. B. owns l\\e ferry at
Windsor. [In JVetu England, this ivord is
used in the two latter senses.]
FER'RYBOAT, »i. A boat for conveying
passengers over streams and other nar-
row waters.
FER'RYMAN, n. One who keeps a ferry,
and transports passengers over a river.
FER'TILE,a. [Fr./«rtj7e; Sp.fertil; Infer-
tile ; L.foiilis, from fero, to bear.]
1. Fruitful; rich; producing fruit in abun-
Vol. I.
F E R
dance; as/erh7e land, ground, soil, field
or meadows. This word iu America i;
rarely applied to trees, or to animals, but
to land. It formerly had of before the
thing produced ; as fertile of all kinds of
grain : but in is now used ; fertile in grain.
2. Rich ; having abundant resources ; pro
lific ; productive ; inventive ; able to pro
ducc abundantly ; as a fertile genius, mind
or imagination.
FER'TILENESS, n. [See FertUity.]
FERTIL'ITY, n. [L. fertilitas.] Fruitful-
ness ; the quality of producing fruit in
abundance ; as the fertility of laud, ground,
soil, fields and meadows.
2. Richness; abundant resources; fertile
vention ; as the/ertj7% of genius, of fancy
or imagination.
Fl'.R'TILIZE, V. t. To enrich ; to supply
with the pabulum of plants ; to make fruit
ful or productive ; as, to fertilize land, soil,
ground and meadows. [FerlUitate '
used.]
FKK'TIIJZED, p;?. Enriched; rendered
IViiiiliil.
I'i:i{ TILIZING, /jpr. Enriching; making
fruitful or productive. The Connecticut
overflows the adjacent meadows, fertiliz-
ing them by depositing fine particles of
earth or vegetable substances.
2. a. Enriching ; furnishing the nutriment
of plants.
FERULA'CEOUS, a. [L. ferula.] Pertain
ing to reeds or canes; having a stalk like
a reed ; or resembling the Ferula, as fcr-
ulaceous plants. Fourcroy.
FER'ULE, n. [L. ferula, fromferio, to strike,
or from the u.se of stalks of the Ferula.l
1. A little wooden pallet or slice, used to
punish children in school, by striking them
on the palm of the hand. {Ferular is not
used.]
2. Under the Eastern empire, ihefenda was
the emperor's scepter. It was a long
stem or shank, with a flat square head,
Encyc.
FER'ULE, V. t. To punish with a ferule
FERVENCY, n. [See Fervent.] Heat of
mind ; ardor ; eagerness. Shak
2. Pious ardor ; animated zeal ; warmth of
devotion.
When you pray, let it be witJi attention, with
fervency, and with perseverance. TVake
FERVENT, a. [L. fervens, from ferveo
to be hot, to boil, to glow; Ar. [j
to boil, to swell with heat, to ferment
Class Br. No. 30. Ferveo gives the Span-
ish hervir, to boil, to swarm as bees-
whose motions resemble tlie boiling of
1. Hot ; boiling ; as a fervent summer ; fer-
vent blood. Spenser. Wotton.
2. Hot in temper ; vehement.
They are fervent to dispute. Hooker
3. Ardent ; very warm ; earnest ; excited :
animated; glowing; s.a fervent zeal; fer-
vent piety.
Fervent in spirit. Rom. xii.
FERVENTLY, adv. Earnestly ; eagerly :
vehemently ; with great warmth.
2. With pious ardor ; with earnest zeal ; ar-
dently.
Epa'phras — saluteth you, lahonag fervently foi
you in piayers. Col. iv.
82
FES
FERVID, ff. [L.fervidus.] Very hot; burn-
ing; boihng; as fervid lie at.
2. Very warm in zeal ; vehement ; eager ;
earnest ; as fervid zeal.
FERVIDLY, arfi'. Very hotly ; with glow-
ing warmth.
FERVIDNESS, n. Glowing heat; ardor of
nd ; warm zeal. Bentley.
FERVOR, n. [L. fervor.] Heat or warmth ;
the fervor of a summer's day.
2. Heat of mind ; ardor ; warm or animated
zeal and earnestness in the duties of reli-
gion, particidarly in praver.
FES'CKNNINE, a. Pertaining to Fescen-
nium in Italy ; licentious. Kennet.
FES'CENNINE, n. A nuptial song, or a li-
centious song. Cartwrighl.
FES'€UE, n. [Fr. felu, for festu, a straw ;
L. festuca, a shoot or stalk of a tree, a
rod.]
A small wire used to point out letters to chil-
dren when learning to read.
Dn/dev. Holder.
FES'€UE-GRASS, n. The t'eftuca, a ge-
nus of grasses. Lee.
FE'SELS, n. A kind of base grain. May.
FESSE, n.fess. [\,. fascia, a band.] In her-
aldry, a band or girdle, possessing the third
part of the escutcheon ; one of the nine
honorable ordinaries. Peacham. Encyc.
FESSE-POINT, Ji. The exact center of the
escutcheon. Encyc.
FES'TAL, a. [L. festtis, festive. See Feast.]
Pertaining to a fcast ; joyous ; gay ; mirth-
ful. Chesterfield.
FES'TER, V. i. [Ciu. L. peslis, pus, or pus-
<«to.]
To rankle ; to corrui)t ; to grow virulent.
We say of a sore or wound, it festers.
Passion and unkindness may give a wound
that shall bleed and smart ; but it is treachery
that makes it fester. South.
FES'TERING, ppr. Rankling ; growing
virulent.
FES'TINATE, a. [L. feslino, feslinalus.]
Hasty ; hurried. LYotin use.] Shtik.
FESTiNA'TION, n. Haste. [.Vot used.]
FES'TIVAL, a. [L.festivus, fromfestus, or
festum, or fasti. See Feast.]
Pertaining to a feast ; joyous ; mirthful ; as
a festival entertainment. Atterbury.
FES'TIVAL, n. The time of feasting ; an
niversary day of joy, civil or religious.
The morning trumpets /fs/ica? proclaimed.
Milton.
FES'TIVE, a. [h. festivus.] Pertaining to or
becoming a feast ; joyous ; gay ; mirthful.
The, glad circle round them jield their soids
To festive mirth and wit that knows no gall.
Thomson.
FESTIV'ITY, n. [h.festivitas.] Primarily,
the mirth of a feast ; hence, joyfulness ;
gayety ; social joy or exhiliration of spir-
its at an entertainment. Taylor.
2. A festival. [A'ot in use.] Brotcn.
FESTOON', n. [Fr. feston ; Sp. id. ; Ix.fes-
tone ; probably a tie, from the root of fast,
W.fest.]
Something in imitation of a garland or
wreath. In architecture and sculpture, an
ornament of carved work in the form of a
wreath of flowers, fruits and leaves inter-
mixed or twisted together. It is in the
form of a string or collar, somewhat lar-
gest in the middle, where it falls down in
an arch, being suspended by the ends, the
F E T
extremities of wliicli hang down perpen-
didiliirlv. Hari-is. Encyc.
FES'TUCINE, a. [h. fesiiua.] Being of a
straw-color. Brown.
FES'TUeOUS, a. Formed of straw. Broivn.
FET, »!. [Fr./rtii.] Apiece. [JVot used.
FET, V. I. or i. To fetch ; to come to. [M'ot
used.] Tusser. Sackvillt.
FE'TAL, a. [from fetus.] Pertaining to a
fetus.
FETCH, D.«. [Sax. feccan, or feccean. I have
not found this word in any other lan-
guage. Fet, fettan, must be a different
word or a corruption.]
1. To go and bring, or simply to bring, that
is, to bear a tiling towards or to a person.
We will take iiiea to fetch victuals for the
people. Judges xx.
Go to the flock, and/e/cft me from thence two
kids of the goats. Gen. xxvii.
In the latter passage,/e<cA signifies only
to bring.
8. To derive ; to draw, as from a source.
— —On you noblest English,
Whose blood is fetched from fathers of war
proof Shah
[In this sense, the use is neither commor,
nor elegant.]
3. To strike at a distance. [JVoi used.]
The conditions and improvements of weap-
ons are the fetching afar off. Bacon
4. To bring jjack ; to recall ; to bring to any
state. [JYol used or vulgar.]
In smells we see tlieir great and sudden effect in
fetching men again, when they swoon. Bacon
5. To bring or draw ; as, to fetch a thing
within a certain compass.
(i. To make ; to perform ; as, to fetch a turn ;
to fetch a leap or bound. Shak.
Ketch a compass behind them. 2 Sam. v.
7. To draw ; to heave ; as, to fetch a sigh.
Addison.
8. To reach ; to attain or come to ; to ar-
rive at.
We fetched the syren's isle. Chapman.
.9. To bring ; to obtain as its price. Wheat
fetches only 75 cents the bushel. A com
inodity is worth what it will fetch.
To fetch out, to bring or draw out ; to cause
to .'ippear.
To fetch to, to restore ; to revive, as from
swoon.
To fetch up, to bring up; to cause to come
up or forth.
To fetch a pump, to pour water into it to
make it draw water. Mar. Diet.
FETCH, V. i. To move or turn ; as, to fetch
about. Shak.
FETCH, n. A stratagem, by which a thing
is indirectly brought to pass, or by whicl
one thing .seems intended and another is
done ; a trick ; an artifice ; as a fetch of
wit. Sliftk.
Straight cast about to over-reach
Th' unwary conqueror witli a fetch. Hudibras.
FETCH'ER, n. One that brings.
FETCH'ING, ppr. Bringing ; going and
bringing ; deriving ; drawing ; making ;
reaching ; obtaining as price.
FET'ICHISM, ? The worship of ido
FET'ICISM, S among the negroes of
Africa, among whom fetich is an idol, any
tree, stone or other thing worshipped.
FET'ID, a. [h. fmtidus, from fceteo, to ha\e
an ill scent.]
Having an offensive smell ; having a strong
or rancid scent.
FEU
Most putrefactions smell either fetid or moldy.
FET'IDNESS, n. The quality of smellling
offensively ; a fetid quality.
FETIF'EROtJS, a. [L. fwtifer ; fwtus am\
fero, to bear.] Producing young, as ani-
mals.
FET'LOCK, n. [foot or feet and lock.] A
; tuft of hair growing behind the pastern
j joint of many horses. Horses of low size
I have scarce any such tufl. Far. Diet.
FE'TOR, n. [L.fcetor.] Any strong offensive
smell; stench. Arbuthnot.
FET'TER, n. [Sax. fetor, from foot, feet, as
in L. pedica ; G.fessel. Chiefly used in tlie
plural, fetters.]
A chain for the feet ; a chain by which
an animal is confined by the foot, either
made fast or fixed, as a prisoner, or impe
ded in motion and hindered from leaping
as a horse whose fore and hind feet are
confined by a chain.
The Philistines bound Samson with fetters
of brass. Judges xvi.
Any thing that confines or restrains from
fierce to be in fetters bound.
Dryden.
FET'TER, V. t. To put on fetters ; to shack
le or confine the ftjet with a chain.
2. To bind ; to enchain ; to confine ; to re
strain motion ; to impose restraints on.
Fetter strong madness in a silken thread.
Shalt
FET'TERED, pp. Bound or confined by
fetters ; enchained. Marston.
[FET'TERING, />/?r. Binding or fastening by
1 the feet with a chain ; confining; restrain
j ing motion.
FET'TERLESS, a. Free from fetters or re
straint. Marston.
FETT'STEIN, n. [Ger. fat-stone.] A min
eral of a greenish or bluisli gray color or
flesh red, called also elaolite.
Aikin. Jameson.
FE'TUS, n. plu. fetuses. [L. fmtus.] The
young of viviparous animals in the womb,
and of oviparous animals in the egg, after
it is perfectly formed ; before which time
it is called embryo. A young animal then
is called a fetus from the time its parts are
distinctly formed, till its birth. Encyc.
Feu de joie, fire of joy, a French phrase for
a bonfire, or a firing of guns in token of
FEUD, n. [Sax.fwhth, or feegth, fvomfgan,
feon, to hate. Hence also fah, a foe, and
from the participle, feond, a fiend ; D. vy-
and, G. feind, an enemy ; G. fehde, war,
quarrel; Sw.fegd; Dan. fejde. In Irish,
fuath is hatred, abhorrence. Class Bg.j
1. Primarily, a deadly quarrel ; hatred ami
contention that was to be terminated only
by death. Among our rude ancestors, these
quarrels, though originating in the nmr
der of an individual, involved the wholi
tribe or family of the injured and of tin
aggressing parties. Hence in modern
usage,
2. A contention or quarrel ; particularly, an
inveterate quarrel between families or
parties in a state ; the discord and ani-
mosities which prevail among the citizens
of a state or city, sometimes accompanied
with civil war. In the north of Great
Britain, the word is still used in its origi-
nal sense ; denoting a combination of kin-
FEU
dred to revenge the death of any of their
blood, on the offender and all his race, or
any other great enemy. We say, it is the
policy of our enemies to raise and cherish
intestine feuds.
The word is not strictly applicable to
wars between different nations, but to in-
testine wars, and to quarrels and animosi-
ties between families or small tribes.
FEUD,»i. [Usually supposed to be composed
of the Teutonic/ee, goods, reward, and ead
or odh, W. eizaw, possession, property. But
if feuds had been given as rewards for ser-
vices, that consideration would have vested
the title to the land in the donee. Yet
feud is not a Teutonic or Gothic word, be-
ing found among none of the northern na-
tions of Europe. This word originated in
the south of Europe, whether in France,
Spain or Italy, may perhaps be ascertained
by writings of the middle ages, which I
do not possess. It probably originated
among the Franks, or in Lombardy or
Italy, and certainly among men who studi-
ed the civil law. In Italian, a feoffee is
called fede-commessario, a trust-commissa-
ry ; fede-eommesso, is a feoffhient, a trust-
estate ; Sp.fideioomiso, a feoffment. These
words are the fidei-commissarius, fidei-
commissum, of the Digest and Codex. In
Spanish fiado signifies security given for
another or bail ; al fiado, on trust ; fiador,
one who trusts ; feudo, a fief; fee or feud ;
Port. id. In Norman, fidz de chevalers
signifies knight's fees. Feud^ then, and
fee, which is a contraction of it, is a word
formed fiom the L. fides. It. fede, Sp./e,
Norm, fei, faith, trust, with had, state, or
ead or odh, estate ; and a feud is an estate
in trust, or on condition, which coincides
nearly in sense with the northern word,
G. lehen, D. leen, Sw. l&n, Dan. lehn, Eng.
loan. From the origin of this word, we
see the pecuhar propriety of calling the
Aonee fidelis, and his obligation to his lord
fidelitas, whence fealty.]
A fief; a fee ; a right to lands or heredita-
ments held in trust, or on the terms of
performing certain conditions ; the right
which a vassal or tenant has to the lands
or other immovable thing of his lord, to
use the same and take the profits thereof
hereditarilj', rendering to his superior such
duties and services as belong to mili-
tary tenure, &c., the property of the soil
always remaining in the lord or superior.
From the foregoing explanation of the
origin of the word, result very naturally
the definition of the term, and the doc-
trine of forfeiture, upon non-performance
of the conditions of the trust or loan.
FEU'DAL, a. [Sp. feudal.] Pertaining to
feuds, fiefs or fees ; as feudal rights or ser-
vices ; feudal tenures.
2. Consisting of feuds or fiefs ; embracing
tenures by military services ; as the feudal
system.
FEUDALITY, n. The state or quality of
being feudal ; feudal form or constitution.
Burke.
FEU'DALISM, n. The feudal system; the
principles and constitution of feuds, or
lands held by military services.
JVtiitaker.
FEU'DARY, a. Holding land of a superior.
FEU'DATARY, n. A feudatory, which see.
F E V
FEU'DATORY, n. [Sp. feudalorio ; Port.
feudatario.]
A tenant or vassal wlio holds his lands of a
superior, on condition of military service ;
the tenant of a feud or fief.
Blackslone. Encyc.
FEU'DIST, n. A writer on feuds.
Spelman.
FEUILLAciE, n. [Fr. foliage.] A bunch or
row of leaves. Jervas.
FEUILLEMORT, n. [Fr. dead leaf.] The
color of a faded leaf.
FEU'TER, V. t. To make ready. [Mt in
use.] Spenser.
FEU'TERER, n. A dog keeper. [JVotused.]
Massenger.
FE'VER, n. [Fr.fievre; Sp.Jiebre; It./ei-
bre; L.febris, supposed to he so written
by transposition tor ferbis, or fervis, from
ferbeo,ferveo, to be hot, Ar. ^Li tJlass
Br. No. 30.]
1. A disease, characterized by an accelera-
ted pulse, with increase of heat, impaired
functions, diminished strength, and often
with preternatural thirst This order of
diseases is called by Cullen pyrexy, Gr.
«vpf?ia. Fevers are often or generally
preceded by chills or rigors, called the (!old
stage of the disease. Fevers are of vari-
ous kinds; but the principal division of
fevers is into remitting fevers, which sub-
side or abate at intervals ; interyiiitling fe-
vers, which intermit or entirely cease at
intervals ; and continued or continued fe-
vers, which neither remit nor intermit.
2. Heat; agitation; excitementby any thing
that strongly afifects the passions. Tlii;
news has given me a fever. This quarrel
has set my blood in a fever.
FE'VER, V. i. To put in a fever. Dnjdi
FE'VER-COOUNG, a. Allaying febrile
heat. Thomson.
FE'VERET, n. A slight fever. [JYot used.]
Ayliffe.
FE'VERFEW, n. [Sax.feferfuge; L.febris
and fugo.]
A plant, or rather a genus of plants, the Ma-
tricaria, so named from supposed febri-
fuge qualities. The common feverfew
grows to the highth of two or three feet,
with compound leaves and compound ra-
diated white flowers, with a yellow disk.
FE'VERISH, a. Having a slight fever ; as
the patient \s feverish.
2. Diseased with fever or heat ; as feverish
nature. Creech.
3. Uncertain; inconstant; fickle; now hot,
now cold.
We toss and turn about our feverish will.
Dryden.
4. Hot ; sultry ; burning ; as the feverish
north. Dryden.
FE'VERISHNESS, n. The state of being
feverish ; a slight febrile affection.
FE'VEROUS, o. Affected with fever or
ague. Shak.
2. Having the nature of fever.
AW feverous kinds. Milton.
3. Having a tendency to produce fever ; as
a /evcrous disposition of the year. [This
word i« little used.] Bacon.
FE'VER-RQOT, n. A plant of the genus
Triosteum.
F I B
FE'VER-SICK, o. [Sax.ftfer-seoc] Diseas-
ed with fever. Peek.
FE'VER-WEAKENED, a. Debilitated by
fever.
FE'VER- WEED, n. A plant of the genus
Ervngium.
FE'VER-WORT, n. [tice Fever-root.]
FE'VERY, a. Affected with fever.
B. Jonson.
FEW, a. [Sax. /«a, or feawa; Dan. fine ;
Fr. peu ; Sp. and It. poco ; L. pauci. The
senses of few and smcUl are often united.
Class Bg.]
Not many ; small in number. Party is the
madness of many for the gain of a few
but few men, in times of party, regard the
maxim.
FEW'EL, II. Combustible matter. [See
Fuel.]
FEWNESS, n. Smallness of number;
paucity. Dn/den
2. Paucity of words; brevity. [JVotused,]
Shak.
FI'ANCE, V. t. To betrotli. [See Jlffiance.]
Fl'AT. [L. from fo.] Let it be done ; a dc
cree ; a command to do something.
FIB, n. [See Fable. Ir. mcabhra.] A lie or
falsehood ; a word used among children
and the vulgar, as a softer expression
than lie.
FIB, V. i. To lie ; to speak falsely.
FIB'BER, n. One who tells lies or fit
FIB'BING, ppr. Telhng fibs ; as a noim,
the telling of fibs.
FI'BER, n. [Fr./6rc,- L. /6ra; Sp. htbra,
fhra ; It. fbra.]
A thread ; a fine, slender body which con
stitutes a part of the frame of animals
Of fibers, some are soft and flexible; oth-
ers more hard and elastic. Those that
are soft are hollow, or spungy and full o
little cells, as the nervous and fleshy
Some are so small as scarcely to be visi
ble ; others are larger and appear to be
composed of still smaller fibers. These
fibers constitute the substance of th<
bones, cartilage-s ligaments, membranes,
nerves, veins, arteries, and muscles.
Qitincy
2. A filament or slender thread in plants or
minerals; the small slender root of a
plant.
3. Any fine, slender thread.
FI'BRIL, n. [Fr./6n7/f.] A small fiber
the branch of a fiber ; a very slender
thread. Cheyne.
FI'BRIN, n. [See Fiber.] A peculiar or-
ganic compound substance found in ani-
mals and vegetables. It is a soft solid, ofj
a greasy appearance, which softens in
air, becoming viscid, brown and semi
transparent, but is insoluble in water. It
is the chief constituent of muscular flesh.
Ure.
FIB'ROLITE,n. [from L./ftr«, and Gr.>.i9o5.]
A mineral that occurs with corundum, of
a white or gray color, composed of mi-
nute fibres, some of which appear to be
rhomhoidal prisms. Cleavcland.
FI'BROUS, a. Composed or consisting of
fibers ; as a fibrous body or substance.
2. Containing fibers. In mineralogy;
/6row« fracture, is that which presents fine|
threads or slender lines, either straight or,
curved, parallel, diverging, or stellated,!
like the rays of a star. Kinvan.\
D
FIB'LLA, n. [L.] The outer and lesser bone
of the leg, much smaller than the tibia.
quincy.
2. A clasp or buckle.
FICK'LE, a. [Sax. ficol ; but it seems to
be connected with toicelian, Sw. vackla,
to waver, from the root of wag ; L. va-
cillo; Gr. rtotxiXoj; Heb. Ch. Syr. J19 to
fail, or rather Heb. pig, to stagger. Class
Bg. No. 44. 60.] '
1. VVavcring; inconstant; unstable; of a
changeable mind ; irresolute ; not firm in
o])inion or purpose ; capricious.
They know how Jichle common lovers are.
Dryden.
2. Not fixed or firm ; liable to change or
vicissitude ; as a fickle state. Milton.
FICK'LENESS, n. A wavering ; wavering
disposition ; inconstancy ; instability ; un-
steadiness in opinion or purpose ; as the
fickleness of lovers.
2. Instability ; changeableness ; as the fick-
Ie7ies3 of fortune.
FICK'LY, adv. Without firmness or stead-
iness. Southern.
Fl'eO, n. [It. a fi^.] An act of contempt
done with the fingers, expressing a fig
for you. Carew.
FICTILE, a. [L fictilis, from fictus, fingo,
to feign.]
Molded into form by art ; manufactured by
the potter.
Fictile eajlh is more fragile than crude earth.
Bacon.
FICTION, n. [L./dio, from^ngo, to feign.]
1. The act of feigning, inventing or ima-
gining ; as, by the mere fiction of the mind.
SliUingfittl.
2. That which is feigned* invented or ima-
gined. The story is a fiction.
So also was ihe fiction of those golden apples
kept by a dragon, taken from the serpent which
tempted Eve. Raleigh.
FI€TIOUS, for fictitious, not used.
Fl€TI"TIOL'S, a. [L. ficlitius, from fingo,
to feign.]
1. Feigned ; imaginary ; not real.
The human persons are as fictitious as the
airy ones. Pope.
2. Counterfeit; false; not genuine ; as ficti-
tious fame. Dryden.
FICTP'TIOUSLY, adv. By fiction; falsely;
counterfcitly.
FICTP'TIOUSNESS, n. Feigned repre-
sentation. Brown.
FI€'TIVE, a. Feigned. [.Yot used.]
FID, n. A square bar of wood or iron, with
a shoulder at one end, used to support the
top-mast, when erected at the head of
the lower mast. Mar. Diet.
j2. A pin of hard wood or iron, tapering to a
point, used to open the strands of a rope
in splicing. Mar. Diet.
FIDDLE, n. [G.fiedel; D.vedel; L. fides,
fidiculn.] A stringed instrument of music ;
a violin.
FID'DLE, V. i. To play on a fiddle or
violin.
TTiemistoclcs said he could not fiddle, but he
could make a small town a great city. Bacon.
It is said that Nem fiddled, when Rome was
in flames. History.
2. To trifle ; to shift the hands often and
do nothing, like a fellow that plavs on a
fiddle.
FIE
GooJ cooks cannot abide what they cal
fiddling work. Swift
FlU'DLK, V. t. To play a tune ou a fiddle
FIDDLE-FADDLE, n. Trifles. [A low
cant ivord.] Spectator.
FIDDLE-FADDLE, a. Trifling-; making
a bustle about nothing. [Vulgar.]
FIDDLER, n. One who plays on a fiddle
or violin.
FID'DLE-STICK, n. The bow and strins
with which a fiddler plays on a viohn.
FID'DLE-STRING, n. The string of a fid
die, fastened at the ends and elevated ii
the middle bv a bridge.
FID'DLE-WOQD, n. A plant of the genus
Citharexvlon.
FIDDLING, ppr. Playing on a fiddle.
FID'DLING, )i. The act of playing on a
fiddle. Bacon
FI'DEJUSSOR, n. [L.] A surety; out
bound for another. Blackslone.
FIDELITY, n. [L. fidelitas, from fides
faith, fido, to trust. See Faith.]
1. Faithfulness; careful and exact observ-
ance of duty, or performance of obhga-
tions. We expectfidelity iji a public min
ister, in an agent or trustee, in a domes
tic servant, in a friend.
The best security for the fidelity of men, Is
to make interest coincide with duty.
Federalist, Hamilton
2. Firm adherence to a person or party with
which one is united, or to which one i;
bound; loyalty; as the^(/e% of subjecti
to their king or government ; the fidelity
of a tenant or liege to his lord.
3. Observance of the marriage covenant
as the fidelity of a husband or wife.
4. Honesty ; veracity ; adherence to truth
as the fidelity olja witness.
FIDSE, I • [allied probably to fickle.
FIDG'ET, \ *■ To move one way and the
other ; to move irregularly or in fits and
starts. [A low word.] Swift.
FIDG'ET, 11. Irregular motion ; restlessi
[Vulsar.]
FIDG'ETY, a. Restless ; uneasy. [Vul.gar.]
FIDU'CIAL, a. [from L.fiducia, from fido,
to trust.]
1. Confident ; undoubting ; firm ; as a fidu
cial reliance on the promises of the gos
pel.
2. Having the nature of a trust ; as fiducial
power. Spelman
FIDU'CIALLY. adv. With confidence.
South
FIDU'CIARY, a. [L. fiduciarius, {lomfido
to trust.]
1. Confident ; steady ; undoubting ; unwa-
vering ; firm. JVake.
2. Not to be doubted ; as fiduciary obedi-
ence. Howell
:i. Held in trust. Spelman
FIDU'CIARY, n. One who holds a thing
in trust ; a trustee.
2. One who depends on faith for salvation,
without works ; an antinomian.
Hammond.
FIE, pronounced fi, an exclamation denot
ing contempt or dislike.
■ FIEF, n. [Fr. fief, probably a compound
word, consisting ofjfc, faith, and a word I
do not understand. See Fee, Feoff and
Feud.]
A fee; a feud; an estate held of a supei
on condition of military service.
F I E
FIELD, n. [Sax. field; G. field ; D. veld;
Sw. Dan./eH ; probably levelland, a plain,
from D. velien, to fell, to lay or - throw
down.]
1. A piece of land inclosed for tillage or
pasture ; any part of a farm, except the
garden and appurtenances of the man-
sion ; properly land not covered with
wood, and more strictly applicable to til-
lage land than to mowing land, which is
often called meadow. But we say, the
master of the house is in the field with his
laborers, when he is at a distance from his
house on his farm. He is in the field,
plowing, sowing, reaping or making hay.
2. Ground not inclosed. Mortimer.
3. The ground where a battle is fought.
We say, the field of battle ; these veterans
are excellent soldiers in thefietd.
4. A battle ; action in the field.
What though the field be lo.^t. Milton
5. To keep the field, is to keep the campaign
open ; to live in tents, or to be in a state
of active operations. At the approach of
cold weather, the troops, unable to keep
the field, were ordered into winter quar-
ters.
(j. A wide expanse.
Ask of yonder argent fields above.
Pope.
7. Open space for action or operation ; com-
pass ; extent. This subject opens a wide
field for contemplation.
8. A piece or tract of land.
The field I give thee and the cave that i:
lereln. Gen. xxlli.
9. The ground or blank space on which fig
ures are drawn ; as the field or ground of
a picture. Diyden.
10. In heraldry, the whole surface of the
shield, or the continent. Encyc.
11. In scripture, field often signifies the open
country, ground not inclosed, as it may in
some countries in modern times.
12. A field of ice, a large body of floating
ice.
FIE'LDED, a. Being in the field of battle
encamped. Shak.
FIELD-BASIL, n. A plant of several
kinds.
FIE'LD-BED, ». A bed for the field.
Shak
FIE'LD-BOQK, n. A book used in survey
ing, in which are set down the angles
stations, distances, &c. Encyc.
FIE'LD-COLORS, n. plu. In war, small
flags of about a foot and half square, car
ried along with the quarter-master gen
eral, for marking out the ground for the
squadrons and battalions. Encyc.
FIE'LD-DUCK, n. A species of bustard,
nearly as large as a pheasant ; found
chiefly in France. Diet. JVat. Hist.
FIE'LDFARE, n. [field and fare, wander-
ing in the field. Sax. faran, to go.]
A bird of the genus Turdus or thrusli
about ten inches in length, the head ash
colored, the back and greater coverts of
the wings, of a fine deep chesnut, and the
tail black. These birds pass the summer
in the northern parts of Europe, but visit
Great Britain in winter. Encyc
FIELD-MARSHAL, Ji. The commander
of an army ; a military oflicer of high
rank in France and Germany, and th
highest mihtary oflicer in England.
FIE
FIE'LDMOUSE, n. A species of mouse
that lives in the field, burrowing in banks,
&c. Mortimer.
FIELD-OFFICER, n. A military oflicer
above the rank of captain, as a major or
colonel.
FIELD-PIECE, n. A small cannon which
is carried along with armies, and used in
the field of battle.
FIELD-PREACHER, n. One who preach-
in the open air. Lavinglon.
FIELD-PREACHING, n. A preaching in
the field or open air. Warhurlon.
FIE'LDROOM, n. Open space. [Abi in
use.] Drayton.
FIE'LD-SPORTS, n. plu. Diversions of
the field, as shooting and hunting.
Chesterfidd.
FIELD-STAFF, n. A weapon carried by
gimners, about the length of a halbert,
with a spear at the end ; having on each
side ears screwed on, like the cock of a
match-lock, where the gunners screw in
lighted matches, when they are on com-
mand. Encyc.
FIE'LD- WORKS, n. In the militaty art,
works thrown up by an army in besieging
a fortress, or by the besieged to defend
the place. Encyc.
FIE'LDY, a. Open like a field. [jVo< in
tise.] Wickliffe.
FIEND, n. [Sax. /eonrf, Goth, fiands, from
fian, fieon, figan, to hate; G.feind; D.
vyand ; Sw. Dan. fiende. See Feud, con-
tention.]
.An enemy in the worst sense ; an implaca-
ble or malicious foe ; the devil ; an infernal
being.
O woman ! woman ! when to ill thy mind
Is bent, all hell contains no fouler fiend.
Pope.
FIE'NDFUL, a. Fufl of evil or malignant
practices. Marlowe.
FIE'NDLIKE, a. Resembling a fiend ; ma-
liciously wicked ; diabolical.
FIERCE, n.fers. [Fr.fier ; It. fiero,feroce;
Sp. fiero, feroz ; from L. ferus, ferox, the
primary sense of which is wild, running,
rushing.]
1. Vehement ; violent ; furious ; rushing ;
impetuous ; as a fierce wind. Watts.
2. Savage ; ravenous ; easily enraged ; as a
fierce lion.
3. Vehement in rage ; eager of mischief; as
a fierce tyrant ; a monster fierce for blood.
4. Violent ; outrageous ; not to be restrain^
ed.
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce. Gen.
xlix.
5. Passionate ; angry ; furious.
6. Wild; staring; ferocious; as a fierce
countenance.
7. Very eager ; ardent ; vehement ; as a man
fiierce for his party.
FIERCELY, adv. fers'ly. Violently ; furi-
ously ; with rage ; as, both sides fiercely
fought.
2. With a wild aspect ; as, to \ook fiercely.
FIERCE-MINDED, a. Vehement ; of a fu-
rious temper. Bp. Wilson.
FIERCENESS, n. fers'ness. Ferocity ; sav-
ageness.
The defect of heat which gives ^e; '-
our natures.
F I F
F I G
2. Eagerness for blood ; fury ; as the Jierce-
ness of a lion or bear.
3. Quickness to attack ; keenness in anger
and resentment.
The Greeks arc strong, and skilful to their
strength,
Fierce to their skill, and to their fiercencsi
valiant. Shak
4. Violence ; outrageous passion.
His pride and brutal fierceness I abhor.
Dryden
5. Vehemence ; fury ; impetuosity ; as the
fierceness of a tempest.
FIERI FA'CIAS, n. [L.] In /mo, a judicial
writ that lies for him who has recovered
in debt or damages, commanding the
sheriff to levy the same on the goods of
him against whom the recovery was had.
Cowel.
FI'ERINESS, n. [See Fiery, Fire.] The
quality of being fiery ; heat ; acrimony ;
the quality of a substance that excites a
sensation of heat. Boyle.
2. Heat of temper ; irritabihty ; as Jieri-
ness of temper. Addison.
FI'ERY, a. [from fire.] Consisting of fire ;
as the fiery gulf of Etna.
And fiery billows roll below. Walts.
2. Hot like fire ; as a fiery heart. Skak.
3. Vehement; ardent ; very active ; impetu-
ous ; as a fiery spirit.
4. Passionate ; easily |)rovoked ; irritable.
You know the fiery quality of the duke.
Shak.
5. Unrestrained ; fierce ; as a fiery steed.
6. Heated by fire.
The sword which is inade_^er^. Hooker.
7. Like fire ; bright ; glaring ; as a fiery ap-
pearance.
FIFE, n. [Fr.//re ; G. pftife. It is radically
the same as pipe, W. pib, Ir. pib or pip,
D. pup, Dan. pibe, Sw. pipa, coinciding
with L.. pipio, to pip or peep, as a chicken.
The word may liave received its name
from a hollow stalk, or from its sound.]
A small pipe, used as a wind instrument,
chiefly in martial music with drums.
FIFE, V. i. To plav on a fife.
FI'FER, n. One vvho plays on a fife.
FIFTEE'N, a. [Sax. fijlyn.] Five and ten.
FIFTEE'NTH, a. [Sixx. fiflyntha.] The
ordinal of fifteen ; the fifth after tlie
tenth.
2. Containing one part in fifteen.
FIFTEE'NTH, n. A fifteenth part.
FIFTH, a. [Sax. fijla. See Five.] The
dinal of five ; the next to the fourth.
2. EUiptically, a fifth part ; or the word may
be considered as a noun, as to give a fifth
or two fifths.
FIFTH, n. In imtsic, an interval consisting
of three tones and a semitone. Encyc.
FIFTH'LY, adv. In the fifth place.
FIF'TIETIT, a. [Sax. fifleogetha ; fif five,
and teogelha, tenth.]
The ordinal of fifty ; as the fiftieth part of a
foot. This may be used elliptically, as a!
fiftieth of bis goods, part being understood ;i
or in this case, the word may be treated^
in grammars as a noun, admitting a plu-j
ral, as two fiftieths.
FIF'TY, a. [Sax. fiflig ; fif five, and Goth.
tig, ten.]
Five tens ; five times ten ; as fifty men. It
may be used as a noun in the plural.
And they sat down by fifties. Mark vi.
FIG, n. [L.ficus; Up. figo or higo ; lufico;,
Fr. figue ; G. ftige ; D. vyg ; Heb. 'J3 ;
Ch. ma.]
1. The fruit of the fig-tree, which is of a
round or oblong shape, and a dark pur-
plish color, with a i)ulp of a sweet taste.
But the varieties are numerous ; some
being blue, others red, and others of a
dark broAvn color. Encyc.
2. The fig-tree. Pope.
FIG, II. /. To insult with ficoes or contemp-
tuous .-notions of the fingers. [Little used.]
Shak.
2. To put something useless into one's head.
[JVot used.] L^ Estrange.
FIG'-APPLE, n. A species of apple.
Johnson.
FIG'-GNAT, n. An insect of the fly kind.
Johnson.
FIG'-LEAF, n. The leaf of a fig-tree ; also,
a thin covering, in allusion to the first
covering of Adam and Eve.
FIG-MARIGOLD, n. The Mesembryan-
ihemum, a succulent plant, resembling
houseleek ; the leaves grow opposite by
pairs. Fam. of Plants. Miller.
FIG'-PECKER, n. [L. ficedula.] A bird.
FIG'-TREE, »i. A tree of the genus Ficus,
growing in warm climates. The recepta-
cle is common, turbinated, carnous and
connivent, inclosing the florets either in
the same or in a distinct one. The male
calyx is tripartite ; no corol ; three sta-
mens. T^ie female caly.x is quinquepar-
tite ; no corol ; one pistil ; one seed.
Encyc.
To dwell under our vine and fig-tree, is tc
ive in peace and safety. 1 Kings iv.
FIG'- WORT, n. A plant of the genus Scro
phularia.
Figary, for vagary, is not English.
FIGHT, II. i. pret. and pp. fought, pro
nounced/au<. [Sax. feahtan,ftohtan ; G.
fechten ; D. vegten; Sw.fhckta ; Dan. feg-
ter; Ir. fichim.]
. To strive or contend for victory, in battle
or in single combat ; to attemjjt to defeat,
subdue or destroy an enemy, either by
blows or weapons ; to contend in arms.
Come and be our captain, that we may fight
with the children of .\ininon. Judges xi.
When two persons or panies contend in
person, fight is usually followed by with.
But wlien we speak of carrying on war,
in any other form, we may say, to fight
against.
Saul look the kingdom over Israel, and fought
against all his enemies on every side. I Sam.
xiv.
Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought
against Gath. 2 Kings'xii.
It is treason for a man to join an ene-
my to fight against his country. Hence,
To fight against, is to act in op|)osition ;
to ojjpose ; to strive to conquer or resist.
The stars in their courses /ought against
Sisera. Judges v.
2. To contend ; to strive ; to struggle to
resist or check.
3. To act as a soldier. Shak.
FIGHT, V. t. To carry on contention ; to
maintain a struggle for victory over one
mips.
I have fought a good fight. 2 Tim. iv.
2. To contend with in battle ; to war againsl.
They fought the enemy in two pitched
battles. The captain fought the frigate
seven glasses. [Elliptical ; teith being un-
derstood.]
FIGHT, n. A battle ; an engagement ; a
contest in arms ; a struggle for victory,
either between individuals, or between ar-
mies, ships or navies. A duel is called a
single /g-A< or combat.
2. Something to screen the combatants in
ships.
Up with your fights and your nettings pre-
pare. Dryden.
FIGHTER, n. One that fights ; a combat-
ant ; a warrior.
FIGHTING, ppr. Contending in battle;
striving for victory or conipicst.
2. a. Qualified for war ; fit for battle.
A host of fighting men. 2 Chron. xxvi.
3. Occupied in war ; being the scene of war ;
as a fighting field. Pope.
FIGHTING, n. Contention; strife : quar-
rel.
Without were fightings, within were fears.
2 Cor. vii.
FIG'3IENT, n. [L. figmentum, from fingo,
to feign.]
An invention; a fiction ; something feigned
or imagined. These assertions are the
figments of idle brains. Bp. Lloyd.
FIG'ULATE, a. [L. figulo, to fashion, from
fingo, or rather figo, which appears to be
the root of fingo.]
Made of potter's clay; molded; shaped.
[Little used.]
FIGURABIL'IT\^ n. The quality of being
capable of a certain fixed or stable form.
FIG'URABLE, a. [from figure.] Capable
of being brought to a certain fixed form
or shape. Thus lead is fig urable, but wa-
ter is not. Bacon.
FIG'URAL, a. Represented by figure or de-
lineation ; as figural resemblances.
Brown.
Figural numbers, in geometry, such numbers
as do or may represent some geometrical
figure, in relation to which they arc al-
ways considered, and arc either lineary,
superficial or solid. Harris.
FIG'URATE, a. [L. figuratus.] Of a cer-
tain determinate form.
2. Resembling any thing of a determinate
form ; as figurate stones, stones or fossiU
resembling shells.
3. Figurative. [J^ot used.]
Figurate counterpoint, in music, that wherein
there is a rai.xture of discords with con-
cords. Harris.
Figurate descant, that in which discords are
concerned, though not so much as con-
cords. It may be called the ornament or
rhetorical part of music, containing all the
varieties of points, figures, syncopes, and
diversities of measure. Harris.
FIG'URATED, a. Having a determinate
form. Potter.
FIGURA'TION, n. The act of gi\ing figure
or determinate form. Bacon.
2. Determination to a certain form. Bacon.
3. Mixture of concords and discords in mu-
sic. Oregon/.
FIG'URATIVE, a. [Ft. figuratif (rom fig-
F I G
F I L
F I L
1. Representing something else ; represent-
ing by resemblance ; typical.
This they will say, was figurative, and ser-
ved by God's appointment but for a time, to
sbadow out the true glory of a more divine
sanctity. Hooker.
2. Representing by resemblance ; not literal
or direct. A figurative expression, is one
in which the words are used in a seusf
different from that in which they are or-
dinarily used ; as,
Slander,
Whose edge is sharper than the sword. Shak
3. Abounding with figures of speech ; as i
description highly figurative.
FIGURATIVELY, adv. By a figure ; in a
manner to exhibit ideas by resemblance
in a sense different from that whicl
words originally imply. Words are used
figuratively, when they express something
different from their usual meaning.
FIG'URE, n.fig'ur. [Fr. figure ; U figura,
from figo, to fix or set ; W. fugyr, from
fugiatv, to feign. See Feign.]
1 . The form of any thing as expressed by
the outline or terminating extremities.
Flowers have exquisite figures. A trian-
gle is a figure of three sides. A square
is a figure of four equal sides and equal
angles.
2. Shape ; form ; person ; as a lady of ele-
gant/g-itre.
A good figure, or person, in man or woman,
gives credit at first sight to the choice of either.
Richardson.
3. Distinguished appearance ; eminence ;
distinction ; remarkable character. Ames
made a figure in Congress ; Hamilton, in
the cabinet.
4. Appearance of any kind ; as an ill_^g-«re;
a meanfigiire.
5. Magnificence ; splendor ; as, to live in
figure and indulgence. Law.
G. A statue ; an image ; that which is form-
ed in resemblance of something else ; as
the^^g'ure of a man in plaster.
7. Representation in painting ; the lines and
colors which represent an animal, particu-
larly a person ; as the principal figures of
a picture ; a subordinate /g-ure.
8. In manufactures, a design or representa-
tion wrought on damask, velvet and other
stuffs.
9. In logic, the order or disposition of the
middle term in a syllogism with the parts
of the question. Woto.
10. In arithmetic, a character denoting a
number; as 2. 7. 9.
11. In as<roZogT/, the horoscope ; the diagram
of the aspects of the astrological houses.
Shak.
12. In Wico^og'i/, type ; representative.
Who was ihe figure of him that was to come.
Rom. V.
1.3. In rhetoric, a mode of speaking or wri-
ting in wlijch words are deflected from
their ordinary signification, or a mode
more beautiful and einphatical than the
ordinary way of expressing the sense; the
language of the imagination and passions ;
as, knowledge is the light of the mind
the sold mounts on the wings of faith
youth is the morning of life. In strict
ness, the change of a word is a trope, and
any affection of a sentence a figure ; but
these terms are often confounded.
Locke.
14. In grammar, any deviation from the rules
of aiialogy or syntax.
15. In dancing, the several steps which the
dancer makes in order and cadence, con-
sidered as thev form certain figures on the
floor.
FIG'URE, V. t. fig'ur. To form or mold into
any determinate shape.
Accept this goblet, rough with figured gold.
Ihyden.
2. To show by a corporeal resemblance, as
in picture or statuary.
.3. To cover or adorn with figures or images ;
to mark with figures ; to form figures in
by art; as, to figure velvet or muslin.
4. To diversify ; to variegate with adventi-,
tious forms of matter
5. To represent by a typical or figurative]
resemblance.
The matter of the sacraments ^^ureiA theii
end. Hooker i
6. To imagine ; to image in the mind. i
Temph-:
7. To prefigure ; to foreshow. Shak.:
8. To form figuratively ; to use in a sensel
not literal ; as figured expreasioas. [Int-,
tie used.] Locke}
9. To note by characters.
As through a crystal glass the figured hours
are seen. Dryden.'
10. In music, to pass several notes for one ;|
to form runnings or variations. Enctjc-
FIG'URE, v. i. To make a figure ; to be dis-
tinguished. The envoy figured at the
court of St. Cloud.
FIG'URE-CASTER, > A pretender to'
FIG'URE-FLINGER, ^"- astrology. Obs.\
FIG'URE-STONE, n. A name of the agal-
matolite, or bildstein. I
FIG'URED, pp. Represented by resem-i
blance ; adorned with figures ; formedi
info a determinate figure. 1
3. In music, free and florid. |
FIG'URING, />/»•. Forming into determinate
shape ; representing by types or resem-
blances ; adorning with figures; making a
distinguished appearance.
FILA'CEOUS, a. [h. filum, a thread; Fr.
file ; Sp. kilo.] Composed or consisting
of threads. Bacon.
FIL'ACER, n. [Norm, filicer, from file, a
thread, or file, L.filum, Sp. hilo.]
An officer in the English Court of Common
Picas, so called from filing the writs on
which he makes process. There are four-
teen of them in their several divisions and
counties. They make out all original pro-
cesses, real, personal and mixed.
Harris.
FIL'AMENT, n. [Fr. from L. filamenta,
threads, {rom filum.]
A thread ; a fiber. In anatomy and natural
history, a fine thread of which flesh, nerves,
skin, plants, roots, &c., and also some
minerals, are composed. So the spider's
web is composed offiiaments. The thread
like part of the stamens of plants, is called
the filament.
FILAMENT'OUS, a. Like a thread ; c
sisting of fine filaments.
FIL'ANDERS, n. [Fr.filandres, fvomfil
a thread.]
A ilisease in hawks, consisting of filaments
of coagulated blood ; also, small worn
wrapt ill a thin skin or net, near the reins
ol a hawk.
Encyc.
FIL'ATORY, n. [from L. filum, a thread.]
A machine which forms or spins threads.
This manufactory hasthree//a(orics, each of
640 reels, which are moved by a water-wheel,
and besides a smMfitatory turned by men.
Tooke.
FIL'lJERT, n. [L. avellana, with which the
first syllable corresponds ; _^/, vel.]
The fruit of the Corylus or hazel; an egg-
shaped nut, containing a kernel, that has
a mild, farinaceous, oily taste, which is
agreeable to the palate. The oil is said to
be little inferior to the oil of almonds.
Encyc.
FILCH, i». t. [This word, Wke pilfer, is proba-
bly from the root o{ file or peel, to strip or
rub off. But I know not from what source
we have received it. In Sp. pellizcar is to
pilfer, as filouter, in French, is to pick the
pocket.]
To steal something of little value ; to pilfer ;
to steal; to pillage ; to take wrongfully
from another.
Fain would they filch that little food away.
Dryden.
But he th^t filches from me my good name,
Robs me of" that which not enriches him.
And makes me poor indeed. Shak.
FILCH'ED, pp. Stolen ; taken wrongfully
from another ; pillaged ; pilfered.
FILCH'ER, n. A thief; one who is guilty
of petty theft.
FILCH'iNG, ppr. Stealing; taking from
another wrongfully ; pilfering.
FILCH'INGLY, adv. By pilfering; in a
thievish manner.
FILE, n. [Fr. file, a row ; filet, a thread ; L.
filum; Sp.hilo; Fort, fila ; It. fila, fUo ;
Russ. bid, a thread of flax. The primary
sense is probably to draw out or extend,
or to twist. W.filliaw, to twist.]
1. A thread, string or line ; particularly, a
line or wire on which papers arc strung
in due order for preservation, and for
conveniently finding them when wanted.
Documents are kept on file.
2. The svhole number of papers strung on a
line or wire; as a file of writs. A file is a
record of court.
3. A bundle of papers tied together, with the
title of each indorsed ; the mode of ar-
ranging and keeping papers being changed,
without a change of names.
4. A roll, list or catalogue. Shak.
5. A row of soldiers ranged one behind ano-
ther, from front to rear; the number of
men constituting the depth of the battalion
or squadron.
FILE, V. t. To string ; to fasten, as papers,
on a line or wire for preservation. Decla-
rations and affidavits must be filed. An
original writ may be filed after judgment.
2. To arrange or insert in a bundle, as pa-
pers, indorsing the title on each paper.
This is now the more common mode of filing
papers in public and private ofiices.
3. To ])resent or exhibit officially, or for
trial ; as, to file a bill in chancery.
FILE, V. i. To march in a file or line, as sol-
diers, not abreast, but one after another.
FILE, n. [Sax.feol; D. vyl; G.feile; Sw.
and Dan.//, a file ; Russ.'^iVo, a saw ; per-
haps connected in origin with polish, which
sec. Class Bl. i\o. ;tO. 32. 33. 4.5.]
An instrument used in smoothing and polish-
F I L
ing metals, formed of iron or steel, and cutl
in little fiinovvs.
FILE, V. t. [Russ. opilevayu, and spilivayu,]
to file.]
1. To rub and smooth with a file ; to polish.
2. To cut as with a file ; to wear off or away
by friction ; as, to fk off a tooth.
3. [from dejilt.] To foul or defile. [JVo<
used.] Shak.
FI'LE-eUTTER, n. A maker of files.
Moxon.
FI'LED, pp. Placed on a line or wire ; pla-
ced in a bundle and indorsed ; smoothed
or nolished with a file.
FILE-LE'ADER, n. The soldier placed in
the front of a file. Cyc
FI'LEMOT, n. [Fr./t!(i'He-mor<e, adead leaf.]
A yellowish brown color ; the color of a
faded leaf Swijl.
FI'LER, Ji. One who uses a file in smooth-
ing and polishing.
FIL' I AL, a. f I' ml. [Fr. Jilial ; \i.filiale;
Si\i.filial ; from L.JUius, a sois,JUia, a daugh-
ter, Sp. hijo, Coptic /ufu. Sans, bala or bali.
It agrees in elements with foal and jiullus.
The Welsh has hiliaw and eppihaw, to
bring forth ; hil and eppil, progeny.]
1. Pertaining to a son or daughter ; becom-
ing a child in relation to his parents. Fil-
ial love is such an affection as a child
naturally bears to his parents. Filial duty
or obedience is such duty or obedience
as the child owes to his parents.
2. Bearing the relation of a son.
FILIA'TION, n. [Fr. from L.Jilius, a son.]
1. The relation of a son or child to a father;
correlative to paternity. Hale.
2. Adoption.
FIL'IFORM, n. [L. filum, a thread, and
form.]
Having the form of a thread or filament ; of
eq^ual tliickness from top to bottom ; as n
filiform style or peduncle. Marlyn
FlL'lGRA5fE, n. sometimes written //igree.
[L. filum, a thread, and granum, a grain.]
A kind of enrichment on gold and silver,
wrought delicately in the manner of little
threads or grains, or of both intermixed.
Encyc.
FIL'IGRANED, or FIL'IGREED, a. Or-
namented with filigrane. Taller.
FI'LING, ppr. Placing on a string or wire,
or in a bundle of papers ; presenting for
trial ; marching in a file ; smoothing with
a file.
FI'LINGS, n. plu. Fragments or particlei
rubbed off by the act of filing ; asfilitigs
of iron.
FILL, V. t. [Sax.fyUan, ^ffillan ; D. vullen ;
G.Jullen; Sw. fylla; Dan. fylder, to m ;
Fr. fouler, to fall, to tread, that is, to press
to crowd ; foule, a crowd ; Gr. rtoxvs, moMjii.
allied perhaps to fold and fell ; Ir. fillim ;
Gr. !tAo{ ; naou,, to stuff ; L. pilus, pileus
We are told that the Gr. m'^joM, to ap-
proach, signified originally to thrust
drive, L. pello, and contracted into nx<
it is rendered to fiil, and rCKtoi is full. If
a vowel was originally used between n and
!i, in these words, they coincide with fill
and the L. pleo, [for peleo,] in all its com
pounds, is the same word. In Russ
F I L
Volnei is fidl : polnyu, to fill. See Class
ijl. No. 9. 11. 12. 15. 22. 30. 45. 47.]
1. Properly, to press ; to crowd; to stuff.
Hence, to put or pour in, till the thing will
hold no more ; as, to fill a basket, a bottle,
a vessel.
FM the walcr-pots with water : and they
filled tlieiu to the brim. John ii.
2. To store ; to supply with abundance.
Be fmitful, and multiply, and fill the waters
I the seas. Gen. i.
3. To cause to abound ; to make universally
prevalent.
The earth was filled with violence. Gen. vi.
4. To satisfy ; to content.
Whence should we have so much bread in
the wilderness, as to fiil so great a multitude .'
Matt. XV.
5. To glut; to surfeit.
Things that arc sweet and fat are more filling.
S. To make plump
grain is wcWfilled,
IS, in a good season the
In the summer of 1816;
the driest and coldest which the oldest
man remembered, the rye was so well
filled, that the grain protruded beyond the
husk, and a shock yielded a peck more
than in common years.
7. To press and dilate on all sides or to the
extremities ; as, the sails werefdled.
8- To supply with liquor ; to pour into ; as, to
fill a glass for a guest.
9. To supply with an incumbent ; as, to ///
an office or vacancy. Hamilton
10. To hold ; to possess and perform the
duties of; to officiate in, as an incum-
bent ; as, a king fills a throne ; the presi-
dent j?//i theofficeof chief magistrate; the
speaker of the house fills the chair.
11. In seamanship, to brace the sails so thai
the wind will bear upon them and dilate
them.
To Jill out, to extend or enlarge to the desired
limit.
To fill up, to make fiill.
It pours the bliss tlia(/i//s up all the mind.
Pope.
But in this and many other cases, the
use of u/) weakens the force of the phrase.
2. To occupy ; to fill. Seek to /// up life
with useful employments.
3. To fill ; to occupy the whole extent ; as,
to fill up a given space.
4. lo engage or employ ; as, to fill up time.
5. To complete ; as, to_^W up the measure of
sin. Mutt, xxiii.
6. To complete ; to accomplish.
— And fill up what is behind of the affliction;
of Christ. Col. i.
FILL, V. i. To fill a cup or glass for drink
ing ; to give to drink.
In the cup which she hath filled, fill to he
double. Key. xviii.
2. To grow or become full. Corn fills wel
in a warm season. A mill-pond _/5/is dur
ing the night.
3. To glut ; to satiate.
To fill up, to grow or become full. Th(
channel of the river fills iip with sand,
every spring.
FILL, n. Fullness; as much as supplies
want ; as much as gives complete satis-
faction. Eat and drink to the fill. Take
your fiU of joy.
The land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall
your fill, and dwell therein in safety. Lev. xxv
FILLAGREE. [See Filigrane.]
F I L
FILL'ED, pp. Made full ; supplied with
abundance.
FILL'ER, n. One who fills; one whose em-
ployiuent is to fill vessels.
'ihey have si.\ diggers to lour fillers, so as to
keep thc//tes always at work. Mortimer.
2. That which fills any space. Dryden.
3. One that supplies abundantly.
FIL'LET, n. [Fr.//e/, a thread, from file,
L.filum.]
1. A little band to tie about the hair of the
head.
A belt her waist, a fillet binds her hair.
Pope.
2. The fleshy part of the thigh ; applied to
veal ; as afdlel of veal.
3. Meat rolled together and tied round.
Sicifl.
4. In architecture, a little square member or
ornament used in divers places, but gene-
rally as a corona over a greater molding ;
called also listel.
try, a kii
nly the
taining only the third or fourth part of the
breadth of the common bordure. It runs
quite round near the edge, as a lace over
a cloke. Encyc.
6. Among painters and gilders, a httic rule
or reglet of leaf-gold, drawn over certain
moldings, or on the edges of fi-ames, pan-
nols, &c., especially when painted white,
by way of enrichment. Encyc.
7. In the manege, the loins of a horse, begin-
ning at the place where the hinder part of
the saddle resis. Encyc.
FIL'LET, r.<. To bind with a fillet or little
band.
2. To adorn with an astragal. Ex. xxxviii.
FIL'LIBEG, n. [Gaelfilleadh-beg.] A little
plaid ; a dress reaching only to the knees,
worn in the highlands of Scotland.
FILL'ING, ppr. Making full ; supplying
abundantly; growing full.
FILL'ING, n. A making full ; supply.
2. The woof in weaving.
FILLIP, !•. t. [|)rol)ahly from the root of L.
pello, like pell, W.fil. See Filly.]
To strike with the nail of the finger, first
placed against the ball of the thumb, and
forced from that position with some vio-
lence.
FIL'LIP, n. A jerk of the finger forced sud-
denly from the thumb.
FIL'LY, n. [W. filawg, from fil, a scud, a
dart ; coinciding with Fr. fille, L.filia, Eng.
foal, a shoot, issue.]
1. A female or mare colt ; a young mare.
2. A young horse. [.Vo< used.] Tusser.
3. A wanton girl. Beaum,
FILM, n. [Sax. film. Qu. W. fylliaw, to
shade or grow over, or It. velame, a vail, a
film, L. velamen, or from L. pellis.]
A thill skin ; a pellicle, as on the eye. In
plants, it denotes the thin slcin which sepa-
rates the seeds in pods.
FILM, V. t. To cover with a thin skin or
pellicle. Shak.
FILM'Y, a. Composed of thin membranes
or pellicles.
Whose fi/niy cord should bind the struggling
ny. Dryden.
FIL'TER, n. [Fr. fiUre, feutre ; Sp. fiUro ;
It. feltro; properly /«/<, fulled wool, lana
coacta, this being used for straining
liquors.]
A strainer ; a piece of woolen cloth, paper
FIN
FIN
N
or other substance, through which liquors
are passed for defecation. A filter may be
made in the form of a hollow inverted
cone, or by a twist of thread or yarn,
being wetted and one end put in the liquor
and the other suffered to hang out below
the surface of the liquor. Porous stone ii:
often used as a. filler.
FIL'TER, V. t. To purify or defecate liquor,
by passing it through a filter, or causing it
to pass through a porous substance that
retains any feculent matter.
FIL'TER, v.i. To percolate ; to pass through
a filter.
FIL'TER, n. [See Philler.]
FIL'TERED, pp. Strained ; defecated by t
filter.
FIL'TERING, ppr. Straining ; defecating
FILTH, n. [Sax. fylth, from fuljuta, foul
D. vjiilte. See Foul and Defile.)
1. Dirt ; any foul matter ; any thing that soils
or defiles ; waste matter ; nastiness.
2. Corruption; pollution; any thing that
sullies or defiles the moral character.
To purify the soul from the dross and fiUh of
sensual delights. Ti'Uotson.
FILTH'ILY, arfu. In a filthy manner; foul-
ly ; grossly.
FILTH'INESS, n. The state of being filthy.
2. Foulness ; dirtiness ; fiUh ; nastiness.
Carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
2 Chron. xxix.
3. Corruption ; pollution ; defilement by sin ;
impurity.
Let us cleanse ourselves from -aW filthiness of
the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the
fear of God. 2 Cor. vii.
FILTH'Y, a. Dirty ; foul ; unclean ; nasty.
2. Polluted ; defiled by sinful practices ; mo-
rally impure.
He that in filthy, let him be filthy still. Rev.
xxii.
3. Obtained by base and dishonest means ;
as filthy lucre. Tit. i.
FIL'TRATE, v. t. [Sp. filtrar ; It. filtrare ;
Fr.filtrer. See Filter.]
To filter ; to defecate, as liquor, by straining
or percolation.
FILTRA'TION, n. The act or process of
filtering ; defecation by passing liquors
through woolen cloth, brown paper, or
other porous substance, as certain kinds
of stone, which permit the hquor to pass,
but retain the foreign matter.
FIMBLE-HEMP, n. [Fema?e-fcf»i».] Light
summer hemp that bears no seed.
Mortimer.
FIM'BRIATE, a. [h. fimbria, a border or
fringe.]
In botany, fringed ; having the edge sur-
rounded by hairs or bristles. Martyn
FIM'BRIATE, I!, f. To hem; to fringe.
Fuller
FIM'BRIATED, a. In heraldry, ornamented,
as an ordinary, with a narrow border or
hem of another tincture. Encyc.
FIN, «. [Sax. Jinn; D.vin; Sw./cna; Dan,
finne ; L. pinna or penna. The sense is
probably a shoot, or it is fj-om diminish-
ing. See Fine. Class Bn.]
The fin of a fish consists of a membrane sup-
ported by rays, or little bony or cartilagi-
nous ossicles. The fins of fish serve to
keep their bodies upright, and to jirev
wavering or vacillation. The fins, except
the caudal, do not assist in progressive
motion ; the tail being the instrument of]
swimming.
FIN, V. t. To carve or cut up a chub,
FI'NABLE, a. [See Fine.] That admits a
fine.
2. Subject to a fine or penalty ; as a finable
person or offense.
FI'NAL, «. [Fr.Sp. final; L.finalis; It
finale. See Fine.]
\. Pertaining to the end or concluion; last;
ultimate ; as the final issue or event of
things ; final hope ; final salvation.
2. Conclusive ; decisive ; ultimate ; as a final
judgment. The battle of Waterloo was
final to the power of Buonaparte ; it
brought the contest to a final issue.
.3. Respecting the end or object to be gain-
ed ; respecting the purpose or ultimate
end in view. The efficient cause is that
which produces the event or effect ; the
final cause is that for which any thing is
done.
FI'NALLY, adv. At the end or conclusion ;
ultimately ; lastly. The cause is expen-
sive, but we shall finally recover. The
contest was long, but the Komans finally
conquered.
2. Completely; beyond recovery-.
The enemy was finally exterminated.
Bavies
FINANCE, n. fi.nans'. [Fr. and Nonn
finance ; Arm. financz, fine, subsidy. Fi-
nance is {mm fine, in the sense of a sum of
money paid by the subject to the king for
the enjoyment of a privilege, a feudal
sense. Hcnce/jiance was originally reve-
nue arising from_^?ies. See Fine.]
Revenue ; income of a king or state.
Bacon.
The United States, near the close of the
revolution, appointed a superintendent of
finance.
[It is more generally used in the jylural.]
FINAN'CES, n. phi. Revenue ; funds in the
public treasury, or accruing to it ; jjublic
resources of money. The finances of the
king or government were in a low condi-
tion. The finances were exhausted.
2. The income or resources of individuals,
[But the word is most properly applicable to
public revenue.]
FINAN'CIAL, a. Pertaining to public rev-
me ; as financial concerns or operations,
Anderson.
FINAN'CIALLY, adv. In relation to finan-
ces or pubUc revenue ; in a manner tc
produce revenue.
We should be careful not to consider as
financially eifective exports, all the goods and
produce which have been sent abroad.
VTahh
FINANCIE'R, n. [In France, a receiver oi
farmer of the public revenues.]
1. An otiieer who receives and manages the
public revenues ; a treasurer.
2. One who is skilled in the principles or
system of public revenue ; one who un-
derstands the mode of raising money by
imposts, excise or taxes, and the econom-
ical management and application of pub-
lic money.
3. One who is entrusted with the collection
and management of the revenues of a
poration.
4. One skilled in banking operations.
FI'NARY, n. [from fine, refine.] in iron
work.s, the second forge at the iron-mill.
[See Finery.] Did.
FINCH, n. [Sax. fine ; G. fink ; D.vink;
It. pincione ; W. pine, fine, gay, a finch.]
A bird. But finch is used chiefly in compo-
sition ; as chaffinch, goldfinch. These be-
long to the genus Fringilla.
FIND, V. t. prpt. and pp. found. [Sax. fin-
dan ; G.finden ; D. vinden, or i>ynen ; Sw.
finna ; Dan. finder. This word coincides
in origin with the L. venio ; but in sense,
with invenio. The primary sense is to
come to, to rush, to fall on, to meet, to
set on ; and the Sw. finna is rendered not
only by invenire, but by offendere. So in
Sp. venir, to come, and to assault. It is
probable therefore that find and fend are
from one root. Ar. • 1. j to come. Class
Bn. No. 21. See also No. 7.]
L Literally, to come to ; to meet ; hence, to
discover by the eye ; to gain first sight or
knowledge of something lost ; to recover
either by searching for it or by accident.
Doth she not light a candle, and sweep the
house, and seek diligently till she^nd it .' and
when she hath /ound it — Luke xv.
2. To meet; to discover something not be-
fore seen or known.
He sdith to him, we have found the Messiah-
John i.
3. To obtain by seeking.
A.sk, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye
hall find. Matt. vii.
4. To meet with.
In woods and forests thou art found.
Cowley.
5. To discover or know by experience.
Tlie torrid zone is now found habitable.
Cowley.
6. To reach ; to attain to ; to arrive at.
Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth to life, and few there be that find it.
Matt. vii.
7. To discover by study, experiment or trial.
Air and water are found to be compound
substances. Alchimists long attempted to
find the philosopher's stone, but it is not
yei found.
6. To gain; to have; as, to/n(2 leisure foi- a
visit.
9. To perceive ; to observe ; to learn. I
found his opinions to accord with my own.
10. To catch ; to detect.
When first fonnd in a lie, talk to him of it as
a strange monstrous matter. Locke.
In this sense find is usually followed by
out.
11. To meet.
In ills their business and their glory find.
Cowley.
12. To have ; to experience ; to enjoy.
Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleas-
ure. Is. Iviii.
13. To select ; to choose ; to designate.
I have found David my servant. Ps. Ixxxix.
14. To discover and declare the truth of dis-
puted facts ; to come to a conclusion and
decide between parties, as a jury. The
iury find a verdict for the ])laintiff or de-
fendant. They find the accused to be
guilty.
15. To determine and declare by verdict.
The jury have found a large sum in dam-
ages for the plaintiff.
F I N
N
FIN
16. To establish or pronounce charges al
ledged to be true. The grand jury liavej
found a bill against the accused, or they
find a true bill.
17. To supply ; to furnish. Who will fii
the money or provisions for this expedi-
tion ? We will J5»id ourselves with provis
ions and clothing.
18. To discover or gain knowledge of by
touching or by sounding. We first sound
ed and found bottom at the depth of ninety
five fathoms on the So]e bank.
To find oiie's self, to be ; to fare in regard to
ease or pain, health or sickne.ss. I'ray,
sir, how ilo you find yourself this morning,
To find in, to supply ; to furnish ; to provide.
lie finds his nephew in nionc}', victuals!
and clothes. |
To find out. To invent ; to discover
thing before unknown. I
A man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold — and to
find out every device. 2 Chron. ii.
2. To unriddle ; to solve ; as, to find out the
meaning of a parable or an enigma.
3. To discover; to obtain knowledge of*
what is hidden ; as, to find out a secret
4. To understand ; to comprehend.
Canst thou by searching jfind out God ? .lob
xi.
5. To detect ; to discover ; to bring to light
as, to find out a thief or a theft ; to find
out a trick.
To find fault luilti, to blame ;
FINDER, n. One who meets or falls on any
thing ; one that discovers what is lost or
is unknown ; one who discovers by
searching, or by accident.
FIiVOFAULT, n. A ccnsurer; a caviller.
Shak.
FIiVDFAULT'ING, a. Apt to censure;
captious. imUock.
FIN1)1NG, ppr. Discovering.
FINDING, n. Discovery; the act of dis-
covering.
2. In /a«f, the return of a jury to a bill; a
verdict.
FIN'DY, a. [Sax. findlg, heavy; f^efindig,
capacious ; Dan. fyndig, strong, emphati-
cal, nervous, weighty, from fi/nd, force,
energy, emphasis, strength ; probably from
crowding, tension, stretching, {'romfi?id.]
Full ; heavy ; or fiini, solid, substantial. Obs.
A cold May and a windy,
■ Makes the bam fat and /"rfy-
Old Prov. Junius.
FINE, a. [¥r. fin, -rnhmcG finesse ; Sp.
Port. /no, whence /fne:n ; It./'iio, whence
finezxa ; Dan fiin ;' Sw. fin ; G. fin ; D.
fyn ; hence to rtfine. The Ir. has fion ;
"and the W. fain, fined, signify rising
- ■?
to a point, as a cone. Ar. s\ afana, to
diminish. Class Bn. No 29.]
1. Small; thin; slender; minute; of very
small diameter; as a fine thread; fine
silk ; a fine hair. We say also,/)!e .sand,
fine particles.
2. Subtil ; thin ; tenuous ; as, fine spirits
evaporate; a finer medium opposed to
a grosser. Bacon.
.'3. Thin ; keen ; smoothly sharp; as the fine
edge of a razor.
4. Made of fine threads ; not coarse ; as fine
linen or cambric.
5i Clear ; pure ; free from feculence or for-
Vol. I.
eign matter ; as fine gold or silver ; wine
is not good iWl fine.
6. Refined.
Those things were too fine to be fortunate,
and succeed in all parts.
7. Nice ; delicate ; perceiving or discerning
minute beauties or deformities ; as a fim
taste ; a fine sense.
8. Subtil ; urtfiil ; dextrous. [See Finess.]
Bacon
9. .Sublil ; sly ; fraudulent.
Hubberd's Tale.
10. Elegant ; beautiful in thought.
To call the trumpet by the name of the metal
was fine. Dryden
11. Very handsome ; beautifid with dignity
The lady has a fine person, or a fine face
12. Accomplished ; elegant in manners. He
was one of the finest gentlemen of his
age.
13. Accomplished in learning; excellent
as afine scholar.
14. Excellent; superior; brilliant or acute
as a man of fine genius.
35. Amiable; noble; ingenuous; excellent;
as a man of a fine mind.
16. Showy; splendid; elegant; as a range
of fine buildings; a_^)ie house or garden ;
afine view.
17. Ironically, worthy of contemptuous no-
tice ; eminent for bad qualities.
That same knave. Ford, her husband, has the
finest mad devil of jealousy in him, Master
Brook, that ever governed frenzy. Shak.
Fine Arts, or polite arts, are the arts which
depend chiefly on the labors of the mind
or imagination, and whose object is pleas-
ure ; as poetry, music, painting and sculp-
ture.
The uses of this word are so numerous and
indefinite, as to preclude a particular def-
inition of each. In general, fine, in pop-
ular language, expresses whatever is
excellent, showy or magnificent.
FINE, n. [This word is the basis of finance,
hut 1 have not found it, in its simple form
in any modern language, except the Eng-
lish, .lunius says tliat^u, in Cimbric, is
a mulct, and fiinio, to fine. The word
seems to be the L. finis, and the applica-
tion of It to jiecuniary compensation seems
to have proceeded from its feudal use, in
the transfer of lands, in which a final
agreement or concord was made between
the lord and his vassal. See n:3 fanah.
Class Bn. No. 23.]
\n a feudal sense,a fma\ agreement between
persons concerning lands or rents, or be-
tweefi the lord and his vassal, prescribing
the conditions on which the latter should
hold his lands. . Spelman.
2. -A sum of money paid to the lord by his
tenant, for permission to alienate or trans-
fer his lands to another. This in Eng-
land was exacted only from the king's
tenants in capite. Blackstone.
3. A sum of money paid to the king or state
by way of penalty for an otl'cnse : a mulct :
a pecuniary punishment. Fines are usu-
ally prescribed by statute, for the several
violations of law ; or the limit is prescri-
bed, beyond which the judge cannot im-
pose afine for a particular offense.
In fine. [Fr. cnfin ; L. in and /)ns.] In the
end or conclusion ; to conclude ; to sum
up all. I
FINE, V. t. [Sec Fine, the adjective.] To
clarify ; to refine ; to purify ; to defecate ;
to free from feculence or foreign matter;
as, to fine wine.
[This is the most general use of this
word.]
2. To purify, as a metal; as, to fine gold or
silver. In this sense, we now generally
use refine ; hut fine is proper. Job xxviii.
Prov. xvii.
3. To make less coarse ; as, to fine grass.
[JVot tised.] Mortimer.
4. To decorate ; to adorn. [.Vo< in u«ej
Shak.
FTNE, V. t. [See Fine, the noim.] To im-
pose on one a pecuniary penalty, payable
to tlie government, for a crime or breach
of law; to set a fine on by judgment of
a court ; to pimish by fine. The trespas-
sers were fined ten dollars and in)prisoncd
a month.
2. V. i. To pay a fine. LVot used.] Oldham.
FI'NEDRAW, V. t. [fine and draw.] To
sew up a rent with so much nicety that
it is not perceived. Johnson.
FI'NEDRAWER, n. One who finedraws.
FI'NEDR AWING, n. Rentering ; a dex-
trous or nice sewing up the rentsof cloths
or stuffs. Encyc.
FI'NEFINGERED, a. Nice in workman-
ship; dextrous at fine w-ork. Johnson.
FI'NESPOKEN, a. Using fine phrases.
1 Chesterfield.
FI'NESPUN, a. Drawn to a fine thread ;
minute ; subtle.
FI'NESTILL, V. <. To distill spirit from me-
lasses, treacle or some preparation of sac-
charine matter. Encyc.
FI'NESTILLER, n. One who distills spirit
from treacle or melasses. Encyc.
FI'NESTILLING, n. The operation of dis-
tilling spirit from melasses or treacle.
Encyr.
FI'NED, pp. Refined ; ])urified ; defecated.
2. Subjepted to a pecuniary penalty.
FI'NELESS, a. Endless ; boundless. [M,l
used.] Shak.
FI'NELY, adv. In minute parts ; as a sub-
stance finely pulverized.
2. To a thin or sharp edge ; as an instru-
ment finely sharpened.
.3. Gaily ; handsomely ; beautifully ; with
elegance and taste. She was finely at-
tired.
4. With elegance or beauty.
Plutarch says very finely, that a man should
not allow himself to hate even his enemies ; for
if you indulge tliis passion on some occasions,
it will rise of itself in others. ..iddiaon.
5. With advantage; very favorably; as a
house or garden/neZi/ situated.
6. Nicely ; delicately ; as a stuff finely
wrought.
7. Purely ; completely. Clarendon.
8. By u-ay of irony, wretchedly ; in a man-
ner deserving of ^contemptuous notice.
He is finely caught in his own snare.
FI'NENESS, 71. [Tr. finesse; It. finezza.]
Thinness; smallness; slenderness ; as the
/nc»ie«4 of a thread or silk. Hence,
2. Consisting of fine threads; as _/fnc linen.
3. Smallness ; minuteness ; as the fineness
of sand or particles ; the fineness of soil or
mold.
FIN
4. Clearness; .purity ; fieedoin from foreign
matter ; as the jineness of wine or other
liquor; the Oneness of gold.
5. Niceness ; delicacy ; as the Jineness of
taste.
G. Ivecimess; sharpness; thinness; as the
fineness of an edge.
7. Elegance ; beauty ; as Jineness of person.
8. Capacity for delicate or refined concep-
tions; as the^neness of genius.
0. Show ; splendor ; gayety of appearance ;
elegance ; as the Jineness of clothes or
dress.
10. Clearness ; as the Jineness of conipl
ion.
11. Subtilty ; artfulness; ingenuity; as the
Jineness of wit.
\2. Snioothne.ss. Drayton.
FI'NER, n. One who refines or purifies,
Prov. XXV. 4.
2. a. Comparative of Jine.
FI'NERY, n. Show; splendor; gayety of
colors or appearance ; as the Jinery of
a dress.
2. Showy articles of dress ; gay clothes,
jewels, trinkets, &c.
3. In iron-works, the second forge at the
iron-mills. [See Finaru.}
FINESS', ? „ [Fr. Jinesse ; It.Jinezza ; Sp,
FINESSE, (, fineza; propeHy,^ncne5S.]
Artifice ; stratagem ; subtilty of contrivance
to gain a point.
FINESS', V. i. To use artifice or strata
gem.
FINESS'ING, ppr. Practicing artifice to
accomplish a purpose.
FIN'-FISH, n. A species of slender whale.
FIN-FOOTED, a. Having palmated feet,
or feet with toes connected by a mem-
brane. Brown
FIN'GER, n. Jing'ger. [Sax. finger, from
fengan, to take or seize ; G. Sw. Dan. id;
D. vinger. But n is not radical, for the
Goth, isfiggrs.]
1. One of the extreme parts of the hand, a
small member shooting to a point- The
fingers have joints which peculiarly fit
them to be the instruments of catching,
seizing and holding. When we speak ol
the fingers generally, we include the
thumb; as the /dc fingers. But we often
make a distinction. The fingers and thumb
consist of fifteen bones ; three to each
The word is applied to some other ani
mals as well as to man.
2. A certain measure. We say a finger's
breadth, or the breadth of the four^j^ng-ers,
or of three /ng-ers.
3. The hand. Waller
Who tcacheth my fingers to fight. P;
4. The finger or fingers of Gorf, in scripture,
."ignify his power, strength or operation.
Tliu magicians said to Pliaraoh, this is the
finger of God. Ex. viii.
5. In music, ability ; skill in playing on a
keyed instrument. She has a good Jinge
liusby
FIN'GER, V. t. To handle with the fingei
to touch lightly ; to toy. Tlie covetous
man delights to Jfinger money.
2. To touch or take thievishly ; to pilfer.
South.
3. To touch an instrument of music ; to play
on an instrument. Shak.
F I N
4. To perform work with the fingers ; to ex-
ecute delicate work.
To handle without violence. Bp. Hall.
FIN'GER, j;. i. To dispose the fingers aptly
in playing on an instrument. Busby.
FINGER-BOARD, »!. The board at the
neck of a violin, guitar or the like, where
the fingers act on the strings. Wood.
FINGERED, pp. Played on; handled;
touched.
2. a. Having fingers. In botany, digitate ;
having leaflets like fingers.
FIN'GER-FERN, ji. A plant, asplenium.
FIN'GERING, ppr. Handhng; touching
lightly.
FIN'GERING, n. The act of touching
lightly or handling. Grew.
2. The manner of touching an instrument
f music. Shak.
3. Delicate work made with the fingers.
Spenser.
FIN'GER-SHELL, n. A marine shell re-
embling a finger. Diet. ofJVat. Hist.
FIN'GER-STONE, n. A fossil resembling
an arrow. Johnson.
FIN'GLE-FANGLE, n. A trifle. [Vulgar.]
Hudibras.
FIN'GRIGO, n. A plant, of the genus Piso-
ii. The fruit is a kind of berry or plum.
Lee. Ed. Encyc.
FIN'ICAL, a. [from fine.] Nice ; spruce ;
foppish ; pretending to great nicety or su-
perfluous elegance ; as a finical fellow.
2. AflTcctedly nice or showy ; as a finical
dress.
FIN'ICALLY, adv. With great nicety or
pruceness ; foppishly.
FIN'I€ALNESS, n. Extreme nicety in
dress or manners; foppishness. fVarburton.
FI'NING, ppr. [See Fine, the verb.] Clar-
ifying ; refining; purifying; defecating;
separating from extraneous matter.
[See Fine, the noun.] Imposing a fine or
pecuniary penaltv.
FIN'ING-POT, n.'A vessel in which metals
e refined.
FI'NIS, n. [L.] An end ; conclusion.
FIN'ISH, v.t. [Arm. finicza ; Fr.finir; L,
finio, from finis, an end, Ir. fitin, W. fin.
Class Bn. No. 23.]
1. To arrive at tlie end of, in performance ;
to complete ; as, to finish a house ; lo finish
a journey.
Thus the heavens and (he earth were finish-
ed. Gen. ii.
2. To make perfect.
Episodes, taken separately, finish nothing.
Broome
3. Tol
end
an end ; to end ; to put ai
Seventy weeks are determined on thy peo
pie, and on thy holy city, to finish the ti
gression,
and make an end ol sins. Dan. ix.
4. To perfect ; to accomplish ; to polish to
the degree of excellence intended. In this
sense it is frequently used in the partici-
ple of the perfect tense as an adjective
It is a finished performance. He is afin
ished scholar.
FIN'ISHED, jap. Completed ; ended ; done ;
perlected.
2. a. Complete ; perfect ; polished to the
highest degree of excellence ; as a finished
poem ; a finished education.
FIR
FIN'ISHER, n. One who finishes; one who
pletely performs. Shak.
2. One who puts an end to. Hooker.
3. One who completes or perfects.
Jesus, the author and finisher ot'ourfailh.
Heb. xii.
FJN'ISHING, ppr. Completing ; perfecting ;
bringing to an end.
FINISHING or FIN'ISH, n. Completion:
completeness ; perfection ; last polish.
ff'arbnrton.
FI'NITE, a. [L.finitus, from finio, to finish,
fromfinis, limit.]
Having a limit ; limited ; bounded ; opposed
to infinite, as finite number, finite exist-
ence ; applied to this life, we say, a finite
being, finite duration.
Fl'NITELY, adv. Within limits; to a cer-
tain degree only. Slillingjleet.
FI'NITENESS, n. Limitation; confine-
ment within certain boundaries ; as the
Jiniteness of our natural powers.
FIN'ITUDE, n. Limitation. [JVot used.]
Cheyne.
FIN'LESS, a. [from fin.] Destitute of fins ;
asjinless fish. Shak.
FIN'LIKE, a. Resembling a fin ; as a fin-
like oar. Dryden.
FINN, n. A native of Finland, in Europe.
FIN'NED, a. Having broad edges on either
side ; applied to a plow. Mortimer.
FIN'NIKIN, n. A sort of pigeon, with a
crest somewhat resembline the mane of a
horse. DCct. of.Vat. Hist.
FIN'NY, a. Furnished with fins ; asfinny
fish ; finny tribes ; finny prey.
Dnjden. Pope.
FIN'-TOED, a. [fin and toe.] Palmiped ;
palmated ; liaving toes connected by a
membrane, as aquatic fowls.
FINO'CHIO, n. [h.finocchio.] A variety of
fennel.
FIN'SCALE, n. A river fish, called the
rudd. Chambers.
FIP'PLE, n. [L. fibula.] A stopper. [A'o* in
Bacon.
FIR, 71. [W. pyr, what shoots to a point, a
fir-tree ; Sax furh-wudu, fir-wood ; G.
fOhre ; Sw. furu-trh ; Dan. fyrrc-trae.
The Dutch call it sparre-boom, spar-tree.]
The name of several species of the genus
Pinus ; as the Scotch fir, the silver fir,
spruce fir, hendock fir, and oriental fir.
FIR-TREE. [See Fir.]
FIRE, n. [Sax. f^r; G.feuer;D. vuur ;
Dan. Sw. yyr; Gr. Jtup. Qu. Coptic, pira,
the sun ; New Guinea, for. The radical
sense of fire is usually, to rush, to rage, to
be violently agitated ; and if this is the
sense of fire, it coincides with h.furo. It
may be from shining or consuming. See
Class Br. No. 2. G. 9. 30.]
. Heat and light emanating visibly, percep-
tibly and simultaneously from any body ;
caloric ; the unknown cause of the sensa-
tion of heat and of the retrocession of the
homogeneous particles of bodies from
one another, producing expansion, and
thus enlarging all their dimensions ; one
of the causes of magnetism, as evinced by
Dr. Hare's calorimotor. Silliman.
In the popular acceptation of the word, fire
is the effect of combustion. The combus-
tible body ignited or heated to redness we
cMfire ; and when ascending in a stream
F I R
• or body, we call it Jlame. A piece of char-
coal in combustion, is of a red color and
very hot. In this state it is said to be on
Jire, or to contain/re. When combustion
ceases, it loses its redness and extreme
heat, and we say, the^^re is extinct.
2. The burning of fuel on a hearth, or in
any other place. We kindle a Jire in the
morning, and at night we rake up tlie/rc.
Anthracite will maintain /re during the
night.
S. The burning of a house or town ; a con-
flagration. Newouryport and Savannah
have suffered immense losses byjire. The
great /re in Boston in 1711 consumed s
large part of the town.
4. Light ; luster ; splendor.
Stars, hide your fires ! Shak
5. Torture by burning. Prior
6. The instrument of punishment ; or the
punishment of the impenitent in another
state.
Who among us shall dwell with the devouring
fire? Is. xxxiu.
7. Tliat which inflames or irritates the pas-
What fire is in my ears ? Shnk.
8. Ardor of temper; violence of passion.
He had fire in his temper. Atierbury.
9. Liveliness of imagination ; vigor of fancy ;
intellectual activity ; animation ; force of
sentiment or expression.
And warm the critic with a poet's /re.
Pope.
10. The passion of love ; ardent affection.
The God of love retire? ;
Dim are his torches, and extinct his fires.
Pope
11. Ardor ; heat ; as the/re of zeal or of
love.
12. Combustion ; tumult ; rage ; conte
tion.
13. Trouble ; affliction.
When tliou walkest through the /re, thou shalt
not be burnt. Is. xliii.
To set on fire, to kindle ; to inflame ; to
cite violent action.
St. .inthony's fire, a disease marked by an
eruption on the skin, or a diffused inflt
mation, with fever; the Erysipelas.
Wild fire, an artificial or factitious fire,
which burns even under water. It is
made by a composition of sulphur, naph
tha, pitch, gimi and bitumen. It is called
also Greek fire. Encyc
FIRE, V. t. To set on fire : to kindle ; as,
to fire a house or chinmey ; to fire a pile,
Dryden.
9. To inflame ; to irritate the passions ; as,
to/re with anger or revenge.
3. To animate ; to give life or spirit ; as
to /re the genius.
4. To drive by lire. [Little used.] Shak
.'>. To cause to explode ; to discharge ; as, tc
fire a musket or cannon.
6. To cauterize ; a term in farrieri).
FIRE, V. i. To take fire ; to be kindled.
2. To be irritated or inflamed with passion
3. To discliarge artillery or firearms. They
fired on the town.
FI'REARMS, n. plu. Arms or weapons
which expel their charge by the combus-
tion of powder, as pistols, muskets, &c.
FI'RE-ARROW, h. A small iron dart, fur-
nished Willi a match impregnated with
powder and sidphur, used to fire the sails
of ships. Encyc.
F I R
FI'REBALL, n. A grenade ; a ball filled
with powiler or other combustibles, in-
tended to be thrown among enemies, and
to injure by explosion.
2. A meteor which passes rapidly through
the air and displodes.
FIREBARE, n. In old writers, a beacon.
Cyc.
FI'REBARREL, n. A hollow cylinder used
in fireships, to convey the fire to the
shrouds. Encyc.
FI'REBAVIN, n. A bundle of brush-wood,
used in fireahips. Encyc.
FI'REBLAST, n. A disease in hops, chief-
ly towards the later periods of their
growth. Ch/c.
FI'REBOTE, n. An allowance of fuel, to
1 a tenant is entitled. England.
Fl KL;BRAND, ji. a piece of wood kindled
or on tire.
. An incendiary ; one who inflames fac-
tions, or causes contention and mischief.
Bacon.
FI'REBRICK, n. A brick that will sustain
intense heat without fusion.
I'RKBRUSH, n. A brush used to sweep
the hearth. Swift
Fl'REBUCKET, n. A bucket to coiivVn
water to engines for extinguishing fire.
FI'RECLAY, n. A kind of clay that will
sustain intense heat, used in making fire-
bricks. Cyc.
FI'REeOCK, n. A cock or spout to let out
water for extinguishing fire.
FI'RE-€OMPANY, n. A company of men
for managing an engine to extinguish
fires.
FI'RECROSS, n. Sometliing used in Scot-
land as a signal to take arms ; the ends be-
ing burnt black, and in some parts smear-
ed with blood. Johnson.
FI'RED, pp. Set on fire ; inflamed ; kin
died ; animated ; irritated.
Fl'REDAMP. [See Damp.]
FI'REDRAKE, n. A fiery serpent.
2. An ignis fatuus. Beaum
FI'RE-EN(iINE, n. An engine for throwing
water to extinguish fire and save build
ings.
FIRE-ESCA'PE,fi. A machine for escaping
from windows, when houses are on fi
Cyc.
FI'REFLAIR, n. A species of ray-fish or
Raja.
FI'REFL*, n. A species of fly which has
its belly a spot which shines ; and another
species which emits light from under its
wings, as it flies. Encyc.
FI'REHOOK, n. A large hook for pulling
down buildings in conflagrations.
FI'RELOCK, n. A musket, or other gun,
with a lock, which is discharged by strik-
ing fire with flint and steel.
FI'REMAN, Ji. A man whose business is to
extinguish fires in towns.
2. A man of violent passions. [.Xbt used.]
Toiler.
FI'REM>ASTER, n. An oflicer of artillery
who superintends the composition of fire-
works.
FI'RENEW, a. Fresh from the forge ;
bright Addison.
FI'RE-OFFICE,ji. An office for making in-
surance against fire.
FIRE-ORDEAL, n. [See Ordeal.]
F I R
REPAN, n. A i)aii for holding or con-
eying fire. Ex. xxvii.
FI'REPLACE, JI. The part of a chimney
appropriated to the fire ; a hearth.
FIREPLUG, n. .\ plug for drawing water
from a pipe to extinguish fire.
FI'REPOT, n. A small earthern pot filled
with combustibles, used in niiUtary ope-
rations.
FI'RER, 71. One who sets fire to any thing;
an incendiary.
FI'RESlilP, n. A vessel filled with combus-
tibles and furnished with grappling irons
to hook and set fire to an enemy's ships.
Encyc.
FI'RESIIOVEL, n. A shovel or instrument
for taking u]) or removing coals of fire.
FIRESIDE, 71. A place near the fire or
hearth j home ; domestic life or retire-
ment.
FI'RESTICK, )i. A hghted stick or brand.
Diehy.
FI'RESTONE, n. A fossil, the pyrite. [See
Pyrite.]
2. .\ kind of freestone which bears a high
degree of heat. Cyc.
IFIREWARD, \ An officer who has
IIKKW AKDEN, ^ "' authority to direct
"IIhi- 111 I he extinguishing of fires.
II i;i;\\i.)l.)l),7i. Wood for fuel.
II Ki;\VuKK, (1. Usually in the plural,/rf-
tcorks.
Preparations of gun-powder, sulphur and
other inflammable materials, used for ma-
king ex])losions in the air, on occasions of
public rejoicing ; pyrotechnical exhibi-
tions. This word is applied also to vari-
ous combustible ju-eparations used in war.
FI'REWORKER, n. An oflicer of artilleiy
subordinate to the firemaster.
FI'RING, ppr. Setting fire to ; kindling ; an-
imating; exciting ; inflaming ; discharging
FI'RING, 71. The act of discharging fire-
arms.
2. Fuel ; firewood or coal. Mortimer.
FIRING-IRON, 71. An instrument used in
farriery to discuss swellings and knots.
I Encyc.
FIRK, v. t. To beat ; to whip ; to chastise.
[JVot ttsed.] Hudibras.
FIRKIN, 71. fur'hin. [The first syllable is
probably the Dan. fire, D. vier, four, and
the latter, as in kilderkin.]
A measure of capacity, being the fourth part
of a barrel. It is nine gallons of beer, or
eight gallons of ale, soap or herrings. In
America, the firkin is rarely used, except
for butter or lard, and signifies a small
vessel or cask of indeterminate size, or of
diflferent sizes, regulated by the statutes of
the diflTerent states.
FIRLOT, 71. A dry measure used in Scot-
land. The oat firlot contains 21i pints of
that country; the wheat firlot 224 cubic
inches; the barley firlot 21 standard pints.
Encyc.
FIRM, a. /erm. [h.firmus; Fr. ferme ; Sp.
firme ; U. fenno ; W.fyrv. This Welsh
word may be from the Latin. The root
of the word is probably Celtic ; W. fer,
hard, solid ; fyr, a solid ; feru, to concrete
or congeal, to fix, to freeze. This is the
root of L./ernim, iron.]
1. Properly, fixed ; hence, applied to the
matter of bodies, it signifies closely coin-
F I R
FIR
F I S
pressed; compact; hard; solid; as /nn||4. Certainty; souncbiess; as the Jirmness of 2. Tlie thing first thought or done. [JVof
tlesli ; ^'vn muscles ; some species of wood - "' -_:_•. i — ii
are niore^rm than others; a cloth of _/5n7t
texture.
9. Fixed ; steady ; constant ; stable ; unsha-
ken ; not easily moved ; as a Jirm believer
a Jinn friend ; a frm adiierent or support
er; a Jirm man, or a man of Jirm resolu
tion.
-.'?. Solid; not giving way ; opposed to yZuirf
nsjirm land.
FIRM, n. firm. A partnership or house ; oi
the name or title under which a company
transact business ; as the Jirm of Hope &
Co.
FIKM, V. t. firm, [h.firmo.] To fix ; to set
tie ; to confirm ; to establish.
And Jove lias jirni'd it with an awful nod.
Dryden
This word is rarely used, except in poetry
In prose, we use conjirm.
FIRMAMENT, n.firm'ament. [L.ftrmamen-
turn, from JirmuSjJirmo.]
The region of the air ; the sky or heavens.
In scripture, the word denotes an expanse,
a wide extent ; for such is the signification
of the Hebrew word, coinciding with re
gio, region, and reach. The original there
fore does not convey the sense of solidity
but of stretching, extension ; the great
arch or expanse over our heads, in whicl
are placed the atmosphere and the clouds,
and in which the stars appear to be placed,
and are really seen.
And God said, Let there be a Jirmameiit
the midst of the waters, and let it divide the
waters from Ihe waters. Gen. i. 6.
And God said, Let there be lights in the Arm-
ament. Ibm. i. 14.
FIRMAMENT'AL, a. Pertaining to the fir-
mament; celestial; being of the upper re-
gions. Diyden.
PIR'MAN, 11. An Asiatic word, denoting a
passport, permit, license, or grant of privi
leges.
FIRMED, pp. firm'ed. Established ; con
firmed.
FIRMING, f;)r./er»i'tng-. Settling; making
firm and stable.
FIRMITUDE, n. finn'itude. Strength ; so-
lidity. [.Vo< in use.-] Bp. Hall.
FIRMITY, n. firm'ity. Strength ; firmness.
[N'ot used.] Chilling%Borth.
FIKMLESS, a. firm'less. Detached from
substance.
Does passion still the Jirmless mind control
TIRMLY, adv. finn'ly. Solidly; coinpactly;
closely ; as particles of matter Jirmly
liering.
'i. Steadily ; with constancy or fixedness ;
immovably ; steadfastly. He Jirmly be-
lieves in the divine origin of the scriptures
His resolution is ^rm/i/ fixed. He Jirmly
udlieres to his party.
FIRM'NESS, n. firm'ness. Closeness or
denseness of texture or structure ; com-
pactness; hardness; solidity; as the^nn-
ness of wood, stone, cloth or other sub-
stance.
2. Stability ; strength ; as the Jirmness of a
union, or of a confederacy.
3. Steadfastness ; constancy ; fixedness ; as
the/rm?ics.? of a purpose or resolution ; the
firmness of a nuin, or of his courage ; jfirm-
nessof mind or suul.
notions or opmions.
jFIRST, a. fiirst. [Sax. Jirst or fyrst, Sw
forsle, Dan. Jorste, first ; G. Jurst, D
vorst, Dan. Jyrsle, a prince, that is, Jirst
man. It is the superlative of fire, fyr, be
fore, advanced, tliat is, forest, fyrest, from
Sax. firan, to go, or a root of the same
family. See Fare and For.]
1. Advanced before or further than any otli
er in progression ; foremost in place ; as
the Jirst man in a marching company or
troop is the man that precedes all the rest
Hence,
3. Preceding all others in the order of time,
Adam was the Jirst man. Cain was the
Jirst murderer. Monday was the first day
of January.
3. Preceding all others in numbers or a pro-
gressive series ; the ordinal of
the first number.
4. Preceding all others in rank, dignity or
excellence. Demosthenes was the first
orator of Greece. Burke was one of the
first geniuses of his age. Give God the
first place in your affections.
FIRST, adv. furst. Before anything else in
the order of time.
Adam was Jirst formed, then Eve. 1 Tim. ii
2. Before all others in place or progression
Let the officers enter the gate first.
3. Before any thing else in order of pro-
ceeding or consideration. First, let us at-
tend to the examination of the witnesses.
4. Before all others in rank. He stands or
ranks first in public estimation.
Atfirst,at the first, at the beginning or origin.
First or last, at one time or another ; at the
ginning or end.
.\nd all are fools and lovers first or last.
Dryden
FIRST-BEGOT'TEN, a. First produced ;
the eldest of children. Milton
FIRST'-BORN, a. First brouglit forth ; first
in the order of nativity ; eldest; as the
first-born son.
9. Most excellent ; most distinguished or
exalted. Christ is called the first-hor
every creature. Col. i.
FIRST'-BORN, n. The eldest child ; the first
in the order of birth.
The first-born of the poor are th'
wretched. Is. xiv.
The first-born of death is the most terrible
de.ath. Job. xviii.
FIRST-€REA'TED, a. Created before any
other. Milton.
FIRST-FRUIT, ) „ The fruit or produce
FIRST-FRUITS, ^ "" first mature.I and col-
lected in any season. Of these the Jews
made an oblation to God, as an acknowl-
edgment of his sovereign dominion.
2. The first profits of any thing. In the
church of England, the profits of every
spiritual benefice for the first year.
Encyc.
3. The first or earliest effect of any thing," in
a good or bad sense ; as the first-fruits of
grace in the heart, or the first-fruits of
vice.
FIRSTLING, a. Fust produced; as/re<-
ling males. Deut. xv.
FIRST'LING, n. The first produce or off-
spring; applied to beasts ; as the firstlings
of cattle.
used.]
I The very Jirstlings of my heart shall be
The /rsHmj-s of my hand. Shak
FIRST'-RATE, o. Of the highest excel-
I lence; preeminent; as a yirs*-ra<e scholar
I or painter.
.2. Being of the largest size ; as a first-rate
i ship.
FIS€, n. [L.fi^cus; Fr. fisc; Sp. fisco; It.
id. Fiscus, $t!rxoj, signifies a basket or
hauaper, probably from the twigs which
composed the first baskets, Eng. whisk.
The word coincides in elements with bas-
ket, and L. fascia, twigs being the primi-
tive bands.]
The treasury of a prince or state ; hence, to
confiscate is to take the goods of a crimi-
nal and appropriate them to the public
treasury.
FIS€'AL, a. Pertaining to the public treas-
ury or reveinie.
The Jiscat arrangements of government.
Hamilton .
FIS€'AL, n. Revenue ; the income of a
Sieinburne.
FISH, n. [Bax.Jisc ; D. visch ; G.fisch ; Dan.
and Sw.fisk; Sp.pex; It. pesce; Fr. pois-
son; \crh, p(cher,pescher ; Arm. pesk; W.
py-tg; L. piscis; Ir. iasg. This animal
may be named from its rapid motion. In
W. fysg is hasty, impetuous.]
An animal that lives in water. Fish is a
general name for a class of animals sub-
sisting in water, which were distributed
by Linne into six orders. They breathe
by means of gills, swim by the aid of fins,
and are oviparous. Some of them have
the skeleton bony, and others cartilagin-
ous. Most of the former have the open-
ing of the gills closed by a peculiar cov-
ering, called the gill-lid ; many of the lat-
ter have no gill-lid, and are hence said to
breathe through apertures. Cetaceous
animals, as the whale and dolphin, are,
in popular language, called fishes, and
have been so classed by some naturahsts ;
but they breathe by lungs, and are vivipa-
rous, like quadrupeds. The term^A has
been also extended to other aquatic ani-
mals, such as shell-fish, lobsters, &c. We
use fish, in the singular, for fishes in
general or the whole race.
2. The flesh offish, used as food. But we
usually apply fiesh to land animals.
FISH, V. i. To attempt to catch fish ; to be
employed in taking fish, by iiny means, as
by angling or drawing nets.
2. To attempt or seek to obtain by artifice,
or indirectly to seek to draw forth ; as, to
fish for compliments.
FISH, V. t. To search by raking or sweep-
ing; as, to fish the jakes for papers.
Swifi.
2. In seamanship, to strengthen, as a mast or
yard, with a piece of timber. Mar. Diet.
3. To catch ; to draw out or up ; as, to fish
up a human body when sunk ; to fish an
anchor.
FISH, n. In ships, a machine to hoist and
draw up the flukes of an anchor, towards
the top of the bow.
2. A long piece of timber, used to strength-
en a lower mast or a yard, when S|>rung
or damaged.
F I S
F I T
F I T
FISH'ER, Ji. One who is employed in catch-
ing fish.
2. A species of weasel. Pennant.
FISH'ERBOAT, n. A boat employed in
catching fish.
FISH'ERMAN, n. One whose occupation
is to catch fish.
2. A ship or vessel employed in the busi-
ness of taking fish, as in the cod and whale
fislierv.
FISH'ERTOWN, n. A town inhabited by
fishermen. Came.
FISH'ERY, n. The business of catching
fish. Addison.
2. A place for catching fish with nets or
hooks, as the banks of Newfoundland, the
coast of England or Scotland, or on the
banks of rivers.
FISH'FUL, a. Abounding with fish ; as a
fishfid pond. Carew.
FISH'GIG, ( An instrument used for
FIZ'GIG, i; "■ striking fish at sea, con-
sisting of a staflT with barbed prongs, and
a line fastened just above the prongs.
Mar. Did.
FISH'HOQK, n. A hook for catching fish.
FISH'ING,-;>p-. Attempting to catch fish ;
searching ; seeking to draw forth by arti-
fice or indirectly ; adding a piece of tim-
ber to a mast or spar to strengthen it.
FISIl'ING, n. Tiio art or practice of catch-
ing fish.
2. A fislierv. Spenser.
FISII'ING"-FROG, n. The toad-fish, or
Lophius, whose head is larger than the
body. Encyc.
FISH'ING-PLACE, n. A place where fishes
are caught with seines ; a convenient
place for fishing ; a fishery.
FISII'KETTLE, n. A kettle made long for
boiling fish whole.
FISII'LIKE, a. Resembling fish. Shak.
FISH'jMARKET, n. A place where fish are
exposed for sale.
FISH'MEAL, n. A meal of fish ; diet on
fish ; abstemious diet.
FISIMVIONGER, n. A seller of fish ; a
dealer in fish.
FISH'POND, n. A pond in which fishes are
bred and kept.
FISH'ROOM, JI. An apartment in a ship
between the after-hold and the spirit
room. Mar. Did.
FISH'SPEAR, n. A spear for taking fish by
stabbing them.
FISH'WIFE, ». A woman that cries fish
for sale. Beaum.
FISH'VVOMAN, n. A woman who sells
fish.
FISH'Y, a. Consisting of fish.
2. Inhabited by fish ; as the /«Ai/ flood.
Pope.
3. Having the qualities offish; like fish ; as
a Jish)/ form ; a fish;/ taste or smell.
FIS'SIIjE, a. [L. fi^silis, from /«sus, divi-
ded, from findo, to split.] '
That may be split, cleft or divided in tlie di-
rection of the grain, or of natural joints.
This crystal is a pelluciil fissile stone.
J\l'ewton.
FISSIL'ITY, n. Tlie quality of admitting to
be clefr.
FIS'SIPED, a. [L. ^fissus, divided, and pes.
foot.] Having separate toes.
FIS'SIPED, n. An animal whose toes are
separate, or not connected by a mem-
brane. Broivn.
FIS'SURK, n.fish'ure. [Fr. from L.fi^sura.
from findo, to split.]
1. A cleft ; a narrow chasm made by the
parting of any substance ; a longitudinal
opening ; as the fissure of a rock.
2. In surgery, a crack or slit in a bone, either
transversely or longitudinally, by means of
external foice. " Encijc.
.3. In anatomy, a deep, narrow sulcus, or de-
pression, dividing the anterior and middle
lobes of the cerebrum on each side.
Coxe.
FIS'SURE, V. t. To cleave ; to divide ; to
crack or fracture. Wiseman.
FIS'SURED, pp. Cleft ; divided ; cracked.
FIrf'l", n. [Sax. fy.^l ,- D. vuist ; G. faust ;
Russ. piast ; Buliem. host. Qu. is it from
the root of fast ?]
The hand clinched ; the hand with the fin-
gers doubled into the palm.
FIST, V. t. To strike with the fist.
Dnjden
2. To gripe with the fist. [Litlte tised.]
Shak.
FIST'IeUFFS, n. [fi.it and cuff.] Blows oi
a combat with the fist ; a boxing. Swift.
FIS'TULA, n. [h.;Eiig. whistle.] Properly,
a pipe ; a wind histrument of music, origi-
nally a reed.
2. In surgery, a deep, narrow and callou.'
ulcer, generally arising from abscesses.
It differs from a sinus, in being callous.
Fistula lachrymalis, a fistula of the lachry-
mal sac, a disorder accompanied with n
flowing of tears. Coxe. Sharji.
FIS'TULAR, a. Hollow, like a pipe or reed
FIS'TULATE, v. i. To become a pipe or fis-
tula.
FIS'TULATE, v. t. To make hollow like a
pipe. [Little used.]
FlS'TUHl'ORM, a. [fistula and /orm.] Be-
ing in round hollow columns, as a min-
eral.
Stalactite often occurs fiatuliform.
Phillips
FIS'TULOUS, a. Having the form or na
tureof a fistula; as & fistulous uXcfr.
Hiseman.
FIT, n. [Qu. W. fith, a gliding or darting
motion. The French express the sense
of this word by boutade, from bout, the pri
mary sense of which is to shoot or piisl
out. It seems to be allied to L. peto, im
peto, to assault, or to Eng. pet, and prima
rily to denote a rushing on or attack, oi
a start. See Fit, suitable.]
1. Tlie invasion, exacerbation or paroxysm
of a disease. We apply the word to tl
return of an ague, after intermission, as
co\dfit. We apply it to the first attack, or
to the return of other diseases, as afit of
the gout or stone ; and in general, to a
disease however continued, as a^< of sick-
ness.
2. A sudden and violent attack of disorder,
in which the body is often convulsed, and
sometimes senseless ; as afit of apoplexy
or epilepsy ; hy.steric^^.
3. Any short return after intermission ; a
turn ; a period or interval. He moves by
fits and starts.
By fitx my -.welling grief appears.
.Addison.
4. A temporary aflection or attack; as afit
of melancholy, or of grief; afit of jdeas-
urc.
a. Disorder; distempcrature. Shak.
a. [Sax.yiH, a song.] Anciently, a song, or
part of a song ; a strain ; a canto.
Lye. Johnson.
FIT, a. [Flemish, vitten ; G. pass, fit, and a
pace ; passen, to be fit, suitable, right.
This is from the root of Eng. pass ; D. pas,
time, season ; van pas, fitting, fit, conven-
ient ; Eng. pat ; Dan. passer, to be fit. In
L. competo, whence compatible, signifies
properly to meet or to (all on, hence to
suit or be fit, from oe/o. This is probably
the same word. The primary sense is to
come to, to fall on, hence to meet, to ex-
lend to, to be close, to suit. To come or
fall, is the primary sense of time or season,
as in the Dutch. See Class Bd. No. 4r>.
64. and Class Bz. No. 52. 53. 70.]
1. Suitable; convenient; meet; becoming.
is it fit to .say to a king, thou art wicked :
Job xxxiv.
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands,
as it \<ifit 111 the Lord. Col. iil.
2. Qualified ; as men of \a\or fit for war.
No man having put his hand to the plow,
and looking back, iafit for the kingdom of God.
Luke ix.
FIT, 1'. /. To adapt ; to suit ; to make suita-
ble.
The carpenter — marketh it out with a line, he
fitteth it with planes. Is. xliv.
2. To accommodate a person with any thing ;
as, the laWorfits his customer with a coat.
The original phrase is, he fits a coat to his
customer. But the phrase implies also
furnishing, providing a thing suitable for
another.
3. To prepare ; to put in order for ; to fur-
nish with things proper or necessary ; as,
to fit a ship for a long voyage. Fit your-
self _/br action or defense.
4. To qualifv ; to prepare ; as, to fit a stu-
dent/or college.
To fit out, to furnish ; to equip ; to supply
with necessaries or means ; as, to fit out a
privateer.
To fit up, to prepare ; to furnish with things
suitable ; to make proper for the reception
or use of any person ; as, to fit up a house
for a ^uest.
FIT, V. i. To be proper or becoming.
fiorfits it to prolong the feast. Pope.
2. To suit or be suitable ; to be adapted.
His coat fits very well. But this is an el-
liptical phrase.
FITCH, n. A chick-pea.
FITCH'ET, } ^^ A polecat ; a foumart. [W.
FITCH'E W, ^ ' givicyll or gwicyn.]
I'TT'FUL, a. Varied by paroxysms; full of
, fits. Shak.
FIT^LY, adv. Suitably ; properly ; with pro-
priety. A niaxim/% applied.
2. Commodiously ; conveniently.
FIT'MENT, n. Something adapted to a
purpose. [M)t used.] Shak.
FIT'NESS, n. Suitableness: adaptedness ;
adaptation ; as the fiiness of things to their
use.
2. Propriety; meetness ; justness; reasona-
bleness ; as the fitness of measures or
laws.
3. Preparation ; qualification ; as a student's
fitness for college.
4. Convenience ; the state of being fit.
F I X
FIT TED, pp. Made suitable ; adapted ;
prepared ; qualified.
FIT'TER, n. One who makes fit or suita-
ble ; one who adapts ; one who prepares,
FIT'TING, ppr. Making suitable ; adapt-
ing ; preparin;: : qualifying ; providing
with.
FIT'TINGLY, adv. Suitably. .More.
FITZ, ^OYm. files, fiuz, or fz, a son, is used
in names, as in 'Fitxherhert, Fitzroy, Car-
lovitz.
FIVE, a. [Snx.fif; D. vuf; G.fiinf; Sw.
Dan. Jem; \V.pum,ptimp ; Arm. pemp.]
Four and one added ; thehalf of ten ; as five
nien ij'i'e loaves. Like other adjectives,
it is often used as a noun.
Five of them were wise, and Jive were fool-
ish. Matt. XXV.
FI'VEBAR, ) Having five bars ; as
FFVEBARRRD, l"' a fivebarnd gate.
FFVE€I.EFT, a. Quinquefid; divided into
five segments.
FI'VEFbLD, a. In fives; consisting of fiv
in one ; five-double ; five times repeated.
FI'VELEAF, n. Cinquefoil. Drayton.
FrVELEAFED,«. Having five leaves ; as
fiveleafed clover, or cinquefoil.
FI'VELOBED, a. Consisting of five lobes
FI'VEPARTED, a. Divided into five parts
FIVES, n. A kind of play with a ball.
FIVES or VIVES, n. A disease of horses,
resembling the strangles. Encuc,
FI'VETOOTHED, a. Having five teeth.
FI'VEVALVED, a. Having five valves.
Botany.
FIX, v.t. [Fr. fixer; Sp. fixar ; It. fissare;
L.fixiis,figo. Class Bg.]
1. To make stable; to set or establish im-
movably. The universe is governed bv
fixed laws. ^
2. To set or place permanently; to establish.
The prince fixed his residence at York.
The seat of our government is fixed at
Washington in the district of Columbia.
Some men have no fixed opinions.
3. To make fast ; to fasten ; to attach firm-
ly ; as, to^T a cord or line to a hook.
4. To set or place steadily ; to direct, as the
eye, without moving it ; to fasten. The
gentleman fixed his eyes on the speaker
and addressed him with firmness.
5. To set or direct steadily, without wander-
ing ; as, to fix the attention. The preacUet
fixes the attention of his audience, or the
hearers fix their attention on the preacher
C. To set or make firm, so as to bear a higl
degree of heat without evaporating ; t(
deprive of volatility. Gold, diamonds, sil
ver, platina, are among the most fixed
bodies.
7. To transfi-x ; to pierce. [Little used.]
Sandys
8. To withhold from motion.
i). In popular use, to put in order; to pre-
pare ; to adjust ; to set or place in the
manner desired or most suitable ; as, to
fix clothes or dress; to fix the furniture of
a room. This use is analogous to that of
set, in the phrase, to set a razor.
FIX, V. i. To rest ; to settle or remain per-
manently ; to cease from wandering.
Your kindness banishes your fear,
Resolved to^ forever here. Waller.
2. To become fir
F I Z
to become hard and malleable ; as a me
tallic substance. Bacon
To fix on, to settle the opinion or resolu
tion on any thing ; to determine on. The
contracting parties have fixed on certain
leading points. The legislature /x«rf on
^Vcthersfield as the place for a State
Prison.
FIX'ABLE, a. That may be fixed, estab-
lished, or rendered firm.
FIXA'TION, n. The act of fixing.
2. Stability ; firmness ; steadiness ; a state
ofbeing established ; asfixation in matters
of religion. King Charles.
3. Residence in a certain place ; or a place
of residence. [Little used.]
To liglit, created in tlie first day, God gave
no certain place or Jixaiion. Raleigh
4. That firm state of a body which resists
evaporation or volatilization by heat ; as
the fixation of gold or other metals.
Bacon. Encyc
5. The act or process of ceasing to be fluid
Hid becoming firm ; state ofbeing fixed.
r.T^^ T.,^ f'lanville
i lA'LD, pp. Settled ; estabhshed ; firm ;
fast ' '
Fixed
To cease
ais to resist volatiliza-
■ be fluid ; to coii?eal
an invisible and permanently elas
tic fluid, heavier than common air and fa-
tal to animal life, produced from the com
bustion of carbonaceous bodies, as wood
or charcoal, and by artificial processes;
called also aerial acid, cretaceous acid, and
more generally, carbonic acid.
Fixed bodies, are those which bear a high
heat without evaporation or volatilization.
Fixed stars, are such stars as alwaj's retain
the same apparent position and distance
with respect to each other, and are thus
distinguished from planets and comets,
which are revolving bodies.
Fixed oils, such as are obtained by simple
pressure, and are not readilv volatihzed
so called in distinction from' volatile or es
sential oils.
FIX'EDLV, adv. Firmly ; in a settled or
established manner; steadfttstly.
FIX'EDNESS, n. A state of being fixed
stability; firmness; steadfastness; as ;
fixedness in religion or politics ; fixedness
of opinion on any subject.
3. The state of a body which resists evapo-
ration or volatihzation by heat; as the fix-
edness of gold.
3. Firm coherence of parts; solidity.
FIXID'ITY, n. Fixedness. [JVot used.] ^^'
Boyh.
FIXITY, n. Fixedness ; coherence of parts ;
that property of bodies by which they re-
sist dissipaticm by heat. JVewton
FIX'TURE, n. Position. Shak.
2. Fixedness ; firm pressure ; as the fixtxire
of the foot. Shak.
Firmness; stable state.
4. That which is fixed to a building; any
appendage or part of the furniture of a
house which is fixed to it, as by nails,
screws, &c., and which t!ie tenant cannot
legally take away, wlien he removes to
another house.
FIX'URE, n. Position ; stable pressure ;
[Little used.] Shak
FIZ'GIG, n. A fishgig, which see.
2. A gadding flirting girl.
FLA
3. A fire-work, made of powder rolled up in
a paper. ^
FIZZ, > . ^
FIZ'ZLE, j "• '• ^° "^!»ke a hissing sound.
FLAB'BINtsS n. [See Flabby.] A soft,
flexible state ot a substance, which renders
It easily movable and yielding to press-
FLAB'BY a. [W. llib, a soft, lank, limber
state ; lbbi,i, flaccid, lank ; llipa, flaccid
ia.uk, flapping ; IHpdu, to become flabby
*^, !"?"'' i "''""'"' ^° maUglib or smooth:
tlabby, flap, and glib appear to be from
the same root.]
Soft ; yielding to the touch and easily moved
or shaken ; easily bent ; hanging loose bv
pt'a ^"r.".^^*''sht ; asflabby flesh. Simft.
FLACCID, a. [L.fiac.cidus, from flacceo, to
hang Aov/n to flag; Sp.fioxo ; Port, froio ;
Ir. floch ; W. llac, and Hag, slack, sluggish
ax ; Itaciaw, to slacken, to relax, to droop •
llaca, slop, mud ; lleigiaw, to flag, to la"'
to skulk ; lleigus, flagging, drooping, slug-
gish, slow. We see that flaccid, flag, slack,
sluggish, slow, and lag, are all of this fami-
^ ly. See Class Lg. No. 40. 41. 42. 43.]
boU and weak ; limber ; lax ; drooping
hanging down by its own -■' ■ • •
_ It ; yield-
ing to pressure for want of firmness and
stifloess ; asa flaccid muscle; flaccid flesh
FLAe'CIDNESS, ) „ Laxity limberne's-
FLAeCID'ITY, I "• want of firmnesstr'
stittness. fViseman.
FLAG, V. i. [W. llacdu, or llaciaw, to relax'
to droop ; llegu, to flag ; L. flacceo ; Sp!
flaquear; Port, fraquear, to flag ; Ir. /no-
weak. See Flaccid. The sense is priml-
rily to bend, or rather to recede, to fag-.]
1. To hang loose without stiffness: to bend
down as flexible bodies; to be loose and
yielding; as the flagging sails. Diyden.
i. lo grow spiritless or dejected; to droop;
to grow languid ; as, the spmts flag.
3. To grow weak ; to lose vigor ; as, the
stiength/ag.s.
4. To become dull or languid.
The pleasures of the town begin to flag.
FLAG, V. t. To let fall into feeblenessT'ui
sufier to drop; as,to flag the wings.
FLAG, n. [W.llec; Ir. Nag, a brnad'Art
stone ; allied perhaps to lay.] A flat stone,
or a pavement of flat stones.
FLAG, V. t. To lay with flat stones.
The sides and floor were 3.\\ flagged witli ex-
cellent marble. .Sandys.
FLAG, n. [W. Wnr, a blade.] An aquatic
plant, with a bladed leaf, probably so call-
ed from its bending or yielding to the
wind.
FLAG, n. [G.flagge; D. vlag,vlag!re ; Dan.
flag ; Sw. fiagg ; allied proba'bly to the
preceding word, in the sense of bending
or spreading.]
An ensign or colors ; a cloth on which are
usually painted or %vrought certain figures,
and borne on a staf}". In the army, a ban-
ner by which one regiment is distinguish-
ed from another. In the marine, a banner
or standard by which the ships of one na-
tion are distinguished from those of ano-
ther, or by which an admiral is distin-
guished from other ships of his squadron.
In the British navy, an admiral's flag is
displayed at tlie main-top-gallant-niasiT
FLA
FLA
FLA
head, a vice-admiral's at tlic forc-top-ga
lant-mast-licad, and a rear-admiral's f
the mizen-top-gallant-iuast-head.
To strike or lower the Jlag, is to pull it down
upon the cap in token of respect or sub-
mission. To strike the Jlag in an engage-
ment, is the sign of surrendering.
To hang out the white Jlag, is to ask quarter ;
or ill some cases, to manifest a friendly
design. The red Jlag, is a sign of defiance
or battle.
To hang the Jlag half mast high, is a token or
signal of mourning.
Flag-officer, an admiral ; the commander of
a squadron.
Flag-ship, the ship which bears the admiral,
and in which his flag is displayed.
Flagstaff, the stafli" that elevates the flag.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
FLAG'BROOM, n. A broom for sweeping
flags. Johnson.
FLAG'STONE, n. A flat stone for pave-
ment.
FLAG'WORM, n. A worm or grub found
among flags and sedge. ff'allon.
FLA6'ELET, n. [Fr. Jlageoht, from h. Jla-
tus, by corruption, or Gr. rt>jxyiai)>.05,
tfKayu>s, oblique, and av>.05, a flute. Lunier.]
A little flute ; a small wind instrument of
nuisic. More.
FLA(i'ELLANT, n. [L. Jlagellans, from
Jtagello, iojlog.'l
One who whijis himself in religious disci-
pline. The flagellants were a fanatical
sect which arose in Italy, AD. 12C0, who
maintained that flagellation was of equal
virtue with baptism and the sacrament.
They walked in procession with shoulders
bare, and whipped themselves till the blood
ran down their bodies, to obtain the mer-
cy of God, and aj)pcase his wrath against
the vices of the age. Encyc.
FLAG'ELLATE, 11. «. To whip; to scourge.
FLA6ELLA'TION, n. [L.jlagctio, to beat
or whip, to Jlo^, from Jlagellum, a whip,
scourge or Jlatl, D. viegel, G. Jjegel, Fr.
Jleau. See Flail and Flog.]
A beating or whipping ; a flogging ; the di.s-
cipline of the scourge. Garth.
FLAG'GED, pp. Laid with flat stones.
FLAG'GINESS, n. Laxity; limberness;
want of tension.
FLAG'GING, ppr. Growing weak ; droop-
ing ; laving with flat stones.
FLAG'GY, a. Weak; flexible; limber; not
stiff. Dryden.
2. Weak in taste ; insipid ; as ajiaggy apple.
Bacon.
3. Abounding with flags, the plant.
FLA6I"TIOUS, a. [L.fagitium, a scanda
lous crime, probably fro
grant
1. Deeply criminal ; grossly wicked ; villain-
ous ; atrocious ; scandalous ; as a flagi-
tious action or crime. South.
2. Guilty of enormous crimes ; corrupt ;
wicked ; as a flagitious person. Pope.
3. Marked or infected with scandalous
crimes or vices ; as flagitious times.
Pope.
FLAgI'TIOUSLY, adv. With extreme
wickedness.
FLAgI"TIOUSNESS, n. Extreme wicked-
ness ; villainy.
FLAG'ON, Ji. [L. lagena ; Gr. 7ia-/ri'05 ; Ir.
probably from the root offla
clagun ; Fr. flacon ; Sam. Castel. col.
3013.]
A vessel with a narrow mouth, used for hold-
ing and conveying liquors.
Slay me with flagons, comfort mc with ap-
ples; lor I am sick of love. Cant. ii.
FLA'GRANCY, n. [See Flagrant.] A burn-
ing ; great heat ; inflammation. Obs.
Lust causeth aflagrancy in the eyes.
Bacon.
2. Excess ; enormity ; as the flagrancy of a
crime.
FLA'GRANT, a. [L.flagrans,(romflagro,
to burn, Gr. fJ-eyu, ft.oyou. In D.flakkeren
is to blaze.]
L Burning ; ardent ; eager ; a.s flagrant de-
sires. Hooker.
2. Glowing; red; flushed. j
Sec Sapho, at her toilet's greasy task, j
Then issuing^a^ra»i< to an evening mask.
Pope.\
3. Red ; inflamed.
The beadle's lash still/agranf on their back. 1
Prior.
[The foregoing senses are unusual.]
4. Flaming ill notice; glaring; notorious:
enormous ; as a. flagrant crime.
FLAGRANTLY, adv. Ardently; notori-
uslv. It'arlon.
FLA'GRATE, r. /. To burn. [Little used.]
Grcenhill.
FLAGRATION, ;i. A burning. [Littl,
used.]
FLA'IL, ». [D. viegel ; G.flegel ; h.flagelluin
Fr. Jleau. We retain the original verb ii
flog, to strike, to lay on, L. fligo, whence
afltigo, to afilict; Gr. ty-riyr;, L. plaga, a
stroke, or perhaps from the same root as
lick and lay. See Lick.]
An instrument for thrashing or beating c
from the ear.
FLAKE, n. [^ax.flace; D. j)?aaA-, a hurdle
for wool ; vlok, n flock, a flake, a tuft ; G.
flocke,fluge, id.; Dan._^oA', a herd, and lok,
a lock or flock of wool; "L.floccus; Gr.
fCKoxri, nTMxof ; It. Jlocco ; Ir.flocas. FJake
and flock are doubtless the same word, va-
ried in orthography, and connected per-
liaps with L. plico, Gr. rt^xu. The sense
is a complication, a crowd, or a lay.]
1. A small collection of snow, as it falls from
the clouds or from the air; a little hunch
or cluster of snowy crystals, such as fall in
still moderate weather. "This is a flake,
lock or flock of snow.
2. A platform of hurdles, or small sticks
made fast or interwoven, supported by
stanchions, on which cod-fish is dried.
Massachusetts.
3. A layer or stratum; as a flake of flesh or
tallow. Job xli.
4. A collection or little particle of fire, or of
combustible matter on fire, separated and
flying off.
Any scaly matter in layers ; any mass!
cleaving off in scales.
Little _^<i/ces of sciitf. .Iddison.l
6. A sort of carnations of two colors only,
having large stripes going through the!
leaves. Encyc]
JVhiteflckc, in painting, is lead corroded by[
means of the pressing of grapes, or a ce-
ruse prepared by the acid of grapes. It'
is brought from Italy, and of a quality su-!
perior to common white lead. It is used
in oil and varnished painting, when a clean
white is required. Encyc.
FLAKE, V. t. To form into flakes. Pope.
FLAKE, V. i. To break or separate in lay-
ers ; to peel or scale oft". We more usu-
ally say, to flake off.
FLAKE-WIllTE, n. Oxyd of bismuth.
Ure.
FLA'KY, a. Consisting of flakes or locks;
consisting of small loose masses.
2. Lying in flakes ; consisting of layers, or
cleaving off in layers.
FLAM, »i. [Ice. flim; W. H«m, a leap.] A
freak or whim ; also, a falsehood ; a lie ;
an illusory pretext; deception; delusion.
Lies immoitalizcd and consigned over as a
perpetual abuse anii flam upon posterity.
Soulli.
FLAM, V. t. To deceive with falsehood; to
delude. South.
FLAM'BEAU, n. flam'ho. [Fr. from h. flam-
ma, flame.]
.\ light or luminary made of thick wicks
covered with wax, and used in the streets
at night, at illuminations, and in proces-
sions. Flambeaus are made square, and
usually consist of four wicks or branches,
near an inch thick, and about three feet
long, composed of coarse hemi)en yarn,
half twisted. Encyc.
FLAME, n. [Fr.flamme ; h.flamma ; It.
Jlumma; S\i. llama ; D. vlam ; G.flamme.]
1. Ablaze; burning vapor; vapor in com-
bustion ; or according to modern chimis-
try, hydrogen or any inflammable gas, in
a state of combustion, and naturally as-
cending in a stream from burning bodies,
being specifically lighter than common
air.
2. Fire in general. Cowley.
3. Heat of passion ; tumult ; combustion ;
blaze ; violent contention. One jealous,
tattling mischief maker will set a whole
village in aflame.
4. Ardor of temper or imagination ; bright-
■ i;s3 of fancy ; vigor of thought.
Great are their faults, and glorious is their
flame. Waller.
5. Ardor of inclination ; warmth of affec-
tion.
Smit with the love of kindred arts wc came,
And met congenial, mingling flame with
flame. Popc.
a. The passion of love ; ardent love.
My heart's on flame. Cowley.
7. Rage; violence; as the^ames of war.
FLAME, V. t. To inflame ; to excite.
Spenser.
FLAME, V. i. To blaze ; to burn in vapor,
r in a current ; to burn as gas emitted
om bodies in combustion.
2. To shine like burning gas.
In flaming yellow bright. Prior.
3. To break out in violence of passion.
Beaum.
FLA'ME€0LOR, n. Bright color, as that of
flame. B. Jonson.
FLA'MECOI.ORED, a. Of the color of
flame ; of a bright yellow color. Shak.
FLA'MEEtED, a. Having eyes like a
flame.
FLA'MELESS, a. Destitute of flame ; with-
it incense.
FLA'MEN, n. [L.] In ancient Rome, a
priest. Originally there were three priests
so called ; the Flamen Dialis, consecrated
FLA
FLA
Jupiter; Flamen Martialis, sacred tollFLANK'ED, pp. Attacked
Mars ; and Flamen (^uirinalis, who
su- covered or commanded on the flank.
pe
intended the rites of Quiriniis or Rom- jFLANK'ER, n. A fortification projecting so|
uhis.
2. A priest. PopeJ
FLA'MING,;j/jr. Burnin? in flainc.
2. a. Bright ; red. Also, violent ; vehement ;
as ajlaming harangue.
FLA'MING, n. A bursting out in a flame.
FLA'MINGLY, adv. Most brightly; with
great show or vehemence.
FLAMIN'GO, 11. [Sp. and Port. /nmci!co,|
fiomjlamma, flame.] I
A fowl constituting the genus Phcenicopte-I
rus, of the grallic order. The beak is iia-j
ked, toothed, and bent as if broken ; the
feet palmatcd and four-toed. This fowl
resembles the heron in shape, but is en-
tirely red, except the fpiill-fethers. It is a
native of Africa and America. Encyc.
FLAMIN'IGAL, a. Pertaining to a Roman
flamen. Milton.
FLAMMABIL'ITY, n. The quality of ad-
mitting to be set on fire, or enkindled into
a flame or blaze ; inflammability.
Broim.
FLAM'MABLE, a. Capable of being enkin-
dled into flame.
FLAMMA'TION, n. The act of setting on
flame. BrOimi.
The three last words are little used. In-
stead of them are used the compounds, in-
Jlammnlle, inJlnmmaUlihi, injlammntion.
FL\M'MEOUS, a. Consisting of flame ; like
flame. Broion.
FLAMMIF'EROUS,a. [L.^ammo and/tro,
to bring.] Producing flame.
FLAMMIV'OMOUS, a. [Upmrna and iw-
mo, to vomit.] Vomiting flames, as a vol-
cano.
FLA'MY, a. [from flame.] Blazing ; burn-
ing ; as /(/my breath. Sidnej/.
2. Having the nature of flame ; as flamy mat-
IQY. Bacon.
3. Having the color of flame. Herbert
FLANK, n. [Fv.flanc ; Sp. and Port. flanco ,
h.flanco; G.flanke; Sw . and Dun. flank :
Gr. ^oo'"" ; I>robably connected with lank
W. llac, Kng. flag, Gr. ^oyopoj, and so call-
ed from its laxity, or from breadth.]
1. The fleshy or muscular part of the side of]
an animal, between the ribs and the hip.
Hence,
2. The side of an army, or of any division ot
an army, as of a brigade, regiment or b
talion. To attack an enemy in flank,
to attack them on the side.
3. In fortificalion, that i)art of a bastion
which reaches from the curtain to the face,
and defends the opposite face, the flank
and the curtain ; or it is a line drawn fron
the extremity of the face toJ-vards the in
side of the work. Harris. Encyc.
FLANK, v.i. [Fr.flanquer; Sp.flanquea
1. To attack the side or flank of an army
body of troops ; or to place troops so as to
command or attack the flank.
2. To post so as to overlook or command on
tlie side ; as, to flank a passage. Dryden.
3. To secure or guard on the side ; as flank-
ed with rocks. Drydtn.
FLANK, V. i. To border ; to touch.
Butler.
2. To be posted on the side.
ominand the side of an assailing
body. Knolles. Fairfax.
FLANK' ER, v. t. To defend by lateral for-
tifications. Herbert.
2. To attack sideways. Evelyn.
FLAN'NEL, n. [Fr. flaneUe; D. Dan. /«-
nel; G.flanell; W. gwlanen, from giilan,
wool, L. lana, Fr. laine, Ir. olann, Arm.
gloan.]
A soft napjiy woolen cloth of loose texture.
FLAP, n. [G. lappen and klappe ; D. lap or
klap; Svv. klapp or lapp ; Dan. klnp
lap ; Sax. Iceppa, a lap ; W. llab, a stroke,
a whijjping ; Uabiaiv, to slap ; L. alapa
slap. There is a numerous family of
words in Lb, which spring from striking
with something broad, or from a noun de-
noting something flat and broad. It seems
diflicult to separate flap from clap, slap,
flabby, lap, &c.]
L Any thing broad and limber that hangs
loose, or is easily moved.
A cartilaginous '/Za/) on the opening of the
laiynx. Brown.
We say, the flap of a garment, the flap
of the ear, the flap of a hat.
2. The motion of any thing broad and loose,
or a stroke with it.
3. The flaps, a disease in the lips of horses,
Farrier's Diet.
FLAP, V. t. To beat with a flap.
Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings.
Pope
2. To move something broad ; as, to flap the
wings.
3. To let fall, as the brim of a hat. [Thi
sense seems to indicate a connection with
lap.]
FLAP, V. i. To move as
something broad or loose.
2. To fall, as the brim of a hat, or other
broad thing.
FLA P'DR AGON, n. A play in which they
catch raisins out of burning brandy, and
extinguishing them by closing the mouth,
eat them.
2. The thing eaten. Johnson.
FLAP'DRAGON, v. t. To swallow or de
57mA-
FLAP'EARED, a. Having broad loose ears.
Shuk.
FLAP'.TACK, n. An apple-puff. Shcik.
FLAP'MOUTHED, a. Having loose hang-
ing lips. Shak.
FLAP'PED, pp. Struck with something
broad ; let down; having the brim fallen,
as a flapped hat.
FLAP'PER, n. One who flaps another.
Cheslerfleld.
FLAP'PING,ppr. Striking; beating; mov-
ing something broad; as flapping wings.
The ducks rm\flapping and fluttering.
L'Estrang'
FLARE, V. i. [If this word is not contract-
ed, it may be allied to clear, glare, glory,
L. floreo, Eng. floor, the primary sense of
which is to open, to spread, from parting,
departing, or driving apart. But in Norm.
flair is to blow, and possibly it may be
'from L. flo, or it may be contracted from
G. flackern.]
1. To waver ; to flutter ; to burn with an
unsteady light ; as, the candle flares, that
FLA
the light wanders from its natural
mse.
2. To flutter with splendid show ; t6 be
loose and waving as a showy thing.
With ribbands pendant /acing 'bout her head.
Shak.
To glitter with transient luster.
— But speech alone
Doth vanish like a flaring thing. Herbert.
To glitter with painful spleudor.
When the sun begins to fling
His flaring beams— .ARUon.
To be exposed to too much light.
I cannot Slav
Flaring in sun.^hine all the day. [Qu.]
Prior.
G. To open or spread outward.
FLA'RING,ppr. or a. Burning with a waver-
ing light; fluttering; glittering; show>-.
2. Opening; widening outward ; as a/anng-
fireplace.
FLASH, n. [Ir. lasair, lasrach, a flame, a
fleish ; lasadh, lasaim, to burn, to kindle ;
leos, light ; leosam, to give light ; also, lois-
I'lllgS,
gitn, losgadh, to burn ; loisi, flame ; Dan.
lys, light ; lyser, to shine, to glisten or glis-
ter ; Sw. lius, lysa, id. Uu. G. blitz, a
glance ; blitzen, to lighten, to flash; Russ.
blesk, bleschu, id. There is a numerous
class of words in Ls, with different prefix-
es, that denote to slmie, to throw light, as
gloss, glass, glisten, blushf flush, flash, lus-
ter, &c. ; but perhaps they are not all of
one family, i'he Welsh has llathru, to
make smooth and glossy, to polish, to glit-
ter; Uethrid,a gleam, a flash. See Class
Ld. No. 5. and Ls. No. 25. and see
Flvsh.]
A sudden burst of lic'it ; a flood of light
instaiitaiHMiii h (ipineiiuj;- and disappear-
ing; a.< ■.ijhi.^li ni'liiihiiiiiig.
|2. A sudden Imist f.i'tlanie and light; an in-
stantaneous blaze ; as the flctsh of a gim.
3. A sudden burst, as of wit or merriment ;
as a flash of wit; a flash of joy or mirth.
His companions recollect no instance of pre-
n-.ature wit, no striking sentiment, no flash ot
fancy— Wirt.
A short, transient state.
The Persians and Macedonians had it for a
fla.sh. Bacon.
A body of water driven by violence. [Lo-
cal.] Peggc.
6. A little pool. Qu. plai:li. [Local.]
FLASH, V. i. To break forth, as a sudden
flood of light; to burst or open instantly
on the sight, as s|iloiidor. It differs from
glitter, glisten and gleam in denoting a
flood or wide extent of light. The lat-
ter words may express the issuing of light
from a small object, or from a pencil of
rays. A diamond may glitter or glisten,
biit it does wot flash- Flash differs from
other words also in denoting suddenness of
appearance and disappearance.
2. To burst or break forth with a flood of
flame and light : as, the powder /fl»7i.erf in
the i)an. Flashing differs from exploding
or diiploding, in not being accompanied
with a loud rejwrt.
3. To burst out into any kind of violence.
Every hour
He flashes into one gross crime or other.
•^ Shak.
4. To break out, as a sudden expression of
wit, merriment or blight thought.
Feltov,.
FLA
FLASH, V. i. To strike up a body of water
from the surface. Carew.
He rudely flashed the waves. Spenser.
[In this sense I believe this word is not
used in America.]
2. To strike or to throw like a burst of
light ; as, lojlash conviction on the mind
FLASH'ER, n. A man of more appearance
of wit than reality. ^ict.
2. A rower. [JVot in use.]
FLASH'ILY, adv. With empty sliow; with
a sudilcn glare ; without solidity of wit oi
thought.
FLASHING, ppr. Bursting forth as a flood
of light, or of flame and light, or as wit,
mirth or joy.
FLASH'Y, a. Showy, but empty; dazzhiig
for a moment, but not solid ; asjlashy wit
2. Showy ; gay ; as a flashy dress.
3. Insipid ; vapid ; without taste or spirit
as food or drink.
4. Washy ; i>lashy. [See Plash.]
FL'ASK, n. [G. flasche ; ^vt.flaska ; Dan
Jlaske; T).fles,flesch; Sax. /ora ; Sp. Port
frasco; It. fiasco; W._^a«^, a basket.]
L A kind of bottle ; as & flask of wine or oil.
2. A vessel for powder.
3. A bed in a gun-carriage. Baihy.
FLASKET, >i. A vessel in which viands
are served up. Pope. Ray.
2. A long sh:illow basket. Spenser.
FLAT,a. [D.plat; G.platt; Dan.flad; Sw.
flat; Fr. plat: Arm. blad, or pladt; It.
piatto ; from e.xtcnding or laying. Allied
probably to W. llez, lied, llyd ; L. latus,
broad; Gr. ntarvs; Eng. blade.]
1. Having an even surface, without risings
or indentures, hills or valleys; as flnt land,
2. Horizontal ; level ; without inclination
as a flat roof: or with a moderate inclina-
tion or slope ; for we often apply the word
to the roof of a house that is not steep,
though inclined.
3. Prostrate ; lying the whole length on tin
ground. He" fell or lay/a< on the ground
4. Not elevated or erect ; fallen.
Cease t'admire, and beauty's plumes
Fall^af. Milton
5. Level with the ground ; totally fallen.
What ruins kingdoms, and lays ciUes flat.
^ Mill:
C. In painting, wanting reliefer prominence
of the figures.
7. Tasteless ; stale ; vapid ; insipid ; dead
as ftmtflat to the taste. Philips.
8. Dull; unanimated; frigid; without point
or spirit; applied to discourses and compo-
sitions. The sermon was very flat.
9. Depressed; spiritless; dejected.
I feel — my hopes all ^a/. jumuii.
10. Unpleasing; not affording gratification.
How flat and insipid are all the pleasures
of this hfe !
IL Peremptory ; absolute ; positive ; down-
right. He gave the petitioner a flat de-
nial.
Thus repulsed, our final hope
Is flat despair. Milton.
12. Not sharp or shrill ; not acute ; as a flat
sound. Bacon.
13. Low, as the prices of goods ; or dull, as
sales.
FLAT, n. A level or extended plain. In
America, it is applied particularly to low
ground or meadow that is level, but it de
Vol. I.
FLA
notes any land of even surface and of some
extent.
2. A level ground lying at a small depth un-
der the surface of water; a shoal ; a shal-
low; a strand ; a .sand bank under water.
3. The broad side of a blade. Drydtn.
4. Depression of thought or language.
Drydtn.
. A surface without reliefer prominences.
Btntley.
. In music, a mark of depression in sound.
\flal denotes a fall or depression of half
a lone.
7. A boat, broad and flat-bottomed. Aflat-
bottomed boat is constructed for conveying
passengers or troops, horses, carriages
and baggage.
FLAT, V. t. [Fr. flalir, applalir.] To level ;
to depress ; to lay smooth or even ; to
make broad and smooth ; to flatten.
Bacon.
2. To make vapid or tasteless. Bacon.
3. To make dull or unanimated.
FLAT, V. i. To grow flat ; to fall to an even
surface. Temple.
2. To become insipid, or dull and unanima-
ted. King Charles.
FLAT'-BOTTOMED, a. Having aflat bot-
tom, as a boat, or a moat in fortification.
FLA'TIVE, a. [L. flatus, i'romflo, to blow.]
Producing wind ; flatulent. [JVot in tise.]
Brewer.
FLAT'LONG, adv. With the flat side
downward ; not edgewise. Shak.
FLAT'LY, adv. Horizontally ; without in-
clination.
2. Evenly ; without elevations and depres-
sions.
3. Without spirit ; dully ; frigidly.
4. PeremiUorily ; positively ; downright.
Vie flatly refused his aid. Sidney.
FLAT'NESS, n. Evenness of surface ; lev-
elness; equality of surface.
2. Want of relief or prominence ; as the
flatness of a figure in sculpture.
Mdison.
Deadness ; vapidness ; insipidity ; as the
flatness of cider or beer. Mortimer.
Dejection of fortune ; low state.
The flatness of my misery. Shak.
3. Dejection of mind ; a low state of the spir-
its ; depression ; want of life. Collier.
6. Dullness ; want of point ; insipidity ; fri-
gidity.
Some of Homer's translators have swelled
into fusfian, and others sunk into flatness.
Pope.
7. Gravity of sound, as opposed to sharp-
ness, acuteness or shrillness.
Flatness of sound— joined with a harshness.
Bacon.
FLAT-NOSED, a. Having a flat nose.
Burton.
FLAT'TED, pp. Made flat : rendered even
on the surface ; also, rendered vapid or in
FLAT'TEN, v. t. flat'n. [Fr. flatir, from
flat.]
1. To make flat; to reduce to an equal or
even surface ; to level.
2. To beat down to the ground ; to lay flat,
Mortimer.
3. To make vapid or insipid ; to render stale.
4. To depre-ss ; to deject, as the spirits
dispirit.
84
FLA
5. In music, to reduce, as sound ; to render
less acute or sharp.
FLAT'TEN, v. i. flat'n. To grow or become
even on the surface.
2. To become dead, stale, vapid or tasteless.
3. To become dull or spiritless.
FLATTENING, ppr. Making flat.
FLAT'TER, n. The person or thing by
which anything is flattened.
FLATTER, v. I. [Vr.flaUer; D. vleijen ;
Teut. fletsen ; Ice.fladra; Dan. flatterer.
In Ir. btadaire is a flatterer ; bUid, a whee-
dling ; blaith is plain, smooth ; and blath is
praise. Flatter may be from the root of
flat, that is, to make smooth, to appease,
to soothe ; but the Ir. blalh would seem to
be connected with L. plaudo. Perhaps
flat and plaudo are from one root, the rad-
ical sense of which must be to e.xleud,
strain, stretch.]
1. To soothe by praise ; to gratify self-love
by praise or obsequiousness ; to please a
person by applause or favorable notice, by
respectful attention, or by any thing that
exalts him in his own estimation, or con-
firms his good opinion of himself. Wc
flatter a woman when we praise her chil-
dren.
A man ih^l flattcreth his neighbor, spreadetli
a net for his feet. Prov. x.^ix.
2. To please ; to gratify ; as, to flaUer one's
■anity or pride.
,3. To praise falsely ; to encourage by favor-
able notice ; as, to flatter vices or crimes.
4. To encourage by favorable representa-
tions or indications ; as, to flatter hopes.
We are flattered with the prospect of
peace.
■. To raise false hopes by representations
not well founded ; as, to flatter one with a
prospect of success ; to flatter a patient
with the expectation of recovery when his
case is desperate.
6. To please ; to soothe.
A concert of voices — makes a harmony thai
flatters the ears. Dryden.
7. To wheedle ; to coax ; to attempt to win
by blandishments, praise or enticements.
How many young and credulous persons
are flattered out of their innocence and
their property, by seducing arts !
FL.'VT'TERED, pp. Soothed by praise;
leased by commendation ; gratified with
opes, false or well founded ; wheedled.
FLAT'TERER, ti. One who flatters ; a
fawner ; a w heedler ; one who praises an-
other, with a view to please him, to gain
his favor, or to accomplish some purpose.
When I tell him he hates flatterers.
He says he docs ; being then most flattered.
Shak.
The most abject J?a(((Ters degenerate into the
greatest tyrants. Addison.
FLAT'TERING,p/>r. Gratifying with praise;
pleasing by applause ; wheedling ; coax-
ing.
2. a. Pleasing to pride or vanity ; gratifying
to self-love ; as a flattering eulogy. The
minister gives a flattering account of his
reception at court.
3. Pleasing; favorable; encouraging hope.
We have a flattering prospect of an abun-
dant harvest. The symptoms of the dis-
ease are flattering.
4. Practicing adulation ; uttering false praise :
as aflattering tongue.
FLA
FLA
F L E
FLAT'TERINGLY, adv. In a flattering
niauiier ; in a manner to flatter.
2. In a manner to favor ; with partiality.
Cumbertand.
FLAT'TERY, n. [Fr. JJatterie.] False
praise ; commendation bestowed for the
purpose of gaining favor and influence, oi
to accomplish some purpose. Direct >'a<
<en/ consists in praising a person himself;
indirect Jlattery consists in praising a per-
son through his works or his connections.
Simple pride (ot flattery makes demands.
Pope.
Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a
present. Rambler.
2. Adulation ; obsequiousness ; wheedling.
Rowe.
3. Just commendation which gratifies self-
love.
FLAT'TISH, «. [from flat.] Somewhat flat;
ajiproaching to flatness. Woodward.
FLAT'ULENCE, ) [See Flatulent.]
FLAT'ULENCY, \ "' Windiness in the
stomach ; air "generated in a weak sto
mach and intestines by imperfect diges
tion, occasioning distension, uneasiness,
pain, and often belchings. Encyc.
2. Airiness; emptiness; vanity. Glanville.
FLAT'ULENT,a. [L.flatulentus, flatus, from
flo, to blow.]
1. Windy ; affected with air generated in
the stomach and intestines.
2. Turgid with air ; windy ; as a flatulent
tumor. Qiiincy.
3. Generating or apt to generate wind in the
stomach. Pease are a flatulent vegetable.
Ai-buthnot.
4. Empty ; vain ; big without substance or
reality ; puffy ; as a flatulent writer ; flatu.
lent vanity. Dryden. Glanville.
FLATUOS'ITY, n. Windiness; fullness of
air; flatulence. [JVot used.] Bacon.
FLAT'UOUS, a. [h.flatuosus.] Windy ; gen-
erating wind. [JVb< used.] Bacon.
FLA'TUS, n. [L. from flo, to blow.] A
breath ; a puff of wind. Clarke.
2. Wind generated in the stomach or other
cavities of the body ; flatulence.
Quincy.
FLAT'WISE, a. or adv. [from flat.] With
the flat side downward or ne.\t to another
object ; not edgewise. Woodward.
FL'AUNT, V. i. [I know not whence we
liave this word. It is doubtless of Celtic
origin, from the root Ln, bearing the sense
of throwing out, or spreading. Qu. Scot.
flxinter, to waver. See Flounce.]
To throw or spread out ; to flutter ; to dis-
play ostentatiously ; as a flaunting show.
You^a«n( about (he streets in your new gill
chariot. Arbulhnot.
One flaunts in rags, one flutters in brocade.
Pope.
[This correctly expresses the author'.s
meaning, which is, that the proud often at-
tempt to make a show and parade of their
importance, even in poverty. Johnson'.s
remark on the use of the word seems
therefore to be unfounded.]
2. To carry a pert or saucy appearance.
Boyle.
FL'AUNT, 71. Any thing displayed for
show. Shak.
FL'AUNTING, ppr. Making an ostenta-
tious display.
FLA'VOR, n. [Qu. Fr. flairer, to smell ;
^V.fleirimv.]
The quahty of a substance which affects the
taste or smell, in any manner. We say,
the wine has a fine flavor, or a disagree
able flavor ; the fruit has a bad flavor ; a
rose has a sweet flavor. The word then
signifies the quality which is tasted or
smelt ; taste, odor, fragrance, smell.
FLA'VOR, t>. t. To communicate some
quality to a tl
taste or smell.
JFLA'VORED, a. Having a quality th;
fects the sense of tasting or smelling ; as
high-flavored wine, having the quahty in
a high degree.
FLA'VORLESS, a. Without flavor ; taste
less ; having no smell or taste. Encyc.
FLA'VOROUS, a. Pleasant to the taste or
smell. Dryden
FLA'VOUS, a. [L. flavus.] Yellow. '[JVot
used.] Smith.
FLAW, n. [W.flaw, a piece rent, a splinter,
a ray, a dart, aflaiv ; flau, a spreading out
radiation ; fla, a parting from ; also flo^en
a splinter ; flop, a flying about ; flop, to
dart suddenly ; flygiaiv, to break out ab-
ruptly. The Gr. fXau seems to be con-
tracted from ^Xaiu or tXaSu.]
2. A breach : a crack ; a defect made by
breaking or splitting ; a gap or fissure ;
as a darv in a sytlie, knife or razor ; a
flam in a china dish, or in a glass ; a flaw
in a wall.
2. A defect ; a fault ; any defect made by
violence, or occasioned by neglect
flaiv in reputation ; a flaw in a will, or in a
deed, or in a statute.
3. A sudden burst of wind ; a sudden gust
or blast of short duration ; a word of com
mon use among seamen. [This proves the
primary sense to be, to burst or rush.]
4. A sudden burst of noise and disorder ; a
tumult ; uproar.
And deluges of armies from the town
Came pouring in ; 1 heard the mighty ^au'.
Ihydeii
[In this sense, the word is not used in the
United States.]
5. A sudden comtnotion of mind. [ATol
tised.] Shak.
FLAW, V. t. To break ; to crack.
The brazen cauldrons with the frosts arc
flawed. Dryden.
2. To break ; to violate ; as, lo flaw a league.
[Litlle tised.] Shak.
FIjAW'ED, jjp. Broken ; cracked
FLAWING, ppr. Breaking ; cracking.
FLAWLESS, a. Without cracks ; without
defect. Boyk.
FLAWN, n. [Bnx.flena ; Fr. flaii.] A sort
of custard or pie. [06».] Thisser.
FLAW'TER, I), t. To scrape or pare a
skin. [JVot used.] Ainsworth.
FLAWY, a. Fidl of flaws or cracks; bro-
ken ; defective ; faulty.
2. Subject to sudden gusts of wind.
FLAX, ji. [Sax. fleai, flex ; G. flachs ; D.
vlas. The elements are the same as in
flaccid.]
1. A plant of the genus Linum, consisting of
a single slender stalk, the skin or herl of
which is used for making thread and
cloth, called linen, cambric, lawn, lace,
&c. The skin consists of fine fibers,
which may be so sepaiated as to be spun
mto threads as fine as silk.
2. The skin or fibrous part of the plant when
broken and cleaned by hatcheling or
combing.
FLAX'€OMB, n. An instrument with teeth
through which flas is drawn for separa-
ting from it the tow or coarser part and
the shives. In America, we call it a
hatchel.
FLAX'DRESSER, n. One who breaks and
swingles flax.
FLAX'PLANT, n. The Phormium, a plant
in New Zealand that serves the inhabi-
tants for flax.
FLAX'RAISER, n. One who raises flax.
FLAXSEED, n. The seed of flax.
FLAX'EN, a. Made of flax ; as flaxen
thread.
2. Resembling flax ; of the color of flax ; fair,
long, and flowing ; as flaxen hair.
FLAX'Y, a. Like flax; being of a light co-
lor; fair. Sandys.
FLAY, v. t. [Sax.flean; Dan. flaaer ; Sw.
flS, : G. flohen ; Gr. ^iXoiu, fXoi^u, whence
i}>Xoto{, bark, rind ; probably a contracted
word.]
L To skm ; to strip off the skin of an ani-
mal ; as, to flay an ox.
2. To take off the skin or surface of any
thing. [JVot used.] 5W/?.
FLA'YED, pp. Skinned; stripped of the
skin.
FLA'YER, n. One who strips off the skin.
FLA'YING, ppr. Stripping off the skin.
FLEA, n. [Sax. flea ; G.floh ; D. vloo ; Scot.
flech ; Ice. floe ; from Sax. fleogan, to fly.
See Flee and Fly.]
An insect of the genus Pulex. It has two
eyes, and six feet ; the feelers are like
threads ; the rostrum is inflected, seta-
ceous, and armed with a sting. The flea
is remarkable for its agihty, leaping to a
surprising distance, and its bite is very
troublesome.
FLE'ABANE, n. A plant of the genus Co-
nyza.
FLE'ABITE, / „ The bite of a flea, or
FLE'ABITING, (, "" the red spot caused
by the bite.
2. A trifling wound or pain, like that of the
bite of a flea. Harvey.
FLE'ABITTEN, a. Bitten or stung by a
flea.
2. Mean ; worthless ; of low birth or station.
Cleaveland.
FLE'AWORT, n. A plant.
FLEAK, a lock. [See Flake.]
FLEAM, 71. [D. vlym; W.flaim; Arm.
flemm or flem, the sting of a bee, a sharp
point. In Welsh, Hem and llym signify
sharp, penetrating.]
In. surgery and farriery, a sharp instrument
used for opening veins for letting blood.
FLECK, ? ^, , [G. fleck, a spot ; flecken,
FLECK'ER, $^'- to spot; D. vlek, vlak,
vlakketi; Sw.fl[ick,flhcka; Dan. flek, Jiek-
ker.]
To spot ; to streak or stripe ; to variegate ;
to dapple.
Both flecked with white, the true Arcadian
strain. Dryden.
[These words are obsolete or used only in
poetry.]
FLECTION, n. [L.flectio.] The act of bend-
ing, or state of being bent.
F L E
F L E
F L E
TLE€'TOR, n. A flexor, which see.
FLED, pret. and pp. of flee ; as, truth has
fled.
PLEDGE, a. flej. [G.fliigge ; D. vlug, fledg-
ed, quick, nimble ; connected with G.Jlie-
gen, D. vliegen, Sax. fleogan, to fly.]
Fethered ; furnished with fethers or wings
able to fly.
His locks behind,
Illustrious on his shoulders, /ed|ge with wings
Lay waving round. Milton.
FLED6E, V. t. To furnish with fethers ; to
supply with the fethers necessary for
flight.
The birds were not yet fledged enough to
shift for themselves. L' Estrange.
FLEDG'ED, pp. Furnished with fethers for
flight ; covered witli fethers.
FLED6'ING, ppr. Furnishing with feth
ers for flight.
FLEE, V. i. [Sa.\. /eon, flcon, fleogan ; G.
flieken.]
1. To run with rapidity, as from danger ; to
attempt to escape ; to hasten from danger
or expected evil. The enemy /erf at the
first fire.
Arise, take the young child and his mother,
and/ee into Egypt. Matt. ii.
2. To depart ; to leave ; to hasten away.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
3. To avoid ; to keep at a distance from.
Flee fornication ; flee from idolatry. 1
Cor. vi. X.
To flee the question or from the question, in
legislation, is said of a legislator who,
when a question is to be put to the house,
leaves his seat to avoid the dilemma of vo-
ting against his conscience, or giving an
unpopular vote. In the phrases in which
this verb appears to be transitive, there
is really an ellipsis.
FLEECE, n. flees. [Sax. fleos, flys, fli
D. vlies ; G. fliess ; most probably from
shearing or stripping, as in Dutch thi
word signifies a film or membrane, a
well as a fleece. The verb to fleece seems
to favor the sense of stripping. See Class
Ls. No. 25. 38. 30. But Qu. L. veUvs,
from vello, to pluck or tear off". Varro.
See Class Bl. In Russ. rolos is hair or
wool, written also vlas. It was probably
the practice to pluck oft' wool, before it
was to shear it.]
The coat of wool shorn from a sliccp at one
time.
FLEECE, V. t. To shear off a covering or
growth of wool.
2. To strip of money or property ; to take
from, by severe exactions, under color of
law or justice, or pretext of necessity, or
by virtue of authority. Arbitrary princes
fleece their subjects ; and clients complain
that they are sometimes fleeced by their
lawyers.
This word is rarely or never tised for
plundering in war by a licentious soldiery
but is properly used to express a stripping
by contributions levied on a conquered
])eople.
3. To spread over as with wool ; to make
white. Thomson.
FLEE'CED, pp. Stripped by severe exac-
tions.
FLEE'CED, a. Furnished with a fleece or
with fleeces ; as, a sheep is well fleeced.
FLEE'CER, n. One who strips or takes
by severe exactions.
FLEE'CING, ppr. Stripping of money or
property by severe demands of fees, taxes
or contributions.
FLEE'CY, a. Covered with wool ; woolly;
as a fleecy flock. Prior.
2. Re.sembling wool or a fleece ; soft ; com-
plicated ; as fleecy snow ; fleecy locks ;
fleecy hosiery.
FLF-^"
EER, V. i. [Scot, flyre, or fleyr, to make
wry faces, to leer, to look surly ; Ice.
flyra. In D. gluuren signifies to leer, to
peep ; Sw. phra ; Dan. plirende, ogling,
leering. This word seems to be leer, with
a prefix, and leer presents probably the
primary sense.]
1. To deride ; to sneer ; to mock; to gibe
to make a wry face in contempt, or l
grin in scorn ; as, to fleer and flout.
Covered with an antic face,
To fleer and scorn at our solemnity. Shah
i. To leer ; to grin with an air of civility.
Burton.
FLEER, V. I. To mock; to flout at.
Beau.
FLEER, n. Derision or mockery, expressed
by words or looks.
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notabli
scorns. Shak
2. A grin of civility.
A treacherous fleer on the face of deceivers
South
FLEE'RER, n. A mocker ; a fawner.
FLEE'RING, ppr. Deriding; mocking
counterfeiting an air of civility.
FLEET, in Enghsh names, [Sax. fleot,] de-
notes a flood, a creek or inlet, a bay or es
tuary, or a river ; as in Fleet-street, JVoiih-
flcte, Fleet-prison.
FLEET, n. [Sax. flota,fliel; G. flolte ; D.
vloot ; Sw. flotte ; Dan. flode ; Fr. flotte.
Fleet and float seem to be allied. But
whether they are formed from the root of
flow, or whether the last consonant is rad-
ical, is not obvious. See Float.]
A navy or squadron of shij)s; a number of
ships in company, whether ships of war,
or of commerce. It more generally sign
fies ships of war.
FLEET, a. [Ice. fliotr ; Ir. luath, swift;
Russ. letayu, to fly ; Eng. to flit. If the
last consonant is radical, this word se
to be allied to D. vlieden, to flee, to fly,
and possibly to the Shemitic 0*73 ; but from
the Ethiopic it would appear that the
latter word is our split, the sense being to
divide or separate.]
1. Swift of pace; moving or able to move
with rajjidity ; nimble ; light and quick in
motion, or moving with lightness and
celerity ; as a fleet hor§e or dog.
2. Moving with velocity ; as fleet winds.
3. Light ; superficially fruitful ; or thin ; not
penetrating deep ; as soil. Mortimer.
4. Skimming the surface. Ibid.
FLEET, J', i. To fly swiftly ; to hasten ; to
flit as a light substance. To fleet away is
to vanish.
How all the other passions fleet to air.
Shak.
2. To be in a transient state.
3. To float.
FLEET, t'. t. To skim the surface ; to pass
over rapidly ; as a ship that fleets the gulf.
Spenser.
2. To pass lightly, or in mirth and joy ; a<,
to /*?« away time. [.Vot used.] Shak.
3. To skim milk. [Local, in EvgUtnd.]
The verb in the transitive form is rarely or
never used in America.
FLEE'TFOOT, a. Swift of foot ; running
or able to run with rapidity. Shak.
FLEE'TING, ppr. Passing rapidly ; flying
with velocity.
2. a. Transient ; not durable ; as the fleeting
hours or moments.
FLEE'TING-DISH, n. A skimming bowl.
[Local.]
FLEE'TLY, adv. Rapidly ; lightly and nim-
bly ; swiftly.
FLEE'TNESS, n. Swiftness ; rapidity ; ve-
locity ; celerity ; speed ; as the fleeiness of
a horse or a deer.
FLEM'ING, n. A native of Flanders, or
the Low Countries in Europe.
FLEM'ISH, a. Pertaining to Flanders.
FLESH, n. [Sax. fleec, flee, or flasc ; G.
fleisch ; D. vleesch ; Dan.flesk. In Danish,
the word signifies the flesh of swine. I
know not the primary sense ; it may be
sojl.]
A compound substance forming a lar^e part
of an animal, consisting of the softer sol-
ids, as distinguished from the bones and
the fluids. Under the general appellation
of flesh, we include the muscles, fat, glands
&c., which invest the bones and are cov-
ered with the skin. It is sometimes re-
stricted to the muscles.
2. Animal food, in distinction from vegeta-
ble.
Flesh without being qualified with acids, is
too alkalescent a diet. ^rbuthnot.
3. The body of beasts and fowls used as
food, distinct from fish. In Lent, the
Catholics abstain from flesh, but eat fish.
4. The body, as distinguished from the soul.
As if this flesh, which walls about our life.
Were brass impregnable. Shak.
5. Animal nature ; animals of all kinds.
The end of all/csA is come before me. Gen.
vi.
6. Men in general ; mankind.
My spirit .sliall not always strive with man,
for that he also is flesh. Gen. vi.
7. Human nature.
i. Carnality ; coi-poreal appetites. •
Fasting serves to mortify the flesh.
Smatridge.
The flesh lusteth against the spirit. Gal. v.
9. A carnal state ; a state of unrenewed na-
ture.
They that are in the^fsA cannot please God.
Rom. viii.
10. The corruptible body of man, or corrupt
nature.
11. The present life; the state of existence
in this world.
To abide in the flesh is more needful for j-ou.
Phil. i.
12- Legal righteousness, and ceremonial
services.
What shall we then say that .Abraham, our
father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found
Rom. iv. Gal. iii.
13. Kindred ; stock ; family.
He is our brother, and our flesh. Gen. .vxxvii
F L E
14. In botany, the soft pulpy substance of
fruit; also, that part of a root, fruit, &c.,
which is fit to be eaten.
Onefesh, denotes intimate relation. To be
one flesh is to be closely united, as in mar
riage. Gen. ii. Eph. v.
After the flesh, according to outward appear
ances, John viii :
Or according to the common powers of
nature. Gal. iv. :
Or according to sinful lusts and inclina
tions. Rom. viii.
An arm of flesh, human strength or aid.
FLESH, V. t. To initiate ; a sportsman';
use of the word, from the practice of train-
ing hawks and dogs by feeding them wit!
the first game they take or other flesh.
2. To liarden ; to accustom ; to establisli in
any practice, as dogs by often feeding on
any thing. Men fleshed in cruelty ; wo-
men fleshed in malice. Sidney.
3. To glut ; to satiate.
Tlie wild dog
Shall flesh his tooth on every innocent.
Shak.
FLESH'BROTII, n. Broth made by boil-
ing flesh in water.
FLESH'BRUSH, n. A brush for exciting
action in the skin by friction.
FLESH'eOLOR, n. The color of flesh ;
carnation.
FLESH'€0LORED, a. Being of the color
of flesh.
FLESH'DIET, n. Food consisting of flesh.
FLESH'ED, pp. Initiated; accustomed
glutted.
% Fat; fleshy.
FLESH'FLY, n. A fly that feeds on flesh,
'and deposits her eggs in it. Ray.
FLESH'HOQK, n. A hook to draw flesh
from a pot or caldron. 1 Sam. ii.
FLESH'INESS, n. \ftom fleshy.] Abun-
dance of flesh or fat in animals ; plump-
ness ; corpulence ; grossness.
PLESH'ING, ppr. Initiating; making fa-
miliar ; glutting.
FLESH'LESS, a. Destitute of flesh ; lean.
FLESH'LINESS, n. Carnal passions and
appetites. Spenser.
FLESH'LY, a. Pertaining to the flesh ;
corporeal. Denham.
2. Carnal ; worldly ; lascivious.
Abstain (mm fleshly lusts. 1 Pet. ii.
3. Aninial ; not vegetable. Dryden.
4. Human ; not celestial ; not spiritual or di-
vine.
Vain of /es/i/y arm. Milton.
Fleshly wisdom. 2 Cor. i.
FLESH'MEAT, n. Animal food ; the flesh
of animals prepared or used for food.
Siinfl.
FLESH'MENT, n. Eagerness gained by a
successful initiation. Shale.
FLESH'MONGER, n. One who deals in
flesh ; a procurer ; a pimp. {Liltle used.]
Shak.
FLESH'POT, n. A vessel in which flesh
is cooked ; hence, plenty of provisions
Ex. xvi.
FLESH'QUAKE, n. A trembling of the
flesh. [JVbtused.] B. Jonson
FLESH'Y, a. Full of flesh; plump; mus-
culous.
The sole of his foot is_^csfty. Ray
2. Fat; gross; corpulent; as a fleshy man
3. Corporeal, Eccles
F L E
4. Full of pulp; pulpous; plump; as fruit
Bacon
FLET, pp. of fleet. Skimmed. [Abtwserf.]
Mortimer.
FLETCH, V. I. [Fr. fleche.] To fetlier an
arrow. Warburlon.
FLETCH'ER, n. [Fr. fleche, an arrow.]
An arrow-maker; a manufacturer of bows
and arrows. Hence the name of Fletcher.
But the use of the word as an appellative
has ceased with the practice of archery.
FLETZ, a. [G. flotz, a layer.] In geology.
the fletz formations, so called, consist of
rocks which lie immediately over the
transition rocks. These formations are
so called because the rocks usually appear
in beds more nearly horizontal than the
transition class. These formations consist
of sandstone, limestone, gypsum, cala-
mine, chalk, coal and trap. They contain
abundance of petrifactions, both of animal
and vegetable origin. Good.
FLEW, pret. of fly.
The people flew upon the spoil. 1 Sam,
FLEW, n. The lar^e chaps of a deep-
mouthed hound. Hanmer.
FLEW'ED, a. Chapped ; mouthed ; deep-
mouthed. Shak.
FLEXAN'IMOUS, a. [from L.] Having
power to change the mind. [JVot used.]
Howell.
FLEXIBILITY, n. [See Flexible.] The
quality of admitting to be bent ; pliancy ;
flexibleness ; as the flexibility of rays of
light. JVetvton.
2. Easiness to be persuaded ; the quality of
yielding to arguments, jiersuasion or cir-
cumstances; ductility of mind; readiness
to comply ; facility ; "as flexibility of tem-
FLEX'IBLE, a. [h. flexibilis, fromflecto,
flexi, to bend, Fr. flechirj coinciding with
G. flechten, to braid, D. vlegten. These
words have the same elements as L. pi' \
1. That may be bent ; capable of being
turned or forced from a straight line
form without breaking; pliant; yielding
to pressure ; not stiff; as a flexible rod ; a
flexible plant.
2. Capable of yielding to intreaties, argu-
jnents or other moral force ; that may be
persuaded to compliance ; not invincibly
rigid or obstinate ; not inexorable.
Phocion was a man of great severity, and no
ways flexible to the will of the people.
Bacon.
It often denotes, easy or too easy to
yield or comply; wavering; inconstant;
not firm.
3. Ductile ; manageable ; tractable ; as the
tender and flexible minds of youth. Flex-
ible years or time of life, the time when the
mind is tractable.
4. That may be turned or accommodated.
This was a principle more flexible to their
purpose. Rogers.
FLEX'IBLENESS, n. Possibility to' be
bent or turned from a straight line or
form without breaking; easiness to be
bent ; pliantness ; pliancy ; flexibility.
Boyle.
2. Facility of mind ; readiness to comply or
yield ; obsequiousness ; as the flexibleness
of a courtier.
F L I
3. Ductility ; manageableneas ; tractable-
ness ; as the flexibleness of youth.
FLEX'ILE, a. [l^.flexilis.] Pliant ; pliable ;
easily bent ; yielding to power, impulse or
moral force. Thomson.
FLEX'ION, n. [L.flexio.] The act of ben-
ding.
2. A bending ; a part bent ; a fold. Bacon.
3. A turn ; a cast ; as a flexion of the eye.
Bacon.
FLEX'OR, n. In anatomy, a muscle whose
office is to bend the part to which it be-
longs, in opposition to the extensors.
FLEX'UOUS, a. [L. flexuosus.] Winding;
having turns or windings ; as a flexuous
rivulet. Digby.
2. Bending ; winding ; wavering ; not
steady ; as aflexuous flame. Bacon.
3. In botany, bending or bent ; changing
its direction in a curve, from joint to joint,
from bud to bud, or from flower to flower.
Martyn.
IFLEX'URE, n. [L. flemra.] A winding or
bending ; the form of bending ; as the
flexure of a joint.
|2. The act of bending. Shak.
3. The part bent ; a joint. Sandys.
14. The bending of the body ; obsequious or
servile cringe. Shak.
FLICK'ER, V. i. [Sax. fliccerian ; Scot.
flecker, to quiver; D.flikkeren, to twinkle;
firobably a diminutive from the root of
Ay-]
1. To flutter ; to flap the wings without fly-
ing ; to strike rapidly with the wings.
Am] flickering on her nest made short essays
to sing. Dryden.
3. To fluctuate. Burton.
FLICK'ERING, ^;)r. Fluttering; flapping
- the wings without flight.
2. a. With amorous motions of the eye.
The fair Lavinia — looks a little _^jcfrerm^ after
Turnus. Dryden.
FLICK'ERING, n. A fluttering ; short ir>
regular movements.
FLICK'ERMOUSE, n. The bat.
B. Jonson.
FLI'ER, ji. [See Fly. It ought to be flyer.]
One that flies or flees.
2. A runaway ; a fiigitive. Shak.
3. A part of a machine which, by moving
rapidly, equalizes and regulates the mo-
tion of the whole; as the}?rerof a jack.
FLIGHT, n.flile. [Sax.fliht; G.flug,flucld;
D. vlugt ; Dan. flugt ; Sw. flycht. See
Fly.]
1. The act of fleeing; the act of running
away, to escape danger or expected evil ;
hasty departure.
Pray ye that your flight be not in vrinter.
Matt. xxiv.
- To put to flight, to turn to flight, is to
compel to run away ; to force to escape.
2. The act of flying ; a passing through the
air by the help of wings ; volation ; as
tlie flight of birds and insects.
3. The manner of flying. Every fowl has
its particular^i;g/i< ; the flight of the eagle
is high ; the flight of the swallow is rapid,
with sudden turns.
4. Removal from place to place by flying.
5. A flock of birds flying in company ; as a
flight of pigeons or wild geese.
6. A number of beings flying or moving
through the air together; as a flight of
angels. " Milton.
F L I
F L I
F L I
7. A number of things passing through thel
air together ; a volley ; as a flight of]
arrows.
8. A periodical flying of birds in flocks
the spring/%-A< or aMtumnB.\ flight of ducks
or pigeons.
9. In England, tlie birds produced in the
same season.
10. The space passed by flying.
11. Amounting; a soaring ; lofty elevation
and excursion ; as a flight of imagination
or fancy ; a. flight of ambition.
12. Excursion ; wandering ; extravagant
sally ; as a. flight of folly. TiUolson.
IS. The power of flying. Shak.
14. In certain lead works, a substance that
flies ofi" i n smoke. E7icyc.
Flight of stairs, the series of stairs from the
floor, or from one platform to another.
FLIGHTINESS, n. The state of beinj
flighty ; wildness ; slight delirium.
FLIGHT-SHOT, n. The distance which ai
arrow flies.
FLIGHTY, a. Fleeting ; swift.
The flighty purpose never is o'erlook.
Shak
2. Wild ; indulging the sallies of imagina
tion.
3. Disordered in mind ; somewhat delirious.
FLIM'FLAM, n. [Ice. flim.] A freak ; a
trick. Beaum.
FLIM'SINESS, n. State or quality of being
flimsy ; thin, weak texture ; weakness ;
want of substance or solidity.
FLIM'SY, a. s as z. [VV. llymsi, having a
fickle motion ; llymu, to make sharp, quick,
pungent. Otcen. But Lluyd renders %»m,
vain, weak. The word is retained by the
common people in New England in I'imsy,
weak, limber, easily bending. See Class
Lm. No. 2. 5. C]
1. Weak ; feeble ; slight ; vain ; without
strength or solid substance ; as a flimsy
pretext ; a flimsy e.xcuse ; flimsy objec-
tions. Milner.
2. Without strength or force ; spiritless.
Proud of a vast extent of flimsy lines.
Pope.
3. Thin; of loose texture ; as^fm*^ cloth or
stuff" [Little used.] I
FLINCH, V. i. [I have not found this word
in any other language ; but the sense of it
occurs in blench, and not improbably it is
from the same root, with a diflTerent pre-
fix.]
1. To shrink; to withdraw from any sulTer-
ing or undertaking, from pain or danger ;
to fail of proceeding, or of performing any
thing. Never flinch from duty. One of
the pan\es flinched from the combat.
A child, by a constant course of kindness,
may be accustomed to bear very rough usage
viilhout flinching or complaining. Locke.
2. To fail. Shak.
FLINCH'ER, n. One who flinches or fails.
FLINCH'ING, ppr. Failing to undertake,
perform or proceed; shrinking ; withdraw-
ing.
FLIN'DER, n. [D. flenter, a splinter, a tat-
not radical, as I suppose, this may be thel
W. lluciaw, to fling, to throw, to dart, and]
L. lego, legare.]
1. To cast, send or throw from the hand ; to
hurl ; as, to fling a 'stone at a bird.
'Tis fate Ihat flings the dice ; and as ahe flings,
Of kings makes peasants, and of-peasanLs,
kings. Dryden.
2. To dart ; to cast with violence ; to send
forth.
He — like Jove, his lightning flung.
Dryden.
To send forth ; to emit ; to scatter.
Every beam new transient colors _^ings.
Pope
4. To throw ; to drive by violence.
I. To throw to the ground ; to prostrate
The wrestler_^u7ig' his antagonist.
1. To baffle ; to defeat ; as, to fling a party
in litigation.
To fling away, to reject ; to discard.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambi-
tion. Shak
To fling down, to demolish ; to ruin.
2. To throw to the ground.
To fling ofl", to baffle in the chase ; to defeat
of prey. Addison.
To fling out, to utter ; to speak ; as, to fling
out hard words against another.
To fling in, to throw in ; to make an allow
ance or deduction, or not to charge in ai
account. In settling accounts, one party
flings in a small sum, or a few days work
To fling open, to throw open ; to open sud-
denly or with violence ; as, to fling open a
door.
To fling up, to relinquish ; to abandon ; as
to fly
The
A small piece or splinter ; a fragment.
.Vcio England.
[This seems to 6e splinter, without the
prefix.]
FLING, V. i. prot. and pp. flung. [Ir. lingim,
to fling, to dart, to fly ofi", to skip. If jj isl
fling up a design.
FLING, V. i. To flounce ; to wince
into violent and irregular motions,
horse began to kick and fling.
2. To cast in the teeth ; to utter harsh lan-
guage ; to sneer ; to upbraid. The scold
began to flout and^mg-.
To fling out, to grow unruly or outrageous.
Shak
FLING, n. A throw ; a cast from the hand
2. A gibe ; a sneer; a sarcasm; a severe oi
contemptuous remark.
I, who love to have a fling.
Both at senate house and k
"g-
Su'ifi
FLING'ER, n. One who flings ; one who
jeers.
jING'ING, ppr. Throwing ; casting ; jeer-
ing.
FLINT, »!. [Sax.^i'n*; Sw.flinta. In Dan,
flint is a light gun, and flint is called_/?iH?-
steen, flint-stone. So also in German,
The Dutch and Germans call it also flre-
stone. It may be from the root of splen-
dor.]
In natural history, a sub-species of quartz,
of a yellowish or bluish gray, or grayish
black color. It is amorphous, interspersed
in other stones, or in nodules or rounded
lumps. Its surface is generally une
and covered with a rind or crust, either
calcarious or argillaceous. It is very hard
strikes fire with steel, and is an ingredient
in glass. Kirwan. Encyc.
2. A piece of the above described stone used
n firearms to strike fire.
3. Anv thing proverbially hard ; as a heart
offl'int. Spenser.
FLINT-HEART, ? Having a hard,
FLINT-HEARTED, < "• unfeeling heart.
FLINT V, o. Consisting of flint ; as a flinty
rock.
2. Like flint; very hard ; not impressible;
a, /?in/i/ heart.
3. Cruel ;iinnierciful; inexorable. Shak.
4. Full of flint stones; -ds flinty ground.
Bacon.
Flinty-slate, a mineral of two kinds, the com-
mon and the Lydian stone. Ure.
FLU', n. A mixed liquor consisting of beer
and spirit sweetened.
FLIP'DOG, n. An iron used, when heated,
to warm flip.
FLIP'PANCy, n. [See Flippant.] Smooth-
ness and rapidity of speech ; volubility of
tongue; fluency of .si)eech.
FLIP'PANT, a. [W. llipanu, to make
smooth or glib, from Itib, llipa, flaccid, soft,
limber ; allied to flabby, and to glib, and
probably to L. labor, to slide or slip, and to
liber, free. Class Lb.]
1. Of smooth, fluent and rapid speech i
speaking with ease and rapidity ; having
a voluble tongue ; talkative.
2. Pert ; petulant ; waggish.
Away wWh flippant epilogues. Thomson.
FLIP'PANTLY, adv. Fluently; with ease
and volubility of speech.
FLIP'PANTNESS, n. Fluency of speech ;
volubility of tongue; flippancy.
[This is not a Tow, vulgar word, but well
authorized and peculiarly expressive.]
FLIRT, V. t. flurt. [This word evidently be-
longs to the root of L. Jloreo, or ploro, sig-
nifying to throw, and coinciding with blurt.
Qu. Sax.Jleardian, to trifle.]
L To throw with a jerk or sudden effort or
exertion. The bojs Jlirf water in each
other's faces. He flirted a glove or a hand-
kerchief.
2. To toss or throw ; to move suddenly; as,
to flirt a fan.
FLIRT, V. i. To jeer or gibe ; to throw
harsh or sarcastic words ; to utter con-
temptuous language, with an air of dis-
dain.
To run and dart about ; to be moving
hastily from place to place ; to be unsteady
or fluttering. The girls Jiirl about the
room or the street.
FLIRT, n. A sudden jerk ; a quick throw
or cast ; a darting motion.
In unfurling the (an are several Mitie flirts and
vibrations. Addison.
A young girl who moves hastily or fre-
quently from place to place ; a pert girl.
Several youn^ flirts about town had a design
to cast us out of the fasliionable world.
.iddison.
FLIRT, a. Pert ; wanton. Shak.
FLIRTA'TION, n. A flirting ; a quick
sprightly motion.
Desire of attracting notice. [A cant tcord.J
Addison.
FLIRTED, pp. Thrown with a sudden
jerk.
FLIRT'ING, ppr. Throwing ; jerking ; toss-
ing ; darting about ; rambling and chan-
ging place bastilv.
FLIT, I', i. [D. vlleden, to fly or flee ; Dan.
flyder, Sw. flyta, to flow, to glide away ;
Dan.flytter, Sw.flyttia, to remove ; Ice.
Jiiulur, swift. This word coincides in ele-
ments with Heb. Ch. Syr. taSiJ. Class Ld.
No. 43. It is undoubtedly from the same
root as fleet, which see.]
F L E
F L E
F L I
14. In botany, the soft pulpy substance of
fruit ; also, that part of a root, fruit, &c
whicli is fit to be eaten.
One flesh, denotes intimate relation. To be
one flesh is to be closely united, as in mar
riage. Gen. ii. Eph. v.
^Jler the flesh, according to outward appear
ances, John viii :
Or according to the common -powers of
nature. Gal. iv. :
Or according to sinful lusts and inclina-
tions. Rom. viii.
An arm of flesh, human strength or aid
FLESH, V. t. To initiate ; a sportsman's
use of the word, from the practice of train^
ing hawks and dogs by feeding them witli
the first game they take or other flesh.
2. To harden ; to accustom ; to establish in
any practice, as dogs by often feeding on
any thing. Men fleshed in cruelty ; -no-
men fleshed in malice. Sidney.
3. To glut ; to satiate.
The wild dog
Shall flesh his tooth on every innocent.
Shak.
FLESH'BROTII, n. Broth made by boil-
ing flesh in water.
FLESH'BRUSH, n. A brush for exciting
action in the skin by friction.
FLESH'eOLOR, n. The color of flesh ;
carnation.
FLESH' COLORED, a. Being of the color
of flesh.
FLESH'DIET, n. Food consisting of fle.sh.
FLESH' ED, 2'P- Initiated; accustomed
glutted.
'i. Fat; fleshy.
FLESH'FLY, n. A fly that feeds on flesh,
'and deposits her eggs in it. Ray.
FLESH'HQOK, 11. A hook to draw flesh
from a pot or caldron. 1 Sam. h.
FLESH'INESS, n. \lrom fleshy.] Abun-
dance of flesh or fat in animals ; plump-
ness ; corpulence ; grossness.
FLESH'ING, ppr. Initiating; making fa-
miliar ; glutting.
FLESH'LESS, a. Destitute of flesh ; lean.
FLESH'LINESS, n. Carnal passions and
appetites. Spenser.
FLESH'LY, a. Pertaining to the flesh ;
corporeal. Denham.
2. Carnal ; worldly ; lascivious.
Abstain {mm fleshly lusts. 1 Pet. ii.
S. Animal ; not vegetable. Dryden.
4. Hunian ; not celestial ; not spiritual or di-
vine.
Vain o( fleshly arm. Milton.
Flefhly 'wisdom. 2 Cor. i.
FLESH'MEAT, n. Animal food; the flesh
of animals prepared or used for food.
Sioifl.
FLESH'MENT, n. Eagerness gained by a
successful initiation. Shale.
FLESH'MONGER, n. One who deals
flesh ; a procurer ; a pimp. [LiUle used.]
Shak.
FLESH'POT, )i. A vessel in which flesh
is cooked ; hence, plenty of provisions
Ex. xvi.
FLESH'QUAKE, n. A trembhng of the
flesh. [JVot used.] B. Jonson
FLESH'Y, a. Full of flesh; plump; mus-
culous.
The sole of his foot is yZesAy. Bay
2. Fat; gross; corpulent; as a fleshy man.
3. Corporeal. Eccks
4, Full of pulp; pulpous; plump; as fruit.
Bacon.
FLET, pp. of fleet. Skimmed. [JSTot- used.]
Mortimer.
FLETCH, V. t. [Fr. fleche.] To fether an
arrow. Warburton.
FLETCH'ER, n. [Fr. fleche, an arrow.]
An arrow-maker ; a manufacturer of bows
and arrows. Hence the name o[ Fletcher.
But the use of the word as an appellative
has ceased with the practice of archery.
FLETZ, a. [G. Jlotz, a layer.] In geology,
the fletz formations, so called, consist of
rocks which lie immediately over the
transition rocks. These formations are
so called because the rocks usually appear
in beds more nearly horizontal than the
transition class. These formations consis
of sandstone, limestone, gypsum, cala
mine, chalk, coal and trap. They contain
abundance of petrifactions, both of animal
and vegetable origin. Good.
FLEW, pret. of fly.
The people flew upon the spoil. 1 Sam,
FLEW, n. The lar_ge chaps of a deep-
hed hound. Hanmer.
FLEW'ED, a. Chapped ; mouthed ; deep-
mouthed. Shak.
FLEXAN'IMOUS, a. [from L.] Having
l>ower to change the mind. Wot tised.]
Howell.
FLEXIBIL'ITY, n. [See Flexible.] The
quality of admitting to be bent ; pliancy ;
fiexihleness ; as the flexibility of rays of
light. Mwton
2. Easiness to be persuaded ; the quality of
yielding to arguments, persuasion or cir-
cinnstances ; ductility of mind; readines:
to comply ; facility ; "as flexibility of tern
per.
FLEX'IBLE, a. [L. flexibilis, fromfleclo,
flexi, to bend, Fr. flechirj coinciding with
G. flechten, to braid, D. vlegtcn. These
words have the same elements as \.,. plico.]
1. That may be bent ; capable of being
turned or forced from a straight line or
form without breaking ; pliant ; yielding
to pressure ; not stiff"; as a flexible rod ; a
flexible plant.
2. Capable of yielding to intreaties, argu-
ments or other moral force ; that may be
persuaded to compliance ; not invincibly
rigid or obstinate ; not inexorable.
Phocion was a man of great severity, and no
ways flexible to the will of the people.
Bacon.
It often denotes, easy or too easy to
yield or comply ; wavering ; inconstant ;
not firm.
3. Ductile ; manageable ; tractable ; as the
tender and flexible minds of youth. Flex-
ible years or time of life, the time when the
mind is tractable.
4. That may be turned or accommodated.
This was a principle more flexible to their
purpose. Boaers.
FLEX'IBLENESS, n. Possibility to^ be
bent or turned from a straight line or
forin without breaking ; easiness to be
bent ; pliantness ; pliancy ; flexibilitv.
'Boyle.
2. Facility of mind ; readiness to comply or
yield ; obsequiousness ; as the fleiibleness
of a courtier.
•3. Ductility ; manageableness ; tractable-
ness ; as the flexibleness of youth.
FLEX'ILE, a. [L.flexilis.] Phant ; pliable ;
easily bent ; yielding to power, impulse or
moral force. Thomson.
FLEX'ION, n. [L.flexio.] The act of ben-
ding.
2. A bending ; a part bent ; a fold. Bacon.
3. A turn ; a cast ; as a flexion of the eye.
Bacon.
FLEX'OR, 71. In anatomy, a muscle whose
office is to bend the part to which it be-
longs, in opposition to the extensors.
FLEX'UOUS, a. [L. flexuosus.] Winding;
having turns or windings ; as a flexuous
rivulet. Digby.
2. Bending ; winding ; wavering ; not
teady ; as a^earttous flame. Bacon.
3. In botany, bending or bent ; changing
' its direction in a curve, from joint to joint,
from bud to bud, or from flower to flower.
Martyn.
iFLEX'URE, n. [L. flexura.] A winding or
bending ; the form of bending ; as the
flexure of a joint.
12. The act of bending. Shak.
3. The part bent ; a joint. Sandys.
|4. The bending of the body ; obsequious or
servile cringe. Shak.
FLICK'ER, V. i. [Sax. fliccerian ; Scot.
flecker, to quiver ; D.flikkeren, to twinkle ;
probably a diminutive from the root of
1. To flutter ; to flap the wings without fly-
ing ; to strike rapidly wth the wings.
Ani] flickering on her nest made short essays
to sing. Dryden.
i. To fluctuate. Burton.
FLICK'ERING, ;)pr. Fluttering; flapping
the wings without flight.
2. a. With amorous motions of the eye.
The fair Lavinia — looks a little flickering after
Turnus. Dryden.
FLICK'ERING, n. A fluttering ; short ir-
regular movements.
FLICK'ERMOUSE, n. The bat.
B. Jonson.
FLI'ER, n. [See Fly. It ought to be flyer.]
One that flies or flees.
2. A runaway ; a fugitive. Shak.
3. A part of a machine which, by moving
rapidly, equalizes and regulates the mo-
tion of the whole; as the}!»'er of a jack.
FLIGHT, n.flile. [Sax.fliht ; G.flug,flucht;
D. vlugt ; Dan. flugt ; Sw. flycht. See
1. The act of fleeing; the act of running
away, to escape danger or expected evil ;
hasty departure.
Pray ye tliat your flight be not in winter.
Matt. xxiv.
To put to flight, to turn to flight, is to
compel to run away ; to force to escape.
2. The act of flying ; a passing through the
air by the help of wings ; volation; as
the flight of birds and insects.
3. The manner of flying. Every fowl has
its particular ^i^ftt ; the flight of the eagle
is high ; the flight of the swallow is rapid,
with sudden turns.
4. Removal from place to place by flying.
5. A flock of birds flying in company ; as a
flight of pigeons or wild geese.
6. A number of beings flying or moving
through the air together; as a flight of
angels. " Milton,
F L I
7. A number of things passing through the
Hey ; -.•..,
arrows.
air togethe
voll<
a fl^M of
8. A periodical flying of birds in flocks ; as
the spring/ig-/i« or autumnal /ig-AJ of ducks
or pigeons.
9. In England, the birds produced in the
same season.
10. The space passed by flying.
11. Amounting; a soaring ; lofty elevation
and excursion ; as a flight of imagination
or fancy ; a flight of ambition.
12. Excursion ; wandering ; extravagant
sally ; as a flight of folly. TiUotson.
13. The power of flying. Shak.
14. In certain lead works, a substance that
flies ofi" in smoke. Encyc.
Flight of stairs, the series of stairs from the
floor, or from one platform to another.
FLIGHTINESS, n. The state of being
flighty ; wildness ; slight delirium.
FLIGHT-SHOT, n. The distance which an
arrow flies.
FLIGHTY, a. Fleeting ; swift.
The flighty purpose never is o'ertook.
Shak.
2. Wild ; indulging the sallies of imagina-
tion.
3. Disordered in mind ; somewhat delirious.
FLIM'FLAM, n. [Ice. flim.] A freak ; a
trick. Beaum.
FLIM'SINESS, n. State or quality of being
flimsy ; thin, weak texture ; weakness ;
want of substance or solidity.
FLIM'SY, a. s as 2. [VV. llymsi, having a
fickle motion ; llymu, to make sharp, quick,
pungent. Oicfn. But Lluyd renders Uymsi,
vain, weak. The word is retained by the
common people in New England in limsy,
weak, limber, easily bending. See Class
Lm. No. 2. 5. fi.]
1. We.ik ; feeble ; slight ; vain ; without
strength or solid substance ; as a flimsy
pretext ; a flimsy excuse ; flimsy objec-
tions. Milner.
Q. Without strength or force ; spiritless.
Proud of a vast extent o( flimsy lines.
Pope.
3. Thin; of loose texture ; as/tm«y cloth or
stuff". [Little used.] I
FLINCH, V. i. [I have not found this wordj
in any other language ; but the sense of it!
occurs in blench, and not improbably it is;
from the same root, with a different pre
fix.]
1. To shrink; to withdraw from any suffer
ing or undertaking, from pain or danger ;
to fail of proceeding, or of performing any
thing. Never flinch from duty. One of
the parties_^tnc/ie(/ from the combat.
A child, by a constant course of kindness,
may be accustomed to bear very rough usage
without flinching or complaining. Locke.
2. To fail. Shak.
FLINCH'ER, n. One who flinches or fails.
FLINCH'ING, ppr. Failing to undertake,
perform or proceed ; shrinking ; withdraw-
ing.
FLIN'DER, n. [D. flenter, a splinter, a tat-
ter.]
A small piece or splinter ; a fragment.
New England.
[This seems to le splinter, ivithout the
prefix.]
FLING, V. t. pret. and pp. flung. [Ir. lingim,
to fling, to dart, to fly oflT, to skip. If n is
F L I
not radical, as I suppose, this may be the
W. lludaw, to fling, to throw, to dart, and
L. lego, l^are.]
1. To cast, send or throw from the hand ; to
hurl ; as, to fling a 'stone at a bird.
'Tis fate tlial^mg.^ the dice ; and as she flings.
Of kings makes peasants, and of-peasants,
kings. Dryden.\
2. To dart ; to cast with violence ; to send
forth.
He — like Jove, his lightning flung.
Drydeti.
To send forth ; to emit ; to scatter.
Every beam new transient colors flings.
Pope.
4. To throw; to drive by violence.
5. To throw to the ground ; to prostrate.
The wre.stler^ung iiis antagonist.
6. To baffle ; to defeat ; as, to fling a party
in litigation.
To fling away, to reject ; to discard.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambi-
tion. Shak.
F L I
To fling doivn, to demolish ; to ruin.
2. To throw to the ground.
To fling ofl', to baffle in the chase ; to defeat
"prey. Addison.
To fling out, to utter ; to speak ; as, to fling
out hard words against another.
To fling in, to throw in ; to make an allow-
ance or deduction, or not to charge in an
account. In settling accounts, one party
flings in a small sum, or a few days work.
To fling open, to throw open ; to open sud-
denly or with violence ; as, to fling open a
door.
To fling up, to relinquish ; to abandon ; as,
fling up a design.
FLING, V. i. To flounce ; to wince ; to fly
into violent and irregular motions. The
horse began to kick and^^ing'.
2. To cast in the teeth ; to utter harffh lan-
guage ; to sneer ; to upbraid. The scold
began to flout anil fling.
To fling ou(, to grow unruly or outrageous.'
Shak.
FLING, n. A throw ; a cast from the hand.
2. A gibe ; a sneer ; a sarcasm ; a severe or
contemptuous remark.
I, who love to have z fling,
Both at senate house and king. Swift
FLING'EK, n. One who flings ; one who
jeers.
FLING'ING, ppr. Throwing ; casting ; jeer-
ing.
FLINT, H. [Sax. flint ; Sw.flinta. In Dan
flint is a light gun, and flint is caWedflint-
steen, flint-stone. So also in German
The Dutch and Germans call it also flre-
stone. It may be from the root of splen-
dor.]
1. In nadtraZ /a's/ori/, a sub-species of quartz,
of a yellowish or bluish gray, or grayish
black color. It is amorphous, interspersed
in other stones, or in nodules or rounded
lumps. Its surface is generally uneven,
and covered with a rind or crust, either
calcarious or argillaceous. It is very hard,
strikes fire with steel, and is an ingredient
in glass. Kirtvan. Encyc.
2. A piece of the above described stone used
n firearms to strike fire.
3. Any thing proverbially hard ; as a heart
offlint. Spenser.
FLINT-HEART, ? Having a hard,
FLINT-HE.\RTED, \ °- unfeeling heart.
FLINTY, u. Consisting of flint ; as a flinty
rock.
2. Like fluit : very hard ; not impressible ;
as a .flinty heart.
3. Cruel; unmerciful; inexorable. Shak.
4. Full of Hint stones; as flinty ground.
Bacon.
Flinty-slate, a mineral of two kinds, the com-
mon and the Lydian stone. Ure.
FLIP, n. A mixed Uquor consisting of beer
and spirit sweetened.
FLIP'DOG, n. An iron used, when heated,
to warm flip.
FLIP'PANCY, n. [See Flippant.] Smooth-
ness and rapidity of speech ; volubility of
tongue; fluency of speech.
FLIP'PANT, a. [W. llipanu, to make
smooth or glib, from llib, llipa, flaccid, soft,
limber ; allied to flabby, and to glib, and
probably to L. labor, to slide or slip, and to
liber, free. Class Lb.]
1. Of smooth, fluent and rapid speech i
speaking with ease and rapidity ; having
a voluble tongue ; talkative.
2. Pert ; petulant ; waggish.
Avvav w-iih flippant epilogues. Thomson.
FLIPPANTLY, adv. Fluently; with ease
and volubihty of speech.
FLIP'PANTNESS, n. Fluency of speech ;
volubility of tongue; flippancy.
[This is not a low, vulgar word, but well
authorized and peculiarly expressive.]
FLIRT, V. t. flurt. [This word evidently be-
longs to the root of L. Jioreo, or ploro, sig-
nifying to throw, and coinciding with blurt.
Qu. Sax.fleardian, to trifle.]
1. To throw with a jerk or sudden eflx)rt or
exertion. The boys Jiirt water in each
other's faces. He flirted a glove or a hand-
kerchief.
2. To toss or throw: to move suddenly; as,
to flirt a fan.
FLIRT, V. i. To jeer or gibe ; to throw
harsh or sarcastic words ; to utter con-
tenipluous language, with an air of dis-
dain.
2. To run and dart about ; to be moving
hastily from place to place ; to be unsteady
or fluttering. The girls flirt about the
room or the street.
FLIRT, n. A sudden jerk ; a quick throw
or cast ; a darting motion.
In unfurling tlie tan are several little ^iXs and
vibrations. Addison.
2. A young girl who moves hastily or fre-
quently from place to place ; a pert girl.
Several yoanc flirts about town had a design
to cast us out of the fashionable world.
jlddison.
FLIRT, a. Pert ; wanton. Shak.
FLIRTA'TION, n. A flirting ; a quick
rightly motion.
esire "of attracting notice. [A cant toord.'}
Mdison.
FLIRTED, pp. Thrown with a sudden
jerk.
FLIRT'ING, ppr. Throwing ; jerking ; toss-
ing ; darting about ; rambling and chan-
ging place hastUv.
FLIT, I', i. [D. vlieden, to fly or flee ; Dan.
flyder, Sw. flyta, to flow, to glide away ;
Dan. flytter, Sw. flyitia, to remove ; Ice.
^iuh(r,'swift. This word coincides in ele-
ments with Heb. Ch. Syr. oSfl. Class Ld.
No. 43. It is undoubtedly from the same
root as fleet, which see.]
F L E
14. In botany, the soft pulpy substance
fruit ; also, that part of a root, fruit, &c.,
which is fit to be eaten.
One flesh, denotes intimate relation. To be
one flesh is to be closely united, as in mar
riage. Gen. ii. Eph. v.
lifter the flesh, according to outward appear
ances, John viii :
Or according to the common -powers of
nature. Gal. iv. :
Or according to sinful lusts and inclina-
tions. Rom. viii.
An arm of flesh, human strength or aid.
FLESH, V. t. To initiate ; a sportsman's
use of the word, from the practice of train-
ing hawks and dogs by feeding them with
the first game they take or other flesh.
2. To harden ; to accustom ; to establish in
any practice, as dogs by often feeding on
any thing. Men fleshed in cruelty ; wo-
men/esAerf in malice. Sidney.
3. To glut ; to satiate.
The wild dog
Shall flesh his tootli on every innocent.
Shak.
FLESH'BROTH, n. Brotli made by boil-
ing flesh in water.
FLESH'BRUSil, n. A brush for e.xciting
action in the skin by friction.
FLESH'€OLOR, n. The color of flesh ;
carnation.
FLESH'€0LORED, o. Being of the color
of flesh.
FLESH'DIET, n. Food consisting of flesh.
FLESH'ED, pp. Initiated ; accustomed ;
glutted.
^. Fat; fleshy.
FLESH'FLY, n. A fly that feeds on flesh,
'and deposits her eggs in it. Ray.
FLESH'HOQK, n. A hook to draw flesh
from a pot or caldron. 1 Sam. ii.
FLESH'INESS, n. {{mm fleshy.] Abun-
dance of flesh or fat in animals ; plump-
ness ; corpulence ; grossness.
FLESHTNG, ppr. Initiating ; making fa-
miliar; glutting.
FLESH'LESS, a. Destitute of flesh ; lean.
FLESH'LINESS, n. Carnal passions and
appetites. Spenser.
FLESH'LY, a. Pertaining to the flesh ;
corporeal. Denham.
2. Carnal ; worldly ; lascivious.
Abstain horn fleshly lusts. 1 Pet. ii.
3. Animal ; not vegetable. Dryden.
4. Human ; not celestial ; not spiritual or di-
vine.
Vain oi fleshly 3mx. Milton.
Fleshly 'wisdom. 2 Cor. i.
FLESH'MEAT, n. Animal food; the flesh
of animals prepared or used for food.
Sioift.
FLESH'MENT, n. Eagerness gained by a
successful initiation. Shak.
FLESH'MONGER, n. One who deals in
flesh ; a procurer ; a pimp. [Little used.]
Shak.
FLESH'POT, n. A vessel in which flesli
is cooked ; hence, plenty of provisions.
Ex. xvi.
FLESH'QUAKE, n. A trembling of the
flesh. [ JVoJ xised.] B. Jonson.
FLESH' Y, a. Full of flesh; plump; mus-
culous.
The sole of his foot is _^esAy. R<^y-
2. Fat; gross; corpulent; as a fleshy man.
3. Corporeal. Eccles.
F L E
4. Full of pulp; pulpous; plump; as fruit,
Bacon.
FLET, pp. of fleet. Skimmed. [JSTol- used.]
Mortimer.
FLETCH, V. t. [Fr. fleche.] To fether an
arrow. Warbtirton.
FLETCH'ER, n. [Fr. fleche, an arrow.]
An arrow-maker ; a manufacturer of bows
and arrows. Hence the name of Fletcher.
But the use of the word as an appellative
has ceased with the practice of archery.
FLETZ, a. [G. fliitz, a layer.] In geology
the fletz formations, so called, consist of
rocks which lie immediately over the
transition rocks. These formations are
so called because the rocks usually appear
in beds more nearly horizontal than the
transition class. These formations consist
of sandstone, limestone, gypsum, cala-
mine, chalk, coal and trap. They contain
abundance of petrifactions, both of ani
and vegetable origin. Good.
FLEW, pret. of fly.
The people flew upon the spoil. 1 Sam.
FLEW, n. The larjge chaps of a deep-
mouthed hound. Hanmer.
FLEW'ED, a. Chapped; mouthed; deep-
mouthed. Shak.
FLEXAN'IMOUS, a. [from L.] Having
-'liver to change the mind. [JVot used.]
HoweU.
FLEXIBIL'ITY, n. [See Flexible.] The
quality of admitting to be bent ; pliancy ;
flexibleness ; as the flexibility of rays of
light. JVewton.
3. Easiness to be persuaded ; the quality of
yielding to arguments, jiersuasion or cir-
cumstances; ductility of mind; readiness
to comply ; facility ; "as flexibility of teni
per.
FLEX'IBLE, a. [L. flexibilis, fromflecto,
flexi, to bend, Fr. flechir, coinciding with
G. flechten, to braid, D. vlegten. These
words have the same elements as L. plico.]
1. That may be bent ; capable of being
turned or forced from a straight line or
form without breaking; pliant; yielding
to jiressure ; not stiflT; as a flexible rod ; a
flexible plant.
2. Capable of yielding to intreaties, argu-
ments or other moral force ; that may "be
persuaded to compliance ; not invincibly
rigid or obstinate ; not inexorable.
Phocion was a man of great severity, and no
ways flexible to the will of the people.
Bacon.
It often denotes, easy or too easy to
yield or comply ; wavering ; inconstant ;
not firm.
3. Ductile ; manageable ; tractable ; as the
tender and flexible minds of youth. Flex-
ible years or time of life, the time when the
mind is tractable.
4. That may be turned or accommodated.
This was a principle more flexible to their
purpose. Rogers.
FLEX'IBLENESS, n. Possibility to be
bent or turned from a straight line or
form without breaking; easiness to be
bent ; pliantness ; pliancy ; flexibility.
'Boyi
2. Facility of mind ; readiness to coinply or
yield ; obsequiousness ; as the flexibleness
of a courtier.
F L I
3. Ductility ; manageableness ; tractable-
ness ; as the flexibleness of youth.
FLEX'ILE, a. [h.flexilis.] Pliant ; pliable ;
easily bent; yielding to power, impulse or
moral force. Thomson.
FLEX'ION, «. [Uflexio.] The act of ben-
ding.
2. A bending; a part bent; a fold. Bacon.
3. A turn ; a cast ; as a flexion of the eye.
Bacon.
FLEX'OR, 71. In anatomy, a muscle whose
office is to bend the part to which it be-
longs, in opposition to the extensors.
FLEX'UOUS, a. [L. flexuosus.] Winding;
having turns or windings ; as a flexuous
rivulet. Digby.
2. Bending ; winding ; wavering ; not
teady ; as a. flexuous flame. Bacon.
3. In botany, bending or bent ; changing
' its direction in a curve, from joint to joint,
from bud to bud, or from flower to flower.
Martyn.
FLEX;URE, n. [L. flexura.] A winding or
bending ; the form of bending ; as the
flexure of a joint.
i2. The act of bending. Shak.
3. The part bent ; a joint. Sandys.
4. The bending of the body ; obsequious or
servile cringe. Shak.
FLICK'ER, v.i. [Sax. fliccerian ; Scot.
flecker, to quiver ; D.flikkeren, to twinkle ;
jirobably a diminutive fi-om the root of
M]
1. To flutter ; to flap the wings without fly-
ing ; to strike rapidly with the wings.
Am] flickering on her nest made short essays
to sing. Dryden.
■i. To fluctuate. Burton.
FLICKERING, ppr. Fluttering ; flapping
the wings without flight.
2. rt. With amorous motions of the eye.
The fair Lavinia — looks a Mtde flickering after
Turnus. Hvyden.
FLICK'ERING, n. A fluttering ; short ir-
regular movements.
FLICK'ERMOUSE, n. The bat.
B. Jonson.
FLI'ER, n. [See Fly. It ought to be flyer.]
One that flies or flees.
2. A runaway ; a fugitive. Shak.
3. A part of a machine which, by moving
rapidly, equalizes and regulates the mo-
tion of the whole; as the_/!?er of a jack.
FLIGHT, n.flite. [Sax. fliht; G.flug.fluchi;
D. vlugt; Dan.flugt; 8w. flycht. See
Fly.]
1. The act of fleeing; the act of running
away, to escape danger or expected evil ;
hasty departure.
Pray ye that your flight be not in winter.
Matt. xxiv. .
• To put to flight, to turn to flight, is to
compel to run away ; to force to escape.
2. The act of flying ; a passing through the
air by the help of wings ; volation; as
the flight of birds and insects.
.3. The manner of flying. Every fowl has
its particular _/Zie:7i< ; the flight of the eagle
is higli ; the flight of the swallow is rapid,
with sudden turns.
4. Removal from place to place by flying.
,5. A flock of birds flying in company ; as a
flight of pigeons or wild geese.
G. A number of beings flying or moving
through the air together; as aflighi of
angels. Milton.
F L I
F L I
F L I
7. A number of things passing through
air together ; a volley ; as a flight of|
arrows.
8. A periodical flying of birds in flocks ;
the spring flight or autumnal flight of ducks
or pigeons.
9. In England, tlic birds produced in the
same season.
10. Tlie space passed by flying.
11. Amounting; a soaring ; lofty elevation
and excursion ; as a flight of imagination
or fancy ; a flight of ambition.
12. Excursion ; wandering ; extravagant
sally ; as a flight of folly. TiUotson.
IS. The power of flying. Shak
14. In certain lead works, a substance that
flies off" in smoke. Encyc.
Flight of stairs, the series of stairs from the
floor, or from one platform to another,
FLIGHTINESS, «. The state of being
flighty; wildness; slight delirium.
FLIGHT-SHOT, n. The distance which an
arrow flies.
FLIGHTY, a. Fleeting ; swift.
The flighty purpose never is o'ertook.
Shak.
2. Wild ; indulging the sallies of imagina-
tion.
3. Disordered in mind ; somewhat delirious.
FLIM'FLAM, n. [Ice. flim.] A freak ; a
trick. JBeaum.
FLIM'SINESS, n. Slate or quality of being
flimsy ; thin, weak texture ; weakness ;
want of substance or solidity.
FLIM'SY, a. s as z. [W. llymsi, having a
fickle motion ; llymu, to make sharp, quick,
pungent. Owen. hutlAuyd renders llymsi,
vain, weak. The word is retained by the
common people in New England in limsy,
weak, limber, easily bending. See Class
Lm. No. 2. 5. G.]
1. Weak; feeble; slight; vain; without
strength or solid substance ; as a flimsy
pretext ; a flimsy e.xcuse ; flimsy objec-
tions. Milner.
2. Without strength or force ; spiritless.
Proud of a vast extent of flimsy lines.
Pope.
3. Thin; of loose texture ; as/imsy cloth or
stufl'. [Little used.] I
FLINCH, V. i. [I have not found tliis wordj
in any other language ; but the sense of itj
occurs in blench, and not improbably it is
from the same root, with a difierent pre-
fix.]
1. To shrink; to withdraw from any suflbr-
ing or undertaking, from pain or danger ;l
to fail of proceeding, or of performing anjj
thing. Never flinch from duty. One of]
the parties_^{nc/ierf from the combat.
A child, by a constant course of kindness,
may be accustomed to bear very rough usage
without ^mcAi»g or complaining. Locke.]
•2. To fail. Shaki
FLINCH'ER, n. One who flinches or fails.
FLINCH'ING, ppr. Failing to undertake,!
perform or proceed; shrinking ; withdraw-
not radical, as I suppose, this may be the
W. lluciaw, to fling, to throw, to dart, and
L. lego, legare.]
1. To cast, send or tlirow from the hand
hurl ; as, to fling a 'stone at a bird.
'Tis fate tliat/ings tlie dice ; and as she flings,]
Of kings makes peasants, and of-peasants,
kings. Drydeii.
2. To dart ; to cast with violence ; to send
forth.
He— like Jove, his lightning flung.
Dry den
3. To send forth ; to emit ; to scatter.
Every beam new transient colors _^mgs.
Pope.
4. To throw; to drive by violence.
To throw to the ground ; to prostrate.
The wrestler_^!mg liis antagonist.
To batlle ; to defeat ; as, to fling a party
in litigation.
To fling away, to reject ; to discard.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambi-
tion. Shak.
To fling down, to demolish ; to ruin.
To tlirow to the ground.
To fling ofl", to baffle in the chase ; to defeat
of prey. Addison.
To fling out, to utter ; to speak ; as, to fling
out hard words against another.
To fling in, to throw in ; to make an allow-
ance or deduction, or not to charge in an
account. In settling accounts, one parry
flings in a small sum, or a few days work.
To fling open, to throw open ; to open sud-
denly or with violence ; as, to fling open a
door.
To fling up, to relinquish ; to abandon ; as,
FLIN'DER, n. [D. flenter, a splinter, a tat-
ter.]
A small piece or splinter ; a fragment.
.Veio England.
[This seems to ie splinter, without ihe\
prefir.]
FLING, V. t. pret. and pp. flung. [Ir. lingim.
to fling, to dart, to fly off, to'skip. If'n is
to fling up a design.
FLING, V. i. To flounce ; to wince ; to fly
into violent and irregular motions. The
horse began to kick and fling.
2. To cast in the teeth ; to utter harSh Ian
guage ; to sneer ; to upbraid. The scold
began to flout and fling.
To fling out, to grow unruly or outrageous.
Shak
FLING, n. A throw ; a cast from the hand
2. A gibe ; a sneer; a sarcasm; a severe or
contemptuous remark.
I, who love to have 3 fling.
Both at senate house and king. Swift
FLING'ER, n. One who flings ; one who
jeers.
FLING'ING, ppr. TInowing ; casting ; jeer-
FLINT, Ji. [Sax./in«; Sw.flinta. In Dan,
flint is a light gun, and flint is calledyZui/-
steen, flint-stone. So also in German,
The Dutch and Germans call it also flre-
stone. It may be from the root of splen-
dor.]
1. In natural history, a sub-species of quartz,
of a yellowish or bluish gray, or grayisl;
black color. It is amorphous, interspersed
in other stones, or in nodules or rounded
lumps. Its surface is generally unev
and covered with a rind or crust, either
calcarious or argillaceous. It is very hard,
strikes fire with steel, and is an ingredient
in glass. Kinvan. Encyc.
2. A piece of the above described stone used
in firearms to strike fire.
3. Any thing proverbially hard ; as a heart
otflint. Spenser.
FLINT-HEART, ) Having a hard
FLINT-HEARTED, \ °- unfeeling heart.
Consisting of flint ; as a flinty
liard ; not impressible ;
FLINT' V, a.
rock.
2. Like flint; very
as a, flinty heart.
3. Cruel; luimerciful; inexorable. Shak.
4. Full of Hint stones; as ^in<^ ground.
Bacon.
Flinty-slate, a mineral of two kinds, the com-
mon anti the Lydian stone. Ure.
FLIP, n. A mixed hquor consisting of beer
and spirit sweetened.
FLIP'DOG, 71. An iron used, when heated,
to warm flip.
FLIP'PANCy, n. [See Flippant.] Smooth-
ness and rapidity of speech ; volubility of
tongue; fluency of speech.
FLIP'PANT, a. [W. llipanu, to make
smooth or glib, from Uib, Ihpa, flaccid, soft,
limber ; allied to flabby, and to glib, and
probably to L. labor, to slide or slip, and to
liber, free. Class Lb.]
1. Of smooth, fluent and rapid speech i
speaking with ease and rapidity ; having
a voluble tongue ; talkative.
2. Pert ; ))('tulant ; waggish.
Away \villi/i7)/)an( epilogues. Thomson.
FLIPPANTLY, adv. Fluently; with ease
and volubility of speech.
FLIP'PANTNESS, n. Fluency of speech ;
volubility of tongue; flippancy.
[This "is not a low, vulgar word, but well
authorized and peculiarly expressive.]
FLIRT, V. t. flurt. [This word evidently be-
longs to the root of L. floreo, or ploro, sig-
nifying to throw, and coinciding with blurt.
Qu. Sax.Jleardian, to trifle.]
To throw with a jerk or sudden efl^ort or
exertion. The boys flirt water in each
other's faces. He flirted a glove or a hand-
kerchief
2. To toss or throw ; to move suddenly; as,
to flirt a fan.
FLIRT, V. i. To jeer or gibe ; to throw
harsh or sarcastic words ; to utter con-
temptuous language, with an air of dis-
dain.
2. To run and dart about ; to be moving
hastily from place to place ; to be unsteady
or fluttering. The girls flirt about the
room or the street.
FLIRT, n. A sudden jerk ; a quick throw-
er cast ; a darting motion.
In unfurling the fan arc several little^iXs and
vibrations. Addison.
A young girl who moves hastily or fre-
quently from place to place ; a pert girl.
.Several young ^ir(s about town had a design
to cast us out of the fashionable world.
Addison .
FLIRT, a. Pert; wanton. Shak.
FLIRTA'TION, n. A flirting ; a quick
sprightly motion.
2. Desire of attracting notice, [•.i cant word.]
Addison.
FLIRT'ED, pp. Thrown with a sudden
jerk.
FLIRT'ING, ppr. Throwing ; jerking ; toss-
ing ; darting about ; rambling and chan-
ging place hastUv.
FLIT, V. i. [D. vlieden, to fly or flee ; Dan.
flyder, Sw. flyta, to flow, to glide away ;
Dan. flytier, S\v.fl.yttia, to remove ; Ice.
fliutur, swift. This word coincides in ele-
ments with Heb. Ch. Syr. bSs. Class Ld.
No. 43. It is undoubtedly from the same
root as^eef, which see.]
FLO
1. To 9y away with a rapid motion ; to dart
along ; to move with celerity through the
air. We say, a bird flits away, or flits in
air; a cloud^its along.
2. To flutter ; to rove on the wing.
Dryden.
3. To remove ; to migrate ; to pass rapidly,
as a light substance, from one place to
another.
It became a received opinion, that the souls
of men, departing this life, did flit out of one
body into some other. Hooker.
4. In Scotland, to remove from one habita-
tion to another.
.5. To be unstable ; to be easily or often
moved.
And the free soul to flitting air resigned.
Drydeyi.
FLIT, a. Nimble; quick; swift. Obs. [See
Fleet.]
FLITCH, n. [Sax.flicce; Ft. fleche, an ar-
row, a coach-beam, a flitch of bacon.]
The side of a hog salted and cured.
Dryden. Swifl.
FLIT'TER, I', i. To flutter, which see.
Chaucer.
FLIT'TER, n. A rag ; a tatter. [See
Fritter.]
FLIT'TERMOUSE, n. [Flit, flitter and
mouse. ]
A bat ; an animal tliat has the fur of a mouse,
and membranes which answer tlie purpose
of wings, and enable the animal to sustain
itself in a fluttering flight.
FLIT'TINESS, n. [from flit.] Unsteadi
ness ; levity ; lightness. Bp. Hopkins
FLiTTmG, ppr. Flying rapidly ; flutter
ing ; moving swiftly.
FLIT'TING, n. A flying with lightness and
celerity ; a fliutering.
FLIT'TY, a. Unstable ; fluttering. More.
FLIX, n. [Qu. from flax.] Down ; fur.
[.Vo< used.] Dryden.
FLIX'WEED, n. The Sisymbrium sopkia,
a species of water-cresses, growing on
walls and waste grounds. Encyc.
FLO, n. An arrow. [JVbt in use.]
Chaucer.
FLOAT, n. [Sax.flota; G. floss; D.vlot
vloot; Dan. flode; Sw.JloUe ; Fr.flotte .
B\>.flota; II. flotta; Russ.ptot.]
1. That which swims or is borne on water :
as a float of weeds and rushes. But par-
ticularly, a body or collection of timber,
boards or planks fastened together and
conveyed down a stream; a raft. [The
latter word is more generally used in the U.
States.]
2. The cork or quill used on an angling line,
to support it and discover the bite of a fisli.
Encyc. JVaUon.
3. The act of flowing ; flux ; flood ; the
primary sense, but obsolete. Hooker.
4. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square
and one deep. Mortimer.
r>. A wave. [French/o( ; hat.fluctus.]
FLOAT, v.i. [Sax.fl^otan,flotan ; G.flossen:
T>. vlooten, vlotten ; Fr. flolter; Dan. floder.
Either from the noun, or from the root
of the h.fluo, to flow.]
1. To be borne or sustained on the surface
of a fluid ; to swim ; to be buoyed up
not to sink ; not to be aground. We say
the water is so .shallow, the ship will nol
flout.
FLO
3. To move or be conveyed on water ; tol
swim. The raftfloats down the river.
Three blustering nights, borne by the southemi
blast,
Ifloated. Dryden.
3. To be buoyed up and moved or conveyed
1 a fluid, as in air.
They stretch their plumes and float upon the
wind. Pope.
4. To move with a light irregular course.
Qu. Locke.
FLOAT, V. t. To cause to pass by swim-
ming ; to cause to be conveyed on water.
Tlie tidejloated the sliip into the harbor.
9. To flood ; to inundate ; to overflow ; to
cover with water.
Proud Pactolus _^oafs the fraitful lands.
Dryden.
FLO'ATAgE, n. Any thing that floats on
the water. Encyc.
FLO'AT-BOARD, n. A board of the water-
wheel of undershot mills, which receives
the impulse of the stream, by which the
wheel is driven.
FLO'ATED, pp. Flooded ; overflowed.
Borne on water.
FLOATER, n. One that floats or swims.
Eusden
FLO'ATING, ppr. Swimming ; conveying
on water ; overflowing.
i. Lying flat on the surface of the water
as afloating leaf Martyn.
FLOATING-BRIDGE, w. In the U. States,
a bridge, consisting of logs or timber with
a floor of i)Iank, supported wholly by the
water
2. In tvar, a kind of double bridge, the upper
oue projecting beyond the lower one, and
capable of being moved forward by pu
leys, used for carrying troops over narrow
moats in attacking the outworks of a fort
FLO'ATSTONE, n. Swimming flint, spun
giform quartz, a mineral of a spungy tex-
ture, of a whitish gray color, often witl
tinge of yellow. It frequently contains a
nucleus of common flint. Cteaveland.
FLO'ATY, a. Buoyant; swimming on the
surface ; light. Raleigh
FLOe'€ULENCE, n. [L. flocculus, floccus.
See Flock.]
The state of being in locks or flocks ; adhe
sion in small Bakes.
Higgins, Med. Rep
FLOeXULENT, a. Coalescing and adhe
ring in locks or flakes.
I say the liquor is broken to flocculence, when
the particles of herbaceous matter, seized by
those of tlie Ume, and coalescing, appear large
and flocculent. Ibm .
FLOCK, n. [Sax.^c* ; h. floccus ; G.flocke ;
D. vlok ; Dan. flok ; Sw. flock, a crowd ;
ulle-lock, wool-lock ; Gr. rfKoxr;, TfKoxoi
Russ. klok. It is the same radically as
flake, and applied to wool or hair, we write
■ lock. See Flake.'
1. A company or collection ; applied to sheep
and other small animals. A flock of slieep
answers to a herd of larger cattle. But the
word may sometimes perhaps be applied
to larger beasts, and in the plural, flocks
may include all kinds of domesticated ani-
mals.
2. A company or collection of fowls of anj
kind, and when apjilied to birds on the
wing, a flight ; as a flock of wikl-geese ; a
/ocA: of ducks ; a /oc/c of blackbirds. In
FLO
the U. StateSj^ocis of wild-pigeons some-
times darken the air.
3. A body or crowd of people. [Little used.
<4,». Gr. xo;to{, a troop.]
A lock of wool or hair. Hence, a flock-
bed.
FLOCK, V. t. To gather in companies or
crowds ; applied to men or other animals.
People flock together. They flock to the
play-house.
Friends liaWy flock. Dryden.
FLOCK'ING, ppr. Collecting or running
together in a crowd.
FLOG, V. t. [L.fligo, to strike, that is, to lay
ori ; L.flagrum,flagellum, Eng. flail; Goth.
bliggwan, to strike ; Gr. rfkcuya, n^ijyr;, L.
plaga, a stroke, Eng. plague. We have
lick, which is probably ofthe same family ;
as is D. slag, G. schlag, Eng. slay.]
To beat or strike with a rod or whip; to
whip ; to lash ; to chastise with repeated
blows ; a colloquial word, applied to tvhip-
ping or beating for punishment ; as, to flog
a schoolboy or a sailor.
FLOG'GED, pp. Whipped or scourged for
punishment ; chastised.
FLOGGING, ppr. Whipping for punish-
ment ; chastising.
FLOG'GING, n. A whipping for punish-
ment.
FLOOD, n. flud. [Sax. flod ; G.fluth ; D.
vloed: Hw.flod; Dan. flod ; fromfloto.]
A great flow of water ; a body of moving
water ; particularly, a body of water, ri-
sing, swelling and overflowing land not
usually covered with water. Thus there
is a flood, every spring, in the Connecticut,
which inundates the adjacent meadows.
There is an annual flood in the Nile, and
in the Missisippi.
2. The flood, by way of eminence, the deluge ;
the great body of water which inundated
the earth in the days of Noali. Before the
flood, men lived to a great age.
3. A river; a sense chiefly poetical.
4. The flowing ofthe tide; the semi-diurnal
swell or rise of water in the ocean ; oppo-
sed to ebb. The ship entered the harbor
on the flood. Hence flood-tide ; young
flood ; high flood.
5. A great quantity ; an inundation ; an over-
flowing; abundance; superabundance;
as a flood of bank notes ; a flood of paper
currency.
6. A great body or stream of any fluid sub-
stance ; as a flood of light ; a flood of lava.
Hence, figuratively, a flood of vice.
7. Menstrual discharge. Harvey.^
FLOOD, V. t. To overflow ; to inundate ; to
deluge ; as, to flood a meadow.
Mortimer.
FLOODED, pp. Overflowed ; inundated.
FLOODGATE, n. A gate to be opened for
letting water flow through, or to be shut
to prevent it.
|2. An opening or passage ; an avenue for a
flood or great body.
jFLOOD'iNG, ppr. Overflowing; inunda-
ting.
FLOODING, n. Any preternatural dis- |
I chargeof blood from the uterus. Cyc. ^
IFLOOD'-MARK, n. The mark or line to
1 which the tide rises ; high-water mark.
FLOOK. [See Fluke, the usual orthogra-
I phy.]
FLO
FLO
F L O
TLOOK ING, n. In mtmng-, an interruplion
or shifting of a load of ore, by a cross vein
or fissure. Kncyc.
FLOOR, n. Jlore. [Sax. for Jioie ; D. ..'ocr
W. llawr, and clawr, the earth or ground
an area, or ground plot, a floor ; Ir. tar,
and urlar ; Basque, or Cuntabrian, litrra ;
Ann. leur, flat land or floor ; G.flur, a field,
level ground or floor. In early ages, the
inhabitants of Europe had no floor in their
huts, but the ground. The sense of the
■word is probably that which is laid or
spread.]
1. That part of a building or room on which
we walk ; the bottom or lower part, con-
sisting, in modern liouses, of hoards, planks
or pavement ; as the^oorof ahouse, room,
barn, stable or outhouse.
2. A platform of boards or |)lanks laid on
timbers, as in a bridge ; any similar plat
form.
3. A story in a building ; as the first or sec
ond_^oor.
4. A floor or earthen floor is still used in
some kinds of business, made of loam, or
of lime, sand and iron dust, as in malting.
Encyc.
5. The bottom of a ship, or that part which
is nearly horizontal. Mar. Did.
FLOOR, V. t. To lay a floor ; to cover timbers
with a floor; to furnish with a floor; as,
to floor a house with pine boards.
FLOOR'ED, pp. Covered with boards, plank
or pavement ; furnished with a floor.
FL0OR'ING,p/)r. Laying a floor; furnish
ing with a floor.
FLOOR'ING, n. A platform ; the bottom of
a room or building ; pavement.
2. Materials for floors.
FLOOR-TIMBERS, n. The timbers o
which a floor is laid.
FLOP, v.t. [A different spelling of flap.
L To clap or strike the wings.
2. To let down the brim of a hat.
FLO'RA, )i. [See Floral.] In antiquity, the
goddess of flowers.
2. In modern usage, a catalogue or account
of flowers or plants.
FLO'RAL, a. [L.floralis, fromflos, a flower,
which see.]
1. Containing the flower, as a floral bud ;
mediately attending the flower, as afloral
leaf Marty n.
2. Pertaining to Flora or to flowers; as flo-
ral games ; floral play. Prior.
FLOR'EN, I An"ancient srold coin ol
FLORENCE, ^ "Edward HI. of six shil-
lings sterling value, about 134 cents.
Camden.
FLOR'ENCE, n. A kind of cloth.
2. A kind of wine from Florence in Italy.
FLOR'ENTINE, 71. A native of Florence.
2. A kind of silk cloth, so called.
FLORES'CENCE, n. [h.florescens,floresco.
See Flower.]
In botany, the season when plants expand
their dowers. Martyn.
FLO'RET, n. \¥r.fleurette ; Jt.floretto.] A
little flower; the partial or separate httle
flower of an aggregate flower. Martyn.
FLOR'ID, a. [L. floridus, from floreo, to
flower.]
1. Literally, flowery ; covered or abounding
with flowers; but in this sense little used.
2. Bright in color ; flushed with red ; of a
lively red color ; as a florid countenance
a florid cheek.
3. Embellished with flowers of rhetoric ; en
riched with lively figures ; splendid ; bril-
liant ; as a florid style ; Jlorid eloquence.
FLORID'ITY, n. Freshness or brightness
of color ; floridness. Floyer.
FLOR'JDNESS, n. Brightness or freshness
of color or complexion.
2. Vigor ; spirit. [Unusual.] Feltham
3. Embelhshment ; brilliant ornaments; am-
bitious elegance ; applied to style. Boyle.
FLORIF'EIIOUS, a. [L. fl^fer, from flos .
a flower, and fero, to bear.] Producing
flowers.
FLORIFICA'TION, n. The act, process or
time of flowering.
Williams. Joum. of Science
FLOR'IN, n. [Fr. florin; lt.fiorino^ A coin,
originally made at Florence. The name
is given to different coins of gold or silver,
and of different values in different coun
■ tries. It is also used as a money of ac
count.
FLO'RIST, n. [Fr.fleuriste.] A cultivator of
flowers; one skilled in flowers.
Thomson.
2. One who writes a flora, or an account of
plants. Encyc.
FLOR'ULENT, a. Flowery; blossoming.
[JVot in use.]
FLOS'€ULAR, > [infra.] In botany, a
FLOS'€ULOUS, $ "• flosculous flower is a
compound flower, composed entirely of
florets with funnel-sha|)ed petals, as in bur-
dock, thistle and artichoke. This is the
teiTii used by Tournefort. For this Linne
used tubulous. Milne. Martyn.
FLOS'€ULE, n. [L. flosculus.] In botany, a
partial or lesser floret of an aggregate
flower. Milne.
FLOS FERRI, n. [L. flower of iron.] A
mineral, a variety of arragonite, called by
Jameson, after HaOy, coralloidal arrago-
nite. It occurs in little cylinders, some-
times diverging and ending in a point, and
sometimes branched, like coral. Its struc
ture is fibrous, and the surface, which i:
smooth, or garnished with little crystnline
points, is often very white, with a silken
luster. It takes tliis name from its being
often found in cavities in veins of sparry
iron. Cleaveland.
FLOSS, »i. [L. flos.] A downy or silky sub-
stance in the husks of certain plants.
Tooke.
FLOSSIFl€A'TION, n. A flowering ; ex-
pansion of flowers. [jVorei.]
Med. Rcpos.
FLO'TA, n. [Sp. See Fleet.] A fleet; but
appropriately a fleet of Spanish sh _
which formerly sailed every year from
Cadiz to Vera Cruz, in Me.xico, to trans-
port to Spain the productions of Spanish
America.
FLO'TAciE. n. [Ft. flottage.] That which
floats on the sea, or on rivers. [Little
used.] Chambers.
FLOTE, V. t. To skim. [Xol used or local.]
Tusser.
FLOTIL'LA, n. [dim. of flota.] A little fleet,
fleet of small vessels.
FLOTSAM, I [from float.] Goods lo.st
FLOT'SON, ^ "• by shipwreck, and float-l
ing on the sea. When such goods are!
cast on shore or found, the owner being
unknown, they belong to the king.
English Law. Blackalont.
FLOT TEN, pp. Skimmed. [Xot in use.]
FLOUNCE, V. i.flouns. [D. plonssen. See
Flounder.]
To throw the limbs and body one way and
the other ; to spring, turn or twist with
sudden effort or violence; to struggle as a
horse in mire.
Vou neither fume, nor fret, nor flounce.
Swift.
2. To move with jerks or agitation.
FLOUNCE, f. t. To deck with a flounce;
as, to flounce a petticoat or frock. Pope.
FLOUNCE, n. A narrow piece of cloth
sewed to a petticoat, frock or gown, with
the lower border loose and spreading. The
present is the age of flounces. 1827.
FLOUN'DER, n. [Sw.flundra; G.fliinder.]
A flat fish of the genus Pleuronectes.
FLOUNDER, r. i. [This seems to be alUed
to flaunt and flounce.]
To fling the limbs and body, as in making
efforts to move ; to struggle as a horse in
the mire ; to roll, toss and tumble. Pope.
FLOUN'DERING, ppr. Making irregular
motions ; struggling with violence.
FLOUR, n. [originally flower; Fr. ^etir;
Sp. flor ; It.flore ; L. Jlos,floris, flow flo-
reo, to flourish.]
The edible part of corn ; meal. Johnson.
In the United States, the modern prac-
tice is to make a distinction between flour
and meal ; the word flour being more usu-
ally applied to the finer part of meal, sep-
arated from the bran, as wheat flour, ryo
flour. This is a just and useful distinction.
FLOUR, V. t. [Sp. florear.] To grind and
bolt; to convert into flour. Wheat used
formerly to be sent to market ; but now
great quantities of it are floured in the in-
terior country.
2. To sprinkle with flour.
FLOUR'ED, pp. Converted into flour ;
sprinkled with flour.
FLOUR'ING, ppr. Converting into flour;
sprinkling with flour.
FLOURISH, V. i. flur'ish. [h. floresco, from
floreo ; Fr. fleurir,fleurissant ; Sp. florear ;
It. florire. The jjrimary sense is to open,
e.vpand, enlarge, or to shoot out, as in glo-
ry, L. ploro, or in other words in Lr.]
1. To thrive; to grow luxuriantly; to in-
crease and enlarge, as a healthy growing
plant. The beech and the maple flourish
best in a deep, rich and moist loam.
2. To be prosperous; to increase in wealth
or honor.
Bad men as frequently prcsper and flourish,
and tiiat by the means of tlicir wickedness.
A'elsmi.
When all the workers of iniquity do flourish.
Ps. xcii.
3. To grow in grace and in good works ; to
abound in the consolations of religion.
The righteous shall flourish like the pahn-
tree. Ps. xcii.
4. To be in a prosperous state ; to grow or
be augmented. We say agriculture ^ar-
ishes, commerce flourishes, manufactures
flourish.
5. To use florid language ; to make a dis-
play of figures and lofty expressions ; to
be copious and flowery.
They dilate and flourish long on little inci-
dents, ffr^tts.
FLO
6. To make bold strokes in writing ; to
make large and iiTegular lines ; as, to
flourish with the pen.
7. To move or play in bold and irregular
figures.
ImpeUious spread
The stream, and smoking, flourished o'e-! his
head. Pope.
8. In music, to play with bold and irregular
notes, or without settled form; as, toj^our-
ish on an organ or violin.
9. To boast ; to vaunt ; to brag.
FLOURISH, V. t.flur'ish. To adorn with
flowers or beautiful figures, either natural
or artificial ; to ornament with any thing
showy.
2. To spread out ; to enlarge into figures.
Bacon.
3. To move in bold or irregular figures ; to
move in circles or vibrations by way of
show or triumph ; to brandish ; as, to
flourish a sword.
4. To embellish with the flowers of diction;
to adorn with rhetorical figures ; to grace
with ostentatious eloquence ; to set oflT
with a parade of words. Collier.
5. To adorn ; to embellish. Shak.
6. To mark with a flourish or irregular
stroke.
The day book and inventory book shall be
flnuri.ihed. French Com. Code. Walsh.
FLOURISH, n. flur'ish. Beauty ; showy
splendor.
The flourish of his sober youth. Crashaw.
2. Ostentatious embellishment ; ambitious
copiousness or amplification ; parade of
wolds and figures ; show ; as a flourish of
rhetoric ; a. flourish of wit.
He lards with flourishes his long harangue.
Oryden.
3. Figures formed by bold, irregular lines,
or fanciful strokes of the pen or graver ;
as the flourishes about a great letter.
More.
4. A brandisliing; the waving of a w^eapon
or other thing ; as the flourish of a sword.
FLOVRISHEH, pp. fluv'ished. Embellished ;
adorned with bold and irregular figures or
lines ; brandished.
FLOURISHER, n. flur'isher. One who
flourishes ; one w ho thrives or prospers.
2. One who brandishes,
n. One who adorns with fanciful figures.
FLOURISHING, ppr. or a. flur'ishing.
Thiiving ; prosperous ; increasing ; mak-
ing a show.
FLOURISHINGLY, adv.flur'ishingly. With
flourishes ; ostentatiously.
FLOUT, V. t. [Scot.flyte, to scold or brawl ;
Sa.x.flitan.]
To mock or insult; to treat with contempt.
Phillida /oufs me. IValloti.
Be flouted us downright. Shah.
FLOUT, V. i. To practice mocking ; to
sneer ; to behave with contempt.
Fleer and gibe, and laugh -iml flout. Shak.
FLOUT, n. A mock; an insult.
FLOUT'ED, pp. Mocked ; treated with con-
tempt.
FLOUT'ER, n. One who flouts and flings ;
a mocker.
FLOUT'ING, ppr. Mocking ; insulting
fleering.
FLOUTINGLY, arff. With flouting ; insult
iugly.
FLO
FLOW, V. i. [Sax.flowan ; D. vloeijen. If
the last radical was originally a dental,
this word coincides with the D. vlieten, G.
fliessen, Sw.jlyta, Dan. flyder, to flow. If
g was the last radical, flaw coincides with
the L. Jiuo, contracted from flugo, for it
forms Jluxi,fluclum. In one case, the
word would agree with the root of blow,
h.flo ; in the other, with the root offly.]
1. To move along an inclined plane, or on
descending ground, by the operation of
gravity, and with a continual change of
place among the particles or parts, as a
fluid. A solid body descends or moves in
mass, as a ball or a wheel ; but in they/o?t'-
ing- of liquid substances, and others con-
sisting of very fine particles, there is a
constant change of the relative position of]
some parts of the substance, as is the case
with a stream of water, of quicksilver, and
of sand. Particles at the bottom and sides
of the stream, being somewhat checked
by friction, move slower than those in the
middle and near the surface of the cur-
rent. Rivers^'ouJ from springs and lakes ;
tears flow from the eyes.
2. To melt ; to become liquid.
That the mountains might flow down at thy
3. To proceed ; to issue. Evils flmo from
different sources. Wealth flotvs from in-
dustry and economy. All our blessings
r'otv from divine bounty.
4. To abound ; to have in abundance.
In that day the mountains shall drop down
iw wine, and tlie hills shall flow with milk.
)el iii.
.5. To be full ; to be copious ; as fl^oioing cups
or goblets.
6. To glide along smoothly, without harsh-
ness or asperity ; as a flowing period:
flowing numbers.
, To be smooth, as composition or utter-
ance. The orator has a flowing tongue.
Virgil is sweet and ^ou-mg in his hexameters.
Dryden.
8. To hang loose and waving; as afloicing
mantle ; flowing locks.
The imperial purple flowing in liis train.
Federalist, Hamilton.
9. To rise, as the tide ; opposed to ehb. The
iide flows twice in twenty four hours.
10. To move in tlie arteries and veins of the
body; to circulate, as blood.
11. To issue, as rays or beams of hght.
Light./';ou'« from the sun.
12. To tuove in a stream, as air.
FLOW, V. t. To cover witli water ; to over-
flow ; to inundate. T)]e low grounds
along the river are aniuially./?o«ied.
FLOW, n. A stream of water or other fluid ;
a current ; as a floiv of water ; a flow of
blood.
2. A current of water with a swell or rise ;
as the/o)» and ebb of tides.
3. A stream of any thing ; as a flow of wealth
into the country.
4. Abundance ; copiousness with action ; as
a flow of spirits.
5. A stream of diction, denoting abundance
of words at command and facility of speak-
ing ; volubility.
6. Free expression or communication of gen-
erous feelings and sentiments.
The feast of reason, and the flow of soul
FLOWED, /)/?. Overflowed; inundated.
FLO
FLOWER,™. \FT.fleur; Sp.ftor: It.fiore
Basque, lora; W.flur, hloSm ; fluraw, to
bloom, to be bright ; L.flos,floris, a flower ■
Joreo, to blossom. See Flourish.] '
1. In botany, that part of a plant which con-
tains the organs of fructification, with
their coverings. _ A flower, when com-
plete, consists of a calyx, corol, stamen
and pistil; but the essential parts are the
anther and stigma, which are sufficient to
constitute a flower, either together in her-
maphrodite flowers, or separate in male
and female flowers. Martyn. Milne.
2. In vulgar acceptation, a blossom or flower
is the flower-bud of a plant, when the pe-
tals are expandetl ; open petals being con-
sidered as the principal thing in constitu-
ting a flower. But in botany, the petals
are now considered as a finer sort of cov-
ering, and not at all necessary to consti-
tute a flower. Milne.
3. The early part of life, or rather of man-
hood; the prime ; youthful vigor; youth ;
as the/oicer of age"or of life.
The best or finest part of a thing ; the
most valuable part. The most active and
vigorous part of an army are called the
flower of the troops. Young, vigorous and
brave men are called the flower of a na-
tion. Addison.
5. The finest part ; the essence.
The choice and flower of all things profita-
ble the Psalms do more briefly contain.
Hooker.
He or that which is most distinguished
for any thing valuable. We say, the youth
are the ; 0M;er of the country.
7. Tlie finest part of grain pulverized. In
this sense, it is now always vi nlten flour,
which see.
Flotvcrsi in chimist?-y, fine particles of
bodies, especially wlien raised by fire in
sublimation, and adhering to the heads of
vessels in the form of a powder or mealy
substance; as the flowers of sulphur.
Encyc.
A substance, somewhat similar, formed
spontaneously, is called efflorescence.
2. In rhetoric, figures and ornaments of dis-
course or composition.
3. Menstrual discharges.
FLOWER, V. i. [from the Noun. The cor-
responding word in L. is Jloreo, Fr.fleurir,
It. florire, Sp. Port, florecer, W. fluraio.]
1. To blossom ; to bloom ; to expand the pe-
tals, as a plant. In New England, peach-
trees usually flower in April, and apple-
trees in May.
2. To be in the prime and spring of life; to
flourish ; to be youthful, fresh and vigor-
ous.
V,'hen flowered my yo\ithful spring. Spenser.
3. To froth ; to ferment gently ; to mantle,
as new beer.
The beer did_;?o«'er a little. Bacon.
4. To come as cream from the surface.
Milton.
FLOWER, i>. t. To embellish with figures
of flowers ; to adorn with imitated flow-
ers.
FLOWER-DE-LIS, n. [Fr. fleur de lis,
flower of the lily.]
1. In heraldry, a hearing representing a
lily, the hieroglyjdiic of royal majesty.
Ena/c.
2. In botany,thc Iris, a genus of monogynian
FLU
FLU
FLU
trianders, called also flag-flower, and of-
ten written incorrectly Jiower-de-luce. Tlic
species are numerous.
FLOWERED, pp. Embellished with fig-
ures of flowers.
FLOWERET, n. [Fr. feuretie.] A small
flower; a floret.
Shak. Milton. Dry den.
[In hotany, Jlortl is solely used.]
FLOWER-FENCE, n. The name of cer-
tain plants. The Jlotver-fence of Barba-
does is of the genus Poinciana. The bas-
tard Jlower-fence is the Adenanthera.
Fam. of Plants.
FLOWER-GARDEN, n. A garden in
which flowers are chiefly cultivated.
FLOWER-GENTLE, n.A plant, the am-
aranth.
FLOW'ERINESS, n. [from/ojceri/.] The
state of being flowery, or of abounding
with flowers.
2. Floridness of speech ; abundance of fig-
ures.
FLOWERING, ppr. Blossoming ; bloom
ing ; expanding the petals, as plants.
2. Adorning with artificial flowers, or fig
ures of blossoms.
FLOWERING, ji. The season when plants
blossom.
2. The art of adorning with flowers.
FLOWER-INWOVEN, a. Adorned with
flowers. Milton.
FLOWER-KIRTLED, a. Dressed witli
garlands of flowers. Milton.
FLOWERLESS, a. Having no flower.
Chaucer.]
FLOWER-STALK, n. In botany, the pe-
duncle of a plant, or the stem that sup-
ports the flower or fructification.
FLOWERY, a. FuU of flowers ; abound-
ing with blossoms ; as ajtoioert/ field.
Milton.
2. Adorned with artificial flowers, or the
figures of blossoms.
3. Richly embellished with figurative lan-
guage ; florid ; as ajlowcry style.
FLOWING, ppr. Moving as a fluid ; issu-
ing; proceeding; abounding; smooth, as
style ; inundating.
FLOWING, n. The act of running or mov-
ing as a fluid ; an issuing ; an overflowing ;
rise of water.
FLOWINGLY, adv. With volubiUty ; with
abundance.
FLOWINGNESS, n. Smoothness of dic-
tion; stream of diction. J^ichols.
FLOWK,^„ [Sax.>c.] A flounder.
FLUKE, I"- Carew.
FLOWN, had fled, in the following phrases,
is not good English.
Was reasonjlown. Prior.
Sons of BeUaX, fiou^n with insolence and wine.
Miltrni.
In the former jiassage, Jlown is used as the
participle of ^^ or /ce, both intransitive
verbs, and the iihrase should have been,
had reason Jlown or fled. In the latter
passage,^oit>n is used for blown, inflated
but most improperly. Flown is the parti
ciple of the perfect or past tense of fly, bu
cannot regularly be used in a passive
sense.
FLU'ATE, n. [fromJJuor, which see.J In
chimistry, a salt formed by the fluoric acid
Vol. I.
combined with a base; as Jiiuite of !i\umin,
or of soda.
FLUCTUANT, a. [L.fluctuans. See Fluc-
tuate.]
Moving like a wave ; wavering ; unsteady.
L'Estrange.
FLUCTUATE, v. i. [L. fluctuo, from flue-
tus, a wave, froin^wo, tojlow.]
1. To move as a wave; to roll hither and
thither ; to wave ; as a fluctuating field of
air. Blackmoic.
2. To float backward and forward, as on
waves.
1. To move now in one direction and now
in another ; to be wavering or unsteady,
Public opinion often^uc/j/aie*. Men often
fluctuate between ditiercnt parties and
opinions. Hence,
4. To be irresolute or undetermined.
5. To rise and fall ; to be in an unsettled
state ; to experience sudden vicissitudes
The funds or the prices of stocks fluctuate
with the events of the day.
FLUCTUATING, ppr. Wavering; rolling
IS a wave ; moving in this and that di-
ection ; rising and falling.
3. a. Unsteady ; wavering ; changeable
We have little confidence in fluctuating
opinions.
FLU€TUA'TION, n. [L./uchw/i'o.] A mo-
tion like that of waves; a moving in this
and that direction ; as the fluctuations of
the sea.
a. A wavering; unsteadiness; as fluclua
tions of opinion.
3. A rising and falling suddenly ; asfluctua
tions of prices or of the funds.
FLUD'ER, I An aquatic fowl of the di
FLUD'DER, ^"'ver kind, nearly as large
as a goose. Diet. of.Yat. Hist.
FLUE, JI. [probably contracted from_^ume,
L. flumen, from fluo.]
A passage for smoke in a chimney, leading
from the fireplace to the top of the chini
ney, or into another passage ; as a chim
ney with four flues.
FLUE, n. [G.flaum : L. pluma.] Soft down
or fur ; very fine hair. [Local.] Tooke.
FLUEL'LEN, n. The female speedwell, a
plant of the genus Antirrhinum, or snap-
dragon.
FLUENCE, for fluency, is not used.
FLU'ENCY, n. [L. fluens, from fluo, tc
flow.]
1. The quality of flowing, applied to speech
or language ; smoothness ; freedom from
harshness ; as fluency of numbers.
2. Readiness of utterance ; facility of words ;
volubility ; as fluency of speech ; a speaker
of remarkable^ufJici/.
3. Affluence; abundance. Obs. Sandys,
FLU'ENT, a. [See Fluency.] Liquid ; flow-
ing. Bacon.
2. Flowing ; passing.
Motion being a fluent thing. Ray
3. Ready in the use of words; voluble ; co-
pious ; having words at command and ut-
tering them with facility and smoothness ;
as afluent speaker.
4. Flowing ; voluble ; smooth ; as fluent
speech.
FLU'ENT, ?i. A stream; a current of wa
ter. [Little used.] Philips.
2. The variable or flowing quantity in flux-
ions. Berkeley.
85
FLU'ENTLY, adv. With ready flow ; volu-
bly ; without hesitation or obstruction ;
as, to speak^«en%.
FLU'GELMAN, n. [G. from fliigel, a
wing.]
In German, the leader of a file. But with
us, a soldier who stands on the wing of
a body of men, and marks time for the
motions.
FLU'lD, a. [L. Jhiidus, fromfluo, to flow.]
Having parts which easily move and
change their relative position without sep-
aration, and which easily yield to pres-
sure; that may flow; "liquid. Water,
spirit, air, are _/2utrf substances. All bodies
may be rendered yfuid by heat or caloric.
FLU'lD, n. Any substance whose parts ea-
sily move and change their relative posi-
tion without separation, and which yields
to the sUghtcst pressure; a substance
which flows, or which moves spontane-
ously on a plane with the least inclination ;
a liquid ; liquor ; opijosed to a solid. Wa-
ter, blood, chyle, are fluids.
FLUIDITY, n. The quality of being capa-
ble of flowing ; that quality of bodies
which renders them impressible to the
slightest force, and by which the parts
easily move or change their relative posi-
tion without a se|iaration of the mass ; a
liquid state ; opposed to solidity. Fluidity
is the effect of heat.
FLU'IDNESS, n. The state of being fluid ;
fluidity, which see.
FLUKE, n. [supposed to be D. ploeg, G.
Pfi^'g^ a plow.]
The part of an anchor which fastens in the
ground.
FLUKE, \ » n ,
FLOWK, \ "■ ^ """"''cr.
FLU'KE-AVORM, n. The gourd-worm, a
species of Fasciola.
FLUME, n. [.Sax. /um, a stream ; L. flu-
men, fromfluo, to flow.]
Literally, a flowing ; hence, the passage or
channel for the water that drives a mill-
wheel.
FLUMMERY, n. [W. llymry, from llymyr,
harsh, raw, crude, from lli/m, shai-p, se-
vere. In Welsh, a kind of food made of
oatmeal steeped in water, until it has turn-
ed sour. See Lumber.]
1. A sort of jelly made of flour or meal :
pap.
Milk and flummery are very fit for children.
Locke.
2. In vulgar tise, any thing insi])id or notli-
ine to the purpose : flatterv.
FLUNG, pref. and pp. of fling.
Several statues the Romans them5clves_^ttn^
into the river. Jlddison.
FLUOBO'RATE, ji. A compound of fluo-
boric acid with a base.
FLUOBO'RI€, a. The fluoboric acid or gas
is a compound of fluorine and boron.
Davy.
FLUOR, Ji. [Low L. from^uo, to flow.]
1. A fluid state. J^ewton.
2. IMenstrual flux. [Little tised in either
sense.]
3. In jniJicra/ogT/, fluate of lime. Fluorspar
is the foliated fluate of lime. This mine-
ral, though sometimes massive, is almost
always regularly crystalized. Its crystals
present most frequently the form of a
I, storm
FLU
cube, often perfect, sometimes truncated
on all its edges by planes, which form with
the sides of the cube an angle of 135°.
The colors are very numerous and beau-
tiful.
The fluate of lime, _^uor, was so named
from its use as a flux for certain ores.
Cteaveland.
FLU'OR-ACID, n. . The acid of fluor.
rLU'ORATED, a. Combined with fluoric
acid.
FLUOR'I€, a. Pertaining to fluor; obtain
ed from fluor; txsjluoric acid.
FLUORIN, > The supposed basis of
FLU'ORINE, I "• fluoric acid. D
FLU'OROUS, a. The fluorous acid is the
acid of fluor in its first degree of oxygen
ation. Lavoisier.
FLUOSIL'ICATE, n. [fluor and silex
silica.]
In chimistri/, a compound of fluoric acid,
containing silex, with some other sub
stance. Silliman
FLUOSILICTe, a. Composed of or con-
taining fluoric acid with silex
FLUR'RY, n. A sudden blast or gust, or a
light temporary breeze ; as a flurry of
wind. His never with us applied to
of duration.
2. A sudden shower of short duration ; as a
flurry of snow.
3. Agitation ; commotion ; bustle ; hurry.
FLUR'RY, V. t. To put in agitation ; to ex-
cite or alarm. Stvinbume.
FLUSH, V. i. [G. fliessen, imperf floss, to
flow ; D. vlieten, in a different dialect. It
coincides in elements with hlush, blaze and
flash.]
1. To flow and spread suddenly
blood ^«s/ics into the face.
*}. To come in haste ; to start. B. Jonson.
X To appear suddenly, as redness or a
blush.
A blush rose on then- cheeks,
Flushing and fading like the changeful play
Of colors on a dolphin. Percival.
1. To become suddenly red; to glow : as,
the cheeks flush.
.'>. To be gay, splendid or beautiful.
At once, arrayed
In all the colors of the/jisfting year,
The garden glows. Thomson
FLUSH, V. t. To redden suddenly; tc
cause the blood to rush suddenly into the
face.
Nor flush with shame the passing
cheek. Gay.
2. To elate ; to elevate ; to excite the spirits
to animate with joy ; as, to flash with vie
tory
FLU
rush
FLUSH, a. Fresh; full of vigor; glowing;
bright.
Flush as May. Shak.
1. Affluent; abounding; well furnished.
Lord Strut was not very flush in ready.
Arbuthnot.
3. Free to spend ; liberal ; prodigal. He is
very flush with his money. This is a popu-
lar use of the word in America.
A flush deck, in seamen's language, is a deck
without a half-deck or forecastle. [Q,u.
Russ. ploskei, flat. The sense of spreading
naturally results from that of flowing.^
FLUSH, n. A sudden flow of blood to
the face ; or more generally, the redness
of face which proceeds from such anil
aflSux of blood. Hectic constitutions are
often known by a frequent flush in the
cheeks.
3. Sudden impulse or excitement ; sudden
glow ; as a flush of joy.
3. Bloom ; growth ; abundance. Goldsmith.
4. [Fr. Sp. flux.] A run of cards of the same
suit.
5. A term for a number of ducks. Spenser.
FLUSH'ED, pp. Overspread or tinged with
a red color from the flowing of blood to
the face. We say, the skin, face or check
is flushed.
2. Elated; excited; animated; as flushed
with joy or success.
FLUSH'ER, 71. The lesser butcher-bird
Chambers.
FLUSH'ING,;*?)-. Overspreading with red
glowing.
FLUSH'ING, n. A glow of red in the face.
FLUS'TER, V. f. To make hot and rosy,
with drinking ; to heat ; to hurry ; to
^.f^itate ; to confuse. Swift
FLUS'TER, V. i. To be in a heat or bustle
to be agitated.
FLUS'TER, n. Heat; glow; agitation
confusion ; disorder.
FLUS'TERED, pp. Heated with liquor
itated ; confused.
FLUTE, n. [Vr.flide ; Arm. fleut ; D.fluit ;
G. flote ; Dan. flojtc ; Sp. flauta ; Port
fruida; It. flauto; h.flo, flatus, to blow
or h.fluta, a lamprey, with the same nuiii
ber of boles.]
1 . A small wind instrument ; a pipe with
lateral holes or sto])S, played by blowing
with the mouth, and by stopping and open
jng the holes with the lingers.
2. A channel in a column or pillar ; a per
jiendicular furrow or cavity, cut along th.
shaft of a column or pilaster; .so called
from its resemblance to a flute. It is used
chiefly in the Ionic order ; sometimes
the Composite and Corinthian ; rarely
the Doric and Tuscan. It is called also a
reed. Encyc.
3. A long vessel or boat, with flat ribs or
floor timbers, round behind, and swelled
in the middle ; a different orthography of
float,flota. Encyc.
Armed in flute. An armed ship, with her guns
of the lower tier and part of those of the
upper tier removed, used as a transport,
is said to be armed in flute. Lunier
FLUTE, V. i. To play on a flute. Chaucer.
FLUTE, V. t. To form flutes or channels ii
a column.
FLU'TED, pp. or a. Channeled ; furrow
ed ; as a column.
2. la music, thin; fine; flutelike; as fluted
notes. Bushy
FLU'TING, ppr. Channeling; cutting fur-
rows; as in a column.
FLU'TING, n. A channel or furrow in a
column ; fluted work.
FLU'TIST, n. A performer on the flute.
Busby.
FLUT'TER, V. i. [Sax. floteran ; I).
flodderen ; G. Jlaltem. Qu. Fr. flatter, to
waver, from flat, a wave. It is possible
that the word is contracted.]
L To move or flap the wings rapidly, with-
out flying, or with short flights ; to hover.
As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttercth
over her young, spreadeOi abroad her wings —
Deut. ssxii.
FLU
2. To move about briskly, irregularly or
with great bustle and show, without con-
sequence.
No rag, no scrap of all the beau or wit,
That once so fluttered, and that once so writ.
Pope.
3. To move with quick vibrations or undula-
tions ; as aflidtering fan ; a fluttering sail.
Pope.
4. To be in agitation ; to move irregularly ;
to fluctuate ; to be in uncertainty.
How long we fluttered on the wings of doubt-
ful success. Howell.
His thoughts are very fluttering and wand-
ering. Watts.
FLUT'TER, V. I. To drive in disorder.
[Little used.] Shak.
2. To hin-ry the mind ; to agitate.
3. ~ ■• ■
To disorder ; to throw into confusion.
FLUT'TER, n. Quick and irregular mo-
tion ; vibration ; undulation ; as the flutter
of a fan. Addison.
2. Hurry ; tumult ; agitation of the mind.
3. Confusion; disorder; inegularity in po-
sition.
FLUT'TERED, pp. Agitated ; confused ; dis-
ordered.
FLUT'TERING, ppr. Flapping the wings
without flight or with short flights; hov-
ering ; fluctuating ; agitating ; throwing
into confusion.
FLUT'TERING, n. The act of hovering,
or flapping the wings without flight ; a
wavering ; agitation.
FLUVIAT'I€, } [L. fluviaticvs, fromfluvi-
FLU'VIAL, S°' us, a river ;^«o, to flow.]
Belonging to rivers ; growing or living in
streams or ponds ; as afluviatic plant.
FLU'VIATILE, a. [L. fluviatUis.] Belong-
ing to rivers. Kirtvan.
[Fluviatic is the preferable word.]
FLUX, n. [h.fluxus; Sp. fluxo ; Fr.flux;
It. flusso ; from L.fluo, fluii.]
I. The act of flowing ; the motion or pas-
sing of a fluid.
The moving or passing of any thing in
continued succession. Things in this life^
are in a continual ^ur.
3. Any flow or issue of matter. In medicine,
an extraordinary issue or evacuation from
the bowels or other part ; as the bloody
flux or dysentery, hepatic /zix, &c.
4. In hydrography, the flow of the tide. The
ebb is called reflux.
5. In metallurgy, any substance or mixture
used to promote the fusion of metals or
minerals, as alkalies, borax, tartar and
other saline matter, or in large operations
limestone or fluor. Alkaline fluxes are
either the crude, the white or the black
flux. J^'icholson. Encyc.
f). Fusion ; a liquid state from the operation
of heat. Encyc.
7. That which flows or is discharged.
S. Concourse ; confluence. [Little used.]
Shak.
FLUX, a. Flowing; moving; maintained
by a constant succession of parts ; incon-
stant ; variable. [JVot well authorized.]
FLUX, V. t. To melt ; to fuse ; to make
fluid.
One part of mineral alkali will flux two of
.siliceous eaith with effervescence. Kirwan.
2. Tosalixate. [Little used.] South.
FLUXA'TION, n. A flowing or passing
away, and giving place to others.
Leslie.
FLY
FLUX'ED, pp. Melted ; fused ; reduced to
a flowing state.
FLUXIBIL'ITY, n. Tl.e quality of ad
ting fusion.
FLUX'IBLE, a. [frotii Low L.] Capable
of being melted or fused, as a mineral.
FLUXIL'ITY, n. [Low L. fluxUis.] The
quality of admitting fusion; possibility of
being fused or liquified. Boyk.
FLUX' ION, n. [\..Jluxio, from/ito,to flow.]
1. The act of flowing.
2. The matter that flows. Wiseman.
3. Fluxions, in mathematics, the analysis of
infinitely small variable quantities, or a
method of finding an infinitely small quan-
tity, which being taken an infinite number
of times, becomes equal to a quantity
given. Harris.
In Jluxions, magnitudes arc supposed to
be generated by motion ; a Une by the mo-
lion of a point, a surface by the motion of
of n line, and a solid by the motion of a
surface. And sotne i»art of a figure is
supposed to be generated by a uniform
motion, in consequence of which the other
parts may increase uniformly, or with an
accelerated or retarded motion, or may
decrease in any of these ways, and the
computations are made by tracing the
com|jarative velocities with which the
parts flow. Encyc.
AJluxion is an infinitely small quantity,
an increment; the infinitely small increase
of the fluent or flowing quantity.
Bailey.
FLUX'IONARY, a. Pertaining to mathe-
matical fluxions.
FLUX'IONIST, n. One skilled in fluxions.
Berkeley.
FLUX'IVE, a. Flowing; wanting solidity,
[JVot xised.] B. Jonson.
FLUX'URE, n. A flowing or fluid matter.
[Not used.] Drayton.
FLY, V. i. pret./eio ; part. f own. [Sax.'feo-
?-an; G. fliegen ; D. vliegen ; Sw. Jtyga;
)an. flyver. In Saxon, the same verb
signifies to Jly and to/ce ; in German, dif-
ferent words are used.]
1. To move through air by the aid of wings,
as fowls.
2. To pass or move in air, by the force of
wind or other impulse ; as, clouds and va
Y>orsjly before the wind. A ha.\\ flies from
a cannon, an arrow from a bow.
3. To rise in air, as light substances, by
means of a current of air or by having
less specific gravity than air, as smoke.
Man is born to trouble, as the sparks _^y up
ward. Job v.
4. To move or pass with velocity or celer-
ity, either on land or water. He flew to
the relief of his distressed friend. The ship
fiies upon the main.
5. To move rapidly, in any manner ; as, a
top^ie* about.
G. To pass away ; to depart ; with the idea of
liaste, swiftness or escape. The bird has
flown.
7. To pass rapidly, as time. Swift fly the
fleeting hours.
8. To part suddenly or with violence ; to
burst, as a bottle. Swift.
9. To spring by an elastic force.
10. To pass swiftly, as rumor or report.
11. To flee : to run away ; to attempt to es-
cape ; to escape.
F L Y
I'll fly from slieplicrds, flocks, and llowci-y
plains. Po]ie.
12. To flutter ; to vibrate or play ; as a flag
in the wind.
To fly at, to spring towards ; to rush on ;
to fall on suddenly. A hen flies at a dog
or cat ; a dog flies at a man.
To fly in the face, to insult.
3. To assail ; to resist ; to set at defiance ;
to oppose with violence ; to act in direct
opposition.
To fly off, to separate or depart suddenly
2. To revolt.
To fly open, to open suddenly or with vio-
lence ; as, the doors flew open.
To fly out, to rush out; also, to burst into
a passion.
2. To break out into licence.
■i. To start or issue with violence from any
lircction.
To let fly, to discharge ; to throw or drive
with violence ; as, to hi fly a shower ofj
darts.
2. In seamanship, to let go suddenly. Lett
fly the sheets.
FLY, V. t. [This is used for flee, and from
understood after^y, so that it can hardly
be called a transitive verb.]
1. To shun ; to avoid ; to decline; as, tofly\
the sight of one we hate. That is, prima-
rily, to flee from.
Sleep flies the wrelch. Dryd,
2. To quit by flight.
3. To attack by a bird of jney. [JVut used.]\
Bacon.
4. To cause to float in the air.
FLY, n. [Sax. fleoge; Sw.fltiga; Dan. flue;
G.fliege ; D. vlieg ; from the verb, fleogan,
to fly.]
1. In zoology, a winged insect of various
species, whose distinguishing characteris-
tic is that the wings are transparent. By
this flies are distinguished from beetles,
butterflies, grasshoppers, &c. Of flics,
some have two wings and others four.
Encyc.
In common language, fly is the house
fly, of the genus Musca.
2. In mechanics, a cross with leaden weights
at the ends, or a heavy wheel at right an-
gles with the axis of a windlass, jack or
the like. The use of this is, to regulate
and equalize the motion in all parts of
the revolution of the machine. Encyc.
3. That part of a vane which points and
shows which way the wind blows
4. The extent of an ensign, flag or pendant
from the staff to the end that flutters
loose in the wind. Mar. Did.
FLY'BANE, n. A plant called catch-fly, of
the genus Silene.
FLYBITTEN, a. Marked.by the bite of flies.
FLYBLOW, I!. /. To deposit an egg in any
thing, as a fly ; to taint with the eggs
which produce maggots.
Uke A flyblown cTike of tallow. Swift.
FLYBLOW, n. The egg of a fly.
FLYBOAT. n. A \arge flat-bottomed Dutch
vessel, whose burden is from 600 to 1200
tons, with a stern remarkably high, re
sembling a Gothic turret, and very broad
buttocks below. Encyc.
FLYCATCHER, n. One that hunts flies.
2. In zoology, a genus of birds, the Muscica-
pa, with a bill flatted at the base, almost
F O A
triangular, notched at the upper mandi-
ble, and beset with bristles. These birds
are of the order of Passers, and the species
are veiy mmierous. Encyc.
FLYER, n. One that flies or flees; usually
written flier.
2. One that uses wings.
3. The fly of a jack.
4. In architecture, stairs that do not wind,
but are made of an oblong square figure,
and whose fore and back sides are paral-
lel to each other, and so are their ends.
The second of these flyers stands parallel
behind the first, the 'third behind the sec-
ond, and so are said to fly off from one
_ another. Moxon.
5. A performer in Mexico, who flics round
an elevated post.
FLYFISII, V. I. To angle with flics for
bait.
FLYFISHING, n. Angling; the art or prac-
tice of angling for fish with flies, natural
or artificial, for bait. Walton.
FLYFLAP, n. Something to drive away
flies. Congreve.
FLY-HONEYSUCKLE, n. A plant, the
Lonicera. The .ifrican fly-honeysuckle is
the Halleria. Fnm. of Plants.
FLYING, ppr. Moving in air by means
of wings ; passing rapidly ; springing ;
bursting ; avoiding.
2. a. Floating ; waving; as flying colors.
3. a. Moving ; light, and suited for prompt
motion ; as a flying catnp.
Flying colors, a phrase expressing triumph.
FLYlNG-BRIDtiE, n. A bridge of pon-
toons ; also, a bridge composed of two
FLYING-FISH, n. A small fish which flics
by means of its pectoral fins. It is of the
genus Exocoetus.
FLYING-PARTY, n. In military affairs, a
detachment of men employed to hover
about an enemy.
FLYING-PINION, n. The part of a clock,
having a fly or fan, by which it gathers
air, and checks the rapidity of the clock's
motion, when the weight descends in the
striking part. Encyc.
FLYTRAP, n. In botany, a species of sensi-
tive plant, called Venus'' Fly-trap, the Di-
oncea Musripula ; a plant that has the
power of seizing insects that light on it.
Encyc.
FLYTREE, n. A tree whose leaves are
said to produce flies, from a little bag on
the surface. Encyc.
FOAL, n. [Sax. fola, fole ; G.mien; D.
veulen ; Dan. fdl ; Sw. fala ; h r. poulain ;
Arm. poull, pull or heubeul ; \\ . tbawl;
Corn, ebol ; L. pullus ; Gr. «uX.oj ; Ch. nSi£) ;
Ar. ^ils to rise or to set as the sun, to
bear young, and ^iio pullus. The pri-
mary sense of the verb is to shoot, to cast
or throw, to fall. The same verb in Heb.
and Ch. signifies to unite, to fasten ; ju
Syr. to foul, to defllc ; both senses from
that of putting or throwing on. The verb
belongs probably to the root of Eng. fall
amVfoitl, that is Ssj with a different pre-
F O D
fix. Foal is literally a shoot, issue, or that
which is cast, or which falls.]
The young of the equine genus of quadru-
peds, and of either sex ; a colt ; a filly.
FOAL, V. t. To bring forth a colt or filly ; to
bring forth young, as a mare or a s
FOAlj, V. i. To bring forth young, as a mare
and certain other beasts.
FOALBIT, n. A plant.
FOALFOQT, n. The colt's-foot, Tussilago.
FOAM, n. [Sax./oBm, fam, G.faum, foam ;
h.fmno, to smoke, to foam.]
Froth ; spume ; the substance which is form
ed on the surface of liquors by fermenta
tion or violent agitation, consisting of
bubbles.
FOAM, V. i. To froth ; to gather foam. The
billows^oa»n. A hone foams at the mouth,
when violently heated.
2. To be in a rage ; to be violently agitated
He foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth
Mark ix.
FOAM, V. t. To throw out with rage or vio-
lence ; with out.
Foaming out their own shame. Jude 13.
FOAMING, ppr. Frothing ; fuming.
FOAMINGLY, adv. Frothily.
FOAMY, a. Covered with foam; frothy.
Beliold how higli ihe foamy billows ride !
D,-yden
FOB, n. [Qu. G. fuppe. I have not found
the word.] A little pocket for a watch.
FOB, V. t. [G.foppen.] To cheat ; to trick ;
to impose on.
To fob off, to shift off by an artifice ; to pii
aside ; to delude with a trick. [A low
word.] Shak.
FOB'BED, pp. Cheated ; imposed on.
FOB'BING, p/);-. Cheating; imposing on.
FO'CAL, a. [from L. focus.] Belonging ;
a focus ; as a focal point ; focal distance.
FO'CLL, 71, [Fr. focile.] The greater focil
the idna or tibia, the greater bone of the
fore-arm or leg. The lesser focil is the
radius or fibula, the lesser bone of the fore-
arm or leg. Coxe. IViscman
FO'CUS, n. plu./ociwM, or foci. [h. focus, t
fire, the hearth ; Sp. fuego ; Port, fogo
It./uoco; Fr. feu; Arm.fo.]
1. [n optics, a point in which any number of
rays of light meet, after being reflected or
refracted ; as the/oci(s of a lens.
Encyc. J^ewton.
1. In geometry and conic sections, a certain
point in the parabola, ellipsis anil hyper-
bola, where rays reflected from all parts
of these curves, concur or meet. Encyc.
The focus of an ellipsis, is a point to-
wards each end of the longer axis, from
which two right lines drawn to any point
in the circumference, shall together be
equal to the longer axis. Harris.
The focus of a parabola,is a jioint in the
axis within the figure, and distant from
the vertex by the fourth part of the pa-
rameter. Harris.
The focus of a hyperbola, is a point in
the principal axis, witliin the opposite hy
perbolas, from which if any two lines are
drawn, meeting in either of the opposite
hyperbolas, the difference will be equal to
the principal axis. Diet.
3. A central point ; point of concentration.
FOD'DER, n. [Sax. foddor, or fother ; G.
futter; D.voeder; Dan. foeder; Sw.foder;
from the root of feed, the sense of which
FOG
is to thrust in, to stuff. Hence in German,
futter is a lining as well as fodder.]
1. Food or dry food for cattle, horses and
sheep, as hay, straw and other kinds of
vegetables. The word is never applied tt
pasture.
In mining, a measure containing 20 hun
dred, or 22i hundred. Encyc.
FOD'DER, V. t. To feed with dry food,
cut grass, &c.; to furnish with hay, straw,
oats, &c. Farmers fodder their cattle
twice or thrice in a day.
FODDERED, pp. Fed with dry food, or
cut grass, &c.; as, to fodder cows.
FOD'DERER, n. He who fodders cattle.
FOD'DERING, ppr. Feeding with dry food.
&c.
FO'DIENT, a. [L.fodio, to dig.] Digging :
throwing up with a spade. [lAttle used.]
FOE, n. fo. [Sax.fah, from fean,feon,Jigan.
to hate; the participle is used in the other
Teutonic dialects. See Fiend.]
An enemy ; one who entertains personal
enmity, hatred, grudge or malice against
another.
A man's foes shall be they of his own house-
hold. Matt. X.
An enemy in war; one of a nation at war
with another, whether he entertains en-
mity against the opposing nation or not ;
an adversary.
Either tliree years famine, or three months to
be destroyed before thy foes. 1 Cliron. xxi.
3. Foe, like enemy, in the singular, is used to
denote an opposing army, or nation at
4. An opponent; an enemy ; one who oppo
ses any thing in principle ; an ill-wisher
as a foe to religion ; a foe to virtue ; a foe
to the measures of the administration.
FOE, r. t. To treat as an enemy. Obs.
Spenser.
FOEHPOD, 71. Enmity. [Not in use.]
Bedell.
FOELIKE, a. Like an enemy. Sandys,
FOEMAN, n. An enemy in war. Obs.
Spefiser.
FCETUS. [See Fetus.]
FOG, n. [In Sp. vako is steam ; vakar, to ex-
hale. In Italian, sfogo is exhalation ; sfo-
gare, to exhale. In Scot, fog is moss. In
Italian, affogare is to suffocate, Sp. ahocnr.
The sense probably is thick or that which
it exhaled.]
1. A dense watery vapor, exhaled from the
earth, or from rivers and lakes, or genera-
ted in the atmosphere near the earth. It
differs from mist, which is rain in very
small drops.
2. A cloud of dust or smoke.
FOG,™. [W./«'g-, long dry grass. Johnson
quotes a forest law of Scotland, which
mentions fogagium. It may be allied to
Scot, fog, moss.]
After-grass; a second growth of grass; but
it signifies also long grass that remains on
land. I
Dead grass, remaining on land during win-:
called in New England, the old tore.'
FOG'BANK, 71. At sea, an appearance inl
hazy weather sometimes resembling land'
at a distance, but which vanishes as it is|
approached. Mar. Diet.
FOG'GA6E, n. Rank grass not consumedj
or mowed in summer. Encyc.
FOG'GINESS, n. [from foggy.] The state
F O I
of being foggy ; a state of tlie air filled
with watery exhalations.
FOG'GY, a. [&om fog.] Filled or aboun-
ding with fog or watery exhalations ; as
a/og^g"^ atmosphere ; a foggy morning.
2. Cloudy; misty ; damp with humid vapors.
3. Producing frequent fogs ; as a foggy cli-
mate.
4. Dull ; stupid ; clouded in understanding.
Johnson.
FOH, an exclamation of abhorrence or con-
tempt, the same as poh and fy.
FOI'BLE, a. Weak. [JVoi used.]
Herbert.
FOI'BLE, n. [Fr. foible, weak. See Feeble.]
A particular moral weakness ; a failing.
When we speak of a man's foible, in the
singular, which is also called his iveak side,
we refer to a predominant failing. We
use also the plural,/otW&f, to denote moral
failings or defects. It is wise in every
man to know his ovrn foibles.
FOIL, V. t. [In Norm, afolee is rendered crip-
pled ; and afo^da, damaged, wasted. If
the primary or true literal sense is, to
blunt, this word may be from the same
root as fool ; if, to render vain, it would
naturally be alUed to/ai7.]
1. To frustrate; to defeat ; to render vain
or nugatory, as an effort or attempt. The
enemy attempted to pass the river, but
was foiled. He foiled his adversaries.
And by a mortal man at length am foiled.
Dry den.
To blunt ; to dull.
When light wing'd toys
Of feathered Cupid /oiZ— Shak.
3. To defeat ; to interrupt, or to render ijn-
percejjtible ; as, to/oi7 the scent in a chase.
Mdison.
FOIL, ji. Defeat; frustration; the failure of
success when on the point of being secu-
red ; miscarriage.
Death never won a stake with greater toll.
Nor e'er was fate so near a/oi/. Dryden.
FOIL, n. [W. furyl, a driving, impulsion, a
stroke, a/oi7.]
A blunt sword, or one that has a button at
the end covered with leather ; used in
fencing.
Isocrates contended with a foil, against De-
mosthenes with a sword. JUitford.
FOIL, 71. [Fr. feuille ; It.foglia ; Port.folha;
Sp. hoja ; h. folium ; Gr. ifn'^Xoi.]
1. A leaf or thin plate of metal used in gild-
mg.
. Among jewelers, a tliin leaf of metal pla-
ced under precious stones, to make them
appear transparent, and to give them a
particular color, as the stone appears to be
of the color of tlie_/bi7. Hence,
3. Any thing of another color, or of different
qualities, which serves to adorn, or set off
another thing to advantage.
Hector has a/oS to set him off. Broome.
4. Athin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on
the back of a looking glass, to cause re-
flection. Encyc.
FOIL'ED, ;)p. Frustrated; defeated.
FOIIj'ER, n. One who frustrates another,
and gains an advantage liimself.
FOIL'ING, ppr. Defeating ; frustrating ;
disappointing of success.
FOIL'ING, n. Among hunters, the slight
mark of a passing deer on the grass.
Todd.
FOIN, V. t. [Fr. poindrc, to sting, to dawn ;
F O L
L. pwigo. The sense is to push, thrust,
shoot.]
1. To push in fencing. Spenser.
2. To prick ; to sting. [JVol in use.]
FOIN, n. A push ; a thrust. Robinson.
FOlN'WCs,pp,: Pushing; thrusting.
FOIN'INGLY, adv. In a pushing manner.
FOIS'ON, ». [L. ftisio.] Plenty ; abun-
dance. [Mot used.] Tusser.
FOIST, V. t. [Usually supposed to be from
Fr. fausser, to violate, literally, to falsify ;
Norm./ouscr. This is doubtful.]
To insert surreptitiously, wrongfully, or
without warrant.
Lest negligence or parliality might admit oi
foist in abuses and corruption. Careiv.
FOIST, n. A light and fast saiHng ship. Obs.
Beaum.
FOIST' ED, p;j. Inserted wrongfully.
FOIST'ER, n. One who inserts without
authority.
FOIST'IED, a. Mustied. [See Fusty.]
FOIST'INESS, n. Fustiness, wliich see.
FOIST'ING, ppr. Inserting surreptitiously
or without authority.
FOIST'y, a. Fusty, which see.
FOLD, n. [Sax. fold, /aide ; W.fald;h:fal.
a fold, a wall or hedge ; Dan. fold. See
the verb, to^W.]
1. A pen or inclosure for sheep ; a place
where a flock of sheep is kept, whether in
the field or under shelter.
2. A flock of sheep. Hence in a scriptural
sense, the church, the flock of the Shep
herd of Israel.
Other sheep I have, whicli are not of thi
fold. Jolin \.
S. A limit. [JVot in «.?«.]
FOLD, n. [Sax.feald; Sw.fSlt; G. folic;
Kuss. phalda ; but the same word as the
preceding.]
1. The doubling of any flexible substance, as
cloth ; complication ; a plait ; one part
turned or bent and laid on another ; ;
fold of linen.
2. In composition, ;he same quantity added ;
as tiBofold, fourfold, tenfold, that is, twice
as much, four times as much, ten times as
much.
FOLD, V. t. [Sax. fcaldan ; Golh. faldan ;
G.faiien; Ban. folder; Sw. fSila. Qu.
Heb. SSJ Ch. hsp, to double. Class Bl.
No. 47. 5L See also No. 22. The primary
sense is to fall, or to lay, to set, throw oi-
press together.]
1. To double ; to la]) or lay in plaits ; as, to
fold apiece of cloth.
2. To double and insert one part in another ;
as, to fold a letter.
3. To double or lay together, as the arms.
He folds his arms in despair.
4. To confine sheep in a fold.
FOLD, v.i. To close over another of the
same kind ; as, the leaves of the door fold.
FOLDAfiE, n. The right of folding sheep.
FOLDED, pp. Doubled ; laid in plaits ; com-
plicated ; kept in a fold.
FOLDER, ?i. An instrument used in folding
paper.
2. One that folds.
FOLDING, p;)r. Doubling; laying in plaits ;
Utoping in a fold.
2. a. Doubling; that may close over another,
or that consists of leaves which may close
one over another ; as a folding door.
F O L
FOLDING, n. A fold ; a doubling.
2. Among farmers, the keeping of sheep in
inclosures on arable land, &c.
FOLIA'CEOUS, a. [L. foliaceus, from fo-
lium, a leaf See Foil.]
1. Leafy ; having leaves intermi,\ed witl
flowers ; as a foliaceous s]>ike. Foliaceous
glands are those situated on leaves.
2. Con.sisting of leaves or thin lamins; having
the form of a leaf or plate ; as foliaceous
spar. Woodward.
FO LIA6E, n. [Fr. feuillaj^e, from feuille, L.
folium, a leaf; It. foghame ; Sp. foliage.
See Foil.]
1. Leaves in general ; as a tree of beautiful
foliage.
2. A cluster of leaves, flowers and branches ;
particularly, the representation of leaves,
flowers and branches, m architecture, in-
tended to ornament and enrich capitals,
friezes, pediments, &c.
FOLIAGE, V. t. To work or to form into
the representation of leaves. Drummond.
FO'LIAgED, o. Furnished with foliage.
Shenslone.
FO'LIATE, V. t. [L.foliatus, from folium, v
leaf, Gr. ^-M-ov.]
1. To beat into a leaf, or thin plate or lamin.
Bacon.
2. To .spread over with a thin coat of tin and
(juicksilver, &c.; as, to foliate a looking
glass.
FO'LIATE, a. In bota/vj, leafy ; furnished
with leaves ; as a foliate stalk.
Martyn. Lee.
FO'LIATED, »;». Spread or covered with a
thin plate or foil.
2. In mineralogy, consisting of plates; re
sembling or in the form of a plate ; latnel
lar ; as a foliated fracture.
Minerals that consist of grains, and are at the
same time foliated, are called granularly folia
ted. Kirwan
FO'LIATING,;)pr. Covering with a leaf or
foil.
FOLIA'TION, n. [L./o/m/jo.] In botany,
the leafing of plants ; vernation; the
])0.'!iliou of the nascent leaves within the
bud. Martyn
2. The act of beating a metal into a tiiii:
plate, leaf or foil.
3. The act or operation of spreading foil over
the back side of a mirror or looking glass
FO'LIATURE, n. The state of being beaten
into foil.
FO'LIER, n. Goldsmith's foil.
FOLIF'EROUS, a. [I., folium, leaf, and/t
to hear.] Producing leaves.
FO'LIO, n. [I., folium, a leaf; in folio.] A
book of the largest size, formed by once
doubhng a sheet of paper.
2. Among merchants, a page, or rather both
the right and left hand pages of an ac-
count-book, expressed by the same figure.
Encyc.
FO'LIOLE, n. [from h. folium, a leaf] A
leaflet ; one of the single leaves, which
togetherconstitute a compound leaf Lee.
FO'LIOMORT, a. {L. folium moHuum.] Of
a dark yellow color, or that of a faded
leaf; fileraot. Woodward.
FO'LIOUS, a. Leafy ; thin ; unsubstantial.
Brotv7i.
2. In botany, having leaves intermixed with
the flowers.
FOLK, n. foke. [Sa\.folc ; D. volk ; G. volk :
F O L
Sw. folrk ; Ban. folk ; L. nUgus. The
sense is a crowd, from collecting or press-
ing, not from folloieing, but from the same
root, as to follow is to press toward. It
may be allied to Sax. fela, G. viel, D. veel,
Gr. rto?iv5 and rto7.xoi. Originally and pro-
perly it had no plural, being a collective
noun ; but in modern use, in America, it
has lost its singular number, and we hear
it only in the plural. It is a colloquial
1 word, not admissible into elegant style.]
1. People in general, or any part of them
without distinction. What i\o folki say
respecting the war? Men love to talk
I about the affairs of other/o/As.
,2. Certain people, discriminated from others;
1 as old folks, and young folks. Children
I sometimes call their i)arents, the old/o/A,?.
So we say sick folks ; poor folks ; proud
I folks.
3. In scripture, the singidar number is used ;
as a few sick/ott; inqiotent /ott. Mark
vi. John v.
4. Animals.
The coneys are but a feeble /o/A-. Prov. x.\x.
FOLK LAND, 71. [Sax. fokland.] In Eng-
lish laic, coi)yhold land ; land held by the
conniion people, at the will of the lord.
Blackslone.
FOLKMOTE, n. [Rax. folcmote, fo\k-mcet-
An assembly of the people, or of bishops,
thanes, aldermen and freemen, to consult
respecting public affairs ; an annual con-
vention of the people, answering in some
measure, to a modern parliament ; a word
used in England before the Norman con-
quest, after which, the national Council
was called a parliament. Somner. Spelman.
But some authors alledge that the folk-
j mote was an inferior meeting or court.
jFOL'Ll€LE, n. [L. folliculus, fromfollis, n
bag or bellows.]
1. In Wan?/, a univalvular pericarp ; u seed
vessel opening on one side longitudinally,
i and having the seeds loose in it. Martyn.
2. An air bag; a vessel distended with air;
1 as at the root in Utricidaria, and on the
I leaves in Aldrovanda. Martyn.
3. A little bag, in animal bodies ; a gland ;
I a folding ; a cavity. Coxe.
FOLLIeTLOUS, a. Having or producing
follicles.
FOLLIFUL, a. FuU of folly. [jYot used.]
Shenslone.
FOL'LOW, V. t. [Sax. fotgian, filian, fyl-
fan; D. volgen ; G. folgen ; Dan folger ;
w. folja ; Ir. foUcanam. The sense is,
to urge forward, drive, press. Class Bl.
No. 14.46.]
1. To go after or behind ; to walk, ride or
move behind, but in the same direction.
Soldiers will usually follow a brave officer.
2. To pursue ; to chase ; as an enemy, or as
game.
3. To accompany ; to attend in a journey.
iind Rebekah arose, and her damsel?, and
they rode on the camels, and followed the man.
Gen. xxiv.
4. To accompany ; to be of the same compa-
ny ; to attend, for any purpose. Luke v.
5. To succeed in order of time ; to come
after ; as, a storm is followed by a calm.
Sign.s following signs lead on the mighty
"year. " Pope.
6. To be consequential ; to result from, as
F O L
eflfect from a cause. Intemperance is
often folloived by disease or poverty, or by
^°<^^- „ , n
7. To result from, as an inference or deduc-
tion. It foHoics from these facts tliat tlie
accused is guilty.
9. To pursue with the eye ; to keep the eyes
flxed on a moving body. He follotved or
his eyes followed the ship, till it was be-
yond sistht.
He followed with Iiis eyes the fleeting shade
Dryden
9. To imitate : to copy ; as, to follow a pat
tern or tnodel ; to follow fashion.
10. To embrace ; to adopt and maintain ; to
have or entertain like opinions ; to think
or believe like another ; as, to follow tlie
opinions and tenets of a philosophic sect;
to follow Plato.
11. To obey ; to observe ; to practice ; to act
in conformity to. It is our duty to follow
the commands of Christ. Good soldiers
follow the orders of their general ; good
servants /oWou) the directions of their mas
F O N
12. To pursue as an object of desire ; to en
deavor to obtain.
Follow peace with all men. Heb. xii.
13. To use ; to practice ; to make the chief
business ; as, to follow the trade of a car-
penter ; to follow the profession of law.
14. To adhere to ; to side with.
The house of Judnh followed David. 2 Sam. ii
15. To adhere to ; to honor ; to worship ; to
serve.
If the Loidbe GoA,follow him. 1 Kings .xvm
16. To be led or guided by.
Wo to the foohsh prophets, who follow then
own spiiit, and have seen nothing. Ezek. xiii.
17. To move on in the same course or direc-
tion ; to be guided by ; as, to follow a track
or course.
FOL'LOW, II. i. To come after another.
The famine— shall follow close after yo
Jer. xlii.
2. To attend ; to accompany. Shak.
3. To be posterior in time ; as following ages,
4. To be consequential, as effect to cause
From such measures, great mischiefs must
follow.
5. To result, as an inference. The facts may
be admitted, but the inference drawn from
them does not follow.
To follow on, to continue pursuit or en-
deavor ; to persevere.
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know
the Lord. Hosea vi.
FOL'LOAVED, pp. Pursued ; succeeded
accompanied ; attended ; imitated ; obey
ed ; observed ; practiced ; adhered to.
FOL'LOWER, n. One who comes, goes or
moves after another, in the same course-
2. One that takes another as his guide in
doctrines, opinions or example; one who
receives the opinions, and imitates the ex
ample of another ; an adherent ; an imi
tator.
That ye be not slothful, but followers of then
who, through faith and patience, inherit tli
promises. Heb. vi.
3. One who obeys, worships and honors.
Be yc followers of God, as dear children
Eph. v.
4. An adherent ; a disciple ; one who
5. An attendant ; a companion ; an asso-
ciate or a dependent. The warrior dis-
tributed the plunder among his followers.
iio follower, but a friend. Pope.
6. One under the command of another.
Spenser. Dryden
7. One of the same faction or party.
FOL'LOWING, ;>;))•. Coming or going aftei
or behind; pursuing; attending; imitat
ing ; succeeding in time ; resulting from,
as an effect or an inference ; adhering to :
obeying, observing ; using, practicing ; pro-
ceeding in the same course.
FOL'LY, n. [Fr. foHe, from fol, fou ; Arm
follez; h.follia. See Fool.]
1. Weakness of intellect; imbecility of mind ;
want of understanding.
A fool layeth open his folly. Prov- xiii,
2. A weak or absurd act not highly cri
al ; an act which is inconsistent with the
dictates of reason, or with the ordinary
rules of prudence. In this sense it may
be used in the singular, but is generally in
the plural. Hence we speak of the follies
of youth.
Wliom folly pleases, or whose follies pli
Pope.
3. An absurd act which is highly sinful ; any
conduct contrary to the laws of God or
man; sin ; scandalous crimes ; thatwhichi
violates moral precepts and dishonors the
offender. Shechem wrought folly in Is-
rael. Achan wrought /oWj/ in Israel. Gen.
xxxiv. Josh. vii.
Criminal weakness ; depravity of mind.
Johnson.
FO'MAHANT, n. A star of the first mag-
nitude, in the constellation Aquarius.
En eye.
FOMENT', V. t. [L. fomento, from foveo.
to warm; Fr. fomenler; &{}. fomentar ; It.
fomentare.]
1. To apply warm lotions to ; to bathe with
warm medicated liquors, or with flannel
dipped in warm water.
2. To cherish with heat ; to encourage
growth. [JVb< usual] Millon.
3. To encourage; to abet; to cherish and
promote by excitements; in a hod sense;
as, to foment ill humors. Locke.
So we say, to foment troubles or distur-
bances; to foment intestine broils.
FOMENTA'TION, ?i. The act of applying
warm liquors to a part of the body, by
means of flannels dipped in hot water or
medicated decoctions, for the purpose of
easing pain, by relaxing the skin, or of
discussing tumors. Encyc. Quincy.
2. The lotion applied, or to be applied to a
I diseased part. Arhuthnol.
5. E.xcitation; instigation
F O N
FOND, o. [Chaucer,/onne, a fool ; Scot./on, to
play the fool ;/ojic, to fondle, to toy ; Ir./oiin.
delight, desire, a longing. Q,u. Ar. ^iS
which signifies to diminish, to impair men-
tal powers, to make foolisli, to be destitute
of reason ; and
to fail. These
FOMENT' ED, pp. Bathed with warm lo-
tions ; encouraged.
FOMENT'ER, n. One who foments; one
who encourages or instigates ; as afoment-
er of sedition.
FOMENT'ING, ppr. Applying warm lo-
tions.
2. Encouraging; abetting; promoting.
braces the same system ; as a follower ofi FON, n. [Chaucer, /onnc, a fool ; Ice. /aa
Plato. 11 A fool ; an idiot. Obs. Spenser.
are the most probable aftinities I have
been able to find.]
Foolish ; silly ; weak ; indiscreet ; impru-
dent.
Grant I may never prove so fond
To trust man on his oath or bond. Shak.
Fond thoughts may fall Into some idle brain.
Savies.
3. Foolishiy tender and loving; doting;
weaklv indulgent; as a. fond mother or
wife. " Addison.
.3. Much pleased; loving ardently; dehght-
ed with. .\ child is fond of play ; a gen-
tleman is/onrfof his sports, or of his coun-
try seat. In present usage, fond does not
always imply weakness or folly.
Relishing highly. The e])icure is fond of
high-seasoned food. Multitudes of men
are too fond of strong drink.
5. Trifling ; valued by folly. [lAtlle used.]
Shak.
FOND, V. t. To treat with great indulgence
or tenderness ; to caress ; to cocker.
The Tyrian hugs and fonds thee on her
breast. Dryden.
Fond is thus used by the poets only. We
now use fondle.
FOND, I', i. To be fond of; to be in love
with ; to dote on. [Ldtlle used.] Shak.
FOND'LE, D. /. To treat with tenderness ;
to caress ; as, a nurse fondles a child.
FOND'LED, pp. Treated with affection;
caressed.
FOND'LER, n. One who fondles.
FOND'LlNG,;>;)r. Caressing; treating with,
tenderness.
FOND'LING, n. A person or thing fondled
or caressed. L'Estrange.
FONDLY, adv. Foolishly ; weakly ; im-
prudently; with indiscreet affection.
Fondly we think we merit honor then.
When we but praise ourselves in other men.
Pope.
2. With great or extreme affection. We
fondh/ embrace those who are dear to us.
FOND"'NESS, n. Foolishness; weakness;
want of sense or judgment. Obs.
Spenser.
2. Foolish tenderness.
3. Tender passion ; warm affection.
Her /onrfness for a certain earl
Began when I was but a girl. Swift.
4. Strong inclination or propensity ; as a
fondness for vice or sin. Hammond.
5. Strong appetite or relish ; as fondness for
ardent spirit, or for a particular kind of
food.
[It is noiv used chiefly in lite three latter
FONT,n. [Fr./on(s; Sp. fuente ; It. fonte;
L. fans; W. fynnon, a fountain, and fyn-
iaw, to produce, to abound ; allied to L.
fundo, to pour out.]
A large bason or stone vessel in which wa-
ter is contained for baptizing children or
other persons in the church.
FONT, n. [Fr.foiUe, from fondre, to melt or
F O O
pour out ; Sp. fundir ;\
cast ; L. /undo.
It. fondere; properly, a casting
A complete assortment of printing types of
one size, including a due proportion of all
the letters in the alphabet, large and small,
points, accents, and whatever else is ne-
cessary for printing with that letter.
FONT'AL, a. Pertaniing to a fount, foun-
tain, source or origin.
Trans, of Pausanias.
FONT'ANEL, n. [from the Fr.] An issue
for the discharge of humors from the
body. Hall.
2. A vacancy in the infant cranium, between
the frontal and parietal bones, and also be-
tween the parietal and occipital, at the
two extremities of the sagittal suture.
Cyc. Parr.
FONTAN(iE, n. fontanj'. [Fr. from the
name of the first wearer.]
A knot of ribins on the top of a bead-dress.
Addison.
FOOD, n. [Sa.\. fod, foda ; G. fuller; D,
voedzd ; Dan. feeder; Sw.fbda; i'rom feed-
ing. See Feed.]
1. In a general sense, whatever is eaten by
animals for nourishment, and whatever
supplies nutriment to plants. |
2. Meat ; aliment ; flesh or vegetables eateui
for sustaining human hfe ; victuals ; pro-|
visions ; whatever is or may be eaten for
nourishment. |
Feed me with /bod convenient for mc. Prov.|
XXX. I
3. Whatever supplies nourishment and
growth to plants, as water, carbonic acid,
gas, &c. Manuring .substances furuishi
plants with food. \
4. Something that sustains, nourishes andl
augments. Flattery is the, food of vanity'
FOOD, V. I. To feed. [Aoi in me.]
Barrel.
FOOD'FUL. a. Supplying food; full of
food. Dryden.]
FOOD'LESS, a. Without food ; destitute of
provisions ; barren. Siindys.
FOOD'Y, a. Eatable; fit lor food. [.Vol
used.] Chapman.
FOOL, n. [Fr. fol, frn ; It. folk, mad, fool-
ish ; Ice. fol ; Ann. foil ; W. fol, round,
blunt, foolish, vain ; fwl, a fool, a blunt,
one, a stupid one ; Russ. phalia. It would
seem from the Welsh that the primary
sense of tho adjective is thick, blunt,
lumpish. Ho! I. '?3n.]
1. One who is destitute of reason, or the
common powers of understanding; an id-j
eot. Some persons are born fools, and'
are called natural fools ; others may be-|
come fools by some injury done to thel
brain.
2. In common language, a person who is
somewhat deficient in intellect, but not an
ideot ; or a person who acts absurdly ; one
who does not exercise his reason ; one|
who pursues a course contrary to the dic-i
tates of wisdom. j
Experience keep.s a dear school, but fools,
will learn in no other. Franklin.
3. In scripture, fool is often used for a wick-
ed or depraved person ; one who acts con-
trary to sound wisdom in his moral de-
portment; one who follows his own incli-
nations, who prefers trifling and tempora-j
ry pleasures to the service of God and^
eternal happiness. *
F O O
The fool halh said in his heart, there is no
God. Ps. xiv.
4. A weak christian ; a godly person who
has much remaining sin and unbelief
0 fools, and slow of heart to believe all the
prophets have written. Luke x.\iv.
Also, one who is accounted or called
fool by ungodly men. 1 Cor. iv. 10.
5. A term of indignity and reproach.
To be thought knowing, you must first put
the fool upon all mankind. Dryden
6. One who counterfeits folly ; a bufloon
as a king's fool.
1 scorn, although their drudge, to be theii
fool or jester. Milton
To play the fool, to act the buffoon ; to jest;
to miike sport.
2. To act like one void of understanding.
To put the fool on, to impose on ; to delude.
To make a fool of, to frustrate ; to defeat
to disappoint.
FOOL, V. i. To trifle ; to toy ; to spend time
in idleness, sport or mirth.
Is this a time (or fooling ? Dryden,
FOOL, V. I. To treat with contempt ; to dis-
appoint ; to defeat ; to frustrate ; to de-
ceive ; to impose on.
When 1 consider life, 'lis all a cheat ;
For fooled with hope, men favor the deceit.
Dryden.
2. To infatuate ; to make foolish. Shak.
3. To cheat ; as, to fool one out of his mo-
ney.
To fool away, to spend in trifles, idleness, fol-
ly, or without advantage ; as, to fool away
time.
2. To spend for things of no value or use ;
to expend improvidently ; as, to fool away
inoney.
FOOL, n. A liquid made of gooseberries
Ided and pounded, with cream.
Shak.
FOOL'BORN, a. Foolish from the birth.
Shak.
FOOL'ED, pp. Disappointed ; defeated ; de-
ceived ; imposed on.
FOOL'ERY, n. The practice of folly ; ha-
bitual folly ; attention to trifles. Shak.
?. .An act of folly or weakness. Walts.
i. Object of folly. Raleigh.
FOOL'HAPPY, a. Lucky without judg-
ment or contrivance. Spenser.
FOOLH'ARDINESS, n. Courage without
or judgment ; mad rashness.
Dryden.
FOOLHARDISE, n. Foolhardiness. [JVot\
in use.] Spenser.\
FOOLHARDY, a. [fool ami hardy.] Dar-
ing without judgment ; madly rash and
adventurous; foolishly bold. Howell.
FOOh'ltiG, ppr. Defeating; disappointing;
deceiving. I
FOOLISH, a. Void of understanding or p- I" P'"'''!/' » certain number of syllables,
sound judgment ; weak in intellect; ap- fonstitutmg part of a verse ; as the iam-
plied to general character. \ bus, the dactyl, and the spondee.
2. Unwise; imprudent ; acting withoutjudg- '0. Step; pace. VEstrange.
ment or discretion in particular things. 11. Level ; par. Obs. Bacon.
3. Proceeding from folly, or marked with :12. The part of a stocking or boot which
folly ; silly ; vain ; trifl"ing. ! „ receives the foot.
B^xx foolish questions avoid. 2 Tim. u. ^yf""'^ "' rather, on foot, by walking, as to
„. ,. , ,1, I go or pass on foot ; or bv fording, as to
Ridiculous ; despicable. ,,3^, „ g,rea,„ on foot. See the next defi-
A foolish figure he must make. Prior. nition.
In scripture, wicked : sinful ; acting with- 'To set on foot, to originate ; to begin ; to put
out regard to the divine law and glory, or I in motion ; as, to sd on foot a subscription,
to one's own eternal happiness. | Hence, to he on foot, is to be in motion, ac-
0/oolish Galaljans— Gal. iii. 1 tion or process of execution.
F O O
6. Proceeding from depravity ; sinful ; as
foolish htsts. 1 Tim.vi.
FOOL'ISHLY, adv. Weakly ; without un-
derstanding or judgment ; unwisely ; iu-
discretely.
2. Wickedly; sinfully.
1 have (lone very foolishly. 2 Sam. xxiv.
FOOL'ISHNESS, n. Folly; want of under-
standing.
2. Foolish practice ; want of wisdom or good
judgment.
3. In a scriptural sense, absurdity ; folly.
The preacliing of the cross ib" to them that
perish foolishness. 1 Cor. i.
FOOLS' CAP, n. [Qii. full and L. scapus,
or folio and shape.] A kind of paper of
small size.
FOOL'S-P'ARSLEY, n. A plant, of the ge-
nus jEthusa.
FOOL'STONES, n. A plant, the Orchis.
FOOL'TRAP, n. A trap to catch fools; as
a fly trap. Dryden.
F09T,n. plu./ee<. [Sax./o(,/e/ ; D.voet; G.
fuss; Sw.fot; Dau. fod ; Gr. nov{, itoSof ;
L. pes, pedis ; Sanscrit, pad; Siam. 6a/;
Fr. pied, pie ; Sp. pie ; Port, pe ; It. piede,
pii ; Copt, bat, fat. Probably this word is
allied to the Gr. rta-rto, to walk, to tread ;
as the W. Iroed, foot, is to the Eng. verb, to
tread.]
1. In animal bodies, the lower extremity of
the leg ; the i)art of the leg which treads
the earth in standing or walking, and by
which the animal is sustained and enable<l
to step.
2. That which bears some resemblance to
an animal's foot in shape or oflice ; the
lower end of any thing that supports a
body ; as the foot of a table.
3. The lower part ; the base; as the /oo< of
a column or of a mountain.
4. The lower pan ; the bottom ; as the foot
of an account ; the foot of a sail.
Foundation ; condition ; state. We are
t not on the same foot with our fellow citi-
zens. In this sense, it is more common, in
America, to use /00/tng; and in this sense
the plural is not used.
6. Planof estabhshment ; fundamental prin-
ciples. Our constitution may hereafter be
placed on a better /oo<. [In this sense the
I plural is 7iot used.]
7. In military language, soldiers who march
and fight on foot; infantry, as distinguish-
ed from cavalry. [In this sense the plural
is not used.]
8. A measure consisting of twelve inches ;
supposed to be taken from the length of a
man's foot. Geometricians divide the foot
into 10 digits, and the digit into 10 lines.
Encyc.
F O O
FOOT, V. i. To dance ; to tread to measure
or music ; to skip. Dryden.
2. To walk ; opi)osed to ride or fly. In this
sense, the word is commonly followed
by it.
If you are for a merry jaunt, I'U tiy, for once
who can foot it farthest. Dryden
FOOT, V. t. To kick ; to strike with the
foot ; to spurn. Shak.
2. To settle ; to besin to fix. [Little used.]
Shak.
3. To tread ; as, to foot the green. Ticket.
4. To add the numbers in a column, and set
the sum at the foot ; as, to foot an account,
5. To seize and hold with the foot. [J^ot
used.] Hcrbcii.
6. To add or make a foot ; as, to foot a stock-
in;; or boot.
FOOT'BALL, ?;. A ball consisting of an infla-
ted bladder, cased in lethcr, to be driver
by the foot. IValler.
2. The sport or practice of kicking the foot-
ball. Jlrbuthnot
FOOT'BAND, n. A band of infantry.
FOOT'BOY, n. A menial ; an attendant
livery. Swifl.
FOOT'BREADTH, n. The breadth of the
foot. Deut. ii.
F0OT'BRID(iE, n. A narrow bridge for
foot passengers. Sidney,
FO0T'€LOTH, n. A sumpter cloth. Shak
FOOT'ED, pp. Kicked ; trod ; summed up
furnished with a foot, as a stocking.
FOOT'ED, a. Shaped in the foot ; as footed
like a goat. Grew.
FOOT'FALL, V. A trip or stumble. .Si
FOOT'FiGHT, n. A conflict by persons
foot, in opposition to a tight on horseback,
Sidney.
FOOT'GU^ARDS, 7i. plu. Guards of in-
fantry.
FOOT'HaLT, )i. a disease incident to sheep,
and said to proceed from a worm, which
enters between the claws. Encyc.
FOQT'HOLD, n. That which sustains the
feet firmly and prevents them from slip-
ping or moving ; that on which one may
treail or rest securely. V Eslraixge.
FOOT'IIOT. adv. Immediately ; a word
borrowed from hunting. Gower.
FOOT'ING, ppr. Dancing ; treadin;
tling ; adding a new foot.
FOOT'ING, n. Ground for the foot; that
which sustains; firm foundation to stand
on.
In ascents, every step gained is a footing
help to the next. Holder.
2. Support; root. Dryden.
3. Basis; foundation. Locke.
4. Place ; stable position. Dryden
5. Permanent settlement. Let not these
evils gain footing.
6. Tread ; step ; walk. Milton
7. Dance ; tread to measure. Shak
8. Steps ; road ; track. [Lillle used.]
Bacon
9. State ; condition ; settlement. Place both
jiarties on an equal footing.
FOOT'LICKER, n. A mean flatterer ; a syc-
ophant; a fawner. Shak.
FOOT'MAN, >i. A soldier who marches and
fights on foot.
2. A menial servant ; a runner ; a servant
in livery.
FOOT'MANSIIIP, )!. The art or faculty of||
a runner. Hayward
FOR
FOOT'MANTLE, n. A garment to keep the
gown clean in riding.
FOOT' PACE, Ji. A slow step, as in walk-
ing ; a broad stair. Johnson.
FOOT'PAD, n. A highwayman or robber on
foot.
FOOT'P'ATH, »t. A narrow path or way
for foot passengers only.
FOOT'PLOW, n. A kind of swing-plow.
FOOT'POST, n. A post or messenger that
travels on foot. Carew.
FOOT'ROPE, n. The lower boltrope
wliich the lower edge of a sail is sewed. [
Also, a horse or rope to support men when
reefing, &c. Mar. Did.
F00T'ROT,?i. An ulcer in thefeet of sheep.
FOOT'SOLDIER, n. A soldier that serves
on foot.
FOOT'STALL, n. A woman's stirrup.
Johnson.
FOOT'STEP, n. A track ; the mark or im-
pression of the foot. Locke.
Token ; mark ; visible sign of a course
pursued ; as the footsteps of divine wis-
dom. Bentley.
Footsteps, plural, example ; as, follow the
footsteps of good men.
2. Way ; course. Ps. lx.xvii.
FOOT' STOOL, n. A stool for the feet ; that
which supports the feet of one when sit-
ting.
To make enemies a footstool, is to reduce
them to entire subjection. Ps. ex.
FOOT'-WALING, n. The whole inside
jiianks or lining of a ship. Cyc.
FOP, n. [Sp. and Port, guapo, spruce, gay,
affected, tbppish, aflectedly nice ; also in
Sp. stout, bold, from the root of t'a;?o)-, vt
pid ; Sp. guapear, to brag. The Lat
vappa, a senseless fellow, is evidently from
the same root, with the sense of empti
ness or lightness.]
A vain man of weak understanding and
much ostentation ; one whose ambition '
to gain admiration by showy dress and
pertiiess ; a gay trifling man ; a coxcomb.
FOP'DOODLE, n. An insignificant fellow.
[ Vulgar and not used.] Hudibras.
FOP'LING, n. A petty fop. Tickell.
FOP'PERY, n. Aflectation of show or im-
portance ; showy folly ; as the foppery of
dress or of manners.
2. Folly ; impertinence.
Let not the sound of sha.\iow fopjiery enter
My soher house. Shak.
3. Foolery ; vain or idle practice ; idle aifec-
tation. Swift.
FOP'PISH, a. Vain of dress; making an
ostentatious display of gay clothing ; dress-
ing in the extreme of fashion.
2. Vain ; trifling ; affected in manners.
FOP'PISHLY, adv. With vain ostentation
1 of dress ; in a trifling or aflected manner.
IFOP'PISIINESS, n. Vanity and extrava-
I gance in dress ; showy vanity.
FOR, prep. [Sax. for or fore ; D. voor, for
and before ; G. fur and vor ; Sw. for ;
Dan. for, for; Ir. far ; Fr. pour ; Sp. Port.
por,para ; It. per, which unites/or and L.
per, and if this is the same word, so is the
Fr. par. Indeed far seems to be radically
the same word ; for the Germans a
Dutch use ver, far, in composition, in t
same manner, and in the same words,
the English, Danes and Swedes use for.
FOR
Thus, Ger. verbieten, D. verbieden, Dan.
forbyder, Sw. fbrbiuda, are all the same
word, Eng. to forbid. The French use par,
as we use for, in pardonner, to pardon, to
forgive. It. perdonare. Arm. par and pour,
in composition ; Hindoo, para ; Per?.
bar or I
and
behr. For cor-
J.J ^„. „. „v., """^^j
responds in sense with the L. pro, as fore
does with pr(e, but pro and prm are proba-
bly contracted from prod, prced. The
Latin por, in composition, as in porrigo, is
probably contracted from porro, Gr. rtoppw,
which is the English far. The Gr. rtopo,
and probably, nifa, rtepai', are from the
same root. The radical sense of for is to
go, to pass, to advance, to reach or stretch ;
and it is probably allied to the Sax. faran,
to fare, W. for, a pass, foriaw, to travel.
Class Br. No 23. 37. 41. To go towards,
to meet or turn to, is the primary sense of
for, in two of its most conmion uses ; one
implying opposition, against ; the other, a
favor or benefit : or for may be from fore,
hence opposite. To sell or exchange a
hat for a guinea, is to set or pass one
agatnst the other ; this is tlie primarj
sense of all prepositions which are placed
before equivalents in sale and barter. Ben-
efit or favor is expressed by moving towards
a person, or by advancing him. This
present is for my friend ; this advice for
his instruction. And in the Old Testa-
ment, the face or front is taken for favor.
For, in some phrases, signifies during, that
is, passing, continuing in time. I will
lend a book for a day or a month. In
composition, ybr is used to give a negative
sense, as in forbid, which is forebid, to
command before, that is against, and in
forgive, to give back or away, to remit, to
send back or to send away.]
1. Against ; in the place of ; as a substitute
or equivalent, noting equal value or satis-
factory compensation, either in barter and
sale, in contract, or in punishment. " And
Joseph gave them bread in exchange for
horses, and for flocks, and for the cattle
of the herds;" that is, according to the
original, lie gave them bread against
horses, like the Gr. avn and Fr. contre.
Gen. xlvii. 17.
Buy us and our land fur bread. Gen. xlvii.
19.
And if any mischief follow, then thou shall
give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth,
hand for hand, foot/or foot. Ex. xxi.
As the son of man came not to be ministered
unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom
for many. Matt. xx. See also Mark viii. 37.
Matt. xvi. 26.
2. In the place of; instead of; noting sub-
stitution of persons, or agency of one in
the place of another with equivalent au-
thority. An attorney is empowered to act
for his principal. Will you take a letter
and deliver it ybr me at the post office?
that is, in my place, or for my benefit.
3. In exchange of; noting one thing taken
or given in place of another ; as, to quit the
profession of law/or that of a clergyman.
4. In the place of; instead of; as, to trans-
late a poem line/or line.
5. In the character of; noting resemblance ;
a sense derived from substitution or stand-
ing in the place of, like avtt9eos in Greek.
FOR
If a man can be fully assured of any thine/oi
a truth, without having examined, what is thcr<
that he may not embrace for truth ? Ij>cke
But let her go for an ungrateful woman.
Philips
I hear /or certain, and do speak the truth.
SAa/r
He quivered with his feet and lay for dead
Dnjden
G. Towards ; with the intention of going to.
We sailed from Peru far China and Japan.
Bacon
We sailed directly for Genoa, and had a fai
wind. Addison
So we say, a ship is bound for or to
France.
7. In advantage of; for the sake of; on ac-
count of ; that is, towards, noting use,
benefit or purpose.
An ant is a wise creature far itself. Sacor<
Shall 1 Uiinlt the world was made /or one
And men are born for kings, as beasts foj
men,
Not /or protection, but to be devoured.
Dryden
8. Conducive to ; beneficial to ; in favor of
It is for the general good of human society,
and consequently of particular persons, to be
true and just ; and it is for men's health to bi
temperate. TiUotson
9. Leading or inducing to, as a motive.
There is a natural, immutable, and eternal
reason /or that which we call virtue, and againsi
that which we call vice. TiUotson.
10. Noting arrival, meeting, coming or pos-
session. Wait patiently for an expected
good. So in the phrases, looking for, slay
xngfor.
11. Towards the obtaining of; in order tc
the arrival at or possession of After all
our exertions, we depend on divine aid
for success.
12. Against ; in opposition to ; with a ten
dency to resist and destroy ; as a remedy
for the head-ache or tooth-aclie. Alkalies
are good for the heart-burn. So
to provide clothes or stores for wniter, or
against winter.
13. Against or on account of; in prevention
of.
She wrapped him close/or catching cold.
Richardson
And, /or the time shall not seem tedious —
Shak
This use is nearly obsolete. The sense
however is derived from meeting, opposing,
as in No. 12.
14. Because ; on account of; by reason of
He cried out for anguish. I cannot go
/or want of time. Fortius cause, I can-
not believe the report.
That which we for our unworthiness are
afi-aid to crave, our prayer is, that God fur the
worthiness of his son would notwithstanding
vouchsafe to grant. Hookei
Edward and Richard,
With fiery eyes sparkling/or very wrath.
Are at our backs. Shak
How to choose dogs/w scent or speed,
Waller.
For as much as it is a fundamental law
Bacon
13. With respect or regard to ; on the part of
It was young counsel for the persons, and
violent counsel /or the matters. Bacon.
Thus much /or the beginning and progress of
the deluge. Burnet.
So we say, for me, for myself, or as for
me, I have no -dn.xiety, but for you I have
Vol. I.
FOR
apprehensions ; all implying towards or on
the side of.
16. Through a certain space ; during a cer-
tain time; as, to travel for three days ; to
sail/or seven weeks ; he holds his office /or
life; he traveled on sand for ten miles to-
gether. These senses seem to imply pass
ing, the pro|)er sense offer.
17. In quest of ; in order to obtain ; as, to
search /or arguments ; to recur to antiqui-
ty/or examples. See No. 11.
18. According to ; as far as.
Chimists have not been able, for aught is
\nilgarly known, by fire alone to separate true
sulphur fiom antimony. Boyle
I. Noting meeting, coming together, or re-
ception. 1 am ready for you ; that is, I
am ready to meet or receive you.
I. Towards ; of tendency to ; as an incli
nation /or drink.
21. Ill favor of; on the part or side of; that
is, towards or inclined to. One is fo
free government ; another is for a limited
monarchy.
Aristotle is for poetical justice. Dennis.
22. With a view to obtain ; in order to pos-
sess. He writes for money, or for fame ;
that is, towards meeting, or to have in re-
turn, as a reward.
t. Towards ; with tendency to, or in favoi
of It is/or his honor to retire from office.
It is for our quiet to have few intimate
connections.
24. Notwithstanding; agamst; m opposition
to. The fact may be so,/orany thing tl
has yet appeared. The task is great, but
for all that, I shall not be deterred from uii
dertaking it. This is a different applica
(ion of the sense of No. 1. 2. 3. 4. [Hoc non
obstante.]
The writer will do what she pleases foi
me. Spnct. No.
25. For the use of ; to be used in ; that is.
towards, noting advantage.
The oak for nothing ill,
Tlie osier good for twigs, the poplar /o
mill. Spenser.
26. In recompense of; in return of
Now, for so many glorious actions done,
For peace at home,'and/or the public wealth,
I mean to crown a bowl /or Cesar's health.
Dryden.
[See No. 1.]
27. In proportion to ; or rather, looking
wards, regarding. He is tall for one ofl
his years, or tall/or his age.
28. By means of.
Moral consideration can no way move the
sensible appetite, were it not/or the will.
Hale
By the want of
The inhabitants suffered severely both fc
provisions and fuel. Marshall
30. For my life or heart, tliough my life were
to be given in exchange, or as the price of ipORBAD', »rff. of forbid.
purchase. I cannot, for my life, under
stand the man. No. 1.
31. For to, denoting purpose. For was
ciently placed before the infinitives of
verbs, and the use is correct, but now ob
solete except in vulgar language. I came
for to see you ; pour voiis voir.
FOR, con. The word by which a reason
introduced of something before advanced
"That ye may be the children of your fa-
ther who is in heaven ■,for he maketli his
sun to rise on the evil and on the good
86
F O R
In such sentences,/or has the sense of be-
cause, by reason that, as in No. 14 ; with
this difference that in No. 14, the word
jirecedes a single noun, and here it pre-
cedes a sentence or clause : but the phrase
seems to be elliptical, /or this cause or rea-
son, which follows, he maketh his sun to
rise, &c. In Romans, xiii. 6. we find the
word in both its ajiplications, " For, for
this cause ye pay tribute also — ;" the first
for referring to the sentence following ;
the latter to the noun cause.
2. Because; on this account that ; properly,
for that.
For as much, compounded, forasmuch, is
equivalent to, in regard to that, in consid-
eration of. Forasmtich as the thirst is in-
tolerable, the patient may be indulged in a
little drink.
For why, Fr. pour quoi, [per quod, pro quo.]
because ; for this reason.
FOR'ACiE, n. [Fr.fourra^e ; Arm. fouraich ;
It. foraggio ; Sp.forrage ; I'ort. forragem ;
D. voeraadge. R tliis word signifies pri-
marily food or fodder, it is connected with
W.pori, to feed, and L. voro. But I take
it to be from the root of Sax. /aran, to go,
and primarily to signify that which is col-
lected in wandering, roving, excursion.
In Porl.foragido is a vagabond, and/orre-
jar is to waste, to ravage.]
1. Food of any kind for horses and cattle,
as grass, pasture, hay, corn and oats.
2. The act of providing forage.
Col. Mawhood completed his forage unmo-
lested. Marshall.
If the forage is to be made at a distance from
the camp — Encyc.
3. Search for provisions ; the act of feeding
abroad. Milton.
FOR' AGE, tJ. i. To collect food for horses
and cattle, by wandering about and feed-
ing or stripping the country. Marshall.
2. To wander far ; to rove. Obs. Shak.
3. To ravage ; to feed on spoil. Shak.
FOR'AgE, v. t. To strip of provisions for
horses, &c. Encyc.
FOR'A6ER, n. One that goes in search of
food for horses or cattle.
FOR'AGING, ppr. or a. Collecting provis-
ions for horses and cattle, or wandering in
search of food ; ravaging ; stripping. The
general sent out a foraging party, with a
guard.
FOR'AGING, n. An inroad or incursion for
forage or plunder. Bp. Hall.
FORAM'INOUS, a. [L. foramen, a hole,
from/oro, to bore.]
Full of holes ; perforated in many places ;
porous. [Little used.] Bacon.
FOR, as a prefix to verbs, has usually the
force of a negative or privative, denoting
against, that is, before, or away, aside.
FORBA'THE, v. t. To bathe. [.Vo< in use.]
I Sacki-aU.
FORBEAR, v.i. pret. forbore ; pp. forborne.
[Sax. forbwran ; for and bear.]
11. To stop ; to cease ; to hold from proceed-
j ing ; as, forbear to repeat these reproach-
I ful words.
[2. To pause ; to delay ; as, forbear a while.
|3. To abstain ; to oinit ; to hold one's self
: from motion or entering on an affair.
Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle,
' or shall I /ortear? 1 Kings ssii.
F O R
FOR
FOR
4. To refuse ; to decline.
Whether they will hear, or whether they will
forbear. Ezek. ii.
5. To be patient ; to restrain from action or
violence. Prov. xxv. 15.
FORBEAR, V. t. To avoid voltintarily ; to
decline.
Forbear his presence. Shak
2. To abstain from; to omit; to avoid do-
ing. Learn from the scriptures what you
ought to do and what to forbear.
Have we not power to forbear working
Cor. i.^.
3. To spare ; to treat with indulgence and
patience.
Forbearing one another in love. Eph. iv.
4. To withhold.
Forbear thee from meddling with God, wh(
is n ith me, that he destroy thee not. 2 Chron
XXXV.
FORBEARANCE, >i. The act of avoiding,
shunning or omitting ; either the cessation
or intermission of an act commenced, or
a withholding from beginning an act.
Liberty is the power of doing or forbear-
ing an action, according as the doing or
forbearance has a preference in the mind.
The forbearance of sin is followed with
satisfaction of mind.
!?. Command of temper ; restraint of pas
sions.
Have a continent forbearance, till the speed
of his rage goes slower. Shak
3, The exercise of patience ; long suffering;
indulgence towards those who injure us
lenity ; delay of resentment or punish
inent.
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness
and forbearance, and long suffering ? Rom. ii
FORBEARER, n. One that intermits or in
tercepts. Tusser.
FORBEARING, ppr. Ceasing; pausing;
withholding from action ; exercising pa-
tience and indulgence.
2. a. Patient ; long suffering.
FORBEARING, n. A ceasing or restrain-
ing from action ; patience ; long suffer-
ing.
FORBID', V. I. pret. forbad; f)p. forbid, for-
bidden. [Sa\.forbeodan;D. verbieden ; G-
verbiden ; Dan. forbyder ; Sw. forbiuda ;
for and bid.] Literally, to bid or com-
mand against. Hence,
1. To prohibit; to interdict ; to command to
forbear or not to do. The laws of God
forbid us to swear. Good manners also
forbid us to use ])rofane language. All
servile labor and idle amusements on the
sabbath are forbidden.
2. To command not to enter; as, I lm\e for-
bid him my house or presence. This
phrase seems to be elliptical ; to forbid
from entering or approaching.
3. To oppose ; to hinder ; to obstruct. An
impassable river forbids the approach of
the army.
A blaze of glory that forbids the sight.
Dryden
4. To accurse ; to blast. 06*. Sfrnk.
FORBID', V. i. To utter a prohibition ; hut
in the intransitive form, there is always an
ellipsis. I would go, but my state of
health /oriirfs, that is, forbids me to go, or
my going.
FORBID', ) ^„ Prohibited ; as the
FORBID'DEN, \ PP' forbidden fruit.
2. Hindered ; obstructed.
FORBID'DANCE, n. Prohibition ; com
niand or edict against a thing. [Littl<
used.] Shak.
FORBID'DENLY, adv. In an unlawful
manner. Shak
FORBID'DENNESS, n. A state of being
prohibited. [JVot used.] Boyle
FORBID'DER, n. He or that which for
bids or enacts a prohibition.
FORBID'DING, ppr. Prohibiting; hinder-
ing.
2. a. Repelling approach ; repidsive ; rais-
ing abhorrence, aversion or dislike ; disa-
greeable ; as a forbidding aspect ; a for-
bidding formality ; a forbidding air.
FORBID'DING, n. Hindrance ; opposition.
Shak
FORBO'RE, pret. of forbear.
FORBORNE, pp. of forbear.
Few ever repented of having /orJorne to
speak. Ramble
FORCE, n. [Fr. force ; ll. forza ; Sp. fuei
za ; Port, forfa ; from L. fortis. All
words denoting force, power, strength,
are from verbs which express straining, or
driving, rushing, and this word has the el
ements of Sax. foran, and L. vireo.]
Strength ; active power ; vigor ; might ;
energy that inay be exerted ; that physi
cal |)roperty in a body which may produc
action or motion in another body, or may
counteract such action. By the force of
the muscles we raise a weight, or resist an
assault.
2. Momentum ; the quantity of power pro-
duced by motion or the action of one body
on another; as the force of a cannon ball.
3. That which causes an operation or moral
effect ; strength ; energy ; as the force of
the mind, will or understanding.
4. Violence ; power exerted against will or
consent ; compulsory power. Let con
querors consider that force alone can keep
what /orce has obtained.
5. Strength ; moral power to convince the
mind. There is great force in an argu-
ment.
6. Virtue; efficacy. No presumption or hy-
pothesis can be of force enough to over-
throw constant experience.
7. Vahdity ; power to bind or hold. If the
conditions of a covenant are not fulfilled,
the contract is of no force. A testament
is of force after tlie testator is dead. Heb.
ix. 17.
Strength or power for war ; armament ;
troops ; an army or navy ; as a military
or naval /orcc ; sometimes in the plural';
as military /orcej.
9. Destiny ; necessity ; compulsion ; any ex-
traneous power to which men are subject ;
as ihe force of fate or of divine decrees.
10. Internal power ; as the/orce of habit.
11. Intoip, any unlawful violence to person
or property. This is simple, when no oth-
er crime attends it, as the entering into an-
other's possession, without committing
any other unlawful act. It is compound,
when some other violence or unlawful act
is committed. The law also implies force,
as when a person enters a house or inclo-
sure lawfully, but afterwards does an un-
lawful act. In this case, the law supposes
the first entrance to be for that purpose,
and therefore by force.
Physical force, is the force of material bodies.
Moral force, is the power of acting on the
reason in judging and determining.
Mechanical force, is the power that belongs
to bodies at rest or in motion. The pres-
sure or tension of bodies at rest is called a
mechanical force, and so is the power of a
body in motion. There is also the force of
gravity or attraction, centrifugal and cen-
tripetal/orcfcs, expansive /orcc, &c.
FORCE, V. t. To compel ; to constrain to
do or to forbear, by the exertion of a pow-
er not resistible. Blen are forced to sub-
mit to conquerors. Masters force their
slaves to labor.
2. To overpower by strength.
I should have forced thee soon with other
arms. Milton.
3. To impel ; to press ; to drive ; to draw or
push by main strength ; a sense of very
extensive use ; as, to force along a wag-
on or a ship ; to force away a man's
arms; water/orce« its way through a nar-
row channel ; a man may be forced out of
his possessions.
4. To enforce ; to urge ; to press.
Forcing my strength, and gathering to the
shore. Dryden.
5. To compel by strength of evidence ; as,
to force conviction on the mind; to force
one to acknowledge the truth of a propo-
sition.
6. To storm ; to assault and take by vio-
lence ; as, to force a town or fort.
7. To ravish ; to violate by force, as a fe-
male.
8. To overstrain; to distort; as a forced
conceit.
0. To cause to produce ripe fruit prema-
tin-ely, as a tree ; or to cause to ripen ])re-
maturely, as fruit.
10. To man ; to strengthen by soldiers ; to
garrison. Obs. Shak. Raleigh.
To force from, to wrest from ; to extort.
To force out, to drive out; to compel to
out or to leave ; also, to extort.
To force wine, is to fine it by a short process,
or in a short time.
To force plants, is to urge the growth of
idants by artificial heat.
To force meat, is to stuff it.
FORCE, V. i. To lay stress on. Obs.
Camden.
2. To strive. 04*. Spenser.
3. To use violence. Spenser.
FORCED, pp. Compelled ; impelled ; driv-
en by violence ; urged ; stormed ; ravish-
ed.
2. a. Affected ; overstrained ; unnatural ; as
a forced style.
FORCEDLY, adv. Violently ; constrainedly ;
unnaturally. [Little used.]
FORCEDNESS, n. The state of being for-
ced ; distortion.
FORCEFUL, a. Impelled by violence; driv-
en with force; acting with power.
Against the steed he threw
tiis forceful spear. Dryden.
2. Violent ; impetuous.
FORCEFULLY, adv. Violently; impetu-
ously.
FORCELESS, a. Having little or no force ;
feeble; impotent. Shak.
FORCEMEAT, n. A kind of stuffing in
cookery.
FOR'CE'PS, n. [L.] Literally, a pair of
pinchers or tongs.
FOR
In surgery, an instrument for extracting any
thing from a wound, and for like purposes,
Quincy.
A pair of scissors for cutting off or dividing
tlie fleshy membranous parts of the body.
Encyc.
FORCER, n. He or that which forces,
drives or constrains.
2. The embolus of a pump; the instrument
by which water is driven up a pump.
ffUkins
FORCIBLE, «. Powerful; strong; mighty;
as a punishment forcible to bridle sin.
Hooker.
2. Violent ; impetuous ; driving forward with
force ; as a. forcible stream.
;?. Efficacious ; active ; powerful.
Sweet smells arc most forcible in dry sub-
stances, when broken. Bacon.
1. Powerful; acti ig with force; impres-
sive; &fi forcible words or arguments.
5. Containing force ; acting by violence ; as
forcible means.
6. Done by force ; suffered by force. The
abdication of James, his advocates hold to
have been forcible. Swifl.
7. Valid ; binding ; obligatory. [JVbl used.]
Johnson.
8. In law, forcible entry is an actual violent
entry into houses or lands.
Forcible detainer, is a violent withhold-
ing of the lands, &c. of another from his
possession.
Forcible abduction, is the act of taking
away wrongfully, as a child without tlie
consent of the father, a ward without the
consent of the guardian, or any person
contrary to his or her will. Blackstone.
FORCIBLENESS, n. Force ; violence.
FORCIBLY, adv. ^y violence or force.
M. Strongly ; powerfully ; with power or
energy ; impressively.
The gospel offers such considerations as are
fit to work very forcibly on our hopes and fears
Tillotson.
.3. Impetuously ; violently ; with great
strength ; as a stream rushing forcibly
down a precipice.
FORCING, ppr. Compelling; impelling;
driving ; storming ; ravishing.
2. Causing to ripen before the natin-al sea-
son, as fruit ; or causing to produce ripe
fruit prematurely, as a tree.
3. Fining wine by a speedy process.
FORCING, n. In gardenine;, the art of rais-
ing plants, flowers, and fruits, at an ear-
lier season than the natural one, by artifi-
cial heat. Cyc.
2. The operation of fining wines by a speedy
process.
FOR'CIPATED, a. [from forceps.] Formed
like a pair of pinchers to open and inclose ;
as a forcipated month. Derham.
FORD, n. [Sax. ford,fyrd; G. furt ; from
the verb faran, to go or pass, or its root.]
1. A place in a river or other water, where
it may be passed by man or beast on foot,
or by wading.
2. A stream ; a current.
Permit my ghost to pass the Stygian ford.
Dryden.
FORD, V. t. To pass or cross a river or
other water by treading or walking on the
bottom ; to pass through water by wa-
ding ; to wade through.
FOR
FORDABLE, a. That may be waded or
passed through on foot, as water.
FORDED, pp. Passed through on foot
waded.
FORDING, ppr. Wading ; passing througl
on foot, as water.
FORDO', V. t. [Sax. fordon ; for and do.]
To destroy ; to undo ; to ruin ; to weary.
\M>t in use.] Chaucer.
FORE, a. [Sax. fore, foran ; G. vor ; D
voor ; Sw. for; Dan. ybr ; Hindo, para,
Ir. for. This is the same word in origin
as for, from the root of Sax. faran, to go,
to advance.]
1. Properly, advanced, or being in advance
of something in motion or progression
as the /ore end of a chain carried in meas
uring land ; the fore oxen or horses in a
team.
2. Advanced in time ; coming in advance of
something ; coming first ; anterior ; prece
ding ; prior ; as the fore part of the last
century ; the fore part of the day, week
or year.
3. Advanced in order or series ; antecedent
I theybre part of a writing or bill.
4. Being in front or towards the face ; oppo-
sed to back or behind; as the fore part
of a garment.
.5. Going first ; usually preceding the other
part; as the fore part of a ship, or of a
coach.
FORE, ado. In the part that precede
goes first.
In seamen's language, fore and aft signifies
the whole length of the ship, or from end
to end, from stem to stern. Mar. Did.
Fore, in composition, denotes, for the most
part, priority of time ; sometimes, advance
in place.
For tlie etymologies of the compounds
of fore, see the principal word.
FOREADMON'ISH, v. t. To admonish be
forehand, or before the act or event.
FOREADVI'SE, v. t. s as z. To advise or
counsel before the time of action or before
the event ; to preadmonish. Shak
FOREALLEDgE, v. t. foreallej'. To alledge
or cite before. Fotherbii
FOREAPPOINT', 11. t. To set, order oi
appoint beforehand. Sherwood.
FOREAPPOINT'MENT, n. Previous ap-
pointment ; preordination. Sherwood.
FORE>ARM, V. t. To arm or prepare for
attack or resistance before the time of|
need. South
FOREBO'DE, v. t. To foretell; to prog-
nosticate.
a. To foreknow ; to be prescient of; to feel
a secret sense of something future ; as
my heart forebodes a sad reverse.
FOREBO'DEMENT, n. A presaging ; pre
sagement.
FOREBO'DER, n. One who forebodes ; e
prognosticator ; a soothsayer.
^Estrange.
2. A foreknower.
FOREBO'DING,p;)r. Prognosticating ; fore-
telling ; foreknowing.
FOREBODING, n. Prognostication.
FOREBRACE, n. A rope applied to the
fore yard-arm to change the position of
the foresail. Mar. Diet.
FOREBY', prep, [fore and by.] Near ; hard
by ; fast by. Obs. Spenser.
FOR
FOREC^AST, V. t. To foresee ; to provide
against.
ll is wisdom to forecast consequences.
L' Estrange.
2. To scheme ; to plan before execution.
He shall forecast his devices against the
tronft holds. Dan. xi.
3. To adjust, contrive or appoint before-
hand.
The time so well/orecos^ Dryden.
FORECAST, r. i. To form a scheme pre-
viously ; to contrive beforehand.
Forecasting how his foe he might annoy.
Spenser.
FO'REe^AST, n. Previous contrivance;
tbresight, or the antecedent determina^
tion proceeding from it; as a man of little
forecast.
FORECASTER, n. One who foresees or
contrives beforehand.
FORECASTING, ppr. Contriving previ-
ously.
FO'RECASTLE, n. A short deck in the
forepart of a ship above the upper deck,
usually terminated in ships of war with
a breast-work ; the foremost part forming
the top of the beak-head, and the hind
part reaching to the after part of the fore
chains. Mar. Diet.
ORECHO'SEN, a. forecho'zn. Preelected ;
chosen beforehand.
FORECITED, a. Cited or quoted before
or aljove. Arbuthnot.
FORECLOSE, v. t. s as z. To shut up; to
preclude ; to stop ; to prevent.
The embargo with Spain/oreriosed this trade.
Carew.
To foreclose a mortgager, in law, is to cut
him off from his equity of redemption, or
the power of redeeming the mortgaged
premises, by a judgment of court.
Blackstone.
[To foreclose a mortgage is not technically
correct, but is often used.]
FORECLOSURE, h. s as :. Prevention.
2. The act of foreclosing, or depriving a
mortgager of the right" of redeeming a
mortgaged estate. Blackstone.
FORECONCEI'VE, v. t. To preconceive.
Bacon.
FOREDA'TE, i-. t. To date before the true
time.
FOREDA'TED, pp. Dated before the true
time. Milton.
FO'REDECK, n. The forepart of a deck,
or of a ship.
FOREDESI'GN, v. t. To plan beforehand ;
to intend previously. Cheune
FORE-DETERM'INE, v. t. To decree be-
forehand. Hopkins.
FOREDOOM', V. t. To doom beforehand ;
to predestinate.
Thou art foredoomed to view the Stjgian
state. Dryden.
FOREDOOM', n. Previous doom or sen-
FORElioOR, 71. The door in the front of
a house.
FORE-END', n. The end which precedes ;
the anterior part. Bacon.
FOREFATHER, n. An ancestor; one who
precedes another in the line of genealo-
gy, in any degree ; usually in a remote
degree.
FOREFEND', v. t. To hinder ; to fend off;
to avert; to prevent approach; to forbid
or prohibit. Dryden.
F O R
2. To defend ; to guard ; to secure. Shak.
This word, like tlie L. arceo, is applied to tlie
thing assailing, and to the thing assailed.
To drive back or resist that which assails,
is to hinder its approach, to forbid or
avert, and this act defends the thing threat-
ened or assailed.
FOREFIN'GER, n. The finger next to the
thumb ; the index ; called by our Saxon
ancestoi-s, the shoot-finger, from its use in
archery.
FOREFLQW, v. t. To flow before.
Dryden.
FOREFOOT, n. One of the anterior feet
of a quadruped or multiped.
2. A hand, in contempt. .STiaA:.
rt. In a ship, a piece of timber which termi-
nates the keel at the fore-end.
FOREFRONT', n. The foremost part. The
forefront of the battle, is the part where
the contest is most warm, and where a
soldier is most exposed. 2 Sam. xi. 15.
FO'REGAME, n. A first game ; first plan.
IVhitlock.
FOREGO', V. t. [See Go.] To forbear to
possess or enjoy ; voluntarily to avoid the
enjoyment of good. Let us forego the
pleasures of sense, to secure immortal
bliss.
2. To give up ; to renounce ; to resign. But
this word is usually applied to things not
possessed or enjoyed, and which cannot he
resigned.
3. To lose.
4. To go before ; to jirecede. Ohs. Shak.
FOREGO'ER, n. An ancestor ; a progeni-
tor. [JVot used.] Shak.
2. One who goes before another. Davies.
.3. One who forbears to enjoy.
FOREGO'ING, ppr. Forbearing to have,
possess or enjoy.
2. a. Preceding ; going before, in time or
place ; antecedent ; as a foregoing period
of time ; a foregoing clause in a writing.
FOREGONE, pp. foregawn'. Forborne to
be possessed or enjoyed. Spenser.
2. Gone before ; past. 06s. Shak.
FO'REGROUND, n. The part of the field
or expanse of a picture which seems to
lie before the figures. Dryden. Johnson.
FOREGUESS', v. t. To conjecture. [Bad.]
Sherwood.
FO'REHAND, n. The part of a horse
whiclj is before the rider.
2. The chief part. Shak.
FO'REHAND, a. Done sooner than is reg
ular.
And so extenuate W\e forehand sin. Shak
FO'REHANDED, a. Early ; timely ; sea
sonable ; as a forehanded care. Taylor.
2. In America, in good circumstances a
property ; free from debt and possessed ofl
property ; as a forehanded farmer.
3. Formed in the foreparts.
A substantial true-bred beast, bravely fore-
handed. Dryden.
FOREHEAD, n. for'hed, or rather for'ed.
The i)art of the face which extends from
the hair on the top of the head to tlie
eyes.
2. Impudence ; confidence ; assurance ; au-
daciousness. Bp. Hall. Swift.
FOR'HE AD-BALD, a. Bald above the
forehead. Levit. xiii. 47.
FOREHE'AR, v. i. To be informed before.
FOR
FOREHEND', v. t. To seize. [JVot in use.]
FOREHEW, V. t. To hew or cut in front,
Sackville.
FOREHOLDING, n. Predictions ; ominous
forebodings ; superstitious prognostica-
tions. [JVot used.] L' Estrange.
FO'REHOQK, n. In ships, a breast-hook ;
a piece of timber placed across the stem
to unite the bows and strengthen the
forepart of the ship. Mar. Diet
FO REHORSE, n. The horse in a team
which goes foremost.
FOREIGN, a. for'an. [Ft. forain ; Norm
forein ; Sp. foraneo ; from the root of Sax
faran, to go or depart ; L.foris, foras, Fr.
hors, abroad.]
1. Belonging to another nation or country ;
alien ; not of the country in which one re
sides ; extraneous. We call every conn
try foreign, which is not within the juris
diction of our own government. In this
sense, Scotland before the union wasybr-
eign to England, and Canada is now for-
eign to the United States. More general-
ly foreign is applied to countries more re-
mote than an adjacent territory ; as aybr-
eign market ; a foreign prince. In the
United States, all transatlantic countriei
are foreign.
2. Produced in a distant country or jurisdic
tion ; coming from another country ; ai
foreign goods ; goods of foreign manufac-
ture ; aforeig7i minister.
3. Remote ; not belonging ; not connected ;
with to or from. You dissemble ; the sen-
timents you express are foreign to your
heart. This design is foreign from my
thoughts. [The use o{ from is preferable
and best authorized.]
4. Impertinent ; not pertaining ; not to the
liurpose. The observation is foreign from
the subject under consideration.
5. Excluded ; not admitted ; held at a dis
tance. Shak.
6. Extraneous ; adventitious ; not native or
natural.
7. In law, a foreign attachment is an attach-
ment of the goods of a foreigner within
a city or liberty, for the satisfaction of a
debt due from the foreigner to a citizen ;
or an attachinent of the money or goods
of a debtor, in the hands of another per-
son.
A foreign bill of exchange, is a bill drawr
by a person in one country, on his corres-
pondent or agent in another, as distin-
guished from an inland bill, which h
drawn by one person on another in the
same jurisdiction or country.
Foreign plea, a plea or objection to a judge
as incompetent to try the question, on
the ground that it is not within his juris-
diction. Encyc
FOR'EIGNER, n. for'aner. A person bdri
in a foreign country, or without the coun-
try or jurisdiction of which one speaks. A
Spaniard is a/oreig'ner in France and Eng-
land. All men not born in the United
States are to them foreigners, and they
are aliens till naturalized. A naturalized
person is a citizen ; but we still call hin
a foreigner by birth.
FOR'EIGNNESS, n. for'anness. Remote
ness; want of relation ; as the foreignnes.
of a subject from the main business.
FOR
FORE-IMAG'INE, v. t. To conceive or fan-
cy before proof, or beforehand.
FOREJUDGE, v.t. forejuf. To prejudge;
to judge beforehand, or before hearing
the facts and proof
2. In late, to expel from a court, for mal-
practice or non-appearance. When an
attorney is sued, and called to appear in
court, if he declines, he is forejudged, and
his name is struck from the rolls.
FOREJUDG'MENT, n. Judgment previ-
ously formed. Spenser.
FOREKNOW, V. t. [See Know.] To have
previous knowledge of; to foresee.
Who would the miseries of man foreknow ?
Dryden.
For whom he diiforekjiow, he also did pre-
destinate to be conformed to the image of his
Son. Rom. viii.
FOREKNOWABLE, a. That may be fore-
known. More.
FOREKNOWER, n. One that foreknows.
FOREKNOWLEDGE, n. Knowledge of
a thing before it happens ; prescience.
If I foreknew.
Foreknowledge had no influence on their
fault. Milton.
FOR'EL, n. A kind of parchment for the
cover of books.
FO'RELAND, n. A promontory or cape;
a point of land extending into the sea
some distance from the line of the shore ;
a head land ; as the North and South
Foreland in Kent, in England.
FORELA'Y, V. t. To lay wait for ; to en-
trap by ambush. Dryden.
2. To contrive antecedently. Johnson.
FORELE'ADER, n. One who leads others
by his example.
FORELEND', r. t. To lend or give before-
hand. Spenser.
FORELOCK, n. The lock or hair that
grows from the forepart of the head.
Take time by ihe forelock. Sunft.
2. In sea language, a Utile flat pointed
wedge of iron, used at the end of a bolt,
to retain it firmly in its place.
Mar. Did.
FORELQOK', v. t. To look beforehand or
forward. Spenser.
FO'REMAN. n. The first or chief man ;
particularly, the chief man of a jury, who
acts as their speaker.
2. The chief man in a printing office or other
establishment, who conducts the whole
work.
FO'REMAST, n. The mast of a ship or
other vessel which is placed in the fore-
part or forecastle, and carries the fore-
sail and foretop-sail yards. Encyc.
Foremast-men, on board of ships, the men
who take in the top-sails, sling the yards,
furl the sails, &;c. Encyc.
FOREMEANT', a. forement'. Intended be-
forehand. Spenser.
FOREMEN'TIONED, a. Mentioned be-
fore ; recited or written in a former part
of the same writing or discourse.
FOREMOST, a. First in place ; most ad-
vanced ; as the foremost troops of an
army.
2. First in dignity. In honor he held the
foremost rank.
FO'REMOTHER, n. A female ancestor.
Prideaux.
FOR
FO'RENAMED, a. Named or nominated
befi.ie.
2. Mentioned before in the same writing or
FO'RENOON, n. Tlie former part of the
day, from the morning to meridian or
noon. We usually call the first part of
the day, from the dawn to the time ol
breakfast, or the hour of business, the
morning, and from this period to noon,
the forenoon. But the limits are not pre-
cisely defined by custom.
FORENO'TICE, n. Notice or information
of an event before it happens. Rymer.
FOREN'SIe, a. [from L. forensis, from fo-
rum, a court.]
Belonging to courts of judicature ; used in
courts or legal proceedings ; as a forensic
term ; forensic eloquence or disputes.
Locke. Walls.
FOREORDA'IN, v. I. To ordain or appoint
beforehand ; to preordain ; to predesti-
nate ; to predetermine. Hooker
FOREORDINA'TION, n. Previous ordina
tion or appointment ; predetermination
predestination. Jackson.
FO'REPART, n. The part first in time ;
as the forepart of the day or week.
2. The part most advanced in place ; the
anterior part ; as the forepart of any mo-
ving body.
3. The beginning ; as the forepart of a se-
ries.
FO'REPAST, a. Past before a certain time ;
as forepart sins. [Little used.]
Hammond.
FORE-POSSESS'ED, a. Holding formerly
in possession ; also, preoccupied ; prepos-
sessed ; preengaged. Sanderson.
FOREPRI'ZE, V. t. To prize or rate be-
forehand. Hooker.
FOREPROM'ISFJ), a. Promised before-
hand ; preengaged.
FOREQUO'TED, a. Cited before ; quoted
in a foregoing part of the work.
FO'RERANK, n. The first rank ; the front.
Shak.
FORERE'ACH upon, v. t. In naoigation,
to gain or advance upon in progression
or motion. Mar. Did.
FORERE'AD, i'. t. To signify by tokens.
Obs. Spenser.
FORERE'ADING, n. Previous perusal.
Hales.
FORERECI'TED, a. Named or recited
before. Shak.
FOREREMEM'BERED, a. Called to mind
previously. Mountagu.
FO'RERIGHT, a. Ready ; forward ; quick.
Ma.isinger.
FO'RERIGHT, adv. Right forward ; on-
ward. Btaum.
FORERUN', V. t. To advance before ; to
come before as an earnest of something to
follow ; to introduce as a harbuiger.
Heaviness /orerwns the good event. Slmk.
2. To precede ; to have the start of.
Graunt.
FORERUN'NER, n. A messenger sent be-
fore to give notice of the approach of oth-
ers ; a harbinger.
My elder brothers, my forerunners came.
Dry den.
2. An ancestor or predecessor. Obs.
3. A prognostic ; a sign foreshowing some-
FOR
thing to follow. Certain pains in the head
back and limbs are the forerunners of a
fever.
FO'RESAID, a. Spoken before. [See
./Iforesaid.]
FO'RESAIL, n. A sail extended on the fore-
yard, which is supported by the foremast.
FORESA'Y, V. t. To predict ; to foretell.
Shak.
FORESA'YING, n. A prediction.
Sherwood.
FORESEE', u. <. To see beforehand; to see
or know an event before it happens; to
have prescience of; to foreknow.
FORESEE' ING, ppr. Seeing before tlie
event.
FORESEE'N, pp. Seen beforehand.
FORESEE'R, n. One who foresees or fore-
knows.
FORESE'IZE, v.t. To seize beforehand.
FORESHAD'OW, v. t. To shadow or typify
beforehand. Dryden.
FORESHA'ME, t>. «. To shame; to bring
reproach on. Shak.
FORESHEW. [See Foreshow.]
FO'RESHIP, n. The forepart of a ship
Acts xxvii.
FORESHORT'EN, v. t. In painting, tc
shorten figures for the sake of showing
those behind. Dryde
FORESHORT'ENING, n. In painting, tl
act of shortening figures for the sake of
showing those behind. Drydi
The art of conveying to the mind the
impression of the entire length of an ob
ject, when represented as viewed in an
oblique or receding position. Cyc.
FORESHOW, V. t. To show beforehand ;
to prognosticate.
Next, like Aurora, Spenser rose,
WTiose purple blush the d^- foreshows.
Denham
3. To predict ; to foretell.
3. To represent betbrehand, or before ii
comes. Hooker.
FORESHOWER, )i. One who predicts.
FORESHROUDS', n. The shrouds of a
ship attached to the foremast.
FO'RESIDE, n. The front side ; also, a spe-
cious outside. Spenstr.
FO'RESIGHT, n. Prescience ; foreknow-
ledge ; prognostication ; the act of fore-
seeing. .Milton.
3. Provident care of futurity ; foreknowledge
accompanied witli prudence in guarding
against evil. Spenstr.
FORESIGHTFUI., a. Prescient; j.rovi-
dent. [Liltte used.] Sidncn.
FORESIG'NIFY, v. t. To signify before-
hand ; to betoken previmisly ; to foreshow ;
to typify. Hooker.
FO RESKIN, »i. The skin that covers the
glans penis; the prepuce.
FO'RESKIRT, n. The loose and pendu-
lous part of a coat before.
ORESLACK', V. t. To neglect by idlene
Shak.
FORESLACK'
\J\tot used.] Spenser.
FORESLOW, J., t. To delay; to hinder; to
impede ; to obstruct. [JVol used.]
No stream, no wood, no mouiilain could/orf-
slow
Their hasty pace. Fairfax
3. To neglect ; to omit. [Xot used.]
Bacon.
F O R
FORESLOW, V. i. To be dilatory ; to loiit. .
[jYot used.] Shak.
FORESPE'AK, v.t. Toforesay; to fore-
show ; to foretell or predict. Camden.
2. To forbid. [.Vol used.] Shak.
3. To bewitch. [ATot used.] Drayton.
FORESPE'AKING, n. A prediction ; also,
a preface. [J^'ot used.]
FORESPKE'CH, n. A preface. [.Vol used.]
Wasted in strength ;
FORESPENT', a.
tired ; exhausted.
2. Past; as life/orespfn*. [Little used.]
Spenser.
FORESPUR'RER, n. One that rides before.
[Mtt used.] Shak.
FOR'EST, n. [It. foresta; Fr.foret; Arm.
forest ; G. forst ; Ir. foraois, foraighis ;
Norm, fores ; from the same root as L.
foris, Fr. hors, and the Sa.x. faran, to go,
to depart. Hence the It. forestiere, Sp.
forastero, signifies strange, foreign ; It.
foresto, wild, savage ; Port, forasleiro, a
stranger. This enables us to understand
the radical meaning of other words which
signify strange, wild, barbarous, &c. They
all express distance from cities and civili-
zation, and are from roots expressing de-
parture or wandering.]
1. An extensive wood, or a large tract of
land covered with trees. In America, the
word is usually applied to a wood of na-
tive growth, or a tract (if woodland which
has never been cultivated. It differs from
wood or woods chiefly in extent. We
read of the Hercynian/orcsi, in Germany,
and the forest of Ardennes, in France or
Gaul.
3. In law, in Great Britain, a certain territo-
ry of woody grounds and pastures, privi-
leged for wild beasts and fowls of forest,
chase and warren, to rest and abide in,
under the protection of the king, for his
])lpasure. In this sense, the word has no ap-
plication in America.
Forest laws, laws for governing and regida-
ting forests, and preserving game.
England.
FOR'EST, r. t. To cover with trees or
wood.
FO'REST'AFF, n. An instrument used at
sea, for taking the altitudes of heavenly
bodies : called also cross-staff. Encyc.
FOR'ESTA6E, n. An ancient service paid
by foresters to the king ; also, the right of
foresters. England.
FORESTALL', v. t. [See Stall.] To anti-
cipate ; to take betbrehand.
Why need a maa forestall his date of grief.
And run to meet what he would most avoid?
Milton.
2. To hinder by preoccupation or preven-
tion.
I will not forestall your judgment of the rest.
Pope.
3. In law, to buy or bargain for corn, or pro-
visions of any kind, before they arrive at
the market or fair, with intent to sell them
at higher prices. This is a penal offense.
Encyc.
4. To deprive by something prior. [JVol in
e.] Shak.
FORESTALLED, pp. Anticipated; hin-
lered ; purchased before arrival in market.
FORESTALL'ER, n. One who forestaUs ;
iwrson who purchases provisions before
FOR
FOR
FOR
tliey come to the fair or market, with a
view to raise the price. Locke.
FORKSTALL'ING, ppr. Anticipating ; hin-
dering ; buying provisions before they ar-
rive in market, with intent to sell them at
higher prices.
FORESTALL'ING, n. Anticipation ; pre-
vention ; the act of buying provisions be-
fore they are offered in market, with intent
to sell them at higher prices.
FORESTAY, ji. \n a ship^s rigging, &\ar^e
strong rope reaching from the foremast
head towards the bowsprit end, to support
the mast. Mar. Did.
FOR'ESTED, pp. Covered with trees ;
wooded. Tooke.
FOR'ESTER, n. In England,an officer ap-
jiointed to watch a forest, preserve the
game, and institute suits for trespasses.
Encyc.
2. An inhabitant of a forest. Shak.
3. A forest tree. Evelyn.
FO'RESVVaT, a. [See Sweat.] Exhausted
by heat. Obs. Sidney.
FORETACK'LE, n. The tackle on the
foremast.
FORETASTE, n. A taste beforehand ; an-
ticipation. Tlie pleasures of piety are a
foretaste of lieaven.
FORETA'STE, v. t. To taste before pos-
session ; to have previous enjoyment or
experience of something; to anticipate.
2. To taste before another.
FORETA'STED, pp. Tasted beforehand
or before another. Milton.
FORETA'STER, n. One that tastes before-
hand or before another.
FORETA'STING, ppr. Tasting before.
FORETE'ACH, v. t. To teach beforehand.
Spenser.
FORETELL', v. t. To predict ; to tell be-
fore an event happens ; to pro])hesy.
Milton. Pope.
2. To foretoken ; to foreshow. Warton.
FORETELL', i'. i. To utter prediction or
prophecy.
All the prophets from Samuel, and those that
follow after, as many as have spoken, have like-
wise/orefoM of these days. Acts iii.
FORETELL' ER, n. One who predicts or
propliesies; a foreshower. Boyle.
FORETELLING, n. Prediction.
FORETHINK;, v. t. To think beforehand ;
to anticipate in the mind.
The soul of every man
Perpetually does forethink thy fall. Shak.
2. To contrive beforeliand. Bp. Hall.
FORETHINK', !'. i. Tx, contrive before-
hand. Smith.
FORETHOUGHT', /orefAaui'. pret. of fure-
think.
FO'RETHOUGHT, n. fo rethaut. A think-
ing beforehand ; anticipation ; prescience :
premeditation.
2. Provident care. Blacksione.
FORETO'KEN, v. t. To foreshew ; to pre-
signify ; to prognosticate.
Whilst strange prodigious signs foretoken
Wood. Daniel.
FORETO'KEN, n. Prognostic; previous
sign. Sidney.
FO'RETOOTH, n. p\a. foreteeth. One of|
the teeth in the forepart of the mouth ; an
incisor.
FO'RETOP, 71. The hair on the forepart
of the head.
2. That part of a woman's headdress that is
forward, or the top of a periwig.
3. In ships, the platform erected at the head
of the foremast. In this sense, the accent
on the two syllables is nearly equal.
FORETOP'-MAST, n. The mast erected
at the head of the foremast, and at the
head of which stands the foretop-gallant-
niast.
FOREVOUCH'ED, pp. Affirmed before ;
formerly told. Shak.
FO'REVVARD, n. The van ; the front. 1
Maccabees.
FOREWARN', v. t. foreivaurn'. To admon-
ish beforehand.
I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear.
2. To inform previously ; to give previous
notice. Milton.
3. To caution beforehand. Dryden.
FOREVVARN'ED, pp. Admonished, cau-
tioned or informed beforehand.
FOREWARN'ING,;);)r. Previously admon-
ishing or informing.
FOREVVARN'ING, n. Previous admoni-
tion, caution or notice.
FOREWEND', v. I. To go before. 05.t.
Spenser.
FOREWISH', V. t. To wish beforehand.
Knolles.
FO'REVVoMAN, n. A woman who is chief;
the head woman. Taller.
FOREVVORN, /?;>. [See mar.] Worn out;
wasted or obliterated by time or use.
Sidney.
FOR'FEIT, v.t.for'fit. [Fr.forfaire,forfa{t;
Low L. forisfacere, from L. foris, out or
abroad, and facio, to make; Norm./or/Uee,
forfeit, and forfist, forfeited.]
To lose or render confi.scable, by some fault,
offense or crime ; to lose the right to some
species of property or that which belongs
to one ; to alienate the right to possess by
some neglect or crime ; as, to forfeit an
estate by a breach of the condition of ten-
ure or by treason. By the ancient laws
of England, a man forfeited his estate by
neglecting or refusing to fulfill the condi-
tions on which it was granted to him, or
by a breach of fealty. A man now forfeits
his estate by committing treason. A man
forfeits his honor or reputation by a breach
of promise, and by any criminal or dis-
graceful act. Statutes declare that by cer-
tain acts a man shall forfeit a certain sum
of money. Under the feudal system, the
right to the land forfeited, vested in the
lord or superior. In modern times, the
right to things forfeited is generally regu
lated by statutes ; it is vested in the state,
in corporations, or in prosecutors or in-
formers, or partly in the state or a corpo-
ration, and partly in an individual.
The duelist, to secure the reputation of brave-
ry,/o»/ei(s the esteem of good men, and the fa-
vor of heaven.
FOR'FEIT, n. for'Jit. [Fr. forfail; W.for-
fed; how L.foyisfactura. Originally, and
still in French, a trespass, transgression or
crime. But with us, the effect of some
transgression or offense.]
1. That which is forfeited or lost, or the ri,
to which is alienated by a crime, offense,
neglect of duty, or breach of contract;
hence, a fine ; a mulct ; a penalty. He
that murders pays the forfeit of his life.
When a statute creates a penalty for a
transgression, either in money or in corpo-
ral punishment, the offender who, on con-
viction, pays the money or suffers the pun-
ishment, pays the forfeit.
2. One whose life is forfeited. [Not used.]
Shak.
FOR'FEIT, part. a. used for forfeited. Lost
or alienated for an offense or crime ; liable
to penal seizure.
And his long toils vseie forfeit for a look.
I>ryden.
FORFEITABLE, a. Liable to be forfeited ;
subject to forfeiture.
— For the future, uses shall be subject to the
statutes of mortmain, and forfeitable like the
lands themselves. Blacksione.
FOR'FEITED, pp. Lost or alienated by an
offense, crime or breach of condition.
FOR'FEITING, ppr. Alienating or losing,
as a right, by an offense, crime or breach
of condition.
FOR'FEITURE, n. The act of forfeiting ;
the losing of some right, privilege, estate,
honor, office or effects, by an offense,
crime, breach of condition or other act. In
regard to property, forfeiture is a loss of
the right to possess, but not generally the
actual possession, which is to be transfer-
red by some subsequent process. In the
feudal system, a forfeiture of lands gave
him in reversion or remainder a right to
enter.
2. That which is forfeited; an estate forfeit-
ed ; a fine or mulct. The prince enriched
his treasury by fines andyo
forfe
of S(
Pope.
FOViG\'YF, pret. of forgive, which see.
FORGE, n. [Fr. forge ; Sp. Port, forja ;
probably from L. ferrum, iron ; It. fer-
riera, a forge ; Port, ferragem, iron-work.]
1. A furnace in which iron or other metal is
heated and hammered into form. A lar-
ger forge is called with us iron-works. '
Smaller forges consisting of a bellows so
placed as to cast a stream of air upon igni-
ted coals, are of various forms and uses.
Armies have travelling forges, for repair-
ing gun-carriages, &c.
2. Any place where any thing is made or
shaped. Hooker.
3. The act of heating or working iron or
steel ; the manufacture of metalline bodies.
In the greater bodies the forge was easy.
Bacon.
FORgE, v. t. To form by heating and ham-
mering ; to beat into any particular shape,
as a metal.
2. To make by any means.
Names that the schools forged, and put
into the mouths of scholars. Locke.
2. To make falsely ; to falsify ; to counter-
feit ; to make in the likeness of something
else ; as, to forge coin ; to forge a bill of
exchange or a receipt.
FORGED, pp. Hammered ; beaten into
shape; made; counterfeited.
FORgER, n. One that makes or forms.
2. One who counterfeits ; a falsifier.
FORGERY, n. The act of forging or work-
ing metal into shape. In this sense, rarely
or never now used.
2. The act of falsifying; the crime of coun-
terfeiting; as the forgery of coin, or of
bank notes, or of a bond. Forgery may
FOR
FOR
FOR
consist ill counterfeiting a writing, or
setting a false name to it, to the prejudice
of another person.
3. That which is forged or counterfeited
Certain letters, purporting to be written by
Gen. Washington, during the revolution,
were forgeries.
FORGET', v.t. pret. forgot, [forgat, ohs.]
][,\y. forgot, forgotten. [Sax. forgetan,forgi
tan, forgylan ; G. vergessen ; D. vergeettn
Sw. forgbta ; Dan. forgietter ; for and
1. To lose the remembrance of; to let go
from the memory.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all
his benefits. Ps. eiii.
2. To slight ; to neglect.
Can a woman/orgcf her sucking child — .' Yea,
they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Is. xlix.
FORGET'FUL, a. Apt to forget ; easily
losing the remembrance of A forgetful'^
man should use helps to strengthen his
memory.
3. Heedless ; careless ; neglectful ; inatten-
tive.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers
Heb. xiii.
3. Causing to forget ; inducing oblivion ; ob-
livious ; as forgetful draughts. Dryden
FORGET'FULNESS, n. The quality of
losing the remembrance or recollection
of a thing ; or rather, the quality of being;
apt to let any thing slip from the mind.
2. Loss of remembrance or recollection ; a
ceasing to remember ; oblivion.
A sweet forgetfulness of human care. Pope.
3. Neglect ; negligence ; careless omission ;
inattention ; as forgetfulness of duty.
Hooker.
FORGET'TER, n. One that forgets; a
heedless person.
FORGET'TING, ppr. Losing the remem-
brance of.
FORGET'TING, n. The act of forgetting;
forgetfulness ; inattention.
FORGET'TINGLY, adv. By forgetting or
forKCtfuliiess. B. Jonson.
FORGIVABLE, a. [See Forgive.] That
may be pardoned. Sherwood.
FORGIVE, v.t. forgiv'. pret. forgave ; pp.'
forgiven, [/or and give ; Sa.x. forgifan ;
GoXh.fragiban ; G. vergeben ; D. vergeeven j
Dan. forgiver; Sw. tilgifva. Tlie sense
is to give from, that is, away, as we see by
tlie Gothic fra, from. The English for,
and G. and D. tier, are the same word, or
from the same root ; ver is the Eng. far.
The Swedish HI signifies to, and in this
coiiipiiund, it signifies toward or back
ill L. remitto. See Give.]
i. To pardon ; to remit, as an offense or
debt ; to overlook an offense, and treat the
offender as not guilty. The original and
proper phrase is to forgive the offense,
send it away, to reject it, that is, not to
impute it, [|iiit it to] the offender. But by
an easy transition, we also use the phrase,
o forgive the person offending.
Forgive us our debts. Lord's Prayer.
11 ye forgive men their trespasses, your hca-
\ I Tily fatlier will also/oigiue you. Matt. vi.
As savages never forget a favor, so they never
,'"<;;([•(■ an injury. jV. Chipman.
It is to be noted that pardon,iike forgive,
may be followed by the name or person.
and by the offense ; but remit can be fol-l
lowed by the offense only. We forgive ori
pardon the man, but we do not remit him.
2. To remit as a debt, fine or penalty.
FORGIVEN, p». Pardoned; remitted.
FORGIVENESS, n. forgiv' iiess. The act
of forgiving ; the pardon of an offender,
by which he is considered and treated as
not guilty. The forgiveness of enemies is
a christian duty.
3. The pardon or remission of an offense or
crime; as the forgiveness of sin or of inju-
ries.
3. Disposition to pardon ; willingness to
forgive.
And mM forgiveness intercede
To stop the coming blow. Dryden
4. Remission of a debt, fine or penalty.
FORGIVER, n. One who pardons or
remits.
FORGIVING, ;)pr. Pardoning; remitting.
2. a. Disposed to forgive ; inclined to over-
look offenses ; mild ; merciful ; compas-
sionate ; as a forgiving temper.
FORGOT', I f f t
FORGOTTEN, \ PP- °' f^'S^*'
FORHA'IL, f. «. To draw or distres.s. [Kol
used.] Spenser.
FORIN'SECAL, a. [L. forinsecus.] For-
ign ; alien. [Little used.]
FORISFAMIL'IATE, v.t. [L./om, with-
out, and familia, family.]
To renounce a legal title to a further share
of paternal inheritance. Literally, to put
one's self out of the family.
El. of Criticism.
FORISFAMILIA'TION, n. When a child
has received a portion of his father's es-
tate, and renounces all title to a further
share, his act is caWed forisfamitiation, and
he is said to he forisfamiliated. Encyc.
FORK, n. [Sax. fore ; B. vork ; W.forc;
Fr.fourche ; Arm. fork; Sp. horca ; Port.
It.forca; L.furca.]
1. An instrument consisting of a handle, and
a blade of metal, divided into two or more
points or prongs, used for lifting or pitch-
iny any thing ; as a tablefork for feeding ;
a pitchfork; a. dung fork, &c. Forks are,
also made of ivorv, wood or other mate-'
rial. " I
2. A point ; as a thunderbolt with three
forks. Shakspeare uses it for the point of
an arrow.
3. Forks, in the plural, the point where aj
road parts into two ; and the point where
a river di\ ides, or rather where two rivers
meet and unite in one stream. Each
branch is called a fork.
FORK', v. i. To shoot into blades, as corn.
JHortimcr.
To divide into two ; as, a road forks.
FORK, V. t. To raise or pitch with a fork,
as hay.
!. To dig and break ground with a fork.
3. To make sharp ; to point.
FORK'ED, pp. Raised, pitched or dug with
a fork.
. a. Opening into two or more parts, points
or shoots ; as a forked tongue ; the forked
lightning.
. Ilaving two or more meanings. [A'ot in
use.] B. Jonson.
FORK'EDLY, adv. In a forked form.
FORK'EDNESS, n. The quality of open-
ing into two or more parts.
FORKTAIL, n.
year's growth.
FORK'Y, a.
FORK'HEAD, n. The point of an arrow.
Spenser.
A salmon, in his fourth
[Local.]
Forked ; furcated ; opening
into two or more parts, shoots or points ;
as aforky tongue. Pope.
FORLO'RE, a. Forlorn. [Xot in use.]
FORLORN', a. [Sax.forloren, fromforleoran,
to send away, to relinquish, to desert, to
lose ; leoran, to pass, to migrate ; D.
verlooren; Dan. forloren, from fortorer,
Sv/.furlora, to lose. Class Lr.J
1. Deserted; destitute; stripped or dei»ri-
ved ; forsaken. Hence, lost; helpless;
wretched ; solitary.
Of fortune and of hope at once forlorn.
Hubbcrd.
To live again in these wild woods/or/orn.
Milton.
For here forlorn and lost I tread.
(Joldsinith.
2. Taken away. Obs.
When as night hath us of liglit/or/oni.
Spenser.
3. Small ; despicable ; in a ludicrous sense.
Shak.
Forlorn hope, properly, a desperate case;
hence in military affairs, a detachment of
men appointed to lead in an assault, to
storm a counterscarp, enter a breach, or
perform othe*- service attended with un-
common peril.
FORLORN', n. A lost, forsaken, solitary
person. Shak.
FORLORN'NESS, n. Destitution ; misery ;
a forsaken or wretched condition.
Boyle.
FORLyE, V. i. To lye before. [Ao/ used!]
Spenser.
FORM,)!. [L. forma; Fr. forme; Sp. forma,
horma; It. forma ; Ir. foirm; h.vorm; G.
form ; Sw. and Dan. form. The root of
this word is not certainly known. The
primary sense is probably to set, to fix, to
fit. The D. vormen, is rendered, to form,
to shape, to mold, to confirm ; and form may
be allied to firm.]
. The shape or external appearance of a
body ; the figure, as defined by lines and
angles ; that manner of being peculiar to
each body, which exhibits it to the eye as
distinct from every other body. Thus we
speak of the form of a circle, the form of
a square or triangle, a circular form, the
form of the head or of the human body, a
handsome form, an ugly form, a frigh'tful
form.
Matter is the basis or substratum of bod-
ies ;/orm is the iiarticular disposition of
matter in each body whicli distinguishes
its appearance from that of every other
body.
the form of his visage was changed. Dan.iii.
After that he appeared in another/oj-;H to two
of them, as they walked. Mark xvi.
2. Manner of arranging particulars; disposi-
tion of particular things ; as a form of
words or expressions.
3. Model ; draught ; pattern.
Hold fast the form of pound words, which
thou hast heard of me. 2 Tim. i.
4. Beauty ; elegance ; splendor ; dignity.
He hath no form nor comeliness. Isa. liii.
Regularity ; method ; order. This is a
•ough draught to be reduced to form.
FOR
FOR
FOR
6. External appearance without the esseU'
tial qualities ; empty show.
Having the form of godliness, but denying
the power thereof. 2 Tim. iii.
7. Stated method ; established practice ; rit-
ual or prescribed mode ; as the forms of
public worship ; the/orm» of judicial pro-
ceeding ; forma of civility.
8. Ceremony ; as, it is a mere matter of form.
9. Determinate shape.
The earth was without/orm, and void. Gen. i.
10. Likeness ; image.
Who, being in the form of God— Phil. ii.
He took on him the /orm of a servant. Ibm.
11. Manner; system; as a form of govern-
ment; a monarchical or republican /onn
12. Manner of arrangement ; disposition ofj
component parts ; as the interior form or
structure of the flesh or bones, or of other
bodies.
13. A long seat ; a bench without a back.
JVaits.
14. In Kftoois, a class ; a rank of students.
Dryden.
15. The seat or bed of a hare. Prior.
16. A mold ; something to give shape, or on
which things are fashioned. Encyc.
17. In /))in<i)ig-, an assemblage of types, com-
posed and arranged in order, disposed in-
to pages or columns, and inclosed and
locked in a chase, to receive an impres-
18. Essential form, is that mode of existence
which constitutes a thing what it is, and
without which it could not exist. Thus
water and light have each its particular
form of existence, and the parts of water
being decomposed, it ceases to be water
AccidKnlal form is not necessary to the ex-
istence of a body. Earth is earth still,
whatever may be its color.
FORM, V. t. [L.formo.] To make or cau;
to exist.
And the Lord GoA formed man of the dust of
the ground. Gen. ii.
2. To shape ; to mold or fashion into a par-
ticular shape or state : as, to form an im-
age of stone or clay.
3. To plan ; to scheme ; to modify.
Dryden.
4. To arrange ; to combine in a particular
manner ; as, to form a line or square of
troops.
5. To adjust ; to settle.
Our differences with the Romanists are thus
formed into an interest — Decay of Piety.
6. To contrive ; to invent ; as, to form a de-
sign or scheme.
7. To make up ; to frame ; to settle by de-
ductions of reason ; as, to form an opinion
or judgment ; to form an estimate.
8. To mold ; to model by instruction and
discipline ; as, to form the mind to virtu-
ous habits by education.
9. To combine ; to unite individuals into a
collective body ; as, to form a society for
The senate and house of representatives
forin the legislative body.
13. In grammar, to make by derivation, or
by affixes or prefixes. L. do, in the pre-
terit, forms dedi.
14. To enact ; to make ; to ordain ; as, to
form a law or an edict.
FORM, V. i. To take a form.
FORM'AL, a. According to form ; agreea-
ble to established mode ; regular ; me-
thodical.
2. Strictly ceremonious ; precise ; exact
to affectation ; as a man formal in his
dress, bis gait or deportment.
3. Done in dne form, or with solemnity ; ex-
press ; according to regular method ; not
incidental, sudden or irregular. He gave
lus formal consent to the treaty.
4. Regular; methodical ; as the/ormaZ stars.
Jfatler.
5. Having the form or appearance without
the substance or essence ; external ; as
format duty ; formal worship.
6. Depending on customary forms.
Still in constraint your sufl'ering sex remains.
Or bound in/or/no/ or in real chains. Pope.
7. Having the power of making a thing what
it is ; constituent ; essential.
Of letters the material part is breath and
voice ; the formal is constituted by the mo-
tions and ligure of the organs of speech. Holder.
8. Retaining its proper and essential char-
acteristic; regular; proper.
To make of him a formal man again. Shak.
FORM'ALISM, n. Formality. [The latter
is generally used.] Burke.
FORM'ALIST, n. One who observes forms,
or practices external ceremonies. More
10. To make ; to establish. The subscri-1
bers are formed by law into a corporation.!
They have formed regulations for their!
government. I
11. To compile ; as, to form a body of laws
or customs ; to form a digest.
19. To constitute ; to make. Duplicity /orwis
no part of his character. Tliese facts fomil
a safe foundation for our conclusions.!
2. One who regards appearances only, or
observes the forms of worship, without
possessing the life and spirit of religion ; a
hypocrite. A grave face and the regular
practice of ceremonies have often gained
to R formalist the reputation of piety.
FORMAL'ITY, n. The practice or obser-
vance of forms.
Formalities of extraordinary zeal and piety
are never more studied and elaborate than in
desperate designs. K. Charles.
2. Ceremony ; mere conformity to customa-
ry modes.
Nor was his attendance on divine offices a
matter o( formality and custom, but of con-
science. Mterbury.
.3. Established order ; rule of proceeding ;
mode ; method ; as the formalities of judi-
cial process; formalities of law.
4. Order ; decorum to be observed ; custom-
ary mode of behavior. L' Estrange.
5. Customary mode of diess ; habit ; robe.
Smft.
6. External appearance. Glanville.
7. Essence ; the quahty which constitutes a
thing what it \s.
The formality of the vow lies in the promise
made to God. Stilling^fleet.
8. In the schools, the manner in which a
thing is conceived ; or a manner in an ob-
ject, importing a relation to the under-
standing, by which it may be distinguish-
ed from another object. Thus animality
and rationality are formalities. Encyc.
FORM'ALIZE, v. t. To model. [ATot used.]
Hooker.
FORM'ALIZE, v. i. To affect formality.
[Lillle used.] Hales.
FORM' ALLY, adv. According to establish-
ed form, rule, order, rite or ceremony. A
treaty was concluded and formally ratified
by both parties.
2. Ceremoniously ; stiffly ; precisely ; as, to
be stiff and /orma% reserved.
3. In open appearance ; in a visible and ap-
parent state.
You and your followers do stand formally
divided against the authorized guides of the
church, and the rest of the people. Hooker.
4. E.ssentially ; characteristically.
That which formally makes this [charity] a
christian grace, is the spring from which it
flows. Smalridge.
FORMA'TION, n. [Fr. from L./ormofio.]
The act of forming or making ; the act of
creating or causing to exist ; or more gen-
erally, the operation of composing, by
bringing materials together, or of shaping
and giving form ; as the formation of the
earth ; the formation of a state or consti-
tution.
2. Generation ; production ; as the forma-
tion of ideas.
.3. The manner in which a thing is formed.
Examine the peculiar formation of the
heart.
4. In grammar, the act or manner of form-
ing one word from another, as controller
from control.
5. In geology, formation may signify a sin-
gle mass of one kind of rock, more or less
extensive, or a collection of mineral sub-
stances, formed by the same agent, under
the same or similar circumstances ; or it
may convey the idea, that certain masses
or collections of minerals were formed not
only by the same agent, but also at the
same time. In this latter sense the term
is almost always employed. Cleaveland.
FORM'ATIVE, a. Giving form; having the
power of giving form ; plastic.
The meanest plant cannot be raised without
seeds, by any formative power residing in the
soil. Bentley.
2. In grammar, serving to form ; derivative ;
not radical ; as a termination merely _/bnn-
ative.
FORM'ED, pp. Made ; shaped ; molded ;
planned ; arranged ; combined ; enacted ;
constituted.
FORM'EDON, Ji. [forma doni.] A writ for
the recovery of lands by statute of West-
minster. Eng. Law.
FORM'ER, n. He that forms; a maker; an
author.
FOR'MER, a. comp. deg. [Sax./orm,/onn,n,
but it is rendered primus, first. The Sax-
on word seems to be composed of fore and
ma, more ; but of this I am not confident.]
1. Before in time ; preceding another or
something else in order of time ; opposed
to latter.
Her former husband, who sent her away,
may not take her again to be bis wife, after that
she is defiled. Deut. xxiv.
The former and the latter rain. Jcr. 5.
2. Past, and frequently ancient, long past.
For inquire, 1 pray tli
Job viii.
pray tliee, of the former age.
3. Near the beginning; preceding; as the'
former part of a discourse or argument.
. Mentioned before anotlier.
A bad author deserves better usage than a b.id
critic ; a man may br: the formcrmcieW tliiouirlt
FOR
the misfortune of want of judgment ; hut he
cannot be the latter without both that and an ill
temper. Pop^-
FOR'MERLY, adv. In time past, either in
time immediately preceding, or at any in-
definite distance; of old; heretofore. We
formerly imported slaves from Africa. Na-
tions formerly made slaves of prisoners
taken in war.
FORM'FUL, a. Ready to form ; creative ;
imaginative. Thomson.
FOR'MIATE, n. [from L. formica, an ant.]
A neutral salt, composed of the formic
acid and a base.
FOR'MI€, a. [L. formica, an ant.] Pertain-
ing to ants ; as the formic acid, the acid of
ants.
FORMIeA'TION, n. [L. formicatio, from
formica, or formica, an ant ]
A sensation of the body resembling that
made by the creeping of ants on the skin.
FORM'IDABLE, a. [L. formidabUis, from
formido, fear.]
Exciting fear or apprehension ; impressing
dread; adapted to excite fear and deter
from approach, encounter or undertaking
It expresses less than terrible, terrific, tre-
mendous, horrible, atii\ frightful.
They seemed to fear the formidable sic;ht.
Dryden
1 swell my preface into a volmne, and make
it formidable, when you see so many pages be-
hind. Ih-yden
FORM'IDABLENESS, n. The quality of
being formidable, or adapted to excite
dread.
FORM'IDABLY, adv. In a manner to im
press fear.
FORM'LESS. a. [from form.] Shapeless;
without a determinate form ; wanting reg-
ularity of shape. Shak
FORM'ULA, } [L.] A prescribed form ; a
FORM'ULE, S "■ rule or model.
9. In medicine, a prescription.
3. In church affairs, a confession of faith.
Encyc.
4. In mathematics, a general expression tor
resolving certain cases or problems.
Cyc.
FORM'ULARY, n. [Fr. formulaire, from
h.formula.]
A book containing stated and prescribed
forms, as of oaths, declarations, prayers
and the like ; a book of precedents.
Encyc.
2. Prescribed form.
FORMULARY, a. Stated; prescribed; rit-
ual. Johnson.
FORN'I€ATE, ? „ [L. fornicatus, from
FORN'I€ATED, S fornix, an arch.]
Arched ; vaulted like an oven or furnace.
Encyc.
FORN'I€ATE, V. i. [L. fornicor, from for-
nix, a brothel.]
To commit lewdness, as an unmarried man
or woman, or as a married man with
unmarried woman.
If a brahmen fornicate with a Nayr woman,
he shall not thereby lose his cast.
.is. Besearches
FORNI€A'TION, n. [L. fornicatio.] The
incontinence or lewdness of immarried
persons, male or female ; also, the criminal
conversation of a married man with an
unmarried woman.
Laws of Connecticut.
Vol. I.
FOR
2. Adultery. Matt. v.
3. Incest. 1 Cor. v.
4. Idolatry ; a forsaking of the true God, and
worshipping of idols. 2 Chron. xxi. Rev.
xix.
5. An arching ; the forming of a vault.
FORNICATOR, n. An unmarried person,
male or female, who has criminal conver-
sation with the other sex ; also, a niarried
man who has sexual commerce with an
unmarried woman. [See Adultery.']
2. A lewd person.
3. An idolater.
FORNICATRESS, n. An unmarried fe
male guilty of lewdness. Shak.
FORP'ASS, V. i. To go by ; to pass unuo
ticed. Obs. Spenser.
FORPI'NE, V. i. To pine or waste away.
Obs. Spenser.
FORRA'Y, V. t. To ravage. Obs. Spenser.
[Q,u. forage.]
FORRA'Y, 71. The act of ravaging. Obs.
FORSA'KE, J'. <. pret. /or«ooft; pp. forsa-
ken. [Sax. forsacan,forsa:can; for, a nega-
tive, and secan, to seek. See Seek. Sw.
forsaka, Dan. forsager, G. versagen, D.
verzaaken, to deny, to renounce. See
Seek and Say.]
. To quit or leave entirely; to desert; to
abandon ; to depart from. Friends and
flatterers forsake us in adversity.
Forsake the foolish, and live. Prov. ix.
2. To abandon ; to renounce ; to reject.
If his children /orsaAre my law, and walk nol
in my judgments — Ps. Ixxxix.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Ps
3. To leave ; to withdraw from ; to fail. In
anger, the color forsakes the cheeks. In
severe trials, let not fortitude forsake you
4. In scripture, God forsakes his people
when he withdraws his aid, or the light of
his countenance. Brown
FORSA'KER, n. One that forsakes or de-
serts.
FORSA'KEN, pp. Deserted; left; aban-
doned.
FORSA'KING, ;>;»•. Leaving or deserting.
FORSA'KING, n. The act of deserting;
dereliction.
FORSA'Y, V. t. To forbid; to renounce
Obs. Spenser
FORSLACK', i;. t. To delay. Obs.
Spenser.
FORSOOTH', adv. [Sax. forsothe ; for and
soth, true.]
In truth ; in fact ; certainly ; very well.
A fit man, forsooth, to govern a realm.
Hayward.
It is generally used in an ironical or con-
temptuous sense.
FORS'TER, n. A forester. Obs.
Chaucer.
FORSWEAR, V. t. pret. forswore ; pp. for-
sworn. [Snx.forstccerian ; Dan. forsvarer ;
Sw. fh'svhra ; G. verschworen, abschworen ;
D. afzioeeren. See Stvear and Answer.]
1. To reject or renounce upon oath. Shak,
2. To deny upon oath.
Like innocence, and as serenely bold
yden.
To forswear one''s self, is to swear falsely ; to
perjure one's self
tbou shall not /oisii-ear thyself. Malt
FORSWEAR, t'. i. To swear falsely; to
commit perjury. Shak.
87
FOR
FORSWEABER, n. One who rejects on
oath ; one who is perjured ; one that
swears a false oath.
FORSWEARING, ppr. Denying on oath ;
swearing falsely.
FORSWONK', a. fSax. «M;tncan, to labor.]
Overlabored. Obs. Spenser.
FORSWORE, prc<. of forswear.
FORSWORN, /jip. of forswear. RenouBced
1 oath ; perjured.
FORSWORNNESS, n. The state of being
forsworn. Manning.
FORT, 71. [Fr. fort; It. Vort. forte; Sp.
fuerte, fiierza ; h.foriis, strong.]
1. A fortified place ; usually, a small forti-
fied place ; a place surrounded with a
ditch, rampart, and parapet, or with pali-
sades, stockades, or other means or de-
fense ; also, any building or place fortified
for security against an enemy ; a castle.
2. A strong side, opposed to weak side or
foible.
FORTE, adv. [Ital.] A direction to sing with
strength of voice.
FORTED, a. Furnished with forts ; guard-
ed by forts. Shak.
FORTH, adv. [Sax. foiih; G.fort ; D. voort ;
from fore, for, faran, to go, to advance.]
1. Forward ; onward in time ; in advance ;
as from that day forth ; from that time
forth.
2. Forward in place or order ; as one, two,
three, and so forth.
3. Out ; abroad ; noting progression or ad-
vance from a state of confinement ; as, the
plants in spring put forth leaves.
When winter past, and summer scarce begun,
Invites theni/or(A to labor in the sun.
Dryden.
4. Out ; away ; beyond the boundary of a
place ; as, send h\m forth of France. [Lit-
tle used.]
5. Out into public view, or public character.
Your coimtry calls you forth into its ser-
vice.
6. Thoroughly ; from beginning to end. Obs.
Shak.
7. On to the end. Obs.
FORTH, prep. Out of.
From forth the streets of Pomfrel. Shak.
Some forth their cabins peep. Donne.
FORTH-COM'ING, a. [See Co7ree.] Ready
to appear ; making appearance. Let the
prisoner be forth-coming.
FORTHINK', V. t. To repent of. [A"o< in
use.] Spenser.
FORTH-ISSUING, a. [See /ss»e.] Issuing;
coming out ; coming forward as from a
covert. Pope.
FORTHRIGHT, adv. [See Right.] Straight
forward ; in a straight direction. Obs.
Sidney.
FORTHRIGHT, 7i. A straight path. Obs.
Shak.
FORTHWARD, adv. Forward.
Bp. Fisher.
FORTHWITH', adv. [forth and leith.] Im-
mediately ; without delay ; directly.
Immediately there fell from his eyes as it had
been scales ; and he received his sight forth-
with. Acts ix.
FO'RTHY, adv. [Sax. forthi.] Therefore.
[.\ot used.] Spenser.
FOR'TIETH, a. [See Forty.] The fourth
tenth ; noting the number next after the
thirty ninth.
FOR
FOR'TIFIABLE, a. That may be fortifieil
FORTIFleA'TION, n. [See Fortify.] The
act of fortifying. „ , .^ . ,
o The art or science of fortifying places
defend them against an enemy, by means
of moats, ramparts, parapets and other
bulwarks. „ , -Enci/c.
3. The worlss erected to defend a place
against attacl?.
4. A fortified place ; a fort ; a castle
5. Additional strength.
FOR'TIFIER, n. One who erects works
for defense. C-'orei*.
2 One who strengthens, supports and up
holds ; that which strengtliens. Sidney.
FOR'TIFY, V. t. [Fr. foHijitr ; Sp. forbji-
car; It. foHificare.]
1 To surround with a wall, ditch, palisades
or other works, with a view to defend
against the attacks of an enemy ; to
strengthen and secure by forts, batteries
and other works of art ; as, to fortify a
city, town or harbor.
2 To strengthen against any attack ; as, to
foHify the mind against siulilen calamity
3. To confirm ; to add strength and tirii
nessto ; as,io fortify an opinion or resol
tion ; to fortify hope or desire.
4. To furnish with strength or means of re-
sisting force, violence or assauh.
FOR'TIFY, V. i. To raise strong places,
Milton.
FORTILAgE, jj. a little fort ; a block
house, [mtused.] JP'"^^''-\
FORTIN, n. [Fr.] A little fort ; a field fort ; I
a sconce. t^iiciK.
FORTITUDE, n. [L. fortitudo, from /or/is,
strong.] „ . , ,
Tiiat strength or firmness of mina or soul
which enables a person to encounter dan-
ger with coolness and courage, or to bear
pain or adversity without murmurmg, de-
pression or despondency. Fortitude is
the basis or source of genuine courage or
intrepidity in danger, of patience in suf
ferin", of forbearance under injuries, and
of mlignanimity in all conditions of life.
We sometimes confound the eflfect with
the cause, and use fortitude as synonymous
with courage or patience; but courage is
an active virtue or vice, and patience is
the effect of fortitude.
Fortitude is the guard and suppoitof the oth^
er virtues.
FORTLET, n. A little fort.
FORT'NIGHT, n.foH'nit. [contracted froml
fourteen nights, our ancestors reckoning
time by nights and winters ; so also, seven-
nights, sennight, a week. Non dieruin
numerum, ut nos, sed noctium compiitant.
Tacitus.] The space of fourteen days ;
two weeks.
FOR'TRESS,K. [Fr. forleresse ; It.fortezza;
{tomfoH,foHe, strong.]
1 Any fortified place ; a fort ; a castle ; a
strong hold; a place of defense or secu
rlty. The English have a strong fortress
on the rock of Gibraltar, or that rock is
fortress.
2. Defense ; safety ; security.
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress. Ps.
FOR'TRESS, V. t. To furnish with fortres-
ses ; to guard ; to fortify. Shak.
FOR
FOR'TRESSED, a. Defended by a for-
tress ; protected ; secured. Spenser.
FORTUITOUS, a. [L. fortuitus, from the
root of/ora, foiie,fortuna ; Fr. fortuit ; It.
Sp. fortuito. The primary sense is to
come, to fall, to happen. See Fare.]
Accidental ; casual ; happening by chance
coming or occurring unexpectedly, or
without any known cause. We speak ot
fortuitous events, when they occur with-
out our foreseeing or expecting them, and
of a fortuitous concourse of atoms, when
we suppose the concourse not to result
from the design and power of a control
ling agent. But an event cannot be in
fact fortuitous. [See Accidental and Cas-
ual]
FORTU'ITOUSLY, adv. Accidentally ; cas-
ually ; by chance. ,. /•
FORTUITOUSNESS, n. The quality of
being accidental ; accident ; chance.
FOR'TUNATE, a. [L. fortunatus. See
, Fortune.] , , ,
Coming by good luck or favorable chance ;
bringing some unexpected good ; as a
/orii*na<e event; a fortunate concurrence
of circumstances; a fortunate ticket in
FOR
4. The chance of life ; means of living :
wealth.
His father dying, he was driven to London to
seek \v\s fortune. Swift.
5. Estate ; possessions ; as a gentleman of
small fortune.
6. A large estate ; great wealth. This is
often the sense of the word standing alone
or unqualified; as a gentleman or lady of
fortune. To the ladies we say, beware of
/oritme-hunters.
7. The portion of a man or woman ; gener-
ally of a woman.
i. Futurity ; future state or events ; destinj-.
The young are anxious to have their for-
tunes told.
You who men's fortunes in their faces read.
Cowley.
FOR'TUNE, I', t. To make fortunate. [J^ot
used.] Chaucer.
2. To dispose fortunately or not ; also,
presage.
ottery.
'.. Lucky ; successful ; receiving soi
foreseen or unexpected good, or some good
which was not dependent on one's own
skill or efibrts ; as a fortunate adventurer
in a lottery. I was most fortunate thus
unexpectedly to meet my friend.
3. Successful ; happy ; prosperous ; receiv-
ing or enjoying some good in consequence
of efforts, but where the event was uncer-
I tain, and not absolutely in one's power.
The brave man is usually fortunate. We
say, a fortunate competitor for a fair lady,
or for a crown.
FOR'TUNATELY, adv. Luckily ; success-
fully ; happily ; by good fortune, or favor-
able chance or issue.
FOR'TUNATENESS, n. Good luck ; suc-
ness. Sidney.
Locke
ss ; happii
FOR'TUNE, n. [Fr. from h.fortuna; Sp,
and ll.fortuna; Ann. forlun; from the
root of Sax. faran, to go, or L. fero or
porta. So in D. gcbeuren, to happen, to
fall, from the root of Icar; gebeurtenis, an
Obs. Dryden.
FOR'TUNE. V. i. To befall ; to fall out ;
to happen ; to come casually to pass.
It fortuned the same night that a christian
serving a Turk in the camp, secretly gave the
watchmen warning. KnoUes.
FOR'TUNEBOOK, n. A book to be con-
sulted to discover future events.
Crashaw.
FOR'TUNED, a. Supplied bv fortune.
Shak.
FOR'TUNE-HUNTER, n. A man who
seeks to marry a woman with a large
portion, with a view to enrich himself
Addison.
FORTUNELESS, a. Luckless ; also, des-
titute of a fortune or portion.
FOR'TUNETELL, v. t. To tell or pretend
to tell the future events of one's life ; to
reveal futurity. Shak.
FOR'TUNETELLER, n. One who tells or
pretends to foretell the events of one's
life ; an impostor who deceives people by
pretending to a knowledge of future
events.
FOR'TUNETELLING, jppr. Telling the
future events of one's life.
FOR'TUNETELLING, n. The act or prac-
tice of foretelling the future fortune or
events of one's life, which is a punishable
ent. We find the same word in o;)por- IpoR'TUNIZE, v. t. To regulate the for-
The I
tunus, [ob-portmius,]
seasonable.
of. [JVot in use.]
the
So Fr. heureux, from
hevre, hour, that is, time, season, and L.
tempestivus. See Hour and Time. The
Russ. ;)ora, time, season, is of this family,
and fortune is closely allied to it.]
Properly, chance; accident; luck
arrival of something in a sudden c
expected manner. Hence the heathens
deified chance, and consecrated temples
and altars to the goddess. Hence the
modern use of the word, for a power su[
posed to distribute the lots of life, accor-
ding to her own humor.
Though /orfune's malice overthrow my state
2. The good or ill that befalls man.
In vou the fortune of Great Britain lies.
■' Dryden.
3. Success, good or bad ; event.
event, that which poR/xY, a. [Sax. feoivertig ; ft
four,
and tig, ten. See Four.^
I. Four times ten.
All indefinite number; n colloquial use.
A, B and C, and forty more. Sunfl.
FO'RUM. n. TL. See Fair.] In Rome, a
public place,' where causes were judicially
tried, and orations delivered to the people ;
also, a market place. Hence,
A tribunal; a court; any assembly em-
powered to hear and decide causes ; also,
jurisdiction.
FORWANDER, v.i. To wander away; to
e wildly. [ATot used.] Spenser.
FOR'WARD, adv. [Sax. foriveard ; for, fore,
and wcard, turned, L. versus ; directed to
the forepart. Forwards is also used, but
it is a corruption.]
Toward a part or place before or in front ;
onward ; progressively ; opposed to back-
ward. Go forward ; move forward. He
I ran backward and fonvard.
F O S
F O S
F O U
In a Bhip, forward denotes toward the fore
part.
FOR'WARD, a. Near or at the forepart ;
in advance of something else ; as tlie for
ward gun in a sliip, or the/orioarrf ship ii
a fleet ; the forward horse in a team.
% Ready ; prompt ; strongly inclined.
Only they would that we sliould lemembe
the poor ; the same which I also was forward
to do. Gal. u.
.'?. Ardent ; eager ; earnest ; violent.
Or lead the forward youth to noble war.
Prior.
4. Bold ; confident ; less reserved or modest
than is proper ; in an ill sense ; as, the boy
is too forward for his years.
5. Advanced beyond the usual degree ; ad-
vanced for the season. The grass or the
grain is forward, or forward for the sea-
son ; we have a. forward spring.
6. Quick ; hasty ; too ready. Be not for-
ward to speak in public. Prudence directs
that we be not too forward to believe cur-
rent reports.
7. Anterior ; fore.
Let us take the instant by the forward top.
.SVioA-.
8. Advanced ; not behindhand. Shak.
FOR'WARD, V. t. To advance ; to help on-
ward ; to promote ; as, to forward a good
design.
2. To accelerate ; to quicken ; to hasten ; as,
to forward the growth of a plant ; to for-
ward one in improvement.
3. To send forward ; to send towards the
place of destination ; to transmit ; as, to
fonvard a letter or dispatches.
FORWARDED, pp. Advanced; promo-
ted ; aided in progress ; quickened ; sent
onward ; transmitted.
FOR'WARDER, n. He that promotes, or
advances in progress.
FOR' WARDING, ppr. Advancing; pro-
moting; aiding in progress; accelerating
in growth ; sending onwards ; transmit-
ting.
FOR'WARDLY, adv. Eagerly; hastily;
quickly. Mterbury.
FOR'WARDNESS, n. Cheerful readiness ;
promptness. It expresses more than wil-
lingness. We admire the forwardness of
christians in propagating the gospel.
2. Eagerness ; ardor. It is sometimes diffi-
cult to restrain the forwardrtess of youth.
3. Boldness; confidence; assurance; want
of due reserve or modesty.
In France it is usual to brine children into
company, and cherish in them, from their infan-
. cy, a kind of forwardness and assurance.
.Addison.
4. A state of advance beyond the usual de-
gree ; as the forwardness of spring or of
FORWA'STE, J', t. To waste ; to desolate.
[JVot in use.] Spenser.
FORWE'ARY, v. I. To dispirit. [JVol in
•use.] Spenser.
FORWEE'P, V. i. To weep much.
Chaucer.
FOR'WORD, n. [fore and word.] A prom-
ise. [J^ot in use.] Spenser.
FOSS, 71. [Fr. fosse; Sp. fosa ; L. h. fossa ;
from fossus, fodio, to dig. Class Bd.]
1. A ditch or moat; a word used in fortifica-
tion.
2. In anatomy, a kind of cavity in a bone,
with a large aperture. Eno/c.
FOS'SIL, a. [Fr.fosfile; Sp. fosU; It. fos-
site ; L.fosstlis, from fodio, fossus, to dig.]
I. Dug out of tlie earth ; as fossil coeil; fos-
sil salt. The term fossil is now usually
appropriated to those inorganic substan
ces, whicli have become penetrated by
earthy or metallic i)articles. Thus we
say, fossil sheWs, fossil bones, fossil wood,
Cleaveland,
3. That may be taken from the earth by dig-
QS'SIL, n. A substance dug from tlie
earth, or penetrated with earthy or metal-
lic particles.
Fossils are native or extraneous. ATative fos-
sils are minerals, i)roperly so called, as
earths, salts, combustibles and metallic
bodies. Extraneous fossils are bodies of
vegetable or animal origin accidentally
buried in the earth, as plants, shells, bones
and other substances, many of which are
petrified. Encyc.
FOSSIL-COP.'VL, n. Highgate resin; a
resinous substance found in perforating
the bed of blue clay at Highgate, near
London. It appears to be a true vegeta-
ble gum or resin, partly changed by re-
maining in the earth. Cyc. Aikin.
FOS'SILIST, n. One who studies the na-
ture and properties of fossils ; one who is
versed in the science of fossils. Black.
FOSSILIZA'TION, n. The act or process
of converting into a fossil or petrifaction.
Journ. of Science.
FOS'SILIZE, V. t. To convert into a fossil;
, to fossilize bones or wood. Ibm.
FOS'SILIZE, ?,'. i. To become or be chang-
ed into a fossil.
FOS'SILIZED, pp. Converted into a fossil.
FOS'SILIZING, ppr. Changing into a fos-
sil.
FOSSIL'06Y, n. [fossil, and Gr.Tioyo;, dis-
course.]
A discourse or treatise on fossils ; also, the
ience of fossils.
FOSS'ROAD, I „ A Roman mihtary way
FOSS'WAY, S '"' England, leading from
Totness through Exeter to Barton on the
Humber; so called from the ditches on
each side. Encyc.
FOS'TER, V. t. [Sax. fostrian, from foster,
a nurse or food ; Sw. and Dan. foster, a
child, one fed ; Dan. fostrer, to nurse. I
suspect this word to "be from food, quasi,
foodster, for this is the D. word, voedsler, a
nurse, from roerfcn, to feed ; D. voedsterheer,
a foster-father.]
1. To feed ; to nourish ; to support ; to bring
up.
Some say that raxens foster forlorn children.
Shak.
3. To cherish ; to forward ; to promote
growth. The genial warmth of spring
fosters the plants.
3. To cherisli ; to encourage ; to sustain
and promote ; as, to foster passion or ge-
nius.
FOS'TER, V. i. To be nourished or trained
up togetiier. Speriser.
FOS'TERAgE, n. The charge of nursing.
Raleigh.
FOSTER-BROTHER, n. A male nui-sed
at the same breast, or fed by tiie same
nurse.
FOSTER-CHILD, n. A child nursed by a
woman not the mother, or bred by a man
not the father. Addison.
FOSTER-DAM, n. A nurse ; one that per-
foniis the office of a mother by giving
food to a child. Dryden.
FOS'TER-EARTH, n. Earth by which a
plant is nourished, though not its native
soil. Philips.
FOSTERED, pp. Nourished ; cherished ;
promoted.
FOSTERER, n. A nurse ; one that feeds
and nourishes in the place of parents.
Davies.
FOS'TER-F ATHER, n. One who takes the
place of a father in feeding and educating
a child. Bacon.
FOS'TERING, ppr. Nursing ; cherishing ;
bringing up.
FOS'TERING, n. The act of nursing, nour-
shing and cherishing.
2. Nourishment. Chaucer.
FOSTERLING, n. A fostcrcliild.
B. Jonson.
FOS'TERMENT, n. Food ; nourishment.
[N'ot used.]
FOS'TER-MOTHER, n. A nurse.
FOSTER-NURSE, n. A nurse. [Tautologi-
cal.]
FOSTER-SISTER, n. A female nursed
bv the same person. Swift.
FOSTER-SON. n. One fed and educated,
like a son, though not a son by birth.
Dryden.
FOS'TRESS, n. A female who feeds and
cherishes ; a nurse. B. Jonson.
FOTH'ER, n. [G. fuder, a tun or load ; D.
voeder ; Sax. fother, food, fodder, and a
mass of lead, from the sense of stuffing,
crowding. See Food.]
A weight of lead containing eight pigs, and
every pig twenty one stone and a half.
But the fother is of different weights.
With the |)himbers in London it is nine-
teen hundred and a half, and at the mines,
it is twenty two hundred and a half
Encyc.
FOTH'ER, r. I. [from stuffing. See the pre-
ceding word.]
To endeavor to stop a leak in the bottom of
a ship, while afloat, by letting down a
sail by the corners, and putting chopped
yarn, oakum, wool, cotton, &c. between
it and the ship's sides. These substances
are sometimes sucked into the cracks and
the leak stopped. Mar. Did.
FOTH'ERING, ppr. Stopping leaks, as
above.
FOTH'ERING, n. The operation of stop-
ping leaks in a ship, as above.
FoUG'ADE, n. [Fr. fougade ; Sp.fogada:
from I,, focus.]
In the art of war, a little mine, in the form of
a well, 8 or 10 feet wide^ and 10 or 12
deep, dug under sornc work, fortification
or post, charged with sacks of powder
and covered with stones or earth, for des-
troying the works by explosion. Encyc.
FOUGHT, pret. and pp. of fight ; pron. faut.
[See Fisht.]
FOUGHTEN, for/oi<g7,<. Obs.
FOUL, a. [Sax.fttl,faul; M.vuil; G.faid;
Dan. fwl. In Ch. with a prefix, S3: na-
bail, to defile. The Syr. with a different
prefi.v, ^a.^ tafel, to </f/(/e. It coincides
F O U
in elements with full, and probably thej
primary sense of both is to put or throw|
on, or to stuff, to crowd. See the significa-
tion of the word in seamen's language.]
1. Covered with or containing extraneous;
matter which is injurious, noxious or of-j
fensive ; filthy ; dirty ; not clean ; as a
foul cloth ; foul hands ; a/ouJ chimney.
My face k/ouI with weeping. Job xvi.
2. Turbid; thick; muddy; as /ouZ water; a
foul stream.
3. Impure ; polluted ; as s.foxd mouth. Shak.
4. Impure ; scurrilous ; obscene or profane ;|
asfoul words ; foul language.
5. Cloudy and stormy ; rainy or tempestu
ous; as foul weather.
6. Impure ; defiling ; as afotil disease.
7. Wicked ; detestable ; abominable ; as :
foul deed ; afoul spirit.
Babylon— the hold of every foul spirit. Rev
sviii.
8. Unfair ; not honest ; not lawful or accor- fqUL'SPOKEN,
ding to estabHshed rules or customs ; as
9. Hateful ; ugly ; loathsome.
Hast thou forgot
The /ouJ witch Sycorax. ,,^
10 Disgraceful; shameful; as a/ou/ defeat,
Wlio lirst seduced them to that /birf revolt :
Milton.
11. Coarse; gross. ^ , ^ ,■
Thev are all for rank and/o«( feeding.
•' Felton.
12. Full of gross humors or impurities.
You perceive the body of our bingdom,
How/o«/ it is. ^'"''f
13. Full of weeds ; as, the garden is very
14. Among seamen, entangled; hindered
from motion ; opposed to char ; as, a rope
isfoul.
15. Covered with weeds or barnacles; as,
the ship has afoul bottom.
16 Not fair ; contrary ; as afoul wind.
17. Not favorable or safe ; dangerous ; as a
foul road or bay.
To fall foul, is to rush on with haste, rough
force and unseasonable violence.
2. To run against ; as, the ship fell foul of
Ler consort. , , .
These latter phrases show that this word
is allied to tlie Fr. fouler, Eng. full, the
sense of vvliich is to press.
FOUL, V. t. [Sax.fulian, gefylan.] To make
filthy ; to defile ; to daub ; to dirty ; to be
mire; to soil; as, to foul tlie clothes ; to
foul the face or hands. Ezek. xxxiv. 18.
FOUL'DER, V. i. To emit great heat. [Jvot
used.] Spenser.
POUL'ED, pp. Defiled ; dirtied.
FOUL'FACED, a. Having an ugly or hate-
fid visage. ^ ,. *;'"'«•
FOULFEE'DING, a. Gross ; feeding gross-
jy_ Hall.
FOUL'ING, ppr. Making foul ; defiling.
FOUL'LY, adv. Filthily ; nastily ; hatefully;
scandalously ; disgracefully ; shamefully
F O U
So foulmouthed a witness never appeared in
ny cause. Mdison.
FOUL'NESS, n. The quality of being foul
or filthy ; filthiness ; defilement.
2. The quality or state of containing or be-
ing covered with any thing extraneous
which is noxious or offensive ; as the/ou(-
7iess of a cellar, or of a well ; the foulness
of a musket ; the foulness of a ship's bot-
impunty.
chaste a nation as this, nor
Bacon
3. Pollution
There is
free from all pollution or foulne:
4. Hatefulness; atrociousness ; as the/oi«i-
ness of a deed.
5. Ughness; deformity.
The fmdness of th' infernal form to hide.
Dryden.
6. Unfairness; dishonesty; want of candor.
Piety is opposed to hypocrisy and insincerity
and all falseness or foulness of intentions.
Hammond.
Slanderous. Shak.
2. Using profane, scurrilous or obscene Ian
guage.
FoU'MaRT, n. [Scol. foumaHe. Q,u. foul-
martin.] The polecat.
FOUND, pret. arxApp. of find.
I ara found of them that sought me not. Is
FOUND, I', t. [L. fundo, fundare ; Fr. fon-
der; It. fondare; Sp. /undar; Ir. bun,
stump, bottom, stock, origin; bunadhu,
bunait, foundation. If n is radical in
found, as I suppose, it seems to be the Ar
I foully wronged him ; do, iorgiv
Shak
2. Unfairly ; not honestly.
Thou play'dst most foully for it.
FOUL'MOUTHED, a. Using language
scurrilous, opprobrious, obscene or pro-
fane ; uttering abuse, or profane or ob
scene words ; accustomed to use bad Ian
guage.
U J Heb. Ch. n:3 to build, that is, to set,
found, erect. Class Bn. No. 7.]
1. To lay the basis of any thing; to set, or
place, as on something solid for support.
It fell not, for it was founded on a rock
Matt. vii. , „
2. To begin and build ; to lay the foundation,
and raise a superstructure ; as, to found a
city.
3. To set or place ; to establish, as on some
thing solid or durable ; as, to found a gov
ernment on principles of liberty.
4. To begin ; to form or lay the basis ; as,
to found a college or a library. Son "
times to endow is equivalent to found.
5. To give birth to ; to originate ; as, to found
an art or a family. .
6. To set ; to place ; to establish on a basis.
Christianity is/ounderf on the rock of ages.
Dominion is sometimes founded on con-
quest ; sometimes on choice or voluntary
consent.
Power, founded on contract, can descend|
only to him who has right by that contract.
■' Locke.
. To fix firmly.
I had else been perfect,
WTiole as the m3.rh\e, founded as the rock.
Shak.
FOUND, V. t. [L. fundo, fudi, fusum ; Fr.
fondre ; Sp.fundir, or hundir ; It. fondere.
The elements are probably Fd ; n being
Q adventitious.]
To cast ; to form by melting a metal and
pouring it into a mold. Millon.\
[This verb is seldom used, but the derivative
foundery is in common use. For found\
we use casf] ^ ^
FOUNDA'TION, n. [L. fundatio ; Fr.fon-
' dalion; from h. fundo.]
F O U
1. The basis of an edifice; that part of n
building which lies on the ground ; usually
a wall of stone which supports the edi-
fice.
2. The act of fixing the basis. Tickel.
3. The basis or ground-work, of any thing ;
that on which any thing stands, and by
which it is supported. A free govern-
ment has its foundation in the choice and
consent of the people to be governed.
Christ is the /ounrfafion of the church.
Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a
stone — a jprecious corner-stone. Is. xxviii.
Other foundation can no man lay than that
which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Cor,
4. Original ; rise ; as the foundation of the
world.
5. Endowment ; a donation or legacy ap-
propriated to support an institution, and
constituting a permanent fund, usually for
a charitable purpose.
Establishment; settlement.
FOUNDA'TIONLESS, a. Having no foun-
dation. Hammond.
FOUND'ED, ;>;). Set; fixed; estabhshed
on a basis; begun and built.
FOUND'ER, n. One that founds, establish-
es and erects ; one that lays a foundation ;
is the/oitndcr of a temple or city.
2. One who begins ; an author ; one from
whom any thing originates ; as the found-
er of a sect of philosophers ; the founder of
a family or race.
.3. One who endows ; one who furnishes a
permanent fund tor the support of an in-
stitution ; as the founder of a college or
hospital.
[Fr. fondeur.] A caster ; one who casts
metals in various forms ; as a founder of
cannon, bells, hardware, printing types,
&c.
FOUND'ER, V. i. [Fr. fondre, to melt, to
1. In seamen^s language, to fill or be filled
and sink, as a ship.
2. To fail : to miscari-y. Shak.
3. To trip ; to fall. Chaucer.
FOUND'ER, V. t. To cause internal inflam-
mation and great soreness in the feet of a
horse, so as to disable or lame hi—
me, dc
Encyc.
FOUND'ERED, pp. Made lame in the feet
by inflammation and extreme tenderness.
FOUND'EROUS, a. Failing ; liable to per-
ish ; ruinous. [JVot in use.] Burke.
FOUND'ERY, n. [Fi. fondeHe.] The art of
casting metals into various forms for use ;
the casting of statues.
2. The house and works occupied in casting
metals ; as a foundery of bells, of hollow
ware, of cannon, of types, &c.
FOUND'LING, n. [from found, find.] A
deserted or exposed infant ; a child found
without a parent or owner. A hospital
for such children is called a foundling hos-
FOUND'RESS, n. A female founder ; a
woman who founds or establishes, or who
endows with a fund.
FOUNT', ? [L.fons; Fr. fontaine;
FOUNT' AIN, S "■ Sp./iten<e ; It. fonte,fon-
tana ; W. fynnon, a fountain or source ;
runiaiv, fjnu, to produce, to generate, to
abound ; fwn, a source, breath, puff; fwnt,
produce.]
F O W
1. A spring, or source of water ; properly, a
spring or issuing of water from the earth.
This word accords in sense with wdl,ia
our mother tongue ; but we now distin-
guish them, applying/oun/ain to a natural
spring of water, and well to an artificial
pit of water, issuing from the interior of
the earth.
2. A small basin of springing water.
Taylor.
3. A jet ; a spouting of water ; an artificial
spring. Bacon.
4. The head or source of a river. Drydtn.
5. Original ; first principle or cause ; the
source of any thing.
Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness.
Common Prayer.
Fount of types. fSee Font.]
FOUNTAIN-HEAD, «. Primary source;
original ; first principle. Young.
FOUNT'AINLESS, a. Having no fountain ;
wanting a spring.
A barren desert fountainless and dry.
Mdton.
FOUNT'AIN-TREE, n. In tlie Canary
isles, a tree which distills water from its
leaves, in sufficient abundance for the in-
habitants near it. Encyc.
FOUNT'FUL, a. Full of springs ; as fount-
ful Ida. Chapman.
FOUR, a. [Sax. feowtr ; G. vier ; D. vier ;
Sw.Jyra; Uan.fre. I suspect this word
to be contracted from Goth. Jidwor, W.
pedwar, Arm. pcvar, peder or petor, peoar.
from which L. petoritum, petorritum, a car-
riage with four wheels, petor-rota.]
Twice two ; denoting the sum of two and
two.
F6URBE, n. [Fr.] A tricking fellow; a
cheat. [J^Tot English.] Denham.
FOURFOLD, a. Four double; quadruple;
He shall restore I
) fourfold. 2 Sa
FOURFOLD, n. Four times as much.
FOURFQOTED, a. Quadruped ; having
four feet ; as the horse and the o.\.
F6URRIER, n. [Fr.] A harbinger. [Xot
English.] Buck.
FOURSeORE, a. [See Score.] Four times
twenty ; eighty. It is used elliptically for
fourscore years ; as a man of fourscore.
Temple.
FOURSQUARE, a. Having four sides and
four angles equal ; quadrangular.
Raleigh.
FOURTEEN, a. [four and ten ; Sax. feou-
ertyn.] Four and ten ; twice se\en.
FOURTEENTH, a. The ordinal of four-
teen ; the fourth after the tentli.
FOURTH, a. The ordinal of four; the next
after the third.
FOURTH, n. In music, an interval conipo
sed of two tones and a semitone. Three
full tones compose a triton, or fourth re
dundant.
FOURTHLY, adv. In the fourth place.
FOURWHEELED, a. Having or running
on four wheels.
FOVILLA, n. [L.foveo.] A fine substance,
imperceptible to the naked eye, emitted
from the pollen of flowers. Marfyn.
FOWL, n. [Sax.fugeljugl ; G. and D. vo-
gel; Dan. fugl; Sw.fogel; from the root
of the L.fugto,fugo, Gr. ^(vyu, and signi-
fying the flying animal.]
F R A
A Bying or winged anitnal ; the generic
name of certain animals that move
through the air by the aid of wings,
Fowls have two feet, are covered with
fethers, and have wings for flight. Bird
is a young fowl or chicken, and may
well be applied to the smaller species of
fowls. But it has usurped the place of
fowl, and is used improperly as the gene
ric term.
Fowl is used as a collective noun. We
dined on fish a.nd fowl.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the
sea, and over the /oi/)< of the air. Gen. i.
But this use in America is not frequent.
We generally use the plural, fowls. The
word is colloquially used for poultry, or
rather, in a more limited sense, for barn
door fowls.
FOWL, V. i. To catch or kill wild fowls for
game or food ; as by means of bird-li
decoys, nets and snares, or by pursuing
them with hawks, or by shooting.
FOWL'ER, n. A sportsman who pursues
wild fowls, or takes or kills them for f
FOWL'ING, ppr. Pursuing or taking wild
fowls.
FOWL'ING, n. The art or practice of
catching or shooting fowls ; also, falcon
FOWL'INGPIECE, n. A light gun for
shooting fowls.
FOX, n. [Sax. fox ; G. fuchs ; D. vos.] An
animal of the genus Canis, with a straight
tail, yellowish or straw-colored hair, and
erect ears. This animal burrows in tl
earth, is remarkable for his cunning, ar
preys on lambs, geese, hens or other small
animals.
2. A sly, cunning fellow.
3. In seaman's language, a seizing made by
twisting several rope-yarns together.
4. Formerly, a cant expression for a sword,
Shak
FOX, V. t. To intoxicate ; to stupify. [JVot
^ised.] Boyle.
FOX'€ASE, n. The skin of a fox. [^'ot
itsed.] VEstrange.
FOX'CHASE, n. The pursuit of a fox with
hounds. Pope
FOX'ERY, )i. Behavior like that of a fox,
[N'ot in use.] Chaucer.
FOX'EVIL, n. A kind of disease in which
the hair falls ofi". Diet.
FOX'GLOVE, n. The name of a plant, the
Digitalis.
FOX'HOUND, n. A hound for chasing fox
es. Shenslone.
FOX'HUNT, n. The chase or bunting of a
fox.
FOX'HUNTER, n. One who hunts or pur
sues foxes witli hounds. _
FOX'ISH, \ Resembling a fox in quali-
FOX'LIKE, \ "-ties ; cunning.
FOX'SHIP, n. The character or qualitiei
of a fox; cunning. Shak.
FOX'TAIL, n. A species of grass, the Alo-
pecurus.
FOX'TRAP, 71. A trap, or agin or snare to
catch foxes.
FOX' Y, a. Pertaining to foxes ; wily. [J^ot
FOY, n. [Fr. /oi.] Faith. [Xot used.]
Spenser.
FRA'CAS, n. [Fr.] An uproar ; a noisy
quarrel ; a disturbance.
F R A
FRA€T, V. t. To break. [A'bJ used.]
FRACTION, n. [L. fraclio ; Fr. fraction ;
from L. frango, fraclus, to break. See
Break.]
1. The act of breaking or state of being bro-
ken, especially by violence. Burnet.
2. In arithmetic and algebra, a broken part of
an integral or integer ; any division of a
whole number or unit, as j, two fifths, \,
one fourth, which are called vulgar frac-
tions. In these, the figure above the line
is called the numerator, and the figure be-
low the line the denominator. In decimal
fractions, the denominator is a unit, or 1,
with as many cyphers annexed, as the
numerator has places. They are com-
monly expressed by writing the numera-
tor oidy, with a point before it by which it
is separated from the whole number: thus
.5, which denotes five tenths, j%, or half
the whole number ; .25, that is, /„\, or a
fourth part of the whole number.
FRACTIONAL, a. Belonging to a broken
number ; comprising a part or the parts of
a unit ; as fractional numbers.
FRA€'TIOlJS, a. Apt to break out into a
passion ; apt to quarrel ; cross ; snappish ;
as a fractious man.
FRAC'TIOUSLY, adv. Passionately ; snap-
pishlv.
FRAC'TIOUSNESS, n. A cross or snap-
pish temper.
FRACTURE, n. [L./radura. See Break.]
A breach in any body, especially a breach
caused by violence ; a rupture of a solid
body.
2. In surgery, the rupture or disruption of a
bone. A fracture is simple or compound ;
simple, when the bone only is divided;
compound, when the bone is broken, with
a laceration of the integuments.
3. In mineralogy, the manner in which a
mineral breaSs, and by which its texture
is displayed ; as a compact fracture ; a ^i-
brous fracture ; foliated, striated or con-
choidal fracture, &c. Kirwan.
FRA€'TURE, v. t. To break ; to burst
asunder; to crack ; to separate continuous
parts ; as, to fracture a bone ; to fracture
the skull. Wiseman.
FRAC'TURED, pp. Broken ; cracked.
FRACTURING, ppr. Breaking ; bursting
asunder ; cracking.
FRAti'ILE, a. [L. fragUis, from frango, to
break.]
1. Brittle ; easily broken.
The stalk of ivy is tough, and not fragile.
Bacon.
2. Weak ; liable to fail ; easily destroyed ;
as fragile arms. Milton.
FRAgIL'ITY, n. Brittleness; easiness to
be broken. Bacon.
2. Weakness ; liableness to fail. Knolles.
3. Frailty ; liableness to fault. Wotton.
FRAG'MENT, n. [L. fragmentum, from
frango, to break.]
1. A part broken oflf; a piece separated
from any thing by breaking.
Gather up the fragments that remain, that
nothing be lost. John vi.
2. A part separated from the rest ; an im-
perfect part ; as fragments of ancient wri-
tings.
3. A small detached portion ; as fragmoils
of time. Franklin.
F R A
I'RAG'MENTARY, a. Composed of frag-
ments. Donne.
FRA'GOR, n. [L. See Break.] A loud and 1 2
sudden sound ; the report of any thing
bursting ; a loud harsh sound ; a crash.
2. A strong or sweet scent. Obs. \
i'RA'GRANCE, ) [L. fragrantia, from
y, ^ fiagro, to smell strong.
FRA'GRANCY,
1 to emit or diffuse odor.
F R A
union of various parts ; as, to frame a
house or other building.
f o fit one thing to another ; to adjust ;
to make suitable. Abbot.
3. To make ; to compose ; as, to frame a
law.
For thou art framed of tlie linn truth of valor.
Shak.
Ar.
E^'
The
Arabic is without a prefix, and the word
belongs probably to the great family of
reach, stretch.]
Sweetness of smell ; that quahty of bodie
which affects the olfactory nerves with an
agreeable sensation ; pleasing scent ; grate-
ful odor.
Eve separate he spies.
Vailed in a cloud of fragrance— .miton.
The goblet crown'd,
Breathed aroruatic fragrancies around . Pope.
FRA'GRANT, a. Sweet of smell ; odor-
ous.
Fragrant the fertile earth
After soft showers. Milton.
FRAGRANTLY, adv. With sweet scent.
Mortimer.
FRAIL, a. [sui>posed to be from Fr. frHe
It. f rale. Qu. L.fragilis, or from a dift'er-
ent root.]
1. Weak ; infirm ; liable to fail and decay
subject to casualties ; easily destroyed
4. To regulate ; to adjust ; to shape ; to con
form ; us, to frame our lives according to
the rules of the gospel,
5. To form and digest by thought ; as, to
frame ideas in the mind.
How many excellent reasonings are framed
in the mind of a man of wisdom and study in a
length of years ! Watts
6. To contrive; to plan; to devise; as, to
frame a project or design.
7. To invent ; to fabricate :
bad sense ;
perishable ; not firm or durable.
That I may know how frail I am. Ps
xxxix.
2. Weak in mind or resolution ; liable to
error or deception.
Man is frail, and prone to evil. Taylor.
3. Weak ; easily broken or overset ; as a
frail bark.
FRAIL, n. [Norm, fraile.] A basket made
of rushes.
2. A rush for weaving baskets. Johnson.
3. A certain quantity of raisins, about 75
pounds. Encyc.
FRA'ILNESS, n. Weakness; infirmity; as
the frailness of the body.
FRA'ILTY, n. Weakness of resolution ; in-
firmity ; liableness to be deceived or se-
duced.
God knows our frailly, and pities our weak-
ness. Locke
2. Frailness; infirmity of body.
3. Faidt proceeding f\om weakness ; foible ;
sin of infirmity ; in this sense it has a plu
ral.
FRAISCHEUR, n. [Fr.] Freshness; cool-
ness. [Not English.] Dry den.
FRAISE, n. [Fr. from It.fregio, ornament,
frieze.]
1. In fortifkation, a defense consisting of
pointed stakes driven into the retrench
inents, parallel to the horizon. Encyc.
2. A pancake with bacon in it. Obs.
Johnson
FRAME, V. t. [Sax. fremman, to frame, to
effect or perform ; Arm. framma, to join
D. raam, a frame, G. rahm, a frame and
cream ; Dan. rame ; Sw. ram ; Russ. ra-
ma. Qu. Class Rm. No. 6. In Russ. to-
mM is a frame, and ramo, the shoulder, L
armus, Eng. arm.]
1. To fit or prepare and unite several parts
in a regular structure or entire thing
to fabricate by orderly construction and
as, to frame a story or lie.
FRAME, V. i. To contrive. Judges xii. 6.
FRAME, n. The timbers of an edifice fitted
and joined in the form proposed, for the
purpose of supporting the covering; as
the frame of a house, barn, bridge or ship.
2. Any fabric or structure composed of parts
united ; as the frame of an ox or horse.
So we say, the frame of the heavenly arch ;
the frame of the world.
Hooker. TiUotson.
3. Any kind of case or structure made for
admitting, inclosing or supporting things;
as the frame of a window, door, picture or
looking glass.
Among printers, a stand to support the
cases in which the types are distributed.
5. Among founders, a kind of ledge, inclos-
ing a board, which being filled with wet
sand, serves as a mold for castings.
Encyc.
6. A sort of loom on which linen, silk, &c.
stretched for quilting or embroidering.
Encyc.
7. Order ; regularity ; adjusted series or
composition of parts. We say, a person
is out of frame ; the mind is not in a good
Your steady soul preserves het frame.
SUHft
8. Form ; scheme ; structure ; constitution
system ; as a. frame of government.
9. Contrivance ; projection.
John the bastard,
Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies.
F R A
er court ; to have waifs, wrecks, treasure-
treve, or forfeitures. So the right to vote
for governor, senators and representatives,
is a franchise belonging to citizens, and
not enjoyed by aliens. The right to es-
tablish a bank, is a franchise.
2. Exemption from a burden or duty to
which others are subject.
3. The district or jurisdiction to which a
particular privilege extends ; the limits of
an immunity. Spenser.
4. An asylum or sanctuary, where persons
are secure from arrest.
Churches and monasteries in Spain are fran-
chises for criminals. Encyc.
FRAN'CHISE. v. t. To make free ; but en-
franchise is more generally used. Shak.
FRAN'CHISEMENT, >i. Release from bur-
den or restriction ; freedom. Spenser.
FRAN'CIC, a. Pertaining to the Franks or
French.
FRANCIS'CAN, a. Belonging to the order
of St. Francis.
FRANCIS'CAN, n. One of the order of St.
Francis ; an order of monks founded by
him in 1209. They are called also Gray
Friars.
FRANcilBIL'ITY, n. The state or quality
of being frangible.
FRANGIBLE, a. [from L./mng-o, to break.}
That may be broken ; brittle ; fragile ;
easily broken. Boyle.
FRAN'ION, n. A paramour, or a boon com-
panion. [Mit used.] Spenser.
FRANK, a. [Fr. franc ; Jt. Sp. franco ; G.
10. Shape; form; proportion. Hudibras.
FRA'MEWORK,n. Work done in a frame
Milton
FRA'MED, pp. Fitted and united in due
form ; made ; composed ; devised ; ad-
justed.
FRA'MER, n. One who frames ; a maker
FRA'MING, ppr. Fitting and joining in due
construction; making; fabricating
posing ; adjusting ; inventing
FRAM'POLb, a. Peevish; rugged. [Lore
and not in use.] Haeket.
FRAN'CHISE, n. fran'chiz. [Fr. from/ranc
free ; It. franchezza ; Sp. Port, franqueza
See Frank.] Properly, liberty, ireedoiri
Hence,
1. A particular privilege or right granted by
a prince or sovereign to an individual, or
to a number of persons ; as the right to be
a body corporate with perpetual succes
sion ; the right to hold a court leet oroth
frank; \).vrank. Qu. Ar. k ^i to free.
Class Br. No. 36. or Class Erg. No. 5. 6. 7.
8. Free and frank may be from the same
root or family, for free in Saxon is frigan,
coinciding in elements with break, and the
nasal sound of ^ would give frank. The
French franchir gives the sense of break-
ing out or over limits.]
1. Open; ingenuous; candid; free in utter-
ing real sentiments ; not reserved ; using
no disguise. Young persons are usually
frank ; old persons are more reserved.
2. Open ; ingenuous ; as a frank disposition
or heart.
:. Liberal; generous; not niggardly. [TTiis
sense is now rare.'] Bacon.
4. Free ; without conditions or compensa-
tion ; as a frank gifV.
5. Licentious ; unrestrained. [JVot used.]
Spenser.
FRANK, I An ancient coin of France.
FRANC, S "■ The value of the gold frank
was something more than that of the gold
crown. The silver franc was in value a
third of the gold one. The gold coin is no
longer in circulation. The present franc
or frank, is a silver coin of the value nearly
of nineteen cents, or ten pence sterling.
2. A letter which is exempted from postage ;
the writing which renders it free.
3. A sty for swi))e. [Not used.] Shnk.
FRANK, n. A name given by the Turks,
Greeks and Arabs to any of the inhabi-
tants of the western paits of Europe,
Enghsh, French, Italians, &c.
3. The people of Franconia in Germany.
FRANK, V. f. To exempt, as a letter from
the charge of postage.
2. To shut up in a sty or frank. [.Vof used.]
Shak.
F R A
F R A
F R E
3. To feed high ; to cram ; to fatten. [J^ot
used.]
FRANKALMOIGNE, n. frankalmoin' .
[frank and Norm, almoignes, alms.]
Free alms ; in English law, a tenure by
which a religious corporation holds lands
to them and their successors forever, on
condition of praying for the souls of the
donor. Rlackstone.
FRANK'CHASE, n. A liberty of free chase,
whereby persons having lands within the
compass of tiie same, are prohibited to cutj
down any wood, &c. out of the view of
the forester. Cowel.
Free chase, is the liberty of keeping
beasts of chase or royal game therein,
protected even from the owner of the land
himself, with a power of Imnting them
thereon. Blackstone.
FRANK'P^D, pp. E.\empted from postage.
FKANK'FEE, n. Freehold ; a holding of
lands in fee simple. Encyc.
FRANKIN'CENSE, n. [frank and incense.]
A dry resinous substance in pieces or
drops, of a pale yellowish white color, of|
a bitterish acrid taste, and very inflamma-
ble ; used as a perfume. Hill. Encyc
FRANK'ING, ppr. Exempting from post
age.
FR.iVNK'LAW, n. Free orcommon law, or
the benetit a person has by it. Encyc.
FRANK'LIN, n. A freeholder. Obs.
Spenser.
FRANK'LINITE, n. A mineral compound
of iron, zink and manganese, found in
New Jersey, and named from Dr. Frank-
lin. Cleaveland.
FRANK'LY, adv. Openly; freely; ingen
uously; without reserve, constraint or dis-
guise ; as, to confess one's faults frankly.
2. Liberally ; freely ; readily. Luke vii.
FRANK'MARRIA6E, n. A tenure in tai
special ; or an estate of inheritance givei:
to a person, together with a wife, and de-
scendible to the heirs of their two bodies
begotten. Blackstone.
FRANK'NESS, n. Plainness of speech ;
candor ; freedom in communication ; open-
ness ; ingenuousness. He told me his
opinions with /ronfenes*.
2. Fairness ; freedom from art or craft ; as
frankness of dealing.
3. Liberality ; bounteousness. [lAttle used.]
FRANK'PLEDliE, ii. A pledge or surety
for the good behavior of freemen. An-
ciently in England, a number of neighbor.*
who were bound for each other's good be-
havior. Encyc.
FRANKTEN'EMENT, n. An estate of
freehold ; the possession of the soil by a
freeman. Blackstone.
FRAN'TIe, a. [L. phreneticiis ; Gr. ffiivr;-
tixoi, from ^pfurtf, delirium or ravinfr, from
^fitji', mind, the radical sense of which is
to rush, to drive forward. So animus sig-
nifies mind, soul, courage, spirit ; and ani-
ma- signifies soul, wind, breatli.]
1. Mad; raving; furious; outrageous; wild
and disorderly ; distracted ; as a frantic
person ; frantic willi fear or grief.
2. Characterized by violence, fury and dis-
order ; noisy ; mad ; wild ; irregular ; as
thf frantic rites of Bacchus.
FRAi\'Tl€LY, adv. Madly ; distractedly
outrageously.
FRAN'TICNESS, n. Madness ; fury of
passion ; distraction.
FRAP, V. t. In seamen^s language, to cross
and draw together the several parts of a
tackle to increase the tension. Mar. Diet.
FRATERN'AL, n. [Fr. fraiemel; L. fra-
ternus, from frater, brother.]
Brotherly ; pertaining to brethren ; becoming
brothers ; as fraternal love or aflection
a fraternal embrace.
FRATERN'ALLY, adv. In a brotherly
manner.
FRATERN'ITY, n. [L. fratemitas.] The
state or quality of a brother ; brotherhood,
2. A body of men associated for their com-
mon interest or pleasure ; a company ; a
brotherhood ; a society ; as the fraternity
of free masons.
3. Men of the same class, profession, occu-
pation or character.
W ill) what Icniis of respect knaves and sots
will speak of tlicirown fraternity. South
FRATERNIZA'TION, n. The act of asso-
ciating and holding fellowship as breth-
ren. Burke.
FRATERN'IZE, v. i. To associate or hold
fellowship as brothers, or as men of lik
occupation or character.
FRAT'RICIDE, «. [L.fratricidium ; frater,
brother, and cado, to kill.]
1. The crime of nunderinga brother.
2. One who murders or kills a brother.
L. Addison.
FRAUD, n. [L. /;•«««; Fr. Sp. It. Port,
fraudc. This agrees in elements with Sa.v,
bra:d, bred, fraud, which is contracted from
brtcgden, fraud, guile, disguise ; and hra:g
coincides with brigue. But I know not
that these words are connected with the
Latin/raus.]
Deceit ; deception ; trick ; artifice by which
the right or interest of another is injured ;
a stratagem intended to obtain some un-
due advantage ; an attempt to gain or the
obtaining of an advantage over another
by imposition or immoral means, particu-
larly deception in contracts, or bargain
and sale, either by stating falsehoods, or
suppressing truth.
If success a lover's toil attends.
Who asks if force ot fraud obtained his ends
Pope
FRAUD'FUL, a. Deceitful in making bar
gains; trickish ; treacherous; applied to
persons. Shak.
2. Containing fraud or deceit ; applied to
things. Dryden.
FRAUD'EULLY, adv. Deceitfully; with
intention to deceive and gain an undue
advantage ; trickishly ; treacherously ; by
stratagem.
FRAUD'ULENCE, > Deceitfulness; trick-
FRAUD'ULENCY,^"-ishness in making
bargains, or in social concerns. Hooker.
FRAUDULENT, a. Deceitful in making
contracts ; trickish ; applied to persons.
3. Containing fraud ; founded on fraud ; pro-
ceeding from fraud ; as a fraudulent bar-
gain.
Deceitful ; treacherous ; obtained or per-
formed by artifice. Milton.
FRAUDULENTLY, adv. By fraud; by
deceit ; bv artifice or imposition.
FRAUGHT, a. fraut. [D.vragl: G.fracht:
Dan. fragt; S\\. fracht. A difl%rent or-
thography affreight, wlijch see.]
1. Laden; loaded; charged; as a vessel
richly fraught with goods from India.
This sense is used in poetry ; but in com-
mon husmess, freighted only is used.
2. Filled ; stored ; full ; as a scheme fratight
with mischief; the scriptures are fraught
with excellent precepts. Hooker.
FRAUGHT, n. A freight ; a cargo. [M>t
nou' used.] Dryden.
FRAUGHT, v. t. To load ; to fill ; to crowd.
I Obs. Shak.
FRAUGHT'AtiE, M. Loading ; cargo. [J\ot
I used.] Shak.
FRAY, n. [Fr. fracas. It. fracasso, a great
crash, havoc, ruin ; Fr. fracasser. It. fra-
cassare, to break ; coinciding with L.frac-
tura, fi-om frango. Under Affray, this is
referred to Fr. effrayer, to fright, but in-
correctly, unless fright is from tlie same
root. In the sense of rubbing, fretting,
this is from the L. fricu, Sj). fregar. But
break, fright and frico, all have the same
radicals.]
1. A broil, quarrel or violent riot, that puts
men in fear. This is the vulgar word for
affray, and the sense seems to refer the
word to Fr. effrayer.
2. A combat ; a battle ; also, a single com-
b.v. or duel. Pope.
3. A contest ; contention. Milton.
4. A rub ; a fret or chafe in cloth ; aplace
injured by rubbing. Toiler.
FRAY, V. t. To fright ; to terrify. Obs.
Spenser. Bacon.
FRAY, V. t. [Fr.frayer, h. frico, to rub.] To
rub ; to fret, as cloth by wearing.
2. To rub ; as, a deer frays his bead.
VRA'YElt, pp. Frightened; rubbed; worn.
FRA'YING, ppr. Frightening; terrifying;
rubbing.
FRA'YING, n. Peel of a deer's horn.
B. Jonson.
FREAK, n. [Ice.freka. Qu. G.frech, bold,
saucy, petulant; Dan./reA-, id.; Scot./racA,
active. The English word does not ac-
cord perfectly with the Ger. Dan. and
Scot. But it is probably from the root of
break, denoting a sudden start.]
|1. Literally, a sudden starting or change of
place, ilence,
2. A sudden causeless change or turn of the
mind ; a whim or fancy ; a capricious
prank.
She is restless and peevish, and sometimes
in a freak will instantly cliange her habitation.
Spectator.
FREAK, r. /. [from the same root as the
preceding, to break ; W. bryc. It. breac,
speckled, party-colored ; like pard, from
the Heb. Tli) to divide.]
To variegate ; to checker.
Freaked with many a mingled hue.
Thomson .
FRE'AKISH, a. Apt to change the mind
suddenly ; whimsical ; capricious.
It may be a question, whether the wife or the
woman was the more freakish of the two.
L'Estrange.
jFRE'AKISHLY, adv. Capriciously; with
sudden change of mind, witliout cause.
FRE'AKISHNESS, n. Capriciousness ;
whimsicalness.
FRECKLE, 71. [from the same root as
freak : W. bryc, Ir. breac, spotted, freck-
led : W. brycu, to freckle ; from breaking,
unless by a change of letters, it has been
F R E
corrupted from G. Jleck, D. vlak or vlek,
Sw.jp&ck, Dan. Jlek, a spot ; which is not
probable.]
1. A spot of a yellowish color in the skin,
on the face, neck and hands.
may be natural or produced by
the action of the sun on the skin, or from
the jaundice.
2. Any small spot or discoloration.
Evelyn.
FRECK'LED, a. Spotted; having small
yellowish spots on the skin or surface ; as
a freckled face or neck.
2. Spotted ; as a freckled cowslip. Shak.
FRECK'LEDNESS, n. The state of being
freckled. Shencood.
FRECK'LEFACED, a. Having a face ftdl
of freckles. Beaum.
FRECK'LY, o. Full of freckles; sprinkled
with spots.
FRED, Sax. frith, Dan. fred, Sw. frid, G.
friede, D. vreede, peace ; as in Frederic, do-
minion of peace, or rich in peace ; tVin-
fred, victorious peace. Our ancestors call-
ed a sanctuary, fredstole, aseat of peace.
FREE, a. [Sax. frig, freoh, free; frigan,
freogan, to free; G.frei ; D. my ; Dan. fri ;
Sw. fri; all contracted from frig, which
corresponds with Heb. and Ch. plS, Syr
^.gj^Sam.vsa, Ar. o^i faraka, to
break, to separate, to divide, to free, to re
deem, &,c. See Frank.]
1. Being at liberty; not being under neces
sity or restraint, physical or moral ; a word
of general application to the body, the will
or mind, and to corporations.
2. In government, not enslaved ; not in a state
of vassalage or dependence; subject only
to fixed laws, made by consent, and to a
regular administration of such laws; not
subject to the arbitrary will of a sovereign
or lord ; as a free state, nation or people
3. Instituted by a free people, or by consent
or choice of those who are to be subjects,
and securing private rights and privileges
by lixed laws and ))rinciples ; not arbitrary
or despotic ; as a free constitution or gov-
ernment.
There can be no free government without a
democratlcal branch in the constitution.
J. Mams
4. Not imprisoned, confined or under ari-est;
as, the prisoner is setfree.
5. Unconstrained ; unrestrained ; not under
comi)ulsion or control. A man is free to
pursue his own choice ; he enjoys free
will.
6. Permitted; allowed; open; not appro
priated ; as, places of honor and confi
dence are free to all ; we seldom hear of
a commerce perfectly /rce.
7. Not obstructed ; as, the water has a ft
passage or channel ; the house is open to
a free current of air.
8. Licentious; unrestrained. The reviewer
is very free in his censures.
9. Open; candid; frank; ingenuous;
served ; as, we had a free conversation
together.
Will you be free and candid to your friend >
Otway
10. Liberal in expenses ; not parsimonious
as a free purse ; a man is free to give tc
all useful institutions.
F R E
11. Gratuitous ; not gained by importunity
or purchase. He made him a free offer of
his services. It is a free gift. The salva-
tion of men is of free grace.
12. Clear of crime or offense ; guiltless ;
innocent.
My hands are guilty, but my heart \s/ree.
Dryden
13. Not having feeling or suffering ; clear ;
exempt ; with/ro»ft ; as free from pain or
disease ; free from remorse.
14. Not encumbered with ; as free from a
burden.
15. Open to all, without restriction or with
out expense ; as a free school.
16. Invested with franchises ; enjoying cer-
tain immunities ; with of; as a man free of
the city of London.
17. Possessing without vassalage or slavish
conditions; as/rce of his farm. Dryden.
18. Liberated fi-om the government or con-
trol of parents, or of a guardian or master
A son or an apprentice, when of age, is
19. Ready ; eager ; not dull ; acting without
spurring or whipping ; as a free horse.
20. Genteel ; charming. [N'ol in use.]
Chaucer.
FREE, V. t. To remove from a thing any
encumbrance or obstruction ; to disengage
from ; to rid ; to strip ; to clear ;
Jj-ec the body from clothes; to free the feet
from fetters ; to free a channel from sand
2. To set at liberty ; to rescue or release
from slavery, captivity or confinement ; to
loose. The prisoner is freed from arrest,
3. To disentangle ; to disengage.
4. To exempt.
He that is dead is freed from sin. Rom. vi.
5. To manumit ; to release from bondage
as, to free a slave.
6. To clear from water, as a ship by pump-
ing.
7. To release from obligation or duty,
To free from or free of, is to rid of, by remo-
A widow's dower in a
copyhold. Blackstone.
FREE'BOOTER, n. [D. vrybuiter ; G.frei-
heuter. See Booty.]
One who wanders about for plunder; a rob-
ber ; a pillager ; a plunderer. Bacon
IFREE'BOOTING, n. Robbery; plunder
1 a pillaging. Spenser.
;FREE'B0RN, o. Born free ; not in vassal-
age; inheriting libertv.
FREECHAP'EL, n. In England, a chapel
founded by the king and not subject to the
jurisdiction of the ordinary. The king
may also grant license to a subject to found
such a chapel. Cowel.
Free city, in Germany, an imperial city, not
subject to a prince, but governed by its
own magistrates. Encyc.
FREE'€OST, n. Without expense ; free
dom from charges. South.
FREED, pp. Set at liberty ; loosed ; deliv
ered from restraint ; cleared of hinderance
or obstruction.
FREEDEN'IZEN, 91. A citizen. Jackson
FREE'DMAN, n. A man who has been
slave and is manumitted.
IfREE'DOM, n. A state of exemption from
the power or control of another ; liberty
I exemption from slavei-y, servitude or con
F R E
finement. Freedom is personal, civil, politi
cal, and religious. See Liberty.]
2. Particular privileges ; franchise ; immu-
nity ; as the freedom of a city.
3. Power of enjoying franchises. Swift.
4. Exemption from fate, necessity, or any
constraint in consequence of predeter-
mination or otherwise ; as the freedom of
the will.
5. Any exemption from constraint or con-
trol.
6. Ease or facility of doing any thing. He
speaks or acts w'nh freedom.
7. Frankness ; boldness. He addressed his
audience With freedom.
8. License ; improper familiarity ; violation
of the rules of decorum ; with a plural.
Beware of what are called innocent free-
doms.
FREEFISH'ERY, n. A royal franchise or
exclusive privilege of fishing in a public
river. Encyc.
FREE'FOOTED, a. Not restrained in
marching. [Xot used.] Shak.
FREEHEARTED, a. [See Heart.] Open;
frank ; unreserved.
2. Liberal ; chaiitable ; generous.
FREEHEARTEDNESS, n. Frankness;
openness of heart; hberality. Burnet.
FREEHOLD, n. That land or tenement
which is held in fee-simple, fee-tail, or for
term of life. It is of two kinds ; in deed,
and in law. The first is the real possess-
ion of such land or tenement ; the last is
the right a man has to such land or tene-
ment, before his entry or seizure.
Eng. Latv.
Freehold is also extended to such offices as
a man holds in fee or for life. It is also
taken in opposition to villenage. Encyc.
In the United States, a freehold is an estate
which a man holds in his own right, sub-
ject to no superior nor to conditions.
FREE'HOLDER, n. One who owns an es-
tate in fee-simple, fee-tail or for life ; the
possessor of a freehold. Every juryman
must be a freeholder.
FREE'ING, ppr. Dehvering from restraint ;
releasing from confinement ; removing
incumbrances or hinderances from any
thing ; clearing.
FREE'LY, arft). At liberty; without vassal-
age, slavery or dependence.
2. Without restraint, constraint or compul-
sion ; voluntarily. To render a moral
agent accountable, he must act freely.
3. Plentifully; in abundance; as, to eat or
drmkfreely.
Without scruple or reserve ; as, to censure
freely.
5. Without impediment or hinderance.
Of every tree of the garden thou mayestfieely
G. Without necessity, or compulsion from
divine predetermination.
Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell.
Milton.
7. Without obstruction ; largely ; copiously.
The patient hied freely.
8. Spontaneously ; without constraint or
persuasion.
9. Liberally ; generously ; as, to give freely
to the poor.
10. Gratuitously; of free will or grace, with-
out jiurchase or consideration.
F R E
'"'Freely ye have received, /rce/y give. Matt
FREE'MAN, n. [/ree and man.] One wlio
- enjoys liberty, or who is not subject to the
will "of another ; one not a slave Of vassal.
2. One who enjoys or is entitled to a fran-
chise or peculiar privilege ; as the freemen
of a citv or state.
01 a citv or state. ,^^~ j^,.. ,^» «,^-.... r 1 1 j
FREE-MASON, n. One of the fraternity of 3. To chill ; to give the sensation of cold and
masuns shivering. This horrid tale freezes my
Not perplexed ; free
Bacon
iiiasuns,
FREE'MINDED,
from care.
FREE'NESS, n. The state or quality
being free, unconstrained, unconiined, u
incumbered, or unobstructed.
2. Openness ; unreservedness ; frankness ;
ingenuousness ; candor ; as tlic/re«ncsi of
a confession.
3. Liberality ; generosity ; as freeness in
giving. Spratt.
4. Gratuitousness; as the /reenfM of divine
grace.
FREE'S€HOOL, n. A school supported by
funds, &c., in which pupils are taught
without paying for tuition.
2. A school open to admit pupils without
restriction.
PREE'SPOKEN, a. Accustomed to speak
without reserve. Bacon.
FREE'STONE, n. Any species of stone
composed of sand or grit, so called be-
cause it is easily cut or wrought.
FREE'THINKER, n. A softer name for a
deist ; an unbeliever ; one who discards
revelation.
FREE'THINKING, n. Unbelief.
Berkeley.
FREE'TONGUED, a. Speaking without
reserve. Bp. Hall.
FREEWAR'REN, n. A royal franchise or
exclusive right of killing beasts and fowls
of warren within certain limits. Encyc.
FREEWILL', n. The power of directing
oiu- own actions without restraint by ne-
cessity or fate. Locke.
2. Voluntai-iiiess ; spontaneousness.
FREE'WOMAN, n. A woman not a slave.
FREEZE, v.i. pret. /rote ; pp./ro:en, or
froze. [Sax. frysan ; D. vriexen ; Dan.
fryser ; Sw. frysa. It coincides in ele-
ments with D. vreezen, to fear, that is, to
shrink, contract, tremble, shiver, Fr. friser,
to curl, whence frlssoner, to shiver, Sp.
frisar. These are of one family, unless
't4iere has been a change of letters. The
Itahan has fregio, for frieze, and the Gr.
^pitiou had" for its radical letters $pi|.
These may be of a difierent iamily. To
freeze is to contract. See Class Rd. Rs.
No. 14 19. 25. Qu. Russ. mroz, frost.]
\. To be congealed by cold ; to be changed
from a liquid to a solid state by the ab-
straction of heat ; to be hardened into ice
or a like solid body. VVater/reeic* at the
temperature of 32° above zero by Fahren-
heit's thermometer. Mercury freezes at
40° below zero.
2. To be of that degree of cold at which
water congeals. Shak.
3. To chill ; to stagnate, or to retire from
the extreme vessels ; as, the blood freezes
in the veins.
4. To be chilled ; to shiver with cold.
SL. To die by means of cold. We say a man
freezes to deatii.
Vol. I.
F R E
FREEZE, V. t. To congeal ; to liarden into
ice ; to change from a 3uid to a solid form
by cold or abstraction of heat. This
weather will/rec:e the rivers and lakes.
2. To kill by cold ; but we often add the
words to death. This air will/jv>c:e you, or
freeze you to death
blood.
FREEZE, in architecture. [See Frieze.]
FREIGHT, 71. frate. [D. vragt ; G.fracht ;
Sw. fracht: Tfan.fragt; Fi: fret; Port.
frete ; Sp. flete ; Arm. fret. See Fraught.
Qu. from the root of h.fero ; formed like
bright, from the Ethiopic harah.]
1. The cargo, or any part of the cargo of a
ship; lading; that which is carried by
water. The freight of a ship consists of
cotton ; the ship has not a fu\l freight ; the
owners have advertised {or freight ; freight
will be paid for by the ton.
2. Transportation of goods. We paid four
dollars a ton for the freight from London
to Barcelona.
3. The hire of a ship, or money charged or
paid for the transportation of goods. After
paying freight and charges, the profit is
trifling.
FREIGHT, V. t. To load with goods, as a
ship or vessel of any kind, for transporting
them from one place to another. We
freighted the ship for Amsterdam ; the ship
was freighted with floui- for Huvanna.
2. To load as the burden. Shak.
FREIGHTED, pp. Loaded, as a ship or
FREIGHTER, n. One who loads a ship, or
one who charters and loads a ship.
FREIGHTING, ppr. Loading, as a ship or
vessel.
FREISLEBEN, n. A mineral of a blue or
bluish gray color, brittle and soft to the
touch. Cleaveland.i
FREN, n. A stranger. [JVot used.] Spe/iser.l
FRENCH, a. Pertaining to France or its;
inhabitants.
French Chalk, scaly talck, a variety of indu-]
rated talck, in masses composed of small
scales ; its color is pearly white or gray-
ish. Cleaveland.
FRENCH, n. The language spoken by the
people of France
FRENCH-HORN', n. A wind instrument of
music made of metal.
FRENCHIFY, V. t. To make French ; to
infect with the manner of the French.
Camde.
FRENCH'LIKE, a. Resembling the French.
Bp. Hail
FRENET'le, a. [See Frantic and Phre-
nelit\]
FREN'ZIED, paH. a. Affected with mad-
ness.
FRENZY, n. [Fr.frenesie ; It.frenesia; from
L. phrenitis, Gr. fpivirtf, fi-om tP"?"! mind,
which is from moving, rushing
Frantic]
3Iadness ; distraction ; rage ; or any violent
agitation of the mind approaching to dis
traction.
All else is towering frenzy and distraction.
FRE'QUENCE, n. [Pr. from h.frequentia.
A crowd ; a throng ; a concourse ; an as
sembly. [Little used.] Shak. Milan.
F R E
FRE'QUENCY,n. A return or occurrence
of a thing often repeated at short inter-
vals. Thv frequency of crimes abates our
horror at the commission ; \he frequency o{
capital punishments tends to destroy their
proper effect.
2. A crowd ; a throng. [.Xot used.]
B. Jonson.
FREQUENT, a. [Fr. from L. frequens.]
1. Often seen or done ; often happening at
short intervals ; often repeated or occur-
ring. We made frequent visits to the hos-
[lital.
2. Used often to practice any thing. He was
frequent and loud^ in his declamations
against the revolution.
3. Full ; crowded ; thronced. [.Vol used.]
.MUlon.
FRE'QUENT, v. t. [h. frcquento ; Ft. fre-
quenter.]
To visit often ; to resort to often or habitu-
ally. The man who freqiicnts a dram-shop,
an ale house, or a gaming table, is in the
road to poverty, disgrace and ruin.
He frequented the court of .Vugustus.
Dry den.
FREQUENT'ABLE, a. Accessible. iJVot
usad.] Sidney.
FREQUENTA'TION, n. The act of fre-
quenting. Chesterfield.
j2. The habit of visiting often.
JFREQUENT'ATIVE, a. [\l. frequentativo :
Fr. frequentatif]
In grammar, signifying the frequent repeti-
tion of an action; as a frequentative wrh.
FRE'QUENTED, pp. Often visited.
FREQUENTER, n. One who often visits
or resorts to customarily.
FREQUENTLY, adv. Often; many times ;
at short intervals ; commonly.
FRE'QUENTNESS, «. The quality of be-
ing frequent or often repeated.
FRES'CO, n. [It. fresco, fresh.] Coolness ;
shade ; a cool relreshing state of the air ;
duskines.<. Prior.
2. A picture not drawn in glaring light, but
in dusk. Pope.
3. A method of painting in relief on wallfe,
performed with water-colors on fresh plas-
ter, or on a wall laid with mortar not yet
dry. The colors, incorporating with the
mortar, and drying with it, become very
durable. It is called yi'esfo, either because
it is done on fresh plaster, or because it is
used on walls and buildings in the open
air. Encyc.
4. A cool refreshing liquor.
FRESH, a. [Sax.fersc; D.versch ; G.frisch:
Ban.fersk, and frisk : Sw. frisk ; It. fresco;
Sp. Port. id. ; Fr. frais, fraiche ; Arm.
fresq ; W. fres, fresg. This is radically
the same word as frisk, and it coincides
also in elements with brisk, W. brysg,
which is from rhys, a rushing, extreme
ardency, Eng. rush, which gives the radi-
cal sense, though it may not be the same
word.]
1. Jloviug w ith celerity ; brisk ; strong ;
somewhat vehement; as afresh breeze;
fresh wind ; the primary sense.
2. Having the color and appearance of
young thrifty plants ; lively ; not impaired
or faded ; as when we say, the fields look
fresh and green.
3. Having the appearance of a healthy
F R E
youth ; florid ; ruddy ; as a /ccsft-colored
Han
fres
4. New J recently grown ; as fresh vegeta-
hles.
5. New; recently made or obtained. We
liave a fresh supply of goods from the
manufactory, or from India. ; fresh tea;
fresh raisins.
6. Not impaired by time ; not forgotten or
obliteiiited. The story is fresh in my
mind ; the ideas are fresh in my recollec-
7. Not salt ; as fresh water ; fresh meat.
8. Recently from the well or spring; pure
and cool; not warm or vapid. Bring a
glass of fresh water. .
9. In a state like tliat of recent growth or
and
recentness; as, to preserve flow
fruit /;esA.
Fresh as April, sweet as May. Careiv
10. Repaired from loss or diminution ; hav
ing new vigor. He rose fresh for the com
bat.
11. New; that has lately come or arrived ;
as fresh news ; fresh dispatches.
12. SvFeet ; in a good state ; not stale.
13. Unpracticed ; unused ; not before em-
ployed ; as afresh hand on board of a ship.
14. Moderately rapid ; as, the ship makes
fresh way.
FRESH, n. A freshet.
Beverly, Hist. Virginia,
FRESH'EN, r. t. fresh'n. To make fresh
to dulcify ; to separate, as water from sa-
line particles ; to take saltness from any
thing ; as, to freshen water, fish or flesh.
2. To refresh ; to revive. [JVot used.]
Spenser.
3. In seaman's language, to apply new ser-
vice to a cable ; as, to freshen hawse.
FRESH'EN, V. i. To grow fresh ; to lose
salt or saltne.ss.
2. To grow brisk or strong ; as, the wind
freshens.
FRESHENED, pp. Deprived of saltness;
sweetened.
FRESH'ES, n. The mingling of fresh wa-
ter with salt water in rivers or bays, or
the increased current of an ebb tide by
means of a flood of fresh water, flowing
towards or into the sea, and discoloring
the water. Beverly. Encyc.
2. A flood ; an overflowing ; an inundation ;
a freshet
FRESH'ET, n. A flood or overflowing of a
river, by means of heavy rains or melted
snow; an inundation. jVeio England.
2. A stream of fresh water. Browne.
FRESH'LY, adv. Newly ; in the former
state renewed ; in a new or fresli state.
2. With a healthy look ; ruddily. Shak
3. Briskly ; strongly.
4. Coolly.
FRESH'MAN, n. A novice ; one in the ru
diments of knowledge.
2. In colleges, one of the youngest class of
students.
FRESH'MANSHIP, n. The state of a fresh-
man.
FRESH'NESS, J^ Newness; vigor; spirit;
the contrary to vapidness ; as the freshness
of liquors or odors.
2. Vigor; liveliness; the contrary to a faded
state ; as the freshness of plants or of
green fields.
F R E
3. Newness of strength ; renewed vigor ; op-
posed to weariness or fatigue.
Tlie Scots had tlie advantage both for num-
ber and freshness of men. Hayward.
4. Coolness ; invigorating quality or state.
And breathe the freshness of the open air.
Dryden.
Color of youth and health ; ruddiness.
Her cheeks their freshness lose and wonted
grace. Granville
G. Freedom from saltness ; as the freshness
of water or flesh.
7. A new or recent state or quality ; raw
8. Briskness, as of wind.
FRESIl'NEW, a. Unpracticed. [jVo< used.
Shak.
FRESH'WATER,a. Accustomed to sail on
freshwater only, or in the coasting trade;
as a freshwater sailor.
2. Raw ; unskilled. Knolles.
FRESH'WATERED, a. 'Newly watered ;
supplied with fresh water.
FRET, V. t. [Sw. frhtn, to fret, to corrode
Vr.frotter, to rub ; Arm. /rota. This seems
to be allied to Goth, and Sax. freian, to
eat, to gnaw, G.fressen, D. vreeten, whici
may he formed from the root of L. rodo.
rosi, Sp. rozar, or of L. rado, to scrape,
To fret or gnaw gives the sense of une
venness, roughness, in substances ; the
like appearance is given to fluids by agita
tion.]
To rub ; to wear away a substance by
friction ; as, to fret cloth ; to fret a piece of
gold or other metal. jVeuVo
2. To corrode ; to gnaw ; to cat away ; as,
a worm frets the planks of a ship.
3. To impair ; to wear away.
By starts.
His fretled fortunes give him hope and fear
Shak
4. To form into raised work. Milton
5. To variegate ; to diversify.
Yon gray lines
That/)e( the clouds are messengers of day
(3. To agitate violently. Shak
7. To agitate : to disturb ; to make rough
to cause to ripple ; as, to fret the surface of
water.
8. To tease ; to irritate ; to vex ; to make
angry.
Fret not thyself because of evil doers. Ps
9. To wear away ; to chafe ; to gall. Let
not a saddle or harness fret the skin of
your horse.
FRET, V. i. To be worn away ; to be cor
roded. Any substance will in time fret
away by friction.
2. To eat or wear in ; to make way by attri-
tion or corrosion.
Many wheals arose, and fretted one into an-
otlier with groat excoriation. Wiseman.
3. To be agitated ; to be in violent commo-
tion ; as the rancor t\iat frets in the malig-
nant breast.
4. To be vexed ; to be chafed or irritated ;
to be angry ; to utter peevish expres-
sions.
He frets, he fumes, he stares, he stamps the
ground. jyrydi
FRET, n. The agitation of the surface' of
fluid by fermentation or other cause ;
rippling on the surface of water ; small u
dulations continually repeated. Addison.
F R I
. Work raised in protuberances ; or a kind
of knot consisting of two lists or small fil-
lets interlaced, used as an ornament in
architecture.
;. Agitation of mind ; cotnmotion of temper ;
irritation ; as, he keeps his mind in a con-
tinual/rei.
Yet then did Dennis rave in furious fret.
Pope.
4. A short piece of wire fixed on the finger-
board of a guitar, &c., which being press-
ed against the strings varies the tone.
Bushy.
5. In heraldry, a bearing composed of bars
crossed and interlaced.
FRET, V. t. To furnish with frets, as an in-
strument of music. As. Res.
FRET, 71. [L.fretum.] A frith, which see.
FRET'FUL, a. Disposed to fret ; ill-humor-
ed ; peevish ; angry ; in a state of vexation ;
as a fretful temper.
FRET'FULLY, adv. Peevishly ; angrily.
FRET'FiJLNESS, ji. Peevishness ; iU-hu-
mor ; disposition to fret and complain.
FRETT, n. With miners, the worn side of
the bank of a river. Encyc.
FRET'TED, pp. Eaton ; corroded ; rubbed
or worn away ; agitated ; vexed ; made
rough on the surface ; variegated ; orna-
mented with fretwork ; furnished witlj
frets.
FRET'TER. n. That which frets.
FRETTING, ppr. Corroding; wearing
away ; agitating ; vexing ; making rough
on the surface ; variegating.
FRET TING, n. Agitation ; commotion.
FRET'TY, a. Adorned with fretwork.
FRE'TUM, n. [L.] An arm of the sea.
Ray.
FRETWORK, n. Raised work; work
adorned with frets.
FRIABILITY, ? , [See Fnahle.] The
FRI'ABLENESS, S quality of being ea-
sily broken, crumbled and reduced to
powder. Locke.
FRI'ABLE, a. [Fr.friahle ; h. friabilis, from
frio, to break or crumble. Frio is proba-
bly a contracted word. Ch. "jlfl or Ch.
Heb. pis to break.]
Easily crumbled or pulverized ; easily redu-
ced to powder. Pumice and calcined
stones are very friable.
FRI'AR, n. [Fr. frere, a brother, contracted
from h.frater. See Brother.]
1. An appellation common to the monks of
all orders ; those who enter religious or-
ders considering themselves as a frater-
nity or brotherhood. Friars are generally
distinguished into four principal branches,
viz. : I. Minors, gray friars or Francis-
cans; 2. Augustines; 3. Dominicans or
black friars ; 4. White Friars or Carme-
lites.
2. In a restricted sense, a monk who is not
a priest ; those friars who are in orders
being called fathers.
FRI'ARLIKE, a. Like a 'friar ; monastic;
unskilled in the world. Knolles.
FRI' ARLY, a. Like a friar ; untaught in the
affairs of life. Bacon,
FRI'AR'S-eOWL, n. A plant, a species of
Arum, with a flower resembling a cowl.
Johjison. Fam. of Plants.
FRIAR'S-LAN'TERN, n. The ignis fatuu.<!.
MUton.
F R I
FRI'ARY, n. A monastery ; a convent of
fiiars. Dugdale.
I'Rl'ARY, a. Like a friar ; pertaining to
friars. Camden.
FRIB'BLE, a. [h.frivolus, Fr. frivote, from
rubbing ; from rub, if b is radical, or from
frico, if the b represents a palatal letter.
If 6 is radical, the word accords with Dan.
rips, trifles, frivolousness.]
Frivolous ; trifling ; silly. Bi-U. Crit.
FRIB'BLE, n. A frivolous, trifling, con-
temptible fellow.
FRIB'BLE, V. i. To trifle ; also, to totter.
Tatler.
FRIB'BLER, n. A trifler. Spectator.
FRl'BORG, n. [free and burg.] The same
as frankpledge. Cowel.
FRIG' ACE, n. [See Fricassee.] Meat sliced
and dressed with strong sauce ; also, an
unguent prepared by frying things to-
gether. 06s. B. Jonson.
FRI€ASSEE',»i. [Fr.; It. frigasea;Sp. fric-
asea; Port, fricas.i^; from Fr. fricasser, to
fry, It. friggere, Port, frigir, Sp. freir, L.
frigo.]
A dish of food made by cutting chickens,
rabbits or other small animals into pieces,
and dressing them in a frying pan, or a
like utensil. King.
FRIeASSEE', V. t. To dress in fricassee.
FRIeA'TION, n. [L.fricatio, from frico, to
rub.]
The act of rubbing; friction. [Little used.]
Bacon.
FRICTION, n. [L. frictio ; Fr. friction ;
from L./r!CO,to rub. It. fregare, Sp. fricar.]
1. The act of rubbing the surface of one
body against that of another ; attrition.
Many bodies by friction emit light, and
friction generates or evolves heat.
2. In mechanics, the effect of rubbing, or the
resistance which a moving body meets
with from the surface on which it moves.
Encyc.
3. In medicine, the rubbing of the body with
the hand, or with a brush, flannel, &c. ;
or the rubbing of a diseased part with oil,
unguent or other medicament. Encye.
FRI'DAY, n. [Sax. fig-dieg ; G. freitag ;
D. vrydag ; from Frigga, t]ie Venus of the
north ; D. vrouw, G. /rait, Ir. frag, a wo-
inan.]
The sixth day of the week, formerly conse-
crated to Frigga.
FRID6E, r. t. [Sax.frician.] To move lias-
tily. LYot in use.] Hallywell.
FRID-STOLE. [See Fred.]
FRIEND, n.frend. [Sa.x.fnond, the partici-
ple of freon, to free, to love, contracted
from frigan, to free ; G.freund ; D. vriend ;
nan. frende; Sw. fr&.nde. We see the rad-
ical sense is to free ; hence, to be ready,
willing, or cheerful, joyous, and allied per-
haps to froHck.]
1. One who is attached to another by affec-
tion ; one who entertains for another sen-
timents of esteem, respect and affection,
which lead him to desire his company,
and to seek to promote his happiness and
prosperity ; opposed to foe or enemy.
A friend lovcth at all times. Prov. xvii.
There is a friend that stickcth closer than a
brolher. Prov. xviii.
2. One not hostile; opposed to an enemy in
tear. Shak.
F R I
One reconciled after enmity. Let us be
fiends again.
4. An attendant; a companion. Dryden.
5. A favorer; one who is propitious; as a
friend to commerce ; afnend to poetry ; a
friend to charitable institutions.
(5. A favorite. Hushai was David's friend.
7. A term of salutation ; a familiar compel-
lation.
Friend, how earnest thou in hither .' Matt,
So Christ calls Judas his friend, though
a traitor. Matt. xxvi.
Formerly, a paramour.
9. .^friend at court, one who has suflicient
interest to serve another. Chaucer,
FRIEND, v.t.frend. To favor; to counte-
nance ; to befriend ; to support or aid
[But we now use befriend.] Shak.
FRIEND'ED, pp. frend'ed. Favored; be-
friended.
3. a. Inclined to love ; wefl disposed.
Shak
FRIEND'LESS, a. frend'less. Destitute of
friends ; wanting countenance or support
forlorn. Pope
FRIEND'LIKE, a. frend'like. Having the
dispositions of a friend.
FRIEND'LINESS,n./ren<f'/wcM. A dispo-
sition to friendship ; friendly disposition.
Sidney.
2. Exertion of benevolence or kindness.
Taylor
FRIEND'LY, a. frend'hj. Having the tem-
per and disposition of a friend ; kind ; fa-
vorable ; disposed to promote the good of
another.
Thou to mankind
Be good and friendly still, and oft return.
Milton
2. Disposed to pence. Pope
3. Amicable. We are on friendly terms.
4. Not hostile ; as a friendly power or state
5. Favorable ; propitious ; salutary ; promo-
ting the good of; as a friendly breeze or
gale. Excessive rains are not friendly to
the ripening fruits. Temperance isfriend-
ly to longevity.
FRIEND'LY, adi: frend'ly. In the manner
of friends ; amicably. [JVbt much tised.]
Shak
FRIEND'SHIP, n. frend'ship. An attach-
ment to a person, proceeding from inti-^
mate acquaintance, and a reciprocation of
kind offices, or from a favorable opinion
of the amiable and respectable qualities of
his mind. Friendship differs from benevo
lence, which is good will to mankind ii
general, and from that love which springs
from animal appetite. True friendship is
a noble and virtuous attachment, spring
ing from a pure source, a respect for
worth or amiable qualities. False friend
ship may subsist between bad men, as be-
tween thieves and pirates. This is a tem-
porary attachment springing from inter-
est, and may change in a moment to en-
mity and rancor.
Tiiere can be no friendship without confi-
dence, and no confidence without integrity.
Rambler.
There is Utile friendship in the world.
Bacon.
The first law o( friendship is sincerity. i
Anon.l
2. Mutual attachment ; intimacy.
F R I
If not \d friendship, live at least in peace.
I>ryden.
3. Favor ; personal kindness.
l\'\^ friendships, stili to few confined,
Were always of the middling kind. Steifi.
4. Friendly aid ; help ; assistance. Shak.
■"i. Conformity ; affinity ; correspondence ;
aptness to unite.
We know those colors which have a friend-
ship vs\t\\ each other. Dryden.
[Mil common and hardly legitimate.]
FRIEZE,? . [Sp. /ma, frieze ;/ri-
FRiZE, ^ J sar, to raise a nap on
cloth, to frizzle ; Fr. friser, to curl or
crisp, , to shiver, to ruffle; Port. /mar;
Arm. /run. Qu. Sp. n;ar, to crisp or curl,
to frizzle ; Or. <pptuaM, to shiver or tremble
with fear, whose elements are Frg or /Vfr,
as appears by $pi|u, i}>()ij:to5, (J>pi|. Iffrieze,
in architecture, is the same word, which
seems to be the fact, we have evidence
that the elements are Frg, for in Italian,
frieze is fregio. The primary sense is
jirobably to draw or contract.]
1. Properly, the nap on woolen cloth ; hence,
a kind of coarse woolen cloth or stuff, with
a nap on one side.
2. In architecture, that part of the entabla-
ture of a column which is between the
architrave and cornice. It is a flat mem-
ber or face, usually enriched with figures
of animals or other ornaments of sculp-
ture, whence its name.
Cornice or frieze with bossy sculptures gra-
ven. Millmi.
FRIE'ZED, a. Napped ; shaggy with nap
or frieze.
FRIE'ZELIKE, a. Resembling frieze.
AdUiison.
FRIG'ATE,)!. [Tr.fregate; U.fregata;Sp.
I'ort. fragata ; Turkish, j'orgata ; perhaps
Gr. tufpaxrof, L. aphractum, an open ship
or vessel, for in Portuguese it signifies a
boat as well as a frigate. The Greek word
otpoxToj signifies not fortified ; o and
^paidiD. It was originally a vessel without
decks used by the Rhodians. The frigate
was originally a kind of vessel used in the
Mediterranean, and propelled both by sails
and by oars. Lunier.]
A ship of war, of a size larger than a sloop
or brig, and less than a ship of the line ;
usually having two decks and carrying
from thirty to forty four guns. But ships
mounting a less number than thirty guns
are sometimes called frigates ; as are ships
carrying a larger number.
2. Any small vessel on tlie water. [.Vot
used.] Spenser.
FRIGATE-BUILT, a. Having a quarter
deck and forecastle raised above the main
deck.
FRIGATOON', n. A Venetian vessel with
a square stern, without a foremast, having
only a mainmast and mizenmast.
Encyc.
FRI6EFA€'TION, n. [L.frigus, cold, and
facio, to make.]
The act of making cold. [Little used.]
Did.
FRIGHT, n. file. [Dan. frygt ; Sw.fruch-
tan ; Sax. fyrhto, fyrhtu, fyrhtnis, fright,
and frhted, frighted, frihtan, to frighten ;
G. furckt, fiirchten ; 1). vrugten, to fear ;
Fr. effrayer. Qu. Gr. ifiptaou, $pi|u, to
(lar, that is, to shrink or shiver. But
F R I
flight, or the Sax. fi/rldo, is precisely the
Ethiopic participle 'I^'^U'^ ferht, from
({.QU ferah, to fear, which seems to be
allied to L. vereor. Class Br. No. 33.]
Sudden and violent fear ; terror ; a passion
excited by the sudden appearance of dan
ger. It expresses more than fear, and is
distinguished from fear and 'dread, by its
sudden invasion and temporary existence
fright being usually of sliort duration,
whereas fear and dread may be long con-
tinued.
FRIGHT, I . To terrify ; to scare ; to
FRIGHTEN, S ^'' alarm suddenly with
danger; to shock suddenly with the ap-
proach of evil ; to daunt ; to dismay.
Nor exile or danger can fright a brave spirit.
Drydeii.
FRIGHTED, ) Terrified ; sudden-
FRIGHTENED, S '''' ly alarmed with
danger.
FRIGHTFUL, a. Terrible; dreadful; exci
ting alarm ; impressing terror ; as a. fright
fid chasm or precipice ; a frighffid tem-
FRIGHTFULLY, adv. Terribly; dread
fully ; in a manner to impress terror and
alarm ; horribly.
9. Very disagreeably ; shockingly. She looks
frightfidly to day.
FRIGHTFULNESS, n. The quality of im
D" a. [h.frigidus, from frigeo, to bi
grow cold ; rigeo, to be stiff or fro
zen; Gr. ptytu. If the radical sense is to
be stiff, the root coincides nearly with that
of right, rectus, or with that of reach, region,
which is to stretch, that is, to draw or con-
tract.]
1. Cold ; wanting heat or warmth ; as the
F R I
PRILL, V. i. [Fr. frileux, chilly. We have
the word in trill, D. trillen, to shake, G.
liiUern ; all with a different prefix. Class
To shake ; to quake ; to shiver as with cold ;
as, the hawk/n7/s. Encyi
FRIM, a. [Sax. /reom.] Flourishing. [JVof
.] Drayt
FRINGE, n. fnnj. [Fr. /ra»i^e ,• ll.frangia ;
Port, franja; Arm. frainch, or flainchj
G. franse ; fi. franje ■ Dan. fiynse. It
seems to be from L.frango, to break, Sp.
frungir.]
1. An ornamental appendage to the borders
of garments or furniture, consisting of
loose threads.
The golden fringe ev'n set the ground on
flame. Itryden
frigid zone.
2. VVanting warmth of affection; unfeel
as a frigid temper or constitution.
3. Wanting natural heat or vigor sufficient
to excite the generative power; impo
tent.
4. Dull; jejune; unanimated ; wanting the
fire of genius or fancy ; as a fiigid styl
frigid rhymes.
5. Stiff; formal ; forbidding ; as a frigid
look or manner
6. Wanting zeal ; dull ; formal ; hfeless ; as
frigid services.
FRIGID'ITY, n. Coldness ; want of
warmth. But not applied to the air or
weather.
2. Want of natural heat, life and vigor of
body ; impotency ; imbecility ; as the fri-
gidity of old age.
3. Coldness of affection.
4. Dullness; want of animation or intellec-
tual fire ; as the frigidity of eentiments or
style.
FRIGIDLY, ad
Coldly; dully; without
affection.
FRIG'IDNESS, n. Coldness; dullness
want of heat or vigor ; want of aflTection
FRIGORIF'le, a. [Fr.frigorifque ; h.frig
orificus ; frigus, cold, and facto, to make.
Causing cold ; producing or generating cold
Encyc. Quincy.
FRILL, n. [infra.] An edging of fine linen
on the bosom of a shirt or other similar
tbiiisr ; a rnllle. Mason.
2. Something resembling fringe ; an open
broken border. Mountagu
FRINGE, 1). t. To adorn or border with
fringe or a loose edging.
FRING'ED, pp. Bordered with fringe.
FRINgEMAKER, n. One who makei
fringe.
FRINGING, ppr. Bordering with fringe.
FRING'Y, a. Adorned with fringes. Shak.
FRIPT'ERER, n. [See Frippery.] One who
deals in old cloths.
FRIP'PERY, n. [Fr. friperie, from friper,
to fumble, to ruffle, to wear out, to waste ;
Arm. fripa, or Jlippa ; Sp. roperia, ropa-
vejeria, from ropa, cloth, stufi', apparel,
which seems to be the Eng. robe ; Port.
roupa, clothes, furniture ; farrapo, a rag
perhaps from the root of Eng. rub, that is,
to wear, to use, as we say wearing a
rel, for to loear is to rub. See Robe.]
1. Old clothes ; cast dresses ; clothes thrown
aside, after wearing. Hence, waste mat
ter ; useless things ; trifles; as the frippery
of wit. B. Jonson
2. The ulace where old clothes are sold.
Shak.
The trade or traftick in old clothes.
Encyc.
FRISEU'R, 11. [Fr. from friser, to curl.] A
hair dresser. IVarton.
FRISK, V. i. [Dan. frisk, fresh, new, green
6mA:, lively, gay, vigorous; frisker, tc
freshen, to renew; friskhcd, coolness,
freshness, briskness ; Sw. frisk; G.frisch,\
fresh, brisk. This is the same word as
fresh, but from the Gothic. If it is radi-
cally the same as brisk, it is W. brysg,
speedy, nimble, from rhys, a rushing. But!
this is doubtful. In some languages,/res/i]
is written fersc, versch, as if from the root:
Br. But I think it cannot be the Ch.
D313 to be moved, to tremble.] ]
. To leap ; to skip ; to spring suddenly one
way and the other. \
The fish fell a frisking in the net. ]
L'Estrange.
frolick and
F R I
FRISK'ER, n. One who leaps or dances
in gayety ; a wanton ; an inconstant or
unsettled person. Camden.
FRISK'ET, ji. [Fr. frisquette. So named
from the velocity or frequency of its mo-
tion. See jFWsA:.]
In printing, thejight frame in which a sheet
of paper is confined to be laid on the
form for impression.
FRISK'FUL, a. Brisk ; Uvely. Thomson.
FRISKTNESS, n. Briskness and frequency
of motion ; gayety ; liveliness ; a dancing
or leaping in frohck.
FRISKTNG, ppr. Leaping ; skipping ; dan-
cing about ; moving with life and gayety.
FRISK'Y, a. Gay ; hvely.
FRIT, n. [Fr. fritte ; Sp. frita ; It. fritto,
fried, from L. f rictus, frigo, Eng. to fry.]
In the manufacture of glass, the matter of
which glass is made after it has been cal-
cined or baked in a furnace. It is a com-
position of silex and fixed alkah, occasion-
ally with other ingredients.
FRITH, n. [L. fretum ; Gr. jtopflftof, from
rtitftu, to pass over, or ,-topfuu, Ttofevo/mi,, to
pass ; properly, a passage, a narrow chan-
nel that is passable or passed.""
3. To dance, skip and gambol
gayety.
The/risking satyrs on the summits danced.
Addiso7i.
In vain to frisk or climb he tries. Swift.
FRISK, a. Lively; brisk; blithe. Hall
FRISK, 11. A frolick ; a fit of wanton gay-
ety. Johnson
FRISK'AL, n. A leap or caper. [j\ot in
xise.] B. Jonson.'
A narrow passage of the sea ; a strait. It
s used for the opening of a river into the
iea ; as the frith of Forth, or of Clyde.
2. A kind of wear for catching fish.
Careu).
FRITH, n. [W. frith or friz.] A forest; a
woody place. Drayton.
3. A small field taken out of a common.
JVynne.
[jYot used in ..Imerica.]
TH'Y, a. Woody. [JVot in use.]
Skellon.
FRIT'ILLARY, n. [h.fritillus, a dice-box.]
The crown imperial, a genus of plants,
called in the Spanish dictionary checker-
ed lily. De Theis.
FRIT'TEB, n. [It. frittella ; Sp. fritillasi
plu. ; from h.fnctus, fried; Dan. fritte.]
1. A small pancake ; also, a small piece of
meat fried.
2. A fragment ; a shred ; a small piece.
And cut whole giants into fritters.
Hudihras.
FRIT'TER, V. t. To cut meat into small
pieces to be fried.
3. To break into small pieces or frag-
ments.
Break all their nerves, and fritter all their
sense. Pope.
To fritter away, is to diminish ; to pare off;
to reduce to nothing by taking away a
little at a time.
FRIVOLTTY, n. [See Frivolousness.]
FRIVOLOUS, a. [h.frivolus, from the root
of/no, to break into small pieces, to crum-
ble ; Fr. frivolr : Sp. It. frivolo. We ob-
serve the same radical letters, Rb, Rv, in
trivial, trifle, L. iero, trim, to rub or wear
out. Class Rb.]
Slight; trifling; trivial; of little weight,
worth or importance; not worth notice;
as afivolous argument ; a frivolous objec-
tion or pretext. Swifl.
FRIVOLOUSNESS, n. The quality of
being trifling or of very little worth or
importance ; want of consequence.
FRIVOLOUSLY, adv. In a triflhig man-
FRO
FRO
FRO
See
Fr. fr
form into small
FRIZ, v.t. [Sp. frisar;
Frkze.]
1. To curl ; to crisp ; to
curls with a crisping-pin
2. To form the nap of cloth into little bard
burs, prominences or knobs.
FRIZ'ED, pp. Curled ; formed into little
burs on cloth.
FRIZ'ING, ppr. Curling ; forming little hard
burs on cloth.
FRIZ'ZLE, V. t. To curl ; to crisp ; as hair.
Gay.
FRIZ'ZLED, pp. Curled ; crisped.
FRIZ'ZLER, n. One who makes short
curls.
FRIZ'ZLING, ppr. Curling ; crisping.
FRO, adv. [Sax./ra; Scot, frajrat; Dan.
fra. It denotes departure and distance,
like from, of which it may be a contrac-j
tion. In some languages it is a prefix,!
having the force of a negative. Thus in;
Danish, frahringer, to bring from, is to
avert, to dispel ; frakalder, to recall. In'
Goth, bugyan is to buy ; frabugi/an is to!
sell, that is, in literal English,/rom6My.] I
From ; away ; back or backward ; as in the
phrase, to and fro, that is, /o and /com,
forward or toward and backward, hither
and thither.
FROCK, n. [Fr.froc; Arm. fiocq; G.frack;
Scot, frog.] I
An upper coat, or an outer garment. The
word is now used for a loose garment
or shirt worn by men over their other;
clothes, and for a kind of gown open be-,
hind, worn by females. Tlie frock was
formerly a garment worn by monks. I
Ingulphus. Spelman:
FROG, n. [Sax. froga, frogga ; Dan. /rcie.i
Qu. from the root of break, as L. rana,
from the root of rend, from its broken
shape, or from leaping, or its fragor or
hoarse voice.] j
1. An amphibious animal of the genus
Rana, with four feet, a naked body, and
without a tail. It is remarkable for swim-;
miug with rapidity, and for taking large;
leaps on land. Frogs lie torpid during!
winter. Encyc'
2. In fan-iery. [See Frush.] I
FROCi'BIT, n. A plant, the Hvdrocharis.
FROG'FISH, n. An animal of. Surinam,
which is said to change from a fish to a
frog and then to a fish again. It is car-
tilaginous, and exquisite food.
Edwards}
2. The Lophius, or fishing-frog. j
FROG'GRASS, n. A plant.
FROG'GY, «. Having frogs. S)ierxuood,\
FROISE, n. [Yr. froisser, to bruise.] A
kind of food made by frying bacon inclo-
sed in a pancake. Todd.y
FROL'ICK, a. [G. frohlich ;froh, g\aA, and
lich, like; D. vrolyk; Dan. fro, glad; Sw.
frbgddig, from fr'ogd, joy, frbgda, to ex-
hilarate ; Ar. -, j.i faracha, to be glad, to
rejoice. Class Brg. No. 6. Probably allied
to/rec]
Gay; merry; full of levity; dancing, play-
ing or frisking about ; full of pranks.
The /roKcfc wind that breathes the spring.
Milton.
The gay, the fiolick, and the loud. H'aller.
[This adjective is seldom Used except in po
etry. As a noun and a verb, its use is
common.]
FROL'ICK, n. A wild prank ; a flight of
levity, or gayety and mirth.
He would be at his frolick once again.
Jioscommon
2. A scene of gayety and mirth, as in dan-
cing or play. [This is a popular use of
the word in Amenca.]
FROL ICK, V. i. To play wild pranks ; to
play tricks of levity, mirth and gayety.
The buzzing insects frolick in the air. Anon
FROL'ICKLY, adv. With mirth and gaye-
ty. Ohs. Beaum.
FROL'ICKSOME, a. Full of gayety and
mirth ; given to pranks.
FROL'ICKSOMENESS, n. Gayety ; wild
pranks.
FROM, prep. [Sax. f ram, from ; Goth.fr
In Swedish, it signifies before or forward,
but its sense is, past or gone, Corframling
is a stranger, and framgH is to go out, to
depart. Dan. frem, whence fremmer, to
forward, to promote, fremmed, strange,
fremkommer, to come forth or out; G.
fremd, strange, foreign ; D. vreemd, id. If
7)1 is radical, this word is probably from
the root of room, ramble, primarily to pass,
to go.]
The sense of from may be expressed by the
noun distance, or by the adjective distant,
or by tlie participles, departing, removing
to a distance. Thus it is one hundred
miles from Roston to Hartford. He took
his sword from his side. Light proceeds
from the sun. Water issues from the
earth in springs. Separate the coarse
wool from the fine. Men have all sprung
from Adam. Men often go from good to
bad, and from bad to worse. The merit
of an action depends on the principle/com
which it proceeds. Men judge of facts
from personal knowledge, or from testimo-
ny. ^\'e should aim to judge _/>-o»t unde-
niable premises.
The sense o{ from is literal or figurative,
but it is uniformly the same.
In certain phrase.*!, generally or always el-
liptical, from is followed by certam ad-
verbs, denoting place, region or position,
indefinitely, no precise point being ex-
pressed ; as.
From above, from the upper regions.
From afar, from a distance.
From beneath, from a place or region below.
From beloie, from a lower place.
From behind, from a place or position in the
rear.
From far, from a distant place.
From high, from on high, from a high place,
fiom an upper region, or from heaven.
From hence, from this place; but from is su-
perfluous before hence. The phrase how-
ever is common.
From thence, from that place ; from being su-
perfluous.
From whence, from which place : from being
superfluous.
From where, from which place.
From ivithin, from the interior or inside.
From without, from the outside, from
abroad.
From precedes another preposition, followed
by its proper object or case.
From amidst, as from amidst the waves.
From among, as from among the trees.
From beneath, as from beneath my head.
Fro7n bei/ond, as from beyond the river.
From forth, as from forth his bridal bower.
But this is an inverted order of the words ;
forth from his bow<
From of
#1 as from off the mercy seat, that is,
from the top or surface.
From out, as from out a window, that is,
through an opening or from the inside.
From out of, is an ill combination of words
and not to be used.
From under, as from under the bed,/rom un-
der the ashes, that is, from beneath or the
lower side.
From within, as from within the liouse, that
is, from the inner part or interior.
FROM'WARD, adv. [Sax./ram andweard.]
Away from ; the contrary of toward.
FROND, n. [L./rons, frondis. The sense
is a shoot or shooting forward, as iufrons,
frontis.]
In botany, a term which Liime applies to the
peculiar leafing of palms and ferns. He
defines it, a kind of stem which has the
branch united with the leaf and frequently
with the fructification. The term seems
to imjKirt the union of a leaf and a branch.
Martyn. Milne.
FRONDA'TION, n. A lopping of trees.
Evelyn.
FRONDES'CENCE, n. [h. frondesco, from
frons.]
In botany, the precise time of the year and
month in which each species of plants un-
folds its leaves. Milne. Martyn.
FRONDIF'EROUS, a. [L. frons, and Jero,
to bear.] Producing fronds.
FROND'OUS, a. A frondous flower is one
which is leafy, one which produces
branches charged with both leaves and
flowers. Instances of this luxuriance
sometimes occur in the rose and anemone.
Milne.
FRONT, n. [L.fro7is, frontis; Fr. front; Sp.
f rente, fronte; It. fronte; from a root sig-
nifying, to shoot forward, to project, as in
Gr. pir, the nose, W. tnvyn and rhon, a
pike. Class Rn.]
1. Properly, the forehead, or part of the
face above the eyes ; hence, the whole
face.
His /ron( yet threatens, and his frowns com-
I mand. Prior.
.2. The forehead or face, as expressive of the
temper or disposition ; as a bold front,
equivalent to boldness or impudence. So
j a hardened front is sliamelessness.
j3. The forepart of any thing ; as the front
I of a house, the principal face or side.
4. The forepart or van of an army or a body
of troops.
5. The part or place before the face, or op-
posed to it, or to the forepart of a thing.
He stood in front of his troops. The road
passes in front of his house.
6. The most conspicuous part or particular.
7. Impudence ; as men of front. Tatter.
FRONT, V. t. To oppose face to face ; to
oppose directly.
1 shall front thee, like some staring ghost,
With all my wrongs about me. Dn^den.
2. To stand opposed or opposite, or over
against any thing; as, his house fronts
the church.
FRO
FRO
F R U
FRONT, V. i. To stand foremost. Shah.
2. To have the face or frotjt towards any
pouit of compass.
FRONT'AL, n. [L. frontale ; Fr. frontal:
from L.frons.]
1. In medicine, a medicament or preparation
to be ajiplied to the forehead. Quincy.
2. In architecture, a httle pediment or front
piece, over a small door or window.
Enajc.
3. In Jewish ceremonies, a frontlet or brow-
band, consisting of four pieces of vellum,
laid on lether, and tied round the fore
liead in the synagogue ; each piece con-
taining some text of scripture. Encyc
FRONT'BOX, n. The box in a playhouse
before the rest. Pope.
FRONT'ED, a. Formed with a front.
Milton.
FRONTIE'R,n. [Fr.frontiere ; It. frontiera ;
S'p.frontera.]
The marclies ; the border, confine, or ex
treme part of a country, bordering on an
other country ; that is, the part furthest
advanced, or the part that fronts an ene-
my, or which an invading enemy meets in
front, or which fronts another country.
FRONTIE'R, a. Lying on the exterior part :
bordering; conterminous; as a. frontier
town.
FRONTIE'RED, a. Guarded on the fron-
tiers. Spenser.
FRONTINAC, > A species of French
FRONTINIA€', S "■ wine, named from
the place in Languedoc where it is pro
duced.
FRONTISPIECE, n. [L. frontispicium
frons and specio, to view.]
1. In architecture, the principal face of a build
ing ; the face that directly presents itself
to the eye.
2. An ornamental figure or engraving front
ing the first page of a book, or at the be
ginning.
FR5NT''LESS, a. Wanting shame or mod
esty ; not diffident ; as frontless vice ; front
less flatterv. Druden. Pope
FRONTLET, n. [from front] A frontal or
browband ; a fillet or band worn on the
forehead. Deut. vi.
FRONTKOOM, n. A room or apartment
in the forepart of a house. Moxon.
FROP'PISH, a. Peevish; froward. [jVot
in use.] ■ Clarendon.
FRORE, a. [G. for, gefroren ; D. vroor, be
vrooren.] Frozen.
[.Wot in use.]
Milton
FRORNE, a. Frozen.
FRO'RY, a. Frozen. Spenser.
2. Covered with a froth resembling hoar-
frost. [JVot in use.] Fairfax.
FROST, n. fraust. [Sax. G. Sw. and Dan.
frost ; D. vorst ; from freeze, froze. Qu.
Slav, mraz, mroz, id.]
1. A fluid congealed by cold into ice or crys-
tals ; as hoar-frost, which is dew or vapor
congealed.
He scattereth tho hoar-/ros( like ashes. Ps,
cxivii.
2. The act of freezing ; congelation of]
fluids.
The third day comes a frost, a killing/rosf.
.Shak.
3. In physiology, that state or temperature
of the air which occasions freezing or the
congelation of water. Encyc.
4. The appearance of plants sparkling with
icy crystals. Pope.
FROST, V. t. In cookery, to cover or sprin-
kle with a composition of sugar, resem-
bling hoar-frost ; as, to frost cake.
2. To cover with any thing resembUng hoar
frost.
FROSTBITTEN, a. Nipped, withered or
aflfected by frost.
FROST'ED, pp. Covered with a composi
tion like white frost.
2. a. Having hair changed to a gray oi
white color, as if covered with hoar-frost
as a heai frosted by age.
.Y, adv. Wi ■ -
FROSTILY, adv. With frost or excessive
coVl.
2. Without warmth of afl'ection; coldly
FROST'INESS, ?i. The state or quality of
being frosty ; freezing cold.
FROST'ING, ppr. Covering with some
thing resembling hoar-frost.
FROST'ING, n. The composition resem-
bling hoar-frost, used to cover cake, &c.
FROST'LESS, o. Free from frost; as a
frostless winter. Swifl.
FROST'NAIL, «. A nail driven into a
horse-shoe, to prevent the horse from slip-
ping on ice. In some of the United States,
the ends of the shoe are pointed for this
purpose, and these points are called calks.
FROST'WORK, n. Work resembling hoar-
frost on shrubs. Blackmore
FROST'Y, a. Producing frost; having
power to congeal water ; as a frosty night ;
frosty weather.
2. Containing frost ; as, tlie grass is frosty.
3. Chill in affection ; without warmth of af-
fection or courage. Johnson.
4. Resembling hoar-frost ; white ; gray-hair-
ed ; as a frosty head. Shak.
FROTH, n. frauth. [Gr. atpoj ; Sw.fradga.
It is allied perhaps to G. brausen, to roar,
fret, froth ; Ir. bruithim, to boil ; W. bry-
diaw, to heat.]
1. Spume ; foam ; the bubbles caused in
liquors by fermentation or agitation.
Bacon. Milton.
2. Any empty, senseless show of wit or elo-
quence. , Johnson.
3. Light, unsubstantial matter. Tusser.
FROTH, V. t. To cause to foam. Beaum.
FROTH, I), i. To foam ; to throw up .spume ;
to throw out foam or bubbles. Beer
froths in fermentation. The sea froths
when violently agitated. A horse froths
at the mouth when heated.
FROTH'ILY, adv. With foam or spume.
2. In an empty trifling manner.
FROTH' INESS, n. The state of being
frothy ; emptiness ; senseless matter.
FROTH' Y, a. Full of foam or froth, or con-
sisting of froth or light bubbles.
2. Soft ; not firm or solid. Bacon.
.3. Vain ; light ; empty ; unsubstantial ; as a
vain frothy speaker ; a frothy harangue.
FROUNCF!, n. A distempel- of hawks, in
which white spittle gathers about the bill.
[See the Verb.] Skinner.
FROUNCE, V. t. [Sp. fruncir, to plait or
gather the edge of cloth into plaits, to friz-
zle, to wrinkle ; Fr. froncer, to gather,
FROUNCE, n. A wrinkle, plait or cuil ; an
ornament of dress. Beaum.
FROUN'CED, pp. Curled ; frizzled.
FROUN'CELESS, a. Having no plait or
wrinkle. Chaucer.
FROUN'CING,D;)r. Curling; Crispin?.
FROU'ZY, a. Fetid; musty ; ral.k f dim;
cloudy. Swift.
FROW, n. [G.frau; D. vrouw ; Dan./ruie.]
A woman. [JVbi used.] Beaum.
FRO'WARD, a. [Sax. framtveard ; fram ot
fra and weard, L. versus ; turned or looking
from.]
Perverse, that is, turning from, with aver-
sion or reluctance ; not willing to yield or
comply with what is required ; unyield-
ing ; ungovernable ; refractory ; disobe-
dient ; peevish ; as a froward child.
They are a very froward generation, children
in whom is no faith. Deut. ,\xxii.
FRO'WARDLY, adv. Perversely ; in a
peevish manner.
FRO'WARDNESS, n. Perverseness ; re-
luctance to yield or comply ; disobedience ;
peevishness. South.
FROW'ER, n. A sharp edged tool to cleave
laths. Txisser.
FROWN, V. i. [Fr. refrogner, properly to
knit the brows. Frogner, the primitive
word, is not used. It is allied perhaps to
frounce, from the root Rn.]
1. To expre.ss displeasure by contracting the
brow, and looking grim or surly ; to look
stern ; followed by on or at ; as, to frown
on a profligate man, or to froiun at liis
vices.
Heroes in animated marble /coicn. Pope.
2. To manifest displeasure in any maimer.
When providence /;-o«'n« on our labors, let
us be bumble and submissive.
To lower ; to look threatening.
FROWN, v.t. To repel by e.xpressing dis-
pleasure; to rebuke. Froion the impu-
dent fellow into silence.
FROWN, re. A wrinkled look, particidarly
expressing dislike; a sour, severe or stern
look, expressive of displeasure.
His front yet threatens and his frowns com-
mand. Prior.
2. Any expression of displeasure; as the
frowns of providence ; the frowns of for-
tune.
FROWN'ING, ppr. Knitting the brow in
anger or displeasure ; expressing displea-
sure by a surly, stern or angry look ; lower-
inff; threatening.
FROWN'INGLY, o
of displeasure.
FROW'Y, a. [The same as frouzy; perhaps
a contracted word.] Musty ; rancid ; rank ;
as frowy butler.
FRO'ZEN, pp. of freeze. Congealed by
cold.
i. Cold ; frosty ; chill ; as thc/ro:en climates
of the north.
3. Chill or cold in aflection. Sidney.
4. Void of natural heat or visor. Pope.
F. R. S. Fellow of the Royal Society.
FRUBISH, for furbish, i '
Frown.]
To curl or frizzle the hair about the face.
Not tricked and /louncfd as she was wont.
Milton.
V. Sternly ; with a look
knit, to contract ; Arm. frongza. See FRUCT'ED, a. [L. fructus, fruit.] In he.
aldn/, bearing fruit.
FRUCTES'CENCE, n. [from L. fructus,
fruit. See Fruit.]
In botany, the i)recise tinie wlien the fruit of
F R U
F R U
F R U
n plant arrives at maturity, and its seeds
are dispersed ; tiie fruiting season.
Milne. Mitriyn. Encyc.
FRUeTIF'EROUS, a. [L./rud«s, fruit, and
/era, to liear.] Bearing or producing fruit.
FRU€TIFl€A'TION, n. [See Fruclify.]
1. The act of fructifying, or rendering pro-
ductive of fruit; fecundation.
2. In botany, tlie temporary part of a plant
appropriated to generation, terminating
the old vegetable and beginning the new.
It consists of seven parts, the calyx, em-
])alement or flower-eup, the corol or pe-
tals, the stamens, and the pistil, which be-
long to the flower, the pericarp and seed,
which pertain to the fruit, and the recepta-
cle or base, on which the other parts are
seated. The receptacle belongs both to
the flower and fruit. Ldnne. Milne.
FRUCTIFY, V. t. [Low L.*fruclifico ; Fr.
fructijier ; fructiis, fruit, and facio, to make.]
To make fruitful; to render productive ; to
fertilize ; as, to fruclify the earth.
Howell
FRUe'TIFY, jj. i. To bear fruit. [Unu.iual.]
Hooker.
FRU€TUA'TION, n. Produce ; fruit. [JVo<
used.] Poivmll.
FRUC'TUOUS, a. [Fr.fructueux.] Fruit-
ful ; fertile : 'also, impregnating with fer-
tility. Philips
FRUC TURE, n. Use ; fruition ; enjoyment
[JVot used.]
FRU'GAL, a. [L.frugalis; Fr. Sp. frugal ;
said to be from fniges, corn, grain of any
kind. Most probably it is from th^root of
fruor, for frugor, to use, to take the profit
of, which coincides in elements and sense
with G. brauchen, Sax. brucan. See
Fruit.]
Economical in the use or appropriation of
money, goods or provisions of any kind ;
saving unnecessary e.xjiense, either of
money or of any thing else which is to
be used or consumed ; sparing ; not pro-
fuse, prodigal or lavish. We ought to be
frugal not only in the expenditure of mo-
ney and of goods, but in the eni^loyment
of time. It is followed by of, before the
thing saved ; as frugal of time. It is not
synonymous with parsimonious, nor with
thrifty, as now used.
FRUGALITY, re. Prudent economy ; good
husbandry or housewifery ; a sparing use
or appropriation of money or commodi-
ties ; a judicious use of any thing to be ex-
pended or employed ; that careful manage-
ment of money or goods which expends
nothing unnecessarily, and applies what is
used to a profitable purpose ; that use in
which nothing is wasted. It is not equiva-
lent to parsimony, the latter being an ex-
cess of frugality, and a fault. Frugality is
always a virtue. Nor is it synonymous
with thrift, in its proper sense ; for thrift is
the effect of frugality.
Viilhoat frugality none can become rich, and
with it few would be poor. Johnson.
2. A prudent and sparing use or appropria-
tion of any thing; as frugality of praise.
Dryden.
FRU'GALLY, adv. With economy ; with
good management ; in a saving manner.
He seldom lives frugally, that lives by
chance. I
FRUGIF'EROUS, a. [L. frugifer ; frvg,
corn, and fero, to bear.] Producing fruit
or corn.
FRUgIV'OROUS, a. [L.fruges, corn, and
■ voro, to eat.]
Feeding on fruits, seeds or corn, as birds
and other animals. J^Tat. Hist.
FRUIT, n. [Fr. fruit; It. frutto; Sp./ruto;
fromlj.fructus ; Arm. frouczen, or froehen ;
V.vrught; G. frucht ; Dan.jfrugt; Svv.
fnicht. The Latin word is the participle
of//-»o)-, contracted from frugor, or fnicor.
to use, to take the profit of; allied perhaps
to Sax. brucan, brycean, G. brauchen,
use, to enjoy. Class Brg. No. 6. 7.]
1. In a general sense, whatever the earth
produces for the nourishment of animals,
or for clothing or profit. Among the/rui(«
of the earth are included not only corn of
all kinds, but grass, cotton, flax, grapes
and all cultivated plants. In this compre-
hensive sense, the word is generally used
in the plural.
2. In a more limited sense, the produce of a
tree or other plant ; the last production for
the propagation or multiplication of its
kind ; the seed of plants, or the part that
contains the seeds; as wheat, rye, oats,
apples, quinces, pears, cherries, acorns,
melons, &;c.
In botany, the seed of a plant, or the seed
with the pericarp.
Production ; that which is produced.
The fruit of the spirit is in al! goodness, and
righteousness, and truth. Eph. v.
The produce of animals ; ofl[spring ;
young ; as the fruit of the womb, of the
loins, of the body. Scripture.
Effect or consequence.
They shall eat the fruit of their doings. Is.
iii.
Advantage ; profit ; good derived.
y>'hat fruit had ye then in those things where-
of ye are now ashamed ? Rom. vi.
Production, effect or consequence ; jn oh
ill sense; as the/nu7s of sin ; the /n*i/.s of
intemperance.
FRUIT, V. i. To produce fruit. [JVol well
authorized.] Chesterfield.
FRCITACE, n. [Fr.] Fruit collectively :
various fruits. Milton.
FRUITBEARER, n. That which produces
fruit. Mortimer.
FRUlTBE.iRING, a. Producing fruit
having the quality of bearing fruit.
Mortimer.
FRUITERER, n. One who deals in fruit
a seller of fruits.
FRUITERY, n. [Fr.fruiterie.] Fruit col-
lectively taken. " Philips.
2. A fruitloft ; a repository for fruit.
Johnson.
PRClTFyL, a. Very productive; produ-
cing fruit in abundance; BS fruitful soil
a fruitful tree ; a fruitful season.
2. Prolific; bearing children ; not barren.
Be /7-«?(/it?, and multiply — Gen. i.
3. Plenteous ; abounding in any thing.
Pope
. Productive of any thing ; fertile ; as fruit-
ful in expedients.
4. Producing in abundance ; generating ; as
fruitful in crimes.
FRtrlTFULLY, adv. In such a manner as to
be prolific. Roscommon.
Plenteously; ahumlantly Shak.
FRCITFULNESS, n. The quality of pro.iu-
emg fruit in abundance; productiveness;
iijrtility; as the /nnV/u/nesa of land.
2. Fecundity ; the quality of being prolific,
or producing many young ; applied to
animals.
3. Productiveness of the intellect; as the
fruitfulness of the brain.
4. Exuberant abundance. B. Jonson.
FRUIT-GROVE, n. A grove orclose planta-
tion of fruit-trees.
FRUI'TION, n. [from L. fruor, to use or
enjoy.]
Use, accompanied with pleasure, corporeal
or intellectual ; enjoyment ; the pleasure
derived from use or possession.
If the affliction is on his body, his appetites
are weakened, and capacity oi fruition des-
troyed. Rogers.
FROITIVE, a. Enjoying. Boyle.
FRCITLESS. a. Not bearing fruit ; barren ;
destitute of fruit ; as a fruitless plant.
Raleigh.
2. Productive 'of no advantage or good ef-
fect; vain; idle; useless; unprofitable;
as a fruitless attempt ; a fruUless contro-
versy.
3. Having no offspring. Shak.
FRUITLESSLY, o. [from fruitless.] With-
out any valuable effect; idly; vainly;
unprofitably. Dryden.
FROITLESSNESS, n. The quality of being
vain or unprofitable.
FRUIT-LOFT, n. A place for the preserva-
tion of fruit.
FRCIT-TIME, 71. The time for gathering
fruit.
FRUIT-TREE, n. A tree cultivated for its
fruit, or a tree whose principal value con-
sists in the fruit it produces, as the cherry-
tree, apide-tree, pear-tree. The oak and
beech produce valuable fruit, but the fruit
is not their principal value.
FRUMENTA'CEOUS, a. [h.frumentaceus.]
1. Made of wheat, or like grain.
Resembling wheat, in respect to leaves,
ears, fruit, and the like. Encyc.
FRUMENTA'RIOUS, a. [h. frumentarius,
from frumentum, corn.] Pertaining to
wheat or grain.
FRUMENTA'TION, n. [L. Jhimentatio.]
Among the Romans, a largess of grain be-
stowed on the people to quiet them when
uneasy or turbident. Encyc
FRU'MENTY, n. [L. frumentum, wheat or
grain.] Food made of wheat boiled in
milk.
FRUMP, n. Ajoke,jeeror flout. [.\%t used.]
Bp. Hall.
FRUaiP, V. t. To insult. [Xoi in tise.]
Beaum.
FRUSH, ,.. t. [Fr. froisser.] To bruise ; to
crush. 06s. STiak.
FRLfeH,n. [G.frosch,afrog.] It^ farriery,
a sort of tender liorn that grows in the
middle of the sole of a horse, at some dis-
tance from the toe, dividing into two
branches, and running toward the heel in
the form of a fork. Farrier's Diet.
FRUS'TRABLE, a. [See Frustrate.] That
may be frustrated or defeated.
FRUSTRA'NEOUS, a. [See Frustrate.]
Vani ; useless ; unprofitable. [LitUe used.]
FRUS'TRATE, v. t. [h.frus'troT'FrJht
trer; Sp. frustrar ; allied probably to Fr.
F U C
FUG
F U L
Jroisser, briser, Arm. brousta, freuza, to
break. Class Rd or Rs.]
1. Literally, to break or interrupt; hence,
defeat ; to disappoint ; to balk ; to bring to
nothing ; as, to frustrate a ])lan, design or
attempt ; to frustrate the will or purpose
2. To disappoint ; applied to persons.
3. To make null ; to nullify ; to render of nc
eft'ect ; as, to frustrate a conveyance or
deed.
FRUS'TRATE, part. a. Vain ; ineffectual
useless ; unproiitable ; null; void; of no
effect. Hooker. Dryden.
FRUS'TRATED, pp. Defeated ; disappoint-
ed ; rendered vain or null.
FRUSTRATING, })pr. Defeating; disap-
pointing; making vain or of no effect.
FRUSTRATION, n. The act of frustra-
ting; disappointment ; defeat ; as thefrus-
tration of one's attempt or design. South.
FRUS'TRATIVE, a. Tending to defeat;
fallacious. Diet.
FRUS'TRATORY, a. That makes void;
that vacates or renders null; as a frusta-
tory appeal. -flyliffe.
FRUS'TUM, ?!. [L. ^ee Frustrate.] Apiece
or part of a solid body separated from the
rest. Tlie frustum of a cone, is the part
that remains after the top is cut off by a
plane parallel to the base ; called otlier-
wise a truncated cone. Encyc.
FRUTES'CENT, a. [L. frutex, a shrub.]
In botany, from herbaceous becoming
shrubby ; as afrutescent stem. Martyn.
FRU'TEX, n. [L.] In botany, a shrub ; a
plant having a woody, durable stem, but
less than a tree. Milne.
FRU'TIeANT, a. Full of shoots. Evelyn.
FRU'TIeOUS, a. {l..fmticosus.] Shrubby;
as afruticous stem.
FRY, V. t. [Ufrigo; Gr. $pi.yu; Sp./m>;
It, friggere; Port, frigir ; Ft. fnre ; Ir.
friochialaim. The sense is nearly the same
as in boil or broil, to agitate, to fret.]
To dress with fat by heating or roasting in a
pan over a fire ; to cook and prepare for
eating in a fryingpan ; as, to fry meat or
vegetables.
FRY, V. i. To be heated and agitated ; to
suffer the action of fire or extreme heat.
2. To ferment, as in tlie stomach. Bacon.
3. To be agitated ; to boil. Dn/den.
FRY, n. [Fr. frai, from the verb.] A swarm
or crowd of little fish ; so called from their
crowding, tumbling and agitation. [So
Sp. hervir, to swarm or be crowded, from
L. ferveo, and vulgarly boiling is used for
a crowd.] Milton.
2. A dish of any thing fried.
3. A kind of sieve. [JVol used in Jimerica.]
Moiiimer
FRY'ING, ppr. Dressing in a fryingpan ;
heating ; agitating.
FRY'INGPAN, n. A pan with a long ban
die, used for frying meat and vegetables.
FUB, n. A plump boy ; a woman. [Mt in
use.] Todd
FUB, II. «.. To put off; to delay ; to cheat.
[See Fob.] Shak.
FU'€ATE, I [L.fucatus. from fuco, to
FU'€ATED, I "• stain.]
Fainted ; disguised with paint ; also, disgui-
sed with false show. Johnson
FU'eUS, n. [h. See Feign.] A paint ; a dye ;
also, false show. B. Jonson. Sandys,
2. pki. fucuses, in botany, a genus of Algte,
or sea-weeds ; the sea-wrack, &c.
Encyc
FUDDER of lead. [See Father.]
FUDDLE, V. t. To make drunk ; to intoxi-
cate. Thomson
FUD'DLE, V. i. To diink to excess.
L'Estrange.
FUD'DLED, pp. Drunk ; intoxicated.
FUD'DLING, ppr. Intoxicating ; drinking
to excess.
FUDGE, a word of contempt.
FU'EL, n. [from Fr. feu, fire, contracted
from Sp. fuego, It. fuoco, L. focus.]
1. Any matter which serves as aliment to
fire ; that which feeds fire ; combustible
matter, as wood, coal, peat, &c.
2. Any thing that serves to feed or increase
flame, heat or excitement.
FU'EL, V. t. To feed with combustible
matter.
Never, alas ! the dreadful name,
That/iiris theinferniJ flame. Cowley.
2. To store with fuel or firing. Jfotton.
FUELED, pp. Fed with combustible mat-
ter ; stored with firing.
FU'ELER, n. He or that which supplies
fuel. Donne.
FU'ELING, ppr. Feeding with fuel ; sup-
plying with fuel.
FUGA'CIOUS, a. [h.fugax, from fugo, to
chase, or fvgio, to flee.] Flying or fleeing
away ; volatile.
FUGA'CIOUSNESS, n. The quality of fJy-
ng away; volatility.
FUGAC'ITY, n. [h.fugax, supra.] Vola-
tihty ; the quality of fiying away ; as the
fugacity of spirits. Boyle.
2. Uncertainty ; instability. Johnson.
FUGH, or FOH, an exclamation expressing
abhorrence. Dryden.
FU'GITIVE, a. [Fr. fugitif;L.fugitivus,
fromfugio, to flee, Gr. $f»yu.]
. Volatile ; apt to fiee away ; readily wafted
by the wind.
The more tender a.nd fugitive parts—
Woodward.
2. Not tenable ; not to be held or detained ;
readily escaping; as a fugitive idea.
Locke.
3. Unstable ; unsteady ; fleeting ; not fixed
durable. Johnson.
4. Fleeing; running fi-om danger or pursuit.
Milton.
5. Fleeing from duty ; eloping ; escaping.
Can a fugitive daughter enjoy herself, while
her parents are in tears ? Clarissa.
6. Wandering ; vagabond ; as a fugitive
physician. ffotton.
7. In literature, fugitive compositions are
such as are short and occasional, written
in haste or at intervals, and considered to
be fleeting and temporary.
FU'GITIVE, n. One who flees fi-om his sta-
tion or duty ; a deserter ; one who flees
from danger. Bacon. Milton.
2. One who has fled or deserted and taken
refuge under another power, or one who
has fled from punishment. Dryden.
3. One hard to be caught or detained.
Or catch that ^iry fugitive, called wit.
Harte
FU'GITIVENESS, n. Volatility; fugacity
an aptness to fly away. Boyle
2. Instabilitv ; unsteadiness. Johnson
FUGUE, 71. fug. [Ft. fugue; L. Sp. It.fuga.]
In music, a chase or succession in the parts ;
that which expresses the capital thought
or sentiment of the piece, in causing it to
pass successively and alternately fronj one
part to another. Encyc.
FU'GUIST, 71. A musician who composes
fugues, or performs them extemporane-
ously. Busby.
FUL'CIMENT, ». [L. fulcimentum, froiu
fulcio, to prop.]
A prop ; a fulcrum ; that on which a bal-
ance or lever rests. [Little used.]
WUkins.
FUL'eRATE, a. [from L./it/cr«7K, a prop.]
1. In botany, a fulcrate stem is one whose
branches descend to the earth, as in Fi-
cus. Lee.
2. Furnished with fulcres.
FUL'CRUM, > rr 1 A
FtJL'€RE, \ "• [^-1 ^ P''°P *"■ suPPoJ't-
2. In mechanics, that by which a lever is
sustained.
|3. In botany, the part of a plant which
serves to support or defend it, or to facili-
tate some necessary secretion, as a sti-
pule, a bracte, a tendril, a gland, &c.
Milne. Martyn.
FULFILL', V. I. [A tautological compound
of full andfll.]
1. To accomplish ; to perform ; to complete ;
to answer in execution or event what has
been foretold or promised ; as, to fulfill a
prophecy or prediction ; to fulfill a pro-
ihise.
2. To accomplish what was intended ; to
answer a design by execution.
Here nature seems fulfilled in all her ends.
Milton.
3. To accomplish or perform what was de-
sired ; to answer any desire by compli-
ance or gllatification.
He will fulfill the desire of theih that fear
him. Ps. cxiv.
4. To perform what is required ; to answer
a law by obedience.
If ye fulfill the royal law according to the
scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy-
self, ye do well. James ii.
5. To complete in time.
Fulfill her week. Gen. .xxix.
6. In general, to accomplish ; to complete :
to carry into effect.
FULFILL'ED, pp. Accomplished ; perform-
ed ; completed ; executed.
FULFILL'ER, ?i. One that fulfills or ac-
complishes.
FULFILL'ING, ppr. Accomplishing; per-
forming ; completing.
FULFILL'MENT, } Accomplishment i
FULFTLL'ING, $ completion ; as the
/u{/5M7nc7i< of prophecy.
2. Execution ; performance ; as the fulfill-
ment of a promise.
FUL'FRAUGHT, a. [full and fraught.]
Full-stored. Shak.
FUL'GENCY, 71. [L. fulgens, from fulgeo,
to shine. See Effulgence.] Brightness ;
splendor; glitter. Diet.
FUL'gENT, a. Shining ; dazzling ; exquis-
itely bright. MiltoH.
FUL'GID, a. [L. fulgidus, from fulgeo, to
shine.] Shining ; glittering ; dazzHng.
[JVb< in use.]
FUL'GOR, 71. [L.] Splendor; dazzling
j brightness. [Little used.] Brown. More.
F U L
FUL'GURANT,a. Lightening. [.VoJiwcrf.]
FUL'GURATE, v.i. To ilusli as lightning.
{J\rot used.] Chambers.
FULGURA'TION, n. [h. falguratio, from
fulgur, hghming.]
Lightning ; tlie act of hghtening. [LUlle
used or not at all.]
FULKilNOS'ITY, 11. [L./i(%o, soot, prob-
ably from the root ot'/oul.]
Sootiness ; matter deposited by smoke.
Kirwan, Geol.
FULKi'INOUS, a. [L. fuUgineus, fidigino-
sus, from fuligo, soot.]
1. Pertaining to soot ; sooty ; dark ; dnsky.
2. Pertaining to smoke ; resemhluig sinoke
dusky. Shenstone.
FULl6'INOUSLY, a. By being sooty.
FU'LIMART. [See FoumaH.]
FULL, a. [Sax. Sw. /u« ,• G.voll; D. vol;
Goth, fulds; Dan. fuld; W. gwala, full-
ness. Qu. It. vole, in composition. See Fill
and to FuU.]
1. Replete ; having within its hmits all that
it can contain ; as a vessel full of liquor.
2. Abounding with ; having a large quanti
ty or abundance ; as a house full of fur
niture ; life is full of cares and perplexi
ties.
3. Supplied ; not vacant.
Had the throne been full, their meeting
would not have been regular. BlacUstonc
4. Plump ; fat ; as a. full body.
5. Saturated ; sated.
I am/t(H of the burnt offerings of rams. Is. i.
(). Crowded, with regard to the imagination
or memory.
Every one is full of the miracles done by
cold baths on decayed and weak constitutions.
Locke.
7. Large ; entire ; not ])artial ; that fills; as
■dfuU meal.
8. Complete ; entire ; not defective or par-
tial ; as the full aceomplishtnent of a pro-
phecy.
D. Complete ; entire ; without abatement.
It came to i>ass, at the end of two full years
that Pharaoh dreamed — Gen. xli.
F U L
n. Complete measure; utmost ex-
ThLs instrument answers to the
10. Containing the whole matter ; express-
ing the whole ; as a full narration or de-
scription.
IL Strong; not faint or attenuated; loud;
clear ; distinct ; as a full voice or sound
13. Mature; perfect; as a person of full
age.
13. Entire ; complete ; denoting the com
pletion of a sentence ; as a full stop 01
point.
14. Spread to view in all dimensions ; as a
head drawn with a full face. Addison
15. Exhibiting the whole disk or surface il
luminated ; as the full moon.
16. Abundant ; plenteous ; sufficient. We
have a full supply of provisions for the
year.
17. Adequate ; equal ; as a full compensa-
tion or reward for labor.
18. Well fed.
19. Well supplied or furnished ; abounding.
20. Copious; ample. The speaker or the
writer was full upon that point. Mitford.
A full band, in music, is when all the voices
and instruments are employed.
A full organ, is when all or most of the stopi
are out.
Vol. I.
FULL,
tent.
fuU.
2. The highest state or degree.
The swan's down feather,
Tliat stands upon the swell ztfull of tide —
Sbak
3. The wliolc; the total; in the phrase, at
full. Shale.
4. The state of satiety ; as fed to the full.
The full of the moon, is the time when it
presents to the spectator its whole face il
luminated. as it always does when in op
position to the sun.
FULL, adv. Quite; to the same degree;
without abatement or diminution.
The pawn I proffer shall be full as good.
Dryden.
2. With the whole effect,
diapason closing full in man. Dryden
3. Exactly.
FuU in the center of the sacred wood.
Addison.
4. Directly ; as, he looked him fxdl in the
face.
It is placed before adjectives and ad
verbs to heighten or strengthen their sig
nification ; asyiiH sad. Milton.
Full well ye reject the command
God, that ye may keep your own tradition
Mark vii.
Full is prefixed to other words, chiefly par
ticiples, to express utmost extent or de-
gree.
FULL-ACORNED, o. Fed to the full with
Shak.
FyLL-BLOOMED,o.Havingperfect bloom.
Crashaw.
FULL-BLOWN, a. Fully expanded, as a
blossom. Denham.
2. Fully distended with wind. Dryden.
FULL-BOTTOM, n. A wig with a large
bottom.
FULL-BOTTOMED, a. Having a large
bottom, as a w'
FULL-BUTT, adv. Meeting directly and
with violence. [Vulgar.] UEstrange.
FULL-CIIARgED, a. Charged to fullness.
Shak.
FULL-CRAMMED, a. Crammed to fullness,
Marston.
FULL-DRESSED, a. Dressed in form or
costume.
FULL-DRIVE, a. Driving with full speed-
Chaucer.
FULL-EARED, a. Having tlie ears or
heads full of grain. Denham.
FULL-EYED, a. Having large prominent
eves.
FULL-FACED, a. Having a broad face
FULL-FED, a. Fed to fullness; plump with
fat.
FULL-FRAUGHT, a. Laden or stored to
fullness. Shak.
FULL-GORtJED, a. Over fed ; o term of
hawking. Shak,
FyLL-GRO\VTS[, a. Grown to full size.
Milton,
FULL-HEARTED, a. Full of courage or
confidence. Shak.
FULL-HOT, a. Heated to the utmost.
Shak.
2. Quite as hot as it ought to be.
FULL-LADEN, a. Laden to the full.
FULL-MANNED, a. Completely furnished
with men.
89
F U L
FULL-MOUTHED, a. Having u full or
strong voice.
FULL-ORBED, a. Having the orb com-
plete or fully illuminated, as the moon ;
like the full moon. .'Iddison. Mcuon.
FULL-SPREAD, a. Extended to the ut-
most. Dryden.
FULL-STOMACHED, a. Having the stom-
ach crammed.
FULL-STUFFED, a. Filled to the utmost
n. Complete
Drayton.
all its
Howell.
ompletc
Shak.
Beaum.
FULL-WINGED, a. Having
wings or large strong wings.
2. Ready for flight; eager.
FULL, V. t. [Sax. fullian ; h.fullo ; D. vol-
len, vidlen ; Fr. fouler, to tread, to press,
to full ; foule, a crowd ; It. folia, and/otta,
a crowd ; folto, dense ; allied to Eng. felt,
filer, It. feltro, from being thick or fulled.
Sax. feala, many, Gr. rtoy.%01, that is, a
crowd, a throng. Foul and defle are prob-
ably of the same family. As the French
folder signifies to tread and to full cloth,
so walker, a fuller, is from the root of
tealk.]
To thicken cloth in a mill. This is the pri-
mary sense : but in ])ractifc, to full is to
mill' ; to make coujpact ; or to scour,
cleanse and thicken in a mill.
FULL'AgE, n. Money paid for fulling
cloth.
FULLED, pp. Cleansed ; thickened ; made
dense and firm in a mill.
FULL'ER, n. One whose occupation is to
full cloth.
FULLER'S-EARTH, n. A variety of clay,
compact, but friable, unctuous to the
touch, and of various colors, usually with
a shade of green. It is useful in scour-
ing and cleansing cloth, as it imbibes the
grease and oil used in preparing wool.
Cleaveland. Encyc.
FULL'ER'S-TIIISTLE, I Teasel, a plant
FULL'ER'S-WEED, S;"of the genus
-bipsacus. The burs are used in dressing
cloth.
FULL'ERY, n. The place or the works
where the fidling of cloth is carried on.
FULL'ING, ppr. Thickening cloth in a mill;
making compart.
FULL'ING, )i. The art or practice of thick-
ening cloth and making it compact and
firm in a mill, at the same time the cloth
is cleansed of oily matter.
FULL'INGMILL, n. A mill for fulling
cloth by means of pestles or stampers,
which beat and press it to a close or com-
pact state and cleanse it.
FULL'NESS, n. [from full.] The state of
being filled, so .is to leave no part vacant.
■3. The state of abounding or being in great
plenty ; abundance.
3. Completeness ; the state of a thing in
which nothing is wanted ; perfection.
In thy presence is fullness of joy. Ps. xvi.
4. Repletion ; satiety ; as from intemperance.
Taylor.
5. Repletion of vessels; as/uKnfw of blood.
j6. Plenty; wealth; affluence. Shak.
7. Struggling perturbation ; swelling ; as the
/uKnfss of the heart.
!8. Largeness; extent.
F U L
There wanted the fullness of a plot, and va-
riety of characters to form it as it ought.
Dryden.
9. Loudness; force of sound, such as fills
the ear. Pope.
FULL'SOME, a. [Sax. fid, foul or full.]
Gross ; disgusthig by plainness, grossness
or excess ; asfidLsome flattery or praise.
FULL'SOMELY, adv. Grossly ; with dis-
gusting plainness or excess.
FULL'SOMENESS, n. Offensive gross-
ness, as of praise.
[These are the senses of this word and
the only senses used in New England, as
far as my knowledge extends.]
FUL'LY, adv. Completely; entirely; with-
out lack or defect ; in a manner to give
satisfaction ; to the e.xtent desired ; as, to
he fully persuaded of the truth of a propo-
sition.
2. Completely ; perfectly. Things partially
known in this life will be hereafter fully
disclosed.
FUL'MAR, n. A fowl of the genus Procel-
laria, or petrel kind, larger than a gull,
possessing the singular faculty of spouting
from its bill a quantity of pure oil against
its adversary. It is an inhabitant of the
Hebrides ; it feeds on the fat of whales,
and when one of them is taken, will perch
on it even when alive and pick out pieces
of flesh. Did. of Md. Hist.
2. The foulemart or fidimart. [See Fou-
mart.]
FUL'MINANT, a. [Fr. from h.fubmnans.]
Thundering.
FUL'MINATE, v. i. [L. fulmino, from ful
men, thunder, from a root in Bl, which sig
nities to throw or to burst forth.]
1. To thunder. Davies.
U. To make a loud sudden noise, or a sud-
den sharp crack ; to detonate ; as fulmina-
ting goW. ■ ^ Boyle.
3. To hurl papal thunder ; to issue forth ec-
clesiastical censures, as the pope.
Herbert.
FUL'MINATE, v. t. To utter or send out,
as a denunciation or censure ; to send ou
as a menace or censure by ecclesiastical
authority. fVarburton. Ayliffe.
2. To cause to explode. Sprat.
FUL'MINATING, ppr. Thundering ; crack-
ling ; exploding ; detonating.
2. Hurling papal denunciations, menaces oi
censures.
Fulminaline: powder, s. Aeion&ung compound
of sulphur, carbonate of potash and niter.
FULMINA'TION, n. A thundering.
2. Denunciation of censure or threats, as by
papal authority.
The fuhninations from the Vatican were
turned into ridicule. Jiyliff'
3. The explosion of certain cliimical pre
parations; detonation. Encyc.
FUL'MINATORY, a. Thundering ; striking
terror. Johnson.
FUL'MINE, v.t. To thunder. [Xotinuse.']
Spenser. Milton.
FULMIN'IC, a. Fulminic acid, in chimistry,
is a peculiar acid contained in fulminating
silver. Henry.
FUL'SOME, a. [Sax. /ui, foul.] Nauseous;
offensive.
He that hnngs fulsome objects to my view,
With nauseous images my fancy fills.
Mosconimon
F U M
1. Rank ; offensive to the smell ; as a rank
and fulsome smell. Bacon.
3. Lustful ; as fulsome ewes. Shak.
4. Tending to obscenity ; as a fulsome epi-
gram. Dryden.
These are the English definitions of/u(-
some, but 1 have never witnessed such ap-
plications of the word in the United States.
It seems then that full and foul are radi-
cally the same word, the primary sense of
which is stuffed, crowded, from the sense
of putting on or in. In the United States,
the compound fidlsome takes its significa-
tion from full, in the sense of cloying or
satiating, and in England,/u^ome takes its
predominant sense from foulness.
FUL'SOMELY, adv. Rankly ; nauseously;
obscenely. -Eng--
FUL'SOMENESS, n. Nauseousness ; rank
smell; obscenity. Eng
FUL'VID, a. [See F^dvous, which is gene-
rail v used.]
FUL'VOUS, a. [h.fulvus.] Yellow ; tawny :
saffron-colored. Encyc.
FUMA'DO, )i. [L. fumus, smoke.] A smo-
ked fish. CareiD.
FU'MATORY, n. [L. fumaria herba ; Fr,
fumeterre ; ivom fumus, smoke.]
A plant or genus of plants, called Fumaria
of several species. Encyc
FUM'BLE, V. i. [D. fommelen ; Dan. fam-
ler; Sw. favda ; properly, to stop, stam-
mer, falter, hesitate, to feel along, tc
1. To feel or grope about ; to attempt awk-
Yjrardlv. Cudworth.
2. To grope about in perplexity; to seek
kwardly ; as, to fumble for an excuse.
Dryden.
.3. To handle much ; to play childishly ; to
turn over and over.
I saw him fu7nble with the sheets, and play
with flowers. Sf>uk
FUM'BLE, V. t. To manage awkwardly ;
to crowd or tumble together. Shak.
FUM'BLER, n. One who gropes or mana
ges awkwardly.
FUM'BLING, ppr. Groping ; inanaginj
awkwardly.
FUM'BLINGLY, adv. In an awkward
manner.
FUME, n. [L. fumus, Fr. fum^e, smoke.]
Smoke ; vapor from combustion, as from
burning wood or tobacco. Bacon.
2. Vapor; volatile matter ascending in a
dense body. Woodward.
3. Exhalation from the stomach ; as the
/wmes of wine. Dryden.
4. Rage; heat; as the /ume« of passion.
South
5. Any thing unsubstantial or fleeting.
Sliak.
C. Idle conceit; vain imagination. Bacon.
FUME, v.i. [L./umo, Fr./umer,Sp. /umar.
It. /umare, to smoke.]
1. To smoke ; to throw off vapor, as in com-
bustion.
Where the golden altar/umed. Mdton.
2. To yield vapor or visible exhalations.
Silenus lay.
Whose constant cups lay /uming to his brain
Roscommon
3. To pass off in vapors.
Their parts are kept from fuming away by
their fi.-iity. Cheyne
|4. To be in a rage ; to be hot with anger.
FUN
He frets, he fumes, he stares, he stamps the
ground. Dryden.
FUME, V. t. To smoke ; to dry in smoke.
Carew.
2. To perfume.
She fumed the temples with an od'rous flame.
Ihryden.
3. To disperse or drive away in vapors.
The heat will/unie away most of the scent.
Mortimer.
FU'MET, n. The dung of deer. B. Jonson.
FU'MID, a. [h. fumidus.] Smoky; vapor-
Brewn.
FU'MIGATE, V. t. [L. fiimigo ; Fr. fumi-
er ; from fumus, smoke.]
1. To smoke ; to perfume. Dryden.
To apply smoke to ; to expose to smoke ;
as in chimistry, or in medicine by inhaling
it, or in cleansing infected apartments.
FU'MIGATED, pp. Smoked ; exposed to
smoke.
FU'MIGATING, ppr. Smoking; applying
smoke to.
FUMIGA'TION, n. [L. fiimigatio.] The
act of smoking or applying smoke, as in
chimistry for softening a metal, or in the
healing art by inhaling the smoke of cer-
tain substances. Expectoration is often
assisted and sometimes ulcers of the lungs
healed hy fumigation. Fumigation is also
used in cleansing infected rooms.
2. Vapors ; scent raised by fire.
FU'MING, ppr. Smoking; emitting vapors;
raging ; fretting.
FU'MINGLY, adv. Angrily; in a rage.
Hooker.
FU'MISH, a. Smoky; hot; choleric. [Lit-
tle used.]
FU'MITER, n. A plant.
FU'MOUS, I Producing fume ; full of va-
FU'MY, S "■ Por.
From dice and wine the youth retir'd to rest.
And putf'cd the fumy god from out his breast.
Dryden.
FUN, n. Sport ; vulgar merriment. A low
u-ord. [Qu. Eth. Q^P wani, to play.]
FUNAM'BULATORY, a. Performing like
a rope dancer ; narrow like the walk of
a rope dancer. Broicn. Chambers.
FUNAM'BULIST, n. [L./unu,rope, and am-
bido, to walk.] A rope walker or dancer.
FUN€'TION, n. [L. functio, from fungor,
to perform.]
In a general sense, the doing, executing
or performing of any thing ; discharge ;
performance; as the function of a calling
or office. More generally,
2. Office or employment, or any duty or
business belonging to a particular station
or character, or required of a person in
that station or character. Thus we speak
of the functions of a chancellor, judge or
bishop ; the functions of a parent or guar-
dian.
3. Trade; occupation. [Less proper.]
4. The office of any particular part of ani-
mal bodies ; the peculiar or appropriate
action of a member or part of the body, by
which the animal economy is carried on.
Thus we speak of the functions of the
brain and nerves, of the heart, of the liv-
er, of the muscles, &c.
5. Power ; faculty, animal or intellectual.
As the mind opens, and its functions spread.
Pojit
FUN
FUN
F U K,
a 111 mathematics, the function of a variable
quantity, is any algebraic expression into
which that quantity enters, mixed with
other quantities that liave invariable val
ues. Cyc.
FUNCTIONALLY, adv. By means of the
functions. Lawrence, Led.
FUNCTIONARY, n. One who holds an of-
fice or trust ; as a ^\ih\\c functionary; sec-
ular functionaries. Walsh.
FUND, n. [Fr. fond; Sp. fondo, funda : L.
fundus, ground, bottom, foundation ; con
nected with L. fundo, to found, the sensi
of which is to throw down, to set, to lay;
Ir. bon or hun, bottom; Heb. Ch. Syr.
nJ3, Ar. Lij to build. Class Bn. No. 7.
The L. funda, a sling, a casting net or
purse, It. fonda, is from the same source.]
1. A stock or capital; a sum of money ap-
propriated as the foundation of some com-
mercial or other operation, undertaken
with a view to profit, and by means oti
which expenses and credit are supported.
Thus the capital stock of a banking insti-
tution is called its fund ; the joint stock of
a commercial or manufacturing house con-
stitutes its /unrf or /ujirfs ; and hence the
word is applied to the money which an in-
dividual may possess, or the means he can
employ for carrying on any enterprise or
operation. No prudent man undertakes
an expensive business without funds.
2. Money lent to government, constituting
a national debt ; or the stock of a na-
tional debt. Thus we say, a man is inter-
ested in the funds or public funds, when
he owns the stock or the evidences of the
public debt ; and the funds are said to rise
or fall, when a given amount of that debt
sells for more or less in the market.
3. Money or income destined to the payment
of the interest of a debt.
4. A sinking fund is a sum of money appro-
priated to the purchase of the public
stocks or the payment of the public debt.
5. A stock or capital to aflbrd supplies of
any kind ; as a fund of wisdom or good
sense ; a fund of wit. Hence,
6. Abundance ; ample stock or store.
FUND, V. t. To provide and appropriate a
fund or permanent revenue for the pay-
ment of the interest of; to make perma-
nent provision of resources for discharging
the annual interest of; as, to fund exche-
quer bills or government notes ; to fund
a national debt. Bolingbroke. Hamilton.
2. To place money in a fund.
FUND'AMENT, n. [L. fundamentum, from
fundo, to set.]
1. The sent ; the lower part of the body or
of the intestinum rectum. Hume.
2. Foundation. [JVbt in use.] Chaucer.
FUNDAMENT' AL, a. Pertaining to the
foundation or basis ; serving for the foun-
dation. Hence, essential ; important ; as a
fundamental truth or principle ; a funda-
mental law ; a fundamental sound or chord
in music.
FUNDAMENT' AL, n. A leading or prima-
ry principle, rule, law or article, which
serves as the ground work of a system ;
essential part ; as the fandameyitah of the
christian faiili.
FUNDAMENTALLY, n. Primarily ; orig
inally ; essentially ; at the foundation. All
power is fundamentally in the citizens of a
state.
FUNDED, pp. Furnished with funds for
regular payment of the interest of
FUND'ING, ppr. Providing funds for tli
payment of the interest of
FUNE'BRIAL, a. [L.funcbris.] Pertaining
to funerals. Brown
FU'NERAL, n. [It. funerale ; Fr. fune-
railles ; from L.funus, (romfunale, a cord,
a torch, from funis, a rope or cord, as
torches were made of cords, and were used
in burials among the Romans.]
L Burial ; the ceremony of burying a dead
body ; the solemnization of interment ; oh
sequies.
3. The procession of persons attending the
burial of the dead. Pope,
3. Burial ; interment. Denham
FU'NERAL, a. Pertaining to burial; used
at the interment of the dead ; as funeral
rites, honors or ceremonies ; a funeral
torch ; funeral feast or games ; funeral
oration. Encyc. Dryden.
FUNERA'TION, n. Solemnization of a fu-
neral. [JVot used.]
FUNE'REAL, a. Suiting a funeral ; pertain-
ing to burial. Shak.
2. Dark ; dismal ; mournful. Taylor.
FUN'GATE, n. [fromfungus.] A compound
of fungic acid and a base. Coxe.
FUN'Gl€, a. Pertaining to or obtained from
mushrooms ; as fungic acid.
FUN'tilFORM, a. [fungus and form.] In
mineralogy, having a termination similar
to the head of a fungus. Philips.
FUN'GIN, n. The fleshy part of mushrooms,
now considered as a pecuhar vegetable
principle. Coxe.
FUN'GITE, n. [from fungus.] A kind of
fossil coral.
FUNGOS'ITY, n. Soft excrescence,
FUN'GOUS, a. [See Fungus.] Like fungus
or a mushroom ; excrescent ; spungy ;
soft.
2. Growing suddenly, but not substantial or
durable. Harris.
FUN'GUS, 71. [L.] A mushroom, vulgarly
called a toadstool. The Fungi constitute
an order of plants of a pecuhar organiza
tion and manner of growth. The word is
also applied to excrescences on plants.
Encyc.
2. A spungy excrescence in animal bodies,
as proud flesh formed in wounds. Coxe
The term is particularly applied to any
morbid excrescence, whether in wound;
or arising spontaneously. Cyc. Cooper
FU'NICLE, n. [L. funiculus, dim. of funis,
a cord.]
A small cord ; a small ligature ; a fiber.
Johnson.
FUNICULAR, a. Consisting of a small cord
or fiber.
FUNK, n. [Qu. Arm. fancq, Fr.fange, mud,
mire, matter.] An offensive smell. [ Vul-
gar.]
FUN'NEL, n. [W.fynel, an air-hole, funnel
or chimney, from fwn, breath, source,
connected with/oi(j!<, which see.]
1. A passage or avenue for a fluid or fl9w-
ing substance, particularly the shaft or
hollow channel of a chimney through
which smoke ascends.
;2. A vessel for conveying fluids into close
llo
kind of hollow cone with a
pipe ; a tunnel. Hay.
FUN'NELFORM, ) Having the form
FUN'NELSHAPED, P" of a funnel or in-
serted hollow cone. Earn, of Plants.
FUN'NY,a. [from/«n.] Droll; comical.
FUN'NY,«. A light boat.
FUR, n. [Fr. fournire, from fourrer, to put
on, to thrust in, to stuff'; Sp. aforrar ; Arm.
feura. The sense seems to be, to stuflT, to
make thick, or to put on and thus make
thick. In Welsh, /er is dense, solid.]
The short, fine, soft hair of certain an-
imals, growing thick on the skin, and
distinguished from the hair, which is long-
er and coarser. Fur is one of the most
perfect non-conductors of heat, and serves
to keep animals warm in cold climates.
2. The skins of certain wild animals with
the fur ; peltry; as a cargo of furs.
3. Strips of skin with fur, used on garments
for lining or for ornament. Garments are
lined or faced with fur.
4. Hair in general ; a loose application of the
word.
5. A coat of morbid matter collected on the
tongue in persons afl^ected with fever.
FUR, V. t. To line, face or cover with fur ;
a furred robe.
2. To cover with morbid matter, as the
tongue.
3. To line with aboard, as in carpentry.
FUR-WROUGHT, a. fur'-raul. Made of
fur. Gay.
FURA'CIOUS, a. [L. furax, from furor, to
steal.]
Given to theft; inclined to steal; thievish.
[Little used.]
FURAC'ITY, n. Thievishness. [Little used.]
FUR'BELOW, n. [Fr. It. Sp. falbala.] A
piece of stuff plaited and puckered, on a
gown or petticoat ; a flounce ; the plaited
border of a petticoat or gown.
FUR'BELOW, V. t. To put on a furbelow ;
to furnish with an ornamental appenilage
of dress. Prior.
FUR'BISH, V. t. [It. forbire ; Fr. fourbir.]
To rub or scour to brightness; to polish ; to
burnish ; as, to furbish a sword or spear ;
to furbish ai-ms.
FURBISHED, pp. Scoured to brighuiess ;
polished ; burnished.
FUR'BISHER, «. One who polishes or
makes bright by rubbing: one who cleans.
FURBISHING, ppr. Rubbing to bright-
ness ; polishing.
FL'R'€ATE, a. [L. furca, a fork.] Forked ;
branching like the prongs of a fork.
Lee, Botami.
FURCATION, n. A forking; a branching
like the tines of a fork. Breton.
FUR'DLE, V. t. [Vr.fardeau, a bundle.] To
draw up into a bundle. [Xol used.]
Brown.
FURFUR, ji. [L.] Dandruff; scurf; scales
like bran.
FURFURA'CEOUS, a. [L. furfuraceus.]
: like bran.
Scalv; brannv ; scurfv :
FURIOUS, a. [Ufurio'sus ; It.furioso ; Fr.
furieux. See Fury.]
1. Rushing with impetuosity ; moving with
violence ; as a furious stream ; a furious
wind or storm.
2. Raging ; violent ; transported with pas-
sion ; as a furious animal.
FUR
PUR
F U S
afir
feir
fastening to a yard, &c.
FUR'LONG, n. [Sax. fnrlang ; far or fur
.1. Mad ; ])brcnetic.
FU'RIOUSLY, adv. With impetuous mo-
tion or agitation ; violently ; vehemently ; as,
to run furiously ; to attack one fuiiously.
FU'RIOUSNESS, n- Impetuous motion or
rushing ; violent agitation.
2. Madness ; phrensy ; rage.
FURL, V. t. [Fr. ferler ; Arm. farha ; Sp,
•, to grapple, to seize, to furl ; Port,
iiTar.]
To draw up ; to contract ; to wrap or roll a
sail close to the yard, stay or mast, and
fasten it by a gasket or cord. Mar. Did.
FURL'ED, pp. Wrapped and fastened to a
yard, &c.
FURL'ING, ppr. Wrapping or rolling and
" '"A ■ "
and long.]
A measure of length ; the eighth part of a
mile ; forty rods, poles or perches.
FUR'LOW, n. [D. verlof; G. urlaub ; Dan,
orlov ; Sw. orlof; compounded of the root
of fare, to go, and leave, permission. See
Fare and Leave. The common orthogra-
phy/urZoug-A is corrupt, as the last syllable
exhibits false radical consonants. The true
orthography is furlow.]
I.oave of absence; a word used only in mil-
itary affairs. Leave or license given by a
commanding officer to an officer or soldier
to be absent from service for a certain time.
FUR'LOW, V. t. To furnish with a furlow ;
to grant leave of absence to an officer or
soldier.
FUR'MENTY, ?i. [See Frumenty.]
FUR'NACE, n. [Fr.foumaise,foumeau ; It.
furnace; Sp.homo; fi:on\h.fornax,furnus,
either from burning, or the sense is an
arch.]
1. A place where a vehement fire and heat
may be made and maintained, for melting
ores or metals, &c. A furnace for cast-
ing cannon and other large operations is
inclosed with walls through which a cur-
rent of air is blown from a lai-ge bellows.
Jn smaller operations a vessel is construct-
ed with a chamber or cavity, with a door
and a grate.
3. In scripture, a place of cruel bondage and
affliction. Deut. iv.
;5. Grievous afflictions by which men are
tried. Ezek. xxii.
4. A place of temporal torment. Dan. iii.
5. Hell; the place of endless torment. Matt.
xiii.
FUR'NACE, V. t. To throw out sparks as a
furnace. Shak.
FUR'NIMENT, n. [Fr. fourmment.] Furni-
ture. [JVot in use.] Spe7iser.
[''UR'NISH, V. t. [Fr. fow-nir ; Arm. four-
nicza; It. fornire. There is a close affinity,
in'sense and elements, between furnish,
garnish, and the L. orno, which may have
been forno or homo. We see in furlow,
above, the/is lost in three of the langua-
ges, and it may be so in orno. The pri
mary sense is to put on, or to set on.]
i. To supply with any thing wanted or ne
cessary : as, to furttish a family with pro
visions ; to furnish arms for defense ; to
furnish a table ; to furnish a library ;
furnish one with money or implements.
2. To supply ; to store ; as, to furnish the
mind .with ideas ; to furnish one with
knowledge or principles.
3. To fit up ; to supply with the prope:
goods, vessels or ornamental appendages
as, to furnish a house or a room.
4. To equip ; to fit for an expedition ; to
supply.
FUR'NISHED, a. Supplied ; garnished ; fit
ted with necessaries.
FUR NISHER, n. One who supplies or fits
out.
FUR'NISIIING, ppr. Supplying ; fitting
garnishing.
FUR'NITURE, n. [Fr. fourniture; It. fomi-
mento ; Arm. fournimand.]
1. Goods, vessels, utensils and other appen
dages necessary or convenient for house-
keeping ; whatever is added to the interi
or of a house or apartment, for use or con
venience.
2. Appendages; that which is added for use
or ornament ; as the earth with all its/i
niture.
3. Equipage; ornaments; decorations; iri
very general sense.
FUR'RED, pp. [See Fur.] Lined or om
mented with fur; thickened by the ad(
tion of a board.
FUR'RIER, n. A dealer in furs ; one who
makes or sells muffs, tippets, &c.
FUR'RIERY, n. Furs in general. Tooke.
FUR'RING, ppr. Lining or ornamenting
with fur ; lining with a board.
FUR'ROW, 71. [Sax./«Tor/«r/t; G.furche;
Dan./itrre ; Sw. fora. Qu. Gr. ^apow,
])low.] A trench in the earth made by
plow.
2. A long narrow trench or channel in wood
or metal ; a groove.
3. A hollow made by wrinkles in the face.
FUR'ROW, V. t. [Sax./i/na«.] To cut a fur-
row; to make furrows in ; to plow.
a. To malie long narrow channels or grooves
3. To cut ; to make channels in ; to plow ;
as, to furrotv the deep.
4. To make hollows in by wrinkles. Sorrow
furrows the brow.
FUR'ROWFACED, a. Having a wrinkled
or furrowed face. B. Jonson.
FUR'ROWWEED, n. A weed growing on
plowed land. Shnk.
FUR'RY, a. [from fur.] Covered with fur ;
dressed in fur.
3. Consisting of furor skins ; as furry spoils.
Dnjdtn.
FUR'THER, a. [Sax. further, comparative
of forth, from the root of far, faran, to go,
to advance.]
1. More or most distant ; as the further end
of the field.
2. Additional. We have a further reason
for this opinion. We have nothing fur-
ther to suggest.
FUR'THER, adv. To a greater distance.
He went further.
FUR'THER, V. t. [Sax. fyrthrian ; G. fdr-
dern ; D. vorderen ; Sw. befordra ; Dan.
befordrer.]
To help forward; to promote; to ad-
vance onward ; to forward ; hence, to help
or assist.
• This binds thee then to further my design.
Dryden.
PUR'THERANCE, n. A helping forward ;
promotion ; advancement.
I know that I shall abide and continue with
you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith.
Phil. i.
FURTHERED, pp. Promoted ; advanced.
FUR'THERER, n. One who helps to ad-
vance; a promoter.
FURTHERMORE, adv. 3Ioreover ; be-
sides ; in addition to what has been said.
FURTHEST, a. Most distant either in time
or place.
FUR'THEST, adv. At the greatest distance.
FUR'TIVE, a. [L.furtivus; Fr. furtif; from
fur, a thief, /uror, to steal.]
Stolen ; obtained by theft. Prior.
FU'RUN€LE, n. [1.. furunculus ; Fr.furon-
cle; Sp. hura; from h.furia,furo.]
A small tumor or boil, with inflammation and
pain, arising under the skin in the adi-
pose membrane. Encyc.
FU'RY, »!. [L. furor, furia; Fr. fureur,func ;
Sp. furia ; from L. furo, to rage ; W. fu-if-
raw, to drive. Class Br.]
A violent rushing ; impetuous motion ; a*
the fury of the winds.
Rage ; a storm of anger ; madness ; tiu-
bulence.
I do oppose my patience to hhfury. Shak.
3. Enthusiasm; heat of the mind. Dryden.
4. In mythology, a deity, a goddess of ven-
geance ; hence, a stormy, turbident, vio-
lent woman. Addison.
FU'RYLIKE, a. Raging; furious; violent.
Thomson.
FURZ, n. [Sax. fyrs ; probably W. ftrx.
thick.]
Gorse ; whin ; a thorny plant of the genus
Ulex. Miller. Fam. of Plants.
FURZ'Y, a. Overgrown with furz; full of
gorse. Gay.
FUS'CITE, n. A mineral of a grayish or
greenish black color, found in Norway.
Phillips.
FUS'€OUS, a. [L. fuscus.] Brown; of a
dark color. Ran.
FUSE, V. t. s as z. [L.fundo,fusum,
out.]
To melt ; to liquefy by heat ; to render flu-
id ; to dissolve. Chimistry.
FUSE, v. i. To be melted ; to be reduced
from a solid to a fluid state by heat.
FU'SED,jDp. Melted; liquefied.
FUSEE', n. sasz. [Fr. fusee, fuseau; It.
fuso; Sp. huso; Port, fuso ; from h.fusus,
a spindle, from fundo, fudi,fusum.]
The cone or conical part of a watch or clock,
round which is wound the chain or cord.
Encyc. Johnson.
FUSEE', ji. s as :. [Fr. a squib.] A small
neat musket or firelock. But we now
use fusil.
3. Fusee or fuse of a bomb or granade, a
small pipe filled with combustible matter
by which fire is communicated to the
powder in the bomb ; but as the matter
burns slowly, time is given before the
charge takes fire, for the bomb to reach
its destination.
3. The track of a buck.
FUSIBIL'ITY, n. [See Fusible.] The qual-
ity of being fusible, or of being convert-
ible from a solid to a fluid state by heat.
FU'SIBLE, a. s as z. [Fr. from L. fusus,
from fundo.]
That may be melted or liquefied. The earths
I are found to he fusible.
pour
FU'SIFORJM, a. [L. fusus, a spindle, and
Shaped like a spindle. Pennant.
FU'SIL.a. s as 2. [f r./im/e ; L.fusitis, from
fusuSffundo.]
1. Capable of being melted or rendered fluid
by beat.
'X Running ; flowing, as a liquid.
Milton. Philips.
FU'SIL, n. s as z. [Fr. from h. fusus, /undo.]
1. A liglit musket or firelock.
a. A bearing in heraldry of a rbomboidal
figure, named from its shape, which re-
sembles that of a spindle. Encyc.
FUSILEE'R,n. [from/im7.] Properly,a sol-
dier armed with a fusil ; but in modern
times, a soldier armed like others of the
infantry, and distinguished by wearing
a cap like a grenadier, but somewh
shorter.
FUSION, n. sasi. [L. /ksio; FT.fusioi
from \j. /undo, fiisum.]
1. The act or operation of melting or ren-
dering fluid by heat, without the aid of a
solvent; as the /usion of ice or of metals.
2. The state of being melted or dissolved by
heat; a state of fluidity or flowing in con-
sequence of heat; as metals infusion.
Watery fusion, the'meltihg of certain crystals
by heat in theirown water of crystahzation.
Chimistry.
FUSS, ji. [allied perhaps to Gr. ^aau, to
blow or puff.]
A tumult ; a bustle ; hut the word is vulgar.
FUST, 71. [Fr. fiU ; It. fusta ; L. fustTs, a
staff".] The shaft of a column.
FUST, n. [Fr. /!((.] A strong musty smell.
FUST, I', t. To become moldy ; to smell ill.
Shak.
FUST'ED, a. Moldy; ill smelling.
FUS'TET, n. [Fr. ; Sp. Port, fustete.] The
wood of the Rhus cotinus, which yields a
fine orange color. Ure.
FUS'TIAN, n. [Fr. futaine ; Arm. fuslenn ;
Sp. fustan, the name of a place.]
1. A kinil of cotton stuff", or stuff" of cotton
and hneii.
2. An inflated style of writing ; a kind of
writing in which high sounding words are
used, aliove the dignity of the thoughts or
subject ; a swelling style ; bombast.
Fustian is thoughts and words ill sorted.
Dn/den.
FUS'TIAN, a. Made of fustian.
2. In style, swelling above the dignity of the
thuiijL'iiis or subject; too pompous; ridi-
oidously tumid ; bombastic. Dryden.
FUS'TIANIST, n. One who writes b
bast. Millon.
FUS'TIC, ).. [Sp. fuste, \vood, timber ; L.
fuslis.]
The wood of the Mortis linctoria, a tree
growing in the West Indies, imported and
used in dyeing yellow. Encyc.
FUSTIGA'TION, n. [L. fustigalio, from
fustigo, to beat with a cudgel, from fuslis,
a stick or club.]
Among the ancient Romans, a punishment by
beating with a stick or club, inflicted on
freemen. Encyc.
FUST'INESS, n. A fusty state or quality ;
an ill smell from moldiness, or moldiness
itself.
FUST'Y, a. [See Fust.] Moldy ; musty ; ill-
smelling; rank; rancid. Shak.
FU'TILE, a. [Fr. ; L. fulilis, from futio,
to pour out ; effutio, to prate or bab-
ble ; Heb. Ch. ND3 to utter rashly or fool-
ishly. Class Bd. No. 2. 6. 15.]
1. Talkative; loquacious; tailing. Ohs.
Bacon.
2. Trifling ; of no weight or importance ; an-
swering no valuable purpose ; worthless.
3. Ofnoeff"ect.
FUTIL'ITY, 71. Talkativeness ; loqua-
ciousness ; loquacity. [In this sense,
not now used.] UEstrange.
2. Triflingness ; unimportance ; want of
weight or eflfect ; as, to expose the futility
of arguments.
3. The qualify of producing no vaiuablr ef-
fect, or of coming to nothing ; as the futil-
ityof measures or schemes.
FU'TILOUS, a. Worthless; trifling. [JVo«
usedj HouxU.
FUT'TOCK,7i. [Qu. foot-hook. It is more
probably corrupted from fool-lock.]
In a shiv, the futtocks are the middle tim-
bers, between the floor and the upper tim-
bers, or the timbers raised over the keel
which form the breadth of the ship.
FU'TURE,n. [L.futunis; Fr. futur.] That
is to be or come hereafter; that will exist
at any time after the present, indefinitely.
The next moment ia future to the present.
2. The/«<ure tense, in grammar, is the modi-
fication of a verb which expresses a future
act or event.
FU'TURE, 71. Time to come ; a time subse-
quent to the present ; as, the future shall be
as the present ; in future ; for the future.
In such phrases, time or season is implied.
FU'TURELY, adv. In time to come. [Mt
rised.] Raleigh.
FUTURI"TION, 71. The state of being to
come or exist hereafter. South. Stiles.
FUTU'RITY, Ji. Future time ; time to
come.
2. Event to come.
AW futurities arc naked before the all-seeing
eye. South.
3. The state of being yet to come, or to come
hereafter.
FUZZ, r. I. To fly off' in minute particles.
FUZZ, n. Fine, light particles ; loose, vola-
tile matter.
FUZZ'BALL, 71. A kind of fungus or mush-
room, which when pressed bursts and
scatters a fine dust.
2. A puff".
FUZ'ZLE, V. t. To intoxicate. Burton.
FY, exclam. A word which expresses blame,
dislike, disapprobation, abhorrence or con-
tempt.
Fy, my \ori,fy! a soldier, and afraid ? Shak.
G.
Car, the seventh letter and the fifth articu-
lation of the English Alphabet, is derived
to us, through the Latin and Greek, fronj
the Assyrian languages ; it being found
in the Chaldee, Syriac, Ilebrew, Samari-
tan, Phenician, Ethiopic and Arabic. In
the latter language, it is called giim or
jim ; but in the others, gimel, gonial or
gamal, that is, camel, from its shape,
which resembles the neck of that animal,
at least in the Chaldee and Hebrew. It
is the third letter in the Chaldee, Syriac,
Hebrew, Samaritan and Greek ; the fifth
in the Arabic, and the twentieth in the
Ethiopic. The Greek r gamma is the
Chaldaic J inverted. The early Latins
used C for the Greek gamma, and hence
C came to hold the third ])lace in the or-
der of the Alphabet; the place which gi-
mel holds in the oriental languages. The!
two loiters are primarily palatals, and so
nearly allied in sound that they are easily
convertible ; and they have been recipro-
cally used the one for the other. But in
the Assyrian languages, gimel had two
soimds ; one hard or close, as we pro-
noimce the letter in gave, good ; the. other
soft, or rather compound, as the English j"
or as ch in chase. In the Arabic, this let-
ter has the sound of the English j' or
dzh, and this sound it has in many Eng-
lish words, as in genius, gem, ginger. It
retains its hard sound in all cases, before
a, 0 and h ; but before e, i and y, its sound
is Iiard or soft, as custom has dictated,
and its diff"erent sounds are not reducible
to rules. It is silent in some words be-
fore 71, as in benign, condign, malign, cam-
paign ; but it resumes its sound in benig-
nity and malignity. G is mute before 71
in gnash ; it is silent also in many words
when united with h. as in bright, might,
night, nigh, high. The Saxon g has in
many words been softened or liquefied
into y or ow ; as Sax. dwg, gear, Eng. day,
year ; Sax. hugan, Eng. to how.
The Celtic nations had a pecuhar manner
of beginning the sound of » or 10 with the
articulation g, or rather prefixing this ar-
ticulation to that vowel. Thus guard for
ward, gioain for wain, guerre for war,
gicell for well. AVhether this g has been
added by the Celtic races, or whether the
Teutonic nations have lost it, is a ques-
tion 1 have not exannned with particular
attention.
i a numeral, G was anciently used to de-
note 400, and with a dash over it G, 40,000.
As an abbreiiation, it stands for Gaius,
Gellius, &c. In music, it is the mark of
GAB
G A F
G A H
tlie treble clifl; and from its being placed
at the liead or marking the first sound in
Guido's scale, the whole scale took the
name, Gainmut, from the Greek name of
the letter.
GA, in Gothic, is a prefix, answering to ge
in Saxon and other Teutonic languages.
It sometimes has the force of the Latin
cum or. con, as in gawilhan, to conjoin.
But in most words it appears to have no
use, and in modern EugUsh it is entirely
lost. Y-cleped, m which ge is changed
into y, is the last word in which the Eng-
lish retained this prefix.
GAB, n. [Scot, gab, Dan. gab, the mouth,
aud a. gap or gaping; Sw. gap; Russ.
guba, a lip, a bay or gulf, the mouth of a
river ; Ir. cab, the mouth ; connected
probably with gabble, giberish, Sax. gab-
ban, to mock, perhaps to make mouths.
See Gabble and Gape.]
The mouth ; as in the phrase, the gift of the
gab, that is, loquaciousness. But the
word is so vulgar as larely to be used.
GAB'ARDINE, n, [Sp. gabardina ; gaban,
a great coat with a hood and close sleeves;
gabacha, a loose garment ; Port, gabam,
a frock ; It. gavardina ; Fr. gaban.]
A coarse frock or loose upper garment ; s
mean dress. Shak
GAB'BLE, !i. i. [D. gabberen, to prate ; Sax
gabban, to jeer or deride ; Fr. gaber, id. ;
Eng. to gibe ; Sw. gabberi, derision ; It
gabbare, to deceive ; gabbo, a jeering
These may all be from one root. See
Class Gb. No. 7.]
1. To prate ; to talk fast, or to talk without
meaning.
Such a rout, and such a rabble,
Run to hear Jack Pudding gabble. Swift.
9. To utter inarticulate sounds with rapid-
ity ; as gabbling fowls. Dryden.
GAB'BLE, n. Loud or rapid talk without
meaning. Milton.
2. Inarticulate sounds rapidly uttered, as of
fowls. Shak.
GAB'BLER, n. A prater ; a noisy talker :
one that utters inarticulate sounds.
GABBLING, ppr. Prating ; chattering ;
uttering unmeaning or inarticulate sounds.
GAB'BRO, n. In mineralogy, the name giv-
en by the Italians to the aggregate of di
ullage and saussurite. It is the euphotide
of the French, and the rerde di Corsica
duro of artists. Cleaveland.
GA'BEL, »i. [Fr. gabelle ; It. gabella; Sp.
gabela ; Sax. gafel or gafoL]
A tax, impost or duty ; usually an excise.
GA'BEL ER, n. A collector of the gabel or
of taxes. Wright.
GA'BION, n. [Fr. id. ; It. gabUone, a large
cage ; gabbia, a cage ; Sp. gavion, gabion.
a basket. In Ir. gabham signifies to take
or hold ; W. gavaelu, id.]
In fortificaiion, a large basket of wicker-
work, of a cylindrical form; filled with
earth, and serving to shelter men from an
enemy's fire. Encyc.
GA'BLE, n. [W. gavael, a hold or grasp,
the gable of a house ; gavaelu, to grasp
hold, arrest, Ir. gabham. Qu. G. gabel,
Ir. gabhlan, a fork.]
The triangular end of a house or oth(
building, from the cornice or eaves to tl
top. In America, it is usually called the
gable-end.
GA'BRIELITES,n. In ecclesiastical history,
a sect of anabaptists in Pomerania, so cal-
led from one Gabriel Scherling.
GA'BRONITE, n. A mineral, supposed to be
a variety o(fettstein. It occurs in masses,
whose structure is more or less foliated,
or sometimes compact. Its colors are
gray, bluish or greenish gray, and some-
times red. Cleaveland.
GAD, n. [Sax. gad, a goad and a wedge ; Ir.
gadh, a dart.]
1. A wedge or ingot of steel. Moron.
2. A style or graver. Shak.
3. A punch of iron with a wooden handle,
used by miners. Encyc.
GAD, I', i. [Ir. gad, a stealing, properly a
roving, as rob is connected with rove ;
gadaim, to steal. It coincides with the
Russ. chod, a going or passing ; choju, to
go, to pass, to march. See Class Gd. No.
17. Eth. and No. 38.]
1. To walk about; to rove or ramble idly
or without any fixed purpose.
Give the water no passage, neither a wicked
woman liberty to gad abroad. Ecclus.
2. To ramble in growth ; as the gadding \\nc.
Milton.
GAD'DER, n. A rambler; one that roves
about idlv.
GAD'BING, ppr. Rambling ; roving ; walk-
ing about.
GAD'FLY, n. [Sax. gad, a goad, and Jly.]
An insect of the genus Oestrus, whicli
stings cattle, and deposits its eggs in their
skin ; called also the breeze.
GADO'LINITE, n. A mineral, so called
from Professor Gadolin, usually in amor-
])hous masses of a blackish color, and hav-
ing the appearance of vitreous lava. It
contains a new earth called yttria.
Did. nfJVat. Hist.
GAD'VVALL, n. A fowl of the genus Anas,
iihabiting the north of Europe.
Pennant.
GA'ELIe, I [from Gael, Gaid, Gallia.]
GA'LI€, I "■ An epithet denoting what
belongs to the Gaels, tribes of Celtic ori-
gin inhabiting the highlands of Scotland
as the Gaelic language.
GA'ELIC, n. The language of the highlan-
ders of Scotland.
GAFF, n. [Ir. gaf, a hook ; Sp. and Port
gafa ; Sheniitic '\S3, nSO to bend.]
1. A harpoon.
2. A sort of boom or pole, used in small
ships, to extend the upper edge of the
niizen, and of those sails whose foremost
edge is joined to the mast by hoops or
lacings, and which are extended by a
boom below, as the main-sail of a sloop,
[Qu. Sax. geafe, a pole.] Mar. Did.
GAF'FER, n. [Qu. Chal. and Ileb. 13: ge-
bar, a man, vir ; or Sax. gefere, a compan-
ion, a peer ; or Sw. gubbe, an old man.]
A M'ord of respect, which seems to have de-
generated into a term of familiarity or
contempt. [lAttle used.] Gay.
GAF'FLE, n. [Sax. geajlas, chops, spurs
on cocks.]
1. An artificial spur put on cocks when they
are set to fight.
2. A steel lever to bend cross-bows.
Jlinsworth
GAG, I', t. [W. eegiaw, to choke, to strangle,
from c^g, a choking. Ceg signifies the
mouth, an opening.]
. To stop the mouth by thrusting something
into the throat, so as to hinder speaking.
Johnson.
2. To keck; to heave with nausea. [In
Welsh, g-ag is an opening or cleft ; gagenu,
to open, chap or gape.]
GAG, n. Something thrust into the mouth
and throat to hinder speaking.
GA(iE, n. [Fr. gage, a pledge, whence ga-
ger, to pledge ; engager, to engage ; G.
xvagen, to wage, to hazard or risk ; wage, a
balance ; D. ivaagen, to venture, Sw. vaga,
Eng. to wage. It seems to be allied to
ivag, iveigh. The primary sense is to
throw, to lay, or deposit. If the elements
are Bg, ff'g, the original French orthog-
raphy was guage.]
1. A pledge or pawn ; something laid down
or given as a security for the performance
of some act to be done by the person de-
positing the thing, and which is to be for-
feited by non-performance. It is used of
a movable thing; not of land or other im-
movable.
There I throw my gage. Shak.
2. A challenge to combat; that is, a glove,
a caj), a gauntlet, or the like, cast on the
ground by the challenger, and taken upby
the accepter of the challenge. Encyc.
3. A measure, or rule of measuring ; a stand-
ard. [See Gauge.] Young.
4. The number of feet which a ship sinks in
the water.
5. Among letter-founders, a piece of hard
wood variously notched, used to adjust
the dimensions, slopes, &c. of the various
sorts of letters. Encyc.
6. An instrument in joinery made to strike
a line parallel to the straight side of a
board. Encyc.
A sliding-gage, a tool used by mathematical
instrument makers for measuring and set-
ting off distances. Encyc.
Sea-gage, an instrument for finding the
depth of the sea. Encyc.
Tide-gage, an instrument for determining tne
liighth of the tides. Encyc.
Wiiid-gage, an instrument for measuring the
force of the wind on any given surface.
Encyc.
IVeather-gage, the windward side of a ship.
GA(iE, v. t. To pledge ; to pawn ; to give
or deposit as a pledge or security for some
other act ; to wage or wager. Obs.
Shak.
2. To bind by pledge, caution or security ;
to engage. Shak.
3. To measure ; to take or ascertain the con-
tents of a vessel, cask or ship ; written also
gauge.
GA'GED, pp. Pledged; measured.
GA'GER, n. One who gages or meascn-es
the contents.
GAG'GER, )!. One that gags.
GAG'GLE, V. i. [D. gaggelen ; G. gacktrn ;
coinciding with cackle.] To make a noise
like a goose. Bacon.
GAG'GLING, n. The noise of geese.
GA'(5ING, ppr. Pledging ; measuring the
contents.
G'AHNITE, n. [from Gahn, the discoverer.]
A mineral, called also automalite and oc-
G A I
G A I
G A I.
t.'iliedral corundum. It is always crystal-
ized in regular octahedrons, or in tetrahe-
drons with truncated angles.
Ckaveland. lire.
GA'ILY, adv. [from gay, and better written
gayly.]
1. Splendidly; with finery or showiness,
2. Joyfully ; merrily.
GAIN, t). <. [Fr. gagner ; Arw. gounit ; Sw.
gagna ,- Sax. gynan ; Sp. ganar ; Port.
garthar; Heb. Ch. Syr. HJp, Ar. Uji
to gain, to possess. Class Gn. No. 49, 50.
.'jl. The radical sense is to tal<e, or rather
to extend to, to reach.]
1. To obtain by industry or the employment
of capital; to get as profit or advantage;
to acquire. Any industrious person mayj
gain a good living in America ; but it is
less difficult to gain property, than it is
to use it with prudence. Money at inter-
est may gain five, six, or seven per cent.
What is a man profited, if he shall gam thej
whole world, and lose his own soul ? Matt, xvi
2. To win ; to obtain by superiority or suc-
cess ; as, to gain a battle or a victory ; tc
gain a prize ; to gain a cause in law.
3. To obtain ; to ac(iuire ; to procure ; tc
receive ; as, to gain favor ; to gain reputa-
tion.
For fame witli toil wc gain, but lose with|
ease. Pope.
4. To obtain an increase of any thing ; as, to
gain time.
5. To obtain or receive any thing, good orl
bad ; as, to gain barm and loss. Acts
xxvii. I
C. To draw into any interest or party ; to
win to one's side ; to conciliate.
To gratify the queen, and gain the court.
Dry den.
If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy
brother. Matt, xviii.
7. To obtain as a suitor. Millon.
8. To reach ; to attain to ; to arrive at ; as,
to gain the top of a mountain ; to gain a
good harbor.
To gain into, to draw or persuade to join in
He gained Lepidus into his measures.
Middhton
To gain over, to draw to another party or
interest ; to win over.
To gain ground, to advance in any underta-
king; to prevail; to acquire strength or
extent ; to increase.
GAIN, V. i. To have advantage or profit
to grow rich ; to advance in interest o;
happiness.
Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors
by extortion. Ezek. xxii.
2. To encroach ; to advance on ; 1o come
forward by degrees ; with on ; as, thi
ocean or river gains on the land.
3. To advance nearer; to gain ground on;
with on ; as, a fleet horse gains on his
competitor.
4. To get ground ; to prevail against or liave
the advantage.
The English have not only gained upor
the Venetians in the Levant, but have Ihei
cloth in Venice itself Addison
5. To obtain influence with.
My good behavior had so far gained on thi
emperor, that I began to conceive hopes ol
liberty. Swifi
To gain the wind, in sea language, is to
arrive on the windward side of another
ship.
GAIN, n. [Fr. gain.] Profit; interest
something obtained as an advantage.
But what things were gain to me, those i
counted loss for Christ. Phil. iii.
2. Unlawful advantage. 2 Cor. xii.
3. Overi)lusin computation; any thing op-
posed to loss.
GAIN, n. [W. gdn, a mortise ; ganu, U
contain.]
In architecture, a beveling shoulder ; a lap-
ping of timbers, or the cut that is made for
receiving a timber. Encyc.
GAIN, a. Handy ; dextrous. Obs.
GA'INABLE, a. That may be obtained or
ched. . Sherwood.
GA'INAGE, n. In oldlaws, the same as wain-
age, that is, guninage ; the horses, oxen
and furniture of the wain, or the instru-
ments for carrying on tillage, which, whenl
a villain was amerced, were left free, that
cultivation might not be internipted. The
word signifies also the land itself, or the
profit made by cultivation. Encyc.
GA'INED, ^p. Obtained as profit or advan
tage ; won ; drawn over to a party ;
reached.
GA'INER, n. One that gains or obtains
profit, interest or .idvantage.
GA'INFUL, a. Producing profit or advan
tage ; profitable ; advantageous ; advan
cing interest or happiness.
2. Lucrative ; productive of money ; adding
to the wealth or estate.
GA'INFULLY, adv. With increase of
wealth ; profitably ; advantageously.
GA'INFULNESS, n. Profit ; advantage.
GA'INGiVING, n. [from the root of again,
against, and give. See Gainsay.]
A misgiving ; a giving against or awav.
[Mt used.] Sha'k.
GA'INLESS, a. Not producing gain ; un-
profitable ; not bringing advantage.
Hammond.
GA'INLESSNESS, n. Unprofitableness
want of advantage. Decay of Piety.
GA'INLY, adv. Handily; readily; dex
trously. Obs.
GAINSA'Y, V. t. [Sax. gean, or ongean, and
say ; Eng. against ; Sw. igen ; Dan. gien,
igien. See Again, Jigainst.]
To contradict ; to oppose in words ; to deny
or declare not to be true what another
says; to controvert ; to dispute; applied
to persons, or to jjropositions, declarations
or facts.
I will give you a mouth and wisdom, nhich
all your adversaries shall not be able to gain-
say nor resist. Luke xxi.
GAINSA'YER, n. One who contradicts or
denies what is alledged ; an opposer.
Tit. i.
GAINSA'YING, ppr. Contradicting ; deny-
g ; opposing.
GAINST. [See Against.]
GA'INSTAND, v.t. [Sax. g-e.in, against, and
stand.] To withstand ; to oppose ; to
resist. Obs. Sidney.
GA'INSTRIVE, V. I. [Sax.g'ean a.nA stnve.]
To make resistance. Obs. Spenser.
GA'INSTRIVE, v. t. To withstand. Obs.
GA'IRISH, a. [Qu. from the root of gear,
Sax. gearwian, to prepare or dress ; or
Scot, g-air, a strijie, whence gaired, gairie,
striped, streaked. In Gr. yoipoj is proud,
boasting.]
. Gaudy; showy; fine; affectedly fine;
tawdry.
Monstrous hats and gairish colors.
Aschani.
. Extravagantly gay ; flighty.
Fame and glory transport a man out of him-
self; it makes the mind loose and gairish.
South.
GA'IRISHNESS, n. Gaudiness; finery;
affected or ostentatious show.
2. Flighty or extravagantjoy, or ostentation.
Taylor.
GAIT, n. [This word is probably connected
with go or gad.]
1. A going ; a walk ; a march ; a way.
Shak. Spenser.
2. Manner of walking or stepping. Every
man has his peculiar gait.
GA'ITER, n. A covering of cloth for the
leg.
GA'LA, n. [Sp. gala, a court dress ; It.
gala, finery ; Fr. gala, show, pomp.]
A gala day is a day of pomp, show or festivi-
ty, when persons ajipear in their best
apparel.
GALA€'TITE, n. [Gr.ya?La.,yo;uixro;,milk.]
A fossil substance resembling the moroch-
thus or French chalk in many respects,
but dififerent in color. Immersed or tritu-
rated in water, it gives it the color of milk.
Encyc. Morin. Lunier.
GALA'gE, n. [Sp. gaiocha. See Galoche.]
A wooden slioe. Obs. Spenser.
GALAN'GA, n. A plant, a species of the
Mai anta or Indian Arrow-Root, so called
because the root is used to extract tlie
viius communicated by poisoned arrows.
This plant has thick, knotty, creeping
roots, crowned with long, broad, arundina-
ceous leaves, with stalks half a yard high,
terminated by bunches of raonopetalousj
ringent flowers. Encyc.
GALAN'GAL, n. Zedoary, a species of
Kiemi)feria. It has tuberous, thick, ob-
long, fleshy roots, crowned with oval
close-sitting leaves, by pairs, without foot-
stalks. Encyc.
GALA'TIANS, n. Inhabitants of Galaua,
in the Lesser Asia, said to be descendants
of the Gauls. [See Paul's epistle to
them.]
GAL'AXY, n. [Gr. yoXolia,-, from yoXa, milk ;
Ir.geal, white ; W. gal, clear, fair, whence
galaeth, the milky way ; Gr. xaxoj, fair.]
1. The milky way ; that long, white, lumi-
nous track w hich seems to encompass th«
heavens like a girdle. This luminous ap-
pearance is found by the telescope to be
occasioned by a multitude of stars, so small
as not to be distinguished by the naked
eye. Encyc.
2. An assemblage of splendid persons or
things. Bp. Hall.
GAL'BAN, > , [Hcb. maSn, and in
GAL'BANUM, ^ "• Ch. and Syr. varied in
orthography, from aSn to milk.]
The concrete gummy resinous juice of an
umbelhferous plant, called Ferula Africana,
&c., and by Linne, Bubon gnlbanum, which
grows in Syria, the East Indies and Ethio-
pia. Tliis gum comes in pale-colored,
semitransparent, soft, tenacious masses, of
dififerent shades, from white to brown. It
is rather resinous than gummy, and has
GAL
a strong unpleasant smell, \vitli a bitterish
warm taste. It is unctuous to the touch,
and softens between the fingers. When
distilled with water or spirit, it yields an
essential oil, and by distillation in a retort
without mixture, it yields an empyreumatic
oil of a fine blue color, but this is changed
in the air to a purple. Parr.
GALE, n. [luDan.g-aZis furious, and kuler
is to blow strong, kuling, a gentle gale,
from the root of coal and cold. In Ir. gal
is a puft', a blast, and steam. The seuse
is obvious.]
A current of air ; a strong wind. The sense
of this word is very indefinite. The poets
use it in the sense of a moderate breeze or
current of air, as a gentle gale. A stronger
wind is called afresh gale.
!n the language of seamen, the word gale,
unaccompanied by an epithet, signifies a
vehement wind, a storm or tempest. They
say, the ship carried away her top-mast in
a gale, or gale of wind ; the ship rode
out the gale. But the word is often quali-
fied, as a hard or strong gale, a violent gale
A current pf wind somewhat less violent
is denominated a stiff gale. A less vehe
ment wind is called a fresh gale, which is
a wind not too strong for a ship to carry
single reefed top-sails, when close hauled
When the wind is not so violent but that
• a ship will carry her top-sails a-trip or
fiiU spread, it is called a loom-gale.
Mar. Diet. Encyc.
GALE, V. i. In seamen^s language, to sail, or
sail fast.
GA'LEA, »i. [L. galea, a helmet.] A
of sea hedge-hogs.
GAL'EAS, »!. A Venetian ship, large, but
low built, and moved both by oars and
sails.
GA'LEATED, a. [L. galtatus, from gah
a helmet.]
1. Covered as with a helmet. Woodward.
2. In botany, having a flower like a helmet,
as the monk's-hood.
GALEE'TO, n. A fish of the genus Blen-
nius, of a greenish color, sometimes va-
riegated with blue transverse lines, and
like the eel, living many hours after being
taken from the water.
GALE'N.\, n. [Gr. yaXrivri, tranquillity, sc
named from its supposed effects in mitiga-
ting the violence of disease.] Originally
the name of the theriaca. Parr
2. Sulphuret of lead ; its common color is
that shining bluish gray, usually called
lead gray ; sometimes it is nearly steel
gray. Its streak has a metaUic luster, but
its fine powder is nearly black. Its struc
ture is commonly foliated, sometimes
granular or compact, and sometin
ted or fibrous. It occurs in regular crys-
tals, or more frequently massive.
Cleaveland.
GALEN'IC, \ Pertaining to or con
GALEN'I€AL, \ "" taining galena.
Encyc
'-% [from GoZen, the physician.] Relating to
Galen or his principles and method of
treating diseases. The galenic remedies
consist of preparations of herbs and roots,
by infusion, decoction, &c. The chimi-
cal remedies consist of preparations by
means of calcination, digestion, fertnenta-
tioM, &C.
GAL
GA'LENISM, )!. The doctrines of Galen.
GA'LENIST, n. A follower of Galen in the
preparation of medicine and modes of
treating diseases ; opposed to the chim-
ists.
GA'LERITE, n. [L. gaierus, a hat or cap.]
A genus of fossil shells.
GALILE'AN, n. A native or inhabitant of
Galilee, in .Tudea. Also, one of a sect
among the Jews, who opposed the pay
ment of tribute to the Romans.
GALIMA'TIA, n. [Fr. galimatias.] Non
use. Mdison.
GAL'IOT, n. [Yv. galiote ; Sp. galeota ; It.
galeotta ; L. galea.]
A small galley, or sort of brigantine, built
for chase. It is moved both by sails and
oars, having one mast and sixteen or
twenty seats for rowers. Diet.
2. Galiot or galliott, a Dutch vessel, carry
ing'a main-mast and a mizen-mast, and a
large gaff main-sail. Mar. Diet.
GAL'IPOT, n. [Sp.l A white resin or res-
inous juice which flows by incision from
the pine tree, especially the maritime pine.
Sp. Diet. Fourcroy. Did. Mit. Hist
GaHpot encrusts the wounds of fir trees
during winter. It consists of resin and oil.
Coxe.
GALL, n. [Sax. gealla ; G. galle ; D. gal ;
Dan. galde ; Sw. galle ; Gr. xo>.jj ; proba-
blv from its color. Sax. gealew, yellow.
See Yellow and Gold.]
In the animal economy, the bile, a bitter,
yellowish green fluid, secreted in the glan-
iluLar substance of the liver. It is gluti-
nous or imperfectly fluid, like oil.
Encyc. A'icholson.
2. Any thing extremely bitter. Dryden.
3. Rancor ; malignity. Spenser.
Anger ; bitterness of mind. Prior.
GALLBLADDER, »i. A small membranous
sack, shaped like a pear, which receives
the bile from the Hver by the cystic duct.
GALLSICKNESS, n. A remitting bilious
fever in the Netherlands. Parr.
GALLSTONE, n. A concretion formed in
the gallbladder.
GALL, n. [L. galla ; Sax. gealla ; Sp. agal-
la ; It. galla.]
A hard round excrescence on the oak tree
in certain warm climates, said to be the
nest of an insect called cynips. It is form-
ed from the tear issuing from a puncture
made by the insect, and gradually increas-
ed by accessions of fresh matter, till it
forms a covering to the eggs and succeed
ing insects. Galls are used in making ink ;
the best are from Aleppo. Pi
GALL, V. t. [Fr. galer, to scratch or rub ;
gale, scab.]
To fret and wear away by friction ; to
excoriate ; to hurt or break the skin by
nibbing ; as, a saddle galls the back of a
horse, or a collar his breast.
Tyrant, I well deserve thy galling chain.
Pope
2. To impair; to wear away ; as, a stream
galls the ground. Ray.
3. To tease; to fret; to vex; to chagrin;
as, to be galled by sarcasm.
4. To wound ; to break the surface of any
thing by rubbing; as, to g-aH a mast or a
cable.
GAL
5. To injure ; to harass; to annoy. The
troops were galled by the shot of the ene-
my.
In our wars against the French of old, wc us( i'
to gall them with our long bows, at a greatt r
distance than they could shoot their arrows.
Addisun
GALL, V. i. To fret ; to be teased. Shak.
GALL, It. A wound in the skin by rubbinjr.
GAL'LANT, a. [Fr. galant; Sp. galante :
It. id. This word is from the root of tin
W. gallu, to be able, to have power; Eng.
could ; L. gallus, a cock. See Could, Call.
and Gala. The primary sense is to stretch,
strain or reach forward.]
. Gay ; well drcs.sed ; showy ; splendid :
magnificent.
Neither shall gallant ships pass thereby. Is.
xxxiii.
The gay, the wise, the gallant, and the grave.
Waller.
[This sense is obsolete.]
2. Brave; high-spirited; courageous; hero-
ic ; magnanimous ; as a gallant youth ; a
gallant officer.
3. Fine ; noble. Shnk.
4. Courtly ; civil ; pohte and attentive to la-
dies ; courteous. Clarendon.
GALLANT', n. A gay, sprightly man ; a
courtly or fashionable man. Shak.
2. A man who is polite and attentive to la-
dies; one who attends upon ladies at par-
tics, or to places of amusement.
3. A wooer; a lover; a suitor.
4. In an ill sense, one who caresses a wo-
man for lewd purposes.
GALLANT', v. t. To attend or wait on, as
a lady.
2. To handle with grace or in a modish
manner ; as, to gallant a fan. Connoisseur.
GAL'LANTLY, adv. Gaily ; splendidly.
2. Bravely ; nobly ; heroically ; generously :
as, to fight gallantly ; to defend a place ga/-
lantly.
GAL'LANTNESS, n. Elegance or com-
pleteness of an acquired qualification.
Homll.
GAL'LANTRY, n. [Sp. galanteria ; Fr.
galanterie.]
1. Splendor of appearance ; show; magnifi-
cence ; ostentatious finery. [Obsolete or
obsolescent] Wcdler.
2. Bravery ; coiu-ageousness ; heroism ; in-
trepidity. The trooi)s entered the fort
with great gallantly.
3. Nobleness; generosity. Glanville.
4. Civility or polite attentions to ladies.
5. Vicious love or pretensions to love ; civili-
ties paid to females for the purpose of win-
ning favors; hence, lewdness ; debauche-
'■y-
GAL'LATE, n. [from gaU.] A neutral salt
formed by the gallic acid combined with a
base. Lavoisier.
GAL'LEASS. [See Galeas.]
IgALL'ED, pp. [See GoH, the verb.] Hav-
ing the skin or surface worn or torn
by wearing or rubbing ; fretted ; teased ;
injured ; vexed.
GAL'LEON, [Sp. galeon ; Port, galeam ; It.
gateone. See Galley.]
A large ship formerly used by the Spaniards,
in their commerce with South America,
1 usually furnished with four decks.
! Mar. Diet.
GAL
GAL'LERY, n. [Fr. galerie ; Sp. Port, ga-
leria ; It. galleria ; Dan. gallerie ; G. id. ,
D. galdery ; Sw. galkr-vtrck, and gall-rad.
Lunier supiroses tljis word to be from the
root of G. ivallen, to walk.]
1. In architecture, a covered part of a build-
ing, commonly iu the wings, used as an
ambulatory or place for walking. Enciji
2. An ornamental walk or apartment in
gardens, formed by trees. Encyc.
3. In churches, a floor elevated on colunms
and furnished with pews or seats ; usually
ranged on three sides of the edifice. A
similar structure in a play-house.
4. In fortification, a covered walk across the
ditch of a town, made of beams covered
with planks and loaded with earth.
Encyc.
5. In a mine, a narrow passage or branch
of the mine carried under ground to u
work designed to be blown up. Encyc.
C. In a ship, a frame like a balcony project-
ing from the stern or quarter of a ship of
war or of a large merchantman. That
part at the stern, is called the stem-gallery ;
that at the quarters, the quarter-gallery.
GAL'LETYLE, n. Gallipot. Bacon.
GAL'LEY, n. plu. galleys. [Sp. galera
It. galera or galea ; Fr. gaUre ; Port, gale
L. galea. The Latin word signifies a hel
met, the top of a mast, and a galley ; ant
the name of this vessel seems to have been
derived from the head-piece, or kind of
basket-work, at mast-head.]
1. A low flat-built vessel, with one deck
and navigated with sails and oars; used
in the Mediterranean. The largest sort of
galleys, employed by the Venetians, are
163 feet in length, or 133 feet keel. They
have three masts and thirty two banks of
oars ; each bank containing two oars, and
each oar managed by six or seven slaves.
In the fore-part they carry three small bat-
teries of cannon. Encyc. Mar. Diet.
2. A place of toil and misery. South.
3. An open boat used on the Thames l)y
custom-house officers, press-gangs, anil
for pleasure. Mar. Diet.
4. The cook room or kitchen of a ship of
war ; answering to the caboose of a mer-
chantman. Mar. Diet.
5. An oblong reverberatory furnace, with a
row of retorts whose necks protrude
through lateral openings. J\/'icholson.
GAL'LEYFOIST, «. A barge of state.
Hakewell.
GAL'LEY-SLAVE, n. A person condemn
ed for a criine to work at the oar or
board of a galley.
GALL'FLV, n. The insect that punctures
plants and occasions galls; the cynips.
Encyc
GAL'LIARD, a. [Fr. gaiUard, from gai,
gay.] Gay ; brisk ; active. Obs.
Chaucer.
GAL'LIARD, n. A brisk, gay man ; also, a
lively dance. Obs. Bacon.
GAL'LIARDISE, n. Merriment ; excessive
gavetv. Obs. Brown.
GAL'LIARDNESS, n. Gayety. Obs.
Gaylon.
GAL'LI€, a. [from Gallia, Gaul, now
France.] Pertaining to Gaul or France.
GAL'LI€, a. [from gall.] Rclonging to
galls or oak apjdes ; derived from galls;
as the gallic acid.
Vol. I.
GAL
GAL'LICAN, a. [L. Gallicus, from Gallia,
Gaul.] Pertaining to Gaul or France ; as
the Gnllican church or clergy.
GAL'LICISM, n. [Fr.gallicigme, from Gal-
lia, Gaul.] A mode of speech peculiar tc
the French nation ; an idiomatic manner
of using words in the French language.
GALLIGASKINS, n. [Qu. Caligm Vasco
7ium, (iascon-hose.] Large open hosc\used
only in ludicrous language. Philips.
GAL'LIMAIJFRY, »i. [Fr. galimafrh.] A
hash ; a medley ; a hodge-jiodge. [Little
tised.] .Spenser.
2. Any inconsistent or ridiculous medley.
Dryden
3. A woman. [JVot in tise.] Shak
GALLINA'CEOUS, a. [L.gallinac€us,fiom
gallina, a hen, gallus, a cock, whose name
is from crowing, W. galw, Eng. to call.]
1. Designating that order of fowls callec
gaUinee, including the domestic fowls oi
those of the pheasant kind.
Gallitiacetis Lapis, a glossy substance pro-
duced by volcanic fires ; the lapis oh-
sidianus of the ancients. A kind of il
brought from Peru is of a beautiful black,
or crow-color, like the gallinaco. Encyc.
GALL'ING, ppr. [See GaU, the verb.]
'. Fretting the skin ; excoriating.
. a. Adapted to fret or chagrin ; vexing.
GAL'LINULE, n. [L. gallimda, dim. of]
gallina, a hen.]
A tribe of fowls of the grallic order, included
under the genus Fulica, with the coot.
GALLIOT, > re r^ r .^
GALLEOT, I ^^"^ ^"''"'-l
GAL'LIPOT, n. [D. gleye, potter's clay,
and pot.]
A small pot or vessel painted and glazed,
used by druggists and apothecaries for
containing medicines.
GALLIT'ZINITE, n. Rutile, an ore of ti
taniuni. Ure.
GAL'LIVAT, n. A small vessel used on the
Malabar coast. Todd.
GALL'LESS, a. [from gaU.] Free from
gall or bitterness.
GAL'LON, n. [Sp. galo7i ; Law l..galona.
In French, galon is a grocer's box. See
GUI.]
A measure of capacity for dry or liquid
things, but usually for liquids, containing
four quarts. Hut the gallon is not in all
cases of uniform contents or dimensions.
The gallon of wine contains 231 cubic
inches, or eight pounds avordupois of
pure water. The gallon of beer and ale
contains 281 cubic inches, or ten pounds
three ounces and a quarter avordupois of
water ; and the gallon of corn, meal, &c.,
272i cubic inches, or nine pounds thir-
teen ounces of pure water. Encyc.
GALLOON", 71. [Fr. galon; Sp. galon ; It.
f«//o;ie ; Port, galam.]
ind of close lace made of gold or silver,
or of silk only. Taller.
GAL'LOP, V. i. [Fr. galoper ; Sp.galopear;
Port. id. ; It. galoppare ; Arm. galoupat or
galompal ; G. gatoppire.n. If this word is
fiom the elements Gl, I know not the
origin or meaning of the last constituent
part of the word. I suppose it to be form-
ed with the prefix ga on leap, G. lav/en,
D. loopen, geloopen. See Leap.]
90
GAL
1. To move or run with leaps, as a horse to
run or move with speed.
But gallop lively down the western hill.
Donne.
2. To ride with a galloiiing pace. We gal-
loped townrds the enemy.
■3. To move very fast ; to run over.
Sucli superficial ideas he may collect in gal-
loping over it. Locke.
G.AL'LOP, 71. The movement or pace of a
quadruped, particularly of a horse, by
springs, reaches or leaps. The animal
lifts his fore feet nearly at the same time,
and as these descend and are just ready
to touch the ground, the hind feet are lift-
ed at once. The gallop is the swiftest
pace of a horse, but it is also a moderate
pace, at the pleasure of a rider.
GALLOPER, 71. A horse that gallops; al-
so, a rnan that gallops or makes haste.
2. In artillery, a carriage which bears a gun
of a pound and a half ball. It has shafts
so as to be drawn without a limbon, and
it may serve for light three and six pound-
ers.
GAL'LOPIN, n. [Fr.] A servant for the
kitchen. Obs.
GAL'LOW, V. I. [Sax. aga:lwan.] To fright
or terrify. Oi*. Shak.
GAL'LOVVAY, ti. A horse or species of
horses of a small size, bred in Galloway
in Scotland. Hawkesworth.
GAL'LOWGLASS, ti. An ancient Irish
foot soldier. Spenser.
GAL'LOWS, 71. singular. [Sax. galg, geal-
ga; Goth, galga; G. galgen ; D.galg;
Sw. galge ; Dan. id. Gallows is in the
singular number and should be preceded
by a, a gallows. The plural is gallowses.]
1. An instrument of ]>unishmcnt whereon
criminals are executed by hanging. It
consists of two posts and a cross beam on
the top, to which the criminal is suspend-
ed by a rope fastened round his neck.
2. A wretch that deserves the gallows. [JVot
"««''•] Shak.
GAL'LOWSFREE, a. Free from danger
of the gallows. Druden.
GAL'LOWTREE, ti. The tree of e.xecu-
•'"»■ Spenser.
GALL'Y, a. Like gall ; bitter as gall.
Cra7i7ner.
GAL'LY, 71. [Port, gal^, a galley, and a
printer's frame ; Fr. gal6e.]
A i)rinter's frame or oblong square board
with a ledge on three sides, into which
tyi)es are emptied from the composing
stick. It has a groove to admit a false
bottom, called a gally-slice. Encyc.
GAL'LY-WORM, ti. An insect of the cen-
tiped kind, of several species.
GALO'CHE, 71. [Fr. from Sp. galocha, a
clog or wooden shoe.]
\ patten, clog or wooden shoe, or a shoe to
be worn over another shoe to keep the
foot dry. It is written also galoshe.
GALSOME, a. gaul'som. [from gall.] An-
gry : malignant. Obs. Morton.
GALV.\N'IC a. Pertaining to galvanism ;
containing or exhibiting it.
GALVANISM, ti. [from Galvani of Bo-
logna, the discoverer.]
Electrical phenomena in which the electri-
city is developed without the aid of fi-ic-
G A INI
tion, and in which a chimical action takes
place between certain bodies.
Edin. Encyc.
Galvanism is heat, hght, electricity atid
magnetism, united in combination or m
simultaneous action ; sometimes one and
sometimes another of them predomina-
ting, and thus producing more or less al'
the eflfects of each : usual means of ex
citement, contact of dissimilar bodies,
especially of metals and fluids.
Hare. Silliman
GAL'VANIST, n. One who believes in gal
vanism ; one versed in galvanism.
GAL'VANIZE, v. t. To affect with galvan
ism.
GALVANOL'OGIST, n. One who describes
the phenomena of galvanism.
GALVANOL'OGY, ji. [galvanism, and Gr.
■Aoyos, discourse.]
A treatise on galvanism, or a description of
its phenomena.
GALVANOM'ETER, n. [galvanism, and
Gr. iittpM, measure.]
An instrument or apparatus for measuring
minute quantities of electricity, or the op-
erations of galvanism. Ure.
GAMASH'ES, ji. Short spatterdashes worn
by plowmen. Shdton
GAMBA'DOES, n. Spatterdashes. [It
samba, the leg.]
GAM'BET, ?i. A bird of the size of the
creenshank, found in the Arctic sea, and
in Scandinavia and Iceland, o™..-.-»
GAM
which in Saxon and other northern dia-
lects signifies a combat.]
. Sport of any kind. khak.
2. Jest; opposed to earnest; as, betwixt
earnest and game. [M)t used.] Spenser.
3. An exercise or play for amusement or
' winning a stake ; as a game of cricket ; a
of chess ; a game of whist. Some
on skill ; others on hazard
Mdison
Pennant.
GAM'BLE, V. i. [from g-a«ie.] To play or
game for money or other stake.
GAM'BLE, V. t. To gamble away, is to
squander by gaming.
Bankrupts or sots who have gambled or slept
awai/ their estates. j3mes.
GAM'BLER, n. One who games or plays
for money or other stake. Gamblers often
or usually become cheats and knaves.
GAM'BLING, ppr. Gaming for money
CiAMBO'uE, 71. A concrete vegetable juice
or gnm-resin. It is brought in orbicular
masses or cylindrical rolls, from Cambaja,
Cambodja, or Cambogia, in the E. Indies,
whence its name. It is of a dense, coin-
jiact texture, and of a beautiful reddish
yellow. It is used chiefly as a pigment.
Taken internally, it is a strong and harsl
cathartic and emetic. JVicholson
G AM'BOL, V. i. [Fr. gambiller, to wag the
leg or kick, from It. gamba, the leg, F
Jamie, Sp. g-am6a.]
1. To dance and skip about in sport; to
frisk ; to leap ; to play in frolick, like boy
and lambs. Milton. Dryden.
game
games depend
4. A single match at play
5. Advantage in play ; as, to play the game
into another's hand.
(5. Scheme pursued ; measures planned.
This seems to be the present game of that
crown. ^ , p^-P'^
7 Field sports ; the chase, falconry, &c.
Shak. Waller.
8. Animals pursued or taken in the chase
or in the sports of the field ; animals ap
propriated in England to legal sportsmen
as deer, hares, &c.
). In antiquity, games were public diver
sions or contests exhibited as spectacles
for the gratification of the people. These
games consisted of running, leaping, wrest
lin", riding, &c. Such were the Olympic
games, the Pythian, the Isthmian, the "
mean, &c. among the Greeks; and among
the Romans, the Apollinarian, the Circen-
sian, the Capitoline, &c. Encyc
10. Mockery ; sport ; derision ; as, to make
game of a person.
GAME, v.i. [Sax. g-anuan.] To play at any
sport or diversion.
•2. To play for a stake or prize ; to use cards,
dice, billiards or other instruments, ac
cording to certain rules, with a view t(
win money or other thing waged upon the
issue of the contest.
3. To practice gaming.
GAMECOCK, n. A cock bred or used
G A N
GA MING-HOUSE, n. A house where ga-
practiced. Blackstone,
GA'MlNG-TABLE, n. A table appropria-
ted to gaming.
GAM'MER, n. [Sw. gammal, Dan. gayn-
mel, old ; Sw. gumma, an old woman.]
The compellation of an old woman, answer-
ing to gaffer, applied to an old man.
GAM'MON, n. [It. gamba ; Fr. jambe, a
2. To leap ; to start.
Shak
GAM'BOL, n. A skipping or leaping abouti
in frolick ; a skip ; a hop ; a leap ; a sport-
ive prank. Dryden.
GAM'BOLING, ppr. Leaping; frisking;
plaving pranks.
GAM'BREL, n. [from It. gamba, the leg.]
The hind leg of a horse. Hence, in Amer-
ica, a crooked stick used by butchers. A
hipped roof is called a gambrel-roof.
GAM'BREL, v. t. To tie by the leg.
Beaum.
GAME, n. [Xee.gaman; Sax. gamen, a jest
sport ; gamian, to jest, to sport ; It. giam-
bare, to jest or jeer ; W. camp, a feat, a
game ; campiaw, to contend in games. The
latter seems to unite game with camp
GA'ME-EGG, n. An egg from winch a
fighting cock is bred. Garth.
GA'MEKEEPER, n. One who has the
care of game ; one who is authorized to
preserve beasts of the chase, or animals
kept for sport. Blackstone
GA'MESOME, a. Gay; sportive; playful
frolicksome.
This o-aniesomf humor of children. Locke
GA'MESOMENESS, n. Sportiveness ; mer-
riment. ., , „ „
GA'MESOMELY, adv. Merrily ; playfully.
GA'jMESTER, ji. [game, and Sax. steora, a
1 director.] .
1. A person addicted to gaming ; one who
is accustomed to play for money or other
stake, at cards, dice, billiards and the like ;
a gambler; one skilled in games.
" Addison
It is as easy to be a scholar as a gamest:
leg ; jambon, a leg of baton.]
1. The buttock or thigh of a hog, pickled
and smoked or dried ; a smoked ham.
2. A game, called usually back-gammon,
which see.
GAM'MON, V. t. To make bacon; to pickle
and dry in smoke.
2. To fasten a bowsprit to the stem of a ship
by several turns of a rope. Mar. Diet.
GAM'MON, V. t. In the game of back-gam-
mon, the party that, by fortunate throws of
the dice or by superior skill in moving,
withdraws all his men from the board, be-
fore his antagonist has been able to get
his men home and withdraw any of
them from his table, gammons his antago-
nist.
GAM'MUT, n. [Sp. gamma ; Port, id.; Fr.
gamme ; from the Greek letter so named.]
. A scale on which notes in music are writ-
ten or printed, consisting of lines and spa-
ces, which are named after the seven first
letters of the alphabet.
2. The first or gravest note in Guido's scale
of music, the modern scale.
GAN, a contraction of began, or rather the
original simple word. Sax. gynnan, to be-
gin.
GANCH, t>. t. [It. gancio, a hook.] To drop
from a high place on hooks, as the Turks
do malefactors, by way of punishment.
GAN'DER, n. [Sax. gandra, ganra ; Ir.
fanra. In Ger. and D. gans is a goose ;
». ganserick, a gander ; Gr. xn^, and proba-
bly L. anser. Pliny says, that in Germany
the small white geese were called ganzce.
Lib. 10. 22.] The male of fowls of the
goose kind.
GANG, 1
2. One engaged at play.
Harrh
Bacor,
3. A merry, frolicksome person. [Not used.
4. A prostitute. [J^ot in use.] Shak
GA'MING, ppr. Playing ; sporting ; play
ing for money. .
GA'MING, JI. The act or art of playing
any game in a contest for a victory, or
for a prize or stake.
|2. The practice of using cards, dice, bil
liards and the like, according to certain
I rules, for winning money, &c.
[Sax. gangan ; Goth, gaggan.]
To go ; to walk. [Local, or used only in
ludicrous language.]
GANG, n. [Goth, gagg, a street.] Properly,
a going ; hence, a number going in com-
pany ; hence, a company, or a number of
persons associated for a particular pur-
pose ; as a gang of thieves.
2. In scojiicn's language, a select number of
a ship's crew appointed on a particular
service, under a suitable officer.
Mar. Diet.
GANG'BOARD, ji. A board or plank with
cleats for steps, used for walking into or
out of a boat.
GANG'DAYS, ji. Bays of perambulation.
GANG'HON, n. A flower. AinswoHh.
GANG'LION, n. [Gr. 7077*101-.] In anato-
my, a small circumscribed tumor, found iu
certain parts of the nervous system.
}Vistar. Cyc.
2. In surgery, a movable tumor formed on
the tendons, generally about the wrist.
Parr.
GAN'GRENATE, v. t. To produce a gan-
iirene. Btoxvti^
GAN'GRENE, ji. [Fr. from L. gangxmna ;
ll Gr. voyypoHO ; Syr. gangar.]
G A O
GAP
GAR
A mortification of living flesh, or of some
part of a living animal body. It is par-
ticularly applied to tiie first stage of morti-
fication, before the life of the jiart is com
pletely extinct. When the part is com-
pletely dead, it is called sphacelus.
Encyc. Cyc.
GAN'GRENE, v. t. To mortify, or to beg'
mortification in.
GAN'GRENE, v.i. To become mortified.
GANGRENES'CENT, a. Tending to mo
tification ; beginning to corrupt or putrefy,
as living fle.sh.
GAN'GRENOUS, a. Mortified ; indicating
mortification of living flesh.
GANGUE, n. gang. [See Gang.] In mi-
ning, the earthy, stony, saline, or combus
tible substance, which contains the ore of
metals, or is only mingled with it without
being chimically combined, is called the
gangue or matrix of the ore. It diflfers
from a mineralizer, in not being combined
with the metal. Cteaveland.
GANG'WAY, n. A passage, way or avenue
into or out of any inclosed place, especially
a passage into or out of a ship, or from
one part of a ship to another ; also, a nar-
row platform of planks laid horizontally
along the upper part of a ship's side, from
the quarter deck to the forecastle.
To bring to the gaiigway, in the discipline of
ships, is to punish a seaman by seizing
him up and flogging him.
GANG'WEEK, n. Rogation week, n'hen
processions are made to lustrate or sui-vey
the bounds of parishes. Diet.
GAN'IL, n. A kind of brittle limestone.
Kinean.
GAN'NET, n. [Sax. ganot. See Gander.]
The Solan Goose, a fowl of the genus
Pelicanus, about seven pounds in weight,
with a straight bill, six inches long, and
palmated feet. These fowls frequent the
isles of Scotland in summer, and feed
chiefly on herrings. Eneyc.
GANT'LET, ? , [FT.gantehlJiomganl,
GAUNT'LET, J "• a glove; U.guanio; D.
want ; Dan. and Sw. vante, a glove.]
A large iron glove with fingers covered with
small plates, formerly worn by cavaliers,
armed at all points.
To throw the gantlet, is to challenge ; and
To take %ip the gantlet, is to accept the chal-
lenge.
GANTLOPE, n. [The last syllable is from
the Teutonic, D. loopen, to run. The first
is probably from gang, a passage.]
A miUtary punishment inflicted on criminals
for some hainous offense. It is executed
in this manner ; soldiers are arranged in
two rows, face to face, each armed with a
switch or instrument of punishment ; be
tween these rows, the oflTender, stripped
to his waist, is compelled to pass a certain
number of times, and each man gives him
a stroke. A similar punishment is used on
board of ships. Hence this word is chief-
ly used in the phrase, to run the gantlet or
gantlope. Dryden. Mar. Diet
GAN'ZA, n. [Sp. ganso, a goose. See Gan-
der.] A kind of wild goose, by a flock of
which a virtuoso was fabled to be carried
to the lunar world. Johnson. Hudibras.
GAOL, n. [Fr. geole ; Arm. geol or jol ; W.
geol ; Norm, geaule, geole ; Sp. jaula.
cage, a cell ; Port, gaiola. Qu. Class Gl.^
No. 11. 3G. Ar. As the pronunciation gole
accords with that of goal, a diflferent word,
it would be convenient to write and pro
nounce this word uniformly jai/.]
A prison ; a place for the confinement of
debtors and criminals.
GAOL, V. t. To imprison ; to confine in
jtrison. Bacon.
GAOLD ELI VERY, n. A judicial process'
for clearing jails of criminals, by trial and
condemnation or acquittal.
GAOLER, ji. The keeper of a gaol or pris-
oner; a jailor.
GAP, n. [See Gape and Gab. Gipsey, geb,
Hindoo, gibah, a hole.]
1. An opening in any thing made by break-
ing or parting; as a gap in a fence oi
wall.
2. A breach.
Manifold miseries ensued by the opening oi
tli-at gap to all that side of Christendom.
J^nolles
3. Any avenue or passage; way of entrance
or departure. Dryden.
4. A breach ; a defect ; a flaw ; as a gap in
honor or reputation. Shak. More.
5. An interstice ; a vacuity.
A third can fill the gap with laughing.
Swift
6. A hiatus ; a chasm ; as a gap between
words. Pope
To stop a gap, to secure a weak point ; to
repair a defect.
To stand in the gap, to expose one's self for
the protection of something; to make de-
fense against any assailing danger. Ezek
xxii.
G'APE, V. i. [Sax. geapan ; Sw. gapa ; D.
gaapen ; G. gaffen ; Dan. gaber ; Ar. cj lj:»
jauba, to split, tear or cut open.]
1. To open the mouth wide, from sleepiness,
drowsiness or dullness; to yawn. Swi/l
2. To open the mouth for food, as young
birds. Dryden.
3. To gape for or after, to desire earnestly
to crave ; to look and long for ; as, men
often gape after court favor.
The hungry grave/or her due tribute ga/)fs.
henham
To gape at, in a like sense, is hardly
correct.
4. To open in fissures or crevices; as a
gaping rock.
May that ground gape, and swallow me alive,
Shak.
5. To have a hiatus ; as one vowel gaping
on another. Dryden.
6. To open the mouth in wonder or siir
prise ; as the gaping fool ; the gaping
crowd.
7. To utter sound with open throat.
Hoscommon.
. To open the mouth with hope or expecta-
tion. Hudibras.
. To open the mouth with a desire to in-
jure or devour.
Tliev have gaped upon me with their mouth.
Job xvi.
G>APE, ri. A gaping. Addison.
G'APER, n. One who gapes; a yawner
2. One who opens his mouth for wonder and
stares foolishly.
3. One who longs or traves. Carew.
4. A fish with six or seven bands and tail
undivided. Pennant.
GAPING, ppr. Opening the mouth wide
from sleepiness, dullness, wonder or admi-
ration ; yawning; opening in fissures;
craving.
GAP'TOOTHED, a. Having interstices be-
tween the teeth. Dryden.
GAR, in Saxon, a dart, a weapon ; as in
Edgar, or Eadgar, a haijjiy weapon ;
Ethelgar, noble weapon. Gibson.
This may be the Ch. XTJ or imj an
arrow, a dart ; Sam. an arrow.
GAR'AGAY,7i. A rapacious fowl of Mexico,
of the size of the kite. Did.
G'ARU, n. [Fr. garbe, looks, countenance ;
It. fii>. garbo; Norm, ^arts, clothes, dress;
Russ. gerb, arms ; from the root of gear.]
1. Dress; clothes; habit; as the g-art of a
clergyman or judge.
2. Fashion or mode of dress. Denham.
3. Exterior appearance ; looks. Shak.
4. In heraldry, a sheaf of corn. [Fr. gtrbe;
Sp. garba.]
GARBAGE, n. [I know not the component
parts of this word.] The bowels of an
animal ; refuse parts of flush ; offal.
Shak. Dryden.
G^ARBAgED, a. Stripped of the bowels.
Sherioood.
G'ARBEL, »i. The jdank next the keel of a
sliip. [See Garboard-streak.]
G .\RBLE, V. t. [Sp. garbiilar ; It. cribrare,
crivellare ; Fr. cnbler ; L. cribro, cribello.
Qu. Ar. J.jj.i or Ch. ^yy^ to sift, to
bolt. Class Rb. No. 30. 34. 40.]
. Properly, to sift or bolt ; to separate the
fine or valuable parts of a substance from
the coarse and useless parts, or from dross
or dirt ; as, to garble spices.
2. To separate ; to pick ; to cull out.
Dryden. Locke.
G^ARBLED, pp. Sifted ; bolted ; separated ;
culled out.
G'ARBLER, n. One who garbles, sifts or
separates. A^arWerof spices, is an officer
of great antiquity in London.
2. One who picks out, culls or selects.
G'ARBLES, n. phi. The dust, soil or filth,
ered from good spices, drugs, &c. Cyc.
G'ARBLING, ppr. Sifting; separating;
sorting ; culling.
GARBOARD, n. The garboard plank, in a
sliip, is the first plank fastened on the keel
on the outside. Bailey.
Garboard-streak, in a ship, is the first range
or streak of planks laid on a ship's bottom,
next the keel. Mar. Diet.
G'ARBOIL, n. [Old Fr. g-nr6oH(7; It. s-nc-
buglio.] Tumult: uproar. [.Vo< usf(^}
GARD. [See Guard and Ifard)
GARDEN, n. [G. garten : W. garth; It.
giardino ; Sp.jardin ; Fr. id.; ¥on.jardim ;
Arm. jardd, jardin or gardd. The first
syllable is the Sax. geard, Goth, gards,
ling, yard, an inclosed place. The Saxon
is ortgeard, Dan. urtegaard, Sw. brteg&rd,
wortyard, an inclosure for herbs. The
Irish \s gairdin or garrdha ; Hungarian,
korth ; L. hortus. In Slavonic, gard, Russ.
gorod, signifies a town or city, and the de-
rivative verb goroju, to inclose with a
hedge. Hence Stuttgard^ JVbvogrod or
J\i'ovogardia. The primary sense of gar-
GAR
GAR
GAR
den is an inclosed place, and inclosures
were originally made witli hedges, stakes
or palisades. It is probable that in the
east, and in the pastoral state, men had
little or no inclosed land except such
was fenced for the protection of herbs
and fruits, and for villages. See Coxe's
Russ. B. 4.]
1. A piece of ground appropriated to the
cultivation of herbs, or plants, fruits and
flowers; usually near a mansion-house
Land appropriated to the raising of culi
nary herbs and roots for domestic use, i
called a kitchen-garden ; that appropriated
to flowers and shrubs is called a Jlower
garden ; and that to fruits, is called a. fruit-
garden. But these uses are sometimes
blended.
9. A rich, well cidtivated spot or tract ofl
country; a delightful spot. The intervals
on the river Connecticut are all a garden.
Lombardy is the garden of Italy.
Garden, in composition, is used adjective-
ly, as garden-mold, a rich fine mold or
soil ; garden-tillage, the tillage used in cul-
tivating gardens.
G'ARDEN, V. i. To lay out and to cultivate
a garden ; to prepare ground, to plant and
till it, for the purpose of producing plants,
shrubs, flowers and fruits.
G'ARDENER, n. One whose occupation is
to make, tend and dress a garden.
(J'ARDENING, ppr. Cultivating or tilling
a garden.
♦ GARDENING, n. The act of laying out
and cultivating gardens ; hoi'ticulture.
Encyc.
G'ARDEN-PLOT, n. The plot or planta-
tion of a garden. Milton.
G-ARDEN-STUFF, n. Plants growing in
a garden ; vegetables for the table. [./J
word in popular use.]
G'ARDEN-WARE, n. The produce of
gardens. [JVot in use.] Mortimer.
G'ARDON, n. A fish of the roach kind.
GARE, n. Coarse wooJ growing on the legs
of sheep. Diet.
G'ARGARISM, n. [L. gargarismus ; Gr.
yopyapifu, to wash the mouth ; allied pro-
bably to gorge, the throat.]
A gargle ; any liquid preparation used to
wash the mouth and throat, to cure inflam-
mations or ulcers, &c. Encyc.
G'ARGARIZE, v. t. [Fr. gargariser; L.
gargarizo ; Gr. yapyapifu.]
To wash or rinse the niuuth with any medi-
cated liquor. Bacon.
G'ARGET, n. [See Gorge.] A distemper
in cattle, consisting in a swelling of the
throat and the neighboring parts.
Encyc.
G'ARGIL, n. A distemper in geese, which
stops the head and often proves fatal.
Encyc.
G-ARGLE, II. t. [Fr. gargouiller, to paddle
or dabble ; It. gargaghare, to murmur ;
Eng. to gurgle ; D. gorgelen ; G. gurgeln ;
allied to gorge, gurges.]
1. To wash the throat and mouth with a
liquid preparation, which is kept from de-
scending into the stomach by a gentle ex-
piration of air.
1. To warble; to play in the throat. [Unu-
■mal.] trailer
G^ARGLE, n. Any liquid preparation for
washing the mouth and throat.
Wiseman
G~ARGLION, n. An exsudation of nervous
juice from a bruise, which indurates into
a tumor. ^uincy.
G'ARGOL, n. A distemper in swine.
MoHimei
GARISH. [See Gairish.]
G'ARLAND, n. [Fr. guirlande; It. ghir
landa ; Sp. guirnalda ; Port, grinalda ;
Arm. garlantez. This word has been re
ferred to the L. gyrus, and it may be from
the same root, ft seems to denote some
thing round or twisted, for in Spanish it
is used for a wreath of cordage or pudden
1. A wreath or chaplet made of branches,
flowers, fethers and sometimes of pre
cious stones, to be worn on the head like
a crown. Pope. Encyi
2. An ornament of flowers, fruits and leavesl
intermixed, anciently used at the gates of
temples where feasts and solemn rejoi-
cings were held. Encyc.
3. The top ; the principal thing, or thing
most iirized. Shak.
4. A collection of httle printed pieces.
Percy.
5. In ships, a sort of net used by sailors in-
stead of a locker or cupboard.
Mar. Diet.
G'ARLAND, v. t. To deck with a garland.
B. Jonson
G'ARLIe, n. [Sax. garlec or garleac ; gar,
a dart or lance, in Welsh, a shank, and leac,
a leek ; Ir. gairliog ; W. garlleg. The
Germans call it knoblauch, knobleek; D.
knoflook ; Gr. axopoiou.]
A plant of the genus Allium, having a bulb-
ous root, a very strong smell, and an acrid,
pungent taste. Each root is composed of
several lesser bulbs, called cloves of gar-
lic, inclosed in a common membranous
coat and easily separable. Encyc.
G'ARLI€EATER, n. A low fellow.
Shak.
GARLICPEAR-TREE, n. A tree in Ja-
maica, the Crateva, bearing a fruit which
has a strong scent of garlic. Miller.
G^ARMENT, n. [Norm, ganiament ; Old
Fr. guarniment ; It. guarnimento, furnitiu-e,
ornament ; from the root of garnish, and
denoting what is put on or furnished.]
Any article of clothing, as a coat, a gown,
&e. Garments, in the plural, denotes clo-
thing in general ; dress.
No man putteth a piece of new cloth to an
old garment. Matt. ix.
G^ARNER, n. [Fr. grenier ; Ir. geimeal ;
Norm, guernier, gamier. See Grain.]
A granary ; a building or place where grain
is stored for jireservation.
G'ARNER, V. t. To store in a granary.
Shak.
G'ARNET, «. [U.granato: Fr.grenat; Sp.
granule ■; L. granatus, from granum, or
granatum, the pomegranate.]
1. A mineral usually occurring in crystals
more or less regular. The crystals have
numerous sides, frotn twelve to sixty or
even eighty four. Its prevailing color is
red of various shades, but often brown,
and sometimes green, yellow or black. It
sometimes resembles the hyacinth, the
leucite, and the idocrase. Of this gem
there are several varieties, as the precious
or oriental, the pyrope, the topazolite, the
succinite, the common garnet, the melan-
ite, the pyreneite, the grossular, the al-
lochroite, and the colophonite.
Haiiy. Cleaveland.
2. In ships, a sort of tackle fixed to the main
stay, and used to hoist in and out the
cargo.
GARNISH, v.t. [Fr.gamir; Arm. goar-
ni^a ; Sp. guarnecer ; It. guamire, guer-
mre ; Norm, garner, gamisher, to warn,
to summon. The latter sense is still used
in law language, and it would seem that
warn and garnish are from the same root,
for warn, written in the Celtic manner,
would be guam.]
1. To adorn ; to decorate with appendages ;
to set ofl^.
All within with flowers was garnished.
Spenser.
2. To fit with fetters ; a cant term.
3. To furnish; to supply; as a fort ^araisAcrf
■with troops.
4. In laio, to warn ; to give notice. [See
Garnishee.]
G'ARNISH, n. Ornament ; something ad-
ded for embellishment ; decoration.
Matter and figure they produce ;
For garnish this, and that for use. Prior.
2. In jails, fetters ; a cant term.
3. Pensiuncula carceraria ; a fee ; au ac-
knowledgment in money when first a pris-
oner goes to jail. Ainstvorth.
G>ARNISHED, pp. Adorned ; decorated ;
embellished.
2. Furnished.
3. Warned ; notified.
GARNISHEE', n. In law, one in whose
hands the property of an absconding or
absent debtor is attached, who is warned
or notified of the demand or suit, and who
may appear and defend in the suit, in the
place of the principal.
Stat, of Connecticut.
G^ARNISIHNG, ppr. Adorning; decora-
ting; warning.
GARNISHMENT, n. Ornament; embel-
lishment. Wotton.
2. Warning ; legal notice to the agent or
attorney of an absconding debtor.
3. A fee.
G^ARNITURE, n. Ornamental appendages ;
embellishment; furniture; dress.
Mdison. Beattie. Gray.
GA'ROUS, a. [L. garum, pickle.] Resem-
bling pickle made offish. Broien.
GAR'RAN, \ [Ir. g-orron; Scot, ffarron ;
GAR'RON, S G.gurre.]
A small horse ; a highland horse ; a hack; a
jade ; a galloway. [JVot used in America.]
Temple.
GARRET, )!. [Scot, garret, a watch-tower,
the top of a hill ; garritour, a watchman
on the battlements of a castle ; Fr. guerile,
acentinel-box; Sp. guardilla ; Arm. garid;
from the root of ward, guard, which see.]
1. That part of u house which is on the up-
per floor, inmiediately under the roof.
2. Rotten wood. [JVot in itse.] Bacon.
GAR'RETED, a. Protected by turrets.
Careiv.
GARRETEE'R, n. An inhabitant of a gar-
a poor author.
GAS
GAS
GAT
GARRISON, n. [Fr. gamison ; Arm,
foamison ; Sp. guamicion, a garrison, a
ounce, furbelow or trimming, the setting
of any thing in gold or silver, the guard of
a sword, garniture, ornament ; It. g-uer
nigione; Port, guarnicam; D. waarison
The French, English,' Artnoric, Spanish
and Italian words are from garnish ; the
Dutch is from waaren, to keep, to guard,
Eng. warren, and from this root we have
warrant anA guaranty, as well as gitarrfand
regard, all from one source. See Warren.]
1. A body of troops stationed in a fort or for-
tified town, to defend it against an enemy,
or to keep the inhabitants in subjection.
2. A fort, castle or fortified town, furnished
with troops to defend it. Waller.
3. The state of being placed in a fortifica-
tion for its defense ; as troops laid in gar-
rison. Spenser.
GAR'RISON, V. t. To place troops in a for-
tress for its defense ; to furnish with sol
diers ; as, to garrison a fort or town.
2. To secure or defend by fortresses manned
with troops ; as, to garrison a conquered
territory.
GARRU'LITY, n. [L. garrulilas, from
garrio, to prate ; Gr. yapuu, ytjiivu ; Ir.
gairim ; W. gair, a word. Class Gr. No.
2. 9. 15. 49.]
Talkativeness ; loquacity ; the practice or
habit of talking much ; a babbling or tat-
ling. Ray.
GAR'RULOUS, a. Talkative; prating; as
garrulous old age. Thomson.
G'ARTER, n. [Fr.jarretiere, from W. gar,
Arm. garr, the leg, ham or shank.]
1. A string or band used to tie a stocking to
the leg.
2. The badge of an order of knighthood in
Great Britain, called the order of the garter,
instituted by Edward III. This order is
a college or corporation.
3. The principal king at arms. Johnson.
4. A term in heraldry, signifying the half of
a bend. Encyc.
G'ARTER, V. t. To bind with a garter.
2. To invest with the order of the garter.
If'arton
G^ARTERFISH, n. A fish having a long
depressed body, hke the blade of a sword ;
the Lepidopus. Diet. JVat. Hist.
GARTH, n. [W. garz. See Garden.]
1. A dam or wear for catching fish.
2. A close ; a little backside ; a yard ; a
croft ; a garden. [JVot used.]
GAS, n. [Sax. gast, G. geist, D. geest, spirit,
ghost. The primary sense of air, wind,
spirit, is to flow, to rush. Hence this word
may be allied to Ir. gaisim, to flow ; ga-
saim, to shoot forth, to gush ; gast, a blast
of wind. It may also be allied to yeast,
which see.]
In chimistry, a permanently elastic aeriform
fluid, or a substance reduced to the state
of an aeriform fluid by its permanent com-
bination with caloric. Did. JVat. Hist.
Gases are invisible except when colored,
which happens in two or three instances.
GAS'eON, n. A native of Gascony in
France.
GAS'CONADE, n. [Fr. from Gascon, an
inhabitant of Gascony, the people of which
are noted for boasting.]
A boast or boasting ; a vaunt ; a bravado ;
a bragging. Swijl.
GASCONA'DE, v. i. To boast ; to brag ; to
vaunt ; to bluster.
GAS'EOUS, a. In the form of gas or an
aeriform fluid.
GASH, n. [I know not through what chan-
nel we have received this word. It may
be allied to chisel. See Class (is. No. 5.
C. 13. 28.]
A deep and long cut; an incision of consid-
erable length, particularly in flesh.
Milton.
GASH, V. i. To make a gash, or long, deep
incision ; applied chiefly to incisions in
flesh.
GASH'ED, pp. Cut with a long, deep incis-
ion.
GASH'FUL, a. Full of gashes ; hideous.
GASH'ING, ppr. Cutting long, deep in
cisions.
GASIFICA'TION, n. [See Gasify.] The
act or process of converting into gas.
GAS'IFIED, pp. Converted into an aeri
form fluid.
GAS'IFY, V. t. [gas and L. fcxio, to make.]
To convert into gas or an aeriform fluid
by combination with caloric.
GAS'IFYING, ppr. Converting into gas.
GAS'KET, n. [Sp. caxeUi. See Case.] A
plaited cord fastened to the sail-yard of a
ship, and used to furl or tie the sail to the
yard. Mar. Diet.
GAS'KINS, )!. plu. Galligaskins; wide open
hose. [See Galligaskins.] Shak.
GASLIGHT, n. Light produced by the
combustion of carbureted hydrogen gas.
Gaslights are now substituted for oil-
hghts, in illuminating streets and apart-
ments in houses.
GASOM'ETER, n. [gas and fttrpor.] In
chimistry, an instrument or apparatus, in-
tended to measure, collect, preserve or
mix different gases. Coxe.
An instrument for measuring the quantity
of gas employed in an experiment ; also,
the j)laoe where gas is prepared for light-
ing streets. R. S. Jameson.i
GASOM'ETRY, n. The science, art or
practice of measuring gases. It teaches
also the nature and properties of these
elastic fluids. Coxe
G^ASP, V. i. [Sw. gispa, Dan. gisper, tc
gape, to yawn.]
1. To open the mouth wide in catching the
breath or in laborious respiration, partic
xilarly in dying. Mdison.
2. To long for. [Ao« in use.]
G'ASP, v.t. To emit breath by opening
wide the mouth.
And with short sobs he gasps away hi-
breath. Drydeii
G"ASP, n. The act of opening the mouth to
catch the breath.
2. The short catch of the breath in the ago-
nies of death. Mdison.
G'ASPING, ppr. Opening the mouth to
catch the breath.
G'AST, ^ , , To make aghast ; to frigl:
G- ASTER, (, ^- '■ ten. [JVot used.] Shal
G'ASTNESS, Ji. Amazement; fright. [JVot
used.] Shak.
GAS'TRIC, a. [from Gr. yaj-ijp, the belly or
stomaoli.]
Belonging to the belly, or rather to the stom-
ach. The gastric juice is a thin, pellucid
licjuor, separated by the capillary exhaling
arteries of the stomach, which open upon
its internal tunic. It is the principal agent
in digestion. Hooper.
GASTRIL'OaUIST, n. [Gr. yay^p, belly,
and L. loquor, to speak.]
Literally, one who speaks from his belly or
stomach ; hence, one who so modifies his
voice that it seems to come from another
person or place. Reid.
GAS'TROCELE, n. [Gr. yas^p, the stom-
ach, and Jt);Xi;, a tumor.] A rupture of the
stomach. QutKcy.
GAS'TROMANCY, n. [Gr. yaf,p, belly,
and navrtia, divination.]
A kind of divination among the ancients by
means of words seeming to be uttered
from the belly. Encyc.
GASTROR'APHY, n. [Gr. ya;r,f,, belly, and
poKjij;, a sewing or suture.]
The operation of sewing up wounds of the
abdomen. Quinci/.
GASTROT'OMY, n. [Gr. yof^p, belly, aiid
rtfivu, to cut.]
The operation of cutting into or opening the
abdomen. Encyc.
GAT, prel. ofget.
GATE, n. [Sax. gate, geat ; Ir. geala; Scot.
gait. The Goth, gatwo, Dan. gade, Sw.
gala, G. ga.fse, Sans, gaut, is a way or
street. In D. gat is a gap or channel. If
the radical letters are gd or gt, it may be
connected with gad, to go, as it signifies a
passage.]
1. A large door which gives entrance into a
walled city, a castle, a temple, palace or
other large edifice. It differs from door
chiefly in being larger. Gate signifies
both the opening or passage, and the
frame of boards, planks or timber which
closes the passage.
2. A frame of timber which opens or closes
a passage into any court, garden or other
inclosed ground; also, the passage.
.3. The frame which shuts or stops the pas-
sage of water through a dam intp a
4. An avenue ; an opening ; a way.
KnoUes.
In saipture, figuratively, power, dominion.
•'Thy seed shall possess the gate of his en-
emies ;" that is, towns and fortresses.
Gen. xxii.
The gates of hell, are the power and domin-
ion of the devil and his instruments. Matt,
xvi.
lie gates of death, are the brink of the
grave. Ps. ix.
GATED, a. Having gates. Young.
GA'TEVEIN, n. The vena porta;, a large
vein which conveys the blood from the
abdominal viscera into the hver.
Bacon. Hooper.
GA'TEWAY, 71. A way through the gate
of some inclosure. Mortimer.
2. A building to be passed at the entrance of
the area before a mansion. Thdd.
GATHER, 1'. t. fSax. gaderian, or gaiheri-
an ; D. gaderen. I know not whether the
first syllable is a prefix or not. The Ch.
"nj signifies to inclose, taiAlo gather dates.
If the elements are primarily Gd, the word
coincides with the Ger. gattem , Ch. njK
to gather, to bind.]
G A T
G A U
G A W
1. To bring together ; to collect a number
of separate things into one place or into
one aggregate body.
Gather stones : and they took stones, and
made a heap. Gen. xxxi.
2. To get in harvest ; to reap or cut and
bring into barns or stores. Levit. xxv. 20.
•3. To pick up ; to glean ; to get in small
parcels and bring together.
Gather out the stones. Is. Ixii.
He must gather up money by degrees.
Loclce.
4. To pluck ; to collect by cropping, pick-
ing or plucking.
Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of
thistles? Matt. vii.
5. To assemble; to congregate; to bring
persons into one place. Ezek. xxii. 19.
6. To collect in abundance ; to accumulate ;
to amass.
I gathered me also silver and gold, and the
peculiar treasure of kings. Eccles. ii.
7. To select and take ; to separate from
others and bring- together.
Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from
among the heathen. Ps. cvi.
8. To sweep together.
The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was
cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind.
Matt. xiii.
9. To bring into one body or interest.
Yet will I gather others to him. Is. Ivi.
10. To draw together from a state of expan-
sion or diffusion ; to contract.
Gathering his flowing robe he seemed to
In act to speak, and graceful stretch'd his
liand. Pope.
11. To gain.
He gathers ground upon her in the chase.
Dry den.
12. To pucker ; to plait.
13. To deduce by inference ; to collect or
learn by reasoning. From what I hear I
gather that he was present.
After he had seen the vision, immediately we
endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly
gathering that the Lord had called us to preach
the gospel to them. Acts xvi.
14. To coil as a serpent.
To gather breath, to have respite. Obs.
Spenser.
GATH'ER, V. i. To collect ; to unite ; to
increase ; to be condensed. The clouds
gather in the west.
2. To increase ; to grow larger by accre-
tion of like matter.
Their snow ball did not gather as it went.
Bacon
3. To assemble. The people gather fast.
4. To generate pus or matter. [See Gath-
ering.]
GATH'ERABLE, a. That may be collect
ed ; that may be deduced. [Unu.'sual.]
Godiein.
GATII'ERED, pp. Collected ; assembled ;
contracted ; plaited ; drawn by inference.
GATH'ERER, n. One who gathers or col
lects ; one who gets in a crop.
GATH'ERING, ppr. Collecting; assem
bling ; drawing together ; plaiting ; wrink
ling.
GATH'ERING, n. The act of collecting oi
assembling.
2. Collection ; a crowd : an assembly.
3. Charitable contribution. 1 Cor. xvi.
4. A tumor suppurated or maturated ; a col
lection of pus; an abscess.
GATH'ERS, n. Plaits; folds; puckers;
wrinkles in cloth. Hudibras.
GAT'TERTREE, n. A species of Cornus
or Cornelian cherry. Fam. of Plants.
GAT-TOOTHED, a. Goat-toothed; ha-
ving a lickerish tooth. Obs. Chaucer.
GAUD, V. i. [L. gaudeo, to rejoice.] To ex-
ult ; to rejoice. Obs. Shak.
GAUD, n. [L. gaudium.] An ornament ;
something worn for adorning the person ;
a fine thing. Obs. Shak.
G.\UD'ED, a. Adorned with trinkets ; col-
ored. Obs. CJiaucer. Shak.
GAUD'ERY, n. Finery ; fine things ; orna-
ments. Bacon. Dryden.
GAUD'ILY, adv. Showily; with ostenta-
tion of line dress. Guthrie.
GAUD'INESS, n. Showiness; tinsel ap-
pearance ; ostentatious finery. TVhitlock.
GAUD'Y, a. Showy; splendid; gay.
A goldfinch there I saw, with gaudy pride
Of painted plumes — bryden.
2. Ostentatiously fine ; gay beyond the sim-
plicity of nature or good taste.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy.
But not express'd in fancy ; rich, not gaudy.
Shak.
GAUD'Y, n. A feast or festival ; a word ■■
the university. Cheyne.
GAUGE, V. t. gage. [Fr. jauger, to gage ;
jauge, a measuring rod ; Arm. jauja, or
jauchi, to gage ; jauch, a rod. It is suppo-
sed by J. Thomson, that this is contracted
from jaulge, from gaule, a rod or pole.
But qu.]
To measure or to ascertam the contents
of a cask or vessel, as a pipe, puncheon,
hogshead, barrel, tierce or keg.
2. To measure in respect to proportion.
The vanes nicely gauged on each side —
Derhatn
standard
Moron.
2. Measure ; dimensions. Burke.
GA'UgED, pp. Measured.
GA'UgER, n. One who gauges; an officer
whose business is to ascertain the con-
tents of casks.
GA'UgING, ppr. Measuring a cask ; ascer-
taining dimensions or proportions of quan-
tity.
G.\'UgING, n. The art of measuring the
contents or capacities of vessels of any
form. Ed. Encyc
G.\'UgING-ROD, n. An instrument to be
used in measuring the contents of casks
or vessels.
GAUL, n. [L. Gallia.] A name of ancient
France ; also, an inhabitant of Gaul.
GAUL'ISH, a. Pertaining to ancient France
or Gaul.
GAUNT, I . [The origin is uncer
GANT, ^ "•^""^- tain. Qu. Sax. geioa-
nian, ivanian, to wane. In W. gwan it
weak, poor.]
Vacant ; hollow ; empty, as an animal after
long fasting; hence, lean; meager; thin
slender. Shak. Dryden.
GAUNT'LY, adv. gant'ly. Leanly ; mea-
gerly.
GAUNT'LET, n. [See Gantlet.]
GAUZE, n. [Sp. gasa ; Fr. gaze ; Arm. ga-
zen. Qu. L. gausape, or gossipium.]
A very thin, slight, transparent stuff, of silk
or linen. Encyc.
GAUGE, n. gage. A measure ;
GAUZELOOM, n. A loom in which gauze
is wove.
G.\UZ'Y, a. Like gauze ; thin as gauze.
GAVE, pret. of give.
GAVEL, n. In law, tribute ; toll ; custom.
[See Gabel.]
GAVEL, ji. [Fr. javelle ; Port, gavela, a
sheaf; W. gavael, a hold or grasp.]
1. A small parcel of wheat, rye or other
grain, laid together by reapers, consisting
of two, three or more handfuls.
JVeto England.
2. In England, a provincial word for ground.
Eng. Did.
GAVEL, tor gable or gable-end. [See Gable.]
GAV'ELET, n. An ancient and special
cessavit in Kent, in England, where the
custom of gavelkind continues, by which
the tenant, if he withdraws his rent and
services due to his lord, forfeits his lands
and tenements. Encyc.
2. In London, a writ used in the hustings,
given to lords of rents in the city. Encye.
GAVELKIND, n. [This word gavet is
British. In W. gavael signifies a hold, a
grasp, tenure ; gavael-cenedyl, the hold or
tenure of a family, [not the kind of ten-
ure ;] gavaelu, to hold, grasp, arrest. Jr.
gabhail, gabham, to take ; gabhail-cine,
gavelkind. In Ir. gabhal is a fork, [G. ga-
bel,] and the groin, and it expresses the
collateral branches of a family ; but the
Welsh application is most probably the
true one.]
■V tenure in England, by which land des-
cended from the father to all his sons in
equal portions, and the land of a brother,
dying without issue, descended equally to
his brothers. This species of tenure pre-
vailed in England before the Norman con-
quest, in many parts of the kingdom, per-
ha])s in the whole realm ; but particularly
in Kent, where it still exists.
Selden. Cowel. Blackstone. Cyc.
GAVELOCK, n. [Sax.] An iron crow.
G.WILAN, n. A species of hawk in the
Philippine isles; the back and wings yel-
low ; the belly white.
GAVOT, n. [Fr. gavotte ; It. gavotta.] A
kind of dance, the air of which has two
brisk and lively strains in common time,
each of which is played twice over. The
first has usually four or eight bars, and
the second contains eight, twelve or more.
Encyc.
GAWBY, n. A dunce. [JVot in use.]
GAWK, n. [Sax. gcec, geac, a cuckoo ; G.
gauch, a cuckoo, and a fool, an unfledged
fop, a chough ; Scot, gaukie, gauky, a
fool ; D. gek; Sw. ghck, a fool, a buffoon ;
Dan. giek, a jest, a joke. It seems that
this word is radically one \y\\.\\ joke, juggle,
which see.]
1. A cuckoo.
2. A fool ; a simpleton. [In both senses, it
is retained in Scotland.]
GAWK'Y, a. Foolish ; awkward ; clumsy ;
clownisli. [In this sense it is retained in
vulgar use in America.]
[Is not this allied to the Fr. gauche, left, un-
toward, unhandy, Eng. awk, awkward;
gauchir, to shrink back or turn aside, to
use shifts, to double, to dodge. This verb
well expresses the actions of a jester or
buffoon.]
G A Z
GAWK'Y, n. A stupid, ignorant, awkward
fellow.
GAY, a. [Fr. gai ; Ann. gat ; It. gaio, gay.
In Sp. gaya is a stripe of different colors
on stuffs ; gaytero is gaudy ; and gayo is a
jay. The W. has gicyc, gay, gaudy, brave.
This is a contracted word, but whether
from the root of gaudy, or not, is not ob-
vious. In some of its applications, it seems
allied tojo^.]
1. Merry; airy; jovial; sportive; frolick-
some. It denotes more life and animation
than cheerful.
Belinda smiled, and all the world was gay.
Pope.
2. Fine ; showy ; as a gay dress.
3. Inflamed or merry with liquor; intoxi-
cated ; a vulgar use of the word in Amer-
ica.
GAY, n. An ornament. [JVoi used.]
VEstrange.
GA'YETY, n. [Fr. gaieti ; It. gaiezza.]
1. Merriment ; mirth ; airiness ; as a compa-
ny full of gayety.
2. Act of juvenile pleasure ; the gayeties of
youth. Denham
3. Finery ; show ; as the gayety of dress.
GA'YLY, adv. Merrily; with mirtli and
frolick.
2. Finely ; splendidly ; pompously ; as la
dies gayly dressed ; a flower gayly bloom
ing. Pope.
GA'YNESS, n. Gayety; finery.
GA'YSOME, a. Full of gayety. [Little
used.]
GAZE, V. i. [Qu. Gr. a/ya^onai,, to be
tonished, and Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. nin
chazab, to see or look, that is, to fix the
eye or to reach with the eye.]
To fix the eyes and look steadily and ear-
nestly ; to look with eagerness or curios-
ity ; as in admiration, astonishment, or in
study.
A lover's eyes will gaze an eagle blind.
Shak,
Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up
into heaven ? Acts i.
GAZE, V. t. To view with fixed attention.
And gazed awhile the ample sky. Milton.
[It is little used as a transitive verb.]
GAZE, )i. A fixed look ; a look of eager-
ness, wonder or admiration ; a continued
look of attention.
With secret gaze.
Or open admiration, him behold — Jirilti
2. The object gazed on; that which causes
one to gaze.
Made of my enemies the scoin and gaze.
Miltim
GA'ZEFyL, a. Looking with a gaze ; look-
ing intently. Spenser
GA'ZEHOUND, n. A hound that jiursues
by the sight rather than by the scent.
Encyc. Johnson.
GAZ'EL, n. [Fr. gazelle ; Sp. gazela ; Port
gazella ; from the Arabic. The verb un-
der which this word is placed J-.i is
rendered to remove, withdraw, retire or
be separate.]
An animal of Africa and India, of the genus
Antilope. It partakes of the nature of tlie
goat and the deer. Like the goat, the gazel
has hollow permanent horns, and it feeds
on shrubs ; but in size and dehcacy, and
G E C
in the nature and color of its hair, it resem-
bles the roe-buck. It has cylindrical
horns, most frequently annulated at the
base, and bunches of hair on its fore legs.
It has a most brilliant, beautiful eye.
Goldsmith. Ed. Encyc.
GA'ZEMENT, n. View. \JVot in use.]
Spenser.
GA'ZER, n. One who gazes ; one who
looks steadily and intently, from delight,
admiration or study. Pope.
GAZETTE, n. gazet'. [It. gazzella; Fr.
gazette. Gazetta is said to have been a
Venetian coin, which was the price of
the first newspaper, and hence the name.]
A newspaper ; a .sheet or half sheet of pa-
per containing an account of transactions
and events of public or private concern,
which are deemed important and interest-
ing. The first gazette in England was
published at Oxford in 1665. On the
moval of the court to London, the title was
changed to the London Gazette. It is now
the official newspaper, and published on
Tuesdays and Saturdays. Encyc.
GAZETTE, V. t. gazet'. To insert in a ga-
zette ; to announce or publish in a ga-
zette.
GAZETT'El), pp. Published in a gazette.
GAZETTEER, n. A writer of news, or an
officer appointed to publish news by au-
thority. Johnson. Pope.
3. The title of a newspaper.
3. A book containing a brief description of
empires, kingdoms, cities, towns and riv-
ers, in a country or in the whole world,
alphabetically arranged ; a book of topo-
graphical descriptions.
GA'ZING, ppr. [See Gaze.] Looking with
fixed attention.
GA ZINGSTOCK, n. A person gazed
with scorn or abhorrence ; an object of
curiosity or contempt. Bp. Hall.
GAZ6N, n. [Fr. turf.] In foHification, pie
ces of turf used to line parapets and the
traverses of galleries. Harris.
liEAL, v.i. [Vr.geler; h. gelo.] To con-
1 geal. Ohs.
GEAR, )i. [Sax. geanvian, gyrian, to pre-
pare ; gearu; prepared, prompt ; gearwa.,
habit, clothing, apparatus; G.g^ar, li.gaar,
dressed, done, ready ; perhaps Sw.g'ur/Va.
to tan.]
1. Apparatus; whatever is prepared ; hence,
habit ; dress ; ornaments.
Array thyself in her most gorgeous gear.
Spenser
2. More gcneridly, the harness or furniture of
beasts ; whatever is used in equipping
horses or cattle for draught ; tackle.
3. In Scotland, warlike accouterments ; also,
goods, riches. _ Jamieson.
4. Business ; matters. Obs. Spenser.
5. By seamen |)ronounced jears, which see,
GEAR, V. t. To dress ; to put on gear ; to
harness.
GE'ARED, p;j. Dressed; harnessed.
GE'ARING, ppr. Dressing; harnessing.
GE'ASON, n. s as z. Rare ; uncommon ;
wonderful. Obs. Spenser.
GEAT, n. [D. gal. See Gaff.] The hole
through which metal runs into a mold in
castings. Moion.
GECK, n. [G.geck; Sw.gick; Dan. giek.]
A dupe. Obs. Shak.
GECK, V. I. To cheat, trick or gull. Obs.
GEL
(iEE. ) A word used by teamsters, direct-
JEE. <! ing their teams to pass further to
the right, or from the driver, when on the
near side ; opposed to hoi or haw.
GEESE, n. plu. of goose.
.GEEST, n. Alluvial matter on the surface
I of land, not of recent origin. Jameson.
GEHEN'NA, n. [Gr. y»no, from the Heb.
ge-hinom, the valley of Ilinom, in which
was Tophet, where the Israelites sacrifi-
ced their children to Moloch. 2 Kings
xxiii. 10.]
This word has been used by the Jews as
equivalent to hell, place of fire or tor-
ment and punishment, and the Greek
word is rendered by our translators by hell
and hell-fire. Matt, xviii. 9. xxiii. 15.
GEIILENITE, n. [from Gehten, the chim-
ist.]
A mineral recently discovered, in the de-
scription of which authors are not per-
fectly agreed. According to the descrip-
tion and analysis of Fiichs, it appears to
be a variety of idocrase; but according to
the observations of Prof. Clarke, it is prob-
ably a new species. CUavtland.
(iEL'ABLE, a. [from L. gelu, frost, or gelo,
to congeal.]
That may or can be congealed ; capable of
being converted into jelly.
GEL'ATIN, n. [It. Sp. gdalina, from L.
gelo, to congeal, to freeze.]
A concrete animal substance, transparent,
and soluble slowly in cold water, but rap-
idly in warm water. With tannin, a yel-
lowish white precipitate is thrown down
from a solution of gelatin, which forms an
elastic adhesive mass, not unlike vegeta-
ble gluten, and is a compound of tannin and
gelatin. Parr.
GEL'ATIN, \ Ofthe nature and con-
liELAT'INOUS, S ""sistence of gelatin; re-
sembling jelly ; viscous ; moderately stiff
and cohesive.
(iELAT'INATE, v. i. To be converted into
gelatin or into a substance like jelly.
Lapis lazuli, if calcined, does not effervesce,
but gelatinates with the mineral acids.
Kirwan.
GELAT INATE, V. t. To convert into gel-
atin or into a substance resembling jeljy.
gELATINA'TION, n. The act or process
of converting or being turned into gelatin,
or into a substance like jelly. Kirwan.
GEL'ATINIZE, t'. i. The same as gelatin-
Fleming.
GELD, n. [Sax. gild; Sw. gldd; Dan. gield;
G.D. geld.]
Money ; tribute ; compensation. This word
is obsolete in English, but it occurs in old
laws and law books in composition ; as in
Danegeld, or Danegelt, a tax imposed by
the Danes ; Jf'eregeld, compensation for
the life of a man, &,c.
GELD, V t. pret. gelded or gilt ; pp. gelded
^af.
gelt. [G. geilen, gelten ; Sw. ghlla ; Dan.
gilder, to geld, and to cut off the gills of
herrings ; Ir. caillim, to geld, to lose, to
destroy. Qu. W. colli, to lose, or Eth.
TAP gab, to cutoff.]
1. To castrate ; to emasculate.
2. To deprive of any essential part. Shak
3. To deprive of any thing immodest or ex-
ceptionable. Dryden.
G E M
GELDED, I „„ Castrated ; oinascula
GELT, 5 PP- ted.
GELD'ER, n. One who castrates.
GELD'ER-ROSE, [Qu. from GueUerland.
A plant, a species of Viburnum ; also, i
species of Spirsea.
GELD'ING, ppr. Castrating.
GELD'ING, n. A castrated animal, bul
chiefly a horse.
(iEL'ID, a. [L. gelidiie, from gdo, to freeze
Fr. geler. See Cool, Cold.]
Cold ; very cold. Thomson
GEL'IDNESS, n. Coldness.
GEL'LY, n. [Fr. geUe; Port, gelea; Sp.
jalea ; L. gelo, gelattis. It is now more
generally written jelly.]
1. The inspissated juice of fruit boiled witi
sugar.
2. A viscous or glutinous substance ; a glu
ey substance, soft, but cohesive. [See Jelly.]
GELT, pp. of geld.
GELT, n. {or gelding. [JVot ttsed.]
GELT, for gilt. Tinsel, or gilt surface. [ATot
tised.] Spenser.
(iEM, n. [L. gemma ; It. id. ; Sp. yema ; Port,
gomo ; Ir. geam ; G. Arcm ; D. kiem. The
sense is probably a shoot. See Class Gm.
No. 5. Ar.]
\. A bud. In botany, the bud or compendi-
um of a plant, covered with scales to pro-
tect the rudiments from the cold of winter
and other injuries ; called the hybernacle
or winter quarters of a plant. Encyc.
2. A precious stone of any kind, as the ru-
by, topaz, emerald, &c.
6EM, V. t. To adorn with gems, jewels or
jirecious stones.
2. To bespangle ; as foliage gemmed will
dew drops.
3. To embellish with detached beauties.
England is studded and gemmed with castles
and palaces. iivmg
GEM, V. i. To bud ; to germinate. Milton.
GEMAR'A, »^ [Ch.lDJ to finish.] The sec-
ond part of the Talmud or commentary on
the Jewish laws.
GEMAR'I€, a. Pertaining to the Gemara.
Encyc.
(iEM'EL, 11. [L. gemellus.] A i)air ; a term
in heraldry. Drayton.
GEMELLIP'AROUS, a. [L. gemellus and
pario.] Producing twins. Diet.
GEM'INATE, V. t. [L. gemino.] To double.
[Utile used.]
6EMINA'TION, n. A doubling ; duplica-
tion ; repetition. Boyle.
GEM'INI, n. plu. [L.] Twins. In astronomy,
a constellation or sign of the zodiac, rep-
resenting Castor and Pollux. In the Bri-
tannic catalogue, it contains 85 stars.
Encyc.
6EM'IN0US, a. [L. geminus.] Double ; in
pairs. Brown.
GEM'INY, n. [supra.] Twins ; a pair ; a
couple. Shak.
CEM'MARY, a. [from gem.] Pertaining to
gems or jewels.
CEMMA'TION, n. [L. gemmaiio, from
gemma.]
In botany, budding ; the state, form or con-
struction of the bud of plants, of the leaves,
stipules, petioles or scales. Martyn.
("jEM'MEOUS, a. [h.gemmeus.] Pertaining
to gems ; of the nature of gems ; resem-
bling gems. I
GEN
gERIMIP'AROUS, a. [L. gemma, a bud, and
pario, to bear.] Producing buds or gems.
Martyn.
GEM'MULE, n. A little gem or bud.
Eaton.
GEM'MY, a. Bright ; glittering ; full of
gems.
2. Neat ; spruce ; smart.
GEMO'TE, n. [Sax.] A meeting. Obs.
[See Meet.]
(iEMS'BOK, n. The name given to a va-
of the antelope. J. Barroio.
GEND'ARM, n. In France, gens d'armes is
the denomination given to a select body
of troops, destined to watch over theinte
rior public safety. In the singular, gen-
darme, as written by Limier, is properly
zed gendarm.
gEND-ARMERY, 71. [supra.] The body of I g-^era^interest or safety of a nation
eendarms. Hume. ! , ^° "" ^"'«™' purposes, we have un
Hume.
GEN'DER, n. [Fr. genre; Sp. genera; It,
genere ; from L. genus, from geno, gigno.
Gr. ysymu, yuo^uai, to beget, or to be born ;
Ir. geinim ; W. geni, to be born ; gdn, a
birth ; cenaw, offspring ; Gr. ytios, 70x05 ;
Eng. kind. Fiom the same root, Gr. ywrj.
a vvoman, a wife ; Sans, gena, a wife, and
genaga, a father. We have begin fron
the same root. See Begin and Can.]
Properly, kind ; sort. Obs. Shak
2. A sex, male or female. Hence,
3. In grammar, a difference in words to ex-
press distinction of sex ; usually a differ-
ence of termination in nouns, adjectives
and participle.s, to express the distinction
of male and female. But although this
was the orginal design of different termina
tions, yet in the progress of language, oth
er words having no relation to one sex or
the other, came to have genders assigned
them by custom. Words expressing males
are said to be of the masculine gender;
those expressing females, of the feminine
gender; and in some languages, words ex
pressing things having no sex, are of the
neuter or neither gender.
GEN'DER, V. t. To beget ; but engender is
more generally used.
GEN'DER, II. i. To copulate ; to breed.
Levit. xix.
GENEALOG'ICAL, a. [frotn genealogy.
1. Pertaining to the descent of persons 01
families; exhibiting the succession of fam
dies from a progenitor ; as a genealogical
table.
2. According to the descent of a person or
family from an ancestor ; as genealogical
order.
gENEAL'OgIST, n. He who traces de-
scents of persons or families.
GENEAL'OgIZE, v. i. To relate the his-
tory of descents. Trans, of Pausanias.
GENEAL'OgY, 71. [L. genealogia; Gr.
■yfifaJLoyia ; yivof, race, and J.oyo{, discourse :
Sax. cyn, gecynd ; Eng. t?nrf.]
1. An account or history of the descent of a
person or family from an ancestor ; enu-
meration of ancestors and their children
in the natural order of succession.
, Pedigree ; lineage ; regular descent of a
person or family from a progenitor.
(iEN'ERABLE, a. That may be engender-
ed, begotten or produced. J5e7i(/f^.
GEN
gEN'ERAL, a. [Fr. from L. generalis, from
genus, a kind.]
1. Properly, relating to a whole, genus or
kind ; and hence, relating to a whole class
or order. Thus we speak of ag-ewcranaw
of the animal or vegetable economy. This
word, though from genus, kind, is used to
express whatever is common to an order,
class, kind, sort or species, or to any com-
pany or association of individuals.
2. Comprehending many species or individ-
uals ; not special or particular ; as, it is not
logical to draw a general inference or con-
clusion from a particular fact.
3. Lax in signification ; not restrained or
limited to a particular import ; not specif-
ic; as a loose and general expression.
Public ; common ^ relating to or compre-
hending the whole community ;
uniformly
^ been one people. Federalist, Jay.
i5. Common to many or the greatest num-
i ber ; as a general opinion ; a general cus-
I torn.
jC. Not directed to a single object.
I If the same thing be peculiarly evil, that gen-
eral aversion will be turned into a particular
hatred against it. Spralt.
7. Having a relation to all ; common to the
I whole. Adam, our general sire. Milton.
S. Extensive, though not universal; com-
mon; usual.
This word is prefixed or annexed to words,
to express the extent of their applica-
tion. Thus a general assembly is an as-
sembly of a whole body, in fact or by rep-
resentation. In Scotland, it is the whole
church convened by its representatives.
In America, a legislature is sometimes call-
ed a general assembly.
In logic, a general term is a term which is
the sign of a general idea.
An attorney general, and a solicitor general,
is an officer who conducts suits and pros-
ecutions for the king or for a nation or
state, and whose authority is general in
the state or kingdom.
A vicar general has authority as vicar or sub-
stitute over a whole territory or jurisdic-
tion.
An adjutant general assists the general of an
army, distributes orders, receives returns,
&c.
The word general thus annexed to a name
of oflice, denotes chief or superior; as a
commissary general, qttarter-master general.
In the line, a general oflicer is one who com-
mands an army, a division or a brigade.
GEN'ERAL, n. The whole; the total; that
which comprehends all or the chief part ;
opposed to particular.
In particulars our knowledge begins, and so
spreads itself by degrees to generals. Lj>cke.
A Mstory p.-iinter paints man in general.
Seynolds.
2. In general, in the main ; for the most part;
not always or universally.
I have shown that he excels, in general, un-
der each of these heads. Addison.
3. The chief commander of an army. But
to distinguish this officer from other gen-
erals, lie is often called general in chief.
The officer second in rank is called lieu-
tenant general.
GEN
GEN
GEN
4. The commander of a division of an army
or militia, usually called a major general.
5. The commander of a brigade, called a
bngadier general.
6. A particular beat of drum or march, be-
ing that which, in the morning, gives no-
tice for the infantry to be in readinosa to
march. Enxyc.
7. The chief of an order of monks, or of all
the houses or congregations established
imder the same rule. Encyc.
S. The public ; the interest of tlie whole ; the
vulgar. [JVot in use.] Shak
GENERALISSIMO, n. [It.] The chief
commander of an army or military force
:7. The supreme commander; sometimes a
title of honor ; as Alexander ^fjiera/tsfrtmo
of Greece. Brown
GENERALITY, n. [Fr. generaliU; It. gen-
eralita.]
1. The state of being general; the quality of
including species or particulars. Hooker,
'2. The main body ; the bulk ; the greatest
part ; as the generality of a nation or of
mankind. Addison.
GENERALIZA'TION, n. The act of ex
tending from particulars to generals ; tlie
act of making general.
GEN'ERALIZE, v. t. To extend from par
ticulars or species to genera, or to whole
kinds or classes; to make general
common to n number.
Copernicus generalized the celestial motions,
by merely referring them to the moon's motion
Newton generalized them still more, by refer-
ring this last to the motion of a stone through
the air. A''ichohon.
2. To reduce to a genus. Reid.
(iEN'ERALLY, adv. In general ; common-
ly ; extensively, though not universally ;
most frequently, but not without excep-
tions. A hot summer generally follows a
cold winter. Men are genercdiy more dis-
posed to censure than to praise, as they
generally suppose it easier to depress ex-
cellence in others than to equal or surpass
it by elevating themselves.
2. In the main ; without detail ; in the whole
taken together.
Generally speaking, they live very quietly.
gEN'ER ALNESS, n. Wide extent, though
short of universality ; frequency ; com-
monness. Sidney.
gEN'ERALSHIP, n. The skill and conduct
of a general officer ; military skill in a
commander, exhibited in the judicious ar-
rangements of troops, or the operations of
war.
GEN'ER.'XLTY, n. The whole : the total-
ity. [Little used.] Hale.
uEN'ERANT, n. [L.gaurans.] The power
that generates ; the power or principle
that produces. Glanvillc. Ray.
liEN'ERATE, v. t. [L. gewro. See Gen-
der.]
1 . To beget ; to procreate ; to propagate ; to
produce a being similar to the parent.
Every animal generates his own species.
2. To produce ; to cause to be ; to bring in-
to life ; as great whales which the waters
generated. Milton.
3. To cause ; to produce ; to form.
Soimds are generated where there is no air
at all. £aeon,
Vol. I.
WTiatcvcr generates a quantity of good chyle
must likewise generate milk. .Arbuthnot
In music, any given sound generates witl:
itself its octave and two other sounds ex-
tremely sharp, viz. its twelfth above or the
octave of its fifth, and the seventeentli
above. Encyc
GEN'ERATED,p/>. Begotten ; engendert'd
procreated ; produced ; formed.
GEN'ERATING, ppr. Begetting ; procre-
ating ; producing ; forming.
(iENERA'TION, n. The act of begetting ;
procreation, as of animals.
2. Production ; formation ; as the generation
of sounds or of curves or equations.
3. A single succession in natural descent, as
the children of the same parents ; hence,
an age. Thus we say, the third, the
fourth, or the tenth generation. Gen. xv.
16.
4. The people of the same period, or living
at the same time.
0 faithless and perverse generation. Luke ix,
5. Genealogy ; a series of children or des-
cendants from the same stock.
6. A family ; a race. Shak
Progeny ; oflspring. Shak.
OEN'ERATIVE, a. Having the power of
generating or propagating its own spe-
cies. Raleigh.
Having the (lower of producing.
Bentley.
Prolific. Bentley.
GEN'ERATOR, n. He or that which be-
gets, causes or ])roduces.
2. In music, the principal sound or sounds
by which others are produced. Thus the
lowest C for the treble of the harpsichord.
octave, will strike an attentive
ear with its twelfth above, or G in alt., and
with its seventeenth above, or E in alt.
Hence C is called their generator, the G
and E its products or harmonics. Encyc.
3. A vessel in which steam is generated
Perkins.
GENER'Ie, ) [It. and Sp. generico ;
(iENER'I€AL, S"' Fr. geneiique; from L.
genus.]
Pertaining to a genus or kind ; comprehend-
ing the genus, as distinct from species, or
from another genus. A generic descrip-
tion is a descri])tion of a genus ; a generic
difference is a difference in genus ; a gen-
eric name is the denomination which com-
prehends all the species, as of animals,
plants or fossils, which have certain essen-
tial and pecuhar characters in common.
Thus Canis is the .generic name of animals
of the dog kind ; Felis'. of the cat kind ;
Cervus, of the deer kind.
GENER'ICALLY, adv. With regard to ge-
nus ; as an animal generically distinct from
anotlier, or two aa'nnah genericcUly allied.
Ji'oodivard.
GENEROS'ITY, 71. [Fr. generosite ; h. gen-
erositas, from genus, race, kind, with refer-
ence to birth, blood, family.]
1. The quality of being generous; liberality
in principle ; a disposition to give liberally
or to bestow favors ; a quality of the heart
or mind opposed to meanness or parsi-
mony.
2. Liberality in act ; bounty.
91
3. Nobleness of soul ; magnanimity. [This
is the primary seyise, but is now litlie used.)
gEN'EKOUS, a. [L. generosus; Fr. gette-
reux; from genus, birth, extraction, family.
See Gender^
Primarily, being of honorable birth or or-
igin ; hence, noble ; honorable ; magnani-
mous ; applied to persons ; as a generous
foe ; a generous critic.
2. Noble ; honorable ; applied to things ; as
a generous virtue ; generous boldness. It
is used also to denote like qualities in ir-
rational animals; as a generous pack of
hounds. Addison.
3. Liberal ; bountiful ; munificent ; free to
give ; as a generous friend ; a generous
father.
4. Strong; full of spirit; as g-enerouj wine.
I Boyle. Swift.
5. Full ; overflowing ; abundant ; as a g-e»i-
j erotis cup ; a generous table.
C. Sprightly ; courageous ; as a generous
I steed.
GENEROUSLY, adv. Honorably; nol
I meanly.
2. Nobly; magnanimously. Drydtn.
j.3. Liberallv ; mnnificeiitly.
(SEN'EROUSNESS, n. The quality of be-
inggenerous; magnanimity; nobleness of
mind.
2. Liberality ; munificence ; generosity.
GEN'ESIS, n. [Gr. ytrtaif, from ytwou, yiv-
ofmi. See Gcjirfer.]
1. The first book of the sacred scriptures of
the Old Testament, containing the history
of the creation, of the apostasy of man, of
the deluge, and of the first patriarchs, to
the death of .loseph. In the original He-
brew, this book has no title ; the present
title was prefixed to it by those who trans-
lated it into Greek.
2. In geometry, the formation of a line, plane
or solid, by the motion or flux of a point,
line or surface. Encyc.
GENET, n. [Ft.] A small-sized, well-pro-
portioned Spanish hoi-se. Johnson.
2. An animal of the weasel kind, less than
the martin.
(iENETHLI'A€AL, ? [Gr. y«f9x«ixof,
|(iENETH LIA€, ^ "' from yitouo., to
be born.]
Pertaining to nativities ns calculated by as-
trologers : showing the positions of the
stars at the birth of any person. [Little
used.] Howell.
(iENETH'LIACS, n. The science of cal-
culating nativities or predicting the future
events of life from the stars which preside
at the birth of persons. [Little used.]
Johnson.
gENETHLIAT IC, n. He who calculates
nativities. [Liltle used.] Drummond.
gENE'V'A, j!. [Fr. genevre or genievre, a
jimiper-berry ; It. ginepra; Arm. genevra.
The Spanish word is nebrina, and the tree
is called enebro. Port, zimbro.]
A spirit distilled from grain or malt, with
the addition of juniper berries. But in-
j stead of these berries, the spirit is now
flavored with the oil of turjientine. The
word is usually .eentracted and pronoun-
ced Erin. Encyc.
gENE'VANISM, n. [from Geneva, where
Calvin resided.] Calvinism. Mountagu.
iENEVOIS, n. plu. jeneva'y. People of
Geneva. Addisoti.
GEN
GEN
GEN
(iE'NIAL, a. [L. genialis, fvom geno, ^gno,
Gr. yfi'row, ytvo^at.]
1. Contributing to propagation or produc-
tion ; that causes to produce.
Creator, Venus, genial power of love.
J}rydeH.
2. Gay ; merry. Warton.
3. Enlivening ; contriljuting to life and
clieerfulness ; supporting life.
So much I feel my genial spirits droop.
Milton.
4. Native ; natural. [JVot nsital.] Brown.
The genial gods, in pagan antiquity, were
.supposed to preside over generation, as
earth, air, fire and water.
IJF. iN'IALLY, adv. By genius or nature;
naturally. [Little used.] Glanmlle.
2. Gayly ; cheerfully. Johnson.
ciENIC'ULATED, a. [L. geniculatus, from
genicidum, a knot or joint, from the root
oi'genu, the knee. See Knee.]
Kneed; knee-jointed; having joints like the
knee a little bent ; as a geniculated stem
or peduncle. Marlyn.
(•;ENICULA'TION,n. Knottiness; the state
of having knots or joints like a knee.
Johnson.
(iE'NlI, n. [L. phi.] A sort of imaginary
intermediate beings between men and
^ angels : some good and some bad.
Encyc.
liE'NIO, n. [It. from L. genius.] A man of
a particular linn of mind. Tatler.
^EN'ITAL, a. [L. genitalis, from the root
of gigno, Gr. yfnuu, to beget.]
I'ertaining to generation or the act of be-
getting.
(iEN'ITALS, n. plu. The parts of an ani-
mal which are the immediate instruments
of generation.
(;EN'ITING, n. [Fr.janeton.] A species of
apple that ripens very early.
(iEN'ITIVE, a. [L. g-e)ij(tfi(s, from the root
of gender.]
Ill grammar, an epithet given to a case in
the declension of nouns, expressing pri-
marily the thing from which something
else proceeds ; asjilius patris, the son of a
father ; aqnafontis, the water of a fountain.
But by custom this case expresses other
relations, particularly possession or own-
ership ; as animi magnitudo, greatness of
mind, greatness possessed by or inherent
in the mind. This case often expresses
also that which proceeds from something
else ; as pater septem filiorum, the father of
seven sons.
GEN'ITOR, n. One who procreates; a
sire ; a father. Sheldon.
(iEN'ITURE, n. Generation ; procreation ;
birth. Burton.
tiE'NlUS, n. [L. from the root of gigno, Gr.
ymcuo, to beget.]
1. Among the ancients, a good or evil spirit
or demon supposed to preside over a
man's destiny in hfe, that is, to direct h'
birth and actions and be his guard and
guide ; a tutelary deity ; the ruling and
protecting power of men, places or tl '
This seems to be merely a personification
or deification of the- p.articular structure
or bent of mind which a man receives
from nature, which is the primary signifi
cation of the word.
2. The peculiar structure of mind which is
given by nature to an individual, or tli
disposition or bent of mind which is pe-
culiar to every man, and which qualifies
liim for a ])articular employment ; a par-
ticular natural talent or aptitude of mind
for a particular study or course of life ;
as a genius for history, for poetry or
painting.
3. Strength of mind ; tmcommon powers of
intellect, particularly the power of inven-
tion. In this sense we say, Homer was a
man of genius. Hence,
. A man endowed with uncommon vigor
of mind ; a man of EU|)erior intellectual
faculties. Shakespeare was a rare genius.
Addison.
5. Mental powers or faculties. [See No. 2.]
6. Nature ; disposition ; peculiar character ;
as the genius of the times.
GENT, a. Elegant ; pretty ; gentle. [JVot
in use.] Spenser.
6ENTEE'L, a. [Fr. gentil; It. gentile ; Sp.
gentil ; L. gentilis, from g-ejis, race, stock,
family, and with the sense of noble or at
least "respectable birth, as we use hirth and
family.]
1. Polite ; well bred ; easy and graceful in
manners or behavior ; having the man-
ners of well bred people ; as genteel com-
pany ; genteel guests.
2. Polite ; easy and gracefid ; becoming well
bred persons ; as genteel manners or be-
havior ; a genteel address.
3. Graceful in mein or form ; elegant ; as
the lady has a genteel person.
4. Elegantly dressed. Law.
5. Decorous ; refined ; free from any thing
low or vulgar ; as genteel comedy.
Mdison.
GENTEE'LLY, adv. Politely ; gracefully ;
elegantly ; in the manner of well bred peo-
ple.
GENTEE'LNESS, n. Gracefidness of man-
ners or person ; elegance ; politeness. We
speak of the genleelness of a person or of
his deportment.
2. Quahties befitting a person of rank.
Johnson.
GEN'TIAN, n. [h. gentiana ; Fr.gentiane;
Ar. Lki:
kanta.]
A genus ofplants, of many species. The com-
mon gentian is a native of the mountain-
ous parts of Germany. The root, the on-
ly part used, has a yellowish brown color
and a very bitter taste, and is used as an
ingredient in stomachic bitters. It is
sometimes taWed/ehvort. Encyc.
GEN'TIL, n. A species of falcon or hawk.
GEN'TILE, n. [L. gentilis ; Fr. gentil ; Sp,
gentil; from L. g-cn«, nation, race; appliedl
to pagans.] \
In the scriptures, a pagan ; a worshipper of
false gods ; any person not a Jew or a'
christian ; a heathen. The Hebrews in-
cluded in the term goim or nations, all the
tribes of men who had not received the
true faith, and were not circumcised. The
christians translated goim by the L. gentesj
and imitated the Jews in giving the name
gentiles to all nations who were not Jews
nor christians. In civil afiairs, the denom-
ination was given to all nations wlio were
I not Romans. Encyc.
gEN'TILE, a. Pertaining to pagans or
I heathens.
gENTILESSE, n. Complaisance. [Mt i,f
use.] Hudibras.
GEN'TILISH, a. Heathenish ; pagan.
miton.
(iEN'TILISM, n. Heathenism; paganism;
he worship of false gods. StiUingfleet.
GENTIL1"TI0US, a. [L. gentililius, from
gens.]
1. Peculiar to a people or nation ; national.
Brown.
2. Hereditary ; entailed on a family.
Arhuthnot.
GENTIL'ITY, n. [Fr. gentUiti, heathenism.
So in Sp. and It. from the Latin ; but we
take the sense from genteel.]
1. Politeness of manners; easy, graceful be-
havior ; the manners of well bred people ;
gentcelness.
2. Good extraction ; dignity of birth.
Edward.
3. Gracefulness of mien. Shah.
4. Gentry. [J\l'ot in use.] Davies.
5. Paganism ; heathenism. [.Yot in use.]
Hooker.
GEN'TILIZE, v. i. To live like a heathen.
Milton.
(iEN'TLE, a. [See Genteel.] Well born ; of
a good family or respectable birth, though
not noble ; as the studies of noble and
gentle youtli ; gentle blood. Obs.
Milton. Pope.
2. Mild ; meek ; soft ; bland ; not rough,
harsh or severe ; as a gentle nature, tem-
per or disposition ; a gentle maimer ; a
gentle address ; a gentle voice. 1 Thess.
xxvii. 2 Tim. ii.
.3. Tame ; peaceable ; not wild, turbulent or
refractory ; as a gentle horse or beast.
4. Soothing ; pacific. Davies.
'). Treating with mildness ; not violent.
A gentle hand may lead the elephant with a
hair. Persian Mosary.
GEN'TLE, n. A gentleman. Obs. Shak.
2. A kind of worm. fValton.
(iEN'TLE, V. t. To make genteel ; to raise
from the vulgar. Obs. Shak.
GEN'TLEFOLK, n. [gentle and folk.] Per-
sons of good breeding and family. It is
now used only in the plural, gentlefolks^
and this use is vulgar.
GEN'TLEMAN, n. [gentle, that is, genteel,
and man. So in Fr. gentilhomme, It. gen-
tiluomo, Sp. gentilhombre. See Genteel.]
1. In its most extensive sense, in Great Bri-
tain, every man above the rank of yeo-
men, comprehending noblemen. In a
more limited sense, a man, who without
a title, hears a coat of arms, or whose an-
cestors have been freemen. In this sense,
gentlemen hold a middle rank between the
nobility and yeomanry.
2. In the United States, where titles and dis-
tinctions of rank do not exist, the term is
applied to men of education and of good
breeding, of every occupation. Indeed
this is also the popular practice in Great
Britain. Hence,
3. A man of good breeding, politeness, and
civil manners, as distinguished from the
vulgar and clownish.
A plowman on his legs is higher than a gen-
tleman on his knees. Franklin.
4. A term of com])laisance. In the plural,
the appellation by which men are address-
ed in popular assemblies, whatever may
be their condition or character.
GEN
5. In Great Britain, the servant of a man of
rank, wiio attends liis person. Camden,
(iEN'TLEMANLIKE, ) „ Pertaining to oi
(iEN'TLEMANLY, S becoming a gen-
tleman, or a man of good family and breed-
ing ; polite ; complaisant ; as gentlemanly
manners.
3. Like a man of birth and good breeding ;
as a gentlemanly officer.
GEN'TLEMANLINESS, n. Behavior of a
well bred man. Sherwood.
GEN'TLENESS, n. [See Gentle.] Dignity
of birth. [LUUeused.]
2. Genteel behavior. Obs.
3. Softness of manners ; mildness of temper;
sweetness of disposition ; meekness.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long
suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Gal. v.
4. Kindness; benevolence. Ohs. Shak.
5. Tenderness ; mild treatment.
GEN'TLESHIP, n. The deportment of a
gentleman. Obs. Aseham.
(iEN'TLEWoMAN, n. [ge?itfe and icoman.]
A woman of good family or of good breed-
ing ; a woman above the vulgar.
2. A woman who waits about the person of
one of high rank.
3. A term of civility to a female, sometimes
ironical. Dryden.
gEN'TLY, adv. Softly ; meekly ; mildly ;
with tenderness.
My mistress gently chides the fault I made.
Dryden.
2. Without violence, roughness or asperity-
Sha'k.
6ENTOO', n. A native of India or Hin
doostan ; one who follows the religion of
the Bramins. Enci/c.
gEN'TRY, n. Birth ; condition ; rank by
birth. Skak.
2. People of education and good breeding.
In Great Britain, the classes of people be-
tween the nobility and the vulgar.
3. A term of civility ; civility; compli
(GENUFLECTION, n. [L. genu, the knee,
andfectio, a bending.]
The act of bending the knee, particularly
in worship. Stilling/leei.
gEN'UINE, a. [L. genuinns, from geniis
or its root. See Gender.]
Native ; belonging to the original stock
hence, real ; natural ; true ; pure ; not spu
rious, false or adulterated. The Gaels
are supposed to be genuine descendants
of the Celts. Vices and crimes are the
genuine eftects of depravity, as virtue and'
piety are the genuine fruits of holiness.]
It is supposed we have the genuine text of
Homer.
gEN'UINELY, adv. Without adulteration
or foreign admi.\ture; naturally. Boyle.
GEN'UINENESS, n. The state of being
native, or of the true original ; hence, free-
dom from adulteration or foreign admix-
ture ; freedom from any thing false or
coimterfeit ; purity ; reality ; as the gen-
uineness of Livy's history ; the genuine-
ness of faith or repentance.
gE'NUS, n. plu. genuses or genera. [L. g-e-
nus, Gr. ytvo;, Ir. gein, offspring, race or
family. Sans, jana ; hence, kind, sort.
See Gender.]
1. In logic, that which has several species
under it ; a class of a greater extent than
GEO
species ; a universal which is predicablc
of several things of ditierent .species.
Cy
2. In natural history, an assemblage of species
possessing certain characters in common,
by which they are distinguished from all
others. It is subordinate to class and or
der, and in some arrangements, to tribe ano
family. A single species, possessing cer
tain peculiar characters, which belong to
no other species, may also constitute a ge-
nus ; as the camelopard, and the flamin-
go.
3. In botany, a genus is a subdivision con-
taining plants of the same class and order,
which agree in their parts of fructification,
Martyn.
GEOCEN'TRIC, a. [Gr. yr,, earth, and
urpov, center.]
Having the earth for its center, or the same
center with the earth. The word is ap-
plied to a planet or its orbit.
Harris. Encyc.
GE'ODE, n. [Gr. yaiuSrji, earthy, from -/aia
or yr;, earth. Plin. gwadcs, Lib. 36. 19.]
In mineralogy, a round or roundish lump of]
agate or other mineral, oi' a mere incrust-
ation. Its interior is sometimes empty,
and in this case the sides of its cavity are
lined with crystals, as in agate balls,
Sometimes it contains a solid movable nu-
cleus; and sometimes it is filled with an
earthy matter different from the envelop,
Cleaveland.
GE'ODESY, n. [Gr. ycuJoKJia ; yso, the
earth, and Saiu, to divide.]
That part of geometry which respects thi
doctrine of measuring surfaces, and find-
ing the contents of all plain figures.
Harris
GEODET'IC, } Pertaining to the art
GEODET'l€AL, S of measuring surfaces.
GE'OGNOST, n. [See Geognosy.] One
versed in geognosy ; a geologist.
GEOGNOS'TIe, a. Pertaining to a knowl
edge of the structure of the earth ; geo-
logical.
GE'OGNOSY, 71. [Gr. y,, the earth
yvaais, knowledge.]
That part of natural history which treats of
the structure of the earth. It is the
of the substances which compose the
earth or its crust, their structure, position,
relative situation, and properties.
Cleaveland.
[This word originated among the Ger-
man mineralogists, and is nearly synony-
mous with geology. But some writers
consider geognosy as only a branch of
geology ; including in the latter, hydrogra
phy, geogony, meteorology and even ge
[Gr. y)j, the earth, and yoti;
The doctrine of tlie forma
ography.J
GEOG'ONY, n.
generation.]
tion of the earth,
GEOG'RAPHER, n. [See Geography.] One
who describes that part of this globe
earth, which is exhibited upon the surface,
as the continents, isles, ocean, seas, lakes,
rivers, mountains, countries, &c. One
who is versed in geography, or one wIk)
compiles a treatise on the subject,
GEOGRA PH'I€, ) Relating to or con
GEOGRAPH'IeAL, ^"-taining a descrip
GEO
GEOGRAPHICALLY, adv. In a geograph-
ical manner; accorduig to the usual prac-
tice of describing the surface of the earth.
GEOGRAPHY, 71. [Gr. y^, the earth, and
ypoijiu, to write, to describe.]
L Properly, a description of the earth or
terrestrial globe, particularly of the divi-
sions of its surface, natural and artificial,
and of the position of the several coun-
tries, kingdoms, states, cities, &.c. As a
science, geography includes the doctrine
or knowledge of the astronomical circles
or divisions of the sphere, by which the
relative position of places on the globe
may be ascertained, and usually treatises
of geography contain some account of the
inhabitants of the earth, of their govern-
ment, manners, &.c., and an account of the
principal animals, plants and minerals.
2. A book containing a description of the
earth.
(iEOLO(i'l€AL, a. [See Geology.] Pertain-
ing to geology ; relating to the science of
the earth or terraqueous globe.
GEOL 061ST, 77. One versed in the science
of geology.
(iEOL'OG Y, n. [Gr. yr;, the earth, and Xoyoj,
discourse.]
The doctrine or science of the structure of
the earth or terraqueous globe, and of the
substances which compose it ; or the sci-
ence of the compound minerals or aggre-
gate substances which compose the earth,
tiie relations which the several constitu-
ent masses bear to each other, their forma-
tion, structure, position and direction : it
extends also to the various alterations and
decompositions to which minerals are sub-
ject. Diet. JVat. Hist. Cleaveland.
GE'OMANCER, 71. [See Geomancy.] One
who foretells or divines, by means of lines,
figures or points on the ground or on pa-
per. Encyc.
GEOMANCY, 71. [Gr. yr,, the earth, and
ItavTiia, divination.]
A kind of divination by means of figures or
lines, formed by little dots or points, origi-
nally on the earth and afterwards on pa-
per. Encyc.
JgEOMAN'TIC, a. Pertaining to gcoiiian-
[Gr. yfu^Tpifs. See Gc-
GEOM'ETER,
omelrij.]
One skilled in geometry. [^See Geometrician,
which is generally used.] Il'atts.
gEOM'ETR.AL, a. Pertaining to geome-
try.
GEOMETRIC, I [Gr. ytufiitpcxof.]
iGEOMET'RICAL, S Pertaining to ge-
, ometry.
2. According to the rules or principles of
I geometry ; done by geometry.
3. Disposed according to geometry.
\ Geometrical progression, is when the terms in-
( crease or decrease by equal ratios ; as 2.
1 4. 8. 16. .32. or 32. 16. 8. 4. 2.
gEOMET'RICALLY, adv. According to
i the rules or laws of geometrv-
GEOMETRP'CIAN, 71. One skilled in ge-
i ometry ; a geometer. H'aits.
tiEOM'ETRIZE, v. t. To act according to
the laws of geometry ; to jTerform geo-
1 metrically. Boyle.
tion of the terraqueous globe^; pertainiiigliGEOM'ETRY, n. [Gr. yfuptrpio ; yr, the
to geography. It earth, and /iitfoi; measure.]
G E R
Originally and properiy, the art of nieasirr-i
ing the earth, or any distances or dimen-
sions on it. But geometry now denotes
tlie science of magnitude in general, com-J
prehending the doctrine and relations of
whatever is susceptible of augmentatioii^
and diminution ; as the mensuration of
lines, surfaces, solids, velocity, weight, &c.
with their various relations.
Bailey. Encyc:
OEOPON'IC, a. [Gr. y>j, the earth, and rtwof,
labor.]
Pertaining to tillage of the earth, or agricul-
ture. [JVow little used.]
gEOPON'ICS, 71. The art or science of
cultivating the earth. ' Evelyn.
tiE'ORAMA, n. [Gr. ytj, the earth, and
opafia, view.]
An instrument or machine which exhibits s
very complete view of the earth, lately in-
vented in Paris. It is a hollow sphere of for-
ty feet diameter, formed by thirty six bars of,
iron representing the parallels and meridi
ans, and covered with a bluish cloth, in
tended to represent seas and lakes. The
land, mountains and rivers are painted on
paper and pasted on this coyer.
Joum. of Science.
gEORgE, n. A figure of St. George on'
horseback, w(jrn by knights of the garter.]
Shall.,
2. A brown loaf Dryden}
(iEORGE-NOBLE, n. A gold coin in the'
time of Henry VIII. of the value of 6s. 8d.|
sterling.
GEOR'Gle, n. [Gr. ytui.ytxo,-. rustic; yijj
and fpyoi', labor.] _ |
A rural poem ; a i)oetical composition on the
subject of husbandry, containing rules for
cultivating lands, in a poetical dress ; as
the Georgics of Virgil.
CEOR'GIC, o. Relating to the doctrine of
agriculnire and rural affairs.
gEORGIUM SIDUS. [See Herschel]
gEOS'COPY, n. [Gr. -/i; and o^cortsco.
Knowledge of llie earth, ground or soil,
obtained by inspection. Chambers.
GERA'NIUM, n. [L. from Gr. ytpa.™,', from
yfpowos, a crane.]
Crane's-bill, a genus of plants, of numerous
species, some of which are cultivated for
their fragrance or the beauty of their
flowers.
(iE'RENT, a. [L. gcrens.] Bearing ; used in]
Vicegerent. |
GERFALCON. [See Gyifakon.]
GERM, n. [L-germen.] In botany, the ova-
ry or seed-bud of a plant, the rudiment
of fruit yet in embryo. It is the base or
lower part of the pistil, which, in the pro-
gress of vegetation, swells and becomes
the seed-vessel. Martyn. Milne.
9. Origin; first principle; that from which
any thing springs ; as the germ of civil
liberty, or of prosperity.
GER'MAN, a. [L.gerrtmnus, a brother; Fr.
germain.]
1. Cousins german, are the sons or daugh-
ters of brothers or sisters; first cousins.
2. Related. Obs. Shak.
CER'MAN, a. Belonging to Germany.
GER'MAN, n. A native of Germany ; and
by ellipsis, the German language.
CERMAN'DER, n, A plant, or rather the
name of several plants, as the rock ger-
G E S
mander, of the genus Veronica, and the
common and loater gennander, of the genus
Teucrium.
(iERMAN'ie, a. Pertaining to Germany;
as the Germanic body or confederacy.
(SER'MANISM, n. An idiom of the German
language. Chesterfield.
GERM'EN, Ji. plu. germens. Now contract-
ed to g'frm, which see.
GERM'INAL, a. [from germen. See Germ.]
Pertaining to a germ or seed-bud.
Med. Repos.
(iERM'lNANT, a. Sprouting.
GERM'INATE, v. i. [L. germino, from ger-
men.]
To sprout ; to bud ; to shoot ; to begin to
vegetate, as a plant or its seed. Bacon
CERM'INATE, v. t. To cause to sprout
[Unusual.] Price.
(iERMINA'TION, n. The act of sprout
ing; the first beginning of vegetation in i
seed or plant.
2. The time in which seeds vegetate, after
being planted or sown. Martyn.
GERO€OM'I€AL, a. Pertaining to gero-
comy. [Little used.] Smith
GEROC'OMY, n. [Gr. yspw and xo/iiu.]
That part of medicine which treats of the
proper regimen for old people.
ER'UND, n. [L. genmdi.
GET
from g-ero,
bear.]
In the Latin grammar, a kind of verbal noun
partaking of the nature of a participle.
Encyc.
GESLING, for gosling. [Mt in use.]
gEST, n. [L. gestum, from gero, to carry
to do.]
A deed, action or achievment. Obs.
Spenser
9. Show ; rejjresentation. Obs.
3. [Fr. gite, for giste, from gesir, to lie.] A
stage in travelling ; so much of a journey
as is made without resting ; or properly,
a rest : a stop. Obs. Broivn.
4. A roll or journal of the several days and
stages prefixed, in the journeys of th'
English kings, many of which are e.xtant
in the herald's office. Hanmer.
GESTA'TION, n. [L. gestalio, from gero,
to carry.]
1. The act of carrying young in the womb
from conception to delivery ; pregnancy.
Ray. Coxe.
2. The act of wearing, as clothes or orna-
ments. Brown.
3. The act of carrying sick persons in car-
riages, as a salutary exercise, by which
fevers have often been cured. Med. Repos.
GES'TATORY, o. That may be carried or
worn. Broivn.
GES'TIC, a. Pertaining to deeds; legenda-
ry. Goldsmith.
GESTI€'ULATE, v. i. [L. gesliculor, from
gestum, gero, to bear or carry, or gestio.]
To make gestures or motions, as in speak-
ing ; to use postures. Herbert.
GESTICULATE, v. t. To imitate ; to act.
"^. Jonson.
(JESTICULA'TION, n. [L. gesticulatio.
1. The act of making gestures, to expres
passion or enforce sentiments.
2. Gesture ; a motion of the body or limbs
iu speaking, or in representing action or
passion, and enforcing arguments and
sentiments.
3. Antic tricks or motions.
GESTICULATOR, ji. One that shows pos-
tures, or makes gestures.
GESTIC'ULATORY, a. Representing in
gestures. JVarton.
GES'TURE, n. [L. gestus, from gero, to
bear, to do ; Fr. geste.]
1. A motion of the body or limbs, expres-
sive of sentiment or passion ; any action
or posture intended to express an idea or
a passion, or to enforce an argument or
opinion. It consists chiefly in the actions
or movements of the hands and face, and
should be suited to the subject. Encyc.
2. 3Iovement of the body or limbs.
Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye,
In every gesture dignity and love. Milton.
gES'TURE, v. t. To accompany with ges-
ture or action. Hooker. Wotton.
GET, V. t. pret. got, [gat, obs.J pp. got,
gotten. [Sax. gelan, gytan or geatan,
to get ; agytan, to know or understand ;
angitan, andgitan, to find, to understand.
The Danish has jbrgietler, to forget, but
gietter signifies to gxtess, or to suppose, to
think; the Swedish also has for^aia, to
forget, to give to oblivion, ex ammo eji-
cere. The simple verb gietter, gbta, coin-
cides with the D. gieten, G. giessen, to
cast, to pour out, to found, as vessels of
metal, Sax-g-foton. To get, then, is pri-
marily, to throw, and with respect to ac-
quisition, it is to rush on and seize. The
Italian ha&catlare, to get ; raccattare,lo re-
gain, to acquire. Qu. Sp. rescatar. Port.
resgatar, to redeem, to ransom. See -Res-
cue]
1. To procure ; to obtain ; to gain posses-
sion of, by almost any means. We get
favor by kindness ; we get wealth by in-
dustry and economy ; we get land by pur-
chase ; we get praise by good conduct ;
j and we get blame by doing injustice. The
merchant should get a profit on his goods ;
the laborer should get a due reward for
his labor ; most men get what they can for
their goods or for their services. Get dif-
fers from acquire, as it does not always
express permanence of possession, which
is the appropriate sense of acquire. We
get a book or a loaf of bread by borrow-
ing, we do not acquire it ; but we get or
acqxiire an estate.
2. To have.
Thou hast got the face of a man. Herbert.
This is a most coimnon, but gross
abuse of this word. We constantly hear
it said, I have got no corn^ I have got
no money, she "lias got a fair complex-
ion, when the person means only, I have-
no corn, I have no money, she has a
fair complexion.
4. To learn ; as, to get a lesson.
5. To prevail on ; to induce; to persuade.
Though the king could not get him to engage
in a life of business. Spectator.
[This is not elegant.]
C. To jjrocure to be. We could not get the
>vork done. [jVot elegant.]
To get off, to put oft'; to take or pull off; as,
to get o/ a garment: also, to remove ; as,,
to get off a ship from shoals.
bring
G ET
2. To sell; to dispose of; as, to gel off
goods.
To get on, to put on ; to draw or pull on
as, to get on a coat ; to get on boots.
To gel in, to collect and shelter
under cover ; as, to get in corn.
To get out, to draw forth ; as, to get out a
secret.
2. To draw out ; to disengage.
To gel the day, to win ; to conquer ; to
gain the victory.
To get together, to collect ; to amass.
To get over, to surmount ; to conquer ; to
pass without being obstructed ; as, to get
over difficulties : also, to recover ; as, to get
over sickness.
To get above, to surmount ; to surpass.
To get up, to prepare and introduce upon
the stage ; to bring forward
With a pronoun following, it signifies to
betake ; to remove ; to go ; as, get you to
bed ; get thee out of the land. But this
mode of expression can hardly be deemed
elegant.
GET, V. i. To arrive at any place or state
followed by some modifying word, and
sometimes implying difficulty or labor; as
To get away or aioay from, to depart ; ti
quit ; to leave ; or to disengage one'
self from.
To gel among, to arrive in the midst of; to
become one of a number.
To gel before, to arrive in front, or more for
ward.
To get behind, to fall in the rear ; to lag.
To get back, to arrive at the place from
which one departed ; to return.
To gel clear, to disengage one's self; to be
released, as from confinement, obligation
or burden ; also, to be freed from danger
or embarrassment.
To gel doten, to descend ; to come from
elevation.
To get home, to arrive at one's tl welling.
To get in or into, to arrive within an
closure, or a mixed body ; to pass in ; lo
insinuate one's self.
To gel loose or free, to disengage one's self;
to be released from confinement.
To gel off, to escape ; to depart ; to get clear
also, to alight ; to descend from.
To get out, to depart from an inclosed place
or from confinement ; to escape ; to free
one's self from embarrassment.
To gel along, to proceed ; to advance.
To get rid of, to disengage one's self from
also, to shift ofi"; to remove.
To get together, to meet ; to assemble ; to
convene.
To gel up, to arise ; to rise from a bed or a
seat ; also, to ascend ; to climb.
To gel through, to pass through and reach
point beyond any thing ; also, to finis!
10 accomplish.
To gel quit of, to get rid of; to shift off, or
to disengage one's self from.
To get fonvard, to proceed ; to advance
also, to prosper; to advance in wealth.
To get near, to approach within a small dis-
tance.
To get ahead, to advance ; to prosper.
To get on, to proceed ; to advance.
To get a mile or other distance, to pass over
it in traveling.
To get at, to reach ; to make way to.
G I A
To gel asleep, to fall asleep.
To get drunk, to become intoxicated,
To get betieeen, to arrive between.
To gel to, to reach ; to anive.
GET'TER, )t. One who gets, gains, obtains
or acquires.
2. One who begets or procreates.
GETTING, ppr. Obtaining; procuring
gaining; winning; begetting.
GET'TING, jt. The act of obtaining, gain
ing or acquiring ; acquisition.
Get wisdom ; and with all thy getting, get
understanding. Prov. iv.
2. Gain ; profit. Sunft
GEWGAW, n. [Qu. Sax. gt-gaf a tritle,
or Fr. joujou, a plaything, or from the
root of gaud, joy, jewel.'
A showy trifle ; a pretty thing of little
worth ; a toy ; a bauble ; a splendid play
thing.
A lieavy gewgaw, called a crown. Drydet
GEW'GAW, a. Showy without value.
Lau
GH^ASTFUL, a. [See Ghastly.] Dreary;
dismal ; fit for walking ghosts. Obs.
Spenser.
GH'ASTFULLY, adv. Frightfullv. Pope
GH'ASTLINESS, «. [from gluistty.] Hor
ror of countenance ; a deathlike look ;
resemblance of a ghost ; paleness,
GHASTLY, a. [Sax. gastlic, from gast,
spirit, G. geist, D. geest. In Sax. gast
is both a ghost and a guest, both from the
same radical sense, to move, to riish ; Ir,
gaisim, to flow ; Eng. gush, gust.]
Like a ghost in appearance ; deathlike
pale ; dismal ; as a ghastly face ; ghastly
smiles. Milton.
2. Ilorribte; shocking; dreadful
Mangled with gliastly wounds. Milton
GirASTNESS, n. Ghastlincss. Wot used.]
Shak
GHER'KIN, ». [G. gurke, a cucumber.] A
small pickled cucumber. Skinne,
GHESS, for guess. [Mot nsed.]
GHOST, n. [Sax. gast ; G. gniM ; D. geest ;'
Ir. gasda. See Ghastly.]
i. Spirit; the soul of man. Shak.l
In this sense seldom used. But hence, [
2. The soul of a deceased jierson ; the soul:
or spirit separate fiom the body ; an aj)-!
parition
G I B
(ilAM'BEAUX, n. [Fr. jambe, the leg.J
Greaves ; armor for the legs. 06s.
6I'ANT, n. [Fr. geanl ; Sp. gigante ; It. id. ;
L. gigas ; Gr. 71705, probably from ■jt;, tlift
earth, and you or ytioftoi. The word
originally signified earth-born, terrigena.
The ancients believed the first inhabitants
of the earth to be produced from the
ground and to be of enormous size.]
1. A man of extraordinary bulk and stature.
Giants of mighty bone, and bold emprise.
Milton.
2. A person of extraordinary strength or
powers, bodily or intellectual. The judge
is a giant in his profession.
Giants-causey, a vast collection of basaltic
pillars in the county of Antrim, in Ire-
land. Encyc.
Gl'ANT, a. Like a giant ; extraordinary in
size or strengh ; as giant brothers ; a.
giant son. Dnjden. Pope.
(ii'ANTESS, n. A female giant ; a female
of extraordinary size and stature. Shak.
(>rANTIZE, V. i. To play the giant.
Sherwood.
Gl'ANT-KILLING, a. Killing or destroy-
ing giants. Cowper.
JGI'ANTLIKE, 'I ^ Of unusual size; re.sem-
iGl'ANTLY, (f ■ bling a giant in bulk or
stature ; gigantic ; huge. South.
[Giantly is not much used.]
GI'ANTRV, n. The race of giants. [Little
I used.]
6I'ANTSHIP, n. The state, quality or char-
acter of a giant.
His giantship is gone somewhat crestfallen.
Milton.
GIB, n. A cat. [JVot in use.] SkeUon.
GIB, V. i. To act like a cat. [JVo< in use.]
The mightv ghosts of our great Harrys rose. <^IB'BET, n. [Fr. gibet ; Arm. gibel.]
i>^..j„.. (r:i nws ; n nnst or Tnftpninp in lorni
Vryden.l
To give up the ghost, is to die ; to yield up
the breath or spirit ; to expire. Scripture.
The Holy Ghost, is the third person in the
adorable Trinity. Scripture.
GHOST, V. i. To die ; to expire. Obs.
Sidyiey.
GHOST, t'. t. To haunt with an n|)parition.
Obs. Shak.
GHOSTLIKE, a. Withered ; having sunk-
en eyes ; ghastly. Sherwood.
GHOSTLINESS, n. Spiritual taidency.
[lAltle used.] Johnson.
GHOSTLY, a. Spiritual ; relating to the
soul ; not carnal or secular.
Save and defend us from our ghostly ene-
mies. Com. Prayer.
2. Spiritual ; having a character from reli-
gion ; as a ghostly father. Shak.
3. Pertaining to apparitions. Menside.
GIALLOLINO, ?i. [It. g-i"a«o ; Eng. yellow.]
A fine yello^v pigment much used under
the name oiJVaples Yellow. Encyc.
GIBBE, n. An old worn-out animal. [Muf
used.] Shak.
GIB'BER, V. i. [See Gabble. It is probably
allied to gabble, and to jabber.]
To speak rapidly and inarticulately. [JVol
used.] Shak.
GIB'BERISH, n. [from gibber.] Rapid and
inarticulate talk ; unintelligible language ;
unmeaning words.
GIB'BERISH, a. Unmeaning, as words.
Swifl.
gallows; a post or machine in form of a
gallows, on which notorious malefactors
are hanged in chains, and on which their
bodies are suffered to remain, as specta-
cles in lerrorem. Sivift.
2. Any traverse beam. Johnson.
GIBBET, V. t. To hang and expose on a
gibbet or gallows.
2. To hang or expose on any thing going
travers, as the beam of a gibbet. Shak.
GIBBETED, pp. Hanged and exposed on
a gibbet.
(ilB'BETING, ppr. Hanging and exposing
on a gibbet.
(ilBBIER, n. [Fr.] Wild fowl; game.
LYot used.] Addison.
GIBBOSITY, n. [Fr. gibbosite, from L.
gibbosus. See Gibbous^
Protuberance ; a round or swelhng promi-
nence ; convexity. Ray.
GIB'BOUS, a. [L. gibbus ; Fr. gibbeux ; It.
gibboso ; Sp. giboso; Gr. xiifo;, from xvn-tu.
to bend. Class Gb. No. 1. 2. a 4. 5.]
G I D
G I F
GIL
1. Swelling-; protuberant;
Tlie
('nil moon ; the enlightened part being
tlien convex
The bones will rise, ami make a gibbous
member. Wiseman.
3. Hunched ; hump-backed ; crook-backed.
Brown.
OIB'BOUSLY, adv. In a gibbous or protu
berant form. Eaton.
GIB'BOUSNESS, n. Protuberance ; a round
l)roniinence : convexity. [This word is
l)referable to gibbosity.]
OIBBS'ITE, n. A mineral found at Rich
niond, in Massachusetts, and named ii
honor of George Gibbs, Esq. It occurs in
irregular stalactical masses, whicl
sent an aggregation of elongated, tuber-
ous branches, parallel and united. Its
structure is fibrous, the fibers radiating
from an axis. Its colors are a dirty white,
greenish white and grayish. Cleaveland,
GIB'€AT, n. A he-cat, or an old worn-out
cat. Shak.
GIBE, v.i. [Sax, gahhan ; Fr. gaher ; It.
gabbare. See Gabble. The sense is prob-
ably to throw or cast at, or make mouths.
But see Class Gb. No. 67. 79.]
To cast reproaches and sneering expres-
sions ; to rail at ; to utter taunting, sarcas-
tic words ; to flout ; to fleer ; to scoff.
Fleer and gibe, and laugh and flout. Sivift.
(ilBE, V. t. To reproach with contemptuous
words ; to deride ; to scofl' at ; to treat
with sarcastic reflections ; to taunt.
Draw the beasts as I describe them.
From their features, while I gibe them.
Swift.
(ilBE, n. An expression of censure mingled
with contempt ; a scoff; a railing; an ex-
pression of sarcastic scorn.
Mark the fleers, the gibes, and the notable
scorns.
That dwell in eveiy region of his face.
Shak.
GIB'ELINE, n. The Gibellnes were a
faction in Italy, that opposed another fac-
tion called Guelfs, in the 13th century.
J. Mams.
(il'BER, n. One who utters reproachful,
censorious and contetnptuous expressions,
or who casts cutting, sarcastic reflections ;
one who derides ; a scoffer. B. Jonson.
Gl'BING, ppi: Uttering reproachful, con-
temptuous and censorious words; scoffing.
(JI'BINGLY, adv. With censorious, sarcas-
tic and contemptuous expressions ; scorn-
fidly. Shak.
GIB'LETS, n. [Qu. Fr. gibier, game, or
Goth, gibla, a wing. See Gip.]
Tlie entrails of a goose or other fowl, as the
heart, liver, gizzard, &c. ; a considera-
ble article in cookery ; as, to boil or stew
giblets. It is used only in the jjlural, ex-
cept in composition ; as a giblei-pie.
GIB'STAFF, n. A staff to gauge water or
to push a boat ; formerly, a staflT used in
fighting beasts on the stage. Did.
GID'DILY, adv. [See Giddy.] With the
head seeming to turn or reel.
2. Inconstantly ; unsteadily ; with various
turnings ; as, to roam about giddily.
Donne
X Carelessly ; heedlessly ; negligently.
Shak
GID'DINESS, n. The state of being giddy
or vertiginous ; vertigo ; a sensation of
reeling or whirling, when the body loses
the power of preserving its balance or a
steady attitude, or when objects at rest
appear to reel, tremble or whirl ; a swim-
ming of the head.
2. Inconstancy ; unsteadiness ; mutability.
3. Frolick; wantonness; levity.
Donne. South.
GID'DY, a. [Sax. gidig. Class Gd.] Ver-
tiginous ; reeling ; whirling ; having in
the head a sensation of a circular motion
or swimming ; or having lost the power
of preserving the balance of the body, and
therefore wavering and inclined to fall, as
in the case of some diseases and of drunk-
enness. In walking on timber aloft, or
looking down a precipice, we arc apt to
be giddy.
2. That renders giddy ; that induces giddi-
ness ; as a giddy highth ; a giddy preci-
pice. Prior.
3. Rotary ; whirling ; running round with
celerity.
The giddy motion of the whirling mill.
Pope.
4. Inconstant ; unstable ; changeable.
You are as giddy and volatile as ever.
Swift.
5. Heedless ; thoughtless ; wild ; roving.
Botce.
: Tottering; unfixed.
As we have paced along
Upon the giddy footing of the hatches.
Shak.
7. Intoxicated ; elated to thoughtlessness :
rendered wild by excitement or joy.
Art thou not giddy with the fashion loo ?
Shak.
GID'DY, V. i. To turn quick. Chapman.
GID'DY, V. t. To make reeling or unsteady,
Farindon.
GIDDY-BRAINED, a. Careless; thought-
less ; unsteady. Olway.
GIDDY-HEAD, n. A person without
bought or judgment.
GID'DY-IIEADED,a. Heedless; unsteady
volatile ; incautious. Donne.
GID'DY-PACED, a. Moving irregularly.
Shak
GIE, a contraction of guide. [.Yot in use.]
Chaucer.
(5IE'R-EAGLE, n. [Qu. D. gier, a vulture.]
A fowl of the eagle kind, mentioned in Le-
viticus ii.
GIE'SECKITE, n. A mineral of a rhom-
boidal form and compact texture, of a gray
or brown color, and nearly as hard as cal-
carious spar. Cleaveland.
GIF, V. t. [from Sax. gifan.] The old but
true spelling oft/".
GIFT, n. [from g-i»e.] A present; anything
given orbestowed ; any thing, the property
of which is voluntarily transferred by one
person to another without compensation ;
a donation. It is applicable to any tli
movable or immovable.
2. The act of giving or conferring. Milton.
3. The right or power of giving or bestow
ing. The prince has the gift of many hi
crative offices.
4. An offering or oblation.
If thou bring thy gift to the altar. Matt. v.
5. A reward.
Let thy gifts be to thyself. Dan. v.
6. A bribe ; any thing given to corrupt itie
judgment.
Neither take a gift ; for a gift doth blind the
eyes ol the wise. Deut. xvi.
7. Power ; faculty ; some quality or endow-
ment conferred bv the author of our na-
ture ; as the gift of wit ; the gift of ridi-
t^iile- Addison.
GIFT, V. t. To endow with any power or
faculty.
GlFT'ED.pp. or a. Endowed by nature with
any power or faculty; furnished with any
particular talent.
GIFT'EDNESS, n. The state of being
gifted. Echard.
GIFT'ING, ppr. Endowing with any power
or faculty.
GIG, ii. t. [L. gigno.] To engender. [JVot
in use.] Dryden.
2. To fish with a gig or fishgig.
GIG, n. [It. giga, a jig ; Fr. gigue, a jig, a
romp ; few. giga, a jews-harp ; Ice. gigia,
a fiddle.]
Any little thing that is whirled round in
play. Locke.
2. A light carriage with one pair of wheels,
drawn by one horse ; a chair or chaise.
3. A fiddle.
4. A dart or harpoon. [See Fishgig.]
5. A ship's boat.
A wanton girl.
(ilGANTE'AN, a. [L. giganteus. See
Giant.] Like a giant ; mighty. More.
GIGAN'TIC, a. [L. giganiicus.] Of extra-
ordinary size ; very large ; huge ; like a
giant. A man of gigantic stature.
2. Enormous ; very great or mighty ; as gi-
gantic deeds ; gigantic wickedness.
Gtgantical and gigantine, for gigantic, rarely
or never used.
GIGANTOL'OgY, n. [Gr. y^yof, a giant,
and >.oyo5, discourse.] An account or de-
scription of giants.
GIG'GLE, n. [Sax. geagl ; Scot, geek.] A
kind of laugh, with siiort catches of the
voice or breath.
GIG'GLE, v. i. [D. gichgelen ; Sax. geagl, a.
laugh or sneer, and gngol, sportive, wan-
ton ; It. ghignare, to simper ; ghignazzare,
to laugh or grin. In Ir. giglim is to tickle ;
Gr. ytyyXtff^oj.]
To laugh with short catches of the breather
voice ; to laugh in a silly, puerile manner;
to titter ; to grin with childish levity or
mirth. Garrick.
GIG'GLER, 11. One that giggles or titters.
GIG'LET, ^^ [Sax. geagl, wanton; Fr.
GIG'LOT, 5 ■ g-fg-wer, to romp, to frisk. See
Gig-.] A wanton ; a lascivious girl.
Shak.
GIGLOT, a. Giddy; light; inconstant;
wanton. Shak.
GIG'OT, n. [Fr.] The hip-joint; also, a
slice. [.Vot Etiglish.]
GIL'BERTINE, n. One ofa religious order,
so named from Gilbert, lord of Sempriug-
hani, in Lincolnshire, England.
GIL'BERTINE, a. Belonging to the mo-
istic order, mentioned above. IVeever.
GILD, II. i. pret. a\iA\^\). gilded or gilt. [Sax.
gildan, gyldan, geldan, to pay a debt, to
gild, and gild, tribute, tax, toll ; D. and
G. geld, money ; Dan. gield, a debt ; Sw.
giUd. To gild is to cover witlig-oW; G,
vergolden ; D. vergulden ; Dan. forgi/lder ;
Sw. Jbrgylla; from gold, or its rootj Dan,
G I L
guul, Sw. gill, Sax. gealew, yellow, con-
nected with Ir.geal, \V.golau, light, bright
Class Gl. No. 6. 7.].
2. To overlay with gold, either in leaf oi
powder, or in amalgam with quicksilver;
to overspread with a thin covering of gold ;
as the gitt frame of a mirror. Cyc
Her joy in gilded chariots when alive.
And love ol ombre after death survive.
Pope
2. To cover with any yellow matter.
Shak.
3. To adorn with luster; to render bright.
No more the rising sun shall gild tlie morn.
Pope
4. To illuminate ; to brighten. South,
Let oft good humor, mild and gay.
Gild the calm evening of your day.
Tntmbull
5. To give a fair and agreeable external ap-
pearance ; to recommend to favor and re-
ception by superficial decoration ; as, to
gild flattery or falsehood.
GILD'EU, pp. Overlaid with gold leaf or
liquid ; illuminated.
GILD'ER, n. One who gilds ; one whose oc
cupation is to overlay things with gold.
2. A Dutch coin of the value of 20 stivers
about 38 cents, or one shilling and nine
pence sterling. It is usually written
guilder.
GILD'ING, ppi: Overlaying with gold;
giving a fair external appearance.
GILD'ING, n. The art or practice of over
laying things with gold leaf or liquid.
2. That which is laid on in overlaying with
gold.
GILL, n. [Sw. gel ; Sp. agalla, a gland
the throat, a gall-nut, a wind-g.iU on a
horse, the beak of a shuttle, and tlie gill of
a fish ; Port, guelra or guerra. Hence it
would seem that gill is a shoot or promi-
nence, the frifige-like substance, not the
aperture. In Danish, gilder signifies to
geld, and to cut off the gills of herrings,
and in Scot, gil or gul is a crack oi
fissme.]
1. The organ of respiration in fishes, consist-
ing of a cartilaginous or bony arch, at-
tached to the bones of the head, and fur-
nished on the exterior convex side with a
multitude of fleshy leaves, or fringed vas-
cular fibrils, resembling plumes, and of a
red color in a healthy state. The water
is admitted by the gill-opening, and acts
upon the blood as it circulates in the
fibrils. Other animals also breathe by
gills, as frogs in their tadpole state, lob-
sters, &.C. Ed. Enctjc.
Fishes perform respiration under water by the
gills. Ray.
2. The flap that hangs below the beak of a
fowl. Bacon.
3. The flesh under the chin.
Bacon. Swift.
4 In England, a pair of wheels and a frame
on which timber is conveyed. [Local.]
GILL-FLAP, n. A membrane attached t
the posterior edge of the gill-lid, immed
ately closing the gill-opening.
GILL-LID, J!. The covering of the gills.
GILL-OPENING, n. The aperture of
fish or other animal, by which water
admitted to the gills. Ed. Encyc.
GILL, n. [Low L.gilla, gillo or gcllo, a drink-
ing glass, a gill. This word has the samel
G I M
elementary letters as Gr. yonJ-oj, a pail or
bucket, and Eng. gallon, probably from
one of the roots in CI, which signify to
hold or contain.]
1. A measure of capacity, containing the
fourth part of a pint. It is said to be in
some places in England, half a pint.
Encyc.
2. A measure among miners, equal to a pint,
Carew.
GiLL, »i. A plant, ground-ivy, of the genus
Glechoma. Fam. of Plants.
2. Malt liquor medicated with ground-ivy.
(ilLL, n. [In Sw. gilja signifies to woo.]
1. In ludicrous language, a female ; a v
ton girl.
Each Jack with his Gill. B. Jon
2. A fissure in a hill ; also, a place between
steep banks and a rivulet flowing through
it ; a brook. Bay. Grose.
GILLHOUSE, n. A place where gill is sold.
Pope.
GIL'LIAN, n. A wanton girl. 04*.
Beaum.
(ilL'LYFLOWER, »i. [supposed to be a
corruption of Jidy-fimver. But qu. is it
not a corruption of Fr. girojlee, giroflier.
The corres|)onding word in Arm. is geno-
Jles or genoflen.]
Tlio name of certain plants. The clove gilly-
Jloiver is of the genus Dianthus, or carna-
tion pink ; the stock gUlyJloiver is the Chei-
ranthus ; the queen's giliydower is the Hes-
peris. Fam. of Plants.
GILSE, n. A young salmon.
GILT, pp. of gild. Overlaid with gold
leaf, or washed with gold ; illuminated ;
adorned.
GILT, n. Gold laid on the surface of a thing ;
gilding. Shak.
2. In England, a young female pig. Cyc.
GILT'HEAD, n. [gilt and head.] In ich-
thyology, a fish or a genus of fishes, the
Sparus, of many species ; so named from
their color, or frotn a golden spot between
the eyes. £iic^c.
2. A bird. Hakeudll.
GILTTAIL, n. A worm so culled from its
yellow tail. Johnson.
(ilM, a. [contracted from g-emmj/.] Neat;;
spruce ; well dressed.
GIM'BAL, n. A brass ring by which a seal
compass is suspended in its box, by means
of which the card is kept in a horizontaf
position, notwithstanding the rolling of the
ship. Mar. Diet.
G IMP.' LET, H. [Fr. gibelet; Arm. guymeled.
Gimblet seems to be the same word as
vximble, with the Celtic pronunciation,
guimhle, and if m is casual, and the prima-
ry word is gibelet or guihelet, the elements
of the word coincide with wabble, quibble,
and with the W. gieib, a serpentine mo-
tion, gwibiaw, to wander, to move in a
circular direction, gwiber, a serpent, a
viper, and the primary sense is to turn.]
A borer; a small instrument with a pointed
screw at the end, for boring holes in wood
by turning. It is applied only to small in-
struments; a large instrument of the like
kind is called an auger.
GIMB'LET, V. t. In seamen's language, to
turn round an anchor by the stock ; a mo-
tion resembling that of the turning of a
gimblet. ' Mar. Diet
G I N
GIMXKACK, n. A trivial mechanism ; u
device ; a toy ; a pretty thing.
Prior. Arbuthnot.
GIM'MAL, n. Some device or machinery.
Shak.
GIM'MAL, a. Consisting of links. Shak.
GIM'MER, n. Movement or machinery.
Obs. More.
GIMP, n. [Fr. guiper, to cover or whip
about with silk ; Lng. to whip.] A kintl
of silk twist or edging.
GIMP, a. [W. gwymp.) Smart ; spruce ;
trim ; nice. [M)t in use.]
(ilN, n. A contraction of Geneva, a distilled
siiirit. [See Geneva.]
(ilN, n. [A contraction of eyigine.] A ma-
chine or instrument by which the mechan-
ical powers are employed in aid of human
strength. The word is applied to various
engines, as a machine for driving piles,
another for raising weights, &.C.; and a
macliine for separating the seeds from cot-
ton, invented by E. Whitney, is called a
cotton-gin. It is also the name given to an
engine of torture, and to a pump moved
by rotary sails.
2. A trap ; a snare. Milton. Shak.
(5 IN, V. t. To clear cotton of its seeds by a
machine which .separates them with expe-
dition. Trans, of Society of Arts.
2. To catch in a trap.
GIN, V. i. To begin. [Sax. gynnan.]
61N'(iER, n. [It. gen^ovo ; Sp. gengibre ;
Port, gengivre ; Fr. gmgembrc ; G. ingber ;
Ji.gember; Sw. ingefara ; Dan. ingefer ;
L. zinziber; Gr. ftyyiSfpis; Arm. zindilel
or sin^ehel ; Ar. Pers. and Turk, ^dngibil or
zinjibil; Syr. Ch. nearly the same.]
A plant, or the root of a species of Amo-
mum, a native of the East and West In-
dies. The roots are jointed, and the stalks
rise two or three feet, with narrow leaves.
The flower stems arise by the side of these,
immediately from the root, naked and end-
ing in an oblong scaly spike. The dried
roots are used for various pur[>oses, in the
kitchen and in medicine. Encyc.
GIN'GERBREAD, 71. [ginger and bread.]
A kind of cake. com])osed of flour with an
admixture of butter, pearlash and ginger,
sweetened.
eiN'GERLY, adv. Nicely ; cautiously. [JVot
used.] Skelton.
GIN'GERNESS, n. Niceness; tenderness.
[.Vol used.]
GINO'IL-VIM, 71. A kind of striped cotton
cloth.
(ilN'GlNG, 71. In mining, the lining of a
mine-shaft with stones or bricks for its
support, called steining or staitiing, which
I suppose is from Sax. stan, stone. Cyc.
GiN'GlVAL, a. [L. gingiva, the gum.] Per-
taining to the gums. Holder.
GIN'GLE, I „ . [In Pers. zangl is a little
JIN'GLE, I ^- '■ bell. In Ch. and Syr. Njr
is the same. Qu. its alHance to chink and
jangle.]
1. To make a sharp clattering sound ; to
ring as a little bell, or as small pieces of
sonorous metal ; as gingling halfpence.
Gay.
2. To utter affected or chiming sounds in
periods or cadence. Johnson.
G I R
G I R
G I S
(';Ii\' GLE,i'. t. To shake so as to make clat-
tflring sounds in quick succession; to ring,
as a little bell, or as small coins.
The bells she gingkd, and the whistle blew.
Pope
('ilN'GLE, n. A shrill clattering sound, or a
succession of sharp sounds, as those made
by a little bell or by small coins.
Q. Aftectation in the sounds of periods in
reading or speaking, or rather chiming
sounds.
(MN'GLYMOID, a. [Or. yiyy>.npo{, a hinge,
and £i5o5, form.] Pertaining to or resem-
bling a ginglymus.
GIN'GLYMUS, n. [Gr. yiyf^viiot.] In anato-
11!)/, a species of articulation resembling a
hinge. That species of articulation in
which each bone partly receives and is
partly received by the other, so as to ad-
mit only of fle.xion and extension, is called
angular ginglymus. Parr.
GiN'NET, n. A nag. [See Jennet.']
GIN'SENG, n. [This word is probably Chi-
nese, and it is said by Grosier, to signify
the resemblance of a man, or man's thigh.
He observes also that the root in the lan-
guage of the Iroquois is called garent-
oquen, which signifies legs andtliighs sepa-
rated. Grosier''s China, i. 534.]
A plant, of the genus Panax, the root of
which is in great demand among the Chi-
nese. It is found in the Northern parjs of
Asia and America, and is an article of ex-
port from America to China. It has a
jointed, fleshy, taper root, as large as a
man's finger, which when dry is of a yel-
lowish white color, with a mucilaginous
sweetness in the taste, somewhat resem-
bling that of liquorice, accompanied with
a slight bitterness. Encyc.
GiP, V. t. To take out the entrails of her-
rings. Bailey.
6IP'SEY, n. The Gipseys are a race of
vagabonds which infest Europe, Africa
and Asia, strolling about and subsisting
mostly by theft, robbery and fortune-tell-
ing. The name is supposed to be cor-
rupted from Egyptian, as they were
thought to have come from Egypt. But
their language indicates that they origina-
ted in Hindoostan. Grellman.
9. A reproachful name for a dark complex-
ion. Shak
3. A name of slight reproach to a woman ;
sometimes implying artifice or canning.
A slave I am to Clara's eyes :
The gipsei) knows hci- power and flies.
Prior.
GIP'SEY, n. The language of the gipseys,
GlP'SEYISM, n. The arts and practices of|
gipseys ; deception ; cheating ; flattery.
Grellman
2. The state of a gipsey.
GIRAFF', )!. [Sp.girafa; It. giraffa ; Av.
*9 \ , •, so called from leaping or the ex
treme length of its neck, from Ojj
rafa, to leap on, to liasten.]
'he camelopard, a quadruped.
ee Came
(ilRANDOLE, n. [It. girandola, from gir
a turn, and andnre, to go.]
A chandelier; a large kind of branched can-
dlestick.
GiR'ASOL, n. [Fr. Sp. ; It. girasole ; giro
L. gyrus, a turn, It. girare, to turn, and sole,
L. sol, the sun.]
1. The turnsole, a plant of the genus Helio
tropium.
9. A mineral usually milk white, bluish white
or sky blue, but when turned towards the
sun or any bright hght, it constantly re-
fleets a reddish color ; hence its name. It
sometimes strongly reselnbles a translucid
jelly. Cleaveland.
GIRD, n. gurd. [Sax. geard, or gyrd,
gijrda, a twig, branch, rod, pole, Eng. ..
yard ; G. gurt, a girth, a girdle ; Dan.
gierde, a hedge, a rail. This word signi-
fies primarily a twig, shoot or branch ;
hence a pole or stick, used in measuring.
In measuring land, among our Saxon an-
cestors, the gyrd seems to have been a cer-
tain measure like our rod, perch or pole,
all of which signify the same thing, a
branch or shoot, a little pole. We now
apply the word yard, to a measure of three
feet in length. In rude ages, gyrds, shoots
of trees, were used for binding things to-
gether, whence the verb to gird. See
fVilhe. Gyrds were also used for driv"
or for punishment, as we now use whips ;
and our common people use gird, for a
vere stroke of a stick or whip. See Lajc,
under gyrd and leeal-stylling.]
1. A twitch or pang ; a sudden spasm, which
resembles the stroke of a rod or the press
ure of a band.
9. In popular language, a severe stroke of i
k or whip.
GIRD, V. t. gurd. pret. and i)p. girded or
girt. [^&x. gyrdan ; G.giirlen; D. garden;
Sw. giorda, to gird or surround ; Dan
gierder, to hedge, to inclose. See the Noun
It is probable, that garden, Ir. goii, is
from the same root ; originally an inclosed
field, a piece of groimd surrounded with
poles, stakes and branches of trees. If the
noun is the primary word, the sense of the
root is to shoot, as a branch ; if the verb is
the root, the sense is to surround, or rather
to bind or make fast. The former is the
most probable.]
1. To bind by surrounding with any flexible
substance, as with a twig, a cord, bandage
or cloth ; as, to gird the loins with sack-
cloth.
2. To make fast by binding ; to put on ;
usually with on ; as, to gird on a harness ;
to gird on a sword.
3. To invest ; to surround.
The Son appeared,
Girt with omnipotence. .Milton.
4. To clothe ; to dress ; to habit.
I girded thee about with fine linen. Ezek
5. To furnish ; to equip.
Girded with snaky wiles. Milton
6. To surround ; to encircle ; to inclose ; to
encompass.
The Nyseian isle,
Girt with the river Tdton. Mlion
7. To gibe; to reproach severely ; to lash.
Shak.
GIRD, I', i. To gibe ; to sneer; to break a
scornful jest ; to utter severe sarcasms.
Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at me.
Shak
GIRD'ED, pp. Bound ; surroimded ; invest
ed ; put on.
GIRD'ER, li. In arckiteclure, the principal
piece of timber in a floor. Its end is usu-
ally fastened into the summers or breast
summers, and the joists are framed into it
at one end. In buildings entirely of tim-
ber, the girder is fastened by tenons into
the posts.
9. A satirist. Lilly.
GIRDING, ppr. Binding; surrouDding:
vesting.
GIRDING, n. A covering. Is. iii.
GIRD'LE, n. [Sax. gyrdle, gyrdl ; Sw.
gdrdel; G. ^irtel ; B. gordel.]
A band or belt ; something drawn round
the waist of a person, and tied or buckled;
as a girdle of fine linen ; a leathern girdk.
9. Inclosure; circumference.
Within the girdle of these walls. Shak.
3. The zodiac. Bacon.
4. A round iron plate for baking. Pegge.
Qu. griddle.
5. Among jeivelers, the line which encom-
passes the stone, parallel to the horizon.
Cyc.
GIRD'LE, V. t. To bind with a belt or sash;
to gird. Shak.
2. To inclose ; to environ ; to shut in.
Shak.
3. In America, to make a circular incision,
like a belt, through the bark and albur-
num of a tree to kill it.
New England. Belknap. Dteight.
GIRDLE-BELT, n. A belt that encircles
the waist. Dryden.
GIRD'LER, n. One who girdles; a maker
of girdles. Beaum.
GIRDLE-STEAD, n. Thepart of thebody
where the girdle is worn. Mason.
GiRE, n. [L. gyrus.] A circle, or circular
motion. [See Gyre.]
GIRL, n. gerl. [Low L. gerula, a young
woman employed in tending children and
carrying them about, from gcro, to carry ;
a word probably received from the Ro-
mans while in England.]
1. A female child, or young woman. In fa-
miliar language, any young unmarried
woman. Dryden.
2. Among spoiismen, a roebuck of two years
old.
GIRLHOOD, ji. The stateofagiri. \Little
used.] Miss Seward.
GIRL'ISH, a. Like a young woman or
child ; befitting a girl.
3. Pertaining to the youth of a female.
Careic.
GIRL'ISHLY, adv. In the manner of a girl.
GIR'ROCK, n. A species of gar-fish, the
lacertus. Cyc.
GIRT, pret. and pp. of gird.
GIRT, V. t. To gird ; to surround.
Thomson. Tookc.
[This verb, if derived from the noun,
girl, may be proper.]
GIRT, I The band or strap by which a
GIRTH, ^ ■ saddle or any burden on a
horse's back is made fast, by passing un-
der his belly.
2. A circular bandage. Wiseman.
.3. The compass measured by a girth or in-
closing bandage.
He's a lusty, jolly fellow, tliat lives well, at
least three yards in the girth. .Addison.
GIRTH, V. t. To bind with a girth.
GISE, V. t. To feed or pasture. [See Jgist.]
GIS'LE, II. A pledge. [JVoi in use.]
G I V
G I V
G L A
tilST, n. [Fr. gesh; to lie ; gite, a lodging-
place.]
In laiv, the main point of a question ; the
point on which an action rests.
GITH, n. Guinea pepper.
GIT'TERN, n. [L. ciihara.] A guitar. [See
Guitar.]
GIT'TERN, II. i. To play on a gittern.
Milton.
GIVE, V. t. giv. pret. gave ; pp. c-iven. [Sax.
gifan, gyfan ; Goth, giban ; G. geben ; D.
geeven ; Sw. gifva ; Dan. giver. Hence
Sax. gi_f, Goth, iabai or yabai, now con-
tracted into if. Chaucer wrote yeve, yave-
Qu. Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. an' to give. See
Class Gb. No. 3. 26. 43. The sense of
give is generally to pass, or to transfer,
that is, to send or throw.]
1. To bestow; to confer; to pass or trans-
fer the title or property of a thing to an-
other person without an equivalent or com-
pensation.
For generous lords had rather give than pay.
Young.
% To transmit from himself to another by
hand, speech or writing ; to deliver.
Tlie woman whom Uiou gavest to be with
me.shegoueme of the tree, and I did eat. Gen
3. To impart ; to bestow.
Give us of yoiu- oil, for
out. Matt. XXV.
17. To cause to exist ; to excite in another ;
as, to give offense or umbrage; to give'
pleasure.
18. To send forth ; to emit ; as, a stone gives
sparks with steel. |
. To addict ; to apply ; to devote one's
self, followed by the reciprocal pronoun.
The soldiers give themselves to plunder.
The passive participle is much used in
this sense ; as, the people are given to lux-
ury and pleasure ; the youth is given to
study.
Give thyself wholly to tliem. 1 Tim. iv.
I. To resign ; to yield up ; often followed
by up.
Who say, I care not, those I give for lost.
Herbert.
21. To pledge ; as, I give my word that the
debt shall be paid.
22. To present for taking or acceptance ; as.
lamps ;
4. To communicate ; as, to give an opinion
Xogive counsel or advice ; to give notice.
5. To pass or deliver the property of a thing
to another for an equivalent ; to pay. We
give the full value of all we pui-chase. A
dollar \s given for a day's labor.
What shall a man give in exchange for his
soul ? Matt. xvi.
6. To yield ; to lend ; in the phrase to give
ear, which signifies to listen ; to hear.
7. To quit ; in the phrase to give place, which
signifies to withdraw, or retire to make
room for another.
8. To confer ; to grant.
What wilt thou give me, seeing I go child-
less ? Gen. XV.
9. To expose ; to yield to the power of.
Give to the wanton wmds their flowing hair
Dryden.
10. To grant ; to allow ; to permit.
It is given me once again to behold my friend
Rowe.
11. To afford; to supply; to furnish.
Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt-
oflerings. Ex. x.
12. To empower ; to license ; to commis-
sion.
Then give thy friend to shed tlie sacred wine
Pope.
But this and similar phrases are proba-
bly elliptical ; give for give power or li-
cense. So in the phrases, give me to un
derstand, give me to know, give the flow
ers to blow, that is, to give power, to ena
ble.
13. To pay or render ; as, to give praise, ap
plause or approbation.
14. To render; to pronounce; as, to givi
sentence or judgment ; to give the word of
command.
15. To utter ; to vent ; as, to give a shout.
16. To produce ; to show ; to exhibit as a
product or result ; as, the number of men
divided by the number of ships, gives four
hundred to each ship.
Vol. I.
I give you my hand,
23. To allow or admit by way of supposi-
tion.
To give away, to alienate the title or prop-
erty of a thing ; to make over to another ;
to transfer.
Wliatsoever we employ in charitable uses,
during our lives, is given away from ourselves.
After bury.
To give back, to return ; to restore.
Mterbury.
To give forth, to publish ; to tell ; to report
publicly. Hayward.
To give the hand, to yield preeminence, as
being subordinate or inferior. Hooker.
To give in, to allow by way of abatement or
deduction from a claim ; to yield what
may be justly demanded.
To give over, to leave ; to quit ; to cease ;
abandon ; as, to give over a pursuit.
2. To addict ; to attach to ; to abandon.
! When the Babylonians had given themselves
I over to all manner of vice. Grew.
,3. To despair of recovery ; to believe to be
lost, or past recovery. The physician had
given over the patient, or given the patient
ovei: Addison.
4. To abandon. Milton
To give out, to utter publicly ; to report ; to
proclaim ; to publish. It was given out
that parhament would assemble in No
vember.
2. To issue ; to send forth ; to publish.
The night was distinguished by the orders
which he gave out to his army. Addison.
3. To show ; to exhibit in false appearance.
Sluik
4. To send out ; to emit ; as, a substance
gives out steam or odors.
To give up, to resign ; to quit ; to yield as
hopeless ; as, to give up a cause ; to give
up the argument.
12. To surrender ; as, to give up a fortress
I to an enemy.
i3. To relinquish ; to cede. In this treaty
I the Spaniards gave up Louisiana.
i4. To abandon ; as, to give up all hope.
I They areg-u'en up to believe a lie.
5. To deliver.
And Joab gave up the sum of tlie number of
the people to the king. 2 Sam. xxiv.
To give one''s self up, to despair of one's re-
covery ; to conclude to be lost.
2. To resign or devote.
Let us give ourselves wholly up to Christ in
heart and desire. Taylor.
92
3. To addict ; to abandon. He gave himself
up to intemperance.
To give way, to yield ; to withdraw to make
room for. Inferiors shoiUd give way to
superiors.
2. To fail ; to yield to force ; to break or fall.
The ire g-arc ivay and the horses were
drowned. The scaflblding gave way. The
wheels or axletree gave way.
3. To recede ; to make room for.
In seamen^s language, give way is an or-
der to a boat's crew to row after ceasing,
or to increase their exertions.
Mar. Diet.
GIVE, V. i. giv. To yield to pressure. The
earth gives under the feet.
To begin to melt ; to thaw ; to grow soft,
so as to yield to pressure. Bacon.
3. To move ; to recede.
Now back he gives, tlien rushes on amain.
Daniel's Civil War.
To give in, to go back ; to give way. [JVot
in use.j
To give into, to yield assent ; to adopt.
This consideration may induce a translator to
give in to those general phrases — P<^e.
To give off, to cease; to forbear. [Little
used.] Locke.
To give on, to rush ; to fall on. [jVoI in use.]
To give out, to publish ; to proclaim.
2. To cease from exertion ; to yield ; applied
to persons, lie labored hard, but gave out
at last.
To give over, to cease ; to act no more ; to
desert.
It would be well for all authors, if they knew
when to give over, and to desist from any fur-
ther pursuits after fame. Addison.
GIV'EN, pp. giv'n. Bestowed ; granted ;
conferred ; imparted ; admitted or sup-
posed.
GIVER, n. One who gives ; a donor ; a
bestower ; a grantor ;
distributes.
It is the giver, and i
rho imparts or
the gift, that engross-
es the heart of the christian. ' Kollock.
GIVES, n. plu. [Iv. geibhion, from geibhim,
to get or hold.]
Fetters or shackles for the feet. [See
Gyves.]
G\\'lNG,ppr. Bestowing; confeiTing ; im-
parting; granting; delivering.
GIVING, J!. The act of conferring.
Pope.
2. An alledging of what is not real. Shak.
GIZ'ZARD, n. [Vr.gesier.] The strong mus-
culous stomach of a fowl.
Ray. Diyden.
To fret the gizzard, to harass ; to ve.x one's
self, or tobe vexed. Hudibras.
GLA'BRIATE, v. t. [L. glabro.] To make
smooth. [JVot used.]
GLABRITY, n. Smoothness. [.Vol tised.]
GLA'BROUS, a. [L. glaber, allied to Eng.
glib. Class Lb. No. 10. 24. 27. 34. 37.]
Smooth ; having an even surface.
GLACIAL, a. [Fr. glacial ; L. glacialis,
from glades, ice.] Icy; consisting of ice;
frozen.
GLA'CIATE, V. i. To turn to ice. Diet.
GLACIA'TION, n. [supra.] The act of
freezing : ice formed. Brown.
GLA'CIER, n. [Fr. glaciere, an ice-house,
from glace, It. ghiaccio, ice. See Gla-
cial.]
A field or immense mass of ice, formed in
deep but elevated valleys, or on the sides
G L A
of the Alps or other mountains. These
masses of ice extend many miles in length
and breadth, and remain undissolved by
the heat of summer. Coxe.
GLA'CIOUS, a. Like ice ; icy. Brown.
GLA'CIS, n. [Fr.] In building, or gardening,
an easy, insensible slope. Encyc.
2. In fortification, a sloping bank ; that mass
of earth which serves as a parapet to the
covered way, having an easy slope or de-
clivity towards the champaign or field.
Encyc.
GLAD, a. [Sax. glccd or glad; Sw.glad;
Dan. glad; perhaps L. latus, without a
prefix. See Class Ld. No. 2. Ar.]
1 . Pleased ; affected with pleasure or mode-
rate joy ; moderately happy.
A wise son maketh a glad father. Prov. x.
It is usually followed by of. I am glad of
an opportunity to oblige my friend.
It is sometimes followed by at.
He that is glad at calamities shall not be un-
punisheil. Piov. xvii.
It is sometimes followed by with.
Tlie Trojan, giad with sight of hostile blood—
Dryden.
If'iih, after glad, is unusual, and in this pas-
sage at would have been preferable.
2. Cheerful ; joyous.
They blessed the king, and went to their
tents, joyful and glad of heart. 1 Kings viii.
3. Cheerful ; wearing the appearance of joy ;
as a glad countenance.
4. Wearing a gay appearance ; showy
bright.
the wilderness and the solitary place shall be
glail for them. Is. xxxv.
Glad evening and glad morn crown'd the
fourtli day. Milton.
5. Pleasing; exhilarating.
More glad to me than to a miser money is.
Sidney
0. Expressing gladness or joy; exciting joy
Hark ! a glad voice the lonely desert cheers.
Pope.
GLAD, V. f. [The pret. and pp. gladed is
not used. See Gladden.]
To make glad ; to affect with pleasure
cheer ; to gladden ; to exhilarate.
Each drinks the juiec that glads the heart of
man. ' Pope
GLAD'DEN, i'. t. glad'n. [Sax. gladian
Dan. glccder ; Sw. gUidia.]
To make glad ; to cheer ; to please ; to ex-
hilarate. The news of peace gladdens our
hearts.
Churches will every where gladden his eye,
and hymns of praise vibrate upon his car.
Dwight.
GLAD'DEN, v. i. glad'n. To become glad :
to rejoice.
So shall your country ever gladden at the
sound of your voice.
Adams' Inaugural Oration
GLAD'DER, n. One that makes glad, or
gives joy. Dryden
GLAD '
G L A
GLADE, n. [D. glad, G. glatl, smooth.]
Smooth ice. M'ew England.
GLA'DEN, ^ [h.gladins, a sword.] S word-
GLA'DER. I "■ grass ; the general name of
plants that rise with a broad blade like
sedge. Junius.
GLAD'FUL, a. Fidl of gladness. Obs.
Spenser.
GLAD'FULNESS, n. Joy ; gladness. Obs.
Spenser.
GLA'DIATE, o. [L. gladius, a sword.]
Sword-shaped ; resembling the form of a
sword ; as the legume of a plant.
Martyn.
GLADIA'TOR, n. [L. from gladius, a
sword.]
A sword-player; a prize-fighter. The gla-
diators, inRome, were men who fought
in the arena, for the entertainment of the
people.
GLADIATO'RIAL, a. Pertaining to glad
ators, or to combats for the entertainment
of the Roman people. Bp. Reynolds.
GLA'DIATORY, a. Relating to gladiators
Bp. Porteus.
GLA'DIATURE, n. Sword-play; fencing.
[jVot in use.] Gayton.
GLAD'IOLE, n. [L. gladiolus, a dagger.]
A plant, the sword-lily, of the genus Gla-
diolus. The ivater gladiole is of the genus
Butonius or flowering rush, and also of
the genus Lobelia or cardinal flower.
Cyc. Fam. of Plants.
GLAD'LY, adv. [See Glad.] With pleas-
ure ; joyfully ; cheerfully.
The common people heard him glaJli/.
Mark xii.
GLAD'NESS,n. [See Glad.] Joy,oramod-
erate degree of joy and exhilaration ; plea-
sure of mind ; cheerfulness.
They— did eat their meat with gladness am
singleness of heart. Acts ii.
[Gladness is rarely or never equivalent to
' ill, merriiiieni, gayely and triumj)h, ani"
G L A
GLANCE,
shoot of light, spFendor; D. glana ; Dan.
glands; Sw. glans. The primary sense
is to shoot, to throw, to dart.]
1. A sudden shoot of light or splendor.
Milton .
2. A shoot or darting of sight ; a rapid or
Hiomentary view or cast ; a snatch of
sight ; as a sudden glance ; a glance of the
eye. Dryden. Walts,
GL^ANCE, V. i. To shoot or dart a ray of
light or splendor.
When through the gloom the glancing light-
nings fly. Howe.
2. To fly off in an oblique direction; to dart
aside. The arrow struck the shield and
glanced. So we say, a glancing ball or
shot.
3. To look with a sudden, rapid cast of the
eye ; to snatch a momentary or hasty
ally expresses less than delight.
It
reat joy. Esther
>AD'blNG, ppr. Making glad ;
giving joy.
Iieenng
GLADE, n. [Ice. Mad. Qu.] An openm^, „.
passage made through a wood by lop-
ping off the branches of the trees. Lo
caliy, in the U. States, a natural opening
or open place in a forest.
There interspersed in lawns and opening
glades. Pope
2. In JVew England, an opening in the ice of
rivers or lakes, or a place left unfrozen.
sometmies expresses
viii. ix.]
GLAD'SOME, a. Pleased ; joyful ; cli
ful. Spenser.
2. Causing joy, pleasure or cheerfulness ;
having the appearance of gayety ; pleas
ing.
Of opening heaven they suug, and gladsome
day. Prior.
GLAD'SGMELY, adv. With joy ; with
pleasure of mind.
GLAD'SOMENESS, n. Joy, or moderate
joy ; pleasure of mind.
2. Showiness. Johnson.
GLAD'WIN, n. A plant of the genus Iris.
I'hm. of Plants.
GLAIR, n. [Fr. glaire. In Sax. glare is ain-
ber, or any thing transparent. This coin-
cides with W. eglur, Eng. clear, L. clarus,
and with Eng. glare, and L. gloria ; per-
liaps with L. glarea, gravel, or pieces of
quartz.]
I. The white of an egg. It is used as a var-
nish for preserving paintings. Encyc.
|2. Any viscous transparent substance, re-
sen)bling the white of an egg.
3. A kind of halbert. Diet.
GLAIR, V. t. To smear with the white of
an egg ; to varnish.
GLA'IRY, o. Like glair, or partaking of its
qualities. Fleming
Then sit again, and sigh and glance.
Suckling.
To hint ; to cast a word or reflection ; as,
;o glance at a different subject.
5. To censure by oblique hints. Shak.
GL'ANCE, V. t. To shoot or dart suddenly
or obliquely ; to cast for a moment ; as, to
glance the eye. Shak.
GL'ANCE-COAL, n. Anthracite ; a mine-
ral composed chiefly of carbon. [See
.dnthrncite.] Cyc.
GL'ANCING, ppr. Sliooting ; darting; cast-
ing suddenly ; flying oft" obliquely.
GL'ANCINGLY, "adv. By glancing; in a
glancing manner ; transiently.
Hakewill.
GLAND, n. [L. glans, a nut; glandula, a
gland ; Fr. glande. Qu. Gr. tSoXaioj, with
a different prefix.]
1. In anatomy, a distinct soft body, formed
by the convolution of a great number of
vessels, either constituting a part of the
lymphatic system, or destined lo secrete
some fluid from the blood. Glands have
been divided into conglobate and conglom-
erate, from their structure ; but a more
jjroper division is into lymphatic and secre-
tory. The former are found in the course
of the lymphatic vessels, and are conglo-
bate. The latter are of various structure.
They include the mucous follicles, the
conglomerate glands, properly so called,
such as the parotid glands and the pan-
creas, the liver, kidneys, &c. The term
has also been applied to other bodies of a
similar appearance, neither lymphatic nor
secretory ; such as the thymus and thy-
roid glands, whose use is not certainly
known, certain portions of the brain, as
the pineal and pituitary glands, &c. [See
Conglobate and Conglomerate.]
Encyc. P^rr. Coxe.
In botany, a gland or glandule is an excre-
tory or secretory duct or vessel in a plant.
Glands are found on the leaves, petioles,
peduncles and stipules. Martyn.
GLAND'ERED, a. Affected with glanders.
BerkUy.
GLAND'ERS, n. [from g-fonrf.] In farriery,
the rmniing of corrupt slimy matter from
the nose of a horse. ' Cyc.
GLANDIF'EROUS, a. [L. glandifer ; glans,
an acorn, and/ero, to bear.]
Bearing acorns or other nuts; producing
G L A
nuts or mast. The beech and tho. oak are
glandiferous trees.
GLAND'IFORM, a. [L. gtans and forma,
form.]
lu the shape of a gland or nut ; resembling
a gland.
GLAND'ULAR, a. Containing glands ; con-
sisting of glands ; pertaining to glands.
GLANUULA'TION, n. In botany, the situa-
tion and structure of the secretory vessels
in plants. Marlyn.
Olandulation respects the secretory vessels,
xvhich are either glandules, follicles or utricles
Lee
OLAND'ULE, n. [L. glandula.] A small
gland or secreting vessel.
GLANDULIF'EROUS, a. [L. glandula and
fero, to bear.] Bearing glands. Lee.
GLAiMDULOS'ITY, n. A collection of
glands. flAttle used.] Brown
GLAND'ULOUS, o. [L. glandulosus.] Con-
taining glands ; consisting of glands ; per-
taining to glands; resembling glands.
GLARE, n. [Dan. g-far, Ice. gler, glass. It
coincides with clear, glory, glair, wliich
1. A bright dazzling light; clear, brilliant
luster or splendor, that dazzles the eyes.
The frame of burnished steel that cast a ^lare.
Dry den.
2. A fierce, piercing look.
About them round,
A lion now he stalks with fiery glare.
Millon.
.^. A viscous transparent substance. fSee
Glair.]
GLARE, V. i. To shine with a clear, bright,
dazzling light ; as glaring light.
The cavern glares with new admitted light.
Dryden.
2. To look with fierce, piercing eyes.
They glared, like angry lions. Dryden.
8. To shine with excessive luster ; to be os-
tentatiously splendid ; as a glaring dress.
Milton.
She glares in balls, front boxes and the ring.
Pope.\
GLARE, V. t. To shoot a dazzling light.
GLA'REOUS, a. [Fr. glaireux. See Glair.]
Resembling the white of an egg ; viscous
and transparent or white.
GLARING, ppr. Emitting a clear and bril-
liant light ; shining with dazzling luster.
2. a. Clear ; notorious ; open and bold ;
barefaced ; as a glaring crime.
GLA'RINGLY, adv. Openly ; clearly ; no-
toriously.
GL>ASS, n. [Sax. glees ; Sw. Dan. G. and
D. glas; so named from its color; W.
glds, from lids, blue, azure, green, fresh,
pale ; glasu, to make blue, to become green
or verdant, to grow pale, to dawn : glaslys,
woad, L. glastum ; glesid, blueness. Ta-
citus, De Mor. Ger. 45, mentions gtesum,
amber collected in the Baltic, probably
the same word, and so named from its
clearness. Greenness is usually named
from vegetation or growing, as L. viridis,
from vireo.]
1. A hard, brittle, transparent, factitious sub-
stance, formed by fusing sand with fixed
alkalies. Encyc.l
In chimistry, a substance or mixture,!
earthy, saline or metallic, brought by fu-
sion to the state of a hard, brittle, trans-|
parent mass, whose fracture is conchoidal.:
.iikin.
G L A
2. A glass vessel of any kind ; as a drinking-
glass.
3. A mirror; a looking-g-tojis.
4. A vessel to be filled with sand for meas-
uring time ; as an hour-glass.
5. The destined time of man's life. Ui>
glass is run.
6. The quantity of liquor that a glass vessel
contains. Drink a glass of wine with me.
7. A vessel that shows the weight of the air.
Tatler.
8. A perspective glass ; as an optic glass.
Milton.
9. The time which a glass runs, or in which
it is exhausted of sand. The seamen''s
watch-glass is Iialf an hour. We say, a
ship fought three glasses.
10. Glasses, in tlie plural, spectacles.
GL'ASS, a. Made of glass ; vitreous ; as a
lass bottle.
Gt^ASS, V. t. To see as in a glass. [JVo(
■used.] Sidney.
2. To case in glass. [Little used.] Skak.
3. To cover with glass ; to glaze. Boyl
[In the latter sense, glaze is generally
used.]
GL'ASSBLOWER, n. One whose business
blow and fashion glass.
GL'ASSFULL, »i. As much as a glass hold.«i.
GL>ASSFURNACE, n. A furnace in whicl
the materials of glass arc melted. Cue
GL>ASS-GAZING, a. Addicted to viewing
' self in a glass or mirror; finical.
Shah.
GL^ASSGRINDER, n. One whose occupa-
tion is to grind and polish glass. Boyle.
GL>ASSHOUSE, n. A house where glass
is made. Addison.
GL>ASSINESS, n. The quality of being
flassy or smooth ; a vitreous appearance
'ASSLIKE, a. Resembling glass.
GL'ASSMAN, n. One who sells glass.
Swift.
GL'ASSMETAL, n. Glass in fusion.
Boyle.
GL>ASSPOT, n. A vessel used for melting
glass in manufactories. Cm
GL-ASSWoRK, n. Manufacture of glass.
GL'ASSVVORKS, n. plu. The place or
buildings where gla.ss is made.
GL'ASSWORT, n. A plant, the Salsola, of
several species, all which may be used in
the manufacture of glass. The Barilla
of commerce, is the scmifused ashes of the
Salsola soda, which is largely cultivated
on the Mediterranean in Spain.
Encyc. ff'ebsler's Manual.
GL'ASSY, a. Made of glass ; vitreous ; as
a glass;/ substance. Bacon.
2. Resembling glass in its properties, as in
smoothness, brittleness, or transparency ;
as a glassy stream ; a glass}) surface ; the
glassy deeji. Shak. Dryden.
GLAUB'ERITE, n. A mineral of a grayish
white or yellowish color, consisting of dry
sulphate of lime and dry sulphate of soda.
Ure.
soda, a
GLAUB'ER-SaLT, n. Sulphate
well known cathartic.
GLAUeO'MA, ji. [Gr.] A fault in the eye,
in which the crystaline humor becomes
gray, but without injury to the sight.
Quincy.
A disease in the eye, in which the crys-
taline humor becomes of a bluish or
G L E
greenish color, and its transparency is di-
minished. Encyc.
An opacity of the vitreous humor.
Hooper.
According to Sharp, the glaucoma of the
Greeks is the same as the cataract ; and
according to St. Yves and others, it is a
cataract with amaiu-osis. Parr.
GLAUCOUS, a. [L. glaucus.] Of a sea
green color ; of a light green.
GLAVE. n. [Fr. glaive ; W. glaiv, a bill-
hook, a crooked sword, a cimiter ; Arm.
A broadsword ; a falchion. [Ao/ used.'j
Fairfax. Hudtbras.
GLA V'ER, V. i. [W. glavru, to flatter ; glav,
something smooth or shining ; L. glaber,
leevis, or lubricus : ICng. glib?]
To flatter ; to wheedle. [Little used and
vidgar.] VEslrange.
GLAV'ERER, ». A flatterer, [supra.]
GLAZE, v.t. [Worn glass.] To furnish with
windows of glass ; as, to glaze a house.
2. To incrust with a vitreous substance, the
basis of which is lead, but combined with
sile.x, pearl-ashes and common salt ; as,
to glaze earthern ivarc.
3. To cover with any thing smooth and
shining; or to render the exterior of a
thing smooth, bright and showy.
Though with other ornaments lie may glaze
and l)randisli the weapons. Grew.
4. To give a glassy surface ; to make glossy ;
as, to glaze cloth.
GLA'ZED, pp. Furnished with glass win-
dows ; incrusted with a substance resem-
bling gla.ss; rendered smooth and shining.
GLA'ZIER, JI. gla'zhur. [from glaze or
glass.] One whose business is to set
window glass, or to fix panes of glass to
the sashes of windows, to pictures, Sec.
Moxon.
GLA'ZING, ppr. Furnishing with window
glass.
2. Crusting with a vitreous substance, as
potter's ware.
.3. Giving a smooth, glossy, shining surface,
as to cloth.
GLA'ZING, n. The vitreous substance with
potter's ware is incrusted.
GLE.AJl, n. [Sax. g-/eam or gl(em, properly
a shoot of light, coinciding with glimmer,
Mr.p.ie, Ir. laom, [perhaps L. flamma.]
The radical sense is to throw, to shoot or
dart, and it may be of the same family as
clamo, clamor, a" shoot of the voice, and VV.
Kant, Ir. /earn, a leap, Ar. «^J Class Ln).
No. 8.] *"
1. A shoot of hght; abeam; a ray; a small
stream of light. A gleam of dawning light,
metaphorically, a gleam of hope.
2. Brightness ; splendor.
In the clear azure gleam the flocks are seen.
Pope.
GLEAM, II. i. To shoot or dart, as rays of
li*ht. At the dawn hght glea^ns in the
2. To shine; to cast hght. Thomson.
3. To flash ; to spread a flood of light.
[Less common.]
4. Among falconers, to disgorge filth, as a
hawk. Encyc.
GLE'AMING, ppr. Shooting as rays of
light ; shining.
G L E
GLE' AMINO, n. A shoot or slieoting of iGLEEK,
light. 1 ciaii.
GLE'AMY, o. Dartuig beams of hght; cast
iiig hght ill rays.
In brazen arms, that cast a gkamy ray.
Swift through the town the warrior bends his
way. Pope
GLEAN, V. t. [Fr. glaner, to glean.; glane.
a handful or cluster. In W.gldn is deaii.]
1. To gather the stalks and ears of grain
which reapers leave behind them.
Let me now go to the field, and g/ean cars of
com — Ruth ii.
% To collect things thinly scattered
gather what is left in small parcel:
numbers, or what is found in detached
paicels ; as, to glean a few passages from
an author.
Tliey gleaned of thera in the highways five
thousand men. Judges xx.
GLEAN, V. i. To gather stalks or ears of
grain left by reapers.
And she went, and came and gleaned in tlie
field after tlie reapers. Ruth ii.
GLEAN, n. A collection made by gleaning
or by gathering here and there a Uttle.
The gleans of yellow thyme distend his
thighs. Dryd:
GLE'ANED, pp. Gathered after reapers ;
collected from small detached parcels ; as
grain gleaned from the field.
3. Cleared of what is left ; as, the field
gleaned.
3. Having suffered a gleaning. The piil
prints have been gleaned.
GLE'ANER, n. One wlio gathers after
G L I
n. [See Glee.] Music, or a musi
ifts. Shak.
2. A scoff; a game at cards. Obs.
GLEEK, II. i. To make sport of; to gibe ;
to sneer ; to spend time idly. Obs.
Shak
GLEE'MAN, n. A musician. Obs.
IgLEEN, v. i. [W. glan, clean, pure, holy,
bright ; gleiniatv, to purify, to brighten ; Ir.
glan.] To shine ; to glisten. [JVot used.]
Prior.
GLEE'SOME, a. Merry ; joyous. 06s.
GLEET, n. [from Sax. glidan, to glide, oi
hlyttrian, to melt; Ice. glat.]
The Rax of a thin humor from the urethra ;
a thin ichor running from a sore.
Encyc. Wiseman.
GLEET, V. i. To flow in a thin hmpid hu-
mor ; to ooze. Wiseman.
J2. To flow slowly, as water. Cheyne.
'GLEET'Y, a. Ichorous ; thin ; limpid.
GLEN, n. [W. glyn, a valley in which a
river flows, as if from llyn, liquor, water ;
Sax. glen ; Ir. glean.]
A valley ; a dale ; a depression or space be
I tween hills.
GLENE, ji. [Gr. -y^vi-] I" anatomy, the
cavity or socket of the eye, and the pupil
any slight depression or cavity receivhig
GLEW. [See G/i<e.
GLI'ADINE, 71. [G'r. y?.m, glue.] One of
reapers.
Thomson.
a bone in articulation.
Cyc.
2. One who collects detached parts or num-
bers, or who gathers slowly with labor.
Locke
GLE'ANING, ppr. Gathering what reaji-
ers leave ; collecting in small detached
parcels.
GLE'ANING, n. The act of gathering after
reapers.
2. That which is collected by gleaning,
GLEBE, n. [L. gleba, a clod or lump of
earth ; Fr. gleb'e, land, ground ; probably
from collecting, as in globe, club.]
1. Turf; soil ; ground.
Till the glad summons of a genial lay
Unbinds the giete— Garth.
2. The land belonging to a parish church or
ecclesiastical benefice. Spehnan. Encyc.
3. A crystal. Obs. Arbuthnot
4. Among miners, a piece of earth in whicli
is contained some mineral ore. Encyc
GLE'BOUS, a. Gleby ; turfy. Did
GLE'BY, o. Turfy ; cloddy.
tjLEDE, n. [Sax. glida, from glidan, to
glide; Sw. glada.]
A fowl of the rapacious kind, the kite, a
species of Falco. The word is used in
Deut. xiv. 13. but the same Hebrew word.
Lev. xi. 14. is rendered a vulture.
GLEE, n. [Sax. glie, from glig, gligg, sport,
music]
1. Joy; merriment; mirth ; gayety; partic
ularly, the mirth enjoyed at a feast.
Spenser.
2. A sort of catch or song sung in parts
Mason. Busby.
GLEED, n. [Sax. gled.] A glowing coal.
Obs. Chaucer.
GLEE'FUL, a. Merry ; gay ; joyous.
Shak.
the constituents of gluten, a slightly trans
parent, brittle substance, of a straw-yellow
color, having a slight smell, similar to that
of honeycomb. lire.
GLIB, a. [D. glibberen, glippcn, to slide;
glibberig, glib, slijipery ; W. llipyr ; L,
glaber, smooth ; labor, to slide. This word
contains the elements of slip. Qu. L.g^it
" No. 27. 37.1
bo, Gr. yXv^u. Class Lb.
1. Smooth; slippery; admitting a body to
slide easily on the surface ; as, ice is glib.
2. Smooth ; voluble ; easily moving ; as a
flib tongue.
IB, n. A thick curled busli of hair hang-
ing down over the eyes. [JVoi in use.]
Spense
GLIB, V. t. To castrate.
smooth, glubo, yjiv^u.]
2. To make smooth.
GLIB'LY, adv. Smoothly
[Qt,
to make
Shak
Bp. Hall
olubly ; a
G L I
GLIDE, n. The act or manaer of moving
smoothly, swiftly and without labor oi
obstruction. Shak
GLI'DER, n. He or that which glides.
Spenser
GLI'DING, ppr. Passing along gently and
smoothly ; moving rapidly, or with ease.
GLIM'MER, v.i. [G.glimmen,glimm^m,to
gleam, to glimmer ; D. glimmen ; Sw.
glimma ; Dan. glimrer ; Ir. loom, flame.]
1. To shoot feeble or scattered rays of light ;
as the glimmering dawn; a glimmering
lamp.
When rosy morning glimmered o'er the dales.
Pope.
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of
day. Shak.
2. To shine faintly ; to give a feeble light.
Mild evening glimmered on the lawn.
Trumbull.
GLIM'MER, n. A faint light ; feeble scat-
tered rays of light.
2. In mineralogy, mica, glist, muscovy-glass ;
a mineral resulting from crystalization,
but rarely found in regular crystals. Us-
ually it appears in thin, flexible, elastic la-
mins, which exhibit a high polish and
strong luster. It is an essential ingredi-
ent in granite, gneiss, and mica slate.
Cleaveland.
GLIM'MERING, ppr. Shining faintly;
shooting feeble scattered rays of light.
GLIM'MERING, n. A faint beaming of
light.
2. A faint view.
GLIMPSE, n. glims. [D. glimp, from glim-
1. A weak taint light.
Such vast room in Nature,
Only to sliine, yet scarce to contribute
Each orb a glimpse of light. Milton.
2. A flash of light ; as the lightning's gMmpse.
Milton.
3. Transient luster.
One glimpse of glory to my issue give.
Dryden.
4. A short transitoi-y view. He saw at a
glimpse the design of the enemy.
5. Short fleeting enjoyment ; as a glimpse of
delight. Prior.
6. Exhibition of a faint resemblance.
e glibly ; to speak gftoti/.
GLIB'NESS, n. Smoothness ; slipperiness
polished ice-like glibness. Chapman
2. Volubility of the tongue.
Government of the Tongue.
GLIDE, V. i. [Sax. glidan ; G. gleiten ; D.
glyden ; Dan. glider. Qu. Fr. glisser, in a
difierent dialect. It has the elements of
slide, as glib has of slip.]
1. To flow gently ; to move without noise or
violence ; as a river.
By east, among the dusty vallies glide
The silver streams of Jordan's crystal ftood.
Fairfax.
3. To move silently and smoothly ; to pass
along without apparent effort ; as a hawk
or an eagle gliding through the air.
3. To move or pass rapidly and with ap
parent ease ; as, a ship glides through the
water.
4. In a general sense, to move or slip along
with ease as on a smooth surface, or to
pass along rapidly without apparent effort
and without obstructioa.
GLIMPSE, V. i. To appear by glimpses.
Drayton.
GLIS'SA, n. A fish of the tunny kind, with-
out scales. Diet. JVat. Hisf^
GLIST, n. [from glisten.] Glimmer; mica.
[See Glimmer.]
GLIS'TEN, r. i. glis'n. [Sax. glisnian ; G.
gleissen. This word and glitter are prob-
ably dialectical forms of the same word.
In Irish lasadh, lasaim, is to burn, to light ;
Dan. lyser, Sw. tysa, to shine ; Russ. oblis-
tayu. In W. llathru is to make smooth
and glossy, to polish, to glitter. Qu. Heb.
tySj to shine, L. glisco, Eng. gloss.]
To shine ; to sparkle with light ; as the glis-
tening stars.
The ladies' eyes glistened with pleasure.
Richardson.
GLIS'TENING, ppr. Shining; sparkling;
emitting rays of light.
GLIS'TER, V. i. [See Glisten.] To shine j
to be bright ; to sparkle ; to be brilliant.
All that s^listcns is not s;old. Shak.
glister: [See Clyster.]
G L O
G L O
G L O
GLIS'TERING, ppr. Shining; sparkling
with light.
GLIS'TERINGLY, adv. With shining lus-
ter.
GLIT'TER, j;. i. [Sax. glitenan ; Sw. glit-
tra. See Glisten.]
1. To shine ; to sparkle with light ; to gleam
to be splendid ; as a glittering sword.
The field yet glitters with the pomp of war.
Dryden
2. To be showing, specious or striking, and
hence attractive ; as the glittering scenes o "
a court.
GLIT'TER, n. Brightness ; brilliancy ;
splendor ; luster ; as the glitter of arms ;
the glitter of royal equipage ; the glitter of
dress.
GLIT'TERAND, ppr. or a. Sparkling. [JVot
in use.] Chaucer.
GLIT'TERING, ppr. Shining; splendid;
brilliant.
GLIT'TERINGLY, adv. With sparklinj
luster.
GLOAM, V. i. To be sullen. [See Glum.]
GLOAR, V. i. [D. gluuren, to leer.] To
squint ; to stare. Obs.
GLOAT, V. i. [Sw glulta, to peep.] To cast
side glances ; to stare witli eagerness or
admiration. Obs. Rowe.
GLO'BATE, } [L. globulus.] Having the
GLO'BATED, J "• form of a globe ; splieri-
cal ; spheroidal.
GLOBE, n. [L. globus; Fr. globe; Sp. It
globo ; Sax. ckow, cliwe or cliaiv ; Eng.
cleto. See Clew. Russ. klub, a ball.]
1. A round or spherical solid body ; a ball
a sphere ; a body whose surface is in ev-
ery part equidistant from the center.
2. The earth ; the terraqueous ball ; so call-
ed, though not perfectly spherical.
Locke.
3. An artificial sphere of metal, paper or
other matter, on whose convex surface
is drawn a map or representation of
the earth or of the heavens. That on
which the several oceans, seas, continents,
isles and countries of the earth are re-
presented, is called a terrestrial globe. That
which exhibits a delineation of the con-
stellations in the heavens, is called a celes-
tial globe.
4. A body of soldiers formed into a circle.
Milton.
GLOBE, V. f. To gather round or into a cir-
cle. Milton.
GLOBE-AMARANTH, n. A plant of the
genus Gomphrcna. [See Arnaranth.]
Fam. of Plants.
GLOBE-ANIMAL, n. A species of ani-
malcule of a globular form. Ena/c.
GLOBE-DAISY, n. A plant or flower of
the genus Globularia.
Fam. of Plants.
GLO'BE-FISH, n. A fish of a globular
shape, the Ostracion. Johnson, Encyc.
GLO'BE-FLOWER, n. A jilant or flower
of the genus Sphasranthus.
Fam. of Plants.
GLOBE-RANUN'CULUS, n. A plant, the
Trollins europaeus.
Fam. of Plants. Lee.
GLO'BE-THISTLE, «. A plant of the
genus Echinops. Fam. of Plants.',
GLOBO'SE, a. [L. globosus, from globe.]]
spherical; globular. Milton.]
GLOBOSITY, n. The quahty of being
round ; sphericity. Roy
GLO'BOUS, a. [L.globosus.] Round ; spher
ical. Milton.
GLOB'ULAR, a. [from globe.] Round
spherical ; having the form of a small ball
or sphere ; as globular atoms. Grew,
GLOBULARIA, n. A flosculous flo
MUler
GLOB'ULE, n. [Fr. globule; L. globulus.
dim. of globus.]
A little globe ; a small particle of matter of
a spherical form ; a word particularly ap
plied to the red particles of blood, which
swim in a transparent serum, and may be
discovered by the microscope.
Quincy. Arbulhnot. Encyc.
Hail stones have opake globules of snow
their center. jVeivton.
GLOB'ULOUS, «. Round ; globular ; ha
ing the form of a small sphere. Boyle.
GLO'BY, a. Round ; orbicular.
Sherwood.
GLODE, old pret. of glide. Obs.
GLOME, n. [L. glomus, a ball ; Heb. Ch
d'^J, Ar. ^J lamma, to wind, convolve,
or collect into a mass. Class Lm. No. 5.
11. Qu. its alliance to lump, clump,
plumbum.]
In botany, a roundish head of flowers.
Marlyn.
GLOMERATE, i-. /. [L. glomero, from
glomus, supra.]
To gather or wind into a ball ; to collect into
a spherical form or mass, as threadi
GLOM'ERATED, pp. Gathered into a ball
or round mass.
GLOM'ERATING, ppr. Collecting or wind
ing into a ball or round mass.
GLOMERA'TION, n. [L. ghmeratio.] The
act of gathering, winding or forming into
a ball or spherical body.
•■J. A body formed into a ball. Bacon.
GLOM'EROUS, a. [L. glomerosus.] Gath-
ered or formed into a ball or round mass,
[Qu. the use.]
GLOOM, n. [Scot, gloum, gloom, a frown.
In D. lommer is a shade, and loom is slow,
heavy, dull. In Sax. glomung is twi
light.]
I. Obscurity ; partial or total darkness
thick shade ; as the gloom of a forest, oi
the gloom of midnight.
3. Cloudiness or heaviness of mind ; melan-
choly ; aspect of sorrow. We say, the
mind is sunk into ^loom ; a gloom over-
spreads the mind.
3. Darkness of prospect or aspect.
4. Sullenness.
GLOOM, V. i. To shine obscurely or im-
jjcrfectly. Spenser.
3. To be cloudy, dark or obscure.
3. To be melancholy or dejected.
Goldsmith.
GL003I, V. t. To obscure ; to fill with
gloom ; to darken ; to make dismal.
Young.
GLOOM'ILY, adv. [from gloomy.] Ob-
scurely ; dimly ; darkly ; dismally.
2. With melancholy aspect; sullenly; not
cheerfully. Dryden. Thomson.
GLOOMINESS, n. Want of light ; obscu-
rity ; darkness ; disraalness.
2. Want of cheerfulness ; cloudiness of look ;
heaviness of mind ; melancholy ; as, to in-
^ volve the mind in gloominess. Addison.
GLOOM'Y, a. [from gloom.] Obscure ; im-
perfectly illuminated ; or dark ; dismal ;
as the gloomy cells of a convent ; the
gloomy shades of night.
2. Wearing the aspect of sorrow ; melan-
choly ; clouded ; dejected ; depressed ;
heavy of heart ; as a gloomy countenance
or state of mind ; a gloomy temper.
3. Of a dark complexion. [Little used.]
MUlon.
GLORIA'TION, n. [L. gloriatio.) Boast;
a triumphing. [JYot used.] Richardson.
GLO'RIED, a. [See Glory.] Illustrious ;
honorable. [jVot used.] Milton.
GLORIFICATION, n. [See Glorify.] The
act of giving glory or of ascribing honors
to. Taylor.
2. Exaltation to honor and dignity ; eleva-
tion to glory ; as the glorification of Christ
after his resurrection.
GLO'RIFIED, pp. Honored ; dignified ; ex-
alted to glory.
GLO'RIFY, V. t. [Fr. glorifcr ; L. gloria
and facio, to make.]
1. To praise ; to magnify and honor in wor-
shiii ; to ascribe honor to, in thought or
words. Ps. Ixxxvi.O.
God is glorified, when such his excellency,
above all things, is with due admiration ac-
knowledged. Hooker.
2. To make glorious ; to exalt to glory, or to
celestial happiness.
Whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom. viii.
The God of our fathers hath glorified his son
Jesus. Acts iii.
3. To praise ; to honor; to extol.
Whomsoever they find to be most licentious
of life— him they set up and glorify. Spenser.
4. To procure honor or praise to. Shak.
GLO'RIFYING, ppr. Praising; honoring
in worship ; exalting to glory ; honoring ;
extolling.
GLO'RIOUS, a. [Fr. glorieux ; L. eloriosus.
See Glory.]
. Illustrious; of exalted excellence and
splendor; resplendent in majesty anil d'l-
\\iic altribules; applied to God. E.\. xv. 11.
2. Noble ; excellent ; renowned ; celebrated ;
illustrious ; very honorable ; applied to
men, their achievments, titles, &c.
Let us remember we are Calo's friends.
And act like men who claim that glorious
title. Addison.
•3. Boastful ; self-exulting ; haughty ; osten-
tatious. Obs. Bacon.
GLO'RIOUSLY, adv. Si)lendidly ; illustri-
ously ; with great renown or dignity.
Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed
gloriously. Ex. xv.
GLO'RY, n. [L. gloria ; Fr. gloire ; Sp. and
It. gloria ; Ir. gloir, glory, and glor, clear;
W. cglur, clear, bright ; Arm. gloar, glory.
It coincides with clear, and the primary
sense seems to be to open, to expand, to
enlarge. So splendor is from the Celtic
ysplan, open, clear, plain, L. planus;
hence, bright, shining. Glory, then, is
brightness, splendor. The L. floreo, to
blossom, to Jlower, to Jlourish, is probably
of the same family.]
1. Brightness ; luster ; splendor.
The mooD, serene in glory, mounts tlie sky.
Pojje.
G L O
G L O
G L O
which honors or makes renowned ; that
of which one may boast.
Babylon, the ^lory of kingdoms. Is. xiii.
11. Pride ; boastfulness ; arrogance ; as vain
glory.
12. Generous pride. Sidney.
GLO'RY, V. i. [L. glorior, from gloria.] To
exult with joy ; to rejoice.
Glory ye in his holy name. Ps. cv. 1
Chron. xvi.
2. To boast ; to be proud of.
No one should glory in his prosperity.
Hiehardson,
with joy :
GLORYING, ppr. ExuUing
boasting.
GLO'RYING, n. The act of exulting; ex
nltation ; l)oasting ; display of pride.
Vour glorying is not good. 1 Cov. v.
GLOSE, GLOSER. [See Gloze.]
GLOSS, n. [G. glosse, a gloss or comment ;
glotzen, to gleam, to glimmer. In Sax.
glcsan signifies to explain, to flatter,
to gloze. From the Gr. yXuosa, the tongue,
and a strap, the L. has glossa, a tongue
and interpretation. In Heb. ehi signifies
to shine, but from the sense of smooth
ness; Syr. t*..li ^ to peel, to shave, t(
make bald. Whether these words an
all of one family, let the reader judge.
The radical sense appears to be, to open
to make clear, and the sense of tongue
is probably to extend. If the first letter
is a prefix, tlie other letters La are the
elements of Jr. leos, light, L. lustro, Eng,
luster ; and it is remarkable that in Russ
losk is luster, polish, and laskayu is tc
flatter. The Gr. yXurta, in the Attic dia-
lect, is a tongue, and in Swedish and Ger-
man, glatt, jian.glat, D. glad, is smooth.]
1. Brightness or luster of a body proceeding
from a smooth surface ; as tlie gloss of.
silk ; cloth is calendered to give it a gtt
For he received from God the Father honor [2,
and glory, when there came such a voice to
him fiom the excellent glory. 2 Pet. i.
In this passage of Peter, the latter word
gjory refers to the visible splendor or
bright cloud that overshadowed Christ at
his transfiguration. The former word
glory, though the same in the original, is
to be understood in a figurative sense.
2. Splendor ; magnificence.
Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed
like one of these. Matt. vi.
0. The circle of rays surrounding the head
of a figure in painting.
4. Praise ascribed in adoration ; honor.
Glory to God in the highest. Luke ii.
5. Honor ; praise ; fame ; renown ; celebrity.
The hero pants for gloiy in the field. It
was the glory of Howard to relieve the
wretched.
6. The felicitv of heaven prepared for the
children of God ; celestial bliss.
Thou shall guide me with thy counsel, and
afterwards receive me to glory. Ps. Ixxiii.
7. In scripture, the divine presence ; or the
ark, the manifestation of it.
The glory is departed fiom Israel. 1 Sam. iv.
8. The divine perfections or excellence.
The heavens declare the gl(n'y of God. Ps.
xix.
9. Honorable representation of God. 1 Cor.
xi. viii.
10. Distinguished honor or ornament ; that
A specious appearance or representation ;
jxternal show that may mislead opinion.]
It is no part of my secret meaning to set onl
the face of this cause any fairer gloss than the'
naked truth doth afford. Hooker.\
An interpretation artfully specious. j
Sidney.'
4. Interpretation ; comment ; explanation ;
remark intended to illustrate a subject, i
.M\ this, without a gloss or comment, |
He would unriddle in a moment. Hudibras.'
Explaining the text in short glosses. Baker.l
5. A literal translation. Encyc.
GLOSS, V. t. To give a superficial lusterj
to ; to make smooth and shining ; as, toj
gloss cloth by the calender ; to gloss ma-:
hogany. |
. To explain ; to render clear and evident
by comments ; to illustrate. j
. To give a specious appearance to ; to ren-
der specious and plausible ; to palliate by
specious representation.
You have the art to gloss the foulest cause.'
Philips.l
GLOSS, V. i. To comment ; to write orl
make explanatory remarks. Di-yden.\
To make sly remarks. Prior),
GLOSSA'RIAL, a. Containing explana-
tion.
GLOSS'ARIST, n. A writer of glosses or
comments. Ti/rwhitt.\
GLOSS'ARY, n. [Fr. glossaire; Low L.]
glossarium.]
A dictionary or vocabidary, explaining ob-!
scnre or antiquated words found in old,
autiiors ; such as Du Cange's Glossary
Spelman's Glossary.
GLOSSA'TOR, n. [Fr. glossateur.] A wri
ter of comments; a connnentator. [JVot
used.] Jiyliffe.
GLOSS'ED, pp. Made smooth and shi-
ng ; explained.
GLOSS'ER, n. A writer of glosses ; a scho-
liast ; a commentator.
A polislier; one who gives a luster.
GLOSS'INESS, n. [from glossy.] The
ustcr or brightness of a smooth surface.
Boyle.
GLOSS'ING, ppr. Giving luster to ; polish-
ing ; explaining by comments ; giving a
specious appearance.
GLOSS'IST, n. A writer of comments.
[jYot in use.] Htlton.
GLOSSOG'RAPHER, n. [gloss and Gr.
7po4)u, to write.]
A writer of glosses; a cotnmentator; ascho-
"last. Hauward.
GLOSSOG'RAPHY, n. The writing of
comments for illustrating an author.
GLOSSOL'OGIST, n. [gloss and Gr. Tioyoj.]
One who writes glosses ; a commentator.
GLOSSOL'OgY, H. [gloss andGr.J.oyo5, dis-
coiu'se.]
Glosses or commentaries ; explanatory notes
for illustrating an author.
GLOSS'Y, a. Smooth and shining ; refiec-
ting luster from a smooth surface ; highly
polished ; as glossy silk ; a glossy raven ; a
glossy plum. Dryden.
GLOT'TIS, 71. [Gr. ykutta., the tongue.]
The narrow opening at the upper part of
t!ie aspera arteria or windpipe, which, by
its dilatation and contraction, contributes
to the modulation of the voice.
Encyc. Parr.
GLOUT, V. i. [Scot.] To pout ; to look sul-
len. [JVot used.] Garth.
GLOUT, V. I. To view attentively. [JVot in
use.^
GLOVE, n. [Sax. glof. Qu. W. golov, a
cover. Tlie G. D. Svv. Dan. call it a
hand-shoe.]
A cover for the hand, or for the hand and
arm, \vith a separate sheath for each fin-
ger. The latter circumstance distinguish-
es the glove from the mitten.
To throw the glove, with our ancestors, was
to challenge to single combat.
GLOVE, V. t. To cover with a glove.
Shak.
GLOVER, n. One whose occupation is to
make and sell gloves.
GLOW, V. {. [Sax. glowan, G. gliihen, D.
gloeijen, Dan. gloder, to glow, to be red
with heat ; Dan. glod, gloe. Sax. gled, D.
gloed, G. gluth, Sw. gUd, W. glo, Corn.
glou. Arm. glaouen, a live coal ; W. gla or
glaw, a sliining ; gloyw, bright ; gloyun, to
brighten or make clear.]
1. To shine with intense heat; or perhaps
more correctly, to shine with a white heat;
to exhibit incandescence. Hence, in a
more general sense, to shine with a bright
luster.
Glows in the stars, and blossoms in the trees.
Pope.
2. To burn with veheinent heat.
The scorching fire that in their entrails glows.
Jlddison.
3. To feel great heat of body ; to be hot.
Did not his temples glow
In the same sultry winds and scorching
heats .' Jiddison .
4. To exhibit a strong bright color ; to be
red.
Clad in a gown that glows with Tynan rays.
Dryden .
Fair ideas flow,
Strike in the sketch, or in the picture glow.
Pope.
5. To be bright or red with heat or anima-
tion, or with blushes; as glowing cheeks.
6. To feel the heat of passion ; to be ardent ;
to be animated, as by intense love, zeal,
anger, &c.
We say, the heart glows with love or zeal ;
the glowing breast.
When real virtue fires the glowing bard.
Lewis.
If you have never glowed with gratitude to
the author of the christian revelation, you know
nothing of Christianity. Buckminster.
7. To burn with intense heat ; to rage ; as
passion.
With pride it mounts, and with revenge it
glows. Dryden.
GLOW, V. i. To heat so as to shine. [JVot
used.] Shak.
GLOW, n. Shining heat, or white heat.
2. Brightness of color ; redness; as tlieg'Zojo
of health in the cheeks.
A "H a\'ing glow his bloomy beds display.
Blushing in bright diversities of day. Pope.
3. Vehemence of passion.
GLOWING, ;^pr. Shining with intense heat;
white with heat.
2. Burning with vehement heat.
3. Exhibiting a bright color ; red ; as a
glotoing color ; glowing cheeks.
4. Ardent ; vehement ; animated ; as glow
ing zeal.
5. Inflamed ; as a glowing breast.
G L U
G L L
G N A
GLOWINGLY, adv. With great brightness
with ardent heat or passion.
GLOWWORM, n. The female of the Lam
pyri^ nocHluca, an insect of the order of
Coleopters. It is without wings and
sembles a caterpillar. It emits a shining
green light from the extremity of the ab-
domen. The male is winged and flies
about in the evening, when it is attracted
by the light of the female. Encyc.
GLOZE, v.i. [Sax. glesan. See Glosa.]
To flatter; to wheedle; to fawn ; that is.
to smooth, or to talk smoothly.
So glozed the tempter, and his proem tun'd.
Mlt07l
A false glazing parasite. South
GLOZE, n. Flattery ; adulation
2. Specious show; gloss. [JVb< ustd. See
Gloss.] Sidney.
GLO'ZER, n. A flatterer. Gifford.
GLO'ZING, ppr. Flattering ; wheedling,
GLO'ZING, )!. Specious representation.
Mountagu.
GLU'CIN, n. [Gr. y\i,xvi.] A soft white
earth or powder obtained from the beryl
and emerald ; so named from its forming
with acids, salts that are sweet to the taste
Ure.
Glucin is a compound, of which gluci-
7ium is the base. Davy.
GLUE, n. glu. [Fr. glu ; W. glyd ; Arm.
glud ; Ir. glydh, gliu, gleten ; L. gluten ;
Gr. yxia ; Russ. kUi. See Class Ld. No.
8. 9. 10.]
Inspissated animal gluten ; a tenacious, vis-
cid matter, which serves as a cement to
unite other substances. It is made of the
skins, parings, &c. of animals, as of ox
en, calves or shee|>, by boiling them to a
jelly. Encyc. Par
r;LUE, V. t. [Vr.gluer.l To join with gli
or a viscous substance. Cabinet makers
glue together some parts of furniture.
2. To unite ; to hold together. JVewlon.
[This word is now seldom used in a figura
tive sense. The phrases, to glue friend:
together, vices glue us to low pursuits or
pleasures, found in writers of the last cen
tury, are not now used, or are deemed in
elegant.]
GLU'EBOILER, n. [glue and ioi7.] One
whose occui)ation is to make glue.
GLU'ED, pp. United or cemented with
glue.
GLU'ER, n. One who cements with gl
GLU'EY, a. Viscous; glutinous.
GLU'EYNESS, n. The quality of being
gluey.
JLU'ING, ppr. Cementing
GLU'ING, ppr. Cementing with glue.
GLU'ISH, o. Having the nature of glue.
Shtrwood.
GLUM, a. [Scot. ghum. a frown.] Frown-
ing; sullen. [Little used.]
GLUM, «. Sullenness ; and, as a verb, to
look sullen. [.Vo( in use.]
GLUMA'CEOUS, a. Having glumes; con-
sisting of glumes. Barton.
GLUME, Ji. [L. gluma, from glubo, to bark
or peel, or Gr. yXu^u.]
In botany, the calyx or corol of corn and
grasses, formed of valves embracing the
seed, often terminated by the arista or
beard ; the husk or chafl".
Milne. Martyn.
GLUM'MY, a. Dark ; gloomy ; dismal. !
GLU'MOUS, a. A glumous flower is a khid
of aggregate flower, having a filiform re
ceptacle, with a common glume at the
base. Martyn.
GLUT, w. r. [L.g-/u(io; Fr. cng-/ou<!>; Russ.
glotayu, to swallow ; W. glulh, a glutton
glylhu, to gormandize ; from llwlh, a swal
low, greediness ; It. ghiotto, Low L. gluto,
GLUT, 71. Tliat which :
a glutton ; Heb. Ch. oA [See Ar. tii.i.]
Class Ld. No. 17. The sense is to crowd,
to stuff".]
. To swallow, or to swallow greedily ; to
gorge. Milton
2. To cloy; to fill beyond sufficiency; tc
sate ; to disgust ; as, to glut the appetites.
Denham.
3. To feast or delight even to satiety.
His faithful heart, a bloody sacrifice,
Tom from his breast, to glut tlie tyrant';
eyes. Dryden
4. To fill or furnish beyond sufficiency ; as
to glut the market.
To saturate. Boyle.
swallowed.
Milton.
2. Plenty even to lothing.
He shall find himself miserable, even in the
ry glut of his delights. L'Estrange.
A glut of study and retirement. Pope.
3. More than enough ; superabundance.
B. Jonson.
Any thing that fills or obstructs the pas-
sage. Woodward.
5. A wooden wedge. JsTew England.
GLU'TEAL, a. [Gr. •j'Xoi.rof, nates.] The
gluteal artery, is a branch of the hypogas-
tric or internal iliac artery, which supplies
the gluteal muscles. Coxe. Hooper.
The gluteal muscles, are three large muscles
on each side, which make up the fleshy
part of the buttocks. Parr.
GLUTEN, n. [L. See Glue.] A tough elas-
tic substance, of a grayish color, which
becomes brown and brittle by drying ;
found in the flour of wheat and other
grain. It contributes much to the nutri-
tive quality of flour, and gives tenacity
to its paste. A similar substance is found
in the juices of certain plants.
Jfebster's Manual.
2. That part of the blood which gives firm-
ness to its texture. Parr.
GLU'TINATE, v. t. To unite with glue ; to
cement. Baileij.
GLUTINA'TIO.N, „. The act of uniting
with glue. Bailey.
GLU'TINATIVE, a. Having the quality ofj
cementing ; tenacious.
GLUTINOS'ITY, n. The quality of being
glutinous; viscousness.
GLU'TINOUS, n. [L. glutinosus.] Viscousj,
viscid ; tenacious ; having the quality of
glue ; resembling glue. Starch is gluti
7tOllS.
In botany, besmeared with a slippery
moisture ; as a glutinoits leaf. Martyn.
GLU'TINOUSNESS, n. Viscosity ; viscidity ;
the quality of glue, tenacity. Cheyne.
GLUT'TON, n. glut'n. [Low L. gluto ; Fr.
glouton. See Glut.] One who indulges
to excess in eating.
2. One eager of any thing to excess.
Gluttons in murder, wanlon to destroy.
Granville.
. In zijotogy, an animal of the genus ^'rsu^■,
found in the N. of Europe and Siberia. It
grows to the length of three feet, but has
short legs and moves slowly. It is a car-
nivorous animal, and in order to catch ltd
prey, it clin)bs a tree and from that darts
down
upon
deer or other animal. It is
named from its voracious appetite.
Diet. Mat. Hist.
GLUT'TONIZE, v. i. To eat to excess; to
eat voraciouslj' ; to indulge the appetite to
excess ; to be luxurious.
Trans, of Grellman.
GLUT'TONOUS, a. Given to excessive
eating ; indulging the appetite for food to
excess ; as a gluttonous age. llaleigh.
2. Consisting in excessive eating ; asgluUon-
ous delight. Milton.
GLUT'TONOUSLY, adv. With the voraci-
ty of a glutton j with excessive eating.
GLUT'TONY, n. Excess in eating; ex-
travagant indulgence of the appetite for
food.
2. Luxury of the table.
Their sumptuous gluttonies and gorgeous
feasts. Milton.
3. Voracity of appetite. Encyc.
GLYCO'NIAN, \ [Low L. glyconiu'm.]
GLYCON'IC, \"' Denoting a kind of
verse in Greek and Latin poetry, consist-
ing of three feet, a spondee, a choriamb,
and a pyrrhich ; as Glyconic measure.
Johnson.
GLYN. [See Glen.]
GLYPH, n. [Gr. y^v^, from -^v^u, to
carve.]
In sculpture and architecture, a canal, chan-
nel or cavity intended as an ornament.
Chambers.
GLYPH'I€, 7!. A picture or figure by which
a word is implied. [See Hieroglyphic]
GLYP'T1€, 71. [supra.] The art of engra-
ving figures on precious stones.
GLYPTOGRAPH'Ie, a. [Gr. yXvMtos, and
ypa^u.]
Describing the methods of engraving on
precious stones.
GLYPTOG'RAPHY, n. [supra.] A des-
cription of the art of engraving on pre-
cious stones. British Critic.
GX'AR, ^ J, ,- ""or. ) [Sax. gnyrran,
GN\\RL, ^ ■ ■ n'arl. ^ gnornian ; Dan.
knurrer ; Sw. knarra ; D. gnorrtn, knorren ;
G. g-imrren, knarren.] To growl ; to mur-
mur ; to snarl.
And wolves are gnarling which shall gnaw
thee first. Sliak.
[Gnar is nearly obsolete.]
GNARLED, a. n'arled. Knotty; full of
knots ; as the gnarled oak. Shak.
GNASH, v. t. nash. [Dan. knasker; Sw.
gnissla and knastra. Qu. D. knarzen, G.
knirrschen, to gnash, and It. ganascia, tlie
jaw.]
To strike the teeth together, as in anger or
pain ; as, to gnash the teeth in rage.
Dryden.
GNASH, V. i, nash. To grind the teeth.
He shall gnash with his teeth and melt away.
Ps. cxii.
2. To rage even to collision with the teeth ;
to growl. ,
They gnashed on me with their teeth. Ps.
XXXV.
GNASH'ING, ppr. nash'ing. Striking tJie
teeth together, as in anger, rage or pain.
G N O
GNASH'ING, n. nash'ing. A griudiiig or
striking of the teeth in rage or anguish.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth. Matt. viU.
GNAT, n. nat. [Sax. grKtt. Qu. Gr. x«('«4.]
A small insect, or rather a genus of in-
sects, the Culex, whose long cylindric
body is composed of eight rings. They
have six legs and their mouth is formed
by a flexible sheath, inclosing bristles
pointed like stings. The sting is a tube
containing five or six spicula of exquisite
fineness, dentated or edged. The most
troublesome of this genus is themusketoe.
Encyc. Cyc,
9. Any thing proverbially small.
Ye blind guides, who strain at a gnat, and
swallow a camel. Matt, xxiii.
GNAT'FLOWER, n. A flower, called
bee-flower. Joh
GNAT'SNAPPER, n. A bird that catches
gnats. HakeicUl.
GNAT'WORM, n. A small water insect
produced by a gnat, and which after its
several changes is transformed into o
gnat; the larva of a gnat. Cyc
GNAW, V. t. naw. [Sax. gnagan ; G. nii-
gen ; D. knaagen ; Svv. gnaga ; W. cnoi
Gr. xvaa, to scrape ; Ir. cnagh, cnaoi, con-
sumption ; cnuigh, a maggot ; cnaoidhim
to gnaw, to consume.]
1. To bite off" by little and little; to bite oi
scrape off" with the fore teeth ; to wear
away by biting
The:
gnaw
board
G O
GNOMIOMET'RieAL, a. [Gr. ■y^a/««>', ani
index, and fiitpiu, to measure.]
The gnomiormtrical telescope and micro-
scope is an instrument for measuring the
angles of crystals by reflection, and for as-
certaining the incbnation of strata, and the
apparent magnitude of angles when the
eye is not placed at tlie vertex. Brmsler.
GNOMOLOG'le, \ „ Pertaining to gno-
GNOMOLOG'ICAL, S mology.
GNOMOL'OgY, n. [Gr. yvojtri, a maxim or
sentence, and t~oyo<;, discourse.]
A collection of maxims, grave sentences or
reflections. {LittU used.] Milton.
GNO'lVION,n. no'mon. [Gr. yi-wfiur, an index,
from the root of yii'uffjcu, to know.]
1. In dialling, the style or pin, which by its
shadow shows the hour of the day. It
represents the axis of the earth. Encyc.
In astronomy, a style erected perpendicu-
lar to the horizon, in order to find the alti-
tude of the sun. Encyc.
3. The gnomon of a globe, is the index of the
hour-circle. Encyc.
GN0M0N'I€, I Pertaining to the art
GNOMON'I€AL, ^ "" of dialling.
Chambers.
GNOMON'l€S, n. The art or science of
dialling, or of constructing dials to show
the hour of the day by the shadow of a
or plank ; a worm gnaws the wood of a
tree or the plank of a ship.
2. To eat by biting ofi"small portions of food
with the fore teeth.
3. To bite in agony or rage.
They gnawed their tongues for pain. Rev.
4. To waste; to fret; to corrode.
5. To pick with the teeth.
His bones clean picked ; his veiy bones they
gnaw. Dryden.
GNAW, V. i. naw. To use the teeth in
biting.
I mic;ht well, like the spaniel, gnau) upon the
chain that ties me. Sidney
GNAWED, p/>. naw'ed. Bit; corroded.
GNAWER, n. naw'er. He or that whicl
gnaws or corrodes.
GNAWING, p;)r. naw'ing. Biting off by
little and little ; corroding ; eating by slow
degrees.
GNEISS, 71. ne'is. [Qu. Dan. gnisler, Svv.
gnistas, to sparkle.]
In mineralogy, a species of aggregated rock,
composed of quartz, feldspar and mica, of
a structure more or less distinctly slaty.
The layers, whether straight or curved,
are frequently thick, but often vary con-
siderably in the same specimen. It passes
on one side into granite, from which it
diff"ers in its slaty structure, and on the
other into mica slate. It is rich in metal-
lic ores. Kirwan. Cleavdand.
GNOFF, n. nof. A miser. [ATot in use.]
GNOME, n. nome. [Gr. yvaut;.] An ima-
ginary being, supposed by the cabalists,
to inhabit the inner parts of the earth, and
to bo the guardian of mines, quarries, &c.
Encyc.
2. A brief reflection or maxim. [M'ot used.]
GNO'MICAL, a. nomical. [Gr. yicoftj;.] Sen
tPtitious ; containing maxim:-. [Litlle
v.sed.]
GNOS'TIe, n. nostic. [L. gnosticus ; Gr.
yt'tdf txoy, from ywuaxi^, to know.]
The Gnostics were a sect of philosophers that
arose in tlie first ages of Christianity, who
jjretended they were the only men who
had a true knowledge of the christian re-
ligion. They formed for themselves asys-
tem of theology, agreeable to the philoso-
phy of Pythagoras and Plato, to which they
accommodated their interpretations of
scripture. They held that all natures, in-
telligible, intellectual and material, arc de
rived by successive emanations from the
infinite fountain of deity. These emana-
tions they called (tons, aiuifj. These doc-
trines were derived from the oriental phi-
losophy. Encyc. Enfield.
GNOS'TI€, a. nostic. Pertaining to the
Gnostics or their doctrines.
GNOS'TICISM, n. nos'tidsm. The doc-
rines, principles or system of philosopliy
aught by the Gnostics. Enfield.
GNU, n. A speciesof Antelope, in Southern
Africa, whose form partakes of that of the
horse, the ox, and the deer.
GO, V. i. pret. went ; pp. gone. Went belongs
to the root. Sax. wendan, a different word
[Sax. g-on; G.gehen; Dan. g-aaer ; Sw.
gii ; D. gaan ; Basque, gan. This is proba-
bly a contracted word, but the original is
obscin-e. In Goth, gaggan, to go, seems
to be the Eng.gang'; andgad may belong
to a different family. The primary sense
is to pass, and either to g-o or come. Sax
ga forth, go forth ; ga hither, come hitlier
her gwlh, he comes. ]
1. In a general sense, to move ; to pass ; tc
proceed from one place, state or station to
another ; opposed to resting. A mill g-oes
by water or by steam ; a ship goes at the
rate of five knots an hour; a clock g-oes
fast or slow ; a horse goes lame ; a fovvl or
a ball goes with velocity through the air.
The inourners go about the streets. Eccles
G O
To walk ; to move on the feet or step by
step. The child begins to go alone at a
year old.
You know that love
Will creep in service where it cannot go.
Shale
3. To walli leisurely ; not to run.
Thou must run to him ; for thou hast staid so
long that going will scarce serve the turn. Shall.
4. To travel ; to journey by land or water.
I must g-o to Boston. He has gone to
Philadelphia. The minister is going to
France.
5. To depart ; to move from a place ; op-
posed to come. The mail g-oes and comes
every day, or twice a week.
I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice. Ex.
viii.
6. To proceed; to pass.
And so the jest goes round. Dryden.
To move ; to pass in any manner or to
any end ; as, to go to bed ; to g-o to din-
ner ; to go to war.
8. To move or pass customarily from place
to place, denoting custom or practice.
The child g-oes to school. A ship g^oes regu-
larly to London. We g-o to church.
To proceed from one state or opinion to
another; to change. He goes from one
opinion to another. His estate is goiiig to
ruin.
10. To proceed in mental operations; to
advance ; to penetrate. We can go but a
vei-y little way in developing the causes of
things.
11. To proceed or advance in accomplish-
ing an end. This sum will not g-o far
towards full payment of the debt.
12. To apply ; to be applicable. The argu-
ment g-oes to this point only ; it g-oes to
prove too much.
13. To apply one's self
Seeing himself confronted by so many, like a
resolute orator, he went not to denial, but to jus-
tify his cruel falsehood. Sidney.
14. To have recourse to ; as, to go to law.
15. To be about to do ; as, 1 was going to
say. I am going to begin harvest. [This
use is chiefly confined to the participle.]
16. To pass ; to be accounted in value. All
this g-oes for nothing. This coin g-oes for
a crown.
17. To circulate ; to pass in report. The
tory g-oes.
18. To pass ; to be received ; to be account-
ed or understood to be.
And the man went among men for an old man
in the days of Saul. 1 Sam. xvii.
19. To move, or be in motion ; as a machine.
[See No. 1.]
. To move as a fluid ; to flow.
The god I am, whose yellow water flows
Around these fields, and fattens as it g-oes,
Tiber my name. Dryden .
21. To have a tendency.
Against right reason all your counsels go.
Dryden.
22. To be in compact or partnership.
They were to go equal shares in the booty.
VEstrange.
23. To be guided or regulated ; to proceed
by some principle or rule. We are to
go by the rules of law, or according to the
precepts of scripture.
We are to go by another measure. Sprat.
24. To be pregnant. The females of diflTer-
ent animals g-o some a longer, some a
shorter time.
G O
GOB
G O A
35. To pass ; to be alienated in payment or
exchange. If our exports are of less value
tlian our imports, our money must go to
pay the balance.
26. To be loosed or released ; to be freed
from restraint. Let me go ; let go the
hand.
27. To be expended. His estate goes or has
gone for spirituous liquors. [See No. 24.]
28. To extend ; to reacli. The line goes
from one end to the other. His land goes
to the bank of the Hudson.
29. To extend or lead in any direction. This
roadg-oes to Albany.
30. To proceed ; to extend. This argument
goes far towards proving the point. It
goes a great way towards establishing the
innocence of the accused.
31. To have effect ; to extend in cffe
avail ; to be of force or value. Money
goes farther now than it did during th(
war.
32. To extend in meaning or purport.
His amorous expressions go no further than
virtue may allow. Dryden.
[In the three last examples, the sense of
go depends on far, farther, further.]
3.3. To have a currency or use, as custom,
opinion or manners.
I think, as the world goes, he was a good sort
of man fenough. Arbuthnol.
34. To contribute ; to conduce ; to concur
to be an ingredient ; with lo or into. The
substances which go into this composi-
tion. Many qualifications go to make up
the well bred man.
35. To proceed ; to be carried on. The bu
s'mess goes on well.
36. To proceed to final issue ; to terminate
to succeed.
Wliether the cause goes for me or against me,
you must pay me the reward. Watts
37. To proceed in a train, or in consequen-
ces.
How goes the night, boy ? Shak.
38. To fare ; to be in a good or ill state
How goes it, comrade ?
39. To have a tendency or effect ; to ope-
rate.
These cases go to show that the court will
vary the construction of instruments.
Mass. Reports
To go about, to set one's self to a business
to attempt ; to endeavor.
They never go about to hide or palliate their
vices. Swi/l.
2. In seaman''s language, to tack; to turn the
head of a ship.
To go abroad, to walk out of a house.
2. To be uttered, disclosed or published.
Togo against, to invade : to march to attack
2. To be ill opposition ; to be disagreeable.
7h go aside, to withdraw ; to retire into a
private situation.
2. To err; to deviate fi-om the right way.
To go astray, to wander ; to break from an
inclosure ; also, to leave the right course ;
to depart from law or rule ; to sin ; to
transgress.
To go away, to depart ; to go to a distance.
To go between, to interpose ; to mediate ; to at-
tempt to reconcile or to adjust differences.
Togo by, to pass near and beyond.
2. To pass away unnoticed ; to omit.
3. To find or get in the conclusion.
Vol. I.
In argument with men, a woman ever
Goes by the worse, whatever be her cause.
Mtlton.
[A phrase now little used.]
To go down, to descend in any manner.
2. To fail ; to come to nothing.
3. To be swallowed or received, not reject-
ed. The doctrine of the divine right ofl
kings will not go doivn in this period of the
world.
To go forth, to issue or depart out of a place.
To go fonvard, to advance.
To go hard vnth, to be in danger of a fatal
issue; to have difficulty to escape.
\To go in, to enter.
To go in to, to have sexual commerce with.
Scripture.
ess of life.
as a garment. The coat
To go in and out, to do the busine:
2. To go freely ; to be at liberty. John x.
To go off, to depart to a distance ; to leave
place or station.
2. To die ; to decease.
3. To be discharged, as fire arms ; to e:
l)lode.
To go on, to proceed ; to advance forward.
2. To be ])ut 01 ~
will not go on.
To go out, to issue forth ; to depart from.
2. To go on an expedition. Shak,
3. To become extinct, as light or life ; to ex-
pire. A candle goes out ; fire goes out.
And life itself g-oes out at lliy displeasure.
Addison.
4. To become public. This story goes out to
the world.
To go over, to read ; to peruse ; to study.
2. lo examine; to view or review ; as, tc
go over an account.
If we ^0 over the laws of Christianity —
'Tillotson
3. To think over; to proceed or pass in
I mental o])eration.
|4. To change sides ; to pass from one party
j to another.
5. To revolt.
(6. To pass from one side to the other, as
river.
To go through, to pass in a substance ; as, to
go through water.
2. To execute ; to accomplish ; to perform
thoroughly; to finish ; &s, to go through
undertaking.
3. To suffer ; to bear ; to undergo ; to s
tain to the end ; as, to go through a long
sickness ; to g^o through an operation.
To go through unth, to execute effectually.
To go under, to be talked of or known, as by
a title or name ; as, to go under the name
of reformers.
To go up, to ascend ; to rise.
To go upon, to proceed as on a foundation ;
to take as a principle supposed or settled :
as, to go upon a supposition. |
To go unth, to accompany ; to pass with
others.
2. To side with ; to be in party or design with.
To go ill with, to have ill fortune ; not to
prosper.
To go u'dl ivith, to have good fortune ; to
prosper.
To go without, to be or remain destitute.
Go<o,come, move, begin ; a phrase of exhorta-
tion : also a phrase of scornful exhortation.
GO'-BETWEEN, n. [go and between.] An
interposer ; one who transacts business
between parties. Shak
93
GO'-BY, [go and by.] Evasion ; escape by
artifice. Collier.
2. A passing without notice ; a thrusting
away ; a shifting off.
GO'-CART, n. [go and carl.] A machine
with wheels, in which children learn to
walk without danger of falling.
GOAD, n. [Sax. gad, a goad ; Sw. gadd, a
sting ; Scot, gad, a goad, a rod, the point
of a si>ear ; Ir. gath, goth, a goad ; W.
golh, a push. The sense is a shoot, a
point.]
A pointed instrument used to stimulate a
beast to move faster.
GOAD, V. t. To prick ; to drive with a goad.
2. To incite; to stimulate ; to instigate; to
urge forward, or to rouse by any thing
pungent, severe, irritating or inflaming.
He was goaded by sarcastic remarks or by
abuse ; goaded by desire or other passion.
GOADED,
pp. Pricked ; pushed on by
. oad ; instigated.
GOADING, ppr. Pricking ; driving with a
d; inciting; urging on; rousing.
GOAL, n. [Fr. gaule, a long pole; W.gwyal;
Arm. goalenn, a staff.]
1. The point set to bound a race, and to
which they run ; the mark.
Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal
With rapid wheels. Milton.
2. Any starting post. Milton.
3. The end or final purpose ; the end to
which a design tends, or which a'person
aims to reach or accomplish.
Each individual seeks a several goal. Pope.
GOAR, n. More usually gore, which see.
GOARISH, a. Patched ; mean. Obs.
Beauin.
GOAT, Ji. [Sax. gait; U. geil ; G.geiss; Sw.
get ; Dan. gedebuk, a he-goat ; Russ.
koza.]
An animal or quadruped of the genus Capra.
The horns are hollow, turned upwards,
erect and scabrous. Goats are nearly of
the size of sheep, but stronger, less timid
and more agile. They delight to frequent
rocks and mountains, and subsist on scanty
coarse food. The milk of the goat is
sweet, nourishing and medicinal, and tlie
flesh furnishes provisions to the inhabi-
tants of countries where thev abound.
GOAT-CHAFFER, n. An int'ect, a kind of
beetle. Bailey.
GOATFISH, n. A fish of the Mediterra-
nean.
GOATHERD, n. One whose occupation is
to tend goats. Spenser.
GOATISH, a. Resembling a goat in any
quality ; of a rank smell. More.
2. Lustful. Shak.
GOAT-MILKER, n. A kind of owl, so called
from sucking goats. Bailey.
GOAT'S-BEARD, n. In botany, a plant of
the genus Tragopogon.
GOATSKIN, n. The skin of a goat.
Pope.
GOAT'S-RUE, n. A plant of the genus
Galega.
GOAT'S-STONES, ji. The greater goat's
stones is the Satyrium ; the lesser, the
Orchis.
GOAT'S-THORN, n. A plant of the genus
Astragalus.
GOAT-SU€KER, n. In ornithology, a fowl
of the genus Caprimidgus, so called from
I the opinion that it would suck goats. It
GOD
is called also the fern-owl. In Bailey, it
is called a goat-milker.
GOB, n. [Fr. gobe ; W. gob, a heap. Qu.
Ileb. 3J a hill, a boss; Ch. X3J geba, to
raise.]
A little mass or collection ; a mouthful. [^
low loord.] L'Estrange.
GOB'BET, n. [Fr. gobe, supra.] A mouth-
ful ; a lump. Shak. Addison.
GOB'BET, V. t. To swallow in large masses
or mouthfuls. [A low word.]
L'Eslrange.
GOB'BLE, V. t. [Fr. gober, to swallow.] To
swallow in large pieces ; to swallow
hastily. Prior. Swift.
GOB'BLE, V. i. To make a noise in the
throat, as a turkey. Prior.
GOB'BLER, n. One who swallows in haste ;
a greedy eater ; a gormandizer.
2. A name sometimes given to the turkey
cock.
GOB'LET, n. [Fr. gobeld ; Arm. gob or
gobded; Heb.jrnj.j
A kind of cup or drinking vessel without a
handle.
We love not loaded boards, and goblets
croivn'd. Denhain.
GOB'LIN, ji. [Vr. gobelin; G. ioloW, a gob-
lin ; D. kabouter, a boy, an elf; kctbouter-
mannetje, a goblin ; Arm. gobylin ; W.
r.oblyn, a knocker, a thumper, a pecker, a
fiend ; cobiaw, to knock ; from cob, a top,
a thump.]
1. An evil spirit; a walking spirit ; a fright-
ful phantom.
To whom the gubliii, full of wrath, replied.
Milton.
2. A fairy ; an elf. Shak.
GOD, 71. [Sax.g-orf; O.gotl; D.god; Sw.
and Dan. g'urf; Goth, gothorguth; Pers.
! Jv^ goda or choda ; Hindoo, khoda,
codam. As this word and good are written
exactly alike in Saxon, it has been infer-
red that God was named from his good-
ness. But the corresponding words in
most of the other languages, are not the
.same, and I believe no instance can be
found of a name given to the Supreme
Being from the attribute of goodness. Jt
is probably an idea too remote from the
rude conceptions of men in early ages.
Except the word Jehovah, I have found
the name of the Supreme Being to be usu-
ally taken from his supremacy or power
and to be equivalent to lord or ruler, from
some root signifying to press or exert force
Now in the present case, we have evi-
dence that this is the sense of this word,
for in Persic goda is rendered domimis.
possessor, princeps, as is a derivative of the
same word. See Cast. Lex. Col. 23L]
L The Supreme Being ; Jehovah ; the eter
nal and infinite spirit, the creator, and the
sovereign of the universe.
God is a spirit ; and they that worship him
must worship him in spirit and in truth. John
2. A false god ; a heathen deity ; an idol.
Fear not the gods ot the Amorites. Judges vi
3. A prince; a ruler; a magistrate or judge ;
an angel. Thou shall not revile the gods,
nor curse the rider of thy people. Ex,
xxn.^ Ps. xcvii.
[Oods here is a bad translation.]
GOD
4. Any person or thing exalted too much in
estimation, or deified and honored as the
chief good.
Whose god is their belly. Phil. iii.
GOD, V. t. To deify. [JVoi used.] Shak.
GOD'CHILD, 71. [god and child.] One for
whom a person becomes sponsor at bap-
tism, and promises to see educated as a
christian.
GOD'DAUGHTER, n. [god and davghter.]
A female for whom one becomes sponsor
at baptism. [See Godfather.]
GOD'DESS, n. A female deity ; a heathen
deity of the female sex.
When the daughter of Jupiter presented her-
self among a crowd of goddesses, she was dis-
tinguished by her graceful stature and superior
beauty. Addison.
2. In the language of love, a woman of supe-
rior charms or excellence.
GOD'DESSLIKE, a. Resembling a god-
dess. Pope.
GOD'F'ATHER, n. [Sax.g'orf and>rfer. The
Saxons used also godsibb, good relation.]
Tlie man who is sponsor for a child at bap-
tism, who promises to answer for his fu-
ture conduct and that he shall follow a
life of piety, by this means laying himseU]|
under an indispensable obhgation to in
struct the child and watch over his con-
duct. This practice is of high antiquity
in the christian church, and was probably
intended to prevent children from being
brought up in idolatry, in case the parents
died before the children had arrived to
years of discretion. In the catholic church
the number of godfathers and godmothers
is reduced to two ; in the church of Eng-
land, to three; but formerly the nunibe
was not limited. Encyc.
GOD'F'ATHER, t'. <. To act as godfather ;
to take under one's fostering care. Burke.
GOD'HEAD, n.god'hed. [gorfand Sax.had
state.]
1. Godship; deity; divinity; divine natur
or essence ; applied to the true God, and to
heathen deities. Milton. Prior.
2. A deity in person ; a god or goddess.
Dryden.
GOD'LESS, a. Having no reverence for
God ; impious ; ungodly ; irreligious
wicked. Hooker.
2. Atheistical ; having no belief in the exist-
ence of God. Milton.
GOD'LESSNESS,n. The state of being im-
pious or irreligious. Bp. Hall.
GOD'LIKE, a. Resembling God ; divine.
2. Reseinbhng a deity, or heathen divinity.
3. Of superior excellence; as godlike virtue ;
a godlike prince.
GOD'LILY, ■
V. Piously ; rigliteously.
H. fVharton.'i
GOD'LINESS, ;i. [from godly.] Piety; be
lief in God, and reverence for his charac
ter and laws.
2. A religious life ; a cai-eful observance of
the laws of God and performance of reli-
gious duties, proceeding from love and
reverence for the divine character and
commands ; christian obedience.
Godliness is profitable unto all things. 1 Tim.
iv.
3. Revelation ; the system of Christianity.
Without controversy, great is the mystery ol
godliness ; God was manifest in the flesh
GOG
GOD'LING, n. A little deity ; a diminutive
god ; as a puny godling. Dryden.
GOD'LY, o. [god-like.] Pious ; reverencing
God, and his character and laws.
2. Living in obedience to God's commands,
from a principle of love to him and rever-
ence of his character and precepts ; reli-
gious ; righteous ; as a godly person.
3. Pious ; conformed to God's law ; as a
godly life.
GOD'LY, arfr. Piously; righteously.
All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution. 2 Tim. iii.
GOD'LYHEAD, n. [Sax. god, good, and
head.] Goodness. Obs. Spenser.
GOD'MOTHER, n. [god and mother.] A wo-
man who becomes sponsor for a child in
baptism.
GOD'SHIP, n. Deity; divinity ; the rank or
character of a god.
O'er hills and dales then godships came.
Prior.
GOD'SMITII, n. A maker of idols. Dryden.
GOD'SON, n. [Sax. godsunii.] Oneforwhom
I another has been sponsor at the font.
GOD SPEED, n. Good speed, that is, suc-
I cess. 2 John 10.
GOD'S-PENNY, n. An earnest-penny.
Beaum.
GOD'WARD. Toward God. [.4/1 ill-formed
icord.]
GOD'WIT, 71. [Ice. god, and veide.] A fowl
of the grallic order and genus Scolopax.
It has a bill four inches long ; the fethers
on the head, neck and back are of a light
reddish brown ; those on the belly white,
and the tail is regularly barred with black
and white. This fowl frequents fens and the
banks of rivers, and its flesh is esteemed
a great delicacy. Encyc.
GOD'YELD, ? ., [Supposed to be con-
GOD'YIELD, <, '^^- traded from good or
god, and shield.]
k term of thanks. Obs. Shak.
GO'EL, a. [Sax. gealew.] Yellow. Obs.
Tusser.
GO'ER, 71. [fromg-o.] One that goes; a run-
ner or walker ; one that has a gait good
or bad. Wotton.
2. One that transacts business between par-
ties ; 111 ail ill sense. Shak.
3. A foot. Chapman.
4. A term applied to a horse ; as a good go-
er ; a safe goer. [ Umisual in the U. Stales.]
Beaum.
GO'ETY, n. [Gr. yo)jT«o.] Invocation of evil
spirits. [JVot in iise.] Hallywell.
GOFF, n. [Qu. W. gofol, contracted, a word
composed of go and fijl, foolish ; or Fr.
goffe ; or a contraction of D. kolf, a club.]
\ foolish clown ; also, a game. Obs. [See
Golf]
GOFF'ISH,a. Foolish; stupid. 06s.
Chaucer.
GOG, n. [W. gog, activity, rapidity ; proba-
bly allied to gig. See Agog.]
Haste ; ardent desire to go. Beaum.
GOG'GLE, V. i. [W. gogelu, to shun ; go,
a prefix, and gelu, from c(l, a shelter, co-
inciding with L. celo ; or from gog.]
To strain or roll the eyes.
And wink and goggle like an owl.
Hudibras.
GOG'GLE, a. Having full eyes; staring.
B. Jonson.
GOG'GLE, n. A strained or affected roll-
ing of the eye.
G O L
G O L
G O N
GOG'GLED, a. Prominent ; staring, as the
eye. Herbert.
GOG'GLE-EYE, n. A rolling or staring
eye. B. Jonson.
GOG'GLE-EVED, a. Having prominent,
distorted or rolling eyes. Jhcham.
GOG'GLES, n. plu. [VV. gogelu, to slielter.
See Goggle, the verb.]
1. In surgcn/, instruments used to cure squint-
ing, or the distortion of the eyes which oc-
casions it. Encyc.
2. Cylindrical tubes, in which are fixed
f lasses for defending the eyes from cold,
ust, &c. and sometimes with colored
glasses to abate the intensity of light.
3. Blinds for horses that are apt to take
fright.
GO'ING, ppr. [from g'o.] Moving; walking;
traveling; turning ; roUing ; flying; sail-
ing, &c.
GO'ING, n. The act of moving in any man-
2. The act of walking. Skak.
3. Departure. Milton.
4. Pregnancy. Grew.
5. Procedure ; way ; course of life ; beha-
vior; deportment; used chiefly in the plu-
ral.
His eyes are on the ways of man, and he see-
elh all his goings. Job xxxiv.
C. Procedure; course of providential agency
or government.
They have seen thy goings, O God ; even
the goings of my God, my King, in tlie sanctu-
ary. Ps. Ixviii.
Going' out, ) in scripture, utmost extremity
Goings out, 5 or limit ; the point where an
extended body terminates. Num. xxxiv.
5.9.
9. Departure or journeying. Num. xxxiii.
GOIT'ER, n. [Fr. goitie.] The bronchocele ;
a large tumor that forms gradually on the
human throat between the trachea and
the skin. Encyc.
The inhabitants of this part of the Valais arc
subject to goiters. Coxe, Swilz.
GOIT'ROUS, a. [Fr. goitreux.] Pertaining
to the goiter ; partaking of the nature of
bronchocele.
2. Affected with bronchocele.
Journ. of Science.
Let me not be understood as insniuating that
the inhabitants in general are either ^oilruus or
idiots. Coxe, Switz.
GO'LA, n. In architecture, tlie same as cyma-
tium.
GOLD, n. [Sax. G. gold ; D. goud, a contract-
ed word ; Sw. and Dan. guld, from gul,
guul, yellow. Hence the original pronun-
ciation g'OoW, still retained by some peo-
ple. The Dan. guul is in Sax. genlew,
whence our yelloio, that is, primarily,
bright, from the Celtic, W. gawl, galau, gole,
light, splendor; Gaelic, geal, bright; Ar.
5)^-» to be clear or bright. Class Gl.
No'. 7.]
1. A precious metal of a bright yellow col
or, and the most ductile and malleable of|
all the metals. It is the heaviest metal ex
cept platina ; and being a very dense, fixed
substance, and not liable to be injured by
air, it is well fitted to be used as coin, or
a representative of commodities in com-
merce. Its ductility and malleability ren-
der it the most suitable metal for gilding.
It IS often found native in solid masses, as
in Hungary and Peru ; tliough generally
in combination with silver, copper or iron.
Encyc.
2. Money.
For me, the gold of France did not seduce—
Shak.
3. Something pleasing or valuable ; as a
heart of gold. Shak.
4. A bright yellow color ; as a flower edged
with gold.
5. Riches; wealth.
Gold of pleasure, a plant of the genus Mya-
grum.
GOLD, rt. Made of gold ; consisting of gold ;
as a gold chain.
GOLDBEATEN, a. Gilded. [Little used.]
GOLDBEATER, n. One whose occupation
beat or foliate gold for gilding. Boyle.
Goldbeater's skin, the intestinum rectum of"
an ox, which goldbeaters lay between the
leaves of the metal while they beat it,
whereby the metrihrane is reduced very
thin, and made fit to be applied to cuts
and fresh wounds. Quincy.
GOLDBOUND, a. Encompassed with gold.
Shak.
GOLD eOAST, n. In geography, the coast
of .Africa where gold is found ; being a
part of the coast of Guinea.
GOLDEN, a. goldn. Made of gold ; consist-
ing of gold.
2. Bright; shining; splendid; as the g-oWen
sun.
Reclining soft on many a golden cloud.
Rowe
3. Yellow ; of a gold color; as agolden har-
vest ; golden fruit.
4. Excellent ; most valuable ; as the golden
rule. fVatts.
Happy; pure; as the g'oWen age, the age
of .simplicity and purity of manners.
G. Preeminently favorable or auspicious.
Let not slip the golden opportunity.
Hamilton.
Golden number, in chronology, a number
showing the year of the moon's cycle.
Golden rule, in arithmetic, the rule of three
or rule of proportion.
GOLDEN-€UPS, n. A plant, theRanunculus.
GOLDEN-LUNGWORT, n. A plant of the
genus Hieracium.
GOLDENLY, adv. Splendidly ; delightfully.
[JVot vsed.] Shak.
GOLDEN-MAIDENHAIR, n. A plant of
the genus Polytrichum.
GOLDEN-MOUSEEAR, n. A plant of the
genus Hieracium.
GOLDENROD, n. A plant, the Solidago.
GOLDENROD-TREE, n. A plant, the Bo-
sea.
GOLDEN-SAMPHIRE, n. A plant, the
Inula crithmifolia. Lee.
GOLDEN-SAX'IFRAgE, n. A plant, the
Chrysosplenium.
GOLDEN-THISTLE, ra. A plant of the
genus Scolymus.
GOLDFINCH, n. [Sax. goldfnc.] The Frin-
gilla carduelis, a bird so named from the
color of its wings.
GOLD-FINDER, n. One who finds gold;
one who empties jakes. [.Vo< much used.]
Su-ifl.
GOLDFISH, I A fish of the genus Cv-
GOLDENFISH, S prinus, of the size of"a
pilchard, so named from its bright color.
These fishes are bred by the Chinese, ui
small ponds, in basons or porcelain ves-
sels, and kept for ornament.
GOLD-HAMMER, n. A kind of bird.
Did.
GOLD-HILTED. a. Having a golden hilt.
GOLDING, n. Asortofapple. Did.
GOLDLACE, n. A lace wrought with gold.
GOLDLACED, a. Trimmed with gold lace.
GOLDLE.\F, n. Gold foliated or beaten
into a thin leaf
GOLDNEV, n. A fish, the gilthead.
Did.
GOLD-PLEASURE, for gold of pleasure, a
plant of the genus Myagrum.
GOLD-PROOF, a. Proof against bribery or
temptation by money. Beaum.
GOLD-SIZE, n. A size or glue for burnish-
ing gilding. Encyc.
GOLDSMITH, n. An artisan who manufac-
tures vessels and ornaments of gold and
2. A banker; one who manages the pecun-
iary concerns of others. [ Goldsmiths were
formerly bankers in Eugland,but in Ame-
rica the practice does not exist, nor is the
word used in this sense.]
GOLDTHREAD, n. A thread formed of flat-
ted gold laid over a thread of silk, by
twisting it with a wheel and iron bobbins.
Encyc.
2. A plant, the Helleborus trifolius ; so called
from its fibrous yellow roots. U. Stales.
GOLDWIRE, n. An ingot of silver, super-
ficially covered with gold and drawn
through small round holes. Encyc.
GOLDYLOCKS, n. A name given to cer-
tain plants of the genera Chrysocoma and
Gnaphalium.
GOLF, n. [D. kolf, a club or bat ; Dan. koh;
the butt end of a gun-stock.]
A game with ball and bat, in which he who
drives the ball into a hole with the fewest
strokes is the winner. Strutt.
GOLL, n. [Gr. TaaXof, a cavity, and the hol-
low of the hand. Qu. is this the Celtic
form of vola ?]
Hands ; [)aws ; claws. [JVot in use or local.]
Sidney.
GOLO'E-SHOE, n. [Arm. golo or golei, to
cover.]
An over-shoe ; a shoe worn over another to
keep the foot dry.
GOM, n. [Sax. gttm ; Goth, guma.] A man.
Obs.
GONDOLA, n. [It. irf.; Fr.gondole; Arm.
gondolenn.]
A flat-bottomed boat, very long and narrow,
used at Venice in Italy on the canals. A
gondola of middle size is about thirty feet
long and four broad, terminating at each
end in a sharp point or peak rising to the
highth of a man. It is usually rowed by
two men, called gondoliers, who jjropel the
boat by jjushing the oars. The gondola
is also used in other parts of Italy for a
passage boat. Encyc.
GONDOLIE'R, Ji. A man who rows a gon-
dola.
GONE, pp. of go ; pronounced nearly g-atrti.
L Departed.
It was told Solomon that Shimei had gone
from Jerusalem to Gath. 1 Kings ii.
2. Advanced ; forward in progress; with /or,
farther, or further; as a man far gone in
intemperance.
GOO
3. Ruined ; undone. Exert yourselves, or
we are gone.
4. Past ; as, these happy days are gone ;
sometimes with by. Those times are
gone by.
5. Lost.
When her masters saw that the hope of their
gains was gone —
Acts XV
6. Departed from life ; deceased ; doad.
GON'FALON, ? „ [gonfanon, Chaucer;
GON'FANON, S "' Fr. gonfalon ;_ Sax.
guth-fana, war-flag, composed of guth,
war, Ir. cath or cad, W. cad, and Sax. and
Goth, fana, L. pannus, cloth ; in Sax,
An ensign or standard ;
colors. Obs.
Milton
GONFALONIE'R, n. A chief standard-
bearer. Obs. Bp. Wren
GONG, n. [Sas.. gang.] A privy or jakes
Obs. Chaucer.
2. An instrument made of brass, of a circu
lar form, which the Asiatics strike wUh a
wooden mallet.
GONIOMETER, n. [Gr. yuvia,
liitjiov, measure.
An instrument for measuring solid angles, or
the inclination of planes. Cyc.
GONIOMET'RIeAL, a. Pertaining to a
goniometer. Goniometrical lines are used
for measuring the quantity of
Todd
iigle, and
..gles.
Chambt
rs.
GONORRHEA, 71. [Gr. yoro;, semen, and
piu, to flow.] A morbid discharge in ven
ereal complaints.
GOOD, a. [Sax. g'oiZ or good ; Goth, goda
gods,goth; G. gut; D. goed; Sw. and
Dan. god; Gr. ayaSo;; Pers. i^j=.. I"
Russ. godnei, fit, suitable, seems to be the
same word. The primary sense is strong,
from extending, advancing, whence free,
large, abundant, fit, and particularly,
strong, firm, valid, [like valid, from vnleo ;
icorth, virtue, from vireo ; Sax. dugulh, vir-
tue, from dugan, to be strong.] In the
phrase, a good deal, we observe the sense
of extending ; in the phrases, a good title,
a medicine good for a disease, we observe
the sense of strong, efficacious. Ar. .ils.
to be liberal or copious, to overflow, to be
good, to become better or more firm.
See also ?0k-. to be useful, profitable
or convenient. This word good has not
the comparative and superlative degrees
of comparison ; but instead of them, belter
and best, from another root, are used.
Class Gd. No. 3. and 8.]
1. Valid ; legally firm ; not weak or defec
live ; having strength adequate to its sup
port ; as a good title ; a good deed ; a good
claim.
2. Valid ; sound ; not weak, false or falla-
cious ; as a good argument.
3. Complete or sufficiently perfect in it;
kind; having the physical qualities best
adapted to its design and use ; opposed to
bad, imperfect, corrupted, impaired. We
say, good timber, good cloth, a good soil,
a good color.
And God saw every lliing that he had made
and behold, it was very good. Gen. i.
GOO
4. Having moral qualities best adapted to
its design and use, or the qualities which
God's law requires ; virtuous ; pious ; re-
ligious; applied to persons, and opposed
to bad, vitious, wicked, evil.
Yet peradventure for a good man some would
even dare to die. Rom. v.
5. Conformable to the moral law ; virtuous
applied to actions.
In all things showing thyself a pattern of
food works. Tit. U.
roper ; fit ; convenient ; seasonable
well adapted to the end. Itwasag-oorf
time to commence operations. He arriv-
ed in good time.
7. Convenient; useful; expedient; condu-
cive to happiness.
It is not good that the man should be alone
Gen. ii.
8. Sound ; perfect ; uncorrupted ; undam-
aged. This fruit will keep good the whole
some ; salubrious ; palatable ; not disa
greeable or noxious ; as fruit g-oorf to eat
a tree good for food. Gen. ii.
10. Suited to pi-oduce a salutary effect ;
adapted to abate or cure ; medicinal ; sal
utary ; beneficial ; as, fresh vegetables an
good for scorbutic diseases.
11. Suited to strengthen or assist the health
ful functions; as, a little wine ia good for
a weak stomach.
12. Pleasant to the taste ; as a good apple
My son, eat thou honey, because it is good,
and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy
taste. Prov. xxiv.
13. Full; complete.
The protestant subjects of the abbey make uj
a good third of its people. Addison
14. Useful ; valuable ; having qualities or a
tendency to produce a good effect.
All quality, that is good for any thing,
ginally founded on merit. Collier
15. Equal; adequate; competent. His se
curity is good for the amount of the debt
applied to persons able to fulfill contracts.
Antonio is a good man. Shalt
16. Favorable; convenient for any luirpose
as a g'oorf stand for business ; a good sta-
tion for a camp.
17. Convenient ; suitable ; safe ; as a good
harbor for ships.
18. Well qualified ; able ; skillful; or per-
forming duties with skill and fidelity ; as
a good prince ; a good commander ; a. good
officer ; a good physician.
19. Ready ; dextrous.
Those are generally good at flattering who are
good for nothing else. South.
20. Kind ; benevolent ; affectionate ; as a
good father ; good will.
21. Kind ; affectionate ; faithful ; as a good
friend.
22. Promotive of happiness ; pleasant ;
agreeable ; cheering ; gratifying.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is fc
brethren to dwell together in unity. P:
23. Pleasant or prosperous; as, good mor-
row. Sir ; g'oorf morning.
24. Honorable ; fair ; unblemished ; unim-
peacbed ; as a man of good fame or re-
port.
A good name is better than precious ointment
Eccles. vii.
25. Cheerful ; favorable to happiness. Be of
good comfort.
GOO
;. Great or considerable ; not small nor
very great; as a g'oorf while ago ; he is a
good way off, or at a good distance ; he
has a good deal of leisure ; I had a g'oorf
share of the trouble. Here we see the
primary sense of extending, advancing.
27. Elegant ; polite ; as good breeding.
28. Real ; serious ; not feigned.
Love not in good earnest. Shak.
29. Kind; favorable; benevolent; humane.
The men were very good to us. 1 Sam. xxv.
30. Benevolent ; merciful ; gracious.
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as
are of a clean heart. Ps. Ixxiii.
31. Seasonable ; commendable ; proper.
VVhy trouble ye the woman, for she hath
ought a good work on me. Matt. xxvi.
32. Pleasant ; cheerful ; festive.
We come in a good day. 1 Sam. xxv.
33. Companionable ; social ; merry.
It is well known, that Sir Roger had been a
good fellow in his youth. Arbuthnot.
\. Brave ; in familiar language. You are a
good fellow.
35. In the phrases, the g'oorf man, applied to
the master of the house, and good woman,
applied to the mistress, g'oorf sometimes
expresses a moderate degree of respect,
and sometimes slight contempt. Among
the first settlers of New England, it was
used as a title instead of Mr. ; as Good-
man Jones ; Goodman Wells.
3G. The phrase good tvill is equivalent to be-
nevolence ; but it signifies also an earnest
desire, a hearty wish, entire willingness or
fervent zeal ; as, we entered into the ser-
vice with a g'oorf will: he laid on stripes
with a good will.
37. Comely ; handsome ; well formed ; as a
good person or shape.
38. Mild ; pleasant ; expressing benignity or
other estimable qualities ; as a good coun-
tenance.
39. Mild ; calm ; not irritable or fractious ;
as a good temper.
40. Kind ; friendly ; humane ; as a good
heart or disposition.
Goorf advice, wise and prudent counsel.
Good heed, great care ; due caution.
In good sooth, in good truth ; in reality. Obs.
To make good, to perform ; to fulfill ; as, to
make good one's word or promise ; that is,
to make it entire or unbroken.
2. To confirm or estabUsh ; to prove ; to ver-
fy ; as, to 7nake good a charge or acciisa-
3. To supply deficiency ; to make up a de-
fect or loss. I will make good what is
wanting.
4. To indemnify; to give an equivalent for
damages. If you suffer loss, I will make
it good to you.
5. To maintain ; to carry into effect ; as, to
make good a retreat.
To stand good, to be firm or valid. His word
or promise stands good.
To think good, to see good, is to be pleased or
satisfied ; to think to be expedient.
If ye Ihink good, give me my price. Zech.
As good as, equally ; no better than ; the
game as. We say, one is as good as dead.
Heb. xi.
As good as his word, equaling in fulfillment
what was promised ; performing to the
extent.
GOO
GOO
G O R
OQOD, n. That which contributes to dimin
ish or remove pain, or to increase liappi-
ness or prosperity ; benefit ; advantage ;
opposed to evil or misery. The medicine
will do neither good nor harm. It does
my heart good to see you so happy.
There are many that say, who will show us
any good? Ps. iv.
2. Welfare; prosperity; advancement of in-
terest or happiness. lie labored for the
good of the state.
The good of the whole community can be
promoted only by advancing the good of each
of the members composing it.
Federalist, Jay
3. Spiritual advantage or improvement ; as
the good of souls.
4. Earnest ; not jest.
The good woman never died after this, till
she came to die for good and all.
L'Estrange.
The phrase, for good and all, signifies,
finally ; to close the whole business ; for
the last time.
5. Moral works; actions which are just and
in conformity to the moral law or divine
precepts.
Depart from evil, and do good. Ps. x.xxi
C. Moral qualities ; virtue ; righteousness.
I find no good in this man.
7. The best fruits ; richness ; abundance.
I will give you tlie good of the land. Gen.
xlv.
GQQD, V. t. To manure. [jVot in use.]
Hall.
OQQT), adv. As good, as well ; with equal
advantage. Had you not as good go with
me ? In America we use goods, the Goth
ic word. Had you not as goods go ?
In replies, g'oorf signifies well ; right ; it is
satisfactory ; I am satisfied. I will be with
you to morrow ; answer, g-oorf, very good.
So we use ivell, from the root of L. vako,
to be strong.
GOOD-BREfi'DING, n. Polite manners,
formed by a good education ; a polite ed
GOQD-BY. [See By.]
GOpD-eONDI'TIOiVED, a. Being in a
good state ; having good qualities or fa-
vorable symptoms. Sharp.
GpOD-FEL'LOW, n. A jolly companion.
[Thisis hardly lo he admitted as a compound
tvord.]
GOQD-FEL'LOW, v. t. To make a jolly
companion ; to besot. [Little used.]
GQQD-FEL'LOWSHIP, n. Merry society.
GQQD-FRI'DAY, n. A fast of the christian
church, in memory of our Savior's suffer-
ings, kept in passio7i week.
GQQD-HU'MOR, n. A cheerful temper or
state of mind.
GOOD-HU'MORED, a. Being of a cheeiful
temper.
GQQD-HU'MOREDLY, adi: With a clieer-
i fill temper ; in a cheerful way.
1 G00D-3IAN'NERS, n. Propriety of beha-
I vior ; politeness ; decorum.
1 GOOD-NA'TURE, n. Natural mildness and
j kindness of disposition.
GOOD-NA'TURED, a. Naturally mild in
temper; not easily provoked.
GOQD-NA'TUREDLY, adv. With mildness
of temper.
\ GOOD-NOW. An exclamation of wonder
or surprise. Lhyden.
2. An exclamation of entreaty. [M'olused.]
Shak.
GQOD-SPEED, n. Good success ; an old
form of wishing success. [See Speed.]
GOQD-WIFE, n. The mistress of a family
Burton
GQQD-WILL, n. Benevolence.
GQOD-WOMAN, n. The mistress of a fam-
ily-
GOQD'LESS, a. Having no goods. 06*.
Chaucer.
GQQD'LINESS, n. [from goodly.] Beauty
of form ; grace ; elegance.
Her goodliness was full of harmony lo his
eyes. Sidney
GQQD'LY, adv. Excellently. Spenser.
GQQD'LY, a. Being of a handsome form ;
beautiful ; graceful ; as a goodly person ;
goodly raiment ; goodly houses. Shak.
2. Pleasant; agreeable ; desirable; as good-
ly days. Stuxk
3. Bulky ; swelling ; affectedly turgid. Obs.
Dryden
GQOD'LYIIEAD, n. Goodness ; grace
[J^ot in use.] Spenser.
GQQD'MAN, n. A familiar appellation of
civility ; sometimes used ironically.
Witli you, goodman boy, if you please.
Shak.
2. A rustic term of compUment; as old g'oorf-
an Dobson. Swijl.
3. A familiar appellation of a husband ; also,
the master of a family. Prov. vii. Matt
x.xiv.
GQOD'NESS, n. The state of being good
the physical quahties which constitute
value, excellence or perfection ; .as the
goodness of timber ; the goodness of a soil.
2. The moral qualities which constitute
christian excellence ; moral virtue ; reli-
gion.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith
Gal. v.
3. Kindness ; benevolence ; benignity of
heart ; but more generally, acts of kind
ness ; charity ; humanity e.xercised. ]
shall remember liis goodness to me with
gratitude.
4. Kindness ; benevolence of nature ; mer-
cy.
The Lord God — abundant in goodness and
truth. Ex. xxxiv.
5. Kindness; favor shown ; actsofbenevo
lence. compassion or mercy.
Jethro rejoiced for all the goodne.is which
Jehovah had done to Israel. Ex. xviii.
GOODS, ?i. plu. Movables ; household fur-
2. Personal or movable estate ; as horses,
cattle, utensils, &c.
3. Wares ; merchandize ; connnodities bought
und sold by merchants aud traders.
GOQU'SlilP, «. Favor ; grace. [JVot in
use.]
GOOU'Y, n. [Qu. goodunfe.] A low term of
civility ; as ^oorfj/ Dobson. Swift. Gay.
GOOD'YSIIIP, «. The state or quality of a
goody. [Ludicrous.] Hudibras.
GOOti INGS, } In seamen's language,
G0QI)'1XG.S, ^ • clamps ofiron bolted on
the stern-post of a shi]), whereon to hang
the rudder. Mar. Diet
GOOM, n. [Sax. and Goth, guma, a man.^
A man recently married, or who is at-
tending his proposed spouse for the pur-
pose o( marriage ; used in composition
as in bridegoom. It has been corrupted
into groom.
GOOSANDER, n. A migratory fowl of the
genus Mergus, the diver or plunger ; call-
ed also merganser.
GOOSE, n. goos. plu. geese. [Sax. gas ; Sw.
g&s ; UsLti. gaas ; Arm. goas ; W. gwyz;
Russ. gus; Ir. gedh or geadh ; Pers. jti'.
The G. and D. is gans, but whether the
same word or not, let the reader judge.
The Ch. nx or NIIX, and the correspond-
ing Arabic and Syriac words, may possi-
bly be the same word, the Europeans pre-
fixing g in the Celtic manner.]
1. A well known aquatic fowl of the genus
Anas; but the domestic goose lives chief-
ly on land, and feeds on grass. The soft
fethers are used for beds, and the quills
for pens. The wild goose is migratory.
2. A tailor's smoothing iron, so called from
its handle which resembles the neck of a
goose.
GOOSEBERRY, «. goos'berry. |ln Ger.
hauselbcere, from kraus, crisp ; D. kruis-
bes, from kruis, a cross ; L. grossula ; W.
grivys, from rhwys, luxuriant. The Eng-
lish word is undoubtedly corrupted from
crossberry, grossberry, or gorsebern/ ; a name
taken from the roughness of the shrub.
See Cross and Gross.]
The fruit of a shrub, and the shrub itself, the
Ribes grossularia. The shrub is armed
with spines. Of the fruit there are seve-
ral varieties.
The American gooseberry belongs to the
genus JMelastoma, and the fVest Indian
^ gooseberry to the genus Cactus. Lee.
G0OSE€AP, n. goos'cap. A silly person.
Beaum. Johnson.
GOOSEFOOT, n. goosfoot. A plant, the
Clienopodium.
GOOSEGR'ASS, n. goos'grass. A plant of
the genus Galium. Also, the name of
certain plants of the genera Potentilla and
Asperugo.
GOOSENECK, n. goos'neck. In a ship, a
piece ofiron fi.xed on one end of the tiller,
to which the laniard of the whip-staff or
wheel-rope comes, for steering the ship ;
also, an iron hook on the iimer end of a
boom. Encyc. Mar. Did.
GOOSEai'ILL, If. goos'quUl. The large
fether or quill of a goose ; or a pen made
with it.
GOOSETONGUE, n. goos'tung. A plant
of the genus Achillea.
GOOSEVVING, n. goos'uittg. In seanien's
language, a sail set on a boom on the lee
side of a ship ; also, the clues or lower
corners of a slii]>'s main-sail or fore-sail,
when the middle part is furled.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
GOP'PISH, a. Proud; pettish. [JVot in
«««.] Hay.
GOR'-BELLIED, a. Big-belHed. Shak.
GOR'-BELLY, n. [In W. gor signifies
reme, over.] A prominent
swelled.
belly. [.Vo/ jn use.]
GOR'-COCK, n. The moor-cock, red-
grouse, or red-game; a fowl of the gal-
linaceous kind. Diet. JVat. Hist
GOR'-eROW, n. The carrion-crow.
Johnson.
GORD, n. An instrument of gaming.
GOO
3. Ruined ; undone. Exert yourselves, or
we are gone.
4. Past ; as, these happy days are gone
sometimes with hy. Those times are
gone by.
5. Lost.
When her masters saw that the hope of their
gains was gone — Acts xvi.
6. Departed from life ; deceased ; dead.
GON'FALON, ? [gonfanon, Chaucer;
GON'FANON, (, "' Fr. gonfalon ; Sax.
guth-fana, war-flag, composed of guth,
war, Ir. calh or cad, W. cad, and Sax. and
Goth, fana, L. pannus, cloth ; in Sax. a
flag.]
An ensign or standard ; colors. Obs.
Milton.
GONFALONIE'R, n. A chief standard-
bearer. Obs. Bp. Wren.
GONG, n. [SsiX. gang.] A privy or jakes.
06*. Chaucer.
2. An instrument made of brass, of a circu-
lar form, which the Asiatics strike with a
wooden mallet. Todd.
GONIOM'ETER, n. [Gr. yuna, angle, and
ixitfov, measure.
An instrument for measuring solid angles, or
the inclination of planes. Cyc.
GONIOMET'RICAL, a. Pertaining to a
goniometer. Goniometrical lines are used
for measuring the quantity of angles.
Chambers.
GONORRHE'A, n. [Gr. yoro;, semen, and
pfw, to flow.] A morbid discharge in ven-
ereal complaints.
GQOD, a. [Sax. god or good ; Goth, goda,
gods,goth; G. gut; D. goed; Svv. and
Dan. god; Gr. ayaSo;; Pers. i^.s.. In
Russ. godnei, fit, suitable, seems to be the
same word. The primary sense is strong,
from extending, advancing, whence free,
large, abundant, fit, and particularly,
strong, firm, valid, [like valid, from vnko ;
tvorth, virtue, from vireo ; Sax. duguih, vir-
tue, from dugan, to be strong.] In the
phrase, a good deal, we observe the sense
of extending; in the phrases, a good title,
a medicine good for a disease, we observe
the sense of strong, efficacious. Ar. il.:^
to be liberal or copious, to overflow, to be
good, to become better or more firm.
See also \ji,.:> to be useful, profitable
or convenient. This word good has not
the comparative and superlative degrees
of comparison ; but instead of them, better
and best, from another root, are used.
Class Gd. No. 3. and 8.]
1. Valid ; legally firm ; not weak or defec-
tive ; having strength adequate to its sup-
port; asag-oorftitle ; a good deed; a good
clai m.
2. Valid ; sound ; not wefik, false or falla-
cious ; as a good argument.
3. Complete or sufiicienily perfect in its
kind; having the physical qualities best
adapted to its design and use ; opposed to
bad, imperfect, corrupted, impaired. Wc
say, good timber, good cloth, a good soil,
a good color.
And God saw every tliins that he had made,
and behold, il was very good. Gen. i.
GOO
. Having moral qualities best adapted to
its design and use, or the qualities which
God's law requires; virtuous; pious
ligious ; apphed to persons, and opposed
to bad, vitious, ivicked, evil.
Yet peradventure for a. good man some would
even dare to die. Rom. v.
5. Conformable to the moral law ; v
applied to actions.
In all things showing thyself a pattern of
good works. Tit. ii.
6. Proper ; fit ; convenient ; seasonable ;
well adapted to the end. It was a g-oorf
time to commence operations. He arriv
ed in good time.
7. Convenient ; useful ; expedient ; condu-
cive to happiness.
It is not good that the man should be alone
Gen. ii.
Sound ; perfect ; uncorrupted ; undam-
aged. This fruit will keep good the whole
year.
9. Suitable to the taste or to health ; whole
some ; salubrious ; palatable ; not disa-
greeable or noxious ; as fruit good to eat ;
a tree good for food. Gen. il.
10. Suited to produce a salutary effect ;
adapted to abate or cure ; medicinal ; sal
utary ; beneficial ; as, fresh vegetables an
good for scorbutic diseases.
U. Suited to strengthen or assist the health
ful functions; as, a little wine is good for
a weak stomach.
12. Pleasant to the taste ; as a good apple,
My son, eat thou honey, because it is good,
and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy
taste. Prov. xxiv.
13. Full ; complete.
The protestant subjects of the abbey make up
a good third of its people. .Addison.
14. Useful ; valuable ; having qualities or a
tendency to produce a good effect.
All quality, that is good for any thing, is ori-
ginally founded on merit. Collier.
15. Equal; adequate; competent. His se-
curity is good for the amount of the debt ;
applied to perso7is able to fulfill contracts.
Antonio is a good man. Shall.
IC. Favorable; convenient for any purpose ;
a good stand for business ; a good sta-
n for a camp.
17. Convenient ; suitable ; safe ; as a good
harbor for ships.
18. Well qualified ; able ; skillful ; or per-
forming duties with skill and fidelity ; as
a good prince ; a good commander ; agood
officer ; a good physician.
). Ready ; dextrous.
Those are generally good at flattering who are
good for nothing else. South.
20. Kind ; benevolent ; aflectionate ; as a
good father ; good will.
21. Kind ; affectionate ; faithful ; as a good
friend.
22. Promotive of happiness ; pleasant ;
agreeable ; cheering ; gratifying.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren (o dwell together in unity. Ps,
cxxxiii.
23. Pleasant or prosperous; as, good mor-
row. Sir ; good morning.
24. Honorable ; fair ; unblemished ; unim-
peached ; as a man of good fame or re-
port.
A good name is better than precious ointment
Eecles. vii.
25. Cheerful ; favorable to happiness. Be of
good comfort.
GOO
26. Great or considerable ; not small nor
very great ; as a good while ago ; he is a
good way off, or at a good distance ; he
has a good deal of leisure ; I had a good
share of the trouble. Here we see the
primary sense of extending, advancing.
27. Elegant ; polite ; as good breeding.
28. Real ; serious ; not feigned.
Love not in good earnest. Shak.
29. Kind; favorable; benevolent; humane.
The men were very good to us. 1 Sam. xxv.
30. Benevolent ; merciful ; gracious.
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as
are of a clean heart. Ps. Ixxiii.
31. Seasonable ; commendable ; proper.
Why tiouble ye the woman, for she hath
Wiought a good work on me. Matt. xxvi.
32. Pleasant ; cheerful ; festive.
We come in a good day. 1 Sam. xxv.
33. Companionable ; social ; merry.
It is well known, that Sir Roger had been a
good fellow in his youth. Jlrbuthnot.
34. Brave ; in familiar language. You are a
good fellow.
35. In the phrases, the good man, applied to
the master of the house, and g-oorf woman,
applied to the mistress, good sometimes
expresses a moderate degree of respect,
and sometimes slight contempt. Among
the first settlers of New England, it was
used as a title instead of Mr. ; as Good-
man Jones ; Goodman Wells.
3C. The phrase g-oorf will is equivalent to be-
nevolence ; but it signifies also an earnest
desire, a hearty wish, entire willingness or
fervent zeal ; as, we entered into the ser-
vice with a good will; he laid on stripes
with a good will.
37. Comely ; handsome ; well formed ; as a
good person or shape.
I. Mild ; pleasant ; expressing benignity or
other estimable quaUties ; as a good coun-
tenance.
39. Mild; calm; not irritable or fractious;
as a good temper.
40. Kind ; friendly ; humauc ; as a good
heart or disposition.
Good advice, wise and prudent counsel.
Good heed, great care ; due caution.
In good sooth, in good truth ; in reaUty. Obs.
To make good, to perform ; to fulfill ; as, to
make good one's word or promise ; that is,
to make it entire or unbroken.
2. To confirm or estabhsh ; to prove ; to ver-
ify; as, to make good a charge or accusa-
tion.
To supply deficiency ; to make up a de-
fect or loss. I will make good what is
wanting.
4. To indemnify; to give an equivalent for
damages. If you suffer loss, I will make
it good to you.
5. To maintain ; to carry into eflfect ; as, to
make good a retreat.
To stand good, to be firm or valid. His word
or promise stands good.
To think good, to see good, is to be pleased or
satisfied ; to think to be expedient.
If ye think good, give me my price. Zech.
xi.
^s good as, equally; no better than; the
same as. We say, one is as good as dead.
Heb. xi.
As good as his tcord, equaling in fulfillment
what was promised; performing to the
extent.
GOO
GOOD, "• That which contributes to dimin-
ish or remove pain, or to increase happi-
ness or prosperity ; benefit ; advantage ;
opposed to evil or misery. The medicine
will do neither good nor harm. It does
my heart good to see you so happy.
There are many that say, who will show u:
any good? Ps. iv.
2. Welfare; prosperity; advancement of in
terest or happiness. He labored for the
good of the state.
The good of the whole community can
promoted only by advancing the good of each
of the members composing it.
Federalist, Jay
3. Spiritual advantage or improvement ; as
theg'oorf of souls.
4. Earnest ; not jest.
The good woman never died after this, till
.she came to <lie for good and all.
L'Estrange
The phrase, for good and all, signifies,
finally ; to close the whole business ; for
the last time.
5. Moral works ; actions which are just and
in conformity to the moral law or divine
Depart from evil, and do good. Ps. xxx
6. Moral qualities ; virtue ; righteousness.
I find no good in this man.
7. The best fruits ; richness ; abundance.
I will give you tlie good of the land. Gen
GOOD, V. t. To manure. [ATot in use.]
Hall.
GOOD, adv. ^s good, as well ; with equal
advantage. Had you not as good go with
me ? In America we use goods, the Goth
ic word. Had you not as goods go .'
In replies, g'oorf signifies well ; right ; it i;
satisfactory ; I am satisfied. I will be with
you to morrow ; answer, good, very good.
So we use ivell, from the root of L. valeo,
to be strong.
GOOD-BREE'DING, n. Polite manners,
formed by a good education ; a polite ed-
GOOD-BY. [See By.]
G00D-eONDl"TIONED, a. Being in ti
good state ; having good qualities or fa-
vorable symptoms. Sharp,
GOOD-FEL'LOW, n. A jolly companion,
[Thisis hardly to be admitted as a compound
word.]
GOOD-FEL'LOW, v. t. To make a jolly
companion ; to besot. [Little used.]
GOOD-FELLOWSHIP, n. Merry societv.
GOOD-FRI'DAY, n. A fast of the chri.stia"n
church, in memory of our Savior's suffer-
ings, kept in passion week.
GOOD-HUMOR, n. A cheerful temper or
state of mind.
GOOD-HU'MORED, a. B.ing of a cheerful
temper.
GOOD-HU'MOREDLY, adv. With a cheer
fid temper ; in a clieerfid way.
GOOD-MAN'NERS, n. Propriety of belia
vior ; politeness ; decorum.
GOOD-NA'TURE, ji. Natural mildness and
kindness of disposition.
GOOD-NA'TURED, a. Naturally mild in
temper ; not easily provoked.
GOOD-NA'TUREDLY, adv. With mildness
of temper.
GOOD-NOW. An exclamation of wonder
or surprise. Dnjden
GOO
2. An exclamation of entreaty. {JVotused.]
Sliak.
GOOD-SPEED, n. Good success; an old
jorm of wishing success. [See Speed.]
GOOD-WIFE, 71. The mistress of a family
Burton
GOOD-WILL, n. Benevolence.
good-Woman, n. The mistress of a fam-
GOOD'LESS,
Ilavi
ingi
goods. 06*.
Chaucer
GOOD'LINESS, n. [from goodly.] Beauty
of (brm ; grace ; elegance.
Her guodliiiess was full of harmony to \at
eyes. Sidney
GOOD'LY, adv. Excellently. Spenser.
GOOD'LY, a. Being of a handsome form
beautiful ; graceful ; as a goodly person ;
goodly raiment ; goodly houses. Shak.
2. Pleasant ; agreeable ; desirable ; as good-
ly tiays. Shak.
.5. Bulky ; swelling ; affectedly tm-gid. Obs.
Dry den.
GOOD'LYHEAD, n. Goodness ; grace
[A/'ot in use.] Speiiser.
GOOD'MAN, n. A familiar appellation of
civility ; sometimes used ironically.
Witli you, goodinan boy, if you please.
Shak.
2. A rustic term of comphment; asoldg-oorf-
man Uobson. Swift.
3. A familiar appellation of a husband ; also,
the master of a family. Prov. vii. INlatt.
xxiv.
GOOD'NESS, n. The state of being good ;
the physical qualities which constitute
value, excellence or perfection ;. as the
goodness of timber ; the goodness of a soi
2. The moral qualities which constitute
christian excellence ; moral virtue ; reli-
gion.
The fruit of tlie Spirit is love, Joy, peace,
long-suflering, gentleness, goodness, faith.
Gal. v.
3. Kindness ; benevolence ; benignity of
heart ; but more generally, acts of kind
ness ; charity ; humanity exercised,
shall remember his goodness to me with
gratitude.
4. Kindness ; benevolence of nature ; mer-
cy.
The Lord God — abundant in goodness and
truth. Ex. xxxiv.
5. Kindness; favor shown ; acts of benevo-
lence, compassion or mercy.
Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which
Jehovah had done to Israel. Ex. xviii.
GOODS, JI. plu. Movables ; household fur-
niture.
2. Personal or movable estate ; as horses,
cattle, utensils, &c.
3. Wares; merchandize; commodities bought
ami sold by merchants and traders.
GOOD'SHIP, JI. Favor ; grace. [JVot in
GOOD'Y, n. [Qu. goodwife.] A low term of
civility ; as ;^-oorfi/ Dobson. Swift. Gay.
GOOD'YSHIP, ;i. The state or quality of a
goody. [Ludicrous.] Hudibras.
GOOG'ING.S, ) j^ In seamen's language,
GOOD'INGS, ^ ■ clamps of iron bolted on
the stern-post of a shij), whereon to hang
the rudder. Mar. Diet.
GOOM, JI. [Sax. and Goth, guma, a man.]
A man recently married, or who is at-
tending his proposed spouse for the pur-
pose of marriage ; used in composition.
G O R
as in bridegoom. It has been corrupted
into groom.
GOOSANDER, ji. A migratory fowl of the
genus Mergus, the diver or plunger ; call-
ed also merganser.
GOOSE, n. goos. plu.^ec«e. [Sax. afos ; Sw.
g&s ; Dan. gaas ; Arm. goas ; W. guiyz ;
Russ. gus ; Ir. gedh or geadh ; Pers. • li'.
The G. and D. is gans, but whether the
same word or not, let the reader judge.
The Ch. tiN or xtix, and the correspond-
ing Arabic and Syriac words, may possi-
bly be the same word, the Europeans pre-
fixing g in the Celtic manner.]
1. A well known aquatic fowl of the genus
Anas; but the domestic goose lives chief-
ly on land, and feeds on grass. The soft
fethcrs are used for beds, and the quills
for pens. The wild goose is migratory.
2. A tailor's smoothing iron, so called from
its handle which resembles the neck of a
GOOSEBERRY, ji. goos'berry. (^n Ger.
krduselbcere, from kraus, crisp ; D. kruis-
bes, from kruis, a cross ; L. grossula ; W.
grwys, from rhwys, luxuriant. The Eng-
lish word is undoubtedly corrupted from
crossberry, grossberry, or gorseberry ; a name
taken from the roughness of the shrub.
Sec Cross and Gross.]
The fruit of a shrub, and the shrub itself, the
Ribes grossularia. The shrub is armed
with spines. Of the fruit there are seve-
ral varieties.
The .American gooseberry belongs to the
genus Melastoma, and the H'est Indian
gooseberry to the genus Cactus. Lee.
GOOSECAP, n. goos'cap. A silly person.
Beaum. Johnson.
GOOSEFOOT, JI. goosfool. A jilant, the
Chenopodium.
GOOSEGR'ASS, n. goos'grass. A plant of
the genus Galium. Also, the name of
certain plants of the genera Potentilla and
Asperugo.
GOOSENECK, ii. goos'neck. In a ship, a
piece of iron fixed on one end of the tiller,
to which the laniard of the whip-stafi" or
wheel-rope comes, for .steering the ship ;
also, an iron hook on the inner end of a
boom. Encyc. Mar. Did.
GOOSEQUILL, n. goos'qdUl. The large
fether or quill of a goose ; or a pen made
with it.
GOOSETONGIJE, «. goos'tung. A plant
of the genus Achillea.
GOOSEWING, JI. goos'uwg. In seamen's
language, a sail set on a boom on the lee
side of a ship ; also, the clues or lower
corners of a ship's main-sail or fore-sail,
when the middle part is furled.
En eye. Mar. Did.
GOP'PISH, a. Proud; pettish. [JVolin
'"«•] Rail.
GOR'-BELLIED, a. Big-bellied. Shak.
GOR'-BELLY, ji. [In W. gor signifies
swelled, extreme, over.] A prominent
belly. [.Wt'ji J(5e.]
GOR'-COCK, ji. The moor-cock, red-
grouse, or red-game; a fowl of the gal-
linaceous kind. Did. jVat. Hist.
GOR'-CROW, J!. The carrion-crow.
Johnson.
GORD, n. An instrument of gaming.
G O II
G O S
G O S
GORD'IAN, a. Intricate. {Ste the next
^vord.]
Gordian knot, in antiquity, a knot in the
lether or harness of Gordius, a king of
Phrygia, so very intricate, that there was
no finding where it began or ended. An
oracle declared that lie who should untie
this knot should be master of Asia. Alex
ander, fearing that his inabihty to untif
it should prove an ill augury, cut it asun
der witli his sword. Hence, in modern
language, a Gordian knot is an inextricable
difficulty ; and to cut the Gordian knot, is
to remove a difficulty by bold or unusual
measures. Encyc. Lempriere.
GORE, II. [Sax. gor, gore, mud ; W. gor,;
Ir. cear, blood, and red ; Gr. ia;up ; from issu-
ing-]
1. Blood ; but generally, thick or clotted
blood ; blood that after effiision becomes
inspissated. Milton.
2. Dirt; mud. [Unusual.] Bp. Fisher.
GORE, n. [Scot, g-ore or gair; Ice. gdr ; D.
geer.]
1. A wedge-shaped or triangular piece of
cloth sewed into a garment to widen it in
any part. Chauce
2. A slip or triangular piece of land. Cowel.
3. In heraldry, an abatement denoting a cow-
ard. It consists of two arch lines, meet
ing in an acute angle in the middle of the
fess point. Encyc.
GORE, V. t. [W. g-uru, to thrust; Gipsey,
goro, a dagger. See Heb. 1X3. Class Gr.
No. 30. 35. 36. 53. 57. &c.]
1. To stab ; to pierce ; to penetrate with a
pointed instrument, as a spear. Dryden
2. To pierce with the point of a horn.
If an ox gore a man o
GO'RED, pp. Stabbed ; pierced with
pointed instrument.
GORGE, n. gorj. [Fr. gorge ; It. gorga, go,
gia; Sp. gorja, the throat, and gorga, a
GOR'(iEOUSLY,arfj). With showy magnifi
cence ; splendidly ; finely. The prince was
gorgeously arrayed.
GOR'fiEOtSNESS, n. Show of dress or
ornament; splendor of raiment.
GORG'ET, n. [Fr. gorgette, from gorge.] A
piece of armor for defending the throat or
neck ; a kind of breast-plate like a half-
moon ; also, a small convex ornament
worn by officers on the breast.
Encyc. Todd.
2. Formerly, a ruff worn by females.
3. In surgery, gorget, or gorgeret, is a cutting
instrument used in lithotomy ; also, a con
cave or cannulated conductor, called i
blunt gorget. Cyc. Encyc
GORG WG, ppr. Swallowing ; eating greed
ily ; glutting. -, /^, „ ,
GORG'ON, n. [Gr.] A fabled monster of 2- <^od « word
Gr. iiw/yiXion, L. evangelium, a good or
joyful message.]
The history of the birth, life, actions, death,
resurrection, ascension and doctrines of
Jesus Christ ; or a revelation of the grace
of God to fallen man through a mediator,
including the character, actions, and doc-
trines of Christ, with the whole scheme of
salvation, as revealed by Christ and bis
apostles. This gospel is said to have been
preached to Abraham, by the promise,
"in thee shall all nations be blessed." Gal.
iii. 8.
It is called the gospel of God. Rom. i. I.
It is called the gospel of Christ. Rom.
i. 16.
It is called the gospel of salvation. Eph.
1.3.
terrific aspect," the sight of which turned
the beholder to stone. The poets repre
sent the Gorgons as three sisters, Stheno,
Euryale and Medusa ; but authors are not
agreed in the description of them.
3. Any thing very ugly or horrid. Milton.
GORG'ON, a. Like a gorgon ; very ugly or
terrific ; as a gorgon face. Dryden.
GORGO'NEAN, ) Like a gorgon ; per-
GORGO'NIAN, S "" taining to gorgons.
Milton.
Gorgonia nobilis, in natural history, red coral.
Ure.
GOR'-HEN,n. The female of the gor-cock.
GO'RING,;?p)-. [fromg-oic] Stabbing; pier-
cing.
GO'RING, n. A pricking ; puncture.
Dryden
GOR'MAND, I [Fr. gourmand, fron
GOR'MANDER, \ "' W.gormcoi?, plenitude,
exuberance ; gor, extreme ; gormoz, ex
cess.] A greedy or ravenous eater ; <
glutton.
GOR'MANDIZE, v. i. To eat greedily ; to
„-.„_,-, swallow voraciously. Shak
whirlpool gorgear, to warble ; G^gttrgel^'. GOR'IMANDIZER, n. A greedy voracious
heace gargle ; h. gtirges.] \\ eater. Cleaveland,
- • ^- ^ ■' - - ■ GOR'MANDIZING, ppr. Eating greedily
and voraciously.
GORSE, > , ^^„ [Sax.gorst. Qu. coarse,
GORSS, S ^ L- crassus, or G. krat-
to scratch.]
Furz, or whin, a thick prickly shrub, of the
genus Ulex, bearing yellow flowers in
winter. Johnson
GO'RY, a. [from gore.] Covered with con-
gealed or clotted blood ; as gory locks.
Shak
canal of the
o the stom-
1. The throat ; the gullet ; th
neck by which food passes
ach.
2. In architecture, the narrowest part of the
Tuscan and Doric capitals, between the
astragal, above the shaft of the column,
and the annidets. Encyc.
3. In fortification, the entrance of the plat-
form of any work. Encyc.
4. That which is gorged or swallowed, es-
pecially by a hawk or other fowl. Shak.
GORGE, V. t. gorj. To swallow ; especially,
to swallow with greediness, or in large
mouthfuls or quantities. Hence,
2. To glut ; to fill the throat or stomach ; to
satiate.
The giant, gorged with flesh— Addison.
GORGE, V. i. To feed. Milton.
GORti'ED, pp. Swallowed ; glutted.
GORG'ED, a. Having a gorge or throat.
Shak.
2. In heraldry, bearing a crown or the like
about the neck. Encyc.
GOR'gEOUS, a. Showy; fine; splendid
ghttering with gay colors.
With gorgeous wings, the marks of sovereign
sway. Dryd.
A sofgcous robe. Luke xxiii.
2. Bloody ; murderous. Shak
GOSJIAWK, n. [Sax. goshafoc, goose-
haWk.]
A voracious fowl of the genus Faico, oi
hawk kind, larger than tlie common buz-
zard, but of a more slender shape. The
general color of the plumage is a deep
brown ; the breast and belly white.
Did. ATat. Hist.
GOS'LING, «. [Sax. gos, goose, and ling.]
A young goose ; a goose not full grown.
2. A catkin on nut trees and pines.
Bailey. Johnson.
GOS'PEL, n. [Sax. godspell ; gorf, good, and
.ipell, history, relation, narration,
irh is uttered, announced,
3ated ; answering to the
Hammond.
3. Divinity ; theology. AElton.
4. Any general doctrine. Burke.
GOS'PEL, V. t. To in.struct in the gospel ;
or to fill with sentiments of religion.
Shak.
GOSPEL-GOSSIP, n. One who is over-
zealous in running about among his neigh-
bors to lecture on rehgious subjects.
Addison.
GOS'PELIZE, V. t. To form according to
the gospel. Milton.
[2. To instruct in the gospel ; to evangelize ;
as, to gospelize the savages. E. JVotl.
GOS'PELIZED,;)?. Instructed in the cliris
tian religion.
GOS'PELIZING, ppr. Evangelizing; in
structing in the christian religion. JE. Stiles
GOSPELLER, n. An evangelist ; also, a
follovverof Wicklifife, the first Englishman
who attempted a reformation from popery.
[JVot much used.] Roue.
2. He who reads the gospel at the altar.
GOSS, n. A kind of low furz or gorse.
ShaL
GOS'SAMER, 71. [L. gossipium, cotton.] /\
fine filmy substance, like cobwebs, float-
ing in the air, in calm clear weather, es-
pecially in autumn. It is seen in stubble
fields and on furz or low bushes, and is
probably formed by a species of spider.
Encyc .
GOS'SAMERY, a. Like gossamer ; flimsy ;
unsubstantial. Pursuits of lAteratun.
GOS'SIP, n. [Sax. godsibb ; god and sih <n-
sibb, peace, adoption and relation ; a Saxon
name of a sponsor at baptism.]
1. A sponsor; one who answers for a cliilil
in baptism ; a godfather. Obs.
Shak. Davir.'^.
2. A tippling companion.
.\nd sometimes lurk I in a gossip's bowl.
Shal.-
3. One who runs from house to house, tat-
tling and telling news ; an idle tattler.
[This is the sense in tvhich the word is now
u.!ed.] Dryden.
4. A friend or neighbor. Ohs.
5. Mere tattle ; idle talk.
GOS'SIP, V. i. To prate; to chat; to talk
much. Shuk.
2. To be a pot-companion. Shak.
3. To run about and tattle ; to tell idle talis.
!G0S'SIPING, p;)r. Prating; chatting; nm-
-d, I ning from place to place and tattling.
GOS'SIPING, li. A prating ; a rimning
about to collect tales and tattle.
G O U
GOV
GOV
<jOS'SIPRED, n. Compaterniiy ; spiritual
affinity, for which a juror might be chal
leiiged. [Mot used.] Davies.
GOSSOON', n. [Fr. garcon, corrupted.] A
boy ; a servant. [JVbt hi use.]
GOS'TING, n. An herb. AinswoHh
GOT, prel. of get. The old preterit gat, pro-
nounced got, is nearly obsolete.
GOT and GOTTEN, pp. otget.
GOTH, n. One of an ancient and distin-
guished tribe or nation, which inhabited
Scandinavia, now Sweden and Norway
whose language is now retained in those
countries, and a large portion of it is found
in English.
2. One rude or uncivilized ; a barbarian.
Addison.
3. A rude ignorant person. Chesterfield.
GO'THAMIST, n. A person deficient in
wisdom, so called from Gotham in Not
tinghamshire, noted for some pleasant
blunders. Bp. Morton.
GOTH'l€, a. Pertaining to the Goths ; as
Gothic customs ; Gothic architecture ; Goth
ic barbarity.
2. Rude; ancient.
3. Barbarous.
GOTH'IC, n. The language of tlie Goths.
GOTH'ICISM, n. Rudeness of manners
barbarousness.
2. A Gothic idiom.
3. Conformity to the Gothic style of build-
ing.
GOTH'ICIZE, V. t. To make Gothic ; to
bring back to barbarism. Strutt.
GOUp, n. Woad. [JVot used.]
GOUGE, n. gouj. [Fr. gouge; Arm. goiiich.]
A round hollow chissel, used to cut holes,
channels or grooves in wood or stone.
Moxon.
GOUgE, i'. t. gouj. To scoop out with a
gouge.
2. To force out the eye of a person with the
thumb or finger ; a barbarous practice.
GOUL'AND, 71. A plant or flower.
B. Jonson.
Goulard's Extract, so called from the invent-
or, a saturated solution of the subacetate
of lead, used asa remedy for inflammation.
Ure.
GOURD, n. [Fr. coxirge ; D. kauwoerde. Qu.
the root of gherkin^
A plant and its fruit, of the genus Cucurbi-
ta. There are several species, as the bot-
tle-gourd, the shell-gourd or calabash, the
waned gourd, &c. The shell is some-
times used for a piggin or for a bottle.
GOURDINESS, n. A swelling on a horse's
leg after a journey. Far. Did.
GOIIRDY, a. Swelled in the legs.
GOURD-TREE, n. A tree, the Crescentia,
found in the W. Indies. Fam. of Plants.
GOURMAND. [See Gormand.]
GOUT, n. [Fr. goutle, a drop, the gout ; the
disease being considered as a defluxion ;
It. gotta; Sp. gola; Ir. guta ; L. gultu.
Qu. Pers. Ctyf hot, infirm in the feet.]
1. The arthritis, a painful disease of the
small joints, but sometimes afl'ecting the
stomach. It is often periodical or inter-
mitting- Coxe.
2. A drop. [.Vo( xised.] Shak
GOUT, n. goo. [Fr. from L. gustus, laste.]
Taste; relish.
GOUT'INESS, n. The state of being sub
ject to the gout ; gouty affections.
GOUT'SWELLED, a. Swelled with tUi
gout.
GOUT'WORT, n. A plant, the .Egopodi-
um.
GOUT'Y, a. Diseased with the gout, or
subject to the gout ; as a gouty person ; a
gouty joint ; a gouty constitution.
2. Pertaining to the gout ; as gouty matter.
Btackmore.
Swelled ; boggy ; as gouty land. [7Vo< in
tse.] Spenser.
GOVERN, v.(. [Fr. gouverner; Sp. gober
nar; It. governare ; L. guberno. The L. gu-
berno seems to be a compound.]
To direct and control, as the actions or
conduct of men, either by established laws
or by arbitrary will ; to regulate by author-
ity ; to keep within the limits prescribed
by law or sovereign will. Thus in free
states, men are governed by the constitu-
tion and laws ; in despotic states, men
are governed by the edicts or commands
of a monarch. Every man should govern
well his own family.
2. To regulate ; to influence; to direct. This
is the chief point by which he is to govern
all his counsels and actions.
3. To control ; to restrain ; to keep in due
subjection ; as, to govei-n the passions or
temper.
4. To direct ; to steer; to regulate the course
or motion of a ship. The helm or the
helmsman governs the ship.
In grammar, to require to he in a particu-
lar case ; as, a verb transitive governs a
word in the accusative case ; or to require
a particular case ; as, a verb g-oi'erns the ac-
cusative case.
GOVERN, v.i. Toexerci.se authority; to
administer the laws. The chief magis-
trate should govern with impartiality.
2. To maintain the superiority ; to have the
control, Dryden
GOVERNABLE, a. That may be govern
erned, or subjected to authority ; control
lable; manageable; obedient; submissive
to law or rule. Locke.
GOV'ERNANCE, n. Government ; exer-
cise of authority ; direction ; control ; man-
agement, either of a public officer, or of a
private guardian or tutor.
Maccabees. Sliak.
GOVERNANT, n. [Fr. gouvernante.] A
lady who has the care and management o(
young females ; a governess. [The latter
is more generally itsed.]
GOVERNED, pp. Directed ; regidated by
authority ; controlled ; managed ; influen-
ced ; restrained.
GOVERNESS, n. A female invested with
authority to control and direct; a tutor
ess ; an instructress ; a woman who has
the care of instructing and directing young
ladies.
GOVERNING, ppr. Directing; control!
ing ; regulating by laws or edicts ; mana
3. Directing; controlling; as a governing
motive. v
GOVERNMENT, n. Direction : regula-
tion. These precepts will serve for the
government of our conduct.
2. Control ; restraint. Men are apt to neg-
lect the government of their temiwr and
passions.
3. The e.\ercise of authority ; direction and
restraint exercised over the actions of men
in communities, societies or states ; the ad-
ministration of public affairs, according to
established constitution, laws and usages,
or by arbitrary edicts. Prussia rose to
importance under the govemine7it of Fred-
erick II.
4. The exercise of authority by a parent or
householder. Children are often ruined
by a neglect of government in parents.
Let fatnWy government be like that of our
heavenly Father, mild, gentle and aflcctionatc.
Kotlock.
5. The system of polity in a state; that form
of fundamental rules and principles by
which a nation or state is governed, or by
which individual members of u body poli-
tic are to regulate their social actions ; a
constitution, either written or unwritten,
by which the rights and duties of citizens
and public officers are prescribed and de-
fined ; as a monarchial government, or u
republican government.
Thirteen governments thus founded on (lie
natural authority of the people alone,
the pretence of miracle or mystery, ar
point gained in favor of the rights of m;
gmg; influencing; restraining.
!. o. Holding the superiority ; prevalent ;
as a governing wind ; a governing party
ill a slate. Federalist, Jay.
tliout
great
G. An empire, kingdom or state; any terri-
tory over which the right of sovereignty is
extended.
The right of governing or administering
the laws. The king of England vested
the government of Ireland in the lord
lieutenant.
The persons or council which administer
the laws of a kingdom or state; executive
power.
Manageablencss ; compliance ; obsequi-
ousness. Shak.
10. Regularity of behavior. [Ab< in K.?e.]
Shak.
11. Management of the limbs or body. [J\iot
use.] Spenser.
12. In grammar, the influence of a word in
regard to construction, as when establish-
ed usage requires that one word should
cause another to be in a particular case
or mode.
GOVERNMENT'AL, a. Pertaining to gov-
innent ; made by government.
Hamilton.
GOVERNOR, w. He that governs, rules or
directs; one invested with supreme au-
thority. The Creator is the rightful gov-
ernor of all his creatures.
One who is invested with supreme au-
thority to administer or enforce the laws ;
the supreme executive magistrate of a
state, community, corporation or post.
Thus, in America, each state has its gov-
ernor; Canada has its governor.
3. A tutor ; one who has the care of a young
man ; one who instructs him and forms his
manners.
4. A pilot ; one who steers a ship. James iii
G R A
5. One possessing delegated authority. Jo-
seph was governor over the land of Egypt.
Obadiah was governor over Ahab's house.
Damascus had a governor under Aretas
the king.
GOVERNORSHIP, n. The office of agov-
GOVV'AN, n. A plant, a species of Bellis or
daisy. Fam. of Plants.
GOWK, );. [See Gawk.]
GOWN, n. [W. gwn; Ir. gunna ; It. gonna.
This is probably thexamaxr; of Hesychius,
and the guanacum of Varro ; a garment
somewhat like the sagum or sack, said to
be of Persian origin, and among rude na-
tions i)erhaps made of skins, [W. c^n-
ysgin,] and afterwards of wool ; a kind of
.shag or frieze. Ch. N3JU xnentioned
Judges iv. 18. and 2 Kings viii. 15. See
Varro de Ling. Lat. lib. 4. Bochart. Dc
PhoEu. Col. lib. 1. Cap. 42. and Cluv. Ant.
Germ. Lib. 1.]
1. A woman's upper garment. Pope.
2. A long loose upper garment or robe, worn
by profe.ssional men, as divines, lawyers,
students, &c., who are called men of the
gown or gotvnmen. It is made of any kind
of cloth worn over ordinary clothes, and
hangs down to the ankles or nearly so.
Encyc.
3. A long loose upper garment, worn in
sickness, &c.
4. The dress of peace, or the civil magistra-
cy ; cedant arma toga:.
He Mars deposed, and arms to gowns made
yield. Bryden.
GOWN'ED, a. Dressed in a gown.
Dryden.
GOWN'MAN, n. One whose professional
habit is a gown.
The gownman learn'd. Pvjie.
2. One devoted to the arts of peace. Roice.
GRAB, n. A vessel used on the Malabar
coast, having two or three masts. Diet.
GRAB, V. t. [Dan. greb, a grasp ; griber, to
gripe ; Sw. grabba, to grasp ; gripa, to
gripe ; W. grab, a duster.]
To seize ; to gripe suddenly. [ Vulgar.']
GRAB'BLE, v. i. [dim. of grab ; D. grab-
belen ; G. griibeln ; allied to grope, grovel,
and giapple ; Arm. scraba; Kug. scrabble ;
allied to rub, or L. rapio, or to both.]
1. To grope ; to feel with the hands.
Arbuthnot.
2. To lie prostrate on the belly ; to sprawl.
Ainsworth.
GRAB'BLING.^jipr. Groping ; feeling along;
sprawling.
GRACE, n. [Fr. grace ; It. grazia ; Sp. gra-
cia ; Ir. grasa ; from the L. gratia, which
is formed on the Celtic ; W. rhad, grace,
a blessing, a gratuity. It coincides in ori-
gin with Fr. gri, Eng. agree, congruous,
and ready. The primary sense otgratus,
is free, ready, quick, willing, prompt, from
advancing. Class Rd. See Grade.]
1. Favor; good will; kindness; disposition
to oblige another ; as a grant made as an
act of grace.
Or each, or all, may win a lady's grace.
Dryden.
2. Appropriately, the free unmerited love
and favor of God, the spring and source
of all the benefits men receive from him.
And if by grace, then it is no more of works.
G R A
a Favorable influence of God; divine influ-
ence or the influence of the spirit, in re-
newing the heart and restraining from
sin.
My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Cor. xii.
4. The apphcation of Christ's righteousness
to the sinner.
Where sin abounded, ,grace did much more
abound. Rom. v.
5. A state of reconcihation to God. Rom.
v. 2.
G. Virtuous or religious affection or disposi-
tion, as a liberal disposition, faith, meek-
ness, humility, patience, &.c. proceeding
from divine influence.
7. Spiritual instruction, improvement and
edification. Eph. iv. 29.
8. Apostleship, or the qualifications of an
apostle. Eph. iii. 8.
9. Eternal life ; final salvation. 1 Pet. i. 13.
10. Favor ; mercy ; pardon.
Bow and sue for grace
With suppliant knee. Milton.
11. Favor conferred.
I should therefore esteem it a great favor and
grace. Prior.
12. Privilege.
To few great Jupiter imparts this grace.
Dryden.
13. That in manner, deportment or lan-
guage which renders it appropriate and
agreeable ; suitableness ; elegance with
appropriate dignity. We say, a speaker
delivers his address with grace ; a man
performs his part with grace.
Grace was in all her steps. Milton.
Her purple habit sits with such a grace
On her smooth shoulders. Dryden.
14. Natural or acquired excellence ; any en-
dowment that recommends the possessor
to others ; as the graces of wit and learn-
ing. Hooker.
15. Beauty; embellishment; in general,
whatever adorns and recommends to fa-
vor ; sometimes, a single beauty.
I pass their form and every charming grace.
Dryden.
16. Beauty deified ; among pagans, a god-
dess. The graces were three in number,
Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne, the con-
stant attendants of Venus. Lempriere.
The loves delighted, and the graces played.
Prior.
17. Virtue physical; as the grace of plants.
[JVot used.] Shak.
18. The title of a duke or an archbishop,
and formerly of the king of England,
meaning your goodness or clemency. His
Grace the Duke of York. Your Grace
will please to accept my thanks.
19. A short prayer before or after meat; a
blessing asked, or thanks rendered.
20. In music, graces signifies turns, trills and
shakes introduced for embellishment.
Day of grace, in theology, time of probation,
when an offer is made to sinners.
Days of grace, in commerce, the days imme-
diately following the day when a bill or
note becomes due, which days are allow-
ed to the debtor or payor to make i)ay-
ment in. In Great Britain and the United
States the days of grace are three, but in
other countries more ; the usages of mer-
chants being different.
GRACE, V. t. To adorn ; to decorate ; to
embellish and dignify.
G R A
Great Jove and Phcebus graced his not.;,
line. p„^,(
And hail, ye fair, of every charm possess'iJ,
Who grace tliis rising empire of the west.
D. Humphrtif
2. To dignify or raise by an act of favor ; u,
honor.
He might at his pleasure grace or disgraci-
whom he would in court. Knollts
.3. To favor; to honor. Dryden.
4. To supply with heavenly grace.
Bp. Hall.
GRA'CE€UP, n. The cup or health drank
after grace. Prior.
GRA'CED, ;;^. Adorned; embellished; ex
alted ; dignified ; honored.
2. a. Beautiful ; graceful. [J^ot in use.]
Sidney
3. Virtuous; regular; chaste. [JVot in u.-^i'.
Shah.
GRA'CEFUL, a. Beautiful with dignity ;
elegant ; agreeable in appearance, wi'tli
an expression of dignity or elevation of
inind or manner ; used particularly of mo-
tion, looks and speech ; as a. graceful walk
a graceful deportment ; a graceful speakti :
a graceful air.
High o'er the rest in arms the graceful Tur-
nus rode. Dryden.
GRA'CEFULLY, adv. With a pleasing dig-
nity ; elegantly ; with a natural ease and
propriety ; as, to walk or speak grace/uHj/.
GRA'CEFULNESS, n. Elegance of maii-
ncr or deportment ; beauty with dignity in
manner, motion or countenance. Grace-
fulness consists in the natural ease and
propriety of an action, accompanied with
a countenance expressive of dignity or
elevation of mind. Happy is the man who
can add the gracefulness of ease to the
dignity of merit.
GRA'CELESS, a. Void of grace; corrupt;
depraved ; unregenerate ; unsanctified.
GRA'CELESSLY, adv. Without grace.
GRA'CES, n. Good graces, favor; friend-
ship.
GRAC'ILE, a. [L. gracilis.] Slender. [JVot
in use.]
GRACIL'ITY, n. Slendemess. [JVot in
use.]
GRACIOUS, a. [Fr. gracieux; L. gratio-
sus.]
1. Favorable; kind ; friendly; as, the envoy
met with a gracious reception.
2. Favorable ; kind ; benevolent ; merciful ;
disposed to forgive offenses and impart
unmerited blessings.
Thou art a God ready to pardon, graci&U!^
and merciful. Neh. ix.
3. Favorable; expressing kindness and fa-
vor.
All bore him witness, and wondered at the
gracious words which proceeded from his
mouth. Luke iv.
4. Proceeding from divine grace ; as a per-
son in a gracious state.
5. Acceptable ; favored.
He made us gracious before the kings of
ersia. [Little used.] I Esdras.
6. Renewed or implanted by grace ; as gra-
cious affections.
7. Virtuous ; good. Shak.
8. Excellent ; graceful ; becoming. Obs.
Hooker. Camden.
GRA'CIOUSLY, adv. Kindly ; favorably ;
in a friendly manner ; with kind condes- '
cension.
G R A
His testimony he gracivusli/ confirmed.
Dryden.
2. In a pleasing manner.
GRA'CIOUSNESS, n. Kind condescension.
Clarendon.
9. Possession of graces or good qualities.
Bp. Barlow.
•3. Pleasing manner. JoMison
4. 3Iercifulness. Sandys
GRACK'LE, n. [L. graculus, dim. of Goth.
krage, a crow. See Crow. Varro's de-
duction of this word from grex is an
error.]
A genus of birds, the Gracula, of which the
crow-blackbird is a species.
GRADA'TION, n. [L. gradatio ; Fr. gra-
dation. See Grade.^
1. A series of ascending steps or degrees, or
a proceeding step by step ; hence, progress
from one degree or state to another ; a
regular advance from step to step. We
observe a gi-adalion in tlie progress of so-
ciety from a rude to civilized life. Men
may arrive by several gradations to the
most horrid impiety.
2. A degree in any order or series ; we ob-
serve a gradation in the scale of being,
from brute to man, from man to angels.
3. Order ; series ; regular process by degrees
or steps ; as a gradation in argument or
description.
GRAD'ATORY, a. Proceeding step by step.
Seward.
GRAD'ATORY, n. Steps from the clois-
ters into the church. Ainsworth.
GRADE, n. [¥t. grade ; Sp. It. grado ; Port.
grao ; from L. gradus, a step; gradior, to
step, to go; G. grad ; D. graad ; Dan. and
Sw. grad, a step or degree ; W. grdz, a
step, degree, rank, from rhdz, a going for-
ward or advance, Arm. radd. It may be
from a common root with W. rhawd, way,
course, rout ; rhodiaw, to walk about ;
rhod, a. wlieel, L. rota. We observe by the
Welsh that the first letter g- is a prefix, and
the root of the word then tsRJ. We ob-
serve further that the hathi gi-adior forms
gressus, by a common change of <£ to s, or
as it is in Welsh z [th]. Now if g- is a pre-
fix, then gressus [ressus] coincides with
the Sw. resa, Dan. rejser, G. reisen, D.
reizen, to go, to travel, to journey ; D. reis,
a journey or voyage. In Sw. and Dan.
the verbs signify not only to travel, but to
raise. Whether the latter word raise is of
the same family, may be doubtful ; but the
others appear to belong to one radix, co-
inciding with the Syr. j j! radah, to go, to
walk; Ch. mi to open,'expand, flow, in-
struct ; Heb. to descend. A step then is a
stretch, a reach of the foot. Class Rd.
No. 1.2.26.]
1. A degree or rank in order or dignity, civil,
military or ecclesiastical.
J. M. Mason. If'alsh.
While questions, periods, and grades and
privileges arc never once formally discussed.
S. Miller.
3. A Step or degree in any ascending series ;
as crimes of every grade.
When we come to examine tlie intermediate
grades. S. S. Smith.
GRA'DIENT, a. [L. gradicns, gradior.]
Moving by steps ; walking ; as gradient
automata. fVilkins.
Vol. I.
G R A
GRADUAL, a. [Fr. gradud, from grade. ],GR\VF.,
Proceeding by steps or degrees; advan-
cing step by step ; passing from one stej
to another ; regular and slow ; as a grad-
ual increase of knowledge ; a gradual in-
crease of light in the morning is favorable
to the eyes.
2. Proceeding by degrees in a descending
line or progress ; as a gradual decline
GRADUAL, n. An order of steps.
Dryden.
2. A grail ; an ancient book of hynms and
prayers. Todd.
GRADUALLY, adv. By degrees ; step by
step ; regularly ; slowly. At evening the
light vanishes gradually.
2. In degree. [JVot used.]
Human reason doth not only graJually, but
specifically differ from the fantastic reason of
brutes. Greiv
GRAD'UATE, v. t. [It. graduare ; Sp. grad-
uar ; Fr. graduer ; from L. gradus, a do-
To honor with a degree or diploma,
in a college or university ; to confer a de
gree on ; as, to graduate a master of arts
Carew. fVotton.
2. To mark with degrees, regular intervals,
or divisions ; as, to graduate a thermome
ter.
3. To form shades or nice differences.
4. To raise to a higher place in (he scale of [
metals. Boyle.
5. To advance by degrees ; to improve,
Dyers advance and graduate tlieir colors
with salts. Brown
6. To temper; to prepare.
Diseases originating in the atmosphere act
exclusively on bodies graduated to receive
their impressions. Med. Repos.
7. To mark degrees or differences of any
kind ; as, to grwluate punishment.
Duponceau.
8. In chimistry, to bring fluids to a certain de-
gree of consistency.
GRAD'UATE, v. i. To receive a degree
from a college or university.
3. To pass by degrees ; to change gradually
Sandstone which graduates into gneiss
Carnehan sometimes graduates into
quartz. Kxnvan
GRAD'UATE, n. One who has received a
degree in a college or university, or from
some professional incorporated society.
GRAD'UATED, pp. Honored with a de-
gree or diploma from some learned society
or college.
2. Marked with degrees or regular inter-
rals ; tempered.
GRAD'UATESHIP, n. The state of a grad-
uate. Milton.
GRAD'UATING, ppr. Honoring with a de-
gree ; marking with degrees.
GRADUA'TIOl>f, n. Regular progression
by succession of degrees.
2. Improvement; exaltation of qualities
Brotvn.
3. The act of conferring or receiving aca-
demical degrees.
Charter of Dartmouth College.
4. The act of marking with degrees.
5. The process of bringing a liquid to a cer-
tain consistence by evaporation. Parke.
GRAD'UATOR, n. An instrument for divi-
ding any line, right or curve, into equal
parts. Joum. of Science.
94
G R A
[See Graie.] A ditch or moat.
Clarendon.
GRAFF, for graft. Obs.
GR'AFT, 71. lFr.greffe;Avm.id.; It. graf-
chur; D. griffel ; bom the root of grave,
engrave, Gr. yfM^u, L. acribo, the sense of
which is to srrape or to dig. In Scot,
g-rai/ signifies to bury, to inter. The sense
ol' graft is that which is inserted. See
Grave.]
A small shoot or cion of a tree, inserted in
another tree as the stock which is to sup-
port and nourish it. These unite and be-
come one tree, but tlic graft determines
the kind of fruit.
GR^AFT, V. t. [Fr. greffer.] To insert a cion
or shoot, or a small cutting of it, into an-
other tree. Dryden.
2. To propagate by insertion or inoculation.
Dryden.
3. To insert in a body to which it did not
originally belong. Rom. xi. 17.
4. To impregnate with a foreign branch.
Shak.
5. To join one thing to another so as to re-
ceive support from it.
And graji my love immortal on thy fame.
Pope.
GR'AFT, v. i. To practice the insertion of
foreign cions on a stock.
GRAFTED, pp. Inserted on a foreign
stock.
GRAFTER, ii. One who inserts cions on
foreign stocks, or propagates fruit by in-
grafting.
GR'AFTING, ppr. Inserting cions on dif-
ferent stocks.
A'ote. The true original orthography of this word
is graff; but graft has superseded the original
word, as it has in the compound ingraft.
GRAIL, n. [V..gradual(.] A book of offices
in the Romish church. IVarton.
GRAIL, n. [Fr. grele, hail.] Small parti-
cles of any kind. Spenser.
GRAIN, J!. [Fr. grain ; L. granum ;
and It. grnno ; G. gran ; D. graan ;
gran, corn ; W. graun, graen, gronyn, a
httle pebble or gravel stone, Jr. grean.
Arm. gruan, which seems to be the Eng.
ground ; Russ. gran, grain, and a corner, a
boundary. In Scot, grain is the branch
of a tree, the stem or stalk of a plant, the
branch of a river, the prong of a fork. In
Sw. gryn is grain ; grann, fine ; gren, a
branch ; ani\ grhns, boundary. Dan. gran,
a grain, a i>ine tree ; grand, a grain, an
atom ; green, a branch, a sprig ; graitdse,
a boundary ; G. gran, D. graan, grain ; G.
grcinze, D. grens, a border.]
1. Any small hard mass ; as a grain of sand
or gravel. Hence,
2. A single seed or hard seed of a plant,
particularly of those kinds whose seeds
are used for food of man or beast. This
is usually inclosed in a proper shell or cov-
ered with a husk, and contains the embryo
ofa new plant. Hence,
3. Grain, without a definitive, signifies corn
in general, or the fruit of certain plants
which constitutes the chief food of man
and beast, as wheat, rye, barley, oats and
maiz.
4. A minute particle.
5. A small weight, or the smallest weight
ordinarily used, being the twentieth part
t
G R A
G R A
G R A
of the scruple in apothecaries' weight, and]
the twenty fourth of a pennyweight troy.l
6. A component part of stones and metals.
7. The veins or fibers of wood or other!
fibrous substance ; whence, cross-grained,\
and against the grain. {
8. The body or substance of wood as modi-i
fied by the fibers.
Hard box, and linden of a softer grain.
Dryden.
9. The body or substance of a thing con-
sidered with respect to the size, form or
direction of the constituent particles ; as
stones of a fine grain. ffoodivard.
The tooth of a sea-horse, contains a curdled,
grain. Bruwn:
10. Any thing proverbially small ; a very!
small particle or portion ; as a grain of
wit or of common sense. j
Neglect not to make use of any grain of
grace. Hamnwnd.\
11. Dyed or stained substance.
All in a robe of darkest gram. MiUon}
12. The direction of the fibers of wood or
other fibrous substance ; hence the phrase,!
against the grain, applied to animals, that
is, against their natural tempers. 1
13. The heart or temper ; as brothers not'
united in grain. Hayivard.\
14. The form of the surface of any thing'
with respect to smoothness or roughness ;
state of the grit of any body composed of
grains; as sandstone of a fine g-rain. |
l.'i. A tine, prong or spike. Ray.\
A p-ain of allowance, a small allowance or
indulgence ; a small portion to be remit-;
ted ; something above or below just;
weight. If'atts]
To di/e in grain, is to dye in the raw mate-,
rial, as wool or silk before it is maniifac-|
tured.
GRAIN, V. i. To yield fruit. Obs. Goioer}
GRAIN, or GRANE, for groan. [Xot in
iise.]
GRA'INED, a. Rough ; made less smooth.'
Shak.\
2. Dyed in grain ; ingrained. Brown.
GRA'INER, n. A lixivium obtained by infu-
sing pigeon's dung in water ; used by tan-
ners to give flexibility to skins. Ure.
GRA'INING, n. Indentation. Leake.
2. A fish of the dace kind. Diet. JVat. Hist.
GRAINS, n. [in the plural.] The husks or
remains of malt after brewing, or of any
grain after distillation. i
Grains of paradise, an Indian spice, the seeds'
of a species of Aniomum. j
GRA'INSTAFF, n. A quarter-staft'.
GRA'IN Y, a. Full of grains or corn ; full of,
kernels. Johnson.
GRAITH, V. I. To prepare. [See GreUh
and Ready.]
GRAL'LIC, a. [L. grallw, stilts, crutches.]'
Stilted; an epithet given to an order ol'
fowls having long legs, naked above the!
knees, which fit them for wading in water.i
GRA3I, a. [Sax. gram ; Sw. id. angry ;
Dan. gram, envious, grudging.] Angry.
06s. j
GRAM, n. [Fr. gramme, from Gr. ypajujua,;
whence ypa^fiapioi/, the twenty fourtli part:
of an omice.] \
In the new system of French weights, the unity!
of weights. It is the weight of a quantity,
of distilled water equal to a cubic centime-
ter, or 18 grains T^^sTr French, or du
poids de marc, equal to 15.444 grains
troy. Lunier.
GRAMERCY, for Fr. grand-merci, is not in
use. It formerly was used to express
obligation. Spenser.
GRAMIN'EAL, ? [L. gramineus, from
GRAMIN'EOUS, <, "' gramen, grass.]
Grassy ; like or pertaining to grass. Gra
mineous jjlants are those which have sim
pie leaves, a jointed stem, a husky calyx,
termed glume, and a single seed. Thi
description however includes several sort
of corn, as well as grass. Milne.
GRAMINIVOROUS, a. [L. gramen, grass,
and voro, to eat.]
Feeding or subsisting on grass. The ox and
all the bovine genus of quadrupeds are
graminivorous animals ; so also the horse
or equine genus.
GRAM'MAR, n. [Fr. grammaire ; L. gram-
matica; Gr. ypa/ijuartxij, from ypofi^a,
a letter, from ypocfu, to write. See Grave.]
1. In practice, the art of speaking or writing
a language with propriety or correctness,
according to established usage.
As a science, grammar treats of the nat-
ural connection between ideas and words,
and developes the principles which are
common to all languages.
2. A system of general principles and of par-
ticular rules for speaking or writing a lan-
guage ; or a digested compilation of cus-
tomary forms of speech in a nation ; also,
a book containing such principles and
rules.
3. Propriety of speech. To write grammar,
we must write according to the practice
of good writers and speakers.
GRAM'MAR, r. i. To discourse according
to the rules ofgranmiar. Obs.
GRAM'MAR, a. Belonging to or contained
in grammar; as a grammar rule.
GRAMMAR-SCHOOL, n. A school in
which the learned languages are taught.
By learned languages, we usually mean
the Latin and Greek ; but others may be
included.
GRAMMA'RIAN, n. One versed in gram-
mar, or the construction of languages ; a
philologist.
2. One who teaches grammar.
GRAMMATICAL, «. [Fr.] Belonging to
granunar ; as a grammatical rule.
2. According to the rules of grammar. We
say, a sentence is not grammatical ; the
construction is not grammatical.
GRAMMATICALLY, adv. According to
the principles and rules of grammar; as,
to Write or speak grammatically.
GRAMMAT'ICASTER, n. [L.] A low
grammarian ; a pretender to a knowledge
of grammar ; a pedant. . Petty.
GRAMMAT'ICIZE, v.t. To render grani-
inatical. Johnson.
GRAM'MATIST, n. A pretender to a
knowledge of grammar. H. Tooke.
GRAM'MATITE, n. [See Tremolite.]
GRAM'PLE, n. A crab-fish.
GRAM'PUS, n. [grampoise ; Fr. grand-
poisson, contracted. Spelman.]
A fish of the cetaceous order, and genus
Delphinus. This fish grows to the length
of twenty five feet, and is remarkably thick
in proportion to its length. The nose is
flat and turns up at the end. It has 30
teeth in each jaw. The spoiit-hole is on
the top of the neck. The color of the
back is black ; the belly is of a snowy white-
ness ; and on each shoulder is a large white
spot. This fish is remarkably voracious.
GRANADIL'LA, ji. [Sp.] A plant; the
fruit of the Passifora quadrangulata.
GRANADE, GRANADO. [See Grenadif'
GRAN'ARY, n. [L. granarium, from gra-
num, grain ; Fr. grenier.]
A store house or repository of grain after it
is thrashed ; a corn-house.
GRAN'ATE, n. Usually written garnet,
which see.
GRAN'ATITE, n. [See Grenatite.]
GRAND, a. [Fr. grand; Sp. and It. granrfe ;
L.grandis; Norm, grant. Ifn is casual,
this word coincides with great. But most
probably it belongs to the Class Rn. The
sense is to extend, to advance ; hence it
signifies old, advanced in age, as well as
great.]
1. Great ; but mostly in a figurative sense :
illustrious; high in power or dignity ; as
a grand lord. Raleigh.
2. Great ; splendid ; magnificent ; as a grand
design ; a grand parade ; a grand view or
prospect.
•3. Great; principal; chief; as Satan our
grand foe. MiUon.
4. Noble ; sublime ; lofty ; conceived or ex-
pressed with great dignity ; as a grand
conception.
In general, we apply the epithet grand
to that which is great and elevated, or
which elevates and expands our ideas.
The ocean, the sky, a lofVy tower are
grand objects. But to constitute a thing
grand, it seems necessary that it'should be
distinguished by some degree of beauty.
Elem. of Criticism.
5. Old; more advanced; as in grandfather,
grandmother, that is, old-father; and to
correspond with this relation, we use
grandson, granddaughter, grandchild.
GRAN'DAAf, ji. [grand and dame.] Grand-
mother. shak.
2. An old woman. Dniden.
GRANDCHILD, n. A son's or daughter's
child ; a child in the second degree of
descent.
GRANDDAUGHTER, n. Tlie daughter of
a son or daughter.
GRANDEE', n. [Si>. grande.] A nobleman;
a man of elevated rank or station. In
Spain, a nobleman of the first rank, who
has the king's leave to be covered in his
presence. Encyc.
GRANDEE'SHIP, n. The rank or estate of
a grandee. Su>inburne.
GRAND'EUR, n. [Fr. from granrf.] In a
general sense, greatness; that quahty or
combination ofqnalities in an object, which
elevates or expands the mind, and excites
pleasurable emotions in him who views or
contemplates it. Thus the extent and uni-
formity of surface in the ocean constitute
grandeur; as do the extent, the elevation,
and the concave appearance or vault of the
sky. So we speak of the grandeur of a
large and well proportioned edifice, of an
extensive range of lofty mountains, of a
large cataract, of a pyramid, &c.
G R A
G R A
G R A
2. Splendor of appearance ; state; iiiagnifi
cence ; as the grandeur of a court, of i
procession, &.c.
3. Elevation of thought, sentiment or ex
pression. We speak of the grandeur of
conceptions, and of style or diction.
4. Elevation of mien or air and deportment.
GRANDEV'ITY, n. Great age. [JVotused:
GRANDE'VOUS, a. Of great age. [Mt
tised.]
GRANDFATHER, n. A father's or moth-
er's father; the next degree ahove the
father or mother in lineal ascent.
GRANDIL'OQUENCE, n. Lofty speaking ;
lofty expressions. More.
GRANDIL'OQUOUS, a. [L. grandUoquus ;
grandis and loijuor, to speak.] Speaking
in a lofty style.
GRAND'INOUS, a. [L. grando.] Consist-
ing of hail. Did.
GRAN D'lT Y,n. Greatness; magnificence.
[JVot used.] Camden.
GRANDJU'ROR, n. One of a grand jury.
In Connecticut, a peace-officer.
GRAND JU'RY,7i. [grand mA jury.] Ajury
whose duty is to examine into the grounds
of accusation against offenders, and if they
see just cause, then to find bills of indict-
ment against them to be presented to the
court.
GRAND'LY, adv. In a lofty manner ; splen-
didly ; sublimely.
GRAND'MOTIIER, n. The mother of one's
father or mother.
GRAND'NESS, n. Grandeur; greatness
with beauty ; magnificence. Wollaston
GRAND'SIRE, n. A grandfather.
2. In poetry and rhetoric, any ancestor.
Dryden. Pope.
GRAND 'SON, n. The son of a son
daughter.
GRAN6E, Ji. grdnj. [Fr. grange, a barn ;
grangier, a farmer ; Sp. grangear, to cul-
tivate ; grangero, a farmer ; Ir. grainseach
a grange ; Scot, grange, the biuldings be-
longing to a corn farm, originally a place
where the rents and tithes, paid in grain
to religious houses, were deposited ; from
granum, grain.]
A farm, with the buildings, stables, &c
Milton. Shak.
GRAN'ILITE, n. [See Granit.] Indeter
minate granit ; granit that contains more
than three constituent parts. Kirwan.
GRAN'IT, I [Fr. granit ; It. granito,
GRAN'ITE, \ "• grained.]
In mineralogy, an aggregate stone or rock,
composed of crystaline grains of quartz,
i'cKlspar and mica, or at least of two of
:hese minerals, united without a cement,
r>r confusedly crystalized. The grains
vary in size from that of a pin's head, to a
riiass of two or three feet ; but usually the
largest size is that of a nut. The color of
irranit is greatly diversified by the differ-
■ at colors and proportions of the compo-
;.<nt parts, and in general these stones are
iiyhard. Did. jVat. Hist. Kirwan.
. i; A N'lTEL, n. [dim. of granit.] A binary
'j?;icgate of minerals; a granitic com-
; 'und containing two constituent parts,
-^ quartz and feldspar, or quartz and shorl
MI- liornblend. Kirwan.
3 Lilian workmen give this name to a variety
■>!'gray granit consisting of small grains.
Did. ATat. Hist.
GRANIT'IC, a. Pertaining to granit ; like
granit ; having the nature of granit ; ai
granitic texture.
2. Consisting of granit ; as granitic moun
tains.
Granitic aggregates, in mineralogy, granular
compounds of two or more simple mine
rals, in which only one of the essential in-
gredients of granit is present ; as quartz
and liornblend, feldspar and shorl, &c.
Similar compounds occur, in which none
of the ingredients of granit are present.
Cleavetand.
GRAN'ITIN, ji. A granitic aggregate of
three species of minerals, some of which
differ from the species which compose
granit ; as quartz, feldspar, and jade or
•shorl. kirwan.
GRANIV'OROUS, a. [L. granum, grain,
and mro, to eat.]
Eating grain ; feeding or subsisting on .seeds;
as granivorous birds. Brown.
Grannam, for grandam, a grandmoti
{V'ulgar.] B. Jonson.
GR'ANT, v. t. [Norm, granter, to grant, to
promise, or agree. I have not found this
word in any other language. Perhaps n
is not radical, for in some ancient char-
ters it is written grat. " Gratamus et con-
cedimus." Spdman.]
1. To admit as true what is not proved ; to
allow ; to yield ; to concede. We take
that for granted which is supposed to be
true.
Grant that the fates have firmed, by their
decree — Dryden.l
2. To give ; to bestow or confer on without
compensation, particularly in answer to
prayer or request.
Tliou hastgranted me life and favor. Job x
God granted him that which he requested,
1 Chron. iv.
3. To transfer the title of a thing to another,
for a good or valuable consideration ; t(
convey by deed or writing. The legisla
ture have granted all the new land.
GR' ANT, n. The act of granting ; a bestow
ing or conferring.
'2. The thing granted or bestowed ; a gift
a boon.
3. In law, a conveyance in writing, of suci
I things as cannot pass or be transferred by
i word only, as land, rents, reversions, tithes,
: &c.
A grant is an executed conlraet. Z. Swift
[4. Concession ; admission of something as
true. Dryden.
5. The thing conveyed by deed or patent.
GRANTABLE, a. That may be granted or
conveyed.
GRANTED, pp. Admitted as true ; conce
ded ; yielded ; bestowed ; conveyed.
GRANTEE', n. The person to whom a con
veyance is made.
GRANTING, p;)r. Admitting; conceding;
bestowing ; conveying.
GR>ANTOR, n. The person who grants
one who conveys lands, rents, &c.
GRAN'UL.^R, a. [from L. granum, grain.'
1. Consisting of grains ; as a granular sub-
stance.
2. Resembling grains; as a stone of gra/iK-'
lar a])pearance.
GRAN'ULATE, v. I. [Fr. granuler, from L.
granum.
To form into grains or small masses ; as.
to granulate powder or sugar.
2. To raise into small asperities : to make
h on the surface. Ray.
GRAN'l LATE,t'. i. To collect or be form-
ed into grains ; as cane-juice granulates
into sugar ; melted metals granute^e when
poured into water.
GRANULATED, pp. Formed into grains.
2. a. Consisting ofgrains; resembling grains.
GRAN 'ULATING, mpr. Forming into grains.
GRANULATION, n. The act of forming
into grains ; as the granulation of, powder
and sugar. In chimistry, the granulation
of metallic substances is j)erformed by
pouring the melted substances slowly into
water, which is, at the same time, agitated
with a broom. Encyc.
GRAN'ULE, n. [Sp. granillo, from L. gra-
num.] A little grain ; a small particle.
GRAN'ULOUS, o. Full of grains; abound-
ing with granular substances.
GRAPE, n. [This word is from the root of
grab, gripe, and signifies primarily a clus-
ter or hunch ; Fr. grappe de raisin, a
bunch of grapes ; W. grah, a cluster, a
grape ; grabin, a clasping ; It. grappa, a
grappling ; grappo, a cluster, a bunch of
grapes.]
1. Properly, a cluster of the fruit of the vine ;
but with us, a single beriy of the vine ; the
fruit from which wine is "made by express-
ion and fermentation.
In the manege, grapes signifies mangy tu-
mors on the legs of a horse.
GRAPE-HYACINTH, n. A plant or flower,
a species of Hyacinthus.
GRA'PELESS, a. Wanting the strengtii
and flavor of the grape. Jenyns.
GRA'PESHOT, n. A cluster of small shot,
confined in a canvas bag, forming a kind
of cylinder, whose diameter is equal to
that of the ball adapted to the cannon.
Enaic.
GRA'PESTONE, n. The stone or seed of
the grape.
GRAPHIC,
GRAPHICAL, ;
1. Pertaining to t
eating.
2. Well delineated. Bacon.
Describing witli accuracy.
GRAPHICALLY, adv. With good delinea-
tion ; in a jiicturesque manner. Brown.
GRAPH'ITE, »i. [Gr. ypaf^, to write.] Car-
buret of iron, a substance used for pencils,
and very improperly called black-lead.
Did. .Yat. Hist. Cleaveland.
GRAPH'OLITE, n. [supra.] A species of
slate proper for writing on.
GR.\PHOM'ETER, n. [Gr. ypo^iu, to des-
cribe, and fitTpop, measure.]
A mathematical instrument, called also a
semicircle, whose use is to observe any
angle whose vertex is at the center of the
instrument in any plane, and to find how
many degrees it contains. Encyc.
GRAPHOMET'RICAL, a. Pertaining to or
ascertained by a graphometer.
GRAPNEL, ) [Fr. grappin. See Grap-
GRAP'LltiG,]"- ph.]
1. A small anchor fitted with four or five
[L. graphicus; Gr.
ypo'jiixoj, from yi>afu,
of writing or delin-
G R A
G R A
G R A
flukes or claws, used to hold boats or small
vessels.
2. A gi-appling iron, used to seize and hold
one sliip to another in engagements. This
is called afire grapling.
GRAP'PLE, V. t. [Goth, greipan, to giipe ;
Ger. greifen ;
Sw. grai '
gn/pen; Dan. gnber ;
ripa ; It. grappare ; W.
peaw. See Grape and Gripe. I
1. To seize ; to lay fast hold on, either with
the hands or with hooks. We say, a man
grapples his antagonist, or a ship grapples
another ship.
2. To fasten ; to fix, as the mind or heart.
[jVot in vse.] Shak.
GRAP'PLE, 11. 1. To seize ; to contend in
close fight, as wrestlers.
Millon. Addison.
To grapple with, to contend with, to struggle
with successfully. Shak.
GRAP'PLE, »^ A seizing; close hug in con-
test ; the wrestler's hold. Millon.
2. Close fight. Shak.
3. A hook or iron instrument by whicli one
ship fastens on another. Dryden.
GRAP'PLEMENT, n. A grappling ; close
fight or embrace.
GRA'PY, a. Like grapes ; full of chisteis of
grapes. Addison.
2. Made of grapes. Gay.
GR^ASP, V. t. [It. graspare.] To seize and
hold by clasping or embracing with the
fingers or arms. We say, to grasp with
the hand, or with the ai-ras.
fj. To catch ; to seize ; to lay hold of; to take
possession of. Kings often grasp more
than they can hold.
GR'ASP, V. i. To catch or seize ; to gripe.
Dryden.
2. To struggle ; to strive. [Not in use.}
.3. To encroach. Dryden.
To grasp at, to catch at; to try to seize.
Alexander grasped at universal empire.
GR'ASP, n. The gripe or seizure of the
hand. This seems to be its proper sense ;
but it denotes also a seizure by embrace,
or infolding in the arms.
2. Possession ; hold.
.?. Reach of the arms; and figuratively, the
])ower of seizing. Bonaparte seemed to
think he had tlie Russian empire within
liis grasp.
GR'ASPED, pp. Seized with the hands or
arms ; embraced ; held ; possessed.
GR'ASPER, n. One who grasps or seizes ;
one who catches at ; one who holds.
GR'ASPING, ppr. Seizing; embracing;
catching ; holding.
GR'ASS, n. [Sax. gras, gcers or grad;
Goth, gras ; G. D. gras ; Sw. gras ; Dan.
grtes. In G. rasen is turf, sod, and verra-
sen, to overgrow with grass ; hence, g'niay
be a prefix. Grass may be allied to Gr.
1. In common usage, herbage ; the plants
which constitute the food of cattle and
other beasts.
'i. In botany, a plant having simple leaves, a
stem generally jointed and tubular, a husky
calyx, called glume, and the seed single.
Tliis definition includes wheat, rye. oats,
barley, &c., and excludes clover and some
other plants which are commoidy called
by the name of grass. The grasses form a
numerous family of plants. Encyc.
Grass nf Parnassus, a plant, the Parnassia.
GR'ASS, V. t. To cover with grass or with
turf
Gll'ASS, V. i. To breed grass ; to be covered
with grass. Tusser.
GRASSA'TION, n. [h. grassatio.] A wan-
dering about. [Little used.]
GRASS-GREEN, a. Green with grass.
Shenstone.
2. Dark green, like the color of grass.
GR'ASS-GROWN, a. Overgrown with
grass. Thomson.
GRASSHOPPER, n. [grass and hop.] An
animal that lives among grass, a species
of Gryllus.
GR'ASSINESS, n. [from grassy.] The
state of abounding with grass ; a grassy
state.
GR>ASSLESS, o. Destitute of grass.
GR'ASSPLOT, n. A plat or level spot cov-
ered with grass.
GRASSPOLY, n. A plant, a species of
Lythrum or willow-wort.
GR'ASSVETCH, n. A plant of the genus
Lathyrus.
GR'ASSWRACK, n. A plant, the Zostera.
GR'ASSY, a. Covered with grass ; abound-
ing with grass. Spenser.
i. Resembling grass ; gi-een.
GRATE, n. [It. grata, L. crates, a grate, a
hurdle. Qu. its alliance to the verb, to
grate.]
i. A work or frame, composed of parallel or
cross bars, with interstices ; a kind of lat-
tice-work, such as is used in the windows
of prisons and cloisters.
2. An instrument or iiaine of iron bars for
holding coals, used as fuel, in liouses,
stores, shops, &c.
GRATE, V. t. To furnish with grates; to
make fast with cross bars.
GRATE, i;. t. [Fr. gratler. It. graltare, to
scratch ; Dan. grytter, to grate, to break ;
Sp. gneta, a scratch, a crevice ; W. rhathu,
to rub ofl", to strip, to clear ; rhathell, a rasp.
See the Shemitic llj, DIP, mn and Tip.
Class Rd. No. 38. 58. G2. 81. Ifg-isapre-
fix, this word coincides with L. rado. See
Cry.]
1. To rub, as a body with a rough surface
against another body ; to rub one thing
against another, so as to produce a harsh
sound ; as, to grate the teeth.
2. To wear away in small particles, by rub-
bing with any thing rough or indented ;
as, to grate a nutmeg.
3. To offend ; to fret ; to vex ; to irritate ;
to mortify ; as, harsh words g-rafc the heart ;
they are grating to the feelings ; harsh
sounds grate the ear.
4. To make a harsh sound, by rubbing or
the friction of rough bodies. Millon.
GRATE, V. i. To rub hard, so as to offend ;
to offend by oppression or importunity.
This grated harder upon the hearts of men.
South.
2. To make a Iiarsh sound by tlie friction of
rough bodies. Hooker.
GRATE, a. [L. gratus.] Agreeable. [jYot
in use.]
GRA'TED, pp. Rubbed harshly ; worn off
by rubbing.
2. Furnished with a grate ; as grated win-
dows.
GRA'TEFUL, a. [from L. gratis. See
Grace. 1
1. Having a due sense of benefits ; kindly
disposed towards one from whom a favor
has been received; wilhng to acknowl-
edge and rejiay benefits; as a grateful
heart.
2. Agreeable; pleasing; acceptable; grati-
fying ; as a grateful jiresent ; a grateful
offering.
3. Pleasing to the taste ; delicious ; affordihL'
pleasure ; as food or drink grateful to the
appetite.
Now golden fruits on loaded branches shine.
And grateful clusters swell with floods <,:
wine. PojH
GRA'TEFCJLLY, adv. With a due sense ..!-
benefits or favors; in a manner that dis-
poses to kindness, in return for favors.
Tlie gift was gratefully received.
2. In a ])leasingmanner. Study continuallv
furnishes something new, which may striki
the imagination gratefully.
GRA'TEFULNESS, n. The quality of b.
ing grateful ; gratitude.
|2. The quality of being agreeable or pleas-
ant to the mind or to the taste.
IGRA'TER, n. [See Grate.] An instrument
I or utensil with a rough indented surface,,
for rubbing off small particles of a body j
as a grower for nutmegs.
GRATIFICA'TION, n. [L. gratifcatio, from
gratifcor; gratus and facio, to make.]
1. The act of pleasing, either the mind, the
taste or the appetite. We speak of the
gratification of the taste or the palate, of
the appetites, of the senses, of the desires,
of the mind, soul or heart.
2. That which affords pleasure ; satisfaction ;
delight. It is not easy to renounce grati-
fications to whicli we are accustomed.
3. Reward ; recompense. Morion.
GRATIFIED, pp. Pleased; indulged ac-
cording to desire.
GRAT'IFIER, n. One who gratifies or
pleases.
GRAT'IFY, V. t. [L. gratificor; gratus^
agreeable, ami facto, to make.]
1. To please; to give pleasure to; to in-
dulge ; as, to gratify the taste, the appe-
tite, the senses, the desires, the mind, &c.
2. To delight ; to please ; to humor ; to
soothe ; to satisfy ; to indulge to satisfac-
tion.
For who would die to gratify a foe ?
Dryden,
|3. To requite ; to recompense.
jGRAT'IF^ING, ppr. Pleasing ; indulging
1 to satisfaction.
p. a. Giving pleasure ; affording satisfac-
j tion.
:GRA'TING, ppr. [See Grate.] Rubbing j
j wearing off in particles.
j2. a. Fretting; irritating; harsh ; as grating
I sounds, or a grating reflection.
GRA'TING, 1 ^ [See Grate.] A partition
GRA'TINGS, ^ 'of bars; an open cover
for the hatches of a ship, resembling lat-
tice-work. Mar. Diet,
GRA'TINGLY, adv. Harshly; offensively^
in a manner to irritate.
GRA'TIS, adv. [L.] For nothing; freely;
, without recompense ; as, to give a thing
fratis ; to perform service gratis.
AT'lTUDE, 71. [L. gratUudo, from gra-
ins, pleasing. See Grace.]
An emotion of the heart, excited by a favor
or benefit received ; a sentiment of kind-
G R A
G R A
G R A
iiess or good will towards a benefactor ;
thankfulness. Gratitude is an agreeable
emotion, consisting in or accompanied
with good will to a benefactor, and a dis
position to make a suitable return of bene
fits or services, or when no return can be
made, with a desire to see the benefactor
prosperous and happy. Gratitude is a vir-
tue of the highest excellence, as it implies
a feeling and generous heart, and a proper
sense of duty.
The love of God is tlie sublimest gratitude.
Palerj.
GRATU'ITOUS, a. [L. gratuitus, from gra-
ins ; Fr. graiuil ; It. gratuito. See Grace.]
1. Free; voluntary; not required by justice;
granted without claim or merit.
We mistake the gratuitous blessings of hea-
ven for the fruits of our own industrj'.
VEstrange.
2. Asserted or taken without proof; as a
gratuitous argument or afiirmation.
GRATU'ITOUSLY, adv. Freely ; volunta-
rily; without claim or merit; without an
equivalent or compensation ; as labor or
services gratuitously bestowed.
2. Without proof; as a principle gratuitously
assumed.
GRATU'ITY, n. [Fr. gratuiti, from gratuit,
from gratus.]
1. A free gift ; a present ; a donation ; that
which is given without a compensation
or equivalent.
8. Something given in return for a favor ; an
acknowledgment.
GRAT'ULATE, v. t. [L. gratulor, from gra-
ins, pleasing, grateful ; Russ. with the pre-
fix na, nagrada, recompense ; nagrajdayu,
to gratify, to reward. Sec Grace.]
1. To express joy or pleasure to a person,
on account of his success, or the reception
of some good ; to salute with declarations
of joy; to congratulate. [The latter word
is more generally iised.]
To gratulate tlie gentle princes there.
Shak.
2. To wish or express joy to. Shak.
3. To declare joy for ; to mention with joy.
B. Jonson.
GRAT'ULATED, pp. Addressed with ex-
pressions of joy.
GRAT'ULATING, ppr. Addressing with
expressions of joy, on account of some
good received.
GRATULA'TION, «. [L. gralulalio.] An
address or expression of joy to a person,
on account of some good received by him;
congratulation.
I shall turn my wishes into gratulalions.
South.
GRAT'ULATORY, a. Expressing gratula-
tioii; congratulatorv.
GRAVE, a final syliable, is a grove. Sax.
grwf; or it is an officer, Ger. graf.
GRAVE, V. t. pret. graved ; pp. graven or
graved. [Fr. graver ; Sp. grabar ; Sax. gra-
fan; G.graben; D.graavcn ; T>an. graver ;
Sw. grafva ; Arm. engraji, engravi ; Ir.
grafadh, grafaim ; VV. criviatv, fi-om rhiv ;
Gr. ypa^u, to write ; originally all writing
■was graving ; Eng. to scrape ; Ch. and
Syr. a-o to plow. See Class Rb. No. 30.]
1. To carve or cut letters or figures on stonel
or other hard substance, with a chisel orj
edged tool; to engrave. [The latter wordisi
now more generally itsed.] j
Ex. xxviii.
2. To carve ; to form or .shape by cutting
with a chisel ; as, to grave an image.
Thou shall not make unto thee any graven
image. Ex. xx.
|3. To clean a ship's bottom by burning off
fdth, grass or other foreign matter, and
j paying it over with pitch.
|4. To entomb. [Unusual.] Shak.
GRAVE, V. i. To carve ; to write or delin-
eate on hard substances ; to practice en-
graving.
GRAVE, n. [Sax. graf; G. grab ; D. Sw.
graf; Dan. gruv; Russ. grob, a ditch, a
trench, a grave ; V.. scrobs. Seethe Verb.]'
1. The ditch, pit or excavated place in which'
a dead human body is deposited ; a place!
for the corpse of a human being ; a sepul-
cher.
2. A tomb.
3. Any place where the dead are reposited ;
a place of great slaughter or mortality.
Flanflers was formerly the grave of Eng-
lish armies. Russia proved to be the
grave of the French army under Bona-
parte. The tropical climates are the grave
of American seamen and of British sol-
diers.
4. Graves, in the jilural, sediment of tallow
melted. LVot m use or local.]
GRA'VE-CLOTHES, n. The clothes or
in >vhich the dead are interred.
GRAVE-DIGGER, n. One whose occupa-
tion is to dig graves.
GRA'VE-MAKER, n. A grave-digger.
Shak.
GRA'VE-STONE, n. A stone laid over a
grave, or erected near it, as a monument
to preserve the memory of the dead.
GRAVE, a. [Fr. Sp. It. grave; Arm.grevns ;
from L. gravis, heavy, whence L. gravo,
and aggravo, to aggravate. Hence grief,
which see. Ar. >^j.^i karaba, to over-
load, to press, to grieve. Class Rb. No.
30.] Properly, ijressing, heavy. Hence,
In music, low j depressed ; solemn ; op-
posed to sharp, acute, or high ; as a grave
tone or sound. Sometimes gj-ave denotes
slow.
Solemn; sober; serious; 0])\>0Bed to gay,
light or jovial ; as a man of a grave de-
portment ; a grave character.
Youth on silent wings is flown ;
Graver years come rolling on. Prior.
3. Plain ; not gay ; not showy or tawdry ;
a grave suit of clothes.
4. Being of weight ; of a serious character;
1 grave writer.
GRA'VBD, ;;/>. [Seethe Verb.] Carved;
engraved ; cleaned, as a ship. I
GRAVEL, n. [Fr. gravelle, gravier ; Arm.
grcveU, or maen-gravell, [stone gravel:]
Ger. grober sand, coarse sand ; D. graved.
Probably from rubbing, grating. See
Grave, the verb.] j
Small stones or fragments of stone, or
very small pebbles, larger than the parti-
cles of sand, but often intermixed with
them. I
2. In medicine, small calculous concretions
in the kidneys and bladder. Cyc.l
[L. gravidus, from gravis.
GRAV'EL, I', t. To cover with gravel ; as,
to gravel a walk.
2. To stick in the sand. Camden.
3. To ])iizzle ; to stop ; to embarrass.
Prior.
4. To hurt the foot of a horse, by gravel
lodged under the shoe.
GRAVELED, pp. Covered with gravel;
stopped ; embarrassed ; injured by gravel.
GRA'VELESS, a. [from grave.] Without
grave or tomb ; unburied. Shak.
GR.\VELLY, a. [from gravel.] Abounding
with gravel ; consisting of gravel ; as a
gravelhi soil or land.
GRAVEL-WALK, n. A walk or alley cov-
ered with gravel, which makes a hard and
dry bottom ; used in gardens and malls.
GRA'XELY, adv. [from grave.] In a grave,
solemn manner ; soberly ; seriously.
The queen of learning gravely smiles.
Swift.
Without gaudiness or show; as, to be
dressed gravely.
GRA'VENESS, n. Seriousness; solemnity;
sobriety of behavior ; gravity of manners
or discourse. Denham.
GRA'VER, n. [See Crave.] Ono who
carves or engraves ; one whose profession
is to cut letters or figures in stone, &c. ; a
sculjnor.
2. An engraving tool ; an instrument for
graving on hard substances.
GRAVID,
heavy.]
Pregnant ; being with child. Herbert.
GRAV'IDATED, a. Made pregnant ; big.
[JVot in use. ] Barrow.
GRAVIDA'TION, n. Pregnancy. [Xot in
use.] Pearson.
GRAVID'ITY, n. Pregnancy. [jVotinuse.]
Jirbuthnot.
GRA'VING, ;?;)r. Engraving; carving; cut-
ting figures on stone, cop])er or other
hard suh.'itance.
GR.4'VING, n. Carved work. 2 Cliron. ii.
2. Impression. King Charles.
GRAVITATE, v. i. [Sp. gravitar ; Fr.
graviter; from L. gravilas, from gravis,
heavy.]
To tend to the center of a body, or the cen-
tral point of attraction. Thus a body ele-
vated above the earth tends to fall, that is,
it gravitates towards the center of the
earth ; and the planets are suppose<l to
gravitate towards the sun, or center of the
solar system.
GRAVITATING, ;);7r. Tending to the cen-
ter of a binly or system of bodies.
GRAVITATION, n. The act of tending to
the center.
2. The force by which bodies are pressed or
drawn, or by which they tend towards the
center of the earth or other center, or the
effect of that force. Thus the falling of a
body to the earth is ascribed to g-roi-itahon.
Encyc.
GRAVITY, n. [Fr. grainV^ ; Sp. gravidad';
L. gravitas, from gravis, heavy. See
Grave.]
1. Weight ; heaviness.
2. In philosophy, that force by which bodies
tend or are pressed or drawn towards the
center of the earth, or towards some other
center, or the effect of that force ; in which
last sense gravity is synonymous with
tceight. Encyc.
G R A
Gravity is the tendency of great bodies
to a center, or the sum or results of all the
attractions of all the molectiles composing
a great body. Diet. JSTat. Hist
The force of gravity in a body is in direc
proportion to its quantity of matter.
3. Specijic gravity, the weight belonging to
an equal bulk of every difierent substance.]
Thus the e.xact vveiglit of a cubic inch ofj
gold, compared with that of a cubic inch
of water or tin, is called its specijic gravity.]
The specific gravity of bodies is usually]
ascertained by weigliing them in distilledl
water. Encyc.l
4. Seriousness ; sobriety of manners ; solem
nity of deportuient or character.
Great Cato there, for gravity renowned.
Dryden
5. Weight; enormity; atrociousness; asthe]
gravity of an injury. [JVot used.]
Hooker.
C). In music, lowness of sound.
GRA'VY, n. The fat and other liquid mat-
ter that drips from flesli in roasting, or
when roasted or baked, or a mi.xture of
that juice with flour.
GRAY, a. [Sax. grig,gra:g; G. graii; D.
graauw ; Dan. graae; Sw. gra ; It. grigio ;
Ir. gre. This is probably Tpaixos, Gracus,
Greek, Graii, the name given to the
Greeks, on account of their fair complex-
ion compared with the Asiatics and Afri-
cans. [See Europe.]
*opxvi 6' av Kijrw rpaiaj rixt xaVKiytaptjovs,
Ex ytftrjjs rCO'Kiai. tai 8i; Tpaioj xa'Ktovat.i' —
Hesiod. Theog. 370,
" Keto bore to Phorcus the Graite with
fair cheeks, white from their birth,
hence they were called Graiie." The
Greek word ypaia is rendered an old wo
man, and in this passage of Hesiod, is sup
posed to mean certain deities. The prob
ability is, that it is applied to an old wo
man, because she is gray. But the fable
of Hesiod is easily explained by supposing
the author to have had in his mind some
imperfect account of the origin of the
Greeks.]
1. White, with a mi.\ture of black.
These gray and dun colors may be also pro-
duced by mixing whites and blacks.
JVewton
2. White ; hoary ; as gray hair. We apply
the word to hair that is partially or wholly
white.
3. Dark; of a mixed color; of the color ofl
ashes ; as gray eyes ; the gray-eyed morn
Gay. Shak.
4. Old ; mature ; as gray experience.
Ames.
GRAY, n. A gray color. Parnel
2. A badger. .flinsworth
GRAY-BEARD, n. An old man. Shak
GRAY-EYED, a. Having gray eyes.
GRA'YFLY, n. The trumpet-ifly. Milton
GRAY-HAIRED, a. Having gray hair. |
GRA'Y-HEADED, a. Having a gray head
or gray hair.
GRA'YHOUND, n. [Sax. grighund.] A tall
fleet dog, used in the chase.
GRA'YISH, a. Somewhat gray ; gray in a
moderate degree.
GRA'YLING, n. A fish of the genus Salmo,
called also umber, a voracious fish, about
sixteen or eighteen inches in length, of a
more elegant figure than the trout ; the]
GRE
back and sides are of a silvery gray color.
It is found in clear rapid streams in the
north of Europe, and is excellent food.
Diet. JVat. Hist.
GRA'YNESS, n. The quality of being gray.
Sherwood.
GRAYWACKE, n. [G. grauwacke.] A rock
somewhat remarkablein its structure and
geological relations ; a kind of sandstone,
composed of grains or fragments of differ-
ent minerals, chiefly of quartz, feldspar,
siliceous slate and argillite. These frag-
ments are sometimes angular, and some-
limes their edges and angles are rounded,
thus forming nodules or globular masses.
The size is very variable, passing from
grains to nodules of a foot in diameter
The several ingredients are united by an
indurated argillaceous substance, or the
interstices between the larger fragments
are filled by the same materials which
compose the larger parts of the rock, but
in grains so comminuted as to resemble a
homogeneous cement. The colors are
some shade of gray or brown, ak bluish
gray, reddish brown, &c. Cleaveland.
GRAZE, v. t. [Sax. grasian ; G. grasen ; D.
graazen ; from grass, or from the root of
L. rado, rasi, or rodo, rosi, Sp. rozar. Port.
rofar, to rub against, to graze. In Russ.
grizu, or grezu, signifies to bite, to gnaw.]
1. To rub or touch lightly in passing; to
brush lightly the surface of a thing in pass-
ing ; as, the bullet grazed the wall or the
earth.
3. To feed or supply cattle with grass ; to
furnish pasture for ; as, the farmer grazes
large herds of cattle.
3. To feed on ; to 'eat from the ground, as
growing herbage.
The lambs with wolves shall graze the ver-
dant mead. Pope
4. To tend grazing cattle ; as, Jacob grazed
Laban's sheep. Shak.
GRAZE, V. i. To eat grass; to feed on
growing herbage ; as, cattle graze on the
meadows.
To supply grass ; as, the ground will noti
graze well. Bacon.l
3. To move on devouring. Bacon.]
GRA'ZED, pp. Touched lightly by a pass-
ing body ; brushed.
2. Fed by growing grass ; as, cattle are gra-\
ed.
3. Eaten, as growing herbage ; as, the fields
were grazed.
GRA'ZER, n. One that grazes or feeds on
growing herbage. Philips.]
GRA'ZIER, n.gra'zhiir. One who feeds cat-
tle with grass, or supplies them with pas-
ture. Bacon.
GRA'ZING, ppr. Touching lightly, us a
moving body.
2. Feeding on growing herbage; asgrazi^ig
cattle.
3. a. Supplying pasture ; as a grazing farm.
GREASE, ?i. [Fr. graisse ; It. grasso ; Sp.
gra^a, grease ; Port, graxa, grease for
wheels, and a distemper in a horse whei?
his fat is melted by excessive action. Port
Diet.]
1. Animal fat in a soft state ; oily or unctuous
matter of any kind, as tallow, lard; but
particularly the fatty matter of land ani-
mals, as distinguislied from the oily mat-
ter of marine animals.
GRE
3. A sweUing and goui-diness of a horse :
legs, occasioned by traveling or by stand
ing long in a stable. Encyc. Johnson
GREASE, V. t. greez. To smear, anoint oi
daub with grease or fat.
2. To bribe ; to corrupt with presents. [jYul
elegant.] Drydtn
GRE'ASED, pp. Smeared with oily matter
bribed.
GRE'ASILY, adv. With grease or an aj)
pearance of it ; grossly.
GRE'ASINESS, n. The state of bein^
greasy ; oiliness : unctuousness. Boylt.
GRE'ASING, pjn-. Smearing with fat oi
oily matter ; bribing.
GRE'ASY, a. g-ree:'3/. Oily; fat; unctu
ous.
2. Smeared or defiled with grease.
3. Like grease or oil; smooth; as a fossii
that has a greasy feel.
Fat of body ; bulky. [Little iised.]
Sha'.
5. Gross; indelicate ; indecent. Marstoi .
GREAT, a. [Sax. great ; D. groot ; G. gros.:
Norm, gres; It. grosso ; Sp. grueso ;Vo\
grosso ; Fr. gros ; Arm.gro^z; and ]«-..!'
ably L. crasstis. Great and gross are tin
same word dialectically varied in orthog
raphy. See Class Rd. No. 59. 22. 79.]
Large in bulk or dimensions; a term of
comparison, denoting more magnitude m
extension than something else, or beyond
what is usual ; as a great body ; a gnu'
house ; a great farm.
2. Being of extended length or breadth ; rf
a great distance ; a great lake.
3. Large in number ; as a great many :
great multitude.
4. Expressing a large, extensive or unusii.-r
degree of any thing; as great fear ; great
love ; great strength ; great wealth ; great
power ; great influence ; great folly.
5. Long continued ; as a great while.
6. Important; weighty; as a great argii
ment ; a great truth ; a greai event ; a thin:;
of no g-reat consequence ; it is no grcir
matter.
Chief; principal ; as the great seal ot
England.
8. Chief; of vast power and excellence ;
supreme ; illustrious ; as the great God :
the great Creator.
3. Vast ; extensive ; wonderful ; admirable.
Great are thy works, Jehovah. Milton.
10. Possessing large or strong jjowers of
mind ; as a great genius.
11. Having made extensive or unusual ac-
quisitions of science or knowledge ; as a
great philosopher or botanist ; a great
scholar.
12. Distinguished by rank, oflice or power;
elevated ; eminent ; as a great lord ; the
great men of the nation ; the great Mogul ;
Alexander the great.
13. Dignified in aspect, mien or manner.
Amidst the crowd she walks serenely great.
Dry den.
14. Magnanimous ; generous ; of elevated
sentiments ; high-minded. He has a
great soul.
15. Rich ; sumptuous ; magnificent. lie
disdained not to appear at great tables. A
great feast or entertainment.
1(5. Vast; sublime; as a great conceptim
or idea.
17. Dignified; noble.
ORE
G R E
G R E
Nothing can be great which is not right.
Rambler.
18. Swelling ; proud ; as, he was not dis-
heartened by great looks.
19. Chief; principal; much traveled; as a
great road. The ocean is called the
great highway of nations.
20. Pregnant ; teeming ; as great with
great matter to
live in peace with meek people.
22. Familiar ; intimate. [ Vulgar.]
23. Distinguished by extraordinary events,
or unusnal importance. Jiide G.
24. Denoting a degree of consanguinity, in
the ascending or descending line, as great
grandfather, the father of a grandfather ;
great great grandfather, the father of a
great grandfather, and so on indefinitely ;
and great grandson, great great grandson.
&c.
25. Superior ; preeminent ; as great cham-
berlain ; great marshal.
The sense of great is to be understood by
the things it is intended to qualify.
Great pain or wrath is violent pain or
wrath ; great love is ardent love ; great
peace is entire peace; a great name is
extensive renown ; a great evil or sm, is
a sin of deep malignity, &c.
GREAT, n. The whole ; the gross ; the lump
or mass ; as, a carpenter contracts to build
a ship by the great.
2. People of rank or distinction. Tlie poor
envy the great, and the great despise the
poor.
GREAT-BELLIED, a. Pregnant; teeming.
Shak.
GREATEN, v. t. To enlarge. 04s.
Raleigh.
GREAT-HEARTED, a. High-spirited ; un-
dejected. Clarendon.
GREATLY, adv. In a great degree ; much.
1 will greatly multiply thy sorrow. Gen. iii.
2. Nobly ; illustriously.
By a high fate, thou greatly didst expire.
Dry den.
3. Magnanimously ; generously ; bravely.
He greatly scorned to turn his back on his
foe. He greatly spurned the offered boon.
GREATNESS, n. Largeness of bulk, di-
mensions, number or quantity ; as the
g'reatoe** of a mountain, of an edifice, of
a multitude, or of a sum of money. With
reference to solid bodies, however, we
more generally use bull;, size, extent or
magnitude than greatness; as the bulk or\
size of the body ; the extent of the ocean ;
the magnitude of the sun or of the earth.!
2. Large amount ; extent ; as the greatnessl'
of a reward.
3. High degree ; as the greatness of virtue
or vice.
4. High rank or place ; elevation ; dignity ;
distinction ; eminence ; power ; command.
Farewell, a long farewell to all my greatness.
Shak.
5. SweUing pride ; affected state.
It is not of pride or greatness tliat he cometh
not aboard your ships. £acon.
6. Magnanimity; elevation of sentiment;
nobleness; as greatness of mind.
Virtue is the only solid basis of greatness.
RanMer
7. Strength or extent of intellectual facul-
ties ; as the greatness of genius.
i. Large extent or variety ; as the greatness
of a man's acquisitions.
9. Grandeur ; pomp ; magnificence.
Greatness with Timon dwells in such a
draught,
As brings all Brobdignag before your thought.
Pope.
10. Force ; intensity ; as the greatness of
sound, of passion,"heat, &c
GREAVE, for grove and groove. [See Grove
and Groove.] Speiuier.
GREAVES, n. plu. greevz. [Port. Sp. greras.
In Fr. greve is the calf of the leg.]
Armor for the legs ; a sort of boots. 1 Sam.
xvii.
GREBE, n. A fowl of the genus Colymbus
and order of ansers, of several species ; as
the tippet-grebe, the horned grebe, the
eared grebe or dob-chick. Encyc
GRE'CIAN, a. Pertaining to Greece.
GRE'CIAN, n. A native of Greece. Also^
a Jew who understood Greek. Acts vi.
2. One well versed in the Greek language,
GRE'CISM, n. [L. grcecismus.] An idiom
of the Greek language. Addison.
GRE'CIZE, i;. t. To render Grecian.
2. To translate into Greek.
GRE'CiZE, V. i. To speak the Greek Ian
guage.
GREE, n. [Fr. grL See Agree.] Good
will. Obs. Spenser.
2. Step ; rank ; degree. [Sec Degree.] Ohs.
Spenser.
GREE. D. I. To agree. Obs. [See Agree.]
GREECE,?!. [W. grdz; L. gressus. It
ought to be written grese, but it is entirely
obsolete.] A flight of steps. Bacon.
GREED, n. Greediness. Obs. Graham
GREE'DILY, adv. [See Greedy.] With i
keen ai)petite for food or drink ; vora-
ciously ; ravenously ; as, to eat or swallow
greedily.
2. With ke
Jude 11.
GREE'DINESS, ?!. Keenness of appetite
for food or drink; ravenousness ; voracity.
Fox in stealth, wolf in greediness. Shak.
2. Ardent desire.
GREE'DY, a. [Sax. grcedig; D. greetig;
Goth, gredags, from gredon, to hunger. It
agrees in elements with L. gradior, and
probably signifies reaching forward.]
1. Having a keen appetite for food or drink ;
3'avenous; voracious; very hungry; fol
lowed by of; as a lion that is greedy of
his prey. Ps. xvii.
2. Having a keen desire of any thing; eager
to obtain ; as greedy of gain.
GREEK, a. Pertaining to Greece. [See
Gray.]
GREEK, n. A native of Greece.
2. The language of Greece.
Greek-fire, a combustible composition, the
constituents of which are suppo.sed to be
asphalt, with niter and sulphur. Vre.'
GREE'KISH, a. Peculiar to Greece.
Millon.
GREE'KLING, n. An inferior Greek wri-,
r. B. Jonson.
GREE'KROSE. n. The flower campion.
GREEN, a. [Sax. grene ; G. gritn ; D.
groen ; Dan. gron ; Sw. gron ; Heb. ]yn
to grow, to flourish. Class Rn. No. 7.]
1. Properly, growing, flourishing, as plants ;
hence, of the color of herbage and plants!
ardent desire ; eagerly.
when growing, a color composed of blue
and yellow rays, one of the original pris-
matic colors; verdant.
2. New ; fresh ; recent ; as a green wound.
The greenest usurpation. Burke.
3. Fresh ; flourishing ; undecayed ; as green
old age.
4. Containing its natural juices ; not dry ;
not seasoned ; as green wood ; green tim-
ber.
5. Not roasted; half raw.
We say the meat is green, when half roasted.
Watts.
[Rarely, if ever used in America.]
6. Unripe ; immature ; not arrived to perfec-
tion ; as green fruit. Hence,
7. Imtiiature in age ; young ; as green in
age or judgment.
8. Pale ; sickly ; wan ; of a greenish pale
color. Shak.
GREEN, n. The color of growing plants ;
a color composed of blue and yellow rays,
which, mixed in different proportions, ex-
hibit a variety of shades ; as apple green,
meadow green, leek green, &c.
2. A grassy plain or plat ; a piece of ground
lovered with verdant herbage.
O'er the smooth enameled green. Milton.
3. Fresh leaves or branches of trees or
other plants ; wreaths ; usually in the
plural.
The fragrant greens I seek, my brows
bind.
Dry den.
' plants
4. The leaves and steins of young plants
used in cookery or dressed for food in the
spring ; in the plural. JVew England.
GREEN, V. t. To make green. This is
used by Thomson and by Barlow, but is
not an elegant word, nor indeed hardly
legitimate, in the sense in which these
writers use it. " Spring greens the year."
" God greens the groves." The only le-
gitimate sense of this verb, if used, would
be, to dye green, or to change to a green
color. A plant growing in a dark room
is yellow ; let this plant be carried into
the open air, and the rays of the sun will
green it. This use would correspond
with the use of whiten, blacken, redden.
GREE'NBROOM, ) A plant of the ee-
GREE'NWEED, I "• nus Genista.
GREE'N€LOTH, n. A board or court of
justice held in the counting house of the
British king's household, composed of the
lord steward and the ortieers under him.
This court has the charge and cognizance
of all matters of justice in the king's house-
hold, with power to correct offenders and
keep the peace of the verge, or jurisdiction
of the court-royal, which extends every
way two hundred yards from the gate of
the palace. Johnson. Encyc.
GREE'N-€ROP, n. A croj. of green veg-
etables, such as artificial grasses, turneps,
&c. Cxjc.
GREE'N-EARTH, n. A species of earth or
mineral, so called ; the mountain green of
artists. Vre.
GREE'N-EyED, a. Having green eyes ; as
green-eyed jealousy. " " Shak.
GREENFINCH, n". A bird of the genus
Fringilla.
GREE NFISH, n. A fish so called. Ains.
GREENGAGE, n. A species of plum.
GREE'N-GROCER, n. A retailer of
greens.
G R E
ORE
G R I
C'REENIIAIRED, a. Having green locks
or hair. Mason.
OREE'NIIOOD, n. A state of greenness.
Chaucer
GREE'MIORN, n. A raw youth.
GREE'N-HOUSE, n. A house in which
tcn<ler plants are sheltered from the
weather, and preserved green during the
winter or cold weather.
GREE'NISH, a. Somewhat green ; having
a tinge of green ; ns a greenish yellow.
JVeivton.
GREE'NISHNESS, n. The quaUty ofbeing
greenish.
GREE'NLY, adv. AVith a green color;
newly ; freshly ; iramaturely.
GREE'NNESS, n. The quality of being
green; viridity; as the greenness o{ grass
or of a meadow.
2. Immaturity ; unripeness ; in a literal or
figurative sense ; as the greenness of fruit
the greenness of youth.
3. Freshness; vigor. South.
4. Newness.
GREE'N-SICKNESS, n. The chlorosis, a
disease of maids, so called from the color
it occasions in the face.
GREE'N-STALL, n. A stall on which
greens are exposed to sale.
GREE'NSTOIVE, n. [so called from a
tinge of green in the color.]
A rock of the trap formation, consisting of
bornblend and feldspar in the state of
grains or small crystals. Ure.
GREE'N-SWARD, n. Turf green with
grass.
GREEN-WEED, n. Dyer's weed.
GREE'NWOQD, jt. Wood when green,
GREENWOOD, o. Pertaining to a green-
wood ; as a greenwood shade. Dryden.
GREET, V. I. [Sax. gretan, grettan, to sa-
lute, to exclaim, to cry out, to bid fare-
well, to approach, to touch; Q. griisseii ;
D. groelen, to greet ; Sax. grcedan, to cry ;
Goth, gi-eitan, Sw. grata, Dan. grader, to
weep ; It. gridare ; Sp. Port, gritar ; W.
grydian, grydiaio, to shout, to scream or
shriek, to wail, to make a vehement
rough noise ; perhaps L. rudo, to bray,
to roar. See Class Rd. No. 7. 19. 43. 70.
75.]
1. To address with expressions of kind wish-
es ; to salute in kindness and respect.
My lord, the Mayor of London comes to
greet you. Shak.
2. To address at meeting ; to address in any
manner. Shak.
3. To congratulate.
4. To pay conapliments at a distance ; to
send kind wishes to. Col. iv. 2 Tim. iv.
5. To meet and address with kindness ; or
to express kind wishes accompanied with
an embrace. 1 Tliess. v.
6. To meet. Shak.
GREET, V. i. To meet and salute.
There greet in silence, as the dead are wont.
And sleep in peace. Shak.'
2. To weep ; written by Spenser gret7. Oh.s.l
GREE'TED,pp. Addressed with kind wish-l
es ; complimented.
GREE'TER, n. One who greets. I
GREE'TING, ppr. Addressing with kind
wishes or expressions of joy ; compli-
menting ; congratulating ; saliiting.
IGREE'TING, n. Expression of kindness or
joy ; salutation at meeting ; compliment
addressed Ironi one absent.
GREEZE, n. [L. gressus.] A step, or flight
of steps. Obs. [See Greece.]
GREF'FIER, n. [Fr. See Graft.] A re-
gistrar, or recorder. Bp. Hall.
GRE'GAL, a. [L. grer.] Pertaining to a
flock. Diet.
GREGA'RIAN, a. [See Gregarious.] Be-
longing to the herd or common sort.
Howell.
GREGA'RIOUS, a. [L. gregarius, from
grex, a herd.]
Having the habit of assembUng or living in
a flock or herd ; not habitually solitary or
living alone. Cattle and sheep are grega-
rious animals. Many species of birds are
gregarious. Rapacious animals are gene-
rally not gregarious.
GREGARIOUSLY, adv. In a flock or
herd ; in a company.
GREGA'RIOUSNESS, n. The state or
uahty of living in flocks or herds.
GREGO'RIAN, a. Denoting what belongs
to Gregory. The Gregorian calendar, is
oiie which shows the new and full moon,
with the time of Easter, and the movable
feasts depending thereon, by means of|
epacts. The Gregorian year, is the pres-
ent year, as reformed by pope Gregory
XIII, in 1582; consisting of 365 days, 5
hours, 48 minutes, 47 seconds, with an ad-
ditional day every fourth year. Encyc
GREIT, V. i. [Goth, greitan.] To lament,
Obs. Spenser.
GREITH, V. t. [Sax. genedian, to prepare ;
ge and hrccde, ready.] To make ready.
Obs. Chaucer.
GREITH, n. Goods ; furniture. Obs.
Chaucer.
GRE'MIAL, a. [L. gi-emiwm.] Belonging
to the lap or boson). Diet.
GRENA'DE, n. [Sp.granada, It. granata
Fr. grenade, a pomegranate, or grained
apple.]
In the art of war, a hollow ball or shell ofl
iron or other metal, about two inches
and a half in diameter, to be filled with
powder which is to be fired by means of
a fusee, and thrown by hand among ene-
mies. This, bursting into many pieces,
does great injury, and is particularly use-
ful in annoying an enemy in trenches
and other lodgments. Encyc.
GRENADIE'R, n. [from Fr. grenade, Sp.
granada, a pomegranate tree ; so called, it;
is said, from the cap worn, which resem-j
bled the flowers of that tree ; or as others
alledge, so called from carrying and throw-|
ing hand grenades. The latter is the opin-
ion of Lunier.]
1. A foot soldier, wearing a high cap. Gren
i adiers are usually tall, active soldiers, dis
tinguished from others chiefly by their
dress and arms ; a company of them is
usually attached to each battalion.
Encyc.
2. A fowl found in Angola, in Africa.
GREN'ATITE, n. Staurotide or staurolite,
a mineral of a dark reddish brown. It
occurs imbedded in mica slate, and in
talck, and is infusible by the blowpipe.
It is called also prismatic garnet. Cyc.
GREW, pret. of grow.
GREY. [See Gray.]
GREYHOUND, n. [Sax. grighund.] A
tall fleet dog, kept for the chase.
GRICE, n. A little pig.
GRIDDLE, n. [W. greidell, from grediaw,
to heat, singe, scorch.]
A pan, broad and shallow, for baking cakes.
GRIDE, v.t. [h. gridare; Sp. gritar ; Port.
id. ; Fr. crier ; Eng. to cry ; Sax. grccdan ;
Dan. grceder ; Sw. grata. See Greet.]
To grate, or to cut with a grating sound ;
to cut ; to penetrate or pierce harshly ; as
the griding sword. Milton.
That through his thigh the mortal steel did
gride. Spenser.
GRID'ELIN, n. [Fr. gris de tin, flax gray.]
A color mixed of white and red, or a gray
violet. Dryden.
GRID' IRON, n. [Vf. grediaw, h: greadam,
to heat, scorch, roast, and iron. See
Griddle.]
A grated utensil for broiling flesh and fish
over coals.
GRIEF, n. [D. grief, hurt; ¥r. grief, and
greyer, to oppress ; Sp. agravio ; Norm.
g'-i^f g>'ff greve ; L. gravis. See Graue and
Aggravate. The sense is pressure or op-
1. The pain of mind produced by loss, mis-
fortune, injury or evils of any kind ; sor-
row ; regret. We experience grief when
we lose a friend, when we incur loss,
when we consider ourselves injured, and
by sympathy, we feel grief at the misfor-
tunes of others.
2. The pain of mind occasioned by our own
misconduct ; sorrow or regret that we
have done wrong ; pain accompanying
repentance. We fee] grief when we have
offended or injured a ftiend, and the con-
sciousness of having offended the Supreme
Being, fills the penitent heart with the most
poignant grief.
•3. Cause of sorrow: that which afilictg.
Who were a grief of mind to Isaac and Re-
bekah. Gen. xxvi.
A foolish son is a grief to his father. Prov.
xvii.
GRIE'FFUL, a. Full of grief or sorrow.
SackviUe.
GRIE'FSHOT, a. Pierced with grief.
Shak.
GRIE'VABLE, a. Lamentable. Obs.
Gower.
GRIE'VANCE, n. [from grief] That
which causes grief or imeasiness; that
which burdens, oppresses or injures, im-
plying a sense of wrong done, or a con-
tinued injury, and therefore applied oidy
to the effects of huma,n conduct; never
to providential evils. The oppressed sub-
ject has the right to petition for a redress
of grievances.
GRifiVE, V. t. [D. p-ieven ; Fr. grever, to op-
press ; Sp. agraviar, agravar ; It. gravare ;
L. gravo, from gravis. See Grave.]
To give pain of mind to; to afflict; to
wound the feelings. Nothing grieves a pa-
rent like the conduct of a profligate child.
2. To afilict ; to inflict pain on.
For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve
the children of men. Lam. iii.
.3. To make sorrowful ; to excite regret in.
4. To offend; to displease; to provoke.
GciCTenot the holy Spirit of God. Eph. iv.
G R I
GRIEVE, V. i. To feel pain of mind or
heart; to be in pain on account of an
evil ; to sorrow ; to mourn. We grieve
at the loss of friends or property. We
grieve at the misfortunes of others. We
grieve for our own misfortunes, follies and
vices, as well as for those of our children.
It is followed by at or for.
GRIE'VED, pp. Pained; afflicted; suffer-
ing sorrow.
GRIE'VER, n. He or that which grieves.
.GRIE'VING, ppr. Giving pain ; afflicting.
2. Sorrowing ; exercised with grief; mourn-
ing.
ORIE'VINGLY, adv. In sorrow; sorrow-
fully. Shak.
GRIE'VOUS, a. [from grieve, or grief]
Heavy ; oppressive ; burdensome ; as a
grievous load of taxes.
2. Afflictive ; painful ; hard to be borne.
Correction is grievom to him that forsaketh
the vpay. Prov. xv.
3. Causing grief or sorrow.
The thing was very grievotis in Abraham's
sight, because of his son. Gen. xxi.
-4. Distressing.
The famine was very grievous in the land.
Gen. xii.
5. Great; atrocious.
Because their sin is very grievous. Gen.
xviii.
6. Expressing great uneasiness ; as agriei'-
ous complaint.
7. Provoking ; offensive ; tending to irritate ;
as grievous words. Prov. xv.
8. Hurtful ; destructive ; causing mischief;
as grievotis wolves. Acts xx.
GRIE'VOUSLY, adv. With pain : painful-
ly ; with great pain or distress ; as, to be
grievously afflicted.
2. With discontent, ill will or grief.
Knolles
3. Calamitously ; miserably ; greatly ; with
great uneasiness, distress or grief.
4. Atrociously ; as, to sin or offend grievous
GRIE'VOUSNESS, n. Oppressiveness
weiglit that gives pain or distress ; as tlie
grievousness of a burden.
2. Pain ; affliction ; calamity ; distress ; as
the grievousness of sickness, war or fa
mine.
3. Greatness; enormity; atrociousness ; ai
the grievousness of sin or offenses.
•GRIF'FON, n. [Fr. griffon ; Sp. grifo ; It.
griffo,griffone ; G.greif;I>an.grif; V.grif-
fioen; L. gryps, gryphus ; Gr. ypv^; W.
gruf, fierce, bold, a griffon.]
In the natural history of the ancients, an
imaginary animal said to be generated be
tween the lion and eagle. It is represent
ed with four legs, wings and a beak, the
upper part resembling an eagle, and the
lower part a lion. This animal was sup-
posed to watch over mines of gold and
bidden treasures, and was consecrated to
the sun. The figure of the griffon is seen
on ancient medals, and is still borne in
coat-armor. It is also an ornament of
Greek architecture. Encyt.
GRIF'FON-LIKE, a. Resembling a grif-
fon.
GRIG, n. A small eel; the sand eel.
'2. A merry creature. Sicifl.
•3. Health. Obs.
Vol. 1.
G R I
GRILL, f. t. [Fr. griller.] To broil. [Ao/
in use.]
GRILL, a. Shaking with cold. OU.
Chaucer.
GRIL'LY, v. t. To harass. [JVot in use.]
Hudihras.
GRIM, a. [Sax. grim, fierce, rough, fero-
cious; gram, raging, fury ; gremian, to pro-
voke ; D. gram, angry ; grimmen, to growl ;
grimmig, grim ; grommen, to grumble ; G.
grimm, furious, grim ; gj^ivimen, to rage
gram, grief, sorrow ; Dan. grim, stern
grim, peevish ; gram, grudging, hating,
peevish ; W. gremiaw, to gnash, to snarl,
from rhem, whence rhemial, to mutter.
Hence Fr. grimace. These words belong
probably to the rootofL./r-cjno, which has
a different prefix, Gr. 3pfM", "Eng grumble,
rumble, Ir. grim, war. See Class Rm. No,
11. 13.]
Fierce ; ferocious ; impressing terror ;
frightful ; horrible ; as a grim look
gnm face ; grim war. Milton. Addison.
2. Ugly ; ill looking. Shak.
3. Sour ; crabbed ; peevish ; surly.
GRIM'-FACJ;D, a. Having a stern coun
tenance.
GRIM-GRINNING, a. Grinning with i
fierce countenance. Shak.
GRIM-VISAGED, a. Grim-faced.
GRIMA'CE, n. [Fr. from grim, or its root
] Sp. grimazo.]
|l. A distortion of the countenance, from
j habit, affectation or insolence. Spectator.
,2. An air of affectation. Granville.'
GRIMA'CED, a. Distorted ; having a crab-
bed look.
GRIMAL'KIN, n. [Qu. Fr.g-ris, gray, and
malkhi.] The name of an old cat.
Philips.
GRIME, n. [Ice. grynuj, Sax. hrum, soot
I Rabbinic 0113 soot. Class Rm. No. 21.]
Foul matter ; dirt ; sullying blackness, deep
ly insinuated. Shak. Woodward.
GRIME, V. t. To sully or soil deeply ; tc
dirt. Shak
GRIM'LY, a. Having a hideous or^ stern
look.
GRIM'LY, adv. Fiercely ; ferociously : with
a look of furv or ferocitj'. Jlddison
2. Sourly ; sullenly. Shak
GRIM'NESS, n. Fierceness of look; stern-
ness ; crabbedness.
GRI'MY, a. Full of grime; foul.
GRIN, V. i. [Sax. grinnian ; G. greinen
grinsen ; D. grynen, grinzen ; Sw. grina ;
Dan. griner. In W. ysgyrnug is a grin or
snarl, and ysgom, scorn.]
1. To set the teeth together and open the
lips, or to open the mouth and withdraw
the lips from the teeth, so as to show them,
as in laughter or scorn.
Fools grin on fools. Young
2. To fix the teeth, as in anguish.
GRIN, n. The act of closing the teeth and
showing them, or of withdrawing the hps
and showing the teetl).
Addison. Watts.
GRIN, /!. A snare or trap. [Not in use.]
GRIN, f. t. To express by grinning.
He grinned horribly a ghastly smile.
Milton.
GRIND, V. t. pret. and pp. ground. [Sax.
grindan. This word, if n is radical, may
be allied to rend ; if not, it coincides with
95
G R I
grale. See Class Rn. No. 9, to make
smooth, as mollis in L., allied to molo.']
1. To break and reduce to fine particles or
powder by friction ; to comminute by at-
trition ; to triturate.
Take the millstones and grind meal. Is.
xlvii.
We say, to grind meal, but this is nn
ellipticafphrasc. The true phrase is, to
grind corn to meal.
2. To break and reduce to small pieces by
the teeth. Dryden.
3. To sharpen by rubbing or friction ; to
wear off the substance of a metallic in-
strument, and reduce it to a shariJ edge
by the friction of a stone ; as, to grind an
ax or sythe.
4. To make smooth ; to pohsh by friction ;
is, to gT!7irf glass.
To rub one against another.
Harsh sounds — and the grinding of one stone
against another, make a shivering or horror in
the body and set the teeth on edge. Bacon.
C. To oppress by severe exactions ; to afflict
cruelly ; to harass ; as, to grind the faces
of the poor. Is. iii.
7. To crush in pieces ; to ruin. Matt. xxi.
8. To grate ; as grinding pains. Dryden.
GRIND, V. i. To perform the operation of
grinding ; to move a mill. Milton.
2. To be moved or rubbed together, as in the
operation of grinding; as the grinding
jaws. Roiee.
3. To be ground or pulverized by friction.
Corn will not grind well before it is dry.
4. To be polished and made smooth by fric-
tion. Glass grinds smooth.
5. To be sharpened by grinding. Steel
grinds to a fine edge.
GRINDER, n. One that grinds, or moves a
mill.
2. The instrument of grintyng. Philips.
3. A tooth that grinds or chews food ; a
double tooth; a jaw-tooth.
4. The teeth in general. Dryden.
GRINDING, ppr. Reducing to powder by
friction ; triturating ; levigating ; chew-
.Wa
sharp ; makuig smooth or polish-
ing by friction.
GRIND'STONE, ji. A sandstone used for
grinding or sharpening tools. Grindle-
stone, used by old writers, is obsolete.
GRIN'NER, n. [See Grin.] One that grins.
Addison.
GRINNING, ppr. Closing the teeth and
showing them, as in laughter ; a showing
of the teeth.
GRIN'NINGLY, adv. With a grinning
laugh.
GUIP, ?i. The griffon. [JVotinuse.] Shak.
GRIP, n. [Dan.greft; G. griff. See Gnpe.J
A grasp ; a holding fast.
GRIP, n. [D.groep; Sax. griep.] A small
ditch or furrow. [,A'ot used in America.]
GRIP, t'. t. To trench : to drain, [^rol
used.]
GRIPE, t'. t. [Sax. gripan ; Goth, greipan ;
D. grypen; G. greifen; Sw. gripa; Dan.
griber ; Fr. gripper ; Arm. scraba, scra-
pein ; W. graft, a cluster, a grape ; grabin,
a clasping ; grabiniaw, to grapple, to
scramble. Qu. Sans, grepipan. These
words may be allied in origin to L. rapio.]
1. To seize ; to grasp ; to catch with the
G R
G R O
G R O
liaiirl, and to clasp closely with the fin-
gers.
2. To hold fast ; to hold with the fingers
closely pressed.
if. To seize and hold fast in the arms; tc
embrace closely.
4. To close the finger.s ; to clutch. Pope.
5. To pinch ; to press ; to compress.
6. To give pain to the bowels, as if by press-
ure or contraction.
7. To pinch ; to straiten ; to distress ; as
griping poverty.
GRIPE, V. i. To seize or catch by pinching;
to get money by hard bargains or mean
exactions ; as a griping raiser.
2. To feel the colic. lAcke.
3. To lie too close to the wind, as a sliip.
GRIPE, n. Grasp; seizure; fast hold with
the hand or paw, or with the arms.
Shah. Drydcn.
2. Squeeze ; pressure. Dn/de7i.
3. Ojjpression ; cruel exactions. Shak.
4. Affliction ; pinching distress ; as the gripe
of poverty.
5. In seamen's language, \ the fore-foot or
piece of timber which terminates the keel
at the fore-end. Mar. Did.
6. Gripes, in the plural, distress of the bow-
els ; colic.
7. Gripes, in seameii's language, an assem-
blage of ropes, dead-eyes and hooks, fas-
tened to ring-Iiohs in the deck to secure
the boats. Mar. Diet.
GRIPER, n. One who gripes ; an oppres-
sor ; an extortioner.
GRIPING, ppr. Grasping ; seizing ; hold-
ing fast ; pinching ; oppressing ; distress-
ing the bowels.
GRIPIN'G, n. A pinching or grasp ; a dis-
tressing pain of the bowels ; colic.
2. In seamen's language, the inclination of a
shij) to run to the windward of her course.
Mar. Diet.
GRIPINGLV, «(/(■. Willi a pain in the ijow-
els.
<;RIP'PLE, a. [from gripe.] G
greedy ; covetous ; unfeeling. Obs.
Spenser.
2. Grasping fast ; tenacious. Obs. Ibid.
GRIP'PLENESS, n. Covetousness. Obs.
Bp. Hall.
GRIS, n. [Fr. g-m, gray.] A kind of fur.
Chaucer.
GRISAMBER, used by Milton for amber]
gris. Obs.
GRISE, ?i. A step, or scale of steps. [L.
gressus, Sw. resa. See Greece.] Obs. Shak.l
2. A swine. Obs.
GRISETTE, 71. grisel'. [Fr.] A trades-
man's wife or daughter. [jVot used.]
Sterne.}
GRIS'KIN, n. [See Grise.] The spine of a
hog. [jVo« in use.]
GRIS'LY, a. s as :. [Sax. grislic : G. grass,
grdsslich and gratis ; W. ecrys, dire, shock-
ing, that causes to start, from rhys, a rush-
ing ; Sax. agrisan, to shudder.]
Frightful ; horrible ; terrible ; as grisly
locks ; a grisly countenance ; a grisly face
a grisly specter ; a grisly bear.
Shak. Milton. Dryden
GRIS'ONS, n. Inhabitants of the eastern
Swiss Alps.
GRIST, n. [Sax. grist; Eth. rh48 cha-
■ipir
rate, to grind, coinciding with Heb. Ch.
pn. Class Rd. No. 60. 58. &c.]
Properly, that which is ground ; hence,
corn ground ; but in common usage, it
signifies corn for grinding, or that which is
ground at one time ; as much grain as is
carried to the mill at one time or the meal
it produces.
Get grist to the mill to have plenty in store.
Tusser.
3. Supply ; provision. Swift.
3. Profit ; gain : [as in Latin emolumentum,
from molo, to grind ;] in the phrase, it
brings grist to the mill.
GRIS'TLE, n. gris'l. [Sax. grwHe ; perhaps
the L. cartil, in carlilago ; cartil for cratil.
Qu. Gr. xaprtpof, xportpo;, strong, or Ir.
crislion, sinews.]
A cartilage ; a smooth, solid, elastic sub-
stance in animal bodies, chiefly in those
parts where a small easy motion is requir-
ed, as in the nose, ears, laryn.x, trachea
and sternum. It covers the ends of all
hones which are united by movable artic-
ulations, qxdncy-
GRIST'LY, a. Consisting of gristle ; like
gristle ; cartilaginous ; as the gristly rays
of fins connected by membranes. Ray.
GRIST'MILL, ji. A mill for grinding grain.
GRIT, n. [Sax. greot or gnjt, grytla ; G.
gries, grit ; griitze, groats ; D. grut, grutte,
and gruis ; Dan. grits orgrod; Sw.gnis;
probably allied to grate ; Dan. grytter, to
bruiso or grate ; W. grut, griid, the lattei-
from r/tiirf, acast, or driving forward.]
1. The coarse part of meal.
\i. Oats hulled, or coarsely ground ; written
also grouts.
•i. Sand or gravel ; rough hard particles.
4. Sandstone ; stone composed of ))articles
of sand agglutinated.
GRITH, n. Agreement. [J\l'ot in use.]
Chaucer.
GRIT'STONE, n. [See Grit.]
GRIT'TINESS, n. The quality of contain-
ing grit or consisting of grit, sand or small
hard, rough particles of stone.
GRIT'TY, a. Containing sand or grit ; con-
sisting of grit ; full of hard jjarlicles ;
sandy.
GRIZ'ELIN. [See Gridelin.]
GRIZ'ZLE, n. [Fr. Sp. Port, gris, gray.]
Gray ; a gray color ; a mixture of white
and black. Shak.
GRIZZLED, a. Gray ; of a mixed color.
Gen. xxxi.
GRIZ'ZLY, a. Somewhat gray. Bacon.
GROAN, V. i. [Sax. granian, grunan ; W.
grwnan : L. grunnio ; Fr.gronder; Sp.
gninir; It. grugnire ; Ar. ^^ Heb. Ch,
pi to cry out, to groan ; L. rana, a frog.
Class Rn. No. 4.]
1. To breathe with a deep murmuring sound ;
to utter a mournful voice, as in pain or
sorrow.
For we that are in this tabernacle, do groan,
being burdened. 2 Cor. v.
2. To sigh ; to be oppressed or afflicted ; or
to complain of oppression. A nation
groans under the weight of taxes.
GROAN, n. A deep mournful sound, utter
ed in pain, sorrow or anguish.
low, rumbling sound; as the groans
2. Ai
of roaring wind
Shuk
GROANFLJL, a. Sad ; inducing groans.
Spenser.
GROANING, ppr. Uttering a low mournful
sound.
GROANING, n. The act of groaning; lam-
entation; complaint ; a deep sound utter-
ed in pain or sorrow.
2. In hunting, the cry or noise of the buck.
Chamb.
GROAT, n. grawl. [D. groot, G. grot, that
is great, a great piece or coin ; so called
because before this piece was coined by
Edward III. the English had no silver
coin larger than a penny.]
1. An English money of account, equal to
four pence.
2. A proverbial name for a small sum.
GROATS, n. [See Grit.] Oats that ha\p
the hulls taken oflf.
GROATS-WORTH, n. The value of ,■,
g'oat. Sherwood.
GRO'CER, 71. [This is usually considered
as formed from gross, but in other langua-
ges, the corresj)onding word is from the
name of plants, herbs or spices ; D.kniid-
enier, from kruid, an herb, wort, spices ;
G. wiirzkrcimer, a dealer in worts, herb.s
or spices ; Sw. kryddkr&mare. The
French, Spanish and Portuguese u.sf
words formed from the name of spice, and
the Italian is from the same word as drug.
It would seem then that a grocer, whatever
may be the origin of the name, was origi-
nally a seller of spices and other vegeta-
bles.]
A trader who deals in tea, sugar, spices,
coffee, liquors, fruits, &.c.
GRO'CERY, n. A grocer's store.
2. The commodities sold by grocers; usually
in the plural.
GROG, )i. A mixture of spirit and water
not sweetened.
GROG-BLOSSOM, n. A rum bud ; arcl-
ness on the nose or face of men who drink
ardent spirits to excess ; a deformity thai
marks the beastly vice of intemperance.
GROG'DRINKER, n. One addicted to
drinking grog.
GROG'GY, a. A groggy horse is one that
hears wholly on his heels in trotting.
Cyc.
2. In vulgar language, tipsy ; intoxicated.
GROG'RAM, > [It. grossagrana, gross
GROG'RAN, ^"- grain.] A kind of stuff
made of silk and mohair.
GROIN, n. [Ice. and Goth, grein. Chal-
mers. But I do not find this in Lye.]
1. The depressed jiart of the human body
between the belly and the thigh.
2. Among builders, the angular curve made
by the intersection of two semi-cylinders
or arches. Encyc.
3. [Fr. groin ; Gr. pi..] The snout or nose
of a swine. Chaucer.
GROIN, i-.i". To groan. Obs. Chaucer.
GROM'WELL, ) „ A plant of the genus
GRO.M'IL, r Litho.spermum. The
German gromwell is the Stellera.
Fam. of Plants.
GROM'ET, } „ [Arm. gromm, a curb, Fr.
■GROM'MET, \ "-goiimcWc]
G R O
Among seamen, a ring formed of a strand of]
rope laid in three times round ; used to
fasten the upper edge of a sail to its stay,
Mar. Diet
GROOM, n. [Pers. L
garma, a keep
er of horses. Qu. Flemish or old D. grom,
a boy.]
1. A boy or young man ; a waiter ; a ser-
vant.
2. A man or boy who has the charge of
horses ; one who takes care of horses or
the stable.
3. In England, an officer of the king's house-
hold ; as the groom of the chamber ; groom
of the stole or wardrobe.
4. Groom for goom, in bridegroom, is a pal-
pable mistake.
GROOVE, n. groov. [Ice. groof; Sw. grop;
but it is merely a variation of grave. See
Grave and Grip.]
1. A furrow, channel, or long hollow cut by
a tool. Among joiners, a channel in the
edge of a molding, style or rail.
2. Among miners, a shall or pit sunk into
the earth.
GROOVE, V. t. [Sw. gropa.] To cut
channel with an edged tool ; to furrow.
GROOVER, n. A miner. [Local.]
GROOVING, ppr. Cutting in channels.
GROPE, V. i. [Sax. gropian, grapian ; C
grabbeln, greifen ; D. grypen, grabbelen ;
Dan. griber, to gripe, to grope ; Sw. grub-
la, Dan. grubler, to search. The sense is
to feel or to catch with the hand.]
1. To feel along ; to search or attempt to
find in the dark, or as a blind person, by
feeling.
We grope for the wall like the bliud. Is
lis.
The dying believer leaves the weeping cliil-
dren of mortality to grope a little longer among
the miseries and sensualities of a worldly life.
Biickminsler
2. To seek blindly in intellectual darkness
without a certain guide or means of
knowledge.
GROPE, V. t. To search by feeling in the
dark. We groped our way at midnight,
But Strephon, cautious, never meant
The bottom of the pan to grope. Swi
GRO'PER, n. One who gropes ; one who
feels his way in the dark, or searches by
feeling.
GRO'PING, ppr. Feehng for something ir
darkness ; searching by feeling.
GROSS, a. [Fr. gros ; It. Port, grosso ; Sp,
grueso, grosero; L. crassus; a dialecti-
cal variation oi great.]
1. Thick; bulky; particularly applied to
imals ; fat ; corpulent ; as a gross mai
gross body.
2. Coarse ; rude ; rough ; not delicate ; as
gross sculpture. Wotton.
3. Coarse, in a figurative sense ; rough ;
mean ; particularly, vulgar ; obscene ; in-
delicate ; as gross language ; gross jests.
4. Thick ; large ; opposed to fijie ; as wood
or stone of a gross grain.
5. Impure ; unrefined ; as gross sensuality
6. Great ; palpable ; as a gross mistake ;
gross injustice.
7. Coarse ; large ; not delicate ; as gross
features.
8. Thick ; dense ; not attenuated ; not refi
G R O
ned or pure ; as a gross medium of sight ;
gross air ; gross elements. Bacon. Pope.
9. Unseemly ; enormous ; shameful ; great
as gross corruptions ; gross vices.
10. Stupid ; dull.
Tell her of tilings that no gross ear can hear.
Milton
11. Whole; entire; as the gross sum, or
gross amount, as opposed to a sum consist-
ing of separate or specified parts.
GROSS, n. The main body ; the chief part ;
the bulk ; the mass ; as the gross of the
people. [We now use bulk.] Addison.
2. The number of twelve dozen ; twelve times
twelve; as a gross of bottles. It never
has the plural form. We say. Jive gross
or ten gross.
In the gross, in gross, in the bulk, or the
whole undivided ; all parts taken together.
By the gross, in a like sense.
Gross iceight, is the weight of merchandize
or goods, with the dust and dross, the bag, j
cask, chest, &c., in which they are con- '
tained, for which an allowance is to be
made of tare and tret. This being de
ducted, the remainder or real weight i:
denominated neat or 7tet weight. Gross]
weight has lately been abolished in Con-
necticut by statute. May, 1827.
In English law, a villain in gross, was one
who did not belong to the land, but imme-
diately to the person of the lord, and was|
transferrable by deed, like chattels, from
one owner to another. Blackstone.]
Mvou'son in gross, an advowson separated'
from the property of a manor, and anne.\-
ed to the person of its owner.
Blackstone.
Common in gross, is common annexed to a
man's person, and not appurtenant to
'and. Blackstone.
GROSSBEAK, n. A fowl of the genus
Loxia, of several species. The bill is con-
vex above and very thick at the base, from
which circumstance it takes its name.
GROSS-HEADED, a. Having a thick skull ;l
stupid. Milton.l
GROSSLY, adv. In bulky or large parts ;
coarsely. This matter is grossly pulveri-
zed.
2. Greatly ; palpably ; enormously ; as, this
affair has been grossly misrepresented.
. Greatly; shamefully; as grossly crimi-
nal.
Coarsely ; without refinement or delica-
cy ; as language grossly vulgar.
5. Without art or skill.
CROSSNESS, n. Thickness; bulkiness .
corpulence ; fatness ; applied to animal
bodies.
2. Thickness ; spissitude.; density ; as the
grossness of vapors.
3. Coarseness; rudeness; want of refine
ment or delicacy ; vulgarity; as the grow
»ies» of language ; the grossness of wit.
Abhor the swinish grossness that delights t(
wound the ear of delicacy. Dteight
4. Greatness ; enormity ; as the grossness of
G R O
GROT, I „ [Fr. groltc ; It. groUa ; .<».
GROTTO, I "• and Port, gruta ; G. and
Dan. grotte ; D. grot ; Sax. gntt. Grotla is
not used.]
1. A large cave or den ; a subterraneous
cavern, and jirimarily, a natural cave or
rent in the earth, or such as is formed by
a current of water, or an earthquake.
Pope. Prior. Dryden.
2. A cave for coolness and refreshment.
GROTESQUE, ) „ [Fr. grotesque; Sp.
GROTESK', \ "■ Von. grutesco ; It.
Wfrottesca; from gro»o.]
ildly formed ; whimsical ; extravagant ;
of irregular forms and proportions; ludi-
crous ; antic ; resembling the figures found
in the subterraneous apartments in the
ancient ruins at Rome ; applied to pieces
of sculpture and painting, and to natural
scenery ; as grotesque painting ; grotesque
design. Dryden.
GROTESQUE, > Whimsical figures oi-
GROTESK', ( "• scenery.
GROTESQUELY, ) In a fantastical
GROTESK'LY, P" manner.
GROUND, n. [Sax. G. Dan. Sw. grund; D.
grond; Russ. gnait. This word may be
the Ir. grian, ground, bottom of a river or
lake, from grean, W. graean, gravel. See
Grain. It seems primarily to denote the
gravelly bottom of a river or lake, or of
the sea, which shows the appropriate
sense of the verb to ground, as used by
seamen.]
I. The siu-face of land or upper part of the
earth, without reference to the materials
which compose it. We apply ground to
soil, sand or gravel indifferently, but never
apply it to the whole mass of the earth or
globe, nor to any portion of it when remo-
ved. We never say a shovel full or a load
of ground. We say under ground, but not
under earth ; and we speak of the globe as
divided into land and water, not into
ground and water. Yet ground, earth and
land are often used synonymously. We
say, the produce or fruits of the ground,
of the earth, or of land. The water over-
flows the lotv ground, or the low land.
There was not a man to till the ground.
Gen. ii.
The ground shall give its increase. Zecli.
GKOSS'ULAR, a. Pertaining to or resem-
bling a gooseberry; as grossular garnet.
GROSS'ULAR, n. A rare mineral of the
garnet kind, so named from its green color,
[supra.]
The fire ran along on the ground. Ex. is.
i2. Region; territory; as Egyptian g-rounrf;
British ground ; heavenly ground.
Milton.
Land; estate; possession.
Thy next design is on thy neighbor's grounds.
Dryden.
The surface of the earth, or a floor or
l)avement.
Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground.
1 Sam. v.
5. Foundation ; that which supports any
thing. This argument stands on defensi-
ble ground. Hence,
Fundamental cause; primary reason or
original principle. He stated"the grounds
of his complaint.
Making happiness the ground of his unhap-
piness. Sidney.
First principles ; as the grounds of religion.
Milton.
8. In painting, the surface on which a figure
or object is represented ; that surface or
substance wliich retains the original color.
G R O
and to which the other colors are applied
to make the representation ; as crimson ofi
a white ground. Encyc.
9. In manufactures, the principal color, to
which others are considered as orna-
mental. HaketviU.
10. Grounds, plural, the bottom of liquors :
dregs ; lees ; feces ; as coffee grounds ; the
grounds of strong beer.
11. The plain song ; the time on which des
cants are raised.
G R O
12. In etching, a gummous composition
spread over the surface of the metal to be
etched, to prevent the nitric acid from eat-
ing, e.\cept where the ground is opened
with the point of a needle. Encyc.
13. Field or place of action. He fought
with fury, and would not quit the ground.
14. In music, the name given to a composi-
tion in which the base, consisting of a few
bars of independent notes, is continually
repeated to a continually varying melody.
Busby.
1,5. The foil to set a thing off. (Ms. Slia'k.
16. Formerly, the pit of a play house.
B. Jonson.
To gain ground, to advance ; to proceed fo
ward in conflict ; as, an army in battle ^ni?is
ground. Hence, to obtain an advantage
to have some success; as, the armyg-ains
ground on the enemy. Hence,
2. To gain credit ; to prevail ; to become
more general or extensive ; as, the opin
ion gains ground.
To lose ground, to retire ; to retreat ; to with
draw from the position taken. Hence, to
lose advantage. Hence,
2. To lose credit ; to decline ; to become less
in force or extent.
To give ground, to recede ; to yield advan-
tage.
To get ground, and to gather ground, are sel-
dom used.
GROUND, V. t. To lay or set on the ground
2. To found ; to fix or set, as on a foiinda
tion, cause, reason or principle ; as argu
meins grounded on reason ; faith grounded
on scriptural evidence.
3. To settle in first principles ; to fix firmly
Being rooted and grounded in love. Eph. iii
GROUND, V. i. To run aground ; to strike
the bottom and remain fixed ; as, the ship
grounded in two fathoms of water.
GROUND, >re«. and pp. of grind.
GROUND' AGE, n. A tax paid by a ship for
standing in port. Blount.
GROUND'-ANGLING, n. Fishing without
a float, with a bullet placed a few inches
from the hook.
GROUND'-ASH, n. A sapling of ash ; a
young shoot from the stump of an ash.
Mortimer.
GROUND'-BAIT, n. Bait for fish which
sinks to the bottom of the water.
Walton.
GROUND -FLOOR, n. The first or lower
floor of a house. But the English call the
second floor from the ground tlie Jirst floor.
GROUND'-IVY, n. A well known plant,
the Glechoma hederacea ; called also ale-
hoof sutd gill.
GROUND'LESS, a. Wanting ground or
foundation ; wanting cause or reason for
support ; as groundless fear.
2. Not authorized ; false ; as a groundless
report or assertion.
GROUND'LESSLY, a. Without reason or
cause ; without authority for support.
Boyle.
GROUND'LESSNESS, n. Want of just
cause, reason or authority for support.
TiUotson.
GROUND'LING, n. A fish that keeps at the
bottom of the water; hence, a low vulgar
person. Shak.
GROUND'LY, adv. Upon principles ; solid-
ly. [A bad loord and not used.]
Ascham.
GROUND'-NUT, n. A plant, the Arachis, a
native* of South America.
GROUND'-OAK, n. A sapling of oak.
Mortimer.
GROUND'-PINE, n. A plant, a species of
Teucrium or germander; said to be so
called from its resinous smell.
Encyc. Hill.
GROUND'-PLATE, n. In architecture, the!
ground-plates are the outermost i>ieces of
timber lying on or near the ground, fra-
med into one another with mortises and
tenons. H(
GROUND'-PLOT, n. The ground on which
a building is placed.
2. The ichnography of a building.
Johnson
GROUND'-RENT, n. Rent paid for the
privilege of building on another man'
land. Johnson.
GROUND-ROQM, n. A room on the
ground ; a lower room. Tatle,
GROUNDSEL, n. A plant of the genus
Senecio, of several species.
GROUND'SEL, ) [ground, and Sax
GROUND'-SILL, (, "• .syll, basis, aUied
probably to L. sella, that which is set. See
Sill.]
The timber of a building which lies next to
the ground ; commonly called a sill.
GROUND'-TACKLE, re. In ships, the ropes
and furniture belonging to anchors.
GROUNDWORK, n. The work which
forms the foundation or support of any
thing ; the basis ; the fundamentals.
2. The ground ; that to which the rest are
additional. Dryden
3. First principle ; original reason.
Dryden
GROUP, } [It. gTo;»;)o, a knot, a bunch;
GROOP, \ "■ Fr. groupe ; Sp. gnipo. It is
radically the same word as croup, cruppe
rump ; W. grab, a cluster, a grape.]
1. A cluster, crowd or throng; an assem-j
blage, either of persons or things; a nuni-|
her collected without any regular form orl
arrangement ; as a group of men or of
trees; a i^-oup of isles.
2. In painting and sculpture, an assemblage!
of two or more figures of men, beasts or'
other things which have some relation to
j each other.
iGRoUP, ) , [Fr. grouper.] To form a
GROOP, I "■ group ; to bring or place
together in a cluster or knot ; to form an
assemblage.
The difficulty lies in drawing and disposing,
or as the painters term if, in grouping such a
multitude of different objects. Prior.
GRoUP'ED, ) Formed or placed in a
GROOP'ED, < PP- crowd.
G R O
GROUP'ING, \ Bringing together in a
GROOP'ING,^''^'^- cluster or assemblage.
GRoUP'ING, n. The art of composing or
combining the objects of a picture or piece
ofsculpture. Cyc.
I O J J
GROUSE, n. grous. [Pers. (j„»j,-i goros,
gros, a cock.]
A heath-cock or cock of the wood, a fowl
of the genus Tetrao. The name is given
to several species, forming a particular di-
vision of the genus ; such as the black game,
the red game, the ptarmigan, the ruffed
grouse, &c.
GROUT, n. [Sax. grut. See Groat] Coarse
meal ; pollard.
2. A kind of wild apple. Johnson.
3. A thin coarse mortar.
4. That which purges off. JVarner.
GROVE, 71. [Sax. grmf graf a grave, a
cave, a grove ; Goth, groba ; from cutting
an avenue, or from the resemblance of an
avenue to a channel.]
1. In gardening, a small wood or cluster of
trees with a shaded avenue, or a wood
impervious to the rays of the sun. A grove
is either open or close ; open, when con-
sisting of large trees whose branches shade'
the ground below ; close, when consisting
of trees and underwood, which defend the
avenues from the rays of the sun and from
violent winds. Encyc.
2. A woodof smalle.xtent. In America, the
word is applied to a wood of natural
growth in the field, as well as to planted
trees in a garden, but only to a wood of
small extent and not to a forest.
Something resembling a wood or trees in
a wood.
Tull groves of masts arose in beauteous pride.
Trumbull.
GROVEL, t'.i. grov'l. [Ice. gmva; Chau-
cer, grog^, flat on the ground or face ; Scot,
on groufe ; allied to grope, which see.]
1. To creep on the earth, or with the face to-
the ground ; to lie jirone, or move with the
body prostrate on the earth ; to act in a
prostrate posture.
Gaze on and grovel on thy face. Shak.
To creep and grovel on the ground.
Milton.
2. To be low or mean ; as groveling sense ;
groveling thoughts. Dryden. Addison.
GROV'ELER, n. One who grovels; an
abject wretch.
GROVELING, ppr. Creeping ; moving on
the ground.
2. a. Mean: without dignity or elevation.
GRO'VY, a. Pertaining to a grove ; fre-
quenting groves.
GROW, V. i. pret. grew ; pp. groivn. [Sax.
groivan ; D. groeyen ; Dan. groer ; Sw.
gro ; a contracted wonl ; \V. crotiau',
crythu, to grow, to swell. This is proba-
bly the same word as L. cresco, Russ.
rastu,rostu, a dialectical variation ofcrodh
or grodh. The French crotlre, and Eng.
increase, retain the final consonant.]
To enlarge in bulk or stature, by a natural,
imperceptible addition of matter, through
ducts and secreting organs, as animal and
vegetable bodies ; to vegetate as plants,
or to be augmented by natural process, as
animals. Thus, a plant groivs from a seed
to a shrub or tree, and a human being
groios from a fetus to a man.
G R O
He caiueth the grass to grow for cattle,
civ.
2. To be produced by vegetation ; as, wheat
grows in most parts of the world ; rice
grows only in warm climates.
3. To increase ; to be augmented ; to wax ;
as, a body grows larger by inflation or dis
tension ; intemperance is a growing evil.
4. To advance ; to improve ; to make pro-
gress ; as, to grow in grace, in knowledge,
ill ])iety. The young man is growing in
ri'putation.
5. To advance ; to extend. His reputation
ia growing.
6. To come by degrees ; to become ; to reach
any state ; as, he groios more skillful, or
more prudent. Let not vice grow to a
habit, or into a habit.
7. To come forward ; to advance. \J^ot
much userf.]
Winter began to grow fast on. Knolles
8. To be changed from one state to another
to become ; as, xogroiv pale ; to grow poor
111 grow rich.
0. To jiroceed, as from a cause or reason.
I. ax morals may grot* from errors in
ojiiiiion.
10. To accrue; to come
Why should damage grow to tlie hurt of the
kiiiKs. Ezra '
1 1 . To swell ; to increase ; as, the wind gmo
til :i tempest.
Til iirow out of, to issue from ; as pi
tlie soil, or as a branch from the main stem.
These ward have groivti out of commercial
considerations. federalist, Hamilton.
To groio np, to arrive at manhood, or to ad-
vance to full stature or maturity.
To grow vp, } To close and adhere
To grow together, I to become uniteil by
ji;ro\vth ; as flesh or the bark of a tree
severed
Croic, signifies properly to shoot out, to en-
large ; but it is often used to denote a
passing from one state to another, and
tioin greater to less.
Marriages groio less frequent. Paley.
[To grow less, is an abuse of this word ;
the phrase should be to become less.]
GItOW, v.t. To produce; to raise; as, a
farmer groies large quantities of wheat,
[This is a modern abusive use of grow, but
prevalent in Great Britain, and the British
use begins to be imitated in America. Un-
til within a few years, we never heard
grow used as a transitive verb in New
England, and the ear revolts at the prac-
tice.]
GROWER, n. One who grows ; that which
G R U
GROWN, /jp. of grow. Advanced; increas-,
cd in growth.
2. Having arrived at full size or stature ; as
a grown woman. Locke.
Grown over, covered by the growth of any
thing; overgrown.
GROWSE, B. i. [Sax. ag-ri«aii.] To shiver;
to have chills. [Not used.] Ray.
GROWTH, n. The gradual increase of ani-
mal and vegetable bodies ; the process of
springing from a germ, seed or root, and
proceeding to full size, by the addition of
matter, through ducts and secretory ves-
sels. In /)ten<«, vegetation. We speak of
slow growth and rapid growth ; of early
growth ; late growth and lull growth.
2. Product ; produce ; that whicli has grown ;
as a fine growth of wood.
Production ; any thing produced ; as a
poem of English groioWt. Dryden.
Increase in number, bulk or frequency.
Johnso7i.
5. Increase in extent or prevalence ; as the
growth of trade ; the growth of vice.
6. Advancement ; progress ; improvement
as growth in grace or jiicty.
GROWT'HEAD, ) [probablv gross o
GROWT'NOL, S "■ great-hedd.]
. A kind of fish. Ainsicorth.
2. A lazy person ; a lubber. Ohs. Tusser.
GRUB, V. i. [Goth, graban. Sec Grav
The primary sense is probably to rub, to^
rake, scrape or scratch, as wild animals
dig by scratching. Russ. grebu, to rake,
to row ; greben, a comb ; grab, a grave ;
^•oblia, a ditch.] To dig ; to be occupied
m digging.
GRUB, V. I. To dig ; mostly followed by up.
To grub up, is to dig up by the roots with
an instrument ; to root out by digging, or
throwing out the soil; as, tograi up trees,
G R U
[re.
2. In English use, one who raises or pro
duces.
GROWING, ppr. Increasing ; advancing in
size or extent ; becoming ; accruing
swelling ; thriving.
GROWL, V. i. [Gr. ypvVKi;, a grunting
Flemish grollen. Junius. D. krollen, t<
caterwaul.]
To murmur or snarl, as a dog; to utter ai
angry, grumbling sound. Gay,
GROWL, 11. t. To express by growling.
Thomson
GROWL, n. The murmur of a cross dog.
GROWL'ER, n. A snarling cur ; a grum-
bler.
GROWL' ING, ppr. Grumbling ; snarhng,
GRUB, n. [from the Verb.] A small worm ;
particularly, a hexaped or six-footed
worm, produced from the egg of the bce-l
tie, which is transformed into a winged!
insect.
2. A short thick man ; a dwarf, in contempt.'
Carew.l
GRUB'BER, n. One who grubs up shrubs,
&c.
GRUB'BING-HOE, n. An instrument for
digging up trees, shrubs, &c. by the roots :
a mattoc ; called also a grub-ax. \
GRUB'BLE, V. i. [G. gritbeln. See Grovel^
and Grabble.]
To feel in the dark ; to grovel. [Xot much
itsed.] Dryden.
GRUB'STREET, n. Originally, the name
of a street near Moorfields, "in London,'
much inhabited by meai) writers; hence
applied to mean writings ; as a Grub-
street poein. Johnson.
GRUDGE, V. t. [W. grtvg, a broken rum-
bling noise ; grwgag, a murmur, and, as e
verb, to murmur ; gnagapu, to grumble
from the root ofrhuxiaic, to grunt or grum-
ble; rhwc, a grunt, what is rough ; L. ru-
gio ; Sco^ gruch, to grudge, to repine ; Gr.
ypvifio. We see the primary sense is to
grumble, and this from the root of rotig-A.]
To be discontented at another's enjoy-]
ments or advantages; to envy one the
possession or happiness which we desire
for ourselves. 1
Tis not in thee
To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train.
Shak.
I have often heard the presbyterians say, tbey
did not grudge us our employmenti. Sunfi.
It is followed by two objects, but prob-
ably by ellipsis ; as, grudge us for grudge
to us.
2. To give or take unwillingly.
Nor grudge my cold embraces in tlie grave.
Ihyden.
They have grudged those contributions,
which have set our country at the head of all
the governments of Europe. Addison.
GRUI)t5E, K.J. To murmur; to repine; to
complain ; as, to grudge or complain of in-
justice. Hooker.
3. To be unwilling or reluctant. Grudge
not to serve your country.
3. To be envious.
Grudge not one against another. James v.
4. To wish in secret. [.Yot tised nor proper.]
5. To feel cotnpunction ; to grieve. J^ot in
•use.]
GRUDGE, n. Sullen malice or malevolence ;
ill will ; secret enmity ; hatred ; as an old
grudge. B. Jonsort.
2. Unwillingness to benefit.
3. Remorse of conscience. Obs.
GRUDU'EONS, n. plu. Coarse meal. [JVo/
in use.] Beaum.
GRUD(i'ER, ji. One that grudges; a mur-
inurer.
GRUD(i'ING, pp. Envying ; being uneasy
at another's possession of something which
we have a desire to possess.
GRUDG'ING, n. Uneasiness at the posses-
sion of something by another.
Reluctance ; also, a secret wish or desire.
Dryden.
He had a grudging still to be a knave. 04s.
Dryden.
A symptom of disease. [JVbt in use.]
Jackson.
GRUDti'INGLY, adv. Unwillingly; with
or discontent ; as, to give
ingly.
GRU'EL, n. [Fr. gruau; W. grual.] A kind
of light food made by boihng meal in wa-
ter. It is usually made of the meal of oats
or maiz.
GRUFF, o. W.grof; G.grob; Dan. grov;
"w. grof; W. griif, a grifibn, one fierce
nd bold.]
Of a rough or stern countenance ; sour; sur-
ly ; severe ; rugged ; harsb. Addison.
GRUFF'LY, adv. Roughly; sternly; rug-
gedly ; harshly.
—And gruffly looked the god. Dryden.
GRUFF'NESS,' n. Roughness of counte-
nance ; sternness.
GRUM, a. [Dan. grum, cruel, fierce, peevish ;
Sw. grym, id. ; Dan. gremmer, to mourn ;
W. grtcm, growling, surly ; grymian, to
grumble.]
1. Morose; severe of countenance; sour;
surly. Arbuthnot.
2. Low ; deep in the throat ; guttural ; rum-
bling ; as a grum voice.
GRUJI'BLE, I', i. [D. grommelen, grommen ;
Sax. gnimetan ; Dan. gremmer : Fr. grom-
meler; W. grymiul, to grumble; Russ.
grom, a loud noise, thunder ; grendyu, to
to make a loud noise, to thunder ; Arm.
grommellat ; It. cruim, thunder ; probably
from the root of rumble ; Heb. Ch. Syr.
pjn to roar, murmur, thunder ; Sax. reo-
G U A
G U A
G U A
Lilian, hremman, to scream. Class Rm. No.
11.13.]
1. To murmur with discouteiit ; to utter a
iow voice by way of complaint.
L'Avare, not using half his store,
Still grumbles that he has no more. Prior.
2. To growl ; to snarl ; as a lion grumbling
over his prey.
3. To rumble ; to roar ; to make a harsh and
heavy sound ; as grumbling thunder ;
grumbling storm. [In this sense, rumble is
generally used.]
GRUiM'BLER, 71. One who grumbles or
murmurs ; one who complains ; a discon-
tented man. Uteift.
GRUM'BLING, ppr. Murmming through
discontent; rumbling; growhng.
GRUM'BLING, n. A murmuring through
discontent ; a rumbling.
GRUM'BLINGLY, adv. With grumbling or
complaint.
GRUME, )i. [Fr. grumeau ; L. grujims ; It.
and Sp. grumo.]
A thicli viscid consistence of a fluid ; a clot,
as of blood, &c.
GRUM'LY, adv. Morosely; with a sullen
countenance.
GRU'MOUS, a. Thick; concreted ; clotted ;
as grumous blood.
GRU'MOUSNESS, n. A state of being clot-
ted or concreted. IViseman
GRUND'SEL, n. [See Groundsel.]
Milton
GRUNT, v.i. [Dan. grynter ; G. grunzen
Sax. grunan ; Fr. grogner ; Ann. grondal .,
h. grunnio ; Sp. gnihir; It. grugnire. See
Ileb. Ch. Sam. pi, Ar. • to cry out
to murmur. Class Rn. No. 4.]
To murmur like a hog ; to utter a short groan
or a deep guttural sound. Swift. Shak
GRUNT, n. A deep guttural sound, as of a
hog. Dryden
GRUNT'ER, ?!. One that grunts.
2. A fish of the gurnard kind.
Diet. jVat. Hist.
GRUNT'ING, ppr. Uttering the murmuring
or guttural sound of swine or other
mals.
GRUNT'ING, 71. The guttural sound of
swine and other animals.
GRUNT'LE, V. i. To grunt. [JVot much
used.]
GRUNT'LING, n. A yoimg hog.
GRUTCH, for^rttrfg-e, is now vulgar, and
not to be used.
GRY, 71. [Gr. yfiv.] A measure containing
one tenth of a line. Locke.
2. Any tiling very small or of little value,
[Mit much used.]
GRYPH'ITE, 71. [h. gryphites ; Gr. rpvrtoj,
hooked.]
Crowstone, an oblong fossil shell, narrow at
the head, and wider towards the extrenii
ty, where it ends in a circular limb ; the
head or beak is very hooked. Encyc.
GUAIA€UM, 71. gua'cum. Lignum vita, or
pock wood ; a tree produced in the warm
climates of America. The wood is very
hard, ponderous and resinous. The resin
of this tree, or gum guaiacum, is of a green-
ish cast, and much used in medicine as a
stimulant. Encyc
GUYANA, 71. A species of lizard, found in the
warmer parts of America.
GUANA€0, 71. The lama, or camel of
South America, in a wild state. |
Cuvier.l
GU'ANO, n. A substance found on many!
isles in the Pacific, which are fiequentedi
by fowls ; used as a manure. Ure.i
GU' ARA, 71. A bird of Brazil, the Tantalus]
ruber, about the size of a spoonbill. "VVhenl
first hatched, it is black ; it aflerwardl
changes to gray, and then to vivid red.
Diet. JVat. Hist. I
GUARANTEE', 71. A warrantor. [See!
Guaranty, the noun.]
GUAR'ANTIED, pp. garantied. Warrant-
ed. [See the Verb.]
GUAR'ANTOR, ?i. gar'antor. A warrantor;!
one who engages to see that the stipula-
tions of another are performed ; also, one
who engages to securt; auotlier in any
right or possession.
GUAR'ANTY, v. t. gar'anty. [Fr. garantir ;
It. guarentire ; Arm. goaranti ; \V. g-imr-
antu, from gwar, secure, smooth, or rather
from gwara, to fend, to fence, the root of
guard, that is, to drive oflT, to hold off', to
stop ; D. waaren, to preserve, to indemni-
fy ; Sax. werian, to defend ; Eng. to ivard ;
allied to tvarren, &c. See JVarrant.]
1. To warrant ; to make sure ; to undertake
or engage that another person shall per-
form what he has stipulated ; to oblige
one's self to see that another's engage-J
ments are performed ; to secure the per-|
formance of; as, to guaranty the execu-j
tion of a treaty. Madison. Hamilton.\
To undertake to secure to another, at all
events, as claims, rights or possessions.'
Thus in the treaty of 1778, France guaran-\
tied to the United States their liberty, sove-!
reignty and independence, and their pos-
sessions ; and the United States guarantied
to France its possessions in America.
The United States shall guaranty to every
state in the Union a republican form of govern-
ment. Const, of U. States.
To indemnify; to save harmless.
[Note. This verb, whether written guaranty
or guarantee, forms an awkward participle of
the present tense ; and we cannot relish either
guarantying or guaranteeing. With the ac-
cent on the first syllable, as now pronounced,
it seems expedient to drop the y in the partici-
ple, and write guarantitig.']
GUAR'ANTY, 71. gar'anty. [Fr. garaiit ; Sp.
garantia ; Arm. goarand ; Ir. barranta ;
W. gwarant.]
1. An undertaking or engagement by a third
person or party, that the stipulations of a
treaty shall be observed by the contract-
ing parties or by one of them ; an under-
taking that the engagement or promise of]
another shall be performed. We say, a
c\a.use of guaratity'm a treaty. Hamilton.
2. One who binds himself to see the stipida-
tions of another performed ; written al-
so guarantee.
GUARD, V. t. giird. [Fr. garder ; Sp. and
Port, guardar ; It. guardare, to keep, pre-
serve, defend ; also, to look, to behold ;|
Basque, gordi ; W. gwara, to fend or
guard, to fence, to play. The primary
sense is to strike, strike back, repel, beat
down, or to turn back or stop ; hence, to
keep or defend, as by repelling assault or
danger. The sense of seeing, looking, is
secondary, from the sense of guarding, and
we retain a similar application of the root
of this word in beware; or it is from the
sense of reaching, or casting the eye,
or from turning the head. This is the
English to ward. In W. gwar is secure,
mild, placid, that is, set, fixed, held. It
seems to be allied to G. wahr, true, L. ue-
7-iis ; wdhren, to keep, to last, to hold out ;
beivahren, to keep or preserve ; bewdhren,
to verify, to confirm ; D. xoaar, true ; waar-
en, to keep, preserve, indemnify ; waaran-
de, a warren, and guaranty ; icaarison, a
garrison ; Dan. vaer, wary, vigilant,
watching; Eng. ware, aivart; Dan. vaer-
ger, to guard, defend, maintain; vare, a
guard or watch, ivares, merchandize ;
rarer, to keep, last, endure ; Sw. vara, to
watch, and to be, to exist ; Dan. vwrer, to
be ; Sax. warian, werian, to guard, to de-
fend, to be tvary. The sense of existing
implies extension or continuance. See
Regard and Reward.]
1. To secure against injury, loss or attack ;
to protect ; to defend ; to keep in safety.
We guard a city by walls and forts. A
harbor is guarded by ships, booms or
batteries. Innocence should be guard-
ed by prudence and piety. Let observa-
tion and experience guard us against
temptations to vice.
2. To secure against objections or the at-
tacks of malevolence.
Homer has guarded every circumstance with
caution. Broome.
3. To accotjipany and protect; to accompa-
ny for protection ; as, to guard a general
on a journey ; to guard the baggage of an
army.
4. To adorn with lists, laces or ornaments.
Obs. Shak.
5. To gird ; to fasten by binding.
B. Jonson.
GUARD, V. i. To watch by way of cau-
tion or defense; to be cautious; to be in
a state of defense or safety. Guard against
mistakes, or against temptations.
GUARD, 71. [Fr. garde; Sp. guarda; It.
guardia ; Eng. ward.]
1. Defense ; preservation or security against
injury, loss or attack.
2. That which secures against attack or in-
jury ; that which defends. Modesty is the
guard of innocence.
3. A man or body of men occupied in pre-
serving a person or place from attack or
injury ; he or tliey whose business is to
defend, or to prevent attack or surprise.
Kings have their guards to secure their
persons. .loseph was sold to Potiphar, a
captain of Pharaoh's giiarrf.
4. A state of caution or vigilance; or the act
of observing what passes in order to pre-
vent surprise or attack ; care ; attention ;
watch ; heed. Be on your guard. Te-
merity puts a man oft' his guard.
5. That which secures against objections or
censure ; caution of expression.
They have expressed themselves with as few
guards and restrictions as 1
oury.
(j. Part of the hilt of a sword, which
tects the hand.
7. In/eyicing, a posture of defense.
8. An ornamental lace, hem or border,
Obs.
Advanced guard, } in military affairs, a body
Van guard, ^ of troops, either horse or
G U A
G U E
GUI
foot, that march before an ariny or di
vision, to prevent surprise, or give notice
of danger.
Rear guard, a body of troops that inarch in
the rear of an army or division, for its pro-
tection.
Life guard, a body of select troops, whose
duty is to defend the person of a prince or
other officer.
GUARD'-BOAT, n. A boat appointed to
row the rounds among ships of war in a
harbor, to observe tliat their officers keep
a good look-out. Mar. Did.
GUARD'-CHAMBER, >i. A guard-room
1 Kings xiv.
GUARD'-ROOM, n. A room for the accom-
modation of guards.
GUARD'-SIIIP, n. A vessel of war ap-
pointed to superintend the marine affairs
in a liarbor or river, and to receive im-
))r('ssed seamen.
GUARD' ABLE, a. That may be protected.
Sir A. Williams.
GUARD'AGE,n. Wardship. Ohs. Shak.
GUARD'ANT, a. Acting as guardian. Obs.
2. In heraldry, ha\ing tlie face turned toward
the spectator.
(;i'ARD'ED,;)p. Defended; protected; ac-
( iinipanied by a guard ; provided willi
means of defense.
->. u. Cniilious; circumspect. lie was guard-
)(/ in liis expressions.
If. Framed or uttered witli caution ; as, his
oxiirfssions were guarded.
r;rAIiI) i:i)LV, arfr. With circumspection.
(il'.Mtl) I'.DNESS, n. Caution; circum-
(.I'AUD KU, n. One that guards.
(ilARD'FUL, a. Wary; cautions.
<il ARD'IAN,n. [tiom guard ; Fr.gardien;
:^\i. guardian.] «
1. A warden ; one who guards, preserves or
.'ecures ; one to whom any thing is com-
njittod for preservation from injury.
2. In tan; one wlio is cliosen or appointed to
take charge of the estate and education of
■an orphan who is a minor, or of any per-
il n who is not of sufficient discretion to
ilianage his own concerns. Tlie jierson
committed to the care of a guardian is
called his ward.
Guardian of the spiritualities, the person to
whom the spiritual jurisdiction of a dio-
rf EC is entrusted, during the vacancy of
tlie see.
Gt'ARD'IAN,a. Protecting; performing the
office of a protector; as aguardian angel;
f^uardinn care.
OrAJlD'IANESS, n. A female guardian.
[.Vol in use] Beaum.
GUARD'IANSHIP, n. The office of a guard-
ian ; protection ; care ; watch.
OUARD'ING, ppr. Defending ; protecting;
siciM-ing ; attending for protection.
if'ARD'LESS, a. Without a guard or de-
fense, trailer.
GUARD'SHIP, n. Care; protection. [Lit-
tle used.] Sicift.
GUA'RlSll, J). «. [Yi: guerir.] To heal. Ohs.
Spenser.
GU'AVA, n. An American tree, and its fruit,
of the genus Psidiuni. It is of two spe
cies, or rather varieties, the pyriferum or
white guava, and pomiferum or red gua
1 va. The fruit or berry is large and oval
shaped, hke a pomegranate, which it re
sembles in its astringent quahly. The
pulp is of an agreeable flavor, and of this
fruit is made a delicious jelly. Encyc.
GU'BERNATE, v. t. [L. gubemo.] To gov-
ern. \JVot used.]
GUBERNA'TION, n. [L. guhemaiio. See
Govern.]
Government; rule; direction. [Little used.]'
Watts.
GU'BERN.\TIVE, a. Governing.
Chaucer.
GUBERNATORIAL, a. [L. gubemalor.]
Pertaining to government, or to a gov-
ernor.
GUD'GEON, n. gud'jin. [Vr. goujon.] A
small fish of the genus Cyprinus, a fish
easily caught, and hence,
2. A person easily cheated or ensnared.
SwiJI.
3. A bait; allurement; something to be
caught to a man's disadvantage. Shak.
|4. An iron pin on which a wheel turns.
Sea-gudgeon, the black goby or rock fish.
IgUELF, } The Guelfs, so called from
GUELPH, I ' ' the name of a family, com-
posed a faction formerly in Italy, oppo-
sed to the Gibelines. J. Adams.
GUERDON, n. ger'don. [Fr. from the same
root as reward. Norm, regarde.]
\ reward ; requital ; recompense ; in a good
or bad sense. Obs. Spenser. Milton.
GUER'DON, V. t. To reward. Ohs.
B. Jonson.
GUER'DONLESS, a. Unrecompeuscd. Obs.
Chaucer.
GUESS, V. I. ges. [D. gissen ; Sw. gissa ; Ir.
geasam; Dan. gietter. It coincides with
cast, like the L. conjicio ; for in Danish,
gietter is to guess, and giet-huus is a casting-
house or foundery, gyder, to pour out.
Hence we see that this is the G. giessen,
to pour, cast or found, Eng. to gush. In
Russ. gadayu is to guess, and kidayu, to
to divin
or guess,
Class Gs. No. 31. See also Class Gd,
The sense is to cast, that is, to throw to-
gether circumstances, or to cast forward in
mind.]
1. To conjecture; to form an opinion with-
out certain principles or means of knowl-
edge ; to judge at random, either of a
present unknown fact, or of a future fact.
First, if thou canst, tlie harder reason guess.
Fopc.\
2. To judge or form an opinion from some
reasons that render a thing probable, but
fall short of sufficient evidence. From
slight circumstances or occasional expres-l
sions, we guess an author's meaning. |
3. To hit upon by accident; Locke.
GUESS, V. i. To conjecture ; to judge atl
random. We do not know which road to'
take, but we must guess at it. j
GUESS, n. Conjecture ; judgment without
any certain evidence or grounds. \
A poet must confess
His aits like physic, but a happy guess. [
Dryden.\
GUESS'ED, pp. Conjectured ; divined. |
GUESS'ER, n. One who guesses; a con-^
jecturer ; one who judges or gives anj
opinion without certain means of know-i
ing. Pope.'
GUESS'ING, ;)pr. Conjecturing; judging
without certain evidence, or grounds of
opinion.
GUESS'INGLY, adv. By way of conject-
Shak.
GUEST, n. gest. [Sax. gest ; G. D. gast;
Dan. giest; Sw. glist ; \\' . gicest, agoing
out, a mi7,an inn, ajodging ; also, to visit,
to be a guest ; gtves, a going ; Russ. gost,
a guest. This is the Latin visito, Eng.
visit, with the Celtic prefix. See Oweii's
Welsh Dictionary.]
A stranger ; one who comes from a dis-
tance, and takes lodgings at a place,
either for a night or for a longer time.
Sidney.
2. A visitor; a stranger or friend, entertain-
ed in the house or at the table of another,
whether by invitation or otherwise.
The wedding was furnished widi guests.
Matt. xxii.
GUEST-CHAMBER, n. An apartment
appropriated to the entertauiinent of
guests. Mark xiv.
GUEST'-RITE, n. Office due to a guest.
Ch<ipman.
GUEST-ROPE, I „ A rope to tow with,
GUESS-ROPE, i "• or to make fast a boat.
Mar. Diet.
GUEST'WISE, adv. In the maimer of a
GUGGLE. [See Gurgle.]
GUHR, 71. A loose, earthy deposit from
water, ibund in the cavities or clefts of
rocks, mostly white, but sometimes red or
yellow, from a mixture of clay or ocher.
JVicholson. Cleaveland.
GUIDABLE, a. That may be guided or
governed by counsel. Sprat.
GUIDAtiE, n. [See Guide.] The reward
given to a guide for ser^'ices. [lAttle
used.]
GUIDANCE, >!. [See Guide.] The act of
guiding; direction; government; a lead-
ing. Submit to the guidance of age and
wisdom.
GUIDE, V. t. gide. [Fr. guider ; h. guidare ;
Sp. guiar, to guide ; guia, a guide, and in
seamen's language, a guy ; Port. id. Sec
Class Gd. No. 17. 53.]
1. To lead or direct in a way ; to conduct
in a course or path ; as, to guide an ene-
my or a traveler, who is not acquainted
with the road or course.
The meek will he guide iji judgment. P«.
XXV.
2. To direct ; to order.
He will guide his affairs with discretion. Ps.
cxii.
3. To influence ; to give direction to. Men
ai-e gjtided by their interest, or supposed
interest.
4. To instruct and direct. Let parents
guide their children to virtue, dignity and
happiness.
5. To direct ; to irgulale and manage ; to
superintend.
I will that the younger women marry, bear
children, and guide the house. 1 Tim. v.
GUIDE, n. [Fr. guide ; It. guida ; Sp.
gtda.]
1. A person who leads or directs another in
his way or course ; a conductor. The army
followed the guide. The traveler may be
deceived by his guide.
2. One who directs another in his conduct
or course of life.
G U I
GUI
Ps.l GUII/r, 'I. gilt. [Sax. gylt, a crime, and a
debt, connected with gyldan, to pay ; or it
is from the root of D. and G. schuld, Dan.
skyld, a debt, fault, guilt. See Shall,
Should. If the word is from gildaii, gyl-
GUID^D, pp. Led; conducted; directed in | dan, to pay, it denotes a debt contracted
the way; instructed and directed. i by an offense, a fine, and thence came
GUIDELESS, a. Destitute of a guide ; p the present signification.]
wanting a du-ector. lh-yden.\i. Criminality; that state of a moral agent
He will be our guide, even unto dealli.
xlviii. , • , , I I
3. A director ; a regulator ; that which leads
or conducts. Experience is one of our!
best guides.
,t<r>
GUlDEPOST, 7!. A ]JOst at the forks of a
road, for directing travelers the way.
GUIDER, n. A guide ; one who guides or
directs. South.
GUIDING, ppr. Leading; conducting; di-
recting ; supcriiitendiug.
GUIDON, 71. [Fr.] The flag or standard of a
troop of cavah-y ; or the standard-bearer.
iMiiier. Encyc.
GUILD, 71. gad. [Sax. geld, gield, gild or
gyld ; D. gild ; G. ^Ide ; so called, it is
said, fvom geldan, gildan, to Y>ay, because
each member of the society was to pay
something towards the charge and sup
port of the company.]
In England, a society, fraternity or cornpa
ny, associated for some purpose, particu
larly for carrying on commerce. The
merchant-guilds of our ancestors, answer
to our modern corporations. They were
licensed by the king, and governed by
laws and orders of their own. Hence the
name Guild-hall, the great court of judi-
cature in London. Cowel. Encyc
GUILD'ABLE, a. Liable to a tax.
Spehnaii
GUILDER, 71. [See Gilder.]
GUILE, 71. g-t7e. [Qu. Old French guille or
gille. It may be the Celtic form of Eng,
wile. See Ethiopic, Cast. col. 53.3.]
Craft; cunning; artifice; duplicity; deceit
usually in a bad sense.
We may, with more successful hope, resolve
To wage by force or ^uile eternal war.
Milton.
Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom
guile. John i.
GUILE, V. t. To disguise craftily. Obs.
Spense
GUILEFUL, a. Cunning ; crafty ; artful ;
wily ; deceitful ; insidious ; as a guileful
person.
2. Treacherous ; deceitful. Sliak.
3. Intended to deceive ; as guileful words.
GUILEFULLY, adv. Artfully; insidiously
treacherously. Milton.
GUILEFyLNESS,7t. Deceit ; secret treach-
ery. SheriDood.
GUILELESS, a. Free from guile or de-
ceit ; artless ; frank ; sincere ; honest.
GUILELESSNESS, 7i. Simplicity; free-
dom from guile.
GUILER, 71. One who betrays into dan
ger by insidious arts. [JVo< used.]
Spenser
GUIL'LEMOT, ii. [from the Welsh givil
awg, whirling about.]
A waterfowl of the genus Colymbus, and
order of ansers. It is found in the north
ern parts of Europe, Asia and America.
GUIL'LOTIN, 71. [Fr. from the name of
the inventor.]
An engine or machine for beheading pre
sons at a stroke.
GUIL'LOTIN, I'. I. To behead with the]
guillotin.
GUILLS, 7!. A plnnt, the corn marigold
which results from his actual commission
of a Clime or offense, knowing it to be a
crime, or violation of law. To constitute
guilt there must be a moral agent enjoy
ing freedom of will, and capable of distin
guishing between right and wrong, and
a wilful or intentional violation of
known law, or rule of duty. The guih of
a person exists, as soon as the crime is
committed; but to evince it to others, il
must be proved by confession, or convic-
tion in due course of law. Guilt renders
a person a debtor to the law, as it binds
him to pay a penalty in money or suffer
ing. Guilt therefore implies both crintii
nality and liableness to punishment. Guilt
may proceed either from a positive act or
breach of law, or from voluntary neglect
of known duty
2. Criminality in a political or civil view ;
exposure to forfeiture or other penalty
A ship incurs guilt by the violation of a
blockade. A'eiit.
3. Crime ; offense. Shak.
GUILT'ILY, adv. In a manner to incur
guilt ; not innocently. Shak.
GUILT'INESS, n. The state of being
guilty; wickedness; criiViinality ; guilt.
Sidney.
GUILT'LESS, a. Free from guilt, crime or
offense ; innocent.
The Lord will not hold him guiltless, that ta-
keth his name in vain. Ex. xx.
2. Not produced by the slaughter of animals.
But from the mountain's grassy side
A guiltless feast I bring. Goldsmith.
GUILT'LESSLY, adv. Without guilt ; in-
nocently.
GUILT'LESSNESS, 71. Innocence ; free-
dom from guilt or crime. Sidney.
GUILT'-SICK, a. Diseased in consequence
of guilt. Beaum.
GUILT'Y, a. gilt'y. [Sax. gyltig.] Crimi
nal ; having knowingly committed a
crime or offense, or having violated a law
by an overt act or by neglect, and by that
act or neglect, being liable to punishment ;
not innocent. It may be followed by of;
as, to be guilty o/ theft or arson.
Nor he, nor you, were guilty of the strife.
Bryden.
2. Wicked ; corrujit ; sinfiil ; as a guilty
world.
3. Conscious. B. Jonson.
In Scripture, to be guilty of death, is to have
committed a crime which deserves death,
JIatt. xxvi.
To be guilty of the body and blood of Christ, is
to be chargeable with the crime of cru-
cifying Christ afresh, and offering indig
nity to his person and righteousness, rep-
resented by the symbols of tlie Lord's
supper. 1 Cor. xi,
GUIN'EA, 71. gin'ny. [from Guinea, in Af-
rica, which abounds with gold.]
iFormerly, a gold coin of Great Britain of
G U L
the value of twenty one shilhngs sterling,
equal to 84.66§, American money.
GUINEA-DROPPER, n. One who cheats
by dropping guineas.
GUIN'EA-HEN, n. The JVumidameleagris,
a fowl of the gallinaceous order, a nati\ i
of Africa. It is larger than the commi
domestic hen, and has a kind of color,
fleshy horn on each side of the head. 1 -
color is a dark gray, beautifully variega
ted with small white spots. Ericyc.
GUINEA-PEPPER, ti. A plant, the Cap-
sicum. The pods of some species are
used for pickles.
GUIN'EA-PIG, n. In zoology, a quadruped
of the genus Cavia or cavy, found in Bra-
zil. It is about seven inches in length, and
of a white color, variegated with spots oi'
orange and black.
GUIN'IAD, I „ [W. gwen, gxvyn, white. j
GAVIN'IAD, \ The whiting, a fish of the
salmon or trout kind, found in many lakes
in Europe and in Hudson's bay. It is
gregarious, and may be taken in vast num-
bers at a draught. Encyc. Pennanl.
GUISE, 71. gize. [Fr. guise ; It. guisa, \\a} ,
manner ; Arm. guts, giz ; W. gwez, order,
shape ; Sax. wise ; Eng. wise ; G. weisc ;
D. guizen, to beguile.]
1. External appearance; dress; garb. He-
appeared in the g-uwe of a shepherd. The
hypocrite wears the g-uisc of religion.
That love which is without dissimulation.
/. .M. Mason.
2. Manner ; mien ; cast of behavior.
By their guise
Just men they seem. Milton.
3. Custom; mode; practice.
The swain replied, it never was our guise.
To slight the poor, or aught humane despise.
Pope.
GUISER, 71. gi'zer. A person in disguise ;
a mummer who goes about at christmas.
£71^.
GUIT'AR, 71. gil'ar. [Fr. guitare ; It. chi-
tarra ; Sp. Port, guitarra ; L. cithara ; Gr.
xiOopa.]
A stringed instrument of music; in England
and the United States, used chiefly by la-
dies, but in Spain and Italy, much used by
men. Encyc.
GU'LA, I An ogee or wavy member in a
GO'LA, S "' building ;the cymatium.
GU'LAUND, n. An aquatic fowl of a size
between a duck and a goose ; the breast
and belly white ; tlic head mallard green.
It inhabits Iceland. Pennant.
GULCH, 71. [D. g-uHg-, greedy.] A glutton;
swallowing or devouring. [JVot used.]
GULCH, V. t. To swallow greedily. [.Yot
used.]
GULES, 71. [Fr. gueules, red.] In heraldry,
a term denoting red, intended perhaps to
represent courage, animation or hardi-
hood. Encyc.
GULF, 71. [Fr. golfe ; It. Sp. Port, golfo;
Arm. golf ; T>.golf; Gr. xoxrto;.]
1. A recess in the ocean from the general
line of the shore into the land, or a tract
of water extending from the ocean or a
sea into the land, between two points or
promontories ; a large bay ; as the gulf of
Mexico ; the gulf of Venice ; the guff of
Finland. A gulf and a bay differ only in
extent. We apply bay to a large or small
GUM
recess of the sea, as tlic bay of Biscay,
the bay of Fuudy ; but gulf is applied
only to a large extent of water.
2. An abyss ; a deep place in the earth ; as
the^u//of Avenius. Spenser.
3. A whirlpool ; an ahsorbinjj eddy.
Spenser.
4. Any thing insatiable. Shnk.
GULF-INDENT'ED, a. Indented witli
gulfs or bays. J. Barlow.
GULF'Y, a. Full of whirlpools or gulfs ;
as a gtdfy sea.
GULL, V. t. [D. kuUen ; Old Fr. guUler ;
allied probably to cully.]
To deceive ; to cheat ; to mislead by decep-
tion ; to trick ; to defraud.
The vulgar, gull'd into rebellion, anncd.
Dry den.
GULL, n. A cheating or cheat ; trick ; fraud.
Shak.
2. One easily cheated. Sliak.
GULL, n. [W. guylan; Corn, gullan.] A
marine fowl of the genus Larus, and order
of anseis. There are several species.
E7icyc.
GULL'€ATCHER, n. A cheat; a man
who cheats or entraps .silly people. Shak.
GIILL'ED, pp. Cheated; deceived; de-
fr.uiiled.
GFLL'ER, n. A cheat; an impostor.
GIJLL'ERY, n. Cheat. [JVot used.]
Burton.
(iUL'LET, n. [Fr. goulet, goulot, from L.
gula ; Russ. chailo ; Sans, gola.]
Tlie passage in the neck of an animal by
which food and liquor are taken into the
stomach ; the esophagus.
'?.. A stream or lake. [.SToI used.] Heylin.
(iUL'LIED, ;>;). Having a hollow worn by
water.
GULL'ISH, n. Foolish; stupid. [JVot in
GULL'ISHNESS, n. Foolishness; stupidi-
ty. [JVot in use.]
tiUL'LY, n. A channel or hollow worn in
the earth by a current of water.
Mew England. Mitford. Hawkesworth.
(iUL'LY, t'. (. To wear a hollow channel ir
the earth. America
tiTL'LY, V. i. To run with noise. [.Vol ii:
use.]
Gl'L'LYHOLE, n. An opening where gut
tors empty their contents into the subter-
raneous sewer. Johnson.
t;l LOS'ITY, n. [L.gidosus, from gula, the
gullet.]
luecdiness; voracity; excessive appetite for
lood. [Littlt used.] Brown
(iULr, I'. <. [D. gulpen; Dan. gulper.] To
.^wallow eagerly, or in large draughts.
Gay
Tu gulp up, to throw up from the throat or
stomach ; to disgorge.
GULP, n. A swallow, or as much as is swal
lowed at once.
:.'. .\ disgorging.
(JULPH. [See Gulf.]
GUM, n. [Sax. goma. See the next word.^
The hard fleshy substance of the jaws
which invests the teeth.
<iUi\I, n. [Sax. gojna ; L.gummi; B.gom;
S]). goma ; It. gomma ; Fr. gomme ; Gr.
xo^^i ; Russ. kamed. See Class Gm. No.
V2. 29.]
T'le mucilage of vegetables ; a concrete
inice which exsudes through the bark
Vol. I.
GUM
trees, and thickens on the surface. It is
soluble in water, to which it gives a vis-
cous and adhesive quality. It is insoluble
in alcohol, and coagulates in weak acids.
When dry, it is transparent and brittle, not
easily pulverized, and of an insipid or
slightly saccharine taste. Gum differs
from resin in several particulars, but cus-
tom has inaccurately given the name of
gum to several resins and gum-resins, as
gmn-copal, gum-sandarach, gum-ammo-
niac, and others. The true gums are gum-
arabic, gum-senegal, gum-tragacanth, and
the gums of the peach, plum and cherry
trees, &c. JVicholson. Hooper.
Gum-elastic, or Elastic-gum, [caoutchouc^ is
a singular substance, obtained from a tree
in America by incision. It is a white juice,
which, when dry, becomes very tough and
clastic, and is used for bottles, surgical
instruments, &c. JS/icholson. Encyc.
GUM, V. f. To smear with gum.
2. To unite by a viscous substance.
GUM-AR'AJ5I€, ra. A gum which flows from
the acacia, in Arabia, Egypt, &.c.
GUM'-BOIL, n. A boil on the gum.
GUM'LA€, n. The produce of an insect
which deposits its eggs on the branches of
a tree called bihar, in Assam, a country
bordering on Tibet, and elsewhere in Asia.
[See Lac] JVicholson.
GUM-RESIN, n. [Sec Resin.] A mixed
juice of plants, consisting of resin and an
extractive matter, which has been taken
for a gummy substance. The gum-resins
do not flow naturally from plants, but are
mostly extracted by incision, in the fortn
of white, yellow or red emulsive fluids,
which dry and consolidate. The most
iinportant species are olibanum, galbanum,
scammony, gamboge, euphorbium, assa-
fetida, aloes, myrrh, and gum-ammoniac.
Fourcroy.
Gum-resins are natural combinations of gmn
and resin. fVebster's Manual.
Gum-resins are composed of a gum or ex-
tractive matter, and a body intermediate
between oil and resin ; to which last they
owe their pecuUar properties. Thomson.
GUM-SEN'EGAL, Ji. A gum resembling
gum-arabic, brought from the country of
the river Senegal in Africa.
GUM-TRAG'A€ANTH, n. The gum of a
thorny shrub of that name, in Crete, Asia
and Greece. Encyc.
GUM'MINESS, n. The state or quality of
being gummy ; viscousness.
2. Accumulation of gum. Wiseman.
GUMMOS'ITY, ji. The nature of gum
gumminess ; a viscous or adhesive quality
Floyer.
GUM'MOUS, a. Of the nature or quality of|
gum ; viscous ; adhesive. Woodward.
GUM'MY, a. Consistingof gum ; of the na-
ture of gum ; viscous ; adhesive.
Raleigh
2. Productive of gum. Milton
3. Covered with gum or viscous matter.
Dryden
GUMP, 11. [Dan. and Sw. gump, the rump
of a fowl.] A foolish person ; a dolt.
[Vulgar.]
GUMP^TION, n. [Snx.gymene, care ; gyman,
to observe or be careful.] Care ; skill :
understanding. [ Vulgar.]
96
G U R
GUN, n. [W. gwn ; Corn, g-im.] An instru-
ment consisting of a barrel or tube of iron
or other metal fixed in a stock, from
which balls, shot or other deadly weap-
ons are discharged by the explosion of
gunpowder. The larger species of guns
are called cannon ; and the smaller spe-
cies are called muskets, carbines, fowling
pieces, &c. But one species of fire-arms,
the pistol, is never called a gun.
GUN, V. i. To shoot. Obs.
GUN-BARREL, n. The band or tube of
a gun.
GUN'BOAT, >i. A boat or small vessel fit-
ted to cai rv a gim or two at the bow.
Mar. Did.
GUN'-GARRIAgE, n. A wheel carriage foi
bearing and moving cannon.
GUN'NEL. [See Guntvale.]
GUN'NER, n. One skilled in the use of guns ;
a caniionier ; an officer appointed to man-
age artillery. The gunner of a ship of
war has the charge of the ammunition
and artillery, and his duty is to keep the
latter in good order, and to teach the men
the exercise of the guns. Mar. Diet.
GUN'NERY, n. The act of charging, direct-
ing and firing guns, as cannon, mortars
and the like. Gunnery is founded on the
science of projectiles.
GUN'NING, n. The act of hunting or shoot-
ing game with a gun.
GUN'POWDER, ji. a composition of saU-
peter, sulphur and charcoal, mixed and
reduced to a fine powder, then granula-
ted and dried. It is used in artillery, in
shooting game, in blasting rocks, &c.
GUN'ROOM, n. In ships, an apartment
on the after end of the lower gun-deck,
occupied by the gunner, or by the lieu-
tenants as a mess-room. Mar. Diet.
GUN'SHOT, n. The distance of the point-
blank range of a cannon-shot.
Mar. Did.
GUN'SHOT, a. Made by the shot of a gun ;
as a gunshot wound.
GUN'SMITH, ?i. A maker of small arms ;
one whose occupation is to make or re-
pair small fire-arms.
GUN'SMITHERY, n. The business of a
gunsmith ; the art of making small fire-
arms.
GUN'STICK, n. A rammer, or ramrod ; a
stick or rod to ram down the charge of a
musket, &c.
GUN'STOCK, n. The stock or wood in
ich the barrel of a gun is fixed.
GUN'STONE, n. A stone used for the shot
of cannon. Before the invention of iron
balls, stones were used for shot. Shak.
GUN'TACKLE, n. The tackle used on
board of ships to run the guns out of the
ports, and to secure them at sea. The
tackles are pulleys affixed to the sides of
a gun-carriage. Mar. Did.
GUNWALE, > ^ The upper edge of a ship's
GUN'NEL, ^ 'side; the uppermost wale
of a ship, or that piece of timber which
reaches on either side from the quarter-
deck to the fore-castle, being the upper-
most bend which finishes the upper works
of the hull. Mar. Did. Encyc.
GURGE, ji. [L.gurges; It. gorgo.] A whirl-
pool. [Liitle used.] Millon.
GUROE, V. t. To swallow. [Mt in use.]
G IT S
GUR viilON', n. The coarser part of meal
seDaii'.tecl Ironi the bran. [JVot used.]
' Holhushtd.
GURGLE, v.i. [It.gorgogUareJromgorga,
the throat, gurgo, a whirlpool, L. gurges.
See Gm-gk, which seems to be of the same
family, or the same word differently ap-
plied.]
To run as liquor with a purling noise ; to
run or flow in a broken, irregular, noisy
current, as water from a bottle, or a small
stream on a stony bottom.
Pure surgUnsr rills the lonely desert trace.
* Voung.
GURG'LING, ppr. Running or flowing with
a purling sound. _ '
GUR'HOFITE, n. A subvariety of magne
sian carbonate of lime, found near Gurhof,
in Lower Austria. It is snow white, and
has a dull, slightly conchoidal, or even
fracture. Ckavdand.
GUR'NARD, n. [Ir. guimead ; W. pen-ger-
nyti. Corn, pengarn, horn-head or iron-
head-1 „ , m • 1
A fish of several species, of the genus Trigla
The head is loricated with rough hnes, oi
bony plates, and there are seven rays n-
the membranes of the gills.
Encyc. Did. JVat. Hist.
GUR'RAH, n. A kind of plain, coarse India
muslin. „ . -^
GUSH, V. i. [Ir. gaisim ; G. giessen ; or 1).
gudsen or kissen. See Guess.)
1. To issue vrith violence and rapidity, as i
fluid ; to rush forth as a fluid from con
finement; as, blood gushes from a vein it
venesection.
Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters
gushed out. Ps. Ixxviii.
2. To flow copiously. Tears gushed from
her eyes. . .
GUSH, V. t. To emit in copious effusion.
The o-apin" wound gushed out a crimson flood.
[Unuslal.f IXy^"'-
GUSH, 11. A sudden and violent issue of a
fluid from an inclosed place ; an emission
of liquor in a large quantity and with force ;
the fluid thus emitted. Harvey.
GUSH'ING, ppr. Rushing forth with vio-
lence, as a fluid ; flowing copiously ; as
GUT
A choice of it may be made according to the
gust and manner of the ancients. Dryden
[Taste is now generally used.]
GUST, V. t. To taste ; to have a relish
[LiUle used.]
GIJST, n. [Dan. gust ; Ir. gaoth, wind ; VV
cwyth, a puff, a blast of wind ; allied per
haps to gusft.] , . ,
1. A sudden squall ; a violent blast of wind ;
a sudden rushing or driving of the wind,
of short duration. Dryden. Addison.
3. A sudden, violent burst of passion.
GYM
GUT'TER, II. i. To be hollowed or chan-
neled. Jferf. Repos.
2. To run or sweat as a candle. [Loco/!]
GUT'TLE, V. t. To swallow. [Abf used.]
VEstrange.
GUT'TLE, V. i. To swallow greedily. [Kol
used.]
GUT'TULOUS
GUST'ABLE, a. That may be tasted ; tas-
table. Harvey.
2. Pleasant to the taste. [Littk used.]
Derham.
GUSTA'TION, n. The act of tasting. [Ul
tk used.] Brown
GUST'FUL, a. Tasteful; well-tasted; that
relishes. „ ,. ,
GUST'FULNESS, n. Relish ; pleasantness
to the taste. Barrow.
GUST'LESS, a. Tasteless. Brown
GUST'O, n. [It. and Sp. See Gust.] Rel-
ish ; that which excites pleasant sensa
tions in the palate or tongue. Derham
2. Intellectual taste. [Liltkused.] Dryden.
GUST'Y, a. Subject to sudden blasts of
ind ; stormy ; tempestuous.
Once upon a raw and gusty day,
The troubled Tyber chafing with his shores
lit-
[from L. guttula,
tie drop.]
In the form of a small drop, or of small drops.
ILittk used.] Brown.
GUT'TURAL, a. [Fr. gulturd, from L.
guttur, the throat.]
Pertaining to the throat ; formed in the
throat ; as a guttural letter or sound ; a
gushing waters.
2. "Emitting copiously ; as g-nsfaiig- ev'
Pope.
brack
GUS'SET, n. [Fr.-gousset, a folr
et, a s-ussei, as if from gousse, a cod, husk
or shell. But in W. cwysed is a gore or
gusset, from cwys, a furrow.]
\ small piece of cloth inserted in a garment,
for the purpose of strengthening or en-
larging some part.
<;UST, n. [L. gustus, It. Sp. gusto, Fr
gout, taste -, L. gusto, G. kosten, W. pvae-
thu, to taste ; Gr. ysv", a contracted word,
for it has ytixJis, taste; W. cwaeth, id.]
I. Taste; tasting, or the sense of tasting
More generally, the pleasure of tasting
relish. 3^"""""
•i. Sensual enjoyment.
Where love is duty on the female side,
On theirs, mere sensual gust, and sought with
surly pride. Ihyden.
3. Pleasure; amusement; gratification.
4, Turn of fancy ; intellectual taste.
Tillotson.
GUT, n. [G.kultel; Ch. xSmpkutla.] The
intestinal canal of an animal ; a jiipe or
tube extending, with many circumvolu
tions, from the pylorus to the vent. Tliis
pipe is composed of three coats, and is at-
tached to the body by a membrane call-
ed the mesentery. This canal is of differ-
ent sizes in difffjrent parts, and takes dif-
ferent names. The thin and small parts
are called the duodenum, the ilium, and
the jejunum ; the large and thick parts
are called the caecum, the colon, and the
rectum. By this pipe, the undigested and
unabsorbed parts of food are conveyed
from the stomach and discharged. This
word in the plural is applied to the whole
mass formed by its natural convolutions
in the abdomen.
2. The stomach ; the receptacle of food
I [Low.] Dryden
3. Gluttony; love of gormandizing. [Low.]
Hakewill.
GUT, V. t. To take out the bowels ; to evis-
cerate.
2. To plunder of contents. Dryden.
Guttaserena, in jncrficine, amaurosis; blind-
ness occasioned by a diseased retina.
GUT'TED, pp. Deprived of the bowels
eviscerated; deprived of contents.
GUT'TER, n. [Fr. gouttkre, from goutte, a
drop ; Sp. Port, gota, a drop ; Sp. gofera,
a g-uf(er ; from L. guHa, a drop. A gutter
is a dropper, that which catches drops.]
1. A channel for water ; a hollow piece of
timber, or a pipe, for catching and con-l
veying off the water which drops from the
eaves of a building.
2. A channel or passase for water ; a hol-
low in the earth for conveying water ;i
and, in popular usage, a channel worn in
the earth by a current of water.
GUT'TER, V. t. To cut or form into small
hollows. Shak. Dryden.
guttural voice.
fUT'TURAL, n. A letter pronounced in
the throat ; as the Gr. x-
GUT'TURALLY, adv. lu a guttural man-
ner ; in the throat.
GUT'TURALNESS, n. The quality of be-
ing guttural.
GUT'TURINE, a. Pertaining to the throat.
[JVot in use.] Ray-
GUT'TY, a. [from L. gutta, a drop.] In
heraldry, charged or sprinkled with drops.
Encyc.
GUT'WORT, n. A plant.
GVt, n. gi. [Sp. Port, guia, from guiar, to
guide. See Guide.]
In mai-ine affairs, a rope used to keep a heavy
body steady while hoisting or lowering ;
also, a tackle to confine a boom forwards,
when a vessel is going large, and to pre-
vent the sail from gybing. Guy is also a
large slack rope, extending from the head
of the main-mast to that of the fore-mast,
to sustain a tackle for loading or unload-
ing. Mar. Did.
GUZ'ZLE, V. i. [probably allied to Artn.
gouzoucq, the throat. In Italian, gozzo is
the crop of a bird.]
To swallow liquor greedily ; to drink much ;
to drink frequently.
Well seasoned bowls the gossip's spirits raise.
Who, while she guzzles, chats the Doctor's
praise. Roscommmi.
GUZ'ZLE, V. t. To swallow much or often ;
to swallow with immoderate gust.
— Still guzzling must of wine. Dryden.
GUZ'ZLE, II. An insatiable thing or per-
Marsion.
GUZ'ZLER, 71. One wlio guzzles ; an im-
moderate drinker.
(iYBE, n. A sneer. [See Gihe.]
(iYBE, V. t. In seamen's language, to shift a
boom-sail from one side of a vessel to the
other. Jl^"'"- Diet.
(iY'BING, ppr. Shifting a boom-sail from
one side of a vessel to the other.
GYE, ti.<. To guide. Obs. Chaucer.
GYMNA'SIUM, n. [Gr. yv/tvaaiov, from
yvi-ivoi, naked.]
In Greece, a place where athletic exercises
were performed. Hence, a place of exer-
cise ; a school. Ash.
(iYMNAS'Tle, a. [L. gymnasticus ; Gr.
yvfimsixoi, from yviira^u, to exercise, from
yi',u>'os, naked ; the ancients being naked
in their exercises.]
Pertaining to athletic exercises of the body,
intended for health, defense or diversion,
as running, leaping, wrestling, throwing
the discus, the javelin or the hoop, playing
with balls, &c. The modern gymnastic
H
exercises are intended chiefly for the pres-
ervation and promotion of heaUh.
6YMNAS'TIC, n. Athletic exercise.
6YMNAS'TICALLY, adv. In a gymnastic
manner ; athletically. Brotcn
(SYMNAS'TIeS, n. The gymnastic art ; the
art of performing athletic exercises.
(iYM'Nie, a. [Gr-yv/Miixoi ; L.gymnicus.
1. Pertaining to athletic exercises of the
body.
2. Performing athletic exercises. Milton.
GYM'NIC, 71. Athletic exercise. Burton,
(iYM'NOSOPHIST, n. [Gr. yt-^fo;, naked,
and ao^i;r;i, a philosopher.]
A philoso|)her of India, so called from his
going with bare feet, or with little cloth
ing. The Gyinnosophists in India lived ii
the woods and on mountains, subsisting on
wild productions of the earth. They nev
er drank wine nor married. Some of them
traveled about, and practiced physic. They
believed the immortality and transmigra-
tion of the souh They placed the chief
happiness of man in a contempt of the
goods of fortune, and of the pleasures of
sense. Encyc.
GYM'NOSOPHY, n. [supra.] The doc-
trines of the Gymnosophists. Good.
tiYM'NOSPERM, n. [Gr. yv.uvos, naked,
H A B
and ffrtfp/io, seed.] In botany, a plant that
hears naked seeds.
(iYMNOSPERM'OUS, a. [supra.] Having
naked seeds, or seeds not inclosed in a cap-
sule or other vessel.
GYN, V. I. To begin. Obs.
(iYNAN'DER, n. [Gr. yvvrj, a female, and
owjjp, a male.]
In botany, a plant whose stamens are insert-
ed in the pistil.
CiYNAN'DRIAN, a. Having stamens in-
serted in the pistil.
GYN'AR€HY, n. [Gr. yvrij, woman, and
a^iX'T), rule.] Government by a female.
Chealerjidd.
(iYP'SEOUS, a. [See Gypsum.] Ofthe na-
ture of gypsum ; partaking of the qualities
of gypsum.
GYP'SUM,n. [L. from Gr. yv+05 ; Ch. 0'£5U
and 03J to overspread with plaster ; Ar.
5 o
^A«.x:=. gypsum.]
Plaster stone ; sulphate of lime ; a mineral
not unfrequenlly found in crystals, often
in amorphous masses. There are several
subspecies and varieties ; as the foliated,
compact, earthy, granular, snowy and
branchy. Cleaveland.
H A B
Gypsum is of great use in agriculture and
the arts. As a manure, it is invaluable.
OYplvi^' f «• [See G,>ey.]
GY'RAL, a. [See Gyre.] Whirling ; moving
in a circular form.
(iYRA'TION, n. [L. gyratio. See Gyre.]
A turning or whirling round ; a circular
motion. JS/ewton.
(iYRE, n. [L. gyrus ; Gr. yipoj. Class Gr.]
A circular motion, or a circle described
by a moving body; a turn.
Quick and more quick he spins in giddy
gyres. Dryden.
(iY'RED, a. Falhng in rings. Shak.
GYR'FAL€ON,n. [¥r. gerfaull. This is said
to be in Latin hierofalco, from Gr. ttpoj,
sacred, and falco, and so named from the
veneration of the Egyptians for hawks.
Cuvier.] A species of Falco, or hawk.
gYR'OMANCY, n. [Gr. yvpof, a circuit, and
fMvtna, divination.]
A kind of divination performed by walking
round in a circle or ring. Cyc.
(iYVE, n. lyf.gevyn ; Ir. geibhcal, or geib-
ion ; from holding or making fast. See
Gavel.] Gyves are fetters or shackles for
the legs.
Gyves and the mill had tamed thee. Milton.
GYVE, V. t. To fetter ; to shackle ; to
chain. Shak.
H.
H, is the eighth letter of the English Al-
phabet. It is properly the representative
of the Chaldee, Syriac and Hebrew n,
which is the eighth letter in those alji"
bets. Its form is the same as the Greek
H ete. It is not strictly a vowel, nor an
articulation ; but the mark of a stronger
breathing, than that which precedes the
utterance of any other letter. It is pro-
nounced with an expiration of breath,
which, preceding a vowel, is perceptible
by the ear at a considerable distance.!
Thus, harm and arm, hear and ear, heatl
and eat, are distinguished at almost anyi
distance at which the voice can be heard.]
H is a letter sui generis, but as useful in
forming and distinguishing words as any
other.
In our mother tongue, the Anglo-Sax-
on, and other Teutonic dialects, h some-
times represents the L. c, and the Gr. x
as in horn, L. cornu, Gr. ;cfpa{ ; hide, G,
haut, Sw. hud, D. huid, Dan. hud, L. cm-
til ; Sax. hlinian, L. clino, Gr. xY.wu, tc
lean ; L. celo, to conceal, Sax. helan. G
hehlen, Dan. heeler. In Latin, h sometimes
represents the Greek x \ as in halo, Gr.
XiOMu ; hio, zao. In the modern European
languages, it represents other guttural let-
in English, h is sometimes mute, as in
honor, honest ; also when united with g,
as in right, fight, brought. In which, ivhat,
irho, whom, and some other words in which
it follows w, it is pronounced before it,
hunch, hwat, &c. As a numeral in Latin,
H denotes 200, and with a dash over it H
200,000.
As an abbreviation in Latin, II stands
for homo, hceres, hora, &c.
HA, an exclamation, denoting surprise, joy
or grief With the first or long sound oi
a, it is used as a question, and is equiva-
lent to " What do you say?" When re-
peated, ha, ha, it is an expression of laugh-
ter, or sometimes it is equivalent to "Well !
it is so."
HAAK, ?i. A fish. AimwoHh.
Habeas Corpus, [L. have the body.] A writ
for delivering a person from false impris-
onment, or for removing a person from
one court to another, &c. Cowel.
HAP.'ERDASHER, n. [perhaps from G.
habe, D. have, goods, and G. tauschen, to
barter, to truck. If not, I can give no ac-
count of its origin.]
A seller of small wares ; a word little used or
not at all in the U. Slates.
HAB'ERDASHERY, n. The goods and
wares sold by a haberdasher.
HAB'ERDINE, n. A dried salt cod.
Ainsworth.
HAB'ERgEON, n. [Fr. haubergeon; Norm.
hauberiom ; Arm. hobregon. It has been
written also haberge, hauberk, &c. G. hals-,
bcrge ; hals, the neck, and hergen, to save
or defend.]
A coat of mail or armor to defend the neck
and breast. It was formed of little iron
rings united, and descended from the neck
to the middle of the bodj-.
Encyc. Ex. xxviii.
HAB'ILE, a. Fit ; proper. [JVol in use.]
Spenser.
HABIL'IMENT, n. [Fr. habillement, from
habillcr, to clothe, from L. habeo, to have.]
A garment ; clothing ; usually in the plural,
habilitneyits, denoting garments, clothing or
dress in general.
HABIL'ITATE, v. t. [Fr. habiliter.] To
qualify. [JVot used.] Bacon.
HABILiTA'TION, n. Qualification, [mt
use.] Bacon.
HABILITY. [See Ability.]
HAB'IT, n. [Fr. haUt ; Sp. haUto ; It.abito ;
L. habitus, from habeo, to have, to hold.
See Have.]
\. Garb ; dress ; clothes or garments in gen-
eral.
The scenes are old, the habits are the same,
\Ve wore last year. Dryden.
There are among; the statues, several of Ve-
nus, in different habits. Addison.
a. A coat worn by ladies over other gar-
ment.".
3. State of any thing, implying some contin-
uance or permanence ; temperament or
particular state of a body, formed by na-
tvne or induced by extraneous circum-
stances ; as a costive or lax habit of body ;
a sanguine habit.
4. A disposition or condition ofthe raind or
body acquired by custom or a frequent
H A B
H A C
H A F
repetition of the same act. Habit is that
which is hehi or retained, the effect of cus-
tom or frequent repetition. Hence we
speak of good habits and bad habits. Fre-
quent drinking of spirits leads to a. habit of
intemperance. We should endeavor to
correct evil habits by a change of practice.
A great point in the education of children,
is to prevent the formation of bad habits.
Habit of plants, the general form or appeai--
ance, or the conformity of plants of the
same kind in structure and growth.
Martyn.
tIAB'IT, V. t. To dress ; to clothe ; to ar-
ray.
They habited themselves like rural deities.
Drydeii.
[lAB'IT, V. t. To dwell ; to inhabit. 66s.
Chancer.
HAB'ITABLE, a. [Fr. from L. habitabilis,
from habito, to dwell.]
That may be inhabited or dwelt in ; capable
of sustaining human beings ; as the habit-
able world. Some climates are scarcely
habitable.
HAB'ITABLENESS, n. Capacity of being
inhabited. More. Say.
IIAB'ITABLY, adv. In such a manner as
to be habitable. Forsyth.
HAB'ITANCE, n. Dwelling; abode; resi-
dence. [JVot now used.] Spenser.
IIAB'ITANCY, )(. Legal settlement or in-
habitancy. [See Inhabitancy.] Belknap.
HAB'ITANT, n. [Fr. from L. habitans.]
An inhabitant ; a dweller ; a resident ; one
who has a permanent abode in a place.
Milton. Pope.
IIAB'ITAT, n. Habitation. Fleming.
HABITA'TION, n. [L. habitatio,fi-om habi-
to, to dwell, from habeo, to hold, or as we
say in English, to keep.]
J. Act of inhabiting ; state of dwelling.
Denhavi.
9. Place of abode ; a settled dweUing ; a
mansion ; a house or other place in which
man or any animal dwells.
The stars may be the habitations of numer-
ous races of beings.
The Lord blesseth the habitation of the just.
Prov. iii.
HAB'ITATOR, n. [L.] A dweller ; an in-
habitant. [JVot used.] Brown.
HAB'ITED, o. Clothed; dressed. He was
habited like a shepherd.
2. Accustomed. [JVot usual.]
HABIT'UAL, a. [Fr. habituel, from habit.]
Formed or acquired by habit, frequent
use or custom.
Art is properly an habitual knowledge of eer-
taia rules and maxims. South.
2. Customary ; according to habit ; as the
habitual practice of sin ; the habitual exer-
cise of holy affections.
It is the distinguishing mark of habitual piety
to be grateful for the most common blessings.
Buckminster.
3. Formed by repeated impressions; render-
ed permanent by continued causes ; as an
habitual color of the skin. S. S. Smith.
IIABIT'UALLY, adv. By habit; customa-
rily ; by frequent practice or use ; as ha-
bitually profane ; habitually kind and be-
nevolent.
HABIT'UATE, v. t. [Fr. habituer, from
habit.]
1. To accustom ; to make familiar by fre-
quent use or practice. Men may habituate
themselves to the taste of oil or tobacco.
They habituate themselves to vice. Let us
habituate ourselves and our children to the
exercise of charity.
2. To settle as an inhabitant in a place.
Temple.
HABIT'UATE, a. Inveterate by custom.
Hammond.
2. Formed by habit. Temple.
HABIT'UATED, pp. Accustomed; made
familiar by use.
HABIT'UA'TING,pj3r. Accustoming; ma-
king easy and familiar by practice.
HAB'ITUDE, n. [Fr. from L. habitudo, from
habitus.]
1. Relation ; respect ; state with regard to
something else. [Little used.]
Hale. South.
2. Frequent intercourse ; familiarity. [JVot
usual.]
To write well, one must have frequent hab-
itudes with the best company. Dryden.
3. Customary manner or mode of life; repe-
tition of the same acts; as the habitudes of
fowls or insects. Goldsmith.
4. Custom ; habit. Dryden. Prior.
HAB'NAB, adv. [hap ne hap, let it happen
or not.]
At random ; by chance ; without order or
rule. Hudibras.
HACK, v.t. [Sax. /wctff/i ; D.hakken; G.
hackcn ; Dan. hakker; Sw. hacka ; Fr.
hacher, from which we have hash and
hatchet, and from the same root, hatchel ;
Arm. haicha ; W. haciaw, to hack ; hag, a
gash ; and haggle is of the same family, as
are hew and hoe. Class Cg.]
1. To cut irregularly and into small pieces ;
to notch ; to mangle by repeated strokes
of a cutting instrument.
2. To speak with stops or catches ; to speak
with hesitation. Shak.
HACK, «. Anotcli; a cut. Shak.
HACK, n. A horse kept for hire ; a horse
much used in draught, or in hard service ;
any thing exposed to hire, or used in com-
mon, [from hackney.]
2. A coacli or other carriage kept for hire,
[from hackney.]
3. Hesitating or faltering speech. More.
4. A rack for feeding cattle. [Local.]
HACK, a. Hired. Wakefield.
HACK, V. i. To be exposed or offered to
common use forhire; to turn prostitute.
Hanmer.
2. To make an effort to raise phlegm. [See
Hawk.]
HACK'ED,^/). Chopped; mangled.
HACK'ING, ppr. Chopping into small pie-
ces ; mangling; mauling.
HACK'LE, V. t. [G. hecheln ; D. hekelen.
This is a dialectical variation of hatchel,
hetchel.]
1. To comb flax or hemp ; to separate the
coarse part of these substances from the
fine, by drawing them through the teeth
of a hatchel.
2. To tear asunder. Burke.
HACK'LE, n. A hatchel. The latter ivord
is used in the U. States.
2. Raw silk; any flimsy substance unspun.
Johnson. Walton.
3. A fly for angling, dressed with feathers or
silk. Todd.
HACK'LY, a. [from hack.] Rough ; bro-
ken as if hacked.
In mineralogy, having fine, short, and shaix*
points on the surface ; as a hackly frac-
ture. Cleaveland.
HACK'MATACK, Ji. The popular name of
the red larch, the Pinus microcarpa.
HACK'NEY, n. [Fr. haqimiee, a faciag
horse ; Sp. hacanea, a nag somewhat lar-
ger than a pony ; haca, a pony ; Port.
hacanea or acanea, a choice pad, or am-
bling nag ; It. chinea.]
1. A pad ; a nag ; a pony. Chaucer.
2. A horse kept for hire; a horse much
used.
3. A coach or other carriage kept for hire,
and often exposed in the streets of cities.
The word is sometimes contracted to hack.
4. Any thing much used or used in com-
mon; a hireling; a prostitute.
HACK'NEY, a. Let out for hire ; devoted
! to common use ; as a AacAnei/-coach.
|2. Prostitute ; vicious for hire.
I Roscommon.
i3. Much used ; common ; trite ; as a hack-
ney author or remark.
HACK'NEY, V. t. To use much ; to prac
j tice in one thing ; to make trite.
i2. To carry in a hackney-coach. Cowper.
WACK'NEY-eoACH. [See Hackney.]
HACKNEY-€OACHMAN, n. A man who
drives a hackney-coach.
HACK'NEYED,;);). Used much or in com-
mon. ,
2. Practiced ; accustomed.
He is long hackneyed in the ways of men.
Shak.
HACK'NEYING, ;)pr. Using much; accus-
toming.
HACK'NEYMAN, n. A man who lets
horses and carriages for hire. Barret.
HACK'STER, n. A bully ; a rufiian or as-
sassin. Obs. Bp. Hall
HAC'QUETON, n. [Fr. hoqueton.] A stuffed
jacket formerly worn under armor, some-
times made of lether. [JVot used.]
Spenser.
HAD, pret. and pp. of have ; contracted from
Sax. hmfd, that is, haved ; as, I had ; I have
had. In the phrase, " I had better go," it
is supposed that had is used for ivoidd ;
" I'd better go." The sense of the phrase
is, " it would be better for me to go."
HAD'DER, n. [G. heide.] Heath. ' [JVot in
use. See Heath.]
HAD'DOCK, n. [Ir. codog. The first sylla-
ble seems to be cod or gadus, and the last,
the termination, as in bullock.]
A fish of the genus Gadus or cod, and order
of Jugulars. It has a long body, the up-
per part of a dusky brown color, and the
belly of a silvery hue ; the lateral hne is
black. This fish breeds in immense num-
bers in the northern seas, and constitutes
a considerable article of food. Encyc.
HADE, n. Among miners, the steep descent
of a shaft; also, the descent of a hill.
Drayton.
In milling, the inchnation or deviation from
the vertical of a mineral vein. Cyc.
H'AFT, 71. [Sax. hcefi, a haft, and haijlan, to
seize ; G. hejl ; D. hejl ; Dan. hefte ; from
the root of have, or of L. capio, W. hafiaw,
to snatch.]
A handle ; that part of an instrument or ves-
sel which is taken into the hand, and by
whicli it is held and used. It is used
HAG
chiefly for the part of a sword or dagger
by which it is held ; the hilt.
H AFT, V. I. To set in a haft ; to furnish
with a handle.
H'AFTER, n. [W. hajiaw, to catch.] A
caviller ; a wrangler. [Mil in use.]
Barrel.
HAG, n. [In Sax. hdgesse is a witch, fury, or
goblin, answering to the Hecate of mythol-
ogy. In W. hagyr, ugly, is from lutg, a
gash, from the root othack. In Russ. ega
is a foolish old woman, a sorceress. See
Hagard.]
1. An ugly old woman ; as an old hag of
threescore. Dryden.
9. A witch ; a sorceress ; an enchantress.
3. A fury ; a she-monster. Crashaw.
4. A cartilaginous fish, the Gastrobranchus,
which enters other fishes and devours
them. It is about five or six inches long,
and resembles a small eel. It is allied to
the lamprey. Cijc.
5. Appearances of light and fire on horses
manes or men's hair, were formerly called
hags. Bh
HAG, V. t. To harass ; to torment. Butler.
2. To tire ; to weary with vexation.
HAG'ARD, o. [G. hager, lean ; W. hag,
gash ; hacciaw, to hack. See Hack.]
1. Literally, having a ragged look, as if hack-
ed or gashed. Hence, lean; meager;
rough ; having eyes sunk in their orbits ;
ugly.
2. Wild ; fierce ; intractable ; as a hagard
hawk.
HAG'ARD, n. [See Hag. This and the
other derivatives of Aag' ought to be written
with a single g.]
1. Any thing wild and intractable. Shak
2. A species of hawk. Jf'alton
3. A hag.
HAG'ARDLY, adv. In a hagard or ugly
manner; with deformity. Dryden.
HAG'BORN, n. Born of a hag or witch.
Shak.
IIAG'GARD, n. [Sax. haga, a little field,
and geard, a yard.] A stack-yard. Hotoell.
HAG'GESS, n. [from hack.] A mess of
meat, generally pork, chopped and inclo-
sed in a membrane. Johnson.
2. A sheep's head and pluck minced. Entick.
HAG'GLE, V. t. [W. hag, a gash or cut. It
is a diminutive from the root of hack.]
To cut into small pieces ; to notch or cut in
an unskillful manner; to make rough by
cutting ; to mangle ; as, a boy haggles u
stick of wood.
Suffolk first died, and York all haggled o'er.
Comes to hitii where in gore he lay insteep'd.
Shak.
HAG'GLE, V. i. To be difficult in bargain-
ing; to hesitate and cavil. [See Higgle.]
HAG'GLED, pp. Cut irregularly into notch-
es ; made rough by cutting ; mangled.
HAG'GLER, n. One who haggles.
2. One who cavils, hesitates and makes dif-
ficulty in bargaining.
HAG'GLING, ppr. Hacking ; mangling ;
caviling and hesitating in bargaining.
HAGIOG'RAPHAL, n. Pertaining to ha
giography, which see.
HAGIOG'RAPHER, n. [See the next
word.] A writer of holy or sacred books.
HAGIOG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. ayioj, holy, and
ypo^ii;, a writing.]
H A I
Sacred writings. The Jews divide the books
of the Scri[)tures into three parts; the
Law, which is contained in the five first
books of the Old Testament ; the Prophets,
01- Nevim ; and the Cetuvim, or writings,
by way of eminence. The latter class is
called by the Greeks Hagiographa, com-
prehending the books of Psalms, Prov-
erbs, Job, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Ruth,
Esther, Chronicles, Canticles, Lamenta-
tions, and Ecclesiastes.
HAG'ISH, a. Of the nature of a hag ; de-
formed ; ugly ; horrid. Shak.
HAG'-RIDDEN, a. Afllicted with the night-
mar. Cheyne.
HAG'SIIIP, n. The state or title of a hag or
witch. Middleton.
HAGUEBUT. [See .Jrquebuse.]
HAH, an exclamation expressing surprise
or eftbrt.
HAIL, n. [Sax. ha^gel or hagel ; G. D. Dan.
and Sw. hagel ; so called from its rough,
broken form, from the root of hack,
haggle.]
Masses ot ice or frozen vapor, falling from
the clouds in showers or storms. These
masses consist of little spherules united,
but not all of the same consistence ; some
being as hard and solid as perfect ice ;
others soft, like frozen snow. Hailstones
assume various figures ; some are round,
others angular, others pyramidical, others
flat, and sometimes they are stellated with
six radii, like crystals of snow. Encyc.
HAIL, V. i. To pour down masses of ice or
frozen vapors.
HAIL, V. t. To pour. Shak.
HAIL, a. [Sax. hal, whole, sound; ha:l,
Jiealth ; G. heil, D. Dan. heel, Sw. hel, Gr.
<rv%oi, whole. See Heal.]
Sound ; whole ; healthy ; not impaired by
disease ; as a hail body ; hail corn. [In
this sense, it is usually written hale.]
HAIL, an exclamation, or rather a verb in
the imperative mode, being the adjective
hail, used as a verb. Hail, be well ; be in
health ; health to you ; a term of salutation,
ecpiivalent to L. salve, salvete.
Hail, hail, brave friend. Shak.
MAIL, n. A wish of health ; a salutation.
This word is sometimes used as a noun ;
as, the angel hail bestowed. Milton.
HAIL, V. t. [from the same root as call, L.
calo, Gr. xaxta. See Call and Heal.]
To call ; to call to a person at a distance, to
arrest his attention. It is properly used in
any ease where the person accosted is dis-
tant, hut is appropriately used by seamen.
Hoa or hoi, the ship ahoay, is the usual
manner of hailing ; to which the answer
is holloa, or hollo. Then follow the usual
questions, whence came ye .' where are
you bound ? &c.
HA'ILED, pp. Called to from a distance ;
accosted.
HA'ILING, ppr. Saluting ; calling to fr
a distance.
2. Pouring down hail.
HA'ILSHOT, n. Small shot which scatter
like hailstones. [jVot used.] Hayward.
HA'ILSTONE, ti. A single mass of ice fall-
ing from a cloud. Dryden.
HA'ILY, a. Consisting of hail ; as haily
showers. Pope.
HA'INOUS, a. [Fr. haimux, from haine, ha-
tred. Qu. Gr. oivo;.]
II A I
Properly, hateful ; odious. Hence, great,
enormous, aggravated ; as a hainous sin or
crime. MUford.
IIA'INOUSLY, adv. Hatefully; abomina-
blv : enormously.
HA'INOUSNESS, n. Odiousness ; enormi-
ty ; as the hainousness of theft or robbery,
or of any crime.
HAIR, n. [Sax. har; G. haar ; D. ^jV ;
Sw. /iSr ; Dan. hoar.]
1. A small filament issuing from the skin of
an animal, and from a bulbous root. Each
filament contains a tube or hollow with-
in, occupied by a pulp or pith, which is
intended for its nutrition, and extends only
to that part which is in a state of growth.
Cyc.
When hair means a single filament, it
has a plural, hairs.
2. The collection or mass of filaments grow-
ing from the skin of an animal, and form-
ing an integument or covering ; as the hair
of the head. Hair is the common cover-
ing of many beasts. When the filaments
are very fine and short, the collection of
them iscalledyi(r. Wool, also, is a kind of
hair. When hair signifies a collection of
these animal filaments, it has no plural.
3. Any thing very small or fine ; or a very
small distance ; the breadth of a hair. He
judges to a hair, that is, very exactly.
Dryden.
4. A trifling value. It is not worth a hair.
5. Course ; order ; grain ; the hair falling in
certain direction, [JVof used.]
You go against the hair of your profession.
Shak.
I). Long, straight and distinct filaments on
the sin-face of plants ; a species of down
or pubescence. Martyn.
HA'IRBELL, n. A plant, a species of hya-
cinth.
HA'IR-BRAINED. [See Hare-brained.]
HA'IR-BREADTH, n. [See Breadth.] The
diameter or breadth of a hair ; a very small
distance.
— Seven hundred chosen men left-handed ,
every one could sling stones to a hair-breadth .
Judges XX.
It is used as an adjective ; as a hair-
breadth escape. But in New England, it
is generally ftatr'i breadth.
HAIRCLOTH, n. Stuff" or cloth made of
hair, or in part with hair. In military af-
fairs, pieces of this cloth are used for cov-
ering the powder in wagons, or on batte-
ries, or for covering charged bombs, &c.
Encm.
HA'IRHUNG, a. Hanging by a hair.
Young.
HA'IRLACE, n. A fillet for tying up the
hair of the head. Swift.
HA'IRLESS, o. Destitute of hair; bald; as
hairless scalps. Shak.
HAIRINESS, n. [from hairy.] The state
of abounding or being covered with hair.
Johnson.
HA'IRPIN, n. A pin used in dressing the
hair.
HA'IRPOWDER, n. A fine powder of flour
for sprinkhng the hair of the head.
HA'IR-S.fiLT, n. [haar-salz, Werner.] A
mixture of the sulphates of magnesia
and iron ; its taste resembles that of alum.
HAL
HAL
HAL
IIA'IRWORM, n. A gcmis of vvorins
(vermes,) caUed Gordius; a filiform ani-
mal found in fresh water or in tlie earth.
There are several species. Eiicyc.
HAIRY, a. [from hair.] Overgrown with
hair ; covered with hair ; abounding with
hair.
Esau, my brotlier, is a hairy man. Gen.
xxvii .
2. Consisting of hair ; as AmV^ honors.
Dryden.
3. Resembling hair ; of the nature of hair.
HAKE, n. A kind of fish, the Gadus merlu
cius; called by some authors /uciui man'-
nus. It was formerly salted and dried.
Encyc
HAK'OT, n. A fish. Ainsivorth
HAL, in some names, signifies hall.
HAL'BERD, n. [Fr. hallebarde ; G. helle-
barde ; D. hellebaard ; It. alabarda oi
labarda ; Sp. Port, alabarda ; Russ. berdish,
a halberd or battle-ax, a pole-ax. The
etymology is not settled. It seems an-
ciently to have been a battle-ax fixed to a
long pole, and in Gothic hilde is battle.]
A military weapon, consisting of a pole or
shaft of wood, with a head armed with a
steel point, with a cross piece of steel, flat
and pointed at both ends, or with a cutting
edge at one end, and a bent point at the
other. It is carried by sergeants of foot
and dragoons. Encyc.
HALBERDIER, n. One who is armed
with a halberd. Bacon.
HAL'CYON, n. hal'shon. [L. halcyon, Gr.
oJ.xDu*, a king-fislier.]
The name anciently given to the king-fisher,
otherwise called alcedo; a bird that was
said to lay her eggs in nests, on rocks near
the sea, during tlie calm weather about
the winter solstice. Hence,
HAL'CYON, a. Calm; quiet; peaceful;
undisturbed ; happy. Halcyon days were
seven days before and as many after the
winter solstice, when the weather wa.s
calm. Hence by halcyon days are now
understood days of peace and tranquility.
HALCYO'NIAN, a. Halcyon ; calm.
Sheldon.
HALE, a. [Sax. hal, sound, whole. See
Hail and Heal]
Sound ; entire ; healthy ; robust ; not im-
paired ; as a hale body.
HALE, n. Welfare. [jVot in use.] Spenser.
HALE, V. t. [Sw. hala ; Fr. haler.] To pull
or draw with force ; to drag. This is now
more generally written and pronounced
haul, which see. It is always to be pro-
nounced hard.
H' ALF, n. h'af. plu. halves, pron. h^avz. [Sax.
half or healf; Goth, halbs ; D.half; Sw.
half; Dan. hah; G. halb.]
One equal part of a thing which is divided
into two parts, either in factor in contem-
plation ; a moiety ; as half a pound ; half]
a tract of hmd ; half an orange ; half
the miseries or pleasures of life. It is
applied to quantity, nuiuber, length, and
every thing susceptible of division. In
practice, 0/ is often or usually omitted after
half. We say, half a. pound ; half a mil
7ta{/" the number.
Half the misery oflife . Mddisc
H'ALF, V. t. To divide into halves. [See
Halre.]
H'ALF, adv. In part, or in an equal part or
degree.
Half \oth, and Aai/ consenting. Dryden.
In composition, half denotes an equal
part ; or indefinitely, a part, and hence,
imperfect.
H'ALFBLOOD, n. Relation between per-
sons born of the same father or of the
same mother, but not of both ; as a brother
or sister of the half blood. The word is
sometimes used as an adjective.
HALF-BLOODED, a. Mean ; degenerate.
[Little ttsed.] Shak.
2. Proceeding from a male and female, each
of full blood, but of different breeds; as a
half-blooded sheep.
IPALF-BRED, a. Mixed ; mongrel ; mean.
H'ALF-€AP, n. A cap not wholly put on.
Shak.
H'ALF-DEAD, a. Almost dead; nearly
exhausted.
H^ALFEN, a. Wanting half its due quali-
ties. [JVot used.] Spenser.
H'ALFER, n. One that possesses half only.
2. A male fallow deer gelded.
irALF-FACED, a. Showing only part of the
face. Shak.
HALF-HATCHED, a. Imperfectly batch-
ed ; as half-hatched eggs. Gay.
HALF-HEARD, a. Imperfectly heard; not
heard to the end.
And leave half-heard the melancholy tale.
Pope.
H'ALF-LEARNED, a. Imperfectly learned.
South.
H>ALF-LOST, a. Nearly lost. Milton.
HALF-MARK, ji. A coin ; a noble, or 6s. 8d.
sterling.
H'ALF-MOON, »i. The moon at the quar-
ters, when half its disk appears illumina-
ted.
2. Any thing in the shape of a half-moon.
In fortification, an outwork composed of|
two faces, forming a salient angle, whose!
gorge is in the form of a crescent or half-
moon. Encyc.\
HALF-PART, n. An equal part. Shak)
H ALF-PAY, n. Half the amount of wages'
or salary ; as, an officer retires on half-pay. I
H' ALF-PAY, a. Receiving or entitled toj
half-pay ; as a ?ia//'-;>(iii/ officer.
H'ALF-PENNY, n. ha'p'penny or ha'penny. 1
A copper coin of the value of half apen-|
ny ; also, the value of half a penny. It is;
used in the plural. I
He cheats (or half-pence . Dryden.\
[This coin is not current in America,
HALF-SPHERE, n. Hemisphere.
B. Jonson.
HALF-STARVED, o. Almost starved.
HALF-STRAINED, a. Half-bred ; imper-
fect. Dryden.
HALF-SWORD, n. Within half the length
of a sword ; close fight. Shak.
H^ALF-WAY, adv. In the middle ; at half
the distance. Granville.
HALF-WAY, a. Equally distant from the
extremes; as a half-way house.
H>ALF-WIT, n. A foolish person ; a dolt;
a blockhead. Dryden.
HALF-WITTED, a. Weak in intellect;
silly; foolish. Swift.
HAL'IBUT, n. A fish of the genus Pleuro-
nectes, and order of Thoracics. This fish
has a compressed body, one side resem-
bling the back, the other the belly ; and
both eyes on the same side of the head.
It grows to a great size ; some to the
weight of .300 or 400 pounds. It forms
an article of food, and some parts of the
body are fat, tender and delicious. This
fish swims on its side, and hence the
name of the genus. Encyc.
HAL'IDOM, n. [Sax. haligdome; holy and
dom.] Adjuration by what is holy. Obs.
Spenser.
HALING. [See Hauling.]
HALIT'UOUS, a. [L. halitus, breath.]
Like brealli ; vaporous. Obs. Boyle.
HALL, n. [Sax. heal; D. hal or zaal; G.
saal ; Sw. and Dan. sal; Fr. salle ; It. and
Sp. sala ; L. aida ; Gr. ovXij ; Sans, aala ;
Copt, aidi ; Tujk. awli. Qu. Heb. 'jriN, a
tent, Ar. ^£,\ to marry, and to begin
lioiisekeeping, or Heb. Ch. Syr. h3T\, a
palace. Qu. are these all of one family.
See Salt.]
1. In architecture, a large room at the en-
trance of a house or palace. In the hou-
ses of ministers of state, magistrates, &c.
it is the place where they give audience
and dispatch business. Encyc.
2. An edifice in which courts of justice are
held ; as Westminster Hall, which was
originally a royal palace, the kings of
England formerly holding their parlia-
ments and courts of judicature in their
own dwellings, as is still the practice in
Spain. Encyc.
3. A manor-house, in which courts were
formerly held. Addison.
H>ALF-PENNY, a. Of the price or value of :4. A college, or large edifice belonging to a
half a penny ; as a half-penny loaf. Shak}\ collegiate institution.
H'ALF-PENNY-WORTH, n. The value 5- A room for a corporation or public as-
of a half-penny. || sembly ; as a town-/inW ; Fanueil Hall in
irALF-PIKE, n. A small i)ike carried by!| Boston, &c.
officers. Tatler.'G- A collegiate body in the
2. A small pike used in boarding ships. j Oxford and Cambridge.
i,r ir>... ,T . T T r,T tt,t ■ .T [jjeb. D' ^hh>^ praise y
of
Mar. Did
H>ALF-PINT, JI. The half of a pint, or!|
fourth of a quart. Pope.l
H'ALF-READ, a. Superficially informed|
by reading. Dryden.
H>ALF-S€HOLAR, n. One imperfectly!
learned. Halts..
Half-seas over, a low expression denoting!
half drunk.
H>ALF-SIGHTED, a. Seeing imperfectly;:
having weak discernment. Bacon.
Prideav
HALLELUIAH,
lah or Jehovah, from 'i^T^, to jiraise, that
is, to throw, or raise the voice, to utter a
loud sound. Ar.
J>^
halla
ealla, to
appear; to begin to shine, as the new
moon; to exclaim ; to exult ; to sing; to
rejoice; to praise or worship God. Gr.
I'KAtv, a shout in battle. It coincides in
elements with howl, L. idulo.]
HAL
HAL
H A M
Praise ye Jehovah ; give praise to God ; a
word used in songs of praise, or a term of
rejoicing in solemn ascriptions of thanks-
giving to God. It is used as a noun, or as
an exclamation.
[This word is improperly written withj, in
conformity with the German and other
continental languages, in which J has the
sound of?/. But to pronounce the word
with the English sound of J destroys its
beauty. The like mistake of the sound ot
j in Jehovah, Jordan, Joseph, has perverted
the true pronunciation, which was Yeho-
vah, Yordan. Yoseph. This perversion must
now be submitted to, but in Halleluiah it
ought not to be tolerated.]
HAL'LIARD, n. [from hale, haul] A rope
or tackle for hoisting or lowering a sail.
Mar. Did.
HAL'LIER, n. A particular kind of net for
. catching birds. Encyc.
H^L'LOO, V. i. [This seems to belong to
the family of call ; Fr. haler.]
To cry out ; to exclaim with a loud voice ;
to call to by name, or by the word halloo.
Country folks hallooed and hooted after me.
Sidney.
H.J.L'LOO, V. t. To encourage with shouts.
Old Joliii hallooes his hounds again. Prior.
2. To chase with shouts. Skak.
3. To call or shout to. Shak.
[This verb is regular, and pronounced with
theaccent on the first syllable.]
■ ed as a
to invite attention.
HALLOO', an exclamation, used
call
H^L'LOOING, ppr. Crying out ; as a noun,
a loud outcry.
HAL'LOW, V. I. [Sax. haligan or halgian,
to consecrate, to sanctify, from halig or
halg, holy, from hal, sound, safe, whole ;
G. heiligen, from heilig, holy, heil, whole ;
heilen, to heal ; D. heiligen, from heilig,
holy, heil, safety, happiness; Dan. helli-
ger, from heilig, holy ; heel, whole, entire ;
Sw. helga, from helig, holy. See Holy.
It coincides in origin with hold, and L. cal-
ico, to be able.]
1. To make holy ; to consecrate ; to set
apart for holy or religious use. Ex. xxviii.
xxix. 1 Kings viii.
2. To devote to holy or religious exercises ;
to treat as sacred.
Hallow the sabbath day, to do no work there-
in. Jer. xvii.
.3. To reverence ; to honor as sacred.
Hallowed be thy name. Lord's Prayer.
HAL'LOWED, pp. Consecrated to a sacred
use, or to religious exercises ; treated as
sacred ; reverenced.
HAL'LOWING, ppr. Setting apart for sa-
cred purposes ; consecrating ; devoting to
religious exercises ; reverencina.
HAL'LOWMAS, n. [See Mass.] The feast
of All Souls. Shak.
HALLUCINA'TION, n. [L. hallucinatio,
from hallucinor, to blunder.]
1. Error ; blunder ; mistake. [Littie used.]
Jlddison.
2. In medicine, faidty sense [dysccslhesia,] or
erroneous imagination. Hallucinations of
the senses, arise from some defect in the
organs of sense, or from some unusual
circumstances attending the object, as
when it is seen by moonlight ; and they
are sometimes symptoms of general dis-
ease, as in fevers. Maniacal hallucinations
arise from some imaginary or mistaken
idea. Similar hallucinations occur in rev-
ery. Darwin. Parr.
HALM, n. haum. [Sax. Aeofoi ; L. culmus.]
Straw. [See Haum.]
HA'LO, n. [Ar. jLi, haulon. The verb
signifies to frighten, and to adorn with
necklaces.]
A circle appearing round the body of th(
sun, moon or stars, called also Corona, or
crown. Halos are sometimes white and
sometimes colored. Sometimes one only
appears, and sometimes several concentric
circles appear at the same time. Encyc,
IIALSE, n. [Sax. hals.] The neck or throat,
Obs. Chaucer.
HALSE, t>. i. hals. To embrace about the
neck ; to adjure ; to greet. Obs.
HAL'SENING, a. Sounding harshly in the
throat or tongue. Obs. Carew.
HALSER, 71. hawz'ei: [Sax. G. D. Dan.Sw.
hats, the neck ; and Qu. Sax. seel, a rope
or strap.]
A large roj)e of a size between the cable and
the tow-line. [See Hawser.]
HALT, V. i. [Sax. healt, halt, lame ; healtian,
to limp ; G. halt, a hold, stop, halt ; halt-
en, to hold ; Sw. halt, halta ; Dan. halt,
halter; from the root of hold.]
1. To stop in walking; to hold. In miliiary
affairs, the true sense is retained, to stoj
in a march. The .army halted at noon.
2. To limp ; that is, to stop with lameness
3. To hesitate ;-to stand in doubt whether to
proceed, or what to do.
How long halt ye between two opinions ? 1
Kings xviii.
4. To "fail; to falter; as m halting sonnc
Shak.
Halt, v. t. To stop ; to cause to cease r
clung ; a militan/ term. The general halted
his troops for refreshment. Washington.
ILVLT, a. [Sax. AmW.] Lame ; that is, hold-
ing or stopping in walking.
Bring hither the poor, the maimed, the hall,
and the blind. Luke xiv.
Halt, ji. a stopping; a stop in marching.
The troops made a halt at the bridge.
2. The act of limping.
HaLT'ER, n. One who halts or limps.
HALT'ER, n. [G. halter, a holder. See
Halt.]
\. A rope or strap and head-stall for leading
or confining a horse.
2. A rope for hanging malefactors.
3. A strong cord or string.
HaLT'ER, v. t. To put a halter on ; as to
halter a horse.
2. To catch and hold, or to bind with a rope
or cord.
HaLT'ING, ppr. Stopping; limping.
HALTINGLY, adv. With limping ; slowly.
H^ALVE, v.^t. h'av. [from half.] To divid
into two equal parts ; as, to halve ai
apple.
HALVED, a. In botany, hemispherical ;|
covering one side ; placed on one side.
H'ALVES, ?i. \>\u. of half. Two equal part;
of a thing. To cry halves, is to claim ai
equal share. To go halves, is to have ai
equal share.
HAM, Sax. ham, a house, is our modern
word home, G. heim. It is used in hamlet.
and in the names of places, as in Wall-ham,
\vood-house, xcalt, a wood, and_ ham, a
house, [not Wal-tham, as it is ofii:n
pronounced,] Bucking-ham, JVotling-ham,
Wrent-ham, Dur-ham, &c.
HAM, Ji. [Sax. ham.] The inner or hind
part of the knee; the inner angle of the
joint which unites the thigh and the leg of
an animal. Hence,
2. The thigh of a beast, particularly of a
hog, whether salted and cured or not.
But the word is more generally under-
stood to mean the thigh of a hog salted
and dried in smoke.
HAMADRYAD, n. [Gr. ofia, together, and
*pu«, a tree.] A wood nymph, feigned to
live and die with the tree to which it was
attached. Spectator.
HAM'ATE, a. [L. hamalus.] Hooked; en-
tangled. Berkley.
HAM'ATED, a. [L. hamalus, from hama, a
hook ; Celtic and Pers. cam, crooked.]
Hooked or set with hooks. Swift.
HAM'BLE, I', t. [Sax. hamelan.] To ham-
string. [JVot used.]
HAME, n. plu. hames. [G. kummet ; Russ.
choniul, a collar ; but it seems to be the
Scot, haims. In Sw. hhmma is to stop or
restrain.]
A kind of collar for a draught horse, consist-
ing of two bending pieces of wood or
bow.s, and these i)Iaced on curving pads or
stuffed lether, made to conform to the
shape of the neck.
HAM'ITE, n. The fossil remains of a cur-
ved shell. Ed. Encyc.
HAMLET, n. [Sax. ham, a house ; Fr. ha-
meau ; Arm. Iiamell or hamm. See Home.]
A small village; a little cluster of houses in
the country.
This word seems originally to have sig-
nified the seat of a freeholder, compre-
hending the mansion house and adjacent
buildings. It now denotes a small collec-
tion of liouses in the country, in distinc-
tion from a city, a large town or town-
ship.
The countrj' wasted and the hamlets burned.
Dry den .
HAM'LETED, a. Accustomed to a hamlet,
or to a country life. Fellham.
HAM'MER, n. [Sax. hamer ; D.hamer; G.
Dan. hammer ; aw. hammare ; probably, the
beater.]
An instrument for driving nails, beating
metals, end the like. It consists of an iron
head, fixed crosswise to a handle. Ham-
mers are of various sizes ; a large hammer
used by smiths is called a sledge.
HAM'MER, V. t. To beat with a hammer;
as, to hamner iron or steel.
2. To form or forge with a hammer; to
shape by beating.
3. To work in the mind ; to contrive by in-
tellectual labor ; usually with out ; as, to
hammer out a scheme.
HAM'MER, V. i. To work ; to be busy ; (n
labor in contrivance.
2. To be working or in agitation.
HAM'MERABLE, a. That may be shaped
by a hammer. Shenvood.
HAM'MER€LOTH, n. The cloth which
covers a coach-box, so called from the
old practice of carrying a hammer, nails,
&c. in a little pocket hid by this cloth.
HAMMERED, pp. Beaten with a bam
H A i\
HAM'MERER, n. One who works with i
hammer.
IIAM'MERHARD, n. Iron or steel harden
ed by liammering. Moxon.
IIAM'MERING, ppr. Beating with a ham
mer; working; contriving.
HAM'MER-MAN, n. One who beats or
works with a hammer.
IIAM'MER-WORT, n. An herb. Todd.
HAMMITE. [See Ammile.]
HAM'MOe, n. [Sp. hamaca ; Port, maca.]
A kind of hanging bed, suspended be-
tween trees or posts, or by hooks. It
consists of a piece of hempen cloth about
six feet long and three feet wide, gather-
ed at the ends and suspended by cords.
It forms a bed, or a receptacle for a bed,
on board of ships. Encyc. Mar. Did.
HAM'OUS, [L. hamus, a hook ; Celtic, cam,
crooked.]
Hooked ; having tlie end hooked or curved
a term of botany. Lee. Martyn
HAM'PER, n. [contracted from hanaper,
or from hand pannier.]
1. A large basket for conveying things to
market, &c.
2. Fetters, or some instrument that shackles.
W. Browne.
[This signification and that of the verb fol-
lowing indicate that this word is from
hanaper, and that the latter is from the
sense of interweaving twigs.]
HAM'PER, V. t. [See the Noun.] To shack-
le ; to entangle ; hence, to impede in mo-
tion or progress, or to render progress dif-
ficult.
A lion hampered in a net. L' Estrange
They hamper and entangle our souls, and
hinder their llight upwards. Tillolson
9. To ensnare ; to inveigle ; to catch with
allurements. Shak.
3. To tangle ; to render complicated.
Blackmore.
4. To perplex ; to embarrass.
Hampered by the laws. Bittle
HAM'PERED, pp. Shackled ; entangled ;j
ensnared ; perplexed.
HAM'PERING, ppr. Shackling; entan
gling ; peri>lexing.
HAM'STER, n. [G. hamster ; Rxxss. cho
miak.-\
A species of rat, the Mus cricelus, or Ger
man marmot. This rat is of the size of|
the water rat, but is of a browner color,
and its belly and legs of a dirty yellow.
It is remarkable for two bags, like those
of a baboon, ou each side of the jaw, un-
der the skin, in which it conveys grain,
peas and acorns to its winter residence.
Encyc. Goldsmith.
HAM'STRING, n. The tendons of the ham.
Wiseman.
HAM'STRING, i'. t. pret. and pp. /<o»«-
strung or hamstringed. To cut the ten-
dons of the ham, and thus to lame or dis-
able. Dryden.
HAN, for have, in the plural. Spenser.
HAN'APER, n. [Norm, hanap, a cup, a
hamper ; Sax. hnap, G. napf, D. nap, Fr.
hanap. Arm. hanaff. It. nappo, a bowl or
cup. These seem to be all the sanje
word, yet I see not how a cup and a bas-
ket should have the same name, unless
the vessel was originally made of bark,
and so tight as to hold lifiuors.]
HAN
The hanaper was used in early days by the
kings of England, for holding and carry-
ing with them their money, as they jour-
neyed from place to place. It was a kind
of basket, like the Jiscus, and hence came
to be considered as the king's treasury.
Hence, the clerk or warden of the hanaper,
is an officer who receives the fees due to
the king for seals of charters, patents,
commissions, and writs. There is also an
officer who is controller of the hanaper.
This word therefore answered to the mod-
ern exchequer. Spelman.
HANCE, HAUNCE, for enhance. Obs.
[See Enhance.]
HAN'CES, n. pin. [L. a7isa.] In architec-
ture, the ends of elliptical arches, which
are the arches of smaller circles than the
scheme or middle part of the arch.
Harris.
2. In a ship, falls of the fife-rails placed on
balusters on the poop and quarter-deck
down to the gangway. Harris.
HAND, n. [Sax. hand, hand; G. and D.
hand; Dan. haand ; Sw. hand. This
word may be connected in origin with
Sax. hentan, to follow, to take or seize,
Gr. jjaKSaru, L. hendo, in prehendo ; but
from its derivatives, handy, handsome, it
would appear to proceed from a root sig-
nifying to be strong, right, straight, which
would give the sense of fitness and of]
beauty. Chaucer has hende, hendy, civil,
courteous]
1. In man, the extremity of flie arm, consist-
ing of the palm and fingers, connected
with t)ie arm at the wrist ; the part with
which we hold and use any instrument.
2. In falconry, the foot of a hawk ; and in
the manege, the fore-foot of a horse.
3. A measure of four inches ; a palm ; ap-
plied chiefly to horses ; as a horse 14
hands high.
4. Side ; part ; right or left ; as on the one
hand or the other. This is admitted on
all hands, that is, on all sides, or by all
parties.
5. Act ; deed ; performance ; external ac-
tion ; that is, the effect for the cause, the
hand being the instrument of action.
Tliou sawcst the contradiction tehveen my
heart and hand. ^Mg Charles.
6. Power of performance; skiU.
A friend of mine has a very fine hand on the
iolin. Addison.
He had a mind to try his hand at a Spectator.
Jlddiso7i.
7. Power of making or producing.
An intelligent being coming out of the hands
of infinite perfection. Cheyne.
8. Manner of acting or performance ; as,
he changed his hand. Dryden.
9. Agency ; part in performing or execu-
ting. Punish every man who had a hand
in the mischief. We see the hand of God
in this event.
10. Conveyance ; agency in transmitting.
11. Possession ; power. The estate is in the
hands of tlie owner. The papers are in
my hands.
12. The cards held at a game ; hence, a
game.
13. That which performs the office of the
hand or of a finger in pointing ; as the
HAN
hand of a clock ; the hour hand, and the
minute hand.
14. A person ; an agent ; a man employed
in agency or service. Tlie mason employs
twenty hands.
15. Form of writing ; style of penmanship ;
as a good hand ; a bad hand; a fine
hand.
16. Agency ; service ; ministry. Ex. iv.
Lev. viii.
17. In Scripture, the hand of God, is his eter-
nal purpose and executive power. Acts
iv.
18. The providential bounty of God. Ps.
civ.
19. The power of God exerted in judgments
or mercies, in punishing or defending.
Judges ii. Ps. xxxii.
20. The spirit of God ; divine influence. 1
Kings xviii.
21. The favor of God, or his support. Neh.
ii. Luke i.
.it hand, near ; either present and within
reach, or not far distant.
Your husband is at hand, I hear his tnimpet.
Shak.
2. Near in time ; not distant.
The day of Christ is at hand. 2 Thess. ii.
By hand, with the hands, in distinction from
the instrumentality of tools, engines or
animals; as, to weed a garden by hand;
to lift, draw or carry by hand.
In hand, present payment ; in respect to the
receiver.
Receiving in hand one year's tribute.
XhoUes
2. In a state of execution. I have a great
work in hand.
At my hand, at his hand, SfC, denote from the
person or being.
On hand, in present possession ; as, he has
a sujiply of goods 07i hand.
2. Under one's care or management.
Jupiter had a farm on his hands.
L' Estrange
Off hand, without delay, hesitation or diffi-
culty ; immediately; dextrously; without
previous preparation.
Out of hand, ready payment ; with regard to
the payer.
Let not the wages of any man tarry witli
thee ; but give it him out of hand. Tobit.
To his hand, to my hand, &c., in readiness ;
already prepared ; ready to be received.
The work is made to his hands. Locke.
Under his hand, under her hand, &c., with the
proper writing or signature of the name.
This deed is executed under the hand and
seal of the owner.
Hand over head, negligently ; rashly ; with-
out seeing what one does. [Little used.]
Bacon.
Hand over hand, by passing the hands alter-
nately one before or above another, as to
cWmh hand overhand ; also, rapidly, as to
come up with a chase hand over hand;
used by seamen. Mar. Diet.
Hand to hand, in close union ; close fight.
Dryden.
But from hand to hand is from one per-
son to another.
Hand in hand, in union ; conjointly ; unit-
edly. ■ Suin.
HAN
To join hand in hand, is to unite efforts andl
act in concert.
Hand in hand, fit ; pat ; suitable. Shak.
Hand to mouth. To live from hand to mouth,
is to obtain food and other necessaries, as
want requires, without making previous
l.rovision, or having an abundant previ-
ous supply.
To bear in hand, to keep in expectation ; to
elude. [Mt used.] Shak.
To hear a hand, to hasten ; a seaman's
phrase.
To he hand and glove, to be intimate and fa-
miliar, as friends or associates.
To set the hand to, to engage in ; to under-
take.
That the Lord thy God may bless thee, in all
thou settest thine hand to. Deut. xxiii.
To take in hand, to attempt ; to undertake,
Luke i.
Also, to seize and deal with.
To have a hand in, to be concerned in ; tc
have a (lart or concern in doing ; to have
HAN
HAN
inn-
To put the last hand or finishing hand to, to
complete; to perfect; to make the last
roi rections, or give the final polish.
To change hands, to change sides ; to shift.
Butler.
Hand, in the sense of rate, price, terms, con-
ditions, as used by Bacon, Taylor, &c., is
obsolete; as, "to buy at a dear hand ;"
" accept the mystery, but at no hand wrest
it by pride or ignorance." So in the sense
of advantage, gain, superiority, as used by
Hayward ; and in that of competition,
content, as used by Shakspeare.
To get hand, to gain influence, is obsolete.
Jl heavy hand, severity or oppression.
A light hand, gentleness ; moderation.
A strict hand, severe discipline ; rigorous
government.
Hands off, a vulgar phrase for keep off, for-
bear.
To pour teater on the hands, in the phraseol-
ogy of the Scriptures, is to serve or minis-
ter to. 2 Kings iii.
To wash the hands, to profess innocence
Matt, xxvii.
To kiss lite hand, imports adoration. Jol
xxxi.
To lean on the hand, imports familiarity.
2 Kings V.
To strike hands, to make a contract, or to be
come surety for another's debt or good be
havior. Prov. xvii.
Putting the hand under the thigh, was an an
cient ceremony used in swearing.
To give the hand, is to make a covenant witl
one, or to unite with him in design
Kings X.
The stretching out of the hand, denotes an ex-
ertion of power. But,
The stretching out of the hand to God, im-
ports earnest prayer or solemn dedication
of one's self to him. Ps. Ixviii. and cxliii.
The lifting of the hand, was used in affirma-
tion and swearing, and in prayer imported
a solemn wishing of blessings from God.
Gen. xiv. Lev. xix.
To lift the hand against a superior, to rebel,
2 Sam. XX.
'To put forth the hand against one, to kill him,
1 Sam. xxiv.
To pxd one's hand to a neighbor's goods, tc
steal them. Ex. xxii.
Vol. I.
To lay hands on in anger, to assault or
or to smite. Ex. xxiv. Is. xi.
To lay the hand on the mouth, imports silence.
Job xl.
The laying on of hands, was also a ceremony
used in consecrating one to office. Num.
xxvii. 1 Tim. iv.
It was also used in blessing persons,
Mark x.
Hiding the hand in the bosom, denotes idle-
inactivity ; sluggishness. Prov. xix
The clapping of hands, denotes joy and re-
joicing. But in some instances, contempt
or derision, or joy at the calamities of oti
ers. Ps. xlvii. Ezek. xxv.
A station at the right hand is iionorable, and
denotes favor, approbation or honor. A
station on the left hand is less honorable.
Matt. XX.
God's standing at the right hand of men, im
ports his regard for them, and his readi
ness to defend and assist them. Ps. xvi.
Satan's standing at the right hand of men, im
ports his readiness to accuse them, or to
hinder or torment them. Zecli. iii
Clean hands, denotes innocence and a blame-
less and holy life. Ps. xxiv.
A slack hand, denotes idleness; carelessness
sloth. Prov. X.
The right hand, denotes power ; strength
Ex. XV.
HAND, v. t. To give or transmit with the
hand. Hand me a book.
2. To lead, guide and lift with the hand ; to
conduct. Locke.
3. To manage; as, I hand my oar. Prior.
4. To seize ; to lay hands on. [.Vo< used.]
Shak
5. In seamanship, to furl ; to wrap or roll a
sail close to the yard, stay or mast, and
fasten it with gaskets. Mar. Diet
To luind down, to transmit in succession, as
from father to son, or from predecessor to
successor. Fables are handed down from
age to age.
HAND'BALL, n. An ancient game w
ball. Brand.
HAND'BARROW, n. A barrow or vehicle
borne by the hands of men, and without
a wheel. Mortimer.
IIAND'BASKET, n. A small or portable
basket. Mortimer.
IIAND'BELL, n. A small bell rung by the
hand ; a table bell. Bacon.
HAND'BREADTII, n. A space equal to the
breadth of the hand ; a palm. Ex. xxv.
IIAND'€LOTH, n. A handkerchief.
HAND'CUFF, n. [^ax.handcopse.-] A man-
acle, consisting of iron rings for the wrists,
and a connecting chain to confine the
hands.
HAND'CUFF, v. t. To manacle ; to confine
the hands with handcufts.
HAND'€R'AFT, n. Work performed by the
hands ; usually written handicraft.
HAND'ED, ;>;>. Given or transmitted by the
hands; conducted; furled.
HAND' ED, a. With hands joined.
Milton.
2. In composition, as right-handed, most
dextrous or strong with the right hand ;
having the right hand most able and
HAND'ER, ?i. One who hands or
mits ; a conveyer in succession.
Left-handed, having the left hand most strong
and convenient for principal use.
97
Dryden.
HAND'F^AST, n. Hold ; custody ; power of
confining or keeping. Ohs. Shak.
HAND'FAST, a. Fast by contract; firm.
Obs.
HAND'F'AST, v. t. [Sax. handf(Bstan.] To
pleilge ; to betroth ; to hind ; to join sol-
emnly by the hand. Obs.
B. Jonson. Sancrofl.
HAND'F'ASTING, n. A kind of betrothing,
ge contract. Obs.
HAND'-FETTER, n. A fetter for the hand;
a manacle. Sherwood.
HAND'FUL, n. As much as the hand will
grasp or contain. Addison.
2. As much as the arms will embrace.
3. A palm ; four inches. Obs. Bacon.
4. A small quantity or number. A handful
of men. Clarendon.
5. As much as can be done ; full employ-
ment. Raleigh.
In America, the phrase is, he has his
hands full.
HAND'GALLOP, n. A slow and easy gal-
lop, in which the hand presses the bridle
to hinder increase of speed. Johnson.
HAND'GLWSS, n. In gardening, a glass
used for placing over, protecting and for-
warding various plants, in winter. Cyc.
UAND-GRENA'DE, n. A grenade to be
thrown hv the hand.
HAND'GUN, n. A gun to be used by the
hand. Camden.
HAND'ICR~AFT,n. [Sax. 7»an(/a-(r/J.] Man-
ual occupation ; work performed by the
hand. Addison.
2. A man who obtains his living by manual
labor ; one skilled in some mechanical art.
Dryden.
HANDICRAFTSMAN, n. A man skilled
employed in manual occupation ; a
lufacturer. Sicif).
HAND'ILY, adv. [See Handy.] With dex-
terity or skill ; dextrously ; adroitly.
i. With ease or convenience.
HAND'INESS, n. The ease of performance
derived from practice ; dexterity- ; adroit-
ness. Chesterfield.
HAND'IWORK, n. [for hand-work.] Work
of the hands; product of manual labor;
manufacture. Hooker.
2. Work performed by power and wisdom.
Ps. xix.
HAND'KERCHIEF, n. [hand and kerchief.
See Kerchief]
1. A piece of cloth, usually silk or linen, car-
ried about the person for the purpose of
cleaning the face or hands, as occasion re-
quires.
2. A piece of cloth to he worn about the
neck, and sometimes called a neckerchief.
HAND'LANGUAgE, n. The art of convers-
ing by the hands. [j\"ot in use.]
HAND'LE, v. t. [G. handeln, D. handelen,
Sw. handla, Dan. handler, to treat, to
trade, to negotiate. But in English it
has not the latter signification. The word
is formed from hand, as manage from L.
manus.]
To touch ; to feel with the hand ; to use
or hold with the hand.
The bodies we daily handle — hinder the ap-
proach of the part of our hands that press them.
^ Locke.
HAN
J'o luanage ; to use ; to wielil.
That fellow handles a bow like a crow-keeper.
Shak
:>. To make familiar by frequent touching.
The breeders in Flanders— Aa/Wie their colts
six mouths every year. Temple.
4. To treat ; to discourse on ; to discuss ; to
use or manage in writing or speaking.
Tlie autlior handled tlie subject with ad-
dress. Tiie speaker handled the argu-
ments to the best advantage.
5. To use ; to deal with ; to practice.
They that handle the law knew me not.
Jim-, ii.
G. To treat ; to use well or ill.
How wert thou handled ? Shak.
7. To manage ; to practice on ; to transact
with.
You shall see how I will handle her. Shak
IIAND'LE, n. [Sa.x. Qu. L. ansa, Norm
hanser.]
1. That part of a vessel or instrument which
is held in the hand when used, as the haft
of a sword, the bail of a kettle, &c.
2. That of which use is made ; the instru
nient of effecting a purpose. South.
HAND'LEAD, n. A lead for .sounding.
HAND'LED, pp. Touched ; treated ; man-
aged.
HAND'LESS, a. Witliout a hand. Shak
HAND'LING, ppr. Touching ; feeling
treating ; nianasing.
IIAND'M AID, " I A maid that waits at
HAND'MAIDEN, I "• hand ; a female ser-
vant or attendant. Scripture
IIAND'MILL, n. A mill moved by the hand
Dryden.
HAND'SAILS, n. Sails managed by the
hand. Temple.
HAND'SAW, n. A saw to be used with the
hand. Mortimer.
HAND'SeREVV, n. An engine for raising
heavy timbers or weights; a jack.
HAND'SEL, n. [Dan. handsel : Sax.hand-
sclen, from handsyllan, to deliver into the
hand. See Sale and SelV
1. The first act of using any thing ; the first
sale. Elynt.
2. An earnest ; money for the first sale
[Lillh used] Hooker
HAND'SEL, V. t. To use or do any thing
the first time. Dryden.
IIAND'SOME, a. [D. handzaam, soft, lim-
ber, tractable : hand and zaain, together.
Znam, or saam, we see in assemble. Tlie
sense of docility is taken from hand, as in
G. behandeln, D. behandelen, to handle, to
manage. Tlie Dutch sense of soft, lim-
ber, is probably from the sense of easily
managed or handled.]
1. Properly, dextrous ; ready ; convenient.
For a thief it is so handsome, as it may seem
it was tirst invented for him. Spenser
This sense is either from the original
meaning of hand, or from the use of the
hand, or rather of the right hand. In thii
sense the word is still used. We sa^' of
a well fought combat and victory, it is a
handsoine affair, an affair well performed,
done with dexterity or skill. [See Han-
dy-]
2. Moderately beautiful, as the person or
other thing ; well made ; having symme
try of parts; well formed. It exjiresses
less than beautiful or elegant ; as a hand-
.sri«ic woman or man ; she has a handsome
HAN
person or face. So we say, a handsome
house ; a handsome type.
3. Graceful in manner; marked with pro-
priety and ease ; as a handsome address.
4. Ample ; large ; as a handsome fortune.
5. Neat; correct; moderately elegant; as a
handsome style or composition.
C. Liberal; generous; as a handsome pres-
The applications of this word in popular Ian
guage are various and somewhat indefi
nite. In general, when applied to things
it imports that the form is agreeable to the
eye, or to just taste ; and when applied to
manner, it conveys the idea of suitable-
ness or propriety with grace.
IIAND'SOME, as a verb, to render neat or
beautiful, is not an authorized word.
Donne.
HANDSOMELY, adv. Dextrously; clev-
erly ; with skill. Spenser.
Gracefidly ; with propriety and ease.
3. Neatly; with due symmetry or propor-
tions ; as, a thing is handsomely made or
finished.
With a degree of beauty ; as a room
handsomely furnished or ornamented.
5. Amply ; generously ; liberally. She is
handsomely endowed.
HAND'SOMENESS, n. A moderate degree
of beauty or elegance ; as the handsome-
ness of the person or of an edifice.
2. Grace ; gracefulness ; ease and propriety
in manner.
HAND'SPIKE, n. A wooden bar, used with
the hand as a lever, for various purposes,
as in raising weights, heaving about a
windlass, &c.
HAND'ST'AFF, n. A javelin; phuhand
staves. Ezek. xxxix.
HAND'VISE, n. A vise used by hand, or
for small work. Moxon
HAND' WEAPON, n. Any weapon to be
ielded by the hand. Numb. xxxv.
HAND'WRITING, n. The cast or form of)
writing peculiar to each hand or person.
Shak
2. Any writing.
HAND'Y, a. [D. handig, behendig ; Dan
htendig ; from hand.]
Performed by the hand.
They came to handy blows. Obs.
Knolles
2. Dextrous; ready; adroit; skilled to use
the hands with ease in performance; ap
plied to persons. He is handy with the saw
or the plane. Each is handy in his way
Dryden
3. Ingenious ; performing with skill and
readiness.
4. Ready to the hand ; near. My books are
very handy.
Convenient ; suited to the use of the
hand.
6. Near; that may be used without difficulty
or going to a distance. We have a spring
or pasture that is handy.
HAND'YBLOW, n. A blow with the hand ;
an act of hostility. Harmar.
HAND'Y-D.\NDY,n. A play in which chil-
dren change hands and places. Shak.
HAND'YGRIPE, n. Seizure by the hand.
Hudibras
HAND'YSTROKE, n. A blow inflicted by
the hand. Beaum.
HAN
HANG, V. t. pret. and pp. hanged or hu7tg
[Sax. hangan ; Sw. hanga ; Dan. hcenger ;
G. D. hangen ; W. hongian, to hang ; hong.
a hanging or dangling ; hone, a shake, a
wagging ; honcatv, to shake, wag, staggei-,
to waver. The latter seems to be the
pritnary sense.]
1. To suspend; to fasten to some fixed ob-
ject above, in such a manner as to swing
or move ; as, to hang a thief. Pharaoh
hanged the chief baker. Hence,
2. To put to death by suspending by the
neck.
Many men would rebel, rather than be ruin-
ed ; but they would rather not rebel than be
hanged. Jimes.
3. To place without any solid support or
foundation.
He hangeth the earth upon nothing. Job
xxxvi.
To fix in such a manner as to be mova-
ble ; as, to hang a door or grate on hooks
or by butts.
5. To cover or furnish by any thing sus-
pended or fastened to "the walls; as, to
liang an apartment with curtains or with
pictures.
Hung be the heavens with black — Shak.
And hung thy holy roofs with savage spoils.
Itryden.
To hang out, to suspend in open view ; to
display ; to exhibit to notice ; as, to hang
out false colors.
2. To hang abroad ; to suspend in the open
To hang over, to project or cause to project
above.
To hang down, to let fall below the proper
situation ; to bend down ; to decline ; as,
to hang down the head, and elliptically, to
hang the head.
To hang up, to suspend ; to place on some-
thing fixed on high.
2. To suspend ; to keep or suffer to remain
undecided ; as, to hang up a question in
debate.
H.ANG, V. i. To be suspended ; to be sus-
tained by something above, so as to swing
or be movable below.
2. To dangle ; to be loose and flowing be-
low.
3. To bend forward or downward ; to lean or
incline. Addison.
His neck obliquely o'er his shoulder hung.
Pope.
4. To float ; to play.
And fall those sayings from that gentle
tongue,
Where civil speech and soft persuasion hung.
Prior.
5. To be supported by something raised
above the groimd ; as a hanging garden on
the top of a liouse. Mdison.
0. To depend ; to rest on something for sup-
port. This question hangs on a single
j)oint.
7. To rest on by embracing ; to cling to ; as,
to hang on tlie neck of a person.
Two infants hanging on her neck.
Peacham.
8. To hover; to impend; with over. View
the dangers that hang over the country.
9. To be delayed ; to linger.
A noble stroke he lifted high.
Which hung not. Milton.
10. To incline ; to have a steep declivity ; as
I hanging groimds. Mortimer.
II A N
H A
HAP
11. To be executed by the halter.
Sir Balaam hangs. Pope.
To hang fire, in the military art, is to be slow
in communicating, as fire in the pan of £
gun to the charge.
To hang on, to adhere to, often aa some-
thing troublesome and unwelcome.
A cheerful temper dissipates the apprehen-
sions which Ann;? on the timorous. Addison.
2. To adhere obstinately ; to be importu-
nate.
3. To rest ; to reside ; to continue.
4. To be dependent on.
How wretched
Is that poor man that hangs on princes' fa-
vors ! Shak.
5. In seamen''s language, to hold fast without
belaying ; to pull forcibly.
To liang in doubt, to be in suspense, or in a
state of uncertainty.
Thy life shall hang in doubt before thee
Deut. xxviii.
To hang together, to be closely united ; to
chng.
In the common cause we are all of a piece ;
we hang together. Dryden
•I. To be just united, so as barely to hold to-
iietlier. Shak.
Til luingon or upon, to drag ; to be inconuno-
iliinisly joined.
J.ife hangs upon me and becomes a burden,
Mdison
7 0 hang to, to adhere closely ; to cling.
ilA.NG, n. A sharp declivity. ICoUoquial.]
HANG'BY, n. A dependent, in contempt.
Ray.
IIWG'ED, pp. Suspended; put to deati)
liy being suspended by the neck.
IIA'\(i'ER, n. That by which a thing is
-iispended.
'-'. A ^hott broad sword, incurvated towards
ilii' point. Smollett.
'■':. <Jiie that hangs, or causes to be hanged.
Aubrey.
HANGER-ON. n. One who besets anoth-
er importunately in soliciting favors.
'-'. A dependant ; one who eats and drinks
without payment. Swljl.
HWG'ING, ppr. Suspending to something
Mhove.
'■i. Being suspended ; dangling ; swinging.
3. (/. Foreboding death by the halter.
^^■|lat a hanging (:\ce ! Dryden
■i. Requiring punishment by the halter
IS a hanging matter. Johnson.
IIAN'G'ING, n. Any kind of drapery hung
or fastened to the walls of a room, by way
of ornament.
No purple hangings clothe the palace walls.
Dryden.
2. Death by the halter ; as hard words or
hnnging. Pope.
^. nis|)lay; exhibition. Mdison.
liANG'ING-SLEEVES, n. Strips of the
Slime stuff with the gown, hanging down
tile back from the shoulders. Obs.
Halifax.
HANGTNG-SIDE, n. In mining, the over-
hanging side of an inclined or hading vein.
Cyc.
HANG'MAN, n. One who hangs another ;
a public executioner ; also, a term of re-
proach.
HANG'NEST, n. The name of certain
species of birds, which build nests sus
peiided from the branches of trees, sucl
as the Baltimore oriole or red-bird ; also,
the nest so suspended.
HANK, n. [Dan. hank, a handle, a hook, a
tack, a clasp ; Sw. hank, a band.]
1. A skain of thread ; as much thread as
tied together ; a tie.
3. In ships, a wooden ring fixed to a stay, to
confine the stay-sails ; used in the place of
a grommet. Mar. Diet.
A rope or withy for fastening a gate,
[Local]
HANK, V. t. To form into hanks.
HANK'ER, V. i. [D. hunkeren. The cor-
responding word in Danish is higer, and
probably n is casual.]
1. To long for with a keen appetite and un
easiness ; in a literal sense ; as, to hanker
for fruit, or after fruit.
3. To have a vehement desire of something,
accompanied with uneasiness ; as, to han-
ker after the diversions of the town.
Addison
It is usually followed by after. It is a
familiar, but not a low word.
HANK'ERING,;)pr. Longing for with keen
appetite or ardent desire.
HANK'ERING, n. A keen appetite th
causes uneasiness till it is gratified ; v
hement desire to possess or enjoy.
HANK'LE, V. f. [See Hank.] To twii
[JVot in use.]
HA'NT, a contraction of have not, or has not ;
as, I hn'nt, he ha'nt, we ha'nt.
Hanse Towns. Hanse signifies a society ;
Goth, hunsa, a multitude. The Hanse
towns in Germany were certain commer-
cial cities which associated for the protec-
tion of commerce as early as the twelfth
century. To this confederacy acceded
certain commercial cities in Holland, Eng-
land, France, Spain and Italy, until they
amounted to seventy two, and for centu-
ries, this confederacy commanded the res-
pect and defied the power of kings. This
confederacy at present consists of the cities
of Lubeck, Hamburg and Bremen.
HANSEAT'IC, a. Pertaining to the Hanse
towns, or to their confederacy.
HAP, 71. [W. hap, or hab, luck, chance, for-
tune, that is, that which falls, or a coming
suddenly. This seems to be allied to Fr.
happer, to snap or catch ; D. happen ;
Norm, happer, to seize ; W. hafiaw, to
snatch. In Sp. haber signifies to have, to
happen or befall, to take. These verbs
seem to unite in one radix, and all coin-
cide with L. capio. The primary sense is
to fall or to rush, hence, to rush on and
seize.]
That which comes suddenly or unexpect-
edly ; chance ; fortune ; accident ; casual
event. [See Chance and Casual.]
WTiether art it was or heedless hap.
Spenser.
Curs'd be good haps, and curs'd be they that
build
Their hopes on haps. Sidney.
Misfortune. [But this word is obsolete|
or obsolescent, except in compounds and
derivatives.]
HAP, V. i. To happen ; to befall ; to come
by chance. Obs. Spenser. Bacon.
HAP-HAZ'ARD, n. [This is tautological.
See Hazard.] Chance ; accident.
\\ e take our principles at hup-hazard un
trust. ^ Locke.
HAPLESS, a. Luckless; unfortunate ; un-
lucky ; unhappy ; as hapless youth ; liap-
less maid. Dryden.
HAP'LY, arfi). By chance; perhaps; it may
be.
3. By accident ; casually. Milton.
HAP'PEN, V. i. hap'n. [\V. hapiaw, lo hap-
pen, to have luck. See Hap. Sw. hiipna,
to be surprized or amazed.]
1. To come by chance ; to come without
one's previous expectation ; to fall out.
There sliull no evil happen to the just. Prov.
3. To come ; to befall.
They talked together of all those things which
had happened. Luke xxiv.
3. To light; to fall or come unexpectedly.
I have hajtpened on some other accounts rela-
ting to mortalities. Graunt.
HAP'PILY, adv. [See Happy.] By good
fortune ; fortunately ; luckily ; with suc-
cess.
Preferr'd by conquest, happily o'crthrown.
Waller.
2. In a happy state ; in a slate of felicity.
He lived happily with his consort.
3. With addre.ss or dexterity ; gracefidly ;
a manner to ensure success.
Formed by thy converse, happily to steer
From giave to gay, from lively to severe.
Pope.
4. By chance. [See Haply.]
HAP'PINESS, n. [from happy.] The agree-
able sensations which sjiring from the en-
joyment of good ; that state of a being in
which his desires are gratified, by the en-
joyment of pleasure without pain ; felicity ;
but happiness usually expresses less than
felicity, and felicity less than bliss. Hap-
piness is comparative. To a person dis-
tressed with pain, relief from that pain
aftbrds happiness ; in other cases we give
the name happiness to positive pleasure or
an excitement of agreeable sensations.
Happiness therefore admits of indefinite
degrees of increase in enjoyment, or grati-
fication of desires. Perfect happiness, or
pleasure unalloyed with pain, is not at-
tainable in this life.
2. Good luck ; good fortune. Johnson.
3. Fortuitous elegance ; unstudied grace.
For there's a happiness as wcU as care.
HAP'PY, a. [from hap ; W. hapus, proper-
ly lucky, fortunate, receiving good from
something that falls or comes to one un-
expectedly, or by an event that is not with-
in control. See Hour.]
1. Lucky ; fortunate ; successful.
Chimists have been more happy in finding
experiments, than the causes of them. Boyle.
So we say, a happy thought ; a happy
expedient.
3. Being in the enjoyment of agreeable Ken-
sations froiri the possession of good ; en-
joying pleasure from the gratification of
appetites ordesires. The pleasurable sen-
sations derived from the gratification of
sensual appetites render a person tempo-
rarily happy ; but he only can be esteemed
really and permanently happy, who enjoys
peace of mind in the" favor of God. To
H A R
H A R
H A R
be in any degree happy, we must lie free
from pain botli of body and of mind ; to
be very happy, we must be in the enjoy-
ment of lively sensations of pleasure, ei-
tlier of body or mind.
Happy am I, for the daughters will call me
blessed. Gen. xxx.
He found himself happiest, in communica-
ting happiness to others. Wirt.
3. Prosperous ; having secure possession of
good.
Happy is that people whose God is Jehovah.
Ps. cxliv.
4. That su()plies pleasure ; that furnishes
enjoyment ; agreeable ; applied to things ;
as a happy condition.
5. Dextrous; ready; able.
One gentleman is happy at a reply, another
excels in a rejoinder. Sivift.
6. Blessed ; enjoying the presence and fa-
vor of God, in a future life.
7. Harmonious ; living in concord ; enjoy-
ing the pleasures of friendship ; as a happy
family.
8. Propitious ; favorable. Shak
HARANGUE, n. harang'. har'ang. [Fr.
harangue ; Sp. Port, arenga ; It. aringa ;
Arm. harencg ; from the root of ring, to
to sound. Sax. hringan.]
1. A speech addressed to an assembly or an
army ; a popular oration ; a public ad
dress. This word seems to imply loud
ness or declamation, and is therefore ap
propriated generally to an address made
to a popular assembly or to an army, and
not to a sermon, or to an argument at the
bar of a court, or to a speech in a deli
rative council, unless in contempt.
2. Declamation ; a noisy, pompous or irreg-
ular address.
HARANGUE, v. i. harang'. To make
address or speech to a large assembly ;
make a noisy speech.
HARANGUE, v. t. harang'. To address by
oration ; as, the general harangued the
troops.
HARANG'UER, n. harang'er. An orator
one who addresses an assembly or army
a noisy declairner.
HARANG'UING, ppr. Declaiming ; ad
dressing with noisy eloquence.
HAR'ASS, V. t. [Fr. harasser. Qu. Ir
creasam.]
1. To weary ; to fatigue to excess ; to tire
with bodily labor ; as, to harass an army
by a long march. Bacon.
2. To weary with importunity, care, or per-
plexity ; to tease ; to perplex.
3. To waste or desolate. Ohs. Hammond.
H.'\R'ASS, n. Waste ; disturbance ; devas-
tation. [Little used.] MiUon.
HAR'ASSED, pp. Wearied ; tired ; teased,
HAR' ASSER, n. One who harasses or teas-
es ; a spoiler.
HAR'ASSING, ppr. Tiring ; fatiguing ; teas-
ing.
H^ARBINgER, n. [See Harhor. Harbin-
ger is properly a |)erson who goes to ])ro-
vide harbor or lodgings for those that fol-
low.]
1. In England, an officer of the king's house-
hold who rides a day's journey before the
court when traveling, to provide lodgings
and other accommodations. Encyc.
2. A forerunner; a precursor; that which
precedes and gives notice of the expected
arrival of something else.
H'ARBOR, n. [Ssix.\ere-berga, the station
of an army ; D. herberg, an inn ; Dan. Sw.
G. herberge ; Fr. auberge ; Sp. Port, al-
bergue ; It. albergo. The first syllable, in
the Teutonic dialects, signifies an army,
or a troop, a crowd ; the last syllable is
berg, burg, a town, or castle, or from ber-
gen, to save. But in the Celtic dialects,
the first syllable, al, is probably diflerent
from that of the other dialects.]
A lodging ; a place of entertainment and
rest.
For harbor at a thousand doors they knocked.
Dryden.
2. A port or haven for ships ; a bay or inlet
of the sea, in which ships can moor, and
be sheltered from the fury of winds and a
heavy sea ; any navigable water where
ships can ride in safety.
3. An asylum ; a shelter ; a place of safety
from storms or danger.
H'ARBOR, V. t. To shelter ; to secure ;
secrete ; as, to harbor a thief.
To entertain ; to permit to lodge, rest
reside ; as, to harbor malice or revenge.
Harbor not a thought of revenge.
H' ARBOR, V. i. To lodge or abide for a
time ; to receive entertainment.
Tliis night let's harbor here in York. Shale.
To take shelter.
H'ARBORACiE, »!. Shelter; entertainment
Vo< iised.] Shak.
H'ARBORED, pp. Entertained ; sheltered.
H^ARBORER, n. One who entertains or
shelters another.
H'ARBORING, ppr. Entertaining ; shel-
tering.
HARBORLESS, a. Without a harhor; des-
titute of shelter or a lodging.
HARBOR-MASTER, n. An officer who
has charge of the mooring of ships, and
executes the regulations respecting har-
bors. JVew York.
HAR'BOROUGH, n. A harbor or lodging.
[JVot in ttse.]
HAR'BOROUS, a. Hospitable. [Mt in
use.]
HARD, a. [Sax. heard; Goth, hardu; D.
hard ; G. hart ; Dan. haard ; Sw. hard.
The primary sense is, pressed.]
1. Firm ; solid ; compact ; not easily penetra-
ted, or separated into parts ; not yielding
to pressure ; applied to material bodies,
and opposed to soft ; as hard wood ; hard
flesh ; a hard apple.
2. Difficult ; not easy to the intellect.
In which are some things hard to be under-
stood. 2 Pet. iii.
The hard causes they brought to Moses. Ex
xviii.
3. Difficult of accomplishment ; not easy to
be done or executed. A hard task ; a dis-
ease hard to cure.
Is any thing too hard for the Lord ? Gen.
7. Oppressive ; rigorous ; severe ; eruel ; aa
hard bondage ; a hard master. Ex. i. Is.
xiv.
8. Unfeeling ; insensible ; not easily moved
by pity ; not susceptible of liindness, mer-
cy or other tender affections ; as a hard
heart.
Severe ; harsh ; rough ; abusive.
Have you given him any hard words of late ?
Shak.
10. Unfavorable ; unkind ; implying blame
of another; as ftarrf thoughts.
11. Severe; rigorous; oppressive. The en-
emy was compelled to submit to hard
terms. So we say, a hard bargain ; hard
conditions.
12. Unreasonable; unjust. It is Aarrf to pun-
ish a man for speculative opinions. It is
a hard case.
13. Severe ; pinching with cold ; rigorous ;
tempestuous ; as a hard winter ; hard
weather.
14. Powerful ; forcible ; urging ; pressing
close on.
The stag was too hard for the horse.
V Estrange
The disputant was too hard for his antagonist.
Anon.
15. Austere ; rough ; acid ; sour ; as liquors.
The cider is hard.
16. Harsh ; stiff; forced ; constrained ; un-
natural.
Others — make the figures harder than the
marble itself. JDryden.
His diction is hard, his figures too bold.
Dryden.
17. Not plentiful ; not prosperous ; pressing ;
distressing ; as hard times, when markets
are bad, and money of course scarce.
18. Avaricious ; difficult in making bargains ;
close. Matt. xxv.
19. Rough ; of coarse features ; as a hard
face or coimtenance.
20. Austere ; severe ; rigorous.
21. Rude; unpolished or unintelligible.
A people of hard language. Ezek. iii.
22. Coarse ; unpalatable or scanty ; as hard
fare.
ITARD, adv. Close ; near; as in the phrase,
hard by. In this phrase, the word retains
its original sense of pressed, or pressing.
So in It. presso, Fr. prh, from L.pressus.
2. With pressure ; with urgency ; hence,
diligently ; laboriously ; earnestly ; vehe-
mently ; importunately ; as, to work hard
for a living.
And pray'd so hard for mercy from the prince.
Dryden.
.3. With difficulty; as, the vehicle moves
hard.
4. Uneasily ; vexatiously. Sliak.
4. Fullof difficulticsorobstacles; not easy to
be traveled ; as a hard way. Milton.
5. Painful ; difficult ; distressing.
Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor.
Gen. xxxv.
j6. Laborious ; fatiguing ; attended with dif-
ficulty or pain, or both; as hard work or
I labor; hard duty; hard service.
Closely ; so as to raise difficulties.
The question is hard set. Brown.
6. Fast ; nimbly ; rapidly ; vehemently ; as,
to run hard, that is, with pressure or ur-
gency.
7. Violently ; with great force ; tempestu-
ously ; as, the wind blows hard, or it blows
hard.
8. With violence ; with a copious descent of
water ; as, it rains hard.
0. With force ; as, to press hard.
Hard-a-lee, in seamen's language, an order
to put the helm close to the lee side of the
ship, to tack or keep her head to the wind ;
also, that situation of the helm.
.Mar. Dkl.
H A R
H A R
H A R
Ilard-a-weather, an order to put the helm
close to the weather or windward side
the ship ; also, that position of the helm,
Hard-a-port, an order to put the helm close
to the larboard side of a
Hard-a-starboard, an order to put the helm
close to the starboard side of a ship.
Mar. Diet
HARD-BESETTING, a. Closely beset-
ting or bes.-ij^'ing. Milton.
H'ARDBOUND, a. Costive ; fast or tight
as hardbound brains. Popt
H'ARDEARNED, a. Earned with toil and
difficulty. Burke.
IFARDEN, V. t. kardn. To make hard
more hard ; to make firm or compact ; to
indurate ; as, to harden iron or steel ; to
harden clay.
2. To confirm in eft'rontery ; to make impu
dent ; as, to harden the face.
3. To make obstinate, unyielding or refrac
tory ; as, to harden the neck. Jer. xix.
4. To confirm in wickedness, opposition or
enmity ; to make obdurate.
Wliy then do ye harden your hearts, as Pha-
raoh and the Egj'ptians hardened their hearts ■
1 Sam. vi.
So God is said to harden the heart, when
he withdraws the influences of his spirit
from men, and leaves them to pursue their
own corrupt inclinations.
5. To make insensible or unfeeling ; as, to
harden one against impressions of pity or
tenderness.
G. To make firm ; to endure with constancy,
I would harden myself in sorrow. Job vi.
7. To inure ; to render firm or less liable to
injmy, by exposure or use ; as, to harden
to a chmaie or to labor.
H'ARDEN, V. i. h'ardn. To become hard or
more hard ; to acquire solidity or more
compactness. Mortar hardens by drying.
2. To become unfeeling.
3. To become inured.
4. To indurate, as flesh.
H'ARDENED, pp. Made hard, or more hard
or compact ; made unfeeling ; made obsti-
nate ; confirmed in error or vice.
H'ARDENER, n. He or that which make;
hard, or more firm and compact.
irARDENING, ppr. Making hard or more
compact; making obdurate or unfeeling;
confirming ; becoming more hard.
H^ARDENING, «. The giving a greater de-
gree of hardness to bodies than they had
before. Encyc.
HARDFAVORED, a. Having coarse fea-
tures ; harsh of countenance. Dnjden.
HARDFA'VOREDNESS, n. Coarseness ofi
features.
H'ARDFEATURED, a. Having coarse
features. Stnollett.
H'ARDFISTED, a. Close fisted ; covetous.
Hall.
H'ARDFOUGHT, a. Vigorously contest-
ed; as a hard-fonght battle.
H'ARDGOTTEN, a. Obtained with difli-
culty
as a laborer. Shak.
H'ARDHEAD, n. Clash or collision of
heads in contest. Dryden.
HARDHE ARTED, a. Ci-uel ; pitiless ; mer-
ciless; unfeeling; inhuman; inexorable.
Shak. Dnjden.
HARDHE- ARTEDNESS, n. Want of feel-
ing or tenderness; cruelty; inhumanity.
South-
H'ARDIHQOD, n. [See Hardy and Hood.]
Boldness, united with firmness and con-
stancy of mind ; dauntless bravery ; intre-
pidity. Milton.
It is the society of numbers which gives har-
dihood (o iniquity. Buckminsler.
Hardihead and hardiment, in the sense of
hardihood, are obsolete.
Spenser. Fairfax.
H'ARDILY, adv. With great boldness;
stoutly. Scott
2. With hardship ; not tenderly. Goldsmith.
H-ARDINESS, n. [Fr. hardicsse. See
Hardy.]
1. Boldness ; firm courage ; intrepidity ;
stoutness ; bravery ; a))plied to the mind,
it is synonymous with hardihood.
2. Firmness of body derived from laborious
exercises.
3. Hardslup ; fatigue. Obs. Spenser.
4. Excess of confidence ; assurance ; ef
frontcry.
HARD-LABORED, a. Wrought with se
vere labor ; elaborate ; studied ; as a hard-
labored poem. Sicijl.
HARDLY, adv. [See Hard.] With diflicul-
ty ; with great labor.
Recovering hardly what lie lost before.
Bryden.
2. Scarcely ; barely ; almost not.
Hardly shall you find any one so bad, but he
desires the credit of beirij thought good.
South.
3. Not quite or wholly. The object is so
distant we can hardly see it. The veal is
hardly done. Tlie writing is hardly com-
pleted.
4. Grudgingly, as an injury. STtak.
5. Severely ; unfavorably ;" as, to think hardly
of public measures.
6. Rigorously ; oppressively. The prisoners
were hardly used or treated.
Addison. Swift.
7. Unwelcomely ; harshly.
Such information comes very hardly and
harshly to a gro^vn man. Locke.
8. Coarsely ; roughly ; not softly.
Heaven was her canopy, bare earth her bed ;
So hardly lodged. Dryden.
HARD-MOUTHED, a. Not sensible to the
bit ; not easily governed ; as a hard-
mouthed horse. Dryden
H>ARDNESS, n. [See Hard.] Firmness ;
close union of the component parts ; corn
pactness; solidity; the quality of bodies
which resists impression ; opposed to soft
ness and fluidity.
3. Difficulty to be understood. Shak.
3. Difficulty to be executed or accomplish-
ed ; as the liardness of an enterprise.
Sidney.
4. Scarcity ; penury ; difficulty of obtaining
money ; as the hardness of the times.
Swijl.
Obduracy ; impenitence ; confirmed state
of wickedness ; as hardness of heart.
6. Coarseness of features ; harshness of look :
as hardness of favor. Ray.^
7. Severity of cold ; rigor ; as the hardness
of winter.
8. Cruelty of temper ; savageness ; harsh-
ess.
Tlic blame
May hang upon your hardness. Shak.
9. Stiffiiess ; harshness ; roughness ; as the
hardnesses of sculpture. Dryde n .
10. Closeness ; niggardliness ; stinginess.
Johnson.
1 1. Hardship ; severe labor, trials or suffer-
ings.
^Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ. 2 Tim. ii.
H-ARDNHmED,a. Having a Lard nib or
point.
H'ARDOCK, n. Probably honrdock, dock
with whitish leaves. Shak.
HARDS, n. The refuse or coarse part of
flax ; tow.
HARDSHIP, ji. Toil ; fatigue ; severe la-
bor or want ; whatever oppresses the
body.
3. Injury; oppression; injustice. Swift.
H'ARDVISAgED, a. Having coarse fea-
tures; of a harsh countenance. Burke.
HARDWARE, n. Wares made of iron or
other metal, as pots, kettles, saws, knives,
&c.
HARDWAREMAN, n. A maker or seller
of hardwares. Swift.
HARDY, a. [Vr.hardi; ^orm. hardy ; \rm.
hardiz, hiirdih ; It. ardire, to dare, and bold-
ness, assurance. The sense is shooting
or advancing forward.]
1. Bold ; brave ; stout ; daring ; resolute ;
intrepid. Who is hardy enough to en-
counter contempt ?
2. Strong ; firm ; compact.
An unwholesome blast may shake in pieces
is hardy fabric. South.
3. Confident ; full of assurance ; impudent ;
stubborn to excess.
4. Inured to fatigue ; rendered firm by ex-
ercise, as a veteran soldier.
HAR, HARE, HERE, in composition, sig-
nify an army. Sax. here, G. heer, D. hetr.
So Harold is a general of an army ; Her-
xmn, a victorious army. So in Greek,
Stratocles, from fparoj, and Polemarchus,
from noXf^of.
HARE, »i. [Sa.x. /tara; Dan. Sw. Aare.] A
quadruped of the genus Lepus, with long
ears, a short tail, sofl hair, and a divided
upper lip. It is a timid animal, often hunt-
ed for sport or for its flesh, which is excel-
lent food. It moves by leaps, and is re-
markable for its fecundity.
2. A constellation. Creech.
HARE, V. I. [Norm, harer, haricr, to stir up
or provoke.]
To fright, or to excite, tease and harass, or
worry. [JVot used. See Harry.] Locke.
HA'REBELL, n. A plant of the genus Hya-
cinthus, with campaniform or bell-shaped
flowers. Fani. of Plants.
HAREBRAINED, a. [hare and train.]
Wild; giddy; volatile; heedless.
Bacon.
HA'REFOOT, n. A bird ; a plant.
Ainstcorth.
HA'REHE' ARTED, a. Timorous ; easily
frightened. Ainsworth.
HA REHOUND, n. A hound for hunting
hares. Todd.
HA'REHl'NTER, n. One who hunts or is
u.scd to hunting bares. Pope.
HA'REHUNTING, n. The hunting of
hares. SomerviUe.
HARELIP, )i. A divided upper lip, like that
of a hare. Wiseman.
n A R
IfA'RELIl'PED, a. Having a liaielip.
UA'REMINT, )i. A plant. Jiinsworth
IIA'REPIPE, n. A snare for catching
liares. Sial. James 1
HA'RE'S-EAR, n. A plant of the genus
Bupleurum. The Bastard Hare's Ec
of the genus Phyllis.
HARE'S-LETTUCE, n. A plant of the
nus Sonchus.
HA'REWORT, n. A plant.
HAREM,)!. [Ar
^^'
, harama, to proliib
it, drive oft', or deny access.]
A seraglio ; a place where Eastern prnices
confine their women, who are prohibited
from the society of others.
HAREN'GIFORM, a. [See Herrinfr.] Sha
ped like a herring. Did. J\'at. Hist.
HAR'I€OT, n. [Fr. from Gr. apaxoj.] A
kind of ragout of meat and roots.
Chesteifidil.
2. In French, beans.
HAR'IER, ) [from hare.] A dog for
HARRIER, ^"' hunting hares; a kind of
hound with an acute sense of smelling.
Encyc
IIARIOLA'TION, >i. [L. hariolatio.] Sooth
saying. [Aot in use.]
H'ARK, V. i. [contracted from hearken
which see.] To listen ; to lend the ear.
Shak. Hudibras.
This word is rarely or never used, except in
the imperative mode, hark, that is, listen,
hear.
HARL, I The skin of flax ; the filaments
HERL, S "• of flax or hemp.
2. A filamentous substance. Mortimer.
[In New England, I have heard this word
pronounced herl.]
H^ARLEQUIN, n. [Fr. harlequin, a buffoon ;
It. arlecchino ; Sp. arlequin ; Arm. harliq-
in, furluqin, a juggler. I know not the
origin of this word. It has been suggest-
ed that the last component part of the
word is from the Gothic, Sw. leka, to play,
and a story is told about a comedian who
frequented the house of M. de Harley, but
I place no reliance on these suggestions.]
A buffoon, dressed in party-colored clothes,
who plays tricks, like a merry-and
divert the populace. This character was
first introduced into Italian comedy, but
is now a standing character in English
pantomime entertainments. Encyc.
IP ARLEQUIN, V. i. To play the droll ; to
make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.
IPARLOCK, n. A plant. Drayton.
H^ARLOT, n. [W.fteHaiurf, a stripling; her-
lodes, a hoiden ; a word composed of her,
a. push, or challenge, and tlawd, a lad.
This word was formerly applied to males]
as well as females. I
A stuidie harlot — that was her hostes man. |
Chaucer, Tales}
He was a gentil harlot and a kind. Ibm.
The word originally signified a bold strip-
ling, or a hoiden. But the W. llawd
signifies not only a lad, that is, a shoot,:
or growing youth, but as an adjective, ten-|
ding forward, craving, lewd. See Leivd.]
1. A woman who prostitutes her body for
hire ; a prostitute ; a common woman.
Dryd,
H A R
2. In Scripture, one who forsakes the true
God and worships idols. Is. i.
3. A servant ; a rogue ; a cheat. Obs.
Chaucer. Fox.
IPARLOT, a. Wanton ; lewd ; low ; base.
Shak.
IPARLOT, r. i. To practice lewdness.
Milton.
IP.\RLOTRY, n. The trade or practice of
prostitution ; habitual or customary lewd-
ness. Dryden.
IPARM, n. [Sax. hearm or harm. In G. the
word signifies grief, sorrow.]
3. Injury; hurt; damage; detriment,
bo thyself no harm. Acts xvi.
He shall make amends for the harm he hatl
done in the holy thing. Lev. v.
Moral wrong ; evil ; mischief; wicked-
ness ; a popular sense of the word.
IPARM, V. t. To hurt ; to injure ; to dam
age ; to impair soundness of body, either
animal or vegetable. IValler. Ray.
HARMAT'TAN, n. A dry easterly wind in
Africa, which destroys vegetation.
jVorris
UNARMED, pp. Injured; hurt; damaged
H'ARMEL, n. The wild African rue.
H^ARMFUL, a. Hurtful; injurious ; nox-
ious ; detrimental ; mischievous.
The earth brought forth fruit and food for
man, without any mixture of harmful quality.
Raleigh
IPARMFULLY, adv. Hurtfully; injurious-
ly ; with damage. Jlscham.
IPARMFULNESS, n. Hurtfulness; nox-
iousness.
H'ARMING, p/)r. Hurting; injuring.
H'ARMLESS, o. Not hurtful or injurious;
innoxious. Ceremonies are harmless ir
themselves. Hooker
2. Unhurt; undamaged; uninjured; as, to
give bond to save anotlier harmless.
3. Innocent ; not guilty.
Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate
from sinners. Heb. vir.
IPARMLESSLY, adv. Innocently; without
faidt or crime ; as, to pass the time harm-
lessly in recreations.
Without hurt or damage.
Bullets fall harmlessly into wood or fathers
Decnfi of Piety
H^ARMLESSNESS, n. The quality of be-
ing innoxious ; freedom from a tendency
to injure.
Innocence.
HARMON'le, I [See Harmony.] Re
HARMON'leAL, \ "' lating to harmony or
music ; as harmonical use. Bacon.
2. Concordant ; musical ; consonant ; as
harmonic sounds.
Harmonic twang of leather, horn and brass.
Pope.
The basis of an harmonic system. Encyc.
The harmonic elements are the three small-
est concords. Edin. Encyc
3. An epithet applied to the accessary sounds
which accompany the predominant and
apparently simple tone of any chord or
string.
Harmonical mean, in arithmetic and algebra,
a term used to express certain relations of
numbers and quantities, which are suppo-
sed to bear an analogy to nmsical conso-
nances.
Harmonical proportion, in arithmetic and al
gebra, is said to obtain between three quan
tities, or four quantities, in certain cases.
H A R
Harmonical series, a series of many number-
in continued harmonical proportion.
Cyr.
HARMON'l€A, n. A collection of musical
glasses of a particular form, so arranged
as to produce exquisite music. Encyc.
HARMON'ICS, n. Harmonious sounds;
consonances.
2. The doctrine or science of musical sounds.
Smith.
3. Derivative sounds, generated with pre-
dominant sounds,-and produced by subor-
dinate vibrations of a chord or string,
when its whole length vibrates. These
shorter vibrations produce more acute
sounds, and are called acute harmonics.
Grave harmonics are low sounds which
accompany every perfect consonance of
two sounds. Edin. Encyc.
HARMO'NIOUS, a. Adapted to each other ;
having the parts proportioned to each
other ; symmetrical.
God hath made the intellectual world harmo-
nious and beautiful without us. Locke.
Concordant; consonant; symphonious ;
musical. Harmonious sounds are such as
accord, and are agreeable to the ear.
3. Agreeing; living in peace and friendship ;
as a harmonious family or society.
HARMO'NIOUSLY.arft). With just adapta-
tion and proportion of parts to each other.
Distances, motions, and quantities of matter
harmoniously adjusted in this great variety of
our system. Bentley.
2. With accordance of sounds ; musically ;
concord.
3. In agreement ; in peace and friendship.
HARMO'NIOUSNESS, n. Proportion and
adaptation of parts; musicalness.
2. Agreement ; concord.
H'ARMONIST, n. A musician; a compo-
ser of music.
3. One who luings together corresponding
passages, to show their agreement.
H'ARMONIZE, v. i. To be in concord; to
igree in sounds.
2. To agree ; to be in peace and friendship ;
dividuals or families. '
3. To agree in sense or purport ; as, the ar-
uments harmonize; the facts stated by
ifterent witnesses harmonize.
HARMONIZE, V. t. To adjust in fit pro-
portions ; to cause to agree.
2. To make musical ; to combine according
to the laws of counterpoint.
HARMONIZED, pp. Made to be accord-
H'ARMONIZER, n. One that brings to-
gether or reconciles.
2. In music, a practical harmonist.
H>ARMONIZING, ppr. Causing to agree.
HARMONOM'ETER, n. [Gr. ap^o^a and
fiirpov.]
An instrument or nionochord for measuring
the harmonic relations of sounds.
H'ARMONY, n. [L. harmo7iia ; Gr. ap/»ona,
a setting together, a closure or seam, agree-
ment, concert, from opu, to fit or adapt, to
square; Sp.armonia; It. id.; Fr. har-
monic. If the Greek apu is a contracted
word, for xopu, which is probable, it may
be the French carrer, equarrir.]
1. The just adaptation of parts to each other,
in any S3'stem or composition of things,
intended to form a connected whole ; as
the harmony of the universe.
H A R
H A R
H A R
Equality and correspondence are the causes
of harnuniy. Bacon.
All discord, harmony not understood.
Pope.
"2. Just proportion of sound ; consonance
musical concord ; the accordance of two
or more intervals or sounds, or that union
of different sounds which pleases the ear
or a succession of such sounds, called
chords.
Ten thousand harps tliat tuned
Angelic harmonies. Milton
3. Concord ; agreement ; accordance in
facts ; as the harmony of the gospels.
4. Concord or agreement in views, senti
ments or manners, interests, &c.; good
correspondence ; peace and friendship.
The citizens live in harmony.
5. JVatural harmony, in music, consists of the
harmonic triad or common chord. .Irtiji-
eiat harmony, is a mixture of concords and
discords. Figured harmony, is when one
or more of the parts move, during the con
tinuanceof a chord, through certain notes
*vhich do not form any of the constituent
parts of that chord. Busby.
0. Perfect harmony implies the use of unteni
pered concords only. Tempered harmony
is when the notes are varied by tempera-
ment. [See Temperament.] Encyc.
H'ARMOST, n. [Gr. apuo;r;p, from apuoa'au,
to regulate.]
In ancient Greece, a Spartan governor, regu-
lator or prefect. Mitford.
H^ARMOTOME, n. [Gr. apftoj, a joint, and
tt/xyu, to cut.]
In mineralogy, cross-stone, or staurolite, call-
ed also pyramidical zeolite. [See Cross-
stone.]
H' ARNESS, n. [W. harnaes, from ham, that
is, closely fitted ; Fr. harnois ;
hames ; It. amese ; Sp. arnes ; Port
D. hamas; G. hamisch ; Sw. hamesk ;
Dan. hamisk. Tlie primary sense is, to
fit, prepare or put on ; and in different lan-
guages, it signifies not only harness, but
furniture and utensils.]
1. Armor ; the whole accouterments or
equipments of a knight or horseman ;
ginally perhaps defensive armor, but in a
more modern and enlarged sense, the fur-
niture of a mihtary man, defensive or of-
fensive, as a casque, cuirass, helmet, gir-
dle, sword, buckler, &c.
2. The furniture of a draught horse, whether
for a wagon, coach, gig, chaise, &c.; call
ed in some of the American states, tackle
or tackling, with which, in its primary
sense, it is synonymous. Dryden.
I'l'ARNESS, v.t. "To dress in armor; to
equip with armor for war, as a horseman,
Harnessed in rugged steel. Rowe.
2. To put on the furniture of a horse for
draught.
Harness the horses. Jer. xlvi.
3. To defend ; to equip or furnish for de
fense. 1 Mace. iv.
H'.\RNESSED, ;)p. Equipped with armor;
furnished with the dress for draught ; de
fended.
H'ARNESSER, n. One who puts on the
harness of a horse. Sherwood.
H\;VRNESSING, ppr. Putting on armor ot
furniture for draught.
H-ARP, )i. [S&x.hearpa; G . harfe ; D . harp ;
Sw. harpa ; Dan. harpe ; Fr. harpc : It.
•Sp. Port, arpa.]
1. An instrument of music of the stringed
kind, of a triangular figure, held upright
and commonly touched with the fingers.
Encyc. Johnson
2. A constellation. Creech.
H'ARP, V. i. To play on the liarp.
I heard the voice of harpers, harping with
their harps. Rev. xlv.
2. To dwell on, in speaking or writing
continue sounding.
He seems
Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am —
Not what he knew I was. Shak.
3. To touch as a |)assion ; to affect. Shak.
HARPER, »i. A player on the harp.
H"ARPING,ppr. Playing on a harp ; dwell-
ing on contiimally.
H'ARPING, n. A continual dwelling on.
Making infinite merriment by harpings upon
old themes. Irving.
H'ARPING, n. plu. harpings. In ships, harp-
ings are the fore-parts of the wales, which
encompass the bow of the ship, and are
fastened to the stem. Their use is to
strengthen the ship, in the place where shej
sustains the greatest shock in plunging
into the sea. Encyc.
Cat-harpings, are ropes which serve to brace
in the shrouds of the lower masts, behind
their respective yards. Mar. Diet.
n>ARPING-IRON,n. A harpoon, which see.
H^ARPIST, n. A har|)er. Broicn.
HARPOON', n. [Fr. harpon ; S,). aipon;
Port, arpam, arpeo ; It. nrpione ; G. har-
pune ; D. harpoen ; from Fr. harper, to grap-
ple ; Sp. arpar, to claw ; Gr. apwafu, from
oprtau, to seize with the claws ; probably L.
rapio, by transposition of letters. Class Rb.]
A harping-iron ; a spear or javehn, used to
strike whales for killing them. It consists
of a long shank, with a broad flat triangu
larhead, sharpened at both edges for pen
etrating the whale with facility. It ii
HARQUEBUSE. [See ^rquebuse.]
HARRATEE'N, n. Akindof stuff or cloth.
Shenstone.
HARRIDAN, n. [Fr. haridelte, a jade, or
worn-out horse. See JIare, the verb.]
A decayed strumpet. Swijl.
HAR'RIER, n. A hunting hound with a
nice .sense of smelling.
HARROW, n. [Sw. harf, Dan. harvc, a har-
D. hark, G. harke, a rake, is nrob-
generally thrown by hand,
HARPOON', V. t. To strike, catch or kill
with a harpoon.
The beluga is usually caught in nets, but ii
sometimes harpooned. Pennant
HARPOON'ED, pp. Struck, caught or kill-
ed with a harpoon.
HARPOON'ER, n. One who uses a har-
poon ; the man in a whale-boat who throws
the harpoon.
HARPOON'ING,p;)r. Striking with a har-
poon.
H>ARPSI€HORD, n. [harp and chord.] An
instrument of music with strings of wire
played by the fingers, by means of keys
The striking of these keys moves certain!
little jacks, which move a double row of|
chords or strings, stretched over foui
bridges on the table of the instrument.
Encyc
H'ARPY, n. [Fr. harpie ; It. S]). Port, arpia ;^
L. harpyia ; Gr. oprtvio, from the root
aprto^u, to seize or claw.]
In antiquity, the harpies were fabulous]
winged monsters, having the face of
woman and the body of a vultur, with theirl
feet and fingers armed with sharp claws.
They were three in number, Aello, Ocy-
pete, and Celeno. They were sent by
Juno to plunder the table of Phineus.
Tliey are represented as rapacious and
filthy animals. Lempnere.
ably the same word, allied to Sw. li'drja,
Dan. herger, Sax. hergian, to ravage or
lay waste.]
\n instrument of agriculture, formed of pie-
ces of timber sometimes crossing each
other, and set with iron teeth. It is drawn
over plowed land to level it and break the
clods, and to cover seed when sown.
HAR'ROW, t'. t. [Sw. harfva ; Dan. Iiarver.]
To draw a harrow over, for the purpose
of breaking clods and leveling the sur-
face, or for covering seed sown ; as, to
harrow land or groiuid.
2. To break or tear with a harrow.
Will lie harrow the valleys after thee ? Job
xxxi\.
To tear; to lacerate; to torment.
I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word
Would harrow up thy soul — Shak.
To i)illage ; to strip; to lay waste by vio-
lence. [.\'ot used.]
To disturb ; to agitate. Ohs. Shak.
HARROWED, pp. Broken or smoothed
by a harrow.
HAR'ROWER, ?!. One who harrows.
2. A hawk.
HARROWING, ppr. Breaking or leveling
ith a harrow.
HAR'RY, v.t. [Sax. /leraian, to strip ; hyr-
wian, to upbraid ; or V/. herwa, to rove for
plunder, to scout ; her, a push.]
1. To strip; to pillage. [See Harrow.]
To harass; to agitate; to tease. Shak.
HAR'RY, V. i. To make harassing incur-
sions. Ohs. Beaum.
IPARSH, a. [G. harsch ; Scot, harsk. In Dan.
harsk, Sw. harsk, is rank, rancid.]
Rough to the touch ; rugged ; grating ;
as harsh sand ; harsh cloth ; opposed to
smooth. Boyle.
2. Sour; rough to the taste; as harsh fruit.
3. Rough to the ear; grating; discordant;
jarring ; as a harsh sound ; harsh notes ; a
hai-sh voice. Dryden.
4. Au.-itere; crabbed; morose; peevish. Civ-
ilization softens the harsh temper or na-
ture of man.
a. Rough ; rude ; abusive ; as harsh words ;
a harsh reflection.
6. Rigorous ; severe.
Tliough harsh the precept, yet the preacher
charm'd. Dryden.
HARSHLY, adv. Roughly; in a harsh
manner.
Sourly ; austerely.
Severely; morosely; crabbedly; as, to
speak or answer harsldy.
4. Roughly ; rudely ; with violence ; as, to
treat a person harslJy. Addison.
5. Roughly ; with a grating sound ; unpleas-
antly.
It would sound harshly in hei ears. Shak.
H^ARSHNESS, n. Roughness to the touch ;
sojflness and smoothness.
Any rapacious or ravenous animal ; an| 2. Sourness ; austereness ; as the harshness
extortioner ; a plunderer. il of fruit.
H A R
HAS
HAS
3. Roughness to the ear ; as the harshness
of sound or of a voice, or of verse.
'Tis not enough no harshness gives offense.
The sound must seem an echo to the sense.
Pope.
4. Rougliness of temper ; moroseness ; crab-
bedness; peevishness. Shak.
T). Roughness in manner or words ; sever-
ity ; as the harshness of reproof
irARSLET, > [lee. hasla. Qu.] The
HASLET, S heart, hver, Hghts, &c. of
a hog.
H'ART, n. [Sax. heart ; Dan. and Sw. hiort
G. hirsch ; D. herf.]
A stag or male deer, an animal of the cer
vine genus.
irARTBEEST, n. The quanga, or cervine
antelope of Africa. Encyc.
H-ARTROY'AL, n. A plant.
H'ARTSHORN, n. The horn of the hart
or male deer. The scrapings or raspings
of this horn are medicinal, and used
decoctions, ptisans, &c. Hartshorn jelly is
nutritive and strengthening. Hartshorn
calcined by a strong and long continued
heat, is changed into a white earth, which
is employed in medicine as an absorbent.
The salt of hartshorn is a powerful sudo-
rific, and hartshorn yields also a pungent
volatile spirit. Encyc.
The jelly of hartshorn is simply gelatine ;
the earth remaining after calcination, is
phosphate of lime ; the salt and spirit of
hartshorn are muriate of ammonia, with a
little animal oil. Parr.
Hartshorn plantain, a species of Plantago.
H'ARTSTONGUE, n. [See Tongue.] A
plant, a species of Asplenium.
H'ARTWORT, n. The name of certain
plants of the genera, Seseli, Tordylium,
and Bupleurum.
HAR'USPICE, n. [L. haruspex, from specio,
to view.]
In Roman history, a person who pretended
to foretell future events by inspecting the
entrails of beasts sacrificed, or watching
the circumstances attending their slaugh-
ter, or their manner of burning and the
a.scent of the smoke. Encyc. Mam.
HAR'USPICY, n. Divination by the inspec-
tion of victims.
H'ARVEST, n. [Sax. hwrfest, harfest, har-
vest, autumn ; G. herbst ; D. hcrfst. This
word signifies autumn, and primarily had
no reference to the collection of the fruits
of the earth ; but in German, herbstzeit is
harvest-time. It seems to be formed from
the G. herbe, harsh, keen, tart, acerb, L.
acerbus, and primarily it refers to the cold,
chilly weather in autumn in the north oi
Europe. This being the time when crops
are collected in northern climates, the
word came to signify harvest]
1. The season of reaping and gathering in
corn or other crops. It especially refers
to the time of collecting corn or grain
which is the chief food of men, as wheat
and rye. In Egypt and Syria, the wheat
harvest is in April and May ; in the south
of Europe and of the United States, ii
June ; in the Northern states of America
in July ; and in the north of Europe, ir
.\ugust and September. In the United
States, the harvest of maiz is mostly in
October.
2. The ripe corn or grain collected and se
cured in barns or stacks. The harvest thi;
year is abundant.
3. The product of labor ; fruit or fruits.
Let us the harvest of our labor cat.
Drydev
4. Fruit or fruits ; effects ; consequences
He that sows iniquity will reap a harvest
of woe.
5. In Scripture, harvest signifies figuratively
the proper season for business.
He thatsleepethin harvest, is a son that caus-
cth shame. Prov. s.
Also, a people whose sins have ripened
them for judgment. Joel iii.
Also, the end of the world. Matt. xiii.
Also, a seasonable time for instructing
men in the gospel. Matt. ix.
H^ARVEST, t>. t. To reap or gather ripe
corn and other fruits for the use of man
and beast.
H'ARVESTED, pp. Reaped and collected,
as ripe corn and fruits.
IPARVESTER, n. A reaper ; a laborer in
gathering grain.
H'ARVEST-FLY, n. A large four-winged
insect of the cicada kind, common in Italy.
Encyc.
H'ARVEST-HOME, n. The time of har-
vest. Dryden.
3. The song sung by reapers at the feast
made at the gathering of corn, or the
feast itself. Dryden.
3. The opportunity of gathering treasure.
Shak.
IPARVESTING, ppr. Reaping and collec-
ting, as ripe corn and other fruits.
H'AR VEST-LORD, n. The head-reaper at
the harvest. Tusser.
H'ARVEST-MAN, n. A laborer in harvest.
H^ARVEST-QUEEN, n. An image repre-
senting Ceres, formerly carried about on
the last day of harvest.
HASH, li t. [Fr. hacher ; Arm. haicha; Eng.
to hack. See Hack.]
To chop into small pieces ;■; to mince and
mix ; as, to hash meat. Garth.
HASM, n. Minced meal, or a dish of meat
and vegetables chopped into small pieces
and mixed.
IIASK, n. A case made of rushes or flags.
[J\'ot used.] Spenser.
HAS'LET, n. [See Harslet.]
H\\SP, n. [Sax. hceps ; G. haspe, a h'tnge ;
Dan. hasp ; Sw. haspe. VVe probably
have the word from the Danes.]
1. A clasp that passes over a staple to be
fastened by a padlock. Mortimer.
2. A s|)indle to wind thread or silk on.
[Local.]
H'ASP, V. t. To shut or fasten with a hasp.
Garth.
HAS'SOC, n. [W. hesor. Qu. from hesg,
sedge, rushes. It signifies in Scottish, a
besom, any thing bushy, and a turf of peat
moss used as a seat. The sense is there-
fore the same as that of mat, a collection
or mass.]
A thick mat or bass on which persons kneel
in church. Mdison.
And knees and hassocs are well nigh divon-'d.
Cowper.
HAST, the second person singular of have,
I have, thou hast, contracted from havtst
It is used only in the solemn style.
HAS'TATE, > ['L.haslalus,frovi^ hasla,
HAS'TATED, \ «■ a snear.] In botany,
spear-shaped ; resembling the head of a
halberd ; triangular, hollowed at the base
and on the sides, with the angles spread-
ing ; as a hastate leaf Martyn. Lee
HASTE, n. [G. Sw. Dan. hast; D. haast;
Fr. hate, for haste; Arm. hast; from hur-
rying, pressing, driving. See Heat.]
1. Celerity of motion; speed; swiftness;
dispatch ; expedition ; applied only to vol-
untary beings, as men and other animals;
never to other bodies. We never say, a
ball flies with haste.
The king's business required haste. I Sam.
xxi.
2. Sudden excitement of passion ; quick-
j ness ; precipitance ; vehemence.
I I said in ray haste, all men are hars. Ps
[ cxvi.
j3. The state of being urged or pressed by
j business ; as, I am in great haste.
iHASTE, I hast, hds7i. [G. hasten;
HASTEN, ^ ^- '■ D. haasten ; Sw. hasta ;
l>an. hastcr ; Fr. hater.]
!To press ; to drive or urge forward ; to
push on ; to precipitate ; to accelerate
movement.
I would hasten my escape from the windy
storm. Ps. Iv.
[HASTE, ) ^^ ■ To move with celerity ; to
Hasten, ^ ■ ■ be rapid in motion ; to be
si)eedy or quick.
They were troubled and hasted away. Ps.
HASTED, i
HASTENED, (
speed.
HASTENER,
forward.
HASTING, I
HASTENING, I
ceeding rapidlj'.
That state is hastening to ruin, in which no
difference is made between good and bad men.
Jintisthenes. Enfield
HASTILY, adv [See HaMy.] In haste;
Avith speed or quickness; speedily; nim-
bly.
Half clothed, half naked, hastily retire.
Dryden.
•2. Rashly; precipitately; without due re-
flection.
We hastily engaged in the war. Swift.
3. Pa.ssionately ; under sudden excitement of
passion.
HASTINESS, n. Haste ; speed ; quickness
or celerity in motion or action, as of ani-
mals.
2. Rashness ; heedless eagerness ; precipi-
tation. Our hastiness to engage in the
war cau.sed deep regret.
3. Irritability ; susceptibility of anger,
warmth or temper.
HASTING-PEAR, n. An early pear, called
also green chissel. Encyc.
HASTINGS, n. [from hasty.] Peas that
con)e early. MoHimer.
HASTIVE, a. [Fr. hitif, from haste.] For-
ward ; early ; as fruit. [JVbt much used.]
Encyc.
HASTY, a. Quick ; speedy ; opposed to slow.
Be not hasty to go out of his sight. Eccles.
Moved rapidly; accel-
''' crated ; urged with
I. One that hastens or urges
' vnr ^''■^'"S forward ;
^^ ' pushing on ; pro-
^2. Eager ; precipitate ;
I deliberate.
opposed to
HAT
HAT
H A U
Seeat thou a man that is hasty in his words !
tliere is more hope of a fool than of him. Prov.
3. Irritable ; easily excited to wrath ; pas-
sionate.
He that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Prov. xiv.
4. Early ripe ; forward ; as hasty fruit. Is.
xxviii.
HASTYPUDDING, n. A pudding made of
the meal of niaiz moistened with wat
and boiled, or of milk and flour boiled.
HAT, n. [Sax. hat ; G. hut ; D. hoed ; Dan.
hat ; Sw. hatt ; W. hid or hct. The word
signifies a cover, and in German, finger-
hut is a thimble. The primary sense is
probably to ward off, or defend.]
1. A covering for the head ; a garment made
of different materials, and worn by men
or women for defending the head from
rain or heat, or for ornament. Hats for
men are usually made of fur or wool, and
formed with a crown and brim. Hats for
females are made of straw or grass braid
and various other materials. Of these
the ever varjing forms admit of nodes
cription that can long be correct.
2. The dignity of a cardinal.
HAT'-BAND, n. A band round the crown
of a hat.
HAT'-BOX, ? A box for a hat. But a
HAT'-CASE, < "• case for a lady's ha
called a band-box.
HA'TABLE, a. [from hate.] That may be
hated ; odious. Sherwood.
HATCH, V. t. [G. hecken, aushecktn, Dan.
hekker, to hatch. This word seems to
be connected with G. heck, Dan. hekke,
Sw. h&ck, a hedge, Dan. hek, a fence of
pales; and the hatches of a shiji are doubt-
less of the same family. The sense prob-
ably is, to thrust out, to drive off, whence
in Sw. hhgii, a hedge, is also protection
h&gna, to hedge, to guard. To hatch is to
exclude.]
1. To produce young from eggs by incuba-
tion, or by artificial heat. In Egypt,
chickens are hatched by artificial heat.
The partridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth
them not. Jer. xvii.
2. To contrive or {>lot ; to form by medita-
tion, and bring into being ; to originate
and produce in silence ; as, to hatch :
chief; to hatch lieresy. Hooker.
HATCH, V. t. [Ft. hacher, to hack.] To
shade by hnes in drawing and engraving,
Those hatching strokes of the pencil.
Dry den.
2. To steep. Ohs. Beaum.
HATCH, I', i. To produce young ; to bring
the young to maturity. Eggs will not
hatch without a due degree and continu-
ance of heat.
HATCH, ?!. A brood ; as many chickens as
are produced at once, or by one incuba-
tion.
2. The act of exclusion from the egg.
3. Disclosure ; discovery. Shah.
HATCH, or HATCHES, n. [Sax. haica ; D
hek, a railing, gate, &c. See Hedge and
Hatch, supra.]
1. Projierly, the grate or frame of cross-bars
laid over the opening in a ship'.s deck, now
called hatch-bars. The lid or cover of a
hatchway is also called hatches.
2. The opening in a ship's deck, or the pas-
Vol. I.
sage from one deck to another, the name of
the grate itself being used for the opening ;
but this is more properly called the hatch-
way. Mar. Diet.
3. A half-door, or door with an opening
over it. Qu. Johnson. Shak.
4. Floodgates. Encyc. Ainsivorth
5. In Cornwall, Eng. openings into mines
or in search of them. Encyc.
5. To be under the hatches, to be confined, or
to be in distress, depression or slavery.
Locke.
HATCH'EL, n. [G. hechel,D. heket, Dan.
hegle, Sw. hhckla, whence the common
pronunciation in America, helchel. In
Slav, hakel is a rake.]
An instrument formed with long iron teeth
set in a board, for cleaning flax or hemj)
from the tow, hards or coarse part. The
hatchcl is a large species of comb.
HATCH'EL, V. t. To draw flax or hemp
through the teeth of a hatchel, for sepa-
rating the coarse part and broken pieces
of the stalk from the fine fibrous parts.
2. To tease or vex, by sarcasms or reproach-
es ; a vulgar ttse of the word.
HATCH ELED, pp. Cleansed by a hatch-
el ; combed.
HATCH'ELER, n. One who uses a
hatchel.
HATCH'ELING, ppr. Drawing through
the teeth of a hatchel.
Dan.
Fr.
HATCHET, n. [G. hache
hache ; from hack, which see.] |
A small ax with a short handle, to be usedj
with one hand. |
To lake up the hatchet, a phrase borrowedi
from the natives of America, is to make'
war. I
To bun/ the hatchet, is to make peace.
HATCH'ET-FACE, n. A prominent face,!
like the edge of a hatchet. Dn/den.\
HATCH'ETINE, n. A substance of the]
hardness of soft tallow, of a yellowish
white or greenish yellow color, found in'
South Wales. Cleaveland.
HATCH'MENT, n. [corrupted from achiev-'
ment.] j
An armorial escutcheon on a herse at funer-'
als, or in a church. Shak.''
HATCH'WAY, n. In ships, a square or ob-!
long opening in the deck, affording a pas-
sage from one deck to another, or intoi
the hold or lower apartments.
Mar. Diet.'
HATE, V. t. [Sax. hatian, to hate, and to'
heat ; Goth, hatyan ; G. hassen ; D. haaten ;
Sw. hata ; Dan. hader ; L. odi, for hodi.\
In all the languages except the Saxon,'
hate and heat are distinguished in orthog-'
raphy; but the elements of the word are
the same, and probablythey are radically
one word denoting to stir, to irritate, to!
rouse.]
1. To dislike greatly ; to have a great aver-
sion to. It expresses less than abhor, de-'
test, and abominate, unless pronounced
with a ]>eculiar empliasis. I
How long will fools hate knowledge ? Prov. i.
Blessed are ye when men shaU hate you.j
Luke Ai. I
The Roman tyrant was contented to be hatedl
if he was but feared. Rambler.l
2. In Scripture, it signifies to love less.
If any man come to me, and ftaie not fatherj
nd mother, &c. Luke xiv.
98
He that spareth the rod, hateth his son. l'ro\
xiii.
HATE, n. Great dislike or aversion ; ha-
tred. Dryden.
HATED, pp. Greatly disliked.
HA'TEFUL, a. Odious; exciting great dis-
like, aversion or disgust. All sin is Itate-
ful in the sight of God and of good men.
2. That feels hatred ; malignant ; malevo-
lent.
And, worse than death, to view with hatiful
eyes
His rival's conquest. Dryden.
HATEFULLY, adv. Odiously ; with great
dislike.
2. Malignantly ; maliciously. Ezek. xxiii.
HA'TEFULNESS, «. Odiousness ; the
quality of being hateful, or of exciting
aversion or disgust.
HATER, n. One that hates.
An enemy to God, and a hater of all good.
Brown.
HA'TING, ppr. Disliking extremely ; en-
tertaining a great aversion for.
HA'TRED, n. Great dislike or aversion;-
hate ; enmity. Hatred is an aversion to
evil, and may spring from utter disappro-
bation, as the hatred of vice or meanness ;
or it may spring from offenses or injuries
done by fellow men, or from envy or
jealousy, in which case it is usually ac-
companied with malevolence or malignity.
Extreme hatred is abhorrence or detes-
tation.
HATTED, a. [from hat.] Covered with a
hat ; wearing a hat.
HAT'TER, V. t. To harass. Wot in use.]
Dryden.
HAT'TER, n. [from hal.] A maker of
hats.
HAT'TOCK,7!. [Erse, attach] A shock of
corn. [J^otinuse.]
HAUBERK, n. A coat of mail without
sleeves. Obs. [See Habergeon.]
HAUGHT, a. haut. [Qu. Fr. haut, or the
root of tlie English high. If it is from
the French haut, the orthography is cor-
rupt, for haut is from the Latin altus, that
is, haltus, changed to haut.]
High ; elevated ; hence, proud ; insolent.
Obs. Spenser. Shak.
HAUGHTILY, adv. hau'tily. [See Haught
and Haughty.]
Proudly; arrogantly ; with contempt or dis-
dain ; as, to speak or behave haughtily.
Her heavenly form too haughtily she prized.
Dryden.
HAUGHTINESS, n. hau'tiyiess. The qual-
ity of being haughty ; pride mingled with
some degree of contempt for others ; arro-
gance.
I will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
Is. xiii.
HAUGHTY, a. hau'ty. [from haugU, Fr.
haut.]
1. Proud and disdainful; having a high
opinion of one's self, with some contempt
for others ; lofty and arrogant ; supercili-
ous.
His wife was a woman of a haughty and im-
perious nature. Clarendon.
A haughty spirit goeth before a fall. Prov.
x\-i.
2. Proceeding from excessive pride, or pride
mingled With contempt ; manifesting pride
and disdain : as a haughty air or walk.
H A U
H A V
H A V
3. Proud and imperious ; as a haughty na-
tion.
4. Lofty ; bold ; of high hazard ; as a haugh-
ty enterprise. Obs. Spenser
HAUL, v.t. [Fr. haler; Arm.hala; Sp. ha
lar ; D. haaten. It is sometimes written
hale, but haul is preferable, as au repre-
sents the broad sound of a.]
1. To pull or draw with force ; to drag ; as,
to haul a heavy body along on the ground
to haul a boat on shore. Haul is equiva
lent to drag, and differs sometimes from
pull and draw, in expressing more force
and labor. It is much used by seamen ;
as, to haul down the sails ; haul in the
boom ; haul aft, &c.
2. To drag ; to compel to go.
Lest he haul thee to the judge. Luke xii.
When applied to persons, haul implies com-
pulsion or rudeness, or both.
To haul the uiind, in seamanshij), is to turn
the head of the ship nearer to the point
from which the wind blows, by arranging
the sails more obliquely, bracing the yards
more forward, hauling the sheets more
aft, &c. Mar. Did.
HAUL, n. A pulling with force ; a violent
pull. Thomson.
2. A draft of a net ; as, to catch a hundred
fish at a haul.
HAUL'ED,pp. Pulled with force; dragged
compelled to move.
HAUL'ING, ppr. Drawing by force or vio-
lence ; dragging.
HAULM,? [Sax. fcea/m; G. D. Sw. Dan
HAUM, \ "• halm ; Fr. chaume ; L. cul-
mus, the stalk of corn. Tlie sense is prob-
ably that which is set, or a shoot. It
seems to be the W. colov, a stem or stalk,
whence columna, a column.]
1. The stem or stalk of grain, of all kinds, or
of pease, beans, hops, &c.
2. Straw ; the dry stalks of corn, &c. in
general.
H^AUNCH, n. [Fr. hanche ; Arm. hoinch;
Sp. It. Port, anca.]
1. The hip; that part of the body of man
and of quadrupeds, which lies between the
last ribs and the thigh. Encyc.
2. The rear ; the hind part. [JVot used.]
H'AUNT, V. t. [Fr. hauler ; Arm. hantein or
henti.]
1. To frequent; to resort to much or often,
or to be much about ; to visit customa-
rily.
Celestial Venus haunts Idalia's groves.
Pope.
2. To come to frequently ; to intrude on ; to
trouble with frequent visits; to follow im-
portunately.
You wrong mc, Sir, thus still to haunt my
house. Shak.
Those cares that haunt the court and town.
Swift.
3. It is particularly applied to specters gr ap-
paritions, which are represented by fear
and creduhty as frequenting or inhabiting
old, decayed and deserted houses.
Foul spirits haunt my resting place.
Fairfax.
H'AUNT, V. i. To be much about ; to visit
or be present often.
I've char£;ed thee not to haunt about my door.
.S'Aa/f.
H'AUNT, n. A place to which one frequent
ly resorts. Taverns are often the haunts
of tipplers. A den is the haunt of wild
beasts.
2. The habit or custom of resorting to a
place. [JVot used.] Jlrhuthnol.
3. Custom ; practice. Obs. Chaucer.
H'AUNTED, pp. Frequently visited or re-
sorted to, especially by apparitions.
2. Troubled by frequent visits.
HAUNTER, n. One who frequents a par-
ticular place, or is often about it.
H'AUNTING, ppr. Frequenting ; visiting
often ; troubling with frequent visits.
HAUST, n. [Sax. hwasta.] A dry cough
Obs. Ray.
HAUTBOY, n. ho'hoy. [Fr. haul, high, and
bois, wood, or a shoot.]
A wind instrument, somewhat resembhng
flute, but widening towards the bottom,
and sounded through a reed. The treble
is two feet long. The tenor goes a fifth
lower, when blown open. It has only
eight holes ; but the base, which is five
feet long, has eleven. Encyc
HAUTEUR, n. [Fr.] Pride; haughtiness;
insolent manner or spirit.
HAUYNE, n. A mineral, called by HaOy
lalialite, occurring in grains or small mass
es, and also in groups of minute, shining
crystals. Its color is blue, of var
shades. It is found imbedded in volcanic
rocks, basalt, clinkstone, &c.
Cleaveland.
HAVE, V. t. hav. pret. and pp. had. Indie.
Present, I have, thou hast, he has; we,
ye, they, have. [Sax. habban ; Goth, haban ;
G. haben ; D. hebben; Sw. hafva ; Dan.
haver; l^.habeo; Sp. haber; Port, haver;
It. avere ; Fr. avoir ; W. hajiaiv, to snatch,
or seize hastily, and hapiaw, to happen
The Spanish haber unites have with hap-
pen ; haber, to have or possess, to take, to
happen or befall. The primary sense then
is to fall on, or to rush on and seize. See
Happen. Class Gb. No. 74. 79.]
I. To possess ; to hold in possession orpow
How many loaves have ye ? Matt. xv.
He that gathered much had nothing ovei
Ex. xvi.
I have no Levite to my priest. Judges 17.
To have and to hold, terms in a deed of
conveyance.
2. To possess, as something that is connect-
ed with, or belongs to one.
Have ye a father? Have ye another brother .'
Gen. xliii. and xliv.
— Sheep that have no shepherd. 1 Kings
xxii.
3. To marry; to take for a wife or husband.
In the resuiTection, whose wife shall she be
f the seven > for they all Aarf her. Matt. xxii.
4. To hold ; to regard. Thus, to hace in
honor, is to hold in esteem ; to esteem ; to
honor.
To have in derision or contempt, to bold
in derision or contempt ; to deride ; to des-
5. To maintain ; to hold in opinion.
Sometimes they will have them to be the
natural heat ; sometimes they will have them to
be the qualities of the tangible parts. Bacon.
6. To be urged by necessity or obligation ;
to be under necessity, or impelled by duty.
I have to visit twenty patients every day.
Wc have to strive against temptations.
We have to encounter strong prejudices.
The nation has to pay the interest of an
immense debt.
7. To seize and hold ; to catch. The hound
has him. [TTie original, but now a vulgar use
of the u}ord.]
8. To contain. The work has many beau-
ties and many faults.
9. To gain ; to procure ; to receive ; to ob-
tain ; to purchase. I had this cloth very
cheap. He has a guinea a month. He
has high wages for his services.
Had rather, denotes wish or preference.
I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of
my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Ps. I.xxxiv.
Is not this phrase a corruption oi would
rather ?
To have after, to pursue. [JVot much used,
nor elegant] Shak.
To have away, to remove ; to take away.
Tusser.
To have at, to encounter ; to assail ; as, to have
at him ; to have at you. [Legitimate, but
vulgar.]
To enter into competition with ; to
make trial with. Shak.
Dryden uses in a like sense, have with
you ; but these uses are inelegant.
To have in, to contain.
To have on, to wear ; to carry, as raiment or
weapons.
He saw a man who had not on a wedding-
garment. Matt. .vxii.
To have out, to cause to depart. 2 Sam. xiii.
To have a care, to take care ; to be on tl.e
guard, or to guard.
To have pleasure, to enjoy.
To have pain, to suffer.
To have sorrow, to be grieved or afflicted.
With would and should.
He would have, he desires to have, or l.e re-
quires.
He should have, he ought to have.
But the various uses of have in such phra-
ses, and its uses as an auxiliary verb,
are fully explained in grammars. As an
auxiliary, it assists in forming the perfect
tense, as I have formed, thou hast form-
ed, hehxilh or has formed, we have formed,
and the prior-past tense, as I had seen,
thou hadst seen, he had seen.
HAVELESS, a. hav'les. Having little or
nothing. [JVot in use.] Gower.
HA'VEN, n. ha'vn. [Sax. hafan ; D. haven ;
Dan. havn ; Fr. hdvre ; Arm. haffn ; G.
hofen ; from haber, a Gaidish word, signi-
fying the mouth of a river, says Lunier.
But in Welsh, hav is summer, and havyn
is a flat, extended, still place, and a ha-
ven.]
A harbor; a port ; a bay, recess or inlet
of the sea, or the mouth of a river which
aflTords good anchorage and a safe station
for ships ; any place in which ships can
be sheltered by the land from the force of
tempests and a violent sea.
A shelter ; an asylum ; a place of safety.
Shak.
HA'VENER, 71. The overseer of a port ; a
harbor-master. [JVot used.] Carew.
HAV'ER, n. One who has or possesses ; a
a holder. [Little used.]
HAV'ER, n. [G. hafer ; B. haver ; perhaps
L. avena.]
HAW
Oats; a word of local use in the north of
£ngland ; as haverbread, oaten bread.
Johnson.
HAVERSACK, n. [Fr. havrc-sac] A sol-
dier's knapsack.
HAVING, ppr. [from have.] Possessing;
holding in power or possession ; contain-
ing; gaining; receiving; taking.
HAV'ING, n. Possession ; goods ; estate.
[ATol in use.] Stuik.
2. Tiie act or state of possessing. Sidney.
HAV'OCK, n. [W. Aayog-, a spreading about,
waste, devastation ; havogi, to commit
waste, to devastate ; supposed to be from
hav, a spreading. But qu. Ir. arvach, liav-
ock.]
Waste ; devastation ; wide and general de-
struction.
Ve gods ! what havock does ambition make
Among your works. Addison.
As for Saul, he made havock of the church.
Acts viii.
HAVOCK, V. t. To waste; todestroy; to
lay waste.
To waste and havock yonder world.
Milton
HAW, n. [Sax. hccg, hag, G. heck, D. haag,
heg, Dan. hek, hekke, a hedge.]
1. The berry and seed of the hawthorn, that
is, hedge-thorn. Bacon
2. [Sax. haga.] A small piece of ground ad
joining a house ; a small field ; properly,
an inclosed piece of land, from hedge, like
garden, which also signifies an inclosure.
[Dan. hauge, a garden.]
3. In farriery, an excrescence resembling a
gristle, growing under the nether eyelid
and eye of a horse. Encyc.
4. A dale. Obs. Chaucer.
HAW, V. i. [corrupted from hawk, or hack.]
To stop in speaking with a haw, or to
speak with interruption and hesitation
as, to hem and haw. VEstrange.
HAWFINCH, n. A bird, a species of
Loxia.
HAW'HAW, n. [duplication of haw,
hedge.]
A fence or bank that interrupts an alley or
walk, sunk between slopes and not per-
ceived till approached. Todd.
HAWING, ppr. Speaking with a haw, or
with hesitation.
HAWK, n. [Sax. hafoc ; D. hnvik ; G. ha-
hicht ; Sw. hok ; Dan. hog, hiiog ; W.he
bog, named from heb, utteVance.]
A genus of fowls, the Falco, of many spe
ries, having a crooked beak, furnished
with a cere at the base, a cloven tongue,
and the head thick set with fethers. Most
of tlic species are rapacious, feeding or
birds or other small animals. Hawk;
were formerly trained for sport or catch
ing small birds.
HAWK, V. i. To catch or attempt to catch
birds by means of hawks trained for the
purpose, and let loose on the prey ; to
practice falconry.
He that hawks at larks and sparrows.
Locke.
A I'alc'ner Henry is, when Emma hawks.
Prior.
2. To fly at ; to attack on the wing ; with at.
To hawk at flies. Dniden
HAWK, t). i. [W. hoci ; Scot, hawgh. Qu.
Chal. no, and keck and cough. See Class
Gk. No. 5. 29. 3C.1
n A Y
To make an eflTort to force up phlegm with
noise ; as, to hawk and spit.
Shak. Harvey.
To hawk up, transitively ; as, to haivk up
phlegm.
HAWK, n. An effort to force up phlegm
from the throat, accompanied with noise.
HAWK, V. t. [Qu. G. hocken, to take on the
back ; hocken, to higgle ; hiicker, a huck-
ster ; or the root of L. audio, auction, a
sale by outcry. The root of the latter
probably signified to cry out.]
To cry; to offer for sale by outcry in the
street, or to sell by outcry ; as, to hawk
goods or pamphlets.
HAVVK'ED,;)/). Offered for sale by outcry
in the street.
a. Crooked ; curving like a hawk's bill
HAWK'ER, n. One who offers goods for
sale by outcry in the street ; a pedlar.
Swift.
. A falconer. [Sax. ha/cere.]
HAWK'EYED, (I. Having acute sight ; dis
cerning.
HAWK'ING, ppr. Catching wild birds by
hawks.
2. Making an effort to discharge phlegm.
3. OflTering for sale in the street by outcry
HAWK'ING, H. The exerciseof taking wild
fowls by means of hawks.
HAWK'NOSED, a. Having an aquiline
nose. Farrand
HAWK'WEED, Ji. The vulgar name ofsev-
eral species of plants, of the genera, Hie-
racium, Crepis, Hyoseris, and Andryala.
HAWSE, n. hawz. [See Halscr.] The situa-
tion of a ship moored with two anchors
from the bows, one on the starboard, tin
other on the larboard bow ; as, the ship
has a clear /lait'OT, or a foul Aaicse. Afoul
hawse is when the cables cross each othci
or are twisted together. Mar. Diet
HAWSE-HOLE, n. A cylindrical hole in
the bow of a ship through which a cable
HAWSE-PIECE, n. One of the foremost
timbers of a ship.
HAWS'ER, n. [See Halser.] A small cable
or a large rope, in size between a cable and
a tow-line. Mar. Diet. Encyc.
HAWTHORN, n. [Sax. hwg-thorn, hedge-
thorn ; Sw. hagtorn ; Dan. hagetom ; G.
hagedorn ; D. haagedoorn.]
A shrub or tree which bears the haw, of the
genus Crata!gus; the white-thorn. The
hawthorn is inuch used for hedges, and
for standards in gardens. It grows natti-
rally in all parts of Europe. Encyc.
HAW'THORN-FL?, n.An insect so called.
Walton.
HAY, II. [Sax. Aeg, feig- ;• G. heu; D. hooi ;
Dan. hoc ; Sw. ho.]
Grass cut and dried for fodder ; grass pre-
pared for preservation. Make hay while
the sun shines.
To dance the hay, to dance in a ring.
Donne.
HAY, V. t. [G. heuen.] To dry or cure grass
for preservation.
HAY, n. [Sax. hceg.] A hedge. Ohs.
Chaucer.
2. A net which incloses the haunt of an ani-
mal. Harmer.
HAY, V. t. To lay snares for rabbits.
Hidoct.
II A Z
IIA'YBOTE, n. Hedge-bole. In English
law, an allowance of wood to a tenant for
repairipg liedges or fences.
Blackslone.
HA'YCOCK, JI. A conical pile or heap of
hay, in the field.
HA'YKNIFE, n. A shaq) instrument used
in cutting hay out of a stack or mow. «
HA'YLOFT, n. A loft or scaffold for hay,
particularly in a barn.
HAYMAKER, n. One who cuts and dries
grass for fodder.
HA'YMAIvING, ji. The business of cutting
grass and curing it for fodder.
HA'YMARKET, n. A place for the sale of
hay.
HA'YMOVV^, n. A mow or mass of hay laid
up in a barn for preservation.
HA'YRICK, n. A rick of hay; usually a
long pile for preservation in the open air.
HA'YSTACK, n. A stack or large conical
pile of hay in the open air, laid up for
preservation.
HA'YWARD, n. [hay and ward, hedge-
ward.]
A person who keeps the common herd or
cattle of a town, and guards hedges or
fences. In New England, the hayward is
a town officer whose duty is to impound
cattle, and particularly swine which are
found running at large in the highways,
contrary to law.
HA'YDENITE, n. A mineral discovered by
Dr. Hayden, near Ualtiinore. It occurs
in garnet colored crystals.
HAZ'ARD, n. [Fr. fiasard; probably from
the root of L. casus, a fall, and ard, tlie
common termination.]
1. Chance ; accident ; casualty ; a fortuitous
event; that which falls or comes suddenly
or unexpectedly, the cause of which is un-
known, or whose operation is unforeseen
or unexpected.
I will stand the hazard of tlie die. Shak.
2. Danger; peril; risk. He encountered the
enemy at the hazard of his reputation and
life.
3. A game at dice.
To run the hazard, to risk ;
Swift.
to take the
chance ; to do or neglect to do something,
when the consequences are not foreseen,
and not within the powers of calculation.
HAZ'ARD, V. t. [Fr. hasarder.] To expose
to chance ; to put in danger of loss or in-
jury ; to venture ; to risk ; as, to hazard
life to save a friend ; to hazard an estate
on the throw of a die ; to hazard salvation
for temporal pleasure.
Men hazard nothing by a course of evangel-
ical obedience. /. Clarke.
2. To venture to incur, or bring on : as, to
hazard the loss of reputation.
HAZ'ARD, V. i. To try the chance; to ad-
venture ; to run the risk or danger.
Pause a day or two, before you hazard —
Shak.
HAZ'ARDABLE, a. That is liable to haz-
ard or chance. Brown.
HAZ ARDED, pp. Put at risk or in dan-
ger; ventured.
H.AZ'ARDER, n. One who ventures or puts
at stake.
H E
H E A
H E A
HAZ'ARDING,p;)r. Exposing to danger or
peril ; venturing to bring on.
HAZ'ARDOUS, a. Dangerous ; tliat expo
ses to peril or danger of loss or evil ; as a
hazardous attempt or experiment.
IIAZ'ARDOUSLY, adv. With danger of
loss or evil ; with pQril.
HAZ'ARDRY, ?i. Rashness ; temerity. Obs,
Spenser.
2. Gaming in general. Obs. Chaucer.
HAZE, 71. [The primary sense of this word
is probably to mix, or to turn, stir and
make thick.]
Fog ; a watery vapor in the air, or a dry va-
por like smoke, which renders the air
thick.
HAZE, V. i. To be foggy. [A local word.]
Ray.
HAZE, V. t. To frigliten. [JVot used.]
JlinsiBorth.
HAZEL, n. ha'zl. [Sax. hcescl, a hat or cap ;
hcesl, hazel; ha:sl-mUu, hazel-nut ; G.hasel;
T). hazelaar ; Dan.hassel, hassel-nod ; Sw.
hassel. By the Saxon it appears that the
word signifies a cap, and the name of the
nut, a cap-nut.]
A shrub of the genus Corylus, hearing a nut
containing a kernel of a mild farinaceous
taste. Encyc.
HAZEL, a. ha'zl. Pertaining to the hazel or
like it ; of a light brown color, like the
hazel-nut.
HA'ZEL-EARTH, n. A kind of red loam.
Encyc.
HA'ZEL-NUT, n. The nut or fruit of the
hazel.
HA'ZELLY, a. Of the color of the hazel-
nut ; of a light brown.
Mortimer. Encyc.
HA'ZY, a. [See Haze.] Foggy ; misty ; thick
with vapor; as hazy weather; the hazy
north. Thomson.
HE, pronoun of the third person ; nom. he ;
poss. his; obj. him. [Sax. mas. he; fern,
heo ; neut. hit, now contracted to it, L. id,
for hid. It seems to be a contracted word,
for the L. is hie, and the Saxon accusative
is sometimes hig. In English it has no
plural, but it has in Saxon, hi, they.]
1. A pronoun, a substitute for the third per-
son, masculine gender, representing the
man or male person named before.
Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he
shall rule over thee. Gen. iii.
Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; /ii'ni shall
thou serve. Deut. x.
2. It often has reference to a person that is
named in the subsequent part of the sen-
tence. He is the man.
3. He is often used without reference to
any particular person, and may be re-
ferred to any person indefinitely that an-
swers the description. It is then synony-
mous with any man.
He that walketh with wise men, shall be
wise. Prov. xiii.
4. He, when a substitute for ^nan in its gene-
ral sense, expressing mankind, is of com-
mon gender, representing, Uke its antece-
dent, the whole human race.
My Spirit shall not always strive with man,
for that he also is flesh. Gen. vi.
."). Man ; a male.
I stand to answer thee, or any he the proud-
est of thy sort. Shak.
In this use of he, in the ludicrous style,
the word has no variation of case. In the
foregoing sentence, he is in the objective
case, or position, and the word is to be
considered as a noun.
6. He is sometimes prefixed to the names of
animals to designate the male kind,
he-goat, a he-hear. In such cases, he i
be considered as an adjective, or the two
words as forming a compound.
HEAD, n. hed. [Sax. heafod, hefed, hea/d;
D. huofd ; Dan. hoved ; Sw. hufvud; G.
haupt. This word is a j)articiple of the Sax,
heajan, he/an, to heave, pret. hof, hove ; G.
heben, hob, &c. Heafod, heaved, the ele-
vated part, the top. Class Gb.]
1. The uppermost part of the hutiian body,
or the foremost part of the body of prone
and creeping animals. This part of the
hinnan body contains the organs of hear-
ing, seeing, tasting and smelling ; it con-
tains al.so the brain, which is supposed tc
be the seat of the intellectual powers, and
of sensation. Hence the head is the chief
or most important part, and is used for the
whole person, in the plu'ase, let the evil
fall on my head.
2. An animal ; an individual ; as, the tax was
raised by a certain rate per head. And
we use the singular number to express
many. The herd contains twenty head of
oxen.
Thiity thousand Aeorf of swine. Addison.
3. A chief ; a principal person ; a leader ; a
commander ; one who has the first rank
or place, and to whom others are subor-
dinate ; as the head of an army ; the head
of a sect or party. Eph. v.
4. The first place ; the place of honor, or of
command. The lord mayor sat at the
head of the table. The general marched
at the head of his troops.
5. Countenance ; presence ; in the phrases,
to hide the head, to show the head.
6. Understanding ; faculties of the mind ;
sometimes in a ludicrous sense ; as, a man
has a good head, or a strong head. These
men laid their heads together to form the
scheme. Never trouble your head about
this affair. So we say, to beat the head ;
to break the head; that is, to study hard,
to exercise the understanding or mental
faculties.
7. Face ; front ; forepart.
The ravishers turn head, the fight renews.
[Unusual.'\ JDryden.
Resistance ; successful opposition ; in the
phrase, to make head against, that is, to
advance, or resist with success.
9. Spontaneous will or resolution ; in the
phrases, of his own head, on their men head.
But of'\s more usual than on.
10. State of a deer's horns by which his age
is known. The buck is called, the fifth
year, a buck of the first head. Shak.
11. The top of a thing, especially when lar-
ger than the rest of the thing ; as the head
of a spear ; the head of a cabbage ; the head
of a nail ; the head of a mast.
12. The forepart of a thing, as the head of a
ship, which includes the bows on both
sides ; also, the ornamental figure or im-
age erected on or before the stem of a ship.
Encyc.
1.3. The blade or cutting part of an ax, dis-
tinct from the helve.
14. That which rises on the top ; as the head
or yeast of beer. Mortimer.
15. The upper part of a bed, or bed-stead.
16. The brain.
They turn their heads to imitate the sun.
Pope.
17. The dress of the head ; as a laced head.
[Unusual.] Swift.
18. The principal source of a stream ; as the
head of the Nile.
19. Altitude of water in ponds, as applica-
ble to the driving of mill-wheels. The
mill has a good head of water.
20. Topic of discourse; chief point or sub-
ject ; a summary ; as the heads of a dis-
course or treatise.
21. Crisis; pitch; highth. The disease has
grown to such a head as to threaten hfe.
22. Influence ; force ; strength ; pitch. The
sedition got to such a head as not to be
easily quelled.
23. Body; conflux. 06s. Shak. Spenser.
24. Power ; armed force.
My lord, my lord, the French have gathered
head. Shak.
25. Liberty ; freedom from restraint ; as, to
give a horse the head. Hence,
!. License; freedom from check, control
or restraint. Children should not have
their heads.
He has too long given his unruly passions the
head. South.
27. The hair of the head ; as a head of hair.
. The top of corn or other plant; the part
on which the seed grows.
29. The end, or the boards that form the
end ; as the head of a cask.
30. The iiart most remote from the mouth
or opening into the sea; as the head of a
bay, gulf or creek.
. The maturated part of an ulcer or boil ;
hence, to come to a head, is to suppurate.
Head and ears, a phrase denoting the whole
person, especially when referring to im-
mersion. He plunged head and ears into
the water. He was head aiid ears in debt,
that is, completely overwhelmed.
Head and shmdders, by force ; violently ; as,
to drag one head and shoulders.
Head or tail, or, head nor tail, uncertain ;
not reducible to certainty. Burke.
Head, as an adj. or in composition, chief;
principal ; as a head workman.
y the head, in seamen's language, denotes
the state of a ship laden too deeply at the
fore-end.
HEAD, V. t. hed. To lead ; to direct ; to act
as leader to ; as, to head an army ; to head
an expedition ; to head a riot.
2. To behead ; to decapitate. [Unusual.]
Shak.
3. To form a head to ; to fit or furnish with
a head ; as, to head a nail.
4. To lop ; as, to Aearf trees.
5. To go in front of; to get into the front;
as, to head a drove of cattle.
6. To set on the head ; as, to head a cask.
7. To o]i])ose ; to veer round and blow in
opposition to the course of a ship ; as, the
wind heads us.
HEAD, i>. i. hed. To originate ; to spring;
to have its source, as a river.
A broad river that heads in the great Blue
Ridge of mountains. ..idair.
HEAD.\€H, n. hed'ake. Pain in the head.
H E A
HEADBAND, »«. hed'band. A fillet; a band
for the lieail ; also, the band at each end
of a book. Is. iii.
HEADBOROUGII, n. hed'hurro. In Eng-
land, formerly, the chief of a frank-pledge,
tithing or decennary, consisting of ten
families; called in some counties, bors-
holder, that is, borough's elder, and some-
times tithing man. lilackstone.
HEAD-DRESS, n. hed'dress. The dress of
the head; the covering or ornaments of i
woman's head. Pope. Addison
2. The crest, or tuft of fethers on a fowl's
head. Addison
HEADED, pp. hed'ed. Led ; directed ; fur
iiished with a head ; having a top. This
is used in composition, as ckar-headtd,
long-headed, thick-headed, &c.
I HEADER, n. hed'er. One who heads nails
or pins.
2. One who leads a mob or party.
3. The first brick in the angle of a wall.
I Moxon
I HEADFAST, n. hed'fast. A rope at the
head of a ship to fasten it to a wharf or
other fixed object. Mar. Diet.
I HEADFIRST, adv. hedfurst. With the
head foremost.
HEADGARGLE, n. hed'gargle. A disease
of cattle. Mortimer
HEADGEAR, n. hed'gear. The dress of a
woman's head. Burton.
HEADINESS, n. hed'iness. [See Heady.]
Rarshness ; precipitation ; a dispositi
rush forward without due deliberation or
prudence. Spenser.
2. Stubbornness; obstinacy.
HEADING, n. hed'ing. Timber for the
heads of casks.
HEADLAND, n. hed'land. A cape
promontory ; a point of land projecting
from the shore into the sea, or other ex-
panse of water.
2. A ridge or strip of unplowed land at the
ends of furrows, or near a fence.
HEADLESS, o. hed'less. Ha\ing no head ;
beheaded ; as a headless body, neck or car-
case. Dryden. Spenser.
2. Destitute of a chief or leader. jRaleigk
3. Destitute of understanding or prudence ;
rash; obstinate. Spenser.
HEADLONG, adv. hed'long. With the
head foremost ; as, to fall headlong.
Dryden
2. Rashly ; precipitately ; without delibera-
tion.
— He hurries headlong to his fate. Dryden
3. Hastily ; without delay or respit.
HEADLONG, a. hed'long. Steep; precipi-
tous. Milton.
2. Rash ; precipitate ; as headlong folly.
HEADMAN, n. hed'man. A chief; a lead
er.
HEADMOLD-SHOT, n. A disease in chil
dren, in which the sutures of the skull, us-
ually the coronal, ride, that is, when their
edges shoot over one another, and are
close-locked as to compress the brain ; of-
ten occasioning convulsions and death.
Encyc.
HEAD'MONEY, ji. hed'munny. A capita-
tion-tax. Milton.
HEADMOST, a. hed'mosf. Most advanced;
most forward ; first in a line or order of
progression ; as the headmost ship
tieet.
H E A
HEAD-PAN, n. hed'-pan. The brain-pan.
UVot in use.]
HEAD-PIECE, n. hed'-pece. Armor for the
head ; a helmet ; a morion.
Sidney. Dryden.
2. Understanding; force of mind. [JVol com-
mon.] Prideaux.
HEADQU.\RT'ERS, n. plu. The quarters
or place of residence of the commander-
in-chief of an army.
2. The residence of any chief, or place from
hich orders are issued.
HEAD-ROPE, n. hed'-rope. That part of a
bolt-rope which terminates any sail on the
upper edge, and to which it is sewed.
Mar. Did.
HEAD-SAIL, n. hed'-sail. The head-sails
of a ship are the sails which are extended
on the fore-mast and bowsprit, as the fore-
sail, foretop-sail, jib, &c. Mar. Diet.
HEAD-SEA, n. hed'-sea. Waves that
the head of a ship or roll against _her
course. Mar.
HE.-\DSHAKE, n. hed'shake. A significant
shake of the head.
HEADSHIP, n. hed'ship. Authority ; chief
place. Hales.
HEADSMAN, n. hed'sman. One that cuts
off heads; an executioner. [Unusual.]
Dryden.
HEADSPRING, n. hed'spring. Fountain ;
source ; origin.
HEADSTALL, ji. hed'staU. That part of c
bridle which encompasses the head.
HEADSTONE, n. hcd'stone. The princi
pal stone in a foundation ; the chief or
corner stone. Psalms.
2. The stone at the head of a grave.
HEADSTRONG, a. hed'slrong. Violent
obstinate ; ungovernable ; resolute to run
his own way; bent on pursuing his own
will ; not easily restrained.
Now let tlie headstrong boy my will control
Dryden
2. Directed by ungovernable will or proceed-
ing from obstinacy ; as a headstrong course
Dryden.
HEAD'STRONGNESS, n. Obstinacy. [JVot
in rise.] Gayton.
HEADTIRE, n. hed'tire. Dress or attire
for the head. 1 E.sdras iii.
HEADWAY, n. hed'way. Tlie motion of
an advancing ship. A ship makes head-
way, when she advances, as from a state
of rest.
HEAD-WIND, JI. hed'-wind. A wind that
blows in a direction oppo.site to the ship's]
course.
HEAD-WORK'MAN, n The chief work-
man of a party ; a foreman in a manufac-
tory. Swijl.
HEADY, a. hedy. [See Head.] Rash ; has-
ty ; precipitate ; violent ; disposed to rush
forward in an enterjirise without thought
or deliberation ; hurried on by will or pas-
sion ; ungovernable.
All the talent required, is to be heady, lo be
violent on one side or the other. Temple.
2. Apt to affect the head ; inflaming ; intox-
icating ; strong ; as spirituous liquors.
Champagne is a heady wine.
3. Violent; impetuous; as a heady current.
Wot usual.] Shak.
HEAL, V. t. [Sax. ha:lan, helan, gehelan, to
heal, and to cSnceal, L. celo ; Goth, hail-
yan, to heal ; G. heilen ; D. heelen ; Sw.
H E A
hela ; Dan. heeler ; from hal, heil, hec!, hi,
whole, sound, allied to hold and holy. Heb.
hj,'^-)^, Ch. kSd, to he whole or entire, all.
The primary sense of the root is to press,
strain, extend ; hence, to hold, to shut, en-
close, conceal, to embrace the whole. To
heal is to make ivholc, hale, sound, and to
conceal is to hold, or keep close.]
1. To cure of a djsease or wound and re-
store to soundness, or to that state of body
in which the natural functions are regu-
larly performed ; as, to heal the sick.
Speak, and my servant shall be healed. Matt.
) remove or subdue ; as, to heal
> cicatrize ; as, to heal a sore
to heal a
vni.
2. To cure ; I
a disease.
."3. To cause i
or wound.
To restore to soundness ;
wounded limb.
5. To restore purity to ; to remove feculence
or foreign matter.
Thus saith the Lord, I have healed tiiese
waters. 2 Kings ii.
. To remove, as differences or dissension ;
to reconcile, as parties at variance ; as, to
heal a breach or difference.
. In Scripture, to forgive ; to cure moral dis-
ease and restore soundness.
I will heal their backsliding. Hos. xiv.
!. To purify from corruptions, redress griev-
ances and restore to prosperity. Jer. xiv.
9. To cover, as a roof with tiles, slate, lead,
&c. [Sax. helan.] Encyc.
HEAL, II. t. To grow sound; to return to a
sound state ; as, the limb heals, or the
wound heals ; sometimes with up or orer ;
it will heal up or over.
HE'ALABLE, a. That may be healed.
Sherwood.
IIE'ALED, pp. Restored to a sound state.
HE'ALER, n. He or that which cures, or
restores to soundness.
HE'ALING, ppr. Curing ; restoring to a
sound state.
2. a. Tending to cure ; mild ; mollifying.
HE'ALING, n. The act of curing.
2. The act of covering. 06*.
HEALTH, n. helth. [from heal] That state
of an animal or living body, in which the
parts are sound, well organized and dis-
]iosed, and in which they all perform free-
ly their natural functions. In this state
the animal feels no pain. This word is
applied also to plants.
Though health may be enjoyed without grat-
itude, it cannot be sported with without loss, or
regained by courage. Buckmimter.
2. Sound state of the mind ; natural vigor of
faculties. Bacon.
3. Sound state of the mind, io a moral sense ;
purity ; goodness.
There is no health in us. Common Prayer.
4. Salvation or divine favor, or grace which
cheers God's people. Ps. xhii.
5. Wish of health and happiness ; used in
drinking. Come, love and health to all ;
an elliptical phrase, for, I wish health to
you.
HEALTHFUL, a. helth'/ul. Being in a
sound state, as a living or organized be-
ing ; having the parts or organs entire,
and their functions in a free, active and
undisturbed operation ; free from disease.
We speak of a healthful body, ahealthfii!
person, a healthful plant.
H E A
3. Serving to promote health ; wholesome ;
salubrious ; as a healthful air or climate ;
a healthful diet.
3. Indicating health or soundness; as a
healthful condition.
4. Salutary ; promoting spiritual health.
Common Prayer.
5. Well disposed ; favorable.
AAfa//A/»Zeartohear. lUimsual] Shak.
HEALTH'FULLY, adv. In health ; whole-
somely.
HEALTH'FULNESS, n. A state of being
well ; a state in which the parts of a liv-
ing body are sound, and regularly perform
their functions.
2. Wholesomeness ; salubrity ; state or qual-
ities that promote health ; as the heallh-
f Illness of the air, or of climate, or of diet,
or of exercises.
IIRALTH'ILY, a. [See Health.'] Without
disease.
HEALTH'INESS, n. The state of health ;
soundness ; freedom from disease ; as the
healthiness of an animal or plant.
HEALTH'LESS, a. Infirm ; sickly.
2. Not conducive to health. [Little iised.]
Taylor
HEALTII'SOME, a. Wliolesome. [JVo
used.] Shak
HEALTH'Y, a. Being in a sound state ; en
joying health ; hale ; sound ; as a healthy
body or constitution.
2. Conducive to health ; wholesome ; saki
brious ; as a healthy exercise ; a healthy
climate ; healthy recreations. Locke.
IIEAM, n. In beasts, the same as after-
birth in women. Johnson. Todd.
REAP, n. [Sax. heap, heap; D. hoop; G
haufc ; Sw. hop ; Dan. hob ; Russ. kupa .
W. cub, a heap, what is put together, a
bundle, a cube. See Class Gb. No. 1. 2. 3
4. 5.]
1. A pile or mass; a collection of things
laid in a body so as to form an elevation
as a heap of earth or stones.
H E A
HE'APY, o. Lying in heaps ; as heapy rub-
" sh. Gay.
HEAR, V. t. pret. and ])p. heard, but more
correctly heared. [Sax. heoran, hyran ; G.
horen ; D. hooren ; Dan. horer ; Sw. hora.
It seems to be from ear, L. auris, or from
the saine root. So L. audio seems to be
connected with Gr. ovj. The sense is
probably to lend the ear, to turn or in
cline the ear, and ear is probably a shoot
or extremity.]
1. To perceive by the ear; to feel an im
pression of sound by the proper organs ;
as, to hear sound ; to hear a voice ; to heai
words.
2. To give audience or allowance to speak
He sent for Paul, and heard him concerning
the I'aith in Christ. Acts xxiv.
3. To attend ; to listen ; to obey.
To-day, if ye will hear liis voice, harden not
your heart. Ps. xcv.
To attend favorably ; to regard.
They think they shall be heard for theii
much speaking. Matt. vi.
To grant an answer to prayer.
I love the Lord, because he hath heard my
voice. Ps. cxvi.
To attend to the facts, evidence, and
guments in a cause between parties ;
try in acourtof law or equity. The cause
was heard and determined at the
term ; or, it was heard at the last term,
and will be determined at the next. So 2
Sam. XV.
7. To acknowledge a title; a Latin phrase
Hear'st thou submissive, but a lowly birth.
Prior
8. To be a hearer of; to sit under the preach-
ing of; as, what minister do you hear"}
[A colloquial use of the rvord.]
9. To learn.
I speak to the world those things which 1
have heard of him. John viii.
10. To approve and embrace.
They speak of the world, and the world hear
Huge heaps of slain around tlie body rise.
Diyden
2. A crowd ; a throng ; a cluster ; applied
to living persons. [Inelegant and not in
use.] Bacon. Dryden.
3. A mass of ruins.
Thou hast made of a city a heap. Is. xxv.
HEAP, v.t. [Sax. heapian ; Sw. hopa; G.
haufen ; D. hoopen.]
1. To throw or lay in a heap; to pile; as
to heap stones ; often with up : as, to heap
up earth ; or with on ; as, to heap on wood
or coal.
2. To amass ; to accumulate ; to lay up
collect in great quantity ; with up; as, to
heap up treasures.
Though the wicked heap vp silver as the
dust — Job xxvii. I
3. To add something else, in large quanti-
ties. Shak.\
4. To pile ; tb add till the mass takes a
roundish form, or till it rises above the
measure ; as, to heap any thing in meas-
uring.
HE' APED, pp. Piled ; amassed ; accumu-
lated.
HE'APER, ji. One who heaps, piles or
amasses.
HE'APING, ppr. Piling ; collecting into a
To hear a bird sing, to receive private com-
munication. Shak
HEAR, V. i. To enjoy the sense or faculty
of perceiving sound. He is deaf, he can
not hear.
2. To listen ; to hearken ; to attend. Hi
hears with solicitude.
3. To be told ; to receive by report.
I hear there are divisions among you, and I
partly believe it. 1 Cor. xi.
HEARD, ^ „„ Perceived by the ear. [/i
HEARED, I
pp.
pronunciation, this word
should not be confounded urilh herd
HE'ARER, n. One who hears ; one wh<
attends to what is orally delivered by an
other; an auditor; one of an audience.
HE'ARING, ppr. Perceiving by the ear, a:
nd.
2. Listening to ; attending to ; obeying ; ob
serving what is commanded.
3. Attending to witnesses or advocates in a
judicial trial; trying.
HE'ARING, JI. The faculty or sense by
hich sound is perceived.
2. Audience; attention to wh.it is delivered ;
opportunity to be heard. I waited on the
minister, but could not obtain a hearing.
3. Judicial trial ; attention to the facts, testi-
mony and arguments i'^a cause between
parties, with a view to a just dec)
H E A
The act of perceiving sounds ; sensation
or perception of sound.
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the
ear. Job xlii.
And to the others he said in mv hearim.
Ezek. ix.
5. Reach of the ear ; extent within which
sound may be heard. He was not within
hearing.
HE'ARKEN, v. i. h'arken. [Sax. heorcnian,
hyrcnian ; G. horchen.]
1. To listen; to lend the ear; to attend to
what is uttered, with eagerness or curi-
osity.
The furies hearken, and their snakes uncuri.
Dryden.
2. To attend ; to regard ; to give heed to
what is uttered ; to observe or obey.
Hearken, O Israel, to the statutes and the
judgments which I teach you. Deut. Iv.
3. To listen ; to attend ; to grant or comply
with.
Hearken thou to the supplication of thy ser-
vant. 1 Kings viii.
HE'ARKEN, v.t. hearken. To hear by hsten-
ing. [Little used.]
HE'ARKENER, n. h'arkener. A listener;
one who hearkens.
HE>ARKENING, p;)r. hearkening. Listen-
ing; attending; observing.
HEARS A L, for Rehearsal. [JVot in use.]
Spenser.
HE'ARSAY, n. [hear and say.] Report;
rumor; fame; common talk. He affirms
without any authority except hearsay. The
account we have depends on hearsay. It
is sometimes used as an adjective ; as hear-
say evidence.
:HEARSE, 71. hers. [See Hersc] A tempo-
rary monument set over a grave.
I JVeever.
2. The case or place in which a corpse is
j deposited. Fairfax.
,3. A carriage for conveying the dead to the
I grave. [See Herse.]
A hind in the second year of her age.
Encyc.
HEARSE, V. I. hers. To inclose in a hearse.
Shak.
HEARSECLOTH, n. hers'cloth. A pall ; a
loth to cover a hearse. Sanderson.
HEARSELIKE, a. hers'like. Suitable to a
funeral.
HEART, n. h'aii. [Sax. heart; G.hen; D.
hart; Sw.hierta; Dan. hierte; Gr. xapSta ;
Sans, hirda. I know not the primary
sense, nor whether it is from the root of
xfap, L. cor, cordis, and allied to Eng. core,
or named from motion, pulsation.]
1. A muscular viscus, which is the primary
organ of the blood's motion in an animal
body, situated in the thorax. From this
organ all the arteries arise, and in it all tlie
veins terminate. By its alternate dilata-
tion and contraction, the blood is received
from the veins, and returned through the
arteries, by which means the circulation is
carried on and life preserved.
2. The inner part of any thing; the middle
part or interior ; as the heart of a country,
kingdom or empire ; the heart of a town ;
the heart of a tree.
•3. The chief part; tlie vital pai-t ; the vigor-
ous orefficacious part. Bacon.
H E A
HE A
H E A
4. The seat of the affections and passions, as
of love, joy, grief, enmity, courage, pleas-
. ure, &,c.
The heart is deceitful above all things.
Every imagination of the thoughts of the
heart is evil continually. We read of an
honest and good heurt, and an evil heart of
imbelief, a willing Aeart, a heavy heart, sor-
row of heart, a hard heart, a proud heart, a
pure heart. The heart faints in adversity,
or under discouragement, that is, courage
fails ; the heart is deceived, enlarged, re-
proved, Hfted up, fixed, established, moved,
&c. Scripture.
5. By a metonymy, heart is used for an
affection or passion, and particularly for
love.
The king's heart vpas towaids Absalom. 2
Sam. xiv.
C. The seat of the understanding ; as an un-
derstanding heart. VVe read of men wise
in heart, and slow o( heart. Scripture.
7. The seat of the will ; hence, secret pur-
poses, intentions or designs. Tliere are
many devices in a man's heart. The heart
of kings is unsearchable. The Lord
tries and searches the heart. David had
it in his heart to build a house of rest (
the ark. Scriptu.
Sometimes heart is used for the will,
determined purpose.
The heart of the sons of men is fully set in
them to do evil. Eccles. viii.
8. Person ; character ; used with respect to
courage or kindness.
Cheerly, my hearts. Shak.
9. Courage ; spirit ; as, to take heart ; to give
heart ; to recover heart.
Spenser. Temple. Milton.
10. Secret thoughts; recessesof the mind.
Michal saw king David leaping and daticing
before the Lord, and she despised him in hei
heart. 2 Sam. vi.
11. Disposition of mind.
He.had a heart to do well. Sidney.
12. Secret meaning ; real intention.
And then show you tlie heart of my message.
Shak.
13. Conscience, or sense of good or ill.
Every man's heart and conscience — doth
either like or disallow it. Hooker.
14. Strength ; power of producing ; vigor ;
fertility. Keep the land in heart.
That the spent earth may gather heart again.
Dry den.
15. The utmost degree.
This gay charm — hath beguiled me
To the very heart of loss. Shak.
To get or learn by heart, to commit to memo-
ry ; to learn so perfectly as to be able to
repeat without a copy.
To take to heart, to be much affected ; also,
to be zealous, ardent or solicitous about a
thing; to have concern.
To lay to heart, is used nearly in the sense of
the foregoing.
To set the heart on, to fix the desires on ;
be very desirous of obtaining or keeping;
to be very fond of.
To set tlie heart at rest, to make one's self
quiet ; to be tranquil or easy in mind.
To find in the heart, to be willing or disposed.
I find it in my heart to ask your pardon.
Sidney.
For my heart, for tenderness or affection. 1
could not for my heart refuse his request.
Or, this phrase may signify, for my life ;
if my life was at stake.
To speak to ojie'a heart, in Scripture, to speak
kindly to ; to comfort ; to encourage.
To have in the heart, to purpose ; to have de-
sign or intention.
A hard heart, cruelty ; want of sensibility.
HE'ART, ('. i. To encourage. [JVot much
used.] Prideaux.
HE>ART-ACH, n. Sorrow ; anguish of mind.
Shak.
HE'ART-ALLU'RING, a. Suited to allure
the affections. Parnell.
HEART-APPALL'ING, a. Dismaying the
heart.
HEART-BREAK, n. Overwhelming sor-
row or grief. Shak.
HE'ART-BREAKER, a. A lady's curl ; a
love-lock.
HEART-BREAKING, a. Breaking the
heart ; overpowering with grief or sorrow.
Spenser.
HEART-BREAKING, ji. Overpowering
grief; dee]) aflliction. Hakeiinll.
HEART-BRED, a. Bred in the heart.
Crashaiv.
HE> ART-BROKEN, a. Deeply afflicted or
grieved.
HE>ART-BURIED, a. Deeply immersed.
Young.
HE~ ART-BURN, n. Curdialgy ; a disease
or affection of the stomach, attended with
a sensation of heat and uneasiness, and
occasioned by indigestion, surfeit or
aciditv.
HE> ART-BURN ED, a. Having the heart
inflamed. Shak.
HE ART-BURNING, a. Causing .liscon-
tent. Middleton.
HEART-BURNING, n. Heart-burn, which
see.
2. Discontent ; secret enmity. Sieijt
HE ART-CHILLED, a. Having the heart
chilled. Shenstone.
HEART-CONSUMING, a. Destroying
])eace of mind.
HEART-CORRODING, a. Preying on the
heart.
HE~ART-DEAR, a. Sincerely beloved.
Shak.
HE-ART-DEEP, a. Rooted in the heart.
Herbert.
HE ART-DISCOUR'AgING, a. [See Cour-
age.] Depressing the spirits. South.
HEART-EASE, n. Quiet ; tranquillity of|
mind. Shak
HE'ART-EASING, a. Giving quiet to the
mind. Milton.
HEART-EATING, a. Preying on the
heart. Burton.
HE'ART-EXPAND'ING, ff. Enlarging the
heart; opening the feelings. Thomson.
HE> ART-FELT, a. Deeply felt; deeply af-
fecting, either as joy or sorrow.
HE' ART-GRIEF, n. Affliction of the heart.
Milton.
HEART-HARDENED, a. Obdurate ; im-
penitent; unfeeling. Harmer.
HEART-HARDENING, a. Rendering
cruel or obdurate. Shak.
HEART-HEAVINESS, n. Depression of
spirits. Shak.
HEART-OFFENDING, a. Wounding the
heart. Shak.
HEART-PEA, n. A plant, the Cardiosjier-
mum, witli black seeds, having the figure
of a heart of a white color on each.
Miller.
HEART-QUELLING, a. Conquering the
affection. Spenser.
HEART-RENDING, a. Breaking the
heart ; overpowering n ith anguish ; deep-
ly afflictive. IValltr.
HEART-ROBBING, a. Depriving of
thought ; ecstatic. Spenser.
[2. Stealing the heart ; winning. Ibm.
HE ART'S-BLOOD, ) The blood of the
HEART-BLOOD, ("-heart; life; es-
Shak.
HE'ART'S-EASE, 7i. A plant, a species of
Viola.
HEART-SEARCHING, a. Searching the
secret thoughts and purposes.
HE' ART-SICK, a. Sick at heart; pained
in mind ; deeply afflicted or depressed.
HE'ART-SORE, 7!. That which pains the
heart. Spenser.
HE' ART-SORE, a. Deeply wounded.
Shak.
HEART-SORROWING, a. Sorrowing
deeply in heart. Shak.
HEART-STRING, n. A nerve or tendon,
supposed to brace and sustain the heart.
STiak. Tai/lor.
HEART-STRUCK, a. Driven to the heart ;
infixed in the mind.
2. Shocked with fear; dismayed. Milton.
HEART-SWELLING, a. Rankling in the
heart. Spenser.
HEART-WHOLE, a. [See mole.] Not
affected with love ; not in love, or not
deeply affected.
2. Having unbroken spirits, or good courage.
HEART-WOUNDED, a. Wounded with
love or grief; deeply affected with some
passion. Pope.
HEART-WOUNDING, a. Piercing with
grief. Rotoe.
HE'ARTED, a. Taken to heart. [JVot used.]
Shak.
2. Composed of hearts. [Not used.] Shak.
3. Laid up in the heart. Shak.
This word is chiefly used in composi-
tion, as hard-hearted, faint-hearted, stout-
hearted, &c.
HE'ARTEN, v. t. h'aHn. To encourage ;
to animate ; to incite orstimulate courage.
Sidney.
2. To restore fertility or strength to ; as, to
hearten land. [Little used.] May.
HE'ARTENER, n. He or that which gives
courage or animation. Brown.
HE'ARTH, n. h^rth. [Sax.heorth; G.herd;
D.haard; Sw. /iSrrf.J^
A pavement or floor of brick or stone in a
chimney, on w hicli a fire is made to warm
a room, and from which there is a passage
for the smoke to ascend.
HEARTH-MONEY, ? , A tax on hearths
HEARTH-PENNY, ^ Blackstone.
HE'ARTILY, adv. [from heaHy.] From the
heart ; with all the heart ; with sincerity ;
really.
1 /iear<i7i/ forgive tliem. Shak
2. With zeal ; actively ; vigorously. He
heartily assisted the prince.
3. Eagerly ; freely ; largely ; as, to eat
heartily.
HE'ARTINESS, n. Sincerity ; zeal ; ardor .
earnestness.
H E A
'■>. Eagerness of appetite.
JIE'ARTLESS, a. Without courage ; spirit-
less ; faint-hearted.
Heartless they fought, and quitted soon their
ground. Dryden.
IIE'ARTLESSLY, adv. Without courage
or spirit ; faintly ; timidly ; feebly.
HE^ARTLESSNESS, n. Want of courage
or spirit; dejection of mind; feebleness.
Bp. Hall.
HE' ARTY, a. Having the heart engaged in
any thing; sincere; warm; zealous; as,
to be hearty in support of government.
2. Proceeding from the heart; sincere;
warm ; as a A eoj-ii/ welcome.
3. Being full of health ; sound ; strong ;
healthy ; as a hearty man.
4. Strong; durable; as ftearty timber. [JVot
used in America.''^ Wotton.
5. Having a keen appetite ; eating much ; as
a hearty eater.
C. Strong ; nourishing ; as hearty food.
HEARTY-HALE, a. Good for the heart,
06s. Spenser.
HEAT, n. [Sax. heat, ha:t ; B.hitte; G
hitze; Sw.hetta; D. hede ; L. csstos, for
hwstus, or castus. See the Verb.]
1. Heat, as a cause of sensation, that is, the
matter of heat, is considered to be a subtil
fluid, contained in a greater or less degree
in all bodies. In modern chimistry, it is
called caloric. It expands all bodies in dif-
ferent proportions, and is the cause of flu-
idity and evaporation. A certain degrf
of it is also essential to animal and vegeti
ble life. Heat is latent, when so combined
■with other matter as not to be perceptible
It is sensible, when it is evolved and per-
ceptible. Lavoisier. Encyc.
2. Heat, as a sensation, is the effect produ-
ced on the sentient organs of animals, by
the passage of caloric, disengaged from
surrounding bodies, to the organs. When
we touch or approach a hot body, the ca-
loric or heat passes from that body to our
organs of feeling, and gives the sensation
of heat. On the contrai-y, when we touch
a cold body, the caloric passes from the
hand to that body, and causes a sensation
of cold. Lavoisier.
JVote. This theory of heat seems not
to be fully settled.
3. Hot air : hot weather ; as the heat of the
tropical climates.
4. Any accumulation or concentration of the!
matter of heat or caloric ; as the heat of|
the body ; the heat of a furnace ; a red
heat ; a white heat ; a welding heat.
5. The state of being once heated or hot.
Give the iron another heat.
C. A violent action unintermitted ; a single
effort.
Many causes are required for refieshment be-
tween the heats. Dryden
7. A single effort in running ; a course at i
race. Hector won at the first heat.
8. Redness of the face ; flush. Addison
9. Animal excitement ; violent action or agi
tation of the system. The body is all in a
heat.
10. Utmost violence ; rage ; vehemence ; as
the ?icat of battle.
11. Violence; ardor; as the 7ica< of party.
19. Agitation of mind ; inflammation or ex
citement ; exa.?peralion ; as tlie heat o
passio)!.
H E A
13. Ardor ; fervency ; animation in thought
discourse.
AVith all the strength and heat of eloquence.
Mdison.
14. Fermentation.
HEAT, V. t. [Sax. hatan, to call, to order,
command or promise ; gehatan, to call, to
promise, to grow warm ; haetan, to heat, to
command, to call ; gehatan, to promise ;
h(Ese, order, command ; hehces, a vow ;
bchatan, to vow ; onhwtan, to heat, to in-
flame ; hatian, to heat, to be hot, to boil,
to hate ; hat, heat, heat ; hat, hot ; hale,
hatred, hate ; L. odi, osus, for hodi, hosus ;
Goth, hatyan, to hate ; haitan, gahaitan, to
call, to command, to vow or promise ; G.
heiss, hot ; heissen, to call ; heitzen, to heat ;
hitze, heat, ardor, vehemence ; geheiss.
command ; verheissen, to promise ; hass.
hate ; hassen, to hate ; D. heet, hot, eager
hasty ; hiite, heat ; heeten, to heat, to name
or call, to be called, to command ; haat,
hate ; haaten, to hate ; verhitten, to inflam
Sw. het, hot ; hetta, heat, passion ; hetta, to
be hot, to glow ; heta, to be called or na
med ; hat, hate, hatred ; hata, to hate
Dan. heed, hot ; hede, heat, ardor ; heder, to
heat, to be called or named ; had, hate ;
hader, to hate. With these words coin
cides the L. assfiis, for hastus, heat, tide,
Gr. ai9w, to burn, and the English haste
and hoist are probably of the same family.
The primary and literal sense of all these
words, is to stir, to rouse, to raise, to agi-
tate, from the action of driving, urging,
stimulating, whence Sw. hetsa, Dan. hed-
ser, to excite, to .set on dogs. See Class
Gd. No. 39, and others. It may be fur-
ther added, that in W. cas is hatred, a
castle, from tlie sense of separating ; casati,
to hate ; and if this is of the same family
it unites castle with the foregoing words.
In these words we sec the sense of rcpul
sion.]
1. To make hot; to communicate heat to,
or cause to be hot ; as, to heat an oven or
a furnace ; to heat iron.
2. To make feverish ; as, to heat the blood
3. To warm with passion or desire ; to ex-
cite; to rouse into action.
A noble emulation heats your breast.
Dryden.
To agitate the blood and spirits with ac-
tion ; to excite animal action. Dryden.
HEAT, V. i. To grow warm or hot by fer-
mentation, or extrication of latent heat.
Green hay heats in a mow, and green corn
ill a bin.
2. To grow warm or hot. The iron or the
water heats slowly.
HEAT, for heated, is in popular use and pro-
nounced het ; but it is not elegant.
HE'ATED, pp. Made hot ; inflamed ; exas-
perated.
HE'ATER, n. He or that which heats.
2. A triangular mass of iron, which is heated
and put into a box-iron to heat it and keep
it hot, for ironing or smoothing clothes.
[This utensil is going into disuse!]
HEATH, n. [Sax. heeth ; D. and G. heide ;
Dan. hede; Sw. hed ; Scot, haddyr; W.
eiziar, connected with eiziaw, to take to or
H E A
poor, and for heating ovens. Its leaves
are small and continue green all the year.
It is called also ling. Miller. Encyc.
A place overgrown with heath. Temple.
3. A place overgrown with shrubs of any
kind. Bacon.
HE'ATHeOCK, n. A large fowl which fre-
quents heaths, a species of grouse.
Careu:
HE'ATHPEA, n. A species of bitter vetch,
Orobus. Johnson.
HE'ATHPOUT, n. A bird, the same as the
lieath-cock. Ed. Encyr.
HE'ATHROSE, n. A plant. Ainsioorth.
HE'ATHEN, n. [Sax. hathen; G. heidf.
heath, and a heathen or pagan ; D. heiden ;
Dan. Sw. hedning ; Gr. iSvo; ; from heath.
that is, one who lives in the country ov
woods, as pagan from pagus, a village.]
1. A pagan ; a Gentile ; one who worship.-
idols, or is unacquainted with the true
God. In the Scriptures, the word seems
to comprehend all nations except the
Jews or Israelites, as they were all stran-
gers to the true religion, and all addictr d
to idolatry. The word may now be ap-
plied perhaps to all nations, except to
Christians and Mohammedans.
Heathen, without the plural termination,
is used plurally'or collectively, for Gentiles
or heathen nations.
Ask of me, and I will give thee theheathenfo:
thine inheritance. Ps. ii.
Heathen, however, has a plural, expresi-
ing two or more individuals.
If men have reason to be heathens in Japan—
Locke.
possess ; the clinging plant.]
? Erii
1. A plant of the genus Erica, of many
cies. It is a shrub which is used in Greatj
Britain for brooms, thatch, beds for the'
2. A rude, illiterate, barbarous person.
HE'ATHEN, a. Gentile ; pagan ; as a hea
then author. Addison.
IIE'ATHENISH, a. Belonging to Gentile=
or pagans; as heathenish rites.
2. Rude ; illiterate ; wild ; uncivilized.
3. Barbarous ; savage ; cruel ; rapacious.
Spensti
HE'ATHENISHLY, adv. After the manner
of heathens.
HE'ATHENISM, n. Gentilism ; pagan-
ism ; ignorance of the true God ; idolatry ;
the rites or system of rehgion of a pagan
nation. Hammond.
2. Rudeness ; barbarism ; ignorance.
HE'ATHEN iZE, v. I. To render heathen
or heathenish. Finnin.
HE'ATHER, n. Heath.
HE'.\THY, «. [from ftea^7,.] Full of heath;
abounding with heath ; as heathy land.
Mortimer.
HE'ATING, ppr. Making warm or hot ; in-
flaming ; rousing the passions ; exaspera-
ting.
2. a. Tending to impart heat to ; promoting
warmth or heat ; exciting action ; stimu-
lating ; as heating medicines or applica-
tions.
HEAT'LESS, a. Destitute of heat ; cold.
Beaum.
HEAVE, J). <. Aeei'. pret.heaved,orhove ; pp.
heaved, hove, formerly hoven. [Sax.
heafan, hefan, heofan ; Goth, hajyan ; Sw.
hhfva ; D. heffen ; G. heben ; Dan. hartr.
to heave ; Gr. xo^fw, to breathe ; xortiu,
id. Class Gb.]
H E A
H E A
H E A
). To lift; to raise; to move upward.
So stretch'd out huge in length the arch fiend
lay,
Chain'd on the burning lake, nor ever hence
Had ris'n, or heaved Ins head. Mill
9. To cause to swell.
The glittering finny swarms
That heave our friths and crowd upon
shores. Thoi7i!
3. To raise or force from the breast ; as, to
heave a sigli or groan, which is accompa
nied with a swelling or e.xpansion of the
thorax.
4. To raise; to elevate ; with high.
One heaved on high. Shale.
5. To puff; to elate. Hayward.
6. To ttirovv ; to cast ; to send ; as, to heave
a stone. This is a common use of the
word in popular language, and among sea
men ; as, to heave the lead.
7. To raise by turning a windlass ; with up
as, to heave up the anchor. Hence,
8. To turn a windlass or capstern with bars
or levers. Hence the order, to heave
away.
To heave ahead, to draw a ship forwards.
To heave astern, to cause to recede ; to draw
back.
To heave down, to throw or lay down on one
side ; to careen.
To heave out, to throw out. With seamen,
to loose or unfurl a sail, particularly the
stay-sails.
To heave in stays, in tacking, to bring
ship's head to the wind.
To heave short, to draw so much of a cable
into the ship, as that she is almost ]
pendicularly above the anchor.
To heave a strain, to work at the windlass
with unusual exertion.
To heave taught, to turn a capstern, &;c. till
the rope becomes straight. [See Taught
and Tight.]
To heave to, to bring the ship's head to the
wind, and stop her motion.
To heave up, to relinquish ; [so to throw up ;]
as, to heave up a design. [Vulgar.]
HEAVE, t'. i. heev. To swell, distend or
dilate ; as, a horse heaves in panting.
Hence,
2. To pant ; to breathe with labor or pain ;
as, he heaves for breath. Dryde
3. To keck ; to make an eftbrt to vomit.
4. To rise in billows, as the sea; to swell.
5. To rise ; to be lifted ; as, a ship heaves.
G. To rise or swell, as the earth at the
breaking up of frost.
To heave in sight, to appear ; to make its
first appearance ; as a ship at sea, or as a
distant object approaching or being ap-
proached.
We observe that this verb has often the
sense of raising or rising in an arch or
circular form, as in throwing and in dis-
tention, and from this sense is derived its
application to the apparent arch over our
heads, heaven.
HEAVE, n. heev. A rising or swell ; an ex-
ertion or effort upward.
None could guess whether the next heave
of the earthquake would settle or swallow them
Dryden
2. A rising swell, or distention, as of the
breast.
These profound heaves. &
Vol. I.
3. An effort to vomit.
4. An effort to rise. Hudibras.
HEAVEN, n. hev'n. [Sax. heafen, he/en, heo-
fen, from heafan, to heave, and signifying
elevated or arched.]
1. The region or expanse which surrounds
the earth, and which appears above and
around us, like an immense arch or vault,
in which are seen the sun, moon and
stars.
2. Among christians, the part of space in
which the omnipresent Jehovah is sup-
posed to aflbrd more sensible manifesta-
tions of his glory. Hence this is called
the habitation of God, and is represented
as the residence of angels and blessed
spirits. Deut. xxvi.
The sanctified heart loves heaven for its puri-
ty, and God for his goodness. Buckminster.
3. Among pagans, the residence of the ce-
lestial gods.
4. The sky or air ; the region of the atmos-
phere ; or an elevated pface ; in a ven/ in-
definite sense. Thus we speak of a moun-
tain reaching to heaven; the fowls of hea-
ven ; the clouds of heaven ; hail or rain
from heaven. Jer. ix. Job xxxv.
Their cities are walled to heaven. Deut. i.
The Hebrews acknowledged three heav-
ens ; the air or aerial heavens ; the firma-
ment in which the stars are supposed to
be placed; and the heaven of heavens, or
third heaven, the residence of Jehovah.
Brown.
6. Modern philosophers divide the expanse
above and around the earth into two
parts, the atmosphere or aerial heaven,
and the etherial heaven beyond the re-
gion of the air, in which there is supposed
to be a thin, unresisting tnedium called
ether. Encyc.
7. The Sujirenie Power ; the Sovereign of
heaven ; (iod ; as prophets sent by
heaven.
I have sinned against heaven. Luke xv.
Shun the impious profaneness which scoffs
at the institutions oC heaven. Dwight.
8. The pagan deities ; celestials.
And show the heavens more just. Shak.
9. Elevation ; sublimity.
0 ! for a muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention. Sliak.
10. Supreme felicity ; great happiness.
HEAVEN-ASPI'RING, a. Aspiring to
heaven. Jikcnside.
HEAVEN-BANISHED, a. Banished from
heaven. Milton.
HEAVEN-BEGOT', a. Begot by a celes-
tial being. Dryden.
HEAVEN-BORN, a. Born from heaven ;
native of heaven, or of* the celestial re-
gions ; as heaven-bom sisters. Pope.
HEAVEN-BRED, a. Produced or cultiva-
ted in heaven ; as heaven-bred poesy.
Shak.
HEAVEN-BUILT, a. Built by the agency
or favor of the gods ; as a heaven-built wall.
Pope.
HEAVEN-DIRE€T'ED, a. Pointing to
the sky ; as a heaven-directed spire. Pope.
2. Taught or directed by the celestial pow-
ers ; as heaven-directed hands. Pope.
HEAVEN-FALLEN, a. Fallen from heav-
en ; having revolted from God. Milton.
99
HEAV EN-GIFTED, a. Bestowed by hcav-
1. MiUon.
HEAVEN-INSPIRED, a. Inspired by
heaven. Milton.
HEAVEN-INSTRUeT'ED, a. Taught by
heaven. Crashau:
HEAVENIZE, ». <. hev'nize. To render like
!aven. [Unauthorized.'] Bp. Hall.
HEAVEN-KISSING, o. Touching as it
were the sky. Shak.
HEAVENLINESS, n. [from heavenly.]
Supreme excellence. Davies.
HEAVEN-LOVED, a. Beloved by heaven.
MiUon.
HEAVENLY, a. Pertaining to heaven :
celestial ; as heavenly regions ; heavenly
bliss.
2. Resembling heaven ; supremely excellent ;
as a heavenly lyre ; a heavenly temper.
The love of heaven makes one heavenly.
Sidney.
3. Inhabiting heaven ; as a heavenly race ;
the heavenly throng.
HEAV'ENLY, adv. In a manner resem-
bling that of heaven.
Where heavenly pensive contemplation dwells.
Pope.
2. By the influence or agency of heaven.
Our heavenly guided soul shall climb.
Milton.
HEAVENLY-MINDED, a. Having the af-
fections placed on heaven, and on spirit-
ual things. Milner.
HEAVENLY-MINDEDNESS, n. The
state of having the affections placed on
heavenly things and spiritual objects.
Milner.
HEAVEN-SALU'TING, a. Touching the
sky. Crashau:
HEAVENWARD, adv. Toward heaven.
Prior.
HEAVEN-WARRING, a. Warring against
heaven. Milton.
HE'AVE-0FFERING,7i. Among the Jews,
an offering consisting of the tenth of the
tithes which the Lcvites received, or of
the first of the dough, &c. which was to
be heaved or elevated. Num. xv. and
xviii.
HE'AVER, ji. One who heaves or lifts.
.\niong seamen, a staff for a lever.
HEAVES, n. heevz. A disease of hotses,
characterized by difficult and laborious
respiration.
HEAVILY, adv. hev'Uy. [from heavy.]
With great weight ; as, to bear heavily on
a thing ; to be heavily loaded.
2. AVith great weight of grief; grievously;
afHictively. When calamities fall heavily
on the christian, he finds consolation iii
Christ.
3. Sorrowfully ; with grief.
I came hither to transport the tidings.
Which I have heavily borne. Shak.
4. With an air of sorrow or dejection.
Why looks your Grace so heavily to day .-
Shak.
5. With weight ; oppressively. Taxes some-
times bear heavily on the people.
G. Slowly and laboriously ; with difficulty ;
as, to move heavily.
So they drove them heavily. Ex. xiv.
HEAVINESS, n. hev'iness. Weight ; pon-
derousness ; gravity ; the quality of being
heavy ; as the heaviness of a body.
H E A
H E B
H E C
2. Sadness ; sorrow ; dejection of mind ;
depression of spirits.
Heaviness in the heart of man inaketh it
stoop. Prov. xii.
Ye greatly rejoice, thougli now for a season
ye are in heaviness, through manifold tempta-
tions. 1 Pet. i.
3. Sluggishness ; torpidness ; dullness of
of spirit ; languidness ; languor ; h
tude.
What means this heaviness that hangs upon
me ? Addison
5. Weight ; burden ; oppression ; as, the
heaviness of taxes.
6. That which it requires great strength to
move or overcome ; tliat which creates
labor and difficulty ; as the heaviness of a
draught.
7. Thickness ; moistness ; deepness ; as the
heaviness of ground or soil.
8. Thickness ; moistness ; as of air.
HE'AVING, ppr. Lifting ; swelling ; throw-
ing ; panting ; making an effort to vomit
HE'AVING, n. A rising or swell ; a pant-
ing. Addison. Shak
HEAVY, a. hev'y. [Sax. heajig, hefig, that
is, lift-like, lifted with labor, from heafan,
to heave.]
1. Weighty ; ponderous ; having great]
weight ; tending strongly to the center of
attraction ; contrary to light ; applied to
material bodies ; as a heavy stone ; a heavy
load.
2. Sad ; sorrowful ; dejected ; depressed in
mind.
A light wife makes a heavy husband. Shak
So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart
Prov. XXV.
3. Grievous ; afflictive ; depressing to the
spirits ; as heavy news ; a heavy calamity
4. Burdensome ; oppressive ; as heavy taxes
Make tliy father's heavy yoke — lighter. ]
Kings xii.
5. Wanting life and animation ; dull.
My heavy eyes you say confess
A heart to love and grief inclined. Prior
6. Drowsy ; dull.
Their eyes were heavy. Matt. xxvi. Luke
ix.
7. Wanting spirit or animation ; destitute of
life or rapidity of sentiment ; dull ; as
heavy writer ; a heavy style
8. Wanting activity or vivacity ; indolent,
But of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind.
Ihryden.
0. Slow ; sluggish. He walks with a heavy
gait.
10. Burdensome; tedious; as heavy hours.
Time lies heavy on him who has no em
ployment.
U. Loaded; encumbered; burdened.
He found his men heavy, and laden with
booty. Bacon
19. Lying with weight on the stomach ; not
easily digested ; as, oily food is heavy to the
stoitiach.
13. Moist; deep; soft; miry; as heavy
land ; a heavy soil. We apply heavy to
soft loamy or clayey land, which makes
the draught of a plow or wagon difficult
and laborious. So we say, a heavy road.
14. Difficult ; laborious ; as a heavy rfrawg-W
15. Weary; supported with pain or diffi
culty.
And the hands of Moses were heavy. Ex
16. Inflicting severe evils, punishments
judginents.
The hand of the Lord was heavy on them of
Ashdod. I Sam. v.
17. Burdensome ; occasioning great care.
This thing is too heavy for thee. Ex. xviii
18. Dull ; not hearing ; inattentive.
Neither his cars heavy, that he cannot hear
Is. hx.
19. Large, as billows ; swelling and rolling
with great force ; as a heavy sea.
JO. Large in amount ; as a heavy expense ;
heavy debt.
21. Thick; dense; black; as a heavy c]o\i(l.
22. Violent ; tempestuous ; as a heavy wind
or gale.
2.3. Large; abundant; as a heavy fall of
snow or rain.
24. Great; violent; forcible; as a /icm'i/fire
of caimon or small arms.
25. Not raised by leaven or fermentation ;
not light; clammy ; as heavy bread.
1. Requiring much labor or much expense;
as a heavy undertaking.
27. Loud ; as heavy thunder.
Heavy metal, in military affairs, signifies
large guns, carrying balls of a large size,
or it is applied to large balls themselves.
HEAVY, adv. hev'y. With great weight;
used in composition.
HEAVY, V. t. hev'y. To make heavy. [JVot
in use.] IVickliffe.
HEAVY-HANDED, a. Clumsy ; not active
or dextrous.
HEAVY-LA'DEN, a. Laden with a heavy
burden.
HEAVY SPAR, Ji. [See Baryte.] A genus
of minerals of four species, viz. rhomboi-
dal, prismatic, di-prisraatic and axifrangi-
ble. Jameson
HEB'DOMAD, n. [Gr. fffVf, seven days,
from iTCra, seven ; L. hebdomada.]
A week ; a period of seven days. [JSTot used.]
Brown.
HEBDOM'ADAL, ? Weekly ; consist-
HEBDOM'ADARY, P' ing of seven days,
or occurring every seven days. Brow
HEBDOM'ADARY, n. A member of
chapter or convent, whose week it is to
officiate in the choir, rehearse the an-
thems and prayers, and perform other ser-
vices, which on extraordinary occasions
are performed by the superiors.
HEBDOMAT'l€AL, a. Weekly.
Bp. Morion
HEB'EN, n. Ebony. Spenser
HEB'ETATE, v. t. [L. hebeto, from hebes,
dull, blunt, heavy.]
To dull ; to blunt ; to stupefy ; as, to hebetate
the intellectual faculties. Jlrbuthnot.
HEB'ETATED, ppr. Made blunt, dull or
stupid.
HEB'ETATING, pp. Rendering blunt,
dull or stupid.
HEBETA'TION, n. The act of making
blunt, dull or stupid.
2. The state of being dulled.
HEBE'TE, a. Dull ; stupid. Obs.
IIEB' ETUDE, n. [L. hebetudo.] Dullness
stui)idity. Harvey.
HEBRA'i€, a. [from Hebrew.] Pertaining
to the Hebrews ; designating the language
of the Hebrews.
HEBRA'I€ALLY, adv. After the
of the Hebrew language ; from right to
I left. Swift.
HE'BRAISM, n. A Hebrew idiom ; a pecu
liar expression or manner of speaking in
the Hebrew language.
HE'BRAIST, n. One versed in the Hebrew
language.
HEBRAIZE, II. t. To convert into the He-
brew idiom ; to make Hebrew.
J. P. Smith.
HE'BRAIZE, V. i. To speak Hebrew, or
to conform to tlie Hebrews.
HE'BREW, n. [Heb. la;? Eber, either a
proper name, or a name denoting pas-
sage, pilgrimage, or coming from beyond
the Euphrates.]
One of the descendants of Eber, or Heber ;
but particularly, a descendant of Jacob,
who was a descendant of Eber ; an Israel-
ite ; a Jew.
The Hebrew language.
HE'BREW, a. Pertaining to the Hebrews ;
the Hebrew language or rites.
HE'BREWESS, n. An Israelitish woman.
HEBRI"CIAN, n. One skilled in the He-
brew language.
HEBRID'IAN, a. Pertaining to the isles
ailed Hebrides, west of Scotland.
Johnson.
HE€'ATdMB, n. [L. hecatombe ; Gr. ixa-
; fxa-roj-, a hundred, and Souj, an ox.]
In antiquity, a sacrifice of a hundred oxen
or beasts of the same kind, and it is said,
at a hundred altars, and by a hundred
priests. Enciir..
HECK, n. [See Hatch.] An engine or in-
strument for catching fish ; as a salmon
heck. Chambers.
2. A rack for holding fodder for cattle.
[Local.] Ray.
i. A bend in a stream. [G. ecke, a corner.]
4. A hatch or latch of a door. [Local]
Grose.
HECK'LE, V. t. A different orthography of
hackle, or hetchel.
HECTARE, n. [Gr. «aro,, a hundred, and
L. area.]
A French measure containing a hundred
ares, or ten thousand square meters.
Lunier.
HE€TIC, I „ [Gr. fxrtxos, from f|is, ha-
HEC'TICAL, ^"' bit of body, from t;Ku, to
have.]
Habitual ; denoting a slow, continual fever,
marked by preternatural, though remit-
ting heat, which precedes and accompa-
nies the consumption or phthisis; as a
hectic fever. Encyc.
2. Affected with hectic fevers ; as a hectic
patient.
:}. Troubled with a morbid heat.
No hectic student scares the genfle maid.
Taylor.
HEC'TI€, «. A hectic, or habitual fever.
Shak.
HECTICALLY, adv. Constitutionally.
Johnson,
HECTOGRAM, n. [Gr. txatov, a hundred,
and ypafLjia, a gram.]
In the French system of weights and meas-
ures, a weight containing a hundred
grams ; equal to 3 ounces, 2 gros, and 12
grains, French. Lunier.
HECTOLITER, n. [Gr. fxof w, a hundred,
and Xirpa, a pound.]
A French measure of capacity for liquids,
containing a hundred liters ; equal to a
I tenth of a cubic meter, or 107 Paris pints.
H E D
H E E
H E E
i As a dry measure, it is called a setier, and
contains 10 decaliters or bushels [bois-
seanx.] Lunier.
HECTOM'ETER, n. [Gr. txarov, a hun-
dred, and liirpm, measure.]
A French measure equal to a hundred me-
ters ; the meter being the unit of lineal
measure. It is equivalent nearly to 308
French feet. Lunier.
HE€'TOR, n. [from Hectar,the son of Pri-
am, a brave Trojan warrior.]
1. A bully ; a blustering, turbulent, noisy
fellow.
2. One who teases or vexes.
HECTOR, V. t. To threaten ; to bully ; to
treat with insolence. Dryden.
2. To tease ; to vex ; to torment by words.
HECTOR, V. i. To play the bully ; to blus-
ter ; to be turbulent or insolent. Swift.
HECTORED, pp. Bullied ; teased.
HECTORING, ppr. Bullying; blustering:
vexing.
HECTORISM, n. The disposition or prac-
tice of a hector ; a bullying.
Ch. Relig. Jlppeal.
HECTORLY, a. Blustering ; insolent.
Barrow.
HEDENBERG'ITE, n. [from Hedenberg,
who first analysed it.]
A mineral, or ore of iron, in masses, compo-
sed of shining plates, which break into
rhombic fragments ; found at Tunaberg,
in Sweden. Cleaveland.
HEDERA'CEOUS, a. [L. hederaceus, from
hedera, ivy ; W. eizaw, ivy, from holding,
clinging; eiriaio, to possess. See Heath.]
1. Pertaining to ivy.
2. Producing ivy.
HED'ERAL, a. Composed of ivy; belong-
ing to ivy. Bailey.
IIEDERIF'EROUS, a. [L. hedera, ivy, and
fero, to bear.] Producing ivy.
HEDGE, n. hej. [Sax. hege, heag, hceg,
hegge ; G. heck ; D. heg, haag ; Dan. hekkt
or hek ; Sw. hign, hedge, protection ; Fr,
haie ; VV. cue. Hence Eng. haw, and
Hague in Holland. Ar. _.|.~. a specie
of thorny plant.]
Properly, a thicket of thorn-bushes or other
shrubs or small trees ; but appropriately
such a thicket planted round a field to
fence it, or in rows, to separate (he parts
of a garden.
\ Hedge, prefixed to another word, or in com
i position, denotes something mean, as a
I fterfge-priest, a /lerfg-e-press, a /lerfg-e-vicar,
I that is, born in or belonging to the hedges
' or woods, low, outlandish. [M)t used ii
I America.]
I HEDGE, V. t. hej. To inclose with a hedge
' to fence with a thicket of shrubs or small
trees ; to separate by a hedge ; as, to hedge
a field or garden.
2. To obstruct with a hedge, or to obstruct
in any manner.
I will hedge up thy way with thorns. Hos. ii.
3. To surround for defense ; to fortify.
England hedged in with the main. Shak.
4. To inclose for preventing escape.
That is a law to hedge in the cuckow.
Locke.
Dryden, Swift and Shakspeare have written
hedge for edge, to edge in, but improperly.
HEDGE, V. i. hej. To hide, as in a hedge ;
to hide ; to skulk. Shak.
HEDgE-BILL, ) A cutting hook used
HEDGING-BILL, < "• in dressing hedges.
HED(5E-B0RN, a. Of low birth, as if born
in the woods ; outlandish ; obscure.
Shak.
HEDgE-BOTE, It. Wood for repairing
hedges. Blackslone.
HEDgE-CREEPER, n. One who skulks
under hedges for bad purposes.
HED6E-FU'MIT0RY, n. A plant.
Ainsworlh.
HEDGEHOG, n. A quadruped, or genus of
quadrupeds, the Erinaceus. The com
mon hedgehog has round ears, and crest
ed nostrils ; his body is about nine inches
long, and the upper part is covered with
prickles or spines, and the under part with
hair. When attacked, this animal erects
his prickles and rolls himself into a round
form, which presents the points of the
prickles on all sides to an assailant.
Encyc.
2. A term of reproach. Shak.
3. A plant of the genus Medieago, or snail-
trefoil. The seeds are shaped like a snail,
downy, and armed with a few short spines.
Encyc.
4. The globe-fish, orbis echinatus.
Ainsworlh.
This fish belongs to the genus Diodon,
It is covered with long spines, and has
the power of inflating its body, whence
the name globe-Jish [Fr. orbe.] Cuvier.
The Sea-hedgehog, is the Echinus, a genus
of Zoophytes, generally of a spheroidal
or oval form, and covered with movable
spines. Cuvier. Cyc.
HEDGEHOG-THISTLE, n. A plant, the
Cactus. Fam. of Plants.
HEDGE-HYSSOP, n. A plant, the Grati-
ola.
HEDGE-MUSTARD, n. A plant, the Erys-
imum.
HEDGE-NETTLE, n. A plant, the Gal
eopsis. The shrubby hedge-nettle is of the
genus Prasium.
HEDgE-NOTE, a. A term of contempt for
low writing. Dryden.
HEDGEPIG, n. A young hedgehog.
Shak
HEDGEROW, n. A row or series of shrubs
or trees planted for inclosure, or separa
tion of fields. Milton.
HED6E-SPARR0W, n. A bird of the ge
nus Motacilla, frequenting hedges; distin-
guished from the sparrow that builds ii:
thatch. Encyc. Johnson
HEDGE-WRITER, n. A Grub-street writer
■ low author. . Simfl
HEDG'ER, n. One who makes hedges.
HEDG'ING, ppr. Inclosing with a hedge ;
obstructing ; confining.
HEED, V. t. [Sax. hedan ; G. hiiten ; D. hoe-
den ; Gr. jeij8fu ; Sp. and Port, cuidar.]
To mind ; to regard with care ; to take no-
tice of; to attend to ; to observe.
With pleasure Argus tlie musician heeds.
Dryden
HEED, n. Care ; attention.
With wanton heed and giddy cunning.
Milton
2. Caution ; care ; watch for danger; notice
circumspection ; usually preceded by take.
Take heed of evil company. Take heed tu
your ways.
Amasa took no heed to the sword that wa.s in
Joali's hand. 2 Sam. xx.
3. Notice ; observation ; regard ; attention ;
often preceded by give.
Tiie preacher gave good heed. Eccles. xii.
Neither give heed to fables. 1 Tim. i.
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest
heed. Heb. ii.
. Seriousness ; a steady look.
A heed
Was in his countenance. [Unu.iual.] Sliak.
HEE'DED, pp. Noticed ; observed ; re-
garded.
HEEDFUL, a. Attentive ; observing ; giv-
ing heed; as ftcerf/Ui of advice. Pope.
2. Watchful ; cautious ; circumspect ; wary.
IIEE'DFULLY, adv. Attentively ; carefully ;
cautiously. Listen heedfully to good ad-
vice.
2. Watchfully.
HEE'DFULNESS, n. Attention ; caution ;
vigilance ; circumspection ; care to guard
against danger, or to perform duty.
HEE'DLESS,a. Inattentive ; careless ; neg-
ligent of the means of safety ; thoughtless ;
regardless ; imobserving. We say, heed-
less children ; heedless of danger or sur-
prise.
The heedless lover does not knovp,
Whose eyes they are tliat wound him so.
Waller.
HEE'DLESSLY, adv. Carelessly; negh-
gently; inattentively; without care or cir-
cumspection. Brown.
HEE'DLESSNESS, n. Inattention ; caie-
lessness ; thoughtlessness ; negligence.
Locke.
HEEL, n. [Sax. hel, hela ; D. hiel; Sw. hM ;
Dan. heel ; L. calx. Qii. its alliance to Gr.
xijX);, a tumor.]
1. The hind part of the foot, particularly of
man ; but it is applied also to the corres-
ponding part of the feet of quadrupeds.
2. The whole foot.
The stag recalls his strength, liis speed.
His winged heels — Denham.
3. The hind part of a shoe, either for man
or beast.
4. The part of a stocking intended for the
heel.
To be out at the heels, is to have on stock-
ings that are worn out.
5. Something shaped like the human heel ;
a protuberance or knob. Mortimer.
G. The latter part ; as, a bill was introduced
into the legislature at the heel of the ses-
sion.
7. A spur.
This horse understands the heel well.
E7icyc.
8. The after end of a ship's keel ; the lower
end of the stern-post to which it is con-
nected ; also, the lower end of a mast.
To be at the heels, to pursue closely ; to fol-
low hard ; also, to attend closely.
Hungry want is at my heels. Otway.
To show the heels, to flee ; to run from.
To take to the heels, to flee ; to betake to
flight.
To lay by the heels, to fetter ; to shackle ; to
I confine. Addison.
\To have the heels of, to outrun.
Week and heels, the whole length of the
body.
H E I
H E I
H E L
HEEL, V. i. To dance. Shak.
HEEL, V. t. To arm a cock. Johnson.
2. To add a beel to ; as, to heel a shoe.
HEEL, V. i. [Sax. hyldan, to lean or incline
D. hellen ; Dan. helder ; Sw. /i.&Ha, to tilt.
To inrline ; to lean ; as a ship ; as, the shi]!
heels a-port, or a-starboard. Encyc
HEE'LER, 71. A cock that strikes well vvitli
his heels.
HEE'L- PIECE, n. Armor for the heels.
Chesterfield,
2. A piece of lether on the heel of a shoe.
HEFT, n. [Sax. hefe, from hefan, to heave,
to lift.]
L Heaving ; effort.
He cracks his gorge, his sides,
With violent Ae/?s. .[JVot used.] Shak.
2. Weight ; ponderousness. [This use is
common in popular language in America.
And we sometimes hear it used as a verb,
as, to heft, to lift for the purpose of feeling
or judging of the weight.]
a [D. hejl.] A handle ; a haft. [JVbf used.]
Waller.
HEFT'ED, a. Heaved; expressing agita-
tion. Shak.
HEOI'RA, ji. [Ar. from j.jsAi) hajara,to
remove, to desert.]
In chronology, an epoch among the Moham-
medans, from winch they compute time.
The event which gave rise to it was the
flight of IMohammed from Mecca ; from
which the magistrates, fearing his impos
tures might raise a sedition, expelled him,
July 10, A. D. 622, under the reign of the
emperor Heraclius. Harris. Encyc.
HEIF'ER, n. hefer. [Sax. heafre, heahfore,
heafore. Qu. Heb. ms.]
A young cow. Pope.
HEIGH-HO. hi-ho. An exclamation ex-
pressing some degree of languor or unea-
siness. Dryden has used it for the voice
of exultation.
HEIGHT, ) [Sax. heahtho.
HIGHTH, V n. hite, or hlth. heatho, hehthe,
HIGIIT, ^ heolho, heihe,
hihth, hyhthe, contracted or changed from
heagthe, or higeih. or highthe ; G. hohe, ho-
heit: D. hoogte; Sw. hoghet, hbgd; Dan.
hojde, hojhed. This word is formed from
heah, hoh, hog, now high, and as tlie or-
thography is unsettled,"! should prefer to
form it regularly from the present English
word high, and write it highth, or hight.
The common popular pronunciation
highth, or hithe, is most regular, but in the
plural hights is most easily pronounced.]
1. Elevation above the ground ; any in-
definite distance above the earth. The
eagle flies at a great hight, or highth.
2. The altitude of an object ; the distance
which any thing rises above its foot, basis
or foundation ; as the hight, or highth of a
tower or steeple.
3. Elevation of a star or other celestial lumi-
nary above the horizon.
4. Degree of latitude either north or south.
In this application, the distance from the
equator is considered as elevation. Lati-
tudes are higher as they approach the
pole- Johnson.
Guinea lieth to the north sea, in the same
height as Peru to the south. Mbot.
0. Distance of one thing above another.
6. An eminence ; a summit ; an elevated
part of any thing.
7. A hill or mountain ; any elevated ground
as the hights of Dorchester.
8. Elevation of rank ; station of dignity or
office.
By him that raised me to this careful height.
Shak
9. Elevation in excellence of any kind, as
in power, learning, arts.
10. Elevation in fame or reputation.
11. Utmost degree in extent or violence; as
the highth or hight of a fever, of passion
of madness, of folly, of happiness, of good
breeding. So we say, the hight of a tem
pest.
12. Utmost exertion.
I shall now put you to the height of youi
breeding. Shak
|13. Advance ; degree ; progress towards
perfection or elevation ; speaking compar-
atively.
Social duties are carried to a greater /lei^A*—
by the principles of our religion. Addison.
HEIGHTEN, v. t. hitn. To raise higher :
but not often used in this literal sense.
2. To advance in progress towards a better
state ; to improve ; to meliorate
crease in excellence or good qualities; as,
to highten virtue ; to highten the beauties
of description, or of poetry.
:3. To aggravate ; to advance towards a
worse state ; to augment in violence.
Foreio-n states have endeavored to highten
our confusions. Jjddison.
4. To increase ; as, to highten our relish for
intellectual pleasure.
HEIGHTENED, pp. Ulnd. Rai.sed higher ;
elevated; exalted; advanced; improved
aggravated ; increased.
HEIGHTENING, ppr. hitning. Raising
levating ; exalting ; improving ; increas
ig ; aggravating.
HEIGHTENING, n. hitning. The act of el
evating; increase of excellence ; improve
ment. Dryden.
2. Aggravation ; augmentation.
HEINOUS, a. an incorrect orthography,
[See Hainous.]
HEIR, n. (ire. [Norm, hier, here ; Arm. hear,
p. heredero ; Port, herdeiro ; Fi
during his life, as well as to the person
who has actually come into possession.
A man's children are his heirs. In most
monarchies, the king's eldest son is heir
to the throne ; and a nobleman's eldest
son is heir to his title.
Lo, one born in my house is my heir. Gen.
haer; S
hentier ; It. erede ; L. kceres, hceredis, from
the verb, Eth. ®4rt, Heb. B'T, Ar.
O ., warata, to become an heir, to
herit. The primary sense is to seize, or
rush on and take, or to expel and dispos-
sess others, and take their property, ac-
cording to the |)ractice of rude nations.
We observe in the Hebrew and Ethiopic,
the last consonant is a sibilant, as in the
Latin nominative, but the oblique cases in
the Latin correspond with the Arabic
word whose final consonant is a dental.
See Class Rd. No 51. 52. 08.]
1. The man who succeeds, or is to succeed
another in the possession of lands, tene-
ments and hereditaments, by descent ; the
man on whom the law casts an estate of
inheritance by the death of the ancestor
or former possessor ; or the man in whom
the title to an estate of inheritance is vest-
ed by the operation of law, on the death of
a former owner.
We give the title to a person who is to
inherit after the death of an ancestor, and
i2. One who inherits, or takes from an ances-
tor. The son is often heir to the disease,
I or to the miseries of the father.
i3. One who succeeds to the estate of a for-
mer possessor. Jer. xlix. Mic. i.
|4. One M\o is entitled to possess. In Scrip-
ture, saints are called heirs of the promise,
heirs of righteousnes, heirs of salvation,
&c., by virtue of the death of Christ, or of
God's gracious ]n-oniises.
Heir-presumptive, one who, if the ancestor
should die immediately, would be heir,
but whose right of inheritance may be de-
feated by any contingency, as by the birth
of a nearer relative. Encyc.
HEIR, V. t. are. To inherit ; to take posses-
sion of an estate of inheritance, after the
death of the ancestor. Dryden
HEIR-APPA'RENT, n. The man who,
dunng the life of his ancestor, is entitled
to succeed to his estate or crown.
HEIRDOM, n. dredoni. Succession by in-
heritance. Burke.
HEIRESS, n. dress. A female heir ; a fe-
male that inherits, or is entitled to inherit
an estate ; an inheritrix.
HEIRLESS, a. dreless. Destitute of an heir.
HEIR- LOOM, n. dre-loom. [heir &iid Sax.
loma, geloma, andloman, utensils, vessels.]
Any furniture, movable, or personal chattel,
which by law descends to the heir with
the house or freehold; as tables, cup-
boards, bedsteads, &c. Eng. Late
HEIRSHIP, n. dreship. The state, charac-
ter or privileges of an heir; right of inher-
iting- Johnson.
2. Heirship movables, in Scotland, the best, of
certain kinds of movables which the heir
is entitled to take, besides the heritable es-
tate. Encyc.
HELD, prel. and pp. of hold. A court was
held in Westminster hall. At a council
held on the first of January.
HELE, V. t. [L. celo.] To hide. Obs.
Gower.
HELI'A€AL, a. [L. heliacus ; Fr. heliaque ;
from Gr. rjUoi, the sun, W. haul.]
Emerging from the light of the sun^ or pass-
ing into it. The heliacal rising of a star,
is when, after being in conjunction with it
and invisible, it emerges from the light so
as to be visible in the morning before sun-
rising. On the contrary, the heliacal set-
ting of a star, is when the sun approaches
so near as to render it invisible by its su-
perior splendor. Encyc.
HELI'ACALLY, adv. A star rises heliac-
ally, when it emerges from tlie sun's light,
so as to be visible. [See *'" ^"
word.]
HEL'ICAL, a. [Gr. rti?, a
body.]
Spiral ; winding ; moving ro
HEL'ICITE, n. [See Helix.'
of the helix, a shell.
HE'LING, n. [from hele, obs. ; L. celo.] The
covering of the roof of a building; written
also hilling, [mt used in the U. States.]
the preceding
scroll, or spiral
md. Wilkins.
Fossil remains
H E L
H E L
H E L
111:LI0CENT'RI€, a. [Fr. heliocentrique
Gi\ >;\io;, the sun, and xivtjim, center.]
Tlie heliDctntric place of a planet, is the plad
of tl;t; ecliptic in which ihe planet would
appear to a spectator at the center of the
sun.
Tlit: hdiocentric latitude of a planet, is the
iiiiiination of a line drawn between the
(■(filter of the sun and the center of a plan-
It to the plane of the ecliptic. Encyc.
Hiliiild parabola, in mathematics, the parabo
ill- spiral, a curve which arises from the
-iipposition that the axis of the common
\|Hillonian parabola is bent round into
'Ire periphery of a circle, and is a line then
IMssiiig through the extremities of the or
<li]iatcs, which now converge towards the
(■(■liter of the said circle. Harris.
Ill'.l.KJL'ATER, n. [Gr. ^Xioj, the sun, and
■/aT,)ivu>, to worship.]
A u (irshiper of the sun. Drummond
IIIII.IOL'ATRY, n. [Gr. jjXios, the sun, and
>ur|ifia, service, worship.]
TIk worship of the sun, a branch of Sabi
lll.l.loSl'ETER, n. [Gr. ^7.105, the sun, and
An instrument for measuring with exactness
the diameter of the heavenly bodies. It i
called also astrometer. Eticyi
HE'LIOSCOPE, n. [Gr. ^f.ios, the sun, and
axoTtiu, to view.]
A sort of telescope fitted for viewing the sun
without pain or injury to the eyes, as
when made with colored glasses, or glass-
es blackened with smoke. Encyc.
HE'LIOSTATE, n. [Gr. fi^aos, the sun, and
fOTOS.]
An instrument by which a sunbeam may be
steadily directed to one spot.
Edi7i. Encyc. Ure.
HE'LIOTROPE, n. [Gr. r-T^w,, the sun, and
■r|)frtw, to turn.]
1. Among the ancients,an instrument or ma-
chine for showing when the sun arrived
at the tropics and the equinoctial line.
Encyc.
2. A genus of plants, the turnsole.
3. A mineral, a subspecies of rhomboidal
quartz, of a deep green color, peculiarly
pleasant to the eye. It is usually varie-
gated with blood red or yellowish dots,
and is more or less translucent. Before
the blowpipe, it loses its color. It is gen-
erally supposed to be chalcedony, colored
by green earth or clilorite.
Cleaveland. Ure.
HELISPHER'le, }
HELISPHER'I€AL, ^
Spiral. The helisphencal line is the rhomb
line in navigation, so called because on
the globe it winds round the pole spirally,
coming nearer and nearer to it, but never
terminating in it. Harris.
HE'LIX, n. [Gr. fXil, a winding.] A spiral
line; a winding; or something that is
spiral ; as a winding staircase in architec-
ture, or a caulicule or little volute under
the flowers of the Corinthian capital. In
anatomy, the whole circuit or extent of the
auricle, or external border of the ear.
Encyc.
2. In zoology, the snail-shell.
HELL, n. [Sax. hell, helle; G. hoik ; D. hel,
helle ; Sw. helvete ; Dan. helvede. Qu. hole,
a deep place, or from Sax. helan, to cover.]
a. [helix and sphere.]
1. The place or state of punishment for the
wicked after death. Matt. x. Luke xii.
Sin is hell begun, as religion is; heaven anti-
cipated. J. Lalhrop
2. The place of the dead, or of souls after
death ; the lower regions, or the grave ;
called in Hebrew, sheol, and by the Greeks.
hades. Ps. xvi. Jon. ii.
3. The pains of hell, temjioral death, or ago-
nies that dying persons feel, or which
bring to the brink of the grave. Ps. xviii.
4. The gates of hell, the power and policy of
Satan and his instruments. Matt, xv'
5. The infernal powers.
While Saul and hell cross'd his strong fate in
vain. Cowley.
t). The place at a running play to which
•e carried those who are caught.
Sidney.
7. A place into which a tailor throws his
shreds. Hudibras.
8. A dimgeon or prison. Obs.
HELL BLACK, a. Black as hell. Shah.
HELL'-BORN, a. Born in hell.
IIELL'-BRED, a. Produced in hell.
Spenser.
HELL'-BREWED, a. Prepared in hell.
HELL'-BROTH, n. A composition for in-
fernal purposes. Shalt.
HELL'-€AT, n. A witch ; a hag.
Middleton.
HELL-€ONFOUND'ING, a. Defeating the
infernal powers. Beaum.
HELL' -DOOMED, a. Doomed or consigned
to hell. Milton
IIELL'-GOVERNED, a. Directed by hell.
Shak
HELL'-HAG, n. A hag of hell.
HELL'-HATED, a. Abhorred as hell.
Shak
HELL-HAUNTED, a. Haunted by the
fievil. Druden
HELL'-IIOUND, n. A dog of hell ; an agent
of hell. Dryden. Milton.
HELL'-KITE, n. A kite of an infernal
breed. Shak.
HEL'LEBORE, n. [L. hclleborus ; Gr.M.i-
eopo5.]
The name of several plants of different gen-
era, the most important of which are the
black hellebore, Christmas rose, or Christ-
mas flower, of the genus Helleborus, and
the white hellebore, of the genus Vera-
trum. Both are acrid and poisonous, and
are used in medicine as evacuants and al-j
teratives. Cyc
HEL'LEBORISM, n. A medicinal j)repafa-
tion of hellebore. Ferrand.
HELLE'NIAN, I ,,. ,
HELLEN'IC, \ «• L^i-- "^^-J^'of, 'W^'!''"'?-]
Pertaining to the Hellenes, or inhabitants of]
Greece, so called from Hellas in Greece,
or from Hellen.
HEL'LENISM, n. [Gr. fW.ijfi(r,uo;.] A phrase
in the idiom, genius or construction of the
Greek language. Addison.
HEL'LENIST,n. [Gr. fW^wf^j.] A Grecian
Jew ; a Jew who used the Greek lan-
guage. Campbell. Encyc.
3. One skilled in the Greek language.
HELLENIS'Tle, a. Pertaining to the Hel-
lenists. The Hellenistic language was the
Greek spoken or used by the Jews who
lived in Egypt and other countries, where
the Greek language prevailed. Campbell.
HELLENIS'TICALLY, adv. Accordiiig to
the Hellenistic dialect. Gregoni.
HEL'LENIZE, v. i. To use the Greek lan-
guage. Hammond.
HEL LESPONT, n. A narrow strait be-
tween Europe and Asia, now called the
Dardanelles ; a part of the passage be-
tween the Euxine and the Egean sea.
HELLEtJPONT'INE, a. Pertaining to the
Hellespont. Mitford.
HEL'LIER, »i. A tiler or slater. [See Hele.]
[.Vol in use.]
HELLISH, a. Pertaining to hell. Sidney.
2. Like hell in quahties ; infernal ; malig-
nant ; wicked ; detestable. South.
HELLISHLY, adv. Infernally; with ex-
treme malignity ; wickedly ; detestably.
Bp. Barlow.
HELL'ISHNESS, n. The qualities of hell
or of its inhabitants; extreme wickedness,
malignity or impiety.
HELL'WARD, adv. Towards hell. Pope.
HELL'Y, a. ilaving the qualities of hell.
Anderson.
HELM, a termination, denotes defense ; as
in Sighelm, victorious defense. [See Hel-
met.]
HELM, n. [Sax. hehna ; G. helm, a helm, and
a helve ; 1). Dan. helm ; Sw. hielm ; called
in some dialects helm-stock, which must be
the tiller only; probably from the root of
hold.]
1. The instrument by which a ship is steer-
ed, consisting of a rudder, a tiller, and in
large vessels, a wheel. [See Rudder.]
Mar. Did.
2. Station of government ; the place of di-
rection or management ; as, to be at the
helm in the administration.
HELM, I', t. To steer ; to guide ; to direct.
[Little used.] Shak.
i. To cover with a helmet. Milton.
HELM, ) [Sax. helm. See Helm.] De-
HELM'ET, (, "■ tensive armor for the head ;
u head-piece ; a morion. The helmet is
worn by horsemen to defend the head
against the broad sword.
2. The part of a coat of arras that bears the
crest. Johnson.
3. The upper part of a retort. Boyle,
i. In botany, the ujiper lip of a ringent co-
rol. Martyn.
HELM'ED, ? Furnished with a hel-
HELMETED, ^"met.
HELMINTHIC, a. [Gr. fX/tH-f, a worm.]
Expelling worms.
HELMIN'tllle, n. A medicine for expel-
ling worms. Coie.
HELMINTHOLOU'IC, > [See Hd-
HELMINTHOLOG'ICAL, \ "• minthology.]
Pertaining to worms or vermes, or to their
history.
HELMINTHOL'OgIST, h. One who is
versed in the natural history of vermes.
HELMINTHOL'OGY, 71. [Gr. tj-^aj, a
, and ■Koyoi, discourse.]
The science or knowledge of vermes ; the
description and natural history of vermes.
Ed. Enajc.
HELM'LESS, a. Destitute of a helmet.
Barlow
2. Without a helm.
HELMSMAN, n. The man at the helm.
HELM'WIND, n. A wind in the mountain-
parts of England, so called. Burn
H E L
HE'LUTISM, n. Slavery ; the coikIUioii of
tlie Helots, slaves in Sparta. Stephens.
HELP, V. t. a regular verb; the old past
tense and participle holp and holpm being
obsolete. [W. helpu ; Sax. helpan, hylpan ;
G. helfen ; D. helpen ; Sw. hielpa ; Dan.
hidper ; Goth, hilpan.]
1. To aid ; to assist ; to lend strength or
means towards effecting a purpose ; as,
help a man in his work ; to help another
raising a building ; to help one to pay his
debts ; to help the memory or the under
standing.
2. To assist ; to succor ; to lend means of
deliverance ; as, to help one in distress ; to
help one out of prison.
3. To relieve ; to cure, or to mitigate pain
or disease.
Help anJ ease thcin, but by no means be-
moan them. Locke.
The true calamus helps a cough. Gerard.
Sometimes with of; as, to help one of
blindness. Shak.
4. To remedy ; to change for the better.
Cease to lament for what thou cans'tnotAe/p.
Shak.
5. To prevent ; to hinder. The evil ap-
proaches, and who can help it ?
C. To forbear ; to avoid.
I cannot help remarking the resemblance be-
tween him and our author — Pope.
To help forward, to advance by assistance.
To help on, to forward ; to promote by aid.
To help out, to aid in delivering from difficul-
ty, or to aid in completing a design.
The god of learning and of light.
Would want a god himself to help him nut.
Swift
To help over, to enable to surmount ; as, to
help one over a difficulty.
To help off, to remove by help ; as, to help off
time. [Unusual.] Locke
To help to, to supply with ; to furnish with.
Whom they would help to a khigdom. 1
Maccabees.
Also, to present to at table ; as, to help
one to a glass of wine.
HELP, V. i. To lend aid ; to contribute
strength or means.
A generous present helps to persuade, as well
as an agreeable person. Garth.
To help out, to lend aid ; to bring a supply.
HELP, n. [W. help.] Aid ; assistance ;
strength or means furnished towards pro-j
moting an object, or deliverance from dif-|
ficulty or distress. i
Give us help from trouble ; for vain is thei
help of man. Ps. Ix.
2. That which gives assistance ; he or that;
which contributes to advance a purpose, j
Virtue is a friend and a help to nature. I
South.',
God is a very present help in time of trouble. 1
Ps. xlvi. !
3. Remedy; relief. The evil is done ; therej
is no help for it. There is no help for thei
man ; his disease is incurable.
4. A hired man or woman ; a servant.
U. States.
IIELP'ER, n. One that helps, aids or as-
sists ; an assistant ; an auxiliary.
2. One that furnishes or administers a rem-
edy.
t'ompassiou— is oftentimes a hdper of evils.
More.
HEM
3. One that supplies with any thing wanted ;
with to.
A helper to a husband. Shak.
4. A supernumerary servant. Swift.
HELP'FUL, a. That gives aid or assist-
ance ; tiiat furnishes means of promoting
an object; useful.
Wholesome ; salutary ; as helpful medi-
cines. Raleigh.
HELP'FULNESS, n. Assistance ; useful-
ness. Milton.
HELP'LESS, a. Without help in one's self;
destitute of the power or means to succor
or relieve one's self. A person is render-
ed helpless by weakness, or want of means.
An infant is helpless.
2. Destitute of support or assistance.
How shall 1 then your helpless fame defend .'
Pope.
3. Admitting no help ; irremediable. fJVb(
used.] Spenser.
4. Unsupplied ; destitute.
Helpless of all that human wants require
[./Vot tised.] Dryden
HELP'LESSLY, adv. Without succor.
Kid.
HELP'LESSNESS, n. Want of strength or
ability; inabihty ; want of means in one'*
self to obtain relief in trouble, or to ac-
complish one's purposes or desires.
It is fhe tendency of sickness to reduce ou
extravagant self-estimation, by exhibiting ou
solitary helplessness. Buckminster.
HELTER-SKELTER, cant words denoting
hurry and confusion. [Vulgar.] Qu. L..hila
riler and celeriter, or Ch. din, Ar. LiXji, to
mix.
HELVE, n. hetv. [Sax. helf; G. helm.
helve and a helm ; probably from the root
of hold.] The handle of an ax or hatchet
HELVE, V. t. helv. To furnish with a helve
as an ax.
HELVET'IC, a. [Sax. Hafelden, the Hel-
vetii. Qu. hill-men or high hill-men.]
Designating what pertains to the Helvetii,
the inhabitants of the Alps, now T
land, or what pertains to the modern
states and inhabitants of the Alpine re-
gions ; as the Helvetic confederacy ; Hel-
vetic states.
HEL'VIN, n. [from Gr. 7;nos, the sun.] A
mineral of a yellowish color, occurring in
regular tetrahedrons, with truncated an-
gles. Cleaveland.
HEM, n. [Sax. hem ; W. hem ; Russ. kaima.]
The border of a garment, doubled and
sewed to strengthen it and prevent the
raveling of the threads.
2. Edge ; border. 3Iatt. ix.
.3. A particular sound of the human voice
expressed by the word hem.
HEAL V. t. To form a hem or border ; tc
fold and sew down the edge of cloth to
strengthen it.
2. To border ; to edge.
All the skirt about
Was hcmm'd with golden fringe. Spenser.
To hem in, to inclose and confine ; to sur-
round ; to environ. The troops were
hemmed in by the enemy. Sometime
perhaps to hem about or round, may be used
in a like sense.
HEM, ti.i. [D.hemmen.] To make the sound
expressed by the word hem.
HEM
HEM'ACHATE, n. [Gr. at^a, blood, and
ajrafiySi agate.] A species of agate, of a
blood color. Encyc.
HEM'ATIN, n. [Gr. aifw,, blood.] The
coloring principle of logwood, of a red
color and bitterish taste. Chevrevi.
HEM'ATITE, n. [Gr. aifianrjjs, from m/m,
blood.]
The name of two ores of iron, the red hema-
tite, and the broicn hematite. They are
both of a fibrous structure, and the fibers,
though sometimes nearly parallel, usually
diverge, or even radiate from a center.
They rarely occur amorphous, but almost
always in concretions, reniform, globular,
botryoidal, stalactitic, &c. The red hem-
atite is a variety of the red oxyd ; its streak
and powder are always nearly blood red.
The brown hematite is a variety of the
brown oxyd or hydrate of iron ; its streak
and powder are always of a brownish yel-
low. The red hematite is also called
blood-stone. Cleaveland. Encyc.
HEMATIT'le, a. Pertaining to hematite,
embling it.
HEM'ATOPE, n. The sea-pye, a fowl of
the grallic order, that feeds on shell-fish.
Encyc.
HEMEROBAP'TIST, »«. [Gr. y,^i(pa, day,
and liantu, to wash.]
One of a sect among the Jews who bathed
every day. Fulke.
HEM'I, in composition, from the Gr. umavi,
signifies half, like demi and semi.
HEM'IGRANY, n. [Gr. ni'i.svi, half, and
xpcwwr, the skull.] A pain that affects
only one side of the head.
HEM'ICYCLE, n. [Gr. ^a"xx.xXo5.] A half
circle ; more generally called a semicircle.
HEMID'ITONE, n. In Greek music, the
lesser third. Busby.
HEM'INA, n. [L.] In Roman antiquity, a
measure containing half a sextary, and
according to Arbathnot, about half a pint
English wine measure. Encyc.
2. In medicine, a measure equal to about ten
ounces. Quincy.
HEM'IPLE6Y,n. [Gr. jj/xwvs, half, and rtTi,-
yij, a stroke, from rfkujoau, to strike.]
A palsy that affects one half of the body ; a
|)aralytic affection on one side of the hu-
man frame. Encyc.
HEMIP'TER, I [Gr. ^^lai., half, and
HEMIP'TERA, \ "' rtttfov, a wing.] The
heniipters form an order of insects with
the upper wings usually half crustaceous,
and half membranaceous, and incumbent
on each other ; as the cimex.
HEMIP'TERAL, a. Having the upper wings
half crustaceous and half membranaceous.
HEMISPHERE, n. [Gr. ^^.tn^atpio^.] A
half sphere; one half of a sphere or globe,
when divided by a plane passing through
its center. In astronomy, one half the
mundane sphere. The equator divides
the sphere into two equal parts. That ou
the north is called the northern hemisphere ;
the other, the southern. So the horizon
divides the sphere into the upper and lower
hemispheres. Hemisphere is also used for
a map or projection of half the terrestrial
or celestial sphere, and is then oflen cal-
led planisphere.
2. A map or projection ofhalf theterrestrit-I
globe.
H E M
HEMISPHERIC, ? Containing half a
HEMISPH?:R'I€AL, ^"sphere or ff'obe ;
as a hf-misphtric figure or Corui ; a hemis-
pherical body.
HEM'ISTICH, n. [Gr. vt^^Six^o^.] Haifa
poetic verse, or a verse not completed.
Dryden. Encyc.
HEMIS'TlellAL, a. Pertaining to a hem-
istich ; denoting a division of the ver-se.
h'arton.
HEM'ITONE, n. [Gr. .j^irw.or.] A half
tone in music ; now called a semitone.
IIEM'ITROPE, a. [Gr. ^i*i.<!vs, half, and
■tfititu, to turn.]
Half-turned ; a hemitrope crystal is one in
which one segment is turned through half]
the circumference of a circle. The word
is used also as a noun. Haic;/
HEM'LOCK, n. [Sax. hemlcac; the latter
syllable is the same as leek. Qu. is it not
a border-plant, a plant growing in hedg
OS?] „ .
1. A plant of the genus Comum, whose
leaves and root are poisonous. Also, the
Cicuta maculala. Bigelotv.
2. A tree of the genus Pinus, an evergreen.
3. A poison, an infusion or decoction of the
poisonous plant.
Popular liberty might then have escaped the
indelible reproach of decreeing to the same citi-
zens the hemlock on one day, and statues on
the next. Federalist, Madison
HEMOP'TYSIS, I [Gr. ae^a, blood, and
HEMOP'TOE, S "■ ftrvaii, a spitting.] A
spitting of blood.
HEM'ORRH A(iE, ) [Gr. oiftoppay«» ;a.f<a,
HEM ORRHAfiY, S blood, and pjjyTOu, to
burst.]
A flu.x of blood, proceeding from the rup-
ture of a blood-vessel, or some other cause.
The ancients confined the word to a dis
charge of blood from the nose ; but it
iModern use, it is applied to a flux from
the nose, lungs, intestines, &c. Encyc
HEMORRHAGIC, a. Pertaining to a flux
of blood ; consisting in hemorrhage
HEMORRHOIDS, n. [Gr. w^wppoc; ; «,«»,
blood, and pooj, a flowing.]
A discharge of blood from the vessels of tin
anus; the piles; in Scripture, emerods.
The term is also applied to tumors form
ed by a morbid dilatation of the hemor
rhoidal veins. When they do not dis-
charge blood, they are called blind piles ;
when they occasionally emit blood, bleed-
ing or ooen piles. Cyc. Parr
HEMORRHOIDAL, a. Pertaining to the
hemorrhoids; as the hemorrhoidal \esse\s.
•i. Consisting in a flux of blood from the ves-
sels of the anus.
1 1 EMP, n. [Sax. lienep : G. hanf; D. hennep
or kennip ; Sw. hampa ; Dan. hamp ; Fr.
chanvre; Arm. canab; Ir. cannaib, cnaib;
L. cannabis ; Gr. xoiio8i« ; Sp. caiiamo
It. canapa ; Russ. konopel. It is found ii
the Arabic. See Class Nb. No. 20. 26.]
HEN
HEMP' EN, a. hemp''
hempen cord.
HEMP'Y, a. Like
Made of hemp ; as a
hemp. [Unusual.]
pi
C.innabis, whose skin or bark is used for
cloth and cordage. Hence canvas, the
coarse strong cloth used for sails.
2. The skin or rind of the plant, prepared for
spinning. Large quantities of hemp are
exported from Russia.
HEMP-AGRIMONY, n. A plant, a species
of Eupat
HEN, n. [Sax. hen, henne ; G. henne ; D.
hen; Sw. hlina ; Dan. hijne. In Goth.
hana. Sax. han, hana, is a cock ; G. hahn ;
D. haan. In Sw. and Dan. hane is a cock,
the male of a fowl, and han is he, the per-
I sonal pronoun.]
[The female of any kind of fowl ; but it is
particularly applied to the female of the
domestic (owl of the gallinaceous kind, or
as sometimes called, the barn-door fowl.
HEN'BANE, n. [hen and bane.] A plant
the Hyoscyamus, of several species. The
roots, leaves and seeds are poisonous.
Encyc
HEN'BIT, n. A plant, the ivy-leaved speed-
well. Derham
HEN'-COOP, n. A coop or cage for fovvls.
HEN'-DRIVER, n. A kind of hawk.
ff'alton
HEN'-HARM, > „ A species of kite, py-
HEN'-HARRIER, <, ^'gargus.
Ainsworth.
HEN'-HE'ARTED, a. Cowardly ; timid
dastardly.
HEN'HOUSE, n. A house or shelter for]
fowl
HEN'PECKED, a. Governed by the wife.l
Dryden\
HENROOST, n. A place where poultry
rest at night. Jlddison.
HENS'FEET, n. A plant, hedge-fumitory.
Johnson.
HENCE, adv. hens. [Sax. heona ; Scot.
hyne ; G. hin.]
1. From this place.
Arise, let us go hence. John xiv. i
I will send tliee far hence to tlie Gentiles.
Acts xxii.
2. From this time ; in the future ; as a week
hence ; a year hence.
3. From this cause or reason, noting a con-
sequence, inference or deduction fron
something just before stated.
Hence perhaps it is, that Solomon calls the
fear of the Lord, (he beginning of wisdom.
Tillotaon.
It sometimes denotes an inference or
consequence, resulting from something
that follows.
Whence come wars and fightings among you .'
Come they not hence, even from your lusts —
James iv.
4. From this source or original.
All other faces borrowed Af (iff — Suckling.
Hence signifies from this, and from be-
fore hence is not strictly correct. But
from hence is so well established by cus-
tom, that it may not be practicable to cor-
rect the u.se of the phrase.
Hence is used elliptically and imperatively,
for go hence ; depart hence ; away ; be gone.
Iletice, with your little ones. Shak.
Hence, as a verb, to send oft", as used by
Sidnev, is improper
HENCEFORTH, adv. hensfoHh. From this
time forward.
I never from thy side henetjorth will stray.
Milan
HENCEFORWARD, adv. hensfor'ward.
From this time forward ; henceforth.
Sliak. Dryden,
II E P
HENCHMAN, } „ [Sax. hinc, a servant.]
HENCH'BOY, S A page ; a servant. Obs.
Shak. Dryden.
HEND, I , [Sax. hentan.] To seize ; to
HENT, I ^-^ '■ fay hold on. Obs. Fairfax.
2. To crowd ; to press on. Obs. Shak.
HEND, or HENDY, a. Gentle. Obs.
Chaucer.
HENDECAGON, n. [Gr. iibixa, eleven,
and yuna, an angle.]
In geometry, a figure of eleven sides, and as
manv angles. Encyc.
HENliECASYL'LABLE, n. [Gr. ^vSixa
and nuTioSij.] A metrical line of eleven
syllables. Ifarton.
HENDI'ADIS, n. [Gr.] A figure, when two
nouns are used instead of a noun and an
adjective. Stolt.
HE'PAR, n. [L.Var, the liver: Gr. ^«op.]
A combination of sulphur with an alkali
was formerly called by chiniists hepar sul-
phuris, liver of sulphur, from its brown
red color. The term has been applied to
all combinations of alkali or earth with
sulphur or phosphorus. JVicholson.
The hepars urc by modern chimists call-
ed sitlphttrets. Fourcroy.
HEPAT'IC, I [L. hcpaticus ; Gr. );jia-
HEl'AT'ICAL, \ "'Tixos, from j;rtop, the liv-
Pertaining to the liver ; as hepatic gall ; hep-
atic pain ; hepatic artery ; hepatic flux.
Qiunci/. Arbuthnot.
Hepatic air or gas, is a fetid vapor or elas-
tic fluid emitted from combinations of sul-
phur with alkalies, earths and metals.
Nicholson. Encyc.
This Species of air is now called sul-
phureted hydrogen gas. Fourcroy.
Hepatic mercurial ore, compact sulphurct of
mercury or cinnabar, a mineral of a red-
dish, or reddish brown, or dark red color.
Its streak is dark red, and has some luster.
It occurs in compact masses, with an even
or fine grained fracture.
Hepatic pyrite, hepatic sulphuret of iron.
During the process of decomposition of
this ore, by which the sulphur is more or
less disengaged, the pyrite is convened,
either wholly or in part, into a compact
oxyd of iron of a Jiucr brown color ; hence
its name. Cleaveland.
HEP'ATITE, n. A gera or mineral that
takes its name from the liver. Plin. L.
37. 11.
Hepatite is a name given to the fetid sul-
phate of baryte. It sometimes occurs
in globular masses, and is either compact
or of a foliated structure. By friction or
the application of heat, it exhales a fetid
odor, like that of sulphureted hydrogen.
Cleaveland.
HEP'ATIZE, V. t. To impregnate with sul-
phureted hydrogen gas.
HEP'ATiZED, pp. Im))regnated or combi-
ned willi sulphureted hydrogen gas.
On the right of the river were two wells ot
hepatized water. Barrov
HEPATOS'COPY, n. [Gr. ij«ap, the liver,
and axottiu, to view.]
The art or jiractice of divination by inspect-
ing the liver of animals. Encyc.
HEPS, n. The berries of the hep-tree, or
wild dog-rose.
HEPTACAP'SULAR, a. [Gr. txra, seven,
and L. capsula, a cell.]
HER
HER
HER
Having seven cells or cavities for seeds ; a
term in botany.
HEP'TA€HORD, n. [Gr. inra, seven, and
XofiSr;, chord.]
A system of seven sounds. In ancient poe-
try, verses sung or played on seven chords
or different notes. In this sense the word
was applied to the lyre, when it had but
seven strings. One of the intervals is also
called a heptachord, as containing the
same number of degrees between the ex
tremes. Encyc.
HEPTAGON, n. [Gr. trtfa, seven, and
■yuvM, an angle.]
Ifi geometry, a figure consisting of seven sides
and as many angles.
In fortificaiion, a place that has seven bas-
tions for defense. Encyc.
HEPTAG'ONAL, a. Having seven angles
or sides. Heptagonal numbers, in arithme
tic, a sort of polygonal numbers, wherein
the difference of the terms of the corres-
])onding arithmetical progression is 5.
One of the properties of these numbers is,
that if they are multiplied by 40, and 9 is
added to the product, the sum will be a
square number. Encyc.
HEP'TAGYN, n. [Gr. trtfa, seven, and
yvpt], a female.] In botany, a plant that
lias seven pistils.
HEPTAtiYN'lAN, a. Having seven pistils.
HEPTAHEXAHE'DRAL, a. [Gr. i,tra,
seven, and hexahedral.]
Presenting seven ranges of faces one above
another, each range containing six faces.
Cleaveland.
IIEPTAM'EREDE, n. [Gr. inra, seven,
and fisptf, part.]
That which divides into seven parts.
.4. Smith.
(lEPTAND'ER, n. [Gr. >nra, seven, and
anyp, a male.] In botany, a plant having
seven stamens.
HEPTAN'DRIAN, a. Having seven sta-
IlEPTANGULAR, n. [Gr. fnifa, seven, and
ntisiilfir.] Having seven angles.
HEPTAPH'YLLOIJS, a. [Gr. inra., seven,
and fv'M.ov, a leaf.] Having seven leaves.
HEPTAR'€HI€, a. Denoting a sevenfold
government. tVarton.
HEP'TAR€HIST, ji. A ruler of one divi-
sion of a heptarchy. Warton.
HEP'TARCHY, n. [Gr. irtra, seven, and
a.fxn, rule.]
A government by seven persons, or the coun-
try governed by seven ])ersons. But tlie
word is usually applied to England, when
under the government of seven kings, or
divided into seven kingdoms ; as the Sax-
on heptarchy, which comprehended the
whole of England, when subject to seven
independent princes. These petty king-
doms were those of Kent, the South Sax-
ons [Sussex,] West Saxons, East Saxons
[Essex,] the East Angles, Mercia, and
Nortliimiberland. Hist, of England.
HEP'TATEU€H, n. [Gr. ixra, seven, and
rrvxo;, book.]
The first seven books of ihe Old Testament
[Little u.Kd.]
HEP'-TREE, n. The wild dog-rose, a spe-
cies of Rosa.
HER, pronounced hur, an adjective, or pro-
nominal adjective of the third person
[Sax. Aire, sing, heoru, plu., the possessive
case of he, heo ; but more properly an ad-
jective, like the L. suus.]
1. Belonging to a female ; as her face ; her
head.
2. It is used before neuter nouns in person
fication.
Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, an
all her paths are peace. Prov. iii.
Her is also used as a pronoun or substitute
for a female in the objective case, after a
verb or preposition.
Hers is primarily the objective or genitive
case, denoting something that belongs
a female. But it stands as a substitute
the nominative or objective case.
And what his fortune wanted, hers coi
mend. Drydi
Here hers stands for her fortune, but it
must be considered as the nominative to
could mend. I will take back my
book and give you Jiers. Here hers is the
object after give.
HER'ALD, n. [Fr.heraut,fovherault ; Ar
herald or harod ; Sp. heraldo ; Port, araulo ;
It. araldo; G.herold; W. herodyr, emht
sador and herald, from herawd, a defiance
or challenge, heriaw, to brandish, to threat
en, from her, a push, a motion of defiance,
a challenge. The primary sense is to send,
thrust, or drive.]
1. An officer whose business was to de-
nounce or proclaim war, to challenge to
battle, to proclaim peace, and to hear
messages from the commander of an
my. Hence,
3. A proclaimer ; a publisher ; as the herald
of another's fame.
3. A forerunner; a precuj-sor; a harbinger.
It was the lark, the herald of the mom.
Shak.
4. An officer in Great Britain, whose busi-
ness is to marshal, order and conduct
royal cavalcades, ceremonies at corona-
tions, royal marriages, installations, crea-
tions of dukes and other nobles, embas-
sies, funeral processions, declarations of
war, proclamations of peace, &c.; also, to
record and blazon the arms of the nobility
and gentry, and to regulate abuses therein.
Encyc.
5. Formerly ajjplied by the French to a
minstrel.
HER'ALD, V. I. To introduce, as by a herald.
Shak.
HER'ALDIe, a. Pertaining to heralds or
heraldry ; as heraldic delineations.
Jf'arton.
HER'ALDRY, n. The art or office of a her-
ald. Heraldry is the art, practice or sci-
ence of recording genealogies, and blazon-
ing arms or ensigns armorial. It alsc
teaches whatever relates to the marshal-
ing of cavalcades, processions and other
public ceremonies. Encijc.
HER'ALDSHIP, n. The office of a herald.
Selden.
HERB, n. erb. [h.lierha; Fr. herhe ; It.
erba ; Sp. yerba ; Port. erva. Q,». Ir.forba.
glebe, that is, food, pasture, subsistence :
Gr. $fp8u.]
1. A plant or vegetable with a soft or succu-
lent stalk or stem, which dies to the root
every year, and is thus distinguished fro
a tree and a shrub, which have ligneous or
hard woody stems. Milne. Martyn.
2. In the Ldnnean botany, that part of a ve-
getable which springs from the root and
is terminated by the fructification, inclu-
ding the stem or stalk, the leaves, the ful-
cra or props, and the hibernacle.
Milne.
The word herb comprehends all the
es, and numerous plants used for culina-
A plant, of the
genus ivctaia.
HERB-ROBERT, n. A plant, a species of
Geranium.
HERBA'CEOUS, a. [L. herbaceus.] Per-
taining to herbs. Herbaceous plants are
such as perish annually down to the root ;
soft, succulent vegetables. So, a herba-
ceous stem is one which is soft, not woody.
Herbaceous, applied to animals by Derliam,
is not authorized. [See Herbivorous.]
HERB'AliE, n. [Fr. from herbe.] Herbs
collectively ; grass ; pasture ; green food
for beasts.
The influence of true religion is mild, soft
and noiseless, and constant, as the descent of
the evening dew on the tender herbage.
Bucliminster.
2. In laiv, the liberty or right of pasture in
the forest or grounds of another man.
Encyc.
HERB'AgED, ff. Covered with grass.
Thomson.
HERB'AL, JI. A book that contains the
najiics and descriptions of plants, or the
classes, genera, .-pecies and qualities of
vegetables. Bacon.
2. A hortus siccus, or dry garden ; a collec-
tion of specimens of plants, dried and pre-
served. Encyc.
HERB'AL, a. Pertaining to herbs.
H ERB'ALIST, ?i. A person skdled in plants ;
one who makes collections of plants.
HERB'AR, n. An herb. Obs. Spenser.
HERB'ARIST, n. A herbalist. [Little used.]
Derham. Boyle.
HERBA'RIUM, n. A collection of dried
I'lants. Med. Repos.
HERB'ARIZE. [See Herborize.]
HERB'ARY, n. A garden of plants.
Warton.
HERB'ELET, n. A small herb. Shak.
HERBES'CENT, a. [h. herbescens.] Grow-
ing into herbs.
HEilBlD, o. [h. herhidus.] Covered with
herbs. [Little used.]
HERBIV OROUS, a. [L. hcrha and voro, to
eat.] .
Eating herbs ; subsisting on herbaceous
plants ; feeding on vegetables. The ox
and the horse are herbivorous animals.
HERB'LESS, a. Destitute of herbs.
WaHon.
HERB'ORIST. [See Herbalist.] Ray.
HERBORIZA'TION, n. [from herbmize.]
1. The act of seeking plants in the field ; bo-
tanical research.
2. The figure of plants in mineral substan-
ces. [See Arborization.] Diet. JVat. Hist.
HERB'ORIZE, v. i. To search for plants,
or to seek new species of plants, with a
view to ascertain their characters and to
class them.
He herborized as he traveled, and enriched
the Flora Suecica with new discoveries.
Tooke.
HER
HER
HER
HERB'ORIZE, i.. t. To figure ; to form the
figures of plants in minerals. [See .Arbor-
ize.] Fourcroy.
HERB'ORIZED, pp. Figured ; containing
the figure of a plant ; as a mineral body.
Daubenton has shown that herborized stones
contain very fine mosses. Fourcroy
HERB'ORIZING.ppr. Searching forplants,
'■I. Forming the figures of plants in minerals.
IIERB'OUS, a. [L. hcrbosus.} Abounding
with herbs.
lIERB'WdJIAN, n. erb' woman. A woman
that sells herbs.
IIERB'Y, a. Having the nature of herbs.
[Little used.] Bacon.
IIER€U'LEAN, a. [from Hercules.] Very
great, difficult or dangerous ; such as it
would require the strength or courage of
Hercules to encounter or accomplish ;
Herculean labor or task.
2. Having extraordinary strength and size ;
as Herculean limbs.
9. Of extraordinary strength, force or power
HER'eULES, 71. A constellation, in the
northern hemisphere, containing 113 stars.
En eye.
HERCYN'IAN, a. [from Hercynia; G.harz,
Denoting an extensive forest in Germany,
the remains of which are now in Swabia.
HERD, ji. [Sas. herd, heard; G. herde ; Sw,
and Dan. hiord ; Basque, ardi. Words of
this kind have for their primary sense, col-
lection, assemblage. So in Saxon, here is
an army. It may be from driving, W
1. A collection or assemblage; applied to
beasts when feeding or driven together
We say, a /ierrf of horses, oxen, cattle, cam
els, elephants, bucks, harts, and in Scri}>-
ture, a herd of swine. But we say, a_^ocA-
of sheep, goats or birds. A number of
cattle going to market is called a drove.
2. A company of men or people, iti contempt
or detestation ; a crowd ; a rabble ; as a
vulgar herd.
HRRD,n. [Sax.hyrd; G.hirt; Sw. herde;
Dan. hyrde or hyre ; from the same root
as the preceding, that is, the holder or
keeper.]
A keeper of cattle ; used by Spenser, and still
used in Scotland, but in English now sel-
dom or never used, except in composition,
as a shepherd, a goatherd, a svdneherd.
HERD, If. i. To unite or associate, as beasts;
to feed or run in collections. Most kinds
of beasts manifest a disposition to herd.
3. To associate ; to unite in companies cus-
tomarily.
:j. ^To associate ; to become one of a number
or party. Walsh.
HERD, V. t. To form or put into a herd.
B. Jonson.
HERD'ESS, ;i. A shepherdess. Obs.
Chaucer.
HERD'GROOM, n. A keeper of a herd.
Obs. Spenser.
HURD'ING, ppr. Associating in companies.
ItERD'MAN, ?, A keeper of herds; one
HERDS-MAN, ^ "• employed in tending
lierds of cattle.
9. Formerly, the owner of a herd. Sidney.
HERE, adv. [Goth, and Sax. her; G. D,
filer ; Sw. har ; Dan. her. It denotes this
nlace.]
Vol. I.
. In this place; in the place where the
speaker is present ; opposed to /Aere. Be-
hold, here am I. Lodge here this night.
Build here seven altars. Scripture.
2. In the present life or state.
Thus shall you be happy here, and more liap-
py hereafter. Bacon
3. It is used in making an offer or attempt
Then here's for earnest. Dryden
4. In drinking health.
Heie's to Ihec, Dick. Cowley.
It is 7ieilher here nor there, it is neither in
this ])lace nor in that ; neither in one place
nor in another.
Here and there, in one place and another; i
a dispersed manner or condition ; thinly
or irregularly.
HE'REABOUT, ? , About this place.
HE'REABOUTS, \ "''''■ Addison.
HERE^AFTER, adv. In time to come; ir
me future time.
2. In a future state.
HEREAFTER, n. A future state.
'Tis heaven itself that points out an hereafter
Jlddison
HEREAT', adv. At this. He was offended
hereat, that is, at this saying, this fact, &c.
HEREBY', adv. By this.
Hereby we became acquainted with the na-
ture of things. Watts.
HEREIN', adv. In this.
Herein is uiy Father glorified, that ye bear
much fruit. John xv.
HEREIN'TO, arfi'. Into this. Hooker
HEREOF', orfv. Of this; from this.
Hereof comes it that prince Harry is valiant
Skak
HEREON', adv. On this. Brown.
HEREOUT', adv. Out of this place.
Spenser.
HERETOFORE, adv. In times before the
present ; formerly. Sidney.
HEREUNTO', arft^ To this. Hooker.
HEREUPON', adv. On this.
HEREWITH', adv. With this.
Most of the compounds of here and a prep-
osition, are obsolete or obsolescent, or
at least are deemed inelegant. But here-
after and heretofore are in elegant use.
Herein and hereby are frequently used in
the present version of the Scriptures, and
ought not perhaps to be discarded. In-
deed some of these words seem to be al-
most indispensable in technical law lan-
guage.
HERED'ITABLE, a. [from the root of AciV ;
L. heeredilas.]
That may be inherited. [jYot much used.
See Inheritable.] Locke.
HERED'ITABLY, adv. By inheritance;
by right of descent.
Tlie one-house-owners belong hereditably to
no private person. Tooke, Ritss. Encuc.
HEREDITAMENT,?!. [L. ha:res, hmredium.
See Heir.]
Aijy species of property that may be itdier-
ited ; lands, tenements, any thing corpo-
real or incorporeal, real, personal or mi.\-
ed, that may descend to an heir.
Blackslone.
A corporeal hereditament is visible and tan-
gible ; an incorporeal hereditament is an
ideal right, existing in contemplation of
law, issuing out of substantial corporeal
property.
HEREDITARILY, adv. By inheritance
by descent from an ancestor. Pope
100
HERED'ITARY, a. [Fr. hereditaire ; It.
ereditario. Sec Heir.]
1. That has descended from an ancestor.
He is in possession of a large hereditary
estate.
2. That may descend from an ancestor to an
heir ; descendible to an heir at law. The
crown of Great Britain is hereditary.
That is or may be transmitted from a par-
ent to a child ; as hereditary \mdc ; hered-
itary bravery ; hereditary disease.
HER'EMIT, 71. A hermit. Obs. Bp. Hall.
HEREMIT'ICAL, a. [See Hermit. It
should rather be written hermitical.] Soli-
tary ; secluded from society. Pope.
HER'ESIAR€H, n. s as z. [Gr. ouptjij,
heresy, and apx"!, chief]
A leader in heresy ; the chief of a sect of
I heretics. Sti '
HER'ESIAR€HY, .:. Chiefheresy
HER'ESY, n. [Gr. aipemf, from ouptu, to
take, to hold ; L. hceresis ; Fr. heresie.]
■ A fimdamenial error in religion, or an
error of opinion respecting some funda-
mental doctrine of religion. But in coun-
tries where there is an established church,
an opinion is deemed heresy, when it dif-
fers from that of the church. The Scrip-
tures being the standard of faith, any opin-
ion that is repugnant to its doctrines, is
heresy; but as men differ in the interpre-
tation of Scripture, an opinion deemed
heretical by one body of christians, may be
deemed orthodox by another. In Scrip-
ture and primitive usage, heresy meant
merely sect, party, or the doctrines of a
sect, as we now use denomination ov per-
suasion, implying no reproach.
2. Heresy, in law, is an offense against Chris-
tianity, consisting in a denial of some of
its essential doctrines, pubhcly avowed
and obstinately maintained. Blackstone.
3. An untenable or unsound opinion or doc-
trine in politics. Swift.
HER'ETIe, n. [Gr. oipfTcxoj; It. ere<!co;
Fr. heretique.]
1. A person under any religion, but particu-
larly the christian, who holds and teaches
opinions repugnant to the established
faith, or that which is made the standard
of orthodoxy. In strictness, among chris-
tians, a person who holds and avows re-
ligious opinions contrary to the doctrines!
of Scripture, the only rule of faith and
practice.
2. Any one who maintains erroneous opin-
'0"s. Shak.
HERET'ICAL, a. Containing heresy ; con-
trary to the established faith, or to the
true faith.
HERET'I€ALLY, adv. In an heretical
manner ; with heresy.
HER'ETOG, > [Sax. heretoga ; here,
HER'ETO€H, ^ ' an army, and teoche, a
leader, from teogan, teon, to lead, L. duco,
dux, Eng. to tug.]
Among our Sa.xon ancestors, the leader or
commander of an army, or the comman-
der of the militia in a county or district.
This officer was elected by the people in
n.lkmote. ^
HER lOT, 71. [SsiX. heregeat ; here, army,
and geat, tribute, supply, from g-eofa7i, to
flow, to render.]
In English law, a tribute or fine payable to
the lord of the fee on the decease of the
HER
HER
HER
owner, laiulljolder or vassal. Originally
this tribute consisted of military furniture,
or of horses and arms, as appears by the
laws of Canute, C. 69. But as defined by
modern writers, a heriot is a customary
tribute of goods and chattels, payable to
the lord of the fee on the decease of the
owner of the land ; or a render of the best
beast or other movables to the lord on the
death of the tenant. Heriots were of two
sorts ; heriot service, which was due by
reservation in a grant or lease of lands ;
and heriot custom, which depended solely
on immemorial usage.
fViLkins. Spelman. Blackstone.
IIER'IOTABLE, a. Subject to the payment
of a heriot. Bum.
(IER;ISS0N, n. [Fr. a hedgehog, from
hcrisser, to bristle, to stand out as hair.]
in fortification, a beam or bar armed with
iron spikes pointing outwards, and turn-
ing on a pivot ; used to block up a pass-
age. Encyc.
HER'ITABLE, a. [from the root of heir,
L. hares.]
1. Capable of inheriting, or taking by de-
By the canon law this son sh;i!l be lesjitimate
and heritable. Hale.
2. That may be inherited. [This is the true
sense.]
;?. Annexed to estates of inheritance. In
Scot's law, heritable rights are all rights
that affect lands or other immovables.
Enc>ic. Blackstone.
HERITAGE, j(. [Fr. from the root of
1. Inheritance; an estate that passes from
an ancestor to an heir by descent or course
of law; that which is inherited. In Scot's
late, it sometimes signifies immovable
estate, in distinction from movable.
1. In Scripture, tlie saints or people of God
are called his heritage, as being claimed by
liiiti, and the objects of his special care.
1 Pet. v.
HERMAPHRODE'ITy, n. llermaphro-
dism. B. Jonson.
HERMAPH'RODISM, n. [infra.] The
union of the two se.\es in the same indi-
vidual. Did. JVat. Hist.
HERMAPHRODITE, n. [Fr. from Gr.
fpuo^po^iro; ; ip/tjjj, Mercury, and a^poSiTij,
Venus.]
1. A human being, having the parts of gen-
eration both of male and female. The
term is applied also to other animals char-
acterized by a similar formation. Enci)c.
2. In botany, a flower that contains both the
anther and the stigma, or the supposed
male and female organs of generation,
within the same calyx or on the same re-
ceptacle. Mcirtyn. Encyc.
■'!. A plant that has only hermajjlirodite
fiowprs. Marti/n
HERMAPII'RODITE, a. Designating boti
sexes in the same animal, flower or plant
HERMAPHRODITIC, a. Partaking of
bcitli sexes. Brown
llF.U-MM'llltoniT'leALLY, adv. After
ihr inaiMiir of bermaphrodites.
UI'.K.V.ENKU'Tle, ? [Gr. iffurivivtixo,,
HERMENEUTICAL, S"'from ifirj^wi, ai
interjtreter, from tp/«:;s, Meicury.]
interpreting ; explaining; unfolding the sig'
nificaiion ; as hermenevtic theology, the
art of expounding the Scriptures.
Bloomfield. Encyc
HERMENEU'TICALLY, adv. According
to the true art of interpreting words.
M. Stuart
HERMENEU'TICS, n. The art of finding
the meaning of an author's words and
phrases, and of explaining it to others.
HERMET'I€, ? [Fr. hermeliqut ; Si:
HERMET'IeAL, S /^ermd^co,• from Gt
tffir^i. Mercury, the fabled inventor of
chimistry.]
1. Designating chimistry ; chimical ; as the
hermetic art.
2. Designating that si>ecies of philosophy
which pretends to solve and explain all
the phenomena of nature from the three
chimical principles, salt, sulphur and nier.
ciu-y; as the fter«if(ic philosophy.
3. Designating the system which explain;
the causes of diseases and the operations
of medicine, on the principles of the her-
metical philosophy, and particularly on
the system of an alkali and acid ; as her-
metical physic or medicine. Encyc.
4. Perfectly close, so that no air, gas, or
spirit can escape ; as a hermetic seal. The
hermetic seal is formed by heating the
neck of a vessel till it is soft, and then
twisting it, till the apertin-e or passage is
accurately closed. Encyc.
Hermetic, books, books of the Egyptians
which treat of astrology. Bryant.
Books which treat of universal princi-
ples, of the nature and orders of celestial
beings, of medicine and other topic.*!.
Enfeld.
HERMET'ICALLY, adv. According to the
lermetic art ; cliimically ; closely ; accu-
ately ; as a vessel hermetically sealed or
losed.
HER'MIT, n. [Fr. hermile, ermite; Sp.
ermitaho ; It. eremita; Gr. (^■/niiirii, from
fpjj^oj, solitary, destitute. Perhaps from
the Shemitic Din, to cut off from society,
to expel, or to be separated. Class Rm.
See Harem.]
1. A person who retires from society and
lives in soUtude ; a recluse ; an anchoret.
The woid is usually applied to a person
who lives in solitude, disengaged from the
cares and interruptions of society, for the
purpose of religious contemplation and
devotion.
2. A beadsman ; one bound to pray for an-
other. Shak.
HER'MITAGE, n. The habitation of a her-
mit ; a house or hut with its appendages,
in a solitary place, where a hermit dwells.
Milton.
2. A cell in a recluse place, but annexed to
an abbey. Encyc.
3. A kind of wine.
HER'MITARY, n. A cell for the religion;
annexed to some abbey. Howell.
HER'MITESS, n. A female hermit.
Drjimm,ond.
HERMIT'I€AL, a. Pertaining to a hermit,
or to retired life.
2. Suited to a hermit. Coventry,
HERMODAC'TYL, n. [(?r. fp/«7«, Mercury,
and ^axrti^os, a finger; Mercury's finger.]
In the Materia Medica, a root brought from
Tm-key. It is in the sliape of a heart flat-
ted, of a white color, compact, but easy
to be cut or pulverized, of a viscous
sw eetish taste, with a slight degree of ac-
rimony. Some suppose it to be the root
of the Colchicum variegatum ; others, the
root of the Iris tuberosa. It was anciently
in great repute as a cathartic ; but that
which is now furnished has little or no
cathartic quality. Encyc.
HERMOgE'NIANS, n. A sect of ancient
heretics, so called from their leader Iler-
mogenes, who lived near the close of the
second century. He held matter to be the
fountain of all evil, and that souls are
formed of corrupt matter. Ena/c
HERN, n. A heron, which see. '
HERN'HILL, n. A plant.
HERN'IA, n. [L.] In surgery, a rupture ;
a descent of the intestines or omentum
from their natural place; an unnatural
protrusion of the intestines. Hernia is of
various kinds. Quincy. Coxe.
HERN'SHAW, n. A heron. Obs.
or- r)/-\ Spenser.
HE'RO, n. [L. heros, Gr. j;puj, a demigod.
It coincides in elements with Ir. earr, no-
ble, grand, a chamjjion, and with the G.
herr, D. heer, lord, master.]
1. A man of distinguished valor, intrepidity
or enterprise in danger; as a hero iu
arms. Coidey.
2. A great, illustrious or extraordinaiy per-
son ; as a hero in learning. [Little used.]
3. In a poem, or romance, the principal per-
sonage, or the person who has the prin-
ci[)al share in the transactions related ; as
Achilles in the Iliad, Ulysses in the Odys-
sey, and jEneas in the /Eneid.
4. In pagan mythohgy, a hero was an illus-
trious person, mortal indeed, but suppo-
sed by the populace to partake of immor-
tality, and after his death to be placed
among the gods. Encyc.
HERO'DIANS, n. A sect among the Jewsj
which took this name from Herod; but
authors are not agreed as to their pec;i-
HERO'Ie, a. Pertaining to a hero or he-
roes ; as heroic valor.
2. Becoming a hero ; bold ; daring ; illustri-
ous ; as heroic action ; heroic enterprises.
3. Brave ; intrepid ; magnanimous ; enter-
prising ; illustrious for valor ; as Hector,
the heroic son of Priam; a heroic race.
4. Productive of heroes ; as a heroic line in
pedigree.
5. Reciting the achievments of heroes; as a
heroic poem.
6. Used in heroic poetry or hexameter ; as
heroic verse ; a heroic foot.
Heroic age, the age when the heroes, or those
called the children of the gods, are sup-
))osed to have lived.
HERO'IeAL, a. The same as heroic. [lAt-
tle used.]
HERO'l€.\LLY', adv. In the maimer of a
hero ; with valor ; bravely ; courageously ;
intrepidly. The wall was heroically de-
fended.
HEROI-COM'le, a. [See Hero and Comic]
Consisting of the heroic and the ludicrous ,-
denoting the high burlesque ; as a heroi-
coinic poem.
HER'OINE, n. hcr'oin. [Fr. heroine, from
hero.]
H E 11
H E S
II E T
A female liero ; a woman of a brave spirit.
[Heroess is not in use.] Dryden.
IIKR'OISM, n. [Fr. heroismc] The finali-
ties ofahero; bravery; courage; intre-
pidity; particularly in war. Broome.
IIKR'ON, n. [Fr.] A large fowl of the ge-
nus Anlea, a great devourer of fish.
IIKR'ONRY, I A place where herons
HERONSIIAVV, ^ "'breed. Derham
IIK'ROSIIII', n. The character of a hero.
Cowper.
IIRR'PES, n. [Gr. tprtr^;, from tprtw,
creep.]
Tetters ; an eruption on the skin ; erysif
las ; ringworm, &c. This disease takes
various names according to its form or tlic
part affected. Coxe. Encyc.
A term applied to several cutaneous eru
tions, from their tendency to spread >
creep from one part of the skin to another.
cy.
An eruption of vesicles in small distinct
clusters, accompanied with itching or
tingling; including the shingles, ring-
worm, &c. Good.
JIERPET'IC, a. Pertaining to the herpes
or cutaneous eruptions ; resembling the
herpes, or partaking of its nature ; as her-
petic eruptions.
Darwin,
Pertainim;
herpetolog
person versed
ural history
fjintroj, a rep
IIERPETOLOfi'IC.
HERPETOLOti'IeAL, i "■
HERPETOL'OgIST, n. A
in herpetology, or the nal
reptiles.
HERPETOL'OgY, n. [Gr.
tile, and Xoyoj, discourse.]
A description of reptiles ; the natural hi;
tory of reptiles, including oviparous qua(
rupeds, as the crocodile, frog and tortoisi
and serpents. The history of the latter i
called ophiology.
IIER'RING, 71. [Sax. haiing ; Fr. hareng ;
Arm. harincq ; G. hering ; D.haring; It,
aringa ; Sp. arenque ; Port, id.]
A fish of the genus Clupea. Herrings, when
they migrate, move in vast shoals, and it
is said that the name is formed from the
Teutonic here, lieer, an army or multi-
tude. They come from high norther.n lat-
itudes in the spring, and visit tlie shores of
Europe and America, where they are ta-
ken and salted in great quantities.
IIERRING-FISHERV, n. The fishing for
herrings, which constitutes an important
branch of business witli the English,
Dutch and Americans.
HERS, pron. hurz, pron.fem. possessive
this house is hers, that is, this is the house
uf lier. But perhaps it would be more
correct to consider hers as a substitute for
the noun and adjective, in the nominative
case. Of the two houses, hers is the best,
that is, her house is the best.
HERSCHEL, n. her'shel. A planet discov-
ered by Dr. Herschel, in 1781.
HERSE, n. hers. [Fr. Jrerse, a harrow, a
portcullis, probably from cross-work; rad-
ically the s;inie word as harrow, which see.]
I . In forliJicaUon, a lattice or portcullis in the
form of a harrow, set with iron spikes.
It is hung by a rope fastened to a mouli-
net, and when a gate is broken, it is let
down to obstruct the passage. It is called'
also a sarrasin or cataract, and when it
consists of straight stakes without cro.-is-
pieces, it is called orgues.
Herse is also a harrow, used for a die-;
vaux de frise, and laid in the way or in
breaches, witlt the points up, to obstruct
or incommode the march of an enemy.
Uncyc.
2. A carriage for bearing corpses to the
grave. It is a frame only, or a box, as in
England, borne on wheels.
3. A temporary monument set over a grave.
[Unusual and not legitimate.] If'eever.
4. A funeral eulogy. [jVot used.]
tr. Browne.
HERSE, I', t. hers. To put on or in a herse.
Shak. Chapman.
3. To carry to the grave.
HERSELF', pron. [her and self.] This de
notes a female, the subject of tliscourse
before mentioned, and is either in the
luiminative or objective case. In the
nominative it usually follows she, and
added for the sake of emphasis, ore
phatical distinction ; as, she herself will
bear the blame.
The (iauglitcr of Pharaoh came ilown to
herself. Kx. ii.
"2. Having the command of herself; mistress
of her rational powers, judgment or teni
per. The woman was deranged, but she
is now herself again. She has come to
herself.
.'?. In her true character ; as, the woman
acts like herself.
HERSELIKE, «, hcrs'like. Funereal ; suit-
able to funerals. Bacon
HERS'lLI.O.\, 71. [from /icrse.] In/Ac miViVary
art, a plank or beam, whose sides are se
with spikes or nails, to incommode and
retard the march of an enemy. Encyc.
HER'Y, V. I. [Sax. herian.] To regard at
holy. Obs. Spenser.
HESITANCY, n. [See Hesitate.] A doubt-
ing ; literally, a sto|)ping of the mind ; s
pausing to consider ; dubiousness ; sus-
pense.
The reason of my hesitancy about tlie air is—
Boyle
HES'ITANT, a. Hesitating; pausing
wanting volubility of speech.
HES'IT/VTE, r. j'.'sasi. [L. hmsito ; Fr.
hesiter ; from heesi, pret. of
hang.]
1. To stop or pause respecting'' decision or
action ; to be doubtful as to fact, princi-i
pie or determination ; to he in suspense
uncertainty ; as, he hesitated whether
accept the offer or not. We often hesitate\
what judgment to form.
It is never transitive, unless by poetic
license.
Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike. Pope.
2. To stammer; to stop 'in speaking.
HES'ITATING, ;);)r. Doubting; pau.sing ;
stammering.
HES'ITATINGLV, adv. With hesitation
doubt.
HESITA'TION, n. A pausing or delay in
forming an opinion or commencing ac-
tion ; doubt ; suspension of opinion or de-
cision, from uncertainty what is proper to
be decided. When evidence is deal', we
may decide without hesitation.
A stopt»ing in speech ; intermission be
tween words; stammering. Swijl.
HEST, n. [Sax. heese ; G. geheiss, a. com-
mand ; heissen, to call, to bid ; D. hcete
See Heat.]
Command ; precept ; injunction ; order.
[.\ow obsolete, but it is retained in the
lompoiiiHl, behest.]
HESPE'RIA.\, i. [L. hesperius, western,
from hesperus, vesper, the evening star,
Venus, Gr. tujtfpoj.] Western; situated
at the west.
HESPERIAN, n. An inhabitant of a west-
I crn country. J. Barlow.
HET'ERARCIIY, ti. [Gr. trifof, another,
and afxr;, rule.] The government of an
alien. Bp. Hall.
HET'ERO€LITE, n. [Gr. inpoxXizov ; tr.--
pof, another, or dillercnt, and xXiroj, from
acXciu, to incline, to lean.]
1. In grammar, a word which is irregular
or anomalous either in declension or con-
jugation, or which deviates from the or-
dinary forms of inflection in words of .\
like kind. It is particularly applied to
nouns irregular in declension.
2. .-Vny thing or person deviating from com-
mon forms. Johnson.
HET'EROel.ITE, ) Inegnlar ; a-
HETEROCl.lT'IC, ^n.nomalous; de-
HETEROCLIT'ICAL, ^ viating from or-
dinary forms or rules. Brown,
HETEROeUTOUS, a. Heierocliiic. [Xot
HET'ERODOX, a. [Gr. irifoi, another,
different, and So|a, opinion.]
1. In theology, heretical; contrary to the
faith and doctrines of the true church ; or
more precisely, contrary to the real doc-
trines of the Scriptures ; as a heterodox
opinion ; opposed to orthodox.
2. Repugnant to the doctrines or tenets of
any established church.
3. Holding opinions repugnant to the doc-
trines of the Scriptures, as a heterodox
divine; or holding opinions contrary to
those of an established church.
HETERODOXY, n. Heresy; an opinion
or doctrine contrary to the doctrines of
the Scriptures, or contrary to those of an
established church.
IIET'EROgENE, a. Obs. [See the nest
word.]
L. hareo, tol'HETEROtiE'NEAL, ) fGr. fffpoj, oth-
' HETEROGENEOUS, $ "• er, and yno;,
kind.]
Of a different kind or nature ; unlike or dis-
similar in kind ; opposed to homogeneous.
The light whose rays are all alike refrangible,
1 call simple, homogeneal and similar ; and that
whose rays are some more refrangible than
others, I call compound, heterogeneal and dis-
similar. jVeu-ton.
Heterogeneous nouns, are such as are of dif-
ferent genders in the singular and plural
iiunibors ; as hie lociis, of the masculine
gender in the singular, and hi loci and
ha:c loca, both mascuhue and neuter in the
l)liirnl. Hoc ccehtm, neuter in the singu-
lar ; hi cmli, masculine in the plural.
Heterogeneous quantities, are those which
are of such different kind and considera-
tion, that one of them, taken any number
of times, never equals or exceeds tlie
other.
Heterogeneous surds, are such as have dif-
ferent radical signs. Encyc.
HETEROGENEITY, ti. Opposition of na-
ture ; contrariety or dissimilitude ofquaj-
itics. [informed.]
HEX
i Dissimilar part ; something of a different
kind. Boyle.
HETEROUE'NEOUSNESS, n. Difference
of nature and quality; dissimilitude or
contrariety in kind, nature or qualities.
HETEROPH'YLLOUS, a. [Gr. frtpo;, di-
verse, and 4)v?.?.o>', leaf.]
Producing a diversity of leaves; as a hetero-
phyllous violet. Journ. of Science.
llETEROF'TIeS, n. [See Optics.] False
optics. Spectator.
ilETEROS'CIAN, n. [Gr. ttipo^, other, and
axia, shadow.]
Those inhabitants of the earth are called
Heteroscians, whose shadows fall one way
only. Such are those who live between
the tropics and the polar circles. The
shadows of those who live north of the
tropic of Cancer, fall northward; those
of the inhabitants south of the tropic of
Capricorn, fall southward; whereas the
shadows of those who dwell between the
tropics fall sometimes to the north
sometimes to the south.
IlETEROS'CIAN, a. Having the shadow-
fall one way only. Gregory.
IIEU'LANDITE, a. [from M. Heidanci] A
mineral, occurring massive, frequently
globular, or crystalized in the form of a
right oblique-angled prism. It has been
ranked among the zeolites, but is now
considered as distinct. Phillips
ilEW, V. t. pret. hewed; pp. hewed or hewn
[Sax. heawian ; G. hauen ; D. homoen
Sw. hugga ; Dan. hugger. In Sw. hugg
is a cut, a slash ; Dan. hug, a beating, a
striking ; so that the jiriinary sense is to
strike, to drive with the hand. See Hoe.]
1. To cut with an ax, or other hke instru-
ment, for the purpose of making an even
smfacc or side ; as, to heiv timber.
2. To chop; to cut; to hack; as, to 7ie!0 in
pieces.
3. To cut with a chisel ; to make smooth ;
as, to luiw stone.
4. To form or shape with an edged instru-
ment; with out ; as, to heiooul a sepulcher.
Is. xxii.
,'). To form laboriously.
I now pass my days, not studious nor idle.
lather poiisliina; old works than hewing out
new ones. {Unusual.1 Pope
To hew down, to cut down ; to fell by cut-
ting.
To hew off, to cut off; to separate by a cut-
ting instrument.
HEW'ED, pp. Cut and made smooth or
even; chopped; hacked; shaped by cut
ting or by a chisel.
HEW'ER, n. One who liews wood or
stone.
HEWING, ppr. Cutting and making
smooth or even ; chopping ; hacking
forming by the chisel.
HEWN, pp. The same as hewed.
HEX'ADE, n. [Gr. tl, six.] A series of si:
numbers. Med. Repos
HEX'A€HORD, n. [Gr. tl, six, and x°P«»7
a chord.]
[n ancient music, an imperfect chord called
a sixth. Also, an instrument of six chords,
or system of six sounds. Rousseau.
HEX'AGON, n. [Gr. 4, six, and yuna,
an angle.]
11 E Y
In geometry, a figure of six sides and six an-
gles. If the sides and angles are equal, it
is a regular hexagon. The cells of honey-
comb are hexagons, and it is remarkable
that bees instinctively form their cells of
this figure which fills any given space
without any interstice or loss of room.
HEXAG'ONAL, o. Having six sides and
six angles.
HEXAG'ONY, for hexagon, is not used.
HEX'AgYN, n. [Gr. tl, six, and ywi?. a fe-
male.] In botany, a plant that has six
pistils.
HEXAGYN'IAN, a. Having six pistils.
HEXAHE'DRAL, a. Of the figure of a hex-
ahedron ; having six equal sides.
HEXAHEDRON, n. [Gr. i%, six, and tSpo,
ise or seat.] A regular solid body of
sides ; a cube
HEXAHEM'ERON, n. [Gr. fl, six, and
i7;ufpo, day.] The term of six days.
Good.
HEXAMETER, ?i. [Gr. f|, six, and /ttrpo,
measure.]
In ancient poetry, a verse of six feet, the fii-st
four of which may be either dactyls or spon-
dees, the fifth must regularly be a dactyl,
and the sixth always a spondee. In this spe-
cies of verse are composed the Iliad of|
Homer and the yEneid of Virgil.
Diva so\lofx\os ocu\los a\versa ten\ebai
Virgil.
HEXAM'ETER, a. Having six metrical
feet.
HEXAMET'RIC, } Consisting of six
HEXAMET'RICAL, < "' metrical feet.
JVarton
HEXAN'DER, n. [Gr. f|, six, and av,,p
male.] In botany, a plant having six sta
HEXAN'DRIAN, a. Having six stamens.
HEXAN'GULAR, a. [Gr. tS, six, and an
gidar.] Having six angles or corners.
HEX'APED, a. [Gr. f|, six, and sons, rtojoj
L. pes, pedis, the foot.] Having six feet,
HEX'APED, n. An animal having six fee
[Ray, and Johnson after him write this
herapod; but it is better to pursue uni
formity, as in qiuidruped, centiped.]
A fathom. [JVot in msc]
HEXAPET'ALOUS, a. [Gr. 4, six, and
ftitar.01; a leaf, a petal.] Having six pe
tals or fiower-leaves.
HEXAPH'YLLOUS, a. [Gr. j|, six, and
^v^Kov, a leaf.] Having six leaves.
HEX'APLAR, a. [Gr. li, six, and artXow, to
unfold.]
Sextuple ; containing six columns ; from
Hexapla, the work of Origen, or an edi-|
tion of the Bible, containing the original,
Hebrew, and several Greek versions.
HEXAS'TICH, n. [Gr. eS, six, and ;ix°i, a
verse.]
A poem consisting of six verses.
[Gr.
Johnson. Weever.
t|, six, and jn^oj, a
HEX'ASTYLE.
column.]
A building with six columns in front.
Encyc
HEY. An exclamation of joy or mutual ex-
hortation, the contrary to the L. hei.
Prior.
HEYDAY, exclam. [Qu. high-day.] An ex
pression of frolick and exultation, and;
sometimes of wonder. Shaki
H I D
HEYDAY, n. A frolick; wildness. Shaf..
HIA'TION, n. [L. hio, to gape.] The act ol
gaping. [JVot iised.]
HIA'TUS, n. [L. from hio, to open or gape,
Gr. %tui,.]
1. An opening ; an aperture ; a gap ; a
chasm.
2. The opening of the mouth in reading or
speaking, when a word ends with a vow-
el, and the following word begins with a
vowel. Pope.
3. A defect ; a chasm in a manuscript, where
part is lost or effaced. Encyc.
HI'BERNACLE, n. [L. WdernacaZa, winter-
quarters.]
1. In botany, the winter-quarters of a plant,
that is, a bulb or a IxkI, in which tlie em-
bryo of a future plant is inclosed by a sca-
ly covering and protected from injuries
during winter. Barton. Maiiyn.
2. The winter-lodge of a wild animal.
HIBERN'AL, a. [L. hibernus.] Belonging
or relating to winter. Brown.
HI'BERNATE, v. i. [L. Uberno ; It. ver-
nare.]
To winter ; to pass the season of winter in
close quarters or in seclusion, as birds or
beasts. Darwin.
HIBERNA'TION, n. The passing of win-
ter in a close lodge, as beasts and fowls
that retire in cold weather. Darwin.
HIBERNIAN, a. Pertaining to Hibernia,
now Ireland.
HIBER'NIAN, n. A native of Ireland.
HIBERN'ICISM, n. An idiom or mode of
speech peculiar to tlie Irish. Todd.
HIBERNO-CELTI€, n. The native lan-
guage of the Irish ; the Gaelic.
Hiccius Doccius. [Qu. hie est doctus.] A cant
word for a juggler. Hudibras,
HI€'€0UGH, I [Dan. hik or hikken ; Sw.
HICK'UP, I "• hicka ; D. hik, hikken ; Fr.
hoquet ; W. ig, igian ; Arm. hicq. The
English is a compound of hie and cough ^
and hie may be allied to hitch, to catch.
The word is geneially pronounced hick-
up.]
A spasmodic affection of the stomach, eso-
phagus, and muscles subservient to deglu-
tition. Encyc. Parr~
Convulsive catch of the respiratory mus-
cles, with sonorous iusph-ation ; repeated
at short intervals. Good.
HI€'eOUGH, ? „ . To have a spasmodic
HICK'UP, I ^- '• affection of the stom-
ach frotn repletion or other cause.
HICK'ORY, 11. A tree, a species of Juglans
or walnut. Its nut is called hickory-nut.
HICK'WALL, I [Qu. hitchxoall.] A small
HICK'WAY, \ "■ species of woodpecker.
HID, } (.,., Concealed; placed!
HID^DEN,!^'^""*'''- in secrecy. '
2. a. Secret ; unseen.
3. Mysterious.
HI'DAGE, n. [fi-om /tiWe, a quantity of land.]
An e.vtraordinary tax formerly paid to the
kings of England for every hide of land.
HIDAL'GO, j(. In Spain, a man of noble
birth.
HID'DENLY, adv. In a hidden or secret
maimer.
HIDE, V. t. pret. hid ; pp. hid, hidden. [Sax.
hydan ; W. cuziaw ; Arm. cuza, or cuddyo.
or kytho ; Corn, kitlia ; Russ. kutayu ; Gr.
xivdu. In Sw. hydda, Dan. hytte, is a hut i
and tlie Sw. hyda,/6rhyda, Dan. forhuer, to
H I D
II I E
II I G
slicathc a ship, seem to be the same word.
Hood, as well as hut, may belong to thi
root. See Class Gd. No. 26. 31. 43. 55.]
1. To conceal; to withhold or withdraw
from sight; to place in any state or posi
tion in which the view is intercepted from
the object. The intervention of the
between the earth and the sun hides the
latter from our sight. The people i
Turkey hidt their grain in the earth. N
human being can hide his crimes or hi
neglect of duty from his Maker.
2. To conceal from knowledge ; to keep se
cret.
Depart to the mountains ; hide yourselves
there three days. Josh. ii.
Tell me now what thou hast done — hide it
not from me. Josh. vii.
3. In Scripture, not to confess or disclose
or to excuse and extenuate.
I acknowledged my sin to thee, and my ini
quity have I not hid. Ps. xxxii.
4. To protect ; to keep in safety.
In the time of trouble, he shall hide me in his
pavilion. Ps. xxvii.
To hide the face from, to overlook j to par
don.
Hide thy face from my sins. Ps. Ii.
To hide the face, to withdraw spiritual pres-
ence, support and consolation.
Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled
Ps. XXX.
To hide one^s self, to put one's self in a con-
dition to be safe ; to secure protection.
The prudent man foreseeth the evil and Aid-
eth himself. Prov. xxii.
HIDE, V. i. To lie concealed ; to keep one's
self out of view ; to be withdrawn from
sight.
Bred to disguise, in public 'lis you hide.
Pope
Hide and seek, a play of boys, in which some
hide themselves and another seeks them.
Gulliver.
HIDE, n. [According to Lye, Sax. Diet, un-
der weal-stylling, this word signified origi-
nally a station, covered place, or place of
refuge for besiegers against the attacks of
the besieged, (iu.]
In the ancient laws of England, a certain
portion of land, the quantity of which
however is not well ascertained. Some
authors consider it as the quantity that
could be tilled with one plow ; others, as
much as would maintain a family. Some
suppose it to be 60, some 80, and others
100 acres. SiJdma7i. Encyc.
HIDE, n. [Sax. hyd, hyde ; G. hnvt ; B.huid;
Sw. and Dan. hud; L. cutis; Gr. xui,
xc^Siov ; either a peel, from stripping, sep-
arating, or a cover.]
1. The skin of an animal, either raw or
dressed ; more generally applied to the
undressed skins of the larger domestic
animals, as oxen, horses, &.c.
2. Tlie human skin ; in contempt. Dryden.
HI'DEBOUND, a. A horse is hidebound,
when his skin sticks so closely to his ribs
and back, as not to be easily loosened or
raised. Far. Diet.
Trees are said to be hidebound, when the
bark is so close or firm that it impedes the
growth. Bacon.
2. Harsh; untractablc. [Nut used.]
itudibras.
3. Niggardly ; penurious. [jYot used.]
Ainsworth.
HID'EOUS, a. [Fr. hideux ; Norm. /ii</ow,|lIlEROGLYPII'ICALLY, arff. Emblemat-
froni hide, fright, dread.] j ically ; by characters or pictures express-
1. Frightftil to the sight; dreadful; shocking! ive of facts or moral qualities. The Mes-
to tlie eye ; applied to deformity; as a hid-j icans wrote history hieroglyphically.
eous monster ; a Aideous spectacle ; Atrfeo!j*!ni'EllOGRAM, n. [Gr. ifpoj, sacred, and
looks. Shak. Dryden.V. -/i a^fia, letter.] A species of sacred writ-
2. Shocking to the ear; exciting terror; asl ing.
a hideous noise. /roorfjoarrf. jlllEROGR AMM AT'I€, a. [Gr. »po;, sacred,
3. Detestable. Spenser.n and yiian^ia, letter.]
HID'EOUSLY, adv. In a manner to fright- iDenoting a kind of writing in sacred or sac-
en ; dreadfully; shockinglv. Shak.\\ erdotal characters, used only by the priests
HID'EOUSNESS, n. Frightfulness to thell in Egypt. fVarburlon.
eye; dreadfulness; horribleness. HIEROGRAM'MATIST, n. A writer of
HI'DER, n. [from hide.] One who hides or
j conceals.
[HI'DING, ppr. Concealing ; covering
withdrawing from view; keeping close or
I secret.
'HI'DING, n. Concealment. Hab. ii
2. Withdrawment ; a withholding ; as the
[ hidings of God's face. Milncr.
HIDING-PLACE, n. A place of conceal
j mcnt.
|HIE, V. i. [Sax. higan, higian, to hasten, to
i urge forward, to press, to endeavor ; also,
Megan and higgan, to be urgent, to strive.]
|1. To hasten ; to move or run with haste; to
go in haste ; o word chiefly used in poetry.
The youth, returning to his mistress, hies.
I Dryder.
j2. With the reciprocal pronoun ; as, Wcthe
[ home.
llIlB', n. Haste ; diligence. Obs. Chaucer.
IHI'ERARtH, n. [Gr. ctpoj, sacred, and ajijto;,
j a rider or prince.]
The chief of a sacred order; particularly, thi
chief of an order of angels. Milton.
HIERARCH'AL, a. Belonging to a liierarch.
Milton
HIERARCHICAL, a. Belonging to a sa
cred order, or to ecclesiastical govern-
ment.
IU'ERARCHY, n. An order or rank of an-
gels or celestial beings; or a subordina-
tion of holy beings. Some of the Rabbins
reckon four, and others ten hierarchies,
orders of angels. Encyc.
•2. Constitution and government of the chris-
tian church, or ecclesiastical polity, com-
prehending different orders of clergy ; as
the hierarchy of England. Bacon.
HIEROGLYPH. ) , [Gr. wpoj, sacred,
HIEROGLYPHICS and yXt^w, to
carve.]
I. In antiquity, a sacred character; a mys-
tical character or symbol, used in writings
and inscriptions, particularly by the Egyp-
tians, as signs of sacred, divine, or super-
natural things. The hieroglyphics were
hieroglvphics.
HIEROGUAPH'IC, } Pertaining to
HIEROGRAPlM€AL,S "" sacred writ-
ing.
HIEROG RAPIIY, n. [Gr. «poj, holy, and
ypa^iu, to write.] Sacred writing. [Ldttle
^lseJ.]
HIEROL'OtJY', n. [Gr. «po5 and ?.oyos.] A
discourse on sacred things.
HIEROM'ANCY, n. [Gr. «pos, sacred, and
ixavttux, divination.]
Divination by observing the various things
offered in sacrifice. Encyc
HIEROM'NEMON, n. [Gr. .tpoj, sacred, and
jivijliuv, preserving memory.]
In ancient Greece, a magistrate who presided
over the sacred rites and solemnities, &c.
Mitford.
UI'EROPHANT, n. [Gr. upo^arri;;; «pof,
sacred, and 'f'Mvu, to show.]
A priest ; one who teaches the mysteries and
duties of religion. Hale.
jHIG'GLE, V. i. [In Dan. hylcler signifies to
flatter, fawn, disguise or play the hypo-
crite ; Sw. hyckla, id. In Welsh, hiciaw
is to snap, to catch suddenly, to trick, as
if allied to hiieh. This word may be from
the same root as L. cocio. See Huckster.]
1. To carry provisions about and offer them
for sale.
2. To chaffer ; to be difficult in making a
bargain.
It argues an ignorant mind, where we have
wronged, to higgle and dodge in the amends.
Hale.
HIGGLEDY-PIGGLEDY, adv. In confu-
; a loiv word.
HIG'GLER, n. One who carries about pro-
visions for sale.
One who chaffers in bargaining.
HIGH, a. hi. [Sax. AeaA, hig, heh or hih ; G.
hoch ; D. hoog ; Sw. hog ; Dan. hoj. The
W. uc, ucel, may be the same word, with
the loss of the first letter.]
1. Extending a great distance above the sur-
face of the earth : elevated ; lofty ; of great
altitude ; as a high mountain ; a high
figures of animals, parts of the human
body, mechanical instruments, &c., which| 2. Rising, or having risen, or being far above
contained a tneaning known only to kings,! the earth; elevated ; lofty ; as a high
and priests. It is supposed they were used!; fli„i,t ; the clouds are high in the atraos-
to vail morality, politics, &c., from vulgar;; phere.
eves. -Encj/c! 3. Elevated above the horizon; as. how Ajg/c
2. Pictures intended to express historical, is the sun? It is an hour AiV'-
facts; supposed to be the primitive modei 4. Raised above any object,
of writing. h High o'er their heails a muldering rock i*
3. The art of writing in picture. Suri/Z.j placed. Dryden.
HIEROGLY'PH'IC, ) Emblematic ;!!5. Exalted in nature or dignity.
HIEROGLYPH'ICAL, S "' expressive of | The AigAest facultj- of the soul. £a.tter.
some meaning by characters, pictures or
figures ; as hieroglyphic writing ; a hiero-
glyphic obelisk.
6. Elevated in rank, condition or office. We
speak of high and low ; of a high office :
high rank ; high station ; a high court.
H I G
7. Possessing or governed by lionoralilej
pride ; noble ; exalted ; magnanimous ;
dignified ; as a man of a high mind.
8. Exalted in excellence or extent.
Solomon lived at ease, nor aimed beyond
Higher design tliau to enjoy his state.
Milton.
0. Difficult ; abstruse.
Tliey meet to hear, and answer such high
things. Shak.
10. Boastful ; ostentatious.
His forces, after all the high discourses,
amounted really but to eighteen hundred foot.
Clarendon .
11. Arrogant; jiroud ; lofty; loud.
The governor made himself merry with his
high and threatening language. Clarendon
V2. Loud ; boisterous ; threatening or an
gi y. The parties had very high words.
13. Violent ; severe ; oppressive.
When there appeareth on cither side a high
hand, violent persecution, &c. Bacon
14. Public ; jrowerful ; triumphant ; glori-
ous; or under divine protection.
The children of Israel went out of Egypt with
a high hand. Ex. siv.
15. Noble ; illustrious ; honorable ; as a man
oihigh birth.
1(). Expressive of pride and haughtiness; as
high looks. Is. x.
17. Powerful ; mighty.
Strong is thy hand, high is thy right liand
Ps. Ixxxix.
18. Possessed of supreme power, dominion
or excellence.
Thou, Lord, art high above all the earth. Ps
19. Great ; important ; so]
eration.
For that sabba(h-day w
emn ; held in ven
>s a high day. Johi
20. Violent ; rushing with velocity ; tempes-
tuous ; as a high wind.
21. Tumultuous.; turbulent; inflamed; vio-
lent ; as Ugh passions.
22. Full ; complete. It is high time to re-
tire.
It is high time to awake from sleep. Kom
23. Raised ; accompanied by, or proceeding
from great excitement of the feelings ; as
high |)leasure of body or mind.
24. Rich ; luxurious; well seasoned; ashigh
fare ; high living ; high sauces.
Milton. Bacon.
2.5. Strong; vivid ; deep ; as a high color.
26. Dear ; of a great price, or greater price
than usual ; as, to purchase at a high rate ;
goods are high.
27. Remote from the equator north or south
as a high latitude.
28. Remote in past time ; early in former
time; as high antiquity.
20. Extreme ; intQnse ; as a high heat.
30. Loud ; as a high sound. But more gen
erally,
31. In music, acute ; sharp; as a high note;
a high voice ; opposed to lotv or gi
32. Much raised ; as high relief
lievo.]
33. Far advanced in art or science ; as high
attaiiuiients.
34. Great; capital; committed against the
king, sovereign or state ; as high treason,
distinguished from petty treason, which is
committed against a master or other su-
perior.
as high relief [alto re-
II I G
35. Great; exalted; as a high opinion of
s integrity.
High church and loie church, in Great Britain,
a distinction introduced after the revolu-
tion. The high church were supposed to
favor the papists, or at le.ist to support thei
high claims to prerogative, which were
maintained by the Stuarts. The low
church entertained more moderate no-
tions, manifested great enmity to popery,!
and were inclined to circumscribe the
royal prerogatives. This distinction isj
now less marked, but not wholly oblitera-j
ted.
High day, high r.oon, the time when the sun
is in the meridian.
High Dutch, is the German language, as dis-
tinguished fi-om Low Dutch or Belgic, or
the cultivated German, as opposed to the
vulgar dialect
HIGH, adv. Aloft ; to a great altitude ; asj
towering high.
2. Eminently; greatly.
Heaven and earth
Shall high extol thy praises. Milton
3. With deep thought ; profoundly.
He reasoned high. Milton.\
4. Powerfully. Milton.
HIGH, n. An elevated place ; superior re-l
gion ; as on high ; from on high. |
On hish, aloud. " Obs. Spenser.
2. Aloft.-
HIGH-AIMED, a. Having grand or lofty]
tlesigns. Crashaw.\
HIGH- ARCHED, n. Having elevated arches.j
May.\
HIGH-ASPI'RING, a. Having elevated
views ; aiming at elevated objects.
Bp. Hall.
HIGH-BLEST, a. Supremely happy.
Milton.
HIGH-BLOWN, a. Swelled much with
wind ; inflated, ag"with pride or conceit.
Shak.
HIGH-BORN, a. Being of noble birth or
extraction. Rowe.
HiGH-BUILT, a. Of lofty structure.
Milton.
2. Covered with lofty buildings.
The high-built elephant his castle rears.
Creech.
HIGH-€LIMBING, a. Climbing to a great
height.
2. Difficult to be ascended. Milton.
HIGH-eoLORED,«. Having a strong, de<ij)
or glaring color. Floyer
2. Vivid ; strong or forcible in representa-
high-colored description.
HIGH-DAY, a. Fine ; befitting a holiday.
Shak.
HIGH-DESIGNING, a. Forming great
schemes. Bruden.
HiGH-EMBOWED, a. Having lofty arches.
M!Uu„.
HIGH-ENGENDERED, a. Engendered
aloft, or in the air. Shak.
HIGH-FED, a. Pampered ; fed luxurionslv.
Milton.
HIGH-FLAMING, a. Throwing flame to n
great highth. Pope.
HIGH-FLIER, n. One that carries his opin-
ions to extravagance. Sicijl.
HIGH-FLOWN, a. Elevated ; swelled ;
proud ; as high-Jlown hopes. Denham
2. Turgid; swelled; extravagant ; as a /li^fe-j
H I G
HIGH-FLUSHED, a. Much elated.
Young.
HIGH-FLYING, a. Extravagant in claims
or opinions ; as high-flying, arbitrary kings.
Di-yden.
Highgate Resin. [See Fossil Copal.]
HIGH-GAZING, a. Looking upwards.
HIGH-GOING, a. Moving rapidly.
Massenger.
HIGH-GROWN, a. Having the crop consid-
eiably gro<vn.
HIGH-HEAPED, a. Covered with high
piles; as a high-heaped tab\o. Pope.
2. Raised in high piles. Pope.
HIGH-HEARTED, a. Full of courage.
Beanm.
HIGH-HEELED, a. Having high heel.-^.
Swift.
HIGH-HUNG, a. Hung aloft ; elevated.
Dry den .
HIGH-LIVED, a. Pertaining to high lite.
Goldsviith.
HIGH-METTLED, a. Having high spirit ;
ardent ; full of fire ; as a high-mettled steed.
HIGH-MINDED, a. Proud; arrogant.
Be not higli-minded, but fear. Rom. xi.
Having honorable pride ; magnanimaus ;
opposed to mean.
HIGH-OPERATION, n. In surgery, a meth-
od of extracting the stone from the hu-
man bladder, by cutting tlie upper part of
it. Encyc.
HIGH-PLACE, n. In Scripture, an emi-
nence or mound on which sacrifices were
offered. Before the temple was built in
Jerusalem, sacrifices were offered to Jeho-
vah by his worshipers, on high places ; but
afterwards such mounds were devoted to
idolatrous sacrifices.
HIGH-PLACED, a. Elevated in situation
or rank. Shak.
HIGH-PRIEST, n. A chief priest.
Sn-ipture.
HIGH-PRINCIPLED, a. Extravagant in
notions of politics. Swift.
HIGH-RAISED, a. Elevated ; raised aloft.
Dryden.
2. Raised with great expectations or coit-
ceptions. Millmi.
HIGH-REACHING, a. Reaching to a great
highth.
3. Reaching upwards.
Vmbitious ; aspiring.
HIGH-REARED, o. Raised high
foicn hyperbole.
Milton.
Shak.
of loflv
Shak.
HIGH-UEO, a. Having a strong red color;
ply red. Boyle.
HI(;H-REPEXT'ED, a. Deeply repented.
un.] ' Shak.
HIGH-RESOLVED, a. Very resolute.
Tit. Andron.
HIGH-ROOFED, a. Having a lofty or sharp
Milton.
HIGH-SEASONED, a. Enriched with spi-
ces or other seasoning.
HIGH-SEATED, a. Fixed on high; seated
in an elevated place. Milton.
HIGH-SIGHTED, a. Always looking up-
ward. '^Shak.
HIGH-SOUNDING, a. Pompous ; noisy ;
ostentatious ; as high-sounding words or
titles.
HIGH-SPIRITED, a. Full of spirit or nat-
ural fire ; easily irritated ; irascible.
UEslrange.\% Full of spirit ; bold; daring.
H I G
II I M
H I N
HIGH-STOMACHED, a. Having a lofty
spirit ; proud ; obstinate. Shak.
HIGH-SWELLING, a. Swelling greatly ;
inflated ; boastful.
HIGH-SWOLN, a. Greatly swelled. Shak.
HIGH-TAPER, n. A plant of tlie genus
Verbascum. Fam. of Plants.
HIGH-TASTED, a. Having a strong relish ;
piquant. Denhavi.
HIGH-TOWERED, a. Having lofty tow-
ers. Milton.
HIGH-VICED, a. Enormously wicked.
Shak.
HIGH-WROUGHT, a. Wrought with ex-
quisite art or skill ; accurately finished.
Pope.
2. Inflamed to a high degree ; as high-
night passion
iLAND, n.
HIGHLAND, n. Elevated land ; a moun
tainous region.
Highlands of Scotland, mountainous regions
inhabited by the descendants of the an-
cient Celts, who retain thefr primitive lan-
guage.
Highlands on the Hudson, sixty miles from
New York. These afford inost sublime
and romantic scenery, and here is West
Point, a fortified post during the revolu-
tion, and now the scat of one of the best
military schools of the ago.
HIGHLANDER, n. An inhabitant of the
mountains ; as the Highlanders of Scot-
land.
HIGHLANDISH, a. Denoting high or
moHntainous land. Ununmond.
HIGHLY, adv. hi'ly. With elevation in
jjlace.
2. In a great degree. We are highli/ favor-
ed. Exercise is highly requisite to" health.
3. Proudly ; arrogantly ; ambitiously.
Shak.
4. With elevation of mind or opinion ; with
great estimation ; as, to think highly of
one's |)erformances.
HIGHMOST, a. Highest. [Xol used.]
Shak.
HIGHNESS, Ji. hi'ness. Elevation above
the surface; loftiness; altitude; highth.
2. Dignity; elevation in rank, character oi
power.
.•3. Excellence ; value. Howell
4. Violence ; as the highness of wind.
5. Great amount ; as tlie highness of price.
6. Acuteness; as the highness of a note oi
voice.
7. Intenseness, as of heat.
8. A title of honor given to princes or other
men of rank.
HIGHTH, ) [See Height.] Elevation ; al-
HIGHT, S "■ t't"de ; loftinesss. [It is very
desirable that this noun should be regu-
larly formed from the adjective.]
Hight, to call, to proiriiso, to command, &c.
is a false orthograjiliy, from Saxon, hulaii.
It is obsolete. [See Heat]
Chaucer. Spenser.
HIGH WATER, n. The utmost flow or
greatest elevation of the tide ; also, the
time of such elevation
HIGHWATER-MARK, n. The line made
on the shore by the tide at its utmost
highth. Mar. Diet
HIGHWA'Y, 71. A public road; a way open
to all passengers ; so called, either be-
cause it is a great or public road, or be
cause ilie earth was raised to Ibrm a dry
palli. Highways open a communication
from one city or town to another.
■2. Course; road; train of action. Child.
HIGHWAYMAN, n. One who robs on the
public road, or lurks in the highway for
the purpose of robbing.
HILARATE, is not in use. [See Exhila
rate.]
HILAR'ITY, »!. [L. hilaritas ; Gr. tT^ofos,
joyful, merry. If r is radical, this cannot
be from aouo, to be propitious.]
Mirth; merriment; gayety. Hilarity diSera
fvom joy ; the latter, excited by good news
or jnosperity, is an affection of the mind;
the former, by social pleasure, drinking
&c. which rouse the animal s])irits.
HIL'ARY-TERM, «. The term of courts,
&c. wliich begins January 23. England.
HILD, G. and D. held, Dan. heldl, a hero, is
retained in names ; as Hildehert, a bright
hero ; Mathild, Matilda, a heroic lady.
HILD'ING, n. [Qu. Sax. %Wan, to decline,
or hyldeleas, destitute of affection.]
A mean, sorry, jmltry man or woman. Obs.
Shak.
HILL, n. [Sax. hiU or hyl ; L. collts ; per-
haps Gr. x57?.j?. It cannot be the G. hiigel,
D.heuvel, unless contracted.]
1. A natural elevation of land, or a mass of
earth rising above the common level of
the surrounding land ; an eminence. A
hill is less than a mountain, but of no defi-
nite magnitude, and is sometimes apjdied
to a mountain. Jerusalem is seated on
two hills. Rome stood on seven hills.
2. A cluster of plants, and the earth raised
about them ; as a hill of maiz or potatoes
U. Slates.
HILL, V. t. To raise earth about plants ; to
raise a little mass of earth. Farmers in
New England hill their maiz in July,
ffiMing- is generally the third hoeing.
3. To cover. Obs. [Sax.helan; h.celo.]
HILL'ED, pp. or a. Having hills.
HILL'ING, n. A covering. 04s.
2. The act of raising the earth around plants.
HILL'OCK, n. A small hill.
Milton. Dryden
HILL'SIDE, n. The side or declivity of a
hill. J. Barlow.
HILL'Y, a. Abounding with hills ; as a hilly
country.
HILT, n. [Sax. hilt, the hold, from healdan,
to hold.]
Tlie handle of any thing ; but chiefly appli-
ed to the handle of a sword.
HILT'ED, a. Having a hilt.
HI'LUM, n. [L.; W. hit, a particle, issue.]
The eye of a bean or other seed ; the
mark or scar of the umbilical chord, by
which the seed adheres to the pericarp.
Marlyn.
HIM, pron. The objective case of At, L. eum,
anciently em or im.
Him tliat is weak in the faith receive. Rom.
xiv.
Him and his were formerly used for
nouns of the neuter gender, but the prac-
tice is obsolete.
HIMSELF', ;)ron. In the nominative or ob-
jective case, [him and self]
1. He ; but himself is more emphatical, «r
more expressive of distinct personality
than he.
W ilh siiiime rciiiem
one
Of the same licrd, /(
ljer.s while hi,
It exjiresses discrinimatioii ol person with
particular emphasis.
liut he him.iitf returned Iroiri the quarries.
Judges iii.
But 6'(«//uHis(7/'is Hitli us for our captain. 2
Chron. xiii.
3. When used as the reciprocal pronoun, it
is not usually em|)hatical.
I David hid himself in the field. 1 Sam. xx.
4. It was formerly used as a substitute for
I neuter nouns ; as high as heaven himself.
\ [This use is now improper.]
5. It is sometimes separated from h4 ; as,
Ae could not go himself, for he himself could
not go.
6. Himself is used to express the proper
j character, or natural temjier and disposi-
I tion of a person, after or in opposition to
wandering of mind, irregularity, or devi-
ous conduct from derangement, passiou
I or extraneous influence. We say, a man
j has come to himself, after delirious or ex-
travagant behavior. Let the man alone;
t let him act himself.
By himself, alone ; unaccompanied ; seques-
! tered. He sits or studies by himself.
j Ahah went one way by himself, and Obadlah
I went another way by himself. 1 Kings xviii.
HIN, 71. [Heb. p.] A Hebrew measure of
I capacity containing the sixth part of an
1 epiiah, or about five quarts English nieas-
i nre. Encyr.
HIND, n. [Sax. G. D. hinde ; Sw.Dan. hind;
I allied perhaps to han, hen. See Hen.\
The female of the red deer or stag.
HIND, n. [Sax. hine ; Scot, hyne.] A do-
j mestic ; a servant. Obs. Shak.
!-2. A peasant ; a rustic ; or a husbandman's
I servant. [English.] Eneyc.
HIND, n. [fiax.hyvdun,hindan; G. hintan ;
' D. hinder. Deriv. comp. hinder, super!.
hindmost.]
Backward ; pertaining to the part which
j folloxys ; in opposition to the fore part; as
the hind legs of a quadruped ; the hind
I toes ; the hind ahocs of a horse ; the hind
\ part of an animal.
HINDBERRY, ji. A species of Rubus.
HINDER, a. comp. of hind. That is iu a po-
[ sition contrary to that of the head or fore
jiart ; designating the part whicli follow.s ;
I as the hinder part of a wagon ; the hinder
' part of a ship, or the stern. Acts xxvii.
IIIN'DER, V. t. [Sax. henan, hynan, hindrian ;
G. hindern ; D. hinderen ; Sw. hindra ;
Dan. hindrer ; from hind, hyn. The Sax-
I on verbs heriati, hynan, signify to oppress,
j as well as to hinder, and hean is low. hum-
i ble, poor. Qu. L. cujictor, or Gr. oxitu, for
oxfifu. See Class Gn. No. 4. 14. 41.]
|1. To stoj); to interrupt ; to obstruct ; to im-
))ede or prevent from mo^ ing forward by
any means. It is applicable to any sub-
ject, physical, moral or intellectual.
Them that were entering in, yc hindered.
Luke xi.
2. To retard ; to clieck in progression or
! motion ; to obstruct for a time, or to ren-
I der slow in motion. Cold weather AiW^rs
1 tlie growth of plants, or hinders them from
II I p
L-oiuing 10 maturity in due season. Let
no obstacle hinder daily improvement.
■i. To prevent.
What hinders younger brothers, being fathers
of families, from haring the same right ?
Locke.
HINDER, V. i. To interpose obstacles or
impediments.
Tliis objection hinders not but lliat the hero-
ic action of some commander — may be written.
Dryden.
IIIN'DERANCE, n. Tlie act of impeding
or restraining motion.
2. Impediment; that which stops progi'es
sion or advance ; obstruction.
He must remove all these hinderanees out of
the way. JItteibtin/.
IIIN'DERED, pp. Stopped ; impeded; ob-
structed ; retarded.
HIN'DERER, «. One who stops or retards;
that which liinders.
IIIN'DERING, ppr. Stopping ; impeding ;
obstructing ; retarding.
HINDERMOST, a. That which is behind
all others; the last. [But we now use
hindmost.]
HINDMOST, fl. The last ; that is in the
rear of all others.
He met thee in the way, and smote the hind
most of thee. Deut. xxv.
IIIN'DOO, n. An aboriginal of Hindoostan,
or Hindostan.
IIINGE, n. hinj. [This word appears to be
connected with hang, and with angle, the
verb ; G. angel, a liook or hinge ; D
hengzel, a hinge, a handle.]
1 . The hook or joint on which a door or gate
turns.
The ^ate self-opened wide
On golden hinges turning. .Milton
2. That on which any thing depends oi
turns; a governing principle, rule or point
This argument was the hinge on which the
question turned.
3. A cardinal point ; as east, west, north or
south. [Little used.] Creech.
To he off the hinges, is to be in a state of dis-
order or irregularity. Tillotson.
HINGE, V. t. to furnish with hinges.
2. To bend. [Tjittte used.] Shah
HINgE, v. i. To stand, depend or turn, as
on a hinge. The question hinges on this
single point.
HUn'G'ING, ppr. Depending; turning.
HINT, V. t. [It. cenno, a nod, or hint ; ao
nare, to nod, or beckon.]
To bring to mind by a slight mention or
mote allusion ; to allude to ; to suggest by
a slight intimation.
.Inst hint a fault, and hesitate dislike. Pope.
HINT, V. i. To hint at, is to allude to ; to men-
tion slightly.
HINT, n. A distant allusion ; slight men-
tion ; intimation ; insinuation ; a word or
two intended to give notice, or remind one
of something without a full declaration (
explanation.
2. Suggestion.
HIP, n. [Sax. hipc, hype, hi/pp ; G. hiift
D. heup'; Sw. htift ; Dan. hofle. It coi
cides with heap, Sa.x. hype, and probably
signifies a mass or lump.]
The projecting part of an animal formed by
the OS ilium or haunch bone ; the haunch.
or the flesh that covers the bone and the
adjacent parts ; the joint of the thigh.
H I li
The act or inactice of feeding on horses.
Quart. Rei
HIPPOPOT'AMY, } ^ [Gr. ^Ttrto;, a horse.
HIPPOPOT'AMUS, I "and rtora/uoj, a ri\
er.]
The river-horse, an animal that inhabits the
Nile and other rivers in Africa. This an-
imal resembles a hog rather than a liorse,
and was named perhaps from his neigh-
ing voice. He has been found of the length
of 17 feet. He delights in the water, but
feeds on herbage on land. Encyc.
IIIP ROOF, n. [hip and roof.] A roof that
HIP'HaLT, a. [hip auA halt.] Lame ; limp-ji has an angle.
ing. Obs. Gouer. IHIP'SHOT, a. [hip and shot.] Having the
HIPTOCAMP, n. [Gr. trtrtoraurfo,- ; '.-fn:o;,a:Lji^P„fl,'s'o^ted. ^ _ UEstrangc.
liorse, and xourtTu, to bend.] A name
H I P
To have on the hip, to have the advantage]
over one ; a low phrase borrowed proba-l
bly from wrestlers. I
Hip and thigh, complete overthrow or defeat.'
Judges XV.
HIP, V. t. To sprain or dislocate the hip.
HIP, } The fruit of the dog-rose, or wild
HOP, ^"' brier.
HIP'PELAPH, n. An animal of the deer
kind, in Norway, about the size of the elk,j
and partaking of the nature of the liorse[
and the stag. Diet. JVat. Hist.'
HIP, HIPPED, HIPPISH. [See Hyp.]
ivon to the sea-horse. Brotvne.
HiPPOCEN'TAUR, >i. [Gr. MTtox^vravpo; ;
trfrto;, a horse, xivrtu, to spur, and ravpo;,
a bull.]
In ancient fable, a supposed monster, half
man and half horse. The hippocentaur
differed from the centaur in this, that the
latter rode on an ox, and the former on a
horse, as the name imports. Encyc.
HIP'PO€RAS, n. [Fr. quasi, wine of Hip-
pocrates.]
A medicinal drink, composed of wine with
an infusion of spices and other ingredients;
used as a cordial. That directed bv thej
HIP' WORT, n. A plant.
HIRE, V. t. [Sax. hyran ; D. huwen ; Sw.
hyra ; Van.hyrer; W.huriatv; Ch.Syr.
.i,tohire. Class Gr.
Sam. -UN, Ar.
No. 10.]
1. To procure from another person and fur
temporary use, at a certain price, or for a
stipulated or reasonable equivalent ; as, to
hire a farm for a year ; to hire a horse fur
a day ; to hire money at legal interest.
2. To engage in service for a stipulated re-
vvard ; to contract with for a compensa-
tion ; as, to hire a servant for a year ; to
, ^tVe laborers by the day or month.
late London Dispensary, is to be made ofji3. To bribe; to engage in immoral or illegal
cloves, ginger, cinnamon and nutmegs,y service for a reward.
beat and infused in canary with sugar ; to.nTo hire out one's self, to let; to engage one's
the infusion, milk, a lemon, and some slipsj
of rosemary are to be added, and the whole
strained through flannel. Encyc.
Hippocrates^ sleeve, a kind of bag, made by
uniting the opposite angles of a square
piece of flannel, used for straining syrups
and decoctions. Qjaincy.
Hippocratic face, \h. fades hippocratica,] pale,
sunken, and contracted features, consider
ed as a fatal symptom in diseases. Pair
HIPPO€'RATl'SM, n. The ))hilosophy of
Hippocrates, as it regards medicine.
Chambers.
HIP'PODAME, n. A sea-horse. Spenser.
HIP'PODROME, n. [Gr. inttoSpo/iOi ; trtrtos,
a horse, and Spo^oj, a course, from Spt^u,
to run.]
Anciently, a circus, or place in which horse
races and chariot races were performed,
and horses exercised. Encyc.
HIP'POGRIFF, n. [Fr. hippogriffe, from
Gr. (rtrtoj, a horse, and ypi4, a griffon.]
A fabulous animal or monster, half horse
and half griffon ; a winged horse, imagi
ned by Ariosto. Johnson. Milton.
HIP'POLITH, n. [Gr. ijtrto;, a horse, and
xieoj, a stone.]
A stone found in the stomach or intestines
of a horse. Quincy.
HIP'POMANE, Ji. [Gr. iXTiot, a horse, and
1 fiai'ia, madness.]
1. A sort of poisonous substance, used an
ciently as a philter or love-charm.
Encyc.
2. In botany, the manchineel-tree, whicli
abounds with a milky juice which
acrid, caustic and poisonous. Encyc.
HIPPOPH'AGOUS, a. Feeding on horses,
as the Tartars.
HIPPOPH'AgY, ?i. [Gr. ix,toj,ahorsc, and
I cjiayu, to eat.]
service to another for a reward.
To hire, or to hire out, to let ; to lease ; to
grant the temporary use of a thing for a
compensation. He has hired out his house
or his farm.
HIRE, n. [Sax. hyre. Qu. can the Gr. xipSof
be of this family?]
1. The price, reward or compensation paid
or contracted to be given for the temporary
use of any thing.
2. Wages ; the reward or recompense paid
for personal service.
The laborer i? worthy of his hire. Luke x.
lll'RED, pp. Procured or taken for use, at a
stipulated or reasonable price ; as a hired
farm.
2. Employed in service for a compensation ;
as a hired man ; a hired servant.
HI'RELING, n. One who is hired, or who
serves for wages.
2. A mercenary ; a prostitute. Pope.
HI'RELING, a. Serving for wages ; venal ;
mercenary ; employed for money or other
compensation.
A tedious crew
OC hireling mourners. Dryden.
HI'RER, n. One that hires ; one that pro-
cures the use of any thing for a compen-
sation ; one who enq)loys |)ersons for wa-
ges, or contracts with persons for service.
Hl'RlNG, ppr. Procuring the use of for a
I compensation.
HIRSU'TE, a. [L. hirsutus. Qu. hair.]
1. Hairy; rough with hair; shaggy; set
witli bristles.
2. In botany, it is nearly synonymous with
hispid, but it denotes having more hairs or
bristles, and less stiff. Maiiyn.
HIRSU'TENESS, n. Hairiness. Burton.
H I S
H I S
H I T
HISTO'RIAL, a. Historical. Obs. I
Chaucer]
, HISTO'RIAN, «. [Fr. historien ; L. histori-]
dorstan." Some for fear of j c"« ; It- istorico. See History.]
HIS, pron. possessive of he, and pronounced
hiz. [Sax. gen. hys, and hyse, male- "
1. Of him. Thus in Alfreds Orosius, "Sume
for his ege
him durst not ; literally, for his awe, for
awe of him. Lib. 3. 8. In this instance.
his does not express what belongs to the
antecedent of his, [Philip,] but the fear
which others entertained of him.
% The present use of /lis is as a pronomina
adjective, in any case indifferently, corres-
ponding to the L. suus. Thus, tell John
his papers are ready. I will deliver his
. papers to his messenger. He may take
his son's books. When the noun is onj'
ted, his stands as its substitute, either
the nominative or objective case. Tell
John this book is his. He may take mine
and I will take his.
3. His was formerly used for its, but im
properly, and the use has ceased.
4. It was formerly used as the sign of the
possessive. The man his ground, for the
man's ground. This use has also ceased.
5. His is still used as a substitute for a noun,
preceded by q/"; as all ye saints of his ; ye
ministers of his. Script;
Hisself'is no longer used.
HIS'INGERITE, n. A mineral found in the
cavities of calcarious spar, in Suderman-
land. PhiUins
HIS'PlD,a. [h. hispidus.] Rough.
2. In botany, having strong hairs or bristles ;
beset with stiff bristles. Marlyn
HISS, V. i. [Sax. hysian, hiscan, hisp'an
hi/span.]
1. To make a sound by driving the breath
between the tongue and the upper teeth
to give a strong aspiration, resembling the
noise made by a serpent and some other
animals, or that of water thrown on hot
iron. Hissing is an expression of con
tempt.
The merchants among the people sliall his:
at thee. Ezek. xxvii.
3. To express contempt or disapprobation
by hissing.
3. To '
whiz, as an arrow or other thing in
rapid flight.
HISS, D. t. To condemn by hissing; to ex
plode. The spectators hissed him off the
stage.
2. To procure hisses or disgrace.
— That of an hour's age doth hiss the speaker.
Shak.
HISS, n. The sound made by propelling the
breath between the tongue and upper
teeth ; the noise of a serpent, a goose, &,c
He hiss for hiss returned. Milton
2. An expression of contempt or disappro-
bation, used in places of public exhibition
HISS'ING, ppr. Making the noise of ser-
pents?.
HISS'ING, 71. A hissing sound ; an express-
ion of scorn or conteinjit.
2. The occasion of contempt ; the object of
scorn and derision.
I vpill make this city desolate, and a hissing.
Jer. xix.
HISS'INGLY, adv. With a whistling sound.
Sherwood.
HIST, exclam. [Dan. hyst. In Welsh, huM
is a low, buzzing sound.]
A word commanding silence ; equivalent to
hush, be silent.
Vol. I.
A writer or compiler of liistory ; one who
collects and relates facts and events
writing, particularly respecting nations.
Hume is called an elegant historian.
HISTOR'Ie, ) [h. historicus ; Fr. his-\
'HIST0R'I€AL, S torique.] Containing
I history, or the relation of facts; as a his-
torical poein ; the historic page ;
I brass. Pope
[2. Pertaining to history ; as historic care oi
I fidelity. I
j3. Contained in history; deduced from his-|
I tory ; as historical evidence. i
4. Representing history ; as a historical
chart ; historical painting. '
HISTOR'l€ALLY, adv. In the manner of
history ; by way of narration. |
The Gospels declare hiMorically sometliing
which our Lord Jesus Christ did, spoke or sut-l
fcrcd. Hooker}',
HIS'TORIED, a. Recorded in history.;
[JVot much in use.]
HISTO'RIER, n. A historian. 06s
HIS'TORIFY, V. t. To relate ; to record in
history. [Mit used.] Sidneti}
HISTORIOGRAPHER, n. [Gr.tyopia, bis
tory, and ypafu, to write.]
A historian ; a writer of history ; particular
ly, a professed historian ; an officer em
ployed to write the history of a prince or
state; as the historiographer of his Britan-
nic majesty.
HISTORIOG'RAPHY, n. The art or em-
ployment of a historian.
HISTORIOL'OGY, n. A discourse on his-
tory, or the knowledge of history. [Ao/
HIS'TORY, n. [Gr. ifopia; L. Sp. Port.
historia ; It. isforia ; Fr. histoire ; Ir. sdair,
stair ; Sax. stair, ster, probably from the
Latin ; W. ysdori, history, matter of rec-
ord, what is of concern or in mind, frotn
ysdater, an object of care or concern, from
dnivr, to care, to he concerned, to regard.
The Greek ifup signifies knowing, learned,!
and ifopfu is rendered to inquire, to ex-i
plorc, to learn by inspection or inquiry.!
This would seetii to be connected with VV.
ystyriatv, to consider, to regard or take no-
tice. History and story are the same word
differently written.]
1. An account of facts, particularly of facts
respecting nations or states ; a narration!
of events in the order in which they hap-l
pened, with their causes and effects. His-l
tory differs from annals. Annals relate;
simply the facts and events of each year,|
in strict chronological order, without anyi
observations of the annahst. History re-!
gards less strictly the arrangement of
events under each year, and admits the',
observations of the writer. This distinc-|
tion however is not always regarded with
strictness. '
History is of different kinds, or treats of
different subjects ; as a history of govern-'
ment, or political to/on/; history of the;
christian church, or ecclesiastical history;'
history of war and conquests, or military
history; history of ]aw ; history of com-
merce ; /i(s(on/ of the crusades, &c. In
these and similar examples, history is wril-'\
101
ten narrative or relation. Wliat is the hix-
tory of nations, but a narrative of the fol-
lies, crimes and miseries of man ?
2. Narration ; verbal relation of facts or
events; story. We listen with pleasure
to the soldier or the seaman, giving a his-
tor}i of his adventures.
What histories of toil could I declare ?
Pope.
.3. Knowledgoof facts and events.
History — is necessary to divines. Watts.
4. Description ; an account of things that
exist ; as natural history, which compre-
hends a description of the works of na-
ture, particularly of animals, plants and
minerals ; a history of animals, or zoolog/ ;
a history of plants.
5. An account of the origin, life and actions
of an individual person. We say, we have
a concise history of the prisoner in the tes-
timony offered to the court.
A formal written account of an indi-
vidual's life, is called hiographi/.
HIS'TORY-PIECE, n. A representation of
any remarkable event in painting, which
exhibits the actors, their actions, and the
attending events to the eye, by figures
drawn to the life. Thi.s sj)ecies of paint-
ing is called historical painting.
HIS'TRION, n. A player. [Aof in use.]
Pope.
HISTRION'l€, } „ [L. histrixinicus,
HISTRION'ICAL, I "" from histrio, a
buffoon, an actor, or stage-player.]
Pertaining to a buffoon or comedian, or to
a pantomime, who represents events or
characters by gestures and dancing ; be-
longing to stage-playing ; befitting a thea-
ter ; theatrical. Johnson. Enci/c.
HISTRIONICALLY, adv. In the manner
of a buffoon or pantomime; theatricallv.
HIS'TRIONISM, n. The acts or practice of
buffoons or pantomimes ; stage-playing.
Southey.
HIT, V. t. pret. and pp. hit. [Sw. hitta, Dan.
hitter, to find, to meet, that is, to come to,
to come or fall on. This word illustrates
the signification offnd.]
1. To strike or touch, either with or without
force. We hit a thing with the finger, or
with the head ; a cannon ball hits a mast,
or a wall.
2. To strike or touch a mark with any thing
directed to that object ; not to miss.
The archers hit him. 1 .Sam. xxxi.
3. To reach ; to attain to.
Birds learning tunes, and their enileavors to
hit the notes right — Locke.
To suit ; to be conformable.
— Melancholy,
Whose saintly visage is too bright
To hit the sense of human sight. .Milton.
To strike ; to touch properly ; to offer the
right bait.
There you hit him — that argument never fails
with him. Dryden.
To hit off, to strike out ; to determine luck-
ily. Temple.
2. To represent or describe exactly.
To hit out, to perform by good luck. [IJit-
tle used.] Spenser.
HIT, V. i. To strike ; to meet or come in
contact; to clash; followed by ag-atnsi or
on.
If bodies be mere extension, how can they
move and hit one against another. Locke.
H I T
Corpuscles meeting with or hitting on those
bodies, become conjoined with them.
H'oodward.
9. To meet or fall on by good luck : to suc-
roed by accident ; not to miss.
And oft it hits
Where hope is coldest, and despair most fits.
Shak.
n. To strike or reach the intended point ; to
succeed.
And millions miss for one that hits. Swijl.
To hit on or upon, to light on ; to come to or
fall on by chance ; lo meet or find, as by
accident.
None of them hit upon the art. Addison.
HIT, 71. A striking against ; the collision of
one body against another ; the stroke or
blow that touches any thing.
So he the famed Cilieian fencer prais'd.
And at each hit with wonder seems amaz'd.
Dryden.
S. A chance ; a casual event ; as a lucky hit.
3. A hicky chance: a fortunate event.
Di-yden.
4. A term in back-gannnon. Three hits
are equal to a gammon.
HITCH, v.t. [Ar. ^L^. to hitch along ; W
hecian, to halt, hop, or limp, or hidmv, to
.snap, to catch suddenly. Both may be of
one family.]
1. To move by jerks, or with stops ; as, m
colloquial language, to hitch along.
Whoe'er offends, at some unlucky time
Slides in a verse, or hitches in a rhyme. Pope
1. To become entangled ; to be caught or
hooked. South
3. To hit the legs together in going, as
horses. [JVot used in the U. States.]
4. To hop ; to spring on one leg. [Local]
Grose.
5. To move or walk. Grose
HITCH, V. t. To hook ; to catch by a hook
as, to hitch a bridle.
9. To fasten by hitching; as, to hitch ahorse
by a bridle, or to hitch him to a post
JVeu) England.
HITCH, n. A catch; any thing that holds,
as a hook; an impediment.
2. The act of catching, as on a hook, &c.
3. In seamen''s language, a knot or noose in
a rope for fastening it to a ring or other
object ; as a clove hitch ; a timber hitch,
&c. ^I<i''- Diet.
4. A stop or sudden halt in walking or
moving.
HITCH'ED, pp. Caught ; hooked ; fast-
ened.
HITCH' EL, V. t. To hatchel. [JVot used.
See Hatchet.]
HITHE, n. [Sax. hyth.] A port or sinall
haven ; as in Queenhithe, and Lamhhithe.
now Lambeth. [English.]
HITH'ER, arfi'. [Sax. hither or hider; Goth,
hidre ; Dan. hid ; Sw. hit]
1. To this place; used with verbs signifying
motion ; as, to come hither ; to proceed
hither ; to bring hither.
2. Hither and thither, to this place and that.
3. To this point ; to this argument or topic
to this end. [Little used and not to be en-
couraged.]
Hither we refer whatever belongs to the high
est perfection of man. Hooker.
HITH'ER, a. Nearest ; towards the person
speaking ; as on the hither side of a hill
the hither end of the budding.
H O A
HITH'ERMOST, a. Nearest on this side.
Hale.
HITH'ERTO, adv. To this time ; yet.
The Lord hath blessed me hitherto. Josh,
xvii.
In any time, or every time till now ; in
time preceding the present.
More ample spirit than hitherto was wont.
Spenser.
3. To this place; to a prescribed limit.
Hitherto shall thou come, but no further. Job
xxxviii.
HITH'ERWARD, }. This way; to-
HITH'ERWARDS, S wards this place.
A puissant and mighty power —
Is marching hitherward in proud array.
Shak.
illVE, n. [Sax.hvfe; Eth. +<Ckafo. Cla.ss
Gb. No. 88. hi W. cyf is the stem or
stock of a tree, and cyfgivenyn is a bee
hive. So in G. bienenstock, Sw. bistock,
bee-stock. The hive of wild bees ii
hollow tree.]
1. A box, chest or kind of basket for the
ception and habitation of a swarm of
honey-bees. It is made of boards, straw
or other materials.
2. A swarm of bees ; or the bees inhabiting
a hive. Shak
3. A company or society together, or closely
connected. [Unusual.] Surijl.
HIVE, v./. To collect into a hive; to cause
to enter a hive ; as, to hive bees.
Dryden. Mortimer
2. To contain; to receive, as a habitation, or
place of deposit.
Where all delicious sweets are hived.
Cleaveland.
HIVE, V. i. To take shelter or lodgings to-
gether ; to reside in a collective body.
Pope.
HIVED, p;>. Lodged in a hive or shelter.
HI'VER, ji. One that collects bees into a
hive. Mortimer.
HIVES, n. [Scot. Q,u.heave.] A disease, the
croup, or cynanche trachealis; rattles.
HO, exclam. A word used by teamsters, to
stop their teams. It has been nsed as
noun, for stop, moderation, bounds.
There is no ho with them.
Dekker. Green.
This word is pronounced also icho.
. , [L. eho.] A call to excite
exclam. y^gmiQi,^ q,. jq giyg notice
HO,
HO A,
of a
What noise there, ho 7 Shak
Hoa, who's within ? Shak.
HOAR, a. [Sax. har; Heb. Cli. Syr. Ar. Iin
white.]
L White; as Aoar frost ; Aoor cliffs.
Thomson.
2. Gray ; white with age ; hoary ; as a mat-
ron grave and hoar. Spenser.
HOAR, n. Hoariness; antiquity. Burke.
HOAR, V. i. To become moldy or musty,
[Little used.]
HOAR-FROST, n. The white panicles of
ice formed by the congelation of dew or
watery vapors.
HOARD, n. [Sax. hord, from gathering,
hiding, or depositing.]
A store,"stock or large quantity of any thing
accumulated or laid up ; a hidden stock ;
a treasure ; as a hoard of provisions for
winter ; a hoard of money.
I Shak. Woodward.
HOB
HOARD, V. t. To collect and lay up a largp
quantity of any thing ; to amass and de-
posit in secret ; to store secretly ; as, to
hoard grain or provisions ; to hoard silver
and gold. Dryden
It is sometimes followed by up, bii*
without use ; as, to hoard up provisions.
HOARD, V. i. To collect and form a hoard ,
to lay up store.
Nor cared to hoard for those whom he did
breed. Spenser.
HOARDED, pp. Collected and laid up in
store.
HOARDER, n. One who lays up in store ;
one who accumulates and keeps in secret.
HOARDING, ppr. Laying up in store.
2. a. Instinctively collecting and laying up
provisions for winter ; as, the squirrel is a
hoarding animal.
HOARED, o. Moldy; musty. [JVot in use.]
HOARHOUND. [See Horehound.]
HOARINESS, n. [from hoary.] The state
of being white, whitish or gray ; as the
hoariness o( the hair or head of old men.
HOARSE, a. Ivors. [Syr. uB^*/ to be rough
or hoarse.]
1. Having a harsh, rough, grating voice, as
when affected with a cold.
2. Rough ; grating ; discordant ; as the voice,
or as any soimd. We say, the hoarse ra-
ven ; the hoarse resounding shore.
Dryden.
HOARSELY, adv. With a rough, harsh,
grating voice or sound. Dryden,
HOARSENESS, n. Harshness or roughness
of voice or sound ; preternatural asperity
of voice. Arhulhnot.
HOARY, n. [See Hoar.] White or whitish ;
as the hoary willows. Addison.
White or gray with age ; as hoary hairs ;
a hoai-y head.
Reverence the Aoar^ head. Duiight.
Moldy ; mossy, or covered with a white
pubescence. Botany.
HOAX, n. [Sax. hucse, or hucx, contempt,
irony, derision ; or W. hoced, cheat, deceit,
juggle, trick.]
Something done for deception or mockery ;
a trick played off in sport.
HOAX, V. t. To deceive ; to play a trick
upon for sport, or without malice. [A col-
loquial word, but not elegant.]
HOB, I [Dan. hob, a heap ; or W. hoh,
HUB, S "■ that which swells.]
The nave of a wheel ; a solid piece of timber
in which the spokes are inserted.
Washington.
HOB, n. A clown ; a fairy.
HOB'BISM, n. The principles of the scep-
tical Thomas Hobbes. Skelton.
HOB'BIST, n. A follower of Hobbes.
HOB'BLE, v.i. [W. hobelu, to hop, to hobble.
See Hop.]
To walk lamely, bearing chiefly on one
L ^- ••■• ., „^
leg ; to limp ; to walk with a hitch or hop,
or with crutches.
The friar was hobbling the same way too.
Dryden.
2. To walk awkwardly, as when the feet
are encumbered with a clog, or with fet-
ters.
3. To move roughly or irregularly, as verse.
While you Pindaric truths rehearse,
She hobbles in alternate verse. Prior.
IhOB'BLE, V. t. To perplex. [jVot in use.]
HOC
II O G
H O I
HOB'BLE, II. All unequal halting gait ; an
encumbered awkward step.
He has a hobble in his gait. Swij
2. Difficulty ; perplexity.
HOB'BLEDEHOy, n. A cant phrase for
boy at the age of puberty. Swift.
IIOB'BLER, n. One that hobbles.
IIOB'BLER, rt. [from hobby.] One who by
his tenure was to maintain a hobby for
military service ; or one who served as a
soldier on a hobby with light armor.
Encyc. Davies.
HOB'BLING, ppr. Walking with a halting
or interrupted step.
HOB'BLINGLY, adv. With a limping or
interrupted step.
HOB'BY, n. [W. hobel, what stops or starts
suddenly ; Arm. hoberell ; Fr. hobereau.]
A kind of hawk ; a hawk of the lure.
Encyc.
HOB'BY, n. [Norm. Fr. hobyn, and allied
to the preceding.]
1. A strong active horse, of a middle size,
said to have been originally from Ireland ;
a xiag ; a pacing horse ; a garran.
Johnson. Encyc.
2. A stick, or figure of a horse, on which
boys ride.
3. Any favorite object ; that which a person
pursues with zeal or delight.
4. A stupid fellow.
HOB'BYHORSE, n. [tautolo^cal] A hob-
by; a wooden horse on which boys ride.
2. A character in the old May games.
Douce.
3. A stupid or foolish person. Shafc.
4. The favorite object of pursuit.
HOB'GOBLIN, n. [probably W. hob, hop,
and goblin.] A fairy ; a frightful appari-
tion.
HO'BIT, n. [Sp. hobus ; G. haubitze.] A
small mortar, or sliort gun for throwing
bombs. [See Howitzer, the common or-
thography.]
HOB'LIKE, a. Clownish ; boorish.
Cotgrave.
HOB'NAIL, n. [G. hufnagel, hoof-nail.] A
nail with a thick strong head, for shoeing
horses. Shalt.
2. A clownish person ; in contempt. Milton.
HOB'NAILED, a. get with hobnails;
rough. Dryden.
HOB'NOB, adv. [Qu. Sax. Imhhan, nccbban,
have, not have.]
Take, or not take ; a familiar invitation to
reciprocal drinking. Shak
Hobson's choice, a vulgar proverbial expres-
sion, denoting without an alternative. It
is said to have had its origin in the name
ofapferson who let horses and coaches,
and obliged every customer to take in his
turn that horse which stood next the sta-
ble door. Encyc.
HOBOY. [See Hautboy.]
HOCK, n. [Sax. hoh. See Hough.] The
joint of an animal between the knee and
the fetlock. Johnson.
2. A part of the thigh.
HOCK, I , To hamstring; to hougl
HOCK'LE, j ^- '■ to disable by cutting the
tendons of the ham.
HOCK, n. [from Hochheim, in Germany.]
A sort of Rhenish wine ; sometimes called
hockamore. Mortimer
HOCK'DAY, ( High day ; a day of feast-
HO'KEUAY, ^"ing and mirth, formerly
held in England the second Tuesday af-
ter Easter, to commemorate the destruc-
tion of the Danes in the time of Ethelred.
E7icyc.
IIOCK'EY, n. [G. hoch, Sax. hcah, high.
Qu.] Harvest-home. [JVot usfrf.]
HOCK'HERB, n. A plant, the mallows.
^insworth.
HOCK'LE, V. t. To hamstring. Hanmer.
To mow. Mason.
HOCUS POeUS, a. [VV. hoced, a cheat or
trick, and perhaps bivg or pwca, a hob-
goblin.]
A juggler ; a juggler's trick ; a cheat used
by conjurers. Hudibras.
HO€USPOeUS, V. t. To cheat.
L' Estrange.
HOD, n. [Fr. holle.] A kind of tray for car-
rying mortar and brick, used in bricklay-
ing. It is fitted with a handle and borne
on the shoulder.
HOD'DY-DODDY, n. An awkward or fool-
.-ih person. Obs. B. Jonson.
HODuE-PODLiE, I „ [Qr. Fr. hocher, to
HOTCH-POTCH, S "• shake, or hachis,
minced meal.]
A mixed mass; a medley of ingredients.
\Vtdgar.] [See Hotchpot.]
HODIERN'AL, a. [L. hodiernus,{vomhodie,
hoc die, this day.] Of this day ; belonging'
to the present day. j
HOD'MAN, )i. A man who carries a hod ;'
a mason's tender. I
HOD'MANDOD, n. A shell-fisli, otherwise
called dodman. Bacon.
A shell-snail. j
HOE, ji. ho. [G. haue ; Svv. hacka, and this'
is the Dan. hakke, G. hacke, a mattock ;'
Fr. houe. It seems this is from tlie root
of hack and hew ; Sax. heawian ; D. houw-
en ; G. hacken, Sw. hacka, Dan. hakker,
to chop, to hack, to hew ; Fr. houer.]
A farmer's instrument for cutting up weeds
and loosening the earth in fields and gar-
dens. It is in shape something like an
adz, being a plate of iron, with an eye for
a handle, which is set at an acute angle
with the plate.
HOE, V. I. To cut, dig, scrape or clean with
a hoe ; as, to hoe the earth in a garden ;
to hoe the beds.
2. To clear from weeds ; as, to hoe maiz ; to
hoe cabbages.
HOE, V. i. To use a hoe.
HO'ED, pp. Cleared from weeds, or loos-
ened by the hoe.
HOEING, ppr. Cutting, scraping or dig-
ging with a hoe.
2. Clearing of weeds with a hoe.
HO'FUL, a. [Sax. hohfidl, hogfull; hoga,
care,' and >«/.] Careful. Obs.
HOG, n. [W. hu'C, a hog, a push or thrust ;
Arm. houch ; probably so named from his
snout, or from rooting ; Sp. hocico, the
snout of a beast; hocicar, to root.]
1. A swine; a general name of that species
of animal.
2. hi England, a. castrated sheep of a year
old. .1sh.\
3. A bullock of a year old. -ish.]
4. A brutal fellow; one who is mean and
filthy.
5. Among seamen, a. sort of scrubbing-broom
for scraping a ship's bottom under water.
Mar. Diet.
HOG, V. t. To scrape a ship's bottom under
water.
2. [G. hocken.] To carry on the back.
[Loral.] Grose.
3. To cut the hair short, like the bristles of a
ig. [Local.]
HOG, r. i. To bend, so as to resemble in
sonic degree a hog's back ; as, a ship
hogs in lunching.
HOG'COTE, n. [hog and cote.] A shed or
house for swine ; a sty. Mortimer.
HOGGED, pp. Scraped under water.
2. Curving ; having the ends lower than the
middle. Eton.
HOG'GEREL, ?i. A sheep of the second
year. Jlsh.
A two year old ewe. Ainsworth.
HOG'GET, n. [Norm, hoget.] A sheep
two years old. Skinner.
2. A colt of a year old, called also hog-colt.
[Local.] Grose.
3. A young boar of the second year. Cyc.
HOGGISH, a. Having the qualities of a
hog; brutish; gluttonous; filthy; meanly
selfish.
HOG'GISHLY, adv. In a brutish, glutton-
ous or filthv manner.
HOG'GISHNESS, n. Brutishness; vora-
cious greediness in eating ; beastly filthi-
ness ; mean selfishness.
HOGH, n. [See High.] A hill ; a cliff. Obs.
Spenser.
HOG'HERD, n. [hog and herd.] A keeper
of swine. Browne.
HOG'PEN, n. [hog and pen.] A hogsty.
HOG'-PLUMBTREE, n. A tree of the ge-
ts Spondias.
HOG'-RINGER, n. One whose business is
to put rings in the snouts of swine.
HOG'S-BEANS, n. A plant. Ainsworth.
HOG'S-FENNEL, n. A plant of the genus
Peucedanum.
HOG'S-MUSHROOMS, n. A plant.
Ainsworth.
HOGS'HEAD, n. [D. oxhoofd ; G. oxhoft ;
Dan. oxehoved ; Sw. oxhv/vud ; that is, ox-
head. The English orthography is grossly
corrupt.]
1. A measure of capacity, containing 63 gal-
lons.
2. In America, this name is often given to a
butt, a cask containing from 110 to 120
gallons ; as a hogshead of spirit or me-
lasses.
3. A large cask, of indefinite contents.
Bacon.
HOG'STY, n. [hog and sty.] A pen or in-
closure for hogs.
HOG'WASH, ji. [hog and wash.] Swill;
the refuse matters of a kitchen or brew-
ery, or like matter for swine. Arbuthnot.
HO'HLSPATH, n. The mineral otherwise
called made, andchiastolite.
HOI'DEN, n. [W. hoeden, a flirt, a wanton,
a coquet.] A rude, bold girl ; a romp.
2. A rude, bold man. [Not used in the Uni-
ted States.] Milton.
HOI'DEN, a. Rude ; bold ; inelegant ; rus-
tic. Young.
HOI'DEN, V. i. To romp rudely or inde-
cently. Swift.
11 O L
H O L
H O L
HOIST, v.t. [originally ftoise ; but corrupt-
ed, perhaps beyond remedy. G. hissen ;
n.hysseii; Sw. hissa ; Dan. hisser ; Fr.
isser ; Arm. igza; Sp. izar; Port. ipar.
Tliis appears by the German to be radi-
cally the same word as heat, which see.]
1. To raise ; to lift.
We'll quickly hoist duke Humphrey from his
seat. Shak.
In popular language, it is a word of gen-
eral application. But the word has two
appropriate uses, one by seamen, and the
other by milkmaids, viz.
2. To raise, to lift or bear upwards by means
of tackle ; and to draw up or raise, as a
sail along the masts or stays, or as a flag,
though by a single block only. Hoist the
main-sail. Hoist the flag. Mar. Diet.
3. To lift and move the leg backwards ; a
word of command used by milkmaids to
cows, when they wish them to lift and set
back the right leg.
HOIST, n. In maiine language, the perpen-
dicular highth of a flag or ensign, as op-
posed to the fiy, or breadth from the
staff to the outer edge. Eneyc.
HOIST'ED, pp. Raised; lifted; drawn up.
HOIST'ING, »;>/•. Raising; lifting.
HOITY TOITY, an e.xclamation, denoting
surprise or disapprobation, with some de-
gree of contempt.
Hoity toity, what have I to do with dreams ?
Congreve.
[Qu. Ice. hauta, to leap.]
HOLC'AD, n. [Gr. o5ixa«i.or.] In ancient
Greece, a large ship of burden. Milford.
HOLD, V. t. pret. AeW ; pp. held. HoUlen
obsolete inelegant writing. [Sax. /leaWa
G.halten; D. houden, I suppressed; Sw.
halla; Dan. holder; Gr. xu>.vu, to hold or
restrain ; Heb. "jO, to hold or contain ;
Ch. and Syr. to measure, that is, to limit ;
sSa to confine, restrain, or shut up ; Ch
Syr. id ; Ar. iV Sj to keep, guard or
preserve ; Ch. '73N, to take, also to eat, to
roar, to thunder. See CaW. The primary
sense is, to press, to strain. Class Gl. No.
18. 32. 36. 40.]
1. To stop ; to confine ; to restrain from es-
cape ; to keep fast ; to retain. It rarely
or never signifies the first act of seizing
or falling on, but the act of retaining a
thing when seized or confined. To grasp.
is to seize, or to keep fast in the hand ;
hold coincides with grasp in the latter
sense, but not in the former. We hold a
horse by means of a bridle. An anchor
holds a sliip in her station.
2. To embrace and confine, with bearing or
lifting. We hold an orange in the hand,
or a child in the arms.
•3. To connect; to keep from separation.
The loops held one curtain to another. Ex.
xxxvi.
4. To maintain, as an opinion. He holds the
doctrine of justification by free grace.
5. To consider ; to regard ; to think ; to
judge, that is, to liave in the mind.
I hold him but a fool. Shah
The Lord will not hold him guiUless, that ta-
keth his name in vain. Ex. xx.
G. To contain, or to have capacity to receive
and contain. Here is an empty basket
tliat holds two bushels. This empty cask
holds thirty gallons. The church holds
two thousand people.
. To retain within itself; to keep from run
ning or flowing out. A vessel with holei
in its bottom will not hold fluids.
8. To defend ; to keep possession ; to main-
With what arms
We mean to hold what anciently we claim
Of empire. Milton
9. To have ; as, to hold a place, office oi
title.
10. To have or possess by title ; as, he held
his lands of the king. The estate is held
by copy of court-roll.
IL To refrain ; to stop ; to restrain ; to with
Hold your laughter. Hold your
h«l(
tongue.
Death ! what do'st .' O, hold thy blow.
Crashaw.
12. To keep ; as, hold your peace.
13. To fix ; to confine ; to compel to ob-
serve or fulfill ; as, to hold one to his
The Most H\^h—held still the flood till they
had passed. 2 Esdras.
15. To confine ; to bind ; in a legal or mora!
sense. He is held to perform his cov
nants.
16. To maintain ; to retain ; to continue.
But still he held his purpose to depart.
Drydi
17. To keep in continuance or practice.
And Night and Chaos, ancestors of nature, AoW
Eternal anarchy. Milton.
18. To continue ; to keep ; to prosecute or
curry on.
Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost.
Shall hold their course. Mdton.
19. To have in session ; as, to hold a court ot
parliament; to hold a council.
20. To celebrate ; to solemnize ; us, to hold
a feast.
21. To maintain ; to sustain ; to have in use
or exercise ; as, to hold an argument or
debate.
22. To sustain ; to support.
Thy right hand shall hold me. Ps. cxxxix.
23. To carry ; to wield.
Thev all hold swords, being expert in wi
Cant. iii.
24. To maintain ; to observe in practice.
Ye hold the traditions of men. Mark vii.
25. To last; to endure. The provisions w'
hold us, till we arrive in port. So we say,
the provisions will last us ; but the phrase
is elliptical for will hold or last for us, the
verb being intransitive.
To hold forth, to offer ; to exhibit ; to pro-
pose.
Observe the connection of ideas in the prop-
ositions whieh books hold forth and pretend to
teach. Locke.
2. To reach forth ; to put forward to view.
Cheyne.
To hold in, to restrain ; to curb ; to govern
by the bridle. Sieift.
2. To restrain in general ; to check ; to re-
press. Honker.
To hold off, to keep at a distance. Pope.
To hold on, to continue or proceed in ; as,
to hold on a course.
To hold out, to extend ; to stretch forth.
2. To propose ; to offer.
Fortune holds out these to you as rewards.
B. Jonaon.
3. To continue to do or suffer.
He cannot long hold out these pangs. [JVot
"se"*] Shak.
To hold up, to raise ; as, hold up your head.
2. To sustain ; to support.
He AoWs himself «/) in virtue. Sidney.
3. To retain ; to withhold.
4. To offer ; to exhibit. He held up to view
the prospect of gain.
5. To sustain ; to keep from falling.
To hold one''s own, to keep good one's pres-
ent condition ; not to fall off, or to lose
ground. In seamen's language, a ship
holds her own, when she sails as fast as
another ship, or keeps her course.
To hold, is used by the Irish, for to lay, as a
bet, to wager. I hold a crown, or a dol-
lar ; but this is a vulgar use of the word.
HOLD, V. i. To be true ; not to fail ; to
stand, as a fact or truth. This is a sound
argument in many cases, but does not
hold in the case under consideration.
The mle holds in lands as well as in other
things. Locke.
In this application, we often say, to hold
true, to hold good. The argument holds
good in both cases. This holds true in
most cases.
2. To continue unbroken or unsubdued.
Our force by land halh nobly held. [Little
^ «»«<'•] Shak.
3. To last ; to endure. Bacon.
We now say, to hold out.
4. To continue.
While our obedience holds. Milton.
5. To be fast ; to be firm ; not to give way,
or part. The rope is strong ; I believe it
will hold. The anchor holds well.
6. To refrain.
His dauntless heart would fain have held
From weeping. Dryden.
7. To stick or adhere. The plaster will not
hold.
To hold forth, to speak in public ; to har-
angue; to preach; to proclaim.
V Estrange.
To hold in, to restrain one's self He was
tempted to laugh; he could hardly hold
2. To continue in good luck. [Unusual.]
Smfl.
To hold off, to keep at a distance ; to avoid
connection.
To hold of, to be dependent on ; to derive
title from.
My crown is absolute and holds o/none.
Dryden.
To hold on, to continue ; not to bo interrupt-
The trade held on many years. Swift.
a. To keep fast hold ; to cling to.
3. To proceed in a course. Job xvii.
To hold out, to last ; to endure ; to continue.
A consumptive constitution may hold out
a few years. He will accomphsh the
work, if his strength holds out.
■?. Not to yield ; not to surrender ; not to be
subdued. The garrison still held out.
To hold to, to cling or cleave to ; to adhere.
Else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Matt. vi.
H O L
To hold under, or from, to have title from ; as
petty barons holding undtr the greater
barons.
To hold with, to adhere to ; to side with ; to
stand up for. ]
To hold plotv, to direct or steer a plow by the
hands, in tillage.
To hold together, to be joined ; not to sepa-
rate ; to remain in union.
Dryde,
Locke.
To hold up, to support one's self; as, to hold
up under misfortunes,
2. To cea;
weather
ui) ; it will hold up.
3. To CI
rainmg ; to cease,
used impersonally.
continue the same speed ;
move as fast.
IS falling
It holds
But we now say, to keep up.
liiyi
wager.
To hold a wager
, to stake or to hazard
Stirift.
Hold, used imperatively, signifies stop
cease; forbear; be still.
HOLD, n. A grasp with the hand ; an em
brace with the arms ; any act or exertioi
of the strength or limbs which keeps ;
thing fast and prevents escape. Keej)
vour hold ; never quit your hold.
It is much used after the verbs to lake
and to lay ; to take hold, or to lay hold, is
to seize. It is used in a literal sense
as to take hold with the hands, with the
arms, or with the teeth ; or in a figurative
sense.
Sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants ol
Palestina. Ex. xv.
Take fast hold of instruction. Prov. iv.
My soul took hold on thee. Mdilisoii
% Something which may be seized for sup
port ; that which supports.
If a man be upon a liigh place, without a good
hold, he is ready to fall. Bacon,
3. Power of keeping.
On your vigor now,
My hold of this new kingdom all depends.
Milton
4. Power of seizing.
The law hath yet another hold on you.
fihak
5. A prison ; a place of confinement.
They laid hands on them, and put them in
hold till the next day. Acts iv.
6. Custody ; safe keeping.
King 'Richard, he is in the mighty hold
Of Bolingbroke. Shak
7. Power or influence operating on the
mind ; advantage that may be employed
in directing or persuading another, or in
governing his conduct.
Fear — by which God and his laws take the
surest liold of us. Tdlotson.
Gives fortune no more hold of him than is
necessary. Dryden.
8. Lurking place ; a place of security ; as
the hold of a wild beast.
9. A fortified place; a fort ; a castle; oftei
called a strong hold. Jer. li.
10. The whole interior cavity of a ship, be
tween the floor and the lower deck. In i
vessel of one deck, the whole interior
space from the keel or floor to the deck.
That part of the hold which hes abaft the
the main-mast is called the after-hold;
that part immediately before the main-
njast, the main-hold : that part about the
fore-hatchway, ihc fore-hold. Mar. Diet.
11. In mH.yic, a mark directing the performer
to rest on the note over which it is placed.
It is called also a pawe.
H O L
HOLDBACK, n. Hinderance ; restraint.
Hammond.
HOLDER, n. One who holds or grasps in
hand, or embraces with his arms.
2. A tenant ; one who holds land under an-
other. Carew.
3. Sonjething by which a thing is held.
4. One who owns or possesses; as a holder
of stock, or shares in a joint concern,
5. In ships, one who is employed in the hold.
Mar. Did.
HOLDEllFORTH, >i. A haranguer ; a
preacher. Hudibras.
HOLDFAST, n. A thing that takes hold ;
a catch ; a hook. Ray.
HOLDING, ppr. Stopping; confining; re-
straining; keeping; retaining; adhering
maintaining, &c.
HOLDING, n. A tenure ; a farm held of a
superior. Careio.
The burden or chorus of a song. Shak
3. Hold ; influence ; power over. Burke
HOLE, n. [Sax. hoi ; G. hohle ; D. hoi ; Dan.
hul,hule; Sw. hal; Basque, chiloa ; Gr.
xoiXaj, xoaoj. Qu. Ileb. Sn or Ar. ^,
Class Gl. No. 20. 23.]
cavity in any solid
1. A hollow place
body, of any shape or dimensions, natura
or artificial. It may difter from a rent or
fissure in being wider. A cell ; a den
cave or cavern in the earth ; an
tion in a rock or tree; a pit, &c.
Ezek. viii. Nah. ii. Matt. viii.
2. A perforation ; an aperture ; an opening
in or through a solid body, left in the work
or made by an instrument.
Jchoida took a chest, and bored a hole
lid of it. 2 Kings xii.
3. A mean habitation ; a narrow or dark
lodging. Dryden
4. An opening or means of escape ; a sub-
terfuge ; in the vulgar phrase, he has a
hole to creep out at
Ann-hole, the arm-pit ; the cavity under the
shoulder of a person. Bacon
2. An opening in a garment for the arm.
HOLE, V. i. To go into a hole.
B. Jonson.
HOLE, I', t. To cut, dig or make a hole or
holes in ; as, to hole a post for the inser-
tion of rails or bars.
2. To drive into a bag, as in billiards.
HOLIBUT. [See Halibut.]
HO'LIDAM, n. [holy and dame.] Blessed la-
dy ; an ancient oath. Hanmer
HOLIDAY. [See Holydaij.]
HO'LILY, adv. [i'vom holy.] Piously; with
sanctity.
2. Sacredly ; inviolably \ without breach
[Little used.] Shak. Sidney.
HO'LINESS, n. [from holy.] The state oi
being holy ; purity or integrity of moral
character ; Ireedom from sin ; sanctity
Applied to the Supreme Being, holiness de-
notes perfect purity or integrity of moral
character, one of his essential attributes.
Who is like thee, glorious in holiness ? Ex.
2. Applied to human beings, holiness is purity
of heart or dispositions ; sanctified affec-
tions ; piety ; moral goodness, but not
perfect.
We see piety and holiness ridiculed as mo-
rose singularities. Sogers
n o L
3. Sacredness ; the state of any thing hal-
lowed, or consecrated to God or to his
worship ; applied to churches or temples.
4. That which is separated to the service of
God.
Israel was holiness unto the Lord. Jer. ii.
5. A title of the pope, and formerly of the
Greek etnperors. Encyc.
HO'LING-AX, n. A narrow ax for cutting
holes in posts.
HOL'LA. \ ^_,,_„ A word used in calling.
HOLLO' A, \ "^"'""- Among seamen, it is the
answer to one that hails, equivalent to, I
hear, and am ready.
HOLLA, \ . [Sax. ahlowan.] To call out
IHOL'LO, ^ ^- '• or exclaim. [See HaUoo.]
IHOL'LAND, n. Fine linen manufactured in
Holland.
IHOL'LANDER, n. A native of Holland.
iHOL'LEN, n. [See Holly.]
HOL'LOW, a. [Sax. Ao/; G.hohl; D.hol;
Sw. htUig ; Dan. huled ; Ann. goulh, or
hoiUlu, emptied. Sec Hole.]
1. Containing an empty space, natural or
artificial, within a solid substance ; not
solid ; as a hollow tree ; a hollow rock ; a
hollow sphere.
Hollow with boards shall thou make it. Ex.
xxvii.
2. Sunk deep in the orbit ; as a hollow eye.
i3. Deep ; low ; resembling sound reverbe-
I rated from a cavity, or designating such a
I sound ; as a hollow roar. Dryden.
4. Not sincere or faithful ; false ; deceitful ;
not sound ; as a hollow heart ; a hollow
friend. Milton. Shak.
Hollow spar, the mineral called also chias-
tolite.
HOL'LOW, n. A cavity, natural or artifi-
cial; any depression of surface in a bod}' ;
concavity; as the holloio of the hand.
2. A place excavated ; as the hollow of a tree.
3. X cave or cavern ; a den ; a hole ; a broad
open space in any thing. Shak. Prior.
4. A pit. Addison.
5. Open space of any thing ; a groove ; a
channel ; a canal. Addison.
HOL'LOW, V. t. [Sax. holian.] To make
liollow, as by digging, cutting, or engra-.
ving ; to excavate.
jtced did the waves sus-
Dryden.
HOL'LOW, V. i. To shout. [See HoUa and
Hollo.] Dryden. Addison.
HOLLOWED, pp. Made hollow ; excava-
ted.
HOL'LOW-EVED, a. Having sunken eyes.
HOLLOW-HEARTED, a. Insincere ; de-
ceitful; not sound and true; of practice
or sentiment different from profession.
Butler.
HOLLOWING, ppr. Making hoUow ; ex-
I cavating.
HOLLOWLY, adv. Insincerely ; deceit-
fully. Shak.
HOL'LOWNESS, n. The state of being
hollow ; cavity ; depression of surface ;
I excavation. Bacon.
j2. Insincerity ; deceitfulness ; treachery.
I South.
HOL'LOW-RQQT, n. A plant, tuberous
moschatel, or inglorious, constituting the
genus Adoxa ; a low plant, whose leaves
and flowers smell like musk ; hence it is
I sometimes called musk-crowfoot. Encyc.
n o L
H O 31
H O M
nOL'LY, n. [Sax. holegn ; D. hulst ; per-
Iiaps L. ilex, for hilex. la Welsli, the cor-
responding word is celyn, from the root of
celu, to conceal, L. celo. The i7ex- in Sw
is called iron oak.]
The holm tree, of the genus Ilex, of several
species. The common holly grows from
20 to 30 feet high ; the stem by age be
comes large, and is covered with a gray
ish smooth bark, and set with branches
which form a sort of cone. The leaves
are oblong oval, of a lucid green on the
upper surface, but j)ale on the under sur-
face ; the edges are indented and waved,!
with sharp thorns terminating each of tlie
points. The flowers grow in clusters and
are succeeded by roundish berries, which
turn to a beautiful red about Michaelmas.
This tree is a beautiful evergreen.
Encyc.
Knee-Holly, a plant, the butcher's broom, of
the genus Ruscus.
Sea- Holly, a plant, of the genus Eryngium.
HOL'LYHOCK, n. [Sax. holihoc] A plant
of the genus Alcea, bearing flowers of va-
rious colors. It is called also rose-malloio.
HOL'LYROSE, n. A plant. Tate.
HOLM, )i. The evergreen oak ; the ilex.
2. An islet, or river isle.
3. A low flat tract of rich land on the banks
of a river. Cyc.j
HOLM'ITE, n. A variety of carbonate of
lime ; so called from Mr. Holme, who an-
alyzed it. Cleaveland.
IIOL'OCAUST, n. [Gr. oxoj. whole, and
xottiyof, burnt, from xatw, to burn.]
A burnt-sacrifice or offering, the whole of
which was consumed by fire ; a species of
sacrifice in use among the Jews and some
pagan nations. Ray. Encyc.
HOL'OGRAPH, n. [Gr. 0X05, whole, and
ypafu, to write.]
A deed or testament written wholly by the
grantor's or testator's own hand. Encyc.
HOLOGRAPH'IC, a. Written wholly by
the grantor or testator himself
HOLOM'ETER, n. [Gr. 0X05, all, and t^i-
■epcu, to measure.]
An instrument for taking all kinds of meas-
ures, both on the earth and in the heav-
ens; a pantometer. Cyc.
HOLP, HOLPEN, the antiquated pret. and
pp. othelp.
HOLSTER, n. [Sax. heolster, a hiding place
or recess ; Port, coldre ; from holding, or
concealing, L. celo. Sax. helan.]
A lethern case for a pistol, carried by a
horseman at the fore part of his saddle.
BOLSTERED, a. Bearing holsters; as a
holstered steed. Byron.
HOLT, n. [Sax. holt, h: coillte, \V. cettt, a
wood, from the root of Sax. helan, L. celo,
W. celu, to hide, to keep close ; a word re-
tained in names.]
A wood or woodland ; obsolete, except in
poetry. Draytoyi. Browne.
IIO'LY, a. [Sax. Wig-, • G. D. heilig; Sw.
helig ; Uan. heilig ; from the root of heal,
hold, whole, and all ; Sax. hal, G. heil, D.
heel, Sw. hel, Dan. heel, whole. See Heal
and Hold, and Class Gl. No. 31, 35. 42
The sense is whole, entire, complete, sound,
unimpaired.]
L Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a
moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, tem-
per or dispositions ; free from sin and sin-
ful affections. Applied to the Suprenif
Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, im
maculate and complete in moral charac-
ter ; and man is more or less lioly, as his
heart is more or less sanctified, or purified
from e\\l dispositions. We call a man
holy, when his heart is conformed in some
degree to the image of God, and his life it
regulated by the divine precepts. Hence
holy is used as nearly synonymous witl
good, pious, godly.
Be ye holy ; for I am holy. 1 Pet. i.
2. Hallowed ; consecrated or set apart to a
sacred use, or to the service or worship of
God ; a sense frequent in Scripture ; ai
the holy sabbath ; holy oil ; holy vessels ; j
holy nation ; the holy temple ; a holy priest
hood.
3. Proceeding from pious princii)les, or di-
rected to pious purposes ; as holy zeal.
4. Perfectly just and good; as the holy law
of God.
5. Sacred ; as a lioly witness. Shak.
Holy of holies, in Scripture, the innerr
apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or
temple, where the ark was kept, and
where no person entered, except the higli
priest, once a year.
Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit ;
the third person in the Trinity ; the sanc-
tifier of souls.
Holy war, a war undertaken to rescue the
holy land, the ancient Judea, from the in-
fidels ; a crusade ; an expedition carried
on by christians against the Saracens in
the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth cen
turies; a war carried on in a most tin
holy manner.
HOLY-CROSS day, n. The fourteenth of
September.
HOL'YDAY, n. A day set apart for com-
memorating some important event in his-
tory ; a festival intended to celebrate some
event deemed auspicious to the welfare of
a nation ; particularly an anniversary fest
val, devoted to religious solemnities ; as
Christmas holydays.
2. A day of joy and gayety. Shak.
3. A day of exemption from labor ; a day of
amusement. Chesterfield.
HOL'YDAY, a. Pertaining to a festival ; as
holyday suit of clothes.
HOLY-ONE, n. An appellation of the Su-
preme Being, by way of emphasis.
2. An appellation of Christ. Is. xhii.
3. One separated to the service of God.
Deut. xxxiii.
HOLY-ROOD day, n. A festival observed
by Roman Catholics in memory of the ex-
altation of our Savior's cross. Encyc.
HO'LY-THISTLE, Ji. A plant of the genus
Cnicus.
The blessed thistle, Centaurea henedicta.
Cyc.
HOLY -THURSDAY, n. The day on which
the ascension of our Savior is commemo-
rated, ten days before Whitsuntide.
Johnso7i,
HO'LY-WEEK, n. The week before Eas
ter, in which the passion of our Savior is
commemorated. Johnson
HOM'A6E, n. [Fr. hommage ; Sp. home-
nage ; It. omaggio ; from L. homo, man.]
1. In feudal law, the submission, loyalty auci
j service which a tenant promised to hi^
lord or superior, when first admitted to
I the land which he held of him in fee ; or
rather the act of the tenant in making this
submission, on being invested with the fee.
The ceremony of doing homage was thus
performed. The tenant, being ungirt and
uncovered, kneeled and held up both his
hands between those of the lord, who sat
before him, and there professed that " he
did become his man, from that day forth,
I of life and limb and earthly honor," and
then received a kiss from his lord.
i Blackstone.
,2. Obeisance; respect paid by external ac-
tion.
Go, go, with homage yon proud victors meet.
Dryden.
3. Reverence directed to the Supreme Be-
ing ; reverential worship ; devout affec-
tion.
HOM'AgE, v. t. To pay respect to by ex-
ternal action ; to give reverence to ; to
profess fealty.
HOM'AgEABLE, a. Subject to homage.
Houell.
HOM'AGER, n. One who does homage, or
holds land of another by homage.
Bacon.
Homherg^s Pyrophorus, ignited muriate of
lime. Ure.
HOME, n. [Sax. ham; G. D. heim; Sw.
hem ; Dan. hiem ; Gr. xu/uij ; properly, a
house, a close place, or place of rest.
Hence hamlet, Fr. hameau. Arm. hamell.
The primary sense is probably to inclose,
to cover, or to make fast. Derivatives in
G. D. Sw. and Dan. signify secret, close ;
and we say, to bring /tome arguments, that
is, press them close ; to drive home a nail,
&c. If the radical sense is close, it may
be from the same root
Ar. cs.^r
kamai, to cover. See Chimistry, and Class
Gm. No. 7. 9. 20. 23.]
1. A dwelling house ; the house or place in
which one resides. He was not at home.
Then the disciples went away again to their
own home. John xx.
Home is the sacred refuge of our life.
Dryden.
2. One's own country. Let affairs at home
be well managed by the administration.
3. The place of constant residence ; the seat.
Flandria, by plenty, made the home of war.
Prior.
4. The grave ; death ; or a future state.
Man goeth to his long home. Eccles. sii.
5. The present state of existence.
Whilst we are at home in the body, we are
absent from the Lord. 2 Cor. v.
HOME, a. Close ; severe ; poignant ; as a
home thrust.
HOME, adv. [This is merely elliptical ; to
being omitted.]
1. To one's own habitation ; as in the phra-
ses, go home, come home, bring home, carry
home.
2. To one's own country. Home is opposed
to abroad, or in a foreign country. My
brother will return home in the first ship
from India.
3. Close ; closely ; to the point ; as, this con-
sideration comes home to our interest, that
H O M
is, it nearly affects it. Drive the nail home;
that is, drive it close.
To haul home the top-sail sheets, in seamen s
language, is to draw the bottom of the top-
sail close to the yard-arm by means of the
An anchor is said to come home, when it
loosens from the ground by the violence
of the wind or cun-ent, &c.
HO'MEBORN, o. Native ; natural.
Donne.
2. Domestic ; not foreign. Pope.
IIO'MEBRED, a. Native; natural; ashome-
bred lusts. Hammond.
2. Domestic ; originating at home ; not for-
eign ; as homebred evil. Spenser.
3. Plain ; rude ; artless ; uncultivated ; not
polished by travel.
Only to me two homebred youths belong.
J3ryden
HO'MEFELT, a. Felt in one's own breast
inward ; private ; as homefeli joys or de
Milton. Pope.
HO'MELESS, a. Destitute of a home.
HO'MELINESS, n. [from homely.'] Plain
ness of features ; want of beauty. It ex
presses less than ugliness.
2. Rudeness ; coarseness ; as the homeliness
of dress or of sentiments. Addison.
HO'MELOT, n. An inclosure on or near
which the mansion house stands.
HO'MELY, a. [from home.] Of plain fea-
tures ; not handsome ; as a homely face.
It expresses less than ugly.
Let time, which makes you homely, make
you wise.
3. Plain ; like that which is made for com
mon domestic use ; rude ; coarse ; not fine
or elegant ; as a homely garment ; a homely
liouse ; homely fare.
Now Sticphon daily entertains
His Chloe in the homeliest strains. Pope.
HO'MELY, arfi'. Plainly ; rudely; coarsely
as homely dressed. [Ldttle used.]
HO'MELYN, n. A fish.
HO'MEMADE, a. Made at home ; being of]
domestic manufacture ; made either
private families, or in one's own country
Locke.
HO'MER, i A Hebrew measure con
OMER, > n. taining the tenth part of
CHOMER, ) an epha, or about si.v pints.
Encyc.
HOMER'le, a. Pertaining to Homer, the
great poet of Greece, or to his poetry ; re-
sembling Homer's verse.
HO'MESPEAKING, n. Forcible and effi-
cacious speaking. .Milton.
HO'MESPUN, a. Spun or wrought at home ;
of domestic manufacture. Swift.
2. Not made in foreign countries.
Mdison.
3. Plain ; coarse ; rude ; homely ; not ele-
gant; as a homespun English proverb; a
homespun author. Dryden. Addison.
HO'MESPUN, n. A coarse, unpolished, rus-
tic person. Shah.
HO'MESTALL, ? The place of a maii-
HO'MESTEAD, S "' sion house; the inclo-
sure or ground immediately connected
with the mansion. Dryden.
2. Native seat ; original station or place of
residence.
HO M
We can trace them back to a homestead on
the rJTers Volga and Ural. Tooke.
[In the U. States, homestead is the word
used.]
HOMEWARD, \ . [Sax. ham and
HO'MEVVARDS, S weard.]
Toward home ; toward one's habitation, or
toward one's native country.
Sidney. Milton
HOMEWARD-BOUND, a. Destined for
liotno ; returning from a foreign country
to the place where the owner resides
the homeward-bound fleet. Wc spoke a
brig homeward-bound.
HOMICIDAL, «. [from homicide.] Pertain
igto homicide; murderous; bloody.
HOM'ICIDE, n. [Fr. from L. homicidium
homo, man, and cwdo, to strike, to kill.]
The killing of one man or human being
by another. Homicide is of three kinds.
justifiable, excusable, am\ felonious ; justifi-
able, when it proceeds from unavoidable
necessity, without an intention to kill, and
without negligence ; excusable, when it
happens from misadventure, or in self-de
fense ; felonious, when it proceeds from
malice, or is done in the prosecution of
some unlawful act, or in a sudden passion.
Homicide committed with premeditated
malice, is nuirder. Suicide also, or self-
murder, is felonious homicide. Homicide
compreliends murder and manslaughter.
Blackslone.
2. A person who kills another ; a man.'ilayer.
Dryden.
HOMILET'IC, } [Or. o^a>;rixos, "from
HOMILET'I€AL, J "• oftAiu, to converse in
company.]
1. Pertaining to familiar intercourse ; social ;
conversable ; companionable. Atterbury.
2. Homiletic theology, a branch of practical
theology, which teaches the manner in
which ministers of the gospel should adapt
their discourses to the capacities of their
hearers, and pursue the best methods of
instructing them by their doctrines and
examples. It is also called pastoral theol-
ogy. Encyc.
HOM'ILIST,n. One that preaches to a con-
gregation. Beaum.
IIOM'ILY,?i. [Fr.homelie; Sp.homilia; It.
omelia ; Gr. ofiaia, from ouiXtw, to converse
iq company, ofiAof, a company or
biy-]
A discourse or sermon read or pronounced
to an audience ; or a plain, familiar dis
course on some subject of religion, siicl
as an instructor would deliver to his pu
pils, or a father to his children. Encyc.
HOM'MO€, n. [I suppose this to be an In-
dian word.]
A hillock or small eminence of a conical form,
sometime'; covered with trees.
Bartram. Encyc
HOM'MONY, n. [Indian.] In .America, mais
hulled and broken, but coarse, prepared
for food by being mixed with water and
boiled. Adai
HOMOgE'NEAL, ) [Fr. homogetie ; Gr.
HOMOgE'NEOUS, ^ "■ of,o^ivr,i ; 0^05, lik
and yti'oj, kind.]
Of the same kind or nature; consisting of
similar parts, or of elements of the like
ture. Thus we say, homogeneous particles,
elements or principles ; homogeneous bod
HON
words
be enc
to
encouraged ;
Sameness of
les.
HOMOgE'NEALNESS, i
HOMOGENEITY, |
equivalent to
HOMOgE'NEOUSNESS,
kind or nature.
HOM'OciENY, n. Joint nature. Bacon.
HOMOL'OGATE, v. t. [It. omologare ; Fr.
homologucr ; Gr. o^o?.oy:uj ; o^oj, like, and
?.«yu, to speak.] To approve ; to allow.
Wheaton's Rep. Vol. iv.
HOMOL'OGOUS, a. [Gr. o/noj, similar, and
Xoyos, proportion.]
Proportional to each other ; a term in geom-
etry, applied to the corresponding sides
and angles of similar figures; as, homol-
ogous angles. Encyc.
HOMON'\'MOUS, a. [Gr. o/xut^^f; o/ior,
like, and ow^a, name.]
Equivocal ; ambiguous ; that has different
significations, or may be applied to differ-
ent things. ff'atts.
HOMON'YMOUSLY, adv. In an equivocal
manner. Harris.
HOMON'YMY, n. [Gr. o^wrftia. See supra.]
Ambiguity ; equivocation.
Johnson.
HOMOPH'ONY, n. [Gr. o^oj, like, andt«.r,
sound.]
[Jkoness of s«und. Among the Greeks, a
kind of music performed in unison, in op-
position to antiphony.
HOMOT'ONOUS, a. [Gr. ofioj, Uke, and
roi'oj, tone.]
Equable; of the same tenor; applied to dis-
eases which have a uniform tenor of rise,
state, or declension. Qimicy.
HONE, n. [Sw. hen, a hone; Sax. hanan, to
stone. The word is found in the Greek
axoit; ; and in two dialects of the Burmaii
empire, hin, heen, signifies a stone. Asiat.
Researche.s, 5. 228. We find the word
also in the Syriac ^xoi akana, a hone,
coticula. Lapis Lydius. Cast. Hept.
213.]
A stone of a fine grit, used for sharpening
instruments that require a fine edge, and
particularly for setting razors. [We never,
I believe, call a hone, a uhet-stone. The
latter is a stone of coarse grit. See the
word.]
HONE, V. t. To rub and sharpen on a hone ;
as, to hone a razor.
HONE, V. i. To pine ; to long. Ols. [Qu.
W. hanit, eager.]
HONE-WORT, n. A plant of the genus
Sison.
HON'EST, a. on'est. [Fr. honnite, for hon-
este ; Sp. Port, hanesto ; It. onesto ; from
L. ho7iestus, from honos, honor.]
1. Upright ; just ; fair in deahng with oth-
ers ; free from trickishness and fraud ;
acting and having the disposition to act
at alltimes according to justice or correct
moral principles ; applied to persons.
Au honest man's the noblest work of God.
Pope.
An honest physician leaves his patient, when
he can contribute no farther to his health.
Temple.
2. Fair; just; equitable; free from fraud ;
as an honest transaction ; an honest trans-
fer of property.
3. Frank ; sincere ; unreserved ; according
to truth ; as an honest confession.
4. Sincere ; proceeding from pure or just
principles, or directed to a good object ; as
H O N
an honest inquiry after truth ; an IwnMt
endeavor; honest views or motives.
5. Fair ; good ; uniinpeacbed.
Seek seven men of honest report. Acts vi.
C. Decent; honorable; or suitable.
Provide tilings honest in the sight of all men.
Rom. xii.
7. Chaste ; faithful.
Wives may be merry, and yet honest too.
Shak.
HON'EST, I', t. on' est. To adorn ; to grace.
[J\rot used.] Sandys.
HONESTA'TION. n. Adornment ; grace.
[Not used.] Mmmtague.
HON'ESTLY, adv. on'estly. Uprightly ;
justly ; with integrity and fairness ; as a
contract honestly made.
2. With frank sincerity ; without fraud or
disguise ; according to truth ; as, to con
fess honestly one's real design.
3. By upright means ; with upright conduct ;
as, to live honestly.
4. Chastely; with conjugal loyalty and fidel
HO'N'ESTY, n. on'esty. [Fr. honmitte ; L.
honestas.]
1. In principle, an upright disposition ; moral
rectitude of heart ; a disposition to coii-
form to justice and correct moral princi-
ples, in all social transactions. In fact
upright conduct ; an actual confonnity to
justice and moral rectitude.
2. Fairness; candor; truth; as the honesty
of a narrative. jrardlaiv
3. Frank sincerity. Shak
Honesty is chiefly applicable to social trans-
actions, or mutual deaUngs in the ex-
change of property.
HON'EY, n. hun'y. [Sax. ftwnjg- ; G.homg
D. honig, honing ; Sw. h&ning ; Dan. hon-
ning.]
1. A sweet vegetable juice, collected by bees
from the flowers of plants, and deposited
in cells of the comb in hives. Honey, wh
pure, is of a moderate consistence, of a
whitish color, tinged with yellow, sweet
to the taste, of an agreeable smell, soluble
in water, and becoming vinous by fermen
tation. In medicine, it is useful as a de-
tergent and aperient. It is supposed to
consist of sugar, mucilage, and an acid.
Encyc. Ure.
2. Sweetness; lusciousness.
The king hath found
Matter against him, that forever mars
The honey of his language. Shak.
3. A word of tenderness ; sweetness ; sweet
one. Dryden.
HON'EY, v.t. To talk fondly. [Little used.[
Shak.
2. To sweeten.
HoN'EY-BAG, n. The stomach of a honey-
bee. Grew.
HON'EY -€C)MB, n. A substance of a firm,
close te.xture, formed by bees into hexago-
nal cells for repositories of honey, and for
the eggs which produce their young.
HONEY-eOMBED, a. Having little flaws or
cells. Wiseman.
HON'EY-DEW, n. A sweet saccharine sub-
stance, found on the leaves of trees and
other plants in small drops like dew. It
said there are two species ; one secreted
from the plants, and the other deposited
by a small insect called the aphis,
HON
fretter. Bees and ants are said to be fond
of honey-dew. Encyc.
HON'EYED, a. Covered with honey.
Milton.
2. Sweet ; as honeyed words.
Milton. Shak.
HON'EY-FLOWER, n. A plant of the ge-
nus Melianthus.
HON'EY-GNAT, n. An insect.
Ainsworth.
HONEY-GUIDE, ii. A species of Cuckoo,
found in Africa, which will conduct per-
sons to hives of wild honey. Encyc.
HON'EY-H'ARVEST, n. Honey collected
Dryden
HON'EYLESS, a. Destitute of honey.
Shak
HON'EY-LOCUST, ji. A plant, the three-
thorned Acacia, of the genus Gleditsia.
Encyc.
HON'EY-MOON, ( The first month af-
HON'EY-MONTH, \ "' ter marriage.
Addison.
HON'EY-MOUTHED, a. Soft or smooth in
speech. Shak.
HON'EY-STALK, n. Clover-flower.
Mason.
HON'EY-STONE, n. [Sec Mellite.-]
HON'EY-SUCKLE, n. A genus of plants,
the Louicera, of many species, one of]
which is called woodbine.
HON'EY'-SWEET, a. Sweet as honey.
Chaucer
HON'EY-TONGUED, a. Using soft speech
Shak.
HON'EY-WORT, n. A plant of the genus
Cerinthe.
HON'IED, a. [HI. See Honeyed.]
HON'OR, n. on'or. [L. honor, honos ; Fr,
honneur ; Sp. honor ; Port, honra ; It
onore; Arm. enor ; Ir. onoir.]
1. The esteem due or paid to worth ; higl;
estimation.
A prophet is not vfithout honor, except in his
own country. Matt. xiii.
2. A testimony of esteetn ; any expression
of respect or of high estimation by words
or actions ; as the honors of war ; military
honors ; funeral honors ; civil honors.
3. Dignity ; exalted rank or place ; distinc
tion.
I have given thee riches and honor. 1 Kings
iii.
Thou art clothed with honor and majesty
In doing
id pleasur
4. Reverence ; veneration ; or any act by
which reverence and submission are ex-
pressed, as worship paid to the Supreme
Being.
5. Reputation ; good name ; as, his honor is
unsullied.
6. True nobleness of mind ; magnanimity
dignified respect for character, springing
from probity, principle or moral rectitude ;
a distinguishing trait in the character of
good men.
7. An assumed appearance of nobleness
scorn of meanness, springing from the fear
of reproach, without regard to principle
as, shall I violate my trust? Forbid it,
honor.
: Any particular virtue much valued ; as
bravery in men, and chastity in females.
' Shak
HON
9. Dignity of mien ; noble appearance.
Godlike erect, with native honor clad.
Milton.
10. That which honors ; he or that which
confers dignity ; as, the chancellor is an
honor to his profession.
11. Privileges of rank or birth; in the plu-
ral.
Restore me to my honors. Shak.
12. Civilities paid.
Then here a slave, or if you will, a lord.
To do the honors, and to give the word.
Pope.
13. That which adorns ; ornament; decora-
tion.
The sire then shook the honors of his head.
Dryden .
14. A noble kind of seignory or lordship,
held of the king in cap<e. Encyc.
On or upon my honor, words accompanying
a declaration which pledge one's honor or
reputation for the truth of it. The mem-
bers of the house of lords in Great Britain
are not under oath, but give their opin-
ons on their honor.
Laws of honor, among persons of fashion,
signify certain rules by which their so-
cial intercourse is regulated, and which
are founded on a regard to reputation.
These laws require a punctilious attention
to decorum in external deportment, but
admit of the foulest violations of moral du-
ty. Paley.
Court of honor, a court of chivalry; a court
of civil and criminal jurisdiction, having
power to redress injuries of honor, and to
hold pleas respecting matters of arms and
deeds of war. Encyc.
HON'OR, v.t. on'or. [h-honoro ; Fr.honor-
er ; Sp. honrar ; It. onorare.]
1. To revere ; to respect ; to treat with
deference and submission, and perforin
relative duties to.
Honor thy father and thy mother. Ex. xx.
2. To reverence ; to manifest the highest
veneration for, in words and actions ; to
entertain the most exalted thoughts of;
to worship ; to adore.
That all men should honor the Son, even as;
they honor the Father. John v.
3. To dignify ; to raise to distinction or no-
tice ; to elevate in rank or station ; to ex-
alt. 3Ien are sometimes honored with ti-
tles and offices, which they do not merit.
Thus shall it be done to (he man whom the
king delightelh to honor. Esth. vi.
4. To glorify ; to render illustrious.
I will be honored upon Pharaoh, and upon all
his host. Ex. xiv.
5. To treat with due civility and respect in
the ordinary intercourse of life. The
troops honored the governor with a salute.
6. In commfrcf, to accept and pay when due ;
as, to honor a bill of exchange.
HONORABLE, a. [L. honorabilis; Fr.
honorable.]
1. Holding a distinguished rank in society ;
illustrious or noble.
Shechem was more honorable than all the
house of his father. Gen. xxxiv.
Many of them believed ; also of honorable
women who were Greeks — not a few. Acts
xvii.
2. Possessing a high mind ; actuated by
principles of honor, or a scrupulous regard
to probity, rectitude or reputation. He is
prob
an honorable man
H O O
3. Conferring honor, or procured by noble
deeds ; as honorable wounds. Dryden.
4. Consistent with honor or reputation. It
is not honorable to oppress the weak, or to
insult the vanquished.
5. Respected ; worthy of respect ; regarded
with esteem.
Marriage is honorable in all. Heb. xiii.
6. Performed or accompanied with marks
of honor, or with testimonies of esteem;
as an honorable burial.
7. Proceeding from an upright and laudable
cause, or directed to a just and proper end ;
not base ; not reproachful ; as an honora-
ble motive. Notliing can be honorable
which is immoral.
8. Not to be disgraced.
Let her descend ; my chambers are honorable
Shak
9. Honest; without hypocrisy or deceit; fair
His intentions appear to be honorable.
10. An epithet of respect or distinction ; as
the honorable senate ; the honorable gentli
roan.
11. Becoming men of rankandcIiaracter,or
suited to support men in a station of dig-
nity ; as an honorable salary.
Constitution of Massachusetts.
HON'ORABLENESS, n. The state of be-
ing honorable ; eminence ; distinction.
2. Conformity to the pruiciples of honor,
probity or moral rectitude ; fairness ; aji-
plied to disposition or to conduct.
HON'ORABLY, adv. With tokens of hon-
or or respect. The man was honorably
received at court.
3. Magnanimously ; generously ; with a no-
ble spirit or purpose. The prince honora-
bly interposed to prevent a rupture be-
tween the nations.
8. Reputably ; without reproach.
Why did I not more honorably starve ?
Dryden
HON'ORARY, a. Conferring honor, or in-
tended merely to confer honor ; as an hon
orary degree ; an honorary crown.
9. Possessing a title or place without per
forming services or receiving a reward ;
as an honorary member of a society
HON'ORARY, n. A lawyer's fee.
2. The salary of a professor in any art or
science. Encyc.
HON'ORED, pp. Respected ; revered ; rev
erenced ; elevated to rank or office ; dig
nified ; e.talted ; glorified ; accepted and
paid, as a bill of exchange.
HON'ORER, n. One that honors ; one that
reveres, reverences or regards with res
pect.
2. One who exalts, or who confers honors.
HON'ORING, ppr. Respecting highly ; rev
erencing ; exalting ; dignifying ; confer-
ring marks of esteem ; accepting and pay-
ing, as a bill.
HON'ORLESS, a. Destitute of honor
honored. If'arburton.
HOPDj in composition. Sax. had, hade, G.
heit, D. heid, Sw. het, Dan. bed, as in man-
hood, childhood, denotes state or fixedness,
hence quality or character, from some
root signifying to set. Sax. hadian, to or-
dain. It is equivalent to the termination
ness in English, and tas in Latin ; bs good-
ness, G. gutheit ; brotherhood, L. fratei-ni-
tas.
Vol. I.
H O O
HOOD, n. [Sax. hod; W. hod. Qu. from
the root of hut or hide.]
1. A covering for the head used by females,
and deeper than a bonnet.
2. A covering for the head and shoulders
used by monks ; a cowl.
3. A covering for a hawk's head or eyes ;
used in falconry.
4. Any thing to be drawn over the head to
cover it.
5. An ornamental fold that hangs down the
back of a graduate to mark his degree.
Johnson.
6. A low wooden porch over the ladder
which leads to the steerage of a ship ; the
upper part of a galley-chimney ; the cov-
er of a pump. Mar. Diet.
HOOD, V. t. To dress in a hood or cowl ; to
put on a hood.
The fiiar hooded, and the monarch crowned
Pope
2. To cover ; to blind.
I'll Aoorf my eyes. Shak
:i. To cover.
And Aood the flames. Dryden
HOOD'MAN blind, n. A play in which a
person blinded is to catch another and tell
his name ; blindman's buff. Shak,
IIQQD'ED, pp. Covered with a hood ; blind-
ed.
HOOD'- WINK, V. t. [hood and ipiiik.] To
blind by covering'the eyes.
We will blind and hood-wink him. Shak.
3. To cover ; to hide.
For the prize I'll bring thee to,
Shall hood-wink this mischance. Shak.
3. To deceive by external appearances or dis-
guise ; to impose on. Sidney.
HOOD'-WINKED, pp. Blinded ; deceived,
HOOD'-WINKING, ppr. Blinding the eyes:
ing; hiding; deceiving.
HOOF, n. [Sax. hof; G. huf; D. hocf;
Dan. hov ; Sw. hof, a hoof, and a measure.
Class Gb. No. 31.]
1. The horny substance that covers or
minates the feet of certain animals, as
horses, oxen, sheep, goats, deer, &c.
2. An animal ; a beast.
He had not a single hoof of any kind to
slaughter. Washingl(
HOOF, V. i. To walk, as cattle. [Little
used.] Scott.
HOOF'-BOUND, a. A horse is said to be
hoof-bound when he hasapain in the fore
feet, occasioned by the dryness and con
traction of the horn of the quarters, which
straitens the quarters of the heels, and of-
ten makes him lame. Far. Did
HOOF'ED, a. Furnished with hoofs.
Of all the hoofed quadrupeds, the horse is the
most beautifid. . Grew
HOOK) n. [Sax. hoc ; D. haak ; G. haken
Sw. hake ; Dan. hage ; W. hivg ; Heb.
run ; Ch. 'Dn. Class Cg. No. 22. 23. 24, ^
1. A piece of iron or other metal bent into a
curve for catching, holding and sustain
ing any thing ; as a.hook for catching fish ;
a tenter-hook ; a chinniey-hook ; a pot
hook, &c.
2. A snare ; a trap. Shak.
3. [W. hoc, a sythe.] A curving instrument
for cutting grass or grain ; a sickle
instrument for cutting or lop])ing.
Mortimer. Pope.
4. That part of a hinge which is fixed or in-
serted in a post. VVhence the phrase, to
102
H O O
be off the hooks, to be unhinged, to be dis-
turbed or disordered. Swip.
5. A forked timber in a ship, placed on the
keel.
C. A catch ; an advantage. [ Vidgar.]
7. In husbandi-y, a field sown two years run-
ning. [Local.] J)insv>orth.
By hook and by crook, one way or other; by
any means, direct or indirect. Dryden.
HOOK, V. t. To catch with a hook; as, to
hook a fish.
2. To seize and draw, as with a hook.
Shak.
3. To fasten with a hook.
4. To entrap ; to ensnare.
5. To draw by force or artifice. JVorris.
To hook on, to apply a hook.
HOOK, V. i. To bend ; to be curving.
HOOK'ED, a. Bent into the form of a hook ;
curvated. The claws of a beast are hook-
ed.
2. Bent ; curvated ; aquihne ; as a hooked
Brown.
HOOK'ED, pp. Caught with a hook ; fas-
tened with a hook.
HOOK'EDNESS, n. A state of being bent
like a hook.
HOOK'ING, ppr. Catching with a hook ;
fastening with a hook.
HOOKNOSED, a. Having a curvated or
quiline nose. Shak.
HOOK'Y, o. Full of hooks; pertaining to
iiooks.
HOOP, "■ [D. hoep, hoepel.] A band of wood
or metal used to confine the staves of
casks, tubs, &c. or for other similar pur-
poses. Wooden hoops are usually made
by sphtting an oak or hickory sapling into
two parts ; but sometimes they are made
of thin splints and of other species of wood.
2. A piece of whalebone in the form of a
circle or ellipsis, used formerly by females
to extend their petticoats ; a farthingale.
Swijl.
3. Something resembling a hoop; a ring;
any thing circular. Addison.
HOOP, "■ '• To bind or fasten with hoops ;
as, to hoop a barrel or puncheon.
2. To clasp ; to encircle ; to surround.
Shak. Grew.
HOOP, I', i. [Sax. heafian, heofian, to howl,
to lament, to weep ; also hiveopan, to whip,
to weep, to howl, to whoop ; the latter is
written also weopan, wepan, to iceep ; Goth.
wopyan, to whoop. The Sax. heafian, seems
to be connected with heave, and the sense
is jirobahly to raise or throw the voice.
Whether heofian and htceopan are radically
the same word, is not certain ; most proba-
bly they are, and ivhoop and loeep are evi-
dently the same. Weeping, in rude ages,
is by howling or loud outcries. See ffhoop,
the same word differently written.]
To shout ; to utter a loud cry, or a particular
sound by way of call or pursuit.
HOOP, V. t. To drive with a shout or out-
Shak.
2.
cry.
. To call by a shout or hoop.
HOOP, ji. A shout; also, a measure, equal
to a peck. [Sw. hof.]
2. The hoopoe.
HOOP'ER, n. One who hoops casks or tubs ;
a cooper.
HOOPING, ppr. Fastening with hoops.
HOOPING, ppr. Crying out ; shouting.
HOP
H O P
H O R
HOOPING-COUGH, n. A cough in wliicli
the patient hoops or whoops, with a deej
inspiration of breath.
HOOP'OE, ) [Ft. huppe, the hoopoe, and
HOOP'OO, I "• a tuft ; huppe, tulted ; or L
upupa, epops ; Gr. trto^^.]
A bird of the genus Upupa^ whose head is
adorned with a beautiful crest, which it
can erect or depress at pleasure. Encyc.
HOOR>A, I ^ .„,„ rSw. hurra. The
HOORAW, I «"«'«■ Welsh has cu
play, sport; but the Swedish appears to
be the English word.]
A shout of joy or exultation. [This is th
genuine English word, for ivhich we find ir
books most absurdly written, huzza, a foreigi
word never or rarely used.]
HOOT, V. i. [W. hiod or hwt, a taking off,
off, away ; hwtiaio, to take off, to pusl
away, to hoot ; and itdaip, to howl or yell ;
Fr. huer, a contracted word ; hence, hue,
in hue and cry.]
1. To cry out or shout in contempt.
Matrons and girls shall hoot at thee no more
Drydeti
2. To cry, as an owl.
The clamorous owl, that nightly hoots.
Dryden
HOOT, V. t. To drive with cries or shouts
uttered in contempt.
Partridge and his clan may hoot me for a cheat.
Swift.
HOOT, n. A cry orsliout in contempt.
Gtanville.
HOOT'ING, ?i. A shouting; clamor.
HOP, V. i. [Sa.x. hoppan ; G. hiipfen ; D.
huppelen; Sw.hoppa; Dan. hopper ; W.
hobelu, to hop, to hobble. It has the ele-
ments of cajoer.]
1. To lea[), or spring on one leg; applied to
persons.
2. To leap ; to spring forward by leaps ; to
skip, as birds.
Hopping from spray to spray. Dryden.
3. To walk lame ; to limp ; to halt. [We
generally use hobble.']
4. To move by leaps or starts, as the blood
in the veins. [JVo< used.] Spenser.
5. To spring ; to leap ; to frisk ahout.
6. To dance. Chaucer.
HOP, n. A leap on one leg ; a leaj) ; a jump;
a spring.
2. A dance. [Colloquial.]
HOP, )i. [D.hop; G.hopfen; prohah]y hoop,
from winding.]
.\ plant constituting the genus Huraulus.
The stalk or vine, which grows to a great
length, is weak and requires to be support-
ed. In growing, it chnibs or winds round
a pole or other support. This plant is of
great importance in brewing, as it tends
to preserve malt liquors, and renders them
more aperient, diuretic and salubrious.
Encyc.
HOP, II. t. To impregnate with hops.
Mortimer.
HOP' BIND, n. The stalk or vine on which
hops grow. Blackstone.
HOP'OAST, n. In Kent, a kiln for drying
hoiis.
HOP'POLE, n. A pole used to support
hojis. Tusser.
HOP'-PICKER, n. One that picks hops.
nOPVINE, n. The stalk of hops.
HOP-YARD, > A field or inclosure
HOP -GARDEN, S "• where hops are
raised.
HOPE, n. [Sax. hopa ; D. hoop ; Sw. hopp ;
Dan. haab ; G. hoffnung. Qu. L. cupio.
Class Gb. The primary sense is to ex-
tend, to reach forward.]
1. A desire of some good, accompanied witl
at least a slight expectation of obtaining it,
or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope dif-
fers from wish and desire in this, that it
implies some expectation of obtaining the
good desired, or the possibility of possess-
ing it. Hope therefore always gives pleas
lire or joy; whereas tmA and rfesiVe may
produce or be accompanied with pain and
anxiety.
The hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job viii.
He wish'd, but not with hope— Milton.
Sweet hope .' kind cheat ! Crashaw.
He that lives upon hope, will die fasting.
Franklin.
2. Confidence m a future event ; the highest
degree of v^ll founded expectation of
good ; as a hope fotmded on God's gra-
cious promises ; a scriptural sense.
A well founded scriptural hope, is, in our reli-
gion, the source of ineffable happiness.
3. That which gives hope ; he or that which
furnishes ground of expectation, or prom
ises desired good. The hope of Israel ii
the Messiah.
The Lord will be the hope of his people
Joel iii.
4. An opinion or belief not amounting 'to
certainty, but grounded on substantial evi-
dence. The christian indulges a Aqpe, that
his sins are pardoned.
HOPE, V. i. [Sax. hopian ; G. hoffen ; D,
hoopen, to hope, and to heap ; Dan. haaber ,
Sw. hoppas.]
1. To cherish a desire of good, with some
expectation of obtaining it, or a belief thai
it is obtainable.
Hope for good success. Taylor.
Be sober and hope to the end. 1 Pet. i.
Hope humbly Uien, with trembling pinions
soar. Pope.
2. To place confidence in ; to trust in with
confident expectation of good.
Wiy art thou cast down, 0 ray soul, and why
art thou disquieted within me ? Hope thou in
God. Ps. xlii.
HOPE, V. t. To desire with expectation of
good, or a belief that it may be obtained.
But as a transitive verb, it is seldom used,
and the phrases in which it is so used are
elliptical, /or being understood.
So stands the Thracian herdsman with his
spear,
Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear.
Dryden.
HOPE, fl. A sloping plain between ridges
of mountains. [JVol in use.] Jlinsworth
HO'PED, /)/>. Desired with expectation.
HO'PEFUL, a. Having qualities which ex-
cite hope ; promising or giving ground tc
expect good or success; as a. hopeful yonlh;
a hopefid prospect.
2. Full of hope or desire, with expectation.
I was hopeful the success of your first at-
tempts would encourage you to the trial of more
nice and difficult experiments. Boyle.
HO'PEFULLY, adv. In a manner to raise
hope ; in a way promising good. He
prosecutes his scheme hopefully.
2. In a manner to produce a favorable opin-
ion respecting some good at the present
time. The young man is hopefully pious.
3. With hope ; with ground to expect.
HO'PEFULNESS, n. Promise of good ;
ground to expect what is desirable.
n'otton.
HO'PELESS, a. Destitute of hope ; having
no expectation of that which is desirable ;
despairing.
I am a woman, friendless, hopeless. Shak.
2. Giving no ground of hope or expectation
of good ; promising nothing desirable ;
desperate ; as a hopeless condition.
HO'PELESSLY, adv. Without hope.
HO'PELESSNESS, n. A state of being
desperate, or affording no hope.
HO'PER, n. One that hopes. Shak.
HO'PING, ppr. Having hope ; indulging
desire of good with the expectation of ob-
taining it, or a behef that it is obtainable.
2. Confiding in.
HO'PINGLY, adv. With hope or desire of
good, and expectation of obtaining it.
Hammond.
HOP'LITE, n. [Gr. orOxtTis, from ortXw, a
weapon.]
In ancient Greece, a heavy-armed soldier.
Mitford.
HOPPER, n. [See Hop.] One who hops,
or leaps on one leg.
2. Properly, a wooden trough through which
grain passes into a tnill ; so named from
its moving or shaking. But we give the
name to a box or frame of boards, which
receives the grain before it passes into the
trough, and also to a similar box which
receives apples for conducting them into
a mill.
A vessel in which seed-corn is carried for
sowing. Encyc.
KOP'PERS, 71. A play in which persons
hop or leap on one leg. Johnson.
HOP'PING, ppr. Leaping ou one leg;
dancing.
HOP'PING, n. A dancing ; a meeting for
dancing.
HOP'PLE, V. t. To tie the feet near together
to prevent leaping ; as, to hopple an unruly
horse.
HO'RAL, a. [L. hora, an hour. See Hour.]
Relating to an hour, or to hours. Prior.
HO'RALLY, adv. Hourly. [JVot in use.]
HORARY, a. [L. horarius; Fr. Ivoraire;
from L. hora, hour.]
1. Pertaining to an hour; noting the hours;
as the horary circle. Encyc.
2. Continuing an hour. Brown.
HORD, { [D. horde, a clan, and a hur-
, S "■ die ; G
horde, a clan, and a pen
s to he the Sax. heard.
HORDE
or fold. ' Tin
a herd.]
A company of wandering people dwelling
in tents or wagons, and migrating from
|)lace to place to procure pasturage for
their cattle. Such are some tribes of the
Tartars in the north of Asia. A hord usu-
ally consists of fifty or sixty tents.
Encyc. Mtford.
HORE, n. [Sa.Ti. hure, or hor-cwen; G.hure;
D. hoer ; Dan. hore : S w. hora, and hork&na ;
W. Aitre?!, from huriaw, to hire. The com-
mon orthography whore is corrupt.]
A woman, married or single, who indulges
unlawful sexual intercourse ; also, a pros-
H O R
H O R
H O R
titute ; a common woman ; a harlot ; a
woman of ill fame. [This word compre-
hends adultress and farnicatrix, and all
lewd women whether paid for prostitution
or not.]
HORE, V. i. To indulge unlawful sexual
commerce, as a male or female ; to be
habitually lewd.
HO'REDOM, n. The practice of unlawful
sexual commerce ; habitual or customary
lewdness of males or females.
2. In Scripture, idolatry.
HO'REMASTER, ) A man who is ad-
HO'REMONGER, S d'cted to lewdness,
or frequently indulges in unlawful sexual
intercourse.
HO'RESON, n. [feore and son.] A bastard;
the son of a hore ; a term of reproach or
contempt, sometimes used in a ludicrous
sense expressing dislike.
IIO'RISH, a. Lewd ; unchaste ; loose ; given
to unlawful sexual intercourse ; applied to
females only.
HO'RISHLY, adv. Lewdly ; unchastely.
HO'REHOUND, n. [Sax. hara-hune, white-
hune.]
The name of several plants of different
genera. The common horehound is the
Marrubium vulgare. It has a bitter taste,
and is used as an attenuant. Encyc.
nOR'IZON, 71. [Gr. opiiTw, from optfu, to
bound, opo5, a limit ; Fr. horizon ; Sp. hori-
zonte ; It. orizzonte. This word, like con-
test, aspect, and others in Milton, must be
read in poetry with the accent on the sec-
ond syllable; a harsh, unnatural pronun-
ciation, in direct opposition to the regular
analogy of English words. With tl
cent on the first syllable, as in
usage, it is an elegant word.]
The line that terminates the view, when ex-
tended on the surface of the earth ; or a
great circle of the sphere, dividing the
world into two parts or hemispheres; the
upper hemisphere which is visible, and the
lower which is hid. The horizon is sensi-
hh, and rational or real. The sensible, ap-
|)arent, or visible horizon, is a lesser circle
of the sphere, which divides the visible
part of the sphere from the invisible. It
is eastern or western ; the eastern is that
wherein the sun and stars rise ; the west-
ern, that wherein they set. The rational,
true, or astronomical ho3-izon, is a great
circle whose plane passes through the
center of the earth, and whose poles are
the zenith and nadir. This horizon would
bound the sight, if the eye could take in
the whole hemisphere. Encyc.
HORIZON'TAL, a. Pertaining to the hori-
zon, or relating to it.
9. Parallel to the horizon ; on a level; as a
honzontal line or surface.
.1. Near the horizon ; as horizontal misty air.
Milton.
HORIZON'TALLY, adv. In a direction
parallel to the horizon ; on a level ; as a
ball carried horizontally.
HORIZONTAL'ITY, n. The state of being
horizontal. Kinoan.
HORN, Ji. [Sax. G. Sw. Dan. horn ; Goth.
ha%irn; J), hoom ; Sw. /(om, a corner ; W.
com, a horn, cornel, a corner ; L. cornu ;
Sp. cuerno ; It. Port, coryio ; Fr. come ;
Ileb. Ch. Syr. Eth. Ar. pp. The sense is
a shoot, a projection. Class Rn. No. 15.]
1. A hard substance growing on the heads of
certain animals, and particularly on clo-
ven-footed quadrupeds ; usually project-
ing to some length and terminating in a
point. Horns are generally bent or cur-
ving, and those of some animals are spiral.
They serve for weapons of offense and de-
fense. The substance of horns is gelatin-
ous, and in Papin'a digester it may be con-
verted into jelly. Encyc.
Horn is an animal substance, chietly
membranous, consisting of coagulated al-
biunen, with a little gelatin and phosphate
of lime. Ure.
The horns of deer possess exactly the
properties of bone, and are composed of
the same constituents, only the proportion
of cartilage is greater. Thomson.
2. A wind instrument of music, made of
horn ; a trumpet. Such were used by tlie
Israelites.
•3. In modern times, a wind instrument made
of metal.
4. An extremity of the moon, when it is wax-
ing or waning, and forming a crescent.
Dryden.
5. The feeler or antenna of an insect.
6. The feeler of a snail, which may be with-
drawn ; hence, to pull or draw in the horns,
is to repress one's ardor, or to restrain
pride. Johnson.
7. A drinking cup ; horns being used an-
ciently for cups.
8. A winding stream. Dryd':n.
9. Horns, in the plural, is used to character-
ize a cuckold. He wears the hoi-ns.
10. In Scripture, horn is a symbol of strength
or power.
The horn of Moab is cut ofl". Jer. xlviii.
Horn is also an emblem of glory, honor,
dignity.
My horn is exalted in the Lord. 1 Sam. ii.
In Daniel, hoiTi represents a kingdom or
state.
HORN'BEAK, n. A fish. [See Honifish.]
HORN'BEAM, n. [Sec Beam.] A genus of
trees, the Carpinus, so named from the
hardness of the wood.
HORN'BILL, n. A fowl of the genus Buce-
ros, which has a flat bony forehead with
two horns ; a native of the E. Indies.
HORN'BLEND, ji. [G. horn and blende.]
A mineral of several varieties, called by
Hatty amphibole. It is sometimes in regu-
lar distinct crystals ; more generally the
result of confused crystalization, appear-
ing in masses, composed of lamins, acicu-
lar crystals or fibers, variously aggrega-
ted. Its prevaihng colors are black and
green. Cleaveland.
HORNBLOWER, n. One that blows a
horn.
HORN'BOQK, n. The first book of children,
or that in which they learn their letters
and rudiments ; so called from its cover of
horn. [M>w little used.] Locke.
HORN-DISTEMPER, n. A disease of cat-
tle, affecting the internal substance of the
horn. Encyc.
IIORN'ED, a. Furnished with horns ; as
horned cattle.
2. Shaped like a crescent, or the new moon.
.MUton.
HORN'EDNESS, ?i. The appearance of
horns.
HORN'ER, n. One who works or deals in
horns. Grew.
2. One who Windsor blows the horn.
Shenoood.
HORN'ET, n. [Sax. hymet, hymde; G.
horniss ; 1). horzcl.]
An insect of the genus Vespa or wasp, the
I'espa crabro. It is much larger and strong-
er than the wasp, and its sting gives se-
vere pain. This insect constructs a nest
of leaves or other substance which resem-
bles brown paper of a light color. This is
attached to the branches of trees, and often
of the size of a half-peck measure.
HORN'FISH, ji. The garfish or sea-needle,
of the genus Esox. Encyc.
HORN'FOPT, a. Having a hoof; hoofed.
Hakewill.
HORN'IFY, V. I. To bestow horns upon.
[JVot used or vulgar.] Beaum.
HORN'ING, n. Appearance of the moon
when increasing, or in the form of a cres-
cent. Gregory.
HORN'ISH, a. Somewhat hkehorn: hard.
Sandys.
HORN'LESS, a. Having no horns.
Journ. of Science.
HORN'MERCURY, n. Muriate of mercury.
HORN'OWL, 71. A species of owl, so called
from two tufts of fethers on its head like
horns. ^'linsworth.
HORN'PIPE, n. An instrument of music in
VVale.s, consisting of a wooden pipe with
horns at the ends; one to collect the wind
blown from the mouth; the other to carry
ofl" the sounds as modulated by the per-
former. [W. pib-corn.] Encyc.
2. An air or tune of triple time, with six
crotchets in a bar ; four to the descending
beat, and two to the ascending. Encyc.
HORN'SHAVINGS, n. Scrapings or rasp-
ings of the horns of deer. B. Jonson.
HORN'SILVER, n. Muriate of silver, or
chlorid of silver.
HORN'SPOON, n. A spoon made of horn.
HORN'SLATE, ji. A gray siliceous stone.
Kirwan.
HORN'STONE, ji. A siliceous stone, a
subspecies of quartz. It is divided by
Jameson into splintery, conchoidal, and
wood-stone. [See Chert]
HORN'WORK, n. In fortification, an out-
work composed of two demi-bastionsjoin-
ed by a curtain. Encyc.
HORN'Y, a. Consisting of horn or horns.
Milton.
2. Resembling horn.
3. Hard ; callous. Dryden.
HOROG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. ^pa, hour, and
ypa^u, to write.]
1. An account of hours.
2. The art of constructing dials. Cyc.
HOROLOGE, n. [Fr. Iwrloge ; L. horolo-
gium ; Gr. upo>.oyM)v ; upo, hour, and ^tyu,
to tell.]
An instrument that indicates the hour of the
day. But chronometer is now generally
used.
HOROLOli ICAL, a. Pertaining to the ho-
rologe, or to horology.
HOROLOlilOGRAPli'IC, a. Pertaining to
the art of dialling. Chambers.
HOROLOgIOG'RAPHY, ji. [Gr. upo, hour
xoyof, discourse, and ypai|i«, to describe.]
H O R
H O R
H O R
An account of instruments that show the
hour of the day ; also, of the art of con-
structing dials. Diet.
HOROL'GgY, n. [Gr. upoXoyfu ; apa, hour,
and >jyio, to indicate. See Horologe.]
The art of constructing machines for meas-
uring and indicating portions of time, as
clocks, watches, &c. Edin. Encyc.
HOROMET'Rl€AL, a. [from horometry.]
Belonging to horometry, or to the meas-
urement of time by hours and subordinate
divisions. Asial. jRes.
HOROMETRY, n. [Gr. upa, hour, and
iUfrpo)', measure.]
The art or practice of measuring time by
hours and subordinate divisions.
HOR'OSeOPE, n. [Fr. from Gr. upocrxortoj;
upa, hour, and sxortiu, to view or consider.]
1. In astrology, a scheme or figure of the
twelve houses, or twelve signs of the zodiac,
in which is marked the disposition of the
heavens at a given time, and by which as-
trologers formerly told the fortunes of per-
sons, according to the position of the stars
at the time of their birth. Encyc.
1. The degree or point of the heavens ari-
sing above the eastern point of the hori-
zon at any given time when a prediction
is to be made of a future event. Encyc.
HOROS'COPY, n. Tlie art or practice of
predicting future events by the disposition
of the stars and planets.
HOR'RENT, a. [L. horrens. See Horror.]
Bristled ; standing erect as bristles ; point-
ing outward.
Witli bright emblazoni-y and horrent arms.
Milton.
HOR'RIBLE, a. [L. horiibilis. See Horror.]
Exciting or tending to excite horror ;
dreadful ; terrible ; shocking ; hideous ;
as a horrible figure or sight; a horrible
story.
A dungeon horrible on all sides round.
.Milton.
HOR'RIBLENESS, n. The state or quali-
ties that may excite horror ; dreadfulness ;
lerribleness ; hideousness.
HOR'RIBLY, adv. In a manner to excite
horror ; dreadfidly ; terribly ; as horribly
loud ; horribly afraid.
HOR'RID, a. [L. horridm. See Horror.]
1. That <loes or may excite horror; dread-
ful ; hideous ; shocking ; as a horrid spec-
tacle or sight ; horrid sympathy. Milton.
2. Rough ; rugged. This is the literal and
primary sense.
Horrid with fern, and intricate nidi lliom.
Dryden.
3. Shocking ; very offensive ; a colloquud
sense. Pope.
HOR'RIDLY, adv. In a manner to e.xcite
horror ; dreadfully ; shockingly.
HOR'RIDNESS, n. The qualities that do
or may excite horror ; hideousness ; enor-
mity. Hammond.
HORRIF'IC, a. [L. hon-ijicus.] Causing
liorroi-. Thomson.
IIORRIS'ONOUS, a. [L. horrisonus; hoireo,
to shake, and sonus, sound.] Soundin,
dreadfully ; uttering a terrible sound.
IIOR'ROR, ?i. [L. from horreo, to shake or
shiver, or to set up the bristles, to be
rough.]
1. A shaking, shivering or shuddering, as in
the cold fit which precedes a fever. This
ague is usually accompanied with a con
traction of the skin into small wrinkles,
giving it a kind of roughness.
2. An excessive degree of fear, or a painful
emotion which makes a person tremble ;
terror ; a shuddering with fear ; but ap-
propriately, terror or a sensation approach-
ing it, accompanied with hatred or detes-
tation. Horror is often a passion com-
pounded of fear and hatred or disgust.
The recital of a bloody deed fills us with
horror.
A horror of great darkness fell on Abrara.
Gen. XV.
Horror hath taken hold on me, because of
the wicked tliat forsake thy law. Ps. cxix.
3. That which may excite horror or dread ;
gloom ; dreariness.
And breathes a browner horror on the woods.
Pope.
4. Dreadful thoughts.
5. Distressing scenes ; as the horrors of war
or famine.
HORSE, 71. hors. [Sax. hors ; G. ross ; D.
ros.]
A sjiecies of quadrupeds of the genus
Equus, having six erect and parallel fore-
teeth in the upper jaw, and six somewliat
prominent in the under jaw ; the dog
teeth are solitary, and the feet consist of an
undivided hoof. The horse is a beautiful
animal, and of great use for draught or
conveyance on his back. Horse, in English,
is of common gender, and may comj)re-
hend the male and female.
A constellation. Creech.
3. Cavalry ; a body of troops serving on
horseback. In this sense, it has no plu-
ral termination. We say, a thousand
horse; a regiment of horse.
A machine by which something is sup-
ported ; usually a wooden frame with legs.
Various machines used in the arts are thus
called. Encyc.
A wooden machine on which soldiers
ride by way of punishment ; sometimes
called a timber-mare. Johnson.
6. In sea7nen''s language, a rope extending
from the middle of a yard to its extremity,
to support the sailors while they loose,
reef or furl the sails; also, a thick rope
extended near the mast for hoisting a
yard or extending a sail on it. Mar. Diet.
To talte horse, to set out to ride on horse-
back. Addison.
To be covered, as a mare.
HORSE, V. t. To mount on a horse.
. To carry on the back.
The keeper, horsing a deer. Butler.
. To ride astride ; as ridges horsed. Shak.
4. To cover a mare, as the male. MoHimer.
HORSEBACK, n. hors'back. The state of
being on a horse ; the posture of riding
on a horse.
I saw them salute on horseback. Shak
HORSEBEAN, n. A small bean usually
given to horses. Mortimer.
HORSEBLOCK, n. A block or stage that
assists persons in mounting and dismount-
ing from a horse.
HORSEBOAT, n. A boat used in convey-
ing horses over a river or other water.
2. A boat moved by horses ; a new species
of ferry-boat.
HORSEBOY, n. A boy employed in dress-
ing and tending horses ; a stable boy.
Knolles.
HORSEBREAKER, n. One whose em-
ployment is to break horses, or to teach
them to draw or carry. Creech
HORSE-CHESTNUT, n. A large nut, the
fruit of a species of ^sculus ; or tiie tree
that produces it. The tree is much culti-
vated for shade.
HORSECLOTH, n. A cloth to cover a
horse.
HORSEeOURSER, n. One that runs hor-
ses, or keeps horses for the race.
Johnson.
2. A dealer in horses. Wiseman.
HORSE€RAB, n. A crustaceous fish.
Ainsworth.
HORSE-€U'€UMBER, n. A large green
cucumber. Mortimer.
HORSEDEALER, n. One who buys and
HORSEDRENCH, ji. A dose of physic for
a horse. Shak.
HORSEDUNG, n. The dung of horses.
HORSE-EMMET, n. A species of large ant.
HORSEFACED, a. Having a long coarse
face ; ugly.
HORSEFLESH, n. The flesh of a horse.
Bacon.
HORSEFLY, n. A large fly that stings
horses.
HORSEFQOT, n. A plant, called also colts-
foot. Ainsworth.
HORSEGUARDS, n. A body of cavalry
for guards.
HORSEHAIR, n. The hair of horses.
HORSEHOE, V. t. To lioe or clean a field
by means of horses.
HORSEKNAVE, n. A groom. Ohs.
Chaucer.
HORSE-KEEPER, n. One who keeps or
takes care of horses.
HORSELAUGH, «. A loud, boisterous
laugh. Pope.
HORSELEECH, n. A large leech. [See
Leech.]
2. A farrier. Ainsworth.
HORSELITTER, n. A carriage hung on
poles which are borne by and between
two horses. Milton.
HORSELOAD, n. A load for a horse.
HORSEMAN, n. A rider on horseback.
Addison.
2. A man skilled in riding. Dryden.
3. A soldier who serves on horseback.
Hayward.
HORSEMANSHIP, n. The act of doing,
and of training and managing horses.
Pope.
HORSEMARTEN, n. A kind of large bee.
Ainsworth.
HORSEMATCH, n. A bird. Ainsworth.
HORSEMEAT, n. Food for horses ; prov-
ender. Bacon.
HORSE-MILL, a. A mill turned by a
horse.
HORSE-MINT, n. A species of large mint.
HORSE-MUSCLE, n. A large muscle or
shell-fish. Bacon.
HORSEPATH, n. A path for horses, as by
canals.
HORSEPLAY, n. Rough, rugged play.
Dryden.
HORSEPOND, n. A pond for watering
horses.
HORSEPURSLANE, n. A plant of the ge-
nus Trianlhema.
H O S
H O S
11 O S
HORSERACE, n. A race by horses
match ofliorsos in running.
HORSERACING, u. The practice or act
of running horses.
HORSERADISH, n. A plant of the genus
Cochlearia, a species of scurvy grass, ha
ving a root of a pungent taste.
HORSESHOE, n. A shoe for horses, con
sisting of a plate of iron of a circular form.
HORSESHOE-HEAD, n. A disease of in
fants, in which the sutures of the skull
are too open ; opposed to headmold-shol.
HORSESTEALER, ) . , ^f horses
HORSETHIEF, \ "• '^ ^^^^^" "* ''°'^^''
HORSETAIL, n. A plant of the genus]
Equisetum. The shrubby horsetail is of
the genus Ephedra. Fam. of Plants.
HORSETONGUE, n. A plant of the genus
Ruscus.
HORSE VETCH, ) A plant of the
HORSESHOE- VETCH, S genus Hippo
crcpis.
HORSEVVAV, I A way or road in which
HORSEROAD, I "'horses may travel.
HORSEWHIP, n. A whip for driving or
striking horses.
HORSEWHIP, V. t. To lash; to strike
with a horsewhip.
IIOUSEWORM, n. A worm that infests
lioises ; a hott.
HORTA'TION, ji. [L. horlatio, from hoHor,
to e.vhort.]
The act of exhorting, or giving advice ; ex-
hortation ; advice intended to encourage.
[But exhortation is generally used.'\
HOR'TATIVE, o. Giving exhortation ; ad-
visory.
HOR'TATIVE, n. Exhortation ; a precept
given to incite or encourage. Bacon.
HOR'TATORY, a. Encouraging; inciting
giving advice ; as a hortatory speech.
HORTEN'SIAL, a. [L. horUnsis.] Fit for
a garden. [N'ot used.] Evelyn
HOR'TleULTOR, ». [L. hortus, a garden,
and cultor, a tiller.] One who cultivates
a garden.
HORTIeUL'TURAL, n. Pertaining to the
culture of gardens.
HOR'TI€ULTURE, n. [L. horlus, a garden,
and cultura, culture, from colo, to till.]
The cultivation of a garden ; or the art of
cultivating gardens.
HORTleUL'TURIST, n. One who is skil-
led in the art of cultivating gardens.
HOR'TULAN, a. [L. hortulamis.] Belong-
ing to a garden ; as a hortulan calendar.
Evelyn.
HORTUS SICCUS, n. [L.] Literally, a dry
garden ; an appellation given to a collec-
tion of specimens of plants, carefully dried
and preserved. Encyc.
IIORT'YARD, n. An orchard, which see.
HOSAN'NA, n. s as z. [Heb. save, I be-
seech you.]
An exclamation of praise to God, or an in-
vocation of blessings. In the Hebrew
ceremonies, it was a prayer rehearsed on
the several days of the feast of taber-
nacles, in which this word was often re-
peated. Encyc.
HOSE, n. plu. hosen or hose; pron. hoze,
ho'zn. [Sax. hos, a heel, a thorn or twig,
and hose ; G. hose ; D. kotts ; W. hos, hosan,
from hws, a covering, a housing ; Fr.
chausae ; Ir. asaii. The Welsh unites this
word with house. The hose or hosan was
a garment covering the legs and thighs,
hke the modern long trowsers. Hence
in G. hosen-gurt, a hose-girt, is a waist-
band ; and hosen-trciger, hose-supporter, or
shoulder-strap, indicates that the hose
was sustained, as breeches and pantaloons
now are, by suspenders or braces.]
. Breeches or trowsers. Shak.
2. Stockings ; coverings for the legs. This
word, in mercantile use, is synonymous
with stockings, though originally a very
different garment.
3. A leathern pipe, used with fire-engines,
for conveying water to extinguish fires.
IIO'SIER, n. iM'zhur. One who deals in
stockings and socks, &c.
IIO'SIERY, 71. ho'zhury. Stockings in gen-
eral ; .socks.
HOS'PITABLE, a. [L. hospitalis, from
hospes, a guest ; It. ospitalo and ospitabile,
Hospes, is from the Celtic ; W. osb, a
stranger or wanderer, a guest ; Arm. osb.
asp, hospyd. See Host.]
1. Receiving and entertaining strangers
witli kindness and without reward ; kind
to strangers and guests; disposed to treat
guests with generous kindness; as a. hos
pitable man.
2. Proceeding from or indicating kindness
to guests ; manifesting generosity ; as a
hospitable table ; hospitable rites. Dryden.
3. Inviting to strangers ; offering kind re-
ception ; indicating hospitalitj'.
To where yon taper cheers tlie vale,
AVith hospitable raj'. Goldsmith.
HOS'PITABLY, adv. With kindness to
strangers or guests ; with generous and
liberal entertainment. Prior. Swift.
HOS'PITAgE, n. Hospitality. Obs.
Spenser.
HOS'PITAL, ji. [Fr. hdpital, for hospital ;
L. hospitalis, supra.]
1. A building appropriated for the reception
of sick, infirm and helpless paupers, who
are supported and nursed by charity ;
also, a house for the reception of insane
persons, whether ))aupers or not, or for
seamen, soldiers, foundlings, &.c. who arc
supported by the public, or by private
charity, or for infected persons, &c.
2. A place for shelter or entertainment.
Obs. Spenser.
HOS'PITAL, a. Hospitable. [JVbl in use.}
Howell.
HOSPITAL'ITY, v. [Fr. hospitalite; L.
hospitalitas ; W. ysbyd. See Hospitable.]
The act or practice of receiving and enter-
taining strangers or guests without re-
ward, or with kind and generous liber-
ality.
A bishop — must be given to hospiialily. 1,
Tim. iii. I
Hospitality I have fouod as univei-sal as the
face of man. Ledyard.l
HOS'PITALLER, n. [from hospital.] Prop-
erly, one residing in a hospital for the
purpose of receiving the poor and stran-!
gers. The hospitallers were an order ol''
knights who built a hospital at Jerusalem
for pilgrims. They were called knights of
St. John, and are the same as the knights
of Malta. Encyc.
HOS'PITATE, v. i. [L. hospitor.] To re-
side or lodge under the roof of another.
[JVot used.] Grew.
HOS'PITATE, V. i. To lodge a person.
{.Yot used.]
HOST, n. [Fr. hole, for hoste ; It. oale ; Sp.
huesped; Port, hospede ; and L. hostis, a.
stranger, an enemy, probably of the same
family. See Hospitable. The sense is a
stranger or foreigner, that is, a wanderer
or traveler, from some root signifying to
wander, to go or pass, or to visit. See
Class Gs. No. 5. 14. IC]
1. One who entertains another at his own
house, without reward.
Homer never entertained guests or hosts with
long speeches. .Sidney.
2. One who entertains another at his house
for reward ; an innkeeper ; a landlord.
•3. A guest ; one who is entertained at tlic
house of another. The innkeeper says of
the traveler, he has a good host, and the
traveler says of his landlord, he has u
kind host. [See Guest.] Encyc.
HOST, n. [L. hostis, a stranger, an enemy.
The sense is probably transferred from a
single foe to an army of foes.]
1. An army ; a number of men cmborfied
for war.
2. Any great number or multitude.
HOST, n. [L. hoslia, a victim or sacrifice,
from hostis, an enemy ; Fr. hostie ; applied
to the Savior who was offered for the sins
of men.]
In the Romish church, the sacrifice of the
mass, or the consecrated wafer, represent-
ing the body of Christ, or as the Catholics
alledgc, transubstantiated into his own
l)ody. Ena/c.
HOST, V. i. To lodge at an inn ; to take up
entertainment. [Little used.] Shak.
HOST, V. t. To give entertainment to. [JVol
used.] Speyiser.
HOS'TAgE, n. [Fr.otage, for ostage ; It.
ostaggio ; Arm. ostaich ; G. gtissel ; W.
gwystyt, a |)ledge, pawn, surety, hostage.]
A person delivered to an enemy or hostile
power, as a pledge to secure the perform-
ance of the conditions of a treaty or stip-
ulations of any kind, and on the per-
formance of which the person is to be
released. Bacon. .Itterbury.
HOSTEL, HOSTELLER. [See Hotel.]
HOSTESS, n. A female host ; a woman
who entertains guests at her house.
Dryden.
2. A woman who keeps an inn. Temple.
HOSTESS-SHIP, n. The character or bu-
siness of a hostess. Shak.
HOSTILE, a. [L. hostilis, from hostis, an
enemy, that is, a foreigner.]
1. Belonging to a public enemy ; designa-
ting enmity, particularly public enmity, or
a state of war ; inimical ; as a hostile band
or army ; a hostile force ; hostile intentions.
2. Possessed by a public enemy ; as a hos-
tile country. Kent.
3. Adverse; opposite ; unfriendly. [But the
word is not properly applied to private en-
mity, or mere unfriendliness.]
HOS'TILELY, adv. In a hostile manner.
HOSTILITY, n. [Fr. hostiliti ; h. Iioslili-
tas, from Iwslis, an enemy.]
1. The state of war between nations or
states ; the actions of an open enemy ;
aggression ; attacks of an enemy. These
secret enmities broke out in hostilities.
Hostility being thus suspended with France.
Hayward.
HOT
Wc have carried on even our hostilities with
humanity. Atterbury.
2. Private enmity ; a sense less proper.
HOS'TILIZE, V. t. To make au enemy.
[LilUe used.]
HOSTING, n. [from host, an army.] An
encounter ; a battle. [Little used.] Milton.
2. A muster or review. Obs. Spenser.
HOS'TLER, n. hos'ler. [from Fr. hotelier,
an innkeeper. See Hotel]
The person who has the care of horses at
an inn.
HOSTLESS, a. Inhospitable. [jYot in use.]
HOSTRY, n. A stable for horses. Dryden.
2. A lodgins; house. Howell.
HOT, a. [Sax. hat ; G. heiss ; D. heet ; Sw.
het ; Dan. heed. See Heat.]
1. Having sensible heat; opposed to cold;
as a hot stove or fire ; a hot cloth ; hot
liquors. Hot expresses more than ivarm.
2. Ardent in temper; easily excited or exas-
perated ; vehement.
Achilles is impatient, hot and revengeful.
Dryden
3. Violent ; furious ; as a hot engafrenient
or assault. Dn/di
4. Eager ; animated ; brisk ; keen ; as a hot
pursuit, or a person hot in a pursuit.
5. Lustful ; lewd. Shak.
6. Acrid; biting; stimulating; pungent; as
hot as mustard or pepper.
HOT, HOTE, HOTEN, pp. Called; na-
med. Obs. Gower.
HOT'BED, n. In gardening, abed of ea.rlh
and horsedung or tanner's bark, covered
with glass to defend it from the coid air,
intended for raising early plants, or for
nourishing exotic plants of warm chmates,
which will not thrive in cool or temperate
air. Encyc.
HOT'BRAINED, a. Ardent in temper ; vi-
olent ; rash ; precipitate ; as hotbrained
youtli. Drydi
HOTCH'POT, re. [Fr. hochcpot, from hocher.
to shake, and probably pot, a pot or dish.]
1. Properly, a mingled mass ; a mixture of
ingredients. Bacon. Camden.
2. In law, a mixing of lands. Tiius lands
given in frank-marriage to one daughter,
shall, after the death of the ancestor, be
blended with the lands descending to her
and to her sisters from the same ances-
tor, and then be divided in equal portions
to all the daughters. Blackstone.
HOT'COCKLES, n. phi. [Qu. Fr. hautes
coquilles, high shells.]
A play in which one covers Iiis eyes, and
guesses who strikes liim, or his hand pla-
ced behind him. Gay.
HOTEL', n. [Fr. hotel, for hostel, a palace or
dwelling house of a prince or lord.]
1. A palace.
2. An inn ; a house for entertaining stran-
gers or travelers. It was formerly a
house for genteel strangers or lodger,^
but the name is now given to any inn.
HOT'HEADED, a. Of ardent passions
vehement ; violent ; rash. Arhuthnot
HOT'lIOUSE, n. A house kept warm to
slielter tender plants and shrubs from the
cold air ; a place in which the plants of
warmer climates may be reared, and fruits
ripened.
2. A bagnio, or place to sweat and cup
H O U
HOT'LY, adv. [from hot.] With heat.
2. Ardently; vehemently; violently; as a
stag hotly pursued.
3. Lustfully. Dryden
HOT' MOUTHED, a. Headstrong; ungov-
ernable.
H O U
3. A brothel
That hotmouthed beast that bears against
the curb. Dryden.'
HOT'NESS, n. Sensible heat beyond a
moderate degree or warmth.
2. Violence ; vehemence ; fury.
HOT'SPUR, n. [hot and spur.] A man vio-
lent, passionate, heady, rash or precipi-
tate. Shak.
2. A kind of pea of early growth.
HOT'SPUR, a. Violent; impetuous.
Spenser.
HOT'SPURRED, a. Vehement; rash;
heady ; headstrong. Pencham.
HOT'TENTOT, n. A native of the south-
extremity of Africa.
2. A savage brutal man.
HOTTENTOT-CHERRY, n. A plant.
[See Cherry.] Chambers.
HOUGH, n. hok. [Sax. hoh, the heel, or the
hough ; G. haeke, D. hak, a heel, a hoe.]
The lower part of the thigh ; the ham ;
the joint of the hind leg of a beast that
connects the thigh with the leg. Encyc
2. An adz ; a hoe. [.Voi in use.]
Sillingfleet
HOUGH, V. t. hok. To hamstring ; to disa-
ble by cutting the sinews of the ham.
2. To cut with a hoe. Obs.
HOUL'ET, n. An owl. [See Hoiolet.]
HOULT, n. [See Holt.]
HOUND, n. [Sax. G. Sw. Dan. Scot, hund
D. hand; L. cajiis ; Gr. xvuv, xvroi- ; Fr
chien; It. cane.]
A generic name of the dog ; but in English
it is confined to a particidar breed or va-
riety, used in the chase. It has long,
smooth, pendulous ears.
HOUND, V. t. To set on the chase.
Bramhall.
2. To hunt ; to chase. VEslrange.
HOUND'FiSH, n. A fish, called also Gal-
eus Ifevis, with a long round body, and
ash-colored sides and liack.
Diet. ATat. Hist.
A species of shark, the Squalus mustelus
Crabbe. Cyc.
HOUNDS, n. Inseame?i'stong-uage, the pro-
jecting parts of the head of a mast.
Mar. Diet
HOUND'S TONGUE, n. A plant of thege
Cynoglossum.
HOUND'TREE, n. A kind of tree.
Airtsworth.
HOUP. [See Hoopoo.]
HOUR, n. our. [L. Sp. hora ; Gr. upa ; It
ord ; Fr. heure ; Arm. heitr ; W. awr ; Ir.
uair ; G. uhr ; D. uur. The primary
is time or season, occasion, from a
which signifies to come, to happen, to fall,
to rush or drive. Hence the Fr. heur sig-
nifies luck, good fortune, and heureur,
lucky, fortunate, happy, that is, seasona-
ble. So in L. tempestivus, from tempus.
See Time. But hour, hora, afterward came
to signify a certain portion or division of
the day. This has been difierent in dif-
ferent nations.]
A space of time equal to one twenty
B. Jonson. fourth part of the natural day, or duration
of the diurnal revolution of the earth. An
hour answers to fifteen degrees of the
erjuator. It consists of CO minutes, each
minute of 60 seconds, &c.
2. Time ; a particular time ; as the hour of
death.
Jesus saith, woman, my hour is not yet
come. John ii.
The time marked or indicated by a chro-
nometer, clock or watch ; the particular
time of the day. What is the hour? At
what hour shall we meet ? 1 will be with
you at an early liour.
Good hour, signifies early or seasonably.
You have arrived at a good hour.
To keep good hours, to be at home in
good season ; not to be abroad late, or at
the usual hours of retiring to rest.
Hours, in the plural, certain prayers in the
Romish church, to be repeated at stated
times of the day, as matins and vespers.
Encyc.
HOUR'GLASS, re. our'glass. A chrono'm-
eter that measures the flux of time by the
running of sand from one glass vessel to
another, through a small aperture. In-
stead of sand, dry egg shells pulverized
are sometimes used. The quantity of sand
may be so proportioned as to measure an
hour, a half hour, or a quarter.
2. Space of time. Bacon.
HOUR'HAND, n. The hand or pointed pin
which shows the hour on a chronometer.
HOU'RI, re. Among Mohammedans, a
nymph of paradise. Johnson.
HOUR'LY, a. our'ly. Happening or done
every hour ; occurring hour by hour ; fre-
querit ; often repeated.
Observe the waning moon with hourly view.
Dryden.
2. Continual.
We must live in hourly expectation of having
the troops recalled. Swiji.
HOUR'LY, adv. our'ly. Every hour; fre-
quently ; continually.
Great was their strife which hourly was re-
newed. Dryden.
HOUR'PLATE, n. our'plate. The plate of
a clock or other time-piece on which the
hours are marked ; the dial. Locke.
HOUS'AgE, n. [from house.] A fee for
keeping goods in a house. [JVbt in use.]
Chambers.
HOUSE, re. hous. [Sax. Goth. Sw. Scot.
hus ; G. htius ; D. huis ; Dan. huus ; L.
casa ; It. Sp. and Port, casa ; W. hws, a
covering or housing. If the primary sense
is a covering, this word may be referred
to Hcb. Ch. Syr. riDD, Ar. l^^,, to put
on, to cover. Class Gs. No. 57. It cor-
responds to co<, in a different dialect.]
1. In a general sense, a building or shed in-
tended or used as a habitation or shelter
for animals of any kind ; but appropri-
ately, a building or edifice for the habita-
tion of man; ad welling place, mansion or
abode for any of the human species. It
may be of any size and composed of any
materials whatever, wood, stone, brick,
&c.
2. An edifice or building appropriated to the
worship of God ; a temi)Ie ; a church; ;is
the house of God.
H O U
H O U
H O V
3. A monastery ; a college ; as a religious
house.
4. Tlie manner of living ; the table. He
keeps a goixl house, or a miserable house.
5. In astrology, the station of a planet in the
heavens, or the twelfth part of the heavens.
Johnson. Encyc.
6. A family of ancestors ; descendants and
kindred ; a race of persons from the same
stock ; a tribe. It particularly denotes a
noble family or an illustrious race ; as the
house of Austria ; the house of Hanover.
So in Scripture, the house of Israel, or of
Judah.
Two of a house few ages can afford.
Dryden.
7. One of the estates of a kingdom assem-
bled in parliament or legislature ; a body
of men united in their legislative capacity,
and holding their place by right or by
election. Thus we say, the house of lords
or peers of Great Britain ; the house of
commons ; the house of representatives
In most of the United States, the legisla-
tures consist of two houses, the senate
and the house of representatives or del-
egates.
8. The quorum of a legislative body ; the
number of representatives assembled who
are constitutionally empowered to enact
laws. Hence we say, there is a sufficient
number of representatives present to form
a house.
9. In Scripture, those who dwell in a house
and compose a family ; a household.
Cornelius was a devout man, and feared God
with all his house. Acts x.
10. Wealth; estate.
Yc devour widows' hotises. Matt, xxiii
11. The grave ; as the house appointed for
all living. Job xxx.
12. Household aftairs ; domestic concerns.
Set thy house in order. 2 Kings xx.
13. The body ; the residence of the soul
this world ; as our earthly house. 2 Cor.
14. The church among the Jews.
Moses was faithful in all his house. Heb. i
15. A place of residence. Egypt is called
the ftouie of bondage. Ex. xiii.
16. A square, or divisiou on a chess board.
Encyc
HOUSE, V. t. houz. [Sw. hysa.] To cover
from the inclemencies of the weather
shelter ; to protect by covering ; as, to
house wood ; to house farming utensils ; to
house cattle.
2. To admit to residence ; to harbor.
Palladius wished hiiu to house all the Helot
Sidney.
3. To deposit and cover, as in the grave
Sandys.
4. To drive to a shelter. Shak
HOUSE, f. t. houz. To take shelter or lodg-
ings; to keep abode; to reside.
To house with darkness and with death.
Milton
2. To have an astrological station in the
heavens.
Where Saturn houses. Brydi
HOUSEBOAT, n. hous'boat. A covered
boat.
HOUSEBOTE, n. hous'bote. [house and
S;i\. bot, supply.]
In law, a sufficient allowance of wood to
pair the house and supply fuel.
HOUSE-BREAK'ER, n. hous' -breaker. One
who breaks, opens and enters a house by
day with a felonious intent, or one who
breaks or opens a house, and steals there-
from, by daylight. Blackstone.
HOUSE-BRE.\KING, n. hous' -breaking.
The breaking, or opening and entering of
a house by daylight, with t"
commit a felony, or to steal or rob. The
same crime committed at night isburglary.
Blackstone.
HOUSEDOG, n. hotts'dog. A dog kept
guard the house. Addison.
HOUSEHOLD, n. hous'hold. Those who
dwell under the same roof and compose a
family ; those who belong to a family.
I baptized also the household of Stephanas.
1 Cor. i.
2. Family life ; domestic management.
Shak.
HOUSEHOLD, a. hous'hold. Belonging to
the house and family ; domestic; as house-
hold furniture ; household affairs.
HOUSEHOLDER, n. hous'holder. The mas-
ter or chief of a family; one who keeps
house with his family. Matt. xiii.
HOUSEHOLD-STUFF, n. hous' hold-stuff.
The furniture of a house ; the vessels,
utensils and goods of a family. Bacon.
HOUSEKEEPER, n. hous'keeper. One who
occupies a house with his family ; a man
or woman who maintains a family state in
a house ; a householder ; the master or
mistress of a family. Locke
2. A female servant who has the chief care
of the family and superintends the other
servants. Sivifl.
3. One who lives in plenty. [JVot in use.]
Wotton
4. One who keeps much at home. [jVb<
used.] Shak
5. A housedog. [J\l'ot itsed.] Shak
HOUSEKEEPING, a. hous'keeping. Do-
mestic ; used in a family ; as housekeeping
comniodit' '" ' ' " " - - .
HOUSERAISER,
house.
HOUSESNAIL, n
snail.
. One who erects a
JVotlon.
A particular kind of
Did.
HOUSEVVARMING, n. hous'warming. ,\
feast or meri^ making at llie time a fami-
ly enters a new house. Johnson.
HOUSEWIFE, n. hous'u-ije. [house and
tvife ; contracted \i\to huswife, hussy.] The
mistress of a family. Pope.
2. A female economist ; a good manager.
Dri/den. Mdison.
3. One skilled in female business. Addison.
4. A little case or bag for articles of female
work. Shelton.
HOUSEWIFELY, a. hous'wifely. Pertain-
ing to the mistress of a family.
2. Taken from housewifery, or domestic af-
fairs ; as a houseu-ifely metaphor.
Blackstone.
HOUSEWIFERY, n. hmis'wifery. The bus-
iness of the mistress of a family ; female
business in the economy of a family ; fe-
male management of domestic concerns.
Temple. Taylor.
HOUSE-WRIGHT, ji. hous'-wright. An
architect who builds houses. Folherby.
HOUSED, pp. s as z. Put under cover;
sheltered.
HOUS'ING, ppr. sasz. Covering; shelter-
ing.
2. Warped ; crooked, as a brick.
[HOUSING, Ji. Houses in general.
2. [Fr. housse ; W. hivs, a covering.] A cloth
laid over a saddle. Encyc.
3. A piece of cloth fastened to the hinder
part of a saddle, and covering the horse's
croup; called also boot-housing.
4. [See Houseli7ie.]
HOUS'LING, a. [See Housel] Sacrament-
al; ashousling fire, used in the sacrament
of marriage. Obs. Spettser.
HOUSS, a covering. [See Housing.]
Dryden.
HOVE, pre*, of heave.
[Sax. hof, hofe, a house.
[Link used.] Carcii'.|!HOV'EL,
HOUSEKEEPING, »!. [As above.] The|| cave.] A shed; a cottage; a mean house.
family state in a dwelling. HOVEL, v. t. To put in a hovel ; to shel-
2. Hospitality ; a plentiful and hos|)itable ter.
table, [^tot used in U. Stales.] yHOVEN, ;)p. of Afnw.
HOUS'EL, n. houz'l. [Sax. husel. Lye sup-j HOVER, v. i. [W. horww, to hang over, to
poses this to be from Goth, hunsa, a vie- fluctuate, to hover.]
tim.] The eucharist ; the sacred bread. - ~ -
HOUS'EL, r. t. [Sax. huslian.] To give or
receive the eucharist. Obs. Chaucer.
HOUSELAMB, n. hous'lamb. A lamb kept;
in a house for falling. ',
HOUSELEEK, n. hous'leek. [See Leek.]
A plant of the geuusSempervivum, which
is found on the tops of houses. The lesser
houseleek is of the genus Seduin.
HOUSELESS, n. hous'less^ Destitute of a
house or habitation ; as the houseless child
of want. Goldsinith.
2. Destitute of shelter.
HOUSELINE, I Among seamen, a small
HOUS'ING, S line formed of three
strands, smaller than rope-yarn, used for
seizings, &c. Mar. Did
HOUSEMAID, n. hous'maid. A female ser-
v.Tiit employed to keep a house clean, &c
HOUSEPKiEON, n. A tame pigeon.
HOUSEROOM, n
I place in a house.
/lOtls'i
To flap the wings, as a fowl ; to hang
over or about, fluttering or flapping the
wings, with short irregular flights.
Great flights of birds are hoveiing about tlie
bridge, and settling on it. Mdison.
2. To hang over or around, vvilh irregular
motions.
A hovering mist came swimming o'er his
sight. Dryden.
3. To stand in suspense or expectation.
Spenser.
4. To wander about from place to place in
the neighborhood ; to move back and
forth ; as an army hovering on our bor-
ders ; a ship hovering on our coast.
CrancVs Rep.
HOV'ER, n. A protection or shelter by
hanging over. Obs.
HOVER-GROUND, n. Light ground.
Greg-ory. JHOV'ERING, ppr. Flapping the wingj';
Room or, hanging over or around ; moving with
Dryden.] short irregular flights.
HOW
now, adv. [Sax. ^iit; D. hoe.] In what
manner. I know not how to answer.
ffow can a man be born when he is old
How can these things be ? John iii.
2. To what degree or extent. How lon;^
shall we snfler these indiguities .' How
much better is wisdom than gold !
O how love I thy law '. How sweet are thy
words to my taste ! Fs. cxix.
3. For what reason ; from what cause.
How now, my love, why is your cheek s(
pale ? Shttk
4. By what means. How can this effect be
produced ?
5. In what state.
How, and with what reproach shall I return'!
Dryden.
6. It is used in a sense marking proportion ;
as how much less ; horv much more.
Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants —
how much less in them that dwell in houses ol
clay — Job iv.
By how much they would diminish the pres-
ent extent of tlie sea, so much they would im-
pair the fertility and fountains and rivers of the
earth. Bentley.
7. It is much used in exclamation.
How are the mighty fallen ! 2 Sam. i.
8. In some popular phrases, how is super-
fluous or inelegant.
Thick clouds put us in some hope of land
knovring hoio that part of the South Sea was
utterly unknown. Bacon
HOWBE'lT, adv. [hoiv, he, and U.] Be it as
it may; nevertheless; notwithstanding;
yet ; but ; however. Obs.
HOWDY, n. A midwife. [Local] Grose.
HOW D'YE, how do you ? how is your
health ?
HOWEVER, orfv. [how and ever.] In what
ever manner or degree ; as, however good
or bad the style may be.
2. At all events ; at least.
Our chief end is to be freed from all, if it may
be, however from the greatest evils. Tillotson
3. Nevertheless ; notwithstanding ; yet. I
shall not oppose your design ; I cannot
however approve of it.
You might howe'er have took a fairer way.
Dryden
HUD
HOWL, I', i. To utter or speak with outcry.
Go — howl it out in desarts. Philips
HOWL, n. The cry of a dog or wolf, oi
other like sound.
2. The cry of a human being in horror oi
anguish.
HOWL'ET, Ji. [Fr. hulotte; froraotc?.] A
fowl of the owl kind, which utters a
mournful cry. It is as large as a pullet.
Diet. Mit. Hist.
HOWL'ING, ppr. Uttering the cry of a dog
or wolf; uttering a loud cry of distress.
HOWL'ING, a. Filled with howls, or howl-
ing beasts ; dreary.
Inniunerable artifices and stratagems are act-
ed in the howling wilderness and in the great
deep, that can never c
our knowledg
HOW'ITZ, } [Sp. hobus ; G.}iauhitze.]
HOWITZER, <, "a kind of mortar or short
gun, mounted on a field carriage, and used
for throwing shells. The difference be
tween a mortar and a howitz is that the
trunnions of a mortar are at the end, but
those of a howitz are at the middle.
Encyc.
HOW'KER, n. A Dutch vessel with two
masts, a main and a mizen-mast ; ah
fishing boat with one mast, used on the
coast of Ireland. Mar. Diet.
HOWL, v.i. [D. hiilen; G. heulen ; Sw.
yla ; Dan. hyler ; Sp. aullar ; L. uhdo ;
Gr. v'Kaa ; Corn, hoalea. Qu. W. ivylaiv ;
Arm. giiela or iala ; Ir. guilim ; It. guai-
olare. The latter coincide with watt and
yell.]
1. To cry as a dog or wolf; to utter a par-
ticular kind of loud, protracted and mourn-
fiil sound. We say, the dog howls ; the
v/oKhoivls. Hence,
2. To utter a loud, mournful sound, express-
ive of distress ; to wail.
Hotol ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand.
Is. xiii.
Ye rich men, weep and howl. James v.
3. To roar ; as a tempest.
HOWL'ING, n. The act of howling ; a loud
outcry or mournful sound.
HOWSOEV'ER, adv. [hojv, so, and ever.]
In what manner soever. Raleigh
2. Although. Shak.
[For this word, however is generally
used.]
HOX, V. t. To hough ; to hamstring. [JVc
used. See Hough.] Shak.
HOY, n. A small vessel, usually rigged as
a sloop, and employed in conveying pas-
sengers and goods from jdace to place on
the sea coast, or in transporting goods to
and from a ship in a road or bay
Ejicyc. Mar. Diet
HOY, an exclamation, of no definite mean
HU
HUB
fused voices; a tumult; uproar; riot
Spenser. Clarendon.
HUCK, V. i. To haggle in trading. [JVot in
H U F
HUD'DLE, V. t. To put on in haste and
disorder ; as, she huddled on her clothes
2. To cover in haste or carelessly.
„ _, n . Edwards.
S. lo perform m haste and disorder.
^ T. 1 , Dryden.
4. 1 o throw together in confusion ; to crowd
together without regard to order ; as, to
huddh propositions together. Locke.
HUD'DLE, n. A crowd ; a number of per-
ns or things crowded together without
der or regularity ; tunndt ; confusion.
Glanvitle. Locke.
HUDDLED, pp. Crowded together with-
out order.
HUD'DLING, ppr. Crowding or throwing
together in disorder ; putting on careless'-
. [See Hob.]
'BUB, n. A great noise of many con
HUCK, n. The name of a German river-
trout. Diet
HUCK' ABACK, n. A kind of linen with
ised figures on it.
HUCK'LE, 71. [infra.] The hip, that
bunch.
HUCK'LEBACKED, a. [G. Aocicr, a bunch,
nd back.] Having round shoulders.
HUCK'LEBONE, n. [G. hocker, a bunch.]
The hip bone.
HUCK'STER, n. [G. hocke, hocker; Dan.
hokker. It seems to be from hocken, to
take on the back, and to signify primarily
a pedlar, one that carries goods on his
back.]
1. A retailer of small articles, of provisions,
nuts, &c.
2. A mean trickish fellow. Hib. Tale.
HUCK'STER, V. i. To deal in small arti-
cles, or in petty bargains. Swift.
HUCK'STERESS, «. A female pedlar.
HUD, n. TheshellorhuUofanut. [Local.]
Grose.
HUD'DLE, V. i. [In Ger. hudeln signifies
to bungle. It msiy be allied to hut, hide, or
cuddle^
1. To crowd ; to press together promiscu-
ously, without order or regularity. We
say of a throng of people, they huddle to-
gether.
2. To move in a promiscuous throng with-
out order ; to press or hurry in disorder.
The people huddle along, or huddle into
the house.
ly-
HUE, n. [Sax. hiewe, hiw, color, form, im-
age, beauty ,• hiwian, to form, to feign, to
simulate. This may be contracted, for in
Sw. hyckla, Dan. hykler, is to play the hyp-
ocrite. Perhaps how is of this family.]
Color ; dye.
u.rrf' """''^ °^ ''" ''"^- Milton.
HUE, in the phrase 7iiie and cry, signifies a
shouting or vociferation. In law, a hue
and cry is the pursuit of a felon or offend-
er, with loud outcries or clamor to give an
alarm. Hue is a contracted word, Norm.
hue, Fr. huer or hucher, Dan. hui, or
more propably it is from the same root as
hoot.
HU'ER, 71. One whose business is to cry
out or give an alarm. [JVot in use.]
HUFF, 71. [Sp. chufa, an empty boast ; chu-
far, to hector, to bully ; Sw. yfvas, 7jfva
sig. This word coincides in elements
with heave, hove, Dan. hovner, to swell ;
but it may be a different word. See Class'
Gb. No. 4. 31.]
1. A swell of sutiden anger or arrogance.
A Spaniard was wonderfully upon the htiff
about his extraction. L' Estrange.
A boaster ; one swelled with a false opin-
ion of his own value or importance.
Lewd shallow-brained hrtffs make atheism
and contempt of religion the badge of wit.
South.
HUFF, v. t. To swell ; to enlarge ; to puff
"P- GreiD.
2. To hector ; to bully ; to treat with inso-
lence and arrogance ; to chide or rebuke
with insolence.
HUFF, v. i. To swell ; to dilate or enlarge ;
as, the bread huffs.
2. To bluster; to swell with anger, pride or
arrogance ; to storm.
This arrogant conceit made them hvffM the
doctrine of repentance. South.
A huffing, shining, flattering, cringing cow-
ar<l- Otway.
HUFF'ED, pp. Swelled ; puffed up.
HUFF'ER, 71. A bully; a swaggerer; a
blusterer.
HUFF'INESS, 71. Petulance; the state of
being puffed up. Hudibras.
HUFF'ING, ppr. Swelling ; puffing up ;
blustering.
HUFF'ISH, a. Arrogant; insolent; bee-.
toring.
HUFF'ISHLY, adv. With arrogance or
blustering.
HUFF'ISHNESS, n. Arrogance ; petu-
lance ; noisy bluster.
H U L
HUFF'Y, a. Swelled or swelling; petulant.
HUG, V. t. [Dan. htger, to hng, to cherish,
Sw. hugna ; Dan. huger, to sit squat on
the tail. The latter seems to be the G.
hocken, to sit squat, to keep close, D.
h^tkken. The sense is to press, and this
word may be allied to hedge.]
1. To press close in an embrace.
— And hugged me in his arms. Shak
2. To embrace closely ; to hold fast ; to treat
with fondness.
We hug deformities, if they bear our names.
Glanville.
3. To gripe in wrestling or scnfiling.
To hug the land, in sailing, to sail as near the
land as possible.
To hug the wind, to keep the ship close-haul
ed. Mar. Diet.
HUG, n. A close embrace. Gay.
2. A particular gripe in wresthng or scuf-
fling.
HU(5E, a. [This word seems to belong to
HUM
the family oihigh, D. lioog, G. hoch.
the j)rimary sense is to swell or rise. If
not, I know not its origin.]
1. Very large or great ; enormous ; applied
to bulk or size ; as a Aiig-e mountain ; a. huge
ox.
2. It is improperly applied to space and dis-
tance, in the sense of groat, vast, im-
mense ; as a huge space ; a huge difter-
ence. This is inelegant, or rather vulgar
3. In colloquial language, very great ; enor-
mous ; as a huge feeder. Shak.
HU'GELY, adv. Very greatly ; enormously
immensely.
Doth it not flow as hugely as the sea ?
Shak
HU'6ENESS, n. Enormous bulk or large-
ness ; as the hugeness of a mountain or of
an elephant,
HUG'GER-3IUGGER, n. [Hugger contains
the elements of hug and hedge, and mugger^
those of smoke, W. niiog, and of smuggle.'
In hugger-mugger, denotes in privacy or
secrecy, and the word adverbially used, d
notes secretly. [It is a Imo cant word.] \
IIU'GUENOT, n. [The origin of this word
is uncertain. It is conjectured to be a cor-
ruption of G. eidgenossen, confederates ;
eid, oath, and genoss, consort.]
A name formerly given to a protestant in
France.
HU'GUENOTISM, n. The religion of the
Huguenots in France. Stierwood.
HU'GY, a. [from huge.] Vast in size. IJVbt
used.] Carew.
IIUISU'ER, n. [Fr. huissier.] An usher.
Obs. [See Usher.] B. Jonson.
HUKE, n. [W. hug.] A cloke ; a hyke.
Bacon.
HULCH, II. A bunch. [JVot used.]
HULCH'IS, a. Swelling; gibbous. [.Vo(
used.]
HULK, 71. [D. hidk; Sax. hide, a cottage or
lodge, a vessel ; Dau. hoik, a hoy ; Sw.
hMk. Qu. Gr. o7.xai.]
1. The body of a ship, or decked vessel of
any kind ; but the word is applied only to
the body of an old ship or vessel which is
laid by as unfit for service. A sheer-hulk
is an old ship fitted with an apparatus to
fix or lake out the masts of a ship.
Encyc. Mar. Diet.
2. Any thing bulky or unwieldy. [JYot used.]
Shak.
Vol. I.
HULK, V. t. To take out the entrails ; as, to
hulk a hare. [Little used.] Mnsworlh.
HULK'Y, a. Bulky ; unwieldy. {Mt used.]
HULL, n. [Sax. hul, the cover oi a nut; G.
hulse ; D. hulse ; W. hid, a cover ; huliaw,
to cover, to deck, G. hidlen. See Hulk.]
1. The outer covering of aiiy thing, particu-
larly of a nut or of grain. Johnson says,
the AuH of a nut covers the shell.
2. The frame or body of a ship, exclusive of
her masts, yards and rigging.
Mar. Diet.
To lie a hull, in seamen's language, is to lie as
a ship without any sail upon her, and her
helm lashed a-lee. Encyc
To strike a hull, in a storm, is to take in the
sails, and lash the helm on the lee-side of
a ship. Encyc.
HULL, V. t. To strip off or separate the hull
or hulls ; as, to hull grain.
3. To pierce the hull of a ship with a can-
-ball.
HULL, V. i. To flout or drive on the water
without sails. Milton.
HULL'Y, a. Having husks or pods; sili-
nuoiis.
HU'LOTHEISM, n. [Gr. «*)?, matter, and
0fO5, God.]
'he doctrine or belief that matter is God, or
that there is no God, except matter and the
universe.
HUL'VER, H. Holly, a tree. [D. hulst.]
Tusser.
HUM, i\ i. [G. hummen ; D. hommelen.] To
utter the sound of bees ; to buzz.
2. To make an inarticulate buzzing sound.
The cloudy messenger turns me his back.
And hums — Shak
3. To pause in speaking, and make an audi-
ble noise like the humming of bees.
He hummed and hawed. Hudibras
4. To make a dhll, heavy noise like a drone,
Still humming, on their drowsy course they
took. Pope.
5. To applaud. Obs.
HUM, V. t. To sing in a low voice ; us, to
hum a tune.
2. To cause to hum; to impose on. [Vid-
gar.]
HUM, n. The noise of bees or insects.
3. A low confused noise, as of crowds ; as
the busy hum of men. Milton.
3. Any low dull noise. Pope.
4. A low inarticulate sound, uttered by a
speaker in a pause ; as hums and haws.
Shak. Dnjden.
5. An expression of applause. Spectator.
HUM, exclam. A sound with a pause, imply-
ing doubt and deliberation. Pope.
HU'MAN, a. [L. humanus ; Fr. humnin ; Sp.
humano ; It. umano. I am not certain
which are the radical letters of this word,
but am inclined to believe them to be Mn ;
that the first syllable is a prefix ; that homo
in Latin is contracted, the n being dropped
in the nominative and restored in the ob-
lique cases; hence homo, and the Gothic
and Sax. guma, a man, may be the same
word, but this is doubtful. If Mn are the
elements, this word is from the root of
man, or rather is formed on the Teutonic
word. Heb. |'a form, species. The cor-
responding word in G. is menschlich [man-
like,] D. menschelyk. See Man.]
1. Belonging to man or mankind ; pertain-
ing or relating to the race of man ; as a
103
HUM
human voice ; human shape ; human na-
ture; Auman knowledge ; Anman life.
Having the quahties of a man. Swi/I.
3. Profane; not sacred or divine; as a hu-
man author. [JVot in use.] Brown.
HU'MANATE, a. Endued with humanity.
Obs. Cranmer.
HUMA'NE, a. [supra.] Having the feelings
and dispositions |)ropcr to man ; having
tenderness, compassion, and a disposition
to treat others with kindness; particularly
in relieving them when in distress, or in
captivity, when they arc helpless or de-
fenseless ; kind ; benevolent.
3. Inclined to treat the lower orders of ani-
mals with tenderness.
HUMA'NELY, adv. With kindness, tender-
ness or compassion ; as, the prisoners were
treated humanely.
2. In a humane manner ; with kind fccl-
Tenderness. Scott.
HU'MANIST, ?i. A professor of granmiar
and rhetoric ; a philologist ; a term used in
the universities of Scotland.
2. One versed in the knowledge of human
nature. Shaftesbury.
HUMAN'ITY, n. [L. humanitas ; Fr. human-
iti.]
1. The peculiar nature of man, by which he
is distinguished from other beings. Thus
Christ, by his incarnation, was invested
with humanity.
2. Mankind collectively ; the human race.
If he is able to untie those knots, he is able
to teach all humanity. [Unusual]
Glanville.
It is a debt we owe to humanity.
S. S. Smith.
3. The kind feelings, dispositions and sj-m-
pathies of man, by which he is distinguish-
ed from the lower orders of animals ; kind-
ness ; benevolence ; especially, a disposi-
tion to relieve persons in distress, and to
treat with tenderness these who are help-
less and defenseless ; ojjposed to cruelly.
4. A disposition to treat the lower orders of
animals with tenderness, or at least to give
them no imnecessary pain.
5. The exercise of kindness; acts of tender-
ness.
6. Philology ; grammatical studies.
Johnson.
Humanities, in the plural, signifies grammar,
rhetoric and poetry ; for teaching which
there are professors in the universities of
Scotland. Encyc.
HU.MANIZA'TION, n. The act of human-
izing.
HUMANIZE, V. t. To soften ; to render hu-
mane ; to subdue dispositions to cruelty,
and render susceptible of kind feelings.
Was it the business of magic to humanize
our natures ? ..Addison, littherspoon.
HU'MANIZED, pp. Softened; rendered hu-
HU'MANIZING, ppr. Softening; subduing
cruel dispositions.
HU MANKIND, n. The race of man; man-
kind ; the human species. Pope.
HU'MANLY, adv. After the manner of men ;
according to the opinions or knowledge of
men. The present prospects, humanly
speaking, promise a ha[)py issue.
Obs. Pope.
3. Kindly ; humanely.
HUM
HUMA'TION, n. Interment. [JVot used.]
HUM'BIRD, } „ A very small bird
HUM'MING-BIRD, S of the genus Tro-
chilus ; so called from the sound of its
wings in flight. The rostrum is subulate,
filiform, and longer than the head ; the
tongue is filiform and tubulous. It never
lights to take food, but feeds while on the
wing.
HUM'BLE, a. [Fr. humble ; L. humilis ; sup
posed to be from humus, the earth, or its
root.]
1. Low ; opposed to high or lofty.
Thy humble nest built on the ground.
Cowley.
2. Low ; opposed to lofty or great ; mean ;
not magnificent ; as a humble cottage.
A humble roof, and an obscure retreat.
Anon.
fi. Lowly ; modest ; meek ; submissive ; op-
posed to proud, haughty, arrogant or as-
suming. In an evangelical se7ise, having a
low opinion of one's self, and a deep sense
of unworthiness in the sight of God.
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to
the humble. James iv.
Without a humble imitation of the divine au-
thor of our blessed religion, we can never hope
to be a happy nation. Washington.
miM'BLE, V. f. To abase ; to reduce to a
low state. This victory humbled the pride
of Rome. The power of Rome was hum-
bled, but not subdued.
2. To crusli ; to break ; to .subdue. The bat-
tle of Waterloo humbled the power of
Buonaparte.
3. To mortify.
4. To make "humble or lowly in mind; to
abase the pride of; to reduce arrogance
and self-dependence ; to give a low opin-
ion of one's moral worth ; to make mcel
and submissive to the divine will ; theevan
gelical sense.
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of
God, that he may exalt you. 1 Pel. v.
Hezekiah humbled himself for the prid
hisheait. 2 Chron. xxxii.
5. To make to condescend. He humbles
himself to speak to them.
C. To bring down; to lower ; to reduce.
The highest mountains may be humbled into
valleys. HatcewiU
7. To deprive of chastity. Deut. xxi,
To humble one's self, to repent; to afflict one's
self for sin ; to make contrite.
nUM'BLEBEE, n. [G. hummel ; D.hommel
Dan. hummel ; Sw. humla ; from hum. It
is often called bumblebee, L. bombus.
buzzing.]
A bee of a large species, that draws its food
chiefly from clover flowers.
IIUM'BLED, pp. Made low ; abased ; ren-
dered meek and submissive ; penitent.
HUM'BLEMOUTHED, a. Mild; meek;
modest. Shak.
HUM'BLENESS, n. The state of being
humble or low ; humility ; meekness.
Bacon. Sidney.
HUM'BLEPLANT, n. A species of sensitive
plant. Mortimer.
HUM'BLER, n. He or that which humbles;
he that reduces pride or mortifies.
HUM'BLES, ? Entrails of a deer.
UM'BLKS, ("• Joh
HUM'BLY, adv. In a humble manner ; with
modest submissiveness ; with humility.
HUM
Hope humbly then, with trembling pinions
soar,
AVait the great teacher, death, and God adore.
Pope.
2. In a low state or condition : without ele-
vation.
HUM'BOLDITE, n. [from Humbold.l A rare
mineral recently described, occurring in
small crystals, nearly colorless and trans-
parent, or of a yellowish tinge and trans-
lucent ; rarely separate, but usually aggre-
gated ; their primary form, an oblique
rhombic prism. Phillips.
HUM'BUG, n. An imposition. [A loiv word.]
HUM'DRUM, a. [Qu. hum, and drone, or W.
from, heavy.] Dull ; stupid.
Addison. Hudibras.
HUM'DRUM, n. A stupid fellow ; a drone.
HUME€T', I , [L. humecto, from
HUME€'TATE, I ^' '' /Himeo, to be moist;
Fr. humecter.]
To moisten; to wet; to water. [Little used.]
Broicn . Hoimll.
HUMECTA'TION, n. The act of moisten-
g, wetting or watering. [Little used.]
Bacon.
HUME€'TIVE, a. Having the pov
HU'MERAL, a. [Fr. from L. humerus, the
shoulder.]
Belonging to the shoulder ; as the humeral
artery.
HUM'HUM, n. A kind of plain, coarse India
cloth, made of cotton.
nUMICUBA'TION, n. [L. humus, the
j ground, and cubo, to lie.]
A lying on the ground. [Little used.
Bramhall.
HU'MID, a. [L. humidus, from humeo, t<
be moist ; Fr. humide.]
1. Moist; damp; containing sensible moist
nre ; as a humid air or atmosphere.
2. Somewhat wet or watery ; as humid
earth.
HUMID'ITY, n. Moisture ; dampness ;
moderate degree of wetness which ispe
ceptible to the eye or touch, occasioned
by tlie absorption of a fluid, or its adh
ence to the surface of a body. When a
cloth has imbibed any fluid to such a degree
that it can be felt, we call it humid; but
when no humidity is perceptible, we say
it is dry. Quicksilver communicates no
humidity to our hands or clothes, for it
does not adhere to them ; but it will ad
here to gold, tin and lead, and render them
humid and soft to the touch.
2. Moisture in the form of visible vapor, or
perceptible in the air.
HU'MIDNESS, n. Humidity.
HUMIL'IATE, V. t. [L. humilio ; Fr. hu-
mitier.]
To humble : to lower in condition ; to de-
press ; as humiliated slaves. Eaton
HUMIL'IATED, pp. Humbled; depressed
degraded.
HUMIL'I.\TING, ppr. Humbling ; depress
ing.
j2. ft. Abating pride ; reducing self-confi
dence ; monifving. Boswelt.
HUMILIA'TION, n. The act of humbhng
the state of being humbled.
2. Descent from an ele\ated state or rank
to one that is low or humble.
The former was a humiliation of deity ; the
I latter, a /iwmiKafion of manhood. Hooltei
H U M
3. The act of abasing pride ; or the state of
being reduced to lowliness of mind, meek-
ness, penitence and submission.
The doctrine he preached was humiliation
and repentance. Swift.
4. Abasement of pride; mortification.
HUMIL'ITY, n. [L. humilitas ; Fr. humUiti.
See Humble.]
1. In ethics, freedom from pride and arro-
gance; humbleness ofmind; a modest es-
timate of one's own worth. In theology,
humility consists in lowliness of mind ; a
deep sense of one's own unworthiness in
the sight of God, self-abasement, peni-
tence for sin, and submission to the divine
will. -
Before honor is humility. Prov. xv.
.Serving the Lord with all humility ofmind.
Acts XX.
2. Act of submission.
With tliese humilities they satisfied the young
king. Davies.
IIU'MITE, n. A mineral of a reddish brovm
color, and a shining luster; crystalized in
octahedrons, much modified by truncation
and hevelment. It is named from Sir
Abni. Hume. Cleaveland.
HUM'MER, n. [(tomhum.] One that hums;
an applauder. Ainsworth.
HUM'MING, ppr. Making a low buzzing or
murmuring sound.
HUM'MING, n. The sound of bees ; a low
murmuring sound.
HU'MOR, n. [L. from A umeo, to be moist ;
Sans, ama, moist. The pronunciation,
yumor, is odiously vulgar.]
1. Moisture ; but the word is chiefly used to
express the moisture or fluids of animal
bodies, as the humors of the eye. But
more generally the word is used to ex-
press a fluid in its morbid or vitiated state.
Hence, in popular speech, we often hear it
said, the blood is full of humors. But the
e.Kpression is not technical nor correct.
Aqueous humor of the eye, a transparent
fluid, occupying the space between the
crystaline lens and the cornea, both before
and behind the pupil.
Crystaline humor or lens, a small trans-
parent solid body, of a softish consistence,
occupying a middle position in the eye, be-
tween the aqueous and vitreous humors,
and directly behind the pupil. It is of a
lenticular form, or with double convex
surfaces, and is the principal instrument
in refracting the rays of light, so as to
form an image on the retina.
Vitreous humor of the e?/e, a fluid contained
in the minute cells of a transparent mem-
brane, occupying the greater part of the
cavity of the eye, and all the space be-
tween the crystaline and the retina.
IFistar.
3. A disease of the skin ; cutaneous erup-
tions. Fielding.
3. Turn of mind; temper; disposition, or
rather a peculiarity of disposition often
temporary ; so called because the temper
of mind has been supposed to depend on
the fluids of the body. Hence we say,
good humor ; melancholy humor ; peevish
humor. Such humors, when temporary,
we call freaks, whims, caprice. Thus a
person characterized by good nature may
have a fit of ill humor ; and an ill natured
person may have a fit of good humor. So
H U M
HUN
HUN
we say, it was tlie /lumorof the man at the
time ; it was the humor of the multitude.
4. That quahty of tlie imagination which
gives to ideas a wild or fantastic turn, and
tends to excite laughter or mirth by ludi
crous images or representations. Humo,
is less poignant and brilliant than vyil
lience it is always agreeable. Wit, direct
ed against folly, often offends by its se
verity ; humor makes a man ashamed o
his follies, without exciting his resentment
Humor may be employed solely to raise
mirth and render conversation pleasant
or it may contain a delicate kind of satire
5. Petulance; peevishness; better expressed
by ill humor.
Is my friend all perfection ? has he not
mors to be endured .' South
6. A trick ; a practice or habit.
I like not tlie humor of lying.
HU'MOR, V. I. To gratify by yielding to par-
ticular inclination, humor, wish or de '
to indulge by compliance. We sometimes
humor children to their injury or ruin.
The sick, the infirm, and the aged often re
quire to be humored.
2. To suit ; to indulge ; to favor by imposing
no restraint, and rather contributing
promote by occasional aids. We say, an
actor humors his pan, or the piece.
It is my part to invent, and that of the
cians to humor that invention. Dryden
HU'MORAL, a. Pertaining to or proceedin,
from the humors ; as a humoral fever.
Harvey.
Humoral pathology, that pathology, or doc-
trine of the nature of diseases, which at-
tributes all morbid phenomena to the dis-
ordered condition of the fluids or humors
Cue.
HU'MORED, pp. Indulged ; favored.
HU'MORING, ppr. Indulging a particular
wish or propensity ; favoring ; contribut-
ing to aid by falling into a design or
course.
HU'MORIST, n. One who conducts him
self by his own inclination, or bent of
mind ; one who gratifies his own humor.
The humorist is one that is greatly pleased or
greatly displeased with little things ; his actions
seldom directed by tlie reason and nature of
things. Watts.
2. One that indulges humor in speaking or
writing ; one who has a playful fancy or
genius. [See Humor, No. 4.]
3. One who has odd conceits ; also, a wag
a droll. Hall. Bodlei,
HU'MOROUS, o. Containing humor; full of
wild or fanciful images; adapted to excite
laughter ; jocular ; as a humorous essay
a humorous story.
2. Having the power to speak or write in
the style of humor ; fanciful; playfu'
citing laughter ; as a humorous man or au-
thor.
3. Subject to be governed by humor or ca
price ; irregular ; capricious ; whimsical.
I am known to be a humorous patrician.
Shak
Rough as a storm, and humorous as th(
wind. Dryden
4. Moist ; himiid. [JVol in use.] Drayton.
HU'MOROUSLY, adv. With a wild or gro-
tesque combination of ideas ; in a manner
to excite laughter or inii'tb ; pleasantly ;
jocosely. Addison describes humorously
the n^anual exercise of ladies' fans.
2. Capriciously ; whimsically ; in conformity
with one's humor.
We resolve by halves, rashly and humor-
ously. Calamy.
HU'MOROUSNESS, ji. The state or qual-
ity of being humorous; odduess of con-
ceit ; jocularity.
2. Fickleness ; capriciousness.
3. Peevishness ; petulance. Goodman.
HU'MORSOMR, a. Peevish; petulant; in-
fluenced by the humor of the moment.
The commons do not abet humorsome, fac-
tious arms. Burke.
2. 0<ld ; humorous ; adapted to excite laugh-
! ter. Sunjl.
jHU'MORSOMELY, adv. Peevishly ; petu-
lantly. Johnson.
3. Oddly ; humorously.
HUMP, n. [L. umbo.] The protuberance
formed by a crooked back ; as a camel
1 with one hump, or two humps.
jHUMP'BACK, 71. A crooked back; high
shoulders. Taller
HUMPBACKED, a. Having a crooked
I hack.
jHUNCH, n. [See the Verb.] A hump
I protuberance; as the Aunc/i of a camel,
2. A lump; a thick piece; as a hunch of
bread ; a word in common vulgar use
JVeiu England.
3. A push or jerk with the fist or elbow.
HUNCH, t'. t. To push with the elbow ;
push or thrust with a sudden jerk.
2. To push out in a protuberance ; to crook
the back. Dn/den
HUNCHBACKED, a. Having a crooked
back. L'Estrangc. Dryden
HUNDRED, a. [Sax. hund or hundred
Goth, hund; D.hoiiderd; G. hundert ; Sw.
hundra ; Dan. hundre, hundred ; L. centum ;
W. cant, a circle, the hoop of a wheel, the
rim of any thing, a complete circle or
ries, a hundred ; Corn, canz ; Arm. cant ;
Ir. ceantr. Lye, in his Saxon and Gothic
Dictionary, suggests that this word hund is
a mere termination of the Gothic word for
ten ; taihun-taihund, ten times ten. But
this cannot be true, for the word is found
in the Celtic as well as Gothic dialects,
and in the Arabic j^i^, Class Gn. No.
63 ; at least this is probably the same
word. The Welsh language exhibits the
true sense of the word, which is a circle, a
complete series. Hence, W. cantrev, a di-
vision of a county, or circuit, a canton, a
hundred. See Canton. The word sig-
nifies a circuit, and the -sense of hundred
is secondary. The centuria of the Ro-;i
s, and the hundred, a division of a
riors, or a hundred manors. [But as the
word denotes primarily a circuit or divis-
ion, it is not certain that Alfred's divisions
had any reference to that number.]
HUNDRED-COURT, n. In England, a
court held for all the inhabitants of a
hundred. lilackslone.
HUND'RKDER, n. In England, a man who
may he of a jury in any controversy res-
pecting land within the hundred to which
he belongs.
2. One having the jurisdiction of a hundred.
HUNDREDTH, a. The ordinal of a hund-
red.
HUNG, pret. and pp. of hang.
HUNGARY-WATER, n. A distilled water
prepared from the tops of flowers of rose-
mary ; so called from a queen of Hungary,
for whose use it was first made. Enci/c.
HUNGER, n. [Sax. G. Dan. Sw. hun-
ger, D. honger, Goth, huhrus, hunger ;
Sax. hungrian, hingrian, Goth, huggryan,
to hunger. It appears from the Gothic
that n is not radical ; the root then is Hg.'\
1. An uneasy sensation occasioned by the
want of food ; a craving of food by the
stomach ; craving ap|)etite. Hunger is not
merely toant of food, for persons when sick,
may abstain long from eating without hun-
ger, or an appetite for food. Hunger
therefore is the pain or uneasiness of the
stomach of a healthy person, when too
long destitute of food.
2. Any strong or eager desire.
For hunger of my gold I die. Drydtit.
HUN'GER, V. i. To feel the pain or uneasi-
ness which is occasioned by long absti-
nence from food ; to crave food.
2. To desire with great eagerness ; to long
for.
coimty in England, might have been'! ~. .. '
merely a division, and not an exact hund-|l fueling pan
..•'.,' ii fr.«,i Eat
they that hunger and thirst after
righteousness. Matt. v.
HUN'GER, f. *. To famish. [ATot in use.]
HUNGER-BIT, ) Pained, pinched
HUN GKR-BITTEN, ^ "' or weakened by
hunger. Milton.
HUN GERING, ppr. Feeling the uneasiness
of want of food; desiring eagerly ; longing
for ; craving.
HUN'GERLY, a. Hungry; wanting food
or nourishment. Shak.
HUN'GERLY, adv. W^ith keen appetite.
ILiltle used.] Shak.
HUN'GER-ST'ARVED, a. Starved with
hunger ; pinched by want of food.
Shak. Dryden.
HUN'GRED, a. Hungry ; pinched by want
of food. 06*. Baron.
HUNGRILY, adv. [from hungry.] With
keen appetite ; voraciously.
When on harsh acoms hungrily they fed.
Dryden.
Having a keen appetite ;
or uneasiness from want of
red in number.] ■ ! „ 'i','"^'. Eat only when you are Au?!g-ry.
Denoting the product of ten multiplied bv'!*- Havmg an eagerdesirc.
ten, or the number of ten times ten; as "a 3- Lean; emaciated, as it reduced by hun-
hundred men. I S^""-
HUND'RED, n. A collection, body or sum, I Cassius has a lean and hungry look. Shak.
consisting of ten times ten individuals or ,4- Not rich or fertile; poor; barren;
units ; the number 100.
2. A division or part of a county in Eng-
land, supposed to have originally contain-
ed a hundred families, or a hundred war-
quiring substances to enrich itself; as a
hungry so\\; a. hungry gray e\. Mortimer.
HUNKS, n. A covetous sordid man ; a mi-
ser; a niggard. Dryden.
HUN
HUNS, n. [L. Hunni.] The Scytliians who]
conquered Pannonia, and gave it its pres-
ent name, Hungary.
HUNT, V. t. [Sax. huntian. This word does
not appear in the cognate languages. See!
Class Gn. No. 67.] I
1. To chase wild animals, particularly quad-
rupeds, for the purpose of catching them,
for food, or for the diversion of sportsmen ;
to pursue with hounds for taking, as game ;
as, to hunt a stag or a hare. I
2. To go in search of, for the purpose of
shooting ; as, to hunt wolves, bears, squir-
rels or partridges. This is the common
use of the word in America. It includes
fowling by shooting.
.3. To pursue; to follow closely.
Evil shall hunt tlie violent man to overthrow
him. Ps. cxl.
4. To use, direct or manage hounds iu tlie
chase.
He hunts a pack of dogs. Jlddison.
To hunt out or after, to seek ; to search for.
Locke
To hunt from, to pursue and drive out or
away.
To hunt down, to depress ; to hear down by
persecution or violence.
HUNT, V. i. To follow the chase. Gen,
xxvii.
2. To seek wild animals for game, or for
killing them by shooting when noxious
with/oc; as, to hunt for bears or wolves
to hunt for quails, or for ducks.
3. To seek by close pursuit; to search ; with
The adulteress will Mint for the precious life.
Prov. vi.
HUNT, n. A chase of wild animals for catch-
ing them.
2. A huntsman. [jVot in use.] Chaucer.
3. A pack of hounds. Dn/den.
4. Pursuit ; chase. Shak.
5. A seeking of wild animals of any kind for
game ; as a hunt for squirrels.
HUNT'ED, pp. Chased; pursued; sought.
HUNT'ER, n. One who pursues wild ani-
mals with a view to take them, either for
sport or for food.
2. A dog that scents game, or is employedl
in the chase.
3. A horse used in the chase.
HUNT'ING,;);>r. Chasing for seizure ; pur-
suing; seeking; searching.
HUNT'ING, n. The act or practice of pur
suing wild animals, for catching or killing
them. Hunting was originally practiced
by men for the purpose of procuring food,
as it still is by uncivilized nations. But
among civilized men, it is practiced mostly
for exercise or diversion, or for the des-l
traction of noxious animals, as in America
2. A pursuit ; a seeking.
HUNTING-HORN, n. A bugle; a horn
used to cheer the hounds in pursuit of
game.
HUNT'ING-HORSE, } , A horse used in
HUNT'ING-NAG, ^ hunting.
Butler.
HUNT'ING-SEAT, n. A temporary resi-
dence for the purpose of hunting. Gray.
HUNT'RESS, n. A female that hunts, or
follows the chase. Diana is called the
huntress.
HUNTS'MAN, n. One who hunts, or who
practices hunting. IVutter
H U R
3. The servant whose office it is to manage
the chase. L'Estrange.
HUNTS'MANSHIP, n. The art or practice
of hunting, or the qualifications of a
hunter. Donne.
HUR'DEN, n. [made of hurds, hards, or
coarse flax.] A coarse kind of linen.
[Local or obs.] Shenstone.
HUR'DLE, )!. [Sax.hyrdel; G. feiirrfe, a hur-
dle, a fold or pen ; D. horde, a hurdle, a
horde. The elements of this word are the
same as of the L. crates, Hrd, Crd. It coin-
cides also with herd, denoting closeness,
pressure, holding.]
1. A texture of twigs, osiers or sticks ; a crate
of various forms, according to its destina-
tion. The English give this name to a
sled or crate on which criminals are drawn
to the place of execution. In this sense,
it is not used in America.
2. In fortification, a collection of twigs or
sticks interwoven closely and sustained by
long stakes. It is made in the figure of a
long square, five or six feet by three and a
half. Hurdles serve to render works firm,
or to cover traverses and lodgments for
the defense of workmen against fire-works
or stones. Encyc.
3. In husbandry, a frame of split timber or
sticks wattled together, serving for gates,
inclosures, &-c. Encyc.
IhURDS, n. The coarse part of flax or hemp.
j [See Hards.]
iHU
DY-GURDY,
An instrument of|
th(
eets of
Todd.
This may be a
music, said to be used
London.
HURL, V. t. [Arm. harlua.
different spelling of whirl.
To throw with violence ; to drive with
great force ; as, to hurl a stone
And hurl them headlong to iheir fleet and
main. Pope.
2. To utter with vehemence ; as, to hurl oi
vows. [JVot in use.] Spense.
•3. To play at a kind of game. Carexv.
HURL, n. The act of throwing with vio-
lence.
9. Tumult; riot; commotion. Knolles.
HURL' BAT, «. A whirl-bat; an old kind ol
weapon. Ainsworth.
HURL'BONE, n. In a horse, a bone
the middle of the buttock. Encyc.
nVRh'El>, pp. Thrown with violence.
HURL'ER, n. One who hurls, or who plays]
at hurling. C<
HURL'ING, ppr. Throwing with force;
playing at hurling.
HURL'WIND, n. A whirlwind, which see,
Sandys.
HURL'Y, ? „ [Dan. hurl om burl,\
HURLY-BURLY, S topsy turvy ; Fr.l
hurlu-burlu, inconsiderately.] Tumult ;
bustle ; confusion. Shak.\
HURRA W,> , Hoora; huzza. [See
HURRAH, \ '^^'"'"- Hoora.]
HUR'RI€ANE, n. [8p. huracan, for fura-
cnn, from the L.furio,furo, to rage; Port.
furagam ; It. oragano ; Fr. ouragan ; D.
orkaan; G. Dan. Sw. orca?!. 1 know not
the origin, nor the signification of the last
syllable.]
. A most violent storm of wind, occurring
often in the West Indies, and sometimes
in higher northern latitudes, and on the
coast of the United States, as far north as
New England. A hurricane is distinguish-
H U R
ed from eveiy other kind of tempest by the
extreme violence of the wind, and by its
sudden changes ; the wind often veering
suddenly several points, sometimes a quar-
ter of the circle and even more.
2. Any violent tempest. Dryden.
HUR'RIED, pp. [from hurry.] Hastened ;
urged or impelled to rapid motion or vig-
orous action.
KUR'RIER, n. One who hurries, urges or
impels.
HUR'RY, V. t. [This word is evidently from
the root ofL. curro ; Fr.courir; Sw.kbra;
W. gyru, to drive, impel, thrust, run, ride,
press forward. See Ar. iSj.s^ jarai, and
\^ kaura, to go round, to hasten. Class
Gr. No. 7. 32. 36.]
L To hasten ; to impel to greater speed ; to
drive or press forward witli more rapidity ;
to urge to act or proceed with more ce-
lerity ; as, to hurry the workmen or the
work. Our business hurries us. The
weather is hot and the load heavy ; we
cannot safely hurry the horses.
3. To drive or impel with violence.
Impetuous lust hurries him on to satisfy the
cravings of it. South.
3. To urge or drive with precipitation and
confusion ; for confusion is often caused
by hurry.
And wild amazement hurries up and down
The little number of your doubtful friends.
Shak.
To hurry away, to drive or carry away in
haste.
HUR'RY, V. i. To move or act with haste ;
to proceed with celerity or precipitation.
The business is urgent ; let us hurry.
HUR'RY, n. A driving or pressing forward
in motion or business.
2. Pressure ; urgency to haste. We cannot
long ; we are in a hurnj.
3. Precipitation that occasions disorder or
confusion.
It is necessary sometimes to be in haste, but
never in a hurry. Anon.
4. Tumult ; hustle ; commotion.
Ambition raises a tumult in the soul, and puts
it into a violent hurry of thought. Addison.
HUR'RYING, ppr. Driving or urging to
greater speed ; precipitating.
HUR'RY-SKURRY, «rfi>. Confusedly; in a
bustle. [J\tol in use.] Gray.
HURST, n. [Sax. hurst or hyrst.] A wood
or grove ; a word found in many names,
as in Hazlehurst.
HURT, I), t. pret. and i)p. hurt. [Sax. hyrt,
wounded ; It. urtare, Fr. heurler, to strike
or dash against ; W. hyrziaw, to push,
thrust or drive, to assault, to butt ; Arm.
heurda.]
1. To bruise ; to give pain by a contusion,
pressure, or any violence to the body. We
hurt the body by a severe blow, or by tight
clothes, and the feet by fetters. Ps. cv.
2. To wound ; to injure or impair the sound
state of the body, as by incision or frac-
ture.
3. To harm ; to damage ; to injure by occa-
sioning loss. We hurt a man by destroy-
ing his property.
4. To injure by diminution ; to impair. A
man hurts his estate by extravagance.
H U S
.1. To injuro by reducing in quality; to im-
pair the strength, purity or beauty of.
Hurl not the wiiie and the oil— Rev. vi.
C. To barm ; to injure ; to damage, ir
general.
7. To wound ; to injure ; to give pain to
as, to hurt the feelings.
TIITRT, n. A wound; a bruise ; any thiag
that gives pain to the body.
The pains of sickness and hurts. Locke.
2. Harm ; mischief; injury.
I have slain a man to my wounding, and a
young man to my hurt. Gen. iv.
3. Injury ; loss.
\Vhy should damage grow to the hurt of the
kings ? Ezra '
nURT'ER, n. One who hurts or does harm.
nURT'ERS, n. Pieces of wood at the lower
end of a platform, to prevent the wheels of
gun-carriages from injuring the parapet
HURT'EUL, a. Injurious; mischievous
occasioning loss or destruction ; tending
to impair or destroy. Negligence is hurt
fid to property ; intemperance is hurtful to
health.
HURT'FITLLY, adv. Injuriously; mischiev
ously.
HURT'FULNESS, n. Injuriousness; tend
eiicy to occasion loss or destruction ; mis
chievousness.
IIURT'LE, V. i. [from MiH.] To clash or
run against ; to jostle ; to skirmish ; to
meet in shock and encounter ; to wheel
suddenly. [JS/ot now used.]
Spenser. Slui}c
HURTLE, V. t. To move with violence or
impetuosity. 06s. Spenser.
2. To push forcibly ; to whirl.
IIURT'LEBERRY, n. A whortleberry
which see.
HURT'LESS, a. Harmless; innocent; doing
no injury ; innoxious; as /lurftes blows.
Di-ydtn.
2. Receiving no injury.
HURT'LESSLY, adv. Without harm. [Lit-
tle used.] Sidney.
IIURT'LESSNESS, n. Freedom from any
harmful quality. [Ldttle ti^ed.] Johnson
IIUS'BAND, n. s as ;. [Sax. husbonda ; hus
bouse, and bitend, a farmer or cultivator,
or an inhabitant, from hyan, to inhabit or
till, contracted from bugian ; Dan. huus-
honde ; Sw. husbonde ; Sw. bj/ggia, Dan
hygger, to build ; D. bouiDen, G. hauen, to
bnild, to till, to plow or cultivate ; G. bauer,
a builder, a countryman, a clown, a rustic,
a 6oor; D. buur, the last component part
of neighbor. Band, bond, in this word, is
the participle ofbuan, byan, that is, buend,
occupying, tilling, and husband is the far
mer or inhabitant of the house, in Scottish,
a farmer ; thence the sense of husbandry
It had no relation primarily to marriage
but among the connnon people, a woman
calls her consort, my man, and the man
calls his wife, my woman, as in Hebrew,
and in this instance, the farmer or occu
pier of the house, or the builder, was call
ed my farmer ; or by some other means,
hi^band came to denote the consort of the
female head of the family.]
1. A man contracted or joined to a woman
by- marriage. A man to whom a woman
is betrothed, as well as one actually unitei
by- marriage, is called a husband. Lev
xjx. Deut. xxii.
HUS
2. In seamen''s language, the owner of a ship
who manages its concerns in person.
Mar. Did.
3. The male of animals of a lower order.
Dnjden.
4. An economist ; a good manager ; a man
■who knows and |)ractices the methods of
frugality and profit. In this sense, the
word is modified by an epithet; as a good
husband ; a bad husband. [But in Amer-
ica, this application of the word is little
or not at all used.] Davies. Collier.
5. A farmer; a cultivator; a tiller of the
ground. [In this sense, it is not used in
America. We always use husbandman.]
Bacon. Dryden.
HUS'BAND, V. t. To direct and manage
with frugality in expending any thing ; to
use or employ in the manner best suited
to produce the greatest effect ; to use witli
economy. We say, a man husbands his
estate, his means or his time.
He is conscious how ill he has husbandfjl
the great deposit of his Creator. Rambler.
2. To till ; to cultivate with good manage-
ment. Bacon.
3. To su])i)Iy with a husband. [Little used.]
Shak
HUS'BANDABLE, a. Manageable with
economy, [/tf.] Shenvood.
HUS'RANDED, pp. Used or managed with
economy ; well managed.
HUS'BANDING, ppr. Using or managing
with frugality.
HUS'BANDLESS, a. Destitute of a bus
band. Shak
HUS'BANDLY, a. Frugal ; thrifty. [LiUle
Mscrf.] Tusser.
HUS'BANDMAN, n. A farmer ; a cultiva
tor or tiller of the ground; one who labors
in tillage. In America, where men gei
rally own the land on which they labor,
the proprietor of a farm is also a laborer
or husbandman ; but the word includes
the lessee and the owner.
2. The master of a family. [Xol in use in
America.] Chaucer.
HUS'BANDRY, n. The business of a far-
mer, comprehending agriculture or tillage
of the ground, the raising, managing and
fattening of cattle and other domestic ani-
mals, the management of the dairy and
whatever the land produces.
" Frugality ; domestic economy ; good man-
HUS
agement ; thrift. But in this sense we
generally prefix good ; as good husbandry.
Swifl.
3. Care of domestic affairs. Shak.
HUSH, a. [G. husch ; Dan. hys, hyst. In
W. hez is peace ; hezu, to make peace ;
cws is rest, steep ; and h'usf is a low, buz-
zing sound ; Heb. DBTI to be silent. Class
Gs. No. 46.]
Silent ; still ; quiet ; as, they are hush as
death. This adjective never precedes the
noun which it qualities, except in the com-
pound, hushmoney.
HUSH, V. t. To still ; to silence ; to calm ;
to make quiet ; to repress noise ; as, to
hush the noisy crowd; the winds were
hushed.
My tongue shall hush again this storm of war.
Shak.
2. To appease ; to allay ; to calm, as commo-
lion or agitation.
Wilt thoii then
Hush my caics .- Otwaij
HUSH, V. i. To be still ; to be silent.
Spenser.
HUSH, imperative of the verb, used as an
exclamation, be still ; be silent or quiet ;
make no noise.
To hush up, to suppress ; to keep concealed.
This matter is hushed up. Pope.
HUSH'MONEY, n. A bribe to secure si-
lence ; money paid to hinder information,
or disclosureof facts. Sivifl.
HUSK, n. [Qu. W. gwisg. Corn, quesk, a
cover; or It. guscio, bark or shell; Sp.
Port, career, husks of grapes, bark. It
signifies probably a cover or a peel.]
The external covering of certain fruits or
seeds of plants. It is the calyx of the
flower or glume of corn and grasses, form-
ed of valves embracing the seed. The
husks of the small grains, when separated,
are called chaff"; but in America we apply
the word chiefly to the covering of the ears
or seeds of maiz, which is never denomi-
nated chaff". It is sometimes used in Eng-
land for the rind, skin or hull of seeds.
HUSK, It. t. To strip oft" the external in-
tegument or covering of the fruits or
seeds of plants: as, to husk nin\z..
IWUK'F.D, pp. Stripped of its husks.
2. a. Covered with a husk.
HUSK'INESS, 71. The state of being dry
lU^h, like a husk.
HUSK'ING, ppr. Stripping off" husks.
HUSK'ING, n. The act of stripping off"
husks. In New England, the practice of
farmers is to invite their neighbors to as-
sist them in stripping their maiz, in autum-
nal evenings, and this is called a huski7ig.
HUSK^Y, a. Abounding with husks; con-
sisting of husks. Dryden.
2. Resembling husks; dry; rough.
3. Rough, as sound ; harsh ; whizzing.
HUSO, n. A fish of the genus Accipenser,
whose mouth is in the under part of the
head ; the body is naked, or without prick-
les or protuberances. It grows to the
length of twenty four feet, and its skin is
so tough that it is used for ropes in draw-
ing wheel-carriages. It inhabits the Dan-
ube and the rivers of Russia, and of its
sounds is made isinglass. Encyc.
HUS'SAR, n. s as :. [Tartar, uswar, caval-
ry; Sans, uswu, a horse. Thomson.]
A mounted soldier or horseman, in German
cavalry. The hussars are the national
cavalry of Hungarj' and Croatia. Their
regimentals are a fur cap adorned with a
fetlier, a doublet, a pair of breeches to
which the stockings are fastened, and a
pair of red or yellow boots. Their anns
are a saber, a carbine and "pistols. Hus-
sars now form a part of the French and
English cavalry. Enct/c.
HUSS'ITE, n. A followerof John Huss, the
Bohemian reformer.
HUSS' Y, n. [contracted from husicife, house-
wife.]
1. A bad or worthless woman. It is used
also ludicrously in sUght disapprobation
or contempt. Go, hussy, go.
2. An economist ; a thrifty woman.
Tusser.
HUS'TINGS, n. [Sax. hustinge ; supposed
to be composed of hus, house, and thing,
cause, suit ; the house of trials.]
H Y A
H Y D
H Y D
1. A court held in Guildhall, in London, be-
fore the lord mayor and aldermen of the
city ; the supreme court or council of the
city. In this court are elected the alder-
men and the four members of parliament.
2. Tlie place where an election of a member
of parliament is held. Burke.
HUS'TLE, D.i. hus'l. [D. Auise/eji, to shake ;
Sw. hutla, to shuffle.]
To shake together in confusion ; to push or
crowd.
HUS'WIFE, «. A worthless woman ; a bad
manager. [See Hussy.] Shak.
9. A female economist ; a thrifty woman.
Shak.
HUS'WIFE, V. t. To manage with economy
and frugality. Dryden.
HUS'WIFERY, 71. The business of mana-
ging the concerns of a family by a female ;
female management, good or bad.
Tasser.
HUT, n. [G. huite ; D. hut ; Dan. hytte ; Fr.
hitte ; perhaps a dialectical orthography
of Sax. hus, house, and cot ; W. cwt.]
A small house, hovel or cabin ; a mean lodge
or dwelling ; a cottage. It is particularly
a|)plied to log-houses erected for troopS)
in winter. |
HUT, V. t. To place in huts, as troops en-
camped in winter quarters.
Marshall. Smollett.
HUT, V. i. To take lodgings in huts.
The troops hutted for the winter.
T. Picttering.
HUT'TED, pp. Lodged in huts. Mitford.
BVTTING, ppr. Placing in huts; taking
lodgings in huts.
HUTCH, n. [Fr. huche; Sp. hucha; Sax.
hxvcecca.]
1. A chest or box ; a corn chest or bin ; a
case for rabbits. Mortimer.
2. A rat trap.
HUX, V. t. To fish for pike with hooks and
lines fastened to floating bladders.
Encyc.
HUZZ, V. i. To buzz. [JVot in tise.] Barret.
HUZZ*A, n. A shout of joy ; a foreign ivord
used in writing only, and most preposterous-
ly, as it is never used in practice. The word
used is our native ivord hoora, or hooraw.
[See Hoora.]
IIUZZ'A, V. i. To utter a loud shout of joy,
or an acclamation in joy or praise.
HUZZ'A, V. t. To receive or attend with
shouts of joy. Addison.
HY'ACINTH, n. [U hyacinthus ; Gy.vo.xiv-
Oo;.]
1. In botany, a genus of plants, of several
species, and a great number of varieties.
The oriental hyacinth has a large, pur-
plish, bulbous root, from which spring sev-
eral narrow erect leaves ; the flower stalk
is upright and succulent, and adorned
with many bell-shaped flowers, united in
a large pyramidical spike, of different col-
ors in the varieties. Encyc.
9. In mineralogy, a mineral, a variety of zir-
con, whose crystals, when distinct, have
H\e form of a four-sided prism, termina-
ted by four rhombic planes, which stand
on tlie lateral edges. Its structure is foil
ated ; its luster, strong ; its fracture, con
choidal. Its prevailing color is a hyacinth
red, in which the red is more or less tin-
ged with yellow or brown. It is some-
times transparent, and sometimes only
translucent. Cleaveland.
Hyacinth is a subspecies of pyramidical
zircon. lire.
HYACINTH'INE, a. Made of hyacinth ;
consisting of hyacinth ; resembling hya-
cinth. Milton
HY'ADS, n. [Gr. vaSts, from vu, to rain;
To{, rain.]
In astronomy, a cluster of seven stars in the
Bull's head, supposed by the ancients to
bring rain. Encyc.
HY'ALINE, a. [Gr. va%noi, from va%os.
glass.]
Glassy ; resembhng glass ; consisting of
"ass. Milton
HY'ALITE, 71. [Gr. va.xos.] Muller's glass.
It consists chiefly of silex, and is white,
sometimes with a shade of yellow, blue or
green. Cleaveland.
HYBERNA€LE, ) C Hibemacle,
HYBERNATE, f See \ Hibernate,
HYBERNATION. ) ( Hibernation.
HYB'RID, n. [Gr. vSjits, injury, force, rape ;
L. hybrida.]
mongrel or mule ; an animal or plant.
produced from the mixture of two species.
Lee. Martyn.
HY'BRID, I Mongrel ; produced
HYB'RIDOUS, \ "■ from the mixture of
two species.
HY'DAgE, 71. In lan>, a tax on lands, at a
certain rate by the hyde. Blackstone.
HY'DATID, \ [Gr. vha-m, from vSup, wa-
HY'DATIS, S tcr.] A little transparent
vesicle or bladder filled with water, or
any part of the body, as in dropsy.
Qxii7icy Danvin
Hydatids are certain spherical bodies, found
occasionally in man, as well as in other
animals, lodged in or adhering to the dif-
ferent viscera. Some of them, at least,
are considered as possessing an indepen
dent vitality, and as constituting a distinct
animal, allied to the Icenia or tape-worm.
They consist of a head, neck, and vesicu-
lar body filled with a transparent fluid.
Cyc. Parr.
IIY'DRA, n. [h.hydra;Gv.vifa,fmmvhuf,
1. A water serpent. In fabulous history, a
serpent or monster in the lake or marsh
of Lerna, in Peloponnesus, represented
having many heads, one of which, being
cutoff, was immediately succeeded by an-
other, unless the wound was cauterized
Hercules killed this monster by applying
firebrands to the wounds, as he cut off the
heads. Hence we give the name to i
multitude of evils, or to a cause of multi
farious evils.
3. A technical name of a genus of Zoo
phytes, called polypus, or polypuses.
.3. A southern constellation, containing 60
stars. Cyc
HYDRAC'ID, a. [Gr. vSuf, water, and acid.]
An acid formed by the union of hydrogen
with a substance without oxygen.
Core
HY'DRAGOGUE, n. hy'dragog. [Gr. ..«h»
yijyos ; vSwp, water, and oyuyi;, a leading
or drawing, from oyu, to lead or drive ]
A medicine that occasions a discharge of
watery humors ; a name that implies
supposition that every purgative has the
quality of evacuating a particular humor.
But in general, the stronger cathartics
are hydragogues. Qutnci/. Encyc.
HYDRAN'GEA, n. [Gr. uSup, water, and
ayyiiov, a vessel.]
A plant which grows in the water, and
bears a beautiful flower. Its capsule has
been compared to a cup.
De Theis, Gloss. Botan.
HY'DRANT, n. [Gr. vSpau^u, to irrigate,
from vSup, water.]
A pipe or machine with suitable valves and
a spout, by which water is raised and dis-
charged from the main conduit of an
aqueduct.
HYDR'ARGILLITE, n. [Gr. v6«p, water,
and apya?.os, clay.] A mineral, called also
Wavellite.
HY'pilATE, n. [Gr. vSop, water.] In
chimistry, a compound, in definite propor-
tions, of a metallic oxyd with water.
Ure.
A hydrate is a substance which has formed
so intimate a union with water as to sohd-
ify it, and render it a component part.
Slaked lime is a hydrate of lime. Parke.
HYDRAUL'le, > [Fr. hydraulique ; L.
HYDRAUL'I€AL, ^ "• hydraulicus ; Gr.
nSpauTiis, an instrument of music played
by water ; v8up, water, and ouXof, a pipe.]
1. Relating to the conveyance of water
through pipes.
3. Transmitting water through pipes ; as a
hydraulic engine.
Hydraulic lime, a species of lime that hard-
ens in water; used for cementing under
water. Jour7i. of Science.
HYDRAUL'leS, n. The science of the mo-
tion and force of fluids, and of the con-
struction of all kinds of instruments and
machines by which the force of fluids is
applied to practical purposes; a branch
of hydrostatics.
Hydraulics is that branch of the science
of hydrodynamics which treats of fluids
considerecl as in motion. Ed. Encyc.
HYDREN'TEROCELE, n. [Gr. vJup, wa-
ter, ivitpov, intestine, and xri7.fj, a tumor.]
A dropsy of the scrotum with rupture.
Coxe.
nYDR10D'I€, a. [hydrogen and iodic]
Denoting a peculiar acid or gaseous sub-
stance, produced by the combination of
hvdrogen and iodine.
HYD'RIODATE, n. A salt formed by the
hydriodic acid, with a base. De Claubry.
HVDROC-ARBONATE, n. [Gr. i-Swp, wa-
ter, or rather hydrogen, and L. carbo, a
Carbureted hydrogen gas, or heavy inflam-
mable air. Aikin.
IIYDROCARBURET, n. Carbureted hy-
drogen. Henry.
HY'DROCELE, n. [Gr. nJpoxij^; i.6up,
water, and xrfKri, a tumor.]
Any hernia proceeding from water ; a wa-
tery tumor, particularly one in the scro-
tum. Encyc.
A dropsy of the scrotum. Coxe. Parr.
IIYDROCEPH'ALUS, n. [Gr. vS^f, water,
and xffcO/)), the head.]
Dropsy of the head ; a preternatural disten-
sion of the head by a stagnation and ex-
travasation of the lymph, either within or
wuhout the cranium. Coxe. Encyc.
H Y D
HvDROellLO'RATE, n. A compoiin<l of]
iiydrochloric acid and a base ; a uiiiriate,
Jovrn. of Science.
HiDRO€HLO'RI€, a. [hydrogen and
chloric]
Hydrochloric acid is muriatic acid gas, a
eompouud of clilorin and hydrogen gas.
Webster's Manual.
IIYDROCY'ANATE, n. Prussiate ; cya-
nnret.
IlvDROCYAN'Ie, a. [Gr. vSup, water, or
rather hydrogen, and xvavoi, blue.]
The hydrocyanic acid is the same as the
I)russic acid.
HYDRODYNAM'IC, a. [Gr. v8up, water,
and 5wo/ii;, power, force.] Pertaining to
the force or pressure of water.
HYDRODYNAM'leS, n. That branch of
natural philosophy which treats of the
phenomena of water and other fluids,
whether in motion or at rest ; of their equi-
librium, motion, cohesion, pressure, re-
sistance, &c. It comprehends both hy-
drostatics and hydraulics. Ed. Encyc.
IIYDROFLU'ATE, n. A compound of hy-
drofluoric acid and a base.
HYDROFLUOR'I€, a. [Gr. vS^p, water,
and ^uor.]
Consisting of fluorin and hydrogen. The
hydrofluoric acid is obtained by distilling
a mixture of one part of the purest fluor
spar in fine powder, with two of sulphuric
acid. fVebster^s Manual.
IIY'DROgEN, n. [Gr. vSap, water, and
y.-wau, to generate ; so called as being
considered the generator of water.]
In chimislry, a gas which constitutes one of
the elements of water, of which it is said
by Lavoisier to form fifteen parts in a
hundred ; but according to Berzelius and
JJulong, hydrogen gas is 11. 1 parts in a
hundred, and oxygen 88. 9. Hydrogen
gas is an aeriform fluid, the lightest body
known, and though extremely inflamma-
ble itself, it extinguishes burning bodies,
and is fatal to animal life. Its specific
gravity is 0.0C94, that of air being 1.00.
In consequence of its extreme lightness,
it is employed for filling air balloons.
Lavoisier. fVehster's Manual.
1IY'DR06ENATE, v. t. To combine hy-
drogen with anv thing.
HY'DROgENATED, pp. In combination
with livdrogen.
IIY'DROgENIZE, I'. /. To combine with
hydrogen.
lY'DROGE
HY'DROgENIZED, pp. Combined witli
hydrogen.
1 HY'DR6gENIZING, ppr. Combining witl'
1 hydrogen.
I Hi DROG'RAPHER, n. [See Hydrography:
One who draws maps of the sea, lakes oi
other waters, with the adjacent shores ;
one who describes the sea or other waters.
B,
i: HYDROGRAPH'IC, ? Relating to or
t HyDROGRAPH'KAL, S "• containing a
description of the sea, sea coast, isles,
shoals, depth of water, &c. or of a lake
HYDROG'RAPHY, n. [Gr. v&up, water,
and ypacfiu), to describe.]
The art of measuring and describing the
sea, lakes, rivers and other waters ; or
ihe art of forming charts, exhibiting a
ri presentation of the sea coast, gulfs, bays.
H Y D
isles, promontories, channels, soundings,
&c.
H\>DR0G'URET, n. A compound of by
drogeri with a base.
Hydroguret is now scarcely used, except to
give the derivative hydrogureled.
Silliman.
HyDROG'URETED, a. Denoting a com-
pound of hydrogen with a base.
HYDROLITE, n. [Gr. vS«p, water, and
uOof, a stone.]
A mineral whose crystals are described as
six sided prisms, terminated by low si-
sided pyramids, with truncated summits,
Cleaveland.
IlYDROLOci'ICAL, a. Pertaining to hy-
drology.
HYDROI/OgY, ji. [Gr. v«up, water, and
Xoyos, discourse.]
The science of water, its properties and
])hononiena.
IIY'DROMANCY, n. [Gr. ««up, water, and
fiantiia, divination.]
A method of divination or prediction of
events by water; invented, according to
Varro, by the Persians, and practice<l by
the Romans. Encyc.
HYDROMAN'TIC, a. Pertaining to divina-
HY'DROMEL, n. [Fr. from Gr. v5«p, wa-
ter, and fitU, honey.]
A liquor consisting of honey diluted in wa
ter. Before fermentation, it is called sim
pie hydromel ; after fermentation, it is call
ed vinous hydromel or mead.
HYDROM'ETER, n. [See Hydrometry.]
An instrument to measure the gravity,
density, velocity, force, &c. of water and
other fluids, and the strength of .spirituous
liquors. Encyc.
HYDROMET'RIC, ) Pertaining to a
HYDROMKT'Rl€AL, ^ "' hydrometer, ox
to the measurement of the gravity, &c.
of fluids.
2. Made by a hydrometer.
HYDROM'ETRY, n. [Gr. v«up, water,
fiirfiov, measure.]
The art of measuring, or the mensm-ation ofj
the gravity, density, velocity, force, &c.j
of fluids, and the strength of rectified
spirits. Encyc.
HYDRO-OXYD, n. [Gr. v8up, water, and
oxyd.]
A metallic oxyd combined with water; a
metallic hydrate. Parke. Core.
HY'DROPIfANE, n. [Gr. t.6up, water, and
$oH'u, to show.]
In mineralogy, a variety of opal made trans-
parent by immersion in water. Kinoan.
HYDROPH'ANOUS, a. Made transparent
by immersion in water. Kirwan.
HYDROPHOBIA, ) „ [Gr. vSup, water, and
HY'DROPHOBY, S ^o(Siofim,to fear.^
A preternatural dread of water; a symptom
of canine madness, or the disease itself,:
which is thus denominated. This dread
of water sometimes takes place in violent
inflammations of the stomach, and in hys-
teric fits. Encyc.
HyDROPHO'BI€, a. Pertaining to a dread
of water, or canine madness-
Med. Repos-l
HY-DROP'I€, \ [L.hydrops;Gr.vSix^,
HYDROP'leAL, i "• dropsy; v8<op, water.]
H Y E
1. Dropsical ; diseased with cxtravasated
2. Containing water ; caused by extravasa-
ted water ; as a hydropic swelling.
3. Resembling dropsy.
Everj- lust is a kind of hydropic distemper,
and the more we drink tlic more we shall thirst.
Tillotson.
HYDROPNEUMAT'IC, a. [Gr. t«up, wa-
ter, and rti'iviiatixoi, inflated, from ttnv/ta,
breath, spirit.]
An epithet given to a vessel of water, with
other apparatus for chimical experiments.
Med. Repos.
HYDROPSY. [See Dropsy.]
HY'DROSCOPE, n. [Gr. vJup, water, and
dxortiu, to view.]
A kind of water clock, or instrument used
anciently for measuring time, consisting
of a cylindrical tube, conical at the bottom,
perforated at the vertex, and the whole
tube graduated. Encyc.
HYDROSTATIC, } [Gr. v««p, water,
HYDROSTAT'IeAL, I "' and ranxos, static,
standing or settling.]
Relating to the science of weighing fluids,
or hydrostatics.
IlYDROSTAT'ICALLY,' adv. According
to hydrostatics, or to hydrostatic princi-
ples. Bentley.
HvDROSTAT'ICS, n. The science which
treats of the weight, motion, and equilib-
riums of fluids, or of the specific gravity
and other properties of fluids, particularly
of water.
Hydrogtatics is that branch of the science
of hydrodynamics which treats of the
properties of fluids at rest. Ed. Encyc.
HYDROSULPH'ATE, n. The same a.^
hijdrosulpliuret.
[YDROSUI
HYDROSULPH'URET, n. [hydrogen and
sidphuret.]
A combination of .sulphureted hydrogen
ith an earth, alkali or metallic oxyd.
HYDROSULPH'URETED, a. Combined
with sulphureted hydrogen.
Hydrosulphuric acid, is called also liydrothi-
onic acid, or sulphureted hydrogen.
HYDROTHO'RAX, n. [Gr. i«up, water,
and 9Mpa|.] Dropsy in the chest. Coie.
HYDROT'le, a. [Gr. v&up, water.] Causing
a discharge of water.
HYDROT'le, n. A medicine that purges
off water or phlegm. Arbulhnot.
HYDROXAN'THATE, n. [Gr. v««p, water,
and |a>9oj, yellow.]
In chimislry, a compound of hydroxanthic
acid with a base.
H'fDROXAN'THle, a. A term used to de-
note a new acid, formed by the action of
alkalies on the bisulphuret of carbon. It
is called also carbo-sulphuric acid.
Henry.
HY'DRURET, n. A combination of hydro-
gen with sulphur, or of sulphur and sul-
phureted hydrogen. Ure.
HY'DRUS, Ji. [Gr. niup, water.] A water
snake ; also, a constellation of the south-
ern hemisphere.
HYE'MAL, a. [L. hiems, winter; Sans.
ma, cold ; Slav, zima.] Belonging to
inter ; done in winter.
HY'EMATE, v. i. To winter at a place.
JVot in vse.]
H Y M
HYP
HYP
HYEMA'TION, n. [L. Memo, to winter.]
The passing or spending of a winter in a
particular place.
HYE'NA, n. [L. hyiBna ; Gr. vtuva.] A
quadruped of the genus Canis, having
small naked ears, four toes on each foot,
a straight jointed tail, and erect hair on
the neck ; an inhabitant of Asiatic Tur-
key, Syria, Persia and Barbary. It is a
solitary animal, and feeds on flesh ; it
preys on flocks and herds, and will open
graves to obtain food. It is a fierce, cruel
and untamable animal, and is sometimes
called the tiger-wolf.
HYGROMETER, n. [Gr. typos, moist, and
ftffpov, measure.]
An instrument for measuring tlie degree of
moisture of the atmosphere. Encyc.
HYGROMET'RI€AL, a. Pertaining tc
hygrometry ; made by or according to
the hygrometer.
HYGROM'ETRY, n. The act or art offHYP
measuring the moisture of the air.
HY'GR0S€0PE, n. [Gr. uypoj, moist, and
Bxortsu, to view.]
The same as hygrometer. The latter is now
chiefly used.
HYGROS€OP'l€, a. Pertaining to the hy-
groscoiie ; capalile of imbibing moisture.
Mams
IIYGROSTAT'ICS, n. [Gr. uypos, moist
and forixij.]
The science of comparing degrees of mois-
ture. Evelyn
HYKE, n. [Ar.] A blanket or loose gar-
ment. Parkhurst.
HYLAR'CHICAL, a. [Gr. vx^, matter, and
ofXit rule-] Presiding over matter.
Hallywell.
HYLOZO'le, n. [Gr. vT-rj, matter, and ?.
Ufe.]
One who holds matter to be animated.
Clarke.
HYM, n. A species of dog. Qu. Shak
HY'MEN, n. [L. from Gr. u/tjjv, membrana,
pellicula, hymen.]
1. In ancient mythology, a fabulous deity,
the son of Bacchus and Venus, supposed
to preside over marriages.
2. In anatomy, the virginal membrane.
3. In botany, the fine pellicle which inclo
scs a flower in the bud.
HYMENE'AL, ( Pertaining to marriage,
Pope
A marriage
JiKlton.
[Gr. vftrjr, a mem-
brane, and rtripoi',
HYMENE'AN
HYMENE'AL,
HYMENE'AN,
HY'MENOPTER,
HYMENOP'TERA,
a wing.]
In entomology, the hymenopters
der of insects, having four membranous
wings, and the tail of the female mostly
armed with a sting.
HYMENOP'TERAL, a. Having four mem-
branous wings.
HYMN, n. hym. [L. hymnus ; Gr. vf^m;
Eng. htim.]
A song or ode in honor of God, and amon
pagans, in honor of some deity. A hymn
among christians is a short poem, compo-
sed for religious service, or a song of joy
and praise to God. The word primarily
expresses the tune, but it is used for the
ode or poem.
And when they had sung a hymn, they went
out to the mount of Olives. Matt. xxvi.
AdinonishiDg one another in psalms and
hyrnns. Col. iii.
HYMN, v.t. hym. To praise in son"; to
worship by singing hynms. Milton.
J2. To sing ; to celebrate in song. They
hymn their maker's praise.
HYMN, V. i. hym. To sing in praise or ado-
ration. Milton.
HYM'NED,;)p. Sung; praised; celebrated
in song.
HYM'NING, 7);)r. Praising in song ; sing-
ing.
HYM'NI€, a. Relating to hymns. Donne.
IIYMNOL'OGIST, n. A composer of
hymns. Busby.
HYMNOL'OgY, n. [Gr. vfivo; and >^os.]
{ A collection of hymns. Mede.
HYOSCIA'MA, n. A new vegetable alkal
ted from the Hyoscyamiis nigra, or
henbane. lire.
[a contraction of hypochondria.]
A disease ; depression of spirits.
HYP, V. t. To make melancholy ; to depress
the spirits. Spectator.
HYPAL'LAGE, »i. hypal'lagy. [Gr. vrtaXJ-oyij,
change, from vrtaM,aaau ; ti^o and aXKaaau,
to change.]
In grammar, a figure consisting of a mutual
change of cases. Thus in Virgil, dare
classibus austros, for dare classes austris.
Hypallage is a species of hyperbaton
HYPAS'PIST, n. [Gr. v7<aa:i<.;fi; ; vao and
oortij, a shield.]
A soldier in the armies of Greece, armed in
a particular manner. Mitford.
HYPER, Gr. v,tif, Eng. over, is used in
composition'to denote excess, or something
over or beyond.
2. »!. A hypercritic. {J^ot used.] Prior.
HYPERAS'PIST, n. [Gr. vrii(>a.M^;r,r, vTtep
and a'jrtts, a shield.] A defender.
Chillingioorth. Milner
HYPERBATON, ? , [Gr. vrtEpSato,,, from
HY'PERBATE, ^"- vrtspSttwu, to trans
1, or go beyond.]
In grammar, a figurative construction, invert
iug the natural and proper order of words
and sentences. The species are the anas-
trophe, the hysteron proteron, the hypal-
lage, the synchysis, the tmesis, the paren-
thesis, and the proper hyperbaton, which
last is a long retention of the verb which
completes the sentence. Encyc.
HyPER'BOLA, n. [Gr. vrtfp, over, beyond,
and (3aW.u, to throw.]
|Iii conic sections and geometry, a curve for-
1 med by cutting a cone in a direction par-
i allel to its axis. Encyc.
■A section of a cone, when the cutting plane
makes a greater angle with the base than
the side of the cone makes. Webber.
JThe latter definition is the most correct.
JHYPER'BOLE, n. hyper'bok. [Fr. hyper-
bole ; Gr. vTitfiSoTii], excess, from urtepSoWiu,
to throw beyond, to exceed.]
In rhetoric, a figure of speech which expres-
ses much more or less than the truth, or
which represents things much greater or
less, better or worse than they really are.
An object uncommon in size, either great
or small, strikes us with surprise, and this
emotion produces a momentary conviction
that the object is greater or less than it|
is in reality. The same eflfect attends
figurative grandeur or littleness; and
hence the use of the hyperbole, which
expresses this momentary conviction.
The following are instances of the use of
this figure.
He was owner of a piece of ground not lar-
ger than a Lacedemonian letter. Longinus.
If a man can number the dust of the earth,
then shall thy seed also be numbered. Gen.
xiii.
Ipse arduus, alta que pulsat
Sidera. Virgil.
He was so gaunt, the case of a flageUet was a
mansion for liini, Shak.
HYPERBOLIC, I Belonging to the
HYPERBOL'lCAL, { "• hyperbola; having
the nature of the hyperbola.
2. Relating to or containing hyperbole ; ex-
aggerating or diminishing beyond the
fact ; exceeding the truth ; as a hyperbol-
ical expression.
Hyperbolic space, in geometry, the space or
content comprehended between the curve
of a hyperbole and the whole ordinate.
Bailey.
HYPERBOL'ICALLY, adv. In the form of
a hyperbola.
VVitii exaggeration ; in a manner to ex-
press more or less than the truth.
Scylla— is hyperbalically described by Ho-
mer as inaccessible. Broome.
HYPERBOL'IFORM, a. [hyperbola and
Having the form, or nearly the form of a
hyperbola. Johnson.
HYPER'BOLIST, n. One who uses hyper-
boles.
HYPERBOLIZE, v. i. To speak or write
with exaggeration. Mountagu.
HYPER'BOLIZE, v. t. To exaggerate or
extenuate. Fotherby.
HYPER'BOLOID, ji. [hyperbola, and Gr.
fi6o5, form.]
A hyperbolic conoid ; a solid formed by the
revolution of a hyperbola about its axis.
Ed. Encyc.
HYPERBO'REAN, a. [L. hyperboreus ; Gr.
vTtijiSofiio;; urtcp, beyond, and liopeai, the
north.]
1. Northern ; belonging to or inhabiting a
region very far north ; most northern.
3. Very cold ; frigid.
HYPERBO'REAN, n. An inhabitant of the
most northern region of the earth. The
ancients gave this denomination to the
people and places to the northward of the
Scythians, people and regions of which
they had little or no knowledge. The
Hyperboreans then are the Laplanders,
the Samoiedes, and the Russians near the
White Sea.
HYPERCARBURETED, a. Supercarbu-
reted ; having the largest proportion of
carbon. Sitliman.
HYPER€ATALEe'Tl€, a. [Gr. vnipxaaa-
^rjxttxos ; DTtfp and xataT^^t.^, termination.]
A hypercatalectic verse, in Greek and Latin
poetry, is a verse which has a syllable or
two beyond the regular and just measure.
Bailey. Encyc.
HYPER€RIT'Ie, n. [Fr. hypercritique ; Gr.
I'rtfp, beyond, and xpirtxof, critical. See
Critic]
HYP
II Y P
HYP
One who is critical beyond measure or rea-
son; an over rigid critic; a captious cen-
sor. Dryden
HYPERCRIT'Ie, I „ Over critical;
JI*PER€RIT'l€AL, S critical beyond
use or reason ; animadverting on faults
with unjust severity ; as a hypercritical
reader. Swift
2. Excessively nice or exact ; as a hype.rcrit-
ical punctilio. Evdyn
HV^PERCRIT'ICISM, n. Excessive rigor of
criticism. Med. Repos. Bailey.
HYPERDU'LIA, n. [Gr. urtsp, beyond, and
imXtia, service.]
Super-service in the Romish church, i)er-
formed to the virgin Mary. Usher.
HYPER' I CON, 71. John's wort. Stukcly.
HY'PER'METER, n. [Gr. vrtcp, beyond, and
fiEfpoi', measure.]
Any thing greater than the ordinary stand-
ard of measure. Addison.
A verse is called a hypermeter, when it
contains a syllable more than the ordinary
measure. When this is the case, the fol-
lowing line begins with a vowel, and the
redundant syllable of the former line
blends with the first of the following, am'
they ate read as one syllable.
HVPERMETRICAL, a. Exceeding tlie
common measure; having a redundani
syllable. Ramhler.
HYPEROX'YD, a. [Gr. vrtfp and oKyd.]
Acute to excess, as a crystal.
Chaveland
HYPEROX'YGENATED, > „ [Gr. vntp.
HYPEROX'Y6ENIZED, ] "• beyond,
and oxygenated, or ojqigenixed.l
Super-saturated with oxygen.
Darwin. Med. Repos.
H'f PEROXYMU'RIATE, n. The same as
chlorate.
HYPEROXYMURIAT'I€, a. The hyperoxy
muriatic acid is the chloric acid.
HYPERPHYS'ICAL, a. Supernatural.
HY'PERSTENE, ) A mineral, Labra-
HY'PERSTHENE, S dor hornblend, or
schillerspar. Its color is between grayish
and greenish black, but nearly copper-red
on the cleavage. So named from its diffi
cult frangibility. [Gr. vnip and aOivo;.]
Jameson. Kirwan. Phillips.
HVPHEN, n. [Gr. v^si>, under one, or
one.]
A mark or short line made between two
words to show that they form a compound
word, or are to be connected ; as in pre
occupied ; five-leafed ; ink-stand. In writ
ing and printing, the hyphen is used to
connect the syllables of a divided word,
and is placed after the syllable that closes
a line, denoting the connection of that syl
lable or part of a word with the first syl
lable of the next line.
HYPNOTle, a. [Gr. vrfro;. sleep.] Having
the quality of producing sleep ; tending to
produce sleep ; narcotic ; soporific.
Broion
HYPNOT'IC, n. A medicine that produces,
or tends to produce sleep; an opiate; a
narcotic ; a soporific.
ilYPO, a Greek preposition, vtto, under, be-
neath ; used in composition. Thus, hypo-
sulphuric acid is an acid containing less
oxvgen than sulphuric acid.
Hf POB'OLE, n. hypob'oly. [Gr. vho, under,
and 8a»u, to cast.]
Vol. I.
In rhetoric, a figure in which several things
are mentioned that seem to make against
the argument or in favor of the opposite
side, and each of them is refuted in order.
Encyc.
HYP'OCAUST, n. [Gr. vrtoxcwyov ; v)to and
xaia, to burn.]
1. Among the Greeks and Romans, a subter-
raneous place where was a furnace to heat
baths.
3. Among the moderns, the place where a fire
is kept to warm a stove or a hot-house.
Encyc.
IIYPOCHON'DRES, > [See Hypochon-<
HYPOCHON'DRY, S dna.] I
HYPOCIION'DRIA, n. plu. [Gr.fromvJ
and ;toiS(jo5, a cartilage.] ;
1. In anatomy, the sides of the belly undcri
the cartilages of the spurious ribs ; the
spaces on each side of the epigastric re-]
gion. Coxe. Encyc.'
llypochondriac complaints. Taller.
HVPO€HON'DRlA€, a. Pertaining to thej
hypochondria, or the parts of tlie body so
called ; as the hypochondriac region.
2. Affected by a disease, attended with debil-
,, ili|iirssi(in of spirits or melancholy.
iiMliiciiii; riiilancholy, or low spirits. 1
1IY1'(»(I1().\ l»RIAC,n. A person affected
iili ililiiliiN, lowness of spirits or melan-
holv. i
lIYPOeIIONDRI'A€AL, a. The same as
hi/pochondriac. \
HVPOGHONDRIACISM, n. A disease of
men, characterized by languor or debility,'
depression of spirits or melancholy, with'
dyspepsy. Darwin.l
HYPOCHONDRIASIS, n. Hypochondri-
HYP'OCIST, n. [Gr. urtoxifij, sub cisto, un-j
der the cistus.] I
An inspissated juice obtained from the sessile
asarum [Cytinus hypocistis,] resembling
the true Egyptian afacia. The juice is
expressed from the unripe fruit and evap-
orated to the consistence of an extract,
formed into cakes and dried in the sun.
It is an astringent, useful in diarrheas and
hemorrhages. Encyc^
HYPOCRATER'IFORM, a. [Gr. vno, un-
der, xpafijp, acup, and/u?-Hi.]
Salver-shaped ; tubular, but suddenly ex-
panding into a flat border at top; applied
to a monopetalous corol. Bigelow.i
HYPOCRISY, n. [F^. hypocrisie ; L. hypo-\
crisis ; Gr. urtoxpisi;, simulation ; vrtoxftvo-
nai, to feign ; vno and xpiiu, to separate,
discern or judge.]
1. Simulation ; a feigning to be what one isj
not; or dissimulation, a concealment otj
one's real character or motives. More
generally, hypocrisy is simulation, or the'
assuming of a false appearance of virtue]
or religion ; a deceitful show of a good;
cliaracter, in morals or religion ; a coun-
terfeiting of religion.
Beware ye of the leaven of tlie Pharisees,
which is hypocrisy. Luke xii. i
2. Simulation; deceitful appearance; false
pretence.
Hypocrisy is tlic necessary burden of vil-
lainy. ' Rambler.
HYPOCRITE, n. [Fr. hypocrite; Gr. irto-j
xpiTi;?.]
1. One who feigns to be what he is not; one
who has the form of godliness without the
104
power, or who a.ssumes an appearance of
piety and virtue, when he is destitute of
true religion.
And the hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job
2. A dissembler ; one who assumes a false
appearance.
Fair hypocrite, you seek to cheat in vain.
Dryden.
HYPOCRIT'IC, > Simulating ; coun-
HYPOCRIT'ICAL, ^ "• terfciting a religious
character ; assuming a false and deceitful
appearance ; appliedto persons.
2. Uissembhng; concealing one's real char-
or motives.
3. Proceeding from hypocrisy, or marking
hypocrisy ; as a hypocritical face or look.
HYPOCRITICALLY, adv. With simula-
tion ; Willi a false appearance of what is
good ; falsely ; without sincerity.
HYPOGAS'TRle, a. [Gr. v«o, under, and
yafjjp, tlie belly.]
1. Relating to the hypogastrium, or middle
part of the lower region of the belly.
2. An appellation given to the internal
branch of the iliac artery. Encyc.
HyPOGAS'TROCELE, n. [Gr. frtoyofp™ ,
and xijJ.);, a tumor.]
A hernia or rupture of the lower belly.
Coze.
IlYPO(5E'UM, n. [Gr. i.«o, under, and yowi
or yrj, the eartli.]
A name given by ancient architects to all tlie
parts of a building which were under
ground, as the cellar, &,c. Encyc.
HYPO(i'YNOLIS, 71. [Gr. vno, under, and
yuvri, a female.]
A term applied to plants that have theu- en-
rols and stamens inserted under the pistil.
Lunier.
HYPOPHOS'PHOROUS, n. [Gr. vho and
j}hosphorus.\
The hypophosphorous acid contains less ox-
ygen than the pho.sphorous, and is obtain-
ed from the phosphuret of baryte. It is a
liquid which may be concentrated by
evaporation, till it becomes viscid. It has
a very sour taste, reddens vegetable blues,
and does not crystalize. Ure.
HYPOPHOS'PHITE, 71. A compound of
hypophosphorous acid and a salifiable
base. Ure.
HYPOSTASIS,? , [L. hypostasis ; Fr.hy-
HYPOS'TASY, S postase ; Gr. vito^aan,
from vrto and ifij/uc, to stand.]
Properly, subsistence or substance. Hence
it is used to denote distinct substance, or
subsistence of the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, in the Godhead, called by the
Greek christians, three hypostases. The
Latins more generally used persona to ex-
press the sense of hypostasis, an4 this is
the modern practice. We say, the God-
head consists of three persons.
HYPOSTATIC, > Relating to hypos-
HYPOSTAT'ICAL, J "' tasis ; constitutive.
Let our Caraeades warn men not to subscribe
to the grand doctrine of the chinusts, touching
their three hypostatical principles, till they have
a little examined it. Boyle.
2. Personal, or distinctly personal ; or
stituting a distinct substaiice.
HYPOSUL'PHATE, n. A compound of hy-
posulphuric acid and a base.
HYPOSULPHITE, n. A compund of hy
posiilphurous acid and a salifiable base.
HYPOSUL'PHURle.a. Ilyposulpburicacid,
is an acid combination of sulphur aud ox
ygen, intermediate between sulphurous
and sulphuEJc acid. lire.
HVFOSITL'PHUROUS, a. Hyposulphurous
acid is an acid containing less oxygen
than sulphurous acid. This acid is known
only in combination with salifiable bases,
Ure. Henry.
HYPOT'ENUSE,n. [GT.v7i<,tnvovau,,\mn.o(
iTtoTfuu, to subtend.]
\n geometry, the subtense or longest side of a
right-angled triangle, or the line that sub-
tends the right angle. Encyc.
HYPOTH'ECATE, v. I. [L. hypolheca, a
pledge; Gr. vHodnixij, from vnori.9rini., to
put under, to suppose.]
1. To pledge, and properly to pledge tlie
keel of a ship, that is, the ship itself, as
security for the repayment of money bor-
rowed to carry on a voyage. In this case
the lender hazards the loss of his money by
the loss of the ship; but if the ship returns
.safe, he receives his principal, with the
premium or interest agreed on, though it
may e.\ceed the legal rate of interest.
Blackstoite. Park
2. To pledge, as goods. Park.
HYPOTH'ECATED, pp. Pledged, as seen
rity for money borrowed.
IIYPOTH'ECATING, ppr. Pledging as se
HYPOTHE€A'TION, n. The act of pledg-
ing, as a ship or goods, for the repayment
of money borrowed to carry on a voyage ;
otherwise called bottomry.
HYPOTHEC ATOR, n. One who pledges
a ship or other property, as security for the
repayment of money borrowed.
Judge Johnson.
HYPOTH'ESIS, n. [L. from Gr. urtofltsis, a
supposition ; vrtoTiOrifn, to suppose ; vno
and ri6r;iii.]
1. A supposition ; a proposition or principle
which is supposed or taken for granted, in
order to draw a conclusion or inference
for proof of the point in question ; some-
thing not proved, but assumed for the pur-
pose of argument. Encyc
2. A system or tlieory imagined or assumed
to account for what is not understood.
Encyc
HtPOTHET'Ie, ) Including a suppo-
HYPOTHET'ICAL, ^ sition ; conditional
assumed without proof for the purpose of
reasoning and deducing proof. fyatis.
HYPOTHET'I€ALLY, adv. By way of
supposition ; conditionally.
HYRSE,n. Hm. [G. hirse.] Millet.
HYRST, 71. A wood. [See Hurst.]
HY'SON, n. A species of green tea from
China.
HY'SOP, I , [L.hyssopus; G..
HYSSOP, I "-I'ysop. ^,5„„^„j It would
be well to write this word hysop.]
A plant, or genus of plants, one species of
which is cultivated for use. The leaves
have an aromatic smell, and a warm pun-
gent taste. Hyssop was much used by
tlie Jews in purifications. Encyc.
HYSTER'le, } [Fr. hysterique ; Gr.
HYSTER'I€AL, ^ vrfpixoj, from i-ftpa,
the womb.]
Disordered in the region of the womb ;
troubled with fits or nervous affections.
nYSTER'leS,n. A disease of women, pro-
ceeding from the womb, and character-
ized by fits or spasmodic affections of the
nervous system. Encyc.
A spasmodic disease of the prima via,
attended with the sensation of a ball roll-
ing about the abdomen, stomach and
throat. Coxe.
HYS'TEROCELE, n. [Gr. v;sfa, the womb,
and xfj'kt], a tumor.]
A species of hernia, caused by a displace-
ment of the womb. Lunier.
A rupture containing the uterus. Coxe.
HYS'TERON PROT'ERON, n. [Gr. vs^fov,
last, and npoTtpw, first.]
A rhetorical figure, when that is said last
which was done first.
HYSTEROTOMY, n. [Gr. v^fa, the ute-
rus, and rofir;, a cutting.]
In surgery, the Cesarean section ; the opera-
tion of cutting
out a fetus, which cannot be excluded by-
cutting into the uterus for taking
the usual means.
HYTHE, n. A port. [See Hithe-l
I.
1 IS th(- ninth letter, and the third vowel of
the English Alpliabet. We receive it
through the Latin and Greek from the
Sheraitic jod, je, or ye, in Greek Mta,
whence our English word jot. This vow-
el in French, and in most European lan-
guages, has the long fine sound which wt
express by e in me, or ee in seen, meek.
This sound wo retain in some foreign
words which are naturalized in our Ian
guage, as in machine, intrigue. But ii
most English words this long sound i;
shortened, as in holiness, pity, gijl; in
which words the sound of i coincides with
that ofy in hypocrite, cycle, and at the en(
of words, in unaccented syllables, as in
holy, glory. It is this short sound of the
French and Italian i, which we hear in the
pronunciation of been, which we pro-
nounce bin. After I, this letter has some-
times the liquid sound of y, as in million,
pronounced milyon. This sound cones
ponds with that of the Hebrews, as ir
Joseph, which in Syria is pronounced
Yosiph, and with the sound of the Ger
man j, as in ja,jahr, that is, ya, yahr.
The sound of i long, as in/j?c, kind, arise, is
diphthongal ; it begins with a sound ap
preaching that of broad a, but it is not ex
actly the same, as the organs are not open
ed to the same extent, and therefore the
sound begins a little above that of aiv.
The sound, if continued, closes with one
that nearly approaches to that of e long.
This sound can be learned only by the ear.
This letter enters into several digraphs
fail, field, seize, feign, win, friend ; and
witti 0 in oil, join, coin, it helps to form f
proper diphthong.
No English word ends with i, but when the
sound of the letter occurs at the end of a
word, it is expressed by
As a numeral I signifies one, and stands for
as many units as it is repeated in times,
as II, two. III, three, &c. When it stands
before V or X, it subtracts itself, and the
numerals denote one less than the V or
the X. Thus IV expresses four, one
than V, five ; IX stands for nine, one less
than X, ten. But when it is placed afti
V or X, it denotes the addition of an unit,
or as many units as the letter is repeated
in times. Thus VI is five and one, or
and XI is ten and one, or eleven; VIII
stands for five and three, or eight, &c.
Among the ancient Romans, I3 stood ft
500 ; CIo, for 1000 ; loo, for 5000 ;
CCIoo. for 10.000; Ioo0.fo
CCCIooO. for 100,000.
I, formerly prefixed to some English words,
as in ibuilt, is a contraction of the Saxon
prefix ge ; and more generally this was
written y.]
I, pron. [Sax. ic; Goth. D. ik ; G. ich;
Sw.jag; Dau.jeg; Gr.iyu; L. ego; Port,
eti ; Sp. yo ; It. to; Fr.je; Sans, agam.
In Armoric me is the nominative ; so W.
mi, Fr, moi, Hindoo, me. Either ego is
contracted from mego, or / and vie are
from different roots. It is certain that m*
is contracted from meg or mig. See Me.]
The pronoun of the first person ; the word
which expresses one's self, or that by
which a speaker or writer denotes him-
self. It is only the nominative case of the
pronouu ; iu the other cases we use me.
I am attached to study ; study dehghts »ne.
We often hear iu popular language the
phrase it is vie, which is now considered
to be ungrammatieal, for it is I. But the
phrase may have come down to us from
the use of the Welsh mi, or from the
French use of the phrase, c^est moi.
In the plural, we use tee, and us, which
appear to be words radijcally distinct
from /.
Johnson observes that Sbakspeare uses /
for ay or yes. In this he is not followed,
and the use is incorrect-.
I C E
iAM'BIC, 71. [Fr. iambique ; L. iamhicus;
Gfr. MfiSixoi.]
Pertaining to the iambus, a poetic foot con-
sisting of two syllables, a sliort oue fol-
lowed by a long one.
lAM'Ble, / [L. iambus ; Gt. M/teoj.] In
iAM'BUS, I "■poetiy, a foot consisting of
two syllables, the first sliort and the last
long, as in delight. The following line
consists wholly of iambic feet.
He seornalthe forceithat dareslhi^ fulry slay.
lAM'BleS, n.plu. Verses composed of short
and long syllables alternately. Anciently,
certain songs or satires, supposed to have
given birth to ancient comedy.
BEX, n. [L.] The wild goa '
Capra, which is said to be t
of the genus
the stock of the
tame goat. It has large knotty horns re-
clining on its back, is of a yellowish color
and its beard is black. It inhabits the
Alps. Encyc
The JEgagrus, or wild goat of the moun-
tains of Persia, appears to be the stock of
the tame goat. The Ibex is a distinct spo
cies. Cuvier.
IBIS, n. [Gr. andl,.] A fowl of the genu:
Tantalus, and grallic order, a native of
Egypt. The bill is long, subulated, am'
somewhat crooked ; the face naked, and
the feet have four toes palmated at the
base. This fowl was much valued by the
Egyptians for destroying serpents. It is
aaid by Bruce not now to inhabit Egypt,
but to be found in Abyssinia. Encyc
The ibis of the Egyptians is a species of the
■ genus Scolnpax." It was anciently vene-
rated cither because it devoured serpents,
or because the marking of its plumage
scmbled one of the phases of the moon, or
because it appeared in Egypt with the ris-
ing of the Nile. Cuvier.
The ibis tis common in Egypt durinj the
overflowing of the Nile. Ed. Encyc.
ICA'RIAN, a. [from Icaru.% the son of Dce-
dalus, who fled on wings to e.-oape the re-
sentment of Minos, but his flight being too
high was fatal to him, as the sun melted
the wax that cemented his wings.]
Adventurous in flightj soaring too high for
safety, like Icarus.
ICE. n. [Sax. is, mo; G. eis ; J), ys ; Dan.
lis ; Sw. Ice. is ; Ir. cuise. The true or-
. thography would be ise. The primary
sense is doubtless to set, to fix, to congeal
or harden. It may be allied to the G
eisen, iron ; perhaps also to L. os, a bone.]
1. Water or other fluid congealed, or in a
solid state ; a solid, transpareiu, brittle
substance, formed by the congelation of
fluid, by means of the abstraction of the
heat necessary to preserve its fluidity, or
to use common language, congealed by
cold.
2. Concreted sugar.
To break the ice, is to make the first opening
to any attempt ; to remove the first ob-
Btructions or difficulties; to open the way.
Shak.
ICE, i>. t. To cover with ice ; to convert into
■ ice. Fletcher.
2. To cover with concreted sugar ; to frost.
Puller.
3. To chill ; to freeze.
ICEBERG, n. [ice and G. berg, a hill.] A hill
or inountaic of ice, or a vast body of
I C H
accumulated in valleys in high northern;
latitudes. J
This term is applied to such elevated mass-,
es as exist in the valleys of the frigid
zones ; to those which are found on the
surface of fixed ice ; and to ice of great
thickness and hightli in a floating state.
These lofty floating masses are sometimes
detached from the icebergs on shore, and
sometimes formed at a distance from any
land. They are found in both the frigid
zones, and are sometimes carried towards
the equator as low as 40°. Ed. Encyc.
ICEBLINK, n. A name given by seamen
to a bright appearance near the horizon,
occasioned by the ice, and observed before
the ice itself is seen. Encyc.
ICEBOAT, n. A boat constructed for mov-
ing on ice.
ICEBOUND, a. In seaman's language, to-
tally surrounded with ice, so as to be in-
capable of advancing. Mar. Diet.
ICEBUILT, a. Composed of ice.
9. Loaded with ice. Gray
ICEHOUSE, n. [ice and house.] A reposi-
tory for the preservation of ice during
warm weather ; a pit with a drain for con
veying off"tiie water of the ice when dis
solved, and usually covered with a roof.
ICEISLE, n. iceile. [ice and isle.] A vas
body of floating ice, such as is often seen
in the Atlantic, off the banks of New
foundland. J- Barlow.
When flat and extending beyond the
reach of sight, it is called field ice ; when
smaller, but of very large dimensions, it is-
called a floe ; when lofty, an iceberg
There are numerous other terms for the
difierent appearances of floating i<
Ed. Encyc.
ICELANDER, n. A native of Iceland.
ICELAND'le, a. Pertaining to Iceland
and as a noun, the language of the Ice-
landers.
Iceland spar, calcarious spar, in laminated
masses, easily divisible into rhombs, per
fectly situilar to the primitive rhomb.
Cleaveland.
ICEPLANT, n. A plant of the genus Me-
sembryanthemum, sprinkled with pellu-
cid, glittering, icy pimples. Encyc,
ICESPAR, Ji. A variety of feldspar, the
ystals of which resemble ice. Jaineson.
ICHNEUMON, n. [L. from the Gr. ix<'
^i.«',from ijt"'*") to follow the steps, ijrioj, a
footstep ; a follower of the crocodile.]
An animal of the genus Viverra, or weasel
kind. It has a tail tapering to a point, and
its toes are distant from each other. It in-
habits Egypt, Barbary and India. It de-
stroys the most venomous serpents, and
seeks the eggs of the crocodile, digging
them out of the sand, eating them and de-
stroying the young. In India and Egy^)t,
this animal is domesticated and kept for
destroying rats and mice. Encyc.
Ichneumon-fly, a genus of flies, of the order
of hymenopters, containing several hun-
dredspecies. These animals have jaws,
but no tongue ; the antennse have "more
than thirty joints, and are kept in contin-
ual motion. The abdomen is generally
petiolated, or joined to the body by a ped-
icle. These animals are great destroyers
of caterpillars, plant-lice and other insects.
I c o
youn;:
Zncyc
as the ichneumon is of the eggs and yoi
of the crocodile. -En
lellNOGRAPH'IC, ? [See Ichnog'ra-
ICHNOGRAPH'ICAL, \ "' phy.] Pertain
ing to ichnography ; describing a ground-
plot.
lellNOG'RAPHY, «. [Gr. ix""!, a foot-
step, and ypcKfu, to describe.]
In perspective, the view of any thing cut oft
by a plane ))arallel to the horizon, just at
the base of it ; a ground-plot. Encyc.
I'CllOR, n. [Gr. i;tup.] A thin watery hu-
mor, like serum or whey.
2. Sanious tnatter flowing from an ulcer.
Enajc.
rcHOROUS, a. Like ichor; thin ; watery ;
serous.
2. Sanious.
(CH'THYOeOL, I , [Gr. txOv,, a fi.sh,
leHTHYOCOL'LA, ^ a>itl »<»->», gh'e.)
Fish-glue ; isinglass ; a glue prepared
from the sounds of fish. Tooke.
leH'THYOLITE, n. [Gr. .^^vj, a fish, and
uSof, a stone.]
Fossil fish ; or the figure or impression of a
fish in rock. Hitchcock.
I€HTHYOLO(i'ICAL, a. Pertaining to
ichthvology.
ICIITI'IYOL'OUIST, ti. [See Ichthyology.]
One versed in ichthyology.
ICHTHYOLOGY, n. [Gr. i;k9i'5, a fish, and
xoyof, discourse.]
The .science of fishes, or that part of zoology
which treats of fishes, their structure,
form and classification, their habits, uses,
&c. Encyc. Ed. Encyc.
leHTHYOPH'AGOUS, a. [Gr. tz9v{, fish,
and (pa/yu, to eat.] Eating or subsisting on
fish. D'AnvUle.
ICHTHYOPH'AgY, n. [supra.] The prac-
tice of eating fish.
ICHTHYOPHTHAL'MITE, n. [Gr. »z9v5,
a fish, and o<j>9a>.uo5, an eye.] Fish-eye-
stone. [See Apophyllile.]
I'CICLE, 71. [Sax. ises-gecel, D. yskegel, icB-
cone. Kegel is a cone or nine pin. J
A pendent conical mass of ice, formed by
the freezing of water or other fluid as it
flows down an inclined plane, or collects
in drops and is suspended. In the north
of England, it is called ickle.
I'CINESS, 71. The state of being icy, or of
being very cold.
2. The state of generating ice.
I'CING, ppr. Covering with concreted su-
gar. ^
I'CON, n. ['Gr. tixun, an image, from iixu,
to resemble.]
An image or representation. [JVot in use.]
Brown. Hakemll.
ICON'OCLAST, n. [Fr. iconoclaste ; Gr.
iixui', an image, and x%a;r,s, a breaker,
from x\au, to break.]
.\ breaker or destroyer of images ; a name
which Catholics give to those who reject
the use of images in religious worship.
Encyc.
ICONOCLAS'TIC, a. Breaking images.
ICONOGRAPHY, ti. [Gr. ttxuv, an image,
and 7P<»4i", to describe.]
The description of images or ancient statues,
busts, semi-busts, paintings in fi-esco, mo-
saic works, and ancient pieces of minia-
ture.
ICONOL'ATER, ti. [Gr. axuv, an image,
and xarpivt, a servant.]
I D E
IDE
I D I
One that worships images; a name given to
the Romanists.
I€0N0L'06Y, n. [Gr. iixav, an image, and
Myoi, a discourse.]
The doctrine of images or representations.
Johnson.
!€OSAHE'DRAL, a. [Gr. tixoot, twenty,
and fSpa, seat, basis.] Having twenty
equal sides.
ieOSAHE'DRON, n. [supra.] A solid of
twenty etjual sides.
In geometry, a regular solid, consisting of
twenty triangular pyramids, whose ver-
tices meet in the center of a sphere sup-
posed to circumscribe it, and therefore
have their highths and bases equal.
Ell eye. Enfield.
ICOSAN'DER, n. [Gr. uxooi, twenty, and
avrjp, a male.]
In botany, a plant having twenty or more
stamens inserted in the calyx. Linne.
Note. A writer on botany has suggested
that as the proper character of plants of tliis
class is the insertion of the stamens in the ca-
lyx, it might be expedient to denominate the
class, Calycandria. Journ. of Science.
ICOSAN'DRIAN, n. Pertaining to the class
of plants, Icosandria, having twenty or
more stamens inserted in the calyx.
ICTERIC, \ [h. ictericus, from icterus,
1€TER'I€AL, ^ "•jaundice.] Affected with
the jaundice.
9. Good in the cure of the jaundice.
ICTERIC, n. A remedy for the jaundice.
Swift.
leTERI"TIOUS, a. [L. icterus, jaundice.]
Yellow ; having the color of the skin
when it is affected by the jaundice.
I'CY, a. [from ice.] Abounding with ice ; as
the icy regions of the north.
2. Cold ; frosty ; as icy chains. Sliak.
3. Made of ice.
4. Resembling ice ; chilling.
Religion lays not an icy hand on the true joys
of life. Buckminster.
.'). Cold; frigid; destituteof affection or pas-
sion. Shak.
(3. Indifferent ; unaffected ; backward.
Shak.
ICY-PEARLED, a. Studded with spangles
of ice. Milton.
Vd, contracted from I would, or I had.
IDE' A, n. [h.idea; Fr.idee; Gr. iSfct, from
uSu, to see, L. video.]
1. Literally, that which is seen ; hence, form,
image, model of any thing in the mind ;
that which is held or comprehended by
the understanding or intellectual facul-
ties.
I have used the word idea, to express what-
ever is meant by phantasm, notion, species, oi
whatever it is which the mind can be employ-
ed about in thinking. Locke
Whatever the mind perceives in itself, or i;
the immediate object of perception, thought or
understanding, that I call an idea. Locke.
The attention of the understanding to the
objects acting on it, by which it becomes sen-
sible of the impressions they make, is called by
logicians, perception; and the notices them-
selves as they exist in the mind, as the materi-
als of thinking and knowledge, are distinguish-
ed by the name of ideas. Encyc. art. Logic.
An idea is the reflex perception of objects,
after the original perception or impression has
been felt by the mind. Encyc
In popular language, idea signifies the same
ihing as conception, apprcheosion, notion. To
have an idea of any thing is to conceive it. InJ
philosophical use, it does not signify that act oil
the mind which we call thought or conception,
but some object of thought. Reid.
According to modem writers on mental
philosophy, an idea is the object of thought,
or the notice which the mind takes of its
nal things which our organs bring us ac-
quainted with originally, and he defines it,
a contraction, motion or configuration of
the fibers which constitute the immediate
organ of sense ; synonymous with which
he sometimes uses sensual motion, in con-
tradistinction to mitscular motion. Zoon.
2. In popular use, idea signifies notion, con-
ception, thought, opinion, and even pur-
pose or intention.
3. Image in the mind.
Her sweet idea wandered through his
thoughts. Fairfax.
[jj bad use of the word.]
4. An opinion ; a proposition. These deci-
sions are incompatible with the idea, that
the principles are derived from the civil
law.
IDE'AL, a. Existing in idea; intellectual;
mental ; as ideal knowledge.
There will always be a wide interval between
practical and ideal excellence. Rambler.
2. Visionary ; existing in fancy or imagina-
tion only ; as ideal good.
3. That considers ideas as images, phan
tasms, or forms in the mind ; as the ideal
theory or philosophy.
IDE'ALISIVI, n. The system or theory that
makes every thing to consist in ideas, and
denies the existence of material bodies.
Walsh.
IDE'ALIZE, V. i. To form ideas.
IDE'ALLY, adv. Intellectually ; mentally ;
in idea. Brown
IDE'ATE, V. t. To form in idea ; to fancy
[J^Tol in i«se.] Donne.
IDEN'TIC, , ? „ [Fr. identique ; Sp. idcn
IDENTICAL, s"'fico; from L. idem, the
same.]
The same ; not different ; as the identical
person ; the identical proposition. We
found on the thief the identical goods that
were lost.
IDENTIFICATION, n. The act of ma
king or proving to be the same.
IDEN'TIFIED,pp. Ascertained or made to
be the same.
IDEN'TIFY, V. t. [L. idem, the same, and
facio, to make.]
1. To ascertain or prove to be the same
The owner of the goods found them in the
possession of the thief, and identified them.
2. To make to be the same ; to unite or com
bine in such a manner as to make one in
terest, purpose or intention ; to treat a;
having the same use ; to consider as the
same in effect.
Paul has identified the two ordinances, cir-
cumcision and baptism, and thus, by demon-
strating that they have one and the same use
and meaning, he has exhibited to our view the
very same seal of God's covenant. JJif. Alason.
That treaty in fact identified Spain with the
republican government of France, by a virtual
acknowledgment of unqualified vassalage, and
by specific stipulations of unconditional defense
British Declaration, Jan. 1805
Every precaution is taken to identify the in-
terests of the people, and of the rulers. Ramsay.
IDEN'TIFY, v.i. To become the same ; to
coalesce in interest, purpose, use, effect,
&;c.
— An enlightened self-interest, which, when
well understood, they tell us will identify with
an interest more enlarged and public. Brerke.
IDEN'TIFtlNG, ppr. Ascertaining ocprov-
ing to be the same.
2. Making the same in interest, purpose, use,
efficacy, &c.
roEN'TITY, n. [Fr. identity Sameness,
as distinguished from similitude and diver-
sity. We speak of the identity of goods
found, the identity of person,?, or of per-
sonal identity. Locke. South.
IDES, n. plu. [lu idus. Q,u. the Hetrurian
iduo, to divide, the root otwide, divide, in-
dividual. The etymology is not ascer-
tained.]
In the ancient Roman calendar, eight days
in each month ; the first day of which fell
on the 13th of January, February, April,
June, August, September, November and
December, and on the 15tli of March,
May, July and October. The ides came
between the calends and the nones, and
were reckoned backwards. This method
of reckoning is still retained in the chan-
cery of Rome, and in the calendar of the
breviary. Encyc.
IDIOC'RASY, n. [Gr. i«io;, proper, pecul-
iar to one's self, and xpam;, mixture, tem-
perament, from xjptuo, xepat'iiifu, to mix.]
Peculiarity of constitution ; that tempera-
ment, or state of constitution, which is
peculiar to n person. .
IDIOCRAT'IC, } Peculiar in consti-
IDIOCRAT'ICAL, ^ "• tution.
ID'IOCY, n. [Gr. vb^ttw.. Bee Idiot.] A
defect of understanding ; properly, a natu-
ral defect.
Idiocy and lunacy excuse from the guilt of
crime. Encyc.
IDIOELEC'TRIC, a. [Gr. iStoj, separate
from others, peculiar to one's self, and
electric.]
Electric perse, or containing electricity in its
natural state. Gregory.
ID'IOM, n. [Fr. idiome ; L. idioma, from
Gr. t64wuo,from tStof, proper, or peculiar to
one's self The root of i,Sm{ is that of di-
vide, Hetrurian iduo, Eng. widow, wide, Ar.
jvj badda, to separate. Class. Bd. No.
!•]■
. A mode of expression peculiar to a lan-
guage ; peculiarity of expression or phra-
seology. Ill this sense, it is used in the
plural to denote forms of speech or phra-
seology, peculiar to a nation or lan-
guage.
And to just idioms fix our doubtful speech.
Prior.
2. The genius or peculiar cast of a lan-
guage.
He followed the Latin language, but did not
comply with the idiom of ours. Dryden.
.3. Dialect.
IDIOMAT'IC, \ Peculiar to a lan-
IDIOMAT'ICAL, i guage ; pertaining to
the particular genius or modes of expres-
sion which belong to a language ; as an.
idiomatic phrase.
I D L
IDIOMAT'ICALLY, adv. According to the
idiom of a liiiigtiage.
IDIOPATH'I€, a. [See Uiopathy.-] Per
taining to idiopathy ; indicating a disease
peculiar to a particular part ol'tlio body
and not arising Ironi any preceding dis-
ease ; as idiopathic head-ach. The epile|)sy
is idiopathic, when it proceeds from some
fault m the brain ; but sympathetic, when
it is tlie consequence of some other disor-
der. Darwin. Encyc.
The term idiopathic is also applied to
general as well as local diseases, as idio-
pathic fever. It then signifies, not sym-
pathetic or symptomatic, not arising from
any previous disease. Good.
IDIOPATH'I€ALLY, adv. By means of
its own disease or affections ; not sympa-
thetically.
IDIOPATHY, 11. [Gr. tStoj, proper, pecul
iar, and rtaSoj, suffering, disease, from jtaa-
xu, to suffer.]
1. An original disease in a particular part of
the body ; a disease peculiar to some part
of the body and not proceeding from an-
other disease. Coxe. Encyc.
I 2. Peculiar affection. More.
\ IDIO-REPUL'SIVE, a. Repulsive by it-
self ; as the idio-repulsive power of heat.
I IDIOSYN'CRASY, n. [Gr. ciio;, proper,
aw, with, and xpan;, temperament.]
I A peculiar temperament or organization of
a body, by which it is rendered more lia-
ble to certain disorders than bodies differ-
ently constituted. Coxe. Encyc.
i ID'IOT, n. [L. idiota; Gr. t64«f.j5. private,
vulgar, unskilled, from iJioj, peculiar, that
is, separate, simple ; Sp. It. idiota ; Fr.
idiot. See Idiom.]
I: 1. A natural fool, or fool from his birth ; a
human being in form, but destitute of rea
son, or the ordinary intellectual powers of]
person who has understanding enough to
ore a yard of cloth, number twenty co
rectly, tell the days of t}ie week, &c. is not a
idiot in the eye of tlie law. Encyi
i 2. A foolish person ; one unwise.
} IDIOT'IC, a. Like au idiot: foolish; so
tisi).
i ID'IOTISH, a. Like an idiot ; pai-taking of
idiocy ; foolish. Paley.
'^ ID'IOtiSM, n. [Fr. idiotisme ; It. Sp. idio-
lismo ; Gr. iSiuTta/to;, a form of speech ta-
ken from the vulgar, from tSioj.]
.t 1. An idiom ; a peculiarity of expression; a
mode of expression peculiar to a lan-
guage ; a peculiarity in the structure of
; words and phrases.
Scholars sometimes give terminations and
idioiistns suitable to their native language, to
words newly invented. Hale.
I 2. Idiocy. Beddoes, Hygeia.
But it would be well to restrain this
; word to its projjer signification, and keep
idiocij and idiotism distinct.
1 ID'IOTIZE, V. i. To become stupid.
Pers. Letters.
I'DLE, a. [Sax. idel ydel, vain, empty ; G.
fi(f/, mere, pure, idle, frivolous; D. ydel,
vain, empty, idle ; Dan. Sw. idel, mere,
pure, unmixed. Class Dl. No. 6. IC. 25.
20.]
1. Not employed ; unoccupied with busi-
ness ; inactive ; doing nothing.
I D O
A mineral, the vesuvian of AVenier, some-
times massive, and very often in shining
prismatic crystals. Its primitive form is
a four-sided prism with square bases. It
is found near Vesuvius, in unaltered rocks
ejected by the volcano ; also in primitive
rocks, in various other localities.
Cleareland.
I'DOL, n. [Fr. idote ; It. Sj). trfo/o ; L. ido-
lum ; Gr. tiSu^of, from uSos, form, or iiiu,
to see.]
An image, form or representation, usual-
ly of a man or other animal, consecrated
as an object of worship ; a pagan deity.
Idols are usually statues or images, carved
out of wood or stone, or formed of metale,
particularly silver or gold.
The gods of the nations are idols. Ps. xcvi.
An image.
Nor ever idol seemed so much alive.
Dry den.
3. A person loved and honored to adora-
tion. The prince was the idol of the peo-
ple.
4. Any thing on which we set our affections;
that to which we indulge an excessive and
sinful attachment.
Little children, keep yourselves from idoh.
1 John V.
An idol is any thing which usurps the place
of God in the hearts of his rational creatures.
S. Milkr.
5. A representation. [.Vo/ in itse.] Spenser.
IDOL'ATER, tj. [Fr. tdolalre ; L. idololatra ;
Gr. fiiu/Xoxarpij?. See Idolatry.]
1. A worshiper of idols ; one who pays di-
vine honors to images, statues, or repre-
sentations of any thing made by hands ;
one who worships as a deity that which
is not God ; a pagan.
2. An adorer ; a great admirer. Hurd.
IDOL'ATRESS, n. A female worshiper of
11 idols.
jjiDOLATRlZE, v.i. To worship idols.
.: IDOL'ATRIZE, v.t. To adore ; to worshjp.
ployed, or to e.-vertion either of body ori ^ „„^,,-. „ . . 'ItnsworOi.
mind; laziness; sloth ; sluggishness. This iDOL'ATROUs, a. Pertaining to idolatry ;
is properly laziness ; but idleness is often partaking ol the nature of idolatry, or of
the effect of laziness, and sometimes this ihe worship of false gods ; consisting in
word may be used for it. «''? worship of idols ; as idolatrous wor-
3. Unimportance; trivialuess. IL ^h^P-
Apes of idleness.
I D O
Why stend ye here all the day idle ? Matt.l
s. ■
To be idle, is to be vicious. Rambler]
|2. Slothful; given to rest and case ; averse
to labor or employment; lazy ; as an idle
m'.iii ; an idle fellow.
3. Affording leisure ; vacant; not occupied;
as idle time ; idle hours.
. Remaining unused ; unemployed ; applied
to things ; as, my sword or spear is idle.
5. Useless ; vain ; ineffectual ; as idle rage.
Down their idle weapons dropped. MilUm.
6. Unfruitful ; barren ; not productive of
good.
Of antres vast and idle desarts. Shak.
Idle weeds. Obs. Shak.
7. Trifling; vain; of no importance; as an
idle story ; an idle reason ; idle arguments.
Hooker. Dryden. Swijl.
8. Unprofitable ; not tending to edification.
Every idle word that men shall speak, they
shall give an account thereof in the day of judg-
ment. Matt. xii.
Idle differs fiom lazy; the latter implying
constitutional or habitual aversion or in-
disposition to labor or action, sluggish-
ness ; whereas idle, in its proper sense, de-
notes merely unemployed. An industri-
ous inan may be idle, but he cannot be
lazy.
I'DLE, V. i. To lose or .spend time in inac-
tion, or without being employed in busi
ness.
To idle aioay, in a transitive sense, to spend
in idleness ; as, to idle away time.
I'DLEUEADED, a. [idle and head.] Fool-
ish ; unreasonable. Carew.
2. Delirious ; infatuated. [Little used.]
UEslrange
I'DLENESS, n. Abstinence from labor or
employment ; the state of a person who is
unemployed in labor, or unoccupied in
business ; the state of doing nothing. Idle-
ness is the parent of vice.
Through the idleness of the hands the house
dioppeth through. Ecclcs. x.
2. Aversion to labor ; reluctance to be
4. Inefficacy ; uselessness. [Little used.]
5. Barrenness ; worthlessness. [Litlle used.]
6. Emptiness; foolishness; infatuation; as
idleness oChraw. [Litlle used .] Bacon.
I'DLEPATED, a. Idleheaded ; stupid.
Overbury.'^
I'DLER, Jt. One who does notliing; one
who spends his time in inaction, or with-
out being engaged in business.
2. A lazy i)erson ; a sluggard. Raleigh.
I'DLESBY, n. An idle or lazy person.
[JVot used.] JfTiitlock.
I'DLY, adv. In an idle manner; without
employment.
2. Lazily ; sluggishly. j
3. Foolishly ; uselessly ; in a trifling way. 1
A shilling spent idly by a fool, may be saved
by a wiser person. Franklin:
Carelessly ; without attention. Prior.'^
5. Vainly ; ineffectually ; as, to reason idly
against truth. |
SAafc.li2. Consisting in or partaking of an exces-
sive attachment or reverence ; as an idol-
atrotis veneration for antiquity.
IDOL'ATROUSLY, adv. In an idolatrous
manner; with excessive reverence.
Hooker.
IDOL'ATRY, n. [Fr. idolatrie ; L. idolola-
iria ; Gr. ftfiwXoXarptca ; niuyjov, idol, and
>xirpewo, to worship or serve.]
1. The worship of idols, images, or any thing
made by hands, or which is not God.
Idolatry is of two kinds ; the worship of
images, statues, pictures, &c. made by
hands ; and the worship of the heavenly
bodies, the sun, moon and stars, or of de-
mons, angels, men aud animals. Encyc.
2. Excessive attachment or veneration for
any thing, or that which borders on ado-
ration.
I'DOLISH, a. Idolatrous. MUton.
I'DOLISM, n. The worship of idols. [Lit-
tle used.] Milton.
ID bcRASE, n. [Gr. tiia, form, and xpasts, I'DOLIST, n. .\ worshiper of images ; a
I mixture ; a mixed figure.] » poetical word. Milton.
I G N
I'DOLiZE, V. t. To love to excess ; to loyej
or reverence to adoration ; as, to idolize^
gold or wealth ; to idolize children ; toi
idolize a virtuous magistrate or a hero.
I'DOLIZED, pp. Loved or reverenced to
adoration. I
I'DOLIZER, n. One who idolizes, or lovcs^
to reverence. !
I'DOLiZING, ppr. Loving or revering to:
an excess bordering on adoration. i
IDO'NEOUS, a. [L. idoneus ; probably!
from tlieroot of Gr. Snio/tai, to be strong,
able or sufficient.]
Fit ; suitable ; proper ; convenient ; adequate,
{Ullh W5cd.] Boyle:^
IDYL, n. [L. idyllium; Gr.tiivM.un; sup-:
posed to be from f 1S05, form.] !
A short poem ; properly, a short pastoral
poem ; as the id^ls of Theocritus.
]. e. stands for L. id est, that is.
I'ELAND, n. i'land. [G. and D. eiland;
Sax. ealond, iegland ; composed of £e, ea,
water, Fr. eau, contracted from L. aqua,
and land. This is the genuine English'
word, always used in discourse, but forj
which is used island, an absurd compoundj
of Fr. isle and land, which signifies land
in water-land, or rather ieland-land.] j
1. A portion of land surrounded by water;
as Bermuda, Barbadoes, Cuba, Great Brit-
ain, Borneo.
2. A large mass of floating ice.
IF, V. t. imperative, contracted from Sax.
f^if, from gifan, Goth, giban, to give. It
is used as the sign of a condition, or it in-
troduces a conditional sentence. It is 0
verb, without a specified nominative. In
like manner we use grant, admit, suppose.
Regularly, ij should be follo\ved, as it was|
formerly, by the substitute or pronouni
that, referring to the succeeding sentence'
or proposition. If that John shall arrive
in season, I will send him with a message.
But that is now omitted, and the subse-
quent sentence, proposition or affirmation
may be considered as the object of the
verb. Give John shall arrive ; grant, sup-
pose, admit that he shall arrive,! will send
him with a message. The sense of if, or
give, in this use, is grant, admit, cause to
be, let tlie fact be, let the thing take place.
If then is equivalent to grant, allow, ad-
mit. " If thou wilt, thou canst make me
whole," that is, thou canst make me whole,
give the fact, that thou wilt.
J/" thou art the son of God, command that
these stones be made bread. Matt. xiv.
^. Whether or not.
Uncertain if by augury or chance. Dryden
So in French, soil que, let it be that.
IG'NEOUS, a. [L. igneus, from ignis, fire
Sans, aghni, Bengal, aag, ogin, Slav, ogn.]
1. Consisting of fire; as igneous particles
emitted from burning wood.
2. Containing fire ; having the nature of fire,
3. Resembling fire ; as an igneous appear-
ance.
IGNES'CENT, a. [L. ignescens, ignesco
from ignis, fire.]
Emitting sparks of fire when struck with
steel; scintillating; as igntscent slants.
Fourcroy
IGNES'CENT, n. A stone oi- mineral that
gives out sparks when struck with steel or
I G N
Many other stones, besides tliis class of ignes-
cents, produce a real scintillation when struck
against steel. Fourcroy.
IG'NIFy, V. t. [L. ignis and/ocio.] To form
nto fire. Stukely.
IGNIF'LUOUS, a. [h. ignifl.uus.'] Flowing
with fire. Cockeran
IGNIP'OTENT, a. [L. ignis, fire, and ;)o
tens, powerful.]
Presiding over fire. Vulcan is called the
power ignipotent. Pope.
IGNIS FATUUS,n. [L.] A meteoror light
that appears in the night, over marshy
grounds, supposed to be occasioned by
phosphoric matter extricated from putre-
fying animal or vegetable substances, or by
some inflammable gas; vulgarly called
JVitl with the ivisp, and Jack with a lantern.
Ed. Encyc.
IGNI'TE, V. t. {L. ignis, fire.] To kindle,
or set on fire.
3. More generally, to communicate fire to,
or to render luminous or red by heat ; as,
to ignite charcoal or iron. Anthracite is
ignited with more difficulty than bitumin
ous coal.
IGNI'TE, V. i. To take fire ; to become red
with heat.
IGNI'TED, j>p. Set pn fire.
2. Rendered red or luminous by heat or fire
IGNI'TING, ;);or. Setting on fire; becoming
red with heat.
9. Communicating fire to ; heating to red
ness.
IGNI"TION, 71- The act of kindling, or set
ting on fire.
2. The act or operation of commimicating
fire or heat, till the substance becomes red
or luminous.
3. The state of being kindled; more gene
or lummousness.
4. Calcination.
IGNI'TIBLE, a. Capable of being ignited
IGNIV'OMOUS, a. [L. ignivomus ; ignis,
fire, and vomo, to vomit.]
Vomiting fire ; as an ignivomous mountain
a volcano. Derham
IGNO'BLE, a. [Fr. from L. ignobilis ; in
and nohilis. See JVo6ie.]
1. Of low birtli or family ; not noble ; nol
illustrious.
2. Mean ; worthless ; as an ignoble plant.
3. Base ; not honorable ; as an ignoble motive.
IGNOBIL'ITY, n. Ignobleness. [.\'ot in
use. Ball
IGNO'BLENESS, n. Want of dignity;
anness. Ainsworth.
IGNOBLY, orfr. Of low family or birth ; as
gnobly born.
2. Meanly ; dishonorably ; reproachfully ; dis-
gracefully ; basely. The troops ignobly fly.
""' — TIN'IOUS, a. [L. ignominiosus. See
IGNOMI
Ignoyniny.]
Incurring disgrace; cowardly; of mean
character.
Then with pale fear surprised,
Fled ignominious. MUlon
3. Very shameful ; reproachful ; dishonora-
ble ; infamous. To be hanged for acrinu
is ignominious. Whipping, cropping and
branding are ignominious punishments.
3. Despicable ; worthy of contempt ; as an
ignominious projector. Swift
IGNOMIN'IOUSLY, adv. Meanly; dis
gracefully; shamefully.
I L E
IG'NOMINY, n. [L. ignominia ; in and
nomen, against name or reputation ; Fr.
ignominie.]
Public disgrace ; shame ; reproach ; dishon-
or ; infamy.
Their generals have been received with hon-
or after their defeat ; yours with ignominy after
conquest. Addison.
Vice begins in mistake, and ends in igno-
miny. Rambler.
IGNORA'MUS, n. [L. we are ignorant;
from ignoro.]
1. The indorsement which a grand jury
make on a bill presented to them for in-
quiry, when there is not evidence to sup-
port the charges, on which all proceedings
are stopped, and the accused person is dis-
charged.
2. An ignorant person ; a vain pretender to
knowledge. South.
IG'NORANCE, n. [Fr. from L. ignorantia ;
ignoro, not to know ; ignarus, ignorant ;
in and gnarus, knowing.]
1. Want, absence or destitution of knowl-
edge ; the negative state of the mind which
has not been instructed in arts, literature
or science, or has not been informed of
facts. Ignorance may be general, or it
may be limited to particular subjects. Ig-
norance of the law does not excuse a man
for violating it. Ignorance of facts is often
venial.
Ignorance is preferable to error. Jefferson.
2. Ignorances, in the plural, is used some-
times for omissions or mistakes ; but the
use is uncommon and not to be encoura-
ged.
IG'NORANT, a. [L, ignorans.] Deistitute
of knowledge; uninstructed or luiinform-
ed ; untaught ; unenlightened. A man
may be ignorant of the law, or of any art
or .science. He may be ignorant of his
own rights, or of the rights of others.
2. Unknown; undi^:cnvered ; a poetical use ;
as ignorant concealment. Shak.
3. Unacquainted with.
Ignorant o{ s,\x\\i, I fear not shame.
Ihryden
4. Unskilfully made or done. [JSTot I'egiti-
7p.]
Poor ignorant baxibles. Shak
IG'NORANT, n. A person untaught or un-
formed ; one unlettered or unskilled.
Did I for this take pains to teach
Our zealous i^norants to preach .' Denkam.
IG'NORANTLY, adv. Without knowledge,
instruction or information.
Whom therefore yc ignoranily worship, him
declare I unto you. Acts xvii.
2. Unskilfully ; inexpertly. A man may mis-
take blunders for beauties and ignoranily
admire them.
IGNO'RE, V. t. To be ignorant, [^rot in
use.] Boyle.
IGNOS'CIBLE, a. [I..ignoscibilis.] Par-
donable. [JVbt used.]
IGNO'TE, a. [L. ignptus.] Unknov/n. [J\'ot
■used.]
IGU*.\NA, n. A species of hzard, of the ge-
mis Lacerta.
ILE, so written by Pope for aile, a walk or
alley in a church or pubhc building. [JVot
2. An ear of corn. [J^ot itsed.] Ainsworth.
I'LEX, n. [L.] In botany, the generic name
of the Holly-tree. Also, the Q((crci(» ilrr,
or ureat scarlet o,ik.
ILL
1 L L
L L
1L'IA€, a. [L. iliacu3, from ilia, the flank
or small intestines; Gr. mVu, to wind.]
Pertaining to the lower bowels, or to the
ileum. The iliac passion, is a violent and
dangerous kind of colic, with an inversion
of the peristaltic motion of the bowels.
DncQc. Parr.
IL'IAD, n. [ftom Ilium, Jlion, Troy.] An
epic poem, composed by Homer, in twenty
four books. The subject of this poem is
the wrath of Achilles ; in describing whicli
the poet exhibits the miserable effects of
disunion and public dissensions. Hence
the phrase, llias malorum, an Hiad of woes
or calamities, a world of disasters.
Cicero.
ILK, a. The same ; each. This is retained
in Scottish, from the Saxon elc, each,
ILL, n. [supposed to be contracted from
evU, Sax. i/fel; but this is doubtful. It '
in Swedish, ilia, and I>an.i7rfe.]
1. Bad or evil, in a general sense; contrary
to good, physical or moral ; applied to
things ; evil ; wicked ; wrong ; iniquitous ;
as, his ways are ill; he sets an ill
ample.
2. Producing evil or misfortune ; as an ill
star or planet.
3. Bad ; evil ; unfortunate ; as an HI end
an ill fate.
4. Unhealthy ; insalubrious ; as an iU air or
climate.
5. Ci-oss ; crabbed : surly ; peevish ; as ill
nature ; ill temper.
G. Diseased ; disordered ; sick or indisposed ,
applied to persons ; as, the man is ill : he
has been ill a long time ; he is ill of
fever.
7. Diseased ; impaired ; as an ill state of|j
health.
8. Discordant; harsli ; disagreeable; as an
ill sound.
9. Homely ; ugly ; as ill looks, or an ill coun-
tenance.
10. Unfavorable; suspicious; as vilien we
say, this affair bears an ill look or aspect.
11. Rude; unpolished; as iH breeding ; ill
manners.
12. Not proper ; not regular or legitimate ;
as an ill expression in grammar.
ILL, n. Wickedness; depravity; evil.
Strong virtue, like strong nature, struggles
sliU,
Exerts itself V"l then tliro ws off the ill.
iDryden.
2. Misfortune ; calamity ; evil ; disease ; pain ;
whatever annoys or impairs hap|)iness, or
])revents success.
Who can all sense of otliei's ills escape,
i| Is but a brute at best in human shape. Thtc.
ILL, urfy. Not well; not rightly or perfectly.
;! He is ill at ease.
I 2. Not easily ; with pain or difficulty. He
\, is ill able to sustain the burden,
f III bears the sex the youthful lovers' fate,
I When just approaching to the nuptial state.
; Dryden.
I' ILL, prefixed to participles of the present
tense, and denoting evil or wrong,' may be
considered as a noun governed by the par-
ticiple, or as making apart of a compound
word ; as an ill meanivg man, an ill de-
signing man, an ill boding hour ; that is,
a man meaning ill, an hour boding ill. It
is more consonant, however, to the genius
of our language, to treat these and similaf
word.s as compounds. In some cases, as
before the participles of intransitive verbs.
ill must be con.sidered as a part of the com-
pound, as in ill-looking. When used be-
fore the perfect participle, ill is to be con-
sidered as an adverb, or modifying word,
or tobe treated as a part of the compound ;
as in ill-bred, ill-governed, Hl-fated, ill-fi
vored, ill-formed, iU-mmded. In these and
all similar connections, it might be well to
unite the two words in a compound by
hyphen. As ill may be prefixed to almost
any participle, it is needless to attempt to
collect a list of such words for insertion.
11, prefixed to words beginning with 2, standi
for in, as used in the Latin language, and
usually denotes a negation of the sense
the simple word, as illegal, not legal ; or it
denotes to or on, an<l merely augments or
enforces tlie sense, as in illuminate.
ILLAB'ILE, a. [See LabUe.] Not liable to
fall or err ; infallible. [JVot used.]
Cheyne.
ILLABIL'ITY, n. The quality of not being
liable to err, fall or apostatize. [Afot used7\
Cheyne.
ILLAC'ERABLE, a. [See Lacerate.] Thai
cannot be torn or rent.
ILLAPSE, n. maps'. [Sec Lapse.] A sh-
ding in; an inimission or entrance of one
thing into another. JVorris.
|2. A falling on; a sudden attack. Thomson.
IILLAQ'UEATE, v. t. [L. illaquco ; in ami
I laqneo, to ensnare ; laqueus, a snare.]
To ensnare; to entrap; to entangle; to
catch. [Little used.] More.
ILLAQ'UEATED./jp. Ensnared.
ILLAQUEA'TION, n. The act of ensnar-
ing ; a catching or entrapping. [Little
used.] Brown.
2. A snare.
ILLA'TION, n. [h.illnlio; in and lalio, a
bearing ; latus, from fero.]
An inference from prenii.ses ; a conclusion ;
deduction. [Little used.] Locke.
IL'LATIVE, o. [See /H«/ion.] Relatin^
illation ; that may be inferred ; as an illa-
tive consequence.
2. That denotes an inference; as an illative
word or particle, as then and therejore.
fVatts
IL'LATIVE, n. That which denotes illation
or inference. Bp. Hall.l
ILLAUD'ABLE, a. [See Laudable.] Not
laudable ; not worthy of approbation or
commendation ; as an illaudable motive or
ILLE'GALLY, adv. In a manner contrary
to law ; unlawfully ; as a man illegally
imprisoned. BlackMone.
ILLEtilBIL'ITY, n. The quahty of being
illegible.
ILLE(i'lBLE, a. [^ee Legible.] That can-
not be read ; obscure or defaced so that
the words cannot be known. It is a dis-
grace to a gentleman to write an illegible
hand. The manuscripts found in the ruins
of Herculaneum are mostly illegible.
ILLEti'IBLY, adv. In a n)anner not to be
read ; as a letter written illegibly.
ILLEOIT'IMACY, n. [See Legitimate.]
I. The state of being born out of wedlock ;
the Slate of bastardy.
2. Worthy of censure or dispraise.
ILLAUD'ABLY, adv. In a maimer unwor-
thy of praise ; without deserving praise.
Broome.
ILL-BRED, a. Not well bred; unpolite.
ILL-BREE'DING, n. Want of good breed-
ing ; unpoliteness.
ILL-CONDI'TIONED, a. [See Condition.]
Being in bad order or state.
ILLE'CEBROUS, a. [L. illecebrosus.] Al-
luring; full of allurement. Elyot.
ILLE'GAL, a. [See Legal.] Not legal ; un-
lawful ; contrary to law ; illicit ; as an ille-
gal act ; illegal trade.
ILLEGALITY, 71. Contrariety to law; un-
lawfulness ; as the t'Heg'oW^ of trespass, or
of false imprisonment.
ILLE'GALIZE, r. t. To render unlawful.
Blackstone.
2. The state of being not genuine, or of le-
gitimate origin.
ILLEGIT'IMATE, a. [See Legitimate.]
Unlawfully begotten ; born out of wed-
lock ; spurious ; as an illegitimate son or
daughter.
2. Unlawful ; contrary to law.
3. Not genuine ; not of genuine origin ; as
Ulegitimaie inference.
4. Not authorized by good usage ; as an ille-
gitimate word.
ILLEGITIMATE, v. t. To render illegiti-
mate ; to prove to be born out of wedlock ;
to biistardize. ff'otton.
ILLEtilT'I.MATELY, adv. Not in wedlock ;
witiiout aiithoritv.
ILLEtilTLMA TIO.\, n. The state of one
I nut born in wedlock. Bacon.
2. Want of genuineness. Martin.
ILLEV'I ABLE, a. [in, not, and Fr. lever, to
raise or levy.] That cannot be levied or
collected. Hale.
ILL'-FACED, a. Having an ugly face.
Hall.
ILL-FA' VORED, (I. [iU and/avored.] Ugly :
ill-looking; wanting beauty ; deformed."
Ill-favtncd and lean fleshed. Gen. xli.
ILL-FA'VOREDLY, adv. With deformit^'.
2. Roughly ; rudely. Howell.
ILL-FA'VOREDNESS, n. Ugliness; de-
forinitv.
ILLIB'ERAL, a. [See Liberal.] Not lib-
eral ; not free or generous.
2. Not noble ; not ingenuous ; not catholic;
of a contracted mind. Coltl in charity ; in
religion, illiberal. K. Charles.
,i. Not candid ; uncharitable in judging.
Not generous; not munificent ; sparingof
gifts. Woodivard.
Not becoming a well bred man. Harrin.
C. Not pure ; not well authorized or elegant ;
illiberal words in Latin. [Unusual.]
Chesterfield.
ILLIBERAL'ITY, n. Narrowness of mind;
contraciedness; meanness; want of cath-
olic opinions.
2. Parsimony ; want of munificence.
Bacon
ILLIB'ERALLY, odi». Ungenerously; un-
candidly ; uncharitably ; disingenuously.
2. Parsimoniously.
ILLICIT, a. [L. {Ilicitus; in and lirilu.'<,
from liceo, to permit.]
Not permitted or allowed ; prohibited ; un-
lawful ; as an illicit trade ; illicit intei'>-
course or connection.
ILLICITLY, adv. Unlawfully.
ILLIC'ITNESS, «. Unlawfujacas.
ILLICITOUS, a. Unlawful.
ILL
ILLI'GHTEN, v. t. [See Light, LighUn.]
To enlighten. [jVot in use.] Raleigh.
ILLIMITABLE, a. {in, not, and limit, or
L. limes.']
That cannot be limited or bounded ; as the
illimitable void. Thomson.
ILLIM'ITABLY, adv. Without possibility
of being bounded.
2. Without limits.
ILLIM'ITED, a. [Fr. illimiti ; in and L.
limes, a limit.]
Unbounded : not limited ; interminable.
Bp. Hall.
ILLIM^ITEDNESS, n. Boundlessness ; the
state of being without limits or restriction.
The absoluteness and illimitedness of his
commission was much spoken of. Clarendon
ILLINP'TION, n. [L. illinitus, illinio, to
anoint ; in and lino, to besmear.]
A thin crust of some extraneous substance
formed on minerals.
It is sometimes disguised by a thin crust or
illinition of black manganese. Kirwan.
ILLIT'ERACV, n. [from illiterate.] The
state of being untaught or unlearned ; want
of a knowledge of letters; ignorance.
Encyc.
ILLIT'ERATE, a. [L. iUiteratus ; in and
literatus ; from litera, a letter.]
Unlettered ; ignorant of letters or books ; un-
taught ; unlearned ; uiiinstructed in sci-
ence ; as an illiterate man, nation or tribe
Jfotlon
ILLIT'ERATENESS, n. Want of learning
ignorance of letters, books or science.
° Boyle
ILLIT'ERATURE, n. Want of learning
[Little used.] -fiylW^
ILL-LI' VED, a. Leading a wicked hfe. [Lit-
tle used.] Dp. Hall.
ILL-NA'TURE, n. [ill and nature.] C
ness; crabbedness; habitual bad temper,
or want of kindness; fractiousness.
South.
ILL-NA'TURED, a. Cross ; crabbed ; surly
intractable ; of habitual bad temper ; pee-
vish ; fractious. An ill-natured person may
disturb the harmony of a whole parish.
2. That indicates ill-nature.
The ill-natured task refuse. Jiddison.
3. Intractable; not yielding to cidture; as
ill-natured land. [jXot legitimate.] _
Philips.
ILL-NATUREDLY, adv. In a peevish or
froward maimer ; crossly ; unkindly.
ILL-NA'TUREDNESS, n. Crossness ; want
of a kind disposition.
ILL'NESS, n. [from iH.] Badness; unfa-
vorableness ; as the illness of the weather.
[JVot used.] Locke.
2. Disease; indisposition; malady; disor-
der of health ; sickness. He has recover-
ed from liis illness.
3. Wickedness ; iniquity ; wrong moral con-
duct. Shuk.
ILLOG'ICAL, a. [See Logical] Ignorant
or negligent of the rules of logic or correct
reasoning ; as an illogical disputant.
2. Contrary to the rules of logic or sound
reasoning ; as an illogical inference.
ILL0G'I€ALLY, adv. In a manner contra
ry to the rules of correct reasoning.
ILLOti'leALNESS, n. Contrariety to sound
reasoning. Hammond.
ILL'STARRED, a. [ill and star.] Fated
to bu uiilViitunaie. Beddoes.
ILL
ILL'-TRAINED, o. Not well trained or dis-
ciplined. Milford.
ILLU'DE, V. t. [L. illudo ; in and ludo, to
play. See Imdicrous.]
To play upon by artifice ; to deceive ;
mock ; to e.xcite hope and disappoint it
ILLU'DED, pp. Deceived ; mocked.
ILLU'DING, ppr. Playing on by artifice;
deceiving.
ILLU'ME, ). , [Fr. illuminer; h.iUu-
ILLU'MINE, S niino; in and lumino,
to enlighten, from lumen, light. See Lumi-
nous.]
1. To illuminate ; to enlighten ; to throw or
spread light on ; to make light or bright.
Milton.
[These words are used chieAy in poetiy.]
2. To enlighten, as the mind ; to cause to
understand.
3. To brighten ; to adorn.
The mountain's brow,
niuni'd with fluid gold— Thomson.
ILLU'MINANT, n. Tliat which illuminates
affords light. Boyle.
ILLU'MINA'f E, V. t. [See lUume.] To en
lighten ; to throw light on ; to supply with
light. [ This word is used in poetry or prose
2. To adorn with festal lamps or bonfires.
3. To enlighten intellectually with know
edge or grace. Heb. x.
4. To adorn with pictures, portraits and
other paintings ; as, to illuminate m
scripts or books, according to ancient
practice. Encyc.
5. To illu.strate ; to throw light on, as on
obscure subjects. Watts
ILLU'MINATE, a. Enlightened.
Bp. Hall
ILLU'MINATE, n. One of a sect of here
tics pretending to possess extraordinary
light and knowledge.
ILLU'MINATED, pp. Enlightened;
dered light or luminous ; illustrated ;
adorned with pictures, as books.
ILLU'MINATING, ;);»»•. Enlightening; ren
dering luminous or bright; illustrating
adorning with pictures.
ILLU'MINATING, n. The act, practice or
art of adorning manuscripts and books by
The act of illumina-
ting or rendering luminous; the act of sup-
plying with light.
The act of rendering a house or a town
light, by placing lights at the windows, or
iu elevated situations, as a manifestation
of joy ; or the state of being thus rendered
light.
3. That which gives hght.
- gun — is an illumination created.
Baleigh.
4. Brightness; splendor.
5. Infusion of intellectual light; an enlight-
ening of the understanding by knowledge,
or the mind by spiritual light.
6. The act, art or practice of adorning manu-
scripts and books with pictures. Encyc.
7. Inspiration; the special communication
of knowledge to the mind by the Supreme
Being.
Hymns and psalms— are liamed by medita
tion beforehand, or by prophetical illumination
are inspired. Hooker.
ILLU'MINATIVE, a. [Pr. illuminalif.]
Having the power of giving light.
Digby.
ILL
ILLU'MINATOR, n. He or that which il-
luminates or gives light.
2. One wiiose occupation is to decorate
manuscripts and books with pictures, por-
traits and drawings of any kind. This
practice began among the Romans, and
was continued during the middle ages.
The manuscripts containing portraits, pic-
, tures and emblematic figures, form a. val-
uable part of the riches preserved in the
principal libraries in Europe. Encyc.
From this word, by contraction, is formed
limner.
ILLUMINEE', I A church term ancient-
ILLUMIN A'TI, S "■ ly applied to persons
who had received baptism ; in which cer-
emony they received a lighted taper, as a
symbol of the faith and grace they had
received by that sacrament. Encyc.
2. The name ofa sect of heretics, who sprung
up in Spain about the year 1575, and who
afterward appeared in France. Their
principal doctrine was, that by means of
a sublime manner of prayer, they had at-
tained to so perfect a state as to have no
need of ordinances, sacraments and good
works. Encyc.
3. The name given to certain associations of
men in modern Europe, who combined
to overthrow the existing religious in-
stitutions, and substitute reason, by which
they expected to raise men and society to
perfection. Robisonj
ILLU'MINISM, n. The principles of the
Illuminati.
ILLU'MINIZE, V. t. To initiate into the
doctrines or principles of the Illuminati.
Jim. Review.
ILLU'SION, «. s as z. [Fr. illusion ; L.
illusio, from illudo, to illude.]
Dece|)live appearance ; false show, by which
a person is or may be deceived, or his ex-
pectations disappointed ; mockery.
Ye soft illusions, dear deceits, arise ! Pope.
ILLU'SIVE, a. Deceiving by false show;
deceitful ; false.
WTiile the fond soul.
Wrapt in gay visions of unreal bliss,
Still paints th' illusive form. Thomson.
ILLUSIVELY, adv. By means of a false
show.
ILLU'SIVENESS, n. Deception; false
show. ^sh.
ILLU'SORY, a. [Fr. illusoire, from L. illu-
sus, illudo.]
Deceiving or tending to deceive by false
appearances; fallacious. His offers were
illusory.
ILLUS'TRATE, v. t. [Fr. illustrer ; L. illus-
tro ; in and lustro, to illuminate. See Lus-
ter.]
1. To make clear, bright or luminous.
2. To brighten with honor ; to make distin-
guished.
Matter to me of glory
Illustrates —
3. To brighten ; to make glorious, or to dis-
play the glory of; as, to illustrate the per-
fections of God.
4. To explain or elucidate ; to make clear,
intelligible or obvious, what is dark or
obscure ; as, to illustrate a passage of
Scripture by comments, or of a profane
author by a gloss.
IMA
I M A
r M B
ILLUS'TRATED, pp. Made bright or glo
rious.
2. Explainer] ; elucidated ; made clear to the
understanding.
ILLUS'TRATING, ppr. Making bright or
glorious ; rendering distinguished ; eluci-
dating.
ILLUSTRATION, n. The act of render
ing bright or glorious.
2. Explanation ; elucidation ; a rendering
clear what i.s obscure or abstruse. Locke.
ILLUS'TRATIVE, a. Having the quality
of elucidating and making clear what is
obscure ; as an argument or simile illus-
trative of the subject. Broum.
9. Having the quality of rendering glorious,
or of displaying glory.
ILLUS'TRATIVEL"
iLY, adv. By way of illus
tratiou or elucidation. Brown
ILLUS'TRATOR, n. One who illustrates
or makes clear.
ILLUS'TRIOUS, a. [Fr. iUustre; L.iUus
tiis.]
1. Conspicuous ; distinguished by the repu
tation of greatness ; renowned; eminent
as an illustrious general or magistrate ; an
illustrious prince.
2. Conspicuous ; renowned ; conferring hon
or ; as illustrious actions.
3. Glorious ; as an illustrious display of the
divine perfections.
4. A title of honor.
ILLUS'TRIOUrSLY, adv. Conspicuously
nobly ; eminently ; with dignity or dis-
tinction.
2. Gloriously ; in a way to manifest glory
The redemption of man displays iilustri
misly the justice as well as the benevo-
lence of God.
ILLUS'TRTOUSNESS, n. Eminence of]
character ; greatness ; grandeur ; glory
ILLUXU'RIOUS, a. Not luxurious?
Drury.
ILL-WILL', n. Enmity ; malevolence.
ILL-WILL'ER, n. One who wishes ill to
another.
I'M, contracted from I a?n.
IM, in composition, is usually the represent-
■itive of the Latin in ; ?i "being changed
til m, for the sake of easy utterance, before
a labial, as in imbibe, immense, impartial.'
We use the same prefix in compounds not]
of Latin origin, as in imbody, imbitter. Fori
im, the French write em, which we also
use in words borrowed from their lan-
guage.
IM AuE, n. [Fr. image ; 1j. imago; Sp. rm-
figen ; It. image, immagine ; Ir. iomaigh.]
i. A representation or similitude of any per-
son or thing, formed of a material sub-
stance ; as an image wrought out of stone,
wood or wax.
Whose is this image and superscription .'
Matt. xxii.
2. A statue.
3. An idol ; the representation of any person
or thing, that is an object of worship. The
second commandment forbids the wor-
ship of images.
•1. The likeness of any thing on canvas; a
picture; a resemblance painted.
."i. Any copy, representation or likeness.
Tlio child is the image of its mother.
»;. j!cniblance ; show ; appearance.
The fiice of things a frightful image bears.
Dryden.
Vol. I.
7. An idea ; a representation of any thing
to the mind ; a conception ; a picture
drawn by fancy.
Can we conceive
Image of aught delightful, soft or great .'
Prior.
8. In rhetoric, a lively description of any
thing in discourse, which presents a kind
of picture to the mind. Encyc.
9. In optics, the figure of any object, made
by rays of light proceeding from the
eral points of it. Thus a mirror reflects
the jHiag-e of a person standing before it
as does water in a vessel or stream, when
undisturbed.
IM'AtiE, I', t. To imagine; to copy by the
imagination ; to form a likeness iii the
mind by the fancy or recollection.
And image charms he must behold no more.
Pope.
IM'AtiERY. n. im'ajry. Sensible represent-
ations, i)ictures, statues.
Rich carvings, portraitures and imagery.
Drydcn.
9. Show; appearance.
What can thy imagery aud sorrow mean ?
Prior.
3. Forms of the fancy ; false ideas; imagin-
ary phantasms.
The imagery of a melancholic fancy —
jitterbury.
4. Representations in writing or speaking ;
lively descriptions which impress the im-
ages of things on the mind ; figures in dis-
co m-se.
1 wish there may be in this poem any in
stance of good imagery. Dryden
5. Form ; make.
IM'AfiE-WORSHIP, n. The worship of|
images ; idolatry.
IMAG'INABLE, a. [Fr. See Iviagine.]
That may be imagined or conceived.
This point is proved with all imaginable
clearness.
IMAG'INANT, a. Imagining ; conceiving
[Ao* used.] Bacon
IMAG'INARY, a. Existing only in imagin-
ation or fancy ; visionary ; fancied ; nol
real.
Imaginary ills and fancied tortures.
IMAGINATION, n. [L. imaginalio ; Fr.
imagination.]
The powerorfaculty of the mind by which it
conceives and forms ideas of things com-
municated to it by the organs of sense.
Encyc.
Imagination I understand to be the represent-
ation of an individual thought. Bacon.
Our simple apprehension of corporeal objects,
if present, is sense ; if absent, is imagination
[conception] • Glanville.
Imagination, in its proper sense, signifies a
lively conception of objects of sight, ft is dis-
tinguished from conception, as a part from a
whole. Reid.
The business of conception is to present us
with an exact transcript of what we have felt|
or perceived. But we have also a power of
modifying our conceptions, by combining the
parts of different ones so as to form new wholes
of our o«-n creation. I shall employ the word
imagination to express this power. I appre-
hend this to be the proper sense of the word,
if imagination be the power which gives birth
to the productions of the poet and the painter.
Stewart.
We would define imagination to be the will
workin? on the materials of memory ; not satis-
105
lied with following the order prescribed by na-
ture, or suggested by accident, it selects the
parts of different conceptions, or objects of
memory, to form a whole more pleasing, more
terrible, or more awful, tlian has ever been
presented in tlie ordinary course of nature.
Ed. Encye.
The two latter definitions give the true
sense of the word, as now understood.
9. Conception ; image in the mind ; idea.
.Sometimes despair darkens all her imagina-
turns. Sidney.
His imaginations were often as just as Ihey
I were bold and strong. Dennis.
3. Contrivance ; scheme formed in the mind ;
device.
Thou hast seen all their vengeance, and all
their itnagiyialions against me. I^am. iii.
4. Conceit ; an unsolid or fanciful opinion.
We arc apt to think that space, in itself, is
actually boundless ; to which imagination, the
idea of space of itself leads us. Locke.
5. First motion or purpose of the mind.
Gen. vi.
IMAO'INATIVE, a. [Fr. imaginaiif.]Thti\.
forms imaginations. Taylor.
2. Full of imaginations ; fantastic. Bacon-
IMA(J!'INE, V. t. [Fr. imaginer ; Sp. imagin-
ar ; L. imaginor, from imago, image.]
1. To form a notion or idea in the mind ; to
fancy. We can imagine the figure of a
horse's head united to a human body.
In this sense, fancy is the more proper
word.
2. To form ideas or representations in the
mind, by modifying and combining our
conceptions. Stewart.
3. To contrive in purpose ; to scheme ; to
devise.
How long will ye imagine mischief against
a man ? Ps. Ixii.
IMAti'INE, V. i. To conceive ; to have a
notion or idea. I cannot imagine how this
should have happened.
IMAti'INED, pp. Formed in the mind ; fan-
cied ; conti-ived.
IMAG'INER, n. One who forms ideas ; one
who contrives. Bacon.
IMA(5'INING, ppr. Forming ideas in the
mind : devising.
IM'AM, ? ji A minister or priest among the
IM'.AN, ^ ■ 3Iohammedans.
Imbalm, Imbargo. Imbark, Imbase. See Em-
balm. Embargo, Embark, Embase.
FMBAN", r. t. [in and ban.] To excommu-
nicate, inacivil sense; to cut off from the
rights of man, or exclude from the com-
mon privileges of humanity. [.Vol tcell
authorized.] ' J. Barlotc.
IMBAND', V. t. [in and band.] To form into
a band or bands.
Beneath full sails imbanded nations rise.
J. Barlow.
IMB.AND'ED, /);). Formed into a band or
bands.
I.'MBANK', r. /. [in and ban!;.] To inclose
with a bank ; to defend by banks, mounds
or dikes.
IMBANK'ED, pp. Inclosed or defended
with a bank.
IMBANK'ING, ppr. Inclosing or surround-
ing with a bank.
IMBANK'MENT, n. The act of surround-
ing or defending with a bank.
9. Inclosure by a bank; the banks or
iiiounds of earth that are raised to de-
tend a place, especially against floods.
1MB
IMB'ARN, V. i. To deposit in a barn. [JsTot
used.] Herbert.
IMB>ASTARDIZE, v. t. To bastardize,
which see. Milton.
IMBE'AD, V. t. [in and bead.] To fasten
with a bead.
IMBE'ADED, pp. Fastened with a bead.
IM'BECILE, o. im'becil. [L. imbecillis ; F
imbecile. This seems to be a compound
word, of which the primitive bee, is not
now to be found or recognized.]
Weak; feeble; destitute of strength, either
of body or of mind ; impotent. Barr
IMBECiL'ITY, n. [h. imbecillitas ; Fr.
becillit^
1. Want of strength ; weakness ; feebleness
of body or of mind. We speak of the im
becility of the body or of tlie intellect
when either does not possess the usual
strength and vigor that belongs to men,
and which is necessary to a due perform-
ance of its functions. This may be natu-
ral, or induced by violence or disease.
2. Impotence of males; inability to procre-
ate children.
IMBED', V. t. [in and bed.] To sink or lay
in a bed ; to place in a mass of earth, sand
or other substance, so as to be partly in-
closed.
IMBED'DED, pp. Laid or inclosed, as in a
bed or mass of surrounding matter.
IMBED'DING, ppr. Laying, as in a bed.
IMBEL'LI€, a. [L. in and bellicus.] Not
warlike or martial. [Little used.]
Junius.
I3IBENCH'ING, n. [in and bench.] A
raised work like a liench. Parkkurst.
IMBI'BE, V. t. [L. imbibo ; in and bibo, to
drink ; Fr. imbiber.]
1. To drink in ; to absorb ; as, a dry or po-
rous body imbibes a fluid ; a spunge im-
bibes moisture.
2. To receive or admit into the mind and
retain ; as, to imbibe principles ; to imbibe
errors. Imbibing in the mind always im-
plies retention, at least for a time.
t3. To imbue, as used by Newton ; but he
has not been followed.
IMBI'BED, pp. Drank in, as a fluid ; ab-
sorbed ; received into the mind and re-
tained.
IMBI'BER, n. He or that which imbibes.
IMBI'BING, ppr. Drinking in; absorbing;
receiving and retaining.
IMBIBI"TlON, n. The act of imbibing.
Bacon.
IMBIT'TER, I', t. [in and bilier.] To make
bitter.
2. To make unhappy or grievous ; to ren-
der distressing. The sins of youth often
imbiUer old age. Grief imbitters our en-
joyments.
:i. To exasperate ; to make more severe,
poignant or painful. The sorrows of true
penitence are imbittered by a sense of our
ingratitude to our Almighty Benefactor.
4. To exasperate ; to render more violent or
malignant ; as, to imbitler enmity, anger,
rage, passion, &c.
IMBIT'TERED, pp. Made unhappy or
painful ; exasperated.
lMBITTERING,p;)r. Rendering unhappy
or distressing ; exasperating.
1MB
IMBOD'IED, pp. [See Imbody.] Formed
into a body.
IMBOD'Y, V. I. [in and body.] To form into
a body ; to invest with matter; to make
corporeal ; as, to imbody the soul or spirit.
An opening cloud reveals
A heavenly form, imbodied and array'd
With robes of light. Dryden.
2. To form into a body, collection or sys-
tem ; as, to imbody the laws of a state in
a code.
3. To bring into a band, company, regi-
ment, brigade, army, or other regular as-
semblage ; to collect ; as, to embody the
forces of a nation.
I M B
Of troops imbodied. Dryden
IMBOD'Y, V. i. To unite in a body, mass oi
collection ; to coalesce. Milton. Locke
IMBOD'YING, ppr. Forming into a body ;
investing with a corporeal body.
2. Collecting and uniting in a body.
IMBOIL', V. i. To effervesce.
i'penser.
IMBOLDEN, V. t. imboldn. [in and bold ; It.
imbaldanxire.]
To encourage; to give confidence to.
Nothing imboldens sin so much as mercy.
Shah
IMBOLDEN, pp. Encouraged ; having re-
ceived confidence.
IMBOLDENING, ppr. Encouraging; giv-
ing confidence.
IMBORD'ER, V. t. [in and border.] To
furnish or inclose with a border ; to adorn
with a border.
3. To terminate ; to bound. Milton.
IMBORD'ERED, pp. Furnished, inclosed
or adorned with a bolder; bounded.
IMBORD'ERING, ppr. Furnishing, inclo-
' ig or adorning with a border; bound-
g.
IMBOSK', V. t. [It. imboscare. See Bush.]
To conceal, as in bushes ; to hide.
Milton.
IMBO'SOM, V. t. s as z. [in and bosom.] To
hold in the bosom ; to cover fondly with
the folds of one's garment.
2. To hold in nearness or intimacy.
—The Fathei- infinite.
By whom in bliss imbosomcd sat the .Son.
Milton.
3. To admit to the heart or affection ; to
caress.
But glad desire, his late imbosom'd guest —
Sidney.
4. To inclose in the midst ; to surround.
Villages imbosomcd soft in trees-— Thomson.
5. To inclose in the midst ; to cover ; as
pearls imbosomcd in the deep.
IMBO'SOMED, pp. Held in the bosom or
to the breast ; caressed ; surrounded in
the midst ; inclosed ; covered.
IMBO'SOMING, ppr. Holding in the bo-
som; caressing; holding to the breast;
inclosing or covering in the midst.
IMBOUND', V. t. [in and bound.] To in-
close in limits ; to shut in. [Little used.]
Shak.
IMBOW, V. t. [in and bow.] To arch ; to
vault ; as an imbowed roof Milton
2. To make of a circular form ; as imbowed
windows. Bacon
IMBOWED, pp. Arched ; vaulted ; made
of a circular form.
IMBOW'ER, V. t. [in and bower.] To cover
with a bower ; to shelter with trees.
Thomson.
IMBOW'ERED, pp. Covered with a bow-
er ; sheltered with trees.
IMBOW'ERING, ppr. Covering with a
bower or with trees.
IMBOWING, ppr. Arching; vaulting; ma-
king of a circular form.
IMBOWMENT, n. An arch ; a vault.
' Bacon.
IMBOX', V. t. To inclose in a box,
IMBRAN'GLE, v. t. To entangle.
Hudibras.
IMBREE'D, V. t. To generate within.
IM'BRI€ATE, } ^ [L. imbricatus, imbrico,
IMBRICATED, <, "' from imbrex, a tile.]
1. Bent and hollowed like a ro^of or gutter
tile. Johnson.
2. In botany, lying over each other, like tiles
on a roof; parallel, with a strait surface,
and lying one over the other; as leaves in
the bud. Lee. Martyn.
IMBRl€A'TION, n. A concave indenture,
like that of tiles; tiling. Derham.
IMBROWN', V. t. [in and brown.] To make
brown ; to darken ; to obscure.
The unpierc'd shade
Imbroivn'd the noon-tide bowers. Milton.
2. To darken the color of; to make dirty.
The foot grows black that was with dirt im-
brown'd. Gay.
•3. To tan ; to darken the complexion.
IMBROWN'ED, pp. Made brown ; darken-
ed ; tanned.
IMBROWN'ING, ppr. Rendering brown ;
darkening ; tanning.
IBIBRUE, V. t. imbru'. [Gr. ff»«pf;tu, to
moisten; tv and/3p(;i;u. Hence it is allied
to embrocate, and Sp. embriagar, to intoxi-
cate. See Ebriety, Brook and Rain.]
To wet or moisten ; to soak ; to drench
in a fluid, chiefly in blood.
Whose arrows in my blood their wings im-
brue. Sandys.
Lucius pities the offenders.
That would imbrue their hands in Cato's
blood. Addison.
2. To pour out liquor. Obs. Spenser.
IMBRU'ED, pp. Wet; moistened; drench-
ed.
IMBRU'ING, ;);)r. Wetting; moistening;
drenching.
IMBRU'TE, I), t. [in and brute.] To de-
grade to the state of a brute ; to reduce to
brutality.
— And mix with bestial slime
This essence to incarnate and imbrute.
miton.
IMBRU'TE, V. i. To sink to the state of a
brute. Milton.
IMBRU'TED,pp. Degraded to brutism.
IMBRU'TING, ppr. Reducing to brutish-
ness.
IMBUE, V. t. imbu'. [L. imbuo ; in and the
root of Eng. buck, to buck cloth, that is,
to dip, drench or steep in water.]
\. To tinge deeply ; to dye ; as, to imbue
cloth. Boylt.
2. To tincture deejily ; to cause to imbibe ;
as, to imbue the minds of youth with good
principles.
IMBU'ED, ;>;». Tinged; dyed; tinctured.
IMBU'ING, ppr. Tinging ; dyeing ; tinctur-
I ing deeply.
I M I
IMITABIL'ITY, n. [See Imitahk, Lnilalt.}
The quality of being imitable. J^/'orris.
IM'ITABLE, a. [Fr. from L. imitabilis.
See ImUaU.\
1. That may be imitated or copied. Let us
follow our Savior in all his imitable con
duct and traits of character. There are
some works of the ancients that are
hardly imitable. The dignified style of
Johnson is scarcely imitable.
2. Worthy of imitation.
IMI'TATE, V. t. [Fr. imiter ; Sp. Port.
imilar ; It. imilare ; L. imitor ; allied per
haps to Gr. ojuoj, similar, equal.]
1. To follow in manners: to copy in form,
color or quality. We imitate another in
dross or manners ; we imitate a statae, a
painting, a sound, an action, when we
make or do that which resembles it. We
should seek the best models to imitate, and
in morals and piety, it is our duty to imitate
the example of our Savior. But as we
cannot always make an exact similitude
of the original, hence,
2. To attempt or endeavor to copy or resem-
ble i as, to imitate the colors of the rain-
bow, or any of the beauties of nature.
Cicero appears to have imitated the Greek
orators.
3. To counterfeit.
This hand appear'd a shining sword to wield,
And that sustain'd an imitated shield.
Dryd,
4. To pursue the course of a composition, so
as to use like images and examples.
Johnson. Gay.
IM'ITATED, pp. Followed ; copied.
IM'ITATING, ppr. Following in manner;
copying.
IMITA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. imilatio ;
imitor, to imitate.]
1. The act of following in manner, or of|i
copying in form ;, the act of making tl
similitude of any thing, or of attempting a
resemblance. By the imitation of bad
or of evil examples, we are apt to contract
vicious habits. In the imitation of natural
forms and colors, we are often unsuccess
ful. Imitation in music, says Rousseau, is
a reiteration of the same air, or of one
which is similar, in several parts where
it is repeated by one after the other, either
in unison, or at the distance of a fourth, a
fifth, a third, or any interval whatever.
Imitation in oratory, is an endeavor to re-
semble a speaker or writer in the qualities
which we propose to ourselves as patterns.
Encyc.
2. That which is made or produced as
copy ; likeness ; resemblance. >Ve say,
thing is a true imitation of nature.
3. A method of translating, in which model
examples and illustrations are used for
ancient, or domestic for foreign, or in
which the translator not only varies the
words and sense, but forsakes them as he
sees occasion. Johnson. Dryden.
IM'ITATIVE, a. Inclined to foljow in man-
ner; as, man is an imitative being.
2. Aiming at resemblance ; that is used in
the business of forming resemblances,
Painting is an imitative art.
3. Formed after a model, pattern or original.
This temple, less in form, with equal grace,
Was imitative of the first in Thrace.
Dryden.
I M M
IMMATERIALLY, adv. lu a manner not
depending on matter.
2. In a manner unimportant.
IMMATE'RIAL.'VESS, n. The state of
being immaterial ; immateriality.
IMMATE'RIATE, o. Not consisting of
matter; incorporeal; immaterial. [Little
[L. immalurus ; in and
I M M
Imitative music, is that which is intended to
resemble some natural operation, the pas
sions, and the like. Busby.
IMITATOR, n. One that follows in
ners or deportment.
2. One that copies, or attempts to make the
resemblance of any thing.
IMITA'TORSHIP, n. Tlie office or state of
an imitator. Marston.
IMMAG'ULATE, n. [L. immacuUUvs ; in
and macula, a spot.]
1. Spotless ; pure ; unstained ; undefiled ;
without blemish ; as immoicidate reputa-
tion ; immaculate thoughts. Our Savior
has set us an example of an immaculate life
and conversation.
i2. Pure; limpid; not tinged with impure
matter ; as an immaculate fountain.
Shak.
Immaculate conception, the conception of our
Savior by the virgin Mary.
IMMACULATELY, adv. With spotless
purity.
IMMAe'ULATENESS, n. Spotless purity.
IMMA'ILED, a. Wearing mail or armor.
Broume.
IMMAL'LEABLE, a. [in and mMleable.]
Not malleable ; that cannot be extended by
hanmiering. Med. Repos.
IMMAN'ACLE, v. t. [in and manacle.] To
put manacles on ; to fetter or confine ; to
restrain from free action. Milton.
IMMAN'A€LED, pp. Fettered ; confined.
IMMAN'ACLING, ppr. Fettering ; con-
fining.
IMMA'NE, a. [L. immanis.] Vast ; huge ;
very great. [lAttlc used.]
IMMA'NELY, adv. Monstrously ; cruellv.
MUlo7i.
IM'MANENCY, n. Internal dwelling.
Pearson.
IM'MANENT, a. [L.in an<]manens, maneo,
to abide.] Inherent; intrinsic; internal.
South.
IMMAN'ITY, n. [L. immanitas.] Barbari-
ty ; savageness. Shak.
IMMARCES'SIBLE, a. [L.in and marcesco,
I to fade.] Unfading. Diet.
'IMM>ARTIAL, a. [in and m,aHial.] Not
martial ; not warlike. Chapman.
IMM'ASK, V. t. [in and mask.] To cover,
I as with a mask ; to disguise. Shak.
'IMM" ASKED, pp. Covered; masked.
IMM'ASKING, ppr. Covering; disguising.
IMMATCH'ABLE, a. That cannot be
matched ; peerless.
IMMATERIAL, a. [Vr.immaleriel; in and
matenal.]
1. Incorporeal; not material; not consist-
ing of matter; as immaterial s^mxa. The
I mind or soul is immaterial.
2. Unimportant ; without weight ; not ma-
terial; of no essential consequence. T»i-..T^ i%T.mr-Ttr . i.-.
Melmoth. Aikin. Hayley. fiupearf.jIMME t)I.\TEL"i , arfr. W ithout the mier
IMMATE'RIALISM, n. The doctrine of I vention of any other cause or event ; op
the existence or state of immaterial su:
used.]
IMMATURE,
maturvs.]
1. Not mature or ripe ; unripe ; that has not
arrived to a perfect state ; applied to fruit.
2. Not perfect ; not brought to a complete
state ; as immature plans or counsels.
.3. Hasty ; too early ; that comes before the
natural time. Taylor.
[In this sense, premature is generally
used.]
IMMATU'RELY, adv. Too soon ; before
ripeness or completion ; before the natural
time.
IMMATU'RENESS, ) Unripeness; in-
IMMATU'RITY, I "' completeness ;
the state of a thing which has not arrived
to perfection.
IMMEABIL'ITY, n. [L. in and meo, to
pass.] Want of power to pass. Arbuthnot.
The proper sense is, the quality of not
being permeable, or not affording a passage
through the pores. [Little used.]
IMMEASURABLE, a. immtzh'urable. [in
and measure.]
That cannot be measured ; immense ; in-
definitely extensive; as an tmmea«uroW«
distance or space ; an immeasurable abys-.
Milton. Addison.
IMMEAS'URABLY, adv. To an extent not
to be measured ; immensely ; beyond all
measure. Milton.
IMMEAS'URED, a. Exceeding common
measure.
IMMECIIAN'ICAL, a. [in and mechanical.]
Not consonant to the laws of mechanics.
Cheyne.
IMME'DIACY, n. [from itnmediate.] Power
of acting without dependence. Shak.
LMME'DIATE, a. [Fr.immediat ; h.imme-
diato ; L. in and medium, middle.]
1. Proximate; acting without a medium, or
without the intervention of another cause
or means ; producing its effect by its own
direct agency. An immediate cause is that
which is exerted directly in producing its
effect, in opposition to a mediate cause, or
one more remote.
2. Not acting by second causes ; as the im-
mediate will o"f God. Abbot.
3. Instant; present; without the interven-
tion of tiine. We must have an immediate
supply of bread.
Immediate are my needs — Shak.
Death — inflicted — by an immediate stroke.
Milton.
stances or spiritual beings.
IMMATE'RIALIST, n. One who professes
I immateriality. Sun/11.
IMMATERIALITY, n. The quality of be-
ing immaterial, or not consisting of mat-
ter ; destitution of inatter ; as the immaie-
riality of the soul.
IMMATE'RIALIZED, a. Rendered or
made immaterial. Glanvilh.
posed to mediately.
The transfer, whether accepted immediately
by himself, or mediately by his agent, vests in
him the property. ^non.
2. Instantly; at the present time ; without
delay, or the intervention of time.
And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched
him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And imme-
diately his leprosy was cleansed. Matt. vUl.
IMME'DIATENESS, n. Presence with re-
gard to time.
1 M M
1 M M
I M M
2. Exemption from second or intervening
causes.
IMMED'leABLE, a. [L. imtnedicaUlis ; in
and mcdicabilis, from medico, to Ileal.] Not
to be liealed ; incurable. Milton.
IMMELO'DIOUS, a. Not melodious.
Drummond.
IMMEM'ORABLE, a. [U immtmorahilis ,
in and memorabilia. See Memoi-y.]
Not to be remembered ; not worth remem-
bering. Johnson.
IMMEMO'RIAL, a. [Fr. from L. in and
Beyond memory ; an epithet given to time
or duration, &c., whose beginning is not
remembered, or cannot be traced and as-
certained ; as when it is said a man has
possessed an estate in fee from time imme-
morial, or time out of mind. Such pos-
session constitutes prescription, or prescrip-
tive right. So we speak of immemorial
use, custom or practice. In England, a
thing is said to be immemorial, wlien it
connnenced before the reign of Edward
II.
IMMEMO'RIALLY, ado. Beyond memory.
BenUey.
IMMENSE; a. immens'. [Fr. from L. im-
mensus ; in and meiisus, metior, to meas-
ure.]
1. Unlimited; unbounded; infinite.
O goodness infinite ! goodness immense .'
very great ; as an
as tlie immense
'ly. Infinitely
2. Vast in extent
mense distance.
3. Huge in bulk ; very large
body of Jupiter.
IMMENSELY, adv. hmnen
without limits or measure,
2. Vastly ; very greatly.
IMMENS'ITY, n. Unlimited extension ; an
extent not to be measured ; infinity.
By the power wc find in ourselves of repeat-
ing, as often as we will, any idea of space, we
get the idea o{ immensity. Loclie
2. Vastness in extent or bulk; greatness.
IMMENSURABIL'ITY, n. [from
rahle.^
The quality of not being capable of
impossibility to be measured.
IMMEN'SURABLE, a. [L. in and mensu
rahilis, from mcnsura, measure ; mensus
melior.] Not to be measured ; imineas
urable.
The law of nature — a term of immensurable
extent. Ward.
IMMEN'SURATE, a. Uiuneasured
W. Mountagu.
IMMERgE, V. <. immerj'. [h. immergo i^ in
and mergo, to plunge.]
1. To plunge into or under a fluid. [See Im-
merse, which is generally used.]
2. V. i. To enter the light of the sun, as a star,
or the shadow of the earth, as the moon.
IMMER'IT, n. Want of worth. [J^olused.
IMMER'ITED, a. Unmerited. [JVoJ used
IMMER'ITOUS, a. Undeserving. [J^ot
used.']
IMMERSE, V. t. immers'. [L. immersvks, from
immergo ; in and mergo, to plunge.]
1. To put under water or other fluid; to
plunge ; to dip.
2. To sink or cover deep ; to cover wholly ;
as, to be immersed in a wood. Dryden
3. To plunge ; to overwhelm ; to involve
to engage deeply ; as, to immerse in busi-
ness or cares.
It is impossible for a man to have a lively
hope in another life, and yet be deeply immers-
ed in the enjoyment of this. Atterbury.
IMMERS'ED, pp. Put into a fluid ; plun-
ged ; deeply engaged ; enveloped in the
hght of the sun, as a star, or in the shadow
of the earth, as the moon.
IMMERS'ING, ppr. Plunging into a fluid ;
dipping ; overwhelming ; deeply enga-
ging.
IMMER'SION, B.The act of putting into a
fluid below the surface ; the act of plung-
ing into a fluid till covered.
3. The state of sinking into a fluid.
3. The state of being overwhelmed or deep-
ly engaged ; as an immersion in the afiairs
of life. Atterbury.
4. In astronomy, the act of entering into the
light of the sun, as a star, so as to be en
veloped and invisible to the eye ; or the
state of being so enveloped. Also, the
trance of the moon into the shadow of the
earth, at the commencement of an eclipse ;
or the state of being enveloped in tl
shadow. It is opposed to emersion.
The time when a star or planet is so
near the sun as to be invisible ; also, the
moment when the moon begins to be dark-
ened, and to enter the shadow of the earth
Encyc
IMMESH', V. t. [in and mesh.] To entangk
in the meshes of a net, or in a web. Ob-
serve whether the fly is completely im-
meshed. The spider used his efforts to
immesh the scorpion. Goldsmith.
IMMESU'F^D, pp. Entangled in meshes or
webs.
IMMESH'ING,j};>?-. Entangling in meshes
or webs.
IMMETHOD'leAL, a. [in and methodical.
See Method.]
Having no method ; without systematic ar-
rangement ; without order or regularity :
confused. Addison.
IMMETHOD'I€ALLY, adv. Without or-
der or regularity ; irregularly.
IMMETHOD'l€ALNESS, n. Want of
method ; confusion.
IM'MIGRANT, n. A person that
into a cotmtry for the purpose of perma
nent residence.
IM'MIGRATE, v. i. [L. immigro ; in and
migro, to migrate.]
To remove into a country for the purpose of
permanent residence. [See Emigrate.]
Belknap.
IMMIGRA'TION, n. The passing or remo-
ving into a country for the purpose of per-
manent residence.
IM'MINENCE, n. [L. imminentia, imminto
hang over.]
Properly, a hanging over, but used by Shak-
speare for impending evil or danger. [Lit-
tle used.]
IM'MINENT, a. [L. imminens, from immi
neo, to hang over ; in and minor, to threat-
en. See Menace.]
Literally, shooting over ; hence, hanging
over ; impending ; threatening ; near ; ap-
pearing as if about to fall on ; used of evils ;
as imminent danger ; imminent judgments,
evils or dearth. Hooker. Milton
injec-
IMMIN'GLE, V. t. [in and iningle.] To
mingle ; to mix ; to imite with numbers.
Thomson.
IMMIN'GLED,jt);?. Mixed; mingled.
IMMIN'GLING, ppr. Mixing ; mingling.
IMMINU'TION, n. [L. imminutio, imminuo ;
in and minuo, to lessen.] A lessening;
diminution; decrease. Ray.
IMMISCIBIL'ITY, n. [L. immisceo; in and
misceo, to mix.] Incapacity of being
mixed.
IMMIS'CIBLE, a. [in and misdble.] Not
capable of being mixed. Med. Repos.
IMMIS'SION, n. [L. immissio, immitlo; in
and mitto, to send.]
The act of sending or thrusting in ;
tion ; contrary to emission.
IMMIT', V. t. [L. immitto ; in and mitto, to
] To send in ; to inject. Greenhill.
IMMIT'IGABLE, a. [in and mitigate.]
That cannot be mitigated or appeased.
Harris.
IMMIX', v.t. [in and mix.] To mix; to
mingle.
IMMIX' ABLE, a. Not capable of being
mixed. Wilkins.
IMMIX'ED, ? ,T - ,
IMMIXT' \ "' '^"niixed. Herbert.
IMMOBILITY, n. [Fr. immobilite ; L. im-
mobililas, from immobilis ; in and mobilis,
from moveo, to move.]
Unmovableness ; fixedness in place or state;
resistance to motion. Arbuthnot.
IMMOD'ERACY, n. Excess. Brown.
IMMOD'ERATE, a. [L. immoderatus ; in
and moderutus. See Moderate.]
Exceeding just or usual bounds ; not con-
fined to suitable limits ; excessive ; ex-
travagant; unreasonable; as immoderate
demands; immoderate passions, cares or
grief.
IMMOD'ERATELY, adv. Excessively; to
an undue degree ; unreasonably ; as, to
weep immoderately.
IMMOD'ERATENESS, n. Excess; ex-
travagance. Shelford.
IMMOD'ERATION, n. Excess; want of
moderation. Hammond.
IMMOD'EST, a. [Fr. immodeste ; L. immo-
destus ; in and modestus, modest. See the
latter.]
1. Literally, not limited to due bounds.
Hence, in a general sense, immoderate ;
exorbitant, unreasonable; arrogant.
2. Appropriately, wanting in the reserve or
restraint which decency requires ; want-
ing in decency and delicacy. It is im-
modest to treat superiors with the famil-
iarity that is customary among equals.
5. Wanting in chastity ; unchaste; lewd; as
I an immodest female.
4. Iin|iure; indelicate; as an immodest
tlinugiit. Dryden.
5. Obscene : as an immodest word.
IMMOD'ESTLY, adv. Without due re-
serve ; indecently; nnchastely ; obscenely.
IMMOD'ESTY, n. [L. immodestia.] Want
of modesty; indecency; unchastity.
2. Want of delicacy or decent reserve.
IM'MOLATE, V. <. [Fr.immoler; L.immolo,
to sacrifice ; in and mola, meal sprinkled
with salt, which was thrown on the head
of the victim.]
1. To sacrifice ; to kill, as a victim offered in
sacrifice. Boyle.
2i To offer in sacrifice.
I M M
" • Now immolate the tongues and mix the wine.
Pofe.
IM'MOLATED, pp. Sacrificed; offered in
sacrifice.
From the same altar on which the small states
shall be immolated, will rise the smoke of sacri
liced liberty, and despotism must be the drcid-
ful successor. U- Tracy.
IM'MOLATING.fipr. Sacrificing; offering,
QH a victim.
IMMOLATION, n. The act of sacrificing.
ISroum.
2. A sacrifice offered.
IM'MOL.\TOR, )(. One who offers iu sacri-
fice.
IMMO'MENT, a. Trifiing. [JVot Ejigtish.]
Shak.
IMMOMENT'OUS, a. Unimportant.
Seward.
IMMOR'AL, a. [in and moral.] Inconsist-
ent with moral rectitude ; contrary to the
moral or divine law ; wicked ; unjust
dishonest; vicious. Every action is im
moral wliich contravenes any divine pre
cept, or which is contrary to the duties
which men owe to each other.
2. Wicked or unjust in practice; vicious
dishonest; as an immoral man. Every
man who violates a divine law or a social
duty, is immoral, but we particularly apply
the term to a person who habitually vio
lates the laws.
IMMORALITY, «. Any act or practice
which contravenes the divine commands
or the social duties. Injustice, dishonest
fraud, slander, profaneness, gaming, i
temperance, lewdness, are immoralities.
All crimes are immoralities ; but ertme ex
presses more than immorality.
IMMOR'ALLY, adv. Wickedly; viciously
in violation of law or duty.
IMMORKi'EROUS, a. [Low L. i»morig-er.]
Rude ; uncivil. Stackhouse
IMMORIG'EROUSNESS, n. Rudeness
disobedience. Bp. Taylor.
IMMOR'TAL, o. [h. immortalis. See Mor-
tal.]
1. Having no principle of alteration or cor-
ruption; exempt from death; having life
or being thai shall never end ; as an m-
motial soul.
To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the-
only wise God, be honor and glory forever. 1
Tim. i.
2. Never ending ; everlasting ; continual.
I have
Immortal longings in me. Shak.
3. Peri)etual; having unlimited existence.
A corporation is called an immortal being.
4. Destined to live in all the ages of this
world; imperishable; as tnwnortai fame
So Homer is called the immortal bard.
IMMORTAL'ITY, n. The quality of nevei
ceasing to live or exist ; exemption from
death and annihilation; life destined to
endure without end ; as the immortality o
the human soul.
— Jesus Christ, who liatli abolished death, am
hath brought life and immortality to Ugh
through the go.spel. 2 Tim. i
2. Exemption from oblivion.
'd. Perpetuity ; existence not limited ; as the]
ivimorlalitt/ of a corporation. J. Marshall
IMMORTA'LIZA'TION, n. The act of
mortalizing.
IMMORTALIZE,
Sp. immorlalizar.]
V. t.
I M M
1. To render immortal; to make perpetual;!
to cause to live or exist while the world
shall endure. The Iliad has immortalized
the name of Homer.
Alexander had no Homer to immortalize Ids
guilty name. T. Dawes.
2. To exempt from oblivion ; to make per-
petual.
IMMOR'TALIZE, v. i. To become immor-
tal. [JVot in use.) Popt.
MMOR'TA LI/ED, pp. Rendered inunor-
tal or prrpclual.
IMMOK'T \l,iZl\(i,/)/)r. Making immor-
IMxAlOl-.TALLV, adv. With endless exist-
ence ; with exemption from death.
IMMORTIFIeA'TION, n. [in and mortiji-
cation.] Want of subjection of the pas-
sions. Bp. Taylor.
IMMoVABIL'ITY, n. Sledfastness that
cannot be moved or shaken.
IMMOVABLE, a. [in and movahle.] That
cannot be moved from its place; as ar
immovable foundation.
2. Not to be moved from a purpose ; sted
fast; fixed; that caimot be induced t<
change or aher ; as a man who remain!
immovable.
'i. That cannot be altered or shaken ; imal
terable ; imchangeable ; as an immovable
purpose or resolution.
That cannot be affected or moved ; no
impressible ; not susceptible of compassion
or tender feelings: unfeeling. Drydcn.
5. Fixed ; not liable to be removed ; perma-
nent in place ; as immovable estate.
Blackstone. Ayliffe.
0. Not to be shaken or agitated.
IMMoV'ABLENESS, n. The quality of]
being innnoviible.
IMMO V'ABLY, adv. In a manner not to be
moved from its place or purpose;
manner not to be shaken ; unalterably ;
unchangeably. Immovably firm to their
dittv; immovably fixed or established.
IJhMUND', n. [L. immnndus.] Unclean.
IMMUNDIC ITY, «. Uncleanuess.
Mojintagic
IMMU'NITY, n. [Fr. immunite ; L. immu-
nitas, from immunis, free, exempt ; in and
munus, charge, office, duty.]
1. Freedom or exemption from obligation,
To be e.xenipted from observing the rites
or duties of the church, is an immunity.
i. Excini)tion from any charge, duty, office
tax or imposition ; a particular privilege
as the iinmunitks of the free cities of Ger-
many; the immunities of the clergy.
3. Freedom; as an mHiwniYw from error.
Dryden
IMMURE, r. t. [Norm. CHmnmer, to wall
in ; S\v. inmura ; L. in and 7nurus, a wall.]
1. To inclose within walls ; to shut up
confine ; as, to imtnure nuns in cloisters.
The student immures himself voluntarily
2. To wall ; to surround with walls.
Lysimachus immured it with a wall. [JVot
usual.] Sandys.
,'?. To imprison. Denham.
IMMU'RE, n. A wall. [Mitused.] Shak.
IMMVRED, pp. Confined within walls.
I IMMU'SI€AL, a. [in and musical.] Not
[Fr. immortaliser ;\\ musical ; inharmonious ; not accordant ;
I harsh. Bacon. Brou-n.
I M P
IMMi:TABIL'ITY,n. [Fr.immHtabiliU ; 1..
immutabilitas ; in anti mutabilis, mutable,
from muto, to change.]
Unchangeableness ; the quality that renders
change or alteration impossible ; invaria-
bleness. Immutability is an attribute of
God.
IMMUTABLE, a. [L. immulahUis ; in and
mutubitis.]
Unchangeable ; invariable ; unalterable : not
capable or susceptible of change.
That by two immutable things, in which il
was impossible for God to lie, we might have
slrong cou^(.lalion. Heb. vi.
IMML'TABLENESS, n. Unchangeable-
ness; imniiitability.
IMMU'TABLY, adv. Unchangeably; unal-
terably ; invariably ; in a manner that ad-
mits of no change. Boyle.
IMMU'TATE, a. [L.immutatus.] Unchang-
ed. Lte.
IMMUTA'TION, n. [L.immutatio.] Change ;
alteration. More.
IMP, 71. [W. imp, ashootorcion ; Sw.i/mp,
Dan. ympc, id.]
I. A son; ofl'spring; progeny.
The lender imp was weaned. Fairfnr.
A lad of life, an imp of fame. Shak
3. A subaltern or puny devil.
Hooker. Millon.
IMP, V. I. [W. impiau; G. impfen, Sw.
ympa, Dan. ymper, to engraft ; D. tnt, a
graft ; enten, to engraft.]
1. To graft. Chaucer.
'i. To kngtlien ; to extend or enlarge by
something inserted or added ; a term
originally used by falconers, who repair
a hawk's wing by adding fethers.
Imp out our drooping country's broken wings.
ShaU.
— The false north displays
Her broken league to imp her serpent wings.
mton
This verb is, I believe, used only in poefrv
1MPA'C.\BLE, a. [L. in &nA paco, to ap-
pease.]
Not to be appeased or quieted. Spenser.
IMPACT', I', t. [L. impactus, from impingo :
in and pango, to drive.]
To drive close ; to press or drive firmly to-
gether. Woodward.
IM'PAeT, n. Touch ; impression.
Daru^n.
IMPACT'ED,/);). Driven hard ; made close
by driving. Woodward.
IMPA'INT, v. t. To paint; to adorn with
colors. Shak.
IMPA'IR, V. t. [Fr. empirer; Sp. empeorar ;
Port, empeiorar, from peior, worse, Sp.
pcor, Fr. pire, from L. pejor.]
1. To make worse; to diminish in t^uantitr.
value or excellence. An estate is tmpair'ed
by extravagance or neglect. The profli-
gate impairs his estate and his reputation,
fmprudence impairs a man's usefulness.
2. To weaken; to enfeeble. The constitu-
tion is impaired by intemperance, by in-
firmity and by age. The force of evidence
may be impaired by the suspicion of inter-
est in the witness.
IMPA'IR, V. 1. To be lessened or worn out
[Little used.] Spenser.
IM'PAIR, a. [L. impar, unequal] In crystal-
ography, when a different number of faces
is presented by the prism, and by each
summit ; but the three numbers follow no
law of progression. Cleavelar^d.
I M P
I M P
I M P
IMPAIR, (
IMPAIRMENT, (
Diminution ; decrease ;
'injury. [Mtt tised.]
Broicn.
Diminished ; injured ;
IMPAIRED, pp
%veakened.
IMPA'IRER, n. He or that whicli impairs.
Warburlon.
IMPA'IRING, ppr. Making worse ; lessen-
ing; injuring; enfeebling.
IMPAL'ATABLE, a. Unpalatable. [Uitk
used.}
L'LI
t. [L. in and palus, a pole
IMPA'
stake.
1 . To fix on a stake ; to put to death by fix-
ing on an upright sharp stake. [See Em-
pale.]
3. To inclose with stakes, posts or palisades.
3. In heraldry, to join two coats of arms
pale-wise. Eiicyc.
LMPAL'LID, V. t. To make ])allid or pale.
[A'ot ill use.] Feltham.
IMP'ALM, V. t. imp^am. [L. in and palma,
the hand.]
To grasp ; to take in the hand. J. Barlow.
IMPALPABILITY, »i. The quality of not
being palpable, or perceptible by the
touch. Jorlin.
IMPAL'PABLE, a. [Fr. from L. in and
palpo, to feel. [See Palpable.]
Not to be felt ; that cannot be perceived by
the touch ; as an impalpable powder,
whose parts are so minute that they can-
not be distinguished by the senses, partic-
larly by feeling. Encyc.
2. Not coarse or gross. Warton.
IMPAL'SY, v. t. s as i. [in and palsy.] To
strike with palsy ; to paralize ; to deaden.
IM'PANATE, a. [L. in and panis, bread.]
Embodied in bread. Cratimtr.
IM'PANATE, V. t. To embody with bread.
fVaterland.
IMPANA'TION, n. The supposed substan-
tial presence of the body and blood of
Christ, with the substance of the bread
and wine, after consecration, in the eucha-
rist ; a tenet of the Lutheran church ; oth-
erwise called consubstantiation. Encyc.
IMPAN'NEL, V. I. [inaxiApannel.] To write
or enter the names of a jury in a list or on
a piece of parchment, called a pannel; to
form, complete or enroll a list of jurors in
a court of justice.
IMPAN'NELED, pp. Having the names
entered in a pannel ; formed, as a jury
IMPAN'NELING, ppr. Writing the names
on a pannel ; forming, as a jury.
IMPAR'ADISE, v.t. [\x.imparadisare; ir.
and paradise.]
To put in a place of felicity ; to inake happy
IMPAR'ADISED, pp. Placed in a condi
tion resembling that of paradise ; made
IMPAR'ALLELED, a. Unparalleled. [Ao(
tised.] Burnet
IMPARASYLLAB'IC, a. [L. in, par, and
syllaba.]
Not consisting of an equal number of sylla
bles. An imparasyllabic noun is one which
has not the same number of syllables in all
the cases ; as lapis, lapidis ; viens, menlis.
Bryant.
IMPARDONABLE, a. Unpardonable"
South.
IMPAR'ITY, n. [in and parity ; L
pai
1. Inequality ; disproportion. Bacon.
2. Oddness ; indivisibility into equal parts.
Brown.
3. Difference of degree, rank or e.xcellence
Sancroft.
IMP'ARK, V. t. [in &nd park.] To inclose
for a park ; to make a park by inclosure ;
to sever from a common. Johnson.
IMP'ARL, V. i. [Norm, emperler ; in and Fr.
parler, to speak.]
To hold mutual discourse ; appropriately,
in law, to have hceuce to settle a lawsuit
amicably ; to have delay for mutual ad-
justment. Blackstone.
IMP'ARLANCE, n. Properly, leave for mu-
tual discourse ; appropriately, in law,
the licence or privilege of a defendant,
graiited on motion, to have delay of trial,
to see if he can settle the matter amica-
bly by talking with the plaintiff, and thus
to determine what answer he shall make
to the plaintiff's action. Hence,
2. The continuance of a cause till another
day, or from day to day. Blackstone.
IMPARSONEE', a. A parson imparsonee, is
a |)arson presented, instituted and induct-
ed into a rectory, and in full possession.
Blackstone.
IMP' ART, V. t. [L. impertior ; in and partio,
to divide ; from pars, a part.]
1. To give, grant or communicate ; to be-
stow on another a share or portion of
something ; as, to impart a portion of pro
visions to the poor.
2. To grant ; to give ; to confer ; as, to im
part honor or favor.
i. To communicate the knowledge of some
thing ; to make known ; to show by words
or tokens.
Gentle lady,
When first I did impart my love to you —
Shale. Milton.
IMPORTANCE, n. Communication of a
share ; grant.
IMPARTA'TION, n. The act of imparting
or conferring. [JVot much used.]
Chauncey.
IMP'ARTED, j);j. Communicated ; granted ;
conferred.
IMP^ARTIAL, a. [in and partial, from paH,
L. pars.]
1. Not (tartial ; not biased in favor of one
party more than another; indifferent; un
prejudiced ; disinterested ; as an impartial
judge or arbitrator.
2. Not favoring one party more than
other; equitable; just; as an impartial
judgment or decision ; an impartial opin-
ion.
IMP-ARTIALIST, n. One who is impar-
tial. [Little used.] Boyle.
IMPARTIALITY, n. imparshality. Indif-
ference of opinion or judgment ; freedom
from bias in favor of one side or party
more than another ; disinterestedness.
Impartiality is indispensable to an upright
judge.
2. Equitableness ; justice ; as the impartial
ity of a decision.
IMP>ARTIALLY, adv. Without bias of
judgment; without prejudice; without in
clination to favor one party or side more
than another ; equitably ; justly.
IMPARTIBIL'ITY, n. the quality of not
being subject to partition.
2. The quality of being capable of being
communicated.
IMPARTIBLE, a. [Sp. impariible ; in and
partible.]
Not partible or subject to partition ; as an
impartible estate. Blackstone.
2. [from impart.] That may be imparted,
conferred, bestowed or communicated.
Digby.
IMP'ARTING,;)pr. Communicating; grant-
ing; bestowing.
IMPARTMENt, n. The act of imparting ;
the communication of knowledge; disclo-
sure. Shak.
IMP'ASSABLE, a. [in and passable. See
Pass.]
That cannot be passed ; not admitting a pas-
sage ; as an impassable road, mountain or
gulf Milton. Temple.
IMP'ASSABLENESS, n. The state of be-
ing impassable.
IMP'ASSABLY, adv. In a manner or de-
gree that prevents passing, or the power
of passing.
IMPASSIBILITY, ) „ [from impaasi-
IMPAS'SIBLENESS, $ "• ble.]
Exemption from pain or suffering ; insus-
ceptibility of injury from external things.
Dryden.
IMPAS'SIBLE, a. [Fr. impassible ; Sp. m-
pasible; L. impassibitis, from passus, palior,
to suffer.]
Incapable of pain, passion or suffering; that
cannot be affected with pain or uneasi-
ness. Whatever is destitute of sensation
is impassible.
Though naked and impassible, depart.
Ihyden.
IMPAS'SION, V. t. [in and passion.] To
move or affect strongly with passion.
IMPAS'SIONATE, v. 't. To affect power-
fully. More.
IMPAS'SIONATE, a. Strongly affected.
2. Without passion or feeling. Burton.
IMPAS'SIONED, a. Actuated or agitated
by passion.
i. Animated ; excited ;
varmed ; as an
npac
ling the feelings
ned oiator.
3. Animated ; expressive of passion or ar-
dor ; as an impassioned discourse.
IMPAS'SIVE, a. [L. in &nd passus, patior.
suffer.]
Not susceptible of pain or suffering ; as the
impassive air ; impassive ice.
Dryden. Pope.
IMPAS'SIVELY, adv. Without sensibility
to pain or suffering.
IMPAS'SIVENESS, n. The state of being
insusceptible of pain. Mountagu.
IMPASSIVITY, n. The quality of being
insusceptible of feeling, pain or suffering.
Pausanias, Trans
IMPASTA'TION, n. [in and paste.] The
mixtion of various materials of different
colors and consistences, baked or united
by a cement, and hardened by the air or
by fire. Chambers.
IMPA'STE, v.t. [Fr.empater; inaiiApdte,
])aste.]
1. To knead ; to make into paste.
2. In painting, to lay on colors thick and
bold.
IMPA'STED, a. Concreted, as into pa*te.
Shak.
r M p
% Pasted over ; covered with paste, or with
thick paint.
IMPAT'IBLE, a. [L. {mpatibilis.] Intolera-
ble ; that cannot be borne.
IMPATIENCE, n. [Fr. ; L. impalitntia,
from impaliens; in auA palior, to sufler.]
Uneasiness under pain or suffering ; the not
enduring pain with composure ; restless-
ness occasioned by suffering positive evil,
or tlie absence of expected good. Impa-
tience is noirage, nor absolute inability to
bear pain ; but it implies want of fortitude,
or of its exercise. It usually springs from
irritability of temper.
IMPA'TIENT, a. [L. impaliens.'] Uneasy or
fretful under suffering ; not bearing pain
with composure ; not enduring evil with-
out fretfulness, uneasiness, and a desire or
effort to get rid of the evil. Young men
are impatient of restraint. We are all apt
to be impatient under wrongs ; but it is a
christian duty not to be impatient in sick-
ness, or under any afflictive dispensation
of Providence.
2. Not suffering quietly ; not enduring.
Fame, impatient of extremes, decays
Not more by envy than excess of praise.
Pope.
3. Hasty ; eager ; not enduring delay. Tlie
impatient man will not wait for informa-
tion ; he often acts with precipitance. Be
not impatient for the return of spring.
4. Not to be borne ; as impatient smart.
Spenser.
This word is followed by of, at, for, or
under. We are impatient of restraint, or
q/" wrongs; impatient at the delay of ex-
pected good ; impatient for the return of a
friend, or for the arrival of the mail ; im-
patient under evils of any kind. The
proper use of these particles can be learnt
only by practice or observation.
IMPA'TIENT, n. One who is restless un-
der suffering. [Unusual.]
IMPA'TIENTLY, adv. With uneasiness or
restlessness ; as, to bear disappointment
I M P
impatiently.
3. Wit
lith eager desire causing uneasiness
as, to wait impatiently for the arrival of
one's friend.
3. Passionately; ardently. Clarendon.
IMPATRONIZA'TION, n. Absolute seign-
ory or possession. Cotgrave.
IMPAT'RONIZE, i-. t. [Fr. impalroniser.]
To gain to one's self the power of any
seignory.
Bacon.
IMPAWN', I', i. [in miiX paum.] To pawn ;
to jdedge ; to deposit as security. Shak.
IMPE'ACH, v.t. [Fr. emplchtr; Arm. «m-
peich, ampechein ; Port. Sp. empachar ; It.
impacdare ; to hinder, to stop. It signifies
also in Portuguese, to surfeit, to overload,
to glut. It belongs to the family of pack;
L. pango, pactus ; Ar. tjCj bakka, to
press or compress. Class Eg. No. 18. 20.
61. The literal sen.se of impeach is to
thrust or send against ; hence, to hinder,
to stop.]
1. To hinder ; to impede. This sense is
found in our early writers.
These ungracious praclices of his sons did
impeach his journey to th» Holy Land.
JDavies.
A defluxlon on njy tliroal impeached my
!rancc. fluu-ell.
[This appliculion of the word is obsolete.]
2. To ac(•u^e : to charge with a crime or
misdemeanor ; but appropriately, to exhibit
charges of maladministration against t
public ofiiter before a competent tribunal
that is, to send or put on, to load. The
word is now restricted to accusations
made by authority ; as, to impeach a judge.
[See Impeachment.]
3. To accuse ; to censure ; to call in ques-
tion ; as, to impeach one's motives or con-
duct.
4. To call to account ; to charge as answer-
able.
IMPE'ACH, n. Hinderancc. Obs.
IMPE'ACIIABLE, a. Liable to accusation
chargeable with a crime ; accusablc ; cen-
surable.
2. Liable to be called in question ; account-
able.
Owners of lands in fee simple are not im-
peachable for waste. Z. Swijl.
IMPE'ACHED, pp. Hindered. Obs.
2. Accused ; charged with a crime, misde-
meanor or wrong; censured.
The first donee in tail may commit waste,
without being impeached. Z. SwiJl.
IMPE'ACHER, ?i. An accuser by authority ;
one who calls in question.
IMPEACHING, ppr. Hindering. Obs.
2. Accusing by authority ; calling in (|ues-
tion the purity or rectitude of conduct or
motives.
IMPEACHMENT, n. Hinderance; impedi-
ment ; stop ; obstruction. Obs.
Spenser. Shak.
2. An accusation or charge brought against
a public officer for maladministration ii
his office. In Great Britain, it is the priv
ilege or right of the house of connnons to
impeach, and the right of the house of
lords to. try and determine impeachments,
In the U. States, it is the right of the house
of representatives to impeach, and of the
senate to try and determine impeach-
ments. In Great Britain, the house of;
peers, and in the U. States, the senate of
the United States, and the senates in the
several states, are the high courts of im-
peachment.
3. The act of impeaching.
4. Censure ; accusation ; a calling in ques-
tion the purity of motives or the rectitude
of conduct, &c. Tliis declaration is no
impeachment of his motives or of his judg-
ment.
5. The act of calling to account, as for
aste.
6. The state of being liabje to account, as
for waste.
IMPEARL, v.t. imperV. [in anA pearl] To
form in the resemblance of pearls.
— Dew-drops which the sun
Impearls on every leaf, and every flower.
Milton
2. To decorate with pearls, or with things
resembling pearls.
'I'he dews of the morning impearl every
thorn. Digby.
IMPECCABIL'ITY, ? [See Impeccable.]
IMPE€'€ANCY, J "• The quality of not
being hable to sin ; e.xemplion from sin,
error or offense. Pope.
I M P
IMPE€'€.\BL£, a. [Sp. imKcoWe ; Fr. i,/i-
peccable; in and Sp. pecable, Fr. peccabU,
from L. pecco, to err, to sin.]
Not liable to sin ; not subject to sin ; exempt
from the possibility of sinuing. No mere
man is impeccable.
IMPEDE, I', t. [Sp. impedir ; It. impedire ;
L. impedio; su|iposed to be compounded
of in and pedes, feet, to catch or entangle
the feet.]
To hinder; to stop in progress; to obstruct ;
as, to impede the progress of troops.
IMPE'UEI), pp. Hindered; stopped; ob-
IM PEDIMENT, n. [L. impidimentum.)
That wliicli hinders progress or motion ;
hinderance ; obstruction ; obstacle ; appli-
cable to every subject, physical or moral.
Bad roads are impediments in marching
and travelling. Idleness and dissipation
are impediments to impro>ement. The
cares of life ate impediments to the prog-
ress of vital religion.
3. That which prevents distinct articulation ;
as an impediment in speech.
IMPED'BIENT, V. t. To impede. [.Yot m
use.] Bp. Reynolds.
IMPEDIMENT'AL, a. Hindering; ob-
slructiuff. Mounlagu.
IMPE'DING, ppr. Hindering ; stopping ;
obstructing.
IIM'PEDITE, V. t. To impede. [jYol in use.]
IMPED ITIVE, o. Causing hinderance.
Sanderson.
MPEL',r. «. [Sp. i-m;>*r; It. impeUere ; L.
impello ; in and pello, to drive.]
To drive or urge forward ; to press on ; to
excite to action or to move forward, by
the application of physical force, or moral
suasion or necessity. A ball is impelled
by the force of powder ; a ship is impelled
by wind; a man may be itnpelled by hun-
ger or a regard to his safety ; motives of
policy or of safety impel nations to con-
federate.
The surge impelled me on a craggy coast.
Pope.
.4nd several men impel to sevctal ends.
Pope.
IMPEL'LED, pp. Driven forward ; urged
on ; moved by any force or power, phys-
ical or moral.
IMPEL LENT, n. A power or force that
drives forward ; impulsive power.
Glanvitte.
IMPEL'LER, n. He or that which impels.
IMPEL'LING, ppr. Driving forward; urg-
ing ; pressing.
IMPEN', I'./, [in and pen.] To i>en ; to shut
or inclose in a narrow place. Fellham.
IMPEND', I', t. [L.impendeo; in and pendeo,
to hang.]
L To hang over ; to be suspended above ; to
threaten. A dark cloud impends over the
land.
Destruction sure o'er all your heads impends.
Pope.
2. To be near ; to be approaching and ready
to fall on.
It expresses our deep sense of God's impend-
ing wrath. Smalridge.
Nor bear advices of impending foes. Pope
IMPEND'ENCE, } The state of hanging
IMPEND'ENCY, ^ over ; near approach ;
a menacing attitude. Hammond
IMP
I M P
1 M P
IMPEND'ENT, a. Hanging over; iiijiiii-
iient ; threatening ; pressing closely ; as an
impendent evil. Hale.
IMPEND'ING, ppr. Hanging over ; ap-
proaching near ; threatening.
IMPENETRABILITY, n. [from impene-
trable.]
1. The quality of being impenetrable.
2. In philosophy, that quality of matter which
prevents two bodies from occupying the
same space at the same time. Good.
.3. Insusceptibility of intellectual impression,
Johnso7i.
IMPEN'ETRABLE, a. [h. impenetrahilis .
in and penetrabilis, from penetro, to pen-
etrate.]
1, That cannot be penetrated or pierced
not admihing the passage of other bodies ;
as an impenetrahle shield.
3. Not to be aft'ected or moved ; not admit-
ting impressions on the mind. The hard-
ened sinner remains impenetrable to the
admonitions of the gospel.
3. Not to be entered by the sight ; as impen
etrable darkness. Hence,
4. Not to be entered and viewed by the eye
of the intellect ; as impenetrable obscurity
Impenetra
IMPEN'ETRABLENESS,
bility, which see.
IMPEN'ETRABLY,arfi>. With solidity
admits not of being penetrated.
2. With hardness that admits not of impr
ion ; as impenetrably dull. Pope.
I3IPEN'1TENCE, ) Fr. impenitence ; Sp,
IMPEN'ITENCY, ^ "' impenitencia ; It. im
penitcnza ; L. in and panitens, from pieni
teo, to repent, pcena, pain.]
Want of penitence or repentance ; abseno
of contrition or sorrow for sin ; obduracy ;
hardness of heart. Final impenitence
dooms the sinner to inevitable punish-
ment.
He will advance from one degree of impeni.
fence to another. Rogers
IMPEN'ITENT, a. [Fr. ; in and penitent,
supra.]
Not penitent ; not repenting of sin ; not con-
trite; obdurate; of a hard heart.
They died
Impenitent. .Milton.
IMPEN'ITENT, n. One who does not re-
]ient; a hardened sinner.
IJIPEN'ITENTLY, adv. Without repent-
ance or contrition for sin ; obdurately.
IMPEN'NOUS, a. [in and pennous.] Want-
ing wings.
IMPE'OPLE, V. t. To form into a commu-
nity. [See People.] Beaum.
IM'PERATE, a. [L. imperatus, impero, to
command.]
Done by impulse or direction of the mind
[JVot med.] South. Hale.
IMPER'ATIVE, a. [Fr. imperatif; L.
perativv.i, from impero, to comtnand. See
Empire.]
1. Comm.inding; exjnessive of command
containing positive command, as distin
guished from advisoiy, or discretionary.
The orders are imperative.
2. In grammar, the imperative mode of a
verb is that which expresses command
entreaty, advice or exhortation ; as, go.
write, attend.
IMPER'ATIVELY, adv. With command
authoritatively.
IMPERATO'RIAL, a. Commanding. [JVot
in use.] JVoiris.
IMPERCEP'TIBLE, a. [Fr. ; in and per-
■eptible.]
1. Not to be perceived ; not to be known or
discovered by the senses. We say a thing
is imperceptible to the touch, to the eye or
sight, to the ear, to the taste or smell.
Hence,
2. Very small; fine; minute in dimensions;
or very slow in motion or progress ; as,
the growth of a plant or animal is imper-
ceptible ; it is too slow to be perceived by
the eye.
IMPERCEP'TIBLE, n. That which can-
not be perceived by the senses on account
ofitssmallness. [Little used.] Taller.
IMPERCEP'TIBLENESS, n. The quality
of being imperceptible. Hale.
IMPERCEPTIBLY, adv. In a manner not
to be perceived. Addison.
IMPERCIP'IENT, a. Not perceiving or
having power to perceive. Baxter
IMPER'DIBLE, a. Not destructible. [Abi a
legitimate imrd.]
IMPER'FE€T, a. [L. impcrfectus ; in anA
pcrfectus, finished, perfect ; perjicio, to per-
fect ; /lerand/acio, to make.]
\. Not finished ; not complete. The viovX'
or design is imperfect.
2. Defective ; not entire, sound or whole
wanting a part ; impaired. The writings
of Livy are imperfect.
3. Not perfect in intellect; liable to err; as
men are imperfect ; our minds and under
standings are imperfect.
4. Not perfect in a moral view ; not accord ,
ing to the laws of God, or the rules ofi
right. Our services and obedience are
imperfect.
In grammar, the imperfect tense denotes
an action in time past, then present, but
not finished.
6. In music, incomplete ; not having all the
accessary sounds ; as an imperfect chord.
An imperfect interval is one which does not
contain its complement of simple sounds.
Busby.
IMPERFECTION, n. [Fr. from L. impe'r-
fectio, supra.]
Defect ; fault ; the want of a part or of some-]
thing necessary to complete a thing;]
equally applicable to physical or 7norali
subjects. When fruit fails to come to ma-
turity, and after it begins to decay, we de-|
nominate the defect, an imperfection. Laws
sometimes fail of the intended effect, ei-
ther from their imperfection, or from the
imperfection of the administration. Men
are all chargeable with imperfections, both
in character and in conduct.
IMPER'FE€TLY, adv. In an imperfect
manneror degree ; not fully; not entirely;
not completely ; not in the best manner;!
not without fault or failure.
IMPER'FE€TNESS, n. The state of be
ing imperfect.
IMPER'FORABLE, a. [infra.] That can
not be perforated or bored through.
IMPER'FORATE, a. [L. in and perforatus,
perforo.]
Not perforated or pierced ; having no open-
ing. Shnrpe.
IMPERFORATED, a. Not perforated.
Broicn
2. Having i
pores.
.S'(V J. Ba7iks
IMPERFORA'TION, n. The stnte of .h.
mg not perforated, or without any apt >
ture.
IMPE'RIAL, a. [Fr. froffl L. imperial,
from impero, to command. See Emperor.
1. Pertaining to an empire, or to an empe-
ror ; as an imperial government ; an impe-
rial diadem ; imperial authority or edict ;
imperial power or sway.
2. Royal ; belonging to a monarch ; as an
imperial palace ; imperial arts. Dryden.
3. Pertaining to royalty ; denoting sove-
gnty-
4. Commanding ; maintaining supremacy ;
as the imperial democracy of Athens.
Mitford.
Imperial chamber, the sovereign court of the
German empire. Encyc.
Imperial city, a city in Germany which has
no head but the emperor.
Imperial diet, an assembly of all the states
of the German empire. Encyc.
IMPERIALIST, n. One who belongs to an
emperor ; a subject or soldier of an em-
peror. The denomination, imperialist.?, is
often given to the troops or armies of the
emperor of Austria.
IMPERIAL'ITY, n. Imperial power.
2. The right of an emperor to a share of the
produce of mines, &c.
The late empress having by ukases of grace,
relinquished her imperidlities on the private
mines, viz. the tenths of the copper, iron, sil-
ver and gold — Tooke.
IMPE'RIALLY, adv. In a royal manner.
IMPER'IL, V. t. [in and peril.] To bring
danger. Spenser.
IMPE'RIOUS, a. [L. imperiosus ; It. Sp.
imperioso ;Fr. imperieux. See Imperial.]
1. Commanding ; dictatorial ; haughty ; ar-
rogant ; overbearing ; domineering ; as
an imperious tyrant ; an imperious dicta-
tor ; an imperious man ; an imperious tem-
per. More. Shah.
2. Commanding ; indicating an imperious
temper ; authoritative ; as imperious words.
Locke.
3. Powerful ; overbearing ; not to be oppo-
sed by obstacles ; as a man of a vast and
imperious mind. Tillotson.
4. Commanding; urgent; pressing; as im-
perious love ; imperious circumstances ; im-
perious appetite. Dryden. S. S. Smith.
5. Authoritative ; commanding with right-
ful authority.
The commandment high and imperious in its
claims. D. A. Clark.
IMPE'RIOUSLY, adv. With arrogance of
command ; with a haughty air of author-
ity ; in a domineering manner. South.
2. With urgency or force not to he opposed.
IMPE'RIO'USNESS, n. Authority ; air of
command. South.
2. Arrogance of command ; haughtiness.
Tmperiousness ami severity is an ill way of
treating men who have reason to guide them.
Locke.
IMPER'ISHABLE, o. [Fi: imperissable ; in
and peiish.]
Not subject to decay ; not liable to perish :
indestructible ; enduring permanently ; as
an imperishable monument ; imperishable
renown.
Elegant discourses on virtue — will not sup-
ply the consolations ol imperishable hope.
IMP
I M P
IMP
IJIPER'ISHABLENESS, n. The quality
of being iniperislmble.
IMPER'MANENCE, n. Want of perma-
nence or continued duration.
tV. Mountague.
IMPEll'MANENT, a. [in and permanent.]
Not permanent ; not enduring. Gregory.
IMPERMEABIL'ITY, n. The quality of
being impermeable by a fluid.
Cavallo. Jlsiat. Res.
IMPER'MEABLE, a. [L. in and permeo;
per and meo, to pass.]
Not to be passed through the pores by a
fluid; as iw»)f rHieai/e lether.
IMPER'SONAL, a. [Fr. impersonnel; L.
impersonalis ; in and personalis, from per-
sona. See Person.]
In grammar, an impersonal verb is one which
is not employed with the .first and second
persons, / and thou or you, we and ye, for
nominatives, and which has no variation
of ending to express them, but is used only
with the termination of the third person
shigular, with it for a nominative in Eng-
lish, and without a nominative in Latin ;
as, it rains ; it becomes us to be modest ;
L. tcedet ; libet ; pugnatur.
IMPERSONALITY, n. Indistinction of]
personality. Draper
IMPER'SONALLY, adv. In the manner of
an impersonal verb.
IMPERSONATE, v. t. To personify.
tVarton.
IMPERSONATED, a. Made persons of.
[See Personated.] Warton.
IMPERSPIeU'ITY, n. Want of perspicui-
ty, or clearness to the mind.
IMPERSPl€'UOUS, a. {in a.nA perspicuous.]
Not perspicuous ; not clear ; obscure.
Bailey.
IMPERSUA'SIBLE, a. [L. in and persua-
sibilis. See Persuade.]
Not to be moved by persuasion ; not yield-
ing to arguments. Decay of Piety.
IMPER'TINENCE, ? , [Fr. impeHinencc,
IMPER'TINENCY, 5 "• from L. impeH'
nens; in and pertxnens, pertineo, to pei
tain ; per and teneo, to hold.]
1. That which is not pertinent; that which
does not belong to the subject in hand
that which is of no weight. Bacon.
2. The state of not being pertinent.
3. Folly ; rambling thought. [Little used.]
SImk.
4. Rudeness ; improper intrusion ; interfer-
ence by word or conduct which is not con-
sistent" with the age or station of the per-
son. [This is the most usual sense.]
We should avoid the vexation and imperti-
nence of pedants. Swijl
5. A trifle ; a thing of little or no value.
There are many subtile impertinencies leamt
in schools — TVatts.
IMFER'TINENT, a. [L. impeHinens, su-
pra.]
I. Not pertaining to the matter in band ; of
no weight ; having no bearing on the sub
' ject ; as an impertinent remark.
Hooker. Tillotson.
.2. Rude ; intrusive ; meddling with that
which does not belong to the person ; as
an impertinent coxcomb.
3. Trifling ; foolish ; negligent of the pres-
ent purpose. Pope.
Vol. I.
IMPERTINENT, n. An intruder ; a med-
dler ; one who interferes in what does not
belong to him. L'Estrange.
IMPERTINENTLY, adv. Without rela-
tion to the matter in hand.
2. Officiously; intrusively; rudely.
IMPERTRANSIBIL'ITY, n. The quality
of not being capable of being passed
through. Hale.
IMPERTRAN'SIBLE, a. [L. in and per-
Iranseo ; per and transeo, to pass over or
through ; trans and eo, to go.] Not to be
passed through. [Little used.]
IMPERTURBABLE, a. [L. in aud;)ert«r-
bo, to disturb ; per and turbo.]
That cannot be disturbed or agitated ; per-
manently quiet. Encyc.
IMPERTURBA'TION, n. Freedom fr.
agitation of mind ; calmness.
W. Mountague.
IMPERTURB'ED, a. Undisturbed. [.Yot
in use.] Bailey.
IPER'VIOUS, a. [L. imptrvius; in and
pervius, passable ; per and via, way.]
L Not to be penetrated or passed through ;
impenetrable ; as an impervious gulf; an
impe7-vious forest.
2. Not penetrable ; not to be pierced by a
pointed instrument ; as an imperviou
shield.
3. Not penetrable by light ; not permeabli
to tluids. Glass is pervious to light, but
imperviotis to water. Paper is impemous
to light. In the latter sense only, imper-
vious is synonymous with impermeable.
IMPERVIOUSLY, adv. In a manner tc
prevent passage or penetration.
IMPER'VIOUSNESS, n. The state of not
idmitting a passage.
IMPETIG'INOUS, a. [L. impetigo, a ring
worm.]
Resembling the ring-worm or tetters ; cov
ered with scales or scabs ; scurfy.
IM'PETRABLE, a. [Sec Impetrate.] That
may be obtained by petition.
IMPETRATE, v. t. [L. impetro.] To ob
tain bv request or entreaty. Usher.
IMPETRA'TION, 71. The act of obtaining
by prayer or petition. Herbert.
2. In law, the preobtaining of benefices fron
the church of Rome, which belonged to
the disposal of the king and other lay pat-
rons of the realm. Encyc.
IM'PETRATIVE, a. Obtaining ; tending
to obtain by entreaty. Bp. Hall.
IM'PETRATORY, a. Beseeching; con-
taining entreaty. Taylor.
IMPETUOS'ITY, n. [See Impetnotts.] A
rushing with violence and great force ;
fury: violence.
2. Vehemence; furiousness of temper.
IMPETUOUS, a. [Fr. impetueux ; L.
impetuostis, from impetus, impeto ; in and
peto, to urge, to rush. See Bid.]
1. Rushing with great force and violence ;
moving rapidly ; furious; forcible; fierce;
raging ; as an impetuous wind ; an impetu-
ous torrent.
2. Vehement of mind ; fierce ; hasty ; pas
IMPET'UOUSNESS, n. A driving or rush-
ing with haste and violence ; furiousness ;
fury ; violence.
2. Vehemence of temper ; violence.
IM'PETUS, n. [L. supra.] Force of mo.
tion ; the force with which any body is
driven or impelled.
2. The force with which one body in motion
strikes another.
IMPIC'TURED, a. Painted; impressed.
Spenser.
IMPIER. [See Umpire.]
IMPIERCEABLE, a. impers'able. [in and
pierce.] Not to be pierced or penetrated.
Spenser.
IMPIETY, ji. [Fr. impiete ; L. impietas;
in and pietas, pius.]
]l. Ungodliness ; irreverence towards the
Supreme Being ; contempt of the divine
character and authority ; neglect of the
divine precepts. These constitute diflfer-
ent degrees of impiety.
2. Any act of wickedness, as blasphemy
and scoffing at the Supreme Being, or at
his authority ; profaneness. Any express-
ion of contempt for God or his laws, con-
stitutes an impiety of the highest degree of
criminality. Disobedience to the diviue
commands or neglect of duty implies con-
tempt for his authority, and is therefore
impiety. Impiety, when it expresses tho
temper or disposition, has no plural ; but
it is otherwise when it expresses an act of
wickedness, for all such acts are impieties.
IMPIG'NORATE, v. t. To pledge or pawn.
[JVot in use.]
IMPIGNORA'TION, n. The act of pawn-
ing. [JVot in use.]
IMPIN6E, V. i. impinj'. [L. impingo ; in
and pango, to strike. ' See PackT]
To fall against ; to strike ; to dash against ;
to clash upon.
The cause of reflection is not the impinging
of light on tlie solid or impervious parts of bod-
ies. J\~ewton.
|IMPIN6'ING, ppr. Striking against.
IMPIN'GUATii, V. t. [L. in and pinguis,
fat.] To fatten ; to make fat. [JVb<in use.]
sionatL> :
temper.
liolent ; as a man of impetu
IMPETUOUSLY, adv. Violently ; fierce
ly ; forcibly ; with haste and force.
Addison.
106
IM'PIOUS, a. [L. impim; in and pius,
pious.]
1. Irreverent towards the Supreme Being;
wanting in veneration for God and his
authority; irreligious ; profane. Thescof-
I fer at God and bis authority is impious.
The profane swearer is impious.
When vice prevails and itnpious men bear
sway.
The post of honor is a private station.
.iddison.
2. Irreverent towards God ; proceeding from
or manifesting a contempt for the Supreme
Being ; tending to dishonor God or his
laws, and bring them into contempt; as
an impious deed ; impious language ; im-
pious writings.
IM' PIOUSLY, adv. With irreverence for
God, or contempt for his authority ; pro-
fanely ; wickedly.
I.AIl'lnUSNESS, n. Impiety; contempt of
(■'<iil ami lijs laws.
LMl'LAfABIL'ITY, ?. [from implaca-
IMPLA CABLENESS, S We.] Thequal-
ity of not being appeasable ; inexorablc-
ness ; irreconcilable enmity or anger.
I M P
I M P
I M P
IMPLA'€ABLE, a. [Fr. from I., implacab-
ilis ; in and placabilis, from ptaco, to ap-
pease.]
1. Not to be appeased ; that can not be pa-
cified and rendered peaceable ; inexora-
ble ; stubborn or constant in enmity ; as
an implacable jirince.
2. Not to he appeased or subdued ; as impla-
cable anger ; implacable enmity, malice or
revenge.
IMPLACABLY, adv. With enmity not to
be pacified or subdued ; inexorably ; as,
to hate a person implacably.
IMPLANT', V. t. [in and plant, L. planto.]
To set, plant or infix for the purpose of
growth ; as, to implant the seeds of virtue,
or the principles of knowledge in the
minds of youth ; to implant grace in the
heart. [It is now seldom or never used in its
literal sense for setting plants or seeds in the
earth.]
IMPLANTATION, n. The act of setting
or infixing in the mind or heart, as princi-
ples or first rudiments. Broum.
IMPLANT'ED, pp. Set ; infixed in the
mind, as principles oi- rudiments.
IMPLANT'ING, ppr. Setting or infixing in
the mind, as principles.
IMPLAUSIBIL'ITY, n. [from implausible.]
The quality of not being plausible or spe-
cious.
IMPLAUS'IBLE, a. s as i. [in and plausible.]
Not specious ; not wearing the appearance
of truth or credibility, and not likely to
be believed : as an implausible harangue.
Swift.
IMPLAUSIBLY, adv. Without an appear-
ance of probability.
IMPLE'ACH, V. t. [in and pleach.] To in-
terweave. [JVot in rise.] Shak.
IMPLE'AD, J', t. [in and plead.] To insti-
tute and prosecute a suit against one in
court; to sue at law. The corporation
shall have power to plead and be impleaded.
Let them hnplead one another. Acts six.
IMPLE'ADED, pp. Prosecuted ; sued ;
subject to answer to a suit in court.
IMPLE'ADER, n. One who prosecutes an-
other.
IMPLE'ADINO, ppr. Prosecuting a suit.
IMPLE'ASING, a. Unpleasing. [jXot in
use.]
IMPLEDgE, v. t. To pawn. [jVo< used.]
IM'PLEMENT, n. [Low L. implementum,
from impleo, to fill ; in and pleo.]
Whatever may supply wants ; ]iarticularly,
as now used, tools, utensils, vessels, instru-
ments ; the tools or instruments of labor ;
the vessels used in a kitchen, &c. ; as the
implements of trade or of husbandry. [It is
a word of very extensive signification.]
IMPLE'TION, n. [L. impleo,lo fill ; in and
pleo.] The act of filling; the state of be-
ing full.
Theimpletlon is cither in simple or compoitnd
flowers. The nnpleiiun of simple flowers, i;
by the increase either of the petals, or of the
nectary. Lee
IM'PLEX, a. [L. implexus. See Implicate.'
Infolded ; intricate ; entangled ; compli-
cated.
Every poem is simple or implex ; it is calleil
simple, when there is no change of fortune in it ;
implex, when the fortune of the chief actor
changes from bad to good, or from good to bad
.'ipectator
IMPLEX'ION, n. [See Implicate.] The act
of infolding or involving; the state of be-
ing involved ; involution. [Little used.]
Did.
IM'PLI€ATE, V. t. [Fr. impliquer ; It. im-
plicare ; L. implico, implicatns ; in and
plica, to fold, Gr. TfKixu, W. plygu.]
1. To infold; to involve; to entangle. [Sel-
dom used in its literal sense.] Boyle.
2. To involve ; to bring into coimection
with ; also, to show or prove to be con-
nected or concerned ; as, the evidence does
not implicate the accused person in this
conspiracy.
IMPLICATED, /(p. Infolded; involved.
2. Involved ; connected ; concerned ; pro-
ved to be concerned or to have had a part.
Twenty persons are implicated in the plo
IMPLICATING, ppr. Involving ; proving
to be concerned.
IMPLICA'TION, n. [L. implicatio, supra.]
I The act of infolding or involving.
3. Involution ; entanglement.
Three principal causes of firmness are, the
grossncss, the quiet contact, and the implication
of the component parts. Boyle.
3. An implying, or that which is implied, but
not expressed ; a tacit inference, or some-
thing fairly to be understood, though not
expressed in words.
The doctors arc, by implication, of a differ-
ent opinion. Jlyhffe.
IMPLICATIVE, a. Having implication.
IM'PLICATIVELY, adv. By implication.
Buck.
IMPLICIT, a. [L. implicitns, from implico,
supra.]
Infolded ; entangled ; complicated.
In his woolly fleece
I cling implicit. [^Little itsed.'\ Pope.
2. Implied ; tacitly comprised ; fairly to be
understood, though not expressed in
words ; as an implicit contract or agree-
ment.
3. Resting on another ; trusting to the word
or authority of another, without doubting
or reserve, or without e.xamining into the
truth of the thing itself Thus we give
implicit credit or confidence to the decla-
rations of a person of known veracity.
We receive with implicit faith whatever
God has clearly revealed.
IMPLIC'ITLY, adv. By inference deduci-
ble, but not expressed in words: virtual-
ly ; in reality, but not in name.
He that denies the providence of God, impli-
citly denies his existence. Bentley.
2. By connection with something else ;
dependently ; with unreserved confi-
dence ; without doubting, or without ex-
amining evidence. We are disposed to
believe implicitly what a man of veracity
testifies.
Learn not to dispute the methods of his prov-
idence, but humbly and implicitly to acquiesce
in and adore them. Mtcrbury.
IMPLICITNESS, n. The state of being
implicit ; the state of trusting without re-
serve.
IMPLI'ED, pp. [See Imply.] Involved ;
contained virtually, though not express-
ed ; as an implied promise.
IMPLI'EDLY, adv. By implication.
IMPLORA'TION, n. Earnest supplication.
Bp. Hall.
IMPLO'RE, V. t. [Fr. implorer ; Sp. implo-
rar ; It. implorare ; L. imploro ; in and
ploro, to cry out.]
1. To call upon or for, in supplication ; to
beseech ; to pray earnestly ; to petition
with urgency ; to entreat ; as, to implore
the forgiveness of sins ; to impiore mercy.
Imploring all the gods that reign above.
Pope
2. To ask earnestly ; to beg.
IMPLO'RE, v.i. To entreat; to beg.
IMPLO'RE, n. Earnest supplication. [JVot
used.] Spenser.
IMPLORED, pp. Earnestly supplicated;
be.<iOUghl.
IMPLORER, n. One who prays earnestly.
IMPLO'RING, ppr. Beseeching; entreat-
ing ; praying earnestly.
IMPLU'MED, I „ Having no plumes or
IMPLU'MOUS, ^ "• fethers. Johtison.
IMPLUNgE, I', t. implunj'. To plunge ; to
inunerse. Fuller.
IMPLY', V. I. [Fr. impliquer; Sp.implicar;
It. implicare ; L. implico ; in aud plico, to
fold. See Implicate.]
1. Literally, to infold or involve ; to wrap
up. Obs. Spenser.
2. To involve or contain in substance or es-
sence, or by fair inference, or by construc-
tion of law, when not expressed in words.
WTicre a malicious act is proved, a malicious
intention is implied. Sherlock.
When a man employs a laborer to work for
him, or an agent to transact business for him,
the act of hiring implies an obligation, and a
promise that he shall pay him a reasonable re-
ward for his services. Contracts arc express or
implied ; express contracts are those in which
an agreement or promise is expressed by words
or in writing; implied contracts are such as
arise from the presumption of law, or the jus-
tice and reason of the transaction.
Slackstone.
I3IPLY'ING, ppr. Involving ; containing
in substance, or by fair inference, or by
construction of law.
IMPOCK'ET, V. t. To pocket. [ATot used.]
IMPOIS'ON, V. t. s as :. [Fr. empoisonner.
See Poison.]
1. To poison ; to impregnate with poison ;
to corrupt with poison.
2. To embitter; to impair; as, grief impoi-
sons the pleasures of life.
3. To kill with poison. [Rare.] Shak.
IMPOIS'ONED, pp. Poisoned ; corrupted;
embittered.
IMPOIS'ONING, ppr. Poisoning ; corrupt-
ing ; embittering.
IMPOIS'ONMENT, n. The act of poison-
■ g. Pope.
IM'POLARLY, adv. Not according to the
direction of the poles. [Mot tised.]
Brown.
IMPOL'ICY, n. [in and policy.] luexpedi-
ence ; unsuitableness to the end proposed;
bad policy ; defect of wisdom ; a word ap-
plied to private as well as public affairs.
Washington.
IMPOLI'TE, a. [in anA polite.] Not of pol-
ished manners ; unpolite ; uncivil ; rude
in manners.
IMPOLITELY, adv. Uncivilly.
IMPOLI'TENESS, n. InciviUty ; want ol
good manners. Chesterfield.
IMPOLITIC, a. Not wise; devising and
pursuing measures adapted to injure the
I M P
I M P
IMP
public interest ; as an impolitic prince or
minister.
2. Unwise ; adapted to injure the public in
terest ; as an impolitic law, measure or
scheme.
3. Not wise in private concerns ; pursuing
measures ill suited to promote i)rivate
welfare ; not prutlent.
4. Not suited to promote private interest.
IMPOLIT'leAL, for impolitic, is obsolete.
IMPOL'ITICLY, adv. Not wisely; no
with due forecast and prudence ; in i
manner to injure public or private inter
est.
IMPONDERABILITY, n. Absolute levity
destitution of sensible weight.
IMPON'DERABLE, > [in and ponderable
IMPON'DEROUS, I "• ponderous.] Noi
having sensible weight. Brown
IMPOOR', v.t. [m and ;;oor.] To impover-
ish. [JVot in use.] Browne.
IMPOROS'ITY, n. [in and porosity.] Wani
of porosity ; closeness of texture ; com-
pactness that excludes pores. Bacon
IMPO'ROUS, a. Destitute of pores ; very
close or compact in texture : solid.
Brown. Ray.
IMPO'RT, v.<. [Fr. importer; L. impoHo;ii
and porto, to bear, teee Bear.]
1. To bring from a foreign country or juris
diction, or from another state, into one's
own country, juri.sdiction or state ; oppo
sed to export. We import teas and silks
from China, wines from Spain and Fran
and dry goods from Great Britain. Great
Britain imports cotton from America and
India. We may say also that Connecticut,
Massachusetts and Maine import flour
from the middle states.
2. To bear or convey, as signification or
meaning; to mean; to signify; to imply.
We are to understand by a term, what it
clearly imports.
3. To be of weight to ; to be of moment or
consequence to ; to bear on the interest
of, or to have a bearing on.
Her length of sickness, with what else mo«
serious
Importeth thee to know, this bears. Shak
If I endure it, what imports it you ?
Dryden
IM'PORT, n. That which is borne or con-
veyed in words ; meaning ; signification
the sense which words are intended to
convey to the understanding, or which
they bear in sound interpretation. Import
differs from implication in this, that the
meaning of a term or number of words in
connection is less obscurely expressed
Import depends less on inference or de-
duction than implication, and is also ap
plied more frequently to a single word
In all philosophical discussions, it is use-
ful to ascertain the import of the terms
employed. In the construction of laws
and treaties, we are to examine carefully
the import of words and phrases.
2. That which is imported or brought into
a country from another country or state ;
generally in the plural. Our imports ex-
ceed our exports ; the balance must be
paid in specie ; hence the scarcity of c<5in
5. Importance ; weight ; consequence. [For-
merly accented on the second suitable.]
Shak. Dryden
IMPO'RTABLE, a. That may be imported
2. Insupportable ; not to be endured. Obs.
Spenser.
IMPORT' ANCE, n. [Fr.; Sp.importar, '
It. importanza ; from import.]
1. Weight ; consequence ; a bearing on
some interest ; that quality of any thing
by which it may affect a measure, interest
or result. The education of youth is of
great importance to a free government. A
religious education is of infinite import-
ance to every human being.
2. Weight or consequence in the scale of
being.
Thy own importance know,
Nor bound thy narrow views to thinga below
Pope
3. Weight or consequence in self-estimation.
lie believes himself a man of importance.
4. Thing implied; matter; subject; impor-
tunity. [In these senses, obsolete.] Shak.
IMPORTANT, a. [Fr.] Literally, bearing
on or to. Hence, weighty ; momentous ;
of great consequence; having a bearing
on some interest, measure or result 1
which good or ill may be produce
Truth is important to hapjiiness as well as
to knowledge, but none so important as
religious truth. The commerce of Gr
Britain is important to her navy, and her
navy is important to her independence.
Men often forget the important end for
which they were created.
2. Bearing on ; forcible ; driving.
He fiercely at him flen-,
And with important outrage him assailed.
Spenser.
•3. Importunate. [JVot used.] Shak.
IMPORT' ANTLY, adv. Weightily ; forci-
bly- Hammond.
IMPORTA'TION, n. [Fr. ; from import.]
1. The act or practice of im|)orting, or of
bringing from another country or state ;
0|)posed to exportation. Nations forbid the
importation of commodities which are pro-
duced or manufactured in sufficient abun-
dance at home.
2. The wares or commodities imported,
The importations, this season, exceed those
of the last.
3. Conveyance.
IMPO'RTED, pp. Brought from another
country or state.
IMPORTER, n. He that imports; the mer
chant who, by himself or his agent, brings
goods from another country or state.
[MPO'RTING, ppr. Bringing into one's
own country or state from a foreign or
distant state.
2. Bearing, as a signification ; meaning.
3. Having weight or consequence.
IMPORTLESS, a. Of no weight or conse-
quence, [j^tot used.] Shak.
IMPORT'UNACY, n. The act of importu-
ning ; importunateness.
IMPORT'UNATE, a. [L. importunus. See
Importune.]
. Bearing on ; pressing or urging in re-
quest or demand ; urgent and pertina-
cious in solicitation ; as an importunate
suitor or petitioner.
9. Pressing ; urgent ; as an importunate de-
mand.
3. Inciting urgently for gratification ; as im-
portunate passions and appetites.
IMPORT'UNATELY, adv. With urgent
request ; with pressing aohcitation.
IMPORT UNATENESS, n. Urgent and
pressing solicitation, Digby.
IMPORT'UNATOR, n. One that impor-
tunes, y^ot in use.] Sandys.
IMPORTU'NE, v.t. [Fr. importuner ; Sp.
importunar; It., importunare ; from L. im-
portunus ; in and porto, to bear on.]
To request with urgency ; to press with so-
licitation ; to urge with frequent or un-
ceasing application.
Their miiiistcrs and residents here have per.
peluully iiitjiurtuned the court with unreasona<
bic demands. Swift.
IMPORTUNE, a. [L. importunus. Form-
erly accented on the second syllable.]
1. Pressing in request; urgent; trouble-
some by frequent demands ; vexatious ;
unreasonable. Spenser. Bacon.
2. Unseasonable. Milton.
[This word is obsolete ; being superseded
by importunate, unless perhaps in poetry.]
IMPORTU'NELY, adv. With urgent soli-
citation ; incessantly ; continually ; troub-
lesomcly. Obs. Spenser.
2. Unseasonably ; improijcrly. Obs.
Sanderson.
IMPORTU'NITY, n. [Fr. importuniU ; L.
importnnitas.]
Pressing solicitation ; urgent request ; ap-
plication for a claim or favor, which is ur-
ged with troublesome frequency or perti-
nacity. Men are sometimes overcome by
the importunitij of their wives or children.
IMPO'RTUOUS, a. [L. imporluosus ; in and
partus.] Without a jrort, haven or harbor.
IMPO'SABLE, a. That may be imposed or
laid on. Hammond.
IMPO'SE, v.t. sasz. [Fr. imposer; L. im-
positum, from impono ; in and pono, to put.
Pono, as written, belongs to Class Bn ;
and posui, positum, to Class Bs. or Bd.
The latter coincide with Eng. put.]
. To lay on ; to set on ; to lay on, as a bur-
den, tax, toll, duty or penalty. The legis-
lature imposes taxes for the support of
government ; toll is imposed on passen-
gers to maintain roads, and penalties are
imposed on those who violate the laws.
God imposes no burdens on men which
they are unable to bear.
On impious realms and barb'rous kings im-
pose
Thy plagues — Pope.
2. To place over by authority or by force.
The Romans often imposed rapacious gov-
ernors on their colonies and conquered
countries.
3. To lay on, as a command ; to enjoin, as a
duty.
Thou on the deep imposest nobler laws.
Waller.
Impose but your comminds — Dryden.
4. To fix on ; to impute. [Little used.]
Broton.
5. To lay on, as hands in the ceremony of
ordination, or of confirmation.
6. To obtrude fallaciously.
Our poet thinks not fit
T' impose upon you what he writes for wit.
Dryden.
7. Among printers, to put the pages on the
stone and fit on the chase, and thus pre-
pare the form for the press.
To impose on, to deceive ; to mislead by a
trick or false pretense ; vulgarly, to 'put
IMP
■Kpon. We are liable to be imposed on by
others, and sometimes we impose on our-
selves.
fMPO'SE, n. s as z. Command ; injunction.
[JVot used.] Shak.
IMPO'SED, pp. Laid on, as a tax, burden,
duty or penalty ; enjoined.
Imposed on, deceived.
IMPO'SER, n. One who lays on ; one who
enjoins.
— The imposers of these oaths might repent.
Walton
IMPO'SING, ppr. Laying on ; enjoining
deceiving.
9. a. Commanding ; adapted to impress for
cibly ; as an imposing air or manner.
— Large and itiiposing edifices, embosomed
in the groves of some rich valley.
Bishop Hobart
IMPO'SING-STONE, n. Among printers,
the stone on which tlie pages or columns
of types are imposed or made into forms,
IMPOSI'TION, n. s as z. [Fr. from L. im-
positio. See Impose.]
1. In a general sense, the act of laying on
2. The act of laying on hands in the cere-
mony of ordination, when the bishop ir
the episcopal church, and the ministers
in congregational churclies, place their
hands on tlie liead of the person whom
they are ordaining, while one prays for a
blessing on his labors. The same ceremo-
ny is used in other cases.
2. The act of setting on or afBsing to ; as
the imposition of names. Boyle.
3. That which is imposed ; a tax, toll, duty
or excise laid by authority. Tyrants op-
press their subjects with grievous imposi-
tions.
4. Injunction, as of a law or duty. Milton.
5. Constraint ; oppression ; burden.
Let it not be made, contrary to its own nature,
the occasion of strife, a narrow spirit, and unrea-
sonable impositions on the mind and practice.
Watts.
0. Deception ; imposture.
Being acquainted with his hand, I had nc
reason to suspect an imposition. Smollet.
7. A supernumerary exercise enjoined on
students as a punishment. IVarton
IMPOSSIBIL'ITY, n. [from impossible.^
\. That which cannot be; the state of being
not possible to exist. That a thing should
be and not be at the same time, is an im-
possibility.
2. Impracticability ; the state or quality of
being not feasible or possible to be done.
That a man by his own strength should
lift a ship of the line, is to him an impossi
bility, as the means are inadequate to the
end. [See Impossible.]
IMPOSS'IBLE, a. [Fr. froml..impossibilis;
in and possibilis, from possmn, to be able.]
1. That cannot be. It is impossible that two
and two should make five, or that a circle
and a square should be the same tiling, or
that a thing should be, and not be at the
same time.
2. Impracticable ; not feasible ; that cannot
be done.
With men this is impossible ; but with God
all things are possible. Matt. xix.
Without faith it is impossible to please God,
Heb. xi.
There are two kinds of impossibilities ;p%i
ical and moral. That is a physical impos
IMP
sibilily, whicli is contrary to the law of na-
ture. A thing is said to be morally impos-
sible, when in itself it is possible, but at-
tended with difficulties or circumstances
which give it the appearance of being im-
])Ossible. [See Possible, Practicable and
ImpraeHcable.'] Encyc.
IM'POST, ?i. [Sp. It. imposla; Fr. imput,
for impost ; L. impositum, impono.]
1. Any tax or tribute imposed by authority ;
particularly, a duty or tax laid by govern-
ment on goods imported, and paid or se
cured by the importer at the time of im-
portation. Imposts are also called cus-
toms.
2. In architecture, that part of a pillar ir
vaults and arches, on which the weight
of the building rests; or the capital of a
pillar, or cornice which crowns the pier
and supports the first stone or part of an
arch. Ainsworlh. .ish.
IMPOS'THUMATE, v. i. impos'tumate.
[See Imposthume.]
To form an abscess ; to gather ; to collect
pus or purulent matter in any part of an
animal body. Arbuthnot
IMPOS'THUMATE, v. t. To affect with an
imposthume or abscess.
IMPOS'THUMATED, }jp. Affected will:
an imposthume.
IMPOSTHUMA'TION, n. Tlie act of form
ing an abscess; also, an abscess; an im
posthunie. Core. Bacon.
IMPOS'THUME, n. impos'lume. [This word
is a corruption of apostem, L. apostema, Gr.
a7io;r;fia, from a^i;f;fu, to separate, to with
draw, or to stand off; arto and istiiii; to
stand.]
An abscess; a collection of pus or purulent
matter in any part of an animal body.
Encyc.
[This word and its derivatives, being mere
corruptions, might well be suffered to pass
into oblivion.]
IMPOS'THUME, V. i. The same as impos-
thumate.
IMPOS'TOR, n. [Fr. imposteur ; Sp. Port.
impostor ; It. impostore ; from Low L. im-
postor, from impono. See Impose.]
One who imposes on others ; a person who
assumes a character for the purpose of de
caption ; a deceiver under a false charac
ter. It seems to be yet unsettled, whether
Perkin Warbeck was an impostor. A re
ligious imjjostor may be one who assumes
the character of a preacher, without au
thority ; or one who falsely pretends to
an extraordinary commission from heaven,
and terrifies people with denunciations oi
judgments. Encyc.
IMPOS'TURAGE, n. Imposition. [JVot in
use.] Bp. Taylor
IMPOS'TURE, n. [Fr. from L. impostura
See Impose.]
Deception practised under a false or assu
ined character ; fraud or imposition prac
ticed by a false pretender.
— Form new legends,
And fill the world with follies and impostitres
Irene.
IMPOS'TURED, a. Having the nature of
imposture. Beaum.
IMPOS'TUROUS, a. Deceitful. [Not used.]
Beaum.
IMP
IM'POTENCE,^ [L. impotentia ; in ami
IM'POTENCY, ^ "• potens, from possmn,
therootoflt.poterf,8p.poder. See Potver.]
L Want of strength or power, animal or in-
tellectual; weakness; feebleness; inabil-
ity ; imbecility ; defect of power, natural
or adventitious, to perform any thing.
Some were poor by the impotency of nature :
as young fatherless children, old decrepit per-
sons, idiots, and cripples. Hayward.
The impotence of exercising animal inotioQ
attends fevers. Arbuthnot.
Moral inability ; tlie want of power or
inclination to resist or overcome habits
and natural propensities.
?. Inability to beget.
4. Ungovernable passion ; a LcUin significa-
tion. [Little used.] Milton.
IM'POTENT, a. [Fr. from L. impotens.]
1. Weak ; feeble ; wanting strength or pow-
er ; unable by nature, or disabled by dis-
ease or accident to perform any act.
I know thou wast not slow to hear,
Nor impotent to save. .iddison.
2. Wanting the power of propagation, as
males.
3. Wanting the power of restraint ; not hav-
ving the command over ; as impotent of
tongue. Dryden.
IM'POTENT, n. One who is feeble, infirm,
or languishing under disease. Shak.
IM'POTENTLY, adv. Weakly; without
power over the passions.
IMPOUND', V. t. [in and pound. See
Pound.]
1. To put, shut or confine in a pound or
close pen ; as, to impound unruly or stray
horses, cattle, &c.
2. To confine ; to restrain within limits.
Bacon.
IMPOUND'ED, pp. Confined in a pound.
IMPOUNDER, )!. One who impounds the
beasts of anotlier.
IMPOUND'ING, ppr. Confining in a pound ;
restraining.
IMPOVERISH, v.t. [Fr. appauviir, ap-
pauvrissant, from pauvre, poor; It. im-
poverire. See Poor.]
1. To make poor ; to reduce to poverty or
indigence. Idleness and vice are sure to
impoverish individuals and families.
2. To exhaust strength, richness or fertility ;
as, to itnpoveiish land by frequent crop-
ping.
IMPOVERISHED, pp. Reduced to pover-
ty ; exhausted.
IMPOVERISHER, n. One who makes
others poor.
2. That which impairs fertility.
IMPOVERISHING, ppr. Making poor;
exhausting.
IMPOVERISHMENT, n. Depauperation;
a reducing to indigence ; exhaustion ;
drain of wealth, richness or fertility.
tMPOWER. [See Empower.]
lMPRA€TleABIL'ITY, ) [See Im-
IMPRA€'TICABLENESS, $ "■ practicaUe.]
1. The state or quality of being beyond hu-
man power, or the means proposed ; in-
feasibility.
2. Untractableness ; stubbornness. Burnet.
IMPRA€'TI€ABLE, a. [in and practicable ;
Fr. impraticabk. See Practice]
1. That cannot be done or performed ; in-
foasible ; not to bo effected by human
meajis, or by the means proposed. It is
I M P
impracticable for a man to lift a tun by his
unassisted strength ; but not impracticable
for a man aided by a mechanical power.
2. Untractable ; unmanageable ; stubborn ;
as a fierce, impracticable nature. Rowe.
3. That cannot be passed or traveled ; as an
ivipraclicable road ; a colloquial sense.
IMPRAe'TIeABLY, adv. In a manner or
degree that hinders practice.
— Morality not impracticably rigid. Johnson.
IMPRECATE, v.t. [h. imprecor ; in and
precor, to pray. See Pray.]
To invoke, as an evil on any one : to pray
that a curse or calamity may fall on one's
self or on another person.
IMPRECATED, pp. Invoked on one, as
some evil.
IM'PRECATING, ppr. Calling for evil on
one's self or another.
IMPRECA'TION, n. [L. imprecatio.] The
act of imprecating, or invoking evil on any
one ; a prayer that a curse or calamity may
fall on any one.
IMPRECATORY, a. Containing a prayer
for evil to befall a person.
IMPRECIS'ION, n. sasz. [in and precis-
ion.] Want of precision or exactness ; de-
fect of accuracy. Taylor.
IMPRE'GN, tJ. /. impre'ne. [It. impregnare ;
Fr. impregner ; h.itiandpragnans. See
PregnatU.]
To impregnate ; to infuse the seed of young,
or other prolific principle. [Used in po-
etry. See Impregnat'!.]
Milton. Thomson.
IxMPREG'NABLE, a. [Fr. imprenable.]
1. Not to be stormed, or taken by assault ;
that cannot be reduced by force ; able to
resist attack ; as an impregnable fortress.
•2. Not to be moved, impressed or shaken :
invincible.
The man's afTcclion remains wholly uncon-
cerned and impregnable. South.
IMPREG'NABLY, adv. In a manner to re-
sist penetration or assault ; in a manner to
defy force ; as a place impregnably forti-
fied. Sandys.
IMPREG'NATE, v.t. [U. impregnare ; Fr,
impregner ; Sp. impregnar. See Preg-
nant.]
1. To infuse the principle of conception; to
make pregnant, as a female animal.
2. To deposit the fecundating dust of a flow-
er on the pistils of a plant ; to render i)ro
lific.
3. To infuse particles of one thing into
another ; to communicate the virtues oi
one thing to another, as in pliarniacy, by
mi.\turp, digestion, &c.
IMPREG'NATE,./. Impregnated; render
ed prolific or fruitful.
IMPREG'NATED, a. Mu.lo [jrcgnaut oi
prolific; fecundated ; filled with something
by mixture, &c.
IMPREG'NATING, ppr. Infusing seed
pollen ; rendering pregnant ; fructifying ;
fecundating ; filling by infusion or mixture.
IMPREGNA'TION, n. [Fr.] The act of
fecundating and rendering fruitful ; appli-
ed to animals or plants.
2. The comiTiunieation of the particles or
virtues of one thing to another.
3. That with which any thing is impregna-
ted. Derham.
4. Saturation. Ainsworth.
IMP
IMPREJU'DICATE, a. [L. tre, prm, and
jvdico.]
Not prejudged ; unprejudiced ; not prepos-
sessed ; impartial. [JVot xised.] Brown.
IMPREPARA'TION, n. [in and prepara-
tion.]
Want of preparation ; unpreparedness; un-
readiness. [Little used.] Hooker.
IMPRESCRIPTIBILITY, n. [Fr. tm/nc-
scriptibilile, from imprescnptible.]
The state of being independent of prescrij)-
tion ; the state which renders a thing not
liable to be lost or imiiaired by the pre-
scription of another, or by one's own non-
user. Vatlel, Trans.
IMPRESCRIPTIBLE, a. [Fr. from pre-
scriptible, from L. prcescribo ; prm and scriho,
to write.]
That cannot bo lost or impaired by non-
user, or by the claims of another founded
on prescription.
Rights of mere ability which a man may use
or not at pleasure, without any person's having
a right to prescribe to me on that subject, arc
imprescriptible. Vatlel, Trans.
The rights of navigation, fishing, aud others
that may be exercised on the sea, belonging to
the right of mere ability, arc imprescriptible.
Vattel.
IMPRESS', V. t. [L. impressum, from impri-
mo; in and premo, to press.]
1. To imprint; to stamp; to make a mark
or figure on any tiling by pressure; a
impress coin with the figure of a man's
head, or with that of an ox or sheep ; to
impress a figure on wax or clay.
2. To print, as books.
3. To mark : to indent.
4. To fix deep ; as, to impress truth on the
mind, or facts on the memory. Hence, to
convict of sin.
To compel to enter into public sei
seamen ; to seize and take into service by
compulsion, as nurses in sickness. In this
sense, we use press or impress indifferently.
G. To seize ; to take for public service ; as,
to impress provisions. Marshall.
IM'PRESS, n. A mark or indentation, made
by pressure.
2. The figure or image of any thing made by
pressure ; stamp ; likeness.
3. Mark of distinction ; stamp ; character.
God leaves us this general impress or charac-
ter on the works of creation, that they were very
good. South.
4. Device ; motto.
To describe emblazoned sliiclds,
Impresses quaint — .Milton
5. The act of compelling to enter into public
service. [See Press.] Shak
IMPRESS'ED, pp. Imprinted; stamped
marked by pressure; compelled to enter
public serv ice ; seized for pubhc use ; fixed
in the mind; made sensible ; convinced.
IMPRESSIBIL'ITY, n. The quality of be
ing impressible.
IMPRESS'IBLE, n. That may be impress
ed ; that yields to pressure ; that may re
ceive impressions. Solid bodies are not
easily impressible.
2. That may be impressed ; that may have
its figure stamped on another body.
IMPRESS'ING, pjrr. Imprinting; stamp
ing; fixing in the mind ; compelling inn
service.
I M P
IMPRES'SION, n. [Fr.; L.impressio.) The
act of impressing, as one liody on another :
as a figure made by impression.
2. Mark ; indentation ; stamp made by press-
ure: as, a seal makes an impression on
wax.
3. The effect which objects produce on the
mind. Thus we say, the truths of the gos-
pel make an impression on the mind ; they
make no impression, or a deep and lasting
impression. The heart is impressed with
love or gratitude. We lie open to the im-
pressions of flattery.
4. Image in the mind ; idea.
5. Sensible effect. The artillery made no
impression on the fort. The attack made
no impression on the enemy.
fi. A single edition of a book ; the books
printed at once ; as a copy of the la.st im-
pression. The whole impression of the
work was sold in a month.
7. Slight, indistinct remembrance. I liave
an impression that the fact was stated to
me, but I cannot clearly recollect it.
IMPRESS'IVE, a. Making or tending to
make an impression ; having the power of
affecting, or of exciting attention and feel-
ing; adapted to touch sensibility or the
conscience ; as an impressive discourse ;
an impressive scene.
2. Capable of being inijjrcssed ; susceptible.
IMPRESSIVELY, adv. In
touch sensibility, or to awaken conscience ;
in a manner to produce a jiowerful effect
on the mind.
IMPRESS'IVENESS, n. The quality of
being impressive.
IMPRESS'MENT, n. The act of impress-
ing men into public service ; as the im-
pressment of seamen.
2. The act of compelling into any service ;
as the impressment of nurses to attend the
sick.
3. The act of seizing for public use ; as the
impressment of provisions for the army.
Marshcdi.
IMPRESS'URE, n. The mark made by
pressure; indentation; dent; impression.
Shak.
IM'PREST, n. [It. imprestare.] A kind of
earnest-money ; loan ; money advanced.
Burke.
IMPREST', V. t. To advance on loan.
IMPREV'ALENCE, n. Incapability of pre-
vailing. HaU.
IMPRIMATUR, .1. [L. let it be printed.]
A license to print a book, &c.
IMPRlM'ERY.n. [Fr. impritnerie.] A print;
impression ; a[)riuting-housc ; art of print-
ins. [.Vo/in use.]
IM'PRIMIS, adv. [L. imprimis, for in pri-
mis.] In the first place ; first in order.
IMPRINT', v.t. [It. itnprimere ; S\>.impri-
mir ; Fr. imprimcr ; L. imprimo ; in and
premo, to press. See Print.]
1. To impress; to mark by pressure; as a
character or device imprinted on wax or
cloth.
2. To stamp letters and words on paper by
means of typ*s; to print.
3. To fix on the mind or memory ; to im-
press. Let your father's admonitions and
instructions be imprinted oa your mind.
IMPRINT'ED, pp. Maiked by pressure;
printed ; fixed in the mind or memorv.
I M P
IMPRlNT'ING.ppr. Blaikiiig by pressure;
printing ; fixing on the mind or memory.
IMPRIS'ON, V. t. impriz'n. [Fr. emprison-
ner ; in and prison.]
1. Tu put into a prison ; to confine in a pris-
on or jail, or to arrest and detain in custody
in any place.
2. To confine ; to shut up; to restrain from
escape; to deprive of the liberty to move
from place to place ; as, to be imprisoned in
a cell.
He imprisoned was in chains remediless.
Spenser.
Trv to imprison the resistless winds.
•' Dryden.
IMPRIS'ONED, pp. Confined in a prison
or jail; restrained from escape or from
going at large.
IMPRIS'ONING,;)pr. Shutting up in pris-
on ; confining in a place.
IMPRIS'ONMENT, n. The act of putting
and confining in prison ; the act of arrest-
ing and detaining in custody.
9. Confinement in a place ; restraint of lib-
erty to go from place to place at pleasure.
Appropriately, the confinement of a crimi-
nal or debtor within the walls of a prison,
or in the custody of a sheriff", &c.
False imprisonment is any confinement of the
person, or restraint of liberty, without legal
or sufficient authority. The arrest or de-
tention of the person by an officer with-
out warrant, or by an illegal warrant, or
by a legal warrant executed at an unlaw-
ful time, \s false imprisonment.
Blackstone.
IMPROBABILITY, n. [See Improbable.]
The quality of being improbable, or not
likely to be true ; unlikelihood.
IMPROBABLE, a. [Sp. Fr. from L. im-
pi-obabilis ; in and probabilis, from probo,
to prove.]
Not likely to be true ; not to be expected un-
der the circumstances of the case. It is
always improbable that men will knowingly
oppose their own interest; yet the fact is
IMP
IMPROP'ER, a. [L. impropnus ; tn and
proprius, proper.]
1. Not proper ; not suitable ; not adapted to its
end; unfit; as an improper medicine for a
particular disease ; an improper regula-
tion.
Not becoming; not decent; not suited to
the character, time or place ; as improper
conduct in church; improper behavior be-
fore superiors ; an improper speech.
3. Not according to the settled usages or
principles of a language ; as an improper
word or phrase.
4. Not suited to a particular place or ofiice ;
unqualified ; as, he is an improper man for
tlio ofiice.
IMPROP'ERLY, adv. Not fitly; in a man-
ner not suited to the end ; in a manner
not suited to the company, time, place
and circumstances; unsuitably ; incongru-
ously.
2. In a manner not according with estab-
lished usages ; inaccurately ; ungrammat-
ically ; as, to speak or write improperly.
IMPROPl"TIOUS, o. Not propitious; un-
propitious. H'ollon.
[The latter is the word in use.]
IMPROPO'RTIONABLE, a. Not propor-
tionable. [Little used.] B. Jonsun.
IMPROPO'RTIONATE, a. Not propor-
tionate ; not adjusted. [Little used.]
Smith.
IMPRO'PRIATE, V. t. [L. in and proprius,
proper.]
1. To appropriate to private use ; to take to
one's self; as, to impropriate thanks to
one's self. [.Vot used.] Baco
|2. To annex the possessions of the church
or a benefice to a layman. Speh
IMPRO'PRIATE, o. Devolved into the
hands of a layman,
IMPROPRIATED, pp. Appropriated to
one's self. [See Appropriated.]
2. Put in possessionof a layman.
IMPROPRIATING, ppr. Appropriating to
self
possible. It is improbable that snow will .3, Annexing to a lay proprietor.
fall in Julv, but not incredible.
IMPROB'ABLY, adv. In a manner not like-
ly to be true.
04s.
Boyle.
IM'PROBATE, V. I. [L. improho.] To dis-
allow ; not to approve. [JVot used.]
Ainsworlh.
IMPROBA'TION, n. The act of disappro-
ving. [Not in use.] Ainsworth.
IMPROB'ITY, n. [L. improbitas ; in and
probitas, from probo, to approve.]
That which is disapproved or disallowed
want of integrity or rectitude of principle
dishonesty. A man of known improbity ii
always suspected, and usually despised.
IMPRODU'CED, a. Not produced. [jVoI
in use.] Rai
IMPROFI'CIENCY, n. Want of profi
ciency. Bacon
IMPROF'ITABLE, a. Unprofitable, [^rot
in use.] Elyot.
IMPROMP'TU, adv. [L. in promptu, in
readiness, from promptus, ready, quick.]
Oflf hand ; without previous study ; as a
ver«e uttered or written impromptu.
IMPROMP'TU, n. A piece made off" hand,
at the moment, or without previous study ;
on extemporaneous composition.
IMPROPRIATION, n. The act of putting
an ecclesiastical benefice into the hands of
a layman. Aytiffe.
2. The benefice impropriated.
IMPROPRIATOR, n. A layman who has
possession of the lands of the church o
an ecclesiastical living. Ayliffe.
IMPROPRI'ETY, n. [Fr. impropriety, from
L. improprius. See Improper.]
1. Unfitness; unsuitableness to character,
time, place or circumstances; as impro-
priety of behavior or manners. Levity of
conduct is an impropriety in a religious as-
sembly and at a funeral. Rudeness or for
wardness in young persons before their
superiors, is impropriety. Indecency and
indecorum are improprieties.
2. Inaccuracy in language ; a word or phrase
not according with the established usages
or principles of speaking or writing.
Many gross improprieties, however authori-
zed by practice, ought to be discarded. Swift
IMPROSPER'ITY, n. Unprosperity ; want
of success. M'aunton
IMPROS'PEROUS, a. [in aaA prosperous.]
Not prosperous ; not successful ; unfortu-
nate ; not yielding profit ; not advancing
interest ; as an improspcrous undertaking
or voyage. Drydi
I M P
[ Vnprosperous is the word most genet''
ally used in this sense.]
IMPkOS'PEROUSLY, adv. Unsuccessful-
ly ; unprosperously ; unfortunately.
Boyle.
IMPROS'PEROUSNESS, n. Ill success;
of prosperity. Hammond.
IMPROVABIL'ITY, n. [See Improvable.]
Tlie state or quality of being capable of
improvement ; susceptibility of being made
better.
IMPROVABLE, a. [See Improve.] Sus-
ceptible of improvement ; capable of
growing or being made better ; that may
be advanced in good qualities.
We have stock enough, and that too of an
improvable nature, that is capable of infinite ad-
vancement. Decay of Piety.
Man is accommodated with moral piinciples,
improvable by the exercise of liis faculties.
Hale.
I have a fine spread o( improvable lands.
.Addison .
That may be used to advantage, or for the
increase of any thing valuable.
The essays of weaker heads afford improuaWe
hints to better. Brown.
3. Capable of tillage or cultivation.
A scarcity of improvable lands began to be
felt in these colonies.
Ramsay, Hist. Carolina. B. Trumbull.
IMPROV'ABLENESS, n. Susceptibility of
improvement ; capableness of being made
better, or of being used to advantage.
IMPROVE, V. t. improov'. [Norm, provcr, to
improve ; improwment, improving. The
French and Italians use the same com-
pound in a different sense. It is from the
Latin in and probo, to prove, or the adjec-
tive ^rotui.]
1. To make better ; to advance in value or
good qualities. We amend a bad, but im-
prove a good thing. Johnson.
A good education impro»e« the mind and
the manners. A judicious rotation of
crops tends to improve land.
2. To use or employ to good purpose; to
make productive ; to turn to profitable ac-
count ; to use for advantage ; to employ
for advancing interest, reputation or hap-
Many opportunities occur of improving mon-
ey, which, if a man misses, he may not after-
wards recover. Rambler.
Melissus was a man of parts, capable of en-
joying and improving life. Ibm.
True policy as well as good fiiith, in my opin-
ion, binds us to itnprove\he occasion.
Washington.
This success was not improved. Marshall.
Those who enjoy the advantage of better in-
struction, should improve their privileges.
Milner.
They were aware of the advantages of their
position, and improted them with equal skill and
diligence.
Walsh, Rev. nf Hamilton's Worlts.
Those moments were diligently improved.
Gibbon.
Tlie candidate improved his advantage
A hint that I do not r
opened and improved.
Whatever interest w£
grace, should be improv
Gibbon.
hai
I M P
I M
I M P
My lords, no time should be lost, wliicli may
{iroiiiise to improve this disposition in America.
Lord Chatham,
If we neglect to improve our knowledge to the
iiids for which it '
It is the fault
of persons not improving th
S. Clarh
arke.
Tlie shorter the time — the more eager were
they to improve it. Lardner.
A young minister wishing to improve the oc-
casion— C. Simeon.
3. To apply to practical purposes ; as, to im-
prove !i discourse, or the doctrines stated
and proved in a sermon. Owen.
4. To advance or increase by use ; in a bad
sense.
I fear we have not a little improved the wretch-
ed inheritance of our ancestors. \_ni.]
Porteus.
5. To use ; to employ ; as, to improve a wit-
ness or a deposition.
Let even the coach, the inns, or the ships be
improved as openings for useful instruction.
T. Scott.
G. To use ; to occupy ; to cultivate. The
house or the farm is now improved by an
industrious tenant.
This application is perhaps peculiar to
some parts of the U. States. It however
deviates little from that in some of the fore-
going definitions.
IMrUciVE, r. i. improov'. To grow better
or wifipr ; to advance in goodness, knowl-
edge, wisdom or other excellence. We
are pleased to see our children improve in
knowledge and virtue. A farm improves
under judicious management. The arti-
san improves by experience. It is tlie duty,
as it is the desire of a good man, to im-
prove ill grace and piety.
We take care to improve in our frugality and
diligence. Atterbtiry.
2. To advance in bad qualities ; to grow
worse.
Domitian improved in cruelty toward the end
of his reign. Milner.
[/ regret to see this tvord thus used, or
rather perverted.]
8. To increase ; to be enhanced ; to rise.
The i)rice of cotton improves, or is improv-
ed. [A mercantile and modem tise of the
word.]
To improve on, to make useful additions or
amendments to ; to bring nearer to per-
fection ; as, to iviprovc on the mode of til-
lage upnally practiced.
IMPIloV'ED, pp. Made better, wiser or
more excellent ; advanced in moral worth,
knowledge or manners.
2. Made better ; advanced in fertility or oth-
er good qualities.
3. Used to ])rofit or good purpose ; as oppor-
tunities of learning improved.
4. Used ; occupied ; as improved land.
IMPR-6VEMENT, )i. improov'ment. Ad-
vancement in moral worth, learning, vvis-
(lom, skill or other excellence ; as the im-
provement of the mind or of the heart by
riiltivation ; improvement in classical learn-
ing, science or mechanical skill ; improve-
ment in music ; improvement in holiness.
2. Melioration ; a making or growing better,
or more valuable ; as the improvement of
barren or exhausted land; the improve-
ment of the roads; the improvement of the
breed of horses or cattle.
3. A valuable addition ; excellence added, or
a change for the better; sometimes with
071.
The parts of Sinon, Camilla, and some few
others, are imjtrovements on the Greek poet.
Addison.
4. Advance or progress from any state to a
better.
There is a design of publishing the history of
architecture, with its several improvements and
decays. Addison
5. Instruction ; growth in knowledge or re
finement ; edification.
I look upon your city as the best place of im-
provement. South
6. Use or employment to beneficial purposes
a turning to good account; as the mfiroi'e-
ment of natural advantages or spiritual
jirivileges.
A good improvement of his reason.
S. Clarke.
7. Practical application ; as the improvement
of the doctrines and principles of a ser-
mon.
1 .-ihall make some improvement of Ibis doc
trine. Tillolson
Hence,
8. The part of a iliscourse intended to en-
force and apiily the doctrines, is called the
improvement,
9. Use ; occupancy
10. Improvements, phi., valuable additions or
melioration, as buildings, clearings, drains,
fences, &c., on a farm. Kent.
IMPROVER, 51. One who improves; one
who makes himself or any thing else bet-
ter ; as an improver of horses or cattle.
2. That which improves, enriches or melio-
rates; as, chalk is an improver of lands.
Mortimer,
IMPROVI'DED, a, [L. improvisus ; in and
provideo, to foresee or provide.]
Unforeseen ; unexpected ; not provided
against. 04*. Spenser,
IMPROVIDENCE, n. [L in and proyidens,
providentia, from pro, before, anil video, to
see.]
Want of providence or forecast ; neglect of
foresight, or of the measures which fore
sight might dictate for safety or advan-
tage. Half the inconveniences and losses
which men suffer are the eflecls of im-
providence.
IMPROVIDENT, a. [h. in txnd providens ;
pro and tWfo, supra.]
Wanting forecast ; not foreseeing what will
be necessary or convenient, or neglertini;
the measures which foresight wmilil <lii--
tate ; wanting care to make provision f.u
future exigences. Seamen are )iio\crl)i-
ally improvident. It is sometimes followed
by of; as improvident of harm.
IMPROVIDENTLY, adv. Without fore
sight or forecast ; without care to i)rovidt
against fiiture wants.
IMPROVING, ppr. Making better; grow
ing better ; using to advantage.
IMPROVIS'ION, n. s as :. [in and provis-
Want of forecast; improvidence. [lAtlle
used.] Broi
IMPRUDENCE, n. [^Fr. from L. imprueli
tia ; in and prudentia, prudence.]
Want of prudence; indiscretion; want of
caution, circumspection, or a due regart"
to the consequences of words to be utter
cd or actions lo be performed, or their
probable ellects on the interest, safely,
reputation or happiness of one's self or
otliers ; heedlessness ; inconsideraleness ;
rashness. Let a man of sixty attempt to
t'liiimerate the evils which his imprudenre
has brought on himself, his family, or his
neighbors.
BIPRU'DENT, a. [Fr. from L. imprudcns;
in and prudens, prudent.]
Wanting prudence or discretion ; indiscrete;
injudicious ; not attentive to the conse-
quences of words or actions; rash; heed-
less. The imprudent man often laments
his mistakes, and then repeats them.
IMPRU'DENTLY, adv. Without the exer-
cise of prudence ; indiscretelv.
IM'PCDENCE, n, [Fr. from L. im;)urfen« :
in and pudens, from pudeo, to be asham-
ed.]
Shamele.ssness ; want of modesty ; effront-
ery ; assurance accompanied with a dis-
regard of the opinions of others.
Those clear truths, that either their own evi-
dence forces us lo admit, or common experi-
ence makes it impudence to den\-. Jjjcke.
IM'PUDENT, «. [Fr. from L. impudens,]
t^hnmeless ; wanting modesty ; hold with
contempt of others ; saucy.
\V hen we behold an angel, not to fear
Is to be impudent. Dryden.
IM PUDENTLY, adv. Shamelessly; with
indecent assurance.
At once assail
With open mouths, and impudently rail.
Sandu.t,
IMPUDIC'ITY, n. [L. impudicUia.] Immod-
esty. Sheldon.
IMPU'GN, V. t. impu'ne. [Fr. impugner ;
Sp. impugnar ; h.impugno; in and^ug'iio,
to fight or resist.]
To oppose ; to attack by words or argu-
ments ; to contradict. The lawfulness of
lots is impugned by some, and defended by
others.
The truth hereof I will not rashly impugn,
or over-boldly affirm. Peaeham,
IMPUGNA'TION, »i. Opposition. [Little
used.] Bp, Hall,
IMPUGNED, pp. Opposed; contradicted;
disputed.
nn'L'GNER, 71. One who opposes or con-
tradicts.
IMPU'GNING, ppr. Opposing; attacking;
contradicting.
IMPUIS SANCE, n. [Fr. ; in and puwnnce.]
Impotence; weakness. Obs. Bacon.
IMPULSE, 71. im'puls. [I., impulsus, frovn.
imptllo. See Impel,]
1. I'dico communicated; the effect of one
IkjcI) acting on another. Impulse is the
efiect of motion, and is in proportion to
the quantity of matter and velocity of the
impelling body.
2. Influence acting on the mind ; motive.
Tliese were my natural impulses for the un-
dertaking. Dryden.
3. Impression ; supposed supernatural influ-
ence on the mind.
Meantime, by Jove's impidse, Mczentius
armed.
Succeeded Turnus — Dryden.
IMPULSION, 71. [Fr. from L. impulsio.
See Impel,]
\, The act of driving against or impelling ;
the agency of a body in motion on another
body. Bacon.
IMP
I N
I N A
2. Influence on the mind ; impulse.
Milton
fMPULS'IVE, a. [Fr. impulsif. See Impel]
Having the power of driving or impelling;
moving; impellent.
Poor men ! poor papers ! We and they
Do some impulsive force obey. Prior.
IMPULS'IVELY, adv. With force; by im-
pulse.
IMPU'NITV, n. [Fr. impuniU ; L. impuni-
tas ; in and pumo, to punish.]
1. Exemption from punishment or penalty.
No person should be permitted to violate
the laws with impunity. Impunity encour-
ages men in crimes.
2. Freedom or exemption from injury.
Some ferocious animals are not to be en-
countered with impunity.
IMPU'RE, a. [Fr. impur ; L. impurus ; in
and purus, pure.]
1. Not pure ; foul ; feculent ; tinctured ;
mixed or impregnated with extraneous
substance ; as impure water or air ; im-
pure salt or magnesia.
2. Obscene ; as impure language or ideas.
3. Unchaste; lewd; unclean; as impure ac-
tions.
4. Defiled by sin or guilt; unholy; as per-
sons.
5. Unhallowed ; unholy ; as things.
6. Unclean ; in a legal sense ; not purifi-
ed according to the ceremonial law of
Moses.
IMPU'RE, V. t. To render foul: to defile.
[Mt used.] Bp. Hall.
IMPU'RELY, adv. In an unpure manner ;
with impuritv.
IMPU'RENESS, I [Fr. impurete ; L. m-
IMPU'RITY, 5 "-puritas, supra.]
1. Want of purity ; foulness; feculence ; the
admixture of a foreign substance in any
thing; as the impurity of water, of air, of
spirits, or of any species of earth or metal.
2. Any foul matter.
3. Unchastity; lewdness.
The foul impurities that reigned among the
monkish clergy. Atterbury.
4. Want of sanctity or holiness ; defilement
by guilt.
5. Want of ceremonial purity ; legal pollu-
tion or uncleauness. By the Mosaic law,
a person contracted impurity by touching a
dead body or a leper.
6. Foul language ; obscenity.
Profaneuess, impurity, or scandal, is not wit.
Buckminster.
IMPUR'PLE, v.t. [in SlwA purple ;¥t.em-
pourprer.]
To color or tinge with purple ; to make red
or reddish ; as a field impurpled with
blood.
The bright
Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone,
Impurpled with celestial roses, smil'd.
^^llton.
IMPUR'PLING, ppr. Tinging or coloring
with purple.
IMPU;TABLE, a. [See Impute.] That may
be imputed or charged to a person ;
chargeable. Thus we say, crimes, sins,
errors, trespasses are imputable to those
who commit them.
2. That may be ascribed to ; in a good sense.
This favor is imputable to your goodness,
or to a good motive.
3. Accusable; chargeable with a fault. [.Wot
proper.] '^yliffe
4. That may be set to the account of anoth
er. It has been a question much agitated,
whether Adam's sin is imputable to his
posterity.
IMPU'TABLENESS, n. The quality of be-
ing imputable. JVbrris
IMPUTA'TION.ra. [Fr. from imputer.] The
act of imputing or charging ; attribution
generally in an ill sense; as the imputation
of crimes or faults to the true authors of|
them. We are Uable to the imputation oi
numerous sins and errors ; to the imputa-
tion of pride, vanity and self-confidence ;
to the imputation of weakness and irreso
lution, or of rashness.
3. Sometimes in a good sense.
If I had a suit to Master Shallow, I would
humor his men with the imputation of being
near their master. Shak.
3. Charge or attribution of evil ; censure :
reproach.
Let us be careful to guard ourselves against
these groundless imputations of our enemies,
and to rise above them. Addison
Hint ; slight notice. Qu. intimation.
Shak.
IMPUTATIVE, a. That may be imputed
IMPU'TATIVELY, adv. By imputation.
Encyc.
IMPU'TE, v. t. [Fr. imputer ; It. imputarc ;
Sp. imputur ; L. impute ; in and pjito.
think, to reckon ; properly, to set, to put, to
throw to or on.]
To charge ; to attribute ; to set to the ac-
count of; generally ill, sometimes good.
We impute crimes, sins, trespasses, faults,
blame, &c., to the guilty persons. We
impute wrong actions to bad motives, or
to ignorance, or to folly and rashness.
We impute misfortunes and miscarriages
to imprudence.
And therefore it was imputed to him for
righteousness. Rom. iv.
9. To attribute ; to ascribe.
I have read a book imputed to lord Bathurst.
Swift.
3. To reckon to one what does not belong to
him.
It has been held that Adam's sin is imputed
to all his posterity. Encyc
Thy merit
Imputed shall absolve them who renounce
Their own both righteous and unrighteous
deeds. Milton
IMPU'TED, pp. Charged to the account of;
attributed ; ascribed.
IMPU'TER, n. One that imputes or attrib-
utes.
IMPU'TING, ppr. Charging to the account
of; attributing; ascribing.
IMPUTRES'CIBLE, o. [in and L. putresco,
to putrefy.]
Not subject to putrefaction or corruption.
IN, a prefix, L. in, is used in composition as
a particle of negation, like the English un,
of which it seems to be a dialectical or-
thography ; or it denotes within, into, or
among, as in inhred, incase ; or it serves
oidy to augment or render emphatical the
sense of the word to which it is prefixed,
as in inclose, increase.
In, before /, is changed into il, as in illusion:
and before r, into ir, as in irregular; and
into im, before a labial, as in imbitter, im-
material, impatient.
IN, prep. [L. in ; Gr. iv ; Goth, and Sax. in ;
Fr. en ; Sp. en ; It. in ; G. in or ein ; D
in; Dan. ind ; Sw. in; W. yn ; Sans.
antu.]
In denotes present or inclosed, surrounded
by limits ; as in a house ; in a fort ; in a
city. It denotes a state of being mixed,
as sugar in tea ; or combined, as carbonic
acid in coal, or latent heat in air. It de-
notes present in any state ; as in sickness
or health. It denotes present in time ; as
in that hour or day. The uses of in, how-
ever, cannot, in all cases, be defined by
ecpiivalent words, except by explaining
the phrase in which it is used ; as in deed ;
in fact ; in essence ; in quality ; in reason ;
in courage ; in spirits. Sec. A man in
spirits or good courage, denotes one who
possesses at the time spirits or courage ; in
reason is equivalent to ivith reason ; one in
ten denotes one of that number, and we
say also one often, and one out often.
In the name, is used in phrases of invok-
ing, swearing, declaring, praying, &c.
In prayer, it denotes by virtue of, or for
the sake of /»i the name of the people, de-
notes on their behalf or part ; in their
stead, or for their sake.
In, in many cases, is equivalent to on. This
use of the word is frequent in the Scrip-
tures ; as, let fowls multiply in the earth.
This use is more frequent in England than
in America. We generally use on, in all
similar phrases.
In signifies by or through. In thee shall all
nations be blessed. I am glorified in
them.
In that, is sometimes equivalent to because.
Some things they do in that they are men ;
some things in that they are men misled and
blinded with error. Hooker.
In these and similar phrases, that is an an-
tecedent, substitute, or pronoun relating to
the subsequent part of the sentence, or the
subsequent clause. God commendeth his
love towards us, »'« that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. That is, in the
fact stated in the latter clause, for which
that is the substitute. Rom. v.
In as much, seeing; seeing that; this being
'he fact. I will ride for health, inasmuch
IS I am infirm.
In is often used without the noun to which
it properly belongs. I care not who is in,
or who is out, that is, in office, or out of of-
fice. Come in, that is, into the house or
other place. Who has or will come in,
that is, into oflice. A vessel has come in,
that is, into port, or has arrived.
To be or keep in unth, to be close or neai-.
Keep the ship in uiith the land.
INABILITY, n. [Fr. inhabiliU ; L. inhabi-
lis ; in and habibs, Norm, hable, able.]
. Want of sufficient physical power or
strength ; as the inability of a man to raise
an arm or a leg.
3. Want of adequate means ; as an inability
to purchase a farm, or to fit out a ship.
I. Want of moral power. Moral inability is
considered to be want of inclination, dis-
position or will, or a deep-rooted aversion
to act, and therefore impro])erly so called.
Moral inability aggravates out guilt. Scott.
I N A
I N A
I N A
4. Want of intellectual strength or force ; as
an inability to comprclieud a matlieiiiatic
al demonstration.
5. Want of knowledge or skill ; as an ina
bility to read or write.
INA'BLEMENT, n. [See Enable.] Ability.
[JVot in use.] Bacon.
INAH'STINENCE, n. {in and abstinence.]
A not abstaining ; a partaking ; indul-
fence of appetite ; as the inabstinence of
:ve. Milton
INABU'SIVELY, adv. Without abuse.
L. JVorth
INA€CESSIBIL'ITY, > [from inac-
INACCESS'IBLENESS, \ "• cessible.]
The quality or state of being inaccessible, oi
not to he rearhcd.
INACCESS'IBLE, a. [in and accessible]
1. Not to be readied ; as an inaccasible
liighth or rock. The depths of the sea are
inaccessible.
% Not to be obtained. The necessary
vouchers are inaccessible.
3. Not to be approached ; forbidding ac
cess ; as an inaccessible prince.
INA€CESS'IBLY, arff . So as not to be ap
preached. Waiion.
INAe'CURACY.n. [from inaccurate.] Want
of accuracy or exactness ; mistake ; fault ;
defect ; error ; as an inaccuracy in writ-
ing, in a transcript, or in a calculation.
INACCURATE, a. [in and accurate.] Not
accurate ; not exact or correct ; not ac
cording to truth ; erroneous ; as an inac-
curate man ; he is inaccurate in narration
the transcript or copy is inaccurate ; the
instrument is inaccurate.
INACCURATELY, adv. Not according to
truth ; incorrectly ; erroneously. The
counts are inaccurately stated.
INACTION, n. [Fr. ; in and action.] Want
of action; forbearance of labor; idleness;
rest. Pope.
INACTIVE, o. [in and active.] Not active;
inert ; having no power to move. Matter
is, per se, inactive.
2. Not active; not diligent or industrious;
not busy ; idle. Also, habitually idle ; in-
dolent ; sluggish ; as an inactive officer.
INACTIVELY, adv. Idly; sluggishly
without motion, labor or employment.
INACTIVITY, n. [in and activity.] Inert-
ness ; as the inactivity of matter.
2. Idleness, or habitual idleness; want of
action or exertion ; sluggishness. Su'ijl.
INACTUATE, v. t. To put in action. [JVot
used.] Glanvilte.
INACTUA'TION, n. Operation. [Xot used.]
Glanvilte.
INAD'EQUACY, n. [from inadequate.] The
quality of being unequal or insufficient for
a purpose.
The inadequacy and consequent inefficacy
of the alledged causes — Durighi.
2. Inequality.
Dr. Price considers this inadequacy of repre-
sentation as our fundamental grievance.
Burke.
3. Incompleteness ; defectiveness ; as the
inadequaci/ of ideas.
INAD'EQUATE, a. [in and adequate, L.
ada:quattis, from adacquo, to equal.]
1. Not equal to the purpose ; insufficient to
effect the object ; unequal ; as inadequate
power, strength, resources.
Vol. I.
2. Not equal to the real stale or condition of
a thing; not just or in due proj)ortion
partial ; incomplete ; as iiuxdequate ideas
of God, of his perfections, or moral gov-
erninent; &n incuiequate compensation for
services.
3. Incomplete ; defective ; not just ; as inad-
equate representation or description.
INADEQUATELY, adv. Not fully or suffi-
ciently ; not completely.
INAD'EQUATENESS, n. The quality of
being inadequate ; inadequacy ; inequaU-
ty ; incompleteness.
INADEUUA'TION, n. Want of exact cor-
res])ondence. Puller.
INADHE'SION, n. s as z. [in and adhe-
sion.] Want of adhesion ; a not adhering.
Porcelain clay is distinguished from colorific
earths by inadhcsion to the fingers. Kirwan
INADMISSIBIL'ITY, n. [from inadmissi-
ble.] The quality of being inadmissible,
or not proper to be received ; as the in-
admissibility of an argument, or of evi-
dence in court, or of a proposal in a ne-
gotiation.
INADMISSIBLE, a. [Fr. ; in and admissi
ble, from admitto, to admit.]
Not admissible ; not proper to be admitted,
allowed or received ; as inadmissible tei
timony ; an inadmissible proi>osition.
INADVERTENCE,? [Fr. inadvertance,
INADVERTENCY, S"" from L. in and
advertens, adverto. See Mvert.]
1. A not turning the mind to ; inattention ;
negligence ; heedlessness. Many mis-
takes and some misfortunes proceed from
inadvertence.
2. The effect of inattention; any oversight,
mistake or fault which proceeds from
negligence of thought.
The productions of a great genius, with ma-
ny lapses and inadverteticieK, are infinitely pre-
ferable to works of an inferior kind of author.
Mdiaon.
INADVERTENT, a. [L. in and advertetis.]
Not turning the mind to ; heedless; care-
less ; negligent.
INADVERTENTLY, adv. Heedlessly ;
carelessly ; from want of .ittention ; in-
considerately.
INAFFABIL'ITY, n. Reservedness in con-
versation. I
INAF'FABLE, a. Not affable ; reserved. I
INAFFECTA'TION, n. Destitution of af-i
fected manner.
INAFFECT'ED, a. Unaffected. [JVot used.]]
INA'IDABLE, a. That cannot be assisted.
Shak.\
INALIENABLE, a. [Fr. ; in and aliena-\
I We, from L. alieno, alienus.]
Unalienable ; that cannot be legally or justly;
alienated or transferred to another. Thej
dominions of a king are inaiienable. AH
men have certain natural rights which
arc inalienable. The estate of a minor is|
inalienable, without a reservation of the!
richt of redemption, or the authority ofi
the leeislature. I
INA'LIENABLENESS, n. The state of
being inalienable. Scott.\
INALIENABLY, adv. In a manner thatl
forbids alienation ; as rights inalienably,
vested. ' |
INALIMENT'AL, a. [in and aliment.] Af-I
fording no nonrishinent. Bacon I
107
ir, love.]
Marston.
Empty ;
n, to ex-
Lockt.
INaLTERABIL'ITY, n. [from inaltcrahle.i
The quality of not being alterable or
changeable. Fourcroy.
IN^L'TERABLE, a. [in and aUerabU.]
That cannot or may not be altered or
changed ; unalterable. HakeiciU.
INA'MLABLE, a. Unamiable. [.Vo( in use.]
INA'MIABLENESS, n. Unamiabknegg.
[JVot in use.]
INAMIS'SIBLE, a. [L. in and amitto, to
lose.] Not to be lost. [Little used.]
Hammond.
INAMIS'SIBLENESS, n. The state of not
being liable to be lost.
INAMORATO, n. [L. in and
A lover.
INA'NE, a. [L. tnanu, empty
void ; sometimes used as a
press a void space.
INANGULAR, a. Not angular. [Little
used.] Brown.
INANIMATE, v. t. [infra.] To animate.
[Little used.]
INAN'I.MATE, a. [L. inanimatus ; in and
animo, animalus.]
1. Destitute of animal life. Plants, stones
and earth are inajiimale substances ; a
corpse is an inanimate body.
2. Destitute of animation or life.
INAN'IMATED, a. Destitute of animal life.
Cheyne.
2. Not animated ; not sprightly. [See Vn-
animated.]
INANI'TION, ... [Fr. from L. inania,
empty.]
Emptiness ; want of fullness ; as inanition
of body or of the vessels. Burton.
IN.4N'ITY, n. [L. inanitas, from inanis,
void.] Emptiness; void space ; vacuity.
Digbu.
INAP'PETENCE, ) [in and appetence, L
INAP'PETENCY, ^ "■ appelentfa.] Want
of appetence, or of a disposition to seek,
select or imbibe nutriment. [See Appe-
tence.]
2. Want of desire or inclination. Cheyne.
INAPPLICABILITY, n. [from inapplica-
ble.] The quaUty of not being applicable ;
unfitness.
INAPPLICABLE, a. [in and applicable.]
Not applicable ; that cannot be applied;
not suited or suitable to the purpose. The
argument or the testimony is inapplicable
to the case.
INAPPLICA TION, n. [Fr. ; in and appli-
cation.]
Want of application ; want of attention or
assiduity ; neghgence ; indolence ; neg-
lect of study or industry.
INAPPOSITE, a. s as z. [in and apposite.]
Not apposite ; not fit or suitable ; not per-
tinent ; as an iiuipposite argument.
INAPPRE'CIABLE, a. [in and appreciable,
from appreciate.]
1. Not to be appreciated ; that cannot bo
duly valued.
2. That cannot be estimated. Ure.
INAPPREHENS IBLE. a. Xot intelligible.
.Vilton.
INAPPREIIENS'IVE, a. Not apprehens-
egardless. Taylor.
INAPPROACHABLE, a. [in and approach-
able.] Not to be approached ; inaccessible.
INAPPROPRIATE, a. [in and appropri-
ate.] Not appropriate : unsuited ; not prop-
er. J. P. Smith.
I N A
INC
I N C
2. Not appropriate; not belonging to.
Med. Repos.
INAPT'ITUDE, n. [in and aptitude.] Want
of aptitude; unfitness; unsuitableness.
Burke.
INA'QUATE, a. [L. in and aqualus.] Em-
bodied in water. Cranmer.
INAaUA'TION, n. The state of being ina-
quate. Gardner.
INAR'ABLE, a. [in and arable.] Not ara-
ble ; not capable of being plowed or tilled.
Diet.
IN ARCH, V. t. [in and arch.] To graft by
approach ; to graft by uniting a cion to a
stock without separating it from its parent
tree. Miller. Encyc.
IN>ARCHED, pp. Grafted by approach.
IN'ARCHING, ppr. Grafting by approach.
IN'ARCHING, n. A method of ingrafting,
by which a cion, without being separated
from its parent tree, is joined to a stock
standing near. Encyc.
INARTICULATE, a. [in and aHiculale.]
Not uttered with articulation or junction
of the organs of speech ; not articulate ;
not distinct, or with distinction of sylla-
bles. The sounds of brutes and fowls are,
for the most part, inarticulate.
INARTI€'ULATELY, adv. Not with dis-
tinct syllables ; indistinetlv.
INARTICULATENESS, n. Indistinctness
of utterance by animal voices; want of
distinct articulation.
INARTleULA'TION, n. Indistinctness of
sounds in speaking.
INARTIFI"CIAL, a. [in and artificial.]
1. Not done by art ; not made or pertbrmed
by the rules of art ; formed without art ;
as an inartificial style of composition.
2. Simple ; artless.
INARTIFI"CIALLY, adv. Without art;
in an artless manner ; contrary to the rules
of art. Collier.
INATTEN'TION, n. [in and attention.]
The want of attention, or of fixing the
mind steadily on an object; heedlessness;
neglect.
Novel lays attract our ravisheJ ears,
But old, the mind with inaitention hears.
Pope.
INATTENTIVE, o. [in and attentive.] Not
fixing the mind on an object ; heedless;
careless ; negligent ; regardless ; as an
inattentive spectator or hearer; an inatten-
tive habit. Watis.
INATTENT'IVELY, adv. Without atten-
tion ; carelessly ; heedlessly. Johnson.
INAUD'IBLE, a. [in and audible.] That
cannot be heard; as an inaudible voice or
sound.
9. Making no sound ; as the inaudible foot
of time. Shnk.
INAUU'IBLY, adv. In a manner not to be
heard. Colebrooke.
INAUG'URAL, a. [h.inauguro; in and au-
the college of augurs. Kings and empe-
rors are inaugurated by coronation ; a
prelate, by consecration ; and the presi-
dent of a college by such ceremonies and
forms as give weight and authority to the
transaction.
2. To begin with good omens. [JVbt used.]
fVotton.
INAUG'URATE, a. Invested with office.
Drayton.
INAUG'URATED, pp. Inducted into office
with appropriate ceremonies.
INAUGURATING, ppr. Inducting into
office with solemnities.
INAUGURA'TION, n. The act of induct-
ing into office with solemnity ; investi-
ture with office by appropriate ceremo-
nies.
INAUG'URATORY, a. Suited to induction
into office ; pertaining to inauguration :
as inauguratoi-y gratnlations.
Johnson's Lives of the Poets.
INAURA'TION, n. [L. inauro, inauratus ;
in and aurum, gold.]
The act or process of gilding, or covering
with gold. Arbuthnot.
INAUS'PI€ATE. a. Ill omened. Buck.
IMAUSPU'CIOUS, a. [in and auspicious.]
Ill omened ; unfortunate; unlucky; evil;
imfavorable. The war commenced at an
inauspicious time, and its issue was inaus-
picious. The counsels of a bad man have
an inauspicious influence on society.
INAUSPI"0IOUSLY, adv. With ill omens ;
unfortunately ; unfavorably.
INAUSPP'CIOUSNESS, n. Unluckiness;
unfavorableness.
IN'BEING, n. [in and being.] Inherence ;
inherent existence ; inseparableness.
fVatts.
IN'BORN, a. [in and born.] Innate; im-
planted by nature ; as inborn passions ;
inborn worth. Dryden. Addison.
IN'BREATIIED, a. [in and breathe.] Infu-
sed by inspiration. Milton.
IN'BRED, a. [in and bred, breed.] Bred
within; innate; natural; as in6re(/ worth ;
inbred affection. Diyden.
INBREE'D, V. t. To produce or generate
within. Bp. Reynolds.
IN'€A, n. The name or title given by the
natives of Peru to their kings and to the
princes of the blood, before the conquest
of that country by the Spaniards.
IN€A'GE, v.t. [in and cag-c] To confine in
a cage; to coop up ; to confine to any
narrow limits. Shak.
1N€A'GED, pp. Cooped up ; confined to a
cage or to narrow limits.
INCA'GING, ppr. Confining to a cage or to
narrow limits.
IN€A'GEMENT, n. Confinement in a
ceremonies.
mg to niaugur
; as inaugural
2. Made or pronounced at an inauguration
as an inaugural a<!dress.
INAUG'URATE, v. t. [supra.] To intro-
duce or induct into an office with solem
nity or suitable ceremonies; to invest with
an office in a formal manner ; a word bor-
rowed from the ceremonies used by the
Romans when they were received into
cage.
Shelton
IN€AL'€ULABLE, a. That cannot be cal
culated ; beyond calculation.
INCALCULABLY, adv. In a degree be
youd calculation.
INCALES'CENCE, ? . [L. incakscens, in
INCALES'CENCY, S calesco ; in and ca
lesco, caleo, to be hot.]
A growing warm.; incipient or increasing
heat. Ray
INCALES'CENT, a. Growing warm ; in-
creasing in heat.
INCAMERA'TION, n. [in and
chamber, or arched roof.]
The act or process of uniting lands, revenup?
or other rights to the pope's domain.
Encyc.
INCANDES'CENCE, n. [L. incandescens,
incandesco ; in and candesco ; candeo, can-
eo, to be white, to shine ; canus, white.]
A white heat; or the glowing whiteness of a
borly caused by intense heat. We say, a
metal is heated to incandescence.
INCANDES'CENT, a. White or glowing
with heat.
INCANTA'TION, n. [L. incantatio, incan-
to ; in and canto, to sing.]
|The act of enchanting; enchantment; the
act of using certain ibrmulas of words and
ceremonies, for the purpose of raising
spirits. Encyc. Bacon.
INCANT'ATORY, a. Dealing by enchant-
ment ; magical. Brown.
INCANT'ING, a. Enchanting. [JVot used.]
INCAN'TON, V. t. [in and canton.] To
unite to a canton or separate community.
Addison.
INCAPABIL'ITY, ? [from incapable.]
INCA'PABLENESS, ^ "' The quality of
being incapable ; natural incapacity or
want of power ; as the incapableness of a
child to comprehend logical syllogisms.
2. Want of legal qualifications or of legal
power ; as the incapability of holding an
office.
INCA'PABLE, a. [Fr.; in and capable.]
1. Wanting capacity sufficient ; not having
room sufficient to contain or hold ; fol-
lowed by of. We say, a vessel is incapable
o/'containing or holding a certain quan-
tity of liquor; but I believe we rarely or
never say, a vessel is incapable of that
quantity.
2. Wanting natural power or capacity to
learn, know, understand or comprehend.
Man is incapable of comprehending the
essence of the Divine Being. An idiot is
incapable of learning to read.
3. Not admitting ; not in a state to receive;
not susceptible of; as, a bridge is incapa-
ble of reparation.
4. Wanting power equal to any purpose.
Is not year father grown incapable
Of reasonable affairs? Shak. [See No. 2.]
. AVanting moral power or disposition. He
is incapable of a dishonorable act.
G. Unqualified or disqualified, in a legal
■sense ; not having the legal or constitu-
tional qualifications. A man not thirty
years of age is unqualified, and therefore
incapable of holding the office of ])resident
of the United States ; a man convicted on
impeachment is disqualified, and there-
fore incapable of holding any office ot*
honor or i)rofit under the government.
Incapable properly denotes a want of passive
power, the power of receiving, and is ap-
plicable particularly to the mind; unable
denotes the want of active power or pow-
er of performing, and is applicable to the
body or the mind. [See Incapacity.]
INCAPA'CIOUS, a. [in and capacious.]
Not capacious ; not large or spacious ;
narrow; of small content; as an incapa-
cious soul. Burnet.
INCAPA'CIOUSNESS, n. Narrowness ;
want of containing space.
INCAPACITATE, v. t. [in and capacitate.]
I. To deprive of capacity or natural power
I N C
of learning, knowing, understanding or
(ierfoi ining. Old age and infirmity often
incapacitate men to exercise the otfice of
I N C
3. In surgery, the process of heahng wounds
Encyc.
a judge.
Q. To render or make incapable ; as, infan
cy incapacitates a child for learning alge
bra.
3. To disable ; to weaken ; to deprive of
competent power or ability. This is an
improper use of the word. The loss of
an arm disables a soldier, but does not '
capacitate him.
4. To render unfit ; as, infancy incapacitates
one for marriage.
5. To disqualify ; to deprive of legal or con-
stitutional requisites; as, conviction of a
crime incapacitates one to be a witness.
INCAPACITA'TION, n. Want of capacity;
disqualification. Burke.
INCAPACITY, n. [in and capacity.] Want
of capacity, intellectual power, or the
power of receiving, containing or under-
standing; applied to the mind, and it may
be natural or casual. There is a natural
incapacity in children to comprehend dif-
ficult propositions in logic or metaphysics,
and a natural incapacity in men to com-
prehend the nature of spiritual beings.
The defect of understanding proceeding
from intoxication, or from an injury done
to tlie brain, is a casual incapacity.
2. Want of qualification or legal requisites;
inability ; as the incapacity of minors to
make binding contracts.
3. Disqualification ; disability by deprivation
of power; as the incapacity of a convict
to give testimony in a court of law.
INe^ARCERATE, y. t. [L incarccro ; in
and career, a prison, Sp. carcel, Sax.
carcmrn, Goth, karkara, G. U. kerker, W.
carcar. Career seems to be allied to W. care,
Eng. cark, care ; showing that the prima-
ry sense is to press or strain.]
1. To imprison ; to confine in a jail.
2. To confine; to shut up or inclose.
Harrct).
INCARCERATE, a. lini.risoned ; confi-
ned. More.
INCARCERA'TION, n. The act of impris-
oning or confining ; imprisonment.
IN€"ARN, V. t. [L. incarno ; in and caro,
carnis, flesh.]
To cover with flesh ; to invest with flesh.
tViseman
INC>ARN, 1'. i. To breed flesh. fTisetnan
INC^ARNADINE, a. [Fr. incamadin ; It
incarnatino ; L. in and caro, flesh.]
Flesh-colored ; of a carnation color ; pal<
red. Shak
INCARNADINE, v. t. To dye red or
flesh-color. [Little used.]
IN€'ARNATE, v. t. [Fr. incarner ; Sp.
carnar ; It. incarnare ; L. incarno ; in and
caro, flesh.]
To clothe vvitli flesh ; to embody in flesh.
Milton. Asiat. Res.
INC^ARNATE, a. Invested with flesh ; em
bodied in flesh ; as the incarnate Son
of God.
2. In Scotland, of a red color; flesh-colored
IN€ARNA'TION, n. The act of clothing
with flesh.
2. The act of assuming flesh, or of takin;
human body and the nature of man;
the incarnation of the Son of God.
surgi
fillit
and filling the part with new flesh.
INC'ARNATIVE, a. [Fr. incamatif.] Cans
ing new flesh to grow ; healing. Encyc.
INC'ARNATIVE, n. A medicine that tends
to promote the growth of new flesh, and
assist nature in tlie healing of wounds.
Encyc.
INCA'SE, V. I. [in and case.] To inclose in
case.
2. To inclose ; to cover or surround with
something solid.
Rich plates of gold Uic folding doors incase.
Poite.
IN€A'SED, pp. Inclosed as in a case,
sheath or box.
iN€A'SING, ppr. Inclosing as in a case.
INC ASK, V. t. To put into a cask.
Sherieood.
INCASTELLATED, a. Confined or inclo-
sed in a castle.
INCATENA'TION, n. [L. catena, a chain.]
The act of linking together. Goldsmith.
IN€AU'TIOUS, a. [in and cautious.] Not
cautious ; unwary ; not circumspect ;
heedless ; not attending to the circumstan-
ces on which safety and interest depend ;
as incautious youth.
INCAUTIOUSLY, adv. Unwarily ; heed-
ly ; without due circumspection.
INCAU'TIOUSNESS, n. Want of caution ;
un wariness; want of forosight.
IN'CAVATED, a. [L. in and cai'o, to make
hollow.] Made hollow; bent round or in.
INCAVA'TION, n. The act of making hol-
low.
3. A hollow made.
INCEND', D. <. [L.incendo.] To inflame;
to excite. [Little used.] Marston.
INCEND'IARY, n. [L. incendiarius, from
incendo, to burn ; in and candeo, to shine,
or be on fire.]
1. A person wlio maliciously sets fire to
another man's dwelling house, or to any
outhouse, being parcel of the same, as a
barn or stable ; one who is guilty of
arson.
2. Any per.son who sets fire to a building.
3. A person who excites or inflames fac
tions, and promotes quarrels.
Several cities of Greece drove them out as in-
cendiaries. Bentley.
Incendiaries of figure and distinction, who
are the inventors and publishers of gross false-
hoods, cannot be regarded but with the utmost
detestation. Addison
4. He or that which excites.
INCEND'IARY, a. Pertaining to the ma
licious burning of a dwelling ; as an incen
diary purpose.
2. Tending to excite or inflame factions, se
dition or quarrels.
IN'CENSE, 7!. in'cens. [L.inccHSum, burnt,'
from incendo, to biu-n ; It. incejiso ; Fr.
encens.]
1. Perfume exhaled by fire ; the odors of
spices and gums, burnt in religious rites,
or as an offering to some deity.
A thick cloud" of incense went up. Ezek
2. The materials burnt for making perfumes
The incense used in the Jewish offerings
was a mixture of sweet spices, stacte, ony-
cha, gnlbanum, and the gum of the frank-
incense tree.
INC
Nadab and Abiliu, tlie sons of Aaron, took ei-
ther of them his censer, and put fire therein and
put incense tliereon. Lev. x.
3. Acceptable prayers and praises. Mai. i.
4. In the Materia Medico, a di-y resinous sub-
stance known by the name of thus and
olibanum. Encye.
I.N'CENSE, I', t. in'cens. To perfume with
incense. In the Romish church, it is the
deacon's office to ijtcense the officiating
priest or prelate, and the choir. Encyc.
INCENSE, V. t. incens.' To enkindle or in-
flame to violent anger; to excite angry
])assions ; to provoke ; to irritate ; to ex-
asperate ; to heat ; to fire. It expresses
less than enrage.
How could my pious son thy power incense ?
Dryden.
INCENS'ED, pp. Inflamed to violent an-
ger ; exasperated.
INCENSEMENT, n. incens' ment. Violent
irritation of the pa.ssions ; heat; exaspe-
ration. It expresses less than rag'c and
furxj. Sliak.
INCE.\S'ING, ppr. Inflaming to anger ; ir-
ritating ; exasperating.
INCEX'SION, 71. [L. incensio, frortl tncen-
do, to burn.]
The act of kindling ; the state of being on
firo. Bacon.
INCENS'IVE, a. Tending to excite orpro-
oke. Barrow.
INCENS'OR, 71. [L.] A kindler of anger ;
inflamer of the angry passions.
INCENSORY, II. The vessel in which in-
cense is burnt and oflTered. [We general-
ly use censer.] Ainsworth.
INCEN'TIVE, a. [Low L. incentivus, from
incendo, to burn.] Inciting ; encouraging
or moving.
Competency is the most incentive toindiislr>-.
Decay of Piety .
INCEN'TIVE, n. [Low L. incentivum.]
. That which kindles or inflames; used now
in a figurative sense only.
3. That which moves the mind or operates
on the passions; that which incites or has
a tendency to incite to determination or
action ; that which prompts to good or
ill ; motive ; spur. The love of money,
and the desire of promotion, are two most
))owprful incentives to action.
INCEPTION, 11. [L. inceplio, from incipio,
:o begin ; in and capio, to take.] Begin-
ning. Bacon.
I hope this society will not be marked with
vivacity of inception, apathy of progress, and
|)rcnialurcness of decay. Rawle.
INCEPTIVE, a. [L. inceptivus, from inci-
pio, to begin.]
Beginning; noting beginning; as an incep-
tive proposition ; an inceptive verb, which
expresses the beginning of action.
A point is inceptive of a line, and a hne is m-
crptiec of a surface.
INCEP'TOR, n. A beginner; one in the
rudiments. HaJton.
IXCERA'TION, ti. [L. incero, from cera.]
The act of covering with wax.
INCER'TAIN, a. [in and certain.] Uncer-
tain ; (loulilliil ; iinsteadv. Fairfax.
I.N( F.RTAINLY, adv. Doubtfully.
INCEP. TAINTY, n. Uncertaintv; doubt.
Davies.
INCERTITUDE, n. [L. incertUudo, from
incerlus ; in and certus, cenain.] Uncer-
taintv ; doubtfulness; doubt.
INC
INCES'SABLE, a. Unceasing ; continual,
[Little used.] SIMon
INCES'SANCY, n. [from incessant.] Unm-
termitted continuance ; unceasingness.
Did^ht
INCESSANT, a. [L. in and cessans, fVon:
cesso, to cease.]
Unceasing; unintermitted ; uninterrupted
continual; as incessant rains; incessant
clamors. Mlton. Pope.
INCES'SANTLY, adv. Without ceasnig;
continually. Spenser.
IN'CEST, n. [Fr. inceste ; L. tncestum ; m
and castus, chaste.]
The crime of cohabitation or sexual com-
merce between persons related within the
degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by
the law of a country.
Spiritual incest, is a like crime committed
between persons who have a spiritual alli-
ance by means of baptism or confirma-
tion. It is also understood of a vicar oi
other beneficiary, who holds two benefices,
the one depending on the collation of the
other. Encyc.
INCEST'UOUS, a. Guilty of incest ; as an
incestuous person.
2. Involving the crime of incest ; as an in
cestuous connection.
INCEST'UOUSLY, adv. In an incestuous
manner; in a manner to involve the crime
of incest.
INCEST'UOUSNESS, n. The state or qual-
ity of being incestuous. Bp. Hall
INCH, n. [Sax. ince ; L. uncia, the twelfth
part ; Gr. my/ia, but said to be from the
Latin.]
1. A lineal measure in Great Britam and the
United States, being the twelfth part of a
foot, and equal to the length of three bar-
ley corns.
2. Proverbially, a small quantity or degree ;
as, to die by inches ; to gain ground by in-
ches.
a A precise point of time.
Beldame, I think, we watch'd you at an inch.
[ Unusual.] ^'"''^■
INCH, V. t. To drive by inches or small de-
grees. [Little used.] Dnjden.
3. To deal out by inches ; to give sparingly.
[LUtle used.] Ainsworlh.
INCH, V. i. To advance or retire by small
degrees. [Little used.] Johnson.
Inched, is added to words of number ; as
four-inched. Shak.
' But in America the. common practice is
to add only inch ; as a seven-inch cable.
INCHAR'lf ABLE, a. Uncharitable. [The
latter is the word ttserf.]
INCHAS'TITY, n. [in &nA chastity.] Lewd
ness ; impurity ; unchastity.
J. Edwards.
INCHEST', 1'. t. To put into a chest.
Sherwood
INCH'-MEAL, n. [inch and meal.] A piece
an int-li long. Shak
IN'CHOATE, V. t. [L. inchoo.] To begin
[Utile used.] More.
IN'CHOATE, a. Begun; commenced.
It is neither a substance perfect, nor a sub-
stance inchoate. Raleigh
IN'CHOATELY, adv. In an incipient de-
gree.
JNCHOA'TION, n. The act of beginning
commencement: inception.
INC
The setting on foot some of those arts in
those parts, would be looked on as the first in-
ch'ialion of them. [iJHk used.] Hale.
INCHO'ATIVE, a. Noting beginning; in-
ceptive ; as an inchoative verb, otherwise
called inceptive.
INCI'DE, v.t [L. incirfo; in and ca:do, to
strike.]
To cut ; to separate ; as medicines. Ohs.
(^incij. Arbuthnol.
IN'CIDENCE, n. [h. incidens; incido,X<.
fall on ; in and cado, to fall.]
\. Literally, a falling on ; whence, an acci
dent or casualty. Shak.
i. The manner of falling on, or the direction
in which one body falls on or strikes an-
other. The angle which the line of fall-
ing, or the direction of a moving body
striking another, makes with the plane
struck, is called the angle of incidence.
When rays of light striking a body are re-
flected, the angle of incidence and the an-
gle of reflection are equal.
In equal incidences there is a considerable in-
equality of refiaclions. Mewton.
IN'CIDENT, a. Falling ; casual ; fortui-
tous ; coming or happening occasionally,
or not in the usual course of things, or not
according to expectation or in connection
with the main design.
As the ordinary course of common aflaii
disposed of by general laws, so man's rarer
cident necessities and utilities should be with
special equity considered. Hooker.
A proposition introduced by who, ivhich,
whose, whom, &c. is called an incident pro-
position ; as, Julius, whose surname was
Cesar, overcame Pompey. Jfatts.
3. Happening ; apt to happen ; as intempe
rate passions
incident to human nature
I N C
INCINERATION, n. The act of reducing
to ashes by combustion. Boyle. Encyc.
INCIP'IENCY, n. Beginning ; commence-
ment.
INCIP'lENT, a. [L. incipiens, incipio ; in
and capio, to take.]
Beginning ; commencing ; as the incipient
tage of a fever ; incipient light or day.
INCIR'€LET, n. A small circle. Sidney.
INCIRCUMS€RIP'T1BLE, a. That can-
not be circumscribed or limited.
CranTner.
INCIR€UMSPEe'TION, n. fire and cir-
cumspection.] Want of circumspection ;
heedlessness. Brown.
INCI'SE, V. t. s as z. [Fr. inciter.] To cut
to carve. Carew.
INCrSED, a. [L, indma, from incido, to
cut.]
Cut ; made by cutting ; as an incised wound ;
incised lips. Wiseman.
INCrSELY, adv. In the manner of inci-
sions or notches. Eaton.
INCIS'ION, n. s as z. [Fr. ; L. incisio, from
incido, to cut.]
\. A cutting;, the act of catting into a sub-
stance.
3. A cut; a gash ; the separation of the sur-
face of any substance made by a sharp in-
strument. The surgeon with his knife
makes an incision in the flesh, and the
gardener, in a tree ; but we do not say,
an incision is made with a plow or a
spade ; at least such phraseology is unu-
sual.
3. Separation of viscid matter by medicines.
Obs. Bacon.
INCI'SIVE, a. [Fr. i7icisif.] Having the
diseases incident to a climate ; misfortunes
incident to the poor.
3. Appertaining to or following the chief or
principal. A court baron is incident to a
manor. Encyc.
IN'CIDENT, n. That which falls out ; an
event ; casualty.
3. That which happens aside of the main
design ; an episode or subordinate action.
No person, no incident in a play but must
be of use to carry on the main design .
Dryden
INCIDENT' AL, a. Happening ; coining
without design ; casual ; accidental ; at
an incidental conversation ; an incidental
occurrence.
3. Not necessary to the chief purpose ; oc
casional.
By some persons, religious duties appear to
be regarded as an incidental business.
INCIDENTAL, n. An incident. [Little
sed.] Pope
INCIDENTALLY, adv. Casually ; without
intention ; accidentally. I was incidental-
ly present when the conversation tooli
place.
3. Beside the main design ; occasionally.
I treat either purposely or incidentally of
colors. £oyle.
IN'CIDENTLY, adv. Occasionally; by
the way. [jVo' used.] Bacon.
INCIN'E'RATE, v.t. [L. in and ct/iis, cineris,
ashes.] To burn to ashes. Bacon.
INCINERATED, pp. Burnt to ashes.
INCIN'ERATING, ppr. Reducing to ashes
by combustion.
quality of cutting or separating the super-
ficial part of any thing.
Incisive teeth, in animals, are the fore teeth,
the cutters.'
INCI'SOR, n. [L.] A cutter; a fore tooth,
which cuts, bites or separates.
INCI'SORY, a. Having the quality of cut-
INCIS'URE, n. [L. incisura.] A cut; a
place opened by cutting ; an incision.
Derham.
INCI'TANT, n. [from incite.] That which
excites action in an animal body.
Darwin.
INCITA'TION, n. [L. incitatio. See In-
cite.]
1. The act of inciting or moving to action;
incitement. Brown.
2. Incitement ; incentive ; motive ; that
which excites to action ; that which rous-
es or prompts. Government of the Tongue.
INCI'TE, V. t. [L. incito; in and cito, to call,
to stir up.]
I. To move the mind to action by persua-
sion or motives presented ; to stir up ; to
rouse ; to spur on.
Antiochus, when he incited Prusias to join
ill war, set before him the greatness of the Ro-
mans. Bacon.
3. To move to action by impulse or influ-
ence.
No blown ambition does our arms incite.
Shak.
3. To animate ; to encourage.
INCITED, pp. Moved to action; stirred
up ; spurred on.
I N C
I N C
I N C
INCI'TEMENT, n. That which incites the
miml or moves to action ; motive ; incen-
tive ; iuii)ulse.
from Lhe long records of a distant age,
Derive incUements to renew thy rage.
Pope.
INCI'TER, 71. He or that which incites or
moves to action.
INCI'TING, j)pr. E.\citing to action; stir-
In general, incite denotes to operate on
the mind or will ; excite has the same sense
but it extends also to the passions and tc
material substances ; as, to excite action ii
the heart and arteries.
INCIV'lL, a. \in and civil.] Uncivil ; rude
unpolite. [But uncioii is generally used.]
INCIVIL'ITY, n. [Fr. incivilM.] Want of
courtesy ; rudeness of manners towards
others; impoliteness. TUlotson.
2. Any act of rudeness or ill breeding ; urUk
a plural. Loud laughter and uncomely
jests in respectable company, are incivili-
ties and indecencies.
INCIV'ILLY, adv. Uncivilly ; rudely,
INCIV'ISM, n. [in and civism.] Want of
civism; want oV love to one's country or
of patriotism ; unfriendliness to the state
or government of which one is a citizen.
Ames.
INCL'ASP, V. t. To clasp ; to hold fast.
Cudworth.
IN'€LAVATED, a. Set ; fast fixed. Diet.
IN'€LE, n. A kind of tape made of linen
yarn. Encyc.
IN€LEM'ENCY, n. [Fr. inciemence; L
inclementia. See Clemency.]
1. Want of clemency ; want of mildness of
temper ; unmercifulness ; harshness ; se-
verity ; applied to persons.
2. Roughness ; boisterousness ; storminess
or simply raininess ; severe cold, &c.; ap-
plied to the weather. We were detained by
the inclemency of the weather.
INeLEM'ENT, o. Destitute of a mild and
kind temper ; void of tenderness ; unmer-
ciful ; severe ; harsh.
2. Rough ; stormy ; boisterous ; rainy ; rig-
orously cold, &c. ; as inclement weather ;
inclement sky. Pope
IN€LI'NABLE, a. [L. inclinabilis. Set
Incline.] .
1. Leaning; tending; as a tower inclinable
to fall. Bentley.
2. Having a propensiou of will ; leaning in
disposition; somewhat disposed; as a
mind inclinable to truth. Milton.
IN€LINA'T10N, re. [Fr. from L. inclinatio.
See Incline.]
1. A leaning ; any deviation of a body or lint
from an upright position, or from a paral
lei line, towards another body ; as the in
clination of the head in bowing.
9^ In geometry, the angle made by two lines
or planes that meet; as, the inclinalion of
axis of the earth to the plane of the eclip
4. Love ; affection ; regard ; desire ; with
for. Some men have an inclination for
music, otliersySr painting.
5. Disposition of mind. Shak.
6. The dip of the magnetic needle, or its
tendency to incline towards the earth ;
also, the angle made by the needle with the
horizon. Enfield.
7. The act of decanting liquors by stooping
or inclining the vessel. Quincy.
INCLI'NATORILY, adv. Obliquely ; with
inclination. Broivn.
INCLI'NATORY, a. Having the quality of
raning or inclining. Brown.
INCLI'NK, V. i. [L. inclino ; in and clino,
Gr. xXiru, Sax. hlinian, hleonian, hlynian,
Eng. to lean, G. lehnen, D. leunen, Russ.
klonyu and nakloniayu, Ir. cleonaim ; Fr.
inclhier ; Port. Sp. inclinar ; It. inclinare,
inchinare, chinare. Class Ln.]
1. To lean; to deviate from an erect or par
allel line toward any object ; to tend
Converging lines incline toward each oth
3. A leaning of the mind or will ; propen-
sion or propensity ; a disposition more fa-
vorable to one thing than to another. The
prince has no inclination to peace. The
bachelor has manifested no inclination toj
marry. Men have a natural inclination to'^
pleasure. |
A mere inclination to a thing is not properly
a willing of that thing. South.
A road inclines to the north or soutl
Connecticut river runs south, inclining in
some part of its course to the west, ant
below Middletown, it inclines to the east.
2. To lean ; in a moral sense ; to have a pro-
pension ; to be dispo.-ied : to have some
wish or desire.
Tlieir hearts inclined to follow Abimelech
Judges ix.
3. To have an appetite ; to be disposed ; as
to be inclined to eat.
INCLI'NE, V. t. To cause to deviate from
an erect, perpendicular or parallel line ; to
give a leaning to ; as, incline the column
or post to the east ; incline your head to
the right.
2. To give a tendency or propension to the
will or affections ; to turn ; to dispose.
Incline our hearts to keep this Uw.
Common Prayer.
Incline my heart to thy testimonies. Ps.
cxix.
3. To bend ; to cause to stoop or bow ; as,
to incline the head or the body in acts of
reverence or civihty.
INCLINED, pp. Having a leaning or ten
dency ; disposed.
Inclined plane, in mechanics, is a plane that
makes an oblique angle with the plane of
the horizon ; a sloping plane.
IN€LI'NEK, 71. An inclined dial.
INCLINING, ppr. Leaning ; causing tc
lean.
IN€LI NING, a. Leaning.
INCLIl", V. I. [in and clip.] To grasp ; tc
inclose ; to surround. Slia}(
IN€LOIS'TER, v. t. [in and cloister.] To
shut up or confine in a cloister. [But
cloister is generally used.]
INCLO'SE, V. t. s as z. [Fr. enclos ; Sp. It-
incluso ; L. inclusus, indudo ; in and clan-
do, or cludo.]
1. To surround ; to shut in ; to confine or
all sides ; as, to inclose a field with a
fence ; to inclose a fort or an army with
troops ; to inclose a town with walls.
2. To separate from common grounds by a
fence ; as, to inclose lands.
3. To include ; to shut or confine ; as, to
inclose trinkets in a box.
4. To environ ; to encompass.
5. To cover with a wrapper or envelop ; to
\ cover under seal ; as, to inclose a letter or
I a bank note.
INCLO'SED, pp. Surroimded ; encompass-
ed ; confined on all sides ; covered and
! sealed ; fenced.
,IN€LO'SER, n. He or that which incloses :
ne who separates land from common
rounds by a fence.
INCLO'SIN'G, ppr. Surrounding ; encom-
passing ; shutting in; covering and con-
fining.
IN€LO'SURE, n. The act of inclosing.
2. The separation of land from common
ground into distinct possessions by a fence.
3. The appropriation of things common.
Taylor.
4. State of being inclosed, shut up or eu-
conipassed. Rai/.
5. A space inclosed or fenced ; a space com-
prehended within certain limits.
6. Ground inclosed or separated from com-
mon land.
7. That which is inclosed or contained in an
envelop, as a paper. fVashington.
IN€LOUD', V. t. [in and cloud.] To darken ;
to obscure. Shak.
INCLOUD'ED, pp. Involved in obscurity.
llNeLOUD'ING, ppr. Darkening ; obscur-
I ing.
INCLU'DE, i: t. [L. inclujo ; in and dudo,
to shut up ; Fr. £;ic/orre.]
1. To confine within; to hold ; to contain;
as, the shell of a nut includes the kernel;
a pearl is included in a shell. [But in
these senses we more commonly use i7t-
close.]
i. To comprise ; to comprehend ; to contain.
The history of England necessarily tu-
cludes a portion of that of France. The
word duty, includes what we owe to God,
to our fellow men, and to ourselves ; it in-
cludes also a tax payable to the govern-
ment.
INCLU'DED, pp. Contained ; comprehend-
ed.
INCLUDING, ppr. Containing ; compris-
ing.
LNCLU'SION, 71. s as z. [L. inclusio.] The
act of including.
INCLU'SIVE, a. [Fr. inclusif] Inclosing ;
encircling. Shak.
|2. Comprehended in the number or sum ;
as from Monday to Saturday i/iclusive,
that is, taking in both Monday and Satur-
I day.
INCLU'SIVELY, adv. Comprehending the
j thing mentioned ; as from Monday to
Saturdav inclusively.
INCOAGULABLE, a. [in and coagulable.]
I That cannot be coagulated or concreted.
[INCOER'CIBLE, a. [in and coercible, from
1 coerce.]
Not to be coerced or compelled ; that can-
1 not be forced. Black.
JINCOEXIST'ENCE, n. [in and coexist-
1 ence.] A not existing together. [M>f
common.] Locke.
INCOG', adv. [contracted from incognito.]
In concealment ; in disguise ; in a manner
not to be known.
INCOG'ITANCY, 71. [L. incogUantia ; in
and eogito, to think.]
Want of thought, or want of the power of
thinking. Decay of Piety.
INC
IN€0(i'ITANT, a. Not thinking; tliouglit-l
less. MitlonJ
lN€0{i'ITANTLY, adv. Without consid-
eration. BoyleJ
IN€OG'ITATIVE, a. [in and cogitative.y
Not thinking ; wanting the power ofl
thought ; as, a vegetable is an incogilative.
being. Locke.
INCOG'NITO, adv. [L. incognitus ; in and
cognitus, known.] In concealment; in a
disguise of the real person.
INCOGN'IZABLE, a. incon'izabk. [in and
cognizable.]
That cannot be recognized, known or dis-
tinguished.
The Lettish race, not a primitive stock of the
Shivi, but a distinct branch, now become incog-
nizable— Tooke.
{N€OHi;RiNCT;^'•[--'^-^-"-]
1. Want of coherence; want of cohesion or
adherence ; looseness or unconnected
state of jiarts, as of a powder. Boyle.]
2. Wantof connection; incongruity; incon-
sistency ; want of agreement, or tlepcnd-
ence of one part on another; as the inco-
herence of arguments, facts or principles.
3. Inconsistency ; that which does not agree
with other parts of the same thing.
INCOHE'RENT, a. [in and coherent.]'.
1. Wanting cohesion ; loose ; unconnected ;i
not fixed to each other ; applied to mate-\
rial substances. H'oodivard.l
2. Wanting coherence or agreement ; incon-j
gruous; inconsistent; having no depend-
ence of one part on another ; as, the
thoughts of a dreaming man, and the lan-
guage of a madman, are incoherent.
IN€OHE'RENTLY, adv. Inconsistently;
without coherence of parts; as, to talk!
incoherenllu.
INCOIN'CIDENCE, n. [in and coincidence.]
Want of coincidence or agreement.
INCOIN'CIDENT, a. [in and coincident.]
Not coincident ; not agreeing in time,
place or principle.
INCOLU'MITY, Ji. [L.incohtmitas.] Safe-
ty; securitv. Howell.
IN€OMBl'NE, V. i. To differ, [informed.]
Milton.
INCOMBUSTIBIL'ITV, n. [from incom-
bustible.]
The quality of being incapable of being burnt
or consumed. Ray.
INeOMBUST'IBLE, a. [in and combustible.]
Not to be burnt, decomposed or consumed
by fire. Amianth is an incombustible sub
stance.
INeOMBUST'IBLENESS, n. Incombust
ibility.
IN'€OME, n. in'cum. [in and co7ne.] That
gain which proceeds from labor, business
or property of any kind ; the produce of a
farm; the rent of houses; the proceeds of
professional business; the profits of com
merce or of occupation ; the interest of
money or stock in funds. Income is often
used synonymously with revenue, but
come is more generally applied to the gain
of private persons, and revenue to that of|
a sovereign or of a state. We speak of
the annual income of a gentleman, and the
annual rtveiiue of the state.
2. A coming in; admission; introduction.'
[JVbf in use.]
IN'eOMING, a. Coming in. Burke.^
INC
[in and come.] Income ;
INCOMING,
gain.
Many incomings are subject to great fluctua-
tions. Tooke
INCOMMENSURABIL'ITY, n. [from in-
commensurable.]
The quality or state of a thing, when it has
no common measure with another thing,
or when the same thing will not exactly
measure both.
INCOMMEN'SURABLE, a. [in and coni-
mensurable.]
Having no common measure. Two lines
are incommensurable, when, compared to
each other, they have no common meas-
ure, that is, no measure that will exactly
measure both. Quantities are incommen-
surable, when no third quantity can be
found that is an aliquot part of both.
Encyc.
INeOMMEN'SURATE, a. [in anA commen-
surate.]
1. Not admitting of a common measure.
More.
2. Not of equal measure or extent ; not ade-
quate. Our means are incommensurate to
our wants
INCOMMEN'SURATELY, adv. Not in
equal or due measure or proportion
Cheyixc.
IN€OMMlS'CIBLE, a. [in and ' '
That cannot be commixed or nuitually
mixed.
INCOMMIX'TURE, n. A state of being
unmixed. Bi
INeOMMO'DE, II. t. [L. incommodo
and commodo, con and modus.]
To give inconvenience to ; to give trouble
to ; to disturb or molest in the quiet enjoy
ment of something, or in the facility of ac
quisition. It denotes less than annoy, vex
or harass. We are incommoded by
of room to sit at ease. Visits of strangers
at unseasonable hours, incommode a fam
Often we are incommoded by a fashionable
dress.
meOMMO'DED, pp. Put to inconveni-
ence ; molested.
IN€OMMO'DING,p;>r. Subjecting to troub-
le or inconvenience.
IXeOMMO'DIOUS, a. [L. incommodus.]
Inconvenient; not affording ease or ad
vantage; unsuitable; giving trouble, with
out much injury. A seat in church, or the
site of a house may be incommodious.
INCOMMODIOUSLY, adv. In a manner
to create inconvenience; inconveniently
unsuitably.
IN€0Mm6 DIOUSNESS, n. Inconveni-
ence ; unsuitiibleness
IN€OMMOD'ITY, n. [Ft. incommodite ; L.
incommodilas.] Inconvenience; trouble.
[jVbw lillle tised.] Bacon.
INCOMMUNl€ABILITY, ?
INCOMMU'NICABLENESS, ^
incommunicahle.] The quality of not be
ing communicable, or capable of beingl
imparted to another.
INeOMMU'NIGABLE, a. [in and
nicable.] I
1. That cannot be connniuiicatcd or impart-
ed to others.
2. That cannot or may not be communica-
ted, told or revealed to others. Soulh.\
[from
I N C
IN€OMMU'Nl€ABLY, adv. In a manner
not to be imparted or comnnmicated.
Hakewill.
IN€OMMU'Nl€ATED, a. Not imparted.
IN€OMMU'NICATlNG, a. Having no com-
munion or intercourse with each other ;
as an administration in incommunicating
liands. Hale.
INCOMMUNICATIVE, a. Not communi-
cative ; not free or apt to impart to oth-
ers in conversation.
2. Not disposed to hold communion, fellow-
ship or intercourse with.
The Chinese — an incommunicative nation.
Buchanan.
INCOMMUTABIL'ITY, > The quahty
INCOMMU'TABLENESS, \ "of being in-
commutable.
INCOMMUTABLE, a. [in and commuta-
bte.]
Not to be exchanged or commuted with
another.
INCOMMU'TABLY, adv. Without recipro-
cal change. Ch. Relig. Appeal.
INCOMPACT', > [in and compact]
INCOMPACT'ED, \ "• Not compact ; not
having the parts firmly united ; not solid.
Boyle.
INCOMPARABLE, a. [in anA comparable.]
TJiat admits of no comparison with oth-
ers ; usually in a good sense, but it may be
properly used in a bad sense. When we
say," an incomparable man, we mean a man
of good qualities, or of some excellence
that raises him above comparison or equal-
ity with others. So we say, incomparable
excellence, virtue, wit, &c. But incom-
parable baseness or malignity may be used
vvitli propriety.
INCOM'PARABLENESS, n. Excellence
beyond comparison.
INCOM'PARABLY, adv. Beyond compari-
son ; without competition. Newton was
incomparably the greatest philosopher the
English nation had produced.
INCOMPA'RED, a. Not matched ; peer-
less. Spenser.
INCOMPAS'SIONATE, a. [in and com-
passionate.]
Void of compassion or pity ; destitute of ten-
derness. Johnson.
INCOMPAS'SIONATELY, adv. Without
pity or tenderness.
INCOMPAS'SIONATENESS, n. Want of
pitv. Granger.
INCOMPATIBILITY, n. [from incompati-
ble.]
1. Inconsistency ; that quality or state of a
thing wliich renders it impossible that it
should subsist or be consistent with some-
thing else. There is a permanent incom-
patibility between truth ami lalseljood.
2. Irreconcilable disagreement. Dining
the revolution in France, inrniiipalUnlili/ ot'
temper was deemed a suliii iint cause for
divorcing man and wife.
INCOMPATIBLE, a. [Fr. fiom the L. in
and competo, to suit, to be j)roper or con-
venient ; con and pcto, to press toward, to
seek, or press on. It was formerly incom-
petible.]
1. Inconsistent ; that cannot subsist with
something else. Thus, truth and false-
hood are essentially incompatible, as are
virtue and vice. A degree of cold that
congeals water is incompatible with vcge-
I N C
I N C
N C
tation. Dissipation is incompatible with
licaltli, reputation and virtue.
2. Irreconcilably diflerent or disagreeing;
incongruous ; as incompatible tempers.
3. Legally or constitutionally inconsistent :
that cannot be united in the same person,
without violating the law or constitution.
By our constitution, the offices of a legis-
lator and of a judge are incompatible, as
they cannot be held at the same time by
the same person.
INeOMPAT'IBLY, adv. Inconsistently;
incongruously.
INCOM'PETENCE, ) „ [Fr. incompeU
, S iroin:
)i sufticien
INeOM'PETENCV, < fromincompetent
1. Inability ; want of sufficient intellectual
powers or talents ; as the incompetency of
infants or idiots.
2. Want of natural adequate strength of
body or of suitable faculties ; as the incom-
petency of the eyes to discern the motions
of the heavenly bodies.
.3. Want of legal or constitutional qualifica-
tions ; as the incompetency of a
4. Want of adequate means.
5. Insufficiency ; inadequacy ; as the
petency of testimony.
INeOlVf PETENT, a. [Fr. from L. iji and
competens, compete. See Fncompatiblc,"
1. Wanting adequate powers of mind or
suitable faculties ; as an incompetent judiic.
Infancy, derangement, want of learning or
dotage" may render a person incompetent to
fill an office or to transact business.
2. Wanting due strength or suitable facul-
ties ; unable.
3. Wanting the legal or constitutional quali-
fications. A person convicted of a crime
is an incompetent witness in a court of law
or equity.
4. Destitute of means; unable.
5. Inadequate ; insufficient ; as incompetent
testimony.
6. Unfit ; improper ; legally unavailable.
It is incompetent for the del'en(l;\nt to m.iUe
this defense. .1/ass. Hep.
INCOMPETENTLY, adv. Insufliciently :
inadequately ; not suitahl)
INCOMPLE'TE, a. [in and complete.] Not
kliiig is '
2. Imperfect ; defective,
finished. The building is incomplete.
INCOMPLE'TELY, adv. Impeifectly.
INCOMPLE'TENESS, n. An unfinished
state ; imperfcctness ; defectiveness.
INeOMPLEX', a. [in and complex.] No
complex ; uncompounded ; simple.
INCOMPLI'ANCE, n. [in and compliance.
1. Defect of compliance; refusal to comply
with solicitations.
2. Untractableness ; unyielding temper or
constitution.
Self-conceit produces peevishness and incotn-
phance of humor in things lawful and indilfer-
ent. Tillotson
INeOMPLl'ANT, a. [in and compliant]
Unyielding to request or solicitation ; not
disposed to comply.
IN€OMPO'SED, «. [in and conipoicrf.] Dis
ordered ; disturbed. [But this word is little
used. Instead of it we use discomposed.]
INeOM'POSITE, a. incom'pozit. [in and
composite.] Uncompounded ; simple.
IN€OMPOSSIBIL'ITY, n. [in and compos
sible.]
The quality of not being jiossible but by the
iiegalion or destruction of something ; in-|
consistency with something. [lyittle used.]
More. Hak.\
INeOMPOS'SIBLE, a. [in, con, and possiA
ble.]
Not possible to be or subsist with something'
else. [This and the preceding word are lit-\
tie used, iind can hardly be considered as le-
gilimatt Erifcliih icords.] !
INCOMPRl HENSIBIL'ITY, n. [See the|
next word.]
The quality of being incomprehensible, or
beyond tlie reach of human intellect; in-j
conceivableness. Campbell.,
INCOMPREHENSIBLE, a. [Fr. Sec
Comprehend.] i
1. That cannot be comprehended or under-j
stood ; that is beyond the reach of human
intellect; inconceivable. The nature oti
s[iiritual being is incomprehensible to us, orj
by us. I
2. Not to be contained. [Little used.]
Hooker}
INCOMPREIIENS'IBLENESS, n. Incom-j
prehensibility, which see. i
INCOMPKEIIENS'IBLY, adv. In a man-[
ner which the human mind cannot com-
prehend or understand; inconceivably. (
Locke.
INCOMPREHENSION, n. Want of com-
prehension or understanding. Bacon.
INCOMPREHENS'IVE, a. Not compre-
hensive ; not extensive. Warton.
INCOMPRESSIBIL'ITY, n. [See Incom-,
pressible.] \
The quality of resisting compression, or of
being incapable of reduction by force into'
a smaller compass. I
INCOMPRESSIBLE, a. [in and compress-
ible.] •
Not to be compressed; not capable of being
reduced by force into u smaller compass :
resisting comiiression. Water is not
wholly incompressible.
INCONCE'ALABLE, a. [in and conceal-
ablc.]
Not concealable; not to he hid or kept se-
cret. Brown.
INCONCEIVABLE, a. [in and conceiva-
ble ; Fr. inconcevable.] I
1. That cannot be conceived by the mind ;'
incomprehensible. It is inconceivable to|
us, how the will acts in producing nmscu-
lar motion.
2. That cannot be understood.
INCONCE'IVABLENESS,
of being inconceivable ; i
bilitv.
INCONCEIVABLY, adv. I
ycmil coiii|iielic^iision,or beyond the rea. Ii
ot'hiiiiKiP iiilellect. South.
ilNCONCEP TIBLE, a. Inconceivable. [Lit-
tle used.] Hale.
INCONCIN'NITY, n. [L. inconcinnilas.]
I Uiisnitahleiiess; wantofjiroportioTi. More.
INCONCLU'DENT, a. [L. in and conclu-^
I dens, concludo, to conclude.]
Not inferring a conclusion or consequence.
[Little used.] Jlyliffe:
INCONCLU'DING, a. Inferring no conse-;
qiieiice. Pearson.
INCONCLUSIVE, a. [in and conchisive.]]
Not producing a conclusion ; not closing,j
concluding or selthng a point in debate or
The quali
■omprehcii
manner hi
a doubtful question. An argument or cvi-
ilence is inconclusive, when it does not ex-
hibit the truth of a disputed case in such
a manner as to satisfy the mind, and put
an end to dehntc or doubt.
INCOM I.I >l\ II.V, arfr. Without such
eviili 1. r :,^ I I. inline the understand-
ing III i< I.'. in I In iiiiili or falsehood.
INCONCl.l SIVLNESS, n. Want of such
evidence as to satisfy the mind of truth or
falfehood, and put an end to debate.
INCONCOCT', a. Inconrocled.
INCONCOCT'ED, a. [t;i and concoc*.] Not
fully dijjcsted ; not niuturcd; unripened.
Bacon.
INCONCOC'TION, 11. [in and coiicoctton.]
The state of being indigested ; unripeness;
immaturitv. Bacon.
INCONCllR'RING, a. [in and concurring,
from concur.] Not concurring ; not agree-
ing. Brown.
INCONCUS'SIBLE, a. That cannot be
shaken. Reynolds.
INCONDENSABIL'ITY, v. [See Incon-
densable.] The quality of being not con-
densable.
INCONDENSABLE, a. [in and condensa-
ble.]
1. Not capable of condensation ; that can-
not be made more dense or compact.
Black.
3. Not to he converted from a slate of vapor
to a fluid.
INCONDITE, a. [L. inconditus ; m and
condo, to build.]
Rude ; unpolished ; irregular. [Little used.]
Philips.
INCONDI'TION AL, a. [in and conditional.]
Without any condition, exception or lim-
itation ; absolute. [A'ot now used. See
Unconditional.] Brown.
INCONDI"TION.\TE, a. [in and condi-
tion.]
Not limited or restrained by conditions; ab-
solute. [A'ot now used.] Boyle.
INCONFIKMED, for unconfirmed, is not in
use.
INCONFORM ITY, n. [in and conformity.]
Want of conformity ; incompliance with
the practice of others, or with the requisi-
tions of law, rule or custom ; non-con-
formity. (^The latter word is more com-
monly used, especially to express dissent
in religion.]
INCONFU SED, a. s as :. Not confused;
(lijitiiict. Bacon.
IN( O.M'I .<ION, ;i. Distinctness. Bacon.
I\( ( iNi.r MAL, a. [in and congenial.]
N.I i.iiiiil; not of a like nature ; un-
-IMliJil.'.
I \< ( i\i.l ;M \1 I'l'^', 11. Unlikenessof na-
|\<(i\ (;l;l l.\( i;. h. [ih and cojigruf nc«.]
Wiiiii Ml. .iii;:i II. 11,0. adaptation or agree-
ni«-iii ; nii-iMi^ilili-iM'ss. [Little used. Wc
now ii~. ;,ir.,„L'-nn't:i.] Boyle.
INCON Clil I:NT, a. Unsuitable; incon-
sistent. El^ot-
INCONORU'ITY, n. [in and congnnty.]
J. Want of congruity ; impropriety; incon-
sistency ; absurdity; unsuitablenessof one
thing to another. The levity of youth in
a grave divine, is deemed an incofigruily
between manners and profession.
2. Disagreement of parts; want ofsymme-
(Py_ Donne.
I N C
INeON'GRUOUS, a. [L. incongruus.] Not
congruous ; unsuitable ; not filtnig ; mcon-j
sistent ; improper. The dress of a sea-
man on a judge, would be deemed incon-
oruous with his character and station.
IjfcON'GRUOUSLY, adv. Unsuitably ; un-
fitly; improperly. _
INCONNE€'TION, n. [in and conntdion.]
Want of connection ; loose, disjointed
state. Bp. HaU.
INCON'SCIONABLE, o. Having no sense
ofgood and evil. Spenser.
INeON'SEUUENCE, n. [L. inconsequen-
tia.] Want of just inference; inconclu-
siveness. StillingJIeet.
INCON'SEQUENT, a. Not following from
the premises ; without regular inference ;
as an inconsequent deduction or argument.
Brown.
I N C
INeONSEQUEN'TIAL, o. Not regularly
following from the premises.
2. Not of consequence ; not of importance ;
of little moment. Chesterpld.
INeONSID'ERABLE, a. [in and considera-
ble.]
Not worthy of consideration or notice ; un-^^
important ; small ; trivial. VVe speak of
an inconsiderable distance; an iiiconsidera-
ble quantity or amount ; inconsiderable
value. No sin is inconsiderable in the
sight of a holy God.
IN€ONSID'ERABLENESS, n. Small im
portance. Tillotson
INCONSIDERABLY, adv. In a f^t.iall d
gree ; to a sniall amount ; very little.
INeONSID'ERACY, n. Thoughtlessness:
want of consideration. [Unusual.]
Chesterfield.
INeONSID'ERATE, a. [L. inconsideratus.
See Consider.]
1. Not considerate ; not attending to the cir-
cumstances which regard safety or pro-
priety ; hasty ; rash ; imprudent ; careless
thoughtless; heedless; inattentive. The
young are generally inconsiderate.
2. Proceeding from heedlessness ; rash
inconsiderate conduct.
3. Not duly regarding; with o/, before the
subject ; as inconsiderate of consequences.
INeONSID'ERATELY, adv. Without due
consideration or regard to consequences ;
heedlessly ; carelessly ; rashly ; impru-
dently. Addison.
INeONSID'ERATENESS, n. Want of
due regard to consequences ; carelesi
thoughtlessness ; inadvertence ; in
tion ; imprudence. Tillotson.
INCONSIDERA'TION, n. [Fr. ; in and
consideration.]
Want of due consideration ; want of thought
inattention to consequences. Taylor.
INCONSIST'ENCE, > [in and consist-
INeONSIST'ENCY, (, "' ence.]
1. Such opposition or disagreement as thai
one proposition infers the negation of the
other; such contrariety between things
that both cannot subsist together,
There is a perfect inconsistency between thai
which is of debt and that which is of free gift.
Soiith.
2. Absurdity in argument or narration ; ar-
gument or narrative where one part de-
stroys the other; self-contradiction.
Johnson.
3. Incongruity ; want of agreement or uni-
formity; as the inconsistency of a man
with himself.
4. Unsteadiness; chaiJgeableness.
IN€ONSIST'ENT, a. Incompatible; in-
congruous ; not suitable. Loud laughter
in grave company is inconsistent witli good
breeding. Habitual gloom is inconsistent
with health and happiness.
2. Not consistent; contrary, so that one in-
fers the negation or destruction of the
other ; or so that the truth of one proves
the other to be false. Two covenants, one
that a man shall have an estate in fee, and
the other that he shall hold it for years
are incoiisistent.
3. Not uniform ; being contrary at different
times. Men are sometimes inconsistent
with themselves.
IN€ONSIST'ENTLY, adv. With absurdi-
ty ; incongruously ; with self-contradic-
tion ; without steadiness or uniformity.
IN€ONSIST'ENTNESS, n. Inconsistency.
[JVo< in use.] Mure.
IN€ONSlST'lNG, a. Inconsistent. [JVot
used.] Dryden.
INCONSO'LABLE, a. [in and consolable.]
Not to be consoled ; grieved beyond sus-
ceptibility of comfort. Addison.
INeONSO'LABLY, adv. In a manner or
degree that does not admit of consolation.
INCON'SONANCE, Ji. Disagreement of
sounds ; discordance. Busby.
IN€ON'SONANCY,n. [ire and consonancy.]
Disagreement; inconsistency. In music,
disagreement of sounds; discordance.
INCON'SONANT, o. Not agreeing ; incon-
sistent; discordant.
INCONSPICUOUS, a. [in and conspicu-
ous.]
1. Not discernible; not to be perceived by
the siglit. Boyi
2. Not conspicuous.
INeON'STANCY, n. [L. inconstantia. See
Constancy.]
1. Mutability or instability of temper or af-
fection ; unsteadiness ; fickleness.
Addison
2. Want of uniformity ; dissiniilhude.
If'oodward.
INCON'STANT, a. [L. inconstans ; Fr. in-
co7islant.]
1. Mutable ; subject to change of opinion,
inclination or purpose ; not firm in reso-
lution ; unsteady; fickle; used of persons ,
as inconstant in love or friendship.
2. Mutable; changeable; variable; used of
things.
INCONSTANTLY, adv. In an inconstant
not steadily.
INCONSU'MABLE, a. [in and consuma-
ble.]
Not to be consumed ; that cannot be wasted.
Brown.
INCONSUM'MATE, a. [in and consum-
mate.]
Not consummate ; not finished ; not com-
)lete.
INC
ting debate ; too clear to be controverted ;
incontrovertible; as incontestable evidence,
truth or facts.
INCONTEST'ABLY, adv. In a manner to
preclude debate ; indisputably ; incontro-
vertibly ; indubitably. Reid.
INCONTIG'UOUS, a. [in and contiguous.]
Not contiguous ; not adjoining ; not
touching; separate. Boyle.
INCON'TINENCE, \ [L. incontinentia ;
INCON'TINENCY, S Fr. incontinence.
See Continence.]
1. Want of restraint of the passions or appe-
tites ; free or uncontrolled indulgence of
the passions or appetites, as of anger.
Gillies'' Aristotle.
2. Want of restraint of the sexual appetite ;
free or illegal indulgence of lust ; lewd-
ness; used of either sex, but appropriately
of the male sex. Incontinence in men is
the same as unchastity in women.
3. Among physicians, the inability of any of
the animal organs to restrain discharges
of their contents, so that the discharges
are involuntary ; also, the involuntary dis-
charge itself; as an incontinence of urine
in diabetes.
INCON'TINENT, a. [L. incotitinens.] Not
restraining the passions or appetites, par-
ticularly the sexual appetite ; indulging
lust without restraint or in violation of
law ; unchaste ; lewd.
2. Unable to restrain discharges.
In the sense of immediate or immediately.
f
INCONSUM'MATENESS, n. State of be-
ing incomplete.
INCONSUMP'TIBLE, a. [L. in and con-
sximptus.]
1. Not to be spent, wasted or destroyed by
fire. [M)t used.] Dig^y-
2. Not to be destroyed. [JSTot used.]
INCONTEST'ABLE, a. [Fr.] Not con-
testable ; not to be disputed ; not admit-
INCON'TINENT, n. One who is unchaste.
B. Jonson.
INCON'TINENTLY, adv. Without due
restraint of the passions or appetites ; un-
chastely.
2. Immediately. 05s. Pope.
INCONTRACT'ED, a. Not contracted ; not
shortened. Blackivall.
INCONTROLLABLE, o. [in a.i\A controlla-
ble.]
Not to be controlled ; that cannot be re-
strained or governed ; uncontrollable.
fValsh.
IN'CONTROLLABLY, adv. In a manner
that admits of no control.
INCONTROVERTIBLE, a. [in and con-
trovertible.]
Indisputable ; too clear or certain to admit
of dispute.
INCONTROVERT'IBLY, adv. In a man-
ner or to a degree that precludes debate
or controversy.
INCONVE'NIENCE, > „ [L. inconveniens :
INCONVE'NIENCY, S m and convenio,
conveniens.]
1. Unfitness; unsuitableness ; iucxpedience.
They plead against the inconvenience, not
e unlawfulness of popish apparel. Hooker.
2. That which gives trouble or uneasiness;
disadvantage ; any thing that disturbs qui-
et, impedes prosperity, or increases the
difficulty of action or success. Rain and
bad roads are inconveniences to the trav-
eler; want of utensils is a great inconven-
ience to a family ; but the great inconven-
ience of human life is the want of tnoney
and the means of obtaining it.
INCONVENIENT, a. [Fr. from the L.
supra.]
1. Incommodious; unsuitable; disadvanta-
geous ; giving trouble or uneasiness ; in-
1 N C
1 N C
I N C
creasing the difficulty of progress or suc-
cess ; as an inconvenient dress or gar-
ment ; an iiiconvenient house ; inconvenient
customs ; an inconvenient arrangement of
2. Unfit ; unsuitable. Hooker.
lN€ONVE'NIENTLY, cuh. Unsuitably;
incommodiously ; in a manner to giv(
trouble ; unseasonably.
JN€ONVERS'ABLE, o. [in and conversa
able.\
Not inclined to free conversation ; incominu
nicative ; unsocial ; reserved. More.
.TN€ON'VERSANT, a. Not conversant ; not
faniihar; not versed. Shaw's Zool
INCONVEIITIBILITY, n. [fiom incon
vertiile.]
The quality of not being changeable or con
vertible into something else ; as the in
converlibiliiy of bank notes or other cur
rency into gold or silver. Walsh
IN€ONVERT'IBLE, a. [in and conveHi
hie.]
Not convertible ; that cannot be transmuted
or changed into something else. One
metal is inconvertible into another. Bank
notes are sometimes inconvertible into spe-
cie. M^alsh.
INeONVIN'ClBLE, a. [in and convincible.
Not convincible ; that cannot be convinc
ed ; not capable of conviction.
INeONVIN'CIBLY, adv. In a manner not
admitting of conviction.
IN€0'N Y, a. or n. [Qu. in and con, to know.]
Unlearned ; artless ; an accomplished per
son, in contempt. [III.] Shale.
INCOR'PORAL, a. [in and corporal.] Not
consisting of matter or body ; immaterial
[Incorporeal is generally used.] Raleigh
INeORPORAL'lTY, »i. The quality of no
consisting of matter; immateriality.
INCOR'PORALLY, adv. Without matter
or a body ; immaterially.
IN€OR'PORATE, a. [in and corporate.]
1. Not consisting of matter; not having i
material body. [Liltle used.]
2. Mi.xed ; united in one body ; associated
Bacon. Shak.
IN€OR'PORATE, v. t. [Fr. incorporer; Sp.
incorporar ; It. incorporare ; L. incoiporo
in and corpus, a body.]
1. In pharmacy, to mix different ingredients
in one mass or body ; to reduce dry sub-
stances to the consistence of paste by the
admixture of a fluid, as in making pills,
&c. Encyc.
2. To mix and embody one substance in an-
other ; as, to incorporate copper with sil-
3. To unite ; to blend ; to work into another
mass or body ; as, to incorporate plagia
risms into one's own composition.
4. To unite ; to as.sociate in another govern
ment or empire. The Romans incorporated
conquered countries into their govern-
ment. Mdison.
5. To embody ; to give a material form to.
The idolaters, who worshiped their images as
gods, supposed some spirit to be incorporated
therein. Stillingfleel.
6. To form into a legal body, or body pol-
itic ; to constitute a body, composed of one
or more individuals, with the quality of
perpetual existence or succession, unless
limited by the act of incorporation ; as, to
incorporate the inlmbitants of a city, town
Vol. I.
or parish ; to incorporate the proprietors of!
a bridge, the stockholders of a bank
insurance company, &c. New Haven was
7»icorpora<erf in January 1784; Hartford in
May 17&1. Stat, of Connecticut.
INeOR'PORATE, v. i. To unite so as to
make a part of another body ; to be mixed
or blended ; to grow into, &.c. ; usually
followed by with.
Painters' colors and ashes do better incorpo-
rate ii'ith oil. Bacon.
INCOR'PORATED,p». Mixed or united in
one body ; associated in the same political
body ; united in a legal body.
IN€OR'PORATING, ppr. Mixing or unit
ing in one body or mass ; associating in the
same political body ; forming a legal body
INCORPORA'TION, n. The act of incor-
porating.
2. Union of different ingredients in ont
3. Association in the same political body ;
as the incorporation of conquered countries
into the Roman republic.
4. Formation of a legal or political body by
the union of individuals, constituting an
artificial person. Blackstone.
INeORP9'REAL, o. [Fr. incorpord; L.tn
corporalis, incorporeus.]
Not consisting of matter ; not having a ma-
terial body ; inmiaterial. Spirits are
deemed incorporeal substances.
IN€ORPO'REALLY, adv. Without body
immaterially. Bacon
IN€ORPORE'ITY, n. Thequality of being
not material ; immateriality.
IN€ORPSE, V. t. incorps'. To incorporate
[Barbarous.] Shak
INeORRECT', a. [in and correct.] Not cor-
rect ; not exact ; not according to a copy
or model, or to established rules ; inaccu-
rate ; faulty.
The piece, you think, is incorrect. Pope.
2. Not according to truth; inaccurate ; as an
incorrect statement, narration or calcula-
tion.
3. Not according to law or morality.
INCORRE€'TiON, n. Want of correction.
^mway.
INCORRECTLY, adv. Not in accordance
with truth or other standard ; inaccurate
ly ; not exactly ; as a writing incorrectly
copied ; testimony incorrectly stated.
INeOr{RECT'NESS, n. Want of conform
ity to truth or to a standard ; inaccuracy.
Incorrectness may consist in defect or in
redundance.
INCORRKJIBLE, a. [Fr. ; in and corrigi-
ble ; L. corrigo : con and rego.]
1. That cannot be corrected or amended;
bad beyond correction ; as incorrigible er-
2. Too depraved to be corrected or reform-
ed ; as an incorrigible sinner ; an incor-
rigible drunkard.
IN€OR'RI(iIBLENESS, ) The qualityof
lN€ORRI(ilBIL'ITY, S being bad, er-
roneous or depraved beyond correction ;
hopeless depravity in persons and error in
things. Locke.
INCOR'RIGIBLY, adv. To a degree of de-
pravity beyond all means of amendment. [
Rosrommon.i
INCORRUPT', ? [h. incorruplus ; in\
INCORRUPT'ED, ^ and comtmpo, cor-'.
ruptus ; con and rumpo, to break.]
108
Not corrupt ; not marred, impaired or spoil-
ed ; not defiled or depraved ; pure ; sound :
untainted ; applicable to persons, principles
or sub.itances. .Milton.
INCORRUPTIBIL'ITY, n. [from incorr^ip-
tible.]
The quality of being incapable of decay or
corruption.
INCORRUPTIBLE, a. [Fr. ; in and cor-
ruptible.]
1. That cannot corrupt or decay ; not admit-
ting of corruption. Thusgold, glass, mer-
cury, &c., are incorruptible. Spirits are
supposed to be incorruptible.
Our bodies shall be changed into incorrupti-
ble and immortal substances. Wake.
2. That cannot be bribed ; inflexibly just
and upright.
INCORRUPT IBLENESS, n. The quality
of being incorruptible, or not liable to de-
cay. Boyle.
INCORRUP'TION, n. [in and corruption.]
Incapacity of being corrupted.
It is son n in corruption ; it is raised in in-
corruption. 1 Cor. xv.
INCORRUPT'IVE, a. Not liable to corrup-
tion or decay. Jlkenside.
INCORRUPT'NESS, n. Exemption from
decay or corrujition.
2. Purity of mind or manners ; probity ; in-
tegrity ; honesty. Woodward.
INCRAS'SATE, v. t. [L. incrasso, incrassa-
tus ; in and crassus, thick.]
1. To make thick or thicker ; to thicken ;
the contrary to attenuate.
2. In pharmacy, to make fluids thicker by the
mixture of other substances less fluid, or
by evaporating the thinner parts.
Acids dissolve or attenuate ; alkalies precipi-
tate or incrassale. JVewton.
INCRAS'SATE, v. i. To become thick or
thicker.
INCRAS'SATE, ? In Man)/, thickened
INCRAS'SATED, J "• or becoming thicker
towards the flower, as a peduncle.
Marty n.
2. Fattened.
INCRAS'SATED, ;;/;. .Made thick or thick-
er.
INCRAS'SATING, ppr. Rendering thick or
thicker; growing thicker.
INCRASSA'TION, n. The act of thicken-
ing, or state of becoming thick or thicker.
Brown.
IN€RAS'S.\TIVE, a. Having the quahty of
thickening.
INCRAS'SATIVE, n. That which has the
power to thicken. Harvey.
INCRE'ASABLE, a. That may be increased.
Sherwood.
INCRE'ASE, V. I. [L. incresco; in and cres-
co, to grow, Fr. eroitre, Sp. crecer. It. crM-
cere. Arm. cresqi. As the Latin pret. is
crevi, this word and the Eng. groip, are
probably of the same familv. Class Rd.
No. 59. 75.]
1. To become greater in bulk or quantity;
to grow ; to augment ; as plants. Hence,
to become more in number; to advance in
value, or in any quality good or bad. An-
imal and vegetable bodies increase by
natural growth ; wealth increases by in-
dustry ; heat increases, as the sun advances
towards the meridian ; a multitude increas-
es by accession of numbers ; knowledge
increases with age and study ; passion and
INC
piimity increase by irritation, and misery
increases with vice.
The Lord make you to increase and abound
in love one toward another. 1 The93. iii.
2. To become more violent ; as, the fever in-
creases ; the pain increases ; cold, wind or
a storm increases.
3. To become inore bright or vivid ; as, the
light increases.
4. To swell ; to rise.
The waters increased and bore up the ark.
Gen. vii.
.5. To swell; to become louder, as sound.
C. To become of more esteem and authority.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
John iii.
7. To enlarge, as the enlightened part of the
moon's disk.
IN€RE'ASE, V. t. To augment or make
greater in bulk, quantity or amount ; as,
to increase wealth or treasure ; to increase
a sum or value.
9. To advance in quality ; to add to any
quality or afl'ection ; as, to increase the
strength of moral habits ; to increase love,
zeal or passion,
n. To extend; to lengthen; a?, to increase
distance.
4. To extend ; to spread ; as, to increase
fame or renown.
5. To aggravate ; as, to increase guilt or
trespass.
INCRE'ASE, ?!. Augmentation; a growing
larger ; extension.
Of the increase of his government and peace,
there sliall be no end. Is. ix.
0. Increment; profit; interest; that which
is added to the original stock.
Take thou no interest of him or increase;
but fear thy God. Lev. xxv.
3. Produce, as of land.
Then shall the earth yield her increase. Ps.
Ixvii.
4. Progeny ; issue ; offspring.
All the increase of thy house shall die in the
(lower of their age. 1 Sam. ii.
.">. Generation. Shak.
li. The waxing of the moon; the atigmenta-
tion of the luminous part of the moon,
presented to the inhabitants of the earth.
Seeds, hair, nails, hedges and herbs will
grow soonest, if set or cut in tlie increase of the
inoon. Bacon.
7. Augmentation of strength or violence ; as
increase of heat, love or other passion ; in-
crease of force.
8. Augmentation of degree ; ai; increase of
happiness or mi.sery.
IN€RE'ASED, /»;). "Augmented ; made or
grown larger.
INCRE'ASEFUL, n. Abundant of produce.
Shak.
INCRE'ASER, n. He or that which in-
creases.
IN€RE'ASING, ppr. Growing ; becoming
larger ; advancing in any quality, good or
bad.
INeUEA'TE, ) Uncreated, which see,
INCREA'TEI), S"' [The latter is the word
mostly used.]
INCREDIBILITY, n. [Fr. incredibilite. See
Incredible.]
The quality of surpassing belief, or of being
too extraordinary to admit of belief.
Dnjden.
INeRED'IBLE, a. [L. incredibilis ; i?i and
credibilis, credible."!
I N C
That cannot be believed ; not to be credited ;
too extraordinary and improbable to ad-
mit of belief.
Wiy should it be thought a thing incredible
with you, that God should raise the dead ? Acts
xxvi.
IN€RED'IBLENESS, n. Incredibility,
which see.
INCRED'IBLY, adv. In a manner to pre-
clude belief
INCREDU'LITY, n. [Fr. incredulili^.] The
<|uality of not believing; indisposition to
believe ; a withholding or refusal of belief
Raleigh.
Of every species of incredulity, religious un-
belief i
I and
INCREDULOUS, a. [L. incredulns
credulus ; credo, to believe.]
Not believing ; indisposed to admit the truth
of what is related ; refusing or withhold-
ing belief. Bacon.
INCRED'ULOUSNESS, n. Incredulity,
which see.
INCREM'ABLE, a. [L. in and crcmo.] That
cannot be burnt. [jVot used.] liroum.
IN'CREMENT, n. [L. increnientum, from
incresco. See Increase.]
1. Increase ; a growing in bulk, quantity,
number, value or amount ; augmentation.
2. Produce; production.
3. Matter added ; increase.
4. In mathematics, the quantity by which a
variable quantity increases; a differential
quantity.
IN'CREPATE, V. «. [Uincrepo.] To chide;
to rebuke. [JVot in use.]
INCREPA'TION, ji. [It. increpaziont.] A
chiding or rebuking ; rebuke ; reprehen-
sion. Hammond.
INCRES'CENT, a. [L. incrcscens. See In-
crease.]
Increasing; growing; augmenting ; svvell-
INCRIM'INATE, v. t. [L. in and criminor,
to accuse. See Crime.]
To accuse ; to charge with a crime or fault.
INCRUENT'AL, a. [L. incruentus.] Un-
bloody ; not attended with tdood. [JVot
in use.]
INCRUST', V. t. [L. incrusto ; in and crusto,
to crust.]
To cover with a crust or with a hard coat ;
to form a crust on the surface of any sub-
stance ; as iron incrusted with oxyd or
rust ; a vessel incrusted with salt.
INCRUST'ATE, v. t. To incrust. [Less
frequenth) iised.]
INCRUSTA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. incrus-
tatio.]
1. A crust or rough coat of any thing on the
surface of a body.
2. A covering or hning of marble or other
stone. Jlddison.
INCRYS'TALIZABLE, a. [in and crystal
izabte.]
That will not crystalize; that cannot be
formed into crystals.
IN'CUBATE, V. i. [L. incubo ; in and cubo,
to lie down.] To sit, as on eggs for
hatching.
INCUBA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. incubatio.]
The act of sitting on eggs for the purpose
of hatching young. Ray.
INeU'BATURE, n. Incubation. [JVot used.]
INC
IN'CUBUS, n. [L. from incubo, to lie on. J
1. The nightmar; an oppression of tin
breast in sleep, or sense of weight, with
an almost total loss of the power of mov
ing the body, while the imagination i.'^
frightened or astonished.
'2. A demon ; an imaginary being or fairy.
Bp. Hall.
INCULCATE, V. t. [L. inculco, to drive or
force on ; in and calco, to tread, calx, the
heel.]
To impress by frequent admonitions; to
teach and enforce by frequent repetitions ;
to urge on the miud. Our Savior incul-
cates on his followers humility and for-
giveness of injuries.
INCULCATED, pp. Impressed or enfoi
ced by frequent admonitions.
INCULCATING, ppr. Impressing or e-,
forcing by repeated instruction.
INCULCA'TION, n. The action of impress-
's by repeated admonitions.
INCULP'ABLE, a. [L. in and culpabili.%
from culpa, a fault.]
Without fault ; unblamable ; that cannot Ix:
accused. South
INCULP'ABLENESS, n. Unblamablenes.-
JHountasrn.
INCULP'ABLY, o. Unblamably; without
blame. South
INCULT', a. [L. incultus ; in atii cultus.
from colo.]
Unfilled; uncultivated. Thomsor.
INCUL'TIVATED, a. Not cultivated ; un-
cultivated.
INCULTIVA'TION, n. Neglect or want of
cultivation. Berington.
INCUL'TURE, n. Want or neglect of cul-
' /ation. Feltham.
INCUM'BENCY, n. [from incumbent.] A
lying or resting on something.
2. The state of holding or being in posses-
sion of a benefice, or of an office.
These fines are to be paid to the bishop, only
during liis incumbennj. Surifi.
There is no test of the tenure, but incumben-
cy on the part of the king. E. Everett.
INCUJI'BENT, a. [L. incumbena, incumho ;
in and cumbo, to lie down ; Sp. incumbir.]
1. Lying or resting on.
And when to move th' incumbent load they
try. Mdison.
2. Supported ; buoyed up.
And fly incitmbent on the dusky air.
Dry den.
3. Leaning on, or resting against ; as incum-
bent stamens or anthers, in botany.
JUartyn.
4. Lying on, as duty or obligation ; imposed
and emphatically urging or pressing to
performance ; indispensable.
INCUM'BENT, «. The person who is in
present possession of a benefice, or of any
office. [It is applied to civil officers as
well as to ecclesiastical.]
INCVM'BEK, v.t. [Ft. encombrer ; It. in-
gombrare.]
To burden with a load ; to embarrass. [See
Encumber, and its derivatives.]
INCUM'BRANCE, n. A burdensome and
troublesome load ; any thing that impedes
motion or action, or renders it difficult or
INC
I N D
I N D
laborious ; clog ; impediineiu ; embarrass-
meut.
2. A legal claim on the estate of anotiier.
INeUM'BRANCER, ?i. One who has an
incumbrance, or some legal claim on an
estate. Kent]
INeUM'BROUS, a. Cumbersome ; trouble-
some. Obs. Chaucer.]
IN€UR', V. t. [L. incurro, to run against
i» and curro, to run ; It. incorrere ; Sp.
incwrir.'\
1. Literally, to run against ; hence, to be
come liable to ; to become subject to.J
Thus, a thief incurs the punishment of
the law by the act of stealing, before he
is convicted, and we have all incurred the
penalties of God's law.
2. To bring on ; as, to incur a debt ; to in-
cur guilt ; to incur the displeasure of God
to incur blame or censure.
3. To occur ; to meet ; to press on. Obs.
Bacon
IN€URABIL'ITY, n. [rt.incurabHilL] The
state of being incurable ; impossibility of
cure; insusceptibility of cure or remedy.
Harvey.
INeU'RABLE, a. [Fr. ; in and curaUe.-
1. That cannot be cured ; not admitting of
cure ; beyond the power of skill or medi-
cine ; as an incurable disease.
2. Not admitting remedy or con-ection ; irre-
mediable ; remediless ; as incurahle evils,
INCU'RABLE, n. A person diseased be-
yond the reach of cure.
INeU'RABLENESS, n. The state of not
admitting cure or remedy.
INeU'RABLY, adv. In a manner or degree
that renders cure impracticable.
IN€UR10S'ITY, n. Want of curiosity ; in
attentiveness ; indifference. Wotlon
IN€U'RIOUS, a. [in and cunous.] Desti
tute of curiosity ; not curious or inr^uisi-
tive ; inattentive. Swijl.
INeU'RIOUSNESS, n. Want of curiosity
or inquisitiveness. Chesterfield.
IN€UR'RED, pp. Brought on.
INeUR'RING, ppr. Becoming subject or
liable to ; bringing on.
INeUR'SION, n. [Fr. incursion ; L. incur
sio, from incurro. See Incur.]
1. Literally, a running into ; hence, an enter
ing into a territory with hostile intention
an inroad ; applied to the e.xpeditions of
small parties or detachments of an ene-
my's army, entering a territory for at-
tack, plunder or destruction of a post or
magazine. Hence it differs from invasion,
which is the hostile entrance of an army
for conquest. During the revolution, the
British troops made an incursion to Dan-
bury, and destroyed the magazines. In
pposing this incursion, Gen. AVooster was
:illed
kill
2. Attack; occurrence; as sins of daily tn-
cursion. [Unusual.] South.
INCURV'ATE, V. t. [L. incurvo ; in and
curvus, bent.]
To bend ; to crook ; to turn from a right line
or straight course.
IN€URV'ATE, a. Curved inwards or up-
INeURV'ATED, pp. Bent ; turned from a
rectilinear direction.
IN€URV'ATING, ppr. Bending ; turning
from a right line.
INCURVA'TION, n. The act of bending.]
2. The state of being bent, or turned from a
rectilinear course ; curvity ; crookedness.
3. The act of bowing, or bending the body
in respect or reverence. Stillingjleet.
INCURVE, V. t. incurv'. To bend ; to make
crooked.
INeURV'lTY, n. [from L. incurvus.] A
state of being bent or crooked ; crooked
ness ; a bending inward. Brown
IN'DAGATE, v. t. [L. indago.] To seek or
search out. [JVot used.]
INDAGA'TION, n. The act of searching ;
search ; inquiry ; cxatnination. [LitUe
used.] Boyle. Broicn
IN'DAGATOR, n. A searcher ; one who
seeks or inquires with diligence. [Little
used.] Boyle.
IND-ART, V. t. [in and dart.] To dart "in ;
to thrust or strike in. Shak.
Indebitatus assumpsit. [See Assumpsit.]
INDEBT, a verb, is never used.
INDEBT'ED, a. indet'ted. [It. iiidebitato.]
1. Being in debt; having incurred a debt ;
held or obliged to pay. A is indebted to
B ; he is indebted in a large sum, or to a
large amount.
2. Obliged by something received, for which
restitution or gratitude is due. We are
indebted to our parents /or their care of us
in infancy and youth. We are indebted to
God for life. We are indebted to the
christian religion for many of the advan-
tages, (jiidmuch of the refinement of mod-
ern times.
INDEBT'EDNESS, n. indtl'tedness. The
state of being indebted
INDEBT'MENT, n.indet'ment. The state nfl
being indebted. [Little used.] Hall.
INDE'CENCY, n. \Fr. indccence ; It. iiide-
centa ; L. indecens, indeceo ; in and deceo,
to become.^
That which is unbecoming in language or|
manners; any action or behavior which
is deemed a violation of modesty, or an
offense to delicacy, as rude or wanton
actions, obscene language, and whatever!
tends to excite a blush in a spectator.;
Extreme assurance or impudence may
also be deemed indecency of behavior to-j
wards superiors. [See Indecorum.] I
INDE'CENT, a. [Fr. from L. indecens.]
Unbecoming; unfit to be seen or heard ;
INDECI'SIVELY, adv. Without decision.
INDECI'SIVENESS, n. The state of being
undecided ; unsettled stale ; state of not
being brouglit to a final issue.
INDEeLI'NABLE, a. [Fr. from L. inde-
clinabilis ; in and declino.]
Not declinable ; not varied by terminations;
as, pondo, in Latin, is an indeclinable noun.
INDECLI NABLY, adv. Without variation.
Mountagu.
INDECOMPOSABLE, a. s as z. [in and
decomposable, decompose.]
Not capable of decomposition, or of being
resolved into the primary constituent ele-
ments. Enajc.
INDECOMPO'SABLENESS, n. Inca|)a-
bleness of decomposition.
INDECOROUS, a. [L. itidecorus; in and
decor, dccu^, deceo, to become.]
Unbecoming; violating good manners ; con-
trary to the established rules of good
breeding, or to the forms of respect which
age and station require. It is indecorous
in a young person to take the highest
place in compajiy, when his superiors are
present. Indecorous is sometimes equiva-
lent to indecent ; but it is less frequently
ajjplied to actions which offend modesty
and chastitv.
INDECOROUSLY, adv. In an unbecom-
ing manner.
INDEeOROUSNESS, n. Violation of good
manners in words or behavior.
INDECO'RUM, n. [L. in and decorum.]
Impropriety of behavior ; that in behavior
or manners which violates the established
rules of civility, or the duties of respect
which age or station requires ; an unbe-
coming action. It is sometimes synony-
mous with indecency; but indecency, more
frequently than indecorum, is applied to
■words or actions which refer to what na-
ture and propriety require to be concealed
or suppressed.
INDEE'D, adv. [in and deed.] In reality;
in truth ; in fact.
The camal mind Is enmity ajspiinst God ; for
it is not siibject to the law of God, neither in-
deed can be. Rom. viii.
Indeed is usually emphatical, but in some
cases more so than in others; as, this is
true ; it is indeed.
offensive to modesty and delicacy ; as tn-l I were a beast indeed to do you wrong.
decent language ; indecent manners ; an, Ihyden.
indecent posture or gesture. Dryden.' Some sons indeed, some very few we see,
INDE'CENTLY, arfc. In a manner to of- AVho keep tliemselves from this infection free.
fend modesty or delicacy. Dryden.
INDECID'UOUS, a. [iii and deciduous.] There is iiuleed no CTeater pleasure
Not falling, as the leaves of trees in au-i ing these magazines of war— .Addison.
tunm ; lasting ; evergreen. jilt is used to note concession or admission ;
INDEC'IIVI.^BLE, a. N6t liable to the pay-' as, ships not so large indeed, but better
inent of tithes. Cowel. manned.
INDECIS'ION, n. s as :. [in and decision.]] Indeed is used as an expression of surprise,
Want of decision; want of settled pur- or for the purpose of obtaining confirma-
pose of of firnmess in the determinations tion of a fact stated. Indeed!
of the will ; a wavering of mind ; irresoln- ble ? is it so in fact J
tion. BurAe. INDEFATIGABLE, a. [h. indefaligabilis ;
INDECrSIV^E, a. [in and decisive.] Not | in and defatigo, fatigo, to fatigue.]
decisive ; not bringing to a final close or lUnwearied; not tired ; not e.\hausted by la-
Itimate issue ; as an indecisive battle or bor ; not yielding to fatigue; as indefatiga-
possi-
engagement ; an argument indecisive of
the question. {
2. Unsettled ; wavering ; vacillating ; hesi-j
tatin^ ; as an indecisive _state of mind ; an
indectsive character. " I
ble exertions ; indefatigable attendance or
perseverance.
Upborne vrUhJnd^aligable wings. Mlton.
Unwearied-
Parnell.
INDEFAT'IGABLENESS,
ness; persistency
I N D
I N D
I N D
INDEFAT'IGABLY, adv. Without weari-
ness; without yielding to fatigue.
Dryden.
INDEFATIGA'TION, n. Unweariedness.
LYot used.]
INnEFEASIBIL'ITY, n. [ftom indefeasi-
ble.]
Tlio quahty or state of being not subject to
be made void; as tlie indefeasibility of a
title.
INDEFE'ASIBLE, o. s as z. [in and defea-
sible ; Fr. defaire, defait, to undo, to de-
feat ; de aud/aiVe, to make, L.facio.]
Not to be defeated ; tliat cannot be made
void ; as an indefeasible estate or title.
INDEFE'ASIBLY, adv. In a manner not
to be defeated or made void.
INDEFE€TIBIL'ITY, n. [from indefecti-
ble.]
The quality of being subject to no defect or
decay. Ch. Observer.
INDEFECT'IBLE, a. [in and defect.] Un-
failing ; not liable to defect, failure or de-
cay.
INDEFECT'IVE, a. Not defective; per-
fect ; complete. South.
INDEFE'ISIBLE, a. Indefeasible. [JVot
used.]
INDEFENSIBILITY, n. [from indefensi-
ble.]
The (piality or state of not being capable of
defense or vindication. Walsh.
INDEFENS'IBLE, c. [in and defensible,
from defend.]
I. That cannot be defended or maintained.
A military post may be indefensible. A bad
cause is indefensible.
"3. Not to be vindicated or justified. An
improper action or indecent expression is
indefensible.
INDEFENS'IVE, a. Having no defense.
Herbert.
INDEFI"CIENCY, n. The quality of not
beins; deficient, or of suffering no delay.
1NDEF1"CIENT, a. Not deficient; not
failing ; perfect.
INDEFI'NABLE, a. That cannot be de-
fined. Reynolds.
INDEFINITE, a. [L. indefnilus ; in and
definitus, definio, to define ; de and finio,
to end, finis, end.]
1. Not limited or defined ; not determinate ;
not precise or certain ; as an indefinit
time. An indefinite proposition, term or
phrase, is one which has not a precise
meaning or limited signification.
2. That has no certain limits, or to which
the human mind can aftix none ; as indef-
inite space. A space may be indefinite,
though not infinite.
INDEF'INITELY, adv. Without any set-
tled limitation ; as space indefinitely ex-
tended.
% Not precisely ; not with certainty or pre-
cision ; as, to use a word indefinitely.
INDEF'INITENESS, n. The quality of
being undefined, unlimited, or not pre-
cise and certain.
INDEFIN'ITUDE, n. Quantity not limited
by our understanding, though yet fii
rjVo< used.] Hale.
INDELIB'ERATE, a. [in and deliberate
Fr. indeliberL]
Done or i)erformed without deliberation o
consideration ; sudden ; unpremeditated ;
as the indeliberate commission of sin.
INDELIB'ERATELY, adv. Without delib-
eration or premeditation.
INDELIBIL'ITY, n. The quality of being
indelible. Horsley.
INDEL'IBLE, a. [Fr. indelebile ; L. indele-
bilis ; in and delebilis, from deleo, to blot
1. Not to be blotted out ; that cannot be ef-
faced or canceled ; as indelible letters or
characters. Indelible ink is such as can-
not be taken out of paper or cloth, or not
by ordinary means.
2. Not to be annulled.
They are endued with indelible power from
above, to feed and govern this household.
[Unusual] Sprat.
3. That cannot be effaced or lost ; as, im-
jjressions on the mind may be indelible ;
reproach or stain on reputation may be in-
delible.
INDEL'IBLY, adv. In a manner not to be
blotted out or effaced ; too deeply imprint-
ed to be effaced, or to vanish.
INDEL'I€ACY, n. [in and delicacy.] Want
of delicacy ; want of decency in language
or behavior, regarding what nature and
manners require to be concealed.
Addison.
2. Want of a nice sense of propriety, or
nice regard to refinement in manners or
in the treatment of others; rudeness;
coarseness of manners or language ; that
which is offensive to refined taste or pu-
rity of mind.
INDEL'I€ATE, a. Wanting delicacy ; in-
decent ; but it expresses less than inde-
cent ; as an indelicate word or expression ;
indelicate behavior ; indelicate customs.
2. Offensive to good manners, or to purity of
mind.
INDEL'ICATELY, adv. Indecently ; in a
manner to offend against good manners
or purity of mind.
INDEMNIFICA'TION, n. [from indem-
nify.]
1. The act of indemnifying, saving harm-
less, or securing against loss, damage or
jjenalty.
2. Security against loss.
3. Reimbursement of loss, damage or pen-
alty.
INDEM'NIFIED, pp. Saved harmless ; se-
cured against damage.
INDEM'NIFY, v. t. [in and damnify; L.
damnificus ; damnum, loss.")
1. To save harmless; to secure against loss,
damage or penalty.
2. To make good ; to reimburse to one what
he has lost. We indemnify a man, by giv
ing sufficient security to make good a fu
tm-e loss, or by actual reimbursement of
loss, after it has occurred.
INDEM'NIFYING, ppr. Saving harmless;
securing against loss ; reimbursing loss.
INDEM'NITY, n. [Fr. indemnity ; Sp. in-
demnidad ; It. indennita ; L. in and dam-
num, loss.]
1. Security given to save harmless ; a wri-
ting or pledge by which a person is secur-
ed against future loss.
2. Security against punishment.
INDEMON'STRABLE, a. [in and demon-
strable.] That cannot he demonstrated.
INDENIZA'TION, n. The act of natural-
izing, or the patent by which a person is
made free.
IN'DENIZE, i;. t. To endenize, which see.
INDEN'IZEN, V. t. To invest with the
privileges of a free citizen. Overbury.
INDENT', V. t. [in and Fr. dent, L. dens, a
tooth ; Fr. denteler ; Arm. danla.]
1. To notch ; to jag ; to cut any margin into
points or inequalities, like a row of teeth ;
as, to indent the edge of paper.
The margins — are indented. Woodward.
2. To bind out by indentures or contract ;
as, to indent a young man to a shoemaker ;
to indent a servant.
INDENT', V. i. To contract ; to bargain or
covenant. [From the practice of using
indented writings or counterparts.]
Shak.
INDENT', n. Incisure ; a cut or notch in the
margin of any thing, or a recess like a
notch. Shak.
2. A stamp.
IN'DENT, n. A certificate or indented cer-
tificate issued by the government of the
United States at the close of the revolu-
tion, for the principal or interest of the
public debt. Ramsay. Hamilton.
INDENTATION, > „ A notch ; a cut in
INDENT'MENT, ^ "• the margin of paper
or other things. Woodward.
2. A recess or depression in any border.
INDENT' ED, pp. Cut in the edge into
points, like teeth.
2. Bound out by indented writings; as an
indented apprentice or servant.
:3. Bound out by writings, or covenants in
writing. [The pi'actice of indenting wri-
tings is in some places discontinued, but
the term remains in use.]
INDENT'ING, ppr. Cutting into notches.
2. Binding out by covenants in writing.
INDENT'MENT, n. Indenture.
INDENTURE, n. A writing containing a
contract. Indentures are generally du-
plicates, laid together and indented, so
that the two papers or parchments cor-
respond to each other. But indenting is
often neglected, while the writings or
counterparts retain the name of indent-
ures.
INDENT'URE, «. t. To indent; to bind by
indentures; as, lo indenture an apprentice.
INDEPEND'ENCE, n. [in and dependence.]
1. A state of being not dependent ; com-
plete exemption from control, or the pow-
er of others ; as the independence of the
Supreme Being.
2. A state in which a person does not rely
on others for subsistence ; ability to sup-
port one's self.
3. A state of mind in which a person acts
without bias or influence from others ;
exemption from undue influence; self-di-
rection. Independence of mind is an im-
portant qualification in a judge.
Declaration of Independence, the solemn dec-
laration of the Congress of the United
States of America, on the 4th of July
1776, by which they formally renounced
their subjection to the government of
Great Britain.
INDEPEND'ENT, a. [in and dependent.]
1. Not dependent ; not subject to the con-
trol of others; not subordinate. _ God is
the only being who is perfectly independ-
ent.
2. Not holding or enjoying possessions
the will of another; not relying on others
at
I N D
I N D
I N D
)iot dependent. We all wish to be inde-
pendent in property ; yet few men
wholly independent, even in property, and
none independent for the supply of their
wants.
3. Affording the means of independence ; as
an independent estate.
4. Not subject to bias or influence ; not ob-
sequious ; self-directing ; as a man of an
independent mind.
5. Not connected with. It is believed the
soul may exist independent of matter.
6. Free ; easy ; self-commanding ; bold ; un-
constrained ; as an independent air or
manner.
7. Separate from ; exclusive.
I mean the account of thai obligation in gen-
eral, under which we conceive ourselves bound
to obey a law, independent of those resources
which the law provides for its own enforce-
ment. IVard.
8. Pertaining to an independent or congre-
gational church. It is followed by ofur
on, both of which are well authorized.
On is most confornmble to analogy, for
it always follows depend, but of is most
INDEPEND'ENT, n. One who, in religious
affairs, maintains that every congregation
of christians is a complete church, subject
to no superior authority, and competent to
perform every act of government in eccle-
siastical affairs.
INDEPEND'ENTLY, adv. Without de-
pending or relying on others; without
control.
2. Without undue bias or influence: not
obsequiously.
.3. Without connection with other things.
INDEP'RE€ABLE, a. That cannot be
den
INDEPREIIENS'IBLE, a. That cannot be
found out. Bp. Morton.
INDEPRI'VABLE, a. That cannot be de-
prived.
INDESCRI'BABLE, a. That cannot be
described.
INDESCRIP'TIVE, a. Not descriptive or
containing just description.
JNDESERT', n. s as z. [in and desert
Want of merit or worth. Addison.
INDES'INENT, a. [L. in and desino, to
cease ; de and sino.] Not ceasing ; per-
petual.
INDES'INENTLY, adv. Without cessation.
Ray.
INDESTRU€TIBIL'ITY, n. [from indes-
tructible.]
The quality of resisting decomposition, or of
being incapable of destruction.
INDESTRUCTIBLE, a. [in and destructi-
ble.]
That cannot be destroyed ; incapable of
decomposition ; as a material substance.
Boyle.
INDETERMINABLE, a. [in and determ-
inable.]
1. That cannnot be determined, ascertained
or fixed. Brown.
2. Not to be determined or ended.
INDETERM'INATE, o. [in and determin-
ate.]
1. Not determinate ; not settled or fixed ;
not definite ; uncertain ; as an indeterm-
inate number of years.
2. Not certain ; not precise.
INDETERM'INATELY, adv. Not in ,
settled manner ; indefinitely ; not with
precise limits ; as a space indeterminately
large.
2. Nut with certainty or precision of signifi-
cation ; as an idea indeterminately ex-
pressed.
INDETERM'INATENESS, n. Indefinite-
ness; want of certain limits; want of pre-
cision. Paley
INDETERMINA'TION, n. [in and determ-
ination.]
1. Want of determination ; an unsettled or
wavering state, as of the mind.
2. Want of fixed or stated direction.
Bramhall,
INDETERM'INED, a. [in and determined.]
Uudelermined ; unsettled ; unfixed.
INDEVO'TR, a. Not devoted. Bentley
INDEVO'TED, a. Not devoted.
Clarendon.
INDEVO'TION, n. [Fr.; in and devotion.]
Want of devotion ; absence of devout af-
fections. Decay ofPietii.
INDEVOUT', (T. [Ft. indevot.] Not devout;
not having devout affenlions. /4m.
INDEVOUT'LY, adv. Without devotion
INDEX, 71. plu. indexes, sometimes indices.
[L. connected with indico, to show ; in and
dico, Gr. Snxnu.]
1. That which points out ; that which shows
or manifests.
Tastes arc the indexes of the different quali-
ties of plants. ..Srbullinot .
2. The hand that points to any thing, as the
hour of ihe day, the road to a place, &c.
Bentley.
3. A table of the contents of a book.
JVatts.
A table of references in an alphabetical
order.
4. In anatomy, the fore finger, or pointing
finger.
.5. In arithmetic and algebra, that which
shows to whatpowerany quantity is invol-
ved ; the exponent. Encyc.
G. The index of a globe, or the gnomon, is a
little style fitted on the north pole, which
by turning with the ^lobe, serves to point
to certain divisions of the liour circle.
Encyc.
7. In mnsic, a direct, which see.
Index expurgatory, in catholic countries, a
catalogue of prohibited books.
INDEX'leAL, a. Having the form of an in-
dex; pertaining to an index.
INDEX'I€ALLY, adv. In the manner of an
index. Swift.
INDEXTER'ITY, n. [in and dexterity.]
1. Want of dexterity or readiness in the use
of the hands; clumsiness; awkwardness.
2. Want of skill or readiness in any art or
occupation. Harvey.
IN'DIA, n. A country in Asia, so named
from the river Indus.
IN'DI.\N, a. [from India, and this from
Indus, the name of a river in AsiaJ
Pertaining to either of the Indies, East or
West.
IN'DI.'VN, n. A general name of any native
of tlie Indies; as an East Jndiati, or West
Indian. It is particularly applied to any
native of the American continent.
INDIAN Arrow Root, n. A plant of the ge-
I nus Marauta.
INDIAN Bern/, n. A plant of the genus
iMenispernuun.
INDIAN Bread, n. A plant of the genus
Jatropha.
INDIA.N Corn, n. A plant, tlie maiz, of the
genus Zea ; a native of America.
INDIAN Cress, n. A plant of the genus
Tropffiohnn.
IINDIAN Fig, 71. A plant of the genus
! Cactus.
ilNDIAN IiJc, 71. A substance brought from
j China, used for water colors. It is in rolls
j or in square ^cakes, and is said to consist
I of lampblack and animal glue. Encyc.
jIN'DlANITE, 71. [from India.] A minerol
I occurring in masses having a foliated
! structure and shining luster. Its color is
white or gray. Cleaveland.
INDIAN Reed, n. A plant of the genus
Canna.
INDIAN Red, n. A species of ocher, a very
' fine purple earth, of a firm, compact tex-
I ture and great weight. Hill.
INDIA Rubber, n. The caoutchouc, a sub-
' stance of extraordinary elasticity, called
{ also eta.Hic ^tm or resin. It is produced
by incision from the syringe tree of Cay-
IN'DICANT, a. [L. indicans ; in and dico,
i to show.]
;Shovving ; jiointing out what is to be done
j for the cure of disease. Coxe.
IN'DICATE, r. t. [L. indico ; in and dico,
; to show, Gr. Suxn^n.]
1. To show; to point out; to discover; to
direct the mind to a knowledge of some-
thing not seen, or something that will
in-ohably occur in future. Thus, fermenta-
tion indicates a certain degree of heat in a
liquor. A heavy swell of the sea in calm
weather oflen indicates a storm at a dis-
tance. A particular kind of cloud in the
west at evening, indicates the approach of
2. To tell; to disclose.
,3. In ynedicine, to show or manifest by symp-
toms ; to point to as the proper remedies ;
as, great prostration of strength indicates
the use of stimulants.
INDICATED, pp. Shown ; pointed out ;
directed.
IN'DICATING, ppr. Showing; pointing
out ; directing.
INDICATION, 7j. The act of pointing out.
2. Mark; token; sign ; symptom ; whatever
serves to discover what is not before
known, or otherwise obvious.
The frequent stops they make in the most
convenient places, are plain indications of their
weariness. .iddison.
3. In medicine, any symptom or occurrence
in a disease, which serves to direct to
suitable remedies.
!4. Discovery made ; intelligence given.
I Bentley.
jO. Explanation ; display. [Little used.]
I Bacon.
INDICATIVE, a. [L. indicativus.] Show-
ing ; giving intimation or knowledge of
something not visible or obvious. Reserve
is not always i7idica(tfe of modesty ; it
may be indicative of prudence.
2. In grammar, the indicative mode is tlio
form of the verb that indicates, that is,
which affirms or denies ; as, he writes, he
I N D
is writing ; they run ; we misimprove ad van-l
tages. It also asks questions ; as, has the
mail arrived ?
INDIC'ATIVELY, adv. lu a manner to
show or signify. Gretv.i
INDICATOR, Ji. He or that which shows
or points out. Smith.'^
IN'DICATORY, a. Showing; serving to
show or make known.
INDICE. [See Index.]
IN'DICOLITE, n. [indigo, or indico, and
?.i9os, a stone.]
In mineralogy, a variety of shorl or tourma-
hn, of an indigo blue color, sometimes with
a tinge of azure or green. Cleaveland.
INDICT, V. t. indi'te. [L. indidus, from
indico ; in and dico, to speak.]
In laiv, to accuse or charge with a crime or
misdemeanor, in writing, by a grand jury
under oath. It is the peculiar province of
a grand jury to indict, as it is of a house
of representatives to impeach. It is fol-
lowed by of; as indicted of treason or
arson.
INDICTABLE, a. indi'table. That may be
indicted; as an indictable offender.
2. Subject to be presented by a grand jury;
subject to indictment ; as an indictable
offense.
INDICTED, pp. indi'led. Accused by a
grand jury.
INDICTER, n. indi'ler. One who indicts.
INDICTING, ppr. indi'ting. Accusing, oi
making a formal or written charge of a
crime by a grand jury.
INDI€'TION, n. [Fr.from Low L. indiclio
indico.]
1. Declaration ; proclamation. Bacon.
a. In chronology, a cycle of fifteen years, in
stituted by Constantine the Great ; origin
ally, a period of taxation. Constantine
having reduced the time which the Ro-
mans were obliged to serve in the array
to fifteen years, imposed a tax or tribute
at the end of that term, to pay the troops
discharged. This practice introduced the
keeping of accounts by this perioil. But,
as it is said, in honor of the great victory
of Constantine over Mezentius, Sep. 24,
A.D. 312, by which Christianity was
effectually established, the council of Nice
ordained that accounts of years shovdd no
longer be kept by Olympiads, but that the
indiction should be used as the point from
which to reckon and date years. Th'
was begun Jan. 1, A. D. 313.
Johnson. Encyc.
INDIC'TIVE, a. Proclaimed ; declared.
Kennet.
INDICTMENT, ji. indi'lement. A written
accusation or formal charge of a crime
misdemeanor, preferred by a grand jury
under oath to a court. Blackstoni
2. The paper or parchment containing the
accusation of a grand jury.
WmF.B, n. plu. of India.
INDIFFERENCE, n. [Fr. from L. indif
ferentia ; in and differo, to differ. Indiffer
ency is little used.]
1. Equipoise or neutrahty of mind between
different persons or things ; a state in
which the mind is not inclined to one side
more than the other ; as when we see
contest of parties with indifference.
I N D
2. Impartiality; freedom from prejudice,
prepossession or bias; as when we read a
book on controverted points with indiffer-
ence. [ This is a different application of the
first defi7iition.]
3. Unconcernedness ; a state of the mind
when it feels no anxiety or interest in what
is presented to it. No person of humani-
ty can behold the wretchedness of the
poor with indifference.
State in which there is no difference, or in
which no moral or physical reason pre-
ponderates; as when we speak of the in-
difference of things in themselves.
Hooker.
INDIFFERENT, a. [Fr. from L. indiffer-
ens.]
Neutral; not inclined to one side, party
or thing more than to another.
Cato knows neither of thera.
Indifferent in his choice to sleep or die.
^ Addison.
2. Unconcerned ; feehng no interest, anxiety
or care respecting any thing. It seems to
be impossible that a rational being should
be indifferent to the means of obtaining
endless happiness.
It was a remarkable law of Solon, that any
person who, in the commotions of the repub
lie, remained neuter, or an indifferent spectato
of the contending parties, should be condemned
to perpetual banishment. Mdison
Having no influence or preponderating
weight ; Having no difference that gives
preference. It is indifferent which road
we take.
4. Neutral, as to good or evil. Things in
themselves indifferent, may he rendered
evil by the prohibition of law.
5. Impartial ; disinterested ; as an indifferent
judge, juror or arbitrator.
6. Passable; of a middling state or quality
neither good, nor the worst ; as indifferent
writing or paper.
Indifferent, used adverbially, as indifferent
honest, is ungrammatical and vulgar.
INDIF'FERENTLY, adv. Without distinc-
tion or preference ; as, to offer pardon in-
differently to all. Mdison.
2. Equally ; impaitially ; without favor, pre-
judice or bias.
— Tliey may tndy and indifferently minister
justice. Com. Prayer.
3. In a neutral state; without concern;
without wish or aversion.
Set honor in one eye and death i' th' other.
And 1 will look on death indifferently.
Shak.
4. Not well ; tolerably ; passably ; as indif-
ferently well ; to be indifferently enter-
tained.
IN'DIUENCE, ? [Fr. indigence, from L.
IN'DIgENCY, I '" indigenlia, from indig-
or ink, aud fg-fo, to want, to lack.]
Want of estate, or means of comfortable sub-
sistence ; penury ; poverty. A large por-
tion of the hinuan race live in indigence
while others possess more than they can
enjoy.
IN'DIgENE, n. [L. indigena; in or ind,
and geno, gigno, to beget, or to be born.
One born in a country ; a native animal or
plant. Evelyn. Vattel.
INDIG'ENOUS, a. [L. indigena, supra.]
1. Native; born in a country; applied to
persons.
IND
2. Native ; produced naturally in a country
or climate ; not exotic ; applied to vegeta-
bles.
IN'DIgENT, a. [L.indigens; Fr. indigent.]
Destitute of property or means of com-
fortable subsistence ; needy; poor.
Charity consists in relieving the indigent.
Addison.
INDIgEST', n. A crude mass. [ATot used.]
Shak.
INDItiEST'ED, a. [in and digested; L.
indigestus.]
1. Not digested ; not concocted in the stom-
ach ; not changed or prepared for nourish-
ing the body ; undigested ; crude.
Not separated into distinct classes or or-
ders, or into proper form ; not regularly
disposed and arranged. Chaos is repre-
sented as a rude or indigested mass.
3. Not methodized ; not reduced to due
form ; crude ; as an indigested scheme.
4. Not prepared by heat.
5. Not brought to suppuration, as the con-
tents of an abscess or boil ; as anindigested
wound. H'iseman.
INDIGESTIBLE, a. [in and digestible.]
1. Not digestible ; not easily converted into
chyme, or prepared in the stomach for
nourishing the body. Arbuthnot.
2. Not to be received or patiently endured.
INDIGES'TION, n. [in and digestion.]
Want of due coction in the stomach ; a
failure of that change in food which pre-
pares it for nutrinjent ; crudity. Encye.
As a disease, dyspepsy ; that state of the
stomach, in which it is incapable of per-
forming its natural healthy functions.
INDIG'ITATE, V. t. To point out with the
r. Brown.
INDIGITA'TION, n. The act of pointing
out with the finger. More.
INDItiN, a. indi'ne. [L. indignus.] Unwor-
thy; disgraceful. Obs. Chaucer.
INDIG'NANCE, n. Indignation. [jVot in
use.] Spenser.
INDIG'NANT, a. [L. indignans, from in-
dignor, to disdain ; in and dignor, dignus.]
Affected at once with anger and disdain :
feeling the mingled emotions of wrath and
scorn or contempt, as when a person is
exasperated at one despised, or by a mean
action, or by the charge of a dishonorable
act. Goliath was indignant at the chal-
lenge of David.
He strides indignant, and with haughty cries
To single fight the fairy prince defies.
Tickell.
INDIGNA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. indigna-
tio.]
Anger or extreme angei-, mingled with
contempt, disgust or abhorrence.
When Haman saw Mordecai in the king's
gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him,
he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
Esth. V.
2. The anger of a superior ; extreme anger ;
particularly, the wrath of God against sin-
ful men for their ingratitude and rebellion.
2. Kings iii.
3. The effects of anger ; the dreadful effects
of God's wrath; terrible judgments. Is.
4. Holy displeasure at one's self for sin. 2
Cor. vii.
INDIG'NIFY, r. t. To treat disdainfidly.
[J^Totused.] Spen.'^':
I N D
INDIGNITY, n. [L. indignitas.] Unmer-
ited, contemptuous conduct towards ano-
ther; any action towards another which
manifests contempt for him ; contumely;
incivility or injury, accompanied with in-
sult. Contemptuous words respecting one,
or foul language in the presence of persons
of character and delicacy, and indecent be-
havior, are indignities. Christ on the
cross was treated with the foidest indig-
nity.
INDIciNLY, adv. indi'ndy. Unworthily.
Obs. Hall.
INDIGO, n. [L. indicum, from India; Fr.
It. Sp. indigo.]
A substance or dye, prepared from the leaves
and stalks of the indigo-plant, which are
steeped in water till the pulp is extracted,
when the tincture is drawn off and churn-
ed or agitated, till the dye begins to granu-
late. The flakes are then left to settle
the liquor is drawn off, and the indigo is
drained in bags and dried in boxes. It is
used for dyeing blue. Edwards, fV. Ind.
INDIGOM'ETER, re. An instrument for as-
certaining the strength of indigo. Ure.
IN'DIGO-l'LANT, re. A plant of the genus
Indigofera, from which is prepared indigo.
It is a native of Asia, Africa and America,
and called by the native Americans, anil.
The calyx is patent ; the carina of the co-
rol is furnished witli a subulate, patulous
spur on each side ; the legume or pod is
linear. Several species are cultivated for
making indigo, of which the most impor-
tant are the tinctoria, or common indigo-
plant, the anil, a larger species, and the
disperma, which furnishes the Guatimalu
indigo. Encyc. Miller. Edin. Ena/c.
INDIL'ATORY, n. [in and dUatory.] N^ol
dilatory or slow. Comwallis.
INDIL'ItiENCE, n. [in and diligence.]
Want of diligence; slothfulness.
B. Jonson.
INDIL'IuENT, a. Not diligent ; idle ; sloth-
ful. Felthum
INDIL'IGENTLY, adv. Without diligence
Up. Hall
INDIiMIN'ISHABLE, a. That cannot bo
diminished. Milton
INDIRECT', a. [L. iiidirectus ; in and di
rectus, from dirigo.]
1. Not straight or rectilinear ; deviating from
a direct line or course ; circuitous. F
New York to England by Bordeaux, i
indirect course.
2. Not direct, in a moral sense ; not tending
to a purpose by the shortest or plainest
course, or by the obvious, orilinary means,
but obliquely or consequentially; by re-
mote means ; as an indirect accusation ; an
indirect attack on reputation ; an indirect
answer or proposal. Hence,
3. Wrong ; improper. Shal-.
4. Not fair; not honest ; tending to mislead
or deceive.
Indirect dealing will be discovered one time
or other. Tillotson.
5. Indirect tax, is a tax or duty on articles of
consumption, as an excise, customs, &c.
INDIRECTION, re. [in ai\d direction.] Ob-
lique course or means. Shak.
2. Dishonest practice. Obs. Shak.
INDIRECT'LY, adv. Not in a straight line
or course ; obliquely.
2. Not by direct means.
1 N D
3. Not in express terms. He tn(/iVfc% men-
tioned the subject.
4. Unfairly.
INDIRECT'NESS, n. Obliquity; devious
course.
Si. Unfairness ; dishonesty. Mountagu.
INniSrF.RN'IHI.E, -/. [in and discernible.]
Thrit i-.-iiiiioi lir ili~c(-nicd ; not visible or
p(-rc-i-|iiihl<- -. iinr (liM-iiM>rable. Denham.
INDISC i;U,\ II?1,1;M:s.-!, «. incapability
of being <liseerned. Hammond.
INDISCERN'IBLY, adv. In a manner not
to be seen or perceived.
INDISCERI'IBLE, a. Indisccrptible. Obs.
More.
INDISCERPTIBII, lTY,n. The quality of
being iivcapable of dissolution, or separa-
tion of parts.
INDISCERP'TI BLE, n. [in and (/tsceiy<j6/f.]
Incapable of being destroyed by dissolu-
tion, or separation of parts. Bp. Butler.
INDIS'CIPLINABLE, a. [in and discipli-
nable.]
iiat cannot be disciplined or subjected to
discijjline; not capable of being improved
by discipline. Hale.
INDISeOV'ERABLE, a. [in and discoverti-
ble.] That cannot be discovered ; undis
coverable.
INDISeOV'ERY, n. [in and discovery.'
Want of discovery. [Unusual.] Brmmi
INDlSeREE'T, a. [in and discreet.] No
discreet ; wanting m discretion ; impru-
dent; inconsiderate ; injudicious ; as per-
sons.
2. Not according to discretion or sound judg
ment ; as indiscreet behavior.
INDISCREE'TLY, adv. Not discreetly;
thout prudence ; inconsiderately ; with
t judgment.
INDISCRE'TE, a. Not discrete or separa
ted. Pownal.
INDISCRE"TION, n. [in and discretion.
Want of discretion ; imprudence. TIk
grossest vices pass under the fashionable
name, indiscretions.
INDISCRIM'INATE, a. [L. indiscrimina-
tits. See Discriminate.]
1. Undistinguishing; not making any dis-
tinction ; as the indiscriminate voracious-
ness of a glutton. Chesterjield.
% Not having discrimination; confused.
3. Undistinguished or undistinguishable.
INDISCRIMINATELY, adv. Without dis-
tinction ; in confusion.
INDISCRIMIN'ATING, ppr. or a. Not ma-
king any distinction ; as the victims of an
indiscriminaling spirit of rapine.
Marshall.
INDISCRIMINATION, n. Want of dis-
crimination or distinction. Jefferson.
INDISCUS'SED, a. Not discussed.
Donne.
INDISPENSABIL'ITY, a. Indispensable-
ness. [Little used.] Skelton.
INDISPENSABLE, a. [Fr.; in and dis
ptnsabte.]
Not to be dispensed with ; that cannot be
omitted, remitted or spared ; absolutely
necessary or requisite. Air and w
are indispensable to the life of man. Our
duties to God and to our fellow men are
of indispensable obligation.
I N D
INDISPENS'ABLENESS, n. The state or
I quality of being absolutely necessary.
INDISPENSABLY, adv. Necessarily ; in
u manner or degree that forbids dispensa-
tion, omission or want.
INDISPERS'ED, a. Not dispersed. More.
INDISPOSE, V. t. s as :. [Fr. indispo-
ser ; in and disposer, to dispose or fit. See
Dispose. ]
1. To disincline ; to alienate the mind and
render it averse or unfavorable to any
thing. A love of pleasure indisposes the
mind to severe study and steady attention
to business. The pride and selfishness of
men indispose them to religious duties.
2. To render unfit ; to dis(iuulify for its pro-
i per functions; to disorder; as the distem-
perature of itidisposed organs. Glanville.
3. To disorder slightly, as the healthy fgnc-
tions of the body.
It made him rather indisposed than sick.
Walton.
4. To make unfavorable or disinclined ; with
towards.
The king was sufficiently indisposed towards
the persons, or the principles of Calvin's disci-
ples. Clarendon.
INDISPOSED, pp. or a. Disinclined;
averse ; unwilling ; unfavorable.
2. Disordered ; disqualified for its functions ;
unfit.
3. Slightly disordered ; not in i)erfect health.
INDISPO'SEDNESS, n. Disinclination ;
slight aversion ; unwillingness ; unfavor-
nhTcness.
2. Unfitness; disordered state.
lNDlSPO'SING,;)pr. Disinchning; render-
ing somewhat averse, uuwiUing or unfa-
j vorable.
!2. Disordering ; rendering unfit.
INDISPOSI'TION, re. [Fr. ; in and dispo-
silimi.]
I. Disinclination ; aversion; unwillingness;
dislike ; as the indisposition of men to sub-
mit to severe discipline ; an indisposition
to abandon vicious practices.
A general indisposition towards believing.
Jllterbury.
i3. Slight disorder of the healthy functions of
the boily ; tendem-y to disease. Indispo-
sition is a slight defect of healthy action
in bodily functions, rather than settled or
marked disease.
3. Want of tendency or natural appetency
or affinity ; as the indisposition of two sid)-
stances to combine.
and dispu-
INDIS'PUTABLE, a. [Fr.
table.]
Not to be disputed ; incontrovertible ; incon-
testable ; too evident to adniit of dispute.
-iddison.
INDIS'PUTABLENESS, n. The state or
([uality of being indisputable, or too clear
to iidniit of controversy.
INDIS PUTABLY, adv. Without dispute;
in a manner or degree not admitting of
controversy ; unquestionably; without op-
position.
INDISPU'TED, a. Not disputed or contro-
verted ; undisputed. Encyc.
INDISSOLUBILITY, re. [Fr. indissolubi-
lity. See Indissoluble.]
1. The quality of being indissoluble, or not
capable of being dissolved, melted or li-
quefied. Locke.
I N D
I N D
I N D
2. The quality of being incapable of a
)>reach ; perpetuity of union, obligation or
binding force. }farhuHon.
INDISSOLUBLE, a. [Fr. from L. indis-
soluhilis ; in and dissolubilis, from dis-
solvo ; dis and solvo, to loosen.]
I. Not capable of being dissolved, melted or
liquefied, as by heat or water. Few sub-
stances are absolutely indissoluble by beat ;
many are indissoluUe in water.
9. That cannot be broken or rightfully vio-
lated ; perpetually binding or obligatory ;
as an indissoluble league or covenant.
The marriage covenant is indissoluble, ex-
cept in certain specified cases.
3. Not to be broken ; firm; stable; asindis-
solable fiiendsliip ; indissoluble bands of
love.
INDIS'SOLUBLENESS, n. The quality of
being incapable of dissolution, separation
or breach ; indissolubility. Hale.
INDIS'SOLUBLY, adv. In a maimer re-
sisting separation ; firmly united beyond
the power of separation ; in a manner not
to be dissolved or broken.
On they move
IndissoluUy (iim. Milton.
INDISSOLV'ABLE, a. {in and dissolvable.]
1. That cannot be dissolved ; not capable of
being melted or liquefied.
2. Indissoluble ; that cannot be broken ; per-
petually firm and binding ; as an indis-
solvnble bond of union.
3. Not capable of separation into parts by
natural process.
INDIS'TANCY, n. Want of distance or
separation. [A bad ivord and not used.]
Pearson.
. [Fr. ; li. indistindus ;
See Distinct]
INDISTINCT',
and distindus.
1. Not distinct or distinguishable ; not sep-
arate ill such a manner as to be percepti-
ble by itself. The parts of a substance
are indistind, when they are so blended
that the eye cannot separate them, or per-
ceive them as separate. Sounds are in-
distind, when the ear cannot separate
them. Hence,
2. Obscure ; not clear ; confused ; as indis-
iind ideas or notions.
3. Imperfect; faint; not presenting clear
and well defined images ; as indistind
vision ; an indistind view.
4. Not exactly discerning. [Unusual.]
Shat
INDISTINCT'IBLE, a. Undistinguishable,
[Littkused.] ffaiion
INDISTIN€'TION, n. Want of distinction;
confusion ; uncertainty.
The indistinction of many of the same name-
hath made some doubt. Brown,
2. Indiscrimination; want of distinction.
Sprat
3. Equality of condition or rank.
Coxe, Switz.
INDISTINCT'LY, adv. Without distinc
tion or separation ; as when parts of a
thing are indistindly seen.
2. Confusedly ; not clearly ; obscurely ; as
when ideas are indistindhj comprehend-
ed.
3. Not definitely ; not with precise limits
as when the border of a thing is indistind
/i/ marked.
INDISTINCT'NESS, n. Want of distinc-
tion or discrimination ; confusion ; uncer-
tainty.
2. Obscurity ; faintness ; as the indistind-
»ies« of vision.
INDISTIN'GUISHABLE, a. [in and dis-
tinguishable.]
That cannot be distinguished or separated ;
undistinguishable. Tytler.
INDISTIN'GUISHING, a. Making no dif-
ference ; as indistinguishing liberalities.
Johnson.
IN DISTURB' ANCE, n. [in and disturb-
ance.]
Freedom from disturbance ; calmness ; re-
pose ; tranquillity. Temple.
INDITCH', V. t. To bury in a ditch. [Lit-
tle used.] Bp. Hall.
INDI'TE, V. t. [L. indico, indicium ; in and
dico, to speak.]
1. To compose ; to write ; to commit to
words in writing.
Hear how learn'd Greece her useful rules
indites. Pope.
2. To direct or dictate what is to be uttered
or written. The late President Dwight
indited his sermons.
My heart is inditing a good matter. Ps. xi
INDI'TE, V. i. To compose an account of
Waller.
[Tliis is from the same original as indict.
The different applications of the word have
induced authors to express each in a dif-
ferent orthography, but without good rea-
INDI'TED, /)/?. Composed; written ; dic-
tated.
INDI'TEMENT, n. The act of inditing.
INDI'TING, ppr. Committing to words in
writing ; dictating what shall be written.
INDIVI'DABLE, a. Not capable of divi-
sion. Shnk.
INDIVI'DED, a. Undivided. Patrick.
INDIVID'UAL, a. [Fr. individud ; L. indi-
viduiis ; in and dividuus, from divido, to
divide.]
1. Not divided, or not to be divided ; single ;
one ; as an individual man or city.
— Under his great vicegerent reign abide
United, as one individual soul. Milton
2. Pertaining to one only ; as individual la
bor or exertions.
INDIVID'UAL, n. A single person or hu
man being. This is the common applica
tion of the word ; as, there was not an in-
dividual present.
2. A single animal or thing of any kind
But this word, as a noun, is rarely appli
ed except to human beings.
INDIVIDUAL'ITY, n. Separate or distinct
existence; a state of oneness. Arbuthnot
INDIVID'UALIZE, v. t. To distinguish ;
to select or mark as an individual, or to
distinguish the peculiar properties of s
person from others. Drake
INDIVID'UALIZED, pp. Distinguished as
a particular person or thing. Drake
INDIVID'UALIZING, ppr. Distinguishing
as an individual.
INDIVIDUALLY, adv. Separately ; by it
self; to the exclusion of others. Thirty
men will unitedly accomplish what each
of them individually cannot perform.
2. With separate or distinct existence.
How should that subsist solitarily by itseli'-
which hath no substance, but individually tin-
very same whereby others subsist with it'?
Hooker
3. Inseparably ; incommunicably.
Omniscience — an attribute individually prop-
er to the Godhead. Hakewilt.
INDIVID'UATE, a. Undivided.
INDiyiD'UATE, 1'. t. To make single ; to
distinguish from others of the species.
Life is individuated into infinite numbers,
that have their distinct sense and pleasure.
Afore.
INDIVIDUA'TION, a. The act of making
single or the same, to the exclusion of oth-
ers. If'atts.
2. The act of separating into individuals by
analysis. Etymol. Vocabulary.^
INDIVIDU'ITY, n. Separate existence.
[M)t used.]
INDIVIN'ITY, n. Want of divine power.
Brown .
INDIVISIBILITY, n. [See Indivisible.]
The state or property of being indivisible.
Locke.
INDIVIS'IBLE, a. s as z. [in and divisible.
!ee Divide.]
That cannot be divided, separated or bro-
ken ; not separable into parts. Perhaps
the particles of matter, however small,
cannot be considered as indivisible. The
mind or soul must be indivisible. A math-
ematical point is indivisible.
INDIVIS'IBLE, 71. In g'ewietn/, indivisibles
are the elements or principles into which a
body or figure may be resolved ; elements
infinitely small. Ennjc.
INDIVIS'IBLENESS, n. Indivisibility,
which see.
INDIVIS'IBLY, adv. So as not to be capa-
ble of division.
INDO'CIBLE, a. [in and docible ; L. doceo,
to teach.]
Unteachable ; notcapable of being taught,
or not easily instructed ; dull in intellect.
Bp. Hall.
2. Intractable, as a beast.
INDO'CILE, a. [Fr. ; L. indocilis ; in and
docilis ; doceo, \.o teacli.]
1. Not teachable ; not easily instructed ;
dull. Bentlcy.
2. Intractable, as a beast.
INDOCIL'ITY, w. [Fr.indocilitl] Unteach-
ableness ; dullness of intellect. Bp. Hall.
2. Intractableness, as of a beast.
INDOCTRINATE, v. t. [Fr. endodriner :
L. in and dodrina, learning.]
To teach ; to instruct in rudiments or prin-
ciples.
He took much delight in indoctrinating his
voung unexperienced favorite. Clarendon.
INDOe'TRINATED,;?/). Taught; instruct-
ed in the principles of any science.
INDOe'TRINATING, ppr. Teaching; in-
structing in principles or rudiments.
INDO€TRINA'TION, n. Instruction in the
rudiments and principles of any science ;
information. Brown.
IN'DOLENCE, n. [Fr. from L. indolentia ;
in and doho, to be pained.]
1. Literally, freedom from pain. Burnet.
2. Habitu.il idleness; indisposition to labor;
laziness ; inaction or want of exertion of
body or mind, proceeding from love of
ease or aversion to toil. Indolence, like
laziness, implies a constitutional or habit-
ual love of ease ; idleness does not.
I N D
IN'DOLENT, a. [Fr.] Habitually idle or
indisposed to labor ; lazy ; listless ; slug-
gish; indulging in ease ; applied to persons.
2. Inactive ; idle ; as an indolent life.
.'{. Free iiom pain ; as an indolent tumor.
tN'DOLENTLY, adv. In habitual idleness
and ease ; without action, activity or ex-
ertion ; lazily.
Calm and serene you indolently sit.
Mdison
INDOM'ITABLE, a. Untamable. [Kot
xised.] Herbert.
INDOMPT'ABLE, a. [Fr. ; in and dompter,
L. domo, to tame.] Not to be subdued.
[Unusual.] Tooke.
IlNlDORS'ABLE, a. That may be indorsed,
assigned and made payable to order.
INDORSE, V. t. indors'. [L. in and dorsum,
the back.]
1. To write on ihe back of a paper or writ-
ten instrument; as, to indorse a note oi
bill of exchange ; to indorse a receipt or
assignment on a bill or note. Hence,
■J. To assign by writing an order on the
back of a note or bill ; to assign or trans
for by indorsement. The bill was indors
cd to the bank.
To indorse in blank, to write a name only oi
a note or bill, leaving a blank to be fdled
liy the indorsee.
INDORSEE', n. The person to whom
note or bill is indorsed, or assigned by in-
dorsement.
INDORSEMENT, n. indors'ment. The act
of writing on the back of a note, bill, or
other written instrument.
2. That which is written on the back of a
note, bill, or other paper, as a name, an
order for payment, the return of an officer,
or the verdict of a grand jury.
INDORS'ER, n. The person who indorses,
or writes his name on the back of a note
Or bill of exchange, and who, by this act,
as the case may be, makes himself liable
to pay the note or bill.
IN'DRAUGHT, n. in'drhft. [in and draught.
An opening from the sea into the land ; an
inlet. Obs. Raleigh
INDRENCH', V. t. [in and drench.] To
overwhelm with water ; to drown ; to
drt^nch. Shak
INDU'BIOUS, a. [L. indubius ; in and du-
bius, doubtful.]
1. Not dubious or doubtful ; certain.
2. Not doubting ; unsuspecting ; as indubi-
ous confidence. Harvey.
INDU'BITABLE, a. [Fr. from L. indubi
tabilis ; in and dubitabilis, from dubito, to
doubt.]
Not to be doubted ; unquestionable ;
dent ; apparently certain ; too plair
admit of doubt. Halts.
INDIJ'BITABLENESS, n. State of being
indubitable. ^s*
INDUBITABLY, adv. Undoubtedly;
questionably ; in a manner to remove all
doubt. Sprat.
INDU'BITATE, a. [L. indubitatus.] Not
questioned ; evident ; certain. [M)t used.]
Bacon.
INDU'CE, V. t. [L. induco ; in and duco, to
lead ; Fr. ivdmre ; It. indurre.]
1. To lead, as by persuasion or argument ;
to prevail on ; to incite ; to influence by
Vol. I.
I N D
motives. The emperor could not be in-
duced to take part in the contest.
2. To produce by influence.
As this belief is absolutely necessary for all
mankind, the evidence for inducing it must be
of that nature as to accommodate itself to all
species of men. Forbes.
3. To produce ; to bring on ; to cause ; as a
i'cver induced by extreme fatigue. The
revolution in France has induced a change
of opinions and of property.
4. To introduce ; to bring into view.
The poet may be seen inducing his persona-
ges in the first Iliad. Pope.
5. To offer by way of induction or inference.
[JVot used.] Broum
INDU'CED, pp. Persuaded by motives; in
fluenced ; produced ; caused.
INDU'CEMENT, n. Motive ; any thing that
leads the mind to will or to act ; any ar-
gument, reason or fact that tends to per-
suade or influence the mind. The love of
ease is an inducement to idleness. The
love of money is an inducement to indus-
try in good men, and to the perpetration
of crimes in the bad.
INDU'CER, Ji. He or that which induces,
persuades or influences.
INDU'CIBLE, a. That may be induced;
that may be offered by induction.
Breton.
2. That may be caused. Barrow.
INDU'CING, ppr. Leading or moving by
reason or arguments ; persuading ; pro-
ducing ; causing.
INDUCT', V. t. [L. inductus, from induco
in and duco, to" lead.] LAlerally, to bring
in or introduce. Hence, appropriateh
2. To introduce, as to a benefice or office ;
to put in actual possession of an ecclesia
tical living or of any other office, with the
customary forms and ceremonies. Clerks
or parsons are inducted by a mandate from
the bishop to the arehdeacon, who usually
issues a precept to other clergymen to per
form the duty. In the United States, cer
tain civil officers and presidents of colle
ges, are inducted into office with appropri
ate ceremonies.
INDUCT'ED, pp. Introduced into office
ith the usual formalities.
INDU€T'ILE, a. [in and ductile.] Not ca
pable of being drawn into threads, as i
metal. [See Ductile.]
INDUCTIL'ITY, n. The quality of being
inductile.
INDU€T'1NG, ppr. Introducing into of-
fice with the usual formalities.
INDUCTION, n. [Fr. from L. inductio
See Jndtict.]
Literally, a bringing in ; introduction ; en-
trance. Kence,
2. In logic and rhetoric, the act of drawing a
consequence from two or more proposi-
tions, which are called premises. Halts.
3. The method of reasoning from particulars
to generals, or the inferring of one gene
ral proposition from several particular
ones.
The conclusion or inference drawn from
premises or from propositions which are
admitted to be true, either in fact, or for
the sake of argument. Encyc.
5. The introduction of a clergyman into a
benefice, or giving possession of an eccle
siastical living ; or tlie introduction of J
109
I N D
person into an office by the usual forms
and ceremonies. Induction is applied to
the introduction of officers, only when
certain oaths are to be administered or
other formalities are to be ob.served, which
are intended to confer authority or give
dignity to the transaction. In Great Bri-
tain, induction is used for giving posses-
sion of ecclesiastical offices. In the Uni-
ted States, it is applied to the formal in-
troduction of civil officers, and the higher
officers of colleges.
INDU€T'IVE,a. Leading or drawing ; with
A brutish vice,
Inductive mainly to tfje .sin of Eve. Milton.
2. Tending to induce or cause.
They may be inductive of credibility. [ Un-
usual.\ Hale.
Leading to inferences ; proceeding by in-
duction ; employed in drawing conclu-
sions from premises ; as inductive reoson-
INIUJCT'IVELY, adv. By induction or in-
ference.
INDL'CT'OR, n. The person who inducts
another into an office or benefice.
INDUE, v.t. indu'. [L. induo ; Gr. tvSvu;
Fr. enduire. This word coincides nearly
in signification with endow, that is, to put
on, to furnish. Duo is evidently a con-
tracted word.]
To put on something ; to invest ; to clothe ;
as, to indue matter with forms, or man
with intelligence.
2. To furnish ; to supply with ; to endow.
INDUED, pp. Clothed ; invested.
INDUEMENT, n. indu'ment. A putting on ;
endowment. Mountagu.
INDU'ING, ppr. Investing; putting on.
INDULGE, V. t. indulf. [L. indulgeo. This
word is compound, hut the primitive sim-
ple verb is not known, nor the radical
sense. If allied to G. and D. dulden, to
bear, to tolerate, it is from the root of L.
tolero.]
To permit to be or to continue ; to suffer ;
not to restrain or o]>pose ; as, to indulge
sloth ; to indulge the passions ; to indulge
pride, selfishness or inclinations.
2. To gratify, negatively; not to check or
restrain the will, appetite or desire ; as, to
indulge children in amusements.
2. To gratify, positively ; to grant some-
thing not of right, but as a favor ; to grant
in comphance with wishes or desire.
Yet, yet a moment, one dim ray of light
Indulge, dread Chaos and eternal Night !
Pope.
4. In general, to gratify ; to favor ; to hu-
mor ; to yield to the wishes of; to with-
hold restraint from.
It is remarked by Johnson, that if the
matter of indulgence is a single thing, it
has tfith before it ; if it is a habit, it has in.
He indulged himself mifc a glass of wine ;
he indulges himself in sloth or intemper-
ance.
INDULGE, v. i. indulj'. To permit to enjoy
or practice ; or to yield to the enjoyment
or practice of, without restraint or con-
trol : as, to indulge in sin, or in sensual
pleasure. This form of expression is el-
liptical, a pronoun being omitted ; as, to
indulge myself or himsdf.
I N D
Most men are more willing to indulge in easy
vices, than to practice laborious virtues.
Johnson.
2. To yield ; to comply ; to be favorable.
[Little used.]
INDUL'GED, pp. Permitted to be and to
operate without check or control ; as love
of pleasure indulged to excess.
2. Gratified ; yielded to ; humored in wishes
or desires ; as a child indulged by his pa-
rents.
3. Granted.
INDULGENCE, > Free permission U
INDUL'GENCY, \ "• the appetites, hu
mor, desires, passions or will to act or op
erate; forbearance of restraint or control
How many children are ruined by indul
fence ! Indulgence is not kindness or ten
erness, but it may be the effect of one or
the other, or of negligence.
2. Gratification ; as the indulgence of lust or
of appetite.
3. Favor granted ; liberality ; gratificat
If all these gracious itldulgencies are without
effect on us, we must perish in our folly.
liogers
4. In the Romish church, remission of the
punishment due to sins, granted by the
pope or church, and supposed to save the
sinner from purgatory ; absolution from
the censures of the church and from all
transgressions. Encyc
INDUL'6ENT, a. Yielding to the wishes
desires, humor or appetites of those un-
der one's care ; compliant ; not opposing
or restraining ; as an indulgent parent.
2. Mild ; favorable ; not severe ; as the in-
dulgent censure of posterity. trailer.
3. Gratifying ; favoring ; with of.
The feeble old, indulgent (/their case.
Vryden
INDULGEN'TIAL, a. Relating to the in
dulgencies of the Romish church. [M)t
well authorized.] Brevint
TNDUL'gENTLY, adv. With unrestrained
enjoyment. Hammond.
2. Mildly, favorably; not severely.
INDUL'gER, n. One who indulges.
Mountagu.
INDUL'GING, ppr. Permitting to enjoy or
to jiractice ; gratifying.
INDULT', I [It. indxdto, a pardon ; L.
INDULT'O, \ "■ indultus, indulged.]
!. In the church of Rome, the power of pre-
senting to benefices, granted to certain
persons, as to kings and cardinals.
Enajc.
9. In Spain, a duty, tax or custom, paid to
the king for all goods imported from the
. West Indies in the galleons. Encyc
IN'DURATE, v. i. [L. induro ; in and duro,
to harden.]
To grow hard ; to harden or become hard
Clay indurates by drying, and by extreme
heat.
IN'DURATE, V. t. To make hard. Extreme
heat indurates clay. Some fossils are in
durated by exposure to the air.
2. To make unfeeling; to deprive of sens!
bility ; to render obdurate ; as, to indurate
the heart. Goldsmith
IN'DURATE D, pp. Hardened ; made obdu
rate.
IN'DURATING, pfr. Hardening; render
ing insensible.
I N E
INDURA'TION, n. The act of hardening,
or process of growing hard. Bacon.
2. Hardness of heart ; obduracy.
Decay of Piety.
INDUS'TRIOUS, a. [L. industrius, from in-
du stria.]
1. Diligent in business or study ; constantly,
regularly or habitually occupied in busi-
ness ; assiduous ; opposed to slothful and
idle.
Frugal and industrious men are commonly
friendly to the established government.
Temple.
2. Diligent in a particular pursuit, or to a
particular end ; opposed to remiss or slack ;
as industrious to accomplish a journey, or
to reconcile contending parties.
3. Given to industry ; characterized by dili-
gence ; as an industrious life.
4. Careful ; assiduous ; as the industrious ap-
plication of knowing men. IValts.
INDUS'TRIOUSLY, adv. With habitual
diligence ; with steady application of the
powers of body or of mind.
2. Diligently ; assiduously ; with care ; ap-
plied to a particular purpose. He attempt-
ed industriously to make peace. He in-
dustriously concealed his name.
IN'DUSTRY, n. [L. industria ; Fr. indus-
irie. This is a compound word, and the
root probably ofthe Class Ds.]
Habitual diligence in any employment, ei
ther bodily or mental ; steady attention to
business ; assiduity ; opposed to sloth and
idleness. We are directed to take les
of industry from the bee. Industry pays
debts, while idleness or despair will in-
crease them.
INDWELL'ER, n. An inhabitant.
Spenser.
INDWELL'ING, a. [in and dwelling.]
Dwelling within ; remauiing in the heart,
even after it is renewed ; as indioelling sin,
Panoplist. Macknight. Milner.
INDWELL'ING, n. Residence within, or in
the heart or soul.
INE'BRIANT, a. [See Inebriate.] Intoxicat-
INE'BRIANT, n. Any thing that intoxi
cate.s, as opium. Encyc.
INE'BRIATE, v.t. [L. inehi-io, inebriatus,
in and ebrio, to intoxicate ; ebrius, soaked
drenched, drunken. The Latin ebrius is
contracted from ebrigus or ebregus, as ap
pears from the Spanish cmbriagar, to in-
toxicate ; embriago, inebriated ; It. briaco
drunk ; imbriacare, imbriacarsi. The s
is to wash or drench, and it is evidently
from the common root ofthe Gr. lipix^> to
water or irrigate. See Rain.]
1. To make drunk; to intoxicate. Sandys.
2. To disorder the senses ; to stupefy, or to
make furious or frantic ; to produce ef-
fects hke those of liquor, which are vari-
ous in different constitutions.
INE'BRIATE, v. i. To be or become intox-
icated. Bacon.
INE'BRIATE, n. A habitual drunkard.
Some inebriates have their paroxysms of ine-
biiety terminated by much pale urine, profuse
sweats, &c. Darwin
INEBRIATED, ;;p. Intoxicated.
INE'BRIATING, ppr. Making drunk ; in
toxicaling.
INEBRIATION, n. Drunkenness; intoxi
cation. Brown
INE
INEBRIETY, n. Drunkenness ; intoxica-
tion. Darwin.
INED'ITED, a. [in and edited.] Unpublish-
ed. Warton.
INEF'FABLE, a. [Fr. from L. ineffaWis ;
and effabilis, from effor, to speak.]
Unspeakable ; unutterable ; that cannot be
expressed in words; usually in a good
sense ; as the ineffable joys of heaven ; the
ineffable glories ofthe Deity.
INEF'FABLENESS, n. Unspeakableness ;
quality of being unutterable. Scott.
INEFFABLY, adv. Unspeakably : in a man-
r not to be expressed in words.
Milton.
INEFFE€T'IVE, a. [in and effective.] Not
eflective ; not producing any effect, or the
eiTect intended ; inefficient ; useless.
The word of God, without the spirit, is a dead
and ineffective letter. Taylor.
2. Not able ; not competent to the service in-
tended ; as ineffective troops ; ineffective
force.
.3. Producing no effect.
INEFFECT'UAL, a. [in and effectual] Not
producing its proper effect, or not able to
])roduce its effect ; inefficient ; weak ; as
an ineffectual remedy ; the Spaniards made
an ineffectual attempt to reduce Gibraltar.
[See Inefficacious.-]
INEFFECTUALLY, adv. Without effect;
in vain.
INEFFE€T'UALNESS, n. Want of effect,
or of power to produce it ; inefficacy.
James speaks of the ineffectualness of some
men's devotion. Wake.
INEFFERVES'CENCE, n. [in and effer-
vescence.]
Want of effervescence ; a state of not effer-
escing. Kirwan.
INEFFERVES'CENT, a. Not effervescing,
not susceptible of effervescence.
INEFFERVESCIBIL'ITY, n. The quality
of not effervescing, or not being suscepti-
ble of cflervescence. Kinvan.
INEFFERVES'CIBLE, a. Not capable of
effervescence.
INEFFICA'CIOUS, a. [It. and Fr. iiuffi-
cace ; L. inefficax ; in and efficax, efficio,
to effect ; ex and facio, to make.]
Not efficacious ; not having power to pro-
duce the effect desired, or the proper ef-
fect; of inadequate power or force.
Ineffectual, says Johnson, rather denotes
an actual failure, and inefficacious, an ha-
bitual impotence to any effect. But the
distinction is not always observed, nor can
it be ; for we cannot always know wheth-
er means are inefficacious, till experiment
has proved them ineffectual; nor even
then, for we cannot be certain that the
failure of means to produce an effect is to
be attributed to habitual want of power,
or to accidental and temporary causes.
Inefficacious is therefore sometimes synon-
ymous with ineffectual.
INEFFICA'CIOUSLY, adv. Without effi-
cacy or effect.
INEFFICA'CIOUSNESS,n. Want of pow-
er to produce the effect, or want of effect.
INEF'FI€ACY, n. [in and effiA:acy, L. effi-
cacia.]
1. Want of power to produce the desired or
proper effect ; inefficiency ; as the ineffi-
cacy of med'ic'mes or of means.
12. Ineffectualness; failure of effect.
I N E
I N E
I N E
INEFFI"C1ENCY, n. [in and efficiency.]
Want of power or exertion of power to
produce the effect ; inefficacy.
INEFFI"CIEN'r, a. [in and efficient] Not
efficient ; not producing the effect ; ineffi-
cacious.
2. Not active ; effecting nothing ; as an inef-
ficient force. Chesterfield.
INEFFI"CIENTLY, adv. Inefiectuully ;
without eflect.
INELAB'ORATE, a. Not elaborate; not
wrought with care. Cockeram.
INELAS'TIC, a. [in and elastic] Not elas-
tic; wanting elasticity ; uuelastic.
INELASTICITY, n. The absence of elas-
ticity ; the want of elastic power.
INEL'EGANCE, ? [See Inelegant.] Want
INEL'EGANCY, \ "' of elegance ; want of
beauty or polish in language, composition
or manners ; want of symmetry or orna-
ment in building; want of dehcacy in col-
oring, &c.
INEL'EGANT, a. [L. inele^ans ; in and el-
egans, from the root ofeltgo, to cli
Not elegant; wanting beauty or polish, as
language, or refinement, as manners ; want
ing symmetry or ornament, as an edifice ;
in short, wanting in any thing which cor
rect taste requires.
INEL'EGANTLY, adv. In an inelegant or
unbecoming manner ; coarsely ; roughly.
Chesterfield.
INELIOIBIL'ITY, n. [from ineligible.] In-
capacity of being elected to an office.
2. State or quality of not being worthy of
choice.
INELIGIBLE, a. [in and eligible.] Not ca-
pable of being elected to an office.
2. Not worthy to be chosen or preferred ; not
expedient.
INEL'OUUENT, a. [in and eloquent.] Not
eloquent ; not speaking with fluency, pro-
priety, grace and pathos ; not persuasive
used of persons.
2. Not fluent, graceful or pathetic; not
persuasive ; as language or composition.
Milton.
INEL'OQUENTLY, adv. Without elo-
quence.
INELUCT'ABLE, a. [L. ijieluctabUis.] Not
to be resisted by struggling ; not to be
overcome. [M>t used.) Pearson.
INELU'DIBLE, a. [in and ehidible.] Thai
cannot be eluded or defeated.
Glanville
INENAR'RABLE, a. [L. inenarrabUis.]
That cannot be narrated or told.
INEPT', a. [L. ineptus; in and aptus, fit,
apt.]
1. Not apt or fit ; unfit ; unsuitable.
Woodward.
2. Improper ; unbecoming ; foolish. More.
INEPT'ITUDE, n. Unfitness; inaptitude
unsuitableness ; as an ineptitude to motion.
Arbuthnot.
INEPT'LY, arfy. Unfitly; unsuitably; fool
ishly. Glanville.
INEPT'NESS, n. Unfitness. More.
INE'CiUAL.rt. [in and equal.] Unequal ; un
even ; various. Shenstone
INEQUALITY, n. [L. inmciualitas ; in and
wqualis, equal ; Fr. inegahti.]
1. Difference or want of equality in degree,
quantity, length, or quality of any kind
the state of not having equal measure, de-
gree, dimensions or amount; as an >..>,-(
qualiti/ in size or stature ; an inequality of
numbers or of power; inequality o{ dis-
tances or of motions.
2. Unevenness; want of levelness ; the al-
ternate rising and falling of a surface ; as
the inequalities of the surface of the earth,
or of a marble slab.
Disproportion to any office or purpose ;
inadequacy ; incompetency ; as the ine-
quality of terrestrial things to the wants of
a rational soul.
4. Diversity ; want of uniformity in different
times or places ; as the inequality of air or
temperature.
Diflercnce of rank, station or condition ;
as the inequalities of men in society ;
qualities of rank or property.
NEQUIDIS'TANT,
. Not being equally
listant. Say.
INEUUILAT'ERAL, a. Having unequal
sides. Say.
INl'^Q'UITABLE, a. [in and equitable.] Not
equitable ; not just.
INE'QUIVALVE, ) Having unequal
INECiUIVAL'VULAR, S "" valves.
INERM', I [L. inermis ; in ani\ a.
INERM'OUS, \ "• arms.]
Unarmed ; destitute of prickles or thorns, as
a leaf; a botanical word. Martyn
INERRABILiTY, 71. [from I'nerra We. ] Ex
emption from error or from the possibility
of erring; infallibility. King Charles.
INER'RABLE, a. [in and err.] That can-
not err ; exempt from error or mistake ;
infallible. Hammond
INER'RABLENESS, n. Exemption from
error ; inerrability. Hammond.
INER'RABLY, adv. With security from er-
ror; infallibly.
INERRAT'Ie, a. [in and enatic] Not er-
ratic or wandering ; fixed.
Paus. Trans.
INER'RINGLY, adv. Without error, mis-
take or deviation. Glanville
INERT', a. [Uiners; in and ara, an. The
English sense is drawn not from art, but
from the primary sense, strength or vigor
ous action.]
1. Destitute of the power of moving itself,
or of active resistance to motion impress-
ed ; as, matter is inert.
Dull ; sluggish ; indisposed to move or
act. Thomson.
INER'TION, 71. Want of activity; want of
action or exertion.
These vicissitudes of exertion and inerlion of
the arterial system, constitute the paroxysms of
remittent fever. Dartinn
INERT'ITUDE, n. The state of being in
ert, or a tendency to remain quiescent till
impelled by external force to move.
Good
INERT'LY, adv. Without activity ; slug-
gishly. Dunciad.
INERT'NESS, n. The state or quality of
being inert, or destitute of the power to
move per se ; that quality of passiveness
by which bodies persist in a state of rest
or of motion given to them by external
force. In the language of philosophy, this
quality is called vis inertia, or inertia.
J^ewton.
a. Want of activity or exertion ; habitual in-
disposition to action or motion ; sluggish-
ness.
^11 esse, [L.] in being ; actually existing ;
distinguished from tn posse, or in potentia,
which denote that a thing is not, but may
INES'CATE, v.t. ['L.inesco.] To bait ; to
lay a bait for.
INESeA'TION, n. The act of baiting.
HaUou-ell.
INESTIMABLE, a. [L. inmslimahUis. See
Estimate.]
That cannot be estimated or computed ;
as an inestimable sum of money.
2. Too valuable or excellent to be rated ; be-
ing above all price ; as inestimable rights.
The privileges of American citizens, civil
and religious, are inestimable.
L\KS 'I'lMABLY, adv. In a manner not to
liriiatcd or rated.
INEV'IDENCE, n. Want of evidence ; ob-
scurity. Harrow.
IN EVIDENT, a. [in and evident.] Not evi-
dent; not clear or obvious; obscure.
Brown.
INEVITABIL'ITY, n. [from inevitable.]
Impossibility to be avoided; certainty to
happen. Dramhall.
INEVITABLE, a. [Fr. from L. ineinlabi-
lis; in and evitabilis, from evito, to shim.]
Not to be avoided ; that cannot be shunned ;
unavoidable ; that admits of no escape or
evasion. To die is the inevitable lot of
man ; we are all subjected to many inevit-
able calamities.
INEV'ITABLENESS, n. The atate of be-
ing unavoidable.
INEV'ITABLY, adv. Without possibility of
escape or evasion ; unavoidably ; certain-
ly-
How inevitably docs immoderate laughter
end in a sigh ! South.
INEXACT', a. [in and eiact.] Not exact ;
not precisely correct or true.
INEXACT'NESS, ji. Incorrectness ; want
of precision.
INEXCI'TABLE, a. [in and excitable.) Not
susceptible of excitement; dull; lifeless;
torpifi.
INEXCU'SABLE, a. s as z. [L. inexcusabi-
lis ; in and excusabilis, eicuso. See Ex-
cuse.]
Not to be excused or justified ; as inexcusa-
ble folly.
INEXCU'SABLENESS, Jt. The quality of
not admitting of excuse or justification ;
enormity beyond forgiveness or paUia-
tion.
This inexcusableness is stated on the suppo-
sition that they knew God, but did not glorify
him. South.
INEXCUSABLY, adv. With a degree of
guilt or folly beyond excuse or justifica-
tion.
INEXECU'TION, n. Neglect of execution;
non-performance ; as the ineiecution of a
treatv.
INEXER'TION, n. [in and exertion.] Want
of exertion; want of effort ; defect of ac-
tion. Darwin.
INEXHA'LABLE, a. [in &nd exhaiable, L.
exhalo.]
Not to be exhaled or evaporated ; not evap-
orable. Broun.
IN EXHAUST' ED, a. [in and exhausted.]
1. Not exhausted ; not emptied; unexhaust-
ed.
I NE
2. Not spent ; not having lost all strength or|
resources ; unexhausted. |
INEXHAUST'IBLE, a. [in and exhausti-
ble.]
1. That cannot be exliausted or emptied;
uufailiug ; as an inexhaustible quantity or
supply of water.
2. That cannot be wasted or spent ; as v,
haustibk stores of provisions.
INEXHAUST'IBLENESS, n. The state of
being inexhaustible.
INEXHAUST'IVE, a. Not to be exhausted
or spent.
INEXIST'ENCE, n. [in and existence.]
1. Want of being or existence. Broome.
2. Inherence.
INEXIST'ENT, a. [in and existent.] Not
having being ; not existing.
South. Brown.
2. Existing in something else. Boyle.
INEXORABILITY, n. The quality of be-
ing inexorable or unyielding to entreaty.
Paley.
INEX'ORABLE, a. [Fr. from L. inexorabi-
lis ; 171 and exorabilis, from exoro, to en-
treat ; ex and oro, to pray.]
1. Not to be persuaded or moved by en-
treaty or prayer ; too firm and determined
in purpose to yield to supplication ; as
inexorable prince or tyrant ; an inexorable
judge.
2. Unyielding ; that cannot be made to bend,
Inexorable equality of laws. Gibbon
INEX'ORABLY, adv. So as to be immov-
able by intreaty.
INEXPE€TA'TION, n. State of having no
Felthatn.
Not expected. [JSTot
[in and expedience
"• Want of fitness;
bleness to the pur
ice of a measure is to
INEXPE'DIENCE,
INEXPEDIENCY,
impropriety ;
pose. The inexpedi
be determined by the prospect of its ad
vancing the purpose intended or not.
INEXPE'DIENT, a. [in and expedient.]
Not expedient ; not tending to promote e
purpose ; not tending to a good end ; un-
fit ; improper ; unsuitable to time and
place. Whatever tends to retard or de-
feat success in a good cause is inexpedient.
What is expedient at one time, may be in-
expedient at another.
INEXPE'RIENCE, n. [in and experience.]
Want of experience or experimental
knowledge ; as the inexperience of youth,
or their inexperience of the world.
INEXPE'RIENCED, a. Not having expe
rience ; unskillled.
INEXPERT', a. [in and expeH.] Not ex
pert ; not skilled ; destitute of knowledge
or dexterity derived from practice,
In letters and in laws
Not inexpert. Prior.
INEX'PIABLE, a. [Fr. from L. inexpiabi-
lis. See Expiate.]
1. That admits of no atonement or satisfac-
tion ; as an inexpiable crime or offense.
2. That cannot be mollified or appeased by
atonement ; as inexpiable hate. Milton.
INEX'PIABLY, adv. To a degree that ad
mils of no atonement. Roscommon
JNEXPLA'INABLE. a. That cannot be
explained ; inexplicable. [The latter word
is generally used.'
INF
INEXPLE'ABLY, adv. Insatiably. [Mt
iis'il.] Sandys.
INIXPLI CABLE, a. [Fr. from L.inexpli-
cabilis; in and explico, to unfold.]
That cannot be explained or interpreted ;
not capable of being rendered plain and
intelligible ; as an inexplicable mystery.
INEX'PLI€ABLY, adv. In a manner not
to be explained.
INEXPLO'RABLE, a. [in and explorable,
from explore.]
That cannot be explored, searched or dis-
covered. Tooke.
INEXPRESS'IBLE, a. [in and expressible,
from express.]
Not to be expressed in words ; not to be ut-
tered ; unspeakable ; unutterable ; as in-
expressible grief, joy or pleasure.
INEXPRESS'IBLY, odi>. In a manner or
degree not to be told or expressed in
words ; unspeakably ; uimtterably.
Hammond.
INEXPRESS'IVE, a. Not tending to ex-
press ; not expressing ; inexpressible.
INEXPO'SURE, n. [in and exposure.] A
state of not being exposed. Med. Repos.
INEXPUGNABLE, a. [Fr. from L. inex-
pugnabilis ; in and expttgno ; ex and pug
no, to fight.]
Not to be subdued by force ; not to be taken
by assault ; impregnable. Ray.
INEXSU'PERABLE, a. [L. inexsuperabi-
lis.] Not to be passed over or surmount-
ed.
INEXTEND'ED, a. Having no extension.
Good
INEXTEN'SION, n. [in and extension.]
Want of extension ; unextended state.
Encyc
INEXTERM'INABLE, a. [in and extermi-
nable.] That cannot be exterminated.
Rush
INEXTINCT', o. Not quenched ; not ex-
tinct.
INEXTIN'GUISHABLE, a. [in and extin-
•.shable.]
That cannot be extinguished ; unquencha
ble ; as inextinguishable flame, thirst or
desire.
INEXTIR'PABLE, a. Th; * cannot be
tirpated.
INEXTRICABLE, a. [Fr. from L. inextri-
cabilis. See Extricate.]
1. Not to be disentangled ; not to be freed
from intricacy or perplexity ; as an luer-
tricabte maze or difficulty. Sherlock
2. Not to be untied ; as an inextricable knot.
INEX'TRICABLENESS, n. The state of
being inextricable. Donne.
INEX'TRICABLY, adv. To a degree of
perplexity not to be disentangled. Pope.
INEYE, v. t. To inoculate, as a tree or a
bud. Philips.
INFAB'RI€ATED, a. Unfabricated ; un-
wrouglit. [JVot used.]
INFALLIBILITY, ) [from infallible.
INFAL'LIBLENESS, S"' The quahty of
being incapable of error or mistake ; en
tire exemption from liability to error ; in
errability. No human being can justly
lay claim to infallibility. This is an attri
bute of God only.
INFAL'LIBLE, a. [F. infaUlible; in and
faiUir, L. /aKo.]
1. Not fallible; not capable of erring
INF
tirely exempt from liability to mistake j
applied to persons. No man is infallible ;
to be infallible is the prerogative of God
only.
2. Not liable to fail, or to deceive confi-
dence; certain; as infallible evidence;
infallible success.
To whom he showed himself alive after his
passion, by many infallible proofs — Acts i.
INFAL'LIBLY, adv. Without a possibility
of erring or mistaking. Smalndge.
2. Certainly ; without apossibihty of failure.
Our Savior has directed us to conduct
that will infallibly render us happy.
INFA'ME, V. t. To defame. [ATot used.]
Bacon.
IN'FAMOUS, a. [Fr. infame ; L.infamia;
infamo, to defame ; in and fama, fame.]
1. Of ill report, emphatically ; having a rep-
utation of the worst kind ; publicly brand-
■ ed with odium for vice or guilt ; base ;
scandalous ; notoriously vile ; used of per-
sons ; as an infamous liar ; an infamous
rake or gambler.
2. Odious ; detestable ; held in abhorrence ;
that renders a person infamous; as an in-
famous vice.
3. Branded with infamy by conviction of a
crime. An infamous person cannot be a
witness.
INFAMOUSLY, adv. In a manner or de-
gree to render infamous ; scandalously ;
disgracefully ; shamefully.
2. With open reproach.
IN'FAMOUSNESS, > [Fr. infamie ; L.
IN'FAMY, i"' infamia; in and
fama, report.]
1. Total loss of reputation ; public disgrace.
Avoid the crimes and vices which expose
men to infamy.
3. Qualities which are detested and despis-
ed ; qualities notoriously bad and scan-
dalous ; as the infamy of an action.
3. In law, that loss of character or public
disgrace wliich a convict incurs, and by
which a person is rendered incapable of
being a witness or juror. Encyc.
IN'FANCY, n. [L. infantia. See Infant]
1. The first part of life, beginning at the
birth. In common usage, tn/anci/ extends
not beyond the first year or two of life,
but there is not a defined limit where in-
fancy ends, and childhood begins.
2. In laio, infancy extends to the age of
twenty one years.
3. The first age of any tlfmg ; the begin-
ning or early period of existence ; as the
infancy of the Roman republic ; the in-
fancy of a college or of a charitable soci-
ety ; the infancy of agriculture, of manu-
factures, or of commerce.
INFAND'OUS, a. [L. infandus.] Too odi-
ous to be expressed. LVot in use.]
Howell.
INFANG'THEF, Ji. [Sax. in, fangan, to
take, and theof thief]
In English law, the privilege granted to
lords to judge thieves taken on their
manors, or within their franchises.
Cmeel.
IN' F ANT, n. [Fr. enfant ; L. infans ; in
and fans, speaking, fari, to speak.]
1. A child in the first period of life, begin-
ning at his birth ; a young babe. In com-
mon usage, a child ceases to be called an
I N F
I N F
I N F
infant within the first or second year, but
at n<i riefiiiite period. In some cases, au-
thors indulge a greater latitude, and ex-
tend the terui to include children of sev-
eral years of age.
2. In law, a person under the age of twenty
one years, who is incapable of making
valid contracts.
IN'FANT, a. Pertaining to infancy or the
first period of life.
2. Young; tender; not mature; as infant
strength.
INFANT' A, n. In Spain and Portugal, any
princess of the royal blood, except the
eldest daughter when heires.i apparent.
INFANT' E, n. In Spain anil Portugal, any
son of the king, except the eldest or heir
apparent.
INFANT'ICIDE, n. [Low L. infanticidi-
um ; infans, an infant, and cado, to kill.]
1. The intentional killing of an infant.
2. The slaughter of infants by Herod. Matt.
3. A slayer of infants.
IN'FANTILE, o. [h. infanlUis.] Pertaining
to infancy, or to an infant; pertaining to
the first period of life.
IN'FANTINE, a. Pertaining to infams or
to young children.
IN'FANTLIKE, a. Like an infant. Shak.
IN'FANTLY, a. Like a child's. Beaum.
IN'FANTRY, n. [Fr. infanterie ; Sp. in-
fanleria ; It.Jhnteria. See Infant.]
In military affairs, the soldiers or troops that
serve on toot, as distinguished from cavat
ry ; as a company, regiment or brigade ol
infantry. In some armies, there have
been heavy-armed infantry, and tight-armed
or light infantry, accordmg to their man-
ner of arming and equipping.
INF'ARCE, V. t. infars. To stuff. [JVoi in
use.]
INFAR€'TION, n. [L. infarcio, infercio, to
stuff; in and ^arcio.]
The act of stuffing or filling; constipation.
Harvey.
INFASH'IONABLE, a. Unfashionable
rJVb< used.] Beaum
INFAT'IGABLE, a. Indefatigable. 06s.
INFATUATE, v.i. [L. infatuo; i« and
fatuus, foolish.]
1. To make foolish ; to affect with folly ;
to weaken the intellectual powers, or to
deprive of sound judgment. In general,
this word does not signify to deprive ab-
solutely of rational powers and reduce to
idiocy, but to deprive of sound judgment,
so that a person infatuated acts in certain
cases as a fool, or without common dis-
cretion and prudence. Whom God in-
tends to destroy, he first infatuates.
The judgment of Gcd will be very visible in
infatuating a people, ripe and prepared for des-
truction. Clarendon
■?. To prepossess or incline to a person oi
thing in a' manner not justified by pru-
dence or reason ; to inspire with an ex-
travagant or foolish passion, too obstinate
to be controlled by reason. Men are often
infatuated with a love of gaming, or of
sensual pleasure.
INFAT'UATED, pp. Affected with folly.
INFAT'UATING, ppr. Affecting with folly.
INFATUA'TION, n. The act of affecting
with folly.
3. A state of mind in which the intellectual
powers are weakened, either generally.
or in regard to particular objects, so that
the person affected acts without his usual
judgment, and contrary to the dictates of
reason. All men who waste their sub-
stance in gaming, infctnporance or any
other vice, are chargeable with in/atua-
tion.
INFAUST'ING, n. [L. infaustus.] The art
of making unlucky. Obs. Bacon.
INFEASiBIL'lTY, } , [from i;i
INFE'ASIBLENESS, \ "• ' "^ '" feasible.]
Impracticability; the quality of not being
capable of being done or j)erforined.
INFE'ASIBLE, a. s as r. [in and feasibU,
Fr. Jaisable, from faire, to make or do, L
facio.]
Not to be done ; that cannot be accomplish-
ed i impracticable. Glanville
INFECT', V. /. [Ft. infeeter ; Sp. infectar ;
It. infetiare; L. infcio, infeclus ; in and
facio. In this application of inficio, as in
iuficior, to deny, we fintl the radical sense
oi facio, to make, which is to thrust, to
drive. To infect is to thrust in ; to deny
is to thrust against, that is, to thrust away
to repel. And here we observe the dif-
ferent effects of the prefix in, upon the
verb.]
1. To taint with disease; to infuse into a
healthy body the virus, miasma, or mor-
bid matter of a diseased body, or any pes-
tilential or noxious air or substance by
which a disease is produced. Persons '
health are infected by the contagion of the
plague, of syphilis, of small pox, of me:
sles, of malignant fevers. In some cases,
persons can be infected only by contact,
as in syphilis; in most cases, they may be
infected without contact with the diseased
body.
2. To taint or affect with morbid or noxious
matter; as, Xo infect a lancet; to infect
clothing ; to infect an apartment.
3. To communicate bad qualities to ; to cor
rupt; to taint by the communication of
any thing noxious or pernicious. It is
melancholy to see the young infected
corrupted by vicious examples, or the
minds of our citizens infected with errors.
Ilegal
INFECT', a. Infected. [Xot ilsed
4. To contaminate with illegality.
INFECTED, pp. Tainted witi:
matter ; corrupted by poisonous exiiala
tions ; corrupted by bad qualities cummu
nicated.
INFECT'ER, 11. lie or that which infects.
INFECT'ING, ppr. Tainting ; corrupting.
INFECTION, n. [Fr. from L. iificio.] The
act of infecting, or the act by which poi
sonous matter, morbid miasmata or ex-
halations produce disease in a healthy
body. The words contagion and infection
are frequently confounded. The properdis-
tinetion between them is this. Contagion is
the virus or effluvium generated in a dis
eased body, and capable of producing the
specific disease in a healthy body by con
tact or otherwise. Marsh miasm is not
properly contagion. Infection is any thing
that taints or corrupts; hence it includes
contagion, and any other morbid, noxious
matter which may excite disease in a
healthy body. Hence,
2. The morbid cause which excites disease
in a healthy or uninfected body. This
cause may be contagion fi-om a diseased
body, or other poisonous or noxious mat-
ter received into the body or under the
skin. The infection of the plague and of
yellow fever, is said to be imiiorted in
ships and conveyed in clothing ; persons
are .said to take the in/eritoit-from a dis-
eased person, or from the air of apart-
ments where the sick are confined. The
infection spreads m a city, or it is free
from infection. Pestilential exhalatiotis
are called infections.
Tooke, Russ. Encyc. art. Plague. Kush.
Infection is used in two acceptations ;
first, as denoting the effluvium or infec-
tious matter exlialed from the person of
one diseased, in which sense it is synony-
mous with contagion; and secondly, as
signifying the act of communication of
such morbid eflluvium, by which disease
is transferred. Cyc.
3. That which taints, poisons or corrupts
by communication from one to another ;
as the infection of error or of evil exam-
ple.
4. Contamination by illegality, as in cascr.
of contraband goods.
5. Communication of like quahties.
Mankind are gay or serious by infection.
INFECTIOUS, a. Having qualities that
may taint, or communicate disease to ; as
an infectious fever ; infectious clothing ;
infectious air; infectious miasma.
2. Corrupting; tending to taint by commu-
nication ; as infectious vices or manners.
3. Contaminating with illegality ; exposing
to seizure and forfeiture.
Contraband articles are said to be of an itifec-
tious nature. ICenl.
4. Capable of being communicated by near
approach.
Grief IS well as joy is infectious. Kamei
INFECTIOUSLY, adv. By infection.
INFECTIOUSNESS, n. The quahty of
being infectiou.s, or capable of conimuni-
catiug disease or taint from one to an-
other.
INFECT'IVE, a. Having the quality of
communicating disease or taint from" one
to another. Sidney.
INFE'CUND, a. [L. in/iicundus ; in and
fcecundus, prolific] Lnfruitful; not pro-
ducing voung ; barren.
INFEcUND'ITY, 71. [L. infoicundilas.]
Unfruitfulness; barrenness. Med. Repos.
INFELICITY, 71. [Ft. infelicity ; h. infeli-
citas. See Felicity.] Unhappiness ; mis-
ery; misfortune.
2. Unfortunate state ; tmfavorableness ; as
the infelicity of the times, or of the occa-
sion.
INFER', V. I. [Fr. inferer ; L. infero ; in
and/ero, to bear or produce.]
1. Literally, to bring on ; to induce. \LiUle
used.] Harvey.
2. To deduce : to draw or derive, as a fact
or consequence. From the character of
God, as creator and governor of the world,
we infer the indispensable obligation of all
his creatures to obey his commands. We
H i7i/cr one proposition or truth from anoth-
er, when we perceive that if one is true,
I! the( ■
the other must be true also.
INF
I N F
I N F
3. To ofler; to produce. [M'ot used.]
Shak.
INFER'ABLE, a. That may be inferred
or deduced from premises. Burke.
IN'FERENCE, n. [Fr. from inferer.] A
truth or propositiou drawn from another
wliich is admitted or supposed to be true ;
a conclusion. Inferences result from rea-
soning, ap when the mind perceives such
a connection between ideas, as that, if
certain propositions called premises are
true, the conclusions or propositions dedu-
ced from tliem must also be true.
INFEOFF. [See Enfeoff.]
INFERIOR, a. [L. comp. from inferus,
low ; Sp. id ; Fr. inferieur.]
1. Lower in place.
2. Lower in station, age, or rank in life
Pay due respect to those who are superior
in station, and due civility to those who
are inferior.
3. Lower in excellence or value ; as a poem
oi inferior merit; cloth of inferior quality
or price.
4. Subordinate ; of less importance. Attend
to health and safety ; ease and conveni-
ence are inferior considerations.
INFE'RIOR, n. A person who is younger,
or of a lower station or rank in society.
A person gets more by obliging his inferior,
than by disdaining him. South.
INFERIORITY, n. [Fr. inferiorUL] A
lower state of dignity, age, vaUie or qual-
ity. We speak of the inferiority of rank,
of oflSce, of talents, of age, of worth.
INFERN'AL, a. [Fr. from L. infernus.
1. Properly, pertaining to the lower regions,
or regions of the dead, the Tartarus of the
ancients. Hence.
2. Pertaining to hell ; inhabiting hell ; as in-
fernal spirits.
3. Hellish ; resembling the temper of infer
nal spirits ; malicious : diabolical ; very
wicked and detestable.
INFERN'AL, n. An inhabitant of hell, or of
the lower regions.
Infernal stone [lapis infernalis,] a name fo
merly given to lunar caustic, a substance
prepared from an evaporated solution of
silver, or from crystals of silver. Hill.
Lunar caustic is nitrate of silver fused and
cast in small cyhnders.
Wehsler''s Manual.
INFER'TILE, a. [Fr. from L. infertilis; in
anA ferlilis.]
Not fertile ; not fruitful or productive ; bar-
ren ; as an infertile soil.
INFERTILITY, n. Unfruitfulness; un-
productiveness; barrenness; as the in-
fertility of land. Hale
INFEST', v.t. [VT.infester:,\..infesto.] To
trouble greatly ; to disturb ; to annoy ; to
harass. In warm weather, men are
fested with musketoes and gnats ; flies
infest horses and cattle. The sea is often
infested with pirates. Small parties of the
enemy infest the coast.
These, said the genius, are envy, avarice
perstition, love, with the like cares and pas-
sions thai infest human life. Addison.
INFESTA'TION, n. The act of infesting
molestation. Bacon
INFEST'ED, pp. Troubled ; annoyed
harassed ; plagued.
INFES'TERED, a. [in a.nA fester.] Rank-
ling ; inveterate.
INFEST'ING, ;)pr. Annoying; harassing;
disturbing.
INFEST'IVE, a. [in and festive.] Having
no mirth.
INFESTiyiTY, n. [in and festivity.] Want
of festivity, or of cheerfulness and mirth at
entertainments.
INFEST'UOUS, a. [h. infestus.] Mischiev-
ous. [JVot tised.] Bacon.
INFEUDA'TION, n. [in and feudum, feud.]
1. The act of putting one in possession of an
estate in fee. Hale.
2. The granting of tithes to laymen.
Blackstone.
IN'FIDEL, a. [Fr. inf dele ; L.infidelis; in
and fdelis, faithful.]
Unbelieving ; disbelieving the inspiration of
the Scriptures, or the divine institution of
Christianity.
The infidel writer is a great enemy to society.
Knox.
IN'FIDEL, n. One who disbelieves the in-
spiration of the Scriptures, and the divine
origin of Christianity.
INFIDEL'ITY, n. [Vr.infideliti- ; h.infdel-
itas.]
1. In general, want of faith or belief; a with-
holding of credit.
2. Disbelief of the inspiration of the Scrip-
tures, or the divine original of Christian-
ity ; unbelief
There is no doubt that vanity is one princi-
pal cause of in/ideHfy. Knox.
3. Unfaithfulness, particularly in married
persons ; a violation of the marriage cove-
nant by adultery or lewdness.
4. Breach of trust; treachery; deceit; as
the infidelity of a friend or a servant. In
this sense, unfaithfulness is most used.
INFIL'TRATE, v. i. [Fr. fdirer, to filter.]
To enter by penetrating the pores or inter-
stices of a substance.
INFIL'TRATING, ;);;)•. Penetrating by the
pores or interstices.
INFILTRA'TION, n. The act or process
of entering the pores or cavities of a body
2. The substance which has entered the
pores or cavities of a body.
Calcarious infiltrations, filling the cavities ol
other stones. Kirwan
IN'FINITE, a. [L. infinitus ; in and finitus.
terminated ; Fr. infini ; Sp. infinito.]
1. AVithout limits; unbounded; boundless
not circumscribed ; applied to time, spaci
and qualities. God is infinite in duration,
having neither beginning nor end of ex-
istence. He is also infinite in presence, oi
omnipresent, and his perfections are infi-
nite. We also speak of infinite space.
2. That will have no end. Thus angels and
men, though they have had a beginning,
will exist in infinite duration.
3. That has a beginning in space, but is in-
finitely extended ; as, a line beginning at
a point, but extended indefinitely, i
finite line.
4. Infinite is used loosely and hyperbolically
for indefinitely large, immense, of great
size or extent.
Infinite canon, in inusic, a perpetual fugue.
IN'FINITELY, adv. Without bounds or
limits.
2. Immensely ; greatly ; to a great extent or
degree ; as, I am infinitely obliged by your
condescension.
IN'FINITENESS, n. Boundless extent of
time, space or qualities ; infinity.
Taylor.
2. Immensity; greatness.
INFINITESIMAL, a. Indefinitely small.
Johnson. Encyc.
INFINITES'IMAL, n. An indefinitely
small quantity. Encyc.
INFIN'ITIVE, a. [L. infinitivus ; Fr. infin-
In grammar, the infinitive mode expresses
the action of the verb, without limitation
of person or nuinber ; as, to love.
INFIN'ITUDE, n. Infinity; infiniteness;
the quality or state of being without limits ;
infinite extent ; as the infinitude of space,
of time, or of perfections.
2. Immensity ; greatness.
3. Boundless number. Addison.
INFIN'ITY, n. [Fr. infiniU ; L. infinitas.]
1. Unlimited extent of time, space or quan-
tity ; boundlessness. We apply infinity to
God and his perfections; we speak of the
infinity of his existence, his knowledge,
his power, his goodness and holiness.
2. Immensity ; indefinite extent.
3. Endless or indefinite number; a hyper-
bolical use of the word : as an infinity of
beauties.
INFIRM, a. inferm'. [Fr. infirme; h. in-
firmus ; in and firmus.)
I. Not firm or sound ; weak ; feeble ; as an
infinn body ; an infirm constitution.
3. Weak of mind ; irresolute ; as infii
of
Shak.
He who fixes on false principles, treads on
infirm ground. South.
INFIRM, V. t. inferm'. To weaken. [JVb«
used.] Raleigh.
INFIRMARY, n. inferm'ary. A hospital or
place where the sick are lodged and
nursed.
INFIRMITY, n. inferm'Uy. [Ft. infirmUi ;
L. infirmitas.]
1. An unsound or unhealthy state of the
body ; weakness ; feebleness. Old age is
subject to infirmities.
2. Weakness of mind ; failing; fault ; foible.
A friend should bear a friend's infirmities.
Shak.
3. Weakness of resolution.
4. Any particular disease ; malady ; applied
rather to chronic, than to violent diseases.
Hooker.
5. Defect ; imperfection ; weakness ; as the
infirmities of a constitution of government.
Hamilton.
INFIRMNESS, n. inferm'ness. Weakness;
feebleness ; unsoundness. Boyle.
INFIX', V. t. [L. infixus, infigo ; in andfigo,
to fix.]
1. To fix by piercing or thrustiog in ; as, to
irifix a sting, spear or dart.
2. To set in ; to fasten in something.
3. To iitiplant or fix, as principles, thoughts,
instructions; as, to infix good principles in
the mind, or ideas in the memory.
INFIX'ED, pp. Thrust in ; set in ; inserted ;
deeply implanted.
|INFIX'ING,;)pr. Thrusting in ; setting in ;
II implanting.
I N F
I N F
I N F
INFLA'ME,ti. «. [h. injlammo ; inand/am-
ma, flame.]
1. To set on fire ; to kindle ; to cause to
burn ; in a literal sense. But more gen-
erally,
2. To excite or increase, as passion or appe-
tite ; to enkindle into violent action ; as,
to inflame love, lust or tiiirbt ; to injlamt
desire or anger.
3. To exaggerate ; to aggravate in descrip-
tion.
A friend exaggerates a man^s virtues, an ene-
my injlatnes his crimes. [ Unusual.]
Addison.
4. To heat; to excite excessive action in the
blood ; as, to inflame the blood or body
to inflame with wine.
5. To provoke ; to irritate ; to anger.
6. To increase; to exasperate ; as,toinfla7ne
the enmity of parties, or the spirit of sedi
tion.
7. To increase; to augment; as, tofii^nmea
presumption. Kent.
INFLA'ME, v.i: To grovi^ hot, angry and
painful. ffisei
INFLA'MED, pp. Set on fire; enkindled;
heated; provoked; exasperated.
INFLA'MER, n. The person or thing that
inflames. Addison.
INFLA'MING, ppr. Kindling; heating;
provoking ; exasperating.
INFLAMMABILITY, n. Susceptibility of
taking fire.
I INFLAMMABLE, a. That may be set on
fire ; easily enkindled ; susceptible of c
bustion ; as inflaynmabk oils or spirits.
INFLAM'MABLENESS, n. The quality of
being susceptible of flame, or capable of
taking fire ; inflammabiUly. Boyle
INKLAMMA'TION, n. [L. inflammalio.
1. The act of setting on fire or inflaming.
2. The state of being in flame.
Temple. Wilkins
1 3. In medicine and surgery, a. redness and
I swelling of any part uf an animal body,
I attended with heat, pain and febrile symp-
i toms. Encyc
I 4. Violent excitement ; heat ; animosity
I turbulence ; as an inflammation of the body
; politic, or of parties.
; INFLAM'MATORY, a. Inflaming; tend
ing to excite heat or inflammation ; as
medicines of an inflammatory nature.
2. Accompanied with preternatural heat and
excitement of arterial action ; as an inflam-
matory fever or disease.
3. Tending to excite anger, animosity,
mult or sedition ; as inflammatory libels,
' writings, speeches or publications.
INFLA'TE, V. t. [L. inflatus, from inflo ; ir
amlflo, to blow.]
1. To swell or distend by injecting air; as
to inflate a bladder; to inflate the lungs.
2. To fill with the breath ; to blow in.
Dryden
3. To swell; to puff up; to elate ; as, to t»i
flate one with pride or vanity.
INFLA'TE, I In botany, pufled ; hoi
INFLA'TED, y'' low and distended; a:
a perianth, corol, nectary, or pericarp.
Martyn
INFLA'TED, pp. Swelled or distended witi
air ; puffed up.
INFLA'TING, ppr. Distending with air
pufling up.
INFLATION, n. [L. inflatio.] The act o)
flating.
2. The state of being distended with air iii'
jecled or inhaled.
3. The state of being pufled up, as with
vanity.
4. Conceit. B. Jonson.
INFLECT', v.i. [L.inflecto; inmiiiflecto,
to bend.]
1. To bend; to turn from a direct line or
course.
Are not the rays of the sun reflected, refrac-
ted and inflected by one and the same princi-
ple ; J\'ewton.
2. In grammar, to vary a noun or a verb in
its terminations ; to decline, as a noun or
adjective, or to conjugate, as a verb.
3. To modulate, as the voice.
INFLECT' ED, pp. Bent or turned from i
direct line or course ; as an inflected ray ol
light; varied in lerminatioti.
1NFLE€T'1NG, ppr. Bending or turning
from its course ; varying in termination ;
modulating, as the voice.
INFLECTION, n. [L. infleclio.] The act
of bending or turning from a direct line or
course.
2. In optics, a property of light by which it
rays, when they approach a body, are ben
towards it or from it. Encyc. Cyt
3. In grammar, the variation of nouns, &c.
by declension, and verbs by conjugation.
Encyc.
4. Modulation of the voice in speaking.
Hooker.
More commonly inflection gives signiticance
tones. E. Porte
Point of inflection, in geometry, the point
where a curve begins to bend the contrary
way. Encyc.
INFLECT'IVE, a. Having the power of
bending ; as the inflective quality of the
air. Derham.
INFLEX'ED, a. [L. inflems.] Turned;
bent. Fettham
INFLEXIBIL'ITY, ? , [Fr. infleribUlte,
INFLE.X'IBLENESS, ^ "• from inflexible;
L. in nud flexibilis, frvw flecto, to bend.]
1. The ()uality of being inflexible, or not <
pable of being bent ; unyielding stiffness.
2. Obstinacy of will or temper ; firmness of
purjiose that will not yield to importunity
or persuasion ; unbending pertinacity.
INFLEX'IBLE, a. [Ft.; L. infleribUis.
1. That cannot be bent ; as an inflexible ouk
2. That will not yield to prayers or argu-
ments; firm in purpose; not to be pre
vailed on ; that caimot be turned ; as a
man of upright and inflexible temper.
Mdison.
3. Not to be changed or altered.
The nature of things is inflexible. Watts.
INFLEXIBLY, adv. With a firmness that
resists all importunity or persuasion; with
unyielding pertinaciousness ; inexorable.
A judge should be inflexibly just and im
partial.
INFLEXION. [See Inflection.]
INFLICT', !•. t. [L. infliclus, infligo; in and
fligo, to strike, Eng. lo flog.]
To lay on ; to throw or send on ; to apply
a.«, to inflict pain or disgrace ; to irflict
punishment on an offender.
To inflict an oflice, condition, knowledge,
tenderness, &c. on one, as used by Ches-
terfield, is not an authorized use of the
INFLI€T'ED,p;>. Laid on; applied ; as pun-
ishment ur judgments.
INFLICT'ER, »i. He who lays on or ap-
INFLICT'LNG, npr. Laying on ; applying.
INFLIC TIO.N, n. [L. inflictio.] The act of
laying on or applying; as the in^idion of
torment or of punishment.
2. The punishment applied.
His severest inflictions are in themselves acts
of justice and righteousness. Rogers.
INFLICTIVE, a. Tending or able to in-
flict.
INFLORE.S CENCE, n. [L. inflorescens,
ivfloresco, infloreo ; in and floreo, to blos-
. In botany, a mode of flowering, or the
manner in which flowers are supported on
their foot-stalks or peduncles.
Inflorescence affords an excellent character-
istic mark in disli^uisliing the species of plants.
Milne.
2. A flowering ; the unfolding of blossoms.
Journ. of Science.
INFLUENCE, n. {Fr. from L. influens, in-
fluo, to flow in ; m and/uo, to flow ; Sp.
influencia ; It. influenza.] Literally, a flow-
ing in, into oroii, and referring to substan-
ces spiritual or too subtil to be visible, like
inspiration. Hence the word was former-
ly followed by into.
God hath his influence into the very essence
of all tilings. Hooker.
It is now followed by on or uith.
2. In a general sense, influence denotes pow-
er whose operation is invisible and known
only by its effects, or a power whose cause
and operation are unseen.
3. The power which celestial bodies are sup-
posed to exert on terrestrial ; as the influ-
ence of the planets on the birth and Ibr-
tunes of men ; an exploded doctrine of as-
trology.
4. Moral power ; power of truth operating
on the mind, rational faculties or will, in
persuading or dissuading, as the in^uence
of motives, of arguments, or of prayer.
We say, arguments had no influence on the
jury. The magistrate is not popular ; he
has no iy^uence icith the (Jeople ; or he baa
great influence tpiih the prince.
5. Physical power ; power tliat affects natu-
ral bodies by unseen operation ; as, the
rays of the sun have an influence in whi-
tening cloth, and in giving a green color
to vegetables.
C>. Power acting on sensibility ; as the influ-
ence of love or pity in sympathy.
7. Spiritual powcf, or the immediate power
of God on the mind ; as divine in/7«e7tce;
the i7ifliiences of the Holy Spirit.
IN'FLUENCE, v. t. To move by physical
power operating by unseen laws or force ;
to affect.
Tliese experiments succeed after the same
manner in vacuo, as in the open air, and there-
fore arc not influenced by the weight or press-
ure of die atmosphere. JVewton.
2. To move by moral power ; to act on and
affect, as the mind or will, in persuading
or dissuading ; to induce. Men are influ-
enced by motives of interest or pleasure.
An orator may influence the people to take
arms, or to abandon an enterprise.
1 N F
3. To move, as the passions ; as, to influ-
ence one by pity. , . • r
4. To lead or direct. This revelation is sut-
ficient to injluence our faitii and practice.
IN'FLUENCED, pp. Moved; excited; af-
fected ; persuaded ; induced.
IN'FLUENCING, ;);)r. Moving; affecting;
inducing. .
IN'FLUENT, a. Flowing in. [Little used.\
Arbuthnot.
INFLUENTIAL, a. Exerting influence or
power by invisible operation, as physical
causes on bodies, or as moral causes on
the mind. It is particularly used to ex-
press the operation of moral causes.
Milner.
Influential characters, persons who possess
the power of inclining or controlling the
minds of others. Hamilton
INFLUEN'TIALLY, adv. By means of in-
fluence, so as to incline, move or direct.
INFLUEN'ZA, n. [It. in/«e?i2a, influence.
An epidemic catarrh. The influenza o(
October and November, 1789, and that of
April and May, 1790, were very general or
universal in the United States, and
sually severe. A like influenza prevailed
in the winters of 1835 and 1826.
IN'FLUX, n. [L. influjcus, influo ; in and
fluo, to flow.]
1. The act of flowing in ; as an influx of light
or other fluid.
2. Infusion ; intromission.
The influx of the knowle^e of God, in rela-
tion to everlasting life, is inhnitely of moment
Hale
3. Influence ; power. [JVo< used.] Hale
4. A coining in; introduction; importation
in abundance ; as a great influx of goods
into a country, or an influx of gold and
silver.
INFLUXTON, Ji. Infusion ; intromission
Bacon.
INFLUX'IOUS, a. Influential. [JVotused.]
INFLUX'IVE, a. Having influence, or hav-
ing a tendency to flow in. Halesworth.
INFOLD, V. i. [in aadfold.] To involve
to wrap up or enwrap ; to inclose.
Infold his limbs in bands. Blackmore.
2. To clasp with tiie arms ; to embrace.
Noble Banco, let me infold thee,
And hold thee to my heart. Shak
INFOLDED, pp. Involved; enwrapped
inclosed; embraced.
INFOLDING, ppr. Involving; wrapping
up ; clasping.
INFO'LIATE, V. t. (L. in and folium,
To cover or overspread with leaves. [JVo(
much used.] Howell.
INFORM', v.t. \Fv. informer; Sp.informar
'. ; h.infoimOytoshap'
It. informare ; L. informo, to shape ; in and
formo, forma, form.] Properly, to give
form or shape to, but in this sense not
used
1. To animate ; to give life to ; to actuate by
vital powers.
Let others better mold the running mass
Of metals, and infcrrm the breathing brass
Dry den
Breath informs this fleeting frame. Prior
— Breathes in our soul, informs our vital part
Pope
[This use is chiefly or wholly poetical.]
2. To instruct ; to tell to ; to acquaint ; tt
communicate knowledge to; to make
INF
known to by word or writing ; usually fol-
lowed by of. Before we judge, we should
be well informed of the facts relating to the
case. A messenger arrived and informed
the commander of the state of the troops.
Letters from Europe inform us of the com-
mencement of hostiUties between the Per-
sians and Turks.
To communicate a knowledge of facts to
one by way of accusation.
Tcrtullus informed the governor against Paul
Acts xxiv.
In this application the verb is usually
intransitive; as, A iji/brmcrf against B.
INFORM', V. i. To give intelUgence.
Shak
He might either teach in the same manner
or inform how he had been taught —
Monthly Rev
To inform against, to communicate facts byl
way of accusation ; to give intelligence of
a breach of law. Two persons came to
the magistrate, and informed against A.
INFORM', a. [h. informis.] Without regu
'arform; shapeless; ugly.
INFORM' AL, a. [in and formal.] Not ii
the regular or usual form ; as an informal
writing ; informal proceedings.
2. Not in the usual manner ; not according
to custom ; as an informal visit.
3. Not with the oflicial forms ; as, the secre
tary made to the envoy an informal com
munication.
INFORMAL'ITY, n. [from informal.]
Want of regular or customary form. The
informality of legal proceedings may ren
der them void.
INFORM'ALLY, adv. In an irregular oi
informal manner; without the usual forms.
INFORM'ANT, n. One who informs, or
gives intelligence.
2. One who offers an accusation. [See In
former, which is generally used.]
INFORMA'TION,>i. [Fr. from L. informa-
tio.]
i. Intelligence; notice, news or advice com
municated by word or writing. We re
ceived information of the capture of the
ship by an arrival at Boston. The inf
motion by the messenger is confirmed by
letters.
2. Knowledge derived from reading or in-
struction.
He should get some information in the sub-
ject he intends to handle. Surift.
3. Knowledge derived from the senses oi
from the operation of the intellectual fac-
ulties.
The active informations of the intellect —
South
4. Communication of facts for the jiurpose
of accusation; a charge or accusation ex-
hibited to a magistrate or court. An in
fomiation is the accusation of a common
informer or of a private person ; the ac-
cusation of a grand juiy is called an in-
dictment or a presentment. Blackstone.
INFORM' ATIVE, a. Having power to ani-
mate. More.
INFORM'ED, pp. Told ; instructed ; made
acquainted.
INFORMER, n. One who animates, in
forms or gives intelligence.
2. One who communicates, or whose duty
it is to communicate to a magistrate
1 N F
knowledge of the violations of law, and
bring the offenders to trial.
INFORM'IDABLE, a. [in and formidable.]
Not formidable; not to be feared or
dreaded.
Foe not informidable. Milton.
INFORM'ING, ppr. Giving notice or intel-
ligence ; telhng.
2. Communicating facts by way of accusa-
tion.
Informing oflicer, is an officer whose duty it
is to inform against persons for breaches
of law, as an attorney-general, a sherifl^
constable, or grand juror.
A common informer, is any person who in-
forms against another.
INFORM'ITY, n. [L. informis.] Want of
regular form ; shapelessness. Brown.
INFORM'OUS, a. [Fr. informe ; L. in-
formis.] Of no regular form or figure ;
shapeless. Brown. Wilford.
INFOR'TUNATE, a. [L. infoHunatus.]
Unlucky ; unfortunate. [The latter is com-
monly used.]
INFOR'TUNATELY, adv. Unfortunately.
[Not used.]
INFOR'TUNE, n. Jlisfortune. [J^otused.]
Elyot.
INFRACT', V. t. [L. infractus, from infrin-
go ; in and frango, to break.]
To break ; to violate. [This is synonymous
with infringe ; it is an unnecessary word
and little used.]
INFRACTION, n. [Fr. from L. infradio.
See Infract.]
The act of breaking ; breach ; violation ; non-
observance ; as an infraction of a treaty,
compact, agreement or law. IVatts.
INFRACT'OR, n. One that violates an
igreement, &c.
INFRAMUND'ANE, a. [L. infra, below,
and m-undanus, mundus, the world.] Ly-
ing or being beneath the world.
INFRAN'GIBLE, a. [in and frangible.]
Not to be broken or separated into parts ;
as i)ifrangible atoms. Cheyne.
2. Not to be violated.
INFRE'QUENCE, ? [L. infrequentia.]
INFRE'QUENCY, (, "* Uncommonness ;
rareness ; the state of rarely occurring.
Broome.
INFRE'QUENT, a. [L. infrequens; in and
frequens, frequent.]
Rare; uncommon; seldom happening or oc-
curring to notice ; unfrequent.
INFRIG'IDATE, v.t. [L. in and frigidus,
cold.] To chill ; to make cold. [Little
used.] Boyle.
INFRieiDA'TION, n. The act of making
cold. Taller.
INFRINGE, V. t. itifnnj'. [L. infringo ; in
and frango, to break. See Break.]
1. To break, as contracts; to violate, either
positively by contravention, or negatively
by non-fulfillment or neglect of perform-
ance. A prince or a private person in-
fringes an agreement or covenant by neg-
lecting to perform its conditions, as well
as by doing what is stipulated not to be
done.
2. To break ; to violate ; to transgress ; to
neglect to fulfill or obey ; as, to infringe a.
law.
(. To destroy or hinder; as, to infringe effi-
cacy. [Little used.] Hooker.
INF
INFRINg'ED, pp. Broken ; violated ; trans
irressed.
1NVRIN6EMENT, n. infrinj'ment. Act of
violating ; breach ; violation ; non-fulfill-
iiiont ; as the infringement of a treaty,
compact or other agreement ; the infringe-
iiient of a law or constitution.
jiNFKING'ER, n. One who violates; a vio-
lator.
INFRING'ING, ppr. Breaking ; violating ;
transgressing ; failing to observe or fulfill
IN'FUCATE, V. t. [L.infuco; in and fuco
to paint.] To stain ; to paint ; to daub.
INFU'MED, a. [L. infamalus.] Dried in
smoke.
INFUNDIB'ULIFORM, a. [L. infundibu-
lum, a funnel, and form.]
In botany, having the shape of a funnel, as
the corol of a flower ; nionopetalous, hav-
ing a conical border rising from a tube.
Martyn.
INFU'RIATE, a. [L. in and furiatus, from
furia, fury.] Enraged ; mad ; raging.
Milton. Thomson.
INFU'RIATE, V. t. To render furious, oi
mad ; to enrage. Decay of Piety,
INFUS'€ATE, v. t. [L. infuscatius, infusco,
to make black ; in andfuscOyfuscus, dark.]
To darken ; to make black.
INFUSCA'TION, n. The act of darkening
or blackening.
INFU'SE, V. t. s as z. [Fr. infwer, from L
infusus, infundo, to pour in ; in and fundo,
to pour.]
1. To pour in, as a liquid.
That strong Circean liquor cease t' infuse.
Denham
2. To instill, as principles or qnalities.
Why should he desire to have qualities in-
fused into his son, which himself never pos-
sessed ? Su-ifi
3. To pour in or instill, as into the mind
Infuse into young minds a noble ardor.
4. To introduce ; as, to infuse Gallicisms into
a composition.
5. To inspire with ; as, to !»/itse the breast
with magnanimity. [Xol used.] S"
n. To steep in liquor without boiling, for the
purpose of extracting medicinal qualities
One scruple of dried leaves is infused in ten
ounces of warm water. Co.ve
7. To make an infusion with an ingredient
Wot used.] Bacon.
INFU'SE, n. Infusion. Obs. Spenser.
INFU'SED,pp. Poured in ; instilled ; steeped.
INFU'SER, «. One who infuses.
INFUSIBIL'ITY, n. [from infusible.] The
capacity of being infused or poured in.
2. The incapacity of being fused or dissolv-
ed.
IXFU'SIBLE, o. [from the verb.] That may
lie infused. Good principles are infusible
into the minds of youth.
INFU'SIBLE, a. [in, not, and fusible, from
fuse.]
Not fusible ; incapable of fusion ; that can
not be dissolved or melted.
The best cnicibles are made of Limoges
earth, which seems absolutely infusible.
Latwisier.
INFU'SING, ppr. Pouring in ; instilling ;
steeping.
INFU'SION, n. « as z. The act of pouring
ill or instilling ; instillation ; as the infv
.•lion of good principles into the mind ; the
infusion of ardor or zeal.
Vol. I.
I N G
2. Suggestion ; whisper.
His lolly and his wisdom are of his own
growth, not the echo or infusion of other men
Swift
In pharmacy, the process of steeping in
liquor, an operation by which the medici-
nal qualities of plants may be extracted by
a liquor without boiling. Encyc.
4. The liquor in which plants are steeped
and which is impregnated with their vir-
tues or qualities. Coxe.
INFU'SIVE, a. Having the power of infu
sion. Thomson.
JNFU'SORY, a. The infusoi^ order of
worms [vermes] comprehends those mi-
nute and simple animalcules which are
seldom capable of being traced except by
the microscope. Good.
Ing, in Saxon, signifies a pasture or meadow
Goth, idnga. [See English.]
INGANNA'TION, n. [It. ingannare, tc
cheat.] Cheat ; fraud. [JVot used.]
IN'GATE, n. [in and gate.] Entrance ; pas-
sage in. Obs. Spenser.
INGATH'ERING, n. [in and gathering.'
The act or business of collecting and se
curing the fruits of the earth ; harvest ; ai
the feast of ingathering. Ex. xxiii.
lN(iEL'ABLE, a. [in and gelable.] That
cannot be congealed.
IN(iEM'INATE, a. [L. ingemiriatus.] Re
doubled. Taylor
INGEMTNATE, v. t. [L. ingemino : in and
gemino.] To double or rejjeat. Sandys.
INgEMINA'TION, n. Rei)etilion ; redu-
plication, if'alsall.
INtiENDER. [See Engender.]
INGENERABIL'ITY, n. [infra.] Incapa-
city of being engendered.
INgEN'ERABLE, a. [in and generate.]
That cannot be engendered or jiroduced
Boyle
INgEN'ERATE, v.t. [h.ingenero; in and
genero, to generate.] To generate or pro-
duce within. FelloifS
INgEN'ERATE, a. Generated within ; in-
born; innate; inbred; as ing-enera<e pow-
ers of body. ftotto7i.
INGEN'ERATED, pp. Produced within.
Noble habits ingeneratcd in the soul. Hale.
INgEN'ERATING, ppr. Generating or
producing within.
INgE'NIOUS, a. [L. ingeniosus, from in
genium ; in and genius, geno, gigno, to be
get, Gr. ytivoiioi.]
1. Possessed of genius, or the faculty of in
vention ; hence, skillful or prompt to in
vent; having an aptitude to contrive, or to
form new combinations of ideas ; as an
ingenious author ; an ingenious mechanic.
The more ingenious men arc, the more apt
are they to trouble themselves. Templi
2. Proceeding from genius or ingenuity ; of
curious design, structure or mechanism
as an ingenious performance of any kind ;
an ingenious scheme or plan; an ingen-
ious model or machine ; ingenious fabric ;
ingenious contrivance.
3. Witty ; well formed ; well adapted ; as an
ingenious reply.
4. Mental ; intellectual. [.\'ot used.] Sfiak.
INOE'NIOUSLY, adv. With ingenuity ;
with readiness in contrivance ; with skill
INtiE'NIOUSNESS, n. The quality of be-
ing ingenious or prompt in invention; in-
genuity ; used of persons.
no
ING
2. Curiousness of design or mechanism ;
and gen-
used of things.
INgEN^ITE, a. [L. ingenilus i
itus, horn.]
Innate ; inborn ; inbred ; native ; ingene-
rate. South.
INGENUITY, n. [Fr. ingenuite.] The qual-
ity or power of ready invention ; quickness
or acuteness in combining ideas, or in
forming new combinations ; ingenious-
iiess ; skill ; used of persons. How many
machines for saving labor has the ingenu-
ity of men devised and constructed.
2. Curiousness in design, the eflect of inge-
nuity ; as the ingenuity of a plan or of
mechanism.
3. Oj)enness of heart ; fairness ; candor.
[This sense of the word was formerly
common, and is found in good authors
down to the age of Locke, and even later ;
but it is now wholly obsolete. In lieu of
it, ingenuousness is used.]
INgEN'UOUS, a. [L. in^cnuu*.] Open;
frank ; fair ; candid ; free from reserve,
disguise, equivocation or dissimulation ;
used of persons or things. We speak of au
ingenuous mind ; an iiigenuous man ; an
ingenuous declaration or confession.
2. Noble ; generous ; as an ingenuous ardor
or zeal ; ingenuous detestation of false-
hood. Locke.
3. Of honorable extraction ; freeborn ; as
ingenuous blood or birth.
INGENUOUSLY, adv. Openly ; fairly ;
candidly ; without reserve or dissimula-
tion. Dryden.
INGEN'UOUSNESS, n. Openness of heart;
frankness ; fairness ; freedom from re-
serve or dissimulation ; as, to confess our
faults with ingenuousness.
2. Fairness ; candidness ; as the ingenuous-
ness of a confession.
IN'gENY, n. Wit; ingenuity. Obs.
Bacon.
INGEST', V. t. [L. ingeslus, from ingero ;
in and gero, to bear.] To throw into the
stomach. [Little used.] Brown.
INGESTION, n. The act of throwing into
the stomach ; as the ingestion of milk or
other food. Harvey.
IN'GLE, n. [Qu. L. igniculus, ignis.] Flame ;
blaze. [Xot in use.] Ray.
2. In Scottish, a fire, or fireplace. Bums.
INGLO'RIOUS, a. [L. inglorius ; in and
gloria.]
1. Not glorious ; not bringing honor or glo-
ry ; not accompanied with fame or celeb-
rity ; as an inglorious life of ease.
2. Shameful ; disgraceful. He charged his
troops with inglorious flight.
INGLO'RIOUSLY, adv. With want of glo-
rv ; dishonorably ; with shame.
IN'GOT, 71. [Fr.'lingot. Qu. L. lingua.] A
mass or wedge of gold or silver cast in a
mold ; a mass of un wrought metal.
Encyc.
INGR-AFT, V. t. [in and graff. The origi-
nal word is ingraff or graff, but it is cor-
rupted beyond recovery.]
1. To insert a cion of one tree or plant into
another for propagation ; as, to ingraft the
cion of an apple-tree on a pear-tree, as its
stock ; to ingraft a peach on a plum.
2. To [jropagate by insition. May.
~ To plant or introduce something foreign
I N G
into that which is native, for the purpose
of propagation.
This fellow would ingraft a foieigii name
Upon our stock. Dryden.
4. To set or fix deep and firm.
Ingrafted love he bears to Cesar. Shah.
INGR'AFTED, pp. Inserted into a stock
for growth and propagation ; intioduced
into a native stock ; set or fixed deep.
INGR'AFTING, ppr. Inserting, as cions in
stocks; introducing and inserting on a na-
tive stock what is foreign ; fixing deep.
INGR*AFTMENT, n. The act of ingraft-
ing.
2. The thing ingrafted,
IN'GRAIN, V. t. [in and groin.] To dye in
the grain, or before manufacture.
IN'GRAINED, pp. Dyed in the grain or in
the raw material ; as ingrained carpets.
IN'GRAINING, ppr. Dyeing in the raw ma-
terial.
INGRAP'PLED, a. Grappled ; seized on ;
entwined. Drayton.
IN'GRATE, ? [L. ingratus; in and
INGRA'TEFUL, S grnius ; Fr. ingrat.]
1. Ungrateful; unthankful ; not having feel-
ings of kindness for a favor received.
Milton. Pope.
2. Unpleasing to the sense.
He gives no in grateful food. Jirilton.
IN'GRATE, n. [Fr. i7igrat.] An ungrateful
person.
INGRA'TEFULLY, adv. Ungratefully.
INGRA'TEFULNESS, n. Ungratefulness.
INGRA'TIATE, v. t. ingra'shale. [It. in-
grazianarsi ; L. in and gratia, favor.]
1. To comtnend one's self to another's good
will, confidence or kindness. It is always
used as a reciprocal verb, and followed by
idth, before the person whose favor is
sought. Ministers and courtiers ingratiate
themselves with their sovereign. Dema-
gogues ingratiate themselves itu'Wt the pop-
ulace.
2. To recommend ; to render easy ; used of
things. Hammond.
INGRA'TIATING, ppr. Commending one'i
self to the favor of another.
INGRA'TIATING, n. The act of com
mending one's self to another's favor.
INGRAT' ITUDE, n. [Fr.; in am\ gratitude.
I. Want of gratitude or sentiments of kind
ness for favors received ; insensibility to
favors, and want of a disposition to repay
them ; unthankfulness.
Ingratitude is abhorred by God and man.
L'Eslrange.
No man will own himself guilty of ingrati-
tude.
0. Retribution of evil for good.
Nor was it with ingratitude returned.
Dryden.
INGRA'VE, V. t. To bury. [JVot used.]
INGRAV'IDATE, v. t. [L. gravidus.] To
impregnate. Fuller.
INGRE'aT, t>. t. To make great. [jXot in
use.] Fotherhy.
INGRE'DIENT, n. [Fr. from L. ingredi-
ens, entering into ; ingredior ; in and gra-
dior. See Grade.]
That which enters into a compound, or is a
component part of any compound or mix-
ture. It is particularly applied to the
.simples in medicinal compositions, but ad
mils of a very general application. We
I N H
say, an ointment or a decoction is com-
]josed of certain ingredients ; and Addison
wondered that learning was not thought a
pro()er ingredient in the education of a
woman of quality or fortune.
IN'GRESS, n. [L. ingressus, ingredior.
supra.]
the ingress of air into the
lungs. It is particularly applied to the
entrance of the moon into the shadow of
the earth in eclipses, the sun's entrance in-
to a sign, &c.
a. Power of entrance ; means of entering
All ingress was prohibited.
INGRES'SION, n. [Fr. from L. ingressio,
ingredior.] The act of entering ; entrance.
Digby.
IN'GUINAL, a. [from L. ing-ucn, the groin.]
Pertaining to the groin ; as' an inguinal
tumor.
INGULF', V. t. [in and gulf.] To swallow
up in a vast deep, gulf or whirlpool.
Milton.
2. To cast into a gulf. Hayward.
INGULF'ED, pp. Swallowed up in a gulf
or vast deep ; cast into a gulf
INGULF'ING, ppr. Swallowing up in a
gulf, whirlpool or vast deep.
INGUR'GlTATE, v. t. [L. ingurgito; in
and gurges, a gulf] To swallow greedily
or in great quantity. Diet.
INGUR'GlTATE, v.i. To drink largely ; to
swill.
INGURGITA'TION, n. The act of swal-
lowing greedily, or in great quantity.
Darwin.
INGUST'ABLE, a. [L. in and gusto, to
taste.] That cannot be tasted. [Littk
used.] Brown.
INHAB'ILE, a. [Fr. from L. inhabilis ; in
and habiiis, apt, fit.]
1. Not apt or fit; unfit; not convenient; as
inhabile matter. Encyc.
2. Unskilled ; unready ; unqualified ; used of
persons. [Little used. See Unable.]
INHABIL'ITY, n. [from inhabile.] Unapt
ness ; unfitness ; want of skill. [Little
used. See Inability.]
INHAB'IT, V. t. [L. inhabito ; in and habito,
to dwell.]
To live or dwell in ; to occupy as a place of
settled residence. Wild beasts inhabit
the forest ; fishes inhabit the ocean, lakes
and rivers ; men inhabit cities and houses.
Thus saiththe high and lofty One, that inhab-
iteth eternity — Is. Ivii.
INHAB'IT, V. i. To dwell; to five; to
abide.
They say wild beasts inhabit here. Waller.
INHAB'ITABLE, a. [from inhabit.] Habit-
able; that may be inhabited; capable of
affording habitation to animals. The stars
may be inhabitable worlds. Some regions
of the earth are not inhabitable by reason
of cold or sterility. A building may be
too old and decayed to be inhabitable.
2. Not habitable. [Fr. inhabitable ; I,, inha-
bitabilis.] [JVot in use.] Shak
INHAB'ITANCE, n. Residence of dwell
ers. [Little tised.] Carew.
INHAB'ITANCY, n. Residence ; habitan
cy ; permanent or legal residence in i
town, city or parish ; or the domiciliation
which the law requires to entitle a pauper
I N H
to demand support from the town, city or
parish in which he lives, otherwise called
a legal settlement, which subjects a town
to support a person, if a pauper.
Laws of Mass. Blachstone.
INHAB'ITANT, n. A dweller; one who
dwells or resides permanently in a place,
or who has a fixed residence, as distin-
guished from an occasional lodger or vis-
itor ; as the inhabitant of a house or cot-
tage ; the inhabitants of a town, city,
county or state. So brute animals are in-
habitants of the regions to which their na-
tures are adapted ; and we speak of spirit-
ual beings, as inhabitants of heaven.
^. One who has a legal settlement in a town,
city or parish. The conditions or qualifi-
cations which constitute a person an in-
habitant of a town or parish, so as to sub-
ject the town or parish to support him, if
ing, or state of being inhabited. Raleigh.
2. Abode; place of dwelling. Milton.
3. Population; whole mass of inhabitants.
Brozvn.
[This tvord is little used.]
INHABITED, pp. Occupied by inhabit-
ants, human or irrational.
INHAB ITER, n. One who inhabits ; a
dweller; an inhabitant. Derkam.
INHABITING, ppr. Dwelling in; occupy-
ing as a settled or permanent inhabitant ;
residing in.
INHAB' ITRESS, n. A female inhabitant.
Bp. Richardson.
INHA'LE, V. t. [L.inhalo; in and hcdo, to
! breathe.]
To draw into the lungs ; to inspire ; as, to
inhale air ; opposed to exhale and expire.
Martin was walking forth to inhale the fresh
breeze of the evening. Arbuthnot and Pope.
INHA'LED, pp. Drawn into the lungs.
INHA'LER, n. One who inhales.
2. In medicine, a machine for breathing or
drawing warm steam into the lungs, as a
remedy for coughs and catarrhal com-
plaints. Encyc.
INHA'LING, ppr. Drawing into the lungs ;
breathing.
INHARMON'le, I Unharmonious ;
INHARMON'IGAL, ^ "' discordant.
INHARMO'NIOUS, a. [in and harmonious.]
Not harmonious ; unmusical ; discordant.
INHARMO'NIOUSLY, adv. Without har-
mony ; discordantly.
INHE'RE, v.i. [h.inhwreo; in and hcereo,
to hang.]
To exist or be fixed in something else ; as,
colors inhere in cloth ; a dart inheres in the
flesh.
INHE'RENCE, n. Existence in something;
a fixed state of being in another body or
substance.
INHE'RENT, a. Existing in something else,
so as to be inseparable from it.
Inherent baseness. Shak.
2. Innate ; naturally pertaining to ; as the
jn/iece7i< qualities of the magnet ; the in-
herent right of men to life, liberty and pro-
tection.
INHERENTLY, adv. By inherence.
Bentlty.
I N H
I N H
I N I
INHE'RINGjjopr. Existing or fixed in some-
thing else.
INHER'IT, t>. t. [Sp. heredar; Port, herdar ;
It. eredare; Fr. heriler; from L. hares, an
heir. See Heir.]
1. To take by descent from an ancestor ; to
take by succession, as the representative of
the former possessor; to receive, as a
right or title descendible by law from an
ancestor at his decease. Tlie heir inher-
its the lands or real estate of his father ;
. the eldest son of the nobleman inherits his
father's title, and the eldest son of a king
inherits the crown,
3. To receive by nature from a progenitor.
The son inherits the virtues of iiis father ;
the daughter inherits the temper of her
motlier, and children often inherit the
constitutional infirmities of their parents.
3. To possess ; to enjoy ; to take as a posses
n, by gift or divine appropriation ; as
inherit everlasting life ; to inherit th
jtromises.
— That thou mayest live, and inhei-it the land
wliich Jehovah thy God giveth thee. Deut
xvi.
The meek shall inherit the earth. Matt. v.
INHER'IT, V. i. To take or have posses
sion or property.
— Thou shall not inherit In our father's house
Judges xl.
INHER'ITABLE, a. That may be inherit-
ed ; transmissible or descendible from the
ancestor to the heir by course of law ; a;
an inheritable estate or title.
2. That may be transmitted from the parent
to the child ; as inheritable qualities or in
firmities.
3. Capable of taking by inheritance, or of
receiving by descent.
By attainder — the blood of the person at-
tainted is so corrupted as to be rendered nc
longer inheritable. Btackstone.
INHER'ITABLY, adv. By inheritance.
Sherwood.
INIIER'ITANCE, n. An estate derived
from an ancestor to an heir by succession
or in course of law ; or an estate which
the law casts on a child or other person
as the representative of the deceased an
restor.
2. The reception of an estate by hereditary
right, or the descent by which an estate O]
title is cast on the heir ; as, the heir receiv
ed the estate by inheritance.
3. The estate or possession which may des
cend to an heir, though it has not des
cended.
And Rachel and Leah answered and said, ii
there yet any portion or inheritance for us in ou
father's house .' Gen. xxxi.
4. An estate given or possessed by donation
or divine appropriation. Num. xxvi.
5. Tliat which is possessed or enjoyed.
Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen
lor thine inheritance. Ps.
INHER'ITED, pp. Received by descent
from an ancestor ; possessed.
INHERITING, ppr. Taking by
or right of representation ; receiving from
ancestors ; possessing.
INHERITOR, n. An heir ; one who inher
its or may inherit.
INHERITRESS, ) An heiress ; a femah
INHERITRIX, S wlio '"herits or is en
titled to inherit, after the death of her an
cestor.
INHERSE, V. t. inkers', [in and herse.] Toj
inclose in a funeral monument. Shak.l
INHE'SION, n. sas z. [L. inhcesio, inhitreo.\
Inherence ; the state of existing or beingi
tixed ill something.
INHIA'TION, n. [h. inhintio.] A gaping af-
ter; eager desire. [JsTol used.]
INHIB'IT, D. <. [Fr.inhiher; L. inhibeo ; in
and habeo, to hold, properly to rush or
drive.]
1. To restrain ; to hiniler ; to check or re-
press.
Their motions also are excited or inhibited —
by the objects without them. Bentley.
2. To forbid ; to prohibit ; to interdict.
All men were inhibited by proclamation at
tlie dissolution so much as to mention a par
liament. Clarendon
INHIB'ITED, pp. Restrained ; forbid.
INHIBITING, ppr. Restraining; repress
I ing ; prohibiting.
INHIBI "TION, 71. [Fr. from L. inhihUio.]
1. Prohibition; restraint; embargo.
2. In law, a writ to forbid or inhibit a judge
from farther proceedings in a cause de-
pending before him ; commonly, a writ is-
suing from a higher ecclesiastical court to
an inferior one, on appeal. Cowel.
INHOLD, V. t. pret. and pp. inheld. [in and
hold.]
To have inherent ; to contain in itself [Lit-
tle used.] Raleigh.
INHOLDER, n. An inhabitant. Obs.
Spensei
INHOOP', V. t. [in and hoop.] To confine or
inclose in any place. Shak
INHOS'PITABLE, a. [in and hospitable.]
1. Not hospitable ; not disposed to entertain
strangers gratuitously; declining to enter-
tain guests, or entertaining them with re-
luctance ; as an inhospitable person or peo-
ple.
2. Affording no conveniences, sub.sistence or
shelter to strangers; as inhospitable des-
erts or rocks. Milton. Dryden
INHOSPITABLY, adv. Unkindly to stran
gers.
Milton.
stances by burying the vessel containing
them ill warm earth, or a like substance.
Encijc.
\m\h'y\VM,pp. Buried; interred.
INHU'MING, ppr. Burying; interring.
INIM.\ti INABLE, a. Unimaginable ; in-
conceivable. Pearson.
INIMICAL, a. [L. inimicus; in and amicus,
a friend.]
1. Unfriendly ; having the disposition or tem-
per of an enemy ; applied to private enmi-
ty, as hostile is to public.
2. Adverse ; hurtful ; repugnant.
— Savage violences inimical to commerce.
Ward.
INIMITABIL'ITY, n. [from inimitable.]
The quality of being incapable of imita-
tion. .Vorm.
INIM'ITABLE,(T. [Fr. from L. iniinitabilis ;
in and imitabilis, from imiior, to imitate.]
That cannot be imitated or coj/ied ; surpass-
ing imitation ; as inimitable beauty or ex-
cellence ; an inimitable description ; tnim-
itable eloquence.
INIMITABLY, adv. In a manner not to be
imitated ; to a degree beyond imitation.
Charms such as thine, inimitably great.
INHOS'PITABLENESS, } „ Want of hos
INHOSPITAL'ITY, S pitality o:
kindness to strangers ; refusal or unwil
lingness to entertain guests or strangers
without reward. Chesterfield.
INHU'MAN, a. [Fr. inhumain ; L. inhuma-
nus ; in an<l humanus, humane.]
1. Destitute of the kindness and tenderness
that belong to a human being ; cruel ; bar-
savage ; unfeeling ; as an inhu-
person or people.
2. Marked with cruelty ; as an inhuman act
INHUMAN'ITY, n. [Fr. inhumanite.] Cru-
elty in disposition ; savageness of heart ;
■used of persons.
2. Cruelty in act; barbarity; used of actions.
INHU'MANLY, adv. With cruelty ; barba-
rously. Swift.
INHU'MATE, I , [Fr. inhumer ; L. inhu-
INHU'ME, S "'"' ''""">> to Ijnry.]
1. To bury ; to inter; to deposit in the earth,
as a dead body.
2. To digest in a vessel surrounded with
warm earth. Enci/c.
INHUMA'TION, Ji. The act of burying ; in-
terment.
2. In chimistry, a method of digesting sub-
INIQ'UITOUS, a. [Hee Iniquity.] Unjust;
wicked; as an fni^iuYoiw bargain; an in-
iquilous proceeding. [It is applied to
things rather than to persons, but maybe
applied to persons.]
INIQUITY, n. [Vr.iniquit6; L.inujuttas;
in and aquitas, equity.]
1. Injustice ; unrighteousness ; a deviation
from rectitude ; as the iniquity of war ;
the iniquity of the slave trade.
2. Want of rectitude in principle ; as a mali-
cious prosecution originating in the ini-
quity of the author.
3. A particular deviation from rectitude ; a
sin or crime ; wickedness ; any act of in-
justice.
Your iniquities have separated between you
and your God. Is. lix.
4. Original want of holiness or depravity.
I was shapcn in iniquity. Ps. li.
INIQ'UOUS, a. Unjust. [.Vol used.]
INIRRITABIL'ITY, >i. [in and irritabUily.]
The quality of being inirritable, or not sus-
ceptible of contraction by excitement.
Darwin.
INIR'RITABLE, a. [in and irritable.] Not
irritable; not susceptible of irritation, or
contraction by excitement. Darwin.
INIR'RIT.\TIVE,a. Not accompanied with
excitement ; as an inirrilaiive fever.
Darrein.
INISLE, V. t. ini'te. [in and isle.] To sur-
round ; to encircle. [JVo< in use.]
Drayton.
INI TIAL, a. [Fr. from L. initialis, ini-
tium, beginning.]
1. Beginning ; placed at the beginning ; as
the initial letters of a name.
3. Beginning; incipient ; as the iniYioi symp-
toms of a disease.
INI'TIAL, n. The first letter of a name.
INI TIALLY, adv. In an incipient degree.
Barrow.
INI'TIATE, V. t. [Low L. initio, to enter
or begin, from inttuin, ineo, to enter ; tu
and eo, to go.]
1. To instruct in rudiments or principles; or
to introduce into any society or sect by in-
I N J
structing the candidate in its principles or
ceremonies ; as, to iniliale a person into
the mysteries of Ceres.
2. To introduce into a new state or society ;
as, to initiate one into a club. Addison.
3. To instruct ; to acquaint with ; as, to ini-
tiate one in the higher branches of math-
ematics.
4. To begin upon. Clarendon.
IN1"TIATE, v.i. To do the first act; to
perform the first rite. Pope.
IN1"TIATE, a. Unpracticed. Shak.
2. Begun; commenced. A tenant by the
curtesy initiate, becomes so by the birth of
a child, but his estate is not consummate
till the death of the wife. Blackstone.
1NI"TIATE, n. One who is initiated.
X Barlow.
INI"TIATED, pp. Instructed in the first
principles ; entered.
INI"TIAT1NG, ppr. Introducing by in-
struction, or by appropriate cerem nies.
J. M. Mason.
INITIA'TION, n. [L. initiatio.} The act or
process of introducing one into a new so-
ciety, by instructing him in its principles
rules or ceremonies ; as, to initiate a per-
son into a christian community.
2. The act or process of making^one ac-
quainted with principles before unknown.
3. Admission by application of ceremonies
or use of symbols ; as, to initiate one into
the visible church by baptism.
Hammond
INI"TIATORY, a. Initiating or serving to
initiate ; introducing by instruction, or by
the use and application of symbols or cer-
emonies.
Two initiatory rites of the same general im
port cannot exist together. J. M. Mason
INI"TIATORY, 11. [supra.] Introductory
rite. L- Addison.
INJECT', V. t. [L. injectus, injicio ; in and
jacio, to throw.]
1. To throw in ; to dart in ; as, to inject any
thing into the mouth or stomach.
2. To cast or throw on.
— And mound inject on mound. Pope.
INJE€T'ED, pp. Thrown in or on.
INJECT'ING, ppr. Throwing in or on.
INJECT'ION, n. [Fr. from h.injedio.] The
act of throwing in, particularly that of
throwing a liquid medicine into the body
I N J
INJUDl"CIOUSLY, adv. Without judg-i
ment; unwisely. |
lNJlIDI"CIOUSNESS, n. The quality of
being injudicious or unwise. Whitlock.
INJUN€'TION, n. [L. in/undio, from trijUJi-
go, to enjoin ; in and jitng-o, to join.]
1. A command; order: precept; the direc-
tion of a superior vested with authority.
For 8till they knew, and ought t' have sliU
remembered
The high injunction, not to taste that fruit.
by a syrmge or pqie.
2. A liquid medicine thrown into the body
by a syringe or pipe ; a clyster.
3. In anatomy, the act of filling the vessels of|
an animal body with some colored sub
stance, in order to render visible their fig-
ures and ramifications. Encyc.
INJOIN. [See Enjoin.]
INJUeUND'ITY, n. [L. injucundilas.] Un-
pleasantness ; disagreeableness. [Little
used.]
INJU'DI€ABLE, a. Not cognizable by
judge. [Little used.]
INJUDI"CIAL, a. Not according to the
forms of law. Did
INJUDI"CI0US, a. [m and Judicious.] Not
judicious; void of judgment ; acting with-
out judgment; unwise; as an injudicioui
person.
.'}. Not according to sound judgment or dis
cretion ; unwise ; as an irijudicious meas
we.
MUton
2. Urgent advice or exhortation of persons
not vested with absolute authority to com
mand.
3. In law, a writ or order of the court of
chancery, directed to an inferior court,
to parties and their counsel, directing them
to stay proceedings, or to do some act, as
to put the plaintiff in possession for want
of the defendant's appearance, to stay
waste or other injury, &c. Wlien the
reason for granting an injunction ceases,
the injunction is dissolved. Blackstone.
IN'JURE, t). <. [Fr. injure, injurier; L. inju-
ria, injury; Sp. injuriar ; It. ingiuriare
See Injury.]
1. To hurt or wound, as the person; to im-
pair soundness, as of health.
2. To damage or lessen the value of, as
goods or estate.
3. To slander, tarnish or impair, as reputa-
tion or character.
4. To impair or diminish ; to annoy ; as hap
piness.
5. To give pain to ; to grieve ; as sensibility
or feelings.
6. To impair, as the intellect or mind.
7. To hurt or weaken ; as, to injure a good
cause.
8. To impair ; to violate ; as, to injure rights.
~ To make worse ; as, great rains injure
the roads.
10. In general, to wrong the person, to dam-
age the property, or to lessen the happi-
ness of ourselves or others. A man in-
jures his person by wounds, his estate by
negligence or extravagance, and his hap-
piness by vices. He injures his neighbor
by violence to his person, by fraud, by cal
umny, and by non-fulfillment of his con
tracts.
IN'JURED,/);?. Hurt; wounded; damaged;
impaired ; weakened ; made worse.
IN'JURER, n. One who injures or wrongs
IN'JURING, /ipr. Hurting; damaging; im-
pairing ; weakening ; rendering worse.
INJU'RIOUS, a. [L. injurius; Fr. inju
rievx.]
1. Wrongful ; unjust ; hurtful to the rights
of another. That which impairs rights oi
prevents the enjoyment of them, is injuri
ous.
Hurtful to the person or health. Vio
lence is injurious to the person, as intem
perance is to the health.
3. Affecting with damage or loss. Indolence
is injurious to property.
4. Mischievous ; hurtful ; as the injurious
consequences of sin or folly.
5. Lessening or tarnishing reputation. The
very suspicion of cowardice is injuiious to
a soldier's character.
6. Detractory ; contumelious ; hurting rep-
utation ; as, obscure hints as well as open
INK
7. In general, whatever gives pain to the
body or mind, whatever impairs or de-
stroys property or rights, whatever tar-
nishes reputation, whatever disturbs hap-
piness, whatever retards prosperity or
defeats the success of a good cause, is
deemed injurious.
INJU'RIOUSLY, adv. Wrongfully; hurt-
fully : with injustice ; mischievously.
INJU'RIOUSNESS, n. The quality of being
injuiious or hurtful; injury.
IN'JURY, n. [L. injuria; in and jus, juris,
right ; Fr. injure ; It. ingiuria ; Sp. inju-
1. In general, any wrong or damage done to
a man's person, rights, reputation or
goods. That which impairs the sound-
ness of the body or health, or gives pain,
is an injury. That which impairs the
mental faculties, is an injury. These in-
juries may be received by a i'all or by oth-
er violence. Trespass, fraud, and non-
fulfillment of covenants and contracts are
injuries to rights. Slander is an injury to
reputation, and so is cowardice and vice.
Whatever impairs the quality or dimin-
ishes the value of goods or [jroperty, is an
injury. We may receive injury by mis-
fortune as well as by injustice.
, Mischief; detriment.
Many times we do injury to a cause by
dwelling on trifling arguments. Watts.
.3. Any diminution of that which is good,
valuable or advantageous.
INJUS'TICE, n. [Fr. from L. injustitia ; in
and justitia, justice.]
1. Iniquity ; wrong ; any violation of anoth-
er's rights, as fraud in contracts, or the
withholding of what is due. It has a par-
ticular reference to an unequal distribution
of rights, property or privileges among
jiersons who have erjual claims.
ig from another merited
2. The withholdii
ibing to him unmerited
praise,
blame.
INK, n. [D. inkt; Fr. encre.] A black hquor
or substance used for writing, generally
made of an infusion of galls, copperas
and gum-arabic.
2. Any liquor used for writing or forming
letters, as red ink, &c.
3. A pigment.
Printing ink is made by boiling lintseed oil,
and burning it about a minute, and mix-
ing it with lampblack, with an addition of
soap and rosin.
Ink for the rolling press, is made with lintseed
oil burnt as above, and mixed with Frank-
fort black.
Indian ink, from China, is composed of
lampblack, and size or animal glue.
JVicholson.
.Sympathetic ink, a liquor used in writing,
' which exhibits no color or appearance
till some other means are used, such as
holding it to the fire, or rubbing some-
thing over it. Encyc.
INK, V. t. To black or daub with ink.
INK'HORN, n. [ink and horn ; horns being
formerly used for holding ink.]
1. A small vessel used to hold ink on a writ-
ing table or desk, or for carrying it about
the person. Inkhorns are made of horn,
glass or stone.
I N L
INN
I N N
9. A portable case for the instruments of
writing. Johnson.
INK'INESS, n. [from t'n*^.] The state or
quality of being inky.
INK'LE, n. A kind of narrow fillet ; tape
Shak.
INK'LING, n. A hint or whisper ; an inti-
mation. [Liltle ttsed.] Bacon.
INK'MAKER, n. One whose occupation is
to make ink.
INKNOT, V. t. innol'. [in and knot.] To
bind as with a knot.
INK'STAND, n. A vessel for holding ink
and other writing utensils.
INK'-STONE, n. A kind of small round
stone of a white, red, gray, yellow or black
color, containing a quantity of native vit-
riol or sulphate of iron ; used in making
ink. Encyc.
INK'Y, a. Consisting of ink ; resembling
ink ; black.
2. Tarnished or blackened with ink.
INLA'CE, V. t. [in and lace.] To embellish
with variegations. Fletcher.
INLA'ID, p;j. orinlay, which see.
IN'LAND, a. [in and land.] Interior ; re-
mote from the sea. Worcester in Massa-
chusetts, and Lancaster in Peimsylvania,
are large inland towns.
2. Within land; remote from the ocean ; as
an inland lake or sea. Spenser.
3. Carried on within a country ; domestic,
not foreign ; as inland trade or transporta-
tion ; inland navigation.
4. Confined to a country ; drawn and paya-
ble in the same country ; as an inland bill
of exchange, distinguished from a foreign
bill, which is drawn in one country on a
person living in another.
IN LAND, n. The interior part of a coun-
try. Shak. Milton.
INLANDER, n. One who lives in the in-
terior of a country, or at a distance from
the sea. Brown
INLAND'ISH, a, Denoting something in
land ; native.
INLAP'IDATE, v. t. [in and lapido, lapis,
a stone.]
To convert into a stony substance ; to pet-
rify. [Little ttsed.] Bacon.
INLA'Y, V. t. pret. and pp. inlaid, [in and lay.]
To veneer ; to diversify cabinet or other
work by laying in and fastening with glue,
thin slices or leaves of fine wood, on a
ground of common wood. This is used
in making compartments. Encyc.
IN'L.\y, n. Matter or pieces of wood inlaid,
or prepared for inlaying. Milton.
INLA'YER, n. The person who inlays or
Avhose occupation it is to inlay.
ISLX'YING, ppr. The operation ofdi
sifying or ornamenting work with thin
pieces of wood, set in a ground of other
wood.
INLAW', V. t. To clear of outlawry or at-
tainder. Bacon.
IN'LET, n. [in and let.] A passage or open-
ing by which an inclosed place may be
entered ; place of ingress ; entrance. Thus,
a window is an inlet for light into a house
the senses are the inlets of ideas or per-
ceptions into the mind.
2. A bay or recess in the shore of the sec
or of a lake or large river, or between
isles.
In limine, [L.] at the threshold ; at the be-
ginning or outset.
NLIST', V. i. [in and list.] To enter into
military service by signing articles and re-
ceiving a sum of money. [See List.]
NLIST', V. t. To engage or procure to en-
ter into military service. [See Enlist, a
common spelling, but inlist is preferable.]
INLIST'ED, pp. Engaged in military ser-
vice, as a soldier.
INLIST'ING, ppr. Entering or engaging in
lilitary service.
INLIST'MENT, n. The act of inlisting.
These inlistments were for one year only.
Marshall.
2. The writing containing the terms of mil-
itary service, and a list of names of those
who enter into the service.
INLOCK', V. t. To lock or inclose one thing
tthin another.
IN'LY, a. [ire and like.] Internal; interior;
secret. Shak.
IN'LY, adv. Internally ; within ; in the
heart ; secretly ; as, to be inly pleased or
grieved. Milton. Spenser.
N'MATE, n. [in or inn, and mate.] A per-
son who lodges or dwells in the same
house with another, occupying difFereni
rooms, but using the same door for passing
in and out of the house. Cornel.
2. A lodger ; one who lives with a family,
but is not otherwise connected with it
than as a lodger.
IN'MATE, a. Admitted as a dweller. Milton.
IN'MOST, a. [in and most.] Deepest with-
in ; remotest from the surface or external
part.
The silent, slow, consuming fires
Which on my inmost vitals prey. Addison.
I got into the inmost court. Gulliver.
INN, n. [Sa.x. inn, probably from the Heb.
and Ch. njn to dwell or to pitch a tent,
whence Ch. nufl an inn. Class Go. No.
19.]
1. A house for the lodging and entertain-
ment of travelers. In America, it is often
a tavern, where liquors are furnished for
travelers and others.
There was no room for them in
Luke ii.
2. In England, a college of municipal or
common law professors and students
formerly, the town-house of a nobleman
bishop or other distinguished personage,
in which he resided when he attended the
court.
Inns of court, colleges in which students of
law reside and are instructed. The prin-
cipal are the Iimer Temple, the Middle
Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and Gray's Inn.
Inns of chancery, colleges in which young
students formerly began their law studies.
These are now occupied chiefly by attor-
neys, solicitors, &c. Encyc.
INN'llOLDER, »i. [inn a.nd hold.] A per-
son who keeps an inn or house for the
entertainment of travelers; also, a tav-
2. An inhabitant. Ohs. Spenser
INN'KEEPER. n. [inn and keep.] An inn-
holder. In America, the innkeeper is often
a tavern keeper or taverner, as well as an
innkeeper, the inn for furnishing lodging:
and provisions being usually united withi
the tavern for the sale of liquors.
INN, V. i. To take up lodging; to lodge.
Donne. I
INN, V. t. To house ; to put under cover.
Bacon.
INNATE, a. [L. innatus, from innaacor ;
in and nascor, to be born.]
Inborn; native; natural. Innate ideas are
such as are supposed to be stamped on
the mind, at the moment when existence
begins. Mr. Locke has taken great pains
to prove that no such ideas exist.
Encyc.
INNATED, for innate, is not used.
INNATELY, adv. Naturally.
IN'NATENESS, n. The quality of being
innate.
INNAVIGABLE, a. [L. innavigaUlis ; in
and navigabilis. See JVavigate.]
That cannot be navigated; impassable by
ships or vessels. Dn/den.
INNER, a. [from in.] Interior ; farther in-
ward than something else ; as an inner
chamber ; the inner court of a temple or
palace.
3. Interior ; internal ; not outward ; as the
inner man. Eph. iii.
IN'NERLY. adv. More within. Barret.
INNERMOST, a. Farthest inward; most
remote fi-om the outward part. Prov.
xviii.
INNERVE, I', t. innerv'. [in and ntrve.] To
give nerve to ; to invigorate ; to strength-
en. Dunghi.
INNING, n. The ingathering of grain.
2. A term in cricket, a turn for using the
bat.
INN'INGS, n. Lands recovered from the
sea. Ainsworth.
IN'NOCENCE, { „ [Fr. from L. innocentia;
IN'NOCENCY, ^ "• in and noceo, to hurt.]
1. Properly, freedom from any quality that
can injure ; innoxiousness ; harmlessness ;
as the innocence of a medicine which can
do no harm. In this sense, the noun is
not obsolete, though less used than the
adjective.
2. In a moral sense, freedom from crime,
sin or guilt ; untainted |)urity of heart and
life ; unimpaired integrity.
Enjoyment left notliing to ask — innocence
left nothing to fear. Johnson.
3. Freedom from guilt or evil intentions ;
simplicity of heart; as the innocence of a
child.
4. Freedom from the guilt of a particular
sin or crime. This is the sense in which
the word is most generally used, for per-
fect innocence cannot be predicated of
man. A man charged with theft or mur-
der may prove his innocence.
5. The state of being lawfully conveyed toa
belligerent, or of not being contraband ; as
the innocence of a cargo, or of any mer-
chandize. Kent.
IN'NOCENT, a. [Fr. from L. innocens.]
1. Properly, not noxious ; not producing in-
jury ; free from qualities that can injure ;
harmless ; innoxious ; as an innoce;i(
medicine or remedy.
2. Free from guilt ; not having done wrong
or violated any law ; not tainted with sin ;
pure ; upright. In this general sense, no
human being that is a moral agent, can be
innocent. It is followed by of.
3. Free from the guilt of a particular crime
or evil action ; as, a man is innocent of the
crime charged in the indictment.
4. Lawful ; permitted ; as an innocent trade.
I N N
5. Not contraband ; not subject to forfeit-
ure ; as innocent goods carried to a bellig-
erent nation. Kent.
INNOCENT, n. One free from guilt
barm. Shak.
2. A natural; an idiot. [Unusual.] Hooker.
IN'NOCENTLY, adv. Without harm ; with-
out incurring guilt.
2. With simplicity ; without evil design.
3. Without incurring a forfeiture or penal-
ty ; as goods innocently imported.
INNOCUOUS, a. [L. innocuus; in and
noceo, to hurt.]
Harmless ; safe ; producing no dl effect ; ir
nocent. Certain poisons used as med
cines in small quantities, prove not only
innocuous, but beneficial. It applied only
to things ; not to persons.
INNO€'UOUSLY, adv. Without harm
without injurious effects.
INNOC'UOUSNESS, n. Harmlessness ; the
quality of being destitute of mischievous
qualities or effects. Digly.
INNOM'INABLE, a. Not to be named.
Chaucer.
INNOM'INATE, a. Having no name
anonymous. Ray.
IN'NOVATE, V. t. [Fr. innover; L. innovo
in and novo, to make new, novus, new.]
1. To change or alter by introducing some
thing new.
From his attempts upon the civil power, h(
proceeds to innovate God's worship. South
2. To bring in something new. Bacon
IN'NOVATE, II. i. To introduce novelties ;
to make changes in any thing established;
with on. It is often dangerous to inno
vale on the customs of a nation.
IN'NOVATED, pp. Changed by the iiitro
duction of something new.
IN'NOVATING, ppr. Introducing novel
ties.
INNOVA'TION, n. [from innovate.] Change
made by the introduction of something
new ; change in established laws, customs
rites or practices. Innovation is expedient
when it remedies an evil, and safe, when
men are prepared to receive it. Innova
lion is often used in an ill sense, for ;
change that disturbs settled opinions and
practices without an equivalent advan-
tage.
IN'NOVATOR, n. An introducer of chan-
ges.
Time is the greatest innovator. Bacon.
2. One who introduces novelties, or who
makes changes by introducing something
new. South
INNOX'IOUS, a. [L. innoxius; in and
noiius, noceo, to hurt.]
1. Free from mischievous qualities; inno-
cent ; harmless ; as an innoxious drug.
2. Not producing evil ; harmless in effects.
Innoxious flames are often seen on the haii
of men's heads, and on horses' manes. Oigby
3. Free from crime ; pure ; innocent.
Pope
INNOX'IOUSLY, adv. Harmlessly; with-
out mischief.
2. Without harm suffered. Brown.
INNOX'IOUSNESS, n. Harmlessness.
The innoxiousness of the small po\. Tooht
INNUEND'O, n. [L. from innuo, to nod
in and nuo.]
I N O
An oblique hint ; a remote intimation or
reference to a person or thing not named.
Mercury — owns it a marriage by innuendo.
Dryden.
2. In law, a word used to point out the pre-
person.
IN'NUENT, a. [L. innuens.] Significant.
Burton.
INNUMERABIL'ITY, ? Stateofbeine
INNU'MERABLENESS, S ininnnerable.
Fotherby. Sherwood.
INNU'MERABLE, a. [L. innumerabilis.
See J^umber.]
1. Not to be counted ; that cannot be enu-
merated or numbered for multitude.
2. In a loose sense, very numerous.
INNU'MERABLY, adv. Without number.
INNU'MEROUS, a. [L. innumerus ; in and
numerus, number.]
Too many to be counted or numbered ; in-
numerable. Milton. Pope.
INNUTRI"TION, n. [in and nutrition.]
Want of nutrition ; failure of nourishment
Darwin.
INNUTRF'TIOUS, a. [in and nutritious.'
Not nutritious ; not supplying nourish-
ment ; not nourishing. Darwin
INOBEDIENCE, n. Disobedience; neg
lect of obedience. Bp. Bedell.
INOBE'DIENT, a. Not yielding obedience
neglecting to obey.
INOBSERV'ABLE, a. [in and observable.'
That cannot be seen, perceived or observ
ed.
INOBSERVANCE, n. Want of observ
ance ; neglect of observing ; disobedience
INOBSERVANT, a. [in and observant
Not taking notice. Beddoes.
INOBSERVA'TION, Ji. Neglect or want
ofobservation. Shuckford.
INOCULATE, V. t. [L. inoculo ; in and oc-
ulus, the eye.]
1. To bud ; to insert the bud of a tree or
plant in another tree or plant, for the pur-
pose of growth on the new stock. All
sorts of stone fruit, apples, pears, &c.
may be inoculated. We inoculate the
stock with a foreign bud.
2. To communicate a disease to a person
by inserting infectious matter in his skin
or flesh ; as, to inoculate a person with the
matter of small pox or cow pox. When
the latter disease is comraunicated, it is
called vaccination.
INOCULATE, V. i. To propagate by bud-
ding ; to practice inoculation. The time
to inoculate is when the buds are formed
at the extremities of the same year's shoot,
indicating that the spring growth for that
season is complete.
INOCULATED, pp. Budded ; as an inoc-
ulated stock.
2. Inserted in another stock, as a bud.
3. Infected by inoculation with a particular
disease.
INOCULATING, ppr. Budding ; propaga
ting by inserting a bud on another stock.
2. Infecting by inoculation.
INOCULA'TION, n. [L. inoculatio.] Tli
act or practice of inserting buds of one
plant under the bark of another for prop-
agation.
2. The act or practice of communicating a
disease to a person in health, by inserting
I N O
contagious matter in his skin or flesh.
This practice is limited chiefly to the com-
munication of the small pox, and of the cow
pox, which is intended as a substitute for
it. [See Vaccination.]
INO€'ULATOR, ji. A person who inocu-
lates ; one who propagates plants or dis-
eases bv inoculation.
INO'DIATE, V. t. [L. in and odium.] To
make hateful. [M)t in use.] South.
INO'DORATE, a. [L. in and odoralus.]
Having no scent or odor. Bacon.
INO'DOROUS, a. [L. inodorus; in and
odor.] Wanting scent ; having no smell.
The wliite of au egg is an inodorous liquor.
Arbuthnot.
INOFFENS'IVE, a. [in and offensive.]
1. Giving no offense or provocation ; as an
inoffensive man ; an inoffensive answer.
2. Giving no uneasiness or disturbance ; as
inoffensive appearance or sight.
3. Harmless; doing no injury or mischief.
Thy inoffensive satires never bite. Dryden.
4. Not obstructing ; presenting no hinder-
ance.
—From hence a passage broad.
Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to hell.
[ Unusual] Milton.
INOFFENS'IVELY, adv. Without giving
offense ; without harm ; in a manner not
to offend.
INOFFENS'IVENESS, n. Harmlessness;
the quality of being not offensive either to
the senses or to the mind.
INOFFI"CIAL, a. [in and official.] Not
official ; not proceeding from the proper
oflScer; not clothed with the usual forms
of authority, or not done in an ofiicial
character ; as an inofficial communication ;
inofficial intelligence.
Pinckney and Marshall would not make in-
official visits to discuss official business.
Pickering.
INOFFI"CIALLY, adv. Without the usual
forms, or not in the official character.
INOFFI"CIOUS, a. [in and officious.]
1. Unkind; regardless of natural obligation ;
contrary to natural duty.
— Suggesting that the parent had lost the use
of his reason, when he made the inofficious tes-
tament. Blackstone.
Let not a fatlier hope to excuse an inofficimis
disposition of his fortune, by alledging that ev-
ery man may do what he will with his own.
Paley.
2. Unfit for an office.
Thou drown'st thyself in inofficious sleep.
B. Jonson.
•3. Not civil or attentive. B. Jonson.
INOPERA'TION, n. Agency ; influence ;
production of effects. [Not used.]
Bp. HaU.
INOP'ERATIVE, a. [in and operative.]
Not operative ; not active ; having no op-
eration ; producing no effect; as laws
rendered inoperative by neglect ; inopera-
tive remedies.
INOPPORTU'NE, a. [L. inopporlunus. See
Opportune.]
Not opportune ; inconvenient ; unseasonable
in time.
INOPPORTU'NELY, adv. Unseasonably ;
at an inconvenient time.
INOPPRESS'IVE, a. [in and oppressive.]
Not oppressive ; not burdensome.
O. ITokolt.
I N Q
I N a
INS
INOP'ULENT, a. [rn and opulent.] Not
opulent; not wealthy; not aftiuent or
rich.
INOR'DINACY, n. [from inordinate.] De-
viation from order or rule prescribed ; ir-
regularity ; disoriler; excess, or want of
moderation ; as the inordinacy of desire
or other passion. Bp. Taylor.
INOR'DINATE, a. [h. inordinatua ; m and
ordo, order.]
Irregular ; disorderly ; excessive ; imraoder'
ate ; not limited to rules prescribed, or to
usual bounds ; as an inordinate love of the
world ; inordinate desire of fame.
INOR'DINATELY, adv. Irregularly : ex
cessively ; immoderately. Skelton.
INOR'DINATENESS, n. Deviation from
order; excess; want of moderation;
ordinacy ; intemperance in desire or other
passion. Bp. Hall.
INORDINA'TION, n. Irregularity ; devia
tion from rule or right. South.
INORGANIC, } [in and org-anic] De-
INORGAN'IeAL, ^ void of organs; not
formed with the organs or instruments of
life ; as the inorganic matter that forms
the earth's surface. Kirwan.
Inorganic bodies, are such as have no organs,
as minerals.
INORGAN'I€ALLY, adv. Without organs.
INOR'GANIZED, a. Not having organic
structure ; void of organs; as earths, met
als and other minerals.
INOS'eULATE, V. i. [L in and osculatus,
from oscular, to kiss.]
In anatomy, to unite by apposition or con
tact; to unite, as two vessels at their ex
an artcrv.
INOSCULATE, V. t. To unite, as two ves-
sels in an animal body.
INOS'CULATING, ppr. Uniting, as the ex-
tremities of two vessels.
INOSCULA'TION, )i. The union of two
vessels of an animal body at their ex
tremities, by means of which a communi
cation is maintained, and the circulation
of fluids is carried on ; anastomo.sy. Ray.
IN'QUEST, n. [Fr. enquete ; L. inquisitio,
inquiro ; in and quitro, to seek.]
1. Inquisition ; judicial inquiry ; official ex
amination. An iiijufji of office, is an in
quiry made by the king's officer, his sher
iff, coroner, or escheator, concerning any
matter that entitles the king to the pos
session of lands or tenements, goods or
chattels. It is made by a jury of no de-
determinate number. Blackslonc.
In the United Staies, a similar inquiry,
made by the proper officer, under the au-
thority of a state.
2. A jury.
.3. Inquii-y ; search. South.
INQUI'ET, v.t. To disturb; to trouble.
[J\/'ot used.]
INQUIETA'TION, n. Disturbance. [JVot\
used.]
INQUIETUDE, n. [Fr. from L. inquieiu-
do ; in and quies, rest.]
Disturbed state ; want of quiet ; restlessness ;
uneasiness, either of body or mind ; disqui-
etude. Pope.
IN'QUINATE, t!. «. [h.inquino, to defile;
in and Gr. xoirou, from xoicoj, common.]
To defile ; to pollute ; to contaminate. [Lit-
tle used.] Brown
INQUINA'TION, n. The act of defiling, or
state of being ttefiled ; pollution; corrup
lion. [Little used.] Bacon.
INQUI'RABLE, a. [from inquire.] That
may be inquired into ; subject to inquisi-
tion or inquest. Bacon
INQUIRE, v.i. [Fr. enquerir ; Sp. inqui-
rir ; L. inquiro ; in and quctro, to seek ;
Malayan, charee, to seek. See Acquire.]
1. To ask a question; to seek for truth oi
infornjation by asking questions.
We will call the damsel and inquire at he
mouth. Gen. xxiv.
It has o/" before the person asked. En-
quire of \hew, or o/him. It has of, con
ctrning, or after, before the subject of in-
quiry.
He sent Hatloram, his son, to king David to
inquire o/his wellaie. 1 Chron. xviii.
For thou dost not inquire wiseW concerning
this, Eccl. vii.
When search is to be made for partic
ular knowledge or information, it is fol
lowed by into. The coroner by jury in
quires into the cause of a sudden death.
When a place or person is sought, or
something hid or miasing,ybr is common-
ly used. Inquire fur one Saul of Tarsus.
He was inquiring for the Ijouse to which
he was directed. Inquire for the cloke
that is lost. Inquire for the right road.
Sometimes it is followed by after. In-
quire after the right way.
When some general information is
sought, this verb is followed by about;
sometimes by concerning. His friends iyi-
quired about him ; they inquired concern-
ing his welfare.
, To seek for truth by argument or the dis-
cussion of questions, or by investigation.
To inquire into, to make examination ; to
seek for particular information. Inquire
into the time, manner and place. Inquire
into all the circumstances of the case.
INQUI'RE, I'. (. To ask about; to seek by
asking ; as, he itiquired the way ; but the
phrase is elliptical, for inquire for the
way.
INQUI'RENT, a. Making inquiry.
INQUI'RER, n. One who asks a question ;
one who interrogates ; one who searches
or examines ; one who seeks for knowl-
edge or information.
INQUI'RING, ppr. Seeking for information
by asking questions ; asking ; questioning :
interrogating ; examining.
INQUl'RY, n. [Norm, enquerre, fromquerer,
to inquire.]
1. The act of inquiring; a seeking for in-
formation by asking questions; interroga-
Tlie men who were sent from Cornelius, h.-id
made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood be-
fore the gate. Acts x.
2. Search for truth, information or knowl-
edge ; research ; examination into facts or
principles by proposing and discussing
questions, by solving problems, by experi-
ments or other modes ; as physical irujui-
7-ies ; inquiries about philosophical knowl-
edge. Locke.
The first inquiry of a rational being should
be, who made mc ? the second, why was I
made ? who is my Creator, and what is his
wiU ?
INQUISI"TION, n. s as r. [Fr. from I..
inquisiiio, inquiro. See Inquire.]
1. Inquiry ; examination ; a searching or
search. Ps. ix.
2. Judicial inquiry ; official examination ; in-
quest.
The justices in eyre had it formerly in charge
to make inquisition concerning them by a jury
of the county. Blackstone.
3. Examination ; discussion. Bacort.
4. In some catholic couutries, a court or tri-
bunal established for the examination and
punishment of heretics. This court was
established in the twelfth century by father
Dominic, who was charged by pope Inno-
cent III. with orders to excite catholic
jirinccs and people to extirpate heretics.
Encyc.
INQUISI'TIONAL, a. Making inquiry;
busy in inquiry. Sterne.
INQUISITIVE, a. s as r. Apt to ask ques-
tions; addicted to inquiry; inclined to
seek information by questions ; followed
bj' about or after. He was very inquisi-
tive about or after news. Children are
usually inquisitive.
2. Inclined to seek knowledge by discussion,
investigation or observation; given to re-
search. He possesses an inquisitive mind
or disposition. We live in an inquisitive
age.
INQUIS'ITIVE, n. A person who is inquisi-
tive ; one curious in research. Temple.
INQUISITIVELY, adv. With curiosity to
obtain information ; with scrutiny.
INQUIS'lTIVENESS, n. The disposition
to obtain information by questioning oth-
ers, or by researches into facts, causes or
principles ; curiosity to learn what is not
known. The worksof nature furnish am-
ple matter for the inquisitiveness of the
human mind.
INQUISITOR, n. [L. See Inquire.] One
wlio inquires ; particularly, one whose offi-
cial duty it is to inquire and examine.
Dry den.
2. A member of the court of inquisition in
Catholic countries. Encyc.
INQUISITORIAL, a. Pertaining to inqui-
sition ; as inquisitorial power.
2. Pertaining to the catholic court of inqui-
sition ; as inquisitorial tragedy. Encyc.
Inquisitorial robes. Buchanan.
INQUISITO'RIOUS, a. Making strict in-
quiry. Milton.
INRA'IL, V. t. [in and rail.] To rail in ; to
lose with rails. Hooker. Gay.
INRA'ILED, pp. Inclosed with rails.
INRA'ILING,p;jr. Inclosing with rails.
INREti'ISTER, V. t. [Fr. tnregistrer. See
Registtr.]
To register ; to record ; to enter in a register.
JValsh.
IN'ROAD, n. [in and road.] The entrance
of an enemy into a country with purposes
of hostility ; a sudden or desultory incur-
sion or invasion. The confines of Eng-
land and Scotland were formerly harassed
with frequent inroads. The English made
inroads into Scotland, and the Scots into
England, and the country was sometimes
desolated.
2. Attack ; encroachment.
INSA'FETY, 71. Want of safety. [III.]
jVaunto-n.
I N S
INSALll'BRIOUS, a. [in and salubrious.'
Not salubrious ; not healthful ; uufavora
ble to health ; unwholesome ; as an insa-
lubrious air «r climate.
INSALU'BRITY, n. [in and salubrity.
Want of salubrity ; unhealthfulness ; un
wholesomeness; as the insalubrity of air,
water or climate.
INSAL'UTARY, o. [in and salutary.] No
salutary ; not favorable to health or sound
ness.
2. Not tending to safety; productive of evil
INSAN'ABLE, a. [L. insanabilis ; in and
sano, to heal.] Incurable ; that cannot be
healed. Johnson
INSA'NE, a. [L. insanus ; in and sarins
sound.]
1. Unsound in mind or intellect ; mad ; de-
ranced in mind ; delirious ; distracted.
Shak.
[In the sense of making mad, it is Uttle
used.]
2. Used by or appropriated to insane per-
S071S ; as an insane hospital.
INSA'NE, n. An insane person ; as a hos-
pital for the insane.
INSA'NELY, adj). Madly; foolishly; with-
out reason. Montgomery.
INSA'NENESS, ) The state of being un-
INSAN'ITY, ^"- sound in mind; de-
rangement of intellect ; madness. Insan-
ity is chiefly used, and the word is applica-
ble to any degree of mental derangement,
from slight dehrium or wandering, to dis-
traction. It is however rarely used to ex-
press slight, temporary delirium, occasion-
ed by fever or accident.
INSAP'ORY, a. [L. in and sapor, taste.]
Tasteless; wanting flavor. [Not used.]
Herbert
INSA'TIABLE, o. insa'shable. [Fr. fiomL
insaliabilis ; in and satio, to satisfy.]
Incapable of being satisfied or appeased
very greedy ; as an insatiable appetite or
desire ; insatiable thirst.
INSA'TIABLENESS, n. insa'shableness.
Greediness of appetite that cannot be sat-
isfied or appeased. King Charles
INSA'TIABLY, adv. insa'shably. With
greediness not to be satisfied. South.
INSA'TIATE, a. insa'shate. [L. insatiatus.]
Not to be satisfied ; insatiable ; as insatiate
tliirst. Philips.
INSA'TIATELY, adv. So greedily as not
to be satisfied.
INSATI'ETY, n. Insatiableness.
Granger
INSATISFAC'TION, n. Want of satisfac-
tion. Bacon
INSAT'URABLE, a. [L. insaturabilis ; ir,
and salur, full.]
Not to be saturated, filled or glutted.
Johnson
INSCI'ENCE, n. [in and science.] Igno-
rance; want of knowledge.
Ch. Relig. Appeal.
INS€RI'BE, V. t. [L. inscriho ; in and scribo,
to write, Eng. to scrape. See Scribe.]
1. To write on ; to engrave on for per])etu
ty or duration ; as, to inscribe a line c
verse on a monument, on a column or
pillar.
2. To imprint on ; as, to inscribe any thing
on the mind or memoi-y.
3. To assign or address to ; to commend to
INS
by a short address, less formal than a
dedication ; as, to inscribe an ode or a
book to a prince.
4. To mark with letters, characters or
words ; as, to inscribe a stone with a
name.
5. To draw a figure within another, so that
all the angles of the figure inscribed touch
the angles, sides or planes of the other
figure. Johnson. Encyc.
INSCRI'BED, pp. Written on ; engraved ;
marked; addressed.
INSeRI'BER, n. One who inscribes.
Potvnall.
INS€RI'BING, ppr. Writing on; engra-
ving ; marking ; addressing.
INS€RIP'TION, 71. [Fr. from L. inscriptio.
See Inscribe.]
1. Something written or engraved to com-
municate knowledge to after ages; any
character, word, line or sentence written
or engraved on a solid substance for du-
ration ; as inscriptions on monuments,
called epitaphs, on pillars, &c. We do
not call by this name, writings on paper or
parchment.
2. A title.
3. An address or consignment of a book to
a person, as a mark of respect, or an inv'
tation of patronage. It is less formal than
a dedication.
INS€RIP'TIVE, a. Bearing inscription
INS€ROLL, V. t. To write on a scroll.
INS€RUTABIL'ITY, ) The quality of
INS€RU'TABLENESS, S being inscru
table.
INS€RU'TABLE, a. [Fr. from L. inscruta
bilis ; in and scrutor, to search.]
1. Unsearchable; that cannot be searched
into and understood by inquiry or study
The designs of the emperor appear to be
inscrutable.
2. That cannot be penetrated, discovered or
understood by human reason. The ways
of Providence are often inscrutable. Mys-
teries are inscrutable.
INS€RU'TABLY, adv. In a manner or de-
gree not to be found out or understood
The moral government of an infinite being
must often be inscrutably dark and myste
rious.
INS€ULP', V. t. [L. insculpo ; in and sculpo,
to engrave.] To engrave ; to carve. [Lnt-
tie used.] Shak.
lNS€ULP'TION, J!. Inscription. [lAttlt
used.] Tourneur.
INSeULP'TURE, ?i. An engraving; sculp-
ture. [See Sculpture, which is generally
used.] Shak.
INSE'AM, V. t. [in and seam.] To impress
or mark with a seam or cicatrix. [Poet-
ical.] Pope
INSEARCH, I', t. inserch'. To make search,
[Not used.] Elyot
INSE€'ABLE, a. [L. insecabilis ; in and
seco, to cut.]
That cannot be divided by a cutting instru-
ment ; indivisible. Encyc
IN'SE€T, n. [L. insccta, plu., from inseco
to cut in ; in and seco, to cut. This name
seems to have been originally given to cer-
tain small animals whose bodies appear
cut in, or almost divided. So in Greek
ft'ro/ta.]
I N S
1. In zoology, a small invertebral animal,
breathing by lateral spiracles, and fur-
nished with articulated extremities and
movable antennse. Most insects pass
through three states or metamorphoses,
the larva, the chrysalis, and the perfect
insect. The class of insects, in the Lin-
nean system, is divided into seven orders,
the last of which (Aptera) includes the
Crustacea, which breathe by gills, and the
Arachnides, which have no antennae, now
forming two distinct classes.
Linne. Cuvier.
The term insect has been applied, but
improperly, to other small invertebral ani-
mals of the Linnean class Vermes.
Encyc.
2. Any thing small or contemptible.
Thomson.
IN'SECT, a. Small; mean; contemptible.
INSE€TA'TOR, n. [L.] A persecutor.
[l/ittle used.]
INSE€T'ED, a. Having the nature of an
insect. Howell.
INSE€T'ILE, a. Having the nature of in-
sects. Bacon.
INSE€T'ILE, n. An insect. [Not used.]
Wotton.
INSEC'TION, n. A cutting in ; incisure ;
incision.
INSECTIVOROUS, a. [insect and L. voro.,
to eat.]
Feeding or subsisting on insects. Many
winged animals are insectivorous.
Diet. Nat. Hist.
INSE€TOL'OGER,n. [insect and Gr. 7.0705.]
One who studies insects. [Not in use.
See Entomologist.]
INSECU'RE, a. [in and secure.] Not se-
cure ; not safe ; not confident of safety :
used of persons. No man can be quiet,
when he feels insecure.
3. Not safe ; not effectually guarded or pro-
tected; unsafe; exposed to danger or loss.
Goods on the ocean are insecure. Hay
and grain unhoused are insecure. Debts
are often insecure.
INSEeU'RELY, adv. Without security 01
safety ; without certainty. Chesterfield.
INSEeU'RITY, n. [in and security.] Want
of safety, or want of confidence in safety.
Seamen in a tempest must be conscious of
their insecurity.
2. Uncertainty. With what insecurity of
truth we ascribe effects to unseen causes.
3. Want of safety ; danger ; hazard ; expo-
sure to destruction or loss ; applied to
things ; as the insecurity of a building ex-
posed to fire ; the insecurity of a debt.
INSECU'TION, n. [L. insecutio.] Pursuit.
Chapman.
INSEM'INATE, v. t. [L. insemino.] To
sow. [Utile used.]
INSEMINA'TION, n. The act of sowing.
[Little used.]
INSENSATE, a. [Fr. insense; L. m and
senstis, sense.]
Destitute of sense; stupid; foolish ; wanting
sensibility. Milton. Hammond.
INSENSIBIL'ITY, n. [from insensible.]
1. Want of sensibility, or the power of feel-
ing or perceiving. A frozen limb is in a
state of imsensibilily, as is an animal body
after death.
INS
3. Want of the power to be moved or affect
ed; wantof tenderness or susceptibility of
emotion and passion. Not to be moved at
the distresses of others denotes an insensi-
, bility extremely unnatural.
3. Dullness; stupidity ; torpor.
INSENS'IBLE, a. [Fr. Sp. from L. in and
aensus, sense, sentio, to feel.]
1. Imperceptible ; that cannot be felt or per-
ceived. The motion of the earth is insens-
ible to the eye. A plant grows, and the
body decays by insensible degrees. The
humors of the body are evacuated by in
sensible perspiration.
The dense and bright light of the circle will
obscure the rare and weak light of these dark
colors round about it, and reader them almost
insensible. jVewton
3. Destitute of the power of feeUng or per-
ceiving ; wanting corporeal sensibility,
An injury to the spine often renders the
inferior parts of the body insensible.
3. Not susceptible of emotion or passion
void of feeling ; wanting tenderness. To
be insensible to the sufferings of our fellow
men is inhuman. To be insensible of dan-
ger is not always evidence of courage.
4. Dull ; stupid ; torpid.
5. Void of sense or meaning ; as insensible
words. Hale. Du Ponceau
INSENS'IBLENESS, n. Inability to per-
ceive ; want of sensibility. [See Insensi
bility, which is generally used.]
INSENS'IBLY, adv. Imperceptibly ; in f
manner not to be felt or perceived by the
The hills rise inseiisibly.
2. By slow degrees
Mdi
Men often
slide insensibly into vicious habits.
INSENT'IENT, a. [in and sentient.] Not
having perception or the power of percep-
tion. Retd.
INSRP' ARABLE, a. [Fr. from L. insepara
bilis ; in and scparabilis, separo, to sepa
rate.]
That cannot be separated or disjoined ; no
to be parted. There is an inseparable con
nection between vice and suffering or pun
ishment.
INSEP'ARABLENESS, > , Tins quality
JNSEPARABIL'ITY, <, "• of being in
separable, or incapable of disjunctior
[The latter word is rarely used.] Loch
INSEP'ARABLY, adv. In a manner that
prevents separation ; with indissoluble
union. Bacon. Temple
INSEP'ARATE, a. Not separate. [.Vol
used.]
INSEP'ARATELY, adv. So as not to be
separated. [JVot used.] Cranmer
INSERT', I'. /. [Vr. inserer ; h.insero,inser-
turn ; in and sero, to thrust.]
Literally, to thrust in ; hence, to set in oi
among ; as, to insert a cion in a stock ; to
insert a letter, word or passage in a com-
position ; to insert an advertisement or
other writing in a paper.
INSERT'ED, pp. Set in or among.
INSERT'ING, p;)r. Setting in or among.
INSER'TION, n. [Fr. from L. insertio.]
1. The act of setting or placing in or among
other things ; as the insertion of cions in
stocks ; the insertion of words or passages
in writings ; the insertion of notices or es-
says in a public paper ; the insertion of ves-l
Vol. I.
I N S
sels, tendons, &c. in other parts of the
body.
2. The thing inserted. Broome.
INSERV'IENT, a. Conducive.
INSET', V. t. To infix or implant.
Chaucer.
INSIIA'DED, a. Marked with different
shades. Browne.
INSHELL', V. t. To hide in a shell. Shak.
INSIIKL'TER, v.i. To shelter. Shak.
L\SHIP', II. t. To ship; to embark. Shak.
INSIIRINE. [See Enshrine.]
IN'SIDE, n. [in and side.] The interior
jiart of a thing; internal part ; opposed to
outside; as the insirfe of a church ; the iii-
side of a letter.
INSiniATE, II. t. [L. insidior.] To lie in
ambush for.
INSID'IATOR, n. One who lies in ambush.
[ Barrow.
llNSID'IOUS, a. [L:insidiosus, from insideo,
j to lie in wait ; in and sedeo, to sit.]
1. Properly, lying in wait ; hence, watching
an opportunity to insnare or entrap ; de-
ceitful ; sly ; treacherous ; used of persons.
2. Intended to entrap ; as insidious arts.
INSII) lOrSLY, adv. With intention to in
siinrc; chceiifuUy ; treacherously; with
I njaliriiiMs ;ntifice or stratagem. Bacon
INSID'IOl'SNESS, n. A watching for an
! opportunity to insnare ; deceitfulness
I treachery. Barrow.
'IN'SIGHT, n. in'sitc. [in and sight.] Sight
or view of the interior of any thing ; deep
inspection or view ; introspection ; thor
oiigh knowledge or skill.
A garden gives us a great insight into the
contrivance and wisdom of Providence.
Spectator.
INSIG'NIA, n. [L. plu.] Badges or distin-
guishing marks of oftice or honor.
Burke
2. Marks, signs or visible impressions, by
which any thing is known or distin-
guished. Beattie
INSIGNIF'I€ANCE, ) , [in and signlji-
INSIGNIF'I€ANCY, S cance.]
1. Want of significance or meaning ; as the
insipiificance of words or phrases.
2. Unimportance; want offeree or effect;
as the insignificance of human art or of
ceremonies. Addison
.3. Want of weisrht ; meanness.
INSIGNIF'I€ANT, a. [in and significant.]
1. Void of signification; destitute of mean-
ing ; as insignificant words.
2. Unimportant ; answering no purpose
insignifi-
U
having no weight or effect;
cant rites
.3. Without weight of character; mean ; con-
temptible ; as an imignificant being oi
fellow.
INSIGNIFICANT, n. An insignificant, tri
fling or worthless thing. Taller
INSIGNIFICANTLY, adv. Without mean-
ing, as words.
2. Without importance or effect; to no pur
Not expressing
bv external signs,
INSINCE'RE, a. [L. insincerus ; in and
sincenis, sincere.]
I. Not sincere ; not being in truth what one
appears to be ; dissembling ; hypocritical ;
false ; used of persons ; as an
heart.
Ill
I N S
2. Deceitful ; hypocritical ; false ; used of
things ; as insincere declarations or pro-
fessions.
3. Not sound.
INSINCERELY, adv. Without sincerity :
hvpocritically.
INSINCER'ITY, n. Dissimulation; want
of sincerity or of being in reality what one
appears to be ; hypocrisy ; used of persons.
Deceitfulness ; hollow ness ; used of things ;
as the insincerity of |irofessions.
INSIN'EW, V. t. [in and sinew.] To
strengthen ; to give vigor to. Shak.
INSIN'UANT, a. [Fr. from L. jnst'niinns.]
Insinuating ; having the power to gain fa-
vor. [Little used.] fVotton.
INSIN'UATE, v.t. [Fr.tJin.iucr; h. in-
sinuo ; in and sinus, the bosom, a bay,
inlet or recess.]
1. To introduce gently, or into a narrow pas-
sage ; to wind in. Water insinuates itsell"
into the crevices of rocks.
2. To push or work one's self into favor ; to
introduce by slow, gentle or artful means.
He insinuated himself into the very good
grace of the duke of Buckingham. Clarendon.
3. To hint; to suggest by remote allusion.
And all the fictions bards pursue.
Do but insimiate what's true. Swift.
4. To instill ; to infuse gently ; to introduce
artfully.
AU the art of rhetoric, besides order and clear-
ness, are for nothing else but to insinuate
wrong ideas, move the passions and thereby
mislead the judgment. Locke.
INSIN'UATE, V. i. To creep in ; to wind
in ; to flow in ; to enter gently, slowly or
imperceptibly, as into crevices.
2. To gain on the affections liy gentle or art-
ful means, or by imperceptible degrees;
as insinuating flattery.
.3. To wind along. Millon.
INSIN'UATED, pp. Introduced or convey-
ed gently, imperceptibly or by winding
into crevices ; hinted.
INSIN'UATING, ppr. Creeping or winding
in; flowing in; gaining on gently ; hint-
ing.
2. a. Tending to enter gently; insensibly
winning favor and confidence.
INSINUATION, Ji. [Fr. from L. insinua-
tio.]
1. The act of insinuating ; a creeping or
winding in ; a flowing into crevices.
2. The act of gaining on favor or affections,
by gentle or artful means.
3. The art or power of pleasing and stealing
on the affections.
He had a natural insinuatioti and address,
wliich made him acceptable in the best com-
pany. Clarendon.
4. A hint ; a suggestion or intimation by dis-
tant allusion. Slander may be conveyed
by insinuations.
INSIN'UATIVE, a. Stealing on the affec-
tions. Bacon.
INSINUATOR, n. One who insinuates;
one that hints.
INSIPID, a. [Fr. insipide ; L. insipidus ;
I in and sapidus, sapio, to taste.]
|1. Tasteless; destitute of taste; wanting the
I qualities which affect the organs of taste ;
i vapid ; as insipid liquor.
[2. Wanting spirit, life or animation ; want-
ing pathos, or the power of exciting emo-
I tions ; flat ; dull ; heavy ; as an insipid
address ; an insipid composition.
INS
INS
I N S
3. Wanting power to gratify desire ; as in-
sipul pleasures.
1. Want of taste, or the power of exciting
sensation in the tongue.
2. AVant of life or spirit.
Dryden's lines shine strongly through the in-
sipidity of Tate's. Pope.
INSIP'IDLY, adv. Witliout taste ; without
spirit or life ; without enjoyment. Locke.
INSIP'lENCE, n. [L. iiisipientia ; in and
sapio, to be wise.]
Want of wisdom ; folly ; foolishness ; want
of understanding.
INSIST', v.i. [Fr. insister ; L.insisio; in
and nsto, to stand.]
1. Literally, to stand or rest on. [Rarely
jtsed.] Ray.
2. In geometry, an angle is said to insist upon
the arc of the circle intercepted between
the two lines which contain the angle.
3. To dwell on in discourse ; as, to insist on
a particular topic.
To insist on, to press or urge for any
thing with immovable firmness ; to per-
sistin demands ; as, to insist on oppressive
terms in a treaty ; to insist on immediate
payment of a debt.
(NSIST'ENT, a. Standing or resting on ;
as an insistent h all. [Little vsed.]
Wotton.
INSIST'URE, n. A dwelling or standing
on ; fixedness. Ohs. Shak.
INSIT'IENCY, n. [L. in and sih'o, to thirst.]
Freedom from thirst. Grew.
INSI"TION, n. [h. insitio, {rom insitus, in-
sero, to plant.]
The insertion of a cion in a stock ; ingraft-
ment. Ray.
INSNA'RE, V. t. [in and snare.] To catcli
in a snare ; to entrap ; to take by artificial
means.
2. To inveigle ; to seduce by artifice ; to
take by wiles, stratagem or deceit. The
flattering tongue is apt to insnare the art-
less youth.
3. To entangle ; to involve in difliculties oi
perplexities.
[This word is often written ensnare, but in-
snare is the trueorthograpliy.]
INSNA'RED, pp. Caught in a snare ; en-
trapped; inveigled ; involved in perplex-
ities.
INSNA'RER, n. One that insnares.
INSNA'RING, ppr. Catching in a snare
entrapping ; seducing ; involving in difli-
culties.
INSOBRI'ETY, n. [in ami sobriety.] Warn
of sobriety ; intemperance ; drunkenness
Decay of Piety.
INSO'CIABLE, a. [Fr.fromh. insociabili's ;
in and sociabUis, socio, to unite.]
1. Not inclined to unite in social converse
not given to conversation ; unsociable
taciturn.
3. That cannot be joined or connected.
Lime and wood are insocidble. [JVot in use.']
Wotton.
IN'SOLATE, v.t. [h.insolo; in and «o/, the
sun]
To dry in the sun's rays; to expose to the
heat of the sun ; to ripen or prepare by
exposure to the sun.
IN'SOLATED, pp. Exposed to the sun
dried or matured in the sun's rays.
IN'SOLATING, ppr. Exposing to the ac-
tion of sun-beams.
INSOLA'TION, n. The act of exposing to
the rays of the sun for drying or matur-
ing, as fruits, drugs, &c. or for rendering
acid, as vinegar, or for promoting some
chimical action of one substance on an-
other.
2. A stroke of the sun ; the action of ex-
treme heat on the brain. Battie.
IN'SOLENCE, n. [Fr. from L. insolentia ;
and soleo, to be accustomed.]
Pride or haughtiness manifested in con-
temptuous and overbearing treatment of
others ; petulant contempt ; impudence.
Johnson.
Blown with insolence and wine. Milton.
IN'SOLENCE, V. t. To treat with haughty
conteinpt. [JVot used.] K. Charles.
IN'SOLENT, a. Proud and haughty, with
contempt of others ; overbearing ; domi-
neering in power ; as an insolent master.
Atterbury.
2. Proceeding from insolence ; haughty and
contemptuous; as insolent words or be-
havior.
•3. Unaccustomed; the primary sense. [J^ot
used.]
IN'SOLENTLY, adv. With contemptuous
pride ; haughtily ; rudely ; saucily.
Dryden.
INSOLID'ITY, «. [in and solidity.] VV
of solidity ; weakness. More.
INSOLUBILITY, n. [from insoluble.] The
quality of not being soluble or dissolvable,
particularlv in a fluid.
INSOL'UBLE, a. [Fr. from L. insolubilis ;
in and solvo, to dissolve.]
1. That cannot be dissolved, particularly by
a liquid. We say a substance is insoluble
in water, when its parts will not separate
and mix with that fluid.
2. Not to be solved or explained ; not to be
resolved ; as a doubt or difliculty. [JM'ot
much used.]
INSOLV'ABLE, a. [Fr. from L. in and
solvo, to loosen or dissolve.]
L Not to be cleared of difliculty or uncer-
tainty ; not to be solved or explained ;
not admitting solution or explication ; as
an insolvable problem or difliculty.
ffaUs.
2. That cannot be paid or discharged.
Pope.
INSOLVENCY, n. [infra.] Inability of a
person to pay all his debts ; or the state of
wanting property sufficient for such pay-
ment ; as a merchant's insolvency.
2. Insufliciency to discharge all debts of the
owner ; as the insolvency of an estate.
Act of insolvency. [See infra. Insolvent law.]
INSOLVENT, a. [L. in and solvens, solvo.
to solve, to free, to pay.]
1. Not having money, goods or estate suffi-
cient to pay all debts ; as an insolvent
debtor.
2. Not sufficient to pay all the debts of the
owner ; as an insolvent estate.
3. Respecting insolvent debtors ; relieving
an insolvent debtor from imprisonment
for debt, or from liability to arrest and im-
prisonment for debts previously contract-
ed ; as an insolvent law.
Daggett. Sergea7it
Insolvent law, or act of insolvency, a law
which liberates a debtor from imprison-
ment, or exempts him from liability to ar-
rest and imprisonment on account of any
debt previously contracted. These terms-
may be considered as generic, comprehend-
ing also bankrupt laws, which protect a
man's future acquisitions from his credit-
ors. But in a hmited sense, as the words
are now generally used, an insolvent law-
extends only to protect the person of the
debtor from imprisonment on account of
debts previously contracted.
Stat, of Conti. fVheaton's Rep.
INSOLVENT, n. A debtor unable to pay
his debts. Sergeant.
INSOM'NIOUS, a. [L. insomniosus ; or
in and sommis, sleep.] Troubled with
dreams ; restless in sleep.
INSOMUCH', adv. [in, so, and much.] So
that ; to that degree.
Simonides was an excellent poet, insomuch
that he made his fortune by it. L'Estrange.
[This word or combination of words is not
deemed elegant, and is obsolescent, at
least in classical composition.]
INSPECT', V. t. [L. inspicio, inspectum ; in
and specio, to view.]
1. To look on ; to view or oversee for the
purpose of examination. It is the duty of
parents to inspect the conduct or maimers
of their children.
2. To look into ; to view and examine, for
the purpose of ascertaining the quality or
condition of a thing ; as, to inspect pot-
ash ; to inspect flour ; to inspect arms.
3. To view and examine for the purj)ose of
discovering and correcting errors ; as, to
inspect the press, or the proof-^sheets of a
book.
4. To superintend.
INSPECT', n. Close examination. [JVot
used.] Thomson.
INSPECT'ED, pp. Viewed with care ; ex-
amined bv the eye or oflicially.
INSPECT'lNG, ;)jBr. Looking on or into;
viewing with care ; examining for ascer-
taining tlie quality or condition.
INSPECTION, n. [Fr. from L. inspectio.]
A looking on or into ; prying examina-
tion ; close or careful survey ; as the (l\-
\\ne inspection into the affairs of the world.
Bentle^j.
Watch ; guardianship ; as a youth placed
at school under the inspection of a friend.
3. Superintendence ; oversight. The forti-
fications are to be executed under the in-
spection of an oflicerof the army.
4. Official view ; a careful viewing and ex-
amining of commodities or manufactures,
to ascertain their quaUty ; as the inspec-
tion of flour.
5. Ofiicial examination, as of arms, to see
that thev are in good order for service.
INSPECT'OR, 71. One who inspects, views
or oversees ; as an inspector of morals ; an
inspector of the press.
2. A superintendent ; one to whose care the
execution of any work is committed, for
the purpose of seeing it faithfully perform-
ed.
3. An officer whose duty is to examine the
quality of goods or commodities offered
for sale.
4. An officer of the customs.
5. A military officer whose duty is to inspect
the troops and examine their arms.
INS
INSPECTORATE, ^ The office of an
INSPECTORSHIP, \ "' inspector.
IVashinglon.
INSPERS'ED, a. Sprinkled on. [Mt
used.]
INSPER'SION, n. [L. inspersio, inspergo;
in and spargo, to scatter.] The act of
sprinkUng on. Mnsworth.
INSPEX'IMUS, n. [we have inspected ; the
first word of ancient charters, Ifc] An ex-
emplification.
INSPHE'RE, V. t. [in and sphere.] To place
in an orb or sphere. Milton.
INSPI'RABLE, o. [from inspire] That
may be inspired.
% That may be drawn into tlie lungs ; in
halable ; as air or vapors.
INSPIRA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. inspiro.
1. The act of drawing air into the lungs;
the inhaling of air ; a branch of respira
lion, and opposed to expiration.
',}. The act of breathing into any thing;.
."!. The infusion of ideas into the mind by
the Holy Spirit ; the conveying into the
minds of men, ideas, notices or monitions
by extraordinary or supernatural influence;
or the communication of the divine will
to the understaiiding by suggestions or
impressions on the mind, which leave no
room to doubt the reality of their super-
natural origin.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.
2 Tim. lU.
4. The infusion of ideas or directions by the
supposed deities of pagans.
5. The infusion or communication of ideas
or poetic spirit, by a superior being or sup
posed presiding power ; as the inspiration
of Homer or other poet.
IN'SPIRATORY, a. Pertaining to inspira
tion, or inhaling air into the lungs.
Med. Repos
INSPI'RE, V. i. [L. inspiro; in and spiro
to breathe; Fr. inspirer.]
To draw in breath ; to inhale air into tlic
lungs ; opposed to expire.
INSPI'RE, V. t. To breathe into.
Ye nine, descend and sing,
The breathing instruments inspire. Pope.
8. To infuse by breathing.
He knew not his Maker, and him that ill
spired into him an active soul. Wisdom
3. To infuse into the mind; as, to inspire with
new life.
4. To infuse or suggest ideas or monitions
supernaturally ; to communicate divin
stnictions to the mind. In this maimer,
we suppose the prophets to have been in
spired, and the Scrijrtures to have been
composed under divine influence or di
rection.
5. To infuse ideas or poetic spirit.
6. To draw into the lungs ; as, to inspire and
expire the air with difficulty. Harvey.
INSPI'RED, pp. Breathed in ; inhaled ; in-
fused.
2. Informed or directed by the Holy Spirit.
INSPI'RER, n. He that inspires.
INSPI'RING, ppr. Breathing in ; inhaling
into the lungs; infusing into the mind su-
pernaturally.
2. a. Infusing spirit or courage ; animating.
INSPIR'IT, V. t. \in and spirit.] To infuse
• or excite spirit in ; to enliven ; to animate ;
to give new life to; to encourage ; to in-
vigorate.
I N S
The courage of Agamemnon is inspirited by
the love of empire and ambition. Pope.
INSPIR'ITED, pp. Enhvened ; animated ;
invigorated.
INSPIRITING, ppr. Infusing spirit ; giv-
ing new life to.
INSPIS'SATE, V. I. [L. in and spissus, thick.]
To thicken, as fluids ; to bring to greater
consistence by evaporating the thinner
parts, &c.
INSPIS'SATED, pp. Thickened, as a li-
quor.
INSPIS'SATING, ppr. Thickening, as a li-
quor.
INSPISSA'TION, n. The act or oi)eration
of rendering a fluid substance thicker by
evaporation, &c.
INSTABILITY, n. [Fr. instability; h.in-
stabilitas, instabilis ; in and stabilis, from
sto, to stand.]
1. Want of stability ; want of firmness in
pmpose ; inconstancy ; fickleness ; inula
bility of opinion or conduct. Instability is
the characteristic of weak minds.
2. Changeableness ; mutability ; as the in
stability of laws, plans or measures.
INSTA'BLE, a. [L. instabilis.] Inconstant ;
prone to change or recede from a purpose;
mutable ; of persons.
2. Not steady or fixed ; changeable ; oj
things.
[Instable and unstable are synonymous, and
the latter is more commonly used.]
INSTA'BLENESS, n. Unstableness ; mu
tability ; instability.
INSTALL', D. «. [Fr. installer; S\i. instalar
It. installare ; from G. stall, from stellen
D. stellen, to set, Gr. ;irh.j, to send.]
To set, place or instate, in an oflice, rank oi
order; to invest with any charge, office or
rank, with the customary ceremonies. To
i/istall a clergyman or minister of the gos-
pel, is to place one who has been previ
ously ordained, over a particular church
and congregation, or to invest an ordain-
ed minister with a particular pastoral
charge ; in England, to induct a dean,
prebendary or other ecclesiastical ilignita-
ry into possession of the church to whicli
he belongs.
INSTALLA'TION, n. The act of givin«
possession of an office, rank or order, with
the customary ceremonies.
On the election, the bishop gives a mandate
for his installation. .'lyliffe.
INSTALL'ED, pp. Placed in a seat, office
or order.
INSTALL'ING, ppr. Placing in a seat, of-
fice or order.
INSTALLMENT, n. The act of installing,
or giving possession of an office with the
usual ceremonies or solemnities. IShak.
2. The seat in which one is placed. [Un-
usual.] Shak
3. Ill commerce, a part of a large sum of
money paid or to be paid at a particular
period. In constituting a capital stock by
subscriptions of individuals, it is custoraa
ry to afford facilities to subscribers by di
viding the sum subscribed into installments,
or portions payable at distinct periods. In
large contracts also, it is not unusual to
agree that the money shall be paid by in
stattments.
INS
IN'STANCE, n. [Fr. from L. inslo, to press ;
in and sto, to stand.] Literally, a stand-
ing on. Hence,
1. Urgency ; a pressing ; solicitation ; im-
portunity ; application. The request was
granted at the instance of the defendant's
advocate.
2. Example; a case occurring ; a case offer-
ed. Howard fiirnislied a remarkable in-
stance of disinterested benevolence. The
world may never witness a second in-
stance of the success of daring enterprise
and usurpation, equal to that of Buona-
parte.
Suppose the earth should bo removed nearer
to tlie sun, and revolve, for instance, in the or-
bit of Mercuiy, the whole ocean would boil
with heat. Benttey.
The use of instances, is to illustrate and ex-
plain a difficulty. Baker.
3. Time ; occasion ; occurrence.
These seem as if, in the lime of Edward
I, they were drami up into the form of a
law, in the first ijtstance. Hale.
4. Motive ; influence. Obs. Shak.
5. Process of a suit. 06s. .tyliffe.
Instance-court, a branch of the court of
admiralty, in England, distinct from the
])rize-court.
IN'STANCE, V. i. To give or ofitr an ex-
ample or case.
As to false citations — I shall instance in two
or three. Tillotson.
L\'STANCE, V. t. To mention as an exam-
ple or case. He instanced the event of
Cesar's death.
IN'STANCED, pp. or a. Given in proof or
as an example. Bp. Hall.
IN'STANT, a. [Fr. from L. instans, insto.]
1. Pressing; urgent; importunate; earnest.
Rejoicing in hope ; patient in tribulation ;
continuing instant in prayer. Rom. xii.
2. Immediate ; without intervening time ;
present.
Impending death is thine and instant doom.
Prior.
3. Quick ; making no delay.
Iitstant he flew nith hospitable haste.
Pope.
4. Present ; current. On the tenth of Jidy
instant.
IN'STANT, n. A point in duration ; a mo-
ment ; a part of duration in which we per-
ceive no succession, or a part that occu-
pies the time of a single thought.
2. A particular time. Shak.
INSTANTANE'ITY, n. Unpremeditated
production. Shenstone.
INSTANTANEOUS, a. [Fr. inslantani ;
Sp. It. instantaneo.]
Done in an instant ; occurring or acting with-
out any perceptible succession ; very
speedily. The passage of electricity
through any given space appears to be
instantaneous.
INSTAN'TA'NEOUSLY, adv. In an in-
stant ; in a moment ; in an indivisible
point of duration. The operations of the
human mind are wonderful ; our thoughts
fly from world to world instantaneously.
In the western parts of the Atlantic states
of America, showers of rain sometimes
beeiii insta7itaneously.
INSTANTANEOUSNESS, n. The quaU-
tv of being done in an instant.
INSTANT' ER, adv. [L.] In law, immedi-
ately ; at the present lime ; withoiit delay.
I N S
I N
I N S
The party was compelled to plead instan-
ter.
IN'STANTLY, adv. Immediately ; without
.my intervening time; at the moment.
Lightning often kills instantly.
2. With urgent importunity.
And when they came to Jesus, they besought
him instantly, saying, that he was worthy lor
whom he should do this. Luke vii.
3. With diligence and earnestness. Acts
xxvi.
INST^AR, V. /. [in and star.] To
adorn with stars, or with brilliants.
A golden throne
Instarr'd with gems. /• Sari
INSTA'TE, V. t. Jin and state.] To set or
place ; to establish, as in a rank or con-
dition ; as, to instate a person in greatness
or in favor. South. Atlerhury.
2. To invest. Ohs. Shak.
INSTA'TED, pp. Set or placed.
INSTA'TING, ppr. Setting or placing.
INSTAURA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. mslau-
ratio, instauro, to renew.]
Renewal ; repair ; re-establishment ; the res-
toration of a thing to its former state, af-
ter decay, lapse or dilapidation.
INSTAURA'TOR, n. One who renews or
restores to a former condition. More.
INSTEAD, insted'. [a compound of in and
stead, place ; but stead retains its character
of a noun, and is followed by of; instead
of, in the same manner as in the stead of]
In the place or room of.
Let thistles grow instead of wheat. Job
xxxi.
Absalom made Amasa captain of the host in-
stead of Joab. 2 Sam. xvii.
This consideration is instead of a thou-
sand arguments. In this use, instead may
be equivalent to equal to.
When instead is used without of follow-
ing, there is an ellipsis, or some words are
understood.
INSTEE'P, V. t. [in and sleep.] To steep or
soak ; to drench ; to macerate in moisture.
Shak.
2. To keep under or in water.
INSTEE'PED, ppr. Steeped ; soaked ;
drenched ; lying under water.
INSTEE'PING, ppr. Steeping; soaking.
IN'STEP, n. [in and step.] The instep of
the human foot, is the fore part of the up-
per side of the foot, near its junction with
the leg.
Q. The instep of a horse, is that part of the
hind leg, which reaches from the ham to
the pastern-joint. Encyc.
IN'STIGATE, V. t. [L. instigo ; in and sti-
go, inusit., Gr. r'f"j to prick.]
To incite ; to set on ; to provoke ; to urge :
used chiefy or wholly in an ill sense ; as, tc
instigate one to evil ; to instigate to a
crime.
IN'STIGATED, pp. Incited or persuaded
as to evil.
IN'STIGATING, ppr. Inciting ; tempting
to evil.
INSTIGA'TION, n. Incitement, as to evil
or wickedness; the act of encouraging tc
commit a crime or some evil act.
9. Temptation ; impulse to evil ; as the hi
sligalion of the devil.
IN'STIGATOR, n. One who incites anoth
er to an evil act ; a tempter.
9. That which incites ; that which moves
persons to commit wickedness.
INSTILL', t'. t. [L. instillo; in and stillo, to
drop.]
To infuse by drops. Milton.
2. To infuse slowly, or by small quantities ;
, to instill good principles into the mind.
INSTILLA'TION, n. [L. instillatio.] The
act of infusing by drops or by small quan-
tities.
2. The act of infusing slowly into the mind.
3. That which is instilled or infused.
INSTILL'ED, pp. Infused by drops or by
slow degrees.
INSTILL'ER, n. He that instills.
INSTILL' ING, ppr. Infusing by drops or
by slow degrees. Shale.
INSTILL'MENT, n. Any thing instilled.
Shak
INSTIM'ULATE, v. t. To stimulate; to ex-
cite. [JVot used.]
INSTIM'ULATING, jsijor. Not stimulating;
not exciting vital powers. Chei/ne.
INSTIMULA'TION, n. [in and s«mute
Hon.]
The act of stimidating, inciting or urging
forward.
INSTINCT', a. [L. iiistinctus. See the
Noun.]
Moved; animated; e.xcited ; aa instinct with
spirit. Obs. Milton
Betulia— i»is(inf< with life. Faber
IN'STIN€T, Ji. [Fr. ; It. instinto,istinto; Sp.
I'on.instinto ; from L. imtinclus, inwardly
moved ; in and stinguo, Gr. f iju, yiyu.
See Distinguish, Extinguish. Tlie sense
of the root is to thrust ; hence the com-
pound, i»!siijir<us, signifies properly, thrust
in, infixed. See Instigate.]
A certain power or disposition of mind by
which, independent of all instruction or
experience, without deliberation and with-
out having any end in view, animals are
unerringly directed to do spontaneously
whatever is necessary for the preserva
tion of the individual, or the continuation
of the kind. Such, in the human species,
is the instinct of sucking exerted immedi
ately after birth, and that of insects in de
positing their eggs in situations most fa
vorable for hatching. Encyc.
Instinct may be defined, the operation of th
principle of organized life by the exercise
of certain natural powers directed to the
present or future good of the individual.
//!5<i«f( is the general property of the living
princijjle, or the law of organized life in a
state of action. Good.
And reason raise o'er instinct as you can.
In this 'tis God directs, in that 'tis man.
Pope.
INSTINeT'ED, a. Impressed ; as an ani-
mating power. [Little used.] Bentley.
INSTIN€'TION, n. Instinct. [jVoJ in use.]
Elyot.
INSTIN€T'IVE, a. Prompted by instinct ;
spontaneous ; acting without reasoning,
deliberation, instruction or experience ;
determined by natural impulse or propen-
sity. The propensity of bees to form hex-
agonal cells for holding their honey and
their young, must be instinctive.
INSTINCT'IVELY, adv. By force of
stinct; without reasoning, instruction or
experience ; by natural impulse.
IN'STITUTE, 'v. t. [L. institito ; in and
staluo, to set.]
1. To establish ; to appoint ; to enact ; tu
form and prescribe ; as, to institute laws ;
to institute rules and regulations.
2. To found ; to originate and establish ; as,
to insliiute a new order of nobility ; to in-
stitute a court.
3. To ground or establish in principles ; to
educate ; to instruct ; as, to institute chil-
dren in the principles of a science.
4. To begin ; to commence ; to set in opera-
tion ; as, to institute an inquiry ; to insti-
tute a suit.
To invest with the spiritual part of a ben-
efice or the care of souls. Blackstone.
IN'STITUTE, n. [L. institutum ; Fr. insti-
tut.]
1. Established law ; settled order.
2. Precept ; maxim ; principle.
To make the Stoic institutes thy own.
Dryden
A book of elements or principles ; partic-
ularly, a work containing the principless
of the Roman law. Encyc.
In Scots law, when a number of persons
in succession hold an estate in tail, the first
is called the institute, the others substitutes.
Encyc.
IN'STITUTED, pp. Established ; appoint-
ed ; founded ; enacted ; invested with the
care of souls.
IN'STITUTING,p;)r. Establishing; found-
ing ; enactiiig ; investing with the care of
souls.
INSTITU'TION, n. [Fr. from L. institutio.]
L The act of establishing.
2. Establishment ; that which is appointed,
prescribed or founded by authority, and
intended to be permanent. Thus we
speak of the institutions of Moses or Ly-
curgus. We apply the word institution to
laws, rites, and ceremonies, which are en-
joined by authority as permanent rules of
conduct or of government.
3. A system, plan or society established, ei-
ther by law or by the authority of individ-
uals for promoting any object, public or
social. We call a college or an academy,
a literary institution ; a bible society, a be-
nevolent or charitable institution ; a bank-
ing company and an insurance company
are commercial institutions.
A system of the elements or rules of any
art or science. Encyc.
5. Education ; instruction.
His learning was not the effect of precept or
institution. Bentley.
6. The act or ceremony of investing a clerk
with the spiritual part of a benefice, by
which the care of souls is committed to
his charge. Blackstone.
INSTITU'TIONAL, a. Enjoined ; institut-
ed by authority. Etym. Vocabulary.
INSTITUTIONARY, a. Elemental ; con-
taining the first principles or doctrines.
Brown.
IN'STITUTIST,»t. A writer of institutes or
elementary rules and instructions.
Harvey.
IN'STITUTIVE, a. That estabhshes ; hav-
ing power to establish. Barrow.
2. Established ; depending on institution.
Milton.
IN'STITUTOR, n. [L.] The person who
establishes ; one who enacts laws, rites
and ceremonies, and enjoins the observ-
ance of them.
INS
N S
INS
2, The person who founds amortlei, sect, so-
ciety or scheme for the promotion of a
public or social object.
3. An instructor ; one who educates ; as an
institutor of youth. tVaUcer.
INSTOP', V. t. [in and stop.] To stop ; to
close ; to make fast. [LitUe used.]
Druden.
INSTRA'TIFiED, a. Stratified within
Bomething else. Journ. of Science.
INSTRUCT', v.t. [L. instruo, instructum ; in
and struo, to set or to put on, to furnish ;
Fr. It. iiislruire ; Sp. iiistndr. The L.
struo is contracted from slruco or strugo.
See Destroy.]
1. To teach; to inform the mind; to edu-
cate; to impart knowledge to one who
was destitute of it. The first duty of pa-
rents is to instruct their children in the
principles of religion and morahty.
8. To direct; to enjoin; to persuade or ad-
monish.
She being before instructed by her mother,
said, give me here tlie head of John the Bap-
tist in a charger. Matt. xiv.
3. To direct or coniinand ; to funiisli with
orders. The president instructed his en-
voy to insist on the restitution of the
property.
4. To inform ; to advise or give notice to.
On this question the court is not instruct-
5. To model; to form; to prepare. [Mot
used.] Aytiffe.
INSTKUCT'ED, pp. Taught; informed;
trained up: educated.
lNSTKUeT''lBLE,a. Able to instruct. [III.
Bacon
INSTRUCT'ING, ppr. Teaching ; inform
ing the mind ; directing.
INSTRUe'TION, n. [Fr. from L. inslruc
tio.]
1. The act of teaching or informing the un-
derstanding in that of which it was before
ignorant ; information.
2. Precepts conveying knowledge.
Receive my instruction and not silver. Prov
viii.
3. Direction ; order ; command ; mandate
The minister received instructions from
his sovereign to demand a categorical an-
swer.
INSTRUCT'IVE, a. [Sp. instructivo ; It. in-
sirultivo ; Fr. instructif.]
Conveying knowledge ; serving to instructor
inform. Affliction furnishes very instruct
ive lessons.
INSTRUCT' IVELY, adv. So as to afford
instruction. Pope.
INSTRUeT'OR, n. A teacher ; a person
■who imparts knowledge to another by
precept or information. 1 Cor. iv.
2. The preceptor of a school or seminary of
learning; any president, professor or tu
tor, whose business is to teach languages
literature or the sciences ; any profession
al man who teaches the principles of his
profession.
INSTRUCT'RESS, 71. A female who in
structs ; a preceptress ; a tutoress.
IN'STRUMENT, n. [Tr. from L. instru
mentum, from instruo, to prepare ; tha
which is prepared.]
1. A tool ; that by which work is performed
or any thing is effected ; as a knife, a bam
mer, a saw, a plow, &c. Swords, mus-
kets and cannon are instruments ot' de-
struction. A telescope is an astronomical
instrument.
2. That which is subservient to the execu-
tion of a plan or purpose, or to the pro-
duction of any effect ; means used or con-
tributing to an effect ; applicable to persons
or things. Bad men are often instrutnents
of ruin to others. The distribution of the
Scriptures may be the instrument of a vast-
ly extensive reformation in morals and re-
ligion.
3. An artificial machine or body constructed
for yielding harmonious sounds ; as an or-
gan, a harpsichord, a violin, or flute, &c.,
which are called musical instruments, or
instruments of music.
4. In law, a writing containing the terms of
a contract, as a deed of conveyance,
grant, a patent, an indenture, &c. ; in ger
oral, a writing by which some fact is re-
corded for evidence, or some right con-
veyed.
5. A person who acts for another, or is em-
ployed by another for a special purpose,
and if the purpose is dishonorable, the
term implies degradation or meanness.
INSTRUMENT'AL.a. Conducive as an in-
strument or means to some end ; contrib-
uting aid ; serving to promote or effect an
object ; helpful. The press has been in-
strumental in enlarging the bounds of
knowledge.
Pertaining to instruments ; made by in
striunents ; as instrumental music, distin-
guished from vocal music, which is made
by the human voice.
INSTRUMENTALITY, n. Subordinate or
auxiliary agency ; agency of any thing as
means to an end; as the instrumentality o(
second causes.
INSTRUMENT' ALLY, adv. By way of an
instrument ; in the nature of an instru
ment ; as means to an end. Soutk.'
3. With instruments of music. 1
INSTRUMENT' ALNESS, n. Usefulness,'
of means to an end ; instrimientality.
Hammo7id.\
INSTVLE, V. t. [in and style.] To call ; to
denominate. [N'ot used.] Crashaw.\
INSUAV'ITY, »i. [L. insuavitas.] Unpleas-]
antness. Burton.i
INSUBJEC'TION, n. State of disobedience^
A multitude of scribblers who daily pester Ihe
world with their insufferable stuff—
Drydcn.
INSUF'FERABLY, adv. To a degree be-
yond endurance ; as a blaze insufferably
bright; a person insufferably proud.
INSUFFP'CIENCY, n. [in and sufficiency.]
1. Inadcquateness ; want of sufficiency ; de-
ficiency ; as an insufficiency of provisions
to supply the garrison.
2. Inadequacy of power or skill ; inability ;
iiicapacity; incompetency; as the insuffi-
ciency of a man for an office.
3. Want of the requisite strength, value or
force ; defect.
Tlie insufficiency of the light of nature is
supplied by the lit;ht of Scripture. Hooker.
INSUFFI"CIENT, a. [in and sufficient.]
1. Not sufficient; inadequate to any need,
use or purpose. The provisions are in-
sufficient in quantity and defective in qual-
disobedience. I
INSUBORD'INATE, a. Not submitting to:
authority.
INSUBORDINA'TION, n. Want of sub-!
ordination ; disorder ; disobedience to law-i
ful authoritv. Marshall. J. M. Mason.'
INSUBSTAN'TIAL, a. Unsubstantial; not;
real. Shak.'
INSUeCA'TION, n. [L. iiuucco, to moisten ;.
in and siiccus, juice.]
The act of soaking or moistening ; macera-j
tion ; solution in the juice of herbs.
Coxe.l
INSUF'FERABLE, a. [in and sufferable.]\
1. Intolerable; that cannot be borne or en-
dured ; as insiifferabk heat, cold or pain.
3. That cannot be permitted or tolerated.
Our wrongs are insufferable.
3. Detestable ; contemptible ; disgusting be-
yond endurance.
2. Wanting in strength, power, ability, or
skill ; incapable ; unfit ; as a person insuf-
ficient to discharge the duties of an office.
INSUFFI"C[ENTLY, adv. With want of
sufficiency ; with want of proper ability or
skill ; inadequately.
INSUFFLA'TION, n. [L. in and sufflo, to
blow.]
1. Tlie act of breathing on.
13. The act of blowing a substance into a cav-
I ity of the body. Coze.
INSU'ITABLE,a. Unsuitable. [UtUe used.]
Burnet.
IN'SULAR, a. [L. insularis, from insula, an
isle.]
Belonging to an isle ; surrounded by water ;
as an insular situation.
IN'SULAR, n. One who dwells in an isle.
Berkeley.
IN'SULATE, t'. t. [L. insula, an isle.] To
place in a detached situation, or in a state
to have no communication with surround-
ing objects.
3. In architecture, to set a column alone or
not contiguous to a wall.
.3. In electrical experiments, to place on anon-
conducting substance, or in a situation to
prevent communication with the earth.
4. To make an isle. [Little used.]
INSULATED, pp. or a. Standing by itself;
not being contiguous to other bodies ; as
an insulated house or column.
Defect of submission ;' 2. In electrical experimeitis, placed on an elec-
tric or non-conducting substance ; not
communicating with the earth.
IN'SULATING, lypr. Setting in a detached
position. In electrical experinients, pre-
venting coinniunication by the intei-posi-
tion of an electric body.
INSULA'TION, 71. The act of insulating;
the state of being detached from other ob-
2. In electrical experiments, that state in which
the communication of electrical fluid is
prevented by the interposition of an elec-
tric body.
IN'SULATOR, n. In electrical experiments,
the substance or body that insulates, or in-
terrupts the communication of electricity
to surrounding objects ; a non-conductor
or electric. , Ed. Encyc
INSULSE,a. insuls'. [L. insulsus.] Dull; in-
sipid. [JVot used.] .Milton.
I N S
IN'SULT, ?i. [Fr.insulte; h. insultus, from
insilio, to leap on ; in and salio, to leap.]
1. The act of leaping on. [Little used.]
Dryden.
'i. Any gross abuse offered to another, either
hy words or actions ; act or speech of in-
solence or contempt.
The ruthless sneer that insult adds to grief.
Savage.
INSULT', V. t. [Fr. insuller ; It. insuHare ;
Sp. insullar ; L. insulto. See the Noun.'
To treat with gross abuse, insolence or con
tempt, by words or actions ; as, to call s
man a coward or a liar, or to sneer at him,
is to insult him.
To insult over, to triumph over with inso-
lence and contempt.
INSULT', D. i. To behave with insolent tri-
umph. jB. Jonson.
INSULTA'TION, n. The act of insulting
abusive treatment. Feltham.
INSULT'ED, pp. Abused or treated with
insolence and contempt.
INSULT'ER, n. One who insults. Rowe.
INSULT'ING, ppr. Treating with insolence
or contempt.
INSULT'INGLY, adv. With insolent con-
tempt ; with contemptuous triumph.
Drijdm.
INSU'ME, i>. (. [L. insumo.] To take in,
[J\rot used.] Evelyn.
INSUPERABIL'ITY, n. [from insuperaUe.]
The quality of being insuperable. {Little
used.]
INSU'PERABLE, a. [L. insuperabilis
and superahilis, from supero, to overcome
or surpass.]
1. That cannot be overcome or surmounted
insurmoimtable ; as insuperable difficul-
ties, objections or obstacles.
2. That cannot be [lassed over.
And middle natures, how they long to join.
Yet never pass th' insuperable line. Pope
The latter application is unusual. This
word is rarely or never used in reference
to an enemy, in the sense of invincible oi
unconquerable. We do not say that troops
or enemies are insu^erntie ; but the word
is applied chiefly to difliculties, objections,
obstacles or impediments.
INSU'PERABLENESS, n. The quality of
being insuperable or insurmountable.
INSU'PERABLY, adv. In a manner or de
grec not to be overcome ; insurmountably
Grew.
INSUPPORTABLE, a. [Fr. in and sxipporl-
able]
1. That cannot be supported or borne ; as
the weight or burden is insupportable.
2. That cannot be borne or endured ; insuf-
ferable ; intolerable. We say of heat or
cold, insult, indignity or disgrace, it '
supportnhle.
INSUPPORTABLENESS, n. The quality
of being insupportable ; insufferabteness ;
the state of being beyond endurance.
Sidney.
INSUPPORTABLY, adv. In a manner or
degree that cannot be supported or en-
dured. Dn/den.
INSUPPRESS'IBLE, a. Not to be sup-
pressed or concealed. Young.
INSUPPRESS'IVE, a. Not to be suppress-
ed. Shak.
INS
INSURABLE, a. [from imure.] That may|
be insured against loss or damage ; proper!
to be insured.
The French law annuls the latter policies so,
far as they exceed the insurable interest which
remained in the insured at the time of the sub-'
scription thereof. Walsh.^
INSU'RANCE, n. [from insure.] The act of
insuring or assuring against loss or dam-|
age ; or a contract by which one engages'
for a stipulated consideration or premium]
per cent, to make up a loss which another
may sustain. Insurance is usually made
on goods or property exposed to uncom-
mon hazard, or on lives.
•J. The premium paid for insuring property
or life.
Insurance company, a company or corpo-
ration whose business is to insure against
loss or damage.
INSU'RANCER, n. An underwriter. [JSTot
RE, V. t.
INSU'RE, V. t. inshu're. [in and sure. The
French use assurer ; we use indifferently
assure or insure.]
To make sure or secure ; to contract or cov-
enant for a consideration to secure a per-
son against loss; or to engage to indem-
nify another for the loss of any specified
])roperty, at a certain stipulated rate per
cent., called a premium. The property
usually insurerf is such as is expose/
extraordinary hazard. Thus the merchant
insures his ship or its cargo, or both,
against the dangers of the sea; houses
are insured against fire ; sometimes haz-
ardous debts are insured, and soinetiujes
INSU'RE, V. {. To underwrite ; to practice
making insurance. This company insures
at 3 per cent., or at a low premium.
INSU'REU, pp. Made sure; assured; se-
cured against loss.
INSU'RER, n. One who insures ; the per-
son who contracts to pay the losses of an-
other for a premium; an underwriter.
INSURti'ENT, o. [L. insurgens ; in and
surgo, to rise.]
Rising in opposition to lawful civil or polit-
ical authority ; as insurgent chiefs.
Stephens.
INSURG'ENT, n. A person who rises in
opposition to civil or political authority ;
one who openly and actively resists the
execution of laws. [See Insurrection.]
An insurgent differs from a rebel. The in-
surgent opposes the execution of a par-
ticular law or laws ; the rebel attempts to
overthrow or change the government, oi
he revolts and attempts to place his coun-
try under another jurisdiction. All rebels
are insurgents, but all insurgents are not
rebels.
INSU'RING, ppr. Making secure ; assuring
against loss ; engaging to indemnify for
losses.
INSURMOUNT'ABLE, a. [Fr. insurmonla-
ble. See Surmount.]
Insuperable ; that cannot be surmounted
or overcome; as an insurmountable difti
culty, obstacle or impediment.
2. Not to be surmounted ; not to be passei
by ascending; as an insurmountable wall
or rampart.
INSURMOUNT'ABLY, adv. In a manner
or degree not to be overcome.
INT
INSURRECTION, n. [L. insurgo ; in and
surgo, to rise.]
1. A rising against civil or political author-
ity ; the open and active opposition of a
number of persons to the execution of law
in a city or slate. It is equivalent to sedi-
tion, e.xcept that sedition expresses a less
extensive rising of citizens. It differs
from rebellion, for the latter expresses a
revolt, or an attempt to overthrow the gov-
ernment, to establish a different one or to
place the country under another jurisdic-
tion. It differs from mutiny, as it respects
the civil or political government ; whereas
a mutiny is an open opposition to law in
the army or navy. Insurrection is howev-
er used with such latitude as to compre-
hend either sedition or rebellion.
It is found that this city of old time hath
made insurrection against kings, and that re-
bellion and sedition have been made therein.
Ezra iv.
2. A rising in mass to oppose an enemy.
[Utile used.]
INSURRECTIONAL, a. Pertaining to in-
surrection ; consisting in insurrection.
Amer. Review.
INSURRECTIONARY, a. Pertaining or
suitable to insurrectiou. Burke.
INSUSCEPTIBIL'ITY, n. [from insuscep-
tible.]
Want of susceptibility, or capacity to feel
or perceive. Med. Repos.
INSUSCEPT'IBLE, a. [in and susceptible.]
1. Not susceptible ; not capable of being mo-
ved, affected or impressed ; as a limb in-
susceptible of pain ; a heart insusceptible of
pity.
2. Not capable of receiving or admitting.
INSUSURRA'TION, n. [L. insusurro.] The
act of whispering into something.
INTACT'ABLE, a. [L. iiitactum; in and
factum, tango, to touch.] Not perceptible
to the touch. Did.
INTAGLIATED, a. intal'yated. [See In-
tagtio.] Engraved or stamped on.
ffarton.
INTAGLIO, n. intal'yo. [It. from intagli-
are, to carve ; in and tagliare, to cut, Fr.
tailler.]
Literally, a ciuting or engraving ; hence,
<iny thing engraved, or a precious stone
with a head or an inscription engraved
on it. Mdison.
INTANG'IBLE, a. [in and tangible.] That
cannot or may not be touched. Wilkins.
2. Not perceptible to the touch.
A corporation is an artificial, invisible, intan-
gible being. MarshalL
INTAN'GlBLENESS, ? The quality of
INTANGIBIL'ITY, ^ "• being intangi-
ble.
INTASTABLE, a. [in and tastable, taste.]
That cannot be tasted ; that cannot affect
the organs of taste. Grew.
IN'TEgER, n. [L. See Entire.] The whole
of anything; particularly, in arithmetic,
a whole number, in contradistinction to a
fraction. Thus in the ninnber 54. 7, in
decimal arithmetic, 54 is an integer, and 7
a fraction, or seven tenths of a unit.
IN'TEGRAL,a. [Fr. from integer.] Whole;
entire. Bacon.
I N T
2. Making part of a whole, or necessary to
inake a whole.
3. Not fractional.
4. Uniuiured ; complete ; not defective.
■" Holder.
IN'TEGRAL, n. A whole; an entire thing.
INTEGRAL'ITY, n. Entireness. [J^ot
used.] WUlaker.
IN'TEGRALLY, adv. Wholly ; completely.
mtitaker.
IN'TEGRANT, a. Making part of a
whole ; necessary to constitute an entire
thing. Burke.
Integrant particles of bodies, are those into
which bodies are reduced by solution or
mechanical division, as distinct from ele-
mentary particles.
IN'TEGRATE, v. t. [L. integro.] To re-
new ; to restore ; to |)erfect ; to make a
thing entire. South.
IN'TEGRATED, pp. Made entire.
INTEGRA'TION, n. The act of making
entire.
INTEG'RITY, n. [Ft. integrite ; L. in<<:g--
ritas, from integer.]
1. Wholeness; entireness; unbroken state.
The constitution of the U. States guaran-
ties to each state the integrity of its terri-
tories. The contracting parties guaran-
tied the integrity of the empire.
2. The entire, unimpaired state of anything,
particularly of the mind ; moral sound-
ness or purity; incorruptness; upright-
ness; honesty. Integrity comprehends
the whole moral character, but has a spe-
cial reference to uprightness in mutual
dealings, transfers of property, and agen
cies for others.
The moral grandeur of independent integrity
is tlie siiblimest thing in nature, before whicli
tlie pomp of eastern magnificence and the splen-
dor of conquest are odious as well as perishable.
Stickminster.
unadulterated, unim-
I N T
3. Purity ; genuine,
paired state ; as the integrity oflanguagt
INTEGUMA'TION, n. [L. intego, t
cover.]
That part of physiology, which treats of the
integuments of animals and plants.
Encyc
INTEG'UMENT, n. [L. integumentum, tn-
tego, to cover; in and tego. See Deck.]
That which naturally invests or covers an-
other thing; but appropriately and chiefly
in anatomy, a covering which invests the
body, as the .skin, or a membrane that
invests a particular part. The skin of
seeds and the shells of crustaceous animal;
are denominated integuments. Encyc.
1N'TELLE€T, n. [Fr. from L. intellectus
from intelligo, to understand. See Intel-
ligence.]
That faculty of tlie human ?oul or mind,
which receives or comprehends the ideas
communicated to it by the senses or by
perception, or by other means ; the fac-
ulty of thinking; otlierwise called the un-
derstanding. A clear intellect receives and
entertains the same ideas which another
communicates with perspicuity.
INTELLE€'TION, n. [Fr. from L. iriieHec-
tio, from intelligo.]
The act of understanding; simple apprehen-
sion of ideas. Bentley.
INTELLECT'lVE, a. [Fr. intellectif.] Ha-
ving power to understand. Glantille.
2. Produced by the un<lerstanding. Hams.
3. To be perceived by tlie understanding, not
by the senses. Milton.
INTELLECT'UAL, a. [Fr. intellectuel.]
1. Relating to the intellect or understanding;
belonging to the mind ; performed by the
understanding ; mental ; as intellectual
powers or operations.
2. Ideal; perceived by the intellect; exist-
ing in the understanding ; as an intellect-
vat scene. Pope.
3. Having the power of understanding; as
ui intellectual being.
4. Relating to the understanding ; treating
of the mind ; as intellectual philosophy,
now sometimes called mental philosophy.
INTELLECTUAL, n. The intellect or un-
derstanding. [Little itsed.] Milton.
INTELLECT'UALIST, n. One who over-
rates the understanding. Bacon.
INTELLEeTUAL'ITY, n. The state of
intellectual power. [Xot used.]
Hallywell.
INTELLECTUALLY, adv. By means of
the understanding.
INTEL'LIGENCE, n. [Fr. from L. inlelli-
gentia, from intelligo, to imderstand. This
verb is probably composed of in, inter, or
intus, within, and lego, to collect. The
primary sense of understand is generally
to take or hold, us wo say, to take one's
ideas or meaning.]
Understanding ; skill. Spenser.
2. Notice ; information communicated ; an
account of things distant or before un-
known. Intelligence may be transmitted
by messengers, by letters, by signals or h)
telegraphs.
3. Connnercc of acquaintance ; terms of
intercour.'.e. Good intelligence between
men is harmony. So we say, there is u
good understanding between persons,
when they have the same views, or art
free from discord.
4. A spiritual being; as a created intelli-
gence. It is believed that the universe is
peopled with innumerable superior intelli-
gences.
INTEL'LIGENCE, v. t. To inform ; to in-
struct. [Little xised.]
INTEL'LIuENCED, pp. Informed; in-
structed. [Little used.] Bacon
INTELLIGENCE-OFFICE, n. An office
or place where information may be ob-
tained, particularly respecting servants u
be hired.
INTEL'LIgENCER, n. One who sends oi
conveys intelligence ; one who gives no-
tice of private or distant transactions; s
messenger. Bacon. Addison
2. A public paper ; a newspaper.
INTEL'LIgENCING, ppr. or a. Giving or
eying notice to from a distance.
INTEL'LIgENT, a. [Fr. from L. intetli
gens.]
I. Endowed with the faculty of understand
ing or reason. Man is an intelligent be
!. 'jfili
2. Knowing ; understanding ; well inform-
ed ; skilled ; as an intelligent officer ; an
intelligent young man ; an intelligent arrh-
itect; sometimes followed by o/"; as inielli
gent of seasons. Milton
2. Giving information. [.Yot used mr prop-
rr.l Shck
I N T
NTELLIgEN'TIAL, a. Consisting of un-
bodied mind.
Food alike those pure
JnleUigetitial substances require. Milton.
2. Intellectual ; exercising understanding.
Milton.
INTELLI6IBIL'ITY, ? „ [from intelti-
INTEL'LKilBLENESS, l"' gilde.] The
quality or state of being intelligible ; the
l)fissil)ility of being understood.
Locke. Tooke.
INTEL'LlGlBLE, a. [Fr. from L. intelligi-
bilis.]
That may be understood or comprehended ;
as an intelligible account. The rules of
human duty arc intelligible to minds of the
smallest capacity.
INTEL'LICilBLY, ndv. In a manner to bo
understood ; clearly ; plaiidy ; as, to write
or speak intelligibly.
INTEM'ERATE, a. [L. intemtratus.] Pure ;
undefilcd. [.Vot in use.]
INTEM'EKATENESS, n. State of being
unpolluted. [Aof used.] Donne.
INTEM'PERAMENT, )i. [in am\ tempera-
ment.]
A bad state or constitution ; as the intem-
perament of an ulcerated part. Harvey.
INTEM'PERANCE, n. [Fr. from L. in-
I temperantia.]
1. h\ a general sense, wantof moderation or
due restraint ; excess in any kind of ac-
tion or indulgence ; any exertion of body
or mind, or any indulgence of appetites or
passions which is injurious to the person
or contrary to morality ; as intemperance
in study or in labor, in eating or drinking,
or in any other gratification. Hence, ap-
propriately and emphatically,
2. Habitual indulgence in drinking spirituous
liquors, with or without intoxication.
Should a foreign army land on our shores, to
levy such a tax upon us as intemperance lev-
ies— no mortal power could resist the swelling
tide of indignation tliat woiJd oveiwhclm it.
L. Beecher.
INTEM'PERATE, a. [L. intemperatus ; in
and temperatus, from tempero, to moderate
or restrain.]
1. Not moderate or restrained within due
limits; indulging to excess any appetite
or passion, either hahitually or in a partic-
ular instance ; immoderate in enjoyment
or exertion. A man may be intemperate
in i)assioii, intemperate in labor, intemper-
ate in study or zeal. Hence by customary
application, intemperate denotes indulging
to excess in the use of food or drink, but
particularly in the use of spirituous liquors.
Hence,
2. Addicted to an excessive or habitual use
of spirituous liquors.
3. Passionate ; ungoveniable. Shak.
4. Excessive ; exceeding the convenient
mean or degree ; as an intemperate cli-
mate. The weather may be rendered in-
temperate by violent winds, rain or snow,
or by excessive cold or heat.
INTEM'PERATE, r. (. To disorder. [Mt
ill use.] ftTiitaker.
INTEM'PERATELY, adr. With excessive
iiululgence of appetite or passion ; with
undue exertion; immoderately; exces-
sively.
I N T
I JV T
INT
INTEAIPERATENESS, «. Wantofmod-
eiation ; excessive degree of indulgence ;
as the intemperateness of appetite or pas-
2. Immoderate degree of any quality in the
weather, as in cold, heat or storms.
INTEM'PERATURE, n. Excess of some
quality.
INTEMPEST'IVE, a. [L. iiitempestivus.]
Untimelv. [JVot used.] Burton.
INTEMPEST'lVELY, adv. Unseasonably.
[jVot used.]
INTEMPESTIV'ITY, n. Untimeliness.
LYot used.]
INTEN'ABLE, a. [in and tenable.] That
cannot be held or maintained ; that is not
defensible ; as an intenabk opinion ; an
intenable fortress. fVarbuiton.
[Untenable, though not more proper, is more
generally used.]
INTEND', V. t. [L. intendo ; in and tendo,
to stretch or strain, from teneo, Gr. tsivu,
to stretch.]
]. To stretch ; to strain ; to extend ; to di
tend.
[This literal sense is now uncommon.]
2. To mean ; to design ; to purpose, that is,
to stretch or set forward in mind. [This is
now the usual sense.]
For they intended evil against thee. Ps
3. To regard ; to fix the mind on ; to at-
tend ; to take care of.
Having no children, she did with singula!
care and tenderness intend the education «f
Philip. Bacon.
[This use of the word is now obsolete,
We now use tend and superintend or re-
gard. ]
4. To enforce; to make intense. Brown.
INTEND'ANT, n. [Fr. from L. intendo.]
1. One who has the charge, oversight, di
rection or management of some public bu
siness ; as an intendant of marine ; an in
tendant of finance: a word much used
in France, and sometimes in England
and America, but we generally use
lieu of it supeiintendent.
2. In Charleston, S. Carolina, the mayor or
chief municipal officer of the city.
INTEND'ED, pp. Designed ; purposed ;
as, the insult was intended.
2. Stretched; made intense. [Little used.]
INTEND'ER, pp. One who intends.
INTEND'IMENT, n. Attention; under
standing; consideration. Obs.
INTEND'ING, ppr. Meaning; designing
purposing.
2. Stretching ; distending. [Little used.]
INTEND'MENT, n. [Fr. entendement, with
a sense somewhat different.]
Intention ; design ; in law, the true mean
ing of a person or of a law, or of any le
gal instrument. In the construction of
statutes or of contracts, the intendment of
the same is, if possible, to be ascertained,
that is, the true meaning or intention of
the legislator or contracting party,
INTEN'ERATE, v. t. [L. in and tener,
tender.] To make tender ; to soften.
Autumn vigor gives,
Equal, inlc»i«ra(mg, milky grain. Philips
INTEN'ERATED, pp. Made tender or
soft.
INTEN ERATING, ppr. Making tender.
INTENERA'TION, n. The act of making
soft or tender. Bacon.
[Intenerate and its derivatives are little
used.]
INTENSE, a. intens'. [L. inteiisus, from
intendo, to stretch.]
. Literally, strained, stretched ; hence, very
close, strict, as when the mind is fix-
ed or bent on a particular subject ; as,
intense study or application ; intense
thought.
2. Raised to a high degree ; violent ; vehe
ment ; as iiitense heat.
3. Very severe or keen ; as intense cold.
4. Vehement ; ardent ; as intense phrases in
language.
5. Extreme in degree.
The doctrine of the atonement supposes thi
the sias of men were so laid on Christ, that his
suffeiings were inconceivably intense and over-
whelming. S. E. Bwighf
6. Kept on the stretcli ; anxiously attentive ;
opposed to remiss. Milto
INTENSELY, adv. intens'ly. To an e
treme degree ; vehemently ; as a furnace
intensely heated ; weather intensely cold.
2. Attentively ; earnestly. Spenser.
INTENSENESS, n. intens'ness. The state
of being strained or stretched ; intensity ;
as the intenseness of a cord.
3. Tlie state of being raised or concentrated
to a great degree ; extreme violence ; as
the intenseness of heat or cold.
3. Extreme closeness ; as the intenseness of]
study or thought.
INTEN'SION, n. [L. intensio.] A straining,
stretching or bending ; the state of being
strained ; as the intension of a musical
string,
a. Increase of power or energy of any qual-
ipposed to remission.
INTENSITY, n. [Fr. intensity.] The state
of being strained or stretched ; intense
ness, as of a musical chord.
2. The state of being raised to a great de
gree ; extreme violence ; as the intensity
of heat.
3. Extreme closeness; as in/cnsiYi/ of appli
cation.
4. Excess ; extreme degree ; as the intensity
of guilt. Bicrke
INTENS'IVE, a. Stretched, or admitting of
extension.
2. Intent ; unremitted ; assiduous ; as intens-
rcumspectiou. Wotton
3. Serving to give force or emphasis ; as at
intensive particle or preposition.
INTENSIVELY, adv. By increase of de-
gree ; in a manner to give force.
Bramhall.
INTENT', a. [L. intentus, from intendo.
See Intend.]
Literally, having the mind strained or bent
on an object ; hence, fixed closely ; sed
ulously applied ; eager in pursuit of an
object ; anxiously diligent ; formerly with
to, but now with on ; as intent on busi-
ness or pleasure ; intent on the acquisition
of science.
Be intent and solicitous to take up the mean-
ing of the speaker — Watts.
INTENT', n. Literally, the stretching of
the mind towards an object ; hence, a de
sign ; a purpose ; intention ; meaning ;
drift ; aim ; applied to persons or things.
The principal intent of Scripture is to delivr,
the laws of duties supernatural. Hooke,
I ask therefore, for what intent ye have seni
for me .' Acts x.
To all intents, in all senses ; whatever may
be designed.
He was miserable to all intents and purposes.
VEstranee.
INTEN'TION, n. [Fr. from L. inUntio.
See Intend.]
1. Primarily, a stretching or bending of the
mind towards an object ; hence, uncom-
mon exertion of the intellectual faculties ;
closeness of application ; fixedness of at-
tention ; earnestness.
Intention is when the mind, with great ear-
nestness and of choice, fixes its view on any
idea, considers it on every side, and will not be
called ofl' by the ordinary solicitation of other
ideas. Locke.
2. Design ; purpose ; the fixed direction of
the mind to a particular object, or a de-
termination to act in a particular manner.
my intention to proceed to Paris.
the object to be acconi-
It i
. End or ami :
plished.
In chronical distempers, the principal m<en<iori
is to restore the tone of the solid parts.
Arbuthnot.
. The state of being strained. [See Inten-
sion.]
INTEN'TIONAL, a. Intended ; designed.';
done with design or purpose. The act was
intentional, not accidental.
INTEN'TIONALLY, adv. By design ; of
purpose ; not casually.
INTEN'TIONED, in composition ; as well-
intentioned, having good designs, honest
in pur])ose ; ill-intentioned, having ill de-
signs. Milner. Ch. Obs.
INTENT'IVE, a. Attentive; having the
mind closely applied. Bacon.
[This word is nearly superseded by atten-
tive.]
INTENT'IVELY, adv. Closely ; with close
application. Bp. Hall.
INTENT'IVENESS, n. Closeness of atten-
tion or application of mind.
fV. Mountague.
INTENT'LY, adv. With close attention or
application ; with eagerness or earnest-
ness; as the mind intently directed to an
object ; the eyes intently fi.xed ; the man
is intently employed in the study of geol-
INTENT'NESS, n. The state of being in-
tent; close application; constant employ-
ment of the mind. Swift.
IN'TER, a Latin preposition, signifying
among or between ; used as a prefix.
INTER', V. t. [Fr. enterrer ; en and terre, L.
terra, the earth ; Sp. enterrar ; It. inter-
]. To bury; to deposit and cover in the
earth ; as, to inter a dead animal body.
3. To cover with earth.
But it is used almost exclusively to de-
note the depositing and covering of dead
animal bodies.
IN'TERA€T, n. [i)!(er and act.] Interme-
diate employment or time ; a short piece
between others. Chesterfield.
INTERAM'NIAN, a. [L. inter and amnis,
river.] Situated between rivers. Bryant.
INTERAN'IMATE, v. t. To animate mu-
tually. [Little used.] Donne.
I N T
1 N T
1 N T
rNTERBASTA'TION, n. [Sp. bastear,
baste.] Patch-work. [JVot in use.]
^ Smith.
INTER'€ALAR, } „ [Fr. inlercalairc ; L.
INTER'€ALARY, I "' mtercalarius ; inter
wid cnlo, to call or proclaim.]
Inserted ; an epithet given to the odd day
inserted in leap year. The twenty ninth
of February in leap year is called the
iercalary day. We read in Livy of an
tercalary month.
IN'TER€ALATE, v. t. [L. intercalo; inter
and calo, to call.]
To insert an extraordinary day or other por-
tion of time.
1N'TER€ALATED, pp. Inserted.
IN'TER€ALATINO, ppr. Inserting.
INTER€ALA'TION, n. [L. inlercalalio.]
The insertion of an odd or extraordinary
day in the calendar, as the 29th of Febru-
ary in leap year.
INTERCE'DE, v. i. [L. intercede ; inter and
cedo ; literally, to move or pass befween "
1. To pass between.
He supposes that a vast period interceded
between that origination and the age in which
he lived. Hale.
2. To mediate ; to interpose ; to make in-
tercession ; to act between parties with a
view to reconcile those who differ or con
tend ; usually followed by with. Calamy.
3. To plead in favor of one.
INTERCE'DENT, a. Passing between;
mediating ; pleading for.
INTERCE'DER, n. One who intercedes
or interposes between parties, to effect a
reconciliation ; a mediator ; an interces
sor.
INTERCE'DING, ppr. Mediating ; plead
ing.
INTERCEPT', V. t. [Fr. intercepter ; L. in
Urceptus, inlercipio, to stop ; inter and ca
pio, to take.]
1. To take or seize on by the way ; to stof
on its passage ; as, to intercept a letter
The prince was intercepted at Rome. The
convoy was intercepted by a detaciiment
of the enemy.
2. To obstruct; to stop in progress; as, to
intercept rays of light ; to intercept the cur-
rent of a river, or a course of proceedings.
3. To stop, as a course or passing ; as, to|
intercept a course. Dryden.'
4. To interrupt communication with, or pro-|
gress towards.
While storms vindictive intercept the shore.
Pope.
5. To take, include or comprehend between.
Right ascension is an arch of the equator,
reckoning towaids the east, intercepted between
the beginning of Aries, and the point of the
equator which rises at the same time with the
sun or star in a right sphere. Bailey.
INTERCEPTED, pp. Taken on the way ;
seized in progress ; stopped.
INTERCEPTER, n. One who intercepts.
INTERCEPT'ING,p;jr. Seizing on its pass-
age ; hindering from proceeding ; compre-
hending between.
INTERCEP'TION, n. The act of seizing
something on its passage ; a stopping ;
obstruction of a course or proceeding ;
binderance. Woiton.
INTERCES'STON, n. [Fr. from L. inter-
cession from intercede. See Intercede.]
Vol. I.
The act of interceding; mediation ; interpo-j
sition between parties at variance, with a]
view to reconciliation ; prayer or solicita-
tion to one party in favor of another,
sometimes against another.
Your intercession now is needless grown ;
Retire and let me speak with her alone.
Drydt
He bore the sin of many, and made interces-
sion for the transgressors. Is. liii.
INTERCES'SOR, n. [L. See Intercede.]
1. A mediator; one who interposes between
parties at variance, with a view to re<
cile them; one who pleads in behalf of
another. Milton.
2. A bishop who, during a vacancy of the
see, administers the bishopric till a suc-
cessor is elected. Encyc.
INTERCES'SORY, a. Containing inter-
cession : interceding.
INTERGHA'IN, !-. t. [inter and chain.] To
chain ; to link together. Shak.
INTERCHA'INED, pp. Chained together.
INTERCHAINING, ppr. Chaining or fast-
ening together.
INTERCHANGE, v. t. [inter and change.]
1. To put each in the place of the other; to
give and take mutually ; to e.xchangi
to reciprocate ; as, to interchange places ; to
interchange cares or duties.
I shall interchange
My waned state for Henry's regal crown.
Shak.
2. To succeed alternately. Sidnei/.
IN'TERCHANGE, n. Mutual change, each
giving and receiving; exchange; permu-
tation of commodities; barter; as the in-
terchange of commodities between New
York and Liverpool.
2. Alternate succession ; as the interchange
of light and darkness.
Sweet interchange
Of hill and valley, rivers, woods and plair
Milton.
3. A mutual giving and receiving ; recipro-
cation ; as an interchange of civilities or
kind offices.
INTERCHANGEABLE, a. That may be
interchanged ; that may be given and ta-
ken mutually. Bacon.
2. Following each other in alternate suc-
cession ; as the four interchangeable sea-
s.ms. Holder.
INTERCHANgEABLENESS, )i. The state
of being interchangeable.
INTERCHANGEABLY, adv. Alternately
by reciprocation ; in a manner by wliicl
each irives and receives. Hooker.
INTERCHANGED, pp. Mutually exchan
iie<\ : reciprocated.
IN'fr.KCllANGEMENT, n. Exchange;
iiiiiiiial transfer. [Little used.] Shak.
LNTEKCIIANGING, ppr. Mutually giving
and receiving; taking each other's place
successively ; reciprocating.
INTERCI'DENT, a. [L. intereido.] Falling
or coming between. Boyle.
INTERCIP'IENT, a. [h.intercipiens. See
Intercept.] Intercepting ; seizing by thei
way ; stopping.
INTERCIP'IENT, n. He or that which in-
tercepts or stops on the passage. I
/f'iscma?!.
INTERCIS'ION, n. s as :. [L. intereido ;!
jn(f#- and cffirfo, to cut.] Interruption. [Lit-\
tie used.] Broicn.\
112
INTERCLfDE, r. t. [L. intercludo ; inter
and ciudo, to shut.]
1. To shut from a place or course by some-
thing intervening ; to intercept. Holder.
2. To cut off; to interrupt. Mitford.
INTERCLl DED, pp. Intercepted ; inter-
rupted.
INTERCLU'DING, ppr. Interrupting.
INTERCLU'SION, Ji. sas:. Interception;
a stopping.
INTER€OLUMNIA'TION, n. [L. inter
and columna, a column.]
In architecture, tlie space between two col-
umns. By the rules of the art, thissliould
be in proportion to the iiighth and bulk of
the colunms. Encyc.
INTERCOM'MON, v. i. [inter and common.]
1. To feed at the same table. Bacon.
2. To graze cattle in a common pasture ; to
use a common with others, or to possess or
enjoy the right of feeding in common.
Common because of vicinage, is where the iu-
habilants of two townships contiguous to each
other, have usually intercommoned with one
another. Blackstone.
INTEReOM'MONING, ppr. Feeding at
the same table, or using a common pas-
ture ; enjoying a common field with otli-
ers.
INTER€OAL\IU'NIeATE, v. i. [inter and
communicate.]
To communicate mutually; to hold mutual
INTERCOMMUNICATION, n. Recipro-
cal communication.
INTERCOMMU'NION, n. [inter and corn-
Mutual communion ; as an intercommunion
of deities. Faber.
INTERCOMMU'NITY, n. [inter and com-
munity.]
A mutual communication or community ;
mutual freedom or exercise of religion ; as
the intercommunity of pagan theology.
I Paley.
(intercostal, a. [Fr. from L. inter,
i between, and casta, a rib.]
[Placed or lying between the ribs ; as an in-
tercostal muscle, artery or vein. Encyc.
INTERCOST'AL, n. A part lying between
the ribs. Derham.
intercourse, n. [L. intercursus, inter-
curro ; inter and curro, to run.] Literally,
a running or passhig between. Hence,
II. Communication; commerce; connection
by reciprocal dealings between persons or
nations, either in common affairs and ci-
vilities, in trade, or con-espondence by let-
ters. We have an intercourse with neigh-
bors and friends in mutual visits and in
social concerns ; nations and individuals
have intercourse with foreign nations or in-
i dividuals by an interchange of commodi-
ties, by purchase and sale, by treaties,
contracts, &c.
2. Silent communication or exchange.
This sweet intercourse
Of looks and smiles. Milton.
INTERCUR', V. i. [L. intercurro.] To in-
tervene ; to come in the mean time.
Shelton.
INTERCUR'RENCE, n. [L. intercurrens,
intercurro.] A passing or running be-
tween. Boyle.
INTERCUR'RENT, a. [L. intercurrens.]
1. Running between or among. Boyle.
I N T
3. Occurring ; iiiterveuing. Barrow.
INTER€UTA'NEOUS, a. [L. inter and
cutis, the skin.] Being witliin or under
the skin.
IN'TERDEAL, n. [infer and deai.] Mutual
deahng; traffick. Spenser.
INTERDICT', II. (. [L. inlerdico, interdic-
tutn; inter and dico, to speak.]
I. To forbid; to prohibit. An act of con-
gress interdicted the sailing of vessels from
our ports. Our intercourse with foreign
nations was interdicted.
'i. To forbid communion ; tocut off from the
enjoyment of communion with a church.
An archbishop may not only excommunicate
and interdict his suffragans, but his vicar-general
may do the same. Ayliffe.
IN'TERDleT, n. [L. interdictum.] Prohi-
bition ; a prohibiting order or decree.
9. A papal prohibition by which the clergy
are restrained from performing divine ser-
vice ; a species of ecclesiastical censure.
The pope has sometimes laid a whole
kingdom under an interdict.
.'!. A papal prohibition by which persons are
restrained from attending divine service,
or prevented from enjoying some priv
lege.
INTERDICT'ED, /)j9. Forbid; prohibited
INTERDICT' ING, »pr. Forbidding; pro
hibiting ; cutting off f
of some privilege.
INTERDICTION, n. [Fr.
the enjoyment
L. inter'
dictio.]
The act of interdicting ; prohibition ; pro-
hibiting decree ; curse. Milton. Shak.
INTERDICT'IVE, a. Having power to
prohibit.
INTERDICT'ORY, «. Serving to prohibit.
(NTEREQUINOC'TIAL, a. [inter and
equinox.]
Coming between the vernal and autumnal
equinoxes.
Spring and autumn I have denominated eq
noctial periods. Summer and winter I have
called interequinoctial intervals.
Balfour. Asiat. Res
INTERESS, for interest, is obsolete.
IN'TEREST, v.t. [Fr. interesser ; It. inter-
essare ; Sp. interesar ; L. inter and esse.]
1. To concern ; to affect ; to excite emotion
or passion, usually in favor, but sometimes
against a person or thing. A narration of
suffering interests us in iavor of the suffer-
er. We are interested in the story or ii;
ihe fate of the sufferer. We are interested
to know the result, issue or event of an
enterprise. It is followed by in or for.
We are interested in the narration, but fo)
the sufferer.
2. To give a share in. Christ, by his atone-
ment, has interested believers in the bless-
ings of the covenant of grace.
3. To have a share.
We are not all interested in the public funds,
but we are all interested in the happiness of a
free
4. To engage ; as, to interest one in our
favor.
To interest one's self, is to take a share or
concern in.
IN'TEREST, n. Concern ; advantage :
good ; as private interest ; public interest.
Divisions hinder the common interest and
public good. Temple.
2. Influence over others. They had now
lost their interest at court.
1 N T
3. Share; portion; part; participation in
value. He has parted with his interest in
the stocks. He has an interest in a manu-
factory of cotton goods.
Regard to private profit.
'Tis interest calls off all her sneaking train.
Pope.
5. Premium paid for the use of money ; the
profit per cent, derived from money lent,
or property used by another person, or
from debts remaining unpaid. Commer-
cial states have a legal rate of interest.
Debts on book bear an interest after the
expiration of the credit. Courts allow in-
terest in many cases where it is not stipu-
lated. A higher rate of interest than that
which the law allows, is called usury.
Simple interest is that which arises from
the principal sum only.
Compound interest is that which arises
from the principal with the interest added ;
interest on interest.
6. Any surplus advantage.
With all speed,
You shall have your desires with interest.
Shak.
IN'TERESTED, pp. Made a sharer; as
one interested in the funds.
3. Affected; moved; having the passions
excited ; as one interested by a story.
3. a. Having an interest; concerned in a
cause or in consequences ; liable to be af-
fected ; as an interested witness.
IN'TERESTING, ^pr. Giving a share or
concern ; as by interesting one in a voy
age, or in a banking company.
■2. Engaging the affections; -as by interesting
a person in one's favor.
3. a. Engaging the attention or curiosity
exciting emotions or passions; as an irt-
teresting story
'Ti-'PIi'i:
INTERFE'RE, v. i. [L. inter aud fen
bear, or ferio, to strike.]
1. To interpose ; to intermeddle ; to enter
into or take a part in the concerns of oth
ers. It is prudence not to interfere in par
ty disputes, but from necessity.
2. To clash ; to come in collision ; to be it
opposition. . The claims of two nations
may interfere.
3. A horse is said to interfere, when one hoof
or shoe strikes against the fetlock of thi
oiiposite leg, and breaks the skin or injures
the flesh. Far. Did
INTERFE'RENCE, n. Interposition; an
intermeddling; mediation. Burke.
2. A clashing or collision.
3. A striking of one foot against the other.
INTERFE'RING, ;;;))•. Interposing; med
dling.
2. Clashing ; coming in collision.
3. Striking one foot against the fetlock of the
opposite lee
INTERFE'RING, n. Interference.
Bp. Butler.
INTER'FLUENT, > [L.interfuo; inter
INTER'FLUOUS, <i and Jluo, to flow.]
Flowing between. Boyle.
INTERFOLIA'CEOUS, a. [L. inter and
folium, a leaf.]
Being between opposite leaves, but placed
alternately with them ; as irderfoliaceovs
I flowers or peduncle?. Martijn
I N T
INTERFULG'ENT, a. [L. inter and fulgens,
shining.] Shining between. Johnson.
INTERFU'SED, a. s as z. [L. interfusus ;
inter and fundo, to pour.] Poured or
spread between.
The ambient air, wide interfused.
Embracing round this florid earth. Miltvn.
INTERIM,?!. [L.] The mean time ; time
intervening. Tatler.
INTE'RIOR, a. [L. comp. formed from
inter or intra, in or within.]
1. Internal ; being within any limits, inclo-
sure or substance ; inner ; opposed to ex-
terior or superficial ; as the interior apart-
ments of a house ; the interior ornaments ;
the interior surface of a hollow ball ; the
interior parts of the earth.
2. Inland ; remote from the limits, frontier
or shore ; as the iniemr parts of a country,
state or kingdom.
INTE'RIOR, n. The internal part of a
thing ; the inside.
2. The inland part of a country, state or
kingdom.
INTERJA'CENCY, n. [h.interjacens ; inter
and jacens, lying.]
1. A lying between ; a being between ; in-
tervention ; as the interjacency of the
Tweed between England and Scotland.
Hale.
2. That which lies between. [Little used.]
Brown.
INTERJA'CENT, a. [L. interjacens, supra.]
Lying or being between ; intervening ; as
intcijacent isles. Raleigh.
INTERJECT', V. t. [L. inteijicio; inter and
jacio, to throw.]
To throw between ; to throw in between
other things: to insert.
A circumstance — may be interjected even be-
tween a relative word and that to which it re-
lates. Encyc.
INTERJECTED, pp. Throwninor insert-
ed between.
INTERJECT'ING, ppr. Throwing or in-
serting between.
INTERJECTION, n. The act of throwing
between.
2. A word in speaking or writing, thrown in
between words connected in construction,
to express some emotion or passion.
" These were delightful days, but, alas,
they are no more." [See Exclamation.]
INTERJECT'lONAL, a. Thrown in be-
tween other words or phrases ; as an inter-
jectional remark. Observer.
INTERJOIN', t).<. [inter and join.] To join
mutually ; to intermarry. [Little used.]
Shak.
INTERKNOWL'EDgE, n. [inter and
knowledge.] Mutual knowledge. [Little
used.] Bacon.
INTERLA'CE, I', t. [Fr. entrelaeer ; It. in-
tralciare ; Sp. entrelazar. See Lace.]
To intermix; to put or insert one thing with
another.
They interlaced some errors. Hayward.
The epic way is every where interlaced with
dialogue. Dryden.
INTERLA'CED, pp. Intermixed ; inserted
between other things.
INTERLA'CING, ppr. Intermixing; in-
serting between.
INTERLAPSE, 71. interlaps'. [inter and
lapse.]
INT
I N T
The lapse or flow of time between two
events. Harvey.
INTERL^ARD, v.t. [Yr. enlrelarde.r; entre,
ntnong, and larder, to lard.]
1. Primarily, to mix fat with lean ; hence, to
interpose ; to insert between. Carew.
2. To mix ; to diversify by mixture. Hale.
INTERLARDED, pp. Interposed ; insert-
ed between ; mixed.
INTERL>ARDING,ip;)r. Inserting between;
intermixing.
IN'TERLEAF, n. [See Leaf.] A leaf in-
serted between other leaves ; a blank leaf
inserted. Chesterfield.
INTERLE'AVE, v. t. [inter and leaf.] To
insert a leaf; to insert a blank leaf or
blank leaves in a book, between other
leaves.
JNTERLE'AVED, pp. Inserted between
leaves, or liaving blank leaves inserted
tween other leaves.
INTERLE'AVING, ppr. Inserting blank
leaves between other leaves.
INTERLI'NE, v. t. [inter and line.] To
write in alternate lines; as, to interline
Latin and English. Locke.
2. To write between lines already written or
printed, for the purpose of adding to or
correcting what is written. Sidft.
INTERLIN'EAR, ) [inter and linear.]
INTERLIN'EARY, ^ "■ Written between
lines before written or printed.
INTERLIN'EARY, n. A book having in-
sertions between the leaves.
INTERLINEA'TION, n. [inter and linea-
tion.]
1. The act of inserting words or lines be
tween lines before written or printed.
2. The words, passage or line inserted be
tween linos before written or printed.
INTERLI'NED, pp. Written between lines ;
as an interlined word.
2. Containing a lino or lines written between
lines ; as an interlined manuscript.
INTERLI'NING, ppr. Writing between
lines already written or printed.
INTERLI'NING, n. Correction or altera- 1
tion by writing between the lines.
Burnet.
INTERLINK', v. t. [inter and link.] To
connect by uniting links ; to join one chain
to another. Dryden.
INTERLINK'ED, pp. Connected by union
of links ; joined.
INTERLINK'ING, ppr. Connecting by uni-
ting links; joining.
INTfiRLOCA'TION,?!. A placing between;
interposition.
INTERLOCU'TION, n. [L. interloculio ;
inter and locutio, loquor, to speak.]
1. Dialogue ; conference ; interchange of
speech. Hooker.
2. In laiD, an intermediate act or decree be-|
fore final decision. Jlyliffe.
INTERLOCUTOR, n. [L. interloquor,
supra.]
1. One who speaks in dialogue ; a dialogist.
Boyle.
2. In Scots law,an interlocutory judgment or
sentence. Ennjc.
INTERLOCUTORY, a. [Fr. interloctttoire,
supra.]
1. Consisting of dialogue.
There are several interlocutory discourses in
the holy Scriptures. Fiddes.
2. In law, intermediate ; not final or defini-j
tive. An order, sentence, decree or judg-j
ment, given in an intermediate stage of a
cause, or on some intermediate question
before the final decision, is called in/eWoc-'
utory ; as a decree in chancery referring a
question of fact to a court of law, or a judg-,
ment on default in a court of law. j
Blackslone.
INTERLO'PE, V. i. [inter and D. loopen,*
G. /«n/en, torun,Eng. to/ea;). See Leap.],
To run between parties and intercept the
advantage that one should gain from the
other; to traffick without a liroper li-
cense ; to forestall ; to prevent right.
Johnson.
INTERLOPER, n. One who runs into
INT
INTERMEA'TION, n. [L. inter and nieo,
to flow.] A flowing between. [jVot in
use.]
INTERMED'DLE, v. i. [inter and meddle.]
To meddle in the affairs of others, in which
one has no concern ; to meddle officious-
ly ; to interpose or interfere imiiroperly.
The practice of Spain has been, by war and
by conditions of treaty, to intermeddle wilh
foreign states. Bacon.
INTERMED'DLER, n. One that interpo-
.ses officiously ; one who meddles, or in-
trudes into business to which he has no
right. Sipifl.
INTERMED'DLING, ppr. Interposing of-
ficiously ; intruding.
INTERMED'DLING, n. Officious intei-po-
i sition. Hamilton.
business to which he has no right; one, j]yjYg|ji^j£,£,(,YL_ <,_ [\,. inter and mcrfi'io-.
who interferes wrongfully ; one who en-,j ,„i,|jie.]
ters a country or place to trade without'^ yj^^ between ; intervening ; intervenienr.
license. " Evelyn.
INTERLO'PING, ppr. Interfering wrong-! jj^j-ppj^jyig/pj^i^y, n. [from intermediate.]
fiillv hnci/r.', I.. ;.: ;...„_.,„„.:„„ r A>'„i ™,.^i.
fully
INTERLU'CATE, v. t. To let in light by
cutting away branches of trees.
INTERLUeA'TION, n. The act of tliin-^
ninsa wood to let in light. Evelyn.
INTERLU'CENT, a. [L. inlerlucens ; inter
and luceo, to shine.] Shining between,
Diet.
IN'TERLUDE, ji. [L. inter and ludus,
play.]
An entertainment exhibited on the stage be-
tween the acts of a play, or between the
play and the afterpiece, to amuse the spec
tators, while the actors take breath and shift
their dress, or the scenes and decorati(
are changed. In ancient tra^cdy,thc c
rus sung the interludes. In modern tin
interludes consist of songs, feats of act
ty, dances, concerts of music, &c.
IN'TERLUDEU, ;
an intcrliiile.
I.NTl'.RLr'F.NXY, n. |:L. interluois, inter-,
liw. tci How between.] 1
Vrtowins between ; water interposed. [Lil-i
He u.ud.] Halei
INTERLU'NAR, ) „ [L. inter and luna,
INTERLU'NARY, I "" the moon.] Belong-,
ing to the time when the moon, at or near'
its conjunction with the sun, is invisible, i
Brown. Milton:
INTERMAR'RIAgE, n. [inter and mar-
rias:e.]
Marriage between two families, where each
takes one and gives another.
Johnson. Addison.
INTERMARRIED,;?^. Mutually connect
ed by marriage.
INTEilMAR'RY, v. I [inter and marry:
\. To marry one and give another in mar
riage, as two families.
3. To marry some of each order, family
tribe or nation with the other.
Interposition ; intervention. [.Vo/ muck
vaed.] Derham.
i. ."^iimctliiiig interposed.
INTERME DIATE, a. [Fr. intermediat ; L.
inter and medius, middle.]
Lying or being in the middle place or degree
between two extremes ; intervening ; in-
terposed ; as an intermediate space be-
tween hills or rivers ; intermediate colors.
Man has an intermediate nature and rank
between angels and brutes.
INTERMEDIATE, »i. In chimistry, a sub-
stance which is the intermedium or means
of chimical affinity, as an alkali, which
rcnilors oil combinable with water.
INTI'ltMI. DIATELY, ado. By way ofiu-
l.\li;i!.\li;i)IA'TION, n. Intervention;
roniinon means. Cheyne.
Intermediate space.
Ash.
2. An intervening agent. Coivper.
INTERMELL', v.t. or i. [Fr. entremeler.]
To intermix or intermeddle. [.Yot in use.]
Marston. Fisher.
INTER'MENT, n. [from inter.] The act of
depositing a dead body in the earth ; bu-
rial ; sepulture.
INTERMEN'TION, v. t. To mention among
other tbinffs ; to include. [.Wot U3ed.]
INTERMI€^A'TION, n. [L. intermico; in-
ter and mico, to shine.] A shining between
or among.
INTERMIGRA'TION, n. [L. inter and
migro, to migrate.]
Recii)rocal migration ; removal from one
country to another by men or tribes which
take tlie place each of the other. Hale.
INTERiAl INABLE, a. [L. in and terminus,
end; <frmi no, to end.]
Boundless; endless; admitting no limit; as
interminable space or duration ; intermina-
ble sufferings. Milton uses this word as
an appellation of the Godhead.
JCnc^f.illNTERME'DIUM,
that performs ii:
B. Jonson
About the middle of the fourth century from|lNTERM'INATE, o. [L. interminatus, in-
the building of Rome, it was declared lawful for | (erniino.]
nobles and plebeians to infermarrv. Suri/J. llnbounded ; unlimited; endless ; as tnier-
INTERM.\R'RYING, ppr. 3Iutually giv- i minaff sleep. Chapman.
ing and receiving in marriage; mutually INTER.M IN.\TE, v.t. [L. interminor.] To
connecting by marriage. ;: menace. [.No/ used.] Bp. Halt.
IN'TERMEAN, n. [infer and mean.] Inter-^INTERMINA TION, n. [L. interminor, to
act ; something done in the mean time.ij menace or forbid.] A menace or threat.
[J^ot used.] Todd.] [.Yot used.] Hall.
N T
INT
I N T
[NTEIIMIN'GLE, v. t. [inter and mingle.]
To mingle or mix together; to put some
things with others. Hooker.
INTERMINGLE, v. i. To be mixed or in-
corporated.
INTERMINGLED, pp. Intermixed.
There trees and intermingled temples rise.
Pope.
INTERMIN'GLING, ppr. Mingling or mix-
ing together.
INTERMIS'SION, n. [Fr. from L. inler-
missio. See hitermit.]
1. Cessation for a time ; pause ; intermedi-
ate stop ; as, to labor without intermission ;
service or business will begin after an in-
termission of one hour.
2. Intervenient time. Skak.
3. The temporary cessation or subsidence of
a fever ; the space of time between the
paroxysms of a disease. Intermission is
an entire cessation, as distinguished from
remission or abatement of fever.
4. The state of being neglected ; disuse ; as
of words. [Little used.] B. Jonson.
INTERMIS'SIVE, a. Coming by fits or af-
ter temporary cessations ; not continual.
Hoiocll.
INTERMIT', V. t. [L. intermiUo ; inter and
mitto, to send.]
To cause to cease for a time ; to interrupt ;
to suspend.
Pray to the gods, to intermit the plague
That needs must light on this ingratitude.
Shall.
INTERMIT', V. i. To cease for a time ; to
to off at intervals; as a fever. A tertian
;ver intermits every other day. The
pulse sometimes intermits for a second of
time.
INTERMITTED, pp. Caused to cease for
a time ; suspended.
INTERMITTENT, a. Ceasing at inter-
vals ; as an intermittent fever.
INTERMIT'TENT, n. A fever which en-
tirely subsides or ceases at certain inter-
vals. Tlie ague and fever is called an in-
termittent.
INTERMIT'TING, ppr. Ceasing for a
time ; pausing.
2. Causing to cease.
INTERMIT'TINGLY, adv. With inter-
missions ; at intervals.
INTERMIX', D. /. [inter and mix.] To mix
together ; to put some things with others ;
to intermingle.
In yonder spring of roses, intermixed
With myrtle, find what to redress 'till noon.
Jifiltmi.
INTERMIX', V. i. To be mixed together;
to be intermingled.
INTERMIX'ED, pp. Mingled together
INTERMIX'ING, ppr. Intermingling.
INTERMIX'TURE, n. A mass formed by
mixture; a mass of ingredients mixed
2. Admixture ; something additional mingled
in a mass.
In this height of impiety there wanted not
an intermixture of levity and folly. Bacon
INTERMONT'ANE, a. [L. inter and mon-
tonus, mons, a mountain.]
Between mountains ; as intermontane soil.
Mease
INTERMUND'ANE, a. [L. infer and mtm-
danus, mundus, the world.]
Being between worlds or between orb and
orb ; as intermundane spaces. Locke.
INTERMU'RAL, a. [L. inter and muralis,
murus, a wall.] Lying between walls.
Ainsivorth.
INTERMUS€'ULAR, a. [inter and muscle.]
Between the mu.scles. Beverly.
INTERMUTA'TION, n. [inter and muta-
tion.]
Interchange ; mutual or reciprocal change.
Thomson.
INTERMU'TUAL, for mutual, is an illegiti-
mate word.
INTERN', a. Internal. IMot much used. ^
Howell.
INTERN'AL, a. [L. intemus.] Inward ; in-
terior; being within any limit or surface;
not external. We speak of the internal
parts of a body, of a bone, of the earth,
&c. Internal excellence is opposed to ex-
ternal. The internal peace of man, is peace
of mind or conscience. The internal evi-
dence of the divine origin of the Scrip-
tures, is the evidence which arises from
the excellence of its precepts and their
adaptation to the condition of man, or
from other peculiarities.
2. Pertaining to the heart.
With our Savior, internal purity is every
thing. Paleif.
•3. Intrinsic ; real ; as the internal rectitude
of actions.
4. Confined to a country; domestic; not
foreign ; as the internal trade of a state
kingdom; internal troubles or dissensioi
internal war. Internal taxes are taxes on
the lands and other property within <
state or kingdom ; opposed to external tax
es. Hamilton.
INTERN'ALLY, adv. Inwardly; within
the body ; beneath the surface.
2. Mentally ; intellectually.
3. Spiritually.
INTERNA'TIONAL, a. [inter and nation-
al.] Existing and regulating the mutual
intercourse between different nations; as
international law. /. Q. Mams. Baring.
INTERNE'CINE, a. [L. internecinus, in-
terneco, to kill ; inter and neco.] Deadly
destructive. [Little iised.] Hudibras.
INTERNE'CION, n. [h. intemecio.] Mu-
tual slaughterer destruction. [Littleused.]
Hah.
INTERNE€'TION, n. Connection. [Use-
less.] fV. Mountague
IN'TERNODE, n. [L. internodium ; inter
and nodus, knot.]
In botany, the space between two joints of a
plant. Martyn.
INTERNUN'CIO, n. [L. internundus ; in-
ter and nuncins, a messenger.] A mes-
senger between two parties. Johnson
INTEROS'SEAL, ) „ [L. inter and os, a
INTEROS'SEOUS, ^ "' bone.] Situated be-
tween bones ; as an interosseous ligament
INTER PE'AL, v. t. [L. inteipello.] To in
tei-rupt. [JVot xised.] More
INTERPEL', V. t. To set forth. [JVot used.]
B. Jonson. Mason.
INTER PELL A'TION, n. [L. interpellatio,
interpello ; inter and pello, to drive or
thrust.] A summons ; a citation.
^yliffe
2. Interruption. More.
3. An earnest address ; intercession.
Bp. Taylor.
INTERPLE'AD, v. i. [inter and plead.] Ii
law, to discuss a point incidentally hap
pening, before the principal cause can be
tried. Jameson,
INTERPLEADER, n. A biW o{ interplead-
er, in chancery, is where a person owes a
debt or rent to one of the parties in suit,
but, till the determination of it, he knows
not to which, and hedesires that they may
interplead or settle their claims between
themselves, that he may be safe in the
payment. Blackstone.
INTERPLEDgE, v. t. interptej'. To give
and take as a mutual pledge. Davenant.
INTERPOINT', V. t. To point ; to distin-
guish by stops or marks.
INTERPOLATE, v. t. [Fr. interpoler; L.
interpolo ; inter and polio, to polish.]
1. To renew ; to begin again ; to carry on
with intermission ; as a succession of in-
terpolated motions. Obs. Hale.
2. To foist in ; to insert, as a spurious word
or passage in a manuscript or book ; to
add a spurious word or passage to the
original.
The Athenians were put in possession of Sa-
lamis by another law which was cited by So-
lon, or as some think, interpolated by him for
that purpose. Pope.
IN'TERPOLATED, pp. Inserted or added
to the original.
INTERPOLATING, ppr. Foisting in a
spurious word or passage.
INTERPOLATION, n. The act of foist-
ing a word or passage into a manuscript
or book.
2. A spurious word or passage inserted in
the genuine writings of an author.
I have changed the situation of some of the
Latin verses, and made some interpolations.
Cromwell to Pope.
3. In mathematics, that branch of analysis,
which treats of the methods by which,
when a series of quantities succeeding
each other, and formed all according to
some determinate law, are given, others
subject to the same law may be interposed
between tliem. Ed. Encyc.
IN'TERPOLATOR, n. [L.] One who foists
into a book or manuscript, spurious words
or passages ; one who adds something to
genuine writings. Smft,
INTERPOL'ISH, v. t. To polish between.
INTERPO'NE, v.t. [h. inter and pono.] To
set or insert between. [jVot in use.]
I Ch. Relig. Appeal.
INTERPO'SAL, n. s as z. [from interpose.]
1. The act of interposing ; interposition; in-
I terference ; agency between two persons.
j South.
j2. Intervention ; a coming or being between.
I Glanville.
jINTERPO'SE, v.t. sasz. [Fr. interposer;
L. interpono, interpositwn ; inter and po-
t no, to place.]
[1. To place between ; as, to interpose a body
between the sun and the earth.
2. To place between or among ; to thrust
in ; to intrude, as an obstruction, inter-
ruption or inconvenience.
What watchful cares do interpose themselves
Betwixt your eyes and night. Shale.
Human frailty will too often interpose itself
among persons of the holiest function. Swift.
3. To offer, as aid or services, for relief or
the adjustment of differences. The em-
peror interposed his aid or services to re-
concile the contending parties.
1 N T
I N r
INT
Tlic common Father of mankind seasonably
interposed his hand and rescued miserable
man — Woodward.
INTERI'O'SE, V. i. To step in between par-
ties at variance ; to mediate. The prince
interposed and made peace.
2. To put in by way of interruption.
But, interposes Eleuthcrius, this objection
may be made against almost any hypothesis.
Soylt
INTERPO'SE, n. Interposal. [JSTot used.
Spenser.
INTERPOSED, pp. Placed between
among ; thrust in.
INTERPO'SER, n. One that interposes
comes between others ; a mediator or
agent between parties.
INTERPO'SING, ppr. Placing between;
coming between ; offering aid or services.
INTERPOS'IT, n. A place of deposit be-
tween one comnierciul city or country and
another. Mitford.
INTERPOSP'TION, n. [Fr. from L. inttr-
positio.]
1. A being, placing or coming between ; in-
tervention ; as the interpotition of the
Baltic sea between Germany and Sweden.
The interposition of the moon between the
earth and the sun occasions a solar eclipse.
3. Intervenient agency ; as the interposition
of the magistrate in quieting sedition.
How many evidences have we of divine
iTderposition'm favor of good men !
3. Mediation ; agency between parties. By
the interposition of a common friend, the
parties have been reconciled.
4. Any thing interposed. Milton.
INTERPO'SURE, n. Interposal. [M>t in
use.] GlanviUe.
INTER'PRET, v. t. [Fr. interpreter ; L. in-
terpretor, from interpres. The word is
compounded of inter and pr'es, pretis ; but
the latter is not found in its simple form,
and its origin is uncertain. It coincides
in elements with Ti3 or BHi) to part, to
spread.]
1. To explain the meaning of words to a
person who does not understand them ; to
expound ; to translate imintelligible words
into intelligible ones ; as, to interpret the
Hebrew language to an Englishman.
— Immanuel, which being interpreted, sig-
nifies, God with us. Matt. i.
2. To explain orynfold the meaning of pre-
dictions, visions, dreams or enigmas; to
expound and lay o])en what is concealed
from the understanding ; as, Joseph inter-
preted the dream of Pharaoh.
3. To decipher.
4. To explain something not understood ; as,
to interpret looks or signs.
5. To define ; to exphiin words by other
words in the same language.
INTER'PRETABLE, a. Tliat may be in-
terpreted or explained. Collier.
INTERPRETA'TION, n. [Fr. froniL.in-
teipretatio.]
1. The act of interpreting ; explanation of
unintelligible words in language that is
intelligible. Interpretation is the design of
translation.
2. The act of expounding or unfolding what
is not understood or not obvious ; as the
interpretation of dreams and prophecy.
Look how we can, or sad or merrily.
Interpretation will misquote our look".
3. The sense given by an interpreter ; ex-
position. We sometimes find various in-
terpretations of the same passage of Scrip-
ture and other ancient writings.
4. Tiie power of explaining. Bacon.
INTERPRETATIVE, a. Collected or
known by interpretation.
An interpretative siding with heretics.
Hamtnond.
2. Containing explanation. Barrow.
INTER'PRETATIVELY, adv. As may be
collected by interpretation. Ray.
INTERPRETED, pp. Explained; ex-
pounded.
INTERPRETER, n. One that explains or
expounds; an expositor ; as an interpreter
of the Scriptures.
2. A tratislator ; one who renders the words
of one language in words of correspond-
ing'>ii;Niricatioii in another.
IN'I'l'.i; ri{i;riN'G. ppr. Explaining; ex-
liiiiiniliii^' : iraiislatitig.
INTIOIU'I AC TION, n. [L. interpunctio,
interpungo ; inter and pungo, to jioint.J
The making of points between sentences or
parts of a sentence. But punctuation is
generally used.
INTERREG'NUM, n. [L. inter and reg-
num, rule or reign.]
The time in which a throne is vacant, be-
tween the death or abdication of a king
and the accession of his successor. Arj
iuterrcgnum, in strictness, can happen on-
ly in governments where the king is elec
ive ; for in hereditary kingdoms, the reign
of the successor commences at the mo-
ment of his predecessor's death or demise,
The word however is used with more lat-
itude.
INTERREIGN, n. interra'ne. [A transla-
tion ot interregnum,¥T. interregne.] An in-
terregnum, or vacancy of the throne, [su-
pra.] Bacon.
INTER'RER, n. [from inter.] One that in-
ters or buries.
IN'TERREX, n. [L. inter and rex, king.]
A regent ; a magistrate that governs du-
ring an interregnum.
INTER'ROGATE, v. t. [Fr. interroger ; L.
interrogo ; inter and rogo, to ask.]
To question ; to examine by asking ques-
tions ; as, to interrogate a witness.
INTER'ROGATE, v. i. To ask questions,
Bacon.
INTER'ROGATED.jjp. Examined by ques
tions.
INTER'ROGATING, ppr. Asking ques-
tions of one; examining by questions.
INTERROGA TION, n. The act of ques-
tioning ; examination by questions.
2. A question put ; inquiry. Pope.
3. A note that marks a question ; as, does
Job serve God for naught?
INTERROG'ATIVE, a. [Fr. interrogatif.]
Denoting a question ; expressed in the
foim of a question ; as an interrogative
phrase or sentence.
INTERROG'ATIVE, n. A word used i
asking questions; asmAo? what^ which?
lohyf
INTERROG'ATIVELY, adv. In the form
of a question.
INTERROGATOR, n. One who asks
A question or inquiry. In law, a particular
i question to a witness, who is to answer it
1 under the solemnities of an oath. This
! may be in open court or before commis-
sioners.
jlNTERROG'ATORY, a. Containing a
question ; expressing a question ; as an
I interrogatory sentence. Johnson.
INTERRUPT', V. t. [L. inlemimpo, inter-
i riiptus ; inter and rumpo, to break.]
1. To stop or hinder by breaking in ujmn the
course or progress of any thing; to break
the current or motion of; as, a fall of rain
interrupted oin- journey. There was not
a tree nor a bush to interrupt the charge of
j the enemy. The speaker was interrupted
I by shouts of acclamation. We apply the
! word both to the agent and to his pro-
I gress. We say, an alarm interrupted the
! speaker, or his argument or discourse.
[2. To divide ; to separate ; to break contin-
I uity or a continued series. The road was
I on a plain, not interrupted by a single hill,
I or interrupted here and tliere by a hill.
INTERRUPT', a. Broketi ; containing a
I chasm. Milton.
IINTERRUPT'ED, pp. Stopped ; hindered
from proceeding.
INTERiUJPT'EDLY, adv. With breaks or
iNlfnupiiuii-^, Boyle.
INTLIMII 1"!' r.R, 71. One that interrupts.
;i!i;i i''i
iNt;,
lin-akiiii;- iij upon.
INTERRUPTION,
iptio.]
ppr. Hindering by
n. [Fr. from L. inler-
INTERROG'ATORY, n. [Fr. i7Uerroga-
toire.]
1. The act of interrupting, or breaking in up-
on progression.
2. Breach of any thing extended ; interposi-
tion ; as an isle separated from the conti-
nent by the interruption of the sea.
Hale.
3. Intervention ; interposition.
Lest the interruption of time cause you to
lose the idea of one part. Dryden.
4. Stop ; hinderance ; ob<;truction caused by
breaking in upon any course, current, pro-
gress or motion. An interruption may be
temporarj- or durable. The work of the
Erie canal has suffered few interruptions
from storms and floods. The lava met
with DO interruption till it descended to the
foot of the niountain. The author has met
with many interruptions in the execution
of his work. The si)eaker or the argu-
ment proceeds without interruption.
5. Stop ; cessation ; intermission. Locke.
INTERSCAPULAR, a. [L. inter and sca-
pula, the shoulder-blade.] Situated be-
tween the shoulders.
INTERSCIND', v. t. [L. inter amXscindo.]
To cut off. J)icl
IXTERSCRI'BE, v. t. [L. inter aud scribo.]
1 To write between. Diet.
IINTERSE'CANT, a. [L. interseca,u, inier-
I seco ; inter and seco, to cut.] Dividing in-
1 to parts ; crossing. Diet.
INTERSECT', v. t. [L. interseco; inter, be-
tween, and seco, to cut.]
To cut or cross mutually ; to divide into
parts. Thus two hnes or two i)lanes may
ijitersect each other. The ecliptic intersects
the equator.
INTERSECT', v.i. To meet and cross each
other ; as. the point where two lines inter-
sect. [This is elliptical.]
N T
INT
INT
INTERSE€T'ED, pp. Cut or divided into
parts ; crossed.
INTERSE€T'ING,;)/>r. Cutting; crossing;
as lines.
INTERSE€'TION, n. [L. intersecao.] The
act or state of intersecting.
2. Tlie point or line in which two lines or
two planes cut each other.
INTERSEM'INATE, v. f. [L. intersemina-
tus ; inter, between, and semino, to sow.]
To sow between or among. [Little used.]
INTERSERT', v. I. [L. intcrsero : inter, be-
tween, and sero, to throw.]
To set or jiut in between other things.
Bierewood.
INTERSER'TION, n. An insertion, or thing
inserted between other things.
Hammond.
IN'TERSPACE, ti. [inter and space.] A
space between other things.
INTERSPERSE, v. t. interspers'. [L. inler-
spersus ; inter, between, and spargo, to
scatter.]
To scatter or set here and there atnong oth-
er things ; as an able argument inter-
spersed with flowers of rlictoric. Inter-
sperse shrubs among trees.
INTERSPERS'ED, pp. Scattered or situ-
ated here and there among other things.
INTERSPERS'ING, ppr. Scattering here
and there among other things.
INTERSPER'SION, n. The act of scatter
ing or setting here and there among other
tilings.
INTERSTEL'LAR, a. [L. inter and stilla,
a star.]
Situated beyond the solar system. Bacon
IN'TERSTICE, ?i. [Fr. from L. interstitium ,
inter and sto, to stand.]
1. A space between things ; but cliiefly, a nar-
row or small space between things closely
set, or the parts which compose a body.
We speak of the interstices between the
teeth, or between the parts of wood or
stone.
2. Time between one act and another; in-
terval. ^!)liffe.
INTERSTINCT'IVE, a. Distinguishing.
[Mt tiscd.] Mallis.
INTERSTI"TIAL, a. Pertaining to or con-
taining interstices. Encyc.
INTERSTRA'TIFiED, a. Stratified among
or between other bodies. Encyc.
INTERTALK, v.t. intertauk'. To exchange
conversation. [JVot used.] Carew.
INTERTAN'GLE, i>. t. To intertwist ; to
entangle. Beaiim
INTERTEX'TURE, n. [h.interlexlus ; inter
and tc.ro, to weave.]
The act of interweaving, or the state of
things interwoven. More.
IN'TERTIE, > In carpentry, a small tim
IN'TERDUCE, S ber between summers.
INTERTROP'l€AL, a. [inter and tropical.]
Situateil between the tropics. /. Morse
INTERTWI'NE, i». t. [inter and twine.] To
unite by twining or twisting one with an
other. Milton
INTERTVVI'NED, pp. Twined or twisted
one with another.
INTERTWI'NING, ppr. Twining one with
another.
INTERTWIST', v. t. [inter and tmst.] To
twist one with another.]
INTERTWIST'ED, pp. Twisted one with
another.
INTERTWISTING, ppr. Twisting one
with another.
IN'TERVAL, n. [Fr. intervalle; L. interval-
lum ; inter and vallum, a wall, or vallus, a
stake.]
1. A space between things ; a void space in-
tervening between any two objects; as
an interval between two columns, between
two pickets or palisades, between two
houses or walls, or between two moun-
tains or hills.
2. Space of time between any two points or
events ; as the interval between the death
of Charles I. of England and the acces-
sion of Charles II. ; the interval between
two wars. Hence we say, an interval of
peace.
.3. The space of time between two parox-
ysms of disease, pain or delirium ; remis-
sion ; as an interval of ease, of peace, of
reason.
4. The distance between two given sound
in music, or the difference in point of
gravity or acuteness. Encyc.
5. A tract of low or plain ground between
hills, or along the banks of rivers, usually
alluvial land enriched by the overflowing
of rivers, or by fertilizing"deposits of earth
from the adjacent hills. Hutchinson
[Dr. Belknap writes this intervale; 1
think improperly.]
INTERVEINED, a. [inter and vein.] In
tersected as with veins.
Fair champaiga with less livers interveinecl.
INTERVE'NE, v. i. [L. intervenio ; inter
and venio, to come.]
1. To come or be between persons or things ;
to be situated between. Thus the Atlantic
intervenes between Europe and America;
the Mediterranean i)i<en)e)ies between Eu-
rope and Africa.
2. To come between points of time or events ;
as the period that intervened between the
treaty of Ryswick and the treaty of
Utrecht.
3. To happen in a way to disturb, cross or
interrupt. Events may intervene to frus
trate our purposes or wishes.
To interpose or undertake voluntarily for
another. A third party may intervene and
accept a bill of exchange for another
INTERVE'NE, n. A coming between. [ATot
sed.] Wotto
INTERVE'NIENT, a. Coming or being
between ; intercedent ; interposed. [Lit
tie used.] Bacon
INTERVE'NING, ppr. or a. Coming or be
ing between persons or things, or between
points of time ; as intervening space or
time ; intervening events or misfortunes ;
intervening peace.
INTERVEN'TION, n. [Fr. from L. inter-
ventio.]
1. A state of coming or being between ; in
terposition. Light is not interrupted by
the intervention of a transparent body.
2. Agency of persons between persons; in
terposition ; mediation ; any interference
that may affect the interests of others,
Let us decide our quarrels at home withoiit'
the intervention of a foreign power. Templt
.3. Agency of means or instruments; as, ef
fects are produced by the intervention of
natural causes.
4. Interposition in favor of another ; a vol-
untary undertaking of one party for an-
other. A bill of exchange may be ac-
cepted by the intervention of a third per-
son in behalf of the drawer or of one of
the indorsers.
French Commercial Code. Walsh.
INTERVEN'UE, n. [Fr. intervenu.] Inter-
position. [jVotused.] Blount.
INTERVERT', i'.<. [L. interverto ; inieranA
verto, to turn.]
To turn to another course or to another use.
[Little ttsed.] ' imton.
IN'TERVIEW, n. [inter and view ; Fr. en-
trevue.]
A mutual sight or view ; a meeting; usually
a formal meeting for some conference on
an important subject ; hence the word im-
plies a conference or mutual communica-
tion of thoughts. The envoy had an in-
terview with the king or with the secretary
of foreign affairs. The parties had an iii-
tervierv and adjusted their differences.
INTERVOLVE, v. t. intervolv'. [L. inter-
volvo ; inter and volvo, to roll.]
To involve one within another. Milton.
INTERVOLV'ED, pp. Involved one within
another ; wrapped together.
INTERVOLV'ING, ppr. Involving one
within another.
INTERWE'AVE, D. /. pret. interwove; pp.
intenvoven. [inter and weave.]
1. To weave together ; to intermix or unite
in texture or construction ; as threads of
silk and cotton interwoven.
2. To intermix; to set among or together;
as a covert of interwoven trees.
I. To intermingle; to insert together; as,
to interweave truth with falsehood.
INTERWE'AVING, ppr. Weaving togeth-
INTERWE'AVING, n. Intertexture.
Milton.
INTERWISH', V. t. [inter and tvish.] To
wish mutually to each other. [Little used.]
Donne.
INTERW6RK'ING, n. The act of working
together.
INTERWRE'ATIIED, <{. Woven into a
wreath.
INTEST'ABLE, a. [L. intestaUlis ; in and
testabilis ; testis, a witness ; testor, to tes-
tify.]
Not capable of making a will ; legally nn-
quahfied or disqualified to make a testa-
ment ; as, a person unquaHlied for want
of discretion, or disqualified by loss of rea-
son, is intestable. Ayliff'e.
INTEST'ACY, n. [from intestate.] The
state of dying without making a will or
disposing of one's effects. Blackstone.
INTEST'ATE, a. [Fr. inteslat ; L. intesta-
tus ; in and testaiiis, testor, to make a will.]
1. Dying without having made a will. When
a man dies intestate, his estate is commit-
ted for settlement to administrators.
2. Not devised ; not disposed of by will ; as
an intestate estate.
Laws of Mass. and Conn.
INTEST'ATE, n. A person who dies with-
out making a will. Blackstone.
I N T
1 N T
I N T
INTEST'INAL, a. [fioni intestine.] I
taining to the intestines of an animal body ;
as the intestinal tube or canal.
^rhuthnol.
INTEST'INE, a. [Fr. intestin; L.inlesti-
nus, from intus, within.]
1. Internal ; inward ; opposed to external ;
applied to the human or other uninial
body ; as an intestine disease.
2. Internal with regard to a state or coun-
try ; domestic, not foreign ; as intestine
feuds ; intestine war ; intestine enemies.
It is to be remarked that this word is usu-
ally or always applied to evils. We nev
say, intestine happiness or prosperity ; t
testine trade, manufactures or bills; but
intestine broils, trouble, disorders, calam
ties, war, &c. We say, internal peace,
welfare, prosperity, or internal broils, war
trade, &c. This restricted useof in<e*/j7i(
seems to be entirely arbitrary.
INTEST'INE, «. usually in the plural, in-
testines. The bowels ; the canal or tube
that extends, with convolutions, from the
right orifice of the stomach to the a
INTIilRST, V. t. inthursV. [in and thirst.]
To make thirsty. LVo* used.] Bp. Hall.
INTHRALL', v. t. [in and thrall ; Sax. threat,
a servant; Ir. traill.]
To enslave ; to reduce to bondage or serv
tude ; to shackle. The Greeks have been
inthralled by the Turks.
She soothes, but never can inthrall my mind
Prior
INTHRALL'ED,;)/). Enslaved; reduced to
servitude.
INTHRALL'L\G,n/)»-. Enslaving.
INTHRALL'MENT, n. Servitude; slavery ;
bondage. Milton
INTHRO'NE, I', t. [in and throne.] To seat
on a throne; to raise to royalty or su-
preme dominion. [See Enthrone, which
is the more conunon orthography.]
INTIIRONIZA'TION, n. The act of
throning. [jVo< in use.]
INTHRO'NIZE, v. t. To enthrone. [JVot
in use.]
IN'TIMACV, 91. [from intimate.] Close fa-
miliarity or fellowship ; nearness in friend-
shi]). Rogers.
IN'TiaiATE, a. [h. intimiis, super), oi' intus,
or interus, within.]
1. Inmost; inward; internal; as intimatt
impulse. Milton.
2. Near; close.
He was honored with an intimate and imme-
diate admission. South.
3. Close in friendsliip or acquaintance ; fa-
miliar ; as an intimate friend ; intimate ac-
quaintance.
IN'TIMATE, n. A familiar friend or asso-
ciate ; one to whom the thoughts of an-
other are entrusted w^ithout reserve.
IN'TIMATE, i: i. To share together. [M>t
in use.] Spenser.
IN'TIMATE, f. t. [Fr. ijitimer ; Sp. inti-
mar ; It. intimare ; Low L. intimo, to inti-
mate, to register, to love entirely, to njake
one intimate, to enter, from intimus.]
To hint ; to suggest obscurely, indirectly or
not very plainly ; to give slight notice of
He intimated his intention of "resigning his
ofiice.
'Tis heaven itself that points out an hereafter,
And intimates eternity to man. Addison.
INTIMATED, ;</). Hinted; slightly ii
tioned or signified.
IN'TIMATELY, flrfu. Closely; with dose
intermixture and union of parts ; as tw
fluids intimately mixed.
2. Closely; with nearness of friendship or
nlliance ; as two friends intimately united
two families intimately connected.
1. Familiarly ; particularly ; as, to he inti
ma<t7^ acquainted with facts or with a sub
ject.
I'TIMATING, ppr. Hinting ; suggesting.
INTIMA'TION, Ji. [Fr. from intimate.
Hint ; an obscure or indirect suggestioi
or notice ; a declaration or remark com-
municating imperfect information. Our
friend left us without giving any previous
intimation of his design.
IN'TIME, a. [L. intimus.] Inward; inter-
nal. [Xot used.] Digby
INTl.M IDATK, I.. /. [Yr.intimider; in and
L. tiniidu.H, t'tarful ; timeo, to fear.]
To make fearful; to inspire with fear; tc
dishearten ; to abash.
Now gviilt once harbor'd In the consciou!
breast.
Intimidates the brave, degrades the great.
Irene.
INTIM'IDATED,p;). Made fearful; abash
ed.
INTIM IDATING, ppr.
in'tLmii'T
31aking fearfu
\ TION, JI. The act of making
fcart'ul ; tijc state of being abashed.
INTINCTIV'ITY, n. [L. in and linctus, dip-
ped, stained.]
The want of the quality of coloring or ting-
ing other bodies. Fuller's earth is distin-
guished from colorific earths by its inline-
tivity. ' Kirwan
INTIRE, INTIRELY. [See Entire and
its derivatives.]
INTITLE. [See Entitle.]
IN'TO, prip. [in and to.] Noting entrance
or a passing from the outside of a thing to
its interior parts. It follows verbs expr
ing motion. Come into the house ; go
into the church ; one stream falls or runs
into another. Water enters inio the fine
vessels of plants.
2. Noting penetration beyond the outside o
surface, or access to it. Look irilo a Icttc
or book ; look into an apartment.
3. Noting insertion. Infuse more spirit or
animation into the composition.
4. Noting mixture. Put other ingredients
inio the compound.
5. Noting inclusion. Put these ideas into
other words.
G. Noting the passing of a thing from one
form or state to another. Compound sub
stances may be resolved into otliers whici
are more simple ; ice is convertible into
water, and water into vajior. Men are
more easily drawn than forced into com-
phance. We reduce many distinct sub-
stances into one mass. We arc led by ev-
idence into belief of truth. Men are often
enticed into the commission of crimes.
Children are sometimes frightened into
fits, and we are all liable to be seduced in-
to error and folly.
INTOL'ERABLE, a. [Fr. from L. intolera-
hilis ; in and tolerabilis, tolero, to bear.]
1. Not to be borne ; that caiuiot be endured ;
as intolerable pain ; intolerable heat or cold j
an intolerable burden.
2. Insiiflerable; as iH/o/eraWe laziness.
INTOL'ERABLENESS, n. The quality of
being not tolerable or sufferuble.
INTOLERABLY, adv. To a degree beyond
endurance ; as intolerably cold ; intolerably
abusive.
INTOL'ERANCE, n. [from intolerant.]
Want of toleration ; the not enduring at
all or not suflering to exist without perse-
cution ; as the intolerance of a prince or a
church towards a religious sect. Burke.
INTOL'ERANT.a. [Fr. from h.in and tol-
ero, to endure.]
1. Not enduring ; not able to endure.
The powers of the human body being limited
and intolerant of excesses. Arbuthnot.
2. Not enduring difference of opinion or
worship ; refusing to tolerate others in the
enjoyment of their ojiinions, rights and
worship.
INTOLERANT, JI. One who does not fa-
vor toleration. Lowth.
INTOL'ERATED,a. Not endured ; not tol-
erated. Chesterfield.
INTOLERA'TIOX, n. Intolerance ; rclusal
to tolerate others in their opinions or wor-
ship. Chesterfeld.
INToMB, t'. t. iutoom'. [in and tomb.] To de-
posit in a tomb; to bury. Dryden.
INT6MHEI), pp. intoom'ed. Deposited in a
tomb; buried.
INToMBING, ppr. intoom'ing. Depositing
in a tomb ; interring.
INTONATE, V. i. [L. intono, intonatus ; in
and tono, to sound or thunder.]
. To sound ; to sound the notes of the nni-
sical scale.
2. To thunder.
INTONA'TION, n. In music, the action of
sounding the notes of the .scale with the
voice, or any other given order of musical
tones. ^ £iift/c.
2. The manner of soimding or tuning t"lie
notes of a musicahscale.
3. In speaking, the modulation of the voice
in expression.
INTO'NE, V. i. [L. intono, supra.] To utter
a sound, or a deep protracted sound.
Ass intones to ass. Pope.
INTOR'SION, n. [L. intorqueo, intorsum, to
twist.]
A winding, bending or twisting. In botany,
the bending or twining of any part of a
plant towards one side or the other, or in
any direction from the vertical. Martim.
INTORT', V. t. [L. inlortus, from intorqueo,
twist.]
To twist ; to wreath ; to wind ; to wring.
Pope.
INTORT'ED, pp. Twisted ; made winding.
Jirbuthnot. Pope.
INTORT'ING, p/)r. Winding; twisting.
INTOXICATE, V. t. [in and L. toxicum,
which, Pliny informs us, is from taxa, a
s|)eciesoftree, in Greek, uuiXol. Lib. xvi.
10.]
1. To inebriate ; to make drunk ; as with
spirituous liquor.
As with new wine intoxicated both.
They swim in mirth— Milton.
2. To excite the spirits to a kind of delirium ;
to elate to enthusiasm, frenzy or madness.
Success may sometimes intoxicate a man
INT
I N T
INT
ofsobriety. An enthusiast may be intoxi-
cuteJ with zeal.
INTOX'ICATE, a. Inebriated. More.
*INTOX'I€ATED, pp. Inebriated; made
drunk ; excited to frenzy.
INTOX'ICATING, ppr. "inebriating ; elat-
ing to excess or frenzy.
2. a. Having qualities that produce inebria-
tion ; as intoxicating liquors.
INTOXICA'TION, n. Inebriation ; ebriety ;
drunkenness ; the act of making drunk.
South.
INTRACT'ABLE, a. [L. inlractabilis ; in
and tradabilis, tracto, to handle, manage,
govern ; Fr. intruitabte ; It. intrattabile.]
1. >fot to be governed or managed ; violent;
stubborn; obstinate; refractory ; as an in-
tradable temper.
2. Not to be taught ; indocile.
INTRACT'ABLENESS, ? The quality of
INTRACTABILITY, S"l*eing ungov-
ernable ; obstinacy ; perverseness.
Porteus.
2. Indocility.
INTRA€T'ABLY, adv. In a perverse, stub-
born manner.
INTRAFOLIA'CEOUS, a. [L. intra and
folium, a leaf.]
In botany, growing on the inside of a leaf:
as intra/oliaceous stipules. Lee. Martyn.
INTRANCE. [See Entrance.]
INTRANQUIL'LITY, n. [in slwA tranquil-
lity.]
Unquietness; inquietude; want of rest.
Temple.
INTRAN'SIENT, a. Not transient; not
passing suddenly away. Killingbeck
INTRANS'ITIVE, a. [L. intransitivus ; ir.
and iranseo, to pass over.]
In grammar, an intransitive verb is one which
expresses an action or state that is limited
to the agent, or in other words, an action
that does not pass over to, or operate upon
an object ; as, I walk ; I run ; I sleep.
lNTRANS'ITIVELY,arfv. Without an ob-
ject following ; in the manner of an in-
transitive verb. Lowtli
INTRANSMIS'SIBLE, o. That cannot be
transmitted. J. P. Smith.
INTRANSMUTABIL'ITY, n. The quality
of not being transmutable. Ray.
INTRANSMU'TABLE, a. [in and transmu-
table.]
That cannot be transmuted or changed into
another substance.
Ra
IN'TRANT, u. [L. intrans.] Entering ; jjcn
etrating.
INTREASURE, v. t. intrezh'ur. [in and
treasure.]
To lay up as in a treasury. [Ldttle used.]
Shak.
INTRE'ATFUL, a. Full of entreaty.
INTRENCH', V. t. [in and Fr. trancher, to
cut. See Th-ench.]
1. To dig or cut a trench around a place,
as in fortification ; to fortify with a ditch
and parapet. The army intrenched their
camp, or they were intrenched.
2. To furrow ; to make hollows in.
His face
Deep scars of thunder had intrenched.
Milton.
To intrench on, literally, to cut into ; hence,
to invade ; to encroach ; to enter on and
take possession of that which belongs
another. In the contest for power, the
king was charged with intrenching on the
rights of the nobles, and the nobles were
accused of intrenching on the preroga-
tives of the crown.
INTRENCH'ANT, a. Not to be divided or
wounded ; indivisible. [JVot used.]
Shak.
INTRENCH'ED.pp. Fortified with a ditch
and parajjet.
INTRENCH'ING, ppr. Fortifying with a
trench and parapet.
INTRENCH'MENT, n. Properly, a trench
or ditch only ; but as the earth thrown
out of a trench forms a part, and often the
most necessary and useful part of a forti-
fication, hence intrenchment is generally
understood to signify a ditch and parapet,
and sometimes it signifies fascines cover
ed with earth, gabions, bags filled with
earth, or other materials collected to cover
men from an enemy's fire.
On our side vpe have thrown up intrench-
ments on Winter and Prospect hills.
Washington.
INTREP'ID, a. [L. intrepidus ; in and tre-
pidus, trepido, to tremble.]
Literally, not trembling or shaking with fear
hence, fearless ; bold ; brave ; undaunted ;
as an intrepid soldier.
INTREPID'ITY, n. [Fr. inlrepidite.] Fear-
lessness ; fearless bravery in danger ; un-
daunted courage or boldness. The troops
engaged with intrepidity.
INTREP'IDLY, adv. Without trembling or
shrinking from danger ; fearlessly ; dar-
ingly ; resolutely. Pope.
IN'TRICABLE, a. Entanghng. [JVot in
use.] Shelton.
IN'TRIeACY, n. [from intricate.] The
state of being entangled ; perplexity ; in
volution ; complication ; as the intricacy
of a knot, and figuratively, the intricacy
of accounts, the intricacy of a cause in
controversy, the intricacy of a plot.
Addison
IN'TRI€ATE, a. [L. intricatus, from iiitrico
to fold ; in and tricor ; It. intrecciare. See
Trick.]
Entangled ; involved ; perplexed ; complica-
ted ; obscure. We passed through intri-
cate windings. We found the accouuti
intricate. The case on trial is intricate
The plot of a tragedy may be too intricate
to ])lease.
IN'TRIC-ATE, V. t. To perplex ; to make
obscure. [Little used.] Camden
IN'TRIeATELY, adv. With involution oi
infoldings ; with perplexity or intricacy.
JVotton
IN'TRICATENESS, ?i. The state of beint
involved ; involution ; complication ; per
plexity. Sidney.
INTRl€A'TION, n. Entangleitient. [.Vo/
used.]
INTRIGUE, n. intree'g. [Fr. id.; It. intrigo
verbs, Fr. intriguer, to perplex, enibroil
intrigue ; It. intricare, intrigare, to per
plex, to make intricate ; Low L. intrico,
intricor, to enwrap; tricor, to trifle, to
show tricks ; allied to Gr. Spil, -fpt^tos,
hair or a lock of hair, as we should say,
a plexus. In D. bedriegen, G. betriegen,
signify to cheat ; D. driegen, to tack, to
baste ; G. triegen, to deceive ; trvg, de
ceit, fraud. The primary sense seems t(
be to fold, lay over, or to draw together.]
1. A plot or scheme of a complicated na-
ture, intended to effect soine purpose by
secret artifices. An intrigue may be form-
ed and prosecuted by an individual, and
we often hear of the intrigues of a minis-
ter or a courtier, but often several pro-
jectors are concerned in an intrigue. The
word is usually applied to affairs of love
or of government.
2. The plot of a play or romance; a com-
plicated scheme of designs, actions and
events, intended to awaken interest in an
audience or reader, and make them wait
with eager curiosity for the solution or
development.
3. Intricacy ; complication. [JVot in use.]
Hale.
INTRIGUE, V. i. intree'g. To form a plot or
scheme, usually complicated, and intend-
ed to effect some purpose by secret artifi-
ces. The courtier intrigues with the min-
ister, and the lover with his mistress.
INTRIGUE, V. t. intree'g. To perjilex or
render intricate. [Not used.] L. Addison.
INTRIGUER, n. intree'ger. One who in-
ues ; one who forms plots, or pursues
object by secret artifices.
INTRIGUING, ppr. inlree'ging. Forming
secret plots or schemes.
a. Addicted to intrigue ; given to secret
machinations.
INTRlGUINGLY, a. inlree'gingly. With
intrigue ; with artifice or secret machina-
tions.
INTRIN'SECATE, a. Entangled ; perplex-
ed. [JVot in use.]
INTRIN'SIe, I [Fr. intrinseque ; Sp.
INTRIN'SI€AL, S intrinseco ; it.iutrin-
sico ; L. intrinsecus ; intra and secus. It
was formerly written intrinsecal.]
1. Inward; internal; hence, true ; genuine;
real ; essential ; inherent ; not apparent
or accidental ; as the intrinsic value of
gold or silver ; the intrinsic merit of an
action ; the intrinsic worth or goodness
of a person. Prior.
2. Intimate ; closely familiar. 06s.
fFotton.
INTRIN'SICALLY, adv. Internally; in its
nature ; really ; truly.
A lie is a thing absolutely and intrinsically
e\A\. South.
INTRODU'CE, v.t. [L. introduco; intra,
within, and duco, to lead ; Fr. introduire ;
It. introdurre.]
1. To lead or bring in ; to conduct or usher
into a place ; as, to introduce a person
into a drawing room.
2. To conduct and make known ; to bring
to be acquainted ; as, to introduce a stran-
ger to a person ; to introduce a foreign
minister to a prince.
.3. To bring something new into notice or
practice ; as, to introduce a new fashion,
or a new remedy for a disease ; to intro-
duce an improved mode of tillage.
4. To bring in; to import; as, to introduce
foreign goods.
5. To produce ; to cause to exist ; as, to in-
troduce habits into children. Locke.
6. To begin ; to open to notice. He introdu-
ced the subject with a long preface.
7. To bring before the i)uhlic by writing or
1 discourse ; as, to introduce one's self to
notice or to the public.
N T
INT
I N U
INTRODU'CED, pp. Led or conducted in ;
brought iu ; made acquainted ; imported.!
INTRODUCER, n. One who introduces ;|
one who conducts another to a place or
person ; one who makes strangers known
to each other ; one wiio brings any thing
into notice or practice.
lNTRODU;CING, ppr. Conducting or
bringing in ; making known, as one stran-
ger to another ; bringing any tiling into
notice or practice.
INTRODUCTION, n. [Fr. from L. iniro-
duclio.]
1. The action of conducting or ushering in-
to a place ; used of persons. We speak of
xUe introduction of one stranger to anoth-
er ; the introduclion of a foreign minister
to a prince or court, and the introduction
of company to a levee.
3. The act of bringing into a country ; as
the introduction of gold or bullion, or of
merchandise.
3. The act of bringing something into no
lice, practice or use ; as the introduction
of new modes of dress or of tillage.
4. The part of a book which precedes the
mahi work ; a preface or preliminary dis-
course.
5. The first part of an oration or discourse,
in which the speaker gives some general
account of his design and subject, and pre-
pares the minds of his audience for a fa-
vorable reception of bis remarks or argu-
ments.
lNTRODU€'TIVE, a. Serving to intro-
duce ; serving as the means to bring for-
ward something. Loivth.
lNTRODU€'TOR, n. An introducer. [JVot
laed.]
INTRODU€'TORY, a. Serving to intro-
duce something else ; previous ; i)refato
ry ; preliminary ; as introductory remarks
an introductory discourse.
INTROGRES'SION, n. [L. introgressio.]
Entrance. [JVot used.]
INTROMIS'SION, n. [h.intromissus,inlr
tnitto ; intro and milto, to send.]
1. The action of sending in. Peachai
2. In Scot's law, an intermeddling with the
eflects of another. Johnson
INTROMIT', V. t. [L. intromitto, supra.] To
send in ; to let in ; to admit. Greenhilt.
2. To allow to enter ; to be the medium bj
which a thing enters. Glass in the win
dow intromits light without cold into a
room.
INTROMIT', V. i. To intermeddle with the
effects of another. Stitart
INTRORECEP'TION, n. The act of ad
mitting into or within. Hammond.
INTROSPECT', V. t. [L. introspicio : inlro
and specio, to look.]
To look into or within ; to view the inside
INTROSPECTION, n. A view of the in
side or interior.
I was forced to make an introspeelk
I into my
Dry den.
The falling of
one part of
the passing of
INTROSUSCEP'TION
INTUSSUSCEPTION,
intestine into another,
one part within anothei', causing a dupli-
cature of the intestine. Coxe. Hooper.
INTROVE'NIENT, a. [L. iniro and veni-
ens, venio, to come.]
Coming in or between ; entering. [Little
used.] Broum.
Vol. I.
INTROVER'SION, n. The act of turning
inwards. Berkeley.
INTROVERT', v. t. [L. intro and veHo.]
To turn inwards. Cowper.
INTRU'DE, V. i. [L. intrude ; in and trudo,
to thrust. See Thrust.]
1. To thrust one's self in ; to come or go in
without invitation or welcome ; to enter, as
into company, against the will of the
company or the host ; as, to intrude on
families at unseasonable hours. Never
intrude where your company is not de
sired.
2. To encroach ; to enter or force one's self
in without permission ; as, to intrude on
the lands of another.
3. To enter uncalled or uninvited, or with-
out just right. Col. ii.
INTRUDE, v.t. To thrust one's self in, or
to enter into some place without right or
welcome.
2. To force or cast in. Greenhill.
INTRUDED, pp. Thrust in.
INTRUDER, «. One who intrudes ; one
who thrusts himself in, or enters where
he has no right or is not welcome.
They were but intruders on the possession,
during the minority of the heir. Davits.
They were all strangers and intruders.
Locke.
INTRU'DING, ppr. Entering without invi-
tation, right or welcome.
INTRUSION, n. s as z. [Fr. from L. in-
trusio, from intrudo.]
I. The action of thrusting in, or of entering
into a place or state without
right or welcome. The company may be
disturbed by the intrusion of an unwel-
come guest.
— Many e-xcellent strains which have been jost-
led off by the intrusions of poetical fictions.
Brmrn
Why this intrusion ?
Were not my orders that I should be private :
Mdison
Encroachment ; entrance witiiout right
on the property or possessions of another
Voluntary entrance on an undertaking un-
suitable for the person. Wotton
INTRU'SIVE, a. Thrusting in or entering
without right or welcome ; apt to intrude.
Thomson.
INTRUST', V. t. [in and trust.] To deliver
in trust ; to confide to the care of; to com-
mit to another with confidence in hii
fidelity ; as, to intrust a servant with one's
money or goods, or to intrust money or
goods" to a servant. We intrust an agent
or factor with commercial business, or we
intrust commercial concerns to an agent,
We intrust our friends with secrets, or in-
tntst secrets to them.
INTRUST' ED, pv. Delivered in tnist :
committed to the hands or care of another,
in confidence that he will be faithful in
discharging his duty.
INTRUST'ING, /);>r. Delivering intrust:
confiding to the care of.
INTUI'TifON, n. [Sp. intuicion ; L. intui-
ttis, intueor ; in and tueor.]
A looking on ; a sight or view ; but restrict-
ed to mental view or perception. Particu-
larly and appropriately, the act by which
mind perceives the agreement or dis-
ore presented, without the intervention
of other ideas, or without reasoning and
deduction.
We linow by intuition, tliat a part is less than
the whole. Eneyc.
INTU'ITIVE, a. [Sp. and It. intuitivo ; Fr.
intuUi/.]
1. Perceived by the mind immediately, with-
out the intervention of argument or testi-
mony; exhibiting truth to the mind on
bare inspection ; as intuitive evidence.
2. Received or obtained by intuition or sim-
ple inspection ; as intuttive judgment or
knowledge.
3. Seeing clearly ; as an tji/ui7iie view ; iji-
tuitive vision. Hooker.
4. Having the power of discovering truth
without reasoning ; as the intuitive powers
of celestial beings.
INTU ITIVELY, adv. By immediate per-
ception ; without reasoning; as, to perceive
trutli intuitively.
INTUMESCE, V. i. inlumes'. [L. intumesco ;
in and tumeo, to swell.]
To swell ; to enlarge or expand with heat.
In a higher heat it intumesces and melts into
a yellowish blacl^ mass. Kirwan.
INTUMES'CENCE, n. [supra.] The ac-
tion of swelling.
2. A swell ; a swelling with bubbles ; a rising
and enlarging; a tumid state. Woodward.
INTUR(5ES'CENCE, n. [L. i.-i and turgesco,
to swell.]
A swelling ; the action of swelling or state
of being swelled. Brown.
INTU'SE, n. [L. inlusus.] A bruise. [JVb<
in use.] Spenser.
INTWI'NE, V. t. [in and tidne.] To twine
or twist together ; to wreath ; as a wreath
of flowers intwined.
INTWI'NED, pp. Twiste<l together.
INTWI'NING, ppr. Wreathing together.
INTWIST', V. t. [in and twist.] To twist te-
ther ; to interweave. Parkhursl.
INTWIST' ED, pp. Twisted togetlier.
INTWIST'ING, ppr. Twisting together.
IN'ULIN, 71. A peculiar vegetable principle
extracted from the Inula helenium, or ele-
campane. Ure.
INUM'BRATE, v. t. [L. inumbro.] To
shade.
INUN€'TION, n. [L. inunctus, inungo ; in
and ungo, to anoint.]
The action of anointing ; unction. Rau.
INUNCTUOS'ITY, n. [L in and unclus, or
Eng. unctuous.]
The want of unctuosity ; destitution of
greasiness or oiliness which is perceptible
to the touch ; as the inunctuosity of porce-
lain clay. Kirwan.
INUN'DANT, a. [h.inund^ns, infra.] Over-
flowing. Shenstone.
INUNDATE,!)./. [L. inundo, inundates ;
in and undo, a wave, or its root.]
1. To overflow ; to deluge ; to spread over
with a fluid. The low lands along the
Mississippi are inundated almost every
spring.
2. To fill with an overflowing abundance or
superfluity ; as, the country was once tn-
wnrfa/erf with bills of credit. The presses
inundate the countiT with papers.
INUNDATED, pp. ' Overflow ed ; spread
with a fluiti ; copiously supplied.
agreement of two ideas, or the truth ofiilNUN'DATING, ppr. Overflowing; delu-
things, immediately, or the moment they J! sing; spreading over.
113
I N V
I N V
I N V
INUNDA'TION, n. [h. inundatio.] An
overflow of water or other fluid ; a flood ;
.1 rising and spreading of water over low
grounds. Holland has frequently suffered
immensely by inundations of the sea. The
Delta in Egypt is annually enriched by
the inundation of the Nile.
2. An overspreading of any kind ; an over-
flowing or superfluous abundance.
INUNDERSTAND'ING, a. Void of imder-
standing. [A bad word and not used.]
Pearson.
INURBAN'ITY, n. [in and tirbanity.] In-
civility ; rude, unpolished manners or de-
portment ; want of courteousness.
Bp. Hall.
INU'RE, I., t. [in and ure. Ure signifies
use, practice, in old English, and in Nor-
man French. In Chaucer, it seems to
bear rather the signification of luck or
fortune. In Scottish, it is used in both
senses. See Ure]
1. To habituate; to accustom; to apply or
expose in use or practice till use gives
little or no pain or inconvenience, or
makes little impression. Thus a nian in-
ures his body to labor and toil, till he sus-
tains that which would destroy a body
unaccustomed to it. So we inure our-
selves to cold or heat. Warriors are in-
ured to blood, and seamen are inured to
liardships and ileprivatioiis.
INU'RE, v.i. To pass in use ; to take
have effect ; to be applied ; to serve to the
use or benefit of; as, a gift of lands in-
ures to the heirs of the grantee, or it in-
ures to their benefit.
INU'RED, pp. Accustomed; hardened by
use.
INU'REMENT, n. Use; practice; habit;
custom ; frequency. Johnson. Wotton.
INV'RISG, ppr. Habituating; accustoming.
'i. Passing in use to the benefit of.
INURN', V. t. [in and urn.] To bury ; to in-
ter; to intomb.
— The sepiilcher
Wherein we saw thcc quietly inurned.
Shak
9. To put in an urn.
INURN'ED, pp. Deposited in a tomb.
INURN'ING, ppr. Interring; burying.
INUSITA'TION, n. Want of use ; disuse,
[Little used.] Paley.
INUS'TION, n. [L. inustio, inuro ; in and
uro, to burn.] The action of burning.
2. A branding ; the action of marking by
burning.
INU'TILE, a. [Fr. from L. inutilis.] Unprof-
itable; useless. [JVotinuse.] Bacon.
INUTIL'ITY, n. [Fr. inutilUi ; L. inutilitas ;
in and utilitas. See Utility.]
Uselessness; the quality of being unprofita
ble ; unprofitableness ; as the inutilitij of
vain speculations and visionary projects.
INUT'TERABLE, a. That cannot be utter-
ed. Milton
INVA'DE, II. t. [L. invado ; in and vado, tc
go.]
1. To enter a country, as an army with hos-
tile intentions ; to enter as an enemy, with
a view to conquest or plunder ; to attack
The French armies invaded Holland ir
1795. They invaded Russia and perished
2. To attack ; to assail ; to assault.
There shall be seditions among men and in
rading one another. 2 Esdras.
.3. To attack ; to infringe ; to encroach on ;!
to violate. The king tntiarfcrf the rights and[
privileges of the people, and the people
invaded the prerogatives of the king.
4. To go into ; a Latinisni. [JVot used.]
Spenser,
5. To fall on ; to attack ; to seize ; as a dis-
ease.
INVA'DED, pp. Entered by an army with
a hostile design ; attacked ; assaulted ; in-
fringed ; violated.
INVA'DER, n. One who enters the territo-
ry of another with a view to war, con-
quest or plunder. Bacon. Sudft.
'2. An assailant.
3. An encroacher ; an intruder ; one who
infringes the rights of another.
Hammond.
INVA'DING, ppr. Entering on the posses-
sions of another with a view to war, con-
quest or plunder ; assaulting ; infringing ;
attacking.
INVALES'CENCE, n. [L. invalesco.]
Strength ; health. Diet.
INVALETU'DINARY, a. Wanting health.
INVAL'ID, a. [L. invalidus ; in and vali-
dus, strong, from valeo, to be strong, to
avail.]
1. Weak; of no force, weight or cogency.
Milton.
2. In laiv, having no force, eflect or effi-
cacy ; void ; null ; as an invalid contract
or agreement.
IN' VALID, ?!. [Fr. invalide; L. invalidus,
supra.]
1. A person who is weak and infirm ; a per-
son sickly or indisposed.
2. A person who is infirm, wounded, maim-
ed, or otherwise disabled for active ser-
vice ; a soldier or seaman worn out in
service. Tlie hospitals for iyivalids at
Chelsea and Greenwich, in England, are
institutions honorable to the English na-
tion.
INVAL'ID ATE, v. t. [from invalid; Fr.
invalider.]
1. To weaken or lessen the force of; more
generally, to destroy the strength or valid-
ity of; to render of no force or effect; as,
to invalidate an agreement or a contiact.
2. To overthrow ; to prove to be of no force ;
as, to invalidate an argument.
INVAL'IDATED, pp. ^Rendered invalid or
of no force.
INVALIDATING, ppr. Destroying the
force and effect of.
INVALID'ITY, n. [Fr. invalidity.] Weak-
ness ; want of cogency ; want of legal
force or efficacy ; as the invalidity of an
agreement or of a will.
INVAL'IDNESS, n. Invalidity ; as the in-
imlidness of reasoning.
INVAL'UABLE, a. [in and valuable.] Pre-
cious above estimation ; so valuable that
its worth cannot be estimated ; inestima-
ble. The privileges of christians are in-
valuable.
INVAL'UABLY, adv. Inestimably.
'Bp. HaU.
INVA'RIABLE, a. [Fr.; in and vaHable,
froin vary.]
Constant in the same state; immutable;
alterable; unchangeable; that does
vary ; always uniform. The character
and the laws of the Supreme Being must
necessarily be invariable.
[In-
INVA'RIABLENESS, n. Constancy of
state, condition or quality ; immutability ;
unchangeableness.
INVA'RIABLY, adv. Constantly ; uniform-
ly ; without alteration or change. We
are bound to pursue invariably the path of
duty.
INVA'RIED, a. Unvaried ; not changing
or altering. Blackwall.
IN VA'SION, n. s as z. [L. invasio, from
invado. See Invade.]
A hostile entrance into the possessions of
another; particularly, the entrance of a
hostile army into a country for the pur-
pose of conquest or plunder, or the attack
of a military force. The north of England
and south of Scotland were for centuries
subject to invasion, each from the other.
The invasion of England by William the
Norman, was in 1066.
2. An attack on the rights of another; in-
fringement or violation.
3. Attack of a disease ; as the invasion of
the plague, in Egypt. Arbuthnot.
INVA'SIVE, a. [from invade.] Entering
on another's possessions with hostile de-
signs; aggressive.
2. Infringing another's rights.
INVE€'TION, n. Invective, which see.
vection is little used.]
1NVE€'TIVE, n. [Fr. invective ; Sp. invec-
tiva ; It. invetiiva ; from L. inveho. See
Inveigh.]
A railing speech or expression ; something
uttered or written, intended to cast oppro-
brium, censure or reproach on another; a
harsh or reproachful accusation. It dif-
fers from reproof, as the latter may come
from a friend and be intended for the
good of the person reproved ; hm invective
proceeds from an enemy, and is intended
to give pain or to injure. Eneyc.
It is followed by against. He uttered severe
invectives against the unfortunate general.
INVE€'TIVE, a. Satirical; abusive; rail-
ing- Dryden.
INVEC'TIVELY, adv. Satirically ; abu-
sively. Shak.
INVEIGH, V. i. inva'y. [L. inveho, to bear,
throw or bring on or against ; in and veho,
to carry.]
To exclaim or rail against; to utter censo-
rious and bitter language against any one ;
to reproach ; with against. The author
inveighed sharply against the vices of the
clergy in his age. Men inveigh against
the follies of fashion.
INVEIGHER, n. inva'yer. One who rails ;
a railer.
INVEIGHING, ppr. inva'ying. Exclaiming
against ; railing at ; uttering bitter words.
INVE'IGLE, V. t. [Norm, enveogler, to in-
veigle, to blind ; Fr. aveugler. The affin-
ities of this word are obscure.]
To entice ; to seduce ; to wheedle ; to per-
suade to something evil by deceptive arts
or flattery.
Yet have they many baits and guileful spells
To inveigle and invite th' unwaiy sense —
Milton.
INVE'IGLED, pp. Enticed; wheedled;
seduced from duty.
INVE'IGLEMENt, n. Seduction to evil;
enticement. South.
INVE'IGLER, n. One who entices or draws
into any design by arts and flattery.
I N V
■lNVE'IGLING,;);)r. Enticing; wheedling;
persuading to any thing bad.
INVeILED, a. Covered as with a veil.
Browne.
INVENT', V. t. [Fr. inventer ; Sp. inventar ;
It. inventan ; L. invenio, i7iv€nlum ; in and
venio, to come ; literally, to come to, to fall
on, to meet, Eng. tofind.]
1. To find out something new ; to devise
■ something not-before known; to contrive
and produce something that did not before
exist; as, to invent a new instrument of
music ; to invent a machine for spinning
to invent gunpowder. [See Inveiition.]
2. To forge ; to fabricate ; to contrive false
ly ; as, to invent falsehoods.
3. To feign ; to frame by the imagination
as, to invent tlie machinery of a poem.
4. To light on ; to meet witli. [This is the
literal sense, but not now used.] Spensei
INVENT'ED, pp. Found out; devised;
contrived ; forged ; fabricated.
INVENT'ER, n. [See Inventor.]
IJfVENT'ING, ppr. Finding out what was
before unknown ; devising or contriving
something new ; fabricating.
INVEN'TION, n. [Fr. from L. inventio.]
1. The action or operation of finding out
something new ; the contrivance of that
which did not before exist ; as the itiven
Hon of logarithms; the invention of the art
of printing; x\ie invention of the orrery.
Invention differs from discovery. Invention
is applied to the contrivance and produc
tion of something that did not before ex
ist. Discovery brings to liglit that wliich
existed before, but which was not known
We are indebted to invention for the ther-
mometer and barometer. Wearo indebt-
ed to discovery for the knowledge of the
isles in the Pacific ocean, and for the
knowledge of galvanism, and many spe-
cies of earth not formerly known. Tliis
distinction is important, though not
ways observed.
2. That which is invented. The cotton gin
is the inventio7i of Whitney ; the steam
boat is the invention of Fulton. The
Doric, Ionic and Corinthian ord
said to be inventions of the Greeks ; the
Tuscan and Composite are inventions of|
the Latins.
3. Forgery ; fiction. Fables are the
tions of ingenious men.
4. In painting, the finding or choice of the
objects which are to enter into the compo-
sition of the piece. Encyc.
5. In poetry, it is applied to whatever the
poet adds to the history of the subject.
6. In rhetonc, the finding and selecting of
arguments to prove and illustrate the point
in view.
7. The power of inventing; that skill or in-
genuity which is or may be employed in
contriving any thing new. Thus we say,
a man of invention. Encyc.
8. Discovery ; the finding of things hidden
or before unknown. [Less proper.]
Ray.
INVENT'IVE, a. [Fr. inventif.] Able to
invent; quick at contrivance; ready at
expedients ; as an inventive head or genius.
Dryden.
INVENT'OR, n. One who finds out some
thing new ; one who contrives and produ
I N V
ces any thing not before existing ; a con-
triver. The inventors of many of the most
useful arts are not known.
INVENTO'RIALLY, adv. In the manner
of an inventory. Shak.
IN'VENTORIED,pp. Inserted or register-
ed in an inventory.
IN'VENTORY, n. [Sp. It. inventario ; Fr.
inventaire ; from invent.]
1. An account, catalogue or schedule of all
the goods and chattels of a decea.scd per-
son. In some of the United States, the
inventory must include an account of the
real as well as the personal estate of the
deceased.
2. A catalogue of movables.
3. A catalogue or account of particular]
things. [Jin indefinite use of the word.]
IN'VENTORY, v. f. [Fr. inventorier.] To
make an inventory of ; to make a list, cata-
logue or schedule of; as, to inventory the
goods and estate of the deceased
Blackstone.
2. To insert or register in an account of
goods.
INVENT'RESS, n. [from invent] A fe
male that invents. Dryde
INVERSE, a. invers'. [L. inversus. See
hivert.]
Inverted ; reciprocal. Inverse proportion or
ratio, is when the effect or result of any
operation is less in proportion as thecau.se
is greater, or is greater'm proportion as the
cause is less. Thus the time in which
quantity of work may be performed, will
be tess'in proportion as the number of
workmen \s greater, and greater in proper
tion as the number of workmen is less. If]
ten men can perform a certain quantity of
work in six days, then twenty men will per
form the same work in three days. Inverse
proportion is opposed to direct.
INVERSELY, adv. invers'ly. In an inverted
order or manner ; when more produces
less, and less produces more ; or when
thing is greater or less, in proportion as
another is less or greater,
INVERSION, n. [Fr. from L. inuewo. See
Invert.]
1. Change of order, so that the last becomes
first and the first last ; a turning or change
of the natural order of things.
It is just the inversion of an act of parii
ment ; your Lordship first signed it, and then it
was passed among the lords and commons
Dryden.
2. Change of places, so that each takes the
place of the othew
.3. A turning backwards; a contrary rule of
operation. Problems in geometry and
arithmetic are often proved by inversioii,
as division by multiphcation, and multipli-
cation by division.
In grammar, a change of the natural order
of words ; as, " of all vices, impurity is one
of the most detestable," instead of " im-
purity is one of the most detestable of all
vices."
5. In muMc, the change of position either of
a subject or of a chord. Busby.
INVERT', v. t. [L. inverto ; in and verto, to
turn.]
1. To turn into a contrary direction ; to turn
upside dowii ; as, to invert a cone ; to in-
vert a hollow vessel.
I N V
2. To place in a contrary order or method ;
as, to invert the rules of justice ; to invert
I the order of words.
And winter storms invert the year.
I Dryden.
3. In music, to change the order of the notes
I which form a chord, or the parts which
i comj)ose harmony. Encyc.
4. To divert ; to turn into another channel ;
I to embezzle. [Ab< in use.] KnoUes.
INVERT' EBRAL, a. Destitute of a verte-
bral column, as animals. Ed. Encyc.
INVERT EBRATED, a. Destitute of a
back bone or vertebral chain. [See Fer-
tehrated.] Good.
INVEKT'ED, pp. Turned to a contrary di-
rection ; turned upside down ; changed in
order.
INVERT'EDLY, adv. In a contrary or re-
versed order. Derham.
INVERT'ENT, n. A medicine intended to
invert the natural order of the successive
irritative motions in the system. Danein.
INVERT'ING, ppr. Turning in a contrary
direction ; changing the order.
INVEST',!'./. [Fr.investir; h. investio ;
and vestio, to clothe. Sec Vest.]
1. To clothe; to dress; to put garments on ;
to array ; usually and most correctly fol-
lowed by tcith, before the thing put on ; as,
to invest one tvith a mantle or robe. lu
this sense, it is used chiefly in poetry and
elevated prose, not in colloquial discourse.
2. To clothe with oflice or authority ; to
place in possession of an office, rank or
dignity ; as, to invest a person with a civil
office, or with an ecclesiastical dignity.
3. To adorn ; to grace ; as, to invest with
honor. Shak.
4. To clothe ; to surround ; as, to be invested
with light, splendor or glory.
5. To confer ; to give. [Lillle used.]
Bacon.
6. To inclose ; to surround ; to block up, so
as to intercept succors of men and provis-
ions and prevent escape ; to lay siege to ;
as, to invest a town.
7. To clothe money in something permanent
or less fleeting ; as, to invest money tn
funded or bank stock ; to invest it in lands
or goods. In this application, it is always
followed by in.
INVEST' ED, pp. Clothed ; dressed ; adorn-
ed ; inclosed.
INVEST'IENT, a. Covermg ; clothing.
I Woodward.
INVEST' IGABLE, a. [from investigate.]
That may be investigated or searched out ;
discoverable by rational search or disqui-
sition. The causes or reasons of things
are sometimes investigable.
INVESTIGATE, r. t. [L. invesligo ; in and
I vestigo, to follow a track, to search ; ves-
tigium, a track or footstep.]
To search into; to inquire and examine into
I with care and accuracy ; to find out by
I carefld disquisition ; as, to investigate the
I powers and forces of nature ; to investi-
\ gate the causes of natural phenomena ; to
investigate the principles of moral duty ;
I to investigate the conduct of an agent or
[ the motives of a prince.
INVESTIGATED, jj;>. Searched into ; ex-
amined with care.
INVESTIGATING, ppr. Searching into ;
inquiring into with care.
I N V
I N V
I N V
INVESTIGA'TION, Ji. [Fr. from L. investi-
i;afio.]
TJie action or process of searching minutely
for truth, facts or principles ; a careful in-
<|uiry to find out what is unknown, either
in the physical or moral world, and either
by observation and experiment, or by ar-
gument and discussion. Thus we speak
of the investigations of the philosopher and
the mathematician ; the investigations of
the judge, the moralist and the divine
INVEST'IGATIVE, a. Curious and delib-
erate in researches. Pegge-
INVEST'IGATOR, n. One who searches
diligently into a subject.
INVEST'ITURE, n. [Fr. See Invest.] The
action of giving possession, or livery of
seizin.
The giant of land or a feud was perfected by
the ceremony of corporal investiture, or open
delivery of possession. Blackstone.
It was customary for princes to make investi-
ture of ecclesiastical benefices. Encyc.
% The right of giving possession of any man-
or, office or benefice.
He had refused to yield to the pope the in-
vestiture of bishops. Raleigh
INVEST'IVE, a. Clothing; encircling.
INVEST'MENT, n. The action of invest-
ing.
3. Clothes; dress; garment; habit. Shak.
[We now use vestment.']
3. The act of surrounding, blocking up or
besieging by an armed force.
The capitulation was signed by the command
er of the fort, within six days after its invest
ment. Marshall.
4. The laying out of money in the purch:
of some species of property ; literally, the
clothing of money with something.
Before the investment could be made, i
change of the market might render it ineligible
Hamilton.
INVET'ERACY, n. [L. inveteratio. See
Inveterate.]
Long continuance, or the firmness or deep
rooted obstinacy of any quality or state
acquired by time ; as the inveteracy of cus-
tom and habit : usually or always applied
in a bad sense ; as the inveteracy of preju
dice, of error, or of any evil habit.
IN VET'ERATE, a. [L. inveteratus, invefero
in and vetero, from vetus, old.]
1. Old; long established.
It is an inveterate and received opinion-
Obs. Bacon
'i. Deep rooted ; firmly established by long
continuance; obstinate; used of evils; as
an inveterate disease ; an inveterate abuse
an inveterate course of sin.
3. Having fixed habits by long continuance
used of persons ; as an inveterate sinner.
4. Violent ; deep rooted ; obstinate ; as in-
veterate pnmity or malice.
INVET'ERATE, v. t. [L. invetero, to grow
old.]
To fix and settle by long continuance. [Ob-
solete or little used.] Bacon.
mVET'ERATELY, adv. With obstinacy ;
violently.
INVET'ERATENESS, n. Obstinacy con-
firmed by time ; inveteracy ; as the invet-
erateness of a mischief. Locke
INVETERA'TION, n. The act of harden-
ing or confirming by long continuance.
INVIDIOUS, a. [L. invidiosus, from invi-
deo, to envy ; in andinrfeo, to see. Invideo
signifies properly, to look against.]
1. Envious; malignant. Evelyn.
2. Likely to incur ill will or hatred, or to
provoke envy ; hateful. [This is the usual
sense.]
Agamemnon found it an invidious
give the preference to any one of the Grecian
heroes. Broome.
INVID'IOUSLY, adv. Enviously; malig-
nantly.
2. In a manner likely to provoke hatred.
INVID'IOUSNESS, n. The quality of pro
voking envy or hatred.
INVIG'ILANCE, n. Want of vigilance;
neglect of watching.
INVIG'ORATE,r. <. [It. invigorire ; in and
vigor.]
To give vigor to ; to strengthen ; to animate ;
to give life and energy to. Exercise in-
vigorates the body ; cheerfulness invigo-
rates the mind.
Christian graces and virtues they cannot be,
unless fed, invigorated and animated by univer-
sal charity. Atlerbury
INVIG'ORATED, pp. Strengthened; ani-
mated.
INVIG'ORATING,;);)^. Giving fresh vigor
to ; strengthening.
INVIGORA'TION, n. The action of invig-
orating, or state of being invigorated.
INVIL'LAGED, a. Turned into a village.
Broivne.
INVIN'CIBLE, a. [Fr. invincible ; L. in and
vinco, to conquer.]
Not to he conquered or subdued ; that can
not be overcome ; uuconquerable ; as ai
invincible army.
2. Not to be overcome ; insuperable ; as, ai
invincible obstacle, error, habit or objec
tion.
INVIN'CIBLENESS, > The quality of
INVINCIBIL'ITY, ^ "• being uncon
querahle ; insuperableness.
INVIN'CIBLY, adv. Unconquerably; in
INVI'OLATED, a. Unprofaned ; unbroken ;
unviolated. Drayton.
IN'VIOUS, a. [L. invius ; in and via, way.]
Impassable; untrodden. Hudibras.
IN'VIOUSNESS, n. State of being impassa-
hle. Ward.
INVIS€'ATE, V. i. [L. in and viscus, glue,
hirdhme.]
To lime ; to daub with glue.
2. To catch with glue or birdlime ; to entan-
gle with glutinous matter. [Little used]
Broion.
To breed ;
INVI'OLABLE, a. [Fr. from h. inviolabilis ;
and violabilis, violo, to violate.]
1. Not to be profaned ; that ought not to he
injured, polluted or treated with irrever-
ence ; as, a sacred place and sacred things
should be considered inviolable. Milti
2. Not to be broken ; as an inviolable league,
covenant, agreement, contract, vow or
promise.
. Not to be injured or tarnished ; as invio-
lable chastity or honor.
. Not susceptible of hurt or wound; as in-
violable saints. Milton.
INVI'OLABLENESS, ) [frominviolable.]
INVIOLABILITY, ^""The quality or
state of being inviolable ; as the inviolabil-
ity of crowned heads. ff^ard.
2. The quality of not being subject to be
broken.
INVI'OLABLY, adv. Without profanation
without breach or failure ; as a sanctuary
inviolably sacred ; to keep a promise invio-
lably.
INVI'OLATE, a. [L. inviolatus.] Unhurt ;
uninjured ; unprofaned ; unpolluted ; im-
broken.
But let inviolate truth be always dear
To thee. Denham.
nour-
Mountague.
[Fr. invisibiliU,
from invisible.]
INVIS'CERATE, v. t.
h. [.4 bad word.]
INVISIBILITY, I
INVIS'IBLENESS, S
The state of being invisible; imperceptible-
to the sight. Ray.
INVIS'IBLE, o. s as z. [Fr. from L. invisi-
bilis ; in and visibilis, visa, to see.]
That cannot be seen ; imperceptible by the
sight. Millions of stars, invisible to the
naked eye, may be seen by the telescope.
He endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb. xi.
INVIS'IBLY, adv. In a manner to escape
the sight ; imperceptibly to the eye.
Denham.
INVIS'ION. n. s as :. [in and vidon.]
Want of vision, or the power of seeing.
[Little used.] Brown.
INVITA'TION, ti. [Fr. from h. invitatio. .
See Invite.]
The act of inviting; solicitation; the calling
or requesting of a person's company to
visit, to dine, or to accompany hi.ii to any
place.
INVI'TATORY, a. Using or containing in-
vitations. ' JVheailey.
INVI'TATORY, n. A part of the service in
the catholic church ; a psalm or anthem
sung in the morning.
— Antiphonary, a service-book, which con-
tained all the invitatories, responsories and col-
lects. Encyc.
INVI'TE, v.t. [h. invito; It.invitare; Fr.
iyiviter. This word is formed by in and
the Teutonic bid, or its root ; inbid. See
Bid.]
1. To ask to do some act or to go to some
place ; to request the company of a per-
son ; as, to invite one to dine or sup ; to
invite friends to a wedding ; to invite com-
pany to an entertainment ; to invite one to
an excursion into the country.
2. To allure ; to draw to ; to tempt to come ;
induce by pleasure or hope.
— Shady groves, that easy sleep invite.
Dry den.
3. To present temptations or allurements to.'
The people should be in a situation not to in-
vile hostilities. Federalist, Jay.
INVI'TED, pp. Solicited; requested to
come or go in person ; allured.
INVI'TER, n. One who invites. Pope.
INVI'TING, ppr. Soliciting the company
of; asking to attend.
2. ft. Alluring ; tempting ; drawing to ; as
an inviting amusement or prospect.
Nothing is so easy and inviting as the retort
of abuse and sarcasm. Irving.
INVI'TING, n. Invitation. Shak.
INVI'TINGLY, adv. In such a manner as
to invite or allure.
INVI'TINGNESS, n. The quality of being
inviting. Taylor.
I N V
I N V
I N W
INVIT'RIFiABLE, a. {in and vitrifiabk,
from vitrify.]
That cannot be vitrified or converted into
glass. Kirwan.
IN'VOeATE, V. t. [L. invoco ; in and voco,
to call.]
To invoke ; to call on in supplication ; to
implore ; to address in prayer.
If Dagou be thy god,
Go to his temple, invocate his aid — Milton.
[Instead of this word, invoke is generally
used.]
lN'VO€ATED, pp. Invoked; called on in
prayer.
I]Nf'VOCATING,;);>r. Invoking.
INV0€A'T10N, n. [Fr. from L. invocatio.]
1. The act of addressing in prayer.
Hooker.
2. The form or act of calling for the assist-
ance or presence of any being, particularly
of some divinity ; as the invocation of the
muses.
The whole poem is a prayer to Fortune, and
the itivocation is divided between the two (lei-
ties. Addison.
3. A judicial call, demand or order ; as the
invocation of papers or evidence into a
court. fVheaton's Rep.
IN'VOICE, n. [Fr. envoi, a sending or thing
sent, from envoyer, to send. It. inviare ;
envois, plu. things sent.]
1. In commerce, a written account of the par
ticulars of merchandise, shipped or sent to
a purchaser, consignee, factor, &c. with
the value or prices and charges annexed
2. A written account of ratable estate.
Laws ofJVew Hampshire
IN'VOICE, v. t. To make a written account
of goods or property with their prices.
Goods, wares and merchandise imported from
Norway, and invoiced in tlie current dollar of
Norway — Madison's Proclamation.
It is usual to invoice goods in the currency (
the country in which the seller resides.
JN'VOICED, pp. Inserted in a list with th
price or value aiuiexed.
Robinson, Adm. Report
IN'VOICING, ppr. Making an account i
writing of goods, with their prices c
values annexed ; inserting in an invoice.
INVO'KE, v.t. [V.. invoco ; in and roco, to
call ; vox, a word.]
1. To address in prayer ; to call on for as
sistance and protection ; as, to invoke the
Supreme Being. Poets invoke the
for assistance.
2. To order ; to call judicially ; as, to invoke
depositions or evidence into a court.
ff'irt
INVO'KED, pp. Addressed in prayer for
aid ; called.
INVO'KING, ppr. Addressing in prayer for
aid ; calling.
INVOL'UCEL. n. [dim. of involucre.]
partial involucre ; an involucret. Eaton
lNVOLU'CELLATE,a. [supra.] Surround
ed with involiicels. Barton
INVOLU'€RUM, ^ [L.ftom involvo.] In
INVOLU'CRE, S botany, a calyx
mote ti-oin the flower, particularly in the
umbel, but applie4 also to the whorl and
other kinds of inflorescence. Marlyn.
INVOLU'€RED, a. Having an involucre
as mnbels, whorls, &c. Martyn
INVOLU'CRET, n. A small or partial in
volucrum. Martyn
INVOL'UNTARILY, adv. [from involun-
tary.]
1. Not by choice ; not spontaneously ; against
one's will. Baxter.
2. In a manner independent of the will.
INVOL'UNTARINESS, n. Wantof choice
or will. Bp. Hall.
2. Independence on the will.
INVOL'UNTARY, a. [Fr. invotontaire ; L.
in and voluntarius. See Voluntary.]
1. Not having will or choice ; unwilling.
2. Independent of will or choice. Tlie mo-
tion of the heart and arteries is involunta-
ry, but not against the will.
3. Not proceeding from choice ; not done
willingly; opposed to the will. A slave
and a conquered nation yield an involun-
tari) submission to a master.
IN'VOMJTE, n. [L. involutus.] A curve
traced by the end of a siring folded upon
a figure, or unwound from it.
IN'VOLUTE, I [L. involutus, involvo.
IN' VO LUTED, S "■ See Involve.] In botany,
rolled spirally inwards. Involuted folia-
tion or vernation, is when the leaves with-
in the bud have their edges rolled spirally
inwards on both sides towards the upper
surface. Mart,
INVOLU'TION, n. [Fr.; h. involutio. ^
Involve.]
The action of involving or infolding.
2. The state of being entangled or involved ;
complication.
All things are mixed and causes blc
mutual involittions. G
3. In grammar, the insertion of one or more
clauses or members of a .sentence between
the agent or subject and the verb ; a third
intervening member within a second, &c ;
as, habitual falsehood, if we may judge
from experience, infers absolute depravity.
4. In algebra, the raising of a quantity from
its root to any power assigned. Tli
2X2X2=8. Here 8, the third power of|
2, is found by involution, or multiplying
the number into itself, and the product by
the same number.
INVOLVE, v.t. involv'. [L. ini'o/uo ; in and
Volvo, to roll, Eng. to tvallow.]
1. To envelop; to cover with surrounding
tnatter; as, to involve one in smoke or
dust.
2. To envelop in any thing which exists or
all sides ; as, to involve in darkness or ob-
scurity.
3. To imply ; to comprise. To be and not
to bo at the same time, involves a contra
diction.
4. To entvvist ; to join ; to connect.
He knows his end with mine involved.
Milton.
5. To take in ; to catch ; to conjoin.
The gathering number, as it moves along.
Involves a vast involuntai-y throng. Pope
C. To entangle. Let not our enemy involve
the nation in war, nor our imprudence in-
volve us in difficulty.
7. To plunge ; to overwhelm. Extrava-
gance often involves men in debt and dis-
tress.
6. To inwrap ; to infold ; to complicate or
make intricate.
Some involved their snaky folds. Milton
Florid, witty, involved discourses. Locke
9. To bletid ; to mingle confusedly.
Milton
10. In algebra, to raise a quantity from llic
root to any assigned power ; as a quanti-
ty involved to the tliird or fourth power.
INVOLVED, pp. Enveloped ; imphed ; in-
wrapped ; entangled.
INVOLVING, ppr. Enveloping; implying;
comprising ; entangling ; complicating.
INVULNERABILITY, ? [frominvul-
IIVVUL'NERABLENESS, I "; nerabte.]
The quality or state of being invulnerable,
or secure from wounds or injury. Wcdsh.
INVUL'NERABLE, a. Wr. from L. invul-
nerabilis. Sec Vulnerable.]
That cannot be wounded ; incapable of re-
ceiving injury.
Nor vainly hope
To be invulnerable in those bright arms.
Mdton.
INVVALL', v. t. [in and wail.] To inclose or
fortify with a wall. Spenser.
IN' WARD, a. [Sax. inweard ; G. einwdrts ;
in and ward. See IVard.]
. Internal ; interior ; placed or being with-
in ; as the imvard structure of the body.
2. Intimate ; domestic ; familiar. Spenser.
3. Seated in the mind or soul. Shak.
IN'VVARD, I ,„ Toward the inside. Turn
IN'WARDS, I "" the attention inward.
2. Toward the center or interior ; as, to bend
thing inward.
3. Into the mmd or thoughts.
Celestial light shine inward. Mdton.
IN'WARDLY, adv. In the inner parts ; in-
ternally.
Let fipnedict, like covered fire.
Consume away in sighs, waste inwardly.
2. In the heart ; privately ; secretly. He
inwardly repines. It is not easy to treat
with respect a person whom we imoardly
despise.
3. Towards the center.
IN'WARDNESS, n. Intimacy; familiarity.
[J^ut used.] Shak.
2. Internal state. [Unusual.]
IN'WARDS, n. plu. The inner parts of an
animal ; the bowels ; the viscera.
Milton. Ex. xxix.
INWE'AVE, v.t. pret. inwove; pp. imim-
X.] I'o weave
intertwine by
ven, inwove, [in and mei
together; to intermix oi
weaving.
Down they cast
Their crowns itiwove with s
Mdton.
INWHEE'L, V. t. [in and wheel.] To eticir-
cle. Deaum.
IN' WIT, n. [in and u-it.] Mind; under-
standing. Obs.
INWOOD', V. t. To hide in woods.
Sidney.
INWORK'ING, ppr. or a. [in and work.]
Working or operating within.
INWORK'ING, 71. Internal operation ; en-
ergy within. Macknighf.
INWOVE, } „„ „f ,■„„„„„, Woven in ;
INWO'VEN.^P^- °^ "'">"""■ iiitcrtwincd
by weaving.
INWRAP, V. t. inrap'. [in and wrap.] To
involve ; to infold ; to cover by wrapping ;
as, to be inwrapped in smoke or in a cloud ;
to inwrap in a cloke.
2. To involve in difliculty or perplexity ; to
perplex. Bacon.
3. To ravish or transport. [III. See Rap.]
INWREATHE, v. t. inre'the. [in and
wreathe.]
I P E
To surround or encompass as with a wreath,
or with something in the form of a wreath.
Resplendent locks inwreathed with beams.
Milton.
INWROUGHT, pp. or a. inrmW. [in and
wrought, from work.]
Wrought or worked in or among other
things ; adorned with figures. Milton.
rODATE, n. [See Iodine.] A compound
consisting of oxygen, iodin and a base.
Gay Lussac. Henry.
I'ODIC, a. Iodic acid is a compound of io
din and oxygen.
I'ODIDE, n. A compound of iodin with
a metal or other substance.
I'ODIN, \ [Gr. iw«)jj, resembhng ;
IODINE, \ "■ let.] In chimistry, a peculiar
substance recently discovered by Courtois,
a manufacturer of salt-peter in Paris. It
is obtained from certain sea-weeds or ma-
rine plants. At the ordinary temperature
of the atmosphere it is a solid, apparently
a simple substance, at least hitherto unde
composed. It is incombustible, but ii
combining with several bodies, it exhibits
the phenomena of combustion ; hence it
has been considered a supporter of com-
bustion. Like chlorin, it destroys vegeta
ble colors, but with less energy. Its color
is bluish black or grayish black, of a me
tallic luster. It is often in scales, resem
bling those of micaceous iron ore ; some
times in brilliant rhomboidal plates, or ir
elongated octahedrons. Its taste is acrid
and it is somewhat poisonous. It is fusi
ble at 225=" of Fahrenheit. The color of
its vapor is a beautiful violet, whence its
name. Henry. Ure.
I'ODOUS, a. lodous acid is a compound of
iodin and oxygen, containing less of th.
latter than iodic acid.
lOD'URET, n. A compound of iodin and
a metallic or other base.
rOLITE, 71. [Gr. lov, a violet, and >.i9o5,
stone.]
A mineral of a violet blue color, with a shade
of purple or black, called also dichroit and
cordierite. It occurs in regular six-sidec'
prisms. Its varieties are peliom and stein
heilite. Cleaveland.
[Note. By tlie regular principles of pronouncing
the Greek iota and the Shemitic^'od, this word
ought to be pronounced yolite.]
ION'I€, a. [from Ionia.] Tlie Ionic order, in
architecture, is that species of column na-
med from Ionia, in Greece. It is more
slender than the Doric and Tuscan, but
less slender and less ornamented than the
Corintliian and Composite. It is simple,
but majestic ; its liighth is 18 modules,
and that of the entablature four and a half.
Encyc.
2. The Ionic dialed of the Greek language,
is the dialect used in [onia.
3. The Ionic sect of philosophers, was that
founded by Thales of Miletus, in Ionia.
Their distinguishing tenet was, that water
is the principle of all natural things.
Encyc.
4. Denoting an airy kind of music. The Ionic
or Ionian mode was, reckoning from grave
to acute, the second of the five middle
modes. Busby.
1PE€A€UAN'HA, ?i. A root produced in
South America. Four sorts are mention-
I R I
ed, gray, brown, white, and yellow. The
gray, or genuine kind, is referred by Mutis
to the Psychotria emetica, but more recent-
ly by Brotero to the Callicocca Ipecacuan-
ha, a plant growing in Brazil. These
plants have been considered by some as
the same, or as species of tlie same geiuis.
This root is used as an emetic. Parr.
Ipecacuanha is a little wrinkled root
about the thickness of a moderate quill,
much used as an emetic, and against di-
arrheas and dysenteries. Cyc.
IRASCIBIL'ITY, ) [from irascible.]
IRAS'CIBLENESS, 5 "' The quality of
being irascible, or easily inflamed by an-
ger; irritability of temper.
IRAS'CIBLE, a. [Fr. from L. irascor, from
ira. See Ire.]
Very susceptible of anger ; easily provoked
or inflamed with resentment ; irritable ;
as an irascible man ; an irascible temper.
IRE, n. [Fr. from L. ira, wrath ; W
irad, pungency, passion, rage. See Eng
Wrath.]
Anger ; wrath ; keen resentment ; a word
chiejly used in poetry.
Thus will persist, relentless in liis iVe.
JOryden.
I'REFUL, a. [ire and full.] Angry ; wroth ;
furious with anger.
The ireful bastard Orleans. Shak.
I'REFULLY, adv. In an angry manner.
I'RENAR€II, n. [Gr. ftpijrap;^?,?.] An offi-
cer formerly employed in the Greek em-
pire, to preserve the ))nblic tranquillity.
IRIDES'CENCE, n. Exhibition of colors
like those of the rainbow.
IRIDES'CENT, a. [from iris.] Having col-
ors like the rainbow. Fourcroy. Barrow.
IRID'lUM, n. [from iris.] A metal of a
whitish color, not malleable, found in the
ore of platinum, and in a native alloy
with osmium. Its specific gravity is
above 18. It takes its name from the va-
riety of colors which it exhibits while dis-
solving in muriatic acid. The native alloy
with osmiu m, or native iridium, is of a stee"
gray color and shining metallic luster. It
usually occurs in small irregular flat grains,
in alluvial soil, in S. America.
Cleaveland. Webster's Manual
irRIS, n. plu. irises. [L. iris, iridis, the raiu-
I bow, Gr. iprs.]
1. The rainbow. Brown
2. An appearance resembling the rainbow.
I J^eivton.
The colored circle which surrounds the
pupil of the eye, by means of which that
opening is enlarged and diminished.
4. The changeable colors which sometimes
I appear in the glasses of telescopes, micro
scopes, &c.
I5. A colored spectrum Which a triangulai
glass prism casts on a wall, when placed
at a due angle in the sun-beams.
,C. The flower-de-lis, or flag-flower.
lus of many species.
I'RISATED, a. Exhibiting the prismatic
colors ; resembling the rainbow.
PhUlips.
PRISED, a. Containing colors like those of
the rainbow. Chaptal.
I'RISH, a. Pertaining to Ireland.
I'RISH, n. A native of Ireland.
2. The language of the Irish ; the Hiberno-
Celtic.
I R O
I'RISHISM, n. A mode of speaking pecul
to the Irish.
IRK, V. t. urk. [Scot, irk, to weary ; irk, in-
dolent. Lye suggests that this may be
from Sax. iveorce, work, which signifies
also pain, or anxiety ; but it seems more
probably to be connected with Sax. earg',
slothful, lazy, Gr. apyoj.]
To weary ; to give pain to ; used only im-
personally ; as, it irketh me, it gives me un-
easiness. It is nearly obsolete. Shak.
IRK'SOME, a. Wearisome ; tedious ; tire-
some ; giving uneasiness ; used of some-
thing troublesome by long continuance or
repetition ; as irksome hours ; irksome toil
or task. Addison. Milton.
IRK'SOMELY, adv. In a wearisome or te-
dious manner.
IRK'SOMENESS, n. Tediousness; weari-
someness.
IRON, n. i'urn, or i'rn. [Sax. iren ; Scot.
irne, yrn, or aim ; Isl. larn ; Sw. jam or
iam ; Dan. iem ; W. haiarn ; Ir. iarann ;
Arm. hoarn. Qu. L. ferrum, for herrum.
The radical elements of this word are not
easily ascertained.]
1. A metal, the hardest, most common and
most useful of all the metals ; of a livid
whitish color inclined to gray, internally
composed, to appearance, of small facets,
and susceptible of a fine polish. It is so
hard and elastic as to be capable of de-
stroying the aggregation of any other me-
tal. Next to tin, it is the lightest of all
metallic substances, and next to gold, the
most tenacious. It may be hammered in-
to plates, but not into leaves. Its ductility
is more considerable. It has the proper-
ty of magnetism ; it is attracted by the
lodestone, and will acquire its properties.
It is found rarely in native masses; but in
ores, mineralized by different substances,
it abounds in every part of the earth. Its
medicinal qualities are valuable.
Fourcroy. Encyc.
2. An instrument or utensil made of iron ;
as a flat-iron, a smoothing-tVon.
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons 7
Job xli.
3. Figuratively, strength : power ; as a rod
of iro?i. Dan. ii.
. Irons, plu., fetters ; chaiVjs ; manacles :
handcuffs. Ps. cv.
'RON, a. Made of iron ; consisting of iron ;
as an iron gate ; an iron bar ; iron dust.
2. Resembling iron in color ; as an iron gray
color.
Harsh ; rude ; severe ; miserable ; as the
iron age of the world.
Iron years of wars and dangers. Rowe.
Jove crush'd the nations with an iron rod.
Pope.
4. Binding fast; not to be broken; as the
iron sleep of death. Philips.
Hard of understanding ; dull ; as an iroji.
witted fool. Shak.
6. Firm ; robust ; as an iron constitution.
I'RON, V. t. To smooth with an instrument
of iron.
2. To shackle with irons ; to fetter or hand-
cuff.
3. To furnish or arm with iron.
I'RON-€LAY, n. A substance intermediate
between basalt and wacky, of a reddish
brown color, and occurring massive or
vesicular. Cyc.
I R R
I'RONED, pp. Smoothed with an iron ;
sh;u kled ; armed with iron.
l'R(JMFLINT, n. Ferruginous quartz ; a
subspecies of quartz, opake or tianslucent
at the edges, with a fracture more or less
conchoidal, shining and nearly vitreous.
It is sometimes in very minute and perfect
six-sided prisms, terminated at both ex-
tremities by six-sided pyramids. It occurs
also in masses, and in small grains. Its
varieties are red, yellow, and greenish. I
CUaveland.]
I'RONHEARTED, a. Hardhearted ; un-
feeling ; cruel.
I'RONMOLD, n. A spot on cloth made by
applying rusty iron to the cloth when wet.
I'RONMONGER, n. A dealer in iron wares
or hardware. j
I'RONSICK, a. In seamen's language, a^
ship is said to be ironsick, when her bolts'
and nails are so much corroded or eaten
with rust that she has become leaky.
Encyc.
I'RONSTONE, n. An ore of iron.
I'RONWQPD, n. The popular name of a
genus of trees called Sidero.\yloii,of seve-I
era] species ; so called from their hard-:
ness.
I'RONWORK, n. A general name of the
parts or pieces of a building which con-,
sist of iron ; any thing made of iron. j
I'RONWORKS, n. plu. The works or es-'
tablishment where pig-iron is wrought in-
to bars, &c. !
I'RONWORT, n. A genus of plants called
Sideritis, of several species.
IRON'leAL, a. [Fr. ironique. See Irony.]
Expressing one thing and meaning an-j
other. An ironical expression is often ac-'
companied with a manner of utterance^
which indicates that the speaker intends to'
be understood in a sense directly contrary
to that which the words convey.
IRON'l€ALLY, adv. By way of irony ; by
the use of irony. A commendation may
be ironically severe.
I'RONIST, n. One wlio deals in irony.
Pope.
I'RONY, a. [from iron.] Made or consist-
ing of iron ; partaking of iron ; as irony
chains ; irony particles. Hammond.
2. Resembling iron ; hard.
I'RONY, n. [Fr. ironie ; L. ironia; Gr.
upuvM, from fipur, a ilissembler in speech.]
A mode of speech expressing a sense con-
trary to that which the speaker intends to
convey ; as, Nero was a very virtuous
prince ; Pope Hildebrand was remarkable
for his meekness and humility. When
irony is uttered, the dissimulation is gen
erally apparent from the manner of speak
ing, as by a smile or an arch look, or per
haps by an affected gravity of counte
nance. Irony in writing may also be
detected by the manner of expression.
I'ROUS, a. [from ire.] Apt to be angry.
06s. Chaucer.
' IRRA'DIANCE, ? [L. irradians, from i>-
IRRA'DIANCY, S "' radio. See Irradiate.]
1. Emission of rays of light on an object.
2. Beams of light emitted ; luster ; splendor.
Milton.
IRRA'DIATE, v. t. [L. irradio ; in and ra-
dio, to shine. See Ray.]
I R R
1. To illuminate ; to brighten ; to make splen-
did ; to adorn witli luster. South.
a. To enlighten intellectually ; to illuminate ;
as, to irradiate the mind. Milton.
3. To animate by heat or light. Ilale.
4. To decorate with shining ornaments.
Pope.
IRRA'DIATE, v. i. To emit rays; to shine.
IRRA'DIATE, a. Adorned with shining or-
iiaimiils. Mason.
IRRADIATED, pp. Illuminated; enlight-
ened ; made luminous or bright ; decorat-
ed with rays of light or with something
shining.
IIRA'DIATING,
IRRADIATING, p/)r. Illuminating; deco
r^ilii.f; «]lli brams of light. ,
IKIiADI A 'I'lON, n. The act of emitting!
Iii'nih>.,lli^ht.
I. Illiiniiniilidij ; briglitness.
3. Intellectual light. Hale.
4. Tlie act of emitting minute particles or
effluvia from some substance. Encyc.
IRRA'TIONAL, a. [L. irrationalis ; in and
raiionalis, from ratio.]
1. Not rational; void of reason or under
standing. Brutes are irrational animals.
2. Not according to the dictates of reason
contrary to reason; absurd. To pursue
a course of life which destroys happiness,
is irrational.
IRRATIONAL ITY, n. Want of reason oi
the powers of understanding.
IRRATIONALLY, adv. Without reason;
in a manner contrary to reason ; absurdly
IRRECLAIMABLE, a. [in and reclaima
ble.]
1. Not to be reclaimed; that cannot be re-
called from error or vice ; that cannot be
brought to reform. Addison
2. That cannot be tamed.
IRRECLA'IMABLY, adv. So as not to ad
mit of reformation.
IRRECONCI'LABLE, a. [in and reconcila-
ble.]
1. Not to be recalled to amity, or a state of
friendship and kindness; retaining enmity
that cannot be appeased or subdued ; as
an irreconcilable enemy or faction.
2. That cannot be appeased or subdued ; as
rreconcilable enmity or hatred.
3. That cannot be made to agree or be (
sistent ; incongruous ; incompatible
irreconcilable absurdities. It is followed
by toith or to. A man's conduct may be
irreconcilable to or ivilh his avowed princi-
ples.
IRRE€ONCI'LABLENESS, n. The qual
ity of being irreconcilable ; incongruity
incompatibility.
IRRECONCILABLY, adv. In a manner
that precludes reconciliation. Men may
be irnconcilably opposed to each other.
IRREC'ONCILE, v. t. To prevent from be-
ing reconciled. [lU.] Bp. Taylor.^
IRRECONCI'LED, a. [in and reconciled.]
1. Not reconciled.
2. Not atoned for. Shak.
IRRECONCrLEMENT,»i. Want of recon-
ciliation ; disagreement.
IRRECONCILIA'TION, n. Want of recon-
ciliation. Prideaux.
IRRECOVERABLE, «. [in and recoverable.]
1. Not to be recovered or repaired ; as an
irrecoverable loss.
2. That cannot be regained. Time past is
irrecoverable. Rogers.
I R R
3. That cannot be obtained by demand oi
suit ; as a debt. Franklin.
4. Not be remedied ; as irrecoverable misery.
TUlotson.
IRRECOV'ERABLENESS, n. The state of
being irrecoverable. Donne.
IRRECOVERABLY, adv. Beyond recov-
ei7 ; beyond the possibility of being re-
gained, repaired or remedied. Ilap|iiness
may be irrecoverably lost.
2. Beyond the possibility of being rccla-imed.
A profligate may be irrecoverably abandon-
ed to vice.
IRRE€L'I'ERABLE,a. [L.tnand recupero,
to recover.] Irrecoverable. [JVo/ used.]
IRRECII'PERABLY, adv. Irrecoverably.
[.Vol used.]
IRREDEEMABLE, a. [in and redeemable.]
1. That cannot be retleemcd.
2. Not subject to be paid at the pleasure of
goverinnent ; as irredeemable debts ; irre-
deemable certificates or stock.
Hamilton. Smollett.
IRREDEE'MABLENESS, ) „ The quality
IRREDEEMABIL'ITY, S ""of being not
redeemable.
IRREDU'CIBLE, a. [in and reducible.] Not
to be reduced ; that cannot be brought
back to a former state.
a. That cannot be reduced or changed to a
different state; as corpuscles of air irre-
ducible iino water. Boyle.
IRREDU'CIBLENESS, n. The quality of
being irreducible.
IRREFRA'GABLE, a. [in and refragaUe,
L. refragor; re and th« root of frango, to
break.]
That cannot be refuted or overthrown ; in-
contestable; undeniable; as an irrefraga-
ble argument ; irrefragable reason or evi-
dence. Alterbury. Swijl.
IRREFRA'GABLENESS, ? , The quality
IRUEFRAGABIL'ITY, { "of being ir-
refragable or incapable of refutation.
IRREFRA'GABLY, adv. With force or
strength that cannot be overthrown ; with
certainty beyond refutation. We say, the
point in debate was irrefragably proved.
IRREFU'TABLE, a. [Low L. irrefutahUts.
See Refute.]
That cannot be refuted or disproved.
Bp. Hall.
IRREFUTABLY, adv. Beyond the possi-
bility of refutation. Romeyn.
IRREuEN'ERACY, ?:. I'nregeneracv.
J. M. Mason.
IRREG'ULAR, a. [Fr. irreguiier ; L. irreg-
ularis ; in and regularis, regula. See Reg-
ular.]
1. Not regular; not according to common
form or rules ; as an irregular building or
fortification.
2. Not according to established principles or
customs; deviating from usage; as the
tVrcg-u/ar proceedings of a legislative body.
3. Not conformable to nature or the usual
operation of natural laws ; as an irregular
action of the heart and arteries.
4. Not according to the rules of art ; imme-
thodical ; as irrfg^/ar verse ; an irregular
discourse.
,5. Not in conformity to laws, human or di-
vine ; deviating from the rules of moral
rectitude ; vicious ;
or propensities.
irregular conduct
I R R
I R R
I R R
b. Not straight; as an vregular line or
course.
7. Not uniform ; as irregular motion.
8. In grammar, an irregular noun or verb is
one which deviates from the common
rules in its inflections.
IRREGULAR, n. A soldier not in regular
service. Kent.
IRREGULARITY, n. [Fr. irregularis.]
1. Deviation from a straight line or from any
common or establislied rule ; deviation
from method or order ; as the irregularily
of proceedings.
2. Deviation from \avf, human or divine, or
from moral rectitude ; inordinate practice ;
vice. It is a favorable symptom when a
profligate man becomes ashamed of his
irregularities.
IRREGULARLY, adv. Without rule, meth-
od or order.
IRREG'ULATE, v. t. To make irregular ; to
disorder. [Mot in use.] Broivn.
IRREL'ATIVE, a. [in and relative.] Not
relative ; unconnected.
Irrelative chords, in music, liave no common
sound.
IRREL'ATIVELY, adv. Unconnectedly.
Boyle.
IRREL'EVANCY, n. [from irrelevant.] "in-
applicability ; the quality of not being ap-
plicable, or of not serving to aid and sup-
port ; as the irrelevancy of an argument or
of testimony to a case in question.
IRREL'EVANT, a. [in and Fr. relever, to
raise, from elever, lever, L. elevo, levo, to
raise.]
Not relevant ; not applicable or pertinent ;
not serving to support. We call evidence,
testimony and arguments irrelevant to a
cause, when they are inapphcable to it, or
do not serve to support it.
IRREL'EVANTLY, adv. Without being to
the purpose.
IRRELIE'VABLE, o. Not admitting relief.
Hargrave.
IRRELIG'ION, n. [Fr. ; m and religion.]
Want of religion, or contempt of it; impi-
ety. Dryden.
IRR'ELIG'IONIST, n. One who is destitute
of religious principles; a despiser of relig-
ion. Nott.
IRRELIG'IOUS, a. [Fr. irrdigieux.] Desti-
tute of religious principles ; contemning
religion ; impious ; ungodly.
Shame and reproach are generally tlie por-
tion of tlie impious and irreligious. South.
2. Contrary to religion ; profane ; impious ;
wicked ; as an irreligious speech ; irrelig-
ious conduct.
IRRELIG'IOUSLY, adv. With impiety;
wickedly.
IRRELIG'IOUSNESS, n. Want of religious
principles or practices ; ungodhness.
IRRE'MEABLE,a. [h.vremeabilis ; in and
remeo, to return ; re and vieo, to pass.]
Admitting no return ; as an iiremeable way.
Dryden
IRREME'DIABLE, a. [Fr.; in and remedi-
able, from remedy.]
1. Not to be remedied; that cannot be cur
ed ; as an irremediable disease or evil.
2. Not to be corrected or redressed ; as ir
remediable error or mischief.
IRREME'DIABLENESS, n. State of being
irremediable.
IRREME'DIABLY, adv. In a manner oj
degree that precludes remedy, cure or cor
rection. Bp. Taylor
IRREMIS'SIBLE, a. [Fr. ; in andremissible ;
L. remitto. See Remit.]
Not to be pardoned ; that cannot be forgiven
or remitted. IVhiston.
IRREMIS'SIBLENESS, n. The quality of
being unpardonable. Hammond.
IRREMIS'SIBLY, adv. So as not to be par-
doned. Sherwood.
IRREMOVABIL'ITY, n. [See Irremovable.]
The quality or state of being irrremova-
ble. or not removable from office.
IRREMOVABLE, a. [in and removable.]
1. That cannot be moved or changed.
Shak
2. That cannot be legally or constitutionally
removed from office.
IRREMU'NERABLE, o. [in and ;
ble.] That cannot be rewarded.
IRRENOWN'ED, a. Not renowned; not
celebrated. Spensei
IRREPARABIL'ITY, n. [See Irreparable.
Tlie quality or state of being irreparable,
or beyond repair or recovery. Sterne
IRREPARABLE, a. [Fr. from L. irrepa-
rabilis. See Repair.]
1. That cannot be repaired or mended ; as
an irreparable breach.
2. That cannot be recovered or regained ; as
an irreparable loss. Milton. Addison.
IRREPARABLY, adv. In a manner or de-
gree that precludes recovery or repair.
IRREPEALABIL'ITY, n. [from irrepeala-
ble.] The quahty of being irrepealable.
IRREPE'ALABLE, a. [hi and repealaUe.]
See Repeal]
That cannot be legally repealed or annulled.
Sullivan.
IRREPE'ALABLENESS,»i.Irrepealability.
IRREPE'ALABLY, adv. Beyond the power
of repeal.
IRREPENT'ANCE, n. Want of repent-
ance ; impenitence. Mountagu.
IRREPLEV'IABLE, a. [in and repleviable.]
That cannot be replevied.
IRREPLEVISABLE, a. [in and replevisa-
ble.] That cannot be replevied.
IRREPREHENS'IBLE, a. [in and repre-
hensible.]
Not reprehensible ; not to be blamed or cen-
sured ; free from fault. Vattet, Trans.
IRREPREHENS'IBLENESS, n. The qual-
ity of being irreprehensible.
IRREPREHENS'IBLY, adv. In a
not to incur blame; without blame
Sherwood.
IRREPRESENT'ABLE, a. [in and repre-
sent.]
Not to be represented ; that cannot be figur-
ed or represented by any image.
Stillingfleet.
IRREPRESS'IBLE, a. [in and repressible.]
That cannot be repressed.
IRREPROACHABLE, a. [in and reproach
able.]
That cannot be justly reproached ; free from
blame ; upright ; innocent. An irreproach-
able life is the highest honor of a rational
being.
IRREPROACHABLENESS, n. The quaU
ty or state of being not reproachable.
IRREPROACHABLY, adv. In a
not to deserve reproach ; blamelessly
deportment irreproachably upright.
IRREPRdV'ABLE, a. [in and reprovable.]
That cannot be justly reproved ; blame-
less ; upright.
IRREPRoV'ABLY, adv. So as not to be li-
able to reproof or blame. fFeever
IRRESIST'ANCE, n. s as z. [in and re-
sistance.]
Forbearance to resist ; non-resistance ; pas-
sive submission. Paley
IRRESISTIBIL'ITY, > [fromirresisU-
IRRESIST'IBLENESS, { "-ble.]
The quality of being irresistible ; power or
force beyond resistance or opposition.
Hammond.
IRRESIST'IBLE, a. [Fr.; in and resistible.
See Resist.]
That cannot be successfully resisted or op-
posed ; superior to opposition.
An irresistible law of our nature impels us to
seek happiness. J. M. Mason.
IRRESIST'IBLY, adv. With a power that
cannot be successfully resisted or opposed.
Dryden.
IRRES'OLUBLE, a. s as z. [L. in and re-
solvo.]
Not to be dissolved ; incapable of dissolution.
Boyle.
IRRES'OLUBLENESS, n. The quality of
being indissoluble ; resistance to separa-
tion of parts by heat. Boyk.
IRRES'OLUTE, a. s as z. [in and resolute.]
Not firm or constant in purpose ; not de-
cided ; not determined ; wavering ; given
to doubt. Irresolute men either resolve
not at all, or resolve and re-resolve.
IRRES'OLUTELY, adv. Without firmness
of mind ; without decision.
IRRES'OLUTENESS, n. Want of firm de-
termination or purpose ; vacillation of
mind.
IRRESOLUTION, n. [Fr. ; in and resolv-
tion.]
Want of resolution ; want of decision in pur-
pose ; a iJuctuation of mind, as in doubt,
or between hope and fear. Addison.
IRRESOLV'EDLY, adv. s as z. [in and re-
solved.]
Without settled determination. [lAttle used.]
Boyle.
IRRESPEeT'IVE, a. [in and respective.]
Not regarding circumstances.
According to this doctrine, it must be resolv-
ed wholly into the absolute, irrespective will of
God. Rogers.
IRRESPECTIVELY, adv. Without regard
to circumstances, or not taking them into
consideration. Hammond.
IRRES'PIRABLE, a. [in and respirable.]
Unfit for respiration ; not having the qual-
ities which support animal life ; as irres-
pirable air.
IRRESPONSIBILITY, n. Want of res-
ponsibility.
IRRESPONS'IBLE, a. [in and responsible.]
Not responsible ; not liable or able to an-
swer for consequences ; not answerable.
IRRETENTIVE, a. Not retentive or apt
to retain. Skelton. ■
IRRETRIEVABLE, a. [in and retrievable,
from retrieve.]
Not to be recovered or repaired ; irrecov-
erable ; irreparable : as an irretrievable
IRRETRIEVABLENESS, n. The state of
I being irretrievable.
I li R
IRRETRIEVABLY, adv. Irreparably; ir-
recoverably ; in a manner not to be re-
gained. yVoodimrd.
IRRETURN'ABLE, a. Not to be returned.
IRREV'ERENCE, n. [L. irreverentia ; in
and reverentia. See Reverence.]
1. Want of reverence, or want of venera-
tion ; want of a due regard to the authori-
ty and character of the Supreme Being
Irreverence toward God is analagous tc
disrespect toward man.
2. The state of being disregarded ; applied
to men. But this word is appropriately
applicable to the Supreme Being and to
bis laws and institutions.
IRREVERENT, a. [Fr. ; in and reverent.]
1. Wanting in reverence and veneration;
not entertaining or manifesting due re-
gard to the Supreme Being.
2. Proceeding from irreverence ; expressive
of a want of veneration ; as an irreverent
thought, word or phrase.
3. Wanting in respect to superiors.
IRREVERENTLY, adv. Without due re-
gard to the authority and character of the
Supreme Being ; in an irreverent manner.
2. Without due respect to superiors.
IRREVERS'IBLE, a. [in and reversible.]
That cannot be reversed ; that cannot be
recalled, repealed or annulled ; as an irre-
versible decree or sentence.
IRREVERS'IBLENESS, n. State of being
irreversible.
IRREVERS'IBLY.orfi). In a manner which
precludes a reversal or repeal.
IRREVOCABILITY, ) State of being
IRREV'OCABLENESS, \ "irrevocable.
IRREV'OeABLE, a. (Fr. from L. irrevoca-
bilis ; in and revocalnlis, revoco ; re and
voco, to call.]
Not to be recalled or revoked ; that cannot
be reversed, repealed or annulled ; as an
irrevocable decree, sentence, edict or doom ;
irrevocable fate ; an irrevocable promise.
Milton. Dniden.
IRREVOCABLY, adv. Beyond recall ; in
a manner precluding repeal.
IRREVO'KABLE, a. [in and revokable.]
Not to be recalled ; irrevocable.
Jlsial. Res.
IRREVOLUBLE, a. That has no revolu-
tion. [jYot used.] Milton.
IR'RIGATE, V. t. [L. irrigo ; in and rigo,
to vvater.]
1. To water ; to wet ; to moisten ; to bedew
Ray.
2. To water, as land, by cau.siiig a stream
flow upon it and spread over it.
IR'RIGATED, ;!p. Watered; moistened.
IR'RIGATING, ppr. Watering ; wetting ;
moistening.
IRRIGA'TION, n. The act of watering
moistening.
2. In agriculture, the operation of causing
water to flow over lands for nourishing
plants.
IRRIG'UOUS, a. [L. irriguus. See L
R R
gate.]
1. Watered; watery; moist.
The flowery lap
Of some irriguous valley spreads her store.
Milton.
2. Dewv ; moist. Philips.
Vol. I.
IRRISTON, )!. s as z. [L. inisio, irrideo ;
and rideo, to laugh.] The act of laugh-
...g at another. ff'oodward.
IRRITABIL'ITY, Ji. [rrom irritable.] Stis-
ceptibility of excitetnent ; the quality of
being easily irritated or exasperated
irritability of temper.
In physiology, one of the four faculties of
the sensorium, by which fibrous contrac-
tions are caused in consequence of the
irritations excited by external bodies.
Darwin.
Irritability differs from sensibility ; the
most irritable parts of the body not being at
all sensible, and vice versa. The heart is
endued with the greatest irritability.
Haller. Encyc.
IR'RITABLE, a. [from irritate.] Suscep-
tible of excitement, or of heat and action
as animal bodies.
a. Very susceptible of anger or passion
easily inflamed or exasperated ; as an irri
table temper.
3.' In physiology, susceptible of contraction,
in consequence of the appulse of an ex
ternal body.
In general, there is nothhig irritable in the
animal body, but the muscular fibers.
Haller. Encyc
IR'RITANT, a. Irritating.
IR'RITANT, n. That which excites or irri-
tates. Rush
IR'RITATE, V. I. [L. irrito : in and ira,
wrath ; W. irad, pungency, passion, rage
or perhaps more properly Irom Sw. reta
to provoke ; G. reitzen, to tickle, vellicate
irritate.]
1. To excite heat and redness in the skin or
flesh of living animal bodies, as by friction ;
to inflame ; to fret ; as, to irritate a wound-
ed part by a coarse bandage.
2. To excite anger ; to provoke ; to tease
to exasperate. Never irritate a child for
trifling faults. The insolence of a tyrant
irritates his subjects.
3. To increase action or violence ; to highten
excitement in.
Air, if very cold, irritateth the flame.
Bacon.
4. To cause fibrous contractions in an ex-
treme part of the sensorium, as by the ap-
pulse of an external body. Danrin
IRRITATED, pp. Excited; provoked
caused to contract.
IRRITATING, ppr. Exciting; angering;
provoking ; causing to contract.
IRRITATION, JI. The operation of exci
ting heat, action and redness in the skin
or flesh of living ahimals, by friction
other means.
2. The excitement of action in the animal
system by the application of food, medi
cines and the like.
3. Excitement of anger or passion ; provo
cation ; exasperation ; anger.
4. In physiology, an exertion or change of
some extreme part of the sensorium resi-
ding in the muscles or organs of sense, in
consequence of the appulses of external
bodies. Dartvin.
Irritation is the eflect of a stimulus applied to
an irritable part. Coxe.^
IR'RITATIVE, a. Serving to excite or irri-i
tate.
114
I S E
2. Accompanied with or produced by in-
rcased action or irritation ; as an irrita-
've fever. Danrin.
IR'RITATORY, a. Exciting ; stimulating.
Hales.
IRRORA'TION, n. [L. irroratio ; in and
ros.]
|The act of bedewing; the state of being
moistened with dew.
Spallanzani, Trans.
IRRUP'TION, n. [Fr. from L. irruplio ; in
and rumpo, to break or burst.]
A bur.stnig in; a breaking or sudden, vio-
lent rushing into a place. Holland has
been often inundated by irn/;?/t07i» of the
sea.
2. A sudden invasion or incursion ; a sud-
den, violent inroad, or entrance of inva-
ders into a place or country ; as the irrup-
tion of the northern nations into France
and Italv.
IRRLP'TIVE, a. Rushing in or upon.
IS, v.i. iz. [Sax. is; U.isl; \>.is: L.est;
Gr. tyi ; Sans, asti ; Pers. est or hist.]
The third person singular of the substantive
verb, which is composed of three or four
distinct roots, which appear in the words
am, be, are, and is. Is and was coincide
with tiie Latin esse, and Goth, wesan. In
the indicative, present tense, it is thus va-
ried ; I am, thou art, he, she, or it, is ; we,
ye or you, they, are. In writing and
speaking, the vowel is often dropped; as,
he's gone ; there's none left.
IS'ABEL, n. [Fr. isabelle.] Isabel yellow
is a brownish yellow, with a shade of
brownish red. Kincan.
ISAGO(i'l€, I [Gr. doayuyixos.] In-
ISAGO(5'ICAL, S "• troductory. Gregory.
IS' AGON, II. [Gr. 1305, equal, and yut^ui, an
angle.] A figure whose angles are equal.
IS'ATIS, n. In zoology, the arctic fox or
Ciinis lagopus. Encyc.
ISCHIADIC, a. [L. ischiadicus, from ischias,
the sciatica, from ischium, the hip; Gr.
lOX^ov, toz"^^xos.]
Pertaining to the hip. The ischiadic passion
or disease is ranked by Cullen with rheu-
matism. It is a rheumatic affection of the
hip joint. It is called also iaah'ca. It is
sometimes seated in the tendinous expan-
sion which covers the muscles of the
thigh, but its most common seat is in the
muscles, or in the capsular ligament, and
it is then either rheumatic or gouty.
Parr. Johnson.
ISCHURET'IC, a. [See Ischury.] Having
the quality of relieving ischury.
ISellURET'IC, n. A medicine adapted to
relieve ischury. Coxe.
IS'CHURY, n. [Gr. t«;i;ovpto, from tuju, to
stop, and oipov, urine.]
A stoppage or suppression of urine.
Coxe. Encyc.
IS'ERIN, ? [G. men, iron.] A mineral
IS'ERINE, S "■ of an iron black color, and
of a splendent metallic luster, occurring in
small obtuse angular grains. It is harder
than feldspar, and consists of the oxydsof
iron and titanium, with a small portion of
uranium. Ure.
Ish, a termination of English words, is, in
Sax. isc, Dan. isk, G. isch ; and not im-
probably, it is the termination esque, in
French, as in grotesque, It. esco, in gro-
tesco, and the Latin termination of the in-
ISO
oeptive verb, as in fervesco. Annexed to
English adjectives, ish denotes diminu-
tion, or a small degree of the quality ; as
whitish, from white ; yellowish, from yellow.
Ish annexed to names forms a possessive ad-
jective ; as in Swedish, Danish, English.
Ish annexed to common nouns forms an ad-
jective denoting a participation of the
qualities expressed by the noun ; as fool-
ish, from fool; roguish, from rogue ; bru-
tish, from brute. This is the more com-
mon use of this termination.
I'SIeLE, a pendant shoot of ice. is more
generally written icicle. [See Ice and
Icicle.]
I'SINGLASS, n. i'zinglass. [that is, ise or
ice glass.]
A substance consisting chiefly of gelatin, of
a firm texture and whitish color, prepared
from the sounds or air-bladders of certain
fresh water fishes, particularly of the huso,
a fish of the sturgeon kind, found in the
rivers of Russia. It is used as an aggluti-
nant, and in fining wines. Encyc.
ISINGLASS-STONE. [See Mica.]
IS'LAMISM, n. [from the Ar. ^X^
salama, to be free, safe or devoted to God.]
The true fiiith, according to the Mohamme-
dans ; Mohammedanism. Encyc,
ISLAND, n. i'land. [This is an absurd com-
pound of i'le and land, that is, land-in-wa-
ter land, or ieland-land. There is no such
legitimate word in English, audit is found
only in books. The genuine word alway
used in discourse is our native word. Sax.
ealond, D. G. eiland.]
1. A tract of land surrounded by water.
2. A large mass of floating ice, is called an
island of ice.
rSLANDER, n. i'lander. An inhabitant of|
an ieland.
ISLE, ? ., [Fr. isle or He, from It. isola,
ILE, S "■ L. insula.]
1. A tract of land surrounded by water, or a
detached portion of land embosomed in
the ocean, in a lake or river.
The isles shall wait forhis law. Is. xlii.
2. A passage in a church. [See Msle.]
ISLET, n. i'let. A little ieland.
ISOCH'RONAL, \ [Gr. laof, equal, and
ISOell'RONOUS, \ "■ xfooos, time.]
Uniform iu time ; of equal time ; performed
ill equal times.
An isochronal line, is that in which a heavy
body is supposed to descend without ac-
celeration. Bailey.
Isochronal vibrations of a pendulum are
such as are performed in the same space
of time. Encyc
IS'OLATE, V. I. [It. isola, an isle or ieland.]
To place in a detached situation ; to pi;
by itself; to insulate. Med. Repos.
IS'OLATED, pp. or a. [Fr.isoU ; It. isolalo,
frimi isola, an isle.]
Standing detached from others of a like
kind ; placed by itself or alone.
IS'OLATING, pfr. Placing by itself or de
inched like an isle.
ISOMORPH'ISM, n. [Gr. taoj, like, and
fiop^jj, form.]
The quality of a substance by which it is
capable of replacing another in a com-
pound, without an alteration of its primi-
tive form.
I s s
ISOMORPH'OUS, o. Capable of retaining
its primitive form in a compound.
Ed. Rev.
IS'ONOMY, n. [Gr. 1005, equal, and xofioj,
law.]
Equal law ; equal distribution of rights and
])rivileges. Mitford.
ISOPERIMET'RI€AL, a. [See Isoperime-
Having equal boundaries ; as isoperimetrical
figures or bodies.
ISOPERIM'ETRY, n. [Gr. tffoj, equal,
xifi,, around, and jutfiov, measure.]
In geometry, the science of figures having
equal perimeters or boundaries.
ISOS'CELES, a. [Gr. tijosxfTu/s ; i^oi, equal,
and <sxcXoi, leg.]
Having two legs only that are equal ; as an
isosceles triangle.
IS'RAELITE, n. A descendant of Israel or
' Jacob ; a Jew.
ISRAELIT'IC, } ,, Pertaining to Israel.
ISRAELI'TISH, \ "' J. P. Smith.
ISOTHERM'AL, a. [Gr. too;, equal, proper
and difitu., heat.] Warmed by its own
heat. Ure.
ISOTON'I€, a. [Gr. 1505, equal, and roi-oj,
tone.]
Having equal tones. The isotonic system
in music, consists of intervals, in which
each concord is alike tempered, and
which there are twelve equal semitones.
IS'SUABLE, a. [from issue.] That may be
issued. In laiv, an isstiablc term, is one in
which issues are made up. Blackslone.
ISSUE, n. ish'u. [Fr. issue; It u.
door, and uscire, to go out. It may
cide in origin with Heb. Cli. XX', Eth.
(DBA watsa.]
L The act of passing or flowing out ; a mo-
ving out of any inclosed place; e
applied to water or other fluid, to smoke,
to a body of men, &c. We say, an issue
of water from a pipe, from a spring, or
from a river ; an issue of blood from a
wound, of air from a bellows; an issue of
people from a door or house.
2. A sending out ; as the issue of an order
from a commanding oiRcer or from a court;
the issue of money from a treasury.
.3. Event ; consequence ; end or ultimate re-
sult. Our present condition will be best
for us in the issue.
Passage out ; outlet.
To God the Lord belong the issues from
death. Ps. Lxviii.
5. Progeny ; a child or children ; offspring
as, he had issue, a son ; and we speak of
issue of the whole blood or half blood. A
man dies without issue.
6. Produce of the earth, or profits of land,|
tenements or other property. A convey
ed to B all his right to a term for years,]
with all the issues, rents and profit
In surgery, a fontanel ; a little ulcer made
in some part of an animal body, to pro-
mote discharges. Encyc
Evacuation ; discharge ; a flux or run-
ning. Lev. xii. Matt. ix.
In law, the close or result of pleadings ;!
the point of matter depending in suit, on
which the parties join, and put the case to
trial by a j ury. Cotcel.
IT
10. A giving out from a repository ; delive-
ry ; as an issue of rations or provisions
from a store, or of powder from a maga-
IS'SUE, V. i. [It. uscire. See the Noun.]
1. To pass or flow out ; to run out of any
inclosed i)lace ; to proceed, as from a
source ; as, water issues from springs ;
blood issues from wounds; sap or gum
issues from trees; light issues from the
sun.
2. To go out ; to rush out. Troops issued
from the town and attacked the besiegers.
3. To proceed, as progeny ; to spring.
Of thy sons that shall issue from thee — 2
Kings XX.
4. To proceed ; to be produced ; to arise ;
to grow or accrue ; as rents and profits
issuing from laud, tenements, or a capital
stock.
5. In legal pleadings, to come to a point in
fact or law, on which the parties join and
rest the decision of the cause. Our law-
yers say, a cause issues to the court or to
the jury ; it issues in demurrer.
6. To close ; to end. We know not how
the cause will issue.
IS'SUE, V. t. To send out; to put into cir-
culation ; as, to issue money from a treas-
ury, or notes from a bank.
2. To send out; to deliver from authority;
as, to issue an order from the department
of war ; to issue a writ or precept.
3. To deliver for use ; as, to issue provisions
from a store.
IS'SUEO, pp. Descended ; sent out. Shak.
IS'SUELESS, a. Having no issue or proge-
ny ; wanting children. Shak.
IS'SUING, ppr. Flowing or passing out ;
proceeding from : sending' out.
IS'SUING, n. A flowing or passing out.
. Emission ; a sending out, as of bills or
notes.
ISTHMUS, n. ist'mus. [L. from Gr. wS/toj.]
A neck or narrow slip of land by which
two continents are connected, or by which
a peninsula is united to the main land.
Such is the Neck, so called, which connects
Boston with the main land at Roxbury.
But the word is applied to laud of consid-
erable extent, between seas; as the isth-
mus of Darien, which connects North and
South America, and the isthmus between
the Euxine and Caspian seas.
IT, pron. [Sax. hit ; D. hef ; G. es ; L. id.]
1. A substitute orpronoun of the neuter gen-
der, sometimes called demonstrative, and
standing for any thing except males and
females. " Keep thy heart with all dili-
gence, for out of it are the issues of life."
Prov. iv. Here it is the substitute for
heart.
2. It is much used as the nominative case or
word to verbs called impersonal ; as it
rains ; it snows. In this case, there is no
determinate thing to which it can be re-
ferred.
In other cases, it may be referred to
matter, affair, or some other word. Is it
come to this ?
Very often, it is used to introduce a sen-
tence, preceding a verb as a nominative,
but referring to a clause or distinct mem-
ber of the sentence. " It is well ascertain-
ed, that the figure of the earth is an oblate
spheroid." What is well ascertained?
I T C
I T E
I V Y
The answer will show : the figure of the
earth is an oblate spheroid ; it [that] is
well ascertained. Hero it represents the
clause of the sentence, " the figure of the
earth," &c. If the order of the sentence
is inverted, the use of it is superseded.
The figure of the earth is an oblate sphe-
roid ; that is well ascertained.
It, hke that, is often a substitute for s
sentence or clause of a sentence.
4. /( often begins a sentence, when a per-
sonal pronoun, or the name of a person,
or a masculine noun follows. It ia I : be
not afraid. It was Judas who betrayed
Christ. When a question is asked, it fol-
lows the verb ; as, who was it that betray-
ed Christ.'
5. It is used also for the state of a person or
affair.
How is it with our general ? Shale.
G. It is used after intransitive verbs very in-
definitely and sometimes ludicrously, but
rarely in an elevated style.
If Abraham brought all with him, it is not
probable he meant to walk it back for his pleas-
ure. Raleigh.
The Lacedemonians, at the straits of Ther-
mopylae, when their anns failed them, fought j7
out with nails and teeth. Dryden.
Whetlier the charmer sinner it, or saint it.
Pope.
ITAL'IAN, a. Pertaining to Italy.
ITAL'IAN, n. A native of Italy.
2. The language used in Italy, or by the Ital-
ians.
ITAL'IANATE, v. t. To render Itahan, or
conformable to Italian customs.
ITAL'IANIZE, V. i. To play the Italian ; to
speak Italian. Colgrave.
ITAL'le, a. Relating to Italy or its charac-
ters.
ITAL'ICIZE, v.t. To write or print in Ital-
ic characters.
ITALICS, n. phi. Italic letters or charac-
ters ; characters first used in Italy, andl
which stand inclining ; tlie letters in which
this clause is printed. They are used to
distinguish words for emphasis, import-
ance, antithesis, &c.
ITCH, n. [Sax.gictha; D. jeuUe ; Ch. ■\:yr\ ;
Ar. ASC=.;Eth. rhTl^ hakke. Seethe
Verb.]
1. A cutaneous disease of the human race
appearing in small watery pustules on the
skin, accompanied with an micasiness or
irritation that inclines the patient to use
friction. This disease is sujiposed by
some authors to be occasioned by a small
insect, a species of Acarus, as the micro-
scope detects these insects in the vesicles.
Others suppose the ])ustules only form a
nidus for the insects. This disease is ta-
ken only by contact or contagion.
2. The sensation in the skin occasioned by
the disease.
3. A constant teasing desire ; as an itch fori
praise ; an itch for scribbling. Dryden
ITCH, V. i. [G. jucken, D. jeuken, to itch ;
Ch. pn; Ar. ^=.; Eth. rhTltl hakak,
to scratch. Hence Ar. to be affected with
the itch. Class Cg. No. 22.]
1. To feel a particular imeasiness in the skin,
which inclines the person to scratch the
part.
2. To have a constant desire or teasing in-
clination ; as itching ears. 2 Tim. iv.
ITCH'ING, ppr. Having a sensation that
calls for scratching.
2. Having a constant desire.
ITCH'Y, a. Infected with the itch.
I'TEM, adv. [L. item, also.] Also ; a word
used when something is to be added.
I'TEM, n. An article ; a separate particu-
lar in an account. The account consists
of many items.
2. A liint ; an innuendo.
I'TEM, V. t. To make a note or memoran-
dum of. Addison
IT'ERABLE, a. That may be repeated
[JVot used.] Brown
IT'ERANT, a. [See Iterate.] Repeating;
as an iterant echo. Bacon.
IT'ERATE, V. t. [L. Hero, to repeat, from'
iter, a going.]
To repeat ; to utter or do a second time ; as,
to iterate advice or admonition ; to iterate.^
a trespass.
ITERATED, pp. Repeated.
IT' ERATING, ;>;»•. Repeating; uttering or
doing over again.
ITERA'TION, n. [L. ileratio.] Repetition
recital or performance a second time.
Bacon
ITERATIVE, a. Repeating.
ITlN'ERANT.a. [L.ifer, a way or journey.]
Passing or traveling about a country ; wan-
dering; not settled; as an itinerant
preacher.
ITINERANT, n. One who travels from
place to place, particularly a preacher ;
one who is unsettled.
ITINERARY, n. [Fr. itineraire ; Low L.
itinerarium, from iter, a going.]
An account of travels or of the distances of
places; as the jYincraTT/ of Antoninus.
ITIN'ERARV, a. TraveUng ; passing from
place to place, or done on a journey.
Bacon.
ITIN'ERATE, v. i. [L. Her, a going ; Low
L. itijiero.]
To travel from place to place, particularly
for the pur|)ose of preacliing; to wander
without a settled habitation.
ITSELF', pron. [it and self.] The neutral
reciprocal pronoun, or substitute applied
to things. The thing is good in itself; it
stands by itself.
Borrowing of foreigneis, in itself, makes not
the kingdom rich or poor. Locke.
IT'TRIUM, Ji. The undecomposablc base of
yttria ; but better written yttrium, unless
ytlria should be written ittna.
I'VORY, n. [Vr.ivoire; It. avorio; h.ebur.]
The tusk of an elephant, a hard, solid sub-
stance, of a fine white color. This tooth is
sometimes si.v or seven feet in length, hol-
low from the base to a certain liighth,and
filled with a compact medullary substance,
seeming to contain a great number of
glands. The ivory of Ceylon and Achem
does not become yellow in wearing, and
hence is preferred to that of Guinea.
Encyc.
I'VORY, a. Consisting of ivory ; as an i»or^
comb.
I'VORY-BLACK, n. A fine kind of soft
blacking.
rVY, n. [Sax. ifig ; G. epheu.] A parasit-
ic plant of the genus Hedera, which creeps
along the ground, or if it finds support,
rises on trees or buildings, cHmbing to a
great highth.
Direct tlie claspint; ivy where to climb.
MUton.
I'VYED, a. Overgrown with ivy.
END OF VOL I.
sim.
THIS BOOK IS DOT ON THE LAST DATE
STAMPED BELOW
AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS
WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN
^ms BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY
W^LL INCREASE TO 50 CENTS ON THE FOURTH
DAY InD to $..00 on THE SEVENTH DAY
OVERDUE.
•jcr 6 mi
APR 9
ocp 91 '^^^
_DEC_4j34g__
-Sff-^6-lB2
g W6 S |f>^7
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA UBRARY
^i'^^^i^iiswiia
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11